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// Cinder 
// Story: It's My Duty To Protect 
// by BronySis 
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		 I don’t remember how it happened, all I remember is that I was in the woods looking for some herbs for a remedy, we also decided to go camping. But when I got back, with the ponies with me, the whole village, that brimmed with life was gone. Just gone, and in place was nothing but the stench of death. That's when me and my group decided to go and try to find somepony else. We didn’t know what had actually happened or when, we just knew we needed help.-Cinder Stripe 
“So Ponyville’s this way?” A cinder colored pegasus asked to the two stallions behind her. They looked to her in confusion.
“Cinder I thought you knew where your going?” Cinder glanced back at the stallion, Ice Breaker.
“I did until Star Stripe lost the map.” The stallion Cinder was talking to, looked up from the ground. His bright green eyes stared back Cinder’s bright blue eyes.
“Well, I didn’t lose it.” Star Stripe was always a great liar. His face never seemed to change expressions. It always seems monotone, just like his voice. Well I can’t call him out, or else I am an insensitive jerk, though Cinder as she moved a strip of her light gray mane out of her face.
“Icey can you look in your saddlebag, or we could keep wondering aimlessly until something happens that magically tells us exactly where to go.” Cinder over exaggerated and tried to make it funny, but failed. Ice Breaker looked into his bag, but no map was found. He looked to the gray pegasus and shrugged. Cinder gave a loud, over exaggerated sigh of loss. But before she could respond, Cinder hears a noise in the bushes to their left. She quiets the other two and hunches down. Her ears are pricked far forward  trying to focus on the sound of what ever was next to her. She didn’t know what did, “that” to her village but it could be anything. She couldn’t risk losing her brothers now.
“Name, and your faction.” A mare in armor called to the direction of the three ponies. The siblings looked to each other in confusion, what was she talking about? 
“What in the name of tartarus are you talking about?” Cinder yelled. Ice put this hoof over his sister's muzzle. A click was heard, Cinder recognized the sound right away.
“Come out now and, you will not die.” The mare said in a low tone. Ice looked over to his siblings, the three nodded and stood up. Cinder had a beaten look on her face as she glared at the mare threatening to kill her brothers.
“Alright now walk,” The three started walking, Cinder in the back, and Ice in the front. The pony in armor had a stiff expression as she walked behind them.
“You know it’s rude to put a gun up to a stranger,” Cinder said in a deadpan tone. Her brother in front of her gave her a small kick. Signaling to shut up. A large amount of walking and silence went by, until the armored pony spoke.
“What’s your name’s, faction, and clan?” Cinder gave a loud sigh while her brothers raised a eyebrow.
“Cinder, and I am from Trotsdale.” 
“Star Stripe, and I am also from Trotsdale.” And before Ice could speak the pony in armor spoke.
“Do you guys seriously not know?” The mares tone grew soft, then continued to mumble to herself. “There is no way they can't know, but.." She trailed off speaking to the point Cinder can no longer hear her. Cinder gave a quick glance backwards to see the pony in armor had a gun gripped in her magic. Cinder wanted to try lighten the mood, so why not pushing my boundaries as a hostage.
"So what's you name?" The mare looked up at Cinder, Cinder gave a smile of comfort.
"Names Sweetie Belle, we should keep moving, Commander will be angry if I don't come back on time." Sweetie Belle, that name sounds so familiar. Its the pop idol, I heard her on the radio all the time. After more walking through the bramble and thickens. The four come to a large door in the ground. With her green magic Sweetie Belle opened to door that goes underground.
"Go down," and without any objections the ponies went down into the dark tunnel. A large amount of time passes until there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And there was something that shocked all three of the siblings. Its a city underground, in the middle is a giant crystal like tree with five branches having different symbols on the branches, and in the middle is a large six sided star. But around that tree, were different tents, building's in progress, and stands. And all around are different varieties of pony's all staring at the three foreign ponies. All the sudden Cinder's chest felt heavy, there are so many ponies around. Cinder couldn't move.
"No, not this." Ice nudged her trying to snap his sibling out of her out of fear driven shock. 
"Move." Sweetie Belle said not as authorities as before, but has no flexibility. Ice went next to his sister and stared to pull her along. He couldn't risk losing any pony else. Star went behind the frightened mare and the chill stallion as Ice wrapped his wing around his little sister. They walked up to a tent next to the crystal tree beacon filled with light.
" Princess Twilight,  I found these ponies when I was doing northern patrol." All three of the ponies looked over to see the princess of friendship, next to her is a rainbow haired pegasus, recognized as the element of loyalty. 
"Thank you Sweetie, now could you go around and bring the count of are wounded." The Princess said a pleasant voice. The brothers Ice and Star looked to each other. But Cinder looked at the purple alicorn in amazement, she was standing in front of a princess. Cinders nervous posture was there but she was speechless.
"Well I guess my meeting with the princess in a week for matter of a loan can come early." Cinder said softly, trying to lighten her own mood. Ice elbowed her, and they all bowed.
"State your clan." The element of loyalty, Rainbow Dash said in a deep assertive voice. No pony said anything until Star worked up the guts to speak.
"We don't know what your talking about." Rainbow Dash glared at the unicorn who spoke. But Twilight spoke breaking the tension.
"About a year ago Equestria was in the middle of a civil war." Star interrupted the princess.
"We don't know about any war." 
"Hey, don't interrupt the princess. You understand!" Rainbow Dash yelled at the rude stallion. He stood his ground, not even flinching at the yell of the pegasus. 
"Rainbow Dash." Twilight looked to Rainbow, she had a annoyed look. Rainbow gave a loud grown of anger, and trotted out of the tent angrily.
"Anyway, about a year ago almost all Equestria went into a war." Twilight made a story with her magic, things moved like a story book. "And, loyalties were split. Celestia and Luna lied to me, they betrayed me. And they betrayed all of Equestria." Twilights bitterness filled her voice. Then she put her hoof to her chest and moved it away as she breathed out, she continued. "There was a large falling out between Luna and Celestia, then with Cadence. Then I had a difference with.... One of my students." Twilight chocked a little. "Since then, things like parasprites, and other beast have been attacking different towns. That is why we went underground, This is magic clan."