When Christopher woke up the next morning, he was thankful to see that he’d been right. The natural magic of the Empire had recharged his stores enough to where he’d shapeshifted in the night, to his new ‘default’ state. That of a unicorn. He sighed thankfully as he sort of just lay there. It’d be a while before his magical stores recharged and he could figure out what he could do with all the ‘Light’ stuff he had acquired, but at least he’d blend in now.

There was a some stirring next to him, as Rainbow let out a small groan. She opened one eye, the rose-hued orb staring at him for a moment.

“Huh… somepony woke up ‘horny’,” she said with a small smirk, immensely proud of her pun.

“...You know, I’d expect that from Realm,” he muttered as he pecked Dash on the cheek. “Morning love.”

“Too early for that much sap,” she snorted and chuckled. “So, we going home today? I can only imagine the weather work that’s been piling up on my desk.” Just thinking about that stack of paperwork made her visibly shudder.

“Probably, yeah,” Aspect nodded as he stretched a little. “We might have to make a stopover in Canterlot to bust out the Elements on Sombra’s flank, see if we can’t reshape him to a normal pony.”

“You sure that’s gonna work?” Rainbow said. “And you know, not turn him into a garden ornament like Dipcord?”

“The Elements have a will of their own that mirrors their Bearers,” the unicorn replied. “So long as you want to turn him into a normal pony, so will they, and they’ll do everything in their power to do that.”

“You know, you know an awful lot for a guy that’s never actually used them,” Rainbow said as she sat up and stretched her wings until they gave a small crack, the pegasus letting out a pleased coo. “Right, so breakfast… and then home with a tyrant on a train I guess.”

“That’s the plan,” Aspect agreed as he finally stood up and stretched properly himself. “Let’s see about service in this place, huh?”

“Hmm, what kind of service~?” Dash purred rolling over until she pinned him on the bed, her tail flicking back and forth.

“Ack!” Aspect cried as she pinned him. “Goodness sakes mare, was last night not enough for you?”

“Hmhmhm, maybe I just like the panicked look on your face~” she giggled and beeped his nose with a hoof. “But I am starving! So let’s grab some grub before Pinkie Pie eats it all.”

“Whew,” Aspect sighed as he squirmed out from under her. “Fair point. Find the dining room and get food in us.”

“I’ll save that for the train ride home~” Rainbow said in an alluring tone, dragging her tail under his chin as she walked from the room, that cyan flank swaying back and forth with each step.

Aspect couldn’t help but watch as he let out a low murr in the back of his throat, before following after that flank. Hey, she had a better sense of direction than him, right?

They’d eventually found a dining room, a guard dressed in Equestrian armor showed them the way. According to him, Celestia ordered a detachment to arrive and act as a standing force until the Crystal Ponies could get settled and their own guard formed. The stallion had introduced himself as Flash Sentry, an up and coming lieutenant.

And he also had eyes that wandered to Rainbow’s wings every now and then. Thanks to some lessons he’d gotten from the mare some time back, Aspect knew that stallion was checking her out.

...Eh, let them look. Dash was sexy, and already his.

Once they reached the dining room… well, seems that Pinkie had been busy making breakfast and all sorts of unhealthy goodies lined the table. Flash led them inside, only to bump right into Twilight, the two ponies stumbling back.

“Ah, sorry,” they murmured in unison, before chuckling.

Aspect felt a chill run down his spine, before seeing Celestia on the far side of the room, a fork being warped in her magical grip…

“Thank you for your assistance, sir Sentry,” Aspect quickly intervened. “You’ve been most helpful in getting us here in time to share breakfast with our friends.”

“Um, right,” the stallion nodded and saluted. “Have a good day Sir Aspect.” And with that , he took his leave.

“Well, that was a touch rude,” Twilight said, oblivious to what had happened. “You two are late, did you sleep in?”

“Probably,” Aspect shrugged. “I don’t exactly have an alarm clock here.”

“True enough,” Twilight giggled. “I guess the old folk need their rest~”

“Oooohhhhhh!” Rainbow chuckled. “Somepony’s fired up today.”

“Hey, I’m not like you girls, I get worn out easily when I channel the power of your artifacts of friendship,” Aspect quipped. “It’s not meant for me. My adventuring days are long behind me. I don’t know why I keep getting dragged into this.”

“Karma?” Dash offered as they took a seat. “I dunno really. You think Ponyville is still standing? We did leave Midnight and Realm there unattended.”

“There are plenty of saner folk to keep them in check,” Aspect replied as he sat next to her. “Like Bon Bon, and Cheerilee.”

“Here’s hoping,” Dash shrugged as she piled pancakes onto her plate, along with plenty of strawberries and syrup. “So… how do we plan to get King Doom and Gloom back to Ponyville. Somehow, I don’t think any of us will want to share a train carriage with him.”

Twilight’s hoof went to her horn, as Celestia put a wing around her and frowned.

“With his magical suppressor, he should be effectively powerless,” Aspect pointed out. “So we could have him in one train car with a contingent of guards to watch over him and make sure he doesn’t try anything. Keeping him chained down, that sort of thing. Once we get to Canterlot, we can blast him and see if he’s any better normalized.”

“You sure that’ll work?” Rainbow said again, whispering to him. “I mean, I know what you said, but that’s why I’m asking. Not all of us might… agree.” She gestured towards Twilight in particular.

“As long as the will of the bearers is united, then anything is possible,” Aspect spoke up louder to emphasize his point. “Harmony is unstoppable when it comes to reforming villains. If you put your hearts behind it and see that Sombra was as much a victim as the Empire, then there should be no question if he deserves a second chance.”

“A victim?” Applejack said, speaking up above the rest of them. “How so Aspect?”

“He was nothing more than a tool of the Umbrum, the shadow spirits that rest beneath the ice up here,” Aspect illuminated. “They sent him out to determine what the Empire was precisely, cutting him out from his home. Granted, they’re pretty poor people overall. All they know is darkness and hate. I don’t know what exactly he was mining for up here, but I know that until we get him on our side, we don’t want to find the Umbrum.”

“Would he really make that much of a difference?” Rarity said, running a hoof through her mane. “I mean, between having Princess Celestia and Princess Cadence here, there’s also you and Prince Shining. Plus the six of us.”

“He’s the only one that knows where the Umbrum are,” Aspect pointed out. “Or their specific magics. He’s our only way to figure out if we can make something they can’t get through. We need his expertise to make sure that they’re never let loose on the world. Otherwise...they’ll infect everyone with their hate. The world would devolve into a bloodbath within days.”

“Goodness!”

“That don’t sound good,”

“O-Oh my…”

The doors to the dining hall slammed open as Flash ran back in. “Sir Aspect! Princess Celestia! Princess Cadence wants you in the throne room immediately! A situation has developed.”

“Whelp, duty calls,” Aspect sighed as he nuzzled Dash. “Save something for me to munch on later?” he asked his mare.

“I make no promises,” Rainbow declared as she started inhaling her breakfast with gusto.

“Let’s go…” Celestia said as she stepped up next to him. “Still, I wonder what could be wrong?”

Something… didn’t sit right with him either. Like an itch he couldn’t reach.

Aspect shook his head as they traveled through the halls. Sooner or later he’d find out what it was that went wrong. Probably sooner.

“This is bad, this is bad…” Cadence paced up and down the hall as the duo entered the throne room. “Oh, go and help a forgotten Empire she said. Should be easy she said…” Cadence stomped a hoof, cracking the crystal tile underneath.

“Cadence, breathe, tell us what’s going on,” Aspect urged the mare. “We can’t do anything if you won’t talk to us.”

“Take a look outside,” she said as he moved to a window. Close to the city, but still outside the Heart’s shield, was a dark storm cloud hanging ominously in the air.

“Yeah, that’s gonna have to be dealt with,” Aspect muttered as he looked at it. “We just got Sombra under control.”

“You can’t feel it can you?” Cadence sighed and facehooved. “Right, Aspect of Love… Look, that cloud? There is so much animosity and rage coming from it. Grandfather… it… it makes Sombra look like Pinkie Pie.”

“That must be one of the Umbrum,” Aspect muttered. “There must be a leak in their prison. That’s...that’s definitely not good. We could be seeing the start of the end of the world here.”

“W-What? So… what do we do!?” Cadence said, looking at her city. “These poor ponies… they only just got back from a tyrannical rule…”

“We need to figure out just what we’re dealing with,” Aspect muttered as he looked at the cloud. “There’s only one pony we can turn to for that.”

“You don’t mean…” Celestia said, her horn sparking dangerously.

“Sadly, yes,” Aspect nodded. “We’ll have to unchain Sombra long enough for him to tell us what’s going on.”

“I do not like that plan,” Cadence said, Celestia nodding in agreement. However…

“I do,” Shining said. “Look, we’ll all go. Between all four of us, he won’t be able to do a whole lot, and like it or not, he is the only one with the answers we need.”

Cadence looked at her husband and chuckled. “I knew there was a reason I married you.”

“Aside from my roguish good looks?”

“One of many~”

“Well Father?” Celestia looked at him.

“We’ll have to take a risk, but we’ll find out more about what’s going on,” Aspect nodded. “We’ll need to be careful. Otherwise things could twist on us quickly.”

“I do hope it’s nothing…” Cadence sighed.

“Well, this is unexpected,” Sombra said, after coming out the cloaking spell used to get him out of the city. “So, why am I being brought out here? Perhaps you’ll leave me to freeze in the tundra?”

“I only wish,” Aspect joked with him, before pointing at the rather large cloud. “Apparently that’s worse than you ever were.”

“Hmm…” he stared at the cloud. “Interesting, and we are alive how?”

“That’s one of the things I was hoping you could answer,” Aspect replied. “It’s starting to become more than a little worrying.”

“Christopher… if the Umbram are released, we would all be dead or killing,” he said as he looked at the cloud. “As it stands, I cannot tell as I am still bound.”

“I know that much,” Aspect sniped. “As it stands, though, we either do nothing and wind up victim to this, or we let you go and risk you maybe teaming up with this and bring ruin to us all. My hooves are tied here, Sombra, what do you want me to do?”

“I cannot best you,” he said. “After that fight, my magic would take weeks to recover. You and the Sun there could destroy me utterly in an instant.”

“Shining, the moment he does anything other than helping us, contain him,” Aspect said to the other stallion, before reaching out and slipping the null-ring off of Sombra’s horn. As he did, a set of magical cuffs appeared around his hooves. Sombra paid no heed as he stared at the cloud.

“Christopher. What is that sensation when something does not feel as it should?” he asked plainly.

“You mean that sense of unease we’ve been living with since we clapped eyes on this cloud?” the stallion snarkily asked.

“You mean disconcerting?” Cadence pointed out.

“Yes, my thanks,” Sombra said as he stared at the cloud. “That is Umbram energy leaking from their world to this. Yet… I cannot hear them. They are silent.”

“Something like this, you’d think they’d be involved,” Aspect mused as he looked at the cloud.

“You fail to understand,” Sombra said. “They have not been silent in a thousand years. Why now?”

“...My old world had a saying,” Aspect slowly said as he looked at the cloud. “Raise no more devils than you can lay down.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Cadence asked him, tilting her head cutely.

“I think...the Umbrum made something they couldn’t control,” Aspect replied. “Something that backfired on its creators.”

“Awfully presumptuous,” Sombra said. “But you also may be right. I had failed twice now after all. So they may have made something… Hmm, would they have used that?” He started shuffling towards the storm. “This bodes ill.”

“Sombra, don’t get too close, we don’t know what it is,” Aspect called after the stallion. “I’d rather not lose you to something that’s stronger than you too just yet.”

“I have to see what has become of them,” Sombra said. “Call for your Sword. It may be the only thing that will work.” He paused and looked at the unicorn. “I said the Umbrams had a Fountain too. What did you get from yours?”

“This sword, and the Aspects as they used to be,” Aspect replied, mentally calling for his sword. It appeared next to him in a blaze of light as he seized it in his magic. “I reformed them into what they are, keeping a piece of their magic with me to remember them by.”

Sombra merely waited for him to get it. What might be waiting on the other side of that storm. Aspect’s eyes widened as he looked at the storm a moment later.

“...This does not bode well,” he muttered.

They marched through the storm, only to find an old mineshaft at its center.

“I had no idea that there was one here,” Cadence said as Sombra walked inside. Silent as he was, the others merely followed, cautious to everything, even the shadows themselves. As they reached the end of the shaft, an open room with a large, pulsing black crystal sat in the center.

“Odd, that was buried,” Sombra said as they drew nearer.

“Which mean someone unburied it. For a reason,” Aspect growled as his eyes darted around to the shadows in the room. They didn’t move, nor could he really ‘sense’ anything, so to speak. He felt the wind shifting, something was coming up behind them, and fast…

He didn’t even have time to warn the others before he put up a shield of light behind them, wincing at the strain of using his specialized powers so soon.

There was a loud smack, making the others wince as something struck the barrier painfully… Rainbow Dash groaning as she started to slide, almost comically slow, down the barrier and landing in a heap on the ground.

“Darnit all Dash!” Aspect swore as he lowered the barrier and dragged her next to him to make sure she hadn’t cracked her skull. “You should know better than to sneak up on the jumpy immortals!”

“Wasn’t… sneakin… ow…” Rainbow rubbed her head and shook it. “Not sure I deserved that.”

“If anypony cares,” Sombra said in his flat tone. “The gateway to Umbra is through that crystal, and is very much open by the way.”

“I’m guessing closing it is out of the question, as is disabling it,” Aspect quipped.

“The portal is open,” Sombra restated. “Why have none of the Umbram come through it yet. If my guess is correct, it has been open for several hours now.”

“That leaves us with two options on the list of why they haven’t yet,” Aspect said as he stared at the crystal. “Either they lost interest in our world...or there aren’t any left. Which begs one question in both scenarios. ‘Why’?”

Sombra stared at the crystal. “Let us go and find out then,” he said as he started to shuffle towards the crystal, only for Shining’s magic to hold him back.

“We don’t know what’s in there,” he said. “Let’s go back and I’ll organise a contingent of guards. We’ll see what weapons are laying around the castle and—”

“Cel, hold this,” Aspect said as he passed Dash off to his daughter. Before they could protest, Aspect had scooped up Sombra in his magic and touched the crystal with a hoof, the crystal lighting up as the pair vanished through it.

“Goddammit Father,” Celestia swore as she held Rainbow, the pegasus was totally not blushing at all.

When Aspect’s vision cleared. He saw a world that made his fur stand on end. There was no color, no life… no joy or harmony. It was a desolate place, a black sun hanging over head, yet he felt no heat nor cold from it. There was wind, it moved his mane and tail, yet he couldn’t feel it. And his limbs felt like lead weights, his horn aching, like it was trying to crawl it’s way off of his head.

“Eeesh, on second thought, maybe I should go back,” the unicorn muttered, his senses going haywire at how foreign this place was, how inhospitable it was to ponies. “It’s like if you took everything good about our world and replaced it with its opposite…”

“Your observation would not be far off the mark,” Sombra stated as he started walking, seemingly unaffected. His chains crumbled away to dust as he paused and shook himself. “What is odd, is that I do not sense a single Umbrum.” His horn lit up with that purple-black light and he looked at Aspect. “As you equines might say, ‘I have a bad feeling about this’ Well, if I had those.”

“Gut feelings don’t change just because you don’t have feelings,” Aspect quipped as he held his sword in his magic. “Instinct is a harsh mistress, because it has to be. Listening to it is the difference between life and death. Right now it’s telling me to take you back through the crystal and blow it the hell up, probably by purifying it with my Light magic. Reason is saying to accompany you inside this place to figure out just where the hell everyone went.” He sighed and shook his head. “Sometimes I hate listening to reason.”

“I am still wondering how I lost so badly to you,” Sombra said as they walked. The dust kicked up by their hooves took several moments to float back down, like gravity with both lessened and increased, given how heavy Aspect felt. “Also, you might assume your human form. The Harmony of your equine form is the source of your current discomfort.”

“Oh yeah, forgot that was a thing I helped introduce,” Aspect quipped as there was a flash of light from his body. In a moment, Christopher took his normal form, gripping his sword and sighing in relief. “Don’t get me wrong, this place still makes my skin crawl, but...yeah, that’s a lot easier. Though I’m sorta without a focus for my Light magic, so don’t expect backup in that form if you need it.”

“If something has beset a whole species, I do not think either of us will fare well,” Sombra quipped back, though the sarcasm was lost in his flat tone.

They reached the bottom of the staircase that led to the portal and found themselves in a city of sorts. Tall buildings, seemingly molded to the ground rose up, the eerie silence pervading the area, the only sound was their steps on stone. As they reached what appeared to be a central courtyard, Christopher stopped dead in his tracks.

There, right in the center. Was a very familiar fountain. Though this one was broken and dilapidated. Oddly though, was that the damage looked recent.

“You said you had a fountain,” Chris said softly. “How long has it not been working?”

“It was whole the last time I was here, but that was over a thousand years ago,” the stallion replied as they looked closer. As Chris expected, the fountain was dry… wait…

In a corner, filling a small crack was some crystal blue water, less than a sip really, but it was the only color he’d seen in this horrid place so far.

“Guess there’s still something here,” the human quipped. “...Eh, I already fixed myself, I don’t need more power than that.” Still, he kept an eye out. Someone had broken the fountain for a reason.

Then filling the silence like a rushing a tsunami, an inhuman scream pierced the void, and it sounded close.

“...Shield if you’ve got it,” the human told Sombra, even as his robes started to light up with golden light. The stallion nodded as they headed towards the source.

What Chris saw, he was NOT expecting.

A shadow creature, not unlike a Windego, was pressed up against a broken building. A smaller, roughly human-shaped shadow held it there, a pulsing black sword pierced through it’s chest. The human-shadow twisted the blade and the Umbrum let out a wailing shriek before it… was absorbed into the sword?

The weapon pulsed again as a black gem was spat out of the hilt, the shadow picking it up and… it ate it?

That… explained where the Umbrum went.

“We absolutely cannot let that one get back to our world,” Chris said to Sombra. “I am not equipped to deal with something like that on a day to day basis.”

The creature turned, the silence allowed Chris’s voice to travel quite a ways. It simply stood a few dozen feet away, crimson eyes staring into his own. Then it looked to Sombra and raised it’s sword.

“UmBRumM”

“My gut feeling is saying that it would like to leave this place now,” Sombra said, backing up slightly.

“Get through the crystal, give me five minutes to at least knock this thing’s teeth out, assuming it has any,” Chris said, stepping forward. “It’s you it wants. I’ll distract it, you work out how to disable or destroy the crystal linking the two worlds. I don’t think there’s anything left here for you anymore.”

Then it was in front of him, mere inches from his face as a flick of it’s hand sent Sombra spiralling into a nearby building with a loud crash. But it hadn’t even looked at him, it’s focus entirely on Christopher.

“Hu...MaN…?”

“Oh boy,” Chris muttered as he called up all the defensive runes he could think of. This was likely to be a fight and a half. “Look...I honestly don’t want to have to fight you...so do us both a favor and don’t make me.” Hey, his daughter was all about diplomacy these days. Maybe it would work.

The shadow looked at him, it’s form flickering as it raised it’s free hand to near his face. And all of a sudden, Chris felt his head spike with pain as memory after memory was dragged to the surface, the shadow reading them like an open book. Everything, from his first moments on Equus, the birth of his daughters. Written, even memories of his beloved mares.

Then the negative ones were dragged up, Written’s death. Discord… Nightmare Moon… every battle against every former Aspect...And when his brother had turned into the beast that ripped their family apart.

Chris growled as he held up a hand, runes spiraling around it. “Back...off,” he snarled, letting loose a strong enough shield to cut the link.

“Human… Har...mony…” the shadow’s form rippled, looking a little more human now. It’s appearance was fuzzy, like an out of focus picture. “Equestria…”

“My home,” Chris said, putting himself between the shadow and the crystal out of there, his sword humming with an edge of light. “A place I will never let you see.”

The shadow stepped forward, raising it’s own sword as it’s form rippled again.

“You already know I can kill you,” Chris told the shadow. “Do yourself a favor, don’t even try. If you make me use my power against you, you’re going to end up dead.”

The shadow stared at him… until a black beam exploded against it’s back, making it’s semi-tangible form ripple like a cloud, slowly reforming as Sombra had pulled himself out of the building, his horn flickering. Seems Chris wasn’t the only one running low on magical power.

“Sombra, get out of here, now,” Chris told the unicorn. “Don’t even wait to start working out how to destroy the crystal. Just hold off on doing it until I come out.”

“And if I do not wait?” the unicorn asked. Oh right, he was kind of evil huh…

“Then I’m sure Cel will love throwing you into the sun for essentially killing me,” Chris said. “She already has plenty of reason to hate you after all.”

“Ah… right,” Sombra noted as he headed towards the portal. The shadow didn’t seem interested in him anymore though, as it rushed Aspect, sword raised to bring it in a downwards swing at him. Chris raised his own to block, growling at the shadow.

“I’m stronger than you, even in this state where I’m recovering,” he educated the shadow. “I have something you don’t. A body! You can try killing me over and over. I just need to hit your ethereal form once and it’s over for you!”

The shadow stared at him, then it itself. Before an arm snaked out and grabbed his…

And Chris’s eyes widened as the arm started to become more solid. It was somehow syphoning his power, using it to gain a form…

“Back off!” Chris snarled, flaring a stronger shield using his runes and blasting the shadow away. “I’m not letting you through the crystal, form or no form! So just stay here already!”

Sombra had made it to the crystal and vanished through it as the shadow looked at him, it’s form hardening, becoming more human and…

Feminine?

“Fight me…” she said and raised her sword, letting loose a flurry of swings. Chris blocked each one reflexively.

What? Back when they had the Everfree Castle and he felt like he could still walk around like a human, he’d gotten some sword training in. Dumb luck would only carry him so far. Block, block, parry, and...thrust!

The shadow brought up her sword, the blades edges sliding against one another in a shower of sparks as she flicked it up, knocking his sword aside as she swung down with a diagonal slash, aiming for the space where his shoulders and neck met.

Only to be blocked by Chris bringing up his other arm, which was awash in runic power as he used it like an impromptu shield. “No,” he said simply. “You don’t get to try and pull that trick on me. I’m not so easily killed.”

“What… is that?” she suddenly grabbed his arm and looked at the Runes. “Inter...esting…”

“Are you fighting or are you studying?” Aspect quipped as he bashed her face in with the pommel of his sword. Her head snapped back as she stumbled for a second and shook her head.

Then she raised her sword and swung, sending a powerful gust of wind at him. It was wind he knew… he’d only recently been rid of the influence…

The fountain… the sword…

Oh gods, she also had Aspects.

“Okay, you officially just got a lot more dangerous in my book,” Chris said as he pulled out his own fragment of wind abilities and shielded himself from the gust. Once the wind died down, he asked her another question. “What else do you have?”

She dashed forward again, sliding past him as she grabbed his right arm, her grip tightening as his arm started to turn to stone…

“Ap, none of that,” Chris said, using his own powers to turn himself back to flesh and blood before smacking her across the face with his free hand. “Air and Earth. Okay, fine. You’ve got multiple traits of Aspects. I’ve got all of them.” To demonstrate, he clenched his fist, catching it on fire, before firing a plume of it at her.

A plume she caught and absorbed, staring at her arm, which was wreathed in flames before dissipating. It was a curious sort of look, like she hadn’t been expecting that. Was she learning her own powers as the fight dragged on?

“You’re a mirror to me, aren’t you?” Chris asked, starting to piece it together himself. “They made you to oppose me...they were going to send you after me because of the show I put on with Sombra.”

“They… created… used… I destroyed…” She looked at the empty city. “They wanted power… so I made them, my power…” She raised her sword and smiled. “You… I like you. No, I like fighting you…” She lowered her blade, now looking more human. A woman, light skin and dark, ebon black hair. Her eyes were a shining crimson as her form became solidified. Her figure was flawless, an hourglass frame with defined muscles underneath.

She also happened to be completely naked.

“Let’s compromise,” Chris said as he studiously averted his eyes. “I’ll come back and fight you every so often. Teach you what it means to have this power. But I don’t want you to ever enter my world. Not until you learn some control with that blade of yours. I’ll teach you things, help you be more complete, but you have to actually take the lessons to heart, understand? You have to want to be better.”

She looked at him, her eyes staring deep into his own as he felt her power flare…

Before a massive BOOM! resounded as a cyan blur struck her at speeds in excess of fast, the shadow woman sent hurtling deep into the ruined city.

“Come on!” Rainbow said, holding out a hoof. “The Princess is ready to send that crystal right to Tartarus. We have to go. Now!”

“Running!” Chris agreed as he joined her in darting for the crystal. “We just need to seal it off. She’s not that bad, we just don’t want someone who can turn ponies to crystals for her to eat let loose on our world! Not until she’s no longer an infant!”

“...she eats ponies, and you say she isn’t bad…” Rainbow shook her head as they bolted for the portal. “Seriously… you prolly just like her teats or something.” With a grunt, she pushed him through the portal and followed him through, before Celestia wrapped some Runes around it, sinking the thing back into the earth.

“Phew,” the alicorn sighed. “That had been a little too close. I think that shaved a century off of my life.”

“Maybe in a few years we can dig the crystal up and try talking to the last member of the Umbrum, see if she’s no longer a power-mad infant,” Chris said as he retook his unicorn form. “For now, that’s enough excitement for one day. Let’s get the other member of the Umbrum back to Canterlot so we can make his Harmonifying a public spectacle.”

“About that…” Celestia said. “I think we should keep this amongst ourselves. Canterlot is still…something of a delicate state over the whole Changeling debacle.”

Aspect sighed and rolled his eyes. “So send the Elements to Ponyville, the Bearers can do it in my backyard if you want to avoid anyone seeing,” he told Celestia. “I’m not acting as a conduit for that much Harmony again.”

“That was the plan,” Celestia nodded as she put a hoof to her head and winced. “Well now that this has been dealt with. Let's head back. I wish to return to Equestria soon.”

“Same,” Aspect muttered. “I’d rather get some sleep in my actual bed for once.”

…

Long after the group had left, certain that the problem had been dealt with for now.

Well, none could have imagined that this new problem? Was also a fast learner. Seems that much like the inspiration used to create her, she was a fan of cheating. And had the perfect Aspect for that…

The next morning, the train pulled into a stop in Ponyville, nopony aboard was rightfully awake. Uncaffinated and tired of this whole debacle. Even Pinkie had lost a lot of bounce in her step.

Twilight had gotten off with the Princesses in canterlot, Celestia insisting she get her horn looked at by specialists before returning home, and she’d be bringing the Elements with her as well.

Though, Aspect was surprised to find Lyra, Realm and Artemis waiting at the station for him.

“One moment,” he said to them, holding up a hoof, before turning to the other Bearers. “Take a day off, recharge your batteries,” he told the mares. “Goodness knows even I still need it. Sombra’s not going anywhere anytime soon.”

“Noted,” Applejack said as she started the long trek home to the farm, a small mountain of chores likely awaiting her. Pinkie and Fluttershy ambled off, and Rarity followed not long after.

“Eesh, no offense dad,” Realm said as he looked at the group. “But, you all look like crap.”

“We’ve been through a lot,” Aspect muttered, glad his magic had finally recovered a bit on the train ride home. “But bright side, Equestria now has a northern neighbor! And visiting Gelgeth won’t be a damn chore anymore.”

“Huh…” Realm rubbed his hooves. A whole new place to go and paint. Fun! He looked around and blinked. “Where’s the Clover lookalike?”

“She’s getting her horn checked up in Canterlot,” Aspect supplied. “She got a bit of an injury. It should be fixed, but Cel’s having it looked at by experts anyways.” He then turned to the guards keeping watch over Sombra. “Just keep him in that gear and escort him to the guard station,” he told them. “We’ll deal with him when we have the Elements here.”

“Do we even want to know?” Artemis said, looking at the unicorn being led away. “Well whatever, we actually came here to warn you.”

“Warn me?” Aspect blinked a few times, looking back at them. “About what?”

“That unless you feel like field testing that immortality, you reeeeeaaaaally shouldn’t go home right now,” Lyra said, Realm wincing.

“It took me all day to reattach Starswirls’ leg…” the alicorn colt muttered.

“That does not instill confidence in me,” Aspect said. “The one thing I missed most when I was away was spending time in my house, with the mares that called me theirs.”

“Well, right now?” Realm said. “Candy Mom is likely puking… again. And Bat Mom pretty much wants everything dead.”

“...The last time we ignored them, bad things happened,” Aspect sighed. “Right...I’m going in.”

“Also poor Aspy, we knew him well,” Lyra sighed. “I’m staying here, the last time I went in there, Bon Bon put a collar and leash on me and…” She trailed off when she remembered that there were children here.

“Oh no, you’re her friend, she’s most likely to respond positively to you,” Aspect replied, snaring her in a loop of Light magic. “Plus you’re one-third of Music, you’re our best bet for getting through to Middy as well.”

“Noooooooo!” Lyra moaned as she was dragged away. “Realmy! Help meeee!”

“So, wanna go and get a milkshake?” Realm said to Artemis.

“Sure,” the pup nodded as they walked off in the opposite direction.

“TRAITORS!!”

When Aspect reached his home, ahh, it had felt like forever since he’d been here. Rainbow had gone home to rest and see what weather work had piled up, and Lyra was just dragged behind him, the look of a defeated mare on her face.

“It cannot possibly be that bad,” Aspect said to her, pushing the front door open.

He could smell something good coming from the kitchen, so that was a good sign.

What wasn’t was the thestral mare in the hallway in front of him, her eyes wide and her irises small, her fangs bared in a feral snarl as she glared at him. Gods, the bloodlust she emanated made even his fur prickle.

“Middy, down,” Aspect told her firmly. “You don’t need to fight me. You’d just lose in a new way now.”

And that was Aspect staring at the sky, lying on his back in the front yard, a trench of dirt before him and a hoof print on his chest.

Damn… he hadn’t even seen that punch coming.

He picked himself out of the trench and shook the dirt off, before stalking closer to Midnight, his horn glowing with light. This time, he saw the windup.

The next punch never connected, as he used his magic to chain her to the ground with light incarnate. She looked at the chains, then at him…

And…

She started crying!?

She’d flipped from feral to sobbing in an instant.

He dismissed the chains and held her close, whispering sweet nothings in her ear. “There there...it’s just pregnancy kicking up your hormones,” he soothed. “You’re fine. I still love you.”

“I did some reading up,” Lyra said. “You know, since I’m here often enough that I’m surprised you don’t charge rent. Aaaanyway. Apparently batponies…”

*Hisss!*

“Thestrals, sorry,” Lyra winced as Midnight went back to the cuddling. “Their hormones really go outta whack. And mares also get super protective and jealous. Basically, don’t go inviting any strange mares around here… Midnight might execute them.”

“My dear, sweet, loving Midnight wouldn’t do that, would she?” Aspect cooed into her ears as he rubbed her back. And even she could feel the hint of steel in his voice. It was a question and a threat at the same time.

“She tore off Starswirls’ leg and knocked Chryssie unconscious,” Lyra stated as Midnight huffed and looked away.

“Midnight,” Aspect said warningly. “Do I have to send you away until you get your mood stabilized?”

And now she was crying again, as even Lyra facehooved.

“God you’re an idiot,” the unicorn said as the thestral broke free and ran off into the house. “Seriously Aspect? ‘Behave or I’ll get rid of you’? Absolutely brilliant. You know she can’t help it right?”

“Oh for the love of- Middy!” Aspect called after her, chasing her through the house. “Come back, you know I love you!”

“Not enough to keep me,” she called back through a door she’d somehow barricaded. “Go away!”

“Middy, you know I wouldn’t send you away!” Aspect called, tapping the door with a hoof. “I just want to help you. And I can’t do that unless you let me in.”

“Mi-ai făcut asta pentru tine, un fiu cu o maimuță!” <You did this to me you flat faced son of a monkey!> she screeched through the door.

“I have no idea what she said, but that sounded insulting,” Lyra chuckled as she leaned against the wall, standing on her hind legs. “Need a hoof there?”

“No, I’ll just cheat,” Aspect muttered, his magic shining before he winked out of existence.

Only to reappear behind Midnight, spin her around, and trap her in a kiss.

“Huh, wonder why he didn’t do that sooner,” Lyra mused as she looked down the hall to see Bon Bon walking towards her. Waving to her best friend/friend with benefits, the earth mare nodded in response as she placed a tray down in front of the door.

There was a sniffing sound, before a yelp, a muffled thump and the door bolted open, Aspect was on his back and Midnight was wolfing down the mango treats that Bon Bon had spent all morning making for her.

“Hello love,” Bonnie waved. “Welcome back to the madhouse.”

“Okay, seriously,” Aspect said, pointing at Lyra, “The next time Midnight asks for another foal, your duty is to remind me about all those facts about thestrals.”

“Maybe, watching you get tossed around is pretty funny,” Lyra giggled as Bon Bon helped him up and into a deep kiss. One that involved a lot of her tongue and some not-so-innocent moans from her. Eventually it had to break so he could breathe, and he simply opted to nuzzle the Earth Pony mare.

“Missed you,” Aspect muttered softly. “Missed all of you.”

“And I you,” Bon Bon smiled, her breath smelled strongly of mint. “Sorry, but I have been very unwell ever since you left. Seems my morning sickness has kicked in… amongst other… odd symptoms.”

“That’s something that happens, I’ve noticed,” Aspect nodded as he used his magic and his knowledge of tense spots in ponies to massage some of Bon Bon’s sore spots with little motes of light.

“Mmmmm~” Bon Bon purred as she rolled her neck. “Ooh yes, that’s the spot. But yes, seems that I have been ahh craving gemstones, Mnn~ N-Not that I can eat them. Rock candy seemed to aahhhn~ w-work though.”

“Ah yes, forgot you were pregnant with a dragon,” Aspect mused. “We’ll think of something, though good work on the rock candy innovation.” He idly kept massaging the mare with his magic, going through his list of pony sore spots and hitting them with more magic as time went on.

“A-Aspect…” Bon Bon whimpered as she wiggled. “P-Please don’t…”

Then her whole body trembled as she collapsed, climaxing hard as she blushed and panted, her hind legs twitching as her flagged tail wafted her scent everywhere.

“Ohhboy, that happened again huh?” Lyra said with a chuckle.

“...It’s happened before?” Aspect asked as he killed his magic, offering a hoof to help Bonnie up.

“Lyra! Nooo~”

“Oh yeah,” the unicorn chuckled. “She’s super easy to get off for some reason.”

“Lyyrraaaa,” Bon Bon warned as she got up. “Good pets don’t rat out their masters.”

“Uhoh…” Lyra blinked as she went to run away…

Only for the door to shut in her face.

“Come again?” Aspect asked, looking between the two mares.

“Uhhh…” Lyra winced and looked at Bon Bon. “Please no…”

“Oh,” Bon saw her chance for revenge. “You don’t want him to know? About my pretty pet Lyra? She looks so cute in her collar and leash. And being a good girl when she’s servicing her master~”

“Epona dammit,” Lyra groaned and facehooved.

“...I am confused and aroused,” the stallion admitted.

“You’re a damned pervert,” Lyra sighed. “I swear, Bonnie’s a perv now because of you. You ruined her innocence!”

“It was ever so nice of her to keep me and Midnight company while you and Rainbow were gone,” Bon Bon chuckled.

“And Bon’s taken a turn for being a dom in the bedroom,” Aspect noted aloud, before walking over to Midnight and nuzzling her. “Whereas you need all the love you can get.”

“Mmph,” she mumbled, still burying her face in a bowl of ice-cream. “Sorry for kicking you,” said between bites. “I feel better now.”

“And I am making my exit so you lovebirds can do… whatever,” Lyra said as she started for the door again.

“Bonnie...would you hate me if I said I was curious?” Aspect asked, lifting his head and looking over at Lyra.

“Not particularly,” the mare said, leaning against his side. “As much as I would love to milk you dry, I am really not feeling well right now. And being sick halfway through would be a real mood killer.”

“That it would,” Aspect mused as he stalked a little closer to Lyra. The unicorn opened the door with her magic and turned her head.

“Well, I’ll see you lat—”

Thump

She felt magic grab her tail and pull her back so that she fell on her rump, before dragging her back towards Aspect.

“Ow! Hey!” Lyra said as she pulled her tail free and rubbed the base of it. “What’s the big idea you jerk!?”

And thaaat was him grabbing her flanks with his hooves and smiling at her with his eyes half-lid. “Ohhhh, nothing much...I just thought I should test out what Bonnie’s been doing so she can take some time off while she’s sick and Middy’s emotional,” he said ‘innocently’.

Lyra raised an eyebrow at him with a questioning look. “And, what makes you think I’ll allow that huh mister?” she said to him, beeping his nose with a hoof.

“Bonnnnnie~” Aspect called out. “She seems to be disobeying.”

Bon Bon shook her head. “Would you like to Lyly? I really wanna be with Aspect, but any motion like that is seriously gonna make me hurl. And… well Midnight might just bite his junk off or something.”

“I would not!” Midnight said, licking her ice-cream bowl. “...maybe.”

Lyra sighed and looked at him. “You know, for somepony that didn’t want me in that way, you sure don’t have a problem with it now huh?”

“Well, you started coming onto me,” he reminded her. “Guess you just didn’t expect me to bite back, huh?”

“Because you didn’t until that one time,” Lyra pouted and poked his nose again. ‘Seriously, and you got mad at Twibutt for being so flippant about what she wanted. Hello pot, this is kettle…”

“Lyly,” Bon Bon said. “Stop picking on him.”

“Well somepony has to call him out on his crap,” she said with a smirk. “I just want him to admit he likes me is all~”

“I didn’t get mad at her, I just wanted her to make up her mind before I did anything serious,” Aspect retorted. “And you seem to pretty much have a thing for me, so I don’t have any qualms about it myself. But it would make this go smoother if you admitted it to me, y’know.”

Of course, his hooves hadn’t left her flanks…

“Well, you’re kinda hot,” she said as she looked him over. “Like… waaaay older than me, which is okay, I don’t mind older guys. And Bonnie trusts you, so that’s good enough for me.” She wiggled said flank in his hooves. “I just want to hear you admit that you like doing things with me~”

“I always have said to give pretty ponies what they want,” Aspect replied as he squeezed her flank gently. “And I’d be remiss to not notice your beauty~”

Well that got her minty cheeks to blush a lovely crimson. “S-Shut up, and don’t think flattery will get you anywhere bub!” she snorted, clearly flustered.

“Oh, so I shouldn’t say things that are true then?” Aspect quipped as he slowly began drawing his hooves back. “Guess I was wasting my time…”

“H-Hey!” Lyra pouted and poked his chest. “Must you be so damned infuriating?”

“He likes to confuse,” Bon Bon nodded.

“It’s simple, minty mare,” Aspect drew close to her, his hot breath washing over her lips. “Yes...or no?”

And that was Lyra kissing him softly on the lips. “Does that answer your question?” she mused and her eyes drifted down. “Hmm, seems Little Aspect wants in~”

“Mkay, so I’ll just be taking Lyra back to the bedroom,” Aspect said as he pulled the minty mare closer. “I’ll be gentle, promise~”

“Yeah right,” Lyra rolled her eyes. “Just don’t knock me up too ya damned perv.”

“Where do you think you’re going?” Bon Bon said with a sultry smile. “We want to watch~”

“Mhm,” Midnight nodded, now snacking on an actual mango.

“Oh really?” Aspect asked with a raised brow, before turning back to Lyra. “Feel like putting on a show?” he asked the mare, even as he stroked her mane.

“Oh, does the pet think she has a choice?” Bon Bon purred as she clipped something around Lyra’s neck. A lovely black collar, studded with silver gems. And attached with a long, black leash.

“See, now this I don’t know what to think about,” Aspect said as he looked at the collar. It was a lovely thing, and contrasted nicely against her fur.

“Oh, it’s pretty simple,” Bon Bon said and placed the leash in his hooves. “Simply command your pet. She’s a very good girl, but feel free to punish her if she’s naughty~”

“Okay…” Aspect blinked a few times, before choosing the closest chair and sitting in it...which ended up displaying himself for the unicorn. “So, what...like ‘suck’?” he asked.

“Try adding a bit more… finesse to the order,” Bon Bon coached as she sat near him. “Go on, she’s waiting.”

“Okay…” Aspect looked over at Lyra. “Use your mouth to get me ready for you, pet,” he ordered her, still not quite feeling comfortable in saying it.

“Yes… Master,” she said, looking at him with a submissive gaze, inching closer as she took his member with her hooves, her mouth opening as he felt her hot breath wash over him, before the flat of her tongue trailed up the length, ending with it placed firmly against the flat head of his cock.

“Continue,” Aspect ordered her, even as his length throbbed a little under her treatment, getting a bit harder and firmer.

She nodded as she opened her mouth wider and lowered her head, taking the first few inches into her hot, wet maw. Her tongue pressed against the base as she slurped lewdly at him, slowly getting into a sedate rhythm of bobbing her head.

“Mmm...good pet,” Aspect purred to her as he rubbed her mane with a hoof. “Remember to lube me up well. You’re going to be riding me once you have.”

“Hmmm,” Bon Bon rubbed his side. “You sure you’re up for it love? You look a little tired.”

“That’s why she’ll be doing all the work,” Aspect pointed out. “Once she’s got me nice and wet, I’ll just sit back and let her ride me and milk me dry.”

“Naughty,” Bon Bon chuckled as she looked at him. “You better not knock her up too dear, or I’ll make you marry her as recompense.”

“I should have enough control over my magic that that doesn’t happen,” Aspect brushed it off. “Continue, pet,” he ordered Lyra. “I want to feel your tongue at work.”

She nodded and pushed down a little more, creating a bulge in her throat as she showed she was just as good as Bon Bon when it came to this. Her tongue twisting and winding around him, teasing every inch of him that was inside her, as her horn lit up, her golden aura encasing his weighty orbs and caressing them gently.

“Mmmph...you trained her well,” Aspect huffed as he leaned back and let the pleasure wash over him. “She’s very good at this.”

“Want to hear a secret?” Bon Bon whispered into his ear, nibbling on it lightly. “She’s the one that taught me~”

And then Lyra took his whole cock, her tight throat squeezing him as she sucked down hard, practically swallowing his member as she moaned around him.

“Ohbuck,” Aspect moaned, holding very very still. “That’s...haa….very good, you’ve...done your job now pet. You can...nnnngh, stop.”

“Are you sure?” Bon Bon murred as Lyra slowly pulled back. “She’s very good with that tongue isn’t she? Oh pet, show your Master a little worship~”

“Yes Mistress,” Lyra nodded as she moved her head lower, his wet cock resting over her head as she started to suckle on his balls, her lips and tongue slowly teasing them.

“Ohhhfuck,” Aspect let out another moan. “She’s too good at this,” he panted. “I...nope. I won’t be able to hold it at this rate!”

“That’s enough pet,” Bon Bon said and pulled on her leash, Lyra sitting back and licking her lips slowly, seductively, as her tail swished back and forth.

“Give me...a moment,” Aspect said as he eased himself back from the edge of his climax. He wanted to last for the next part after all. After a solid minute of him just panting to cool down, the stallion nodded and gently pulled on Lyra’s leash again. “Up, pet,” he ordered her. “Time for you to get your reward.”

“Yes Master,” she obeyed as she climbed up onto the chair slowly, easing down into his lap as the sizeable member rested between her flanks. Her soft tail wrapping around it, teasing it slowly.

“Well, aim me properly, pet,” Aspect ordered her. “Line me up with your needy little pussy, and you can ride me until you get your reward.”

Lyra nodded as she lifted her flank up, her magic sliding up and down his cock as she aimed him and lowered herself slowly, gasping as his broad head spread her, her tight fucktunnel widening to accodate him as she couldn’t help but let out a small moan.

“Theeeere you go,” Aspect cooed to her as he got used to her tightness. “You can move whenever you’re ready, pet.”

Before she could, Bon Bon raised a hoof, rubbing the bulge he left in the slender unicorn’s abdomen and cooing at the sight. Though Lyra had… shared Aspect twice already, this was the first time they’d done more than oral.

“Mmm...she does make for a delightful little bulge, doesn’t she?” Aspect asked as he looked the minty mare up and down. Her face was flushed red, the leash hanging limply in his hold as her chest heaved with each delicious pant and moan that escaped her lips. She looked down at him, her golden eyes looking into his own and… huh, he, never noticed how pretty her eyes were.

Then she shakily raised her hips, slowly drawing up before falling/slamming her hips back down to meet his, her incredibly tight pussy squeezing him.

Aspect let out a shaky moan as she did that, his hooves going to her flanks to caress her marks as he let her have control for the time being. Her flank was delightfully taut, having a little give to his touches and oh-so-warm. She let out a small moan at that, as her bouncing got a little faster and more enthusiastic.

Midnight had left the room, mumbling something about not wanting to kill Lyra as she did. Bon Bon stayed though, looking up at Aspect’s horn curiously… before leaning up and giving it a lick.

Aspect’s eyes momentarily crossed as he shuddered in pleasure. He’d never had his horn licked like that before. And seeing that he liked it, Bon Bon angled his head a little…

Before sucking on his horn like Lyra had his cock, as the unicorn continued to ride him.

“S-Should I use my magic Master?” she gasped between pants and moans.

Aspect couldn’t reply verbally, his vocal cords were all preoccupied with moaning. He merely nodded his head a few times, carefully, so as to not jab Bonnie with his horn.

Lyra lit up her horn as she bottomed out on him, her hips grinding against his as he felt a construct grip his cock, It took a second, but he felt a magical hand stroke up and down his member while he was buried inside the mare.

“Buuuuuuuuuck,” Aspect moaned out. “Pet wants a nice hot load inside her it seems,” he panted after managing to get the brainpower together for that statement.

“D-Don’t get me pregnant,” she moaned, stroking him faster. “Else… tell me and I’ll p-pull off aaaaah~” She moaned louder, her sentence ending in a climax as she twitched, her walls squeezing him along with that magical hand.

“It should be safe,” Aspect moaned. “Though...magic’s been on the fritz lately…” Still, that was his rod twitching inside her. She had maybe a moment to decide if she wanted to roll the dice on that.

Lyra started to pull up, but her legs were weak and shaking from her orgasm, she simply didn’t have the strength…

The cock was twitching harder inside her, she could feel the seed being pumped up into her…
Bon Bon pulled the mare off, falling back as Lyra landed atop of her, gasping and panting and they were spread out on the floor in front of Aspect.

And that was two mares being coated in his release as it sprayed over the both of them, glazing the mares with his musky essence. Aspect let out a groan as he started to go limp everywhere except his cock.

“Geeze,” Lyra gasped, looking down at her cum sodden form. “You don’t do anything half-assed huh?”

“That… was rather close,” Bon Bon sighed. “Honestly Aspect, I swear you won’t be happy until every mare in Equestria is impregnated by you.”

“Didn’t...mean to,” Aspect panted as he tried and failed to move a limb.

“Well, that was fun while it lasted,” Lyra chuckled. “Heehee, maybe I should join your little herd.” She joked, wiping some cum off of her chest with a hoof.

“If you want,” Bon Bon shrugged.

“It’d have been easier if you left her on, then,” Aspect pointed out.

“Huh?” Lyra blinked and blushed hard. “W-Wait up, I was only kidding…. Kinda.”

“Well, even if you want to stay friends with… some benefits, that’s fine too,” Bon Bon said and licked some seed from her cheek. “I’m sure Aspect likes having you around~”

“Yeah, keep the minty one, she’s fun,” Aspect nodded as he started to get some brain function back.

“Geeze…” Lyra blushed harder. “Stop teasing me.”

“Who’s teasing?” Aspect asked.

“Seriously?” Lyra said and looked away, blushing harder, even her ear tips were a cute shade of pink. “Well… I guess… But, won’t it be awkward when you’re all married and stuff. I’ll… just be in the way.”

“Hey, I’d never leave you hanging,” Aspect said as he looked Lyra in the eyes, or as close as he could manage it. “You just have to ask and you’ll be included as well.”

“W-Well…” Lyra murmured as she fell silent. “I’ll… think about it.” Awww, she looked so adorable like that, though being covered in his seed fueled a different sort of emotion.

“My family has never been weirder than right now, and I love it,” Aspect muttered.

Author's Notes:

I bring good news!

Thanks to all the positive comments, Aus is considering actually continuing this story with me!

The bad news is he's busy for the next few weeks and likely won't be able to.

The story will probably be put on hiatus once we reach the end of the prepared chapters until we feel like writing it once more.

Until then...

If you like what we do here, feel free to show your appreciation over at my Patreon. It really does help.

Half of all funds will not be spent on resupplying a house.