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So far we've been a pretty good judge of character, and we're certainly not going to get any further on this quest by keeping the Philosopher's Stone to ourselves. I trust Solar Flare enough to give him the Stone.

Seeing no better way to honour your promise to Queen Maelstrom, you decide to entrust the philosopher's stone to Solar Flare.

You give Philosopher's Stone to Solar Flare. A feeling of purity washes over your mind.

Solar Flare: "Magnificent! I will not rest until the darkness has been purged from this stone, of that you have my word. Of course, my word is little reward for all that you have done for me!

Here, take this. Whenever you have need of me, whether in guidance or in battle, place my sigil upon sunlit ground, and I will appear by your side!"

Solar Flare reaches under his cape, then places a medallion into your hooves, the golden symbol of the Paladins of Dawn glowing brightly upon it.

You get Solar Flare's Sigil!

Justice: "We'd best leave you to it, then. As for us, we should check on how the others are doing. Say, how long is purifying this stone going to take?"

Solar Flare: "Without my paladins twelve to empower the spell, what should have taken a few minutes may well become hours. Ah, but do not keep yours waiting on my behalf. Once I am done, I will find my own way out of here."

You nod, and figure that you can always come back to the Yggdrasil tree later to get a seed for Moonflower. For now, however, you agree to return to your friends on the shores of Midgard, and bid farewell to Solar Flare.

A cold blanket of gray clouds continues to spiral in the sky over Midgard. Soon after emerging from the northern side of the Mists and returning to the beachside camp, you are welcomed by a panicked Apple Basket.

Apple Basket: "Thank Celestia you're all safe, we were startin' to get worried! Uh, afraid we got into a heap o' trouble, ourselves."

As Apple Basket's words leave his mouth, your eyes drift to a pair of knights of the Order of Dawn lying unconscious a few dozen hooves behind him.

Justice: "What happened here?"

Novelty: "Justice, took you long enough. Needless to say, you're not going to like this. Just a few minutes ago, these two guards came upon us, and made it sound like the Order has been busy searching for me all over.

The moment they saw me, they branded the whole lot of us heretics, and said that they were taking us into custody. Then, the lizard thought it was a good idea to knock both of them out cold, and here we are."

Smoke: "What? They asked for it!"

Bright Logic: "Oooh… I dew I should hab stayed hobe."

Justice: "Horseapples. This is a fine mess, but what's done is done. (sigh) Alright. First, we need to figure out what to do with the guards before they wake up. Or before the Order notices that they're missing, whichever comes first."

Rocket Rush: "I say we leave them here and hightail it back to the Undercity. What are the chances they even remember what hit 'em?"

Novelty: "Well, if they do remember, then it's not just me they'll be after, is it. No, we'd better play it safe and capture them instead. Beat them at their own game."

Justice: "I hate to admit it, but I have to agree with Novelty on this one. We need to know where their orders are coming from. If the Crown wants her that badly, then it's only a matter of time before they come knocking on the Undercity's doors anyway.

Trailblazer, by the looks of it, you and your friends won't be safe in Midgard for much longer. If you want to leave, now's your chance."

Upvotes at import: 30 | Stars at import: 18
Posted previously at: 2020-10-05T13:52:30