Dimension: My Little Pony

Planet: Equestria Earth

Specific Location: The border of the Everfree Forest

Time: Two and a half weeks after the arrival of Sunset Shadow

"The Galloping… what?" Sunset said to Fluttershy as they sat together under a tree after a picnic. The two had been picnicking together every lunch now for the past week and a half. The last two weeks had been extremely wonderful, despite the horror of his past; everypony in Ponyville had accepted Sunset. Nevertheless, Sunset tortured himself over the terrors every night, but slowly… slowly, he had come to terms with what it truly meant to be repentant… and perhaps… forgiven.

"The Galloping Gala," explained Fluttershy, "it is a time where ponies invited from all over gather to talk in Canterlot."

Sunset pulled a face. More ponies… terrible. He had finally learned to completely suppress his violent urges a few days ago, but the thought of more rigid social interactions still was quite distasteful to him.

"I… don't… suppose I'm invited?" he said slowly, hoping it wasn't true.

"You are! We all are!" said Fluttershy with excitement.

Sunset facehoofed. Fluttershy looked curiously at him for a moment and then said, "I understand your nervousness, I really do. In fact, last time I went to the Galloping Gala, it turned out a disaster for me and my friends, and we all ended up eating donuts alone in a shop."

Sunset looked up. "Wow," he said, "that does sound tough."

Fluttershy nodded, "Oh yes, it was. There was nopony to really talk to! But I think this time will be better."

She blushed, and looked down, her pink mane covering her face, "Now… now that you're coming."

Sunset smiled. "I really don't know, Fluttershy," he said, "I think I might just end up sitting in a donut shop eating donuts alone as well."

Fluttershy smiled shyly and said, "If you do that, I will be there to."

Sunset chuckled and replied, "I appreciate your moral support. Right now, I am really just worried about breaking. I mean, I haven't thought or worried about anything going wrong in a while, but I still cannot be sure. I suppose time will tell."

At that, Fluttershy and Sunset got up. As they began to pack their things, Rainbow Dash zoomed in.

"Hey Fluttershy! Hey Sunset! Oh, do you want to race? Readysetgo!" She zoomed off, but when Sunset didn't pursue her, she came back, a little disgruntled.

Sunset just rolled his eyes. A week earlier, he had completely beaten her in a best-out-of-five hoof-wrestling match, something unheard of. He had, before the match, insisted it wouldn't be a fair fight, seeing that he had inpony strength, but Rainbow insisted that she had "inpony" strength too. In the end, he totally beat her without breaking a sweat or looking like he was even trying. Now, Rainbow Dash had made it her "life's work" to find something she could beat him in; which, so far, had proven less than fruitful.

"Not today, Rainbow Dash," he called up, "By the way, when is the Galloping, er, Gala?"

Rainbow Dash preformed a dazzling loop-the-loop before settling to a hover above Fluttershy and Sunset.

"Oh yeah," she said after a moment's thought, "Twilight wanted to tell you guys that she wanted to talk to you about that. It's in a few days, after all! Are you sure you don't want to race?"

Sunset shook his head, "Not unless you want to perform a double rainboom twice to beat me. No. I think I will walk."

Rainbow stuck her lip out a little, but then turned around and shot off into the sky.

"Oh dear, I hope she won't keep bothering you like that," said Fluttershy quietly as they watched Rainbow tear off into the distance.

Sunset sighed, "I hope not. But if she keeps it up, she will end up beating me in the patience game. Well, let's go."

After a few minutes of trotting silently together, they reached the edge of Ponyville, where Twilight was waiting for them. Sunset narrowed his eyes suspiciously, the princess looked worried, something that was never good.

As they approached, Sunset asked the question: "What's wrong?" he said.

Twilight shook her head, "The changelings have made another threat against Canterlot."

Fluttershy gasped, "Oh no!"

Sunset cocked his head to one side, "What are changelings?"

"They're terrible, shape-shifting creatures that feed off love and emotions," replied Fluttershy, "They tried to take control of Canterlot when Twilight's big brother was getting married."

Sunset took this all in and nodded slowly. "Shape-shifters you say?" he said, "I have some experience with that, and know how to point out the flaws. I will keep my eyes open."

Twilight gave him a smile, "Thanks Sunset!"

After a short pause, Fluttershy gave Sunset a hug. "I have to get going now. I will see you two later."

Sunset and Twilight waved as Fluttershy trotted away. There was another short, albeit awkward, pause. After a bit, Twilight said, "You really like her don't you?"

Sunset stood there for a moment, thinking over his possible, non-violent, answers. "Yes. I really do care for her. When I first met her, I couldn't keep my eyes off her. It was her kindness that really contrasted with my soul, and washed it away."

Twilight nodded. "She does that for all of us," she said, "even if she's a bit of a pushover."

Sunset snorted, "Not with me."

Twilight case Sunset a side-long glance. "That probably means she really likes you too."

Sunset nodded slowly, "Maybe. I have to go now and um… do something of importance that I have no idea what it is."

Twilight looked at him, a little bemused. Then she smiled. "Rrriiiggghht," she said, winking at him, "you do that."

As Twilight cantered away, Sunset continued standing in the same position, looking off at the Everfree forest, his thoughts whirling around him. He was still unstable, could he survive the Galloping Gala? He shook his head clear after festering in his worries. He had his friends beside him, and if he really needed to, he could just leave.

"I really hope these changelings don't come into the picture," he muttered to himself, "if that happens, I don't know what will become of myself. I hope I can control my rage in the field of battle once more… to protect my only friends."

Heart heavy once more with uncertainty and worries, Sunset Shadow walked off to the Everfree forest border to find his house and rest… just rest.

Sunset's eyes snapped open, tomorrow was the day; the day of the Galloping Gala. His dreams had been terrible, once again. However, unlike before, they had been more about him, killing everypony and spreading fire and chaos throughout the land. Groaning heavily, he tried to roll out of bed, only to find Fluttershy laying next to him.

"Eep!" she yelped as Sunset scrambled away, looking around wildly. He then recognized Flutterhy.

"Fluttershy," he said, half-surprised, half-relieved, "What are you doing here? How long have you been here?"

Sitting up, Fluttershy looked down as she wrung her mane. "I was coming here to check up on you, knowing that tomorrow was the Galloping Gala, to see how you were doing. It was late at night, but I couldn't sleep myself for worry, so I decided to go to your house. It was really scary. When I found you, you were all wound up, crying out. I remembered that happening during that one rainstorm, so I lay next to you to comfort you. You quieted down, so I knew it must have worked, but it was so comfortable that I guess I fell asleep too."

Sunset sighed, remembering now that in the later stages of his nightmare, a golden mist had once again muffled out all violence and terror. "Thank you Fluttershy," he said after a while, "I really needed it."

After a pause, Sunset got up and sat next to Fluttershy, who was still looking down. Pressing his forehead to hers, he said, "I think I will make breakfast now. How does fruit and dandelion pancakes sound?"

Fluttershy, still blushing profusely, nodded quickly.

Getting up, Sunset began to make them. As he worked, he ran quickly through his mental checklist for the day. They were taking the night train to the Gala, so that they could arrive bright and early the next morn for the Galloping Gala. He had his ticket, and his invitation. He also had his things packed for a two-day stay at Canterlot. All he needed now was to wait until the sun had begun to set he and the Mane 6 could gather together.

Finishing up his cooking, Sunset turned around and brought them to the table in the dining room where Fluttershy sat, looking quite a bit happier now. After eating, they went outside to lay on the grass and look at the clouds.

"Picnic lunch?" Sunset asked almost immediately.

Instantly, Fluttershy nodded, "Yes please. But you packed last time, this time it's my turn."

Sunset grinned, "Deal. Are you planning anything today?"

Fluttershy shook her head, "Not really. I need to make sure my animal friends are all cozy and ready for my long trip, but other than that, I have nothing else."

Sunset nodded in turn. "Okay," he said, "Maybe after lunch you could hang out with me."

Fluttershy blushed. "Okay," she said.

Suddenly Rainbow hissed out of the deep blue sky to land next to Fluttershy and Sunset.

"Looking up at the sky, huh?" she said, "Wouldn't it be muuuuch better to be racing though them? Right Sunset?"

Sunset groaned, "Rainbow! I only beat you in three measly games of hoof wrestling! And.. um… pushups… and sit-ups… yeah… Anyway! It doesn't matter! I was a Dimensional Traveler, I was built to be inponyly strong!"

Rainbow rolled her eyes in an exaggerated manner, "Yeah, yeah, we know all that. But how about racing? I am the only pony of this time to break the rainboom barrier! I betcha couldn't do that!"

"Um, excuse me?" said Fluttershy, "could we stop it?"

Sunset nodded vigorously, "Yeah, let's stop. Why don't we just say, yes, you are the only one, and let it go at that."

Rainbow shook her head, "No! We have to do it! Now!"

"Um, excuse me?" said Fluttershy again, "could we stop?"

Sunset closed his eyes and sighed. "Look, Rainbow," he said in a low voice, "I understand that you want to race me, but you have to understand that I really in no way want to challenge you for your 'champion of the skies' title. It was just a hoof-wrestling match, and you have to understand that I have superstrength. Please… PLEASE understand that I don't want to make you look insignificant or any of that stuff. You've earned your place as a hero of Ponyville, I haven't, there is a big difference between gained respect and a surprise victory."

Rainbow looked at him quietly for a moment. Then she said, "Oh… I-I guess I was being a little too pushy. I'm sorry."

Slowly Rainbow turned around and then took to the sky.

Sunset sighed again deep and long. Fluttershy smiled, "That was the right thing to do, Sunset."

Sunset nodded his head. "I know, but I really wish she would stop it."

Fluttershy nodded her head too sagely. "She's just like that sometimes. She doesn't take losses very well."

"I'll say," snorted Sunset as he looked at the sky, "But it doesn't matter really."

"But it does," insisted Fluttershy, "you kept your anger in check and admitted what she wanted to hear: that she is a hero. Sometimes she just wants to hear it from other ponies."

Sunset smiled a little. "I can understand that. Fluttershy, do you want to have a picnic?"

Fluttershy nodded he head, "Oh yes, I would!"

The two quickly got up and packed a lunch, then they trotted out to their favorite picnic spot.

And there the two sat until lunch, not saying anything, just enjoying the view of the sun reaching its apex.

Then they packed their picnic basket and walked out to the spot they had been eating at ever since that fateful rainstorm. Once again, they sat together, just enjoying their company. Then, without a word, they packed up their basket and returned to Fluttershy's cottage and sat on the front step. Watching the sun slowly move pasts its apex and on its way to the west.

After a long while, Sunset stood up. He then turned to leave, "I have to go now. I should pack my bags and prepare to get on the Ponyville train. I suggest you do the same."

He began to trot away when Fluttershy called out, "Sunset! Wait!"

Sunset turned and Fluttershy trotted towards him. She gave him a kiss on the cheek, and then trotted away.

Sunset stood there, thinking about what had happened for a full minute, before turning slowly around and returning to his house, at half his usual speed.

Within the next hour, Sunset was completely ready, and waiting for the rest of the Mane 6 to show up. One by one, they arrived; first Twilight, then Rainbow, then Applejack, then Fluttershy, then Rarity with Spike carrying her immense amount of luggage, and then Pinkie Pie.

As they settled in the train car, Sunset trotted over the Twilight.

"Any news about the changeling threat?" he asked.

Twilight shook her head, "I don't think so. But I know they are serious."

Sunset nodded slowly.

Despite Pinkie Pie throwing an impromptu "train party" for the rest of the time they spent awake, Sunset sat in the exact same spot, worrying about what would happen if the threats became a reality. Sunset had killed enough people in his life. His soul could not take any more violence. Heck, he still didn't even know if he could live with himself. His friends were pretty much the only people keeping him from sinking into darkness. He was sorry – so sorry! – but even if he managed to ever wipe out so much red… would it be enough to keep him from doing it again?

Twilight was the one to break his thoughts as darkness began to set in. "Alright everypony," said Twilight decisively, "I'm off to bed."

One-by-one, the ponies went to bed. After a while, even Fluttershy, who had hardly left Sunset's side since boarding the train, went off to sleep. Sunset, however, just sat there, wondering about his future… and his past.

Note: Hello! Just to let you guys know that this chapter has been updated, not that that really means anything important. Anyways, please leave me some feedback! I love reviews!