Funeral for a friend.

                                                                                                           Chapter fourteen:

   Saying goodbye.

The demon Tearagon was just getting back up from where he had landed he looked around seeing that Sunset was walking up to him he began to realize who and what she was. Her face masked into a deep menacing frown. Her eyes once a light teal green now fully inflamed in blue fire. As she started to raise her hands into an X shape in front of her face throwing them down palms facing outwards.  Sunset screamed at the top of her lungs.

“All RIGHT YOU SON OF A HARPY TITED GOAT. YOU CAME TO THIS WORLD LOOKING FOR THE PHOENIX CHILD! SO COME ON!”

A look of fear that had not yet found its way into Tearagon's blackened heart was fully etched onto his face. He stammered as he spoke

“N...no….no you can’t!.........you can’t be the phoenix child.” He screamed as he jumped to his feet.

He lunged at her trying to hit her with his fist but was batted away like a rag doll. The flames emitting from sunset’s body began to burn away her clothing as she screamed aloud. Wings of blue, yellow, red and onyx orange erupted from her back her hair burned away leaving behind hair of red and yellow flames that danced in the wind. Her skin once a golden brilliant orange now was a bright onyx and red color as the flames etched their way up and down her body. Tearagon stumbled as she had batted his attack off like he was just an annoying house fly. Simply something to be shooed away and not thought of again. Falling to the ground his face smacked with a loud 'cracking' sound on the sidewalk.

He picked himself up again and ran up to her only to get knocked back into the ground again. Laughing he said as he turned towards what was left of the school he pointed a  hand outwards to the broken building saying wickedly.

“If I can’t kill you I will at least kill all of your friends that still reside within that broken building.

A ball of red energy began to emanate from Tearagon's hand just as it was about to erupt from the palm of his hand Sunset screamed. She knelt down the lept up into the air allowing her wings to do the rest.

“NO!” screamed Sunset.

As she used her newly formed wings to fly forwards and grabbed onto Tearagon hoisting him into the air throwing him as hard as she could away from the school he landed in the middle of the football field. Crashing into one of the goal post bending it beyond repair. He stood up looking at the girl who was now floating above him.

“Alright if that is how you want to play it then so be it!” he screeched as he knelt down and leaping into the air. Just as he was about to fall back to the ground his wings shot out from his back and he too floated into the air.

Sunset was shocked to see that Tearagon had part of his demon form but the shock wore off rather quickly. She just smiled waving her hand at him as if to entice him and egg him on further.  On seeing this the demon gladly took this challenge and flew towards her with alarming speed.

"All right you little bitch you want a fight with the demon lord of Tartarus then so be it." He said as he flew up to her.

Sunset was unprepared for the ensuing slew of kicks and punches that befell her body. Yet the physical pain she was receiving as blow after blow landed was nothing compared to her hatred for this monster. The monster that had haunted her dreams, The monster that had caused her friends so much pain, The monster that had caused her to see her friend Fluttershy in a broken heap. The very woman that she herself had now that day professed her love to. The monster that was going to kill everyone if she didn’t stop him once and for all. Sunset knew that this battle had to come to an end. She knew she didn’t have much time before the flames did their work.

As one last punch from Tearagon's fist landed on her face Sunset's head shock back before she brought her face back in view of his.  She said laughing.

"Is that the best you can do? YOU TIT SUCKING GOAT'S OF AN ASS." Screaming the last words out in a passion of hate and anger.

She grabbed Tearagon by his wrist just as he was about to attempt to land another round of punches to her head and face. Sunset smiled as she turned violently throwing him into the ground and landed a few feet from him.

"Get up!" She yelled at him.

He landed with a thunderous boom as the ground gave way under the creature that came slamming down like a meteorite. A small creator of dirt and broken concrete lay before her as she watched him climb back to his feet.

Rising to his feet Tearagon out stretched his wings and laughed coldly at Sunset saying.

"Your going to have to do better than that if you really want to kill me girl!"

Seeing that throwing him into the ground had done little to harm him. Let alone kill him, she began to delve deep into her powers now. The flames grew even hotter and more bright as she screamed both in pain and anger at him.

"All right you want better then how is this you bastard!" screamed Sunset.

Lunging forward Sunset managed to catch the monster off guard.   knocking him back into the air as she planted a well timed kick into his midsection. Screaming as Tearagon flew backwards.

“I’m going to kill you for what you have done here today Tearagon! You will pay with your life you tit sucking goat ass of a harpy!” She screamed flying after him.

Tearagon just laughed as he caught his balance in mid flight of being knocked back off his feet.

“bring it you little bitch” Is all he said to Sunset when she got to close to counter his next attack.

Like Sunset before Tearagon, he too planted well timed attack and fully punched her in the face causing her to fall back to the ground and slam into the roof of the school. Upon impacting with the school. Half the roof caved in although this did little to hurt her in her new form.

"OK THAT'S IT TIME TO DIE!" Screamed Sunset as she launched her self off the roof and flew towards Tearagon.

"Oh my that looked like it actually hurt." Laughed Tearagon as he watched her fly towards him.

Sunset knew she had to lead him away from the school so as not to endanger any one that might still be trapped inside the crumbling building. Grinning to herself Sunset suddenly let her self fall back to the ground all while looking up at Tearagon who was actually taking the bait. Sunset yelled out to him as the two of them fell nearer and nearer to the ground.

"YOU WANT TO END THIS BATTLE AND KILL ME? THEN COME ON FOLLOW ME." She screamed as she arched back up just barely missing the ground.

Tearagon how ever wasn't so fortunate he slammed fully into the ground causing a shock wave to shack the near by buildings. Picking himself up out of the creator that he had made when his body impacted with the ground he growled out.

"I kill you for this you bitch!" Screaming in rage as he jumped back into the air and followed Sunset away from the school.

Leading Tearagon away from the school Sunset found a empty field near the spot where Fluttershy was laying against a tree. Although it was still blocks away from where she actually left Fluttershy. Sunset hoped it would be enough to keep her safe from what she was about to do. Looking up as the monster came soaring in she new it was now or never. It was kill or be killed, it was either die trying to kill this monster. Or let this world be subjugated to his rule for ever. This battle had to end one way, or; the other the monster was going down. Looking down at the ground she was standing on Sunset screamed out.

“ALL RIGHT I AM TAKING YOU DOWN! EVEN IF I GO DOWN WITH YOU. COME ON YOU BASTARD. COME GET ME.” She screamed.

Tearagon smirked and dove out of the air right at the girl. Flying as fast as he could only to feel her hand pierce his sternum like a spear.  He looked down in shock as he tried to talk feeling her hand inside his body cavity. Sunset was prepared for his attack and had waited to the last minute before she leapt at him plunging her hand into his chest cavity. Burning the inside of his chest because she was completely engulfed in phoenix fire her arms and hands where like claws that where sharp enough to do this.  Seeing the look on the demons face she knew her work was successful.

“H…..how……..how is this possible? what…..what are you?” he said.

Sunset didn’t say anything she simply let out one last final scream of both pain and hate. It was said that the half circle of a fiery sphere that was seen that day could have been seen for miles around. And the scream of a woman letting out all her rage, all her hate, all her pain, was heard for miles. Sunset had given all she had for this final moment.

Sunset screaming out. "DIE YOU BASTARD!"

Tearagon's body erupted into a giant fireball and exploded with the power of a supernova showering bits and pieces of him all over the battlefield.

Sunset seeing that the monster was now dead. Sunset flew back to where she left Fluttershy laying against a tree a few blocks from the broken school building. As the flames emanating from her body began to end her life. She floated back down to the ground a few feet from where Fluttershy lay on the ground and looked at her once last final time.

Whispering one single word as Sunset let the flames consume her body. "goodbye".

Sunset smiled lowered her head and let the flames finish their work. As Fluttershy came too she saw what befell her soft gentle eyes a sight that would haunt her for the rest of her days. Sunset had turned completely to ash. Her body completely spent. Her power gone she stood there on the battlefield fully consumed by the fire that had erupted from her body. Fluttershy’s eyes shot wide when she saw this. She tried to stand but fell back into the ground from the pain of her broken leg.  She leaned against the tree that she had been resting against. Using it to help herself stand up. She scraped and scratched her delicate skin on the trunk of the tree. Although in pain from her broken leg and the scraping of her skin against the tree trunk. This was nothing...nothing to how she felt at the moment of seeing Sunsets lifeless ashed form. she reached up into the tree and grabbing a branch that stood all about two feet above her she broke it off with all her might.

crying out in pain as she feel backwards again from the pain in her broken leg. "Sunset...no you can't be dead...you just can't be."

Using this branch as a crutch Fluttershy hobbled over to the now completely consumed Sunset and fell to her knees.  The sheer pain in her leg shooting up her side as she fell to the ground. She had wanted to tell her that day that she was in love with her. That she wanted to spend the rest of her life with her in her arms. That no matter how bad things got she would always love her. Now all that was gone as tears etched their way down her cheeks staining the ground. All the pain, all the hate, all the anger, all the madness that had been of this day caused by that monster came out in one loud fully embedded scream of pain and anger.

SUNSET!!! she screamed.

Curling into a fetal position she let the tears flow she looked up and saw as the wind began to slowly blow and sunsets body went with it. All Fluttershy could do was cry.

Rainbow had regained consciences now and was pulling her self up off the ground where she laid unconscious. Twilight and Pinkie pie where not yet awake but Rainbow could sense something was wrong…... terribly wrong. Rather than helping her two friends she raced out of the library looking for the demon that had caused all of this trouble. She wasn’t thinking clearly normally she would have helped her friends yet now she wanted to make that monster pay more than ever for hurting her friends. Seeing the bits and pieces of the now dead Tearagon falling to the ground around her. She looked around and followed the trail of broken trees and smashed cars caused by the fighting with Tearagon until she came to where Fluttershy shy was.  The battle with Tearagon had raged all over the neighbor hood until Sunset had the good sense to lead the monster away from the school and neighbor hood. Rainbow figured as she walked past broken car and turned up trees looking around that Sunset must have put up one hell of a fight. Rainbow was only sorry that she did't get to see any of it. From what Rainbow was walking around in it looked like the whole neighbor hood had been their battle ground. Smashed cars and broken trees lay every where.

"Jeez did those two really go at it, eh, I am only sorry I couldn't have been there to see Sunset whoop..." That was as far as Rainbow got before she saw what her mind wasn't actually restringing.

Seeing what was left of sunsets body as it floated away on the wind caused her to put a hand over her mouth and gasp at what she saw. Only half of sunsets ashed remains remained where she had died. looking around she eventfully saw Fluttershy curled up in a fetal position. Walking over to Fluttershy and laying a gentle hand onto her shoulder. She rolled the now distraught girl into her arms and let her burying her tears into her chest. All rainbow could do was hold the crying girl in her arms as she said to her cradling her in her arms.

“She’s gone Fluttershy, she’s gone there is nothing we can do for her. she gave her life for us for all of us.” Rainbow said as she rocked Fluttershy back and forth.

“I loved her so much I never told her…….how.” Almost choking on the words as Fluttershy spoke. “How could I have been so selfish Rainbow?

"Shh it's OK Fluttershy I am here let it, out let it all." Rainbow said as she stroked Fluttershy's hair trying to sooth her distraught friend.

"How could I…..not tell her...how much I really loved her?...I...I...wanted to ask her to be my girlfriend." Fluttershy continued to sob into Rainbows chest.

"I know...I know Fluttershy we all loved her very much." Replied Rainbow tightly embracing her crying friend.

"I wanted to be with her more than any other girl in school. She was the one that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with” Fluttershy sobbed even harder and louder, at the very thought of not being able to ask this of sunset. fully burying her face deeply into Rainbow’s chest.

“Shhhh” replied rainbow as she rocked Fluttershy back and forth trying to ease her friends pain.

“I am going to miss her too and I am sure she knew that you loved her and that you were in love with her” Rainbow spoke soothingly to Fluttershy rocking her back and forth still trying to calm her down.

Fluttershy didn’t respond to this. She just cried. As she lay in Rainbows arms crying, Pinkie and twilight were just now beginning to emerge from the wreckage of their school. As did Luna and Celestia all four were looking around at was was left of the school building. Seeing that Applejack and Rarity were just now coming back with the group of students that they had helped escape from that lunatic Tearagon. Luna asked.

“Did everyone make it out safely? Is anyone hurt?” She asked as she walked over to the two of them.

Applejack and Rarity both looked at her then at each other then back at her before Rarity replied.

“ Darling no one is hurt to badly  Vice Principle Luna. Just a few bumps and bruises that are going to need some cleaning. And a few bloody noses nothing much more than that” replied Rarity

“That monster whatever he was, did a real mess here.” Applejack said as she looked around.

Seeing that Fluttershy and rainbow and Sunset where no one to be seen she asked the group in turn.

“Have ya'll seen either Fluttershy or rainbow dash? What about sunset where in tar'nation of a hay bails is she? After I saw that blast I feared the worst.' Applejack said as she looked at each student in turn.

“I have not seen either of those three since that thing came here and picked a fight with our principals” said one student

“Nor have I” said another.

“Me either. In fact it looks like this place has been pretty badly trashed I doubt that monster was able to live through that blast let alone Sunset or the others.” Came a voice from the gathering crowd.

Hearing that last sentence and fearing the worst had happened to her friends Applejack screamed at the person who had said that.

“DON’T YOU DARE SPEAK OF MY FRIENDS LIKE THAT YOU BASTARD! I'LL BE DARNED IF Y'ALL THINK YOU CAN TALK LIKE THAT ABOUT THEM” screamed Applejack her eyes welling up with tears at the mere thought of losing her three good friends.

“APPLEJACK!” Scolded Celestia “I know you are very worried about your friends. But, try to remain calm. Getting into a panic now will not help in any way at all.” Celestia said.

“I……..I am a mighty sorry principle Celestia. Listen Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Twilight and I will all search for those three if they should come back here please call my phone and we will come back right away.”  Applejack said running off before her principle could stop her.

She was followed by the others shortly thereafter each worried sick that the very worst had come to pass. Following all the wreckage it didn’t take them long to find Rainbow and Fluttershy. Rainbow was still cradling Fluttershy when she looked up as Applejack came into view. She quickly laid Fluttershy down on the soft grass as the girl continued to sob. Although her body was very sore from be thrown through a brick wall that was nothing to how she emotionally felt at the time. Rainbow raced towards Applejack. As Rainbow got closer to Applejack she could see that Twilight was about to come up behind her. Not wanting Twilight to see what had become of her mentor and friend. Rainbow pushed past Applejack before she could stop Rainbow and got in between the two of them.

“what are you doing get out of the way rainbow dash.” Exclaimed twilight who was clearly not in the mood for jokes.

Twilight pushed her glasses up to the bridge of her nose with her index finger before saying to rainbow.

“We have to find sunset and Fluttershy now MOVE!” said twilight angrily

“Wait a minute.” Replied Rainbow.

Rainbow reached out and grabbed onto Twilight by her shoulders trying to keep her from moving further up the path to where sunsets remains were just finishing blowing away on the wind.

“Get out of the” twilight was cut off.

Rainbow responded to Twilight with a very sharp slap to the face screaming at her “I SAID WAIT A FUCKING MINUTE.”

Applejack was shocked to say the least at her friend's behavior.

"What in the tar'nation is wrong.....with.....you....rainbow." Asked Applejack as she finally got a very good look at what it was that Rainbow so very clearly didn’t want Twilight to see.

Rainbow knew that Twilight was fragile more so than Fluttershy and seeing what was clearly left of Sunset blow away on the wind would only serve to break her. Sunset had been like a mother to Twilight. After the Friendship Games sunset had taken it upon herself to teach this young brilliant girl all about making friends. Now she was gone. Now she was dead and rainbow didn’t want Twilight to see what had happened to Sunset after the battle with Tearagon.

“What……..w……….what do you mean 'wait a minute' Rainbow? Where is sunset?…...where is….she?” Choked twilight as she tried to push past her only to be tossed to the ground.

Rainbow started to cry something that this tough and hard-hearted, girl with rainbow colored hair hardly ever did. This was all Twilight needed to know what had happened and she responded with only one word.

“NO!” Twilight said as he clasped a hand over her mouth in utter shock.

“Yes she is……..gone! No amount of magic or science will bring her back. Nothing we do can change this.”

Applejack slowly stepped forwards only to suddenly have Rainbow grab her and bury her face into her chest sobbing. Applejack was a bit taken aback by this display of emotion from Rainbow. But, didn’t even bother to push the girl away from her. She just held her in a tight embrace as she too sobbed. Rarity was walking to the group at this moment up seeing what was going on she knew what had happened. All Rainbow could do was point in the direction that Fluttershy was still in. Fluttershy had not left her fetal position since Rainbow had laid her down on the soft green grass to try to stop Twilight and the others from seeing what she had seen.

Rarity took her pointing as a sign to go to Fluttershy's side and help her. She found the girl curled up under the tree that she had been laying against when Sunset took her away from the battlefield Still sobbing.  Rarity gently knelt down next to her and cradled her in her arms. While her own tears started to drip down from her white cheeks. Staining them a deep charcoal grey as make up ran down her cheeks from her crying.

“I know……..I know sweetie. We all miss her we all want this day to be different. We want her to still be with us.” she said crying as she held Fluttershy tightly.

“I want her to come back. I want this to be just a bad dream. I want to be in her arms” wailed the girl.

“I know honey..... I know...... but, nothing can be done for her. She is in a better place now and we need to go so that we can tell the others about this.” Replied Rarity gently.

“I don’t want to leave her I don’t want to leave this place not ever.” Sobbed Fluttershy into Rarity's arms.

Rainbow hearing this pulled free of Applejack's embrace and marched over to Fluttershy yelling at her.

“Hey! We all want her to come back! But, we need to tell the others and we are NOT going to leave you here alone. So come on let's….go" Rainbow said bitterly as she knelt down to face the sobbing girl.

"I......can’t leave! I won’t leave it hurts to much to leave this place.” Fluttershy wailed.

“Then I am sorry for this! But, you have left me no other choice in this matter” Rainbow said bitterly as reached out grabbing Fluttershy by her shoulders and headbutting her as hard as she could.

“WHAT THE HELL. RAINBOW DASH WHAT IN THE TAR'NATION HAS GOTTEN INTO YOU?” Screamed Applejack as she ran over to the two three of them.

Rainbow said nothing to Applejack she only glared at her which made Applejack pull up mid stride in her run towards Rainbow. Rarity was just as shocked by this as Applejack was. Fluttershy’s eyes rolled back into her skull and she slumped forwards onto Rainbows shoulders. Picking her up Rainbow turned to face them. She had on her a very 'save it, or die' look about her face as she glared at each of her two still standing friends. The others said nothing to her as she carried Fluttershy back to the school grounds where Luna and Celestia were waiting for news on Sunset and her friends.  As they entered the grounds the grim, saddened, looks each of them had on their faces. Was enough to tell the tale of what had transpired between Sunset and that monster that fought with her. Celestia and Luna both turned their gazes away as they wiped tears from their eyes. Sunset had meant a lot to each of them and it was Celestia's hope that she would go onto college and make something really great of herself. Luna had hopped that Sunset would return to her world and teach all that she had learned in this one to the beings living there. Now all that was gone.