"I-I didn't mean to!"

It was a familiar cry, made by a strangled, nasal, and above all else whiny voice. A voice that (through regular exposure) had become akin to hooves on a chalkboard to many of its owner's friends. They didn't hate him. Hate would imply genuine loathing, instead it was that nagging, tiring, kind of irritation. The kind where you damn well know the result of any action, but have to humour someone to ensure you give them the chance to (miraculously) prove you wrong.

Starswirl wasn't a particularly cruel or callous pony. Arrogant, yes. He'd admit to that. When you're a polymath advancing society in leaps and bounds it's not exactly unexpected your head would swell somewhat. He wasn't cruel though. Thus, when he discovered Stygian in his experimental time-space warp tunnel construction lab (or 'mirror room' as young Luna referred to it) surrounded by shards of his latest prototype, well, he quashed the immediate urge to render the Unicorn limb from limb. That was progress.

"I'm not mad Stygian, I'm just..." he sighed, "...confused, let us say. There are hundreds of portals within this room, vast unexplored territories, sights beyond measure, and even one to our very own moon! Yet you choose to tamper with the only thing I cared about."

Stygian paused in his fretting, head tilted in confusion.

"Wait, why a portal to the moon?"

An embarrassed cough left the Arch Mage, "It would be polite to say Princess Luna had certain 'objections' to her domain being utilised as a research and storage facility.” Starswirls face hardened, “That is neither here nor there though young Stygian, I require answers, not questions!”

The lanky stallion seemed to deflate, a downcast expression on his face.

“I merely wanted to understand the portal magic Starswirl, with it my tactics and strategies-”

“Are best served as they are!” the Unicorn snapped, his answer final. Whilst the effect was immediate, the results weren't quite what he expected. The poor youth looked less scolded and closer to tears, his gawky face a mess of emotion. Years ago he'd have scoffed and left the fool to wallow in his pity, still, those damnable sisters had rubbed off on him.

“Come now Stygian,” he said, awkwardly placing a hoof gently on his shaking comrade's withers, “I understand Magnus has made one of his delectable honey cakes let us forget all about this over a slice, eh?”

The duo carefully made their way out, thoughts of cake and ale leaving them ignorant to the scattered mirror shard's subtle glow...

...and so we begin!

I've had this idea rolling around for a while. Lots of short (500-1000 words) pieces, stuff that COULD be stories, or could just be cute ideas. My intent is to try and only use one character at a time, not the same again and again and again. Though certain stories may reoccur.