60- Máni
‘Ah yes, the one thing We had never gotten used to. Mornings. That was the one upside of banishment; We could sleep in.’
Princess Luna awoke as irritable as ever. She rose from her bed, throwing off the red silk duvet as she got up. The bed would be too small for her once she reached her usual size, but for now it would do. Luna could be patient while a proper room was prepared for her. This guest room was so many leagues beyond the cold dust of the lunar surface that she would overlook any small slight against her in such bedding arrangements.
She slowly lumbered over to the balcony doors and pulled them open, not bothering to move the drapes that covered their glass windowed surface out of the way. The air sent shivers down her spine as she trotted over to the edge of the balcony.
Still ineffectively blinking the sleep from her eyes, Princess Luna struck a pose; Legs apart, wings extended, and head raised to the sky. Like an island in a sea of black, her moon shone down upon Canterlot. Actually being able to appreciate her moon rather than being stuck on its surface brought a smile to Luna’s face.
‘Enough dawdling, duty awaits.’
Her horn lit up in a blue glow as she channeled energy into it. Searching within herself, Luna found her connection to the moon and willed it to move. She felt the immense power that lay so distant from Equus ripple as the celestial body lowered from its point in the sky. At the same time, at a different location in Equestria, Daybreaker was doing the same with her sun.
As the night sky was replaced with the flowing oranges and yellows of the sunrise, Luna let go of her connection and headed inside. Already, her eyes were starting to sting from the bright morning light.
As much as she wanted to head back to her bed, she had royal duties now. After getting as ready as she could be for the day in the attached bathroom, Luna trotted out of her guestroom– or guest-wing, as the small complex of rooms should be titled– and to the main dining hall. The Royal Guards standing on either side of her door saluted as she passed. The rest of the Royal Guards in the halls merely stood at attention instead of saluting, as tradition dictated.
The dining hall was empty. The large table was already set with Luna’s breakfast but the seats were all empty. The kitchen staff had quickly adapted to the princess’s preferences and work schedule so there was no need to wait for her early meal to be prepared.
Coffee. Now that was a miracle invention that Luna had taken to consuming with untold fervor.
As pleasant as the food was, Luna was not in the mood to enjoy it. Instead, she was stewing over what were today’s events as well as what has happened in the past two weeks. Instead of enjoying this meal with her sister, who had waited for Luna’s return for an entire millennia, Luna was alone.
The silence was too much.
She pushed her chair back and left the dining room, her breakfast half-eaten. Outside the doors of the room, Kibitz was arranging the papers in a folder. When he saw the Princess exiting and approaching him, he shut the folder and bowed to her.
“Princess Luna, good morning.”
“We disagree.”
Kibitz rose, “I am thankful that you have decided to–” Kibitz saw that Luna was already walking away in the direction of the throne room, so he had to put on a brisk trot to catch up. “To get an early start on the day! After Princess Daybreaker’s declaration that the crown would rebuild Canterlot, petitioners have been coming out in droves. As it is, your schedule is now completely filled to the brim!”
“Wonderful. At least ponies are actually coming to see us this time.”
The guards saluted and opened the double doors as Luna and her assigned aid approached. The throne room was a sorry sight. Instead of hideously covering up the holes and damage in the architecture, the construction ponies went with the wise decision of removing entirely the damaged structure and starting from the ground up. Careful weather planning would ensure that that exposed interior would not be subject to the harshness of the elements. That meant that Canterlot would go without rain for a bit, but that was a sacrifice Daybreaker made without hesitation.
Luna would be holding court under an open sky. The rising sun glared brightly as Luna entered the marble-floored courtyard. When she took her place on the half-destroyed throne, Luna noticed the sun was also reflecting up off the polished floor and into her eyes.
‘Assaulted from two different angles by that nemesis of sleep. Woe, what We would do for just another hour…’
“Let daycourt commence,” she bellowed instead of voicing her conniptions.
The guards at the far end of the impromptu courtyard moved to open the doors, revealing a line of ponies that had already formed up. They had arrived around dawn, hoping to secure an early spot in line.
At the guard’s instructions, the first pony approached, trotting across the torn up red carpet that lay between the throne and the far doors. The small yellow unicorn cowed before Luna, making herself appear as weak and small as possible.
“Speak thy business!”
The unicorn whimpered and shrunk down even lower. Luna suppressed a sigh. Outwardly, she remained as ever calm and graceful as royalty demanded.
‘This is going to be a long day.’
Court had taken a break for lunch.
The hours dragged on as Luna was forced to sit through sob story after sob story, having the responsibility to judge whether or not to dispense the limited aid that Daybreaker had budgeted for the common pony. After much deliberation, Daybreaker had acknowledged the need to rebuild and was slowly increasing that allocated amount of capital. It was far too slow of a change.
To make matters worse, the ponies that approached her to request aid were all afraid of her. Some put on a face and acted dignified, but Luna could see plainly that it was just that: an act. The slight tremble, the occasional hesitation, the stumbling of words. None of her subjects were comfortable speaking to the recently returned monarch.
Ponies were coming to her with problems, yes, but they did so out of necessity. Nopony wanted to see her. None except for two. One she would have to wait till night to see again, and the other had just joined her for her midday meal.
As Luna dined on her spiced lentil soup that a servant had brought for her, Twilight Sparkle entered the room. Her head hung low as she slowly entered.
“Good afternoon, Twilight Sparkle.”
Upon hearing her name, Twilight looked up. She returned Luna’s smile.
“Good morning Princess Luna,” Twilight said with a bow.
“Come, sit. Thou hath not had lunch, We presume?”
Twilight shook her head as she took a chair next to Luna.
“I came straight here once I got your message. I can’t thank you enough for your help, Princess Luna.”
Luna waved a hoof, “‘Tis a triviality. Thou were one who saved our life, what is a few bits for the restoration of thy home?”
“Still, I heard tales of how it can be hard to actually get help from the crown. I feel bad for jumping the line, as it were…”
“Chin up, Twilight Sparkle. Thou art a heroine of Equestria. We do what We can for those in need, but We will not stand idly by while a heroine’s family sleeps in the gutters. Generosity is a virtue of Harmony that all should champion, least of all between friends. That is, if thou would do us the honors of considering us a friend.”
“I would be honored, Princess,” she beamed.
A waiter brought in a tray with today’s lunch and deposited it before the guest.
“Please, eat while We speak. Now, while We attend to the weary souls of Canterlot, Daybreaker heads the campaign against the changelings. This is common knowledge.”
Luna spied the servant out of the corner of her eyes, not looking away from Twilight. As the waiter left and closed the door behind him, Luna and Twilight were left alone in the room.
“... But she has dearly neglected the souls she claims to protect. Our reconstruction budget hath suffered greatly on the border of starvation. Instead of focusing on helping ponies, Daybreaker touts victory after victory against the invading menace.”
“It is important that no more ponies come to harm…”
“Yet she neglects those who harm has already befallen? She burdened us with the task of rebuilding while she goes on a vainglorious crusade against a retreating foe. With our great forces once again assembled against our foe, Captain Shining Armor is more than capable of pursuing the route himself. Thy brother is more than capable of the task. Daybreaker knows this, yet she still pursues conflict.”
Luna shook her head as she cast her gaze around the room. The grand decor of the room was cracked to the foundation. It would take years of rebuilding to truly fix the damage dealt.
‘An iconography of Equestria as a whole.’
“Daybreaker is not the same pony who welcomed in that heap of refuse once called a castle. She–”
Luna’s ear briefly flicked in the direction of the door as she felt a massive energy surge nearby.
“... What We mean to say is that thou should examine thy idol’s actions with a close eye. Actions speak far louder than words. Do they really encompass what it means to champion Harmony? When thy friend is trodding a path of darkness, it is up to their friends to save them, no? We beseech thee, think on this.”
“I… I will.”
“That is all We can ask. Now, We fear our day is about to become a lot busier and less pleasant, so We must bid thee farewell. We enjoyed the brief moments of respite thy company has offered us, Twilight Sparkle.”
“Oh. Goodbye then, Princess Luna.”
Luna rose from her seat and walked to the door.
“We should not need to say this, but we would be remiss if We did not; do not speak a word of this to anypony. Thy fellow Bearers of Elements aside, We suspect that fear has found its way into the hearts of all the ponies of Canterlot. Daybreaker especially.”
Luna left the dining hall and made for the throne room. That was where the burst of magic came from, and with it, the current source of all of her troubles. However, before she could even get thirty paces away from the dining room, her source of troubles had come to her.
It was conversing with Kibitz. As they neared, Luna caught the tail end of the discussion.
“... are all ready at a moment’ notice for presentation, Princess.”
“Excellent. Have them brought to Canterlot Castle immediately. I will pick who wins the contract before I head back to the battlefield.”
Kibitz bowed and excused himself. Free of distraction, the demon’s gaze returned to the space in front of her. It stared back at Princess Luna and its lips stretched upwards, as if it could smile.
“Good morning sister!”
“Daybreaker.”
The demon frowned.
“Now now, no need to be so cold with me. I have just come back from a rather successful fight against a splinter group of the invaders. Lives were saved, ponies rejoiced. This is a good day for Equestria. We have struck back against those who have sought to do us harm.”
Luna sighed and hid any displeasure of speaking with the visage of her own failures, “We apologize. Today has been most unpleasant. We have already reached the maximum offerings allowed by the reconstruction budget. If thou could…”
“I will look into it,” Daybreaker said, stroking a hoof along Luna’s chin.
‘Once again, our troubles are thrown aside.’
Daybreaker started to move past Luna towards the dining room, no doubt to sate a massive appetite that arose after a fight.
“Sister, please!” Luna tried to distract Daybreaker.
“Our funds are stretched thin, Luna. I’ll look into it.”
‘Horse apples!’
Daybreaker opened the doors. She put on a fake smile when she saw the occupant of the room.
“Ah, Twilight. I did not expect my favorite student to be here today.”
Luna walked back to sulk in Daybreaker’s shadow.
“Heheh, I’m your only student, Princess Daybreaker,” Twilight giggled while putting a spoon down. As she got up from her chair, Daybreaker held out hoof to stop her as Daybreaker approached the table.
“Please, do not stop on my account. It would be rude of me to interrupt your meal.”
‘Therein lies the bane of reason. So hard it is to catch a glimpse of the evil that writhes within that it wears Celestia’s kindness like a second skin. Daybreak is, above all else, patient. But I know its evil. I’ve seen it firsthoof.’
Luna stood by, offering an insincere smile while they chatted. A servant brushed past her and placed a tray with a bowl far larger than the one she used before the larger alicorn.
“So tell me Twilight, what brings you to the Castle today? I had heard you were spending time with your family.”
“Uh… Princess Luna invited me here.”
Daybreaker turned her smoldering gaze towards Luna.
“Did she now?”
Luna swallowed her nervousness, “We did. We possess so few who We can confide in… We had hoped that one of our saviours would lend a patient ear.”
“I’m here now, Luna. Tell me what troubles you?”
Luna thought quickly, “Our petitioners approach with no small amount of hesitation. We find that We are finally sought out by our subjects, yet they do so with no pleasure. They… are afraid of us. Or dislike us. ‘Tis impossible to tell…”
Daybreaker’s eyebrows furrowed as she thought.
“It must be those newspapers. All the ponies of Canterlot read them everyday, and I know firsthoof just what kind of baseless lies they churn out. No doubt some viscous or scandalous rumours based around you are sourced from their presses. In fact, I am certain that changelings have infiltrated the press agencies to further spread discourse amongst our ponies. Fret not Luna, I will have these companies investigated. In the meantime, I will put a hold on printing stories outside of crown-approved ones. A temporary measure until we are sure that our enemies are not pitting us against one another.”
‘More like an excuse for thee to recuse the freedom of press. Though that institution is new to us, We can clearly see how it would upset thy machinations. There are no changelings amongst their numbers, We are certain. Thy guards will claim otherwise, and one more freedom will be lost. All the while, thou appear as a benevolent saviour while spreading fear and distrust.’
“Thank you, sister.”
“Now Twilight, tell me about your day…”
Luna wanted to get back to the throne room and get back to work, but she had to stay here. She had to be present for Daybreaker’s conversations with Twilight, lest some unknown piece of information or manipulation escape her notice.
It was like playing a game of chess. Luna could move her pieces slowly, while Daybreaker moved many at once and out in the open. Luna had to wait for Daybreaker’s back to be turned to move even the simplest of pawns, much less the Queen on the field that is Twilight Sparkle.
‘The last Element who is not set against Daybreaker.’
Daybreaker was wise enough to slowly seep her tendrils of disharmony through the kingdom. If she moved any faster, the Elements’ Bearers would depose her immediately. It is for that exact reason why Daybreaker has not already confiscated the Elements and disposed of them, though she would do that soon enough. As soon as that action is excusable, Daybreaker would get rid of the one weapon that could bring Celestia back.
‘Hmmm. Did Phasma have to play such games against Queen Chrysalis within their own kingdom? Ha, ‘tis most certainly so. Perhaps he can offer advice? Even help us to be more approachable? Yes, we shall request his aid tonight.’
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Up♡ate
A villain who plays the long game is going to be much tougher to catch as a villain if they have enough connections.
I like how similar Luna's situation is now to Phasma's situation before the invasion.
Indeed he did. Just don't fall into the pit trap he did Luna.
Why can't Luna just tell Twilight "Daybreaker" is just another Nightmare possesing an alicorn, just like the one which once had her as a vessel?
10722185
Because she acts the same as Celestia.
Despite what others want you to believe, shooting your friends/idols because they look strange is in fact, not a good thing. Even if you're shooting them with rainbow laserbeams, you're still shooting them.
10722185
twilight is smart but she and the others likely still have the image of luna being nightmare moon and even if they dont luna would think they do so for luna to claim that she will need solid proof for twilight to witness that is both enough to get her thinking and also not make her run back to daybreak. so yea luna isnt in a good position to either save her sister or turn public opinion. the only move that she can really do is what she is doing now or for her and phas to meet up with eachother and what changlings that are left on his side (as we know that chrisalis isnt the sort to let go of this she has likely used the hunting of changlings to get rid of them) and flee untill things cool down.
With all the changes to the start of the story Celestias inaction will be excused ones she is back. Nation wide restoration is one tough cookie to overcome...
10722167
Alicorns of all are masters of the long game... Did Luna salvaded the Elements already i wonder?
10722172
One more thung that brings em closer
10722174
To be fair... Hes less than a year old. Luna is a full trained Alicorn mage. To extream to compare that.
10722185
She could do that, xes. But...
Hero worthship is not to be underrestimated. Daybreaker is probably " i just use my combat form, obes everything is safe again all will return to normal"
Twilight is a lapdog without commen sence. Her friends in Ponyville made her the great leader she becomes later on...
10722196
Exacly. Nightmaremoon was just some pony. Twilight would never done the same to Daybreaker. Twilight is locked in her own world... Her friends freed her and expanded her understanding and mental development
10722214
If Phasmatodia could '
mindcontrol' persuade Purple Smart to rainbowlaser Daybreaker the original show could return to its normal structure.10722226
He has all his memories from before his rebirth to fall back upon.
10722230
Dont help him mutch outside verbal or tactical conflicts.
-Hes body is less than a year old
-He knows like 3-10 spells at most
-Hes mind is not in the best of places after losing everyling he cared for ( he considered em familie )
-A pony can eat almost everything he needs to harvest his food from
livestockPonys without em notice...That hardly a comparison...
My question is this: Phasma had the elements hidden, and only told Luna about them. If Luna suspects Daybreaker is another nightmare, why would Luna tell Daybreaker where the elements are in the first place? Why not just say they haven't been found yet? Seems counter intuitive to give your enemy access to your trump card.
They should make a game like that it would be intersting🤔
10722230
The only part of that we know is that he died violently; my conjecture that he was a military man is not actually canon yet.
10722244
Luna: "... Buck."
Luna is not that great at this skullduggery
Chess is ever more annoying when you're not allowed to use the same pieces as the other. Even moreso when many of those pieces are technically shared...
10722244
Yeah... after a thousand years on the moon, Luna probably sucks at political intrigue.
10722251
Phasma won't be happy when he learns Luna handed the rainbow lasers over to Daybreaker. I expect a tongue lashing of epic proportions.
Well caught up and must say im rather enjoying it, was ready to hit next button when wasnt one. Im rather liking this story thus far and look foward to future chapters
10722251
Or...
She didn't but Twilight did. She has been established as the only bearer to like/trust Daybreaker.
10722244
What's worse, Luna's cold attitude towards Daybreaker makes it fairly obvious she knows something's up. If Daybreaker has half a brain she'll put two and two together, realizing that Luna is trying to turn Twilight against her. Phasma had the right idea to feign loyalty to Chrysalis - never speaking out against her in public, banishing Thorax and all that - until the end. I imagine when Luna comes asking him for advice in the art of subterfuge he'll chew her out for being so blunt.
But then again Daybreaker isn't exactly inconspicuous either. It would have been smarter to keep Celestia's name, appearance and personality so as to not give the element bearers any reason to doubt her in the first place.
So Daybreak is more like a sunburn at the beach, it takes it time before you realized it and when it does is painful
At least Luna's make jokes, and not being depressed about it.
Hm... I guess there will be something like this between Luna and Phasmodias. Ironicly the less than a year old is smarter, more cunning and the one with vision...
Later on i could imagen Phasma going to use Luna to prove a point:
This is definitiv what he should tell her!
Ooh intrigue
And of course Luna sucks at it
Hmm maybe she and Phasma could train each other? Phasma helps Luna be better at skullduggery and she helps him with combat
I'm pretty sure that they are afraid of Daybraker more.
Maybe they are nervous because they fear that Daybraker can come inside a throneroom at any moment or Luna will talk to Daybreaker about them?
10720034
I’m not entirely sure what your point is, but napoleons academic and early career are well documented.
Though, I’m gonna have to say your point doesn’t stand if you mean that Napoleon was the tactical genius before he was formally educated on military matters. Mostly because a lot of what he did required and extensive knowledge of how a military would function in those days.
10722330
Nah, it's established that Daybreaker still pretends to be Celestia in all but name.
Nice
10722185
You'd think Twilight would know Celestia better considering she raised her. I just hope it isn't a repeat of Starswirl.
10722275
Phasma be like:
i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/762/095/77c.jpg
10722293
On appearance, that may not even be possible, to keep the original appearance when a nightmare merges with a host. That's honestly just guesswork, but it makes the most sense. On personality, again this is just guesswork, but I think that nightmares are not personalities of their own once joined with a host, but a merger of the two. What reason would Nightmare Moon have to want to have eternal night if she wasn't affected at least some by Luna's desires? Same thing, why be attracted to Phasma at all as Nightmare Moon if there wasn't some of Luna's own desires coming through? What need has an ethereal creature for physical relations?
So I think when it comes to personality and appearance, there isn't a choice in the matter. The appearance has to change, and the personalities are a merger of the host and the nightmares to create something new.
Again, that's all just a bunch of guesswork, but I think that's how it works.
Edit: And if it is indeed a merger of personalities, then that means at least some of the care that Daybreaker displays for friends, family, and subjects is genuine. The question is how much of it is.
Poor Luna. Twilight might not be able to see what Daybreaker really is. Her blind devotion was still alive and well even when Starlight sent to Canterlot in season 7 (I think it was).
Wait, did I miss something? What’s Daybreaker doing here?
10723016
Go back and reread the last few parts of 53- The Promised Day (The part you should start at is the first horizontal break).
Well, as long as Twilight doesn't go full 'Grand Inquisitor Sunrise Sparkle' I think there's a very good chance Luna will sway Twilight.
Or this could all go terribly wrong and Phasma will have to save the day... 50/50 really.
Dangit! Now I've caught up and got to wait for updates!
Dangit, Book horse, have you never read a dystopia future story! For a bibliophile, you're pretty blind to the cliches right in front of you! Fuck, she suddenly changes her name and appearance and you don't think, "Hey, this might mean she's evil now,".
Great work, KKSlider, looking forward to the next update!
Awesome chapter
10722196
Even if they're just going out and killing Every Non-pony (Changeling) she finds and barely just paying for rebuilding and food for her people. Seems kinda bad, More so being told of what nightmares can do and all that from someone who HAD an nightmare take control of you for 1000 years.
10723437
i.pinimg.com/originals/eb/52/86/eb52862bbd8ea38a169de21afd1dfa38.jpg
10723484
... ... ... That priceless 
Dear god...
10722383
Pretty mutch. Yet im sure Raven Inkwell and other ponys that served her on a daily basis cant tell the difference because Daybreaker uses Celestias memorys to mimic Celestia as far as her 'pride' let her...
10722475
10722482
Twilight is a master of tunnelvision. So many episode show how singel minded she can be...
Her friends shaped 'Purple book Smart' into 'Twilight Sparkle' Princess of
booksFriendship.10722529
That one is pure gold ♡
10722636
Makes perfect sence. There are storys that make the Nightmare/Parasit/possesion out to be as a personality empthy entity that gained sapients when taking Lunas body and copy a changed version or outride merged with her!
Welp, sixty chapters in a row. Time well spent, I'd say.
I've been mostly absent from the fandom for a long time, so I really didn't expect to get this hooked on a story I found through basically random chance.
Thanks for the entertainment. :)
...This is dangerously close to political commentary.
10725244
I'm tired of pretending that Mahmud I was a ruler for the people. All he did was control the lower class! Why else would he shut down the presses in '42?!
IT IS NOW EIGHT AM AND I DO NOT REGRET IT BABEEYYY
in all seriousness,,,, hot damn, dude, this is positively bangin'.
yes Luna, he sure did have to play with the odds stacked against him.
As always the comment section has mutch to offer.
I wonder if our Phasmatodea can enlight Luna, as mutch the Community did me...
Oh, how the turn tables~…
I find it strange how no ponies are commenting on Celestia's name change.
10722246
There is such a game:
Game of Thrones.