Everfree Forest: Castle Of The Two Sisters Sixth hour, forty-five minutes
The small three pony group arrived at the castle to be greeted by their comrades.
"What happened? How did everything go?" Asked Thorax, worried for the others.
"We're fine." Answered Shining." Has anypony else arrived?"
"Only me." Celestia turned her head and saw a pony like creature that could only be a Kirin. "Greetings your highness. My name is Oroshi."
"A kirin, can't say I've ever met a member of your kind in the past."
"Well, I'm the only one who was brave enough to cross the dangerous path which connects Equestria to what you know as the 'Undiscovered West'"
"Sorry to interrupt you Oroshi," Said Shining, "but; did you find them?"
"Only five of them." He levitated five stone spheres.
When Celestia looked at them she recognized them as none other than... "The Elements of Harmony! Wait... why...?"
"Shining!" Oroshi interrupted the alicorn, but she could tell it was something important so she let it slide. "Allies approaching but only three of them."
Tree ponies burst through the door revealing them to be a pegasus mare with turquoise coat and amber mane, a female unicorn with a pink coat, a violet mane and tail with a floral lavender streak, both of them carrying an orange pegasus with blue mane who was heavily injured. The ponies that had been waiting for them rushed to aide the small group of arrivals.
Shining was the most surprised one of all of them and Celestia wondered why as he had told her that he had sent out four other groups of three so she couldn't understand his reaction; that is, until he spoke. "What happened to the others?"
The unicorn was the first to speak. "Nova took the three members of my group by surprise before we could even make our movement. As a result, Flim and Flam got captured. Same thing happened to Lightning Dust's group."
"It's true." Answered the turquoise pegasus which Celestia took to be the aforementioned Lightning Dust. "We didn't even stand a chance against Philomena. Both Flitter and Cloudchaser were unable to escape. Appearantly all the Commanders had a spell that made them stronger as well as the ability to fly. At least from the experience of both Amethyst and Flash."
Shining turned his attention to the orange pegasus, Flash, who was being treated of his injuries by Thorax and Zecora. "Flash, wh... where are the others?" Asked the unicorn with obvious fear of the answer.
Flash was weak, but he still forced himself to answer. "When we attempted escape, both Timber and Gloriosa were captured by Galacta. I on the other hoof stayed to fight Crystal so that Surprise, Twinkle and Firefly could escape. They were fine the last time I saw them and well on their way out of Canterlot so hopefully they are still out there. I..." He then collapsed due to the damage his body sustained.
Zecora then spoke. "I'm sorry Shining, he is dead." Silence creep over the room as the ponies mourned the death of his comrade.
Celestia approached the small group carefully. "Sorry to interrupt this hard moment but there is something that has been on my mind. If the rest of the country believes I am the antagonist of the tale, then why are you all aiding me?"
Shining understood that the question was quite valid and saw only fit he answered her. "Our previous leader was part of a family that knew and remembered the truth and thus passed down the story through the generations. He then started recruiting others, though it wasn't easy, after all, most ponies are ignorant to the true history. However we all have some reason to hope for something better than what we currently have."
"I see. And may I ask what yours, as the leader, is?"
Shining was a bit taken back by the question, after all, everypony in the Soldiers already knew his story so he hadn't talked about that in a while and the story had a bit of a burden on him. "*Sigh* Very well. You see, my story begins fifteen years ago...
...and that is why I will not stop until harmony returns to this land."
"I see. Your motivation is something that is worth fighting for, and I hope one day you are reunited with your sister."
Oroshi cleared his throat indicating that he wanted to speak. "Sorry to interrupt, but I think we've spent enough time here. It's only a matter of time before the admiral arrives, and I don't think we're in any condition to fight her."
"But we haven't found the element of Magic." Argued Thorax.
"Oroshi is right." Said Gilda, "We better head to Foal Mountain and meet up with the rest."
"Besides, upon studying the elements I discovered a phrase: 'When the five are present, a spark will cause the sixth Element to be revealed.'" Answered Zecora.
"OK, so we all agree on leaving?" Questioned Shining with all nodding in agreement. "Then let's hurry, we haven't got much time."
Zecora and Sweetie took Amethyst and Gilda carried Lightning on her back and headed to a small door behind Luna's former throne. Celestia remembered the days the Castle was under construction, "One of the secret paths!"
Thorax took notice and approached the Princess, "Once we discovered them we modified that one so that instead it was an emergency exit leading to the Rumbling Rock Ridge."
Unfortunately Celestia's mind was troubled. "Maybe I shouldn't but... I want to know if the journal is still here.
