The Queen's Proposition

by MisterEdd

First published

Exploring the Frozen North, Dusk Shine inadvertently stumbles upon an old enemy who wishes to discuss an alliance...

Dusk Shine, the Prince of Friendship and Element of Magic, has been tasked by Prince Eros and Gleaming Shield to search the wastes of the Frozen North for any dark relics left behind by Queen Umbra, former despot of the Crystal Empire. Separated by his friends via a snowstorm, Dusk Shine is led to a nearby mountain and takes shelter in a cave, only to discover that it is the home of none other than Queen Umbra herself!

The knowledge that his foe is still alive quickly becomes a secondary shock when the Shadow Empress invites him to dinner! Reluctantly, Dusk Shine agrees and during the course of the meal, something awakens in him, drawing him to the nefarious queen, aroused by her beauty and dark allure. Whether it's the influence of dark magic or latent attraction, Dusk Shine doesn't care. All he knows is that he has to have her.

Contains: Rule 63, possible mind control/influencing, M/F, vaginal sex, handjob, blowjob, rough sex, possible pregnancy and a potential downer ending (?)

Cover art by NexcoyotlGT

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Thunderous wailing drowned out all other noise, pushing it into the background as Dusk Shine stumbled through the blinding snow, no longer aware of which direction he was heading in. His sister Gleaming Shield, along with her husband Prince Eros, are the rulers of the Crystal Empire, a recently rediscovered city of crystalline buildings and shimmering-coated ponies that'd been cursed for the past thousand years. Long ago, Princes Solaris and Artemis banished its despotic ruler Queen Umbra but were unable to prevent her from causing the kingdom to vanish. The Shadow Empress resurfaced but was defeated and possibly killed by Gleaming and Eros using the power of a relic known as the Crystal Heart. Two years later, there were whispers of Umbra's return, rumors circulating of hidden dark artifacts that could resurrect her, enabling the enchantress to reclaim her dark throne.

To that end, Dusk Shine, now elevated to an alicorn and prince of Equestria, had been summoned to the Crystal Empire along with his friends to search the Frozen North for any signs of these supposed artifacts. So far, they'd detected traces of dark magic but found nothing, possibly picking up on residual energy traces left behind by the queen's reemergence two years prior. The search, however, was put on hold when they were blindsided by a sudden blizzard and knocked around by the force of the north winds. Heavy snowfall turned the area into a cloud of obstructing whiteness and soon, Dusk Shine found himself weaving his way through the snow alone. His vision obscured and his voice unable to reach past the howling winds, he was unable to find his friends or even the way back to the Crystal Empire, dooming him to either freeze to death or blindly tumble off a cliff.

No, I can't die here. I mustn't!

The temperature was dropping by the minute and soon, even Dusk Shine's thick winter coat and padded gloves weren't enough to keep him from shivering, his teeth clacking like castanets in his mouth. Teleportation was out, given that he had no clue where the Tartarus he even was and could easily end up appearing in a snowbank or trapped inside a boulder. He could magically start a fire but without tinder or fuel, along with the high-velocity winds, the flames wouldn't last a second. There were his wings but the air currents were too strong and the snow so blinding that he wouldn't know which direction he was heading in nor even stay airborne long enough to reach the height necessary to properly get his bearings.

For the first time in a long time, Dusk Shine was completely and utterly hopeless.

No magic, no plans, no friends.

He was alone.

Something gently flared in the distance, a slow, green flash of light that gleamed softly, vanished and reappeared every twenty seconds like a beacon. Maybe his friends found him! His hope renewed, Dusk Shine raced through the snow as fast as he could, the beacon steadily glowing in the whiteness. The closer and closer he got, the brighter the beacon shined, blazing like a great bonfire signaling him the way home. It wasn't until he neared the beacon that he realized that he was heading towards a mountain, possibly at the end of the Crystal Mountain chain.

Dusk Shine shook his head, only concerned with getting out of the cold and was soon jumping with joy as he approached the mouth of a cave. The beacon faded as soon as he made it inside but it didn't matter. Shelter was shelter and he would've accepted crawling into the corpse of a dire wolf if it meant finding a place to rest. The hum of his lit horn illuminated his surroundings, revealing that the cave was much deeper than he originally anticipated. Further and further Dusk Shine traveled until he came across a set of stairs carved to the stone and could make out torchlight at the top.

"Well, let's just hope whoever's home won't mind the company," Dusk Shine said aloud and began the climb.

His path led him to a corridor lined with lit torches, each one holding a red flame that was curiously cold to the touch. He slid his goggles up and removed his gloves to unzip his coat, eager to get out of his cumbersome clothes as soon as possible. A large wooden door with an iron ring handle stood at the end of the corridor and without hesitation, Dusk Shine pulled it open, no longer caring if the owner was hospitable or not. On the other side, there lay a massive cavern that was filled with luxuries befitting a king, including Saddle Arabian rugs, two large bookcases filled with books and tomes, a four-poster bed with crimson gossamer curtains and even a bubbling hot spring.

Whoever lived here certainly wasn't shy when it came to their wealth. But why live in a cave in the middle of nowhere? Anywhere else would be an improvement over the Frozen North.

"Do you like my home?" A velvety smooth voice uttered.

Dusk Shine froze. He knew that voice!

A dark gray mare stepped out from behind a stone pillar and grinned, revealing a pair of sharp fangs that hung over her plump lips. She was garbed in a red robe with white fur trim, golden bracelets and rings glittering in the artificial light. A curved, blood-red horn topped her skull like a macabre crown and her scarlet eyes flashed like fire. Hair as black and untamed as the sea tumbled down past her waist and although the robe was thick, Dusk Shine was certain that a fit body was hidden underneath it if her large bust was anything to go by. Fear pierced the alicorn's heart as his horn flared to life.

"Queen Umbra!"

The mare slowly sashayed over to him before stopping six feet away. "Hello Dusk Shine, or should I say, Prince Dusk Shine? Congratulations on the promotion, by the way. Very well done."

Her voice was so rich and smooth, yet carrying with it an undercurrent of danger, like poison-laced honey.

"You just stay back!" Dusk Shine commanded, though the queen was more amused than threatened.

"Aw, is this any way to thank your savior? What would Prince Solaris think of your poor manners?"

Dusk Shine cocked a brow. "Wait, that beacon was you?"

Queen Umbra held out her arms. "Of course, my dear. I couldn't let you freeze to death out there."

Taking a step back, Dusk Shine stammered, "But I'm your mortal enemy! Why would you go through the trouble of saving me?"

"My mortal..?" She then burst into cruel but silky laughter. "My dear colt, I have no quarrel with you. It's Solaris and Artemis that are the targets of my ire. Oh, and those meddlesome Eros and Gleaming Shield but not you."

"So why-...?"

"Save your life? Follow me."

The Shadow Queen turned and sauntered over to a large, rectangular red oak table in the center of the room, her hips swaying with every step. This could very well be a trap but what other choice did he have? It was either follow Umbra and possibly get killed or run and die in the cold. He followed hesitantly, his eyes tracking those wide hips, mostly the firm rear end attached to them. She was a perfect specimen of her gender, one that he'd thought about more than once in his most private moments.

"Please, sit. It's not often that I receive visitors."

Skeptically, Dusk Shine dropped his hat, coat, gloves and goggles down on the floor beside him and scooched into a seat at one end of the table while Umbra took the other. The surface was covered in golden plates and bowls along with crystal wine glasses and forks and knives made of real silver.

"So!" Queen Umbra clapped her hands together and rubbed them. "What shall we have?"

"Whatever you want," Dusk Shine stated coolly.

The queen's red horn glowed with purple and black energy, the table transforming into a veritable buffet, every plate and bowl filled with foods of different shapes and sizes. Dates, mangoes, grapes, walnuts, pies, cakes, strawberries, and a hundred other items lay stretched out before Dusk Shine. His stomach quietly rumbled, a reminder of the time that had passed since he last dined.

"Go on, it's all for you," Queen Umbra purred with a flutter of her eyelashes.

"I think I'll pass," Dusk Shine decided, folding his arms. "You can understand my hesitation, of course."

Queen Umbra shrugged and busied herself by pouring some wine. Lightly curling her fingers around the stem, she raised the glass up and gently rested the rim against her bottom lip. Dusk Shine watched entranced as the wine poured down her throat, her eyes closed in pure enjoyment. It was so erotic that she had to be doing it on purpose, the sight causing Dusk Shine's stallionhood to twitch and unfurl from its sheath. Smacking her lips, Queen Umbra licked them with a slow roll of her tongue, her scarlet eyes falling on Dusk Shine and she grinned with a small moan.

"Would you care for some wine?"

Dusk Shine tugged at the collar of his turtleneck. "No...ahem! No thank you. I don't drink."

The wine glass next to him disappeared and reappeared in Queen Umbra's hand.

"Is that you talking or Prince Sun Buns? You don't have to go to him for everything."

Somehow, the implication hurt Dusk Shine's pride more than the blatant mocking tone towards his beloved friend and mentor.

"Hey, I don't need Solaris' permission for everything! I mean, Prince Solaris."

Queen Umbra raised a skeptical brow. "Somehow I highly doubt that," she grinned condescendingly and leaned forward, the action not only pushing her breasts forward but also made the robe slip down enough to afford Dusk Shine a view of her bountiful cleavage. "From what I've gathered, Prince Solaris says, 'Jump' and you say, 'How high, Your Majesty?'"

Those things are huge! They have to be D's!

"You know what? I will have that wine after all."

Queen Umbra grinned slyly, "Wise choice" and filled the glass, teleporting it back over onto Dusk Shine's side of the table. When the stallion began to sniff it, she giggled, "Come now, would I really go through the trouble of saving your life just to poison you?"

Dusk Shine's cheeks reddened. "I-I suppose not," he stammered and took a gulp, grimacing as he did so. He wasn't one to drink, only on rare occasions and thus his taste buds were unaccustomed to the flavor.

From their limited interactions and the research that he'd done, Queen Umbra was a very intelligent and methodical individual, a mare who made no move without first breaking it down and ensuring that everything made sense before implementing it. If she wanted somepony dead, she'd kill them without a second thought or without remorse so saving a life, especially that of an enemy, was not only uncharacteristic but also illogical on the queen's part. Was it because she needed a hostage for ransom? No, the princes would never give her the Crystal Empire, not even to save him.

"Queen Umbra?"

The mare lightly snickered. "Let's dispense with the formalities. Call me 'Umbra.'"

"Okay...Umbra." Dusk Shine tried the word out, finding it a tad strange using it without the title of "queen" attached but also discovering it was exotic, lovely even. "Why did you save me?"

"Ah yes, the question of the century," Queen Umbra said. "Simple: I wanted somepony from the opposition to hear what I had to say. You see, all I wanted was to get my kingdom back but then as I plotted to retake it, I realized that I was completely and utterly alone. I had nopony. Nopony to talk to, to share dinner with, who cared whether I lived or died."

Dusk Shine watched as Queen Umbra sighed, a long, tired sound that brought out the much older mare that dwelt within the flesh of the young one. She was two hundred years old before being banished for a millennium, much longer than the average lifespan of a pony. All that time alone...

Wait, was he feeling sorry for her?

"Why do you consider the Crystal Empire yours? You're not a crystal pony and besides, you took it by force. The princes were seizing it and giving control over to more benevolent rulers."

The queen's eyes glinted with aggravation. "The Crystal Empire is a self-governing kingdom that does not fall under the reign of the Royal Brothers so if anything, they are the foreign invaders. I may've seized power, but at least I was from there. It was my home and thus should be ruled by somepony that inhabited it."

Dusk Shine scooted his chair closer to the table. "You were a citizen? But how?"

For once, the mask of control slipped. Queen Umbra was looking far off into the distance, her eyes full of sorrow. A couple of minutes passed before she uttered, "I don't know where I came from. All I can remember is...being a filly and wandering through the snow." She gulped, her expression forlorn. "The crystal ponies found me half-dead at the entrance of the kingdom. I never found out where I came from, who my people were. I sometimes wonder if I'd been separated from my parents, if something happened to them or if they simply just abandoned me to die alone in the wastes."

Dusk Shine wiped at his wet cheeks. Either what she was saying was true or she was a Tartarus of a great actress. He had half a mind to subtly cast a truth spell but then the queen jerked her head and her playful expression returned. Her red horn was lightly glowing black and purple.

"Anyway! I brought you here to consider my proposal. I want you to join me in taking back the Crystal Empire. In return, I'll give you anything that your heart desires. The empire's library? Done! My hidden room of relics and spell books? All yours! All you have to do is help me dethrone Prince Eros and Gleaming Shield and return me to my rightful place as Queen of the Frozen North."

"You want me to betray my sister, my brother-in-law, my friends and my rulers?!"

"In essence, yes."

The young stallion vehemently shook his head. "No, absolutely not! I have a duty to my family, to my friends, to my mentor, and to Equestria. I won't allow you to hurt or kill any of them."

Umbra swirled her wine around. "Who said anything about killing? Live, die, I don't care what happens to my foes as long as they're out of the way and my throne is restored. Besides, a little abject humiliation never harmed anyone."

"Prince Solaris said that you-..."

Queen Umbra crossed her arms. "Tell this one little thing: do you envy Prince Solaris?"

Dusk Shine wilted like a dying flower. "W-what?"

"Do...you...en-vy...Prince So-lar-is?"

Such an odd question momentarily rendered Dusk Shine speechless.

"Prince Solaris is my mentor and one of the rulers of Equestria."

"That's not what I asked. Do you envy him?"

Dusk Shine's fingers rapped the tabletop as he became lost in thought. Ever since he was a colt, Prince Solaris had served as his friend and teacher, his closest confidant and ersatz father figure. It was the Prince of the Day who recognized Dusk Shine's talent, nurtured it and allowed him to reach his full potential, culminating in his ascension to alicorn status. If not for Prince Solaris, Dusk Shine would never have had reason to visit Ponyville or make such amazing friends like Elusive, Applebuck, Bubble Berry, Prism Blitz and Butterscotch. And yet...

Everypony loved and cherished Prince Solaris, even going so far as to deify the stallion and pray to him every day and night. Ponies continued to praise him for keeping Equestria safe, even though it was through the combined efforts of Dusk Shine and the others that Equestria still stood. Who was it that turned Phantasm Crescent back into Prince Artemis and defeated Eris when the latter escaped from her stony prison? Who had figured out that Prince Eros had been replaced by an impostor and aided the real Prince Eros and Gleaming Shield in taking down King Imago? Time and time again, Prince Solaris failed to keep harmony in Equestria and yet he was never to blame.

"Yes," Dusk Shine finally admitted, the sudden newfound anger boiling in his chest like a tea kettle.

Umbra smiled. "Don't be. If anything, Solaris should be envious of you."

"M-me?"

"Mm, hmm."

"Um, thank you." Dusk Shine took a gulp of the wine in hopes of calming his nerves, his whole body carrying with it the sensation of being made of fire. He'd never told anyone, not even his dragon helper Barb, about his feelings of jealousy towards Prince Solaris and was rendered even more confounded by his growing lust towards one of the most notorious villainesses in Equestrian history. No, it was more than just carnal desire. Buried deep beneath the malice and arrogance, there was hurt and loneliness hidden away.

Dusk Shine snapped out of his thoughts when something began gingerly caressing his cheek. He looked to see Umbra kneeling beside him, rubbing his flesh with the tenderness of a lover. When did she have up from her seat?

"So much potential wasted on that self-righteous egotist. You could be so much more than just Solaris' student, more than a mere Prince of Friendship."

Dusk wanted to speak but he was just captivated by those scarlet eyes peering into his.

"You and I aren't so different," she stated softly, the playfulness gone from her voice. "I was once Solaris' pupil, just as you were." Dusk Shine jolted slightly at the news and Umbra merely nodded. "Oh yes. I was an outcast, not just because of my looks but also because I preferred knowledge to friendship. Then Solaris came to the Crystal Empire and discovered me, discovered my gifts and decided to take me under his wing."

Umbra allowed herself a small smile but it was more wistfully melancholic than happy.

"He told me that I was special, but that I needed proper training and whisked me away to Canterlot so that I could study under him. I thought that I was finally meant for something more than just being a weird-looking orphan."

"You were in love with him."

Umbra gulped, her throat clicking lightly. "I thought that I was. I spent decades honing my craft, endless hours in the library and in the training room to be the spell caster that he said I could be. But it was never enough. No matter how hard I trained or the good deeds I performed, Solaris refused to acknowledge me as a master. 'Keep training, Umbra. One day you'll get there.' The years passed and I was no closer to becoming a full-fledged mage or magic teacher.

"One day, I followed Solaris to a secret room in the palace, one where he kept the most powerful relics and spell books to himself. It was there that I learned of dark magic, what it could do and decided to use it to enhance my studies. Finally, I would win the respect of both Solaris and the ponies that had shunned me for so long. Several months passed before I performed for him and Artemis, pulling off feats of sorcery not seen in eons and when I was finished, I perceived their stunned silence to be astonishment. But I was wrong. The princes were furious with me and when Solaris demanded where I learned such tricks, I innocently told him of the secret room, having never spoken an untrue word to him. That was when he showed his true colors."

Dusk Shine exhaled, releasing the breath he'd unknowingly been holding. "What happened next?"

Umbra's red eyes shone with devastation. "I was immediately arrested as a warlock and forced to watch as my notebooks were burned, months of research lost to the flame. I was imprisoned deep below the castle, away from the light and everything I'd known." Tears trickled down Umbra's cheeks. "I don't know how long I was down there in the dark and cold, alone and scared with nopony to talk to or anypony who cared where I was. I remember being huddled up in the corner, a shell of my former self, kept sane only by my unfathomable rage. After some time had passed, a voice called out to me, one that I later discovered to be an evil spirit that emanated from the dark burial site that the castle had been built upon. It promised me power in return for my soul. The rest, as they say, is history."

The room fell silent, the crackling fire and the howling winds serving as the cavern's sole background noise. To both of their surprises, Dusk Shine gently placed his hand over Umbra's as his other one wiped away her tears. The mare closed her eyes, humming at his touch and her fingers curling around his. When her eyes opened back up, those ruby pools were full of warmth.

Standing up slowly, Umbra levitated their wine glasses and the bottle. "Follow me."

As if sleepwalking, Dusk Shine slid out of his chair and followed the gray-coated mare over to her bed, his teeth chattering as his eyes tracked the globes of her rump, which jiggled with every step. She gazed amusingly at him over her shoulder with one sultry eye, causing Dusk Shine to gulp and tug at his collar. It was so strange-no, downright surreal-for Dusk Shine to be ogling the Shadow Queen and for her to enjoy it. Images flashed in his mind of ravaging the villainess, his hands exploring her voluptuous form. He wanted to rut Umbra into the ground, to empty his testicles inside of her and claim the mare as his own, something that both scared and thrilled him.

"Wait right here."

Umbra gestured for Dusk Shine to take a seat on the divan across from the bed while she disappeared behind a folding panel divider. Abashed, Dusk Shine rapidly shook his leg as his eyes tracked the silhouette behind the divider, his hands clamping onto the divan as the curvaceous mare behind the divider slipped out of her robe. The alicorn gulped back the lump in his throat, mentally chastising himself for his attraction. When she reappeared, Umbra was leaning up against the divider with a hand on her hip and clad in all black: bra, panties, choker, elbow-length gloves and stockings. Dusk Shine's eyes practically bulged out of his skull as he scanned the queen head to hoof, drinking in her full figure from her large heaving breasts to her long, toned but still feminine legs.

"What do you think?" Umbra's red eyes burrowed into the stallion's.

"You're...beautiful."

Umbra let out a giggle and then pushed off of the divider, wide hips swaying hypnotically left to right.

"And you're sweet," she grinned seductively. "Quite the handsome young stallion."

Sitting on her bed, Umbra cradled her wine glass and levitated Dusk Shine's over to him. Taking the glass with a shaking hand, Dusk Shine did his best to keep the liquid from spilling and uttered a weak thank you. The wine made Dusk Shine feel fuzzy but in a good way, settling into his stomach while Umbra watched him in a predator-esque manner. Although he'd been in close proximity to beautiful mares before and had in fact been propositioned once or twice, none of them had ever looked at him with such raw carnality as Umbra did in that moment. Of course, there was the fact that she was practically naked and they were in her sleeping quarters, both of which were firsts for the stallion.

Umbra smirked, "So, about my proposal. What do you think?"

Dusk Shine could feel his heart pounding in his ears, his loins burning and his aching stallionhood fully erect. A couple of wine droplets trickled down Umbra's chin, down her neck and into the crevasse of her breasts. She shifted her legs and Dusk Shine caught a dark spot on the crotch of her panties, betraying her own growing arousal. Words tumbled out of the mare's luscious lips but he couldn't focus on them, too wrapped in his desire for the captivating creature in front of him. Good and evil, harmony and disharmony, right and wrong no longer mattered.

He wanted her. No, needed her.

"Before," Dusk Shine grunted suddenly, causing Umbra to close her mouth and stare at him in fascination. "You promised me anything that my heart desires." Umbra nodded. Setting his glass aside, Dusk Shine boldly rose and stood directly in front of her."What if I desire you?"

What are you doing?! There's no way in Tartarus she'd ever-

Rising to her hooves, Umbra gently slid her hands up Dusk Shine's chest.

"Then you may have me," Umbra murmured salaciously and pressed her muzzle against his.

Apart from a small smooch he'd received as a colt, Dusk Shine had never kissed a mare before, being too absorbed in his studies and later his responsibilities as an Element Bearer and prince. Now here he was swapping spit with the Dark Queen of the North and couldn't give less of a buck. Their lips ravenously locked, huffing moans into each other's mouths, separating and reconnecting with a series of smacks. Dusk Shine's hands roamed down Umbra's back and hips to rest on her fat rump, eliciting a soft moan from her. Umbra disconnected and peered at him lustfully.

"Mmm, not bad, Dusky. Tell me, are you a virgin?"

"I, um...yes." Dusk shine looked away shamefully, only for Umbra to grasp his chin and turn him back towards her.

"Don't be ashamed. I'd be honored to be your first."

Umbra gripped Dusk Shine's sweater and dragged him on top of her as they tumbled onto her bed, resuming their passionate kissing, the queen's lips clinging to his own as she grasped handfuls of his mane. Dusk groaned pleasurably at the fingertips combing against his scalp, responding via clutching at Umbra's hips and butt. His fingers dug into the soft, pliable flesh, earning him a soft keen from the mare.

He instinctively rubbed his full mast into the crotch of Umbra's panties, eliciting another gentle moan.

"Eager, aren't we?" Scarlet eyes sparkled up at Dusk with mischievous carnality. Rolling Dusk over, Umbra peered down at him with half-lidded eyes, a toothy grin plastered on her face. "Let's see what you have hidden under there, shall we?"

Dusk felt his breath catch in his throat as Umbra unzipped his fly and yanked his pants and underwear down, his rock-hard erection springing forward like a fleshy jack-in-the-box. A bead of pre-cum seeped from the tip, causing Umbra's grin to deepen. She grasped the shaft with tentative fingers and Dusk had to bite the inside of his mouth to keep from moaning.

"How is it you don't have a marefriend with this thing swinging between your legs?" Her hand began lightly pumping in an up-and-down motion. Dusk couldn't speak, not with this dark-maned beauty working his pole. He'd masturbated before but the sensation of an alien hand stroking him like this was nothing short of incredible.

"Doesn't matter; tonight, you belong to me."

And with that, she dragged her tongue along the head before sliding it into her maw.

Dusk's head slammed back onto one of the pillows, biting his lip in a vain attempt to silence the groan that slipped out. He watched as Umbra bobbed her head up and down, smiling around his stallionhood, her eyes never leaving his. His fingers dug into the silk sheets, seizing the fabric while something swirled around his shaft. A shaky gasp exited Dusk's lips and this time, he wasn't able to properly contain it. What Umbra was doing with her tongue, Dusk had no frame of reference.

A series of wet, lewd suckling sounds vibrated around Dusk's member, a couple of them sounding like moans. Finally, Umbra lifted herself up, dragging her tongue up his shaft and over the head, a sultry grin on her face that only added fuel to the fire growing in Dusk's belly.

"Mmm, you taste amazing. Did you like that, Dusky?"

The stallion rapidly nodded.

"Good."

With a simple flick, Umbra unclipped her bra and allowed it to tumble onto the floor, freeing what were easily the most firm and succulent pair of breasts that Dusk had ever seen. That is, outside of a magazine. The light coat of fur around them matched the rest of her body while her pert, fully erect nipples were a dark gray that bordered on black. Beckoning him with a finger, Dusk fell once more into Umbra's embrace, readily seizing her mammaries, grasping them and molding them to his touch. Giving one nipple an experimental squeeze, he was rewarded with a sudden gasp.

"S-so naughty! Do it again!"

Dusk obliged, this time giving the other nipple the same treatment. Umbra hissed in pleasure, her teeth clamping down in an effort to control her rising ecstasy. Burying his face between those soft mounds, Dusk kissed and licked along her sternum, his lips and tongue sucking and lapping at her breasts, exploring the taste and texture of her flesh. When he came upon her right nipple, he lightly grazed the rigid tissue with the tip of his tongue.

"D-don't tease me. Please..."

The queen's plea, and her whimpers of delight, were music to Dusk's ears. Emboldened, he drew his tongue along the nub, encircling it lightly before slowly lowering his mouth around it. Umbra's eyes widened, her muscular thighs clamping together, her body being rocked by waves of pleasure not felt in a thousand years. Dusk's inexperience was more than made up for with his eagerness to explore and satisfy the alluring mare in his arms. This wasn't just about losing his virginity or releasing twenty-seven years of pent-up frustration, both sexual and otherwise.

No, he had to please Umbra, to show her that despite her centuries of experience, he was her ideal mate, the only one that she would yearn for, the only one who could appreciate her for the goddess that she was.

A hand dove into Umbra's panties and cupped her moist sex.

The mare gasped, both in surprise and in pleasure. "Wha-what?"

Two fingers sank into the flesh, massaging the long-neglected insides.

"D-dusk..."

Yes, Dusk Shine would tame this bitch, make her squeal his name and his alone.

Releasing his hold on her breasts, Dusk spun and sat Umbra onto the bed, tearing away her panties as his fingers plunged further into her. He discarded the now-torn garment and thrust his mouth against hers, their tongues intermingling in a risque dance of passion. He hooked his fingers and twirled them upward, causing Umbra to force her air into his mouth with a loud moan. Her hand found purchase on Dusk's shoulder, her nails digging through the fabric and into his skin. Dusk grunted and drew away, a salacious grin working its way across his love-drunk face.

One flash of his horn later, and he was completely naked, smirking as Umbra studied his physique in between her lustful pants. If her look of appraisal was anything to go by, she liked what she saw and Dusk was grateful that Prism and Applebuck dragged him to the gym as often as they did. Flicking his fingers within her depths, watched with fascination as Umbra's juices trickled down her thighs, every prod drawing out another shuttering mewl. Her insides clamped around his fingers, her peak fast approaching and welcomed; it'd been far too long since she'd experienced an orgasm. Abruptly, Dusk withdrew his fingers as Umbra's folds gripped at them in an ultimately vain attempt to keep them inside and depriving her of her release.

Her anger faded when Dusk knelt over her and positioned his now-throbbing member, its head pointing arrow-like at her entrance. For a moment, Dusk stared with trepidation at her drooling, winking marehood. He then gazed at her, their eyes meeting and both of them felt a connection, however brief. He reached out and cupped one of her cheeks, stroking the fur with a thumb. Umbra pressed her cheek into his hand, humming lightly as an affectionate smile adorned her features.

And then, as if a switch had been flipped, Dusk suddenly dove forward, burying his stallionhood into her love tunnel.

An impassioned howl filled the room, Umbra arching her back at the unexpected but greatly receptive invasion of her core. This was followed up with another thrust, this one harder than the last. Dusk hovered over Umbra, one arm supporting his body next to Umbra's head while his free hand toyed with her breast. Picking up speed, Dusk slammed into her with reckless abandon, almost as if possessed by some weird sex-demon that wanted nothing more than to utterly dominate the mare that he was balls-deep in. He was torn between wishing to make love to Umbra, showing her that he cared about making her happy...and mindlessly screwing her silly and claiming her as his own.

Umbra, however, didn't care either way.

"Harder!" She growled and released a tooth-grit moan when her wish was granted. "Yesss...!"

Ripping his prick out of her, Dusk magically rolled Umbra onto her stomach, ignoring the mare's scowl.

"What are you doiiiiiiiing?!"

Her question was answered when Dusk unceremoniously grabbed a hold of her hips and slammed his length back into her canal. Umbra let out a wail of unadulterated bliss, undulating to the ceiling and echoing throughout the cave. One of Dusk's hands gripped Umbra's mane, curled it around his wrist and roughly tugged on it, using it like a leash. He yanked on it, forcing her head upward and sending her over the edge with a final immodest screech. This led to much more aggressive pumps on Dusk's part, his own climax dangerously close, a fact that both of them were aware of.

"Come inside me!" Umbra huffed imploringly through a smoldering, desperate gaze. "Please..."

Clamping his jaws tightly, Dusk crashed his hips against Umbra's backside, a guttural groan vibrating in his mouth as his length flared, unleashing a torrent of semen into the queen's quivering marehood. Umbra jumped at the sudden invasive heat that filled her insides, assaulting her womb with his seed. She let out a series of coos, panting vulgarly while her lover's mini-humps gradually grinded to a halt. Wiping the sweat on his brow, Dusk wheezed, collecting air into his depleted lungs before pulling his shaft out of Umbra's pulsating marehood with a plop. Crawling onto the bed, he collapsed next to Umbra, pulling the mare into his embrace, a gesture that she eventually reciprocated.

"If I hurt you...I'm sorry."

Umbra gasped and stared at Dusk curiously. "Hmm? No, it's okay! You were...mmm." She peppered beneath his chin and jawline with kisses. "For a virgin, you were quite...satisfactory."

Dusk chuckled somewhat uneasily. "Good, 'cause I was worried that I wouldn't be up to the task."

Idly stroking Dusk's cheek, Umbra simpered, "Oh there's no need for that, Dusky." She kissed him on the lips, a deep, surprisingly tender action that Dusk was more than happy to participate in. Pulling away, Dusk yawned and felt his eyelids droop. "You're tired." Her fingers grazed his cheek. "Sleep. Sleep, my love. I'll be here when you awaken. I promise."

"Good..." Dusk yawned again. "I don't want you to be...alone. No one deserves..."

Trailing off, he blinked once, twice and was soon fast asleep, his arms wrapped firmly around Umbra.

~*~

Dusk's chest steadily rose and fell, little bursts of hair whistling through his nostrils as he peacefully slept and presumably dreamt. Umbra chuckled, finding it surprisingly adorable and further endearing the young stallion to her. She laid her head against his chest, his heart beating strongly in her ear and this brought a smirk to her face. However, the smirk soon morphed into an introspective frown. The truth was, none of this was according to plan, at least not entirely.

Yes, everything that Umbra had told Dusk was the truth: she'd discovered him wandering around and conjured a beacon to summon him to her in order to explain her side of things. As much as the dark unicorn loved to deceive and manipulate others for her own gain-and she did immensely-she felt that a bit of verity was appropriate for the situation. That extended to her confession about her own past, something that, while painful and downright aggravating to discuss, somehow just came out so easily. Perhaps it was the prince's kindness and willingness to hear her out that'd led to her openness? She couldn't remember the last time that she'd confided in anyone and it admittedly felt nice.

She turned to the stallion sleeping beside her, his arms still tightly wound around her as if to perfect her from some unknown force. She chuckled lightly and traced his jaw with a forefinger. During their dinner, she'd covertly cast a minor lust spell, one whose potency depended on the level of attraction that the subject had towards the caster and did it work! It didn't alter Dusk so much as tear down his inhibitions and release what was already there and Umbra felt her nethers tense up at the thought of their recent fornication. The Prince of Friendship...well, he was very friendly to her.

Umbra pursed her lips slightly. She hadn't meant to use her own sob story of a past to sway Dusk's heart but once she did, she figured that it would've made her more sympathetic in his eyes and it did. The only thing was, that she didn't count on how kind he'd be, how gentle. Just the way that he looked at her, the way that he spoke and touched her. None of her previous lovers ever made her feel such a level of security, of appreciation. She raised a hand to her chest to feel her heartbeat.

Umbra could say that her plan was almost perfect, the only hitch being how he made her feel. She'd counted on her charm, flawless body, and sorcery to win Dusk over but his treatment of her was unexpected, making her heart race in a way not seen since she was young and dumb and full of dreams. Perhaps her cold, black heart was once again experiencing something in the way of love. She was legitimately fond of him and even if she didn't love him now, she could one day.

Dusk Shine had potential; unlike the empty-headed pretty-colts she'd debased herself with by allowing them access to her body, this stallion was smart, magically-gifted, brave, and a natural leader. And he cared for her. Umbra placed a hand on her stomach, almost certain that she could feel Dusk's seed growing inside her womb. The last piece of the puzzle. Even if that startlingly hot and heavy session of passion didn't put a foal in her, she knew that Dusk was more than willing to tend to her needs again, even if he didn't know what he'd truly be giving her.

And if not, she could always mind-control him into doing her bidding.

Umbra could feel the curtain of sleep falling, her exhausted form ready to regain its strength after such intense copulating. No, lovemaking. She giggled and bestowed a feather-light kiss on Dusk's cheek, creating a dopey grin on his lips.

"Good night, my king."

She slid her arms around him and settled into his chest.

"Tomorrow, we'll try for a little princess or princeling."

The Shadow Empress soon followed her paramour into unconsciousness, dreaming of death and carnage for her and her new family. First, the Crystal Empire, then Equestria. She'd waited a thousand years for a chance at revenge. She could afford to be patient.