'Redemption, it was something that Nightmare had mentioned before the incident. Would that be the best move for her to take? When ruling with an iron fist, you know how everyone feels towards you whether it be fear, false respect or plain hatred. When trying to redeem yourself, you may never know what everybody thinks. Some will stay feeling the same while some have minor admiration for what you are attempting to do.

The only issue with redemption is that even if it something small, or something big... There is always a sacrifice to be made or a price to pay. It could be by doing tasks and or favors, or it could also be paid in blood... but the question is; who's blood?

This is only my view, my opinion, and quite possibly my final thoughts. I am no philosopher, but I do believe that even my point of view can have an impact on someone out there, no matter how small.'

Derek finished writing as he closed the notebook he grabbed from a drawer in the room while his love was asleep. He leaned against the bathroom door and closed his eyes.

Almost being taken over by sleep, a sudden knock at the bathroom door caused him to jump away from the door. He rubbed his eyes in attempt to get the sleep out of them but to no avail. Looking out the window, he saw that it had become day in what felt like seconds.

"Yeah, who is it?" Derek asked.

"I am Lieutenant Flare, one of Celestia's guards. I have orders to escort you to a meeting with her." Derek grabbed and pulled his hair in frustration. He had completely forgot about what Luna had told him.

He turned to look in the mirror to see if what happened last night was real. Noticing his eye was still black, he began to panic.

"Are you coming, sir?" The guard questioned, slowly becoming frustrated.

"Yes, just give me a moment. I'll be out soon." He replied, never looking away from the mirror.

"Very well. I will be waiting in the hall." Derek could hear the sound of hooves getting quieter. Derek rubbed the corner of the sink, beginning to formulate an idea to keep everyone from noticing his black eye. He grasped the corner, took a few deep breaths to calm himself and braced himself for what came next.

His heart raced, ready to burst out of his chest. In one swift motion, he swung his head down as hard as he could. A sharp sound echoed throughout the bathroom, blood splattered along the sink. He fought the urge to scream as the searing pain burned the area around his eye.
Looking back in the mirror, he was content with his work. His eye became swollen, hiding the discoloration. Grabbing a towel nearby and getting it damp with water, he gently dabbed the blood away. Satisfied, he exited the bathroom and followed the guard to the meeting with Celestia.

The room which he could only guess was used for interrogations or something along those lines was dark and dreary. A single candle was placed on a table that Celestia sat at, who was busy sifting through papers in a folder. Taking a seat, Derek remained quiet and stared at the floor, dreading the worst to come.

They both remained silent for some time while the princess continued reading. He couldn't tell if she was actually reading or waiting for him to speak. Dereks legs began to quiver in fear of the unknown. He was unsure what was going to happen to him, whether it was good or bad. He cleared his throat, ready to speak up and break the silence. Celestia closed the folder and lo4oked him in the eye with a blank expression.

"May I ask why I'm down here?" He swallowed hard, he suddenly found it difficult to breath. His chest tightened and his mouth became dryer than a dessert. The goddess merely sighed and closed her eyes and looked at one of the pitch black corners of the room.

"You may return to your post lieutenant." Lieutenant Flare stepped forth and exited the room. The metal door closed with a loud slam leaving the two in complete silence once again.

"I am sure you know why I sent for you. The Ponyville incident last night. A few bystanders and my sister put together a report on what happened with you. It was hastily compiled but I believe it is quite accurate. But just to be sure, I want your end of the story. Derek pulled out his pack of cigarettes and lit one before beginning to explain what happened.

Derek put his cigarette out as he finished. He told her everything except for what happened on the train. Celestia sat there, trying to piece everything together. She inhaled deeply before breathing out, and blinked quickly a few times.

"Well your side seems to fit everything in the report. I only have one question..." Derek looked up at her. "How did you hurt your eye?" He reached up and touched the spot under his damaged eye. Just simply touching around the swollen flesh stung awfully. He already thought what to say if that topic came up.

"Well I had a lot to drink and my balance was definitely not the best at the time and I fell while getting on the train and ended up hitting it on the seat. Yeah I am just a bit clumsy." Celestia nodded and stared at him with a dead stare.

"That actually brings me to my next question. What happened to you on the train? Ponies noticed you get on but nobody saw you get off. Then you just magically appeared in your bedroom. You would have to pass about twelve different guards to make it there. I am very curious as to how you managed to do such a feat." he thought about what to say with nothing coming to mind.

"I am only worried that you are holding something from me. It is my job to make sure everypony stays safe and if you can do something that can be a threat, I have to know."

"I promise you, I am not hiding anything from you." She continued looking him in his one good eye, occasionally glancing to the other. Then finally looking at his left arm.

"Pull up your sleeve," she told him bluntly. He leaned back and held his arm.

"Why would you want to see my arm? It's nothing special." She glared at him before engulfing his sleeve in a yellow aura. Just before ripping the sleeve off, he felt a sudden and painful pulse in his chest leading to his right arm. She examined his exposed arm up and down. She shook her head and sat back in her seat before bring her hoof up to mouth and close her eyes in deep thought.

"I am sorry Derek. It's just that ever since you came here, I have been feeling the dark magic in you growing. Needless to say, it has been very worrying. To be honest, I am scared that you may change into something terrible."

"Am I free to leave now?" She nodded silently giving him the okay to leave. Derek quickly stood up and made his towards the door. He grabbed the handle but didn't open it. Looking back at her, he noticed how depressed she looked. He wanted to just leave, but he couldn't. Letting the handle go, he walked back over to her.
Kneeling down next to her, he placed a hand on her shoulder prompting her to look up at him.

"I promise you, nothing will happen. You have nothing to be afraid of." With those words, he left. Allowing the door to slam shut, sending a gust of wind across the room, blowing the candle out and leaving Celestia in complete darkness.

Entering his room and closing the door slowly, he noticed Nightmare was still sound asleep. He could not really blame her, last night was quite the ordeal. It was definitely a strange turn of events. A night of fun becoming a night of terror. Walking over to his closet, he sifted through the clothes and grabbed his coat. He figured that a little bit of fresh air would help clear his head.

Walking out the palace gates he made his way through the streets of Canterlot. The usually calming night breeze instead made him feel more morose than anything else. Derek began to feel alone, not physically but mentally. Instead of being caressed by the night air, he felt like he was being strangled by it. Instead of feeling safe, he felt scared and in danger.

"What is it that I want?" Derek asked himself out loud.

"I know exactly what you want." Derek stopped and looked down with his eyes closed.

"You are the very last thing I want to talk to. Just leave me alone." He made his way over to a bench and sat down. Derek placed his head in his hands and rubbed his eyes.

"Come on Der', you know you know you want to have some more fun. Just like we did that one time back home." The voice continued to egg Derek on even as he continued walking down the street.

"I know you are still upset with me, but after all, it was your body doing all the work." Derek continued to ignore the voice, Lighting a cigarette, he passed windows of closed shops, allowing him to see 'his' reflection. The person he saw in the bathroom mirror was looking back at him as Derek continued on his walk.

"Come on man, with these new powers we could have so much fun. And that dinky little gun you lost in the ravine, I'm sure we could find it and put it to good use."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Derek asked, finally intrigued by what he was being told. He faced the window where the embodiment of the voice was and crossed his arms. He didn't like listening to it but when he felt that the inhabitants of this world could be in danger of himself, then that is a whole different story.

"What I am talking about is doing a little repeat from home. Hell, maybe we could get Mooney in on this. I am sure she would love it." Derek shattered the window by putting his fist through it.

"You leave Nightmare out of this you fuck! I will not let you ruin my life here you murdering prick."

"I wouldn't call myself a murderer, I prefer liberator of life." Derek turned to see him in another window and instantly rushed at it. Bursting through the window and into the pitch black shop, he did not land inside though. He found himself hanging on the ledge of a ravine. Not just any ravine, it was the one where he and Nightmare fell into.

Looking up, he saw the man above him crouching at the ledge peering down at him. His smug grin was filled with sadistic needs, needs that sent chills down Dereks spine.

"Look buddy, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. Either way, you do what I want," Derek merely glared at him. "Come on now, I just want to have some fun. It has been so long since you got 'treated' because of me." Derek looked below him at the rushing water, contemplating what to do.

"Those guys back home deserved it, they were monsters!"

"And what in the hell are we? You enjoyed it and you fucking know it." He gripped the ledge and swallowed hard. "If it upsets Nightmare, you can always fuck and make up. Hell I like that girl, she's alright for a pony."

"I will never hurt the ones I love." The man standing at the ledge laughed himself close to tears. It scared Derek terribly.

"Well let me ask you this, Is it you who loves her, or is it me? You only started getting feelings for her when I started coming around again." Derek looked down once more before making a decision. Looking the man in the eye, he scowled.

"It's me who loves her, she is the one who gave me a chance to do something different. She is the one who gave me a second life. And I'll be damned if I hurt her, or anyone else here." Letting go of the ledge, he spread his arms out and closed his eyes as he plummeted to his watery grave below.

Pain coursed through his body as he came to. Opening his eyes, he saw that he had not hit the water, instead hit the shore. He knew because he saw the broken branch he had hit on his way down which explained the piece of wood sticking out of his side. After sitting up, he clutched the large splinter and pulled it out. The red ichor leaked down his side and pooled on the ground around him. Derek smiled and lightly chuckled.

"Not exactly the way I wanted to go, but oh well what can you do?" He leaned against the rock wall while his breathing became slow and heavy. He began to fall to side as he became light headed and dizzy. With how much blood he was loosing, he knew that it was only a matter of time, all he had to do was wait. Knowing that the ponies of Equestria were safe was enough to put his mind at ease.

"...derek..." He heard his name being called quietly, it sounded so distant but once he opened his eyes, Nightmare was right in front of him. "Come on Derek, stay with me."

"What in the hell are you doing here Nightmare?" He asked quietly. The pain was almost unbearable to talk. She ignored his question as she began to apply pressure to his wound. He weakly pushed her hoof away.

"Don't, this has to happen. For everyone's safety." She gave him a quizzical look.

"What are you talking about?" She asked, holding back her tears. Derek swallowed hard, gaining his courage.

"Do you want to know why I agreed to stay here so easily?" Nightmare nodded in response. "I did something back home that I regret but I was unable to get away from. Technically I killed two people, But I was not in control. You see, I was diagnosed with split personality disorder. There's me now, and then there is my more violent side that doesn't know right from wrong. I got treatment but ever since I started being exposed to dark magic, he has been slowly coming back. I have been seeing him around and I can't risk anyone getting hurt. Especially you Nightmare."

"We can get you help. Just hang in there, please."

"How can you get me help? You can't show yourself." She looked around, hoping that the answer would be somewhere around them. She gathered composure, looked him in the eye and muttered something that Derek thought he would never hear from her.

"Fuck it, I can't hide from everypony." She engulfed both of them in a bright purple aura and teleported them away. When his vision began to come back to normal, he was able to vaguely make out his surroundings. He noticed walls lined with bookshelves and a large wooden horse head in the center of the room.

Author's Note

So here we are again. This is the end of the first arc... That's pretty much all I got for the notes. I was debating whether to have 'The Prince Of Darkness' be the first arc only then make another story for the second arc. Should I do that or just stick with this one story. Let me know in the comments what you think.