Note: Per request, I am recounting a little bit of Fluttershy and Sunset's marriage as well as a tiny piece of the history of Flaming Star. I thought this would fit perfectly into the story, though it does go off on a little bit of a tangent. Enjoy! If not, then skip ahead a couple of chapters when they pop up, you are not missing anything incredibly important

Dimension: My Little Pony

Planet: Equestria Earth

Specific Location: Sunset's House

Time: A little bit over a month after the arrival of Sunset Shadow

Sunset opened his eyes to the door to his house being pounded heartily. Groaning, he rolled out of bed, rubbed the sleep from his eyes, and hobbled over to the door. He opened it to find Rarity and Pinkie Pie standing outside with huge grins on their faces. He looked from one, to another, and then groaned, "If this is about my upcoming wedding then you can-"

Rarity bustled inside as she said, "There is no time for talk, we must get your measurements! I have scheduled an appointment with Fluttershy exactly at noon, so we must not waste precious time! Do you have the guest list? How about the location? I suppose you should hold that off for now until I have assembled my sub-list of possible ideas for the décor. Oooh! So little time!" As she prattled off, she had been taking Sunset's measurements with incredible speed. While this was all going on, Pinkie Pie had been bouncing around.

"Hey Sunset! We need to find the perfect time for the WEDDING PARTY! Ooooh! We should the party at sunset! Get it Sunset? Sunset!"

Sunset simply rolled his eyes as he tried to sidle away from Rarity, but there was no escaping her. "Stay still you troublesome pony!" she scolded, "I need to get the measurement absolutely perfect! Do you have an officiant yet? Oh! Would you prefer the wedding to have a more formal, or a more natural feel? Stay still I say!"

Sunset gave a snort as he stood stock-still to let Rarity finish her measurements. "Look, Rarity," he said grumpily, "I appreciate all of this, but you never really consulted me…"

"Pish-tosh!" replied Rarity, completely misinterpreting Sunset, "You can thank me later! I think I have what I need. Natural or Formal?"

Sunset sat down with his head in his hoofs, "Give me a day! I need to consult with Fluttershy!"

Rarity stood there for a moment, then she blushed and said, "Oh yes! Heh, I forgot about that! Well, I have what I need for now! Go and discuss the necessary details with Fluttershy! I'll be back!"

There was a long pause after Rarity left with her levitating sketch books, pencils, measuring tape, and color schemes all around her, but after the moment passed, Sunset turned to look at Pinkie Pie. "I don't suppose you need to take my measurements too?" he said with a snort.

Pinkie gave him a grin and a huge hug. As she bounced out of the door, she called over her shoulder, "Nope! I just needed to give you a Pinkie hug! Everyone needs one! Bye!"

Sunset rolled his eyes as he tried to recover after the extremely flustering moment had passed. Then he got up and cantered quickly to Fluttershy's cottage. He trotted it to see Fluttershy standing stock still with a flustered expression on her face.

Sunset grinned. "Rarity was here?"

Fluttershy nodded slowly. "Y-yes. I never knew there were so many things about this. What's an officiant?"

Sunset trotted up and kissed her on the forehead. "I have not the slightest idea. But honestly, do you really want this all?"

Fluttershy sat down and looked at her hoofs. "I- I don't know. I want my friends to be there, but I'm afraid they might have lost sight about what it's all about!"

Sunset laughed, "I'm sure it's only Rarity so far."

At that moment, several knocks rang out. Sunset looked at Angel. "Hey, Angel, see who it is. If it's Rarity, tell her that we eloped and then get a photograph of her face. If it's anypony else, let them in."

Angel saluted and hopped to the door, soon he returned with Rainbow and Applejack.

"Howdy! How y'all doing?" Said Applejack.

"We're fine, thank you, just spending time together" replied Fluttershy, who rested her head on Sunset's shoulder.

Rainbow just pulled a face. "Ew… Hey! Sunset! Can I preform a double Rainboom at your… wedding?"

Sunset shrugged, "I don't know. We haven't hammered out the details yet."

Applejack suddenly brightened up. "No details yet?" she asked, "Does that mean we can help?"

"Wwwweeeelllll…" said Fluttershy and Sunset in unison. Applejack just ignored them.

"Woo-ee! I'd love to help! We can have apple cider, apple cake, apple strudel, apple crumble, apple…"

Rainbow Dash too began to rail off ideas, "Oh! I know! We can race for your honor! That would be a good idea! Or perhaps you can create a cutie mark talent enhancing potion so I can create a double rainboom! THAT would be awesome! How about-"

Sunset felt like yelling above the din, but Angel handled it. He walked up to Applejack and kicked her in the shin. He then threw a bowl of salad at Rainbow Dash's head.

"Angel!" exclaimed Fluttershy, "mind your manners!"

Sunset, however, winked at Angel and said, "Sorry about that, but you two really have to control yourselves. We haven't decided anything yet, nor will we for a day or two. We have to think about what really matters to us."

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah," she snorted, "all the mushy stuff. I'm outta here, but if you need a rainboom and my awesomeness, you know where to find me!" With that she zoomed off.

Applejack grinned ruefully. "Sorry y'all," she said, rubbing the back of her mane, "I sorta got carried away. I'll be off now, let me know if you two ever need anything."

As the door closed, Sunset sighed and he fell over backwards. Looking at the ceiling, he said, "Wow… just… wow."

Fluttershy lay down next to him and said, "I understand they're excited, but hopefully they will calm down soon."

Sunset nodded in agreement. After a pause, Sunset turned to look into Fluttershy's eyes. "What REALLY matters to us?"

Fluttershy snuggled in closed to him as she replied, "Being together. That's all that really matters."

"I agree. But how do we present that in a wedding? How many ponies should we invite?"

Fluttershy sighed, "I was never good in gatherings, I don't think I could handle the attention."

Sunset smiled, "I understand, but remember, when we get up on stage, it's just you, me, and the rings. But if it really matters to you, it can be a private wedding."

Fluttershy nodded her head, "Oh yes, I'd like that. Just our friends, no one else."

"So that's decided. But do we want it formal? We could ask Rarity to design nature-oriented garbs if you wish."

Fluttershy smiled dreamily. "Nature… Whatever you want, Sunset."

Sunset realized Fluttershy was falling asleep in the summer heat, and decided that it would be a good time to nap anyway. "We can decide on it later, nap first… plans later."

Sunset suddenly realized he too had fallen asleep when he heard voices. "Awww… they look so cute together!"

"Sssshhh! You don't want to wake them up, Sweetie Bell!"

Sunset groaned and opened one eye to see the Cutie Mark Crusaders standing over them.

"Good day, crusaders… or is it good night? What can I do for you girls?"

Sweetie Bell trotted over and sat next to Sunset's head and whispered, "Is Fluttershy still asleep?"

Sunset glanced towards the sleeping Pegasus and looked back at Sweetie Bell. "Yep," he whispered back, "But I'm awake now. Let's take this outside."

Sunset got up and walked outside with the Cutie Mark Crusaders trailing right behind him.

"So, what can I do for you three?"

Apple Blossom gave him a huge smile and said, "We're here to congratulate you!"

Sunset patted her head. "Thanks, is there anything else?"

Scootaloo buzzed her tiny wings and said, "Nope. We just wanted to say hello! We haven't seen you in a while after that scary guy Abbadon attacked."

Sunset shivered at the mention of Abbadon's name, at that very moment Fluttershy trotted out, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

"Hello girls," she said as she sat down next to Sunset, "how are you all doing?"

"We're just fine thanks!" replied Apple Bloom, "we were just here to say hello to Sunset!"
Fluttershy smiled, and then she suddenly said, "Girls, would you like to be my flower girls for the wedding?"

At first the Cutie Mark Crusaders look surprised, but after a pause, Scootaloo buzzed her wings faster than before and said, "Would we ever?!"

Sweetie Bell clapped her hoofs together excitedly, "That would be wonderful! When is the wedding?"

Fluttershy put her head to one side as she thought, so Sunset answered for her. "We're in between dates as of yet," he said, "but we would certainly love you three to be with us during the wedding."

"This is great!" exclaimed Scootaloo, "maybe we could get our cutie marks… in… flower throwing? Um…"

Apple Bloom laughed, "Oh silly, it might not just be flower throwing."

Fluttershy gave the three a smile as the Cutie Mark Crusaders began to move away, arguing and laughing. She then turned to Sunset, "Have you gotten any ideas about the wedding?"

Sunset sighed as he shook his head. "Nothing," he replied, "This event is so special… I just cannot think of anything doing justice."

Fluttershy nodded her head, "Perhaps we could go to Twilight, she has books on all sorts of things like this."

Sunset laughed, "I don't think copying a procedure outlined by a book would do it justice either. But that does give me an idea, perhaps princess Celestia, who is way older than any of us, might have an idea."

Fluttershy looked Sunset in bemusement. "But princess Celestia lives in Canterlot, how are we to get there in such short notice?"

Sunset extended one of his hoofs as he said, "Take my hoof, I believe I can simply use my powers to teleport us there in an instant."

Hesitantly, Fluttershy backed away, "Oh… I- I think I'll stay here. Teleportation sounds… scary."

Earnestly, Sunset proffered his hoof again and said, "Don't you trust me?"

Slowly, Fluttershy reached out and took Sunset's hoof and smiled shyly as she said, "I do trust you."

With that, Sunset teleported to Canterlot. Fluttershy gave a small start when the scenery around them blurred and melted into the scenery of the Canterlot gardens, but that was about it.

Sunset planted a kiss of Fluttershy's cheek as he said, "There. That wasn't so bad, was it?"

Fluttershy nodded her head. "Not… not really I guess…"

Almost immediately Discord appeared in front of them with a flash.

"My, my! If it isn't my two favorite star-crossed lovers! Have I ever told you two how CUTE you look together? Aw, you're blushing Sunset!"

Sunset at first thought of replying sharply, but then chose a different tactic. He looked up at Discord and said, "Thank you for saving my rump when I was battling Abbadon."

Discord, surprised by that response, dropped his teasing tone and bowed deeply. "Why thank you, it was the least I could do for a fellow traveler. But those days are behind me now! That portal business and desolate planet were too… too uncomfortable for my elegant taste. I appreciate your compliment immensely, Sunset, but I perceive you have something else more important to do here than pay me compliments… I presume?"

Fluttershy nodded her head, "Oh, yes, we want to talk about our wedding with princess Celestia."

Discord raised an eyebrow, "A wedding? How delightful? Was I invited?"

Sunset winked at him and replied, "Only if you promise not to wreak havoc on the assembly, no matter how small it is? Pinkie promise?"

Discord looked as if he was at war with himself for a moment before sighing and saying, "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye… There! You satisfied?"

Fluttershy gave him a smile and replied for Sunset, "Yes… we are. We really must get going now."

Sunset and Fluttershy trotted past Discord and entered the castle, as Sunset had presumed, Celestia sat upon her royal throne. She immediately got up and cantered up to Fluttershy and Sunset as they approached. "Welcome my little ponies! I was not excepting such a surprise!"

Sunset and Fluttershy bowed before Sunset replied, "We were here to ask you a few things. Perhaps you have a moment to spare?"

Celestia nodded her head vigorously, "I always have time for my friends."

Sunset nodded to Fluttershy, who said, "We were wondering if you had any suggestions you could offer about our wedding, and if you would like to attend."

Celestia smiled, almost dreamily, and said, "Ah, a wedding… you understand the commitment such an event implies, correct?"

Sunset nodded slowly, "It is about the union between me and Fluttershy, right?"

Celestia smiled and nodded, "It is. And that is what the celebration is about… it is about you and Fluttershy. Do not let anything take away from that."

Sunset nodded, and then said, "I understand now. Thank you princess Celestia, we will let you know when the wedding is."

Sunset then took Fluttershy's hoof and teleported straight out of the castle and into Sunset's house.

Fluttershy put her head to one side and said, "What should we do?"

Sunset smiled, "We will let our friends do what they do best, but we will make sure that this wedding is about what it is… a marriage. We will let it celebrate us having each other, and our friends, that is what love is all about, right?"

Fluttershy smiled at Sunset, "Right."

The two kissed.

Dimension: Earth Prime

Planet: Earth

Specific Location: The small southern desert

Time: 7820 B.C.

Abimael Sethson looked up wearily from his plow as the hot sunlight beat down on the back of his neck. Off in the distance, his father Seth sat under a withered tree, resting his old bones.

"There has to be more to this!" groaned Abimael as he continued to work the hot and cracked soil, "I cannot live my life like this."

"Don't stop, little brother," called Abimael's brother Enos, "the soil won't till itself."

Abimael just groaned and continued working, as he worked, he grumbled, "I am a scientist, a thinker, a warrior! I shouldn't be doing these things."

Enos overheard and just laughed heartily, slapping Abimael hard on the back. "Little brother," he said, "just because you stare at the stars all night and think about what makes a body tick doesn't make you a thinker. And you are hardly a fighter, I could take you on any day, you aren't very much. Now get back to work."

Abimael sighed and resigned himself to his duties, but he disliked it quite a bit. How could he spend the rest of his doing things like this? Why were they even here? The planet was literally covered in lush rainforest, but his father Seth insisted on them working the soil here. What was the point? Abimael shook his head as he answered his own question: because they were supposed to. This land needed to be farmed for food, and what they didn't farm, they couldn't eat. Perhaps the forests of the world held food, and perhaps they could share in the bounties, but this land would never change, and Seth wanted to "make the difference," as he said.

"That's enough, my sons," called out Seth from the tree as he staggered to his feet, "let us get water from the river to quench the dry earth. Abimael, you will go first."

Abimael groaned again and put down the plow. He hated watering the earth, it always seemed thirsty. Suddenly, an idea came to his head… why couldn't they just dig trenches to certain locations? In his spare time, when he wasn't practicing fighting or stare gazing, Abimael worked on contraptions with wood and vines, recently, he had invented some form of pulley system that could open or close a door. If he could rig it with the trenches, he could control the water supply! He would call it… an irrigation system! Abimael was about to yell out his brilliant idea when a flash of light from the corner of his eye caught his attention. In the distance, in the great eastern jungle, a light flashed.

"Curious…" murmured Abimael, and putting down the plow, he dashed over to the forest. Running hard, he made it to the forest in less than a minute, but the flash seemed no closer. Suddenly, the flashing stopped, and Abimael looked around in disappointment. With a sad sigh, Abimael turned to return to his duties.

"Abimael," said a voice behind him. Whirling, Abimael's eyes were met with a wondrous sight. A massive being, swathed in light, was standing before him.

Shading his eyes and falling to his knees, Abimael whispered, "What… what are you?"

"I am the Paradox… do not fear me."

"What do you want… Paradox?" said Abimael.

"I have a proposition for you."

Abimael put his head to one side and said, "A… proposition?"

"For eternity I have contemplated the cancer that is demons that have eaten away at our fare multiverse, for eternity I have plotted out solutions… you are the solution."

Abimael suddenly knew what was going on, but still said, "What do you mean?"

"I am going to give you power, Abimael… such power that has never been seen by mortals of this earth before or after. You will take this power and you will rise… rise to confront the demons that poison the multiverse. Will you go with me?"

Abimael thought about his family and his life… and then realized this was what he had alway wanted to do. He had never been considered highly in his family, always overshadowed by his brother and a sense of inadequacy… but this was a chance to prove to what few humans existed on this world that he had what it took to be a hero.

"I will accept… but on what terms?" Abimael said after thought.

"You will not seek vengeance against you bullying brother, nor fame amongst your peers. You are here to defend and protect. When you are taken in, you will not be remembered by your family and relatives; you will be but a shadow of this planet's timeline…. A silent defender of all mankind."

Abimael nodded slowly. It pained him to never be recognized by his brother as a true power within the family, but… but perhaps this could mean something for him to come.

"A word of warning, Abimael: I will be watching. You have been given an honor, but you must not let it become you… you are but a subject, and you must perform as I say. Your powers will be untold of, as long as you can deliver."

After a deep breath, Abimael spoke: "I accept. I am ready."