A New Friend

One of the many curses of becoming parents is being idolized by your children whilst they are young. It makes many unprepared souls realize that, for the first time, they have total influence over the life of another. Daybreak and Twilight were no different, royalty or not, they constantly found themselves second guessing what to do and how to do it for fear of giving a negative influence to their daughter. Daybreak was able to escape this fear mostly because of his duties as a prince of chaos, which were much more than one might think in such a peaceful town, but for Twilight, who had not had an exciting royal duty in awhile, it seemed she somehow had more time than ever. This was a plus because it gave her plenty of time to train the Cutie Mark Crusaders in foal-sitting with a live test subject (that being her daughter). Although it did unnerve Daybreak whenever Twi would call her that by accident, he knew she would never harm their filly. He had seen how overprotective...how cautious she was about their filly already.

After Aurora's first birthday, Daybreak had tried to scoot the little magic monster outside for some fresh air and a new atmosphere, but Twilight had been almost one hundred percent against it, and Aurora wasn't too thrilled either. With Twilights rambling about safety precautions and the little filly's every attempt to secure herself to the floor, Daybreak was at wits end by the time he finally talked them both down (and for those of you that haven't ever tried to reason with a one year old filly...know that the are hard to argue with).

Eventually Twilight submitted to sending Aurora outside to play, but only on the condition that Spike be present the whole time, and that she wear "protective gear" as Twi called it. This gear consisted of a very intricately crafted pillow suit which looked so fluffy by the end of its creation, Daybreak would have felt comfortable diving off a cliff side with it on. Not that he would be encouraging it anytime shortly, he assured Twilight of this after receiving the glariest of glares when he mentioned the thought. Luckily for him, Aurora loved pillows so her gear was just a plus for her...she really reeeeeally loved them. He had no idea why, but all the filly ever seemed to want was more of the white things. Daybreak found at one point, that Aurora had more pillows in her bed than they did in the whole rest of the house combined.

Once outside, despite her previous protests, the small mare had a blast...literally. After two hours of not checking up on Aurora, Twilight finally cracked and went outside to see how things were. Moments later Daybreak heard his name being yelled throughout the house. Assuming fire, flood or worse, his father, Daybreak raced outside to see what the yelling was for, but found himself frozen once he stepped out the door. His hooves seemed to glue themselves to the welcome mat, right next to Twilight's as he stood in the open doorway looking out. Right there, in the center of town, was little Aurora Sparkle floating in the air, surrounded by a powerful magical field (sour apple in color) that was causing the most peculiar things to happen. Several items from around the town were floating alongside her, bobbing up and down as though in dance. Moments later the sound of music reached the couples ears and they saw Pinkie Pie prance out of the nearest shop with a boom box on her back, and toss her bags upwards into Aurora's field of view. Instantly the objects were caught in the magic and began to dance along with everything else. Pinkie Pie giggled and the surrounding ponies applauded the feat, while Spike ran around underneath the filly with a huge stack of pillows (her previous safety suit) in case she should fall. The boom box was loud and sounded like Pinkie's ten-instrument machine she had at times, but Aurora seemed to love it. That was enough for Daybreak, who attempted to stifle a chuckle with his hoof. Twilight on the other hoof, was not so amused, especially when she watched Sweetie Belle appear out of the crowd and jump into the field herself. Instantly seized and pulled into the air, the marshmallow colored mare screeched with laughter as she rose up and was spun around Aurora like the many other objects. If he hadn't seen it for himself, Daybreak would never believe it if somepony came up to him the next day and said Sweetie Belle had been dancing through the air surrounded by a large assortment of Ponyville merchandise all controlled by a young filly.

Daybreak turned, expecting to see Twilight smiling next to him, or at least hiding a smile, but instead she was fuming. In fact, she looked downright angry, he knew things could not end well if Twilight was angry, so he decided to intervene before anything was said. Daybreak gently patted Twilight on the shoulder motioning his head towards the crowd and then began walking towards the excitement. Twilight sighed with annoyance and decided to wait for his return inside, where she didn't have to watch her daughter fly around the town. Retiring herself, she shut the door behind her, Daybreak waited until he saw her move away from the window before he acted.

Daybreak approached the crowd and put his right forehoof to his lips, then (with a whistle bursting into existence at his lips) whistled as loudly as he could. The music ceased almost immediately, Daybreak shot a glance at Pinkie Pie and found her regarding him with an inquisitive smile. The crowd parted ways for him as he approached the area below where Aurora was hovering, still spinning many objects and Sweetie Belle, who looked beyond happy to be there. Raising his eyebrows at the crowd, Daybreak realized many of them were waiting for his reaction. Truthfully, he had had no problem with the stunt as long as Aurora didn't get hurt, but he should have been supervising if this was going to happen. Not like he could have predicted his one year old filly would suddenly start her magic bursts in the center of town, but still, next time he'd leave more than just Spike if she was outside. With a small sigh, Daybreak cleared his throat to speak above the squeals of Aurora and Sweetie Belle.

"Alright everypony, the little filly had her fun, but we all know she's gotta come back in sooner or later, so thanks for watching her...but we gotta go now" He ended with a smile, attempting to sound as sincere as possible.

He didn't wanna put Twilight on the spot by voicing she was uncomfortable with this, but he did have to return with their filly or risk another long lecture about safety. Weighing the options in his head, he was quite happy with the way he handled it as he activated his own magic around Aurora and her many new toys. He slowly lowered his filly and the other objects to the ground, one by one releasing them from her influence. Her little horn eventually went out by itself, and Daybreak scooped her and Sweetie Belle onto his back once everypony had retrieved their items. Sweetie Belle had managed to keep a few of the items with her from the magic show, including a wild looking propeller hat and a teal blue scarf that she was currently snuggling. Sweetie Belle was out like a light once she was on his back, and Aurora went out right behind her. Daybreak could only imagine what he looked like with the pair napping on his back

"No more drinks for you tonight ladies" he mumbled under his breathe

"Don't let Twilight hear you say that" Pinkie Pie was suddenly right behind him and nearly sent him skyward with surprise.

"Geez Pinkie, don't sneak up on me like that"

"How should I sneak up on you then?" She giggled cocking her head to the right as though she was curious.

Daybreak attempted to roll his eyes but found himself stutter out a chuckle halfway through. Pinkie was once again, right beside him and her bright smile refused to leave his vision.

"Oh look I made Twilight's hubby smile, glad to know all that book time hasn't sucked the spirit outta you"

Daybreak lowered his gaze in a mock glare, but found it difficult to even pretend to be upset at Pinkie

"Ooooor, maybe that isn't the thing she's been sucking out of you...hmm big boy?" Pinkie's eye brows jumped up and down wildly, Daybreak found his face break into a bright shade of crimson.

"T-that's not funny Pinkie Pie.."

"I don't hear you denying it"

"You've been in bed with her before while she was pregnant...why you teasing me when you already know this..."

"Because you look so cute when your blushing"

He turned away, trying to make himself seem angry, even stooping to making a little hmph sound as he turned his head. Pinkie just snorted

"Calm down grumpy pants, don't worry I won't be humping your wife anymore anyways...I have a special somepony now"

Daybreak jumped, startled that she was just now informing him of this so casually

"Y-you do?...Who? I haven't seen you with anypony lately?" He put his hoof to his chin, attempting to remember if he saw Pinkie being more affectionate than normal with anypony, but he drew a blank. Pinkie merely giggled

"Silly, he doesn't live here...I'm not even sure he lives anywhere actually..."

Daybreak raised an eyebrow "You dating a vagabond or something?"

Pinkie erupted into giggles "No silly, it's Cheese Sandwich"

"Who?"

"Cheese Sandwich...remember...Dashies birthday last year?"

"THAT Cheese Sandwich!"

"Do we know another?"

"No it's just...I mean I guess it makes sense actually...but how do you two...ya know...get affectionate if he's never here"

Pinkie began rummaging through her saddlebag at his words "Oh that's easy silly, we write to each other" she pulled out a letter for proof "...and he's coming to Ponyville soon...Then I'm gonna show him a real party...hehehe"

"Umm...Pinkie...I'm still here you know"

Pinkie blushed "I know...What? I can't help it if I want somepony to cream my pie..."

"Pinkie!" Daybreak gasped he looked over his shoulder at the sleeping fillys on his back "There are children present"

"Ya I know, he's been standing there since everypony cleared out, you just noticed?"

"Wha-Who are you talking about?"

"Who are you talking about"

"Sweetie Belle and Aurora...You?"

"That brown colt over there" She pointed to where the crowd had been previously been gathered, but all that remained was single young earth pony colt, who was indeed brown, a little more so than he was, and was just standing there shyly gazing over at them. Daybreak turned to Pinkie

"Who's that"

"That's Button Mash, he lives a couple houses away from you with his mom, his brother and his dad. But his dad is almost never home cause he works all the time, his brother always stays out late and isn't home much either, and his mom is a stay at home mom."

"Umm...Why do you know all that?"

Pinkie turned and poked him in the nose with her hoof

"Aww come on Daybreak, you've known me long enough to know I know everypony in Ponyville...They've only been here for a year or so...but I rarely see him with anypony...he's always playing on some weird looking device by himself"

Daybreak raised his eyebrows "Oh look...he's coming over"

Pinkie looked, and indeed he was "Well, I gotta go Daybreak, I gotta get to the Cakes place before it get's dark for some Cake sitting"

She snorted at her own joke then began to bounce away humming to herself. Once she was gone, Button seemed to approach much quicker, and eventually made it over to Daybreak. Once he was in front of him, the young colt shyly nudged Daybreak's leg

"Excuse me...Prince Daybreak...I think Sweetie Belle has my hat"

Daybreak looked on his back, the scarf was still swiftly wrapped around Sweetie's neck, and the mystery propeller hat was still buzzing away on her head. He smiled and took it from her head within his aura

"So this cool looking hat is yours little guy?"

Button nodded slowly "You think it's cool? Most pony's say I look dorky in it"

Daybreak gasped, how could anypony not love this hat...then again his fashion sense wasn't exactly the best according to Rarity. Still he did really like the hat, he smiled as he placed it on Button's head with his magic

"Yeah little dude, I think it's awesome...in faaaact.." He quickly directed his eyes above his own head and lit his horn. With a small pop, another propeller hat just like Buttons appeared above his head and softly landed atop his mane already spinning wildly.

Daybreak struck a semi sexy pose  and fluttered his eye lashes like a mare "What do you think"

Button covered his muzzle with his hoof and attempted not to laugh "I um...Looks great your highness"

Daybreak rolled his eyes "No need for that Button"

The hat vanished from his head in a flash and was replaced by a royal looking cape and staff, along with the royal necklace baring his Cutie Mark and miniature Fire Ruby. "I'm just like everypony else see?"

He struck an elegant pose that would have passed Rarity's approval, even going so far as to tuck his right foreleg back like he had seen her do before, and succeeded in releasing a chuckle from the young colt. He smiled, his mission was accomplished

"How old are you kid, like eight or nine?"

Button looked offended "Noooooooo...I'm much older than that, I'm as old as Sweetie Belle"

"Oh so you're.."

"Button sweetie!"

Both Daybreak and Button turned to see a young looking mare trotting up the block toward them. Button began to wave

"Over here mom"

"Mom?" "Dear Celestia that's his mother...she looks so young, I would have said sister...she must take good care of herself"

As the mare approached, Daybreak quickly vaporized the robe and staff he had been wielding to amuse Button, he also made his necklace vanish as well. The mare was very young looking despite being a mother, her light brown mane was tied towards the end in a small pony tail (hehe puns) that draped over her side. The mare quickly trotted over and seized up her son in a hug, not even noticing Daybreak for a moment. Then Button pointed at him

"Hey mom look who I got to meet today"

"Hm...Oh my! Prince!" She instantly dropped to the ground in a bow

Daybreak rolled his eyes again, he truly tired of ponies doing that

"There's no need for that here ma'am, I was returning your son's hat to him, and admiring his excellent fashion choice"

Button's mom looked over Daybreaks face to see if he was faking his love for the hat, surprisingly she found no such evidence and smiled at him

"How sweet...Button didn't cause you any trouble did he? What was all that commotion earlier about?"

"Hm? Oh that...my little filly got her first wave of magic juice...in front of the whole town, and I'm afraid Button's hat may have fallen victim to that" He suppressed a chuckle but saw Button open his mouth to speak, Daybreak nodded to the colt

"Actually...Sweetie Belle took my hat before that started..."

Daybreak was surprised "Really...I must have missed that, why would she do that? Sweetie Belle's not a bully..."

"No no!" Button quickly cut him off, which would have normally irked him quite a bit, but he was ok with it from this young colt

"Sweetie Belle wasn't bullying me your highness, honest...we were playing and she snatched it off me and ran, it was just fun, honest"

"Calm down Button, remember you don't have to call me that. Anyways, I believe you don't worry, it's pretty easy to believe Sweetie Belle was playing rather than bullying...But I've never seen you with her before...Are you a Cutie Mark Crusaders too?"

Buttons mom seemed to have excepted being left out of the conversation, and was now just listening intently as though she had never heard of the Cutie Mark Crusaders before.

"Well...Sweetie Belle normally just comes to my house to play video games..." He glanced back at his mother as though fearing his next words. Daybreak seemed to get the idea, but nodded him on, he doubted Buttons mom would get upset in front of the Prince if he was hiding what he thought he was, so best to say it now.

"Well...whenever we hang out outside I do hang with her friends...but the stuff we do is sometimes pretty dangerous..."

He glanced at his mother, who wore an unreadable expression, Daybreak decided to help out and test the waters as it were, speaking more to Buttons mother than to Button himself

"Yeah, I can believe that, I know the Cutie Mark Crusaders personally, they can do some pretty crazy stuff sometimes...but I still trust them enough to leave my little filly with them for foal sitting, they can be a little over the top when it comes to getting their Cutie Marks, but they're good ponies and responsible when they need to be. I personally am glad that they welcomed you in Button...how long have you been a member?"

Buttons mothers expression seemed to soften out of unreadable at hearing Daybreak speak for the Crusaders, Button wasn't oblivious to this

"I've only been an official member for a week, but we've hung out lots before then, they only started letting me in on the extreme crusading recently...I don't really care about my Cutie Mark...but I do love hanging out with Sweetie Belle, she's really funny and great at video games."

Buttons mom began to smile, Daybreak couldn't help but mimic her. He'd bet twenty bits that Button only joined because of Sweetie Belle, but he wouldn't embarrass him in front of his mother by asking, even though he was pretty sure she was thinking the same thing.

"Does she like video games Button?" He quickly glanced on his back, to assure neither of the fillies had awoken

Button beamed "Yeah, and she's really good too...kinda...she especially loves Minecraft...but she hates Creepers though"

Daybreak looked to Buttons mother for answers, but she merely giggled

"Why does she hate Creepers?"

Button began to laugh to himself, as though the memory was humorous enough to warrant him rolling on the dirt and laughing. He spoke in between laughs

"Well... she was digging for diamonds the other day, she loves diamonds, and one came up behind her and blew her up, and the diamonds she was mining"

He continued his fits of laughter on the ground as though it was the funniest thing since Pinkie Pie. Daybreak was confused, but noticing Buttons mom chuckling too, he gathered it must be pretty funny.

"Such a cute kid...bet they're perfect together"

"Well Button, your welcome to come over to our house anytime, any friend of the Sweetie Belles and the Crusaders is a friend of mine"

Buttons eyes lit up like lights "We're friends?"

Daybreak patted him on the exposed part of his mane that was free of the propeller "Of course, just cause I'm a Prince doesn't mean I don't make friends...trust me dude, I think I know just how you feel" He stole a glance back at his door, where he knew Twilight was no doubt waiting inside to greet him with hugs, and a lecture. He smiled

"Ok Button sweetie, it's time to get going, it's getting late"

Daybreak turned back as Buttons mom and Button began to turn to leave. He looked up, indeed it was becoming twilight out, the sunset was beautiful as always.

Button waved goodbye along with his mother

"Very nice to meet you Prince Daybreak" His mother called

"Byyyyyyyye Daybreak"

Still smiling, he turned and headed back towards his home after waving goodbye. Before he got to the door, he smirked and materialized another replica of Buttons hat on his head

"This really is a cool hat"

Wrapped in his own thoughts, Daybreak nearly tripped over the many piles of books that were cluttered around the library as he trotted inside. Looking up from his near death experience, he noticed Twilight was sitting on a cushion with a peculiar looking book levitating in front of her, but that wasn't the weird part. The weird part was that his father was sitting on the cushion right next to her, seemingly reading the same book, and pointing at specific pages as he turned them.

"Umm hello?"

The duo looked up and simultaneously said "Hey Daybreak" then dropped their heads back to the book

"What's up? You just popped in for a visit or something father?"

Discord and Twilight glanced at each other, Twilight motioned to Aurora and Sweetie Belle

"Honey...we only have one child...and what's with that hat?" She giggled "Maybe you should go put them upstairs in the bed, Spikes already asleep in his. It's upstairs for tonight...we've got some stuff we need to talk about so hurry back."

Daybreak was confused, finding Twilight and his father reading together was odd enough. Now being told Spike would be sleeping up by their bed for the night...that implied a long night in the books...he was already tied just thinking about it. He quickly traveled up the stairs and tucked in Sweetie Belle and Aurora, lightly setting his hat atop Sweetie's mane. Immediately after touching the bed, Aurora was already cuddling Sweetie Belle, any other night Daybreak would have taken a picture, but Twilight had hinted at urgency, so he quickly set them under the covers and retreated downstairs.

Once he made it downstairs, a cushion had already been placed for him in between Twilight and Discord. Twi looked up and ushered him over.

"There is something you need to see Daybreak"

.....

Five Minutes later

"Whaaaaaaat!" His reaction was just as Discord had predicted it to be. Daybreak stood dumbfounded as he glanced down at the pages upon pages of photographs.

Every photo was full of either Daring Do or Rainbow Dash, they were in some cottage beyond normal Equestrian boundaries. But that wasn't the part that got him riled, no what really made his brain break was the little colt in the picture with them. The little colt seemed to have Daring's coat and Rainbows hair, but for being so young his Rainbow mane already was in full appearance and just as dazzling as his mothers. Luckily the scrapbook had come with a letter, and according to Twilight had arrived early that day but Discord had beaten them to it and decided to look through it himself. The letter stated Daring Do and Rainbow Dash and taken Twilights "advice" (whatever that had been, Daybreak had no idea) and used the magical potion spell she had given them. The result had been Daring Do becoming pregnant after a very heated night of passion. The colt couldn't have been more than a year old, but that did explain the complete absence of letters over that time, Daybreak had been considering going out to find them himself if they didn't write soon.

Thinking back, before Aurora's birth Daring had seemed a little heavier, so that might have been the start of their timetable. Apparently they had stayed out of Ponyville, and Equestria in general to avoid the publicity either of them having a child would bring. According to Rainbow's letter she had only told Spitfire about the child so as to not compromise her situation with the Wonderbolts while she was away. The letter also set congratulations to Daybreak and Twilight for having Aurora, news had reached outside of Equestria that the newest princess had a filly, and upon hearing that, Rainbow decided it was a good time to write to them. She had planned on remaining away for another year and would have written soon anyways, but the news of Twilight and Daybreaks kid made Rainbow wish to come home, and Daring had agreed to come as well, although that meant that while lingering in Ponyville she would have to be in disguise.

Aside from sharing child based news, the part Discord kept returning Daybreaks attention to, was that both Daring Do and Rainbow Dash had been paid an unexpected visit a month prior. According to Daring Do (as Rainbow Dash had been asleep at the time), Shining Star had appeared at their doorstep wearing Aecious' cloak and seeking directions to an old temple Daring knew of. Daring had of course, given said directions without hesitation to the pegasus, but after he had left she decided to write to Daybreak about the odd encounter. Oddly, the letter apparently never made it to Ponyville, and when Rainbow had gone to the old temple herself a few days later, their was no sign of him anywhere. Daring asked if Daybreak would check it out for himself and see if he could pick up anything, according to Daring, the way Shining Star had acted and spoken made her worry what the pegasus could be up to, and his dressing like Aecious didn't help much.

Daybreak stared at the letter, at the very bottom corner, scribbled in obvious quick-hoof writing, Rainbow had written something else "P.S Our colts name is Dusty Feathers", clearly she had forgotten to add that in the letter. Daybreak looked it over one more time, then looked to the scrapbook of photos. He set the letter aside

"Well...at least now we know where they've been all this time. It's too bad though...I'm gonna have to say no to Daring"

"Why?" Twilights voice was inquisitive, but not in a pushy way, more like she already knew the answer but wanted to hear it, kind of way. He turned

"I have a family to watch over" He motioned upstairs with his hoof, where Aurora slept soundly snuggled in the coat of another marshmallow colored filly, and then to Twilight, who gave a slight blush. Discord patted Twilight on the head mockingly

"Isn't that cute Twilight. Daybreak needs to stay home and watch over the helpless, little Princeeeeess." A bib appeared around Twilight's neck with a miniature version of her face embroidered in the center and a baby bottle in her open hoof. "It's clear who wears the pants in this relationship" A pair of jeans appeared on Daybreak's hind legs, but he quickly shook them off, Discord chuckled to himself as he made for the door. As he excused himself from the house, a suit of armor suddenly appeared around Daybreaks form, further aggravating him

"Good thing you'll always have your stallion in shining armor to protect and watch over you princess, you might chip a hoof without him around, ta-ta" He waved as he shut the door behind him, then opened up an umbrella a few feet from the door and floated away into the night.

Daybreak muttered something unsafe for fillies to hear under his breathe, but quickly attempted calm himself. He made the suit of armor melt off his coat, and reshape itself into a decently sized cider mug, then quickly set it on the empty cushion beside him. Turning to Twilight, he said

"Well sweetie, now that my father is done pestering you, how about we turn in for the night...Umm Twilight...What's with that look"

Finally taking a good look at Twilight's face, Daybreak could see the redness in her face as she glared at the front door. Daybreak half expected the door to burst into flames simply from her stare.

"...Honey? You ok?"

She quickly turned to face him, dragging the whole cushion with her "Pack your gear, you're going to that temple Daybreak"

"Aww buck..."