Clockwork gulped, unsure of how to respond. What was he supposed to say? “Oh, yeah, I want to join the Navy and skip out on a decent life as a mechanical engineer because the one female friend I have is doing it and peer pressure is all the rage?”

Moppet said nothing, doing his best to blend into the background, which he was clearly failing to accomplish.

Gearbox looked at his wife for a moment, then at the small mule attempting to hide near the window blinds, and then back at Clockwork. He took a careful look at his son for a few seconds, eyes set in that expression that was best accompanied with a pipe and fez; he took a step closer and spoke.

“Clockwork, I can understand why you would wish to join the Navy, but there are flaws that we all know exist. Your mother and I have stored a lot of money for college and Mr. Blackberry Fudge, the dean of M.I.T. (Maresachusetts Institute of Technology) is a friend of ours. There is no need to obtain a ride to college, and we both know that your. . . ” he spared a look at his son’s prosthetic, “handicap would not get you very far in the Armed Forces.”

Quick Fix looked at her husband with something akin to exasperation, and then to her son in a way that could pass for anger.

“What has gotten into you? What on Celestia's green earth would make you consider such a radical idea? Clockwork, honey, please, tell me why you would want to go. . . fight!”

Clockwork took a single, deep breath. His response here would either give him a decent hoof hold, or send him plummeting into the abyss. Wait. . . what?

“I have no single reason for why I want to join. I have several. Firstly, the branch I want to join puts minimal focus on combat. Instead, they make machines, tools, and as much as I hate to admit it, weapons for others to use. The most we would ever carry is a pistol, and not a very powerful one at that.”

Gearbox had a rebuttal ready as soon as his son finished speaking. “You’d still have to go through boot camp like everyone else that wants to join, regardless of where you want to end up. We both know you don’t have the physical requirements necessary to join.”

“So I’ll start working out. My health’s pretty good in all areas except flight,” Clockwork continued, employing the dreadful weapon known as logic.

“Clockwork, if you are really set on this, you’ll have to start immediately. You will only get the chance to join if we get explicit approval from coach or another school councillor. Do you understand me? ” Quick Fix asked, voice still firm.

“Done.”

“You’d have to take the general knowledge exam to get in.” Gearbox added, sounding almost distant.

“I’m a good test taker, dad.”

“You’ll undoubtedly have to operate firearms, crawl through mud, and. . . and. . .” Quick Fix trailed off. “Gah! My son isn’t going to join the military!”

“But I can do it!” Clockwork half-shouted through clenched teeth. He didn’t want to get into a screaming match with his parents. “For one thing, serving will give me peace of mind and-”

Quick Fix stomped a hoof firmly on the ground. “Peace of mind? Ponyville is the third safest city in Equestria! Don’t you dare claim that going out and fighting. . . griffons would make you happy!”

Clockwork winced but continued. ”Killing doesn’t make me happy, but helping keep Equestria safe doing what I do best will. Mom, I don’t want there to be a war happening with me on the sidelines suffering from the guilt of knowing that I could’ve done something but didn’t! Second, I wouldn’t be stuck in the Navy forever; the needed service time is only a couple of years! Third, I could still go to college after that, since I would be nineteen by the time my commission is up! Lastly, to not join would be a dishonor to my grandfather!”

Quick Fix snorted in disbelief. “War? You think there is going to be a war, is that it? Clockwork, let me tell you something. Have you ever heard of the Everfree Forest?”

He shrugged. “Yes Mom, I know you grew up be-”

Her glare made him close his mouth, and finally she continued.

“When I was younger, the Forest was always a thing that scared everyone. It was filled to the brim with monsters and the trees were as thick as houses! I mean yes, it still is, but back then we had to live knowing that, at any time, an Ursa Major or even a Dragon could wander out and rampage throughout the town! But we lived through it, and we can live through this. No one in my family is going to go and risk their lives for nothing!”

“But mom, there’s that wall around the forest now, there’s no chance that anything can get past it. And what about Grandfather? He was part of the family, and he fought for something!” Clockwork exclaimed weakly.

Both of Clockwork’s parents’ eyes looked on with a mixture of rage and sorrow.

Gearbox looked at his wife, sighed, and then to Clockwork with something like regret. “Son, we understand you looked up to your grandfather, but you must understand what he did was so that he could get by in life. He joined so that I could get an education, so I could raise an educated family. And so, with his sacrifice, I did. I don’t want you to die.”

“Yes Dad, I understand that Grandfather died during his time in the military. However, he was killed after his commission was up, and he was serving volunteer hours! He was a hero, and while I don’t want to be some fancy warrior that gets his own story written about him, it sure as Tartarus wouldn’t hurt to make some real friends for once!” The pegasus looked at a certain nearby mule. “No offense, Mop.”

The street hrchin shrugged. “Some taken. To be honest, Miss Fix, Mr. Box, I agree with Clock on one or two points. He just wants to tinker around with some fancy new gadgets in a clean little white lab coat under Canterlot, and he would get there anyway the way he's doin'. Not only that, but I share yer beliefs in that there most likely never will be a war! The Empire has been starin’ us down ever since the Draconequus was turned into a fancy paperweight, and it’s not like other nations like us that much. We used to fight with the bison a bit and the zebras once didn’t let us trade with them. Yet, those days are gone now. I don’t see how two more years of angry glaring would further along both nations down the path of war.”

Gearbox turned his paternal gaze on Moppet, smiling lightly. “I always took you for a staunch anti-war individual, Moppet. Was I wrong in my judgment?”

The mule bowed as low as he could while still able to project his voice. “No no no, Mr. Box. Ye were completely correct in yer assumptions of my feelings on the war. While I may not like Clocky’s idea of followin’ his lass into the Armed Forces, I have no right to shy him away from his desired future. I highly doubt that there will be fighting in the next few years, but I’m absolutely sure that ten years from now everything will be sunshine and rainbows.”

A tense bout of silence followed. It seemed like nopony breathed for a full fifteen or twenty seconds. Just as Clockwork was about to defend himself against the accusation that he was throwing himself into the front lines, again, his father spoke two words.

“One chance.”

Clockwork replied with one word. “What?”

Quick Fix and Moppet shared a look of mild surprise.

“I’ll give you one chance, son. If I remember correctly, the exam to get into Camp Currahoof is coming up in a couple of weeks. Run every morning and night, study for what you think the test may be on, and hope for the best. You’ve got one chance. You fail this, and I won’t let you take this again until after you’ve gone through college. Sound fair?”

“Yessir.”

Gearbox placed a hoof on his son’s shoulder, the one to which his real wing was connected. “Eat some dinner, take Moppet home, and get to bed a bit early tonight. You’ve still got a few days of school left. Right?”

The pegasus nodded.

“A large enemy force is advancing towards your current position. A majority of allied forces have evacuated to a more defendable location and are holding steady. However, a soldier was injured and left behind in the rush. You have been tasked with recovering the data he had on his person at the time of his reported absence. After some searching you find that the soldier is alive, but badly wounded and may not survive the dangerous journey back to base. What do you do?” Charger read through the hypothetical scenario like it was her only purpose in life.

Clockwork hesitated gnawing on the end of his pencil. “Well, if I take him with me, I have a chance of both saving his life and the data. If he dies, I would still have the data to bring back. It wouldn’t be much different if I found him dead in the first place. Either option would work, right?”

“Not exactly. The problem would be that since you tried to rescue him, enemy soldiers would have become much more entrenched. Sneaking would not be viable, and a head on gunfight would be suicidal.”

“How many?”

“What?”

“How many enemy soldiers are there? Does the wounded ally have a weapon? Is he still even conscious? Gah!” The pegasus rolled over on his bed, his eyes now focused on the ceiling of his room. “These questions are way too generic to make an educated answer! I try one thing and a new problem comes to take the old one’s place!”

Charger nodded. “That is one of the lessons it was trying to teach. Decisions in war are often made with little information. Not only that, but new problems arise almost every day if not more frequently than that. If it helps, this situation is completely hypothetical.”

“Yeah, but if a war actually happens, it may very well become a reality. Next question, please.”

“You are located on the border between an allied nation and a non-allied nation to oversee trade operations when a large group from the non-allied nation come into sight and appear antagonistic. This country has no ties with Equestria, but has a history of antagonistic relations with the country you are stationed in. Most of its population consists of grazing nomads, and is not tied to the government of the country. The allied nation you are stationed in has poor relations with nomads, but not the country itself, and would prefer it if you made first contact. What do you do?”

“Dear Celestia, that’s worded badly.” Clockwork groaned. Charger just shrugged.

Eventually, the pegasus had managed to wrap his head around the question, and he determined a response. “Just because citizens of a non-allied nation appear antagonistic doesn’t signal that they mean harm. They’re probably just on edge given the fact that their semi-enemies are so close by. Who’s to say that they won’t shoot? After all, they may as well be there to trade.”

“Exactly. One should never judge another’s actions as hostile based solely on their location, past, or any other factor. However, while this question does take place during peacetime. Were it to happen in the middle of a war, the circumstances would be very different.”

Clockwork sat upright, eyebrows raised in confusion. “How so? I mean, aside from the usual.”

“If a group of griffons were to meet a group of equestrians in a neutral area to trade, it is highly likely that the trade offer would not be accepted. It could be a trap, or even a-”

“An actual attempt to help? It makes sense, trade some saddle oil for humaneitarian aid or something else like that. The griffons may be suffering from an outbreak or serious lack of resources.” Clockwork suddenly reared up in triumph. “Wait a second! Charger, do you know what this question is based off of?”

She looked over the question again, brow furrowing. “A border dispute?”

He shook his head. “The trade part is the key to this. This isn’t about griffons or the buffalo, but that incident in the east with those Zebra mercenaries in Saddle Arabia.”

It took Charger a moment to realize what Clockwork was talking about. When she did, she groaned and placed a hoof on her forehead. “The skirmish with those markhors from Iram and that trading base in Ungui? The one where the zebras killed half a herd of them before they escaped, and it turned out the base was in the middle of their traditional migration routes?”

Clockwork nodded. She sighed.

“Well, Clockwork, what would you do if you were ordered by our oil suppliers into combat against the goats?”

The stallion shrugged. “I wouldn’t do it until I was told why I was to assault a populace that wasn’t committing hostile acts against us.”

“You’d refuse an order like that?”

“You wouldn’t?”

Silence followed. Clockwork stared at Charger, eyebrow raised, while Charger simply looked at him expectantly. Rather than adding anything to what she said, Charger made her way to the door that lead out of Clockwork room. “It’s getting late. We should go for one last run and call it a night.”

Clockwork stretched his legs, causing them to emit small cracking noises. “This’ll be the third one today.”

“Boot camp will have us doing five or more on a daily basis, and they will work you harder than I ever could. There’s no precedent for a pony with the body type of a pegasus being restricted to ground work like you, so you're going to have to run like an earth pony. Besides, increased heart rate will increase blood flow to our heads. We’ll be able to think better.”

“Alright.” the pegasus removed his clothing and followed his friend.

Clockwork skidded to a halt alongside his friend. He noticed that while both he and Charger were absolutely drenched, the yellow mare showed no signs of slowing her brisk trot.

“Sorry, Ch. . . Charger. I’m not. . . gonna be able. . . to stick with you the. . . rest of the way. Sheesh!” Clockwork panted.

“It’s alright. You’re relatively new to this sort of physical rigor,” she said, letting something that might have been a smile grace her muzzle. “I have no doubt you’ll improve, but know that superior officers will crack down on you like a whip if you should so much as trip. I’m no drill sergeant, so you can head home now if you want. I’m going to finish the last mile and then head home myself.”

“See you. . . tomorrow then?”

As Charger nodded and turned to continue her jog, Clockwork’s mind took hold on an idea and would simply not leave it.

“Do you think. . . after the exam is done. . . you wanna take a walk around?”

Charger stopped and looked over her shoulder, eyebrow raised. “I thought we were already going to do that?”

Clockwork hesitated for a few seconds, shrugged, then nodded. His best friend took on a look of concentration before providing her answer. “You said after the exam?”

“Yeah.”

“I have no other events planned for that day. What did you have in mind?”

“Lunch, memory lane, maybe a bit of walking on the outskirts of the city. It’d be nice to get away from the evening smog.”

“Alright.”

Before Clockwork could think up a response, his friend was gone, having made a quick turn in the direction of her house. Unsure what to do next, Clockwork simply spun around and returned home, his mind in an indescribable half-daze.

Clockwork had to admit, given the right lighting, anywhere could look as dreary as the classroom he had just entered. He recognized it as his social studies classroom from sophomare year. Posters displaying maps of ancient cities, famous figures, and motivational quotations littered the walls. They were supposed to be a comforting touch to the otherwise plain room, but the pegasus found them more of a nuisance than anything else. In the grey light of the evening sun penetrating through clean clouds, they seemed more like examination charts for future prisoners. The room itself felt like a cell isolated from society.

The occupants were somewhat of an equalizer, though.

They all seemed like reasonable people. There were a few stallions, a couple of mares, most of which had a certain fire in their eyes that Clockwork admired. There was a few that stood out, like one massive earth pony that looked like he had pillars for legs, and one little blue mare who, while calm and friendly, had what looked like an ominous splash of red for a cutie mark.

Of course, Charger was an exception. As opposed to the somewhat dreading looks some of the other ponies gave, she looked towards the military instructor with warm confidence. There were actually a few-

Oh come on!

Everything had gone so well. Clockwork had studied what he could, trained himself until his legs had collapsed from underneath him, and had consumed liquid fruits and vegetables for the first time since foalhood. Despite all that, he wasn’t prepared for three certain stallions that sat near the back of the testing room. It was Smokestack and his two friends, Bulkhead and Lugnut, cracking jokes and laughing amiably. All three turned and started to laugh a little more when Clockwork entered the room. Why the stallion didn’t expect them to join the Army as grunts, he could only guess; Celestia knows that the twins were built like winged bison, and Smokestack could get a commission if his dad wanted him to.

Clockwork hurried and took his seat next to a familiar yellow mare. He hoped that her vibrancy would keep the bullies’ attention off of him.

“Excuse me, Lieutenant Caisson?” Smokestack asked the instructor.

The military official sitting at the head of the room looked up from his newspaper. His eyes were ringed with dark circles, and the coffee at his side didn’t seem to help. Even so, he looked up with attention. ”What is it?”

Before Smokestack could say another word, Bulkhead blurted out “That cripple sitting in front of us has no right to be here. I think he got lost on the way to his physical therapist appointment this morning.”

The soldier’s placid look turned to one of annoyance. “His forms were properly filled out and he meets the physical requirements necessary to attend Boot Camp. He will be given a fair chance on this exam and if you should so much as breath on him in an attempt to lower his chances of success, I will personally kick you out of this room. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yessir!” Bulkhead shouted before sitting back down, and was followed by his friends. The Lieutenant gave the trio of overly muscled stallion a harsh stare before turning back to the rest of the room’s population. After making sure that none of the other occupants wanted to insult the only crippled pony in the room, he got up from his desk, folded his newspaper under one leg, and began passing out sheets of paper.

“Alright. Fillies and colts, this ain't one of them four hour long tests to get you into some fancy college or another. Twenty multiple choice questions, three free response. One hour and thirty minutes. When you’re done, place your test on my desk and get the hay back to your lives. You’ll all receive your scores by tonight. Got that?”

Everypony gave one sign of “yes” or another.

After a few moments of general silence, aside from a few back and forth conversations between weary ponies, the muscle head trio, much to Clockwork’s general dismay, continued to chatter amongst themselves, albeit far quieter.

“You know, I heard that there’s a bunch of unicorns up in Canterlot that are getting free passes for spots in the Navy. You think your dad could get us somewhere nice, Smoke?” Lugnut asked.

The darker pegasus just grinned lazily and spared a look around the room. Clockwork noticed that said smile widened when Smoke’s eyes rested on him.

“Nah, I told you this already. The Air Force is nice and cozy, all cloud cushions and offices. Don’t worry about it, guys; you’ll probably never even touch the ground the entire time.”

Bulkhead somehow turned his massive head around to look about the room, and when he glanced at his twin, he had a nasty grin on his face as well.

“Hey bro, check out mare three rows left.”

Clockwork turned around to see what the brutish pegasus was talking about. Sure enough, there was a large brown mare with a short cropped mane and tail. She was essentially a bison with wings.

“Oh, come on, don’t tell me you're going for mares buffer than you, Lug,” the other twin said playfully, prodding the other’s chest with a hoof. All three pegasi started laughing to themselves.

Clockwork tried to tune the colts out, but Charger was intent on staring down Caisson’s general area and the mare next to him was chatting with another pony nearby. He really had nothing to distract himself with, sans the test.

“Oh, come on, guys, she’s clearly not into pegasi,” Smokestack said suddenly, getting confused looks from the twins. “I mean, look at her, she’s built like a freak-”

Lugnut coughed, and his brother just gave Smokestack a withering glare. Clockwork took some satisfaction from watching the smaller pegasi backtrack his words.

“Sorry fellas, but really, look at her, she’s clearly not into ponies. I mean, by Celestia, she’s as ugly as a mule, so it’s clear that she’s open for one species only.”

Clockwork didn’t find a joke in what he said, and even Smokestack’s alleged friends looked peeved, but several stallions nearby did catch wind of what he said and snickered. In fact, to Clockworks general dismay, it seemed that most of the males in the room found Smokestacks words funny, sans one.

That one grey stallion got up from his desk and made his way over to the trio.

“Excuse me, what did you say? I didn’t hear it,” he said calmly, voice like a controlled storm. Clockwork knew the sound of somepony who was trying to not scream, and nudged Charger to get her attention.

Smokestack, for his part, looked moderately perturbed. “Hey, man, I didn’t really mean that. I mean, if that’s your marefriend, I-”

The stallion raised a hoof, not as a threat, but as a matter of silencing the smaller stallion.

“My name is Iron Bar, and no, she is not.”

Smokestack sighed in relief.

“I’m engaged to a donkey, you pompous little shit.”

Clockwork was surprised at how much Smokestack’s eyes bulged when the larger stallion bucked him right in the chest, as well as by how little his companions reacted when the Lieutenant came and got the dark colt off the ground. Smokestack and Iron Bar left the room, their tests not even half-finished.

Clockwork sank into his seat, just a little more at peace. Charger stared at the scene with interest, but said nothing, as the testing rules stated in the first place.

After making sure that nopony else wanted to kill anyone over a joke, the Lieutenant finished passing out the exams, sat down back at his desk, and continued to read his newspaper.

With the shrill ring of a bell nearby, Clockwork immediately set to work, looking through and answering every question set forth. In retrospect, they actually seemed much easier than the pegasus had expected. They were more concerned with basic math, probability, and ally-to-enemy ratios. A few of them dealt with common sense.

It was when Clockwork got to the three free response questions that he blanked out.

1: Should respect be earned in battle, strategy, or some other field?

2: You discover that one of your most trusted allies is in fact a double agent working for the very enemy you are trying to defeat. You discover this fact during a high-risk operation. This operation’s success or failure could mean turning the tide of the larger battle it is a part of. He has taken bullets for you, even going so far as to kill members of his own side in order to achieve success in missions for yours. The traitor is unaware that his cover has been blown. Should you let the soldier continue to assist you during the operation, or rid yourself of him? Explain.

3: You are in charge of a large artillery position. In the distance is an equally large enemy encampment, housing thousands of hostile soldiers. To destroy this base would guarantee victory for your side. However, you do not know exactly where to hit the enemy to inflict the most casualties. You receive two sets of data.

The first set is from a trusted ally. He has stuck with you through the thick and thin of a years-long war. However, he is notorious for unintentionally providing false or outdated information. He claims that a majority of the enemy are housed in the east wing of the base.

The second set is from a relatively new soldier in your group. To put it lightly, you two hold a severe grudge towards one another. However, this soldier has a flawless record, reporting back precise information every time. He claims that a majority of soldiers are in the west wing.

Of course, the circumstances of battle can change one’s performance in an instant. Who would you choose and why?

Clockwork had managed to answer the first question in only a few minutes. Yet, the last two questions were what made him truly confused. The only thing military about them was that they were placed during high stakes wartime moments. These were questions about morality and nothing else. From previous experience, Clockwork knew that there were generally no wrong answers regarding these types of questions. Yet, if he answered the opposite of what was usually expected, he might never get admitted. Then again, some of the greatest heroes in wartime history did the opposite of the expected and were rewarded for it.

But, Clockwork didn’t want to join to be a highly publicized soldier. He wanted to contribute in a way other than killing faceless enemies.

After some significant time and thought, Clockwork wrote down his answers, deposited his exam on the Lieutenant's desk, left the room, and the building soon after. He was glad to find Charger waiting outside for him, leaning on a wall.

“How did it go?” she asked.

Clockwork shrugged. “I won’t know until the scores come back. Yet, I think I did alright. You?”

“I would believe that my answers were satisfactory. In any case, you most likely did great.”

Clockwork felt his cheeks begin to redden, but he stopped them before they became too noticeable.

The two stood there for a few minutes, unsure of what to do. They made some trivial conversation, but next to nothing worth noting. They used a bit of their time to watch the other test takers leave the building.

Some left with looks of fear, some with brash confidence, and others with pride. Clockwork was unsure where he fell amongst the three, or anywhere in between. He had to get his mind off of the damned test.

“How about just a walk? You know, through one of the parks or on the outskirts of the city?”

Charger nodded. “Sounds great.”

Some time later, the duo was at the edges of Ponyville’s city limits. There was a small cafe nearby, but the friends continued to walk. They had no real direction, just. . . go. It was nice, to say the least.

Clockwork noticed something out of the corner of his eye and turned to look towards it. What he saw was a ray of sunlight glinting off of Ponyville’s Clock Tower. The pegasus continued to gaze over the city as a whole, stopping and sitting down as he did.

“Is something the matter, Clockwork?” Charger asked as she sat down next to her friend.

The spegasus sighed. While polluted, the city seemed like it was made of silver. “That’s been our entire world. A few hundred miles, a quarter million equines. From in there, depending on where you’re at, everything looks so chaotic. Yet from out here, it seems so peaceful.”

“I share your admiration, but Ponyville isn’t my first home,” she stated mildly.

“Oh yeah, Bridal Shores. How is that little city?”

Charger edged herself a bit closer to her friend. “The last time I visited, everything seemed to be going quite well. It’s clean, beautiful, and most of all, peaceful.”

The pegasus was a bit confused by that last word. “Most of Equestria is peaceful. I mean sure, some places are not the best for bringing up a family, but the country’s wonderful in itself.”

Charger gestured towards the city. “That is another reason I chose to join the Armed Forces. To preserve this image in the event that it is ever placed in danger.”

“I knew there was more to it than just paying for college and that hero thing. Remember that whole “Doomsday Device” plan?”

She kept her eyes locked on the skyline. “Very much so. I regret having to put both of us through such danger, it was ridiculous.”

“Hey, I stayed at your side then. I’ll be here if you need me even if fate kicks us to opposite ends of the planet and then some. You got that?”

Charger would’ve answered, were it not for both her and Clockwork’s stomachs grumbling at the same time. It occurred to both ponies that they had skipped breakfast in an effort to reach the testing center on time.

“Looks like we’ll have to head back into Ponyville to eat. I forgot to bring some bits with me.” Charger got up and began to walk off in the direction of the metropolis, but stopped when she heard a very distinct jingling behind her. She turned around to find Clockwork holding a bag of bits in his real wing.

“I’ve got both of us covered. What’re you in the mood for?” Clockwork asked. While it may have seemed like just a way to get his friend’s attention, Clockwork continued to jingle the bag in an effort to draw the attention off his rapidly beating heart. Deep breaths, dammit. Deep breaths!

“Well, it may be some time before we have a decent meal again. Would it be too much to ask for some Ambrosia?”

“Not at all.”

As luck would have it, the nearby cafe had Ambrosia Apples, and at a decent price too. Charger ordered and downed three of them in short order, as well as some lilies and bluebells on the side. However, Clockwork’s daisy sandwich sat untouched. The pegasus’ eyes were focused on something off in the distance, something nopony else could see but him.

Charger looked up from the scraps of her third apple. ‘Is something the matter, Clockwork? You’re not one to leave your favorite dish untouched.”

Clockwork’s eyes focused back on his friend. “Hmm? What? Oh, yeah I’m fine.”

“Please donot lie to me or yourself. What is wrong?”

Clockwork sighed. “I’ve been thinking, and I’m scared.”

The yellow earth pony seemed taken aback. “I know I can be intimidating sometimes but I-”

“No, not of you, of what we’re getting into.”

Charger took a bite out of one of the last of her bluebells. “Care to explain?”

“You and I are eighteen and seventeen respectively, and we just took a test to get into an area that trains us to be killers.”

“Defenders of those who cannot.” Charger almost snarled.

For just a few moments, Clockwork wondered how Charger’s brain even worked. “Okay, but it still bothers me. It seems like yesterday we were still in school.”

“So you’re worried about change?” she inquired, her head tilted to one side.

“I’m worried that we’re going to change. I once read that the strongest bonds are formed during the worst of times. However, said bonds can also be broken faster than they were formed. Not only that, but the stuff that happens during war can turn even the strongest willed creature into a husk of its former self. Call me clingy, but I don’t want to lose you to-”

“Clockwork, I’m going to become a Commanding Officer and you’re going to be a scientist for R&D. Should war arise, we will be on separate fronts. Contact will be difficult and that is something we cannot escape, if that is your primary concern.”

Clockwork nodded, finally taking a bite of his meal.

“But, you have forgotten to remember that we will go through basic training together. Even after that, it is not stated in any rule book I’ve read that military personnel are prohibited from sending letters to one another so long as said letters do not contain classified information.”

“That’ll work, I guess.” the pegasus felt a chill run up his spine as he heard Ponyville Clock Tower's distinct gong echo throughout the city. “It’s getting late.”

Charger stood and turned to leave, but stopped to look over her shoulder before she got too far. “Today has been memorable to say the least. Unfortunately, I have to get home and make preparations for the trip to Camp Currahoof. I look forward to seeing you on the train out.” the mare began to walk off towards the city.

Clockwork’s heart skipped a beat. “You what?”

The yellow earth pony stopped in her tracks, an inquisitive look across her brow. “Yes. We would make an excellent team. Our time spent together as close friends would give us an advantage over most of the other trainees. Wouldn’t you agree?”

The pegasus nodded. “Yeah, I guess it would.” Clockwork was unsure if his legs were working themselves, but the pegasus found himself suddenly very close to Charger, his forelegs having wrapped around the mare.

What the actual buck did I just-

The stallion was even more shocked when he felt the action reciprocated. He had just hugged the mare he loved and she had hugged him back. In what felt like seconds, Charger was gone, and Clockwork was left alone to watch the sun begin to set. As soon as he regained control of his senses, the pegasus bolted in the direction of his home. He even flapped his real wing for a bit of extra speed.

Clockwork rushed into his house, breathing heavily as he did. He almost slammed the door behind him as he began calling out to his family. Normally, Gearbox would have been reading the evening paper in his seat next to the fireplace, and a pleasant aroma would have been coming from the kitchen as Quick Fix created some sort of delicious meal. Sure, she was a mechanic, but she was a magnificent chef as well.

However, neither phenomenon was present. Instead, there was only a dark mumbling coming from the dining room. Clockwork unfurled his prosthetic, ready for a fight. Sure, the thing was unwieldy, a pain in the flank to put on, and not to mention heavy, but that went double for whoever had the displeasure of being hit with it.

Luckily, Clockwork found nopony to hit with his wing. In the dining room, Gearbox and Quick Fix stood over a small pile of papers, looking up only when they finished reading. Much to the pegasus’ terror, their eyes were glistening with anger.

“Do you know what these are, son?” Gearbox asked. His tone was calm yet finely laced with fury.

Clockwork gulped. “Umm. . . my exam scores?”

“Yes honey, and your scores are. . . not what we expected, to say the least,” Quick Fix replied.

“Do you have any idea what you got?”

“Umm. . .” Clockwork felt like he was about to melt under the gaze of both parents. “decent?”

“I wouldn't say that. . .’ Quick Fix replied. “More like-”

“Outstanding!” Gearbox roared before scooping his son into a hug. “You beat out all but one applicant for your testing center! Excellent job, kiddo!”

“Wait. What?!” Clockwork asked, gasping for air.

“Honey, release him before you break his ribs or something,” Quick Fix chided before walking over to her son and tousled his mane. “You got only a few multiple choice wrong, and the answers to the free response were considered ‘unexpected yet exemplary amongst initiates’.”

“They said that had you signed up for a C.O. position, you would’ve been placed on the ‘preferred individuals’ roster.” Gearbox added.

Clockwork felt his jaw hit the floor, which he then proceeded to set back in place. “That’s great, but I’m not one for leading soldiers. I prefer machinery.”

“We know, son. Are you absolutely sure you want to go through with this?” Quick fix asked, hugging her son tightly. “We’ll be proud of you no matter what.”

“Mom, Dad. I appreciate your concern to help me out with my future, but while I may not like it a hundred percent, this is what I want to do. It’s two years of service, and then I’m home. Like you both said, there’s little chance of war, so what’s to worry about? The worst that can happen is I get kicked out early. I can still go to college.” the pegasus wiped the water from his mother’s eyes. “Don’t worry. I’ve still got a week or two left with you, so let’s make the best of it. Sound good?”

Gearbox hugged his son again. “Sounds like an excellent plan, son. Got any ideas what to do first?”

Clockwork’s stomach grumbled again, much louder than a few hours ago. “Dinner would be a good start.”

Clockwork looked over his room one last time. Nothing was out of place, and everything that seemed to be was to be given to the Lost Foals at the first available opportunity. The pegasus’ duffle bag was packed with the required items, his infernal prosthetic was hanging neatly on its rack, and his bed was made as finely as he could. It pained him to know that he wouldn’t see this room for the next ten weeks. It only seemed like a few days. . .

The stallion’s thoughts were cut off as his parents called for him to be ready to leave. The train to Camp Currahoof left earlier than most. The sun had yet to come into full view. It wasn’t really the biggest concern to Clockwork; he was always an early riser. He slung his bag over his shoulder, made his way downstairs, and was immediately greeted by both the scent of breakfast and his parents. He ate, chatted, and agreed to meet them at the train station before he departed. Just as he made his way out the door, he was stopped by a certain street urchin.

“Ye forgot to tell me ye got accepted, Clocky,” Moppet remarked.

“Then how the hay did you find out?” Clockwork asked.

“I assumed that since we hadn’t met each other in almost a week, ye were either dead, busy preparin’ for somethin’, or had left the city.”

The pegasus shrugged and nodded. “Looks like your intuition served you well. Again.”

Moppet grinned. “As it has for the past thirteen years. Mind if I walk ya out?”

Clockwork realized that he wouldn’t be seeing his only other best friend for a long while. “Not at all.”

The duo began their trek through the city, Clockwork taking in every detail he found memorable. The ivory-white spires, bronze and steel pipework, and the ever-present sight of gears and springs. When looked at in the right way, industry looked much more like art.

“Ye alright, Lad? Got some soot in yer eye?”

The pegasus wiped the water from his eyes. “Just a bit homesick and I haven’t even left the city yet!” he laughed. “I guess when you live in a single place for your entire life, you end up taking it for granted even when you mean not to.”

“Such is the way of someone who knows their world is about to change. Ye sure ye want to do this? Ye can still back out if ye really want to.”

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I’ve invested too much time and effort into this thing to let it go to waste. Besides, the recruiters sent a letter home with the exam saying that I had better chances than most of the meatheads that apply.”

“Did they actually say meatheads?”

“They said ‘heavily athletic inclined individuals’. So yes.”

Moppet laughed, followed by a sigh. “To be honest, ‘tis gonna be a bit boring with ye gone. The Lost Foals need someone else besides me to look up to.”

Clockwork was genuinely confused at that statement. “I thought they just admired me?”

“Some do, others basically make ya out to be a patron saint. Will I be able to tell ‘em that you left, keeping them in yer mind as ye did?”

“You can tell them that and this. I’ll make sure to come back the same as before. I’ll just be better overall, I hope.”

“Can ye keep yer word on that?”

“When have I not?”

“True. I need ye to make one more promise for me.”

“Name it.”

“I’ll need Charger to make it to.” he paused for a moment, and his brow furrowed. “‘bout that, Clocky. . . ” Moppet looked almost ashamed, and Clockwork had no idea why.

“What’s the matter, Moppet?”

“Well, ‘tis about her,” he said, shuffling his hooves a bit. “She’s a bit off kilter, an' she talks like a robot sometimes. I don’t think you, well. . .”

He looked away from Clockwork for a few moments, then downward, almost as if he was talking to the ground.

“You really need to, well, consider branchin' out when it comes to friends, that’s all,” he said, fumbling slightly. “Meet some new folk.”

Clockwork looked at the mule for a few moments. He wasn’t trying to be mean, but it was clear that Moppet saw Charger as, as some in school put it, “weird”. Admittedly, her flaws were coming out in full force over the past few days, but. . .

The duo continued on in relative silence. It was rare that the city seemed so drowsy. Then again, it was quite early for a train ride.

“ALL ABOARD! The train to Camp Currahoof is leaving in five minutes. I repeat, FIVE MINUTES!”

Both stallions had to rub their ears to get rid of the ringing caused by the conductor’s remarkably loud voice. Gavroche could take lessons from him. Even the princess of the night might’ve learnt a few things.

“Oi! Lass!” Moppet called out over the hustle and bustle. After some searching, Clockwork found the mare in question halfway inside the train. After getting his ticket punched, Clockwork hurried after Charger and was lucky enough to find a booth solely for the two of them. They placed their bags under their seats before sitting across from one another. They unhooked their window and looked outside. While Clockwork found both his parents and Moppet near said window, there was no sign of Charger’s father anywhere. When asked about it, she didn’t seem to mind.

“You two take care of each other out there, alright?” Gearbox said over the dull roar of the station.

Both ponies nodded.

“Don’t do anything foolish out there, either! All those films that have the main star playing hero are as fake as Fleur Dis Lee’s horn!” Quick Fix called out.

“I’ll make sure Charger doesn’t try anything like that!”

“I’ll keep Clockwork from doing anything foolish as well! You have our word on it!”

“Speakin’ of which, I need yer word, both of yers, on one promise,” Moppet called out. The world seemed to go impossibly quiet as Moppet made his way to just under the train window. The mule removed his hat, something Clockwork had only seen him do three times before. “Do all three of us swear on our lives that, no matter what, we will always be there for one another?”

Clockwork raised his hoof. “I swear.”

Charger did the same. “As do I.”

Moppet raised his free forehoof and raised his hat to his friends to touch. It was only now that Clockwork realized that the thing had been washed until no dirt was visible. The thing practically glowed. “And I as well.”

The train began to roll away from the station. Shouts of love and pride from nopony in particular poured into the train as quickly as it emitted smoke. Moppet somehow kept pace with the locomotive until he ran out of ground. Even then, his voice, as well as that of Clockwork’s parents, reached the stallion’s ears for another few wonderful moments. When the city was out of sight, Clockwork turned back around to face Charger. Their eyes met, and they silently agreed to get some early rest. Something told them that they weren’t going to have much of it for a long time.