Chapter 1:
It is now the beginning of the second Pony War and young colts and fillies wait in line to get their insignia’s assigned to them. A young colt named Camou Flage, with light brown skin, greyish mane, and wings protruding out of his body stands eagerly in line. He often called, “Camo.” Camo turns around and starts to speak to a familiar colt named, Quarterbacks.
“Quarterbacks! What job do you think you’ll get? I hope I get to work in the mines or construction, or if I’m lucky have some part of helping the military!”
Quarterbacks sighs in grief, “I don’t know how you can be so eager Camouflage. How can anyone be happy to get a job here? First, there is a possibility that you might get a job that you can’t handle, secondly, you will always be in harm’s way. Any job around here is rigorously hard for colts and stallions alike. Most colts don’t even make it to their second day of working.”
“Why not?”
“They are either killed in a construction accident or die from being sick because of terrible working conditions.”
“Oh. Well. That’s not going to happen to me, I’m hardworking and strong for my age.”
“A lot of stallions are hardworking and strong, but that didn’t exempt them dying.”
“There is something that you have to remember about me, my foolish friend, I’m not weak.”
“All that pride and close-minded-ness will not save you in the end; they will only aid to your ultimate downfall.”
“Wow. You’ve been reading way too many books haven’t-”
Their conversation was interrupted by the static coming out of the speakers on top of the four surrounding poles. A statuesque stallion approaches the podium on stage. Five other stallions appear behind him. Quarter whispers into Camo’s ear,
“That’s the SSB, which stands for Sun Shine Brigade. Don’t let the cheery name fool you. It is a terrorizing group that completely controls this town financially and physically. They take from us and keep everything for themselves. Every day at midnight, they patrol the streets and find a victim to perform the “Sunny Day” treatment on.
“What’s the “Sunny Da-?”
Camo’s voice is once again silenced by the sound of the stallion’s voice from the microphone. The stallion starts to speak,
“Welcome all! As you all may know but for those who don’t, I am Dalek, leader of the SSB. The gentlecolts behind me are my associates. Ages ago, during PWI, Laharl’s economy fell because it didn’t have a leader, a leader to guide the rest out of harsh times. This years’ ceremony of Occupie, a ceremony to establish a stallion and mare place in this society. I’d like to be the first to you all into the workforce. Have a sun shiny day! Let the ceremony begin!”
The sounds of horns playing could be heard in the background. The line began to move, getting shorter and shorter as each colt and filly approached the stage. Camo was unaware of the insignia process but he maintained his solemnness. He noticed Quarterbacks was shaking at the foot of the stage. As Quarterbacks name was called, Quarterbacks approached the unbearable presence of Dalek.
“Don’t be afraid my young one.”
Dalek concentrated his magic on the flank of Quarterback. His flank flashed with a variety of different symbols. Once Dalek’s magic stopped, the mark that was left on Quarterback’s flank was that of a construction hat and lumber. Quarterbacks looked upon his flank in horror.
“Is this my true purpose...It just doesn’t seem right-”
“A construction worker everypony! Welcome to the world of workforce. You will without a doubt be a great addition to our economy.”
Quarterback quickly trots off the stage. Camo approaches the steps of the stages as he hears his full name being called from the podium.
“I wonder what job what job I’ll get assigned to. I hope I can be in some way aid to the military service.” Camo thought to himself.
“Welcome my young colt! Let’s see what you are worth, shall we?”
Dalek concentrated his magic on Camo’s flank. His horn glowed with a green ectoplasm. Camo’s flank appeared to be blank.
“What? Ho-“ Dalek questioned.
“What happened?” Camo replied.
“Ugh…hold on.” Dalek tried once again to concentrate his magic on Camo’s flank but to his surprise, Camo’s flank was blank. “You’re an odd one. Speak your name!”
“Camo…er…Camouflage.”
“Well then...I don’t have a reasonable explanation for this but we’ll find a place for you.”
Dalek motions to one of his subordinates to guide Camo through the crowd. The loud uproar of cheers submerged to a faint whisper in Camo’s ears. The large, statuesque stallion behind Camo occasionally brushed him forward to trot faster than he was going.
“Quit it!”
The stallion was laughed in a heartedly way that caused fear in Camo’s spine.
“Keep it moving colt!”
Once again, the stallion brushed Camo, causing him to loose balance and fall into the street. Camo gave the stallion a piercing look recovering from his fall. They stopped at the door of Camo’s house.
“Have a sun shinny day!” the stallion said in a groggy voice and walked off.
“Yeah…sure” Camo muttered under his breath.
The door opened without Camo having to knock. He is suddenly embraced by a pair of wings.
Camo’s mother held Camo in between her hooves.
“Are you okay? Did you get assigned? Where is your insignia?”
Camo looked down with disgraced.
“I-I didn’t get one...”
Smokescreen, Camo’s little brother pounced on him and pinned to the ground.
“What’d ya mean ya did nawt get it?”
A very large stallion with an eye patch covering his left eye left the couch and approached Camo.
“What do you mean son? What didn’t you get?”
“I didn’t get assigned to job. An insignia didn’t appear on my flank. It’s okay though becau-”
In an angry tone,“It’s not okay! In this society, it is not okay to stand out! You not having a job mean that they can do anything they want with you. It won’t be long until the brigade comes knocking on our door!”
Camo’s mother tries to calm his father.
“Calm down dear. Everything will be alright in the end. At least he returned safely along with Quarterback.”
Camo interrupts them, “Yeah the thing about that is…I didn’t return with Quarterback. Some large stallion guided me home. Quarterback mentioned that he was a part of the S-S-B or something.”
His mother and father looked upon Camo with fear.
“You brought one of THEM, HERE!? They know exactly where we live now. They know where the defective colts’ family lives!”
“He’s not defective!” Camo’s mother snapped.
“Then what is he then, because he certainly isn’t normal!”
The arguing continued for the rest of the night. Camo took his little brother upstairs to bed. A loud shriek awoke Camo in the middle of the night. The shriek was quieted by a hacking noise.