Dimension: My Little Pony

Planet: Equestria Earth

Specific Location: Ponyville Train Station

Time: 1002 years after the defeat of Nightmare Moon

An hour later, the CMC ran up to the station, and the large group got on. All, that is, except Rarity and Spike. Those two almost missed it because of the load of luggage they were carrying… and Pinkie, who said something quickly about cake frosting and a mailbox before rushing onto the train.

As they sat down in a brightly lit passenger car, Twilight asked Sunset the question he had been praying they would not ask. "Tell me about yourself!" she said. Sunset groaned, "I really don't want to talk about it. I had a bad time, people tried to kill me; I got depressed and tried to escape. I got stuck here; you ponies dragged me onto a train to meet some random princess. The end," he said in a monotone voice.

"WOW!" said Pinkie Pie, who Sunset was now seriously questioning her sanity, "that was good! I loved the part about the train and the random princess. The climax about the escaping was the best though."

Sunset looked at Pinkie for a moment in bemusement, before looking at his hooves. Fluttershy got up and moved over to put a hoof on his shoulder. Rarity gasped… Sunset had said not to do that! However, Sunset didn't react, he let it rest there, bearing the battle between her kindness and his tattered mind that caused his stomach to leap and dive.

"This poor pony has had enough to deal with. I think we should all just quiet down and enjoy the sunlight while it lasts," said Fluttershy in a soothing tone.

Sunset grunted in begrudging acknowledgement and continued to look at his front hooves. And so commenced the worst pause of his… and probably Pinkie Pie's… life. After over two hours of absolute nothing, both he and Pinkie broke the silence.

"I think I will fly the rest of the way," he said getting up.

"FROSTING!" yelled Pinkie at the same time.

Quickly Sunset got out of the train and climbed onto the roof of it. As he observed the surroundings and steeled himself for trying out his new wings, somepony joined him: Twilight.

"What's the matter?" she said as she went up and sat next to him.

Sunset grunted. If a pony asked him something and that pony wasn't Fluttershy, he was probably not going to reply at that point.

"Look, I know you have had a rough time getting here, but we have so many questions! Wouldn't it be easier to tell us about yourself? We won't ask again. This is a wondrous occasion; you cannot blame us for being excited."

Sunset turned to look at Twilight's hooves, "Have you ever seen death? I mean, literally seen the embodiment of death descend on a rotting battlefield?"

Twilight looked totally flabbergasted by the question. "Um… no." She said slowly.

Sunset looked at her, and he was sure she could see the horror in his eyes by the way her pupils shrunk. "I have," he said, "It was terrible. What's even worse, I had a major hand in it. Fluttershy knows this… I am a monster. I had a chance to be good, and I gave it up. There is nothing left of me now."

Twilight was still gazing in a petrified state at Sunset's terror-stricken eyes. "I… I didn't know. But I know the remedy: friendship."

Sunset chuckled harshly, "Ahhh yes… Friendship is magic... is it not? Well, I don't know."

Twilight lifted a hoof and paused for a moment, and then she reached out and placed it on his shoulder. Sunset opted to respect her bold move and did not make her pay for crossing the boundaries. He nodded to her.

"Having good friends is something very rare," she continued, "And as you said: it is magic. If you would give the friendship my friends and I offer, you might be surprised."

"Yes, I know that to be true!" said a voice.

The two turned to see Fluttershy joining them on the rooftop.

"You may not think much of us now Sunset," she said, looking into his eyes bravely; gazing into the pupils that had witnessed so much chaos, "but you of all people might need friends the most."

Sunset brushed Twilights lingering hoof off his shoulder and said, "I don't know. My heart has been ruined, and my mind has been poisoned as well. Perhaps… perhaps…"

Then he took a deep breath. "The truth is," he said, "I came to that little cottage near Ponyville so I could commit suicide."

Twilight gasped, but Fluttershy just leaned her head against his shoulder, "but you didn't," she said soothingly.

Sunset nodded, "I didn't have a chance. The Cutie Mark Crusaders brought me out. In a way, I owe my life to them. I owe my life to you too, Fluttershy. Your company has made my life a little more bearable."

Twilight looked at Sunset as if she didn't really know how to respond, and then she managed to force out one word, "Why?"

Sunset sighed again, "Look. I killed the only one who believed in me. I am a murderer. Is that good enough?"

Twilight looked away. Then she looked back, "I am sorry. But you're safe now, you're amongst friends."

Fluttershy pressed he cheek a little harder into Sunset's should to remind him that she was still there and said, "Yes. You're safe now. We would never dream of betraying you."

Sunset sighed once again, a lump forming in his throat. "Thank you," he said.

The three sat together on top of the train for the rest of the journey, watching as the tall spires of Canterlot rose into view. In several more minutes, they pulled into the Canterlot station, and the group got off.

"Where did you go?" Asked Sweetie Bell as Sunset jumped down from the train's top.

"Oh, I just needed some fresh air, Sweetie Bell," he replied as he straightened up, "I am a little claustrophobic, if you will."

The group then began the long walk up through Canterlot to the castle. At first very few ponies took notice of Sunset, but little by little, ponies looked up from their everyday work to gape at the alicorn stallion walking up the street surrounded by Ponyville ponies. Soon a crowd began to gather behind Sunset, as if this was some sort of procession. As the crowd grew, Sunset's confidence shrank. What if he broke? What would happen to all these ponies? Would he reduce them to ash like so many other innocent lives? It seemed like forever, but the ponies finally reached the gates of the castle. By the time they reached it, reporters had arrived, and cameras were flashing. Now Sunset had his ears flattened and his pupils had shrunk. Desperately he grappled with his emotions as he tried to bury his violent impulses deep within himself. When he thought he could no longer bear it, though, they reached the front of the castle and the gates swung open. As they entered the hallway, a troop of guards were there to meet him. Their eyes were narrowed, and they stood straight to attention. This was almost the breaking point for Sunset. At-the-ready guards? This was too much. After a moment of terror when he thought he would just have to make a break for it, Sunset managed to, at the last moment, force down his fury and fear and walked purposely through the guards; his eyes straight ahead. In no time he had made it through the guard-packed hallway and walked into the royal throne room of the Sun and Moon sisters. Celestia immediately got up from her throne and walked down to meet Sunset. Immediately Sunset felt an urge to attack her… after all, he and royalty never got along. Once again he forced down the surging emotions and he pulled the energy crackling about his hoofs back within himself.

"Welcome stranger to the court of Celestia and Luna, you are welcome," said Celestia in a clear voice, "And welcome Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends."

Sunset nodded graciously, and said stoutly, "You wanted to see me? Here I am. What is it that you so badly needed to see me?"

Celestia looked a little taken aback at first by Sunset's forwardness, but then replied, "You are an alicorn. As Princess Twilight Sparkle has probably informed you, alicorn stallions have not been seen since the Paleo Pony era."

Sunset nodded stiffly and said, "I am aware of that. But I am not an article to be gawked at, nor dragged around."

This time Luna answered, "We simply have so many questions, noble stranger."

Sunset turned to look at Luna, "Understood. And call me Sunset Shadow."

Celestia nodded, "Well, Sir Sunset Shadow, first we must-"

Suddenly the door banged open and another figure walked in: Discord.

"Oh forgive me, am I interrupting something?" said Discord as he glided in, popped out of existence and reappeared next to Celestia. "Ooooh, another alicorn! Is he a relation of yours, Tia?"

Celestia sighed, "He is not. Sunset Shadow, meet Discord. Former god of chaos, now reformed."

Discord conjured a smart suit, tie, and monocle as he bowed deeply, "A pleasure to meet you Sunset Shadow. I am sure we are all dying to hear your life-story. As for me… well, I have better be going. Royal duties and all that. Ta-ta!"

With that, Discord disappeared in a flash.

Sunset narrowed his eyes; that flash looked familiar. There was more to Discord than met the eye.

Celestia once again addressed Sunset, "I apologize, Sunset Shadow, for the interruption. We can now return to our previous conversation. Where do you come from?"

Sunset sighed, Celestia obviously was a pony of much wisdom, more wisdom than probably any pony on the planet. No doubt she would know every land in the world, thus ruling out his 'far, far away' ploy.

After a moment of thought, Sunset replied, "I hail from somewhere I am sure you do not know of."

Celestia once again looked surprised, "Are you sure?" she said, "I know every land on our wonderful planet. Perhaps…"

Sunset turned sideways and presented her with his cutie mark. "Tell me," he said, "does this answer your question?"

Now again Celestia was surprised, even more so that the last two times. "Infinity," she said breathlessly, "I have not ever seen the likes of that. Please tell me where you come from."

Sunset turned again to face the princess, "As I said, you do not know of the place, for it is far away. I will ask your indulgence to take me at my word and not ask any more questions of the past."

Luna walked up beside her sister and said, "But Sunset Shadow, there is so much to discuss. Are there more of you?"

Sunset shook his head, "I do not know of any other alicorn stallions. Perhaps I myself cannot properly call myself one."

Luna cocked her head to one side, "By what do you mean Sunset Shadow?"

Sunset simply said, "You still would not understand. My history is more complex than anything you will ever understand. But I will make known my coming here: I am here to rest. My past has been troubled, and I seek refuge in the town you call Ponyville."

Celestia nodded, "I understand. We will not ask you any more questions Sunset Shadow… for now. Why don't you take a walk in the Canterlot gardens? I have something to discuss with Twilight Sparkle."

"I will go with you Sunset," said Fluttershy as he turned to leave.

"So will I!" said Sweetie Bell.

Celestia shook her head, "I sense he wants a little time alone. Guards, show the fillies to the private entertainment room. Fluttershy, you must stay with the Harmony bearers, I have something to say to you all."

Sunset had closed the large glass garden door before Celestia had finished the sentence and was now walking amongst the trees. He leaned in close to inspect a flower, breathing deeply; he smelled its fresh and sweet scent. No fire, no decay, no charcoal, no smoke… just clean, crisp air and fragrant flowers.

Suddenly, Sunset turned around, raising a hoof and charging it with plasma. Discord was standing directly behind him.