Derrick laid in bed restless in the cold, dark night that is Nightmare Moon's domain. Pain travelled through his body as the chill seeped into his skin and worked with the slow altercation of his blood. It made him shiver to see his veins flowing with black, eventually churning the contents of his stomach.

"Fuck me," he rubbed his face as tenderly as possible, but the smallest touch shocked his nerves and forced a yelp. He looked up to the mirror next to him and saw it had spread to his face. Why, he had no idea; there was an answer though and he needed to find it. But only if he could move.

He was beginning to feel alone and a little desperate. Not the slightest twitch of a finger could be done. He was helpless to this strange yet unbearably powerful agony so long as no one walked through the doors. He was beginning to wonder as sweat coated him, worried about the possibility of the food he ate poisoned or the magic he disbelieves coursing through his veins trying to corrupt or kill him. Had it not been for the unusually alluring thoughts of Nightmare Moon, he could never have reached out for a reason to stay sane. He had tried to for leaving the bedroom, but to no avail.

Dammit, I'm going to suffer like this until someone comes by. But everything hurts so fucking much. Where is everyone anyway?

He did not want to sound needy or selfish, but circumstance called for it and he'd come to rely on his new friends and family. He'd come to know them better through Nightmare Moon's perspective, and had come to adore as much as they do for him. The throbbing in his arms grew stronger with each passing second, his breathing unsteady. He had no idea that pain could reach this level, and how in the world could he possibly stop it?

He curled into a ball and took a breath to try to keep still. The burn twisting through his body felt as though he were on fire. He could barely control his body to stay under his control, instead of remaining still in an effort to ease the never-ending agony bent on breaking him. He had to admit it was worth the books on medieval torture.

Someone. . . anyone. . . He told himself, his desperation in a low, compelling tone—if someone did hear him. A tub of ice wouldn't work for his pain, but he had to trying something; even a cold bath might do wonders. Fuck it. I'm not going to let myself lie here and wait for someone to help me.

He proceeded to roll off the bed, ignoring the possibility of his legs giving out from under him. "You're a grown man Derrick. Grow. . .some balls and. . . help yourself. They've done enough for you. . . already." He spoke with absolute confidence whilst getting his legs under him, said pain amplifying to the point of his entire body sweating profusely. He grabbed the crutch next the bed as an alternate crutch, barely able to support himself. "I need to know what the hell is happening to me. More than anything else, I need that. But I have to try and numb myself, and I have to get back on my feet. I have to take care of myself."

Derrick, in spite of the pain and exhaustion, couldn't help think back to how this all started, and almost burst into laughter at the look Twilight had on her face when the rainbow power failed. She was a fool. A moron. His new means of personal amusement. So many ponies underestimated him in the beginning, and they did again; only this time it cost Equestria the best engineer to fall into their world. He loved the thought of everyone back in Ponyville and Canterlot despising the rainbow six and the royal sisters. He loved how he had ongoing projects requested by many ponies now in the shitter. All because of Twilight being the arrogant bitch she is.

In some way he was proud of her stupidity and ignorance, in spite of the fact that he was stripped of his life, his mares, and his career. He didn't want to find some means of making her suffer, however. He didn't want to be man that takes revenge and becomes a monster in the end. Still. . . how could not feel elated and overwhelmed with the desire for vengeance and justice, that he rightfully had to take into his hands and use to his satisfaction?

I hate them. I hate Twilight. I hate her friends. I hate Celestia. I HATE . .

There was a moment of silence that made his heart stutter. He remembered the look on Luna's face when she realized how wrong she was to side with Twilight. Had she been regretful for attacking him? Was she grieving for losing him and his love? Even though he knew she had no possibility of being different, the question ate at him.

Is she really like Twilight and Celestia?

He a confused man, a lost person and his first thought about her—his certainty—did not feel as right about Celestia. He was well aware he had no reason to think differently, so why did he?

The pain swept through him again. He was on one knee. He could feel his strength shattered and his will very crushed, but he wasn't anywhere near the state he'd been after waking up in this room the first time.

He made a little sound in his mind, a scoff of anger. Why should it matter? She made her choice and it cost her me. He pushed the thought out of his head and tried to stand once more, but the harder he fought the more resistant his body became, until it went numb and his control was completely gone. Falling onto his side, he gave into his exhaustion. As there was no feeling in him at all, not even the pain remained.

"I think I overdid it," he told himself, mulling that over while a slow creaking echoed in his ears. He assumed the best and gave a little sigh just before a gasp was heard.

"Big brother!" this pony—or filly—screeched, the sound of her running to his side bringing some relief as he chuckled.

He looked up, into her watery eyes as they trickled his cheek. A smile came across him. "Hey there Midnight; what are you doing here?"

She did not answer. How could she at a time like this? All she could understand was her big brother had fallen and was covered in black lines that pulse through his body. She had overheard from sneaking into Sombra's room that something serious would drastically alter her sibling, but to this extent?

Tears drown her innocent eyes as she dropped to his level and nuzzled him, hoping he was not hurt. She ignored the guards running inside at the sound of her voice and witnessing that their lord was down. All she heard was—

"Lord Derrick!"

Derrick felt hooves surrounding him as he was turned onto his back, but he didn't want the guard touching him at all. Worry ran through him when even the situation is dire he had something eating at the back of his mind, not mildly either, but tearing at his conscience as soon as he looked up to the bat pony looking down at him.

"What happened?" The guard looked over to the panicking princess still nuzzling Derrick.

"He-he was like this when I-I came in!" Midnight Estelle hiccupped, which was all she could say to him.

The panic in her voice gave insight to the guard. At least he was here at the perfect time if he wanted to do something. The room was very dark, the fireplace barely burning. She could feel a tear come to his eye as he mentally noted what a nice opportunity this turned out to be.

This stranger followed the path of his desires directly to the door. The young princess was more confused, but it wasn't long that she heard the stallion turn the lock before taking his helmet off. Triumph swept through him He wouldn't have to bide his time for the perfect moment to get what he wants.

"It's strange how something so ugly could be so important to the empress and my queen." He returned to the motionless human, his smile not at all friendly as he peered over to see the man's pathetic helplessness. He stepped over Derrick, but not without pressing his hoof on the man's bandaged arm.

Though he was numb in an instant, the pain returned just as fast, and took his breath as the stallion pressed hard.

"What are you doing!?" Midnight screeched, looking up to the guard. "You're hurting him!"

This strange guard did nothing but grin down at her while lifting his hoof off Derrick. "I should hope so. After all, he stole what I was promised in the next few days." He began to circle her and Derrick, slowly. "I just have to pass the recommendation and I will be the next captain in Nightmare Moon's guard. I have to keep things according to plan, and with it—" he clenched his hoof, determination in his eyes. "I would have all the time in the world to have her majesty fall for me."

He looked down at Derrick through the corner of his eye, pure, unadulterated hatred glowing in the reflection of his burning, furious gaze. "But then you had to come along and steal her away from me. She had to fall for a creature that is not a pony and completely useless, can't even use magic."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Derrick spat, coughing black as he tried to sit up. Thankfully he had Midnight Estelle to help him up as the mystery stallion grit his teeth.

"You're just a sun lover. So why did she choose to love you?" He'd asked in a low tone, watching Derrick wobble to his feet.

"How does she love you? What makes her love a hideous creature that can barely stand up and look down at me without losing his balance?" His voice dripped with sarcasm.

There was a brief silence from Derrick. "I never asked or demanded for Nightmare Moon to have feelings for me. I did not request for this new turn in my life," he replied, clenching his hand as it throbbed wildly. "But shit happened, and I was brought here and told that by Nightmare Moon that I was meant to be with her in the first place."

"And now you have the life of luxury, all because of Empress Raven being your mother." The stallion pointed out, spitting on Derrick's chest. "It disgusts me how something like you can easily worm it's way into the good life while guys like me have to bust their flanks to get a scrap of what you toss away so ignorantly." He spat on the man a second time. "I hate that you are a lord and Raven's son. You're nothing but an abomination to this world."

"Strider," Midnight Estelle screeched, drawing his and Derrick's attention. "My mommy will hear about this. And you can forget about your promotion or ever being a guard ever again."

Derrick liked that the filly had some spunk to her—but she wasn't going to have much of a life with that tenacity in it. She might be a princess, but she was a very young filly, and this Strider was a grown stallion. He knew her status as princess would keep her safe, somewhat. But the anger of a jealous pony he had in front of him was indulged. Derrick was no psychic, but he could never mistaken the look Strider took on when Midnight confronted him, one totally bent on more sickening desires. Derrick was very experienced to the mask worn by guys like Strider.

His eyes widened as the smallest chuckle escaped the pony. "Midnight, get away from him." He said very seriously, reaching for the filly's tail to pull her back.

Unexpectedly, the smirking stallion raised a hoof at her. Echoes a her yelping sounded like a choir in the man's ears as she rolled across the floor and bumped into the fireplace. He heard her scream and retreat from it in the blink of an eye. Terror told hold the very moment he saw Midnight stand up with blood dripping from her mouth and the fur on her hoof burnt away.

How could someone hurt her? He didn't want her in the middle of the conflict. Despair swept through him when even in his worst moment he hadn't seen the stallion strike his stomach, not for one moment, worsening the pain to move so quickly through his body. He had known it would leave, but not before he fell over vomiting blood and his last meal. And to watch this filly suffer as well. . .

"I have no chance with the dark moon queen," pure evil sharpened the look in Strider's eyes after he turned his attention to the crying princess. "So I'll settle with a something a little more. . . ripe for my tastes."

The pain burned continuously as Strider approached the princess, his insides on fire, caught in agony, yet unable to move. He watched the stallion gloom over his 'sister' until she was forced to turn around, and unfortunately, her strength was nothing to help her. Fright bear at the man, until he didn't which was worse to hear—the sound of her screeching, or sadistic laughter of this pony forcing her to stand and meet the level of his arousal. Now, all that meant little when he was reluctant of this place became his greatest worry.

He heard her beg and plead. She was pinned by her forehooves. The edges of Derrick's mind were stretched thin. He was shivering with fear and anger. He couldn't understand what was driving him, but he could that much.

"Stop squirming or I'll get the wrong hole!" He heard the stallion snap, and that did it for him. He felt the burning pain inside him leave, yet there was a powerful energy surging his muscles. At times he had felt angry, but his mind wandered into the darker corners he locked away.

His peaceful nature changed completely. The fear and despair disappeared. His broken heart was full and throbbing. The blackness in his veins coursed over every injury with a healing touch. Don't you dare. His mind became clear, but one thought clenched tightly as he stood up and rushed with all his legs could give him. Don't you fucking dare rape her!

Midnight struggled and screamed until he sank his fingers into the stallion's neck and ripped him off of her, stopping the crime just before it could happen. He did not wait for Strider to react. He lifted the stallion off the floor, the roar of his anger soaring out the window and alarming everyone in the castle as he threw his first enemy through the pair of doors. The hinges broke, and the twin set of heavy oak splintered. The guards that were responding to Midnight's screaming responded with the same startle, almost caught in the line of Derrick's throw.

Said human hadn't realized how truly shaken he was after absorbing the scene and feeling, no matter how strange these ponies were, that the chained monster inside broke out. There was little he could process whilst approaching the recovering stallion, now on his feet and drawing his sword, not at a great speed however.

Strider took a step toward Derrick, his blade pointed as the guards watching ran off to fetch one of the royals.

"You ugly piece of—" The rest was forced out of him in a blood-spurting cough, pain with the force of a giant colliding with his chest and stomach. The walls carried a booming thud as Derrick thrust him against the solid concrete. Ho could he possibly possess the strength to harm one of Nebula's best guards?

"You come into Nightmare Moon's room, talk shit, punch me, slap Midnight and attempt to rape her!?" Derrick roared, his fists continuously mining the pony's insides, a powerful, striking form of dark magic coursing hard in his eyes. "You are so fucking dead!"

Midnight winced at his tone, looking from inside the room at her enraged brother mercilessly beating the screaming guard until he was out of breath. The guards were returning, and with a few royals behind them. Appearing out of the shadowy halls, Raven, Chrysalis and Black Hole Sun all but shoved their escorts aside. Midnight stood up and ran up to her mother so she presented her wounds and told her part of the story.

It was Black Hole Sun who approached and stood without any reason or conflict, facing the human. "I have no knowledge of what is happening." This took Derrick's attention from the stallion, long enough for him to crawl away. "Clearly, you are aware that something of the utmost attention has taken place. We came here on the demand of the guards informing us that you were going berserk, and they were right."

Derrick moved past his anger and hatred, although both clawed his mind, unprepared, he was certain, to remain in control if Strider made another move toward him or Midnight."

"Strider, the little bastard, came into Nightmare Moon's room, assaulted me, slapped Midnight and attempted to rape her," he explained.

"You'd best be joking," Raven said, lowering her eyes from Derrick. She looked past him to the pummeled stallion, pushed her glasses upward and took a step forward—a very aggressive step.

Like all dark alicorns, emotions ran deep; this included Derrick with half of his bloodline being part of it. He might be human long enough to stay neutral, but a sick stallion attempting to rape a filly, a filly he enjoys spending time with, was something altogether.

"I wish I was joking. He had her pinned and mounting her, forcing his body onto hers before I stepped in," Derrick accused.

Raven took another step toward her son. She put a gentle wing on his arm, but he shook it off and spun to find the pony crawling around the corner. "Where the hell do you think you're going!?" He grabbed Strider by the tail and dragged him back, enticing a scream of fear. "I'm not done with you!"

"Let go of me!" Strider demanded. "I'll have your head for this, you ugly buck!"

Derrick dug his fingers into the pony's throat, the magic in his body giving him the strength to hold his prey midair. His eyes glowed brightly with the same color as his alicorn mother. "I am sick and tired of assholes like you calling me ugly. I dealt with it for the first four months of living in Ponyville." He proceeded to slam the wheezing pony into the wall, repeatedly. "What is everyone's fucking problem with how I look, huh? Am I really ugly or are you so jealous that you have to try and degrade me?"

Getting no answer out Strider, he threw him onto the floor at Raven's feet and spat on him. "You know what, I don't give a shit anymore. I'm not the one who's ugly. It's you, and everyone who follows your ideals are just as bad. So go fuck yourself!"

"Says the reject!" Derrick flinched, and Strider took it as the first blow to is pride. Though bewildered by such a weak remark, he smiled, stood up, and left no space between them. "Yeah, I know all about your life story with those sun lovers you called friends. And let's not forget about those horses they call princesses."

The air shifted all across the castle and then cut back sharply to the human. The mares could feel the dark magic seeping Derrick's skin as he clenched his teeth and fists. Strider was much closer to everyone than any of them had expected, which meant he had something sinister about him. Worried for his well-being, Black Hole Sun put a wing on Derrick's shoulder, halting his motive. She, Raven and Chrysalis stood together beside the young man, sheltering his low gaze of hurt as best they could, making certain he was completely covered in the event Strider tried something stupid. The herd preferred letting him do as he pleases, but remembered he'd experienced enough pain for one day.

Until. . .

"Son!" Raven reached fast for her colt, but he was already on top of the stallion.

Derrick felt he was getting more of his old-self back as the mares stood back. At first he'd been aware, thrashing like a raging bear with his cub in danger. Blow after blow, they connected with inhuman strength, an he found himself easily sinking into the blind fury of a man that could not stand having his past come back to haunt him. After the burn of his bleeding knuckles, the sharp sensation of pins and needles crawling his skin became less of a hindrance.

The darkness these mares saw in him began to rise in his veins, much like magic with a mind of its own or a parasite fueled by the hatred, spinning rapidly around his entire form as he rose and feel, continuously thrusting his forehead into Strider's snout.

The moment a rope of blackness seeped out of his back, the empress wrapped her wings around his neck and retreated from the barely conscious stallion, restraining him doing causing any more change to himself. Curses, grunts and snarls rose out of the man, he did not like someone pulling him away from his target, the strength of these wings overpowering his even though he had abnormal growth of muscle structure.

Derrick spun around as if he might attack Raven, but realization caught up at him, jerking his mind from the fury. "What the hell did you do that for?"

Raven smiled, but she was not happy with the situation. Twice she had to see somepony hurt her foal and one of them being a pony of her world.

"Take a deep breath," she admonished. "Relax your mind and body. If you don't then I am afraid I will have to force you to calm down. And I don't want to do that to my only son." She pressed her snout to the back of his head and exhaled slowly. "I lost you once. I don't want to lose you again by your own pain fueling your magic. It will consume you like it consumed Sombra in the past. I don't want that."

Derrick went to disagree when he looked down to his hands. He had no choice but to agree with her. He was aware that magic can change anyone, but wasn't used to it healing or helping him. He noted himself for no magic at all or to find a way to control it; especially with the given fact that the wounds on his knuckles were closing at a rapid pace.

He looked down to the destroyed doors. Through the reflection of the doorknob, he caught glimpse of his eyes not changing back to their original color.

"I really am part pony," Derrick said. "And it's going to show more the longer I stay with you guys."

He looked up to mares. "Am I becoming a monster?"

The hall ran silent and the three alicorns stood together with the disgruntled human, impressed by the recovery he made, and mostly by his change of attitude. Chrysalis found his anger and hatred quite delicious, almost to the point of drooling at such a sweet nectar. Black Hole Sun was glad to see the darker colors of her sister's mate come to light. It gave her reassurance that Nightmare Moon would have a good mate to keep her safe.

As for Raven, blinded by her own joy. . .

"Not at all. You are becoming more like me. " She whispered happily, kicking Strider to the side. How could she not be happy that her colt had a similar attitude? Completely human on the outside, similar looks to his father, but the cold, dark eyes and change of attitude. . . . To see him like this brought tears to her eyes as she forced a hug.

She pressed a hard kiss to his cheek and nuzzled him. "I knew there was some part of me that you would inherit." She hugged him even tighter. "I could not be any prouder than I am now. You're finally becoming the lord I hoped you would be."

"Lord?" Derrick questioned, but it was ignored by the empress.

"Nightmare Moon is going to be so happy to see you like this;" Black Hole Sun said. "There was some speculation of you remaining soft and weak, but we all stand corrected."

Chrysalis nodded then added, "And your magic has given you a new look. Quite an improvement if I say so myself."

Derrick dropped all nervousness. "Wait. None of you are mad or disappointed. I just went bat-shit crazy beating one of your own ponies half to death."

"You protected Midnight from this disgusting creature," Black Hole Sun smiled, and kicked the stallion in his most gentle area. "It was justified. Besides, I'm glad that you finally showed your true colors."

"Not that it will help;" Strider coughed, angering everyone with his lowly giggle. "Given that he will not be able to protect you when he returns."

A series of raised eyebrows were given to the stallion. Someone gave an inelegant snort, but hearing it was the confusing part. Derrick was suspicious, until a pair of deep blue, cat eyes opened in the dark hall to his right. "Sounds to me that you have other motives to harming my human." Said shadow appeared in what little light there ism and with no armor. She approached then leaned down to his eye level. "Care to elaborate who this he is you spoke of, and why he promised you that I would be yours."

Derrick tilted his head, to which the Mare in The Moon found adorable through the corner of her eye. "Nightmare Moon—" he pointed a finger at her whilst struggling out of Raven's wings. "—how did you know to come here?"

"I felt a very powerful surge of magic while I was trying on these socks I ordered, but I did not recognize who's it was." She smiled lovingly at her human, her eyes fluttering. "So I followed it, and lo and behold, I stumble across the magic being yours. And what a delicious change you've taken. It's very. . . alluring."

The bedroom eyes disappeared, and she looked down at her legs, fiddling with them, curious of what sort of fetishes her human has. "By the way, is it true that you are turned on by a mare wearing these?" She looked back up to Derrick. "During one of the nights of watching over you, I noticed how embarrassed you were to see Luna in socks. Is it that mesmerizing of you?"

Series of giggles echoed from the mares as Derrick turned three shades of red. His eyes batted back and forth from the dark alicorn to the fearful stallion. His heart jumped into his chest before he looked down at the guard and had an idea of his own. His mind whirled around to a bold intention. In front of him was the most beautiful alicorn in his eyes, and he was more handsome than all stallions in hers. Staggering on the very edge of his courage, he stood next to her and began to run his arm around her neck. Nightmare Moon was a little surprised by his touch.

With his heart racing, he gave into the last desire he had for this mare and smiled about it.

"You know what Strider," he grinned evilly, his eyes glowing brighter than when he was angry. He lifted Nightmare Moon's gaze to him, causing her to blush. "You're never going to have Nightmare Moon, because she wants me—" he pulled her close. "—as much as I want her."

Another moment silence fell around them, and Nightmare Moon fell to her haunches from her legs giving out at the touch she never anticipated. In her own mind it was expected that she would be the one to seal the deal with her human, but it was necessary to remember that someone as unstable as him could do surprising things. She let out a yelp of shock inside his mouth and would have pushed him away from suspicion, but the taste of his lips intoxicated her.

She closed her eyes and breathed evenly, opening her heart a little at a time to take in what she hoped for, to absorb the feel of her human through every sense of this kiss. She recognized from how gentle he was with Luna, and melted in his arms. She barely made a sound, a soft moan, no more, as his hands occasionally brushed her feathers. He was so loving he shocked the others. When they finally parted, Derrick's entire demeanor changed. He ate up the despair and agony Strider expressed, nearly giggling. He was holding the alicorn close as she leaned on his chest.

"I don't care what I am to you," he announced, with a proud glance at his mare, who somehow had little hearts popping out of her horn. "I have friends and family here who see differently. And what is more important is that the mare who saved my life wants me. What they think about me is all that matters."

It was the last thing any of them expected to hear, but they realized his revelation made more sense than his softer person.

Derrick kept a grip on his loving mare as Raven pushed them aside. It was a terrible moment for her and mostly for Strider when he looked up to her. He was certain that she would be an infuriated mother rather than the goddess she was known to be. His certainty however, was corrected by the look in her eyes and the sound of her jaw bone coming unhinged.

"Nightmare Moon," she pushed her back then towered over Strider, her eyes looming with hunger. "Why don't you and Derrick take Midnight to the garden for a midnight swim in the pond, while I handle with this traitor for attacking the Lord of Darkness. Maybe you can find out how deep his magic runs and we will assess who will be his teacher."

Derrick furrowed his brow at Nightmare Moon. "Lord of Darkness?"

Nightmare Moon nuzzled his cheek lovingly. "It was supposed to be one of your birthday gifts, we're supposed to be celebrating it tomorrow."

"Oh."

"Off you three go," Raven levitated Midnight into Derrick's arms. To his surprise she was very light and all for snuggling in his grasp. "I don't want you to see what this mare does to piles of filth that attack her babies."

"Should we leave as well?" Chrysalis questioned, to which Raven giggled evilly for.

"Care to prepare Derrick's birthday party tomorrow?"

Chrysalis and Black Hole Sun teleported while Derrick took this request to heart and made haste with his mare guiding him. Once around the corner and gone, the Night Mother loomed over the frightened stallion, licking her lips of the hunger she's had since lunch.

"My empress?" Strider stuttered, curled into a ball and shaking.

Raven shook her head and snickered deeply. "No. For attacking my colt, I'm no longer your empress."

Her grinned widened.

"I am your worst nightmare, and I'm very hungry."

"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

"Should I be worried about what Raven is going to do to that pony?" Derrick looked back quickly, hearing the sound of said stallion's horrendous screeching dying abruptly, followed by a loud burp.

Nightmare Moon giggled quietly, adoring his concern and curiosity. "Trust me when I say you don't want to worry or know what she does to ponies that bring harm to friends and family."

That made him a little uneasy. "Well I'm hardly part of this family of hers."

"Yes," she nodded. "But you are her only son and Midnight is the baby of the family. Imagine if we had a foal and somepony hurt them for their own pleasure. Would you be still?"

Derrick forced his mind to go slow on the thought, to assess and conclude methodically. He could not avoid the subject since it would draw doubt in the mare and draw attention to the others; that is if they found out.

Imagining it was his snuggling sister in his arms, he pet her cheek and replied, "I'd probably keep them locked in a dungeon until I create a torture device that is original and never foreseen."

"Oh," Nightmare Moon mused. "Like what?"

He pondered it in silence for a minute. "Well there were some ideas I thought of and wrote down after Celestia and Luna talked about the justice system they had when they were teenagers. I remember one idea I titled 'The Spoon'."

"The spoon?" Nightmare Moon laughed. "What is this silly idea of torture? I must know."

He took her wing gently around his back, ignoring with her how his immunity to magic was making her mane lifeless and dull. "Bear with me, these ideas came to mind out of interest when they were talking about the old ways." He cleared his throat. "Anyway, what you would do is strap the criminal to a table—"

"Very common," she chirped, winking at the bemusement on his face.

"As I was saying, you strap them to a table and heat up a large metal spoon to the temperature of charring skin. After that, you stick it to the part of the body part of your choice until the skin hardens."

"Skin does not harden." She argued, only to hear him chuckle.

"Yes it does, but it's very difficult. You see, it will remove all the moisture in the skin, forcing it to shrink and harden. Once that's done, and if you did it right, you then continuously smack the wound."

"So you cause them pain," she elaborated boringly. "I'm not impressed."

Derrick snorted loudly at her and continued, disregarding that Midnight should not be hearing these things; not that it was bad for her in the first place. She was very curious ad used to hearing new ideas of torture coming from the royals during one of her quiet intrusions in a royal meeting.

"It's not about the pain," he said in passion, which made the mare a little more aroused. She was enjoying his darker self a little too much. "The skin will swell to the its breaking point, but it won't bust. If done correctly the hardened skin will force more blood flow until it begins to seep."

Nightmare Moon hummed to the last part. For one moment there was a smile to the idea of a pony suffering that way and then it was gone, instantly taken by his hand rubbing her back, and it was purely lustful.

"Sorry for the sudden kiss back there," he whispered, his cheeks blazing red. "I don't know what came over me. I just reacted to what Strider said and felt. . . obsessed."

The amused alicorn smoothed back his hair from his marked face and then leaned in to brush licks over the blackened and glowing symbols where his they connected to the her cutie mark is dug into his neck. She had kissed the corner of his lips as they entered the gardens.

His magic is finally cracking the shell of his old reality, and our magic is starting to connect. Just a little longer and our darkness will be fused. All I have to do now is wait, and then show him why Celestia abandoned him. Once that's done, making her despair and suffer will be his first test.

"That's good," she stopped with him at the entrance to the pond and teased with a pouty look, her other wing brushing his bottom lip, making him his breath. "Because I would hate for there to be the slightest indication of my handsome human wanting some other mare. It would break my heart."

Derrick responded bemusedly, whilst listening to Midnight whisper for him to hurry up and go to the pond. Clearly she was getting impatient with their strange romance. "You know damn good and well that I have no intention to find someone else. Besides, why would I trade the sexiest alicorn in the entire world for a smaller, less beautiful pony?"

She found his annoyance adorable and replied, "I'm just teasing you. Expect much of it now that you made it official to Raven, Chrysalis and my sister that I am your mare." Her descended to his butt, partially slipping inside his clothes and giving her good feel of the firm buttocks her opposite loved smacking all the time."

"Not happening," he gently set Midnight on the brick path to remove Nightmare Moon's wing from getting any further down his boxers. "You have to take me on three dates before any butt grabbing happens. This includes any tongue as or foreplay as well."

She legitimately pouted on that one before opening the gate so Midnight could dart inside and make a splash. Of course there was the fact that she forgot to remove her tiara, but Nightmare Moon was quick enough to levitate it off her head and set it on the bench. Sadly though, she didn't understand the man's need for boundaries. She thought he would be more open after these last four weeks and that he would the same passion for her. It was respect his decision or despise it. Her handsome man and his desire to play hard to get with her; even when he's so ravaged by pain and betrayal he was still strong enough to hold onto his respect for a properly developed relationship.

It irked the mare, she would let him come closer at his own pace just as he wanted, but a mare with love, lust and insecurity can only handle so much of her mate being stubborn.

"Stupid, idiotic ideals of human relationship," she muttered under her breath, leaving him to remove her socks and hop into the water. "Why can't he get it through his head that I'm not like Luna?"

"Come on big brother," Midnight giggled then proceeded to splash water at him. "Get in the water with us."

Derrick pointed at his lower regions and said, "I have nothing to wear. I'll just sit on the bench and watch you two have."

Nightmare Moon went to hash at him for saying that when the light bulb clicked. She felt stupid the way she did before acting so bold with him in the beginning. This was so easy and even as stubborn as the man was, she was a devious mare with better intentions than what the princesses had for swimming. She knew what to do, knew how to get under his skin, and she would do it to bring him closer.

She turned as fast as she could, for Derrick, for all his stubbornness, matched it with her own but in a more efficient manner.

"Derrick, honey. . ." she cooed, her flanks swaying in his direction, beads of water matting her to the plumpness of her plot. "Are you really going to make me swim all alone? Are you going to make your mare swim by herself?"

His eyes focused on the mare, he leaned over the edge, drawn by her delicious curves. Neither of them regarded Midnight seeing this unfold, which was really bad on their part.

"I suppose I could take a dip. . ." he stuttered, removing only his shirt.

Nightmare Moon was quick to give him space to enter and fall in the cool water, long enough for him to adjust before she splashed his face.

"Good boy,"