Hey. I’m Daylight Dusk. And, well, as you’ll soon find out, I’m not like most ponies. In fact, I once had the entire world’s fate resting on my shoulders- but not just that. I had the fabric of time itself weighing down on me. When I was born, the world had ended, due to the ambition of a very dark being. One that was thought to be defeated at the hooves of the famous Elements of Harmony and their bearers.
Unfortunately, I had never met them. They died before my time. I had heard of them, I had heard of Applejack’s truest honesty. Of Rarity’s endless generosity. Rainbow Dash’s fierce loyalty and Fluttershy’s gentle kindness. Pinkie Pie’s energetic laughter and Twilight Sparkle’s great magic. But again, they head died before I was born. They died battling the evil my parents expected me to kill.
However, why am I telling you all of this? You should read about it for yourself. Find out what happened in my Future-Past, and see for yourself how my journey began…
~Prologue: Premonitions~
Canterlot Castle
Ten Years in the Future
7:32 am
“Luna, the day is here, and I will let you rest.” Celestia told her sister. The younger princess looked up to her sister with tired eyes, and nodded. However, the older princess looked at her in worry. “Something is troubling you, sister. What might it be?”
Luna responded with a slight yawn, having been awake for a longer night than usual. “I sensed something wrong, sister. Something dark…” She shuddered. “It was like being possessed by Nightmare again…”
“I will watch over for this power, sister.” Celestia said. “You get some rest- it might just be a lack of sleep that made you think as such.”
Luna nodded. “Thank you, sister.” She spread her wings, and flew up to the southern tower, her personal chambers. She trotted over to a large pile of blankets, her preferred “bed.” “Maybe my sister is right. But I can’t shake Nightmare’s presence- it’s one I know all too well.” She lay under a few of the blankets, and closed her eyes for a day’s sleep.
Meanwhile, the older princess took up her daytime position on her throne, and charged up her golden aura of magic. Outside, the sun began to rise. The dark black of night gave way to the blue of day. The ponies of Canterlot, and the rest of the world, awoke to begin the day’s events.
However, a chill wind blew through the throne room. Celestia sensed it, and the dark energy it brought. One thing came to her mind at once. “I must send for Twilight and her friends. I know that feeling too well…”
The wind blew through the rest of the castle, and out through Canterlot. Unknown to Celestia, the wind had a conscience. It was thinking of one thing and one thing only: revenge. But it knew that it was no match for the Elements without a body. Nightmare was reduced to a pale wind after Luna was purged of her presence.
Soon, it discovered something in the frozen wastes outside the Crystal Empire. It was a dark, blood-red unicorn’s horn. Nightmare would have grinned if she had a mouth. A plan formulated within her soul- one that would soon become a reality. The citizens of the Crystal Empire could hear laughter on the wind, but none knew who was responsible.
~Two hours later~
“Twilight, you should definitely start using your wings. It’s been ten years! You may be a princess, but seriously?” Rainbow Dash was complaining when the six Elements of Harmony entered the throne room.
“I know, but I’m still not used to this. I guess growing wings and finding out that I’m a princess is something that I can’t get used to.” Twilight responded.
Celestia nodded in her direction. “Princess Twilight, it reassures me that you made it here safely.” Celestia walked down from her throne, and approached the six ponies in front of her. “I’m afraid that what I gathered you here for is a very serious matter, not one of celebration.” She looked at the pink earth pony of the group, to make sure she took this seriously.
“What’s wrong, teacher?” Twilight asked.
“I have felt a dark omen on the wind. I fear for Equestria’s safety, and I would like the six of you to wear the Elements of Harmony until it passes.” Celestia called for a guard, and he came in, suspending a large chest in his magical aura. It opened to reveal five of the six Elements- Twilight’s crown was worn constantly, since it was also a symbol of her status as a princess.
“Not that I don’t mind the extra jewelry, your highness,” Rarity began, “But what did you sense to make you so worried?” She levitated the necklace of Generosity in her aura of magic.
“Ah’d like to know that as well, princess.” Applejack said, taking the necklace of Honesty and affixing it to her neck.
“The presence of Nightmare flowed through my throne room, and all of Canterlot.” Celestia said.
“N-Nightmare M-Moon?” Fluttershy shakily asked while taking the necklace of Kindness.
“I thought Luna was Nightmare Moon. Wouldn’t it make a certain amount of sense if you felt that presence?” Rainbow Dash complained, taking the necklace of Loyalty.
“No, silly,” Pinkie Pie said, closing the necklace of Laughter around her neck. “It’s the thing that took over Luna, making her go crazy. Now that it’s back, Celestia’s worried that it might take control of somepony else!”
Celestia stared at her blankly. “That’s… exactly right, Pinkie.” She said in a small amount of disbelief. “That’s also why I want you to stay here, in Canterlot, for the time being. I fear that even the six of you may not be able to defeat Nightmare this time, and so my sister and I shall fight beside you.”
“You’re going to fight with us?” Twilight asked.
“Yes, my faithful student. But I fear that may not be enough.”
~Timeshift- the present~
And that’s how this thing began, with Celestia’s odd premonition. But that’s not how this whole beginning came to pass- I haven’t come into being yet. This next segment is about a month after the last one. Also, it is not for the faint of heart. For this is why I haven’t met the Elements of Harmony in my life. Go on, read for yourself.
~Timeshift- Ten Years in the Future-Past~
And so Nightmare began its reign of terror, with the new power it had found. The Crystal Empire was taken completely off guard- Princess Cadence and Shining Armor were both the only survivors, the former carrying her very injured husband on her back to Canterlot. Manehattan, Phillydelphia, Los Pegasus, and others were all destroyed. Then the wave of darkness came to Canterlot.
“I feel it too, sister.” Luna said as she stood next to Celestia. “It’s here. Nightmare is here.”
Celestia nodded. “We cannot let Nightmare get any farther. We will stop that dark being here.” She called for the guard, and about five hundred well-trained ponies of pegasus, unicorn, and earth pony descent swarmed into the city, protecting key areas and telling citizens to stay inside for their safety.
Twilight and her friends also gathered in the Throne room, ready to fight. And that’s when a voice boomed out over the town. “You foolish ponies. You have gathered together in the hopes you can stop me. But all you have done is make it easier for me to kill you all!” The voice was eerily familiar to all eight of the ponies in the throne room.
“It’s Sombra. I’d know that voice anywhere.” Celestia said.
“Princess!” A guard shouted, running inside the room, heavily bleeding off his right shoulder and both flanks. “This… monster… it’s killing us all! Nopony is safe!” He collapsed, unable to continue living from his injuries.
The doors to the throne room flew open, to reveal a single figure. It was equine in appearance, with many of the features of the late King Sombra. However, its legs were longer, and its eyes glowed with purple malice, not green. Sombra’s cutie mark had small stars around it, and it was placed on an inky black background.
“It’s so good to see you all once more. The two of us are happy to get our revenge.” The creature said.
“What are you?” Twilgiht asked.
“I am both the night and the darkness it comes with. I am the moon and the eclipse. I am perfect darkness. I am Nightmare Sombra!” He roared, the wave of energy knocking back the eight ponies before him. “How pitiful, the mighty Elements of Harmony and the princesses of Equestria felled by my voice alone? I am disappointed.”
“We won’t lose to you!” Twilight Sparkle shouted. The Elements began to glow, and together they gave Twilight enough energy to shoot a powerful blast at Nightmare Sombra, the same as they did with Discord (when he was evil) and Nightmare Moon. The two princesses lent their power as well, turning the rainbow beam into one of pure, golden light. It hit Nightmare Sombra straight on, and dust filled the air.
“YEAH!” Rainbow Dash shouted in victory. But, alas, it was in vain. When the dust cleared, Nightmare Sombra stood, with no visible wounds on his body. “Uh-oh.”
“Was that all you had? I almost regret killing such weak opponents.” Nightmare Sombra said.
“I’m not weak!” A certain blue pegasus screamed. She flew at him.
“Rainbow, no!” Applejack called out. It was in vain. Rainbow Dash’s leg flew out, aiming to kick the evil presence, but she was caught in his red levitation magic.
“Let go of me!”
“How arrogant of you. You are not stronger than me, puny pegasus. You will be the first to die.” A black crystal erupted from the ground, and it wasted no time in rising up through Rainbow Dash’s body.
“RAINBOW DASH!” Twilight shouted. This grabbed Nightmare Sombra’s attention.
“The element of magic, Twilight Sparkle. Both of my previous lives have memories of you being the one to defeat us in the end. You will die after seeing your friends go first!” More black crystal emerged, impaling the unicorn, pegasus, and both earth ponies near Twilight.
“YOU MONSTER!” She screamed, tears welling up in her eyes. Twilight charged up power in her horn, ready to strike, but widened her eyes in shock as she felt something hit her. Looking behind her, she saw a black, jagged crystal poking through her back, down into the floor. It rent one of her wings into an unnatural position, and she felt the pain after her mind wanted to register it. But she could not scream- she died before she got the chance.
“Now it is your turn, Celestia.” Nightmare Sombra said, stepping past the bodies of the Elements of Harmony. A black spear of rock flew out, impaling the princess’s leg.
“Ah! You’ll never win…” Celestia groaned. Luna watched with horror as the monster approached.
“Foolish princess. I already have.”
“Not on my watch!” A voice shouted. It was Shining Armor, hitting Nightmare Sombra from behind, stabbing a spear into his flank.
“Luna, grab your sister!” Cadance shouted, taking flight. Luna hoisted Celestia onto her back, and flew out, following the pink princess. Shining Armor had jumped out, landing in his wife’s hooves, and the four ponies flew away before Nightmare Sombra could get to them.
“HAHAHA! Run if you wish, fools! But I have won! It is only a matter of time before you die!” Nightmare Sombra shouted after them, laughing in his triumph. The sky turned red, and the sun and moon both disappeared. For good.
~A few hours later~
“Cadance, where are we headed?” Luna asked, her sister barely regaining consciousness.
“A place where our last hope can be born.” The pink princess responded. She started her descent, into the bowels of the Everfree Forest. Luna said nothing as they touched down, Shining Armor offering to carry Celestia until she fully awoke. Cadance led the four of them into a small cave, with a crystal-clear pool of water in it.
“What is this place?” Luna asked.
“It is called the Mirror Pool. Only a few know of its location, myself and Pinkie Pie included.” She shook her head. “Just me now, I guess.”
“I’ve heard of it,” Luna began, “Doesn’t that legend about it say it makes clones of ponies?”
“Yes. But if more than one pony enters it at the same time, a new life is created. One with the strength of all who entered it. It’s said that the first alicorns, you and your sister, were born this way.” Luna thought back, but neither she nor her sister could remember that far back.
Celestia stirred, and got to her hooves. “So, your plan is to give rise to a savior of sorts?”
“Yes. With your powers as the sun princess, Luna’s power of the moon, my power of love, and my husband’s strength and bravery, we can create a pony who can stand up to Nightmare Sombra and save us all.” Cadance said. “At this point, we’ve already proven that he is too much for us individually.”
“I agree. Sister, we need to do this.” Luna said. Celestia nodded, and the four of them walked up to the water’s edge. The four ponies lit up their horns with magic, and climbed into the pool of water. When they climbed out, they turned, to see the one figure following.
The figure was an alicorn colt, with three of his parents being such. He had a light, cyan blue coat, and his mane flowed like Celestia’s, although it was a deep auburn in color with scarlet stripes. This pony’s eyes were a deep an auburn as his mane was, and his voice was somewhat strong.
This pony was me. I was “born” in the waters of the mirror pool, created by my parents to thwart Nightmare Sombra. They told me of who I am, and what had happened. Since I was made, I was not as ignorant as a newborn foal- I had the mind and capability of a full-grown alicorn.
I also had different memories of my parents, each given to me to help me know the world I am in and give me the information I needed. I found out that, while one of my parents raised the moon and another the sun, I had power over The morning and evening, Dawn and Dusk. They named me Daylight Dusk for this reason.
“You made me, my parents.” I said. “You made me to stop an evil that already has spread over the world. Even with your powers inside of me, I cannot hope to defeat him alone.”
“We know. And we are too weak to help you.” Mother Celestia said. “That is why I will send you back.”
“Back? Where, into the pool?” I asked.
Mother Luna stepped forward. “No, back in time. To stop him before he comes into being. Celestia and I felt the wind of Nightmare’s presence not long after Twilight Sparkle’s coronation, but we ignored it like fools. We will send you to the time shortly after, to find and stop her.”
“How will I convince your past selves of my mission? I don’t think anypony, not even yourselves, would believe this.” I said.
Mother Cadance stepped forward. “Then take our crowns. There are only one each in existence, and no forgeries are possible. We will believe you then.” She levitated her crown over to me, as did Mothers Celestia and Luna.
My Father, Shining Armor, gave me a badge with his family crest on it. “And that will prove it to me and my sister.” They weaved magic in the air around me, and a cloak appeared, with saddlebags. I placed the items of value in the bags, and hid my wings under the cloak.
I added a spell of my own. My mane calmed form its breeze-like waving, and settled on my head like my father’s mane. “I will go, my parents. I will save as many ponies as I can.”
“Then go, Daylight Dusk, our son. Go, and make us proud.” Celestia said, weaving a time spell in her horn. This wasn’t any ordinary time spell, which would last a small amount of time. This one would send me back in time for good. I jumped through the portal, headed to a time I knew not.
~Timeshift- A Year After Princess Twilight Sparkle’s Coronation~
I landed in this time outside of Ponyville. I knew this to be true from the mental maps my parents gave to me. I was just south of the main part of town. It would not be too far of a walk to get in.
I needed to warn my parents. I needed to stop Nightmare from finding Sombra’s remains and forming the monstrosity of the future. To do that, I needed to get to Canterlot. And the only ponies that could grant me an audience with the mother of my past were the Elements of Harmony.
Chapter 1 ~Welcome to Ponyville~
September 2
6:34 am
South of Ponyville
Daylight Dusk
I had not seen a morning in my life. Since I knew I had to conceal my presence for a little longer, to avoid too many questions that I couldn’t answer, it was Mother Celestia’s creation. Nothing more than just the black of night lightening to the blue of day- no orange or other beautiful colors to accompany it. I’ll be doing that once I can explain everything to my parents in the past.
It was easy to conceal my wings, since the cloak was large and baggy. The horn, however, was not so easily hidden- I’ll have to pass as a unicorn for now. There was no doubt in my mind that the townsponies would question the presence of a strange Alicorn, let alone the first male one. The memories given to me from Mother Luna confirmed that much.
The mark on my flank, my cutie mark, resembled the sun being covered by the moon- an eclipse. Some ponies might question that as well, so I shifted the cloak to conceal my flank. I made slow progress towards the village, rehearsing lines in my head to say.
“Hi, I’m wondering where I can find Princess Twilight. Can you tell me?” No, a little too inquisitive. “Do you know where Princess Twilight lives? I need to deliver a message.” No, too urgent. “I’ve been sent by Princess Celestia to warn Twilight Sparkle about urgent matters. Can you point me to where she lives?” A half-truth. My mother did tell me to warn her, but the one in the future, not this time. No doubt Twilight would try to confirm with Mother Celestia about that.
“What should I do..?” I asked myself. Fortunately for me, fate was on my side, and provided an answer for me. I heard a faint scream in the distance, coming from the East side of town, near the Everfree Forest. I galloped in that direction, headed towards the voice.
“H-Help!” The faint voice screamed. It was too soft to be heard in the town, and the owner of that voice must be a timid pony. I rounded a turn in the road, to see a peculiar sight.
A butter-yellow pegasus mare was cornered by a bear. She was obviously trying to calm him down, but it wasn’t working. She hid behind her pink mane, and when I saw her eyes, I knew who it was from the gifted memories. Fluttershy, the Element of Kindness.
My thoughts told me she was rather good with animals, and has handled situations like this before. But this bear was different. As I peered at it, I felt nothing but malice radiating off it. Something had angered it, but I wasn’t sure what. Nonetheless, I was running over to the scene, and jumped between the bear and the frightened pegasus.
“Why don’t you try picking on somepony more your size?” I asked the bear. It roared in response, raising a paw to attack. But that’s when I saw something behind it. Or three things, to be exact. Cubs. I dodged the paw swipe, grabbing Fluttershy’s tail in my mouth to take her out of the danger area with me.
“W-Who are you?” she asked me timidly.
“I’ll tell you after I deal with the bear.” I said, walking over to the cubs. They looked frightened, and cowered back. The mother looked at me, but didn’t dare attack me for not wanting to accidentally hit her cubs. “You’re just trying to protect them, aren’t you?” I asked the bear.
I got a nod in response. “And you thought Fluttershy here was hurting them, didn’t you?” Another nod. “Don’t worry, she would never do that. Right, Fluttershy?”
“O-Of course! I would never hurt anypony or animal.” The she-bear calmed down, and took her cubs away. She looked back, in annoyance, anger, or curiosity, I couldn’t tell. The mare I saved walked up to me and thanked me. “I just don’t know what happened. One minute I was helping those cubs find their mother, but then she attacked!”
“Sometimes you do drastic things to protect others.” I said. “I’m Daylight Dusk, to introduce myself, Fluttershy.” I thought about what I said after I did so.
“It’s nice to meet you, I’m Fl-“ she hesitated. “How do you know my name? I don’t remember meeting you.”
I looked around, looking for some reason. I then spotted her house, a small cottage covered in plants. “It was on your mailbox.” I said quickly. Not a lie, as it is there on the mailbox, but I’d better be more careful in the future.
“Oh.” She shyly shifted her hooves. “Well, I do have to thank you for saving me… would you like to stay for lunch?” she asked. It was already mid-morning, and I hadn’t eaten since I was created- barely a day ago.
My stomach growled. “I guess I’ll take you up on your offer, Fluttershy.” I said. That brought a smile to her face as she walked inside her house. I followed in, my nostrils flaring at the scents of many different animals filling the small wooden hut. It wasn’t unpleasant, but just unexpected.
A short hour passed as I read in a book Fluttershy had on her shelf. It was a guide to taking care of chickens- not that I was particularly interested, it was just that the mare seemed to want to avoid me until lunch. When that time came, she called me into her kitchen, where a small table had been set for the two of us. I smelt soup, and sure enough, that was lunch.
“Thank you, Fluttershy. It’s been a while since I had a good, hot meal.” I said. I used magic to levitate a spoonful of the broth to my mouth, and drank. It was pleasant, hay and some sort of berry mixed into it.
“It’s no trouble at all.” She murmured, barely audible. “So… what brings you to Ponyville?” she asked, trying to make conversation.
This was a difficult question to answer without giving myself away, but I quickly came up with a lie. “I’m travelling from town to town, looking for work. Anywhere’s fine, but I’d like something that’s long-term so I can settle down.” I drank some more of the soup, the bowl now half-empty.
“Oh! My friend Applejack and her family own Sweet Apple Acres. Maybe you could go to them for work? They’re always busy there.” She said.
“That sounds like a good work opportunity,” I started, also realizing that I was short on bits. By short, I meant completely broke, since I was not given any after I was made. “I’ll be sure to tell… Applejack?” I asked, receiving a nod. “Yeah, I’ll tell her you sent me by.” I felt something nudge my leg. Looking down, it was a small, white rabbit.
“Oh, Angel, I almost forgot about your lunch, I’m so sorry…” Fluttershy said, flapping her wings softly as she rose to a high shelf, retrieving a carrot.
Angel was looking at me curiously. Perhaps animals could sense a powerful magical presence like myself? Being an Alicorn automatically gives me that much. Maybe that’s why the bear was so quick to leave- she was scared of my Aura! It made more and more sense when I thought about it.
“Are you alright? You’re just staring at nothing…” Fluttershy asked.
I shook my head real quick, to wake up. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just prone to deep thought.” I got up from the chair, and bowed slightly to the mare. “I thank you for your hospitality. But I must leave now.”
She blushed, probably unused to people thanking her by bowing. I left the house after she mumbled something unintelligible, and I walked into Ponyville itself. First impression: it’s a humbling town. The homes weren’t too tall or fancy, save for one, and it seems like everypony who lives here knows everypony else.
I was walking down the main road when it happened. I felt something hit me, knocking me to the ground. When I opened my eyes from the shock, I was staring straight into the blue eyes of a pink earth pony. “Hi, who are you? I’m Pinkie Pie, and I know everypony in Ponyville! But I don’t know you, so you must be new here! Where’re you from? Where are you going? Why are you wearing a cloak?”
This mare talked too much. I gently pushed her off me, and tried to be friendly. “A pleasure to meet you, Pinkie Pie. My name is Daylight Dusk. I’m from Canterlot,” I lied- but it would hopefully be true after I get there. “And I moved here for a more relaxing setting. I was just going over to Sweet Apple Acres for work.”
“Omygosh! You’re going to Sweet Apple Acres?” That’s what I just said, and I nodded. “I know Applejack! She’s the best over there, you wouldn’t believe how good she is. But I’m getting sidetracked. You need a Welcome-to-Ponyville Party right now!” she was going to throw me a party?
“Uhh, thanks for the offer, but I’m not really a party pony.” I said. “It’s nothing to do with you,” no, definitely not, “I just don’t like parties all too much.” As it turns out, I should NOT have said that last part.
“You d-don’t like parties?” she whimpered. Her mane, from big, bouncy pink, fell into a straight form and darker shade. “How could you not like parties?” she asked. I could sense an aura of sadness replace the bubbly one from a few moments ago.
“Uhh, well, you see-“ I tried to explain. What in Mother’s name did I do? “I’m not an active pony at parties. I didn’t want you to throw a party for a pony who’d probably just sit on the side and not participate much.”
She sniffed. Then, almost instantly, her mane fluffed back up into a frizz, and she bolted back up. “So… it’s okay if I throw the party?”
I chuckled. “Yeah, it’s fine.” Anything to avoid seeing her like that- the depressed state is about twice as worse her hyperactive one. “Just not today, alright? I’m headed to get a job, remember.”
“HOOOOOORAY!” she screamed, hugging my neck with her forehooves. I found it hard to breathe, and I was gasping for air after she let go and bounced off.
“There’s something wrong with that mare…” I muttered to myself, getting back on track as I walked on a dirt path. The signs told me that the farm was not far, and it was mid-afternoon when I saw the front gates to Sweet Apple Acres. “Hello?” I called out, not wanting to trespass.
“Jus’ a minute!” I heard from inside the orchard. Another mare’s voice, but stronger-sounding, and with an accent I couldn’t place. Soon enough, an orange-coated mare appeared, with a blond mane tied back in a -excuse the pun- ponytail. A hat, like those of the Western settlers, rested on her head. Her cutie mark resembled three bright red apples. “Name’s Applejack, stranger. What can I help ya with?”
“My name is Daylight Dusk, and I’ve just moved to Ponyville.” I started. “I was looking for work, and a mare named Fluttershy sent me your way.”
“Fluttershy sent ya here?” She asked. I nodded. I told her about the bear incident. “Well, that was mighty kind of ya. Anypony who’s got Fluttershy to open up to them must be a kind soul too. I’ll check in with Granny Smith, and see if we can’t arrange somethin’, even for a unicorn like yourself.”
I responded, “I can’t work normally because I’m a unicorn? I’m stronger than most.”
Applejack tipped her hat. “Apologies, then. The only unicorns I know of now that Twi’s been made a princess are livin’ easy in the cities, except my friend Rarity who’s Ponyville’s dressmaker. Now C’mon, follow me.”
The mare led me across her farm. It was a peaceful setting, with nothing but apple trees as far as I could see. I was led to a large ranch house, next to a bright-red barn. I was told to wait out front, as Applejack walked inside, screaming Granny Smith’s name.
I thought about this. I really was just wasting time here, I didn’t need a job. But, I needed to secure an audience with Mother Celestia- The easiest way to do so was through Twilight Sparkle and her friends. I couldn’t just march into Canterlot castle… Could I?
~End of Chapter~
