Author's Notes:

Well I have finally rewritten the first chapter to Seasons of Darkness. And might I say that I like it much more than the first one. I definitely like Third Person View more than First Person, but that's just me.

Anyway, hope you all like this chapter. It took a great deal of effort since I'm short of an arm at the moment.

No, I'm not without an arm, literally. I just have a cast on and my fingers are completely engulfed in said cast. I've been out of surgery for a few days and had to finish this with Dragon on my laptop.

Leave a comment or some criticism, because it helps me a lot. Or if you like it a lot, share it with your friends and get them to read it.

Stay Pony my friends and fans.

Derrick Whitten sat quietly on a dead tree that had fallen many moons ago, its bark completely black and decay from months of nature taking its course. His eyes paced the weak fire he created with two stones that are easy to find in the gem mountain: Sulfur and Phosphorus. He had spent many hours tending to his new camp to keep it well-maintained and ready for the upcoming struggle of living in the Everfree Forest. He had survived honorably through an entire night of running from guards that have yet to give up in finding and retrieving him for those who wronged him.

And yet there was silence around him. No hooves were sounding in the distance to find him. He was well-hidden in the darkness that no one dares to wander alone. He knew and felt that much before he cut himself of the ponies he considered to be his best friends.

Derrick was stoic about loneliness and survival. He was an Engineer in his prime and he'd been respected by the inhabitants of Canterlot and Ponyville for his talent in fixing and building things. His work was very complicated, but for all intents and purposes, he did it with a smile and an open mind to sharing his knowledge. The ponies never expected a creature like him to possess such skill and wisdom. He had the element of surprise on his side when it came to fixing what others thought to be beyond repair. That, as well as good, vast knowledge and his powerful but untested physique.

Still, he had faith in himself. Through the harsh crumble of a friendship and the shattering of a growing relationship, he found every strength and weakness inside himself to his advantage. Like his former friends, he was extremely intelligent and most of the time underestimated in physical abilities He knew that every one of those ponies—those who betrayed him—were regretting every second of letting him escape.

He loved it, somewhat.

Holding his gaze at the fire, he reached for another small log and tossed it into the flames. It cracked and cindered ominously. Interestingly. Just like in the movies. The sound sent a flourish of warmth down his skin. The fire rose slowly and darn the night anyway, it looked as if a demon was lifting itself from the light.

He leaned back as the wood began to spit flakes of cindered bark, one hand going up defensively to shield his eyes. There was sorrow as the fire came to a stop in its rise. Nothing else happened. He could watch the log burn with the others and hear the flames whisper in his ear. This made him cough nervously. He rubbed his arm and shivered. The silence put an invisible hand over his mouth and lowered his senses.

So this is what I get after doing so much? Derrick was somewhere between laughing and crying with angry tension.

...

There was silence throughout the Grand Galloping as the smoke in the middle of the dance floor cleared through the windows, aristocrats and nobles standing far away from the cause of the smoke while the Princesses of Equestria waited. Nothing moved from the smoke. Neither princess could see the figure in the greyness stand there with disbelief in his eyes. Princess Celestia coughed once from being too close to the smoke, but her eyes remained fixed on the area she and her little sister just blasted with untold fury.

Princess Luna stepped forward to the smoke and flapped her wings to reveal if their combined attack with Twilight Sparkle and her friends Rainbow Power destroyed or sealed what they presumed to be evil with a pale face.

The Lunar Princess cleared her throat and finished flapping her wings. "Did we stop him or seal him away?" she asked herself.

Twilight Sparkle stepped forward to her teary eyed mentor and gently nuzzled her side. She sensed how heartbroken her teacher was after doing such a thing to her ex-coltfriend. "It wasn't your fault, princess," she reassured the Solar Deity. "He was just like his species, and he would have done the same to us his kind does to themselves."

Celestia, like her sister, looked away and removed the tears before they could be seen by their subjects. "If so, then why is my heart telling me that I just made the biggest mistake in my entire life?" she asked the purple alicorn, pitifully. "Why do I feel that our actions just cost Luna and I the eternal love we have always wanted?"

Holding her breath at those words, Twilight turned back to the dissipating smoke to watch the results of her accusations come to light. The figure stood quietly. Ominously. As if he were turned into another statue for the Royal Gardens or for Celestia and Luna's personal collection. The light within the Gala slowly revealed Derrick to be untouched by the blast. Nothing more than a ring of ash stood around him as the ponies waited. His clothes were cindered, torn, burnt in various spots that were too revealing, but his entire body was unscathed.

His heart, however, was deeply torn by the princesses and the Mane Six.

"Did we do it?" a disgruntled Rainbow Dash asked.

"I hope we did not kill him," A stressed Rarity said. "The Rainbow Power was simply there to amplify the princesses' in case they were unable to stop Derrick, right?"

"Look!" Pinkie Pie said loudly.

The smoke gave one last spin and exited the Gala, leaving there alone with a man that was frightened, angry, and heartbroken. The girls waited until they saw his entire in the light and the princesses move out of the way. They prayed that their combined power did the deed without too much damage to the room.

Unfortunately...they were wrong.

"What!?" Celestia and Luna yelled in unison, blinking in uncertainty of what they're seeing.

"Why?" Derrick said in a whisper, his voice dripping with sorrow and anger. He tried to glare at both mare, but his eyes betrayed him with showing how deeply hurt he is. "After everything I have done to prove myself to you, you attack me without questioning my behalf. Why?"

Celestia and Luna's eyes widened dramatically. Neither of the two could believe that they're ex-coltfriend was unharmed after having a combined force of powerful magic, equivalent to Discord's power, blast him in the middle of their castle. It was inconceivable that Derrick was merely heartbroken and needing new clothes. He should have been turned to stone or nothingness after having that much magic hit him.

Unless...

"Oh my goodness," Luna was the first to say, her eyes sparkling with fear and guilt as the human looked around the room. "It cannot be true. That is just a rumor mother once told us. It cannot be true that he has-" she was cut off by the shock her mind felt when remembering her fillyhood. The memory flashed for a second, but that was all it took for the Lunar Deity to come to grips with this new truth.

"An immune soul," Celestia said aloud, revealing to her little ponies the grave mistake she and her fellow attackers committed. "Derrick has a pure soul. He's untouched by any form of evil."

"A what?" Twilight asked worriedly.

Celestia did not look away from Derrick, her eyes dilating as the crowd watched. "Derrick has developed an immunity to magic through his purity. His evolutionary stage must have triggered awhile back and created this immunity from his purity. That's all I can think that would prove as to why he is untouched."

Luna stepped back and flashed a worried look to her sister. "But if that is true, if Derrick has a pure good soul, then that means we-"

"We just screwed up big time," Applejack said for the princess, her hat suddenly falling off her head as the human began to shed tears. "Oh sweet Celestia, we just tried to hurt our friend." She turned to the window revealing her home in the distance. "Big Mac's gonna kill me for this."

"I trusted you," Derrick said pathetically, his words stabbing each of his attackers as they came to conclusion of their misunderstanding. "I thought you were my friends." he moved his gaze to Celestia and Luna. "I thought you two loved me, as you said you did. I thought you two cared about me!"

Both princesses flinched, fear becoming terror in their hearts as the world around them seemed to crumble into dust. There was pain in their chests, pain that continued to grow with each second of Derrick staring at them so hatefully. They realized how badly hurt their ex-coltfriend was failed to find any form of words to explain their attack. It was too much for the princesses to try fixing their relationship.

"Derrick, please listen to me." Twilight's voice alarmed the human, her hooves shuffling in small as steps as she attempted to be the voice of reason. "I am so sorry for this. I had thought that you were evil like your species. I dwelled too far in my research and studied your world with the Crystal Mirror. I should have listened to my heart and not my head."

"You attacked me," Derrick said angrily, his fists shaking terribly as he took a step back. "YOU ALL TRIED TO KILL ME!"

Twilight grimaced at his accusation but kept moving forward at a slow pace. "Derrick, it was a big mistake on my part. Please calm down and let me-"

"NO!" Derrick spun in place and took off as fast as his feet would allow. Surprisingly he was able to sprint through the crowd and find his way within seconds. "STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME!"

"DERRICK, WAIT!" Luna gave chase as her sister gasped, her slippers flying off from her incredible speed. "DERRICK, BELOVED, LET US TALK WITH YOU!"

"DERRICK!" Celestia took off with a powerful flap of her wings, taking to the skies after she swooped through the same doors Derrick just ran through.

Sadly the chase would be long and hard.

...

Derrick was on the breaking point of breaking down and allowing the Everfree Forest consume him. Or simply have some carnivorous animal rip him apart for food. He was not entirely sure which would come first. Either way, he was close to not giving a damn.

He stood up from the log and peered into the darkness of his trail, beads of sweat and dirt visible on his face. He tried to clear his throat, but the dry heave from hours without water made it impossible. The most he got out of coughing was a serious burn inside his throat and a green fluid flying out and landing on a nearby tree. It was obvious to him what was happening. He needed water for his thirst and medication for whatever ailment is befalling him.

Probably a really bad cough or some weird case of strep throat. Derrick thought. If it keeps up, I might become one with this damn forest in a matter of days. I've got to find a way out of here without anyone noticing me.

Derrick pressed a hand to his throat and massaged it as best as he could, hoping it would take his mind off the pain for a moment. "I can't believe the girls turned on me like that. Celestia and Luna should know better than to think such things. Or at least I did believe that, but it is obvious that I was very stupid to have such belief."

Derrick licked his lips and studied his surroundings. He was vigilant and scared, but he wasn't certain as to why he should be. Clearly there was no one within miles around him. There was not a soul in this part of the Everfree Forest to keep him company. And yet he felt fear because of this ominous fact, fear which he could not explain to himself. All he knew is that something felt very wrong here, something he could not figure out.

It was almost as if the Everfree Forest is hiding something or someone from his naked eyes. There was so much darkness, however, that he could not see beyond the edge of the light from his campfire. Did he suspect a monster appearing very soon? A Timberwolf, perhaps? If so, that would not bode well for him; it would mean surviving an entire night with a wooden beast tailing him.

He looked around some more and observed to the best of his ability. Listening and waiting for this odd feeling to end. His fear grew until the darkness around became mischievous and alive. He raised his hands defensively. "I must be losing my fucking mind right now. There is nothing here and I'm acting all paranoid."

The darkness deepened until there no light from the night sky; even the moonlight failed to pierce this everlasting blackness that seemed to be engulfing the frightened human. It crawled and peeved the light of his campfire with tendrils of an unknown force, devouring Derrick's only means of seeing before he could realize it.

He did a double-take of this darkness devouring his campfire, fright spreading throughout his weakened body as the source came closer in the darkness. "What the fuck is going on here?" he asked himself, or so he thought. "HOW THE FUCK IS THAT POSSIBLE!?"

Suddenly a sinister and courage stealing giggle sounded, the source still being unknown but there as Derrick gasped. He froze with fear as the giggle closed in on him, its owner eyeing him with great lust as the campfire died in the maw of blackness. This left Derrick without any form of light and no way to defend himself from whatever it is that has been watching him. He had no weapons, no idea what is tormenting him, and no way to see who this dark tormenter is. He was helpless and weak. A wounded animal that cannot defend itself, and his stalker was getting closer by the second.

"It is possible because darkness is my power," the stalker chuckled in a female voice. "The darkness is my domain, just as the Dark Moon is my celestial body in my world."

Derrick pressed his lips together and barely looked behind himself to the figure revealing herself in the darkness. He'd thought little about everything else and had come up with the only idea that could benefit his safety—if there is any safety that is. "I don't know who you are, but this is not funny at all. I can't see a damn thing and I am in no mood for games."

The figure in the darkness smiled warmly at Derrick, although her toothy grin would be more frightening than charming to most. Hence why she remained in the darkness. "Oh I sure you that I am not here to play games with you, Derrick Whitten." She said to his left. It was obvious that she was circling him. "I have reason to be here, and my intentions are not at all harmful. That I assure you."

Derrick spun in place and chuckled at the owner of the voice. "I highly doubt that because you're hiding in the darkness. And only cowards hide in darkness."

"I hide in the darkness because it is fun," she replied, sending icy chills down the human's spine when it became clear that she just whispered to his ear. She was standing right behind him. "Though it pains me to see you cower in my darkness, my heavenly touch of safety, it tickles me to see you react with anger when you are afraid of what you cannot see."

"Show yourself!" Derrick demanded. "Show me your face right now and I'll prove to you how angry I can get. Like an animal backed into a corner, I'll come out fighting!"

The owner, or mare, laughed musically and bit her lip at his words. She was aroused by his aggressive nature and intrigued to see if he was true to his word. Her heart was begging for her to reveal herself and test the human.

"Now why would you attack me, the one who is protecting you at the moment?" she asked curiously. "My darkness is blinding those insufferable sun lovers from finding you. The darkness that which you fear is actually keeping you safe and sound from the ones who tried to kill you."

Derrick's eyes widened quickly. He faked his courage with raising his anger to the point of rage. "How the fuck do you know about the princesses and the Mane Six trying to kill me!?"

"I know a lot of things, my dear human," the mare answered, her form starting to glow in the blackness. "And I know that you are in need of medicine and water. Not only that, but I also know everything there is to know about you. Inside and out."

"Dammit, show yourself!" Derrick screamed, his lack of respect getting him nowhere.

"Very well, but don't be shocked by my appearance." the mare said.

Her voice was powerful. Commanding. Derrick shivered again. Fear? Excitement? Anticipation? His core was shaking, an earthquake that demanded peace. His eyes dilated as the blackness became brighter at the mare's command. He'd been so close to the stalker, never knowing the kind of fear he experienced at Canterlot until she came into her own light.

She was now so close to her goal, wanting to take the human in the same kind of pleasure she'd only dreamt of for the past year of watching him. She definitely knew him, every square inch of him and she was brave enough to make the first move greeting him.

Her horn lit up, igniting various parts of her divine figure in shades of blue. She had caught some of the erotic images that played in her mind months back and she wanted to fulfill all of those things in the future. Right now, standing in front of the human unable to comprehend her entrance, the cool night air playing over her body so that she was acutely aware of his heated breath, her every step more terrifying and majestic, she found herself growing even more beautiful.

Silence stretched between the two. She could hear the high decibel of fear in Derrick's heavy breathing as the wind carried it. Several seconds passed in the distance, she even caught the sound of his rapidly beating heart. She stopped, waiting for him to make a sound or move in any way. Her soft breath came and went, but she remained silent, her heart pounding as his masculine aroma drifted into her nose.

Derrick's heart skipped a beat. "Oh fuck," he squeaked, dropping his defense.

"Hello, my dear human." Nightmare Moon said kindly.

When the darkness removed itself from the dark alicorn, a woven tendril of soft petals revealed themselves as the blackness shrank at her control, the fragrance heavy with passion. The world came back and Derrick's scent grew stronger, teasing the mare while her powers continued to surround them as a curtain of illusion. Her heart jumped at the smell, but again she remained in her spot and allowed him to process her presence.

"Are you surprised, or astounded?" she laughed, feeling quite proud of herself for this.

"Nightmare Moon...alive?" Derrick paused. He looked around the forest as it came back into view and back to the mare. He began to move back with small steps, targeting the-

"I would not do that if I were you," Nightmare Moon mused. "If you start running I will only give chase for as long as I want. And unlike those ponies you once called your friends—" She leaned into his ear, her lustful breath licking his neck. "—I will catch you."

Derrick's mind went into overdrive at that point, as did his body. "That's what you think!" he screamed.

Spinning in place, Derrick sprinted from the mare and moved deeper into the Everfree Forest before the dark alicorn could catch his shoulder with one of her wings. He ran through the bushes and uncaringly journeyed without a certain location. Not that it mattered since he just met a mare that should be dead.

Back at the campfire, Nightmare Moon simply giggled and stretched her legs, preparing for what felt like an race for the human. She smiled determinedly and licked her lips as his figure shrank into nothing more than a speck in her enhanced vision.

"And so the human runs from his queen, unaware that who he desires is actually the one who brought him here." Nightmare Moon said poetically to herself, her eyes glistening with the same lust and motivation she had in the beginning. Using all of her godlike strength Nightmare Moon sprinted through the Everfree Forest, with the light of Luna's moon to help her track the human.

"Run all you want, my dear human, but you will be mine before this night is over."