Just Enough For Her

"Are you done, Umbra!?" I demanded, my eyes riveted to the dark unicorn with seething rage.

"I'm never done, not when it comes to you." Umbra said with a coy smile. Oh how I want to plant my foot in her ass, but she'd probably like it and ask for the other thing. "Besides, you haven't been this lively since your brother took Celestia and Luna from you. I figure you need a little motivation."

"And what makes you think I need motivation from the former Unicorn Queen?" I asked so angrily that she giggled. I could feel her surprise as my daughter watched us.

"Daddy, you need to take your medication like the doctor said." Sophia reminded me. And once again she is right. I have to take my heart medication after breakfast. Otherwise, my heart goes on the fritz from the rush of blood and lack of electrical discharge.

You see, I was born with a dangerous condition that is too hard to pronounce or spell, so I'll just stick with my idiotic term, Skip Syndrome. My heart is healthy and perfectly normal, but the nerves that collect electricity inside the lower chamber build up too much and cause my heart to beat erratically when I'm under stress or illness. Exercise is okay, just as long as I don't overdo it. Emotions, such as anger, rage, or sadness seem to be the only problem that occurs before I feel my chest collapse and lock up.

The only problem with all of this is I can actually die from my heart skipping too many beats. Adrenaline is key to a man's survival from a mild heart attack, but with my condition it gets worse. In other words, one short burst of adrenaline could put me in a hospital or a coffin. And that is the last thing I need.

I reached into the cupboard above my kitchen sink and took out a small purple bottle. "Another day of staying Bruce Banner," I chuckled, before dropping a blue pill into one hand and tossing it into my mouth.

Sophia glared at me as the bacon sizzled on the skillet.

Embracing the defeat of my daughter's tedious care, I filled a large glass of water and said, "I know. I know. Take the pill with a big glass of water."

"Good daddy," she chirped.

Seriously, since when did my little girl become the warden of my life?

"Yeah, and don't forget to take your fiber pills," Umbra added in a mock tone, her lips puckered so as to piss me off even more. "We wouldn't want you to have a bad bowel movement today."

Reaching for the rolling pin across the countertop, I held it up and growled, "Keep it up, lady, and I'll shove this where the sun doesn't not shine on your gorgeous ass!"

Umbra held a hoof to her muzzle and replied in a seductive tone, "Oh, so you do find me irresistible. Now why is it that you are attracted to a mare like me?"

I failed to realize the fuel I gave for her fire, until now, and slapped myself on the forehead for it. Geez, I had to be a complete moron to have given Umbra more firepower. Now there was no stopping her from teasing and tormenting me with my no-longer secret infatuation for her.

Why do I find her beautiful in the first place? She's the fucking tyrant that enslaved the Crystal Ponies for over a millennia, before succumbing to the Crystal Heart's power. She has physically and mentally traumatized the citizens with her power and influence, and here I am finding her to be one of the sexiest mares in all of Equestria.

Did I hit my head this morning?

I pondered this for a little longer, ignoring the laughter of my daughter and that wretched beast of a pony. How can I possibly find her attractive?

You can keep staring or come over here and "play" with me.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. She has so many similarities to Layla.

Umbra walked up to me and waved her hoof as I thought about Layla. Her smile was still bright and warm from enjoyment of messing with me. "Hello. Equestria to Zane. You're zoning out a little too much this morning."

"Would you give me a minute to have some peace of mind, or is that too hard for you to comprehend?" I snapped.

Her smile faded, as did my anger. "I was just checking to make sure you were still with us. Sheesh, calm down and loosen up a little. It's not like you have anything better to do."

As much as I wanted to yell and cuss her out for being such a bitch, I stayed my tongue and looked away whilst realizing how hurtful it was for me to insult her intelligence. That was the last thing she needed to hear from me, especially when the reason behind it is her adjustment to the current timeline.

Ever since Umbra turned over a new leaf, ponies do the damn best to push her buttons. No matter where we go there would be some jackass that has the audacity to spew words or throw food at her, announcing to the world that the fallen Unicorn Queen is with me because I pity her. Mare or stallion, I have to hear the townsfolk call her ugly, old, or a stupid horse that will never learn to be a real pony.

Stupid is the worse of it all, because she has no idea the current events and culture of this world. At least I'm there to back her up, but I don't how much longer my ex-mother, the Queen of Equestria, Cosmica, is going to allow me the allowance of breaking a few noses before they shut up.

"Fuck," I whispered severely to no one but myself as I smacked my forehead. "Listen, Umbra. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say—"

"Oh no, you said what is on your mind. You can't take it back now." Umbra said in a low tone as she glared at me from the table. As if it wasn't bad enough already, I had my daughter giving me the stink-eye.

"Come on. I said I was sorry, so can we—"

"You said what was on your mind," she went on, pretending to cry. "I just thought you were a much more understanding stallion, but I was a fool to believe that the one who took me in would enjoy the merriment I bring in this house."

"Merriment!?" I gawked, before thrusting a finger at her. "The only merriment you ever bring is me having to cool my head off because you like to flirt and tease me to death." I turn to Sophia and feel my skin crawl with humiliation. "And why am I binging this up in front of my daughter!?"

Grabbing her plate, Sophia giggled on her way upstairs. "I'll just go eat breakfast in my room."

While I waited for her door to shut, I took a seat at the table, careful where I stepped since Sophia made a little mess with the pancake syrup. There wasn't much to say when Umbra I stared at one another, just the usual silence of me being pissed off while she shifts emotions to express her victory. I scanned her every movement. I watched and waited for her to say or do something that will make me go off the deep end. I wanted that too. I wanted her to go too far so that I may bring her back down from her throne of childish manipulation.

Sloppily pressed against that chair like a deadman that took his last breath, I hardened my mind and body and glared at the smiling unicorn with anticipation of her next move being the key to MY victory.

Suddenly her smile was replaced with a frown, and that confident attitude became a timid display of her rubbing one hoof very nervously. "You really don't like me, do you?"

Well that threw me off guard. I almost gasped.

I did not want to calm down, my body resisting the urge to take deep breaths. God, she looked so much like my ex-wife. So confident and ready. Yet, when we're alone, the smallest indication of me being hateful would make her quiver. Layla always changed when it was her and I, alone. Now Umbra is doing the same thing, and I have no way to counter it.

I was the bad guy, and I feel like a piece of shit for mistreating her all morning.

Regrettably—if that is the best word for what I am feeling�—I moved to her left and sighed deeply whilst moving my hand through my hair. I had so little to say after that, but it is not true. I do not hate her, not at all.

"It's not that I do not like you," I began. Yeah, way to sum up what your feeling, dumbass. "It's just that I. . .I. . .I don't know, Umbra. I like you, very much. Your shenanigans, however, just make me feel uncomfortable because. . .because. . ."

Why did I suddenly get nervous?

"Because you're afraid to love someone." She said, before placing a hoof on my hand, her grip squeezing but tender and. . .loving. As much as I want to deny that accusation. . . I can't, because she's right.

"You're not really angry, just pretending to be for your own sake." She continued. "Alex took Celestia from you, and that damaged your trust in others. But when he took Luna, and Andromeda allowed it to happen, you lost all of your reason to trust and love someone."

She could not have been so right in her entire life, and that is what frightens me.

I looked up to the ceiling and closed my eyes, unable to deny the truth. "Yeah, you're right. But there is one thing you forgot to add, and it is the most vital piece of this ordeal."

Umbra cocked an eyebrow at me. "What is that?"

I chuckled, although I don't know why. "That I hate my brother with every fiber of my body. I hate him to the very core, because he always steals the girl from me. He did in high school, and he's done it with Celestia and Luna."

When she was silent and slightly disturbed by my answer, I pulled my hand away, then crossed my arms out of habit. "Yeah. . ." I sighed. "Alex may be my older brother, but I hate him. If I saw him burning alive in the middle of town, I would walk by him without batting an eye. I wouldn't even piss on him."

"I highly doubt you can hate your brother that much." she said skeptically. But ignorance is bliss.

"Let's put it this way, he's stolen two mares from me and embraced becoming an Alicorn so that he may acquire the throne. He is the good child for becoming a pony, while I live as the black sheep that refuses to change." I moved closer to her. The glare in my eye said all she needed to know, I believe. "And let me ask you this; in the last year of me leaving that family, has Cosmica stopped by to see if Sophia and I are doing alright?"

Umbra did not say a word, rather accept the facts for what they are. Thank god she did, because I did not have it in me to go on about being the shadow of the Royal Family.

Unfortunately, she was not done.

"Well you can hate him from a distance and still find a good mare to spend your life with," she said with slight enthusiasm.

"Oh really," I mused like a smartass. "Now why would I want to do that when the only thing that will happen is her dumping me or Alex stealing her from me?"

"You cannot use your brother as an excuse," she said drolly. "And there is somepony out there that wants you for you. You just haven't realized how close she is."

I shook my head and laughed, although I shouldn't have. "Umbra, there is not a mare in this world that can be faithful and make me happy."

She shot a deep glare and growled, which made me cringe a little since she still has control over dark magic. Her influence, however, is just gone. "You really believe that no mare in this entire world will be faithful to you?"

"Hey, it's a fact."

"Not even Rainbow Dash, the Element of Loyalty."

"That's for friendship, not love."

Umbra slipped a little closer to me and pursed her lips. We were touching side-to-side, nearly breathing on one another, but I was still in a laughing fit as she closed in.

"You're not the bad stallion you think you are," she added. "You're one of very few that most mares spend years trying to find."

At this point, tears were falling as tried to get myself under control. I wasn't upset or sad, but the thought of being in relationship with Rainbow Dash seemed too funny to ignore. Come on, me dating the biggest ego in Equestria?

Nope. Sorry, Rainbow Dash.

"It is not funny!"

"Oh it's a little funny!"

Finally she slammed her hooves on the table, startling me almost out of my seat, before forcing me to look at her. "Zane, you have mares practically lined up at your door for one date with you. Even Twilight wants you because you're something most stallions are not. Unlike most stallions, who knock up mares and leave, you're a loyal father raising you're little girl by yourself."

I cocked an eyebrow at her, emphatically. "So?"

"So!?" she yelled. "Seriously, mares would kill to have a stallion like you in their life. It's so bucking rare to see a stallion stay with the mother of his foal, and all you have to say to that is SO!?"

I thought Umbra to be going overboard with this as I continued taking in details. I know she has a temper, but, damn—this girl is fired up today.

I looked away to avoid some of the saliva she is spewing onto my skin. "Are you done yet? I still have to clean up the kitchen."

"You're not even listening to me," she screamed.

We argued for a good thirty minutes, all the way to having the kitchen and living room spotless, and by the time I took my first breath of relaxation I had a headache and was completely annoyed of her. Umbra had provoked me into raising my voice, and the only other female who could routinely do that was. . . Layla.

"Why must everything be so difficult with you?" I asked as she sat in the chair.

"I want you to stop being such a mule and open up to me, " she said, while tapping on one of the armrests. "We've already been living in the same house for over a year."

A loud clap of thunder boomed over my house. And in this kind of weather?

"Why are you so adamant about me finding another mare?" I asked.

"Why are you such a thick-headed jackass?" she countered.

Jackass. Now that's a new one. Ponies don't know the foul language of the human race. Unless Umbra has been listening to me a little too much.

"All right, this doesn't make sense." I said. "You're not acting yourself. You've been a completely different mare since this started in the kitchen."

"No, you think." she said flatly.

Despair pressed against my heart. I was beginning to worry about her. "You've gone from being flirty and tormenting to this annoyed, caring pony, who is creeping me out at the moment. Seriously, what the hell is your problem, Umbra?"

Silence, again. When it feel I looked up from the floor and saw Umbra standing in front of me, as another clap of thunder happened. She was glaring at me, somewhat adorably. I wasn't sure how such a face can be made by her, but the pouting did a real number on me. I was impressed and afraid, my anger already deflated.

"What must I do to get through that thick skull of yours?" she snapped, tears sparkling behind the dark aura. "You are the most dense, oblivious, dumbest stallion I have ever met in my entire life. And that's a long time, because I'm immortal!"

The hurt she expressed pricked my heart, and suddenly my entire world slowed down, coming into one focus. Umbra was crawling onto my legs, forcing me to lie back.

"You really are an idiot," she whispered with so much mirth.

I looked nervously around the room for Sophia to be in the room, but it was to my dismay she had yet to come downstairs. I was blushing—No, I was burning up from Umbra's fur rubbing against my skin. It felt so soft and warm, just like the first time she hugged me. We barely talked in the beginning, but a long winter drove her to me with unforgettable fervor. The snow reminded her of being imprisoned. Trapped inside a realm that has neither light nor darkness.

She petrified that night, believing my house to be an illusion the princesses made to torment her. I can still hear her crying. I can still feel her muzzle nestling in the crook of my neck when I embraced her without second thoughts.

I was a happy man when she demanded that I do not let her go. I was so happy to have her in my arms, because I felt something blossom between us, something I still don't understand.

I fell silent, my mind engaged in a fierce debate with my body. Umbra straddled me and blushed as her hooves worked around the back of my head, locking in place.

"Umbra, you—" What I was going to say ended in a yelp as Umbra caught my lips with hers and slipped her tongue inside. My eyes widened but hers closed as a shaft of divine pleasure shivered through, the pleasure she needed, and then she moaned hungrily.

I was frozen, my left hand locked onto the lower section of her back, and the right digging into her mane. It felt as though an entire field of stress and anxiety washed away and left nothing but a paradise long forgotten. My paradise.

I blinked and glanced around, before succumbing to the calming effect of this unexpected kiss. A slow retraction for air, Umbra pulled away and smiled as the saliva between us broke.

"Do I need to be more specific?" she asked huskily as I stared into her eyes, bewildered.

I wanted to say something; at least my conscience wanted me too. Instead, I followed that natural pull she has on me and dove into her neck.

This was so wrong on so many levels. And yet it felt so good. . .so right. . .so. . .perfect.

"Zane," she breathed as I began to lick and nibble. Groaning, she gently bit on my ear and snorted, fighting her urge to moan as my I traveled to the other side. When my hands fell and paused on her flanks to pay special attention, she pulled away and laughed erotically in my ear.

"You can touch all you want, but we're not going to breed anytime soon."—she grind against my leg—"You have to earn this plot, honey."

I grunted and tried to kiss her again, but held me away, turning her face to avoid my lips as added, "I don't think so, my darling. I'm the one in control."

Laughing at my blank expression, she then slid down to my body and drove straight for my neck, knowing it is my most sensitive spot. I could feel her teeth tickling yet burning through my focus and scorching every nerve with venomous sensation as I quietly moaned and groped her flanks.

Holy shit, her ass was so soft and plump I could barely hold back.

Pausing on the lick to chin, she glanced up to me and grinned. "Just to make sure we are both on the same page; there is no herding or sharing you. You're mine and mine alone, so I better not see another mare or I will rip her heart out and shove it down her throat."

As dark and twisted as that is, it turned me on.

I chuckled, with my head still inclined. "Don't worry. I'm a one mare kind of guy anyway."

The moment those words left my mouth, she smirked evilly and slipped her hooves under my shirt. I managed to shimmy out of my out of it and finger her pussy before slapped my arm.

"I told you no and I meant."—she nipped my ear—"Now be a good boy and show your true feelings to your queen."

Queen. . .Why am I not surprised?

When she then held on me tightly to not fall off, I felt my body tumble with her pushing me down and then put one of the pillows under my head. She managed to find a comfortable position in straddling my waist, before curling her tail around my leg. I was expecting Sophia to walk downstairs and catch us in our new moment.

But at the same time I was hoping she would not come out of her room.

We kissed again but gently. I held onto her back, half-expecting for her to roll us onto the floor, but instead, she slowly descended to my chest and wrestled my tongue. Only then did I massage her ass. When I ripped that soft moan from the mare she pulled away, saliva dripping, and to my pecks. I almost laughed at how gentle she was, kneading and plucking at my tender orbs as I hugged her tightly.

I bit my lip when she sucked on one, and then felt her stop and lie in my neck for a moment's peace. It was so sudden that I'd thought her to have passed out or seen Sophia, but she was still awake and my little girl can be heard upstairs, playing with her toys.

Thank god for magically soundproof walls and floors.

I blinked in uncertainty, noting that she was using her magic to levitate the extra blanket I keep in the corner basket.

I tilted my head. "Why did you stop?"

"I said you have to earn this plot, honey. And by earn I mean you have to take me on dates and claim me as your mare." she answered, and then snuggled under the blanket. "Besides, you haven't held me this close since last winter, and I want you to take a nap with me before—"

Whatever she was going to finish that sentence with ended at the sound of someone knocking at the door. As much as I wanted to yell at the pony who is ruining the moment I had to get up and answer the door. Unfortunately I had a good assumption as to who is at my doorstep so early in the morning.

Umbra growled as I stood up and approached, forgetting to put back on my shirt. "Somepony better be in labor or dying, because it is too early to be knocking on somepony's door and I was about to fall asleep in your neck."

I looked back and smiled, while opening the door. "You make it sound like we're a couple."

"I just made the first move, so we are a couple."

"True, but we are a starting couple." As weird as that sounded coming out of my mouth, it felt good.

Finally I look to who is in front of me, and, surprisingly, it is not my brother. I'd thought things already became awkward with Umbra kissing me, but this surpassed everything that's happened in the last couple of hours.

Why are they here?

Faster than lightning I feel a pair of pink hooves wrap tightly around my neck. "Zane-Zane!"

"Cadance?" I question, before regaining my balance to see who else is with her. "Shining Armor?"

Okay, for those who do not know about the affection the Princess of Love is giving me, just know that she has a weird perspective of seeing me as big brother. I'm not sure how that came about, but, ever since Sophia and I kept her company during Shining Armor's one week assignment in Canterlot, she's been acting like a filly around me.

"Morning, Zane." he said as I tried to pry Cadance from my neck.

"What are you doing here?" Umbra asked in an unfriendly tone, her eyes burning Cadance as she grit her teeth.

Oh crap. She really does mean about hurting or killing any mare that tries to come between us.

"We're here to see you," Cadance chirped. "We've got big news, and we wanted you to be the first to know."

"Okay, what is it?" I stared on as the pink alicorn squeezed tighter, cutting most of my oxygen. "Cadance, you're going to suffocate me if you don't stop."

Cadance loosed up, but not enough for me to break free. "Sorry, but I'm so excited and I have missed you so much. I haven't seen you since you left Canterlot to get away from what happened with Luna."

"Yes, well what is so important that you have to come over so unexpectedly?"

Shining Armor cleared his throat. "Will you tell him?"

Cadance nodded furiously. "Zane, we met a pegasus that is so much like you. And I believe she perfect for you."

I should have felt guilty for this, but, somehow, I did not feel a damn thing.

"I'm sorry, Cadance," I said calmly. "But I just got into a relationship with someone already?"

"Who?"

"ME!" Umbra screamed proudly.