Canterlot Castle was the jewel capital of the kingdom of Equestria. It's ivory towers and gold spires were like spears to the heavens, the walls were as strong as the earth ponies who built them so long ago. Indeed, the castle acted not just as the heart of a kingdom of love, harmony, and peace. But the Castle was just the heart of an even greater city. A City of Gold and Marble.

Usually the city was home to high class ponies of society and prestige, Though this is still true. however, the last twenty four hours has seen the city and now the gates of the castle turn itself into a circus of pandemonium. Standing before the crowd at the west tower stood the solar goddess herself, Princess Celestia. As she looked down upon the ever growing crowd of ponies. Worry was evident upon her face as her crown sat upon a troubled brow. Her ears folded back as the reporters and news stations came in. The oil had just touched the flames and now true chaos was about to start. Celestia watched the camera crews set up. She looked towards her fireplace as her horn glowed.

The wall retracted and opened, revealing a large television. The jewel of modern times came alive as images flashed across it's screen. Celestia's lips curved up as her favorite television show played, yet that was soon replaced as the breaking news networks trampled all over it. Celestia huffed. Taking no solace in the few things that made her unwind. She looked on as a manic stallion replaced the fun show she so enjoyed.

"This is Shout Out live with Canterlot Headline News! On the scene and In Your FACE!" A sage green pegasus stallion said over a microphone, yelling at a cameramare's camera. His short mane was a dirty brown that looked more like a rat made a nest on his head, his blue eyes were to the point they looked bloodshot with signs of no sleep for several days sleep with only the gift of caffeine keeping them open. His cutiemark was that of an exclamation point next to a Microphone. "Just hours ago, The royal princesses of Equestria, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have issued a royal decree of emergency! It has been recently discovered that since five o'clock last night, the Princess of Friendship, Princess Twilight Sparkle, has disappeared!"

Grabbing the camera and yanking it so his face is practically in the lens, He continues. "Since then the kingdom is now on Def-Com One!"

"Let go of the camera, Shout Out!" The Cameramare said as she yanked it away from the manic news reporter.

But, Shout Out didn't skip a beat, he was on a roll. "Since that proclamation, the Castle Of Friendship has been locked down as the royal mages are investigating into the disappearance. With Princess Celestia and Princess Luna as head investigators!" He shouted as he moved close to the camera again. Much to the Cameramare's discomfort. "As Always, Shout Out WILL report on the news as it happens, and as always, I'll be here...." Just then he jumps in front of the camera when the cameramare tries to pull back. "IN YOUR FACE!"

"CUT!" The Cameramare shouted. "Shout Out, why do you always do that!" she shouted, wiping the spit and slobber off her camera as well as off her face. She was a Unicorn, not long out of Celestia's School For Gifted Unicorns, her coat was dark pink with blue mane and tail with Hot Pink eyes. her cutiemark was of a Video Camera.

"Relax, Focus Zoom." Shout Out said as he fixed his hair. "Ah jeez, I look like a slob."

"You ARE a slob." Focus Zoom said under her breath.

"What was that?" Shout Out asked.

"Nothing, let's just get back to the news station." Focus Zoom suggested as she used her magic to fold up the tripod and pack up the camera.

However as she did so, the manic pegasus grabbed the camera back out of it's case and set it on his shoulders.... backwards. Obviously he had no idea how to operate said camera as Focus Zoom's brows furrowed before she yanked it back out of his hap-hazard handling. Petting it like it was her baby.

"Now, Now, Focus! A TRUE reporter is always on the hunt for the next story!" Shout Out said as he wrapped his foreleg around Focus Zoom's withers, a motion the cameramare was clearly uncomfortable with.

"And WHAT prey-tell would that mean? The story is in PONYVILLE, not in Canterlot." Focus Zoom stated before continuing. "WHICH by the way is where Breaking News stationed us. Especially after that Manehattan spectral you made of yourself!" She seethed as she recalled how close she came to loosing her job after their employer Breaking News was so mad his mane and tail were on fire. Even his mustache looked to resemble embers, it was quite the scene.

Shout Out, however, wasn't pleased that 'accident' was brought up. he snorted as he recalled the event.

They were reporting on the grand opening of the Manehattan Lunar Historical Museum exhibit. They were showcasing a rare and complete skeleton of a Saddlesaurus. It was a simple report, and not a bad gig for first time reporters, But in Shout Out's view, he was above first time news. He planned to prove himself. So he devised a plan to make things... Interesting.

Surely several well, DISCRETElY, placed fireworks would liven things up! And make the exhibit look amazing. Not only would the news report be amazing, but the Museum administrators will appreciate the work he put into making their exhibit look amazing, and Breaking News will promote him to news anchor! Maybe even News Editor!

The idea made him salivate like a dragon setting sights upon the greatest gem ever found. Indeed this was his calling, since he got his cutiemark in reporting the news in his school back at Baltimare he knew his destiny was to be a reporter and to one day own his own news station! It was just one great report away!

Come time of the grand reveal the stages were set. But what happened next was what Shout Out would call unfortunate, and what everypony else would call a full blown explosive disaster. Literally explosive!

The fireworks that Shout Out purchased at a Kirin's firework's booth, much to the poor doe's dismay as she tried to warn him, albeit in her native tongue thus he thought she was flirting with him (Shout Out thinks every mare flirts with him when it's the exact opposite), were intended for high altitude displays, not small spaces.

Thus the explosions of color and earth shattering blasts not only startled ponies (brought several Viettrot war veterans into war flashbacks), But the skeleton as well as several other priceless artifacts to be destroyed or irreparably damaged. The Royal Guard didn't need to look far for the culprit either, as Shout Out still had the remote to set off the fireworks, and he (And an unfortunate Focus Zoom who was accused by association) was promptly tackled and arrested.

Needless to say, the destruction of priceless artifacts and a once-in-a-lifetime discovery of a complete Ponysaurus has become the black mark upon his record he's worked to try and remove for the longest time. Had he not have groveled before Princess Celestia and later his boss Breaking News, he was sure he'd currently be in the dungeons for terrorism and the destruction of ancient artifacts, Or worse, Without a job!

Focus Zoom spoke up as she shoved Shout Out off her. "Now, let's get back to the news station before Breaking News BREAKS us!"

Shout Out shook his head in defiance. "Oh we're leaving." He said with a grin as he flew up several meters, his blue-bloodshot gaze locked onto the small town in a valley, cross-airs could almost be seen in his pupils as he focused on a gleam of light reflecting of the crystal Castle of Friendship. He glanced down at Focus Zoom with a determined grin. The same grin she hated since the two met.

"Pack up the camera, Focus. We're headed to PONYVILLE!" Shout Out declared as he put his forehooves to his hips.

Focus Zoom however simply facehoofed. Her ears pinned back as she gritted her teeth, she muttered how much she would love to glue the manic Pegasus' wings to his sides and chuck him off the edge of the city. Then she wondered if the Princesses would understood if she explained why she did it.

"Buck it, it'll be worth being thrown in the dungeons." Focus said to herself as she packed up the camera. "Whelp...." She started as she gazed into the lens of the camera. "It was nice while it lasted."

Meanwhile, In the castle throne room of Canterlot. Princess Celestia paced, Before her was the mirror Twilight had constructed, The magical barrier Starlight put on it to prevent other ponies from being sucked in was still in effect. Her Royal Mage was adamant that the barrier should hold. The Solar Princess had no doubt in Starlight's abilities. But now, it was time to go to work.

"And you say it sucked her in... There?" Celestia asked once more, for the fiftieth time by Starlight's count.

The unicorn nodded again. "Yes, As I've said. when the mirror shattered, this.... Vortex appeared. it sucked a few of the shards with it, but this one." She motioned to the large piece of reflective glass behind them.

The glass was twelve hooves long and eight hooves wide and was shaped like a crude blade. The mirror shard however had unusual properties. Despite being inside the castle, It reflected a blue sky.

Celestia approached the glass and peered into it. She saw a faint reflection of herself, but all she saw was the sky. When she lifted the mirror with her magic, she found the same to be true when she raised it up, side ways, even upside down. It's then something startling dropped from the sky before hopping towards the mirror.

"A bird....?" Celestia said to herself as she spotted a small bird drop down and peck at the glass. It wasn't enough to break the glass but she felt the small taps. Finally it reached out of view and plucked what looked to be a worm.

"It looks like it's showing another area." Starlight said as she watched the bird look behind it and flew off.

The sound of footsteps caught their ears as a dog came sniffing up at the mirror. It sniffed and looked at the two ponies before tilting it's head. The dog growled before barking at the two. Celestia and Starlight jerked back a bit. The barking went on for a few minutes, some of the guards were perplexed as they heard the commotion, but soon the dog quieted down when another voice caught their attention.

The Sentinel Forest. PRESENT TIME:

A small bird, a Red Cardinal flew over the forest, it's trees were like silent sentinels, thus how it got it's name by the native Americans. It was believed it held ancient powers, and was home to the Windigo. The trees were both it's home and Prison. These days however, the forest was a Favorite hunting area for local towns people.

Trekking through the woods, an older man with a bushy grey beard, orange hunting jacket, and camouflage overalls and white shirt under those held his rifle in readiness. He had heard reports of wolves in the area. He still remembered the visit he got from Richard, the local Veterinarian....

Earlier that day 6:00 AM:

In a field surrounded by trees and woods, a large but old house stood in the center of a clearing. An old truck, rusted and worn by usage and hard work sat in the driveway, farm animals began their daily routine. The cock crew as the pigs wallowed and the chickens emerged from their roost. On the porch a dog rose from his favorite spot, stretching out with a long wide yawn before circling and laying back down.

Waking from his slumber, an older man, from the look of his face he was in his fifties, made his way out of his bed. He coughed before spitting out phlegm from his system as he brushed out his beard and combed out his long hair. Putting on his overalls and boots, he made his way to the kitchen table.

"Jed. How'r ya this mornin?" A woman, looking to be the same age as him if not slightly younger asked as she was cooking some eggs. She had a darker complexion then he did, clearly the years weren't as kind to her as much as they weren't to him. Her hair began to fade to grey as she held it in a bun now and wore a simple flower printed dress and shoes.

"Doin good 'nuff this fine mornin, Ethal." Jed replied as he kissed his wife's cheek.

Ethal smiled as Jed sat down at his place in the table, they had been married a good thirty years and looked forward to another thirty more if the good lord allowed it. By then they had one son and two daughters. Their life was simple, they couldn't afford a farm, but they worked with the land they had, and since then they were fine owners of three hogs, four chickens, one rooster, and a fine stallion Clydesdale and a young mare they hoped to breed. Then there was their dog, a hunting dog they bred that also served as a guard hound.

"Where's them kids at?" Jed asked as he saw the table still uninhabited beside himself. "Don't tell me their off playing in them damned woods again?"

Ethal shook her head as she gave her husband his breakfast. Three eggs, sausage links of four, and a good helping of biscuits and gravy. "They're feedin the hogs like ya told em to, Jed. They ain't kids no more."

Jed sighed before he began to dig into his meal. "Well..." He said between bites. "'Least ther' takin up responsibilty." He chuckled. "I shouldn't be so harsh on em. I miss bein a kid myself."

Before he could continue to reminisce in his old memories, the sound of a truck pulling up was heard. "Now who'n god's name could that be ther?"

Ethal went to the kitchen window to take a look. Pulling up the driveway was a much newer style of truck. It was blue with white strip on the sides with flood lights on a rowbar on the back and front of the grill. When a man she recognized stepped out she looked over to her husband.

"Why it's Richard. What on earth can he be doin in these 'ere parts?" Ethal said as she went to the door.

When Richard made his way to the screen door, he was about to knock when Ethal opened it.

"Why Richard, good 'avin ya 'ere." Ethal said with an inviting smile.

Richard smiled as he took off his wide brimmed hat and sighed. "Hello, Ethal. Is jud here?"

"Course that old coot's here."

"I heard That!" Jed said as he made his way to the door. Ethal grinned, knowing her tease would work. "Why don'tcha come on in, Richard? We got breakfast. Plenty enough for ya."

Richard smiled but looked down. "Mighty fine offer, there Jed, but I gotta decline. I ain't here on pleasure."

Jed and Ethal looked to each other, they saw through Richard's smile and knew something was wrong.

"Somethin wrong ther, Rich? If lil Mandy's havin any problem with that damn Carson Boy I'll get the boys and---

"No it isn't that." Richard interrupted. he took a breath as he looked into their eyes.

The three of them had been friends since childhood, yet he knew Jed the longest. He sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck and shook his head. But he knew Jed and Ethal were the most loyal and dependable people in the community.

"Well..." Richard began. "You see, something unusual came up last night. There was a wolf attack."

"Wolves?" Ethal asked. "Mah Word, Richard! Who was attacked!?"

Now Richard didn't like to lie, he hated it. But he didn't really needed to. he just had to leave out some.... Details.

"Well, it wasn't anyone from around here." Richard finally said before continuing. "Foreign Girl, got herself lost in that damn forest."

"Is she alright!?" Jed asked in worry.

"Yeah, Amanda and I helped fix her up and she's sleeping right now. But those wolves, It was a huge pack." Richard said. the look of Jed's eyes growing so wide made it clear he got the point. "I'm going to the sheriff's office today, there might be a town meeting. But with those wolves running around I thought I'd warn ya."

Jed and Ethal looked at each other before nodding. "Thanks fer the warnin, there Richard. I'll get a posse together and set some traps, maybe we can thin them beasts out."

Richard nodded, after they said their good-byes, and Ethal packing him some food to bring back to their injured friend, Jed made his way to his room. Got on his hunting jacket and pulled out his rifle from the gun rack.

Ethal and Jed shared a short yet heartfelt good-bye, as though he was going to war. After calling his hound to his side, and forming up a posse, Jed and his crew made his way into the Sentinel Forest.

2:49PM

After a few hours of searching, and laying down traps to both capture and kill, Jed was making his way deeper into the forest. There were many stories about it, the forest took on different names, but Sentinel Forest still had it's fair share of ghost stories. Ranging from spirits of those who got lost in them now haunting the forest, searching for a way out. To dark forces taking residence. They've even had satanic and witchcraft origins as well.

Jed hated being in this forest because of it. No matter what the stories were one constant testimony was obvious. You always felt like you weren't wanted there. Like some force was trying to protect something inside. And no matter what, there was an unseen force trying to pull you further inside.

Jed had caught himself in a trans, moving further into the forest several times before his dog 'Butch' barked at him back to his senses. It was a miracle he wasn't lost to the rest of the group, They had all agreed to a five meter spread, setting traps and keeping an eye out for each other. Since then they've killed several wolves, They were far from a 'huge pack'. Somehow Several Packs had joined into a single large community. This was bad, If they found themselves into the other farms and the town itself nobody would be safe. So far they killed a good score of twelve, but more seemed to be coming out of the wood work.

"ARF ARF!" Butch barked, his gaze was set to something on the ground, he was barking and growling at something reflective.

Jed shook himself from his thoughts as he walked over to the dog. "BUTCH! whatcha got boy? Hmm?"

Jed petted the hound's head as he held the rife to his side as he leaned over and looked.

Laying on the ground was a shard of broken glass, it seemed to glow around the edges. Jed could feel the power it emanated. It was as though the good lord himself brought this down upon the world. As he moved closer to investigate, he saw the glass looked to be an entry way to a large room, so large that he worried he'd fall through the ground and die from the drop, yet his footing was as firm as ever.

"What is this?" Jed asked his hound, Indeed the dog took a step back, tilting his head and made a whine before barking at the glass.

That's when two figures caught Jed's attention. As he peered into the reflective glass, he saw two horses standing there, his eyes widened to their full size, as he looked them over he noticed the smaller one was a lighter shade of purple with darker purple mane with a teal stripe through it, her eyes were light blue with a spiral horn. But the other...

The other horse was tall, a swan like neck atop a slim frame body with both wings and a horn, her coat was ivory white with a mane that flowed like a never ending breeze. the colors were of purple, pink, mint green, and blue. She wore a gold breastplate with stylistic engravings, a crown sat atop her head behind her long horn. That's when his gaze went to her eyes. Magenta orbs stared back at him as they both glared at each other.

Jed quickly pulled out a bottle full of amber fluid, the bottle of whiskey was scanned over with his eyes before he promptly chuckled it aside. No doubt believing his drinking, as light as it was, was making him hallucinate.

Then one of them spoke.

"Greatings, creature." The tall white horse spoke, making Jed jolt back in shock.

"WHAT IN GOD'S NAME ARE YOU!?" Jed half shouted half held under his breath. he looked at his dog, but he knew they weren't crazy. "Are you even real!?"

The white horse and small horse looked to each other, but the tall white one looked to Jed, her lips turned to a gentle smile as she nodded. "I assure you, we are quite real. I am Princess Celestia, Ruler of Equestria and it's protector. Might I ask your name?"

her voice carried with gentleness and maternal love, she spoke to him as though they knew each other since birth. Jed's shock lessened but only by a small fraction.

"I'm Jed Harley, This is my huntin' dog, Butch. How are ya in that ther mirror? Ya'll get trapped in ther?" Jed asked as he motioned to pick the glass up, his gloved protected it from it's sharp edges as he sat it down on a tree in a way to prop it up.

Celestia continued however as though the movement didn't bother her. "The mirror is just a reflection of this world. A fellow Alicorn, Princess Twilight created a mirror to visit other worlds. However..." Her voice escaped her as she lowered her head and ears folded back. "The mirror shattered and she was sucked in. We don't know where she is."

"Well, I sure am sorry ta 'ere that." Jed said sincerely. "Now ya'lls sayin this here's part of that mirror? Looks like normal glass ta me?"

Starlight shook her head. "It may LOOK like normal glass." She said before continuing. "But it's got magical properties that allows it to access other worlds."

"If one of the shards is in your world, then it stands to reason that's where Twilight is!" Celestia said with a smile. "Jed, would you be kind to help us find her?"

Jed sighed as he ran his fingers through his beard. "Well this 'eres' a big world, Princess." He said not sure he liked how calling her 'princess' tasted. But continued. "She could be anywhere."

This made Celestia's smile wane, her ears folded down and honestly, Jed felt bad for punching a hole in Celestia's hope, however.

"Hold on, thar. Never said I wouldn' 'elp ya'll." Jed stated. "Now thar was a report by a friend of mine 'bout a foreigner in these parts. Could be yer missin Twilight."

"Foreigner?" The smaller one asked. "Who brought you this information?"

Jed sighed. "Friend of mine, Richard told me. Said she got attacked by Wolves."

The two gasped, Celestia looked down and her eyes slowly closed. Jed however continued.

"I gathered a huntin' party to thin-em out. Big pack too. Never seen anythin like it. Then again this forest is unnatural."

"Forest." The smaller horse asked. "Oh I'm Starlight By the way." She introduced herself with a smile before continuing. "But you said forest, what kind?"

"Place is called Sentinel Forest." Jed said while 'mmhmm'ing. "Them thar Indians named it that fer it's unsettlin origins. Caught myself being drawn in by something several times while we've been out here."

"Sentinel Forest?" Celestia asked. "What do you know of it?"

"Place is wrong." Jed replied. "Legend goes, The Indians found somethin, something dark, powerful, evil. So they burried it, and planted these 'ere trees to prevent it from escapin."

That didn't bold well to Celestia. "What was it they buried?"

"Don't rightly know." Jed replied. "Was before my time. But it did a number on the land. Froze it, burned it, Killed life stock and turned people against each other. That is if ya'll believe them stories." Jed said as he looked around. "This place feels wrong. There's been witchcraft, satanic rituals, all kinds of stuff goin' on in 'ere. People go missing, animals bein found horribly mutilated. Iffin yer friend did end up 'ere, just hope she didn't stay in this 'ere forest fer too long."

Celestia nodded. "Thank you, But now I wish to ask you, will you be willing to help us?"

Jed sighed as he looked to butch. Hoping the hound would give him an answer. Finally he reminded himself of his family creed, help those who need it. He looked to the white mare and smiled.

"Will do mah best, but I ain't no genius, Princess." Jed replied. "Now, whatcha needin me fer?"

"First off, We need to know if Twilight is in your realm. Your top priority is to find her first." Celestia said as she looked over to the vortex mirror. "Furthermore, if you find any more mirror shards, Collect them and bring them to her. She'll know what to do."

Jed once more ran his finger through his beard. He nodded as he looked to them. "I gots a idea where she might be, rest assured she's in good hands."

Celestia smiled before bowing. "Then I won't keep you any longer. I wish you luck on your quest."

"Now hold on, what do I do with this 'ere shard?" Jed asked. looking the glass over. "Hmmm... Too big to just carry. Not without drawin attention to it."

"I fear we must leave that to you to figure out." Starlight said, she tried to use magic to lift it but little success was awarded with her efforts. "We can't manipulate it from your end."

Jed stood for a moment before an idea came to mind. He took his coat off and wrapped the mirror up. "I'll keep it in mah truck fer now. I'll give it ta dat Twilight yer talkin about when ah run into er."

The sound of the wind blowing and crows cawing caught Jed's attention. "Uh oh. Somethin's comin."

"Jed? What's wrong?" Starlight asked.

The sound of crows cawing and the wind blowing echoed in their side of the mirror. Jed grabbed the mirror and trudged his way through the forest, making his way back to his truck, the rest of the party had already left the forest yet he was the last. It seemed the Forest knew it.

There was a high pitched inhuman scream that reached Jed's ears, He turned to get a quick glimpse of something moving behind the trees. Or the trees moved on their own, he didn't know. Jed however didn't want to know, He and Butch both made like bats out of hell as they reached the edge of the forest. As he reached his truck he could have sworn he saw a shadowed clawed hand pull back from the shadows of the canopy.

"See, What I tell ya'll? Un. Natural." Jed huffed. "Now, let's go find yer Princess Twilight Whatchama-call'er."

On the other side of the mirror. Celestia and Starlight got a good view of Jed running from unseen presence. Starlight slowly looked to the Solar Princess as she shook.

"Princess.... What was that?"

Celestia shook her head. "I do not know, Starlight Glimmer. But I know for sure one thing. Twilight MUST be brought back to Equestria, and soon."

Celestia recalled back at the being she saw. A decayed looking dear creature with jagged long horns, Carnivorous teeth, and hollow black eye sockets. It was a glimpse, but she knew what she saw.

"I fear Twilight's arrival to that realm released something ancient and evil." Celestia continued. "And I am unsure if the barrier between our realms will keep it out."

Author's Note

Hey everyone! here's the next chapter! sorry for the long wait, but I been wanting this story to feel like there's more then one thing going on.

The being Celestia saw, if you go by the description is indeed a Native-American Windigo, But it's much different then Equestria's. But is this Windigo the enemy? Not gonna tell you!

And thus the first new characters (Besides Amanda and Richard) are now revealed! Focus Zoom and Shout Out are of course my characters, I wanted another view on this story and I kind of liked the idea of news reporters being part of the story yet having their own history. Shout Out is egotistical, self absorbed, and borderline lunatic. Yet you can tell he has his own goals.

Focus Zoom however HATES her co-worker. She's done everything to try and keep her job, but being shackled to a pony like Shout Out you can tell why she has such a grudge towards him. And really, can you blame her?

There will be more as time goes on.

-Titan.