The Wizard Red

Not long after The Great and Powerful Trixie had caused a huge ruckus in Ponyville another unknown magician came to the town. A lavender stallion, with a magnificent, maroon hat. It was tall, tapered like a cone, and a wide brim, running all around the base of it which drooping slightly over his eyes. A red mane poked out from under the hat, and a red tail lazily sung back and forth as he walked. He had two heavy saddlebags filled with large books. A large wooden stick, rather plain, but slightly gnarly, was also tucked under his saddlebags. As he walked through the center of the town, all the ponies around eyed him suspiciously. Most ran away in fear, or hid and closed up shops. They were wary of more Ursa Minors going on a rampage again, he did have a hat very similar to The Great and Powerful Trixie's, though his was clearly superior. The lavender pony was quite confused. He'd not been to towns often, but knew enough that wizards weren't typically feared, at least not to this level. The stallion decided he should probably just move on to the next town. He turned around and started making his way out of town. After only a few steps he heard somepony talking. He quickly glanced behind him and saw a purple unicorn talking with a young dragon.

“Like that in Ponyville. Maybe I can ask Rarity to pick something up the next time she goes to Canterlot,” said the purple unicorn.

The young dragon replied, “I'll ask her for you! I want to ta-” He stopped suddenly and glanced around at the shops, “Twilight I thought you dispelled everyponies fear of Zecora?”

“I thought I did too...” she glanced around noticing the lavender pony with the fancy hat. “Well, that doesn't look like Zecora.” she said.

“Really?” Spike said in a sarcastic tone, catching a glare from the purple unicorn as she trotted up to the lavender pony.

“Hello, My name is Twilight Sparkle, welcome to Ponyville!” she said enthusiastically as the lavender pony turned around.

“I am Fyron Midoro. I greet you humbly Twilight Sparkle,” he said, as he bowed his head. “I have come to your town in search of any knowledge on the Everfree forest you might have, due to your close proximity.”

Twilight looked into his eyes and saw a spark. The spark of knowledge. This pony knew many things. She simply had to talk with him and learn what she could and hear his stories!

“I am the town librarian and would simply love to show you the library and help you however I can. Follow me,” Twilight said as she turned and started moving to the library at a brisk pace. Spike grumbled and started following, “Oh yes, and this is Spike.” Not giving it a second thought as the possibility of the stories this pony could have in store for her!

Fyron and Spike looked at each other then at Twilight, then back at each other. They both shrugged and started following Twilight.

While they walked Fyron asked, “Spike, is the town always this...empty?”

“Never. Well, before when everypony was scared of Zecora it was, but everypony loves her now.” Spike replied. “Maybe they are scared of you?”

Fyron pondered for a moment, baffled, he asked “Why would the whole town be scared of me? I have done nothing to provoke them, or cause alarm.”

Spike stopped walking and scratched his chin with a claw, he just happened to see, right over the top of Fyron's wonderful hat, the water tower. Still being rebuild after being used by Twilight as a bottle for the Ursa Minor that attacked when The Great and Powerful Trixie was in town.

“It's the hat!” Spike proclaimed triumphantly!

“My hat?” Fyron said as he glanced up at the brim of his beautiful hat that ever so slightly dropped over his brow. “Why do they fear my hat?”

Spike looked at him and shook his head and said in a dismal tone, “Trust me, you don't want to know.”

The three of them reached the library in short order. The lavender stallion was rather impressed with the large selection of advanced books within the walls of this library. Twilight ran of to get some tea prepared after telling Fyron to make himself at home. He removed his saddlebags and his staff, and settled down next to them. He didn't like to go to far from his special books. Twilight came back levitating a tray filled with tea, and tea accessories. She gently set the tray down and sat down on the other side of the tray facing the lavender stallion, pouring them both a cup. Her eyes sparkled looking at the large stallion in front of her.

“What sort of information were you hoping to find on the Everfree forest?” she asked.

“I am seeking a powerful artifact that has been burred away since Star-swirl the Bearded's time, Fyron said. “It was lost long ago, deep within the forest, in the farthest reaches where no pony dared venture. It is sealed away with ancient magicks, by Star-swirl himself.”

Twilight was stunned. Princess Luna was the only pony she knew that had any knowledge of Star-swirl the Beared, let alone know about any of his hidden artifacts.

Fyron continued, “You see, I know how to pass these ancient magic barriers, and how to unlock the artifact. I have only vague information as to the location of the artifact though. I have spent many years deep in the Everfree forest looking, but have been unable to locate it.”

“You lived deep Everfree forest alone?” Twilight asked, taken back by the strength and courage this pony must hold. She knew Zecora lived in the Everfree forest, but she didn't live very deep in the dangerous woods.

“Indeed, but that is not what I would like to discuss. Do you know anything about Star-swirl or have any books on him?” he asked, changing the subject back to his task.

“I only know what I've read from my old history books, and from a couple books at the Canterlot library,” she replied. “Let me go get the books I have here.”

She got up, and turned around, slowly. She swished her tail back and forth, slowly, almost seductively. As she slowly walked away she glanced over her shoulder with a pleasant look on her face, which suddenly turned to annoyance. The lavender stallion had a book open and was reading it, his magnificent hat down low enough he couldn't even see her hooves.

Twilight huffed and hurried off to find the book. Suddenly she realized what just happened. She didn't know what had come over her. That stallion just had this wonderful aura. An aura of knowledge. Twilight simply couldn't resist it. She shook her head, and set about grabbing the books she had came for. She resolved to get as much knowledge out of this pony as possible.

Upon returning, she found Fyron still reading his book. It clearly wasn't one from the library. It was large, and thick. It almost seemed to be alive with magic, pulsating with power. The cover was thick, though she couldn't see what was on it, it looked rough, like leather. The pages inside were yellow with age, and the text on them seemed to glow. Certainly unlike any books she'd ever read. Curious, she asked “What are you reading? It's not like any book I've ever seen.”

Fyron looked up from the book. “This is my spell-book. I store all of my spells within.”

Twilight’s eyes lit up, “May I take a look!?” she asked excitedly.

“Hmm...I will consider it, but only in return for knowledge of what I seek. These are my personal spells. All the spells I have acquired over the years, and those that I have created,” he said sternly.

Twilight provided the books she had ran to fetch, and the two of them began talking of Star-swirl and of the artifact. Looking through the books in search of any hints as to where the artifact might find. Before either of them had realized it it was late into the night. Spike had already gone to bed and Twilight as tired, as she was pleased. She had learned so much in such a short time from this wise pony.

“You're more than welcome to stay in the library for as long as you like,” Twilight told Fyron. “Please make yourself at home.” With that she turned and slowly sauntered over to the stairs leading up to her bed.

“Thank you kindly, Twilight Sparkle,” he said as he watched her walk away.

As she approached the top of the stairs he rose and turned around and began casting a spell. A doorway shimmered into existence right in front of him. It was a plain door, like you'd see on any house in Ponyville but there was nothing behind it. He opened the door, and behind it was darkness. He picked up his saddlebags and stick and walked through the doorway, closing it behind him.

Several hours later Twilight rose from her bed, intent on getting a drink. Groggily she walked down the stairs, past the door sitting in the middle of the central chamber, into the kitchen. She got her drink and walked back out into the central chamber. Past the door again, and up the stairs. Almost back to her bed she started grumbling about making sure Spike put the front door back where it belongs. She laid down and shut her eyes. Suddenly they burst open and she jumped out of bed and ran to the top of the stairs. Staring at the door stand in the middle of her living room. She slowly crept down the stairs and up to the door. She walked around it, it seemed just like a normal door. She stopped and pondered a moment. Should she open it? It was obviously something the lavender pony had created, but she shouldn't intrude. She decided she wouldn't bother him, and turned to go back up stairs when the door opened.

Standing in the doorway was Fyron. He looked at her, a slight smile on his face. “Do come in Twilight,” he said, stepping aside allowing her in.

As Twilight stepped inside she could feel the power in here. The air was thick with it. It was dark, she couldn't see very much, only a faint candlelight on a table. The only thing visible on the table was a single book, it's text seeming  move in the flickering candlelight. Fyron walked past her and up to the table, he lightly blew on the candle and it got brighter, encompassing the whole room in a soft glow. The table was the length of one of the walls, almost completely bare. Behind it were shelves, with vials, a few books, several plants and some other oddities. The walls were all made out of stone. The opposite wall there was a bookshelf, filled with books, most of which looked quite old. The far back wall was completely bare, save a single door.

“What is this place?” asked Twilight. She had never heard of any spell like this.

The lavender stallion bowed his head, “Welcome to my home Twilight Sparkle.”

“Amazing....” gawked Twilight, eyes darting all over. “How is this possible!? I've never seen anything like this! How did you do this? Is this real? Where are we?”

Fyron gave a chuckle at the mare's inquisitive mind. “It is complicated. We are in a pocket of space where I have full control. Time flows as quickly or as slowly as I desire in here.”

“Can you teach me!? Please! Please! Please!” Twilight put on her best imitation of Rarity’s pouting face

“It is very difficult. Perhaps one day when you are better versed in the arcane arts,” Fyron pondered over the idea of teaching this young mare.

“What are the 'arcane arts'? Will you teach me?” Twilight asked. She'd never heard of that. Not once was it mentioned in any book she'd ever read, and she'd read nearly every one!

“I am not sure that is wise Twilight. There are people in this land who do not wish for arcane magic to exist, let alone be known,” the lavender pony said sternly. “I will consider it, but do not get your hopes up. We will discus this another time. For now I believe it is best that you return to your bed and get some rest. It would be unwise to make anypony worry.”

Twilight was unsure as to what he meant, why would anypony in Equestria want to destroy knowledge? She decided she better not press the issue here and now. He did say they would talk about it later, and she was tired. She made her way to her bed, and laid down for the night. It wasn't long before she was fast asleep.

Back in Fyron's portal the lavender stallion stared out of his equivalent of a window, watching the mare return to bed. He thought back on the day. Had he known what he knew now, his morning would have been very different. He would have avoided this town entirely. She was the chosen student of Princess Celestia.

He spoke to no pony, “I wonder if she knows the danger we are all in.”