"So, before there were the Six Elements of Harmony, these pillars laid the foundations for them?" Adora asked.
"That's what it looks like. I didn't see it with Rockhoof, but when I saw Mistmane give up her own lifespan to save her village, that was definitely Generosity I saw." Kendo said.
"Let's see what's next." Qadira said as they entered the next room and found it had a Greek architectural theme to it as there were tapestries depicting a male orange pegasus with armor and a helmet as he held an orange shield that depicted a four point star with wings on it as he was in battle with two dragons, and his cutie mark was that of a blue feather over mountain peaks.
"So I assume this pillar came from a time where Ancient Greece was represented… or is it Ancient Rome?" Hope said.
"Could be either or." Emil said as he approached the tablet. "Flash Magnus, the Pillar of Bravery. A cadet in the Royal Legion of Cloudsdale."
The room flashed, and everyone was taken back into said pegasus's era. They found themselves on the border between equestria and a barren part of the land with cragged rock formations. The voice began to speak.
Listen now to the Legend of Flash Magnus.
In his time, Flash Magnus was but a lowly cadet in the Royal Legion, a gathered army of brave Pegasi that existed before the formation of the Wonderbolts.
Flash Magnus appeared in the clouds with his comrades, high fiving two members of his squad with his wings before joining the rest of his team.
The Legion had the task of flying over the Dragonlands to reach their comrades on the other side.
However, as soon as they entered the Dragons Territory… they were immediately attacked!
In front of the squad, two dragons reared their heads and roared at them.
Though the legion attempted to get past, the dragons were too powerful, forcing the leader of the squad to order a retreat. However, Flash Magnus and two of his compatriots were separated from them and, before Flash could react, his two friends were captured by the dragons, and taken to their lair.
Flash Magnus watched as his friends were taken away by the dragons. He tried to follow, but the Legions commander, Ironhead, stopped Magnus and forcibly flew with him down to a trench where the remaining members of the legion were.
"Commander! We need to save our captured comrades." Flash insisted.
"I appreciate your loyalty, Flash Magnus, but getting past those dragons is going to be impossible. Nothing will work." Ironhead replied.
As the legion was left to think, the others watched from a close distance, even though they couldn't be seen or heard.
"I sympathize with the commander. Coming from experience, dragons are really hard to take down." Ethox said. "When Seiya and I fought Leviae, it was tough fighting her head on."
"So how did you defeat the dragon you faced?" Darkness asked.
"It's true dragons are pretty hard to fight… but you can outsmart them." Ethox said. "And I think Flash Magnus knows that too."
After a few minutes of thinking, Flash Magnus suggested his plan.
"Commander Ironhead. I'm pretty sure I can outfly the dragons." Magnus said. "If I can lure them into chasing me, you can all sneak into the lair and retrieve our friends before they can get back."
"What?!" Rista asked in shock. "Is he seriously suggesting he lure two dragons away?!"
"Would he be suggesting it if he wasn't?" Ultra pointed out. "I think I figured out which element he laid the foundation for: Loyalty."
"Are you really willing to take that chance, soldier?" Ironhead asked.
"I am, sir." Magnus saluted with his wing.
The commander agreed to attempt this risky plan, but not before granting Magnus an item which would help him in his mission.
Ironhead then handed Flash the very same shield he brandished himself in the tapestry.
"Is this… Netitus? The fireproof shield?" Flash asked in disbelief.
"It has protected Legion heroes for generations." Ironhead explained. "And today, I can't think of a worthier flank for Netitus to protect." he then pounded his chestplade in respect. "Good luck."
All members of the legion present saluted each other before Magnus headed off to the mouth of the dragon's lair.
"He's so gonna get himself killed…" Kazuma said.
"C'mon, Kazuma! Have a little faith!" G. Aqua scolded.
Flash was right in front of the entrance as he took a deep breath and stared into the lair.
"HEY! Come and get me firebreath! If you can!" Magnus called inside tauntingly. "Hey, Hey! Come and get me! Hey, I'm over here!"
It didn't take long for one of the dragons to notice him and breathe fire right at him. Flash blocked with Netitus, and the shield lived up to its reputation of being fireproof by blocking the white hot flames without so much as even melting.
"Just like the Hylian Shield." Lana said in awe.
After the dragon's first attack, the pair started chasing Flash as he led them high into the sky.
Flash's ruse worked like a charm. While he drew the dragons away from their lair, Commander Ironhead was able to lead his troops inside to rescue their captured comrades.
The group watched as the brave pegasus out-flew both dragons, using his shield and skills to block and evade the dragon's flames. But even he knew he couldn't keep that up forever. Luckily, the Legion was there to help him.
They quickly acted and put together a large storm cloud filled with lightning. Ironhead then whistled to get Magnus's attention as he flew over to it with the dragons right behind him. Once inside, they all got zapped.
Overcome by the lightning, the dragons fled from the battle. The legion waited with baited breath for any sign of their brave member, until the pegasus emerged, ashen but alive.
The plan a success, Flash Magnus was celebrated among the Legion as a hero. As a reward for his brave duty, Ironhead bequeathed Netitus to Flash permanently, protecting him for life.
Seiya used Fly and touched the shield to bring everyone back to the dungeon. Holding Netitus in his hand, Seiya tossed it to Ethox.
"Here, go ahead and put it in." Seiya said.
"Hang on a sec first." Ethox said, approaching Naofumi. "Hey Naofumi, why don't you add this shield's properties to yours? I'm sure it'll help you against enemies who use fire."
"I don't need it." Naofumi said as Seiya inserted the shield.
"Halfway there." Happy said.
The next room the group entered was decorated in the style of Ancient Egypt. Hieroglyphics dotted the walls and egyptian treasures lined the room. The tapestries of the pillar here depicted a hot pink colored pegasus in white egyptian garb and on her thigh was a gold necklace with two pearls on each end.
"Hmm. This room sort of reminds me of the Desert Lands." Hera said.
"Let's see who this pegasus is." Mahiru said inspecting the tablet. "Hmm, her name is… Somnambula."
"Somnambula? What kinda name is that?" Nemo asked.
"Well it derives from the word somnambulism which is another word for sleepwalking." Mari said. "It is also the namesake of a village in southern Equestria, right?"
"I think so." Mahiru said. "According to the tablet, she's the Pillar of Hope."
"Wow, a pillar after your own name." Ace smiled.
"Well, it's common for creatures and humans alike to have it." Hope said.
"So, a legend about a pegasus who represents the virtue of hope, eh?" Nagito asked. "This should be interesting."
The room lit up as the hieroglyphs along the walls glowed as well, the heroes first shown a vision of a living Egyptian hieroglyph wall.
Witness the legend of Somnambula, the Pillar of Hope.
Long ago, her village fell prey to an evil Sphinx, who demanded most of their crops. Somnambula, like her fellow villagers, didn't have much to offer, but she used what she had to give her fellow ponies hope.
"So this led to the creation of Kindness." Thorani said.
"I dont think so." Goblin Slayer spoke up. "I think she was the predecessor to something else."
Inspired by Somnambula's actions, the son of the Pharaoh, Prince Hisan, decreed that no pony would go hungry again. However, when he stood up to the Sphinx, the creature captured him, declaring that the only way the prince would be saved is if a riddle it asked was solved.
However, no pony volunteered to save the prince… save one: Somnambula.
The dungeon flashed as everyone was sent to the exact moment Somnambula went to confront the Sphinx. Everyone followed as she flew inside the pyramid as quickly as possible, to land in front of the great beast, face to face as Hisan stood captured.
The Sphinx's riddle was this:
"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."
"That's a tricky riddle to figure out." Legolia said.
"It's what Somnambula represents." Atro said.
"Hope." Somnambula answered. However, the Sphinx was so enraged, it seemed that it would still refuse to release the prince. So, Somnambula asked for one more challenge. If she completed this final task, then the Sphinx would leave the kingdom forever. The task given to the pegasus was this: walk to the prince over a deep chasm across a wooden plank bridge, without the aid of either her eyes or her wings.
"Blindfolded, and she can't fly?" Frisk said. "That means she won't be able to fly out if she falls into the pit."
"Yeah, how's she going to navigate?" ZS asked.
Even through this task, Somnambula never lost hope. Taking a leap of faith, she landed halfway across the bridge and, guided by Hisan's voice, easily walked to the end. With a final roar of frustration, the Sphinx flew away, never to be seen again.
"That's incredible." Hope said. "Nevermind me always carrying the virtue, she's got it in loads."
Upon her safe return, the Pharaoh asked how Somnambula was able to prevail. She explained she always hoped she could make things better for her people, and that hope had carried her through.
To this very day, her name is immortalized as the very same name of the Village she was born into.
The group returned to the chamber as the story ended, Hope suddenly holding in his hands the very same blindfold Somnambula wore in her trial.
"I think I finally figured out what element Somnambula paved the way for." Hope siad.
"What's that?" Legolia asked.
"Laughter." Hope said. "It may seem strange, but the way she never gave up hope that things would be okay and stayed positive in the face of danger can spread to others in the form of positivity. When people are at their lowest, sometimes hope for a brighter future can bring positivity back into the world."
"Wow… when you put it that way…" Ethox said. "It does make sense."
"Yeah...and we just earned another treasure." Theo said. "Meaning only 2 left."