The calming tea was proving somewhat ineffective. Those fiery slit eyes still haunted her mind. Twilight Sparkle, her faithful student, stood ready to try and kill her. It was far too reminiscent of her sister’s a thousand years ago.
She closed her eyes and tried to savour her beverage. The smooth, slightly exotic taste of its imported herbs was still the same as it caressed her tongue. The complex yet subtle mix was far more potent than anything she would allow to be sold publicly. Try as she might Celestia could not get today's events to settle in her mind. Her expected peace of mind denied her, she sighed. Even her tea, her one fall back over the last few hundred years had failed her.
A little magic danced along Celestia’s horn. A simple spell confirmed her tea was laced with exactly the poisons she intended to consume, so it was doubtful the alchemy was at fault. She rubbed her forehead with a hoof. If the concoction was made any more potent, the vapours alone would start to affect normal ponies. She would have to find another solution. She sighed again as she turned back to tackle at least a few more pages of her endless torment. She found herself resenting the chains of her duty, again. She was doing a lot of that lately.
Somehow these things were easier to deal with in the past. It used to be easy to just become as ice inside. Now with those she cared about in play, it was becoming harder and harder to center herself. The ice that had shielded her heart had melted.
Celestia gazed out of her study's window. No matter how long she stared at the wide-open sky, she still would not have the luxury of indulging in the simple pleasure of flight today. There was far too much that needed to be done for her to fritter away the time on anything non-productive.
The darkness on the horizon drew her attention again. She frowned for the sixth time today at the thick bank of dark clouds steadily moving closer. “They are a day early."
But perfectly in time to be an omen. Daybreaker added.
“It's most likely just a clerical error.”
“As you say, your Radiance,” Daybreaker said with mock respect.
Celestia considered it for one moment. Memories of her sister twisting the weather of half the nation with one of her foul moods. Could this be Luna’s or Twilight's doing? No, Luna was too rational now, and Twilight was off trying to save Candice. Celestia shook her head. No, her Warmind was just being paranoid. Just like she was created to be.
She sighed. A simple mistake was the only thing that made sense. So many of her ponies kept making them. Did she have to micromanage everything? Luna was right, she needed to get more trusted assistants. Ones she could have faith would do the right thing without having to be continuously checked upon. The dark blot on what should have been a lovely blue sky caught her eyes again. Well, at least this mistake would only end up with a few of her little ponies getting wet.
Celestia looked back to the papers before her, the stack loomed like an unconquerable mountain.
You would be happier if you dove out the window and spread your wings. Daybreaker purred.
Celestia refused to admit her Warmind was right. She set back to work, her quill diligently danced over the parchment. The sight of the feather’s motion just kept the allure of flight alive in her mind. She shook her head and focused on the damage report. Twilight's outburst had caused complications, expensive complications. After how collected her former student had been confronting her, she had not expected anything like this to happen. It was such a waste and had caused her so much work.
Gilded Star might have been a useless individual, but still, it was unfortunate whenever it became necessary to sacrifice one of her ponies. Yet for Twilight, she would willingly offer up much, much more. She was becoming far too sentimental. Something she knew her teachers would have disapproved of. She did not have any scars, but she well remembered their lessons.
Her eyes lifted to a simple picture frame. Every time she saw it, it brought a smile to her face. Young Twilight smiling, muzzle buried in a book that sat next to her. The difference between that treasured moment and the recent disaster was jarring. The utter look of anguish Twilight had when she realised the harm she had inflicted had been heart-wrenching.
Celestia’s golden aura drew the picture closer, her hoof pressed it close to her chest. Her former student was going to need support, somepony to be there for her. It still hurt that she could no longer be that pony for her. No matter how much she wished to be.
Celestia’s mind, faithful as ever, replayed the event, that brief clash, power matching power. Despite the pain, it caused Twilight, Celestia was grateful for Candice’s folly. With Twilight’s mind fortified by her mental Bastion, there were no simple options. She could not simply be mentally dominated, forced to sleep or ordered to calm down. This was precisely the reason she had planned on keeping both Twilight and Cadance ignorant of the full extent of their powers for a hundred years. Alicorns could be far too volatile during their first century.
A memory was pulled back in to focus. Her Warmind making a point. Twilight looked like a divine incarnation of vengeance as she glared at Gilded Star. She was magnificent. Daybreaker breathed.
Celestia nodded.
All that righteous rage. All that passion, just like you used to be. With that white coat and burning mane, it is almost as if she was your daughter. Is there something you've been keeping from me, your radiance?
“Enough of this. If you wish to persist in talking to me, you can help.” Celestia waved a hoof at a large stack of paperwork.
Can I just burn them?
"No, as tempting as that might be, no. It would cause too many problems in the future to be worth the momentary satisfaction. "
You have to do something before you drown in paperwork. And I have a plan.
"You do?" Celestia carefully put her quill down and returned the treasured memory, frozen in the picture frame, to its place. She closed her eyes and turned her full attention to her mental garden.
She took a deep breath, and the scents of her favourite flowers lifted some of the weight from her shoulders.
"Tea?" Daybreaker asked, teapot held in her hooves.
“Please.” Celestia gratefully moved round her table and took her normal cushion. She watched the fragrant brew pour into her usual cup. "You said you have a plan to be rid of some of the tedium."
“Yes, your Radiance.” Daybreaker’s smile just showed her fangs. “Two related ideas, to be precise.”
“Please proceed, and you may serve yourself as well.”
Daybreaker served Celestia’s Mask before pouring her own. “We need an Assistant. One that excels at paperwork.”
Celestia glanced at her Mask who gratefully accepted the drink with all proper decorum, exactly like she was programmed to. “We have a small army of them.”
“But only one of any real ability. Paper Pusher.”
It took only a mere moment to bring up everything she knew of the stallion. “The one from RGIS?”
“That's the one. Now we either take him as ours, or you make a fragment based on him.”
“No. That…” Celestia cut herself off. Yes, it was well within her abilities.
Daybreaker smirked, leaning a little closer "You took pieces of a shattered soul and repaired what you could of Twilight. You took a blank mind and restored a father to his family." Her slit eye’s intensity was the perfect accompaniment to her teasing fanged smirk. "You know this would be but a small thing."
“What about his talent?” Celestia mused.
Daybreaker smiled, showing her fangs. “Well, we are most fortunate, we know one who has proven very adept at manipulating cutie marks.”
“We will need to invite her to the palace…”
“Simply make it about helping Twilight, and she will come.”
Celestia paused her contemplation and narrowed her eyes. “Why are you suggesting this?”
Daybreaker waved a hoof. “Can’t you accept I wish to see you find a little happiness?”
“I created you remember, I know your priorities. Why are you doing this?”
Daybreaker sighed dramatically. “Well, don't say I did not try to be nice.” She polished her hoof and regarded it. “You are proving to be a liability.”
Celestia surged to her hooves glaring “Me? A liability? How dare you!”
“Sit” Daybreaker snapped.
Celestia felt her rump gracelessly crash back into her cushion. “What?”
“Your rules Celestia, your rules.” Daybreaker scolded smugly as she circled her. “No, I shall explain. Rule four-thousand-twenty-six I am allowed to stop you acting against your other directives and priorities if you are compromised.”
“I am not compromised!” Celestia’s hoof raised. She only just stopped herself before it slammed into her table.
“You have been ever since Twilight rejected you.” Her Warmind waved her hoof. “Oh, you've been getting better, which is why I’ve not done anything so far.”
Celestia deliberately calmed herself, if that was to do with the rules binding her Warmind no amount of anger would help. Only calm collected logic could get through this. “Why now?”
“You have been letting your emotions dictate your actions more and more.” Daybreaker sighted. “Face it, Tia, you are stressed. You need to relax before you lose it or make a critical mistake.”
“Like failing to anticipate...”
“Yes, how did you misread your nobles so much you did not see that coming?” Daybreaker sat beside Celestia, draping a wing around her. “As much as I enjoyed the show. This is not like you, Tia. You need help," Daybreaker said before Celestia felt a warm nuzzle against her neck. "You need to relax.”
“There is just so much to do, now more than ever.” The weakness and the whining tone in her own voice surprised Celestia. Since when had she been so fragile? Her mentor would have had her executed if he saw her now. She needed to be stronger than this, she needed to be better than this. Despite her thoughts, Celestia felt her body lean into Daybreaker’s embrace. She let her eyes close. “Just five minutes.” It was far too nice, just to be held, not to have to be the Princess.
“Yes, your Radiance.”
Celestia took a deep breath. The stack of paperwork was no smaller, but somehow it seemed less daunting now.
She did not need to reach for her connection to the sun to know more than five minutes had passed. The positions of the shadows in the room gave that away. Celestia couldn’t summon the motivation to even be indignant about it, let alone angry. Simply being held like that had felt wonderful.
She stretched her great wings. The majestic limbs flexed. Surely a quick flight would be acceptable. Daybreaker was right. If she did not look after herself better, how was she going to take care of her ponies?
She thought about Daybreaker’s suggestions. Her Mask was adequate for dealing with most paperwork but was not optimised for it. Using Starlight to copy Paper Pusher’s mark was a good idea, but too risky. Starlight was Twilight's friend and student. Any request for her services should properly go through Twilight. She would have to create this new fragment on her own, even if it would be based on a peek inside Paper Pusher’s mind.
She stood, stretching her body. Each muscle responded to her will, shifting and carrying out her command. If only her ponies would be so obedient, it would make things so much easier.
You're the one that decided to give them a better life. Allowed them to be more than the Alicorn Imperium would allow. Daybreaker said.
“I know. I still think it was the right thing to do…” Despite how many problems it caused, Celestia did not add.
But sometimes you miss it, the total power, the mortal ponies all being yours to do with as you will.
“It was wrong,” Celestia stated, nearly slamming her hoof onto the desk.
But, still you crave it, Daybreaker teased.
“No,” Celestia said, trying to believe it.
If there is one pony you should tell the truth to, it should be yourself.
Her golden aura tenderly retrieved an ancient wine glass from its shelf. It was such a simple thing to look at, and yet it was older than her. She brought it closer. Her eyes caught her reflection. Her imagination embellished the distorted image. Gold and jewels of untold value decorated her as servants immediately leapt to satisfy her every desire.
Celestia closed her eyes. “That's no longer who I choose to be.” She carefully returned the priceless antique back to its place. This was the world she had made. This was the role she cast herself in.
A deep tired sigh escaped her. At least she had a plan to make things better, a few simple things to allow her to get more than a few moments to actually live. An honest smile threatened to find a home on her face.
“There, that's better.” Daybreaker’s voice was insufferably smug. But, she had been right. She needed to be reminded of why she did this and to be humbled, but she had to face the fact that, yes, she was a pony too.
Celestia quickly put together a plan of what she needed to do, what skills and traits she wanted to have in her soon to be mental assistant. To do this right, she would need a clear mind. If she still had any of this stress and disharmony in her heart, it would taint any fragments she made.
The open sky called to her, a siren song of freedom. She could just keep flying and not come back. It was a sweet dream for all of a few seconds. She considered for a few seconds. "Perhaps the spa then?"
Acceptable… but you will ask for a happy ending.
"I will not. That would be completely unacceptable behaviour for a Princess."
Which is why you should do it.
“I am not some tyrant of the old Imperium. Our little ponies are not just there for our pleasures and games.”
No, you are far more benevolent than even the best of them ever were. But you are still a mare. One who has denied herself for far too long.
“I have been too…” Celestia protested.
“Busy? Excuses.” Daybreaker snorted. “Take what you want for once. If you're worried about using them, assume a more common form and find companionship the normal way. If you don't have the time for that, you have the whole of the royal guard, they are your personal harem, after all.” Daybreaker said clearly before her voice dropped to a husky whisper. “You know more than a few fantasise about you…”
Celestia slowly nodded. Daybreaker was right again, she had time and time again seen herself in many ‘situations’ when browsing the minds of her guards. If it was what they wanted, then she would not be taking advantage of her position. She would not just be using them. She let her mind start to wonder, it had been a very long time.
A hoof rapping twice on her door pulled her from her daydream. "Auntie, we need to talk." Cadance's voice was calm. Too clam.
Celestia sighed. "Please do come in, Niece. My door is always open to you."
Great suffering zog, she actually bespelled her own mind to ensure she couldn't change or "go soft". What kind of paranoid idiot does that? Nearly five thousand self-imposed rules, is she that distrustful of her own fragments or does she actually hold herself to her own controlling standards?
Geee, chances are that she's spoiled by mind manipulation so much she just doesn't even consider conventional de-escalation, by the looks of it. Then again, she alsi should have caught and immediately shut down what the nobles were going for too even without mindreading.
10580320
Frankly it says something that i wish Daybreaker was in control. She seems to have more sense then Celestia at the moment
10580320 She holds herself to her own controlling standards because anything less could result in collateral damage.
If she lets her standards slip for even a moment, she could hurt or kill the those around her with very little thought or action, even by mistake.
The power difference between Alicorns and regular ponies is the difference between a human and an ant. In reality, the only one stopping her from ruling them with an iron hoof is herself.
Her methods and actions are flawed, but I understand why she does them.
10580381
The real question is whether this is actually Celestia's idea or if it's a shadow on her mind that tells her that this is her idea.
I'd considered an idle theory that Mask is comprised of all the inconvenient elements of Celestia's psyche, such as empathy or mirth, and she just kept shaving away until one day there was only a fragment left holding the name Celestia.
After hearing about this Imperium, the theory doesn't seem nearly so idle...
Ok this is probably the most "real" look at Celestia that we got in this story so far and its VERY Interesting!
Like she sees herself as benevolent compared to the rulers of the Alicorn Imperium, AND SHE PROBABLY IS BETTER that them, but most ponies in the Present right now probably wouldn't see much of a difference when given a list of both things that a pony of the imperium as well as Celestia has done.
Obviosly we DON'T KNOW the full Story yet we still only know a little bit here and there.
Also....We got a Name : Alicorn Imperium !
Ok Cadance what are you up to?
Sadly we probably won't find out what this talk was about right away and we have to wait a few chapters.
Oh, shit, the Princess of Love is gonna arrive miffed. It's gonna add more disharmony to the mix. Celly's not gonna like this.
10580229
I guess it's time to start including screenshots of editable comments, yeah? ;D
Am I the only one who has noticed that Daybreaker is no longer strongly chained to a pillar in Celestia's mind? Clearly Celestia is slowly losing control and she hasn't even noticed.
10581011
thats a REALLY GOOD catch.
i was so busy with thinking about Celestia that I didnt focus on Daybreaker that much.
It could be that that was intenional on Celestias part , idk, i mean Celestia allowed daybreaker to drink tea with her and everything so....
But Daybreaker IS up to something im pretty sure so yeah.
"Cause to become vulnerable or function less effectively"
i think thats the right defenition of Compromise in this case right? ( yes I actually looked up the definition for this, thats how crazy I am)
But the thing is , Celestia probably has a set of perameters for Daybreakers ability to override her to kick in....I would be VERY interested in what those exactly are...
Like in this case she was too emotional and let that cloud her judgement , but I think it would be very interesting to explore that further.
Obviously this will play a role in the future , and maybe daybreaker actually will ABUSE this, that would be interesting!
Also , I need a FULL LIST of ALL the Rules that Celestia has imposed onto Daybreaker... Like ALL OF THEM !
So Cadance is a clam now?
10581401
All of them? All 4000+ of them? Really?
....
Let's do this! XD
10582004
I said All of them didn't I?
I would actually read through all of them!
10582039
That would actually be fun to do
10582043
One thing I actually thought about : how do you get 4000+ rules for daybreaker?
That is just straight up insane....at that point the rules dictate daybreakers entire existence.
Idk maybe it was just a rediculus number thrown out there and there wasn't any second thought about it but probably not.
Sure Nightsclaw couldn't actually Create a List with 4000+ Rules , ( I actually searched , I found nothing on how many rules you need to control a person , but im sure theres a study on that SOMEWHERE out there) that number was just created to showcase how controlling Celestia is, but Im sure SOME of those rules will come up in the future.
10582106
Will likely see more of them unlisted rule later, aye. I was highly amused when daybreaker listed that rule number four thousand (forgot that last bit(shame on me)) and made me hyper curious on what were all the others.
10582165
10582106
The number also includes any inactive ones as well, and ones that are aimed at individuals that no longer exist etc. So the number of ones in effect is smaller if still large. Also as these rules are magically in nature nopony needs to remember them for them to still be in play. So far you had two different ones stated and have observed others in effect even if no attention was drawn to them.
Than you for your interest.
Despite having all the power anyone could ask for and to be ageless, Celestia is still mortal. So many perceive her to be one that should be flawless, but she's not.
I've always found the parts with submissive Daybreaker tending to Celestia utterly fascinating. I look forward to more of this.
derpicdn.net/img/2017/6/11/1459597/thumb.gif
We shall call her "Alexa".
10582106
Any time something goes wrong, just add 1 more if statement. I can confirm you can easily get thousands of rules quite fast due to combinatorial explosion.
Hell, 4,000 is nothing. You can easily get millions of rules before you're even able to finish a single task quite quickly if you try to make a rule based
AImagical construct that way. This also applies to laws btw.Tl;dr I don't find having 4026 rules a problem.
10590899
But look at Blueblood, without Celestia mind fuckery he goes from an ass to a decent guy. How many more are like that?
10590951
Probably not many ... We don't know that, could be that all of them would be like that , could be none....we dont have a lot to base our assumtions on here, only blueblood really... We need to see more nobles freed from Celestia to actually know that.
10590981
But that goes to my main point. She can mind fuck but does not use it to make them like Blueblood. Celestia's actions outside making Twilight 2 make no sense. She left both Twilight and Cadance vulnerable. Letting the nobility be the way they are. As o have said in the past. Daybreaker should be incharged
10590989
Celestia PROBABLY has a Reason for doing what she did and what she still does....it may be a stupid reason, idk , but I think there is something about this entire thing that we , the audience, just dont know yet and that will explain Celestias actions....could be that Celestia is TRYING to do something good and is going about it the wrong way .
At first I thought: ok other alicorns are coming and Celestia just doesnt want Twilight and Cadance to know about Alicornpowers because then it would be too easy for the other Alicorns to turn them against her, especially with the bastions.
And if they know how to use Alicornpowers they are more dangerous to Celestia.
I mean WHEN other Alicorns show up Celestia will just be like: Hey yeah they are all evil from a few 1000 years ago, go defeat them for me Twilight!
Like Celestia always does!
Like I like this theory, but I just think its too simple for this Story...
And also we know Alicorns got wiped out.... We got that information from Night, but I don't think we know where SHE got the Information from .... Like is it a FACT that there are NO MORE Alicorns out there?
I don't think that is confirmed yet!
Okay After rereading a bit NIGHT DOESNT KNOW what happened to the other Alicorns!
So yeah I think Celestia has something to do with that .
I still think we will see other Alicorns, just idk how that will play out.
10591014
I given up on her reason awhile ago and the more we see of her the more I hate her. Again I feel like Daybreaker should be the controlling persona
10591020
The thing is, thats probably whats Nightsclaw wants everybody to think, Celestia has been built up as evil and terrible for a while now.
There probably will be a big twist regarding Celestia at some point and everybody that hated her will go: oh so thats why shes a piece of shit... I get it now!
I mean we could have already gotten that with knowing the Alicorn Imperium apparently is terrible ... So it could just be how she was raised and trained, but I think thats a boring answer when you can do so much fun stuff with Alicorns!
10591037
Maybe. Just going by what I have seen.
10591037
Even before this story I’ve always seen Celestia as a manipulative...there are words. Words I would love to say, but won’t out of respect to both Hasbro and the legacy of the show. Oh, sure, she spouts the ‘greater good’ line in every possible variation. But that gets old. I love the show, I really do. But Celestia never really had my respect in the first place.
Of course you don't have any scars I mean, creating a fragment ( which is essentially like having a child) and stilling so many rules upon it that it just turns into this machine that does nothing but it's intended purpose, is just normal pony behavior