The sun shines warmly down upon the mountain city of Canterlot, despite chilly Autumn winds blowing through the streets. It’s a clear day, many ponies out enjoying the atmosphere of the capital of Equestria, letting the well-worked Pegasus winds flow past them, and smiling as Celestia’s sun looks down upon them. Pegasi flitter about, some late to meetings, some ensuring the weather remains pleasant, some just enjoying a flight. Equestria is a land of peace.
The walls of Canterlot Palace are a forcefield against the positive emotions outside, much more dull and ordered than the outside. Nothing makes this more clear than the small, barely perceivable frown on Celestia’s muzzle. Her Majesty sits upon a marble throne, veins of bright and shiny gold running about it, radiating away from the Princess’ form like the Sun’s rays. Her brilliant white coat is only interrupted by equally brilliant golden regalia, marking her as the royalty she truly is. Her eyes look upon her court like a mother, warmth and kindness backed by a cold steel.
Stood in front of her now is a nervous unicorn inventor, wearing her finest robes, a light blue affair that rests on her orange coat and contrasts harshly with her yellow mane. The mare goes on and on, speaking of the machine next to her. “This truly wonderful invention, Princess, could lead to Equestria’s industrial capabilities more than doubling!”
Sparing a glance to the machine, it was nothing new. A coil, built as to conduct electricity to other coils of similar size, allowing for nearly instant energy transfer between specific areas. It would certainly remove a lot of the hassle many ponies face, especially the DJs and any other traveler who needed to carry their energy. There was just one problem with instantaneous energy transfer, that being that any being, even an alicorn, caught between the two conduits, would be struck dead by voltage. No, it was nothing new, it had been seen many times by the Princess’ old eyes, and every time it was banned.
The unicorn continues on her spiel, “…And thus, Princess Celestia, I would humbly request that you would consider installing my coils across all of Equestria. I would not dare to ask anything more than a one percent profit in return. The rest, my Princess, is your’s, for it is your humble wis-“
She’s cut off as Celestia raises a hoof, “Sunset has almost arrived. Guards, ensure court is settled and the next petitioners go first in the morning. Let this unicorn stay.”
The various guards around the room all nod, and salute, moving to complete their orders. The unicorn looks at them, and then back at Celestia, shrinking away slightly upon making eye contact, but then standing straighter, speaking with a confident tone, “Thank you for letting me stay, Your Majesty. It is an honor to be able to-“
She stops suddenly as Celestia takes in a breath, even the quiet motion being enough to stop her. She pauses for a few seconds, looking at Celestia nervously, opening her mouth to speak again, only to stop as Celestia speaks herself, “What is your name, unicorn?”
The unicorn blinks, and blushes a bit, “U-umm, I’m Sunrise Twinkle. Daughter of-“
Celestia interrupts her, “Of Sunstroke Damnation and Sugar Sprinkle, or perhaps of Candle Flicker, it can be hard to tell with herds, as I’m sure you’re aware.”
She swallows nervously, and nods, “Yes, Your Majesty, I am aware. My father has-“
Celestia smiles slightly, “Seven mares, lining up with the imbalance. Do not be so nervous, Sunrise, you are not in trouble.”
Sunrise nods, slowly letting her nerves disappear, “Oh, it’s just-“
“Yet.”
Sunrise blinks, looking up at Celestia with nerves again, “Y-yet, Your Majesty?”
Celestia nods, “That all depends, Sunrise, on if you are as loyal as you appear.” Sunrise opens her mouth to respond, but Celesria gives no room for response, “You shall leave your coils with me, destroy every evidence of their creation, forget the studies you did to make them, and never again attempt to make them.”
Sunrise stands shocked for a moment, her mouth opening and closing, before she finally finds words, “Y-your Majesty, how can you expect me to-“
Celestia raises a hoof, “Sunrise. I am the Princess. I do not tell you how, I tell you what.”
Sunrise frowns, taking a step back, “But this is unfair! This is my life’s work, imagine all the good it can do! Your Majesty, please, think-“
Celestia stands from her throne, slowly trotting down the steps in front of it, looking down upon Sunrise, “You shall not imply that I have not thought about this, Sunrise.” She leans down, frowning slightly, Sunrise shrinking down, “You do not question what I say. You do not so much as think about going against my orders. You are a pony, and I am the Princess. You will either listen, or you will learn the price of becoming an enemy of Harmony.”
Sunrise frowns, backing up, “This is insane, Princess.”
Celestia leans back up to her full height, “Tell me, Sunrise, did you live through the days of Discord? The days of the Nightmare? No? Then don’t speak on insanity. This is not a debate, this is not a discussion. You shall abandon this research.”
Sunrise frowns more, only to pause. Her face flashes many emotions, easily read by the immortal Princess. Anger, resignation, guilt, shame, spite, hope. Her face settles on a mix of spite, resignation, and hope, and she nods, “I understand, Your Majesty. I’m sorry.” The young unicorn bows her head, and trots out of the room, leaving Celestia alone.
The frown slowly fades from her face, as she turns to regard the machine. With a single flash of her horn, the metal coil is reduced into ashes. A wind comes from elsewhere, but the ashes don’t scatter. Instead, they begin to morph into a tall form, staring eye to eye with Celestia. The form grins as it’s ashy exterior is blown away, showing off fangs, lit by flaming mane. A brilliant white coat made all the more brilliant by flaming mane and tail, and draconian orange eyes.
Celestia looks at the figure impassively, “Daybreaker. What shall it be tonight? Taunting me about our father, perhaps? Discord? Heavens forbid, Sombra?”
Daybreaker grins back, her fangs glinting as a stained glass window casts the light of the setting sun upon her, “I don’t think I have to say a single sinful word, Sunny-Bunny.”
Celestia frowns, turning her back on the fiery demon, trotting to a nearby window, looking out of it, onto the hustle and bustle of a town right before nightfall, “You always have something to say.”
Daybreaker appears in front of her, head poking inside through the window, “I don’t have to say a single thing. You already know why. She was such a loyal subject, Sunny-Bunny.”
Celestia turns around again, trotting back to her throne, “She will continue to be a loyal subject, or she will face the consequences.”
Daybreaker appears in the throne before her, grinning and lounging back, “Hmm, face the consequences, sounds rather familiar.” She smirks, an inky black shadow appearing next to her, green and red eyes peering out of it, “Wonder why?”
Celestia shakes her head, “I’m not in the mood for your games and foalish manipulations, Daybreaker.”
Daybreaker smirks, “When are you ever in any mood other than ‘pissy’, Sunny-Bunny?”
Celestia turns around, trotting out of the room, as the fiery manifestation disappears, “I need a drink…”