Day Breaker

As Keenan panted after he finished the race with Jade, Apex and Pax brought out the last of the crystals needed for tomorrow from his closet. Keenan sat on his bed with his sweat dripped cloak off and lying next to him as Jade went to grab his wagon from the side of his house and brought it into the street. Apex and Pax had placed the six clean cut prisms into the wagon in a pyramid shape, after which they hopped in to keep them from falling over and catch another free ride. Jade unhooked the harness of the wagon after the two golems filled it with the crystals and her own Stone-Picks. She went inside the house and looked around for Keenan, it was her first time inside his house so she didn't have much of an idea where to look.

Keenan hears Jade's hoof steps coming up the stairs and starts to place his cloak back on along with his mask. Just before he finished putting on his mask, Jade looked into his room. "Take that off Keenan."

"What?" Keenan looked to Jade with confused eyes. "All the times we go to the merchants, you don't mind me in my disguise. What is the sudden change?"

"Well you know what tomorrow is."

Keenan slowly placed the mask in his bed. "Yes, the Gem-Rebirth. Just like every other year, but that isn't different."

Jade shook her head as she walked through the door. "No, well yes. What else is tomorrow, that just so happens to be on the same day this year?"

"Wednesday?"

"Keenan really now." Jade sighed. "I know you don't like it, but do you hate your birthday?"

Hearing Jade, Keenan sat down on his bed with a sad expression looked at the floor. A tear ran down his eye. "I didn't even get to meet her. My mother died giving birth to me, how can I celebrate that? Plus the bastard that impregnated her didn't even step up to claim me." Another tear dropped to the floor as Keenan's head was racing with thoughts. "Do you think she hated me? You know, when it was all done with."

Jade slowly walked over to Keenan and sat next to him. She sat there for a minute next to him in silence before she placed a hoof on his shoulder. "Keenan," She started low and uneven. "I doubt that is what happened. Yes, that stallion who is your father is a bastard for not stepping up and claiming you. Your mother though, she didn't curse you. No mare would ever damn their child, even if her last breathes are to give you yours first. Hell that is even less of a reason! I think the last thing she felt was happy sadness."

Keenan looked over to her with watery eyes. "Happy sadness, what the hell is that?"

"She must have be happy to know you were alive, but sad not to see you grow up and be there for you. I'm sure she is looking down at you from above with a smile though. Plus Chief Clatter and Keda are here for you. Not once do I think either of them thought less of you or not as their child. You have a great life Keenan and I'm sure your mother would be happy to see you live it out. As for that stallion who left you, don't worry about it. Clatter may not be blood, but he is your real father in all ways except that, blood. He will always be there for you."

Keenan looked at her with a weak smile, comforted by his friends sweet words. "Is that all?"

"Well that and you would never have met me. The best mare out there." Jade said with a smile.

Keenan now gave a full smile. "Yeah, I'll stick with former."

"That's the spirit." Jade patted Keenan on the back. "Come on we have stuff to do right?"

"Yup, sorry for that little moment there." Keenan said as he wiped his eyes. He stood and grabbed his mask before having smacked out of his hand. "What the hell Jade?"

"I said leave it off. You always wear that and tomorrow is your 18th birthday. Let the tribe see that pretty face of the next Chief."

"You know what?" Keenan dropped the mask onto his bed, he then turned to look out his window. "You're right, Jade. I shouldn't be wearing this getup. I'll walk into the merchant district with my face for all to see and held up high. I shall no longer be afraid of the eyes of the ponies. I will no longer hold myself back with this cloak and mask. I shall walk anywhere I wish, with or without permission!" He turned to see Jade was no longer in sight. "Jade? Jade did you hear me?"

"We can hear you!" Apex and Pax called from the wagon down on the street. "What is the hold up, are you two having sex?" Pax yelled up to Keenan. Keenan blushed and looked at Apex in embarrassment, then left the window. Apex placed his stone thumb and index fingers together. Apex then flicked Pax in the head with enough force to launch his head back along with the rest of his stone body. Pax hit his head on the wooden wagon and slouched back. "Why would you do that?"

"Because you're an idiot." Jade had made it down the stairs and out the door in time to hear Pax's crude remark. "I have told you, we don't have sex. We are foalhood friends, nothing more. Now wait till Kennan comes out."

"I'm already here." Keenan appeared behind Jade, with his cloak and a pouch money. "And Pax, say stuff like that again and you are going to be disenchanted."

"Come on that is harsh." Pax wined.

"No it's not." Keenan hitched the harness on his back and threw the pouch of money into the wagon for Apex to hold. Keenan began to walk down the road to the nearest ramp up to the second level. As he and Jade walked, they were greeted by many of the other Crystics that lived nearby. "Hello. Good mourning to you too!" Keenan smiled all the way down the road and up the ramp into the next level. And when the entered the market place, even more greeted him. "Wow, why did I ever leave with my mask on again?"

"You were trying to get on over on daddy I think it was." Jade answered.

"Well I was dumb then."

"Then was about ten minutes ago."

"Shut up Jade."

Half an hour later, Keenan found the merchant he needed in an open air shop. She was selling the right frame but for the wrong angles. "I'm sorry Keenan, I really am. These are the only frames I have in stock right now. If you come back at a different time though, I have a new order coming in three days."

Keenan shook his head in disagreement. "No no no. I need these 'for' tomorrow, not in four days."

"Keenan, I don't know what to tell you." The salesmare pleaded.

"Fine, I'll take the ones you have. They'll have to do, the plan may have to change." Keenan levitated his pouch over to the mare. "How much?"

"For six bi-quarters, that would be 200 rupees." Keenan opened the pouch and took two red gems out and placed them in the hoof of the merchant. "Thank you. I'll be right back with the frames." The mare walked to the back of her shop to retrieve the order.

"Damn it, I'll have to calibrate all over again."

Jade place a hoof on Keenan's shoulder. "Don't worry, I'm sure you won't be that hard."

Apex climbed out of the wagon and jumped onto Keenan's back. "She's right you know. Most of the calibrations don't even involve the frames, plus I did that bit."

Keenan sighed. "Yeah what ever." The salesmare walked out the back with six iron frames levitated behind her. She placed them in front of Keenan and he took them in his magic. "Thank you ma'am."

"No problem Keenan." The mare then left Keenan and Jade to their own business.

Keenan and company left the market and traveled back down the long spiral ramp to the first level. Keenan already started to try and determine what needed to be changed. He needed to make adjustments to the frames, the height of the crystals and the amount of power he must focus into each one. It was all very confusing work that he had to ponder for a few hours. At what was just about 3 o'clock, Keenan thought he had the right proportions and calculations. He took Jade to the first level and around to the columns that extended all the way up to the Sun Gem. He instructed and demonstrated her on how to place the frames into the stone columns but she didn't understand it. Keenan then had to put on the Stone-Picks and climb up and place the frames in himself with his magic. The process to place just one was about thirty minutes, it took him about three hours to complete his task.

Keenan and Jade returned to the Tannim household after finishing the task. All the frames had been adjusted and all the crystals were in place. "Oh my Sol! That took forever!" Pax exclaimed from inside the wagon. As Jade went around to assist Keena in unhitching it, she leaned into the back and slapped Pax upside his tiny stone head. "Ouch! I my be stone but i have feelings you know."

"Well you need to hide those feelings and shut the hell up!" Jade roared. "You didn't do anything today, you have no right to speak."

Apex looked over to Pax. "She is right you know. Keenan did all the work here. I mean I wanted to help, but he was so fidgety." Apex looked over to Keenan. "Ain't that right, Keenan?"

Keenan looked straight into a wall, tired and mumbled, "Yeah what ever. I just want to go to bed Apex, we were up early and I think I hurt my head figuring out those calculations." He then unhitched the wagon himself and started inside. "I'll see you tomorrow Jade, Pax. Come on Apex." Apex turned to Jade and Pax, gave them a salute and hovered after Keenan.

"Okay then, see you tomorrow Keenan." Jade waved Keenan and Apex good-bye. Keenan turned around and gave Jade a smile before walking in and closing the door. Jade and Pax turned and started down the street. As they walked, Jade suddenly said, "Damn it."

"What is wrong Jade? Are you mad you could give Keenan his birt-" Pex was suddenly engulfed in Jade's magic and brought to her face. She had what seemed to be fury in her eyes at the golem and Pax peeped out, "Mommy."

Jade inhaled. "Pax, I am not mad I couldn't give him his present. I am mad you kept hinting at it all day!" Jade roared into his stone face.

"I did not hint at it all day."

"Really?"

Flash Backs

"Their probably having sex."

"What is the hold up, are you two having sex?"

Keenan sat on the floor trying to adjust the frames when Pax hovers over to him."Keenan I think I can help you with that frame there. You just put your peg into her hole."

Keenan is starting to climb up the columns for the first time. "Yeah! Stick it in there. Stick it in there hard!"

Keenan came down from the last column and Pax started to jump on his back when Keenan asked for him to stop. "Me? I don't give a fuck. If you want one, go ask Jade."

Pax recalled the days events and stared into his creators eyes. "Oh, I guess I did. Hehe."

"Listen and listen good. I have been waiting for this chance to be more than just Keenan's friend. Unfortunately for me though, he just sees me as a friend. I can't give it to him now, so I have to wait till tomorrow after he gets home. There I will wait and pleasure him with myself."

Pax looked at Jade shocked and slightly disturbed. "Wow, it not like you my mom or anything. You know you are very devious for a 17 year old virgin?"

"Shut up! It's not like I am trying to get anything out of it. I just want him to see me in that way, I've loved him for a long time and now is my chance to fully show it."

"Than get him some nice flowers and treats. Not 'your' flower or 'your' treats!"

Jade huffed in Pax's face and started march off. "It is my body, I spend it how I choose to."

Pax made a sighing noise and thought to himself, "This is not going to turn out well.

--

That night, Keenan had a dream. It was clam and relatively peaceful. He had become the Chief of the tribe and was on the way to advancing his people. He had achieved this goal and expanded throughout new tunnels and bigger caverns. One day, Corenest had going so huge, it broke through to the surface. Corenest was now just the deepest dwelling, it was now the most advanced. Strange and new machines, devices and the like. They expanded so much in fact, the Crystic's needed not a Chief anymore, but a King. Keenan was the first King and he had many off spring to inherit his thorn. Life was good to him, but something was wrong. In the back of his mind he grew fearful of the other countries. He started to build armies and attacked others before they had a chance. His golden era turn to a bloody and crimson one with him seated at the top of a pile bloody bodies. He would laugh madly and manically as he saw his troops off.

Keena started to toss and turn in his sleep. He was now a witness to innocent deaths and pillaging. His troops acted barbaric by killing and taking advantage of all those they conquered. He now stood as he was, in front of his dream version. Keenan was both angry and scared of this demon he had become. He just sat and watched as hell fired burned and the earth ripped open. From the earth, an ebony mist flowed forth and morphed. It changed into a form he was not familiar with. It would stand over 6 feet high and stood in an upright position. That was all the details Keenan could gather before a pair of red and green eyes appeared right before his face, only a few inches away. A black and poisonous fog encompassed Keenan, it swirled around him and started to enter every opening in his body. He felt it burn and freeze him inside, it he was filled to the brim with this fog. It then entered his mind and the red eyes stayed there, watching him.

Keenan then woke up with a jolt and jerked up into an upright position. He sat in his cold sweat, wheezing, collecting himself after the traumatic nightmare. He held his throbbing head and said out loud in a hurt voice, "What the hell was that?"

Apex slept in a magnetized state at the foot of the bed. He woke once he heard Keenan's distressed mumbling and panic. "Keenan, whats wrong?"

Keenan quivered. "I-I saw-myself. I advanced the tribe to far and to quickly. We reached the surface and all life was good for only a short while as I became a King. Then I turn evil and I killed so many ponies and other races. I rested my throne on top of a mound of bodies and laughed manically. And then...and then..." Keenan couldn't finish. The dream stained his mind like ink to white wool, but that last part was too fuzzy to make out.

"I think I get it." Apex started. "You are just worried that once your Chief, you'll let all that responsibility get to your head and you won't handle it. Don't worry though, I will always be here to help you. Plus Clatter will still be around when you come into power and he with assist you. You can't forget the council that already assists him now. You don't have anything to fear Keenan, now go back to sleep. It is almost mourning and we have a big day." Apex magnetized and fell back into his slumbering state. Keenan let his head go and agreed with Apex, he had nothing to fear. It was all in his head...all of it.

--

Mourning came, and Keenan still remembered his dream. As he went through the motions of the mourning, the images replayed in his mind over and over again. The blood, the corpses, the burning world around him and the unknowing fear. He took a cold bath just to try and stop his cold sweating. He had to place on two layers of his clothing just to feel warm as his body shook from the cold that traveled through out his body. He ate very little even though he was cooked a huge breakfast for his birthday. Keda urged him to eat more. "Come on Keenan, eat up. This is your big day, you can eat as much as you want."

Keena looked over to Keda, tired. "No thanks mother. I am not feeling all that well today. I think I'll just hold off on eating too much today."

"Okay, if you say so." Keda's golem came from across the room and tapped her leg. "Oh, hi Burch. What is it?"

"Sorry to interrupt Master Keda. It is 9:30, the celebrations will begin in about an hour. You might want to leave soon, Master Clatter has already left."

"Oh yes, I knew all that Burch. Thank you though, will you be coming with us?"

"Of course Master Keda."

"Alright then." Keda turned back to Keenan, picking at his food. "Come on Keenan, we should get going."

"Yeah we should." Keenan answered. Keda and Keenan left the dinning room and approached the front door. "Come on Apex! We are leaving now!" Keenan called up to the second floor and down came Apex, with a polish. "Hey now, you're looking better than me today." he joked.

Apex jumped on top of Keenan's blue ceremonial robe that he wore to all the big occasions. "What do you mean, today? I am always looking better than you."

--
About 34 minutes later, they arrived at the ceremonial sight in the middle of the crop. They stood directly underneath the Sun Gem, the whole tribe had arrived to witness the annual rebirth. Chief Clatter started to give a speech at about 10:30 and it lasted for about 30 minutes. As the time passed, the Sun Gem slowly got brighter and it was clearly visible. The strange thing that not all the Crystic's knew was that the Sun Gem was smaller than they thought. It was really a gem the size of a hoof. It is placed among the dozens of reflectors as Corenest grew between the time it was founded and now.

Chief Clatter was just finishing up his speech when Keenan decided to pay attention. "...and now, I'd like to bring attention to my son. Keenan Tannim, who has an announcement he'd like to give. Keenan?"

Keenan slowly made his way to a small stage that had been set up for the Chief. As he made his way to the stage, the other Crystics cheered and called out his name. He walked up the stage and gestured for the crowed to calm down. "Okay everyone!" He yelled out. "I have a surprise I have been working on for a while now. You will love it!" Chatter started among the crowds and Keenan pointed to the Sun Gem, just about to reach its height for the year. "I have developed a method in which we can increase the rate in which our crops can grow using the power from the Sun Gem itself."

A random stallion step forth form the crowd and questioned Keenan. "Um, Keenan. Not to be disrespectful but are you sure that is safe?"

"Of course. I have planned this whole thing out. Nothing I don't want to happen, won't happen." The stallion then stepped back to the crowd. "Now for the moment of truth. Witness a new beginning for Corenest." Keenan turned away from the crowd and faced the now almost blinding Gem stuck in the canopy. 'Did I just say new beginning? Hmm, must have been in the moment.' Keenan's crystal horn started to glow as he charged magic into it. He stored a larger amount of magic in it than usual, due to the size of this spell and the amount of magic he'd have to manipulate. Taking aim at the ceiling, Keenan fired six short bursts of energy into the Sun Gem. The crowd gasped and started to worry when Keenan fired six more shots at all of the crystals he had placed on the columns the day before.

Keenan waited and watched as the magic in the crystals was magnified with his horn still glowing. Keenan then released the magic from inside the crystal prisms, releasing focused energy from the crystal. The energy took the form of beams that collided as they shot out into the center of their circumference. Soon the magic from the crystal radiated and formed to look like a dome over the first level. Keenan then forced the magic he fired into the Sun Gem to release and make contact with each of the six reflector crystals. The energy released from the Sun Gem was a bright yellow glow that tainted Keenan's own purple glow inside the reflectors and the dome. The other questioned still the legitimacy of Keenan's method until a few started to notice the crops. All the vegetation that was begin grown was getting richer in colors and seemed to be ripening quickly. The crystals that were being grown were slowly increasing in size and clearer. The crowds started to applaud at Keenan's work with approval.

Keenan smiled as the results of his hard work were showing. "It is working, yes! Now I just need to slowly bring the levels down a bit.' Keenan tried to halt the flow of magic he was giving off but it was not working. He began to panic. 'What the hell? Why can't I stop?'

Keenan's mind suddenly went black and his vision faded. He was standing in a dark sea when a saw a figure that stood out from the darkness slammed into his head. He didn't know what it was, but he knew it had a claw that was sticking into his head and blocking his view. It quickly flooded into his mind and took control of him."Keenan Tannim, 18 years old and yet you have not had that much fear in your life. Oh how hard it was to break into your mind. To bad for you once I was in, you can be broken easily." The figure said in a masuline, calm and soothing voice. "Just give me a second." The figure removed it's claw from the trebling staple of Keenan and reviled red and green eyes.

Keenan shook and his normal vision returned, his magic still working but changed. He felt a new energy pass through him and he shot out a new, longer burst of magic into the dome. The dome turned black and vanished, the magic fed back into the crystals and corrupted them. From the crystals, magic collected and turned to the Sun Gem. The combined force from all that magic at one time, collected and caused an explosion. The explosion caused fractals of the Sun Gem and the overall canopy to come crashing down to the grown, plunging the whole of Corenest into almost complete darkness.

As the crowds ran for there life, avoiding the debris that was falling. Keenan stood frozen at the epicenter of the chaos, he could only stare in disbelief as a pair of peacekeepers ran up to him and tied him in rope. "I am sorry sir. But you are under arrest for the destruction of the Sun Gem."