Eternal flame of Daybreaker

Excerpt from the book Daybie’s Diary

Every soldier in my army risks their life for the impossible. From where I stand, I can see their little dreams and tiny hopes flickering in every torch and campfire.
And yet, my fire isn’t there… I’ve only stopped to warm myself by their flames, and soon I’ll move on. As long as I have my glaive, I know I’ll survive any battle. Year after year, I’ve proven this to myself. I’ve always survived, even in the most hopeless fights, and this time will be no different. But the fact that I survive… it doesn’t really matter…
End of excerpt

Lately, I’ve been having the same nightmare over and over. That grim shadow of the future, that foggy past, keeps catching up to me. It always starts so beautifully, so peacefully: Luna, Celly, and I are having a good time—talking, drinking tea, discussing our favorite desserts. But it always ends the same way: Luna vanishes, leaving behind nothing but sand and stones, and the cake I’m holding with my telekinesis turns into a sticky, foul-smelling mass that eerily resembles blood. Each day, though, the dream grows fainter, more faded than before. Everything seems to gray out, as if those happy childhood moments are slowly slipping from my memory. Only one thing remains unchanged—that dark ending… Countless fires blaze outside the window, someone desperately tries to break into the dining room where I am; it feels like the enemy is about to burst in, but the dream always cuts off at that moment, leaving the future uncertain and tormenting me with one burning question: “What future will you choose?”

“Your Majesty…” A voice reaches my mind, but I stubbornly refuse to respond, as if none of this concerns me.

…

“Your Majesty!” Someone is desperately trying to get my attention, but do I even want to give it?

“What now?” The thought flashes through my head like a morning bell announcing the start of the day.

“W-what is it?” I ask, lifting my head slightly. It seems I fell asleep right at my desk while writing in my diary. I didn’t even notice when I dozed off… It felt like I just rested my head on the table, closed my eyes for a moment, and then slipped into sleep. That’s what exhaustion does to you!

“I’ve come to report!” Loyal Heart salutes me with military precision, snapping me out of my half-asleep state.

“G-Go ahead…” I yawn deeply, rubbing my eyes with a hoof.

“What does he want, waking me up at this hour…” I think gloomily. It must be around five in the morning, and soon I’ll have to raise the sun…

“A thestral has voluntarily surrendered!” Loyal Heart says grimly, waiting for my reaction.

“Just one?” I study my assistant carefully. “That’s strange, don’t you think? They usually don’t desert the battlefield one by one…” I scratch my chin with a hoof, lost in thought.

“You’re absolutely right!” He nods, while I grab a carafe and pour myself a glass of water to wake up. “Thestrals never abandon the battlefield, but this deserter claims that the entire garrison is surrendering!”

“Pfft, what?” I reflexively spit out the water I just sipped. The news leaves me utterly stunned, then sends me into a stupor.

“I’m sorry…” I glance at Loyal Heart, now drenched. “How can he claim the garrison is surrendering? What proof does he have?” I press my assistant, hoping to unravel this mystery.

He just shakes his head and continues to explain the situation in more detail.

“Aside from a white flag, he has no proof, Your Majesty…” He lowers his head, clearly distressed as he sees my growing irritation. “The prisoner demands an audience with you!” He stomps his hoof as if to say, “The nerve of this guy! How dare he?”

“Well, if he demands an audience, then so be it!” I rise from my desk. “Lead the way, Loyal Heart!” I gesture toward the exit of my chambers. My assistant follows my lead and heads for the door, guiding me to the local dungeon.

“Yes, Your Majesty! This way!” He steps out of the tent, and the local guard salutes me as we pass.

***

“What did you say your name was?” I lean closer to the prisoner sitting on the chair, causing him to fidget nervously, trying to hide it. He looks like an ordinary soldier: clad in standard thestral armor, with a silver medallion dangling from his neck.

“Probably a family heirloom…” I study my opponent. His dark gray fur is complemented by a purple mane, and his yellow eyes with vertical pupils are the perfect finishing touch to his otherwise striking appearance. His bat-like wings, a feature unique to his kind, make him stand out even more. He looks at me with more anger than fear—a look I’ve only seen once before, when I tried to take down a thestral captain. That one was a tough nut to crack, so tough that I had to resort to extreme measures: killing him… In short, I’m dealing with an unusual soldier. Perhaps he’s an officer disguised as a grunt, sent here to uncover our plans and weaknesses. I won’t let that happen!

He’s shackled, the chains resting on the table to ease their weight. I look at those shackles with a villainous grin. Apparently, I enjoy seeing my enemies in chains, though are thestrals really my enemies? Hardly… More like ponies who’ve strayed from the common path.

“M-my name is Fest!” He hesitates for a moment but quickly regains his composure.

“So, Fest…” I drawl his name and start tapping my hoof on the table. “Why did you surrender?” I decide to start with the most pressing question, drilling him with a stern gaze. “As far as I know, thestrals never desert individually, so tell me, why did you surrender?” I slam the table lightly, trying to rattle my former foe. He just hangs his head, as if carefully choosing his words, but after a moment, he continues.

“I surrendered because command chose me…” he answers unexpectedly, with sincerity. “And I’m here to tell you that we’re surrendering!” He suddenly lifts his head and looks at me seriously.

“Oh? Interesting…” I tilt my head slightly, as if to say, “What in Discord’s name are you talking about?”

“So you’re telling me that an entire army of thestrals has surrendered to me…” I stand up from the table and start pacing the interrogation room, never taking my eyes off the prisoner. “Yet instead of laying down their weapons and marching out under a white flag, they sent you to deliver this wonderful news…” I stop abruptly and glare at him. “Tell me, why should I believe you?”

“We have too many wounded, and we can’t all leave, so they sent me to deliver the message…” he replies, his expression darkening slightly.

“I’ve had enough of this charade…” I prepare myself and step closer to the thestral.

“WHAT IF THIS IS A TRAP?!” I lose my temper and slam my hooves on the table so hard it nearly splinters.

“It’s n-not a trap!” Fest blurts out, almost falling off his chair. I take a deep breath to calm myself and continue.

“So you’re saying it’s not a trap…” I sit back down at the table. “Then answer me this: why should I even listen to you?” I lean back in my chair, conjuring a small flame on my right hoof. “Why shouldn’t I just lock you up and storm the castle? That would be much simpler, and we’d see how ready your army is to surrender,” I add with a sly grin, baring my fangs.

“I believe you’re a wise and thoughtful ruler!” he suddenly says, catching me off guard. “You’ve always chosen solutions that avoid unnecessary casualties on both sides,” he continues, almost through gritted teeth. “And I believe you’ll do the same now!”

“Does he really think that highly of me?” I wonder, peering into Fest’s eyes. They’re unreadable, like the depths of a swamp. I see a whirlwind of emotions: anger, rage, sorrow, grief. But what stands out most is sadness. And it’s clear why he’s sad: the loss of his comrades, an uncertain future, and the disappearance of his patron. It’s all there in his eyes, but I still don’t find the answer to my question…

I stand up and turn to Loyal Heart, who’s been standing near the entrance, listening intently to our conversation. Truth be told, I’m about 80% sure this is a trap. I highly doubt the entire thestral army has simply surrendered, especially after my earlier provocation. Why did I do that? I wanted to disrupt their planned counteroffensive. The wise ones wrote in books: “A cornered beast is dangerous and unpredictable.” So I decided to strike preemptively against a scattered enemy. As I was later informed, my actions, including a sabotage mission, resulted in the capture of about four hundred prisoners. I’d bet this dealt a serious blow to their officer corps, not to mention the rest of the army. They’re thoroughly demoralized, so they’re incapable of mounting any counterattacks. Their only remaining chance is an improvised trap inside the castle. If I march in with my army, relaxed and unsuspecting, I’ll regret it deeply. It’ll be a bloodbath, something future historians will call the Empress’s fatal mistake. No one will emerge victorious… But I can avoid that outcome. I’m an alicorn, so I can withstand the thestrals’ assault. Can I defeat them all? I don’t know… But I do know I won’t let my army and the thestrals die in vain! That would be a true disgrace! What would I say to Celly? She’d never forgive me… Even if there’s a slim chance the thestrals are surrendering willingly, Celestia would have taken that risk. I should do the same! I’m sick of this war!

“Loyal Heart, release the prisoner!” I command, pointing a hoof at the stunned thestral.

“Yes, Your Majesty!” He carries out my order without hesitation or delay. I really did choose a good assistant.

“Fest, consider today your lucky day! Today, the wise ruler of Equestria has answered your call!” I declare with a touch of grandeur. “But if this is a trap…” I shift my gaze to my assistant.

“Loyal Heart, tell the other generals that if I don’t return to base within thirty minutes, they are to prepare to storm the castle! Level it to the ground, leave no one standing!” I issue my orders.

“But…” Loyal Heart hesitates mid-sentence. He must be thinking that I’ll be caught in the crossfire.

“But this isn’t a trap, right?” I glare at Fest again.

“O-Of course not!” he replies, a bit uncertainly, clearly thrown off by my actions and unconventional decisions.

“Do you understand, Loyal Heart?” I turn to my assistant, keeping my eyes on the prisoner.

“Yes, Your Majesty! It will be done!” he replies crisply, like a well-oiled machine.

Fest’s shackles are removed, and now, under my watchful eye, he leads me to his kin’s stronghold. I notice something curious: a gray glass vial hanging from Fest’s thigh. I wonder what it’s for?

We make our way to the castle at a leisurely pace. The Castle of the Two Sisters is already in rough shape. Its tall towers are gone—likely my doing. The defensive walls are barely holding together. It feels like one fireball from me, and the wall would crumble completely. It’s hard to call this structure a fortress anymore. Repairing it would be a nightmare… It’d be easier and cheaper to build a new one. I’ll have to address that later…

As I ponder the castle’s habitability, the creaky gates swing open, and I step into the grand hall. What I see next truly shocks me. The first thing I notice is the smell: a thick, brutal stench with hints of dried blood fills my nostrils. Any unprepared pony would feel sick from the odor, but not me. I’ve seen—and smelled—worse. But what I see next leaves a deep scar on my already wounded heart.

Before me are countless sick and wounded thestrals. They’re sprawled on makeshift beds, so many that they fill the entire grand hall. They moan, groan, and cry out in pain. They all share one thing: severe burns covering their bodies.

“Is all of this… my fault?” The thought flashes through my mind like a cold winter wind. My heart sinks, and a cold sweat breaks out on my forehead. I wanted what was best… I did everything to avoid this outcome, risked everything, and for what? For this? They’ll be scarred for life, if not crippled. And it’s all my fault…

My gaze is fixed on these suffering ponies. Is this the entire thestral army? Where are the others? But before I can piece it together, Fest turns to me angrily.

“See what you’ve done!” He points a hoof at the injured ponies. “Are you happy now, you villainous usurper?” He suddenly rears up, clutching the gray vial in his hoof, and hurls it at my feet.

BANG

Thick smoke envelops me completely, spreading rapidly and making me cough violently. Through the smoke, I see glints of silver and hear the clatter of spears. Everything happens so fast, I can’t even process it.

WHOOSH

Over twenty spears pierce me simultaneously; pain, like thunder on a clear day, shoots through my head, forcing me to writhe in unbearable agony. But I can’t move—I’m pinned by the spears. My muscles betray me, convulsing and causing even more pain.

“KHA-AH…” A pool of blood gushes from my mouth. It feels like there’s no part of my body left untouched—even my wings are impaled. My once beautiful, noble white coat is now drenched in dark crimson. My mouth fills with the metallic taste of blood.

“LIFT THE FLAMING BITCH!” someone from the surrounding crowd commands. Almost in unison, they obey, hoisting me higher and driving the spears deeper into my body, intensifying the agony. Just when I think the pain can’t get worse, it does. Blood pours from everywhere—I cough, choke, and streams of crimson flow from my wounds onto the spear shafts. My vision blurs and swims… I blink desperately to clear my sight, but it’s no use. My eyes well up with tears, as if they’re crying with me. I want to scream, but I can’t—I’m too busy choking on the blood filling my mouth. My throat goes numb, as if a thousand needles have been driven into it, forcing me to gasp for air. Though I don’t scream, it feels like my entire body is wailing, especially my head, which can’t comprehend what’s happening. My mane, once glowing brightly like flame, now hangs in dirty, blood-red locks. A phrase I once read in a book flashes through my mind: “Choosing a path to escape fate, we meet it there…” How true that is…

“Hah…” The last sound escapes my lips. I manage a faint smile, accepting my grim fate. This must be my role in this play… Perhaps when I chose the lesser of two evils, I should have chosen neither… I wanted what was best, I thought carefully, I tried to make things better, but in the end, I became the villain. All these ponies suffered because of me, and some even died. I can’t ease the pain and bitterness that now reside in my heart, seemingly forever. I once believed I could succeed. What a fool I was! I was an imperfect pony, tackling impossible tasks with boundless enthusiasm, solving them with brute force. I did everything in my power. I just had bad luck…

With that thought, my eyes slowly roll back, and the last tears fall from my eyelids like falling gems. The noise around me fades, and I feel an intense cold. It’s as if I’m freezing to death. But somehow, I feel free. It seems my struggle for life is over… With my last tear, I exhale my final breath. My heart slows, then stops completely…

***

Excerpt from the book Daybie’s Diary

Everything’s fine, you just stumbled, like tripping over a stone on the pavement. It doesn’t mean anything; your goal is far greater than this, isn’t it? I’m sure you’ll get through it! Soon, you’ll get back up and keep moving forward…
That’s how I comforted myself during these difficult days. What’s the point of repenting for sins? What would I say to the fallen? I can’t ask for forgiveness from them or their families. This is the path I chose for myself. If I repent, if I beg for forgiveness, it’s all over, and I’ll never reach my goal…
End of excerpt

I woke up in a completely different place. It was a truly astonishing place, astonishing primarily in its horror and wretchedness. Around me stretched water the color of crimson. It seemed endless, with not a single patch of land in sight. Dark thoughts crept into my mind, suggesting that this was the blood of my fallen enemies, and somehow I was still standing in this vast pool. I looked around, trying to make sense of my surroundings. The familiar Sun was gone, replaced by what looked like an eclipse, as if the Moon and Sun had merged, creating a beautiful yet terrifying phenomenon. The atmosphere pressed down on me like nothing else ever had.

Suddenly, it felt like all I’d ever done in my life was kill and maim. For some reason, a deep sadness settled in my heart. It was as if I’d become the very thing I despised and hated with all my being.

“I’ve become a killer…” I thought gloomily, lowering my head. A single tear rolled down my cheek, falling into this abyss of blood. My hooves involuntarily dipped into the water, as if expressing my resignation to it all. Gradually, an aura of helplessness began to envelop me… My mind was completely empty as I stared at my reflection, but no matter how long I looked, I couldn’t find the old me. It was as if something inside me had broken, and it could never be fixed. What would the old Daybie say, looking at all this? That pure soul who looked to the future with fire in her eyes and spoke with optimism. Would she be horrified? Would she hate me to her core? I’ll never find the answer, no matter how much I want to…

“D-Daybie, is that you?” A painfully familiar voice sounded somewhere behind me. I thought it was some kind of hallucination and decided to ignore it. If it really was her, I was too ashamed and scared to look her in the eye after everything I’d done…

“Daybie! Can you hear me?” The voice grew closer, and with it, I heard the squelching sound of footsteps.

“Celestia! Is that really you?!” I lifted my head and turned toward the voice, my eyes wide with surprise.

“C-Celestia!” I called out to her with burning eyes, but for some reason, I couldn’t meet her gaze.

“Daybie, where are we?” she began to look around with a studying gaze, her wings folded, and her demeanor radiating calm rather than concern.

“I-I don’t know… I guess this it is my fault…” I stammered, trying to articulate my thoughts.

“If I tell her, will she help me?” The question tormented me. Celestia had done plenty of questionable things herself, but compared to me, it was nothing… Maybe she could help me? Maybe she’d listen? Maybe now, when I need support the most, I should open up? Well, here goes nothing!

“What do you mean, ‘your fault’?” she asked, tilting her head in confusion.

“You see…” I lowered my head, gathering my thoughts. “After you shut yourself away, I had to deal with the impending danger of our kingdom’s collapse…” I started from the beginning, trying to prepare my dear Celestia. “Because of the thestral revolution, I had to use… special methods to preserve Equestria…” I explained the situation like a noble delivering a report.

“What ‘special methods’?!” she asked, stunned. “What have you done?!” she demanded angrily, stomping her hoof and glaring at me. Her brows were furrowed, and her lips were tightly pressed together, expressing immense fury.
I, on the other hand, trembled even more and sank lower, as if trying to disappear under the weight of Celestia’s gaze. I wanted to sink into the ground, already regretting a hundred times over that I’d started telling her about my deeds.

“I… had to kill thestrals…” I forced the words out, finding it incredibly difficult to say.

SLAP

A sudden slap struck my cheek, leaving a burning mark. I staggered and reflexively pressed my hoof to the sore spot, the fiery pain radiating through my head. It felt like the hardest blow I’d ever taken.

“Stop dodging! What have you done to MY Equestria?! I want to know all your crimes!” she demanded furiously, making me shut my eyes tightly. I half-expected Queen Celestia to hit me again, given how loudly she was shouting.

“But I’m not a villain…” I began to justify myself, trying to calm Celestia’s anger. “I had to! I didn’t want to kill anyone until the very end!” I mumbled, lowering my head even further. I couldn’t look her in the eyes; I was too scared…

“I’m not in the mood to listen to your excuses!” she turned and struck me with her tail, “Why are we here?!” she asked, looking around at the place we were in.

Why are we here? The last thing I remember is trusting a thestral. He said something about their entire army surrendering. Thoughts of imminent peace flashed through my mind. Then I remember entering the castle, which had once been my home. And then… searing, soul-crushing pain shot through my entire body, as if there was no part of me left untouched. I’d been deceived in the most shameless way, and like a naive fool, I fell for it. And as a result, over twenty spears were driven into me…

“Because I died…” I concluded, pouring my last emotions into those words. My gaze went blank, and my face stopped expressing anything. Celestia raised her hoof to strike me again but hesitated. Maybe she saw the look in my eyes…

“Ha! A monster like you belongs here!” she sneered, mocking me. “You’re a beast…” she spat in my direction and turned away, walking off.

“I regret not getting rid of you back then!” she threw over her shoulder and kept walking, while I watched her movements like a doll. My face was frozen in silent shock.

But why? You can’t say that… We were inseparable. Why? What did I do wrong? Was it all because of my controversial decisions? Celestia, why are you treating me like this? You always taught me, we grew up together, you were like… like a mother to me…

“C-Celestia!” I called out to stop her. “How can you say such things?! I’m your… your daughter…” I shouted the words I least wanted to say but most desired. I wanted a real family… Why did I realize this only at the last moment? She’s everything to me, just as I am to her.

“Daughter?” Celestia stopped and turned to me. She looked at me with a piercing gaze, as if seeing right through me. “You’re just a tumor in my mind that should’ve been cut out long ago,” she said, and my heart stopped for a moment. Those were the most horrible, cruel words I’d ever heard. “But I’m glad the problem solved itself!” she dismissed me as if I were nothing. It hurt…

“Wait! Celestia! You said you’d always be by my side! You promised to show me how to become a good pony again!” I clung to the last shred of hope, like a drowning pony grasping at a rotten branch.

“Goodbye, Daybreaker. I hope you stay here, where you belong!” Celestia continued to walk away, as if I were a disease.

“C-Celestia!” I lunged toward her, but suddenly a hoof emerged from the water and grabbed my leg. All I could do was watch as Celestia slowly walked away, dissolving into the void. She left without even looking back… Everything I’d fought for vanished in an instant. As if everything I’d done was meaningless.

“Did you really think someone like you could become a good pony? No, you’re very mistaken! Look at your hooves!” a strange voice echoed from multiple directions, as if there were many of them.

As if on command, I lowered my gaze and saw only bloodied, scarred hooves. It was as if the last bridge I’d left as a backup had burned to the ground. That’s when I realized there was no way back…

“Oh, have you given up already?” the voices taunted me, mocking me like I was some circus animal! “Then what will you say to them?”

Hundreds of ponies appeared before me. They all had one thing in common—they were all dead. Their flesh was peeling off like unwanted husks, their faces disfigured to the point of madness, their armor long since tarnished and corroded. Some even carried the banners of our kingdom.

“Take us with you! We want to fight alongside you!” they wailed, as if singing me a song. “I believe you’ll lead us to a better future…” the dead continued to speak to me. “I want to see the Empire you’ll build! I want to fight under your banner!” the walking corpses pressed me, though they didn’t take a single step toward me.

“I can’t!” I shook my head. “No, I can’t! I can’t take you with me!” I rejected their posthumous wishes. “Because you’re all dead! You’re all lifeless, so I can’t take you with me to a bright future!” I pleaded with them. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry!” I bowed my head, practically kneeling before them.

“You’re still just a foal!” the unknown voices reminded me of their presence. “You should know by now that all these ponies died because of you!” they said, making my eyes widen. “Isn’t that right?” they struck me like another slap. “It’s because they followed you! If you hadn’t said you wanted to build the Solar Empire, none of them would’ve died!”

“But I never forced anyone to follow me!” I defended myself.

“What are you talking about?! How do you think you made it this far?!” they continued to crush my already broken will.

“Listen, the path you took is paved with the bodies of the dead! And that’s not all! These corpses have layered the road three or four times over with the bodies of those they killed so you could get where you are now! Look!” I turned and saw a towering road leading to a bright, beautiful castle, and it took my breath away. “If you want to reach that future, you’ll have to keep paving this path for a long time!”

My mind went completely blank. It was as if this world was draining all my life force, along with my emotions. The only emotion left was fear, and it grew even stronger.

“What, are you scared now? Do you want to turn back? Don’t even think about it; you can’t!” even my fear began to fade. “If you give in to your fears, you’ll become just another stone in your road!” they warned me in unison. “Now look at your past!” images of the worst moments from my past flooded my mind. They flashed by so quickly and vividly, it was like reliving them all over again. I can’t take this…

“Aah! What have I done?!” I grabbed my head with my hooves, unable to bear the weight of my actions.

“There you go, foolish alicorn! Why did you come here just to regret everything you’ve done? Now’s not the time to falter! Why didn’t you just stay a part of Celestia and live a peaceful life?” they voiced the thought I’d buried long ago. And it’s true. I’m not a part of Celestia! I have a soul! I can think and feel just as much as Celestia. But that doesn’t absolve me of my crimes!

“But I… I didn’t know!” I looked back at the light, the road I was walking, searching for something familiar.

“Quiet! You should’ve known what awaited you here!” they silenced me, leaving me no chance. The weight of guilt and remorse brought me to my knees.

“I should’ve known… and walked this path…” I stared blankly at the alluring light. “To here…”

“And what are you saying now?” another familiar voice spoke behind me. I turned and saw a pony I hadn’t seen in a long time. It was Luna, dressed in royal dark armor, and she seemed to have grown both physically and spiritually. She radiated heroism and a determination to move forward no matter what. “This is the road to your dream!” she declared proudly, approaching me and sharing some of her unwavering resolve. “You believe in this!” she chuckled kindly, gently patting my head. It felt incredibly comforting. Even through her iron horseshoes, I felt the warmth she shared. Just as I thought about hugging her, Luna vanished, leaving behind a sense of safety, as if someone dear was always watching over me. “Why hesitate after all this?” her final words echoed in this world, making me think deeply.

“Is this how you wanted to be remembered?” the voices gradually merged into one, and Celestia appeared before me again.

“A foolish pretender who doomed her people to death? Is this how you wanted to die?” Celestia asked me the final, provocative questions. Though they were simple words, I felt there was something more behind them. It was as if I was fighting for my very existence.

“NO!” I shouted at her and stood tall. “I’ll fight for my dream!” I hissed right in her face. “And I’ll fight, no matter the cost! If I have to kill, I’ll kill! If I need your body, I’ll take it!” I bared my fangs, standing like a predator.

“Excellent!” she chuckled. “Then I wish you luck! HA-HA-HA!” she sang the last words and dissolved, filling the space with laughter.

“Luck?” I raised an eyebrow. “Seriously? That’s the last thing you’ll wish me? Luck left me long ago!” I declared proudly. “PFFT-HA-HA, LUCK?!” I laughed with all my might, as if some of her madness had transferred to me.

Before I could finish laughing, some hooves pulled me into the water. It turned out to be much deeper than I thought. I was being sucked into some kind of whirlpool of madness. I don’t know what’s next, but I know one thing for sure—the peaceful Daybie is gone! Only Daybreaker remains, as unfortunate as that is. And as soon as I realized that, the light before me faded, my thoughts became sluggish, and I fell asleep…

…

“Hey! Is that flaming bitch finally dead?!” muffled voices reached me.

“Yes, Commander Star Fang!” someone nearby cheered for my supposed demise. But here’s the thing—they’re wrong! I’m more alive than ever!

“Idiot!” I heard a sharp smack, probably a slap to the head. “Then why is she still moving?!” everyone fell silent, presumably staring at me.

“I’m burning up!” I suddenly realized. It felt like my heart had been replaced with some infernal engine, pumping heat throughout my body. As if my blood had evaporated, and boiling oil now flowed through my veins. Even though high temperatures never bothered me before, now it’s the complete opposite. I’m so hot! So hot that even the surrounding air feels cold. If I don’t breathe it in now, I’ll explode on the spot! Or turn into one big flame!

***

“Kha-ah…” I greedily gasped for air, trying to relieve the pressure in my body. It’s hard, but it’s better than nothing. My eyes are heavy, my vision slightly blurred. But none of that matters now. I’m alive! I’ve risen from the ashes of war! It’s time to exact my revenge!

“Cough-cough!” I cleared my throat loudly. “Can chaos consume the world?” I asked quietly, almost rhetorically. Everyone around me stood gaping, watching the extraordinary event unfold.

“This is a miracle, no doubt! Pfft-ha-ha!” I grinned with a strange, almost mentally unstable smile, baring my sharp fangs.
“DIDN’T SEE THAT COMING, DID YOU?!” I roared, channeling some of my strength into my voice. “Can chaos consume the world?!” I repeated my question, this time at full volume. The heat radiating from me was so intense that the shafts of the spears began to melt, along with their tips. I glanced around at my enemies with an intrigued look. I don’t know how it appeared from the outside, but I bared all my fangs in a villainous snarl, causing the attacking rats to back away in sheer terror. Except for one. The one who didn’t flinch. It was that brave thestral named Fest.

“Fest…” I drawled his name with a villainous tone, slowly approaching him. “You’ve made too many mistakes today!” I stomped my hoof. “It’s time to announce your sentence!” My eyes flashed, but not a single muscle in his body twitched, which impressed me. Fest clenched his lips tightly, glaring at me with incredible anger and disdain. His entire body was tense, even his bat-like wings seemed to take on a combat stance.

“Even in the face of death, he shows no fear… What a pity, such a good fighter…” I thought bitterly.

“You deceived the Empress!” I declared menacingly. “You lured me into a trap, thinking you’d get away with it!” I raised my hoof higher, igniting a small flame on it. “You tried to usurp power by brutally attacking me! This won’t be forgiven!” I moved to the most interesting part of my sentence, while the others just stood there, mouths agape, as if witnessing a miracle.

“Thestral Fest, I sentence you to the highest punishment!” I summoned my glaive. “EXECUTION!” At that, he seemed to snap out of it.

“DIE, YOU FILTHY SPAWN OF CHAOS!” In an instant, he drew his sword and swung at me, but he never got the chance to complete his vile act.

WHOOSH

My glaive moved faster than his sword. With a single, precise strike, I severed his head from his shoulders. His blood splattered across my face, but it evaporated almost instantly. I felt nothing at his death… I felt almost nothing at all in that moment.

“Why did the blood evaporate?” The thought lingered in my mind, searching for answers. It suddenly felt like I couldn’t get enough air. It was as if rage was bursting out of me! I thought this until I noticed smoke literally pouring from my nostrils! I turned my gaze back to Fest’s lifeless body, and new thoughts began to form.

“My flesh was dull gold…” I voiced my thoughts aloud. “And my blood has rotted…” I looked at my moderately healing wounds. “I left corpse after corpse in my wake, waiting for this day!” I spread my wings and soared upward, nearly reaching the ceiling, and began to study it carefully. Fortunately, my search didn’t take long, and I quickly found what I was looking for.

“Their supplies!” I spotted a hastily constructed storage area in the throne room, guarded by two thestrals. Well, “guarded” is a stretch… They stood frozen, staring at the ground as soon as I turned my attention to them. It seemed they were terrified of me. Good! How could they not be? A pony had literally risen from the dead!

“I guess all their supplies are here, given the size of this thing…” I thought as I flew closer to the “structure.” By this point, I felt something strange, almost like a gag reflex. It was as if something was stuck in my stomach and needed to be expelled. A very odd sensation…

“It’s so hot! I’m burning up! I’m bursting with rage!” I marveled at my own body, because I was literally on fire! My mane blazed brightly like a flame. Strangely, my armor wasn’t melting. It must have been made of some incredibly heat-resistant alloy. Why didn’t I feel any pain? Had I stopped being a pony altogether?

No! It was more like pain no longer mattered to me. What mattered more was the growing impulse in my head. I felt something else… Something fierce and wild boiling inside me.

“O͝ṗe̋ṅ ̏u͝p̚!” A raspy, foreign voice echoed in my mind.

“Yes, now I understand…” I began to realize, as if a piece of the puzzle had finally clicked into place.

“O͝ṗe̋ṅ ̏u͝p̚!” The horrible voice persisted, sounding more like the screech of metal.

“This is my rebirth…” I came to an unexpected conclusion.

“O͠ṗe̋ṅ ̏u͝p̚ t͝ȯ t͝ḣė f͝i̇ṙė!” The commanding voice demanded action as the heat inside me grew stronger.

“…”

“O͝ṖE̋Ṅ ̏U͝P̚ T͝Ȯ T͝ḢĖ F͝İṘĖ!”

“A-A-A-A!” I screamed at the top of my lungs in a fit of madness! As soon as I flew up to the storage area, I felt I couldn’t hold back any longer. It felt like my own rage was guiding me. I opened my mouth and witnessed the horror… A stream of… fire?! erupted from my mouth!

“How is this possible?!” My eyes widened as I directed the liquid fire toward the supplies. The flames immediately engulfed the storage area, spreading and growing in intensity. The pressure in my body subsided slightly, and I finally stopped spewing fire like a deranged dragon-demon.

“Fire! FIRE!” The nearby guards woke up and shouted at the top of their lungs. “Run, she’s going to burn us all!” Panic spread through the capable fighters like rolling thunder.

“Stand down!” Star Fang abruptly intervened to bring his soldiers to their senses. “OPEN FIRE ON THE ABOMINATION!” he ordered without hesitation, pointing a hoof at me.

“At me? And he called me an abomination?! HOW DARE HE?!” I flared up even more, burning brighter than ever. Those who could grabbed their crossbows and aimed them at me. Some of the thestrals were visibly shaking, terrified of me.

“Fire!” came the short command. Multiple clicks followed as the triggers were pulled. A barrage of bolts flew toward me. I didn’t even think to close my eyes because I already knew what would happen. The bolts burned up almost instantly as they approached me. It seemed my rage had reached its peak. I needed to release this anger! I strained my neck and channeled energy into my horn, forming a medium-sized fireball in front of me. I tilted my head back toward the ceiling with its dormer windows and unleashed the spell.

BOOM

A powerful explosion rang out, followed by the screech of metal and the shattering of glass. A pile of debris crashed onto the burning storage area. Instinctively, I created an orange shield around myself.

“I am Daybreaker! The red flame dancing on the graves of my enemies!” I spread my wings wide, hovering in the air above the ashes. “And I do not know defeat!” I declared my first winged phrase and flew out of the newly formed hole.

***

“What the hell is this?!” My temper flared again as I approached my base. The metallic sounds echoed from a kilometer away. A fierce battle was unfolding on the ground.

“Thestrals…” I spat with venom in my voice, watching the scene below. There weren’t many of them, maybe a hundred at most. My ponies outnumbered them, but we were taking heavier losses. The air was thick with the smell of blood and iron. That’s what war smells like. It’s unclear how this will end. The bloodshed must stop! I have no idea how they infiltrated the heart of the base or who let them in. But I can’t just stand by and watch my subjects being slaughtered! My ponies are clearly demoralized, and who could blame them? Their ruler left for the enemy’s lair without leaving any orders. What else could they do?!

“EVERYONE, HALT!” I commanded with my Canterlot voice. “CEASE THIS MEANINGLESS BLOODSHED!” I issued my next decree, and no one dared to disobey.

Everyone froze in place. My soldiers, who had been fighting with grim determination, now stood with renewed confidence. And then I realized why. I noticed an orange glow emanating from my horn. I must have infused my voice with fire magic! It seemed to have an entirely new, unexpected effect.

“They’re literally frozen in place!” I realized with surprise. My voice had not only grown more powerful but also more refined. A strange smile crept onto my face.

“S̕ḣőu̇l̇ḋ ̇İ ̇ċu̇ṫ ̇ȯḟḟ ̇ṫḣėi̇ṙ ̇ḣėȧḋṡ?̇” A mad thought crossed my mind. Why not? Behead the unruly thestrals, maybe even kill a few of my own for letting the infiltrators slip through…

BOOM

My hoof involuntarily struck my own cheek. The sharp pain, like a splash of cold water, brought me back to my senses. I needed to stop thinking like that! These are my ponies, even the thestrals!

“What’s come over me?” I suddenly felt like I was doing something wrong. As if a small part of my coal-black heart was screaming, even wailing, that I was committing evil! This is inhumane!

“I’m the ruler of Equestria, for crying out loud!” With that thought, I redirected my magic.

“Do I have enough magic for this?” I hesitated before making my decision. Even though it’s a simple spell, the scale of it is something else! I’d wager even the legendary Star Swirl couldn’t handle this much! Lifting so many ponies with telekinesis is beyond the capabilities of an ordinary unicorn, but an alicorn… I’m plagued by vague doubts…

“I can’t hesitate, I need to act!” I channeled a stream of mana into my horn. It glowed brighter than ever. It felt like a small sun had appeared on my forehead. My body began to tremble strangely. My neck was under immense strain, so much so that I couldn’t turn it in any direction. At the same time, the effect of my Canterlot voice began to wear off, and the ponies, practically exhausted, collapsed to the ground. It was as if my voice had drained some magical energy from them.

And then a true miracle began to unfold. Each thestral was enveloped in a magical haze, signifying the telekinesis spell. One by one, until all the infiltrating thestrals were under my control. They kicked and struggled, trying to break free from my spell, but to no avail. Compared to such powerful magic, they were utterly powerless. All these thestrals were under my absolute control! Thoughts of killing these scoundrels crept back into my mind, but I swiftly pushed them away.

It was incredibly difficult. It felt like my strength was draining with every second. Mana flowed out of my horn like a stream as I controlled the thestrals’ bodies. At my command, they rose into the air and smoothly moved to the center of the parade ground. As soon as I gathered them together, my mana ran out. They fell to the ground, thankfully not from a great height, so they didn’t sustain serious injuries. Except, perhaps, for magical exhaustion.
I think my spell left them temporarily unable to continue fighting.

“I’m going to fall, my wings can’t hold me anymore!” I began to plummet. My brain immediately issued a command, and my wings folded into a slight arc, allowing me to glide somewhat.

THUD

I hit the ground with a loud crash, kicking up a small cloud of dust. Those who could rushed over to me and, as expected, bowed.

“Your Majesty, you’re alive!” they exclaimed with shining eyes. “The enemy dared to slander you, claiming you had perished in the castle, but we never lost faith that you were alive!” one particularly respectful soldier explained.

“Of course I’m alive, it couldn’t be otherwise!” I stood up and puffed out my chest proudly. “LOYAL HEART!” I called out to summon my assistant. He quickly approached and also bowed.

“Triple the patrols!” I stomped my hoof, as befits an empress. “We couldn’t reach a peaceful agreement,” I shook my head in denial. “Tie up these infiltrators, interrogate them, and throw them in with the others!” I pointed a hoof at the pile of thestrals. By this point, my legs were treacherously shaking. A little more, and I would have collapsed unconscious.

“Yes, my Empress!” he said with a hoof pressed to his chest.

“If anything, I’ll be in my quarters. Don’t disturb me for no reason!” I issued my final order and hurried away. But then I stopped and turned my head toward my assistant.

“And yes, I will definitely find out who’s responsible for this sabotage!” I bared my teeth, causing Loyal Heart to nervously gulp. “I expect a report on my desk!” I snorted and left without looking back. My task was complete, and it wouldn’t do for an alicorn to collapse from exhaustion in front of her subjects.

…

I returned to the tent, and the first thing I did was collapse onto the bed. I didn’t even have the strength to remove my armor. I fell asleep almost instantly. I’m starting to miss the old carefree days more and more…

***

A week passed, and everything at the temporary base returned to normal. I received a full report from Loyal Heart about what had happened. As it turned out, the enemy had sent word to their forces to prepare a sabotage attack and carry it out when my army was most vulnerable. And that moment came when I left my soldiers under the pretext of a peace agreement. I felt partly responsible for this attack; after all, if someone else had been in my place, they might have acted differently… They would never have fallen for the enemy’s ploy. But what’s done is done; the past can’t be changed… All we can do is learn from it and move forward. However, punishment was necessary, so those responsible for this failure had already received disciplinary action, and the officers had been demoted.

“Moving Forward!” That’s what I titled the epilogue to my tales in my diary. Right now, I was sitting and writing everything down in my manuscript, just like before. The book had become quite hefty by this point! It contained almost everything: narratives about my survival in this new world, as well as my thoughts and feelings. I even managed to write some poetry as epigraphs to my chapters. It turns out I’ve awakened a true writer within myself! I could publish this book, but I’m afraid it’s too personal, and it would seriously damage my reputation. And I always need to maintain my image! I didn’t even notice: I started writing as a way to escape my problems, but it turned into a hobby.

In addition to my book, I’ve been managing my state, albeit poorly. Some of the responsibilities fell to Golden Claw, so I had to promote him to my personal secretary, or advisor under the old laws. I had to delve into the deepest corners of Celestia’s memory to even begin to function as a ruler. And in these times, it’s even harder. The entire country is practically paralyzed. Wealthy aristocrats have hired mercenaries as guards and are already threatening to declare independence in their territories. A little more, and the country would plunge into Tartarus. Thank the Sun I made the decision in time and appointed Golden Claw to handle this issue. So he traveled across the country, persuading and winning over the aristocracy to accept me as Celestia’s successor. If all goes well, soon all the aristocrats, big and small, will flock here. They will pledge their allegiance to me as the sole Empress, Celestia’s successor, Daybreaker. And there will be a grand coronation ceremony; I’m really looking forward to that moment…

“Your Majesty!” Loyal Heart burst in like a thunderclap, interrupting my writing. “Permission to report!”

“Granted!” I waved a hoof, urging him to get on with it.

“The thestrals are surrendering!” he announced, shocking me.

“Mmm, surrendering…” I continued writing orders and decrees. “We’ve been through this before…” I signed a document with a flourish.

“This time, they’re all coming out with white flags!” Loyal Heart clarified. After his words, I looked up at him and raised a skeptical eyebrow. “They’re unarmed!”

“What are your orders, Your Majesty?” he asked, looking at me expectantly.

“So, the moment has come… They’ve finally surrendered…” I rose from the table and approached him.

“A wise decision!” I responded to his news. “Let them all in, and feed the soldiers! They must be starving!” I issued the order, and he seemed to falter.

“B-But they’re the enemy…” Loyal Heart tried to interject, but I cut him off.

“If they’re coming out with white flags and unarmed, they’re surrendering! That means they’re no longer our enemies!” I dispelled his preconceptions. “Feed them, and organize a separate meal for the higher officers and commanders!” I mentally smacked him on the back of the head, and he sagged a bit.

“But why organize a separate meal?” he asked, as if the question was nagging at him.

“We’ll be negotiating peace!” I stomped my hoof to finally get through to my slow subordinate. “And do it quickly! Golden Claw should have returned by now!”

“Forgive me, Your Majesty, it will be done!” Loyal Heart hastily left to carry out my orders.

“Things are becoming clearer…” I thought, gazing at the cloudy sky, as if the Sun’s rays were finally breaking through over Equestria…