Authors Notes: I will admit that this is my first story and I really did not expect it to be in this particular genre, however I kept having this story run through my head for a while now and finally I had to get it written down. I want to state right off the bat that I wrote this in two sittings on the same day and have no beta, so if there are some inconsistencies or errors I apologize, it is not intentional. That said, I do hope you enjoy my story and I do intend to continue it as long as I can hopefully to a complete finish. Thanks very much.

All Characters belong to Lauren Faust, her team, and Hasbro. The only thing I own is an old computer and this particular story. Thank you.

Grevin shifted his pack over his shoulder in discomfort and pulled his cloak closer to himself trying to block out as much cold as possible. His armor felt like dead weight to him as he climbed the rocky trail but he knew that it was needed as much as any other part of his apparel. He was traveling in the wild lands, a place few went and fewer lived. It was known for its unstable magics, and fierce creatures, which made it a perfect location to hide himself from those who hunted him, as well as an ideal location to hide his ultimate destination, the gate of solace.

He growled as he pulled his hood down further over his face to keep the blowing snow out of his eyes. He had to hurry if he was going to stop the gate from being opened. Inside it resided an army sealed away from ages past that could easily bring chaos to the entire land. He and a few others knew about it and he was the only one who could bring the one trying to open it to a stop. But in order to do so he would have to cross the mountains of Envasus, which is where we find him now.

Grevin stood at 6 feet tall with broad shoulders and a strong frame. He wore a large cloak that covered his head and ran down his body ending near his shins which had silver armor on them. The cloak was wrapped around his arms on which he wore silver gauntlets with red gems on them as well as gloves, and on his torso he wore silver looking armor with a symbol of a shield with angel wings framing it. The hood of the cloak covered his face in darkness leaving only his mouth and chin showing. He had a large travelers pack hefted over his back, and two swords one on his hip and the other strapped to his back as well.

Grevin was a man who was strong both physically, magically and with combat, but he also was training himself to use his magic in other ways and was trying to make a normal life for himself before all this began. Grevin was also blessed with physical abilities that surpassed most people, he could fight longer, and run faster than most. His strength was capable of bringing a blade through a grown tree at times but despite all this, he tried to avoid using these abilities as much as possible. He wanted to blend in as much as he possibly could.

He shivered, wishing he had thought to bring heavier clothing but he pressed on minding the trail he was one brought him very close to the edge of the cliff he was moving around. He slowed his breathing and tried to focus on his task. He glanced at his hands and noticed that he was shaking. He once again concentrated trying to force himself to calm down so he could move with ease when he realized that not only were his hands shaking but the ground beneath him was as well. He cursed as he clung to the edge of the rock wall as the shaking increased.

“It figures I would wander into an unstable mountain range...”

He glanced out over the mountain range hoping to hang on until the quake passed but found his jaw dropping as he watched the very fabric of the air and land near him quiver and shake. His eyes widened as he watched the very air begin to swirl and twist causing everything behind it to distort into some strange form of vortex. He frowned knowing that this had to be foul play by the one he hunted. He knew he was trying to keep him from stopping him. He narrowed his yes as he began to feel the very air around him pull toward the expanse.

Grevin growled as the pulling increased, his cloak beginning to be drawn toward the edge of the cliff. He had to move now or risk being pulled in. He gripped the rock wall as hard as he could forcing himself to take careful steps moving further along, but it seemed with each step the suction became worse and worse. Finally after making it about forty feet he was forced to stop and dig in, gripping the rock as hard as possible, his cloak flapping uncontrollably behind him.

He took a steadying breath and concentrated as he gripped harder. His hands began to have a soft glow to them, as did his forearm guards and he felt the pull of the portal lessen for a moment, though this did not last long. Despite his magic, and grip nearly breaking the rock under his hands he felt himself being pulled back closer and closer to the edge.

The sensation once again lessened when there was a sudden ripping sound and some of the pressure relaxed for a moment. He turned his head and saw his travel pack flying through the air and disappearing into the vortex with a flash. He growled and clenched his eyes shut as the vortex increased its pull once again and the very dirt at his feet began to fly toward the opening. He let out a cry of pain as his fingers scrapped trying to hold onto the rock.

The ground suddenly quaked and shook with violence once again causing the rocks under his grip to snap. He let out a cry of pain as he felt his hands be cut and then a grunt as he felt himself pulled off the edge of the cliff striking his head on a rock. He felt crimson flow down his face as he saw the vortex get closer and closer. He closed his eyes and resigned himself to his fate. He had failed, he had failed to protect those who he swore to help, and now he was going to perish.

“Shit!” Was the only phrase to escape his lips before he hit the center of the vortex. There was a bright flash and a sudden surge of pain shot through his form, the magic from the portal reacting to his own quite harshly forcing the black of unconsciousness upon him.

If one were to bare witness to this who sight, they would see him flying into the portal only to disappear with a bright flash. Then just as quickly as it came, the vortex slowed, and faded from view leaving the Envasus mountain range untouched and pristine.

-Equestria, Sweet Apple Acre's-

Sweety Bell, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo sat in the CMC clubhouse once again trying to think up ways to earn themselves their ever elusive cutie marks. Currently, Sweetie Bell sat on the floor while Apple Bloom and Scootaloo sat near the window looking outward.

“Y'a know, ah don't know what we could next to try and find our cutie marks” Apple Bloom sighed as she rested her head down on her hoof.

Scootaloo nodded “Yeah, we've tried just about anything...Working on the school paper didn’t work, and neither did our other tries, like being gardeners, roofers, or plumbers.”

Sweetie bell looked over at her friends and sighed. “Lets not forget about the doctor fiasco...I don' t think spike will ever let us get that close again...”

Apple Bloom chuckled “Yeah but he did look funny wrapped up like a mummy though.”

“Yeah but how else were we going to practice setting broken bones?” Scootaloo snickered as she hopped down from the window and walked over the nearby desk. “Well, it looks like we need to find ourselves another place to look for our cutie mark. Lets see,” She began shifting through some papers laid out on the desk surface a look of concentration on her face. “Tried it, tried it, tried it...”

Sweetie Bell got up and walked over hoping to help. She reached over and took one of the first papers she saw and smiled brightly. “Well how about this, fire fighters!”

Apple Bloom smiled and walked over to her friends. “That would be a great way to earn a cutie mark...but how do we try it out?”

Scootaloo smirked a bit “I have an idea. We would need some fire and some water to put it out with. I can get a ring of fire made up no problem, I took some stuff from Rainbow Dash's latest trick attempt that she left laying around.”

Apple Bloom smiled brightly “Great Scoot, You get that set up and Sweetie Bell and I will get some water!”

With that the CMC's separated to take care of their individual tasks.

-Later That day, Sweet Apple Acre's

Applejack and Big Mac had just finished putting up the latest batch of bucked apples from the orchard and were ready to settle down and make dinner for the evening. She ran her foreleg over her brow wiping the sweat from it as she took in the sight of the beautiful sunset Princess Celestia and Princess Luna had planned for that day. “Now would'ya look at that...they out did themselves today.”

Big Mac walked over and looked at the bright purples and orange's with his gentle half lidded eyes. “Eeeyup.”

Applejack chuckled at her brothers simple agreement as she looked around the farm noticing it was oddly quiet. There were no sounds of the cattle mooing, no birds chirping, not even a cricket. Suddenly things did not feel quite so right as they did before. “Big Mac...do you notice som-....”

Her thoughts were interrupted as she turned back toward the orchard and allowed her gaze to raise skyward where she saw the largest wall of dark storm clouds begin to roll in at an unnatural pace, without the aid of any Pegasus ponies. An ill wind began to blow as the light began to fade behind them making the sight that much more ominous. The strangest thing was that there seemed to be lightning in the distance, at least halfway into the orchard, but there was no lighting. All of this worried Applejack but something else worried her more.

“Big Mac?” Her voice was quiet and calm.

“Eeeyup”

“Do you know where Apple Bloom is?”

He paused and frowned turning the look out toward the orchard as well. “Nnnope...”

Applejack frowned as she moved forward. “I don't like the look of that storm, can you go get Rainbow and Twilight from town and get them out here? If anyone can figure out whats going on, they can. I reckon that Apple Bloom is at her clubhouse with her friends. I'm going to get them out of there before that storm gets too bad.”

“Eeeyup” Big Mac had already turned and was galloping his way towards Ponyville at a brisk pace.

Applejack pushed her trademark Stetson hat firmly onto her head and reared back before galloping full force into the orchard heading straight for the CMC clubhouse. She knew that she'd find her sister and her friends there.

Fear gripped her heart though when she saw something else unwelcome in the orchard. Smoke, black billowy smoke, coming from the distance, close to where the clubhouse was supposed to be. She lowered her head gaining speed hoping that the girls were alright.

As she ran she looked up once again following the smoke into the clouds and did a double take as she thought she saw something large fall from the sky into the orchard, near where the smoke was originating from. She shook her head and refocused herself on her task, finding Applebloom and the other CMC's and making certain they were safe.

-Sweet Apple Acre's, Near the CMC clubhouse.

Grevin woke to the sensation and sound of wood breaking under him as he hit a tree, his body screaming at him in pain as he slammed in the firm ground, the sensation almost making him pass out once again. He lay there a moment groaning as he felt the familiar sensation of the wind whipping all around him in the sure sign of a storm.

Slowly he forced himself to sit up moving close to a nearby tree, using it to rest his back against it while he checked himself over. He looked around slowly making certain his neck and back wasn't injured, which surprisingly they weren't. In fact as he sat there, the pain that flowed through him began to fade and leave. This allowed him to take in his surroundings more properly. He took a quick glance around and found himself in what appeared to be a fruit orchard filled with apple trees. He couldn't help but notice that even in the dim light of the evening the color's of the tree's, the apples and even the ground he sat upon was brighter than what he remembered them being before.

Rising to his feet he took in a slow deep breath and paused as a familiar smell came to him. First there was the wonderful smell of apples with a hint of wild grass, but then washing over it was the smell of smoke, pungent and harsh. He glanced around quickly looking for the source hoping that if there was a campsite nearby it was from was filled with people who wouldn't want to fight with him.

However, as he turned his gaze brought him to another sight which filled him with concern. In the distance was a small tree house that was clearly meant for children to play in with smoke billowing out of its windows and a few holes in its roof where he could see small hints of orange and red flame. He didn't hesitate breaking into a run hoping that there was no one inside it, but his gut instincts told him otherwise.

As he got closer to the tree house, he heard the faint crying of at least one little girl as well as loud coughing. Throwing caution into the wind he leaped into the air and latched onto an open window ledge wincing slightly as the heat from the flame burned his fingertips. He pulled himself in through the window and rolled on to the floor ending in a kneeling position. He looked around quickly hoping to find the girl and get her out as quickly as possible. “Hello? Is anyone in here? I'm here to help”

“Over here!” Came the weak cry from behind a desk on the far side of the room. Moving as quickly as he could while avoiding the fire on the floor and ceiling he made his way over to her. He reached the desk and pulled it aside without second thought. “Quickly, we must get you out of here.” However, he paused a moment when he saw two sets of eyes on him, both of which belonged to small colorful creatures unlike anything he had really seen before.

Two of them, one orange with purple hair, and one white with purple pinkish hair stared up at him in fear, but he noticed that they stood in front of another one that was yellow, had red hair and a bow in her hair. He knew that they didn't have time to wait. “I know I seem strange...but I'm here to help, will you let me help you?”

The orange one moved forward “Yes, please, our friend Apple Bloom is hurt...”

He nodded, “Very well” He glanced over his shoulder noticing the fire getting stronger. Turning back to them, he didn't hesitate leaning down and scooping the three filly’s up despite the scared whimpers that came from them. “For the next few moments you must trust me...”

They stopped shaking instantly and he wasted no time making a run for the open window. He bounded across the floor, the boards groaning under the weight and motion. Just as he reached the window there was a sudden flash of heat and he felt something strong hit his back throwing them all out the window. He kept his grip on the girls tucking and rolling as they fell so when they all hit, he landed back first and they used him as a cushion, knocking the wind from him.

The two filly's pulled their friend off of him and away from the flame as he again grunted and sat up pulling his cloak back over his armor covered chest. He looked over at them as they stood over their friend, concern showing on their grime covered faces. He moved closer and knelt down. “Is she breathing?”

The white one, who he now noticed was a unicorn cried softly. “Barely...she won't wake up...”

He frowned as he closed his eyes. “Please....trust me for just a moment longer....” He searched within himself once more tapping into an ability he used rarely. He heard the two filly's gasp and he opened his eyes to see the gems in his forearm guards glowing fiercely spreading up from his arms to his hands. He reached down and placed a hand over the shallow breathing filly and took in a slow deep breath as he allowed the glow to was over her.

At first Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell could only watch in awe as Apple Bloom's color improved and her breathing deepened. Slowly her eyes began to open and she took in a deep shaky breath. Grevin pulled back his hands as the glow left them and rested his fists on the ground next to her. Slowly she sat up looking around. “Girls? W...What happened?”

She looked to her side and saw a large figure hulking over her with its hands on the ground breathing deeply. “W..Whats that?”

The figure tensed and sat back a bit before Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell stepped in. “He..it...saved us Apple Bloom! “

She turned and looked at him with wide eyes. “...Wow....”

Grevin inwardly sighed as he sat back on his haunches letting his forearms rest on his knees. He hurt now, and the smoke didn't help. He was about to suggest they move away from the still burning tree's when he heard a loud voice shout.

“What in Tar-nation!”

He tried to turn his head to face whoever spoke but was quickly met by a feirce pain slamming into his chest, and chin blurring his vision and knocking him back several feet through the air causing him to once again slam into his back. He groaned as she brought his hand to his now bleeding chin and clutched his tender jaw. “Great....”