Dimension: My Little Pony

Planet: Equestria Earth

Specific Location: Everfree Forest

Time: Ten days after the Paradox took over Equestria

The Paradox was simply standing in front of the energy bubble that represented Atraka's final sacrifice. As he continued to stare at the bubble of power, the Paradox felt many different emotions ripple through his head. Anger? Pain? Sadness? Regret? Indifference? He was unsure.

The Paradox had known Atraka from the old days, so having to seal his fate the way he had ate away at him. However, the fact that Atraka had so flawlessly interrupted the Great Plan also was angering. There was absolutely no way to penetrate that shield, and everyone knew it. Fortunately, the Paradox had a solution to that…

He turned at the sound of footsteps. It was Pictor. The Paradox shook his head. He was getting tired of working with that Dimensional Lord. Pictor was messy. He killed without remorse and without reserve… and he enjoyed every second of it. Pictor would kill innocent children for free, just because he loved to see their faces as he snuffed out their lives in the most painful way possible. Though he himself was a murderer, there was something about up-close personal killing that sickened the Paradox. Life was not something that should be simply dragged away from a person as a sport. Life was to be cherished. This was why the Harmony Tree system would be for the greater good. With all life gone… Life could never be extinguished again. No more orphans, no more broken hearts, no more pain…

"Paradox!" snapped Pictor. The Paradox shook his head. Apparently he had lost his grip on reality for a second, something he was doing more and more often now.

"What is it… Pictor?" asked the Paradox coldly, eying his ally.

"The scouts in the Skyrim dimension picked up two Dimensional Travelers: Desmond Butler and Emilee Walter. What do you think they were doing there? Do you think they picked up the Imagination Energy signature?"

"That is impossible. Dimensional Travelers don't understand the concept of Pure Imagination. However, that does not mean that they are searching for it. They could have easily been commanded by Doxia, or Mattimeo to search for the source."

"What do you mean? They have no technology to locate the source. Even our scanners are being scrambled by the omni-scrambling technology set around the energy source."

"Oh, they have the technology alright; my friend… the question is what type of technology. There are three things that I can think of on the spot that could help them achieve their goal of location the Imagination Energy source."

Pictor threw up his hands in disgust. "How are you so sure that they are looking for it? You haven't even seen the scan data! You don't know anything about the situation, or the environment, or the…"

"But I know Desmond," interjected the Paradox, "He is a hero. Skyrim is not a land of heroes. The only reason Desmond would be there is if he was searching for something. Skyrim does not hold any interdimensional relics of value… except for that Imagination Source, which he should be unable to detect. However, there he is anyway. Someone asked him to do it, and I am fairly sure it was Doxia."

Pictor shook his head. "You and your damned deductions. Fine. Assuming that he is there to help Doxia, how the hell is he able to locate the Imagination Source? Even we are having trouble with the scans!"

"Let me see some surveillance data," replied the Paradox briskly, turning back to stare at the energy bubble surrounding the Tree of Harmony.

Pictor sighed angrily, and imported some electronic information to the Paradox's data sieve. The Paradox then projected the info onto a screen in front of his face with a telepathic command. There was a moment of silence as he scanned the terraquad of photos, scans, and other information.

"There," said the Paradox, pointing to a photo Emilee Walter, "Look at her face. Do you see the spatial distortion?"

"Of course. We assumed that it was an EM wind-shield… or perhaps a facial-enhancing projection. Females use the latter sometimes."

"I am surrounded by idiots. No. Emilee Walter only pretends to care what she looks like. She is too secure in her affections for Desmond to really care what is on her face. The distortion is an invisibility field. The only reason there would be an invisibility field on her face would be to hide a mask. The only masks that require those fields are Kanohis, and the only Kanohi that would be of use on a mission like the one they are on is the Kanohi Elda… the Great Mask of Detection. They are using it to locate the Imagination Source."

With that, the Paradox turned off the projections and turned to face Pictor, who was staring, rather incredulously, at the Paradox. "Now," the Paradox said, "We need to ensure that Desmond believes that their little avalanche scheme worked. Desmond probably knows by now that they have been spotted, and will be wary. We need to ensure that he feels safe and secure once more. Once that has happened, he will stop trying to cover his tracks. We will trail him and Emilee right up to the Imagination Power source. Pictor… When they find it, take the power source and destroy it."

Pictor nodded happily. This sounded like fun. "Excellent. Can I kill Desmond and Emilee? I have a dagger with their names on it."

The Paradox shook his head. Why anyone would want to kill another sentient being in such a personal way was beyond him. However, it was not relevant. "You may do whatever you want," he said, "Kill them, let them go, bring them here… It is not relevant."

Pictor nodded vigorously. This meant he could torture the two until their hearts gave out with pain. After all, the Paradox didn't care.

There was a pause. Then Pictor said, "What of the Reset Dimension? Orbit? You have their council under their control, are we to bring their ships here?"

The Paradox nodded. "Yes. Once we have lured their ships here, we will destroy them all… including the council's. While the Sapphire Armada does that, you will be destroying the Imagination Energy source. In a single strike, we will have incapacitated any ships not controlled by us, and destroyed any other avenues that would allow Doxia access to this realm. With that, the next step in the Great Plan will be able to take place."

Pictor nodded his head. "It will all be done."

The Paradox shook his head. Then he said, "What of the crashed dimensional ship in the Grand Theft Auto dimension?"

"We removed all of its operating systems, it is useless now," replied Pictor, "However, it looks just fine from the outside. Doxia will never know that it is of no use until it is too late."

The Paradox glanced at Pictor and said, "Ensure that all is in order. Double check it all."

Pictor nodded his head once more and said, "It will be done."

The Paradox turned back to continue his pondering over the energy bubble of Atraka. "I have to doubt that it will be done. Leave me."

Pictor just laughed harshly. The Paradox was unstable, it was only a matter of time before the Paradox slipped, and when he did, Pictor would be there to fill the void of leadership.

Dimension: My Little Pony

Planet: Equestria Earth

Specific Location: Rainbow Dash's Home

Time: Ten days after the Paradox took over Equestria

"One-hundred-and-fifty-one… One-hundred-and-fifty-two… One-hundred-and-fifty-three…" grunted Rainbow Dash as she continued to do wing push-ups, "One-hundred-and-fifty-four… One-hundred-and-fifty-five… YES! A new record!"

Rainbow collapsed on the ground of her cloud-house, breathing heavily. Brushing off droplets of sweat with a hoof, she sighed and murmured, "I bet Sunset couldn't do THAT many push-ups…"

Suddenly a knock at the door rang out. Rainbow rolled over and got up onto all fours. Trotting to the door, she opened it up. It was Twilight.

"I have your tickets here," said Twilight gravely, levitating a packet to Rainbow's waiting hoof.

"Thanks," said Rainbow. She opened the packet up and checked it. An itinerary, a purchase confirmation page, a checklist, and a ticket were inside, "So… when do I leave?"

"Well," said Twilight in a matter-of-fact tone of voice, "If you will refer to section A, part B, box 5.2 of the itinerary, you will see on the right-hoof corner that the plane will leave approximately at 9:00 tonight. However, due to weather situations and the loading time, box 4.7 will point out that..."

"Wow! Great! Awesome! 9:00 PM! Gotcha!" exclaimed Rainbow loudly, "Thanks Twilight."

Twilight raised an eyebrow, "Right… You're welcome…"

"Well… Considering the fact that the plane leave in two hours, I better get ready!" said Rainbow, trying to break Twilight's disapproving stare.

"Not so fast," said Twilight, still eying Rainbow suspiciously, "Did you read the first three chapters of those books?"

"Um… Does half of a chapter round up or down when considering whole numbers?"

"Down."

"Oh… Then I read one… of one."

Twilight sighed. There was no point in a pop quiz now. "Rainbow Dash! What am I going to do with you?"

Rainbow just flung herself down on a cloud couch and put her hoofs up. "Um… maybe stop trying to turn me into an egghead? That might be a start."

Twilight glanced at Rainbow, irritated. "I'm not trying to turn you into an 'egghead,' Rainbow Dash, I am trying to help you to be prepared to go to the Stallion Empire! That country is NOT a nice place, and I want to make sure you don't get killed… or worse…"

Rainbow winced. She knew very well what Twilight had meant by "or worse."

"Yeah, I guess so," sighed Rainbow, straightening up and taking her back hooves off of the cloud couch, "I suppose I should do some reading while I am on the flight then. Twelve hours till arrival, right?"

Twilight smiled. At least Rainbow had glanced over the itinerary. "Yes. I suppose we get ready. You don't want to miss the flight."

Rainbow nodded. She gathered up all her packages, and began to glance over several photos of Trixie.

"What in the hay is Trixie in the Stallion Empire?" snorted Rainbow after a bit more time of glancing over the pictures.

"I did as much research I could into past events, but I can't tell you anything," sighed Twilight, "Who knows why she went there? No sane pony would usually take on such an endeavor."

Rainbow grinned nervously. Twilight was right, no sane pony would usually do what she was about to do.

There was an awkward pause as they just stood about, thinking on what would soon transpire. Twilight sighed and then said, "We should get going. The airport is an hour away, and I don't want to risk missing it."

Rainbow nodded. Loading the luggage onto her back, Rainbow trotted out of her house. Twilight followed her and closed the door behind her using magic. The two ponies then spread their wings and took off. Thought they were approximately an hour away from the airport, it took about an hour and thirty minutes due to momentary breathers… and getting lost at one point. However, eventually the two could see the airport on the horizon.

"Now, Rainbow, before you leave, make sure you look over the checklist I made you!" exclaimed Twilight over the wind.

"Yeah… sure…" said Rainbow. She felt sick to her stomach thanks to nervousness, but she refused to let it show.

"When you are on the plane, I suggest you look over those books!" said Twilight.

"Yeah… sure…" Rainbow nodded.

Twilight looked at Rainbow curiously. Then she rolled her eyes and said, "When you are half-way there, jump out of the plane and fall into the ocean!"

"Yeah… sure… wait, what?"

Twilight flew a little closer to Rainbow and looked at her worriedly. "Rainbow Dash, are you okay?"

Rainbow bit her lip, but nodded. "Yes, I am fine. I guess I'm just a little nervous."

Twilight smiled kindly. "That's normal. We all feel nervous before something of this magnitude is taking place. I am sure if Sunset or Flaming Star were here, they would tell you of all the times they felt nervous just before doing something like this."

Rainbow shook her head. "Flaming Star? No. He's never nervous! I mean, he probably hasn't panicked in his life?"

Twilight raised an eyebrow cynically as she remembered Flaming Star panicking and transforming into a houseplant (and later a couch) when confronted with a discussion about having a foal with her. However, she decided not to address that one situation.

At that moment, the two began to descend. In another moment, they landed outside the airport and trotted inside. Glancing at the airline times that were listed to her right, Twilight nodded. They had made it just in time.

There was a long pause as the two mares stood facing each other, struggling with words. Suddenly Twilight rushed forward and grasped Rainbow in a tight hug.

"You be careful, okay?" said Twilight, tears welling up in her eyes.

Looking around awkwardly, hoping no pony was staring, Rainbow slowly eased out of the hug and said, "I'll be fine. Give me a week, and I will have Trixie back in no time!"

Tears still dancing in her eyes, Twilight nodded and took a step back. Rainbow gave her friend a reassuring smile, turned tail, and trotted off to catch her plane.

Rainbow worked her way through the crowds to her terminal. In a moment, the plane started to board ponies via class.

"First class ponies may now enter the plane," said a voice over a speaker.

Rainbow nodded. She was first class. Tugging her luggage along, Rainbow passed through a group of ponies crowded around the entrance to the docking bay and trotted inside the plane. Taking her assigned seat, Rainbow sighed deep and long. Butterflies were ricocheting around in her stomach, and she felt faint. Sighing again, Rainbow closed her eyes and waited for the plane to take off, and make its way to the Stallion Empire. One step closer to finding Trixie, one step closer to arming the Resistance, one step closer to freedom.

Dimension: My Little Pony

Planet: Equestria Earth

Specific Location: Outskirts of Ponyville

Time: Ten days after the Paradox took over Equestria

Just outside of Ponyville, in a quiet meadow, was a very interesting scene. The so-called "heartless" enforcer of the Paradox, Ravencroft Solace, was sitting on a picnic blanket with Fluttershy, Sunset Shadow, and their child Starlight Amber. However, unlike what one would expect, Ravencroft wasn't busy killing them. Instead, he was eating a meal with them. As he ate, Ravencroft slowly opened about his life as Fluttershy kindly coaxed him. Though at first he was absolutely against saying anything, he eventually could no longer keep all the pain that be had bottled up inside him within him any longer. He wanted someone to know… to understand why he was allied with the Paradox.

"I lived just outside Constantinople, a great city, in the Orbis Terrarum LIX dimension. It was the year 1349… and there was a plague upon the world," said Ravencroft Solace. His eyes were unseeing, and his straggly hair covered part of his face, "This plague was nothing we had seen before. All of the physicians, magicians, and doctors of the world could not figure out how to cure it. Eventually everyone gave up and lost hope, and the disease became known as the Black Plague. It grew, and grew, and grew in magnitude until it encompasses the world. I didn't know until later that my home dimension was destined to lose all but eight human beings to that plague. I too, was supposed to die, but I was saved by the Paradox. However, the Paradox was clever, he needed me for my capacity for evil, so he let my family die. He let me see how painful and terrible their passing was, and let my desire to commit suicide grow into a passion. Then he made me a traveler, thus giving 20000 years of life. Then he gave me the special powers, like Sunset's chains of truth, that allowed me to drain life from a living being with a touch. However, this was more of a curse, because it stripped me of my ability to kill myself. The Paradox knew this, and told me that the only way I could be ever with those I loved if… if I did exactly what he said."

Ravencroft choked on his words. He took a shaking breath, and then looked at Fluttershy, who was now weeping silently. His voice husky with emotion, he said, "Can't you see? I NEED TO BE WITH MY FAMILY. I will do ANYTHING to be with them, and if that involves killing you all… I will do it."

Sunset's eyes narrowed, and he looked at Ravencroft warily. Fluttershy, however, reached up and brushed a tear from Ravencroft's face. "I understand," she whispered, "But until then… maybe we could be your family?"

Sunset glanced at Fluttershy in shock, but then realized that perhaps this was the right thing to do. Perhaps this Ravencroft character was not as twisted as he had originally thought. The Paradox had counted on the fact that Ravencroft was willing to do anything for his family, and was now using this poor man as a weapon. The Paradox was brilliant… and twisted.

Ravencroft's eyes began to fill up with tears, and he began to shake. His mind was in the grips of a battle, and it had totally compromised his emotions. His breathing became labored, and all he was able to do was shake his head silently. The group just sat there, as he struggled to get a hold of himself once more. Minutes passed in silence, then hours.

Finally Ravencroft glanced at the sky. It was beginning to get dark. Shaking his head slightly, he got up from the picnic blanket and whispered, "It is almost curfew. I suggest you two get back to your home immediately."

Sunset nodded. "You are right. We will be going. Ravencroft… if you ever need something, my wife and I will be more than happy to help you."

Ravencroft simply got up and walked away without another word. Suddenly he stopped, then sighed. "Save your breath," he whispered. Then he continued to walk away.

Sunset sighed. "That man has suffered more than even I have. His mind has been warped badly by desperation and depression. What do you see in him, Fluttershy? Do you think some of his humanity can ever be salvaged?"

Fluttershy nuzzled Sunset fondly. "I see in him what I saw in you when you first came to my little cottage, soaked and dejected. I see a someone who has been deeply hurt, and needs a friend."

"I love you," sighed Sunset. His mind nearly exploded as he tried to wrap his head around the love that radiated from Fluttershy. There was something different about his wife, something beyond powerful…

After a pause, Sunset got up and said, "We might as well get going. Let's go."

Sunset put Starlight Amber into the stroller as Fluttershy packed up the rest of the food. They then began to trot away to their house as the stars began to shine in the sky.

Note: I had forgotten how much I personally love Fluttershy. Oh, does anyone think I should put up Regal Crescent for an OC battle? Would any of you even root for him? Anyway, I am really starting to get into the groove of things... This is fun! Don't forget to give me feedback! You give me feedback, I give you cookies, or bacon, or artichokes...