Author's Note

"Bon-Appetite! The main course has arrived. Now the real story starts with cake, confetti, and ga--" Hey! What are you doing here?! Get back in the story for the next chapter! *Lighthearted giggles and then a slam of a door.*

Sheesh. Well. I'm glad to have this finished to properly get the train moving. Now, I can focus on work and developing a plot for later chapters. I do have many ideas already, it's just getting that time into it. Thanks for giving it a read to here at least!

Chapter 1: Strange readings, new sightings.

"Spike! Can you please get me the book of Abnormal Energies? We are going to need it for the task at hand!" The lavender alicorn called out. Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship, and mentor to Princess Celestia. Speaking of whom, had just sent her a letter explaining about some disturbance somewhere just in the borders of the Everfree Forest. It was also locally reported that there was a faint thunderous sound in the middle of the night, even though there was no telltale storm scheduled for the next week. Rainbow Dash was already questioned if she was about flying in the middle of the night. It was unlikely anyway, it would be too dark for ANY pegasus to be flying. The bookworm shook her head clear as a telltale scratching was heard getting louder.

"I *pant* got it Twilight! Whoo... you really need to get the study a little *wheeze* closer to the library part of the castle. A dragon can only get so *huff* much exercise before he passes out." The small purple and green dragon puttered out as he stumbled to hand the book out to her. Spike was a good assistant through and through. He would have a spare quill at the ready as soon as Twilight would wear her current one out or snapped it by accident. He'd carry a whole stack of books while having his tail holding a bunch of scrolls with his tail, still happy to help afterwards. Twilight smiled as she took the book with her levitative skills and placed it in her satchel bags, with the other assortment of papers and inks.

"Thank you Spike, we are still trying to get this place settled after it formed. These rooms are currently temporary and we have all the time we need to adjust the rooms as necessary. If we can find the rooms again that is, hehe." Twilight chuckled. It was true, sometimes the castle was a bit unfamiliar and could get a bit disorienting. She'd have to make a mental map to map an actual map to help ponies navigate in the future. For now however, there was a mission that needed her and the others. The energies could be something sinister, or could just be a magical fluke in the atmosphere. It needed clearance just in case. Either way, it be good to get out of the castle for some fresh air.

Spike salutes as he pulls out a checklist and goes over everything in the purple pony's bags, checking the items as he finds them. In less than a minute he nods proudly and shows the completed checklist with quills, ink, books, and other science instruments. "It looks good to go, when shall we head out to meet the others?"

Twilight held up a hoof to Spike in a 'matter-of-fact' notion. "Actually, they are meeting us here so I can show them where on the map we need to go. They also need a refresher on the task at hoof." She then began to trot out the study doors into the castles expansive hallways. "Depending on how this goes, it could be just a fluke in the air, or it can be a new discovery!" She felt giddy. She always loved to learn or discover something new. It's one of the reasons she became Princess Celestia's most prized student. If it was about learning everything about anything, it be Twilight.

Her brisk walk stopped as she entered a large room with a very nice 'chandelier' in the center of the ceiling. At the floor just under it, an large crystal table surrounded with many chairs each with a different cutie-mark. The Table itself shown a detailed map of most of Equestria, clouds and all. Twilight walked over to a chair that matched her cutie-mark and sat upon it, opening another book and going over probable inhabitants near the area of interest. Animals, plants, air composition, even weather patterns were considered in her eyes. Spike overlooked the notes she had started taking and frowned questionably.

"It all that really necessary Twi? I mean, it doesn't seem like it would be that big of a deal. Like, seriously, 'potential travel patterns?'" Twilight didn't hear his concern however. She was lost in the information she would think she'd need.

A loud knocking emanated from the castle doors in the tone of 'shave-and-a-haircut' then creaked lightly open as a yellow snout came into view. Then blue eyes and a pink mane slipped in as a quiet voice almost unheard spoke. "Uh, o-oh um. Twilight, are here?" She gazed about and centered on the alicorn in question and relaxed a smidgen. "Oh there you are Twilight! I- um, I hope I'm not too early. I could come back a bit later of it's too much of a bother." She lowered herself almost already backing out the door. Twilight shook her head and motions a hoof.

"Oh hello Fluttershy! I almost didn't notice you, and no, you are not a bother at all. Please have a seat until the others arrive." She mentally giggled. Fluttershy was anti-social with others, although if it was a friend she could be more open. If only just. She had definitely improved since she last met the yellow pegasus. Albeit she wasn't as 'adventurous' as the rest of her friends. "Would you like some tea or something to eat while we wait?" Twilight inquired.

"That sounds... nice." The shy one said as she took her seat.

It didn't take too long of a wait. Rarity a white unicorn shown up punctual as a rather intricate sundress and hat. Shortly after Applejack and Pinkie, both earth ponies orange and pink respectively, came in with assortments of food and drinks. All were idly chatting about the day before Rarity spoke up. "Honestly, were IS Rainbow Dash? She said she would be on time for this. Lagging behind on her 'flying practice' no doubt." She exclaimed a bit agitated.

"Now ther's no guessin' what Dash is up to, but she'll git here when she gits here." The orange cowpony sighed. As if life was waiting for that exact moment, a loud crash goes through the castle doors. The doors swing with a 'boom' as a Rainbow blue whizzes across the table, thumps into the chair, flipping said chair, then slows as a cyan blue pegasus rolls into the wall. Most of the ponies roll their eyes, the pink one giggles happily.

"Present, here, reporting for duty, ow." The dazed Rainbow Dash said swaying to and fro trying to stand upright. Her feathers looked crumpled and messy, her amethyst eyes drooping from left to right. She then shook her head a bit and brought her attention to the others looking at her. "What?" Pinkie just giggled.

"That was an awesome landing Dashie! It would have been cooler if the chair was bolted on the floor so you could land on the cushion! Or would that have been worse? OH! Maybe it could have been like bowling with us as the pins! *GASP* That sounds like an amazing new game! I gotta write that down for a party! Maybe I can find a way to-" Pinkie ranted out as Twilight facehoofed.

"Pinkie..." Twilight deadpanned. The sugary pony didn't cease as Rainbow trotted up to the table. "Pinkie?" Twilight said again, slightly annoyed at the neverending rampage of speech. Dash looked horrified at some of the rules of the game the pink one explained. "PINKIE!"

"Yes Twilight?" The pink mare responded with a flutter of her eyes.

"Focus Pinkie, we are all here now. Let's get to business shall we?" Twilight said with a nod. The others agreed, Dash still looked horrified at Pinkie.

They all stood at the edge of the everfree forest, Spike deciding to stay and readjust the castles library and studies. Ominous sounds echoed from the depths of the darkness. Some causing the yellow pegasus to shiver. "U-uh, do we 'have' to go in there now? W-we can come back another time when we are more... prepared?" she said almost to herself. Twilight nodded her head, putting a hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder.

"The destination is not that far in, only fifty yards or so. We will get a quick magic analysis, and be out in less then thirty minutes." The alicorn reassured. That still didn't account for anything being there already or to jump them before arrival. That's a bridge to cross when they get there. Twilight begins to trot towards the forest. "Let's just get this over with, right girls?" She glances back as she does.

"Yer Darn tootin'! Sooner we get in there teh sooner we git out." The orange mare exclaims. The white unicorn shakes her head but walks just behind them.

"I did not plan to be walking into that awful forest or I would not have wore my finer dresses! Rarity complained. "All those musty vines and jutting roots will be a travesty to the durability of it's craftsmanship!" She then brought a hoof to a fainting position as Rainbow rolls her eyes.

"She DID say where it was before hoof. It was in the letters she sent us. If it's that bad Rares' I can carry you over most of it." Dash offered. Rarity looked aghast.

"And have you scuff up the fabric with your hooves!? I shall not be carried with that risk! I-I would rather walk instead." Rarity decided.

Pinkie just bounced along side them as she hummed "giggle at the ghosties' just excited as usual. "So whaddaya think this anomaly is Twilight? Is it gonna be a good thing? Or is it gonna be super extra scary?" She questioned as she started bounced left and right of Twilight, just as they entered the forests treeline.

Twilight's horn began to glow dimly as she focus on analyzing the area. "I think its going to be a simple fluke, but the way Celestia worded it, its sounds like it could be a serious thing. The disturbance felt negative and could be some dark magic. Either way, we have to be careful." Twilight answered, getting a headache from trying to follow the bouncy mare's movement.

"I hope its some awesome ancient artifact! There might be a chance Daring Do might be there as we would all get to be in the next book!" Rainbow fangirled, doing a loop at the mere thought.

"I-I hope its nothing b-but a fluke. I don't want anything bad happening to anypony or anything..." The shy one added.

"Ah don't see why we all hafta' be here fer this, Ah mean, you see tah be more then capable to handle this here 'disturbance Twi." Applejack stated. Twilight just sighed.

"It's to make sure if it IS something, it isn't something that may be a danger to all Equestria. We need to be there if a threat need to be neutralized. Also, the more of us, the better our chances at safety." Twilight affirmed. Her horn started to change color a bit. "Oh! I think I picked up something over there!" the alicorn pointed to the right.

"About time, the longer we stay here, the more stress will get to my dress!" Rarity stated trying hard to avoid another patch of mud. Rainbow and Applejack just rolled their eyes.

Twilight and the gang soon came across a small clearing as Twilight's horn shone in a red color now. "Okay girls, we should be right on top of-- whoa!" She gazed upon the sight as the others followed suit, gasping at the sight.

The clearing was smouldering with a dark cloud, a fire long put out. All surrounding a body of something lying on the center of the blackened earth, sprinkled with twigs and leaves. The body had a dark tan skin, short brown hair, and dressed in a singed white t-shirt and black slacks with bare feet. The body splayed out face down. Twilight's horn flared up as the magic pinged bright red and turned off, now only giving a subtle light.

"W-what is that thing Twi?" Rainbow asked hovering just over the still body. Flying in a small circle to get a full view of things.

"I... I don't know. This doesn't look like any creature ever recorded before. This could be a whole new species!" Twilight announced with her eyes sparkling widely. "We HAVE to study it after I take an analysis of the area around it." She continued as she started pulling out a few instruments of science out of her saddlebags.

"Is it even alive? I'm not carrying a corpse around you know." Rainbow huffed.

"Disgusting! Please do hurry up. I don't want to have a rotting stench settling anywhere on me." Rarity irked.

"That's... a very gud question Rainbow. Should we make shure that its breathin' before we start doin' that ana-what's-it?" Applejack agreed.

Twilight groaned and put aside the notepad over the energy in the air. "Fine, I'll see creature is alive." Her horn then lit up as magic enveloped around the neck, only for it to poof away instantly after contact. "W-what!?" Twilight exclaimed as she tried again to envelop a field of magic to scan the body for anything pulse related, only for the magic to once again fizzle out.

"Is your horn broken Twilight?" Pinkie asked suddenly intrigued walking to mere inches from the creatures forelimb.

"No! It's either the forest, or the creature is heavily magic resistant! Fascinating! I guess I'll just have to get the readings around him first then." The alicorn exclaimed. Writing down more in her levitating notepad.

Pinkie looked very inquisitive over the lying form at her hooves. Fluttershy soon joined beside her just as curious as the pink one. And in that curiosity, the gentle one lifted her hoof and poked at its arm.

*Twitch*

"Uh girls..." Fluttershy started. "I think its uh.. alive."