Chapter 1

The mirror flashed as the figure was hurled through, momentarily brightening the darkened room. The Figure hissed in pain as he landed in a heap at the foot of the small podium.

He staggered to all fours as he tried to get his bearings. The journey through the portal was always disorienting, but he knew it would pass quickly. When the room stopped spinning he examined his surroundings.

The mirror was on some manner of podium set in the center of a small, but lavishly appointed room, lined with painting sculptures and other works of art.

Taking a breath, the figure turned to regard himself in the mirror. Snorting derisively at what he found.

He was shorter now, no more than three of four feet tall. His body was still wrapped in bandages, though the odd tuft of white fur poked out where his trip had loosened them. “Some manner of equine?” he mused to himself. The reflections single grey eye narrowing as he contemplated this recent development.” A unicorn no less,” he ran his gaze over the long burnt and chipped horn, growing from his forehead. ”Ridiculous.”

Picking up a satchel that had accompanied him through the portal. The figure began limping towards the door, cursing when his left foreleg collapsed, spilling him to the ground with a pained snarl.

Remembering his training, he cast a quick spell. the rooms shadows where once again banished, as the damaged horn let of a soft grey light. The injured foreleg was wrapped in a similar glow ,as the telekinetic field slowly enveloped the limb, before hardening and supporting it. Testing his weight on it, the figure grunted in satisfaction when the leg held his weight.

Resuming his walk, the figure stopped at the door reaching out and slowly opened it, flinching then the hinges squeaked.

“Who’s there,” an authoritative voice barked “Halt and be recognized!”

The figure snarled angrily, slamming the door back shut. Limping quickly to the side, so to avoid being immediately be seen by anyone who entered the room.

The door burst open a moment later as a pair of guards rushed in, there spears raised threateningly.

“By order of Princess Celestia of Equestria you are under arrest, come quietly and you will not be haaaaa,” the guards order trailed off into a startled scream as a grey aura enveloped his hind legs, forcefully pulling the guard of his hooves.

The figure jerked his head, still hidden from the now panicking guards view. The guard was lifted into the air by his hooves and swung bodily into the other guard, their heads colliding with a resounding crunch. Releasing the now unconscious guard from his magic the figure limped out the door only to be met with the sight of a third guard disappearing down a hallway bellowing for reinforcements.

Growling angrily, the figure hobbled down the hall, occasionally ducking into a room to avoid a rushing guard or frightened maid. A few hallways later and out of breath the figure paused at a window, taking a moment to examine the world he found himself in.

The city was impressive, if not particularly large. Composed of marble mansions and towering spires, the city screamed wealth and influence. And interestingly enough it appeared to secured to the side of a mountain.

“You are not who I was hoping would emerge from the mirror,” A  voice spoke, startling the intruder.

The speaker was tall,far taller than any of the other natives he had seen so far, towering a good two feet taller over his own dwarfish frame. She, as he assumed by the tone of her voice, had a bright white coat and matching wing's folded to her side. Her rainbow colored mane flowed gracefully as though blown by a non-existent wind. Her violet eyes narrowed as she ran her eyes over the figures bandaged limbs and scarred horn.

“You look like you shouldn't even be able to leave your bed, let alone infiltrate my castle,” she cocked her head slightly to the side, a curious expression on her face. She returned her gaze to the intruder’s heavily bandaged face. “Who are you my little pony?”

The intruder didn't reply,  slowly backing away from the tall newcomer, inching towards the window. He had almost reached it when a dark blue magical shield sprang into life, cutting of his retreat. The sound of hoof steps on his blind side made the figure wrench his head around to examine the newcomers approach.

The figure was remarkably similar to the white one, though the colors were far darker; her mane was composed of sparkling stars. Her horn was surrounded in a blue haze, identifying her as the source of shield.

“Identify yourself , “She bellowed, flaring her wings. The intruder did not respond, simply widening his stance and beginning to channel his magic. “very well,” she continued ”guards!”

A group of guard ponies rushed into the hall, spears leveled at his chest, bellowing order’s,Ignoring the cracks that formed beneath the intruder's hooves.

With an effort of will the intruder finished his spell. His horn letting loose a blinding light, the floor he was standing on crumbled, dropping him down the tunnel he had started digging the moment the second female appeared. He landed hard on his side amidst the pile of rubble created from his spell. Biting back a gasp of pain he rolled to his feet and started walking.

He had dropped himself into some manner of lavatory, a winged female walked out of a nearby stall, screaming when she saw him. She quickly turned and fled the room, still screaming. Adjusting his bandages, the figure followed, his limp more slightly more pronounced from his fall.

Finding a window, he saw he was now on ground level, lifting a nearby metal vase he smashed the window open before going through himself, entering some manner of garden. Spotting a gate that led to outside the castle he began hobbling towards it, panting heavily from the strain of magically burrowing through the marble floor and maintaining the spell that enabled his leg to support him.

He had almost reached the gate when he heard voices shouting behind him. Turning, he saw several armored unicorn’s running towards him, their own horns alight with their own magic. Knowing he didn't have the energy to fight off so many other magic casters, he concentrated on hobbling towards the gate.

Reaching towards the handle, the intruder was struck from behind, slamming his face into the gate. Snarling he turned replacing the enchantment supporting his forelimb with a thick shield, which he promptly slammed into the guard's muzzle. The guards head snapped back as he fell way only to be replaced by two of his fellows that promptly tackled the intruder to the ground holding his limbs in place while they wrestled a magic inhibitor onto his horn.

Growling he jerked his head forward, carving a bloody trench across one guards face with his horn, narrowly missing an eye. The other guard cursed and slammed a fore hoof into the intruder's face, slamming his head into the ground. The intruder’s forelimb no longer restrained by the bleeding guard pony, he began bludgeoning his attacker with his good foreleg, slamming it repeatedly into the guards helmeted head, knocking him off.

Granted a temporary reprieve the intruder once more staggered to his feet vainly trying to pull the ring off his horn. He almost had it off when a terrible piercing pain when through him. Looking back he saw a long spear protruding through his side. Looking up he saw the first guard straightening after his throw, one side of his face a mask of blood.

Breathing suddenly became difficult as he began coughing up blood, the crimson liquid soaking into the bandages around his muzzle and barrel. He slowly sank onto the ground, more blood seeping from the terrible wound in his side, painting the marble walkway red.

He was dimly aware of the two winged unicorns arriving, the taller of the two approached him whispering something in his ear but he couldn't make out the words as he began to pass out. The darker of the two began barking order as several more guards arrived accompanied by several unarmored ponies carrying saddle bags with red crosses on their side’s. Several rushed towards him. He felt his body going numb, as one of the new comer's came to his side shouting something to her colleagues  . The last thing he saw before his vision failed was the tall white pony looking at him sadly.

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Twilight's mind was racing, as she and her guard’s walked towards the royal infirmary.

“How many were injured? “Twilight asked the guard to her right.

“The intruder managed to hospitalize four guards’,” the guard responded, his face locked in a neutral expression. “Though, they all avoided serious injury.”

“And the intruder?”

“Unknown.”

Twilight let out a frustrated sigh as they reached the heavy oak door of the infirmary. The guard’s on either side coming to attention and opening the door when they spotted her coming.

The infirmary was a long room lined with bed’s each with a curtain should the bed’s occupant desire privacy. Several guard’s occupied the room, most on the bed’s having their injuries tended. One stallion in particular was having a nasty gash on his face sewn shut. The others were standing guard over another door that led to the castle’s operating room.

“Princess,” one of the guards greeted her as she and her escort entered the room. “Princess Celestia is waiting for you in the operating theater.’ Nodding her thanks, she walked into the theater, her guards remaining at the door.

Inside she found Princess Celestia, sitting quietly in one of the theaters chairs.

“You asked to see me princess?” twilight spoke, alerting the Diarch to her presence.

“Ah Twilight,” Celestia gave her pupil a tired smile. “Thank you for coming. As you may have heard there was an… incident, in the castle earlier.” Celestia’s smile became a slight frown as she looked down to the viewing glass. Twilight followed suit, paling slightly at what she saw.

A team of unicorn doctors were working on a heavily bandaged stallion lying on an operating table. A spear, that Twilight recognized as one that was issued to all guard’s, was protruding from his side. The surgeon was levitating a scalpel towards the wound. Twilight looked away as they began to remove the weapon.

“Do you recognize him, Twilight?” Celestia asked quietly, as she watched the medical staff try and save the stallion’s life. Twilight shook her head. Celestia’s frown deepened slightly.

“I hoped you would have,” Celestia admitted, wincing as the spear came free of the stallion’s body.

“Is it true he came through the mirror?” Twilight asked.

“From what the guard’s reported, yes he did.”

Twilight leaned back in her own chair, a frown matching her mentor’s appearing on her face.

“Will he survive? “Twilight asked after a few minutes of silently watching the doctor’s work, her voice quaking slightly at the prospect of somepony dying while she watched, unable to help.

“Doctor Stable informed me that the spear pierced his lung. And he wasn’t healthy even before he was wounded; the bandages conceal very severe burns and laceration’s.”

The doctors were closing the wound now sewing it shut and wrapping the stallion in even more gauze. The lead surgeon looked up to Celestia and nodded before he and his team wheeled the stallion out and into another room.

“Come along Twilight,” Celestia stood up from her chair.” let’s go see what Doctor Stable has to say about our guest.”

Making their way back into the infirmary proper, the princesses watched as the stallion was wheeled into recovery. Doctor Stable approached, wearing a tired but content smile.

“How is he Doctor?” Twilight inquired genuine concern in her voice.

“He is in a serious but stable condition princess.” Doctor stable frowned “though I have no idea why some pony in that condition is up and about. He has a skull fracture, as well as some older injuries. I’m surprised he can walk.”

“Thank you Doctor, ”Celestia smiled  before continuing “now get some rest, you look exhausted. “The doctor nodded his head, stifling a yawn behind a foreleg. Wishing the princesses good night the doctor excused himself.

“Lieutenant,” Celestia called to a guard with slightly more elaborate armor than his fellows. “What preparations have been made to accommodate our ...guest?”

The Lieutenant came to attention before responding ”We have guards stationed over him day and night, all of them experienced in restraining rouge caster’s. Additionally, we are keeping a magic inhibitor on him.”

“I wish to be notified immediately when he awakens Lieutenant,” Celestia ordered, looking to the door to the recovery area. “I have questions.”