The trio was surprised at all the magical artifacts, journals, and unfinished projects within the cave. Why the legendary spell caster built his laboratories within caves and such was a mystery even to Princess Celestia.

Whatever the case, he sure liked to keep secrets. All his books and journals were written in magic texts and language, one Bio noticed was decorated, cover and back, in protection and warding symbols. The magic in them was faint, but still, even after a thousand years, the fact that magic was still present in them amazed Bio.

Chaos was mostly unimpressed. Emerald on the other hoof was gathering “stock” of everything and anything residing in the cave. Princess Twilight loves lists. Her exploration of the cave she came across a locked room. Kicking and magic proved useless.

“Bio!”  She yelled. “Some assistance!”

A few seconds later, Bio was examining the door. “well… this is odd.”

“How so?”

“Well, these ruins mean protect, and safety. But these ones spell secret, and evil. I’ve only ever heard about this combination being used on dungeon cells.”

“So is it a prison?”

“Most likely, some of Starswerlds creations went beyond regular magic. I remember one story about him using dark magic to bring a pony back to life, and it worked, no side effects.”

“I guess if anypony could figure out how to use dark magic successfully, without going mad.”

“Maybe. Either way if this is a prison then be ready.” Bio levitated one of his pistols to the lock and fired, the sound of shattering glass came from within the room. “Shit!”

Bio and Emerald threw open the door. Inside were two mirrors, one shattered and one whole. The whole mirror was tinted black, making Bio and Emeralds reflections hard to see.

“Why write those seals to hide some mirrors?” Bio questioned.

Chaos ran inti the room. “I heard gunfire.”

“Magic proof door and lock.”

“Ah. So you also shot a mirror?”

“It was an-“  

Bio was cut off when the glass shards of the broken mirror began glowing. Then bolts of magic shot out through the cave walls, one however stopped at the floor.

“The fuck?” Chaos said.

A faint noise could be heard, it got louder and louder until it became clear that it was somepony screaming. At its loudest a strange creature flew out of the portal, the portal vanished, then the creature fell to the ground.

The trio was speechless.

“Ugh, what happened.” As the creature stood up it walked like a minotaur, but looked like some kind of dog. It’s fur was grey and white, both ears were black and it wore a red bandana tied around its neck. When it spotted Bio, Emerald and Chaos, it smiled. “Hi, I’m Snout.”

“A talking dog…?” Chaos said.

“I’m a wolf actually.” Snout corrected.

“… So… where are you from?”

“Not sure actually. I’ve traveled a lot and I don’t really remember exactly where I was born.”

“That’s sad.” Emerald said.

“I don’t mind. I’ve enjoy traveling around The World. Speaking of, where on The World am I?”

“What’s your world’s name?” Bio asked.

Snout looked confused. “That’s an odd question. The world’s always just been called The World. It doesn’t have a name.”

“Then you’re not on your world.” Bio said. “This is Equestria.”

“Equ-what?”

“Equestria.” Emerald clarified.

“Okay but how can I be in another world?”

“That’s my bad actually.” Bio said. “I broke that mirror and given what happened it must have been a portal. There are only a few others like it but they’re all under lock and key.”

Snout stood silent for some time. “So let let get this straight. I’m in another world, possibly another dimension, you broke my only way back, and I’m stuck here.”

“Well more than one portal flew out of that mirror when it broke so there are likely more.” Chaos said.

“Goddess, Princess Twilight is gonna have our heads for this.” Bio said with a groan.

---

“YOU DID WHAT!?!?!” Twilight Sparkle shouted. Her voice echoing all the way to Canterlot and beyond.

“Son of a!” Chaos yelled as he fell to the ground covering his ears. “I like my hearing, thank you!”  

“You broke one of Starswerlds artifacts and created rifts to another world!”

“All an accident Princess, the symbols on that door were the same as magic prisons bear, we had no way of knowing it was a safe.” Bio said.

“Bio Quill, I’m not saying you were wrong to go with what the facts provided, but I am upset that it was destroyed. The last time those types of portals magic was misused our world and another almost fuzzed. If this magic is loose then who knows what could happen.”

“More Snout's appear.” Chaos joked, nudging Snout.

“Yes, Snout.” She looked over to the wolf. “As the Princess of Friendship I happily welcome you to Equestria. Even though this was unintentional. I offer you my friendship.”

“Thank you.” He said.

“Now as for you three, Since Snout is a guest in our world you three will be his guides and escorts anywhere and everywhere he wishes to venture.” Twilight gazed over to Emerald. She looked rather sad to see look at her, guilty almost. Like a foal that knew they’d done wrong. “Something on your mind Emerald Fire?”

Emerald twitched. “N-no. I was just…”

“If you want to say something you can say it.”

“I… I’m…” She exhaled. “I’m just thinking that watching over Snout would be easier if we all lived in the same hu-house.” Emerald looked as if her life depended on Twilight’s answer.

“Well I think the Friendship Guard has one or two houses we can spare for this. Go see Starlight for the paperwork.”

As the group left, Bio and Chaos both shared a look. What was Emerald so nervous about? They could tell she was lying. Whatever the case they didn’t trust her at the moment, she’s hiding something.

The paperwork took well into the night. Physically and mentally exhausted, the group decided to spend the night at their new home.

It was fairly large, three bedroom, two bath. Three bedroom, that meant two would have too share. Bio and Chaos may be roommates but they each had their own room, and Chaos places HIGH value on privacy. It was Bio's fault Snout was in Equestria so he practically forced Snout to take the second room. And since Emerald is a girl Bio was-

“Bio, you and I can share a bed.” She deadpanned. Wait, What!?!? “Just face away from me and I won’t castrate you!” With that she left to the room, leave a very confused, and blushed Bio.

“Wow Bio, didn’t think ya-“ Chaos's joke was cut short by hos own yelp as Bio pulled out what was a bites worth of feathers from one of his wings. “Mother fucker, it’ll take a week the grow those back!”

“That was the point.” Bio left Chaos to plan his revenge.

Meanwhile Bio entered his and Emerald’s room. She was already in bed, covered in the sheets. Bio lay on the edge of his side, keeping distance between him and Emerald.

“Aren’t you gonna use the sheets?” Emerald asked.

“N-no. Gives you more privacy.” He replied.

“Alright… I know what it’s like to be raised by a single parent.” Bio remained silent. “I never knew my dad, but unlike yours my mom always said that he was flying with the angels.”

“Sounds like he was a better stallion than my dad.” Bio replied.

“Yeah, my mom told me his name once but I was really little. I think it was Gab-something. I was to young to pronounce it and it was a pretty weird name.”

“Sounds like it. Did you ever meet him?”

“Yeah, but I wasn’t even one yet. I remember his coat was white like Celestia’s, but that’s it.”

“…Why are you telling me this?”

“Just trying to make things less awkward. Any luck?”

“A little. Oh, and thanks for saving me earlier.”

“No big, Calamity has been needing a good sharp shooting. But I wanna ask, is this your first time in bed with a mare?”

Bio rolled off the bed. “I’m sleeping on the floor.”

A room down, Snout wasn’t sleeping. Too much has happened in so little time. If these portals go crazy like Twilight said, their worlds could fuse. He began to think about all his friends, even his sister snuck her way into his worried thoughts. It was more worry on what she’ll do rather than what would happen to her.

Still though, there was a bright side. A whole new world to explore and adventure. Even though he’d rather do it alone, his… body guards probably won’t let him leave town without them.

He noticed how complicated things were here rather than in his world. Back home if someone wants to live somewhere they didn’t need to ask permission or complete several hours of paperwork, they just needed to make sure no one was already living there. And they seem to mostly live in built homes, only a few places like that exist in his world. Most villages are formed inside caves or up in hollow trees, even under ground in tunnels.

Ponies are weird. But he was very curious on how things are here. Maybe tomorrow he can explore town. He did want to try that Sugar Cube Corner place he heard Twilight mention back at her castle.