//------------------------------// // Vanguard // Story: The Sword of Harmony // by milesprower06 //------------------------------// With the day and night cycles now being impossibly random, Twilight, Starlight, and Sunburst had to rely on the clock on the far wall of the archives to keep track of the time. They had been at this for three hours, and Shining had the kitchen staff bring them a small meal so they could keep at their research. So far they had come up with nothing. At this rate they would be going over every inch of this library until the the Storm Fleet came over the horizon. "I think I've found something!" Sunburst exclaimed, running out of a pair of shelves on the second floor, quickly coming down the stairs to where the other two were surrounded by open books. "Have either of you two heard of Sacanas?" He asked, getting headshakes from the two mares. "He was a powerful mage from Equestria's First Era, one of the first to start experimenting with the magical properties of aetherium." "So, we're talking pretty ancient here." Starlight remarked. Sunburst nodded. "He helped a mage known as Gusty the Great overthrow a creature called Grogar, the first self-proclaimed emperor in this continent's recorded history. And he used... This." Sunburst said, turning the page, and setting it down on the table in front of Twilight. "Look familiar?" The princess placed her front hooves on both sides of the open book, and stared down at the illustration of the crystallized wooden staff she last saw in the Storm King's grasp. "That's it, alright. The Staff of Sacanas?" She asked, picking up the book to look in more detail. "It's an absorption staff. According to lore, it was how he was able to put Gusty on equal ground with Grogar. Sacanas, along with three of the most powerful unicorns at the time sacrificed their magic to Gusty in a ritual to give her the power to face Grogar. But the staff can only draw magic through veins of aetherium to store and focus in the gem on top." Sunburst stated. "The marble floor of the throne room is laced with aetherium dust. That's how they made it work." Twilight realized. "Wait," Starlight interjected. "You said they needed the staff to put this 'Gusty' on equal footing with Grogar. Mind telling us what he had?" Twilight's eyes widened, and she immediately shoved the book on Sacanas to the side while she started rapidly flipping through one of the books she had already gone through. She was sure she had passed an entry on a 'Grogar' about an hour ago. "This." She said, stopping two-thirds through the book and sliding it towards Starlight and Sunburst, who looked at the entry showing an engraved and cracked green bell. "The Bewitching Bell of Grogar?" Sunbrust asked as he read the page. "It's essentially the same; magic absorption and bestowal. The caveat is, if it captures more than one source, it can only come out in the same order, but it doesn't need aetherium. Just proximity." Twilight told him. "Great. So where's this bell?" Sunburst asked, putting the open book down on the table. "Mount Everhoof." Came the voice of Starswirl as he came into the library, having overheard the last part of their conversation. "Equestria's tallest and most northerly mountain, before the Sea of Shadows begins. Even in my time, the final stretch of the pass up to the top was continually guarded. Publicly, it was to dissuade travelers from going any higher because of the treacherous conditions. But in actuality, it was to protect the cave at the top, where the Bell was kept." "That's actually pretty close. Maybe our luck is holding." Starlight said. "I remember Shining telling me that although it seemed mundane, being posted for a year at the Mount Everhoof pass was one of the most challenging and honorable assignments an E.U.P. guard could get." Twilight said. "Close or not, scaling the mountain will be perilous. The E.U.P. post merely watches the path; gaining entrance to the cave is another matter entirely. If this is the path you believe we should take, say the word, and we shall prepare trekking packs for you." Starswirl said. "I haven't found anything else that could possibly counter the Staff of Sacanas. This sounds like our best choice." Sunburst said. "Right. When do we leave?" Starlight added. "We?" Twilight asked. "You honestly think that rested or not, you'll be able to scale that pass and get into the cave alone? You don't have your alicorn magic, you're gonna need help." Starlight told her. "Count me in too. Whatever keeps that cave sealed, I might know something about how to get through it." Sunburst added. "I'll talk to Prince Shining about getting you a royal seal to pass the E.U.P. post. After that, I fear you are on your own. For now, all three of you get fed and rested up. I'll see about getting your gear situated." First thing the next 'morning', Twilight, Starlight, and Sunburst stood on the northern outskirts of the Crystal Empire, looking out at the arctic tundra that quickly rose to the Yaket Range, with the peak of Everhoof piercing well above the clouds. Luckily, southern lookouts had not spotted anything on the horizon. Starswirl stood with Shining and a small contingent of honor guard. The three unicorns had been outfitted with the best enchanted arctic hiking gear; appearing as little more than simple cloaks that would keep them warm, and the smallest packs that could store tents and as much of the lightest, most sustaining foods the Empire had access to. They weren't experienced hikers that could carry the heavier loads, so this was the best that they could do. Hopefully, it would be enough. "Are you three truly ready?" Starswirl asked them, stepping up to them from behind. The trio turned, and all gave nods. "If the worst happens, we will hold out as long as we can. The realm has been to the brink of collapse before, and it has endured. We will endure again. I dub you three the Vanguard of Harmony; our last gambit in a losing battle." He walked up to the orange stallion. "Sunburst, you are the Wisdom; the collected knowledge passed down for generations that will you see you to your goal." The conjurer stepped down to the heliotrope mare. "Starlight, you are the Shield; persistent, the impervious barrier beneath which your allies survive and prosper." Finally, he stepped to the lavender alicorn, and reached into his cloak, and came out with the glowing rainbow orb. "And Princess Twilight..." He began, pressing the orb to her barrel, and it's rigid shape quickly softened as the glow increased and spread to her front legs and wings, and within seconds, her front half was enveloped in magnificent, multicolored glass armor, adorned with the six gems of Harmony. She looked down at it astonishingly. "...You are the Sword. Razor sharp. Tempered. Driven to carve out the darkness that has befallen our home. That armor will augment the magic you have left, and will only grow stronger if you are able to gain any of what was taken from you. You three are our last hope." He stepped back, and as Shining and the Crystal Honor Guard saluted, the Pillar of Equestria bowed down to the trio. "Godspeed to each of you." After the trio gave them the most sincere, determined, but uncertain smiles they could, they turned and began to trot into the blowing snow that marked the farthest borders of the Crystal Empire. As they became silhouettes against the snowfall, Shining Armor turned to Starswirl. "You think she'll be able to do it with their help?" He asked. "I honestly fear for either outcome." Starswirl replied thoughtfully. "How do you mean?" The Crystal Prince wondered, as the Pillar continued staring out into the wind as the Vanguard vanished into the distance. "If she fails, it is only a matter of time before we are all dead or enslaved. If she succeeds... Hatred and vengeance stoke heated, neigh unstoppable blazes... But when that fuel runs out, and run out it will, I fear that she will look behind her, and realize what she had to become in order to achieve victory."