//------------------------------// // The Dream of Truth // Story: Empress of Flame 3: Midnight flame // by Pathious //------------------------------// It took a while but after some time Twilight was able to go home with her newborn. Of course Celestia had her under tight supervision under the Solar and Lunar guard. Twilight had much left to learn about this whole situation. Fortunately the truth would only come while she slept. When she arrived home she was helped into her castle by her friends. They all seemed to be as concerned as Celestia. Twilight had no idea why they would be so concerned. After all she had no recollection of turning into the Empress of flame. It didn't take long for her to get settled in. She really just wanted to go to bed. Sunset Shimmer was being quite the hoof full since her birth. How did her mother deal with her when she had to raise her. Twilight did eventually find herself laying in her bed. Baby shimmer asleep on her chest. Her little pitter patter of her heart made Twilight smile. Twilight never thought she would become the mother of the Mare who had nearly destroyed two world just because she loved her. It didn't take long for the truth to unfold as Twilight slowly drifted off to sleep. Right when she closed her eyes she was met with a bright burst of cyan light in her dreams. Sunset shimmer was holding the Element of magic over her head. "At last...." she chuckled as she spoke. "More power then I could ever imagine." she dropped the crown upon her own head. Twilight saw something immediately that she couldn't see before. The moment the crown started to overload on Sunsets head, there was a very transparent figure standing with her. Twilight couldn't make out the details but the moment it started to overload the figure went right into Sunsets head. Sunset shimmer was obviously in a lot of pain as she floated up into the air. The giant Cyan beam around her was hotter then Twilight remembered it being. As sunset opened her eyes a bright light filled the area and Twilight was now standing in a situation she was very familiar with. Twilight aw herself standing with shimmer. "I hope your ready to go Sunset because I am. not to mention the picnic starts in fifteen minutes." Twilight said casually. "Of course I'm ready." Sunset had yet to actually meet Twilight friends in this world. She had been at the crystal empire tis whole time. Now she was off with Twi to the Canterlot gardens. "Just let me get my saddlebag." Sunny smiled brightly as she quickly uses her magic to grab the bag. It didn't take long for the two mare to make it to the cold train station. Sunset thought today was the day that she was going to be able to tell Twilight her feelings for her. But could she? What if Twilight felt revolted towards Sunset after she told her. Soon they were on the most nerve racking train ride ever. Sunset was getting clearly nervous and scared. This fright only building up inside of her. Sunset had not felt this gut ache of nervousness since she was in the human world. The words of the demon kept ringing in her head "If only she could love you" Empress had said to sunset. Those words were what made Sunset only want to try harder. She wanted to prove that thing wrong. Eventually Canterlot came visible in the distance. Sunsets heart skipped a beat as memories of her studies at that place began to fill her mind. It had been so long since se had seen this place, so long since she would have been near it. Sunset remembered how she had ran away from here one fateful night. The train came to a very loud stop, this waking Sunset from her daze. "We are here Sunny." Twilight said as she quickly got out of the spot next to Sunset. Sunset slowly stood up, her knees very shaky. "We got here faster than I thought we would." Sunset gulped nervously. What would Twi's Friends think of her. "Yeah aren't you just so excited?" Twilight questioned excitedly. "Excited is one word you cold use." Sunset gulped again as they got off the train. Thankfully the train stopped right by the castle. Though this scared Sunset as she looked at the towering walls she had not seen in ages. That's when she was met with the violet eyes of a blue pagasi. "Hi nice to finally meet you." Rainbow said as she got in Sunset face. "Thought you should meet Twi's awesomest friend first.". Sunset took a deep breath and then looked at the pagasi. "N-nice to meet you as well." Sunset stuttered slightly. That's when miss Pinkie Pie hopped into the conversation. "PLEASE NOPONY TELL ME I'M LATE~!" pinkie said as she started panting from all the hopping. "No Pinkie your right on time." Twilight said real fast and calmly. "Hey where is flashy?" Pinkie quickly and loudly says. "wait who's flashy?" Sunset said in confusion "I don't believe Twi has ever mentioned a Flashy to me?" Sunset was very confused. "OH FLASHY IS TWI'S COLTFRIEND FLASH....SENTRY" Pinkie said as Twilight tried to cut off pinkies words. Those words hit Sunset harder than she's been hit before. "W-wait you h-have a coltfriend?" Sunset choked out these words. Sunset felt a pain shoot up her spine and into her head. Twilight watched all this happening again. This dream was unlike anything she had dealt with before. When Twilight felt the pain surge through Sunset she felt it run through herself as well. She was beginning to see the pain she had put poor sunset through. Twilight watched this unfold and when it was actually happening she did nothing to stop it. "Pinkie why did you have to blurt that out?" Twilight said angrily. "Sunset I was going to tell you I promise!" Twilight said scared on how Sunset was going to react "No you weren't, I SHOULD HAVE STAYED IN MY ROOM~!" sunset yelled as she ran into the castle fear and anger filling her mind. She ran into the castle her eyes full of tears. Right when she was going to tell Twilight how she felt she finds out this. She felt her anger starting to take hold of her much like it had when she put on the element of harmony so many moons ago. Sunset ran and ran, She quickly ducked into a random room. She opened her tear filled eyes as she was quickly pinned to the wall by the embodiment of her anger. Empress the demon had her pinned to the wall. "It's time to let me out." Empress opened her mouth and she disappeared. Sunset collapsed to the ground. Her eyes now closed. She laid motionless for quite some time. She slowly opened her eyes. The whites of her eyes slowly turned black. it appeared and if a black liquid was going over the whites. Her eyes now looked like nothing but cyan halos. After her eyes opened Twilight found herself surrounded by a bunch of Sunset shimmers. They had formed a circle around her. Each on in the circle got progressively more rotten looking. As if this was a cycle of death. Twilight felt fear start to overcome her as they stared at her. "Right when I was going to confess" they all yelled out at once. "Twilight your HURTING ME" They yelled as they all started to walk closer. Twilight wanted to run but there was no where to go. They had her surrounded. Twilight looked back up at them. The only sunset who was the lest rotten was face to face with her. Sunset had clouded and dead looking eyes but she was crying. The other sunsets had somehow Disappeared. "I just wanted you to see the love I felt for you." Sunset started to cry into her own hooves. "Sunset... I didn't know... i'm sorryyyyyyy~!" Twilight went to reach for her as the dream shifted again. Twilight was in Sunset position as she was suddenly stabbed. At first Twilight thought the dead looking Twilight had stabbed her but then she looked up and saw Adagio. Daydream was cut of guard and was unable to stop it. Daydream Was dying and she started to fall to the ground. She hit the ground a crowed of people quickly surrounding her. Adagio floated down and landed by her. She was quickly grabbed by the crowed of people who were clearly no longer under her spell. they pinned her to the ground to take care of her. Daydream now lay by herself on the cold ground. This is when Twilight sparkle came through the still formed portal. Twilight saw Daydream or aka Sunset shimmer. She rushed over to her and quickly held her in her arms. "Sunset nononon what h-happened." Twilight said as she saw the blood pooling on the concrete ground. Adagio being defeated not far away by the ones she had controlled for so long. "T-twilight y-your alive" Daydream started to turn back to her regular form as she was dying. "Sunset let me get you out of here." Twilight said as she tried to pick her up. Sunset shook her head as if to say no as the portal was obviously closing as she was dying. "n-no twilight the portal is closing. Y-you need to go." she placed a hand on Twilights cheek as tears streamed down her cheeks. "I never wanted to hurt you I just loved you." sunset said as a small stream of blood came from her mouth. "Sunset I let you down to many times I have to get you out of here~!" Twilight said as she cried into sunset chest. "Sunset I love you I'm sorry I never let you know but I love you I love you." Twilight held her hands. "I l-l-love you tooo" she starts to cry deeply. "I love you so.......much...go.." sunsets eyes started to close as she went limp the portal started to overload as it was going to close. Twilight saw something happen in this instant something she had not noticed before. A golden mist transferred from Daydream to Twilight. This must have been how she was pregnant. Was this Sunsets last effort at life or was this an act of Empress? Twilight suddenly awoke from her dream that was still unfinished. She had only seen a couple things she had never known. Twilight looked on her own Chest to see Sunsets little eyes looking at her. A baby babbling noise escaped her mouth as she yawned at Twilight. Twilight knew something wasn't right.... She was still asleep. As Sunset yawned again the whole world around her brought her to yet another memory one of the greatest importance. Sunset was so enthralled to be back in Equestria. She just wanted to lay down and kiss the ground. The shinny crystal ground. She still wasn't sure why the mirror wasn't in Canterlot anymore. She had no idea why it still resided in the Crystal Empire, where she had been when she stole the crown. That didn't matter a whole lot to Sunset at the moment. She was just so happy to be a pony again. Sunset looked around slowly, her cyan eyes gleaming in the little bit of light that was peering into the room. She could hear the sound of hooves hitting a crystal floor. The sound was headed her way. Sunset quickly jumped and hid behind the mirror. She got chills up her spine just being by this mirror. The door leading to the portal room opened very slowly. the sound of a horn engulfing with a magical aura was heard. A golden light appeared reflecting off the walls and into Sunsets eyes. Sunset gasped softly as she could see the flowing mane of Celestia. sunset hadn't seen her teacher in so long. Tears formed in her eyes as she remember how demanding she was against Celestia in the past. The day she left this world and to the other. Sunset couldn't control her tears she started to softly whimper. Celestias ears flicked slightly as she could hear the crying. Celestia peered over in Sunsets direction, she slowly started to walk over to her. Celestias eyes widened when she saw saw who was there. "Sunset Shimmer it has been many, many moons since we last saw each other." Celestia slowly lowered down getting on all four of her own knees. "C-celestia~." Sunset quickly went and wrapped her arms around her old teachers neck. Tears streamed down her amber cheeks. Her lower lip quivered with both excitement and resentful feelings for her past actions to the white princess. "Oh~Sunset I never thought I would see you again. Not after...." Celestia paused before bringing the past to attention. She could tell sunset was already grieving over her past action. "Why have you returned my dear?" Celestia questioned as she began to embrace the unicorn using her massive wings. "I wasn't excepted into friendship....those creatures would not forgive me~" Sunset cries into the fur on Celestia's neck. "Princess Twilight said to seek it out, so I came here to do so." she cried some more. Sunset meant her words, but deep down she still felt allot of hate. Which was a bad thing if she was to change who she was. "I am very pleased to hear your change of heart Sunset, I have been awaiting your return for so very long." Celestia slowly let go of sunset so that she could look into her eyes. Sunset sniffled slightly and then looked into Celestia's eyes. "Celestia please I beg of you to return me back to your teachings." Sunset badly wanted to return to her teachings of which she had so easily turned away from in the past. "I promise to listen, I promise to obey this time." she leaded with Celestia who was clearly showing no interest in taking her back in. "Sunset I would take you back in but you abandoned your studies." Celestia sighs. "I can't take you back into study, I'm sorry." Celestia smiled slightly as an idea popped into her head. "But I do know somepony you should be able to be taught by.." "But Celestia, Who else could possibly teach me?" Sunset wasn't entirely sure who she was talking about, but then she caught on. "Nononononononon not Twilight, I'm not sure I could take being taught by her." Sunset was clearly showing distress. "Sunset Shimmer you sad you wanted to change, I am simply giving you your chance." Celestia smiled knowing that Sunset would give in here soon enough. "Is there anypony else? Is she really the only other pony?" Sunsets ears pinned down as she thought about being taught by somepony like Twilight. "Sunset she is the only one who can teach you. Would you like to sleep on it?" Celestia said. It was night time in Equestria despite it being morning in Canterlot high in the human world. "I wont make you decide overnight Sunset, Just remember that I will not teach you." Celestia said to her rather sternly. Sunset knew she had no choice in the matter. Though she did decide to sleep on it. Thankfully Celestia was kind enough to give her a room to stay in. Sunset was left to rest, though she was finding it hard to sleep. Though she was starting to get all heavy in the eyes. Surely she would fall asleep soon. Sunsets eyes began to slowly close. She had finally drifted into sleep. Luna keeping a close eye on her. For she was informed of her arrival. ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Sunset opened her eyes to find she was in the same dream she had the other night. There was fire everywhere. she was floating out in space looking at the world before her. The flame covering the surface of what was now Equestria rather than Earth. Sunsets eyes were filing with tears. The darkness around the space was frightening when all she could see was a globe in flames. A giant red hand went around the planet before her. The Demon she was in the human world holding it. The demon then holds it like and apple. "Mmmmmmmm~ what a world." the demon says with a chuckle as it takes a bite out of it like a human would to an apple. The mantle core of the planet running down the lips of the demon. she chews the bite she took as she then takes to fingers to the world. "Dang~" the demon says in a sexual whining voice. "This is a bad sour apple" she crushes it with two fingers and immediately starts to laugh. the laugh echoed all around sunset. "NoNOOOO STOP~!" sunset yelled trying to shut out the demons evil laughter. "I wanna wake up i wanna wake up~!" she yells again. The dream much worse than before. The demon now floated before sunset. The demon slowly reached out for sunset grabbing her by the throat. "You will be mine." the demon laughs ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Sunset quickly opened her eyes screaming aloud. Sweat was dripping down her face. The sound of hooves running down the hall toward her was heard very clearly. The guards who were coming were sounding rather frantic. One busted through the door. They didnt know what was going on, Sunsets scream sounded like bloody murder. "Sunset Shimmer?" The guard said as he was in a defensive stance. "Is there somepony in here? Are you hurt?" The guard questions as his green eyes glance around the room for any sighns of another pony. Sunset had to find the strength to speak, though this proved difficult. She was tramutized by her dream. I-i'm fine sir. No need to have your weapon drawn." she was breathing heavily. "Then what was the problem, you sounded like you were being murdered." The guard then looked around the room some more, still he wasn't sure if there wasn't another pony in the room. He was clearly on edge. "do you need me to stand guard?" he says now looking Sunset directly In the eyes. "No that wont be nessisary, I dont think i'll be going back to sleep the rest of the night." Sunset gulps in fear that if she fell asleep she would dream that horrible dream again. She was afraid to have her dream become real. Twilight felt as tears began to well in her eyes. Sunset knew it was coming she saw this all coming. She was the one. the reason Twilight was now also having this dream. Twilight woke up yelling at the top of her lunges. "I'm soooorrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy~!"