Dimension: My Little Pony

Planet: Equestria Earth

Specific Location: Changeling Fortress

Time: A little over two weeks after the arrival of Sunset Shadow

It took less than half-an-hour for the changeling to arrive at his destination, and Sunset was exhausted when he realized he was there. The fortress was cleverly hidden, with the looks of a simple rise in the forest and mountains that bordered it to the untrained eye. But the changeling had led him to this exact place, and he knew exactly what to do. Charging explosive energy in his hooves, Sunset went into a dive, shrieking towards the fortress. Then, at the last moment, he veered off and unleashed his energy bolts at the bare fortress wall. The wall exploded with a road, and Sunset did a complete loop-the-loop to escape fiery debris before entering the smoking wall. The sight that met his eyes when the smoke cleared was terrible: a guard of heavily armored changelings, and the changeling queen, were awaiting him at the hole. As her horn crackled with dark magic, Queen Chrysalis laughed. "You foolish pony! You have no hope of defeating me!"

At first Sunset felt extremely compelled to do what he had always done: kill first, then ask questions later, but his time in Ponyville forced down the emotions. Then Sunset decided to do what he had never done before, plead.

"Changeling queen!" he exclaimed, "why are you doing this?"

"Why? Because I can little pony!" Queen Chrysalis laughed again. "Because I have the power to take over all of Equestria!"

"Then what?" said Sunset, slowly regaining his strength, "What king of kingdom will you have? Your subjects will either flee to other lands, or defy you? Without internal stability, what kind of civilization will you be able to call your own?"

Queen Chrysalis actually stopped laughing. This pony made sense, and it angered her. "I will have the borders closed off!" she exclaimed, "I will oppress every town, every village. There will be curfew! There will be public executions! Everyone will be forced to bow at the mention of my name!"

"But there will always be those who resist you!" persisted Sunset, "and when it all ends, when you die or are usurped, how will the history books remember you? As a tyrant? I think that you do not want that."

Chrysalis's horn shimmered even more as the dark magic dancing on it increased. "NO! NO! NO! KILL THE PONY!"

The guards charged Sunset. That is exactly what he wanted. As they rushed him, he released a massive wave of water, which swept them past him and through the hole in the fortress wall. Now it was just Queen Chrysalis… and Sunset.

She glared at him as she lowered her twisted horn. "You… you are not like the other ponies. Your reasoning is sound… and your powers astonishing. Why not join me? Our rule together will be much sweeter."

Sunset laughed. A dark, deep laugh. "You fool! I've killed more beings than you have ever dreamed of! I have brought down empires and demolished lands! I was the embodiment of evil! And now here I stand, in denial of it all! I've suffered tenfold for each drop of blood I've spilled! I've tortured myself of each blade of grass I've turned to ash. You think evil is the way? Well, go to hell!"

With that, Sunset unleashed a wave of energy bolts. Chrysalis, at the same time, unleashed a wave of dark magic, the two collided and resulted in a massive concussive explosion that rocketed the two in opposite directions. Chrysalis ended up smashing into a wall, and Sunset nearly tumbled out of the hole in the wall. Nevertheless, the two quickly recovered and began to unleash bolts of energy and dark magic back and forth, neither able to gain an advantage or take a step. As the battle see-sawed, Sunset was wildly looking for a way to come out on top. He could easily just go all-out, demolish Chrysalis, and half of the castle, but there were innocents within the building, and he would rather die than add another kill, even if it was Chrysalis, to the list of his crimes. Then an idea came to his head.

"So, tell me changeling queen, if you did somehow manage to take over Equestria, then what? What is the purpose of this whole thing anyway?!" he yelled as he dodged a hail of magic bolts.

"I must feed my people!" yelled the queen, "they hunger and thirst! I must provide!"

"There must be another way queen!" yelled back Sunset in return, "you cannot go on like this! There has to be another path!"

"Another path other than total dominance? You foolish pony, obviously you haven't tasted control! I had it once, for a moment I controlled Canterlot! I was stronger than even princess Celestia! I could feed my people and control! I must have it again!"

"You idiot! You do not know of me! I had it all once as well! With my powers, I could have it all! I killed at a moment's notice without repercussions, and had kings and queens kissing my hoofs! But I suffer… every… freaking… moment for it! Trust me, if you even have a smidgen of a conscious in there, you will suffer as I! And you will wish it all back."

"No! You are trying to confuse me! I will be loved by my people! I will be hailed as a hero!" Queen Chrysalis was noticeable agitated now, and that is just what Sunset wanted. The changeling queen began to aim less accurately and expend more energy with each bolt. Slowly she was become exhausted at a greater rate.

"Perhaps you will be loved by your people, but what of the others? What will the rest of the world think? I understand you have a responsibility, but you cannot carry it out in such a way! You have endured, and now, for the good of everypony, you must continue to endure! End it all! Dominance is not the answer!"

"NOOOOOOOOOO!" screamed Queen Chrysalis. She fired one massive bolt of pure dark magic, which Sunset easily sidestepped, and collapsed to the ground. A well placed blast of energy then knocked her unconscious.

Sunset looked quietly around the decimated hall for a moment before searching the castle. It was empty, probably thanks to the full-scale invasion of Canterlot, and Sunset was able to soon find the dungeons unopposed. Quickly, Sunset began to jail door after jail door open, and large amounts of terrified, yet grateful, ponies rushed out. It took a while for all the jails to be searched and opened, but soon Sunset came to the last one. And there was Fluttershy, curled up in a corner. With a disheveled Rarity and an indifferent Pinkie Pie in another corner.

"Hey," whispered Sunset, "I'm here."

Fluttershy looked up. "Sunset!" she exclaimed, trying to get up. She stumbled and fell over, and Sunset noticed that he had sprained a hoof badly, and that she was bleeding.

"Oh darling, Fluttershy was hurt pretty badly during our capture," said Rarity breathlessly, "she needs help."

Pinkie Pie just gave a huge smile and a bounce or two.

Slowly Sunset opened the jail door and moved inside. He nodded to Rarity and Pinkie Pie, and they quickly exited to join the group of ponies outside. He settled down next to Fluttershy and pressed his cheek firmly against hers as he said, "I am here, don't worry. Every other pony is safe, and all that is left is to get you home."

Fluttershy sighed quietly as Sunset continued to snuggle in closer. Next thing Sunset knew, she was fast asleep from exhaustion and terror. Sunset got up and gently draped her unconscious form over his back. With that, he began to trot away, directing all the other free ponies as he went. Soon they had exited the castle and entered the forest just outside. Sunset then took to the sky and quickly recognized the land marks, he was, in fact, not too far from Canterlot.

"Keep your enemies closer," quoted Sunset with a grim smile as he flew down. In no time he had directed the ponies towards Canterlot, and began to herd them towards safety. It took over four hours to get them all into Canterlot, but it was finally finished, and Sunset had come out on top… as a hero. As Sunset entered through the gates with an unconscious Fluttershy still on his back, he was joined by Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash.

"How is she?" said Twilight with worry furrowing her brow as she looked towards Fluttershy.

"She'll be fine," replied Sunset with a sigh as he put her down and settled down next to her, "she just needs to be nursed back to health, something I fully intend to do."

"Oooooh! Does that make you a nurse? Or a doctor?" exclaimed Pinkie Pie with a few bounces.

Sunset shook his head. "No," he said, "just a very good friend."

He then put her back on his back with the help of Applejack and he trotted straight off to the Ponyville train station without a word. He was finished. He was taking Fluttershy back to his cottage, and he was going to help her get better at any cost. One-by-one, the rest of the Mane 6 left, deciding that it was better to give those two space and help with the fixing of Canterlot castle.

Dimension: Star Wars

Planet: Tatooine

Specific Location: Mos Eisely Spaceport

Time: 35 BBY

Abbadon looked at the gasping inter-dimensional merchant with interest. With a final, retching gasp, the man died.
"You did not die without your uses," said Abbadon in guttural tones, "your information is invaluable. Who would have thought that Joseph was a tyrant… who was hiding in the My Little Pony dimension? That's like apples and oranges really, but who can tell the difference when they both are burnt to a crisp?"

Abbadon turned his back slowly on the dead merchant as he began to search in his mind for the correct portal. It would take him a while, for he had not been to that specific dimension in all of eternity, but he would find it. And when he did, not all the magic in friendship would protect Joseph from his wrath.

Dimension: My Little Pony

Planet: Equestria Earth

Specific Location: Fluttershy's Cottage

Time: A little over two weeks after the arrival of Sunset Shadow

Sunset opened his eyes slowly as sunlight streamed through a window in Fluttershy's cottage. Immediately he shot up, preparing for the worst, but as the effects of his latest nightmare wore away, he remembered the event of a few days before. The changelings had invaded Canterlot by massive kidnappings and impersonations ploy that almost lost the princesses their castle. He and what remained of the Mane 6 at Canterlot defended the place successfully, and he himself went alone to rescue those captured by the changelings. He had been successful, but Fluttershy had been badly hurt during her kidnapping, and now he was attempting to nurse her back to health. He then returned to reality and attempted to get up only to find Fluttershy's head still lying gently on top of his back, a position she most probably had shifted to during the night. Sunset spent the few minutes trying to gingerly push her head back on to the pillows, with no success. Finally, he gave up and decided that he would just lay there for a while longer, his mind once again drifted over the recent event of the past. Over the next day after he left Canterlot with Fluttershy, he had spent not one waking (or sleeping) moment away from her side. She was okay, of course, but quite faint due to the trauma of horribly twisting a hoof and losing quite a bit of blood. So far, she had just lain there for the past day… sleeping, with Angel and a few mice tucked in next to her.

He was pulled out of his memories by a knock on the door downstairs. At first he thought of calling downstairs to alert them of his current situation, but he realized using the "royal voice" might disturb Fluttershy. He then attempted to struggle under Fluttershy again, but to no avail. Snorting in frustration, he just lay there, listening to the knocking occur and reoccur again and again downstairs. Eventually the door opened and Twilight called from downstairs, "Sunset? Fluttershy? Are you all okay?"

Soon she came upstairs to find Sunset in his predicament.

"Um… are you two okay?" she whispered.

"Depends. I'm stuck. But I'm fine, really… I just need to lay here until Fluttershy wakes up."

Twilight sat down next to Sunset's head and whispered, "How long has she been asleep?"

Sunset shrugged. "I don't know," he said, "about two days? I'm starting to get worried."

Twilight sighed, "The events a few days ago have been quite dramatic, being kidnapped and all."

"I know," Sunset replied, "I really, really hope she wakes up soon though."

Suddenly, Fluttershy let out a groan and looked at Twilight. "Twilight? Am I okay? Where am I?"

Angel then opened his eyes as well, but after a quick glance around, he burrowed his own head under a pillow.

Both Twilight and Sunset let out a huge breath of relief in unison. "You're just fine, Fluttershy," replied Twilight, "you are back at your house, safe and sound. However we do have a problem: you've trapped Sunset beneath you."

Fluttershy looked down at Sunset, who grinned sheepishly up back at her. Slowly she rolled off and plopped her head on a pillow. "Oh dear, I'm so sorry Sunset. I didn't see you there, you're so comfy."

Sunset sat up and rubbed the back of his neck. "So I've been told," he joked. He then got up and sat next to Twilight. "So, how are you doing?"

Fluttershy sighed, "Just fine. What happened?"

Twilight answered, "You were rescued by Sunset after being captured by changelings. He brought you back to Ponyville and nursed you back to health! I and everypony else just got back from repairing Canterlot. Everything is back to normal."

Fluttershy sighed again and closed her eyes for a moment as she let her memories return. She then rolled closer to the two sitting next to her, and kissed Sunset on the forehead before rolling back to her original position and going straight to sleep. Angel at this point got up with the mice and scurried downstairs to eat some salad and nuts Sunset had prepared for them and some of the other animals.

"I'll take that as a 'thank you.'" said Sunset as he stood up and quietly kissed the sleeping Fluttershy on the cheek. Twilight and Sunset then trotted downstairs.

"So, Twilight," said Sunset, "how goes everything in Canterlot?"

Twilight smiled, "All is well. Canterlot castle is repaired and the town is under control. The changelings have retreated, and we haven't seen hide nor hair of any of them. What did you do to their queen to keep any form of retaliation down?"

Sunset smiled as well. "I gave her a little peek into my past. That was enough for her to think twice about her ideas. I understand what she is trying to do, but she is doing it wrong, I think I helped her understand that as well."

After a short pause, Twilight said "I really appreciate what you've done for all of us, Sunset."

Sunset nodded, "A small price to pay. And it will not stop here. The prophecy implicates the eventual arrival of a demon… Abbadon no doubt. I will do all in my power to defeat him, and then I fully intend to live the rest of my life out here in peace. Away from dimensional travelers, their anarchy, and my past."

Twilight nodded. "What went through your mind as you were fighting? From what I understand, fighting really isn't one of your 'strong suits' when it comes to keeping a lid on your past."

Sunset grinned, "I was thinking of every possible way not to kill anyone. It was difficult, and every now and then I felt my old self returning, but I had it under control. Not a single changeling was killed, though a few will probably wake up with bruised or broken bones."

Twilight put a hoof on Sunset's shoulder and said, "You've done well, Sunset. You saved us all, and managed not to a single living creature… I am really proud."

There was another short pause, then Twilight stood up, saying, "I might as well leave you to take care of Fluttershy. I will be by with the rest of the gang in a little bit."

Sunset continued to sit in the same spot after Twilight left for a few more minutes thinking about what had happened recently before getting up and going to Fluttershy's bedroom. She was still there, asleep.

"This is what I truly needed… peace." Sighed Sunset as he let every bad memory, every terrible event… melt away.

A few hours later, through it seemed like seconds to Sunset, the rest of the Mane 6 arrived at Fluttershy's doorstep.

"Howdy partner!" exclaimed Applejack as Sunset let them in, "How's Fluttershy?"

Sunset smiled, "She's fine. Her breathing has steadied, and she is sleeping soundly."

"That's great! You know what we need? A PARTY!" exclaimed Pinkie Pie bouncing up and down. Quickly Rainbow Dash darted over and covered Pinkie's mouth.

"That's great!" she said, "Can we see her?"

Sunset snorted, "You don't need my permission. Go ahead!"

Quickly and quietly the Mane 6 trotted up to meet their downed member. After a few minutes of sitting around her, they came back to where Sunset was sitting.

"She's sleeping as sound as a baby!" declared Applejack, "you did good Sunset!"

Sunset nodded graciously. "Thanks Applejack. I don't know what I would do without her."

"Well, I suppose we should leave her sleeping. We were going to sugar cube corner after this, would you like to come with us?" interjected Rainbow Dash.

Sunset shook his head, "I should stay here… just in case she wakes up. I don't want her to be alone. That is the worst thing possible for anyone wounded… physically or mentally."

The Mane 6 looked at him curiously, but then left without a word. Sunset returned to Fluttershy's bedside and leaned his head against a bedpost and closed his eyes. And he slept… and for the first time, there were no nightmares.