By this point Starlight Glimmer and the Necronomicon were practically one. Her soul was now so stained it was almost completely black; the moment the last vestiges died her spirit would be annihilated. Just like the first cult leader's had been.

She hovered before her captives, surveying the nest of rubbery tentacles which arose from the open grimoire, as they penetrated her prey from all angles. She allowed the tendrils to repeatedly cum on but not in them, figuring that would be the finale!

Hours passed while she lazily toyed with her playthings. Sometimes she would have them taken in a slow, sensuous, almost romantic manner. Other times she would have them roughly plow and drill into their insides, driving her slaves to the edge but not allowing them a full release. Suckers that covered the bottom of the extensions suckled and pulled upon their unmentionables. She laughed and closed her dark eyes, the two-pronged staff dancing in the air next to her.

“You've won,” said Sunburst who bowed his head. “Must you torture them?”

Glimmer fluttered her wings. “Would you prefer if I just killed them?” He didn't answer. “Well, too bad! Hmm, but I do have an idea! Maybe instead of semen...” With a mental command she altered the eldritch abomination to better suit her purposes, like she already had to make it numb the magic of her enemies. “Go ahead! Unload inside them! Just don't blow them up...yet!”

Sunset Shimmer stared down at her transparent form, seeing a coil shoved all the way down her throat, almost making her gag, and another pair shoved up her ass and cunny, distending her belly as they twisted about inside her, pressing all the way beyond her cervix and hitting the walls of her uterus. She saw something similar happening to Blueblood who was whining and weeping the whole time. Not that many of her loved ones fared much better, their brains threatening to break from the strain.

Those who resisted the hardest were punished with particularly brutality. Diamond Tiara was bent over while she was railed from all directions, more coils lashing her back and smacking her wobbling buttocks until they were covered in red welts and bruises. She strained with clenched teeth uselessly around the one in her maw, tears burning in the corners of her eyes.

Vinyl Scratch and Octavia received similar treatment as the slimy extensions savagely molested them. Suckers latched around their teats, pulling them far as they could without ripping them right off, making the pair howl in a mixture of pain and pleasure.

On the opposite end Lyra and Tree Hugger went limp as they waited passively for the horrors to end. And in contrast to both limits of the spectrum both Trixies, Fuschia, Lavender, Beatrix Belladonna, Flurry Heart, Cherry Jubilee, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie wiggled and squirmed no matter how hopeless it seemed. The tentacles started to throb, bloating as liquids filled them, which were pumped directly into the wombs of each mare, bloating them to overfill with aphrodisiacs which made their nethers wink.

A tendril popped out of Flurry's mouth with a plop, slime dripping from her panting mouth. “A...ah...” With glazed-over eyes she looked to Starlight who cupped her chin. “W-why?! You're...supposed to be...a heroine...”

“She used to be,” said Sunburst. “That book makes everypony a monster! Mmmph,” he cried as a tentacle plugged his throat, more ripping his chains apart, as he too was lifted from the crystal throne and violated with the others.

“Maybe now you'll behave,” taunted Glimmer who watched a tendril coil around his shaft while the others penetrated his holes. Of course, it was all fun for now, but she already feared victory would eventually prove dull. She figured that's why a force of nature like Discord had lost; complacency made one sloppy. She would always strive to further improve herself!

Bellies bloated as liquids were pumped into swelling wombs. The excess dripped from ruined snatches and destroyed assholes. Sexual scents obscured the atmosphere, ponies surrendering to their most primal instincts, the need to be thoroughly bred. A number of them clenched down and squirted, howling with shameless euphoria, sanity threatening to dwindle away.

Tears that sparkled like diamonds ran down Sunset's cheeks at the realization she'd failed. She was supposed to be the champion and she'd let everypony down. And now they would pay the price for her incompetence! Had they lost so many and sacrificed so much for naught?! She focused inward, straining, refusing to simply surrender. She'd rage her way into oblivion!

That's when she heard it. The familiar rhythm of the Crystal Heart. Whatever neutralizing witchcraft this abomination worked, it couldn't subdue the relic within her bosom. She focused on it. Concentrated with all her will. Prayed for a savior.

Twilight Sparkle appeared before her, or at least the spirit of her old mentor, with a warm but sad smile. Her heart swelled as she hoped to see more of those lost to her, and Foal-Bearer and Wet Nurse appeared by Twi's sides. She realized her wishes had called to the spirits of the afterlife and they had answered. They wouldn't abandon their chosen champion in their time of need.

Her pristine form shimmered with a blinding brilliance. The radiance passed to the ponies around her. She poured all she could mentally into the Crystal Heart. The tentacles were forced to withdraw under the almost holy light, ponies being dropped around her, and she landed on her hooves, focusing all her energies on the thumping stone in her breast.

Diamond Tiara transformed under the shine, now more resembling her namesake, as she too became a crystal pony. “Babs Seed?! Silver Spoon!” More souls arrived in response to her memories. “Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo! No way!” She sobbed tiny diamonds that twinkled when each drop fell like the snowflakes dancing in the wind.

“Righteous,” mumbled Tree Hugger who watched Mr. Bear materialize before her, followed by Fluttershy. She broke into quiet sobs and embraced them both. “I'm so, so sorry.... It's all my fault what happened to you two...”

Pinkie's straight mane popped back into wild curls when she saw her family and the Cakes appear. She blubbered openly, running into their open forehooves, the group clustered around close. “I...I almost can't believe it!”

Cherry Jubilee waved a foldout fan at Applejack who returned the gesture with her stetson. “Howdy, sweetheart.” She saw more of the extensive Apple family behind her in the distance, always there to support their bloodline.

“Mother...father...” Flurry's lower lip trembled as she looked at her parents who watched her with pride. “Nurse Redheart!”

Lyra swished her tail. “Hey, Derpy! Time Turner!” The doctor appeared in the last incarnation she'd seen her in. She held Octavia's and Vinyl's hooves, the old gang almost all back together. “Bon Bon!” She hopped up-and-down.

“Hey,” called Scratch as she waved at Flitter, Cloudchaser, and Pacific Glow. “You take care now, okay?”

“Sassy Saddles...Coco Pommel...Fleur de Lis...Fancy Pants...Capper...” Rarity sniffled at their sudden entrance. “Spike...” She smiled somberly at the drake. “And...Spike?!” The one from Equestria hurtled overhead, with a trio of heads and beating wide wings. She watched in wonder, the illumination from the Crystal Heart transforming all the living ponies into crystal ponies, as the brilliance spread throughout them and filled them with an almost holy warmth.

All but Starlight Glimmer who retreated, clutching the Necronomicon to her chest. “This is ridiculous!” She saw the Wonderbolts whipping around her, led by a pair of Rainbow Dashes from both worlds, with that familiar cocky smirk. Everywhere she turned more of the dead returned; Lightning Dust, Flash Sentry, Gilda...anypony that they held some attachment to was called back from the afterlife to aid the survivors in their most desperate time of need.

She frantically tried to force the book back open, to locate any blasphemous spell that might somehow counter this, but it refused to open, like even the monstrosities inside feared the Crystal Heart's full power. She screamed as a flood of evil spirits arose from her chest, as she was pinned in place, the taint being forcibly cleansed from within her.

She huffed and wheezed as her senses started to return. She broke down crying in shame at what she'd done. Actions so terrible she could never taken them back. The black book and staff lay discarded a short distance away.

“Starlight...wait...” Sunset looked at her sympathetically, and took a step forward, but Glimmer blinked away, appearing next to Sunburst, and then mare Trixie, who she forcibly took away with her.

“Come back here,” cried Flurry who narrowed her eyes and spread her plume to its full width.

Sunset shook her head. “Maybe we could track her with Time Turner's device...if it hadn't been destroyed. I'm not sure what she'll do now. Negate this timeline? I don't know. What I do know is I don't have much time left.” She hugged Flurry. “I wish I'd spent more time with you. You're like a daughter to me. You've made me proud, and I'll always love you.”

Flurry sniffled and held her back. “Why are you saying goodbye?! Don't go!”

With a warm laugh Sunset said, “I don't think I've got a choice. I had a second chance. I can't complain. But my work here is done. You're the heir to the Crystal Heart...” She held her tight as the tears came, and Shimmer crumbled to crystalline dust like a mummy, slipping like packets of dust between Flurry's forehooves who whimpered as the Crystal Heart manifested in her own bosom and filled her with warmth. Her cutie mark appeared; a tiny trifecta of Celestia's, Luna's, and Cadance's.

It was a terrible burden for any pony. She would have to look after Equestria. She would raise and lower the sun and moon each day. But she looked upon all the crystal ponies who would likely rejoin her in rebuilding the Crystal Empire and knew she'd never be alone. She wiped her face. She'd have to be strong for everypony who was counting on her!

Beatrix Belladonna sparkled when she picked up the Necronomicon and pressed it to her chest. “I have an idea!” She clapped her hands together. "Are you with me, Smooze?" She knew he could read her every thought.

(Indeed. We can make certain this tome never threatens Equestria again,) the Smooze said inside Belladonna's head. They were now bonded. He couldn't leave her or else she'd die. But neither regretted their choice. (Thank you, Beatrix. You are correct. We'll never truly fit into this world. But perhaps something suitable will await us within the pages of the Necronomicon?)

“I can't ask my sister to follow me,” said Beatrix with a frown. “But maybe mother will? I could be awful lonely...”

Human Trixie's ear twitched. “Of course Trixie will! Fuschia? Lavender? How would you two like to take on the grandest adventure of your lives?” She wrapped her arms around her sidekicks who smiled uncomfortably back.

Beatrix approached her half-sister. “You'll have to seal this book away. Sure, the spirits are running scared, but it will always be a risk. Still, the Smooze and I have an idea to deal with it!” She wrapped an arm around her. “You'll be a wonderful Queen!”

“Y-you think so?” Flurry sniffled and tittered. She looked to the spirits of those lost in the war, some she'd never even met but had heard so much about, and beamed wide. “Of course I will! I can't afford to let them all down!” She and the others looked on as the apparitions dissipated one-by-one, as they ascended back to a peaceful afterlife to claim their reward.

None of the spirits had spoken. But no words were needed. Their presence had driven back the darkness. Of course the damage to Equestria couldn't be so easily undone. But the survivors would do their best to rebuild and thrive like they always had. Snow continued to drift around the collection of crystal ponies, who pressed close and basked in one-another's tender warmth.

Author's Notes:

And coming next...the epilogue! Hope you've enjoyed the tale so far!