//------------------------------// // Vanished // Story: Empress of Flame 2: Flickering Flame // by Pathious //------------------------------// Empress found herself rushing through the thick underbrush of the Everfree Forest. There was still black blood seeping from the side of her chest. Empresses dark black eyes. of which looked like only cyan halos. Her eyes were starting to cloud over. Empress collapsed as she ran. Her blood seeping onto the forest floor. Her eyes were near a closing, Her last breath was near. She felt a cold feeling start to come over her. She looked up to see a zebra standing over her. The zebra appeared to be changing shape. Empresses eyes shut tightly as she passed out. She was brought somewhere deeper into the woods. Her eyes slowly opened to see a whit changeling looking at her. This white changeling had an orange and blue mane his tail complimenting his mane. "Aren't you a interesting character. Ah yes I've seen you before." The changeling said as he looked into her eyes. "Your empress of flame embodiment of darkness... correct me if I'm wrong." The Changeling said fast and calmly. "W-who are you?" Empress said as she placed a hoof on her side where the spear once was. She felt that there was no wound anymore. She felt pain there but where was the wound. "Sorry I should have introduced myself..." he coughed. "The name is white lighting, A freak changeling who's carapace was white instead of black. Also I have a mane. Tell me how many drones you see with a mane." White lighting rolled his eyes. "Oh and don't get me started on the regular Pegasus wings... I'm a freak and so are you.." White smiles. "We both want one thing. Those who caused us harm to pay." His eyes flash in a green luminescence. "H-how do you know how I feel?" Empress tilted her head in confusion. "You don't know what I am. Or what I want." Empress bared her fangs at this changeling freak. "Well when I was healing you of your terrible injury. I happened to ick up on your magical essence. I have smelled such a presence before. One of the element of harmony. You see I walk past the tree of harmony on a daily basis. You smell just like the element of magic....... Only in a darker format." White lighting spread his feathered wings. as he spoke. His eyes were still glowing green. Wanna explain how you managed to become what you are?" White said as it was becoming obvious he wanted to see how one becomes so enraged with such dark magic. "I'd rather kiss the sin on Celestia's lips then talk to a magic hungry changeling." Empress said in a condescending tone. My creation has no importance to you or any creature in this pitiful world." Empress said as she kept her eyes on White. "Fair enough fair enough. Maybe nothing in this world deserves to know about your creation. On the other hoof how come the creatures of this other world got to witness it." White lighting said as he levitated up a piece of a frame that belonged to the portal to the other world. "How the hell did you get your hooves on that?" Empress said as her eyes widened in interest. "Oh~ seems like I finally got your dirty attention." White lighting said as he tossed the piece behind him. "I have all the pieces... I was a little to close to a certain explosion several years ago." White lighting said as a sly smile was growing bigger on his face. "I can give you something from it in return of the story of your creation~!" White held out a glowing sphere in front of Empress. "what could you possibly give me that would be of any worth." Empress spread her massive demonic wings as she was growing both more curious and angry. "Oh nothing overly big...just the ability to travel to the other world at your will. I will give you the magic the portal left behind~!" White said as he now held the glowing ball in his mouth. His wings slowly folding. as he glared at Empress in a tempting manor. "Your not capable of doing such things you simpleton~!" Empress finally stood up raising her voice. Her Mane and tail began to flow more rapidly like flame. She was growing more and more angry with this Changeling freak. "Your right I don't. You do on the other hoof. I will give you this so you can use it...Just tell me how you turned into Empress. Tell me this Sunset shimmer." White lighting said Sunsets name. He knew a little more then he was letting out. The name got to Empress in an emotional way. "Fine you wish to know you twit... Fine I will tell you. Sunset put on the element of harmony. When she did she awoke me. An inactive curse she had always had. The evil she always had deep down inside her. I am as powerful as that Element I am the Empress of Flame. " Empress said as she huffed out black smoke through her nose. White lighting appeared to be making a mental note on the topic. He then levitated the glowing orb to Empress. "consider this a gift for your time. Consider it me giving you the power to bring justice to a world... Or worlds that have done nothing but wrong things like me and you." White lighting smiled as he took a seat in a rocking chair. "your welcome to leave now." White said as he looked at Empress. Empress stood there briefly and then slowly made her way to the exit of the building she was in. Her dark eyes looked at the orb she had received. Her eyes lit up and the ball started to levitate. It's magic beginning to fuse with Empress. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Twilight Sparkle was pacing back and fourth. She wanted to know what was going on. She wanted to know what was coming next. Why had Celestia resorted to murder while she was in a state of nothing but primal fear. There were so many questions that were attacking the core of Twilights mind. All of these questions she had no way of answering. She was so mad and scared herself, there was no way she could get her mind calm enough o actually focus. She wanted her friends whom were in ponyville. Twilight couldn't leave Canterlot. Not with Celestia having a nervous breakdown. "Spike I need you to go to ponyville and have the girls come to Canterlot. I need them here now~!" Twilight said in a slight yelling voice. "Sorry for yelling Spike I'm just so upset with what has happened today." Twilights head looked to the floor as she began to be filled with a sort of sadness. Twilight I understand your sadness. I didn't want to see Celestia step so low." Spike shook his head in a disapproving manor. "I was just as shocked as you were." "Thanks Spike. I'm so glad your always here for me." Twilight smiled at the small Dragon. "It's what I'm here for Twilight. Now I can't waste my time here I have a letter to deliver." Spike said in a can do spirited voice. Twilight watched as Spike ran out of the room and out of sight. Twilight sighed as she started to hum slightly. A singing note escaped her throat as she placed her front hooves against the wall. "Oh how I've longed oh how I've waited. To see your face again. How I always waited to hear your voice again." She slowly went back on all fours. "Never did I think I'd see the day your blood on the floor. Life leaves a scar one I wish to heal but I can't heal you when you've vanished." Twilight held her note on the word vanished as she slowly closed her eyes. "I've made mistakes but so have you. I hold them close for the opportunity of forgiveness. but I can clean the slat if you vanished no I can't clean the slate if you've done nothing but vanish. So till I see your face I have nothing but these mistakes. No nothing but these mistakes to keep me company." Twilight started to walk down the hall of equestrian history. She stopped and looked at the one that showed Sunset's sacrifice. "Why do you ask for love when you cant even give it... How can you expect me to show it when you went and blew it. You killed the love deep down yet it keeps coming back up. Why can't I shale it? Why can't I was it away with all the sins of my mistakes. Why do you leave me here? Why did you leave me to take care of your problems to take care of your problem. I can't stand you but I can't live without your touch. I love you." Twilight ended her song in an angry tone of voice. Twilight started to cry as emotion was filling her body. Celestia was not far down the hall listening to the song in secret. She was up to something and it wasn't good. Celestia started to walk away to get away from the scene. She didn't want to feel for her faithful student. She didn't want to give her comfort. In Celestias mind, If Twilight could love Sunset she was not worth comforting. Why such hate for Sunset so suddenly? "S-sister are you watching her?" Luna said as she came into visibility in front of Celestia. "why does thou not comfort the young mare while she feels despair?" Luna said as she tilted her head. "Luna why are you always getting in my business?" Celestia said as she began to walk down the hall away from Twilight. "I would think you would have learned by now that what I do is my business." Celestia said as she opened a door and entered the room. "Sister you have everypony concerned. Including thigh self. I Am concerned after you murderous actions towards another today." Luna said as she slowly spread her wings. "Your actions do not make the public look positively at our role as royalty." Lunas spoke in a serious tone. She wanted to make sure Celestia was aware of the commotion she was causing. "Luna I am very much aware of my actions and the after effects they could have on Equestria. That thing had to die though. She was a Danger to us all last we saw her. How could she change." Celestia said in an equally serious voice. "I did what I felt was needed. I did this not for me but for the overall wellbeing of every creature. I did this for Equestria." Celestia raised her voice. "And if your against that wellbeing Luna... Then Equestria has no use for you.." Celestia forced herself to be cruel. She quickly turned away to walk out of Lunas sight. Celestias eyes were quickly filling with tears after she had been so crude. She was scared and she was desperate to destroy what was causing her to feel so weak. She would stop at nothing to raise her overall wellbeing. She wasn't gonna stop till Sunset Shimmer and her darkness was destroyed. As dark as her thoughts were she still felt that what she felt deep down was what was good for Equestria. Would the rest of the worlds rulers agree? Or is Celestia about to cause the worst case scenario?