The Everfree

Praetorian Sunset Shimmer trudged through the muddy roads of Ponyville, her once gleaming white boots, now a dirty brown. Alongside her was five other guards, each wearing the standard golden armor, with a spear in hand. They were here to investigate reports about a strange monster on the edge of the Everfree Forest. Normally they would just send the guards, but with the decades of peace, the Praetorian Guard was more or less just ore elite guards that were sent out on the same missions. This usually involved defending towns against bandits, or stopping out of control bar fights. She suspected this was no different.

Of course, the Praetorians were still extremely feared and revered, their skill and specially made armor only adding to it. Even now the guards trailing behind her whispered and murmured, believing to be out of earshot from her. This was obviously not the case though, especially considering that they were only about 3 steps behind her.

Her thoughts were cut off as a pink pony suddenly appeared in front of her. Instincts flipping in, Sunset drew the sword from her waist, bringing it up to the ponies neck. This however, didn't seem to matter enough to her, as she simply stood there smiling, slightly bouncing up and down.

"Hey there, are you new to Ponyville? Wait! Beore you answer that what flavour muffins do you like?" She said at what seemed like the speed of light. This pony had clearly had too much sugar.

Clearing her throat, she sheathed her sword, not wanting to appear more hostile than she already did. "I am Praetorian Sunset Shimmer and me and a small detachment of guards have come to investigate the monster sightings." She said, noting how the ponies expression fell for just a second before picking itself back up.

"Oh yeah that, come on I'll show you to it." She said before turning around and walking off, likely in the direction of the Everfree.

Looking around Sunset noted how the locals were nowhere to be seen, except for the occasional face looking out a window and pony at a stall. These ponies were obviously scared of this monster. Although, most ponies were scared of a lot of things. She had met one pony who was scared of doors. She didn't have time to think of that however as they soon reached the edge of the Everfree.

What she didn't expect to see was a pony.

"I'm sorry where is the monster?" She asked the pink pony

Gulping, she pointed a shakey finger at the pony. Said pony had black skin, with a blue hoodie on. it also appeared to be lying on a tree, it's hood pulled over its head. The faint sound of snoring also eminated from it. Eyebrows raised she slowly approached it, shooting a confused look at the pink pony, only to find her gone. Confusion only growing she slowly continued her approach.

She froze. Then, at that moment, she understood why the locals were scared. Underneath the creatures back, barely visible, was a pair of wings. But not just any wings, but leathery, bat like wings. Her understanding increased tenfold though, as suddenly the creature yawned, revealing a pair of sharp, gleaming white fangs. It soon began to shuffle looking up with slitted blue eye, raising an eyebrow at the Praetorian above him and the guards behind her.

"Morning." It said, stretching it's arms. Looking back up, it frowned at her, "Anything I can help you with?" It said, beginning to stand up.

Reacting instantly, Sunset drew her sword, placing it on it's neck. "Don't move monster." She said threateningly.

Freezing, the creature raised it's hands, slowly lowering itself to the ground before sighing. "So you're like the locals too 'ey." It said, looking up at her with a sad look in it's eyes, "Thinking I'm a monster cause I'm different? I expected better from Equestrians."

Sunset stared at it in confusion. If it wasn't a monste, what was it? It appeared to be a pony. Some twisted type of pony. "Well, if you aren't a monster, what are you?" She asked, lessening the pressure of the sword on it's neck.

"I'm a thestral, though I don't expect you to know what that means. Not many do." It replied, a thoughtful look on it's face.

Sunset's eyes lit up. A brand new species. And apparently, no one else knew about them. Before Sunset had joined the Praetorians she had been an extreme book nerd, obsessed with research and knowledge. Clearly she still had some of that in there. Before she could continue to ask questions however, an arrow landed at her feet, causing her to jump back in shock. Looking back she saw that several other arrows had landed at the other guard's feet.

Looking back she found the thestral gone from it's spot underneath the tree, a small note replacing him. Cautiously, Sunset approached it, eyes shooting to every tree in an attempt to find the archer. Her efforts were in vain however, as she failed ot locate it. Sighing, she crouched down to pick up the note, reading it.

Dear Equestrian,

Enclosed is a letter to your leader, able to only be read by a ruler.

Therefore, any attempts you may make to read it will be in vain.

⎅⟒⏃⍀ ⟒☌⎍⟒⌇⏁⍀⟟⏃,

⏁⊑⟟⌇ ⟟⌇ ⏃ ⋔⟒⌇⌇⏃☌⟒ ⎎⍀⍜⋔ ⌿⍀⟟⋏☊⟒ ⌰⊬☊⏃⋏ ⍜⎎ ⏁⊑⟒ ⌿⍀⟟⋏☊⟟⌿⏃⌰⟟⏁⊬ ⍜⎎ ⟒⎐⟒⍀⎎⍀⟒⟒.

⏃⎎⏁⟒⍀, ☊⟒⋏⏁⎍⍀⟟⟒⌇ ⍜⎎ ⟟⌇⍜⌰⏃⏁⟟⍜⋏ ⎎⍀⍜⋔ ⏁⊑⟒ ⍜⏁⊑⟒⍀ ⍀⏃☊⟒⌇, ⍙⟒ ⊑⏃⎐⟒ ⎅⟒☊⟟⎅⟒⎅ ⏁⍜ ⍜⌿⟒⋏ ⎅⟟⌿⌰⍜⋔⏃⏁⟟☊ ⍀⟒⌰⏃⏁⟟⍜⋏⌇.

⋏⍜⍙, ⏃⌇ ⍙⟒ ⊑⏃⎐⟒ ⋏⍜⏁ ⎅⟟⌇☊⎍⌇⌇⟒⎅, ⍜⍀ ⎅⟒☊⟟⎅⟒⎅ ⏚⍜⍀⎅⟒⍀⌇, ☍⋏⍜⍙ ⏁⊑⟟⌇.

⏁⊑⟒ ⟒⎐⟒⍀⎎⍀⟒⟒ ⎎⍜⍀⟒⌇⏁, ⏃⋏⎅ ⏃⌰⌰ ⟟⏁ ⟒⋏⏁⏃⟟⌰⌇ ⟟⌇ ⏃ ⌿⏃⍀⏁ ⍜⎎ ⏁⊑⟒ ⌿⍀⟟⋏☊⟟⌿⏃⌰⟟⏁⊬.

⟟⎎ ⊬⍜⎍ ⍙⟟⌇⊑ ⏁⍜ ⋔⟒⟒⏁ ⍙⟟⏁⊑ ⎍⌇ ⏁⊑⟒⋏ ⊬⍜⎍ ⊬⍜⎍⍀⌇⟒⌰⎎ ⋔⎍⌇⏁ ☊⍜⋔⟒ ⟟⋏⏁⍜ ⏁⊑⟒ ⎎⍜⍀⟒⌇⏁ ⍙⟟⏁⊑ ⏃ ☌⎍⏃⍀⎅ ⍜⎎ ⋏⍜ ⋔⍜⍀⟒ ⏁⊑⏃⋏ ⎎⟟⎐⟒.

⟟ ⌰⍜⍜☍ ⎎⍜⍀⍙⏃⍀⎅ ⏁⍜ ⋔⟒⟒⏁⟟⋏☌ ⊬⍜⎍,

⌿⍀⟟⋏☊⟒ ⌰⊬☊⏃⋏ ⍜⎎ ⏁⊑⟒ ⟒⎐⟒⍀⎎⍀⟒⟒.

Sunset rolled the note up almost immediately before sending it to the Queen via magic. Turning back to the guards, she found them inspecting the arrows, while also glancing warily at the forest. Standing up, one of the guards approached her, arrow in hand.

"Praetorian, these arrows, they... They're made of a material that isn't on the periodic table. They are literally an unkown metal." She said, looking at the arrowhead in marvel. Looking closer Sunset could indeed see that it was an entirely new metal. These, thestrals as they called themselves seemed to be getting more and more interesting.

Leaving those thoughts for another time, she sheathed her sword, only just realizing it was still in her hands she placed her hands behind her back, facing the squad fully.

"Attention!" She yelled, bringing every guard to a stop as they snapped straight up, turning back to her.

Satisfied, she barked another order, "Guards! We are going back to Canterlot for new assignment. Mission is completed." And with that, they marched off...