Author's Notes:

I feel like should warn you ahead of time. If you can't stomach the thought of a young child being horribly beaten...don't read this chapter. You'll miss key context, but at least you won't hate me for not warning you.

"Monster!"

"Freak!"

"Bastard"

"Abomination of nature"

"Do you even know what you are, you worthless trash"

"Your fathers men killed my wife!"

A boy whimpered as the toe end of a boot struck the side of his face, knocking him into the mud and grime of the cold street. It was another typical rainy night in the high end blocks of Canterlot for this young boy.

The child struggled to his feet, muck and grim clinging to his normally green hair. The white streak that was often so visible in his locks, now painted black with the filth of the alleyways. His face showed the bruises and cuts of his beatings from Canterlot citizens, a constant reminder of his worthlessness to the world. As he struggled to remain standing, someone struck him over the head with a cider bottle, shattering it across his face and adorning him with several more cuts and scrapes. When he did not fall from the strike, someone else front-kicked him back into the pavement. His head struck the ground, and dribbles of blood trickled down his chin and head. Another citizen called out from the growing crowd

"You don't deserve to live after what he did to us, you're a freak of nature"

Someone picked him up by the hair, he closed his eyes, attempting to shut out the pain he knew was coming, and hold back his tears. Both were unsuccessful, the pain came, and so did his tears. His vision began to turn red as blood seeped down his eyes, his frail body bounced against the curb of the streets pavement. He looked up, hoping to see the guards, or somebody that would help him. But just like always, no one came, not hid father nor the guards, and he was pretty sure neither would have helped him anyways.

"W-why are you doing this to me?...I didn't do anything wrong...I left my father..."

His voice came out cracked from dehydration and the taste of his own blood within his throat. Another fist struck his face, knocking him back to the ground

"You don't think you've done wrong! The fact you even came back here is wrong enough! Bastard child!"

Somebody kicked him in the ribs

"Rape child!"

A stone cracked against his skull, shattering into dust and causing another slow stream of blood to run down his forehead

"Your sick father defiled our Princess! You're just an insult to her by existing!"

He felt himself lifted off the ground, and slammed against a wall, held there by the scruff of his torn shirt.

"P-please stop this...I'm sorry..."

He whimpered, hoping his pleas would satisfy them. He was wrong.

"Your sorry? Sorry?! You don't know what sorry is you monster"

Several fists found his gut at the same time, and he was sure he even felt a foot strike his ribs. Blood climbed its way from his mouth and splattered across the pavement. He coughed and gasped for air. He wished he'd just pass out now, they always stopped after he fell unconscious. He opened his eyes, and looked into the face of the man holding him against the wall. He could see the hatred burning in the mans hazel eyes. Slowly, just to take his mind off the beatings, Daybreak studied the mans features. His hair was long and black, with two bright yellow streaks traveling vertically down either side of his hair. Daybreak noticed the mans hair was wet with water...it was raining...he couldn't even tell anymore with all the pain and numbness his body felt. He spurted out more blood, his eyes continuously providing him with tears to cry while they punched and hit him.

"W-why...please....help me....somebody...I didn't do anything..."

"Shut up! No one would help a freak like you!"

He felt himself momentarily released from the mans grasp, as his feet fell for the ground, he thought he had been spared for the night, but was again, wrong. As his legs almost touched ground, he felt a knee strike the inside of his gut, and the world started spinning in his eyes.

His form collapsed to the ground on his back, a glazed white look appearing in his eyes. He was barely conscious at this point. Somebody spit on him.

"Dad...please someone help me...why won't anyone help me?"

"Because you're the son of that traitor, you should know love doesn't exist for you, stupid brat."

A foot stepped on his face, his nose began leaking blood down his mouth.

"Discord's bad...I know...he's not a good dad...dads are supposed to be nice...they take care of you-aaahggh!"

Someone was stepping on his throat, he felt his body scream out in pain, his lungs burned for air. Another voice spoke with raspy malice near his ear

"I can't stand to hear this brat whimper anymore, let's just kill him and be done with it!"

"We can't!" the voice of the man gripping him before spoke up

"The Princesses have forbidden any citizen to kill him...and you know the consequences..."

"She should be thanking us...we're doing her a favor!"

"Nevertheless the law is the law, and she's been pretty forceful about this one. Remember the last time he almost died...I don't think those two are ever getting out of prison."

Another voice, this one from a female, shrieked with hatred

"If she cares about him so much, why does she let us beat him like this, he deserves to die, not just get kicked around!"

"I heard it was actually her sister who made the law against killing him...before she became the monster she is now...and got banished...but Princess Celestia never repealed the law, so we're stuck with it until she does...maybe she just wants him to suffer"

The boys eyes struggled for the strength to remain open, the Princess was supposed to be his mom, yet she won't help him and let's these people do this to him. Discord, whomever he was, was supposed to be his dad...but he wasn't here to help him...

"I...I have no one...just...kill me...if...you hate me so much...just please end it...you'd be doing me a favor...it hurts so mu-"

A foot found his head, and his eyes lost any hint of consciousness

"I can't stand it when he begs like that...almost makes me think he's a person"

"He isn't. He's a freak of nature, don't forget it. Let's just toss him in the trash where he belongs.

Several hands swarmed around the child's frame and scooped him off the ground. They carried him over to a trash post, but just as they were about to toss him over the fence, into the dump, a voice rang out at them over the howling rain.

"What do you think you're doing!?"

A man with periwinkle skin and rainbow colored hair stepped out from a nearby bar. He was covered from head to toe in a rain jacket, concealing most of his features from the storm. However, many of the crowd seemed to recognize him anyways.

"Get lost. This has nothing to do with you weather tamer!"

The mans hands began to glow a bright blue from within the raincoat. Several of the crowd decided it was better to just be done with it here, and ran before things could escalate, but many stayed. They dropped the child in the mud, on their side of the fence and turned to deal with the man in front of them.

"I'll say it again, get lost. You and I both know what this brat is, he deserves every second of it!"

The man lowered his hood, allowing the rain to wash against his rainbow hair, giving it an odd glimmer in the moonlight

"He's not the one that killed your wife Stratos...let it go. He doesn't deserve that."

"You're just too soft hearted! You never wanna fight when it comes down to it! You have a daughter now, what if it was her or your wife!? What if it was yours not mine!!"

The man shook his head

"My wife is already gone, Stratos. She was in the town square during the fire...so I'll never know. To be honest though, I'd probably feel the same as you do if he had done it...but that doesn't mean I would take it out on the poor kid. He can't help who his parents are, how can you justify this?"

The man called Stratos, the one with black and yellow hair, looked back at the boy collapsed in the mud.

"He'll grow up to be just like his father! You know it! Even a weather caster like you should be able to sense all that dark power inside him!"

Again the man shook his head, glimmers of rainbow sparkled light bouncing through the rain as he did.

"He'll only become like that if he's continually treated like this...Discord isn't a threat anymore, there's no one out there to teach him evil. Unless we citizens teach it to him ourselves, think about what you're doing Stratos...I don't wanna call Sergeant Shining Armor...I do have his number."

The man took out a small blue cellphone wrapped in water tight casing. Stratos and the others traded glances. Then one by one, they all began to turn and walk away. As Stratos passed walked by, he turned and yelled back

"This isn't over...He deserves to pay for his fathers deeds!"

"By that logic, he should be praised for his mother's..."

Without another word, Stratos and the others left the man alone with the boy. He quickly darted over and examined the damage the crowd had done.

"Oh dear...this isn't good...I've gotta do some of this now...or they might get their way after all!"

The man ungloved his hands, allowing the rain to wash over them. His palms began to glow in a periwinkle light, the water from the rain clustering inside his extended palms. The water slowly worked it's way around his hands until it looked as though he was wearing gloves made from pure water, then the liquid began to glow brightly. The man placed his hands along the many wounds of the child's body, slowing healing what he could.

The boy's eyes squinted open, raindrops continuing to pelt him, burning his cut up face.

"W-who...who are you mister...?"

The man looked up, his golden rimmed eyes meeting the boys green

"I'm a friend...I'm trying to help you."

"N-no...no such...thing...as a friend...no love...I'm alone"

The mans face cringed in pain...no child should utter such words...

"You can't be alone. Somewhere out there, someone always loves you, that's what happiness is made out of you know. The love of others welled up inside you and swimming through you. At least...that's what I tell my daughter, I'm not sure she listens though...hehehe"

The child did not return his awkward laugh, instead he merely stared up as the falling rain stung his many wounds

"I've never felt...happy before...No one must love me then..."

"What's your name young man?"

The child brought his head down to face the mans golden eyes once again, he saw his rainbow colored hair sparkle in the moonlight as the water slowly crawled along his locks.

"My name's Daybreak..."

The man smiled

"Well, I'm Rainbolt, and I promise I'm gonna help you."

For a singular moment, hope, pure hope, filled the child's eyes.

"A-are you gonna take care of me...I'm really hungry..."

A pained expression flowed across Rainbolts face, he clearly struggled with his answer

"No...I'm sorry I can't take you in. It's forbidden by the Princess that any citizen take you in..."

The glimmer of hope in his eyes vanished quicker than it appeared, he looked back up at the rain.

"Oh...ok..."

Rainbolt quickly rushed to try and rekindle Daybreaks momentary spark of hope

"But...I can take you to the orphanage outside the city...there's no law against that. You'll be cared for and fed there, I promise I'll make sure of that. Ok?"

"Ok..."

The glimmer that had been there, hope...it did not return to his eyes, nevertheless Rainbolt felt this was the best he could do.

"I'm sorry, truly I am sorry for you...if it wasn't forbidden I'd take you in and you could become friends with my daughter...I'm sorry...but I do have some bread I can give you for food until we reach the orphanage."

He took a whole loaf of wrapped bread from beneath his raincoat and handed it to Daybreak.

"I was out grocery shopping...I was planning to use this in my daughters lunch, but I'll just get some more, I know you need this."

Daybreak unwrapped the bread and began devouring it ravenously.

"Thank you..."

"Your welcome...now come along, let's get you to the orphanage."

"Ok..."

Rainbow Dash laid next to Daybreak, her palms placed against his chest as he whimpered in his sleep. It was all she could do to lay there and listen for the past 45 minutes without finding tears in her eyes

"No...please...I'm sorry..."

"Why...what did I do..."

"Mom...dad...help me...somebody please help me"

"I can't take it anymore, I'm gonna lose it if I have to hear another minute of this!"

She sat straight up and scooted close to Daybreak, grasping him by the shoulders and pulling him onto his back while frantically shaking him. She desperately needed him to wake up, now!

"Daybreak? Daybreak! Wake up!...Please wake up, it's just a nightmare...its just a dream!"

She knew he was anything but dreaming. No one screamed and cried like that over dreams or nightmares.

"Daybreak...what happened to you?"

She gave up on shaking him and instead welled up all the magic she could muster in her sleepy state. She forced it onto her skin and wrapped her body around his, embracing him in a tight hug. She forced him to face her and hugged him tightly, resting his forehead against hers

"Please stop crying...please stop Daybreak...my heart can't stand to see you cry...I feel like I'm dying on the inside."

Her necklace dangled over her exposed breast, lingering on her heart and gleaming a bright shade of green. It pulsated violently as it touched Daybreaks skin, shinning so brightly it illuminated the entire room in eerie green light. Rainbow noticed this and held it tightly against her chest

"Please! Help him."

As if responding to her wish, the green light within the tiny lightning bolt stopped flashing, and slowly began a constant shine. Then, slowly, the light began to move outwards from the necklace, and towards Daybreaks chest. She watched as a tiny ball of light floated right above his heart...and slowly moved inside of his chest. The room was immediately returned to pitch darkness, but there was also silence. Daybreak had stopped whimpering. Rainbow activated one of her desk lamps with a small wink from her eyes, and looked at his face. Tear lines had practically burned there way down his face...they literally left streaks where his tears had run...but now he was quiet, and his tears stopped. Rainbow smiled and snuggled into his chest.

"I don't care if he get upset with me when he wakes up...he needs some serious hugs right now."

A small sound escaped Daybreak's lips, Rainbow immediately feared he had started another nightmare...but then he spoke again.

"D-Dashie...Rainbow...Dash..."

Her face flushed, the lamp went out in her surprise

"Oh my gosh...he's dreaming...about...me"

Even in the darkness she saw the small smile form on his lips. Every instinct in her body urged her lips forward to connect with his...but she resisted the urge.

"No!...I won't steal his first kiss from him! I want him to want me to take it...He needs to want it...or it'll be worthless."

Rainbow felt hands slowly wrap around her waist, she squealed in surprise. Looking down, she saw his arms had wrapped around her in a tight embrace. She sought his eyes, begging for them to be open and looking at her...but she was met with disappointment.

"It doesn't matter...this is the warmest I've felt in my whole life...never let me go Daybreak..."

She snuggled and embraced him throughout the rest of the night, happily falling asleep against him until the morning.

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiing! Riiiiiiiiiiiiiing! Riiiiiiiiiiiiing!

The next morning came with the sounds of a fire siren going off next to Daybreaks ears, interrupting the most comfortable sleep he could ever remember having in his life! He attempted to smoother his head from the sound by hiding under the pillow. He was still unwilling to open his eyes, his own alarm hadn't even gone off yet...and he had personally set it with enough time to give him half an hour to get ready and eat before his classes. The siren buzzed, and instead of stopping like most standard alarms did after a time, it only increased in volume.

"Fuck you, you stupid bell...I'm sleeping in..."

That resolve only lasted him another few seconds, before he became fed up with it. Sitting straight up, with his eyes glowing purple with rage, he slugged his arm forward and rocketed a green fireball towards the source of the unbearable noise! A second later he was met with the satisfying sound of moving parts exploding...and then there was silence...sweet sweet silence. For about ten seconds...Then he heard giggling next to him.

He looked on the other side of the blankets, and saw the smiling face of Rainbow Dash, still half naked from the night before, giggling away at his frustrated features.

"Wowy wow wow dude...Even I never blew the thing up before...I might have tossed it out the window once or twice...but I never set it on fire. Cool flames by the way...I do need that back in one piece though."

Daybreak had momentarily forgotten he had been sharing a bed, and replayed the memories of the previous night in his head.

"For a second there...I thought we had sex last night...seriously Dash...put some damn clothes on for a change."

He blushed slightly at the sight of her extending her limbs in a morning stretch, not seeming to give a damn how much of her skin he saw, and he saw quite a bit. Giving himself a reason to look away, he looked back at the smoldering, former noise maker. He waved his hand nonchalantly, then watched as the scraps of metal jumped to life surrounded in green aura, and began piecing themselves back together. Once it was back to its original shape, Daybreak saw the object he had destroyed (with a vengeance) was nothing more than an old, standard alarm clock. Granted it was in the shape of a rainbow colored lightning bolt coming out of a storm cloud, but other than that there was nothing special about it. It just looked like a standard alarm clock...he hadn't seen such an old looking thing in a long time.

Rainbow, now finished stretching in the bed, flung herself onto his back, making extra sure to press her bare chest against his back.

"Hey dude, ya wanna know what the best thing to do to wake up in the morning is?"

"Can't you control your libido for like...five fucking seconds...geez..."

"We're not having sex Rainbow!"

He heard a giggle from his back

"I was talking about getting a cup of coffee..."

"Like shit you were..."

"...But I guess your minds still on your dreams last night, isn't it?"

Daybreak froze in the bed, afraid to turn and look at her face

"Oh sweet Luna...did I talk in my sleep?...Please for the sake of all mercy...tell me I didn't! OK let's see...what did I dream about last night..."

"W-what do you mean...I don't have a clue what you're talking about..."

The stutter in his voice was like an announcement of guilt. Rainbow crawled right up to his chest, breasts dangling within easy view and gave him a sultry look.

"Oh...you don't remember what you dreamt? Well I was awake to hear quite a bit...want a play by play?"

He frantically shook his head, terrified of what he might have said or dreamt about that could make her grin like that. Her grin widened into an evil smirk

"I believe it went something like 'oh Rainbow...oh Dashie....Rainbow..Dash...' and then you tried to make out with the pillow"

Tomato seemed to be a common color for his face the past couple days, because it was back again. He was reduced to stutters under her evil grin

"T-that's n-not true...you're just m-messing with me..."

The look on his face was pure terror, he was literally terrified. Rainbow thought it was the cutest thing in the world

"Yeah, you're right...You didn't try and make out with the pillow..."

He sighed with relief

"Phew...I knew it..."

"...But you did moan my name...and called me Dashie...that's a cute pet name, I think I'll keep it"

"Aww Fuuuuck..."

She didn't even allow him to think of an excuse, she just wrapped her cold hands around his back, embracing him into a affectionate hug. His internal discomfort meter screamed to life!

"Whhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhy are you hugging me!? I told you how this makes me feel...sort of...You're too warm and too cute and too comfy to be pulling this shit on me this early...let goooooooooooooooooooo!"

She snuggled her face into his chest, sending heat flying up to his cheeks

"I must be an amazing snuggler to make you moan like that huh?"

"W-what? Is she...giving me a way out of this? Or is she just dense?

"Y-you were snuggling me?...I...I told you I didn't wanna snuggle...Why'd ya do that Dash?"

He tried to make his voice sound upset, but with her acting so adorable as she snuggled herself in his chest, he found it impossible. She looked up at him, her face holding an odd amount of compassion...and...pity?

"Because...that wasn't all I heard you say last night Daybreak..."

"Dear Luna what did I do!? I'm sleeping with a fucking muzzle from now on!"

"What did you hear Rainbow?"

Her embrace tightened and she crawled her head up to eye level with him, she was so close he could smell her shampoo from last night. She smelled like strawberries. Without any warning she leaned forward. Daybreak almost yelped in fear, he swore she was about to kiss him, and a million thoughts ran through his mind...but he was ashamed of the first one.

"Please...just let her do it..."

Luckily for him, she did not. Instead she leaned up and kissed his cheek. Then, before he could react and yell at her, she grasped his face, forcibly turning it to the side...and kissed the other cheek. Then she brought her lips to his forehead, and kissed him there as well. When she lowered her gaze back to his, her eyes looked slightly wet. He wasn't sure what to do...

"You...were crying."

"No...she heard that dream...that memory"

"Rainbow I-"

She held up a hand, silencing him.

"What happened to you...don't you dare lie...tell me...just who are you?"

"What does she mean 'who am I' did I mention my father in my sleep?...I gotta be careful...if she finds out...I'll lose the only friend I've ever had...strange...a few days ago...I might have just told her to make her hate me in this situation...then again...a few days ago this situation would have never happened...I need to treed lightly here."

"Dashie...What do you mean 'who am I'...what are you asking?"

Rainbow wiped away any hint of water in her eyes, refusing to allow him to see any weakness on her. She pulled together a strong and confident look.

"The things you whimpered last night...I...I've never heard someone cry like that before...it was like you were a child or something...it...hurt my heart to hear you in so much pain..."

"What do you mean...how did it hurt your heart...what does that even mean? What are you trying to tell me Dash?"

"I...I wasn't dreaming Rainbow...but I really don't wanna talk about this...it's very personal-"

"YOU DIDN'T HEAR YOURSELF...I DID!....Please Daybreak...just do this one thing for me...I'll do anything it takes...just please tell me..."

"Anything?...Why would you make yourself so vulnerable...that's not like you Dash..."

"Rainbow...I've never talked about this with anyone before."

There was so much of him that wanted to come clean, to tell her everything and share his very soul with her. It was a feeling, a need he had never felt before. Like he wanted her to understand him. No one else, just her. But he knew the consequences of his wants and desires...no one could love the son of Discord. That had already been proven to him multiple times. He couldn't allow her to know who he was...he wanted this...this friendship...to last. Even if he had to hide himself from her forever. He felt so contradictory after everything he had said to Twilight. But he had never felt like this before, he had never cared about anyone like this before. He'd never felt...happy to be alive. It was like life was suddenly...almost worth living...if only just to understand this wonderful girl who had saved his ass...to laugh with her, and compete with her...to do all things he never once dared to fantasize about. To have...a friend.

He looked straight into her eyes, her magenta eyes, he saw a glimpse of purple behind her pupils as the necklace started glowing again. He had to tell her the truth...at least part of it. With a deep breath...he ventured out past his comfort zone, on his own.

"Rainbow Dash...I've never shared this with anyone...I want you to understand that. No one else...this is only for you to know...Ok?"

"Ok..." She practically breathed out the word, so soft and low he almost didn't hear it.

"And...Since you said you'd do anything...well...how about no sexually teasing me on purpose, for a whole month. A full four weeks of no, dropping your pants in front of me, flashing your breasts, sexually trying to touch me or do anything like that ok?"

Her face dropped so quickly, it was like a submarine dive. Her expression was utter...poutiness

"Why?!...That's so not fair!...That's how I have the most fun with you! Teasing is like...my thing man! That's not cool dude!"

Daybreak found a smile creep onto his face despite his best efforts to restrain it. Her voice sounded so pitiful and cute in that moment, it was just too funny. He couldn't hold back the teasing in his voice

"Rainbow-fuck-the-sound-barrier-I-run-on-wind-Dash can't think of another way to have fun with her friend? Dang, guess I misjudged you."

"Hey...fuck you dude...that's not fair...we just met, I don't know all the things you like to do yet."

"Gotcha!"

"We just met, yet your already taking off your pants for me? You don't strike me as the easy type Dash. What's that say then?"

She was silent for several seconds, a neat blush forming along her cheeks.

"...fuck you..."

"You tried all of yesterday...and yet I'm still a virgin. Guess that means I win...Oh and by the way, your no-sex-teasing, starts now if you want me to tell you."

Whatever retort Rainbow had prepared, she swallowed it, and glared at him hatefully

"You're a jerk...but...fine I guess...only a month right?"

He smiled sinisterly "Yep, one month starting today."

She narrowed her eyes, then softened her gaze "Fine...start talking then...what happened to you Daybreak...why were you crying in your sleep?

Daybreak took a deep breath, preparing himself once again

"Well...Dash...lets just say I-"

"No! No 'let's just say', that's not part of our deal. Tell me exactly what happened..."

He gritted his teeth, he wasn't sure why...but he suddenly felt angry, very angry...not at Rainbow Dash, but angry in general. Like forcing himself to remember those details of his life, caused him bitterness in his mind.

"I didn't have an easy childhood Rainbow. In fact...I'd be confident enough to say my life as a child was the worst anyone could live..."

"W-why's that?"

Her voice was coming out soft now, no hint of aggression or her usual bravado...just purely compassionate. He almost felt sick in his stomach...he hated when people pitied him. He took a deep breath

"As a boy in Canterlot, I had no home, and no parents to watch over me...I was called a bastard child from day one...and beaten by the citizens almost daily...sometimes, actually most of the time...to the point of unconsciousness. "

Daybreak watched as her fists clenched at her sides, she forced herself to lean back on her elbows in the sheets, to keep from shaking.

"Why? Why would people treat you like that?"

"Well...my mother...my mother 'kicked me out' at birth I guess you could say. She never wanted to have me...I wasn't planned, and her and my father were never married...I don't think they were ever even together. I'm pretty sure nobody who knows him, ever held any love for the man. Whatever series of circumstances led to them hooking up...it wasn't about romance...and I'm pretty sure it was only for one night..."

Rainbows hands were shaking now, despite her leaning back on her elbows to steady them, there was obvious anger rolling off her. Daybreak could literally feel it coming off her like the calm before a storm.

"Who...What mother could be so cruel as to abandon her child at birth...without even sending you to an orphanage...who leaves a baby out on the streets..."

She looked up at him. She stared him dead in the eyes. He saw them burning with rage and sadness, purple aura literally swarming through her vision while the necklace around her neck burned bright green. Daybreak was momentarily afraid for his own, and her own, safety.

"Maybe I should get her to take that off for awhile...I'm pretty sure it's messing with her head..."

"Daybreak..."

He refocused on her eyes, still brimming with liquid sadness and rage.

"Yes Dash?"

"Who was your mother?"

"No...Rainbow no...You can't ask me that..."

"Rainbow...please understand...I can't-"

"TELL ME!"

He almost squealed in fear, no one raising their voice at him had ever caused him such discomfort before. Even when Twilight had been destroying the room around him while she yelled, he hadn't feared her...but Rainbow Dash. He was afraid to make her angry...and he knew she was angry, in that singular moment...beyond all reason. He had no choice. He shut his eyes.

"Forgive me..."

"Princess...Celestia...she's my mother"

Even with his eyes closed, he felt the air in the room shift. Rainbows magic was beginning to spiral throughout her body and roll of her in waves. The air in the room quickly became heavy, humid, and hard to breathe...he felt like gasping for breath. He almost choked on the moisture of his inhaled air.

When he finally opened his eyes, expecting to see hers glowing with rage...he instead saw...shock...disbelief. He waited for her to speak...he was left waiting for several moments...until...

"You're lying...you have to be...don't...don't screw with me Daybreak...!"

"I figured she'd react this way...Even Rainbow Dash, has trouble excepting her perfect princess is capable of such things..."

"I knew you wouldn't believe me..."

His voice echoed with repressed sadness, which Rainbow instantly picked up on. He had wanted her to believe him instantaneously, even if it was something extreme like this. She quickly reacted

"No...I believe you...I do...it's just...hard...to except that Princess Celestia would do that to her own child...I didn't even know she had a son..."

"Most people don't...she did a very good job in making sure of that!"

He couldn't keep the bitterness from seeping into his voice, Rainbow felt a surge of regret well up in her. How could she have not believed him, even for a second, it was clear he was hurt on the inside by this. She knew he wouldn't lie about something so serious. Placing her hand on his shoulder, she gave him an affectionate rub. He didn't react to it, but he didn't try and stop her either.

"Does anyone else know Celestia has a son? Princess Luna? Princess Cadence? Anyone?"

Daybreak snorted, he no longer tried to hold back the vice in his voice.

"Almost every adult in Canterlot at the time knew, or does now, including all the royalty. But it was kept very hush hush...I'd be surprised if anyone outside of Canterlot knows, and anyone inside won't talk...well except for her oh so prized pupil..."

"Shit...that last part slipped out...I didn't mean to say that..."

He saw the gears turning inside Rainbows mind, he hoped she was still too drunk from the previous night to think straight, and he severally hoped she didn't know who he was talking about, if she did, he hoped they weren't on speaking terms. Rainbow seemed to hesitate before saying what she said next

"Well...you don't have anything to be afraid of anymore Daybreak...especially from me..."

"What makes you think I'm afraid of any-"

She practically launched herself at him from the sheets, and although she actually managed to keep her boobs covered for once, he still felt the fact that she practically tackled him onto his back to be a violation of the agreement they had just made moments ago. But he didn't feel like mentioning it right then. Rainbow squeezed him tightly in her warm embrace

"You don't have to worry anymore Daybreak...because...I'll make sure you're never treated that way again...I'll fill your life up with happiness and friendship so you can forget everything wrong that was done to you...I still...find it hard to believe that the princess would do something so horrible to her own son...but I trust you. Wanna know why?"

"If anyone else had said those words to me...I might have vomited...happiness and friendship...oh please...but somehow...when you say it...I wanna believe in it...just a little."

He felt her hug him tighter, for once he felt no seduction or ulterior motive behind it...just a pure warm hearted hug...he felt like he was melting inside.

"W-why's that Dash?"

She leaned her head back, the blanket still partially drooping across her hair, giving her an oddly cute bed head. She answered him with a bright, beaming smile

"Because I'm an Element of Harmony! Bet ya didn't know that did ya? Friendship is what we specialize in...I just happen to be the awesomest of them...I'm the element of Loyalty, I'd never abandon a friend! And..."

She blushed slightly as she spoke her next words

"And...I think I found someone I'd like to be loyal to...you...I'll make sure you're happy forever...from this day forward. I swear it by my element!"

His mind had gone to static.

"Rainbow Dash is an Element of Harmony...all this time...for two days I've been with her and never sensed it!? The power to kill me, sleeping right next to me all last night! How could I not have sensed it?...Maybe that's what all that latent power within her is...maybe I did sense it and just didn't recognize it...and...what she just said to me...that was the nicest...most kind hearted thing anyone has ever said to me...You said you'd make sure I was happy forever...I don't know how or why...but I believe you...I've never wanted to be with someone before...but Rainbow Dash...I think...you've stolen my heart...even if you are technically an enemy...I think...I think I don't care anymore...I think...I don't care about anything else...I almost want to believe you'd except me if you knew the truth...but I know better."

He barely knew what to say. He was at a loss for words. Rainbow smiled up at him from the sheets

"Did I sound too mushy there? I guess deep talk is kinda your thing isn't it? While being fucking awesome, is my thing, oh and teasing you...well not for another month at least."

"One month...Yeah...That's plenty of time for me to decide...Rainbow Dash..."

She gently knocked on his forehead

"Helloooooooo anybody in there, earth to Daybreak...don't make me flash you again!"

He shook his head, wrenching himself away from his thoughts, and grasping her hand as she knocked on his head again.

"I'm awake you dork, and I heard you...I don't know what to say Dash. No one's ever said that to me before."

She thrust her free hand out and pointed her it back towards her chest.

"That's cause you've never met anyone remotely as cool as me!"

He chuckled aloud

"Yeah...that's true enough...How about we get dressed so we aren't late for school hm?"

"Oh yeah...we have that don't we..."

"Somehow...you're cute even when your a complete dork."

"You dork"

She turned around on the sheets, preparing to dismount the bed and retrieve her clothing

"Hey...fuck you man...I was distracted devoting myself to your happiness, your welcome by the way jackass...Hey!"

She literally jumped out of the bed as she felt hands wrap around her waist, just above her pants line, colds hands at that. She turned her head back and saw him hugging her

"What the...?! Umm...What are you doing?"

He grinned up at her, then released her waist

"That was my thank you hug, sorry if it sucked. I've never given one before."

She raised an eyebrow and slowly extended her hand, helping him out of the bed so she could fix the sheets.

"You've never given a 'thank you' hug?"

He responded by helping retrieve their clothes from the previous night and tossing them in the laundry bin by the door.

"I've never given a hug at all."

"Dude...you are in dire need of some serious affection...just wait until this month is over..."

He turned and winked at her playfully "I can't wait."

He took great joy in the blush that jumped to her face.

"I'm not the only one whose easy to tease Dash, don't forget that."

The rest of their morning was spent finding clothes to wear for the day, and finding a way to change without accidentally flashing each other. Since she was unable to do anything to him for a whole month, Daybreak saw no harm in making her squirm a bit. He 'accidentally' dropped his towel once he took his morning shower, but retrieved it just as she turned around, before she could see more than his ass, and gained the biggest annoyed look he had seen from her yet. Once they were dressed and ready, they grabbed their bags (Daybreak warned Rainbow about his backpack in the closet before she could find out the hard way) and headed down to the cafeteria for breakfast.

On the way down, Daybreak took a glance at Rainbows choice of clothing. She wore short, sky blue athletic shorts and a white tank top with her standard rainbow mark across it. For once it seemed like she had chosen to wear a bra he couldn't see just by looking at her shirt, which was a nice change. This allowed him to marvel at the rest of her body without being distracted. While he stared at her, he began to realize that among the two of them, Rainbow was the only one with, what most people would call "fashion sense". Her clothing tended to compliment her figure or her eyes or even her hair, or just worked well with her overall. Where as his...well he just wore what was comfy, like today, he threw on another pair of plain black sweat pants and a long sleeved black shirt, with a sunrise across its back. It seemed neither of them needed to comb their hair in the mornings, as both of their heads looked the same as the night before without trying.

Once reaching breakfast, although she no longer flirted with him, she forced him to follow her everywhere. She even tried introducing him to her friends, Fluttershy and Derpy, while they ate. She introduced him by name and as her friend, which both Fluttershy and Derpy seemed to take to mean something more, cause they kept making 'daaaaaaaw' noises at them whenever Daybreak would run to get Rainbow food. He was just trying to be polite, but apparently that's not what they thought. He frequently found himself saying or doing stupid things throughout the meal, trying to get the whole "friend" thing down.

He'd talked to people plenty before, but never on a level where he was trying to get to know them, just to know them, without any ulterior motive. This was new for him, and extremely awkward. Luckily Rainbow gave him tips and pointers quietly along the way. She frequently leaned to his ear and whispered what to say next, or how to respond without seeming like an ass.

For the most part, Daybreak at least got to know Derpy...sort of. All he really learned was that she loved muffins, was extremely kind hearted and generous to others, was a weather magic caster, and she had cross eyes. They did not take away from her looks though, and Daybreak actually managed to compliment her eyes by saying they added to her cuteness. Rainbow was absolutely giddy when he made Derpy blush with happiness and run off to class. Speaking of her looks, Derpy had a gray skinned complexion, and short blonde hair that brought out the golden color of her eyes. She seemed to prefer light brown shorts and plain white t-shirts as her primary means of clothing. Rainbow frequently had to remind her to tighten her bra straps...and then do it for her, as she had apparently not done so correctly. Daybreak almost felt guilty when he attempted to discern this girls chest size, it was all to get a perfect image of anyone he met...but still...for once it felt wrong. This girl was just too innocent to even look at her chest...nevertheless...he ended up finding out anyways (C's). As she left the table after he complimented her eyes, she tripped and fell forward, spilling her tray, and herself, onto Daybreaks lap. She managed to position her fall so that her chest practically squished him against the floor, and he quickly squealed for Rainbows help.

Needless to say, Rainbow got extremely defensive and immediately scolded Derpy to be more careful about her walking, and, on a more uncomfortable note, told her that she wasn't allowed to flirt with Daybreak. Although he was pretty sure Rainbow hadn't meant for him to hear that part, it was funny nonetheless.

As for Fluttershy, she was a different story entirely, Rainbow practically encouraged her to flirt with him. Apparently, if she was like a sister to Derpy, then to Fluttershy, she was her relationship advisor. Throughout the remainder of breakfast, as Daybreak attempted, and he had to stress 'attempted', to get to know her, all Rainbow tried to do was get Fluttershy to practice asking him out. Rainbow used him like a practice dummy for just about everything involved in, as she called it "successfully hooking a good one", but the moment Fluttershy mentioned practicing a kiss, Rainbow did a 180 and point blank refused without compromise.

Fluttershy's appearance completely contradicted her personality. This girl was the living definition of sex appeal. Her breasts jutted out of her green wool jacket so far, Daybreak was certain she couldn't see over them if she looked down. D's didn't even begin to describe what was on her chest, Daybreak was able to instantly understand if Rainbow had ever thought she was gay for this girl. Were he not completely uninterested in girls, save the one clutching at his arm every five mintues, even he might have found it hard to keep his eyes on her face and not her boobs. Everything about her form screamed "fuck me 'til I can't stand". Moving past her giant boobs, Daybreak noticed she was wearing a flowery green skirt, with pink butterflies scattered about the cloth. The skirt was long enough to fully hide her rear, but Rainbow assured him in private her ass was, and he shivered having to repeat the phrase even in his mind, "juicier than Twilights" implying she knew alot more about the school magic nerd than she was letting on.

As for actually getting to know the girl, other than the obvious fact that she was single and Rainbow was doing absolutely everything in her power to change that, he really didn't get to learn that much before she scurried away. The most important thing he learned, was that she was another of the Elements, Kindness. Even with only spending a short breakfast with her, Daybreak could tell her element fit her perfectly. She had not uttered a single unfriendly or insulting thing the whole time, and when she thought she had, she apologized profusely. He had suspected her as an Element before Rainbow told him at the table, for he was now constantly sensing around for powerful, latent magic, that was similar to Rainbows. Fluttershy was similar, but only in the hidden aspect. Her primary magic felt very odd to sense...it was like trying to read another language. When he briefly inquired what her magical specialty was, she was very shy to answer. However eventually Rainbow divulged the secret...she could speak to animals!

Using her magic, this girl had the power to communicate with almost any living creature without ever needing to learn their language. Adding onto that, she was also naturally gifted with tending to woodland creatures, even the ones inside Everfree. The final addition to his complete respect...and slight fear, for this girl, was Rainbow revealing that, during one of her "darker" moments, Fluttershy had also shown she had the ability to not only speak to animals, but control them as well. But to do so she had to make eye contact. Apparently she even controlled another person with her "stare" once. Rainbow said she made sure to never do anything to piss off Fluttershy since then. Apparently the experience had been beyond horrifying.

After the brief meeting with Fluttershy, and several failed attempts to make Fluttershy try and pretend to 'ask him out', Rainbow finally gave up and dragged him to class. Of course by that time, they were nearly late and being caught was practically inevitable.