The Legend of Sol, Titan, and Morgan: Future's Past

The caravan led by Sol did not reach Canterlot without incident: as they crossed into the dangerous range of mountains that surrounded the mighty bastion of pony civilization, they were attacked by a cadre of goblins and pony bandits.

The fight would normally have been swift, but Sol felt it was a good time to measure the effectiveness of those who had come with them. Titan acted disappointed at Sol's decision to let the soldiers fight for them, but he was both pleased and concerned: on the one hoof, to see Sol display trust was a great step forwards for her. On the other hoof, there was the fear that this was some clever manipulation on Sol's part... a pony who he worried more and more had her own ultimate ends in mind again, even if her path was one of good intent.

The battle dragged on: the bandits created an effective blockade that stopped the ponies from charging them, as they hailed down arrows and rocks on the army. In a moment, Sol could end the conflict, and Morgan was frustrated by the fact she was not allowed to fight, even as the minutes bled onwards and the sun began to set in the distance.

But as night began to fall, the bandits began to grow uneasy, and then call for palaver. The unicorn knights ignored their shouts, deciding it must be a sign of weakness, and taking to charge the bandits. Unprepared, the bandits were routed from their hiding spot, and either fled or were killed.

Sol sensed that something was wrong, even as the soldiers celebrated their victory. She said nothing, though, and silenced Titan when he too felt the poisonous malice in the air. Morgan was being dragged along with the victory of the soldiers, however, laughing as the handsome young knight who had become so taken with her tried to woo her: in fact, the only pony who managed to speak up was the Blood Seer, but none would listen to his words, no matter how urgent they were.

When the skeletons emerged from all around them, it was a terrible shock for the company: all the same, they had all the time in the world to react as the monsters made their slow approach, and yet none of the soldiers did. Only the Blood Seer and a few other mages attempted to throw down wards, while the knights sloppily and too late arranged themselves to meet their foes.

There were many injuries before Sol ended the conflict with little more than a flick of her horn, blasting the entire area with holy light and frightening away the living dead. She surveyed her soldiers, and understood that one of two things had to happen: either she would have to prepare these fools for the greatest of evils, or she would have to simply purge all evil from existence. One path would lead them into temptation, would see them staring into evil's face so often it might begin to reflect in themselves; the other path would leave them defenseless, unless...

Sol would think on this. But for now, she gathered her soldiers and told them to assemble. She had seen enough to know who she could trust, and who among their number was brave or at least ready to fight for their lives. And that number was too few: only the Blood Seer had sensed the evil, while the handsome young stallion that had been delighting Morgan had turned into a babbling, scared foal, hiding behind her and even stopping Morgan from properly entering the fight.

There was much to be considered, and still road to walk before they reached Canterlot. Sol only hoped that she would find the right answer before then.