Dimension: My Little Pony

Planet: Equestria Earth

Specific Location: Canterlot Gardens

Time: 1002 years after the defeat of Nightmare Moon

"Oh, be careful where you point that Sunset. You could hurt somepony!" Discord said with mock scolding.

Sunset looked at Discord with squinted eyes. Discord flashed out of existence and reappeared next to him, dressed in safari clothes.

"What are we looking at?" Discord said. Then he flashed out and flashed in on a bench nearby.

Sunset then decided to take a chance. He pointed to himself. "Joseph Torrus," he said, "Dimensional Orientation MPJ-9, 79th generation, power tier 2."

Discord looked totally flabbergasted. After a long pause, he muttered, "well I say… well I say."

He flashed out and then flashed in once more in front of Sunset and pointed to himself dramatically. "Discordious Draconequus, Dimensional Orientation MCA-9, 65th generation, power tier 1."

Sunset raised an eyebrow and gave a small smile of triumph. "Ah," he said, "Another Dimensional Traveler. Nice to meet you. I hail from Earth Prime, where come you?"

Discord levitated slightly in the air as he replied, "Ahhh… Earth Prime! The big one! Me? Oh, I hail from here. Good old Paradox gave me my powers, and I chose to keep my skills close to home."

Sunset looked at Discord suspiciously, "Fluttershy tells me that you were quite a bother, and were responsible for the whole Chaotic era!"

Discord rolled his eyes before teleporting next to Sunset, "Oh, I did a little bit of good here and there before that. But goodness! A hundred years of helping and no fun really takes off of you! So, I figured, why should I make other people happy at my expense? I should be happy at their expense! However, old Tia and Lulu didn't take kindly to my little bout of self-indulgence. So they turned me to stone! The tragedy! However, when I broke free, I attempted to reinstate my fun house, but I was stopped by the Harmony bearers. However, after a little bit more time in the cooler, I was released and good old Shutterfly helped me reform!"

Sunset narrowed his eyes, "It's Fluttershy."

Discord threw up his hands in mock disgust, "Oh whatever. So, what brings another traveler to my little playground?"

Sunset took a deep breath, and then he said quickly in a low voice, "I'm stuck here."

Discord burst out laughing. So loud in fact that Sunset almost was tempted to once again break the universal traveler code and kill him. But after a while of fighting his anger and listening to Discord laugh, the situation quieted down.

"Oh… oh… you ARE a riot aren't you? So tell me, Joseph, how did you get stuck here? Gasped Discord between breaths.

Once again Sunset took a deep breath. "I… I lost my way. I killed several hundred innocent people and broke the traveler code thrice times. Then I killed my only friend."

Discord actually stopped laughing completely and looked somberly at Sunset, "Ah… That… that, um… happens. Don't take it too hard, friend."

Sunset tried to put on a brave face. "I am getting over it," he said, "Fluttershy is helping me recuperated. I almost committed suicide, but the Ponyville ponies stopped me."

Discord brightened up once again. "Those ponies! I love them! They kinda grow on you don't they?"

Sunset nodded. After a bit, he said, "You've been here the entire time right?"

"That is correct."

"So, you have no news of the outside world."

"Yeah. I gave up traveling the dimensions two thousand years ago. I doubt it even works now. However, young Joseph, tell me what has been happening since I left."

"Hmmmmm… Well, about two thousand years ago, there was a traveler-demon war that wiped out four or five separate dimensions. However, we won. Of course, there were a few arch-demons hiding out, but they were of no consequence. Then a golden era began… The Paradox regularly recruited new travelers, and they were all pure of heart. For once people felt like good had finally outnumbered and outgunned evil. Sadly, though, that only lasted up to a decade before I joined. Then a new era began, an era of anarchy. When I came in, the traveler code was broken regularly and it was every man, or pony, for himself. Paradox thought I and a group of twelve others could balance out the chaos. He was wrong. I turned and the other twelve were killed. However, after killing hundreds of innocents… I've realized the error of my ways. But… but can anything really wipe out that much red?"

Discord strolled over and stood in front of Sunset. Speaking seriously, Discord replied, "Where there is forgiveness, there is hope. I cannot forgive you in place of the people you killed, but I can let you know that if you let love, kindness, loyalty, honesty, kindness, laughter, generosity, and maybe a little magic back into your heart, you most certainly will be welcome back amongst them when your time is over."

Tears immediately began to well up in Sunsets eyes, but he brushed them away. "From one traveler to another," said Sunset after he got himself under control once again, "thank you. And call me Sunset. I intend to go by that name from now one."

Discord nodded, and then pulled a face. "Well," he said decisively, "that was all ooshy-mooshy, I think it is time I get back to doing something fun. I had been planning a delightfully mischievous prank to play on prince Blue Blood, and I might as well carry it out. Goodbye Joseph… Er, Sunset. Hold yourself together."

Sunset nodded, "I will. Goodbye Discord."

With that, Discord teleported away.

At that very moment, the garden door that led to the palace swung open and two guards trotted out.

"Sir Sunset Shadow," they said with deeps bows, "Princess Celestia and Princess Luna request your presence."

Sunset nodded slowly and then proceeded to follow the two back into the throne room.

As he walked in, he noticed that everyone was back together, mane 6 and the Cutie Mark Crusaders… and they were all looking at him.

"Tell me, Sunset Shadow," said Celestia, "what do you know of demons?"

At first Sunset considered telling them the truth… but he quickly retracted the idea for fear of being rejected… but then he realized there was nothing else for it. He was at the end of the rope anyway, being rejected by these ponies really meant no difference now… but their acceptance would mean everything.

After a long pause and a deep, shuddering sigh, Sunset confessed. "Okay," he said, "I do not know if you at all will understand what I am about to say, but I will tell you everything."

Sunset then began his long confession. He explained about what he originally was, and who had given him special abilities. He then explained about traveling dimensions, making friends, dispensing justice, and bringing peace. Then he talked about the first betrayal, then the second, then the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, and then the eight. He then confessed about his turning to evil, and how he have killed several hundred people and brought down peaceful empires. He then talked about him killing Mellissa, and then stumbling here, blind with grief, up to the point of where the Cutie Mark Crusaders prevented his committing suicide by their untimely entrance.

"And if this changed your view of me in any way, or makes you want to kill me or reject me… say it now. It matters not in the grand scheme of things," said Sunset, his eyes downcast.

The first one to break the silence was Rainbow Dash. "That… was… AWESOME!" she exclaimed, after a pause, she finished up with, "except the killing part. But everything else! Can you shoot lightning? Can you show me?"

Pinkie Pie looked thoughtful for once, "It was nice, but I liked your first one about being dragged around and meeting a random princess. What does 'betrayal' mean? Never mind. Let's go have some fun!"

Rarity was third to speak, "Shape shifting? How posh. I would love to be able to do that! Do you have an address where I could buy some?"

The Fluttershy spoke. As soon as she quietly said the word excuse me, everyone quieted down.

"I don't know what all of you think," she said, blushing terribly, "but I think no less of Sunset. He is one of my best friends, and I will do my best to help him through."

In an instant, Sunset felt something melt within his chest. Was it is black heart? Had it finally melted? It was a wonderful feeling… maybe the feeling of love.

"Three cheers for Sunset!" exclaimed Apple Blossom as she, Sweetie Bell, Scootaloo, and Fluttershy rushed to embrace him.

Celestia then turned to Luna and Twilight, "Well princesses? Does he match the prophecy?"

Sunset looked up from being hugged tightly by the CMC and Fluttershy. "What prophecy?" he asked.

Clearing her throat, Twilight gave a clear recitation of the premonition:

"One hearts will be mended,

One demon will rise;

If there is hope in his friendship,

Dark will demise;

But if the good cannot win,

A victory in turn;

Then Canterlot, Ponyville…

Equestria will burn."

Sunset cocked his head to one side and thought, while trying to escape the grasp of Fluttershy, who had continued to hug him long after the CMC had let go.

"Well… I think I have an idea about part of that poem… but it isn't good." He said as he gave up and continued to return the hug.

Celestia's eyes brightened, "would you grace us with this knowledge, Sunset Shadow?"

Sunset nodded, "I know of a demon who might be the one in the poem. His name is Abbadon. He is truly the only one who would consider fighting me, and moreover, he has a grudge to settle. I bound him with the chains of truth in the deepest circle of the infernal realm, but when my spirit was corrupted and broken, there is a high chance the chains of truth weakened or shattered. If this is the case, than no doubt he will soon escape his prison and seek me out. I was able to defeat him once, and I might possibly be able to do the same again. But not without help."

"Well, you have it! Right here!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash as she zoomed overhead.

"I agree!" said Twilight with determination.

"Um… yay?" said Fluttershy quietly as she finally let go of Sunset.

"Yeah! Let's go fight… a… demon?" Scootaloo said. Then she paused as she thought about what she had said, "Er… yeah?"

For the first time in a long, long time, Sunset burst out laughing.

Dimension: The Inferno

Planet: The Inferno

Specific Location: The Inferno

Time: Eternity

The glowing chains shattered. It had taken an immense amount of effort, but Abbadon had broken free of the shackles that had bound him. Now only one thing was on his mind: revenge.

Joseph Torrus, that was the name of the one who had defeated and bound him for nine long years. Joseph Torrus… he would pay dearly for what he had done.

With a massive explosion of dust and ash, Abbadon erupted from his prison and rocketed through the sulfurous, choking air of the infernal realm. Pausing only to whisper an unintelligible word to the frozen mountain of Azrael, Abbadon began to rise through the circles of hell faster and faster. Soon, in a flash, Abbadon had escaped the realm, and was now traversing inter-dimensional space.

"Now… where are you little Joseph?" muttered the demon of hate as he began to search for his archenemy.