Sweet Pink Sunset

"Secrets of the book" Two voices kept stating repeatedly, their voices getting louder and echoing longer each time within the dream world of Forest.

Forest could not move as he was in his sleep, the vision is his dream was nothing but darkness, a state of an empty dream.

"For goodness sake! Secrets of the book! How hard could it be?" The voice of a mare burst out in anger.

"Calm yourself, Volta!" Another voice replied to her, this time of a stallion.

"Calm myself? Ampero, this has got to be the one fiftieth time or so that we tried talking to this let down of a Thundertred."

"There's no need to be foul towards the boy, he's the Direct Descendant."

"He's an adult and still hasn't cracked the secrets." Volta stated, calming down.

"Well, you know of his past, plus, the spirit and living world communication spell is extremely difficult to perform... perhaps he can't hear us well enough because we might have done something wrong." Ampero uttered as he drifted off in thought.

Forest suddenly felt the ability of freedom within his dream, 'hold on,' he thought, 'all of a sudden this feels normal, am I still dreaming?'

"Well," Volta began, "I doubt it has anything to do with us, you and I were both noted down as successors in the book... maybe Forest's magic potential is too weak to receive our-"

At that moment, Forest snapped. This mare who went by the name 'Volta' had pulled the last string as she let out her last insult.

"Hey!" Forest exclaimed, interrupting Volta, "Shut up! Don't go off calling me weak and a let down! Those who are full of themselves are the first to go down on the field!"

"What." Ampero, Volta, and Forest blurted one after the other.

"H- hello?" Forest uttered, waiting for a response, "hellooooo... echo! woop woop! Hey this is kinda fun!" Forest added, sounding cheerful, "All you have to do is take a cup of flower, add it to the mix!"

"Stop! Just stop it already!" Volta shouted out as Ampero chuckled heartily, "why are you laughing?" Volta continued, "we just finally made contact with him, we should be serious about this."

"I'm sorry but, Forest already seems like the delightful chap if you ask me," Ampero warmly added, "please excuse her Forest, Volta isn't like this at all."

"Umm.. It's okay... I guess?" Forest replied.

"Yes, I'm sorry about that, Forest. I just say things I don't mean when I get too frustrated." Volta said, sounding calm and collective this time.

"No, no, really, don't worry about it... but... who are you guys anyway?"

"Oh, please excuse us, I am Ampero Thundertred, Electro and Peach's first born and first successor of the Thundertred family."

"And I am Volta Thundertred, Once the general of the Equestrian army in the victorian era and the second successor of the Thundertred family."

"You're both... part of my family... but your time lines are... are you-"

"We're in the spirit world, we passed away long before your time to put things softly." Volta stated, finalising the formalities.

Forest felt a rise of joy, sympathy and deep concern all at once as the golden thought popped into his head, "My... my parents..." Forest began with slight hesitation, "are they there with you guys as well? Are my parents in the spirit world?"

"All of the deceased, All Thundertred's and those who have stepped into the family through the act of eternal love are here, so yes, they are here with us." Ampero responded holding back nothing from Forest. At that moment, he could feel his heartbeat rising quickly, he was filled with excitement of types positive and negative.

"May I... would it be okay if I can just talk to them?"

"Sorry, but that's a no," Volta replied almost immediately, "Ampero and myself are here to deliver a message to you and it is essential that we keep ourselves away from any distractions. This spell will only work once after a successful connection."

"Did Electro tell you to do so?" Forest asked, sounding quite serious this time.

"Well, well, well..." Ampero began, "smart lad. It seems like you know of our god creator."

"I don't see why it should be some sort of secret..."

Volta cleared her throat in an attempt to take lead, "It was never intended to be, you see, the book holds history of our family, once you have used the magic reveal spell to-"

"Now hold it right there soul sister," Forest stated in absolute sureness, "needless to say I've almost learned all the spells the book has to offer, and I've used the reveal spell countless times across every page and at the back of the book where the gem is-"

"Did you keep your hooves on the book after doing so?"

"Umm... n- no the gem took all my focus-"

"Well there you go, soul brother," Volta replied in sarcasm, "after using the magic reveal spell in the hole where the gem was, keep your hooves on the book, it will begin to stream a magical aura across your body. This is a magical scan to see weather or not the user who has cast the spell is a Thundertred."

"Indeed," Ampero added and took lead, "so if somepony who does not belong to the family steals the book and tries to reveal its secrets, it simply won't work. As the Direct Descendant, you get to do much more."

"Far out!" Forest exclaimed as excitement rose up within him once more, "But hold on a second, you've said that twice now... what does that mean?"

"You were never told?" Volta questioned in surprise, "I thought your parents would have told you about this before..."

"Well, they might have... I mean, I don't exactly remember very well... my memory's a bit scrambled..."

Silence took over the conversation for a few seconds as the three Thundertreds were trying to process what would be said next. Forest wanted to try and avoid side tracking the meaning of this connection but his thoughts were flooded with the image of his parents and the night of the war. Ampero and Volta were both very tempted to try and sympathize with him at this point. Sure their time lines stretched miles away from each other but they were family nonetheless.

"The spell is fading," Volta stated and thus finally ending the silence, "Forest, I hope you understand that this is the first and last time we can speak to you. Having this established, it is very vital we tell you everything you need to know-"

"It's no good, Volta," Ampero began, "We are already losing connection to him. Forest do you think you can handle the rest?"

"Hey, my ancestors were successors of the family, I'm sure I can manage." Forest said comfortingly and confidently.

"That's the spirit," Volta complied, "Forest, is there anything you would say before we leave?"

'Wow, these two are being surprisingly forward about all this,' "Yeah, go ahead and tell Electro it wouldn't hurt to leave a note or something..."

Ampero chuckled heartily once more, "Father has always been the type that enjoyed puzzles."

"Oh and... please... tell my parents that I miss them... and that I love them... oh, and that I'm sticking to the promise no matter what."

"Consider it done." Volta replied soothingly.

"Thank you... for this and for... well, everything..."

Soon enough, their voices echoed away and the darkness turned to white. Forest found himself wide awake, still in bed, still next to Pinkie Pie. He looked over at the alarm clock which read three-fifteen am. All this time his ancestors were trying to reach him for an event that seemed almost pointless. Having accumulated little but otherwise helpful information, Forest was now certain for his next step in unravelling the secrets the book had to offer him. As eager as he was to touch the damn thing, he let his patience dominate the moment. There will be plenty of time to find out what to do tomorrow, or pretty much today.

'The Direct Descendant, huh?' Forest thought to himself before going back to sleep, 'I wonder what Ampero meant by that... does it have anything to do with the mark around my horn? Aw man! This is so not cool! You can't just leave in the middle of something like that!'

With a huff, Forest ended his thoughts and went back to sleep.

x

"So we got a big day ahead of us!" Jokey said in a jumpy tone while walking with Boa and Arrow in the streets of Ponyville, "Lot's of teaching to do."

"I'm not sure if you really mean that," Boa replied casually, "I just hope you're serious about all this."

"Come on, Boa, I don't joke around about everything... well yeah I do, but hey, I know when to get cracking for real."

"I sure hope so, you seem to like to crack jokes in the middle of a battle. Not exactly sure how real you can get."

"Babe, you just wait and see. I'll be such a great trainer they'll be awarding a masters degree or something."

Boa growled at Jokey as she shot him a glare.

"What?" Jokey replied, "Al-right I'm sorry, jeeze, I won't call you babe."

"Why do you call me babe? Huh?" Boa asked in a slightly harsh tone.

"Well, you've got a nice flank, I'm not saying I check you out or anything... well, actually yeah I do!" Jokey laughed as he witnessed Boa's growing anger, she then slapped him across the face. "Hey, what was that for?"

"You are such a perv!" Boa looked away from him as she raised her chin, she was clearly upset with Jokey.

"Come on babe, it's a compliment. I'm saying you've got a great body, that's all," Jokey smiled devilishly as Boa made eye contact with him once more. She was just about ready to wipe the grin of his face until Arrow brought their attention to a regular sighting.

"It seems like Forest is on his roof again," The three stopped to look at the top of Forest's home as they passed by.

"Goooood morning Ponyvile!" Forest blurted loudly and proudly.

"It's the game show host voice! I love it when he does that." Jokey added with a small chuckle.

"That's right ponies! Forest Thundertred your public alarm clock, here to tell you the latest morning news! The news you ask? It's morning!"

"Oh brother... that must be annoying to the neighbours..." Boa uttered in slight disappointment.

Forest struck a strange pose, he stood on his hind legs bent down, his left front leg pointing upward as his other front leg pointing out to the town, "That's right, the birds are singing, the sky is blue, get all your true facts from yours truly!"

Berry Punch, who just so happened to live in the house across the street slammed her windows open, she glared at Forest with red morning eyes, "are you out of your mind?" she exclaimed in anger, "it's six fourty-five am! Some ponies are still trying to sleep! Who died and made you the public alarm clock anyway?"

"What? You mean you don't remember?" Forest replied maintaining his grin. To his advantage, Berry Punch was in the stage of a hangover.

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh yeah, that's right! You were drunk with the others yesterday so you don't remember."

"The- the others? What- I- I..." Berry Punch's expression changed to one of shock as her eyes widened, she immediately rushed back in closing the window which emitted a loud slam.

"Wait, Berry, I was only kidding! Oh, man, I'll have to apologize to her later," Forest chuckled feeling a little embarrassed with his actions. He looked down at the other three defenders, his smile returned and leaped off the roof performing a double front flip and rolled as he landed on the ground. "Al-right friendo's," He continued as he placed his hooves around them, "I'm not sure about you guys but I am pumped for today!"

"You're always pumped," said Jokey, his friendly smile unchanged.

"Hi!" Pinkie Pie blurted popping out from behind them out of nowhere.

"You're both still up to your shenanigans I see." Said Boa casually, her expectations being accurate.

"Shall we?" Arrow began, "I am sure that the others are probably waiting for us.

"We shall!" Pinkie Pie and Forest replied excitedly in unison.

x

"Well, this is unfortunate news," Razorsharp started as he entered the meeting room of the Metamor Legion's base, "It seems like we have lost contact with our spies in, well, all the areas we have sent them to."

"All except for the two remaining spies in the Castle of Canterlot." Surgio said immediately afterwards, "All the spies have activated their martyr orbs, we received the transmission signal to the main orb notifying us of this."

"Is it safe to assume that the enemy has gained no knowledge of us?" Kanthon asked.

"For the most part, yes. Our spies were trained to memorise whatever is sent to them and then immediately destroy the evidence. I'm sure they have kept that in mind."

"Speaking of Canterlot, we were just messaged a note from our spies there, they claimed to have witnessed those mares retrieving the Elements of Harmony," Phoenix Blossom stated.

"Well then," Surgio began, "It seems like we are going to have to take this step sooner that I thought." He stepped out of the meeting room and gazed to the end of the expansive rally hall where a mimic sculpture of the statue of Discord was being built, "how goes the artwork, my loyal followers?" Surgio asked, his voiced echoed clearly across the hall.

"Almost finished, my lord!" A soldier replied as he looked back at Surgio, "Just need to get the details around the face!"

"Excellent! Make sure it's all picture perfect! Understood?"

"Yes Sir!" Several guards affirmed to Surgio in unison. He marched back into the meeting room soon after.

"We're going to carry forth the plan to steal and free Discord, Phoenix,"

"Yes, Surgio?"

"Bring the scrolls required to plan the transport spell, and Kanthon,"

"Yes, leader?"

"Begin the conjurations for the required material."

"Understood," Phoenix and Kanthon replied, they then went of to ready their plans.

"Oh, and Razorsharp."

"Yes, Surgio?"

"Congratulations, you are now General Razorsharp of the Metamor Legion."

"Was there ever any doubt?" Razorsharp chuckled malevolently.

"I do apologize for having the title held this long," Surgio replied as he joined his comrade in laughter, "after we realised it would take a while to find more skilled allies, it would be most sensible to award you the rank. Not that you weren't going to receive or anything, you were made for this leading position."

"Oh you flatter me, my leader."

The two laughed and then sat silently for a few more seconds, they both then held serious expressions on their faces.

"What's on your mind, my leader?" General Razorsharp asked in a concerned manner.

"You know, if the elements of harmony are going to join the battle field, then it is likely you might just run into-" Surgio was interrupted as Razorsharp caught on to what he was trying to present.

"Him? Yes... it seems we are on the same wavelength, it is likely he will come to the aid of his sibling."

"Don't you let the past get ahead of you, General."

"You won't have to worry about that, my leader," Razorsharp affirmed to Surgio as he picked up his battleaxe, he smiled nefariously as he met his reflection on the blade, "In all honesty, I'm actually rather excited."