“Wow,” Apple Bloom murmured breathily.

The pain she should have felt on her leg from the wound was absent, she was focused on staring at the unicorn, that was her main task, everything else was not important, and therefore oblivious to her senses. Her mind was occupied only with that simple task of looking straight.

He was approaching Spike and Zecora while she observed him from a distance, safe and under the care of her friends. Morning Dew was beside them, quiet and also looking in the direction the three of them were looking at.

The outside world was but a background for the main characters. What more could it be, when her center of the universe was him.

He saved them.

The sun above shined at her, but she was so focused, the warmth felt like the sun rays sweltered her body. This summoned her back to reality and overwrote this irksome feeling with the pleasant sensation of warmth that enveloped her and brightened the terrain before her.

Feeling her chest get heavier, choking on her sincerely felt good emotions and positivity, drowning it brutally by a sense of melancholy, Apple Bloom once again made it clear to herself, heartfully, that she and her friends really were at the risk of losing their lives.

But they didn’t come close to bereaved of their lives to the monster, thanks to him.

She looked closer, tilting her head to the side like a puppy, her mind racing with thoughts revolving around him, only occupied with his image.

He was definitely powerful, how else would he have taken the monster down? And most importantly, she was sure that he must have had a golden heart. To risk his health or even life coming to help them after hearing their scream...How else could he know they were in danger?

For them, complete strangers!

She felt sick in the stomach being compelled by this fact. She was young, and she didn’t understand much, but this...Just why?

How is it even possible that they always get away with these things? What were the odds for a stranger that is capable of doing what she saw, with enough skill to be at the right time and at the right place?

This troubled her mind, and the flurry of emotion only spiced her imagination, throwing her into a fervid thunderstorm of thoughts!

Of her getting hurt!

Applejack getting worried! Potentially even maybe descending into a conflict with Rarity or Rainbow Dash?!

She shook her head, keeping these visions away from herself. She found a sanctuary by looking at him.

He was dressed cheaply, but there was nicety in what he wore, although she was uncertain in her judgment. Maybe she just lacked a word? Great, now she even can’t justly comment on what he wears, commiting inequity.

She didn't know what to do, what to think, a good metaphor for her state would be a vegetable soup.

Alas, she allowed herself to admire him some more. He proved he was mighty, he showed them that he was brave. He didn’t hesitate to act, and only by what looked like eye contact, he knew what to do and how to work with Spike and Zecora before they spoke to each other.

As if he was pulled out from a book, a noble knight. A knight, however, has his squire next to him at all times. She didn’t see any other pony or non-pony beside him. So who was he? He wouldn’t mind if she called him... exotic? He was! What pony has a tail? What pony has a mane like a lion?

“The guy was just as cool as Rainow.” Apple Bloom heard Scatoloo’s comment, her tone indicated she was moved by what she witnessed.

“ He did more than that” Sweetie Belle added ”He literally saved us”

Feeling like she should, Apple Bloom spoke “Exactly” her voice washed over their thoughts. “He spared Zecora and Spike from harm that they could have fallen prey to.”

“While himself suffering a hit.”

The unexpected voice belonged to Morning Dew, having gathered the strength to speak up.

“You?” Scatoloo started appalled “You ran away the first moment you spotted the danger without waiting for us!” She exclaimed with anger.

He looked away crushed by guilt.

“Let’s not turn this into an argument.” Sweetie Belle intervened and gave Morning Dew a look and shifted her eyes to her friend right after “It’s pointless.” she finished meekly preceding it with a tired sigh.

“They’re coming!” Apple Bloom informed loudly, getting the attention of all three.

The Great Mage proposed to go and help the filly that was injured right after being notified of her wound. Zecora and Spike lead the way while he followed their steps.

It took them a moment to get there, and while approaching the mound, none of them spoke or looked at each other.

When they reached the spot, all eyes were on him. His gaze shifted from one character to the other. Colors. Unnatural colors were the first thing he noticed. It was rather amusing to see them like this. He constrained a genuine laugh inside, it wasn’t easy.

He noted that everybody around had common traits: big crystal eyes, pretty like ponds that reflected the night sky, and humanoid bodies where only the legs remained equine, just like in the case of the zebra named Zecora and himself.

He anticipated that he probably also possessed these features without knowing. He realized that his new body wasn’t the way it was purely because of chance. It differed in looks, yes, but the theme of equine influence tied it all together.

“I wonder what else I’ll discover next.”

Drifting away from that topic, he returned to the tiny equines.

The first filly he saw had an orange coat and thick magenta mane that was mildly long. In Ardania a haircut like that would be considered very short for a female of any kind. Her face was round, her female traits were barely noticeable. Her eyes were purple, to his astonishment. Normally, he’d be interested more, but since the equines themselves were colorful, he assumed it to be normal.

What he was hooked on were the two covered in feathers, limbs on her back, that made themselves known by peeking partially from behind her. She had wings, she was a pegasus!

While he enjoyed the news, as he never saw a pegasus in his life, and never would he think he’d see one in this form, his sharp vision pointed out an important factor...His excitement caused by the surprise faded away, replaced by grief and pity at what he was looking at. Her wings were small and frail, they were too weak to be able to lift her up.

Although he couldn’t fly, without the use of magic, he could only imagine the consequences of having this nasty disability.

He looked away pensively, and shifted his attention to the child sitting on the ground. She was looking at him with pious attention. Her eyes looked at him tentatively, there was fear in them, but only enough to show she knew of her inferior position.

The filly was butter yellow, with a long and vivid red mane, the shade of a ripe apple, and orange eyes. On top of her mane, she got a cute dark pink ribbon on the back of her head, the size of which gave it more eccentric feedback. She wore black overalls, reaching the end of the knees. Under it, she had a simple white top, or maybe a shirt but without a collar, he wasn’t sure.

To her right, there was a filly with a dirty white coat, with green eyes whose color lost some of its expressiveness. She wore a simple dress, oriented with flowers, also dirty white like her coat. She possessed a horn, small and round on the end. She was a unicorn, an actual humanoid unicorn. This was hard to believe.

“What next?” He thought.

Was this part of Ardania settled by humanoid animals? If so, did the United One do it? Or was he simply spit out in a land yet not discovered?

Something was off. He was getting worried that it may have been more than that. Not just off, but broken off, if this even had sense.

Behind them, there was a colt sitting with his knees close to his chin and arms wrapped around them. He was quite young, his face was smooth and round, he had dark curly hair and a scared look all over his face. The longer he looked at him, the more uncomfortable the colt was, he could sense it, as the colt tensed with each second.

He rushed to the injured filly to treat her if he could allow himself to. Showing too much finesse in using magic could bring him more harm than good that he could cause by healing the wound.

“What’s your name?” He asked gently, knowing he addressed a kid.

“Apple Bloom” She responded sheepishly.

He remained in eye contact while considering his response to what he just heard. That was a bizarre choice to name a child. Then again, all this what he was witnessing right now was as well.

“Apple Bloom” He addressed her “I may be able to help you somewhat with your injury. Allow me to examine it.”

She nodded and he immediately went over to her leg.

“While at it, introduce me to your friends,” He said with a smile.

Her leg was bleeding, but not as much as he anticipated. Two weak streaks of blood went down her calf, but the blood seemed to stop pouring out in dangerous amounts. He didn’t have much medical knowledge, other than regarding casting healing spells, which was a completely different set of knowledge from that which a doctor or field medic possessed.

“So, this is Sweetie Belle”

“Hello”

He looked up briefly and nodded. Looking struck by something for a second, he grabbed Apple Bloom’s limb carefully. She let out a hiss in response, but he didn’t stop.

“ Behind you stands Zecora “

“I already know that” He responded by muttering, still fixated on her leg.

“How?” Zecora asked intrigued.

“ I heard the dragon call you by name earlier.”

Spike's ears perked at that. Apple Bloom being a step ahead spoke for him “The dragon’s name is Spike.”

“At least his name is normal.” He looked behind and looked straight into the young drake’s eyes “Nice job back there, Spike.”

“Without you, it would have been a disaster.” The young beast replied with genuine friendly warmth in his tone and voice.

“No, you’d just run away after ten minutes or more after struggling with it.”

Spike looked at Zecora and replied, maintaining eye contact with her “what better could we do?”

“Nothing. If I were in your shoes, I’d do the same.”

“But I don’t wear any…” Spike said.

Now, you see, the thing is, how could he not give this one to him?

“And this is Scootaloo” Apple Bloom, seeing her opportunity continued.

“ You’ll be my hero for the next few days. “

He let out a subtle chuckle at that. “I think you meant your whole life. ” With that, he summoned short-lived smirks from the lack of humility he just showed.

“Nah, that’s reserved for Rainbow Dash”

Again, he seemed to freeze as if he suddenly saw a ghost appear, but maintained his cool.

Scatoloo seeing his reaction, asked, “Don’t you know who she is?”

“I’m done”

Finishing his study, and avoiding a conversation about someone probably famous, he came to the conclusion that Apple Bloom’s wound was only looking serious, but in reality, she was fine. A basic healing spell or healing potion that came from a higher shelf was all that was needed to fix her up. The cut wasn’t deep, and the bleeding had already stopped. No major vein got damaged, and if left alone, in two weeks she would already walk well.

“It’s nothing serious, I can do it.”

Spike and Zecora breathed a sigh as a heavy rock was lifted from their hearts. Scatoloo and Sweetie Belle looked genuinely happy as well.

“It doesn’t look like anything serious” A young voice from the back spoke.

Looking at the colt, to whom he was not yet introduced, he only had the following to say.

“Appearances deceive.“ Simply and straightforward.

Leaning closer to make it more convenient for himself, his horn began to glow, casting the spell was easy when using his hand. He simply willed it and brought his palm over. Here, a jelly-like fire cloud appeared on top of her wound, covering the spot where her injury was.

New to this style of performing the art of magic, but not too simple spells, he found it easy to manage in the end. The injury slowly closed, the fresh blood dried and turned solid to fall or crumbled into tiny pieces. Her dirty fur in that area got cleaned, while from both ends of the wound the flesh merged like it was getting closed by a zipper.

Apple Bloom was greatly impressed by the chilly pulsating influence of his magic. She felt the aching sensation go away, only haunting her in one place, and then disappearing, followed only by intense itching that irritated her astronomically.

She blinked, and it stopped, only to be resurrected by a sudden wave of pins and needles, forcing a soft moan from her. Spike, Scotaloo, Zecora, and Sweetie Belle all looked at her hungry to know what happened. She moved her leg, feeling this bloody type of ache to get more potent.

It took a moment, but she stood up and was able to walk freely like before the injury. While everyone focused on Apple Bloom for the moment, he turned to the colt who was sitting behind everybody.

“And you are?”

The youngster looked up “Morning Dew, sir...”

The Great Mage nodded, he turned to face the others, already prepared with a plan on how to start the conversation. It went to waste. Zecora walked up and took his hand and shook it sincerely, holding him in a tight grip.

“Thank you very much for your help. It’s a blessing you came. “ She spoke sincerely and with a soft tone, looking at him with big eyes and blushing.

“Thank you as well. ” Spoke to Apple Bloom who stood with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo just behind her.

“You saved us” Sweetie Belle added after Apple Bloom, just as softly.

He appreciated the thanks he rightfully received for his doings, less for the reasoning behind it. He didn’t show it, and remained stoic, with a cold expression he gazed at them and Zecora, at the end at Spike.

“You do really have talent and power.” Spike enunciated loudly.

He gave the impression, he had taken that personally, as he flinched at these words. “ That is too much...”

“ You were superb! You destroyed that thing!” Scootaloo proclaimed, proudly making a graceful pose.

“I’m grateful for the kind words...” He gave them a final, analytical look ending the discussion with starting another topic “You seem to know each other.”

Zecora was the first to say “ Yes, I live alone in the forest, I’m an alchemist and potion maker, brewer, and friend to them. “

“We live in Ponyvile” Apple Bloom spoke. “It’s not so far away, I think you must have been heading towards it since you’re here.”

Ponyvile? Ponyvile.

So they were Ponies? He examined them once again, going over their features and traits. He hid his shock well, although the fact he paused and didn’t right away answer back gave away a negative aura.

Colorful Ponies...A whole town indicated it was just populated with humanoid colorful Ponies.

“I would be thankful if you allowed me to stay in your town for the night. I’m a traveler, even if I don’t look like it.”

“I’m sure Twilight will be willing to provide anything you need and more” Zecora assured him and put her hand on his shoulder. As confidently as she did it, she retreated right after with a sheepish expression.

“Rarity, my sister...” Sweetie Belle walked up and said while looking him in the eyes.

“Rarity? Twilight? I’ll have to get accustomed to these weird names. “

“...She will make you some clothes for sure. You don’t seem to have any luggage anyway.”

“I had” He immediately replied with a lie “When I heard you scream, I dropped it and it fell into a thread I just passed by.”

This only reinforced their feeling of having to make it up to him.

“My sister as well will also do anything to compensate you. “ Apple Bloom continued after Sweetie Belle “Applejack won’t let you go without nothing.’

“My parents as well.” Morning Dew, who was forgotten by everypony around, made himself known by speaking “Especially my mom.”

Exploiting the ponies, for the time being, was something he planned on doing anyways, and raising some profit from the popularity he may gain in the village itself to benefit from the locals is more than enough.

“ Let’s go then, lead the way.’ He spoke sharply, like the tip of a spear, almost commanding.

Zecora was the first to have left, as she trusted him and Spike to return home without any trouble. Zecora bid farewell to them, and promised Spike to bring the potions herself tomorrow. Spike really wanted to bring them to Twilight alone, however, Zecora instructed him to focus on making the town more hospitable to their newest guest. The Great Mage was surprised that the Dragon actually lived among the ponies, in a town like a civilized being. New to this, he’d accepted it with open arms, seeking a chance to learn something about dragons, even when the one he was walking with was special in all of Ardania.

The cutie mark crusaders forgot about their mission and left it for another time to ask Zecora for help. It only came out after Spike started this topic, the Great Mage added some fuel to the fire that started, by questioning their actions and logic behind it.

In the end, the trio got scolded respectfully by the Great Mage. Spike, who was the main character in this conversation, got overthrown by the stubbornness with which the Great Mage pushed on, shaping it further. Scootaloo, the most rebellious, taking after Rainbow Dash the most, didn’t even look at him. Morning Dew remained silent, with his head hanging low, while he stared at the soil beneath his hooves. He agreed with everything the Great Mage said, even if he didn’t voice it.

The Great Mage wasn’t all that great at phrasing everything beautifully, but he wasn’t bad at doing it either, and it was clear to them, but the sense and power behind the relatable examples and arguments were enough. He spoke hardly, steadily, but without hostility. Like a lecturer, with whom students disagreed, that spoke with such adamant certainty in his voice, the students succumbed.

He understood the good intentions and made it clear by stating it, and showing that their thinking wasn’t bad all the way, that the core of all this was right, only the execution was wrong. That they were too sure, too hasty, and most importantly, not as pessimistic and skeptical as they should about their decision.

“I think you get the lesson. You made a mistake, that’s everyone’s right and there are consequences which are the punishment. This is only for you to remember you should learn from it, it’s an obligation you have. “

As he finished talking, they stepped out of the forest. The sun blinded him briefly, before his eyesight improved, getting accustomed to the light.

Before his eyes laid a sweet town, with many homes that were scattered all around, a comfortable distance separated them from each other giving more privacy. A rocky road connected everything closer to the center with more unique in design buildings presenting themselves in contrast to the simple wooden homes.

In the middle, there was what he suspected to be the town hall. It was round, short wide steps lead to it from four sides, and it was wooden, like most buildings. If any mage happened to rule this town, surely he’d build himself a tower-like structure, which the town hall resembled. He wasn’t sure, it may have been the light, but the windows appeared to be pink.

A thin river flowed through the town, and three simple arched bridges went over it in total.

Up the hill, in the distance, there was a large structure, resembling something similar to a large governor’s mansion or perhaps small militia barracks. There was a red cross on a post sign on a white background just before the building.

His eyes landed on a crystal structure. It reflected the light and a lens flare shone brightly in their direction, making it impossible to fully examine it visually. He was impressed the town possessed something like that, resting on an island mind you! A rich bridge led to the island and there on it, he saw what appeared to be a camp filled with tents.

“Spike,” He asked and got the Dragon’s attention “ Who lives there?”

“ Princess Twilight Sparkle. “

“ Princess? “ He put extra emphasis on the word.

“Don’t worry! She’s a very nice pony! “ Apple Bloom replied.

“Yeah! And we know her personally, she’s a friend of ours and best friend of our sisters!” Sweetie Belle stepped right beside Apple Bloom.

“And my sort of, almost, as if actually real sister-idol Rainbow Dash too!” Scootaloo then joined them.

He looked towards Spike “ She rules over you?”

“Co-rules, actually”

“The Prince and Princess are equal to one another? “

Spike threw his hands up “No, no, no! There’s no Prince...yet, and probably for a long time there won’t be-” He put a talon up his chin thinking “ -but that’s beside the point! There are three, well, two practically, who rule with her and are her mentors.”

“She’s equal, de jure, with her mentors?” “People who by definition, must be above in the hierarchy. “ He finished the rest in his head.

“Yes, but from what I know, customary law says she’s not. I’m not sure about this, it’s complicated.”

“If one Princess is in this village, then where are the other two you mentioned?”

Spike, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle all pointed to the northeast of where they stood and mutually, like choir they said:

“In Canterlot.”

Following with his eyes towards where they pointed, he felt his current believes crumble to pieces.

There, high up a lonely white mountain, was a great city, with a palace of untold size. The city hang onto the mountain by magic or was built with the use of special materials, as there was no way it would simply rest like a bee nest on a tree.

The whole midpoint was covered by homes, skyscrapers, and large structures with towers. The wind carried the smoke from the chimneys in the opposite direction in relation to the side the city was convex.

The top of the mountain was covered by white, snow which probably never melted. A river flowed from the mountain, with dozens of waterfalls forming one big artery where the city started. The small hills ahead made it impossible for him to see where else it spread, as definitely one branch made it through Ponyvile, which was probably the nearest village to the city.

“Since you’re in Equestria, in the heart of it, you should know this.”

Equestria? No, this wasn’t Ardania, definitely not. The city was too grand to be placed on a single world shard...Canterlot, judging by its size and the fact two major Princesses resided there, was the capital.

He’d know of this. It’s foolishness to try and fight with this, he was alone on a different planet.

His chest began to grow heavier, his mouth became dry, and just as the first thoughts formed in his mind, he began to sweat. His heart rate increased right beside the symptoms. Anxiety was something he experienced, but with time, less and less, to the point, it became almost exclusive to special situations, which in the context of what he dealt with every day, were almost non-existent.

This situation in which he found himself was different. He already had a suspicion when he first saw himself in changed form, and once again when he saw them. He trusted Tal Kalessil and the Dragon Queen, so he didn’t let it climb his head. Both of them couldn’t have made a mistake!

He swallowed hardly, and for the last time, with great doubt in heart, he devoted himself to hope, that Ardania was beside the corner, and all he needed was to find a portal. Even if it’s pointless to believe otherwise, at least he can hold his frustration from this turn of events in check.

There’s always a problem! Fate must always find a way to sprinkle salt on his wounds and weak spots. In case of lack such of, create them.

He let out a tired palpitating sigh.

In the worst case, he’ll be late, to put it bluntly. The Great Mages will cement their influence firmly and better than if he were with them. Maybe - he isn’t Miralbus and lacks charisma - with the aid of this...Colorful and anthropomorphic horseland, he will come out victorious in the scramble for Ardania after defeating the United One together with the other Great Mages first.

Before he’d do anything stupid and reveal himself, announcing his great and powerful self, - that’s the most selfish, self-promoting act by default linked to being a Great Mage - that probably would result in political suicide, he must know if this land doesn’t know of or knows of Ardania, and the situation on her.

It’d be wise to learn a few things about this land as well. The inhabitants here, he anticipated, considering an already established monarchical rule and tied to it culture, would unkindly treat anyone who’d be willing to seize any control or secure any influence.

Secondly, he must drop his previous tactic and approach. He needs to adapt to new situations and environments and create a new strategy in accordance with the factors that make them. He’ll have nobody to point out the similarities in what he’ll compose anew with what he already followed, which will naturally form. He isn’t free from thinking that what already worked probably still will.

What he was sure of as of right now, was that he had a prize to get, and fundaments to lay and he already had the means, Spike and the Princess’s friends he saved. Among this unluck, fortune still flirted with him...He has to use this moment of opportunity to his advantage by any means necessary.

“Well then, lead the way.” He said cheerfully with more enthusiasm in his voice, receiving a glad look on their faces.

Those favors will not get claimed and added to his account by themselves.

Author's Note

And welcome back!
I hope you guys like what I do and will point out every error I make, for my own sake to improve and your's to get better quality chapters. In the end, all of it is for fun.

I know that the simple way of phrasing might be boring, or that I am too dull to read, nonetheless, thanks to all the people who appreciate my work. It's for fun, and it makes me proud to know that somehow I made some dude who knows English perfectly read this shit and that person thinks about coming back after finishing the chapter. You people are just crazy.

Please have in mind that things in the official book written by John Helfers was read by me, I'll use it as a reference to many things. Green text means that the following part is true about Ardania and can be found in the book.