PROLOGUE

It was another quiet night in Canterlot. The cresent moon played centerpiece to the clear, star filled sky. Down below, three ponies, clad in dark hoods, stood on a fairly small stone bridge that arced over a calm shallow river. Neither of them had said a word to each other for nearly an hour.

“It's time.” Penn Jewell said quietly. The other two of the group, Dust and Echo, looked up slowly, their eyes glaring out from under the rims of their hoods.

“I still don't feel right about this” Dust spoke up, facing his leader with concern. “We shouldn't be doing this without-”

“We don't need him” Penn cut her partner off. The last thing she needed right now was to hear doubt. If everything was going to go as planned tonight, she would need her teamates to be fully focused on the task. She wasn't about to let weeks of planning go out the window on an uneasy feeling.

“All we need to do is follow the plan, and we can have the book, and be out of Equestria in less than an hour.” Penn said. Dust stared back at her for a few seconds before giving a small nod. Penn grinned in return. Of course nothing would go wrong, why did she even doubt it in the first place? Being the brute that he was, Dust could be a bit misguided sometimes, but if you pointed him in the right direction, maybe throw in a treat or two, and he would give it his all.

“Hmph.” A grunt of disaproval sounded from Echo, who looked away briefly. Penn's grin faded as quickly as it had appeared. Echo was the complete opposite of his brother, Dust. He was a thinkner, for sure. Logic and reason were his best friends, and if he concluded that something would go wrong, he wasn't shy about letting his thoughts be known.

“Speak up.” Penn ordered. “I don't need you thinking twice either.”

“You're being niave.” Echo said, letting little emotion show. “It's foolish to expect this to go off perfectly.” His eyes met Penn's with an icy stare. Penn shook her head, not surprised at his disapproving comment.

“I don't expect anything like that.” Penn responded quickly. “I expect us to get that book by any means, but that'll be hard to do if I can't count on you two to help me out with everything you have. So are we doing this, or not?”

Silence fell over the group once again, giving Penn her answer.

“Then let's get going.”

The three left the bridge, disappearing into the night as they headed for Canterlot Castle. Penn wasn't going to stop now. She was driven by progress and planning. This HAD to work. She simply couldn't imagine an alternative. Being down a member might have left an impact on the group, but it hadn't broken it. Besides, if all went well, which it WOULD, they would never have to do something like this again.

Penn licked her lips in anticipation. It was time to get the Poet's Grimoire.

Author's Note

Hey all! Thanks for taking time to start reading my fic Although I've been practicing creative writing for a few years, this is the first story I've ever have the nerve to show to the world :T That being said, I hope you like it! I'd also greatly appreciate constructive criticism.