//------------------------------//
// Chapter 158: Starswirl's Old Journal 
// Story: My Little Pony, Friendship is Magic: Stallion Edition 
// by SuperPinkBrony12 
//------------------------------//

Shining Armor arrived at the castle almost as soon as the zeppelin had docked back in Canterlot. He was surprised to find that not only were Princess Celestia and Princess Luna waiting for him in the throne room, but so were all his friends. Spike and Twilight had even tagged along.

Sunburst quickly explained everything to the gathered crowd as he held up a rather dusty looking book that had seen better days. "I have here what I believe to be the written words of Starswirl the Bearded himself," He explained. "And you'll never believe where I found it. It was in a bargain barrel I bought at a store just recently."

"Wow, you're super lucky there, Sunburst!" Braeburn happily exclaimed. "Last time I bought one of those barrels, I got a bunch of hoof me down junk that wasn't good for anythin'! That's the last time I ever let myself get suckered into buyin' 'em."

Sunburst cleared his throat. "Anyway," He opened up the book and started to scan the pages. "It's not just any old written word. This is the only first hoof source available that contains Starswirl's account of many things. I can't be sure of this... but I think it may be his old journal!"

Everyone in the room gasped!

"Fascinating," Celestia commented as she scanned the journal herself. "This is quite the discovery, Sunburst. It would indeed appear to be Starswirl's journal. Though how it ended up in a bargain barrel of all places, I have no idea. After his disappearance over a thousand years ago, Luna and I shuddered his study and found his journal missing."

"He never did like to be without it," Luna lamented. "It's such a shame he left so abruptly. He wouldn't even tell us where he was going or what he'd be doing. But he couldn't have died, we could find no records to prove it. It's as if he dropped off the face of the planet."

Sunburst adjusted his glasses. "It's funny you should mention that, princesses. Because I think the journal has an account that can explain everything more or less," Clearing his throat he began to read aloud. "The best elements are those found within all of us. Those that can spread light and virtue. And I've been blessed in my old age to know ponies that represent all of these: Strength, bravery, healing, beauty, hope, and sorcery. Myself and these other five 'pillars' as we have come to be called, were all gathered together by another. A pony who claimed he was not a hero but a scholar, though his name eludes me at the moment. However, we eventually came to suspect that this pony had an ulterior motive in mind for bringing us all together. He wanted our power for himself. For that, we had no choice but to cast him out. Bitter and upset by this, the pony turned to darkness to satisfy his desire for revenge. Transformed into a pony of shadow, he vowed to extinguish the light and rob the world of our virtues. In order to stop him, the pillars and I must make a daring sacrifice. But weep not for us, for although we may vanish we shall leave behind a reminder of our presence. A seed, with which we will grow a weapon that will protect the realm long after we are gone. I can only hope it will be enough."

There was a long silence before Sunburst closed up the book and declared. "Those appear to be the last words he wrote before his disappearance. Starswirl and the other pillars, they risked everything to vanquish The Pony of Shadows!"

"So you're sayin' all those legends were true? Rockhoof, Flash Magnus, Mage Meadowbrook, Mistmane, and Somnambula?" Big Macintosh pondered. "And the whole lot of 'em went off with Starswirl to defeat The Pony of Shadows, only for them to all just up and disappear?"

"Duh," Braeburn responded. "Honestly, cousin, weren't you listenin' to Sunburst's story?"

Twilight, for her part, was almost beside herself with joy! "So you can verify that this journal belonged to the Starswirl the Bearded?! My idol?! The pony who knows more about magic than anypony before or after him?!" When Sunburst nodded she happily exclaimed! "Ooh, this is incredible! At long last, the true fate of Starswirl is known! Just think of the knowledge that could be gained from his journal!"

"I'm more concerned about this Pony of Shadows he mentioned," Shining Armor spoke up. "This is the first time I've ever heard of such a thing outside of ghost stories. I always thought it was just a myth made up to scare ponies."

At that Princess Luna frowned. "Oh no, The Pony of Shadows is indeed real. Starswirl was never one to believe in fairytales. And I seem to remember a force that called itself 'The Darkness' that spoke to me just before my corruption into Nightmare Moon. Everypony always thought that my dark self was just an old mare's tail, and we all know what happened on that one thousandth Summer Sun Celebration."

"Well even if The Pony of Shadows is real, it obviously doesn't exist today," Fancy Pants commented. "The world is still full of light and virtue, even after all the threats we've faced down. In fact, not that I mean to jynx anything but since the Storm King's invasion was thwarted there's been no big threats at all."

"Even so, what do you suppose happened to all those pillars?" Thunderlane pondered as he put a hoof to his chin. "They didn't die, but nopony has seen or heard of them in over a thousand years."

"A good question," Soarin responded. "But how exactly are we supposed to find out?"

At that Princess Celestia's ears perked up and a smile started to form on her face. "Oh, you'd like to investigate that?" She innocently inquired. "Luna and I were just content with having a clue as to the last whereabouts of our old teacher. But if you'd like to look into it further and find out just what happened to him and the pillars, that'd be nice."

"And what if we investigate and find out he's dead, or that he's stuck somewhere that we can't bring him back from?" Shining asked the princesses. "I mean, it could be a possibility and I'd hate to get your hopes up only to have to dash them."

"That would be most unfortunate," Luna replied in a somber tone. "But at least we'd have closure. We'd know what happened to him and might be able to pay our respects. Still, my sister and I will for the moment, hold out hope that he's alive and can be freed."

"Well then," The prince declared. "If you really think we're capable of this undertaking, I suppose we'll take the case."

Celestia smiled. "Thank you, Shining Armor. Luna and I would love to do it ourselves, but we can't simply up and abandon our royal duties for the sake of what may be a wild goose chase. Whatever you find, please let us know. And be careful. I haven't received any visions related to this, but danger does seem to have a tendency to follow you and your friends wherever you go."

"Oh relax, I'm sure everything will be just fine," Shining innocently answered as he waved a hoof. Then he turned to Sunburst. "Sunburst, why don't you accompany the rest of us back to Ponyville? I have a feeling we'll be needing your expertise on the subject. After all, I hear you're quite fluent in old ponish, and the answers are probably going to be within the pages of this journal."

Sunburst nodded. "It's like you read my mind, Shining Armor. I'd be honored," Then his eyes lit up and he fondly sighed. "Just imagine what we're going to get up while we're searching for answers! All the research, the reading, the re-reading, and the re re-reading!"

"Then it looks like we're all set," Shining declared. "Let's get back to Ponyville and get to work. Between the whole lot of us, I'm sure we'll find the answers in no time!"