I didn't have to wait long. They all came the next day to visit. Sparky and her friends were, understandably, distraught. Each one of them blamed themselves for what happened, even though it was technically Sparky's job to take care of me. She didn't say much the first time they came to visit. Didn't even cry. She just stared. She stared at me with the most depressed and empty look I'd ever seen anyone ever give me. I never want to see that again.

The second time she came alone, and she certainly didn't waist any time in laying it all out. It took a while to get her to stop blaming herself. I'm sure if I asked her today she might still feel like at least some of it was her fault. That's probably why she worked so hard on me after I got out.

I was in a dark place back then, and she brought me out of it, gave me a reason to live. Maybe that's why we're so close now? We always got on pretty well before, but after she "reformed" me, as she likes to put it, I always felt an attraction to her that went beyond friendship. I mean, she saved my life. Of course I'm going to always appreciate that, but the first time I saw her after waking up in that hospital was the worst that I've ever felt. I knew that if I ever did anything like that again... she might not be about to shoulder that blame.

I wasn't living for me. I was living for her, and I will not let her suffer like that again.

-Daus Skarr

*******

I sat up in bed. It's not like I was sleeping. I'd been thinking about yesterday's conversation ever since I'd gotten back to the library, and I couldn't get over it.

"Your hand."

I looked down at my right hand. Across the palm and stretch to either side on the back was a faint redish mark that resembled a burn. The mark wasn't pronounced enough to draw attention to it, but if you were looking for it it wasn't hard to find.

"Give me your hand."

"...Why?"

"Just do it."

"...Ah! What was that!?"

"Insurance, now I can make sure you don't go wandering off."

I sighed and fell back onto my pillow. This must be what it feel like to wear an ankle bracelet. Well, if the shoe fits...

I glanced at the clock on my bed stand. Six o'clock, if Twi was as punctual as ever she'd be up here at roughly seven. No point in waiting 'till then. I might as well get ready.

***

I glanced at the alarm clock. It was almost 8am.

And I could smell the food.

It certainly smelled better than anything Spike had ever made. The poor guy had been raised on rabbit food and gems, with some baking mixed in, but this didn't smell like anything Pinkie would make.

This was... bacon.

Could it really be? I remember mentioning the god like taste to Twilight a while back when she was grilling me on human diets, but... I never thought she would do this.

I had had it all planed out. When Twilight would come to get me for breakfast I would be ready, but reluctantly join her downstairs. Then, after as little contact with her as possible, I would "slip out" for the day, and come back when she had forgotten about me. I would then slip upstairs and repeat the process until... whenever.

Admittedly, it wasn't all that solid a plan, but I was kind of stuck as long as I lived with Twi. And seeing as I didn't have a reliable source of income, or anything else needed to live on my own I was, for lack of a better term, boned.

However, as I sat on the edge of my bed enjoying the smell wafting from below, I was reminded of another reason why my plan wasn't the most promising. I was apparently up against a master strategist. No doubt bacon wasn't the only thing waiting for me down there.

I milled around my room for a little bit before looking at my clock again. 8:22, and still no sign of Twilight.

Well, I might as well get this over with. I doubt that I was going to be able to wait Twi out, and I was pretty hungry.

I walked up to my door and, after a moments hesitation, opened it. Immediately the smell of bacon grew stronger, and I felt my mouth water. It had been a while since I'd had a good old fashioned bacon and eggs breakfast. Even before coming to Equestria, I hadn't had it in years. My parents used to make it for me and my siblings on Sunday mornings, but I wasn't that great of a cook.

As I slowly descended the stairs to the first floor I felt a pang of regret shoot through me. I hadn't talked to my parents in years. We didn't exactly get along, and I was never big on the whole family thing. It still hurt to think about them though, but I pushed the pain away and focused on the more pressing matter at hand.

I reached the bottom of the stairs and peered around the corner. What greeted me was one of the strangest sights I'd seen in my entire life, and by now, I felt like I'd been around the block a few times.

Fluttershy, Fluttershy, was standing over a stove frying bacon.

I stood there for a few seconds in disbelief before I heard someone cough to the left of me. I turned and saw twilight leaning against the kitchen counter with a nervous smile on her face.

I came out from behind the corner and gave an equally nervous smile back, "Uh, good morning."

Twilight nodded back to me, "Good morning."

By this time Fluttershy had paused to turn around and noticed me as well. "O-oh, good morning Daus. I didn't hear you come downstairs."

I glanced behind Fluttershy and noticed that, along with bacon, she had made scrambled eggs as well, and, up on the counter next to both items, was a large pitcher of orange juice. All those notes Twilight had been taking had apparently payed off.

I glanced over at twilight for a moment before gesturing behind Fluttershy at the food, "I see that you made breakfast. Is Spike not here?"

"Oh," Fluttershy smiled, "No, he went to stay with Rarity for a few days. She said she has a big order coming up that she needs to fill, and Spike volunteered to help."

I nodded and moved over to the right and leaned against the counter opposite Twilight. Plausible, I suppose, but I think I knew the real reason Spike wasn't here.

The ensuing wait was long and uncomfortable. Although, I couldn't decide which was worse, Twilight's attempts at small talk or the fact that Ponyvilles number one animal lover was making bacon and eggs.

Once the food was done we carried it over to the kitchen table, which had already been set for three, and sat down to eat. There was a moderate amount of bacon (of which I assumed I was the only one who would be eating), a large portion of scrambled eggs, and one pitcher of orange juice.

We dug in, and after all the hospital food that I had been eating recently, bacon and eggs made for a pretty good breakfast. If not for the awkward silence, I might have believed that it was a normal morning. As normal as it get for me these days anyway. Once we finished eating Twilight and Fluttershy went to the other room to talk about something, probably me, and I was left with the dishes.

Seeing as Twilight had blocked my only escape route, I started on the dishes. As I washed, I tryed to listen for the conversation in the other room but all I got was something about lunch, probably making plans. I hoped that was the case. For the past week I'd had someone checking in on me every few minutes, or just plain watching me, presumably because of what I'd done. Some time alone would be a very welcome break.

I finished the dishes just as Twilight walked in, bringing with her a blast of cold air as Fluttershy left. She moved to the table and sat down, pulling a piece of parchment over to her from the other room with her magic.

"Well," I finished drying off my hands as I moved behind Twilight towards the door, "I think that I'll go out for a bit. You know, take a walk. I didn't get that much of a chance to at the hospital-"

"Sit."

I stopped and looked at Twilight. She hadn't looked up from her paper and her shoulders were a little tense, but other than that she seemed normal.

"Really, Twi, I should go. There's some people who are probably worried about me-"

"One of them is sitting at this table," Twilight finally looked up, but her face was passive.

I sighed, "Twilight, I don't want to do this right now."

"Well," Twilight shifted in her seat to face me a little better, "As your doctor and legal guardian, I do."

"Listen, I don't care who the hell you think you are, I don't want to talk-"

"-and as your friend, or were you lying when you said that?"

I shifted uncomfortably before glancing back at the door. I hadn't been lying. I really did consider her a friend, but... I really didn't want to do this now.

After a few more seconds of thinking I grimaced and walked over to the table, taking a seat across from her. If this was going to happen, it might as well be now. If I was lucky I could get out of it moderately unscathed.

I folded my arms, "You know I hate doctors."

Twilight nodded, "I do."

After a few moments I spoke up, "Well not really the doctors, just what they do. I'm not really a big fan of them going around sticking their noses in others business- Not that that's a bad thing, necessarily. It's just that sometimes things don't need to be fixed, but sometimes they do, I guess- Not that I think there's anything wrong with... anything. I mean, I'm not really qualified to say anything isn't wrong, and... why don't you say anything?"

Twilight had been watching me go on the whole time without saying or doing anything. Normally she was more active in conversations. This time she seem more content to listen, however, but as I stopped she put down her paper and leaned forward.

"Daus... you know I want to help you, right?"

I nodded, "I assume that's what you've been doing down in your basement this whole time, or are all the test for some other project you're working on?"

Twilight was shaking her head before I'd even finished the sentence, "No, no I don't think I've been helping you all that much."

I gave her a quizzical look, "You have been trying to get me home, right?"

Twilight nodded, "Yes."

"Then what's the problem?" I shrugged, "As long as you figure it out, and you will, that's the best you can do."

"Daus..." Twilight's voice wavered for a moment, and I saw the first signs of sadness creep onto her face, "I want there to be a Daus to send home."

I sat back and sighed, "I... Listen, I'm not proud of what I did, but I can assure you: it wasn't your fault, and it won't happen again"

Twilight leaned forward even more, "I don't think that you can promise me that. Your mental health isn't exactly in the best of shape. I asked an old psychology professor of mine-"

I shook my head, "I told you before. I'm not a pony so you can't assume-"

"But I did assume!" Twilight raised her voice a little and cut me off, "You're my responsibility- and," Twi went on in a hurry when she saw the indigent look on my face, "A friend. It's my fault that you've had such a hard time adjusting to life here! All I've done for you is give you a little money and closed myself off in my lab. I can't say you're a friend and do that-this to you."

"Then you're not," I said coolly, "but I'd rather have you down there trying to figure out how to get me back than wasting time with me."

"Well," Twilight leaned back and relaxed a little, "that's not up to you."

I snorted, "So you're saying I can't chose my friends now?"

"No," Twilight said gently, "I'm saying I'm going to help you, because I'm your friend."

I shook my head and stood up, "I'm not doing this." I started for the door, "I'm going for a walk, alone."

I stopped and turn to look at Twilight, who had risen from her seat as well. I groaned when we made eye contact. I had only ever seen that look from two people before in my life. My mother and my friend from college. Normally it meant I was just in for a rough night, but given the stakes...

I sighed, "Listen... please, I'm begging you. Don't do this."

Twilight walked past me and started walking up the stairs, "I'm getting my boots-and don't," she turned to look at me, "think you can try and run from me." She tapped her hand, "I'll know if you do."

I leaned against the kitchen door frame and gave out a low moan, "I hate Mondays."

Twilight yelled from the top of the stairs, "It's Wednesday!"

***

I trudged forward through the snow, trying to put some distance between me and my born again friend. Not that it would matter even if I could leave her behind. She'd just use her little charm thing to track me down. I had hoped she would give up after a while, but several hours had past and she showed no signs of stopping.

I kicked through another mound of snow making sure to disturb the sides so that it fell back into place behind me. My efforts were met with a snort and the sounds of more snow being shoved to the side behind me.

I grinned a little, "What's the matter? Having trouble with those hooves back there?"

I heard Twilight pause before attacking the snow with renewed vigor... only to slip and fall for the forth time.

I stopped and took a deep breath. Underneath my pounding headache I felt a pang of guilt. She was, after all, trying to help me, in her own way, and I knew what she was doing. I'd seen the show. I know how she thinks, but still...

I turned to look at her. She was on the ground massaging her ankle, glaring angrily at the snow. I couldn't assume that that her was the same this her. Although I'd seen nothing to indicate other wise. Which met that this her was just as smart as the other her. Which met that this right here was a trap. Twilight Sparkle does not trip and fall from a little snow. Snow she could have just as easily moved with her magic.

I sighed in defeat and walked over to her, "Oh? Princess? Would you like a hand up?"

Twilight looked at me with smirk, "Would you be so kind good sir?"

I helped her up and we stood there looking at each other for a moment before I turned and started walking back the way we came.

Twilight jogged up to me, "Done 'walking' are we?"

I gritted my teeth in frustration, "No, I just need some coffee. I saw a good place back here to get some."

"Sure, sure," Twilight swept the snow out from in front of us as we walked catching my eye and giving me another smirk to rub it in.

I pushed ahead and reached the coffee stand first, ordering my usual, plain black, and Twilight getting something with an excessive amount of sugar. While we waited for our order I spotted a welcome sight walking up. I took my hands out of my pocket to wave him over.

"Hedge!" I flagged down a lightly armored guard with a slightly confused look on his face. He stared over at me for a moment before recognizing me and hurried over.

"Daus! You're out! I'd heard you were in the hospital but I didn't know what for. The Siren's been lonely without you! Horseapples, even Maze has been asking about you!"

I shook Hedge's hand and gestured to Twilight, "You might want to keep it clean Hedge. You're in the presence of royalty."

Hedge looked over and started, falling to one knee, "Princess! Forgive me, I hadn't noticed you!"

"Ummm," Twilight shifted in the snow uncomfortably, "Rise guard...? The Guard doesn't work for the princesses."

"Still," Hedge got to his feet, "Credit where credit is due. You've probably solved more problems than you've made, but that's above my pay grade."

I grinned, "And we're all better for it."

Hedge chuckled, "I see you didn't lose your humor in the forest."

I shrugged, "Not my best day."

He snorted and shook his head before turning to Twilight, "Keep and eye on this guy, will you? I don't want to have to write up a report about him to my captain. I hate paperwork."

Twilight gave a nervous laugh, "That's why I'm here."

Hedge nodded, "Well, I have to go talk to someone about a break in over on the east side of town. I'll see you tonight?"

Twilight spoke up before I could respond, "Actual you won't. At the bar, I mean. That is what you meant?"

Hedge grinned, "She's got you on house arrest?"

I snorted, "She means well, but..." I shrugged again.

Twilight watched us with a slight frown on her face before asking, "You think I'm going to let him go back to that bar and slowly kill himself?"

Hedge raised an eyebrow, "Strong words."

"If you had seen him in the hospital you would agree with me," Twilight slowly swirled her coffee around, "He was..."

Twilight let the silence hang, unable to find the right words to describe me. For a moment I almost felt guilty, almost.

Hedge coughed to break the silence, "Well, each stallions life is his own. I've know people who drank there life away over smaller problems."

Twilight gave Hedge a piercing gaze, "You just told me to take care of him."

Hedge slapped me on the back, "And I want you to, but if Daus here makes it to the bar tonight I won't stop him from reaping the spoils of victory."

Twilight gave him a confused look, "Victory?"

Hedge looked at her with a knowing look, "Escaping the clutches of a princess, the one that reportedly 'reformed' Discord, is no small feat. Throw in the fact that he can't use magic and you can... I might even say that it's impossible, but this one, "Hedge gestured to me, "He's craftier than most, but," Hedge sighed, "I really have to go now. Daus, " Hedge gestured to Twilight, "Listen to her. She wants to help."

I shrugged, "No promises."

Hedge grinned and turned to Twilight, "Princess." Hedge made a sweeping bow, "Take care of him."

Twilight folded her arms and frowned, but otherwise offered no response.

Twilight and I watched Hedge walk away. Once he disappeared around the corner I took a sip of my now lukewarm coffee. After a moment I looked up to see Twilight with a pensive expression on her face. I gave her a quizzical look back.

Twilight started walking back in the direction of her house, "We should probably head back. It's supposed to snow soon."

Having nothing else to do, I followed.

***

Twilight sat at her desk mentally reviewing the various wards she had placed around the library, and one by one they all check out just fine. Just like they had five minutes before, and ten minutes before that...

Twilight powered down her horn and slumped back in her chair. She glanced at the clock on her bedside table and sighed. 12:53am, not that late, but Twilight could definitely feel the strain of the wards on her. Once they had returned to the library and had lunch Twilight had started on the arduous process of warding all the doors and windows of her library, effectively trapping Daus in the tree house.

Well, trap, may be a little harsh. Daus could leave, but not without an escort. Which meant Twilight, or one of her friends if they were available.

Daus, to his credit, took the news well, or so Twilight thought. Not having the ears and tail of a pony, Daus was an exceptionally difficult person to read. Though, when Twilight questioned him about the subject, he had said he was less expressive than most humans, even in private. Something that Luna's Mark had been quick to pick up on. It being one of the few things he had been able to find out about the human.

Twilight stood and stretched, letting out a long yawn. With nothing to do, Daus had to be asleep by now. He couldn't get out, not without Twilight knowing, and even if he did somehow manage to get through her wards, Twilight had asked Dash to keep watch on the balcony. Although, it even being as cold as it was, Twilight doubted her friend would stay awake the whole night.

Twilight sat down and glanced around at the various books and scrolls on her deck in front of her, not really wanting to engage in any of them. Once Twilight had started, Daus had watched her place all her wards, never leaving except for once to use the bathroom. When Twilight had asked him why her was watching her he had simply said "know thy enemy" before returning to scrutinizing her work.

Twilight could have sworn she saw the ghost of a smile on Mark's face when he had said that, but she wouldn't have bet on it.

She glanced at the clock again: 1:04am. Twilight would give it another hour, and if she didn't hear anything by then-

Twilight sat bolt upright at the sound of a door opening down the hall. She moved to the door and cast a quick scrying spell on the it. After waiting for a moment the hallway on the other side of the door came into focus, revealing a tall dark figure, presumably Daus, hunched over and shuffling down the hall. On closer inspection he was wearing socks but no shoes, and had tugged his jacket around himself to keep warm. Daus shuffled further down the hall towards the guest bathroom. Innocent enough, but maybe...

Twilight cautiously leaned up against the door to try to hear better. After a moment she caught Daus mumbling something under his breath, "Damn cold is going to fu-" Twilight hastily pulled away from the door. She wasn't particularly interested in Daus's feelings on the cold.

Twilight shook her head and released the scrying spell on the door. After staring in the direction of the hallway for a few more seconds she shrugged and walked over to her bed, falling backwards onto it.

She could feel her eyes begin to itch from sleepiness, but she couldn't give in, not yet. One more hour and then she'd go to sleep.

***

Yeah right, like I was going to sleep.

Once I had made it into the bathroom I opened up my jacket and carefully placed my boots on the floor, making sure not to make any noise. Then I moved back to the door and pressed my ear up against it, listening.

I waited for a minute before hearing the sound of a mattress shifting. She'd fallen for it.

I carefully and quietly removed my beany and gloves from my boots before pulling them on and lacing them up. Placing the hat on my head I turned to the object of my salvation: the one tiny window Twilight hadn't warded.

At least, I hadn't seen her ward it.

Though, I doubt she remembered to. Twilight had started at the front door and worked her way clockwise around the library warding any opening leading outside.

Except for this one of course.

When she had reached the area just before here I had ducked in here and waited for Twi to move past, knowing she would be too engrossed in her work to remember to come back and get this one. That was the plan anyway.

I approached the window, eyeing it carefully. After pulling my gloves on I leaned in to examine the frame. While watching Twi cast her wards I had noticed a faint afterglow once she had moved on, but couldn't see any now. I nodded, figures it would be hidden, even if she had come back to ward the window later. This could be a trap for all I know.

Fortunately for me, I was prepared for just such an occasion. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a bottle full of the bane of Twilight's existence for the past month: Pixe Dust.

...is what I call it. I actually don't know it's real name, but I do know that Twi is allergic to the stuff. It's nothing too bad, she just starts sneezing and her eyes water like crazy if she gets close to the stuff. It's funny, if you're not Twi, but I'm not that horrible. I only do it every few days. Enough to get Twilight to start "checking" her books before she opens them which is funny to watch in and of itself.

However, I have also discovered that it glows when exposed to magical residue, hence the name.

Though, it also means I could turn Twilight into the world's angriest Christmas tree if I wanted to, but again, I'm not that horrible...

...maybe.

I opened the bottle and sprinkled a small amount of dust onto the window sill and waited. After a few moments of nothing happening I nodded. I grinned when I imagined her face in the morning, but it quickly turned to a frown when I thought about how short lived my victory would be. Shrugging I slowly opened the window. It had frozen over, so it took longer than usual in order to not alert Twi. I had learned from earlier attempts at sneaking it at night that pony ears weren't that large for show, but after a few minutes I managed to get it open enough to, hopefully, squeeze through.

This was the one part of my plan I wasn't sure of. Admittedly, I was thinner than when I'd first gotten here but still... it was obvious from its size that the small window wasn't meant to be used as an exit.

I lifted myself up and stuck my head through the window. Thankfully the wind wasn't blowing, but it was still cold enough for me to briefly reconsider what I was about to do. After steeling myself I reached through with one hand and grasped the outside of the treehouse. On the count of three I pulled myself through. For a moment I thought I wouldn't fit but then, with a firm tug, I slipped through.

All this time I had been worrying about getting out without making any noise. However, shortly after slipping through the window I realized a flaw in my plan. In fact so short was the time from slipping through the window to realizing my error that I hardly had time to register it before I hit the ground.

"Damn-" I cut myself off before I alerted Twilight in the house above me. I blinked a few times from the shock then picked myself up and slumped against the side of the tree.

After waiting for a few minutes I decided that the cold was worse than anything Twi could do to me if she casually looked out her window and saw me. I got up and started walking slowly toward the middle of town, sticking to the sides of the street and trying to look inconspicuous. The further I got from the library the more confident I got.

Once I reached the square I stopped and looked back, but there was only a few stranglers returning home and a few others like me on their way to whatever bar they frequented. I shook my head and turned to look towards the west side of town. If I didn't know Twilight better I'd think she let me go.

I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and I spun around to look back the way I came. After scanning the street behind me I turned back around and grinned nervously.

"Hey!"

I turned and saw a guard approaching. From across the square all I could see was that she had a brown coat and amber colored mane. It looked like she had a crossbow slung across her back but I couldn't see clearly from here.

I pointed to me with a curious look.

"Yeah you," as she got closer I could see some sort of symbol on her left shoulder plate, her only shoulder plate which I thought was odd, but I couldn't see it properly it the poor lighting. She stopped in front of me and looked me it eyes with a piercing look for a moment before I glanced down at my feet. When I looked up again she was still studying me but not as intensely as before

"Hmph, you're alright I guess. Hedge said to look out for you, said you'd be by the square 'later tonight'. Damn vague, but here you are." The pony stuck her hand out, "Name's Mead, just Mead, and I guess you're Daus?" She spoke with a southern accent like Applejack but not as pronounced.

I nodded and shook her hand before asking, "You're a guard like Hedge?"

Mead shrugged with a grin, "Not quite, you got Guards, like Hedge, then Sargent then Lieutenant. That'd be me," she tapped her shoulder piece. "After that's the Captain, sittin' in his chair all day looking for an excuse to get up. Then the regionals, but they're just politicians. Never done any 'guarding' in their life." Mead nodded as if to confirm something, "It's a pretty rough system but it works, for now. The Guard Captain'll probably change it again soon."

I glanced around, "No partner? I thought you guys went everywhere in pairs."

Mead shrugged, "Perks of being higher up the food chain. Technically I am breaking regs but..." Mead shrugged, "In Ponyville, it's either quieter than a library or the end of the world. Either way, nobody really cares."

"So," I started walking in the direction of the Siren and Mead fell into step beside me, "You here to stop me?"

Mead gave me a quizzical look, "From doing what?"

I gestured in front of me, "From going... out."

Mead laughed, "Is that why you looked so guilty when I flagged you down?"

I smiled a little, "Maybe, I thought I'd been caught. I almost ran."

"Well," Mead chuckled, "It's a good thing you didn't. I'd've had to chase you down and ask you why, but I'm not here for that. I'm just here to make sure you make it to the Siren. Lots of people startin' to take an interest in you, and I wanted to see you for myself."

I glanced around nervously, "I thought you said it was quiet here in Ponyville?"

"And I'd like it to stay that way."

I look at Mead warily. After a moment she sighed, "Listen, I'm just doing my job. It's kind of the point. If something were to happen to you in Ponyville, the damn near safest place in Equestria other than Canterlot-"

"You don't care," I frowned at her, "You don't care about keeping me safe. You care about your reputation, the Guard's reputation."

We walked in silence for a while, Mead seemed to be chewing over her response. We past through the gates that lead to the addage. The part of town most people from outside Equestria stayed, and after a while Mead spoke.

"I won't lie. The Guard wants to prove itself. To a lot of people it doesn't seem like we can do any better than the old Royal Guard, but its not just business. If it were, you never would have seen me." Mead sighed and started to rub her left forearm. A nervous habit I guess, "Ya seem like a decent stallion. I wasn't lying about that, and under different circumstances I think I might like to share a drink with you. Unfortunately though, you're a marked pony, as it were, and I have a job to do." Mead shrugged, "As long as everyone's safe in their beds at the end of the day, or night, I don't really care what people say about the Guard."

I grimaced, "So you say."

Mead nodded absentmindedly, "So I do say."

The rest of the walk was quiet. Mead had apparently said all she meant to say and I could decide if I liked it or not. It didn't matter though, as the Siren drew closer I doubted I would remember most of the conversation.

As we came up to the side of the Siren's Call Mead gripped my arm, "Hey, not too much alright. I don't want to have to scrape you off Maze's doorstep a few hours from now, you hear?"

I shrugged, "That sounds like a problem for future Daus."

Mead let go of me and shook her head, "I hope I don't see you again tonight, Daus."

I just grinned and made my way into the bar.

***

Twilight looked at her clock, 1:57, close enough.

She moved to the edge of her bed and stood. All she had to do was activate the tracking spell on Daus and then-

Twilight griped her hand for a moment then stopped. If he was going to try and get out of the library he would know to try after she used the spell. Twilight frowned for a moment before before thinking of a solution. She could just scan the house for him. A little more intensive than the tracking spell, but Twilight couldn't take any chances with Daus.

After quickly forming the correct phrase in her mind she cast out with her magic... and found nothing.

Twilight frowned. He wasn't in his room... but she had doubted he would be anyway. The doctors who had treated him (with help from Twilight's study of the human) had told her he would probably have trouble sleeping at first. Daus himself had told her he was a "night owl", but she couldn't sense him nearby either.

Twilight closed her eyes to concentrate and pushed out further. The bathroom... the stairs... the main hall... the kitchen. She kept going until she had reached the basement door, which she kept locked. The entire library, empty. Except for Dash on the balcony, but that was impossible. She had seen Daus a little less than an hour ago going to the bathroom and he wasn't still in there-

Twilight's eyes flew open. The guest bathroom. The one with a window.

Twilight felt the bottom of her stomach fall out as she ran to the door and threw it open. On the way to the bathroom she racked he brain to try and remember if she had warded the window in the guest bathroom, but she couldn't remember. It fact, as she reached the door and unlocked it with a quick spell she remembered that Daus had stopped watching her ward the library earlier to go to the restroom. This restroom.

Twilight let out a panicked breath when she saw the open window. She ran up to it stuck her head out and looked down. Below her she could see a disturbed patch of snow and hoof steps leading off in the direction of the townsquare. Twilight withdrew her head and ran to the balcony to find a sleeping Dash on one of the lower branches of the tree. After looking out over the view in front of her she turned to Rainbow.

"Rainbow!"

The pegasus gave no response except for a snore and a slight shift in weight on the branch.

"Rainbow, wake up!"

Again no response. Twilight reached out and grabbed a bit of the blue mares colorful tail and pulled.

"Wha-AAAAAAAAAAGH," Rainbow caught herself before she feel off the branch completely and righted herself. She looked around for a moment before her eyes fell on Twilight.

"Come on Twilight, you didn't have to pull me off the branch! I though you were Apple-"

"SorryRainbownotimedidyouseeDaus?"

Rainbow shook her head, "Slow down Twi. I can't understand a thing you're saying."

Twilight took a deep breath then slowly exhaled before asking again in a rushed tone, "Daus, where is he?"

Rainbow shrugged, "In the house probably. I'd have seen him if he came through here."

Twilight gave Rainbow an exasperated look before turning in the direction that the hoof steps had led and said, "Well he's not. He got out."

"What!"

"Hold on! Let me concentrate!" Twilight raised her right hand in front of her and fed magic into the spell imprinted on it. After a moment the vague glowing purple shape formed itself on her palm. After a few more moments Twilight canceled the spell.

"That way." She pointed west in the direction of the townsquare and the Addage not that far beyond.

***

I entered the bar and swept the room for for Hedge. After a moment of searching I spotted him sitting at the other end of the bar facing me and the door. I nodded to him once we made eye contact and started to make my way across the room towards him. Just like Hedge to sit farthest from the door. Said in gave him a vantage of the whole room. A good idea, if he was a criminal and not a member of what essential passed as Equestria's police force, but he was just a little paranoid like that. "When you've been in as many fights as I have," he would say, "you learn to keep your eyes open and your back to the wall at all times."

My mom would've called it caveman instinct.

Suppressing warm and cozy thought of home I walked up to Hedge and pulled myself onto a bar stool. Even at my increased height there was no way I could comfortably stand at the bar. This being one that served minotaurs, and they easily reached 2.5 to 3 meters tall. Fortunately the taller ones kept to the Inner Marches.

I casually pointed to a minotaur sitting a few seats to the left, but Hedge wave him off dismissively. Even so, I felt nervous being between him and the tall being sitting a few seats down. Minotaurs made good drinking buddies, but this one obviously wasn't looking for someone to talk to.

"So," Hedge waved a small piece of paper in my face, "Either the princess is blind or her reputation is highly exaggerated."

I grabbed the paper out of his hand and read the message hastily scrawled on it: Bar tonight.

I shrugged and pocketed the paper, "You dropped it when I gave it to you. Although the kneeling bit was clever."

Hedge snorted, "Don't expect it to happen again. I respect the princesses, but that doesn't mean I worship them." Hedge turned and waved to the bartender. Maze walked over slowly and stood in front of us, eyeing me.

"I'll be damned," Maze shook his head, "I didn't think you had it in you."

"Come on Maze," I gestured at myself, "We're talking about the guy who talked you out of a keg."

"Hmph, you needed it." Maze turned and pulled a glass off the shelf before filling it with cider.

"Here," Maze slide me the drink and turned to Hedge, "A bet's a bet, but that's the only one I'll give away for free tonight." And after nodding to me he made his way back over to a few ponies that had just sat at the other end of the bar.

"Well," I raised my glass, "to tomorrow morning."

Hedge smirked and raised his glass to mine, "Not sure I want to be around for that."

We touched glasses and I went to take a drink, but before I could I felt a hand grip my arm and stop me.

"Excuses me mister, but are you really the human everyone's been talking about?"

I turned to look down at who was talking. A mare with a crimson coat and dark blue mane had come up to me and had my arm in a pretty firm grip. Almost painfully so, but when I tried to shake her off she seemed not to have noticed my discomfort.

I glanced at Hedge but he seemed to have taken an interest in Mazes most recent customers. I looked back to the mare to see her staring at me expectantly, so I shrugged, "Uh yeah, sure I guess. I haven't heard of any other humans around here anyway."

The mare smiled and nodded, "Oh cool! Me and my friends have been wanting to meet you for a while. Their outside, too scared to come in, but I was hoping you would come out to see them?"

I looked over the mare again before pointedly looking down at her hand gripping my forearm. After a moment the mare released me and I asked, "I'm probably not the best judge but you seem a little... young to be in a bar. How'd you get past Maze?"

The mare dismissed my question with a roll of her eyes, "Come on, I turned 19 last month. I'm of age. Do I look like a kid to you?"

I shrugged, "Where I come from you'd still have two more years."

The mare looked surprised, "Really? Wow that suck. You humans must not have that much fun."

I shook my head, "Fun isn't exclusive to the bottom of a bottle."

I heard Hedge chuckle behind me.

"Well, anyway," the mare grabbd my upper arm and pulled me off my stool, "Come on outside. Me and my friends want to... get a look at you."

I pulled away from the mare again and stepped back a little, putting the mare in between me and Hedge, "Really? And what, exactly, would that involve?"

Again the mare stepped in, "Oh... you know... the usual stuff."

I glanced over her at Hedge, who seem to be on edge for some reason. I focused on the mare again. While her interest was flattering she wasn't my type.

"Look... Miss," I waved to the door, "Not to offend you or your friends, but ponies aren't really my style. I'm still having a hard time getting over the whole tail thing-"

"Daus," I turned to see Hedge slide off his bar stool, "We should leave."

I gave him a questioning look before asking, "What? We just got here, and I'm not leaving until I finish that drink Maze owes me."

"Yeah well, I'd love for you to be around long enough to collect on that, but I think our friend here wants more than just a quick fling."

I looked back to the crimson mare in front of me to see her with a pleading look on her face. She reached forward and grabbing the arm holding my drink and said in an almost begging tone, "We just want a few minutes. You don't have to-"

"Alright listen lady," Hedge stepped in between to two of us and pushed the mare off me, "Unless you want to start something right here right now. You can take yourself and your friends over there," Hedge pointed to the stallions sitting at the bar, "and you can leave."

The mare stared at Hedge with an innocent look for a few more moment before a calm look came over her face. She seemed to size up Hedge for a second before saying in a quiet tone," So you're Hedge... It's a shame you left."

Hedge tensed up before taking a step towards the mare.

"Stop," Hedge froze. The mare had raised a hand to point at the window behind me. Hedge turned to look at the back wall then back to the mare who said, "If we cannot have the human, then neither can Equestria. Now, here's how this will work," The mare pulled out what looked like a small stone from her pocket. She looked at it for a moment then to me, "You're coming with me-and you're," she turned to Hedge, "Not moving from that spot until we are clear of the bar. If this ward hits the floor, my friend out there will put a bolt right through the humans heart. Understand?"

I stood there for a moment then asked, "Hedge?"

"Do what she says Daus. We'll get you back. They won't get far with all of Equestria chasing them from here to the border."

I laughed nervously, "I get the feeling even if you catch up to me there won't be much left to bring back."

Hedge snorted angrily, "These guys are good, but they're not that good."

"Enough talk," the mare motioned for me to follow, "Now move."

"Alright alright, I'm putting my drink down," I moved to the bar. In all that had happened the only one who had noticed was the minotaur sitting a few seats down, and he didn't really seem like the caring type. By now I had moved to be just beside him. The guy looked to be in a foul mood, which I was counting on.

As I went to set the drink down I deftly flicked the contents of the glass into the face of the minotaur.

The minotaur was apparently in a fouler mood than I had anticipated, which was both a good and a bad thing. Good because The moment the liquid hit the his face the minotaur gave a roaring bellow and grabbed me by the front of the shirt to toss me across the room like a rag doll. Bad because the minotaur picked me up and tossed me across the room like a rag doll. I hit the the opposite wall and slid to the floor. The initial problem taken care of, I proceeded to lay on the floor and try to remember why I had thought this was such a good plan in the first place. I didn't come back to my senses until I felt the minotaur grab me again and pull me up to eye level with him. I glanced over and managed to get an image of Hedge fending off three stallions with a pool stick before the minotaur slammed me against the wall.

"Listen," I gripped the minotaur's arms holding me up, "I'd say thanks but I take it now's a bad time-AH!" I felt my right hand flare up as if I was being burned. When I glanced at it it glowed a faint purple color.

"Damn," I glanced back up at the minotaur who let out snarl," Listen pal you're not going to want to get caught like this when my other friend shows up so-"

The minotaur roared in my face again and drew back with a fist.

I leaned back as far as I could and braced for the impact... but it never came. I opened my eyes and found the minotaur staring at me with a pained look on his face. His grip loosened and I fell to the floor. The minotaur collapsed in front of me with what looked like a pointed metal shaft sticking out of its chest. I bent over to get a better look and heard a thud and the wooden beams above me splinter and crack as another bolt buried itself in the wall a few feet above me.

"Hedge!" I dove for cover behind an upturned table, "Crossbow!"

I heard the sounds of a struggle on the other side before Hedge responded, "I'm a little busy here!"

I peaked out from behind the table to see Hedge take a swing at the remaining stallion. He deftly dodged and continued forward, picking up Hedge and slamming him through one of the last remaining tables let standing.

The stallion stood and turning to look at me, but before her could start towards me I here a yell from the bar.

"Hey!"

The stallion turned to see Maze level a crossbow at him. The stallion's eyes widened and he started to dive to the side, but was to slow. The blow pierced his left shoulder and flung him back across the room into a booth on the back wall where he came to a rest, unmoving.

I glanced around the rest of the bar, but the only other ones there where Maze, Hedge, me, and the unconscious stallions I assume Hedge had taken care of.

And the dead minotaur next to me.

I turned back to look at the minotaur. I could still see the alcohol dripping off his face where I had thrown it on him. I turned away with a sick feeling in my stomach, and for once it wasn't from too many drinks. Although, right about now, I really wish it was.

I waited a few more seconded then peaked out from behind the table to see Hedge stir on the floor where the stallion had deposited him. A moment later I heard him yell, "Daus! Dammit Daus you better be alive-"

"Yeah yeah, I'm fine... I think. The minotaur's dead."

I heard Hedge mumble something under his breath. Then Maze spoke up from behind the bar.

"Hedge! The Guard better pay for this!"

Hedge sighed, "Sure Maze. I be by in the morning with my months bonus."

I grinned and leaned by against the table just in time to see the front door fly open. After a moment I saw Mead stick her head in for a second then retract it back behind the door.

"Hey! Any one alive in there!"

I heard Hedge move some debris around then yell back, "Here! Don't come in! Crossbow around back!"

Mead responded, "I'll check it out! Sit tight!"

I heard Mead's footsteps leaving the front door and yelled, "I take it all back Hedge! You guy are insane if you have to deal with this on a daily basis!"

I heard Hedge chuckle, "It has its perks."

"Yeah? Like What?"

"I'm just imagining the look on that princesses face when she comes strolling in here to collect you in a few minutes."

***

Luna strolled through the halls of Canterlot castle, occasionally nodding to a guard or two as she made her way to her sister study. She past a window and looked out on the city below, glowing in the light of a thousand torches and thaumic bulbs. She had always enjoyed watching the city at night. It reminded her of all the life it contained. Contrasted by the inky black of the surrounding landscape.

Luna looked away from the cityscape and walked up to the door of her sister private study. After knocking she entered, and found Celestia sitting behind her desk, studying some requests from some senate committee. Luna was fairly certain she hadn't gotten past the first few sentences, however.

Luna came to a stop in front of the desk and stared down at her sister. After a moment Celestia looked up.

Luna paused for a moment before saying, "It was a success, partially. The Guard managed to capture or kill all but one of the assailants. Their leader escaped."

"Escaped?" Luna thought she saw the faintest hint of a smile in Celestia's eye's before she continued.

"Yes escaped. She used a lodestone talisman." Luna paused to think for a moment, "Apparently they are more entrenched than we had previously thought."

Celestia leaned back in her chair and said, "I'm surprised. Your people's track record would hardly imply that you would let any one escape without you permitting it."

Luna studied her sisters face for a moment before seeing the humor on her face. Few would have caught it, but Luna had been around her sister long enough to see the spark in her eyes.

"As surprised as I am, I'm sure, by the failure of the wards placed by your most trusted students from your school." Luna let half a smile creep onto her face.

Celestia returned the expression before getting up and walking over to a book self filled with various scrolls and volumes, "A distraction. Something to give them a false sense of security. The wards would have be broken even if I myself had placed them. There wasn't enough time to prepare anything more extensive, and," Celestia turned back to her sister with a book in her hands, "The Mage Tower is too resourceful to stop on such short notice."

Celestia walked back to her desk and sat down, laying the plain leather bound book on top of the mass of papers in front of her.

Luna surveyed the desk before saying, "You should really organize your paperwork. Much more work would get done, I'm sure. Not to mention all of the 'lost' files you can never seem to find."

Celestia waved er sister off, "Tomorrow."

Luna shook her head, "I'm sure you've been saying that for over a thousand years by now... is that it?" Luna nodded to the book in front of her.

Celestia leaned back in her chair and gestured to the unassuming book, "Be my guest."

Luna rolled her eyes and reached forward while saying, "That you would grant me such an honor is beyond even my wildest deams."

Celestia smirked... then felt the expression slip off her face as her sister flipped the cover open. Immediately an almost, but not quite, grating voice issued from the pages.

"What?! Who're-you!"

A pair of eyes formed on page and pressed outward, as if they were covered by a veil made of paper. Once fully formed they immediately seemed to panic and turned to Celestia.

"Quick!" the voice pleaded her, "Restrain her! She will ruin you and your people for what you did to her!"

Celestia remanded silent and Luna spoke in a terse tone, "While I'm sure you already know this, I do not, in fact, wish to harm my sister or any of our people. I was not myself when I attacked my sister over a thousand years ago."

The eyes turned to look at Luna. They had lost the pleading look, and now seemed to look down upon the mare, "Of course I knew that. It was a joke! Laugh."

The eyes looked from Luna to Celestia and back though neither showed signs of amusement on their face. It rolled its eyes, "Loosen up girls. I get about one joke ever few hundred years."

"Well," Luna stood back and looked down at the book, "There's probably a reason for that."

"Bah!!" the book said in a haughty tone, "You're just jealous because my pages are smoother than yours."

"And just what does that-"

"Sister please," Celestia held up a hand to stop her sibling, "Remember why we are here."

Luna crossed her arms and and gave the book an annoyed look. The book responded by forming a copy of Luna's face giving her the same look back.

Celestia coughed loudly and the eyes turned to her, "Oh, I'm so sorry your highness. I should have known you would want your own drawing as well. Here-"

Celestia cut the book off, "I could drop you into the middle of the ocean. I'm sure the fish would make much better company that my sister and I."

"Well," the book looked between the two mares again before settling on Celestia, "When you put it that way..."

Luna spoke up, "You know sister, it occurs to me that this book and the human share quite a similar humor."

Celestia chuckled, "Let us hope they are not too similar."

The book scoffed, "You really expect me to believe you've actually found a human. This is pathetic. If this is the level you would stoop to to get my attention now a days... shameful."

Celestia leaned in, "I've certainly seen stranger things. The discovery of a new sapient species doesn't even come close to the top of the list."

The book snorted, "New is a relative term sweetheart."

The sisters exchanged a look before Luna spoke, "You know something."

The book stared at her with a hard gaze for a few seconds then said, "Of course I know something! I know a lot of things!"

Luna threw her hands in the air and walked over to the window cursing under her breath. Celestia leaned back in her chair and sighed.

The book went on, "Oh, don't act all high and mighty. Standing over there art all moody... hmmm, moony..."

Luna turned and gave Celestia an exasperated look.

"What exactly did you want to talk to me about, anyway?" the book turned to Celestia with an expectant look, "Because unless you pull a human out from... where ever, I'm not seeing much point in this conversation."

Celestia frowned down at the book, "I thought you were starved for attention?"

"Well, present company included," the book looked around the room, "You're all savages."

The two sister stared at the book with blank looks.

"Hmm," the books gaze came to a rest on the shelf where it normally rested, "I seem to have touched a nerve."

Celestia blinked a few times before opening a drawer in her desk, "We need some information on an enchantment our people picked up on in the field." Celestia pulled out a glass vial with a small piece of cloth in it. She uncorked the vial and dumped the sample onto the book.

"And please," Luna said, "Use words us savages will understand."

The book responded in a distracted tone, "I'll keep that in mind."

Luna growled and returned to looking out the window.

The book was silent for a minute then look to Celestia with an annoyed look on its face, "If this is a joke I think I finally understand why none of mine ever get through to you."

Celestia raised an eyebrow, "I see nothing funny about this situation."

The book continued to stare at Celestia for a moment more before saying, "It's just a piece of cloth. There's nothing here to analyse. Just an unremarkable... piece of cloth. An extremely unremarkable piece of cloth. It's almost like... wait..."

The book's eyes widened then the pages rapidly turned themselves, as if a strong wind had blown through the room. After a few dozen pages the turning stopped and runes began to flash across the page in rapid succession.

Luna walked over to the desk and leaned in with her sister to try and make sense of what was happening, but the mysterious runes flashed too fast across the page to make sense of any of them. After about half a minute of this the runes stopped, and the eyes returned to the page.

The sisters waited but with no sign that the book would speak anytime soon, Luna decided to break the ice.

"Well?" the mare poked the book between the eyes, "What is it?"

"Ow! Don't touch me!" the book's eyes flinch away from the mare's finger, "I'll get rough spots."

Luna withdrew her hand and said, "If you don't talk you have more than rough spots before I'm done with you."

The book looked between the two sisters with an incredulous look, "This is a joke right? Or are your people so incompetent that you need me to analyse your experiments. Experiments you shouldn't even be doing!"

Celestia raised an eyebrow and said in a curious tone, "Shouldn't be doing?" she gave her sister a look across the table before continuing, "Well, of course. We know it's dangerous, but we believe it will benefit the people of Equestria."

The book gave her an exasperated look, "Do you even understand what you're doing? You could rip the world apart! Not to mention all the unwanted attention that you will attract just because you want to 'improve the lives of your people'. How exactly would you be 'improving' their lives anyway?"

Celestia wave a hand in the air as if to emphasis a point, "Well, we haven't found any specific use for it yet. However, we theorize that any number of industries could harness the power of-"

"You're lying," the book cut her off, "You have no idea what you've found."

"I would never lie about such an import-"

"Shut up and listen to me," the book took on a serious tone neither of the sister had heard before, "If you ever find anything like this again, leave it alone, or destroy it if you have to, and another thing," the book's tone changed to that of anger, "If by some insane fluke of nature this human is real. Kill it, and erase any evidence that it ever lived. Burn the body, wipe everyone's memory, destroy every thing it ever touched, but do not allow it to live. Maybe that way you might manage to stave off the void." The book paused for a moment to gauge the mares response. Then it went on with a laugh, "But I doubt it." and slammed shut.

The Celestia continued to stare at the book for a few seconds then looked up at her sister. The two exchanged a look before Luna turned to leave, a grim expression on her face.

Author's Note

A wild chapter appears.