Professor Safon sat in his booth looking out the window of the train observing the landscape, noting some early city skylines in the distance. He started thinking about the similarities between this world and his own and even other worlds he’s been to. Going through some old audio recordings he found that the six ponies that helped him when he woke up had the exact same names as other beings in the first dimension he visited in 1974. He even recalled that in 1989…….

“Next Stop Ponyville! Next Stop Ponyville!!” The conductor yelled, knocking Safon out of his thoughts. Sighing, he got up and grabbed his messenger bag and the crossbow from the seat next to him and put his hat on. As the train started to stop the conductor yelled again “This is Ponyville! Ponyville! Please check the overhead compartment for any personal belongings.”

When the train doors opened he got out and took in his surroundings, noting how the train station here was fairly simple compared to the rather extravagant one in Canterlot. However that wasn’t important, he needed to find the forest and make his way from there.

As he made his way off the platform he heard a familiar voice call for him. “Professor! Professor!” He looked around to see Twilight Sparkle running towards him. “Professor there you are!” She said out of breath.

“Hello Miss Sparkle, what are you doing here?” He asked confused.

Twilight just gave him a puzzled look. “Uh I’m here to meet you at the station. The letter the Princess sent said you would be expecting me.”

He looked at her with even more confusion. “What lett….wait a second.” He said as a thought came to his head. “That fucking bitch,” He said under his breath.

“What was that?” She asked raising an eyebrow.

“Something I need to talk to Celestia about.” Safon said staying behind his words.

Realizing that nothing would get done if they started arguing Twilight just sighed. “Whatever you say.”

Safon checked his wristwatch. “Yes, Yes well anyways what is it that you’re here to help me with anyways?”

Twilight cleared her throat. “Princess Celestia thought it would be best if I was to point you in the right direction,”

“Not even going to bother help me when I get there?” Safon asked annoyed.

Sighing again Twilight looked up at Safon. “As much as I would love to help I have other responsibilities to the town but I can give you a map to the castle at my home.”

“Ok then lead the way,” Twilight just nodded and started walking into town with Safon following closely. As he followed Twilight Safon took a look at the town noticing how it was not as advanced as Canterlot was.While Canterlot had brick roads this place didn’t instead all there were where dirt roads. Also while this town did have electricity (though limited judging by the lack of lights in the houses at this early hour) it had over head wires using old telegraph poles as opposed to Canterlot’s underground wiring. “That looks a little dangerous,” He idely said.

Twilight turned her head back to him. “What?”

“Those wires up there,” He said pointing to the wires. “With about one third of your population that flies in the air overhead wires seem like a bad idea,”

“Oh that, Well I tried to tell them that a couple years ago when they were installing them but they wouldn’t listen, said it was cheaper that way,” She replied with an annoyed tone.

Safon looked up at them again. “I see.”

Eventually they got to a large tree that was hollowed out and had a small sign that read Golden Oak Library. Twilight stopped and took out her keys with her magic, “Well here we are, my home.”

“A library?”

Twilight opened the door “Yes Princess Celestia gave it to me when I moved here, that’s why I can’t help you right now I have to run this place and I don’t trust Spike to do it on his own yet, speaking of which Spike can you come down here please? We have a guest,” she yelled out as she used her magic to turn on the electric lights.

As they walked in Safon looked around the library. It was a standard small city library with many bookshelves filled with many books lining the outer walls, a large open space in the middle with a large wooden horse head in the center, tables and chairs for readers spread throughout the open space, and a door at the back wall likely leading to the living quarters. “I see you have electricity while most of the town doesn’t,” He noted looking at the primitive exposed wiring on the ceiling.

Twilight looked at him “Yeah when we got electricity in town a couple years back all public buildings had it installed first and this being a library is a public building.”

“So,” Safon began as he took a seat a one ot the tables. “How long has electricity existed here?”

“Well,” Twilight replied taking a seat across from him. “It’s been around for about twenty years now but only recently is it being taken seriously. I remember when I was a filly and my father said that electricity was nothing but a cheap parlor trick, guess what he got in the house last year,” She said chuckling to herself. “ And a couple years ago I gave a very convincing argument on why we should have it installed here.”

“I see, and now towns and cities everywhere are getting it installed...”

“Well not exactly. While all the big cities and a few moderately small towns have it there are still a few without it and even then a lot of electricity is only used for street lights, public places, and a few home that were willing to pay for it.”

“I guess I lucked out when the house Fancy Pants gave me already had it installed. If not my experiments would be screwed.”

“What exactly do you need electricity for?” Twilight asked interested.

“One I need it for basic lighting and two I’m literally punching a hole in the fabric of reality! That kind of requires a fuck ton of power!” He said jestering his hands for emphasis.

Twilight just stared at him processing what he just said. “Wait a second. ‘Punch a hole in the fabric of reality’ that sounds extremely dangerous. What if it winds up destroying the fabric of reality?!?” She asked now concerned with what could happen.

Safon gave her a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry I’ve been doing this for over thirty years, I have been to hundreds if not thousands of other dimensions and have found no long lasting effects caused by my machine beyond a microscopic hole. On top of that I’ve found multiple of what me and my brother call ‘Natural holes.’ Which are holes in the fabric of reality that were already there with no signs of being caused by a machine like mine. So no I don’t think I’ll destroy reality.”

Twilight still had a look of uncertainty on her face but realized he had a point. “Are you sure?”

He looked her in the eye and gave her a reassuring smile. “Listen if I thought this would destroy the world I wouldn’t do it, now where is this map you spoke off?”

“Oh yes sorry about that, I have a map of the Everfree Forest in my office. Be right back,” With that Twilight got up out of the chair and headed to the living quarters.

As safon sat and waited for Twilight to return the door opened and dark red unicorn covered in a black tattered and faded cloak with an injured right eye. Loaded down with her saddlebags full of books. Levitating them into a neat stack on a table. Seeing Safon sitting there in the library hardly bothering to react to him with level any shock.

“You’re a newcomer to Ponyville I presume, hardly seen a creature such as yourself around these parts before.” The new arrival said calmly.

Momentarily surprised at her calmness, Safon got up and introduced himself. “Huh normally ponies flip out. Well besides that hello there are you here to see Twilight?”

“Yes forgive me for forgetting my manners, I’m Scarlet an investigative writer just finished up on the Legends of the Everfree Forest. Came here to personally drop off the stock of my latest books for her to sell and loan out.”

A thought occurred to Safon as he heard her words, “‘Legends of the Everfree Forest’? You wouldn’t happen to know how to transverse them would you?”

“Yes actually and most of the ruins inside of it why would you be willing to enter such a dangerous place?” Her voice showing more concern than fear.

“Well you see I have been told that some wizard from long ago had a workshop in a ruin called, ‘The Castle of the Two Sisters’ with work that could be invaluable to me.”

The door to the living quarters opened and Twilight exited levitating a map and being followed by a small dragon. Dressed in an olive tweed three piece suit with breeches instead of pants. “Professor I have the map for you.” She said before looking and seeing Scarlet there with Safon. “Oh Scarlet, I wasn’t expecting you so early. I hope the Professor here didn’t scare you to badly?”

Scarlet smiles slightly, “Not at all rather interesting that he is looking for Starswirl The Bearded’s workshop. That place illuded even my search of the ruins, are you going to accompany him to the ruins Twilight?”

“Wait you’re looking for Starswirl The Bearded’s workshop!?” She said excitedly to Safon. “Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve gotten someone to look after this place if I knew!”

Safon shrugged, “I didn’t even know you were going to help me. Your esteemed Princess decided to call you without me knowing.”

“She may have assumed that you figured that someone would help you on your endeavor.” Twilight replied defending her mentor.

“Yes and we all know that assuming makes an ass out of you and me.” He said with a smirk.

Confused at the saying Twilight glared at him relentlessly. “What does that even mean?!?”

“You tell me you should be the grammar Nazi here.”

Scarlet having enough of them and raised her voice, “Enough stop bickering like children. Professor if you want some help I be more than willing to aid you. If I find anything on Starswirl’s work I will bring you to it later Twilight, fair enough?”

“Aw but it’s fun bickering,” He said receiving a death glare from both of them. “Ok fine. I’ll take you up on your offer Scarlet. I’m ready whenever you are picking up the map from Twilight.”

Twilight continued her glare. “Fine, but I’ll try and find you two later in the day if I find somepony to watch the libary.”

“Sounds good Twilight,” Scarlet said before turning to Safon.“Well shall we? The Everfree Forest isn’t safe at night unless you want a scar like me we need to get moving.”

“That’s sounds like a good idea.” Safon said as he grabbed his crossbow and messenger bag.

Twilight watched as the two left before looking at Spike. “Spike would you please get me some headache elixir? I have a really bad one all of the sudden.”

“Come on just across this bridge Professor and we be able to see the ruins shortly.” Scarlet called across from an old bridge going across a seemingly endless cassem.

Safon was sweating from the extreme humidity of the forest. “Give me a second I’m not as fast as I used to be with this fucking brace on my leg.”

Scarlet yells back, “You better hope some Timberwolves aren't hungry then at your pace!”

“Fuck you! let them come I’ve faced giant monsters made of candy. I can take on whatever is lurking here.” He grumbled as he reached the bridge and started to slowly walk across.

“Then you should get a move on unless you want to be a snack for half the creatures in here. If you keep sweating you're making a dam trail for them to follow. Might as well hang a tasty treat this way sign!”Sarcastically and annoyed at his pace, she told him as he finally made it to the other side. “I don’t want to be in this place again at night a dragon calls the ruins home at night.”

“Like the one at the library?”

“That’s Spike that is a baby, the one here is much larger and the one that nearly killed me. I suggest we keep moving I will leave your ass behind if I have to.”

“I guess the breeches should have gave that away.” He said under his breath. “But if what you say is true we better hurry up and get there. I don’t know if what I have on me can take on a dragon as easily as anything else here.” He said patting his right underarm.

Scarlet sighs,“ It’s just through this fog bank then we can raid the library for any information on his workshop. After that we can just poke around the ruins bindley.”

“Great let’s get this over with.” Safon said in a more enthused tone making his way into the fog.

As they made their way through the fog they got a good look at the ruined castle. It was a large castle reminding Safon of the older castles in Europe. However this one appeared to have more damage to it then what would have occurred from just being abandoned for a thousand years likely from a rather large attack that it never got repaired from.

“Was there a large battle here or something?” He asked idly making his way through the courtyard.

Scarlet thought for a second, “There was the Lunar rebellion that hit this place hard. After the battle it was abandoned to decay as the forest began to darken and become more wild then it was before. Where there once were gentle hills, farms and villages began to become a humid dense forest with several swamps.”

Safon looked around at the damage caused by the attack, “I can see why they left. It would take to long to fix. Easier to build a whole new city then to fix an old castle, less memories there.”

She looks at him surprised at his level of knowledge, “Yes to a certain extent you see the land itself reacted to the betrayal or so the legend goes. Yet the legend of the dragon is much older when the castle fell the dragon came to guard it. They deemed it Starlight Dragon as they were only able to see it at night.”

“Well we better not waste time. I can’t outrun it at this point and I don’t know if I have enough ammo to do anything significant to hard dragon scales.”

Scarlet looked at him puzzled, “Are dragons a problem where you come from too?”

“Well no not anymore. A long time ago in my youth there were a few but let’s just say something big happened that changed quite a few things in my home.but that was a really long time ago and I don’t know how effective my more modern weapons would be.” He told her looking at the front door and opening it.

“Ok then,” She replied getting more uneasy the more he talks about more violent ways of handling the dragon.

Making their way in they looked around at the once great foyer of the castle now reduced to rubble. With many old torn tapestries, ancient flags, discarded and rusted armors, broken stainedglass windows and cobwebs everywhere.

Scarlet started to make her way down one of the corridors.“It’s just through here, be careful the ceiling is fractured and falling apart try not to get killed by a section falling.”

Walking further down the corridor they eventually reached the library filled with dusty and decaying tomes and books. Some covered in rubble and rock others ensnared in spiderwebs and dust, a large desk sits in the center of the room. With several chairs still standing despite the time they have been left to rot.

Safon made his way around the library checking his wristwatch, “Alright then we have about a couple hours before dark. Now Celestia said he used this library so that means depending on his level of laziness, his workshop should be close by so he wouldn’t have to walk that far.”

“Yes I scoured this place before, there is a few towers nearby, but the rubble maybe blocking them off or I haven't found a switch to reveal the door.” Rubbing her head slightly as she looks over a few tomes she left out to read.

“Hmm likely he would have left it relatively easy to find in case Celestia needs him,” Safon pointed out. “So perhaps that tower over there.” He said pointing at the nearest tower through a hole in the ceiling.

She nods and replies, “Then that pile of rubble is what may contain your answers of what you seek.” Levitating some tomes back onto the shelves as she turns to look if it was stable enough to be moved.

They made their way to the entrance to the tower to find it was blocked off by a rather large amount of rubble. Safon looked at this annoyed. “Great, I can see why you never found it.”

“I never thought he would have worked in a tower. I spent my time searching the lower levels for an underground workshop to no success.” Sighing in defeat as her growing annoyance nearly reaching its peak with him indirectly insulting her work.

“Well I don’t know if you know this but an underground lab is a bitch and a half to get in and out of. Being Celestia’s magical adviser he would have to be able to get to her rather quickly.” He said looking over the obstacle.

“Alright lets just get started on moving this. Hopefully this wont cause the ceiling to collapse on us.” Starting to levitate the rock at the top to see if it shifted slightly wishing it would but finding it stable. “Ok its stable lets get to work.”

Sitting there Safon watched as she slowly levitated the rubble piece by piece. Noting the pace she was going at and checking his watch he saw that this would take too long. “Alrighty then this is taking to long.” He announced reaching in his messenger bag and pulling things out.

“What are you proposing to do other then sit and watch I didn't see you helping in any way?” Looking at him as she wipes sweat off her face and away from her scars.

“Well simple.” He said putting a small amount of strange looking clay in the pile “I’m going to blow the fucking thing up.” He announced pulling out a strange device. “We may want to move.” Pointing down the corridor.

Her eyes widen, “Are you insane!?! That could bring everything down on top of us are you trying to kill us!?!”

He shrugged off her concern. “Don’t worry the castle seems sturdy enough and I’ve done this before.”

She sighs, knowing that she worked on cleaning the place up all the time and the place hasn't collapsed before. “Fine but I can teleport to the outside if it does, you’ll only be crushing yourself. Where do we need to go?”

“Eh down the hall and around the corner should do.” He replied making his way down.

Reluctantly flowing behind him, “Alright.”

Now around the corner he put some strange things in his ears and held up the device. “Oh you may want to cover your ears these explosions can be pretty loud.”

“Alright,” She yells back as she sits down putting her hooves over her ears and lowered her head.

“FIRE IN THE HOLE!!!” He yells pressing the button on the device causing the explosives to go off and creating a loud explosion with rock turning to pebbles, shrapnel, and dust.

“Well everything knows we are here now, lets hope the dragon doesn't come looking!” Yelling at him as her ears are ringing and watching the dust start to settle.

“huh I thought that would’ve been bigger,” He said idly seemingly ignoring her. “Oh well I’m going to make my way up whatever’s left of the stairs.”

“I’ll stay here I’m not feeling so good after that, just don't take too long you don't exactly move that fast grandpa.”

Looking up the tower and looking back at her. “Don’t worry I shouldn’t take that long. and don’t worry that ringing should go away in a little while.”

After about an hour of climbing his way through ruined stairs he finally made it to the top where he found an old locked oak door.

“Jackpot” He said to himself excitedly as he picked the lock with a lockpick he brought with him.

When he enters the room a strange feeling of faint disembodied voices speaking to the air almost seeming to be filled with life. Fresh candles lay with a striker nearby and several notes are neatly stacked and weighted down with books old tomes with hardly a web in the room. Several strange devices litter tables, there are with beakers, test tubes, and several decaying experimental elixirs and chemicals. Yet something was off there was fresh paper recent notes and tomes and several blood samples in sealed glass vials. Someone had been there before… and seems to work in secret, the fading sunlight sneaking through a hole in the roof.

Safon took this in and looked at the table lighting some of the candles. “Looks like our dragon friend is real after all.” He continued to look around and noticed that the walls were severely damaged and bowed outward slightly almost like there was an explosion in here. Thinking about the possibilities he heard the voices again and a thought occurred to him. “Wait a minute, how far did he get in those experiments?” He asked himself.

He reached into his messenger bag and pulled out some equipment that looked to be cobbled together from a combination of both 70’s and 80’s electronics. As he activated it and put on the headphones the voices became clearer.

“Oh, Please! What exactly do you think you’re going to do to stop me? I have magic, and you have nothing!”

“I am lord Tierk, and I will take what should have been mine long ago.”

“And Scorpan, if by midnight I do not have a fourth pony, a head will roll.”

The first voice sounded familiar but the others didn’t. However the voices themselves weren't important to him, but the fact they were there was. “Looks like he got a little further than originally thought.” With the proof that he could get home with the magic here he put the equipment down. Then started to look around for any place the original notes would be, when he spotted a chest sitting under the desk. After picking the lock on it he opened it to find an old tome with many papers added in. Skimming through it he found it to be just what he was looking for. “HA jackpot, now to find Scarlet and get the hell out of here.” He said not paying attention to the fact that it was dark outside now due to the candles lighting the room, leaving them burning.

“Hey Scarlet, I found what I needed lets hurry up and get out of here before the dragon notices I raided it’s lair.” He yelled out as he entered the library.

A response sent a chill down his spine a deep growl came from a large dark red colored blob laying in the middle of the room. Standing over him by a few feet its teal eyes snapped open just as fast as it jaws at it lunged at him.

“Oh shit!” He yelled in a panic as he quickly got out of the way and quickly getting his crossbow. Before the creature could respond he got a shot of and hit it in what appeared to be it’s wing. It’s scaled body becoming more visible in the moonlight.

It let out a roar in frustration as it swipes at his weapon with its claws trying to pin down its prey with a pounce. Using his crossbow as a shield Safon was able to get it away from him at the cost of his crossbow. With no weapon he began to run at a speed that seemed to surprise it. It roared and blasted fire at his heels and flying to chase him eventually ending up in the entryway where it cut off his escape with a wall of flames.

“So that's how you want to play?” He said to it as he reached in his coat and threw a couple throwing knives at it’s wings again causing it to fall from the sky.Roars in pain looking at the gashes and tears in its wings lunging on him pinning him down. His shoulders held tightly against the ground, as it growls ready to claim its prey’s life.

”Sorry pal I didn’t want to do this but you give me no choice.” With that he reached his left hand under his right arm and pulled out a large silver and pearl revolver. Holding it point blank to it’s chest he pulled the trigger and shot it. The beast roared loudly moving off it pry trying to run holding it wound till it collapsed mere feet from him.

Twilight having finally got Rarity to watch over the library made her way into the Forest and into the castle’s courtyard around nightfall. When she was about halfway through the courtyard she heard a loud bang followed by a dragon’s roar. Hearing this she quickly bolted into the castle to find Safon leaning over Scarlet’s body, surrounded by a small trickle of blood coming from her and forming a small puddle beneath her.

“WHAT HAPPENED HERE?!?” She yelled in great shock.

The yelling pulled Safon out of his shock and he looked over at Twilight. “Twilight good there you are, I found what I was looking for when this dragon attacked me. It eventually pinned me down, then I pulled out my gun and shot it. When it collapsed it turned into Scarlet.” He said slightly panicking.

Twilight looked over her with great concern. “Is she okay?!?”

Safon took a deep breath, “I didn’t aim anywhere important but we have to get her to a hospital now!”

“How do you expect us to get her to the hospital fast enough!?!” She yelled at him.

“You can teleport right?” She nodded, “Good then teleport us there NOW!!”

Twilight looked unsure, “I don’t know If I can I’ve never teleported more than two ponies before.”

“Just do It!” He demanded.

At his command she used her magic causing a bright flash.

Nurse Redheart was beginning to leave she said goodnight to Doctor Stable. When she got into the lobby there was suddenly a bright flash and in the aftermath was Twilight, The creature from the news and to her shock an unconscious unicorn bleeding profusely from her under her upper shoulder starting to pool beneath her as smaller trickles of blood drip from her forehooves.

“This unicorn needs help now.” Safon yelled out to her.

Redheart looked at the unicorn with shock before running back and returning with a couple helpers and a gurney. “What happened to her I’ve never seen a wound like this before?”

“No time to explain just stop the bleeding and DON’T try and remove the lead from her!!” Safon told her in a serious tone.

Nodding Redheart and the helpers took her back to the operating room.

Sighing Safon plopped into one chairs and sat in one of the waiting chairs and started to light a cigarette.

Twilight took a seat next to him and glared at him. “Now that she’s in good hooves, would you please explain to me what exactly did you do to her?!?” She demanded.

Safon knowing he had to fess up decided to tell the truth. “Well you see in my world we have no magic, so to compensate we had to develop different weapons such as a firearm which uses explosive pressure to fire a small lead projectile.”

“That doesn’t mean you have to hurt anypony!!” Twilight yelled shocked at how calmly he was putting this.

Safon got up and stomped his cigarette out. “Listen this is the last time I'm telling you, I shot her it in self-defence! She appeared to turn into a mindless dragon and attacked me. I HAD NO CHOICE! Really she’s lucky because a .44 magnum, that could have blown her head off. Now if you want to know her side ask her, but me however I got what I needed so if you need me I have to have a little chat with Celestia!” With that he left the hospital leaving Twilight alone to think about what he said and what to ask Scarlet when she recovered.

Author's Note

Collab with StarlightDragon