Pain! Pain is good! Pain is wonderful!

d'Artagnan was rather growling to himself as he powered on past others, his drenched forelock plastered to his face and horn. White teeth bared against the water. Along the way he noticed a rather struggling looking CINEVIAM and, with a malicious stare, snapped at his sooty rear then glided onwards. Complete delirium written all over his merlot face. He might apologize later for his rudeness. Might.

The Nightshade's nose wrinkled at the murky water but too lost on winning the race for it to really bother him too much. That was until it became darker and the depths of the ocean became unclear and thick. Mud mingled with the sea and sickly islands formed on it's death like surface. d'Artagnan entertained the idea that it was Helovia slowly crumbling away. It made him laugh, out loud, to which he got louder as he powered round the Spectral Marsh. Grinning and tongue rolling as unknown objects brushed against his legs sending an injection of adrenaline through him each time. Dual oculars zoned in on a grime bone that had made an unsavoury appearance much to d'Artagnan's delight. A place full of horrors and perfectly fitting for this maddening idiot with a slack face.

Finishing his loop of the place d'Artagnan found wildly delectable, he continued onto the final phase. Northbound to the Endless Blue. The last stretch and the Nightshade threw everything at his already weary body, enjoying the sensation of burning as he did so. The sandy beach was oh so clear to him now and the beast was not about to give up on the last bit of the race. Water flicked through the air as he snorted into it, grunting loudly and eyes laced with enjoyable, searing pain. His beloved Moon waited on the sandy shore, the brute just to be first to greet her! Feeling the weight of the silver marking imprinted around his stifle for the very first time. d'Artagnan was her Nightshade and his very best was simply not good enough. He had to go beyond that. Not that he knew how on earth he'd manage it.

"WIN! My race." Was all he could muster through the burning, the sandy shores getting closer and closer until water logged hooves touched it's grainy surface. Jelly legs warbled up onto the ground, dangerous oculars noticing the equines for the first time. A head turned to one side with a sneer.

What a kind Goddess we have. She brought us food.