-28th Sunrise-
-Tiger Lilies-
Ah. Another night performed beautifully. No wishes, no theft, nopony bugging me. Nopony? Hmmm...that's weird. When did I start saying that? No matter, that doesn't affect much anyway. Now that I think about it, though, where is everypony er, everyone? All I can see is nothingness, nothingness that's usually filled with stars. My home's never been this dark It's not just dark, it's empty.
Darkness has never been a problem for me, after all I tend to shine. Right! I shine, so why can't I see my own hoof, no! Not hoof, why hoof? Hands, I have hands. I've always had hands. I'll just raise one to make sure, except...I'm NOT shining.
My eyes are watering, I don't usually cry. Then again-I don't usually fall. I fell, I remember now. What am I doing here? Why am I in this darkness? Am I a pony or a star? Where is everypony, or everyone else?
“You are a pony, and a star.” A voice says, followed by a bright light. “And, you are dreaming.” Luna fly's down and lands in front of me, appearing to be standing in mid air. Her horn lights up, and the scenery around us changes to a meadow at night, with the stars high above.
“Dreaming? Why would I dream of that? It was horrible! I was all alone. I didn't know who or what I was, and there was nobody around, pony or star.” I sit on the dream grass in confusion.
“Yes, it was quite upsetting. But dreams, and nightmares, represent a pony’s state of mind - for the most part. What do you think that dream says about you?” She asks, sitting besides me. I idly play with a piece of grass, which rotates between different kinds of flowers. I frown and bow my head, the grass wilts in my hoof, as does the grass around me.
“I think it shows how confused I am. I feel so alone. Even with all the help and friendliness from everypony, I'm all alone. You and Celestia are centuries older than me, the elder stars were talking about your descents even when I was a new star.” I answer, letting the wind blow away the dust of the flower. Rain starts drizzling around us, and picks up speed. Luna lifts her wing above my head, and doesn't interfere with the dream's reactions to my each emotion.
“And I had long since stopped paying attention to the world below. Everypony is looking to me to be a princess, to raise the sun and rule over a land I had snubbed for centuries.” I add. Lightning flashes around us, and the rain starts pouring. “I'm so horrible, I felt like this place, this beautiful world was full of silly,” A bunch of balloons appear around us, just to pop at different intervals. “frivolous,” A group of snotty, faceless ponies in frilly dresses trot by with fancy umbrellas. “conceited,” Lightning bolts strike in a circle around us, each bolt strikes in a different color, and they start a fire circling us. “know-it-all,” A pile of books fall on the ground, each one open to blatantly false information. “naive,” Another faceless pony chases after the frivolous ponies from before, only to be snubbed and laughed at. “and foolishly trusting mortals.” An apple stall appeared, and the storekeeper walks away, leaving her apples. Another pony grins and takes a few before running off. I summon some bits and leave them on the stall. “I never imagined that I could ever like such a place. I was wrong, this land is beautiful, and I was the foolish snob who was too naive and frivolous to even consider such an idea.” The rain lightens to a drizzle. “I'm so ashamed of how I felt, and yet…” I continue, struggling to find the words. I stand up and start walking, flowers blooming around my every step. I look up at the dream’s night sky. The stars shine bright than they ever would outside of a dream. I sigh. “Yet I miss home and I still want to leave.” I say, turning to look at Luna. Luna picks the blossom of a Tiger Lily and floats it over to me, gently setting it in my hair.
“You know, I think that might just be your flower. Flitter told me something quite interesting about them a few nights ago,” Luna says, walking over to me. She carefully steps around each flower that had bloomed when I walked over here.
“Aren't you getting off topic?” I ask. She shakes her head with a knowing smile.
“She told me that Tiger Lily’s are hybrids,” She starts, and a mirror appears in front of me. “They are beautiful, and exotic, and,” She continues, referencing different parts of me as she speaks.
“And nopony knows their origin.” I finish, interrupting her. I look at the orange flower in my hair. At some point the rain stopped and it had become daylight. I smile. “I still don't know who I really am. I don't know if i could ever choose between here and home, and I still don't know how to cope with being a star in the body of a pony, but…” I say, smiling in myself in the mirror. “I'm glad I came to this place. I think, I think I can learn.” I finish. Luna moves to my side and pulls me close with her wing.
“I'm glad to hear it.” She says. “Now I must be off, there are nightmares I must stop.” Nightmares? Wait, she isn't merely part of my dream?
“Luna? You're not a dream pony my mind came up with so I could figure this all out?” I ask, as she uses her magic to open a hole in the sky of my dream.
“No, I'm not. Goodbye little one, and good luck.” She says with a wave, before flying through the hole and sealing it. I turn back to the mirror and smile. Behind me the meadow blooms with flowers and the light dims to just the right amount.
Tiger Lily's huh?
☀✴
I awaken to the sun shining in my eyes. I must have slept in. Surely Celestia would have woken me up though. I stand and stretch. I smile as I remember my dream. Well, if Celestia let me sleep in, then I might as well take my time and relax today,’ I think. I walk over to my calendar and look at my schedule. I'm free until three, when I'm supposed to meet Thorn for a race in a park. I smile, and flap my wings a bit. We've been racing more and more often recently, and I'm starting to get pretty good with these wings. It's a great exercise, and is quite helpful. I just wish my magic was coming along as well as my flight.
I head out into my living room, since my room was more of a suite, and started watering my plants. I put on a record that Twilight lent me and hum along as I work. With everything taken care of I take a nice long look in the mirror. Remembering how I looked in my dream, I look through my room and pluck a Tiger Lily blossom. I apologize to the plant and secure the blossom into my hair. I turn my head multiple angles, and notice that parts of my hair are starting to appear more orange than gold. ‘The Tiger Lily is probably bringing out some natural highlights,’ I think, before trotting out the door.
I greet each of the castle's staff as I pass, and make my way to the dining room. When I get there I notice Luna sitting there, eating what appears to be a dinner course. I greet her with a smile and a waiter brings out a breakfast spread as I sit.
“As I thought, the flower looks wonderful on you.” She says, and I feel my cheeks heat up slightly. I concentrate on levitating some aebleskivers over. The small balls of pancake delightfulness are quite pleasing. The most magic practice I get is in small things like meals and such, but at least I get practice. Even if it makes such activities take much more effort than necessary.
“Thanks, but, how exactly did you get into my dream?” I ask. She smiles kindly.
“Dreams are my realm, I safeguard the dreams of ponies. I protect them from nightmares and help them to find answers to their problems. However, I am mostly a guide. I try not to control the dreams, but merely calm the dream and give them back the control.” She says, taking a bite of her food once she finishes talking.
“Isn't a pony's dream supposed to be private?” I ask. She gives me a thoughtful look.
“That is a very good question. You see, I can only easily enter the dreams of ponies in distress. Nightmares are quite loud and are easy to find and locate. A pony in distress does not have barriers up, and thus their mind can be daily entered. A pony who is content and happy does have barriers, and their dreams can only be entered with much effort - which is damaging to the mind - or permission.” She says.
We both continue eating in silence after that, and she soon excuses herself to go to off to bed. I finish eating, and help to clean up. The kitchen staff thank me, and shoo me off to go about my day. I trot off with a wave and head out to the front of the castle.
Over the past almost-month I've learned quite a few of Canterlot’s streets. I fly up to a cloud, and wait for Thorn to arrive. I wait up here for twenty minutes when I hear snickering and laughter. I flutter my wings and push the cloud in the direction of the snickering. I lean my head over the edge of the cloud and look down. I see two unicorn fillies following Thorn and snickering. Their voices float up to my ears, and their words are anything but kind. I recall his mom saying that he didn't have many friends. I feel myself frowning.
“What are you two doing to him?” I yell, lowering the cloud some. They look up at me. Thorn smiles and waves, but I don't smile, I stare at the two fillies.
“You should mind your own business.” One of them yells, giving her friend a look.
“How does a unicorn get up into a cloud anyway?” The second one adds. I smile a bit.
“Probably just a spell Sprinkle,” The first one says, blowing a piece of mane out of her face. “You're clearly quite an advance unicorn for your age, why are you bothering with this weed lover?” She asks. I do my best not to growl.
“He’s my friend.” I reply, trying to withhold my threatening tone. The fillies giggle.
“He's a batpony! A blank-flank! An egghead! He can't even speak up, all he does is look at flowers and read! He's nothing!” Sprinkle says, her voice dripping and rude. Now I do growl and I fly down to them. Their jaws drop as I approach. I land right in front of them and walk closer, my face right in there's. They back up and their eyes go wide.
“You stop right there. You think you're so much better than him because you have a horn, because you didn't get sick the same way he did? You think you're better because you can yell louder and levitate stuff? Well you aren't! You're mean, and conceited, and bullies!” I say, my voice getting raspier and becoming more and more of a growl.
“Y-you’re a a a…” One of them says, stuttering and falling backwards. The other one gulps and bows, apologizing frantically. I stop and raise my wings while glaring at them. Both of them look scared to death.
“I hate bullies.” I tell them, my voice now calm and sharp. They nod frantically. “Thus, I will not be a bully myself. But know this: If you ever, ever, pick on somepony else again - especially my friends - I will be telling the princesses. All of them.” I continue. They nod again and take off running. I turn around to look at Thorn.
He walks up to me. He's smiling but something in his eyes showed that some things upsetting him. “Did I go too far?” I ask quietly. He nods and watches them run. “Sorry, I'll work on it.” I continue.
“Thanks, though, for standing up for me. They follow me everyday after school. Sometimes it's them, sometimes it’s other ponies. I usually just ignore them.” He says. I adjust my ears to hear him better, and beam in response.
“Of course! I would never let anypony mess with you.” I reply happily. He beams back at me.
“I, uh, like what you did with your hair today. It's a great representation for you.” Thorn says, pointing to the flower. I had completely forgotten about it. I giggle a little.
“Thanks, should we get going?” I ask, feathering out my wings. Thorn nods and flaps his own. We give each other a look and both get into position to take off. We both nod and count down in our heads.
We take off at the exact same time, and I manage to keep up for at least a quarter of the race. Thorn wins in the end, though, and we both land, panting, onto a cloud.
“That was fun, tiring, but fun.” I say, laying back and looking at the sky.
“Yeah, you did good. You're really improving.” He replies, and I can feel him lay back next to me.
“If only adjusting to a brand new life and figuring out who and what I want to and need to be in this new life were as easy as learning to fly.” I say with a sigh. Thorn pokes my side.
“You'll figure it out. Yes you have more to adjust to, but everypony has to figure out who they want to be, and what they want to do with their lives.” He says. I almost smile.
“They don't have only one hundred mornings to figure it out though. I only have seventy-two left. Then, no matter what, Celestia's powers will be transferred to me.” I reply, looking over at him. His red eyes meet my own and I find myself comforted.
“You'll figure this out Daybreak. I promise.” He says, before turning his head back to the sky. “I doubt your life will ever be normal. Regardless of if you decide to rule, you'll always be regarded as a princess.” He adds. I sigh again and watch the sky.
We stay silent for many minutes, and stay up there for much longer. My stomach breaks the silence with a growl and we both burst out laughing.
☀✴
-29th Sunrise-
I wake up long before dawn. I yawn and grab a biscuit from my small kitchenette, which is probably more for when I'm older. With my biscuits in magic, I head up to meet Celestia on the balcony. She doesn't turn to greet me when I arrive, and merely sits there, watching the stars.
“Good morning Princess,” I say, not sure whether or not I should be interrupting. She nods. I walk over and sit by her. “You let me sleep in yesterday, why?” I ask, curiosity winning out against formalities.
“You were having a rough night, and deserved the peace, and the time to think.” Celestia replies, not turning to me. Her eyes are fixed on the stars, on home, for both of us.
She must be as torn up as I am, maybe more. She's been living here for longer than I've existed, and had been a star even longer. Her longing for home and her longing to stay must be a constant battle within her head as her time to leave draws nearer. I don't have a choice as to whether or not I have to stay here right now. The idea of having to choose, with what little I've already learned, seems overwhelming already. She can't choose, yet she also can't decide whether to be happy or sad. Who knows what other feelings are running through her, what she's gone through, what she will go through. The idea of it is enough to make me want to cry for her.
“Luna told you.” I reply, letting my own eyes search the heavens.
“Only that you were having troubles, she would never tell of somepony’s dreams.” Celestia says, finally turning to look at me. “It's been almost a month, have you learned anything about yourself?” She asks. I take a deep breath and think.
“I've learned that my view on this world was very skewed, and that I was ignorant on what it had to offer. I also learned that I know nothing, and am essentially the foal that I appear to be. I know that I looked down on this world, both literally and figuratively, but now that I've experienced some of it I realize that my life before was dull. I want to learn who I am, to grow up as a pony and make friends, I don't know about ruling quite yet, but I want to be a part of this world.” I reply. A hint of a smile crosses her face.
“You already are Daybreak.” She says, her voice majestic and serene. “Now, let us continue your lessons.”