The Emotions Within

  "Mom! Dad! No!" I shouted as I saw them being stabbed by the crystal minion. They dropped dead before me, eyes open as they died. I was young then.

  "Rainbow, we must head out now," Dad opened the door. I was all ready to leave Cloudsdale, my home. King Sombra sent an army of crystal minions to take over Cloudsdale, and its citizens were fleeing to Canterlot, where we thought was safe. King Sombra had just declared war with Equestria. "Okay, Dad," I grabbed my bag and escaped Cloudsdale with Dad and Mom.

  While we were flying to Canterlot, I tugged on Dad's tail and asked, "What will happen if we die?" He turned around, and flashed me a sad smile.

  "We won't, honey, but if we do..." His voice trailed off, "You promise me that you'll stay alive? Even without us?" I nodded, still not very aware how dangerous a war was.

  An hour later, we arrived at Canterlot. We had a uncle who lived there, so he could provide a place for us to stay in. My parents and my uncle chatted. I noticed a crystal minion land silently beside my parents, ready to strike them. " Mom! Dad! Is that a crystal minion?" I asked, pointing at it. Dad turned around, and hit the crystal minion square in the jaw, knocking it out cold. "Yes it is! What is a crystal minion doing here? I thought they were only attacking Clousdale?!" Dad stared at it, puzzled. "Then let's get away from here. They're too dangerous!" Mom pointed at another army of crystal minions flying in the air. "Spectrum, you need to leave Canterlot, now," Dad grabbed my uncle's shoulders. Uncle gave a curt nod before heading inside his house and flying out of it will a saddlebag in hand.

  More crystal minions were landing. "Let's go!" My Dad shouted, signaling us to leave. I noticed a crystal minion holding two spears come charging towards my parents. "Dad! Mom! Look out!" I screamed. But it was too late. The spears have been stabbed through my parents' chest. I felt tears blurring my vision. They fell dead with their eyes opened before me. I cried and sat there on the ground.

  "Rainbow Dash, we need to go! We can't stay here any longer!" My uncle urged me onto my hooves, as we flew away from Canterlot. Uncle had tears streaming down his face. "You know, your father was a great stallion. He had a heart of gold, always helping others. He never deserved this," He said between sniffles. I wiped away my tears, sniffling too.

"It's life," a military officer flew towards us, "I need to bring both of you back to my camp. I am trying to rescue survivors of the sudden attack." We followed him.

  That's how I got into the army. I did not know what became of my uncle, though. We were lead into different rooms and I never saw him again. Was he dead? I wouldn't know. Anyway, I wanted to avenge my parents' death. That was the reason why I wanted to join the army. But not now. I lost my emotions after fighting in the war for a while. Why only cry over my parents when ponies die every second? It was foolish, I reasoned with myself. I just went along with killing my enemies, without a goal of what happens when I won the war. Well, it's saddening to lose something valuable, like my parents, so I didn't dare to hope for a bright future. I didn't want to experience the pain again when my hope was crushed. Whatever, when you're busy with trying to stay alive every second, you don't have time to dream.

  "Rainbow Dash! There are new recruits here. We must meet them," Pinkamena informed me, barging into my office, interrupting my thoughts. She saluted. Everyday, there were always new recruits to replace the ponies who failed to come back alive from the war.

  "At ease," I commanded. Pinkamena Diane Pie was one of those ponies who were rescued from Canterlot, along with me. She had a sister, Maud Pie, who I think is waiting for us with the new recruits.

  Pinkamena and I made our way to them.