The Battlemage

"A lovely day in Ponyville isn't it girls?" Rarity said alongside Spike, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash.

"Sure is, mighty fine job Rainbow." Applejack answered.

"Thanks, but since we're having a cloudless day today, we'll be having a mean rainstorm in a week." Rainbow said in her usual confidence.

"It's so nice of Twilight to invite us over for dinner." Fluttershy said, changing the subject

"Yeah ever since we came back from that weird dimension, she's been cherishing everything she laid her eyes on." Spike said.

"Say, aren't you supposed to be helping her cook?" Applejack asked.

"I told her I would help but she said i'd been through enough and that I could use a break. So she sent me to invite you girls." Spike said.

"Wait where's Pinkie Pie?" Rainbow asked

"She was already at the library when I left and said she'd help twilight co-" Spike said

"WHAT IN EQUESTRIA?!?" Applejack interrupted as the other turned to face Twilight in a duel with somepony... and losing

“TWILIGHT!” The mane five and Spike yelled in unison as they rushed over to Twilight’s side as she fell to the ground with her horn steaming.

“Are you alright sugar cube?” Apple jack asked

“Your horn is steaming! What magic did he use on you?” Rarity added

"Oh Twilight, I should have never made you accept! I'm so sorry!" Pinkie exclaimed.

"Pinkie what did you make her do?" Rainbow Dash yelled

"Twilight, please forgive me! I never knew this would happen!" Pinkie begged as her mane deflated slightly.

Twilight sat up confused, rubbing her hoof to her head in pain and looked toward the Unicorn across from her.  “H…how did you do that?” The stallion across from her had a pale grayish blue mane with a pale white coat. He even had a beard similar to that of Starswirl the Bearded but very much shorter. He put on his wizard hat while his robe was still on him with soft blues and purple aurora. Small twinkles within to show the stars. He had a gaze upon his face which showed nothing but hatred, but never any rage.

The stallion trotted forward a few steps and spoke, “I challenged you to a duel of magic, you agreed, I blasted a beam of energy, it met with yours, and I won.”

“But… how were you able to beat an alicorn in a magical duel? You’re just a unicorn?” Twilight asked, still dazed from the defeat.

“Though you may be an alicorn who also represents magic, you still have a lot to learn. Now if you excuse, me I must be off to Canterlot.” The Battlemage said before turning and trotting toward train station.

“Now hold on a second, Bub!” Rainbow dash had flown in front of the mage and exclaimed, “So you just hurt our friend and you think you can just walk away?” She huffed.

“Essentially, yes.”

“What in Equestria, makes you think you can do that?” An aggravated Rarity asked.

“I challenged her to a duel, and she said yes. No laws state that dueling someone with their permission and winning is against the law. So long as nopony is fatally hurt, permanently disabled, or killed you have nothing against me in the courtroom. As far as I can see, she is just hurt from the duel she accepted.”

“He’s right girls, as long as I accepted the duel. We have nothing agains- OWW!” Twilight had a headache and speaking made things nothing but worse.

“Twilight you should just get some rest for now. You do seem badly hurt.” Fluttershy said with the softest of voices.

“Yeah you are pretty hurt, plus you’re a princess! Surely he broke some law?” Rainbow said ecstatically hoping for an answer.

“I assure you, I have not cast any spell to permanently hurt her in any physical way, and have not broken any laws involving her title. Just a few good night's of sleep and she should be fine within a week.” The Mage cleared his throat, still with his angry grump of a look, and continued; “Now if you excuse me, I must be off visiting Canterlot.” He bowed toward twilight and said, “Have a nice slumber your majesty, and this won’t be the last you will hear of me.” He stood up and trotted toward the train station before being stopped by a certain voice.

“Wait!” Twilight asked. He turned to gaze upon the sitting princess with his usual angry and grumpy face.

“Yes?” He asked.

“How did you beat me? I’ve been practicing and learning magic my whole life, on top of that I have Alicorn magic which is far more powerful than any unicorn. What did you use? Was it some dark magic? Or perhaps some magical trinket?” She pleaded in pure confusion as her friends comforted her while other ponies stood nearby in confusion and fear of what they had just witnessed. Their dear princess and librarian, known for being adept in magic had been defeated in a duel by this strange unicorn.

He trotted toward her only to be stopped by a nearby Applejack and Rainbow Dash which stood between him and Twilight. Their eyes were filled with nothing but hate toward this wizard who harmed their close friend as they returned his gaze back to him. He stared at them for a moment then turned his gaze back to Twilight and spoke, “While I will not explain my victory I will address two things. First off Trinkets are for those either too weak to try hard or disabled in some way, so they use enchantments. Secondly, dark magic is for fools to blind to see that it never ends well. Now if you excuse me I have taken too much of your time.”

With a final bow he told her to rest well and apologized too all her friends for all the time he had taken. No matter how apologetic he spoke, he never changed the anger he in his expression. With that he left a very confused group of friends along with the entire town in the center of Ponyville. He was off to Canterlot, to meet another.

Two, to be exact.