The Archmage
Chapter 1 Arrival
Marth, a man of 24 years, with other mages, looking over a battlefield filled with the dead and wounded, saddened by the thought of so many hurt, he walks over to try and heal the wounded as best he could. Not many were able to survive, but those that did couldn't return to the army for most have been crippled in one way or another, and the others had lost their minds due to the pain they went through.
On his way back to the city with the others he couldn't help but think that there could be any such thing as peace in this world, with it's constant wars and plagues. He couldn't help but wonder if there were other worlds out there with the same problems or that have found a solution to end all of the strife, but little did he know that there was one and he will be visiting it soon.
A week after the battle Marth was in his room in the castle experimenting on a new teleportation spell that would be used to either transport troops far distances or evacuate civilians quickly. He has been able to stabilize the portal after a day's worth of work on it and has been trying to send miscellaneous items through it to the other portal on the far side of the room for two days with no success.
After a while he decided to see where the items were going only to find some kind of force field blocking him from entry. "What's going on here?" he mumbled, trying multiple time to try and send his mind into the portal only to find nothing on the other side. "Hmm, this barrier seems frail, I could probably break it, but should i risk it..." he said testing the force field. At that moment a knock and a familiar voice came through the door, "Are you still working on that thing? Listen, Marth, you need to take a break, get something to eat, you've been up here for almost two days." said Ser Patrik, Marth's oldest friend.
"Yea, you're right, it's just difficult to be this powerful and not have someone to learn from that wasn't dead over 500 years ago." he picks up a dusty book from the desk next to him, "All I really have to learn from is an old book filled with powerful magics that I can't learn yet."
"Listen, you need to relax a little, come down to the party in the main hall, we're congratulating someone tonight, he kept a lot of men from dying on that field a few days ago." Patrik said with a sly smile. Understanding dawned on Marth and realized he's been studying too long, "When are they expecting me?" he asked, "Whenever you get down there, they sent me up to get you...good thing too 'cause they might have found you passed out next to a strange portal tomorrow." they both let out a laugh at the thought.
Nothing of note really happened at the party just a casual "Thank you for your services." from the king and a bunch of praises from the families of the men he saved. After the party, Marth went back up to his room and realized he had forgotten to close the portal, "Whoops." he said, "I guess this was draining my energy the entire time and I hadn't realized it...oh well."
He moved closer to the portal but stumbled on something that wasn't there when he left, "What in blazes!?" he shouted as he fell. He sat up and looked at what tripped him and noticed the small creature lying there. Not sure what to do, he examined it a little closer and noticed some very peculiar aspects about it, it was cyan in color with a multi-colored mane/tail and wings. "What are you and how did you get here?" he wondered to himself.
The pony decided to wake up then and ask, "W-what happened and where am I?" Startled by the talking pony, Marth backed away quickly and threw up a shield between them. "What are you?" he asked, to which the pony replied, "Uh, I should be asking you the same question." After a while Marth dropped the shield, not feeling any kind of real threat can come from the pony he learned was called Rainbow Dash. They started asking each other about their worlds and how different they were.
After an hour or so Marth got up and decided to test the portal finding that the shield was gone, "Who broke through the barrier from your side?" he asked, "Twilight I think, why?" Marth looked at her, "Because I was planning on doing a few experiments with it and make sure nothing dangerous came through...I guess I didn't have to worry about that though."
"Hey Marth, is there anywhere I can go to get some flying done?" Rainbow asked, Marth looked up to her, "Sorry, but I don't think the guards around here will act with the same kindness as I did to a new unknown creature flying around the castle or the town." he explained. "Well, can I at least get something to eat, I'm starving." Marth walks to the door, "Sure, I'll be back in a few minutes, I gotta get something too." he said and left.
Marth returns almost half an hour later carrying a few books and a bowl filled with an assortment of various fruits cheeses and breads, "That was not a few minutes." Rainbow said with an irritated look on her face. "I know, I had to think of a little lie to tell the chef as to why I need a bowl of fruits and other foods I don't usually eat." he set the bowl on the table.
After she ate, Rainbow decided to go back through the portal to Equestria. "Wanna come with me, I'm sure everypony will want to meet you." she asked. Marth thought for a moment before answering, "Sure, I could use a little vacation from this depressing world...let me do a few things first, I've got to leave a note that I won't be back for a while." he walks over to the desk and pulls a quill and paper up and scrawls a few words on it then pulls out a few rings and puts some strange enchantments on them.
"Alright, let's go." Marth said enthusiastically and they both walk through together.
