I was just an ordinary colt. Living an ordinary life. With an ordinary family. In an ordinary cottage. Full of ordinary everyday objects. My name was Rogue, named after the adopted son of Daring Do. My story starts out right before the accident happens because it's quite a long life after that.

"Mom? What's the difference between magic and amazing talent?" I asked to my mother, who laid beside me, watching me with love as I read the book, Magic and Harmony of Equestria.

"Well, sweetie, magic is what the unicorns use to help levitate things, as you know. But it can also be used for fighting, searching, and enhancing abilities. Having an amazing talent, though, it's something different. Ponies with amazing abilities can do many amazing things as if it were magic. Take me, for example. I may not be able to use magic or fly, but I can create anything out of scaps of metal and wood in extraordinary ways! It all depends on their interests."

"Yeah, but what will I get to do? I'm interested in too many things! Will I get a Cutie Mark in construction, like you? Or science, like Dad? Or maybe even be a ROYAL GUARD?" I ask.

"I'm sure you'll find your special talent in due time."

I shrugged. I continued reading my book:

'The Elements of Harmony were first created from the Tree of Harmony. The six gems were discovered by Princess Celestia and her younger sister, Princess Luna, in the leaves of the magical tree. They each protected three of the gems and controlled them, using them to fight against evil and disharmony. But after Princess Luna was banished to the moon, Princess Celestia sent her apprentice, Princess Twilight Sparkle, to make friends and become the next bearers of the Elements of Harmony, and used them the same way the two sisters did. But Princess Twilight and her five friends created a strong bond, making the magic from the gems even stronger...'

I placed my bookmark on that page, and closed the book. I stood up, and trotted around the house. Sometimes I'm allowed to come into my dad's laboratory and watch his experiments, or maybe even help him! Dad's a mad genius. Maybe I should go and see if he'll let me in. As I trot into the hallway towards his lab, I hear zapping noises and waves of magic aura. I stopped in front of the door, then knocked on it. The room was silent for a split second before my dad, known as Chemistry Master, poked his head out through a small hole in the door. His ears perked up with delight.

"Oh! Perfect timing, son," he said, "I was just about to finish one of my most recent and VERY complicated experiments. You want to come in and have a look?"

"Sure," I said. Hopefully Mom wouldn't mind. Normally when Dad gets into anything complex, Mom tries to keep me busy and out of the lab. Anyway, the door opened, and I step inside, feeling the wood give way into metal. The lights were off, but there were lamps at every station table, each shining their light on papers full of math and equations, or on vials with labels on them to keep the user from getting confused. Dad beckoned me towards him, and I followed, curious to find out what was sitting on the table in front of me. I pulled up a stool and hopped on it, then gasped at what I saw. There was a giant canvas, and on that canvas looked like paint that rapidly changed colors, creating a moving picture. It looked like a field on a sunny day, with a giant building made of a white metal. Steam came out of the top, and blended in with the tiny specks of clouds already in the sky.

I have never seen anything like it. "Wow," I murmured, "Dad, how did you do that?"

"It takes chemistry, magic, and art to create a picture, or portal, of what happens far away from our world. I call it, the Artistic Portal!" Wait, that was a portal? I looked at my dad. "What does this portal lead to?" I asked.

"Well... I don't know," he replied. He looked through it again, then said, "it looks like some kind of factory. Maybe it's a factory that smelts metals from ore. That would explain the steam." I kept staring at the picture in awe. It was beautiful, very tempting to step into, and somehow almost as if that place were calling to me. Eventually, Dad nudged my shoulder. "Go on and help your mother make dinner. It's spaghetti tonight! Your favorite!" He said. I nodded and trotted out of the lab. I shut the lab door behind me, making sure not to secure the lock too tightly.