Crusher picked on the bloody food in front of him as he, Xander and Beejay ate in the huge dining hall. Xander was munching on his bloody steak while glancing at Beejay. The Vampire King didn't make contact with anyone, simply munching on the steak. After a while, Xander sighed.

"Okay, no more awkward silence," he stood up.

"But... I don't know what to say..." Crusher murmured.

"Okay, I'll start," Xander crossed his arms. "How are your nights? Both of you?"

"The usual," Beejay shrugged.

"Well, it wouldn't be if you let me in here anytime soon," Xander huffed.

Crusher awkwardly watched as the two interacted. Beejay sighed.

"You know why. I... I'm not into company right now..."

"Yeah, could tell," Xander groaned. "Anyway-"

"Xander, please, silence." Beejay commanded, eyes glowing red.

Xander became quiet for a while before growling and crossing his tires. "I'm not even vampire, why listen to you...?"

"Um... c-can I ask something?" Crusher asked, finally having some courage.

"What... What is it?" Beejay wondered, finally looking at him.

W-Why did you say I was dead? What happened? Why did you not come back for me? I spent YEARS thinking no one wanted me, so..."

Crusher held his head down in shame as tears trickled down his cheeks, but he finished his question.

"...is it because you didn't love me anymore...?"

Beejay's expression darkened for a moment. He took a deep breath before managing to answer.

"The first thing the mortals did was burn your nursery... then they burnt everything else after."

Crusher's eyes widened. Xander's eyes widened as well.

"Beejay... why didn't you say anything...?"

"..." Beejay hissed, beginning to tear up. "Bluebell died trying to talk to those... pesky mortals. I wanted to get you, but they burnt your nursery before I could..."

Crusher was speechless. His expression was dark as he lowered his head.

"I... I had no idea... I feel so bad for the way I treated you. I... I'm so sorry..."

Beejay didn't say anything. He simply teleported out of the dining room.

"W-Where'd he go?" Crusher asked.

"His room," Xander sighed and handed him some sacks. "Give this to your friends for food, I'll go talk to him,"

"Thanks..."

Crusher grabbed the sacks and left to the dungeons. When he made it there, he found the group comforting the foals and fillies.

"I got dinner!"

"Yay!" Darington beamed. "We're all hungryyy!!!"

"Hope you guys like bloody-- cause there's a lot of blood in here."

Crusher handed the sacks. Blaze opened it and hissed at the bloody steaks and porks inside.

"Hmm... not really a meal fit for hungry foals and fillies."

"Pickle, think you can conjure up something for them?" Stripes asked.

"Okay!"

Pickle waved his wand, and hay and fruit appeared in front of them.

"Yay! Snack time!" Quizon called to the other foals and fillies.

Crusher smiled as they all began to eat. He soon sighed as his expression saddened. Blaze noticed this and frowned.

"Are you okay? Did things not go well with your dad?"

"I... I messed up..." Crusher sighed.

"Why...? What happened?" Yza asked quietly.

"I... I found out what happened... why dad didn't get me..." Crusher hissed. "The mortals... they... they kidnapped me first and burnt the nursery I was in... killed my Mom and everything..."

"Oh, Crusher..." Blaze sighed sadly. "I'm so sorry..."

"We are too..." Camille nodded.

"Dad... he doesn't like the reminder of it..." Crusher added. "He... He got upset and left dinner..."

"Oh, Crusher…" Pickle patted his back.

"I really feel bad for how I treated him now…" Crusher let out a sigh. "But I… I don't know how to make it up to him…"

"Maybe you can try hanging out with him, get to know him better," AJ suggested.

"Yeah… maybe I should…"

X

"Beejay, will you stop brooding?" Xander sighed as he watched the other brood at the mirror despite having no reflection.

"Xander…"

"No. No brooding," Xander wrapped his tires around his friend. "Please, Beejay, why are you so down?"

"You know why." Beejay hissed. "My own son hates me."

"No he doesn't." Xander sighed. "He's just conflicted. And he had no idea what happened…" He then hissed. "Neither of us did…"

Beejay knew what he meant. He sighed and turned to face him.

"Sorry for not telling you…"

"It's okay... but your son really thinks you're angry with him. He wants to have a bond with you, but he is unsure how."

"I…" Beejay hissed. "but what if… what if happens again…? I… I can't bare to lose him again…"

"You won't," Xander said. "I'll make sure of it."

"Thanks, Xander," Beejay smiled and kissed his forehead.

Xander flushed before turning to leave. "I, uh, have to go, um, goodnight!"

With that, he took his leave and ran out of the room. He soon made his way to the dungeons to check on everyone.

"How is everyone doing?"

"We're doing fine, thanks," Blaze smiled.

"Uh… why are you so red, Xander?" Crusher teased.

"N-No reason!!" Xander shook his head before clearing his throat. "A-Anyway, I think you should really bond with your father, Crusher,"

"I want to, but... I don't know how..."

"Maybe try a night flight tomorrow night," Xander suggested.

"Well... okay..." Crusher sighed. "Do you think he'll let me?"

"Of course he will, trust me," Xander assured him.

"Well... okay. I guess I could try."

"But what if Mika shows up and tries to take them out again?" Starla pointed out.

"Oh… I'll handle her…" Xander smirked, eyes glowing red. "I swear I would. I've always wanted to anyway,"

"Um... Mr. Xander, sir?" Camille nudged his tire. "W-What about us foals and fillies? What do we do?"

"Stay here with Blaze and the others to stay safe," Xander told her gently. "If the king is out of the palace, he won't be able to hurt any of you,"

"But what if the king finds out about us?" Darington gulped. "We already seen him get mad and toss us out once..."

"He won't, Crusher and I will be keeping him busy," Xander said. "And as long as none of you bleed. He can… smell new blood from a mile away…"

"We'll try our best," AJ nodded, holding the pink pegasus in his arms.

"That's all I ask, come Crusher, I still need to teach you some more flying until sunrise," Xander urged.

"Okay," Crusher nodded. "See you guys later!"

"Bye!" Yza waved with her hoof as they went back upstairs.

X

Meanwhile, Mika snarled as she watched Xander lead Crusher to the garden to practice flying.

"Drat! I guess I'll have to take higher measures..." She held out a stake and smirked. "And what better way to do it when he's fast asleep…"

X

The next morning, everything was peaceful in the castle. Beejay was asleep in his room. So was Crusher in the room given to him.

Xander, however, wasn't.

Instead, he was watering the garden joyfully.

It was a wonder if he ever slept at all.

As he watered the garden, Blaze and AJ had come out of hiding to check how everything was going. They found Xander and drove over to him.

"Oh, morning, Zander! You're up early!" Blaze smiled.

"Up?" Xander laughed. "You are funny. I forgot how much mortals needed sleep to survive!"

"Wait, so... you haven't slept at all?" AJ asked. "Aren't you tired?"

"Nope," Xander shook his head. "I am that strange of an entity,"

"Wow..."

"So, how are you and your friends this morning?"

"We're doing fine," Blaze smiled.

"How's Crusher?" AJ asked.

"He's doing fine, just tired," Xander assured them.

Blaze nodded and looked around. "Uh… Xander, shouldn't vampires sleep in the day?"

"Uh, yes, why do you ask?"

"Then what's that vampire doing out?"

Xander turned to find Mika flying inside the palace in her bat form. He growled.

"It's Mika! Quick, you two get your friends and the foals and stay hidden!"

"Alright!" Blaze and AJ nodded before driving off.

While they did, Xander flew up, wings glistening under the sun as he flew.

Meanwhile, Mika wandered around the palace, looking for Crusher.

"Now... where is his room...?"

She flew down the hall until she heard snoring. She peered into one of the rooms to see Crusher upside down on the ceiling, fast asleep.

"Found him..."

She transformed into her vampire self before raising the stake. She jumped up but before she could do anything, a shield deflected her back.

"What?!" Mika hissed before turning to see Xander entering the room. "HOW DARE YOU?!"

Xander, however, looked just as confused. "But I'm... not doing anything..."

"If not you THEN WHO DID?!"

"Mika, that's ENOUGH."

The pair turned to see Beejay fly down towards them, his ebony black wings stretched out from his back as he glared at the vampire girl. Mika snarled.

"You..." She tightened her grip on the stake in her tire. "HOW DARE YOU STOP ME?! CAN'T YOU SEE?! THIS... HYBRID MONSTER IS A NUISANCE!!"

"That... nuisance is MY son." Beejay hissed. "And if you can't accept the fact that I won't come back together with you then... I must banish you from Transylvania."

"WHAT?! YOU CAN'T DO THAT!"

"He is the king," Xander smugly smirked. "Of course he can."

"ARGH!!" Mika hissed. "WELL, I'M NOT LEAVING!!"

Beejay sighed and raised his tires. Red and gold magic surrounded Mika, who gritted her teeth as she was levitated up.

"LET ME GO!!"

"I'm sorry Mika... but I have no choice."

With a flick of his tires, the vampire girl disappeared. Beejay sighed and turned to Crusher, who was still fast asleep.

"At least he is safe."

"Yeah, he is," Xander smiled. "Good job being a father,"

"I... I'm just relieved I was able to do my job..." Beejay sighed. "I mean, Mika was able to get to him last night..."

"He's safe now, thanks to you." Xander assured him. "And that's all that matters. Now, you should be getting back to bed,"

"Right."

Beejay yawned. "Are you not going to sleep?"

"I don't need sleep..."

"Pity," Beejay sighed and turned around. "My room is feeling empty..."

Xander rolled his eyes as the other turned into a bat and flew off. It only took a while for him to realize what the Vampire King meant, only causing him to flush before he ran out into the garden.

Meanwhile, Blaze and their friends still laid low in the dungeons below.

"I-Is the big mean bat lady still out there?" Skydancer, the pink pegasus shuddered.

"Don't worry, I'm sure Xander handled her already," Watts assured the pegasus.

"Speaking of, here he comes!" Stripes pointed ahead to see Xander flying into the dungeons.

"I-Is... everything okay, Mr. Xander, sir?" Quizon asked.

"Yes, everything is fine," Xander smiled, face still red but he didn't look hurt. "Mika has been banished from Transylvania,"

"Phew... that's a relief," Stripes sighed.

"Yeah," Blaze gave a smile. "What did she want from the castle?"

"She wanted to kill Crusher and get the king to come back to her." Xander sighed.

"Oh no!" Pickle gasped. "Is Crusher okay?!"

"He's fine. The king used his magic to save him." Xander assured him.

"That's a relief," Darington grinned. "At least it looks like his dad's warming up to him,"

"So... what happens now?" Starla asked.

"Two more days," Xander told them. "Just wait two more days,"

"Man, I'm getting kinda bored with all this waiting..." Darington sighed.

"Zeg too..." Zeg groaned.

"I know, but it's only two more days," Starla chuckled.

"Two more long... BORING days..." Darington whined.

"Hey, it's okay," Blaze pulled him into a hug and kissed his forehead. "We can always play with the fillies and foals during those days. We can entertain ourselves down here too,"

"Well... I guess so... and we can always tell them stories of our adventures." Darington sighed.

"That's the spirit!"

Xander stared at them with a smile before he turned around to leave.

"Where are you going?" Blaze asked.

"Going to get some breakfast," Xander replied.

"Ooh, can you bring us back some too?"

"Sure,"

Xander then teleported out of the dungeons and into the kitchen. After getting some fruits and non-bloody meat, he made his way back to the dungeons.

"Here you are, friends."

"Thanks, Xander," Blaze took the food. "Aren't you gonna eat?"

"I'm good, thanks," Xander shook his head.

"You sure-"

"Yes, have a good morning," With that, Xander left, disappearing from the dungeons.

X

"UGH!!" Mika snarled as she flew around her palace, which was far from Transylvania. "I can't believe HE would banish ME!!" She let out a shriek, causing the windows to crack. "I WILL HAVE MY VENGENACE FOR WHAT HE DID!!"

"Calm down, sister," Another vampire girl flew to her, transforming, revealing her golden eyes.

"How can I calm down, Ara, HE BANISHED ME!!" Mika yelled out.

"Well... if you hadn't tried to kill his son, he wouldn't have banished you." Ara sighed. "Pick yourself up from your brooding, sister. Come on. It is time for you to stop simping and start planning your vengeance."

"I suppose you have an idea for that, little sister?"

"I do." Ara grinned. "Do you wanna hear it or not?"

"Fine... what do you got?"

"The father and son haven't bonded yet," Ara pointed out. "There's still a way to make one hate the other,"

"Okay...?" Mika raised an eyebrow. "And how do we do that?"

"Aim for the one trying to bond them," Ara smirked.

"Right..." Mika smirked. "I like where this is going,"

"Oh I know," Ara laughed. "Time for a plan to take action,"