Author's Note

Another day. Another Chapter.

Hope you enjoy.

Chapter IV

The cold air was still heavy as Shining I walked around the house for more firewood, and the presence of others was terrible because everyone saw Cadance and Shining Armor enter my home. There were some ponies standing outside of my yard and whispering with friends and family. Hateful glares directed towards my window, mares envious of the unicorn ignoring them while the stallions watched the princess and former queen continue their standoff. One of the bigger stallions, someone I think is known as Dumbbell, stepped forward and yelled at me multiple times before throwing an apple he was eating. It was nothing out of the ordinary for a guy like me; there's always some asshole that wants to have a crack at me, the Bastard Prince, or Umbra, the Broken Queen.

"Get out of our town, freak;" he screams at the window, and then looks to me with the same disgust. "And take your pet monkey with you!"

I saw Shining Armor clench his teeth when Dumbbell took another step and that some of the townsfolk agreed. Shining assumed the rest of the crowd was for me and is half correct. As much as I hate to clarify the teasing mare that lives with me, ignorance is not so bliss in our situation. There are some ponies, both stallion and mare, that want me dead for leaving Canterlot to live my own life. They strongly believe I should relinquish Sophia to my traitorous ex-marefriend because she deserves to live a luxurious life rather than as a commoner.

Yeah, bullshit to that idea. The last thing I need is to lose the love of my life. Besides, Sophia needs to learn the difference between luxury and common living while she's still young. I have no doubt that in the future the normal life will be too little for Sophia, and she will decide to return to Canterlot when she is old enough. That's what I fear though, my own child returning to the family that shunned us for our differences.

Luna has everything she could want and need, while I am. . .

"Don't pay attention to them," Shining's hoof pushes against my back and brings me out of my thoughts, the sounds of townsfolk on edge returning to my ears as he pushed towards the house. "Get back inside before Cadance and Umbra decide to fight a second time."

My expression was already quite distraught. But at thinking of those two destroy more of my house, whatever dislike I had left towards Sophia's potential future quickly slipped into my chest and left what I could describe as a gaping hole. It felt the same when I walked out of the castle, when I became a single father, and it felt the same now.

Entering the house, we found it almost too quiet with all three mares waiting on the couch for Shining and I to keep the fire going. They were not eyeing either of us, but rather watching together the entire town express their distrust of Umbra. I can't say they're wrong for having their suspicions. Still, a reformed pony deserves as much a chance as Discord does.

"Bunch of haters, aren't they?" Umbra asked in a sarcastic tone, ignoring that I nudged past her to drop the log inside the tinder box. She appeared to be fine and uncaring of the town ranting for her to leave, but I was not as fooled as everyone else was. Call it a mother's intuition through my senses and experience with her staying in my house. She was not the same monster that tried to conquer the entire world. That sadistic bitch was dead. The old Umbra was gone and had left a much more sensitive mare in this world.

Don't get me wrong when I say she is sensitive; that fighting spirit of hers was still in there and burning. She was still a feisty unicorn that will tear you limb from limb if you back her into a corner.

"They're just wanting to blow off some steam today." I told her, giving the town my way of telling them to fuck off before closing the blinds. If I didn't know any better I'd say a few gasps were heard as I took my place next to her.

She scooted over and pushed me down, her intention to not just share some space but also snuggle on top of me obvious in her speed. Cadance sat and watched quietly as the unicorn abused this with levitating the blanket over us again. Shining and I had the same thought as his wife expressed disappointment.

For Umbra?

For me?

For our new relationship.

I don't care.

"Is there really nothing that will change your mind?" Cadance asked inconsolably, ignoring the mare on top of me who seemed to enjoy nestling her face in my neck—not that it was a bad thing at all, just a little weird.

And there it was. . .my anger. . .

It was rare to see me lose my temper I suppose, but I never get angry or mad at anyone or anything. After she left Sophia and I, that part of me died inside and turned to dust. And right after I found Luna with Alex, love became meaningless and unnecessary in my life. That's probably why I am who I am today.

Then why did I say yes to Umbra, and what stirred me to give her a chance?

I'd been told that Cadance can be persistent and a bit of a nuisance towards problems that relate or loop to broken love. I just never expected her to be this determined, and it pissed me off.

"I told you there is nothing. Now stop asking."

"Zane. . . please. . ."

I watched her hop off the couch and approach Umbra and I to soften my decision, but after sitting up and pushing Umbra off of me, I pointed at her and did what no one but Umbra has heard and felt.

I lost it.

"For fuck's sake Cadance, I told you to stop asking me and I meant it." I yelled scathingly without any consideration as to what this will do to her. But I just could not take anymore of her needy persistence to fix everyone's love problems. "You're just like a marriage counselor that only see the good of things. Well guess what, you cannot fix me or what I had with Luna and Celestia. You can't bring me to forgiving them or my brother or the queen. I chose to leave and shut out almost everyone to get past that betrayal. Now do me a big favor and fucking drop this bullshit fantasy you have of fixing my problems, because I don't want your fucking help!"

The silence in the living room was enough as I stood up and left the group. Walking upstairs to my room was the only thing I could think of to get away from her. It was really the best thing since I just screamed at her for the first time. I was about to slam my door when I heard Cadance crying and hooves shuffling around the house. I didn't really plan to hurt her feelings or lose my temper, I just wanted her to stop pestering me about going back.

. . .Now I felt like breaking everything I own.

I paced and muttered to myself. Hearing her go from a loud cry to sobbing wasn't enough to make me leave the room, and besides it was probably a deathtrap down there. Sophia and Twilight are definitely pissed at me now, and let's not forget how protective Shining Armor can be when someone hurts his wife.

The hour was stretched in my time to calm down and think, no one coming to my room to give me an ass-chewing or a potential ass-beating. Thankfully the town went quiet after they gave up and returned to whatever it was they had going on before bothering me.

Yeah, just me, my thoughts and a swollen hand after punching the wall seven times, no doubt of the knuckles being broken. The pain was not excruciating, just enough to keep me from going into deep thought.

The hole in the wall wasn't something I could brag about to others, but I had to admit to myself that it was impressive. It was actually shocking and a little strange. This house was built by the apple family after I asked Applejack if she had a room for Sophia and I, and there is no doubt in my mind that her family used oak.

Although. . . why am I surprised when punching a hole in the wall is common? These walls are were made with one-inch sheets of wood.

My thoughts stretched on and I kept thinking back to how easy it was for Sophia and I. I'd thought about being back home with our own people, in our nice apartment with New York to see when we wake up and go to sleep. It was easy maintaining my job and acting both roles of parenthood. I did not have to worry about the things I do now. All I had to do was make sure Sophia was happy and safe.

But. . . why is it so hard?

A couple minutes of these stressful thinking passed before I heard a knock at my door. I was still deep thinking about my self-pity before her voice brought me back.

"Zane, mind if I come in?"

I did not have to guess who that was. I gave a slight quirk of my brow as I stared at the door opening without my consent. Out of every conversation we have, this was the first time she asked to enter my room. I gave a deep sigh as I answered. "It's not like you're going to stay if I tell you no."

The door swung open and Umbra stepped inside before closing the door. She stared at me, concern glowing on her face. "Feel like having somepony to talk too, or are you still having a tantrum?"

I gave a deep huff as I looked away from the mare. "What makes you think you're any better? You get pissed off at the smallest of things; hell, you ranted about Sophia going through your things."

She came closer with intention to get some talk out of me. You could say that I know how she works during my time of distress. The two of us laid back on the bed, the sound of birds chirping at my window before Umbra ignited their tail feathers. I can't say she's wrong for getting them out of the way when we're both in need of silence, but she could have taken the better approach. The atmosphere between us was pretty heavy as we were distracted by the same thought going through out heads.

How did I know we were thinking the same thing. I didn't. I was just guessing and found my assumption correct when she rolled into my side. I was still too distracted by her methodical action to see, or feel the dark mare's hooves wrap around me. The thing that brought me back to Umbra was when her snout buried in my neck. Her warmth was nice and I hugged her barrel just as we found a comfortable position. Weird to say that I enjoyed having Umbra almost on top of me. It reminded me of when Luna did the same thing every night, but the feeling was not the same.

It was different. . . in a good way. I could honestly say that I did not feel so empty inside.

Umbra took the pillow beneath me and split the space. I felt her hind legs rub across my feet, before she settled with locking them around my ankles. "Do you still want Luna and Celestia back in your life?" She gave a heavy sigh as she looked towards the picture on my dresser. The same picture Luna and I took when we took Sophia to Donut Joe's for her birthday party.

I did not answer, so we sat in silence again. Umbra did not have to deal with me and my problems, she could leave me to vent towards myself. She could go out and find herself a stallion that's not as complicated as me, but she didn't. She stayed right here. I was starting to wonder the depth of her interest in me.

I turned away from the picture as I spoke. "I don't know what I want right now. I have so much going through my head that it's almost impossible to keep track of it all."

"I did not ask you what is on your mind, nor did I want to know how you feel. I asked you a simple 'yes' or 'no' question," Umbra said sternly.

I looked down to see the mare looking up to me with worry. "Nice to know that you don't care. But why is my desire more important than what I have going through my head or what I feel?"

I was given a small poke to my chest as she sat up. "Because I confessed to you a couple hour ago and Cadance is pressing to have you give those jerks another chance. The last thing I want is to become a rebound mare if you were to see them again."

I laughed at that one, though more hollow than filling. "Rebounds are not my style, but I guess I want them back in my life." I rubbed my forehead and exhaled my frustration. "I don't know. I guess some part of me hopes that Alex will fuck up and they will come running to me. But we both know that is never going to happen because—"

"Because he is an alicorn and you are not." She got me there, though a little too bluntly. "You're a man who refuses to change, so you became the boy toy while Alex became an alicorn for them."

I gave a slow nod as I stared up to the ceiling. "There's no better way to interpret. I get to be who I am while my brother trades his entire life for luxury."

"But you didn't," she tiled her head at me. "Why?"

I sat up and crossed my arms in thought, trying to think the best way to explain my decision. I could think of ten reasons in an instant as to why I declined becoming an alicorn, and the next answer was better than the last one. Thinking very deeply through every answer, I grasped the one that made the best of my person. "I like to wake up in the morning and see that I am still a man. Every time I look in the mirror I hear mind tell me that I am more of a man than Alex. That no matter how bad things get, I see a man who will not trade his pride for a good life."

She have out a deep giggle at seeing me smile at myself in the mirror on my wall. "I'm not one to agree, but I can make an exception on that. You are more of a 'man' than Alex, and that is what I like about you."

"You like me for my pride?" I asked, listening to the mare closely as she hugged me from behind.

She gave a warm smile as she nuzzled my cheek. "There are lots of other reasons, but pride is not the word." She put on her best duck-face, thinking aloud. Glad to say I was hypnotized by that face. "The better word is appreciation."

I raised a brow at her reflection in confusion. "Appreciation that I am still myself?"

She nodded. "Yeah, that's it. You appreciate who and what you are. You appreciate it so much that you hold onto yourself, and that is what draws me to you. You won't let anypony or anything make you think about changing."

I cracked a smile to the dark mare looking at me so happily. I chuckled lightly as we fell back on the bed, though with her as my pillow. I let out a heavy breath as I realize what is touching the back of my neck, and by god, did I feel awkward in this position. I was certain that her immortality would make 'certain' parts of her remain old, but there was no mistaking how sharp those teats were. I was only given a moment to accept this positon before she crossed her hind legs, locking me in place.

She ruffled my hair to her heart's content as I listened to her giggling. "It would be so easy to suffocate you right now. I could squeeze a little tighter and you would fall asleep with no idea what I would do to you."

I looked up to Umbra bemusedly as she used her magic to pull my arms, immobilizing everything but my legs. She licked my forehead as I let her have some fun with me. It's not like I was in danger anyway. She always does this to me to get some kind of reaction that involves fear or rebellion. Given that she was reformed but not completely purified, I'd say there is still a mischief mare underneath the kind and caring mask she was wearing.

"I could put your arms behind your back and make you kneel before me," Umbra continued in an husky sigh, licking her lips hungrily. I knew where this was going and went along with it. It's not like I did not want to have a dark unicorn being seductive with me. "Or better yet, I could strip you of your clothes and make you lick me clean. Yeah, and you could call me master."

I chuckled in thought as I imagined myself licking her clean, from head to hoof and no part of her left untouched. Not even the royal parts would be left unattended. It seemed like being in a relationship with Umbra was going to be the most interesting one I've had. I was certain that Umbra would make the relationship I had with Celestia and Luna seem like child's play. She noticed that I was thinking about her statement, but did not say anything I waited for her to react. I had previous thoughts of Umbra and I experiencing the more kinky side of things, but that's the least of what I have experienced with her.

I've seen her naked. And by naked I mean I have walked in the bathroom and caught her masturbating to the self-portrait Rarity made at the request of Celestia having my picture framed on the family wall.

Good god, that was horrifying back then; especially when she told me to get out or finish her off. Wait, that would mean had feelings for me before we became friends.

I winced at my surprise growth when I paused on her marehood fully exposed that day. I was a little ashamed, but I did not give her the satisfaction of being attractive enough to turn me on. Instead, I played her game.

"How about 'queen' or 'mistress'?" I asked in a calm tone. That seemed to have gotten through her, and in a really good way. She looked down at me with this 'Oh' look to her before releasing me. Once her legs came undone, I rolled over and took advantage of the situation by pouncing on her.

Umbra's eyes went wide as she felt my chest crash on hers. Not only did I rock the boat of our conversation, but I nearly drove my lips into hers without control. I watched as Umbra stared up to me in shock before I buried myself in her neck. She yelped as I nipped her, probably alarming the others downstairs.

"I have a better one; how about I call you 'My Monster'?" I asked, snuggling the flabbergasted mare as I held her tightly. "Because that is what you are to me. You're my sexy, adorable, and loving monster."

Strangely, my statement was not an insult to the unicorn. My spine shivered a little when I felt her hoof running up and down with no end. My conscience was still trying to tell me that I had just called my marefriend a monster. My monster, but a monster nonetheless. I was expecting her to kick the shit out of me or tell me to go fuck myself, but she did not say a word for quite some time. The only response I got out of her was laughter and her hooves tightening around my torso.

When Umbra did speak, her voice pulled me out of my expectation as she spoke softly. "Your monster?" She pondered, humming to herself as we heard what might be footsteps coming up the stairs. Finally she nodded; at least I think she did. It felt from how we were snuggling that she did. "I hate it when I'm called a monster, but I like the sound of that. It sounds strong, like you are proud to have a mare like me."

"You're a one of a kind." I laughed lightly, receiving a smack to the back of my head. It did not hurt at all, but I knew I was talking too much after that. I decided to shut my eyes and milk how long we have before someone comes looking for us. My body started to feel numb and I was certain I would fall asleep on Umbra.

Sadly, our moment of togetherness was disturbed when the door flew open. My eyes shot open as I rolled off the bed with Umbra. I was still trying to process that I had planted my face into the floor with the dark unicorn sitting on my head, but the culprit was already approaching us. I was muttering the most profane words any man can say in front of a lady, pushing Umbra off my head as fast as I could. Once I was on my feet, I shook off the throbbing in my nose, giving me a little time to see my daughter glaring at me. She clenched her teeth after taking a short step back.

I looked over to Umbra still recovering as Shining Armor entered the room with his upset wife spreading tears across her snout. I looked back to her and felt some guilt by words as Sophia clenched her fists.

"You made Miss Cady cry!" Sophia screamed furiously, frightening not only me but Umbra as well. "You made her cry even when she wanted to help!"

I gave a nervous chuckle as I stared at the pink princess. "I did not think my words would hurt you that much. I really did not mean to hurt your feelings that much, Cadance."

"Well you did," she sniffled, wiping her nose. "And it hurt alot. I just wanted to help you."

I realized that I had dropped the ball big time as her big bro. . . and that I made the biggest mistake in my life. I put my hands up in front of me and tried to approach to repair some of the damage. "Cadance, I'm really sorry for hurting your feelings. I went overboard and—"

"No excuses for hurting Miss Cady!" Sophia screamed, retracting her right arm. "Take your punishment and repent."

I looked down at her and cocked a brow in confusion. "Okay, where are learning to talk like—"

"SHORYUKEN!" She roared as her arm launched, fist tightened and fire in her eyes. I had no time to react when I saw where her uppercut was going.

Suddenly the world seemed to be gone as my legs buckled under me and every nerve in my body locked up tighter than one of Shining Armor's suits. I became disoriented and agonized quietly as the light of my day became black in an instant. Darkness seemed to consume me before I could process Twilight, Shining, Cadance, and Umbra surrounding me while my daughter stomped out of the room. I felt my breakfast trying to come back up as they rolled me onto my back, prying my hands from my groin with all their might.

"Zane, can you hear!?" Shining barked, shaking me. "Zane, you've gotta move your hands. You have to let us see!"

"Where in the world did she develop such behavior?" Twilight asked as I watched her stared at my junk. Her eyes went wide as I released the longest squeak a man can breathe.

Cadance and Umbra were too busy pulling arms apart to say anything, but I could have sworn that I was hearing angels sing as I lost conscious.

Maybe. I don't know. The last thing I heard before blackness took over was Sophia yelling. "K.O!"