//------------------------------//
// Stories 
// Story: Life of Cinder 
// by SandStorms 
//------------------------------//

Cinder’s eyes flickered open but immediately shut them to the blinding light shining through the lone window on the far side of the room. The clock on the wall opposite of the bed said that it was morning.  I’ve must have slept all day…, Cinder thought. He got up and stretched his legs and let out a large yawn. Cinder then straightened the blanket of his makeshift bed and slid the small bed under the larger bed. Cinder then moved to the small bathroom in the room and got ready for the day. When Cinder had almost finished, he heard Stone’s voice call out from the bedroom.
“Cinder? Where did you go?” He asked.
“I’m in the bathroom,” Cinder replied, “getting ready.”
“Take your time,” Stone said, “Breakfast is almost done.”
“Ok, I’ll be right out,” Cinder replied, as he finished his morning chores. He finished and walked out of the bathroom towards the front room of the small house. He heard noise in the room to his left; he entered and found a small kitchen with a table on the far side set for two. Stone was at the stove pouring steaming water into a bowl.
“What’s for breakfast?” Cinder asked.
“Toast, oatmeal, apples and a glass of orange juice.” He replied as he carried the dishes to the table and setting them down.
Cinder sat down and saw the food, and he stomach let out a growl. Stone laughed at this and said between laughs, “A little hungry Cinder?”
Cinder looked away embarrassed, “I haven’t eaten since the night before I left actually.”
Cinder began eating slowly as not to be rude but soon couldn’t help himself and dug in.
Stone slack jawed stared at Cinder, “You should really compete in a speed eating contest Cinder, I haven’t seen a pony eat so fast.”
Cinder finished his meal and felt so full that he was worried to move.
“That was amazing Stone, if you eat like this every day then I’m probably going to grow up obese.” Cinder joked.
“Yea sorry but this big of a meal doesn’t happen often,” Stone said, “This was a special occasion; it’s funny really, you get a perspective of things when you’re not in the orphanage.”
Cinder looked at him funny, “What do you mean?”
“This meal for example, when I went out to get I yesterday afternoon, it wasn’t very cheap.” Stone said, and then returned to eating like nothing was said.
Cinder stared at him blankly, “Stone, I don’t want you to spend any more on food or anything just because I am here; it’s enough trouble for you that I am here in the first place.”
“Ok fine.” Stone said.
They sat in silence for the rest of their meal, Stone finished his food and they both cleaned up and washed the dishes. After that was done they went into the small living room and sat on the sofa. Cinder finally broke the silence.
“So how did you end up at the orphanage?” Cinder asked.
“Where did that come from?” Stone asked.
“I told you my story, I’d like to know yours,” said Cinder.
“I guess that makes sense,” Stone said, “I guess it all started with my father, he worked in the Cantorlot quarries. My mother worked as an assistant to the head safety manager. They met for the first time when my father had to show the manager around. My father kept getting them lost so he could spend more time with my mother,” Stone smiled at that.
“They got together after that and they hit off, they got married and not long after I came along. I grew up and when I was about your age I got my cutie mark,” he said as he looked at the pickaxe on his hind leg, “it appeared one day when I was helping my father around the mine. Happiness was short lived though, a week after it appeared, my father went into the mine to see how things were going and the ceiling caved in trapping him and several other ponies inside. He and two other ponies were trapped in the section of the mine. They had little food and water between them that they had found in the small break room they had access to. My father gave up his portion of the food to the other ponies. When the rescue teams finally broke through the rubble; my father was dead from dehydration and starvation, the other two ponies however just barely made it. The doctors say my father saved their lives.” Stone said while a tear fell from his eye.
“My mother fell into a deep depression, she barely ate or slept; then one day when I returned home from school our family doctor was waiting for me, my mother died that afternoon, she had just given up on life.” Stone quit talking after this and sat there.
“I’m so sorry,” Cinder said.
“It’s fine, I know they wouldn’t want me to dwell on their deaths,” Stone said after a moment, “and I think your parents would want the same Cinder. You aren’t alone anymore, they wouldn’t want you to grieve over them.”
“I know they would want me to just be happy,” Cinder said, “I’m just glad that I am not alone anymore.”
Cinder looked out the window and saw that it was late afternoon. “Wow time flies when you’re not in the orphanage.” He remarked.
“So what do you want to do for the rest of the day?” Stone asked.
“I don’t know, what is there to do?” Cinder replied.
“There is a park not far up the road, we can go hang out there for the day,” Stone said.
“Sounds fun!” Cinder exclaimed, but the smile on his face disappeared, “But won’t ponies be suspicious if suddenly I’m hanging around you?”
“I’ve only been living here a few days, we will just tell them that you’re my cousin and you’re coming to live with me for a while,” Stone answered. 
With that they left the apartment and began up the street. They laid down in the grass, relaxed and even played a few games. They had lots fun and when the sun was beginning to set they returned to the apartment. Cinder sat on the sofa while Stone prepared dinner. Soon dinner was ready and they both sat at the table eating in silence. They both finished and washed the dishes. By this time it was getting late.
“I’m going to get ready for bed,” Cinder said, then began towards the bedroom. When he was in the room he heard a knock at the front door.
“I’m coming!” Stone called out.
Cinder continued getting ready and began to pull his bed out from under the other.
He heard the door opening and Stone call out, “DUSTY?”