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// Scootaloo 
// Story: It's My Duty To Protect 
// by BronySis 
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		 I, never thought I had to choose between two friends. I went with a choice for a completely different reason, I went with my sister. I miss her she was almost like a sister, I miss are antics, and are quest to help ponies marks. But are cutie marks signal that, we have similar marks yet they show we are meant to go are separate ways. Even with that I joined Magic clan, because I feel it is my duty to protect the princess. My princess, not the princess who hides from us and lets things run their course, when we are coursing into the ground. I am, thanks to Rainbow Dash, the youngest warrior who is eligible for a student. Which I do, I have two wonderful students to train. But Rainbow Dash will always be the most super awesome extreammazing pony in all of whats left of Equestria. I will never be the pony I am without her, my best big sister ever. - Lieutenant General Scootaloo    
It’s chaos outside the safe house, a group of ponies were in the middle of attacking Magic clan camp. Nothing but pure chaos, as the warriors of Magic clan did their best to protect what they have.
“Hey, watch it!” Scootaloo yelled at Rainbow Dash, a pony was taking a shoot at the General. The two ponies were back to back, they protected each other as a yin to yang.
“Close the door!” Rainbow Dash yelled, as so three soldiers, Cinder, Espérer, and Sweetie Belle. Ran towards the main gate, hoping that maybe they could stop any other ponies from getting in. Cinder noticed their armor and the way they fought was uniform, unlike Magic clan where each warrior was unique and different. But this thought was quickly pushed to the back of her mind as she ran towards the door, surprisingly they didn't have to do much, there were no ponies anywhere besides the main camp. The three get to the main door, from what Cinder could gather the door opens to the Everfree Forest. Because there were different plants, one in particular, was a vine covered in thorns. The vine was called Chaos Vines, used to cure poison joke, and also used for an array of spell. Thanks Star! Cinder thought to herself, she flew as fast as her wings could take her while Sweetie Belle showed a surprising speed on hoof. Espérer was slightly behind the two, flying, trying to conserve energy. The three finally arrive to the door, what happened to it shocked all three mares. The door seemed to be completely destroyed, as if it had been magically exploded, that's really the only way to describe it. The three stood completely speechless, they didn’t know what to do. 
“Sweetie what should we…” Espérer muttered, a hint of fear in it.
“I will put up a  temporarily barrier, and hope. The builders can either fix it or make a new one.” Sweetie Belle commanded in her authoritative voice. “You two, watch my back I need pure concentration. And if any pony does try to stop me capture not kill.” The two pegasus nodded in agreement, with that Major General Sweetie Belle started with casting the temporary shield spell. Her horn lit up bright green, just like her eyes, slowly a wall of green engulfed the missing door that shielded Magic Clan from the outside world. But the cracks that were unfilled, small black shadow looking rodents, came through the cracks. 
“What are these?!” Cinder said in disgust, she had never seen anything like it. They looked like mice, but twisted and broken looking, like a filly broke it and randomly glued it back together, but it wasn't there. The little mutant mice looked, no, they were shadows.
“These are Skiá, shadow creatures that feed on color, and emotion!” Espérer shouted, she was filled with panic, Espérer started walking towards the safety of the darkness, where there are no shadows. Cinder’s mind clicked, she understood everything.That’s why the clan lived underground, why I wasn't allowed on the surface except for patrols, why, everything really. Espérer was in the most danger, she is pure white, every color combined probably a top priority for the little black rodents. Which includes Sweetie Belle as well. Cinder panicked and ran up to the mare casting the spell in the sunlight, with a shadow.
“Sweetie, can you please back up to the darkness.” Sweetie Belle moved her head and looked to Cinder, her horn still glowing brightly. But as she did, she finished the spell, and the area again was enclosed in darkness. Espérer grew a smile on her face then spoke in a jolly voice.
“Nice job, you stopped the Skiá’s your so cool how you put up the barrier. It must take a lot of hard work and discipline.”  Sweetie Belle’s face grew red with, oddly enough, shyness, almost as if she didn’t want what attention she got. Cinder's face had a look of terror on it.
“Um hello! They are still here we just can't see them . Sweetie Belle we should find them and eradicate them!” Cinder quickly spit out. Sweetie Belle looked to her and was about to speak before there was the sound of a loud bang in the main area. Cinder’s ears perked, so the three mare’s trotted like no tomorrow,because there might not be a tomorrow. When they got to the camp it was lightened. Like it has a large light source has been introduced to the area, and it has. Cinder’s eyes were locked onto the giant hole in the ceiling, Sweetie followed, and it took a couple moments for Espérer to look at it too. But Cinder was also the first to look down at the rest of the scenery, camp was almost in the same shape as before, except minor damage to the buildings. But as Cinder noticed something the other two didn’t pick up on, one of the shapes on the crystal tree was gone, the apple one from what she could tell. The three rushed towards the princess's tent to check her safety.