Age of Darkness

Zorak paced back and forth outside of the emergency room twiddling his fingers nervously.

"Zorak darling, calm down," said Rarity comfortingly.

Currently sitting outside the operating room with Zorak was Rarity, Pinkie, Chrysalis, and Moondancer. Each of them cast Zorak a sympathetic and caring look.

"Calm down! How can I be calm in a situation like this," exclaimed Zorak "what if complications arise, what if Nighty ends up hurt, what if our foal gets hurt or dies during conception."

"Zorak you're being paranoid," deadpanned Chrysalis "I've given birth many times, and I assure you that your beloved and your foal will be fine."

Zorak looked into Chrysalis' eyes expecting to see a hint of deceit, all he saw was certainty and comfort though. Zorak took a deep breath and slowly let it out in an attempt to calm himself down. Thankfully it worked, though it was only slightly.

"Alright Chrysalis, I trust you," said Zorak quietly, his gaze turned to the floor.

Zorak took a seat next to Rarity and received a reassuring back rub from the mare.

"Don't worry dear, Nightmare is a tough mare, and if that filly is anything like her mother, she too will be perfectly fine by the end of all this," said Rarity.

To the mares it seemed like Zorak was just nervous about being a father, they were wrong, but not completely. The real reason he was so nervous was because he could hear his beloved's cries of pain, and even a few choice words that were thrown at the nurses and doctors. This is one of the only times since Zorak gained his dark abilities that he wished he was just a normal human again. His enhanced hearing only served to make this moment all the more terrifying for the young human.

Four Hours Later

Zorak stared intently at the double doors as they slowly opened to reveal Doctor Mint, she had a bit of sweat on her brow, but overall she held a happy and triumphant smile on her muzzle.

"The operation was a success," she excitedly announced to the small group "a new healthy princess has been born."

Zorak didn't waste a second as he quickly charged pass Doctor Mint and into the room behind her. In the center of the room looking down happily at the newest princess was the love of his life. Again he wasted no time as he quickly dashed across the room, sliding into Nightmares side and gripping her barrel lovingly with tears stinging his eyes. Nightmare looked over at her lover, her eyes tired and bloodshot, but very much happy.

"Is she," asked Zorak happily.

"She's perfectly healthy," said Nightmare gently passing the small foal over to her father.

Gently, Zorak wrapped his arms around his new daughter, taking in her full visage. Her eyes glowed sapphire blue, matching the overall shape of her mother's. Her coat was dark blue, glistening in the light being produced by the light overhead. As Zorak continued to analyze his foal, he started noticing things about her that were... off. For starters, instead of having feathered wings like her mother, her wings looked like a cross between a dragon and a thestral. Another thing he noticed was her horn, instead of being straight with a spiral running down its length like a normal unicorn or alicorn, it instead was completely smooth and curved upwards. Both her wings and horn were jet black in coloration. The last thing he noticed was her hooves. While they looked like hooves, they didn't look like the kind of hooves a normal pony had. Instead they were cloven like that of a deer, they were also furless. While not impossible, it was very rare for a pony to be born with completely furless hooves. At least her coat, mane, and tail seemed normal enough, albeit her coat was longer and thicker than the average pony. Her mane and tail, just like her wings, were jet black. Her mane was cut short in the back, on top it was short, but not as short as the front, she also had what Zorak could only describe as a fringe covering her right eye. Her tail was simple enough, just roughly brushed and spiked in some places.

"Nighty, do you think this could be because of my genes," asked Zorak turning to his lover.

Nightmare gazed lovingly between her lover and her daughter "does it matter? As I see it, the only thing that matters is if you love her or not."

"Of course I love her, I'm just worried that she'll be seem as weird by society," said Zorak his gaze never wavering.

"If anypony picks on my daughter, I'll personally skin them alive and dip them into a container of rubbing alcohol," said Nightmare, her expression instantly turning murderous.

Zorak smiled happily at her "What will we name her."

"Yue La," said Nightmare quickly.

"Mind if I ask why," asked Zorak raising a brow.

"Contrary to common belief I actually am a relatively normal mare. And like every other mare that takes the steps towards motherhood, I subconsciously know what my foals name should be. I wouldn't understand a stallion to understand," said Nightmare smirking deviously.

Zorak nodded his head in agreement "Yue it is then. Live long and prosper Little Moon."

Nightmare giggled "already giving her a nickname."

"Naturally," said Zorak chuckling.

Nightmare started to chuckle "don't be going soft on me."

"We all have a soft spot or two, for me my soft spots are you, and my baby girl," said Zorak giving Yue's stomach a little scratch.

Yue giggled and grabbed her father's hand in her hooves, then proceeded to suck on his fingers. Zorak was about to coo at her display, but noticed two fangs protruding from Yue's gums.

"What the, is it normal for foals to be born with teeth, or fangs in her case," asked Zorak looking at Nightmare quizzically.

"It's normal for thestrals, I'm guessing since some of my magic is flowing through her veins that she must be part thestral," said Nightmare with an astonished tone.

"Why would your magic cause her to be part thestral," asked Zorak with a confused tone.

"Back during the beginning of Equestria, when the three pony tribes joined together, Luna and Celestia had ascended to the throne. This is just basic history though, a little know fact was there was a fourth tribe. This fourth tribe was nothing more than a group of banished pegasi who shunned the sun. Using her magic Luna gave her blessing to the pegasi, causing their pupils to change, their sleep schedule to align itself to a nocturnal setting, and their wings to lose all their feathers. Since I was at one point Luna, and still contain her magical signature, it would explain why she doesn't have any feathers," commented Nightmare.

"And here I was worried you cheated on me," said Zorak jokingly.

Nightmare didn't see the appeal in his joke as her features suddenly turned deathly serious.

"I would never do such a thing, there is no other stallion or mare in the world that I'd allow anywhere near my backside, so don't even joke about it. My heart belongs to you and our daughter, nopony else, don't you ever forget that," said Nightmare almost growling.

Zorak nuzzled Nightmare's neck affectionately "I promise not to do it again, sorry about my distasteful joke."

Nightmare's features softened and she returned his loving nuzzle "all is forgiven, but in all seriousness, don't do it again."

"I guess you truly were worthy of the Element of Loyalty," said Zorak smiling.

Laughter erupted from Nightmare "very few ponies know that I was at one point a bearer of the Element of Loyalty, question is, how do you know that I was."

"I have my ways," said Zorak, his hearty laughter reverberating off the walls of the small room.

"Long live Princess Yue," said Doctor Mint from the doorway "may her life be comforting and full of love."