Ten minutes. Ten long minutes. They just sat in silence. Their hug had broken apart almost immediately after Daybreak had whispered in her ear. Now Twilight was on her back, facing the ceiling in silence. Daybreak was on the corner of the bed, contemplating what he'd said. Words. How damaging they could be. He knew he should have just nodded and said ok when Twilight opened herself up to him. But he was not his old self anymore. He had not been able to hear her feelings and remain silent this time. No. He'd finally said something, and now, he was certain everything was much worse. He could feel it in his gut.

Twilight was the first one to speak between them.

"I'm glad."

Daybreaks skin was ice. He wished she wouldn't continue, but she did.

"I'm, truly glad that you told me that. Something so simple, yet it brings me a bit of peace. Really. I don't fully know what to do with this...but I think it will come to me..."

"Twi-"

"I'm ok Daybreak. Truly. In fact, this is the best I've felt since losing my sight."

He had to say something. Even with Twilight's assurances, a growing feeling of insecurity was crawling through his body.

"How about I read you that book now!" He exclaimed rather loudly.

Twilight pulled herself up to a sitting position. With a toothy smile she giggled back "That, would make me the happiest Princess in Equestria."

The feeling of awkwardness flowing through his body like blood seemed to dim a little. He snapped the fingers on both of his hands, and a set of books appeared from nothingness into his awaiting fingertips.

"Alright Sparky, you have two choices: in my right hand I have The Complete Guide Astronomical Studies and It's relation to the Magical Arts (the unabridged version) written by Star Swirl the Bearded, and in my left I hold Sherkhots Guide To The Care and Categorization Of Hostile Magical Beasts. You're choice Sparks."

Twilight tilted her head against her pillow "Didn't Sherkhot get eaten by Timberwolves after supposedly coming up with a potion for repelling them?"

She could feel Daybreak rustling with discomfort on the bedside "Um, yeah. Why?"

"Not sure if that's someone I really want to be taking advice from...What about the third book? The one you're levitating behind your back."

Oh great. She knew it was there.

Daybreak cringed, then sighed "Of course you noticed...it was supposed to be your present for when I left today. I didn't think you'd notice it."

Her hand tugged on his sleeve as she giggled. "I notice everything! But unless I magically learn braille real soon, and that book happens to be in braille, there's no point in you just leaving it with me is there?...Read it to me?"

There was a brief moment where Twilight reminded him irresistibly of Rainbow Dash in the way she asked him. The way she as tugging on his arm and the cute tone she was using. He found himself unable to deny her.

"Ugh. Fine. Just don't laugh at me."

"Why would I laugh at you?"

Shoving the other two books off the side of the bed, Daybreak cleared his throat.

"Ahem. Steven Stones Stalwart Stale Stories By Steven B. Stones"

Twilight's fingertips slapped against her cheeks, she shrieked with glee. "Sweet Celestia! You found my favorite stories?! I haven't heard these since we were kids!"

"An original copy actually, signed and everything. I had to fend off an old woman with a cane to get it from that dollar stand in the market." He spoke proudly, leaving out just what kind of state the book was in, being over forty years old. He could have sold it off as an antique spell book, the way the cover looked now, and no one would suspect until they actually opened it. That's the kind of state it was in. Luckily he'd removed the smell and most of the filth with magic after purchasing it.

Twilight was giddy with joy. Unable to sit still she practically bounced up and down in her bed. "Oh this is wonderful! It's been so long! You used to tease me all the time for reading these sometimes, instead of spell books. Read it! Read it!"

There was no escaping it now, she was too worked up. "Yeah, yeah...just let me warm up my mouth a bit. I can't stand all the rhyming and alliterations in here."

The bed was nearly shaking with Twilight's barely restrained glee "I can't wait to hear you say them."

"Ugh..." He took a breath, preparing his lips.

Daybreak stopped, taking pause when he heard Twilight giggling to herself, and clapping softly.

"What?"

Twilight nuzzled herself back down in her pillow, smiling "You sound silly reading nursery rhymes. You're way too tense."

He felt his right eye give a twitch "Well excuse me Princess! I'm not exactly the most poetic person in the world! This kind of stuff was never what I was in to. I'm only reading this silly thing for you."

Twilight pinched his arm. "I never said you sounded bad doofus. And it means a lot to me that your making yourself so uncomfortable just to make me feel better about this." She gestured to her bandaged eyes. "So please, do keep reading in you're super tense voice. I love it!"

Not sure if there was anything he could really say back to that, he simply grunted and continued reading.

Over an hour later, Daybreak finally shut the book, gripping the bridge of his nose and flicking his tongue about in his mouth. A headache combined with being tongue twisted was not fun. The disappointment in Twilight's voice was so well faked, he almost believed it was bothering her when he refused to continue anymore for the day.

"Awww Come on! Just one more!"

"No way."

"Pleeeeeease."

"No."

"Please please please please pleeeeeeeeeease!"

"Sparky enough! I'm tired, and my tongue hurts."

She stifled a giggle "Say that to Rainbow often?"

"Wha-?" He whipped his head around, to find the biggest shit-eating grin on her face. He couldn't believe Twilight Sparkle had just said that. He wasn't sure what he should say back. There was no doubt what he wanted to say, but somehow it felt weird saying it to Twilight. He decided to go with his gut reaction.

"Go fuck yourself Princess."

"Ok. Just leave first. I doubt Rainbow would approve of you watching." She snapped her response back like a whip. She may as well have slapped him. It certainly felt like she had. It took him several blinks of his eyes for him to fully register her statement, and process that it had, in fact, come from her lips.

"Who are you? Cause you can't be Twilight Sparkle."

Another giggle. "Sunset was right. This approach is a lot more fun. I wish I could actually see your reactions, but hearing them gives me a good mental image to work with."

"Sunset...of course...I feel like I should be surprised."

"And what advice did Sunset give you, may I ask?"

Clapping her hands together with joy, she held up her right index finger "Ahem. She told me: Twilight, you need to stop being so depressed over what's happened, you've still got plenty of things to make you happy blah blah blah. A bunch of stuff you wouldn't care about. And then she suggested that instead of mopping about you and Rainbow, I try and have fun with it. She said it more Sunsety, but I still like the outcome so far. Teasing you is lots of fun."

There was another eye twitch. "Oh, joy." His voice deadpanned "Well, now that I know you're conspiring with your friends on how to make me the most uncomfortable, I think I'll take my leave, Princess."

"Wait!"

"What?" He was already off the bed and headed for the door.

"You can't leave grumpy. And! You have to give me a goodbye hug from now on! Your Princess demands this!"

"Of course she does..." He turned back to face her. She did look admittedly adorable. Her arms were already wide stretched and awaiting him, like she knew he wouldn't dare refuse.

"Geez..." He walked back and embraced her "What am I gonna do with you Sparkle?"

"I dunno. But you'll think of something, you always do."

A brief feeling of uncertainty arose with him then. Doubt, in more than just what she actually meant by her statement. But he let it go for now.

"Alright, time to let go now Princess."

"Ok." The release was slow, she clearly didn't want him to go yet. But if he really stayed until she was satisfied, he'd probably be there until she fell asleep.

As he made for the door and started to step out, he looked back over his shoulder for a moment. "I'll come back real soon. Ok Sparky?"

"Uh huh. Would you mind sending Spike a letter telling him to come over. He's probably sitting in the castle all worried since I told him he didn't have to visit me everyday."

"Sure. I'll tell him. See ya."

"Bye" He could hear it, she already sounded sadder. A part of him wondered if she'd only gotten so cheery because he'd shown up. But he knew he couldn't dwell on something like that.

Not bothering to waste anytime with the stairs, he teleported his way back down to the lobby the moment he reached the end of Twilight's hallway. It didn't take him long to realize that Rainbow wasn't there, and upon conversing with the nurse at the desk, he found out why.

"What! What do you mean she's still being tested?! It was just a random check-up! How could that take over an hour to do, when she walked right in without waiting?!

The red haired nurse, who clearly recognized him from his last oh-so-pleasant visit, approached him. "Please sir, there have been some unexpected...developments. We're just following procedure."

"What kind of 'developments'?" He practically growled.

The nurses eyes darted about in her head. Daybreak noted this as she spoke "Um...It's better if you here it from Miss Dash."

"Fine. Take me to her then." He felt his temper rising.

The nurse stuttered to keep her cool. Clearly she could sense his growing impatience. There was no doubt she knew what he might do if she gave him the wrong answer.

"Sir please understand. These tests, they are quite... sensitive and revealing, for the ones involved...We are not done with them yet. I can't just simply let you disturb them."

"I've seen the girl naked, how much more revealing could it get?" He didn't mean to say it in such a vulgar or disrespectful manner, but he was quickly growing more irritated by the second. He wanted to talk to Rainbow right now, before he chickened out or made up some excuse not to confront his current issue. The nurse was fully aware of his impatience, and as his fists started to clench, she gave in.

"Miss Dash insisted that you not be allowed in until everything was finished!" She blurted out, cheeks nearly soaked in sweat.

"Oh. Well you should have said that from the beginning." He unclenched his fists and took a few steps back from the nurse, allowing her to regain her comfort zone. The nurse took several breaths before speaking again.

"I didn't think that would be a satisfactory response. But Miss Dash insisted we tell you."

"She insists correctly. I would have forced you to tell me if you hadn't, trust me. Do you know how much longer this will take?"

She shook her head "Not really, but I would estimate thirty or so minutes. Judging by how long they've been in there and how long these things normally take at first."

"At first? What's going on in there?"

Half of him wanted to enchant the nurse into telling him, but since Rainbow had insisted, he'd wait, for now.

"Fine. I'll be back in forty-five minutes."

"Now that I think about it, there is someone else I can have a chat with while I wait."

A familiar feeling of satisfaction rose up in him as he walked past the main lobby and towards the rooms at the far back of the hospital...where he knew another certain girl was being 'tended' to.

The way to Jackie was easy enough to find. Despite not having gone to see her since she was brought in, he was able to locate her room with ease. Barely reaching out with his senses impacted him with the overwhelming stench of her aura, it was suffocating to feel. He couldn't even maintain his magical sight for more than a few moments following her trail. The very presence of her aura blinded him to everything else in the area.

It was almost a relief when he reached her door. The guards standing outside looked like they had seen better days though. Everything about them looked worn down. Not just their posture or their demeanor. Everything. Their golden armor looked to be wearing down and rusting to a displeasing bronze color, almost like they'd been standing there for years. It took Daybreak a few moments of just watching from a distance before he thought he understood what was occurring.

With his magical sight engaged, it became all too clear. Jackie's blood red, suffocating perfume cloud of an aura was all over the hallway. It seemed to be seeping into and out of everything around. It clearly had some eroding properties too as evidenced by the guards armor and the surrounding walls. He doubted anyone but him could actually see that she was the cause, but he sincerely hoped there weren't any other patients in this hallway. Their health certainly wouldn't be improving here.

"Well, that's a servant of the Horseman for you. She's bound to come with some qualities of her master. Now that I think about it, maybe that's why I felt so drained while fighting her..."

The next question on his mind was how to get in the room. The guards weren't only there to keep Jackie from getting out. Since all of Twilight's friends had tried, and failed at some point, to enter the room and speak with her. As far as he knew, the only non-hospital personnel to enter that room since she'd been brought in were his mother and Princess Luna. Normally, this kind of situation would require him to sit down for a moment, and plan out how best to avoid a confrontation with two armed guards, while entering the room with subtlety. However, based on the circumstances and the overall state of the two guards, he'd go with something a little different.

Rounding the corner of the hallway, with a look of confidence and authority about him, Daybreak strode straight up to the two guards positioned on either side of the door. They stood up a little straighter as they spotted him, and he could swear he saw their grips on their weapons tighten slightly as well. But they still looked overall exhausted and failed to impress. He went for the biggest guard, the one to the right of the door. Strode right up to him and looked him dead in the eyes.

The mans gaze held much more strength than his body, pure determination flowed through his eyes. If this man viewed him as an enemy before Daybreak controlled the situation, things would become...complicated. Daybreak could see it in him, he would not falter easily despite the clear exhaustion written all over his face. He was an inch or two taller than Daybreak, with at least sixty pounds on him, and a very intimidating magic spear at his side. Not at all the kind of person someone should fuck with. Just what was to be expected of the Royal Guard.

"You there! Soldier!" He thrust his finger out at the larger man. His grip tightened even more, but with his face covered by his helmet, Daybreak found it hard to judge his reaction just by his eyes. "Do you know who this girl is you are guarding?"

The duos eyes darted between each other, but other than that, neither one moved. "Move along young man. This isn't a place for children. The whole hallway has been cleared of anyone you could want to visit."

The fact that this guard didn't recognize him, and had called him a child was quite an irritation to his nerves. The one time he was hoping someone would know him by face.

"I am no child, soldier! I am the one who put that little monster you're guarding in here! So perhaps you might address me with a little more respect." He lowered his tone to more of a hiss for the last bit of speech. Yelling for forced obedience never went over well with military men.

Both guards shifted in their spots, and visibly looked between one another this time. The larger man spoke again, while the obviously younger and less experienced one remained silent. "Even if I assume that's true, what can you possibly want here? We have orders not allow anyone to enter. That includes you."

Daybreak smiled, warmly, or as much as he could manage anyway. "Oh I'm well aware of your orders. I'm here to tell you to take a break. I need to get in that room and have a chat with your guest."

He watched them both stiffen, while the younger man seemed to be reaching behind his back for something other than his spear.

"I wouldn't bother with cuffs friend." He motioned towards the younger man. He wasn't sure if that what he was actually going for, but since his weapon was already out, he couldn't see him needing anything else. "They won't work on someone like me. I have no interest in fighting either of you fine sirs. It wouldn't end well. You're both clearly exhausted and this woman's aura is eroding your armor along with your stamina. The royal guard may be strong, but I've fought Princess Twilight to a draw more than once. In your current state...well there's no need for this. How about you just step aside?"

There was no need to mention all his fights with her were back when they were children, the fact still remained it happened. He could see them seriously considering moving from his path.

"Look, I'm pressed for time here. If I have to, I will force my way past you. Then after its all over and done with you'll get to explain to the young Princess why you didn't just let me through to begin with. I'm sure you're aware she's right upstairs?"

The older gentlemen, whose years of service likely allowed him to judge the situation and it's probable outcome, seemed to understand the uselessness of being stubborn here, and nodded. He slowly stepped aside. The younger man however, did not. Daybreak stared at him. He could see the youthful fires of defiance mixed with the misguided sense of duty within him. He sighed. "So...?"

The young man pulled the cuffs from his back, and swept for the closest wrist to him. Not even bothering to move, Daybreak allowed one of the cuffs to click into place, then stepped back and pulled on the captured wrist. The young guard, weary from exhaustion, stumbled off balance and into Daybreaks awaiting knee. His armor cracked from erosion, and Daybreaks strike may as well have hit exposed flesh. Powered by just a ounce of magic, he heard the air leave the young mans body, and he crumpled to the floor.

"That was foolish." Daybreak hissed as he stepped past him. The older man leaned over to help his companion get to his feet. As Daybreak turned the door handle, he could swear he saw his lips move, as though he were whispering something under his breath to the younger man. Before walking inside Daybreak looked back at the angered youth and smiled "However, it was also brave. So take it how you will." He shut the door behind him without further words, dropping the cuffs at the foot of the doorway.

Staring into the face of someone you truly hate isn't something anyone can ever really get used to. Even if that someone is around you everyday. The feelings stirring inside will never feel quite right each time you meet their gaze. Like a bad meal in the depths of your gut that just wants to crawl up your throat. Or at least, that was how Daybreak would describe it, looking into the face of Jackie Blaze.

It was surprising to him, how strong of a hatred he could have for this girl after only meeting her once. Of course, considering how the meeting had gone, maybe it wasn't so surprising. What was surprising though, was the state he found her in. He had expected to come in and find her bound to her bed, like the nurse had described her being the last time he was here.

Instead, when he opened the door and stepped inside, he found her standing at the window, unrestrained in anyway except for a minor pair of cuffs around her hands and feet. The room had been described to him as more of a prison than a hospital room, but other than no furniture, save for a bed, and bars on the window, the room looked plain white and ordinary. Jackie didn't even seem to be that uncomfortable. A little exposed perhaps, since she was wearing the same plain white patients garb Twilight was, but she certainly didn't look like a prisoner. Fury jumped to the forefront of his mind. How could anyone be so careless as to assume a simple pair of enchanted cuffs and window bars would be enough to hold someone like her! Jackie, upon taking notice of him, flashed a serpentine grin.

"Hello young Prince, I've been wondering when you would come visit. Here to finish me of perhaps?"

She was baiting him, he knew that. Forcing himself to keep his cool, he crossed his shaking hands over his chest.

"The thought has crossed my mind a few times, recently, yes."

"Nice to know you're thinking about me." She snickered at him, showing her teeth. "Hows your princess?"

"She's fine, no thanks to you." He snapped his fingers, materializing two chairs out of thin air. Kicking one over to her, he took a seat in the other. "Sit. You and I are gong to have a chat."

Her smile persisted, even as she seat herself across from him, separated by no more than two or three feet. She sat in her chair backwards, meaning she spun it so she sat with her front facing the backside of the chair. Her head rested on the top and she leaned forward slightly, rocking back and forth.

"Aren't you worried I might attack you?" She cooed to him, in such a way that made his hair stand up.

"If you were capable of doing that, you'd already have escaped." Or that's what he hoped at least. She grinned, showing him her pointed canines.

"Oui oui. Quite right. Truthfully I am more restrained here zen I might appear. Zes cuffs are enchanted with spells I haf never even heard of. And believe me, zat is impressive! Leave it to thousand year old princesses to have tricks like zis up zer sleeve. It'll take me veeks to rot through these...Zey interrogated me quite thoroughly when zey visited, ze princesses I mean. Zer viciousness is rather impressive if zey are put in ze right mood. But I'm sure you already know zat, don't you little prince?"

It was unlikely she was volunteering this information without some kind of motive. That was certain, and he knew she wanted him to take her bait. To keep the upper-hand in this talk, he had to ignore her quips and get right to the point.

"Why did you attack Princess Twilight? What were you really trying to accomplish if you knew I was going to save her anyway?" He kept his voice steady and calm.

"Oh, right to it zen? J'aime ça. What makes you think I'm just going to tell you?"

He smiled "Because you want to. Right?" He wasn't truly sure about that, but it was a gamble he had to take. She was so ready to blab to him during their fight, it was like she wanted him to know what her plan was. Like she was that sure of victory, or just wanted to gloat. Either way, he seemed to have guessed right. Her lips curled, she looked positively beaming.

"Oui oui. Right again little Prince. I'm just dying to tell you in fact. So zat you can understand just how hopeless it is to resist us."

"Please, go right ahead." He gestured to her "The floor is yours, as it were."

Jackie laughed "You haf no idea vat's coming for you little prince. You think you're ze most powerful sorcerer in ze vorld? You're just an overconfident fire mage with vay too much pride. Not even an upstart. You can't even begin to compare to my mistress."

He snickered "This upstart did a fine job of beating your ass, but please continue."

"Ha! Hardly!" She laughed "You had to use your full power to take me on, vhere I vasn't even close to mine, but you'll see zat soon enough. To answer your earlier question. My mission vas to kill Princess Twilight, and it vasn't."

"What do you mean? You said something similar back on the beach. What was your actual goal during that fight?" It was hard to remain calm in this situation. It was obvious she wanted to tell him, but she was making him prompt her to tell. She was gloating, in a way that was extremely annoying him.

Jackie took her time answering back. "Vell, you see...Vat ve vreally vanted out of zat vasn't Princess Twilight. Ve simply vanted to know if you had ze ability to perform some of the forbidden spells. Reanimation, Transference, zings like zat, and if you were villing to do so. Magic like zat can quite a pain if you're unprepared for it. Having you use it against us later on might have been dangerous. So my Mistress concluded zat if we struck down Princess Twilight, you vould use ze spell to bring her back. Now zat you have, you von't be able to use Reanimation again anytime soon, and I doubt you vant to pay ze toll to use Transference again either, right? So now ve can go about our business without unforeseen complications. Basically, she vas just a test dummy to see if you had ze spell, and remove it from play if you did."

She licked her lips as she spoke "But I did quite enjoy killing her. Seeing ze light fade from her eyes was ze most pleasurable experience I've had in quite some time."

Daybreak stood from his chair, hands inflamed. For just a moment, he thought about ending her right then and there. But as he stepped forward, he thought about Rainbow, and the image of her mothers ashen body flashed in front of him. His flames went out...and he sat back down wordlessly. Jackie groaned in disappointment. "I thought things were about to get interesting for a moment zer. What a tease you are."

"Shut up." He replied blandly "I have more things to ask you."

"Vell it's not like I'm going anywhere soon." She shook her cuffed wrists at him for emphasis.

"Right..." He still found it hard to buy that those cuffs alone could hold her, but maybe he shouldn't underestimate the two women revered as gods.

"Tell me then. What is it you want from me exactly? With my bothersome spell out of the way, what's your next move? Is Famine gonna descend from the sky on Horseback and destroy all the crops and food or something impressive like that?"

"You read too much ancient mythology." Jackie actually sounded insulted. "Ze end will come in a much more subtle way, zat is, until ze grande finition. But ze next step, vell let's just say you still haf your part to play little prince."

His eyebrow twitched "Don't be coy. I thought you were 'dying to tell me everything' or did I mishear you?"

Jackie leaned forward in her chair, using the back rest to push down on her robe, practically exposing her chest to him. When he averted his gaze, she hissed in enjoyment. "Now now, I can't tell you everyzing that would ruin ze surprise. But if you must know, zere is one more new...development, here, zat I must attend to. Zen you're going to come with me to see my Mistress, villing, and broken. After zat, well, you von't need to vonder about our plans anymore. Ve will make you whole, and beautiful!"

"And you're so certain I'll just come with you willingly? Or are you actually dense enough to believe you can take me by force?"

Jackie laughed, loudly. "Oui! Trust me, you'll come with me on your own! I'd bet ze world on it!"

"Funny." He replied sternly, but it was not lost on him how confident she sounded. "What makes you so certain?"

He watched her smile darken, and a feeling of unease rose within him before she even spoke. "Why, because I know tings about you even you don't know little prince."

That was laughable, he had to see where this was going. "Like what?"

"Your future." Even as she spoke it so plainly, it was hard to take her seriously.

"Oh please. Really? My future. You can do better than that."

He leaned back, rolling his eyes in amusement, until a low chuckle from Jackie drew his attention back. It was unlike her other laughs. It was quiet, subtle, unannounced. The total opposite of how she'd been until now.

"Tell me something little prince. Did you ever vonder Vhy it is zat Celestia cast you out? A little boy, so innocent, so harmless? Cast out into ze unforgiving world, alone and abandoned?"

The grin on his face faded instantly, his eyes lowered with aggression. "What does that matter? She was likely repulsed that she'd had a child with her mortal enemy and couldn't stand the shame it brought her. Or something akin to that. Who cares..."

Again, there was that low chuckle. "Vhy, you do of course. I guess you never did find out did you? Hardly surprising..."

All thoughts of calm were gone from him. In a millisecond he was in front of her, gripping the fabric of her garb and lifting her off the ground. He pinned her to the wall to keep her from simply falling out of the flimsy fabric and raised his voice.

"What do you know! Tell me!"

Jackie's smile didn't even twitch. "Do you vish to know ze truth?"

Daybreaks whole right side ignited in flames, and he held his hand next to her face, a menacing glare piercing her. "If you know something, tell me now! Or I'll barbecue you before you can scream for the guards!"

Her grin only grew at his threat "Oh now zat vould be something, but sadly ve will haf to save zat for another day...here."

Something poked the side of his ribs. He looked down to find her cuffed hands, trying to push something into his pocket. He released his grip and dropped her, swiping up crumpled object as she fell. As he unfurled it, he saw it was nothing more than a small piece of paper with something roughly scribbled directions on it.

"What is this?" His voice was still sharp as a blade.

"Ze place you can find ze answers you seek. Just go to ze Princesses private study and follow zose directions once you're inside."

"Cryptic." He looked down at the scribbled mess. It was a small drawn layout of a building that did resemble Canterlot castle, but clearly marked entrance points in places he hadn't seen before.

"Is this real? I've already been through all of the Princesses personal effect in that study when I snuck in before."

Jackie nodded, with a satisfied smirk on her face. "Very real. Come now, you didn't tink a simple locked door and detection spell vreally hid all of ze Princesses secrets did you?"

"Mmph..." He grumbled to himself. He'd always figured he'd missed something, but all of his detection spells back then had returned negative. It wasn't really that surprising there were other secrets to be found in the study. He shoved the small diagram into his pocket.

"If this isn't genuine..."

"Oui, oui. You'll be back. Geesh si dramatique."

Daybreak grunted, and turned to leave. As he made it to the door and grabbed for the handle, he stopped and turned back for one last question.

"Before I go...Why are you doing this? You specifically. What can you gain by destroying the world? Are you spared from the Apocalypse if you help or something?"

Jackie chuckled to herself, quieter than before, but also softer. "You haf no idea vat you're talking about. I can't be spared, I'm already dead."

"What does that mean?"

Jackie stood from her chair, and made her way back to the barred window. She looked away from him before she spoke. "If you really vant to know, follow zose directions and look up Jack ze Ripperven you're down zere. You can answer both of your questions in zat room."

"I'm not sure that I trust you're word on this."

"Good. I vouln't either. But as I haf said. I vant you to know everyting. You vill join us on your own aftervards."

He'd only said that to see how she would respond. Unfortunately, she responded the correct way. There might really still be some secrets left for him to discover in Canterlot. Guess that meant he knew where he was going after he wrapped things up here. He twisted the door nob and stepped back out into the hallway. Both of the guards made a slight step to either side to move from his path as he did so. There was a faint satisfaction he took in that as he rounded the corner and teleported back down to the lobby.

With the events of what he may have just discovered fresh in his mind, he'd nearly forgotten about his most pressing and current problem. How to tell Rainbow Dash about what had happened to her mother. Once he was back in the lobby and finding himself waiting again, there was nothing else he seemed able to think about. Other than perhaps, what was taking her so damn long to get done! He wasn't able to find anyone down in the lobby when he returned, and he couldn't just go strolling through the hospital kicking every door down looking for her. So he resigned to sit and wait patiently for awhile longer at least. He knew if he really had to, he could find the location of her appointment on one of the clip boards behind the desk. However he wanted to avoid being any ruder than he already had if he could help it.

"Thirty minutes"

That was the extent of his patience now. If she wasn't in the lobby by that time, he was going to look for her no matter what anyone said or did. With that time, he started working out how he was going to face her when she did arrive. He had to tell her soon, or risk making her feel distanced with how off-putting he knew he'd been acting towards her. Rainbow was very understanding when it came to his...issues. But he knew even she had her limits. Plus he didn't want to hurt her feelings. She had done nothing wrong and didn't deserve to be treated like she had. Twilight's words still echoed in his mind.

"You can get through this. You and Rainbow. Together."

He knew that. Somewhere in his head he knew that they could in fact, get through this. But still the fear was there. What if she didn't forgive him? When she'd learned he was Discords son, she had accepted him immediately. But this was different wasn't it? He had directly impacted her life, for the negative. Whether he'd meant to or not he had taken her mother away from her. No. This was totally different. Maybe in time she would forgive him, but he knew, initially, she would likely hate him. And that was what frightened him.

He could stand to have her angry at him, throw punches, even get upset and cry. But he couldn't take her hating him. Even thinking about her saying it brought him to anguish, and his stomach clenched inside of him. It was such unforgivable weakness, but he couldn't help it. Whether he liked it or not , he needed her. Rainbow was proof that he could live a semi normal life and be (mostly) happy. The simple thought of her not being with him made him physically ill. Despite how foolish it truly was, he lived to spend time with her.

Until he met her, he'd just gone through the motions of life. Only bothering to stay alive to try and find some kind of purpose, to spite his mother and those who had tried to keep him from existing. But that wasn't living. That wasn't happiness. It was just like Famine had said, and she'd been right. It was hell. After meeting Rainbow he finally understood what it actually meant to be happy, enjoy others company and make real friends. He couldn't go back to his old life now. In his core he knew, he just couldn't. That was why...he just couldn't bring himself to tell her. Even though he knew Twilight was right. Even though he knew that keeping it from her was wrong, horribly wrong. He had to. He was too afraid.

As if the universe chose to now give physical form to his fear, it was at that moment that he heard a female voice say "Mister Daybreak? Miss Rainbow Dash is finished with her examinations. I can take you to her now."

Looking up, he found the red haired nurse from before standing at the entrance to the hallway. How she had entered the room without him noticing was curious, but he was way to distracted to care. He mumbled a half hearted confirmation and walked over to her. As she walked him down the hallway, he forced himself to make a decision on what to do. He had to know before he found her, or he would be a mess all over again. Yet even as he told himself that his choice was the best one, when the nurse opened the door and he laid eyes on Rainbow, all he could find himself thinking as he looked upon her terrified expression was "Later...I'll tell her later...eventually"

Seeing a look of fear on Rainbow was something he could never get used to. It just didn't fit her face at all. But he knew what he needed to do the moment he saw it. All thoughts of his own problems left him and he found himself next to her, holding her hand and pulling her into a hug. She was nearly crying, and he knew he had to comfort her however he could.

"Hey now Dashie, its ok. Whatever it is, it'll be ok. Ok?" He ran his fingers through her hair and gently caressed her back. The hypocrisy of his words was not lost to him, but he couldn't help himself from thinking "Maybe I can live with this. Maybe she doesn't have to know". He was holding her so easily now, without any problems, he didn't see why it should be different once she was calm.

A stern, male voice interrupted his thoughts. "Are you Daybreak?"

He looked up to see a middle aged man, with a yellow complexion and white lab coat gesturing towards him with a small brown paper bag.

"Um...Yes? Are these for me?" He asked, quite confused. The man shook his head and motioned to Rainbow.

"Make sure she takes all of those, everyday, twice a day. Do that and there shouldn't be any problems or magical outbursts from her."

Daybreak took the bag and shook it gently. He heard several bottle of pills rattling about "Uh...ok...What's going on?"

The doctor merely shook his head and removed his spectacles "She asked me to let her tell you." He then regarded Rainbow "Miss Dash, you'll be fine. Your circumstances are unusual, but there is no reason to panic. Just take all those and lean on your partner here for support...you can go now."

With that, before Daybreak could even inquire what was happening, the red haired nurse quickly hurried them from the office and back to the lobby. Rainbow filled out the remaining paperwork at the front desk in complete silence. Not responding to any of his questions and barely holding back her tears as the nurse asked her a last few series of questions about any prior illnesses. When it was finally over the nurse walked them both to the exit and lead them out. Then, just as she turned away from them, she quickly leaned in between their heads and whispered. "Congratulations." Then she hurried back inside, barely containing her smile.

Daybreak was left at a loss as he whipped up a portal to take them home. But then, Rainbow finally spoke up "I shouldn't take the portal...the doctors said no teleporting if I can avoid it...let's walk home, the weathers not too bad right now."

With a snap of his finger the portal was gone, but his confusion remained. The weather wasn't bad at this moment sure. But the sky was still dark and cloudy. It could go back to hell in a millisecond. "Oh ok, but what's wrong Dashie? What happened in there?"

Silence had returned to her. She shook her head a bit and lightly mumbled "Home..."

Wanting to be understanding, he nodded. So they walked. It was a long, silent walk through Ponyville. They passed through the market and people called to Rainbow, but she ignored them. Vendors, familiar faces, she even ignored Pinkies screeches from her personal baking stand that she had set up in the market square ever since the food supply had dropped. Daybreak watched Pinkie's face visibly sadden when Rainbow walked by her without a word. So much so that he looked back and mouthed an apology. This seemed to be enough, or at least she realized she had done nothing wrong and her face brightened up again just as fast.

Rainbow picked up the pace as the neared the markets edge and prepared to pass Twilight's shiny crystal house/castle and the town hall. In the distance, not a few minutes later Daybreak could see his home, and Rainbows walk became a light jog. He kept pace, but less than a hundred feet from his house she broke into a full sprint! It caught him so off guard he had to struggle to catch back up. She was already walking through the front door by the time he made to top speed. Barely a moment after he made it to the door, Scootaloo came scurrying out of it! She plowed straight into Daybreak like she didn't even see him, and they tumbled backwards into the grass.

"Owww! What the hell Shrimp?! And...What the hell are you wearing?"

The outfit she was in was...odd to say the least. It definitely looked like black spandex, and he was certain it was a onesie. She had a large black, outwards facing hat atop her head and a black cape jutting out behind her. It was clear she had made it herself, since there were several rips, tears, and sowing stitches along the fabric. Scoots sat up slowly and rubbed her head.

"Ow...It's my suit. Ya know. Since you told me you were gonna make me into a mage fighter, I thought I should make a magic fighting outfit. You like it?"

Even with everything that was going on, somehow he still managed to get a genuine laugh out of the day. He was thankful to Scoots for that.

"What are you Zorro? That looks ridiculous on you. Where did you even get the stuff to make that atrocity from? Actually don't answer, just go and take it off."

"I can't." She stated matter-of-factly.

"What? Why can't you?"

"Because Rainbow Dash just kicked me out...well she more or less did that. She came in all weird and gave me a big hug...then told me to go hang out with my friends for a few hours...when are you guys gonna quit ditching me?"

He'd nearly forgotten about Scoots with everything else going on. "Geez Shrimp, look, I'm sorry she kicked ya out. Something happened to her. We stopped by the hospital and now she won't talk to me. Just, do what she said and go hang out with your friends at that tree house of yours for awhile. Pinkie Promise when you get back we'll all watch a movie together ok?"

Scoots concerned look was not well hidden. "Uh..ok I guess if you promise not to ditch me again....Is Rainbow Dash ok?"

"I have no idea...but I'll let you know when you come back. And do me a favor, don't mention this...or that ridiculous outfit, to anyone else ok? Just keep it to yourself and tell people that's a costume I tried to make you or something."

She nodded, hopped up, and took off down the road without another word. Shaking his head, Daybreak pulled himself to his feet and proceeded inside. There was way too much crap going on right now for him to keep track of. But he knew he had to make sure and have that movie night for Scootaloo. Last thing he wanted to for her to feel like he didn't care about her, so he needed to solve whatever was going on with Rainbow before she came back that evening.

He found Rainbow sitting on the couch in the living room. The t.v was off and she had pulled a blanket over her body to completely cover herself except for her head. It looked like she had a hooded robe on instead of the blanket, with the way she had it draped over herself. Even with the cloth covering her, Daybreak was able to tell she was sitting with her knees up on the couch and her head resting atop them. She was just staring ahead, lost in her own thoughts. Not even his obvious arrival or him locking the front door seemed to break her stupor.

Realizing she needed company, he came and sat next to her on the couch. She didn't move. To try and prompt her, he swung his arm around her from behind and gently pulled her closer. Still she did not react. Weighing his options of how best to elicit a reaction, he decided. based on his current feelings and her current mood, the best way to force out a smile. While she leaned against his chest in silence, he gently rubbed the forming tears from her cheeks and eyes with his thumbs. Then, softly as he could manage, he gripped her chin and turned her lips to meet his. She barely reacted to his kiss, but she did react, and that was what mattered. Even as he led her and moved his lips against hers, he felt her slowly part and accept what was happening. The tiniest moan, or whimper, escaped her, but he wasn't sure which. So he stopped and they broke apart. She still looked very teary eyed, but she also finally looked ready to talk.

"Daybreak..." She softly cooed as she snuggled back into his chest. He tried to rub her shoulders for comfort, but she refused to allow the blanket to be removed and merely shrugged his arm away. So he settled for gently rubbing and petting her hair.

"Yes Dashie? You wanna tell me what's bothering you now?"

Rainbow lightly rustled underneath the blanket before she spoke again. "You still think I'm pretty right?"

That was an odd question to ask. Certainly off in left field for the situation and for Rainbow. But she obviously had a reason for asking so he obliged her.

"Of course Dashie. I think you're beautiful."

"Not just sexy right? Like you actually think I'm pretty, like a girl? Clothes on, no sex kind of pretty?"

He wanted to chuckle, but held it in. It was such a silly question to him considering how things had started between them.

"Yes Dashie. I do. I think you're beyond pretty. It's not even the proper word to describe what I think."

"You'd stay with me no matter what right? No matter what happened? Even if things...changed between us?"

That question certainly struck a nerve in him. Considering his background, and her element was sitting inside his chest, the answer should be obvious. But again, there was a reason, so he simply answered and did not allow agitation to show.

"Nothing could change enough to make me not stay with you Dashie. No matter what."

He finally felt her relax a little bit. She still refused to come out of the blanket, but at least she looked less likely to cry now. But there was still more questions to come.

"So....Um...Have you ever thought about...ya know...getting married? To me? Maybe...having kids?"

Well she'd done it again. She'd manged to redden his face to impossible measures once more. Color flushed to him so fast he might have become ill. He stammered to respond properly.

"M-married? Me? Uh geez...I don't know Dashie...I don't think I have the best experience with that...or kids."

"I think you'd be a really great dad..." Her voice sounded so soft and far away when she spoke. He had to remind himself she was still there by looking down and physically seeing her. "You do well with Scootaloo. It almost feels like a family here already. The three of us."

He didn't know what else to do other than rub the back of his head. He could barely keep his thoughts in order. Why was she making him think about this?

"W-well I mean...Yeah I guess it is a bit like that...b-but ya know, Shrimp does constantly say we kind of ignore her..."

"Yeah..." Rainbow looked down when she spoke "We'll need to change that..."

"Dashie?" He ran his fingers through her hair again. "What's wrong? Why are you asking me these things?"

As she slowly raised her eyes to meet his, he saw they were once again full of tears. He moved to wipe them away but she grabbed his hands and stopped him, letting the blanket fall away from her. She was completely naked underneath, which actually surprised him considering he couldn't see where she'd thrown her clothes, or how she'd undressed so fast. She didn't make a move on him, instead she took his hands and brought them over to her belly. She made a light squeak as his fingertips touched her skin.

"Cold.." She whimpered, but pushed both his palms gently against her skin. Patiently he waited for her to move, struggling to control his blood flow. It seemed his body was no longer on his side and had betrayed him for hormones. Rainbow was silent for a few moments, watching him as he stared at her. His eyes darted up to hers, and to his delight he saw she was smiling now, but she was also still crying. Confusion was not even the close to the right word for him now.

"Do you remember Daybreak..." Again, her voice was like a harp, soft and gentle, it was incredibly soothing to hear her coo to him like that. "Do you remember the first time we had sex? What I said to you afterwards?"

Slowly, she led his hands around on her belly, like she was making him massage or tickle her.

"I-I r-remember Dashie." He struggled to keep his voice calm. Something about her right now had him hypnotized, she was acting different from any time before.

She smiled brighter, letting more fresh tears stream down her cheeks "I said I didn't care about what happened because I'd gladly give up my future for you...well...now I guess I can live up to those words."

Something gripped at his heart and lungs. Breath stayed in his chest, refusing to leave or allowing him to inhale. Was she saying what he thought?

"Dashie...?"

Her lips came less than a breath away from his, she gently whispered it onto his neck. "You're...we're...I'm..." She took a deep breath "You're gonna be a dad. We're...gonna be parents...you and me..."

His brain just stopped. He couldn't even move, or react. His whole being just froze still. Its supposed to be the girls that faint during these revelations, but suddenly his head felt light, and his body weightless. Less than a second later he was on his back, laying on the couch, with Rainbow laying on top of him. Tears still continued down her face, she was still smiling, but she also looked worried.

"S-Say something. Daybreak say something."

His voice had left him, he barely managed a croak. "I...can't...I don't...know what to say..."

"Are you happy?"

Was he happy? It was such a childish question, yet it had a million branches of meanings and consequences. Was that the stutter in his chest, the warm chill that he felt in his heart. Was he happy? How could he not be. Of course he was, but then, why couldn't he say it? Because he was in shock? Or because now he going to have a kid with Rainbow and she still didn't know what he'd done? Or was it because after everything good he had destroyed, now he was about to create something? His chest was seizing, refusing to cooperate with him. He had to force out some words.

"I'm...happy Dashie..."

"You mean it? You're not mad at me? For being impulsive back then and...ya know...forcing this on you?"

That shocked him back to his senses. She thought she was to blame? His voice suddenly found him again.

"Um Dashie, I don't know if you're aware or not, but it's not physically possible for this to be your fault."

She held back a sniffle "But I made you-"

"Shush you." He covered her lips with his palm "You're being silly. I'm literally the one to blame here, I could have forced you off me back then and didn't. So if you're happy, than I am too. Shocked and terrified beyond all reason...but I am...happy."

"Oh thank the goddesses." He felt her whole being sigh with relief. She crawled up to eye level on his chest.

"Make love to me."

Again, a one hundred percent stop in his brain.

"Wh-what?! Now?!"

"Yes. Now. Don't even move. We are celebrating!"

He felt her hands fiddling with his shorts, and a second later, they, along with his undergarments, were down at his ankles. With everything going on and everything that he'd just learned today, he wasn't sure he could even do this right now.

"Wait Rainbow! I'm not really sure I have the energy for this..."

She was already laying back down on his chest, her hand down in between his legs before he could even finish speaking. "That's why I said don't move. This time is gonna be special. Just lay still."

Somehow, the thought to disobey never made it to his limbs. He felt her neithers rub against his, and a moment later, bliss impacted his brain. She barely moved her body, she just laid down on top of him and pressed her lips onto his.

"S-see? Special...nice and gentle. Let's just enjoy how this moments feels."

Understanding, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back into another kiss. That's all he wanted to do, was kiss her and enjoy the feeling running through them both. Rainbow started to moan into his lips. She didn't hold herself back, each moan was long, drawn out and unrestrained. He relaxed along with her and moaned back into the kiss.

Rainbow only broke her lips from his when she reached her peek and felt his tip flaring up inside her.

"Ah...yes...I love you Daybreak."

As he felt his end nearing, he briefly thought about pulling out, but since that no longer mattered, he gave her what he knew she wanted. As he released, he felt the best orgasm of his life smack him in the brain!

"Rainbow I-!" But she stopped him with a kiss. She kept their lips locked until his hips stopped bucking upwards into her. When she released his lips, she winked at him "Saying it now would have been too predictable. Say it when you really want to."

He smiled as he snuggled into her shoulder "Yes dear." Her felt her face redden against his cheek, and that kept him smiling while they laid there, just enjoying the feeling of holding one another together.