Author's Notes:

Another day of rewriting, but I have it finished in time.

Before any of you ask as to how long the chapters will be, I am going to stick with long chapters. The 3,000 words per chapter is just for the Prologue. Once I have finished the Prologue, I will be going back to long chapters.

Anyway, enjoy.

Derrick Whitten pulled the long, black branch in front of him closer, making certain he did run into it after his arms and legs were made victims of various dark shadows possessing branches he could not see. His heart beat so hard he was afraid any living creature with the Everfree Forest would hear. Everything in his sprinting hinged on losing the dark alicorn before she could find any clue to his whereabouts. Or worse, catch him and take him to this world she calls her home. Nightmare Moon had put him to his limits in stamina and speed, and she was doing her best to do so. She could shift her voluptuous figure into a gaseous blue of the night sky and carry herself around any obstacle with ease. She did not doubt having the power and intelligence she gained over the months of living to catch the human, but she still had to play it very carefully to convince him.

The Everfree Forst was pitch black and looked as if it might come alive and swallow Derrick at any moment. He ran and leaped over various obstacles to get away from the Mare in The Moon, sweat pouring with the blood he earned from running into low hanging branches. He was lost and terrified as the moonlight wheeled him towards the only glimmer of hope. Fortunately the path was a little clear to him, but shadows fell around him as each step towards the moonlight became more exhausting, making it more difficult to see clearly as to where he was going.

"Derrick, you cannot hide from me." Nightmare Moon cooed in the distance. Her voice was sultry, kind, more exotic than the most beautiful voice in all of Equestria. "This is my domain, my darling human. I will find you, and I will take you back to my world."

Her world? Derrick thought. He began to panic, something that triggered his body to release more adrenaline as the exotic voice of his pursuer changed into musical laughter. What the fuck is she talking about? And how in the hell is she alive!?

"Where, oh where, is My Derrick~?" Nightmare Moon sang. Her voice was getting louder by the minute, indicating she was faster than human, or that his body was starting to slow down; even though he has adrenaline pumping through his veins, days without sleep and proper nourishment can turn your own body against you. "Oh where, oh where, could he be~?"

He glanced back toward the path he took to escape the alicorn's grasp and then felt his heart skip a couple of beats, knowing certain that her voice was not an echo in the distance and he was not insane. Nightmare Moon had somehow caught up to Derrick and kept pursuing him for sheer enjoyment of chasing him through the darkness. She was running and leaping over trees that fell in the past, magic causing her to shift from full figure to the same gaseous form, helping her faze through trees that were too close together for her to run between. She was right behind him and closing in fast.

Blasted things are making this difficult for me to pass through. Nightmare Moon was slightly frustrated with how compact the Everfree Forest is, but not so much as excited for having her human run in the direction she wants him too. Luckily I can drift through these trees; if not, my large rump would be stuck between them. Nevertheless, I know Derrick loves mares with large rumps. And my rump is perfectly firm and plump.

Derrick leaped over another log and swung his bruised arms against more brush that blocked his path, blood dripping past his fingers as the thorns dug deeper into the skin. His lungs were on fire as he looked towards the only glimmer of moonlight with disbelieving eyes. "How the hell am I supposed to get away from her!?"

Nightmare Moon laughed erotically and shook her head, trying to play out the dramatic chase with her own drama. "You cannot escape me, Derrick Whitten. I am faster, stronger, and able to see in the night." She choked back the urge to use her magic to teleport and appear in front of Derrick, just to give him a little scare. "You are only delaying the inevitable of us, but not for much longer."

Derrick looked back at the alicorn again and scowled. "What the fuck is your problem with me?" He yelled foolishly. "I have done nothing to you at all, so go back and torment your own kind and leave me alone!"

A terrible assumption you've made. Nightmare Moon was unrepentant as always. There was amusement in her dark tone. No matter how serious a moment, she did not mind in the least being mischievous and deviant.

She managed to keep her smile and gave Derrick what felt like laughter that is filled with mirth, almost as if she were the same as Lyra. Always acting so seductive and innocent. "You truly are a misguided human, but it does not bother me." she had no choice but to go with Derrick's attitude, just for a little longer, even if it meant twisting her wings together hard in order to prevent herself from shaking with desire. "Just wait until I get my hooves on you."

Okay, even to his ears, that sounded totally frightening. But a misguided human? Only Nightmare Moon could come up with something so childish and insulting. How else could she explain he's assuming the wrong things? There was definitely going to be a long explanation after she ends this game of Cat and Mouse.

She could feel Derrick's fear spike as Luna's moonlight revealed an opening to their destination. We are almost there. Just a little bit more running and I will have you backed into a corner. You will not be able to run and hide from me a second time, my dear.

She knew Derrick would not have the chance to escape. If necessary she'd use anything to restrain her human and drag him back to her home to give him that little "push" to open his eyes to reality. Right now she was having too much fun watching Derrick run and squirm his way through the forest—and she supposed she loved it. She was making him do something that is both highly dangerous and too much for his exhausted body to handle, and she would be blamed for all of it if something went wrong. Her fellow monarchs would probably mangle her on sight.

Almost there, Nightmare Moon said. I just need to get him to the castle.

"How in the hell is she keeping up with me?" Derrick stared at the moonlit opening and then back at the alicorn. "What is with you!?"

Nightmare Moon lifted her gaze and chuckled, trying for older and more sterner. She knew she looked young and vibrant, but not her eyes. If anyone looked directly in her eyes, they would see and believe what history says. And there was great history behind those orbs. Nightmare Moon had many memories from being trapped on the moon with Luna, although telling such history was clearly not something she wants.

"You'll know when I catch you," Nightmare Moon replied, fazing through another group of trees while Derrick took his first step into opening. It was partially the truth. She felt much more excited and, and that should count for something. She'd been through more than most mares—okay, teenage fillies.

"And what makes you think you'll catch me?" he said skeptically, unaware of the moonlight revealing his unknown destination.

Nightmare Moon had insisted she would catch him before the night is over. Chasing creatures had come easy to her and it was something she especially loved doing with Derrick, so for own enjoyment, and for other reasons, she would do this with her human on many other nights.

"I have you right where I want you," the Dark Alicorn added, watching him closely as she leaped through the opening, her ethereal mane barely missing a tuft of thorns as the night sky lit up the entire area.

Derrick managed a little gasp and stopped dead in his tracks, disbelieving slightly as the mare slowed her approach. Though his heart was jumping out of his chest, an eerie silence passed while the glorious history of his ex-marefriends erected in plain view as the historical monument no one dares to enter.

His lungs were relieved of the burning sensation with cold wind as his breath. His jaw lowered a little and he stood at the edge of the rickety bridge. "You have to be kidding me," he scowled at the once-glorious edifice, only to realize how easily misled he was. "This was her fucking plan the entire time. To get me here!"

Nightmare Moon looked at him much more kindly. "You do not have to fear me, Derrick Whitten. I possess no quarrel with you, but there is something I want," She took another step closer, her approach drawing his gaze from the desecrated castle to her. "Something Celestia and Luna have truly lost because of their ignorance, something they cannot regain after committing such a heinous crime on your well-being."

Derrick felt a little angry for this. If he knew anything at all about Nightmare Moon—from the various things Luna spoke of—she would toy with him and make his life a living hell before breaking his mind.

"Do not take another step," he warned, although it did not help much since this is an alicorn in front of him. "I mean it, Nightmare Moon. Get the hell away from me!"

Nightmare Moon shook her head and clicked her tongue in disappointment. Never before did she have such disrespect given to her. "You're such a fool to believe that I am here to harm you. How can you see me as a monster when I have done nothing to harm you? I have done nothing to hurt you, although I cannot speak the same about your friends."

She sounded far too eager and excited. It took a lot of discipline to keep a straight face from his fear where she could read it. Derrick did not doubt that Nightmare Moon could do a perfect serial killer impression, or that she is up to something devious.

"Run and hide all you want, my dear," she took another step towards the terrified man, wings perked and glowing in the moonlight, her true form of authority and power. "But just know that no corner of darkness, nor a shadow, can keep you from my eyes. I am the Goddess of Darkness and the Dark Moon."

Derrick heaved a sigh as she came closer. No matter how much I run, she is always right behind me, a shadow that will not leave me alone. Just what is it that she wants with me?

That was very hard to hitting the truth. Nightmare Moon was everything a man could only dream of, but that did not mean he was going to surrender himself to her so quickly. He still had some fight left in him.

He gave Nightmare Moon a strong, hateful glare and backed into the bridge. Standing between the Mare in The Moon and the Castle of the Two Sisters, his hands curled into bloody fists for reassurance, he stared beyond the alicorn into the gathering darkness that continues to move at her command, keeping himself very still. He had only one idea left, and hopefully it would work.

God, if you are there, I could really use a little luck right now. Derrick had never been on the receiving end of Lady Luck's fortune, but he was always without such luck when it came to dire situations.

I hope I can lose her here. he mulled over his own thoughts as the silence continued. Until something very surprising came his way, something he never expected to hear in the distance.

"I see his footprints, girls. He must have gone this way just now." That was definitely Twilight Sparkle's voice, along with five other voices that responded with concern for the man.

Nightmare Moon did not waste time figuring out who it was that made such noise in the Everfree Forest. She knew better than to mistaken the voices of her greatest enemies of all time. Her amusement died in an instant, as did her desire to tease the human a little longer. Her ears perked to Twilight's voice as the soft stepping in her hooves ceased. She was very unhappy to hear the young princess approaching the castle with her friends.

"Must those maggots bother me and my fun?" Now there was disgust in her tone and magic flaring to her horn as a dark blue. The anger and hatred that became Nightmare Moon radiated around her body in the light of her power, a streaming blackness of terrifying tentacles, lashing and whipping around her as Derrick watched with opportune.

He could not tell if the mare was going to attack or not, but he was not going to take the chance to find out. It was suicide to sit and wait. Why tempt fate when it is so dangerous. He looked back to the castle and send a silent prayer, hoping for the best of his choice.

Right now, Twilight and her friends were probably closing in on the two and would soon find their first enemy standing between them and the man they need to retrieve. They thought the noises were from Derrick and followed his difficult trail, sprinting through the Everfree Forest with the Co-Rulers of Equestria at their sides. None of the girls had ever been so worried and scared before. Not at this level. And it hurt them to feel so much fear now, but it was of their own doing.

"He must have ran this way after we lost him near Zecora's Hut," Rainbow Dash pointed out, galloping as fast as her legs would allow in such a dark and cramped place. Suddenly she was touched with a familiar scent. Said scent made her cringe and almost gag in absolute disgust. "Does anybody smell what I am smelling?"

"I smell it too," Celestia said hastily. "It's the scent of blood, and that can only mean one thing."

"Derrick must be hurt or injured," Luna stated from their left. "Quickly, everypony. If Derrick is hurt, then time is of the essence."

The unexpected presence of the princesses and Mane Six was Derrick's miracle. A rare timing beyond any he'd ever dreamt of. He was backed into a corner, but he had a chance to escape. Without the girls coming his way, he would not have a single minute to escape Nightmare Moon. Yet he knew the opportunity was a small window that he could not miss.

He lifted his courage to his heart and spun towards the castle, his feet kicking up dirt as the Dark Alicorn returned her focus on him. I just have to hide long enough for the girls to pick a fight with Nightmare Moon. Once that happens, I can take my chance of getting the hell out of here.

Nightmare Moon would never take her eyes off her enemies, but this was the only moment she had to call it necessary. She would have to conserve her power and do what must be done to get her human safely out of dodge; first and foremost that is.

Gasping at the sight of her human sprinting into the old castle, she reacted to the screaming of her heart with a sudden dash towards him. She ignored the sound of her enemies and gingerly watched the man make his escape into the castle, his figure becoming a snack for the blackness ahead of him.

"Derrick, stop where you are this instant," Nightmare Moon demanded strongly, her eyes widening in shock as a simple push of the door made the castle echo with pebbles falling all over. "Derrick, do not go any further inside. The castle is unstable and bound to fall!"

She stepped inside and pushed the door. It creaked ominously. Terribly. Just like it did the first time Luna gave her control of the body. She could hear Derrick panting and running through the darkness as the castle's foundation rumbled to her senses. It was bound to come apart within a few minutes and tumble to the bottom of the cliff.

Nightmare Moon breathed heavily. She glanced at each door Derrick could possibly have taken, but none of them possessed a single clue to which path he chose. She pursed her lips and cursed under her breath as the princesses and Mane Six came into the open. She cleared her throat and took the first step into the darkness. The same darkness she made a thousand years ago. "I have to be quick about this, or we will both be seeing destruction of the castle from the inside. I am able to withstand this much, but Derrick will die."

Twilight and the gang stepped out of the forest and peered at the old castle, beads of sweat visible of everyone's foreheads. The purple alicorn coughed into her hoof. "Okay, we've followed the trail to the castle, so lets hurry with catching Derrick and getting him back to Canterlot."

"Easy for you to say, you're an alicorn" Rainbow Dash complained. "Unlike you, we still have to sleep and recharge. We've been searching for days and going without sleep all night, and it's starting to wear us out."

"Rainbow Dash is right," Rarity nodded. "Going without my beauty sleep has ruined the curl of my mane. It will take days for me to regain the volume it had."

"Forget about sleep," Luna interrupted harshly, causing all eyes to rest on her as the figure in her eyes disappeared into the darkness. "We have much bigger problems on our hooves, and I believe it is pursuing Derrick."

"Pursuing?" Celesta questioned. That certainly did not sound like Luna. She was clear on that. "Who could possibly be pursuing our coltfriend at this time?"

Luna held her breath as she glared at the figure's majestic eyes and slowly pondered her thoughts. There was fear in her heart, fear she felt only once in her fillyhood. She stepped back to her sister and lowered her gaze to the alicorn in the castle's darkness, magic of similar nature brimming her body as the Solar Princess nuzzled her cheek.

"It can't be," Luna was somewhere between petrified and insanity as the figure became one with the darkness. "The Elements of Harmony destroyed you. There is no possibility of you being alive."

"Luna, are you alright?" Celestia asked with pure concern.

Luna shook her head and looked up to her sibling, fear imminent in her blue orbs. She took the first step towards the bane of her history, knowing the inevitable encounter to come. "I pray that we are not too late."