>You are Anonymous.
>You are the only human in Equestria.
>You reached this land through unknown means, but the details of that don't matter to you.
>In Equestria, you were able to train yourself to become a strong, burly fighter.
>You'd argue that you were one of Equestria's strongest beings.
>If not, the strongest.
>Right now, you were in the Everfree forest.
>You had been searching for a way out and a place to sleep for the night.
>It was within this forest that you came face to face with a hungry manticore.
>Any pony would have been dead the moment they were caught by its claws.
>But to you, it was just another day.
>You had fought valiantly against this creature, a large, iron sword clenched in your hand.
>it had been a tireless battle, but you were on the verge of victory.
>Your sword was covered in its blood, a sign of the several times it had met the beast's hide.
>That's not to say you weren't also drenched in the creature's blood.
>It stared you dead in the eyes, panting.
>Its wounds were deep and bleeding profusely.
>But it still wanted to fight, despite the inevitable death it would soon face.
>It reared back, ready to charge.
>You held your ground, taking a defensive position with your sword.
>It scraped its paw on the ground.
>Its stinger twirled.
>With a mighty roar, the manticore ran towards you, its paws outstretched and ready to claw into you.
>You turned your sword in both of your hands and pointed it outwards.
>Once the beast was within the blade's reach, you thrust once, digging right into its forehead.
>The manticore freezes.
>It breathes only one more time, then slowly slips off of your blade and onto the ground.
>You look over the creature's body, another victory having been claimed.
>"Sir, sir, that was AMAZING!"
>Your travel companion, Polomarco, came out of his hiding place in the bushes.
>You had met Polo in your travels, specifically in Appleloosa, where you had saved him from some wild animals.
>His talent was being a navigator, which was exactly what you needed in your travels.
>He'd been with you since that day.
>The pale green pegasus ran to you.
>When he had first accompanied you, he would always reel at your wounds accumulated in your battles.
>Now he was used to it.
>"To witness someone take down a manticore all by themselves!"
"Oh come now Polo, you've seen me do better."
>He scoffed.
>"As if! I've seen you take down an entire pack of timber wolves, but never a whole manticore! What's next, wading through a swamp full of cragadiles!?"
"Actually, finding civilization."
>Polo stopped for a moment to calm himself down.
>"Oh, uh," he cleared his throat and pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose, "right."
>He pulled a map out of his giant backpack and unrolled it.
>A picture of the entire nation of Equestria greeted you.
>"Now, I do believe we are in the Everfree Forest right now, so..."
>He reached into his backpack again and brought out a compass.
>He looked at the compass, then back at the map, and traced his hoof on the paper.
>"Let's see...if we continue to move west, we should come to the settlement of..."
>He stopped his hoof on a small town depicted on the map.
>"Ponyville."
"Ah, home of the newly crowned princess, 'Twilight Sparkle', I take it?"
>"The very one."
>He rolled the map back up and placed it and the compass into the backpack.
"Very well then. Let's be off, before it gets too dark to see."
>"Agreed, sir. I despise the forest at night. It gives me the shivers."
>Polo trotted in front of you, and led the way out of the forest.
 
>The two of you arrived in Ponyville right at twilight, the sun's rays slowly fading over the horizon.
>It was a beautiful sight to behold.
>You and Polo headed into the town.
>The last remaining hour of light was spent finding food in the market, chatting with locals, and finding yourself an inn to stay the night in.
>The innkeeper was sweet and attentive, and gave you board for a cheap price.
>"We sure did get lucky, sir," Polo commented as you and him entered your room. "Can't wait to see what they're cooking up in the kitchen!"
>He unstrapped his heavy backpack and let it slide onto the floor.
"Lucky with what?" you asked as you set your sword in the corner of the room.
>Polo stretched out and popped a few joints, his body weary from carrying the backpack.
>"The price of the room, of course! I was worried we wouldn't be able to afford it!"
>You decided to look into your bit bag, never noticing how light it was.
>There were only about five gold coins left inside.
"Well, let's hope the food is free!"
>The two of you laughed together.
>Later that night, you and Polo sat in the cozy dining room, enjoying the feast you were served.
>Granted, there were others besides you staying the night here.
>But that didn't stop you and Polo from grabbing as much as you could.
>Exploring was a good appetite-builder, after all.
>It was times like this, though, that made you miss meat.
>Would it have been good to carve off some of that manticore, you wondered?
>Polo was fully aware of your meat eating tendencies, but was fine with it.
>As the two of you ate, you couldn't help but listen in on a conversation at the table next to you...
>"Yessir, it'll be a true test a' strength and endurance. Only the toughest motherbucker'll be left standing to claim the prize," a light grey earth stallion rattled off.
>A test of strength and endurance? That part certainly caught your attention.
>One of his companions, a magenta unicorn mare, spoke, "What's the prize they get, anyways?"
>"Well, last I remember, the prize the winner gets'll be a thousan' bits."
>That was all?
>That seemed a little too generic and underwhelming for a contest that tested feats of strength.
>Still, your near-empty bit bag needed a refill.
>What better way to do so then win this contest?
>"I thought there was somthing else, though," the third pony, an ebony earth stallion, wondered.
>You hoped there was more to it then money.
>You felt your skills deserved more than measly bits.
>"Ah, you gotta lemme think for a second...uh, yeah, yeah actually I think there was another prize to it."
>"Do tell, dear," the mare beside him urged, rubbing his hoof.
>Yes, do tell.
>"Uhhh, you'll hafta gimme a second."
>He rubbed his temples with his hooves.
>"Lesse...oh, what was it?"
>The suspense was killing you.
>"Ah! Yeah, now I remember! Besides the bits, you also getta kiss from Princess Celestia and Luna."
>Now THAT was something more up your alley.
"Where do I sign up?" you asked the grey stallion.
>"Huh?" He turned around to look at you. "You eavesdroppin'?"
"I might be..." you answered coyly. "But anyways, how do I enter this contest you were talking about?"
>His expression told you he didn't appreciate you listening in on him and his friends, but regardless, he pointed to a chart on the wall.
>"Right over there. You just sign your name on the chart right there and then follow the instructions onnit."
>You got up from your seat.
"Much appreciated, buddy," you mentioned to him as you walked towards the chart.
>Polo, who hadn't noticed your chat until now (as he was too lost in his food), got up from his seat as well.
>"Wait, sir, where are you going?"
>You reached the chart, and picked up the quill attatched above it.
>Polo reached you without a moment's notice.
>"Sir, I wasn't exactly listening to that conversation you were having with that stallion. What exactly are you doing?"
"Signing up for a contest."
>"One that's taking place here?"
>You read the information posted along with the sign-up space.
>According to it, this contest would be taking place on the 14th of this month (which was just two days away), in Ponyville, and it would span up to three days if needed.
"Yep, it says so right here." You pointed to the information with your finger.
>He read the text and frowned.
>"But sir, I don't mean to sound like a downer, but we barely have any money left! We can't afford to stay here for another four days!"
>You signaled him with your hand to calm down.
"It'll be alright, Polo. The reward is 1,000 bits. That will be more than enough to pay any fees we rack up here."
>"But what if you don't win, sir?"
>You gave him a determined look.
"I'll win, Polo. You aren't doubting me, are you?"
>"Look, I'm not doubting you, sir. I know you're likely one of the strongest beings to walk this land."
>He shifted his hooves to lean in closer to you.
>"But all I'm saying is that we have to consider all of the possibilities! No offense, sir, but I think you might need to sit this one out."
>His words only fueled your desire to enter.
"Well Polo, it may be smart to think about the consequences," you told him as you wrote your name on the chart with the quill, "but then again, haven't you known me to be a bit stupid at times?"
>You finished your signature, and placed the quill back in its place.
>Polo shook his head.
>"Sir, I mean no offense, but I certainly question your choices sometimes."
>You slapped him on his back with your hand, causing him to cough.
"But Polo, where's the fun in staying safe? You and I both know that we have to take risks sometimes in our travels. Wouldn't this count as just another risk?"
>He bit his lip.
>"I can't very well argue with that, but I'm worried you may have bit off more than you can chew this time, sir."
>You smirked.
"I think you worry too much, Polo. It'll be fine," you turned back to the chart. "Now, what do I do after I sign up?"
>You read the rest of the information on the chart.
>It said that the day before the contest, all competitors were to meet in the town square at noon. There, they'd be publicly entered into the competition and prepped for the next day.
>Seemed like a good chance to meet your rivals before you faced off against them.
>Satisfied with this, you and Polo went back to dinner, and after finishing, went back to your room to turn in for the night.
>Polo slept in the bed next to yours, the moonlight shining in his face.
>You lie there, awake, pondering who your co-competitors would be.
>Would it be all ponies?
>Would there be a gryphon or two?
>You were certain that whatever happened, tomorrow would be full of surprises.
>Getting comfortable within your bed, you drifted off to sleep.