Author's Notes:

Alrighty there my dedicated readers and writers! New arc starts here! So let's get to it! I'll give a brief synopsis of the previous arc in the next chapter. Until then enjoy the new changes I've made and I'll be editing the previous chapters along the way!

*Darkness.

It was such a typical word for evil and unlit places.

To Vector it was a word to describe deception, not evil.

She stood on her hind legs leaning against her desk which was littered with papers and data files with graphs and detailed notes on changeling anatomy, specifically thresher changelings. She wore her white lab coat with an ID badge on her left chest. Her one wing was stretched out holding a mug of coffee she tenderly sipped as she watched the changeling in the tube.

Among other things there was a lot of medical equipment around, a heart monitor and several vital scanners that linked up to a large tube filled with a blue hued liquid that held a changeling within it. Behind Vector was a single door that was being guarded by a Solar Guard.

It was massive. It's body barley able to be contained in the large tank that held it. It was in bad shape, parts of it's chitin were missing revealing its soft green flesh underneath. its face was scared with a breathing mask on its round muzzle, it horn aimed at the floor long and jagged. Its hooves now talons like a griffins curled into fists as it twitched in the tank from time to time.

Vector watched with a sad look on her face. She pushed off the desk walking up to the tank. The lighting was so dim that it seemed the only light came from the lit up tank itself. She ran her hoof across it looking at the face of the changeling a pang of guilt passed over her.

"Sorry kid." she whispered turning away and heading for the door.

She passed by the guard who saluted as she passed by.

"I'm heading home for the night. If anything happens to subject P-8ANU7 shows any changes send me a letter immediately."

"Yes ma'am." the guard replied.

Vector passed by him and exited the room. She entered a long stone hallway that went to her left and right both leading to stairways at either end leading up. She followed the hall to the left and climbed the spiral stairway to an opening that lead to the main halls of Canterlot castle. She left the castle shortly after and went to the train station. After purchasing her ticket she waited on the train dock for the train to arrive.

The area was littered with ponies heading to and from the station. Vector had to really work her way through the crowd to get to the designated waiting area. Sitting down, she flexed her wing and took off her badge, placing it in her coats pocket waiting for the train. While she waited a black hooded figure approached her. She simply stood as the figure casually sat beside her looking out over the city.

"Nice night we're having isn't it Professor?" the figure asked in a masculine voice.

"You were suppose to be at he lab, Ruby." she replied dryly.

The pony pulled its hood back revealing Ruby's face underneath. "Sorry Professor my sister got a little-"

"Horny?" she offered.

"I was going to say sexually decadent but I guess that works."

"That's not quite how you use that word."

"Isn't it?"

"I don't know." she sighed. "Honestly I just want to get home and see my loved ones."

"You know she doesn't see it that way." he said to the mare.

Ruby put on a stern expression at the mention of this, 'family'. In truth he knew all about the Professors relationship with Spitfire and Buttercup. It may have been a month since Trixie died, but he knew Spitfire was keeping her distance from the one winged pony. He'd kept tabs on the broken family ever since. Looking over he realized Vector was looking down tears brimmed her eyes, but she held them back.

But he could tell what she was feeling.

"Look Professor, I don't think it's the right time to start this. You need to give them time and space or else you'll drive them away." he placed a supporting hoof on her shoulder. "If you try to force it you'll only drive them away. Be patient." with that the crimson pony walked away replacing his hood. "Oh, and I'll keep an eye on P-8ANU7."

He then disappeared among the ponies in the waiting area. Vector took a quick glance behind her and saw he was gone. She quickly wiped away her tears and flipped up her collar on her coat to hide behind it. The train arrived moments later, its whistle blew loudly as it came to a stop. The sounds of the wheels screeching to a halt always annoyed her sensitive ears, but over the years Vector had grown use to the sound to where it didn't faze her anymore.

Unlike her feelings which were in turmoil thanks to the crimson stallion. As much as she hated to admit it, he was right about Spitfire and Buttercup. Over the last month she tried to get them to open up to her, but they kept pushing her away like she intended to replace Trixie. Ironically it was true, but she played it off as they were being paranoid. But it only drove a wedge between them.

For the next several hours well into the evening, Vector thought about what Ruby had told her. She then decided that if she was going to get anywhere with Spitfire she'd have to be very patient. I waited all these years, I can wait a little longer. She thought watching the scenery pass by. By midnight the train arrived in Manehatten and vector made her way to the Ivory Tower Apartments.

She worked her way up to room number 178b. Taking a key from her coat sh e slid it into the lock and turned it. Hearing the clicking of the lock she pulled the key out and placed it safely in her pocket. From inside she could her a lot of yelling. Opening the door she was greeted by a sight that had become common for her, Spitfire and Buttercup were fighting again.

She quietly sneaked in the apartment listening to the two fighting.

"I can do whatever I want! I'm old enough to join!" Buttercup yelled at the older mare.

Spitfire looked down a the young mare defiantly. She wore her dress blues with her pins and ribbons on the table, her top was unbuttoned. "You aren't joining that war mongrel, murdering, blood lusting group Buttercup and that's final!" She stomped the ground firmly to emphasize her point. "I won't have my daughter going on a killing spree against a foe that can't defend itself."

"Why are you defending the dirty changers?! They killed mom! THEY KILLED PEANUT!" the batmare screamed with tears lying from her eyes to the floor below. "Ever since the battle a month ago you've been doing nothing but helping the filthy beasts! Why are you-"

"You brother was a so called 'dirty changer'." Spitfire replied making 'air quotes' with her hooves.

That hit the young mare right at home. She clenched her chest, barely holding back her tears as she looked around trying to come up with a retort, but fell short. Finally giving in she averted her gaze and let her mane fall over her face covering it.

"That's not fair. That was down right dirty fighting."

"Your brother was a changeling Buttercup. He was one of them, he may not have been with them but he was one all the same." she said trying to reason with the distraught mare. Spitfire's expression softened as she approached her now sobbing daughter, wrapping her wings around her. "I know you miss them, I do too, but we can't let that determine how we deal with all changelings from here on out. The raids aren't right and you know that."

"Those damn changelings ruined everything! They tore our family apart!"

"I know, but I can't help but feel sympathy for them." she said rubbing the brown ponies mane. She looked up to see Vector at he entryway. She nodded to the pony who nodded back. Spitfire then rubbed her nose into Buttercup's mane, she in turn rubbed her nose against her mother s chest. "Do you know what your mother said to me about anger?"

"Huh? No. Why?"

Spitfire smiled wiping some tears away from her own eyes, still keeping her warm expression. "Well, she told me that if I let my anger control my actions that one day I would go too far and hurt somepony close to me." She glanced up to see Vector flinch. "And that I'd go to far and possibly take someponies life."

"Heh, you take someponies life? Hmm. I can see that." Buttercup chuckled earning a swift affectionate swat to the head from her mother.

"You delinquent."

"I may be, but i'm your delinquent mom."

Spitfire chuckled kissing Buttercup on the head. Rubbing where she swatted her. She then saw Vector smiling and smiled back at the pegasus.

"Listen, hon, I need to talk to Vector so why don't you go to bed and we'll talk in the morning. OK?"

The brown pony looked up at her mother, it was obvious she didn't want to but she nodded silently and walked to her room closing the doors behind her. Spitfire laid down on the couch not bothering to take off her uniform top. Vector sighed sitting down beside her rubbing her shoulders tenderly.

Spitfire moaned slightly feeling the hooves work out the knots in her neck. She closed her eyes and leaned her head to the side allowing the pegasus to work on her neck. Feeling better than she was earlier, Vector could still hear Ruby's words in her head. She promised herself never to driver Spitfire away again.

"So, rough day Spitfire?" She venture into conversation hoping to lighten the mood.

"Yeah, that child of mine I swear." she shook her head disapprovingly. "She comes up to me and says she wanted to join the Night Raiders under Shining Armor. I told her absolutely not."

"She wanted to join that bunch?" Vector scoffed. "They're nothing more than butchers."

"Yeah, but that's why I won't let her join."

"I think it's good you didn't. I can't stand to think of her becoming a killer."

"..."

".."

"V?"

"Hmm?"

Spitfire rolled over to look at the darker mare.

"Thanks for being such a good role model for Buttercup, and for being there when I'm not around." Spitfire said kissing her hoof.

She smiled at the yellow mare kissing her neck in return. If only you knew.

"Spitfire. I know you're not over Trixie, but I want you to know I'm not trying to replace her. Take all the time you need and I'll be here for you and Buttercup. Just take care of yourself, OK?"

"I will."

"Now, let's get you out of that uniform before it wrinkles." Vector said sliding the blue dress top down Spitfire's shoulders. Spitfire smirked playfully at her making Vector feel uneasy.

"What are you looking all smug about?" she snapped.

"Oh I was just thinking how you can't seem to wait to get me out of this uniform. Makes me wonder if you have ulterior motives?" she finished wiggling her eyebrows.

Vector's cheeks flushed red and she took a pillow hitting Spitfire with it.

"You are just the worst!" she screamed hitting the now laughing mare, blocking her face with her hooves. "Don't mistake me for a teen mare in heat who can't control her urges you sexual deviant!"

Spitfire laughed running around the couch playfully as Vector swung the pillow at her. The two fell in to a fit of laughs as they chased each other around the room long into the morning. When Buttercup awoke the next morning she found Spitfire on the couch with Vector resting on her chest. Angered by her mothers interest in the mare she quietly slipped back into her room and cried to herself in Peanuts bed. Even though he was gone she fought tooth and nail to keep the room as it was. Her she was desperately clinging to the past when her mother was willing to throw it all away.

Clutching her pillow she wondered if Spitfire, didn't love Trixie anymore, and if she didn't then why?

Deep down she was conflicted with moving on and betraying the memories they all shared whoever brief. In the end she blamed Vector for trying to get to Spitfire and tried making her forget mother Trixie and Peanut. As the tears ran down her face she bit onto the pillow growling as she rolled over onto her side.

"I hate you Vector."