//------------------------------// // fathers wings // Story: Empress of Flame 4: The burning truth // by Pathious //------------------------------// The end was definitely near now. Sunset couldn’t turn away from the view of Celestia ready to slay her darkened father. He was much like his daughter. Darkness had its moments. Family reunions that would now end in blood, Daydream must have meant such and ending, Tiger lily wanted her to see the truth. A truth that sunset was not willing to let die. Sunset kept thinking back to Tiger stuck in the crib accident. How she wasn’t powerful enough in her magic to help her own sister. She was powerful enough to help her father now. She wasn’t going to let her weakness be the end of another family member. Sunset closed her eyes to allow herself to concentrate. There wasn’t much time left. Though Celestia sure seemed to have a knack for stalling it, Sunset took a deep breath as she thought about her sister. Tiger lily’s beautiful golden eyes were what she remembered, those eyes that stared at her for help. Help she was unable to provide. *tiger lily…I’m sorry…but you have to help me, I can’t let another family member die because of me...* Sunset thought to herself as she tried to talk to the empress within her. She received no response. *Tiger lily don’t be this way… You’re a strong little girl…you can do this I believe you can* She thought again as she was reaching out to the one she had caused so much pain to. *We can finally do something as sisters…Something we can do together… Something we can do without hurting each other…* *let’s help daddy spread his wings* Tiger lily responded as the shackles holding down Sunset began to glow red hot. Sunset felt the burn but tried her best to hold back the tears as the burning was hard on her wrists. “Sombra, do you have anything you would like to say before I take your life?” Celestia said placing the blade under his chin. Celestia had this look on her face, one that screamed out she believed she had won. “What of your faithful student Twilight. What about what you and I had? What kind of wickedness has consumed you?” Sombra gave a chuckle. “I’m the king of darkness and even I know when to put my love before my sick desires.” His red and green eyes gazed over at the princess of morning, dark magic no longer flowing through them. “What concerns me is that you have simply forgotten about the ones who love you? The ones who have done nothing but serve you and do as you pleased? If you did not want Sunset as your daughter anymore...why send Twilight after her?” Sombra lowered his head for he had nothing left to say. He wasn’t going to plead for his life. If Celestia wanted him dead…So be it. “Mother….?” Sunset said as the chains on her were finally turning to a liquid state. “Remove the sword from his throat.” Celestia looked over to see Sunset standing up now. Her Cyan eyes were now a tint of red as she stared directly into Celestias soul. Sunset slowly gave a sly smile. “Looks like I underestimated you once again child.” Celestia said as she removed the sword from its current position. “Good looks like the princess can finally take orders for once.” Wings formed on Sunsets back. The wings were the demonic form of Empress. They had a golden glow around them, Similar to the tint of Daydreams wings. Sunset closed her eyes as golden light and sparkles started to flow on the surface of her own skin. A red stripe appeared around her eyes as her mane started to flow like daydreams yet her tail was shaped like demonic empress. Sunset was now floating off the ground as a whites and red dress appeared on her. The dress was once again mixed between Empress and daydream both entities of Tiger Lily. Celestia nearly dropped her sword as her knees were shaky. Sunset slowly floated to the ground and looked in Celestias direction. Celestia quickly stopped shaking as she remembered she had captured a piece of leverage moments before the two had come through the portal. Her horn began to glow as the lavender mare and princess of Friendship appeared and Celestia had her sword to the mare’s neck. “I would like to see you make a move lover girl.” Celestia snickered as she looked at the two daughters in one body. Sunsets eyes widened as she saw the mare she had feelings for was once again I danger because of her. How was she supposed to choose whom to help? Twilight… or her father, Sombra was discretely looking in Celestias direction. “You leave her out of this you pearly white devil.” He said in a calm voice. “I wouldn’t even use love as leverage.” Sombra let out a growl. “Oh really Sombra you would never use love as leverage. You had no problem using it against me.” Celestia teared up as she pressed the blade harder against Twilight throat. A squeak escaped her throat as fear filled her. “That was different. I felt no love for you at the time…easy to use what doesn’t exist.” Sombra said as he struggled... He was trying to break free from the Chains that now held him. Celestia was now moving the blade across Twilights throat as she began to try and slit it. Sunset was going to go stop her when a familiar rainbow mane mare came through the window breaking the painted stained glass. The colorful shard went everywhere as the mare plummeted into the side of Celestia knocking her away from her friend. Rainbow then took a landing next to Sunset Shimmer as the rest of the mane six climbed through the broken window. The elements of harmony upon their necks but without the element of magic present they were useless. Celestia was knocked against a wall very hard. The wind was knocked out of her. “Stay away from our friends… You will never take us out.” Rainbow said as she looked at Shimmer who was much different looking from the last time she had seen her. Rainbow was going to go for another flight attack when she was tackled from the sky from Celestias personal protectors the, the wonderbolts, Specifically Spitfire. “Stay away from the Princess.” Spitfire growled as she was in a very protective state of mind. Rainbow dash struggled trying to get away from Spitfire. It was no use, she wasn’t stronger than her. Sunset saw as her friends were being overrun by the wonderbolts. She didn’t know what to do. She closed her eyes once again as she looked at her father. She thought back once more to her sister’s death. That’s when it hit her. Sunset spread her wings causing a blast of magic to spread around them all. Sunset charge at the portal as time around them began to slow down. The ones saw her and immediately thought that she was leaving. Instead her eyes were focused on the spike on the side of the portal. Sunset remembered that the only reason Tiger is stuck inside her as Empress is because she is alive. She also knew that Empress had limited power as well. So the only way to end this was to end herself. Sunset Jumped onto the spike as the pain immediately shot through her. Everypony in the room went silent as Twilight ran to Sunset for she was now free from Celestias grasp. “Sunset why… why did you?” Twilight was interrupted as a grey mare walked out from behind the portal. Sunsets eyes were grey and lifeless as blood was draining from her mouth. The grey mare had such golden eyes. A red stripe around her eyes and demonic wings on her back. Celestia stared at the mare as she was making her way towards her. Celestia began to shake as she now knew who the mare was. Sunsets death replaced the death of Tiger? But how was the real question. “Hello m-mother.” Tiger lily said as she quickly transformed into the red demon everyone knew. Empress stared into her mother’s soul as Time slowed down again. The portal was beginning to overload around them. The explosion went off and stopped inches infront of both Celestia and Empress. Time had literally stopped as everyone was about to die. That was when time appeared to start to reverse around them. The explosion started to retreat back to the portal as time was reversing. But it went back really far this time. Empress did nothing but stare at her mother as they were suddenly in a room alone with the portal. “what did you do Empress~!” Celestia shouted as she saw Sunset shimmer run into the portal, guard stopping behind her. They were back so far as to when Sunset had ran away from her teachings. “What happened mother? Do you not see what pain you had caused her? You blamed and pinned everything on her. How did you expect her to remain happy, especially when you had voided her mind of my existence?” “Tiger, I only wanted one kid… All I saw in your sister was your father. I couldn’t let her live to become like him.” Celestia lowered her head as she thought about it. Tears began to fill her eyes. “She became noting but kind hearted and you blamed her off my actions. I am like our father she is not. Don’t you see it in my eyes?” Tiger said as she growled at her mother. “It’s time we end this.” Tiger closed her eyes as the time around them began to fast forward again and Celestia was once again on the ground catching her breath. Sunset watching her friend being overran by the wonderbolts. Sunset had to think of something to do. She looked around and then locked eyes with Sombra. Sunset opened her mouth and the shackles on him began to overheat. Everything happened so fast after this. In the end stood twilight and her friends, Sunset shimmer was lying on the ground below them. “She died f-for me?” Twilight sobbed as she looked down on her friend. “There is nothing you can do now… but to let her go.” Rainbow said as the rest was a blur for twilight. It was a cold and snowy day as the casket was ready to be lowered. Twilight could hardly bare to see Sunset being lowered like this. Celestia was dead and now so was the one she had fallen so deeply in love with. Not far off in the distance two ponies wearing trench coats watched the funeral. One was Sunset Shimmer herself. “Feels weird attending your own funeral. Pays I guess to have a sister like you.” She looked over at the other pony who’s hood was now removed. “Oh the hard part is staying away from them. As rainbow had said nothing you can do but to let them go… Time to let go Sunset.” Tiger lily said as she looked back at her sister. Finally we can live apart instead of as one. Finally we are at peace.