The Shadows of War

Corporal Steel Wing, discharged from duty after the war, used to be a Line Manager at the Weather Factory in Cloudsdale.He dreamed of saving up enough bits to go to Canterlot University or some other college, get a degree, and get a job that payed enough bits to support himself and his mother. His father, a Royal Guard serving Princess Celestia in her Solar Guard in Canterlot, fought and died in the Changeling invasion of Canterlot about four years before the start of this story. He and his mother have been trying to stay afloat since.

The job at the weather factory, although not fun, was not altogether terrible. His boss, Rainy Days, was kind enough to get him promoted to line manager, and good natured enough to not give him TOO hard of a time about the fact that Wing lacked his destiny mark.

During the past few years, Equestria has minded its own business, ignroing the unrest across the sea as Bristlebeak became a tyrannical dictator and sought to conquer the known world, allying himself with Neighpan, and launching an attack on Icelock.

Needing bits, Steel Wing accepted a recruiters offer to sign up for Selective Services in case of a draft, and get the reward of Fifty bits for his risk taking. The risk turned out to be the worst one of his life. His mother, Blue Cross, and his mothers friend, Azure Skies, both very dear to him, had to watch as he was conscripted into the Equestrian Royal Army.

Steel Wing attended ERA Basic Combat School in Camp Hoofington. Under the stern guidance of the Military Drill Sergeants, he and his fellow draftees, along with a few who volunteered, started the four week journey to becoming the most basically trained soldiers in history, learning only the bare minimum of how to shoot, how to work together, and how to follow orders.

It was there that he met Orange Blaze, a former foundry worker, who rapidly became his best friend. Her outgoing personality made up for his shyness, and her easygoing nature helped him relax in his stressful new environment. Also friends of his, Radio Wave and a medic named Shining Silk became his first army friends. They were joined later by Sergeant Bubble Popper and Iron Hoof, along with Lieutenant Butter Bar, and Warrant Officer Wire Tap.

In Basic Training, he finally earned his destiny mark: He was the most skilled sniper in the entire second company, possibly the finest in the army. He rarely missed his shots, and never twice. His mark was a Crosshairs behind a Rifle and Knife, signifying his aptitude with the Weapons of War. He was initially pleased with it, showing that he had a good chance of serving well and going home.

His time getting to know his fellow soldiers was both a boon and a curse. Storming the beaches of Normaredy, Radio Wave and Wire Tap were both killed in action. For the first time, Steel Wing had to confront the fact that in war, good people, even on the winning side, still die.

In Saint Feathersburg, he bore witness to a horrible massacre. Civilians chained up next to an artillery battery, forced to be in the path of incoming shells, were slain en masse by a retaliatory strike from equestrian soldiers. A sniper took out both Butter Bar and Shining Silk, killing the latter and crippling the former for life. Steel Wing never got over the guilt from that day, blaming himself for the death and injuries of his comrades. Nevertheless, he marched on.

In his final battle, months later, he and a number of other soldiers were responsible for assaulting the town of Talonskrach, in preperation for moving massive amounts of soldiers across the Reighn River and into the heart of Gryphany. This mission was his most costly, in terms of his sanity. Depression and anxiety caused him to lose focus several times in the battle, and killing a soldier with his bare hands left him traumatized. Although he was physically very good at war, his mind was not properly suited to mass murder. Losing Iron Hoof was the final blow, but the ringer was a shot that crippled his wings, rendering him ground bound. For a Pegasus, that is like an earth pony losing legs, or a unicorn snapping their horn. Left permanently scarred and crippled, he was sent back home, where he made plans to settle in Ponyville. With any luck, he could live out the rest of his days drunk and alone, as per his wishes at this point.

Medals:

Medal of Honor: Awarded for service above and beyond the call of duty, issued to most of the survivors of Seventeenth Platoon. Individual reasons vary, but his storming of a hut and killing five soldiers on his own was enough to merit this award.

Celestial Unit Citation: Given to his unit for their courage and steadfastness in the face of overwhelming odds on Normaredy, it was given to nearly every unit that stormed that beach on the fateful day.

Fleur de Lis: A Prench Award, given by the Governor of Prance to all that served in freeing her from the enemy. A campaign ribbon.

Legion d' honnuer: Given across the board to the Equestrian Military that served in the opening days of the Prench Liberation. Although he did not see much fighting in prance after those days, he still warranted that award.

Iron Heart Ribbon with 2 Hearts: Signifying he survived two separate Wounded in Action instances. The first was when he was raked by claws, the second was for being shot in Talonskratch.

Great War Ribbon: For serving in the Great War.

Sniper-Commendation: For scoring a Sniper- Marksmanship on his rifle qualification, and showing he is allowed to be issued precision weapons.