Order of Pen, Sword, and Shield
Scene 1
Bright Pen paced around the room, highly perturbed at his older brother's apathetic reaction to his discovery.
"Don't you understand? This map makes no sense!" Bright Pen was practically shouting. "Seriously! Look. This map just shows one huge continent, our Equestria." He began taking notes on his notepad. "And to most, it's considered the 'world' map. But this continent cannot be all there is to it! There must be more."
"So," Bright Sword, his brother, began speaking. "You're implying that there might be a place in the world that no one knows about, perhaps not even Celestia herself?"
"Exactly. In fact, on this spontaneous occasion that involves my extreme boredom and eagerness to learn, I now suggest that we ask our benevolent Celestia to leave Equestria on a boat from Manehattan, straight east to wherever or whatever might be out there."
"Errr... How will this be made possible?"
"Two things. One, funds. Two, a bodyguard." Bright Pen walked out of his brother's mansion in the Everfree forest. Bright Sword followed him.
Scene 2
Lucid stared at a puddle, looking at his own reflection, 'The pegasi make it rain at the worst possible times...' he thought to himself. He reflected some about his past, reminding himself that the timberwolves may not have killed his father, that he might still be alive somewhere in the Everfree.
What use was there in finding out? His father had told him to run. He had not been to Ponyville before he ran, so he probably would never be able to find his old home anyways.
Lucid could tell if people were watching him, and he felt like he was being watched, so he asked "Who are you?" and turned to be faced by Bright Sword and Bright Pen.
"We're two unicorns looking for a bodyguard to join us on our journey. I see you own a huge shield. Would you be interested?"
They were on the edge of Ponyville and the Everfree. A timberwolf ran out of the brush. Bright Sword sighed, and killed the timberwolf cleanly with his rapier. Another timberwolf attacked his brother, who stopped it with his magic and hypnotized it to sleep. A third timberwolf jumped on Lucid's shield. He slammed the shield and timberwolf into a tree, killing it.
"I prefer not to kill them," Bright Pen complained.
"They're only timberwolves. There are probably thousands in the Everfree. But why would they leave?" Bright Sword wondered.
"Because," Lucid answered, "We're easy targets. Seriously, why would they want to hunt harder inside the forest than to just kill a few wanderers on the edge?"
"I guess you're right. Will you join us..."
"Lucid. I'm usually called the Shieldbearer."
"Will you join us, Lucid?"
"Well, now that I know that you are not incompetent idiots, yes, I will join you. Where exactly are we going?"
"First," Bright Pen answered, "We're going to Canterlot to obtain approval from Celestia. If we do gain support, we'll take a boat across the sea east of Equestria."
"Of course," Lucid commented, "We'll probably have to meet her under a common name, like a team or something."
"Oh, I know!" Bright Pen said eagerly, "'The Unicorn Triumvirate.'"
"That isn't very original," Bright Sword said. "How about something more like 'The Order of...'"
"Pen, Sword, and Shield." Lucid added.
"Great!" Bright Pen blurted out. "Now we just need Celestia's approval." The three unicorns took the train to Canterlot.
Scene 3
"Princess Celestia..." Lucid said, entering the throne room. "It's been a while. How are you?"
"Lucid? It has been a while. What are you doing here? I thought you left Canterlot to find jobs, as well as recover the shield you had made for yourself after you finished training with my Royal Guard."
"All of that has been done. Bright Pen?"
"You know her?" Bright Sword whispered.
"Yes, but it's a long story." Lucid answered. Bright Pen cleared his throat.
"Your Majesty, it is my wish to have your support in traveling east of Equestria to find the lands that lie beyond."
"Those lands are usually considered the lands of the griffin, if you were to sail straight east of Manehattan. But we know nothing of the inside of their continent, because the griffins apparently only allow those who know what their species is called to them."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Bright Sword inquired.
"It means that you cannot enter their country unless you know what they call each other. Apparently they do not call each other griffins."
"But why would that matter to them?" Bright Pen asked.
"Because apparently there are other creatures in that land than what we know of."
"And why couldn't a pegasus or unicorn fly or teleport in?" Bright Pen said.
"Their ruler, whatever he or she might be, keeps a magic shield up, disallowing anypony to get in except those that the griffins let in. Perhaps you should find out what they are actually called."
"I think I can find out what they're called," Bright Pen said excitedly. "To the library!"
"Wait," Celestia said, "My library holds no records of the griffin's land. You'll have to look in an older library."
"The Crystal Empire's library!" Bright Pen shouted.
"Correct."
"Let's go, friends!" Bright Pen exclaimed. They took the train far north.
Scene 4
The three unicorns were each wearing a black cloak, the only things exposed besides their faces and hooves being their weapons. Unlike usual, there was not a heavy blizzard pouring on the Empire.
"Ah, the Crystal Empire," Lucid said. "Perhaps its library holds the answers we're looking for." The three unicorns walked into the library.
"We're looking for a book." Bright Pen said to the librarian.
"We'll, we have plenty of those..." the librarian said sarcastically.
"Do you have any records on the lands straight east of Equestria?"
"You mean the Eyrie lands? Of course."
"Eyrie lands?" Bright Sword said in confusion. "I'm unfamiliar with the name Eyrie."
"It's the name of the creatures that guard it."
"Wait, so that's what they're called? We usually just call them griffins." Bright Pen said in surprise.
"You wouldn't be able to enter their land if you called them that. They kick out those who don't understand the fact that many different species live there. Only the few who know are allowed in."
"But why would they kick us out?" Bright Pen asked.
"So they do not overpopulate. Apparently their lands are almost like a paradise. If everyone could enter, its beauty would deteriorate."
"Understandable." Bright Pen acknowledged. "Now we need to sail east of..."
"Bright Pen," Lucid interrupted , "Wouldn't it be best to take a book regarding the information of these lands?"
"Of course." Bright Pen answered.
"Here," the librarian said, handing a book to Bright Pen. "This book contains everything you need to know."
"'Account of the East: Creatures, Architecture, and Cryptology.' Yes, I think this will do well." Bright Sword said.
"Thank you!" Bright Pen said as they were heading out the door. "Now, to go sail off the port of Manehattan."
"But how are we going to get a boat? And how are we going to get the captain of said boat to sail east?" Lucid wondered.
"Oh, I have ways..." Bright Pen said, his eyes glowing a little.
Scene 5
The three unicorns took the train to Manehattan, and were now looking for a boat with only one person on it, that would sail east without arguing. They are now walking along the port. With their cloaks on, they looked very suspicious.
"Hey," a mare called out, "What do you three think you are doing?"
"Our business is our own." Lucid said defensively.
"You won't get very far on that policy," the mare said. "What are your names?"
"I'm Lucid. Those are the brothers Bright Pen and Bright Sword. What about you?"
"Acapella Divana. You can call me Diva."
"I've heard of you. Aren't you one of the famous singers that tour around Equestra?" Bright Sword asked.
"Why yes. Which reminds me, I have somewhere to be! Bye!" Diva ran off.
"That was strange," Lucid said.
"She was so pretty..." Bright Pen said, infatuated.
"We don't want random ponies suspicious of us. Let's find a boat, quickly." They kept wandering along the port. Bright Pen stopped, and walked onto a boat that had one pony on it, scrubbing the floors.