Dimension: My Little Pony

Planet: Equestria Earth

Specific Location: Fluttershy's Cottage

Time: 1002 years after the defeat of Nightmare Moon

Despite his indicating that he would wake up early, Sunset didn't wake up until sunlight was streaming through the room. Immediately he took stock of his surroundings, after a moment he made a diagnosis: nothing in this room could kill him effectively. Death… the first thing always on his mind. After that realization passed through his mind, Sunset almost gave up, closed his eyes and collapsed back onto the bed, but he stayed the action when he heard dishware clattering downstairs. Sunset slowly got up and walked downstairs.

"Hello Fluttershy," he said through strained teeth, trying not to kill her, himself, or anyone else as he became painfully aware of the awkwardness of the situation.
"Eep!" Fluttershy yelped at the sound out his voice. She almost dropped the pan, but she then quickly recovered herself. Turning to Sunset, she smiled calmly, "Hello Sunset. How are you?"

Forcing a smile, Sunset replied, "I am fine. I really should be going now."

Fluttershy looked surprised, and quickly said, "You can't leave yet! Here, have some breakfast first."

Sunset looked at the proffered bowl, and then to Fluttershy, and then back at the bowl. After a full minute of combating his feelings, Sunset said, "Fine."

He sat down next to Fluttershy and ate. As soon as he finished, he quickly got up and said, "Thank you for your hospitality, but I really have to go now."

Fluttershy too got up and said, "But it's all muddy outside! You should stay here until everything dries up."

Sunset glanced out the window, "It looks fine."

"But it could still rain!"

"Uh huh… I don't think so." After he said that, he looked suspiciously at Fluttershy, who in turn looked down at her hooves.

"I would like it if you stayed a while," she mumbled, "I like your company."

Sunset snorted, he doubted that. A sweet little pony like her probably never was in any need of friends. At first he thought about simply turning around and getting the hell away, but there was something about Fluttershy, the kindness coming off her that was somewhat hypnotizing for him. She was his polar opposite, and it was fascinating. Once again Sunset had to fight off his darker emotions and ground out a single word, "Fine."

Immediately Fluttershy perked up, "Wonderful. Let me show you to all my animal friends."

Sunset almost choked on air… animals? He hated animals. Something about their instincts alerted them of his blackened heart, and caused them to openly loath him. However, if they were scared of him, perhaps he would then be able convince Fluttershy to let him go.

He was totally wrong, the animals loved him. The moment she called them out, the creatures, both big and small, gathered around him chirping, barking, etc. Sunset simply stood there, eyes narrowed, trying not to groan.

"Oh! They love you! I knew you were special. Is your special talent animals too?"

"No," Sunset said as he gave a mouse who was hugging his left hoof a death glare. The mouse promptly ignored him and went on hugging. After holding the death glare for a few more seconds, Sunset continued, "I don't think it is."

After a few minutes of being overwhelmed by animals who seemed to see something in him that he himself couldn't, the creatures began to disperse. Fluttershy walked over to him and sat on her haunches and said, "That was wonderful." After an awkward pause, she looked down at her hooves again and blushed through her pink mane and mumbled, "Could you tell me a little about yourself?"

At first Sunset wanted to tell her to shut the hell up and mind her own business, but the way she had been kind to him stuck in his mind. He suddenly realized he really wanted to tell her about everything. About how he had been betrayed, about how he had turned, and about how he had become a murderer. Slowly he sat down and began.

"A long time ago, I use to live a far, far, FAR away place. In this, er, place, there was a talented group of ponies called… called the travelers. They had amazing abilities way beyond the scope of any cutie mark talent, and they were our designated peacemakers. When I was just a little, um, colt, I was approached by a special being called the Paradox. This being granted me the abilities of a traveler and tasked me with the mission of spreading good and justice throughout the land. I tried – Honest! – But it was difficult. The world isn't all sunshine and rainbows; it is degenerate, diseased, and twisted. I tried my best to help ponies, but slowly the darkness of the world began to seep into me and my friends' souls. Then the betrayals began. There was a betrayal, then another betrayal, and then another betrayal. Soon all my friends had either betrayed me, turned their backs on me, or been killed. The situation kind of broke my heart and mind. I became like the traitorous ones, and I began to hurt many ponies. I hurt a lot of ponies a lot. I was feared and hated. Nevertheless, I tried to ask the only one who had ever believed me her hand, er, hoof in marriage. She said she could not. She loved and cared for me, but she could not. I was mad and I wounded her. So much so that… that…

Sunset's voice caught, and after a trembling sigh, he said, "That's it. There is no more. After that incident, I stumbled here, and here I will stay. Either by design or by chance, I am trapped here in Equestria."

Fluttershy looked at Sunset with sorrow and compassion; she then got up and moved over to sit next to Sunset. She calmly put a hoof on his shoulder and said, "If you were once evil, you are not anymore. Look at how my animals loved you!"

Sunset simply looked down at his hooves and shook his head vigorously.

Fluttershy then smiled, "Tell you what… Why don't I tell you about what has happened to me?"

Then Fluttershy began her tale. About how she got her cutie mark, how she met Twilight Sparkle and discovered her element of Harmony, how she had gone many places, and how she had befriended Discord. Many hours passed, and the sun was slowly setting as Fluttershy finished her long tale.

Sunset was still feeling extremely depressed, nevertheless, so Fluttershy said, "Why don't we have a picnic dinner? I am sure the ground has dried up by now."

Sunset looked up at the sky, which looked a little overcast, "Are you sure?" He said, too numb to really assert his own scorn for her idea.

"I think so. Let's go!" After that, Fluttershy leapt up and began to pack a picnic dinner. As this transpired Sunset continued sitting in the exact same spot he had for the past ten hours as he mulled the adventures of himself and Fluttershy over in his head. She had had such a different past. She had started off on the bottom, but her love and kindness had changed everything. Now she had friends and loved ones, and her life was golden. He had started at the top, admired and worshipped by many, but his adventures had corrupted him, and now his life was as black as the darkest night.

Fluttershy soon trotted in with a basket brimming with food. After she put it down, she said, "Let's go! I know a wonderful place a while from here that is perfect!"

Sunset stood up and said, "I will go on one condition: you let me carry the basket and you ask no more of my past."

Fluttershy smiled, a little abashed, and nodded quickly. Sunset walked over and stopped next to the basket. At first he considered reducing the gravity around the basket, or using telekinesis to levitate the thing, but he then got an idea. With a quick mental push, he activated his unicorn horn, causing the basket to levitate. It felt weird, but somehow enjoyable at the same time. The two trotted promptly towards the field for a full ten minutes or so. By the time they arrived, the large grass field was soaked in red light from the setting sun… a wonderful sight. By the light of the setting sun, Sunset and Fluttershy sat together eating.

At first Sunset felt incredibly uncomfortable, and considered killing himself or teleporting away to escape the situation; but slowly he warmed up to the situation, and allowed his worries and thoughts of violence to slip away. Then it started raining.

Suddenly the light of the setting sun was gone and the overcast clouds began the deluge. Immediately Sunset used his control over H20 to shift the water above himself and Fluttershy, but as he looked around, he could not see where they had come. After a bit of frantic searching, he noticed a large tree bordering the meadow.

"Follow me!" Sunset said quickly, nudging Fluttershy to the tree. In a minute they were there, sitting under the tree at night trying not to get soaked to the skin.

"Well," Sunset said sarcastically after a long pause, "You were right about the 'no rain' prediction. I can't see a cloud in the sky."

Fluttershy dropped her gaze and whimpered, "Sorry."

Sunset gave her a small smile and lightly touched her shoulder, "It's no problem. But it looks like we are stuck here for the night. Despite my good eyesight, I cannot see anything past one hundred yards in this weather."

Fluttershy sighed as she settled down in the resting position as Sunset sat a few feet away, observing the storm.

"What was it like in your homeland?" Mumbled Fluttershy, in her tiredness, she had forgotten that he had asked for no questions about his past.

Sunset almost immediately pointed that out, but then sighed, "It wasn't much to look at really. Dirty, polluted, terror-stricken. The ponies there had not yet understood the meaning of peace, and from what I can tell, they were also a lot more technologically advanced then here. I mean…"

Sunset glanced over, Fluttershy was sleeping, but she was also shivering. Sighing deeply, Sunset walked slowly over to Fluttershy and lay down next to her and spread one of his wings lightly over her back. Almost immediately she stopped her quivering and gave a contented smile. Sunset laid his own head down next to hers and closed his eyes. He too fell asleep quickly, but unlike Fluttershy, his dreams were apparently not as nice. Fire, screaming, death – always death – was prominent throughout the early stages of his dreams. However, as soon as the nightmare began to increase in intensity, and Sunset was positive his brain would snap, a gentle calming mist covered the scarred battlefields of his consciousness, and he drifted into a mercifully empty sleep.

The sun had just begun to stream through the hills when Sunset snapped awake. In a panic, he quickly gathered his situational data to determine what was going on and who wanted to kill him next, but then he noticed he was safe, and the events of the previous night returned to his memories. Then he noticed Fluttershy. His wing still covered her lower body, but her head was burrowed almost painfully into his side, with one of her hoofs draped over his back. For a moment Sunset simply lay there, blinking stupidly off into space, as if he hadn't the slightest idea in the world what the hell was going on. Then after a long, long, long pause, he noticed Fluttershy's eyes beginning to open.

Knowing now that she was awake, Sunset slowly said, "Fluttershy? What are you pressing your muzzle into my neck?"

"Eep!" She gasped, and she quickly shifted backwards and gazed down at the grass. After a pause, she said, "You were groaning and whimpering in your sleep."

Sunset then remember the first stage of the night and sighed, "Peace rarely ever comes to me in my dreams nowadays, Fluttershy."

She nodded and said, "It got so loud that it woke me up. I noticed that you had been kind enough to cover me with one of your wings… so I… so I… so I thought it would be okay if I pressed my cheek against yours. I thought it might comfort you, it does with Angel when he has nightmares."

Sunset felt a lump beginning to form in his throat… The kindness… it was unbearable…

Sunset switched from the "laying-down" position to the "sitting-up" one as he said, "Oh, um… thanks. I… I really think we should get you home now."

Fluttershy continued laying there, her eyes almost adopting a dreamy look, "No, I think it would be fine if we stayed right here…"

Sunset looked at her, and his stomach began to ball up in nervousness, then he remembered something that would get him most certainly out of the jam, "But what about Angel and the rest? Won't they be worried about you?"

Fluttershy bolted up, "Oh my goodness! You're right! We have to hurry!"

Sunset got up grumpily. Was she going to continue to use the royal "we?" If she did, he would never be able to feel obligated to leave. Nevertheless he followed her back to the cottage, and they arrived in half the time it took to leave. She burst through the door and exclaimed, "My poor Angel! Where you worried while mommy was gone?"

Angel simply glanced up and proceeded to go back to sleep. Fluttershy looked relieved, "Oh… Maybe not."

Sunset trotted in, levitating the basket. He put it down and cleared his throat, "I really should be going now."

Fluttershy looked up, almost mournfully. "Already?" she replied.

Sunset gaped disbelieving at her. Was she freaking kidding him? How was he supposed to go on to finish off himself if she never gave him a second alone? However, after a long and exasperated sigh, he said, "If you want, you can come with me. I can show you what I've done with the place.

Fluttershy got up quickly. Sunset rolled his eyes and walked slowly out of the door. He then stopped and turned around, "what forest is that?" He said, pointing to the forest in the distance.

"That's there Everfree forest." Replied Fluttershy.

"The hell it is. Free, sure." Muttered Sunset. He then cleared his throat and said, "Is there a path that leads from there into Ponyville? My house is off to the side. A few yards from the path."

Fluttershy nodded, "Follow me!"

In a few minutes they were on the path. In a few minutes more, they were approaching the house. During their walk, Fluttershy and Sunset had said very little, but despite this, Sunset's mind had been working like clockwork. Did this Fluttershy "like" him? How was this possible? Was it possible? And if that was possible, was it possible that his deeply scarred feelings were mending as well?

In a few more moments, the house began to come into view. However, the sight that greeted Sunset's eyes gave him pause. In front of the door was a small congregation. Sunset recognized the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Pinkie Pie, and Twilight Sparkle, and the rest were undoubtedly the rest of the Mane 6 and the baby dragon Spike Fluttershy had told him about. He slowed down to a stop and slowly began to back away with his ears pressed against his skull. More ponies… this was very, very bad…

Then Sweetie Bell turned her head around and sighted him, "There is Sunset!" She exclaimed pointing a hoof in his direction. The entire group began to move towards him.

At this moment, Sunset was literally terrified. More ponies, and they were Fluttershy's friends. If they got to loud or too close and physical, they might trigger his atrophied emotions, and he could end up hurting or killing them all. Fluttershy noticed his growing alarm and flew ahead to meet the group.

"Who is that guy? Is he the one Twilight told us about?" said the one that Fluttershy had said was Rainbow Dash.

Twilight nodded, "That's him!"

Fluttershy stood between them and said, "Careful friends! I think he might be a little nervous about strangers. He's had a terribly rough time in the past, he's here to recover, not be crowded."

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell then trotted up to Fluttershy and stood beside her.

"Yeah," said Sweetie Bell, "I think he's had some trouble before."

"Trouble? Nah. He's just unhappy! Unhappy?! We must make him un-unhappy! Then he will be more than happy to be happy!" Pinkie Pie tried bouncing around the Fluttershy, Apple Blossom and Sweetie Bell, but Fluttershy blocked Pinkie Pie from bouncing any further.

"Be slow! I don't think he likes you all yet."

Sunset had been bordering on hyperventilating, but after a few gasping breaths, he pulled his nerves together and trotted slowly up.

"You wanted to see me. Why?" He said, speaking directly to Twilight Sparkle.

Twilight replied, "Well, you're an alicorn! No alicorn stallions have been sighted since the Paleo Pony era! And yet… here you are!"

Sunset immediately was bothered, why hadn't his stupid body chosen this form? God, now he was going to draw attention wherever he went, the last thing he wanted. Was killing everything still an option?

Sunset quickly gave his head a shake and said, "So? Is that something bad?"

Twilight looked slight aghast at the reply, "Of course not! But look at me! I am an
alicorn! There are only supposed to be four of us! Me, Princess Cadence of the Crystal Empire, and Princesses Celestia and Luna! In fact, that is what we are here: to take you to see Princess Celestia."

Sunset blanched has he had a quick flashback. Last time he had meet a princess, he had ended up murdering her and her family when they refused to decrease their tax laws and create a statue in honor of him. It took a second to break free of that terrible memory, but Sunset managed, telling himself that he no longer was that kind of being. He was going to change… or commit suicide. Whichever came first.

"I really don't think that's a good idea. Last time I met royalty, things didn't end to well." Said Sunset after escaping the memory.

"DID NOT?" Exclaimed the pony Fluttershy had said was Rarity, "Why? How is that ever possible?"

Sunset snorted in frustration, and slowly began to back away, only to find he escape route blocked by Pinkie Pie, who had somehow managed to get around him. "It just happened. Look, I made some mistakes and I am still paying for them today. Why can't you ponies understand that and move on? Find yourself another alicorn! Hell, I am sure Rainbow Dash there would look great if you grafted a horn onto her! Then she could be one and you could take her to this princess!"

Twilight shook her head, "It doesn't work that way. Just give us a chance!"

The last phrase triggered yet another memory. Last time someone had said that, he had given no chances… It had been swift and deadly, and the hope of a second chance died with the person who said it by Sunset's own hand. He quickly pulled himself into reality once again and sighed, "I suppose the only way I can maintain my sanity and yet not have a plagued conscious is by saying yes. Okay, when do we leave?"

The group cheered, except for Rainbow Dash who had been thoughtful after Sunset's outburst.

"Hey guys… COULD I get myself a unicorn horn? Would it work?"

Twilight ignored her and turned to Spike, who pulled out a pen and parchment.

"Take a note, Spike," she said to the baby dragon, "Dear Princess Celestia, I have found another alicorn. I am bringing him – yes, him! – To you immediately. Yours faithfully, Princess Twilight Sparkle."

Spike finished scribbling and raised the parchment into the air, after taking a deep breath, he swathed the paper in green flames, vaporizing the thing immediately.

"It's on the way Twi," he said.

Twilight nodded her thanks and turned to Sunset, "Let's go! We will have to get tickets to Canterlot, and then leave immediately."

Scootaloo then spoke up. "Great!" she said, her tiny wings buzzing in excitement, "Can we go too?"

"Yeah!" Said Apple Bloom, "Do we get to go?"

The one who Sunset decided was Applejack then spoke up as well. "Sorry sis," she said, "But you three have to stay here."

Sunset up to this point have been thinking specifically about how to NOT kill everypony he would soon meet, but at this new declaration, he pulled himself back into reality, something that he was doing less and less now. The sight of the disappointed Cutie Mark Crusaders gave him pause, and he then decided to pull something, as a little "thank you" to the trio from keeping his self-induced death at bay.

"If they stay I stay," he said simply.

There was a long pause… then Rarity, Applekack, and Twilight said in unison, "I suppose they could go."

Suddenly Sunset was buried underneath the CMC, who were hugging him tightly.

"Thanks Sunset!" said Apple Bloom.

"Yeah, thanks!" added Scootaloo.

"Thank you thank you thank you!" exclaimed Sweetie Bell.

Sunset staggered to his feet. His initial reaction was rage at being touched without his consent, but it strangely melted away as the three continued to hug him tightly.

"Um, girls?" interrupted Twilight after another long pause, "I think you can let go of him now."

"Oh yeah, sorry," said Scootaloo. "Well, I am off to ask my parents! Bye!"

With that, Scootaloo, followed by Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell, zoomed off.

"Oooh! Can I have a hug now?" said Pinkie Pie bouncing up to Sunset and extending her hooves and her smile wide. Sunset pointedly took a step in the opposite direction, "Eh… don't touch me."

Pinkie seemed in no way hurt by the comment and exclaimed, "Okie dokie! Well, I have to skedaddle! A lot of jumping has to be done!"

Twilight turned to Sunset after watching Pinkie bounce off. "Well, I suppose we should get those tickets" she said.

Sunset, still a little dazed, replied, "Yeah, I suppose. And please, don't any of you touch me. I think I have had my fill of personal contact for the rest of… well… a while."

The three trotted off to the train station. While on the way, he was peppered by questions by the Mane 6.

"Where do you come from?" said Applejack.

"Are all you guys alicorns?" added Rainbow Dash.

"Is your fashion sense attuned?" interjected Rarity.

Sunset simply pressed his ears against his head and began thinking hard about NOT killing them.

Fluttershy answered them, "He comes from far, far away in a place called Earth Prime. No, I think they are just regular ponies. Sadly, no, I don't think they really think about that. Sunset said they hate each other."

As the last phrase sank into the clean, rain-washed air, there was an uncomfortable pause. Twilight turned to Sunset. "Is that true?" she asked.

Sunset sighed, "Yeah. Nothing is right where I hail from. War, death, you name it. I once part of a group designed to stop it all, but… Never mind. Can we keep moving?"

Twilight looked like she wanted to say more, but she suppressed another comment and turned around.

"Here we are." She said after a bit. They group trotted in and purchased tickets. During the transaction, Sunset had time to observe the "bits" that they used as currency. Standard gold, with a hint of magic, he could replicate that, at least providing for himself would not be a problem if somepony somehow managed to talk himself out of committing suicide sooner or later.