“I refuse,” stated Shining Armor flatly. “I'd rather die than dishonor myself by working with a villain like you!” He attempted to work a simple spell, the magic flaring around his horn sparking impotently, making the former Paladin wince.

Sombra gave a pity sigh as he watched the unicorn struggle to defy him. “Normally I would find this funny; seeing as that exact mindset is probably how you wound up their prisoner. You always did see the world in black-and-white. But this is just pathetic...” He doubted his stubborn nemesis would ever change his mind without the proper incentive.

So instead, he would seek some cooperation from this strange Trixie lookalike chained near him. “And what say you? Can I at least have the decency of knowing your name?” he asked once more.

Gazing back at her would-be rescuer, the unicorn sucked on her lower lip. “Very well, Sombra.” She spoke his name with venom. “I'm known as Beatrix Belladonna, and unlike you, I actually have an idea of what's going on. But I don't plan to share that freely, either. You may not realize it, but you need me to escape. You see, the Eldritch have worked a spell around their camp. Once you go in, there's no way to escape, not unless you can break through the barrier they've placed!”

He narrowed his eyes at her; not too thrilled over the leverage she claimed to have over him about the Eldritch. Though if it were true, it means their next escape plan would prove pointless. And just as he was starting to gather more followers... "Hmph! You certainly are providing to be a more valuable asset than sir cucklord over here..." His head nudged towards Shining who was still trying to conjure some spell that might manage to hit Sombra is his smug face.

Sombra let out wicked laugh as his hand left her tender tit to trail down her smooth stomach, brushing towards her bare mound. He noted unlike Shining her body wasn't scuffed up much. “You say that as if you expect me to believe you~! How do I know the Eldritch didn't plant you here as bait to lure in more test subjects? Or that you're lying just to save that thick hide of yours? Bold claims for a small mare in the presence of someone with a thousand years of experience in making such claims... and backing them up! You truly must be someone on Lulamoon's side of the family for sounding so pompous!"

“And only you would be so paranoid. It figures, though, when you were foolish enough to start meddling in the black arts, and corrupted the very Empire you tried to save!” Throwing back her head, she cackled in his face.

Far from amused by this witch's antics, his eyes now glared over her nude form as his hand lowered between her thighs, to shove two fingers into her cunt and grip it tightly. A sharp pain made her wince. “You seem to know quite a lot about me. Almost too much for my taste...” He was known for his infamous reputation as a tyrant and mad sorcerer; it would be hard not to know who the name 'Sombra' was. But not even those close to him should know of his origins.

And those who did all had the pleasure in facing him in battle...which led to most of them meeting their demise. What else was this minx hiding and how far back does she know of him? He was very close to violating her very mind with his magic. “It would be best not to try my patience, girl. Not unless you wish for me to leave you here and rot. I suggest you tell me what it is you know and quickly!" He demanded with a sneer. “Somehow, I doubt-”

“Of course I can do it! Admittedly, I'll need my Prima Materia to do so.” She turned her head aside, bangs obscuring half her shadowed face. “Should be in the largest dome, where they confiscate all the stuff they find. Looks like a piece of jewelry shaped like an eye. Bring it to me, and I'll help bust us all out.” He tightened his grip on her marehood. “Okay, okay!”

He loosened his hold on her smooth crotch but didn't release it. “Look, how about a trade?” She batted her lashes. “It's obvious what you want. And the Sombra I know does have his own twisted sense of honor. He wouldn't break a bargain unless he had no other options. How about...me, for the Prima Materia? Then we'll help each other escape this hellish place!”

“The Sombra you know?” He repeated, trying to understand the statement while his fingers rubbed the outline of her pussy's lips, making them drip instantly. "So now you're telling me you're some kind of time-traveler? You expect me to believe a unicorn, dressed like a slutty magician knows how to travel to alternate timelines? Hahaha-- No. That's not good enough. I am far from believing you.... Unless, of course, you become my concubine permanently and stay loyal to me.” His touch softened, tracing the warm interior of her inner walls. “Then I might consider taking your words at face value."

“You...you can't,” said Shining whose shoulders hung defeated.

“I won't be your slave. But I will sleep with you on occasion, if that's what it takes. And I'll tell you what I know later, to sweeten the deal. I think that's more than fair,” she teased with false bravado. “So, how about it?”

The dark unicorn grunted as he felt her legs wrap themselves around to keep him close. The look of desperation on her face was far to delicious to simply refuse. With a groan, he undid the codpiece from his armor, causing it to fall to the ground with a clatter and free his erecting schlong. It was also hard to try and resist how beautiful she was; her voluptuous figure and dripping cunt called for someone to come and take her. Plus, seeing as she was somehow important to him, it would drive Shining mad to see him plow into her while he watched helplessly, which was always a delight.

“Very well... I'll play along~” He relented before he pressed his flared tip into her. She moaned low; her canal carved open and drooling over his penis and testicles. All Shining could do was turn his head and close his eyes form the depraved actions; though he couldn't fully shut them out as his ears twitched at her sharp cries each time he pressed into her.

"First.. Gahh, fuck~! Something simple to ask," he began while bouncing her bottom into his hips to try and bottom out inside the mysterious unicorn. “What is your relation to Trixie Lulamoon, if there is one? Because you share an uncanny resemblance to her! Are you a twin sister of some sorts?” It seemed ridiculous, but he'd seen similar phenomena before; though usually with ponies of little importance who hung in the background.

“I'm...umph...her daughter,” she managed while he started to suck and pull upon her tits. “At least, from the dimension I...I come from~!” She tightened around him, her winking nethers sucking his cock.

With a wet pop, he released her breast to gaze up and get a better look at her, his hand moving up to cup her chin. His smoldering red orbs searched her shimmering blue eyes for the truth. “Ahhh, I see... You look to be around the same age as her. An alternative dimension, huh? That does sound more plausible than time travel... Mmmh! So does that mean the Eldritch also came from your dimension?” He asked her; far more intrigued now as his free hand went to grip tightly on her ass cheek.

“N-not exactly. We both kinda travel across planes.” Her legs intertwined behind him, drawing him deep as she could inside her, until he was battering her cervix opening. “This is all your fault, you know!” He scrunched his brow, uncomprehending. “Where I came from, you tried to destroy the Necronomicon, and look at what you ended up releasing!”

Shining's ears twitched, trying to close out her satisfied cries, which echoed around them. “St-stop it,” he pleaded with a desperate whimper, which only served to make Sombra nail her even harder.

"Gragh! Hard for me to apologize for an act I couldn't have done here. The Eldritch showed up out of nowhere. That was not my doing! Gahh~!" He insisted before finally stopping, trying to catch his breath while he kept himself sheathed in her slit. His attention turned back to Shining Armor; silently enjoying his whimpers and squirms. “And what about him? Who is he to you?”

“Do you really want to know?” Shining shook his head, but Beatrix continued anyhow, her cheeks stained while she puffed out the truth. “I'm his daughter. Well, the Shining Armor from my world. It's complicated.”

Sombra's eyes lit up upon hearing their relation. His daughter. He was balls deep inside the daughter of his nemesis while he whined at the sight! No single thing on this decaying planet could take way the amount of ego he had increased upon this realization. Looking back at him, a wide smile spread his face and he began to pump back into Beatrix with vigorous thrusts; as if a second wind overcame him. He delivered one more deep slam to leave himself buried deep as he stopped, sighing in satisfaction while caressing her cheek, emptying himself into her uterus with repetitious sprays that filled her. “Ohhh~ Forgive me for that sudden rush. You have no idea how exhilarating it is to lay claim to your daughter like this~!”

“Yeah, his sloppy seconds.” Belladonna flushed harder as the words slipped out. “I mean, things are different from where I came from. It's not my fault,” she explained defensively. “I was shaped by the Necronomicon while I was still in Trixie's womb, influenced by her subconscious desires. To me, it seems natural to be with him, since I was created to be his perfect mate.”

"Heh. And they call me twisted~" He snickered, giving her a possessive swat on the ass to rub it in.

She scrunched up her muzzle. “At least I'm not a rapist! By Tartarus, I've never even killed anyone who didn't deserve it!”

“Mmm, and yet I can detect a certain feeling of responsibility. Makes me wonder if you're more instrumental to this drama than you care to admit? Most likely having something to do with your 'connection' to the Necronomicon, if I had to guess. Are you sure you weren't influence in someway~?” He asked her with a sly smile to his lips. Though deep down, he was very curious about the Necronomicon. In all his researches into discovering more about the fabled tome, nothing in any chapter of the dark arts gave solidified evidence of its existence; leaving him to assume it was a mere legend. Until today however.

Footfalls were barely audible when Inky returned. “Unfortunately, none of the others made it.” Shining's bowed head leaked fresh tears, his comrades butchered in ways that would haunt him forever. “Can you free them?”

"Of course. As you can clearly see, Beatrix is very useful to my-- ahem... our cause~" He purred before giving Shining Armor a disgusted look. "Not so sure about him, so I think it's best we leave him."

“Father comes or you'll get no help from me,” snapped Beatrix.

"Ugghh... Fine! Have it your way." He grumbled, rolling his eyes as he popped himself free, her vagina discharging waterfalls worth of their combined juices.

“I see you've sampled the goods,” said Limestone with a shake of her head. “Save it for later next time!”

“Yes, best to be away soon as we can.” Fleur shivered, feeling like they were being observed.

“We can't leave without the Prima Materia,” reminded Belladonna while Limestone strained to break the binds around the wrists of the witch and her father. “Without it, I'm...I'm pretty much useless,” she confessed. She tried working a simple spell, but her horn fizzled out, small sparks spat from it. Letting her dad lean on her, she started to lead him away.

“So far so good,” said Limestone who toyed with a flare. “Haven't had to give the signal for a distraction yet.”

“Let's not push our luck by tempting fate.” Fleur moved to aid their rescued prisoners. “Fancy hoped we'd be able to save far more, but at least Shining Armor is a potent symbol who will boost morale, and we could always use another mage.”

“Consider me part of the team!” Beatrix whistled to herself, trying to shrug off the horrors they'd seen. But her eyes were dark and haunted, and she moved with a limp, Sombra not certain how much of that was down to the dicking he'd given her.

Clambering back to the surface once Inky made certain they were clear, their new ally pointed her index finger at the largest bone dome far ahead of them. She and Shining were provided cloaks from Fleur and Limestone respectively to obscure their nakedness. “Wait,” warned Belladonna. “I can hear the Eldritch conversing between themselves.”

“You can understand them?” Fleur shot her a suspicious sideways glance.

“Sort of. I can make out a few words, probably due to my ties with the Necronomicon.” She looked uncertain, as if she'd said too much. “Anyhow, probably best I go in alone. Inky's faster, but I'll be able to sense them before they're upon me.”

“And potentially back-stab us,” noted Fleur. “You're an unknown factor.”

“I trust her,” said Shining Armor.

“But of course! Why wouldn't her father believe in his own child? Hardly an unbiased source.” Sombra scoffed before his eyes widened at a realization. “Wait... So Trixie is her mother, correct? That's makes me wonder what Twilight Sparkle would think? Oh... And Cadance? Does she even know~?" He mused, very delighted at the thought that this noble symbol of heroism was also a filthy adulterer, at least in some other reality; but he figured all alternate versions of any creature shared a similar potential.

Fleur studied her, incredulous. “Trixie has a daughter...?”

“Anyhow, it's irrelevant. We're wasting time,” said Limestone. “I say let her try. But if you even think about betraying us, I'll break your back!” She scooped up a stone, squeezed, and reduced it to rubble that slipped through her fingers.

“Understandable! Tee-hee, Pinkie always said you were tough.” Before the bewildered Pie sister could respond, Beatrix spun on her heel and headed off. “Scary, though.” She struggled to maintain her cheery facade once she was out of their sight.

Watching the witch sashay away, Sombra continually kneaded Inky through her scant garments, twisting her nipples and tracing her slit. He pressed against her, his stallionhood pressing upon her derriere. But his thoughts were dark and distant, the revelations Beatrix shared playing in his mind. There was no way to confirm them, yet he needed to know more.

With dainty steps Beatrix slipped through the ribcage enclosure, winding through the stretched and filmy flesh which layered between it like tent flaps. Gloom smothered the interior, lit by crimson lights which radiated from the low humming machinery which drank the blood fed into it. The Eldritch partially relied on some sort of biotech, the thousands-upon-thousands they sacrificed used to fuel their nightmarish creations, which they used to travel between dimensional planes.

Sticking to the shadows, she could hear their alien, unintelligible voices, whispering amongst themselves. They moved along in near silence, ghost-like, obscured by the same darkness she clung to. Her heart skipped a beat. She stayed low, slowly traveled from one machine to the next, towards the table where confiscated items were left to be studied at their leisure.

The almond-shaped, eye-like Prima Materia glittered in the darkness. She licked her lips in anticipation. Sneaking her way over, she scurried on all fours, reached a hand up, and swiped her prize, clasping it greedily to her bosom. Quiet tears rolled down as she clung to it for comfort. With it she could hopefully draw upon her magic again, most importantly the ability to slice a hole between realms, which would allow her to finally escape this doomed Equestria once-and-for-all!

Making her way back outside, and looking around to make certain she was alone, she discarded the cloak, made a fist around the Prima Materia, and summoned her costume, which materialized in a swirl of glows upon her. It was similar to Trixie's, but with a dark purple scheme, and the stars were replaced by more closed almond-shaped eyes and lips. They were currently dormant, living entities that were a constant reminder that despite her cute appearance, she was a monster deep down.

“Yes. A monster wouldn't think twice, would they?” It would be so easy to simply leave it all behind. She didn't owe them anything. They weren't even the 'real' people she knew from her perspective! Just some alternate versions!

But without her Shining Armor and Trixie would almost certainly perish. She pointed her index finger, and started to cut into reality itself, shredding a bluish-white void into some other place. All she'd seen since arriving here were horrors. Death, torture, a looming Apocalypse which almost made her timeline seem tame; why not leave it all behind?

“I-I can't,” she whispered closing her eyes and choking back a soft sob. “I owe them a small debt, at least.” Perhaps it was the influence of Flurry Heart, her half-sister back in her Equestria, who'd made her so soft. She retracted the circle.

“Good. I won't have to snap your neck after all!” She nearly jumped at the raspy voice of Limestone behind her.

“Can you blame me? This isn't my world,” noted Beatrix sheepishly. She'd stick with them until she'd returned the favor. And besides, without here they'd never leave the Eldritch camp; she'd be abandoning them to a fate as spare parts at best.

“Hardly honorable,” said Fleur who pressed the tip of her collapsible halberd to Beatrix's breast, the top shaped like the same symbol she was named for; she maintained her sense of style down to her armaments and costume.

Belladonna swallowed a scoff. She'd learned a different lesson from her mother; that the world was a cruel place and sometimes one had to react in kind. “Fair play isn't really my style,” she admitted studying her nails. “But I do want to spend some more time with my father. And I'd like to see my mother. Plus...” She studied Sombra curiously. In a strange way he might understand her. They were both tied to the Necronomicon, as all the dart arts supposedly originated from the grimoire.

“We can't stand around talking,” reminded Limestone.

The dark unicorn nodded. “We'll have plenty of time to discuss. But not now. Inky, scout ahead; find the others and lead us out.” It was almost anti-climatic, yet there was no use in picking a pointless fight with the Eldritch.

“As you wish, master.” She curtsied her black gown below the cloak, readied her wings, and hurtled off to do his bidding.

“Daddy, are you okay?” Beatrix ran to her father's side, helping support the hobbling Paladin.

“I-I'll be fine. Just a little weak.” Graciously he accepted Fleur's canteen, sloppily chugging down the refreshingly cool water.

Sombra let out a low sigh while shaking his head. “A little is an understatement. Look at you! You can barely stand on your own without assistance! And to think, I once respected you as a worthy foe to my conquest, all those years ago...” It was rather odd to feel pity for him; especially as he was enjoying banging his beautiful daughter in front of him moments ago. There was just... something sad about his situation. Something he didn't like. "At this rate, I'm not sure you'll even survive the journey home!"

“You'll be fine,” promised Belladonna ignoring the sorcerer King. “Just give yourself time to recover.” She forced a smile, wondering if he'd ever truly be his old self again. The abuse inflicted by the Eldritch had left them delirious at times, almost broken them, and worse he'd lost his wife and daughter. She suspected it was mostly for her sake he was able to keep going.

A short time later the teams reassembled. They were about to abandon the surprisingly uneventful camp, when the skin flaps from the structures all over blew open, and the Eldritch started to funnel from them in silence. From their appearance they were apparently once human, before they'd twisted themselves through self-mutilation, wearing or weaving into themselves bones of people and animal alike; similarly they adorned themselves with machinery, each a grotesque parody of mankind.

No matter where they looked every potential exit was blocked by hundreds of them, like they'd been awaiting this moment the entire time, content to patiently observe their latest specimens. Blood churned through the mechanisms tethered to them, a nightmare of wires haphazardly linked to the beings, whose undecipherable voices started to ring in their heads.

“A-ah,” cried Shining as the familiar whirr in his skull threatened to split it. He covered his ears, nearly tumbling.

Inky tried to take flight, and tumbled in a cloud of dust as her equilibrium was shattered. Trembling, Trixie tried to reach for the tools hidden in her cape, and was aided by Beatrix, who hurried to her side. “Just...hold on,” she told her bewildered mother, trying to fish out a rocket or smoke bomb while the Eldritch almost casually closed in around their near-helpless prey.

Stepping in, Vinyl Scratch shot them a sly smile, the music endlessly reverberating in her head blocking out their intrusive presence. While a number of them were trembling, in some cases completely paralyzed or having crumpled, she easily pulled a handful of tiny smoke bombs from the cape and tossed them about. Colorful smoke rolled around them.

The Eldritch were confused for mere moments, but with their hive-mind temporarily broken Sombra's forces were able to swiftly recover. He took the lead with Fleur, who spun her halberd and struck down the closest foe in a spray of crimson. Blackish-purple orbs manifested around his fists, and he launched them into a mob, immolating several who burned without so much as a cry. Limestone moved to aid them, bones and metal crunching under her fists when she rained down a series of blows.

“There's too many,” yelled Beatrix who lit her own hands and horn while she weaved colored beams of energy which radiated outward. Her mother was busy desperately lighting rockets and more bombs with the DJ to scramble the systems of the enemy, while Octavia also laid into them with a pair of escrima sticks she'd drawn from her jacket. “Let's cut through and-”

“Spirits preserve us,” whispered Somnambula who closed her eyes and concentrated. She'd pushed in front of Diamond Tiara, hiding the cowering mare, and pointed eastward. “That way is quickest,” she said drawing on her intuition.

The whine of rockets continued to sound, the air split with a multitude of neon sparklers. Blades and claws attached to the Eldritch flashed, driving back a now blood-soaked Fleur and Limestone, who'd taken their place as the vanguard. These creatures were used to picking off those already neutralized, and now struggled with a united force, but would quickly overwhelm them regardless through sheer numbers. Worse still, they seemed to be adapting with each passing minute.

Pretty soon the mass were moving amidst the bedlam stirred up by the tricksters with little impediment. They started to drive the warriors back, buzzsaws and chainsaws attached to a par of the Eldritch whirring, ready to carve into flesh.

“Inky,” called Beatrix and the pegasus nodded. Sensing her plan, she scooped the witch up, straining herself to carry her swiftly as she could to the edge of the camp. Immediately Belladonna grit her teeth and sunk her fingers into an invisible psychic barrier, groaning while she funneled magic into her arms, almost overwhelming herself while she ripped the swirling air open.

“H-hurry,” she yelled at those still fighting and retreating behind her. To her shock Sombra had marched past Fleur and Limestone, calling down a hellish obsidian inferno with a downward thrust of both muscular arms, surrounding his companions with a blazing wall which served as a pathway. His eyes were blazing ethereally, sweat pouring down his grimacing face.

“Retreat, you fools!” They hurried off, a few more reluctant than others, Inky in particular moved to tears while Beatrix held her back. The former tyrant was laughing, amused by the irony of it all, now reduced to helping save Equestria!

For a moment Beatrix considered simply abandoning him. She doubted this was some attempt at a noble self-sacrifice; more likely it was a power-play of sorts. Perhaps to make them trust and depend on him ever more. “It would serve you right if I let you die,” she said to herself with watery eyes. “Just like the way you killed my would-be sister, Bellatrix.”

Yet she reminded herself this was a different Sombra than hers. Certainly, there were plenty of similarities, but how much could she condemn him for something he hadn't actually done? Plus, perhaps they did still need him, after all. “Damn it.”

Luckily it seemed the variety of concoctions locked within slender corked tubes were still hidden beneath pockets in her cape. Each was an alchemical creation she and the Flurry Heart of her world had crafted. Most of them were of little use in combat, more stuff she'd designed for recreational purposes; but her hand locked around one, designed to mimic one of the potions the Sunburst she'd known had come up with. “Bombs away,” she announced hurling it in front of him. “Sombra, quick!”

Snapping free of his spellcraft, he headed towards her, while the glass broke and thick vines arose. They started to ensnare whatever was closest, forming a divide that covered their escape. He stumbled and crashed into her, the pair tumbling out into the desert wastes, having sapped so much of his reserves he was nearly as weak as Shining Armor for the moment.

The party didn't stop moving until there was no choice but to rest. Taking what shelter they could behind a formation of stones they'd encountered, most of their canteens were emptied by now. It was never quite day or night in Equestria anymore, but close as it came to the latter, with a sea of stars twinkling out in the skies, forever scarred like the ravaged planet.

Sombra sat on a boulder while cradling a slumbering Inky in his lap, stroking her dome affectionately while he sat across from Beatrix. Once he was certain no one was around to listen in on them, he looked up at her with a serious expression. “I'd like to know more about this...ability of yours that allows you to hop from one dimension to another. You can freely do this, yes?”

“Yes,” she admitted looking to her distant mother who tended to Shining's wounds and shot curious glances her way.

"When this is all over, when the Eldritch are defeated.... Take me away from the wretched place." Given the circumstances of the thin line that separated him among the rest, he was well aware that they wouldn't hesitate to try and kill him. There were lots of them, and they would only need to act once he was vulnerable enough. It was best for him to cut ties with this world and seek a more preserved Equestria to rule. He'd use the knowledge of events gained here to better cement his power.

“It's not that simple. For one thing, it takes a ton out of me, plus I sometimes temporarily lose my memory. And as for transporting someone else, there's only a small chance they'll even survive the trip! Hey, you know what? Maybe I should try it, see you get ripped to atoms and scattered across infinity!” She laughed. “That'd be pretty damn amusing!”

“Don't toy with me little wench,” he warned darkly. “Should I discover you're lying...”

“It's no lie.” She sighed and dug her nails into her knees. Currently Somnambula and Octavia were on watch duty, circling around the encampment. “Tried it a few times. The results weren't always pretty. Imagine someone being turned inside-out...”

“Yes yes, I get the picture, thank you" he hissed, waving his hand to dismiss the gruesome images already forming in his head. “Just...promise me you'll try to help me travel? Likewise, I still expect to be properly compensated.”

“What, you want to do it right here in the open? I thought even you were a little classier,” she sneered.

“You are your mother's daughter, you know that? You're both so annoyingly sarcastic!” If Inky wasn't slumbering on him right now, he'd have less reasons to reach for her and choke the bitch. Instead he resolved to rubbing his temples. “No, not now.... Some other time," he muttered. "So, tell me about the Sombra you knew. What exactly happened with him?”

“I don't fully know myself. Flurry Heart saw him last. From what I heard he stole the Necronomicon, teleported to some asteroid drifting in the void of space, and offed himself while it careened towards its doom. Not sure if it headed into the sun, another star, or a black hole, but he finally annihilated the supposedly indestructible grimoire...and these Eldritch were released from it. They chased me to this plane, and...and...” She curled up in a fetal position, shaken to her core.

His face darkened at her explanation. "So, you are responsible for all of this, then."

Her eyes were reddened when she met his. “We both are, in a sense. I thought I could give them the slip, abandon them in one reality that was already doomed by the time I'd arrived. I had no idea they could just hop from place-to-place so easily! But they do have limitations. It takes a lot of raw power for them to do so. Which they draw from the sacrifice of millions.”

"Hmmm~" He mused, rubbing his chin in thought as one of his sly smirks slithered its way across his mug. "I wonder what your father would think? Knowing that you doomed his entire family to unending suffering across different streams of reality?"

“I...I don't want to know,” she murmured turning her head away with a forlorn expression. “Do your worst, Sombra. You've already hurt me in ways you can't even begin to imagine. You'd plucked this succubus from the Necronomicon, enslaved her, and named her Bellatrix Primadonna in mockery of me. You set her about to ruin my reputation. I rescued her from you, tried to provide her with a new life, and then you brutally murdered her!” She snapped at him, fury overwhelming her guilt.

He gave a laugh at her little tale, though one from a genuine place and not on from wicked intent. "That does sound like something I would do. My goodness, how tragic that must be for you! I almost pity you."

“Spare me.” She rolled her teary eyes. “You're the pitiful one. You could easily command respect, probably win the heart of just about any mare fairly, yet look at you! Playing the petty villain just to slake your ego! Pathetic!”

His smile was lost as a snarl replaced it instantly; his eyes lighting up in anger. "I'm pathetic?! Look at your father! Whimpering and sobbing at how weak and useless he feels. Meanwhile, I've been fighting to save as many little lives as I can with people that want me dead. I, at the very least, have no qualms in my actions if it leads to the right results! You want a villain? I'll gladly give you a villain if you push me far enough!" He warned her, his hands clutching the somehow sleeping pegasus on his lap. For a while, all they did was size each other up in uncomfortable silence.

With a weary sigh, the implications of what Beatrix shared settling in, he loosened his grip on Inky and resumed their conversation. "So, it seems our destinies are intertwined somehow, even here. I assume in most realities, I've lost?"

“From what I've seen. You see, they have something that you don't; strong bonds between them. So no matter how many you kill and control, there's always someone else to take up their mantle! I don't know why Inky's so infatuated with you, but you'd be wise to honor her loyalty! She might be exactly what you need when the chips are all down!”

“Tch.... From past experience, I was better handling things myself than just relying on anyone. Still...” He looked over the slumbering pale Pegasus; smiling softly while enjoying whatever dream she was having. His muzzle scrunched up as he gently stroked a stray hair from her face. "...I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have at least one person in my corner..."

He didn't like this at all. He didn't believe her in terms of forming bonds, yet he didn't want to repeat the mistakes his other selves had made, either. Was she deceiving him to manipulate his actions? He didn't get the sense she was lying, but she was still hiding things. For now though, he would leave her be, seeing as he'd poked at her enough.

Let her keep those secrets. There would be a time to exploit those later. It was about time he returned home in triumphant!

Draped naked in his bedchamber atop a cluster of blankets, Spike indulged in his creature comforts, despite the complaints of the dragonesses who currently molded their bared forms against him. “Those ponies have made you too soft,” said Smolder behind him, crushing her soft breasts upon his scaly back. “But they do make some pretty nice stuff, I'll admit!”

“What's your pleasure tonight?” Ember wrapped her tail around his. Taking the goblet of wine from his claw, she poured it over her soft mammaries, and he licked the spicy excess which pooled down her lithe physique.

“Let me think about it,” he said trying not to let the stress show. In truth he was anxious. Terrified, even. Not for himself, but for those under his protection. Now that he'd knocked up a number of mares successfully, Fluttershy and Tree Hugger in particularly, he stood to lose more than ever. Sometimes when he closed his eyes terrible nightmares haunted him, of the Eldritch descending in droves, slitting open their bellies and vivisecting the Kirin plucked from their bleeding wombs.

He huffed and nearly screamed at the intrusive thoughts, somewhere between sorrow and righteous indignation. Part of him dreamed about being the chivalrous hero, smiting them and living happily ever after with his herd, but he knew that was a foolish sentiment at best. For all his raw power, even the Dragon Lord could only accomplish so much.

Yet he continued to hide from his new potential allies, despite the urgings of Twilight and Sunset, fearful that once he made contact they'd be drawn into a conflict they couldn't win yet. But would it mean abandoning them to die? Still, he had his own followers to consider. “You have to make the hard choices sometimes,” Ember and Smolder often stressed.

He shuddered when they settled before him, taking his twins into their snouts. While he hadn't been in the mood for sex, they were quick to change his mind, easily able to take his entirety, their tongues encircling his girths many times over. Their sultry stares met his, determined like always to prove they could serve his needs better than any mare could ever hope to.

Tonight they'd even invited a secret weapon along, Autumn Blaze bouncing into his rocky chamber with a series of high-pitch giggles. She was half-dragon, which was good enough for them. The denuded Kirin squatted over his face, slowly lowering her rump, her smooth buttocks squishing over his snout, her genitals filling his view. He breathed in her sweet flower, delicate licks tracing around her holes, readying them for use. His claws dug into her rump while he started to probe her entrances.

Faster the pair started to bob, precum drizzling out into their hot mouths, while he drank a honeyed nectar from its source. He'd be expected to knock up Rarity and Sweetie Belle soon, since neither took to the field. Autumn Blaze would shortly follow. Currently, he was licking out her womb, the tip of his tongue so thin he'd easily been able to pierce her cervix.

Swishing her tail about cheerily, the Kirin came directly into his snout and all over his face, temporarily blinding him. Plump bits of assflesh smooshed between his claws when he dug in reflexively, her holes hungrily clenching, and he was pushed over the edge himself, hot loads directly fired into the dragoness pair who loudly slurped it down.

“Tasty,” said Smolder with a smack of her lips when his seed settled into her belly. Autumn nearly passed out from rapture, and went limp upon him, taking Smolder's place to clean the freed cock of its salty juices while Ember continued to nurse the other one. “The ritual mating dance is tomorrow, remember? Time you chose your next pair of mates to put a Kirin in!”

“Yeah, I know.” He'd already decided but knew he had to let the ceremony play out. It was always some of the most fun they had anyhow. He continually stroked them, letting the trio cuddle around him, the rare bit of real tenderness Ember and Smolder had learned to show after they realized his soft-hearted mares were winning his heart over at almost every turn.

Their tails all wound about his while they drifted into a peaceful slumber. He lounged there for over an hour, caressing their manes and listening to their subdued breaths, his fitful mind keeping sleep at bay. For all he knew, he was the last dragon male left, most others having rushed off immediately to attack the invaders, taking thousands with them before they were wiped out.

They would've considered him a coward. He'd shoot back they might've prevented most of Equestria's current state, if they'd simply discarded their pride, and 'lowered' themselves to ally with the other squabbling races. They'd all paid the price of that distrust and hubris. He didn't want to think about how many entire species were now forever extinct...