This art and it's attached story was an idea I had floating around in my head for a while. I wanted to upload more canonical content to my worldbuilding, lore, and characters so I came up with a story from Neil’s past.

To clear up any confusion Neil in this art and story is 19, which is still considered adolescence for arpines (who reach legal adulthood at 23), as opposed to most of my art of him in which he’s a matured adult at 34. And yes, Neil had a longer mane when he was an adolescent.

I wanted to show a scenario where Neil showed some of the earliest hints at the ace starfighter pilot he’d eventually come as well as showcasing early examples of his strategic thinking. I also wanted a window to peer into Neil’s life growing up, Chloe’s complicated character (which extends to her parenting), as well as life on Krathal in general.