Author's Note

I have struggled to write the entirety of the Daybreaker Report, as well as my other two stories for months now. However, thanks once again to Timeless Lord Slayer, I am once again able to get something pushed out.

I will be alternating These reports with normal chapters for the next few chapters. Please, keep an eye out.

Daybreaker Report - 1

Compiler’s note: This report is a compilation of interviews, events, and personal accounts of the last years of Celestia leading up to what is called “The Daybreaker Incident.” These will be documented in sections, to prevent the entirety from being destroyed.

• Dusty Tome, Former Royal Archivist and Compiler.

Celestia had just introduced The Dawn Guard today. An elite force completely dedicated to Celestia alone, who carried enchanted arms and armaments to take care of any military situation? To some, proper protectors in the event the Elements could not act fast enough. But to many of us in the guard? It’s.. concerning.

Why is she introducing this now? Especially after her last argument with Lady Sparkle? It feels odd. I’m pretty sure most of the guards can tell that Lady Sparkle isn’t interested in the Solar princess in that manner, but... It still feels strange.

I overheard the first of the conflicts between Lady Sparkle and Celestia 2 years ago, having been guarding the door at that time. Lady Sparkle apparently refused princesshood, choosing to stay with her friends. It was touching to hear, but Celestia had a way to be displeased without it being known.

Celestia had become colder with each argument. Twilight grew more distant. It’s rough to listen to, especially when both were so close only a few short years ago.

[These first two sections were found wedged between two lockers, singed at the edges, in the old barracks. Melted metal encased the two scraps, requiring roughly 2 hours of careful separation and an additional hour of slow reversal magic.]

“Comet Jester, can I ask you a few things?” an innocent question honestly, but coming from Lady Sparkle, it concerns me.

“Yes, Lady Sparkle?” We kept our voices low as to not interrupt the court held by Princess Luna today.

“You can call me Twilight, Comet, you’ve watched over me with Celestia for over ten years. You’re one of my friends too.”

“Very well, Twilight. What can I do for you?”

“Celestia.. Is she alright? She hasn’t responded to me for almost two weeks, and I’m not sure how to approach her anymore.”

I raised a brow at this, looking over at her. “Seems a bit unusual, but has something happened recently between you and Luna?”

“Luna and I, ..uhm..” The purple student turned bright red.

I smiled knowingly, resting a hoof on her shoulder. “I understand, I’m a father of two mares myself.”

Princess Luna and Twilight were dating, and that was wondrous news.

Considering the downward spiral Celestia had been in, I should have been more wary. Celestia was falling into the very darkness that Luna once held. Nothing could be done though.

[Found amongst collapsed bookshelves, between the pages of a soot covered “Courtly Etiquette.” Last paragraph was hastily added later with scribbling penmanship. Found intact.]

Empress Cadence has been seemingly murdered. Celestia has become a cold, calculating ruler finally. She does her daily duties, and keeps that eternal mask of motherly affection. However, the Dawn Guard now has begun to replace the guards, who have been faithfully guarding the castle through the years, and I have been an unwilling accomplice.

The creature we captured is fully intelligent, but unaware of what happened around or to it. I’m assuming it’s a she from it’s feminine voice, but she seems genuinely horrified from the crime scene was found in. It breaks my heart, but I have to keep my stoic facade today.

If either of my daughters were like this… Is she telling us the truth..?

Celestia’s not been eating much lately, considering her mourning with Shining Armor has been lingering for the last month or two. Between the muttering, incantations, and crying, I would be given orders to relay to Captain Ligios, who would then disperse them amongst the Dawn Guard.

The first I peeked at filled me with dread. ‘Capture the filly Cozy Glow, on September 15th, Year 1006. She should be surrounded by brainwashed individuals. In--” I couldn’t read further on that set of orders, as one of the Dawn Guard approached me for the scroll.

Others I read over the last few months included: Inform Skitherix to propose an attack on Ponyville to Chrysalis, Prevent funding and building permits for Twilight’s Friendship Academy, Plant the Old Pillar Artifacts, Send inflammatory letters and false attacks on the Storm-Laden Kingdom, and finally ‘Tell Discord to engage Operation: Imposter’.

Today I approach Celestia. I need to know what’s going on.
[These two were found hidden in a lockbox, behind a false brick in the Servant’s quarter, alongside a locket with a picture of an elder mare and two fillies.]

I regret my decisions.

Celestia has lost her damn mind. She has been using the power to scry the future to manipulate the people… and especially Twilight. Anything to drive Twilight to ascend, so she won’t be alone with just her sister for eternity. Shining Armor has been possessed by the Nightmare. Through Shining Armor, Celestia is being corrupted, and I watched it first hoof.

The Dawn Guard need to know.

This journal will be broken down into multiple pieces, to protect it’s sanctity from Celestia. She’s been working to censure as much as she can from all of us. The Dawn Guard are following me. Please, remember this old pony as a defender of the populace. - Comet Jester

[Found in Comet Jester’s saddle bags in the original journal, alongside waterskins, canned goods, and camping supplies. Most were burned and melted together, requiring a weeks worth of careful extraction and piecing together to acquire correct sequencing.]

When these scattered journal fragments were compared to other documents about Celestia at the time, her spiral into darkness was slow but irreversible. Theoretically, one could say it was due to Twilight’s choices, but free will should not be snuffed for the sake of one Pony, even if it was one as powerful and well beloved as the Solar Princess.

However, Most seem to point to the death of Cadenza Mi Amore as the true culprit, finally breaking her due to a lack of ability to protect and keep close the ones she loved. Perhaps due to a combination of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Paranoia drove her to this brink, no doubt without the presence of the Nightmare.

Captain Ligios is mentioned in these documents, and we asked him for a short interview.

Interviewer: Shadow Seeker, Compiler adept in the Royal Archive - Interviewee: Captain Ligios, formerly of the Dawn Guard, now full time commander of Tartarus.

SS: Thank you for coming today, Captain.

CL: You’re welcome. How can I be of service?

SS: We recently discovered some documentation regarding the lead up to Daybreaker’s rise to power, in a personal account.

CL: I see. Elaborate for me, if you will.

SS: Did you ever know a Comet Jester?

CL: I did. He was my mentor, and a sort of father figure to me at one point.
SS: So you two were quite personal with each other one could say?

CL: Yes.

SS: Then, might I inquire as to what the Dawn Guard was doing at that time? His personal journal clearly states you and the Dawn Guard were actively supporting Celestia at the time, and assisting her in inciting what could be regarded as treason against the populace.

CL: I see. Well, before I continue, you do realize discussions of this nature need authorization from one of the two Princesses?

[SS presents the letter of authorization, getting an affirmative nod from CL after a few moments of reading.]

CL: Very well. Yes, I was actively ordering our spies in foriegn nations to actively incite war with Equestria, or at least, attacks. Many of the orders seemed nonsensical at first, but it did result in reforged peace treaties that actively benefitted Equestria, or the downfall of escaped villains.
SS: No doubt, there was good that came from your actions, Captain. But what of Comet Jester? We found these documents burned. With some help from Starlight Glimmer and Star Swirl, we were able to reverse the burning to read these fragments he had hidden around the castle.

CL: [sighs] In the last week of his life, he tried raising the alarm about what was happening, in hopes to resolve what he could. He told myself and Princess Luna alone about what was happening, but it was unfortunately too late. When Daybreaker finally revealed herself, alongside Blackguard, He took the first hit meant for Twilight, and was instantly incinerated.

SS: And of the creature he mentioned?

CL: I escorted it originally to Tartarus and was established as the Commander upon completion. I was informed of most events after the fact.

SS: So have you been back to the castle since?

CL: Since before this interview? No. Anything else?

SS: Not right this instant. Thank you for your time, Captain.

CL: Good Day.

Since this interview, Captain Ligios has refused further questioning. Further attempts to investigate his past in the Dawn Guard have been met with opposition.