//------------------------------// // Maturing // Story: Empress of Flame 3: Midnight flame // by Pathious //------------------------------// Sunset sure was growing up fast. before Twilight knew it she was able to walk and babble. She wasn't very good at talking but she could get the basic what she want to come out of her mouth. "M-mama w-wake up." Sunset said as she was bouncing up and down upon Twi as as she slept. "I'm hungy and I d-don't k-know how to m-make bweakfest." Sunset said as she spoke in a baby like tone. "Sweetie what are you doing up so early?" Twilight said as she slowly got up. "My imaginary friend Emp woke me up. She said wake up mama." Sunny said as she cutely got under her mother covers. "I followed her in her when she disappeared into you." Sunset nuzzle her mother on her muzzle. "c-can you make f-food now?" "Sure thing honey. Remember Pinkie and Applejack are coming over today." Twilight smiles. "They promised you they would." "They gonna play with me?" Sunset said as she tilted her very small head.. Her Cyan eyes filled with the look of joy. "Of course they are coming to play with you. Now lets make some cream of wheat." Twilight says as she stood up and nuzzled little Sunset. That was the moment when the word Emp finally sunk in. Apple jack and Pinkie entered the room as Twilights eyes burtsed into a bright white light. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ [The world was burning. Twilight watched in agony as she saw everything slowly being turned to dust. She was helpless and weak. "Help, someone help us~!" Twilight could hear ponies screaming. The horror was just to much for her. She turned around to run only to run into the red legs of a demon. She looked up at it only to be grabbed by the face by its red hand. "Hello Twilight. Did you miss me." Empress said as she dropped her back onto the ash covered ground. "It's Time we talk about a deal I made with Celestia a while back. Empress waved her hand and the past started to play infront of Twilight. “You want to make a deal?” Midnight stated as she took a seat back on the hospital bed. “When Sunset is full grown I shall assist you in returning to her body. I want no harm brought upon Princess twilight.” “You treat her as if she were your own filly? Funny how you’ve abandoned the fact that you once held Sunset so close to your heart.” Midnights eyes flashed as the memories of little sunset rushed into Celestia’s Mind. “I take you up on your deal. Even though you’ve proven to be colder hearted then myself, letting the pain I’m bringing to twilight to be brought upon a clueless Sunset Shimmer. She doesn’t even have a recollection of her past life and you’re willing to put her into such pain.” Midnight laughs evilly, as she holds out a wing. “So touch my wing with yours if you except the deal and wish to proceed.” Celestia looked at the wing but despite the consequences she touched the wing of the decisive beast. “You have yourself a deal.” Celestia said as Midnight immediately and painfully started to turn back into Twilight Sparkle. "Your part of much bigger plan now Twilight....so WAKE UP" Empress slid bit her in the neck and she instantly awoke from the dream slash vision. /i] Twilight looked to see she was back in her room. Pinkie and Aj were with Sunny as they all had concerned looks on their faces. "Sugar cube are you alright. you kind blacked out there?" Applejack said in a very concerned tone of voice. "Y-yes AJ I'm fine....I just......How is Sunny?" She quickly changed the topic in the calmest way she could. She fine Twi. Just slightly scared of your eyes when they turn white." "Awwwwww sweetie I didn't mean t-to scare you." Twilight teared up hearing she had scared her. "Mommy was just......thinking." Twilight knelt down and nuzzled her baby girl. "Mommy would never hurt you." "your eyes looked like Emp's when she's mad at me." Sunny said as she started to talk about her imaginary friend again. "Don't worry honey. your safe as long as your with me. I promise I wont let anything happen to you." Twi smiled at Sunset. "You m-mean it mama?" Sunset smiled brightly. Twilight had never been able to promise this t Sunset in the past. She was bound and determined to make up for her past. Twilight knew she could protect the child she had birthed. How easy or how hard it was going to be was going to be a mystery. Celestia had said, when Sunset was celestias student. she was a magical prodigy much like twilight sparkle, however, she's quite boastful and condescending toward others, despite Celestia's lessons about humility. Would sunset go down the same path as her past life. Was Empress lying when she said she and Celestia had made a deal. If that was the case Twilight would use the dark Empress inside her against Celestia even if she overcame her mind. She wasn't going to let Sunset suffer like that again. She knew she had to come up with some kind of counter attack against two very powerful beings. Twilight knew there was no way she herself could fight Empress. Especially now that Empress was inside of her. Empress was the darkest form f the element of magic. Celestia was practically a demi god.If there is still yin in empress there is a yang. Twilight needed to find out a way to bring out that yang. She needed Daydream...Daydream Shimmer.