Author's Notes:

It is time for Twilight and the others to come into the story. It is time for the beginning of the snuggles and a dark atmosphere to Derrick's new life!

This chapter took me all week to work on, but I wanted to write it as a dark chapter that has mother/son snuggles as well, and a dark atmosphere to go at the end.

No, this is not the end of the story. By ending, I mean the end of the chapter. Hopefully this will be a big improvement to my lack of writing snuggly chapters. I was never good at that stuff, but everyone has flaws they must fix.

Anyway, hope you enjoy.

Drawing several deep breaths, Luna continued to follow her own path. Twice, she veered away from her sister's hoof reaching out, but the situation was dire for her and she kept to her panic. Both times, she showed a glimpse of guilt through her tears.

"This is not happening. She cannot be alive." she breathed heavily, and then looked to Celestia. She wasn't prepared for the inevitable either. Nothing could have prepared her.

Derrick was still with Nightmare Moon, captive in her clutches and suffering nothing else from a strong hoof. The idea of her coltfriend living through whatever Nightmare Moon is putting through sickened her. The feeling was nauseating. Her body was shaking, stricken from the fear that drove her to tears. Her wings had at least shed enough feathers to fill a pillow case, and her figure was disheveled from the Everfree Forest's unforgiving touch. Celestia felt the same way for their human, but her mind was chained all the way down so that she appeared calm.

"I don't get it," Rainbow Dash said overhead her friends, flying in one spot while they watched the Lunar Princess. "How did Nightmare Moon come back to life, and how what could she want with Derrick?"

Celestia shook her head. "I have no clue to her revival, nor her reason for taking Derrick. Powerful magic is the cause of this, and it may be possible that we have a new enemy upon us."

"Do you think she will try to hurt Derrick?" Fluttershy asked. Celestia would have answered if she could get enough air and thought to do so. Her sister, however, felt as if that question jerked her heart in a thousand different directions. What could she be doing to her love? "She may be revived, but could she hurt him since the Elements of Harmony did nothing?"

Luna brought her forehead close to Fluttershy's, terror contorted into fury for the alicorn she despises. Fluttershy cowered beneath the scowl of her princess as the room darkened. "Of course she will try to hurt him. She is my other half, a living incarnation of the jealousy and rage I had when my sister was worshipped for her sunlight. She does not need to use magic on him; there are many ways to inflict physical pain if she so desires!"

Celestia approached them with a hint of caution. She put a comforting wing around Luna and pulled her away, but her eyes were flat and cold. Not even the warmth of her smile was felt. "Luna, do not drown yourself in those assumptions. Derrick is resilient and extremely intelligent for such a young creature. He will be fine."

Luna glared back at her sister, the pain and sorrow overtaking her. "You ignorant fools do not know her like I do. You have no bucking idea what she is like or what she is capable of doing." she snapped, certain of herself. "For all we know, Derrick could be chained suffering illusions she plans to use as a means of breaking his mind. He may very well be a vegetable already;" she spun to her fellow princess in the room. The very regretful Twilight Sparkle. "And it's all thanks to your idiotic student!"

Twilight held her breath as the Lunar Princess inched closer to her. Luna stomped with every step she took, her eyes blistering with a mixture of fury, despair, and hatred. Twilight looked towards her mentor for help, but there was none for Celestia to give, nothing to make the situation any better. She had retreated this time, well versed in what appeared to be sorrow for the human she loved with all her heart Twilight knew, by the way her teacher hid behind her man and then sighed deeply, that she was no longer in the good grace of her fellow princesses.

A strong hoof swung its way to her cheek, the slipper following, as Twilight looked back to her friends, who were standing with her as support. Well, except for her most supportive friend. Pinkie Pie. Luna struck the purple alicorn with enough force to spin her around, but in her mind, it was not enough to satisfy the fury. She wanted to inflict everything in her heart upon this naïve princess. She wanted to make her suffer. She wanted to hurt her.

"My sister and I had the one thing we'd thought to never have," Luna said aloud, making it a statement. "And you took it away from us. You stole the one thing we never had before."

Twilight turned back and looked up to her infuriated friend towering over her. She eased back between Applejack and Rarity, positioning herself directly behind them, hoping they would protect her. She could not do anything about the problem she created, and it frightened her. She shivered a little at the Lunar Princess.

"My sister and I worked so hard to earn his friendship and love. We put so much effort into making our lives better that we failed to remember your dislike towards him." Luna continued. "And it is because of our ignorance that Derrick is now held captive by Nightmare Moon; and it is all thanks to you, Princess of Friendship."

Twilight's heart plunged. Had Luna somehow seen through her façade? Was she somehow able to look past the mask and find the aggression? She was so careful in keeping her true feelings in secret. "That is not true at all. Derrick's my friend too." She kept her voice even, not wanting to sound the least as if with that accusation, Luna had boldly called her true nature of Derrick's existence in question.

Luna growled before shaking her head furiously, fighting with herself to not use magic on the fool. "I know all about your hatred towards Derrick. I have seen enough of your jealousy festering dreams to know that you have hatred towards my mate. I have known it for months, but I've been so stupid as to believe you could learn to accept the truth."

A low glare escaped Twilight. "Why would I hate Derrick? I have nothing against him."

"Still going to deny the truth, Sparkle.

"There is no denial. I have been his friend since the day I saw him walking with you and Princess Celestia."

"That is a load of hay and you know it. Your friendship died when my sister and I kissed Derrick and asked him to be our coltfriend. But what is truly disgusting is that you began to hate Derrick when he bested you at something no other pony in this world can do."

The accusation was harsh, but Luna was right and she felt harsh. She felt like shaking Twilight until her teeth rattled and then taking her down into the darkest dungeon Canterlot has to offer to beat some sense into her. What was wrong with Twilight? She was such a good soul, not a fanatic that cannot handle being limited.

"I do not hate him," Twilight mumbled.

"But it was you who made everyone in the Gala see him as a monster," Luna insisted. "That was part of your goal. Make the human look so terrible in front of his friends, his mates, and the entire Gala so that it would crush him. It was your intention all along to destroy Derrick."

Celestia was fed up with the entire thing. "Luna, you are making no sense with anypony in this room. Twilight is an outstanding pony with the same qualities you and I possess."

Luna sank back to her spot next to her sister. "That is where you are wrong, my dear sister." she sounded certain. "Twilight is not as perfect as you had hoped her to be. She does have ill will towards Derrick, and it festers through her jealousy and hatred."

"Jealousy over what?" Rainbow Dash exaggerated. "Twilight is a princess and talented in magic. She's super smart and had stallions lined up to go out with her. She's bust all of us out of every problem we've faced, so how could she be jealous over somepony who is can't even do magic?"

"Is it that difficult to see?" Luna asked the blue Pegasus, smiling grimly at her while no one noticed the purple alicorn shiver to her core. "Come, Rainbow Dash. Tell me, have you been watching the number of monarchs visit our kingdom in the past year?"

Rainbow Dash placed her hooves on her flanks, still flying above her friends. "Yeah, I've seen some kings and queens pay a visit to Canterlot." Finally, the lightbulb above her head came on. She was now in deep thought. "Come to think of it, there is hardly a visit from any kingdom. Most of the time it's you and Princess Celestia paying them a visit."

Luna's smile grew a little bigger. And who happened to be summoned to Canterlot when a gathering happens?"

"Now that I think about it, you and Princess Celestia summoned him almost every couple of days. I know that because I saw the letters pile up on his table."

"Yes, and why would it be so important for Celestia and I to summon Derrick so much?"

"I don't know."

"Think, Miss Dash. What is it that makes Derrick so very special that my sister and I would summon him to the castle for every gathering?"

Luna complicated things for the Element of Loyalty, but she could not find it in her heart to beseech the Lunar Princess for the answer. What is it that makes Derrick so special, and why is it so important to Princess Luna, she'd thought. She might not want to admit, but her best friends were the best support she could get in this mystery. But the question was just as confusing to her as it was to the others. Except for the nervous purple alicorn, of course. Twilight had a very good idea as to Derrick's special talent, but she could not muster the courage to speak freely. Luna's harsh and unforgiving glare sent chills down her spine.

Taking a breath, Luna turned her attention to the newest mechanism built on the castle doors, something she admired her human for. Steel bars were coated in gold and hinged to the frame as reinforcement. Two devices were on each side of the door and handled by a pair of guards, holding around their necks a pair of large, brass keys that fit in the identical keyholes on said devices.

She let out her breath and focused, straining for control over her emotions. Magic, raw and crackling with power, glowed around her horn. She fought white-hot energy, corralling it and bringing it back inside her body to stay the urge for violence. It was a huge accomplishment for the Princess of The Night. She wanted to pat herself on the chest with pride for such maturity. The moment she forgot what she was doing, that insufferable cough from Celestia reminded her to proceed.

Regaining her state of mind, Luna directed everyone's attention to the castle doors. "Do you remember when Tirek invaded the castle?" she asked, though with an unladylike curse under her breath, one she used once in her life. "My sister and I had to combine our magic to repair the damages, but it did not help with the nobles fearing the next attack that may come our way. They were so afraid of somepony stepping through into our castle with such ease a second time."

"We remember you telling us," Rarity answered. "But what does that have to do with Derrick?"

Luna went to stroke the confused mare by the top of her mane, but a deeply feminine chuckle echoed in the throne room and startled the group. Celestia's sunlight was suddenly blocked by thick, black smoke rising through the crevices of the floor in a continuous stream. Twilight and her friends retreated behind the two sister. They did not move or make a sound. Luna followed her sister's lead. She was thankful they were together to stay the intruder. As a warrior of history she learned the value of patience and did not move or try to see through the blackness for it's owner. They would appear soon enough as it is.

"You oblivious foals," the female giggled whilst sifting through the smoke for her own amusement. She enjoyed her enemies fearing her again. The answer is so simple that it sits in front of you right now. Twilight Sparkle is jealous of Derrick for his incredible skill in engineering. She hates my darling human because he denied teaching her; and we all know that the Princess of Friendship cannot stand somepony knowing something she does not."

Celestia began lighting the room, but only enough to see what she believed was impossible and it made her gasp. Darkness poured through the reinforced doors onto the floor like sludge. Thick and oily, the muck was foul. Luna rushed in front of her sister fast, her frazzled mind spinning one way and the next as the darkness took a familiar shape, but she did not dare disturb it. She spent another minute listening to the voice cackle as it molded into a solid base of an alicorn. Time seemed to have passed. It could have been five or ten minutes, Luna didn't know or care. Her mate was in danger and she'd been more than ready for something like to happen. After all, her counterpart could not deny the satisfaction of besting those who wronged her.

"And purity of heart you say;" the figure spat, though with a combination of disgust and amusement. She materialized completely and spread her wings, her smile just as wicked as it were the day she broke free of her prison. "Now that would be an interesting subject to talk about if it were true. But let's be smart about this, Luna. There is no such thing as a pure heart."

"Nightmare Moon," Luna hissed.

The Queen of the Dark Moon stepped forward to greet the enraged princess with a bow. "Nice to know you have not forgotten me. I was almost worried that you did." she mused to get under the Lunar Princess' skin. "How's everypony treating you since the Elements of Harmony separated us? Are you doing well in a world that barely knows you?"

Nightmare Moon felt power running through her counterpart like a strong current of electricity, her eyes blistering with so many emotions.

"What did you do with my Derrick!?" Luna stepped forward and met the Mare in The Moon, snout to snout, trying to convey that she was ready to fight to the death.

Nightmare Moon smiled in approval before stepping back to allow herself some space. To everyone's surprise, she effort a calm and collected look while Luna did the opposite. "Are you talking about that tall, intelligent, deliciously handsome human I found in your old castle?" she asked coyly.

Luna couldn't quite keep the note of hatred out of her voice. She was furious with the Mare in The Moon. It was not like her to harbor any secrets. She had a desire for boasting her accomplishments. Luna would know.

"Tell me where you took my mate, or I swear to Tartarus I will strip you of your wings and have them mantled!"

Nightmare Moon clicked her tongue against the back of her teeth, a sound of disappointment as she shook her head slowly. "Now you and I both know that I would not harm a single hair on that man." she swooned herself, holding a hoof to her forehead in dramatic fashion. "Why, it would break my heart if I hurt my darling lord."

"Lord?" Celestia prompted.

Nightmare Moon left the Solar Princess depraved and twist in confusion with a mischievous grin, hidden behind her hoof as she played the innocent filly in this encounter. "Oh dear me, I said too much about my mate." That part infuriated Luna enough to clench her teeth as the darkness closed in. She snorted deeply and dragged her right hoof across the floor to issue a challenge while the dark alicorn turned away, gazing at the mare from the corner of her eye. "No matter; there is no need for me to worry. After all—" she turned her full gaze back to Luna. "He is very slowly awakening; and it's all thanks to you, Princess Twilight."

Those words made the Princess of Friendship shiver, those cold facts, like death, wrapping around her throat, ready to squeeze the life out of her while Nightmare Moon smiled down at her.

"What do you mean he's awakening?" Celestia asked as calmly as she could, though the furrowing of her brow told the dark mare she was suspicious. "I do not suppose that means he is waking up from a involuntary slumber you put him under."

"Oh you ignorant mare," Nightmare Moon mused, giving the alabaster alicorn a wink. "Derrick is not as weak as you think he is. There is more to him than you know, so much more that it will make your skin crawl. But if you must know, here's a little hint to what I am saying." she cleared her throat, and then giggled lightly at her. "The Dark Creator has her son again."

Celestia was without a clue to what the Mare in The Moon meant, but Luna was not. No, she pushed aside hours of terror and called on memory. She remembered for that day. The red-orange flames and white-hot energy blistering across their first home. Death written across the land in bodies and blood as Equus trembled beneath its makers. Always inside of her, Luna felt the memory smoldering her mind, waiting for the chance to erupt through the nightmares, whether intense agony, history or feeling soaring through her body, the feeling of darkness was still there. She could never forget the mare that taught her the ways of dark magic.

"It cannot be," she whispered, a look of desperation and shock as her counterpart grinned evilly. Nightmare Moon knew that Luna was refreshed by the alicorn that created their convergence as one mare. She could see it in her eyes, the intense remembrance of what evil truly looks like.

"You remember, don't you Luna?" she directed her attention to the stunned princess and began twisting her mind. She made certain her counterpart took matter around the shadow of her failure as well, giving satisfaction with shaky breathing. "You remember the one who made us become one mare. You remember the true face of darkness and destruction." Nightmare Moon whispered lustfully, circling her prey. "You should know that she misses you; even though you were saved by the elements, she knows that you are still a child of the dark. And like all her children. . . they always come back."

"Where is she now?" Luna asked anxiously. She was pierced through and through with Nightmare Moon's cackle and felt as if her body was breaking under the weight of her guilt.

"She is with Derrick right now, keeping him safe and warm in my bedchamber." There was a tune in her voice that caused Luna concern, but she had no idea what it meant. Even though they are the same, she could not decipher the mare's intentions. "You should have seen her face when she saw Derrick. I had never seen her cry before, but I guess a mother will react that way when her colt has returned."

Luna bit down hard on the need to find Derrick's whereabouts. She did not have time to play Nightmare Moon's games and she didn't have the patience, but her spirit felt drained, torn, so thin, her energy waning. She could not get a boost from Celestia, she too was exhausted from lack of sleep.

"But I have made said and done enough with meeting you all again." Nightmare Moon stepped back, and with a pulse from her horn, cleared the room of her dark power whilst fading into the shadows. Luna realized this and ran forward to stop her, but she was not fast enough to stop the shadows from engulfing her counterpart. She was not the same alicorn that had dark powers. "I really should return to him. He must be famished from how weak and broken he is, and it is close to dinner time."

"You horse. Tell me where he—"

"Until we meet again, Little Lulu. Don't have a tantrum like you always do~"

Luna did so after Nightmare Moon disappeared completely, thinking about her human as the echoes of the dark alicorn's sinister laughter travelled. She had much time and effort to keep herself under control and tried to use that to rid herself the thought of her old teacher tending to the man she loves. But it was not so simple this time; it was not so easy to remain intact. The room blackened and turned into the night sky even as she turned back and scowled at the purple alicorn. What she did not realize is the whisper her counterpart left for her to hear as the light of her life began to wither.

Return to our beginning if you want to see him again.

"This is all your fault!" Luna screamed at the frightened princess. "Because of you, Derrick is in the hooves of the Dark Creator; and what's worse that he IS HER SON!"

At this point, Celestia stepped forward. "Luna, what are you talking ab—" The rest of her question was interrupted by her little sister, to a point that she was afraid for herself and for everyone around her.

Luna shrieked her rage, erupting into a temper tantrum, something she remembered vividly from her centuries trapped on the moon. A thousand stars of her own light ignited and flew and exploded in every conceivable spot of the throne room, striking everywhere, countering the light of Celestia's sun. There was no way to avoid the dangerous orbs flying from in every direction. Celestia had no choice but to put up a large dome around herself and the Mane Six.

Luna poured herself into the fury, but as she did, she broke through the shell of her broken form. The Lunar Princess' magic reacted as the thought of Derrick becoming corrupted stimulated her anger, laden it with deep emotions. She was unleashed to show her sister and friends the damage she had kept inside for so long. The eruption was massive.

"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!"

The magic was massive. There was no way to stop the alicorn now. Celestia refused to try, giving in to the cold truth, desperate to keep from losing the only weapon she has against evil. Still, her breath caught in her throat as her sister continued. This is what Nightmare Moon wanted all along. She wanted to trigger Luna's anger, but why? Why would she want to target her and not me as well?

"HE IS MY LOVE AND YOU GAVE HIM TO NIGHTMARE MOON!" Luna accused, spreading her new, much larger wings. "YOU USED US TO HURT DERRICK, AND NOW HE IS WITH THAT MONSTER!"

Twilight said nothing to that. She was far too gone in her own fear.

"Luna," Celestia called out. "You mustn't let Nightmare Moon get you. Remember that she is using him to—"

"Enough of your words, sister!" Luna spat, though in a very dark tone. "I have no time to hear your preach about preserving ourselves as princesses. My mate is with that monster, and I plan to find him before she and Raven corrupt him!"

"Who the heck is Raven?" asked Rainbow Dash, but the enraged princess ignored her.

"No more standing around. It is time for action!" Luna screamed before spinning in place to the only pair of guards in the room. Sad to say they were terrified of their princess. "You two, inform the messenger to write a letter to Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor. Have him detail that I hereby decree my consort missing and currently held hostage by Nightmare Moon. Do it now!"

Back In Nebula

Derrick sank back at the edge of bed, trying to find a comfortable position for his reading. He had no idea how he had thought his broken body would have the strength to move so much, but he needed to move around in this odd position he'd been put in with Raven. She lay as if a pillow and a barrier for him, her slim belly as a cushion while the left blanketed his upper half. There was a chill about the room as the fireplace was reignited by a servant, yet there was no feeling to his disheveled form. Not a single nip from the cold atmosphere. Raven had packed herself around her son in an effort to bring him closer to her and to stop the denial of his heritage. Her tail was extended around his thighs, curled firmly to his skin while the blanket covered overlapped him. The Empress had a mad desire to destroy the sorrow and regret in Derrick's body. Even seemed a possible feat with her power.

He took his gaze off the book that was left on night stand to his left and then looked up to the ancient goddess. "Where did Nightmare Moon run off too?" he asked, as if it really mattered. She realized he was worried about her. Of course he was. He had some feelings for her. He looked through the window, feeling uncomfortable that the mare who saved his skin had yet to return all evening. "She must be pretty busy right now."

"Nightmare Moon will return soon enough," Raven said, nuzzling the top of his head. "She cannot be away from you for an entire day." She took Derrick's broken hand into her hoof and carefully straightened his arm, checking the flexibility. "How are you feeling right now? Does the doctor need to bring you more pain medication?"

"Not right now. I'm actually a little tired from the medication, but I've slept enough already. Plus I'm waiting for dinner to come around."

Raven choked several times, fighting the laughter stuck in her throat, determined not to treat her son like a newborn colt that is curious about everything. She wanted Derrick to believe he was getting his space to adjust to the new life of a royal. "You do not have to wait for the cooks to prepare dinner. They are at your command."

"My command?"

"Yes, this is your home." Raven said, though with a little emphasis of her longing gaze. "Nebula was your home before Faust took you from me. Though you exist between the roads of light and darkness, this is your true domain. Darkness is your true home, and we are your real family."

"We?"

"Midnight Estelle and Crow—your little sisters."

Derrick exhaled deeply and shook his head. "You really believe that I am your long lost son from another world. But don't you think that is impossible since I am not like you?"

"Not like me, your own mother?" Raven mused, though with a wicked grin to go with the devious thoughts she had. In spite of the low, cool tone of the Black Empress, the tension in the room continued to escalate with the truth. She pinned the injured human with loving yet piercing eyes. She was the goddess that created this half of the world, an almighty being that knows almost everything about the darkness. But if there was one thing she was certain of being correct, it's that her colt was not as human as he thinks he was.

"You say you're not like me, but you have no idea the similarity we have." Raven continued. "You have your father's looks and his compassion, but you have me in you as well." she gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "You have my powers, my temper, and a black heart to go with the hatred inside you."

"One outburst because of you slapping me does not—"

"Tell me this then," Raven requested, curious of his past. "Was that the only time you have seen strange happen to you, or were there other occasions throughout your life?"

Derrick was going to deny that immediately, but every time he opened his mouth to speak, it would close up and leave him pinned by memory He choked several times on his own breath, trying to clear his throat repeatedly as she waited patiently for his answer. He wanted her to believe there was no chance for him to be related to her, but the facts were adding up and weighing against him. He did not believe for a moment that could be the son of a goddess and judging by the worry in his eyes, he feared the Black Empress would turn the tables on him and everything about his life would be a lie. The thought terrified him. He could never go back to being a normal person in a strange world, not even a weak, deprived, broken man.

Derrick's body jerked so unexpectedly that Raven nearly locked herself tightly around him. She caught his hand and held it tightly, but the warmth was gone. It was freezing—freezing enough to make her worry. Whatever he had going through his head, it was affecting his physical state as much as his mind.

"There were some strange moments where nothing made sense." Derrick replied, his tone hollow, as if all the life in him had left him. "Being an orphan helps you move to different schools, but it was the same no matter where I went. Everyone was afraid of me, and I can understand why."

Derrick's cracked voice made Raven jump as nearly as much as the servant taking her leave. She saw the worst of her new lord when he looked up to her and gasped as the last remnant of his gaze blazed at her. She saw it all and knew from her experience as the Empress's personal servant what it means to see horror in mortal form. Those eyes of his, such anger and guilt. Where did he learn to contain that much negativity, she'd thought while trembling down the hallway.

"I don't what happened to me," Derrick continued, his memory yet somehow clear in some parts. "But I would always wake up and find myself standing over someone who pushed me around. They were not hurt or dead, but they would be in a fetal positon and begging me to stop."

"The darkness," Raven whispered. "He's been using it throughout his childhood. He just doesn't know how to control it."

Derrick's voice strained now. Turned hoarse and raspy. "I just want to wake up and find myself back home with my sister. I want this to be a dream I've been stuck in because of some freak accident. But I know I'm wide awake, and she is not going to come back."

"But you have your sisters with you." Raven reminded him, before reminding herself of their whereabouts. "Well, not right now. They're still in detention for ripping off a unicorn's horn when he made fun of Crow's tail, but they'll be here soon enough."

"That's not what I meant. I mean I want to wake up to my human sister, the one person in the entire world that was not afraid of me." Derrick's clarification brought the alicorn to long gasp. She had no idea that another human was close to him, and is a sister. Where was she now, she'd thought as the chill went away.

Silence was there, but the sound of hooves filled their minds before the door opened. Derrick's gaze snapped to the one entering. He looked up at the mare he was thinking about and smiled. Nightmare Moon entered the room and carried with her a large tray of food, while, behind her, two darling fillies followed inside to see how their big brother was doing, hoping he was well enough to spend time with them.

"Good evening, master," Nightmare said with a very positive attitude and smile. She closed the door, and then beamed her joy to her curious human. "And good evening to you, Derrick."

"Brother!" Midnight Estelle chirped before leaping onto the bed, her hooves barely missing some very important parts of Derrick. But that was all thanks to the Black Empress jerking him closer to her before any damage could be done.

Crow approached the bed and presented a note for her mother. "Nightmare Moon picked us up and had the teacher give us an early leave. Plus she went to Vile Flora's house and repaired his horn, so there was no trouble after detention." She turned to look at her injured brother struggling to calm the younger filly snuggling in his stomach and cracked a peaceful grin. "Hello big brother, I see you are doing better than yesterday."

The cold atmosphere subsided as Derrick felt an emotion he could not remember. Strangely, instead of fearing himself for it, he smiled at the sarcastic filly and pet the top of her head. Now if it was not for all her children being in the same room, Raven would have noticed the chill being her son's doing. Derrick did not know it and neither did she, but Nightmare Moon felt the change happen as he lured a few giggles from Midnight Estelle. Derrick surrounded them with a special warmth of his own and began to push away the icy darkness. He just did not know that he was.

So I was correct about his magic. It is slowly awakening through his emotions and growing with every strong feeling he has with anypony around him.

"So what is it that you brought for Derrick?" Raven asked out of the blue, or so everyone thought. She knew what she was doing to her student by asking such a silly question. She was well aware of the bait now dangling at her daughters.

Midnight Estelle and Crow seemed caught in emptiness when the Mare in The Moon levitated the steaming tray to her human. Both fillies had to collect their thoughts as the smile of their brother curled into ravenous hunger. It was only then they realized Nightmare Moon and Derrick were more attached to one another than they should be. This did not bode well for either filly, for it was their time to bond with the man. He was not just an injured royal. He was their brother and it was time for him to focus on spending time with his family, not with the one who caused him so much trouble.

"Just a little something I had the cooks prepare during the end of my work," Nightmare Moon took the lid off the tray, and many delicious smells came to the man. "Courtesy of Black Knight and Deadly Amore of the Jade Empire. We have Grilled Chicken, fried vegetables, and Jalapeno Poppers as an appetizer, all smothered in Derrick's favorite cheese. Sharp Cheddar."

Derrick politely thanked Nightmare Moon, trying hard not laugh at the mare's obvious infatuation for him. The divine beauty had him like an open book, knowing every secret there is to him and that wasn't an easy thing to do. "You have surprised the most out of all this craziness; and I'm saying that in a good way." He said, making her blush a little while Crow and Midnight Estelle closed all gaps of space on her. They were not prepared to share their time with Derrick with the Queen of the Dark Moon. It was not difficult to see, especially when their glares were fixed on the dark alicorn.

Raven giggled at this and nuzzled her fillies, unable to resist the adorableness of their jealousy. "You only met him one day ago and you're already like this. It brings me joy to know you both have accepted your brother." she cooed with a sly glance at Nightmare Moon. "Seems to me that you have competition, my student. You'd better do more than bring excellent cooking if you wish to surpass these two."

"Speaking of cooking," Derrick lifted his gaze from the tray, a mouthful of peppers in his mouth. "Where did you say you got all of this, and who gave it to you?"

"Black Knight and Deadly Amore sent the food and spices from the Jade Empire. I sent them a letter while you were asleep that explained everything, so they sent this as a welcoming gift before they come to meet you next week." Nightmare Moon replied.

"That's cool, but who are they and what is the Jade Empire?"

Raven smiled with her student. They knew that Derrick would not react normally if she or Nightmare Moon answered. He was barely aware that Equus is split between light and darkness and that all ponies have an opposite. And let's not forget his stay in Dark Hive counts as a few days.

Raven's smiled grew, as did her ego for the empire she empowered for her children of the dark. "The Jade Empire is an allied kingdom and the opposite of the Crystal Empire. Black Knight and Deadly Amore are the king and queen."

"Opposite!" Derrick sounded shocked. "So does that mean they are the opposites of certain ponies!?"

Nightmare Moon nodded. "Indeed. You should know their opposites quite well, considering her husband attacked you when he met you."

Derrick looked up to Raven, his eyes wide from the shock. "Cadance and Shining Armor." he said, and she nodded. This made him curious and afraid. He would never have thought the Princess of Love to have an opposite. Shining Armor was much more believable, but Cadance. . . "And what does their kingdom use for power?"

Raven leaned into his hear, feeling far too happy to hide the truth from her colt. She licked his cheek and whispered in loving tone, "Hatred,"