It was just a little past noon when Mystogan finally made it to the entrance of Ponyville. After picking a few herbs and plants up along the way of course. More research material for potentially new alchemy! He pulls off his hood, that long straight mane falling back to the sides of his head which seem to stay naturally parted in the middle. Probably because he tied it back so often it just trained itself to do that. He stood there for moment. He had to admit, he was a bit nervous. After all, it was a new town. That meant new faces as well. He takes in a deep breath and lets it back out before nodding to himself. He puts his hood back up on second thought.

“Maybe...I should not show my face just yet. But this town looks like a good place to start gathering information for the great library back home. But first…”

His stomach starts rumbling as he was hungry..again. He had already finished off the soup his mother had given him on his way here. And he is a big stallion and loved to eat. So starting off in this town was a good idea. He could find a temporary place to stay, get some food and record the things he needed to in the many blank books he kept in his void satchel. He nods to himself and starts to make his way into the town. Little did he know that his appearance was going to cause quite a commotion once one pony laid eyes on him.

The slate gray mountain size of a stallion took his first step into Ponyville. His sky blue eyes shifting as the first few ponies come into view once several buildings were out of his way. With every step of the way, his armor clanked lightly and his cloak kept most of everything hidden since it draped over his front and there wasn’t much of a breeze at the moment. It was at that moment one of the citizens saw Mystogan coming into the town and dropped all her bags in complete shock. Her eyes widened with both awe and a bit of fear as she saw the giant making his way to her. He had seen she dropped her things and was only coming over to help her pick them up. Once he gets over to her, her heart was pounding heavily as she back into the building she was walking by on her way home. Mystogan smiled warmly under his hood as he began to pick up the food and other items and places them back in the bags. She watches his every move, the mare still on edge by the sight of this super-sized stallion. His armor wasn’t really helping the situation either thanks to it’s design. Once he finishes getting everything in the bags., He picks them up and holds them out back to the mare who was shaking like a leaf in the wind.

“Here you are, ma’am. Sorry if I startled you.”

The mare suddenly screamed as she saw him hold out her bags to her, thinking he was going to grab her or hurt her. The bags fall back to the ground as he staggers back in surprise. He places his hands to his ears to cover them while closing one eye in annoyance. He watches her grab her things and run off as fast as she could while screaming.

“HEEEEELP! HE’S GOING TO EAT ME!!!”

Mystogan actually felt a little offended by what she screamed out as she ran away from him. He responds to her.

“I will not! How dare you think I eat other ponies!”

He shouted, which caught the attention of a few more ponies who gazed at the armored giant. They suddenly screamed. Others came out to see what the commotion was, they screamed too. They all began to run away and retreat into their homes or any building that would let them in. Mystogan blinked a few times and sighed to himself, only making his way further into the town.

Once he got to the town square, he looked around to find that there was nopony out and about. News of his arrival had already spread it seemed. He thought he was alone at this point until he heard hoofsteps approaching him from behind at a fast pace. He turns to see a group of six ponies staring him down...or rather up with glares. Mystogan’s eyes fell on the one up front first. She’s a lavender colored unicorn with dark purple eyes, she wore a short black skirt and a clean buttoned-up white shirt that hugged her body nicely. She didn’t look too athletic though. More like a pony who spent her time hitting the books rather than the gym.

The one next to her was a rather curvy but beautiful white-coated unicorn with a purple mane and tail that looked like it was kept nearly twenty-four seven. Her sapphire blue eyes were absolutely marvelous to stare at and her fashion sense was extremely posh. She wore a pure white dress that flowed all the way down just above her knees, though the top hugged her figure quite nicely. Which revealed the softness of her form as well. Clearly, she was a pony of first-class living.

His gaze then shifted to a cyan blue pegasus with a rainbow colored mane and tail. He had certainly never seen anything like that where he was from. He was even more impressed with how athletic she looked. Noticing a fair bit of muscle in both her legs and arms. But also still remaining soft in all the right spots as well. Her type of clothing seemed to be more tomboyish than the others. A black denim jacket with a white tub top and knee length denim shorts that hugged her hips and legs.

The next one he’d lay eyes on, however, definitely had more muscle than the previous mare. Her coat was orange and her mane and tail were a golden yellow. She had adorable freckles on her cheeks, even though she was glaring at him, he thought she was still pretty cute.Her emerald eyes were very lovely as well. And the brown stetson that rested upon her head, the red flannel shirt, and the denim short she wore definitely indicated she was a hard-working pony who wasn’t afraid to get rough and dirty.

The next one he turned his eyes to was a rather adorable looking yellow pegasus who tried to glare at him, but was more intimidated by his size than anything. She was just as soft looking as the white unicorn from earlier. But her clothing style seemed more...simple. A green sweater and a pair of light blue denim shorts. It suited her though. Her cyan eyes and pink mane and tail definitely added to her cuteness.

And finally, his eyes dropped down to a rather pleasantly plump and energetic pink mare. Judging by the smell he was getting from her, she got those curves from her consumption of sweets. And they definitely treated her well. Her clothing was very colorful and cheery. She wore a light blue and yellow t-shirt and a skirt with the same exact colors which was also quite frilly. She seemed like the kind of mare who liked to throw parties and just have fun all around.

Little did Mystogan know that all his assumptions and studying of these six were right on the nose. His train of thought was broken once he heard the lavender mare speak to him in a rather demanding tone.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?”

“Remove the hood, buddy!”

Demanded the cyan colored mare. Resisting the urge to do it herself in the process. Mystogan lifted his hands up in defense and chuckled nervously.

“Look, I am not here to cause trouble. And I definitely don’t want to eat other ponies! That would be horrible!”

“Other ponies…?”

Asked the shy one, peeking out from behind her wall of friends with a more curious gaze rather than frightened. Mystogan nodded and decided it would be the best time to lower his hood. Perhaps it would clear things up a bit more. Once he reveals that he was indeed a pony, they all drop their jaw in awe as they look upon him. How in all of Equestria could a pony get THIS big?

“Sweet ever-lovin'....that is one big pony…”

Said Applejack as she looked at his form with both shock and...a bit of admiration.

“He..he is even bigger than the princess! How is this even possible?!”

Asked the purple one as she fights the urge to approach him directly, her thirst for knowledge on this pony and where he came from now coursing through her mind and body. The cyan one flew up to him with no problem, however. Even getting right in his face as her glare locked onto his gaze. She noticed that his pupils were slit, rather than the normal roundness. And also the extra fluff that existed on his face around his jawline, cheeks, and his ears.

“What...kind of pony are you? You are like twice the size of Applejack’s brother. And possibly more..”

She asked as she flew around to look at him from the back. She noticed the light indention of not one but...two pairs of wings?! She doesn’t waste any time in lifting his cloak to the side and indeed seeing two pairs of black wings folded against his back and lower back. And there were much bigger than her own and more alicorn-like than pegasus-like. Mystogan pulled away from the peeking mare and crossed his arms with an arched brow.

“You could have asked, you know. As for what kind of pony I am, I am a mountain pony. And I come from the highest summit in Northern Equestria. And my stronghold has chosen me as their information gatherer. After all, it has been a thousand years since my kind has even ever left the mountain. Not since the Crystal Kingdom disappeared when the two sisters sealed King Sombra.”

The purple mare looked up at him with wide eyes at this information he just spoke of. She knew NOTHING about this! Not only did she just learn of a forgotten pony race. But that there is an empire that just...disappeared and a tyrant called King Sombra who the royal sisters defeated?! What has her mentor been hiding from her all this time?! And as if on cue, Mystogan heard the familiar sound of armor clanking and getting closer. He turns around swiftly to see a platoon of guards with weapons drawn heading his way and a tall, white alicorn with a multi-colored spectrum mane that seemed to flow on its own without the help of the wind. Mystogan wasn’t sure if he should draw his blade or not. His hand twitching as it rested on the hilt as they get closer. Though, when Celestia gets closer and takes a look at the potential threat. Her eyes widen in shock and her heart skips a few beats. Is she seeing what she thinks she is seeing?

“Guards, halt! Do not engage! He is not a threat!”

Mystogan knew exactly who this mare was. She was the elder ruler of the two royal sisters. Princess Celestia. He watched her step out from behind her line of guards. She approached him cautiously at first. Seeing he had his hand on the hilt of something under his cloak. She took it as a sign of self-defense rather than hostility, giving the stallion the benefit of the doubt.

“It’s alright. I won’t order them to hurt you. Ease your nerves, young stallion.”

Mystogan hesitated but nodded as he released the hilt of his sword and stood up straight. Celestia looked up at Mystogan, then down, then up again. It has been many, many years since she has laid eyes upon one of his kind. And to see one out in the world…

“Tell me young stallion. Do you come from Northern Equestria from the highest peak? Have your kind finally decided to come out of hiding ever since what happened all those years ago?”

“Well, not all of my kind. I am simply the first they decided to send off to gather information so that we may update our great library. And I am also out here for selfish reasons as well. I did not want to spend my whole life on a mountaintop without knowing what’s beyond. And before you ask princess. No, we are not looking to cause any hostility. We have always been a peaceful race except to those who cause us trouble.”

“Yes, I remember the ways of your kind. That is why I stopped my guards before they could bring harm to you. That last thing I need from your kind is an invasion of ponies with your size and strength. I welcome you to Ponyville, sir. And what might your name be?”

“I am called Mystogan. It is a pleasure to actually meet the princess of the sun. I take it that your younger sister has returned as well. Judging by the way the moon looks now.”

“You are correct. Things have been wonderful ever since my little sister returned and the six mares behind you had removed Nightmare moon from her.”

“Impressive...good to hear that things are going your way here, princess. It seems that one of your local subjects thought I was here to feast on pony flesh...I was quite hurt by that remark.”

He said jokingly. Celestia laughed lightly and shook her head.

“Well, I imagine with that hood on, you look rather...beastly. But now that things have cleared up, I am sure that there will be no more misunderstandings. The mares behind you would be happy to help you around here should you need to know anything of this little town. But first, I need you to come with me to Canterlot. We have things we need to discuss regarding your presence here and the fact that your race has decided to come out into the world once more. If you would follow me,please.”

Mystogan nodded and followed Celestia as her and her guards took to the air. Opening his dual set of wings once more which Rainbow Dash stared at in awe. Things were about to get interesting in Ponyville to be sure. Even more so for the purple unicorn who had a billion questions for both Mystogan and her mentor.

Author's Note

Looks like Mystogan knew things that the others were to learn later. This might change things down the road ;)

May the darkness grant you peace.