Mia just sat there, frozen in place while I hurled on her face and chest, the fountain of hot, chunky, regurgitated filth blasting out of me like a waterfall after a heavy rain. Finally, I slumped foward onto the skin of the dirigible, weak from the sustained stomach acrobatics.

"S-sorry," I choked. "Oh gosh. I'm so sorry, Mia."

"I guess I deserved that." She calmly wiped some of my lunch off her face with her hand. "It's not your fault."

"Well then," James said. "Lots of fluids for everyone. Except Mr. Tumblewords. Are you feeling left out?"

"No, no, I'm good," Tumblewords hastily replied, carefully backing away from the three of us. "See? I'm wet from the rain, that counts, right? Hopefully it will wash some of that, uh, stuff, off you guys."

"How is your face so clean?" I asked James, finally removing my destroyed lingerie top and flinging it as far across the crest of the dirigible as I could. No doubt the storm wind would see it the rest of the way into the ocean below. The semen-soaked panties and stockings followed, and I stood naked. Funny how I was getting so used to wearing clothes that the casual nudity I'd grown up with was feeling a bit odd now. I also felt bad hurling away Cadance's gift like that, but I imagined she'd understand when she woke up.

If she woke up. The thought really dragged my spirits down.

"I guess I was kind of behind you. You took the worst of it. Uh, thanks, Boss. You saved me from a mouthful of jizz."

I'd already forgotten I'd asked a question. "Huh? Oh. Don't mention it," I groaned, my stomach lurching again. "No, really. Please don't."

At that moment a cheerful, trumpeting call blasted over us, and we watched the hideously terrifying monster give our ship a parting slap that shook the frame before drifting away.

"Wham, bam, thank you ma'am," Mia said, grimacing at the creature's leisurely departure. "Not even a look back."

"Somehow that just doesn't tear me up inside," James grunted. "So, what's to stop the others from having a go at us next?"

That thought instantly frightened me. "Uh, uh, crap," I muttered. "Oh double crap, here they come!"

Several of the other large creatures veered towards us, tentacles outstretched.

"No," I moaned miserably. "No, oh nonono! Not again! Please, not again!"

Mia shot me a sympathetic look, then moved forwards and put a grimy arm around my shoulders.

"We're done, guys," Tumblewords said resignedly. "If they turn this into a gangbang, we are quite literally fucked." He gestured at the partially shredded covering and broken beams the first creature had left behind. "Couple more thrusts, and we'll all be in the drink. It was nice knowing you guys."

Fortunately, just as he said that, the approaching creatures stopped, waving their appendages around slowly as if tasting the air. Then they spun and headed off into the lowering clouds.

"What the hay?" I said. "Not that I'm complaining. But that was weird."

"I don't know," James replied. "Maybe they don't like sloppy seconds? Whatever it is, I'll take it. Look, I think we need to go inside. Mia's nipples are poking holes in that skimpy bra."

"Yeah, it's starting to get pretty cold," she agreed, shivering.

"Oh no, you poor thing," I exclaimed. I concentrated for a moment, producing a hemispherical aura of warmth that covered us and temporarily deflected the rain and wind.

"Thanks Eris, that's so much better," Mia grinned at me.

"I can only keep this up for a short time," I warned. "It uses a lot of energy."

"So, does this sort of thing happen to you guys a lot?" Tumblewords asked, waving his forehoof around in a way that suggested life in general.

Mia rolled her eyes. "You have no idea. But let's discuss things later, when we aren't sitting on top of the aircraft we should be riding in. Seriously, I've had enough heights for one day, haven't you?"

I had to agree with that.

The climb down sucked. Mia and James tried to stay as close as possible to me, but about halfway down I couldn't hold the warm bubble anymore. Fortunately with the wind blocked, the falling temperature wasn't so bad, and once we reached the bottom of the ladder and dropped down into the gondola, it was comfortably warm.

Just outside the room, Captain Starchaser greeted us.

"I don't know what you guys did up there, but good job," he smiled.

"All's well that ends well, and this definitely had a happy ending," Mia replied, straight-faced.

"Is that so?" Starchaser peered closer, taking in our soaked, slimy, bodies and the rank perfume of monster semen spiced with my own proprietary essence of unicorn puke. He wrinkled his nose involuntarily. "Uh, ah, perhaps I should let you get cleaned up."

"Yes I think that might be a good idea," I answered. "Just try and keep us out of the way of any other flying monsters in the meantime, okay?"

"I'll see what I can do."

After leaving Tumblewords with Captain Starchaser and heading down to Cadance's, or rather our room, we entered to a strange scene. Cadance was standing by the window wearing her slung rifle, still in her lingerie, her back to us. Both the crew members we'd left behind to guard her were standing in front of her, their ears tucked back on their heads while they blocked her access to the open window.

"You cannot stop me, I am a Princess," Cadance said sternly, anger evident in her voice. "Step aside! At once!"

Seeing Cadance up and about, I felt like an enormous weight had lifted from my soul. My feelings poured out, and I couldn't speak, I could only smile.

"Ma'am, I'm very sorry, but we were put here for your safety. You are in no condition to fly, and we cannot simply allow you to commit suic-" The pony caught sight of us, and a look of such relief washed over his face that I was surprised he didn't collapse then and there. "Ma'am, look."

"Cadance!" Mia called out.

Cadance started to turn her head, stopping with a small yelp. "Ow!" She then shuffled oddly in a circle, turning her entire body to face us. When she finally managed to view us, her anger evaporated instantly. "You guys are safe! Thank goodness! I was so worried!"

"We were worried about you too," I said, finding my voice again. "Do you remember what happened?"

"Just, I was standing over there and we heard those weird noises, then, suddenly I woke up in the bed. They told me you went up to fight the monsters. I was afraid you'd get hurt without my help, but these two wouldn't let me jump out the window to fly up to you guys."

"There's no way you could fly all cramped up like that, ma'am," the unicorn insisted.

"Well, I do have the worst stiff neck I've ever had in my entire life. It hurts to exist right now," Cadance conceded.

"Hey, you two guys can go do whatever you need to do," I told the two ponies that had been protecting the Princess, evidently from herself as well as any enemies. "Thanks for your help."

They eagerly rushed towards the door.

"Hey, wait!" Cadance called out.

Both froze, looks of fear returning to their faces as they turned reluctantly back towards the Alicorn.

"I'm sorry I was rough on you guys," she said. "I was really worried about my friends here. Thanks for watching over me while I was out."

"Thank you, ma'am, happy to be of service," the unicorn replied, daring to breathe again. The Earth pony just nodded rapidly, then they both scooted out of the room.

"I do hope they don't think I'm some kind of overbearing power hungry dominatrix," Cadance worried, coming over and giving us a hug. "What happened to you guys? And why is it every time we meet up, you smell bad?"

"I'm sure they'll get over it," I reassured her. "As for us, things got scary, then it just took a turn for the weird and gross. We didn't fire a shot, but I think we sorta need to wash off."

"There's a nice big bathtub," James informed us, peeking into the bathroom. "Surprisingly big, in fact. Looks like a spa jacuzzi."

"It's Alicorn sized. The ship has relatively limited water supplies, though," Cadance added. "Although the tanks are probably full again from the rain water, we should conserve as much as possible."

"What did you have in mind?" I asked, starting to feel crunchy and uncomfortable with the nasty dried dick goop hardening in my fur and mane.

"Let's each take a quick shower, then all have a bath together. To save water, I mean," Cadance suggested innocently. "I don't need the shower though, I'm not nearly as... as..."

"Disgustingly coated in the filthy sperm of an alien monster?" I supplied.

"Well, not exactly the words I was looking for, but essentially, yes," she said, wheeling to face me. It was weird watching her shufflingly adjust her whole body to look at any of us. It was easy to see she was in a lot of pain.

"Sure, whatever," I agreed quickly.

"Wait, did you say alien sperm?" Cadance asked incredulously, realization settling in late. "What the hay have you been doing?"

"I'll explain later, I need to get this sludge off my body." I headed for the bathroom, nodding at Cadance. "You coming?"

"Wait, boss! Don't wash off just yet!" Mia shouted abruptly.

"What? Oh come on!" I protested crossly, glowering at Mia while Cadance shambled into the the bathroom ahead of me. I watched her wistfully, then turned back to Mia. "You can't be serious."

"Just please wait a moment, please Eris? Come on, look, I'm dirty too. Your crusty puke is all over my boobs, see?"

"Ugh, not fair. I can't refuse you when you beg like this. I just want to go sit huddled in the corner of the shower for a few hours."

"Oh come on Eris, it isn't THAT bad. This is hardly the first time you've been covered in jizz."

"That's beside the point! I helped a monster jack off today, and he gave me a surprise facial!"

"And we are all very thankful for your sacrifice, darling. I just want a sample," she explained, digging around in her backpack, then holding up some vials from a retrieval kit. "I have a hunch that may be important. James got me thinking with what he said."

"Okay. I guess that's not a bad idea," I grudgingly conceded, not having a clue what she was talking about but realizing surrender would be the fastest way to the shower. "Hey, you just keep a sample kit clunking around in your backpack?"

"Yeah. You don't?"

"I, uh... No. No I don't. Why the hay would I do that?"

"In case something interesting happens?" She used a sterile cotton swab to scoop the plentiful sludge from my messy mane into several small vials, then sealed them and activated the cold pack. "That'll keep them fresh for several days at a minimum," she declared with satisfaction. "Wanna get cleaned up now?"

"You don't have to tell me twice." I bolted for the bathroom like a guided missile.

"Ahh, yeah, right there," Cadance moaned, slouching in James's lap, up to her chin in the warm, bubbly water.

"Feeling better?" He gently massaged her shoulders and neck, being careful of the tender spots. The angry purple bruises on her throat had made it look as if someone tried to strangle her.

"So much better, thank you," she sighed. "Look, I can almost turn my head now." She very slowly ratcheted her neck one way, then the other. It still looked painful, but I could see even that much freedom of movement was a relief for the poor mare.

"I'm just, like, really glad you're not dead," Mia offered, sitting on the opposite side from me, although she wasn't particularly far away given the size of the tub. "You have no idea how bad it looked."

"It would take more than that to kill an Alicorn," Cadance said cheerfully. "Although hurting us real bad is still easily possible," she added, much less cheerfully. "Ouch. But it's okay. I don't care what happened to myself as long as you guys are safe. I regret that I made you a promise, and so far I've done a terrible job of keeping it."

"Stop." Mia patted her cheek. "That wasn't your fault. None of us blame you."

"I blame me," Cadance frowned. "I got taken out by a door. A stupid DOOR. I was rendered completely worthless by an inanimate object! What kind of Princess is that? I'm an embarrassment!"

"An embarrassment?" I scowled. "You'd better stop before I get mad. Nobody talks trash about my friends. Not even my friends."

Cadance giggled. "Is that so?"

"Yes. Keep it up and I'll have James do something to you."

"Huh?" James grunted distractedly, petting Cadance's mane.

"Maybe he'd like that," she mused, carefully leaning back against his chest. "Um. Is there a baseball bat between your legs, or are you just happy to have me sitting against your crotch, sweetie?"

James blushed redly. "I, I.." he trailed off, looking guiltily at me.

I smiled and snuggled up against him. "It's okay," I purred. "I like her."

"If you guys want to fuck her, I'll hold the camera," Mia said tactlessly from the other side of James. "But I want my turn, too."

"You could just use the tripod in my luggage," Cadance suggested, equally shamelessly. "Then you don't have to wait." She frowned a bit. "Although I don't think I'm quite up to it just yet, with my body the way it is. I don't think I could give James very good head right now, with this achy neck. Maybe in a day or two?"

"I think I'll survive without it," James said.

Cadance looked disappointed. "You don't want me to suck your dick?"

"I'd love that, but if your neck hurts, you don't have to."

"I don't want to disappoint you. Maybe we should just wait."

"Or maybe," James suggested, "You could just keep your head forwards,"

"Yes?"

"Scoot back a little,"

"Like this?"

"Yeah. And I could just stick it inside, like this!"

"Oh my! Oh my goodness! Your dick is inside me!"

"Is that okay?"

"Yes!"

"Well, this is disappointing," Mia frowned, watching Cadance bounce against James under the water. "I was looking forward to this, and I can't even see anything."

I giggled. "Well, its-"

"Ow!" Cadance yelped.

"Are you okay?" James asked worriedly. "Did I do something?"

"No, it's not you. My neck. I'm so sorry. It hurts. I think we'll have to finish this later."

"Damn." James rubbed her carefully. "That really sucks."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to... to..."

"Blueball him?" Mia asked helpfully.

Cadance grimaced. "Yeah. That's not my thing. Honest." She swished about in the water, eventually coming to rest beside Mia. "Eris, sweetie, do you think you can help him out? Please?"

"If I have to," I grumbled, crawling into James's lap and straddling him. "Sex toy Eris, at your service. Go ahead and finish whatev-eeep!" I squealed when he grabbed me around the waist and thrust vigorously, his cock instantly going all the way inside me in a single stroke. "Ohhhh craaaaap!"

Mia idly rubbed Cadance's neck while they both watched us calmly. "You're right," the Princess finally said. "Not really much to look at with all the bubbles, although it is kinda hot that I know what they're doing under the water."

"I-what-eeek-aiee!" I squeaked indignantly in time with the bouncing, very annoyed by their lack of interest in the dicking I was receiving.

"This feels familiar," Cadance said mildly. "Almost like the hot spring. But we're a lot closer together here. Or maybe I could just..."

Her horn glowed, and suddenly my nipples were being remotely squeezed. "Oh! My! Goodness!"

"Nice idea," Mia said, slinking closer. "I want to have fun too." She grinned and slid behind me.

"Hey-what-are-you-" I began suspiciously, trying to see her.

The next thing I knew, someone was playing with my butt. "Hey! What? Eeeek!" I yelped when a finger popped in. "Mia! What-are-you-d- Ahhhh!" I gasped. "Ah! Ahhh!"

"Definitely more fun now," Cadance purred, flicking my teats. "Any time now. Come on, Eris. i know you're sensiti- Aha! There we go!"

"Ahhhh!" I moaned, my pussy tightening up on James's cock until he squashed me against his chest and strained, blowing his load up inside me. "Uh! Ahhh! Yes!"

I finally collapsed against his chest. "Better?" I asked weakly, nuzzling his neck.

"Yeah. Thank you." He stroked my back softly.

"I just gave my boss the finger," Mia giggled from behind me, shoving her hand around in front of my face and extending one finger. "Hey! Eris!"

"What?"

"Smell my finger!" She jammed it against my nose so I had no other option.

"Smells like bubblebath, duh," I lied. It actually smelled like my butt, regardless of the water it had passed through. "Nice try, though."

"You guys are hilarious," Cadance chuckled. "Ow! My neck! I can't be laughing like this!"

"Can't avoid it, either," Mia said evilly, shoving her dirty finger into Cadance's face next.

"Wha-? Eeeek!"

"So, I'm really starting to wonder," I said, idly swishing my back hooves in the bubbly water after Cadance had telekinetically forced Mia's hand under for a good thirty seconds. "Why are tentacles so popular with these monsters? Like, I don't even think they're all from the same place. Yet there are so many that use creepy, nasty tentacles."

"Hmm." James nodded his head thoughtfully. "Maybe it's just common because it works where they're from? Look at our Earth. Most of the land creatures there use some variation of legs and arms, like it's the thing there. Some have more, some have less, but there's a lot that use different styles of the same thing, and usually there's four limbs." The tone of his voice when he said "our Earth" implied that it was mine, too. He'd momentarily forgotten Equestria was my home. For some reason I found that sweet. I poked his foot gently with my hoof under the water.

"Same here," Cadance added. "Four limbs is common."

"Insects are different," Mia said, looking sadly at her now-clean finger. "Damn, it doesn't smell like anything now. Maybe if I put it up my own ass?"

"How about no?" I said quickly, before returning to my previous topic. "But still, insects mostly use legs and joints, just a lot of them. I think wherever these creatures come from, evolution or whatever took a different path and said 'hey, tentacles are a great thing and we don't need legs or arms at all!' Or maybe, just never considered anything else because the tentacles worked fine."

"Makes me wonder what the environment over there in their worlds looks like," James mused.

"I'm kind of scared to imagine," Mia said thoughtfully. "Many of the creatures we see from the incursions are incredibly dangerous. It's as if they're designed to survive in the most inhospitable, lethal environments. I think wherever they come from, it must be like Hell. Remember, the ones we capture and hold at Menagerie are the small fry. The really dangerous ones, like Shub-Niggurath? Things like the goat-licker and the rest of our captured no-petting zoo are, like, a tiny amoeba compared to a true Eldritch abomination."

The more I thought about it, the more I agreed with her. The worlds these creatures cane from must be a true nightmare, and they were smaller than bugs compared to the true power of a major entity. Thankfully none of the really big ones had come through into either world. Not that we knew of, at least. I shuddered despite the warm water and friends pressing against me, any glow I had from the quickie with James fading before the growing blackness of pure evil I gazed into with my mind's eye. Deep below my subconscious, eldritch things swam and crawled, and horrors stalked the horizons of dark, cursed worlds, their tentacles slithering upon the blasted lands, and their baleful eyes glowing above the tainted, poisonous clouds. Evil touched me, chilling me inside, and I shook with primal fear, alone, screaming silently in a forgotten place of timeless terror.

"Cadance?" Mia asked, her sweet voice yanking me from my strange, unwanted reverie of horror, stripping away the twisted, topsy-turvy dream universe that sits not so very far from our own.

Or was it just my imagination?

"Yes, honey?" Cadance cocked her head at Mia.

"May I stick my finger up your butt?"

"Later, sweetie. I think we need to get dressed now before we all turn into prunes."

"Aww. No fun allowed."