Eternal flame of Daybreaker

The air seemed to drop a few degrees in temperature. The rays of light streaming through the stained-glass windows no longer felt warm or bright. Instead, they carried a chill, as if the wind itself had entered with them. My heart pounded even harder, pumping my already hot blood faster through my veins.

“You will answer His Highness Blueblood!” the guard beside him interjected, forcing me to raise an eyebrow involuntarily.

“So, a prince after all…” I gave the pompous jerk a once-over. Yeah, what a show-off…

“Not knowing who I am is the same as admitting you’re a fool!” I declared proudly, lifting my head high. “Can’t you see who I am?” I spread my wings wide, casting a massive shadow over the guard, who stumbled back.

“Ah, I think I remember now…” the prince scratched his chin, sizing me up. “My apologies…” he stammered, clearly sweating. He paused for a moment, then hid behind the guard. “You’re that lying villainess who deceived and terrorized her own people!” he accused, pointing a hoof at me. “How are you even still alive? I thought you died long ago with the arrival of Equestria’s true ruler, Celestia. And yet, here you are…”

It was astonishing… His mouth managed to utter words in such a way that, even in a state of complete zen, I could feel myself boiling over. So much so that this insolent fool would soon be picking up his own pieces!

“HOW DARE YOU?! YOU INSOLENT BRAT!” I roared with the voice of Canterlot, my fury erupting in an instant. I took heavy, deliberate steps toward him. The “Prince” Blueblood faltered and theatrically collapsed in front of me.

“Oh, I’ll teach you palace etiquette real quick, you scum!” Everything inside me was seething. No one had ever been so brazen with me before. I’d make sure even Celestia wouldn’t recognize him when I was done!

SLAP

The sharp sound of my hoof striking his noble face echoed through the hall. A red mark appeared on his cheek as he crumpled further to the floor. His personal guard immediately moved to shield him.

“GUARDS!” the wannabe prince screamed in panic. “Seize her and throw her in the dungeon! She dared to attack the prince!” he hurled accusations at me.

I immediately heard the thunderous sound of hooves from all directions. As if on cue, guards poured in from every door leading to the corridor. They flooded the hallway, their armor reflecting light that created an unbearable glare.

“So bright!” I squinted, trying to count them. There had to be at least fifty of them here. And they all pointed their spears at me. They surrounded me, driving me into a corner. The only escape was through the stained-glass windows, but how high up were we? I’d probably splatter on the ground. What if I fought back? In theory, I had a chance to survive. Or, at the very least, die like the kind of person who wouldn’t yield even under a barrage of spears. That sounded tempting. What did I have to lose anyway? Absolutely nothing! Well, that suits me just fine!

“Daybreaker, surrender!” a powerful voice boomed from the crowd, drawing all attention to the brave pony. The guards parted, and a figure emerged. It was a unicorn with a white coat and blue mane. His knightly appearance was completed by purple armor with gold accents. “If you surrender voluntarily, we guarantee you comfortable living conditions!” he added. Not that it mattered. Surrendering willingly felt like betrayal. Not just to anyone, but to Daybreaker herself! Yet there was something about this pony… Something I had once forgotten…

“Loyal Heart?!” It flashed in my mind for a second. No, it couldn’t be him, not after hundreds of years! He must’ve died long ago… Damn Daybreaker’s faulty memory! I can’t afford doubts at a time like this! As the old Leningrad saying goes: “If a fight is inevitable, strike first!”

“DAYBREAKER NEVER SURRENDERS!” I thundered through the corridor and did what no one expected.

BAM

I swiftly plunged into the crowd of relaxed guards and delivered a powerful blow to the first spearman within reach. He flew back with a clang, knocking over his comrades. The ranks were broken! And this was just the beginning! No way I’d let them take me alive!

“This speed, damn it!” I didn’t expect this from an alicorn’s body. Even in a state of magical exhaustion, it could rival the speed and agility of ponies who had trained their entire lives. What would happen when I fully recovered? I didn’t even want to imagine what this body was capable of… Oh, Sun, how much time had Daybreaker spent training?

“I don’t even need to think tactically!” I noticed something remarkable. Even without magic, her limbs remembered everything. All I had to do was guide them, and they knew what to do. I’d never experienced anything like this before. A very strange feeling…

While I marveled at the strength of this body, a group of guards behind me decided to charge at me with their spears. My wings expertly lifted me into the air. Before I could blink, I flipped midair and landed behind my enemies. They tried to stop, but momentum is a tricky thing.

CRASH

They piled onto their own comrades, creating an even bigger mess. Meanwhile, an involuntary smirk appeared on my face. What a bunch of blockheads! Who even trained them? Did they even get trained? No wonder it’s so easy for me… What if a real enemy showed up? This is just a decorative army. A mere ceremonial regiment…

“Block, counter! Block, counter!” I cheered myself on with my hastily devised strategy. As they say, “We’ll play it by ear.”

WHOOSH

“UGH, DAMN IT!” I winced in pain. One spear finally got through, stabbing me in the side. Damn it, I just recovered! I turned and saw a pegasus who had dared to attack me from above. She thought I’d unleash a wall of unimaginable flames and quickly retreated. But I was faster!

“Oh no, sweetheart, you’re not getting away that easily!” I struck her head with my hoof. The sound was like hammering a nail into a wall—sharp and crisp. The poor pegasus immediately collapsed and didn’t dare get up. For a moment, I even felt sorry for her. Daybreaker’s blows were heavy, even without magic!

“Prepare the magic nets!” the lead officer, presumably the captain of the palace guard, ordered. His armor was made of different, more expensive materials. Maybe even magically enchanted?! No, I think such ancient technology is lost forever… Where did I even get this knowledge about armor?!

“Damn it, they’re going to catch me!” I snapped out of these idiotic thoughts and focused on the enemy. In the distance, under protection, the palace mages were preparing a group spell. Daybreaker’s memory told me they’d strike in less than three seconds. Come on, think, damn it!

“Horn, please, shield me from their attack!” I desperately called on Daybreaker’s memory. Thoughts swirled in my head like little yellow flames. I can’t get caught in their nets! I’ll never forgive myself! There’s a chance to escape, however slim. I have to find a way! Oh, I think I’ve got it! Come on!

BANG

…

When I opened my eyes, I saw the unimaginable! A large orange bubble had formed around me, completely shielding me and preventing any outside forces from penetrating.

“Incredible! This is protective magic!” I was utterly stunned by my own abilities. It took me a moment to realize that the magic nets flying toward me had bounced off this shield like a soccer ball. Their neutralizing spell had backfired, turning against them.

With a dull thud, the nets fell onto the guards near me. I couldn’t help but feel a twisted sense of satisfaction.

“HA! Idiots!” I gloated, watching the mages’ confusion and panic. They were completely disoriented, worried about what might hit them next.

WHOOSH

“UGH!” But my gloating didn’t last long. Another spear pierced my back, this time from a different pony. I turned and saw an older, bulkier pegasus. This brute had decided to use the same tactic. But all these clever fools would meet the same fate—knocked out by my hoof!

BAM

My fist… or rather, my hoof, struck his jaw with precision, sending my opponent into a full and absolute knockout. The cunning stallion fell heavily, his consciousness drifting into the world of dreams. Seeing the consequences of foolish attacks, the other guards stood around me, keeping their distance. As if they weren’t the ones attacking, but rather defending themselves. Watching this chaos, interesting thoughts began to form in my mind…

“This is all so strange…” Vague doubts plagued me. Everything felt suspicious. As if someone was deliberately pulling the strings. First, that arrogant prince who just happened to cross my path. Then these blockheads who seemed to have been waiting for this moment. Every second of this theatrical performance felt rehearsed. They weren’t even trying that hard! Sure, I got stabbed a couple of times, but I’m alone, and there are at least fifty of them… This is all very unsettling… I need to go back to the beginning.

“Why did I come down from the tower and walk down this corridor?” I pieced together the logical chain. I wanted to apologize for my childish behavior. That’s how Daybreaker ended up in this hall, admiring the stained glass, even though Celestia’s chambers weren’t far away. But then this prince showed up, seemingly walking the same path. Almost as if on purpose! The key point is that I wanted to admit my guilt and normalize relations with Celestia to avoid worsening an already shaky situation… And who benefits from this shaky situation? Only one pony in all of Equestria…

“Celestia!” The tangled web of riddles and facts began to unravel at an incredible speed. The disjointed details and circumstances started falling into place, one after another. I had finally found the key to solving this puzzle and uncovering the intrigue.

“What’s her goal?” I dreaded my own reasoning but couldn’t stop. There could only be one goal—to show how cruel and bloodthirsty Daybreaker could be, proving that she must either be banished to Tartarus, turned to stone, or driven mad on the Sun…

“Damn it!” My eyes widened in shock. I hadn’t realized how complicated this was… How did I not see it sooner? Yesterday, all the torment I endured, the childish utensils, the strange dishes… Her gracious behavior, sparing my life… It was all part of her plan! She would elevate herself to the pinnacle of power, her position unquestionable, while Celestia would be hailed as a saint, the white angel who protected the people from the ancient evil and darkness known as Daybreaker! Such well-founded conclusions could only awaken one feeling in me—all-consuming, unquenchable rage. But instead, a different feeling came…

“Terrible…” It was the only word that could describe the pain and bitterness in my heart right now. My heart was bleeding, and it felt like it might stop at any moment. I shook my head desperately, unable to accept this suffocating truth. My lungs gasped for air, but it did nothing to ease the overwhelming anxiety in my mind.

“I think I’m having a panic attack…” I tried to make sense of my thoughts. My heart was racing from all these events! I didn’t want to admit it until the very end. I thought she had matured, grown wiser, but…

“She never wanted to reconcile with me from the start…” I covered my mouth to stifle a scream. Though every fiber of my being was screaming! Celestia never cared about me. She wanted to destroy me once and for all. All those childhood conversations with Daybreaker… it was all empty chatter, beautiful lies to deceive her kind and sensitive heart. To create the illusion of a fake family around her. And when she got bored or I became too much, she’d throw me away like trash. Celestia wanted to exploit her kindness… my kindness.

CRACK

“Damn it…” My vision blurred and swam. Soon, hot tears streamed down my face… I felt something inside me crack, like shattering glass. Something deep in my chest. Something that had been the last warm, childlike part of Daybreaker’s fiery spirit. It was my heart…

I was once again convinced that I was utterly unwanted in this world… It seemed everyone would indeed be better off without me. My sobs echoed through the hall, not because of my wounds. They didn’t bother me at all, but my heart… it ached so much that at one point, it felt like a black hole had replaced it, impossible to fill…

“I see…” I spat out the words, blood and tears mingling as I poured out the emotions swirling in my fading consciousness…

“Well, it seems she’s succeeded in destroying our relationship for good…” I dryly concluded. She had achieved her goals completely. She played such a game that it’s almost amusing. And all just to ensure I’d be gone…

“Call for reinforcements!” Echoes of voices reached my ears, but I didn’t want to listen. For a moment, I felt completely numb. I wanted to smash my hooves until they bled. Tear open my new wounds until blood poured like a river! And just as I raised my hoof…

BANG

A white flash flooded the hall for half a second, drawing all attention.

“STOP THIS AT ONCE!” A new voice rang out, shaking me to my core. Celestia appeared right in front of me, embodying pure, righteous goodness, casting a massive shadow over me. And I… I was the embodiment of the darkest evil from fairy tales, something that needed to be eradicated forever…

“And here comes the guest of honor!” I forced a triumphant smile onto my face, though my hot tears betrayed me. I struggled to hold back my sobs to continue. “Trying to drag me to the dungeon, are you? I’m afraid… you’ve failed…” I spoke in a calm, indifferent tone, but my body trembled with overwhelming emotions. Celestia suddenly froze, looking at me with an expression I couldn’t quite place.

“I thought… maybe you could love me like before…” I choked out through tears, “even knowing I’ve… changed…” She stopped hovering and landed on the ground, as if unable to believe what she was hearing. “But you’ve changed too…” I looked into her eyes, which for some reason held something I hadn’t expected, though her horn still glowed, forcing me to continue. “Well, it seems you only have one option left, Celly…” I stepped closer to her.

“What are you talking about?!” She took half a step back, as if I were contagious.

“Take my life!” I demanded, stomping my hoof so hard the stone beneath it shattered into pieces. “YES, I’M A MONSTER!” I agreed with all her insults. “THE MONSTER MUST DIE!” I screamed. “Destroy me already! Why torment me for hundreds of years trapped on the Sun?!” I pleaded desperately, tears dripping onto the cold floor. “Just kill me! I don’t want to live anymore!” My sobs escaped with every breath. “I hope you’re satisfied!” I tried to wipe away the tears, but they kept flowing. “By hook or by crook, you’ve achieved your goal!” Her horn suddenly dimmed, but I couldn’t stop. “Come on, correct your old mistake! Kill me! Burn me, cut me down, turn me to ash! I don’t care! But please, I beg you, free me from this torment of life!” With my final words, my vision blurred, and I bowed my head. Daybreaker had finally submitted to Celestia, asking for only one thing—death.

“Daybie…” She suddenly stepped closer to me. “I…”

“WHAT’S GOING ON HERE?!” A third voice interrupted. Luna burst into the royal hall and immediately positioned herself in front of me. She clearly saw the numerous stab wounds on me and my trembling form lying before Celestia. Without a word, she stood protectively in front of me, shielding me from her. Even her wings spread like a warm, impenetrable shield.
“Sister, what is the meaning of this?!” she asked coldly, though it was clear she was on the verge of shouting. “WHY IS DAYBIE LYING BEFORE YOU, COVERED IN TEARS AND WOUNDS?!” Her scream was like thunder on a clear day—destructive and dangerous.

“Luna?! Is that you?!” A sudden realization hit me. She was the only one who had always been kind to me. She stood by me even in my darkest moments. Even when she herself wasn’t doing well. Luna always encouraged me, and I never let her despair. Had she always been more than just a close friend to me? Could Luna be my true family? All this time…

“I don’t want her to see me like this!” I shook my head in denial. I couldn’t breathe… it was so stifling. There wasn’t enough air. I was shaking so badly it was terrifying.

“I need fresh air, now!” I scrambled to my feet and bolted toward the stained-glass windows. Nothing could stop me!

“I… I…” Celestia tried to retreat, but she didn’t get to finish.

CRASH

Like a comet, I burst through the window of the suffocating hall, not caring about the cuts from the broken glass. I only needed one thing. Fresh air…