Chapter 15: A Radiant Discussion

Umbra had left her bedroom with a spring in her step and a smile on her face. It may have been a bit of a blow to learn that every guard in the Crystal Empire knew how to fight her dark magic now, but ultimately it mattered little.

So what if Flash Sentry could dispel her magic? So what if he could resist her mind control? It didn’t matter in the end; they’d still all be throwing themselves onto their knees in good time, begging to serve her perfect, wonderful tits. With her body she could dominate a pony’s mind far more effectively than with any helmet or magic. So why worry about whatever puny magic they had developed as long as she had their souls?

With all that in mind Umbra had little reason to be pessimistic about her plans. And turning one of her most defiant and cruel rebels into her willing pawn and agent was certainly a treat. And giving him Silver Shield was just the icing on the cake, really. It was a calculated move; in giving him Silver Shield, Umbra did not just make Flash Sentry slowly more open to the idea of one day having Twilight Sparkle as a sex ****, but it also made him dependent on Umbra directly.

After all, if Umbra were to be defeated, then Flash Sentry would see Silver Shield freed from being his ****. Assuming he was not imprisoned like Umbra herself, so in that way Flash Sentry now had **** but to serve Umbra and do everything he could think of to ensure her success.

“There you have it, Sombra. Cunning and calculated, just like the Mastermind you want to be.” She said to herself, her smile as bright as it was sinister.

“I might have done it without making a slut out of myself.” A small voice in the back of her head protested quietly. She could almost imagine a little Sombra devil on his shoulders, his arms crossed and nose stuck high in the air.

“Almost certainly. You would have used magic and mind control helmets, and you’ve seen how well those would work against him.” Umbra shot back as she walked. Voice filled with smug vindication.

“But now you’re down one ****. Are you going to give away your entire harem? How will you conquer Equestria if you give each and every one of your conquests away?” The little Sombra devil on her shoulder protested.

She laughed, haughty and cruel. Much like a spoiled princess or a cruel bully dealing with a pathetic worm. But a laugh that would still send the most erotic shivers down a victim’s spine. “Oh you poor fool. You know better than that. Flash Sentry is a far greater prize than that fool Silver Shield. Beyond once being one of the most persistent thorns in our empire’s side, he’s also the key to bringing Twilight Sparkle herself to heel. With her under our iron heel our conquest of the Crystal Empire will be easy.”

“Talking to yourself, Umbra? Are you sure you don’t need therapy?” A sweet, kind, beautiful voice asked. The only voice in all of Equestria that could be sweet and kind and yet not make Umbra feel like her teeth were rotting from their sweetness or feel like nails dragging down a chalkboard.

“Radiant Hope.” Umbra said, her voice uncharacteristically bright and cheery. It’s normal menance gone as she slips a thread of her hair behind her ear. “So great to see you again.” She frowned. “How did you get inside the palace?”

“I have my connections.” She answered shrewdly with a mock innocent smile. “You know when you told me all about Cadance’s fetishes that proved to be some good **** material.”

“You blackmailed Cadance?” Umbra didn’t know whether to be surprised or impressed.

“**** might be going too far. I merely told her what I managed to piece together from your confessions last night and the night in the strip club. Without mentioning you, of course.” She added, seeing the worried look on Umbra’s face. “And then she gave me the key. I think she liked being blackmailed you know. It turned her on.”

“At this point I wouldn’t be surprised.” Umbra admitted, shoulders shagging. With everything else she had learned about Cadance recently this was hardly the most unbelievable.

“So in any case I think she liked having me in here, and I think she wanted me to talk to you. Wanted me to help you become her Master, and I think she wanted me to also give you this.” She held up a box, wrapped like a Hearthswarming Eve present. Umbra looked at it curiously, having never expected any kind of present.

“A present?” She tore apart the black wrapping with blood red bats to reveal a box. Taking the lid off the box she was surprised to see her crown that she had buried in the park just the last day. It had been cleaned and polished of all the dirt and grime that it had been smeared with when she had buried it.

“My crown!” She said raising it. Her voice was more giddy than intended. “But I buried it, just like I buried my Sombra side. How did you-

“I found your ‘grave’ in the park, and I decided to dig it up and return it to you after our chat last night.” Radiant Hope explained, pressing her fingers together awkwardly.

“Almost sounds like you were grave robbing.” Umbra teased, but there was no malice behind her accusation.

"Ah, don’t put it that way. Now you make it sound like I did something terrible," Radiant Hope whined, but she was grinning at the banter between friends. "Besides, you always did have a dramatic streak. Really, burying yourself? You’re not dead, Sombra; you’re perfectly healthy. As I’m sure some ponies have noticed.”

She gave Umbra a playful poke in her gorgeous ebony tits and a smile. Umbra gave a playful shocked gasp. “I’d advise you to keep your hands to yourself young lady.”

Radiant Hope smiled in a way that was half playful and half mock guilt. “You seem to be in a better mood. Good night’s sleep?”

“Something like that. And a few good rounds with that Flash Sentry pony we had at the Dark Crystal Empire last night.” Umbra said with a smile.

“Keep that up and you’ll have him as your personal pawn in no time.” She said with a cheerful, teasing laugh.

“What makes you think I haven’t already?” Umbra asked, a smug grin on her face and a hand on her hip.

Radiant Hope stared at Umbra curiously trying to deduce whether or not Umbra was merely joking or not. Eventually a shit eating grin broke across her mouth.

“You didn't?”

“I did.”

“But he hated you.” She said her smile was ever so wide.

“He didn’t seem to hate me at the strip club.” Umbra said with a playful shrug.

“That was roleplay.”

“Yes but this was the real deal.” Umbra assured her, smiling with pride. She jabbed a thumb upstairs where presumably Flash Sentry was still fucking Silver Shield. “Go upstairs if you don’t believe me.”

Radiant Hope looked up with a smile on her face. “No, no, I believe you. I don’t need to see him tied up in order to believe that.”

"Oh, he isn’t tied up.” Umbra said mischievously.

“Oh?” Radiant Hope cocked her head. “I just assumed… so what is he doing?”

“He’s probably having fun with the reward I gave him.” Umbra said, folding her arms with a smug smile. “Have you ever heard of a guard called Silver Shield?”

“Can’t say that I have but I can imagine what’s happening.” Radiant Hope said, pointing upstairs.

“Yes, well, it turns out that our little freedom fighter isn’t such a freedom fighter when there’s an opportunity to be the master of a **** himself.” Umbra said smugly. Clearly relishing Flash Sentry’s hypocrisy. “Of course he didn’t mind being a **** either; one wonders why he ever bothered being a freedom fighter at all.”

Radiant Hope’s smile became less amused and more thoughtful and, perhaps, proud? Impressed? Admiring? Umbra didn’t think she had done anything to deserve that reaction.

“Something on your mind?” Umbra asked, frowning at Radiant Hope's strange reaction.

"Wrong? No, not at all. It's just, it seemed uncharacteristically generous of you." Radiant Hope admitted, a patient smile on her face. "It's not like you to share in your 'property'. It seemed more as if you'd want to keep it all to yourself."

Umbra paused, frowning. What Radiant Hope said made sense, and yet she could not place why it did not bother her as much as it should. Wasn't this another step away from her identity as Sombra? Of losing herself. Maybe it was because she had made peace with the fact, but Radiant Hope's words didn't bring the distress that they might otherwise have done.

"Well, it seemed like a natural step. To bring him over to my side by giving him a taste of my power.” Umbra said, a bit more defensively than she had intended. “I don’t see why it should be a problem.”

“I never said it was an issue.” Radiant Hope said shaking her head in amusement and smiling. The way one would when a child might apologize for something that wasn’t a problem. “Not at all. I was just thinking you could be a generous queen.”

She lifted the crown that still lay in her hands up a fraction of an inch. Serving as a silent offering and bringing Umbra’s attention back to it.

“I buried this for a reason, you know.” Umbra said, casual and with little bite even as she stared at the crown. Even now there was still a part of her that wanted to take it back, as if the crown itself were calling to her.

Reminding her of her old self, her old destiny as Sombra the tyrant rather than Umbra the queen.

“Yes, yes, I know, but it was all rather dramatic, don’t you think?” Radiant Hope said, with an almost accusatory sigh. “You’re not dead; you’re still here. Alive and well, so why would you ever need a grave?”

“Sombra was dead, Radiant Hope.” Umbra reminded her with a sigh. She leaned back against the wall, as if the crystalline structure could provide some support for her heavy heart. “It’s a part of my life that I need to set behind me. Never again will I ever be the tyrant who rules the Crystal Empire.”

Umbra’s eyes had drifted to the floor as she spoke, but for a brief moment she had chanced a glance at Radiant Hope and noticed an all-too-infuriating hopeful smile that she simply had to quash.

“Don’t think for a moment though that I’m going to be any nicer as Umbra though!” She snapped, bolting upright, her left hand squeezing into the wall. “I’m still every bit the tyrant I’ve always been. Don’t you dare start suggesting that I ought to start singing songs and dancing about how friendship is magic. Bleggh.” Umbra said, miming herself puking.

“Oh no, I wasn’t going to suggest that, but you do remember what we talked about in your dream. Sombra is every bit a part of you as Umbra is. You can’t have one without the other. You need to accept both sides of yourself.” Radiant Hope reminded her, and Umbra nodded. She had buried the crown only before the dream, after all, and before Radiant Hope had had a chance to change her mind.

Radiant Hope’s smile then turned ever so sly as she smirked a little and added. "Besides, you can’t be a queen without a crown. All good queens need a crown, and you’ll look much sexier with a crown.”

“Oh?” Umbra asked, raising an eyebrow.

“One of the first things I learned when I was…ahem—" She pulled at the collar of her dress. “Cosplaying as you.”

Umbra was pleased to see how embarrassed she was by that little detail. Even if Umbra could not deny how well she had pulled it off. “You certainly did know how to put the costume together.”

"Yeah, I guess I do.” Radiant Hope admitted, blushing like a tomato. “And the crown is critical. After all, the entire fantasy is that you’re the queen and we’re the subjects. We serve you as our Mistress, and if you’re going to look the part, you need to act the part.”

Radiant Hope held the crown up, her fingers trembling. The blush on her face was still there; no doubt it wasn’t just the perverts at the strip club who liked to see Umbra wear a crown. Nor would it seem was Radiant Hope.

“Thank you, Radiant Hope.” Umbra said, a rarely sincere smile on her face as she took it again and placed it on her head. It was heavy, certainly, but Umbra had always felt a little lightheaded when she hadn’t worn it before. And perhaps a little lost without it.

“So, Umbra, how have you been? Since last night, I mean, I hope you’re feeling better after your…” She trailed off, wondering what exactly was the most polite way that she should phrase the dream last night. Thankfully Umbra was in no mood to see her struggle.

“My existential crisis as my two sides warred against themselves.” Umbra said with a cheerful smile. Then she shrugged. "Oh, you know. Same old, same old. I mean, as good as you can get after you’ve been humiliated by a vengeful chaos demon with a childish sense of humor.

“You mean Discord?” Radiant Hope asked, and Umbra nodded.

“I can still see that bastard in the back of my mind. Mocking me, laughing at me.” Umbra said, folding her arms. “I can still hear him, his voice like fingers down a blackboard.”

Radiant Hope pressed a finger to her chin; her eyebrows started to furrow. “I thought you would have appreciated him a little.”

“Appreciated it?!” Umbra snarled, her voice barely quieter than a shout as her red eyes glinted with malice and fury. “What would I have appreciated him for?”

"Well, I just thought…aren’t you glad to be Umbra now?” Radiant Hope asked; she seemed exasperated now. “Isn’t it all part of your plan? To make Cadance’s fantasy a reality and use that to gain power?”

“Yeah I mean it is.” Umbra said, squirming slightly and gritting her teeth. “But that’s just what that bastard wants. He’s delighted by all that’s happening. It’s all a sick game to him.”

Umbra started pacing, her high heels piercing the ground like thunder as she paced, hands tearing at her gorgeous raven locks. “I refuse to play his sick game; I refuse to be a pawn of the bastard who ruined my plans. There has to be a way to turn the tables, to break free, to make him realize he was wrong to ever mess with me!”

“Why though? Isn’t this what you want now? The power that comes with being Shining Armor’s head concubine.” Radiant Hope asked, still ever so blissfully naive.

“That’s not the point, Radiant.” Umbra screeched in exasperation. “The point is that he ruined my master plan! He tricked me by pretending to be Grogar and played me for a fool! I need to make things even; I won’t be his plaything ever again, I won't—"

“Umbra! You listen to me right now!” Umbra paused. It was rare to see Radiant Hope like this, with her hands on her hips, her lips pursed into a pout and her eyes narrowed. It was enough to make even the darkest forces of evil flinch.

“What exactly was your plan to take over Equestria?” Radiant Hope asked. Umbra frowned; this wasn’t the question she had been expecting.

“You already know—"

“Tell me.” She said, her voice cutting through Umbra’s. It was clear that there was no room for argument.

"Well, it was…you know. To use dark magic to corrupt the Crystal Empire and the mind control helmets to enslave the population into my personal slaves," Umbra said with a shrug. “Would have been the perfect plan if Discord hadn’t got in the way?”

“And the last time?”

“Last time?” Umbra asked, her frown deepening as her confusion mounted.

“Yes, when the Crystal Empire first returned to Equestria. What exactly was your plan that time?” She asked; the way she spoke unnerved Umbra. She could practically feel Radiant Hope’s patience slipping.

"Well, it was to appear as a big shadowy form, a colossal huge mass of darkness that would swoop over the Crystal Empire.” Umbra said, raising her hands in the air like a kid imitating a monster with a grin that was not so different from a monster’s grin on her face.

“And then?”

“And then I would have swooped down, used my dark magic to destroy my enemies, and then forged my mind control helmets to…mind control their minds.”

Umbra could feel the smile slipping off her face as the cogs in her head finally started to move. Her outstretched hands also slowly retreated back to her sides.

“And a thousand years ago?” Radiant Hope asked, arms folded and feet tapping. “When you were first taking over the Crystal Empire and had to stop Princess Celestia and Princess Luna?”

“Oh that one, that one was one of my best plans yet. See, I had this fallback plan by setting up a dark ritual in the Crystal Empire that would freeze the entire Empire so that even if Celestia and Luna were to emerge victorious, their victory would turn to bitter ash, and I would have another chance in a thousand years.”

“Uh huh. So if that was your fallback plan, what was your primary plan?”

“Oh, well, I was hard at work. I entrenched the Crystal Empire with a series of dark runes to serve as traps and enchantments to stop the princesses. Then I used my mind control helmets on the ponies here so that the Princesses would have to fight their own ponies in order to defeat me.”

“So in short, you used dark magic and your mind control helmets to try and fight the princesses.” Radiant Hope said impatiently.

Umbra started tapping her fingers together. Her gaze started to find the floor particularly interesting all of a sudden. A difficult task when her bust was so huge. “From a certain point of view.”

Radiant Hope let out a long, exhausted sigh as Umbra felt the embarrassment creep up onto her face. She could feel her cheeks begin to burn and her eyes begin to water. She half wished the floor of the Crystal Palace would open up and swallow her whole.

“Umbra, please understand that I mean this without a hint of mockery but…” Radiant Hope paused, wondering how best to phrase it. Though she seemed to find tact overrated. “But what were you expecting to happen? You’ve used the same plan three separate times now.”

"Well, if it ain’t don’t fix it.” Umbra said weakly.

“It hasn’t worked once! I’d say it was pretty broken the first time, never mind three times.” Radiant Hope shook her head.

“You have to admit I did come pretty close the third time.” Umbra said, rubbing the back of her head.

“And the first two times you didn’t!” Radiant Hope said crossly.

"Well, you know what they say, three times the charm.” Umbra's gaze was now fixed at the floor, cheeks burning in embarrassment. Has she really been doing the exact same thing all this time? She was an evil mastermind, wasn’t she? Not some one-trick pony?

A note of amusement started to break through Radiant Hope’s mask of anger. Quickly returning her to the cheerful, kind pony that Umbra had loved so much. "Umbra, you silly fool. You’re just like all the other villains; you’re always making the same mistake. Whenever ponies don’t do as you want, you resort to dark magic and mind control.”

Umbra was blushing as brightly as a tomato now. Her fists were clenched into her hands tightly. She was trying very hard to swallow the feelings of shame and humiliation that settled in her stomach like acid.

“Am I really just a one-trick pony?" Umbra asked, but this time there was a hint of plea in her voice. It was enough for the laughter to be wiped away from Radiant Hope’s face and be replaced by an expression of gentle concern.

“Well… that depends. Do you have any magic that doesn’t include dark magic or mind control?” Radiant Hope asked, her tone gentle and encouraging.

But it did little to encourage Umbra. Biting the tip of her thumb, she thought about the full loadout of her magical arsenal. But to her horror very little came to mind outside of the dark magic and mind control. There was crystal magic, to be fair, but any half-witted fool in the crystal empire knew how to do that. To boast of that talent would be akin to boasting about how to read or how to add two plus two.

Umbra clutched the crystal wall for support as a shameful snarl crossed her face. How could she have been so blind? Flash Sentry was right! She had just been doing the same thing over and over. Not a hint of imagination and innovation—no wonder Discord had manipulated her so easily. Any half-minded fool would have rethought her plans even a little. She could feel self-loathing burning through her veins like liquid fire. She was such an idiot.

She swallowed back her tears of frustration, not wanting to look weaker than she already felt. But trying to hide anything from Radiant Hope was a fool's errand.

“Umbra, are you okay?” She asked, placing a worried hand on Umbra’s shoulder. “I’m sorry about laughing; I didn’t mean to hurt you… no, that’s no excuse. I’m sorry, it was cruel of me.”

“You’re fine.” Umbra waved her left hand dismissively as her right hand still squeezed the wall. Every part of her willpower was **** to keep the sickening feeling of humiliation from overwhelming her. “It’s just the truth; no harm in saying it.”

Umbra chanced a glance at Radiant Hope’s face and knew that she wouldn’t be satisfied with Umbra’s dismissive attitude. She swallowed and kept on talking, forcing a weak smile onto her face as she did so. “I just can’t believe that Flash Sentry was right. I have become too predictable, and now that they’re able to counter all my spells, I’m not going to be able to do jack shit against them.”

Umbra’s mind flashed back to those kids in the park, the ones who had been mocking her. Laughing at the caricature of herself. No wonder they weren’t afraid at all of her. All they needed to do was learn some basic defensive magic and she’d be powerless. What a joke; if it had been any other pony, then Umbra would be laughing as well.

Umbra started laughing, but it was a weak, pathetic laugh at herself. “To think, even if I did break free from Discord’s influence and manage to beat him somehow, I’d just end up defeated by my own subjects like Twilight did before.”

“You mean like Spike the dragon did.” Radiant Hope regretted her unhelpful comment as soon as she said it.

“Yeah. Like him.” Umbra spat, giving Radiant Hope a not-so-friendly glare out of the corner of her eye. “Like that dragon, that thing did.”

Umbra punched the wall; at her full power, she might have been able to shatter it with dark magic. But with the modest power Cadance had granted her (and her own restraint formed from her fear of what would happen if the princesses were to try and stop her), Umbra only managed to give herself a sore hand and an annoying bruise.

That bruise was soon nursed by Radiant Hope’s own gentle hands, however, as she took Umbra’s hands into her own and clasped them tight. The smile on her face was gentle and beautiful. “There, there. It’s okay, it’s okay.”

Soon Umbra found herself drifting into a hug; the size differences between the two women meant that Umbra was a good few inches taller than Radiant Hope. But in moments like these Radiant Hope always felt so much bigger than Umbra could ever hope to be. She pressed herself against Radiant Hope, letting the unicorn take the full weight of her word onto her.

“I’m pathetic, aren’t I?” Umbra said with a weak smile. She certainly didn’t feel any less pathetic being so **** for this hug and dependent on Radiant Hope for comfort and support.

“Of course you aren’t.” Radiant Hope said, a hint of her former firmness leaking back inside her voice when faced with Umbra’s self-loathing. “But you can’t keep doing the exact same thing and expect stuff to change.”

“So what? You expect me to start singing about the magic of friendship?” Umbra spat. She had meant it sarcastically, but Radiant Hope’s face softened with exasperation.

“Well…” She said tentatively, but Umbra was already shaking her head.

“No way, no how, no chance. I’m a feared tyrant, Radiant Hope! I’ve got much better things to do than sit around in a garden having tea parties and sapping about feelings, kindness, and whatever drivel they can think of.” Umbra said, almost physically gagging at the sugary sweetness of it all.

Radiant Hope sighed, a sigh of disappointment that hurt Umbra far more than her anger or rage. “You know, Umbra, there’s far more to friendship than singing and tea parties.”

“I’m aware. There’s also annoyingly condescending lectures and the endless, endless partying.” Umbra said, her shoulders slumping as she stared off into space with a thousand-yard stare.

“Yes, well, you don’t have to be friends with those who share their interests. And even if your friends have different hobbies, that doesn’t mean you’re **** to attend parties, have tea parties, or sing.” Radiant Hope said with a gentle smile. “It’s about doing what you find fun, and finding the experience with another friend doing things together makes the experience so much more magical than doing it alone.”

“Magical? I hardly think it’s useful in spells.” Umbra snorted, but Radiant Hope merely raised an eyebrow.

“After your track record, do you really think that’s true?” She placed her hands on her hips, and Umbra wilted on the spot.

“Guess not.” She said. Even the basic admission stung. She folded her arms, closing herself off. “I’ll think about it.”

Her red eyes darted around, looking for any kind of excuse to avoid being dragged further into a conversation about the virtues of 'friendship.' Thankfully a rumbling of her stomach provided her a much-needed excuse. It suddenly dawned on her that she hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast.

"Hey, do you want to get something to eat? I haven’t eaten all day.” Umbra said, taking Radiant Hope aback slightly by the change of subject, but nevertheless, it was open to.

“Now that you mention it, I don’t think I have had anything to eat. I hope the chefs won’t mind that it’s you asking.” Radiant Hope said, but Umbra simply waved her off.

“Nah, most of the staff have no idea about who I used to be. They all think I’m just some guest of the princess and her boy toy. So I can get whatever I want.” Umbra said as she led Radiant Hope through the castle.

As they walked, they found themselves passing by Umbra’s bed chambers, and to Umbra’s delight, the impassioned screams of Silver Shield could be heard all the way into the halls. “YES! YES! YES! Please, Master Flash! Claim your prize! Claim your trophy! Claim your reward our mistress has granted you. I exist to please; I exist to serve! I am your prize for serving our dark queen.”

“What in Celestia’s name is going on?” Radiant Hope whispered. Her voice was one more of impressment than horror or shock.

“Just my newest **** enjoying himself.” Umbra said with a playful shrug of indifference. “I’m sure the streets of the Crystal Empire will soon echo similar sentiments when they are lined with my slaves.”

Radiant Hope smiled coyly. “Can’t say I’m not surprised a little. I didn’t really expect him to keep up the whole **** act outside the Dark Crystal Empire.”

“You misunderstand Radiant Hope; there was no true 'act.' Sure, perhaps his mind may have convinced him that it wasn’t true submission. That it was all part of some sinful fantasy, but his body and his soul knew better.” Umbra stopped on her heel and swerved around. A lewd, confident grin on her face as she raised a fist of triumph into the air, almost as if she could catch Flash Sentry’s soul between her fingers.

“Deep down Flash Sentry knew that there would be no finer pleasure, no greater honor, and no truer purpose than submitting to my will wholesale. Whatever delusions his brain might have concocted in that club pale to one simple truth, my sweet Radiant Hope. That with every shiver of his body, with every ounce of blood that hardened his cock, with every drop of cum that was expunged from his orgasm, he told me the truth of where his loyalty and desires truly lay.”

“Dear Celestia, Umbra, that’s so wrong.” Radiant Hope chuckled, but the good-natured nature of her laugh made it clear she didn’t have any real problem with it.

“What?” Umbra said in mock defensiveness. “You told me to do that at the club. Said it was hot.”

"Oh, I never said it wasn’t hot.” Radiant Hope purred, batting her eyelashes as they passed by the room and made their way to the breakfast hall. “But corrupting such a noble and heroic guard like that was just a little bit wrong.”

Her body language wasn’t matching her words. She was smiling; her legs were crossed as she held back the arousal that threatened to consume her. “But that’s what made it so hot.”

“You look pent up.” Umbra purred, stroking a hand through Radiant Hope’s gorgeous locks. “Perhaps we should skip breakfast and find a bedroom. Mine’s occupied but maybe Cadance’s.”

“On the Princess of Love’s own marriage bed?” Radiant Hope gasped, scandalized. d.

“She’d be okay with it. Hell, she’d probably beg to let us watch.” Umbra said as she leaned forward for a kiss, only to be surprised as Radiant Hope stopped her by placing two fingers on her lips.

“After breakfast.” She said, smiling coyly. Before deftly moving around Umbra and leading her towards the dining hall, before she paused. “Perhaps it wouldn’t be so wise to eat in the dining hall. Wouldn't want to draw too much attention to ourselves."

She was looking at Umbra as she spoke. Umbra had not eaten in the dining hall directly; she didn't think her presence would cause an issue; after all, her travels through the castle didn't. But then again, she could respect Radiant Hope's desire for privacy and did indeed share it to some extent. Though it would mean eating breakfast in... the Royal Family's personal dining room.

"Follow me," Umbra said, turning on her heel. "The royal family have their own place to eat meals. The décor is atrocious, but it will at least provide us some little peace from the gawking masses."

When you say the décor is atrocious, do you mean it's normal and homely, or do you mean friendly and colorful? Because if you had your way, then every room in this palace would be nothing but red and black." Radiant Hope teased as she followed Umbra.

"And why shouldn't it be?" Umbra huffed, nose high in the air.

"Oh, no reason. Just that the word 'edgelord' comes to mind." Radiant Hope said as they arrived at the dinner room. But all thoughts of teasing Umbra further or partaking in their breakfast seemed to disappear the moment they entered. The sight before them had blown all thoughts of their breakfast out of their minds.

Because right there in the center of the room were a maid and a royal guard, both of them stripped down to the point that only a few fragments of their uniform remained. Like the royal guard's helmet and the maid's apron and a pair of high heels on both of them. Though each of them had a crystal collar around their necks, the kind that could only come from a magic user, and magical chains that were held in a tight white fist. Both their flanks and their collars had the same cutie mark adorning them.

The very same cutie mark that the muscular, huge-cocked stallion they were both kneeling towards with wide, **** eyes had on his flank. Unlike his slaves whose eyes were wide in lust and arousal, his eyes had noticed Umbra and Radiant Hope entering the room, and the fist that held the magical chains began to shake.

"Um... I can explain," Shining Armour said with a weak smile.