Author's Notes:

It is done, but before you read the chapter, I must inform everyone who reads this there will not be any pony transformations of any sort, not even a half-pony or anthro transformation.

Derrick is remaining who he is and that is final. For those who dislike that. . .well, then you may go read elsewhere, because this story is perfect the way it is themed out.

No human becoming pony. Period!

Now, please enjoy this chapter, because a brand new drama is going to hint how Derrick is immune to magic.

What, you thought I would reveal it like I did in the prologue? No, that was just to fool you until the actual truth comes out. And now that it partially has, prepare for many chapters of a crazy, sadistic and very evil mother snuggling and cuddling her little one.

Truth came in power; and it had awoken at the sound of her servant bringing magnificent news.

Deep in the halls of Dark Hive, trouble brewed throughout the last hour of Nightmare Moon's royal guard changing shifts, their heads low in fear of the monstrous eyes glaring at each of them. The anger in those demonic orbs glowed in the shimmering light of the dark moon, magic of godly caliber caught in said eyes as an aura of red. Her naked hooves shook the pictures hanging on each side of the walls as she mumbled under her breath.

"How dare she!?" the tall alicorn narrowed her gaze at the guard accidentally getting in her way. Her extremely long, curved horn blazed with dark magic and surrounded the Thestral, before hurling him into the nearest guest room, which happened to be occupied by a pair of love-making Dark Sun guards—not that she cared anyway. "How dare she go behind my back and not tell me!?"

She passed through the first set of doors her overwhelming power splintered upon her return. She moved swiftly. She moved with rage. She moved with the fury of a mother that is looking for her lost foal.

The minutes transpiring were certainly a new terror in the castle. As the Alicorn had sensed when Nightmare Moon's magic spiked six days ago, the immediate lure to a familiar life force seemed to give a reason for all of existence to be meaningless to her. The air she breathed was hot and blackened with her divine control, puffs of starry blackness leaving her body. To the guards, it would remain to be seen if her sudden burst of anger would be abated any time soon. Ever the destructor she is, the dark grey alicorn poorly released her magic whilst focusing on the familiar presence across the castle. She grimaced, for her student, the very alicorn she raised into a queen, kept him from her.

You were supposed to let me see him!

"Em-Empress," one of the Dark Sun guards stuttered, his eyes low with pure terror as she slowly turned to him with hatred. He bowed to her as low as his legs would allow. "Is-Is there something t-troubling you?"

"Yes, there is." Her highness said in a low tone, immediately causing the stallion to quiver. "It would seem that an old face has returned to the world he belongs, but I have not been informed of his return." She took her first step into the moonlight beaming through the window, appearing less frightening than most ponies make her out to be. "Care to elaborate why I am the only pony that has not been informed when it is clear that his return should start with me."

"The-the human, that which you speak of, is currently resting in Queen Nightmare Moon's bedchamber." The stallion admitted, albeit very pathetically. His hooves shook uncontrollably. His eyes watered underneath the glare of the Night Mother, and even a slight whimper of his fear gave reminder. However, one major difference between only the alicorn noticed was that his fear was not for her but for the mare that demanded his secrecy until it was time. That much was seen through his green eyes.

"I see," the alicorn began anew, resting her chin against her hoof "And how long has the human been staying in the castle?"

"Only a few days, My Empress." he replied with a more bold tone, although he would rather be a cowering foal since this is the source of all darkness. "He's been recovering from severe injuries and exhaustion, which he received after running away from the sun lovers and encountering a Devourer."

"A Devourer," she puzzled at the idea of such a beast still existing. "I haven't seen or heard one of those in over four thousand years. But I am going to assume my student rescued our new guest."

"Affirmative, and from what I heard recently, the queen is already laying claim to the human and forbidding anypony to come near him."

"Laying claim to my darling before telling me. . ." the fanged mare mused beneath her breath, drifting to the window for fresh air as another monarch made his way to her. "Well, my student, I hope you are ready for what is going to come next."

"Am I missing something fun, Empress?" the deep voice of the Unicorn King addressed before she could truly frighten the stallion. The loyal guard made himself scarce without being told.

She forced her thoughts back on the status quo of her night and set herself back in reality, running the same hoof through her long, black mane before regaining what little composure she lost.

I was about to kill that stallion for no reason. I really should learn to control myself, as my student once told me.

"Empress," the unicorn cocked an eyebrow at her, unsure if she was lost in thought or dealing with different problems. He stepped forward with a comforting hoof as she swayed her mind at the idea of his return. "Raven, are you alright?"

Returning to reality, Raven snapped her cold gaze to the unicorn. "I am fine," she sighed somberly. "Just a little disappointed in Nightmare Moon."

"For her inability to be on time to court?"

"No, for her blatant disregard of not telling me that our new guest is here."

The two shared a similar gaze of understanding how the Dark Alicorn is still naïve to her actions. They shared a laugh while alone in the cold hall. Still, Sombra had a bit of remembrance from seeing the Creator of Darkness in all her horrible but majestic beauty, which he had come to find as one of very few rarities in the entire world. Such grace and elegance in each word or step she takes, yet behind that façade rests an almighty beast that awaits to have her family reunited. She was pinnacle of a true goddess, a living symbol of what it means to be the mightiest of alicorns.

Sombra blatantly stared at Raven as she peered to the window opening on his right, her eyes bright with devilish red. Her mane was tied into a bun but still as silky as he remembered—that soft touch bringing him back to the living when she revived his soul. There was no forgetting that alluring touch. The touch of the Night Mother. Her dark grey fur was still a little matted from a lack of bathing first this night, but he did not care whatsoever. No, he simply adored seeing his empress act so peaceful during Nebula's hard time of coming into full existence.

"Do you really believe that it is him?" Sombra asked for clarification. It was terrible enough for their existence to be jeopardized by this human, and he was already exhausted from the many spells he used to hide his magic signature—that is if he has one at all. Raven pushed her glasses further up her muzzle, before gazing up to the moon. That was, of course, during her mid-thought of the human being lenient with her at all.

"Do you believe I am a bad mother?" she asked out of the blue. Sombra flinched as quickly as she locked her gaze on him. He blinked in uncertainty of what to say as she approached, her eyes filled with desperation. "Be honest with me, Sombra; do you believe I am a bad mother?"

"No," he quipped. "But you are sadistic and methodical; and that is what makes you the last pony that anypony wants to be related too." Raven shot him a glare for his rudeness, although he did have a valid point. If there was one pony in the entire world that would torture and kill others to protect her family, it was this mare right here.

"I'm serious about this," she stomped her hoof to get his full attention, frustrated that she had to be so stern with this pony . . .well, given the Unicorn King still hasn't fully recovered from his rebirth. "Do you think I am a bad mother?"

"Well, why ask such a question?"

"Because. . ." she paused to look in the distance of her enemy's home, its brightness the bane of her life. She felt extremely conflicted. ". . .I did not fight hard enough, and its been over four thousand years since I failed to protect him. I'm worried that the truth will destroy his life or make him hate me."

"It's not your fault for what happened. Faust was—"

"Stronger than me. . ." the Empress interrupted, resting her chin against the window. She dragged a hoof across the cracks of a single brick, her eyes dim with regret. "How could I have held back at the time? I have more than enough power to kill her, but I was bested by my emotions."

Now. he remembered, everything that made the alicorn so unsure of herself, and being a mother that failed to save her son, he never really got a chance to think anything but gather the facts behind her horrible past. He recalled in the corners of his mind the reason to her question, a memory of the first time she cried whilst holding an empty blanket. Said memory made his heart cringe painfully.

"Sombra?"

. . .

Sombra cowered behind the castle walls. Lightning struck all around Raven as she held the emptiness of her life in the form of a red velvet comforter, her eyes drenched in tears of regret whilst narrowing to the alicorn towering over her. Ever since she came into the picture, neither could truly understand what it meant to co-exist in such a young world. She had been on edge with the Goddess of Life for too long, always standing in the shadows as an abomination while the mortals revere in the light. But this was going too far. All she wanted was to be happy, so why was that so hard to receive when you never harm somepony?

The crackling of their destructive battle consumed Equestria in an inferno, something the broken mare found to be no one's fault but the alicorn before her. She scowled at her counterpart and tossed the blanket into a pit of fire, before standing on her bleeding hooves with one last ditch effort to make things right.

Celestia and Luna, being the young fillies they are, watched in the safety of their home as both mares readied themselves. They were confused as to why this is happening, but it was clear that their furious mother had some reason for taking Raven's little one.

"Give him back!" Raven growled dangerously. "GIVE ME BACK MY SON, YOU HORSE!"

"And allow you to raise that beast into a master of darkness, I think not!" the plainly colored alicorn barked. Her words struck hard to Raven's heart, causing her to nearly fall from what is real heartache. However, she shook her head and cried while the storm brewed deeper.

"I have never done anything to hurt or anger you, yet you have the audacity to murder my husband and send my foal to another dimension. Do you have no sense of reason or compassion for others, Faust!?" she screamed at the top of her lungs, moving closer with every intention to obliterate the monster beneath the beauty.

"I do have reason and compassion," Faust replied, matching Raven's approach. She flared her wings and magic to challenge her authority, albeit very unjustly. "But you are my counterpart, which means any foul creature from your womb will be born as a master of death; and I simply cannot allow it to happen!"

"You dare insinuate me being a monster when you just committed murder and have taken my foal!?" Raven questioned, grinding her teeth to the point of cracking. She flared what was left of her magic, but the loss of her foal destroyed her desire for vengeance. She could not find the strength to bring harm to her opposite, and fell to her haunches.

"That thing was not a foal," Faust stated with a deep sigh, pitying the mare a little. Knowing this was the loss of Raven's happiness, her pride and joy, she looked away in some bit of shame for her actions while extending a comforting wing. "It was not even a pony, sister. It was nothing more than a—"

"IT WAS MY CHILD!" Raven rejected the wing with a slap from her own—in which made Faust flinch. "IT WAS MY FOAL, MY BABY, AND YOU TOOK HIM FROM ME!"

"But he will live; and when the void releases him—" Faust tried to justify her actions, but, alas, there was no form of justification.

"Get the buck away from me!" Raven yelled. "Get away from me, you heartless, foal-stealing maggot!"

Faust immediately backed away.

She felt her heart grow as heavy as lead when Raven focused her magic onto the cracked crown on her head, though thank the heavens, she did not try to attack in her weakened state. It was already bad enough the Elements of Harmony purified most of her creations. She only took the crown and tossed it to the ground, rage and despair rapidly forming on her face as she screamed to the sky.

Faust grimaced, and then turned away to fetch her foals.

"DAMN YOU, FAUST!" Raven did not take her eyes off the sky. She was too disgusted to look at the alicorn. "DAMN YOU TO TARTARUS. I SWEAR I WILL FIND MY SON. WHETHER IT TAKES A THOUSAND LIFETIMES OR TEN THOUSAND, I WILL BRING MY SON BACK HOME; AND WHEN I DO, YOU WILL SEE JUST HOW WRONG YOU ARE IN SEEING US AS MONSTERS!"

...

"Sombra?" Raven repeated—this time reaching out to the stallion. He scowled at the floor, snorted, and then looked up to her with the rarest of emotions he can express, sorrow.

"Human's have every right to live in this world, it is not dictated by that bitch." he said sternly, receiving a warm smile from her. "But I do not weighing his mind with anymore will help you. It is probably best to remain in secret until he—"

"No," Raven said quickly. "The truth has been kept from him, and I have gone without him for far too long. I deserve to have my happiness brought back into my hooves, even if it means taking the risks."

"Raven, are you even certain that this human is—"

"I am absolutely certain," Raven smiled warmly, showing confidence in the man just beyond her grasp. "Because I know that magic anywhere. He has his father's light and my darkness."

Sombra was going to argue, but he found it pointless to try and convince his empress. She was already lost in her own little world of joy as they followed the path to Nightmare Moon's bedchamber, eagerly awaiting to meet him.

"Are you sure this is the right thing?" he asked, expressing concern for her. "It is well-known from your history with humans they're aggressive and able to become violent—if felt threatened that is."

"Sombra," I didn't know you cared." Raven cooed like any mother would, draping a wing over the nervous stallion. "Since when did the Unicorn King care so much about me?"

"Hey, I have some concern about this!" Sombra barked, but he was no threat to the giggling alicorn. If anything, he was less dangerous than a box of kittens in the rain.

"Of course you do," she leaned down and nuzzled the top of his head, ignoring the one rule his wife invoked. "But I can take of myself; and I am confident that Damian will be just fine with the truth."

"Stop nuzzling me. I'm not a foal nor your child!"

"But all creatures of the dark are my children, even you!"

"Let's just get this over with. And wait a second; did you call him Damian?"

"Well it is not his real name but his father would have loved having our son named after him."

Sombra furrowed his eyebrow. "And what is his original name?" he asked, only to receive another nuzzle from the mare.

"If I told you, then I would have to devour soul and skin your body." That made him shiver a little. While some have the common knowledge of Raven performing such foul acts to ponies who cross her, Sombra did not truly believe she would do such a thing. Then again, this is the Creator of Darkness he is walking with. "Now let us hurry, because I have thousands of birthdays to catch up on, not to mention Black Hole Sun is going to be home soon."

"Imagine the drama when she arrives," he quipped, only to be left in silence. Raven frowned while coming around the first corner.

"There better be acceptance when she meets Damian. Otherwise, she just needs to stay out of the way."

The Heavy Exo Specialist spiraled upward, ten feet upward from the top the Mayan Monument with her Tac-19 aimed directly below. She was not built for heavy weaponry or recon, like so many Call of Duty players set themselves up in Advanced Warfare. It was a graceful and near silent strike as the opposing player had no idea what was coming to him. He aimed with his customized MORS and exhaled very slowly to steady his aim, and when his crosshair marked on the CPU sprinting towards him, the smallest indication of a second enemy flashed on his map as a red circular ring. It was surprising, but he was. . .

"No, no, no!" Derrick shouted as he manipulated his soldier to dash backwards, but his efforts were futile. He was a mouse backed into a corner, for he had forgotten the most important rule in Advanced Warfare: never set yourself in a corner.

"Die, you pathetic insect beneath my hoof!" Nightmare Moon cackled as she 'pulled the trigger'. The Tac-19 unleashed a close-range pulse and exploded on the soldiers head, creating a splatter of blood and brain-matter just before the screen blacked out with the winning team displayed. It was a satisfying victory for the alicorn, but, for Derrick, it was. . .

Team Atlas 100-46

"You have got to be shitting me!?" Derrick dropped his controller in disbelief of the Dark Alicorn besting him, his hands frozen with shock as the crook of his neck was filled with deep nuzzles of affection and pity. He did not take his eyes of the television screen nor respond to the sensation of her loving warmth. His mind was completely fried by the newbie owning him so easily.

"It would seem that I have two special talents," Nightmare Moon said teasingly. She continued to nuzzle her human's neck to soften his loss, and to baste his body with her scent—such is the way for the Queen of the Dark Moon. "Mastering my moon and all darkness. . .and DESTROYING YOU AT YOUR OWN MEANS OF ENTERTAINMENT!"

"That does not make any sense!" Derrick thrust his good hand at the screen and pointed at the difference in kills, heart racing and eyes twitched with frustration. "There is no fucking way you just beat me in five rounds. You learned how to play only two hours ago, so how the hell did you just rape me at my favorite game!?"

Nightmare Moon hummed tauntingly before tightening her wing around his back. The word 'rape' sounded terrible but nicely as she flashed herself with the imagery of the man being submissive to her demands, an imaginative sync of moan and groans between the two while the bed shook underneath her thrusts.

For a minute of peace, she smiled evilly and licked her lips as it played out in her mind.

Nightmare Moon. . . oh god. . .

You like that, don't you? You like how tightly I hold your foal maker!

Yes, I like it so much!

You like it so much; and what else!?

I love you, my queen! You're so much better than Celestia and Luna! They are nothing compared to you!

"No, they're not," Nightmare Moon whispered to herself, just as the television and console was shut off by Derrick. "Because only I can understand what it is you want from a mare."

"Did you say something?" Derrick set the remote down and turned his gaze to the affectionate queen, his eyes partially filled with the determination he lost days ago—that which made the mare feel accomplished for saving him from depression. But, alas, such a feeling scurried away when their eyes met. Nightmare Moon's smile became sheepish; and then she shook her head nervously while locking away the naughty thought she had.

"No, nothing at all." She replied, her silver-tongue perfectly hidden. Derrick cocked furrowed his brow in confusion but quickly pushed aside his suspicion for the meal he waited so long for. Finally, the servant bowing to them before exiting the room brought their dinner, two fine dishes of smoked Salmon dipped in lemon pepper juice, two bowls of Nebula's fresh, red cabbage salad, and diced potatoes licked with black fire and spices.

Derrick's mouth watered, stomach growling with anticipation. The aroma of real meat played out again and again in his frazzled psyche, like a broken record stuck on the repeating note of savory delight. He could not remember the last time a proper meal was placed before him, it had been so long since he was denied meat of any kind. After confessing to the princesses about his diet, proper nutrition was given to him as a supplement they made with magic. Protein pills were unheard of by the Royal Sisters, so the best he could have was large glasses of milk. And even when he looked down at his food with predatory eyes, he swore his heart felt a little apprehension for the taste of something other than healthy food—not that it mattered anyway. It was stomach over brain, and the stomach was demanding for him to devour the steaming salmon.

He completely ignored said apprehension.

If Celestia, Luna, and the girls did see him eat meat, even a small fish, he would be in a heap of trouble, but they no longer have meaning or purpose to his life. His heart barely ached at the thought of them seeing him like this, just a little. Still, their words no longer dictate his eating habits, not anymore.

And there, he was still caught in the trance beneath him, flowing unbidden in a snare of a new joy.

If this is what I'm going to get while stuck in this part of the world, then I am ready to stay!

"I see that you are impressed," Nightmare Moon said, but her words drifted through one ear and out the other. She was nearly invisible in the human's mind, which was not so bad since his entire life in Equestria has been a study of her own. It was evident that his instincts would slightly take over when meat came back in his life.

Derrick was about to engorge himself without consideration of waiting for the Alicorn, but he was too slow to grab the fork and knife on his tray. When he reached for it, Nightmare Moon subtly grasped the utensils in a blue aura and began to cut his food for him.

"You have an injured hand, therefore you cannot cut your own food." she said humorously, not responding to his childish glare.

"Look, I know you are wanting to help and all, but I am a grown man that can improvise if need be." Derrick reassured, really not wanting to have someone who is still a stranger feed him like he was an infant.

"The same way you improvised when Celestia and Luna were pursuing you through the Everfree Forest," Nightmare Moon responded to his reason with decent reasoning and a lopsided grin. Derrick started to grimace as she pondered more of his mistakes. "Or when you ran into the old castle and hid away when it was obvious of its structure ready to give out."

"Gee I wonder why I did that," Derrick pouted to the mare with incredulity. Though in the back of his head, this was not going to get him anywhere with her without obliging to the overbearing kindness. The Queen gave a cute wink and smiled.

"What's the matter?" she cooed erotically, stroking his chest as their noses met. Derrick could not help but blush at her. "I am simply trying to take care of you. After all, it is my responsibility to help you regain your strength. A simple feeding should be nothing new to you since Celestia and Luna probably did it."

"Actually, they did not. We hardly did anything other than hide from the public and satisfy eachother. " Derrick clarified, looking away from the surprised mare as she retreated a little for getting underneath another wound to his broken relationship.

"You cannot be serious, right?" she was becoming glad but very irritated by the lack of intimacy in his life. It was near impossible for her to believe he was telling the truth—that is until she caught faintest glimmer of a tear in the corner of his eye. Ignoring her guilt, Nightmare Moon dropped the utensils onto his plate and rested against chest. She finally understood his reason for such a bad connection with them. "You had nothing to fill the emptiness inside you, so you continued to let yourself be their plaything. That's why you were in denial of being used."

"Yeah," Derrick nodded quietly. "I had nothing else left to look forward too, and they were all I had at the time." He shot his gaze up to her, expressing an almost convincible smile that even she would misinterpret. "But that is all behind me now. I'm just glad that it stopped before things got worse."

The fact that he actually sounded so clear with his choice should have been praised as thinking properly, but nevertheless he astounded Nightmare Moon with his quick wit about the traitorous horses.

"Glad, but you only realized the truth when I informed you." she exclaimed in confusion as he took the first bite, starling her with his acceptance of being fed, which made them both blush crimson. Stunned by his acceptance and choice, Nightmare Moon chose the latter of the two for better understanding whilst continuing to feed him. "Do you not care that Celestia and Luna used you, and then carelessly tried to hurt you? Does that not upset or infuriate you?"

"It does," Derrick nodded, after swallowing the mouthful of salmon. "But there is no point dwelling on it. I'm here, not there, and I have already let out all the anger I want to feel. Besides, I'm too tired to hate or be angry. Plus I do not want the pain sticking to me like a parasite, because it will just eat me away the entire time. The best thing I can do is just get over it and get back to what I do best."

"Which is. . ."

Derrick beamed a warm smile underneath the wounds, and calmly replied, "Fixing or building things. I do have a master's degree in Engineering, afterall."

Nightmare Moon's ear perked to those words, and a flood of ideas came to mind as the faintest sound of hooves clacked at her door. This was her chance—No, this was the perfect opportunity to draw him closer, and all she had to do is give him enough space to work. There were endless possibilities running through her mind. Repair something—anything—while shirtless. Build something to benefit the kingdom, while wearing attire she personally picks out for him.

No, even better an ingenious plan to strengthen their growing relationship. The idea was so insidious that Nightmare Moon could feel loins heating up again. She could make Derrick fix her bath, and right when he turns on the water to test it, she'll 'trip' and latch onto him for a surprise kiss of her doing. She smiled evilly inside her head, maniacal laughter in the background as she subconsciously nuzzled him neck.

If he continues to act this way, then I'll be claiming him as my mate before receiving the Night Mother's blessing.

She went to suggest where her darling human could start, but her words were caught off by the sound of her door gliding open, revealing a familiar face. Derrick looked at the dark grey Alicorn but failed to process who she could be as Sombra closed the door behind him, his eyes wide and blinking repeatedly in shock the magnificent beauty. Nightmare Moon, on the other hand—or hoof—cringed when the monarch and goddess greeted with dark smiles. She knew she was in deep trouble.

"Oh buck me," she whispered, hiding behind her human, her body tightly anchored to his. "I am—as you would say, Derrick—fucked."

"Not yet, you aren't." Raven said gleefully, albeit very frighteningly. She approached the bed very slowly to torment her pupil, but the face of her new guest stopped her.

"Either I'm going bat-shit crazy from, or I'm seeing Sombra and some freaky Alicorn stand in front of me." Derrick said aloud, rubbing his eyes to make sure he was not hallucinating. Raven only gawked a little at Derrick, caught in a battle between logic and belief. Her eyes shone the reflection of her deceased husband as they sat, or stood in her case, in silence. She could not believe how much the man had taken to his father's look's. Could he really be the one she lost to that monster?

"You. . ." the Dark Goddess paused, raising a hoof to his cheek to reassure herself that she is not dreaming. She caressed him very lovingly, tears on the brink of escape. "You look just like your father."

"Huh?" was all Derrick could say before the Alicorn wrapped embraced him with a spine crushing hug, bones cracking where they shouldn't. If Raven was not caught up in the moment she would see him twitching and turning blue as her student begged for his release. But, to their dismay, the happy crying goddess was ignoring everyone.

"Oh man," Sombra cringed. "That looks painful!"

"My baby is home!" Raven cried, tightening her hold on the unconscious man.

"Master, you're going to break him!" Nightmare Moon exclaimed fearfully, attempting to pry the mare from Derrick, but her strength was not enough. She shot her gaze at Sombra. "Help me before she breaks Derrick in half!"

"And risk the wrath of our Empress, I think not!" Sombra scoffed, receiving a monstrous scowl in return.

"Now, dammit!"

"My baby is home!" Raven continued to wail.

"Buck, get me a freaking crowbar!"