//------------------------------//
// The Commander 
// Story: The Great Equestrian War 
// by Rainbow_Dash_14008 
//------------------------------//

I try to stop my whole body from shaking as the Commander walks up to me and Lyra.

"Who are you?" she says. 

"I...uh..." I stammer.

"She's here looking to join our ranks," Lyra steps in, "I found her on my patrol route. After confirming she wasn't an enemy spy, i brought her here."

I get ahold of myself and say, "Yes, I would. I believe that I, uh, may have some use in your...um...rebellion."

I feel her studing me.

"What species are you?" she asks.

"What?" I reply, caught off guard.

"She's a unicorn," Lyra answers for me, "I could tell from the spell. Though she seems to have...more magic than most unicorns."

I stop myself from gasping. I had totally forgotten to conceal my vast reserves of magic! My knees start to shake, surely the Commander will get suspicious!

"Thats good, we need as much power as we can get," says the Commander, and I silently breathe a sigh of relief, "Now, if I could ask you to take of your cloak. I need to make sure you're not an enemy. The identification spell has some faults."

My knees start shaking again, this is not good! Luna told me that I must keep my identity a secret no matter what!

"I-I am afraid I c-can't do that C-Commander," I mutter.

"Why not?" asks the Commander, her voice going to a harsher tone. 

"Because I wish to keep it on, my identity I would like to be kept hidden for now," I reply, "B-but I may consider if you take your disguise off first."

She seems to be taken aback, but she answers, pushing me back as she moves forward, "Hey you! If you want to join this group, then you better listen to me! I am in charge here, not you! If you think you can boss me around like that, and disobey my orders, then I don't think you're-" she stops and backs up. She sits down and places a hoof on her forehead. "Ugh. Fine. Whatever. You're in. Lyra, show her around would you? I've got to get some rest. But before I go, what is your name?"

I hesitate, I didn't think of a fake name yet! "I-I am...Bluebell...Bluebell Fields," I say, for some reason the image of the flower had popped into my mind.

She nods, then walks off. Lyra looks at me, "I'd watch you're mouth if I were you. The Commander has been getting a bit more...uptight recently. She's stressed out. you're lucky she let you in. Now come, I'll show you our base."

I follow Lyra as she leads me through many rooms. I note the ponies running around doing work, or just talking. Some I recognize by looks but not by name. My heart falls when my friends are still no where in sight. 

"This is the mess hall," Lyra says, pointing, "the sleeping quarters are over there, and this is the weaponry. The armory is on the other side, see? And this is our little school, where all the fillies stay and learn."

I take a peek inside, I recognized the teacher, Miss Cheerilee. I knew her somewhat, but I don't believe we were ever friends really. I look at the fillies. I didn't recognize most of them, but two of them I knew perfectly. Applebloom and Sweetiebelle. My day gets a bit brighter knowing that they are safe. I look around for the third Cutie Mark Crusader, Scootaloo. I don't see her. My day darkens again realizing that she must still be in the hands of the enemy.

I back out of the room. Lyra's looking at me, and it's cleat that she is getting impatient. Finally, we ended in a large room where ponies were talking and playing games. 

"You can hang out here until dinnertime," says Lyra, beckoning me inside, "I'm sure the Commander will have a job for you tomorrow. Have a nice time, Bluebell."

She shuts the door behind her. Most of the ponies were staring at me and whispering to each other. I figure I must look suspicious, walking in in a cloak concealing every part of my body. I ignore them, walking to a corner where I sit down to think. I don't feel like talking to anypony.

I think about the Commander, and how she seemed to want to keep herself disguised like me. Now that I think about it, I feel like there's something familiar about her, but i just can't place why.