Sweet Pink Sunset

"Lock it up in the lower hydro cell, get some healer to treat it's injuries and turn on the water pump for it! And feed it so the thing survives! I want it in proper condition for training." Kanthon commanded his troops as the rallied around the Hydra, guiding it to its cell in the lower areas of the base.

The base was another underground hideout in an area quite unknown; the concrete walls were a colour of dark grey, the zebra was in the expansive zone of the base where many troops were organising themselves, moving to different segments of the base for training.

Kanthon made his way to the end of the room, he walked up a short stairway leading to a wide room with a large circular table in the middle where paperwork and planning sheets lied down scattered, a large map of Equestria was hung at the end of the room. Each corner had torch lights which kept them room well lit. The zebra pulled out one of the chairs which were pushed under the table and sat down, calmly waiting for his companions to arrive.

'He calls us all in for an urgent meeting and I'm the first in the room... that's just like you, Surgio.' Kanthon thought, slightly annoyed, and with the timing of his thoughts, Surgio had entered the room with Razorsharp.

"Excellent work with the Hydra, Kanthon," Surgio began as Razorsharp and himself took their seats, "have you managed to capture any others?"

"No, due to my little event at Froggy Bottom Bog, my run in with the so called Defenders had me at lag time... they managed to defeat the crow and the salamander... but I have them fully healed and hardened for next time."

"Defenders you say?" Razorsharp remarked, "I believe I faced the pegasus of the group... his name is Arrow, and he is indeed an interesting one."

"I exchanged names with the other unicorn, he is known as Jokey... Jokey Bizarre."

"Is it really a good idea to be exchanging names so soon?" A voice questioned from across the room, a mare with eyes of brilliant amber, a mane and tail having the colours of both brownish-gold and light amber and a coat of a brilliant crimson took her seat, wearing the same full black suit as the Kanthon, Razorsharp and Surgio, "I thought we were meant to be a secret to society." She continued.

"No worries, Phoenix Blossom," Surgio complied, "we are a secret organisation with an outstanding force which nopony knows anything about, giving our enemies our names will do no harm whatsoever."

The pegasus rested the side of her chin against her hoof as she fiddled with a compass on the table with her other hoof, "Sorry I'm late, but Kanthon's squad needed some more toughening up to do."

Kanthon shot an angered look to Phoenix, "meaning?"

"They seemed a little out of tune today, I simply gave the a bit of a fiery course to go through."

"Dammit, Phoenix, your supposed to give them better guidance not burn them to a crisp!"

"Don't get you mane all tangled up, they just have a few third degree burns, nothing our healers can't handle."

"Third degree?" Kanthon replied in outrage, "are you insane! You could have killed them!"

"Well, they aren t dead now, are they?" Razorsharp added, "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

Kanthon glared at the unicorn, "shut your mouth Razorsharp, you wouldn't be so easy going if she had done that to your personal squad."

"As If I would care," Razorsharp added, "the foals could use some buffing up anyway, nothing wrong with making them sharper combatants." Razorsharp glanced over at the mare and gave her a wink. She narrowed her eyes at him and gave him quite a suggestive grin. Kanthon began to argue with the two of them.

Surgio banged his hoof against the table, "Silence! Phoenix Blossom, I understand your concerns as commander of squadrons but I will not tolerate any unnecessary actions, am I clear?"

"Crystal..." she replied O so casually almost as if she didn't care, but still a little intimidated by Surgio.

"Good, and now that I have all of your attention, we shall proceed to the relevant matters," Surgio pulled out a scroll from his satchel and rolled it out across the table, "Razorsharp has two spies working undercover in the Great North Keep which is located over the outskirts of Mount Dragonshy, it is guarded by both royal guards of Celestia and Luna, what you see before you are the specs and designs of the entire battlefront."

"And what is it that is so important there?" Kanthon asked openly.

"Allow me, Surgio," Razorsharp took lead of the conference, "you see, this keep holds a gem deep within it, it pre dates back to when Princess Celestia and Princess Luna had just begun their rule over Equestria... It is known as the Gem of Almighty Defence."

"Precisely," Surgio remarked "The two immortal sister found out that the gem had the ability to provide an unbreakable shielding barricade as noted in our modern history books-"

"The books have explained that the gem was destroyed many years ago," Phoenix interrupted Surgio only to have him explain further.

"Which is what Celestia has written only to keep it a secret from ponies like us, the spies have informed us of the gems location within the keep, it is intact and functioning very well," Surgio complied.

Kanthon laughed silently and darkly, "It is also said that the four main Keeps are recognised as nothing but borders around Equestria, what a clever cover up."

Surgio took lead once more, "the spy in Ponyville has informed us of the progression of the Defenders... it seems they are advancing in their skills quite well."

"Remind me why we are letting them do so again?" Razorsharp commented with a huff.

"Kanthon, do you remember that mark around Forest's horn?"

Kanthon nodded to Surgio in response.

Surgio continued, "long before when we had formed this region, when Coltenhagen was still a standing city, the book of Thundertred family magic was still in my possession. It was noted that a Thundertred born with this marking is indicated as a direct descendant, Forest is the first to ever be born with it. The god alicorn Electro himself chooses when to grant this blessing and has finally chosen to start it with Forest's generation. Now the book holds many secrets which can only be revealed to the Thundertred bloodline, I'm assuming he hasn't unlocked the secret pages yet."

"Ah, you told me about this before..." Kanthon stated, "according to the book, Forest will be able to cast spells that only the descendant will be able to cast, going on to the more advanced weather control and whatnot."

"Exactly, and the more Forest and his friends train, the greater the outcome will be when I absorp his power and retrieve the book... then I will be able to cast all the spells, reveal all the secrets and share this power with the three of you."

"Hold on a second," Phoenix Blossom stood on her hind legs pushing her chair back in realisation, "Your related to Forest aren't you?"

Surgio nodded with a grin, Phoenix threw her head back and began to laugh, "this is golden! Such suspense!"

"How close is the blood bond between the two of you?" Razorsharp asked excitedly.

"Close enough," Kanthon added, Razorsharp then joined Phoenix in laughter.

"Did I miss out on a funny joke?" Surgio blurted slightly annoyed, Razorsharp and Phoenix halted their laughter.

"No, no... the plan is perfect!" Razorsharp replied, still excited, "what's next, leader?"

"We are going to attack the North Keep as of right now," Surgio announced as he banged his hoof against the table in excitement, "Kanthon, use the dragons for this, Razorsharp and Phoenix, your both going to help Kanthon with this attack and retrieve the Gem of Almighty Defence. I want everything to go by as quickly and as swiftly as possible."

"Yes sir!" Kanthon and Phoenix replied in unison and left the room to gather up the troops for the attack. Razorsharp remained in the room alone with Surgio.

"Is there a problem, Sargent?" Surgio began.

"You mentioned something about Discord... I've recalled to this discussion we had a while ago..."

Surgio chuckled malevolently, "yes... it will require much more planning since the the statue has been locked up deep with the castle of Canterlot and under the highest rate of security... the presence of Celestia makes it a whole lot more dangerous for us as well... but that s why we have two undercover spies there."

Razorsharp's eyes widened in surprise, "What? Since when?"

"Since the beginning... I had them register as royal guards immediately as the legion was put together... Celestia won't expect a thing."

Razorsharp grinned nefariously, "Surgio Thundertred... you truly are a genius."

"Why, thank you, my indomitable comrade," Surgio replied as he turned to him, "now I assume you have the exact whereabouts marked on the map in order to carry on this attack?"

"Indeed I do," Razorsharp levitated the map of the keep to him, "allow me to pin point their location..."

x

"At first I didn't know if we were ready, but now I got myself thinkin' twice," Applejack stated as she walked around in front of Princess Luna anxiously, "I'm agreein' with Rainbow Dash on this one... we need our elements again."

"Exactly, I mean we fought Discord! The god of Chaos! I'm sure if we each get our elements we'll be able to sort this whole mess out in jiffy, right Fluttershy?" Rainbow Dash began.

Fluttershy's eyes widened as she looked away from the others, "Oh um, well... I mean... I'm not r-really one to say-"

"Enough," Luna stated, startling Fluttershy in the process, "dare not precieve that the Elements of Harmony are of innocuous significance, and to be utilized for such weak conviction!"

Applejack obtusely stared at Luna, "Say what now?"

"But the bad guys controlled an Ursa Major!" Rainbow Dash added.

"And they just took a Hydra from Froggy Bottom Bog!" Applejack complied, now getting the picture.

Luna maintained her point to the matter, "I hath heard it all from Ponyvillle's Defenders, thine thoughts are understood, but thy proper extent hath not been reached, dost thou not understand?"

The defenders huddled in a group behind Luna and the others gathering and sharing their thoughts on the situation.

"Should we encourage the idea?" Boa started.

"It is not necessary to jump to conclusions, perhaps we should wait and see if any other events will show us otherwise," Arrow added.

"Well it is gonna make the job a whole lot easier if ya ask me," Jokey complied as he nudged Forest.

"I dunno you guys... I'm not up for the whole idea of putting our friends in danger..." Forest said.

Arrow nodded at his remark, "I agree, I do not wish to see our friends in the grasp of injury once more..."

But what was really on Arrow's mind was that Rarity had just gotten out of the hospital along with her sister Sweetiebelle, of course he would be totally against the idea of having her in the battlefield. Forest's mind was mainly set on Pinkie Pie, not only would friends be in harms way but his lover to. Something he would not tolerate at all.

From a distance, a royal pegasus guard of Luna's affiliation came flying down, looking very pale and exhausted.

"Your majesty!" the guard called out as he brought himself to a hard landing near Luna, he knelled in her presence before continuing, "Princess Luna, I have come from the Great North Keep... a- a disaster has just occurred... dragons everywhere, left and right... we- we-"

"Calm thyself down," Luna uttered slightly worried as she placed her hoof on the guards back, "now what happened in the keep?"

"Your highness... the keep was attacked by an unknown group, they were controlling dragons, they wiped out the keep in a matter of minutes... and they took the gem... and... I am the only survivor and I've already sent a letter to the squads located here in Ponyville."

'The gem has been stolen?' Luna thought in shock.

Forest overheard the the conversation and immediately jumped in, "Your the only one left? then that means..."

A guard from a small distance away from the lot was trying his best to calm down a mare earth pony residential of Ponyville who was with her child, a little colt.

"What do you mean? My husband left to that keep just yesterday!" The mare exclaimed in woe and shock.

"I'm sorry madam, " the guard replied, "according to the information we have received, it was all too sudden... this is hard for me to tell you, but I'm afraid your husband has fallen protecting the keep..."

The mare placed her hoof in front of her mouth and began tearing, "no... no that can't be, you told me it was just a recruitment session..."

The guard looked down feeling burdened and guilty, "It was but... we didn't expect-"

"Mommy?" The colt interrupted the guard as he looked up at his mother, who was holding his hoof as she sat on the floor, "what's going on? Is daddy coming back?"

The mare hugged her child and began to cry, "everything is going to be okay sweet heart... everything is..." she began to sob deeply, the colt now very worried asked his mother if he would ever see his father again, she just apologized and continued crying, it was not long that the little colt understood the situation and joined his mother in emotional agony.

Forest began to clench his teeth at the sight, his anger rising slowly, Jokey took notice to his expression.

"Hey Forest, buddy... calm down now..." Jokey uttered, but Forest shunned his words as he was reminded of the past. The feeling he had when his parents were lying dead before him, he recalled the pain, the loss, the loneliness... the rage.

Forest was shaking violently until he could not bare the feeling any more and glared angrily at Luna, "this is their idea of protection? What the hay is going on here!"

Boa edged closer to her team mate, "N- now Forest, just calm down for a sec and-"

"NO!" Forest disclosed, alerting everypony in Ponyville's centre, "We... were made the defenders for a reason... to prevent things like this from happening, you think I can just calm down knowing that ponies are losing their loved ones? Just how many families do you think were severed today? Huh! This is not something that we should take lightly whatsoever!"

"Forest Thundertred!" Luna exclaimed, "that is enough! Many are already in sorrow, don't make the situation bigger than it already is!"

Forest looked down as he grunted in anger and stomped his hoof against the floor.

"We understand where you are coming from Forest," Arrow added, trying to comfort his comrade.

"Do you?" Forest replied with an attitude as he sat down.

"Yeah, we do!" Boa stated, "look, we can't be there for everypony... but maybe if we had the others..."

"That's where we come in." Rainbow Dash turned to Luna.

"I think our points been proven here, yer majesty..." Applejack added.

Luna looked down and gave thought to all her surroundings, 'the North Keep... the most strongest and most fortified stronghold... destroyed in a matter of minutes...'

After a few seconds of silence, Luna came to her decision, "Gather the other wielders of the elements... we shall traverse in to Caterlot to seek an audience with my sister."

Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Applejack went to fetch Twilight Sparkle, Rarity and Pinkie Pie, and soon enough met up with Luna in Ponyville's centre where the entire matter was explained. The mares had all agreed with no question that they must go forth to wield their elements once again. It was only Fluttershy who was unsure of fighting, for one who is so devoted to the well being and good health of other creatures would it be so blasphemes to harm any living creature in her nature, Big Macintosh had accompanied her through out this whole process, trying his best to keep her at ease and comforted.