> Poles Apart
>  by InsaneJustin
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue: To introduce things and stuff. P.S. Demi gods are still Dicks.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	In the 3 years that have passed since Celestia and Luna took control of the griffin kingdoms, Many things have changed. Such as Twilight Sparkle becoming an Alicorn, who saw that coming right? The next shocker was Discord becoming somewhat of a good guy because of the friendship he had formed with Fluttershy. But that’s actually more of a  buyable story then Twilight being an Alicorn.

Anyway, griffins began to migrate over to Equestria in droves, mostly as refuges because a deadly virus known as Slimy Doom had begun to run rampant, infecting most of the griffins game animals and decimating entire towns and villages. 

The tragedy of a deadly contagion spreading across the griffin kingdoms was only part of the problem. A strange bipedal monster was roaming the griffin country side, eating everything in sight, and spreading the Slimy Doom infection. 

In the early years Celestia and Luna had spent a large amount of resources to try and stop the spread, but they couldn’t stop the main reason for the contamination, no matter what they tried they couldn’t contain the beast. Magic was proving to be very ineffective and mostly served  to annoy the strange beast. Even the Elements of Harmony didn’t work, it was like they refused to work outside of the lands of Equestria. They had to stick to mass evacuations after Twilight and her friends failed to banish the beast.

If Celestia and Luna knew where the beast came from they were keeping quiet about it. The only thing the populace at large knows is that the beast most likely escaped from Tartarus somehow.

With the massive influx of Griffins coming to Equestria the housing markets boomed and farms had to find ways to increase productivity in order to feed all the new mouths. Celestia and Luna had to fund multiple projects across Equestria in order to allow the griffins safe places to stay. 

Even though they couldn’t hunt outside designated areas, such as the Everfree Forest, Ghastly Gorge, and the Badlands. Many of the griffins were happy to know they could just find food around the corner at a store, in trade for either some work or some useless gold coins.

Griffins had little use for money in their kingdom, As most food and supplies were scavenged for themselves, the idea of having large amounts of it in one area for trade, was new to many of the griffins that lived outside of large griffin colonies. 

There were indeed some troubles, but after 3 years things had finally started to settle down and the ponies had become used to their new griffin neighbors. With the griffins learning they couldn’t hunt things like cows or pigs because most were pets or friends of ponies, things went a lot smoother. The 1st few months were really rough because many griffins didn’t know that. 

The fishing industry boomed and no longer became a sport, but a lively hood. The Griffins had Fluttershy to thank for that. When a griffin refuge came and tried to hunt some of her animals, she defended it and offered the griffin a fish, because you know, she reasoned griffins were part bird, and her hawks liked to eat fish along with the cats, Since a griffin was pretty much both, why wouldn’t they eat a fish? Apparently griffins never even thought about eating fish before that. Seafood had become to rise in popularity among the griffins.

On a side note, Hippogiffs started being born. When a mare and griffin paired their offspring were hippogriffs. Pony griffin hybrids. Body, mane, and back legs of a pony. With the wings, claws and head of a griffin. They resembled Pegasus and even had the Pegasi ability to manipulate clouds and weather.

When a stallion would pair with a griffin, for some reason a hippogriff wouldn’t be born, but instead a Leoequus, as they grew to be called, was born. The body, mane, and front legs of a lion, but the head, neck, back legs and tail of a pony. They didn’t have wings and mostly resembled earth ponies and even held their natural affinity for plants and raw physical strength.

For some unknown reason the genders of the parents determined the child that would be born. Even if the mother or father was a unicorn, neither came out with magical ability. It always came out as a hippogriff, or leoequus. No reports of a griffin unicorn hybrid have been reported as of yet, but all of the hippogriffs and leoequus’s have yet to be older than 2 years old. There is still more to come from this odd combination of griffins and ponies living together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rainbow Dash had just gotten a letter from the Wonderbolts Academy explaining about her recent placement after extensive evaluations from her training.

She made it to the 1st runner ups table and as an extra during large shows. Not exactly a lead like Spit Fire, but it was a damn good start.

Rainbow Dash flew down to the library as Twilight had yet to be assigned to a different place, and whether she would rule over a kingdom was still unclear as of now. When she flew through the door to tell Twilight the good news, She saw Applejack there as well, and told them both of her letter.

“Woo wee Rainbow Dash, You finally made the front line bench for the Wonderbolts! I say we celebrate!”

“Aww yeah! Don’t forget though, Twilight also got her crown back from that strange other world recently!”

“Yes, I suppose we do have a lot to celebrate don’t we? Even though Princess Celestia’s party was fun, there was a lack of Cider...”

“Ah hear ya Twi, the Princesses need to experience my cider during their fancy parties, Ah’m sure it would make things a tad more interesting.”

“Hey when can we get the celebration started?” Applejack looked out the window and up at the sky, it was starting to get dark, but their was still time.

“Well, I reckon we could use the 2ed barn. My brother told me he wanted to use the 1st barn for a guys night out.” Applejack had built a second barn to store all the extra apples they had been asked to grow for the griffins. The trees hadn’t matured yet, but with a second barn finished, they were ready for the extra apples.

“Awesome! I’ll go tell Pinkie, Rarity and Fluttershy! We’ll meet you guys there!” Rainbow Dash flew off in an excited rush to gather the rest of their group. Twilight and Applejack just laughed and sighed.

“Its good ta she her so energetic.” Twilight nodded at Applejacks comment

“Yeah, I still remember when Fluttershy told me she found Rainbow sobbing next to a small pile of goo.” Applejack and Twilight sighed to themselves thinking of the past

“Anywho Twi, lets get going, knowing Rainbow Dash, she’ll of got everyone else half way there by now.” Twilight giggled then told Spike she was heading out with the girls and would probably be back in the morning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Big Mac set a barrel of Cider up in the second barn for them since all of the Apple Family Cider was held in the 1st barn. After he jabbed in the spout and the beautiful hissing sound of gas escaping was heard, Rainbow and Pinkie began to lick their lips in anticipation. Big Mac just nodded his head and walked out of the 2ed barn back toward his guys night out in the 1st barn.

“Thanks Big Mac!” Said all of the girls in unison as they began to fill mugs. Big Mac just silently nodded his head and left.

The girls each took turns downing mugs of cider one after another until they were all plastered drunk. Then the drunk conversation topics began. As Rarity finished drinking her mug, she made a passive comment to Rainbow Dash. 

“Darling, now that you're a wonderbolt, are you going to settle down anytime soon?” Rainbow Dash became flustered. She just mumbled as she continued to drink from her mug

“Now, if we know anything about Rainbow Dash here, its that she likes her stallion, a little less stallion-e...”  Rainbow sputtered some of the cider back into the mug at Applejacks comment.

“I’m not a filly fooler...” the other girls just went oooh

“Quit foolin Dashie, we all know you ain’t one for the stallions. But that’s alright, we don’t mind.” said Applejack as she sipped some more from her mug.

“I’m not a 100% filly fooler! I’m just Bi! I just didn’t want any foals until I became a Wonderbolt is all... you believe me, right Twilight?” Twilight just looked away as she sipped some more from her mug.

“I was pretty sure...” Rainbow looked over to Fluttershy, her best friend since forever.

“Fluttershy?” Fluttershy just hid behind her mane and whispered.

“I owe spike 10 bits...”

“Seriously guys! You all thought I swung that way just because of a few times with Lyra and Cloud Chaser?!”

“Don’t forget Lotus...” mumbled Rarity as she sipped some more of her cider. Rainbow Dash grumbled loudly before shouting

“I’ll Prove it then! I’ll show you I’m just Bi and not a full fledged carpet muncher!” They watched her walk out of the barn, then Pinkie began to chuckle

“Hehe, she said carpet muncher...” the other girls began to laugh and drink, completely forgetting that Rainbow Dash had left to prove to them she wasn’t just a filly fooler.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“We’ll see you later Big Mac, I gotta get Thunder Lane home, you sure you're gonna be ok?” Big Mac just watched Time Turner and Thunder Lane leave as he slowly blinked, due to the large amount of Cider they had just finished ingesting for guys night.

“Eeyup.” They nodded back toward Big Mac as they left. Big Mac turned around to lock up the barn when he saw Rainbow Dash approach him with a rather agitated look on her face.

“Something Ah can help ya with Rainbow?” Rainbow just walked up to him and looked him in the eyes.

“You, me, barn, now.” Big Mac looked around and didn’t see anypony around and shrugged. Being one of the few Ponyville studs, there's was only one word that came to mind for a situation like this.

“Eeyup.” He walked into the barn followed by Rainbow who closed the barn door behind them.

Big Mac, and the rest of the mane 6 awoke that morning to the sound of a barn door crashing open. The town was awoken by a sonic rainboom shortly after. It was a very eventful morning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back in a completely different dimension of time and space.

“So we just walk through this here shimmering door thingy then?” The 4 large figures just nodded their heads at the small orange pony carrying a head upon her back.

“Well if that’s it then, take us in girl!” as the small orange pony began to walk in the large dark shadowy figure swooped forward and plucked the head off her back. She stopped walking and looked back to see what was wrong.

“Continue, little pony, your dad and I have some things to discuss, First.”

“Go on Scoots, I’ll be along shortly...” Scoots nodded her head and jumped through.

“What the fuck do you want Umbra?”

"The rest of our payment of course.” 

“Oh, right...” Umbra reached his shadowy hand into the talking heads skull “...Gaah! Why does it have to hurt!?”

“Yes, the taking of emotions and memories can be painful... The more it hurts, they better they taste though.” Umbra licked his lips with a purple tongue as he pulled out 4 small orbs. “Now for the other part of the deal.”

Umbra tossed 3 of the 4 orbs to the other demi gods and placed his own inside of a bag hanging from his hip. He then pulled out a small spiked cube and brought it up to his lips. He blew some black smoke over the cube and it became translucent. Umbra then smashed the cube into the head he was holding.

“Why does everything have to hurt!?”

“Because Merry, I like being a Dick.” Umbra then laughed as he overhand threw Merry into the shimmering portal thingy.

“Zamut!” Zamut, the black fiend pony with a fire orange mane walked into the room shortly after Merry was disposed of. “Go make preperations, You know what will happen to you if dies too soon right?”

“Yes Umbra. He won’t die until you are satisfied.” Umbra licked his lips and chuckled

"And when will I be satisfied Zamut?" Zamut released a sigh

"Never." Umbra grew a wicked smile upon his lips.

“Good, hehe, I can’t wait to taste the delightful suffering he shall live through.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Applejack was at Twilights place around mid after noon later that day after nursing a bit of a hangover.

“Big Mac won’t tell me what happened. He keeps saying nothing, but I know he’s lying. And I can’t get a hold a Rainbow Dash.”

“Well, I say just let them alone. As long as nothing is wrong I don’t see why we should pry Applejack.” Applejack just ‘hmmed’ to herself for a moment.

“Well if’n you say so Twi. I just hope nothing bad happened to make Rainbow run away like that.”

“Applejack, I’m sure nothing happened. Rainbow probably just forgot to feed tank or something, you know how much she loves that tortoise.” 

“I suppose your right Twi. Ah’ma head on back to the farm then. Someponies gotta fix that barn door any who.” Twilight just nodded at Applejack as she left. As soon as the door closed Twilight got a nervous look on her face

“Rainbow couldn’t of, Shoot...” Twilight took a deep breath. “... Spike! I think Fluttershy owes you 10 bits!” Spike came running down the stairs with a book in his hands

“Haha! I knew it!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Three pretty normal weeks passed by, normal for everyone except Rainbow Dash that is. 

Her heat cycle was late, late by 2 and a half weeks to be exact. She had passed it off at 1st thinking it was just going to come late, but it never came. It couldn’t of come early without her noticing, could it?

She was in a bit of a panic of course, because the only stallion she had been with was Big Mac, and they were both pretty drunk at the time. It’s not exactly how she pictured things going at all. 

She figured she would settle down with some Wonderbolt stallion and they would live happily ever after. But she was stuck with Big Macintosh, Applejacks silent older brother, who while easy on the eyes, didn’t seem like much of a conversaonalist, and plain ol’ boring. 

Putting the foal up for adoption wasn’t an option... She couldn’t live with herself if he or she somehow ended up like Scootaloo did.

There was only 1 thing to do in this situation... Wait another week for the heat cycle and hope it came. After that... confront MacIntosh about the current situation.

...A week passed and still nothing. She decided to stop by the Apple farm around lunch time. She normally did to get a free lunch anyway, it wouldn’t seem out of place... even though its been a month. Granny Smith was always happy to feed any pony that came by for some famous Apple family pie.

Rainbow Dash flew down to the farm and knocked on the front door. Applebloom was the one to answer it. She had been helping out around the farm more ever since she got her cutie mark.

It was a hammer and an apple. It confused everypony as to what it meant until Apple Bloom said she had been creating works of art and furniture with apples and wood from apple trees in her spare time. By a sheer accident Sweetie Belle had found a way to make an apple permanently shiny and healthy looking, the only downside was it wasn’t edible. So Apple Bloom found a way to use them.

“Well hey Rainbow Dash! Yer just in time for lunch you are! It’ll be ready in a few minutes. Applejack and Big Mac outta be by soon as well. Take a seat!” Rainbow walked into the house shyly behind Bloom and closed the door behind her.

“Thanks Apple Bloom. So uh... How are things?” Apple Bloom responded back nonchilantly

“Things have been pretty well, even though Applejack’s mad at Big Mac about lying to her, something she don’t know yet, but she’s sure its important or what ever. Big Mac keeps telling her its no big deal though. Other than their little spat, every things been pretty normal, Granny Smith has been sleeping a lot more lately though...”

“How old is granny smith anywho?”

“No pony knows for sure, but if that story she told at parents day was 100% true, then she must be around 200. Most ponies only live to be 150 though. I bet all the apples and Zap Apples keep her healthy!”

“Must be...” The door was suddenly opened with Applejack talking loudly to who was presumably Big Mac.

“I’ll find out what happened in that barn sooner or later Mac!”

“Ah keep telling ya, nothing happen...” Big Mac stopped speaking when they walked into the dining room and saw Rainbow Dash sitting at the table with a shy smile on her face.

“Hey guys, is this uh... a bad time?” Applejack looked between Big Mac and Rainbow Dash, she could feel the awkwardness, it was so thick it could probably be cut with a knife.

“Not at all Rainbow. You here for lunch? Its been awhile...”

“Yeah, it uh, has hasn’t it? I’ve just been busy is all you know?”

“Mhmm... Well lets get the Grub finished up Apple Bloom. We’ll leave these two alone for a bit...” Applejack left with Apple Bloom. After they left Rainbow Dash bit her lip and looked at big Mac who was doing his best to sit there without feeling to awkward.

“Big Mac, there's something I gotta tell you...”

Big Mac became overjoyed at those words, the words he was hoping to hear were something along the lines of, Best friends with benefits, a couple, biggest dick ever and she wanted more, some male dream fantasy type thing. But then it all shattered by the next words from her mouth.

“...I’m 95% sure I'm pregnant, and the foal is yours.” Rainbow just looked at Big Mac while biting her lip and blushing. it wasn't easy saying something like that.

“EeNope, Nope nope nope.” Big Mac got up and began to walk to the living room. Rainbow Dash became upset that he was taking it this way.

“Take Responsibility for what you did to me!”

“EeNope!” Applejack and Apple Bloom came out to see what all the shouting was about.

“What in tarnation is going on ou...” Applejack was interrupted by an angered and flustered Rainbow Dash

“Big Mac got me Pregnant and won’t take responsibility!” Applejack was shocked and appalled at what her brother did, while Apple Bloom put on her thinking cap about the situation at hand.

“What?!” Applejack began to join in the chase of Big Mac around the house.

“What in Tarnation is all the ruckus down here for?” Granny Smith slowly trotted down the stairs, it was completely obvious she was old by how she was walking. Apple Bloom went up to help her down the stairs.

“Well granny, it would seem Big Mac got Rainbow Dash Pregnant at some point, but he doesn’t wanna stallion up for the responsibility.”

“Is that so? Be a dear and help your old granny over yonder closer to them will ya Bloom?” Apple Bloom happily obliged until she realized she had help put her into the path of the oncomeing ponies running around.

“Hoold it right there Little Mac!” Big MacIntosh stopped dead in his tracks in front of Granny Smith while Rainbow and Applejack just slammed into his back. He didn’t even budge from their impact.

“What Kinda Apple Stallion are you? Apples don’t run from responsibility, they embrace it!”

“But Granny...”

“No buts Mr! Unless you got one I need to whip back inta shape! I ain’t too old ta knock some sense inta ya!” Big Mac turned around defeated and looked at Rainbow Dash.

“I’ll take responsibility Rainbow...” Rainbow became flustered from the sudden turn of events, she was left speechless. Granny just smiled at them

“Welcome to the Family Rainbow...” Granny Smith stood up and began to walk into the kitchen, when she got to the doorway she turned around and her eyes lit up at the sight of Rainbow Dash. “...Well howdy do Rainbow! You here for lunch?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

8 months have passed since Rainbow told Mac the news. It took Granny Smith about 2 months to finally remember Rainbow was going to be part of the family now. Rainbow hadn’t gotten used to the idea of living with the Apple family quite yet, it still seemed odd to her. So she just pushed her cloud house so that it sat next to the Apple house, but in the sky.

Rainbow Dash would switch off between sleeping in her own cloud house and in the Apple family house. Suprizeingly the Apple family house had several rooms open and available. They had turned a guest room into a new room for the foal. Apple Bloom had taken to calling Rainbow Sis. And the Main six were baffled that Rainbow was actually straight, or Bi as she put it.

Rainbow had finally started to show now being 8 months in, only 3 more to go. They had decided to do a Doctor visit to be on the safe side. Hopefully one of those fancy spells could tell them what was on the way. 

“Filly or colt?” asked Big Mac as the unicorn Docter finished casting his little spell.

“Both actually...”

“What, twins?!” Shouted Rainbow.

“Yes twins, one is smaller than the other and I’m not sure why. We don’t have very many spells for these kind of situations because, well, Nothing bad ever really happens, at least not in this part of Equestria. I’m sure its nothing to be worried about.” A black mare with a fire orange mane walked in wearing a nurse outfit.

“The Doctor is very capable Ms. Dash and Mr. Um, Mac?”

“No need for the Mr. Nurse, Just Mac is fine.” the nurse nodded her head.

“Of course, but you have nothing to worry about.” the nurse just smiled at them before leaving.

“That new nurse of ours sure is a strange one... Anyway, Like I said before, they should be fine, but you have two young ones along the way, so don’t forget your eating for three now Ms. Dash.” 

As they were walking back to Sweet Apple Acres, Big Mac was watching the sky in thought.

“What are you thinking about Mac?”

“Mmm, just that I’m gonna have to set up another room... You think of any names yet Dashie?”

“Well, I thought I did, but now its going to be a name for a filly and a colt...” Big Mac chuckled

“I’m sure you’ll find something, and I have a few suggestions as well ya know.” Rainbow lifted an eye at Mac

“Like what?”

“Oh Ah dunno, how about Zap Apple?” Rainbow Dash just began to laugh.

“For the last time Mac, they aren’t gonna be named after some kind of apple. It’s gotta be cooler then that.” Big Mac just sighed

“I don’t think the name Aero Dynamite sounds very good either...” Big Mac was hit in the back of the head with a flying hoof.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was time, 11 months have past and Rainbow was beginning to have serious contractions. Big Mac had gone into a panic and rushed her to the Ponville Hospital inside an apple cart because he couldn’t find anything else nearby at the time.

After they had arrived, Big Mac’s panicked attitude got them help immediately and they were given a room. They occupied the room for 2 days as it wasn’t quite time yet, and Big Mac’s panic was a little too much at the time. Rainbow however chuckled at Big Macs panic after they had settled into the room.

“You big Lug, I didn’t think you cared that much...” Big MacIntosh took a deep breath as he sighed.

“At 1st Ah really didn’t, but after Granny Smith scolded me and Ah began to take things seriously. You grew on me Dashie, I can’t quite explain it, but It just feels weird to not having you around now.” Rainbow Dash smiled as she laid back in the bed resting from the last couple contractions she had.

“I’m not quite sure on names just yet, but I know they both need to have Star in them. Because they are gonna be the stars of our lives. That much is for sure.” Big Mac Smiled at that.

Big Mac never saw himself as being a father so soon, but it was happening and he had to deal with it, the last 11 months he spent with Rainbow changed his viewpoint on her and raising up two foals. It made it easier when he realized Applejack and Apple Bloom would be around to help at times.

“They sure will be Dashie, Star sounds like a great start, but they can’t both be named Star.”

“I know that! I’ll just figure the second half after they're born... you know, depending who’s a Pegasus or if they both are, or maybe a unicorn... They need to improve those spells so its not a total guessing game.” Big Mac chuckled

“Eeyup, the smaller one is probably going to be a filly unicorn, that’s just my guess.” Rainbow raised an eyebrow at that and retorted with her own

“Oh? And the bigger one is going to a big strapping earth pony colt like you huh?”

“Eeyup!” They both laughed softly before Rainbow made a funny face as her water broke. Big Mac saw the water and jumped back into panic mode

“Nurse?! Water?! Babeh’s?!” He ran out of the room shouting the words ‘Babeh’s a coming’ until several nurses ran into the room followed after by a doctor and Big Mac who was out of breath.

After the nurses and doctors calmed Big Mac down the delivery’s began to take place, after a few hours of labor.

“Push Ms. Dash! I Can see the head!” Rainbow was pushing and screaming out Big Macs name in anger

“Big Mac you son of a bitch! You did this to me!” Big Mac was turning pale as he was witnessing the ‘miracle’ of birth.

After a few minutes the Doctor handed a female Pegasus foal to the nurse next to him. She was a deep blue color and her mane was black with blue stripes. The nurses just looked at her with astonishment.

“Oh my word...” Big Mac and Rainbow were concerned by the nurses reaction.

“What? What’s wrong?” Big Mac was ready to enter panic mode again

“Is something wrong with our little filly?”

“Nothing is wrong its just... her wings are so big for her just being born!” Rainbow Dash chuckled

“Heh, that’s my little Star Rider...” Big Mac smiled and nodded at the name.

“We still have another to deliver here Ms. Dash, so start pushing again.” Rainbow groaned and looked over to Big Mac

“I’ll get you for this later you know...” Big Mac gulped and hoped she would forget when everything was over.

“I can see the head Ms. Dash! Keep pushing!” After a few moments the doctor held a pink earth pony foal, the foal had a black mane with pink stripes. The doctor looked at the foal curiously in his hooves.

“Thats’s funny I thought for sure it was going to be a colt and filly twins... wait he is a colt...hmm?” The Doctor furrowed his brows and looked at the foal in his arms again, the foal was so thin. Then the doctor opened his eyes wide and placed an ear against the foals chest.

“Nurse! Alert the Pediatric Ward now! And get Dr. Hearts in here NOW!” Big Mac and Rainbow were both tossed into a panic at the doctor's reaction.

“What’s wrong Doc? What’s going on?” Big Mac saw his little foal and his heart sunk, he didn’t know earth ponies could be that skinny.

“We’ll do everything we can, Just stay calm ok?” said one of the nurse’s. Rainbow wasn’t going to sit still at what was happening, she sat up in the bed and tried to get out

“What’s wrong with one of my foals?!” Rainbow shouted. A nurse and Big Mac did their best to keep her on balance and prevent her from falling, the nurse was trying to get her back into the bed.

“Ms. Dash, please you need to rest!” As Rainbow Dash tried to fight the nurse and Big Mac. She saw her little pink foal. He looked so frail, like a candle in the wind. She stopped fighting them and went limp in Big Mac’s and the Nurses hooves.

“Is he going to be ok?” asked Rainbow as she saw them place her pink foal upon a small gurney with 3 different unicorns casting various spells on him as he was wheeled out.

“Just... get some rest Ms. Dash, please.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The rest of the main six showed up at the hospital later in hopes of seeing the cute new little foals. When they found out that the second one was in critical condition, they all became depressed at the news. The only upside to the news was that the little Pegasus filly was extremely healthy, and was born with an extremely powerful set of wings. 

After a week of testing and various spells the doctors were able to stabilize the little colts condition. The doctors were baffled as to why his body was so weak. Outward and inward there was nothing wrong with his body. But for some reason from the neck down his body seemed to just be giving up. One of the doctors came to speak to Rainbow Dash, who had stayed in the hospital for the entire week.

“Ms. Dash, we are still baffled as to why his body is so weak, we can’t find any signs of a neuromuscular disease, however we did find out that he has what’s called Osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease.”

“Well, what, Is he going to live Doctor?” The doctor looked back, then back to Rainbow Dash and the rest of the main six.

“Honestly Ms. Dash, I don’t know how he's survived up until now. He was born with several broken bones and wasn’t breathing at the time of birth. But for some reason, he's still alive...” the doctor chuckled. “... and kicking, he kicked a nurse recently. He has an incredibly strong will to live I’d say. A few more weeks of observation with intensive care and he should be able to go home with you.” Rainbow Dash released a sigh hearing that both of her foals were going to be ok. She had been unable to sleep well for the whole week.

“I just thought of a name for him...” the doctor raised an eye brow

“Oh? And what would that be Ms. Dash?”

“Daring Star, because he wont give up no matter the odds, like Daring Doo.” The Doctor nodded his head as he walked over to the desk and brought out some paper work to write the name down.
> Home away from Home
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Life was exceptionally tough for the Apples and Rainbow for the 1st few years. Seeing as babies and young foals have a hard time learning what’s dangerous and what isn’t, and when a bump or fall can cause more then just a bruise for one foal in particular. They were frequent visitors to the Ponyville hospital for breaks and fractures alike. They knew all of the doctors on a first name basis and it wasn’t uncommon to see Daring Star in a cast of some kind. 

One of the nurses took it upon herself to visit the Apple home to do routine check ups, Free of charge. It was the Black mare with a fire orange mane, they saw her quite a lot actually. She was always involved whenever it had something to do with Daring Star. Rainbow Dash and her had become somewhat of friends because of all contact they were having with each other.

As Daring got older he began to realize what he could and couldn’t do. And one of the major things he couldn’t do, was play the same way his sister could. Several times he had tried to catch up to her during games of tag but would run out of breath and have to stop or simply collapse on the floor as he gasped for air. 

Star Rider seemed to be the perfect foal. A strong body, strong wings, powerful hooves, the only thing missing was a horn. She was the perfect combination of Big Mac and Rainbow Dash. A total athletic prodigy. When compared to her stick figure of a bother, you would never guess they came from the same parents, let alone the same birth.

Daring began to break less bones after he learned how to read from a certain Princess of Magic. Well, break less often anyway. The way his bones broke became more elaborate when he would try to mimic things he was reading about. He got into the Daring Doo book series after his mother, Rainbow, suggested he reads them. She did after all already own the 1st 50 some books in the series. 

The main difference between Daring Star and Star Rider, was that Daring appeared to be smarter than his sister, but that might of been because he could practically do nothing but sit and read, or go outside and get hurt. He learned to read way before he even got into school and when school started, was top of his class.

Because of his position he became the main target of bullying. Griffins had become the top bullies in schools. Being physically stronger then ponies and predator’s by nature, becoming a bully became an easy outlet for many of the younger griffins. It had started with verbal abuse and the petty theft of things. Daring had ignored them for the most part as what they took was usually easy to find in a nearby trash can or some bush.

It wasn’t until one of them got a little antsy and pushed Daring down to the floor did the bullies and every other child in the school realize how incredibly fragile his body really was...

“Gahh!” Daring laid in a heap on the floor of the school yard and his scream brought the attention of the other nearby ponies and griffins, including his older sister. Star saw him gasping for breath in obvious pain.

“What happened...?!” Star Rider looked at her brother on the floor with 3 male hatchling griffins looking incredible guilty and scared about what to do. “What did you do to him?!” the 2 griffins looked to the one in the middle with accusing stares and he just sputtered his answer.

“I-I-I, just pushed him is all, I-I-I swear I didn’t hit em’! I didn’t even push him that hard!” Star became visibly upset at what he had said and quickly ran up in front of the griffin using her wings to make her even faster.

“You Moron!” She hit him directly on the beak with her front right hoof and sent him flying back a few feet. After she blew some steam from her nose in anger, she promptly turned around and went to see how her brother was doing.

“How are you little brother?” Daring just panted on the floor not moving and breathing short sharp breathes.

“I think I have some fractured ribs again, it hurts to breath, but I...” Daring let out a small cough and a grunt of pain. “...I can’t get up, it hurts so much...” He closed his eyes to blink away the oncoming tears. “Did you beat him up sis?” Star smiled at her brother

“Of course I did. You stay put, I’m gonna go get Ms. Cheerilee.” Star stood up straight and looked over to her friends. “Honey, Stocking, can you keep my brother company?”

“Of course!” The other two fillies nodded their heads and they approached Daring who just continued to lay on the floor.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

News spreads quickly in the small town of Ponyville. As soon as Rainbow Dash heard the news of Daring getting injured at school, she abandoned her post of clearing up the clouds in the sky and ended up sonic rain booming on her way to the hospital.

Big Mac had a similar experience, he had been pulling an apple cart from the market when he heard about it. The fact it had turned over and caused a large mess didn’t slow him down any on his way, and he ended up dragging along several other carts that were in his way to the Ponyville hospital as well. When Big Mac arrived it looked like a train wreck in front of the hospital, except with carts and market place stalls.

It was the 1st time he was injured outside the home without one of them around. So Big Mac and Rainbow Dash wanted to know if he was ok, and what had happened. The nurses told them where he was knowing exactly who they were and they entered the room. Ms. Cheerilee and Star Rider were in the room with several other fillies and colts along with some griffins.

“What happened?” Rainbow finally spoke, directing her words at Ms. Cheerilee and Daring.

“Its, nothing mom. It won’t happen again...” Rainbow Dash wasn’t buying it at all, she looked at Ms. Cheerilee and gave her a hard stare. Rainbow needed to know if she needed to smack a foal, or a hatchling.

“Well Ms. Dash, it would seem one of my young griffin students pushed your colt in an act of aggression, and well... the Doctor said Daring has 9 broken ribs right now, 6 on his right and 3 on his left side.” Rainbow flew into a rage and looked at the 3 hatchlings in the room with her right now.

“Was it one of you?!” Big Mac moved forward and held Rainbow to keep her from flying off the handle at any children.

“Dashie, Honey Pie, calm down!” Star Rider jumped in front of her mom flaring out her wings blocking her view from the hatchling’s in the room who were beginning to cower in fear.

“Mom! These are my friends! They would never hurt Daring! It was those bullies Mikuo and his friends! And don’t worry, I already beat them up...” Rainbow Dash just yelled back

“Did you break their ribs too?! 9 each?!” Everyone was shocked at what she had just said. Obviously her anger was blinding her judgement. She finally calmed down when Daring yelled

“Mom Stop!” He closed an eye in pain and coughed lightly again. Rainbow immediately calmed down and went over to his side to comfort him.

“Are you ok my little egghead?” Rainbow nuzzled against Daring’s face, and she moved a hoof through his mane.

“Yeah mom, its not like this is the 1st time I’ve broken a few ribs...”

“Yeah but those were...!”

“Mom! I already said it won’t happen again. I’m sure...” Rainbow just continued to nuzzle him

“Well if you say so...” Big Mac just nodded his head at Rainbow and his son Daring, he looked down to Star who smiled up at her dad. He looked over to Ms. Cheerilee

“Ah assume everything has been taken a care of on your end?” Ms Cheerilee nodded her head

“Yes, their parents were informed and school was let out early today.” Big Mac nodded his head again and looked over to Daring.

“They say when ya can go home?”

“In a few days, the doc said he wanted to make sure nothing else was amiss.” Big Mac nodded his head again

“Anything Ah, can get ya from home then?” Daring looked up in thought for a moment.

“Nothing from home, but you think you can go see Ms. Sparkle and see if she has the newest volume of Daring Doo?” Big Mac smiled

“Eeyup.” He trotted out the door leaving Rainbow who just continued to nuzzle Daring, not caring who was around to see. Some of the fillies were beginning to giggle.

“Ok mom, that’s enough, I’m going to be fine you know.”

“Well, if you say so... I have to get back to work, I’ll be back as soon as I’m done.” Daring nodded his head. “Of course mom.”

Daring just relaxed back into the bed as he looked up at the ceiling. The rest of the students besides his sister left the room. After it was just him and her alone in the room, Daring decided to ask a question. 

“Hey Star, what’s it like?”

“What’s what like Little bro?”

“What its like to run? Or fly, or even just fall and be able to get up again unhurt?”

“Well I... I never really thought of it, but...” Daring stopped her

“So you don’t think about it? Well that’s normal I suppose. I’m gonna take a nap, you don’t need to stay here.” Star Rider was left feeling a little uneasy but decided to leave anyway, Daring seemed to have jumped back into a depressed mood again. Not uncommon as he usually did after he got hurt from something everyone else could easily walk away from.

“I’ll be by to see you later too, ok?”

“Yeah alright, see you later...” As she left and the door closed Daring tried to flip over so his face would be in the pillow, but the pain in his ribs kept him from moving too much. After a moment his well known nurse came into the room.

“Back again Daring? I must say, there are other ways to come see me that don’t involve you getting hurt.” The Nurse just smiled at him as she closed the door behind her.

“Oh Ha-ha Nurse Joy... Why do they call you Joy anyway? My mom said its not even your real name.” 

“I’ll show you why when you’re a bit older Daring, for now, just let me have a look at you.” Nurse Joy approached the bed and looked down at him with that same smile.

“What do you mean show me? And why do I have to be older?” She chuckled as she moved the blanket back.

“Mmm, because of reasons... fractured ribs again?” Daring sighed

“Yeah, I got pushed over by the school bully.”

“Oh? He finally acted against you? He got beat up I hope?”

“Sis said she did beat him up, and mom wanted to beat them up as well.” Nurse Joy chuckled

“I hope so, who would want to harm such a cute pink colt?” Daring scoffed

“I’m not pink, I’m light red.” Nurse Joy chuckled again

“Of course you are, now hold still for a moment and keep breathing.” Joy laid her head down gently on Darings chest and listened to him breath for a bit. After a while she started to rub a hoof through his mane without lifting her head.

“Umm... what are...” She lifted her head up quickly

“Just checking your breathing pattern is all! Everything sounds good, by the way.”

“Is that how earth ponies like us check for things like a punctured lung? You check for the sounds of water in my breathing or something?” Joy looked around for a moment

“Yeah, lets go with that...” the door opened and in walked Big Mac.

“Heya Nurse Joyce, checking up on my boy again Ah see.” Joy nodded her head

"Aha! So that's your real name." Nurse Joy chuckled at Darings outburst.

“Yup, he should be able to go home soon. Everything looks to be in order.”

“Good ta hear.” Mac approached the bed and dropped a satchel on the desk next to it. “Somehow Twilight was able ta get the next 2 in the series, they aren’t set ta release for a few months, but she pulled some strings just for you apparently.” Daring’s eyes lit up in excitement

“For real dad!? I’ll have to thank her myself when I get out!” Mac chuckled along with Nurse Joy.

“Well if that’s everything, I gotta go help clean up the mess I made in front of the hospital now...”

“Thanks dad! I’ll see you later!”

“See ya in a bit kiddo.” Mac nodded at Joy as he left the room. Daring reached over and brought the satchel up onto the bed with him and dumped the 2 books out along with an unexpected 3rd one.

“Hm? What’s this book?” Daring flipped it around in his hooves and read the title “Mechanics: A complete guide to Fictitious Robotic Automation’s.”  He flipped it around a couple times and opened it up looking through a few pages.

“Nurse Joy, do you know what any of these symbols mean?” Daring held the book over so she could see and she just made a confused look and shrugged

“Can’t say that I have, Maybe you should ask your teacher next time you see her.” Daring just nodded his head and he flipped through a couple more pages before putting it down and picking up a Daring Doo book.

“Did you need anything else Joy? Or will I be able to start reading now?” She just nodded her head.

“Go ahead and start reading Daring. I’ll be back with something to eat.” Daring just nodded his head as he opened the book and began reading.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Rainbow flew back to her weather team after abandoning them, she sighed to herself.

“Come on Rainbow, you can’t just loose your cool like that... I yelled at hatchlings for Celestia sake...”As Rainbow continued to fly she continued to scold herself for exploding like that. After reaching the other side of ponyville she meet up with everypony else as they were finishing up.

“Hey guys, I’m back!”

“Oh hey Ms. Dash, just in time to help us finish I see. So how’s your colt doing?”

“He’ll live. Just some fractured ribs, again.”

“Again? What happened this time? He fall off a slide or trip?” Rainbow sighed as she gritted her teeth 

“No, some hatchling pushed him, the fall broke 9 of his ribs. Nine!” The other ponies could feel the heat of her anger from her last word. “He’s never broken that many from him falling over or even when he fell out of the wagon on that hay ride! What the heck was that Skag lick of a hatchling thinking?!” The ponies raised their eyebrows at that insult

“What’s a Skag lick?”

“I-I don’t know, I heard an old friend use it once when he was mad at a griffin.”

“Oohh, probably some exotic slang! But, so your colts going to be ok right? I hope that hatchling got what was coming to him.”

“The teacher, Ms. Cheerilee, said she informed their parents and my little filly beat up those bullies after it happened, so she said. I guess they will get what’s coming to them.”

All the ponies gossiped with Rainbow Dash for a bit longer, and asked if she knew anymore exotic slang from this old friend of hers. And just like that, Rainbow had introduced the ponies to the magical world of slang and curse words.

“So wait, this word fuck, it sounds like buck. Its about as versatile as the word buck anyway...”

“Oh indeed, motherbucker never really seemed like that right thing to say when angry, this word, fuck, sounds so much better. Fuck, Motherfucker.” the mares giggled

“Oh, it feels like my lips tingle when I say it.  Fuckity fucking fucker.”

The ponies continued to string together curse words as they had finished working for the day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As night took hold and Daring went to sleep, a dark shadow loomed over his room. A shadow that would visit him once a month unknown to him. As Daring left off into dream world he found himself inside a blue room. He wasn’t sure, but he felt like he’s been inside this room before.

“Welcome... Daring Star was it?” He turned around to see a large bipedal figure. Its face was hidden under a hood, the only thing being visible were its eyes, that glowed with a deep blue color.

“H-How do you know my name?” The Big shadowy figure sighed

“Must we go through this everytime I come to collect what is owed? I swear it’s the same thing every month.” He turned into a shadowy mist and appeared next to Daring. 

“Ohh, big scary shadow thing who are you?” he flipped back over to the side he was on before and with a mocking tone of voice continued to speak 

“My name is Umbra, the demi god of shadows and suffering. OooOo I’m here to collect, blah blah blah.” He turned into a shadow mist again and appeared next to Daring. “You’re going to have to start remembering our conversations together someday you know. Anyway, hold still for a second...”

“What are you...” Umbra reached a pale icy blue hand into Daring’s skull and he let loose a yelp as a chill was sent down his spine causing him to shudder. A moment later Umbra’s icy pale blue hand retracted holding a decently sized orb that pulsed with a grey light. Umbra released a content sigh and he pushed it to his lips and a thin mist flowed into his mouth.

“Mmm, Such a delicate flavor this month, it tastes like, the suffering of loneliness and depression.” he brought the orb up to his lips again and some more fine grey mist flowed into his mouth. “With just a hint of physical pain... I’m guessing you stayed inside mostly this month reading again, hmm?”

“Well its not like I can do anything else...”

“Oh really? You probably don’t remember, but as I told you before, you may break easy, but you won’t die easy.” Umbra gave Daring a wicked smile and laughed.

Daring awoke in a dark room covered in sweat, the sudden act of sitting up put him in pain from his ribs. He looked around the room and saw his mom and dad asleep in the room in chairs with a blanket on them. He sighed and brought the desk lamp onto his bed and began to read some more under his bed sheets. 

He couldn’t quite remember what his nightmarish dream was about, but he certainly didn’t want to go back to sleep anytime soon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Its only been a day, A single day and he finished reading both of the Daring Doo books. He knew he was a fast reader, but he didn’t realize he would plow through both books before he was let out of the hospital, He would need more reading material. The only book he had left was that Sci-Fi book about robots and automations.

He had read through it briefly but all of its concepts and symbols made no sense to him. It was about how structures made of metal and other delicate parts could be made to work with some primitive power sources like steam or lighting power. How anyone harvested the power of a thunder bolt was beyond him. Why didn’t they just use magical gems?

He would have to sit around bored until Daddy Mac or Mama Dash came to visit him during their lunch break. Then he could have one of them bring him some more books, or at least a reference guide of some kind so he could figure out this book he somehow came into possession of.

The technical aspects he couldn’t understand at all, but the illustrations of what they would look like had him intrigued, sure they were works of fiction based off many different authors, but each one seemed to have their own ideas of how it would work. He could understand their basic ideas, such as mechanical prosthetic limbs or cool gadgets and even robotic ponies that clean the house while you were away.

While he was thinking about all of the crazy things that book had, Nurse Joy opened the door to bring in lunch followed by Big Mac.

“Hey dad and Joy!” Big Mac merely nodded his head as he walked up to the bed side. He noticed all of the Daring Doo books on the opposite desk.

“Did ya finish those 2 books already?” Daring nodded

“Yeah, I had a bad dream and couldn’t sleep so I ended up finishing the second one last night, Daring Doo needs to have longer adventures.”

“Or maybe ya should sleep instead of read all night.” Daring just tilted his head down as he laid back against the pillow.

“Well either way, you think you could take these books back to the library for me? And this 3rd  one, I would like some reference guides so I could understand it better.” Big Mac raised an eyebrow

“3rd  un?” He looked at the book as Daring held it up for him to see. “I was wondering where that went.”

“You borrowed it dad?”

“Eeyup, I thought it had some cool pictures in it. Wanted to look through it, What did you think of it?”

“It did have some cool pictures in it! I just couldn’t understand any of the technical stuff, even though they are all based off works of fiction, they give rather detailed information about how it would be made and how it would work.” Big Mac just raised an eyebrow at his enthusiasm, and nodded his head as he thought it was just some cool picture book.

“So then... Ya liked it a lot huh?” Daring nodded his head

“Yeah, I’m sure if you just ask Ms. Sparkle for some books that would make this one more understandable, she or Spike should be able to figure out what I need.”

“Well uh, alright then, How are you doing anyway?”

“I’m alright, a little sleepy, but I’ll live... I can’t help but feel like I’m forgetting something though...” Daring thought for a moment and shrugged. “Oh well I’m sure its no big deal.”

“Perhaps its lunch you’re forgetting? I just brought it with me you know. Now eat up, this stuff is special made just for you.” Nurse Joy trotted over and swung a mini table ( those bed in breakfast things) over the bed and placed the tray on it. “Now eat up, You’re the only one that gets special meals around here you know? Feel lucky.”

“I’d feel lucky if they actually tasted better then the regular meals...”

“Hush you and eat. Mac, mind if I speak with you outside for a moment?”

“Well uh, sure” Mac followed Nurse Joy out of the room as Daring began to eat. When they got outside she closed the door behind him.

“How are you and Rainbow doing? I’m sure with all the medical bills things are getting a little difficult.” Big Mac released a sigh.

“Thing’s ain’t easy that’s for sure, but its manageable. Dashie sold her cloud house and it helped for awhile, but now that moneys running out and her second job isn’t giving as much as we would like. I’ve been looking for a second job, but for the most part, I’ll only be able to work when it isn’t harvesting season.” Joy nodded her head.

“Well, I’ll see what I can do on my end here. Maybe there’s some kind of frequent visitor discount? I mean, this place is basically your second home, with your being here so often.” Bic Mac chuckled lightly at the comment

“Thank you kindly Nurse Joy, not only do you visit us every week at the house to check up on him, but now your helping us with the money situation. We can’t thank you enough.” Big Mac nodded his head at her and trotted back into the room. Daring was slowly eating his food because it tasted so bad.

“I’m gonna head on over to that library and see about gettin ya some of those reference books you mentioned.” Daring just made a gag sound as he tried to eat some more of the green goo on his plate.

“Alright, Thanks dad. Are you and mom gonna sleep here again?”

“I could, but yer mom has to get up early for another assignment so she’s going to bed early. She’ll come to see you, but she won’t stay today.” Daring sighed

“Alright...” Big Mac took up the satchel of books and slung the strap over his neck and walked out after nodding goodby. Nurse Joy went over to Daring and pecked him on the cheek.

“You finish eating up your food, I’m going to go have a talk with the doctors.” Daring just looked at Nurse Joy strangely as she sauntered out of the room. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bic Mac had just arrived at the towns Library. He briefly wondered why the Princess of Magic would be running a library is such a small town. He quickly banished the thought and went inside, it was a public library of course, so knocking would be silly. That was until he saw Spike covered in that magic green armor, using a green blade to slash at pillows he had drawn faces on.

“For Lady Rarity!” Spike charged at the pillow army and slashed a few open throwing feathers everywhere.

“Does Princess Twilight know you're destroying perfectly good pillows Spike?” Spike jumped at Big Macs voice and his summoned green armor and weapon vanished in a puff of green smoke.

“Don’t you know how to knock?! Jeez... I thought you might of been somepony else...”

“This here's a public Library, why would Ah need ta knock?”

“Yeah I guess, so what did you need anyway?”

“Well I came to return these 2 books, and my boy said something about a reference guide for this here book.” Spike raised an eyebrow

“Reference books for a book? For kinda book is this book?” Big Mac handed over the word and knowledge containment device in question and Spike looked at it for a moment.

“Oh this stuff, Sci-fi huh? I’m more into the medieval type things myself.” Spike took the 2 Daring Doo books and put them aside. “Now if I remember right...” Spike moved a ladder around and climbed up grabbing a few books from a top shelf. He repeated the process a few times until he had about 6 different ones.

“Alright these 3 here should make everything inside the 1st one perfectly clear, but, I’m not sure how he’s going to be able to understand these. They contain a lot of mathematics and complex formulas and made up materials. So I suggest reading through these 3 1st, then move on. He’ll be a master of all the Sci-Fi Robotic knowledge when he’s done with these 7 books.” Big Mac nodded his head.

“Thanks Spike, this should more than enough to keep him busy while he’s stuck in the hospital, again.”

“What happened this time? He was doing fine all month!”

“Just some hatchling got full of himself and pushed Daring. He broke some ribs from the fall.” Spike sighed and clenched his fist.

“Griffins, Why are so many of them so mean? It’s gotta be because of their predator nature right? Twilight said bullies would be a common thing in pony schools if griffins were allowed to join.” Spike looked around the library at the mess he had made.

“What room is he in? I haven’t seen him in about a month or so.” Big Mac smiled

“He’s in room 206 in the west ward. Ah think ya should clean up this mess before you go ta see him though...”

“I know I know, jeez, I’m not a baby anymore.” As Big Mac left Spike began to clean up the pillow massacre he had created. As Mac closed the door behind him he saw Spike exhale some green mist that took the shape of a broom and dust pan. Big Mac chuckled to himself.

“Heh, that little dragons getting pretty good at that magic of his.”

As Big Mac traveled back toward the Hospital he was greeted by many ponies. Many of them had questions as to why he was so panicked yesterday and destroyed the market place. After a brief explanation of why, they gave their condolence and hoped he was ok. The ponies of ponyville were always kind.

As for the griffins, many of them just complained and told him to have more self control. Others and usually the female griffins would sympathize with him, saying they would of reacted the same way if one of their hatchlings were in trouble or injured.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After Rainbow had finished working for the day and gossiped with the other mares she figured it was time to go, and wanted to go back to the hospital to see her colt before she had to get some sleep for her next assignment. The Wonderbolts were doing a show and they needed her as a fill in. 

She had to leave at 4 in the morning in order to get their on time and help set everything up. She never knew the Wonderbolts had so much prep work involved when doing their shows.

She bid them all good bye before she flew down to the hospital. When she arrived she opened the door to see a bunch of ponies including Star Rider, a dragon and some hatchlings. She expected the room to be empty when she arrived. She saw a bunch of them playing board games and the like on the floor. She also saw streamers hanging from the ceiling, that’s when she knew exactly why the room looked so full. 

Pinkie threw some kind of party in his room at some point. Rainbow walked up to Daring and greeted him.

“Hey squirt, it looks like Pinkie came by and threw a party for you.”

“Yeah, she does this all the time though, I’ve had so many get better soon parties. Of course they are all fun, but... I don’t know mom.” Rainbow nodded and looked at the banner hanging in the room.

‘To My Favorite Light Red Colt’

“You really don’t like being called pink do you?”

“Cause I’m not pink! Even Pinkie Pie, the Master of pink, says I’m light red. So it must be true.” Rainbow giggled as she gently ruffled his mane

“Alright, is Pinkie still here?” Pinkie Pie popped out from under the bed.

“Here I am!” Rainbow jumped a bit at the surprise and the children in the room giggled.

“Pinkie! What were you doing under the bed?”

“I don’t know. I was just there. Oh-oh! Speaking of presents, I got one for you Daring Star!”

“We never said anything about presents?”

“You didn’t?” Pinkie shrugged “Oh well, open it up!” Everyone looked at each and shrugged as well, then they gathered around to see what Pinkie had given Daring as a present.

Daring slowly opened the gift, tearing the paper with care. When Daring striped away the 1st piece of paper he saw the word Model with a picture of some metallic creature on the front. Curious, he began to strip away even more of the paper until he could see what it was in its entirety.

“Wha- Pinkie, How did you know I recently got into Sci-Fi robotics? And where did you get this?”

“I got it from Canterlot silly, from the hobbyist shop. And I figured it out after I saw all those books Big Mac brought in today.” Everyone just looked at Pinkie, trying to figure out how she was able to get to Canterlot, buy the present, throw the party and then have it wrapped up. All of this done in the span of about 2 hours. Let alone figure out what all of those books were about just from the titles alone.

“Thanks, Pinkie, I’ll make it when I get outta here.” Pinkie gave him a huge smiled and lightly hugged him.

“I’m glad you like it. Now if you’ll excuse me for a moment, I have a frog to talk to about a certain gator. He’s been hiding in a certain ponies tub and I need to know why.” As everyone just looked at Pinkie, she hopped out of the room.

“Well, besides Pinkie being random, when did you get into Sci-fi books Daring?”

“Just today actually...” Daring looked at the model in his hooves, it was a little metallic pony “... Dad brought me a bunch of books that Spike picked out for the subject. I was gonna start reading through them more once this party was over.” Rainbow walked over to the pile of books on a nearby desk.

“Are these it?” She picked one of them up and flipped through the pages.

“Yeah those are the ones.” 

“Oh Celestia, Did that fool of a stallion even look at the books he was getting for you?” She brought the book over and showed Daring the page she was looking at. “What the heck is this? I don’t even know what this could possibly be.” Daring looked at it for a moment.

“Oh, that looks like what this book describes...” Daring pulled another book out from under his pillow and opened it to another page. “...see mom? This 1st book describes what all of those symbols mean. See this one here? It’s the symbol for lighting power, and that’s an amplifier, there’s the capacitor and...” Rainbow looked back and forth at what Daring was talking about and what see was seeing.

She could see the smile on his face as he described to her in full detail about what everything meant. She really had no idea what any of those things were or what they were supposed to do. But the smile on his face was all she needed to see. She closed to book before he could continue to tell her about stuff she couldn’t grasp.

“Alright I get it Daring, You’re an egghead.” She went up and nuzzled his cheek “But you’re my egghead.” As some of the fillies giggled Spike decided to speak up

“You’re a bit of an egghead too Rainbow Dash, don’t forget that.” Rainbow just glared at Spike before laughing

“Yeah, So he probably gets it from me then.” Big Mac walked into the room hearing the last part of it.

“Ah don’t know Dashie, he seems ta be a lot smarter then you. He probably gets it from me.”

“Wha- You? You’re not even an egghead!”

“Ah’ll have you know, Dashie my Honey pie, that I am actually quite educated for a farm pony.” Rainbow scoffed as she blushed a little from the pet name

“Prove it!” Big Mac raised an eyebrow.

“Well alright then. How many Apple trees can be placed within a single acre of land?”

“I don’t know that stuff, I figured you just plant them until you run out of room.” Big Mac chuckled to himself

“Simple my dear, an apple tree needs 14 to 18 feet of space between each other for optimal growing conditions. We, the apple family use the distance of 14 feet to ensure maximum space usage and still be within the safe limits for the trees. Now an Acre of land is 43,560 square feet.” Big Mac took a deep breath as Rainbow just got a funny look on her face as she tried to follow all the numbers. Every other pony in the room, besides Star Rider and Daring Star, just marveled at Big Mac saying so many words at once.

“With the square footage of an Acre being 43,560 feet, it means that each row is going ta be 208 feet 9 inches long going in all directions with the spacing between each row being 14 feet along with the spacing between each tree also being 14 feet. Now, just so you know Ah'm rounding because we can’t very well plant part of a tree. But we end up with 15 trees per row. Because a loss of 2 inches in proper spacing won’t harm the trees none. Now, at 15 trees in each row and at 15 rows we end up with 225 trees per acre.” Rainbow just looked at him completely lost

“You are an egghead, doing all of that math in your head like that.”

“Its part of the business.” Mac just gave a smile that let everyone know he was completely confident in what he had just said. Rainbow looked over to Daring in hopes of him being as lost as she was.

“Did you understand any of that fancy farm mathematics Daring?”

“Well, like dad said, he had to round because its impossible to plant part of a tree. Going purely on the 14 foot ratio with the left over of 9 inches he would of only been able to plant 196 trees with that odd left over space of 9 inches, but by making the spacing 13 feet 10 inches, your able to fit an extra tree in each row, and even get an extra row.”

“But, how did you do all of that? “

“Well, I just converted the feet into inches and then converted it back to feet after the problem was solved to see if that would of worked. I’m sure there’s some kind of algorithm to do that, but I haven’t exactly gone to a fancy school yet...” Big Mac looked at Daring with an eyebrow raised.

“Wait, ya did all-a that fancy mathematics in yer head Daring?”

“Well, yeah? Can’t everyone?” Rainbow shook her head along with many of the others in the room, even his sister. Big Mac just smiled.

“So ya did get something from me after all. Besides your good looks of course.” Rainbow smacked Mac in the back of the head while everyone else giggled. 
	
> Gossip can hurt
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Daring was finally out of the hospital, even if it was a day later than expected. Thank Celestia for healing spells and bone knitting spells. Instead of waiting months one only had to wait a few days, or worst case scenario a few weeks.

Things mostly returned to normal, I say mostly because Daring was never bullied again. In fact almost all of the other children completely avoided him. The only ones who didn’t were his sister and her friends. It didn’t matter that he was the smartest pony in the class, everyone was afraid that if he got hurt with them around they would get into trouble.

But that suited him just fine. It allowed him plenty of time to read through the books his dad had gotten for him from the library. Ms. Cheerilee proved herself more than useless if Daring had any questions about the Sci-Fi. However, she was extremely helpful in explaining how lighting power is currently used to make things like Lighting music. Something a certain pony had become popular for.

Ms. Cheerilee could only give basic info about the way magic gems worked, and how they used magic to power certain devices, She even explained that the reason they didn’t use magic to power the Sci-Fi machines was most likely because most metals act as a damper to magic, hindering their overall effects.

By the time he had finished with the 3rd book, The only pony who could supposedly answer his questions was the Princess of Magic, or The Princess of the Library, as some called her.

Apple Bloom came to pick Daring and Star up from school as Rainbow and Mac were both busy with work.

“Hey Aunty Bloom, could you just drop me off at the Library today?”

“The Library? What do ya need from there? An’ don’t call me aunty Daring, it makes meh feel old.”

“Alright, but I just wanted to ask Princess Sparkle some questions, and thank her for getting me those books.” Apple Bloom sighed

“Well alright then, what about you Star? Did you wanna go to the Library too?”

“Ehh, I’d rather go play with my friends...” Bloom looked up at the 3 fillies and 2 hatchlings waiting nearby looking at them.

“Sure, its fine by me, just don’t stay out too late.” Star got a big smile on her face and giggled as she ran toward her friends.

“Thanks Aunty Bloom!”

“Don’t call me Aunty!” Apple Bloom grunted in frustration and looked down to Daring.

“To the Library then?” Daring nodded his head and crawled into the wagon behind Apple Bloom.

Walking anywhere with Daring always took some extra time. The only one who seemed to keep a pace that Daring could match was Granny Smith. Normally when they went someplace Big Mac or Rainbow simply carried him. Apple Bloom had to bring along a wagon as she wasn’t big enough to carry him on her back, nor could she fly with him in her hooves.

“So what did you do today in school Daring?”

“Just read, oh and the lunch you made me today was really good. Applejack needs to use less apples in her cooking, and salt.” Apple Bloom just chuckled

“Does she now? Well don’t tell her that.” Feeling some pride after having the food she made praised she pressed him for details. “So what about my lunch did you like so much?”

“Well for one, it was a spinach and alfalfa sandwich instead of 3 apples and 2 fritters. But it was sweet, did you sprinkle sugar on it or something?”

“Actually I used some of the glaze I got from the bargain mart, apparently a restaurant in Canterlot made something they call Salad dressing. I got a bottle of Sweet Glaze. Was it that good?” Daring nodded his head.

“Most definitely. Oh and of course, the milk box was better then the apple juice box.” Apple Bloom just chuckled again.

“Maybe Ah should talk to Sis about how ta pack yer lunches.” Daring nodded his head.

“If you wouldn’t mind, yes. Less apples and more calcium. I wish the Doctors knew how to fix this, or at least make it so I don’t walk funny.”

“You don’t walk that funny Daring. Who said you walk funny?”

“Mikuo did, He said I walk like a pony who had to much Cider or Salt.”

“What? You mean that bully?! Ignore what that Skag lick said. You walk just fine!”

“What’s a Skag lick?” Apple Bloom gasped

“Ah shouldn’t a said that. It’s a bad word apparently, so don’t repeat it.”

“But, what is it?”

“I don’t know, but Ah’ma guessing a Skag is some nasty critter or thing, and... Why am I telling you this? Big Mac is gonna be so cross with me if he finds out you picked up exotic slang from me.”

“I won’t tell mom or dad nothing Bloom.” Apple Bloom let loose a sigh of relief.

“Thanks Daring, anyway, we're here now.” Apple Bloom stopped in front of the towns library, and Daring slowly crawled out of the wagon.

“Thanks Apple Bloom. You can just have mom or dad come get me later, I’d rather just hang out here all day if that’s ok?”

“Oh, its fine with me. I’ll just uh, leave the wagon here outside, just in case you know?”

“Thanks Apple Bloom. I’ll see you later.” Bloom nodded her head and she turned around and left Daring at the front door.

Daring knocked on the front door after what his dad told him what he caught Spike doing. After a short pause the door cracked open with Spike peaking through the crack. After Spike saw who it was he flung the door open.

“Hey Daring! They let you out huh? What brings you by?” Spike looked around and didn’t see anyone with him “did you walk here by yer self?”

“Na, I had Apple Bloom drop me off. She picked me up from school today.”

“Ah thats cool, well come inside and make yer self comfortable. Twilights gone again to Canterlot. Not sure what she’s doing up there though, she never tells me nothing.” Daring slowly nodded his head in understanding

“Mmmm, hey Spike.”

“Yeah?”

“You know what a Skag lick is?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Star Rider was out with her friends, they decided to play a game in the park near the school. Ever since Apple Blooms cutie pox, Loop-de-hoops had become a thing, so to say. When the owner of the bargain marts had seen his daughter playing with a hoop-de-loop he asked her what it was, and she explained. It didn’t take long before he began to have them mass produced and sold all around Equestria.

It was popular among the younger generations for sure as they had small compitions around it. So anyway, it wasn’t until after the little compition was over and Star Rider had won, yet another sport game. One of the griffins voiced her opinion.

“Why are you so much better at everything Star? Its totally not fair!” the fillies looked between the two of them

“What do you mean not fair? I play the same way as everyone else!”

“Well, it does seem kind of unfair Star, I mean, your wings seem like an unfair advantage over everyone else when it comes to a race.”

“B-But we wernt even racing today! It was just hoop-de-looping!”

“And you still won! By a huge margin I might add!” Star rider puffed out her cheeks in frustration

“Fine! I won’t play any sport games with you guys then!” the fillies looked at each other, and before they could say anything Star Rider had run off.

“You think we were too harsh?” the hatchlings walked over and put a claw on their pony friends shoulders

“No way, just because she was born special doesn’t mean she should show everyone else up. She needs to sit back and let others compete every once in awhile. Come on, lets go play another round without her this time.” the other little fillies just looked in the direction Star had run off

“Well, if you say so.”

Star Rider was upset, not because her friends had decided to ostracize her for winning all the time, but because of why. Her mom and dad had told her she was special. Born with wings like Princess Celestia, large and powerful. And her body was strong just like her dads. The athletic prodigy. While her brother was, the egghead. She never understood why she seemed to have everything while her brother had nothing. Being twins you would think they would of ended up the same.

Star Rider finally stopped running when she ended up in the market place. She briefly wondered if Aunty Applejack was somewhere around selling apples. She figured if her friends didn’t want her around right now, then she could just help out her family. 

She wandered around the market place for a few minutes and spotted Applejack selling bushels of apples and haggling prices to everyone. Star decided to approach the cart from the side so that she wouldn’t get in the way. When she got behind the cart she just waited patently for Applejack to have a moment of spare time. After a griffin flew off carrying a large bushel of apples Star saw a break in the chaos of selling.

“Hi Aunty Applejack!” Applejack spun around to see Star Rider.

“Oh, heya Sugarcube, what brings ya around here?”

“Well I uh, finished playing with my friends and wondered if you might need any help.” Applejack looked around for a bit then smiled as she suddenly got an idea.

“Well, Ah ain’t got much but ya think ya can take this bushel over to Ditzy’s house for me? She pays in advance so she just has ta pick up her bushel a apples once a week. Sometimes she forgets to pick it up though. I was gonna drop it off when I finished up here, but if you could do that for me. It would help me out a lot sugarcube.” Star Rider got a big smile on her face. She always liked being able to help out

“Sure thing! Ditzy lives with cousin Golden Harvest right?”

“Sure does sugarcube.” Star Rider strapped the large bushel of apples onto her back and happily made her way over to Ditzy and Goldens house.

After a brisk trot out of the market and down a few roads she arrived at her destination. So she knocked on the door. After a moment Golden Harvest answered the door.

“Hey Star Rider, Is Applejack having you do deliveries now?” Star shook her head.

“Nope, well sort of. I asked if she needed any help and said I should bring Ditzy’s weekly apples over.” Star began to unstrap the bushel from her back and set it down

“Oh, so your just helping out then huh? Well that’s good” Golden grabbed the bushel from Star and placed it by the front door inside. “I’ll let Ditzy know you brought her the apples Star.” Star nodded her head and turned around to start heading back.

“Thanks Golden, I’ll see you around!” Golden Harvest waved as she left back toward the market to let Applejack know she had finished. Little did Star know Applejack had some customers who had decided to gossip more then shop. Like usual, Star didn’t want to interrupt their conversation so she hung out behind the apple cart, out of view.

“...But is that possible? I mean, it doesn’t sound like a normal thing to happen, right?”

“Oh indeed its not, I was talking to my doctor because I was hoping to have a filly of my own, and he said the possibility of it was very low.” 

'What were those mares talking about? Were they gossiping about having kids? Was Aunty Applejack gonna get married?'

“Well I suppose it is rare for a pony to have twins, yet even rarer to have one twin steal all the nutrients from the other in the womb. Just like what happened with Rainbows twins.”

"What, they’re talking about us, me? What’s a nutrient?’ Star sat silently behind the cart listening to the conversation. 

“Hey yall, there’s no proof Star had anything to do with Daring being born so small and frail, it was just the way a things. The Doctors said everything was normal any who.”

‘What? It might be my fault Daring was born so weak?’ Star slumped her head down and she continued to listen to them.

“Oh Applejack, those spells the doctors use to check how foals are doing are all so primitive. They basically just give genders and general sizes, and only when its late in the pregnancy. And because Twin to Twin Transfusion syndrome is so rare, they haven’t put a lot of resources into being able to check for it yet. So its highly possible Star did take everything from her brother while they were growing.”

‘It is my fault Daring is the way he is’ Star’s eyes began to water as she thought more about what they had said.

“Those doctors really need to step up their game, what if I had twins and the same thing happened with them?”

“Oh yeah its some nasty business that, but have you heard? Celestia sent a bunch of Doctors to study that sickness in the griffins kingdoms”

Star was on the verge of tears, not only had her friends pushed her out of their games, but she was responsible for her brothers fragile condition?

“Mhmm that nasty disease running rampant around the Griffins kingdoms, all of the best doctors are hard at work searching for a cure last I read in the newspaper.”

“Yeah, that’s some nasty business with them griffins, last I...” Star had heard enough, the more she thought of it, the harder it became to hold back her tears. She ended up running away as fast as she could from the area. 

Applejack heard the sound of little hooves galloping away from behind her cart. She held up a hoof to stall the conversation the 2 mares were having and looked back behind her cart. Then over in the distance. She could see Star Rider running away as fast as possible.

“Well why is she...” Applejack looked at the ground behind her cart and saw small spots where the ground was wet. “...oh no, she didn’t hear what we was talkin bout did she?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Yeah, I can’t find the word Skag anywhere in the dictionary Daring. So I have no idea what a Skag lick could possibly be.” Daring put a hoof to his chin

“Hmm, perhaps a Skag is something from the zebra lands then?”

“No way bro, I already looked through everything we have. A Skag is either some made up creature or such a slang term that wasn’t written down.” Daring sat back down and looked at all the books on the self.

“Well what if...” Daring was interrupted by Rainbow Dash crashing through the front door yelling

“Twilight! Where are you?!” Spike leapt up and spoke.

“Twilight isn’t here Rainbow, its just me and Daring right now. Twilights up in Canterlot for something with Princess Celestia again.” Rainbow just growled in frustration

“What a time for her to be gone...”

“What’s wrong mom?” Rainbow looked over at Daring and sighed

“Your sister heard some older mares talking about how its probably her fault you were born the way you are. Now she’s run away, and we can’t find her.” Daring put his head down with a frown on his face.

“Do you know what they were talking about?”

“No, Applejack was pretty vague about what they were talking about, mostly because I think she had trouble remembering all the ‘fancy’ talk as she put it, just something about how Star stole everything from you in the womb or some such crap.” Rainbow walked over to the front door of the library and flared her wings out in preparation to fly away again.

“Stay here while we continue to look for her ok?” Daring nodded his head along with Spike. Then Rainbow gave spike a look that was more of a glare. "Stay with him. O.K Spike?" Spike nodded his head again and as soon as Rainbow was out the door and out of sight Daring turned to Spike.

“Spike, Can you take me someplace?”

“Hey dude, Yer mom just said to stay put!”

“They won’t find her anytime soon, besides, I think I know where she is.” Spike raised a scaled eyebrow at him.

“You think were gonna find her before yer mom or dad do? They are pretty fast you know.”

“Fast? Yes, but they for sure wont be looking in the right places.”

“What do you mean?”

“Just pull me in the wagon Spike, I’ll tell you where I think she went.” Spike just grunted as he moved to close up the library.

“Alright dude, but if yer mom gets mad, it was all yer idea got it? I’m pretty sure you wont get beaten up.” Daring opened the door to the library

“Pfft, whatever dude, We just need to find my sister.” 

“Yeah yer right, I guess a few hits are worth it. So where we heading anyway?” Daring crawled into the wagon that Apple Bloom had left outside.

“Sweet Apple Acres.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Star Rider was laying down under a tree as she looked up at the fruit bats that were all over the west orchard. Their colorful and peaceful nature always made her feel better when she was upset. And since no one ever came out this far, she always had time to think about what ever was bugging her.

“Is that why I’m so much stronger then every other pony my age? Was my brother supposed to have wings and I stole those as well? Is that why mine are so big?” As Star just laid under the tree her eyes began to fill with tears again as she thought of all the possible things she took from her twin brother.

As she just laid in the grass under the tree she began to cry again. After awhile she could hear some yelling, it sounded like, Her Brother!

“Spike Hurry up! She’s bound to be around here! There’s fruit bats everywhere now.”

“That’s what you said about the last 3 areas, I’m not a pony you know. I can’t run as fast or as long.”

“Sorry Spike, but we just gotta find her.” Star Rider could hear them, but she couldn’t see them. 

She didn’t want to see her brother right now, not when it was her fault for making him so weak. She was just a bad pony, she shouldn’t of been born, then her brother would of been happier. 

She wanted to hide, she didn’t want to be found. But for some reason her body didn’t move, she just stayed on the grass crying. She kept telling herself to get up and hide, but deep down, she really wanted to be found. She wanted to be found and have someone tell her it was going to be ok and that it wasn’t really her fault.

What would Daring think? If he knew it was her fault, she was the reason he couldn’t run, or play outside with everyone else. He would hate her for sure, for sure he would...

“Aha! She’s over there Spike!” Star just curled up into a ball under the tree. Thinking that if she could make her self small enough they wouldn’t see her.

Spike pulled the wagon over closer to her and then stopped. He went over and sat next to Star as Daring crawled out of the wagon to do the same. When they were both situated on either side of Star, Spike spoke up.

“Ya know everyone’s worried about you Star. Why did you go an run away?”

“Because...” Star remained in the curled up ball form muffling her speech.

“Because what? Of what some silly older mares said?”

“Yes! They said, they said...” Star looked over at Daring who was just looking up into the tree at the fruit bats.

“What did they say sis? That it’s your fault I’m like this?” Star nodded her head as she slumped back down into the ball. As soon as she put her head back down a hoof connected with the top of her head. Star looked up to see Daring rubbing his left fore hoof.

“Don’t be stupid Star, it’s not your fault I’m this way, even if it is because of Twin to twin transfusion syndrome, it’s not your fault.”

“H-how did you know about that?”

“You remember when I jumped off the kitchen table 3 months ago trying to imitate Daring Doo’s escape I read about?” Star giggled a bit as her tears let up

“Yes I remember, I also remember you yelling at the top of your lungs, ‘You’ll never catch me Hazardmuss!’ followed by you hitting the ground and screaming.”

“Yes, I broke 2 of my legs that day, and that's when I started to read medical texts, because they didn’t want me to leave the hospital for 2 weeks.”

“But what does that have to do with anything?”

“I read some medical books in my ‘spare time’ to try and figure out what to do with myself. You know, like cures or something. That’s when I read about Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome or TTTS for short. I’ll be honest with you Star, I was mad at first. But the more I read about it. The more I realized it’s all a roll of the dice while were still growing. And even then, there's something else wrong with me, even if it was TTTS I would of evened up in size by now, but I haven’t. I’m still not growing at the normal rate or getting stronger. And I can’t figure out why, The doctors can’t even figure it out. I’ll probably end up as tall as Mr. Snails when I’m fully grown.”

“So its not my...”

“Buck no its not your fault. You can’t go around blaming yourself for something you didn’t do. To Tartarus with what others think, Even mom said what they were talking about was stupid, she said so when she came to the Library looking for Twilight.”

“Well but, what about your bones?”

“Same thing, not your fault. From what I was reading, my body just doesn’t create collagen properly so my bones are brittle, I’ll probably needs glasses later on and magical bone manipulations as I get older so I can still walk relatively normal. But otherwise its just a genetic defect. Not. Your. Fault.”

“Wow, dude, your life sounds bucked up.”

“I know Spike, but I’ve come to terms with it while sitting in the hospital and library reading so many books...” Daring sighed as he set his head down on the grass.

“I wonder if Zecora knows anything that might fix you up at all.”

“Who’s Zecora?” asked Star.

“She’s a zebra that lives in the everfree forest, she knows all kinds of natural remedies to heal and get rid of curses and other strange ailments.”

“Sooo, shes an herbalist then?” said Daring

“Yeah, she mixes plants to make potions.”

“Huh...” Daring looked over to Star “...Hey Star, go find mom and bring her here yeah?”

“W-why?”

“Cause I’m tired, all this running around I did wore me out...” Spike cleared his throat and coughed after hearing that.“ ...I’m gonna take a nap, so have mom come get me yeah?” As Star began to nod her head Spike spoke up.

“I have a better idea, give me a second.”

“A better idea?” Daring yawned and laid down resting his head on his hooves again.

“Yeah, I know how to get everyone’s attention, just watch.”

Spike got up and walked out a bit so he was no longer in the shade of the tree. Once he was out in the open he took a deep breath and held it for a moment before exhaling a large amount of green gas that slowly began to take shape. After it began to take shape Daring spoke up.

“Is that a muthabucking cannon?” Spike chuckled as his green cannon took on its complete shape

“You bet your sweet plot it is. Lets see if it works.” Spike aimed the cannon upward into the sky and pulled on a green string that hung from its topside. 

A large boom with tons of green smoke shot up into the sky. Every fruit bat in the area was startled by the explosion and took off into the air. It didn’t take long before the sky was filled with a multitude of different colors by the fruit bats.

“Wow, its so pretty.” Star Rider just watched in awe at all of the fruit bats flying high up into the sky.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rainbow Dash was flying high above the town and even checking stray clouds to see if she went up to one to be alone, nothing. Big Mac was looking around on the ground in places that she would miss by flying, and with them covering the entire town head to toe, No spot would be left unchecked.

But they still couldn’t find her. Rainbow saw Big Mac and Applejack looking around in the park and landed behind Big Mac.

“Did you guys find her?” Big Mac turned around and shook his head.

“Ya think she’s a hiding out at a friends house or somethin?”

“No, all of her friends were playing hoop-de-loop at the park.” Rainbow looked around and shot back up into the sky and began to scour the surface of the clouds again.

After a bit she looked off in the distance toward Sweet Apple Acres and saw a green plume of smoke with a rainbow streak moving away from it.

“What the fuck...” Rainbow flew back down to where she last saw Big Mac

“Hey Mac! Over at the orchard there’s some strange green smoke...” Applejack overheard Rainbow say smoke coming from the farm and went into panic mode.

“Smoke!? There’s a FIRE at the farm!” Mac just turned around to see AJ Sprint off toward the farm.

“I don’t think she heard the word green. But yeah, go check it out. Green smoke sounds like Spikes magic to me.”

“Spike...” Rainbow looked out towards the farm “... I told him to watch Daring at the Library, he better not be out there leaving Daring all alone.” Rainbow jumped up into the sky and blasted off toward Sweet Apple acres where she had seen the smoke leaving Mac in the dust.

“Dashie, Spikes not that stupid, or crazy enough to anger you like that.” Big Mac sighed as he broke into a sprint to catch up to his sister and wife.

As Rainbow flew closer and closer to the smoke and rainbow streak she realized that the rainbow was actually a bunch of fruit bats. By the time she reached the spot where the green smoke originated she could see a huge green cannon on the ground with Spike standing next to it. Seeing him alone made her mad, very mad.

“SPIKE! What the flying fuck are you doing out here!? I told to wait at the library with Daring!” The smile on Spikes face disappeared and was replaced with fear as Rainbow yelled at him, all the while she was hovering closer to him as he stepped back.

“But Rainbow I...” As Spike was backing away he was looking at the tree behind him. Rainbow was still to high up to see that Star Rider and Daring were sitting under it.

“Don’t give me any Excuses! How dare you act like such a Skag Lick griffin and ignore what I...” Star and Daring suddenly came into view and her anger subsided and was replaced with embarrassment and worry. 

‘Did they hear everything I just said?’ Star leapt forward and waved at her mom.

“Hey mom, Don’t be mad at Spike, he just helped Daring with finding me, but what do the words Fuck and Skag lick mean?”

‘Oh shit they did hear me!’ Daring sat up and slowly walked out as well.

“Yeah mom, I heard some mares call a griffin a Skag Lick, what’s it mean?”

‘How the Tartarus am I going to explain those words?’ Suddenly out of nowhere Applejack came running into the clearing and looked around her.

“Well hey, Star was over here, Can’t find no fire though...” Applejack looked up into the sky to see the left overs of the green smoke. “...Wonder what kinda fire makes green smoke.” The children just ignored Applejack and kept pressing Rainbow for answers

“Come on mom! What do they mean!” Rainbow just shook her head and decided to go for the easiest way out.

“1st of all, I don’t ever want to hear you say those words! Those are bad words! And because they are bad words, I don’t need to explain them to you, because you don’t need to know.”

“But that’s not fair at all!” Shouted Star

“Its fair because I’m an adult! Now enough of this subject! Star, What are you doing out here anyway?”

“I just, I just wanted to get away for a bit.” Rainbow wasn't buying it. Not one bit.

“Mhmm, Was it because of what you heard some mares...” Rainbow looked behind her at Applejack who simply shuffled her hooves in the dirt. “...said about you and Daring?”

“Well yes, but I know it’s not my fault now. Daring explained it to me!”

“What?” Rainbow had prepped her self mentality to speak to Star about this whole ordeal, and it turns out Daring solved everything himself. She went over to Daring and looked him up and down, he didn’t look any worse for wear.

“And you, I thought I told you to stay at the Library!”

“Did you say that mom? I don’t really remember much after you said Sis went missing. But look, Spike and I found her!”

This colt! He must of gotten his dads Smart Aleck remarks as well. 

As if on Q, Big Mac entered the area and saw everyone gathered under the tree except Applejack who was off the side a bit.

“Ah see you all found Star...” Big Mac looked around seeing the green Cannon, Spike, Daring and his wagon. “Ah’ma make a wild guess and assume Daring convinced you to bring him here to search for Star, right Spike?”

“Uh yeah, that’s exactly what happened! And then Rainbow yelled at me!”

“Is that true sweet-ums?” Big Mac looked over at Rainbow as she blushed slightly

“Only because he disobeyed me!”

“But in the end everyone is ok right? And besides...” Big Mac knocked the wagon with his hoof. “... looks like Spike pulled him the whole way here.”

“Yeah I did! But its fine. We found Star and now everything is better now.”

“Is it now?” Big Mac looked at Star who was smiling again.

After awhile Daring ended up having to explain everything that he explained to Star beforehand so they all understood the situation as well.

“So then, why won’t your body grow normally then I wonder?” Daring just shrugged and looked at his dad.

“I dont really know but, can I ask you a question dad? its been buggin me all day.”

“Alright, shoot son.”

“Alright, What’s a Skag Lick?” Big Mac raised an eyebrow while Rainbow just groaned.
> Alchemy and Bets
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Little note, I tried and failed horribly at making Zecoras line's rhyme. I suck at that kind of stuff.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ever since Spike mentioned Zecora having all kinds of natural remedies, Daring wanted to go see her, but she lived in the Everfree Forest. Daring had been bugging his mom and dad to take him for the past week. And now was finally the time, Big Mac had some free time and could take Daring to see Zecora. Rainbow was in Cloudsdale with Star Rider for some kind of Jr. Wonderbolt Race. While Big Mac and Daring were stuck at home because, well, they can’t walk on clouds. And paying some unicorn to cast the cloud walking spell on them was money they didn’t have.

“Dad, when are we leaving to meet Ms. Zecora?”

“After we have some lunch Daring, the Forest is safer during that time.” Daring nodded his head and went back to reading in the living room, while Big Mac cooked up some grub.

After Daring and Big Mac had their lunch, they began to saddle up for the journey. Big Mac put on a large saddle bag filled with emergency supplies and other basic essentials just in case their short trip ended up lasting longer than intended. 

Daring simply tossed some of his books into the back of the wagon so he could read along the way.

And just maybe, Zecora might know something other ponies didn’t. She was a Zebra according to Spike, its not like Spike has ever been wrong before.

Right?

Anyway, Big Mac tied some rope around the wagons handle and attached it to his yoke to make it easier. Why pull something with your mouth when you can easily just attach it to you, right?

Mac had decided the path into the Everfree by Fluttershys’s house would be their best bet of a safe trip, since her animals occupied most of that space and the griffins hunting grounds was just outside that space, so fewer predators were in that general area.

Big Mac had decided it would be best to let Fluttershy know he was going to visit Zecroa with Daring as yet another precaution, you could never be too careful after all. So they made a quick stop to say hello and let her know. Big Mac stopped outside and knocked on the door. To his surprise it wasn’t Fluttershy that answered the door, but Discord.

“Well hello, if it isn’t the brother of the honest Applejack, what brings you here? Not planning to woe my Fluttershy are you?” Discord was giving off a gleeful smile as he gauged Big Macs reaction, to his disappointment Mac stayed straight faced.

“Ah jus came by to let Fluttershy know I was on my way into the Everfree with my boy to visit Zecora. It would be nice to have someone know where we were, besides Granny Smith and Apple Bloom.” Discord looked over Mac’s head and looked at the wagon carrying the pink colt known as Daring.

“Is that so? And this pink colt is Daring I presume?” Daring put his book down and looked up at Discord.

“For your information, I’m light red, not pink. At least I'm not a magical freak.” Daring went back to reading his book without waiting for Discord to respond back.

“Feisty one isn’t he? For being so scrawny and weak looking, his tongue seems rather sharp. I like that.”

“He may be a tad weak in body Discord, but he has enough will and brain power to make up for it. Now if you don’t mind, could you let Fluttershy know where we went?”

“Yes of course! Anything for the brother of one of Fluttershy’s friends.” As they were leaving Discord was waving them off and suddenly shouted as they were crossing the bridge

“Don’t let that greedy fool Umbra rule you Daring!” Daring and Big Mac turned around to look back at the cottage only to see Discord close the door without saying another word.

“Whos Umbra?” asked Big Mac as he looked down at Daring raising an eyebrow

“I...” A deep blue room flashed in Darings mind as he heard the echo’s of a laugh “...Have no idea.” Big Mac squinted his eyes in thought for a moment, then shook his head and continued along the path into the Everfree forest. 

Mac was silent for a time as they walked along the path that grew ever dimmer. 

“So Daring, you know you can tell me anything right?”

“Yeah dad, I know. When I figure out what Discord was talking about, I’ll let you know. He might just be trying to cause some indirect chaos, but the name Umbra sounds familiar. I just can’t remember where I heard it before though.” Big Mac raised an eyebrow at that.

If there was one thing different about Daring when compared to other children. It was the way he spoke, as if he knew everything. Or he was at least sure of what was going on. Big Mac checked it off as reading too many books with a lot of spare time to think. He really had no outward way to distract himself and those Sci-Fi models he got were only good to kill a few hours of time until he finished them. Sometimes Mac wondered if Daring was having any fun reading all the time.

The walk through the forest toward Zecora’s house was rather uneventful, just as Big Mac had hoped it would be. Daring had been asking for a week to be taken to see Zecora. He had it planned out to the perfect time to leave. All the timber wolves would be on the other side of the forest hunting this time of the month. 

With the griffins hunting inside the Everfree, more info was found out about it. And it was no longer as mysterious as it once was. Still dangerous though, but with all the new information the griffins had brought forward, it made treks into it much safer.

It was a brisk 25 minute walk until they reached Zecoras hut. When they arrived they saw a griffin leaving with some bandages around his waist.

“What happened to you?”

“Some bad luck with a Manticore while I was out hunting mate. Good Ol’ Zecora fixed me up free of charge, Sweet little thing she is. What are you here for?”

“My son heard about Zecora’s herbal treatments and was wondering if she could help at all, I’m a might bit curious as well.” Big Mac slowly walked up closer to the griffin with Daring in tow.

“Oh yeah? Whats wrong with him? He sick or something?” Daring put his book down and looked up at the griffin and spoke up.

“Not quite sick, just born... weaker than normal. Its kinda complicated.” The griffin nodded his head in understanding.

“Ah... I think I understand where you’re coming from. My wife has a problem with the eggs she lays, the shells are so thin you can practically see through it. A defective shell gland is what they told her. Unfixable they say, birth defect. It makes having little hatchling’s of our own near impossible. Damn Unicorns don’t have any spells to fix it either, you’d think with all the magic they have they could do something. I bet Science could take us further, but unicorns are always so magically inclined their sight is blinded when looking in other directions.” The griffin released a sigh and patted Mac on the back.

“I wish you luck, hopefully she can help. Names Wyatt by the way.” Big Mac nodded his head.

“Big MacIntosh, this here’s mah son Daring Star.” Daring nodded his head and the griffin nodded his head back in return.

“I’ll see you around then.” As the griffin Wyatt was leaving, Daring set his book down and thought for a moment.

“Why are unicorns so tunnel visioned in the way the world works dad?” Big Mac hummed to himself for a moment,

“I have no idea Daring. Maybe they think if it can’t be solved with magic, it can’t be solved with anything.” Daring sighed

“Like me huh?” Now it was Big Mac’s turn to sigh.

“I’m sure there’s something we can do to fix that. Might just take some time is all. Lets go see Zecora now before it gets any later.” Daring nodded his head and climbed out of the wagon and made his way to the door with his dad.

Big Mac knocked on the door and after a bit of shuffling was heard, the Zebra known as Zecora opened the door.

“So many visitors this day, who now appears before me?”

“Afternoon Zecora. You probably haven’t meet me before, but the names Big MacIntosh, and this heres my son Daring. And well, my boy here heard about your magical potions and medicines and was a wondering if you could help him any.”

“MacIntosh? The older brother of Applejack?” Zecora looked down at the scrawny colt by his side. “Daring, the son born with a strong mind, but a weak body. I have heard from Twilight about this tale of woe.”

“Twilight has already spoken to you about Darings situation Ms. Zecora?” Zecora nodded her head.

“She has. Told her what would be needed, but alas, Twilight said it would be impossible to obtain such things.” Daring perked up, 

The fact Zecora knew of a way to make him stronger caused Daring to become excited. But what did she mean by it would be impossible to get what they needed?

“What would you need Zecora? And why would it be hard to get? Is it some rare plant?” Zecora closed her eyes as she inhaled a breath of air.

“No little one, what you have sounds like something seen in my homeland, but the ingredients needed are rare and the tonic must be taken weekly, otherwise you return how you once were.”

“Its not.. Permanent?” Zecora waved them inside so they wouldn’t stand outside any longer.

“Alas it is not, and dragon bones are next to impossible to gather in this land.” Big Mac raised an eyebrow at the idea of consuming a dragon bone.

“A dragon bone you say?” Zecora nodded her head at Mac

“Aye, at least 2 ounces of dragon bone must be ground into a fine powder and mixed with the brew for it to be effective. The magic within the dragon bone and herbs will bind and strengthen your own. At least until the magic wears off.”

“Wait, dragon bones have magic Zecora?”

“Everything has magic in it little one, what I do, alchemy, extracts certain natural magic from plants and things into a drinkable concentrated form. Although, some aren’t drinkable and are more like topical creams.”

“Well, if we need a dragon bone too temporarily fix my bones, what about my body? You have anything to increase my strength or something?” Zecora nodded her head and went over to a book on a table.

“The Amber heart of a Trent and the saliva of a Spider Eater are needed. The Trent heart might be possible to find within this forest, but the Spider Eater is only found within the jungles of my homeland.” Big Mac raised an eyebrow again, he’s never heard of such things before.

“What in the hay is a Trent?”

“And is a Spider Eater some small animal or something?”

“A Trent is a living animate tree, and a Spider Eater is a very large creature, it would probably fill this entire room.” Daring just sat down in the middle of the floor as Zecora explained what she needed.

“Can you do anything?” at those words Zecora nodded her head and went over to a bubbling caldron in the middle of the room and scooped out a small cup of a light blue liquid.

“What is this?”

“An energy brew, it will help clear your mind and prevent distractions. It will also improve your bodies natural magical flow.” Daring looked at the cup filled with blue liquid and took a sip as Zecora brought forth another cup and offered it to Big Mac.

Mac watched as Daring took a sip and followed shortly after he did. It didn’t taste bad, it actually tasted quite good. They soon finished and set their cups down.

“I don’t feel much different, my head feels a bit lighter though.” Zecora nodded her head and chuckled

“Aye it does such a thing.”

“Hey Zecora, can you teach me alchemy?” Zecora nodded her head with a smile at Daring.

“Let me show you the basics of alchemy then. Perhaps you will devise a new way to make your self stronger. If you need books later on, I’m sure Twilight would be more than happy to provide.”

Big Mac and Daring spent the next few hours or so learning the basics of alchemy. From how to detect magical the essence in plants and things, from how to distill them into a potent and useable form.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile in Cloudsdale, Rainbow Dash had taken Star Rider to a little Wonderbolt’s competition. It was just going to be a simple 3 lap race around the Wonderbolts normal oval shaped track. The highly trained Wonderbolts themselves could finish a single lap with an average time of 10 seconds. 

Star Rider was looking around at all the other fillies and colts in the waiting room.

“Mom, I don’t think I can do it.”

“What do you mean you can’t do it?! You were super excited when I told you about it 2 months ago.”

“Well I’ve been thinking, Isn’t it unfair for me to compete? I mean, look at me! My wings are almost as big as yours, but I’m still a filly.” Rainbow sighed

“Its because you’re better then everyone that you should compete. Letting natural ability like yours go to waste would be a shame...!” Rainbow looked down at Star, she still didn’t look very enthusiastic. “...but, if you really don’t want to do it. I can understand, I guess. But what happened to make you change your mind?” Star sighed

“Some of my friends get mad when I compete saying its unfair to the team I play on. Or its unfair if I’m involved because I will always come in first, no matter how hard they try.”

“Sounds to me like your friends are just jealous of your natural talent. Your ability is what sets you apart from them Star! You were born for greatness, born to be a Wonderbolt like me. You already have the natural talent for it, it just needs to be polished.” Star laid down on the floor resting her head on her hooves. After a moment she jumped up and looked her mom in the eyes.

“I’ll do it then. And I’ll do my best!” Rainbow flew over and grabbed Star into a hug and rubbed a hoof through her mane.

“That’s my little Filly. Do me proud!”

Rainbow and Star kept talking like many of the other parents with their own fillies or colts. Giving various pointers and tips in order to help them fly faster or how to flap their wings to reduce wind resistance. You know, aerodynamic stuff.

About 20 minutes later all of the colts and fillies were called out to line up outside at the starting line. Each one was issued their own numbers, Star Rider got the number 12 and placed it upon her flank. As each of the fillies and colts lined up, they took their stances and flared out their little wings in preparation for take off.

Murmurs could be heard within the crowd and among the other children when Star Rider flared out her wings. Instead of the normal 3 outer feathers with 2 smaller inner ones. She had 5 outer feathers and 4 inner feathers, and they were near the size of an adults wings.

Star Rider ignored the hushed whispers and voices around her. Rainbow Dash simply smirked and watched Star Rider with pride visibly glinting in her eyes as she watched her daughter show off her exotic wings.

The murmurs hushed down when the announcer began to talk into his microphone about the race starting soon. He also advised parents to not place bets, as it’s not a good example and puts unneeded pressure on the children. Rainbow however seemed to miss understand what he had said and rushed over to the bidding counter.

“I wanna place 100 bits on my filly Star Rider, number 12!” The clerk behind the counter looked dumbfounded.

“Uhh, miss, we aren’t taking bets on this children’s race, this is purely for sport...”

“What?! But the announcer dude said to place bets, as it puts needed pressure on the kids!”

“I, don’t think that’s what he said at all actually. If you would please just return to your seat, the race is starting any second now.”

“Bah! You just won’t take any bets because you know my filly is gonna win hooves down! Leaving every other filly and colt in the dust!” Some parents had overheard Rainbows outrage at them not taking bets and had come to see, the second she said that her kid was better, several other parents became a bit upset.

“I’ll have you know my colt, Sonic, number 15, is going to win this race.”

“Oh yeah, well I’m pretty sure Lighting Flare, number 7 is going to beat them all hooves down.”

“Psh, paalease, my colt Arc, who is number 1 by the way, is going to win hooves down.” Several of the parents began to argue over who was going to win in front of the bidding counter. Things were becoming heated. 

The clerk called and told upper management what was going on. Shortly after the announcer made it known that some parents were bickering.

“If the parents at the bidding counter would kindly return to their seats, I will get this race started. And as I said before, Betting is NOT allowed during this event.” All of the parents just glared at each other, most had their own wings flared out in anger.

“Lets make a pool, 50 bits each, which ever of our fillies or colts win, takes the pot home, if none of ours win, we get our money back, deal?” They all nodded unanimously and placed 50 bits each on the counter in front of the pony clerk.

“W-What am I supposed to do with this?”

“Just put it into a sack. So it will easier for one of us to take home.” Many of the parents left the counter and went back to their seats without much fuss afterward. After the announcer received word of the parents returning to their seats he told the children to take their places again and to begin at the sound of the horn.

“You can do it Star Rider! Take home the gold! Leave everyone else in the dust!” the parents that had been arguing with Rainbow Dash before hand saw her cheering for her filly and decided to do the same, except louder, or flashier. As one of the parents was a Unicorn.

What was supposed to be a calm event in sportsmanship, had suddenly become a cut throat sport match with money on the table, at least too some parents. Each of the parents that had been quiet before, perfectly content to simply watch and cheer their own child on, had became a competition to who could cheer the loudest.

Without further ado the horn signaling the start of the match went off, and every filly and colt burst forward past the finish line, with so much cheering from all the parents, the fillies and colts who had been shy about this at first were suddenly pumped up, and those who were already pumped, felt like they could go on forever, or as long as the cheers did.

“Look at them all go! I’ve never seen such flying from Pegasi so young before! Looks like number 12 has a good lead on everypony else, but what’s this?! Numbers 1, 7, 3, 5, 14 and 15 are all slowly catching up to her! And the first lap is over in only 22 seconds folks!” Rainbow began to pound her hooves on the cloud floor

“You can do it Star Rider! Just 2 more laps to go!” Rainbow flew up into the air and began to chant Stars name as loudly as she could. The parents saw Rainbow chanting Stars name and joined in with the chanting of their own kids names.

Star glanced over and saw her mom doing loops in the air while chanting her name, it made her giggle a bit seeing her mom cheer so hard. Looking behind her she could see several other fillies and colts begin to catch up to her.

‘Good, I’ll just barely keep ahead of them...’ as she was thinking that she heard the announcer shout through the megaphone in excitement.

“What’s this?! Number 1 and 7 are now neck N neck with each other! And it looks like they might pass up number 12 any second now! But wait a minute here folks! Number 15's form looks familiar to me, is that? It is! I don’t know how folks but he’s using the same streamline form the Wonderbolts themselves use to reduce wind drag! What a talented colt!”

Star looked behind her and noticed that the filly and colt who were neck and neck behind her were now going to be passed up along with her if she didn’t pick up the pace.

“The second lap is over now with number 12 and 15 neck and neck with each other! Only 1 more lap to go folks, Who’s gonna win this race?! We’ll find out in the next 20 seconds or so!” Rainbow gritted her teeth when she saw that some stupid looking dark blue colt spiked hair was neck and neck with her filly.

“Pull out the big guns Star! Do it the way I showed you!” Star Rider looked over to the dark blue colt next to her, he was clearly out of breath and pushing himself a lot harder than she was. She looked over at the stands and saw her mom making an agitated face.

What was she so worked up for? This is just a sport competition, its not like money was on the line or anything.

Right?

Star slowly started to let him pass her, then she adjusted her body the way her mother had shown her before hoof in the waiting room.

“Looks like number 15 is going to win folks! Wait a minute! What’s this!? Number 12 knows how to use the Wonderbolts streamline technique as well?! Sweet Celestia she just left number 15 in the dust along with the rest of the competition! Number 12 wins with a 2 second difference!” Rainbow Dash flew up into the air and did several aerial flips whooping for joy.

“That’s my Star Rider!” Rainbow flew down to the track with many of the other parents, the single unicorn teleporting down. Regardless of the outcome all the parents told their filly or colt good job with a hug and a nuzzle. All except Rainbow Dash who had taken to do some showboating. A little song followed with a little dance.

“Go Star, go Star, its your birthday, its your birthday!” Rainbow started to shuffle her hooves on the cloud floor while bobbing her head. “You did a great job Star, lets go the bidding counter and head on home now.” Rainbow started to walk toward the tracks exit with Star following her.

“What’s at the bidding table? I thought they weren’t taking bets?” Stars eyes got wide “Were you one of those parents trying to place bets mom!?”

“Well, I thought we were supposed to. But when I got to the counter the clerk said we couldn’t place bets. So me and a couple other parents made a pool, and the winners parents would get all the money.” Star felt kinda bad about there being actual money on the line.

But that would totally explain why so many of the parents were suddenly into the race. A decent amount of them went from ‘do your best’ too ‘win at all costs’. Star knew they had been hurting for money, she had seen her dad go through their finances late at night at times. Star just swallowed her guilt and kept pace with her mother.

“Well, how much did we get mom?”

“Well it was 50 bits each, and about 7 parents placed bets so its about...” Rainbow stuck her tongue out in thought for a second. “...300 bits.”

“Mom, that’s 350 bits...”

“I knew that! I was just making an educated guess.” Star just giggled as she followed her mom through the hallways.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back inside Zecoras hut Daring was tasting various herbs in order to learn the specific magical properties each one contained. Big Mac started to look out the window but couldn’t really tell how late it was becoming because the Everfree was always dark. To Macs relief Zecora noticed him looking outside and decided to end it for the day.

“Late it is becoming, Home you should head now, before it gets dangerous.” Big Mac nodded while Daring continued to taste more herbs in faster succession.

“I agree Zecora, it is becoming rather late. Come along Daring its time to for us to head out.” Daring sighed and set the next herb that he was about to taste down.

“Alright dad...” as Daring began to gather up his books and some of the herbs Zecora let him have to self study he looked up at her. “...So, everything has magic in it? Even the dirt and grass?” Zecora chuckled

“Yes little one. Even the soil of mother Equestria has power, though very minute it is.” Daring put a hoof to his chin and looked the floor, he then tasted the dirt stuck to the bottom of his hoof.

“Tastes like a strength enhancer...” Zecora nodded her head. “...why can’t I just use dirt to make a powerful strength potion?”

“Because little one, it would taste like mud, and the amount you would need so its noticeable would leave a hole big enough for my hut.”

“So its unrealistic then?” Zecora just nodded her head.

“Yes, now you must leave before it gets any later.” Zecora waved them off as Big Mac reattached the wagon to his yolk and began to pull Daring away. Big Mac looked back at Daring who looked to be deep in thought.

“Did you learn anything useful Daring?”

“I think I found a new hobby. But maybe this will become something more. Its always nice to learn new things, even if the information would be helpful or not.” Big Mac nodded his head.

More distractions for Daring would be a good thing. He had gone through most of the books at the towns library, he would have to start reading history books and such to pass the time at the rate he was going.

“Hey dad, what kind of magical properties do you think the apples back home have?” Big Mac kept his pace but put on a look of, that's a good question I never thought of that. He turned back and shrugged

“No idea Daring, I had no idea everything had magic in it until Zecora said so, and its part of what she does for a living.” Daring just nodded his head.

“Yeah I suppose, I wonder if all the apples will be the same, or if it varies by tree.” Big Mac chuckled. Daring was excited about something again, like how he was when he 1st got into those Sci-Fi books.

“You can do what you want, just don’t go around using a bunch of apples. We gotta make some money somehow Daring.”

“Hmm, I wonder if I can use all the bad apples.” Big Mac just chuckled.

“You can use all the bad apples you want. Otherwise, they are just added to a compost bin that's always full anyway.”

The walk out of the Everfree was uneventful just like Big Mac had hoped it would be. As he came closer to the edge of the forest he could hear some female voices.

“Lets go everypony, Discord said Big Mac took Daring to see Zecora, and that was hours ago! Who knows what happened to them!”

“Stupid brother of mine! I’ll kick his flank if anything happened to em!”

“I’ll kick that stupid husband of mine’s flank before you even get the chance!” As Big Mac stood behind some trees with Daring, he looked down at his son who had been perfectly safe the whole time.

“The Mares are angry son and knowing your mom, I fear for my life.” Daring looked between his dad and the angry group of mares who had decided to go in after them.

“I’m sure once they see we’re both ok, everything will be fine dad.” Big Mac bit his lower lip as he came out from behind the trees with Daring in tow. All of the mares were happy to see them and that they didn’t need to go in after them. 

The smiles quickly left when Rainbow flew up straight into Big Macs face.

“What happened?! Why were you gone so freaking long!?” Big Mac began to sweat bullets.

“Well uh, you see...”

“Spit it out already!”

“Nothing happened to us mom, Zecora was showing us some alchemy, or rather, just me. That’s why we were gone so long. Alchemy’s pretty cool and complex.” Rainbow looked over at Daring without moving her head, keeping her face all up in Macs grill.

“You should of waited for more of us to go with you! What if...!” Big Mac stopped Rainbow from speaking anymore by locking lips with her. Rainbow blushed and pulled back.

“I missed you honey pie.” Twilight and the others made embarrassed faces and began to look around. Everyone except Pinkie who simply began to say Oohh while holding a hoof to her mouth.

“You can’t just, wha...” Rainbow grrrred at Mac “...Not Fair.” Rainbow flew back and returned the kiss. “Glad to see you both are ok. After I got back from Cloudsdale and you wern’t around I asked Apple Bloom where you guys went. She said you left for the Everfree after lunch. And its almost Dinner time now! Then when I got to Fluttershy’s she said you stopped by and told Discord you were heading in. You guys were gone for 5 hours! You had us worried sick.”

“Sorry, but Zecora couldn’t do much, and Daring was eager to learn some alchemy from her.”

“Yeah mom alchemy is cool! And unlike those Sci-fi robots, I can put it into actual practice, well without having to spend a bunch of money.” Twilight was eager to learn what he knew, Daring and Twilight were alike in the aspects of their thirst for knowledge.

“Zecora taught her way of alchemy to you daring?” Daring nodded his head at Twilight.

“Yeah! She said everything has some kind of magical essence to it, and alchemy seeks to extract it into potent useable forms that are drinkable or can be applied to the skin, after rubbing it past the fur of course.”

“You should come by the Library later and tell me more about it. It all sounds really interesting, and I’m sure everypony would rather go home knowing you are safe now.” 

“I’ll see if I can stop by...” Daring looked over at Big Mac and Rainbow who just nodded their heads at him. “...or maybe you can have Spike come and get me, that would be pretty cool.”

“You and Spike seem to get along rather well it seems.” Daring just shrugged

“Well yeah, we are best friends.” Rainbow flew over to Daring and nuzzled him.

“Alright lets get you home now, your sister is worried about you and dad as well, and oh yeah! She won the Jr Wonderbolt race today! And we got a bit of extra bits as well...”

“They let you place bets on a children’s race?” Rarity chimed in

“Well not exactly...” Mac chuckled along with Pinkie while Applejack just face hoofed with Twilight. Rarity simply shook her head side to side.
	
> Check-ups, alchemy, and trouble?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Daring had been experimenting with alchemy a lot, he discovered ripe apples had a large concentration of life magic. While rotting or bad apples had a mix of magic. As the apples broke down the magic within them wouldn’t dissipate, but it would just change form. He wondered if it was the same with everything.

In Daring’s excitement with his new hobby he forgot that it was that time of the week again.

Thursday.

The day Nurse Joy would do her weekly check up’s on Daring.

Nurse Joy was happily trotting down to Sweet Apple Acres an hour after lunch time. She normally showed up around 2PM to perform the free service. Big Mac and Rainbow had figured she did out of the kindness of her heart.

When she arrived she knocked on the front door. After a bit of waiting Apple Bloom answered the door.

“Oh heya Nurse Joy, come to check up on Daring again huh?”

“Yes indeed I am Apple Bloom. Where is the little darling?”

“Oh well, he's not here at the moment. He went to the town Library with his twin sister Star. Spike came to pick him up actually. They left not to long ago, you might be able to catch up to em. It was kinda cute to see Spike pulling the wagon behind him.” Bloom giggled a bit thinking about Spike pulling the wagon.

“Oh...” Joy looked down to the ground for a bit, then perked back up. “...Alright then, I’ll just go catch him at the library then! Thank you for your time Apple Bloom!” As Nurse Joy trotted back toward the town Apple Bloom just looked at the strange mare.

“She acts so strange... Kinda like how Sweetie Belle acts whenever Button Mash is involved with something...” Apple Bloom shrugged it off as she shook her head and closed the door.

Joyce continued to happily trot through the town toward the library. She would wave back at other ponies and griffins that said hello to her as well. She didn’t see Daring or the other 2 on the way to the Library but decided to knock on the door to the library once she arrived. Joyce knocked on the door, and the Princess of the library answered the door.

“Hello, My name is Joyce and I was looking for Daring. Is he by chance here? Little Bloom at Sweet Apple Acres told me he was on his way with a young colt named Spike and his twin sister.” Twilight giggled at that.

“Oh, well, they are not here yet. Also, Spike is my assistant, he's not a colt he’s a baby dragon. They probably stopped by Sugar cube corner to pick up a snack or something. I know Spike left with a few bits saying he wanted a Sapphire cupcake.” Joy looked back down to the floor in a bit of a disappointment. Oblivious to the fact she said Spike was a dragon and not a pony, as she stopped listening the moment she heard the words, not here yet.

“Oh, so he’s not here as well then, you think they will be back soon?” To that Twilight nodded her head enthusiastically.

“Oh yes, they should be back any minute now I’m sure of it, why don’t you come inside and have some tea? I just made some.” Joy looked up at Twilight with a soft smile.

“I think that sounds like a lovely idea. I would love to wait for them inside with a cup of tea.”

Joy walked in after Twilight moved out of the way. Twilight led her into the kitchen and began to pour some tea into cups and set them at the table. Joy took the seat nearest to her and began to sip at the tea.

“Would you like some sugar or milk with your tea Joy?” Joy shook her head.

“No thank you Princess. Plain tea is fine with me.” as Joy sipped some more of the tea Twilight set the kettle down in the middle of the table and sat across from her.

“So, why are you looking for Daring Ms. Joy?” Joy set the tea cup down and put a hoof to his her lips.

“Well I visit Daring once a week on Thursdays to check up on his health and make sure hes doing ok.” Twilight raised an eyebrow at that.

“The Hospital sends a nurse to his house once a week to check up on him?”

“Well no, not the hospital specifically. I do this because...” No ones really questioned why she would visit and give free check ups on Daring before, so she had nothing planned to say in advance. “...because, I would hate to see him rushed to the hospital for something, that wasn’t caught early on.”

“So, you do the check ups for free and everything then?” Joy nodded her head.

“Oh yes, I love my job, and I love helping children feel better, and making sure they are always in good shape.” Twilight smiled at Joy.

“That’s wonderful, I’m glad to hear Daring has so many ponies that care about his well being. Daring could use all the help he can get. I’ve been searching the Canterlot magical archives in hopes of finding a spell to bring him to normality, but I’ve had no such luck. And with all of our greatest minds currently working on finding a solution to the Slimy doom infestation in the griffin lands, it leaves a lot of empty space in other fields.” Joy’s eyes glinted for a moment at the mention of Slimy Doom.

“Oh? How did such a nasty thing such as Slimy Doom ever come back? I thought Celestia and Luna had it wiped off our planet hundreds of years ago.”

“It was, there’s suspect of a Unicorn behind this whole mess. Some Unicorn with problems for sure. I mean, who would want to bring such a demonic disease back?” Joy sipped some of her tea and shrugged

“I have no idea. Oh, Have you heard any new news on the monster roaming the griffin country side?” Twilight froze up for a bit, stress and hurt evident in her eyes.

“No, ever since he disappeared the first time, he became something else entirely.” Joy raised an eyebrow

“He? Who’s he? I was talking about the monster killing and eating everything.”

“Oh, I thought you meant...” Twilight bit her lower lip and sighed. “... never mind, Celestia hasn’t told me anything new about the monster recently, all of the griffin villages have been evacuated so its pretty much a dead zone and bio hazard over there. I just wonder how the dragons are doing. Their lands were connected through a small land bridge. Hopefully the dragons fire can keep it from spreading into their own lands.” Twilight sipped some more of her tea until the door to the library suddenly opened.

“I don’t think gems have a magical property to them Daring, and I ain’t gonna let you grind one of my delicious gems up just for some test.” Joy and Twilight stood up from their seats.

“Looks like they’re here.” Twilight set her tea cup down.

“Just a little one Spike! Come on!”

“Yup, we better go great them now.” Twilight and Joy headed out to the main room and saw Star Rider closing the door behind her as she was the last to walk in.

“Welcome back Spike and Daring, and hello to you as well Star, I haven’t seen you in awhile.”

“Hey Princess Sparkle.”

“Hey yeah, well I just felt like tagging along. See if I can find a good book, you know, for reading.” Twilight just raised an eyebrow at Star.

“Uh huh, well yes, that is what books are for after all.” Joy stepped out so she stood next to Twilight and was visible. Daring looked surprised to see her there, then realized that today was the day of his weekly check-up.

“Nurse Joy! I completely forgot that today was check-up day!” Joy nodded her head and chuckled.

“I figured as much, as I had to walk around town just to find you. Your aunt Apple Bloom told me you were coming here. Figured we could just do it here.” Daring suddenly got a light blush on his face.

“In front of everyone?” Twilight chuckled seeing his reaction and figured he must be shy for some reason.

“You can use my room upstairs if you want. It shouldn’t take long right?”

“Not at all Princess Sparkle. We should only take about 10 minutes or so.” Twilight nodded her head and went back into the kitchen.

“Would anyone else like some tea? I just made it.” Spike groaned.

“Hopefully its better than the last batch of tea you made. Hand me a cup.” Star giggled at Spikes reaction while Twilight moaned.

“I’m sorry Spike, I’m not gifted with heating and fire spells like you are.”

“Pfft, thats because I’m an awesome dragon, of course I'm good with fire. Even though my breath is actually a magical green acidic fog that can be whatever I want it to be.”

“True, but you or I never would of figured it out on our own if it wasn’t for Merry’s extensive knowledge of dragons...” at that she paused and bit her lower lip. “...Let me get you a cup of tea Spike.” Spike seemed to get a bit down as well as he just sighed. Star Rider who was just confused by the sudden mood change slowly followed them into the kitchen and sat at the table.

Daring looked over at Joy who shrugged back at him and motioned for them to go up the stairs, before they reached the stairs she leaned down and whispered into his ear.

“Want me to carry you up the stairs?” Daring looked over at Joy who was giving him half lidded eyes and simply blushed.

“N-no, I can make it just fine.” Joy raised an eyebrow with a smile on her face.

“Well alright then, if you need help just let me know Daring.” Joy went up the stairs first and slowly began to saunter up the stairs. Daring began to slowly climb up the stairs while looking down, not wanted to stare.

‘Why does she make me so flustered? Why does she look at me like that when were alone? Why does she keep moving her tail to the side like that? Why am I looking at her?! Am I that old already?! I don’t remember my balls dropping or any of that other stuff the book had in it!’ 

Daring finally pulled his eyes away and kept them on the floor as he climbed the last few steps up. Joy simply looked down at him with a mischievous smile on.

“Daring, I had no idea you were at that age yet, you naughty boy. Letting me walk up 1st so you could sneak a peak at me!” Daring’s eyes went wide as he started to panic a little as he thought he was in trouble now. There was no way to hide his shame, he couldn’t control it.

“No I-I, its just...!” Joy put a hoof to his lips and shushed him.

“You wont tell, I wont tell. Besides, this just tells me your are still quite healthy.” Joy winked at him and opened the door to the room Twilight had let them borrow. “Now, lets get the basics out of the way, is anything bothering you? Any pains at all you’ve had this week? Even little ones?” Daring slowly trotted into the room with his face a bright cheery red.

‘How could she just go back to normal like nothing happened at all?’

“I’m doing fine, I hurt my shoulder when I hopped out of bed too fast a few days ago. But it stopped hurting yesterday so I didn’t think much of it.”

“Hmm, which side? And sit over on the bed please.” Daring moved over to the bed and began to climb up onto it.

“My left side. It doesn’t hurt anymore though.” Joy went up to Daring and began to gently rub both of her fore hooves into his left shoulder causing him to wince a bit.

“As I thought, it just doesn’t hurt because its mostly healed already. You really have to be more carful Daring.” Joy reached over into the saddle bag she had kept on her back the entire time and pulled out a small green bottle.

“What’s that stuff?”

“Its my own special blend to help heal minor injuries, even if it’s a bone, I just need to rub it in past the fur on the area and it will quicken the healing process by 50%!” Daring looked at the small bottle curiously. 

“Wait, you made it? Like with alchemy?”

“Why yes, I know a bit of alchemy, I grew up in an area without a lot of magic, so Alchemy was popular.” Daring’s eyes went wide, someone else that could teach him alchemy! And she didn’t live in the Everfree forest or talk in odd rhymes.

“Can you teach me any alchemy? I recently got an interest in it, and I thought maybe I could use it to make myself, normal.” Joy raised an eyebrow at his sudden mood change, he went from timid and embarrassed to excited and demanding.

“Hmm, I’ll do something better then that. If you promise to do something for me.”

“Anything! What do you want!?” Joy moved in closer

"I want you to kiss me.” Daring’s eyes went wide as he began to blush again.

“Wh-wha-why?” Joy flipped her mane to the side and gave him a sultry look

“I thought you said you would do anything?” Daring squinted his eyes

“Fine...” Joy moved her face in closer and Daring gave her a quick kiss right on the lips.”...there! Will you teach me now?” Joy moved back with a look of pure shock on her face.

“Daring! I meant on the cheek!” Daring became flustered again

“B-but you said...!”

“I’m just kidding gosh, you take everything so serious. Well not really. But a kiss on the lips is fine with me. I hope you are willing to take responsibility of your actions later.”

“Wha-wha responsibility?”

“Well, by pony standards, you are practically a teenager now, So I should of expected as much.” Daring just sat on the bed dumbfounded and completely confused as to what just happened.

“Now, let me apply some of this ointment on your shoulder really quick, and we’ll be done here.”

“What about you teaching me alchemy?” Joy chuckled at that comment of his.

“Yes, I’ll drop off an old alchemy book of mine off at your house tomorrow. Don’t worry about it.”

“You mean, you won’t teach me yourself?” Daring looked down at the floor while Joy began to gently rub the ointment on.

“Why Daring, are you sad you wont be getting Private lessons from me?” Daring blushed again

“N-no, I just thought that...”

“You really are such a cute colt, I can hardly wait until you’re 16.” Daring blushed. He knew that 16 was the legal age until a pony was considered a complete adult in most legal respects. Even though full physical maturity wasn’t reached until age 18 and most ponies lived to be 150 or older. He thought it was strange because griffins had to wait until the age of 18 before they were considered adults, even though they reached full physical maturity at 16 and most only lived to be 70. 

It must of been because of cultural difference’s. That’s the only thing he could think of.

Nurse Joy finished rubbing the ointment into his shoulder and finished it with a kiss on Daring’s cheek.

“Remember, our secret.”  Daring blushed at Joy kissing him again on the cheek as she put her ointment away. “Now, lets head back downstairs before they think were doing something we shouldn’t be doing.” The blush on Daring’s face continued.

“I’m sure they will think everything was normal...” Daring crawled off the bed and thought for a minute. “...are you a, colt cuddlier?” Nurse joy turned to look at Daring with a look of hurt.

“I’ll have you know Daring, you are the only one I treat this way.” Daring had an even more confused look on his face.

“But, why?” Joy sighed and looked up toward the ceiling of the room.

“Because of reason’s I can’t explain Daring. At least not yet, If I can get that Discord fellow to help. Then maybe...” Joy shook her head as Daring tried to wrap his head around the fact she thought of Discord as just a fellow. His mom, Rainbow Dash, had repeatedly told him not to trust Discord one bit.

“But you never mind all of that! Just live as happily as you can alright? And don’t worry, I’ll bring you my old alchemy book tomorrow.” Daring had sensed the change in the atmosphere, but decided to cautiously continue speaking for a bit anyway.

“You promise?” Joy simply chuckled again as she opened the door to the room.

“Yes of course, I’ll bring it by before lunch tomorrow, don’t worry.” Daring relaxed despite the light pain he felt in his shoulder after she had rubbed the ointment into place.

“Soo, we go back downstairs now?” Joy smirked at Daring and gave him a sly smile again.

“Unless you can think of something else a stallion and mare can do together while alone...?” Daring zipped his lips together and thought back to all those books he had read with Spike while Twilight was out.

“Uhh, Nothing comes to mind...” Daring had zipped his lips closed tightly like how Applejack did whenever she was lying about something. Joy just gave out a light hearted laugh again at Daring’s brightly flushed face.

“If you say so Daring, lets head back downstairs then, and this time, you go first. We can’t be having you go down the stairs with everything showing, now can we?” Daring just puckered his lips out and began to start down the stairs first. As they were heading down they could hear Spike and Twilight having an argument of some kind.

“Why can’t you just let him use a small gem?”

“Well I just...”

“Don’t be greedy Spike, its not like all your gems comes from Canterlot or Rarity, and I must say, you are gaining a bit of weight.”

“I’m not fat! I don’t eat gems all the time Twilight!”

“I beg to differ Spike, you have gems with at least 2 meals a day, and lunch is usually a gem filled cupcake. Gem’s are like candy to dragons as I’ve noticed and I don’t know what Pinkies metabolism is. As she doesn’t see the need for consistent exercise and work like the rest of us do to stay thin. I must learn her secret. I just hope it isn’t another part of her pinkie sense though. Then things would be come troublesome...” Somehow Twilight had turned the conversation around to start talking about her self. Twilight quickly realized that she started rambling and corrected her self by shaking her head. “...anyway, just let him have a gem or two.”

Spike grumbled and walked over to the fridge, pulling out two small gems, one green and the other purple. He walked back to the table and put them on top if it just as Daring and Joy walked into the kitchen.

“Hey you two, how did the check up go?”

“Daring is as healthy as ever, small stress fracture in his left shoulder but that was taken care of with my healing ointment.” Twilight sputtered out some tea.

“What do you mean stress fracture? Why didn’t you say anything Daring?” Daring just shrugged

“Happened a few days ago when I got out of bed too fast, I hurt my shoulder but didn’t think anything of it.” Twilight just sighed as she sipped more of the tea.

“Well, alright, I convinced Spike to give you two of his gems for some of your testing.” Darings eyes lit up.

“Wow really?! Thanks Twilight and Spike, for everything I mean, not just the gems...”

“But of course Daring, your mother is one of my best friends, so its natural I would help you when I can...” Twilight looked over to Star “... The same goes for you as well Star Rider.”

“Well, Do you have a book on, um, Mare health?” Twilight raised an eyebrow at Star. Then moved her mouth into an O shape.

“Yes, we have a few, um, why don’t you come out to the main Library with me. Spike keep Daring occupied, perhaps you can use some of the instruments in my basement to test the gems Daring?” Daring without missing a beat swipes the gems off the table

“Yeah! Lets go Spike!”

“Alright dude, I’ll show you to the basement then, watch your step.” Daring and Spike headed down the opposite direction of Twilight and Star Rider. When Twilight was sure they were out of earshot she leaned down to be eye level with Star.

“What’s going on Star? Why would you need a book on mare health?”

“It’s, embarrassing to ask mom some of these questions, and was hoping a book could answer them for me. Also, she’s not around much since the Wonderbolts are planning a new show over in Manehattan.”

“Mhmm, and what about your dad?”

“I can’t ask him stuff like that! He’s a stallion! It would be awkward...”

“You would be surprised at how mature Big Mac can be. He may seem like a big Dope, but from what your mom tells me, he’s actually quite intelligent and a deep thinker.”

“But still, its awkward. So you have a book about it or not?”

“Well of course, um, how old were you and Daring again?”

“We’re both 9 now, almost 10 actually.”

“Ahh, adolescence then, I know just the book for you. I wonder if Daring is gonna need a copy of his own?” Twilight thought for a moment and pulled another book down. “Might as well get it down for him just in case. Was that all you needed Star?” Star Rider nodded her head and put the book in her saddlebag.

“Yeah, thanks Twilight. I guess I can ask dad if it really comes down to it...” Twilight nodded her head in understanding.

“You wanna go see what the boy’s are up to?” Star nodded her head and set her saddlebag back down by the door.

“I wanna see the look on Daring’s face when he tastes that gem.” Star giggled while Twilight got a confused look on her face.

“Taste? Is that how alchemy works?”

“Yeah he explained a bit to me and Spike, if you don’t know what the inherit magical properties of an item or plant are, you can grind it up into a fine powder, and use the inherit magical ability within ones self to determine the items magical property.” Twilight had a bit of a dumbfounded look on her face.

“I must admit, I never bothered to study alchemy, so I wouldn’t know if that’s true. But the fact everything has a slight magical essence to it is true. And alchemy seeks to concentrate those magical properties, correct?” Star nodded her head again as they traveled to the basement door.

“Mhmm, that’s correct Twilight. Daring has already made some weak energy potions from the apples at the orchard. Applejack was thinking of a way to mass produce it and sell it as a new apple energy drink. And the fact Daring had been using apples we couldn’t sell, it should boost our sales during winter months.”

“You mean, he’s been using bad apples to make potions?” Twilight contorted her face a bit at the thought of drinking something made from apples that were going bad.

“Yeah, he has, I thought it was disgusting at first as well, but it tastes like our Apple Cider, but without the fizz. It really does perk you up, I tried it myself. It seems to work for everyone, but Daring. He probably just needs to make himself something stronger.”

“What do you mean it doesnt work for him?”

“Well, from what Daring told me the body uses 3 fuel sources to make movement. They are glycogen, glucose, and free fatty acids. I have no idea what those are, but thats what he said they were, and the magic within the apples synthesizes? With the muscles as a new fuel source replacing those three. But for some reason, it doesn't seem to synthesize within his body or something. It also has a mild pain relief effect to help. I don’t know how me made it, but he did. All inside of that new shed Dad made for him.”

“He has an alchemy lab outside?”

“Yeah outside, he used to have one in his room but the fumes were bugging everypony.”

“How does alchemy make fumes?”

“When he distills the ingredients, he burns off the unneeded parts to isolate what’s needed. I don’t know everything, I just know the basic’s because I help him from time to time. Its all really confusing, and most of the time its just you waiting for something to boil down.” Twilight and Star had finally gotten down the stairs and they saw Daring using a mortar and pestle to grind up one of the gems, it would seem he had already ground up the 1st one as some purple powder was sitting in a pile on a small glass plate.

“I see your busy grinding those gems up, but how are you going to find the magical properties by grinding them up and tasting them exactly?” asked Twilight a bit confused.

“Well its simply really, I use a breathing technique Zecora showed me and concentrate some of my natural magic into my tongue, and depending on how it reacts, I can figure it out. Although some’s things taste really bad. I wish there a book full of every things magical properties already.”

“We might have a book like that, but alchemy isn’t that well known among ponies.” Daring just sighed as he poured the powdered green gem next to the purple one.

“I’m just wondering if the book Nurse Joy is going to bring me tomorrow will have anything useful in it.” Twilight lifted an eyebrow

“That nurse knows about alchemy?” Daring nodded his head.

“Uh-huh I told her I was into alchemy during the check-up and she said it was done a lot in the village where she grew up. She was going to bring an old book of hers for me to look at.”

“Hmm, I’ll have to find a time to ask her about it later. I didn’t know we had ponies that already did alchemy like the zebras did.” Ignoreing Twilights self monologue Daring continued

“Now, lets see what Emeralds have in them.” Daring closed his eyes and began to take deep breaths

“Here comes the funny part...” Star whispered to Twilight as she tried to hold back her on coming giggle.

After two more deep breaths Daring opened his mouth and stuck his tongue out, taking a few more deep breathes with his tongue hanging out. Star tried not to giggle as Daring looked a lot like Winona right now.

Daring finished his deep steady breathes and got some of the crushed emerald onto the tip of his hoof and put it on his tongue. Daring then brought his tongue back into his mouth and continued to breath deeply. Daring opened his eyes a moment later and looked at everyone with half lidded eyes.

“I feel, calm, and safe...” Daring looked around the room for a bit. “...And slight vision improvement, I think I need glasses.” Daring closed his eyes and took some more deep breathes. “Ok so, life magic, protection magic, and a large concentration of some kind of sight improving magic.” As Daring wrote that down on a piece of paper Twilight raised an eyebrow at him.

“And how, did you figure out it had those types of magic in it, just by eating some?”

“I didn’t exactly eat it, I simply tasted its magical essence, and then felt the effects. Depending on the effects that happen, I can determine what the magical base is. Zecora showed me that. Doing it this way increase the magical sensations, but it quickly loses its power. That way its safe to test all kinds of ingredients, even if they would have negative effects as it will only last but a few moments. Now lets try the tanzanite, that’s what you said it was called, right Spike?”

“Yeah Tanzanite, you can tell by its blueish purple color. What did that emerald taste like anyway? I always found that they tasted like sour grapes.” Daring raised an eyebrow at that.

“Interesting, I bet dragons have an entirely different set of taste buds. For me it tasted like I licked some sand with a light tingling charge from the magic dissipating around my tongue.” Now it was Spikes turn to give a funny look with a scaly eyebrow raised.

“Sand huh? Well I guess that makes sense, no one else seems to taste what I do when I eat a gem. It’s gotta be a dragon thing.” Daring nodded his head at Spike and repeated the process same as before, with Star giggling again when his tongue came out. He placed a bit of the tanzanite on his tongue same as the emerald and took a few more deep breaths.

“Hmm, calmness and I feel safe, same as the emerald except not as intense.” Daring looked around the room. “No improved visuals or anything as well.” Daring closed his eyes and took another deep breath before he began to write down the new information.

After he finished scribbling down some of the information he placed both gem powers into a beaker and filled it with some water. He then placed it onto a hot plate and turned it on.

“What are you doing now Daring?” 

“I’m going to distill it, do you have an egg by chance? I just need 1." Twilight opened her eyes and looked over to Spike.

“Spike can you go up stairs really quick and get an egg? Also, some paper and a quill, I need to write this down.” Spike nodded his head and ran back up the stairs. Only to come back down a few moments later.

“Thanks Spike, you’re the best baby dragon assistant ever.” Spike huffed out some green smoke after he handed her the paper and quill and the egg to Daring.

“I’m not a baby anymore Twilight, If you hadn’t noticed, you no longer have to look down at me.”

"But, you still ride around on my back...” Twilight mused

“That’s cause I'm lazy, and you haven’t complained about me being too heavy yet.” Twilight sighed and giggled a bit to herself.

“So I guess you aren’t fat, just getting bigger then.” Spike nodded his head in agreement as he rubbed his own belly.

Daring had paid them no mind as he cracked the egg open and discarded the eggs insides. He gently wiped the inside of the shell clean and then crushed it up in his hoofs into the mixture. While turning up the heat and placing a lid on top of it. Star trotted over and looked at what he was doing.

“Why did you crush up an eggshell?”

“The protection magic needs something to bind to, I could of used a rock or some other solid object, but I don’t have anything that can crush rocks here. So the eggshell will do just fine.”

“How long until its ready?” Daring closed his eyes and aimed his head up to the ceiling as he took a deep breath.

“My guess is an hour, but it will be done when it turns a neon green color.” Suddenly a loud bang was heard coming from upstairs, after a short moment later Fluttershy entered the basement with a frantic look on her face.

“Fluttershy wha...”

“No time, he might die! We have to hurry!” Twilight dropped her paper and quill and stood up with a worried look.

“Tell me about it on the way then!” Fluttershy spun around and bolted out the door. Twilight had never seen Fluttershy move so fast before, she teleported to the front door to see her waiting outside. Spike, Star and Daring all looked at each other then back to the door leading upwards.

“Someone, might die?” Star Rider looked at Daring and Spike and bolted out the door to see if she could catch up to them.