A New Equestria

by Lil Penpusher

A New Sunrise

Several hours have passed since the Empress' announcement. Clocks in Equestria indicated that it was nighttime, by now, though the sun refused to lower itself. Night was no more. Equestria would henceforth bask in the warmth of an eternal day, brought to them by the Empress herself.

But while Equestria as a whole embraced their new spot under the sun, plenty of ponies refused this new order. Mere hours after her speech, the Empress received word of revolts and attempted revolutions in larger cities. Thus, shortly after embracing her destiny of ruling over Equestria alone, she finds herself stuck between the Changeling invaders and her own subjects.

But there was something bigger, something more important. Yes, she remembered clearly now. Not far from Canterlot laid the small town of Ponyville, the place where the six elements of Harmony had met and lived, up until the war started. The Empress saw the threat these ponies posed to her rule and plans for Equestria. She knew that even with her new, unrestrained form, she would not be able to challenge the magic of the elements.

The Empress sat down on her throne, putting together her hooves while thinking about the possibilities presented to her. There had to be a way to counter their aggression, to scrap their plans...

"Twilight... Twilight, yes! That is it!" she gasped, jumping up from her seat. "The Elements were created so that nopony, not even I, could rival their power. However, their power cannot be harvested unless all six are used in unison!"

The Empress chuckled beneath her breath, confidently galloping towards the great doors of the throne room.

"My former student will be the answer, the way for me to not only neutralise the elements' power but also to harvest Twilight's knowledge and magic, as well." Daybreaker smiled at the thought of this. There was still much for her student to learn, things she may only fully grasp when put under her guidance, once more.

---

Ponyville was but a small, friendly town before the war. By now though, rapid industrialisation had partially transformed the peaceful town into an industrial complex, with factories filling out much of the outskirts of the town. These were tough times for not just Ponyville but all of Equestria, but they had to keep up the fight. There was no surrender when talking to the changelings. It was either them or us, the ponies thought.

Like many towns and cities, ponies were out to see the start of an eternal day in Equestria following their Empress' speech. Some began to praise her, began to claim that the war was as good as won now. Many had doubts and concerns, afraid of simply abandoning their harmonic traditions. A few were bravehearted enough to immediately begin plotting acts of sabotage or, in the most largest cities in Equestria, attempts at a counter-revolution to oppose Daybreaker rule.

The now former Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle, had locked herself in her castle following the speech which she, too, took in. Stuck the castle's library, she and her assistant Spike attempted to find a cure of sorts against the apparent evil that had consumed the Princess of the Sun.

"Nothing over here, Twilight," Spike called out to the purple alicorn on the other side of the room. "Are you sure there is something we can use, in here? We've been looking for hours now."

Twilight's reply was delayed as she continued to rapidly take, examine, and throw away books. "There has to be! Don't you see the similarities to Nightmare Moon, Spike? Eternal night and eternal day? There has to be something we can do!"

"But... didn't you defeat Nightmare Moon by using the magic of the elements? Not some dusty old spell from a book?" Spike interjected.

"Well... yes, but as you know the others and I split up not long ago. Applejack and Pinkie are at the front, Dash is at Wonderbolt HQ and Rarity and Fluttershy both are at Manehattan. I already tried to notify them and ask them to come back here, but it doesn't look like my message has come through, considering they're not here, at the moment."

Twilight stopped what she was doing and took a deep breath. After taking a step backwards, she dropped onto the huge pile of books that she had created behind her.

"We've got to do something... we've got to cure Celestia from whatever has taken control of her. I just... don't know how." The mare let out a deep, exhausted sigh.

As Twilight was laying on all of her dusty, old books, she couldn't help but notice that she was starting to sweat, all of a sudden. "Uh... Spike?" she asked her assistant, "is it just me, or is it getting really hot in here really fast?"

"Not just you..." Spike replied, also coated in sweat. "Ugh, this 'eternal day' thing is already getting on my nerves."

A sudden, quiet cackle could be heard from outside the door. The mare and dragon both looked over as the door was slammed open with a tremendous force.

"Oh, getting on your nerves, is it?" Both of them immediately recognised the familiar voice. "We'll see about that, poor dragon."

Twilight scrambled to her hooves as fast as she could. She looked back over to the door expecting to see the face of a villain and yet... it was totally different. What she saw was not a villain, no. She froze as she stared at Daybreaker, who returned an evil grin towards her. She knew this wasn't Celestia, her teacher, and yet... she knew that this was not like any other villain she had faced in the past.

"Ah, there you are, my ever faithful student." Daybreaker's grin intensified as Twilight took a step backwards. "I am so glad to see you again!"

"C-Celestia...?" The small pony gave out, inspecting Daybreaker.

"I no longer go by that name, I'm afraid. You may call me Daybreaker, student, though Empress would also suffice."

"What have you done to Celestia?" Twilight demanded.

"Oh, nothing. As I just said, I am Celestia, in a sense, though I am something greater and wiser than she ever could have been!"

"I wouldn't be so sure about that..."

The Empress' smile faded as she came closer.

"Stop! Not one more step!" Twilight yelled, charging her horn. Daybreaker couldn't help but laugh.

"Twilight, come to your senses. Would you really want to hurt your own teacher? Your mentor? You were the best student I have ever had, after all and..."

Twilight lowered her guard as Daybreaker walked up to her. "And...?" she asked with a mighty gulp.

"And I could arrange for you to be my student, once more. You would not believe how much work there is to be done and how much new knowledge I have gained, my dear student. We could explore these new opportunities together! We could create a brighter future for Equestria, as a whole!"

Twilight remained calm and silent as Daybreaker went on, circling around her. For some odd reason, Twilight didn't really feel scared of being this close to a villain like her. Nor did she really... think of her as a villain that much, really.

"Twilight? Twilight!" Spike called to the helpless mare. "Do something!"

Daybreaker halted and turned her head towards the petty little dragon that was hiding behind a bookshelf. "You annoying, little..." was all she gave out before releasing a beam that almost immediately struck Spike, who was henceforth trapped in a transparent bubble. He punched and kicked against the bubble, but to no effect. He screamed from the top of his lungs, but nothing could be heard on the other end. Just as Daybreaker liked it.

Twilight, too, turned around, though before she could lay eyes on Spike's prison, her vision was blocked by Daybreaker, who teleported in front of her.

"What did you do? What happened to him?"

"He's fine, don't worry about him. What you should focus on is your future, little pony."

"My... future?" the purple mare stuttered.

"Why, of course. Just think about it, for a moment. You could stay here in your small, little castle and read dusty old books, or we two could explore aspects of harmony, of the world itself, that have yet to even been considered. We could reunite, at last, Twilight, the teacher and her loyal, faithful student."

"I... I don't know..." The small pony raised a hoof to her forehead, which began aching, making it harder to think and concentrate. "Ugh..." she grumbled.

"Is something wrong, my student?" Twilight looked up and took in Daybreaker's fiendish smile.

"You... no..." Twilight mumbled when she realised who was causing her pain. "I'll never give up! Never! My friends will-"

"-Come to your aid?" the Empress interrupted. "Please, Twilight, your friends have departed months ago. Even if you had a way to notify them, most wouldn't be able to leave anyhow."

"You... underestimate our friendship!"

"Don't be foolish. Your friendship has rescued our nation from evil time and again, there is no denying that fact. However, surely you must see the difference of our situation now. An enormous storm has reached our nation, a conflict bigger and more brutal than we could have even yet imagined in the past. No... this is not something friendship and harmony can tame."

"No... you're... you're wrong."

"I have realised the truth, Twilight. For months Chrysalis and her armies have raced inland, destroying our beautiful land and consuming the love of anypony they can catch. I could not sit idle while my loyal subjects are being murdered in an endless meat grinder! I saw the need for action, for change! And change I did!"

Twilight winced quietly, fearing a strike from Daybreaker as she grew louder.

"You must realise, Twilight, that all I did and all I will do is in the interest of Equestria, in an interest to end this cursed war and stop the bloodshed. Your friends could finally return home. Wouldn't you enjoy that?"

Twilight remained silent as the pain spiked. She dropped to the ground, rubbing her hooves against her forehead. And yet, it passed on after just about 15 seconds.

"Well?" Daybreaker asked again. "Would you?"

Twilight slowly got up. She could no longer feel the pain in her head but, instead, a type of... dizziness. As she looked up, her eyes immediately locked onto the image of Daybreaker. Even if she tried, she could not take her eyes off of the Equestrian monarch.

"I... I want to see my friends again..." Twilight mumbled in a monotone voice. She couldn't explain how or why, but it was hard if not impossible for her to think. And yet... no pain. In fact, replying to Daybreaker made her... feel better, if anything.

"So I thought. And what about science? You love science, do you not?"

"..."

"Yes...?"

"Yes," Twilight stated.

"And as such you would love to know all there is to know, right? You strive to collect knowledge, to learn all there is to know, no matter how small or insignificant it might be."

"Yes, correct," the mare replied, her voice now showing some sign of emotion, again.

"Oh, Twilight. You can't even imagine the things I have learned. All the mysteries we thought to be unsolvable, I now understand completely. Aspects of life, harmony and science never before conceived have become clear to me! And all of this knowledge, Twilight, all of this wisdom could be yours, too!"

"Knowledge... wisdom..." Twilight repeated.

"Do you wish for me to tell you the secrets of the world? The hidden aspects of harmony? The revolutionary new facts of science?"

"Yes. Yes, I do."

"And do you wish to protect Equestria and your friends? Do you wish to push out the evil that is Chrysalis to defend our nation?"

"Yes. Yes, I want to protect my friends," Twilight said with joy.

"So then, do you agree to become my student, once more, in order to ensure the stability and security of Equestria?"

"Yes, Empress. I do," Twilight replied, bowing before her new Empress and old Mentor.

Suddenly, Twilight was surrounded by a bright, yellow aura. The Empress watched eagerly as her student's mane colour changed from purple to sky blue, with a red strand in between. The alicorn's cutie mark changed its appearance as well, slowly switching colours from purple to bright yellow. As the final act, her eyes changed to a slightly lighter colour of purple.

Daybreaker smiled as she inspected her student. Now, the Empress thought, she was truly ready for what was to come.

"Thank you, Empress," Twilight said, opening her eyes and showing them to her mentor. "It feels good to be back under your protection and guidance."

"So it does," she replied warmly. "Although, there is something we need to change. Your old name simply won't do anymore."

"Oh," her student acknowledged, "yes, you're right. What shall I call myself instead, Empress?"

Daybreaker thought for a small moment before smiling back towards the small mare. "With you by my side, my faithful student, nopony, especially not that cursed insect Chrysalis and her underlings can challenge Equestria. We, both, will make sure that the sun never sets on Equestria and the world, so that we can forever bask in the embracing warmth of the sun."

The white-coated alicorn walked past her student and stopped shortly before the door.

"This is a new dawn for Equestria, and with it comes a final sunrise to begin the eternal reign of the sun."

The purple mare set into motion as her mentor motioned her to follow.

"Come, Sunrise Sparkle, there is much to do."

Author's Note:

Well, here's the extra (and final) chapter you guys have all waited for. I want to thank everyone who has read, rated and commented on this story for their feedback and support.
You guys rock!

Hope you enjoyed this small, little addition to the tale!

Comments

[The oracle]

8935324
Either one works

[Godiswithus3]

*breathes in and out deeply*

Well...while this fic is short, it still demonstrates a crucial truth: war changes people, many times for the worst. And in total war, the freedoms and values the soldiers fight for become lost into obscurity. The military and civilian then become pawns, sent into the bloody meat grinder, in order to protect their masters...

there's a reason why it's been argued that war should be avoided as much as possible, because when a nation gets involved, especially when the war drags on....freedom eventually dies.

[Mykola]

A well written fiction!

I have always been interested in the balance of what drives the decision makers within wars, and how they cope with the losses that they experience. Does it harden the generous, or vice versa? So seeing one perspective of that is particularly interesting.

A few problems with tone/mood shift, more particularly at the first chapter, at least for me it throws off direction a bit. Dialogue is simple and handled well, and the story develops at good pace.

Looking forward to the next few parts.

[BradyBunch]

I haven't read a fanfic this good in a long time. For far too long, I've seen nothing but Anon stories, 2k-long comedy fics, and clopfics. The long, grandiose, wartime stories are the stuff I yearn for.

[Lil Penpusher]

9854398
I'm just gonna pretend like I did not write a dozen of 2k Comedy Stories

[BradyBunch]

9854408
No, no, you're the exception here. You have a few good fics out. And you're not alone. I wrote, like, ten ASMR-type shipfics with different ponies, in addition to my main epic longfics.

[Lil Penpusher]

9854413
While I do enjoy Comedy, nothing's better than good drama, really. If one pulls it off the right way it's really fullfilling, both to write and read. At least that's my own taste, and tastes differ.

[Sunlight Rays]

I like this story. Short, but concise. The changes Celestia goes through are clearly shown, but they're not overwhelmingly descriptive. And, from this concise, detailed story, a glorious tyrant is born.... Can't wait to read the sequel.

[PonyDragon]

The now former Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle, had locked herself in her castle following the speech which she, too, took in. Stuck the castle's library, she and her assistant Spike attempted to find a cure of sorts against the apparent evil that had consumed the Princess of the Sun.

Maybe try the elements?
That worked out well last time.
Edit: Nevermind, it's explained later.

"And do you wish to protect Equestria and your friends? Do you wish to push out the evil that is Chrysalis to defend our nation?"
"Yes. Yes, I want to protect my friends," Twilight said with joy.

: "But once Chrysalis is taken care of everything will go back to normal, right?"
Daybreaker: "Uh, maybe. We'll sort that out later."