Chapters Daybreaker's Fiery Vengeance
Luna rose the sun into the eastern horizon. This was the longest day of the thousandth year. The day when Daybreaker would escape. The mare of flames would threaten to trap Equestria in eternal sunlight. She knew that if the day lasted forever, with no nighttime and no rain, then Equestria would become an inhabitable desert without any sign of life. But the other extreme, eternal night, would be just as terrible.
Luna would never forget the time when she had to banish Daybreaker. Being the sole ruler for a thousand years, she wasn't sure how Equestria would react to Celestia's arrival. In a sense, Celestia was the forgotten princess.
The elder sister wasn't too obscure a thousand years ago. Instead, she was known everywhere for her deeds, the way she handled politics, and her benevolence. She was like a celebrity, but she'd rather be treated like a normal pony. After Daybreaker was imprisoned in the sun, everypony forgot Celestia within five centuries, save for certain families who were closest to the sun princess.
In recent times, more and more ponies either thought Celestia was a fictional heroine or a real historical figure who died fighting a powerful threat. The only sun alicorn they seemed to remember like the back of their hooves was the wicked mare named Daybreaker.
What would Celestia say if she discovered that most ponies had forgotten her? Would she immediately be forgiven? Of course she would be forgiven. As soon as she was released from Daybreaker's influence, everypony would forgive her. Despite all of this, it might be new to Equestria if she began ruling by Luna's side as an equal. There might be a chance that somepony could wrongly accuse Celestia of a secret plot.
Luna walked into the throne room and glanced at the window. She turned her attention to a pair of guards. "Tell the other guards to watch every entrance to the castle for malicious intruders. Especially the throne room."
The guards nodded as they hurried out of the throne room. Once Luna was alone, she considered the first assignment that Sunset would receive. It wouldn't be about the study of magic; it would focus on her becoming the potential bearer of the Element of Magic. And if Sunset succeeded, then Celestia could become reformed. But what if Sunset failed? What if Celestia remained corrupted? Would she have to banish Daybreaker again as a result?
Sunset walked into the throne room and stood before Luna. Standing by her side was her dragon assistant, Spike. Several years ago when the egg was first hatched, several ponies considered returning the baby dragon to where he came from. However, Sunset had asked to keep him. Luna had given her permission to keep Spike.
"Princess Luna, you've hinted at a special assignment last night during dinner. What am I supposed to do?" Sunset asked.
"Go to Ponyville. I have a book that you might want to read," Luna said as she summoned a familiar book. "It's about Daybreaker."
"Oh, okay. Why should I go to Ponyville? Many ponies over there are friends with one another. If I get another friend-"
"Don't worry. Not every friend is going to betray you. And the reason you should go to Ponyville is because you may want to meet some ponies." Luna chose not to specify which ponies Sunset should befriend. She gave her student an enigmatic smile. "You never know who you'll meet."
Sunset opened her mouth as if to say something, but she remained quiet. Then, she spoke. "Alright, I'll go to Ponyville. How long do I have to stay there?"
"There is a room prepared for you at the Golden Oaks Library."
"Why should I move out?"
"The ponies you will meet live in Ponyville, and they don't come to Canterlot often."
Sunset nodded. "Makes sense. I'll still send letters." She hugged Luna before she left the throne room.
Luna watched as the grand doors closed. It was like watching one's own daughter move out. Her student was old enough to leave. Last week, Sunset had turned sixteen. Because she distanced herself from her friends, the only ponies that came were members of Twilight Sparkle's family. What if Sunset didn't want to make friends in Ponyville? Would she have to find another pony who was more willing to make friends?
Luna didn't want to replace Sunset. She'd rather see if her student would pass this test. She yawned. It was her time to turn in. As much as she wanted to sleep, it didn't seem to be the right choice. Something could happen before noon, and she could sense the imminence of Daybreaker's release. Although she had banished Daybreaker a thousand years ago, she had no plans of banishing her a second time. She wanted Celestia back. But would Celestia ever be freed from Daybreaker?
The summer breeze warmed Sunset's body as she stepped off the chariot. She had assumed that the ponies here would own farms, but not all of them did. She never came here before. Ponies from all walks of life hurried back and forth to run errands. The unicorns here didn't seem as snooty as the ones from Canterlot. She let Spike onto her back as she trotted past the houses. The architecture was more humble than Canterlot's upper-class buildings. What a contrast, she thought. She summoned her checklist. Perhaps she should read the book first.
Sunset scanned the area for the nearest shade. A typical noon in the summer would become hot. She chose a tree that had a bench sitting under its leaves. Once she settled onto the bench, she yanked the book from her saddlebag and skimmed the pages. The first picture grabbed her attention. The alicorn figures reminded her of the murals she saw in the castle. Although the wording was old, she still understood the story.
Sunset began reading the words out loud. "Once upon a time, there are two sisters that rule Equestria. They keep the land in perfect balance and harmony. To do this, the elder sister rose the sun at dawn. The younger sister would rise the moon to start the night. Ponies frolicked in the daylight, but they also enjoyed the night for the starlight and the peace it brings. As time passed on, the elder sister began struggling with nightmares. One day, she was forced to become the fearsome Mare of Flames; Daybreaker. Using the Elements of Harmony, the younger sister banished Daybreaker to the sun. She ruled alone for generations since."
Hadn't Luna mentioned this in the past? If it truly happened, why would some ponies brush it off as an old mares' tale? Sunset was prepared to close the book. The last few words made her freeze. This sentence seemed ominous. "On the longest day of the thousandth year, the sun's flare will aid in Daybreaker's escape."
Didn't Sunset read about the Elements before? She closed the book and stashed it into her saddlebag. She glanced at the sun for a swift second. It had moved a little since she arrived in Ponyville. She scrutinized the checklist. First, she had to meet a party pony.
Sunset furrowed her brow. "A party pony? Luna said that this pony likes to make friends. I'm not the type to make friends. Ever since my first friend left, I've studied by myself. I've also distanced myself from those who attended the School for Gifted Unicorns." Other than some old friends and her former foalsitter, she hadn't known many extroverted ponies.
"Luna said to make new friends," Spike said.
"I know that. But first, I have to send her a letter. If the prophecy is correct, the Mare of Flames could return to bring about eternal daylight," Sunset said as she took out a piece of paper and a quill. She scribbled the words that came to her mind.
Spike shrugged as he grabbed the letter. "Isn't she busy preparing for the Summer Sun Celebration?"
"Sometimes when she receives them, she reads them after she's done with her duties. Just send it."
"But-"
"Just do it!"
"Okay, okay. I will." Spike blew a small green flame onto the letter, causing it to disappear.
Sunset led Spike toward the party pony's place. This building was called Sugarcube Corner. She wasn't the most social pony in the world like Luna. How would Luna greet a stranger? Was the introduction supposed to be formal or not? She stepped inside Sugarcube corner. A pink mare hopped forward, giggling like a filly about to meet a new friend.
The pink mare displayed a tray of cupcakes. "Hey there! I'm Pinkie Pie. What brings you to Sugarcube Corner?"
"I'm Sunset Shimmer, and I come from Canterlot. The Summer Sun Celebration starts-"
"Tonight! I can't wait to watch the sunset."
"Any plans for tonight?"
"I'll make treats for everypony!"
Sunset nodded. "That's all I'm going to talk about. I'll leave-"
Pinkie frowned. "Don't you want to try a cupcake?"
"I don't have time for this. Princess Luna has me busy supervising the Summer Sun Celebration."
"I see. I'll throw a surprise party later. Bye!"
Sunset left Sugarcube Corner and trotted down the street. Not a cloud remained in the clear blue sky. Soon enough, a single cloud hovered above her. It couldn't be this close, unless a pegasus planned to prank her. Raindrops poured from the cloud.
Spike yanked the checklist from Sunset's saddlebag. "There's a pegasus named Rainbow Dash."
Sunset looked up. A mare with a rainbow mane and a blue coat emerged from the cloud. "I guess she's trying to prank unsuspecting ponies." She cleared her throat. "You're Rainbow Dash, right? This cloud poured on me. Is it meant to be a prank?"
The pegasus glanced at Sunset. "What? I didn't realize the cloud rained on you. I'm practicing. How did you know my name?"
"The princess included your name on my checklist. Weather preparations for tonight?"
"Yeah. Sky's supposed to be clear when the sun sets. The patented Rain-blow dry will fix your mane in a jiffy!" Rainbow flew around Sunset, then rushed to the skies.
Sunset let out an annoyed huff. She didn't expect Rainbow to greet her like this. Did the pegasus do this to every stranger? She walked toward a boutique. The sign on the door said "Carousel Boutique." As she entered the boutique, she spied a mare with a white coat and purple mane.
The mare talked to herself for a long minute. When she noticed Sunset, she gasped. "Oh, no! What happened to your coiffure?"
"A pegasus decided to pour rain on my mane. You're Rarity, right? I'm Sunset Shimmer, and I come from Canterlot-"
Rarity gasped again. She was dramatic compared to Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash. "Canterlot? Oh, my stars! I've always wanted to visit Canterlot. The elegance, the fashions, and such class! Here, I'll make your mane look better in no time."
Spike seemed focused on Rarity. "Beautiful..."
Sunset glanced at him, then at Rarity. Why would a dragon have a thing for a pony? Spike still had the mind of a child, while Rarity could be around seventeen or eighteen years old. It was like a colt having a crush on a mare. She followed Rarity to a styling chair. The fashionista went to work, styling her hair countless times and deciding on mane colors. Most of the styles looked tacky and overdone.
Rarity paced toward the door. "I'll find some more options. You stay put."
"I like my mane the way it is. I'm not as fancy as you are," Sunset said as she hurried out of the boutique. A realization stopped her in her tracks. Why hadn't Luna responded to the letter yet? She glanced at the sun again. It seemed to threaten the land with eternal heat.
Sunset reached a cottage that sat a few minutes away from the Everfree Forest. She had been galloping the whole time, but she didn't care. She had a bad feeling about today, no matter how much she wanted to focus on her task. Why did this have to be so stressful? She wasn't usually nervous. A mare with a pink mane and yellow coat sang in a soft tone of voice.
Sunset took in a deep breath, then exhaled. "I hope I'm not intruding. I'm Sunset Shimmer, and I come from Canterlot. Princess Luna sent me to Ponyville to supervise the preparations. How are things going with the animals?"
The mare turned, then cowered like a frightened little filly. She whispered as soft as possible. Had she ever spoken to anypony in her life? What made her shy?
"Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you," Sunset said. "You're Fluttershy, right?"
Fluttershy nodded. A trio of snakes slithered past Sunset. "They're harmless creatures."
Sunset backed away. "Harmless? I've seen more tame animals." More animals emerged from hiding. "I don't see a lot of them in Canterlot, save for Princess Luna's possum."
"The Princess has a pet possum?"
"Yes. She calls him Tiberius, but nicknames him Tibbles. I must go to Sweet Apple Acres. I can't linger one more minute. Have a good day."
When Fluttershy noticed Spike, she squealed. "How adorable! A baby dragon?"
Before Fluttershy could do anything else, Sunset trotted away from the cottage and searched for the large farm. She checked the boxes on the list. The day continued to become hotter each minute. Time seemed to race against her. She took one final look at the sun, then rushed to greet the mare with a blonde mane and an orange coat.
The earth pony shook Sunset's hoof. "Howdy there! I'm Applejack. We here at Sweet Apple Acres enjoy making new friends!"
Sunset pulled her hoof away. "I'm Sunset Shimmer, and-"
"Won't you stay for brunch? All my relatives are about to have a big feast."
"Brunch isn't what I had in mind. Also, I need to find the Golden Oaks Library."
"You seem to be in a hurry to leave."
Sunset glanced at the road. "That's because I have work to do. Princess Luna sent me to supervise the preparations." How many more times did she have to say the same words? She wanted to return to Canterlot Castle and demand an explanation from her mentor. First, the princess hadn't responded to her letter. Second, Daybreaker could be a real villain waiting to destroy Equestria. And third, she didn't want to deal with this assignment anymore. What was a protege to do?
Luna could sense the heat radiating off the floor and the walls. The castle was heavily guarded, but Daybreaker could easily intrude. The sun slowed down to a complete halt. She could've prepared to fight, but she wanted to reason with Daybreaker instead. Maybe Daybreaker could listen, right? And if that were the case, Celestia would finally be free of Daybreaker's influence.
Outside the window, a fiery figure flew away from the sun and approached Canterlot. Suddenly, the fiery figure disappeared from sight. Where had she gone? Luna walked back to the throne. Tons of shouts echoed from multiple hallways. Cruel laughter rang off the walls. Daybreaker was here.
The air became more humid. The heat wasn't Luna's cup of tea. She galloped out of the throne room to check on the guards. She sensed that somepony watched her. She couldn't deny that the intruder was Daybreaker. This time, she wouldn't fight her. She couldn't even consider banishing her a second time.
"Too scared to look into my eyes? This castle is brighter than the other one. Looks like it's made for me," Daybreaker's voice said. "But the throne room needs another decoration."
"Celestia, I won't banish you. Please come back. We are meant to rule together," Luna said.
"Together? And don't say such a terrible name again! I am Daybreaker. I shouldn't have let you win. I should've destroyed you."
Luna turned to face Daybreaker. "Tia, listen-"
Daybreaker's horn glowed. "I don't care what you say, little sister! I want the ponies to love my sun again. Out of the way!" She summoned a fireball.
Luna ducked the fireball. "Only Celestia calls me her little sister. You're not her."
Daybreaker summoned another spell. Her magic enveloped Luna's body in a bright sphere. "I'll keep you a little longer so that I'll see you squirm. You belong in a dark dungeon, not on the throne."
When the glow faded, Luna found herself in the castle dungeon. The sphere hadn't faded, though. It was more transparent. If her words couldn't convince Daybreaker, then maybe the Elements would. And she had yet to respond to Sunset's letter. Maybe she could respond in person when Daybreaker was defeated.
Daybreaker's Fiery Vengeance
The sky turned a shade of reddish orange. Daybreaker concealed the Elements in the dungeon. It didn't seem the smartest move, but perhaps she could move them out of the way as she did earlier. Because they were locked in stone, they were useless. How could anypony banish her back to the sun with those? She wasn't content to merely sit on the throne, although she loved the glow that came from the fire pillars. Those pillars lined the narrow rug. It was just what she had in mind for an ideal throne room. The gloomy ruins were too useless. Nopony would visit the forest as much as they did Canterlot.
The defiant guards charged at Daybreaker. She shot a fiery beam at them. How dare they rebel against her? At least she chased away the darkness and shadows that came with the night. The guards ran off. She walked to the dungeon and smirked at Luna. The moon princess was easy to defeat this morning. Luna's reaction to the sphere was priceless. She cackled like a madmare.
"Sunset and her friends will stop you," Luna said. "If the Elements cannot release Celestia, I don't know what else will."
Anger flared in Daybreaker's veins as she pressed her hooves against the steel bars. "Do not say her horrible name again, or you will be led to your execution. No, I can destroy you right here. Watch your back. Also, I've trapped the tiny group of renegades under the dreary castle."
Tears streamed down Luna's cheeks. "Tia... I know you're in there. You're not Daybreaker. Remember who you truly are..."
Daybreaker turned away. She sensed Celestia's remorse. So Celestia was still able to hear Luna's voice. She groaned. Why was it impossible to fully suppress Celestia? She had taken full control of her body and mind, yet the sun princess was somehow independent. How did this happen? Was it related to Luna's frequent song? Of course it made sense. After all, the first time Luna sang to Celestia, the sun princess seemed to become aware. No matter how much she tried, she couldn't beat the love both sisters had for each other.
"Tia, I've missed you so much..."
Daybreaker lost her stoic composure. "Enough of this, you silly little princess! I don't want Celestia's influence to take over. Please shut up or else!" She shot a fiery beam at Luna. She wanted the moon princess to hate her for the monster she had become. Yet Luna didn't fight back.
The fiery beam pushed Luna backward. Daybreaker stormed back to the throne room. At least she didn't have to force herself to hear Luna sing. She had to deal with that for a thousand years. How could those two sisters sing and still call it a lullaby? She kept her eyes focused on the grand doors. Celestia's voice whispered again. It was like two ponies fighting for a single body. When would Celestia stop bothering her? Somehow, the magic of the Elements kept her alive.
"If we ever split, I'll make you pay for what you did."
Daybreaker snickered. "Like it or not, you're everything you've always wanted to become. A powerful alicorn capable of ruling Equestria under eternal daylight. No need for the night to exist."
"The night exists for a reason. Equestria is dying under your tyranny."
"Hush, Celestia. Trust me on this. I'll take care of the six little ponies. They won't succeed."
"Just wait until they arrive."
Daybreaker summoned the suppression spell. She was sick of arguing with her. Why did Celestia have to sound so ominous? She brushed it off as a figment of her imagination. As she strode to the courtyard, she froze. Below Canterlot, Ponyville seemed to shut out the sun. Several buildings were abandoned in favor of... She shook her head. Why would anypony want to live in underground tunnels? She couldn't consider this a possibility. Not when the sun provided life and light. Nopony needed the night.
Unless they're planning an uprising... Just like the bothersome group. Daybreaker scowled. If anypony attempted such a rebellion, she'll be forced to destroy everypony. She couldn't go that far if she wanted a kingdom to rule over. Even cruel alicorns had limits. Only a true monster would annihilate everything in sight. She shook her head and interrupted her train of thought. How dare Celestia influence her mind? She'd rather destroy anypony that stood in her way.
Somehow, the bond between two sisters prevented Celestia's voice from becoming silent. It was the way love worked. Daybreaker hated love. It wasn't in her nature to love anypony else. The workings of love could never change her heart. She returned to the throne room. While many ponies loathed the heat, the current temperature felt pleasant on her coat. She was the wicked Mare of Flames, after all.
Although Sunset and her group survived the burning forest, she wasn't so sure about racing to Canterlot. The heat had intensified. It felt unnatural. How much longer did they have to be outside? At least the others were underground. Her throat was parched. It was like running through a desert. If it had been eternal night, the land would freeze in a matter of months, although the progression might be slower than eternal day. Either extreme could end Equestria. There wasn't a single cloud in the sky. Was it a result of Daybreaker's magic?
Sunset considered drinking water, but she couldn't let dehydration distract her. She led her group toward the train station. It was strange that the train hadn't been used in a while. She had no idea how to steer a train. Wasn't there any other way? Whoever joined the other ponies underground should've waited for the group to arrive.
"We didn't have a single drop of water ever since Daybreaker ruined the Summer Sun Celebration," Applejack said.
"Does it matter?" Sunset asked. "We've gotta hurry."
"Okay, then."
Sunset led her group onto the train. To her surprise, a stallion approached them. Hadn't all the other ponies went underground? "Sir, we need to go to Canterlot. I know Daybreaker's scary and all, but we'll handle her. Just give us a ride."
The stallion nodded. "That'll be two bits for each pony."
Sunset handed the bits to the stallion. "Don't linger here any longer."
When the stallion began steering the train, Sunset and her group gathered around a table. She stared out the window. The sun appeared larger than normal. It wasn't a regular summer day. It was the product of eternal daylight. This day didn't give her a break. First, she was sent to Ponyville to meet new friends. And she didn't mind the presence of her friends. Second, Daybreaker returned with a vengeance. Third, the heartless alicorn moved the Elements out of reach.
Daybreaker was a force to be reckoned with. She had the power to set everything on fire, and she did. The Everfree was still burning when the group escaped. She could control fires and the sun itself. What other powers did she possess? Fire breath? The dangerous slits in her eyes could remind anypony of baleful dragons.
Fluttershy cowered in a corner. "I don't want to see Daybreaker again. She's terrifying. Even her eyes scare me."
"You joined us for a reason," Sunset said. "And that is to help us defeat her and to save Equestria from destruction."
"Did you even see the flames in the Everfree? She has the power to burn anything into ashes."
"I know, but we shouldn't give her the satisfaction of scaring us. She seems to enjoy making others tremble with fear. That's one of the characteristics of being a villain."
Rainbow nodded. "Sunset's right. We will stand up to Daybreaker. She won't beat us."
Sunset stared out the window. The sky was still clear. Were the pegasi too frightened to create rainclouds? Should she have left Spike at home? What if Daybreaker challenged the group head-on and endangered his life? Instead of the air becoming cooler as they reached Canterlot, the sky grew hotter. Leftover ashes floated near the windows. It was strange to see an empty sky. Normally there would be pegasi flying around, but nopony showed up. She couldn't blame the ponies for going underground. If she had her way, she would attempt to cool off underground.
Instead of waiting for eternal daylight to end, Sunset and her group were determined to stop Daybreaker. In the distance, she could make out a fiery orange pillar emerging from Canterlot Castle's tallest tower. It was shaped like Daybreaker's cutie mark. This pillar didn't set the castle on fire. Had Daybreaker intended the pillar to be a reminder of her power and tyranny?
Daybreaker watched a train approaching Canterlot. She shook her head. It wasn't meant to happen. If the little group discovered the Elements, she would find herself on the sun for another thousand years. How in the world did the group escape the old castle's dungeon? The mere thought caused her to grimace as she strode to the drawbridge. The city was quieter than she anticipated. A thousand years and the ponies still shunned the daylight? It didn't seem right. Ponies couldn't see at night, and it was more dangerous.
Daybreaker's sun could see everything in the land. Yes, it could even see Equestria from countless miles away. Why should they hide in the shade instead of frolicking in the sun? It wasn't always like this. A thousand years ago, ponies were in love with the sunlight. She had seen what happened over the years from the sun's surface. She was meant to be the only ruler of Equestria. If the six ponies, along with their little dragon, ever arrived, she would immediately burn them to ashes. How dare Equestria defy her sun after a thousand years of her absence?
"They're so determined. Just like when the weak little princess fought me," Daybreaker whispered.
Daybreaker summoned a wall of flames to block every entrance. She would enjoy watching them struggle to enter the castle. She soared to a balcony that overlooked the whole land. She adjusted the telescope and peered into the small hole. "They're coming closer. I'll try to hinder the train. If they're as courageous as they claimed to be, I'll remove the wall of flames just to challenge them in the throne room. What makes them think they can stop the sun from shining?"
Just as the train arrived in Canterlot, Daybreaker flew to the throne room. She unfurled her wings to make herself seem more imposing. Whoever assisted the group should be punished. An idea came to her mind. She could greet the pony while the group struggled against the flames. She teleported to the train station. As the group approached the wall of flames, she stood in front of the train.
"If you don't listen to my orders right now, you will get what you deserve!" Daybreaker boomed. Her Royal Canterlot Voice caused the ground to shake for several seconds. "Abandon the train!" Once she finished speaking, a stallion emerged from the train.
When the stallion saw Daybreaker, he hid his face, trembling like a frightened little colt. "Daybreaker, don't kill me!"
Daybreaker snickered. "Explain your actions or I'll torture you."
"They just wanted to be in Canterlot."
"So they came, huh? Perhaps you should have reconsidered the choice to participate in such a rebellion. I will give you a fitting punishment for this. You will never see your dear princess again. I'm the solar empress who will keep Equestria warm and safe. The night is filled with monsters and lawbreakers. If you call me wicked, I'll show you who's wicked."
"Please don't burn me... You have no right to overthrow our righteous princess."
Daybreaker slammed her hooves against the ground. The mountain shook again. "You deserve a place in the dungeon!" Her magic enveloped the stallion. He disappeared from her presence. Smoke filled the air. She realized that the blue pegasus and the orange unicorn were trying to quench the flames.
Daybreaker's horn glowed. The flames disappeared, then she disguised herself as a pegasus. She approached the blue pegasus. "Rainbow Dash, I have heard great things about you. You should join my team. We call ourselves the Firebolts. Do you accept my offer?"
Rainbow glanced at her friends, then at Daybreaker. "No. I'd rather stick with my group. As much as I want to join, I can't."
"Too bad. I won't bother with you." Daybreaker teleported into the dungeon and removed her disguise. She walked toward a secret room, where she had hidden the Elements. Perhaps she should move them to a better hiding spot. She trotted to Luna's cell, snickering.
Luna maintained eye contact. "You are so desperate to keep my sister hostage. And you have wrongfully imprisoned an innocent citizen. He was trying to assist Sunset and her friends."
Daybreaker let out an annoyed sigh. "To be fair, he defied my rule."
"Don't burn Equestria into ashes."
"You've always been the pesky little sister! I'll leave you to die in here." Daybreaker hurried back to the throne room.
Daybreaker's Fiery Vengeance
Sunset knew the castle hallways like the back of her hoof. However, there were rooms yet to be discovered. Daybreaker hadn't specified the location of the Elements. What if it was just another trick to discourage the group? The wicked Mare of Flames was crafty and manipulative. She didn't want to be outsmarted again. The castle was as hot as the outdoors. Why wouldn't Daybreaker lower the sun? She wanted to march to the throne room, but held back. She couldn't go in unprepared. If she did, Daybreaker would imprison the group, and Equestria would be doomed forever.
Once Sunset and her group were in one of the secret rooms, she began to speak. "Let's split up and search for the Elements. There are six of them somewhere in the castle. Fluttershy, go with Rainbow. Pinkie, go with Applejack. Rarity, you come with me. Don't do anything drastic or you may lose your lives in the fight against Daybreaker's tyranny."
"We can defend ourselves," Rainbow Dash said. "We're not helpless."
Sunset cleared her throat. "It doesn't matter. The four of you don't have unicorn magic. Only Rarity and I had unicorn magic. Just look out for each other as we try to discover the Elements of Harmony. No reckless decisions, please. Do you understand?"
Pinkie Pie frowned. "What about the party cannon? I can use it."
"I guess it'll make Daybreaker angry enough to destroy you. Be careful where you go. If Daybreaker catches any one of us, all hope will be lost. This is a dire situation. Alright, time to explore the castle. Be quick on your hooves."
Once all four mares left, Sunset and Rarity walked into another hallway. She paced ahead of the unicorn, scanning the hallway for clues. She had only been gone for several hours, yet her world had already changed. Was this what Luna had in mind for her? If she was chosen to defeat Daybreaker, couldn't the princess have told her sooner? Rarity's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"What did you say?" Sunset asked.
"What is it like to grow up in Canterlot?" Rarity replied.
"For me, it's like a city that belongs to the nobility. My life isn't fancy. Why do you ask?"
"I'm just curious. I've never been to Canterlot until today."
"We're not here to take a tour, but to stop Daybreaker."
"I know that. I hope this goes quickly. My sister's probably scared right now. Another question here. Why does Daybreaker want to trap Equestria in eternal heat?"
"She wants to usurp Princess Luna. I'll tell the story of Daybreaker to you..."
As Sunset told the story, her mind focused on the plan. What if the search went wrong? What were the others doing? Had Daybreaker captured them? Rainbow Dash would be the type of pony to put up a fight. As for Applejack and Pinkie, she wasn't sure. Fluttershy would be the type to run and hide. Had Daybreaker harmed Luna? Did Ponyville catch on fire? She shuddered at the thought of the whole land going up in flames.
Rainbow Dash had never stepped inside a castle, let alone Canterlot Castle. The hallways felt like a maze to her. And Fluttershy had been frightened the whole time, as the kind pegasus kept fretting about Daybreaker catching them in the act. When she met Sunset earlier, she never expected to join her on this daring quest. The idea of being a hero appealed to her. But, being imprisoned by Daybreaker? She hated the idea of being helpless. What would the team of Wonderbolts think if she got captured?
"Maybe we should join Sunset and Rarity," Fluttershy said.
"That's like asking for help from a stronger hero," Rainbow replied as she flew ahead of Fluttershy.
"Wait for me! There's nothing wrong with needing help."
"And those words came from the pony who had somepony else stand up to the bullies. The idea of asking for help only makes sense to you."
"If that's the case, then why did Sunset recruit us?"
"Because of the Daybreaker drama, I guess. I bet Sunset's scared to go alone."
"That doesn't sound nice. Sunset wouldn't be happy if you make fun of her."
Rainbow led Fluttershy into another hallway. Was there a map around here? The castle might be huge, but the interior seemed to be larger in size. "I bet I'm not the first pony to become lost in this castle. Perhaps some lost ponies were stuck in the hallways."
"If that's the case, the princess would help them find their way out," Fluttershy said.
Hoofsteps echoed off the walls. Rainbow grabbed Fluttershy and hid behind a statue. She had a feeling that this wouldn't go well. If they got caught, she could use a distraction. No, she could try physical combat. She had always been a courageous mare, never willing to back down. Fluttershy was the total opposite.
A familiar voice boomed. "Who goes here?" The hoofsteps approached. "Come out, you little cowards. I won't hurt you."
Rainbow peered above the statue. As she guessed, Daybreaker was investigating the hallway. The alicorn turned, then scowled. She stepped forward. Could a pegasus knock out a powerful alicorn? Since Sunset wasn't here to watch, she might solve the problem herself.
"Ah, it's you, bold one. Where are your friends? What are they up to?" Daybreaker demanded.
"You stole the throne from Princess Luna. And you also took the Elements. You will pay for trying to destroy Equestria," Rainbow said.
"I like your feisty attitude. But you can't fight me. I'm much more powerful than you are."
"If I can stand up to anypony, then I won't back down in your presence."
Daybreaker widened her stance. Her horn glowed. "Bring it on. I bet you're still feeble. A place in prison will make you rethink your rebellious desires. I recall the Firebolts test I gave you."
Rainbow put the puzzle pieces together. So the Firebolts were Daybreaker's illusions? She hovered above Daybreaker and charged at her. A sphere of magic enveloped her, and she struggled to escape. "You're the worst! How dare you get away with your crimes?"
Daybreaker flung Rainbow across the hallway. "Excuse me? How am I the worst? You are easy to defeat. A pegasus cannot fight an alicorn and expect to win." She loomed over Rainbow.
Rainbow grimaced as she rose. She couldn't show Daybreaker that she was in pain. She didn't want to encourage her. All she wanted to do was stop the wicked mare. She hated to admit that Sunset was right. It wasn't fair, the difference between a pegasus and an alicorn. Not that she wanted to transform into an alicorn.
"For a pegasus, you sure are tough," Daybreaker said. "Have you considered joining the royal guard?"
"I've already said no. And I won't abandon my friends," Rainbow replied.
"Very well, then. Where is Sunset? If you won't answer, then you'll earn a place in prison."
Rainbow paused for a moment. If she refused to answer, then Daybreaker would imprison her. If she told the truth, her friends would never trust her again. The first option seemed reasonable. The second one could be an act of cowardice. What was a true hero to do? She stroked her chin.
"You have ten seconds to answer," Daybreaker said.
"Even if I know, I won't tell you," Rainbow replied. Behind Daybreaker, Fluttershy crept toward the door. The alicorn seemed curious.
"What are you looking at?"
"Nothing."
"Fine. Keep what you know a secret, then. I'll escort you to prison." The moment Daybreaker saw Fluttershy, she unfurled her wings. The yellow pegasus shook with fright.
Certain words came to Rainbow's mind. She wanted to say these words. 'Fluttershy, run while I distract her!' or 'Daybreaker, leave Fluttershy alone!', but Daybreaker was a formidable foe to deal with. And nopony could outrun an alicorn. The heat only accelerated her anger toward the pony who usurped the princess. She stood between Fluttershy and Daybreaker before the alicorn could do anything drastic.
"Let me guess. This little pegasus is a friend of yours," Daybreaker said. Her horn glowed, and a magical aura enveloped Rainbow. Then, she flung her out of the way.
Rainbow's wings ached from the impact. She couldn't deny that Daybreaker was stronger than Princess Luna. At least her other friends remained out of sight. Where were Pinkie Pie and Applejack? Had they gotten lost? Sunset seemed to know a way around the castle. Had the unicorn discovered the dungeon? What about Rarity? She stretched her wings to ensure there weren't any broken bones. She groaned. There was a sore muscle here and there, but she could still fly. If the impact had been more powerful, a bone would have broken inside her wings. That would disqualify her from becoming a future Wonderbolt for sure.
Daybreaker let out a malicious chuckle. "Well, well... you are the frightened one. The opposite of the rainbow pegasus, right?See if you can survive prison. You seem the type to wilt behind bars."
Fluttershy backed away as she spoke in a soft whisper. "Please... don't hurt me..."
"Why so afraid? Is it because of the wildfire? I can see what wildfires do to a pony. However, I'll watch you squirm in prison. All of you ponies are powerless and feeble. I'm the most powerful empress in the history of Equestria. And you ponies are nothing!"
Fluttershy glanced at Rainbow. "Go get the others."
Daybreaker smirked. "I knew you were up to something." Her magic enveloped both Rainbow and Fluttershy. "Off to prison. Try not to call for help, or I'll search the castle for your friends."
Just as the sphere glowed around Rainbow and Fluttershy, the yellow pegasus screamed. Daybreaker cackled. Had the others heard Fluttershy? What if the sphere blocked Fluttershy's voice from being heard?
Applejack swore she heard somepony screaming. It couldn't be, she thought. Who got caught? Daybreaker was too stubborn to lose. She had to tell Sunset and Rarity! Pinkie Pie's shocked expression mirrored her own. She led Pinkie toward the room where she last saw Sunset. The two unicorns weren't in here. As much as she wanted to call for Sunset, she couldn't let Daybreaker detect them. She didn't want the quest to go wrong. The group would be doomed if all of them found themselves in prison.
"We're not going to hide in here," Applejack said. "The others could be in the opposite side of the castle. I don't want to consider the worst."
Pinkie hopped toward the door. "Let's go, then. Who knows where Sunset and Rarity could be?"
"Good idea." Applejack followed Pinkie into the hallway. Sunset and Rarity were in the hallway, but Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy weren't. Had Daybreaker caught Rainbow and Fluttershy?
Sunset rushed to hug Applejack and Pinkie. "You're okay! I thought Daybreaker had you. I wonder, though, if she captured Rainbow and Fluttershy."
Rarity nodded. "I bet she did. Let's rescue them."
Sunset led the three to another hallway. As they navigated the castle, doubts filled her mind. Daybreaker was obviously desperate to win. Her heart hammered against her ribs. She wasn't sure if it was caused by stress or by the extreme heat. Perhaps it was a mix of both. What if she failed Luna? What if she failed her new friends? What if she failed all of Equestria? Had the Elements been transported to another location?
Sunset discovered a secret passageway. The door slid open. She glanced around to ensure that Daybreaker hadn't followed them. The passageway was dark and narrow, so she carefully descended the steps. Was this the dungeon? Daybreaker's cackle caused her to freeze. Was the wicked alicorn in the dungeon? She was oddly reminded of the dream she once had as a young filly.
Sunset reached a hallway. Cells lined the hallway as she crept further into the darkness. Her horn lit the area around the group. Hoofsteps approached, and she ducked behind a pillar. She faced Applejack. "Distract Daybreaker. I'll find the Elements," she whispered.
Applejack furrowed her brows. "Are you sure it's a good plan?"
"Yes."
Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity emerged from their hiding place. Sunset watched them speak with Daybreaker. Once Daybreaker left the dungeon, she proceeded forward. She discovered what appeared to be a secret room. Six stones waited on the floor.
"Could they be?" Sunset whispered. She levitated the stones and raced through the dungeon. She approached a cell where Rainbow and Fluttershy were being held. She teleported them out of the cell.
Rainbow was the first to speak. "Let's go find the others. Are they the Elements you mentioned?" She scrutinized the stones.
"I think so."
"We'll stop Daybreaker in no time."
Daybreaker hesitated as she watched Rarity approach the dungeon's entrance. She had a feeling that she was being tricked. She scowled. Applejack and Pinkie didn't flinch, but Rarity seemed nervous. "Explain yourselves or else. Where is Sunset Shimmer? I demand an answer!"
"You won't destroy Equestria," Applejack said.
"We still need the night and the rain," Pinkie said.
Daybreaker hollered with frustration. She slammed her hooves against the ground, causing a jagged crack to form. She snorted. Why wouldn't the rebels stop fighting her? She was sure that Sunset discovered the Elements. It was too late to continue her reign, right? Hopefully her defeat wouldn't happen.
Daybreaker shook her head. "Not so fast. If you try to stop me, I'll destroy Luna in front of you. The battle shall take place in the throne room."
"You won't destroy Luna on our watch. The princess shall never be usurped," Rarity said.
Daybreaker teleported herself and the little ponies to the throne room. She landed on the throne, cackling. She was sure the group would be burned to ashes. Before she could eliminate them, the other three ponies materialized in front of the grand doors. This time, Sunset had the Elements. She didn't want to lose too soon. She summoned a circle of fire around Sunset.
Daybreaker approached Sunset. "You are more powerful than most unicorns. Perhaps you can join me. With the help of my sun, I have seen you grow."
Sunset maintained eye contact. "I won't join you."
"Don't be stubborn. Listen to me."
"I said no."
Daybreaker cast a spell on Sunset Shimmer, allowing them both to enter a strange realm with no ponies in sight. The orange ground churned beneath their hooves. The sun shone with an eerie yellowish glow. "This is the realm of memories. I will give you my take on them..."
Daybreaker's Fiery Vengeance
Sunset tried to make sense of the surroundings. Images of her memories swirled around her. She sensed Daybreaker's presence before she could even look. Swirls of ashes formed in front of the large sun. The sun illuminated Daybreaker, which made the alicorn seem taller. Even the story of this mare didn't do the alicorn's personality any justice. Where had her friends gone? Where was Spike? She shuddered to think of their potential fates. The first memory materialized in front of her. Daybreaker pointed to Summer Dawn and a younger version of Sunset.
"You are meant to shine. Even your parents are proud of you. This is why your first friend is jealous of you. The sun casts a shadow on the lesser light," Daybreaker said.
A second memory followed the first one. "Some years later, you became Princess Luna's protege. She saw potential. The reason I brought you to this void is because I'm feeling tired of Celestia's constant defiance."
Sunset could only watch. She didn't want to seem submissive. As the alicorn rambled about her memories, she activated her magic. But it was of no use. How did she end up trapped in here? If Luna hadn't been imprisoned, the princess would assist her. She shook her head. She was old enough to solve problems on her own. She wasn't a small filly anymore. The memories continued scrolling past her eyes.
Daybreaker reached for Sunset's chin. "You are as radiant as I am. You don't need your friends. Any friend of yours would just abandon you as soon as you outshine them. Even your mentor would. She had a dark side."
"Don't manipulate me," Sunset said as she swatted Daybreaker's hoof away. "And only Luna touches my chin. She's like a mother to me. You, however, are a dangerous threat to Equestria."
"I figured. You are a stiff-necked mare. Celestia did give in. If she can give in, so can you. I'll show you what happens if you continue to trust your friends and your so-called mentor." Daybreaker summoned an image of the five mares.
"They're my friends, and even though Rainbow was the most loyal, the others had also proved their loyalty."
"Do you honestly believe they can stick by your side? Eventually, they will begin to envy you. That's why you must vanquish them."
Sunset watched her friends in the scene walk away. She sensed an emotion taking over in her heart. She suppressed the emotion, even though the scene reminded her of Twilight's betrayal. The fake versions of her friends spoke against her.
Rainbow Dash grimaced. "Sunset, I'm tired of you stealing all the glory. I'm the hero. I'm twenty percent cooler. We don't need you."
Applejack shook her head. "You can't even become a good leader without ordering us around."
Pinkie Pie sniffled. "And you're not fun at parties."
Fluttershy cowered. "You don't care about us."
Rarity narrowed her eyes. "Stop being so much more fabulous than I am! Go ahead and leave!"
The five mares repeated the same words over and over. Sunset's heart beat faster than before. She couldn't let the image turn her heart against her own friends. She had seen the good they had done. The image changed to a vision of Luna transforming into a black alicorn.
"There is only one warrior in Equestria, and that heroine is... ME!" The black alicorn slammed her hooves against the floor.
The image disappeared. Daybreaker smirked. "Are you convinced yet?"
Luna's words replayed in Sunset's mind. Not every friend is going to betray you. She refused to back down. There was a truth to her mentor's words. The princess would never lie. Daybreaker would lie. She thought about the image of her friends. If Daybreaker was going to use another strategy to deceive her, she wouldn't believe the alicorn's dishonesty. She narrowed her eyes.
"Join my side," Daybreaker said. "I have wonderful powers that you'll enjoy."
"That vision is a lie designed to corrupt my heart. I won't turn on those I care about," Sunset replied.
"Luna must have taught you to be an obstinate pony. It's true that when you spend enough time with a certain pony, you become more like them. It's like I'm trying to corrupt the little princess."
"You're only grasping at straws. Princess Luna would say the same thing about you."
"See if you can defeat me in the real world. The battle won't be easy. I, Empress Daybreaker, shall plunge the world into eternal daylight!"
Sunset found herself in the throne room. The flames disappeared, but the fire pillars didn't. Once again, Daybreaker sat on the throne. Luna's throne. The mere sight of a foe sitting on the throne made her blood boil. She charged at Daybreaker, only to be shoved backward by the alicorn's magic.
"I told you so," Daybreaker said. "And the Elements are stone! How can you use them? Such a feeble choice." She shot a fireball at Sunset.
Sunset deflected the fireball. The alicorn summoned another one. Before she shielded herself, the fireball blasted her toward the grand doors. She struggled to her height and parried Daybreaker's fiery blasts. This was the reason why she wanted to find the Elements in the first place.
Daybreaker flung Sunset toward the grand doors. "You may be courageous and powerful, but you are no match for me!" She charged at Sunset.
Sunset teleported out of the way. She shot a powerful beam toward Daybreaker. The powerful alicorn deflected the beam. She braced herself for another attack. "I would rather stop you than let you win!"
"That's rich, coming from a feeble unicorn!"
At once, a fiery beam emerged from Daybreaker's horn. Sunset's beam pushed the fiery beam back. Both beams pushed back and forth. "Daybreaker... you... won't... stop... us!" Her horn gave out. The fiery beam shoved her toward the throne.
Daybreaker loomed over Sunset. "You put up a good fight. But playtime is over. All six of you shall rot in prison!"
Sunset shot up. "Don't imprison us."
"I will do so." Daybreaker's horn glowed.
Sunset thought about the tale of two sisters. She recalled Luna speaking about Celestia. Perhaps some talking could allow Daybreaker to spare them. It might also weaken the alicorn's power. "You were originally Celestia, the princess who had been gone for a thousand years."
Daybreaker jerked her head away as if distracted by an invisible presence. She turned her glare back to Sunset. A strange mix of emotions began to show in her eyes. Those emotions were abruptly replaced by a wrathful grimace. "You've got to be kidding me. I won't let Celestia be herself ever again. As for Luna, she doesn't deserve a place on the throne."
"Think about how long you were banished. I'm sure you feel powerful, but you're not a good ruler. Luna wants her sister back. She misses Celestia."
Daybreaker's mane billowed like an everlasting wildfire as she levitated into the air. Her eyes glowed a dangerous shade of red. She seemed ready to set the whole castle on fire. "I don't care! I won't allow you to banish me a second time! I am Daybreaker, not Celestia! I won't return the throne to Luna, nor shall I release my host! Do not speak either name again, or else!"
Sunset's words didn't work. It only made Daybreaker angrier than ever. Before she gathered the Elements, Daybreaker formed a ring of fire around the whole group. The flames licked the ceiling. Daybreaker hovered above the ring of fire. She shouldn't have mentioned Celestia in the first place.
"There's a chance the Elements may banish you," Sunset said. "As they once did. You're filled with rage, hatred, and a lust for power."
"Why don't you fools give up?! Just face it. A regular pony won't defeat an alicorn. I shall slay those who stand in my way!" Daybreaker replied as she shot multiple fireballs at each pony.
"You can't stop us!"
"I can."
Rainbow charged at Daybreaker. "Go back to the sun, you monster!"
Daybreaker blasted Rainbow against the floor. "Never!"
Fluttershy rushed to Rainbow's side. "Please be okay..."
Rainbow opened her eyes. She groaned with pain. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me. I've handled worse."
Fluttershy's eyes widened. "Sunset, watch out!"
Sunset glanced around. A fireball hurtled toward her. She dodged it, then shot a beam at Daybreaker. "You are difficult!"
Daybreaker flashed a sadistic grin. "Difficult is right. When I returned from the sun, I took over. Everypony is afraid of me. And they should be. I am their empress! The six of you aren't afraid. Instead, you're too courageous. Sunset, we aren't so different. Both of us shine brighter than any other pony. Also, our cutie marks are similar."
Sunset jerked her head back and forth. "I'm nothing like you. I use my magic to benefit others, and I don't see my friends as inferior. They are unique in their own ways. I will never be like you. Evil alicorns aren't who I look up to. The only alicorn I look up to is Princess Luna, for she is a benevolent and kind ruler."
"And that is your reason? You shouldn't look up to her, but to me. Together, we can force her off the throne."
"It is my reason. I don't want to usurp the princess. She is more righteous than you'll ever be."
"Are you saying that I'm as terrible as everypony perceives me to be? You're no different than the rainbow pegasus. She said that I'm the worst. But I'm the best."
"In a way, yes. What you've done is terrible, and this needs to stop. Bring back the night. Without it, the land will perish."
Daybreaker snickered. "Ah, yes. The lovely night everypony has come to adore over the centuries. And what you love most shall never return to the skies!"
Sunset stomped her hoof against the floor. "It will come back! Don't assume you can win. I have my friends, and we will use the Elements."
"The night cannot grow crops, and neither can it shine light into the darkest corners of the Earth. Its darkness can only frighten ponies and cause nightmares. Do you know why foals are scared of the dark? Because monsters used to roam freely in the night."
"Then why did you refuse to lower the sun? Also, whenever a pony has a nightmare, Luna assists that pony. Her darkness is the righteous kind. If creatures, such as Timberwolves, ever threaten anypony at night, Luna will stop those creatures. She protects Equestria."
"Because villains lurk in the shadows-"
"Not all of them. You're visible to everypony who encounters you. Sometimes the light is used for harmful purposes."
A fiery aura surrounded Daybreaker's horn. "Silence! The day is my domain. It's not Luna's domain. If not for the sun, you won't have the crops that grow from the ground. And you need fire to light the darkness."
Even though they were enemies, Sunset had to agree with Daybreaker. However, Equestria still needed balance. Her internal clock told her it was evening, yet the sun wouldn't set. How would a pony sleep with the sun shining through the curtains? How would the crops grow under eternal heat? She levitated each Element in front of each pony. Daybreaker shot a fireball at them.
"Do not banish the glorious sun!" Daybreaker said.
Sunset formed a shield around her group. The fiery beam grew stronger. She sensed her magic growing weaker. Unlike alicorn magic, unicorn magic had limits. She groaned as the flames roared around the shield. Dark spots appeared in her vision. How much longer would she keep up? An ache grew in her horn with each passing second. She didn't want to fail anypony in Equestria.
"I can feel the shield weakening. You can't stop me," Daybreaker said. "Why would anypony desire the gloom and doom of night?"
"We still need the night. Without the night, Equestria will burn!" Sunset watched the shield disappear. Her head felt light. The last thing she remembered was Daybreaker's vicious cackle.
Sunset awakened after passing out. Instead of being in a throne room, she was in one of the castle hallways. Whatever was under her head felt soft. It was like a makeshift pillow, but the object was actually Rarity's saddlebag. The ache in her horn remained, although it wasn't as horrible. Had Daybreaker taken the Elements away again? She struggled to rise. Rainbow helped her stand. She quickly made sense of the situation.
"Did we lose the Elements again?" Sunset asked.
Rainbow shook her head. "We tricked Daybreaker. You should have seen the whole thing. We hid them in our saddlebags. She was gullible."
Fluttershy maintained eye contact. "Sunset, I was afraid that we would lose you."
Sunset sighed with relief. "So we still have the Elements. We're not giving up. Let's strike back."
Rainbow nodded. "Maybe we should try a surprise attack."
"She might hear us coming. I have a better idea."
"Alright, then."
Sunset led her group to the throne room. Daybreaker wasn't in here. For some reason, Luna was floating by the window, still trapped in the magical sphere. Did Daybreaker intend this to be a trap? She approached the sphere. Her mentor's eyes focused on something behind her.
"What is it?" Sunset asked.
"Look behind you!" Luna said.
Sunset whirled around. Daybreaker had formed a huge fireball. She deflected the fireball as soon as it hurtled toward her. If Daybreaker thought the trap could ensure the destruction of the group and also the princess, the trap had failed. She sported a determined smirk. At least her friends held the Elements.
Daybreaker approached the sphere. "Here she is. The moon princess thinks you can turn me into..." She shuddered. "Celestia. I won't let that happen. Ready for another match?"
Sunset stood her ground. "You can't defeat the Elements. Let me tell you this right now... Each one of my friends personify five of the six Elements."
Daybreaker paused for a moment before speaking. "What? You outsmarted me, didn't you?" She narrowed her eyes.
Daybreaker's Fiery Vengeance
Daybreaker's heart froze as she watched the other mares step forward. She didn't want to be banished ever again. She couldn't deny the determination in the unicorn's eyes. She had intended the trap to murder all of them, including the moon princess. Another chuckle bubbled from her throat as she smirked. Who were they kidding? The mere thought of them pitting themselves against the most powerful alicorn in all of Equestria amused her. She enjoyed the feeling of power, and she wasn't about to lose the throne to a measly group of non-alicorn ponies.
Daybreaker blew a column of flames at Sunset and watched the six ponies jump back. She snatched the Elements from their saddlebags. She toyed with the Elements, then tossed them against the floor. "This is all you got, huh? I am much more powerful than you believe me to be! The day shall never end!"
Sunset didn't flinch. Instead, she demonstrated pure courage. "The Elements have stopped you before. What makes you think this time will be any different? You don't scare us, so why are you afraid of the Elements? Is it because of the thousand-year banishment?"
"Guess what? You don't scare me, either. If you banish me again, I shall immediately destroy Equestria after another thousand years. Then I'll create my own civilization that will handle eternal sunlight. You won't stand in the way if I return a second time."
"So what are you going to do next time, banish Luna? You said you were getting tired of Celestia, but why did you prove otherwise?"
"Prove otherwise?! But if I lose, I won't completely leave. I will attempt to possess you in the near future. It feels good to be in absolute power, with no co-ruler to stand in the way. Consider what happened to the stallion. Because he helped you, I imprisoned him. Nopony can stand in my way and live. Not even my host."
"Is it your intention to rule over an empty desert with no life? How about your potential subjects running underground to hide from the hot sun? How about the loss of food and water? Is it worth the eternal sunlight?"
Daybreaker clenched her jaw. How dare Sunset ask such questions? Was it to strengthen Celestia's influence? Whatever the intent, she couldn't let the rebels have the upper hoof. She felt tempted to obliterate anypony who wouldn't obey her. The idea of being forced away from Celestia's body and losing the throne caused her to cringe. Before she met Celestia, she was only part of the dreamscape, just like her equally wicked sister. She wouldn't consider herself a part of the Nightmare Forces, but she was born with a thirst for power.
Although formed by Celestia's psyche, Daybreaker had a mind of her own. How many times in Celestia's youth had she spoken to her in dreams and the waking world? But when Celestia began ruling over Equestria, she was suppressed by the solar regent's magic. As a result, the only pony she could talk to was Nightmare Moon. They had formed a plan to possess the royal sisters, but Nightmare Moon gave up because of Luna's stubbornness.
Daybreaker shook her thoughts from her mind. She had to focus on defeating the group. When Sunset's magic began to activate the Elements, she charged at the unicorn, intent on ending her life. Sunset teleported, and she glanced around. She groaned. She was outsmarted again. How dare they?
Sunset materialized by the window. "I'll continue what I said about the Elements-"
Daybreaker charged at Sunset for the second time. She missed again. Sunset appeared in front of the grand doors. Don't evade me ever again, she thought. She had led the unicorn's group on a wild goose chase. Now she was the one doing the chasing. She charged again just as Sunset began speaking. The unicorn disappeared.
Sunset stood in front of the throne. "Fluttershy demonstrated kindness when she calmed a manticore. She receives the Element of Kindness."
Daybreaker snarled as she rushed toward the unicorn. "Stop this nonsense! Do not activate the Elements!"
Sunset evaded another attack. "Applejack was honest when she told me to let go of the bridge. She receives the Element of Honesty."
Something in Daybreaker's mind snapped. "That's it! You will regret the day you attempted to activate them!" She slammed her hooves against the marble floor. Flames erupted from the floor and dashed toward each mare. Ashes and smoke billowed from the embers. Nearby tapestries caught on fire.
The six mares evaded the flames before any of them were harmed. Even though the smoke filled the throne room, Daybreaker was still able to see Sunset and the others. Six of them formed a triangle, with Sunset being the leader. She summoned a huge fireball and chucked it at them. The unicorn formed a shield. She threw another fireball, only to miss. Why couldn't they lose? She stole a swift glance at Luna to make sure the younger alicorn didn't give them any special powers. The younger alicorn seemed worried, perhaps because the six little ponies were in danger.
Sunset didn't seem surprised by the smoke's presence. "Rainbow Dash remained loyal when the Firebolts asked her to join them. She would never leave our side. She receives the Element of Loyalty."
Daybreaker let out an intense battle cry and stormed toward the group. She summoned all her fiery magic. The light from her horn shone as bright as the sun. Once again, the group evaded her. She whirled around. The fire of wrath consumed her heart.
Daybreaker unfurled her wings. "Stay where you are. I'll gladly slay all of you. Your princess is next!"
"Daybreaker, that will never happen as long as we have the Elements. Pinkie Pie demonstrated laughter when she told us to laugh our fears away. What does that say about us? We don't fear the flames," Sunset continued.
"Don't boast about your weak Elements. If you want to banish me, fine. I'll go ahead and destroy Luna!"
"Never! Also, Rarity seems to have a generous heart. She gives to other ponies. She will represent the Element of Generosity." Sunset's eyes began to glow. The stones cracked. Six gems emerged from the stones. Five of them became necklaces. The Element of Magic became a crown. A rainbow emerged from the six ponies.
Daybreaker summoned a beam and pushed against the rainbow. She would hate to be banished. Or worse, she might end up losing control of Celestia's body. She couldn't let either result happen. Nevertheless, she had a feeling that she wouldn't hold on to Celestia for long. Perhaps it was because of Celestia's influence. No, the bond between two sisters could be responsible for her potential defeat. Stupid sisters, she thought as her beam reached Sunset's group. Luna's voice broke her focus for a second.
"Now what?" Daybreaker asked.
Luna maintained eye contact. "If you won't let the night return, Equestria will suffer. Let my sister go. Let Sunset win. The light you use is not the good type. It is cruel and harsh. If you had your way, and the world receives eternal daylight, nopony will survive. The consequences will be devastating."
"What makes you think I care about others? Why have you resisted the Nightmare Forces one time?" The rainbow beam inched closer to Daybreaker's horn. She continued pushing with all her might. Anger fueled her magic as she concentrated on destroying the group.
"Celestia cares about other ponies. You don't. You are selfish enough to demand that either anything goes your way or else. She would never do that. It's not part of her nature. And the reason I resisted the Nightmare Forces is that in a dream, I saw what eternal night could do to Equestria. As a result, I never transformed."
Daybreaker grunted as she forced her beam toward Sunset. "That's rich, coming from the mare who used to be jealous of her sister at one point during their reign. When will you ever understand a word I say?"
"It doesn't feel good to be jealous. If it's not good to be jealous, what makes you think you have a right to be angry? I see how powerful you feel. Power should never be used to harm others. It should be used to benefit those who weren't of the ruling class."
"Did you even hear my whole question?" Daybreaker glared at Luna, only for the rainbow beam to accelerate toward her. When she turned to face Sunset, she gasped. "No, this isn't meant to be!" She shot another fiery beam. This time, the beam was weaker than the first one.
"Sunset, don't give up!"
The rainbow pushed harder. Daybreaker had no idea what caused her magic to become useless against the Elements. It was just like the day of her banishment. Was this because Luna encouraged Sunset? Everything seemed to move in slow motion. How had she lost? If she hadn't allowed herself to be distracted by Luna, then she would have won instead. The rainbow enveloped Daybreaker's body. She could feel herself being yanked away from Celestia's body. She held on for dear life. She couldn't believe her own eyes. Instead of being banished, she was forced to release Celestia.
The bright light enveloped her now transparent body. A smaller, possibly depowered version of Celestia floated in front of her. How could this happen? She wished it was all just a dream, but there was no way she could escape this. She couldn't reverse this, either. A familiar silhouette floated toward Celestia. How did Luna manage to escape the sphere?
Celestia scanned the white void. She seemed unsure. When she saw Luna, she avoided eye contact. "Lulu? Please banish me instead. Strip my royal status away. What I've done is unforgivable. I don't deserve forgiveness. As much as I wanted to be released from Daybreaker, I'm not meant to be on the throne after what happened."
Luna adopted a pleasant smile. "Dear sister, please take my hoof. Do you accept my friendship? I've missed you. Even when I ruled alone, I still need you. We are meant to rule together."
"I've missed you too, little sister."
"The path to healing will seem rough at first, but I will help you get used to the current era. It's nothing like the era where we once used the Royal We."
"I'll reverse what Daybreaker did. Has everything burned to a crisp yet?"
"As far as I'm concerned, that hasn't happened."
Celestia took Luna's hoof. Daybreaker couldn't watch anymore. She figured the bond and the Elements would defeat her. She shook her head. "Celestia, no. This isn't what I had in mind. Just let me possess you again! I am the more beautiful and powerful version of you!"
Celestia faced Daybreaker. "Last time we went through this argument, we got banished. I won't let you corrupt me again. I have Luna by my side."
Daybreaker snorted. "What makes you believe you need her? If you hadn't awakened right after the banishment, none of this would happen. I would still be on the throne right now!" Celestia didn't seem to respond. She sensed that her former host was about to awaken. Everything turned black, and she flew to the dreamscape. Her own sister greeted her with a grimace. They would be in for a long discussion. Someday, she would return for revenge.
Luna cast a cooling spell on her surroundings. All the flames died away, and the sun dipped into the horizon. Daybreaker's armor was scattered around Celestia's body. The tapestries needed to be repaired. The windows and the rug were still intact. Her student and the others seemed ready to pass out. She might allow Sunset to spend one more night here. And the innocent stallion needed to be freed from the dungeon.
Celestia awakened, then struggled to her height. "Where am I?"
"You're in Canterlot Castle," Luna said. "Thanks to my student and her new friends, you have been released. Dear sister, I will let the citizens of Equestria see you. Your appearance will be new to them for a while, so don't become upset with them."
Tears filled Celestia's eyes. "I'll try not to become frustrated with them. You may have to help me a little. It's new to me, too. And the lullaby you sang? I loved listening to your voice."
Luna hugged Celestia. Tears streamed down her cheeks. "We haven't hugged in a thousand years. I missed this."
Collective gasps filled the room. Sunset was the only one not to gasp. She stepped forward. "Princess Luna, now you don't have to feel lonely. Your sister's home."
Applejack placed her hat onto her chest. "Sisters? This is so touching. I can see the unbreakable bond."
Celestia glanced at Sunset, then at the five other ponies. "I thought I would be banished a second time, but I'm free. Thank you. And forgive me for what I've done as Daybreaker."
Sunset and her friends hugged Celestia. "We forgive you."
It was strange that Celestia was the same size as Luna. Eventually, she would revert back to her normal size. Luna hugged Celestia again. She didn't want to let go. In a sense, if she did, she might lose her again. "Tia, the fact that you transformed into Daybreaker didn't change how I viewed you. You are my sister, no matter what happens."
Sunset smiled. "When will you announce Celestia's return?"
Luna considered making the announcement tonight, as it made more sense than waiting until the next sunrise. "Now. I hope the six of you don't mind accompanying us. First, I'll release the stallion from prison."
"We'll wait."
Luna walked to the dungeon. Celestia followed her to the stallion's cell. She opened the cell door. When the stallion looked up, he froze. "It's okay. Daybreaker is no more. My sister, Celestia, has returned. She won't hurt you."
Celestia inhaled, then exhaled. "Sir, I am sincerely sorry for what I've done."
The stallion seemed unsure as he walked out of the cell. Luna led Celestia back to the throne room. It would be quite a while before the citizens got used to Celestia's presence. She couldn't wait to announce this to the ponies. Hopefully they would welcome her and not turn her away. They knew what Daybreaker did. If they were hesitant, they wouldn't be as apprehensive if they got to know Celestia.
Daybreaker's Fiery Vengeance
When Luna and Celestia reached the stage, she gazed at the crowd. They had gathered under the cool moonlight. Everypony was relieved to see their princess, but at the same time, they were surprised at Celestia's arrival. Murmurs mingled with noisome cheers. It was obvious how many ponies had forgotten what Celestia was like. After all, Daybreaker had been the subject of legends and tales ever since the solar banishment. It was ironic how she was the outgoing one, while Celestia seemed worried about others judging her.
The opposite had been the case when Luna and Celestia first ruled Equestria. She had come a long way since then. She adopted a serene smile. "Mares and gentlecolts, because of Sunset Shimmer's perseverance and the courage of her friends, Daybreaker has been defeated. Here is Princess Celestia. She is my older sister. I expect you to treat her with respect and kindness."
A group of foals placed the red and white roses on Celestia's neck. She didn't smile. Did she feel guilty over what she had done as Daybreaker? A small smile formed on her face, although it wasn't noticeable from a distance. "Lulu, why don't they seem afraid of me? They knew Daybreaker's crimes," she said.
Luna led Celestia to a less crowded area. One would think that her sister would be glad to return. However, Celestia seemed down. She wiped a small tear off her sister's cheek. It was strange how she was the more mature of the two. Would Celestia end up with the mind of an energetic young mare? A thousand years ago, Celestia was the more mature sister. Now it was the younger sister who was mature.
"Tia, don't be afraid. Tell me what's on your mind," Luna said.
Celestia frowned. "I will. I was used to the appreciation and cheers that I would receive from a huge crowd. Now it's the opposite. It's not that I'm ungrateful to be released from Daybreaker's grip."
"You're not being ungrateful. If Daybreaker hadn't been banished-"
"Equestria wouldn't be alive today. Yes, I know that."
"I have an old crown and regalia waiting for you."
Celestia shook her head. "Dear sister, you've been a wonderful ruler by yourself. It doesn't feel right for me to wear a crown. Not after-"
Luna hugged Celestia. "Even when you are gone, I still needed you. Why do you think we both received a crown during our coronation?"
"It's because a younger Equestria wanted us to rule the land. Since we have the ability to control day and night, it makes sense that we are to become co-rulers."
"Correct."
"I still don't want to control the sun. What if I get corrupted again and refused to lower the sun as a result?"
"I'm sure you won't be corrupted again. Daybreaker got the message when you told her to leave you alone."
"I hope you're right."
Luna turned her attention to the street. Sunset and the others had already gone home. Several ponies remained outside to stargaze. She led Celestia to the sky. The older princess seemed to have a hard time staying awake. Considering the distance between the ground and the sky, she didn't want to see her sister plummet downward. And because of the fiery chaos, she had a feeling that many ponies would encounter nightmares. It was about to become a long night. Even though some small fillies dreamed of becoming princesses, they had no idea what it was actually like to be a princess.
"A thousand years ago, I was taller. Being this size felt a little odd. I guess it's related to Daybreaker being desperate to win," Celestia said. "The whole time as she struggled to defeat the new Element bearers, I sensed her using part of my magic."
Luna stole a glance at the Everfree. It wouldn't take long for the strange forest to heal from the vicious flames. This was why the daylight shouldn't last longer than the normal amount of hours. If either the day or the night lasted forever, the consequences would be horrible. But the extreme heat would accelerate the destruction. Flames were known for burning certain objects in less than one hour.
"How does it feel to rule alone?" Celestia asked. She seemed curious.
Luna thought about the times when she had to deal with a whole day of diurnal responsibilities. "It wasn't easy. I had always thought your diurnal duties would be simple, but with the nobles and political issues, I couldn't deny the stress. Having to put on a smile despite all that drama is quite tiring. Sometimes I feel like rolling my eyes or scowling."
"The diurnal stress is the whole reason why I once took most of the responsibilities. Let me guess... the night is much easier than the day."
"Some nights are more hectic than others. On those nights, it didn't seem to matter whether the ponies made sure not to do certain activities that might cause strange dreams. Most of the time, dreams either symbolize problems in their lives or a hidden fear, or they can twist situations that happened during the day."
The whole time as they talked, they approached Canterlot Castle. The exterior hadn't been destroyed. It was as if eternal daylight never happened. When they landed on the courtyard, Luna glanced at Celestia. The older princess was already asleep. Her sister would need a lot of rest in order to regain enough magical power.
Celestia awakened from a deep slumber. Sunlight penetrated the purple curtains. This bedroom reminded her of the old one, but something about the room was different. How many time periods had passed since Daybreaker's banishment? Several hundred? A thousand? The old castle's furnishings were somewhat macabre. Canterlot Castle, however, fitted her taste. Her royal regalia waited on the nightstand. Slipping out of bed, she put on her crown. She caught her reflection in the mirror.
Several times during the night, Celestia had nightmares about Daybreaker. For that reason, she expected herself to have a fiery mane and a taller body. She left her new bedroom and searched for the dining room. The guards gave her strange looks. Others seemed suspicious as if expecting her to crack. They were probably afraid that she would transform back into Daybreaker. The way Luna addressed others was different compared to the era from a thousand years ago. How come Luna no longer used the Royal Canterlot Voice or the Royal We in public?
A few guards followed Celestia and blocked a certain door. The leader stepped forward. "Halt, Daybreaker! Do not endanger the princess!"
"It is us, Princess Celestia of the sun. Hath thou not known? We shall reverse the crimes we hath committed. Our little sister hath forgiven us," Celestia said.
The leader tilted his head. "We? Who's we? There is only one you. The princess doesn't have a sister. Leave the castle at once, Daybreaker, or you'll be arrested."
Celestia figured the Royal Canterlot Voice would provoke the guards. She tried to keep her voice soft, but the pitch in her voice wavered with each word. "What dost thou know? As in the stories of old, Luna is our sister. We understand if thou dost not want to forgive us."
Luna approached the guards. "She's not evil. And excuse her speech. It's called the Royal We, a figure of speech I no longer use."
One by one, the guards left. Celestia followed Luna to a dining room. Breakfast had already been prepared by the servants. She assumed that the ponies would stop giving her odd looks by now, but the servants seemed apprehensive. She remembered feeling nervous the night before her coronation. Now the same feeling had returned. However, she was still relieved to be back. The banishment had caused her to feel lonely. How long would it be before anypony forgot about Daybreaker?
Luna maintained eye contact as she spoke. "You seem a little troubled. There wasn't time for me to enter your dream last night, as countless ponies had nightmares. Most of the dreams are focused on... I'm not sure if you want to hear this. I know you felt terrible about being Daybreaker, but I've forgiven you and so will the rest of Equestria."
"I bet their dreams are about eternal heat. I've hurt them for life," Celestia murmured. "It's the reason why that stallion didn't accept my apology."
"Forgiving others is one thing, but forgiving oneself was another story. Everypony has made mistakes that they regret. The only way your heart can move on if you stop dwelling on what had happened."
Celestia responded with a small sigh. She couldn't deny that her sister had gained wisdom over the centuries. Maybe it was because Luna had seen a lot in such a long lifetime. Ponies assumed they were immortal, but alicorns aged much slower than the average pony. She had a lot of questions to ask about this current time period.
Celestia finally spoke. "How did those six ponies know about the Elements of Harmony? What happened while I wasn't here?"
Luna inclined her head. "Well, if I recounted every single event in Sunset Shimmer's life, you would fall asleep while listening. So I'll highlight the most important things first. At a young age, she wanted to learn magic. Her first friend, Twilight Sparkle, rebelled against me and entered another universe."
Celestia gasped. "Another universe? Did she ever return?"
"Sadly, no. I mentored Sunset ever since I took her under my wing. The reason I took her in is that she has potential. Before she became my student, I adopted an orphan named Cadence. She's kind to everypony she meets. You may see her if she visits."
"You adopted a pony? Was Cadence in an orphanage?"
"She wasn't in an orphanage. She was lost when somepony found her. A spell had teleported her to Canterlot, where she met me."
Celestia nodded. She had indeed missed a lot that happened in Equestria. There might be some interesting stories to listen to. A scroll appeared in front of Luna. She walked around the table to Luna's seat and peered closer. Instead of seeing the words, she saw an image. It wasn't like a painting. In the image, Sunset was surrounded by the five mares. Sitting by the unicorn's side was a small dragon.
"It looks realistic. Who made this painting?" Celestia asked.
"It's called a picture. It can also be called a photograph."
"Photograph?" Celestia sensed that she was way behind the times. She had a lot to learn about this strange era. She felt out of place. As much as she wanted to explore Equestria, there was a possibility that somepony could remind her of her crimes she committed as Daybreaker. Nevertheless, she could try to catch up on the times. She returned to her seat and finished her breakfast.
Celestia walked toward the door. "I may oversee the day court. I haven't forgotten how to deal with politics and snobby nobles." The last two words made her crack a smile. "I won't forget the time you imitated a noble. I chuckled for hours."
Luna smiled. "To be fair, some nobles only care about themselves."
"True. Aren't you supposed to be in bed soon?"
"I'll be fine. Even a nocturnal pony can get used to changes in schedule." Luna paused when another scroll materialized. "From now on, Sunset will learn friendship lessons. I'll share one with you if I truly like a certain letter."
Celestia nodded. "Sounds like a wonderful idea. I want to learn more about Sunset and her friends." She left the dining room and strolled through the hallways. She knew where the throne room was located, but she wanted to calm her subtle anxiety before overseeing the day court. She was still a young pony at heart, which didn't help with her feelings.
But, perhaps she could move on from her past with the help of her sister...
Author's Note
I hope you enjoyed the story. The next one will have episodes based on the canon show's, but it won't be a copy-paste one. It'll be unique.
Daybreaker's Fiery Vengeance
Sunset finally reached the Golden Oaks Library. The whole time she was outside, she panted. The extreme heat could've made anypony thirsty. But this heat wave was unusual. It was as if the sun itself released Daybreaker from prison. Speaking of Daybreaker, she read the book one more time. Since this was the longest day of the year, it was time for Daybreaker to escape. And it wasn't a good thing. Had something happened to Luna? She couldn't consider the possibility. Luna seemed able to put up a fight. Daybreaker might return to the sun, right?
Sunset closed the book. A group of familiar faces jumped from behind the couch. Pinkie approached her. She didn't want to deal with a party right now. There were more important things to do! "Have you noticed, Pinkie? The sun won't move-"
"It's the longest day of the year! Duh!" Pinkie interrupted as she smiled. "I know you're busy and all, but sometimes you need a break."
"I don't need a break! I need to defend Equestria!"
"Did I throw the party at a wrong time? I'll cancel it."
Sunset sighed. "It wasn't that I don't appreciate the gesture, but you don't need to overdo this each time you want to make new friends."
Pinkie giggled. "You're silly. That's what friends are for! They surprise each other because it's boring to be serious all the time."
"I didn't ask for a surprise party. I expect all of you to leave. There are more important things for me to do-"
"There's nothing wrong with having a friend. I've been friends with everypony in Ponyville ever since I started working at Sugarcube Corner."
Sunset pretended to be unaware of Pinkie's presence. The music started playing as she walked upstairs. Just as her mentor said, the new room was fashioned for her. Her blanket was orange, one of her favorite colors. There were pink clouds on the edges of the blanket. It reminded her of the sunset. She locked the door. How did Luna deal with the annual Gala back in Canterlot anyways? Luna did greet the guests in the throne room whenever the Gala started.
Sunset wasn't too social. If she had to greet ponies and deal with parties, she wouldn't enjoy life in Ponyville. Also, the citizens were too cheerful and friendly for her liking. Luna was more honest than many of them. Somepony banged on the door, which interrupted her train of thought.
"Don't you want to see Luna lower the sun tonight? She'll make the moon rise. Can you come with us?" Pinkie asked on the other side of the door.
"Of course. I'll be out in a minute," Sunset said as she pushed the door open.
"It'll be fun to watch."
Sunset followed Pinkie and the four other mares outside. If you say so, she thought. Were those five the ones Luna wanted her to befriend? How had Luna known? Was it because her mentor was the guardian of dreams? Such a possibility made sense. For real, nopony could lie to the princess and expect to keep the truth a secret for long. She fanned herself. Sweat formed on her forehead. Could this day get any worse? Somepony could get a heatstroke. Such a condition could cause the plants to wither and the wooded areas to burn.
Pretty soon, everypony would be forced underground to avoid the fatal heat. Wouldn't this anger Daybreaker as a result? Sunset shuddered despite the temperature. The way her friends complained about the heat took the words out of her mouth. As usual, Rarity was the most dramatic of the five.
"I could die in this dreadful weather," Rarity said. "My hair won't tolerate the heat wave. And my eyeliner will run."
Applejack wiped the sweat from her forehead. "I don't want the crops to die. If they die, how will the ponies get their food?"
Rainbow Dash seemed grumpy. "If this keeps up, I'll summon a cooling rainstorm. This has got to be the worst day of the year."
"We still have nighttime to cool us off," Fluttershy said. "Else, the poor animals will suffer. They need water."
"I'm gonna turn into a pink puddle," Pinkie said. "This isn't good. Is the sun being defiant?"
Sunset turned her gaze to the sky. "It appears so. I think this means-"
The five mares gave Sunset strange looks. Rarity was the first to speak. "I don't think Luna will forget to lower the sun. Some fiery mare cannot touch Equestria. She's strong enough to protect us from such a horrible threat," she said.
"Daybreaker escaped the banishment," Sunset said.
Pinkie gave Sunset a quizzical look. "Daybreaker?"
"Yes. I'm not lying, nor am I joking."
Applejack seemed skeptical. "But it was an old mares' tale."
Sunset shrugged, then led the five mares down the street. "Let's find the stage. Maybe we'll figure it out over there." She trotted toward the stage. It was strange that the sun didn't move another inch. She was sure Daybreaker had something to do with this.
The crowd assembled. Confused murmurs rippled through the air. Sunset braced herself for the worst. One by one, the ponies hurried toward the nearby shades. Others entered nearby buildings to cool off. Where was Luna? And would Daybreaker appear? Before she began to investigate, a fiery mare landed onto the stage. The ponies gawked at the intimidating alicorn. A few guards flew toward Daybreaker, only to be pushed back by the wicked alicorn's magic.
Sunset's jaw dropped open. "What have you done to Princess Luna?"
Daybreaker chuckled. "Let's say that I made a few adjustments to the throne that's supposed to be mine. I have not seen you in a thousand years. I believe you haven't forgotten me. Behold this, the glory of the eternal sun."
Rainbow Dash rushed forward. "Did you usurp our princess? You won't get away with this."
"Oh, I already have. Your poor little princess is suffering in prison."
Pinkie Pie's eyes widened. "So, what's your name? Evil Fire? Sunburn? Oh, oh, wait! What about Red Fury?"
Daybreaker sneered. "That's not my name, you hyperactive commoner."
Sunset stared at Daybreaker for a long minute. The mare's fiery mane reminded her of wildfires. She wouldn't allow this tyrant to rule Equestria. And she couldn't let Daybreaker get away with eternal daylight. "I know who you are. The Mare of Flames as seen in a storybook."
Daybreaker whirled around and inched closer. She unfurled her wings to their full size. "Let me guess. They now view me as a storybook villain. Has my little sister ever told you my name? It doesn't start with a C. It starts with the next letter."
"You're Daybreaker."
Daybreaker flashed a sadistic grin as she scrutinized the crowd. Her stride exuded arrogance. She snickered. Her voice was filled with malice. "Correct. At least somepony knows my name. It will be the last sunrise, mares and gentlecolts. My light keeps everypony safe and warm. It brings life, yet you loathe my reign. You won't see your dear Princess Luna's gloomy and scary night ever again. She lost. The day is victorious, and it shall last... forever!" The flames whirled around her. Anything in the vicinity caught on fire. When the flames died down, she disappeared.
The crowd dwindled. The most frightened ponies ran back and forth, while the others tried to extinguish the flames. Their effort didn't make the flames leave. Sunset had never been so horrified in her life. She knew the prophecy would come true. Where were the Elements of Harmony? Where had Luna hidden them?
Sunset took out her book and pored over the pages for clues. "Elements... Elements..." She whispered to herself.
Rainbow Dash flew ahead of the group. "Come on, girls. Let's save the princess and defeat Daybreaker once and for all."
Sunset summoned her magic and yanked Rainbow's tail. "Don't go by yourself. There's safety in numbers. Daybreaker is a dangerous mare, and she can easily bring down one pony."
Rainbow crossed her forelegs and pouted. "Whatever. The princess needs us!"
Sunset ignored Rainbow's words and led the group toward the Everfree Forest. Flames roared around them. The acrid smoke blurred her vision. This was Daybreaker's doing. If they couldn't find the Elements, and if they were scorched to ashes, Equestria would become a vast desert with no life. Fluttershy stood outside the forest, cowering. Why was the pegasus so frightened?
"Fluttershy, we'll protect you. Come with us," Rainbow assured Fluttershy. The yellow pegasus remained terrified. "We got no time for this!"
"There's fires everywhere," Fluttershy murmured.
"It doesn't matter. Daybreaker wants to destroy Equestria. If she doesn't lose, we're all toast."
Sunset had to agree. A circle of flames surrounded the group, which made Fluttershy scream like a little filly. Cruel laughter echoed throughout the sky. As the thick smoke blotted out the sun, a hot breeze shoved the ashes toward Ponyville. It was a horrifying sight.
Rarity placed her hoof onto her head. "Oh, no. What do we do? Dangerous adventures aren't my cup of tea. I'd rather be designing the trendiest fashions. Not this!" She pointed to the sky.
"Rarity, this isn't the time to be distressed," Sunset said as her horn glowed. She teleported her friends out of the circle. She joined them on the trail. It seemed too easy. What if Daybreaker lured them into an inescapable trap? Fire pillars emerged from the ground. Fluttershy screamed for the second time. Rarity seemed apprehensive.
Pinkie Pie approached the fire pillars. "Why fear this? Let's laugh our fear away. We're not afraid of a mere flame!" She began laughing.
Sunset tilted her head. The other mares joined in. Soon enough, she herself chuckled. The flame pillars disappeared. "Alright, let's go on. We can't make light of a dire situation. Especially not when we have to defeat Daybreaker. Evil alicorns use their power for destructive purposes."
Rainbow nodded. "Obviously. Look at Daybreaker's nefarious crimes. She should be punished for this."
Applejack paced forward. "Hurry, before the crops die. Rainbow is right."
Pinkie's fit of laughter ceased. "If the crops die, how can I make the best desserts in Ponyville?"
Daybreaker watched the six ponies from the balcony of the crumbling castle. They couldn't win. She scowled. A plan came to her mind. She conjured her fiery magic and set the entrance ablaze. She could trick them into finding the Elements in the dungeon. After all, this castle was filled with an abundance of traps. That would work, she thought. A familiar voice whispered to her ear, but nopony was around. She knew the voice belonged to Celestia, but she couldn't care less. No need to release her.
Daybreaker cackled. Nopony could defeat her. Not even the six cowardly ponies. Not even the bothersome moon princess. Nopony would see the nighttime ever again. It was obvious the crowd in Ponyville feared her presence. It felt good. If they hadn't feared her, then they would rebel as the six ponies did. She had to rid herself of the rebels.
"Those renegades won't get what they want," Daybreaker whispered. "I'll be furious if more ponies become defiant."
Celestia's subtle voice murmured. "Let me go. I don't want to kill my own sister. You've possessed me long enough."
"Never. We're one and the same. And the benefit of the transformation? You're more beautiful than any other mare."
"You have an ugly heart."
Daybreaker snorted as she walked to the abandoned throne room. It was where the fight against her so-called sister began - and where it should have ended if not for the banishment. She summoned more fire pillars to light up the dreary place. Although it wasn't as cheery as Luna's castle, she could stay here a little longer. Then, if the six ponies arrived, she would steal the Elements and return to Canterlot Castle. It would give them a wild goose chase. She cackled at the idea.
A manticore emerged from the bushes, crying out in pain as his mane caught on fire. He roared when he noticed the group. Fluttershy didn't seem bothered, even though the fire had scared her to death. Sunset placed a cooling spell on the manticore's mane. The creature was still unsure of the group's presence.
Fluttershy hugged the manticore. "It's okay. You're still alive."
The flames grew more vicious each minute. Sunset formed a protective barrier around the group. They followed the trail, which seemed to go on forever. The ashes wouldn't vanish. Daybreaker had obviously refused to give up. Leaves on each tree crumbled into ashes. The burning forest resembled a scene from apocalyptic literature. As the heat wave intensified, they spied a bridge.
Sunset stepped onto the bridge, careful not to fall off. The five mares accompanied her, which made the bridge creak. A fiery figure approached. She recognized it as Daybreaker. Before she uttered a word, both ends of the bridge caught on fire. She backed away, not noticing that she faced the wrong way. Her back hooves slipped off the bridge. Her heart hammered against her ribs. She couldn't give Daybreaker the satisfaction of intimidating her.
Applejack grabbed Sunset's hooves. "Trust me. Just let go."
"Why should I? I don't want to die. If we fail, Equestria is doomed!" Sunset replied.
The fires approached them. Sunset braced herself for the worst and let go. She shut her eyes and clenched her jaw. Strange enough, she didn't feel herself falling. Had she died? She forced her eyes open. Rainbow Dash held her hooves and carried her to safety. Then, the blue pegasus helped Fluttershy carry others to the opposite side of the bridge.
The bridge turned to ashes. Sunset gazed at the imposing ruins. Daybreaker landed in front of the group. "Lower the sun or we'll banish you," she said.
Daybreaker shook her head. "Why should I? The night is gloomy! So are the ruins. Try finding me in Canterlot Castle after you discover the Elements. Those are inside this castle. The battle won't be easy for you."
Rainbow Dash approached Daybreaker. "We ain't afraid of you, fire demon!"
"Quite the daring one, huh? Bring it on. But you'll lose, since you don't have the kind of magic to stop me."
Sunset pacified Rainbow Dash before the pegasus could start a fight. "Don't rush headfirst into battle. We need the Elements."
Daybreaker flashed a sadistic grin. "You fools will never stop me. Before I leave, I'll watch you search for the Elements."
Sunset smirked. "You realize you're asking to be defeated. My friends and I will find the Elements in no time."
"You may be wrong."
Sunset and the group trotted into the castle. Fire pillars lit up the ruins as she scrutinized the place for the Elements. They found themselves in a hallway. If she had spoken to Luna about Daybreaker before this, she would know where the legendary artifacts are. She spied a pedestal with six inscriptions. However, the Elements weren't here.
A creaking noise drew Sunset's attention to the left. A trapdoor had opened under Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie. She rushed to rescue them, only to fall with them. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash attempted to pull them back to the first floor, but the trapdoor closed just in time. The trapdoor opened again, revealing Daybreaker's face.
"The Elements aren't here," Daybreaker said. "You're so naive!" She shut the trapdoor.
Sunset began to lose hope. She couldn't fail this assignment. And now Daybreaker had gotten away with eternal daylight. She covered her face with her hooves. How dare Daybreaker ruin everything for Equestria? How dare Daybreaker trick them?
Rainbow Dash sighed. "So much for trying to stop Daybreaker. We're done."
Sunset's horn glowed. Her magic lit up the small room. Was there a way to escape? She checked each stone. Most of them didn't budge. She frowned. "I never meant to lead you into this. I'm sure Princess Luna is disappointed in me. I've tried everything. What else do we do?"
The five mares listened. Fluttershy stepped forward and placed a hoof on Sunset's back. "This isn't your fault."
Rainbow Dash nodded. "We're trying to stop Daybreaker. We won't let her win."
Now it was Applejack's turn to speak. "Don't let Daybreaker's words discourage you."
Pinkie stepped forward. "Do you remember when we laughed at the fire pillars? Nothing will bring us down."
Rarity maintained eye contact. "They have a point. Princess Luna wouldn't want us to lose heart."
Sunset smiled as she glanced at her friends. "Thanks for your words. I need to hear them." A noise drew their attention.
Spike pointed toward one of the walls. "I found a hidden door!"
Sunset and the others followed Spike into a narrow hallway. A newfound courage replaced the doubts in her heart. They had to retrieve the Elements in time. The fate of Equestria rested on their hooves...
