-Ponyville/3 Days Before-

Dusk had finally returned home with a new found trust between him and his mates after he told them everything between how Incubi claimed their mates and how they had to protect them from other demons. He protected his herd from being taken, and now is learning that Queen Haydon is getting the demons who faced off against Skeletal Deviant their citizenship back. Not only that, he unintentionally found the siren's mother, Lauguetto Bedazzle who was sent there as a statue by Starswirl the Bearded for a sad misunderstanding, and an honorary citizen of Haydon City. Now Dusk was thinking of ways to try and calm down a group of angry mares with him at the moment after hearing about what almost happened to Sonata and what was going to happen to them.

“THAT BASTARD WANTED TO DO WHAT!!?” Nightmare Moon yelled at the top of her lungs after hearing about Dusk’s latest adventure and what he had to go through to get Sonata back. Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Adagio, Aria, Sonata, Nightmare Moon, Nightmare Rarity, Umbra, Chrysalis, Philomena, Celestia, Luna, Cadance, Gleaming, Barb, Starlight, Trixie, DayBreaker, and Philomena all sat down to hear what happened to Dusk and they were all shocked to hear about this.

“Yep. If I didn’t rescue Sonata in time, or if I lost the duel he challenged me to, I would’ve lost all of you to him.”

“Where is he!?” Umbra growled as she crossed her arms under her bosom.

“Who knows,” Shadow Heart replied from the necklace he’s in. “Last I checked, his hot mom tore his dick off and she fed it to Cerberus.”

“WHAT?!!” All the girls other than Celestia, and Luna shouted in shock.

“Damn, I hate to be that guy right about now,” Rainbow Dash chuckled at the thought of a dickless incubus.

“Not only that, Queen Haydon mentioned something about a surprise waiting for him when he gets back to the city and a banishment after that,” Dusk Followed up with a sigh.

“It doesn’t matter what he tried to do,” Larguetto Bedazzle replied with a smile as she hugged her three daughters who were happy to see their mother again after all this time. “What matters is that he saved not only my daughter from a cruel fate, but reunited me with my family as well.”

“But I guess that also explains the burning that we all felt on our chests earlier,” Adagio said with a sigh as she, Umbra, Nightmare Moon, Nightmare Rarity, Daybreaker, Aria, Philomena, looked at the cutie mark shaped tattoo that was just above their left breasts. The other girls couldn’t see it, but they know that with this mark they are now protected from other demons trying to claim them.

“What does the mark do exactly?” Starlight asked as she walked over to Dusk.

“Considering what happened to Sonata and what I had to do to get her back, it was to keep other demons from going after her,” Dusk followed up with a sigh. “Not to mention that the reason the other girls got it is because she’s my head mare in the harem.”

“So that’s why we have this stupid mark that only we can see and no one else can?” Aria said in annoyance, pointing towards the mark that is just barely above her left breast.

“Yeah pretty much,” Dusk added, and his mother stepped up.

“It was part of Skeletal’s plan to have you all when he learned of you all being in Dusk Harem, but he didn’t count on Dusk being related to me, so I have a lot of influence in Haydon City,” Velvet said with a smile. “You should be thankful for my son claiming you all before that monster did.”

“Mom, please stop!” Dusk pleaded in embarrassment as he used his hand to cover his face.

“You also mentioned something about gaining a new power,” Pinkie Pie added with a smile. “What exactly can you do?”

“My mom mentioned something about an ‘Exceeded Demon Form’ I can control now,” Dusk said as he stood up. “I can’t use it right now, but it seems to activate if I’m in some form of danger or if my mates are in danger.”

“So when I begged you to not give up, it triggered your form?” Sonata asked.

“Seems so,” Dusk said with a sigh. “I’m just glad I didn’t lose anyone here.”

“H-How worse was he?” Fluttershy asked, slightly fearful of the question.

“He threatened my foal's life and it wasn't even born yet,” Sonata explained with a nervous glance as she looked down at her stomach. Aria and Adagio felt sick to their stomachs hearing that and their mother Larguetto looked at them with werry on her face. Even the rest of the girls felt sympathetic towards Sonata. Former Villain or not, nopony deserved that kind of treatment.

“If ah met that varmint ah would’ve done more than kicked him in the shin,” Applejack said crossing her arms under her rather large bosom. “If he even tried to hurt mah family, ah’d made sure it’d be the last thing he’d do.”

“I would’ve sent him through several mountains for what he did,” Rainbow Dash added, kicking the wall. “Villain or not, you didn’t deserve that Sonata.”

“I’d drop the moon on him if he tried that on me!” Nightmare Moon provided with Luna and Nightmare Rarity nodding with.

“Had he tried anything like that on me in the past, I would’ve fed him to some of my creatures that I have hidden away at the Crystal Empire,” Umbra growled, slamming her fist onto the table.

Cadence and Gleaming shared a look before glaring at the former Queen. “And what pray tell do you have hidden away in the Empire?”

Umbra gave the two a flat look before a small smile creeped up. “I’ll let you find out if you go looking.”

“I’ll have to look into that,” Cadance said with a nervous glance.

“Don’t worry, the queen said that she’s going to do something to him when he makes his three day hike back to the city,” Velvet said with a smile. “Mentioned something about a final surprise for him and I can promise that it won’t be a good one.”

“A hike back to the city?” Dusk asked in confusion. “Where did you take him?”

“Just somewhere off in the mountains, and he’s lucky that I didn’t leave him for some creatures to feed on his body,” Velvet added. “Anyways, when he gets to the city, he may not make it back out alive.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Let’s just say when you find out you were cheated out of your life, you tend to hold a grudge,” Velvet said with a smile. “And I think that Skeletal is going to find that out first hand when he gets back.”

“Sounds like a slaughter house if you ask me,” Rainbow Dash added as she sat up. “It’s kinda weird having to feel sorry for you after what you’ve done, but I meant what I said with how you didn’t deserve that.”

“Thanks, Rainbow Dash,” Sonata said with a sigh.

“Hey, we’re here for you and your foal when it comes out,” Barbra added, the dragoness walking towards Sonata.

“Thanks girls,” Sonata said with a smile. The dragoness then hugged the siren and it was followed by a group hug from Dusk’s friends, the princess, and even Chrysalis joined in. Surprising a few.

“Ugh, can’t you get a room?” Umbra groaned in annoyance

“Well I gotta get back to training with the Wonderbolts. There’s supposed to be a new show that they have planned off in Las Pegasus.”

“Yeah, I need to get back to the bakery anyway,” Pinkie added as she sat up. “I’ve got a big order that I need to help the Cakes with for their trip to Appaloosa.”

“I gotta get ready for Appaloosa mahself,” Applejack added. “Gotta get ready for some deliveries later down the road.”

“I need to get home to feed the animals,” Fluttershy said. “It’s lunch time and Angel gets a little needy when he’s hungry.”

“Don’t you mean angry,” Barb muttered about that damned demon bunny.

“And I have several orders that need addressing,” Rarity said as she got to leave. “The Gala is in a few months and they need to be perfect.”

“Hey Rarity, can I place an order at your shop?” Aria suddenly asked the seamstress.

The girl blinked at the request. “Of course, darling. What do you have in mind?”

The Siren rubbed her arm nervously. “Well...me and the girls are going to be needing some new clothes in the coming months with us going to start showing.” Aria rubbed her belly at her meaning. “Can you help?’

The unicorn saw this and got what she meant and smiled. “Of course darling. I’ll have a few wardrobes set for you and the others every few months. Just come by when you're ready and I’ll take your measurements.”

“Thank’s Rarity,” Aria said with a small smile before the unicorn left.

“Hey Trixie,” Barb said while turning to her. “Did you say that you needed me and Starlight’s help with a trick you were working on?”

“Uh...yeah, but why bring that-”

“We should probably work on it then,” Barb added, grabbing both Starlight and Trixie by their tails, dragging them out the door.

“Welp!” Gleaming walked by and patted Dusk’s shoulder. “Always fun hearing about your adventures little bro. But time for us to head back to the Empire.”

“But we just-” Cadance tried to say something but was cut off by Gleaming.

“I think my brother, his herd, and our mother have a lot to talk about honey,” she told her while holding her shoulder.

Cadence glances at her brother-in-law's herdmates and feels a growing surge of anger and lust off a few of them. “Yes, dear...your brother is going to be busy this afternoon and we don’t want to intrude.” With that, Gleaming and Cadence soon left and the only ones left at the castle were Dusk, his harem, his mother, and the Sirens Mother.

“So Dusk, after everything that happened, what do you plan to do now?”

“I...I’m not sure…” Dusk said in confusion. “It’s been pretty hard these past couple months, and then the whole debacle with that asshole that tried to steal the girls away from me, I don’t want to go through that again.” Dusk added. “I just wished you told me about what would happen sooner rather than later.

“‘Sigh’ Dusk,” she said as she knelt next to her son. “You’re right, I should’ve told you about your abilities, but to be honest there was a reason I didn’t.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was trying to keep you away from my past to keep you safe, but I felt that it was inevitable that something like this would happen. I didn’t think that a dark force would exist, but after what happened to you and Sonata today, I thought wrong.”

“I bet you also weren’t expecting me to learn more of my demonic power and beat that cheating asshole for what he did right?” Dusk said sarcastically. “Not to mention Sonata probably having some mental and physical scars after what that bastard did to her.”

“Dusk, I know that I can be overbearing but I meant what I said when I want to make it up to you, so what’s it going to take for you to forgive me?”

“Being upfront with all of us about your past and who you were trying to keep me from,” Dusk said with a serious tone in his voice.

“I can’t exactly tell you who I was keeping you from,” she said with a sigh. “But I can give you something to educate you on where and where not to go the next time something like before does happen again.”

Before Dusk could ask what she was talking about, Velvet simply snapped her fingers, and in a flash, a book appeared in her hands.

“This is a journal from my memories, and it tells you of all of my travels and places I’ve been to,” she added with a smile on her face. “Hopefully this can help educate you on the demon realm.”

“Okay I guess,” he said with a sigh. He soon began to open the book. Only to find the pages blank. “Why are the pages blank?”

“You just ask the book a question and It’ll reveal to you what you want to learn,” she said with a smile. “I’ve been roaming the realms for hundreds of years, so I’ve seen plenty. I do know how much you love reading.”

“I guess this’ll help,” Dusk added. “What about you?”

“You don’t mind if I spend the night in one of your guest rooms right?” she said with a smile. “Because of what happened today, I ended up missing the train, and it won’t be back for three days or so.”

“Oh...um...I guess…” Dusk said, a little nervous.

“You’re not gonna try to molest us at night are you?”

Dusk turned to Aria, who the other mares were all glaring at their mother in law.

“Oh don’t worry dear,” Velvet smiled. “Unless I have Dusk’s permission, I couldn’t try to touch you. Even if I tried, the rings you all have around your fingers would block me from getting anywhere near you.”

“Okay I guess you can stay here till your train comes by,” Dusk told her. “Guest room is three doors down.”

“Thank you Dusk,” she said with a smile, leaving everyone alone.

As he watched his mother leave, Dusk let his shoulders sink as he sat down, leaning into a chair.

“Stars, I’m so tired,” he sighed. “I’m… I’m sorry, to all of you,” he said. “I wish I could have controlled myself back in that castle. I wish I could have done more to hold this part of me back. None of you deserve this, and even if mom says that this ‘brand’ will protect you, I shouldn’t have forced it on you all. I… I just don’t want ponies to get hurt because of me,” he sobbed. “I’m sorry. Even if everypony thinks you’re all evil, I want you all to know that none of you deserve what I’ve put you through, or whatever's going to happen in the coming months.”

“Why…” Dusk flinched, hearing Nightmare Moon's voice. He waited for the imminent slap or punch, and trembled when he felt her grip on his shoulder. He shuddered, but gasped when she pulled him into a hug.

“Uh...what’re you-”

“Why do you try so hard for us?” she asked. Dusk could feel her shaking as she hugged him tighter. “We were all enemies to you and you’re still trying to look out for us despite that?”

He winced as he felt something wet drop onto his horn, and looked up to see tears flowing from her piercing blue eyes.

“Moon I-”

“Everything we did to try and take over Equestria, we tried to kidnap you and take your magic, but you… you still...”

A choked sob escaped the midnight Alicorn’s throat as she toppled over on top of Dusk, holding him close and nuzzling his neck as she cried.

“Why!? Why do you care!? Of all the ponies in the world, why us!? Of all those that could care, why did it have to be you!? The one we were supposed to hate! The one we rallied around! We would have tormented you! We were going to maim and mutilate you and your friends, but here we are! In your home, and here you are, weeping for lost mares like us! Why! Why do you care!?” she cried.

Nightmare Moon finally broke down and was crying. Dusk thought back to what he mentioned about how Skeletal tried to claim all of them after he kidnapped Sonata from him. She held back her emotions for so long that she finally broke down and the thought of someone other than Dusk trying to take her, actually terrified her. The other villainesses were stunned seeing her like this.

As the mares watched Nightmare Moon break down, Umbra felt something run down her cheek and wiped it off, smiling as she joined the darker mare in hugging Dusk. Sonata rushed in to join them, Adagio smiling as she joined in as well. Chrysalis’ tongue flicked in the air and, with a blush, she piled on as well before Daybreaker followed. Aria huffed and stayed out of it until a number of horns lit up and dragged her into the embrace, all of the mares surrounding him and warming him in a gentle embrace.

“I… I don’t care about what you all did back then,” Dusk said. “Most of what you all did was out of misguided reasons, but it’s because you were all so desperate. And, I get it now. How it feels to need that kind of power. What it means to have to delve into such a dark place to fight for what you believe in. Whether it’s family,” he said, looking at Chrysalis, “somepony you love,” he said, looking at Umbra, “or just trying to make it to the next day,” he said, looking at Sonata. “I wouldn’t hold any of it over you because what you do in the lowest point in your life isn’t all that you should be judged on. What matters is how you can move on from it.”

The mares said nothing, and simply gripped the stallion tighter as they stood up. Making their way through the halls, they carried Dusk until they reached his bedroom, piling on all together and undressing in a flash of magic. They still kept their underwear on, and simply cuddled up to his bare self, laying down without a word as they all claimed a spot to snuggle and sleep on. With the silence hanging in the air, Dusk closed his eyes and embraced the warmth before slipping into slumber.

-The Next Morning-

“So you’re finally going to go through with this?” Velvet asked Dusk, who was currently writing a letter to Princess Celestia.

“Yeah,” Dusk said with a sigh. “I've talked with the girls about what I was going to do, I just need to send a message to the girls about what I’m going to do and focus on my speech from there.”

“I’m so proud of you, my handsome stud,” she said, smothering Dusk and burying his face in her cleavage.

“Mmph! Mom, you’re not helping,” Dusk said with muffled moans.

“Aw, don’t be like that,” she teased. “I at least want to be there for you when you give your little speech.”

“You’re not helping mom,” Dusk groaned in response. “I just need to let the girls know what I’m gonna do and hopefully, I can try to help the girls better understand the world.”

“Where are you going to do that exactly?” Velvet asked.

“I was thinking of Canterlot first, but with how stingly and old fashioned most of them are, I was holding back on that. Not to mention dealing with invasions of the capitol that are probably still fresh in their minds. So I figured, why not here?”

“So you’re starting in this friendly little town?” Velvet said with a smile.

“Seeing as we weren’t directly attacked, I figured this would be a good place to start,” Dusk followed up. “Not to mention I feel everyone might be more understanding of who I am.”

“I’m sure that they’ll understand like your friends have after they learned who you are,” Velvet said with a smile.

“Thanks mom,” Dusk said with a smile on his face. “Since you’re stuck in town, I can let you enjoy yourself here and focus on the town while the girls and I get everything ready.”

“Why thank you Dusk,” she said with a smile. “I’d love to explore this lovely little town.”

“Just don’t do anything crazy,” Dusk sighed to himself as he watched him mom leave the room. He then began to prepare his speech for what was to come.

Author's Note

Credit to Isreal Yabuki, Yoshikage Kira, phoenixcolt45, wolfman93, and Helljumper206 for helping me with this work part. Sorry the chapter is short, but I needed to prepare the epilogue for this ark as well as the next two arks. Sorry for the inconvience.