Deep within the Everfree Forest, inside an abandoned, derelict castle, an ancient equine being paced around the throne room worriedly, trying to calm herself.

She was tall, taller than most of her kind. Her mane and tail were formed out of bright yellow flames, yet they didn't appear to burn anything around them. Her coat was a brilliant white, which was tinged yellow and orange from her flames. She had a pair of large white wings on her back, and an impressively long horn on her forehead. She wore intricately designed regalia, which were formed in such a way that they could also act as protection. She had yellow slitted eyes with dark scleras, and a set of sharp teeth in her mouth.

The pegasister-turned-alicorn paced around worriedly as she assessed her predicament,

"Okay, okay... so you got thrown into Equestria, that's good! And you're a pony, that's great! You're also an alicorn, even better! But instead of an OC or something, you're DAYBREAKER of all alicorns! Damnit!"

She shouted in frustration, slamming her hoof on the floor and causing it to shatter, leaving a molten crater behind. Her flaming tail and mane flared accordingly with her emotions, and the room became hotter as well.

Daybreaker took a deep breath, "Alright, okay. I can work with this. The Elements are still here, which means Twilight's either still in Canterlot or she's in Ponyville right now." she rubbed her face with a foreleg, "Right... I can do this."

She paused to think. She didn't want the Mane Six to think of her as a threat, and she knew her villainous appearance wouldn't help her case. Who would be stupid enough to trust a flaming-demon-pony-thing?

"I could... help them beat Nightmare Moon... but how can I do it without messing up their trials?" she thought aloud.

Daybreaker began to pace around the room again, "Maybe I can swoop in and keep Nightmare in a headlock while they're blasting her? Might get myself blasted too..." her eyes widened, "But I'm not really evil, I just look evil, so that means nothing's going to happen! Yeah, alright, I should do that instead!"

She glanced around the decrepit throne room and sighed, "Stay here for a night, if I hear evil laughing, that means Nightmare's here. If not, then maybe try to find a disguise spell and go to Ponyville..." she muttered to herself once more.

As day continued on to night, Daybreaker kept a vigilant eye upon the Mare on the Moon, she knew it won't change until close to sunrise, but it never hurt to be careful.

"Come on, Nighty..."

During the time between arriving and observing the moon, she had gone through a significant chunk of the castle's library as a way of training her magic. It was a pleasant surprise that, despite not knowing any magic as a human previously, she was actually very adept at using it. Daybreaker didn't know if it was because of her transformation or something else entirely, but she was grateful that she had—as far as she knew—about as much mastery over magic as the actual Daybreaker nevertheless. She felt a little guilty about accidentally burning Celestia's old bed, though.

As time went on, she started to think that maybe she'd been transported farther back than she thought, as the moon hadn't done anything but move along the sky, and was quickly being lowered towards the horizon.

"Okay, so maybe not the first episode, then." Daybreaker muttered.

The moon continued to dip below the horizon, and was eventually replaced by the sun, which Celestia had just began raising.

"Definitely before episode one. Shit..."

Before she could do anything, Daybreaker was blinded by a flash of light. She felt like her consciousness was being lifted from her body and placed somwhere else. It was an utterly surreal experience for her.

Blinking for a few times to clear her eyes, Daybreaker looked around her surroundings for potential threats.

What she didn't expect was being met with the sight of an ethereal realm, a very familiar ethereal realm. The very same realm that a certain book-loving purple pony was transported to when she got her wings.

Daybreaker's jaw dropped, "W-what the..."

She looked around the space, only to find nothing but blue clouds and glowing orbs floating around.

"This doesn't make sense, why would I-"

Daybreaker quickly interrupted herself when she saw another tall, white-coated alicorn, who was standing in front of a smaller, pink-coated alicorn who was cowering behind the former.

Princess Celestia took a defensive stance in front of the newly ascended Cadance with unfurled wings and a lit horn.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" she asked. Her voice was calm and commanding at the same time.

Daybreaker's eyes widened, she was this far back?! She didn't want to meet Celestia as her evil counterpart!

'Red alert! Red alert! Uh, um, channel your inner roleplayer! Come on!'

Daybreaker cleared her throat, "I am you." she replied in a similarly calm voice.

Celestia stood her ground, "I am not in the mood for playing games, who are-"

"You didn't let me finish." Daybreaker pointed a hoof to her chest, "I am you, from an alternate future timeline. And I have travelled through time to prevent a catastrophic event from happening that lead us to becoming–" she motioned a hoof towards her fiery mane, "–this."

'Wow, I'm great at bullshitting.'

Celestia glared at her, "And how am I supposed to believe these claims? You don't expect me to trust what you say just like that, do you?"

Daybreaker shook her head, "No, I don't. I know we're not fools.

"My evidence is my—and by extension, your—knowledge of our dear sister Luna. Who is prophesied to return from her banishment within, hm..." she glanced at Cadance, who hid herself behind Celestia even more, "about a decade's time, give or take?"

'Hopefully this is enough...'

Celestia's expression softened, and her stance became more relaxed, nopony else is supposed to know.

Daybreaker took a tentative step foreward, "Do you believe me now?"

Celestia lowered her wings ever so slightly and paused for a moment before asking, "How?"

"How in what way?"

"How did you... we become this." Celestia said as she gestured towards Daybreaker's form.

Daybreaker lowered her head and did her best attempt at looking sorrowful, "I... gave in to the darkness...

'God, that sounds edgy as hell.'

"I have failed my ponies. And I've been given another chance to fix my mistakes. Please, if not for us, then do it for them. They deserve better..."

'Come on, Celly, just take it!'

After a few tense moments, Celestia fully relaxed her stance and eventually walked up to Daybreaker.

She smiled towards her self proclaimed counterpart, "If you truly believe that, by being here, you can prevent a calamity from befalling Equestria, I would gladly extend my hoof in friendship to you."

Daybreaker returned the smile, "And I would gladly accept." she paused as she realized something, "Ah, and to avoid confusion, please, just call me Daybreaker."

Celestia raised an eyebrow at the odd name choice but nodded anyway, "Very well. It is nice to meet you, Daybreaker."

"Um, princess, what's going on?" the newly ascended Cadance called out from a few paces away.

Celestia stifled a giggle while returning to the soon-to-be princess, "Worry not, Cadance. Just a misunderstanding between me and an old friend."

Cadance glanced between the two alicorns nervously, "A-alright..."

Daybreaker didn't show it externally, but inside she was celebrating metaphorically rolling a nat 20 on her deception check.

'Still got it, baby!'

Daybreaker was back in the material realm, it took a bit to reorient herself.

She had informed Celestia of her current location, and requested to be picked up via a carriage and deliberately left out the fact that she was reluctant to try flying. Celestia, of course, was unsure about sending one to the middle of the Everfree.

Eventually, they had agreed that Daybreaker will teleport to Canterlot instead, which led the flaming alicorn into studyng a bunch of dusty old books on long range teleportation.

Unfortunately, without a clear picture of how the actual Canterlot looked like, she had to use the points of view that were shown in the cartoon as her waypoint.

They had agreed to meet up at the castle's entrance once Celestia was done picking up Cadance from her village. Daybreaker waited for a few moments before preparing the spell.

"Hope this works..." she muttered to herself.

She channeled the required amount of magical energy into her horn and pictured the drop bridge of the castle. She silently hoped that she didn't misfire a drop herself into the moat.

"And... go!"

Daybreaker released the red-colored energy stored in her horn, and in a flash, disappeared from the Castle of the Two Sisters.

Celestia and Cadance were waiting for Daybreaker's arrival in their specified location. Cadance was still a little apprehensive about the admittedly monstrous looking alicorn, but trusted Celestia when she said that Daybreaker wasn't a threat, but rather an old friend of hers.

She found it odd that, despite being an alicorn as well as a friend of the princess, she had never heard of Daybreaker before their encounter. Sure, she was busy cowering behind the solar monarch when they met, but Cadance could've sworn that the two of them were talking about something else entirely back there. Celestia merely waved it off as them having a misunderstanding caused by Daybreaker being away from Equestria for the last few centuries.

As for Celestia, the (as of right now) monarch herself was also quite concerned, but not for the same reason as her now adopted niece. She was worried of how her ponies would react to two new alicorns, and Daybreaker specifically. Cadance's presence was easy enough to explain. She was a pony who had obtained Harmony's favor, and was ascended by its will.

Daybreaker, on the other hoof, was another story entirely. She had the same general look and proportions as Celestia herself, it'd be hard to convince the populace that she had only recently ascended alongside Cadance. There was also the fact that she would easily frighten many a pony with a single glance. Her flaming mane, slitted eyes, and sharp teeth definitely would be a cause for alarm for those who looked at her. Though she supposed it couldn't be helped, as Daybreaker's form was supposedly altered by the dark magic she fell to.

Celestia sighed, just what sort of catastrophe could cause her to become Daybreaker and cause Equestria's downfall? It was unfortunate that her future self couldn't tell her much due to the nature of the spells she used. All she could do now is to listen to Daybreaker's guidance and advice to lead her nation away from going down a dark path.

For now, they agreed to use the cover story that Daybreaker was an old friend of hers, and had recently returned from her ventures outside of Equestria's borders. She will not be granted the title of Princess, but will be gifted the title of royal advisor. It was all they could come up with in such short notice.

Both alicorns were snapped out of their thoughts as a massive jet of fire erupted from the other side of the draw bridge. Definitely Daybreaker.

As the flames died down, the intimidating figure of Daybreaker slowly made her way towards her fellow alicorns.

She flashed them a fanged smile, "You don't know how much I've missed this castle."

'Gotta make sure the lore's consistent.'

Celestia bowed her head slightly, "Welcome, Daybreaker. Or should I say, welcome back?"

Daybreaker sniffed in amusement before turning to Cadance, who flinched as she did so, "And hello to you too, Cadance."

Cadance smiled nervously, "H-hello..."

"Now that we're all here, I would like you all to follow me inside. There's somepony very special I'd like to introduce to you first." Celestia instructed as she turned around.

Cadance raised an eyebrow and Daybreaker flat out frowned.

'Hopefully not as bad as her other depictions...'

Sunset Shimmer felt like her time was being wasted.

She had been taken away from her studies to greet the princess' new guests in the dining room. From what she's heard, they might be staying here for a while. No biggie, as long as they leave her alone, she'll do the same to them. She just wished Princess Celestia hadn't forced her to sit here and wait for half an hour when she could be doing something far more important.

Sunset sighed as she propped her head on a hoof, "I should've brought a book..." she grumbled quietly.

Just then, the doors to the dining room opened gently. Princess Celestia entered while smiling at her personal student.

"Hello, Sunset. Are you ready to meet our special guests today?" she asked.

Sunset huffed, "Ready as I'll ever be." she replied unethusiastically.

Celestia pretended to not notice her student's show of displeasure, "Wonderful! I would like to introduce you to my niece and soon-to-be Princess Mi Amore Cadenza."

Cadance walked up from behind Celestia and extended a hoof towards the student, "Hi, nice to meet you!" she said brightly.

Sunset's eyes widened as she took in the pink alicorn's appearance, "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"Um, nice to-"

Sunset waved a hoof, "No no, that was a rethorical question." she turned to her teacher, "So."

Celestia raised an eyebrow, "Yes, Sunset?"

Sensing trouble brewing, Daybreaker decided to finally step into the room and make her presence known,

"Apologies. It's been quite some time since I last roamed these halls. I believe I took a wrong turn somewhere."

Sunset halted her prepared rant as she gazed upon the third alicorn in the room. To say that her jaw dropped would be like calling Discord weird.

In front of her stood a being who simply radiated power. Even by standing there nonchalantly, she exuded an aura of glory and might that Cadance could only ever dream of having.

"I-I... bwuh?" was all Sunset could mutter.

Celestia looked towards her time travelling counterpart, "Ah yes, and this is Daybreaker. She is an old friend of mine and has returned to Equestria after her long travels."

Daybreaker nodded at the young unicorn, "Greetings." she said curtly.

Sunset only replied by a slight nod while staring at the flaming alicorn.

Celestia gingerly approached her student, "Sunset? Are you feeling well?"

Sunset eerily turned turned her head back towards Celestia, eyes still wide open.

"Is she... okay?" Cadance asked tentatively.

THUD!

Daybreaker looked over the unconscious unicorn before turning to the surprised Celestia and Cadance, "Was it something I said?"

Author's Note

I must thank Skyblazer9 for inspiring me to begin writing this story!

There are a truckload of Human to Nightmare Moon stories out there, but only one Human to Daybreaker story that I know of, so here's my contribution to an almost untouched concept of stories here.

I also made her appear during Sunset Shimmer's era to shake things up a bit.

For those who are familiar with Crucible Spark and enjoy his unhinged shenanigans, this might feel a little more subdued. The human who became Daybreaker won't be as hell-bent at changing the timeline for the sake of it as Spark is. She'll be more like Brony-Spike if anything.

If you want to share ideas on how this story should go, consider commenting!

Corrections and criticisms are more than welcome, I can't improve without those now, can I?
Have a good existence!
:)

"Remembered forever, the land of Equestria"