Affection came to him first, in a kiss and then a nuzzle. A low, humming purr growing louder beneath the night sky. Derrick felt the shivering of the cuddles jarring throughout the pony's entire body. Each lick to her kisses seemed to numb through his flesh and bone, reinvigorating from his toes to the tip of his lips, shaking him until the alicorn restrained him.

He did not resist or deny. It was too much of a battle even to tell said pony to give him some air and figure out where their relationship was standing—or why it had gone far so quickly. If he tried to reason with her he would have to make her stop, and that would hurt him more than it would her. If he remained still, restrained in her wings, he could keep his mind off the important stuff and keep his mind in the poison of her touch, even though he felt as if his thoughts were a sea of questions.

He lied in her bed for long enough, his time wandering away in that place of darkness and peace. He knew the way to make her stop and listen, but to end the oasis of affection when in a world of lies and cruelty meant bringing her pain and discomfort.

He found no answer to his predicament, no stopping to the heat of her voice touching the surface of his moist lips, his fingers dancing to the rhythm of her feathers as he was invited to another kiss. A small drop of the mare's saliva trickled down his cheek to the bed, the sensation warm and itching.

Derrick waited for her to stop, holding his breath. He had to be patient when his mare was on top with her tail losing life after she locked it around his legs. She wore no helmet or chest piece tonight, nor the mask of a cruel queen, but a genuine smile of accomplishment and excitement.

"It's going to exciting today," Nightmare Moon crooned, the glow of her night clinging to the sweat on her body.

She spoke genuine for the first time; there was no façade this time. Her voice was soft and melodious, not lustful or carried in obsession, but rather with breath.

The love for this man had risen with the moon, ascending higher than what any pony could feel for her half-breed, beginning to feel as full as the moon appeared. An pair of red and blue auras wisped from the lovers and merged into a deep purple that glowed as bright as the stars above. She made out a long kiss to his lips by the light of their aura shining dimly in the darkened room. Magic was etched in their, as were the confusing emotions Derrick felt for her. He couldn't put his finger on it, but something in his head told him that this is what it means to be falling in love.

"Can't we just stay here and relax?" Derrick asked as he put both arms around the alicorn, merging deeply under the covers to snuggle her with all he could.

Nightmare Moon chuckled lustfully under the arms of her human, but Derrick's words struck her chord and she desired more than to remain in bed with their bodies together. This was an excellent moment, one which she never expected after having so many annoying ponies bother them at unexpected time. She knew Derrick may not be inclined to her idea, that's for sure, but she had to try and chisel away the shadow that is his fear.

She laughed tenderly in his ear, then nibbled on it.

"We could always relax my way," she breathed huskily as she dragged a hoof to his crotch. She began to rub it gently whilst putting some pressure on his chest to keep him from stopping her.

Things were getting very heated in the room, so heated that Derrick's magic was increasing the fire in her fireplace without his control.

"Well we could lock the doors, strip of your clothes and share the most wonderful night, but that would mean skipping your first lesson," She suggested with passion, her eyes glowing much brighter than normal, her teeth sinking into his neck. "I can almost imagine you taking me in this bed. Having our bodies as one as you relentlessly dominate me. It arouses me to think just how forceful you will be with me."

Derrick met her lustful gaze with his own and choked on the lump in his throat. The moment at first was flattering and very enticing so that he could hold the mare close as they move around the bed as easily they could to continue their passion, but the tender rubbing on his crotch reminded him how fast things were going.

Before long, the alicorn slid further down to his waistline. Derrick attempted to sit up and cease her actions they went too far, his hands grasping her face as she carried an expression that could be no more than pure addiction and determination. He moved to stop her without a word, his hand sliding between her chin and his vulnerable groin, as she mirth the most sinister of giggling he'd ever heard.

"This happens when I say I'm ready, and right now I'm not."

The statement came as a challenge rather than a insult. Nightmare Moon vaguely saw behind the fear a sense of curiosity and desire whilst forcing her mouth under said hand. She made up the inconsideration though, with a gentle nip of his bulge. Although it was nowhere near as fun with his clothes still on, she was certain she could at least play with it.

"But my lord," Nightmare Moon with faux hurt, nuzzling the area she was sure to be in pain from having those shorts on. "Can I not do my duties as your mate and. . . please you?"

Derrick glared frustratingly at her, breaking out into a long growl that lit with his dark eyes.

"We haven't even been on a date."

"Does it matter?" Nightmare Moon asked as she took the advantage of licking where he was most vulnerable. Derrick hadn't realized it until she did so, but the head was barely sticking out. It drew out his most embarrassing of noises while the strength in his arms went numb, thus giving her the chance to take what she wants.

Him—completely.

Derrick had never been so conflicted in his life, and now was the time to think on his morals. He had just found out that he was not as human as he'd thought he was, had a mother that is basically a goddess and he wasn't too sure of it. But now he had a new marefriend that bests his exes ten-fold and was now pulling his shorts off whilst licking the head of his throbbing ally.

"Derrick," Nightmare Moon drawled sultrily, with the purpose of resting her chin on his member to make it ache. "You're torturing yourself so much that it hurts me in the process.

He chuckled, clutching his hair.

"I'm almost tempted to scream rape just so you'll get off of me."

Derrick's words tickled her amusement. She even grinned evilly under that hard stare of his. Inside her, the emotions flared up, her eyes going entirely blue. Immediately, a feral, wild growl escaped the alicorn as she stood up. She towered over the concerned man with her eyes boring into Derrick's, making him squirm just before she plopped onto his waist. The feeling was mutual with her loins kissing his shaft, a synced, unexpected moan from both.

"Don't tease me," she whispered with her entire mouth salivating, her saliva dripping onto his skin as she bear him a sadistic smile. "I want nothing more than to try those fetishes with you."

Derrick nodded in understanding. "I suppose this is how you are when you're in heat?"

Nightmare Moon hissed and then pressed her lips hard against his, her body motioning against his cock to the stutters of her heart, reliving that moment when she was on the brink of insanity for the one who had taken her lover. She growled wildly in his mouth, her soaking flowering grinding hard against Derrick as she kept him pinned by his hands.

"I want you so much right now," her voice quivered. She couldn't help it. "I want to feel what those princesses never got. I want you to pour into my body and claim me as your mate!"

But of course, Derrick was given no better opportunity from the hands of destiny to discover things between himself and the clearly feral alicorn struggling not to take him by force. He nodded his understanding to her. Nightmare Moon was dark, methodical and passionate—the everything he could want in a woman or a pony in this case. He certainly would follow her to the last word to understand how deep these feelings go, but his heart played with his head as soon as he saw in her mirror how he was grasping her flanks with a death grip.

He would get close to her. He wanted to join her in this time of connection in order to learn and be ready. More importantly, he wanted to have a mare that adores and loves him for just himself, the mediocrity he was certain she uncovered from behind the heritage and his talents.

Which is why he could not let go.

"It's the same as before."

The alicorn sitting on his naked crotch ceased her actions and temporary insanity of love and lust and asked without thinking:

"Is this what you did with them?"

Just the way she said it sent a sharp pain to his chest that ebbed from his thoughts about the past. A depressing chuckle came as he rolled her over and pulled his shorts back up. His gaze clung to Nightmare Moon as she stroked his cheek. Her eyes were compassionate, though, and she was listening. He just had to tell her, but he had to hope that she would not the same as Celestia or Luna.

"Talk to me," she whispered gently, comforting with a soft kiss. "I need to know everything, including what happened between you and them. Without the answers, I can't prove to you that I'm not them."

Nightmare Moon's voice turned him over. So tender and caring. She could destroy him with just her words if she really tried.

He buried himself into her chest and answered without hesitation:

"I want this relationship. I want you more than I had wanted Celestia or Luna, but I can't bring myself to throwing away my morals and letting us be decided by sex."

When Derrick said those words in a smooth tone, his voice dying, like his passion, she couldn't help but hold him possessively and feel some bit of guilt.

"Believe me," he laughed, though it was dismal and his form was to her in obsession and security. "I would love to strip right now and make love with you, but I want this relationship to base off understanding and knowing one another." He looked up to her with hope. "I want to be yours, but I need to know you more."

"And you brought up dating for that," Nightmare Moon finished.

Derrick nodded. He held her tightly in the darkness as if she could disappear should his grasp slip even a little. "I'm sorry to disappoint you. It's not me if I go about this like those two. I want us to know eachother more than anything else."

"Could going on dates lead to more in our relationship?" She asked, surprising her half-blooded lover. "The day you will take me as your mare?"

"Of course," he chirped, rising up from his moment of despair to smile at her. "I want you and I to interact more than what we've done. There can't just be stargazing on your balcony or in the garden. There needs to be so much more."

"You make it sound like I must climb a mountain to make love with you," she dreaded, snorting frustratingly while Derrick pecked her lips.

"No, just go on a few dates with me." Derrick laughed, though Nightmare Moon did not find it amusing at all.

"If that is what must be done to prove I am different from those two, then I suppose I have no choice." Nightmare Moon stated with mild venom between her grumbling at the idea.

Derrick pet the back of her neck, but she did not seem to care at the moment. It was safe to say that things were starting to look up as he let the alicorn have her turn to snuggle his chest; at least for the time being so she could physically calm down. He remembered though, if alicorns were the same nonetheless, then he had done a serious cock-block that would haunt him. Here, he had shunned making love with this beautiful mare and right now, she was blazing with lust.

"This sucks," she spat on his skin by accident.

Scanning through his mind, he found the appropriate idea and grinned for it. Knowing it was the best incentive he could give about his feelings for the dark mare, he scooted away and rolled her onto her back, which fit him as something strange and very unexpected. He had been wanting to do this anyway to the least; at least show her with the effort to return the care and affection with his own.

"What are you doing?" Nightmare Moon asked, perturbed by the man throwing the covers over them with only herself visible while he was completely engulfed.

"You're worried that I don't have feelings for you," Derrick replied from under said covers, crawling backwards until he between her hind legs with both hands on her flanks. "Well you shouldn't worry, but I don't think I'm doing a good job by leaving you so troubled."

Nightmare Moon was fazed at the sudden concern, and unwelcoming to what Derrick has in mind. She knew what he was up to but found it one-sided, which quite disturbed her.

"I'm not comfortable with this," she forebode, but her legs refused to shut him out.

He caught the little note of apprehension in her voice and laughed. He brought his hands to her cutie mark, his nails digging gently at her skin. "Well I'm not comfortable with disappointing my mate. I'm not ready to make love with you, but I can do this, and I assure you that you will enjoy this."

He stopped listening to her concerns, daring to plant himself into the winking lips in front of him. He took a lick at the moment she opened again and found the taste surprisingly sweet. But who was he kidding about how a mare tastes, he just wanted things between them to be in balance.

"I didn't know my mare had such pretty lips," he said, licking the clit.

Of course, Nightmare Moon gasped at the jolts and arched her body to him, needing this more than she let on. She had to contain herself when Derrick resumed licking, letting his hands massage her flanks and his muscle drag unbearably on the entrance with a wry smile of glee on his face. She was yelping and moaning into a pillow as she was teased cruelly.

"Derrick. . ." Nightmare Moon whined, steeling herself against ripping his attire away and taking him by force. Let's be honest, it had been a hard enough journey getting him away from the sun lovers and endearing that she had to be pure in body for him.

"And such lovely flanks," he stopped to nip them.

The effect was instantaneous with her, a shuddering moan crawling its way out as she felt his tongue return to its work. Derrick, in all honesty, was not sure what had come over him. So before mind over heart came, he began lapping her nectar quickly and aggressively, clearly wanting to feel the twitch of her needy lips as they pleaded to be full. On Nightmare Moon's end, she had to practically suffocate herself with the pillow to not overwhelm the entire castle with her cries of pleasure. She focused all of her feeling into her nethers and reflexively unfolded her wings, which Derrick heard and felt to be quite the turn on for him.

Unfortunately, this would not please him. This advantageous position he was trying was not beneficial to making the his mare scream her heart out. So, with his newfound strength from the magic seeping his skin, he changed their positions, much to the alicorn's surprise when he pushed her to practically sit on his face.

"Ever been eaten out before?" he jest, looking up upon that mare that brings him reason to be happy, and for the simple fact that she was as red as a beet.

"I'm not familiar with this," she admitted, her dilated eyes locked on the soaks of her passion ever-so slowly dripping onto his face. She went to stopping this position out of fear that it may be dangerous, but Derrick had already taken action.

He took the plunge with his tongue sinking deep into her waiting pussy with a loud squelch. The feeling for Nightmare Moon was incomprehensible, but obviously the key to what Derrick wanted, who only did what he believed to be his death sentence or a sexy discovery about the pony.

In no sense of mind did he expect his savior to be that sensitive.

"You are not right in the head!" She yelled, looking to see he had indeed stuck his index finger into her anus. But that did not mean she hated it, especially when it had her more aroused than she'd thought possible.

Then again, the night was still young.

Nightmare Moon curled her wing tightly around Derrick's hand. She was beyond relieved to have him doing such a thing to the point of numbness. She didn't ask him to speak as they walked through the corridors to find the rest of the royal family gathered in the dining hall for lunch, she simply let him remain silent, as it best for them both.

The eyes of the family though, so deep and scrutinizing, digging into the pair while they stood in the doorway with the combination of musk and shampoo permeating the room in a flash. Ordinarily, a couple in the family would be chastised for not properly cleaning themselves after having sex, but everyone, even her beloved sister and teacher, were looking at her as though she just bred with a god.

She could taste fear in her mouth, a horrible, irony tang she couldn't quite rid herself of while taking her seat next to her lover. Tension knotted in her belly and left her holding leaning into Derrick for protection. She tried to follow the steady rhythm of his breathing, inhaling and exhaling and portraying confidence and sweet relief to the ponies staring her down.

"Derrick," Black Hole Sun said softly, grinning from ear to ear. "I'm terribly sorry. I forgot to mention that I will not be teaching you on your first day."

Derrick went to say something but remembered why he couldn't and looked to his mare for help. She was glad to be his voice.

She joined the entrapment of this conversation at her own will, there in the middle of the trouble coming their way, sitting worriedly beside her mate. "Are you having second thoughts?"

"No, it's just that Discord and I have made a doctor's appointment to see about having a foal," Black Hole Sun told her sweetly, taking a sip of her crystal blood tea before makings worse. "Plus I didn't want to interrupt. He sounded quite busy from all that screaming and moaning you did."

NIghtmare Moon looked down with such a shameful expression, taken aback like she had committed a crime. Her heart and stomach simultaneously dropped into the pit of her body as the family waited for her to give the juicy details.

"It must have been quite a thrill if you were screaming like a filly," Black Hole Sun quipped to tease the mare. "Maybe I have underestimated Derrick."

Derrick found that compliment to be quite insulting coming from the mare that he knows so little of. He didn't even want to talk about what transpired in the bedroom.

This emphasized an echoing groan with everyone but his mare laughing at them, and then smacking his head against the table.

However, the right corner of Nightmare Moon's mouth did turn slightly at his childish reaction, and she nuzzled him lovingly. She then delivered her answer on the matter smoothly to return fire, smoothly and proudly:

"It's unavoidable, but I just could not help myself. Derrick is very good with his tongue."

The family instantly closed their mouths, except for Raven, for she was quite familiar with the wonders of a man putting tongue where he should not. After chuckling at her student and seeing that Derrick was now embarrassed, her mind leveled, albeit specific questioning that no one but she and the dark alicorn were able to know.

"So you did not breed, but had what I know to be oral sex?"

"If that is the term for having your privates licked relentlessly, then yes." Nightmare Moon grinned whilst petting her human with her wing.

"You did not return the favor?"

"Derrick would not let me, but he was more than happy to relieve me."

"And how did it feel?"

"Wonderful."

"But you did not breed or make love?"

"He said he wasn't ready and I wasn't going to push the matter any further."

Raven hummed thoughtfully, resting her chin against her hoof and ruffling her feathers as she undoubtedly formed the worst of words for her son to hear.

"Makes me wonder if he inherited his father's traits. Tell me, what size is his penis?"

"WHAT THE FUCK RAVEN!?" Derrick screeched, blowing cartoonish steam out of his ears.

Again, neither mare took little consideration in their conversation.

"Judging by what I felt when I was grinding him, I'd say he's large."

"SHUT UP NIGHTMARE MOON!" Derrick at that point made it clear he wasn't comfortable with hearing this between the two, so he stood up and made a mad dash outside before things escalated.

"I think we angered him," Nightmare Moon said aloud, before standing up to follow the man who was no probably hiding in the garden. "I'll go fetch him."

Raven couldn't agree more with her, and waited for Nightmare Moon to leave the room before returning to the matter at hoof. She glowered at her fellow royals with a deadly tone of authority in her voice.

"He needs to control his power quickly before Nox is freed. Can you do it?"

Black Hole Sun, although she hesitated for a moment.

"Good, the sooner he does the sooner we can send him and Nightmare Moon to find the black elements. We can't waste any more time the we already have. Nox will come here when the seals break, and I want every advantage we can have."

"Yes, but before going on with this conversation," Discord said with bewilderment. "Was it just me or did Derrick have trouble speaking?"

"Oh that's nothing abnormal," the empress laughed softly. "His mouth was probably sore from pleasing his mare."