//------------------------------//
// Tales Of The Pillars 
// Story: My Little Mages: The Pillars of Virtue 
// by Foxhelm 
//------------------------------//

The sun was an hour or so from setting and given the warmth of the night, as it was mid-summer, and most of the residents of Magiville elected to send the night out among the stars. They gathered into circles, mostly composed of families and close friends, around fire pits they had. One pit was just finished by Applejack as Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, Timber, Sunset and Gloriosa placed a set of logs, a few large ones were to be the seats while the rest would be fuel for the fire. After the firewood was constructed for fire and started, just as the sun was setting, “Alright everybody, what kinds of stories are we goin’ to tell tonigh’?” Applejack asked as she sat on the same log with Apple Bloom, Rarity, and Sweetie Belle. Sunset sat on the same log in between Applejack and Rarity as Gloriosa and Timber sat on other logs.

“Not scary stories!” Scootaloo all but shouted as she clung to Rainbow, who was to her right, almost breaking her ‘sister’s’ rib cage.

Fluttershy, who was Scootaloo’s left softly hummed as she place a comforting hand on the younger girl, “Don’t worry, you’re not the only one who doesn’t like scary stories.” she said almost motherly. Scootloo then slowly released her hold on Rainbow and the elementalist started to cough.

“Yeah, no scary stories,” Rainbow agreed as she regained her breath.

Applejack smiled and fought back a laugh, “Ah was thinkin’ along the lines of the Pillars of Virtue.”

“Who?” Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle asked at the same time.

Pinkie waved her left hand up in the air like a student in a classroom, knowing the answer. Applejack and Rarity shared a look and after Applejack nodded, “Go ahead Pinkie darling, who are the Pillars of Virtue?” Rarity asked.

Pinkie lowered her hand and took a deep breath before she pulled out a set of scholar robes, donned them with a set of glasses like those worn by her mother. She then cleared her throat, “The Pillars of Virtue, or the Pillars, are six individuals of legend from the earliest years of Mystcian history, some of whom resided in the land that was independent of the Everfree Principality of Mystica in Dream Valley at that time. Or so the legends go. These are Rockfoot the Strong, hailing from the northeastern fjords south of Grphyonstone. Somnabula the Hopeful from the far southern desert, Mistmane the Beautiful from the southwestern coast, Mage Meadowbrooke the Healer from the southeaster bayous, Flash Magnus the Brave, and Star Swirl the Great. Legends point to these six of some of the most important heroes in that era.” Pinkie informed before she took of th robes and glasses and pocketed them. “Am in. Somnabula is so cool.” She barely fought back her excitement.

“I am certain we all think our favorite of the Pillars is the coolest, but in what order should we go?” Rarity asked.

“No offense to Twilight, but if I never hear another ‘And did you know Star Swirl’ I’m certain I would have missed nothing.” Sweetie Belle stated. While Apple Bloom’s and Scootaloo’s agreement was something she expected, but Applejack’s, Rarity’s, Rainbow’s, Fluttershy’s, and Pinkie’s agreement, while welcoming, did surprise the young bard. “Okay…” she was hesitant to follow up why her big sister and Twilight’s other closest friends agreed with her.

“Ah vote for Rockfoot!” Apple Bloom shouted seizing the chance to her favorite legend told, “Please AJ, please, just like Ma told yah and Big Mac?” she pleaded.

Applejack smiled as she patted her sister’s head, “Well, if no one else minds?” she asked. The six others just nodded their heads. Applejack then turned to Rarity, “Say, Sugarcube, can yah enchant the fire so that it will show the story Ah tell?” Applejack asked.

Rarity looked at the fire for a second. Got off the log and walked around the site. She a gave a ‘hm’ every so ofter as she seemed to examine everything. After almost a minute she picked up some of the dirt and began to whisper something to it. The dirt was then transmuted into sand. “I can’t do anything to the fire directly, but if you throw this sand into it, that will do the trick.”

Applejack accepted the sand. She then stood up and looked at the fire and then to her circle of family and friends, “There are many legends from the dawn of Mystica, and what Ah’m about to tell yall is one of them. We Mysticans know it best as ‘Rockfoot and the River of Flame’,” Applejack paused before she sprinkled some of the sand into the fire. “Far to our north and east, in the days of the people we know as The Might Helm,” as Applejack started to speak the fire seemed to part and an image of a fjord with wooden houses not far from what seemed to be alone mountain appeared.

The image then focused on what seemed to be a boy. He was an Earthborn, with grayish-blue eyes, moderate gamboge with gold-like stripes hair, beard. Behind his left ear, some of his hair was done in a braid. He wore a brown leather and fur tunic and pants, with fur covers for his forearms and lower legs, with a leather headband. He had tattooed on his right shoulder was a Valknut. “While Rockfoot is far and wide for his incredible strength, he didn't start that way. You see, Rockfoot was a tiny little fella.” Applejack’s voice was heard identifying the small man as the fabled Rockfoot. “And the Might Helms were not just fantastic charters and map makers as even with their oldest maps are only off by decimeters,” As Applejack spoke the scene followed Rockfoot as he was leaving his family’s farm and entered the village proper. There, in one of the open areas, were twenty men, while none was as large as Big Mac, they were larger than most modern Mysticans. They were in similar clothes as Rockfoot, but also had actual pieces of armor most noticeable was their helms with what looked like wings coming off of the sides. Five were comparing maps they had made and seemed to be making adjustments to their own and taking notes to make a master map. “it has to they lived in a place with very resources and thus were just both great traders,” Applejack’s voice continued as the scene followed four as they loaded a longship with some of the few goods they had only to turn to the remaining eleven as they fought one another with wooden weapons, “but also terrible pirates and raiders.” Applejack informed.

The scene then turned to Rockfoot as he approached them, “As such, they also had to be extremely good warriors and Rockfoot, well…” Applejack trailed as the Mighty Helm who were fighting stopped and saw Rockfoot. He tried to pick up one of the swords and after almost a minute of straining he did, only to lose his balance and fall to the ground. Ten of the warriors laughed, “was as scrawny as one could be and was not considered worthy of much more than digging holes for foundation pillars.” Applejack narrated. As she spoke one of the fighters, a man with a patch over one eye and bread as white as snow was silent. He stepped up and helped Rockfoot to his feet. He looked Rockfoot over and then handed Rockfoot a shovel. He then pointed to a spot that was cleared of trees and stumps, where lumber was laid. Rockfoot sighed, walked over to the site. He lifted the head of his shovel and squinted, “But he wouldn’t take no for an answer,” Applejack narrated as Rockfoot paced to where the first foundation pillar would go and started to dig.

The scene then changed to some time in the future, as Rockfoot was digging the third hole for the third row. “Then, one fateful day…” Applejack’s narration traveled as the scene showed everything quake as the ground rumbled. Rockfoot stopped digging and looked out of the hole only to see the mountain that was near his village send its top off with a boom. Applejack continued to narrate. “...the volcano erupted!” Rockfoot’s eyes widen in horror and screamed as before got out of the hole.

Applejack’s voice continued to narrate as the scene shifted to inside the village, “The molten lava poured down the side of the volcano…” she paused as the scene should all the residents of the village gathered and arguing about what to do. The most vocal were the twenty Mighty Helms of the village. “...and try as they might, the Mighty Helm couldn't figure out a way to save the village!” Applejack narrated the althingi The Mighty Helms then started to drag the other villagers to the dock. “They had to evacuate. But the villagers didn't wanna leave their homes. They spent their entire lives there. They had nowhere else to go!” As Applejack narrated the scene showed several villagers fought back against the Mighty Helms, unable to part with their home, to little avail, but if kept up the Mighty Helms were either going to leave everyone else to the volcano or kill their kin. From afar, Rockfoot witnessed all this. He looked at his shovel and then to the volcano and then squinted as he rushed up the hill. “So Rockhoof decided to do something crazy.” Applejack continued to narrate. Once he found himself a few decameters uphill from the town, Rockfoot started to dig. “He thought if he could divert the flow of the lava, he might be able to save his village. He started diggin' a trench!” Applejack narrated.

Rockfoot dug and dug, the trench was barely a meter deep, meter wide, and three meters long. Applejack’s voice continued to narrate, “He continued to work, knowin' the odds were against him but determined to push through it. Then, somethin' magical happened.” Applejack stopped narrating to show Rockfoot’s shovel striking something. There was a sudden flash of white light and once it cleared Rockfoot had grown to much muscular version of himself and towered short of two and a half meters and he grew a mustache. Rockfoot stopped as he looked over his new body, bending the joints and flexing the muscles. He took his shovel and dug a little more and he manage to extract almost haft the amount he dug to this point. Applejack’s narration took over, “Rockhoof got visibly stronger! But the lava was gettin' closer.” and Rockfoot’s tattoo glowed and he started to dig again and in less than ten seconds he managed to dig a trench four meters wide and three meters deep that went around the volcano side of the village with and jumped out of the way, landing on the village side of the trench he dug as the lava poured from the trench and into the ocean. He panted as he wiped the sweat off his brow before he heard the cheering of the villagers. He turned around and saw them start to rush up to him. Behind the villagers were the Mighty Helms. Rockfoot walked past the villagers, a slight glare on his face as he walked up to the Mighty Helms. All twenty gulped in terror of the wrath of joutanbrood. However, Rockfoot’s face and eyes soften as he started to laugh heartily and punched the upper arm of the nearest Mighty Helm, and pulled another into a hug. Soon the other Mighty Helms started to laugh and were joined by the villagers. Applejack started narration again, “Through his extraordinary determination and sheer force o' will, Rockfoot more than earned his place in the Mighty Helm.” Applejack ended the tale and the fire returned to normal.

All but Rarity cheered, who applauded like a proper lady. Applejack gave a small grateful nod and smile. “Alright who wants…” Applejack trailed off as she spotted Pinkie Pie raise her right arm and start to wave it back and forth. “To fight Pinkie over who goes next?” she finished after a slight hesitation. Everyone remained still. Applejack and Pinkie then walked around the fire and jester held out her right hand and accepted the sand from the paladin. “A little goes alon’ way.” Applejack said and Pinkie nodded. Applejack sat back down as Pinkie walked to be in front of her seat and looked at the fire.

Pinkie took a breath, “Many are the stories of Mystica’s history, this one is Somnabula and the Sphinx’ Riddle.” Pinkie then sprinkled some of the sand. “Long ago in what is now the southern desert,” Pinkie started to narrate, and the fire changed as it did for Applejack and it showed the desert to the south. There were many sandstone two-story houses made to be as open as possible to let heat out during the blazing summer days, yet could be covered easily to keep warm in the sometimes fridge winter nights. “A giant sphinx conquered a small village, demanding most of their crops as tributes to sat her hunger and wrath.” The scene showed a purple furred gynosphinx, a good story taller than any of the houses, dressed in a purple headdress with gold trimming around her face, and around her neck (and very close to it) was a gold and purple necklace. She swooped around the village roaring only to stop when the villagers, most dressed in the loss robes that covered most of their bodies, gathered their food reserves just south of it, a short flight from a large pyramid with a door in it open and large enough for the sphinx to make the pyramid her home. The sphinx landed and started to devour the offerings. 

The scene changed to the village, where it focused on one woman. She was a woman dressed in a white dress that was little more than what would cover her breasts, her stomach to her knees, sewed above her heart was a depiction of a necklace with two pearls on each end, over it was a whitish clear loose overdress. Around her neck was a string of pearls. On her head, over her dark arctic blue and moderate turquoise hair, was a white headcover with a golden band in the front with what looked like a crescent moon with the points pointing towards the heavens. At her heels were a pair of ethereal wings that were like a falcon’s, which revealed herself as a Skyborn. Her eyes were grayish blue-violet. “Somnabula had more than most of her fellow villagers, but she refused to watch them starve.” Pinkie’s voice narrated as Somnabula showed the villagers to her family reserves and offered them to feed her townsfolk, “but it was barely enough for them and she too was soon without food.” Pinkie narrated as her reserves were picked bare. “But she would not give up hope.” Pinkie narrated as Somnabula flew from her home slightly eastward to a large sprawling palace. 

The scene changed to show Somnabula in the throne room of the ruler. In front of him were cobras with their hoods out. “Please, Pharaoh, The Morning and Evening Star,” Somnabula pleaded on her knees, “My people will soon run out of food to tribute to the sphinx, and those she doesn’t devour, will die of hunger.” Tears flowed down her cheeks. The pharaoh was unmoved. “Once the sphinx has finished consuming all of our food, she will devour my people. Please, my sun, your people need your strong arm to protect them.” Somnabula again pleaded. She then took off her pearl necklace and offered it up to the pharaoh. A servant-priest took it and brought it to the pharaoh. 

As the pharaoh examined the necklace and thought, a man about Somnabula’s age stepped from the side and walked to stand next to Somnabula, “Father, my father, we can not let this abomination continue to terrorize our subjects.”

The pharaoh turned his gaze to the man that claimed to be his son, “You speak out of turn, Hisan.” the pharaoh declared, wrath in his voice, his face stern as stone as he stood up. Yet in less than a second his face and tone soften, “But my son is correct. This abomination must be cast down into the dust.” He turned to one of the officials of his court. “Ready my arm, this monster will feel the fullness of its strength.” He started to walk away from the throne and seemed to prepare his mind for the battle to come.

The scene then changed to sometime later as the pharaoh, alone in his chariot, led an army five hundred strong, with Somnabula and Hisan following close behind. Once they arrived near Somnabula’s village, everyone stopped frozen in terror as they witnessed the sphinx devour more of the villager’s food. All but Hisan, who walked past everyone, even his father to the feet of the monster, “Begone, Fellbeast!” he ordered, “For the Morning and Evening Star has come to smite you with his strong arm! Begone, lest you face his wrath, for he will suffer you no longer. He has come to make sure his people will never starve because of you. If you value your life, BEGONE!” Hisan shouted the last word so loud and with so much force he was left panting.

The sphinx looked from her meal to the prince and then beyond him to the army, “I suppose anyone would think themselves brave with an army behind them.” She said still crewing her meal. She then swallowed it. “But cowards don’t tend to live long on their own.” she said before she smirked and grabbed Hisan with her right paw and jumped into the air, her wings beating, “Oh Morning and Evening Star, you must have seen all things in your travels through the heavens, solve my riddle and your son will be set free, fail it and I will devour you both in one gulp.” She then flew to the pyramid, roaring so loud that the army almost broke into a rout.

“My son! We must save my son!” the pharaoh shouted as he turned his chariot. But he was stopped as his men were frozen in terror, as the Sphinx’s roars continued to echo. He too was frozen in fear and could not command the horses to go. “Who will save my son?” he barely whispered. 

“I will save the prince!” Somnabula shouted and flew to the pyramid, and while she too felt fear encase her heart, she had hope.  

After traveling a few meters into the pyramid, Somnabula saw Hisan tied to a pillar in the center of it. She however saw no way to reach him as there was a chasm around the pillar. However before she looked for a way she leaped back just before the Sphinx landed right in front of her, “So the pharaoh is a coward twice over, not only does not come himself, he sends a woman.” The Sphinx then began to laugh loud and mockingly. “At least you are high blood and free, a low born or a slave would have made him thrice a coward.” the sphinx said after she finished her laugh. She took a breath, “Well then, girl, I shine brightest in the dark. I am there but cannot be seen. To have me costs you nothing. To be without me costs you everything. What am I?" the sphinx asked.

Pinkie’s voice started to narrate again, “Somnabula stopped herself from speaking just in time and thought. She thought of the hardship she and her fellow villagers had experienced.” the scene showed Somnabula act out what Pinkie said, and then her mouth opened as she discovered the answer.

“You are Hope!” Somnabula all but shouted her answer. However, Somnabula seemed to frown just as the Sphinx was snarling and almost about to roar, “But great sphinx, that surely cannot be all of your riddle?” The Sphinx stopped. “It is one thing to say the word hope, but hope must be demonstrated. What is the next part?” Somnabula asked.

The Sphinx stopped and thought for a couple of seconds. She then laugh, “Clever girl, but as promised, I will let the prince go.” The sphinx got on to her feet and circled Somnabula, “However if you can reach him and set him free without sight or flight, I will leave for the deep desert and remain there to the end of my days, but if you fail, you will be my next meal.”

“Deal!” Somnabula shouted without a second thought. 

The Sphinx then began in a tongue Somnabula didn’t understand and before she knew it her wings vanished as she fell to the ground and a tan cloth blindfold appeared over her eyes. The Sphinx then placed her at the edge right next to a bridge that lead right to the prince. “Oh, you’re highest, you must cheat,” she said and soon the prince was gagged. Somnabula took one tentative step and was able to get onto the bridge. She slowly and calmly walked the length of the bridge as if it was a stroll down the street. Once at the pillar, she felt for the rope and soon found the knot. After a second of fiddling with it, she tied the rope. The blindfold loosened and her wings were able to manifest again. The Sphinx roared, but she did nothing else as she flew out an exit near the top of the pyramid.

Somnabula took Hisan’s hand and flew him right out the pyramid and right to the Pharaoh's chariot. “How did you prevail?” the pharaoh asked, as he stopped himself from jumping off of his chariot and hugging his son and his son’s savior. He was, after all, still the pharaoh.

Somnabula smiled, “I have hope, and it has always carried me through.” 

Hisan reached around his neck and took off a necklace of what looked like topaz but green and faintly glowing, “I can not restore to you the pearls which you offered to the pharaoh, but I can offer this, my late mother’s necklace of glowpaz. For you are the only woman that has shone like her.” Somnabula accepted the necklace and stones glowed, radiating her hope to the entire kingdom.

The fire then shifted back to normal, “And to this day, glowpaz has been the symbol of hope in the village of Somnabula.” Pinkie said and bowed. She was rewarded with many claps.

“So what happened with Somnabula and Hisan, I hope they lived happily ever after.” Sweetie all but begged.

Pinkie fought back a nervous laugh, “That’s a story for another time.” she said weakly. After a second as everyone looked at her, “So who’s next?” she asked almost too chipper, “I think you should go, Rarity.” Pinkie leaped over the fire and placed the sand in Rarity’s hand before leaping back to her seat.

Rarity looked from Pinkie to the fire, “I suppose I am next to tell a story,” she said as she got to her feet, “There is a saying, that beauty is only skin deep, but that is not always the case as there are those whos forms reflect what lies within and Mistmane was one such being.”

Rarity then sprinkled some of the sand and the fire morphed again and showed a series of structures that seemed to fit in Fluttershy’s imported graphic novels or rather they were the bases of the renderings in those novels, some of the buildings hinted to be part of a large palace. The scene focused on a gathering of Magicborn who were noticeably different than most of Mystica’s population of Magicborn and yet still very similar. The focus was on one young woman slightly older than Rarity and seemed to match Rarity in beauty. Her hair was of several colors namely gradients of grayish arctic blue, turquoise-ish gray, grayish turquoise, and malachite greenish-gray, and seemed to float on its own not unlike Celestia and Luna and had pale light gray cerulean eyes. She wore a fog-like bluish dress known as a kimono with a stylized cloud of mist rendered to take up the back of the kimono. She wore a headband with a pearl as her focus gem. Rarity’s voice began to narrate, “Mistmane was a very promising young sorceress.” Rarity started. The recently identified Mistmane was surrounded by those that could be concluded to be her family and friends, “She was as talented as she was beautiful and kind. Everybody loved her and missed her when she was sent to the finest magic school.” As Rarity narrated, Mistmane was being set off with found fair wells as she was leaving the village. 

The scene changed to what could only be viewed as an apothecary’s lab as Mistmane was reading notes as she was preparing a potion. As she began to make something a powder, a man entered and handed her a scroll. Rarity continued to narrate, “While she was gone, she was delighted to find out that her best friend, Sable Spirit, was crowned empress. She couldn't wait to return home once she finished her studies.” Mistmane read the scroll and smiled. She then sniffed the air and realized her water was boiling too fast.

The scene then changed back to Mistmane’s home sometime later, as Mistmane arrived and saw that the place had become blighted, the buildings in disrepair, and everyone was forlorn and dour. “But once she arrived, she was devastated by what she saw.” Rarity narrated. 

Mistmane walked to one of the residents, who was getting water from a well, “What happened here?” Mistmane asked. The villager simply took the full bucket and placed it on the ground, “The Empress happened.” he said and pointed deeper into the village to the walls of the palace, “She makes everyone work day and night on the palace.” the village all but curse. “We don't have time to take care of anything else,” he added, never once turning to face Mistmane or verify that it was her by any means. Mistmane shook her head in disbelief, “But that can't be. I know her! She would never do this.” she declared in clear denial of what she was told and saw. The village picked up his bucket and left.

Rarity’s narration continued, “But there was no denying what was in front of her.” as Mistmane cried silently as her denial broke down.  After a second, Mistmane then took a breath and started walking toward the palace, as Rarity’s narration continued, “Sable Spirit took everything beautiful away from anybody else and Mistmane was sure there had to be some explanation. She went to confront her friend.” 

The scene changed to the throne room of the palace, the entire place was full of many flowers, small trees, bushes, and other beautiful plants. At the far end was the throne, flanked by two guards, and on it sat a woman with a black veil that hid her face, a long black gown with long sleeves, with red clouds like cuffs and tail. She also wore a black and red headpiece as her crown. “Sable, is that you?” Mistmane asked, barely recognizing her old friend. Before Sable got the chance to answer, “Because Sable would never work our people to the bone for something as silly as a palace.” 

“Silly?” Sable asked, offended at the declaration. “My palace is a beacon of beauty!” she shouted in defiance, “Anyone who passes will be in awe of its majesty!” she added as she stood up and waved to all that was around them.

Mistmane closed her eyes, dipped her head, and shook it in sorrow. She then raised it, “What good is a pretty palace if it just hides the misery of its people?” she asked 

Sable brushed the petals of one of the flowers closest to her, “Beauty is everything.” she retorted before she pointed her finger at Mistmane as she levied her accusation, “You taught me that.”. As Mistmane remained dumbfounded as Sable stepped from the throne down the stairs from the platform it was one “You were always the pretty one. You got the best magic school. Everyone missed you. Everyone loved you!” she said as she reached the main floor and was with a meter of Mistmane before starting to circle her, “I admit I was jealous, so I tried to perform a spell that would make me beautiful. You can see how that went!” Sable then pulled back her veil, her face was massively wrinkled as if almost a century of life was drained from it. Mistmane couldn’t keep her mouth from going agape. Sable continued, glaring at Mistmane in the hate that could only be spawned of jealousy and envy, “I found if I couldn't have beauty, I would take it and everything else.” Sable finished as she turned away from Mistmane and started back to her throne.

Mistmane finally regained her voice, “No, Sable.” she declared. “I will not let you continue down this path.” Sable snorted as she turned around and from her focus gem she conjured a tangible projection of a flame red serpentine dragon. Mistmane closed her own eyes as she conjured such a dragon, but hers was blue, like water. The two dragons dove at each other, guided by the focus gems of Sable and Mistmane. However Sable struggled with each collision, while Mistmane remained calm as if she was in meditation. After ten seconds Mistmane’s dragon destroyed Sable’s and then launched to one of the plants. This caused the plant to grow and wrap around Sable in a massive ball of branches. Sable grunted as she was trapped and the guards didn’t fight back a cheer.

Rarity’s narration continued, “Everybody thought that Sable Spirit was defeated, and that was that. But Mistmane knew there was more she could do to help.” while Mistmane shook her head at the scene. Mistmane then spotted one of the flowers. She took it and walked outside of the palace into the center of the town.  Rarity’s narration continued, “Beauty isn't everything. But Mistmane knew that it does have the power to make people smile,” as Mistmane planted the flower. Mistmane closed her eyes, took a breath, and hovered her hands over the flower as she cast a spell upon it. The flower grew, and the other flowers around it grew from the soil, then fresh green grass, and within seconds all the blight was gone, the building repaired and pristine. However Mistmane’s body began to age, and once the spell was done she looked to be the same age as Granny Smith, if not slightly older. This spell made its way into the throne room and after it set Sable free it restored her face to her youth. As all this occurred Rarity narrated “She made a huge sacrifice to bring that smile back to her friends' and family's faces... including Sable Spirit's.”

Sable after feeling her face and the youth restored to it, rushed out the palace and found Mistmane sitting on the side of the well being at ease. “You did this for me? Even after I was so cruel?” Sable asked as she saw her friend. Mistmane slowly got up and embraced her with a smile. Sable could not fight back the tears as she returned the embrace.

The scene changed to the throne room, now devoid of much that Sable hoarded, and only the bare minimum to remind everyone that it was a throne room and Sable Spirit was the ruler. Sable sat on her throne as townsfolk walked up to a meter from the base of the stairs leading to the throne and was about to kowtow when Sable waved her hand, ordering him to stand. He then started to speak, but nothing was heard as Rarity’s narration took over, “Sable Spirit was so touched that she vowed to be more like her friend in the ways that mattered. From then on, she ruled with kindness and compassion.” 

The scene then changed to show two Earthborns, likely a young husband and young wife, dressed in what looked like brown sacks. They were looking at looked like an apple tree, but more primitive, and it looked like it recently died. The woman wept barely below a wale and the man held her as he too shed tears, fighting back his rage. Rarity’s narration took over as Mistmane came upon the scene several meters away, “Even though she gave away her physical beauty, she dedicated her life to spreading beauty all over Mystica.” As Rarity spoke Mistmane placed her right hand on the ground and before the couple’s eyes, the apple tree not only returned to life but soon bore fruit ready to be plucked. The couple then looked around and saw no signs of Mistmane. 

The scene returned to the gathering as the fire returned to normal, Rarity looked from the fire to her friends, “Any time you go out of your way to brighten somebody's day, you're following in the footsteps of Mistmane.” Rarity finished her tale and gave a curtsy and everyone applauded. “Thank you all darlings, you’re too kind.” Rarity said before she looked to Rainbow and Fluttershy, “So who shall we hear next?” the enchantress asked.

“You go Fluttershy,” Rainbow declared. “My story needs juussttt a little more build-up.”

Everyone looked to Rainbow somewhat confused, Rainbow would normally jump to the chance to tell any story she might have. “Are you sure?” Fluttershy asked, the most perplexed of the lot.

“Trust me, besides you’ve come a long way with your self-confidence, so let’s see it pay off. Story! Story! Story!” Rainbow chanted as she stomped her left foot. She was soon joined by Pinkie, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle.

Fluttershy shook her head and held out her right hand and accepted the sand. She looked at the sand, “There’s just enough sand for my story.” Fluttershy pointed out. 

“Don’t worry about it,” Rainbow said with no concern.  

Fluttershy then looked to the fire, “Mage Meadowbrook spent most of her childhood and the earliest years of her adulthood under her mother’s tutelage to become a healer.” Fluttershy started as she prepared to cast the sand into the fire, “and it was her first trial as a healer that helped the most even to this day.” She then cast the sand into the flame.

The flame parted and soon the fire once again morphed and soon it showed what looked like Zecora’s hut. However, there were two women, both Earthborn, one brilliant turquoise eyes with pink and scarlet done up and dress in grass green dress that left her arms exposed and seemed to be about the same age as Fluttershy. The other woman, who seemed to be at least two decades older, had brown eyes and hair with two shades of brown, also done up and dressed in a purple dress like the younger. They were at a large cauldron with some sort of green soup-like substance. “I finally got it right!” the younger woman declared before she took a spoon to a chipmunk that was sneezing. After it sipped some of the soup it then it stopped and then started to run around, healthy as ever.

The older woman went to another part of the room and pulled out a box and presented it to the younger, “Meadowbrook, I think it's time you had this.” she said identifying the younger woman.

The recently identified Meadowbrook gasped as she open it to reveal a mask that looked like a yellow parrot with blue strips, “My very own healer's mask!” She could not contain her excitement as she set the mask aside. She didn’t stop herself from hugging her mother. After a second the hug ended, Meadowbrook then looked to her mother, “You think I'm ready, mother?” Meadowbrook asked the older woman, identifying her as her mother. 

Meadowbrook's mother nodded with an ‘Mm-hm.’. Then there was a knock at the door. Meadowbrook’s mother then went to the door and opened it to see a young woman with white hair and yellow eyes, the sides of her face and neck covered with orange-brown spots. Meadowbrook’s mother gasped, “What caused this?” as she looked at her patent. The woman then pulled from her cloak a blue hand size blue bub with similar spots all over the petals of the unopen flower. 

Fluttershy’s voice was heard narrating as Meadowbrook’s mother took the flower, “It was swamp fever.” she informed and the scene changed to Meadowbrook and her mother trying to examine the floor. “And they started searching for a cure, but it hasn't been easy.” Fluttershy narrated, as Meadowbrook’s mother sprinkled some water on the bub. It suddenly opened and puffed out what looked like a small cloud of brown smoke. Meadowbrook’s mother inhaled some of it accidentally and began to cough. Before Meadowbrook could rush to her mother, there was knocking at their door. Meadowbrook’s mother waved her hand silently ordering Meadowbrook to answer the door. Once there she saw a line made of their neighbors, all were sneezing and coughing bubbles and covered with the spots of the first patent. “The fever spread like wildfire.” Before Meadowbrook could do anything, she heard her mother start to cough again. Meadowbrook turned and saw her mother cough bubbles. “If a cure wasn’t found soon, everybody was going be in grave danger!” 

The scene changed as Meadowbrook had left her mother and found lily pads with the same bub that the first patent presented to her and her mother. Meadowbrook sighed, “What do I do mother?” she asked her absent mother, “With you sick, I didn't think I can ever find a cure.” she said and was about to weep until she saw what looked like two bees of massive size and seemed to match the color and pattern of her healer’s mask fly around, “Flash bees,” she whispered and fought back a gasp as she tried to remain as still as possible. But the bees paid no attention as they hover right over one of the flowers. It opened and puffed out the same brown cloud that her mother breathed in and yet the bees were unaffected and went to collect the nectar and pollen. The pollen they spread to other flowers, the nectar, was for themselves. Meadowbrook had a massive open mouth smile as something dawned on her, “If the flash bees are not affected by the flower’s poison, then their honey must be the cure to Swap Fever!” Meadowbrook barely fought back her shout. 

The scene changed to her following the two to a large tree where their hive was. But before she could close to the tree she was spotted by a sentry flash bee, it flew back into the hive and within a second, a swarm of the flash bees exited the hive and dove at Meadowbrook. She gasped and jumped into the water and waited for the flash bees to lose interest before she got out and walked back to the shore. Fluttershy’s narration took over, “But they were so aggressive defending their hive, Meadowbrook didn't know how she was going to get it.” Meadowbrook sat down and thought. “But there was hope! Meadowbrook had learned many things from her mother and one was to recognize patterns.” 

Meadowbrook gasped as she ran back to her home. Once there, “I know the cure!” she said to her bedridden mother, as she ran to her room and got her healer’s mask. “Be right back!” she said and left their home and after putting it on arrived at the tree of the flash bee’s hive. She then started to wave her arms and the sentry allowed her to pass. She then approuched the hive, after repeating this dance she managed to calm all the flash bees and with great care aquired a decent sample of the honey. She then left the hive and headed home. She then concentated the honey and starting with her mother, Fluttershy’s narration started again, “And with the flash bee honey, she cured her  mother and the rest of the bayou.” as Meadowbrook treated everyone.

“My turn.” Rainbow said as she got up and took a handful of sand from the ground, “Let me tell you the story of Flash Magnus.”

Scootaloo then spoke up, “My brother, Flash Sentry, told me that story the last time he was on leave. He also said that we were related to Magnus,” she informed. She then looked at the fire, “But I couldn't tell if he was kidding or not.” she had to admit.

Applejack had a slight laugh at that, more out of ‘been there’ than out of malice. Once she finished the laugh, “He was probably just pulling your leg, like how Ma pulled Big Mac and mine about being related to Rockfoot. And just like Rockfoot, Flash Magnus is just a legend. You can't be related to someone who never existed.” Applejack then paused as she had a weak apologetic chuckle, “Oh yeah, Nightmare, Discord, etc.” Applejack had to concede. She then gave a cough, “But with that said, a grown man that goes from being frailer than Featherweight to a behemoth in a snap and dig a trench wide and deep enough to divert the flow of that much lava in a couple of seconds?” she asked as she pointed out how much Rockfoot changed and how fast he did in the story. As everyone seemed to have no response, “Yay can say magic or divine intervention all yah want, but yah gotta admit it’s pretty far fetched.” Applejack added.

“What about Mistmane, Somnabula, and Meadowbrook?” Sweetie Belle asked, pointing out the three other stories.

Fluttershy placed her hand on Sweetie’s shoulder, “Meadowbrook did live, Twilight and I found her kin when we looked for a cure for Zecora when she was becoming a tree,” the druid answered and comforted the much younger bard.

“And Somnambula is totally real. Rainbow and I found all about her when Rainbow got the news that AK Yearling wasn’t going to write another book. But we all know that story,” Pinkie quickly added.

Sweetie Belle then turned to Rarity, “While the Far Eastern Gardens are real, we really should go there sometime, the history of Mistmane herself outside of her tale is sadly at most a chapter in the reign of Empress Sable Spirit and a handful of census reports from that reign.”

Rainbow groaned and everyone turned back to her. She scowled as her friends gave a nervous laugh. Rainbow cleared her throat. “Not long after the founding of Mystica…” the elementalist began as she took some loose sand and threw it onto the fire. There was a parting of the flames of images beginning to appear.

“How are you doing that without the sand Rarity transmuted?” Pinkie asked.

“I am an elementalist, I can make the four elements do pretty much anything I want,” Rainbow answered with a deadpan. “Now please no more interruptions.” Everyone then fell silent. Rainbow cleared her throat, as the images took shape.

The scene showed thirteen Skyborn men flying among the clouds. Twelve were armored in what appeared to series of iron straps bound together to look like shirts over long red tunics and had legionnaire helms and appeared to be in their late twenties. The thirteenth had matching armor but looked to be bronze and he looked much older, in his later fifties. The scene focused on one of the men with iron armor who had brilliant turquoise eyes with moderate amaranth hair, hidden under his helm, and on the right sleeve of his tunic was an embroidered blue feather over a rendering of mountain peaks and his ethereal wings were like that of eagles. Rainbow’s voice was heard narrating, “Flash Magnus was a legionnaire in the Royal Legion, a holdover from the reign of King Bullion and the forebear of the Skyborn part of the ESM.” Rainbow informed of the connection between her as a Wonderbolt and Flash Magnus. The scene showed the thirteen fly close to the peninsula where the dragons resided. “One day Flash Magnus’ group was patrolling the air space near the Dragon Lands.” Rainbow narrated as the thirteen flew close along the border. “But as they got closer to the dragons…” Rainbow narrated as smoke crossed the flight’s path causing them all to cough thrice. Just then there were the roars of two colossal dragons and then two dragons emerged broke through the smoke and breathed fire upon the thirteen soldiers. “...the dragons attacked!” Rainbow narrated. The thirteen broke their formation as they tried to avoid the torrents of flames the dragons spewed. All this happened as Rainbow narrated, “The Royal Legion tried to get past the dragons but the dragons wouldn't let them!” 

After almost a minute of what could be described as desperate attempts to evade the dragons, the old man in the bronze armor shouted, “Fallback!” as an order to retreat.

He and most of the band were able to retreat quickly, but the scene showed that three were cut off. Rainbow’s narration started again, “Flash Magnus and two others of his squad were cut off,” and soon one of the dragons grabbed two of the three leaving the man that the story was focused on. Rainbow’s narration continued as the scene followed the two dragons as they flew towards a massive cave that barely dwarfed either, “He managed to get away, but the dragons captured his friends and took them back to their lair!” all the while the two captured brothers-in-arm screamed and cried knowing their fate. 

The man the story focused on was about to fly after the dragons, only to be tackled from behind by the older man in the bronze armor and brought down to the ground with the rest of the squad. Only the much older man and the man the story was focused on were calm. The man that the story focused on spoke first addressing the older man, “Commander Ironhead, sir, with all due respect, sir, we need to save our captured comrades!” he pointed towards the cave.

The recently identified Commander Ironhead first looked in the direction and then back to the younger man, “I appreciate your loyalty, Flash Magnus,” he said Flash Magnus was properly identified with a sad smile before he shook his head, “but getting past those dragons is going to be impossible. Nothing will work. I cannot risk all of us on the far-fetched chance we’ll be able to save them.” 

Flash Magnus was not moved, “Commander, with all due respest, we don’t have to get past them.” Flash started. “We only need to outsmart them long enough to get our comrades and get out and I'm pretty sure I can outfly the dragons.” he continued to voice his thoughts. “If I can lure them into chasing me, you can all sneak into the lair and retrieve our comrades before they get back. Once then, if you all would gather those clouds,” Flash Magnus waved to all the clouds that were in the sky. “Into a storm cloud, I can lure them into it and the lightning will drive them away long enough for us all to get out of here.” Flash Magnus finished telling his idea. Commander Ironhead stroked his bread in contemplation, “Please, sir, let me take this chance.” he request, while stern in his resolve, there was a clear plea in it. 

Commander Ironhead stopped stroking his bread and took a breath, “It's a very brave thing you're asking to do.” the old man said. “Alright, Magnus we’ll do it.” Ironhead declared. He then reached over his shoulder and took something off of his back. It was a heater shield that looked like it was styled after a figure-of-eight with a four-pointed star with stylized wings above an olive branch etched into it and had the color of bronze. “You'll need all the help you can get,” Ironhead said as he gave the shield to Flash Magnus.
 
Flash Magnus’ jaw hung open as he accepted the shield, “Netitus… the fireproof shield?!” Flash Magnus asked in disbelief. 

Commander Ironhead smiled, “It has protected the heroes of the Legion for generations.” he said before he pushed the shield almost into Flash Magnus’ chest, “And today, I can't think of one worthier for Netitus to protect.” he said. Flash Magnus smiled and secured the shield to his left arm before he saluted Ironhead. Ironhead saluted back, “Good luck, soldier.” he said before Flash flew to the cave’s entrance. Ironhead took a deep breath as he fought back a tear, “Please come back, son.” he pleaded under his breath.

The scene followed Flash Magnus as he flew to the cave. He stopped outside gave an exhale before he started to shout at the top of his lungs, “Hey! Come and get me, you lizards! If you can!” he then banged Netitus thrice before he started to shout again “Hey, hey! Come and get me! Hey, I'm over here!” He then fell silent as one of the dragons slowly emerged from the smoke in the cave and began to roar. Flash Magnus screamed like a little girl and bolted as fast as he could only to be followed by both dragons.

Rainbow’s narration was heard, “While Flash Magnus bravely flew for his life, Commander Ironhoof was able to get his soldiers back.” Ironhead and the rest dashed into the cave and back out with the two captured members. The scene then changed to Flash Magnus flying in the sky with the two dragons in hot pursuit roaring and breathing fire at the soldier. All the while either evading the attacks from the dragons or trying to outfly them, all the while the dragons roared during their attacks. During this Rainbow’s narration continued, “Flash Magnus flew like the wind faster than the dragons!” The scene then focused on Flash Magnus as he was sweating profusely, and it wasn’t from the dragon’s fire, and pant, “But he knew he couldn't do this forever. Luckily, he had a plan.” Rainbow continued to narrate as Flash spotted the storm cloud that the suggested that Ironhead and the others make. He dove for it as Rainbow narrated, “He led the dragons straight into a storm that the Legion had planted!” The dragons followed Flash Magnus and there were series of lightning strikes. After the tenth, the two dragons left the cloud first, they showed almost no signs of injuries and flew calmly as if they were walking away from a pointless fight as their faces showed that they deemed that going after Flash Magnus any more was not worth it. In contrast to Rainbow’s narration, “One taste of the lightning, and the dragons retreated.” 

The focus changed to the squad as they wait for the one who lead the dragons into the trap. After almost a minute, as tears started to form in the corners of Ironhead’s eyes, Flash Magnus came out, his armor, save Netitus, was blacken, he seemed to have a layer of sout on him and all the pieces of cloth on him was singed. He coughed as he approuched his comrades, who flew up to him and embraced him. Ironhead’s embrace being the longest. Once it was over Flash Magnus offered to return Netitus. Ironhead shook his head. As Rainbow narration reached the end, “Flash Magnus’s plan worked, and everyone was saved.”

The fire turned back to normal as Rainbow looked from it to the others, “And to this very day, his tale has been the benchmark of bravery for the entire ESM.” Rainbow then sat down with a big grin on her face as everyone applauded her story.

Timber waited for everyone to calm down from the story Rainbow told. He had to admit that all of them were good, granted how Applejack told the Rockfoot Saga left much to be desired as a solo story, but when looking at when Applejack told it, which was right in the start, it was a nice launching point for how Pinkie told of Somnambula and the Riddles of the Sphinx. After about thirty seconds, he looked into the fire and spoke both calmly and yet with a degree of authority, “I too have a story up my sleeve.” Everyone turned to him and began to lean towards him as their interests were sparked. “The legend of Gaea Everfree,” he whispered.