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Morning. That most dreadful time of day, the part where your alarm or mother tells you that you need to begin it. That time where you leave behind your dreams, the ones where you have your Destiny Mark, telling you what you are going to be good at. I leaned back in bed, groaning. I was still enjoying my flying ability, after that mad demon Tirek had taken it away. Once again, we had Princess Sparkle to thank for the world not devolving into utter chaos.

I got up, stretching, and padded across the clouds to the bathroom, where I looked into the mirror. Smiling back at me was a young, hopeful face, fresh out of Flight School. I had gotten top marks in all of my classes (Except history, but then again, who cares about what people did a thousand years ago right?) and yet...

That face turned into a frown as I sighed. Fifteen scholarship applications, including the Rich Yards Ones and Fives Application (For those entering college and those trying to get past a four year degree) had all been denied. Every bucking one. Stretching, I rolled an ache out of my left wing and fluttered them, smiling. I LOVED flying, it was nearly the best thing I could imagine. Taking out my toothbrush, I started scrubbing away as I flipped on the Radio in my room. TV was great and all, but unless we could get better reception up in Cloudsdale, I wouldn't bother with one of them.

"In other news, last nights trade negotiations went souer after the Neighpan Delegation stormed out of the Confrence room. They vowed that they would ally themselves with the usurped government that has now taken supreme control of Gryphany.

Warlord Bristlebeak has deposed Supreme Chancellor Ironclaw and declared martial law throughout the Gryphon Peninsula. His armies continue to advance nearly unopposed through Neighgeria, Stalliongrad, and the government of Prance has just declared an unconditional surrender, although sources tell us that there is a well organized resistance group operating in that country.

Princess Luna earlier stated, quote, "We would like to ensure Equestrian Interests in that country, but at this time, the war has nothing to do with us. While we are prepared to mount a defense if that becomes nessesary, we will not launch a pre-emptive strike when there is every chance that a peaceful resolution can still be negotiated."

The Royal Princessess have yet to allow a full interview, but comments from the Capitol of Canterlot tell us that at this time, quiet orders have been placed for the creation of guns, planes, and tanks.

Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor have thus far not encountered any threat from their neighbors to the east, although no one can say if this state will last for long.

This is Worldly News, bringing you news from around the world, signing off."

I sighed, spitting out my toothpaste. Heading out, I walked to the fridge, past my mother. She simply stared at me as I opened the fridge up, took out a gallon of Orange Juice, and poured some in the cup. Turning around, she grabbed my shoulder and turned me to the sink just as I realized my mistake and spit out the most evil flavor known to ponykind.

"Honestly, Wing, you would think you would have learned that by now! Citrus and Toothpaste do not go well together, now do they?"

I shook my head, grinning sheepishly. "Um, no. What's for breakfast?"

She pushed some cold pizza over at me. "Same as last night, only colder. We are out of bits, remember? I don't get paid until next week." At my pained look, she said "Don't worry though, this time, I think we will have enough to put aside for you to go to college! If you can keep your job at the weather factory, I am sure you'll make it to Canterlot University in no time!"

I smiled at her, and a painful throb resonated through my chest. Ever since my dad had died in the line of duty, she had done her best to keep us afloat, but with just her and me living in Cloudsdale, we had neither enough bits to live, or enough to move someplace cheaper. We were stuck in a downward spiral, and I was only dragging us down faster. I had been sitting on the news for a while, but now seemed like as good of a time to tell her as any.

"So mom... you heard the news about the diplomatic meeting? How Neighpan stormed out, swearing bloody revenge on us?"

She nodded, not looking. "Yeah, it was all over the news this morning. Supposedly they swear to launch an attack on us so horrific, they will... blacken our skies with their bombs? I wont be afraid unless they ACTUALLY join up with Gryphany."

I turned to the side, packing her a sandwitch for work. "Well... you know the Recruiter was in town last week... and he was offering a 50 bit reward for anyone who registers for Selective Services?"

She nodded. "MmmHmmm... he was a rather dashing fellow, wasn't he?"

I grimaced. She was hardly paying attention, so now was the best time. "Well... we have Fifty bits waiting for us at the Post Office... I registered and I was deemed fit for service on my preliminary. Actually qualed pretty high... could go Airborn if I wanted. Really, it's not like they are go-" I said, before there was a harsh slap across the back of my head.

"YOU did _ *WHAT? * _?!?" she yelled, grabbing me by the shoulders and looking me dead in the eyes. "You know what I think of the military! How can you do that after what your father did? He went off to join the royal guard, thinking it was safe, and what happened? Killed during the changleing invasion! And that was only the Guard!"

I cringed, before seeing the tears in her eyes. "Mom! Listen! I only registered for the military IF THERE IS A DRAFT! Equestria has not had a draft since the Dragon Wars! That was nearly seven hundred years ago! The odds of us drafting are literaly zero!"

That conversation pretty much set the mood for the morning. She took her sandwich and bit me good day, telling me to work hard at the factory and left without another word. I packed myself one and headed out, taking wing and munching on cold pizza for breakfast, heading out towards the Cloud Lines, my place of work. At eleven bits an hour, it was really good wages, and I even got Dental!

"STEEL WING! GOT YOUR MARK YET?" rang across the shop, and I sighed. I had yet to get my mark, no matter how many times I checked my upper arms. No matter what I did, I never found anything that I was very good at, or had a passion for. Still, that didn't stop Rainy Days from coming over and giving me crap every damn morning.

"Come on, you are what... nineteen now? You should have found SOMETHING you are good at! Or are you just-"

"Not good at anything, boss. Yeah, I know, you say that to me every f- er, fine day. Sir."

He nodded, grinning. "Well, keep your chin up. One of these days you are going to get a mark for working the assembly line. Or making clouds. Of if it takes long enough, you can have one for my job when I retired. I wanted to let you know that next week I put you in for a raise okay?"

Despite his relentless teasing, he was a very good stallion and a great boss. Even though corporate hung over his head. He had given me a job when there were at least three others more qualified and willing to work this line. He and my dad used to know each other, and for that reason I knew I could trust Rainy Days.

"Thank you sir. Hey, if you need, I can pull some extra shifts..."

He shook his head, eyes down. "Sorry mate... you have all the over time I can give you this month, and you did it all in the last two weeks. If I pull any more strings, Corporate is going to fire you and me both, and install some heartless dictator in here." He pulled himself up, wrapped his wings around his chest to imitate gryphon feathers, and held his hands up around his mouth like a beak. "Mein Subjectz... Eye weezsh to teel youuu dat all poneez are weeeek and helplezz before our Imperial Might! Long live the Zird Reaich!"

I snorted. That had been on the news three months ago, and we were still laughing about it. Strong though Bristlebeaks armies were, he had no navy, and the Crystal Empire stood strong against all threats from the land. Unless Beak and Empress Leersha worked out their differences, he would never have anything in the way of a method to attack Equestria.

"Keep up the good work, I still have to nag the prez of the company to make me the vice. Ever since Dash quit, there has been a sucking power vaccume. Take care!" he said, zipping off.

I shook my head, and got to work making sure the guys on the assembly line didn't mess up. I was, in title, a Line Supervisor, or a Sub Manager in the company terms. Each cloud had to come out to the right specs, and I was in charge of light wispy cirrus clouds that we put up to ensure that people knew when a storm was coming.

Walking along the line, I saw a dark gray mare was lagging behind the others. "Hey! Cloud Kicker! Keep the line moving!" I said, moving in to make sure she kept up with everyone else. Another typical day.

Fifteen failed clouds and the line getting back on line later, four hours had passed and I was getting a bit tired. Staring at a long clipboard of detailed information relating to the production of various types of clouds, I failed to notice somepony walk up behind me.

"Hey Wing. How's your morning going?"

I started and turned around, grinning. "Azure Skies! How was Icelock? Is the Crystal Empire as cold as they say?"

She smiled back. "Colder. The military base there needed a weather expert to advice them on snow flurries, and I was the strawmare for the job. Just got back! Week long train ride, but worth it. How's you and Blue Cross doing?"

I sighed. "Mom's not doing so well. She pulls double shifts at the clinic, but we still owe a lot of money on our house, and we can't sell it in this economy, not without ending up owing nearly four thousand bits and not having a haybit to move somewhere else on. I signed up for Selective Services for the extra fifty bits, and it might give us food for this week but... I don't know how much longer till we are on the streets..."

Her face softened. "Look... if you and her need a place to stay... My husband just left me, and my house is empty. I know a few people out in Las Pegasus that would like to move here, they might give a decent deal, and I really wouldn't mind helping out a couple of flockmates."

I smiled at her and extended a wing, which she rubbed her against in a sign of affection. I had always liked her a bit, but more as a friend than anything else. "Thanks... if things get worse, I'm afraid I might have to convince mom to do that. I hate all of this... ever since dad got killed, everything just keeps getting worse and worse."

She nodded, and my stomach growled. "Oops, I gotta get lunch before my break is over! Catch up with you later, Sky!"

She waved at me as I ran for the break room, where I proceeded to scarf my lunch in a manner of minutes, punching my lunch card and heading back out to finish my eight hour shift. Rainy Days was out there, looking a bit sour at Cloud Kicker, and I shrugged at the hopeless rookie. Cloud Kicker was evidence that no matter how bad you thought you were, someone else was even worse at everything than you. The poor kid had NO feel for weather, but with his uncle being best friends with the company president, he had grudgingly been given practical immunity to getting fired. No one wanted to be the one under the burner when Storm Kicker complained to the CEO about his nephew becoming homeless.

Back at the line, I reflected on how strange things were getting. With the advent of all the new technology around the place, including color television and Automobiles, things had changed a lot over the past twenty years. Princess Luna coming back had been a bit of a celebration, but not as much as computers that could fit in only one room, and made the job of filing information in the Factory much easier. Everything was kept in electronic form as of five months ago, although paper records were kept in storage in case there was another bug crawling into the system.

Finally, the bell rang and the lines ground to a halt. Checking the time, another four eventless hours had gone by, and I was free to go and hit the books, studying advanced magical theory to give myself an edge on my Canterlot University entrance exams. No one would expect a Pegasus who could recite all of Starswirl the Beardeds theses titles from memory!

Chuckling to myself, I waved at Azure as she left, and gave Rainy Days a wing slap on the way out. "See ya boss!" I yelled, flapping away. He yelled something about my blank status, and I shook my head, going home.

Stopping outside, I saw that Mother was already home, judging by the sounds of the television inside, but the mail had yet to be collected, indicating she had gotten off early. I grabbed it all, sifting through it and removing one of the bills that I planned to secretly pay while she wasn't looking, trying to take a load off of her shoulders. As I walked in, though, I didn't hear her voice yelling at me to close the door, or wipe my feet. Instead, all I heard was the television.

Walking into the living room, still holding all of the envelopes, I saw her staring at the television, mouth open. "Mom?" I asked, looking at her. She simply pointed, mouth still agape.

"BREAKING NEWS! Flight Base Icelock, located in the Crystal Empire, has been totally destroyed in the worst attack on equestrian soil in over seven hudred years! Gryphon forces, attacking from Neighpaneese ships, landed on the souther edge of the Crystal Empire and flew nearly two hundred miles through freezing blizzard conditions to launch a surprise attack on the Equestrian military base!

At this time, casualties are estimated to be between fifteen thousand and thirty thousand military personell dead, with nearly double wounded. A quarter of those are Cystal Empire soldiers sent there to train with our troops."

The view changed to a scene of carnage. Pillars of smoke and what seemed to be downed aircraft dotted a snowy landsscape, and the view seemed to be taken from an aireal Pegasus cameraman.

"As you can see, the base has been totally destroyed. Word from Prince Shining Armor is that he is dispatching forces to reclaim this base and bring it up to full operational effectiveness, and that the Crystal Empire has declared a state of war against the Crimson Alliance, as the treaty between Gryphany and Neighpan is being called. At this time, exact numbers are secret for military purposes."

The view scrolled out one more time, and the vastness of the wreckage became clear.

Citizens of Equestria... We are at war! Princess Celestia will appear in public tonight to make a formal statement, but until then, we are at War!"

My mother looked at me, tears in her eyes. "You missed it earlier... they started the draft. Princess Luna was on... they are starting a draft!"

I stared, now the one gaping. The third letter down in my hand read

To: Mister Steel Wing

From: The Desk of Princess Luna

Mister Steel Wing,

By Executive Order Fifty three, you are hereby notified of your conscription into the Equestrian Royal Army. You are to report to Camp Hooftingon, Coltifornia, to begin Basic Infantry Training in one week. Failure to present yourself to your local military coordinating office in [CLOUDSDALE] will result in you being declared MIA/UA, and will incur a fine and a minimum of twenty years in prison.

Thank you for your services.

And like that, I was a soldier.