Fluttershy looked at Princess Celestia who was dressed in her own robes. Celestia truly looked like how a Mistress of the Sol Temple should look. She was dignified, regal, and currently lighting the embers of the incense used for the ritual of revealing.

“Priestess Shywing, art thou ready to perform the ritual?”

Fluttershy nodded, “Wonderful, thou must be prepared. The pool of revealing is in readiness, please tell me of thine revelation when thou art shown.”

“I will.”

With that Fluttershy stepped into the room. The small area before the pool was for her to disrobe, and she did so. The first thing to come off was her cloak, a badge of her status as a Priestess of Sol. Then her belt came off, which tied the tunic that served her as a dress around her waist. The tunic came off next, revealing her slender but fit frame, a tuft of dark goldenrod fur jutting out from her loincloth; her breasts, a palmful for large hands, were bound in a bandeau which was quickly untied by expert fingers. Next, Fluttershy undid the ties for her loincloth and that joined the pile of discarded clothing. From the warm sunlight beaming in from several stained glass windows, Fluttershy could tell the Pool of Revelation was warm; it was clear and rippled gently from its center. The ripples distorted the image of Sol, an alicorn statue some fifty meters high that appeared to be a ablaze, which rested at the apex of the pool’s curvature. She walked past where her clothes were meant to be left, and stepped to the oils and herbs that as a priestess she was meant to use to anoint herself before stepping into the pool.

She lifted first the vial of oil from a white solar lilly, the rich smell filled her nostrils, and she gently dabbed just three drops which she used to anoint her primary feathers. Placing the oil back she took the oil of nightshade, the more earthy smell flowed around her as she dripped out two drops on both of her breasts. She placed it back, and lifted foal’s breath, the renewing oil, and poured half the vial on her scalp.

Stepping away she took the leaves from Metrix Tea, a poisonous tea drank by Minotaur warriors in the south. She rubbed the leaves in her palms until they ground into soft mushy paste that she placed upon her lips. Lastly, as per the command of Sol, she took a small vial of extract from fire ants, something without harming the ants themselves, and she let a single drop fall for each of her two nipples.

She stepped into the warm pool, the ghostly orange fire that danced across her nipples began to spread to the oils, no hurting her, but rather taking in the fuel, digesting it, and giving her the appearance of a handmaiden of Sol himself.

“Sol, father of all Alicorns, master of the temple of Sol, giver of light and bringer of love, I pledge myself to you. I ask, that you show me the champion I must serve.”

“Endymion, are you sure you want to do this? I love my friends, they aren’t the only adventurers in Ponyville,” Twilight said as she walked with him.

“Twily, I’m going to prove to them that I’m not a goof. Look, things just didn’t go right, and I want to fix it. If they don’t want me as part of their team after that, then I’ll find somepony else, but until then, I’ve got try.”

Twilight sighed and shook her head, “Well, that’s why we’re here. It wouldn’t do any good to go ask Applejack or Rainbow Dash. Both of them are still too upset about having to run to their homes completely nude. Fluttershy is the only one I can think of who will at least give you a fair shot.”

He nodded and smiled, “That’s why we’re heading toward the Sol Temple right? Oh, by the way… It’s down this way right?”

Twilight nodded, “It is.”

When they got there he noticed a familiar rainbow maned Pegasus landing. Near her an orange earth pony mare was heading up the steps.

“You?! What are you doing here?!”

Somehow, somewhere, he knew that someone must have thought this was the funniest gag they’d ever seen, and that had to be why he kept running into them after something bad happened.

“I just want to talk to Fluttershy.”

Rainbow glared at him, and balled her fists, “Didn’t get a good enough peek last time?!”

“It’s not like that I just want another shot at being in your group!”

“No, yer obviously ain’t no good as a magician, and Ah’m more sure now than ‘fore that yer a pervert!”

“Think what you want, but I’m going to prove I’m not a goof, and that I’m not a pervert!”

“Can’t see her anyway,” Rainbow grinned, “She’s doing the ritual of revealing right now, and nopony is going to let you in back there.”

He tried to rush past them only to have AJ chase him. Realizing that he was in for another chase regardless of what happened he decided to see if he could find another way inside that wouldn’t be through the front doors. He could hear AJ’s hooves behind him, and he saw a set of windows that led into some almost basement room. He fell to his back, slid into and through the open window into a shower room.

Dozens of unicorn, pegasus, and earth pony mares stood there, undressed, each at a shower head, and their eyes wide looking at him.

“PERVERT!!!!” several of them cried out in a single voice.

Running past them, he headed out of the shower, into a long hall, and then up several flights of stairs. He climbed, faster and faster until he was nearing the top of a rounded building with a frosted glass roof. He looked ahead and saw Rainbow Dash and AJ already there.

“What? How?”

“Experience,” Rainbow said as she pulled a dagger, “We’re better at this than you. Admit it, leave, and go back home.”

“No! I’m going to talk to Fluttershy!”

He grabbed his wand, and he began chanting when Twilight flashed into appearance. Her eyes widened. She knew the spell, a simple barrier spell, but since he had to say the words, since he had to chant to focus his magic, he had to be careful, and he wasn’t pronouncing them right.

“Endymion!”

His name left her lips a moment too late. A blue light formed under him, and then exploded up and out. He flung high into the air, and the force knocked both Applejack and Rainbow Dash on their asses. Twilight’s own shield had barely been activated in time, and she she wasn’t fast enough to keep him from falling into the room below them.

“Fluttering Shywing, my faithful servant.”

Fluttershy bowed her head in reverence as she heard Sol speak, “Thine actions and dedication to thine friends, thine order, and thine fellow ponies hath pleased me. Thou shalt see thine hero this day.”

“Great Sol, what is my hero’s name?”

A rumble, almost the sound of laughter erupted through the pool, “Thy hero shalt be the next being thine eyes see.”

“But… Sol, not that I would question you, wouldn’t the next pony I see be Mistress Celestia?”

At that Fluttershy heard a massive explosion, she crouched down as a figure, completely nude and showing signs of singed hair all over his form dropped into the pool. Her eyes widened as she watched him, and then he hit hard, sending the water from the pool all over her, and over the room.

“A...Are you alive?”

Slowly he raised up, her eyes widened again, it couldn’t be him. Sol, no, please this was wrong. He turned and she saw his form. He was easy on the eyes, not that it mattered, and his phallus… Sol help her she’d never seen one before. Her wings reacted, arching up in arousal.

“Hey… I was looking for you…” he said before nearly falling back over.

The Sol priestess squeaked as the human turned on the spot, looking punch drunk and wavering on his feet.

“Excuse me miss,” Endymion asked, “would you happen to know where I can find some clothes?”

Then the human belly flopped back in the pool, his toned flanks pointing to the ceiling.

“Lord Sol, father of all Alicorns… N-not that I’m- I’m questioning you or anything, bu- but… Is this truly your will?!”

Fluttershy dressed, hurriedly, which explained why her loincloth was left lying back in the disrobing area. She had find help to get Endymion out of there. If this was Sol’s will, and she wasn’t one to question Sol, but if this truly was his will then her hero, her champion, had to taken outside of the temple. If he was left inside there would be far too much trouble. Especially with so many new maidens.

She swallowed, her worry, and then her answer came in the form of Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack. Twilight’s magic didn’t seem to directly work in Sol’s presence in the pool of revelation, so he had to be moved from it. Applejack and Rainbow Dash helped. With Applejack carrying him, and Rainbow Dash making sure that no one was coming. Once they were out of the area Twilight teleported him and herself out of the temple and over to the palace.

“Well, at least that feller is out of our hair.”

“No…”

Rainbow looked at Fluttershy with a confused expression, “What’s wrong Flutters?”

“I.. I… Oh Sol, is this truly your will?!” she cried before burying her face in her hands.

“Okay, want to tell me what’s going on?”

“Endymion, he is my hero, my champion. Sol has ordained it, and as such I am bound to him as his servant.”

“Wait… Wait jest a Sol damned moment, yer saying that Sol, father of all Alicorns, dun said that dunderhead his yer new champion?”

Fluttershy nodded.

AJ murmured, “Oh buck me… Buck me in a tailhole till it’s raw and bleedin’. Flutters, yer jokin’ right? Yer jest havin’ a laugh, right?”

She shook her head.

“Motherplucking, barebacking, daughter of a whorse, tawt gargling, tailhole licking, twat puncher!” Rainbow exclaimed, “Seriously?! That pervert?! Can’t you rebel or something?”

She shook her head, “Not without leaving my order. Sol has commanded it.”

“So wadda we do now?” Applejack asked, “it ain’t like we kin leave b’hind, cain’t we?”

“No,” Fluttershy answered, “he is my Sol chosen champion and as such, I must serve him to the best of my abilities. Even if I have my doubts about it, the revelation, and what it means for me, are clear. We have to take him with us.”

Rainbow huffed indignantly, “Really, ‘Shy? Are you bucking serious about this? He’s dead weight! He’s a horrible magician, he’s not even much of a sprinter, and he has virtually no experience in combat! I’d rather take a buck naked recruit from the Canterlot Knights than this guy!”

“Ah’m with Dash on this one, sugarcube,” AJ added, “we ain’t some foalsittin’ service. Ser, he’s the adopted son of Princess Luna; don’t mean we gotta burp ‘him and change his diapers.”

“Now see here, Applejack,” Twilight finally interjected, “Endymion is capable magician. Sure, he doesn’t have much experience in adventuring, certainly not to the degree you three have, but you try finding a mage anywhere around Ponyville or Canterlot that will give up his or her studies to plumb tombs and dungeons for their loot! Endymion wants to do this! Can’t you at least give him a shot?”

AJ and Rainbow grumbled about perverts and not pulling somepony’s weight. All the while, Endymion, he seemed for all purposes dead to the world, heard every word. He wanted to prove himself, and his worth, to these adventurers. He didn’t know anything about Sol chosen champions and he’d be thrice damned if gave a jot about fate or destiny, but he wanted to do this. It felt like this was the moment his life was really going to begin, damn be the consequences.

At length, AJ and Dash debated what they were going to, as they vehemently opposed taking the human with them. Twilight was arguing the opposite, trying to convince the thief and the swordsmare that Endymion would make an excellent addition to the team. Fluttershy remained silent, her eyes slowly filling with tears. During the whispered debate, she kept repeating a mantra of, “If this is your will, then you will be done. But is this your will?” Finally, when the Sol priestess couldn’t handle the bickering anymore, she cleared her throat. The small sound, made smaller by Fluttershy’s nominally demure nature, stopped the arguing cold.

“He comes with us,” the priestess declared, “that is final.”

“Are ya ser ‘bout this, ‘Shy?” AJ asked her golden friend.

“No,” the Pegasus answered, “but it is Sol’s will and I will obey my God. Even if his commandments make no sense… Or it feels like He’s playing a cosmic joke on me…”

Twilight looked at the Pegasus mare who looked determined, but on the verge of tears at the same time. She didn’t understand exactly what the problem was, but she could guess that Fluttershy had different expectations of what her hero, her champion, was going to be like. Sure, Endymion was different, but she knew that Fluttershy would be hard pressed to find somepony else that was willing to do what they were doing.

Very few of the magi that went to the academy were going to become defensive guards, archmages, or black cloaks. For the most part almost all of the magi at the school were going to become research magi. The kind of magi that specialized in research focused magic only. Endymion was the first stallion she’d seen in the academy that even looked like he was meant for defensive magic. That was certainly part of why she liked him so much. Sure, he was sweet, kind, and handsome in his own way, but Endymion tried harder than almost anypony else. There was one other colt she saw in their classes, a young unicorn named Sunburst, and he tried, but it was obvious he cared more about doing what would make his family proud rather than really trying to find his place.

Endymion, well he worked to find his place. That’s what he did, “He’s going to surprise you, you know.”

Fluttershy looked at her, “I hope so. Because I am truly questioning if Sol is playing a horrible prank right now.”

Twilight shook her head, “No, if Sol made him your champion it’s because he sees what I see, what Princess Luna sees, and what I know I see is a stallion that has the potential to do great things.”

“Let’s say yer right Twi. Let’s say this feller has that potential. What good is it if’n he cain’t ? If’n the time comes he’s supposed ta pull off a spell to save us, and instead he chokes, or messes up, and we’re in a pinch ‘cause of ‘im. Ah ain’t sayin’ he don’t have that potential, Ah’m jest stating the obvious.”

“I’ll be helping with his studies.”

“Ugh… Twilight, seriously? You’re going to teach him? Were you even at that party a few days ago? You kept sending him the ‘take me to bed and rut me until morning’ eyes all night!”

“Rainbow! I can separate carnal desires and the need to learn!”

He slowly moved, his form finally covered by one of Twilight’s own magical robes. Of course Twilight was so much smaller than him that they had to put it on backward and use it like a blanket instead of an actual robe. He sat up, feeling the material of the robe fall off of his chest. They looked at him, and he studied each and every one of them.

“I’m not useless. I’ll prove that to you. I don’t have to rely just on my magic. I can fight too.”

“What kind of fighting?”

He looked at Fluttershy who had some hope in her eyes, “Did Princess Luna teach you? Do you know Steel Way, or Still way? Rolling Rock, or maybe hoof-fu?”

He grinned, “Even better. I’ll prove it. Where’s this ruin you want to go to, and I’ll not only open it for you, but I’ll help make sure to defend all of you.”

Endymion groaned as he sat the previsions down. Adventuring so far included being the porter for the group. He didn’t mind, not too much, after all he had the ability to carry their tools and being part of the group meant doing whatever part they decided he would be best suited for. Right now, that was carrying the supplies, Rainbow Dash’s tools, Fluttershy’s oils and herbs, and two extra swords for AJ along with about twenty pounds of apples themselves. Once they reached a large clearing he could see the ruin they had chosen.

It was huge, obviously a tomb for a noble house of some kind. His ancient Unicorn was a little sketchy at best, but the wording above the door didn’t make a lot of sense. He re-read it again just to be sure, “All who live shall pass, all who perish shall perch, all who exist shall learn, and none shall dine.”

“What are you going on about?”

He saw Rainbow Dash glaring at him.

“The writing, it’s ancient Unicorn.”

“Yeah so?”

He rolled his eyes, “It doesn’t make a lot of sense. It’s mainly gibberish. It almost looks like someone wanted to make it look like a noble family tomb.”

“Really?” Fluttershy asked.

“Sure, I mean all three of you can read ancient Unicorn right?”

Rainbow Dash suddenly found something very interesting on the ground to look at, Applejack decided that the wall of the tomb looked mighty interesting, but it was Fluttershy who swallowed back her embarrassment and shook her head.

“No, none of us, except for Twilight, and to some degree Rarity, can read ancient Unicorn. Normally Rainbow Dash would draw a picture of the writing, taking special note of it, and we’d visit Twilight and let her study it for a few moments. The last time we were here we merely looked at the location, studied the insignias, and figured that we were looking at a tomb of some very wealthy unicorns.”

He grinned, and nodded, “Not a problem. Since I’m here I’m glad to help read it. I’m not great at it, but I’ll be glad to translate.”

“Okay, say that it’s gibberish, couldn’t that just mean that you can’t translate it well because maybe the lettering is worn down?”

“It possible, but even if that’s the case… it doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense,” he said as he pointed to the first part, “That’s from before unification. All who live shall pass. All who perish shall perch. Professor Flintheart said that was part of an arming spell for old noble families. Unicorns would charge the phrase with magic, and then they’d have the second part either right beside or right below. All who pass will come to perch, all who perch have passed.”

“Okay, so?”

He shook his head, “The second part up there. All who exist shall learn, and none shall dine. That’s after unification. It’s not even reserved for nobility. That’s strictly royalty. It’s a resting spell, meant to ease the mines of royals who are visiting graves of loved ones. It doesn’t remain charged for more than half a century or so.”

“So, it’s a fake?”

He looked at Applejack, “Maybe, but even so it’s old, really old. There’s bound to be something important inside for them to make a fake like that. I’d almost say that whoever made it had seen tombs where nobility and royalty were laid to rest, and they just used a couple of the most common phrases on it. Not sure what we’ll find, but it’s gotta be worth something. Even if it’s something like old magical items.”

“Umm, no! Magical items without magic are no good to the Academy or the Guild.”

He looked at Rainbow Dash, “True, but not to collectors. There’s a lot of collectors of antique magical items in Canterlot. I know for a fact that Fancy Pants collects self placing cufflinks from the Silver era, that’s about three hundred years ago. None of them still work without the spells being redone on them, but that doesn’t matter. For him it’s just being able to say that he has the most extensive collection.”

“H...How much would he have bought a pair of those cufflinks for?”

There was a sort of desperation to Dash’s voice that sounded really bad.

“I’ve seen him give three thousand bits for a polished pair of black cufflinks that were from the Silver Era.”

“Three… Thousand… Bits. AJ, three thousand bits?! We could have sold those stupid cufflinks for three thousand bits?!!!!!”

“Dun heard ‘im Dash. Sol damn it, that woulda put a pretty big dent in Granny’s medical expenses.”

“Endymion, ummm, is there buyers for all kinds of old magical devices?”

He smiled at Fluttershy and nodded, “Pretty much. Depending on the era it comes from there’s a collector for it. The older it is, the more expense it is, but it also means that the buyers dwindle down too. Fancy pants collects Silver Era and has a few things from Platinum Era as well, but most of anything from Princess Platinum’s era is incredibly expensive. Mostly the only real buyers for anything from her era is Blueblood, and Fleur De Lis.”

“Fleur De Lis? Ah, thought she was some kinda dress model. That’s all Rarity talks about when it comes ta her.”

Endymion grinned, “Fleur does model dresses and other fashions for some of the designers in Canterlot, but she’s royalty from Prance. She was actually sent to the Magical Academy by her father. She’s just stayed over here because she’s quite smitten with Fancy Pants.”

“Really? And you said she’s a collector too?” Dash asked as she took a scroll from the pack and grabbed an ink well with a cork stopper in it. She uncorked it, and began writing down names.

“Yeah, she’s a collector, but she only buys Platinum era items. She loves to collect brushes from that time, especially the kind that had spells to curl the hair while it brushed. They’re not rare, but usually they’re found in noble or royal families.”

Happy that he helped Endymion looked at the entry way and noticed that it was full of old moss covered stones.

“So, where’s the door?”

AJ pointed toward the stones, “Behind those.”

Seeing that nopony else was moving toward them he set the pack down, grumbled a bit, and began moving the moss covered stones out of the way. Fluttershy watched him, and then she watched as he took off his shirt. Like before she could certainly see the definition of his muscles, he didn’t have the normal pudginess typically associated with nobility or royalty. She watched as his muscles worked together, moving the stones bit by bit, little by little.

“Think he’s going to get tired and stop?” Rainbow asked.

“Ah figure he’s got ‘bout four more stones ‘fore he dun decides it ain’t fun no more.”

“Three stones.”

AJ grinned at Dash, “twenty bits?”

“Sure, why not, I could use the bits,” she looked at Endymion who had already moved another stone, “Feel free to stop and get something to eat!”

“Naw, I want to uncover this. There’s got to be something cool inside, and I want to see it!”

Two more moved out of the way. Dash was waiting for him to stop, to give up, but instead he was going on. AJ seemed pleased, until he moved another three, then four stones. Finally it was a huge one, roughly the size of a pony, and Dash leaned against a marker.

“Well, guess he’s not completely useless.”

She watched as AJ and Fluttershy walked over to him, and feeling a little like a jerk she walked over too. Together they moved the last stone, and there was an old stone door that had been carved to look like a wooden door. Endymion felt it, and already something was wrong. Even the most powerful noble families couldn’t power a protection spell that hold this long. The ruins looked to be at least seven or eight hundred years old, if not older, and while the usual run away spell would still be holding, an actual paralyzing spell should have faded years before.

He lifted his wand, softly chanting and as he did he visualized the spell on the door. It became like a puzzle, and he was looking for the piece that would make it fall, but not make it spread out. He finally found it, and felt the spell fade away. Then he cast an opening spell, and he felt the old mechanical locks opening.

The old stone door slowly slid open, revealing a darkened staircase.

“Ha!”

“Wow, look, you pulled off what any magi should be capable of doing.”

Endymion didn’t seem phased by the insult Rainbow threw; instead, he started to divvying up the supplies, separating AJs gear from Rainbows, Rainbows from Fluttershy’s, and then his own meager gear, Seeing what he was doing, the girls their individual packs and hefted them, AJ with her swords and the party rations, Rainbow with her waterskins and tools, and Fluttershy’s oil and ointments. Endymion had only his clothes, his satchel filled with charms and his wand. Once the party was properly geared up, Endymion walked to the tomb’s opening.

“Ladies, first,” he said politely.

AJ tilted her head to the side for a moment before tipping her hat, “Much obliged.”

Rainbow took on an air of annoyance and said, “Yeah, whatever.”

At first, Fluttershy said nothing, walking towards the tomb, some weighty burden making her steps leaden. When she reached him, though, she turned her head to face him, and said very quietly, “Um, good job.” Then she hurried down the stairs; Endymion took the rear, as was previously agreed on.

Down and down, the party descended, the tomb becoming pitch black after only a few meters. Torches were lit, though Endymion produced a lighting charm (his second successful spell of the day) and they got their first glimpse of the tomb’s depths. An unease began draw down on the party, as the descent went deeper underground.

“Hey,” Dash said, ending a long and uncomfortable silence, “anypony else notice something?”

“Like wah?” AJ replied.

“I dunno,” Dash said, “but- DOesn’t place less like a tomb and more like- I dunno, a lab of some sort?”

“Now that you got me thinking it,” Endymion piped up, “it does resemble some of the laboratories back in the Magic School. Only…”

“Only what?” Fluttershy asked.

“Only strange…” Endymion started.

“Like, how strange?” AJ asked.

“I’m- not completely sure,” Endymion said, trailing off.

“Now that you mention it,” Dash added, “it does remind me of Twilight’s basement. Only, mustier and and made of metal… Does anypony else hear that strange hum?”

“I don’t jest hear it, Dash,” AJ replied, “I ken feel it. Ogres.”

“Damn it,” Dash scowled, “monsters in a tomb? Either this place was fortified or somebody already raided this place.”

“We can handle them, right?” Endymion asked.

“Maybe we can,” Rainbow answered, “don’t know about you, Magician.”

The battle that commenced shortly afterward was brutal but quick. The ogres had settled into a part of the tomb that was reserved for treasure. Fighting them off was no trouble, even if Endymion ended up punching, kicking, and clubbing most of them with his wand, but then came vampire bats, and and some specters that need a magical remedy to remove. Thankfully, Endymion was a roll of some sort, dispelling the specters with ease.When they finally reached the bottom of the tomb, Rainbow couldn’t help but let out an annoyed grunt.

“ARE YOU BUCKING KIDDING ME?!” She shouted, “We went through all this trouble and FOR WHAT?!”

“Are you kidding me?” Endymion asked, “This was fun! Oh, hey, what’s that?”

Before anypony could stop him, Endymion loped over to a desk of sorts, though to be honest, calling it a desk was a mite generous. Set against one of the rough hewn walls, the desk only came out from the rock about a meter and at an angle. The rest of the desk rose at a ninety degree angle and was solid black. The only way to know it was part of the desk was that it was as metallic as the jutting part and it was slightly less gray than the granite behind.

“What is that that thang?” AJ asked, only Endymion to bounce around to another artifice on the opposite side of the chamber.

“It- looks like another laboratory,” Fluttershy squeaked, “but it’s all wrong.”

“No kidding!” Rainbow pouted, “can we get outta here now? This is place is a waste of time.”

“Now hol’ on a minute, Dash,” Applejack said, “Ah know there ain’t much here, but mebbe the previous party missed somethin’. Might’ve left in a Sol damned hurry.”

“We should at least see,” Fluttershy said, “hey, what’s that?”

The Sol Priestess’ stave was pointing to an obelisk but it wasn’t the obelisk that was interesting. It was the stone sword embedded in said obelisk. Roughly the same size as AJ’s zweihander and made, confusingly, out the same granite of the obelisk, the weapon seemed to be the only real treasure in here. If it could be separated from the stone, that is.

“Huh,” AJ mused, “wonder wha this is doin’ here?”

“Probably rotting away like everything else here,” Dash commented while touching a frayed and threadbare tapestry, “could we just go?”

“Now hol’ on,” AJ said, “Imma get this sword loose.”

Spitting on her hands, AJ pulled on the blade with all her might. Despite her strength, the blade refused to budge.

“Con sarn it,” AJ cursed, “it ain’t movin’!”

“Ugh, here,” Dash said, and she gave the sword a tug. Even though she was of a slighter frame than Applejack, Rainbow Dash was rather strong for a Pegasus. Even as she pulled and shimmied the blade this way and that, the blade remained stuck to the obelisk.

“Gah! Cunt bucking, bunghole licking, taint tickler!” Dash roared, “It ain’t budgin’!”

“What’s not budging?” Endymion asked.

“T’ain’t none o’ yer nevermind,” AJ replied to Endymion’s returned presence, “but we got this sword embedded in an obelisk and we’re aimin’ to get it loose. Ain’t happened yet.”

“Mind if I try?” The Magician asked.

“You don’t have to do that,” Fluttershy said, “if AJ and Dash can’t move it…”

Endymion proposed, “Then no harm can come if I give it a shot, right?”

The mares gave him a hard look, but didn’t object. Endymion put down his gear, which had been added to be an inactive stave and several flasks of unknown liquids. He then grabbed hold of the sword’s hilt and yanked. The blade came free with an audible shriek and when it did so, the whole tomb came alive…