Fancy Pants had dreaded this moment, but he couldn't put if off any longer. At least he'd managed to convince the other leaders to hold the assembly in Los Pegasus, despite many arguing it should take place in a neutral territory. However his argument that his city had by far the most room and resources had eventually swayed them.

Over a few years of concentrated labor, aided by other races such as dragons, griffins, and changelings pitching in, rendered the entire area now dotted in buildings.

It was a mixture of culture and hedonism that some called sinful and felt brought ill-fortune to Equestria. But to him it was a symbol of their determination to survive and even thrive despite the circumstances. They met in a coliseum built into the center of the this civilization, each of the representatives taking their place in separate stands until it was their turn to be called.

Grandpa Gruff came as an envoy for his dying species, the tough old bastard looking nasty as ever, not helped by the fact he was now so old he was practically mummified.

After the death of his brother Pharynx had taken over Thorax's duties to repopulate the hive, and while the few survivors had retreated deep underground after most of them had been wiped out trying to aid their allies the ponies, they had finally managed to replenish their numbers to a respectable size.

Lastly there was Smolder, looking a bit more like the former Dragon Lord Ember now that the years had taken their toll and forced her to grow up fast.

There were also other ponies and creatures from what some deemed the 'lesser' races here to make a showing. From what he knew all the yaks and buffaloes had been wiped out by the Smooze a long time ago. The deers refused to put in an appearance like always, having blamed the others for defiling the land and retreating deep into the wildest parts of the Everfree, rumored to kill anypony unfortunate enough to stumble on their hiding places. Even now tensions remained high.

Chancellor Neighsay maintained his rather pretentious title after all this time, speaking into his microphone from his stand. “Everypony, be silent,” he called across the arena where thousands were seated. He waited until the crowds of various faces quieted down. “Fancy Pants, speaker for Los Pegasus, please take your place before us.”

“Be careful out there,” warned Fleur who traded a kiss with him.

“Of course my love.” He lifted his head up high and made his way down the steps, onto the stage in the middle, where a mic was situated on a stand, all eyes upon him, judging his every mannerism. He cleared his throat. “Welcome, all those who've come from all over Equestria. I'm not here to waste your time with drawn-out speeches so I'll get straight to the point. Equestria is dying. Our most powerful mages can't continue to raise and lower the sun and moon forever. If we're unable to find a suitable alternative within a few years, will have to choose whether to let permanent light or darkness set in.”

There was an uproar as the mobs broke into debate and fear-mongering, just like he'd feared, but he hoped somepony would be able to find an alternative solution before they were all doomed. “Order,” called Neighsay whose brow wrinkled. “Order!” The sound of a gavel slamming echoed from his mic. “This is all because you're too soft on criminals! Do you really think they can be reformed? And assuming they can, are we really going to waste resources on them? Perhaps we should force them to serve the community they've wronged, making them do the hard labor, in reparation for all they've cost us!”

He tried to argue back, only to be shouted down from all directions, but it was clear the sentiments were ugly all over. He almost started to shake, feeling helpless, but instead took a deep breath, touching a magic ring in his jacket's breast pocket he kept in case of emergencies. It only had enough charge for one long-range teleport.

So far as he knew there were only a few mages left that could use teleportation spells; Starlight Glimmer, Flurry Heart whose attempts often back-fired and could only reach short distances, and Trixie who suffered the same problems as Flurry, plus she seemed to need the aid of smoke bombs to achieve that. Sunburst had given the ring to him as a parting gift before he and Starlight vanished on an aimless spiritual journey to find who he was now.

No, Fancy knew he couldn't run from the arena over something so trivial. His ears twitched as a dull roar sounded somewhere far in the distance. The skies started to darken, something blotting out the sun. Somehow he instinctively knew something had come for the vault. That it would somehow be able to break past the traps and ancient spells woven in to protect the Necronomicon. Breaking with tradition and manners, he signaled to Fleur still in his stand, rushing to meet up with her.

They'd have to brave the underground pit themselves and make certain whatever was coming there way couldn't obtain the dark tome. He met up with his love, summoned what elite guards were nearby, which was thankfully quite a few since he'd made preparations in case of an assassination attempt on any of the elites, and raced with his entourage towards the hidden entrance to the vault. Los Pegasus creaked behind them, but he didn't even look back, even when an emerald flood rushed inward.

Buildings collapsed with a shudder and tumbled inwards. The slime bubbled and leaked inwards. Well over a hundred were swallowed up in the initial attack. But this was only the beginning. A small portion of the Smooze that had made its way there. The larger bulk crept ever closer, pushed by the cult, hungering to mindlessly consume more-and-more, growing larger still...

Trixie's tour took her across the entire continent over-and-over, her legend growing all the time, especially now that this world's equivalents of Lavender Lace and Fuschia Blush were there to support her. Strangest of all ever since the Necronomicon's power had transformed her into a human, she hadn't aged a day, still locked in this incredibly fetching and exotic form.

Nudity wasn't a taboo in Equestria, something she exploited in every way she could, from the thrill she got walking around naked save for her pointy hat, starry cape, high-heeled boots and gloves which covered most of her arms and legs, to the way she could strip on stage, the onlookers cheering in approval and throwing an excess of bits her way.

Of course it helped she'd often invite a lucky stallion backstage after each show and let them rail her. Lavender and Fuschia also joined in, allowing the colts of their choice to take turns with them. She bent herself over a sizable bed, stripping away her cape but leaving her hat, boots, and fingerless gloves, holding the hooves of her assistants who were currently being mounted beside her. They picked the most handsome and virile volunteers they could find, the best-looking one currently pounding away at her. Her sweaty breasts slapped with each thrust, and she moaned loudly, filling his comparatively oversized cock fill her.

“Yes! Wreck Trixie's unbearably tight and moist pussy! Pound it into hamburger you limp-dicked wuss!” She loved to taunt them to ride her harder, making it clear she'd had much better in the past, which pushed them to try nailing her even harder.

She giggled at Fuschia and Lavender who were biting into the sheets, overwhelmed by the intensity of their muscular steeds hammering relentlessly into them, puddles of their moisture dripping down their loins to pool below. A knock sounded outside her door. “Go away, asshole! The next show doesn't start for well over an hour!”

“It's Shining Armor. We've come a long way to see you,” he called from outside.

“Fine,” she said with a roll of her eyes, thankful that somehow she was able to manifest a unicorn's horn from her forehead at will, which popped up and lit up when she unlocked the door. “Don't stop,” she warned the stallion who'd paused, then reluctantly continued despite the audience that was headed their way. It's not that she wasn't happy to see him. Just that his timing was terrible when she was so close to edging onto another orgasm before he'd interrupted her!

The paladin trotted inside, looking away from the trio who were currently being serviced. Not that he didn't find them appealing, quite the opposite from how he felt his stallionhood stir from its sheath despite his attempts to hold back, but he told himself this wasn't the time for baser pleasures. “I'll be frank. We're in trouble, Trixie. We could use your help.”

She panted with her sidekicks, their faces flushed over. “Hmmm,” she amanged between moans. “But I...unf...am earning...ah...tons of bits! Not to mention...mmph,” she cried as the steed fucking her slapped her wobbly blue bottom hard. “I'm having so much fun!” She did her best to meet Shining's gaze, twisting her face into the lewdest expression she could muster. “Tell you what. Fuck me and I'll think about it. Hurry up and cum already,” she ordered her current rider.

The volunteer snorted in frustration, slamming into her with renewed vigor, reaching to knead Fuschia's and Lavender's ample asses in order to help him unload his balls quickly. Within a few moment he finally whinnied, spurt-after-spurt erupting deep into her love tunnel. Once he finished she push him off and dismissed him with a wave, the colt glaring at Shining as he left.

Shining was thankful he'd told Flurry to wait back in the small villa. He steeled himself. She'd certainly never been unattractive, but ever since Sunset's loss he'd sworn off sex, throwing himself into his crusade instead. He slowly removed his armor, setting it aside with all the knick-knacks scattered about the room, and came behind Trixie, planting hooves upon her buttocks.

“Don't be shy,” she said shaking her rump back-and-forth. “It's been quite some time but we've done this plenty of times before. Our are you growing impotent with old age?” He looked at her cunt still oozing semen mixed with her own liquids, and already a bit annoyed with her, lined his cock up with her pink little asshole instead, gritting his teeth as he drove it into her.

“N-naughty,” she hissed widening her eyes. “Going in dry? W-well, the Great and Powerful Trixie can take it! Do your worst! Pound my ass until it prolapses!” She'd reserved her bottle of Sunburst's healing elixir in case of such an emergency. Not that she thought it likely, but she liked it pretty rough, both giving and taking it!

He didn't show her any mercy though, biting the nape of her neck to make her submit. Somehow she'd always been able to get into his head and work him up. But he had to admit the way her smug words and even smugger demeanor worked him up like crazy, not helped by how long he'd denied himself even masturbation. He slammed into her, smacking her blue ass red on both cheeks, and her tongue lolled comically from her mouth, eyes rolling all the way into her head as he nailed her.

Eventually the steeds fired their loads into Fuschia and Lavender, withdrawing in a string of their mixed excretions, and he grunted too, emptying his nuts into her warm sphincter. Once he'd finished he seized her by the mane, dragging her face to his crotch as he still stood raised on his hindlegs, wiping his thick cock over her face. He smeared his seed all over her, bits of it dripping from her lips, smacking a dick that almost dwarfed what she should be able to take on her face several times.

Trixie waved to dismiss the pair of satisfied volunteers. “Fuschia, Lavender, get your cute asses over here!” She took the lead, milking the last traces of his cum into her wide open mouth, the white hot milk dripping onto her extended tongue. Her sidekicks lapped at his testicles and his dark veiny shaft sloppily, lapping up the stray drops the stage magician missed.

“Mmmm,” whispered Trixie who stared with half-lidded eyes into his own. “Not bad. I'll come, on a condition. I want you to service us in our downtime, okay? I don't care who else you fuck, so long as you come home to me on occasion.”

“That wasn't part of the deal,” he wheezed, trying not to surrender to his lusts.

“You're going to turn down free mare pussy? What's wrong with you?! Drop the overly noble, sentimental crap! What's wrong with getting laid? We're all clean, we're beautiful, and I'd think Cadance and Sunset would want you to move the hell on already! Besides, you bear a responsibility to me, since you ran off after I finally bored your child!”

He stared at her, blinking. “...what?”

“Indeed.” She smirked, squeezing his wet penis. “I'll show you later.”

Deciding to table this for now, he cantered back to his armor. “The rest of my crew's in the villa, enjoying their downtime. Come meet with them when you're ready.” He washed his junk with a warm basin of water Trixie kept to clean them after their love-making sessions, slipped back into his armor, and headed out, his head still spinning from the revelation.

Not that he hadn't fathered plenty of foals for the breeding program that the Princesses had set up. Unfortunately the enemy had twisted that and enslaved mares and stallions in breeding farms. When the Four Horses of the Apocalypse had attacked his camp, many of his offspring had died horribly, a number of them trying to defend the encampment.

That still haunted him and Nurse Redheart to his day. The latter still harbored anger at Sunburst for his role in the attack, despite the fact that he'd renounced his title as Pestilence and tried to make amends. It seemed leaving the past behind to die wouldn't be so easy.

Consulting the meticulously detailed map to be certain, Fancy Pants made his way down the labyrinthine tunnels into the pit, Fleur and a number of guards close at hoof. He took the correct paths to evade the traps, one of the stallions carrying a torch to light their way, hurrying deeper-and-deeper. He wasted no time, focused solely on their destination.

Within an hour they eventually reached the innermost portion where a set of huge double-doors lined with runes awaited. Only a few knew the words needed to open the seal. But somehow he sensed whatever was coming this way would be able to break in. “You shouldn't have come, Fleur. I thought you were safer here, but...I have this terrible feeling I'll lose you again.”

“Never! I will not allow it!” She pecked his lined snout which she thought only made him more handsome.

He smiled weakly, and started to speak the alien words, disabling the layers-upon-layers of spells that bound the gates one-after-another. Then the entire area started to creak, sediment raining from the ceiling, and one of the guards toppling under the impact. “They're here. Defend us with your lives!” The soldiers snapped to obey.

He hated to potentially send them to their likely deaths. But this was far bigger than any of them. Even his beloved Fleur. His eyes misted once he heard the sounds of metal clashing and the hiss of spells being fired. Hoofsteps echoed ever closer. He realized they were too late. He lowered his snout, carefully debating his next course of action.

“Fleur de Lis. Love of my life.” He sat on his haunches, and she did the same, the married couple facing one-another. “I...have a gift for you. Offer me your horn.” She bowed her head to do so, and he plucked the magic ring from his jacket pocket, tenderly placing it upon her horn. “You mean everything to me. I want you to know that.”

“Where is this coming from? Of course I do!” Her cheeks pinkened when he kissed her temple.

“Then maybe someday you'll understand what I'm about to do...and forgive me.” He read the markings etched onto the ring, which lit up, as the tunnels came crashing down behind him, a flood of green slime overrun with preserved carcasses spilling down every fissure it could find. He smiled with tears in his eyes, holding her hooves as she screamed and was transported away. With a melancholy smile he closed his eyes one last time, a deadly sea washing over him with a crash.

Fleur landed with a thud on her rump, rubbing it. She'd landed somewhere far from Los Pegasus, but from her vantage on a cliff she could see the Smooze descend on Los Pegasus, thousands-upon-thousands wiped out in an instant. She repeated the words he'd spoke to activate the ring, but it had cracked once its charge was used up, only good to transport its wearer.

She sobbed hysterically, slamming her hooves upon stone, kicking up dust in impotent fury. “I hate you, Fancy Pants! I hate you!” She screamed it over the Everfree Forest below, darkness now starting to swallow up the sky.

She collapsed, wailing, her mane messed up as it fell over her face. She wasn't aware how long the choking sobs wracked her slender frame. But she couldn't lay down and feel sorry for herself forever. She eventually stumbled back to her hooves, sniffling. “I love you, Fancy Pants,” she whispered staring at a newly risen moon. “I'll always love you.”

She decided to keep the cracked ring, clambering down the small mountain. It was possible all her friends in Los Pegasus were dead. She'd have to see out Shining Armor and his forces. Were they still alive, maybe they could put this right.

Picking herself up with a fierce stare, she wiped her eyes and nose, burning with hatred for whoever had caused this. She wanted a shot at them. She'd do whatever it took to put them down and quench her thirst for vengeance.

The overflow of the Smooze had smashed in the vault, damaging or outright destroying most of the treasures stored within. However the most savored prize of all remained unharmed; the Necronomicon. The chains and locks had been shattered, freeing a heavy book covered in stitched-together dried flesh, contorted skinned faces of ponies used to craft it.

Mother cantered her way in, flanked by her closest companions, Sunset Shimmer and Bon Bon. She watched the carcasses of the dead slide across the ruined vault atop bubbly slime, including soldiers on both sides, but paid them little heed on the way to her destination. She looked to the bloated corpse of Fancy Pants, shook her head, and stepped over it without another thought.

He was part of the problem. She'd either end this damned world or set it to rights. “There.” She picked up the black book and held it to her bosom. “The start of this nightmare. And hopefully its end.”

Sunset's heart raced at the sight of it. “No! It's pure evil! Nothing good can come of it!” All kinds of buried memories came rushing back. So many deaths. So much of what she'd loved taken from her forever. She'd died to help stop this!

Bon Bon hit Shimmer with the butt of her rifle, bloodying her lip as she knocked her down. “Hush.”

Mother shook her head, offering a hoof to help Sunset up. “It's okay. I understand her reservations.” She tenderly touched her split lip. “I don't enjoy this, but it's necessary. Starlight Glimmer was working on perfecting her time-travel spell. All I need do is find her formula, used the magic from this book, and I can undo all this. And if I can't...then none of us will suffer anymore.”

Sunset watched her with pale eyes, trying to reason with the former maid. “Foal-Bearer...”

Mother shook her head. “She died a long time ago.” She tilted her head awkwardly to one side, where the nemesis had twisted it around when she failed her, her twin Wet Nurse watching in horror as the sisters shared one-another's pain. “She was weak. Dependent on Cadance to survive and the love of Shining Armor to carry her through the day. All I have left is hate.”

Her cult members raided the rest of what could be recovered. Some magical trinkets, weapons and armor that were enchanted, the dead bodies which could be used for experimentation or spare parts. She moved on with her prize in tow, trying never to look back at the sins left in her wake. Compromise now and it would all be for nothing. She had to stay strong.

Author's Notes:

Glad to have Trixie Back! And sad to lose Fancy Pants.