The Blazing Sun

The walk to Her Majesty's room wasn't a long one, but you certainly took your time getting there, like it was going to make a difference. Your steps slowed and began to linger for a little before continuing. You were never one to be afraid, but ever since this 'job' had started you had felt more and more timid as the days passed on. She never forced you to do anything crazy, but the fact that she could force you to do anything at all was what scared you.

You finally made it to her door and gave it a knock.

"Come in."

You opened the door to a brightly colored room. Red, orange and bright blues covered the palette of the wall. Pictures of the sun in all sorts of designs littered around like dots. The walls, when looked upon from afar, looked almost ironically like a constellation of Daybreaker herself.

Speaking of her, you turned to look at her. She was smiling at you as she normally did, her eyes brightly colored with unknown intent, and two little fangs peered out of her smile. You swallowed hard and stood straight, your hands clasped behind your back like what you’d imagine a general standing before the President would do. Sucking in what seemed to be your final breath, you kept still.

"I’ve told you that you don't need to be so formal around me. There is no reason to be afraid, nor is there a reason for you to be standing at attention like some common Squire. You are my assistant; you are more than that merely by association with me." She said, circling around you with that persistent smile. "What gives you such cause to be afraid, if I may ask?"

She had asked you this question before, and each time you felt your voice quiver when you spoke. You didn't want to stay silent, but you couldn't force yourself to speak. She waited, stopping in front of you, her eyes leveled with yours. She was quite a tall pony, just a bit taller than Celestia was. "Are you going to speak?"

"I..."

Get the damn words out!

"I'm..."

Come on!

"I'm not scared..."

Oh, you definitely were. Your voice wavered every step of the way, and she noticed. She noticed every time you answered that question, and she always laughed and gave you a list of reasons as to why you shouldn't be terrified of the sun-goddess. Yet, today, she gave you a frown. You don't think you've ever seen her frown since you've met her.

"Still…?"

Why did that sound almost sad? You gave her a confused look, that shaky feeling still in your legs, your chest still feeling short of breath. You could tell that she was going to kill you for even making her frown – you were sure of it. Not just anybody could make her sad, and she wouldn't let you live a day to even potentially spill it to anyone!

Quick, you need to affirm your stance!

"I'm not sca–"

"Don't lie to me." She growled, her eyes still staring into yours. "You've been afraid of me ever since I signed the paperwork. Each day you come to my door, smelling of fear. Changelings can sense emotions, but I can taste them. And right now? You're sour. You've been putting a sour taste in my mouth for months now, Anonymous."

You swallowed. Today was it. You were going to be the second person sent to the moon, or the first to greet the sun face to face. At least if you were flung to that fireball, it'd be a quick death, right? Then maybe when you’re in heaven, you can ask whatever angel that was supposed to protect you why it failed so miserably.

"Well? I've been rather honest with you. I'm waiting for an answer."

If you were going to go out, you were going to do it with a bang.

"Y-You have no idea why I'm scared of you? You own me, Daybreaker! You have paperwork that says that you could kill me at any moment, and the courts wouldn't blink an eye because it'd be legal! Slavery is banned in all of Equestria, except for that one damn loophole you found! Even in my world it's illegal, even if it was made that way fairly recently! I wake up every morning thinking that it’s the day you're going to decide that I'm a failure in every regard, and that I'm not good enough to serve beside – or, heavens, beneath you."

You breathe. "I'm not a fucking pet, Daybreaker! I'm my own person, and I can think freely for myself! I don't even know why you chose me to begin with, or why you even want me to like you! Hundreds – no, thousands of ponies hate you, and you expect me after signing paperwork enslaving me, to just... like you?! Are you fucking insane?! You're an idiot, Daybreaker! You expect everyone to just like you after you took over Celestia's body, and yet you smile on that throne as if nothing is at all wrong. You..."

After falling out of your trance for a moment, you realized that Daybreaker was frowning even harder now, her face looking quite somber. She didn't look like she was going to cry, but was genuinely hurt by what you were saying. How were you not dead yet? How had she not impaled you with her sword, or blasted you off like a rocket into the moon?

"Is that truly how you see me, Anonymous?"

You forcefully swallowed again. "Yes."

"I'm sorry, then." Daybreaker said, turning around to look at her room. "Believe it or not I was actually awakened once, a long, long time ago. In the younger days of Celestia and Luna themselves. I've forgotten that old laws such as that are no longer commonplace, and it seems that the nobility and the courts have forgotten that it existed at all. In fact, it was once seen as an honor to be owned by nobility, moreso the Princesses."

She turned to you. "I tried to fit in with the society around me. I saw what happened to Luna's other side, and how it was cast away with the help of the Elements. I try to be a part of this society and the ponies within it, and I try my best to smile as if nothing is wrong. I may be a bit... angering, at times. I may instigate things, and I'm sure the looks that I give others are not taken as those of comfort, but of malice."

"I did not intend to make you upset with what I had done, Anonymous. I tried to be playful, to placate your fear, but it only heightened it. I want you to know that I am not a monster. Ponies seem to think that I have taken over Celestia's body, and while that may be true, I did not take over her soul. She is living in her own personal paradise within me, happily sipping tea on some beach. She has not had a break from the monotonous world that is Equestria, and I haven't had enough time to live freely in this world. It was a match made in heaven."

You stared at her, your feet not wanting to move. You still had fear, no doubt, but you questioned your own feelings towards her. Was this a way to fool you? To make you let down your guard, or play some kind of mind-games with you? She looked genuine when she gave her explanation to you, and you were sure she hadn't told any of this to anyone else.

"I tell this to you," She said as she closed the gap between the two of you, getting uncomfortably close. "Because you are my assistant. Slave, in technical terms, perhaps. You are an alien to this world, and despite having lived in it for longer than I have, I thought that we could learn many things together. That is why I questioned you so."

You remember the questions she would always ask you. Things that either seemed like she was joking when she asked, since the answer was so simple, or things that were asked to make you feel dumb. Either one, you were extremely careful and cautious when answering, or simply stayed silent with your head down.

"Might we restart, Anonymous?"

You didn't know how to answer, but you knew there was only one thing that would potentially make things better between the two of you. You nod.

"Great! Then I shall introduce myself." She cleared her throat, holding her hoof out. "I am Princess Daybreaker, the Original Ambivalent Protector."

The what?

You extend your hand out to meet her hoof, and grasp it lightly with care.

"I am Anonymous."