Equestria's new Moon

--Ponyville, Castle of Friendship: Twilight's bedroom--
--Point of Focus: Aidan--

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" a regal sound female voice shouts at high volume.

The sound causes Aidan to recoil slightly, and causes a ringing in his ears. He tries to clear it out with a finger in the ear while saying, "Ow, and right next to me too!" With the finger not seeming to help he pulls it back out. "Before you deafen me some more, I'll answer the first question. My name is Aidan." he says, taking a slight bow after saying his name. "As for the second question, I do not know where here is. I am only here, as this was the point where the veil between the waking and dreaming world was weakest."

"You don't think it's the Tantabus!?" a different voice speaks up. This one sounding more scholarly, if still feminine to Aidan's ears.

"Nay, he does not have any hint of my magic upon him." the regal voice replies.

"Well, whoever he is, he's telling the truth." another new voice, this one sounding more rustic and with a slight twang to it.

Aidan holds up a hand before speaking up. "Before we get to far away in conversation, may I have your names. So that I can match a name to voice. It seems that in my arrival, I have once again lost use of my eyes."

"What do you mean once again!?" a boisterous sounding female voice nearly shouts out.

"Maybe he was born blind, and went through most of his life without use of it. Then one day he gained immense magical power and was able to restore his own sight by altering his body to be more spiritual in nature!" An energetic voice answers, leaving Aidan just speechless.

"Oh Pinkie darling, that is just silly. There is no way any of that is true." a posh sounding voice says.

"No, she's pretty much spot on," Aidan adds in, before anyone else could move the conversation forward. "And it's a long story that is probably best to share another time. The important thing is that I am temporarily without sight, until I regain some of my powers." Extending a hand out, palm up. "If someone would be so kind as to guide me to a seat, or someplace more suited for discussion. It would be greatly appreciated."

"Very well. Twilight would we be able to use the map room for the discussion?" the regal voice asks.

"Yes, that would probably be the best place. Spike, can you move a couple of spare chairs there?" the scholarly voice now identified as Twilight says.

"Sure can Twilight!" a new voice, masculine and young says. Most likely the person called spike that was referenced.

Aidan hears a figure leaving the room before he then feels a hand take his to guide him out.

--Ponyville, Twilight's Castle: The Cutie Map room--

All present have been seated, Aidan included.

"To begin with, we shall do as you have requested and introduce ourselves." The regal voice says. "We are Princess Luna, co-ruler of Equestria, princess of the night."

"I am princess Twilight Sparkle, princess of friendship." The scholarly voice previously identified as Twilight says.

"Rainbow Dash" the boisterous voice says.

"Pinkamena Diane Pie! But you can just call me Pinkie Pie, or Pinkie. Do you like parties? Should i throw you a party to welcome you to Ponyville, or maybe a welcome to Equestria party!?" The energetic voice identified as Pinkie spouts out in rapid succession.

"Woah there Pinkie, calm down," the voice with the twang speaks up. "You'll have to forgive Pinkie, she just gets easily excited. I'm Applejack by the way."

"I'm Fluttershy" another quiet voice adds in.

"Rarity, the premier designer pony of Ponyville." the posh voice says.

'Wait, did she just say pony?' Aidan thinks to himself. Making note of the word choice and to ask about it later.

"And I'm Spike. Twilight's number one assistant." the young masculine voice previously identified as Spike says.

After the final introduction Aidan ask a question of vital importance. "Before I begin my tale as to why I am here, can you tell me what this land's view on magic is?"

Twilight answers before anyone else has a chance to. "Magic is an integral part of life here in Equestria, every unicorn makes use of it in their everyday life. Where are you from that this is even something that needs to be asked about?"

"Unicorns are common here!?" Aidan says before shaking his head. "No, no distraction. The land I come from, magic is a rare gift. The most widespread religion in our past used to paint all things magic as being a thing of evil, only used by devils and their worshipers."

"How barbaric" Rarity quips in.

"Now before I continue, without the fear of being persecuted for my magic. I ask permission to bring out my companion." Aidan asks hopefully. "He is my guardian, and in my current state, my eyes."

Luna answers before Twilight can. "Please do. Though I'm am certain we did not see anyone else with you in our previous location" If Aidan could see at this moment, he would have noticed nearly all the girls blushing. What with having arrived in the middle of a bedroom, where all the girls were in the sleepwear.

"You will see in but a moment." Aidan says as he extends a hand skyward. "Come forth, Cale!"

With a small flash of light, an large owl appears above him. The feathers shimmering silver in the light of the map room. It quickly circles the room before coming to land on Aidan's shoulder. The owl stares at each girl in turn, pausing it's gaze on Spike and tilting it's head upside down.

"I got something on my face!?" Spike says.

"No, just not something remotely close to something I've seen before. Purple scales around the hairline, what looks like frills going down the back of it, and claws." Aidan replies, gaining a gasp of shock from everyone.

"You can see him now?" Twilight asks excited. This causes the owl to turn it's attention to her.

"Yes, one of my oldest spells. And one that I spent great effort to make permanent, allows me to share Cale's senses."

Twilight quickly begins jotting down notes. "This is just amazing, we've never even thought of such magic!"

"It is indeed quite an intriguing spell, perhaps you could teach Twilight about it later on. It would greatly aid some of our subjects who are born or have become disabled." Luna adds in.

"I would be happy to, if our magic is even compatible." Aidan answers with a smile. "Now, on to my tale and my mission here." he pauses a moment, to give any the chance to interrupt. No one does and seems to be listening intently. "I am following the trail of some powerful dark mages from my land. Their trail led me into the void between realities, and it took much of my power to chase after them into the void. I can feel that my tie to the elemental paths of my magic is nearly severed, I have but what I call universal spells at the moment. And those effects that I have either enchanted into an item, or somehow made permanent."

"I can't imagine what I would do if I lost connection to even a part of my magic, it's who I am." Twilight chimes in. "You have my sympathies."

Aidan gives her a short nod before replying. "Thank you." He then clears his throat and continues. "The chase through the void was either long, or short. It is hard to say, as time moves differently there. Eventually I came across a breach in the fabric between the void, and that of your dreamworld, and their path led straight through it."

Luna looks mortified. "You mean that my actions have led to these dark mages entering our realm!?"

Aidan shakes his head. "No, the breach was opened by the blue energy creature that eventually merged with you. Directly in front of my path. They had already crossed over before then. How, I am yet uncertain of."

Luna is slightly less worried. "Then it was not my actions that brought them here?"

"No, but that breach permitted me to cross over in my weakened state. Without it, I would not have been able to follow them as quickly." Aidan reassures her, smiling as he answers her.

"Now when you say void between realities, what exactly do you mean?" Twilight asks, looking up from her notes.

"I mean that literally, it is the non-existence between realities. Alternate realms with different rules, histories and races." Aidan answers, which causes Twilight to be momentarily speechless.

Eyes shining with questions she opens her mouth to begin asking a torrent of them, but is interrupted by Luna. "I fear you may have troubled yourself to answer many questions for Twilight." The other girls giggle knowingly at this, before Luna continues "I fear I must leave and consult with my sister before anything more is decided. If you do not mind, I will leave you under Twilight's care."

"I do not mind, as long as it is ok for me to ask her questions about your land and customs. If my quarries are here, it would be best if I could learn how to act here. Last thing I need is to make enemies with a nation in another realm." Aidan answers

"You may." Luna answers before standing up and taking her leave.

Pinkie looks towards Twilight, then Aidan, then Twilight, and back at Aidan. "Party!?"

"Ummm.... Sure!?" Aidan replies. No sooner the words leave his mouth, than a cloud appears where Pinkie used to be.
This causes a raised eyebrow from him.

"That's just Pinkie, you either get used to it or go mad trying to understand it." Apple Jack says while giving a look to Twilight, who merely nods in agreement. "We better go help Pinkie set things up, you and Twilight may as well go take care of her Q&A while Pinkie sets up the party."

With that said, the gathered group disassembles and Aidan is left with Twilight, Spike and a lot of questions, notes and parchments.