Sometime later the first party arrived at the historical museum. Celestia and Luna let themselves in, discovered a makeshift bed made from stacked up sheets, and placed the still unconscious Cadance atop it. They took a moment to soak in their surroundings; the suits of armor from around different parts of the world, weapons behind cases which hadn't been smashed in, displays with plaques which relaid all kind of information about them. Traces of dust floated in the air.

The siblings settled in. Washing their faces in the restroom, and sipping from a fountain, they discovered a stockpile of canned food, some old utensils, and a can opener, no doubt collected by Wallflower, which they helped themselves to.

There were also a number of vending machines which for the most part had long been emptied. The few items that remained were likely stale by now, not that they particularly cared under the circumstances.

“I think I understand now.” Luna caressed a glass surface. “Somehow the geode bearers are drawing their arsenal from here.”

“That would explain why I couldn't summon up a high-powered firearm,” said Adagio as she and the Dazzlings entered. “Mmm, nothing too modern here. It seems a musket is the best I could hope for? Perhaps a rifle with bayonet?”

Aria leaned on their youngest sister for support. “I feel kind of sick.”

“You need more blood, that's why!” Sonata helped her sit on a bench. “Can't be from another vamp, so...”

Celestia swallowed hard. “Allow me.” She offered up the largest pair of melons any of them had ever seen. They added to her motherly appearance, the way most of her students had seen her, ever since she'd taken care of them. “Drink.”

She knew there wasn't time for shame or hesitation. Drawing the middle siren close in her arms, she jutted out her milky mounds, pale and veiny much like Rarity's, and topped by quite wide nipples. Aria couldn't help but salivate at the sight and sunk her fangs into a wobbly udder. A moan escaped the former Principal when she nursed from her.

The pair slumped with Aria atop her while she siphoned her warm sweetness, her lips pressed around her wide areola. They lost themselves in the moment, Celestia's eyes rolling into her head as her lashes fluttered, her erect nub licked, tugged, and nibbled on, her slit watering with need. They intertwined, completely lost in the moment, oblivious to their audience.

“Utterly shameless,” observed Trixie who was thankful no one could see the damp patch in the crotch of her panties.

Celestia's mounds slowly rose-and-fell once the vamp withdrew. “Are you...satisfied?”

“Yeah.” Aria wiped her lips with the back of her hand. “I feel like a new woman.”

“Good.” She sat up. “I can't help but feel like I personally failed the Dazzlings. I took you into Canterlot Academy to provide you with a second chance. Luna said I should watch you closer, but I feared if we did so, you would be driven back to your old ways. Our students are like our daughters and sons to us. It's unfortunate we weren't better teachers.”

Adagio crossed her arms. “We've always been bad.” The sirens had to remind themselves this wasn't their Celestia and Luna. “At worst, we would've had to act more subtle and clever, but the scheming wouldn't have stopped.”

“Even so...” Luna frowned, still by Cadance's side. “I too must somehow make amends.”

While they waited Aria stared at a blade, which she twirled about, Sonata poked at the geode taken from Chrysalis which now hung between her heavy breasts, and Adagio paced about reminiscing over a lifetime of mistakes. With Cadance slumbering between them, Celestia and Luna tended to Cadance, considering her the third sister they'd never had.

Sometime later Flash pulled his sports car up to the historical preserve with his allies in tow. The dark building loomed ahead in an almost ominous manner, cast in a rust-colored shade by the dreary skies. He drummed the steering wheel. “You ready for this? The Dazzlings are inside, remember. It's understandable if you're not ready to face them.”

“I'll be fine.” Twilight stepped out carrying the soul jars in her arms.

Sunset stepped off her motorbike near them. “Can I speak with you two?”

Tree Hugger said, “Chickadees, let's head in and give them some space, okay?” She linked arms with AJ and Pinkie, then waltzed into the double doors which were left unlocked. “You coming, babe?”

“Huh? Oh, yes!” Fluttershy continued to look uncomfortably at the shells of Rarity, Rainbow, and Moondancer, who sat in the back seat. “Come on, you two!” Spike and the sphinx trotted beside her, the former almost casual, the latter with her head upturned.

Sunset waited until they were left alone. “So, about these soul jars-” She caressed one of them, attempted to sense what was within, and was immediately assaulted by a cold, lonesome sensation, like the inhabitant was trapped in some frigid hellscape. She withdrew and shook her hand like it was about to freeze and shatter. “Ouch! To think, they're-”

“Don't touch them,” stated Twi coldly as she twisted away. “You don't have the right.”

“Come on now,” started Flash but she shut him down with a stare.

“There's still a chance we can free them. I'd do it myself if I didn't need to put an end to this,” said Sunset.

“You don't get to drag us all down into this shit and then play the martyr! Shining Armor, Moondancer, Rarity, Rainbow Dash.... They're all dead! Not to mention poor Cadance will probably never recover! And now I find out you're butt-buddies with the sirens! Bad enough Adagio almost stole you away from me before, but now I think I should've let her!”

“A little harsh-” He tried to step between them, but Twilight took a step forward, and slapped her across the face.

The blow stung and left a red mark on Sunset's cheek. She simply took it, almost moved to tears, uncertain whether she deserved it. For a moment Twi hesitated, and opened her mouth to speak, but instead spun on her heel and stormed off. “Hey.” He looked between them several times, then crouched beside Shimmer and held her. “They'll all come around. Eventually.”

“You're too sweet,” she mumbled between sniffles while seated next to him.

“Not really. Just playing the white knight to a cute girl,” he teased brushing a lock clinging to her teary cheek. “Hey now. Ready to try and return my memories? Whatever's hiding in there, I'd like to face it.”

She nodded with another sniff while he wiped her face. “You might hate me like everyone else.”

Flash tightened his hold. “I could never hate you.” He closed his eyes and relaxed when she placed her palms upon his cheeks. “You're so warm and soft. No wonder I fell in love with you Must admit I was crushing on Tree Hugger, but sadly she's taken. Ah, well. Don't think it could've worked out, even if she was single. I think she prefers pie over sausage.”

She playfully kneed him while he chuckled. Diving into his psyche, she connected their minds and souls, unlocking what buried memories she could when she dived in, and filling in the gaps the best she could wherever possible. He sighed softly with her when she gently massaged his temples while she worked. He would smile, then wince at a particularly painful memory.

Finally she withdrew. “So...how do you feel now?”

He allowed himself a moment to let his jumbled memories sink in, rubbing the back of his head. “A little fuzzy and confused, I'll admit. But what words can't convey...” He suddenly pulled her into a deep kiss. She froze up in surprise for a moment, but relaxed into him, relieved that at least he'd seemingly forgiven her. He dislodged and met her eyes. “I still love you.”

“But...what about Twilight? I really messed up bad with her. She might never let this go.”

“I'm not sure we're too compatible, anyhow. I think she needs a brainier guy.” He shrugged.

“Hey, I'm hardly a dummy, either. I used to be rivals with her Equestrian counterpart,” she reminded with an elbow to his ribs.

He chuckled. “Not what I meant. She's simply a very details-oriented person, very technical and obsessive. She wants someone that can keep up with her in the lab. You provided that. But now? She probably would've moved onto Moondancer, if...”

“I know. I still feel terrible about that. I should've listened to you. But no one came up with a better plan, so I felt like I didn't have a choice. Sure, we got our geodes back, but the price was too high.” She sunk further into his strong arms, letting him comfort her for once. They desperately wished to make love, but reminded themselves now wasn't the time.

“We should head inside.” In truth he wanted to sit here with her forever.

“Yeah.” She soaked in his body heat and listened to his heartbeat for several moments. It's like they were falling in love all over again. Maybe it was just the constant danger pushing them closer together. Or perhaps because by linking their spirits momentarily, they'd seen previously hidden parts of one-another, which offered them another layer of intimacy.

The Dazzlings stood united once more, hands linked with Adagio at the center, when the newcomers arrived to confront them. Dim lights fell across the shadowy interior. As their leader, she felt responsible for the bulk of their crimes. By this point Sonata had almost been accepted back into society, but she and Aria accepted that simply wouldn't be possible for them.

Applejack balled up her fists when she looked at them. “There's the stinkin' varmints.” Flanked by her friends, including the soulless shells of the murdered Rainbooms, they coldly stared down the sirens who struggled to hold their gaze.

“I want to hear it from them,” said Fluttershy. “Is it true you killed Rarity and Rainbow Dash?”

“Y-yeah,” admitted Aria. Of course Rarity had been mortally wounded by Dash in their battle, but she decided not to mention that, figuring it would sound like an excuse, or worse a justification. After all, neither of them would've been in that situation to begin with if they hadn't kidnapped her. “I know there's no way we can ever make up for that-”

“No you can't,” cut in Twilight. “Rarity, Rainbow, step forward.” The doll-like women did as instructed. She wandered them to see the results of their actions. Adagio and Aria visibly blanched when they saw their empty, pale forms. “They may as well be dead still. It's only thanks to Somnambula's weird fusion of science and magic that they're even in this preserved state!”

Pinkie plucked the soul jars from her arms and laid them out. “And their spirits are now trapped inside by what she called the pharaoh's curse! Basically, someone has to trade themselves into them to set them free!”

“We'll do it,” volunteered Aria who started to step forward.

AJ decked her so hard she busted her lip and sent her sprawling to the floor. “Hold your horses! You don't get out that easily!”

Sonata ran to her sister's side and crouched by her. “Why do you have to be so mean?! They're trying to change!”

“You're all nothin' but mass-murderers so far as I'm concerned!” The cowgirl stamped a foot, fuming with righteous indignation. “Just because Sunset decided ya'll should have a second chance doesn't mean we're onboard!”

“It's clear there's no way we can win with you,” observed Adagio. “You don't have to like us. But we do wish to help.”

“I think we should let them,” said Pinkie. “I mean, if we could have our friends back...”

“It's like a cold and lonely sort of purgatory in those jars,” warned Sunset when she and Flash entered. “Plus, the trade can only be made once. It's bad enough to think Rarity and Rainbow Dash had to spend this small amount of time in there, but imagine that for all eternity? Are you two really prepared to endure that sort of nightmare?”

“Don't do it,” begged Sonata who pouted and went moist-eyed.

“We have to,” said Aria who wiped her bloodied lip.

Fluttershy studied everyone. “Why don't we put it to a vote? That's only fair, after all.”

“The democratic approach,” said Tree Hugger. “Should I sit this one out? I'm not part of your inner circle, you know?”

“Nah, you're one of us. Flash, Trixie, and Moondancer too, before, ya know...” AJ shook her head. “Celestia and Luna, too. I'd say Cadance, but she's kinda out cold. Not sure the poor woman'll ever be in her right mind again!”

Trixie's eyes darted about. “What about Wallflower? She never returned, did she?”

“I'm worried about her,” admitted Sunset. “Inky and Pacific are no-shows, too...” Worse still there was no trace of Sombra.

“We'll have to start without them. Here.” Twilight laid out the collars, clicking her own into place. “A shame we couldn't complete these sooner. Let's all think this over before we make our decision. After all, this can only be done once.”

Sonata chewed her lower lip. “Do we get a vote?”

“I think they should,” interjected Tree Hugger. “They are, like, involved after all?”

Twilight couldn't help but sigh. “Sure, I suppose.” She couldn't hold back her disdain at the murderers of her brother whenever she saw the Dazzlings. “You've stolen everything from me,” she whispered wiping her fogged-over glasses.

No matter how much Sunset wanted to comfort her, she knew better by now and kept her distance. For a moment Flash looked between them, uncertain who needed him more, but Shimmer subtly nodded once, and he went to comfort Sparkle the best he could. She lowered her head pensively, then smiled when Trixie took her hand. At least someone else was still on her side.

Around here everyone did their best to relax, despite the tension in the atmosphere. Most of them paired off into small parties of their own. Out of the corner of her eye she saw that Spike and the sphinx had escalated from wrestling to full on getting it on, growling and pawing at each other as one rolled atop the other, constantly fighting for dominance.

By this point she was straddling him, her breasts hanging and slapping together while she took his knot. His claws dug hard enough into her wide buttocks to draw blood, the pair covered in lots of little bites and scratches from their mating ritual.

The duo howled when they came, his spunk heating up her uterus, while she splashed over his messy fur. Her eyes and lashes fluttered and he collapsed unconscious in defeat, the creatures panting as he remained locked inside her cunt.

With a blush Sunset forced herself to finally revert her eyes. She sat and pressed her legs together while she leaned upon a wall, wishing she could pull away Flash to a restroom and take him right then. Heck, she was so horny she'd almost be willing to do it with him right there in front of everyone. But she reminded herself they already looked down enough on her already!

No, she had to stay focused. All that mattered to her right now was the fate of the Dazzlings.

Inky Rose drifted down the road with no clear destination in mind. She'd taken Luna's sleek black car, almost hearse-like, which suited the goth woman. She'd set Pacific Glow in the passenger's seat and wrapped her neck in silky strips she'd fashioned into a sort of sheer scarf. By this point, she wasn't certain what to do anymore. She wished Sunny was still with them.

“This world is shit,” she said bitterly. “Maybe it should all end.” She and her sister had been crapped on most of their lives. They thought Sombra would provide the comfort and affection they craved. And he had, for some time. They'd restrained his worst impulses back at The Shadow Dimensions, tried to make him a better man, despite his rather dark ambitions.

But when the time came to choose between them and his goals? He'd decided they were weights around his neck, that their love made him weak, and that they needed to be sacrificed to move forward. But she knew friends could make one just as strong if not stronger. She'd seen the bonds between the Rainbooms that allowed them to overcome the often divided Dazzlings.

She studied her mascara-streaked face in the rear-view mirror. What had Sunny been blathering about? Finding the source of this pandemonium? But where could that be? She carefully considered all the possibilities.

Pacific's crazed eyes popped open. Reduced to little more than a wild animal with her imperfect revival, she pounced upon Inky, the car swerving out of control as she attempted to sink her teeth into her. “Sister?! Stop it!”

She fought for control of the wheel, swerving all over the road, narrowly avoiding the snap of jaws. Warm drool splatted over her. Glow was all instinct now, craving blood in the hopes of restoring herself. The vehicle spun out of control, veered off the road, and careened into it slammed sideways into a tree, Glow chucked through the windshield which shattered.

Inky's face slammed into the wheel. She blacked out for a moment. Blood dripped down her face, dizzied and sweaty, the horn blaring. Trembling hands undid her buckle. She kicked open her crunched door and stumbled out.

“Pacific,” she murmured looking at her sister's broken, twisted body lying bloodied in the dirt. “I'll fix you. I swear it!” She stumbled over to her, kneeling down and cradling her slumbering form.

What she didn't know was that Sombra had rode with her here. At her leisurely pace she hadn't traveled more than a number of miles, and he'd distantly followed her on a bicycle he'd found (Despite how undignified it made him feel), then when she'd made a stop he'd hidden himself in the unlocked trunk, which he now pried open and hopped out. After he'd drank quite a dollop of Wallflower's blood, he'd discovered he inherited an incomplete but nonetheless effective copy of her power.

When he concentrated he camouflaged himself, bleeding into the scenery, which made him rather difficult to see, especially when he was still. Her back was turned when he crept over, his claws extended. She shrieked when he seized her.

“Thought you'd ditched me, huh?” He wrapped a hand around her midsection, and another around her throat, choking her. “Pacific Glow was nothing but a slutty bimbo. But you? You were always my favorite. Sharp, thoughtful, well-read...” He continued to compress her neck, threatening to snap it, while he slid away her sheer garments, leaving her nude.

He tossed her onto her back, spread her thighs, and closed his mouth around her pubic mound, sinking his fangs into it. She winced and went rigid. Pain quickly gave way to pleasure which coursed through her like electricity. Losing it almost immediately when he attacked such a sensitive part of her, Rose's eyes rolled into her head, her face twisting in a lewd manner when she gushed directly into his mouth. He greedily drank it down as she repeatedly squirted down his throat.

Careful not to take too much, just enough to make him stronger and leave her weak, he finally withdrew. Her sweaty tits rapidly rose-and-fell when he licked his chops. “I killed Pacific because I couldn't risk her alerting the others. But you?” He seized a handful of her hair and pulled her head back, pressing his face so close she smelled his breath. “You're my whore again.”

She hatefully met his stare, once more his prisoner. Seeing nothing suitable to bind her with, he choked her out instead, depositing her unconscious form and Pacific's into the car. He tested the rattling machine and was relieved to see it was still running, albeit poorly as it sputtered and rattled. Of course it hopefully wouldn't have to take them far.

Having overheard them talking about a historical weapon preserve, he headed in that direction...

Author's Notes:

Sorry if this is a bit short, it's mostly character development/set up for the building climax in the next few chapters!