Prologue: Questionable Summons
Her stomach lurches with nausea as her face grimaces in pain at a sudden feeling of density surrounding the culmination of her being; she feels stiff and unresponsive in her environment.
As her vision wavers, it causes her to instinctively look up to try to clear more of the searing pain in her eyes. But her focus suddenly falters at the sight of a tall, blurry structure wrapped in warm hues.
She inches forward, desperately trying to see a more precise image that her mind could process. However, the architect's overall shape is too complex for her watery eyes.
Making an attempt to allow the stinging tears to fall, she lowers her head, only to stutter in complete surprise when her eyes catch something else right before her.
Her mind couldn't grasp the shape of what was in front of her. She blinks a few more times in fear, desperate to see more than the mesh of warm colors.
As her eyes adjust, she realizes that the inanimate structure before her is actually a living being.
It takes a moment for her mind to process what she sees, but when it does, she is filled with a mix of dread and fascination at the sight of the creature, the alicorn, standing before her.
The vibrant colors of the alicorn assault her eyes. Still, she grits her teeth, determined to endure as she takes in the flickering flames behind the pony.
Strangely enough, the alicorn wore more armor than its familiar cartoon counterpart. Its orange, zigzagging plating covered more of its white fur, only exposing part of her face and wings.
However, there was no mistaking that creature for another alicorn; the fire behind its head left too much of an impression.
That was Daybreaker, an evil counterpart to Celestia, notoriously known to be in Starlight Glimmer's dream.
Her mind was grasping for answers.
Was she in a dream then? But her mind felt far too conscious for that to be the case. And just moments ago, she was at a gas station filling her tank.
She gulped in fear as she concluded that this had to be authentic. She told herself to keep her limbs locked, afraid the pony would jump on her if she moved any more than she already had.
The oppressive silence was finally broken by the alicorn's gaze, now a searing glare. Her voice, a low rumble of disappointment, remarked, "This is not what I was anticipating." The flames behind the armor piece flare up momentarily.
And the woman silently expressed relief that there wasn't a language barrier. Dealing with an alicorn was already challenging enough; she didn't need communication issues on top of it.
The alicorn stood in place, unwavering, as its eyes locked onto the human with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine.
The woman's survival instincts were screaming that she would become an extra-crispy meat stick if she didn't appease the mare in some capacity.
She addresses the alicorn as "Your Majesty" and mentally prays it's not 'holiness' or 'goddess' that should be said here. "What can I do for you?" She shudders, feeling an unnatural heat surrounding her, a complete contrast with the cooler winter air she was used to feeling.
"You have been summoned here, human, to suit the needs of my empire," Daybreaker spoke. Her tone seemed more neutral than anything else, but her voice carried the expectation of power. Were her eyes gleaming with interest? Or were they filled with murderous intent? "An endless possibility was brought forth to you if you so desire."
"Oh?" After hearing those words, she couldn't help but speak up in surprise. That was a loaded statement if she ever heard one, and it sounded far too much like a car commercial.
Why did this almighty alicorn need her at all? She was a college graduate, not a politician or a soldier. "What do you mean, Your Majesty?"
The alicorn unfurls her wings in response, and the woman spots another discrepancy compared to the cartoon: Chunks of feather-shaped armor between her feathers.
Seeing that change causes the human to quickly mull its purpose, but otherwise, the alicorn's intricate armor pattern gleams with a multitude of warm colors, reflecting off her fiery mane.
The sight is beautiful, a painting brought to life, but it would be nice if she didn't feel threatened by the dominating display.
"I am Empress Daybreaker, ruler of the Solar Empire," she continues, quickly removing introductions and the human grimaces in response as the alicorn unknowingly confirmed her suspicions.
Daybreaker lowers her voice as she tucks her wings back in. "There is much to discuss before I can properly answer you," she pauses, allowing her words to sink in. "Instead, let us focus on getting you settled."
The offer was surprisingly reasonable and logical, but as rude as it was, she didn't want to leave the topic of conversation alone.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Empress Daybreaker, but I must ask again," she spoke firmly, pushing forward despite her nervousness and desire to retreat to safety. "What exactly do you expect me to do?"
The mare's calmness in the face of the harsh question was unsettling. Her intense gaze remained unwavering as she posed her own question, her voice steady. "What do you expect to carry in my name?"
Astonished, the woman can only be surprised at the gal of the Empress. This was a test from the mare; she had to tread lightly.
However, given her current situation, she couldn't make any promises. But one thing was sure: lying wouldn't do any good here—no sane human could stand their ground in this situation.
She knew it wouldn't end well if she pushed the alicorn further. So, she settles with respecting Daybreaker's boundaries, for now at least.
She ran her hand over her hair, her movement jittery despite her attempts to calm herself.
It was always hard to admit to being naive about a situation. Her voice wavers with uncertainty as she answers the powerful being before her. "I don't know. I don't have enough information to make an informed judgment," she said, tilting her head away in shame before looking back at the alicorn.
"Then it appears you have no choice for the time being." Daybreaker continues, seemingly aloof to how final her words sound against the human.
The mare slowly trots closer; an uncomfortable heat follows as Daybreaker lowers the volume of her voice, but her ambitious tone lingers as she looks down at her summoned one. "It will require some time for me to send you back, and in the meantime, I will allow you to stay within my castle walls as a temporary guest."
The Empress finally reaches the human, a mere breath away, as she lowers her head to meet the human's level.
The rising temperature reaches unbearable levels as she meets the eyes of the alicorn. The mare's voice hisses lowly. "We will meet periodically. And I expect you to follow my every order. Do not do anything foolish in the meantime." Daybreaker's frown finally breaks as it's replaced with a gleeful grin. "Then we shall see what you can offer to me."
Gritting her teeth at the threat, the human nods silently, and Daybreaker backs away. The alicorn's expression returns to its glaring, judgmental gaze.
"Follow me." Daybreaker commands, finally taking her eyes off the human. Her movement is swift as she turns around, the sound of flames flickering due to the chance of direction, and unfortunately, the heat follows. The woman naturally backs away enough to stop herself from catching on fire.
In response to an overly dramatic mare, the shaky human mentally hurls every curse word at the evil Empress. And she almost verbalizes it but holds back her temper in favor of survival.
'No choice but to move on, huh?' She thought bitterly as she slowly lifted her body to follow the Empress, almost tripping over herself when she noticed the vast difference in height between herself and the mare.
Daybreaker had to be at least eight feet tall, not even counting her horn.
Meanwhile, she was just below five feet tall, and it was easy to see that she was a dwarf by comparison; 'Never mind magic. The alicorn can hit me physically, and I'll fold like a napkin.' She realizes in horror.
Adding to her fears, she thinks in solemn acceptance. 'I do not want to know what earth pony magic feels like. Probably feels like getting hit by a train.'
Gathering what strength she had left, she stumbled toward the alicorn. Her footsteps were obnoxiously loud against the concrete.
In comparison, the Empress trotted with grace and without producing a single sound. In utter astonishment, she slowed down and focused on the mare's movement.
Sure enough, every hoof step the Empress took lacked any sort of sound, and the human gave the most straightforward answer to ease her questioning mind. 'Magic.' She mouthed silently, keeping her eyes on the Empress. 'She has fire for hair. Stop thinking that any of this is going to make sense anytime soon. You don't even know why you're here.'
A strange feeling of being watched overtakes her; she gets goosebumps and tenses her muscles.
She spins a complete one-eighty, ready to jump at a moment's notice, only to flinch in pain as the sun momentarily takes her focus and burns her sensitive eyes. With that quick, painful glance, she notices that the glowing orb of death is twice the size of what she was used to.
Forcing her blurry eyes back to the circular balcony where she had been summoned from her world, she looked past it to see the mountainous wilderness, trying to find the cause of her flight response. But nothing seemed out of place, and it was incredibly unsettling. Instead, her focus was slowly drawn back to the orb of eye destruction.
The sun was greeting her, and she absolutely hated it. After confirming that the sun was closer, she turned around and let her eyes rest. She couldn't answer why she wasn't burned to a crisp by the sun, so she thanked magic for bypassing physics and moved on.
But the feeling of being watched doesn't fade, and she decides that as much as she hates the Empress, the woman knows the alicorn will keep her alive for now. She catches up with the mare again, trying to be more subtle, and successfully gets closer without notice.
Strangely, the feeling finally disappears, but her body remains tense. 'What the hell was that?' She shudders, knowing that nothing she can conjure up in her mind would fully explain that intense feeling. She reluctantly decides to wait and see if something like that will happen again. Hopefully, the answer will reveal itself in time.
Up ahead and past Daybreaker, the nervous lady finally noticed precisely where the mare was taking her. She raises her head again to finally get a better look at the looming- yep, that was definitely a castle.
With her eyes finally back to normal, it was easy to see how it stood imposing and massive; the sheer size of the structure was indescribable.
However, the overall complexity or sheer character that a fantasy castle would usually hold was vacant here. Three pillars with a sharp orange roof were laid on the top, followed by a white constant that seemed to consume the castle pallet, besides a few notable doors with a red and orange tinge. Red flags were waving in the wind with the alicorn's cutie mark in the middle.
As big as it was, it lacked any decoration, which gave the women an uneasy feeling. It actually seems to match more to the real-life structures of a castle that was left in preservation, which raises some questions.
As she approaches the castle, her attention is drawn back to her level as she sees two white doors with flame patterns around the edges. Daybreaker's cutie mark is once again at the dead center.
The design is intricate, but what puzzles her is the absence of handles or any means to grip the doors. Could they be push-only doors? It seems unlikely because even push doors usually have some form of handle to indicate the direction of movement.
As the doors open, vanishing into the wall with a speed that rivals a speedster, her mind is thrown into a whirlwind of disbelief. Could this Equestria be more technologically advanced than its animated counterpart?
The possibility leaves her with a sense of uncertainty, her perception of this world shifting with each new revelation.
She steps into the castle as the automatic doors close behind her and takes a moment to survey the interior. However, the sight only deepens her confusion. The walls are surprisingly plain, devoid of the rich, intricate designs one would expect in a castle. It was just a vast, beige hallway.
She takes a moment to figure out why that would be the case and mentally asks herself, ‘Is the empire tight on funds? Or does the Empress not care for such things?’ She glances at the alicorn, seeing the shiny armor, and immediately discards the thought. ‘No. Gotta be some other reason I just don’t see yet.’ She decides to stay on guard and see where the Empress takes her. She’ll adjust accordingly.
They continue their silent walk, the long hallway stretching out before them. After a few more steps, two dark gray doors appear on her left. They’re a stark contrast to the empty hallway, and she can’t help but voice her surprise: “Why is there just one random room in this hallway?”
"It's a safety measure," Daybreaker replies and turns around, her movements sharp with serious intent. "Does the concept of technology elude you, human?" The mare raises her head at her own words, and the women shakes her head silently, trying to control her expression from utter surprise and confusion.
Daybreaker lowers her head back at the human's response. "Then are you aware of what this is?" A red flash of magic, the colors of deep crimson surrounding the Empress's horn, and an intensity of flare that caught the human off guard as an item popped into existence.
She stares at the new object before her and studies it, noting its circular shape and the bright sliver plating that shines against the Empress's magic. She shakes her head to answer the alicorn. She doesn't recognize that item at all.
Daybreaker, despite not having a single change of expression, seems unimpressed before she continues. "This will be your AI assistant. All questions regarding my empire can be found here."
"What?" The mention of AI surprises her, confirming her suspicion about Equestria's advanced technology. With a push of red magic, the disk floats toward her. The human opens her palms, and Daybreaker lets go of it before her magic touches the human. The women continued to ignore this rudeness in favor of being surprised by how light the disk feels. It looked like it should weigh at least ten pounds but felt as heavy as a cell phone. She moved it between her two hands to look at it from different angles and wondered how to turn it on.
"The device will not turn on when I am nearby. Otherwise, physical touch is the only way to activate it. Any other method, such as magic, voice, or other material, will be rejected for security reasons. This device will only exclusively respond to your touch." Daybreaker turns her head to the right, glancing at the doors before looking back at the human.
"And this is your temporary facility. Do not damage it. You will have to pay for it before you are allowed back to your home world." The human nods in understanding, not trusting her voice to carry through this interaction alive anymore.
However, Daybreaker seems to have had enough of the silence, and she orders, "I want verbal communication, human. This habit of nodding is disgraceful here and will serve no purpose."
Realizing the consequences of not complying with Daybreaker's demands, she felt fear wash over her.
She cleared her throat, trying to steady her voice, and responded, "I understand, Your Majesty." She bows, her heart pounding in her chest, as she avoids Daybreaker's threatening glare. She waits, her mind racing with thoughts of what could happen next, desperately hoping that this tense social interaction will soon end.
"Do you have any allergies?" Daybreaker asks suddenly, catching the woman off guard. When she finally understands the question, she replies with a hint of vulnerability, “I have a severe seafood allergy, and some strong smells make me sneezy, but that's about it."
Finally, her patience pays off, as Daybreaker seems to settle with unapologetic dismissal. "That will be all," Daybreaker says, leaving no room for argument. "You are dismissed."
And with her newfound freedom, the woman swiftly turns to her guest room, not even glancing at the Empress and stepping through. The doors behind her follow suit, and she knows she can finally breathe a sigh of relief, her tense muscles relaxing.
As she relaxes her stiff body, her eyes sweep across the room, only to be disappointed. A brown bedframe dominates the left side of the room, adorned with a red blanket and a few white pillows. Thick red curtains hang in the middle of the wall, and a side door, likely leading to the bathroom, completes the scene. But that was all that was notable.
The rest of the room was as plain as the hallway. “What is with these barren, empty rooms?” She can’t help but ask herself, her mind racing with more questions, and then she remembers the device that is still in her hand.
She brought it up to her face to see if there was an ‘on’ button and got blinded by a bright light instead.
She winced in pain and moved her head away, blinking as she saw a tiny hologram pony on top of the device. “Welcome human to the Solar Empire. I am your personalized AI assistant, here to help you adjust to this new galaxy and answer any questions. But I also have been informed that you are not a registered citizen of the empire at the moment, so there will be some questions I cannot answer directly.”
The AI pauses momentarily before the lady hears a ding on the device. “But you appear important as your location tells me you are in the Empress’s castle, even during sterilization. My apologies. I shall quickly get you up to speed for the empire.”
The AI continues, seemingly unaware of the human’s other mental questions. “Please be mindful that all technology is to be temporarily disabled under the presence of the Empress unless given a specific emergency or from the direct orders of her majesty.”
Nodding at the warning that she wouldn’t get an interrupting call to save her from the Empress anytime soon, she dives into what caught her attention. “Sterilization period?” she asks the AI directly. The hologram’s ears drop low at the question. “I have orders from the Empress that you must ask her directly about that topic.”
With a sigh of begrudging acceptance, she removes her shoes and socks, sits on the bed behind the pillows, and gets comfy.
She covers herself with the red blanket above her head and looks down at the AI she still holds. She decides she’ll go to basics. “Tell me a bit about the empire. How much land does it cover? And what of the population?” She decides to start with a wide open basic of questions, and hopefully, with the answers, she can lead with more detailed questions.
The AI, thankfully, finally gives her an answer. “The entirety of the empire holds thirteen planets and a hundred million creatures. Ponies are the dominant species estimated to comprise fifty-five percent of the population.”
A sputter comes out of her mouth at the fact that the Empress essentially owned several planets.
She wasn’t just in a small empire but a galactic empire of ponies and other magical creatures. That population size was nothing to scoff at. With her exposure to the media over the years, she couldn’t help but think of the worst-case scenarios. “I don’t suppose you could tell me how Empress Daybreaker got all those planets?”
In response, the hologram shook its head, and she put her hands to her face in frustration. “Alright then.” She decided to move on to other topics and raised her head back up to the AI. “What about the justice system? What is it like? How are crimes punished? Is there a jury?” Her voice quivered with intrigue as she listed her questions and waited for the AI to continue.
“A jury, while commonplace in previously known pony societies, has not existed within the empire since its foundation. Instead, a truth-teller is required.” The human blinks at the new information and waits for the AI to elaborate before she decides to cast her judgment.
“Lie detector spells and technology do exist within this known universe. But the system had no way of knowing if any of the ponies who cast the spell were lying or if there was a flaw in the technology provided. And so, a truth-teller position was born by Empress Daybreaker herself.” The AI raises its hoof poshly as it continues to rant.
“A truth-teller can always be able to tell any lie. But in return, any being holding that spell cannot tell lies themselves. This eliminates any chance of favoritism, discrepancy, or natural error. Empress Daybreaker is the only one who can cast a complex spell like this.”
The human nods as she makes a comparison in her head. ‘That’s like having a cheat code for all the answers in a video game. It’s a win-win for all parties who want to streamline the legal process and make it as smooth as possible. It would be idiotic to commit any kind of crime here.’
She looks away from the AI in completive reflection. ‘No wonder Empress Daybreaker seems so proud of her empire for the few minutes I’ve known her. And that’s just what I’m gauging from the judicial system. So far, she seems to have spent much time getting her empire to function properly. But is there a catch somewhere in the empire that I can’t see yet?’
Deciding to dig deeper, she asks, trying to straighten her posture from her slumped position. "Any other information to share about truth-tellers? What about the downsides or costs required to be a truth-teller?" She stretches her neck while listening to the AI. Its robotic voice is surprisingly soothing, allowing her to focus on the AI.
"The known downside of being a truth holder is that they lose their personalized magic and gain magic immunity to their environment cast by the complex spell of Empress Daybreaker. It is part of the process. This is so no truth holder can fall prey to manipulation spells or slowly try to remove the spell themselves if they held more devious purposes. And if they were to, they would be unable to hide it as it would spill from their mouths- a known part of the spell."
'Like an ultimatum,' she clarifies to herself. 'Great. Is my situation going to be applied the same way?' She wonders and realizes she may be making too much of a comparison.
But if there wasn't a way for truth-tellers to escape their situation, that would be the catch she was looking for. "Could a truth holder regain their magic again if they decide they no longer want the title?" She asks and holds her breath in anticipation.
"It has already been recorded twice, but this would require a lengthy explanation. Perhaps there are other topics you wish to discuss to better understand the Empire?" The AI suggested. And although she wanted to dig deeper, she had to admit that the AI had a good point.
A moment of thoughtful silence passes, and she finally picks a new topic. "How about this? Tell me how the hierarchy of power works here. Is there a Queen just below the Empress?"
The AI shakes its head in response before returning to its blank stare as it gives a more detailed reply. "There are no queen titles present in the Solar Empire. In a simplified version, the hierarchy goes from citizens to politicians, military, advisors, the Daylight Committee, princess/prince, and finally, the Empress. Every title has gone through its cycle of ponies, except for Empress Daybreaker herself and the title of princess/prince. That title has never been filled for as long as the Empire has existed."
Upon hearing the intriguing news, her curiosity piques. “Sounds like drama in royalty,” She muses, her head tilting with curiosity. “Why hasn’t the Empress found a princess or prince?”
The holographic pony looks with hesitation before divulging the news. “That is something that only the Empress knows for sure. The details are sparse. Anyone can apply for the position. There is no discrimination as to who can apply, just as long as they are registered citizens of the empire. But you only get one chance at it if you get a personal interview.”
As the explanation unfolds, a flicker of concern crosses the lady's face. “Then it’s more like a job offer?” she queries, her voice betraying a hint of unease.
The AI gives a light nod. “Yes. But the basic requirements for the position are never listed in any official documentation.”
“What?” she exclaims, her voice laced with disbelief. “So, you’re going in completely blind right before the interview?”
The AI nods, its smooth tail flickering behind them. "Correct. Nopony knows what Empress Daybreaker is looking for in a prince or princess- or whatever their duties might be. Ponies online have talked and speculated about their own personal experiences. If they fill out the form in a way that catches the Empress's attention, they will land a personal interview and meet the Empress. Each interview has similarities but also differences. The official online forms have a theme that the interviewed pony never knows if they have answered any of the questions to the satisfaction of the Empress."
The AI pauses before adding a comment."But considering the position has yet to be fulfilled. It is safe to assume that is not the case."
“Huh, so for the appliers, it’s like trying to win the lottery.” She casually comments. “I suppose you really need to be careful when choosing a second-in-command because it will reflect poorly on you if you choose someone who abuses their position.” She mutters before continuing. “But a hundred million ponies under her rule and not even a whisper of an heir?” She questions and thinks to herself in fear. ‘If she is that picky, then what the hell does she have planned for me?’
A ding brought the human out of her thoughts, and the AI raised its right hoof in ‘surprise’ before lowering it. The lady reminded herself that despite being AI, it does seem quite expressive. Was it part of her code to produce actions like that to appeal to a larger population?
The AI speaks again, her tone sounding more robotic than ever. “Empress Daybreaker is requesting your presence. It would be best not to delay. I will help with directions.”
Groaning at another socialization with the half-burning marshmallow, she mentally pauses and laughs at the insulting name she came up with on the spot. ‘I’m going to keep that.’ She chuckles and refocuses her mind back to the present.
Her limbs groan in protest as she pulls herself out of the wrapped blanket and rolls to the edge of the bed. She shifts her weight as her feet touch the carpeted ground, its cold temperature waking her up from her musings. She leans down to grab her socks and shoes and starts getting ready.
She already dreads the future of this verbal battle. The alicorn seems to have a habit of avoiding the real issue, and she absolutely despises it.
After correcting the back of the shoe from eating her heel, she left the room in a huff. With the sound of the automatic doors opening, she greets the corridors with the AI in toe.
The AI directs her to continue to the right, and she follows with begrudging acceptance.
So far, besides the whole summoning aspect, the emptiness of the castle brought the most concern. She found it strange that there were no staff present, but she had very little doubt that it had to do with the sterilization period-whatever that meant.
All she could gather was that it sounded like some kind of event, and she prayed that this meeting with the insufferable ruler would lead to some answers.
A few minutes pass before the hallway’s bland pallet finally breaks off. The lady looks ahead to an entirely new set of doors.
The archway nearly touches the ceiling, and its curved appeal reminds the women that it seems like a chapel door. It’s beautifully crafted, with its carving flame patterns on the edges and some red diamond-shaped gemstones evenly placed on each side of the arch.
Meanwhile, the center has Daybreaker’s cutie mark, surrounded by, once again, white. She rolls her eyes at the uncanny symbolism.
The AI stopped its directions and gave some advice with parting words. “Empress Daybreaker is just beyond here. The recommendation would be to act respectfully and respond quickly. Empress Daybreaker is known to be impatient regarding verbal communication.” The AI spoke, but it seemed unaware that it was rubbing salt into the wounds of her previous interactions with the half-burning marshmallow.
She stares at the AI in response, and it wisely continues. “May the day rise for you.” And with a blink, the AI hologram disappears.
The lady mentally notes that religious-sounding goodbye and puts away the AI device in her pant pocket.
She hesitantly stares at the chapel-like doors before finding her nerve and banging on the door with her right fist.
She cringed at the pain from hitting the door too hard, but the doors were incredibly studious, and it sounded like she barely even knocked.
But thankfully, it seems her knock was heard. The doors swung away from her briefly, revealing a large room. She recognizes the room as a dining room, and it's a fancy one at that.
The long table covered in a red cloth stretches out a far distance. But it lacks the features of any sort of tableware. Only the Empress is on the farthest chair, large and imposing as ever, even from a distance.
The chair behind her seems more like a throne than anything, though. The throne has a gold and orange sheen at the edges. Though maybe it was reflected off her armor. It was the first thing other than the alicorn herself to show off her rule.
Seeing the alicorn merely watching her, she silently enters the room. She picks the left side of the long table to walk past, and the pony on the end looks as impassive as ever. It's startling to be invited to a dinner by a powerful ruler, especially in a fantasy setting.
She felt out of place again, but if it meant free food, she didn't care, despite the company that followed.
As she approaches, she notices her plate of food, thankfully on the same side as her. The plate has some flame designs around the edges, but what she sees next in the center ultimately captures her attention.
It is fantastic to see a full plate containing a Caesar salad, some side carrots, and even some roast beef in the four slices of a sandwich. She had to stop herself from grabbing the plate.
She could barely control herself. Even if it were poisoned, at least she would die with the joy of her taste buds in pure bliss. "Did you make this, Empress?"
Daybreaker responds to the lady's question with a piercing stare and a frown. "I did." She admits, but her voice is filled with a hint of pride, and the human can't help but smile.
She can tell that the Empress enjoys cooking and will likely appreciate compliments. "It looks delicious, thank you." Her words are genuine, earning her another suspicious side-eye.
But the Empress doesn't press further. Instead, the tone of the conversation takes a sharp turn when Daybreaker shifts her focus from her meal. "The next step will be for you to undergo sterilization and vaccination against all diseases, pathogens, viruses, spores, and all known ailments my ponies have faced." She declares and takes a bite of her sandwich, her gaze fixed on the human, waiting for her reaction.
The air in the room suddenly feels heavy with unknown tension. The human's heart pounding in her chest as she tries to process the Empress's words.
Then she looks up from the food she was hungrily devouring a moment prior. A piece of lettuce hangs from her mouth.
Daybreaker clarifies after seeing the puzzled look on the human's face, even after she shoved that lettuce back into her mouth. The alicorn rolls her eyes at the display. "I cannot in good conscience send you back before then."
The alicorn watches as the human gives her a judging glance. In response, the Empress gives her a fierce gaze, daring the women to object to her plans. The woman sighed and decided she wanted to live for now, so she allowed all objections to die on the tip of her tongue.
Instead, she comments with an observation. "You... seem very passionate about this." Her body hunches against the chair as she allows her mind to run wild.
Medical procedures were rarely something to look forward to; there were always risks. But sadly, it seemed she had no choice. And she couldn't stop her emotions from flickering with resentment. Hopefully, she would live long enough to see Daybreaker understand that it was a mistake to bring her here.
The mare looks down at her plate of food. "You have no idea." Daybreaker uses her magic to put down her fork, and even the human can tell that the Empress's words carry some past trauma.
The Empress looked somber, and the alicorn seemed unwilling to explain why she had such a look on her face. And if her hands weren't shaking, she would ask directly. Unwillingly, she must give in for this exchange to go anywhere. "Alright. Tell me what I need to do then, Your Majesty."
"There is a designated area with the castle for occasions like this. You will be quarantined for quite some time as you receive all known vaccines and immunities. And while we have information on human biology, it is constrained. So many well-trusted doctors will be there to ensure everything goes according to plan. Meanwhile, my castle will also go through its yearly serializations."
The lengthy explanation was off-putting, but at least she finally got some information out of the Empress- and to think the 'serialization period' was a literal sense of the castle's health and safety. But it reeked of past trauma and history.
She can't help but note the implications. 'Has the Empire recently faced some kind of biohazard? It would make sense, with a hundred million lives to look after.' And with the lady's thoughtful silence, Daybreaker broke through her musings with words of comfort, her voice sounding somber. "I will promise you this, human. You will not perish under my watchful eye."
The human wakes up from her musings, wondering when she looked down at her food during her thought process. 'Uh, no. It's alright, Empress Daybreaker. I figured that was the case with your-" She pauses, trying to find a word that wouldn't sound too insulting, "-comprehensive answer. Is that the reason for the lack of staff? The human asks awkwardly before adding. "And why that is not the case for you, your majesty?" She cringed at her thoughtless curiosity but wasn't willing to take back her words.
Fortunately, Empress Daybreaker seems to have anticipated this, and she replies without hesitation while looking at the curious human. "While the yearly sterilization requires all staff to leave the inside of the castle, there is also the matter that I cannot allow any creature under my rule to catch any foreign bodies that you carry." She spoke, finally giving a straight answer. "And as for myself, I will never fall ill for any particular reason. This is a certainty I hold just as much as I am confident of my immortality."
The human nods, swallowing nervously at the Empress's blunt answer. She felt utterly helpless at the declaration of power. This place and the pony running it left a bad taste in her mouth, even if the food was delicious.
"What did I say, human?" Daybreaker warns with a fierce gaze that breaks the women's thought process. Unfortunately, her mouth didn't catch the memo. "Huh?"
The air snaps as Daybreaker slams her armored hooves down on the table in the human's direction, and a considerable part of the table crumples completely under the alicorn's pressure despite being made of some sort of metal. It takes the tablecloth, dishware, and all the perfect food with it. The human mourns the loss of the food—even if it's quickly followed by panic at the Empress's actions.
The human looks up and sees the glare that Daybreaker is giving her. "Do not make me repeat myself." She hisses angrily, and the woman grits her teeth, cursing her forgetfulness. She quickly rises in fear and bows—hoping to appease the Empress. "My apologies, your majesty." She quickly corrects herself, "I understand what you mean."
Daybreaker rose from her seat and closed the remaining distance. The poor woman felt a sudden, unexplained pressure that made her feel like she was suffocating. Her throat tightened as an uncomfortable heat enveloped her. Daybreaker's size did nothing to alleviate the feeling of fear as the Empress looked down at the human.
The temperature rose even higher as Daybreaker spoke with spitting words, her fiery mane flickering with an aggressive vigor. "Return to your dormitory. I will no longer waste my time for a human who cannot remember the simple orders I give." Daybreaker's horn glows red, and the human sees her life flash before her eyes.
She would be nothing more than an afterthought as she was set on fire and burned to a crisp. But she would glare at those yellow eyes in defiance one last time.
Her desperate thoughts changed as she heard the reliving sound of the chapel doors opening. Red magic flared on the handles of the doors, and without another moment's hesitation, she absolutely booked it in that direction without looking back.
She backtracks into the hallways until she loses her breath. Then she brings out the helpful pocket AI. Despite her grasping state, it doesn't ask any questions and instead gives her directions to her room. As she settles down, she can't help but feel an uncomfortable cold, which starkly contrasts with the rising heat of the alicorn's anger.
It felt like a walk of shame. As much as the dismissal was not how the fearful lady wanted it to go, she was grateful that it was over and that she didn't have to spend another hour playing hopscotch with words.
And while her nonverbal mistake cost her the wraith of Daybreaker, she had to admit now it played as an unintended option. If she was seen as a fumbling fool, perhaps whatever Daybreaker had planned for her would be dismissed due to her incompetence. It was a tricky plan, but it was the only one she could get away with.
After all, she wasn't this extraordinary human who would make history. And while she won't lie, the appeal of the feeling of making a difference, being a better self, the euphoria, the glory, and the general power that another lifestyle would bring. She had long decided that she wanted a simple life at any cost. She needed to win for her sanity.
When she finally recovered her bearings and returned to her guest room, she was given an hour of peace before she heard a knock at her door.
She wanted to groan in anger, but she held still with hesitation. Her mind already assumed who could be behind that door. She did not need more anxiety-inducing socialization from a powerful pony.
Reluctantly, she opened the door, bracing herself for the anticipated confrontation. To her surprise, she was met not with hostility, but with a plate of food, a perfect replica of her previous one. The alicorn, having delivered its message, departed without a word, leaving her to ponder the unexpected turn of events.
But she quickly gave up her thoughts when her stomach growled with acceptation.
With a plate in one hand and a sandwich in another, the woman's curiosity was piqued after Daybreaker's obsession with biology. So she decided to delve into the empire's medical practices. Settling back into her bed, she eagerly awaited the AI's summary, her mind buzzing with anticipation.
There was not just an oversupply, but a surplus of medical staff in the empire, a stark contrast to Earth's scarcity. But, of course, as every society has, there were complications.
The two known problems are how strict it can be and the lack of room. The caution of prevention often led to a backlog of ponies and other citizens not receiving primary-level care until much too late, either by choice or not, which led to sicker patients. And so, with sicker patients, they took priority and, in return, took more resources and room. The cycle would repeat, and so on and so forth.
Having a hundred million citizens in dense populations was the well-known explanation for the cause of this. Apparently, trying to find room for every being on each planet was not just a logistical challenge, but a hot political topic. Planets were apparently easy to find, but to find a planet that would be up to Daybreaker's standard was nearly impossible. Besides being the high ruler, she was known to be a worrywart.
But for once, the women could see why Daybreaker was that way. She had seen so many horror stories- fact and fiction- about what happens when someone doesn't take precautions regarding the battle of biology.
Despite the space issue, Daybreaker's methods were not just effective, but remarkably so. Thanks to the precautionary laws, the empire had not experienced any major outbreaks since its inception. Even common illnesses like the flu and cold were under control, with low numbers compared to the population.
The availability of vaccines, tests, and other preventive methods reassured the citizens. It was clear where the empire's priorities lay, with most of the funds allocated to healthcare and the military a close second.
But even with this backlog of information. It did not put the women's mind at ease. When she mentally pulled herself back into her surroundings completely, she was walking with the AI in hand again. Empress Daybreaker called her nearly an hour later after researching the empire's medical practices. The mare didn't even give her mercy for a proper eight-hour rest before she had to face an appointment. Her introverted self was groaning in agony.
The hallways stretched on, barren and lifeless, but now punctuated by numerous doorways. A sigh escaped her lips as the AI urged her to continue forward. Dread seeped into her mind, painting vivid images of worst-case scenarios. The AI's voice broke through her thoughts, guiding her to the medical room on her left. She approached, took a deep breath, and stepped inside, only for her nerves to jolt at the sight that greeted her.
For some reason, Daybreaker is in the room, sitting on a large cushion on the floor. The mare is focused on a square-looking screen—it reminds her of an iPad—before looking away toward the human. It is floating without any magic. The alicorn's horn lacks any of its red flare. She ignores it to hold some semblance of composure and looks around the room instead.
And despite just entering the room, the alicorn seems to quickly catch what's going on, eyeing the human with disdain. "Still fearful, are we?" She asks. "How many times must I tell you that I will watch over you?" Daybreaker speaks, and the human ignores the mare. She quickly can tell the area is a complete replica of the primary care exam room. Even that god-awful, uncomfortable medical chair where the patient usually sits was there.
And to think she was in a castle of all things.
Considering Daybreaker was still staring at her intently, she wisely decided to accept her fate for once.
She walked across the room and hesitantly sat down in the medical chair. It's always one of the most uncomfortable things to sit on, and as she scooted backward on it, she could tell it wasn't any different here than on Earth.
The alicorn, observing the human's every move, maintained a surprising level of patience. Sensing a hint of irritation, the human greeted her with a respectful, 'Your Majesty,' hoping to avoid any potential outbursts. She swiftly changed the subject, not wanting to give the Empress any more ideas. "Could you please explain why I was unconscious during the process?"
Daybreaker raises her right eyebrow before speaking. "Do you truly expect this to be quick and painless?"
Considering how her question was answered with another question, she realizes the Empress would not back down without a verbal fight. Was the mare doing this to keep her empire's medical practices a secret?
But the woman couldn't help but feel she at least deserved to know what these ponies would be doing to her body. So she stresses her question in the hope of finally getting a straight answer. "And how long will I be unconscious?"
"That depends on how well your body takes vaccines and other properties. Every being is different; I cannot possibly know if my main occupation was a doctor and not the ruler of the solar empire."
"Can you confirm that the empire has moral practices, and I will not be a lab rat?"
Daybreaker growls lowly and responds as if she hadn't given the human a racing heart attack. "Yes. Any immoral practices by certified doctors or practitioners are punishable by death depending on the severity of the crime." She raises her hoof in the posh matter before lowering it back down. The iPad-looking technology follows the hoof before it also touches the ground.
Daybreaker's on a roll, continuing her explanation. "Despite how large my empire already is and the constant care it requires. My empire and I are proud of our integrity regarding the health of its citizens. I would like this mindset to continue. But I also make it a law to ensure my little ponies the safety they are allowed to have."
She shifts her gaze to the wall, seemingly deep in thought as she speaks. "I do not take life lightly, nor do I take any threat to the quality of life lightly either." Daybreaker's voice softens, her concern for her empire's welfare palpable. "You will come to know of this- that is, if you change your mind about returning to your home planet." She looks over and tilts her head upwards, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. "Tell me, does your government or higher ruling have universal healthcare, or at the very least, free healthcare?"
Knowing exactly where the Empress was going with this, she had no choice but to answer her. "No. At least not in the part of the world I live in. But it is available in most countries if you fill out a form." She softly explains, and Daybreaker chuckles. That was the first emotion shown by the alicorn besides stern indifference.
But just as quickly as it happened, it disappeared with a side-eye glance. "Divided, are we? Multiple leaders trying to rise to power? You must see how dangerous that can be. Constant pressure for resources or power with nothing getting done as neither side can settle on an agreement?" Daybreaker pauses before her voice takes on a whole mocking tone. "Where have I heard that before?"
The human opens her mouth to retort but realizes she can't fight back with a defense.
Daybreaker's words are a cutting reminder that multiple parts of the world are fighting for the reasons Daybreaker listed.
And with the human's silence, Daybreaker drives her point while still looking up at the ceiling. "While my domain has political figures and alicorn advisors, they merely represent my will. I still possess the power and the final word. If I lack land or resources for my empire. In that case, I find more planets and expand the influence, saving a multitude of lives in the process. Both in my empire and outside it. And this is just merely one example."
Daybreaker lowers her head back down to meet the human. "I am sure you are aware of how extreme my methods are. But this puts to rest any stability issues I may encounter if I ran my empire differently. I have seen what happens when you don't." Daybreaker describes, sounding foreboding.
"The results are disastrous at best. And it is not a cost I am willing to make. If a stern hoof and voice give my citizens the best chance of survival and ensure a proper quality of life. Then that is how things must be." Daybreaker finalizes as she looks away in a huff. Her eyes glance down at the object she had set down before, almost ready to pick it back up, but instead, she seems to move on.
"This tangent has gone on long enough." Daybreaker said as she got up from her cushion seat. "I am sure you are eager to start this procedure." The mare drawls out as she turns her entire body towards the poor human. She couldn't believe she was hearing sarcasm from the alicorn.
But the mare's words put the woman on edge as she verbalizes what she's assuming the Empress meant. "You just said you're not a doctor, so why does it sound like you're going to be the one starting the procedure?"
Daybreaker, uncomfortably, closes the distance between the two of them. The unnatural heat surrounding the mare comes back with a vengeance.
The mare's eyes are close enough now to see her reflection through them. She looks like shit, her hair a complete rat's nest and her own expression wearing unconcealed fear. And she felt the beginning of her survival instincts kick in once more.
Daybreaker responds lowly, her voice on the edge of threatening. "No. Merely, I will be the one to knock you unconscious."
"What?! Why?!" The human exclaims in utter bafflement. Daybreaker raises her right armored hoof to the woman's throat and pushes it against the medical bed. She sputtered in shock as the armored hoof felt like an unthinkable weight as she choked against the pressure.
Daybreaker continues the action despite the noticeable discomfort. "I do not wish to waste the resource if I can do so myself." She drawls out, sounding bored. The woman can feel herself gasping for air. She couldn't even squirm away! Was Daybreaker going to seriously suffocate her until she was unconscious?!
At the edge of her vision, she can see the alicorn's horn spark to life with a red hue. "Sleep well, human. You will wake up in my day once again."
The woman hisses and makes a last-ditch effort to grab her hoof and pry it away. But the odds weren't in her favor. And against her own will, her eyes seem to follow the command as they close with little effort.
She slowly wakes, recollecting her last memory as Daybreaker holds her against her will as she struggles in pain. Nothing about that was pleasant in the slightest.
She takes a moment to move past the delirium and finds herself on a medical bed with an IV in her arm, thankfully she can hear a heart monitor in the background. She sighed with relief and also a bit of disgust, knowing she had made it past the procedure alive, somehow still breathing and able to curse in her head about the alicorn's terrible actions.
She sits up to look around the room. The walls are still that god-awful beige color, and her surroundings tell her she is in a hospital room. She looks to her right to see two windows, letting natural light in. It's strangely peaceful. She's going to enjoy it while it lasts.
Sadly, it's not nearly long enough for her. Not even a minute later, she heard the sound of electronic doors opening, making her turn to the harsh reality of her situation.
Her eyes are greeted by the doctor-looking griffon walking in beside Daybreaker; that stupid face still frowns when the mare looks at her. But she ignores her ire with the Empress for now as she glances back at the doctor.
His dark gray head feathers are slicked back, and he wears a contrasting white lab coat against more of his grey feathers. But nothing else about him made him stand out, especially when compared to the ruler standing next to him.
"How do you feel human?" The griffon asks, his eyes focusing on the human, no doubt ready to continue checking her condition.
She shrugs before speaking. "Sluggish and a bit weak, but not as bad as I thought it would be." She turns her head to the fiery menace that caused all this. "Her majesty made it sound much worse than what it feels like anyways."
She spoke as she clutched the blanket on her legs, already on guard about what Daybreaker would say.
The alicorn in question looks as unapologetic as ever. Her words are short and to the point. "You have been unconscious for quite some time. Twelve daylight cycles, to be exact. What is the last thing you remember?"
Daybreaker's words are not comforting, but she settles with the free information and answers anyway. "Our discussion over your empire and the produce." The human simplifies, wondering where the hell this conversation would end up." Did something happen?" She questions as she gives the Empress a suspicious look.
There is a glint of amusement in the mare's eyes, but she lightly shakes her head and returns to speaking plainly. "None as dramatic that no doubt your mind is conjuring up. I was simply testing your memory in case of unintended side effects."
The human can only raise an eyebrow in response. Daybreaker seems to soften momentarily as she gets to the main point. "You are now up to date on your medical. Congratulations." The alicorn smiles, and the woman would find it cute if it wasn't for the fact that she was still facing her one-ticket out of there.
Maybe 'adversary' was a better term to describe her standing with Daybreaker.
She couldn't let her guard down. "Thank you, your majesty." She bows her head, even with the awkward angle from her sitting. "Since you said twelve daylight cycles, I assume you have enough magic to return me to my world?"
Daybreaker can only raise an eyebrow at the human's blatancy. Her voice follows on the edge of annoyance as she speaks to the bipedal patient. "You don't possess a subtle bone in your body, do you human?"
She cheekily answers with a non-venerable smile, tilting her head to the side, allowing her silence to speak for itself. Then, she continues by asking a question for the two. "So, what's the plan? Am I free to go?"
Daybreaker sighs in response and turns to the doctor. He stood silently during the entire banter between the two. Definitely a professional who was loyal to the Empress.
Daybreaker begins to question the poor sod. "Will the human be allowed to leave, or would it be better to continue to keep an eye on her for the remaining time of her recovery?"
But to his credit, the doctor seems immune to Daybreaker's general intimidation and gives an answer. "Considering she had no severe or non-serve side effects, Your Majesty. I would allow her on administrative leave. But the moment she feels ill or anything wrong, she should return here as a precautionary measure. "
Daybreaker eyes soften, and she gives a genuine smile to the griffin.
That look was so off-putting that the women couldn't help but cringe. Daybreaker continues, unaware of the reaction the human gave her. "A proper response, Doctor Dusty. For that, I would agree."
The mare's expression yields back to indifference. Oddly, that familiar look is far more comfortable. "Any objections or concerns before we continue on?" Daybreaker asks, and the woman shakes her head, following with a verbal answer to save her skin from a repeated offense. "No, Your Majesty. "
"Excellent," Daybreaker answers and focuses back to addressing her subject. Her tone, for once, sounds pleased as she gives an order. "Doctor Dusty. You have been relinquished of your duties for now. Return to your dorm for the rest of the cycle. Unless any other emergencies come up, you have earned your rest."
He gives one last look to the human, turns towards his Empress, and bows without a moment's hesitation. "Thank you, your majesty." His clawed paws lightly scrape the floor, and he leaves without saying another word. Daybreaker watches him until the automatic doors close behind him, shifting her priority to the stressed-out lady waiting for her fate.
"Now." Daybreaker's tone is all business. Her expression is sharp as she watches the female. "It is time to get the remaining issues."
None of the softness that Daybreaker gave towards the doctor seems to remain, and she mentally rolls her eyes at herself for even caring in the first place.
Daybreaker continues, unaware of the human's wavering thoughts. "My castle has gone through its yearly sterilization. And all of my castle staff have returned as well. The halls will no longer be as vacant as you once witnessed. You will be quickly arrested for trespassing if you do not have proper identification." She pauses to allow her words to be comprehended.
Then, the mare resumes with a final comment. "It is important for my citizens to know who you are."
Daybreaker's words unintentionally touched the woman's nerves, and she swung her legs off the bed to face the alicorn head-on. Her spirit started to pound with a new urgency, and she heard the heart monitor beep in the background with more aggressive vigor.
"Your majesty, who am I to you?" She asks bluntly, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and defiance.
Her question cuts through the casual air, and Daybreaker responds with a harshness that sends a shiver down the human's spine. "I already informed you." The alicorn steps forward, her hooves still not making a sound, and the human can't help but feel deja vu.
The scorching pressure of Daybreaker's presence returns as she relays her thoughts to the human. "It is based on the exceptions you wish to carry in my name and the actions you bring forth." Daybreaker pushes closer until she is right in front of the human. She lowers her head, wearing another glare as she speaks her mind. "And all I see is a human running away from so much opportunity."
The words stung, and the woman wanted nothing more than to lash out in anger, but her nerves finally caught up to her as she merely whispered her desires. "Let's keep it that way." She stares at the Empress, meeting the gaze of anger the mare gave in response to the quiet declaration.
There was a small beat of silence before any movement was made.
Then, the Empress expresses her thoughts with an eyebrow raised. "How disappointing. "The alicorn sneers and huffs with a dismal.
"Your newly set clothes are in the bathroom, and your temporary guest ID is also in the room. Do not cause me problems if you wish to return home. I will deal with you later." Daybreaker's words drip with unconcealed anger as she turns around and leaves the room.
With the doors closing and the presence of the fiery alicorn no longer in front of her, she can finally relax her shoulders.
She mentally groans and sighs. She wanted a drink. Any kind, from the most potent coffee to the most renowned alcoholic beverage. It didn't matter as long as it meant she could be comforted instead of facing a fierce truth.
She would get her drink. She had to.
Author's Note
The author nervously chuckles as she explains her woes. "This chapter was supposed to be 5,000 words max. But as I started to edit it, I kept adding more, and in return, I needed to edit more. So the cycle continued until I finally found a point where I felt I could properly stop."
She pauses, her breaths coming in short, rapid bursts, and exclaims with a hint of desperation, "This was supposed to be out two months ago!" Her hands, a visual representation of her frustration, shoot up into the air before she slumps down, her voice a mere whisper. "Is this the life of a writer, the one everyone always talks about?"
A voice filled with anticipation breaks through the silence. "So... when is the next chapter?" The question hangs in the air, the reader's anxiety palpable. Another voice, this one tinged with panic, joins in. "Will it be a week? A month? Please, not a year!"
The author nervously sweats and looks at the next chapter. Glancing at the word count of a hundred.
"Uh... soon?" she replies, but her answer doesn't convince anyone.
Only the groans of too many readers left in the dust can be heard in the distance.
-x-x-x-x-
The author rushes back, sounding like she ran a marathon. "The next chapter is up now!" She waves her hands in excitement.
With high annoyance, she had begrudgingly followed Daybreaker’s orders with simmering rage. The exhaustion and irritation she had just felt moments before had been replaced by furious action.
Gritting her teeth between breaths, she made her way to the side bathroom of the care facility.
She couldn't even vent her frustrations properly here, still unable to trust her surroundings without being reprimanded by the annoying yet constant alicorn for property damage.
She took a deep breath as she found the mirror of herself looking back at her with the same hunched shoulders and a look ready to throw hands. But all attempts to regain her composure were lost when she was even more disgruntled to find that her body would be subjected to wearing noble clothing.
The clothes on the sink counter mocked her, even as she noticed the A.I. disk beside it.
Ignoring the A.I. for now, she noticed the bumpy state of the dress shirt, which seemed to have something beneath it. She lifted the top piece of clothing from the bathroom sink. Her eyes twitched in disgust, and she recoiled at what lay underneath.
The brown dress shoes taunted her as they seemed to shimmer under the light, and deep crimson trousers peaked past the shoe's weight.
She hissed in disgust, looked back up to the dress shirt she was holding, and unfolded it, wanting to see the horror awaiting her. She studied the dark red suit jacket with glaring eyes.
It had white coveralls with buttons in the center and a dark red top that went over the shoulders and ended at the hips. The design was simple, but it raised some eyebrows. For instance, the jacket was long-sleeved, like it was meant for winter, but it felt much lighter than what she had worn previously.
What caught her attention the most, though, was a shiny pin attached to the cloth of the upper pocket. It was simply Daybreaker’s cutie mark; it lacked the usual colors and shimmered in complete gold plating. The pain was enormous, taking up most of the left side of the dress shirt. It looked as obnoxious as the mare herself.
'This must have been the I.D. the Empress mentioned before.' The lady thinks offhandedly. 'Let's hope it works.'
Unable to resist her curiosity, she unbuttoned the dress shirt and began to put on the clothes. To her own surprise, they felt like pajamas. Smooth, soft, lightweight, and strangely flexible, she realized they were nice clothes despite the overall look and seemed to even stay cool. She waited longer and still felt she was covered in ice.
Did the clothing itself contain its own personal cooler?
She swiftly grabbed her A.I. companion on the sink, feeling pressed for answers. With a quick touch of the strange metal material and the light of a hologram pony, she gave a quick greeting.
As soon as the introduction was over, she asked the electronic pony how her clothing consistently maintained a cooler temperature.
The electronic assistant responded without hesitation, "No doubt your clothing has magic properties. Depending on the caster, the quality of spells can differ, as can what spells can be cast on the material. It seems yours must contain a cooling spell." The human nodded at the information, relieved she wasn't going crazy. "Should I be worried that the spell needs a recharge?"
It shakes its head in response before divulging details. "It is a constant spell as long as the caster is still around or if the environment is full of magic. You need not worry about it ever becoming hot."
She breathed a sigh of relief, glad to see she wouldn’t need to take care of her clothing like a pet needing food and water. She smiles at the A.I. “Alright. Good to know.” She allows herself to get to the next topic of discussion, her mouth feeling as dry as a dessert. “Any chance you know where I can get some refreshments and find a nice outdoor location?”
She found herself outside in the royal gardens, sitting against a big tree trunk as she looked up at the side of the castle. Before she arrived outdoors, there was a table of free refreshments in one of the passing hallways on her way of getting here, and the moment she had drank a cup of water.
All felt right in the world. The water was much cleaner than what she was used to, and she thanked the pony for operating the drink cart. However, the pony gave an unfamiliar reaction, a nervous stare. But she didn't overthink it; the pony probably had never seen a human before.
The architect's outside decorations had significantly transformed from what she had seen before. Tapestries and many warm-colored flowers now adorned the walls, complete with decor shields bearing the Empress's cutie mark.
The women couldn't help but be fascinated by the stark contrast. Even if the details were small, the castle no longer felt like an abandoned piece of stone.
And thankfully, the inside hallways had undergone a remarkable transformation as well, now adorned with vibrant colors and intricate designs.
There were even white-colored wall scorns that held a steady frame and custom-made carpets that had—to no one's surprise—a flame design and a gold-looking trim along the edges. The human couldn't help but appreciate the castle's new beauty, feeling awe at the intricate details.
She needed to talk to the Empress about picking more themes for the castle.
The walls also held tapestries of Daybreaker's symbol following curtains that were hung up in order. The pattern continued for as long as her eyes could see. At least she had something more to look at during her travels of those long hallways.
She took a deep breath and turned her attention away from the castle and onto the blue sky, the sun shining above her head and its rays peeking through the leaves and her vision before she closed her eyes.
Sadly, her mind would not allow her relaxation yet. She wanted to lie down on the grass, but her mind slowly began to wonder about Daybreaker. She didn't know what she was going to do with that ruler.
On the one hand, she was nothing more than a pain in the ass to her; on another, despite the Empress going about it terribly, she could tell, despite the initial confrontation, she generally seemed to care about her wellbeing.
However, whether or not the Empress felt it was an obligation as a ruler or was just doing it for another reason altogether remained to be seen. The mare still had yet to explain herself, and she had no plans to trust the ruler anytime soon.
At this point, it was a back-and-forth on who would give up on the other first. The lady needed to figure out what she wanted to do besides annoying Daybreaker with a constant plea for departure.
Maybe she could leave with something? Compensation for her unwanted arrival? Could she get away with a physical item or some parting knowledge? It might be worth the effort. She cringed at that last thought.
Because she knew it would, in fact, not be worth the effort.
But... if she stayed longer, she might find something worthwhile. This place was full of new wonders, magic, and possibilities. Perhaps she could find something or even someone else who lived like her. She could even take notes!
She scoffed at herself for her sudden optimism. But, with her initial annoyance and anger gone, it made its way into looking at her sudden dilemma in new avenues. She grumbled at herself as she couldn't deny that rushing into leaving might be wrong. But she grits her teeth as the memory of Daybreaker essentially choking her out is brought to the forefront of her mind. 'It will depend on how the mare treats me, though.'
She takes a deep breath as she rejects her thoughts. 'She cares in her own way, but she seems to lack the empathy to try to put herself in my position. I wonder if she even realizes what she has done. At the very least, I have a right to be angry. I was brought here against my own will, and I still don't know the reason why.'
She rubbed her face in annoyance and glanced at her arm sleeves, seeing the red cloth and feeling it between her fingers; the texture was still as clean and smooth from the moment she got it. Despite lying on the tree and grass, not a single sign that the cloth has been damaged.
She could at least study for a bit here. 'I'm going to be completely honest; I might just stay long enough to learn about how these damn clothes work.' She snorts at herself for being easily fascinated by new things.
'Some self-defenses might be a good idea too.' The image of the alicorn looking down at her in annoyance pops into her mind. 'No way! Are you freaking crazy?! Why would you give any excuse to be closer to that mare?!'
Just as soon as she asked that to herself, she sighed as she already knew the answer. 'Because being the ruler means being the most powerful. So, of course, you want to learn from the best. Unfortunate, but it looks like I should cut out some type of deal with the Empress.'
She grumbles out a curse because she once again has no idea what else the mare was going to do with her. She will likely have to ask or wait for the mare to spell out her terms. 'Let's pray for future me that I don't regret this later.'
With her mind already made up. She sighs and allows herself to relax her tense muscles. But her small moment of peace is interrupted as a sudden feeling of being watched pulls her out of her musings.
Instead of jumping out of fear like before, she felt more irritated than anything.
She grumbled in annoyance and ignored it unless something jumped at her.
The woman looked away from the castle walls and into the sunny sky. She had to note that the sun never moved here, which caused her to miss the moon's soft glow, starlight, and even the natural cooler temperatures.
With these thoughts present, she was suddenly overwhelmed by an urge to flip off the sun.
Its constant presence, always in the same spot, always burning the hottest, was a painful reminder of Daybreaker and her troubles.
But it didn't deserve her ire, even though it was currently the most annoying on this planet. Instead, she embraced her fate and adjusted her position to lie on the grass, not caring about anything around her.
She sank into bliss, closing her eyes and basking in the comforting warmth of the sun's rays.
Her thoughts wandered to the small joys in life—things that wouldn't be causing her complete tiredness or raging irritation.
Lemonade sounded like a good idea right now. Hopefully, this Equestria had the same type of drink.
She smiled despite the stressful day as the edge of her conciseness faded.
Strangely, she doesn't feel the same emotions right now as usual. Her survival instincts weren't screaming at her to keep her muscles tense.
It was peaceful.
But that feeling just seemed so out of place.
In addition, there was another feeling that refused to go away. It was a solid, unwavering feeling, unlike anything she had ever experienced. Her first instinct was to reject it, to deny its existence. But it clung to her, unyielding, until she could no longer ignore it.
Safety.
It was an emotion she longed for, one she believed came with a peaceful life. But she knew it was fleeting, a temporary respite from the storm. She would cherish it while it lasted.
And she would cry with relief.
Her ears picked up the sound of a high-pitched alarm going off. She recognized the small interval vibrations coming from her pant pocket.
The noise wouldn't let her mind drift back into sleep, and with annoyance, she registered the bright sunlight in her eyes. The drowsiness of just waking up from a nap and the residue of those out-of-place emotions were removed from her conscious mind.
She had a moment of wonderment before she realized that she had peacefully fallen asleep on the grass. Besides the alarm, she felt like she had honestly slept well.
That alone was unusual.
She had always been picky with her sleeping arguments, so much so that it sometimes felt like a ritual. And while she could technically sleep anywhere if she was tired enough, she never found it to be a truly restful sleep that did allow her at least a blanket or pillow.
As she sat up and removed the crust from her eyes, she decided to chalk it up to her body adapting to her new environment. Her mouth felt try
"I am absolutely parched," she hissed in pain when she stood up, her body protesting once more for not at least trying to stretch before she got up. She ignored it in favor of finally pulling out the object that still had yet to stop announcing its presence.
The human grabbed the device in her pocket, finding it absolutely burning. She cringed and hoped the electronic had some heat resistance. She flipped it over right side up and mentally prayed. If her AI GPS was gone, she would officially be doomed.
But relief washed over her as the AI hologram, a shimmering blue figure, flickered back to life.
The AI wasted no time getting to the point, and she had to thank its efficiency. "Good evening, human. My sensors tell me you were unconscious for three hours." She grits her teeth at the news, hating that she felt like she didn't sleep at all.
"Time?" she rasped out at AI.
"Six in the afternoon. Empress Daybreaker requested your response ten minutes ago." And that would explain why the AI device was trying to get her to wake up.
She couldn't help but sigh at hearing the annoying mare's name. What she needed right now was not the Empress but a cool glass of freshly squeezed lemonade.
And if the mare was going to take her time away from her to get a drink, then it was up to the Empress to get her one in the meantime. "Can you inform Empress Daybreaker to get some lemonade for me while I make it over there?" She asks.
The AI hologram nods in response, and the human continues. "Let her know that I fell asleep in the royal gardens and suffering the beginnings of a heat stroke."
"I can do that," the AI said in earnest. Please take caution not to worsen the alignment by your actions." The human just nodded in response to the AI's advice.
The AI begins to list directions as she walks into the castle doors. The gravel pavement does not do her any favors for comfort, and she even has to remove her shoes temporarily to shake out some pebbles.
As she stumbled back into the castle, making a few attempts to put back on her fancy brown shoes away from the harsh terrain, she found some noble-looking ponies nearly a few feet away. They both were dressed in similar attire to hers.
They stopped in her tracks when they noticed her shambling as she awkwardly got her last shoe on.
They were taken aback by the unexpected sight of a human before them, mirroring her astonishment at their presence.
They stared at her for a moment before she caught them looking at the large pin on her dress shirt, and they gasped in surprise before jogging away in fear.
The human can only blink in surprise at the aftermath. She expected a few snide comments and rude remarks. Possibly physical violence if the ponies were stupid enough to start something with her. Not running away in fear. She had gotten a similar look when she was earlier at the refreshment stand with that other pony.
Her gaze lingered on the pin, its enigmatic glimmer challenging her comprehension. "There's more to this," she murmured, her curiosity piqued. "What could this pin possibly signify?"
She looks at her AI companion in response, hoping to get some answers.
"The pin means you take direct orders from Empress Daybreaker. It allows the staff to know that you belong in the castle. But that pin comes with fear because anyone who wears them usually starts to question anyone else who stands on the ground. They only stop once they know every little detail. Besides the orders of the Empress, they are tasked with keeping track of staff, ensuring they are doing their duties and stopping any security risks."
"So, ponies think I'm going to interrogate them endlessly. They run away in hopes I don't catch up to them or stand there nervously, hoping I don't begin asking any questions." She sighs, wondering if Daybreaker deliberately chose that pin to keep ponies at bay.
The thought of confronting the mare for causing her unnecessary grief once more crossed her mind. It seemed like Daybreaker had orchestrated this situation from the start.
The AI called to her attention. Their voice was cold and calculated. "But you lack the loyal pin that normally comes under it. Be careful not to run into another individual with the same pin."
She raises an eyebrow in reply, feeling nervous before asking. "Why is that?"
The AI's ears fold in response. "Because they will notice that you lack the second half of it. They may become aggressive in retaliation, but not enough to react physically. You'll just be creating enemies, essentially. You have the same power as them, but without the loyalty badge underneath, they will question your purpose here."
She couldn't help but sigh, a mix of frustration and resignation, after hearing the unfortunate news; it sounded like politics and more things she would rather not deal with. Instead, the human shook her head, a gesture of defiance, and chose to follow the AI's direction again to the Empress, determined to not let the hierarchy of this magical world distract her.
When she finally turned the corner to her destination, she spotted Daybreaker, strangely waiting outside the room. The women take a few more steps and stands there awkwardly, seeing the flames behind the pony get larger as mare turns to her. At least she didn’t look as irritated as before. But there is no polite greeting either.
“Follow me,” Daybreaker ordered, sounding as emotional as a wall. The human wordlessly follows, knowing better than to object when the mare is like this. The woman enters the room, and the automatic doors close behind her.
She is greeted by the sight of a small meeting room. A cherry wood table with complimentary chairs surrounded the table. The chairs, at least, looked somewhat comfortable, with red cushions placed on the bottom of the seat.
There was also this strange smell that wasn’t in the hallway. It smelled like she had just entered a room full of mints. The peculiar, sweet fragrance seemed to surround the room, but she chose to ignore it because she didn’t find it unpleasant. Especially after she spots a large glass of lemonade on the left side of the table and rushes to sit down on that side.
Daybreaker’s voice, as she exhaled through her nose, was strained, as if she was struggling to contain her anger. “Is there any chance I can convince you to stay in my domain?” Daybreaker took her seat, her gaze fixed on the human. The woman’s initial instinct was to reject the mare outright. She didn’t need an alicorn, a vast source of complications, in her life.
But… she found herself with an unexpected moment of contemplation like she had at the gardens. A small, nagging doubt was making her hesitate. What if she was mistaken? What if this was the life she truly desired, and she was about to let it slip away?
She glances back at the alicorn, who will not leave her despite their negative opinion of each other. The mare could offer something later down the line that she might enjoy.
The human looked away from the mare in thought; she didn't want to. But…
Pulling herself out of her head, knowing that her heart had already been made up, she threw out the straw from the glass. She tilted the drink upwards to overflow her tastebuds with fresh lemonade.
As she took her first sip, she immediately could tell it was a perfect blend—not too bitter or run down by the water—and she would have to thank the bartender for their skill set. She sighed in relief when she was done chugging the glass; already, the lemonade was almost halfway gone.
She raises her arm, her elbow bent upwards and her hand into a fist, to let to know the mare she was going to speak soon. She looks down at the glass, her voice steady and resolute. "One year."
Daybreaker blinks in surprise as the human tilts the drink just enough to bite the ice cubes. The ice cubes yield under the pressure of her teeth. She doesn’t even flinch as she speaks with her mouth full of ice chunks, putting the glass on the table and watching the mare.
“If you can’t convince me to stay for one year-” Daybreaker’s expression gave way to genuine surprise, and she couldn’t blame the mare. She couldn’t believe the words coming out of her mouth, but she knew this would be the only way to settle this without guilt.
Once a year passes, she knows she can tell herself she wasn't being too hasty about her choice: "-then I leave for good." The lady continues her point, finally focusing on the ruler. "But if you convince me to stay, we can update terms—but only if we get there." She tilts her head to stretch her neck momentarily before staring down at the ruler as she continues her tangent.
"But in the meantime, I want a full-on legal contract that can't be broken by any means. And it has to contain terms you and I will fully agree on."
The human settles and waits for the mare. Daybreaker seemed speechless; for once, her response was thoughtful silence. Then she lightly nods. "Alright. I shall agree to handle it in this manner. Let us talk terms then." Daybreaker's horn glows a spark of red before the sound of teleporting magic goes off.
The human finds in front of her a blank sheet of paper and a bright orange pencil instead of a yellow one. It was strange because she was expecting either an ink and quill or a piece of technology.
She looks up at the Empress in confusion, and the mare explains herself. "Let's settle writing on paper until our terms are finalized. Then I shall make it electronic for each of us."
The lady nods and responds. "Alright. Let us—" She picks up the pencil and moves her hand to the left corner of the picture. "Start with your terms first. But let me just write this one-year rule thing first."
Daybreaker did nothing, so the human took that as permission from the mare, and she jotted down what was spoken about before. After she finalizes the note, she looks up from her paper only to see her handwriting on the other paper, completely copied.
She stared, not knowing Daybreaker made the paper magical, and realized the two papers were connected. After this realization, she ignores it and continues her verbal discussion with the flaming marshmallow. "You're the only one that can send me back. I need to bend by your terms first to adjust mine." Daybreaker shows a light smile. Seemly pleased that the human openly stated her power over her, the woman tries not to roll her eyes in front of the Empress. She continues with one final statement and waits for the alicorn. "I shall listen to what you have to say first."
Daybreaker breaks out into a full grin in response. Then, the mare speaks as if she is waiting for this moment her whole life. "The first term of order is I want open communication, human," Daybreaker states, and the human can't help but feel like the Empress herself is being a hypocrite here.
The mare continues, not aware of the human's rude thought. "If you decide you want to leave for any reason… I want to know the reason why and a chance to convince you otherwise." Daybreaker answers. "Your reason for leaving needs to have a logical conclusion behind it. Or at least a full explanation of the emotional reason why you feel a particular way. Any question I ask regarding this topic must be answered in full honesty."
The human can see the challenging stare a mile away. And just as she predicted, the mare does, her eyes glowing despite the warm light the fire behind her produces. "Are we in agreeance on this?" Daybreaker eyes lock onto the human, ready for any verbal disagreements.
But the human nods instead. "Yeah, that's fair. But I want no verbal backlash unless I am misinformed. Or just being plain dumb." She offhand comments, waving her hand for a moment.
"Understandable, let us continue on," Daybreaker said. "Second term, I want you to stop asking that annoying question about why you were summoned." The human can't help but squint her eyes in disdain. She knew Daybreaker was dodging the question at every chance, but not so much that she would be making an entire point on it. "Instead, you should focus on what you can make of this year of terms of agreement."
The human sighs in response. "Can I at least learn why that is the case?" She feels she is pushing her luck by asking this, but she must try.
"It is sensitive information I can allow you to have unless you wish to stay on your own merit." Daybreaker pauses, letting her words be heard before continuing. "That is all I will say on this matter."
Great, she was never going to get that answer. Not if she wanted to leave as planned. She might approach the problem differently if Daybreaker spills the beans. However, then again, she still feels like she will be used in some manner anyway. So, the end result will be the same. Leave before that becomes a reality. 'Alright.' She thinks and settles on her resolve. 'I absolutely hate it. But it won't matter in the end if I leave anyway. Not knowing what an alicorn thinks might be the better option for a sense of peace.'
The lady opens her mouth to hiss out. "Fine." She said and asked. "Any more terms?"
"The third and final term." Daybreaker pauses and raises her hoof on the table, making it shake momentarily before she speaks again. "I want you to do whatever is necessary to get up to date on my empire. Study, take classes, or use any method that works with your learning style if needed. And to find hobbies and even friends later if you so choose." Daybreaker puts her hoof back down. "In other words, I want you to develop a productive yet satisfying lifestyle in the empire."
She was utterly floored by the Empress's thoughtful term. She can't help but mentally grumble, 'How is it possible for the mare to be the most thoughtful when it comes to others, but when it comes to her own actions, she is the most stuck-up thing I have ever met.' She mentally continues, wondering how the mare can continue to be a walking contradiction.
She focuses her mind back on that last term, making her own mental observation as she replays the Empress's words. 'Considerate. And willing to work to my needs. She's still keeping up to that.' The woman thinks as she shudders in fear.
Unlike the other two terms, this term was straightforward and clear. Still, it felt heavy with responsibility and an unknown threat. She couldn't help but go back to thinking of worse-case scenarios as she questions in her head. 'But will your tune change later if you don't get what you want?'
The silence is tense as the Empress waits for the woman's answer. The human finally sighs as she brings up her concerns. "Okay. But what is exactly that standard? And the consequences for not following this rule."
Daybreaker's expression changes quickly, and she leans her head back in surprise and looks concerned. "If you are already thinking of consequences. Then, I will need to keep more of a watchful eye on you. I shall bring the issue up if need be. Give me time to make a basic schedule for you, and we can discuss the details later. This term also needs to clarify that I will constantly ask for updates about you."
The human sighs and nods, and her hands reach for her face in exhaustion. 'Should've known better. The mare doesn't seem to enjoy when I ask questions that seem obvious to her.' She smiles in amusement at the mare's antics, finding it funny for once instead of just finding it frustrating. 'What a strange and new feeling.' She thought as she lifted her head away from her hands.
Daybreaker begins to write down her terms on the paper, the sound of scribbles being heard as the human watches the words appearing one by one on her own piece of paper. Daybreaker's handwriting- hoofwriting?- has a fancy flare to it. The letters have a tail end, but not in complete cursive.
As the last term is written out, she sees that the paper will not hold enough space for her terms. The human looks up at the mare to see that the alicorn noticed the same thing. With another flare of magic, she sees the paper suddenly double in length and look more like the size of a scroll.
'Damn, magic is useful.' She comments to herself.
"List your terms, human," Daybreaker said, impatiently waiting for the human to begin.
The lady didn't hesitate any longer and spoke her mind: "I would like a guarantee of safety while I am here."
"That goes without saying," Daybreaker said plainly. "You are under my responsibility." The human couldn't help it; by God, she hated that word and the mare saying it.
"Perhaps. But your words still mean nothing to me." That comment seemed to string a nerve with the alicorn; she didn't physically jump in anger, but the human noticed the alicorn clutching her jaw.
She continued her point despite the clear signs of danger. "But I have no choice but to believe you for now. But I want it in writing in the contract." She pauses and decides to add to her comment. "It would be better for you to write anyway; your words hold more power than mine."
She glares at the mare, ready to drive her verbal point. "You fail, and it will be on your consciences anyway. That is if you truly care about preserving life."
"I do," Daybreaker said, her words heavy as she elevated the pencil. The human sighed at Daybreaker's response to her angry threat. "Make sure you include emotional and mental harm there as well, and I will say nothing else on the subject."
Daybreaker nods to the side and says nothing as she continues writing; the human gives her a moment until she sees the mare stop writing. Daybreaker glances up to
"The second term I have is that I would like compensation to take with me. I am unsure if time moves differently there, but I will be gone for a year if it is the same. I will have a lot of payments to make up for. And not just paying bills. But if I could take something worth a lot of money in my world, I won't say anything more about this topic."
The mare raises an eyebrow. "What materials are you requesting to take with you?" Daybreaker drawls out.
She puts her backhand on her chin, moving her leg to allow her elbow to rest on it. "I don't know. My first thought would be gold or silver. And I assume you will not allow any technology to cross over?" The woman tilts her head.
Daybreaker notices the human's innocent gesture and then forces her mind back on topic as she nods. "That would be correct. I will only settle by sending a base material with you."
The lady sighs at the expected answer and decides she'll settle for that. "Alright. Then I'll settle with a large amount of gold and a sliver of compensation for my time here."
Daybreaker doesn't. Was the mare displeased? She couldn't figure out why the mare could be so expressive for a moment and then as expressive as a stone brick the next. Meanwhile, the alicorn finalizes the second term of the written paper and looks up at the human once more.
Since Daybreaker would not say the reason behind her summons, she had little to go on. But when her anger cleared, she knew she had to take advantage of the situation even if she didn't want it. And as much as she hated it, even adversaries can help improve oneself. And considering Daybreaker also wrote a term on the same topic, she believed she had a high chance for the term to be added.
"I would like you specifically to train me in combat."
Daybreaker lost her focus at the declaration. She dropped the pencil from her magic. The mare didn't say anything; she just stared blankly, and the human took the chance to explain herself. The mare's response was creepy, but she ignored it in favor of trying to convince the pony. "As you know, I want a peaceful and lazy life. But even I can admit I might come across sudden conflict. Even if I avoid the plague at times. At the very least, I would like to defend myself against other humans."
She mumbles as she adds to the list of reasons. "Also, it would be nice to have a healthier body, too. I miss having confidence in my body."
Daybreaker doesn't give a single reaction. Then, finally, she breaks her still frame as she silently jots down the term. The reaction was strange, but the woman wouldn't stop her.
She hated Daybreaker, but if the mare has military as the second most spent budget. She must have a brutal training regimen and is military-focused. She was going to wrung through the wringer. If Daybreaker was stern in a verbal confrontation, she wouldn't even want to think about what the mare would do to her in physical training. She would be in so much pain, especially how she didn't get along with the mare, but at least she'd come out from the other end. That's the plan anyway. Hopefully, it will be worth it, even if she has to deal with more of the insufferable alicorn.
"Your name, human," Daybreaker states suddenly. "I want it. You have yet to object to me calling you your own species. And I am getting tired of waiting for this answer." Daybreaker adds. "Originally, with your brash demand for respect- you had not yet earned- I had thought you would say it by now."
She sighs, getting tired of Daybreaker putting her down. "There is a reason why, Empress." She turns her head to the mare, eyes cold with hostility. For the first time, she invades the mare's personal space. "I still don't trust you. And I hope I never do. You're covered in multiple centuries of secrets, not someone I want to associate with. I'm only making in expectation with training because I find it worth the cost of dealing with you."
Daybreaker hisses through her teeth, the sharp, glimmering pearls on display. She raises her head backward as her jaw clenches in anger. “You dare-”
“I dare object to being held against my will to humor your ego and whatever foul-mouth plan you have. Yes.” The human snaps and interrupts the mare. She closes the remaining distance, their noses nearly touching, and the woman gets rising heat for her efforts. “Your empire may live in prosperity, and your citizens are treated even better than my home planet. But you have yet to prove that you are a good mare. All you have done is order me around, and you dare ask me to prove myself to you even when I never even asked to be here in the first place.”
The human can feel herself losing all her initial fear of the alicorn as she still doesn’t back down and is uncomfortably close to the mare. The heat feels like it’s burning her now, but she still doesn’t move. “Even me being the hermit I am. I still have family members and friends who are like family to me, or even places I miss that I want to return to. And even if the possibility of me not returning was up on the table, I still would try just some form of communication. I owe someone, at least someone, a proper explanation for why I suddenly disappeared. I need to try Daybreaker. It’s the least I could do. And bugging you about returning seems to be the only way I have a chance.”
The lady finally physically backs off, her anger and frustrations still strong but far less so than just a moment ago. She takes a deep breath and tries to regain some composure. “So yes, I want to go back, not because I think the empire is overwhelming or even if I think the prime ruler is a bitch. It’s because I am now obligated to do the right thing, return, or at least give a proper goodbye. A proper send-off. Even my world allows soldiers to say goodbye to their families when they can. I didn’t get the luxury, so of course, I am upset.” She scoffs, turning her head away and facing the mare again when she speaks out with her racing thoughts.
“This summons wasn’t an accident either. So, of course, I would be upset at you specifically on top of all that.” She points her finger at the mare before she allows her arms to give up in a silent plea. “At least you were willing to make up for it by trying to care for me, but it doesn’t make the initial problem disappear.”
The human leaves without another word. And the mint smell of the room sours as Daybreaker’s eyes glare with promise.
She groaned at her Wikipedia pony. The A.I. continues to spiel relentless information despite the human's sudden outburst.
"It's important to note that each planet does have its own complications and social issues, as each Overseer rules the planet slightly differently. But all Overseers have to keep the Empress's own rules and regulations. The Daylight committee is usually responsible for ensuring that Daybreaker's ruling is not undermined in the smaller details. While difficult to regulate, there is a set roster in the committee to see things through and-"
Suddenly, the A.I. hologram disappears. She blinks in confusion before studying the disk to see if it will come back online.
It takes her brain a moment to figure out why the A.I. would disappear mid-sentence as her heart squeezes in fear before her mind can fully recognize the implications.
Not a moment too soon, she jumps in alarm to hear her door open, revealing the fiery alicorn on the other side. Once she gets over her initial heart attack on a platter, her expression turns grim as the lady can't help but just stare at the mare in an angry defense. The fiery alicorn doesn't react after seeing the human give off that spiteful look.
The Empress simply stares, and the human can't help but feel the suffocating silence. She waits another moment before deciding to break it.
"Can I help you, Empress?" She asks with wary suspicion, ready to jump at a moment's notice in case she finds herself in the crosshairs of a fire projectile.
The mare's horn lights up, and the human can't react appropriately as she gets picked up with magic. Her entire body glowed with a deep, sparkly red. The magic feels like a strong squeeze, covering her from head to toe. She has no choice but to be dragged and carried by the alicorn off her bed. Her muscles tried to resist, but just like before when the Empress pushed her onto the bed with her hoof, she found the magic held overwhelming power she couldn't hope to fight against.
Like a grandmother dragging their misbehaving grandchild, she was carried out of the room, and the A.I. device was left behind on the bed. She opens her mouth to begin protesting, but despite her brain trying to move her mouth, She finds herself unable to object to the mistreatment.
Completely powerless, she settled her anger by glaring at the back of the mare's head.
They passed countless decorated hallways; the human didn't know where Daybreaker was taking her, only that it seemed to be somewhere she hadn't traversed before. The further they go, the more guards they seem to encounter; she can barely see them, relying on her peripheral vision because the magic wasn't allowing that simple mercy. Any moment she tried to move anything; it was like it was shut down before any action could be taken.
'Just how powerful is this alicorn?' the woman asks in her head. Then suddenly, the alicorn stops for a moment, followed by the noise of clinking hinges and scarping stones. They were going to pass through a large door.
She could only make out the throne in her peripheral vision, a blur of gold and bright orange before she lost sight of it.
Daybreaker continues; the human could see they were going to a side room instead. A complete red door with a sharp point at the top framing. Four guards were standing by it, two ponies, a griffin, and even a Kirin. They bow to the mare, and the alicorn doesn't pay them any mind as she walks past them and through the red door. The human realizes she has enough context clues to craft a theory of where she is going. Somewhere important anyway.
She can spot a room up ahead- the doorway holding the Empresses cutie mark in the center, it’s a large and imposing door covered in a dim orange color, and the human assumes that has to be the mare’s bedroom. She wondered why the alicorn would lead her to her own private bedchambers when they last left off in a argument. She is left in surprise and suspense though when the mare just walks right pass it.
She mentally hissed at the sunlight invading her eyes without any prior warning. It took her eyes a few moments to adjust before she could see grassland and trees everywhere, seemly the land being left its original natural state.
'A secret garden?' She couldn't help but think. She wanted to move her head to look around again, but Daybreaker's tight-squeezing magic wasn't allowing her the luxury.
Daybreaker turns a small margin, just enough, and the human body is taken along with the movement. She sees another surprising sight up ahead.
There was a small mound of dirt. But it was vastly different from the rest of the land. The entire hill lacked any green foliage or essential grass and was clearly a dirt hill. Letting the human know that Daybreaker had sat her many times before, the grass suffering the fate of her endless burning tail. If it wasn't for the magic, she would burst out laughing.
Daybreaker plopped down her butt as if to prove the human's point, and she found herself being released from the mare's magic. Still, consequently, it caused her to hit the ground in a less-than-gentle manner. She immediately wants to object to the harsh treatment.
But, with Daybreaker not even looking at her, the mare's face seems serious despite the same expression she always carries. She decides to wait instead.
Finally, after an awkward amount of silence and staring. Daybreaker speaks up, her voice somber. She turns to the human. "I made an incorrect assumption about you, human." The mare admits.
As the woman stood there, her heart pounding, she couldn’t fathom the words that had just escaped the mare’s mouth. The alicorn, seemingly indifferent, cast a brief glance at the woman to gauge her reaction before returning its gaze to the vast expanse of the sky.
Despite the utter surprise look the woman sends her way, the Empress explains tightly. “You see, while incredibly rare, during my travels to conquer planets across the multiverse-” Did she just say multiverse?! “-I have met a small hoof of humans before you.” She blinks in surprise at the Empress’s admission. That would explain a lot. “Anytime I came across a planet that held pony life, there was usually at least one human. Or soon-to-be one- that would come to their world through magical means. And sometimes, they would wake as a pony. But their very existence cannot be lied to me. I can sense, feel, and see the emotions of souls.”
The human can only blink at the statement before her emotions and thoughts finally catch up. 'Okay. I see how it is, universe. Give the most insufferable mare the most overpowered abilities and magic, and pray she doesn't blow up.' The woman paused, realizing where her thoughts were taking her. 'The mare- while a true tyrant- doesn't seem like she'll do that. She mentally 'She actually cares. Remember that.' She chastises herself, and with her custody peaked, she asks, "And my soul?"
The mare smiles cheekily, not answering. The human glares as the alicorn's not-so-subtlety changes the subject.
“I mostly watch any planet life before considering contacting the main establishment. That is if I find it safe enough to even do so in the first place. You’d be surprised by how many dangers my ship sensors pick up on a planet can contain in wildlife or the ponies themselves.” She grumbles, seemingly recalling her frustrations. “Lately, one such example is the multiverse has contained many alternative planets where the most heinous diseases or plagues overran the entire populace as of late. I am unsure why this is the case. But I will continue to look into it.”
The mare sighs, seemingly recalling the strange phenonium of planets with unruly diseases. The alicorn clears her throat and attempts to get back on topic.
“Many of them were not-” She pauses, seemly unable to put her thoughts into words. “As serious or as-” she pauses again, looking down at the dirt and blinking momentarily. The women didn’t think the mare could even be this tongue-tied. The alicorn looks up, finally finding her words. “Or as pure as you. I suppose are the words I wish to say.” She shifts her head in response to her own comment. Sounding awkward all of a sudden before she continues.
“I had three expectations as soon as I realized I summoned a human.” She finalizes, and the human nods to give her the go-ahead to let the mare speak her mind.
“Expectation one. After you overcame your shock, I expected you to try to bed any pony you come across, including myself.” You had to resist a genuine laugh, but a snort did come out of your mouth. You were not surprised in the slightest about that one. If Daybreaker traveled across the multiverse, you wonder how many horrors she’s seen.
“Number two. I had expected you to be power-hungry. Either in attempts of influence or magical prowess.” You raise an eyebrow at her, then interrupt her spiel. “Isn’t that what I was doing when asking you to train me?”
Daybreaker shakes her head, the flames behind her flickering from the movement. "But not in that way involve me in such a close manner. I had expected you to conspire against me. I have been told by many alternate ponies and humans alike that I am considered a villain in their universe."
You blink in utter bafflement at her. It was hard to believe that she was already aware of her basic reputation. Daybreaker, a character of surprising self-awareness, continues on as if she were talking about the weather and not her overall representation. You had to wonder if she is an alter ego now or has always been this way.
"Did you once hold the name Princess Celestia?" She can't help but blurt out. Then, mentally cursed her unrelenting curiosity.
"You know of my alternative versions?" Daybreaker asks in a sudden burst of surprise, her eyes expanding wider in revelation. The lady, caught red-handed, coughs in embarrassment.
"I… yeah. I heard of you through-"
Daybreaker interrupts her and gets to the point. The mare drops another bombshell of information. "A cartoon? Yes, I am aware of that." The women sputter in disbelief, completely caught off guard. But if she knew that, then why-
The Empress's eyes bore into the human with serious intent. "And I would like to clarify that I never once held the name Celestia. I have always been Daybreaker since the moment I have been birthed from the stars."
"Birthed from the stars?" The women frowned at the mare with confusion. "You don't mean that in a literal sense, do you?"
Daybreaker expression bores a sharp grin, her teeth glinting against the sunlight and shade from the leaves of the tree. "I mean that in every sense of the word, nameless human."
And just as quick as that expression appeared, Daybreaker returned her face back to its bored look. "But this topic is heavy with details and one we do not have time to discuss now." Daybreaker suddenly pulls her towards the human, and she stares at her in confusion. Was she supposed to accept it and shake the hoof?! She didn't know pony customs- but instead, the mare just lowered her hoof back down, and the lady released it as just a hoof gesture.
Feeling silly, she looks back at the mare, only to realize the mare seemed to have picked up her sudden panic. The mare’s grin seemed to have softened a bit more, looking more genuine and spared the human from any more embarrassment. The alicorn only makes a teasing remark as she gets back on topic. “I must give you my last expedition concerning you.”
You nod at the mare, trying to save face as the alicorn speaks her mind. “It was that you would cause me relentless trouble or even attempt to harm my ponies in some manner.” Daybreaker scoffs, seemingly finding the mere thought ridiculous now. “Instead, you’ve just been awfully quiet. You just stay in your room to sleep or do nothing in the gardens.” Daybreaker states in a dead manner and soon mumbles something else, but the woman can still hear it. “Arguably so much that it concerns me.”
You can’t help but roll your eyes at the fact that the Empress doesn’t seem to know what an extreme introvert is. “That’s just me being myself, your majesty.”
Daybreaker seems worried as her eyes study the human beside her. “And this is considered to be normal for you?”
You give an honest laugh of amusement. The mare’s expression looked generally concerned. How was it possible for the mare to not know this? She takes pity on the burning marshmallow for once. “Very much so. I have no desire to bed anyone, gain power even if it is appealing, or cause trouble unless my basic needs of housing, food, and water are not being met.”
“And like I said before. I would like to be trained by you to get a basic understanding of self-defense. You seem like you would be a good teacher, despite your-” You pause. “Eccentric personality.” And that was putting it lightly. The alicorn seemed to have read the human’s mind because she snorted at the woman’s attempt to put it that way.
The mare then sighs and admits a bit of defeat. “I am aware of how I am at times.” She shifts her hooves and body towards her, no longer facing the sun and sky. “And for that, I apologize.”
She looks at the mare as if she had grown an extra head. And she was utterly tongue-tied. She had not expected the boisterous Empress to apologize. Daybreaker continues, smiling briefly, aware of the human’s surprised reaction and then ruining the mood by bringing forth another issue between the two.
“I have looked into this issue that you have yelled at me over.” She cringes at Daybreaker’s truthful words and wonders where the alicorn was going with this comment. “I cannot give you the luxury of at least sending a note to your friends and family.”
“Dammit.” She curses and then looks up at the mare with a pleading tone. “Then can you at least send me back temporarily?”
“While I can send you back. I will not be able to summon you back again. It is a one-way ticket unless I do some complex and invasive spells to track you through your universe.”
The human sighed in response, hating her overall situation. But when she looked at the mare that caused this endless headache, she couldn’t find herself as mad as before at the flaming marshmallow. The mare actually put in some effort. “Okay, if that option is out, I guess I’ll settle with staying here. Even if it will cause some headaches for me in the future.”
Her words make Daybreaker pause, and the mare looks at her regretfully and seems to speak from the heart. “I still cannot share the reason for your summons unless you stay during your time here- I would like this to become more of a positive relationship.” The lady looks at the pony and sees a pleading look from the alicorn.
“So,” Daybreaker clears her throat, sounding bashful. “Can you forgive this mare for her inconsiderate summons and allow your anger to be temporarily quenched until another issue arises?”
She stares at Daybreaker, seeing the mare’s eyes as it glows with her armor. She can’t help but nod in response before giving a heartfelt smile. “Alright. Fine.” The human decides to give her the benefit of the doubt, allowing her paranoia and mistrust to rest for now. “Now, when will I be taught self-defense from you?”
Daybreaker’s smile suddenly turns a lot more mischievous and threatening. The lady can’t help but feel her heart sink to the bottom of her stomach seeing that expression.
“That is also why I brought you out here. I have not forgotten your angry outburst upon your temporary Empress.” The mare’s horn lights up once more, and the human finds herself in case of magic again. Daybreaker quickly sends her off the miniature mound until she is gently set down on the flat ground; the mare’s magic was much more thoughtful behind her movements than beforehand.
Once the mare sees the lady on the lower ground, she jumps quickly and flies off. The mare’s wings give a powerful flap, and the wind bustles as she follows that direction until she lands right in front. Daybreaker’s grin is on full display.
“Attack me without any hesitation.” Daybreaker proudly ordered. “I must see for myself where you lie in terms of your knowledge and capabilities. Then I shall assess you from there.”
The woman stared at the alicorn with suspicion. The pony was still entirely dressed in her powerful armor—there was no way she could even dent it.
And with an ego as big as the sun she represents, there was little doubt in her mind that the alicorn wouldn’t give her the mercy of being able to punch her in the face. With impossible odds, she was not motivated to do what Her Majesty just said.
She should take back her comment about Daybreaker being a good teacher.
Author's Note
The author slaps her table. "Another one!" she shouts in achievement. "It only took-" She glances at the calendar. "A month and a few days!" She blinks as she realizes what she just said. "Dang it!"
