Dimension: My Little Pony

Planet: Equestria Earth

Specific Location: Canterlot Castle

Time: Four days after the arrival of Flaming Star

The explosion blasted the five backwards.

Cadence and Shining armor flew one way, and Twilight, Spike, and Flaming Star flew the other way, out the window. Grabbing Twilight and Spike, Flaming Star spread his wings and glided gently to the ground.

Flaming Star straightened up, looking around wildly. Then swiping a hoof through the air, he encased the entire area with an energy shield. Immediately the bubble began to buckle from blasts of energy from the unseen attacker, but it held. Flaming Star then teleported into the burning tower, quickly returning with a disheveled Cadence and Shining Armor.

Coughing out soot, Cadence rubber her eyes and said, "What's going on?"

Flaming Star sighed and replied, "The second attack. Legion did what I least expected, he set a traitorous dimensional traveler on us. We are in a really bad position."

Shining Armor winced as another massive explosion splashed over the shielding. "What can we do?" he said.

"Okay, here is what is going to happen," replied Flaming Star, "Twilight, I need you to fly as fast as you can to Ponyville. We need to get Luna and Sunset here. I have an idea."

Twilight shook her head vigorously. "I'm staying here with you," she said stoutly.

Flaming Star nodded. "Fair enough. Okay, Cadence and Spike, I need you two to get to Ponyville posthaste. I will hold Dathan off for as long as possible. Twilight, go get as many guards as you can."

Cadence nodded, than cringed as the bubble collapsed with an echoing pop. Quickly she gave Twilight a hug and exchanged a kiss with Shining Armor, then she spread her wings, Spike gave Twilight a hug and hopped onto her back, and they took off. As they did that, Flaming Star slammed a hoof into the ground, kicking up a massive blast of smoke and dust to cloak her escape. As it cleared, a lone, black and red unicorn faced them, glowing with energy and hovering a few feet off the ground.

"Dathan Enosson," snarled Flaming Star, "Or should I say… Regal Crescent."

The black unicorn placed a hoof on his chest as he said, "Oh my. You recognized me! How ever did someone as stupid as you figure that out?"

Flaming Star signaled to Shining Armor, who began to slowly and surely circle around. "Well, for starters, you wouldn't shut up about yourself in pony form for at least ten years," said Flaming Star, "Also, as you should know, unicorns don't regularly fly around and shoot explosive energy out of their horns and hoofs."

Regal Crescent kept one eye on Shining Armor as he replied, "I suppose. I guess I really have fallen out of touch with this place since you drove me away."

Flaming Star bared his teeth and took a step forward. "I NEVER drove you away. It was your own fault. Why, Regal Crescent? Why? You love this place! How much did Legion offer?"

Regal Crescent laughed out loud, his voice echoing through the empty courtyard. "Well," he replied, "He offered me the heart of a female arch-demon, that could buy me an entire planet. And if that wasn't enough, he gave me a perfect chance to kill my worst enemy: you."

With that said, Regal Crescent dove towards Flaming Star, who rocketed up towards him in return. They collided with a massive concussive explosion which set everypony flying backwards, and blowing a whole section of Canterlot castle's wall down. Flaming Star immediately recovered and fired off a blast of energy. Regal Crescent ducked and returned fire. Flaming Star flipped over the blast and fired dual bolts, one from the air and one as he hit the ground. Regal Crescent dodged one, but the second singed his blood red mane. Snarling, Regal Crescent levitated a long, sharp, stone shard from the downed wall and hurled it at supersonic speed towards Flaming Star's face. Flaming Star conjured up an energy shield in front of him, and the shard smashed into it, shattering into dust and slivers. Flaming Star immediately followed up by dropping the shield and launching a massive rolling fireball. Regal Crescent froze the whole plume of flame into ice, shattered it, and hurled the icy knives back, which Flaming Star promptly dodged via teleportation.

As this was going on, Shining Armor, who had hid in some bushes after the concussive explosion to conceal his presence, began to make his way around until he was directly behind Regal Crescent. He then levitated a massive block of stone using his magic and hurled it at high speeds towards the black unicorn's head. Somehow, at the last second, Regal Crescent ducked and the block flew over his head, and crashed straight into Flaming Star. Stumbling, Flaming Star was disoriented enough to be too slow to dodge the blast of kinetic energy from Regal Crescent that sent him spinning into a wall. Laughing, Regal Crescent followed up with a concentrated bolt of pure energy, that would have surely cut Flaming Star in half. However, Flaming Star flipped over, jumped off the wall he had collided with, and spun through the air, releasing a hail of conjured daggers as he dodged the blast. Regal Crescent melted these daggers into slag with a massive blast of thermal energy; he then molded the slag into a ball of magma, and hurled back at Flaming Star, who froze it and shattered it with a hoof.

Once again, Shining Armor released a bolt of magic from his horn, which Regal Crescent dodged with ease, but Flaming Star, knowing what was going to happen, released a perfectly timed bolt of energy at the same time, and the black unicorn reeled right into it, knocking him high into the air. He landed on all fours perfectly, and teleported behind Shining Armor. Shining Armor tried to react, but a tremendous hoof-punch to the face sent him flying to Flaming Star's side, who caught him quickly and set him upright. There was a long pause, with the three staring intensely at each other.

Suddenly, a large army of Unicorn, Earth Pony, and Pegasus guards rushed in and surrounded the entire area, all looking directly at Regal Crescent. Regal Crescent looked around and laughed.

"Is this how you choose to fight me?" he roared, "With an army at your back? My, the dishonor, the shame! You know that you cannot face me!"

Flaming Star simply smiled. "Oh, I can, but I'm just letting you think that I can't. Tell you what, let's say you're just better than me in some way, and let's just take that at face value. When we're done with that, I will have a clean conscious and set all these wonderful guards on your ass. It will be hilarious."

Foam began to froth at the corners of Regal Crescent's mouth as he yelled, "You're trying to provoke me!"

Flaming Star, this time, laughed. "Well DUH! Of course I am. Everyone knows I could beat you in a fair fight really."

"THEN PROVE IT! FACE ME!"

"Eh… no. I don't want to risk anything. So here's what we're going to do. We're going to take you down, all two hundred of us, and we're going to lock you up. You can rant all you want about me not being awesome or something stupid, but it really doesn't matter."

Now shaking uncontrollably with rage, Regal Crescent's voice went dangerously low as he said, "That's right, James, it's all about the win isn't it?"

Flaming Star dropped the façade and glared at his advisory. "No," he replied, "It is no longer. I will do whatever it takes to stop you from hurting my friends. Winning is simply a side effect… of your stupidity."

Regal Crescent screamed. The scream was louder than anything anypony in Equestria had ever heard, and the sheer power of knocked almost everypony in the area clean out. Flaming Star, Twilight, Shining Armor and Regal Crescent were now the only ones awake in the entire courtyard.

Raising an eyebrow, Flaming Star looked around. "Well," he muttered, "I suppose I can be wrong now and again."

He then looked at Regal Crescent, who had regained his composure and was now grinning ravenously like a wolf before a lamb. "So," Flaming Star said, "I suppose we get to slug it out then. Cool, cool… so, who get's to go first?"

Regal Crescent released a massive blast of dark matter from one of his front hoofs straight at Flaming Star. Flaming Star simply nodded at the blast, and it stopped. With a flick of his eyes, he rearranged the matter into the shape of a spear and hurled it straight back. Regal Crescent rocketed upwards and dodged it. He then sped off into Canterlot castle, smashing through several walls in the process.

Flaming Star turned to Twilight and Shining Armor. "I'm going after him," he said, "You guys wait here for Cadence and the rest. Stay safe."

Twilight, whose eyes were wide with shock, nodded slowly.

Flaming Star turned around, spread his wings, and launched himself after Regal Crescent. Rising high in the air, Flaming Star slowly scanned the area, looking for signs of the fleeing black unicorn. He then heard a scream. It was high-pitched, and it was full of terror. Quickly, Flaming Star went into a power dive, straight for the source of the noise. But just before he reached the hall from where the sounds were emanating, he pulled up and hovered outside, and peered through a stained-glass window. It was Prince Blueblood, who was cowering on the ground. In front of him was Regal Crescent.

"Well, look at you. Pathetic, sniveling, cowering," chuckled the black unicorn. "However… you somewhat remind me of James. Tell you what, let's pretend you're him, and I will kill you the way I've always imagined killing him, hmmm?"

Slowly, Regal Crescent raised a hoof, and conjured a long dagger, with its tip glowing red.

Flaming Star blinked. Then after a moment, he said to himself, "Not today." With that, he smashed through the window and collided head-first with Regal Crescent. Flaming Star's horn drove deep into his shoulder. Regal Crescent screamed again and yanked his shoulder away and clasped a hoof over the deep wound. He staggered backwards and then disappeared with a flash; he had teleported away. Flaming Star turned to help Prince Blueblood up.

"Y-y-you saved my life," stuttered Prince Blueblood.

Flaming Star looked the prince straight in the eyes and said, "You said you didn't need friends, and so in the hour of need, you were alone. However, whether you like it or not, you have a friend now."

Without another word, Flaming Star turned around and took to the air. Prince Blueblood sat, staring at his hoofs, thinking about what the golden alicorn had just said. Was this what it was like to have friends? Could he have friends? Maybe…

Flaming Star rose high above Canterlot Castle as he continued to look for a sign of Regal Crescent.

"He can't have gone far," he muttered as his sharp eyes scoured the area. Suddenly a sixth sense triggered in his head and he ducked. A dagger flew over his head. Whirling, Flaming Star turned to face Regal Crescent, who was directly behind him.

Seeing that the element of surprise was gone, the black unicorn dashed forwards and slammed into Flaming Star, the two spiraled down together and smashed into two towers before exploding into the Canterlot gardens. The two got up and stood a few yards from each other, breathing heavily. Suddenly, Discord appeared.

"Well, well, well. It's Regal Crescent? The coltfriend of Lulu! Long time no see! Oh... What do we have here?"

Flaming Star waved his hoof at Discord. "Not now, Discordious," he said urgently, "go and find princess Cadence and Sunset! I'll handle this!"

Discord blinked, and then realized the situation. He nodded and disappeared without a word.

Regal Crescent took a shaking breath and was about to renew his attacks when Flaming Star shouted, "Stop Dathan! Stop!"

There was a long pause. Then Flaming Star spoke, "Why are you doing this? Look around you! This was not what the Paradox wanted!"

Regal Crescent looked around, but only grinned voraciously. "It doesn't matter what the Paradox wants. He has no ability to stop what he started!"

Flaming Star shook his head. "It doesn't matter if he can control anything or not," he replied, "We were given this power under the solemn oath that we were to protect the multiverse to our very… last… breath. What are you doing now?"

Regal Crescent just laughed and said, "This is the era of anarchy, fool. Our words do not matter anymore. What's even more, we gave all truly gave up the right to called heroes after the destruction of the Barbiserunt dimension."

Flaming Star winced as he remembered that specific incident. He, Regal Crescent, and another traveler named Ada Adalbarosdaughter worked together to rig the entire dimension so that when Legion's largest army, the Oblivion Multitude, were drawn into it, the three could bring the whole thing down on them. It worked perfectly. The death of that army marked the beginning of the end of the traveler-demon war. It was necessary, but broke just about every code in the traveler's rule book.

Flaming Star shook his head. "You are right, it was wrong. We shouldn't have done it, but then when Ada and I sought out the Paradox for forgiveness, he gave it! We were in the wrong, but we were repentant, what more could we do?"

Regal Crescent bared his teeth. "It doesn't matter if it was enough or not, James… I am no longer abiding by the Paradox's, or your, rules… All that matters is REVENGE!"

With that, Regal Crescent fired a blast of energy. Flaming Star spread his wings to dodge the attack, but he found that, while he was talking, Regal Crescent had used his powers to turn the ground beneath him into tar. Stuck, Flaming Star took the full blast in his stomach, and he spiraled backwards. He smashed into the wall and was temporarily stunned.

Chuckling, Regal Crescent approached the downed form of Flaming Star and conjured a red-glowing dagger. He raised high above his head and was about to stab down when a bolt of magic knocked him head-over-hoofs.

"You stay away from him!" shouted Twilight Sparkle as she and Shining Armor galloped onto the scene.

Regal Crescent recovered and smiled. With a flick of his head, he sent his powers into the floor, causing massive tentacles of earth to erupt from the ground and wrap themselves around Twilight. Shining Armor immediately freed her with a blast of magic, but a bolt of energy from Regal Crescent knocked him out, and more tentacles rose up to seize Twilight. She tried to teleport out, but it was to no avail. Regal Crescent levitated his dagger and aimed it at Twilight's eyes.

"What's this? A young alicorn trying to defend the firstborn against one of the most powerful travelers ever? This is beyond foolishness… in fact… is this love?"

With that, Regal Crescent hurled the dagger straight at Twilight's face. Suddenly, the dagger crumbled to dust, and Regal Crescent was blasted away in a tidal wave of earth. Flaming Star shot forward and smashed the tentacles surrounding Twilight. The two stood side-by-side, facing Regal Crescent, he only grinned.

"Well, I suppose we'll just have to go to round three, won't we?" Regal Crescent said as he speedily recovered.

Flaming Star shook his head. "No, it's over. We were really just here to stall you."

Suddenly and explosion and earth blasted behind Regal Crescent as Sunset Shadow arrived in spectacular style.

Regal Crescent recognized Joseph Torrus almost immediately.

"Well, if it isn't the 'madman of the mulitverse!' So nice of you to… drop by."

Sunset straightened up, and glared at Regal Crescent. "I'm not a madman anymore. I am a hero."

Regal Crescent opened his mouth to laugh, and then stopped. Luna, Celestia, and Cadence arrived.

"Regal… Crescent?" said Luna, her eyes wide with shock.

Regal Crescent stumbled backwards. "Luna? No… no… NO NO NO NO NO!"

Eyes wide with horror, Regal Crescent stopped moving and stood stock-still. So shocked was he, that Flaming Star simply trotted up, drew back a hoof, and smacked him across the head, knocking him unconscious immediately.

Sunset then moved up and closed his eyes. Concentrating hard, he extended his hoofs towards the prone form of the downed black unicorn. There was a minute-long pause, and then, suddenly, a massive blast of golden energy erupted from Sunset. The chains of truth. They wrapped around Regal Crescent, binding him tight. Dathan Enosson, mercenary and traitor, was secure.

Giving out a huge sigh of relief, Flaming Star nodded to Sunset. "I really wish you could teach me that," he said.

Sunset winked. "It's a gift."

Flaming Star returned the wink, and then walked up to Twilight. "Thanks for saving my life." He said.

She blushed and gave him a huge smile. "I was only returning the favor."

The two slowly sat down, hoofs-in-hoofs. They just sat there, staring into each other's eyes. Sunset looked at them, and rolled his eyes. Shining Armor snorted, "What… are they just going to sit there?"

Cadence smiled and put a hoof on his shoulder. "It's what we used to do."

Shining Armor rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah."

Spike wrinkled his nose and snorted. "It's still really weird. Can someone break it up?"

Sunset walked up to Flaming Star and Twilight, and began to pull faces at Flaming Star over Twilight's shoulder. Neither of them noticed. After a while, Sunset gave up and walked up to Celestia, who was smiling, almost dreamily, at the two.

"Well… all this has made me hungry," He said, "I'm going to go home to Ponyville. I think I'll go home, make a salad, and give Fluttershy some cuddles. All good? Smiles all around? Cool. I'm out."

The only one who wasn't happy was Luna. She stood over the unconscious form of Regal Crescent, shaking uncontrollably with grief.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Hey everypony! After a bit of thought, I decided that I could use a few more good dimensional travelers. So here is what I am going to do: I will let you guys pitch me a few ideas! Either via review or by PM, send me a name, age, sex, species (human, pony, etc.), physical features, personality, preferred powers, combat orientation (do they fight aggressively, passively, etc.), backstory (if you have a lengthy one, please PM it to me) and wether or not you want them to stay in pony form and adopt a pony name if they go to the MLP dimension. This is really a first-come-first-serve situation, by the way. Have fun!