//------------------------------//
// 3. The Plan 
// Story: Rejected Magic 
// by Cobalt Bristle 
//------------------------------//

    Cobalt and Platinum stood in shocked silence at what had just happened. “What is he talking about, Onyx?” Platinum looked over at the nearly flattened Onyx, awaiting an explanation.
    “If Brave can let me up, I can explain,” Onyx said, rather hesitantly.
    After Brave let Onyx up, he started his explanation. “I thought I would never have to mention mine and Blaze’s past to anypony, not even you guys. Well, here goes. As you two well know, shades are sorcerers with the spirit of a demon inside them. My mother was the first. Her name is Dark Storm. After escaping becoming a shade from the hands of my mother, I became an assassin. It wasn’t steady work, but it brought in bits. Blaze convinced me to stop, to join him in Ponyville. That’s when we met you guys.” After Onyx finished talking, Cobalt trotted up to him.
    “Onyx, your mother may be one of most evil ponies in legend, but that doesn’t mean you are,” Cobalt comforted.
    “He’s right Onyx, but no more time for sentiment. Why did you help us?” Brave was starting to get antsy.
    “Oh, right. We came for the Rune of Divinity. You see…” Cobalt was stopped short when Brave put a hoof to his mouth.
    “Whatever you need the rune for, it better be a worthy cause. Otherwise, this pony is out,” Brave warned.
    “...we need it to cure a sickness that Blaze contracted. From Ohine,” Cobalt finished.
    “It’s not the worst reason somepony wanted the rune, so let’s give it a shot Brave,” Solus urged her old friend.
    “To be fair, you have a point Solus. It’s better than, well, let’s not talk about it. I’m in. Just one thing you need to know: it’s in the sanctuary that lay before us.” Brave said the last part rather melancholy. 
“Well, why is that a bad thing?” Cobalt questioned.
“It’s a bad thing because the sanctuary became home to Dark Storm, the shade who killed our leader and caused the Guardians to separate.  Not only that, Midnight is her sister and it is likely where she went after Onyx’s arrow missed its mark.”
Onyx looked away in shame at the comment. Seeing this, Cobalt trotted over to him.
“Onyx, it’s not your fault you missed. To be fair, we could’ve had a better plan,” Cobalt said, very sincere.
“Uh, guys? Shouldn’t we be going into the sanctuary?” Platinum was ready to go, but was stopped by Cobalt.
“That would be the fastest way, but I think it would be nice to have a plan for once. It didn’t exactly go well the last time we didn’t,” Cobalt told her.
“Oh, right.” Platinum then rejoined the group.
“Brave, you’ve seen Dark Storm before, what can you tell us about her?” Onyx questioned.
“Well, you saw Midnight right? She’s the youngest sister. Dark is the oldest. Her powers were enough to defeat our leader, even with his knowledge. His rune is still in there, captured by her. She is rumored to have enough dark magic to rival Discord. I’m afraid it’s all too true. In the battle between the Guardians and the shades, she wiped us out. She left us alive, except for one. His name was Spiteful Knowledge. Despite his evil nature, he fought for good, and he paid for it with his life. The founder of the Guardians, he was a shade, the only who has ever betrayed Dark Storm. When she defeated us, she killed him for his treachery. That’s about all there is to tell,” Brave disclosed.
“You don’t know anything about Dark herself? Just from what you’ve seen in battle?” Cobalt was disappointed.
“I’m sorry Cobalt. Not many ponies even believe that shades exist, much less figure them out. Even I have not seen her in years,” Brave replied.
“Do you know the layout of the sanctuary? It might help us,” Platinum asked Brave. 
“I do. In fact, I believe that I still have a map of it,” Brave replied.
Brave walked over to his saddlebag and opened it up. He retrieved an old looking paper and brought it over to the group. Spreading it out, it was a blueprint of some kind.
“These are the building plans for the sanctuary. I kept it all these years, in hopes that, one day, we might be able to have it again,” Brave addressed the group.
“Whoa, this looks complicated. There’s all kinds of hidden mechanics in here. Even the castle at Canterlot isn’t this complicated. I mean, not that I would know,” Onyx lied. 
Not wanting to press the subject, the group went back to the map. “Well, if there was this much stuff, it’s most likely been converted to whatever Dark Storm wants it to be,” Cobalt warned the group.
“Wow. I’m glad I didn’t just rush into the sanctuary, I would’ve been dead for sure!” Platinum exclaimed.
Lunar, who had been away finding the other mercenary, walked in. “Hey guys! What I miss?”
The group turned to look at the earth pony. By the looks of it, Lunar had taken quite a battering. His helmet was dented, and his chestplate was well worn. Behind him stood the third mercenary, who Onyx had scared a bit too much, even for him.
He wore a chestplate and boots similar to Lunar, but he didn’t have a helmet. His weapon was also much different. Instead of a sword, he wielded an axe. When his and Onyx’s eyes met, the mercenary’s eyes widened. 
“You didn’t tell me that he would be here!” The pony was definitely fearing for his life.
Onyx stood up and walked over to him. “Look, I didn’t mean what I said before. We were just trying to get past so we could help our friend,” Onyx assured.
Still looking rather fearful, the stranger introduced himself. “Anyway, the name’s Flawless Cleave. Brave found me as a lone mercenary, but then he offered me a job. Been working with him ever since. Lunar told me what happened to you guys, and let’s just say I’m glad that this guy scared me away,” He explained.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Cobalt, this here’s Platinum, and the terrifying black pony is Onyx,” Cobalt told Flawless, chuckling to himself at the end. 
“We could use your guys’ help. We need to find a way to get into the old Guardian sanctuary,” Cobalt told them.
“Sanctuary?” Lunar echoed.
“You didn’t know? I was sure Brave had told you,” Onyx reckoned.
“Brave what are they talkin’ about?” Lunar questioned.
“I’m afraid I haven’t been honest with you two. I am the guardian of the Rune of Valor. Not a title I reveal lightly, but you guys should know,” Brave elaborated. 
The mercenaries stared forward in shock, and then Lunar smiled. “Well, I guess that explains a lot.
Brave looked at Lunar in confusion. “What do you mean? Explains what?” 
“It explains why you always have your cutie mark covered. Only the Guardians would do something like that. I just can’t believe that I was working with one the whole time!” 
“Guys, I think I know how we can get into this sanctuary. Look at this.” Platinum told the others. 
Platinum pointed to a spot that she thought would come in handy. “Look at this. It appears to be some sort of secondary passage that runs from the entrance to the main chamber. If we can get to the passage, we might be able to sneak  past whatever defenses they have set up for us at the entrance.”
Brave then offered his insight into the matter. “Although it is a great plan, the entrance to the passage can only be activated by the Rune of Divinity, as it was Pristine who made it.”
“Well isn’t that just great! The one thing we’re seeking is guarded by an ancient evil, and we have no way to sneak in there. What are we going to do, just run in there and ask for the rune? No…” Platinum was about to continue her loss of hope rant when she was stopped by Cobalt.
“Uh, Platinum? I think I have a way.” Cobalt then directed everypony to the map.
“Look at this: the main hallway branches off into two different branches. If we split into groups, we could try to overwhelm them with an attack from three sides.” After he finished telling his plan, Flawless walked up to him.
“I’ll tell ya somethin. It ain’t a foolproof plan, but it’s worth a shot. I’m in.”
“As am I,” Lunar agreed.
The rest of the group then confirmed their support.
“Platinum, do you have any other interesting weapons for us to use? They may come in handy,” Cobalt asked.
“I thought you would never ask. Let me go get my things together, and I’ll come show it to you guys.” With that, Platinum departed.
“Well, it’s getting late. Maybe we should get some sleep. We’ll need all the help we can get if we’re to succeed tomorrow. See you guys in the morning.” Brave then claimed a spot on the ground and started to go to sleep. The rest of the group did the same. All but one.
Platinum pulled a medallion from her saddlebag. After she placed it on the ground, an all too familiar voice started talking.
“So, do they suspect anything yet?” The voice had an echo and was low in pitch.
“I’m all in the clear Dark. Although it doesn’t help that the mare I’ve possessed has quite a strong will. I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to hold on to her.” The voice was nearly identical to Dark’s, only it didn’t have quite a low of a pitch.
When Cobalt started stirring, the possessed Platinum quickly put away the medallion and tried to go to sleep. 
Cobalt had suspected that something was up with Platinum, but he had dismissed it earlier that night. Little did he know that he had endangered not only himself, but Onyx.