Iveron, Chapter One - The Bloodstained Grass

"Another patrol? Great, when will anything interesting happen?" complained one of the recruits, a green unicorn with a bow.
"Well now that the war is over there isn't much more to do besides scouting and patrols." said the eldest of the four recruits, a grey pegasus with a sword slung over his back.
"Hey, what's that?" the third recruit, a yellow mare, pointed into the distance towards a bush that seemed to be moving towards a tree
"Your worst nightmare!" a voice howled, nobody had noticed that the fourth recruit had gone missing. And now he was right in front of them, blood splatters covering his face and side, and his blood spilling onto the grass.
"Oh my Celestia!" the mare stepped backwards in shock, seconds later she was lying on the ground, an arrow through her heart.
"No, Daffodil!" the green unicorn ran to her side and was quickly flanked by three griffons wearing bandanas with the symbol of a storm cloud and with knives in their claws.
"So, you're part of Celestia's pathetic excuse for an army, aren't you?" a voice came from behind the grey pony and he spun around, a wolf smiling at him, showing off his vicious looking teeth. Behind him the last recruit heard the archer screaming in agony.
"What I want you to do is run back home and tell your little princess that Iveron is live and well, not that the name would mean anything to to you." the wolf shoved the startled pony to the ground and laughed, "Have fun." Two unicorns with bows slung over their backs fell down from the treetops and followed the wolf with the griffons close behind. He looked behind him and grimaced as he observed the carnage. He looked down at the bloodstained grass and stood up and began walking towards Ponyville where his superiors would be waiting.

"Excuse me, sir?" the grey stallion approached the general, a white unicorn with golden armor adorned with numerous medals.
"What is it, soldier?" the general looked up from the map of Equestria he was drawing a mock battle plan on.
"We were doing a patrol in the Everfree forest, we were ambushed by a bunch of bandits, two ponies, a wolf, and three griffons, they murdered the other three recruits with me and I barely escaped." he explained, "They were all wearing bandanas with the mark of a storm cloud. Something about some pony named Iveron."
"Oh Celestia, I must warn the princesses..." the general looked deathly afraid of something and ran off to the pegasi carriage drivers to head straight to Canterlot.

"Dare, you there?" the blood red peagsus was busy wrapping his wings in bandages with the help of his sister when someone came knocking on the door. Dare stood up and made his way over to the door, a bandage trailing behind him. He opened the door and the young sky blue dragon known as Sapphire stood in front of him.
"Kate found us a job, we have to head to Canterlot tomorrow to meet the princesses."
"What!?" Dare's eyes widened. He had never really met the princesses due to them being a not very well known mercenary group in a place where mercenaries were generally not needed or frowned upon. But their first job in months from Celestia and Luna? He was excited, even though he was enjoying his break, but things got pretty boring when you're used to adventure and danger.
"Get your stuff ready, we're meeting outside the mayors house at noon tomorrow." Sapphire shut the door and walked off into the distance.
"So, you're meeting the princesses?" his sister asked, looking at him eagerly.
"I'm sorry Starshine, but it's for business and it'll be pretty dangerous." Dare explained, knowing what she was going to ask next.
"Aww..." she frowned. "Well let me at least pack some things for you." Starshine went into her room and dragged out a saddle pack and began stuffing fruits and medicine and other gear into it.
"It's ok sis, I'll be fine." Dare laughed and glanced at the clock above the door. "Well I'm going to go ahead and finish your packing job before I hit the hay. You should probably do the same." he hugged Starshine and began packing his own supplies, preparing for the journey ahead.

"My lord, Celestia has called upon a group of four mercenaries to take you out. I was only just informed." a hooded pony said, kneeling in front of the throne where a grey alicorn with a storm cloud cutie mark sat, stretching his wings.
"That blasted princess, she reacted faster than I thought she would." the alicorn slammed his hoof against the ground. He stopped and thought for a second then smiled. "Wait, this may not be as bad as I thought. In fact, it may be used to our advantage." He began to chuckle then it grew into a full laugh that echoed throughout the throne room.
He was ready.