//------------------------------//
// A New Path 
// Story: Different Paths 
// by Jhoira 
//------------------------------//

Sunset stormed up to the DJ's station where gentle background music was being played and grabbed the microphone. "Hello everyone!" Her voice was announced throughout the entire wedding. "Rarity and I would like to thank you all for coming! However since..." Sunset shimmer trailed off and stopped herself from saying 'cheating whore' she was angry but she couldn't do that. "Since we are a little behind schedule we'd like to thank you all for your patience." She sighed as she put the mic down and started to storm off. She was really pissed off, but she wasn't a monster. She wouldn't ruin Rarity's reputation, especially since she was leaving so it wouldn't matter to her anymore. She was quite thankful that she hadn't had a microphone outside the changing rooms. She would have not had so much restraint then.

Sunset saw Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Fluttershy all hurrying after her. Turning to avoid them she turned right into a large black suit. Looking up slightly to see the perpetually heavy dark sunglass-wearing agent of the government. She sighed as she looked up at him, and he smiled, looking down at her. "Trouble?" She wouldn't have put it past him to have some gloating in that voice. He had been right, she wasn't going to be staying in the country after all.

Sunset made a throwing away gesture with her hand, trying to walk by the man saying. "Yeah, this isn't going to work. I'll have a ticket out of the country by tomorrow, that work for you?"

The man smiled and raised a hand, putting it on her shoulder and holding her in place. "Oh, I don't think you'll need a ticket to get back to Equestria Sunset Shimmer." Sunset Shimmer froze. She looked up and her eyes widened as red energy began to seep from behind his heavy sunglasses. Raising his other hand darkness began to flood the area. It was hard to make out around the area, but there were flying objects, tables, chairs, tresses, everything in a massive whirlwind of darkness. When her vision cleared Mr. Shadow was no longer a man in a suit.

King Sombra stood, still tall, but no more suit, no more sunglasses. Now the tall man had glowing green eyes, a massive main of black hair, and a wicked grin on his face. His body covered now in armor instead of normal clothes, along with a large cape to complete the look. He still held Sunset by the shoulder and smiled at her. "Welcome to my new world Sunset Shimmer." She pulled away violently but was surprised to find that he simply let her go. She figured out the reason when she looked around. Seeing her six friends gagged by shadows, and hoisted into the air, restrained and unable to act. "This will be my new empire. I, King Sombra, claim this world. And soon, all other worlds."

Sunset took a few steps further from King Sombra and looked about. The immediate area had been shifted, but she knew that if she could free her friends she could still fight the king. But her thoughts were interrupted by the king speaking again. "I have been watching you Sunset Shimmer." She looked back up at the king, who was walking up to his impromptu throne. "And you would make a fine lieutenant to command my armies!" She blinked, opening her mouth to speak then closing it. "Experience has taught me that I need more than mindless slaves to conquer Equestria. I need powerful warriors, who will, of course, be greatly rewarded from the spoils."

Sunset took a moment before answering. "You... Want me to fight for you...?"

King Sombra smiled. "Yes! Though I could find others, you would be my first choice! I, unlike your teacher, will not keep the secrets of power from you! You could be my warlord Sunset Shimmer, spreading my power throughout this world, throughout Equestria, and others! You would be second in authority only to me, and..." He smiled, raising a hand, which held seven small crystals on it. Sunset looked down, eyes widened, realizing that she didn't have her necklace on, then remembering, she and Rarity took them off for the ceremony, and apparently Sombra had taken the others. "I will return your powers! You would have claim to the choicest of lands, the most splendid of loot..." His eyes wandered over to the struggling group of girls he had captive, specifically the alabaster skinned one. "the first choice of slaves."

Sunset frowned, about to tell him to take a flying leap but then she stopped, thinking about the possibilities of... Everything. Her hesitation was all that Sombra needed to continue. "You once dreamed of returning to Equestria and showing your former teacher how much you've learned? Do so! Do so with the army of an empire at your back! Show that pathetic little kingdom what true fear means! You want Rarity? I give her to you. You want Celestia to be your prisoner? Take her, she is yours. You wish to rule Equestria? Do so in my name! Take whatever you want, your word will be second only to mine!" He leaned forward, holding out her crystal. "All you need to is take my offer!" Sombra knew that without the other crystals, Sunset's magic could not match his own, so really this was no risk.

Sunset took a few steps up towards the offered crystal, only to hear muffled screaming as her six friends protested. Sunset looked over to them, frowning a little as she narrowed her eyes at them then looked back at King Sombra who smiled and started up yet another monologue. It was all Sunset could do to keep from rolling her eyes, this king sure did like to hear himself talk. "Yes, they protest because they would drag you down with them into their defeat. But you're stronger than they are Sunset Shimmer. You have but two paths to choose from now. You can choose defeat, and surrender to become a slave in my army like your friends. Or you can choose victory! And rule at my side as my inheritor!" Sunset's eyes had wandered back to her friends before snapping back to King Sombra, widening. "Yes Sunset, be my heir. I have no son, no daughter, no mate. Come to my side, and rule at my side, claim all that is mine when I go to rule the next world as well!"

Sunset hesitated another moment, still hearing her friends muffled yells and screams to her, but then she smiled, reaching up and reaching her hand towards the offered crystal. "I get to keep three of them."

Sombra threw his head back and laughed in victory as the crystal was taken from his hand and Sunset put it back around her neck. "Agreed! You want Rarity, who else? Rainbow Dash and Applejack? They would make excellent personal bodyguards. After being properly motivated."

Sunset grinned, the dark flash behind her eyes only causing Sombra's grin to grow wider as she answered. "No, Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy. I want to make her watch." Sombra let out another wicked laugh, nodding his approval as Sunset turned and walked towards the prisoners.

"Oh very good! That! That is the kind of wickedness that you cannot teach! It must be cultivated from a soul that truly knows how the world works!" King Sombra stood up, taking a moment to put the remaining crystals around his own neck. "Now, we can't spare time for you to fully enjoy your new slaves, the military of this world is likely moving and we must respond. But we can spare a few minutes for you to gloat, it is only proper."

Sunset grinned as she walked directly towards the target of her heartbreak today, Rarity. Rarity squirmed and whimpered as she was approached, pain, sorrow, and betrayal reflect in her eyes. Sunset raised a hand to Rarity's chin, holding her gaze. Then Sunset's face broke into a genuine, soft smile as she leaned her forehead against Rarity's. Saying gently. "I love you Rarity. And I release you." Sunset wanted to say goodbye to all her friends, but as Sombra had said, there wasn't time, so she had to say goodbye to who was more important to her.

Sunset whipped around, shooting a long line of energy out of her hand at Sombra, who just laughed mockingly as he battered it aside. "So you've chosen the path the defeat and slavery." Sombra started to walk down his impromptu dais. "Very well." He pointed to the bundle of crystals he was now wearing. "You could not defeat me with only my own power, let alone with the powers of your friends."

Sunset smirked, taking a step away from Rarity. If she was Princess Twilight or any of the other princesses he'd be right. Her friends were human, not ponies. Humans had no inherent magic as all ponies did. They couldn't have that power surge forth despite the absence of their elements and gems. She was alone in facing all the powers of her friends and King Sombra. But Sunset Shimmer wasn't Twilight Sparkle, she wasn't Princess Celestia, she wasn't pure. She raised a hand, gathering a ball of glowing magical energy in it. She poured everything she was into that ball, her love, her anger, her very soul. For that is one of the forbidden magics she had learned. To sacrifice your life force for greater magic power. She raised a hand, looking back at her friends, all watching her intently as she gave them a smile. "I choose a new path Sombra. And it goes through you!"

As she harnessed the last of her life force, leaving nothing up to chance that Sombra might survive, she started to glow brightly. Ethereal wings billowed out behind her, a horn made of light extended from her forehead and she grinned. In her last moments, she was as she had always wanted to be, how she had always pursued any knowledge to find how to become. Were these last few moments at the end of her life enough for her? Sunset nodded, smiling widely as she raised her hand, it was enough. With a magical blast that hadn't been seen even in Equestria, Sunset Shimmer released her spell. Letting it fly forth in a concentrated beam right towards Sombra. Though he tried to reflect it, it pierced right through his chest, and he exploded in a puff of shadow. This time, Sunset was certain he was gone, scourged away by light stronger than the sun itself.

Sunset felt it then, she was not human any longer, she had poured all of that into her spell. She raised a hand to see that she was now only light, she was fading with the last remnants of her spell. She turned her head, though she didn't have ears, she felt like she heard a distant song, calling her onwards. Turning she saw a figure, a hooded figure, tall and imposing, but holding out a hand, offering to take her with it. She smiled as she took a step forward, only to pause, hearing a quiet, broken, "Sunset..." She turned to see Rarity looking up at her from the ground. Sunset smiled, she could no longer hold any grudge against anything Rarity had done, or what she thought Rarity had done. King Sombra manipulated them into fighting, it was not their fault. But also, in the grand scheme of things, it no longer mattered. 

Past all the fighting, the emotions, and the arguments. After they had their fun, went on their dates, hung out and played games. After everything that happened, there was, and would always be their friendship. Sunset was now light, she couldn't speak. Even as she reached out, to take the bony hand offered to her by the creature she knew to be the Grim Reaper, she turned her head, locking eyes with Rarity. Raising a hand to incorporeal lips, she blew her wife a kiss. Turning slightly Sunset inclined her head to all of her friends. She then turned away from them, following her escort to the next world. She'd see her friends again eventually, but until then, this was the end for them. And she couldn't think of a better one.