The Beauties of Youth, the Adventures of Parenthood

Sweetie Belle's face bore a crimson blush followed by a noticeable shift in her posture. She started rocking back and forth on her hooves while rubbing the back of her head shyly. Clearly she was not used to being praised for much else other than her singing. Button, who finally decided to lower his hoof back to the ground (now that he was sure it was "safe" again) also had a small blush forming in his cheeks, before forcing a cough, and saying

"See Sweetie Belle...I told you that you were awesome...you just never believed me"

"Shut up Button..." She stuck out her tongue at him playfully, he quickly returned the same treatment. Were keeping the cloud of extremely dense magic floating above them not so annoyingly difficult, Daybreak might have let them continue on teasing until they kissed or something, but now was not the time. He coughed loudly, signaling he wanted their attention back, and he got it. They snapped back to face him without a seconds hesitation. They both noticed his horn glowing brighter than before, but neither of them commented on it this time.

"As I was saying...Button, you asked me how I found it more impressive that Sweetie Belle blew up the shelf that she was merely trying to lift right?"

"Y-yeah...I guess"

"Good, well here's why...it takes more raw magical energy to destroy an object than it does to cause it to levitate. That isn't to say it's easier to lift things, that can be just as hard, but it all depends on the situation you're in, what you're trying to do, and what you're trying to do it to. For example, lifting a pebble is obviously easier than blowing up a tree right? That goes without saying?"

Both ponies nodded, following so far but still giving him the deer-in-headlights stare

"Well, sometimes blowing up the object you're trying to affect can be easier than making it float...Now I know this seems obvious enough, but it can go both ways. Either or can be the easier thing to do. Every object has its own needs to be affected by magic in a certain way. A good example of this would be the pebble and the tree again, except this time let's pretend it's a boulder instead of a pebble, and imagine it to be the exact same height as the tree. Which do you think it would be easier to do, magically of course, blow them up, or make them levitate?"

Sweetie Belle was the first to raise her hoof, Daybreak found it unsurprising as she was probably going to look at it from a strength perspective, being a very forward filly who was relatively new to magic. What Daybreak did find surprising however, was that Button actually didn't raise his hoof along with her and instead seemed to be thinking about his question beyond just a simple answer. This was shown by the tapping of his hoof to his chin and the strain in his eyes, Daybreak could almost see him imagining a tree and a boulder of equal size in his head. He had a small hunch about Buttons intelligence and the way he thought about things, which he hoped to prove through training Sweetie Belle. Truthfully he saw a potential in Button that he hoped he could uncover through Sweetie Belle that might not only give Button his Cutie Mark, but also allow him to put his video game knowledge to real use.

Shaking his head, Daybreak focused back on the present, Sweetie Belle rapidly shaking her hoof in his face, eager to answer his question. He was beginning to feel like a teacher...that gave him an idea, but it was for later. He pointed at Sweetie

"Yes Sweetie Belle go ahead..."

Daybreak failed to notice the small patter of hooves and the creaking of a door behind him, as a certain purple mare finally reopened the entrance to her study room. She was obviously exhausted and still attempting to calm her frilled and out of place mane, but she quickly retreated halfway back inside the door to avoid being noticed by the three. Her eyes widened when she saw the large cloud of pure magic in the air, giving off faint fizzles and sparks every now and then. She knew she'd be interrupting if she entered now, so instead she opted to sit and watch from her door, quietly.

Sweetie Belle clapped her hooves together as she was given her chance to answer Daybreaks question

"I think it's obvious...it would be easier to just blow them both up with magic rather than try and lift."

She smiled brightly, but Daybreak wasn't finished yet

"Could you please explain you're answer Sweetie, perhaps like why you feel that would be the easier of the two?"

"Sure!" Her voice squeaked, she obviously loved the spotlight, which was rather adorable even to Daybreak.

"It would be easier to blow them up rather than levitate them because of their weight and size. The strain of trying to lift something with your mind is almost exactly like the strain of lifting it with your muscles. That's why unicorns aren't normally very strong, all their power is in their brain, which has to work just as hard as any of their muscles would normally when it tries to lift something through magic."

Before replying to her answer, Daybreak glanced at Button, he wasn't surprised to see that the little gamer didn't quite agree with Sweetie Belles line of thought, but he doubted Sweetie could see that. To her it looked like he was still thinking it over, but the signs were there, the change in his eyes, the slight awkward shift in his position at knowing his friend was wrong, but so exceedingly proud of her answer that he didn't wanna tell her she was wrong. Combined with the innocent and overly joyed smile she now wore, Daybreak didn't wanna say she was wrong either, but he had to...

"Well Sweetie Belle, despite the fact I can see you put thought into that answer...sadly it's incorrect...at least partially, although I'm glad to hear you-"

"What!"

Daybreaks ears twitched in agitation, her voice could really hit the right pitch sometimes! If her talent didn't turn out to be singing, their was something wrong with the universe for sure. Not that there wasn't already something wrong with it...but he didn't wanna go off on a tangent in his mind right now, he was in the middle of teaching. He noted Button was rubbing his ears as well, being closer to Sweetie Belle, Daybreak was surprised that Button had survived being at the epicenter of that shriek. Sometimes he wondered if the boy had just developed a minor tolerance to it...or was going slowly deaf, both seemed possible.

Other than the annoyed expression while rubbing his ears, Daybreak could also see that Button was done thinking about his answer. He wanted to give Button a chance to shine, and maybe even impress Sweetie with his knowledge, but he had to be careful how he went about this. He wanted Button to notice his own intelligence, impress Sweetie Belle, and realize his talents all at once...but if he didn't play it right Daybreak might cause the opposite effect. Button was known to brag, at least about his video games, Daybreak had discovered that fact on their walk through the town. He seemed like a humble, goofy colt for everything else, but he had to make sure just in case, he didn't want Button upsetting Sweetie Belle instead of helping her...that could be dangerous especially with her magic so active right now.

Daybreak looked over at Sweetie Belle, carefully deciding how to word his explanation so Button could have a chance.

"Well Sweetie, you have some of the facts right, but the main point in your answer is wrong. Unicorns are normally weaker than the other pony races due to the excessive use of their brain for magic rather than their other muscles, and it is true that lifting something with magic is very similar to lifting something with your muscles...but that's only true under the most basic circumstances...in other words, average level magic. Simply put, when a rock is only just a rock, you are doing something wrong."

Grinning as widely as he could, Daybreak hoped Sweetie Belle would at least find some amusement in his joke, but all he received from her was a lowering of the eyes and a glare that reminded him all too much of Rarity when she was frustrated.

"Seriously?"

"Super seriously" He quickly retorted, then added

"Listen, maybe it would better if I gave Button a chance first, then explain things?"

"Fine" She sat down on her flank, crossing her hooves while she pouted "But it's not like he can get the answer wrong...you already said mine was incorrect, so that only leaves one other answer..."

"Not necessarily" (italics) Buttons voice came out much deeper and sharper than Daybreak would have thought the little colt capable of.

Sweetie Belle whipped her head back to Button, it sounded like he had almost hissed that comment. The last time she had heard him lower his voice like that was when he was trying to sound serious to his mother about wearing a mustache, or when he reached the final boss of any of his video games.

Daybreak grinned with glee "So Button does understand...awesome, maybe he can make Sweetie Belle get it better than I can"

"Ok Button, tell us what you think the answer is. Is it easier to blow up the tree and boulder, or make them levitate?"

"Well I believe it's-"

"Umm Daybreak question please?" Sweetie Belle cut across Button, literally jumping in front of him to grab Daybreaks attention

Although he found it rude of her to cut over Button like that, she wasn't normally the kind to do that so he'd let it go this time.

"Yes Sweetie Belle?"

She pointed her hoof towards the ceiling "Umm are you gonna do anything with that cloud up there? It's making me kinda nervous, it keeps sparking rainbow colored lightning every time I look at it"

Looking up, Daybreak saw Sweetie Belle was indeed correct. His large bubble of raw magical energy was not only shifting to different colors of the rainbow, but it was also sending out tiny sparks as well. All of which were a varying array of colors just like the cloud itself. But Daybreak wasn't worried, that was just a side effect of it being enclosed in a small area but also free from restraint for so long, he'd take care of it shortly anyways.

"Don't worry about that right now Sweetie Belle, just focus on this lesson and you may be able to grasp why you truly are a gifted unicorn."

Nodding, Sweetie Belle took her eyes off the fidgeting cloud of power, she did want to know why he kept saying she was so special...but still she couldn't help letting her eyes dart back every so often, just to make sure it was safe. Daybreak motioned to Button Mash with his hoof

"As you were saying Button?"

Button cleared his throat, again he spoke in that deeper, more intimidating voice he somehow could pull from nowhere, while his eyes drifted up towards the ceiling.

"I think that it's both."

While Daybreaks face immediately broke into a wide and unmaskable grin, Sweetie Belle's morphed into a look of bewilderment, but Button paid them no mind

"When I say both, I mean it would be easier to destroy the boulder, and levitate the tree."

He looked back to Daybreak, not even realizing he had been staring off into space as he visualized what he was saying. Daybreak nodded

"Go on"

"Well...the tree is a more complex...organism, I guess, I don't know what else to really call it...but it's more complex than the boulder. The boulder is probably made of only one material or rock right? So that's all you'd have to think about when trying to destroy it, is that one thing, blasting rock into gravel. But for a tree you have leaves, flowers, possibly insects, the bark, the sap inside, and it's all made of different things. To destroy that with magic, you'd have to know what could destroy each individual thing that's part of the tree, right? That's why it's easier just to move the tree?"

Daybreak clapped his hooves together in wild applause "Bravo Button, that was perfect!"

Even Twilight, hidden in the back, found it hard not to applaud as well. Most ponies at his age would never grasp a concept like that so easily, and especially not an earth pony, she was truly impressed. What she didn't understand, was how he could know that, he never showed that kind of intellect before now. Looking back over, she saw Daybreak was hiding a smirk that looked just like his father did when he was plotting something mischievous, he must have already suspected this...but how?

Sweetie Belle was dumbfounded, her mouth would have hit the floor if it were possible! She had never known Button was smart, he had certainly never seemed like it before. He was always the first one right after Scootaloo to do something extreme or crazy in their crusading...it just didn't make any sense to her.

"Say Button..."

Daybreaks voice brought both Twilight and Sweetie Belle back from their stupor and their attention back squarely on him.

"Could you tell me how you were able to figure that out? I'm assuming it wasn't through studying?" the slight smirk hidden behind his question was unmistakable.

Button Mash couldn't help but chuckle "Naw it's not from anything like that, and to be honest I didn't even know if what I was saying was right, it's just a concept I took from one of my video games and it turned out to be right here too."

"WHAT!"

Luckily this time Daybreak was prepared and had plugged his ears before Sweetie's voice could further damage them beyond repair.

"Are telling me that you learned about magic through a video game?! What game was this and why haven't you showed me it yet?!"

Daybreak watched as Sweetie's cheeks grew red with annoyance. He had to stop himself from chuckling aloud, he found himself eating his own hoof to prevent an outburst. But before he could come to Buttons aid, the little gamer recovered on his own

"No no Sweetie Belle, the game didn't teach me about magic. Though that would be just as awesome."

Buttons eyes began drifting upwards again, he was lost in imagining himself as a unicorn.

"The horn would get annoying and probably get in the way of my hat, but it would be soooo worth it. Being able to play video games with my mind...so cool"

A subtle, but noticeable cough from Daybreak brought Button back to reality quicker than he left it. He quickly looked around to see they were still waiting for him to explain.

"Oh right...Well anyways, You didn't wanna play this game Sweetie Belle, remember? You said it was too complicated...then we played Minecraft together"

Pursing her lips together, Sweetie Belle thought hard about which time Button had ever offered her a game she didn't want to play, there weren't many times. Suddenly one game stuck out in her mind, and she found herself wanting to gag

"Ewwwww, you're talking about that gory puzzle game aren't you?"

The look of disgust on Sweetie's face was almost priceless; tongue extended, eyes clamped shut and flailing hooves made for a hilarious photo shoot. Button wore an expression that could only be described in two words...line face.

With a clear sigh of annoyance Button groaned "Yes Sweetie Belle, I'm talking about the 'gory puzzle' game"

He air quoted "gory puzzle"

"Clearly this was an unpleasant discussion they had before...oh well, time for some chaos to begin a brewin. I'm curious about this game and I need Button to explain his answer in more detail for Sweetie Belle, so a little bit of mayhem between the two couldn't hurt if it helps...right?...Right?"

"So Button, it's clear that Sweetie Belle knows what this game is so that should help a bit. Could you explain how it helped you think of the answer you gave me and maybe what the game is?"

Button opened his mouth to answer but Sweetie Belle once again cut him off

"Don't you dare say the name of that horrific game...it is not to be spoken of around me!"

Daybreaks hoof couldn't make it to his muzzle before he broke into giggles, the complete look of disdain on Sweeties face was just too cute and humorous, even her curls seemed to cringe within her mane at the thought of this supposedly horrid game. Add to that the look of annoyance and unamusement on Buttons face and the photo was perfect.

"She's just mad cause she sucks at it Daybreak!"

Buttons retort only served to infuriate Sweetie Belle more, but Daybreak managed to grab hold of the angry filly before she could fully launch herself at Button Mash. Restraining her against his side with his hoof, Daybreak attempted to hide his now obvious laughter through another cough

"Ahem! So anyways Button, please explain to me how this game helped you reach the conclusion you made about the 'tree' and the 'boulder'."

Nodding with glee, Button sat down and began to reenact the scene from which he was referring.

"Well there I was, trapped inside this small ship floating through deep space...Necromorphs closing in on me from all sides-"

"I'm sorry to interrupt Button, but...Necromorphs? What in the hay is that?"

Daybreak saw Sweeties face gain that disgusted look again, while Button seemed more then happy to explain.

"Well...Necromorphs are like zombiefied ponies that are mutated into a bunch of weird and ugly forms by the Marker-"

"The what?...Oh sorry Button."

Daybreak actually blushed this time, he couldn't help but interrupt, he was curious. This game already had his attention, and it managed to teach Button something useful, he had to know more about it.

"Naw it's ok Daybreak...Well the Marker is an artifact from an alien race that was on our planet long before ponies were. And being around it for too long causes ponies to go insane and eventually transform into these things called Necromorphs. I don't really know exactly how, other then one way cause I haven't played the third game yet, since it just came out. But I know one way they transform is this large bat creature stabs them in the neck or back and injects them with some kind of fluid to change them..."

"Do you see why I think this game is gross? Please tell me you see it?"  Sweetie Belle sounded almost hopeful that Daybreak would side with her and inform Button of the games grotesqueness, she tugged against his side, her eyes bright with hope...but unfortunately for her Daybreak was already hooked.

"No way Sweetie Belle! This sounds interesting...tell me more Button, then explain how it helped teach you, I don't wanna get too off topic here for Sweeties sake...and cause that floating magic cloud above us needs to get used soon...if I don't wanna blow up my house.

Back in the corner, halfway hidden behind her door, Twilight sighed with relief "Oh good he already knows...I was worried I'd have to do it myself if he didn't at least notice..."

Daybreak was sitting down by the time Twilight looked back up, already engrossed in Buttons explanation of this unknown game. While Sweetie Belle looked like she was halfway torn between smothering herself, or Button, with the cushion she was on.

"So these Unitologists worship the Marker? Even though it would cause the end of the world...why?"

Button shrugged "Some ponies are just stupid like that I guess...To be honest I think I get more pleasure out of killing them than the Necromorphs."

Stifling a chuckle, Daybreak merely nodded, eager to hear more

"So anyways...Like I was saying before, there I was trapped inside a ship in deep space, Necromorphs were closing in from everywhere! The only way out of the room was to clear some debris blocking the metal doors ahead of me. I tried using my kinesis module (that's the thing that allows me to pick up and move certain objects) on the debris and metal, but their were too many pieces everywhere and it would take too long. So I knew I'd have to use some kind of explosive to move them quicker! In the back of the room I found this cannon turret that would vaporize almost anything it hit. So I took it, aimed it at the debris...and fired! The first shot completely vaporized one of the largest pieces in an instant and hit a few Necro's along the way. So I was thrilled, like really thrilled, cause this place had been frustrating me for hours, but now I was blasting away the debris like it was nothing...then I came to the part that really started to annoy me. The metal pieces that had moving parts, or pieces that were powered by other pieces, ya know...things that weren't just giant hunks of metal anymore. I tried blasting my way through there, but instead of my cannon vaporizing a whole piece of debris like it had before, it only disintegrated pieces at a time now. I couldn't understand why until Luna got on the mic and explained the weapons stats to me better...Then I was-"

"Woah! Woah! Woah! Hold on a sec there Button...did you just say Luna?! As in Princess Luna?...She plays video games?"

"Well...yeah...?"

Daybreak would have fallen over if he hadn't already been sitting down, the Princess of the Night...his aunt...was a gamer like Button? In hindsight it kinda made sense, I mean what else was she supposed to do all night?...Now that he thought about it...it made a little too much sense and he was more surprised he hadn't seen that coming.

"I now have the perfect nickname for her when I see her again, thank yooooooou Button Mash."

Little did he know, across the room half hidden behind a door, Twilight was doing everything in her power not to lose control of her limbs and collapse to the floor in laughter. Had she not shoved her own hoof into her mouth a second earlier, her cries would have possibly alerted the house next to them.

Satisfied with his own thoughts about the Princess, Daybreak motioned for Button to continue his story, after nudging Sweetie Belle in the flank, encouraging her to pull her head out from under the cushion. Clearly she had decided to smother herself rather than Button.

"Yeah so Luna explained the weapon to me because she had beaten that part a few days ago, the weapon could only destroy one type of material at a time. So once I got past just standard pieces of metal it was almost useless for me...well except for when I used the last few shots to blow away some more Necro's...but you know what I mean! Anyways, I eventually figured out that this was where I should use my kinesis module, even though some of the pieces were massive. I moved them all out of the way, after throwing several of them at the remaining Necro's on the ceiling, and made it to my elevator, finally completing the chapter that had me annoyed for hours!" Buttons face broke into a massive grin as he finished his tale throwing his hooves into the air for added enthusiasm to his joy. He was clearly satisfied with himself and the effect he had on his audience.

Both Daybreak and Sweetie Belle (who had surrendered herself to the inevitable halfway through the explanation) had their jaws hanging agape from their muzzles. Daybreak could not believe the simplistic way Button had come to realize one of the most important concepts in magic! His theory had been spot on about Button the entire time, sure he was goofy and a bit dorky sometimes, but Button had another side hidden beneath all of that, a side that could analyze and apply knowledge he learned to useful situations. And with his help, Daybreak was sure he could teach Button to use that hidden talent not only for his benefit, but Sweetie Belles as well.

Speaking of Sweetie Belle, Daybreak turned and closed her jaw for her, as she was clearly incapable of doing so on her own. Once he had placed her jaws together she seemed to snap from her stupor, he smiled down at her

"Well I'd say that was certainly an impressive application of knowledge, wouldn't you Sweetie?"

Sweetie Belle nodded vigorously causing Buttons cheeks to burn, he attempted to hide his face under his hat. Daybreak couldn't help but find it adorable for the colt to be the one getting all shy, Button certainly was a character. Sweetie scooted her cushion over next to Button, gently poking him in the leg, she whispered in his ear

"Hey Button...maybe you can come to all my magic practices from now on? If its ok with Twilight that is."

Buttons face lit up with glee, he didn't even hesitate in nodding his head at rapid speed, nearly sending his hat flying from its perch atop his mane

A smirk crossed over Daybreaks face as his own mane fell over him eyes, giving them a shadowy look

"Oh actually, I think I'm gonna have a talk with Twilight tonight about taking over your magical training from now on Sweetie Belle."

This was clearly a surprise for the filly as she did a double take once realizing what he had actually said

"Oh that's gre-...Wait...What?...How come?"

The disappointment in her voice was apparent, and although Daybreak had expected that, he had still hoped she would show some enthusiasm. He hid his own disappointment at her reaction behind his eyes

"Well...Twilight is a great teacher and all when it comes to fundamentals...but I think what you require, is a more action based Sweetie Belle...like hooves-on training, and I'm all about that! Not so much learning the complexities of the spell then trying it out in an enclosed library. More like practicing the spell out in an open field where your free to let it all go and focus without distractions! Of course Button will be allowed as well if he so chooses"

This bit of news made Sweetie happier, but she still looked slightly upset. Her eyes were aimed at the floor rather than him, indicating she was still thinking about or was bothered by something

"You'll still have Twilight Time once a week with your friends Sweetie Belle, it's just the private lessons where you're alone that I want to have you work with me instead.

Ah! There it was! At this news any hint of sadness in her face vanished after which she sat up bright and happy!

"Oh ok! Great!"

Daybreak looked to Button, although he had never stopped smiling in the first place, he asked him anyways.

"And what about you Button? Wanna come to the lessons too? Maybe after each one you guys can play your games here? Maaaaaaybe I'll even try and play with you...though don't be surprised if I suck at first."

Button nodded his head with extra vigor, this kids neck must have been made of steel.

"Oh boy yes! I'd love to come with Sweetie Belle and learn magically stuff here...Oh and don't worry about not playing well in video games, Sweetie Belle was a scrub once too, though her first experiences were probably much funnier than yours will be! She's still a scrub at times too, so you won't be alone."

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A SCRUB YOU NOOB!?"

Button whipped his head to face the enraged filly beside him. There was clear fire in her eyes as green sparks fizzled from her horn like a firecracker, apparently being called a scrub was quite the insult...to cause Sweetie's hair to curl like it was, it seemed to coil up like an angry snake inside a mess of vines! She was up and in his face, staring him straight in the eyes and practically blowing steam from her nostrils! Button smirked but Daybreak was beginning to worry...

"Uh Button...I think you should-"

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A NOOB YOU TRYHARD!?"

"Never mind..."

"HA! TRYHARD! ME?! THIS COMING FROM THE COLT WHO NO-LIFED THE LATEST PONIES OF WAR 3 IN A DAY!"

"Guys I don't think you should talk like..."

"HEY THAT GAME WAS AWESOME! AND YOU'RE JUST MAD CAUSE I KICKED YOUR ALIEN LOVING FLANK!"

"Now Button that doesn't seem..."

"I'M NOT AN ALIEN LOVER! I ONLY SAID THAT I FELT SORRY FOR THEM YOU DORK! I MEAN COME ON, WE INVADED THEIR WORLD FOR PONY SAKE, ALL THEY DID WAS COME UP FROM THE GROUND AND FIGHT BACK!..........AND WAIT A SEC! YOU DIDN'T KICK MY FLANK! I KICKED YOURS!"

Now Button was up on all fours as well, unable to sit for this horrific accusation, his forehead was pressed against Sweeties as he yelled back, his voice cracking like a skipping record

"LIES! AS IF YOU'D EVER BEAT ME SWEETIE BELLE!"

"Button that's perfectly possi-"

"YOU DORK! I ALREADY DID REMEMBER?! WE PLAYED VERSUS ON THAT MAP WITH ALL THE VAMPIRE FRUIT BATS THAT ONLY COME OUT WHEN YOU TURN OFF THE LIGHTS BY SHOOTING THE GENERATOR! I WAS THE CHANGLINGS AND YOU WERE THE PONIES! THE MATCH ENDED WHEN YOU GOT EATEN BY THE VAMPIRE FRUIT BATS CAUSE I SHOT THE GENERATOR WHILE YOU WERE IN THE GRENADE LAUNCHER SPAWN! I WON THE MATCH BY ONE POINT CAUSE YOU DIED ON YOUR LAST LIFE AND I STILL HAD MINE, WITH YOUR WHOLE TEAM OF AI's DEAD!"

Button opened his jaw clearly intent on providing a retort...but then he stopped halfway through forming his sentence. His jaw remained opened, as though he had been frozen in time, the little colt simply stared ahead. Until...

"WELL...YOU'RE STILL A SCRUB!"

"...Why do I even bother..."

Sweeties horn flared up, sizzling at the tip as tiny green lightning bolts jumped forward and singed the wooden floor beneath them. Her eyes and face contorted into a furious rage once again as she prepared to rush Button. She even stomped her hoof into the floor, pretending she was a bull preparing to charge!

"SAY THAT AGAIN YOU MUD COATED TWERP AND I'LL BUCK YOU STRAIGHT TO THE MOON!"

Yikes! That was the end line right there, Daybreak stepped in between the pair and attempted to block their paths to each other while pushing them away with his hooves. Button however, had sparked his own fire within and was now viciously attempting to claw his way through Daybreak to Sweetie Belle, still yelling!

"YOU COULDN'T BUCK ME TO THE MOON EVEN IF I STOOD HERE BLINDFOLDED SWEETIE BELLE! YOU'RE A UNICORN REMEMBER? ALL YOUR STRENGTH IS IN YOUR BIG HEAD, NOT THAT THERE'S MUCH BRAIN WAVES GOING THROUGH THERE EITHER! GUESS YOU'RE OUTTA LUCK ON BOTH ENDS!!"

Sweet Luna! Daybreak stared at Button Mash, unable to believe he had just said something so awful to Sweetie Belle. What had suddenly gotten into these two? He hoped an answer would hit him soon, but all he received was Sweetie Belle smashing her body against his right leg, attempting to push past him and throttle Button

"IT'S PERNOUNCED 'NOT THAT THERE'S MANY BRAIN WAVES GOING THROUGH THERE' YOU DUNCE! HOW CAN YOU CALL ME DUMB WHEN YOU HAVE SUCH TERRIBLE GRAMMAR?!"

"I'M NOT CALLING YOU DUMB I'M CALLING YOU A SCRUB! YOU SCRUB!"

"I'LL DESTROY YOU!"

She darted underneath Daybreaks chest before he could grab her. Expertly weaving in between his legs and avoiding his swipe for her, she sprung and tackled Button Mash across the floor, rage filling her eyes! Sweetie pressed her anger filled stare against his forehead, practically crushing their eyeballs against each other!

In the corner of the room, Twilight ignited her horn and prepared to intervene should anything go awry beyond Daybreaks control. She doubted it could ever get that far knowing how he handled things, but she was better off ready just in case.

Daybreak ignited his own horn as well, he was about to separate the two with a force field when he noticed something odd about them...neither one was moving. Daybreak looked harder and saw that they were simply sitting still, staring at each other. Sweetie Belle was still standing overtop of Button Mash, successfully pinning his hooves to the floor under her own.

"No way..." Daybreak couldn't believe what he thought was going to happen. He kept his horn lit and ready, but decided to simply watch and see what occurred next.

For several seconds the two ponies simply stared at one another, trading angry looks back and forth between them. Sweetie Belle showed no signs of releasing Button, and he showed no intentions of escape...which meant Daybreak was forced to watch nothing more than what seemed like, a staring contest between the two.

What Daybreak could not know, was the silent war going on between the two ponies as they stared at each other with only slightly changing expressions. Button mashed his eyebrows together in a glare

"You move first" he seemed to say with his stare, daring Sweetie to respond in turn.

Sweetie Belle immediately retorted with an expression of her own, curving her lips into an almost sneer-like expression, then stared down at Button with it, almost as if to say

"Yeah, I guess I have to, after all you clearly can't move me yourself"

Buttons eyes lowered into a stern stare as though he were threatening her, he even emitted a low growl under his breath, but nopony except Sweetie Belle heard it.

A moment later Sweetie Belle backed away from Button, a smirk accompanying her. Daybreak moved in immediately, expecting some kind of damage to the little colt...but he found nothing, both ponies were completely unharmed. It appeared that all they had truly done was stare at each other. Though Button did look slightly crestfallen, and Sweetie Belle was practically broadcasting the sneer she had to the world. Something had definitely happened...but Daybreak had no idea what it was.

"What was that all about you two?"

Sweetie Belle turned to him, still wearing her overly large smirk

"Oh I was just teaching Button who the dominate one here is, that's all."

"You two shouldn't behave like that towards each other...I thought you guys were good friends?"

He gave Button no time to retort to what Sweetie had said, seeing that he had opened his muzzle with the clear intention to do so. Instead, he simply wanted an explanation. But Sweeties next remark caught him off guard

"What are you talking about Daybreak? Behave like what? This is how we always are around each other?"

Unable to understand how that could even make sense, he began to question what she meant, but was cut off but a sharp raspy voice that sounded like it came from a serpent...it sent shivers down his spine

"He does not yet know of our ways Sweetie Belle."

Turning his neck so quickly that he was sure it cracked, Daybreak was shocked to see that the evil sounding voice was Buttons, though he was clearly dropping his voice much deeper than before. Then another voice just as creepy, but sounding more feminine, sent several more quakes down his spine

"Ah you are right, but he shall learn if he chooses to game with us."

He didn't have to look to know who it was, but he turned anyways. Sweetie Belle stood exactly where she was before, talking in her own creepy sounding voice that continued to make Daybreaks spine do the conga inside him.

"Ok you two...that's enough...you're seriously freaking me out..."

The dark glare around Button and Sweeties eyes faded away as quickly as it had appeared. Sweetie Belle chuckled while looking up at Daybreak with an amused grin, no trace of the previous destroy-the-world-look in her eyes.

"Sorry Daybreak, this is just how we are towards each other, trust me, its not a surprise if you're a gamer. You can be friends and still scream tons of insults at each other but at the end of it we're still having tons of fun, honest."

Daybreak moved his gaze from Sweetie to Button, both looked completely normal...maybe it really was just a thing they had between them. Sighing aloud, more to himself anypony else, he nodded and put out the glow building on his horn.

"Alright you two...I guess I'll understand better as we spend more time together. Speaking of which, I think I've got a good idea for some extra practice for you both to do on your own and-"

"HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!"

A sharp hissing sound that made Daybreaks ears cringe, and his head turn towards the kitchen expecting to see a tea kettle on fire, cut across his sentence. Startled, Daybreak jumped back, horn blazing with green fire expecting to see a snake below his hooves when he found no tea kettle in his gaze toward the kitchen! Instead, looking down Daybreak saw Button Mash hiding under the rug swiping his hoof out as though he was trying to swat away a fly. Daybreak looked to Sweetie Belle, confused, and hoping for a response or explanation of this behavior. Instead he received only a few short giggles from her and a roll of the eyes. Realizing she wouldn't be helpful, he decided to confront the issue himself

"Umm...Button Mash? What are you doing?"

The little colts top half popped out from beneath the rug, his propeller hat sitting lopsided on his head as he hissed again at Daybreak

"Evvvvvvvvvil! No homework for Button Mash!"

With that, he retreated his head back within the rug. His hat was briefly knocked from its perch as he quickly dove back into his sanctum. For a moment it sat there peacefully upon the floor, but the moment Daybreak reached out for it with hope, Buttons hoof appeared from within the rug and swiped it up, leaving Daybreak with a crestfallen look and Sweetie Belle giggling more profusely than before.

Daybreak slapped his hoof to his face and dragged it down his muzzle, pulling against his lips and chin creating a worn and tired expression upon his face. These two would be the death of him, he could just tell. Knowing he would be unable to convince Button to return without first ridding him of the thought of homework, Daybreak was left with only one option.

"Oh Button Mash...?"

There was no answer from within the rug...Sweetie Belle continued her giggle fit, obviously amused to no end by their little game of hide and seek.

"Button Mash" He repeated again, this time with a little more authority behind his tone, but still not enough to sound threatening. Once again he was greeted with silence...he was beginning to get annoyed now. Deciding to simply end the game before he got frustrated anymore, Daybreak illuminated his horn in green light. The rug became engulfed in his aura and began to float away from the floor, revealing Button attempting to hold it down or go up with it.

Shaking his head, Daybreak grasped Button in a separate field and pulled him away from the rug, with minor resistance, and held him still next to Sweetie Belle, who was still giggling madly. Unable to move, Button was forced to simply stand upright next to Sweetie as he was given the one thing he despised most in this universe...homework. The dreaded creation that not only tired his mind after a long day, but also severely cut into his video game time. How could Daybreak be so cruel as to give him any?

"Now as I was saying, I have some extra work I think you two should do outside our lessons to help yourselves improve..."

He looked directly at Button, still held in place by magic, before he continued.

"...and don't worry, this isn't real homework. It's more like extra practice you can do on your own to improve."

"That's homework Daybreak..."

Sweetie Belles voice came out dull and unamused. Daybreak couldn't help but snap back, almost childishly

"Well homework isn't fun! This will be."

Sweetie Belle raised an eyebrow to him

"If you're gonna force homework on us, can you at least release Button so I don't feel like I'm standing next to a statue?"

Glancing over at Button, he sighed aloud

"Only if he doesn't try and run away again..."

Unable to actually respond due to the spell binding him, Button could only move his eyes and attempt to communicate that he understood by rapid eye movement. It didn't really make any sort of sense to Daybreak, but he figured that he meant yes, so he released the spell anyways.

The moment the green barrier fell his first instinct was to run for cover, but as he noticed Daybreaks horn was still very lit and buzzing with energy, he decided against it. Daybreak smiled as Button took a comfortable sitting position closer to Sweetie, and leaned in as though to pay closer attention.

Seeing that he had their full attention once more, Daybreak cleared his throat and continued

"As I was trying to say before, this won't be homework because for one, I can't force you to do it. Although I'm going to be your mentor for the time you choose to study under me, I am in no way your official teacher and therefore have no right to force you to do work outside this room. What I'm going to ask is completely optional and you have every right to not do it..."

"Maybe you wanna open with that next time?"

Sweetie's snarky remark took Daybreak by surprise, he opened his mouth to retort back but as he saw her flash him an innocent smile, he silenced himself. He had known Sweetie Belle a long time...and there was a very real friendship between them even through the age difference. This meant that they were on a personal level with each other and him suddenly becoming her teacher should not change that. Retorting to a snide remark that he should have seen coming in any way authoritative would only cause harm to what he was trying to accomplish with these ponies...Or maybe he was just overthinking things and he should behave as normal...

"Well I might have! But a certain brown colt decided to play cave explorer with my rug before I could get there!"

Button Mash blushed sheepishly and Sweetie let out another noticeable giggle. He smiled, he had been right to respond as normal...geesh, not even their first day and he was already second guessing himself on how to treat them...this was going to take some work. He would have to remember to ask Twilight for advice on teaching later.

"Well you two...I guess that should wrap us up for today. We should discuss when and how often per week we will meet for lessons. Any thoughts?"

He saw Sweeties hoof rocket into the air first, as usual. He nodded to her expecting to hear a very Twilight-like schedule explanation, but instead all Sweetie did was point her hoof above Daybreaks head.

"I have an idea Daybreak...can you finally show us what that big magic cloud was gonna be for?"

Directing his head upwards to follow her hoof, his eyes widened as they found his cloud of raw magic, still actively streaming rainbow colored sparks outwards in bursts! He had completely forgotten about his bubble...no wonder he felt so...drained, half his energy was floating directly above his head...well now he was in a predicament. He already had explained everything he needed through simply talking with these two...he had planned to use the magical cloud as a live demonstration...but now there was no need. But he couldn't just reabsorb it all without doing anything with it. Well, technically speaking he could, but that would render the whole process he did to extract it completely pointless. Not to mention it wasn't exactly an easy task to just absorb that much raw power, even if it was formerly his. He'd probably be unstable for several minutes before he regained control, and he didn't feel like turning Twilight's house into a giant flower or anything by accident. Which left him with only one option, use the raw energy for something, then allow it to naturally return to him overtime.

He had planned on doing that originally when he wanted it for demonstration, but now it felt like wasted time...unless he made it something really awesome. He would be left quite exhausted once this cloud was used, and would likely be no more magically adept than an average unicorn for sometime. So he had to do something really awesome with it...or really funny! Funny was definitely within the range of worth it...but that meant it had to be beyond amazing, and hilarious!

Looking around the room, Daybreak searched for an object, any object to be the subject of their entertainment. Glancing back, he noticed Twilight's study was slightly ajar, she was probably still too busy with Aurora to have any idea what was occurring out here...that made her a prime target.

Just as he was considering what to attack his unsuspecting wife with...the answer to all his problems came to him...in the form of loud snoring! From the top of the stairs and inside their room, Spike's snores carried down to the floor and to Daybreaks awaiting ears. A sinister grin spread across his muzzle as he prepared to wreak some good old fashioned chaos within his home.

"Ok Sweetie...You and Button watch closely now, I'm gonna show you exactly what to do with this big cloud of fun here hehehe...Oh Spiiiiiiiiiiiike, could you come down here please?

Sweetie Belle's eyes went wide with horror "Daybreak! What are you gonna do to poor Spike?"

The sinister grin plastered across his muzzle only grew wider as he heard the tiny taping of claws against floorboard. For a moment, Sweetie Belle swore she saw a flash of crimson within his eyes

"Why I'm only going to show you what a highly unstable magical cloud and a water balloon have in common!"

The tapping of clawed feet became louder as Spike neared the door to their room, Daybreak heard Spikes claw strike the door handle, and lit his horn, signaling the start of his joke. Looking above them, Button and Sweetie Belle watched as the stormy cloud of power started to twist as though the high winds of a typhoon were blowing against it. With green energy shimmering along it's edges to show that Daybreak was effecting it, the cloud began to clump together in a more compact form than before. As each section silently mushed itself together it began to look less like a cloud and more like one giant bubble, which was slowly coming closer and closer to the ground, like a new weight had placed upon it. The clumps disappeared and the sparks of rainbow lightning became confined to the inside of the sphere it was now becoming.

His smile stretched from ear to ear as his magical creation of havoc was born. The former storm cloud of unstable rainbow soaked light was gone, replaced by what looked like, a giant sphere.

It was massive in size and to Button, it looked like the largest balloon in the world. But it was far different from any balloon he had ever seen. As he stared closer to its ever changing light, he realized he could see through to the inside. Within its giant form, it seemed to hold all of the rainbow lightning they had seen before, but it looked completely different now. Instead of the lightning streaming and shooting out in random directions like it had before, now the power had been compressed into the center, forming a slightly smaller sphere on the inside. The smaller sphere within was also changing colors too, but at a much quicker pace than the outside, and it seemed to vibrate a bit with each color change. This gave off the illusion that it was attempting to free itself from within.

However the reality of this new form was much different, as Button would soon find out. He felt compelled to touch the outside of the sphere, just to see what would happen. He looked over, Sweetie Belle was examining the sphere herself and not paying any attention to him. Meanwhile Daybreak was staring up at the staircase above them, clearly still waiting for Spike, that meant he was in the clear. He reached out his hoof and extended it towards the ball of power. Coming up short by only a few inches, he cursed his rotten luck for not being any taller, but refused to give up and continued attempting to stretch himself enough to touch it.

As Button was lost within the beautiful radiance of the spheres glow, Sweetie Belle noticed something odd about the new form the magic had taken. It now had a small stream of lime green energy flowing down from its bottom, to the tip of Daybreak's horn, as though he were holding it in place. This was very odd to her, as he had been willing to let it float freely when it looked like a storm cloud, but now that it looked more stable he was holding it in place...why?

She never got to voice her question though, for before she could open her mouth she heard the sound of a door being shut with added force. Looking up, she was in time to see Spikes shadow begin quickly running down the stairs. She swung her neck back around to find Daybreaks eyes following the young dragons shadow like a hawk on its prey.

"This is gonna blow the roof off the place!" He quietly voiced with a sinister grin.