A sudden metallic tap rand from my front door, the mail slot still swinging closed as I walked over. I scooped up my mail and sat back on my couch. "Bill...spam...coupons- Oh, Equestrian seal." I tore the offending letter open, working as a clerk for the guard usually meant it was some kind of request that could just as easily be addressed to someone else.

Dear

Check-box

Your presence is needed at the twentieth checkpoint, local garrisons are requesting a clerk to flesh out their logistical teams and you fit the bill. An apartment will be provided on site and instructions will be given once you arrive. You are to leave immediately upon receiving this letter, your possessions and current accommodation will be maintained by the Equestrian Royal guard.

Report to the chariot departure field with no more than one bag.

Glory to Equestria

"Checkpoint twenty...Saddle Arabia!?"

---

I lugged my bag along next to me, the waiting chariot and guard obviously for me. "Check-box, hey!" Flash Sentry ran over. "So you're the one they're sending?"

I tossed my bag into the waiting chariot and turned to him. "Yeah, but why the heck are you here?"

Flash's smile went dark, turning to a deep scowl. "I'm gonna be escorting you there...don't you know what's been going on?"

I shook my head. "No idea, they just said they needed me."

Flash looked around. "It's classified...but...Saddle Arabia just finished up a civil war. They think rebels are trying to get Equestria to act."

I got into the chariot with Flash. "What do you mean act, you're acting so jumpy what's up?"

Flash made sure the ponies pulling the chariot couldn't hear us as we darted off towards the east. "They uh...they've been...kinda-"

"Killing ponies at the checkpoints." one of the drivers boomed at us. "They think killing us will make us roll into their country and stomp it into submission."

I hung my forelegs over the front of the chariot. "That's nuts, why would they even do that- how would they even do that?"

"Flasks."

I turned to Flash, looking for confirmation. He bit his lip hard and nodded. "Bombs...but why, what's the point of it. Won't they lose too if Equestria takes over?"

The driver shook his head. "Have you been out there? We barely have the checkpoint secured, we wouldn't be able to occupy Saddle for months, maybe a full year. By that time the rebels go into hiding, wait for us to leave again, and take over for good."

"Sick bastards." I mumbled as I took a seat across from Flash. "So wait, is that why they're sending me?"

"And Flash." the driver snorted dismissively.

"What!?" Flash yelled, nearly bolting over the front of the chariot. "They said-"

"What they said and what they wrote down are two different things, get over it."

Flash just kept yelling at the drivers, they in turn completely ignored him. The rest of the ride was quiet, too quiet. It gave me time to run through the mental list of all the things that could go wrong. What if somepony throws a flask into the booth, what if I get shot with an arrow, or some unicorn lights me on fire!? What even happened to the last pony they sent, Celestia only knows what happened to them!

I tired to calm down. Having a panic attack now was pointless, panicking later was completely justified so better save it for then. A nap helped pass the trip.

---

We arrived at the guard building, miles away from any town or city. "Gentlecolts, welcome!" none other than the captain himself walked over. "Report to the front desk immediately and get settled in, you start in the morning."

The two drivers unhooked themselves and hurried inside. Flash too started running inside. "Come on, you're gonna want to hurry!"

I slowly walked to the door. "Oh calm down...are you really in such a-" I swung my head out of the chariot and towards the source of his panic. A huge sandstorm was looming on the horizon. "Oh...see...I never understood why anypony lived in Saddle Arabia!" I ran inside, Shining Armor barring the doors once we were all inside.

Flash helped me over to the desk. My bag had made that dash into the building rather taxing, not to mention the horrible heat. We walked over to the desk and met the friendly desk clerk. "Room two thirteen, now get out!" he shoved a bunch of paperwork towards the mare driver.

She picked them up with a grimace and walked off. Next came Flash. "Room two twenty six!" he slid the papers off the desk and onto the floor. "You, don't just stand there!" I straighten up and ran over to him, nearly kicking Flash in the muzzle on accident. "You the new border guard?"

"Yes?"

"Room three ten." he slid the papers to the edge and held them to the table with his hoof. I waited for him to let them go. "You just gonna stand there or you gonna go?"

"Oh...sorry. I just thought-" just as I went to grab them he let them fall to the floor. "Yep...just like that." I picked them up and skulked towards Flash. "What a jerk."

"Totally, but I can't blame him. Being out here a long time must make you an asshole."

I shrugged, nearly tripping as we made our way to the stairs. "Maybe, or maybe he's just an asshole. Then again...if guards out here are anything like back home I can't really hold it against him."

"I guess...well, later." we reached the second floor. Flash bolted through the doors and deeper into the building. I regret not asking for his help with my bag, but after a few minutes of lugging the damn thing up another flight I was there. Or rather mostly there, another sixty feet of dragging until I actually found the room. I pressed inside and found the place as bare as possible, cheap kitchen nook, military issue furniture, flimsy windows with paper thin drapes: perfect for the desert sun!

I threw my bag down and found the one thing non made of cheap plywood. A package on the dining table, which I promptly ripped open. It was some kind of scarf, a small note and a pair of goggles fell out as I unfolded it.

To keep the sand out Was all that was written, or scribbled rather.

I spent the next hour learning how to tie the damn thing, the hour after that learning to get it off, and the hour after that sorting my things. After all that I was exhausted.

Thankfully, either due to the sandstorm or by the sheer fact it was getting late, the entire apartment was a dim amber. I pulled the curtains shut, blocking what little light they could, and settled down onto the couch. The bed proved to be about as soft as a brick wall and I was in no mood to spend anymore time trying to soften it up. No, the couch would suffice for tonight.

I was nearly asleep when the door burst open. Shining Armors voice boomed, "Check-box!"

I rolled off the couch and onto my back. "Fu- yes sir!?"

"Be ready at dawn tomorrow morning, tardiness will not be tolerated."

"Trying sir!" I groaned as I crawled back onto the couch. "Really trying...."

I heard the captain snort. "Don't get smart with me." With that angry rebuttal he slammed the door, leaving me to try and catch some sleep over the sound of sand beating against the cheap window and howling wind beating the whole building. The sun was going to come up way too early...I could tell.