Burnice was both surprised but calm too, staring at the bloodied corpse laying before her, she stared intently at it. The creature was possibly taller than her and any other pony, but shorter than Celestia or Luna. The creature wore a light brown vest that was damaged, but it seems the damage was there longer before the battle that occurred here. The vest was accompanied with a shirt that was the color of blood… strangely the shirt was like this color already and not because of the wound. The creature also wore boots with straps and wore mahogany gloves, with the pants being a light gray. Out of all of this, the creature wore a headband, with the colors similar to that of a phoenix. Burnice stood still, not out of fear… but out of curiosity, however the silence broke when the creature spoke. “Are you… are you my reaper?”

Burnice didn’t knew what the creature meant, but it was surely delirious from blood loss. However, Burnice now knew the creature was sentient and could speak. With this, Burnice’s thoughts were jumbled up… if this thing did caused the fire in Sweet Apple Acres, and the destruction in the ruined castle… then… why would it do something like that? But this creature was going to die, either from blood loss or the wrath of Celestia… still… seeing this thing die alone… reminded Burnice how she felt as a filly. When her father disappeared and her mother dying in the hospital, before her very eyes. The loneliness… the anger from doing nothing… it was something she never wanted to happen again, not to her or anypony else. This was the same like before… so was it out of pity… no, it wasn’t pity, she simply saw herself within the creature. Burnice had no knowledge of using healing magic, or was an expert in any other kind of magic… well, except for fire-based magic, she was a pro at that. As night was approaching with the sun setting, Burnice used a simple fire spell, big enough to light her surroundings and not get anything to catch on fire… but something happened. As she brought a small flame from her horn, a small ember from the flame slowly drifted toward the pile of books surrounding the creature… and lit up. In a sudden blaze of fire, it grown to a full on inferno in mere seconds. “NO, I DIDN’T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN!” shouted Burnice, trying to stop the flames.

Doing her best to stomp out the flames, Burnice was afraid that the whole building be caught on fire, even thought it’s mostly made of stone. Unable to stop the flames, Burnice sat in horror to what she done… until she felt something. Looking down at her hoof was a part of the creature, clutching at her hoof. Burnice tried remembering and this part of the body was called a hand if memory served correctly, except it having four fingers like minotaurs, it had five instead. The hand at first was cold… then warm… and then… began to twitch. Burnice was frightened by this sudden movement and tried to move, but the hand tightened it’s grip on her hoof… making her unable to escape. Suddenly the creature began to twitch, resulting it to stand to a sitting position, whilst still engulfed in flames. The creature stared at her, and for a second Burnice thought it was smiling at her. Thinking it was planning to kill her here and now, Burnice shuddered at the thought... but looking carefully the smile was not a smile of blood-lust… but of gratitude. “Thanks for the pick-me-up. I swore I thought I go down like this,” said the creature, grinning.

“The what-me-up?” said Burnice, confused by the spectacle.

Burnice didn’t realize it but, the hand on her hoof was suddenly warmer than usual… it felt relaxing. The heat the creature gave off was a calming and soothing feeling, that Burnice completely forgotten that the creature was on fire… well, almost forgotten. “WAIT! YOUR ON FIRE! HOW CAN YOU BE SO CALM ABOUT THAT!” shouted Burnice, trying her best to put out the flames with her other hoof.

The creature simply chuckled, and with a flick of his hand the flames doused themselves. Then Burnice noticed that the wound on the creature’s torso had nearly healed itself… but what caused the wound to heal itself though? “What happened to your wound? It was so big, it was literally a hole in your body,” said Burnice, poking where the wound was.

“About that… it may have to do with my genes. You see, I have the ability to manipulate fire, which includes self healing too… oh I almost forgot to introduce myself,” said the creature. “The name’s Atlas, Atlas Gartahl Opus Viz’Nul Zon.”

Burnice was a bit taken back by how calmly this thing called Atlas was talking to her, but she had some strange moments herself. Responding back to the creature or Atlas this case, she too introduced herself. “Well that’s a mouthful to remember. Anyway… my name is Burnice, Burnice Bright,” said Burnice.

“It’s good to meet you… by the way, why are you here anyway? It’s not weird for someone to wander in an abandoned castle, but I was wondering why?” asked Atlas.

“Well… it’s just that something happened in my friend’s farm, and we been following a trail of clues until we ended up here. Right now my friends and I are looking for the creature that done the same mess here and at my friend’s farm… You wouldn’t know anything… would you?” said Burnice, knowing already who done it.

Atlas stayed their frozen, in fear of that his been caught red handed. Without a chance of escaping, and facing a foe with unknown abilities, Atlas was in a dead-end. Not only that but, Atlas can’t move or even run because, even though his wound his healed, any sudden movements might reopen the wound or worse. Staring in the eyes of both his savior and captor, Atlas had only one option left in his arsenal… plead. “WAIT I CAN EXPLAIN! I WAS ATTACKED BY THOSE WOLF THINGS AND I NEEDED TO DEFEND MYSELF BACK THERE. IT’S THE SAME IN THIS CASTLE TOO! I’M INNOCENT I SWEAR, I EVEN SAVED A PONY WEARING A HAT!” said Atlas, nearly opening his own wound from speaking so quickly.

Seeing Atlas in pain, and how nice and friendly his been this far… Burnice had a hard time thinking his the one who really did cause that fire. “Wait, did you say a pony wearing a hat just now?” said Burnice. “I think that pony was one of my friends.”

“Really?...Well I urhmmm… I wasn’t heartless enough to leave her in the cold like that without a blanket or something,” said Atlas.

Seeing how something this powerful… was flustered by the simple question that Burnice asked made her wonder if Atlas was a real threat… other than his strange ability to use fire as a source of healing. Deciding to help Atlas up, Burnice moves underneath Atlas’s arm, so he can stand up. “Might I ask but… what are you?” asked Burnice, curious to Atlas’s origins.

“Well… have you ever heard of a human?” asked Atlas.

After the two exchanged conversations, about who they are, their races, their interests and more, they trotted pass the giant timberwolf corpse, and made their way to the castle entrance. Reaching the entrance of the castle where everypony else was, Burnice wondered how everypony else would react to the strange two legged creature called, Atlas. Hearing the voices of Burnice’s friends, Atlas recognizes one of them being the pony he saved at the apple orchard. Taking a turn to a wide room with several hallways which was the main lobby of the ruined castle, in the center was Twilight and the others who spoke to each other about what they found. Deciding to wait to see what they were saying before introducing Atlas, Burnice and Atlas wait at the hallway which led to the library.

“So did you find anything girls?” asked Twilight.

“No, nothing Twi,” said Applejack.

“We had no luck on finding anything either,” said Rarity. “I did however found some interesting gems in some drawers though.”

“All me and Pinkie found were some pieces of what looked like the remains of a timberwolf,” said Spike, who had the arm of a timberwolf clutched in his claw.

“So is that what does wooden wolf-things are called, timberwolves?” said Atlas, whispering.

Burnice nodded to Atlas’s question, confirming the name of the creatures that dwell within the Everfree. From what Atlas has told Burnice, it sounded that he was innocent and to why the timberwolves relentlessly chased him to Sweet Apple Acres, all the way to the ruined castle was still a mystery. After a few minutes of waiting, Burnice decided it was best to reveal Atlas to her friends. Letting Atlas lean against the wall in the hallway they were in, Burnice tells Atlas to wait here while she introduces him to her friends. “Girls, I’m back! Did I miss anything?” asked Burnice, pretending she just arrived.

“BURNICE!” said everypony, rushing toward her.

“Burnice, where were you?! When I was busy looking through some books, you disappeared! I thought that creature might of gotten you,” said Twilight, worried.

“Speaking of creature… DID YOU FIND ANYTHING!” said Rainbow, muzzle in front of Burnice.

“Settle down Rainbow, we don’t even know if what caused all this is still here,” said Applejack.

“Well… about that…” said Burnice, eying the hallway still.

Everypony noticed Burnice still staring where she came from and followed what she was looking at… that’s when they saw Atlas. Standing on two legs, one hand on his stomach, the other against the wall for support. Burnice wasn’t sure how everypony imagined Atlas to be, but to their eyes he was a mystery. Atlas hair looked like it was on fire, when it wasn’t, some spots on his body still had fire on him from Burnice’s flame… but out of all of this… what really spooked everypony, was the large tooth of the giant timberwolf in Atlas’s hand, as he tightly clutched it tight in his hand as a trophy. Slowly stepping back, out of fear, suspicion, or simply curiosity, the only two ponies who didn’t step away from Atlas was Burnice, and Applejack, who recognized him instantly. “WAIT! Your that thing back at my family’s farm last night!” said Applejack, confirming her memories.

“Wait, you remember… well I guess that rock didn’t hit you hard on the head after all,” said Atlas.

Before anypony could respond, a rainbow trail zooms pass Burnice and Applejack toward Atlas… where Rainbow was currently strangulating Atlas with her hooves… sadly this was ineffective. After Fluttershy and Pinkie got Rainbow off, well all Pinkie was doing was petting Rainbow like a cat. “Rainbow, why did you that for!” said Rarity. “It’s rude to treat… well whatever this thing may be.”

“Don’t worry… didn’t really feel anything,” said Atlas. “Though the sudden rush attack was surprising though.”

“BUT DIDN’T YOU HEAR HIM, HE HIT APPLEJACK WITH A ROCK!” shouted Rainbow, struggling to get free.

“I DID NOT!” said Atlas, retorted back.

“His right. What Atlas mean is that when he saw Applejack, a rock hit hear in the head when she tried to take cover,” said Burnice, retelling the story.

“FROM WHAT!?” shouted Rainbow.

“From a timberwolf,” said Applejack, remembering everything last night.

Once Atlas, Applejack, and Burnice told each of their point of view from yesterday and today’s events, Twilight concluded that the timberwolves must have felt threatened from Atlas’s sudden appearance and targeted him as a danger toward them. Putting that as evidence on whether Atlas was innocent or not, he was still a threat from the aftermath of his “self-defense”. Placing a magical restriction on his hands and legs, Twilight teleports herself, her friends, and the strange being called Atlas to the one pony who can help, but since the distance was far and it was midnight already, she teleported them all back to her library.

Ponyville, Golden Oaks Library, 12:00pm.

“The crudberry was that… oh I feel sick,” said Atlas. Since Atlas has never met or encounter magical beings often or ever, the sudden teleportation caused Atlas body to be in agony… in short, he felt as if someone punched him in the gut.

“Oh my, are you okay,” said Fluttershy, kneeling to check Atlas’s condition.

“I’m… alright,” said Atlas, wheezing. “Just… give me a minute...”

“Oh… if that’s what you want,” said Fluttershy.

“It seems Atlas isn’t used to being effected by magic,” said Twilight, intrigued.

“Well at least his in pain, that’s all I need,” said Rainbow, leaving.

“Hold on Rainbow, where you going?” said Applejack, stopping her.

“Look, Twilight got him in restraints so there’s no need for me to be here… Besides, once we go and show Celestia this... thing, I want to see her decision on what we do to it,” said Rainbow, staring at Atlas. Rainbow stared at Atlas, it wasn’t that she hated Atlas… she just didn’t trust him.

Leaving, Rainbow flew away to the sky, however she wasn’t the only one to just leave. After she left, Pinkie and Fluttershy left, with Rarity being the last to leave. The only ones left were Twilight, Burnice, Applejack, and Spike. “Spike, could you get us some tea, please,” said Twilight.

Nodding, Spike ran to the kitchen to prepare some tea. Once the three ponies helped Atlas to a seat, they all sat in the library. Once Spike returned to the library with the tea, he sat beside Twilight. “Applejack, shouldn’t you head back to tell your folks your fine. You wouldn’t want to make them worry about you,” said Twilight, sipping her tea.

“I would, but I want to know why… this thing came to my farm,” said Applejack.

“I got a name you know,” said Atlas, having difficulty moving with the restraints on. “It’s called Atlas.” Atlas moved both his hands up near his face, and moved two of his fingers on each hand in a movement unfamiliar to the ponies.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean any harm,” said Applejack, apologizing.

“It’s fine, but I don’t think that rainbow-haired friend of yours was happy when she saw me… What was her deal anyway?” asked Atlas.

“Rainbow’s a bit… protective. She is the element of loyalty after all,” said Twilight.

“Loyalty? Elements?” said Atlas, confused.

After a long discussion about where Atlas was, their leaders, and what role Twilight and her friends had, Atlas now was sure he was in another realm. In return Atlas told them a little about himself, and a little of his world. Understanding Atlas’s situation, his in an unknown land, with zero knowledge at all about this strange land called, Equestria.

“Huh… this actually reminds me of something similar in my world. Where I come from we have these things called ‘Element Gems’. There are at least ten people who can use these artifacts, and they’re led by my doppleganger,” said Atlas. “His name is Animatorsnake.”

“Element Gems you say… I love to see your world, and maybe both our worlds can make contact,” said Twilight, imagining the idea.

“That wouldn’t be a smart idea. A world full of talking ponies, meeting mine… well, you’d be all dead in seconds. I’m not saying your incapable and all… but there are some things that you wouldn’t want to encounter where I’m from,” said Atlas.

“How about we have a ‘normal’ conversation, and not one about other worlds,” said Applejack.

“Right right,” said Twilight. “Say Atlas, what kind of profession do you do?”

“I’m a mercenary, I either do jobs which require me to take things, protect things… or mostly, kill,” said Atlas, blatantly.

Applejack dropped her cup of tea, as it shattered on the floor. While Spike cleaned it up, Twilight asked another question that’s related to Atlas’s job. “You-u-u-u… ki-ki-ki-kill, as a part of y-y-your work!?” said Twilight, shaking.

“Yeah, what’s wrong with… oh...” said Atlas. From what Twilight told Atlas, Equestria is a land of harmony and peace… someone like Atlas saying that he kills for a living, is similar to him saying his some kind of monster… which in this case he is. Immediately thinking of excuse of what he said, Atlas says who he kills are always people who are bad. “Now hold on, who I k… ahem, take down are mostly people who’ve done bad things. I’d never hurt someone good, never.” This was a lie, Atlas has killed someone good, well maybe not kill someone good, more like injured them… painfully.

“I wouldn’t blame ya Atlas,” said Burnice. “You’d lived somewhere that hardly sounds safe at all. You said that before you came here, you were in a continent called, Coreronia. This continent you mention is similar size to Equestria except it’s more of a giant desert wasteland with small different environment zones instead right?”

“Yep, I was on a mission but was shortly betrayed… until I somehow ended up here in a portal when I found this little trinket,” said Atlas. Reaching to his pocket, Atlas wanted to show the trinket he found back at that strange looking room with runes and such… except… the pocket was empty. Checking his other pockets and his pouch… Atlas didn’t had it with him, it could be possible he dropped it, but it was in his hand when he was teleported into Equestria. “BY THE DEITIES DAMMIT, DON’T TELL ME I DROPPED IT!”

“So you came here through teleportation, with the help of a trinket?” said Twilight. “Might I ask… but what did this trinket look like?

“Oh… well let me remember,” said Atlas, going through the details. After carefully describing the trinket, it had six symbols etched on it, and the middle symbol of the trinket had a big star and smaller stars surrounding it. After finish explaining the trinket, Atlas notices that the symbol on Twilight’s flank is the same symbol that was on the trinket. “Like your tattoo… WAIT A MINUTE!”

“You mean my cutie mark?” said Twilight, confirming the similarity of her cutie mark and the symbol on the trinket. “If my cutie mark was on that trinket as well as my friends cutie marks… then that must mean that portal was intentionally meant to send anypony to our world… But why would our cutie marks be on that trinket?”

“Don’t ask me, I’m the victim here don’t forget that,” said Atlas.

“Still, you did cause some damage to my farm. I can’t simply let you go willy nilly like that,” said Applejack.

“True true… though I was hoping you let me go. Some people consider me to be… hot,” said Atlas, making a pun.

Burnice giggles getting the joke, but everyone else simply stares at Atlas. Frowning that nobody except Burnice got his joke, Atlas dropped the subject. “Well anyway… where do I sleep by the way?” asked Atlas.

“Oh right, I completely forgot about that. Well… since your supposed to be accused of property damage, and I placed those restraints so you don’t run or do anything without my permission,” said Twilight, trying to sound superior.

“You know I can tell that your trying to intimidate me… you know that right?” said Atlas, staring at Twilight.

Twilight kept quiet to herself, on how embarrassing of an attempt she tried. Continuing with where Atlas will stay the night, Applejack decides to return back to the farm. “Well I got to go. Thanks for letting me stay Twilight, see you tomorrow,” said Applejack. “Goodnight Burnice, Spike, you too Atlas. It was a pleasure meeting you and… thank you for saving me back then.”

Atlas made a clicking sound with his tongue to signify him saying “No problem” back toward AJ. Once she left, Twilight led Atlas to the downstairs area of the library/tree. Placing a ward around Atlas, and giving him a sleeping bag to stay in, Atlas will stay here until the sun rises. Before Twilight left, Burnice decides to have a small private chat with Atlas. “You sure you’ll be okay down there Burnice?” asked Twilight.

“Don’t Twilight, I’ll be fine. His not that dangerous,” said Burnice.

“Now that’s an understatement. I use fire as a healing supplement, if that ain’t dangerous then you have a strange way of defining the difference between what is dangerous, and what isn’t,” said Atlas.

Burnice laughed at Atlas’s funny response, as Twilight decided that Atlas isn’t so dangerous… well, sort of. Going to bed, Burnice and Atlas talk alone, underneath the library. Continuing with their conversations back at the castle, Burnice talks about how she met Twilight and her search for her father. “That’s a very honorable thing your doing, not a lot of people know about their own parents,” said Atlas.

“You mean ponies,” said Burnice, correcting Atlas.

“That too,” said Atlas. From what Atlas now knows, some words used in Equestria are used differently. For example, sometimes instead of using somebody, ponies say somepony, unless they are describing someone or thing that is a non-pony creature. Then in that case, it’s okay to use the term body for any of these words. “I myself am actually trying to find someone...”

“Really, who?” asked Burnice.

Taking a deep sigh, Atlas recalls what he remembers from his memories as a baby. “A long time ago… there used to be a mighty race known as, The Phoenix Tribe. Those were my people, my father was part of that race… whilst my mother was of another race. I been trying to search for my people, and return the glory of the Phoenix Tribe once more… That’s why I became a mercenary,” said Atlas. “I looked far and wide, for my people… but I haven’t a clue to where they may be.”

When hearing the mention of this ancient civilization, Burnice wonders if Atlas’s race has any connection to the gigantic phoenix, mentioned by Twilight. As time passed, and the night getting darker and darker, Burnice decides to go to sleep, but before she does, she asks Atlas one final question.

“Atlas… there’s something I need to ask you,” said Burnice.

“Yeah… what is it?” asked Atlas.

“…What do you think of our world?” asked Burnice.

“It’s okay… might be better than my home,” said Atlas. “Though, it’s tad bit boring here and there.”

“I suppose so… goodnight Atlas,” said Burnice. Leaving the basement, Burnice gave Atlas the wrong question, she wanted to ask him about the giant phoenix… but Burnice felt that asking him that would just burden him in his search of his lost tribe. Heading to her own room, Atlas sleeps soundly… or at least tries to. Atlas has entered a world of strange equine creatures… and more… what sort of fate awaits him with their leaders.

“For a race of ponies… I find it hard to get mad at them at all,” thought Atlas.

That night elsewhere, Canterlot, Canterlot Castle, Celestia’s Tower.

Celestia, who was busy that night with working with some more scrolls sent from her advisers to work… received a scroll from her apprentice. Opening the scroll to read it’s contents… only gave Celestia more worry than comfort. Written in the scroll, only made Celestia’s fears she had from the dream or vision she had last night, come to fruition. As it states on the scroll it says…

Dear Princess Celestia,

Recently, my friends and I have discovered a strange being, that bares clothing that is both unknown and strange than anything I’ve seen. We found the being in the old castle within the Everfree Forest, and with it… a very disturbing sight. Apparently, the being says it’s from another world, and landed into ours when it stepped into some sort of portal mechanism. Landing in the Everfree Forest last night, it threatened the surrounding wildlife, causing the creatures of the Everfree to attack… it. It goes by the name of Atlas, and from what I can understand, it was simply trying to defend itself… that is understandable, but from what we seen it… done, it may be too dangerous to allow to wander around. Not only that, but it caused countless number of property damage. I have kept Atlas in a ward underneath my library, he will be properly treated and brought to you tomorrow. I hope you will give a swift and just action toward him.

From yourapprentice the princess of friendship, Twilight Sparkle

P.S. The being, Atlas, has a strange ability to use fire, and weapons that are unknown to us. I would ask from refraining from using any magic that is fire-based in the future around him, please.

Taking in her apprentice’s letter to account, Celestia made sure to put any anti-fire wards in the court room. Taking a deep breath, Celestia ordered a guard to call her sister, Luna to her chambers. After several minutes later, Luna entered her sister’s room, both with worry and elegance for being a princess of Equestria. “What is wrong my sister? Why have you called me from my nightly duties?” asked Luna.

“Luna...” said Celestia, turning to face her. “It’s about my dream from yesterday.”

Immediately, Luna stood by her sister’s side. Checking the letter sent from Twilight, Luna shows an expression of fear, and anger. “So… your vision has finally come to fruition. What should we do?” asked Luna.

“What we need to do… is make sure this ‘thing’ doesn’t cause any further future harm to our ponies. Luna, I want you to place extra guards in Canterlot, and place some of your ‘special’ guards into Ponyville. I want you to keep a very close eye on this Atlas character,” said Celestia.

“And you my sister? What will you be doing?” asked Luna.

Stepping outside to the balcony, Celestia stares into the endless night. Still staring into the sky, Celestia answers her sister’s question. “What I must do… is find out this creature’s true intentions,” said Celestia. Forming from her horn is a small wisp of smoke, then forming into a blazing ball of fire. The heat radiating with such power, is close to that of the sun, a miniature sun. “Even… if I must burn away every ounce of life out of it.”

Author's Note

Seems Celestia has taken action... I think?