Mystogan landed beside Celestia at the main entrance of the castle. Celestia was quick to order one of the guards to call for her sister. The matter of a mountain pony making their way from the mountains in the north was something that wasn’t to be taken lightly. Mystogan was wondering why she was so hasty in getting him away from other ponies other than herself and her younger sister. Is his race really that much of a secret to most others? He’d soon find out as soon as Celestia and her sister speak with him in private. They finally make their way to one of the more secluded rooms within the castle. A place where things can be discussed without interruption from the outside. Once both of them had made it inside, all that was to do now was to wait for Luna.

Mystogan gazed around the room as he entered behind Celestia, heaving to duck a little to make his way inside. The room appeared to be a rather cozy study. A fireplace was lit, keeping to room comfortably warm and large pillows laid about the room. This was a very nice little room indeed. Mystogan made his way over to the books and started examining the titles. Celestia watched Mystogan with curiosity. She cannot believe that she was looking upon a mountain pony after so so many years. He wasn’t a royal dignitary from anywhere but, the mountain pony race was certainly not onet to take lightly. It was said long ago, that if things got to beyond the point of nearing the end of all hope for a major city or even a small town, mountain ponies were called in to solve the issue and quickly. But ever since Luna’s banishment, there has been no need for warriors of that caliber. She also noticed that he didn’t have much on him either. How did he get here with so little? Just his armor, sword and satchel. She noticed that he reached into that satchel and pulled out a rather large book with ease. He took out a will as well and began writing a few things down in it with a concentrated gaze. He had already written a few thing in it before it seemed. He was supposed to be gathering information and such after all.

“My sister shall be joining us shortly Mystogan. Would you please come sit with me while we wait?”

She asked as she sat on one of the pillows next to the fire. Mystogan finished writing down what he needed to write and slid the book back into his void satchel with a nod. He makes his way to the pillow across from the fireplace after setting his sword down next to him. Celestia gazed at the sheath the blade sat in. From what she could tell by the hilt, it was amazing craftsmanship and to an averagely sized pony, it was more like a greatsword rather than a simple one-handed sword. The door opened up after a few more minute as a rather lithe dark blue alicorn made her way inside, her teal eyes falling immediately upon Mystogan. Her eyes widen and her jaw drops a bit.

“So it is true after all. A mountain pony, a strong and fierce stallion at that walks among us once more. I certainly never thought i’d see the day when your kind would come down from the mountains of Northern Equestria.”

“Pardon me, princess. But you speak of my kind as if we are revered warriors of old times. We are simply ponies who live up in the mountains because it is where we belong. Our size and appearance are simply the way we have evolved to live in such harsh climates comfortably.”

Mystogan said to Luna as he puts his hands up in front of him, trying to play down the words she said a bit. Celestia giggled lightly as Luna came to sit down from across her sister. She then turns her gaze back to Mystogan.

“Humble as well. If I remember correctly, that is one of the well-known traits of a mountain pony to those who still remember them. Now then, since my sister and I are both here with you, it is time we discussed things with you. So I will ask this first. Are you and your race planning on any hostile acts once you get what you need from your travels?”

Mystogan shook his head lightly. He offers up a genuine smile as his spoke.

“War or conflict s not our purpose, princess. I am simply far from home because I was given a mission to gather current information to take back home. And from what I have gathered thus far, the world below seems to have changed greatly in the last years. But, I am also her one a rather...selfish whim I suppose. I did not want to stay in the mountains all my life. In fact, I am really starting to like it down here a lot. I am curious though. When did other ponies get so small..?”

“We didn’t get smaller, Mystogan. Your kind got bigger actually. Believe it or not, your kind used to be shorter than I. But it seems that over the years, you all grew in size and stature. It is quite amazing to see how the forgotten mountain ponies have come along. In fact, you look rather familiar somehow. Do...you happen to know of the master alchemist Guren?”

“You mean my great, great, great grandfather? Well yes. It is one of the reasons I chose to follow the same path as he did. Alchemy is my specialty.”

“Ahaaa, so you do have the same eyes as he did. And if you inherited his personality...something tells me you will be a very different person should battle or drink be involved. He was...quite a character when there was a fight or drinking contest to be had. He’d always get so fired up and excited when things like that happened. Other than that, he was about as calm as you are this very moment. It’s rather refreshing to see one of my oldest friends through you, Mystogan.”

Mystogan blinked a few times in surprise. One of her oldest friends? Did she know Guren that well enough? This actually made him quite happy. And even more determined to stay on the path to becoming a full master alchemist as well. Celestia went on to her next question after a moment.

“Will you also be establishing a home within Ponyville as well to return to so you may rest from your multiple journeys across the land? Since this is the center of all Equestria.”

Mystogan rubbed his chin in thought. His journey would indeed be taking him all over Equestria. And a place to come back to and rest would be nice, especially if he didn’t have to pay bits each time. Not to mention he did pack ALL of his belongings in his void satchel. He thought about it for a moment as he lowered his head, then looked back up at her.

“Would it be an issue if I did wish to make a residence in the land below Canterlot? Or do you think it would bring a bit of trouble? If it would be fine, then yes, I would love to build a home here. I actually like it down here in the greenlands more than the mountains. But I would return ever so often to visit my family of course.”

Celestia nodded and lifted a piece of parchment and a quill up with her magic. She wrote down something on it, rolled it up and placed her seal on it then floated it over to him. He reaches forward and takes the parchment before looking towards her again then slips it behind his cloak.

“Present this to Mayor Mare. And you may begin the construction of your home. She will get ponies to build it for you to your own specifications.”

“Well, I can’t let them do it all by themselves. I gotta get in there and help them after all. With my strength, we should get my home all done tomorrow evening. Until then I suppose I will stay at an inn for the evening.”

“Shall I also arrange for furniture to be delivered to your home as well?”

“I’d really appreciate that. But I do not require much Just...make sure they are my size, please. I have all my alchemy equipment and my books and their shelves along with my bed in this satchel right here though.”

Both Celestia and Luna look at Mystogan like he was absolutely insane. He had WHAT in there?! That was physically impossible!

“I...am afraid I have a hard time believing you could fit all those things into that small little satchel...I don’t mean to be rude when I am saying that but…”

Mystogan chuckled lightly and opened up his satchel. He reaches in a nearly full arm in depth and searches for something. The fact that he could fit his whole arm in there already stunned the both of them. Their eyes becoming as wide as dinner plates only made Mystogan grin wider. He finally finds what he was looking for and pulls it out half way which was a large wooden bookshelf that had all his book still neatly shelved, even in alphabetical order!

“I told you so.”

“That..that is amazing! Even unicorns haven’t figured out that kind of magic! How is it that mountain ponies know this?!”

Asked Luna as she got on her hands and knees, crawling towards Mystogan to get a better look at his void satchel. He holds it out to her to let her examine it. Even letting her hold it as well. He goes on to explain it to both of them.

“Well, as you both know. The world is full of magic. We mountain ponies have learned how to incorporate alchemy into creating handmade magic. The process is a bit long to explain. But in short: Certain herbs and precious stones can create magical energy that can be stronger than a unicorn casting a spell from their horn. And when these items are brought together, they create ‘handmade magic’. Something my kind has had for a very very long time now. We took the idea originally from using structural matrixes or what you refer to as ‘spellcasting circles’.”

“That is absolutely brilliant, Mystogan. Truly innovative and clever use of spell circles. Mountain ponies certainly are both smart and strong. Then again, you have all lived isolated from most of the world. I imagine you had to find ways how to do things we could do here. And the way your kind adapt and find ways to better yourselves...it’s rather chilling but at the same time, wonderful.”

Mystogan rubbed the back of his head with a bit of embarrassment, a light blush forming across his muzzle as he averts his eyes a bit.

“Well...I mean we are just mountain ponies. It’s not like we are all powerful ponies who can bend the will of the world to how we wish. That would be rather silly don’t you think? We do have our flaws after all. We do tend to get carried away and hot-headed in battles, we also...eat quite a bit. Given the chance, I would empty an entire pantry of a pony’s home or even an entire restaurant. We have huge appetites after all. And we also...well…”

He lowers his head with a heavy blush. He starts fidgeting with his hands as he has a hard time saying this to two mares, let alone the princesses. However, Celestia knew exactly where he was heading with this just by his body language and the heat starting to radiate off his body. Her memory coming back to this one specific detail about both male and female mountain ponies.

“I do believe I know what you are trying to say, Mystogan. I am aware that your kind are built for breeding and it lies within your genetic structure more so than a regular pony. Trust me, Guren made me fully aware of that...and..”

She blushes herself, the memory of that handsome strong mountain pony claiming her body every time they would get together every time engraved deep within her mind. And she knew she enjoyed every minute of it back then. Luna could only narrow her eyes and grin wickedly as she watched her elder sister squirm on her pillow, becoming all hot and bothered.

“Before I became Nightmare Moon and I was banished, Guren and my elder sister were on rather...intimate terms. Not so much as romance, but they did get rather physical with one another when he’d visit her or vice versa.”

Mystogan cleared his throat and suddenly stood up to his hooves. He grabs his sword and places it back onto his left hip and attempts to make haste in leaving the room now. He has certainly heard enough of that story.

“I..I should get going, princesses. I shouldn’t take up any more of your time. And I also should get started on creating my new home as well. It was a...pleasure to meet you both.”

With that, he quickly turns and makes his way out of the room and closes the door quickly, he fast hoofsteps could be heard echoing down the hall. Celestia still remembering about those wonderful nights and Luna resisting going into a giggle fit.

--A Day Later--

Mystogan now stood before a well fortified home that was made with cement blocks and solid stone roofing. And a wooden door reinforced with metal lead inside with a few rooms above the ground and a basement that leads below. The perfect place to experiment with his alchemy. He turns back to look at all the construction ponies who helped him with his new home. He bows his head lightly in thanks.

“Thank you all. I imagine that this was all rather hard for you. But I appreciate it.”

“Are you kidding? We hardly did any lifting!”

They all laughed after he said that, but they appreciated his thanks nonetheless. But seriously, he did most of the heavy lifting. They all just made sure the whole building was structurally sound and everything was in its proper place. Once everyone had gone off to either their next job or home, Mystogan went inside and began unpacking everything out of his void satchel. This took him roughly an hour to do and after he finished setting up his lab in the basement, he wipes the sweat from his forehead and places his hands on his hips with a firm nod

”Home sweet home. I’ll stay here for a few days and then resume my journey. I should still get myself familiar with the ponies around here before I depart.”

His home sat on the outskirts of Ponyville closer to the forest and a lake so he’d have all the needs of an alchemist. Little did he know, that a certain zebra would learn about this new face and his skills. And things between them would certainly be interesting.

Author's Note

I am loving this story so far. I think it's going to be one of my best.

May the darkness grant you peace.