//------------------------------// // Epilogue: Life Will Change // Story: The Black Sun // by Super Ponyman //------------------------------// (Sunset’s House) The sun was setting on Canterlot, it’s warm red glow slowly diminishing and the purples of the dusk sky were appearing. Stars previously obscured by the light of the sun were becoming visible. The People of Canterlot were in shock... they all nearly died to a being that could obliterate anything in his path. Not even this mighty being now known to them as Burning Star could stand up to him. All seemed lost... then a single human by the name of Flash Sentry rose to stop him. Flash Sentry stood tall and stared into the face of oblivion. He felt no fear, he had faith in humanity... and faith in himself as well. This statement was so profound, so moving that it gave Burning Star the strength to stand once more against Prince Eclipsio. Only this time beside Flash Sentry, a man who went above and beyond his inner strength to stare death in the face and say... “no.” Flash Sentry sacrificed his life to stop Prince Eclipsio for good, surrendering himself to death in order to destroy someone that believed himself beyond death’s reach. In that moment, Flash was no longer forgotten... he was remembered, and remembered well. Sunset’s house was filled with those that were close to Flash Sentry. The Rainbooms had been excused by Shining Armor in order to attend a event for Flash, held by Burning Star. Shining was driving his squad car, his other officers holding the other Rainbooms so they could get to this ceremony on time. As Shining drove, he was deep in thought. He was thinking about everything that happened in the past month, and everything that he was able to participate in. During the past month, Shining Armor had come in contact with Burning Star and his allies, and his view of the world had been shattered. He now knew that there was magic in this world, magic that could be harnessed for great good... or great evil. He had assisted in the investigation and eventual defeat of the villainous Black Sun, as well as helping to expose the true mastermind Prince Eclipsio... He had saved his sisters life... and the lives of her friends and Burning Star himself after Eclipsio’s Assault upon them... For an ordinary human, he had done some extraordinary things. But something... else was on his mind as well. Something that he couldn’t put his finger on... Shining Armor pulled up to Sunset’s house and got out, opening the door for his sister as well as Cadence. The Rainbooms were all dressed in formal attire, while there wouldn’t be any big ceremony, it was the best way to honor this sorrowful occasion. Shining stopped at the door and for once... knocked. A distant, but glum sounding “coming” was heard from inside and the door opened, revealing Shadow Armor. “Oh, Shining. You are here, I see you have brought the Rainbooms with you?” He said. his stoic expression was gone, replaced by one of silent sorrow. Shining responded, “Yes. Are we late?” The Black Knight shook his head, “No, we are just about to start. Come in.” Shindig entered the house, seeing everyone dressed in formal attire. Burning Star was surprisingly dressed fancy as well, which surprised Shining, considering he had only seen the Equestrian of Fire dressed casual. Sunset walked over to her friends and they all got into a group hug. Sunset asked them all, “You all ok?” Applejack answered with her hat in hand, “The better question is if yer alright, Sunset?” “I’m trying to be strong, girls. But it is so hard.” Sunset sniffed, wiping her eyes with a tissue. She felt a metal hand on her shoulder, it was Savior. He was out of his armor, and his expression was one of misery. “I am sorry that all this happened.” He said to the girls, “I should have done more, but now Flash is Dead, and I couldn’t do anything to stop it.” He hung his head, but some invisible hand pulled it up, it came from Lucina. She said to the girls, her eyes red with tears, “I’m sorry all this all happened to you girls. Flash must have really been a great friend to walk willingly into his death. It takes a true friendship to make someone lay down their lives for the sake of others.” Pinkie’s hair was flat against her hair, she was barely holding back a sob. “I-I can’t believe he is gone. I really really liked him... and now I really really miss him.” Frostclaw hugged Pinkie, “We all do, Pinkie. We all do. In my culture death is not the end, but merely another step in life. He is in a good place, and probably is looking down on all of you now.” Burning Star called out to everyone, “Attention everyone. I’d like to thank everyone for coming out here and coming away from your responsibilities for an occasion as somber as this.” He stood up and put his hands on the kitchen table. “But we aren’t here for me, or to celebrate our heroics. We are here to remember someone who has died to protect us from a force beyond our power.” He waved his hand to the audience, “If you have some words to say about Flash Sentry, come up and say them.” Shadow Armor came up first, “While I only knew Flash after he was revealed as Black Sun, I felt a great deal of pity for him. Now I feel a great deal of sorrow for his death. His sacrifice will be hard to honor, even with all we have done.” Sunset came up and spoke next, “When I first met Flash he was a naive boy that seemed like an idiot. He seemed like someone who wouldn’t amount to anything and would fade away into a crowd. but because of his actions and his bravery against Eclipsio, the girls and I will remember him forever as our friend.” Savior began to speak, “Flash was a good man, he sacrificed much as Black Sun. He fought the darkness within himself every moment he served that monster Eclipsio... and he gave the ultimate sacrifice in order to put an end to his evil and hatred forever. Even with all my strength and high-tech weaponry, I could never hope to accomplish what he did.” It was finally Burning Star’s turn to speak, and he stood up tall. “Listen Up everyone, Flash Sentry once believed that he would be forgotten to the ages, never to be remembered. Through his sacrifice he has been immortalized as the true savior of this world. While I have done incredible things, Flash’s sacrifice is one thing I know I will never be able to live up to. Mortality is such an interesting thing, a human’s lifespan is nothing compared to the lifespan of an Alicorn... but what Flash did, no, what we all did in the past month transcends the boundaries of mortality, and it will be well remembered by everyone that was saved by him. He made the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of saving his world from oblivion, that is something that only a true hero would do.” He picked up his glass and raised it high, “To Flash Sentry, may he be remembered for both his heroism and for the bonds of friendship that will forever be unbroken.” Everyone cheered, “To Flash!” After the speech and some dinner, everyone went home. Later that night, Burning Star and his allies had gotten word that Celestia and Luna had opened the portal home, and were awaiting them. Sunset Shimmer was still awake when Burning Star started to pack up and leave. She got up and said to him, “So I guess this is goodbye, then?” Burning Star nodded, “I guess it is for now... I’m gonna miss you Sunset Shimmer. You really changed me during my time here.” “I will miss you too Burning Star... but what change did you experience?” She responded to him. Burning Star shrugged, “I learned that Life Will Change... there is no stopping that, and I know now that Eclipsio is gone and Flash is remembered, that the future looks bright for everyone, including you.” He placed something in Sunset’s hand and said to her, “Until we meet again Sunset Shimmer, I wish you good fortune and the blessings of the Masters of Nature.” He stepped through the portal and it closed with a white flash of light. Sunset finally broke down, making Savior pick her up and say to her. “Do not be sad for his departure, Sunset. I have a feeling we will see him again. Until then, I will be here for you and this world.” Shining chimed in, “Yeah, my sister, your friends, and even me will be there as well.” Sunset weakly said, “Thank you...”, before she passed out in Savior’s Arms. Savior began to speak with Shining, “Shining, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.” “Sure, what is it?” He responded, rubbing his head. Savior took a quick look at Shining’s body, and said to him, “While you all were walking through the artifact wing of Shadow Station, you came in contact with some dangerous relics.” Shining nodded, “We did, what about it?” Savior noticed Shining’s eyes flicker slightly, “You didn’t... take anything from there, did you?” Shining weakly smiled, “No... why would I do that?”. Savior nodded, “Ok, I will bring Sunset inside, I recommend you get home to Twilight and Cadence.” Shining left Susnet’s house and got in his car before driving off towards his house. Then... something... made him clutch his chest in pain. Shining ignored it and drove a little faster towards home. (Twilight’s House) Shining Armor opened the door to his home and walked inside... Then he doubled over in pain, severe pain that wracked his entire body. “Graagh! What is this... pain?! What is happening... to me?!” He yelled as he staggered to the bathroom. He went in and locked the door, ripping off his coat and grabbing at his chest, realizing what he stuck in his pocket. He pulled it out and his eyes went wide... The crimson artifact he took from Shadow Station was glowing bright red and emitting bolts of black lightning that rippled across Shining’s entire body. Shining screamed in agony as he slammed his hand against the tile wall, putting a large hole in it. He then collapsed to the floor, not moving... No sound was heard as the body of Shining Armor lay on the bathroom floor... Then, a breath of air filled his lungs, it was short and raspy. Shining’s body stood up and he looked in the mirror, his eyes had turned a bright red and the whites had turned a sickly green. Purple flames slowly poured out of his eyes as he looked at both his hands. Shining then spoke... his voice unnatural, like someone was speaking through him. It was deep and ominous, a voice that could strike fear into anyone or anything that heard it... “The king has returned... long live... the king...”