Equestria's Thaumaturgist

Chapter 2: Explanations

“Wilhelm Strots?” asked Pinkie.

“No, Straatvs.” He replied. “S-T-R-A¬-A-T-V-S, but the ‘v’ is silent. My friends just call me Will.”

“That’s a funny name. I like it!” exclaimed the pink mare.

“Yes, it is funny. Though not as funny as some of the names or titles I’ve been given over the years.” He said, rolling his eyes, before pulling a huge book from seemingly nowhere. “I’ve written them all down in this book. But we’ll have time to go over that later. Right about now I’m guessing you all want a thorough explanation as to my presence?”

He received several nods as an answer. He reached into his overcoat and pulled out a bright pink folding chair. When he noticed their surprise, he turned away from unfolding the mobile furniture.

“What? You try finding a place to sit when you do half of what I do.” He turned and took a seat, waiting for the ponies to get comfortable. Once they were arranged comfortably on a blanket Pinkie had provided, Will began.

“Now, would you like the condensed version, or the long explanation that involves my history?” he asked.

“The long version I suppose.” Answered Princess Celestia.

Will nodded, and thought for a bit before starting. “It all began over two thousand years ago, in my world of origin. The planet was called Earth, inhabited by humans, who on that world are the sole sapient beings. Now, you need to understand, humans are at heart, good beings, but by they are a young race, and they strive for understanding and a higher purpose. This leaves them vulnerable to corruption. As such, many of those in power are… less than upstanding citizens.

Crime is ever present, pollution destroys, and humans kill each other over things as petty as belief. But not all of them are like this. There are countless individuals vying for peace and preservation of nature. I was average for the most part, though I’d always had a ‘strange’ outlook on life, as others said. I had just turned twenty years old, and due to my interests, I enjoyed odd things. Which is why I was overjoyed when my uncle sent me an old book about occult sciences. The Thaumium Libre it was called. I learned from it, and shortly after, I began to practice it. I was fascinated when what I learned from the book actually worked.

But it was this that attracted the attention of… less than trustworthy individuals. They attempted to steal the book, believing it to contain knowledge that would allow them to open an eldritch puzzle cube. They thought that the cube would grant them ultimate power and eternal life. In the end, it turns out they were right about the second one. The cube contained a force known as the Traveler’s Soul, a force that would grant live everlasting, and the ability to withstand the raw power of the Great Nexus, the path between realities.

I, rather foolishly, tried to stop them. I managed it by using what I had learned from the Libre, but not without a price. I inadvertently opened the cube myself, absorbed the Traveler’s Soul, and was flung into another universe. The problem with the Soul, is that it does not itself possess the power to enter the Great Nexus, so I was stuck. Ever since I’ve been traveling using other cubes and having adventures all around the multiverse. I learned, made friends, and in the end, returned home. Well, the universe I adopted as home anyway.” He finished.

“Can we see the cube that brought you here?” asked Celestia after a bit of silence.

“Certainly!” he exclaimed, rummaging around inside his overcoat once more. “Oh, dear. That’s not good.”

“What’s wrong?” asked Pinkie.

“This.” He said, holding up a mangled black metal box. “The cube was destroyed.”

“Oh, that does seem like a problem.” Said the alicorn.

“Why?” asked the tomboy of the group.

“Weren’t you listening Rainbow? He said that he uses those, rather tacky, cubes to travel about. Without it he can’t get home.” Explained the white fashionista.

“I’m sorry Mr. Straatvs, but there is nothing in the archives that concerns trans-universal magic.” Said Celestia. Outside she was sad for his predicament, but inside she was giddy as a school filly. Finally, an immortal that isn’t my sister or evil! Oh, there is so much to talk about, so much to do! She thought. Twilight Sparkle did not become so obsessed with learning on her own.

“Oh, it’s not like it’s your fault. And in all honesty, this place seems like a lovely world to live in. The Aura here is so positively charged I could give myself an afro off of the excess if I had a mind to!” he said with a grin before laughing. Laughter came unbidden to the rest as they couldn’t help but imagine the hairless primate before them will a ‘fro.

Suddenly Will stopped laughing and looked to be listening intently. Unnaturally fast he whipped a short knife out of his sleeve and threw it. It flew past the Princess and hit something they couldn’t see, but hey heard a shriek as the force of the throw carried it into a wall. As the shaky ponies began to rise, Will was already by the pinned creature.

“Hmmm, chitin-based exoskeleton, sizeable canines, insectoid wings, eyes are meant to see in dark environments, inherent form manipulation abilities if the energy is anything to judge by.” They walked towards him and gasped when they saw that the creature that had been pinned by his knife was in fact a changeling. It was currently unconscious, due to the combined efforts of the pain of the knife sticking through its shoulder and the force of being slammed into the wall. Lying near the K.O.ed changeling was a wicked looking knife that still had the faint residue of changeling magic on it.

“An assassin… Seems even in such a nice world you have enemies princess… and they are out for blood.”