Flare of Hope

"You know, my body may be indestructible, but that still really hurt."

"Why don't you go cry to Twilight about it. I'm sure she'll throw you a pity lay."

"Easy! I only said those things to power you up," Flare replied, in his own defense. "I wouldn't have said it, if I didn't think it would work."

"Just shut up," the mare practically growled. "Let's just get this over with. Once this is all over, I'm taking a long vacation to Las Pegasus."

"But-"

"But nothing, Flare. You've gone too far, this time. Let's just kill this thing, and go."

Flare followed the mare silently, hanging his head, sadly. "But I love you, Star," he whispered to himself, as he followed her.

Within a few moments, the two of them approached a large, ornate wooden door, which seemed rather uncharacteristic for something this far underground. "Okay, good. We're here," the mare exclaimed. "Let's go get this over with."

Just as Star was about to magic the door open, a voice rang out in both of their heads. It was a calm, smooth, feminine voice. "I've been expecting you two for some time. Now, why would you keep a lady waiting? That's rather unbecoming of royalty, don't you think?" There was a moment of silence in the long corridor, before the voice spoke again. "Hmm. It seems that one of you is suffering. Do come in. I promise not to bite." And the door opened, revealing a rather eleganr setting. The large chamber was furnished, and decorated in dazzling reds and golds, the walls a pure white. The only thing that seemed out of place was the throne of pure ivory skulls that marked the center of the room. Even the alicorn who sat on the throne seemed rather well placed in the large chamber. "Welcome," she spoke, "to the chamber of Lady Seduction."

Flare seemed a bit indifferent to the whole scene, something inside him having snapped altogether. Even his threat seemed... lacking in ferocity. "Alright, cool. Get ready to die."

The mare grinned wickedly. "So you were the great sadness I felt. Poor stallion. You've suffered a great injustice, haven't you? Brought into this world against your will, and forced to stay by your own immortality. You can lie all you want. You can hide behind false confidence, but you can't hide your true desires from me." Within an instant, the mare was directly in front of Flare. He gasped, as she ran a hoof down his cheek. "Just know that I can fully satisfy your needs. I can give you pleasure like you've never felt before." She lowered her voice to a lower, more seductive volume, as she brought her muzzle right next to his ear. "And Iam can give you the death you long for so badly."

Flare stood frozen, as the mare's voice graced his ears. Her scent was heavy in vanilla, and cinnamon, Flare's two favorite smells. His senses were being heavily overpowered by the seductress, as he barely managed a few words. "W-what do I have to do?"

Star stood, shocked at Flare's reaction. "Flare, what are you-"

"Silence, whelp!" The alicorn spoke sternly, as she is d her magic to whip Star at the wall behind her. "Are you not the one who caused this stallion so much pain?"

"I... I am."

"Are you not the one who broke his heart?"

"I... I..."

"It sickens me that you would hurt somepony who loves you with all his heart, then try to deny him what his heart truly desires." The alicorn left Flare's side, and stomped toward Star, who was just recovering. She grinned at the mare, her horn beginning to glow blood red. "Don't worry, little pony. I'll take good care of the prin- AAAAH!" The alicorn screamed in agony, as a massive blue fire blast hit her side.

She turned back, to see Flare, eyes blazing azure flame, just like the one that hit her. "Get away from her," he spoke in a low growl.

"Flare..."

"Shut up! This fight is between me, and the Shade." He spread his hooves on the ground, bracing his body for another shot, the large blue fireball growing at the tip of his horn. After the shot grew large enough, he fired, the pure concussive force of the shot sending him sliding backward along the stone flooring. The mare barely had time to respond, as the bolt flew at her at full speed, smacking her right in the face, sending her flying into the wall.

The white alicorn quickly recovered, and shot an evil glare at the prince, the missing half of her face quickly restoring itself. "I could've given you the world, Flare. Yet you willingly deny me? Oh, how cliche. And here, I thought we were getting along so well. So be it. You'll both die, here." The mare fired a blood red bolt of energy at the prince, who answered it with a bright blue defensive wall.

He hurled another massive blast at the alicorn, who proceeded to send it right back at him with a well placed mule kick. Flare was hit by his own spell, and shot back, sliding along the ground, on his side. He tried to return to his hooves, only to be pushed onto his back by the white alicorn, who was now straddling him, her horn blazing blood red. "You can't fight your desire, Flare. Give this up now, and I'll keep you as my personal pleasure slave once my siblings and I take this world over." No sooner than she had finished, a powerful explosion sent her flying off to the side.

"Sorry, but nopony makes Flare into a sex slave but me!"

The shade returned to her hooves, and glared at the mare who had interrupted her, pure fury marking her eyes, as the blood red glow of her horn intensified. "You insolent little bitch! You've gotten in my way for the last time!" She let loose the massive blast of blood red magic toward the unicorn, and the world seemed to slow to a crawl.

Star braced herself, and closed her eyes for what she thought would be the last time. She waited to feel the cold grip of death, her life flashing before her eyes, as she could feel the bolt getting closer... then nothing happened. She waited a second to be sure it wasn't just a trick. She opened her eyes, and saw Flare with his front legs, and wings wrapped around her protectively, smoke rising from his back. "F-Flare?"

The stallion smiled, and whispered in her ear. "I love you, Star." Then he went silent, and fell to the ground, motionless.

Star was in hysterics. "Flare?! FLARE! DON'T LEAVE ME! WAKE UP! PLEASE! FLAAAARE!"

The alicorn mare's maniacal laughter filled the air as the little unicorn clutched onto the lifeless body of the prince, tears streaming down her cheeks. "So much sadness. Young love is such a beautiful thing, isn't it? It breeds so much beautiful pain, and sorrow." The alicorn then proceeded to grip the unicorn around the neck, in a magical vice, and lift her from the prince's body, bringing her up to eye level, then levitating Flare's body within an instant, they were hovering above the streets of Canterlot, where the changeling army was still making its assault on the citizens. The mare held the two ponies high in the air, as she bellowed loud enough for all of Canterlot to hear. "BEHOLD! YOUR BELOVED PRINCE IS DEAD! YOUR WORLD WILL BELONG TO THE SHADES!" Almost as if by some freak act of fate, the white alicorn was struck by a midnight blue beam of magic, causing her to break her concentration, and drop the two ponies.

As she was free-falling toward the ground, Star looked over at the stallion who had saved her life, pangs of guilt running through her heart. She closed her eyes, as a single tear fell. "Goodbye, Flare. I love you too."