Unfortunately it seemed that the journal was a lot harder to decipher than anyone had originally thought. Even with Sunburst to translate Old Ponish to modern Equestrian, it seemed like any leads on the pillars or what had happened to them remained elusive.
The rag tag group that included Shining Armor, Twilight, most of their friends, and even Sunburst, Spike, and Flurry Heart (who Shining had agreed to watch) certainly tried to decipher what they could. But hours turned into days and yet they had nothing to show it for outside of noticeable bags under their eyes and several candles burnt down to stubs.
Spike brought in yet another new candle to help light up the library, disposing of the old one in a wastebasket as he yawned and asked. "So, you figure something out yet?"
The comment unknowingly stirred awake the stallions, all of whom asked the same question. "You figured something out?!"
But Twilight shook her head, as did Shining. And Twilight gave the bed news. "The answer's still no, I'm afraid. Sorry to get your hopes up."
"Ugh, can we maybe take a break now?!" Soarin grumbled. "I was never much of a morning pony, and when I don't get my beauty sleep I am not a pretty sight."
Big Macintosh seemed to nod his head in agreement. "Look, no offense to you two," He said to Twilight and Shining. "But we've studyin' and referencin' and uh... cross referencin' as I believe you call it, for three days straight now. It's like havin' your wagon stuck in a mud puddle. Doesn't matter how hard you spin the wheels, you ain't gettin' anywhere in a hurry."
"I think Big Macintosh may have a point on this one," Fancy Pants agreed. "This mystery is over a thousand years old after all and I think our brains could use a break. A day or two away from the books certainly won't hurt."
"Two days?! I don't even want to waste two seconds!" Twilight stubbornly protested. "Starswirl was a genius, obviously. But forget Old Ponish, there are times when his horn writing is practically another language entirely! But I'm close to an answer, I can feel it! It's like having that itch that's just on the tip of your nose but you can't scratch it no matter how hard you try."
But Shining commented in response. "I'm siding with my friends on this one, Twily. Even Flurry Heart is getting antsy, she's never had to sit still for this long before. We've been spending the past day trying to decipher Starswirl's horn writing and we're not getting anywhere. Best if we rest and come back to it when we're refreshed and ready."
"Come on, B.B.B.F.F," Twilight pleaded. "You've gotta back me up on this! Haven't you ever had a dream that's so close to coming true, and it just needs a little more time?! I swear, there must be something I'm not thinking of!"
Out of curiosity, Starlight happened to trot into the room at that very moment and lay eyes upon the opened journal. Strangely, to her the writing was actually legible (albeit just barely). And she read aloud. "'Hearg sylfum se Ponhenge'? What's that?"
Twilight let out a gasp! "'The Temple of Ponhenge'! Of course, that's what I wasn't recalling!" Then she remembered something else. "Wait a second. You can read that, Starlight?!"
Starlight shrugged. "Y-yeah, more or less. The horn writing's pretty sloppy but it's nowhere near as bad as mine. I just sort of... 'borrowed' Sunburst's notes in class."
"Never mind that," Shining spoke up. "You can read Old Ponish?!"
Starlight nodded. "I started dabbling a bit once I found out Twilight and Sunburst were really into it. I think I can make out what the words are, but I'm not too good at translating."
"That's okay," Sunburst offered. "I'm more than capable of doing that. Read, and I'll translate as best I can."
"Okay," Starlight replied and continued to read aloud. "Toward dol grimlic of Fola Firgenbeorg''?"
Adjusting his glasses, Sunburst translated. "At the base of Foal Mountain..."
"'User endemest scield'?" Starlight finished.
Twilight and Sunburst gasped together at the translation! "Our last stand!"
Thunderlane gulped. "I don't like the sound of that. It sounds like the pillars did indeed make the ultimate sacrifice to stop the Pony of Shadows."
"But they can't be dead! Ponies would've surely known about it by now!" Braeburn protested. "There's gotta be another reason why they all just up and disappeared! Ponies don't just drop off the face of the world, that can't happen!"
"Well," Spike yawned as he propped up a pillow in the library. "I guess Foal Mountain holds the answers. But take my advice, let's wait until we've caught up on sleep."
"Good idea, we'll go tonight after we're all rested and refreshed!" Fancy Pants declared. "I assume one of you has a map to Foal Mountain?"
Twilight gave a firm nod. "There's plenty of non glowing maps in the library, I'll find one for Foal Mountain."
"Good. And while you do that, I think I'll pop back to the Crystal Empire and return Flurry Heart to Cadence," Shining spoke up. "I have the feeling this could be another one of our big adventures. And the last thing I need is to bring Flurry along and have her get lost. Cadence would kill me for sure."