Funeral for a friend.

Chapter Eight.

                                                         Revealing the prophecy.

The group headed into Sunsets small yet, quaint apartment she motioned them each to take a set as she took off her coat and hung it up on a coat rack near her front door. The apartment was very sparsely filled with but the very basic of needs. Sunset didn’t have much money and what little she did have it was used to pay rent and the heating bill as well as buy food. So what little she had in the way of furniture came either from her neighbors when they moved out or when they died. In fact one of her prized pieces of furniture was a purple rocking chair that would creak and groan when ever she sat in it. She had gotten the thing when her neighbor down the hallway had committed suicide by blowing his head off with a double barreled sawed off shotgun placed just under his chin and pulling the trigger. She actually had the gall to ask his grieving widow the very day of the suicide if she could have the chair. Back then she didn’t really care about what other people would think of her. All she cared about was power and how she could best obtain that power. So some idiot taking their own life and leaving their widow to clean up the mess was at best a blessing in disguise for her. Once all of her friends were seated and looked as comfortable as they could in what little she had in the apartment for sitting and the like thereof Sunset began to tell her story and the prophecy about how she came to be.

“As you all know, well most of you anyways” looking over at Twilight then back to the others.

Twilight began to fidget with her glasses and looked at Sunset with a rather perplexed look on her face. This was a something that she had not heard of and wasn't sure if Sunset was just pulling her leg on this matter. Twilight quickly returned her attention back to Sunsets tale when she realized that Sunset was looking right at her.

“I come from a land of myth and magic”. She continued again looking back over at Twilight then back at the others.

“Some of this magic has come with me into this world when I brought princess twilight's crown with me and used it to well, turn myself into a demon during the Fall Formal dance.” Sunset said looking down at her hands now with a sad expression on her face.

"Sunset darling what is it that you are saying to us?" Rarity asked as she walked over to her. Placing her hands on Sunset's shoulders gently giving her sad looking friend a squeeze and trying her best to reassure her that everything would be alright.

Sunset looked up into Rarity's eyes then back down exhaled a sigh that she didn't know was within her. Then looked back up at her friend before replying with.

"What none of you actually know is that on, that night I wasn’t actually turned into a demon by the crown.” Sunset said as a tear escaped her eyes trickled down her cheek and hit the floor.

"Wait that doesn't make a hoot lick of a bit of sense. What do you mean you weren't 'turned into a demon by the crown' come on Sunset we all saw you at the Fall Formal that night. We were all there, well with the exception of Twilight that is. But, for the most part; we were all there that night and we all saw you turn into a flying raging she-demon." Applejack said as she got up out of her chair crossed her arms under her chest and glared at Sunset from across the room.

Applejack couldn't believe that her friend Sunset Shimmer, would actually try to pass off what happened at the Fall Formal that night. When she knew that every one including herself was there that night. Every one that is but for Twilight. Who was stilling fidgeting with her attire while Sunset spoke about how she actually became a raging she-demon that night. Twilight could remember how she too became a flying winged monster at the end of the Friendship games. And how Sunset became an angel stopping her mad quest to learn all she could about magic. Although her friends had spoken to her a few times in the past about these events it really didn't seem to sink in that is until now.

“ You see the crown just shows what is actually in one's heart and mind.” Replied Sunset as she crossed her arms much like Applejack and hung her head low.

Shuttering coldly as if she was actually freezing Sunset uncrossed her arms Rarity had at this point returned to her seat. Applejack was still glaring at her from across the room hoping that Sunset's next few words would actually make more sense than what she was trying to pass off as 'making sense'. The rest of her friends all had their eyes glued onto Sunset as she started to pace back and forth in the living room of her apartment. Before she finally spoke to them again.

“It doesn’t actually have the power to transform someone into a actual demon unless they are a demon by........birth.”  Sunset said stopping her pacing back and forth and completely looking away from her friends. Only to turn back to them when she heard Rainbow's voice asking.

“Wait you are an actual demon by blood?” Asked Rainbow dash a look of concern and fear came over her as she said this.

Sighing very deeply Sunset replied with simply.

“yes”

Seeing the look of fear and absolute shock now etched on all of her friends faces Sunset decided to tell her friends the rest of her tale and to do it quickly before they all ran out of the room screaming in fright of her. She raised her hands palms facing away from her as if to say 'hold on there is more to this.' Looked at each of them before saying to them all with a look of fiery darkness in her eyes. Something that Fluttershy had now taken full awareness of. The look of which caused her to shutter as she sat next to her friends listening to Sunsets tale.

“But I am something else, something more powerful than a mere demon.” she continued.

"And that would be what sugar cube an angel I mean we all saw you turn into one and it would make more sense than anything in tar'nation else would?" Ask Applejack as she uncrossed her arms and stopped glaring at her friend when she began to realize that this really was making some sense.

"What I am, also; is something that will lay behind the very reason I have tried for so long, since that day that I stopped Twilight from destroying this world and taking over Equestria to keep this from you.....from all of you.” Sunset said as she again looked over at Twilight who was now looking right at her with a look on concern in her eyes. Before she continued to tell her story of what she was.

"What I am is part demon and." Her voice trailing off as if she didn't really want to finish her sentence yet Sunset knew she had to.

She had promised her friends at the hospital that she would speak to them the truth and the truth is what they were about to hear. All of it, regardless of the consequences of saying it they needed to know everything. She shuttered again hoping that her friends could fully understand her reasons for not coming forward about her origins and why she was really in their world.  As she looked up at each of them she looked at Applejack with the most sadden eyes that Applejack had ever seen in her life. Saying to all of her friends her last two words but pausing on the very last one to let it fully sink in.

"part……...phoenix”.

As sunset said this last part she put a hand against her chest  griping her chest as she felt a sudden spasm of pain in her chest. The same as the other two times before this one. Only this one was far worse than the last two. A look of utter pain and hurt etched on her face and Her friends seeing that she was in clear pain rushed to her side as she fell to the floor. Her eyes a blaze with blue fire and her shirt smoked as if she had set it on fire. She screamed in pain as the next part of her cutie mark made itself appear into her flesh.

"We need to do something!" Said Rainbow as she grabbed a hold of her friend who was now lying on the floor screaming in utter pain.

Rainbow tore open Sunset's shirt and to her horror saw a red flame and orange flame burning it self into Sunsets chest. Fully encompassing the left side of the Yin-Yang symbol already there on her chest. Sunset Bucking and kicking, her hands were clawing in all directions for anything within reach of her to make the pain stop. While her friends tried desperately to keep her from hurting either them selves or herself while this was happening. She leaned her head back her eyes fully engulfed in bright blue flames as she screamed out the words of the prophecy that foretold of her birth and what she was meant to do in life. Her voice sounded more demonic than that of a normal sixteen year old girl. It actually sounded as if two people were talking at the same time within Sunsets body.

THE PHOENIX CHILD WAS BORN OF DEMONS DESIRE! THE PHOENIX CHILD WAS BORN OF FIRE! THE PHOENIX COMES TO CLAIM! THE CHILD HAS COME WITH FLAME! THE DEMON TEARAGON SHALL HEAR HIS NAME CALLED UPON THE DRUMS OF WAR! THE PHOENIX CHILD COMES TO END THE DEMONS REIGN. THE PHOENIX SHALL BECOME HIS PORTAL! THE PHOENIX SHALL BECOME MORTAL! THE PHOENIX SHALL END ALL DEMON'S IMMORTAL! THE DEMONS SHALL BURN IN PHOENIX FIRE! THE PHOENIX SHALL DESIRE THE THRONE OF THE IMMORTAL KINGS DEEPEST DESIRE!

Upon saying these last words Sunsets chest fully erupted into flames, the force of which knocked all of her friends back into the far wall of her apartment. Nearly knocking out Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy as they were the first to hit the wall the hardest. Followed by Twilight and Applejack they too were followed by Pinkie Pie and Rarity. All of her friends were thrown into the back wall of her apartment with such force that it would leave deep bruising on their bodies.  Sunset's eyes rolled back into her skull and she passed out from the pain and sheer extension of this night's events. Fluttershy being banged up and bruised by this event was the first to her feet. She dashed over to Sunset only to see to her horror that all of sunsets upper torso was now covered in thick blisters. The blisters were running up and down her enter chest and most of her stomach. The shirt that she had been wearing that night was completely burned to ash and only a few, small fragments of it were left still clinging to her skin. Fluttershy turned away from her now completely unconscious friend laying in a heap on the floor in her living room completely topless to look at her other friends who where now climbing back to there feet.

"I need you all to bring me cold water and bandages NOW! She yelled the last word to empathize with them how serious this actually was.

Hearing this Twilight was the first to respond with.

“Right bandages!”

She headed into the bathroom and opened the cupboard's that were both above and below the sink. Only to find bits and pieces of torn rags that Sunset used for basic dusting and cleaning. Twilight didn’t say anything at the sight of this disappointment. She just grabbed the cloth and came back to Fluttershy. Saying to her as she handed over what little she was able to find in the bath room.

“This is all I could find there are no bandages in the bathroom.” Twilight said to Fluttershy.

Rainbow seeing that the small amount of cloth that Twilight had brought back might not be enough to actually help in this situation said.

"I'll check in her kitchen cupboards maybe she has a first add kit or something of that type in there." Rainbow said as she headed into the kitchen leaving Fluttershy and Twilight to look after Sunset.

Rarity not wanting to be left out of this, also said to Fluttershy as she too walked towards the kitchen.

"Darling I'll check in the kitchen as well there has to be something that I can bring to you to hold cold water with." Rarity said as she joined Rainbow Dash in the kitchen.

Once Rarity and Rainbow were in the kitchen they both started to look for what Fluttershy would need to help Sunset. Rarity started looking through the cupboards while Rainbow Dash checked under the sink for a first add kit. When Rarity found some pots that could be used for holding some cold water in. Rarity reached up and carefully pulled one out. Then checked it to make sure it was clean. Upon seeing that it was clean, she put it under the sink and turned the tap on to fill it with cold water. Then looked at Rainbow who was still looking under the sink for a first add kit. Saying to her.

"Darling dear, do you see anything under there that we might use to help Sunset?" Rarity asked.

Rainbow stopped her search and looked up at Rarity shaking her head in reply to Rarity's question. Rainbow couldn't find anything of any use. All she was able to find were some old sponges and very dirty cloth rages which Sunset used for cleaning her dishes with. Seeing that Rainbow wasn't able to find anything and looking to see if the pot was full Rarity sighed to herself. Saying to Rainbow as she shut off the water once the pot was full enough.

"Alright lets at least take this pot of cold water to Fluttershy and see if there is anything else we can do to help darling." Rarity said once she picked up the pot and started to walk out of the kitchen.

Rainbow didn't reply she simply followed Rarity out of the kitchen and back to Fluttershy. Getting back to Fluttershy Rarity saw that Applejack and Pinkie Pie had now returned from Sunsets bed room. Fluttershy looked at Rainbow who shook her head when she noticed that Fluttershy was looking at her. Applejack and Pinkie had similar luck in Sunsets bed room and they too shook there heads to Fluttershy in response to not finding anything that could help. Fluttershy seeing that her friends were unable to find any other cloth that could be used as bandages sighed to herself saying softly.

"Alright then these will have to do." She said as she held up the rages that Twilight had brought to her. She then looked at Applejack and Pinkie Pie saying to Applejack while Pinkie turned and headed to the front door.

Fluttershy unsure as to why Pinkie Pie would head to the front door called out to her.

"Pinkie where are going?" Fluttershy said as she watched Pinkie open the door, then walk out into the hallway and closed the door behind her.

Pinkie didn't want to see her friend thrashing about any more and opted to wait out side in the hallway while all this was going on. Not getting an answer from her friend as Pinkie closed the door behind her to wait out side in the hallway until all this was done Fluttershy turned to Applejack saying to her calmly yet sternly.

"Applejack Sunset will more than likely start to thrash about as I attempt to apply these cloth makeshift bandages to her skin and try to clean her wounds. I need you to hold her down while I do this." Fluttershy said as she held up the small amount of rages so that Applejack could see what Twilight had brought to her.

Applejack looked at Fluttershy then at Sunset and sighed to herself. The mere thought of having to hold some one down while they thrashed about in pain didn't sound all that pleasant to her. Looking now over to Rainbow and Rarity, Flutter shy pointed to a spot on the floor next to where Sunset was lying and said to Rarity softly.

"Place the pot there Rarity. Then Rainbow being that you are far stronger than I. You  will need to hold Sunset down by her feet making sure she doesn't kick me while I am cleaning her wounds."

Rarity did as she was requested. Rainbow Dash however didn't say anything in reply to this request from Fluttershy. She went over to Sunset and then knelt down next to her while slowly but firmly took hold of Sunset's feet to hold her down. Applejack was already holding Sunset by the shoulders not wanting to grab her by her hands in fear of popping a blister. Which would cause even more pain to etch it's way in to Sunsets already broken body. Rarity had placed the pot of cold water where Fluttershy had indicated and then looked at Fluttershy for further instructions. Seeing that Rarity wasn't sure what she should do next Fluttershy said to her as she began to walk over to Sunset and laid the clothing rags next to her. Fluttershy knelt down next to Sunset and said to Rarity calmly.

"Alright Rarity you have the most steady hands of any one that I know. I need you to use your hands and take hold of Sunsets hands keeping her from clawing at me while we do this."

Rarity looked at Fluttershy then at Sunset then back at Fluttershy. Before complying with Fluttershy's request. Pinkie waited out side of the apartment holding her hands up to her ears trying to block out any and all noise that might come from Sunset screaming in pain. As her friend cleaned and bandaged Sunset's wounds. Twilight not wanting to have Pinkie Pie standing out in the hallway all by her self said as she started to walk towards the front door.

"I am going to go check on Pinkie I want to make sure she is OK."

Fluttershy looked up at her while the rest of her friends all readied themselves for what was about to be a very difficult task. She said to Twilight as her friend got within an inch of the door.

"Take Pinkie down stairs and let her wait in the lobby of the apartment I think I know why she didn't want to stay and help. But until I talk with her about this, it is best for her not to be in the hallway by herself right now."

Twilight hearing this didn't turn around to reply to Fluttershy. She opened the door stepped out side of Sunset's apartment unit and into the hallway. Then turned and gently closed the door behind her. Seeing that Pinkie was in the hallway looking down while she held her hands over her ears. Twilight reached out and took a hold of  Pinkie's hand to lead her out of the hallway and to the elevator. Just as screaming could be heard coming from Sunset's apartment unit. Pinkie looked even more distraught over the noise that was coming from behind the door. She tried to pull her hand out of Twilight's hand as she started to fight with Twilight while panic began to set in. Twilight not wanting her friend to do something foolish, felt she had no choice with what she did next. She turned fully to Pinkie and landed one clean blow to Pinkie's left temple completely knocking Pinkie to the ground and unconscious. Not having the psychical strength to actually pick up the now unconscious pink skinned girl up off the hallway floor. Twilight opted to drag pinkie by her wrist to the elevator. This turned out to be a bit more difficult than she had thought it would be. Twilight was nearly out of breath once she reached the elevator and pressed the button. Once she got Pinkie and herself inside the elevator she pressed the lobby button and a few moments later was dragging Pinkie to a near by chair that sat in the lobby.

Meanwhile Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow and Rarity where all still in Sunsets apartment unit trying to clean and bandage Sunsets wounds.

Sunset feeling the cold water against her skin that was already badly blistered from having her upper torso burst into flames after reviling the prophecy of her birth to her friends. Did precisely as Fluttershy had predicted that she would do. She thrashed and bucked about trying ever so desperately to get away from what was causing her even more pain. The water being that it was cold was enough to bring her out of her unconscious state and into a full fledged screaming fit as she lay on the ground thrashing about wildly. Fluttershy was just getting another rage out and was about to apply it to her friends skin when Applejack said said angrily to her.

"By tar'nation and hay bails of fire Fluttershy she can't take any more!" Applejack said as she tried to hold Sunset down while she thrashed about.

"I know she can't take any more! But, this is the last rag and she still needs to have her chest covered. Hold her down a little while longer. This will only take a few seconds. After that we can let her go and hope that she pass's out. Then one of you will need to pick her up and put her to bed. I will stay here tonight and keep an eye on her. I do NOT want to argue about this." Fluttershy said as she dipped the last of the rages into the pot of water then began to tie it, around Sunsets chest while the girl screamed out again in pain from the cold water touching her blistered body.

Rarity, Rainbow and Applejack didn't respond to Fluttershy as they were now to busy desperately trying to hold their friend down while Fluttershy was finally able to get the last of the bandages around Sunsets chest and fully tied them down. Once the last rage was fully tied to Sunsets body and Fluttershy made sure it and all the other ones where secured tightly she nodded to her friends saying to them.

"Ok let her go on the count of...one..two...three!" Fluttershy said as she jumped back from Sunset.

Each of her remaining friends all did the same not sure if Sunset was going to thrash about some more. Sunset's eyes rolled back into her skull, she gasped and coughed out some breath of air, before she passed out from the sheer pain that she had been in. Rainbow seeing that Sunset was now completely unconscious. Said nothing to Fluttershy or to Rarity as she bent down very carefully picking up the unconscious Sunset and started to walk her into her bedroom to lay her in her bed. Fluttershy lowered her head and began to cry. It had been a very tiring day for her, seeing her friend like this; and completely having fallen in love with her. Made it all the more harder to have to listen to Sunset screaming in pain while Fluttershy had her friends hold Sunset down like that.

Fluttershy was more angry with herself than with all that was going on for not telling Sunset how she felt about her. Fluttershy followed Rainbow into Sunsets room and watched as Rainbow slowly very gently lay Sunset upon her bed then covered her in a sheet. Rainbow then turned to Fluttershy and said sadly to her. Applejack having watched that her friend was now unconscious and safely in bed from in the hallway leading into Sunset's bedroom. Felt it was time for her to leave Sunsets apartment unit. No one seemed to take notice of her walking out of the front door to head down stairs to find Twilight and Pinkie Pie. Not wanting to use the elevator because in her mind it would be to quick she looked around and found some stairs leading down to the first level of the apartment.

"Are you going to be OK?" Asked Rainbow sadly to Fluttershy.

"Y...yes I will be find I just want to stay here tonight and make sure that Sunset will be OK."

Seeing that Fluttershy had fully made up her mind Rainbow walked past her as she walked past her she said to her.

"If you need anything further for tonight call me I'll leave my phone on so that you can contact me."

"Thank you Rainbow, now I am tired and Sunset needs her rest please take Pinkie Pie home and see too it that Twilight gets home safely too." Fluttershy said as she walked up to Sunset's bed.

Fluttershy sat on the far right corner of the bed laying her hand onto Sunset's foot gently messaging it. Thinking to herself that in the morning after all this was over and Sunset was awake she would tell her how she felt about her. Even if it meant loosing her as a friend she would at least put it out there. She yawned then looked over to see if Rainbow was still in the room with the two of them. Rainbow had left Sunset's room and was headed out the front door followed by Rarity. Before Rarity left how ever she called back to Fluttershy.

"Darling don't worry, you just get some sleep Rainbow and I will make sure that Pinkie and Twilight get home safely."

With that the two of them left to go find Twilight and Pinkie. Once out in the hallway Rainbow punched the wall of the hallway that was connected to the side of Sunset's unit. Rarity was about to say something to Rainbow about this rather appalling display of aggression. but a rather quick hateful glare from Rainbow told her it was best to simply keep quite and let her friend stew in her anger. Looking around neither of them saw Twilight or Pinkie in the hallway so the opted to check down stairs for there missing friends. Walking up to the elevator Rarity pressed the button and a few moments latter both Rainbow and Rarity found them selves standing in the lobby of Sunsets apartment. When they had walked out of the elevator they both all but gasped out as to the sight before them. Pinkie was completely slumped in a chair that was sitting in the lobby while Twilight was sitting in front of her fiddling with her school uniform. Pinkie had a very clear welt on the side of her head from being punched by Twilight. Rainbow walked up to her and looked from one to the other. Her mouth almost hanging open in absolute surprise that this beautiful timid girl had the strength; let alone the gal to actually do this to one of Rainbow's closet friends. Twilight seeing that her friend was a little more than shocked slowly stood up and while still fidgeting with her uniform said timidly.

"Pinkie..... was... starting.. to have...what I thought was...a panic attack and I didn't want her to hurt herself.... so well.... I...uh...er...kind of punched her in the head to knock her out." She said as she held up her bruised hand for Rainbow to see.

Rainbow looked at Twilight's hand then over a Pinkie who was still slumped in the chair then back at Twilight before walking over to Pinkie and picked her up in her strong arms. Saying nothing to Twilight she proceeded to walk out the front door and into the cool night air. Rarity looked at Twilight then she too headed out the door with out saying anything to her. Twilight thinking she had really messed up big time lowered her head. She was about to start tearing up when from out of no where some one placed a hand onto her shoulder. Twilight turned around and saw that it was Applejack who had placed her hand onto her shoulder.

"Applejack where....how...uh...where did you come from?" Twilight said in bewilderment from not seeing her get off the elevator.

Applejack smiled then pointed down the hallway to a door that was at the opposite end of where the two of them where standing in the lobby. Saying gently to Twilight as she pulled out a handkerchief from her back pock placing it against Twilight's face she slowly wiped the forming tears from Twilight's eyes away.

"I left before either of those two came down here, you see Twilight I needed some well needed 'me' time from all that is happening I am sure some as smart as you have read up on such things" Applejack said as she finished wiping away Twilight's tears. "Besides I want you to ya'll know that I don't think you did anything wrong from smacking Pinkie Pie like ya'll did."

"I...how did you know I hit Pinkie? I mean the only two that were here when I stated that was Rarity and Rainbow Dash." Twilight stated as she looked at Applejack with a very confused and perplexed look on her face.

Applejack just grinned as she gently took a hold and held up Twilight's tender bruised hand and then kissed it gently. Twilight blessed at the gesture of kindness shown to her. Just as Applejack was about to say something a loud beep came from out side. Rarity had pulled up in her strange vehicle which was now fully transformed into a minivan. Applejack looked at Twilight then out the door at Rarity who seemed to be getting a bit inpatient with the two of them just standing there. Applejack said to Twilight as she gently led her by the hand to the front door.

"Ya'll just going to have to hold your horses till morning to get me to answer you as to how I knew ya'll popped Pinkie Pie a good one."

Twilight pushed her glasses back up onto her face and walked out the door with Applejack leading the way. She silently agreed to this proposal from her friend. Once the two of the where standing next to Rarity car and before any one could say anything Applejack felt that Twilight needed more convincing that she was OK with what Twilight had done. So she placed both hands over Taillight's cheeks and kissed her on the lips. Twilight at first was shocked by this but melted completely into the kiss after the initial shock wore off. Then the two of them climbed into Rarity car and proceeded to head home. Applejack took out her phone and called her house to let her sister know that Sunset was going to be OK. All in all it had been a very tiring yet eventful day for all that where in the strange vehicle that Rarity was driving.

Apple Bloom picked up her phone even though it was rather late she still had the good sense to answer it politely.

"Hello there is Apple Bloom" She said while trying not yawn into the phone.

"Hey there little sis I just wanted to let Ya'll know that Sunset is home and she should be OK" Replied Applejack she didn't want to actually tell her little sister that Sunset was less than OK at the moment. Mainly because she didn't want to frighten the child. Although this meant going against her element this was a risk she was willing to take to keep her little sister from worrying or from having nightmares.

"So she is going to be OK then right sis?" Asked Apple Bloom with a hopeful tone to her otherwise excited voice.

"Yes I believe she is going to be just fine, she needs plenty of rest and sleep so that means she won't be baby sitting you or your two little friends any time soon. Least not till she gets better right quick and that won't happen if you three drive her nuts. So I want you to go to bed now and we can talk some more when I get up in the morning alright little sis.? Applejack said as she wiped a tear from her eyes.

"OK sis just promise me that all of this will work out in the end Ok." Apple Bloom said before hanging up the phone to get ready for bed.

"I...don't know if I can promise you that little sis but I will try at least I will try." Applejack said to herself when she hung up her cellphone.

The rest of the night was spent in silence as Rarity stopped by each persons home and dropped each of her passengers off. It took a few minutes to get the unconscious Pinkie Pie out of the vehicle and up to her apartment room. Rainbow had to carry her most of the way. Finding a soft bed inside her friends apartment meant Rainbow laid Pinkie Pie down on it then headed back to Rarity's vehicle. Rarity drove the other's home dropped them off and headed home herself. It had been a long night and she really needed some spa time and some alone time with her little sister.