Azure Glide followed his mother, Princess Celestia, down the halls of the underground caverns before they reached a sealed door. With a spark of her magic, Celestia opened it to reveal a metal chamber. In it was a thing that Azure Glide thought only to be a myth: the Lance Of Solaris.

Forged by Celestia herself in the fires of the sun she lifts, it was a gift to her first champion, Solaris of Trottingham. Blades that can cut through the hardest of armor and the ability to channel energy from the place it was forged, it was truly a weapon worthy of a demigoddess’s champion. Due to its immense power, a fail-safe had to be enchanted upon it where anyone but her or one who bears the Sigil of The Solar Champion and attempts to channel the power would burn to ash. After the death of Solaris, the weapon was passed down by Celestia to those she deems worthy to wield it. Five hundred years into Luna’s banishment, it was put into storage in the event of a time of great crisis.

After hearing from his adoptive mother’s own mouth that he’s to be the next champion, Azure’s jaw dropped at the thought of using such a legendary weapon. It all made sense as to why Celestia brought him there. She intended to conduct a ritual to bind the weapon to his life force, to be its next wielder. For it to be bound to him, Azure had to willingly surrender some of his blood. Taking out a knife and removing one of his hoof shoes, he slid the blade across the palm of his hoof, allowing a decent trickle his blood to flow. As it flowed, Celestia’s magic caught the crimson liquid and manipulated it into a mandala-like construct, chanting in ancient equestrian.

With a small warning, a stream of lightning came from her horn, striking Azure’s forehooves. He screamed in pain as a runic variant of Celestia’s cutie mark became branded on them. Upon them being etched into his being, the lightning was gone. Celestia, with her voice as gentle and caring like a mother, urged Azure to reach out with his heart and soul to the weapon. After a few minutes of strain, a voice called to him:

“Worthy thou art. The lance is now yours.”

Then, as if compelled by some invisible force, the weapon flew into Azure’s outstretched hoof, surrounding briefly by a ray of sunlight. Rejuvenated by the energy, Azure got to his hooves and held his new weapon with an air of pride. Celestia couldn’t help but smile that she has a new champion, never expecting it to be her adopted son.