Standing atop a hill, overlooking a small town, stood two cloaked figures, their faces completely shrouded in shadow. The shorter of the two, in an obviously feminine voice, says ”Well, here we are.”

Raising an eyebrow “Are you sure this is where he is? Because that is wh-” questions the taller one.

“For the hundredth time, the file only reported that he was last seen in this area.” replies the shorter one with an eye roll and an exasperated tone.

“*sigh*Alright ... then let’s get this over with!” with a grin and a fist pump.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“SPIIIKE!!”

A young dragon pops his head around the corner of a bookcase, revealing part of his lime green underbelly surrounded by purple scales.

”Yeah Twilight?” ask the hatchling, while munching on an emerald.

“I’m heading out to see Fluttershy for a few hours – keep an eye on the everything while I’m gone. Also no snacking either or you’ll ruin your appetite for dinner” says Twilight, using a bit a magic to knock the gem from his grasp.

“Okay Twilight” he replies sullenly. “Have fun at Fluttershy’s.”

As he watches Twilight walk through the doorway, her lavender coat glows brightly as warm sunlight suffuses her whole body, highlighting the very tip of her wings and horn. Once she closes the door he walks over to the emerald and pops what’s left into his mouth eating it in a single crunch.

Walking briskly through the town, Twilight smiles and waves to everypony she passes, stopping to talk to some of them every once in awhile. Deciding to stop by Applejack’s apple stand to say hello and see how her one of her other friends is doing, she makes a quick detour.

Approaching the stand with a smile and a wave. “Hello Applejack, how are you doing today?” asks Twilight happily.

“Howdy Twi! Ah’m alright! What’re ya up to today?” responds Applejack wearing a warm, friendly smile.

“Not very much, I am heading off to visit Fluttershy for a little while. After that I am not too sure, but I do have a few books I have yet to start reading in my new library. How are sales today?”

“Oh they ain’t too bad, a bit slower than usual, but it happens. Well, say hi to Fluttershy fer me when ya see her. Also here’s an apple fer the two of ya, free o’ charge” Replied Applejack as she hands two apples to Twilight.

“Thank you Applejack, I’ll tell her you said hi. Hope business picks up eventually.” Twilight waves goodbye while storing the apples in her satchel. Then starts making her way back towards Fluttershy’s cottage.

A little while later, on the dirt road that leads to Fluttershy’s cottage, a sudden roar echoes off from her right. Twilight stops listening intently, and abruptly changes direction to investigate. Nearing the roaring cries, she sees a manticore attacking somepony. Twilight swiftly fires several magical blasts into the manticore’s side, stunning it momentarily and causing it to slide back several feet. She uses the opportunity to help the pony up, pushing them away, which unfortunately consequence of momentarily exposing her back to the manticore. Swiftly shaking off the blast the manticore turns towards her, snarling through its sharp teeth surges towards her. Hearing the manticore’s enraged snarl she turns back around, only to get struck on the side of the head by the manticore’s paw. The vicious strike knocks her to the ground rendering her unconscious. The manticore raises its’ tail and starts drooling as it anticipates its next meal. With a vicious grin it launches its tail towards her head, looking to end the fight and devour its next meal now.

“Why don’t you pick on somebody your own size?” Using the flat side of an unusual dagger, a cloaked figure stops the sharp tip of the tail in mid-air, and then knocks it out of the way.

Grinning beneath the hood, the cloaked in a sudden movement lightly kicks Twilights body backwards a few feet. The manticore growls threateningly, and prepares to attack again. It lunges towards the cloaked figure, swiping with its’ left paw. The cloaked figure instinctively jumps backwards avoiding the blow. After regaining its balance the manticore raises its giant right paw for a vicious downward strike. At the last second, the cloaked figure side-steps the giant paw as it comes crashing violently to the ground. The manticore realizing it missed, jumps back making space between the two of them angry that something has interfered with its meal again.

As the world slowly comes back into focus for Twilight, she begins running her mental checklist for when waking up unexpectedly. Where am I? What hap… That’s right I was attacked by a manticore! Why am I still alive? Did somepony save me? She slowly begins to take in her immediate surroundings and notices a cloaked figure standing between her and the manticore. Who is that standing in front of me? She wonders to herself. Who would be crazy enough to fight a manticore!? Oh wait… I just did. She looks up at the cloaked figure curiously. She realizes that the cloaked figure is trying to speak to her “You might wanna step back a little there Miss”. The cloaked figure informs her in a firm tone. Before she even realizes what she is doing she stands up and takes a several steps back, putting distance between her and the fight.

The manticore growls and paws at the dirt in preparation to charge again, letting the cloaked figure know it’s ready for round two. The cloaked figure chuckles as he flips the dagger into a reverse grip. “Well let’s go already Mr. Boo-Boo Kitty Fuck.”
They charge each other, but the manticore gets into striking distance first, driving its’ tail towards the cloaked figure. The cloaked figure leans to the inside of the strike stepping in towards the manticore, striking it violently on the side of the head with the metal guard that covers the handle, knocking the beast out cold.

The cloaked figure stands up straight chuckling “Well, that was exciting”, flipping the dagger upright and giving it two quick flicks towards the ground then flips it back to a reverse grip before sheathing it behind his back, under the cloak.
The sound of hoof steps from behind draw the attention of both the cloaked figure and Twilight. Turning around Twilight spots another cloaked figure, this one shorter than the first.

“Oh, hey Mira. How did it go?” ask Twilights unusual savior.

“Everything went fine. I stunned him, put a sleep spell on him, and dropped him off at Town Hall. How did your end go?” replies the now named Mira.

“What were you expect…” Grabbing his side suddenly his balance wavered, his eyes glazed over, and as his body started sinking to the ground, he muttered “Aww crap…not again”

Mira quickly walks over to the cloaked figure with a raised eyebrow “Walker..?” As she reaches his side he collapses to the ground and slips into unconsciousness.

Author's Note

And so the adventure begins....