Bringing Radiant Hope Back

The walk through the streets has been quick and Radiant didn’t know if that was a good or bad thing. On the one hand the anticipation was killing her, yet she feared as to what that dragon would do to her. Any faith she had that Nightmare Rarity would talk her out of this was crumbling. She just hoped that this would be worth it in the end.

They arrived in the Crystal Palace soon enough, with Nightmare Rarity whispering into Spike’s ear the whole time. She hoped she was convincing Spike to go easy on her, but she was smarter than that. The conniving look on her face however didn't inspire much confidence.

"I like the way you think Rarity, please fetch Umbra for me," he said causing a shiver to ripple throughout Radiant's fur.

"Umbra, you mean Sombra?" She gasped, her head turning to the dragon in desperation. But he didn't say anything, simply walking over to take his place on a chair that Twilight had summoned for him.

"Thanks Twilight, you and Gleaming should give us some privacy now. I think Rarity and I are going are going to want to handle this one personally.” He said and the alicorn Princess immediately bowed.

“Your wish is my command Master,” she said rushing away. But Spike called out to her.

“Now might be a good time for Gleaming Shield to find out which Princess is the best fuck,” he called out to them as they left.

"I'll get back to you on that Master," Gleaming Shield replied before grabbing both sides of her sister's head and shoving her tongue down her sister's throat, pinning her to the wall as they shuffled their way off to a private bedroom.

"So which do you think Gleaming Shield will be find the better partner. Her wife or her sister?" Spike asked Radiant Hope with a disturbing level of casualness.

"You sick fuck," Radiant Hope growled and for a brief moment she saw a flicker of shame stretch across Spike's face. But it was gone as quickly as it arrived. Interrupted by the arrival of Umbra and Nightmare Rarity coming into the room.

Radiant Hope took a long look at the pony who'd once been her lover and felt a range of emotions well up inside her. Disgust, anger, fear, shock and confusion battled to take control, but none broke free enough to compel to action. So she just stood there gawking in the end.

Umbra for her part also noticed Radiant Hope there and she too was taken by surprise, her eyes darting between Spike and her. With Nightmare Rarity by her side with a wicked grin on her face. For a moment Radiant Hope wondered if she had some kind of plan to keep her safe, but at this point she was well aware that was merely wishful thinking.

“Wha-what is she doing here?” Umbra stammered, and Radiant had never heard Sombra as quiet or shy as this Umbra could be. She appeared so dutiful and submissive before the dragon, nothing like the Sombra she once knew.

“Well Umbra I’ve been thinking about our alliance here and I’ve come to the conclusion that me and Rarity should reward our allies for their allegiance. If you should agree then I thought you might want the prize of changing Radiant Hope yourself. Am I right?”

Umbra turned to face Radiant Hope, and Radiant tried to get through to her. She tried to put every memory of their past friendship, and etch the love that she felt for the dark stallion she remembered. But then she saw Umbra’s face warp into a grin befitting of the tyrant she once was. When she spoke it was with a perverse glee.

“You are too kind Master, I’ll have to repay this kindness soon enough,” she said before strolling towards Radiant Hope. She backed away as much as her chained hooves would let her, but there was no escaping this. The high pitched squeals of laughter from Nightmare Rarity’s lips rang through the air, there was no doubt then to Radiant Hope that she didn’t care about her at all.

She was now at the mercy of the vixen who had replaced her love Sombra. Umbra strolled around Radiant Hope with a dominant pose, her former submissiveness to her Master did not seem to matter when she was concerned. Instead she examined her like a prisoner to be broken. Her eyes glowing with a purple venomous fog, her outfit could be hardly considered an outfit.

What remained as a part of Umbra's outfit consisted of a few scant pieces of armour, each designed accentuate and enhance her assets rather than conceal them. Only her upper arm, legs, shoulders and neck were really covered but all else was laid bare. Radiant Hope couldn't tear her eyes away from them, she couldn't help herself. She'd never been fully straight.

A finger reached under her chin, pulling her gaze from her breasts to those dark, entrancing eyes. "My eyes are up here dear."

Radiant Hope found herself shivering under her gaze, especially as her hands began to roam her body. Slipping her body out of her dress and leaving herself bare within the halls of the of the Crystal Empire. The draft of the room rippled over her bare fur as she shivered in both cold and arousal. Umbra's hands were by contrast warm to the touch, and she found herself subconsciously leaning into her touch whether to avoid the cold or to embrace her lover's touch.

"Radiant," Umbra whispered, and for a moment she could hear Sombra's voice in there. Her heart skipped a beat and she listened to that voice with a desperation. "I love you, both as Sombra and as Umbra. I want to spend my life with you, and make you happy. And I know that you want to too."

Radiant Hope had tears in her eyes, a weak smile stretched across her features despite herself as she found herself agreeing with every word that Umbra did. But she was afraid, something this good could be happening because of that perverse dragon, it was just too good to be true.

"But Radiant Hope I can't do that without you, nor can I do that without working with Spike. He's not unreasonable, and we could have a wonderful life with him," Umbra whispered into her ear, causing her to shiver.

"As his ****," she hissed.

"Not really, though I've come to find that calling him Master can be fun I'm still his ally. Not his ****, I choose this form because I enjoy it, and because I want a place at his side and perhaps a part of his kingdom when he wins. There could be two queens at that table, if we were to make some minor concessions," she whispered to her.

"You mean to be brainwashed?" She spat back, tears falling down her eyes. "Listen to yourself, you're not you. You've been controlled."

Her pleading didn't seem to make an effect on her however, as she shook her head. "No Radiant I'm afraid you've been the one whose been brainwashed."

"Don't try that I know-"

"There's an enchantment on you, one that's affecting your mind. It's shielding you from the outside, but also twisting your mind. Preventing you from seeing that this is truly the best path for us. I could remove it, but it would hurt. It would be so much better if you fight it yourself." Umbra explained to her, Radiant's eyes froze like ice.

Now she didn't believe that her mind was truly being changed by someone else, however distant and aloof the Time Master was she believed this was a step too far. No what Umbra was mistaking for controlling her mind could be two things, if not both. It could be the enchantment protecting her from the Crystal Heart, or it could be the trigger that would erase her memories of the conspiracy.

If the first was removed it would be bad, if the second was removed it could be catastrophic. All Spike would have to do is speak a sentence and the conspiracy would be crushed.

Maybe she should play along, just for the greater good.

A/N: Upon actually reaching this chapter I seem to have hit a wall on what to do with Radiant Hope. One idea is to make her help in the raising of Spike's children, but admittedly that's an idea I'm somewhat iffy on since that was always meant to be Cheerliee's role and whilst they could share. Ideally they'd both have distinct roles regarding that, if anyone has any ideas or suggestions of what role Radiant could be (ideally involving Umbra) it would be a huge help.

Also the next vote will be a normal vote, people have found my fears unfounded.

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