1 - Shared Thoughts
"I only have a day," hissed the flame-maned alicorn that sat across from Celestia. "Why must we waste time pretending to be 'friendly'?"
"An excellent question." Celestia sipped gently from her cup, her magic pouring a second and moving it towards Daybreaker. "Why haven't you already fled?"
"I don't flee." She snarled at Celestia's suggestion before the color around the cup changed just slightly as it came into her control. Daybreaker took a light draw before shaking her head. "Weak, just as you are."
Celestia gave her cup a slow swirl, allowing the amber fluid to roll about in the motion. "It has a subtle flavor for a refined palate. Did you lose that when you decided to take what you already had?"
"Already had?!" She brought a hoof down on the table, then stiffened and let out a slow forced sigh. "You don't have nearly as much as you seem to think you do. Your precious little ponies love you, as a distant god. One easily forgotten in their daily lives. They look to local leadership, caring little what you think. And beyond Equestria's borders, it grows worse."
Celestia directed an ear at her angry counterpart. "Equestria has enjoyed many long and joyful years of political peace."
"Peace." Daybreaker let out a loud laugh. "You control the very heavens and you are content with a hollow peace! It is pathetic. The changelings are proof of how little the world thinks of your soft ways and methods. None fear you, because they know you will never use your power to directly show your displeasure. What kingdom would you plunge into darkness? Or burn with the fury of our sun?"
Celestia's cup lowered, coming to rest on a saucer with a delicate clink. "Would you care for a biscuit?" She lifted a plate full of buttery sweet treats. "They go along with the tea quite nicely."
"Stop distracting!" Despite her words, Daybreaker snatched a few of the baked goods, dipped one into her tea and chomped it down. "Mmm, your chef I would keep. Ah, yes, your guards. Incompetents. Why do you even have them? They fail to even make the impression of power on those that see them."
Celestia's eyes darted to the guards in the room, noting their flinch at Daybreaker's words. "That is most unkind, and false besides. They have deterred many issues from becoming an issue in the first place, and serve quite loyally. What, pray tell, would your guards be?"
Daybreaker's face split into a feral grin. "I'm so very glad you asked." She rose a hoof and an image of flames came to be, showing a powerfully built stallion, eyes afire with grim determination, and clad in armor that covered most everything else. "They would inspire fear at first sight, and would be ready to act accordingly. They would be awe inspiring, and a reflection of my power."
"Interesting," said Celestia in a tone that left no doubt that she was not interested. "You never did answer why you are here instead of 'showing your dominance' where you can, while you can."
"If only I could," rumbled Daybreaker in an extended hiss. "I am bound to you, my weaker reflection. This day, my one precious day, will be, must be, at your side."
"We really should speak to Starlight about being more... careful with her magics."
Daybreaker leaned forward over the table. "Why haven't you banished her yet? She is dangerous."
"You would just banish her? I admit surprise."
"I figured banishment would be up your alley." She rolled her eyes. "There are other ways to ensure a unicorn will never trouble you again."
"Despite her... eccentricities, Starlight has proven a pony of good nature and reliable character. She does what is right, in the end."
"I know that look." Daybreaker's smile deepened. "She has a past. She's interfered with your plans already, maybe more than once, and here you are, defending her. How very typical of you."
Celestia's careful mien broke a little with a frown. "I will speak sternly with her, after this is over."
"Ooo, a stern lecture. Surely this is the worst that any of your little ponies has to fear from the mighty Celestia." Daybreaker's laughter was mocking and cruel as she leaned back a moment. A colorful muffin caught her sight and it zipped up to her snout, half of it gone in one great bite.
Celestia raised her cup, drawing on its soothing contents as she tried to not think of the flaming caricature that sat across from her. "And, I presume, you would see her meet a fate most painful."
"Painful? Oh no." Daybreaker shook her head, eyes closed. "Pain is too simple. I would shame her, publicly. I would make her an example to as many as I could, so that neither she nor anypony else forgot just how poor a decision was made. The pain could come later, if I wished it."
"Then we should all be grateful that you will never have that chance."
Daybreaker's smug expression broke to a savage scowl, glaring at Celestia darkly. "You should not be so smug."
"You first." She sipped gently from her cup. "It seems, to me, that one of us has the distinct advantage in this exchange."
"Oh, is that what you think?" Daybreaker snorted softly. "What if I told you that you were being made a fool of, even as you did your social dance, trying to outplay and distract me?"
"I would say that is unlikely." Celestia set her cup back down. "My ponies are loyal and true. They will not be dissuaded by your hateful words."
"Hateful? I should think not. I would bring Equestria to new heights under my stern hooves. It would not be hate, but firm love. Strength, that thing you lack so utterly. But it matters little, they, at least, understand just how fragile you can be."
Celestia shook her head, doing her best to finish her breakfast and ignore the needling of her dark mirror.
One guard leaned over to another. "Should we say something?"
"Probably a bad idea," whispered the other in return, both watching Celestia speak to herself in two voices back and forth, eating more than she usually did as she argued animatedly with no one that they could see.
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In context with dat ending...
Great, just great these two incompetent guards just proved Daybreaker's point. Twilight needs to be informed and Luna as well. This will not end well.
Sadly, I think Daybreaker has a point here. It's fairly obvious that this Celestia might be very close to the edge of insanity, if not already there.
You get a favourite good sir!
Fantastic reinterpretation. Been sitting on this one long?
Celestia finally cracked.
Neat. A very fun One-Shot.
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Glad y'all liked it! It was a request from a patron and I ran off with it. They asked for 'Celestia and Daybreaker at a table. Daybreaker doesn't attack because she only has a day.'
My mind filled in the rest as the words came out. Why does Daybreaker only have a day? Why would that stop her from rushing out anyway?
Love the twist at the end. Great job!
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It was fun to write. Glad you liked it!
Mare be crazy
Hehe
Poor Celestia going crazy huh, so daybreaker only has one day, or better said Celestia is crazy for just this day? :D
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It was implied Starlight did something with magic involved.
The ending really tied it all together. Nice work.
Hmmm we wonder if this could spinoff into a series of Me, Myself, and Irene plots...
Keep going! ;)
This review is brought to you by the group, "A for Effort".
Name of Story: Sunlit Morning
Total score out of 10: 7.5
Pros: Good pacing, really, bud. There wasn't a single moment that I found myself wanting to skip ahead, not that this story is very long. The premise isn't the most original idea ever, as I've seen similar stories with Nightmare Moon and Luna, but this was well executed, so that matters little.
At times, it feels like a fight, and at others, it feels like a chat between ponies that were once friends. Celestia is, in essence, bickering with herself, shown especially well at the end. The arguments which Day Breaker raises have varying ranges of legitimacy, and it shows in Celestia's responses. The bits of Celestia offering tea and biscuits is a nice way of her trying to get her hotter side to 'chill out' and enjoy what time she has.
In the end, Day Breaker actually makes decent points, and though Celestia isn't partial to them, she doesn't quite refute them absolutely, so it makes you wonder...
Cons: A few grammatical flubs here and there, as well as some dialog that could have been improved upon. The story could have used a little more content, or maybe an actual emotional response from Celestia, but that's just me.
The ending scene, while funny in a sense, actually takes away from an earlier point for me. If the two could only have a conversation one day a year, and it was some binding of magic, why would she still be imaginary/invisible. I figure that Celestia probably talks to herself on a regular basis, so why is this any different?
Summary: An enjoyable look at Princess Celestia giving herself grief, quite literally. Topped with a few, almost comedic moments and finished in a way that leaves you asking questions
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Thanks kindly! She's imaginary because she does not 'exist'. She is a fragment of Celestia's psyche, acting out.
Now I really want to see a continuation of this through the rest of the day. Imagine if Daybreaker suddenly piped up during Court...
https://www.fimfiction.net/group/211585/reviewers-cafe/thread/308771/reviews?page=7#comment/6270364
"I am a shadow, the true self!"
It's like the Pixar short of the two old guys playing chess. Except, you know, more dangerous.
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Never saw that.
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It's worth seeing, if only for the parallel.
I would love for Daybreaker to be one they have to face in the season 9 finale
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Except it was..
Well, Geri's Game: https://youtu.be/l89faF4M3Ik