I turned to Cain and gulped.

"Help", I squeaked.

"What's happening", he asked slowly and glanced up at the hive as his hand began to radiate small blue dots.

"Uhhh", I hesitated and flinched as I eased open the link to the hive. "General consensus is 'our king is under attack' and they're pissed."

"Their king", Shadow asked before her eyes narrowed. "What did you do?!"

I chuckled nervously and focused on a pebble rolling it around.

"Cain", she asked with growl in her voice, inadvertently pushing her furious aura at him.

"Couple of theories. Jackson needed blood, and he drained quite a bit from that changeling over there. He became blood crazed and let out a few chirps. I assume he gave the wrong call. Or when I punched him, it rattled the earth. Which is probably the cause", he rumbled and charged his hand brighter. "Answer quickly, shall we be going home?"

"Let me handle it", I said urgently as I saw a cloud of angry changelings flooding from the hive and winging toward us with rallying cries and threats of death.

"That's a lot of bugs", Shadow muttered and turned to me. "Fix your shit."

She folded her wings and backed away, her body language neutral and relaxed as I leapt to my feet. With wings spread wide I let out a loud but low pitch rumble of a chirp, the soothing tone stilling all but one of the swarm. The blue dots around Cain's hand vanished as he eyed the single black dot buzzing toward us.

"Shall I handle him", he asked as he clenched his fists.

"Her", I groaned and facepalmed, nostrils flaring. "Shadow, get ready to see Chrysalis again."

To my dismay Shadow growled deep in her throat but quieted herself before Chrysalis landed lightly in front of us, staring at Shadow with neutral eyes that bordered on disinterest. As the two stared at each other with nostrils flaring my scent drifted from Chrysalis on the nearly nonexistent breeze and I noticed an almost imperceptible tensing of my wife's muscles.

"Oh fuck", I muttered and covered my eyes as Chrysalis demanded to know what happened.

"Keep it peaceful or I'm putting you all in stocks", Cain rumbled and leaned back, rubbing his jaw with his fingertips before addressing Chrysalis. "Jackson fucked up a little, that's all."

"And how did he do that", Chrysalis asked as she turned to him.

"A question we can both agree on", Shadow huffed and glared at me.

"A thing happened with some stuff", I replied vaguely.

"He had to feed, as it'd been two weeks. I told him explicitly to pick a changeling and use it as a juice box. He got a little carried away and made to storm the hive but I stopped him", he explained but hesitated and turned to me. "Wait, did I fuck up?"

I nodded silently as Chrysalis turned to me in shock, her mouth agape.

"Did you kill one of our drones", she gasped in horror as she stared at me.

"Our", Shadow asked with a growl.

"Shadow, you know what happens when I'm here", I sighed and rubbed my eyes roughly. "Well, this time she was... in season."

"What", Shadow snarled and glared at Chrysalis's abdomen.

"Your drone is alive, just a little tuckered out", Cain said as he pointed out the bug pony before turning to me with a whisper. "Jackson, how often do you find yourself in these situations?"

"Too often", I muttered and cleared my throat. "So I'll be returning with new eggs, something to inform Hydra and maybe Blitz about."

"We're going to discuss this when you get home", Shadow growled and lifted into the air, nodding to Chrysalis. "Your Majesty, take care."

With that she flew away leaving me staring after her until Cain slapped me in the back of my head and pushed me forward.

"Now's the time to fix your shit. Go after her", he said and gave Chrysalis a look that allowed no arguments.

I nodded and focused on Shadow before teleporting a sufficient distance in front of her and flaring my wings in an impressive manner before flapping my wings to hover in front of her. Silently she cocked her eyebrow at me as she stared at me.

"I know what you're going to say", I said quickly and held my hands up in a placating manner. "The thing is, I actually want to raise my offspring. All of them. I wasn't there for Aliya in the beginning but I'm here now. I know I'm a screwup but I want to fix my mistakes and be a better stallion for you, Hydra and Cindra. I want to be a good king for my hive."

"You know Cindra is still waiting for a wedding date", she replied and studied her hoof calmly. "And Hydra is wondering if you were planning to make her your queen in more than name."

"Hydra wants to get married", I asked in shock.

"Motherhood suits her", Shadow smiled. "I'll tell her about the new eggs. Surely she's going to love them just as much as her own."

"Okay", I smiled in relief and flew closer, kissing my wife gently. "I'll be home at the end of the week. For now I have to go and settle things back at Chrysalis's hive."

"You do that", she smirked. "I suggest bringing chocolates for Cindra when you come home."

I chuckled nervously and waved before flying back over to Chrysalis and Cain, sighing as I touched down. As soon as I landed Cain looked up at me from his seat on the ground and smiled, flicking two fingers in a lazy wave.

"How'd it go", he asked as he looked back at the ground with his trademark blank expression.

"I'm gonna need lots of chocolates", I muttered with a half grin.

"Cindra", Chrysalis asked and chuckled as I nodded but quickly sobered as she stared at me. "Jackson? I... I can no longer bring you to our hive to serve your sentence."

"Huh", I asked in confusion.

"I cannot hold you here because you are now the king of the hive", she explained softly, beginning to tear up.

"It's a nice way of saying you're stuck", Cain said and turned to me chuckling.

"On the contrary", she replied quietly as the first tear fell. "He can come and go as he pleases. He could even... n-never return."

"I'd never turn my back on the hive", I said softly and reached out to her but she stifled a sob and flew away.

"That's a good man", Cain said as he pushed himself to his feet and dusted himself off, reaching into his cloak as I materialized another cigar and lit it. "Take care of your responsibilities. Especially if it was something quite dumb that got you there."

I sighed as he chuckled and rubbed my face hard.

"How do I handle both hives though", I muttered to myself and turned to Cain. "How do I face my subjects knowing I was so willing to drain them dry?"

"You're a vampire", he sighed. "What happens to ponies when they find a way to make lots of money, I wonder? Or a changeling when they find someone with a lot of love in their heart?"

"They... hit the jackpot", I asked hesitantly, causing Cain to sigh and rub his face.

"They drain them! They milk it until it runs dry", he exclaimed and threw his hands up in the air.

"So... I'm supposed to drain and exploit them?"

Cain began to shake and spun, pacing for a moment before he turned to me.

"NO! THEY'LL UNDERSTAND", he roared. "THAT'S WHAT I'M GETTING AT! BECAUSE YOU DID SOMETHING NATURAL!"

"Oh", I mumbled around my cigar and scratched my jaw. "That's true, I suppose. And they probably don't know I almost attacked them, so if I ignore it, it'll blow over, right?"

I perked up as I turned to him with a grin. The look of rage on his face as he reached for my throat triggered an instinctual reaction in me and in a flash of black flames I was in my alicorn form, my expressive eyes wide with tiny pupils and ears drooped in nervousness with my haunches planted firmly on the ground. He remained in that position trembling for several seconds before he straightened up and stood as still as a statue.

"Sure, sure, yeah, why not?! Honestly, with the wood he was sporting it could be argued that he was into that and it just went a little too far", he replied quickly and receded into his cloak again as I regained my human body.

"I'm sorry I don't understand", I huffed and picked my cigar back up, hunching over with my arms crossed. "Everything just kinda piled on me before I was ready. And I'm afraid I'll never be ready."

Cain stared at me for a few seconds before taking a deep breath and walking over, patting my back gently.

"Trust me, you'll learn. Responsibility rarely comes at a time of our choosing. Everything seems to be a mountain until you start to scale it but when you do, you find yourself at the summit before you know it."

"This mountain keeps kicking my ass", I muttered as my wings twitched. "But the only one who can climb it is me, so no use whining about it."

I sighed and let my arms hang limply, my head hanging for a moment before I pulled myself up straight and started toward the hive.

"Let's go meet the family", I said with forced happiness.

"Just keep climbing the mountain, Jackson", he rumbled as he walked along beside me, his cloak disappearing in a shower of sparks. "It'll knock you down many times, but once you crest the summit nothing can stop you."

"You really like cloaks and capes", I chuffed as we walked.

"For quite a few reasons, but yes, yes I do. I don't imagine you would wear one, because you would trip over it", he joked and smirked a bit.

"Knowing me, I would", I laughed and playfully pushed him before taking my changeling form in a flash of black flames. "Guess I should get used to this body, huh?"

"Depends", he said and nodded as he looked down at me. "It seems no matter what form you're in a lot of creatures seem to hang off of you."

"I noticed that too", I replied and furrowed my brow as I looked up at him. "Hey, where you come from, is it common for royalty to breed amongst themselves to keep the blood royal?"

"If they're snobbish or pretentious. It's mostly fallen out of style, but rulers still aim for someone who's at very least popular. Why do you ask", he wondered and cocked his eyebrow.

"Aunt Luna said something about 'bringing back the old ways' and reviving the alicorn race", I muttered and shrugged, swishing my tail in annoyance. "I personally think she's a racist cunt."

Cain nodded almost imperceptibly.

"I got that kind of impression from her when I bumped into her the other day. Tell me, does she hate dragons or something?"

"Not that I know of, why", I asked and hopped up onto a rise in the rocky terrain that put me on eye level with him. "She say something rude to you?"

"The way she looked at my wings and horns. That, and she muttered something about burning down a village", he replied and looked down at his boots.

"Really", I asked as my wings buzzed in irritation. "I'll have some words with her about it. What was that about burning villages, though?"

"It would seem to me that your dragons have quite the reputation for attacks. As I was walking away she muttered something about me finding something better to do. I don't think she likes dragons, but it could just be me. Which is fair", he said with a smirk and short bark of laughter.

"I'll look into it", I nodded and hopped down as the rise ended abruptly. "I also need to look into rising aggression from the timber wolves around my castle. Have you heard of any problems around Ponyville or the surrounding areas?"

"I heard of the timber wolf situation as well. Nasty fuckers, they are. But no, I haven't", he replied and shook his head gently. "Come to think of it, I don't believe I've been to Ponyville yet."

"At least that's one peaceful area", I scoffed and nodded to the bowing drones we passed as we entered the hive. "Now I have to address any problems around this hive as well."

"You seem to be spread a little thin. I think you need spies and such, as well as a few administrators to handle things beyond your sight", he offered with a flick of his hand. "That way you can focus on the more important matters."

"Not spies", I muttered and chewed my bottom lip. "Representatives to report back to me. Chrysalis can report on this hive... I hope I can find a way to bring the wolves to heel... I also want to colonize the eastern part of Everfree... Not to mention controlling Trottingham and Sire's Hollow..."

"A lot of that flew over my head. Between reading up on the history of this world and developing a curriculum for you, I haven't had the time to study the physical geography of the world. But I agree, subjugating the wolves is preferable to killing them", he replied and glanced around. "Every time I'm in here I feel eyes on us."

"Eyes are on us because you're with their king", I intoned and chuckled as a youngling clumsily bowed. "Also, word most likely spread about your... prowess. But if there are any hostilities let me know."

"In a hive of creatures that can feed on lust, I feel I'm going to be more popular than I'd like", he grinned and scoffed lightly. "But this place seems fairly friendly."

"It is now", I grinned back. "Shoulda seen it when I snuck in and kidnapped Chrissy to try to kill her."

"I don't imagine that you would have gotten very far after killing her, seeing as word travels at the speed of thought", he said with a slight inclination of his head. "Glad to see you have a positive impact somewhere in the world."

"I took her back to my dungeon", I shrugged and nuzzled the youngling's head making her giggle happily as a content smile crossed my face. "Looking back, I'm glad I failed. I'm actually accepted here more than anywhere else aside from Ponyville, even before I became a changeling."

"Indeed, it seems true that outcasts are more understanding", he said and knelt, tickling the youngling's chin before straightening his posture.

"Agreed", I replied quietly as we entered the throne room, my eyes falling on Chrysalis as she reclined on the throne staring at the floor. "Oh boy, here we go."

Upon hearing my words and catching sight of Chrysalis, Cain hesitated.

"Would you like me to leave, give you two some space?"

"Just... stand guard by the door or look intimidatingly comforting or something", I muttered and approached the throne dismissing the nearby guards.

Cain nodded and cracked his neck, taking up a position by the throne room door clasping his massive hands in front of him as he stood stock still.

"Chrysalis", I whispered softly as I knelt in front of her.

"Yes, your Majesty", she asked flatly as she turned dull eyes to me.

"Formalities", I asked as I rested a hoof on her foreleg. "What changed?"

"I made myself clear enough last night", she whispered as she pulled her foreleg free and rubbed her lower abdomen. "You have nothing to concern yourself with. Your clutch will be brought to you with a full guarded escort before the labor pains subside."

"Do you think I'm writing this hive or its beloved inhabitants off", I asked and received only silence for an answer. Before I knew it my anger flared, mixed with a healthy dose of hurt, and I was on my hooves towering over the queen as her eyes widened and her nostrils flared. "I am not abandoning you or this hive! As proof of this I'm sending a delegation to monitor the hive and report your prosperity to me! If needed, I will be here without a moment's hesitation! SO DON'T EVEN PRETEND I'M ABANDONING YOU! AM I CLEAR?!"

"Yes, yo- I mean, y-yes, Jackson", she whispered as she shrunk down on the throne.

Cain smirked slightly and nodded imperceptibly at our exchange before his voice echoed in my mind with the warmth of a mental chuckle.

Good job. A little more heavy handed than necessary, but it gets the job done.

She deserved it, I sent back as I relaxed.

"We share a mental link", I replied with a softer voice and regained my normal form. "Simply tell me when you begin to go into labor and I'll be here with you. I'll take them with me and we can figure out visitation. Okay?"

"Th-that's fine", she replied quietly but flinched when I reached out and caressed her cheek gently.

"I'm sorry", I smiled sadly and leaned forward pressing a gentle lingering kiss to her forehead. "I'll be back after I handle things in Everfree."

I turned and walked away, motioning to Cain as the living stone opened before me. He nodded once and followed, his stride easily keeping pace with me as he summoned his cloak once again. After a few moments he finally broke the silence.

"Good on you for handling it", he smiled. "She makes you happy, doesn't she?"

"She does", I replied quietly, my thoughts rolling in my head as we walked. "But I already have a herd. How can I possibly marry my mother in law?"

Cain shook his head rapidly before nodding in realization.

"Right, Cindra. You have trouble keeping it in your pants, don't you?"

"Sometimes", I grumbled and tucked my thumbs into my belt. "I just can't help myself when I get hit with pheromones. I mean, I'm a vamponic alicorn changeling reaper. What do you expect?"

"That's a testament to your inability to keep it in your pants... or think for that matter? Impulsivity should be tempered with intelligence", he said and nodded. "But then again, I've no room to talk. I've yet to encounter another dragon here."

"The dragon lands are far to the east across the ocean", I shrugged as I lifted a hand. "I've never been, but I know they're there."

"Might have to make a trip over there, get a feel for your dragons... I mean, get a read on what they're like", he amended as he caught my smirk.

"You just want to clap dragon cheeks", I scoffed as we neared the exit.

"Have you lain with a dragon yet", he asked with a slight edge to his voice and a cocked eyebrow.

"I'd like to try it", I grinned as we began walking through the wasteland but threw out my arm stopping Cain. "I got a new spell Twilight taught me that I wanna use."

"You should", Cain said before looking down at my arm. "What is it?"

Without answering him I began to chant in an ancient, arcane language. A slight breeze began to swirl around us, too weak to lift my dreadlocks despite the fact that they floated up from my shoulders as magic arced across my body. As I muttered the word 'Everfree' I grabbed Cain's shoulder, bit my wrist open and flung the blood on the ground. As the blood hit the ground it rose up and covered us completely and we sank into the ground, rocketing through the very planet itself as stone and soil split around us. Seconds later we erupted from the ground in the courtyard of Castle Everfree, cries of alarm coming from guards both pony and changeling alike as the ground sealed back beneath us.

Upon seeing the guards rushing toward us Cain threw up a wall of fire but dispelled it seconds later. He gave a shout at the guards the same moment I sent my changelings a silent command and he turned to me.

"What was that", he asked as he cocked his eyebrow. "It looked like some form of blood port, if a little halfbaked."

"Ancient blood magic called terraporting", I replied and waved away the guards that stood around shuffling their hooves in uncertainty. "It requires less magic than mainstream teleportation so it's better for long distances because you're going in a straight line and not factoring in the curvature of the planet's surface."

"That's quite interesting actually, but it seems a little jarring and could have much more catastrophic consequences", he nodded.

"How so", I asked as I led the way across the courtyard to the castle doors.

"We ripped through the planet using magic. What's the worst that can happen", he asked sarcastically.

"We end up a few miles from our destination", I replied with a shrug as I peeked into the main entry hallway but froze as I locked eyes with Cindra.

"Jackson Everfree", she shouted as she began stomping toward me.

"Help", I squeaked and shrunk back but froze as Cindra slammed the door open.

"Nope", Cain chuckled and took a step back with his hands raised. "You're on your own, Jackson. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."

"Asshole", I groaned and turned to Cindra with a forced smile.

"Would you care to explain to me how my mother got pregnant", she demanded with a thinly veiled anger.

"See, when a male and female share an attrac-ACK", I shouted as she tackled me and growled furiously, her fangs inches from my face. "I didn't know she was in season!"

"And the grubs", she demanded heatedly.

"I'm going to pick them up when she lays them", I replied immediately. "We're going to figure out visitation."

"Cain, why do I get the feeling you were involved in this somehow", she asked as she stepped over me and began stalking toward him, her ears flattened in annoyance as he kept a straight face but cocked his eyebrow at her.

"If by involved you mean I was roughly within a hundred meters when it happened, then yes. But no, I was occupied in another room when he was stuffing your mother. Does he not know any contraceptive spells", Cain asked and cocked his head slightly.

"Cain, I swear to the progenitors, I will bite the shit out of you", she growled and stopped in front of him, glaring up at him fearlessly. "What do you mean occupied in another room?! You know Jackson requires supervision!"

"I know, he's like an infant. And this idiot wouldn't help me in getting the five changelings off of me after we killed an antlion queen. He took two, I believe", he said, his expression unwavering as he stared back at the pissed off changeling.

"He- You- WHAT", she sputtered, her face shifting rapidly between shock, confusion, anger and disbelief.

"We killed a few traitors then eradicated antlions in the abandoned tunnels", I blurted as I stared at the sky. "Cain beefed a few drones and two of them bathed me. Your mom sang a sad song and we bucked."

Cindra's jaw dropped as she stared at nothing.

"Bucking foals, both of you", she muttered quietly.

"I think I resent that", Cain said with a slight smirk. "But to be fair I made sure none of them would spit out a couple more. I didn't know that coming back after killing an antlion would lead to a few bugs bouncing around in front of me."

As he finished speaking he spread his hands in a gesture of innocence.

"We respect and admire strength", she muttered and slowly shook her head before glaring at me. "You can sleep in the blacksmith's shed tonight."

With a huff she turned her nose up and stomped back inside, slamming the door shut behind her. I turned to Cain with a confused expression.

"Why do you think I never remarried", he chuckled as he saw my expression. "Don't worry, she'll come around. Just be careful not to slip up until she does."

"Great", I sighed and stood. "Wanna come with me and check out the smithy?"

"Sure, we need to work on your forging skills anyway. Hope you're ready to work up a sweat. Smithing is strenuous", Cain smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, it was a bit of a chore building the leg braces I wear", I chuckled as we made our way to the small hut. "It wasn't too bad, though."

I opened the door and froze as my eyes beheld the sight before me. A large metal frame stood in the corner of the shack, Twilight's sweaty body held aloft by wide leather straps around her body and limbs fully immobilizing her. A thick collar around her neck was attached to a leash that lifted her head and seemed to be choking her slightly, giving a wonderful view of her full blush. Behind her was a machine of her own design powered by magic that drove two pistons with large artificial penises attached to them into her plot and marehood with alternating strokes as she moaned and trembled.

"J-Jackson", she gasped. "This isn't w-what it l-looks like!"

"How often does this kind of thing happen", Cain asked incredulously as he turned to me.

"Not as often as I would like", I sighed and stepped forward with my arms crossed, staring at Twilight. "Let me guess, you came so much you can't focus enough to free yourself?"

"I-Is it... aaahn... th-that obvious", she moaned softly and blushed harder as she noticed Cain. "Who's th-that?!"

"My mentor", I replied without looking at Cain and flicked my fingers, disrupting the flow of magic in the machine to turn it off.

"I'd bow, but I doubt it would be appropriate", Cain said with a slight smirk, glancing once at the purple unicorn. "I take it you're this Twilight Sparkle I've heard so much about?"

"Y-yes", she mewled and breathed a sigh of relief as I began unstrapping her. "What's your name?"

"Cain Estinis", he replied and bowed, the fact that he left off his titles not escaping my notice, before he righted his posture and looked around. "Why the blacksmith's shed?"

"Nopony else comes out here because they don't know how to work the forge", she replied, stretching shakily when I set her on the floor. "Speaking of, why are you two out here?"

"I got kicked out of bed for impregnating Chrysalis", I replied and stored Twilight's contraption in a pocket dimension. "Now I'm the king of that hive too."

"How, Jackson", she muttered as she facehoofed. "How the buck do you do this shit?!"

"Simple. He doesn't think before he acts", Cain rumbled and gestured toward me. "But at least he's taking responsibility, which is a start."

"Oh", she asked, visibly impressed, and looked at me.

"I'm going back to pick them up as soon as they're laid", I nodded. "Speaking of grubs, how are my little shits? They driving their mothers crazy yet?"

"About that", Twilight muttered. "Did you know your changeling offspring are developing faster than normal?!"

"I do now", I replied after a few seconds of silent blinking and looked up at Cain.

"Not surprised, considering the hodgepodge of different creatures that Jackson is", Cain said with an unwavering blank expression. "Jackson is like four or five different species mashed into one, and you're surprised that weird things happen?"

"But Aliyah is developing normally", she argued before looking away and raising her hoof to her chin. "I think..."

"Maybe we can ask mom", I suggested before I summoned a scrap of parchment and quill, scribbling out a note and sending it on its way.

"Aliyah is your daughter, the alicorn, right", Cain asked and looked at me. "I wouldn't call that developing normally."

"We'll ask mom when she gets here", I replied dismissively and looked to Twilight. "Hey Twiley, do you remember how much charge the castle has?"

"Sixty percent, why", she asked.

"Let's charge it the rest of the way", I grinned and began leading the way out of the shack.

"What will that do", Cain asked as he spun and followed me, his hands clasped behind his back.

"For one, I can increase shield and sensor range", I replied as we crossed the yard. "I may even be able to add some offensive capabilities to the castle. Any suggestions?"

"Anti pegasus weapons are a good idea", she replied slowly and her expression shifted to a slightly manic grin. "Maybe a ray of some type that vaporizes the feathers on their wings without killing them immediately. It'll be funny when they scream all the way to the ground."

"It's also needlessly cruel. I can design a ray of that sort that won't kill them, but will incapacitate them long enough for them to be useless", Cain said, splaying his hands out in a strange gesture.

"Where's the fun in that", I smirked as we passed into the castle and I continued leading the way to the crystal array room. "Besides, why shouldn't I kill anypony foolish enough to attack my castle?"

"Dead men tell no tales", Cain replied simply and looked at us with a cocked eyebrow.

"If that's too cruel, how about one that turns them inside out", Twilight offered.

"Haha", I barked in laughter. "A mare after my own heart! I love that idea!"

"You're a woman of science, are you not, Twilight", Cain asked with a slightly annoyed expression.

"I am", she replied in confusion. "Why do you ask?"

"Then how do you fail to see the bigger picture", he growled. "Jackson has a reputation of being quite brutal I'm sure, so if someone were to attack his castle they must have a reason, yes?"

"Of course", she nodded. "But what are you getting at?"

"That's what I'm wondering", I muttered and waved to the light blue guard standing at attention beside the crystal array door, her armor gleaming in the dim light. "Blythe, change back."

She grinned sheepishly and green fire raced over her body revealing her true form with its delicate curves.

"Be a proud bug pony", I admonished softly and stroked her head.

"If they have a reason, it could be important", Cain said with a slight frown and a scolding tone. "So if you turn them inside out or make them fall to their deaths, what will we know? Use your head instead of letting a wanton lust for blood cloud your judgment."

"It's not wanton", she muttered as her ears drooped. "I just want to protect my prince. But I guess I see your point."

"C'mon Cain", I chuckled and pushed the door open. "A little bloodlust never hurt anypony."

I led the way into the chamber and stepped up to the console, resting my hands on the two raised circles. A smile formed on my face as a miniature of my castle rose from the bed of crystals, now expanded to include my hive in the mountain behind the castle. A familiar hum resonated through my body and my smile turned into a grin.

Good morning, Jackson. How may I serve you?

"Damn I missed your voice", I grinned wider.

"I beg to differ", Cain replied simply, the coolness of his tone indicating the conversation was over as he looked at the console with a raised eyebrow before glancing around taking in the otherwise bare room.

"Ya know, for such an accomplished warrior you sure do seem to avoid violence", I said nonchalantly and turned back to the console. "Audrey, are you still at sixty percent?"

Level one charge is still at sixty percent, Jackson.

"I'm also eight thousand years old. I've realized that violence is a tool best used in moderation. Don't get me wrong, I like to fight and kill just as much as you probably, but I do so with control. And look how long I've lived", he said, leaning against the wall as he finished speaking.

"True but I don't know when dad's just gonna erase my very existence", I muttered. "Audrey, you said level one. How many levels are there?"

I have five levels for the storage of magical energy. Would you like to inspect them? I recommend going alone due to magical resonance levels.

"Some other time", I replied and began pushing magic into the console.

"Fair enough, as Discord is a being of chaos", Cain nodded lightly before glancing at Twilight and then back around him, remaining silent so that I could focus.

"What was that look for", she asked as she blinked up at him. "What, do you want a quick blowjob or something?"

"You might think it wise to talk to a few of the desert changelings before asking such a question", he replied with an amused smirk. "But no, I was just thinking. I actually imagined you would be bigger."

"Don't flatter yourself, I was gonna call Blythe in here to do it", she smirked back. "I only buck Jackson and his ladies. "But what's wrong with being smaller than expected?"

Level one charge is complete, Audrey interrupted suddenly. Would you like to begin level two?

"Do it", I nodded.

"Nothing", Cain chuckled softly. "Just the 'different than the mental image' thing."

"But what made you think I was larger", she asked with a friendly smile.

"The way you were described to me. But in hindsight, Jackson is shorter than me", he shrugged lightly.

The sound of her elevated heart rate gave me the impression of a blush on her cheeks as she motioned him closer and his armor shifting told me he knelt down to be near her eye level.

"Yes", he asked softly.

"He was talking about me", she asked in a whisper that still reached my ears.

"He has a hard time shutting up about most subjects, yes", he nodded quietly with a knowing tone.

"What all did he say", she asked with a barely audible squee.

"The long and short of it is a cute bookworm with a lust for blood", he replied with a grin in his voice. "Adopted quite a few behaviors from him, it would seem."

"It's hard not to", she whispered and I heard the slightest shifting of her mane as she glanced at me. "I love everything about that stallion."

"I suppose", Cain replied. "He seems to attract quite a few people."

"In fact", I heard her whisper before hesitating and taking a deep breath. "I was thinking of proposing to him."

I faltered slightly but thankfully neither noticed as they continued their conversation.

"He's married already, isn't he", Cain asked as his eyebrow audibly twitched.

"Equestria is a polygamous country due to the male to female ratio", she explained softly.

A silence followed in which I could only imagine Cain blinking silently.

"I see", he replied eventually. "Then, by all means, go right ahead. I'd be careful though, because my brief encounter with Shadow has shown her to be quite... impatient?"

"Oh... Sh-Shadow", she gulped nervously.

"What the hell are y'all yapping about", I asked, feigning ignorance as I looked back with sweat pouring down my face and continued forced magic into the castle's magic storage.

"N-nothing", Twilight grinned nervously and I shrugged, turning back to the console.

"Nothing. Keep pouring magic into the castle but remember your limits", Cain warned before I heard him turn back to Twilight. "Strike at the head of the snake. Win Shadow's affection. I do not condone this, but it's better than Shadow eating your heart."

"Yes, dad", I droned sarcastically, beginning to feel the strain on my body.

"Dad", she gasped and looked from me to Cain and back. "I thought Discord was your father?!"

"He is", I grunted and pulled my hands from the console, nearly collapsing.

"Jackson", Twilight gasped and leapt to my side, supporting me as I steadied myself.

"Thanks, love", I said with a lopsided grin and rubbed her neck appreciatively before turning to Cain. "Wanna see something cool?"

"Sure, whatcha got for me", he nodded with a small smile as he stood to his full height.

"Audrey, increase range to maximum and report precise location of sensor limits", I smirked.

Sensor is at maximum range. Limit reaches three point five miles from Canterlot. Shields are at maximum range. Shielding limit reaches three point eight miles from Canterlot. Shielding is inactive. Canterlot royal procession detected passing Ponyville. Foreign changelings detected in Whitetail Woods.

"Monitor the changelings and let me know if they come within a mile of Ponyville", I commanded as I started out of the room, motioning for them to follow me.

"What's the royal procession doing in Ponyville", Cain asked with a cocked head as he followed along.

"I asked mom to come", I replied, lifting my hand as I spoke over my shoulder. "We'll meet her in the throne room."

"Wa, Princess Celestia is coming here", Twilight gasped as her pupils shrank.

"Yep", I grinned and stroked her horn. "So ya might wanna get cleaned up."

"Oh no", she whimpered and teleported away.

"I'll follow you to the throne room", Cain nodded as light bathed him for a moment, fading away to reveal his midnight armor with his flowing cape wrapped around his body. "Lead the way."

"You don't need your armor", I laughed and flicked my fingers, my own armor dissolving mid stride to be replaced by a thin, loose tunic cut from a slightly shiny silk with sleeves that tightened at the wrists and flowing black pants of the same fabric with a gold stripe down the outside of my legs. As each foot left the floor my boots vanished, replaced by a fur lined black shoe made of soft, supple leather before my feet touched back down.

Once in the throne room I materialized a massive chair off to the side of the room, nodding to it and motioning for Cain to sit. I climbed the dais and approached my throne, sighing as I shifted my wings and sat down. My fingers touched my relatively neglected crown and I reflexively lifted it, staring at the design before settling it on my head.l

"Now we wait", I intoned and materialized a goblet of mead in my right hand while forming a fireball in my left, splitting it in three and floating them around the room.

Cain approached the offered chair and glanced around the room before spinning and sitting down with a light grunt. Moments later he leaned to the left and propped his cheek against his fist, watching the fireballs float around the room just above eye level. Eventually he turned his gaze to the throne room doors.

"Cain, did Twilight seem... flustered... when we left the control room", I asked innocently and sipped my mead, turning the fireballs into tiny unicorns that pranced and flicked around the room.

"A little, but then again the only two humans in the world walked in on her getting piston fucked", he smirked and chuckled.

"Yeah, that was fucking hot", I grinned at him. "She can seriously take a cock like a pro!"

Jackson, the royal procession has reached the castle gates. Princess Celestia will arrive in approximately thirty five seconds.

"Thank you, Audrey", I smiled and turned to the doors, draining the rest of my goblet before tossing it aside only for it to vanish into thin air. "Ready to see mom again?"

"Always", Cain nodded and smiled before turning to the doors as well.

Seconds later the throne room doors opened and a pair of white unicorn guards entered with armor shining and their eyes focused. The plumes on their helmets bobbed slightly as they scanned the room, but seeing no threats they stepped aside to allow my mother to enter the room as she conversed with Twilight.

"Hey mom", I said with a happy smile as I stood before meeting her halfway across the floor and embracing her tightly.

"Such a warm welcome", she smiled as she returned the hug, barely hesitating due to her surprise. We held the hug for a moment before separating and she looked me over. "So nice to see you in something other than that armor! I almost forgot how you looked in regular clothing! Although I would like to see lighter colors."

"I like his choice of color", a somewhat husky voice called from the doorway, drawing my attention to the new arrival. My face fell flat as my eyes landed on the deep blue form of bone other than Luna herself.

"Well, fuck."