"Sweet Pea. What happened?"
"Daddy. Daddy! I did just like you said. I flew down and surprised the invaders before they knew what was happening. I am so good. Just like you said."
Mr. Jon Albright stood in his backyard with his four year old winged daughter. She was flying around him in wide swoops, laughing. He reached out and caught her and gave her a hug. Her wings disappeared. 
All around them lay stunned chickens making weak clucking noises while trying and failing to stand up.
"Sweet Pea. Chickens are not invaders."
"Oh Daddy." Cleo said with a sad frown.
Her Dad hugged her."That's ok. Sweet Pea. When the invaders show up,you'll be ready for them. Let's eat. We are having your favorite tonight."
Cleo clapped and hugged her Dad around his neck. "Goody Daddy. I love mac and cheese."
				                                                                                                                                ***
In an empty classroom Mr. Albright found his daughter standing in a corner. "Cloe?"
His twelve year old daughter turned around. She was covered with dirt and one of her sleeves was torn. She faced him with determined crossed-arms, pursed lips and unshed tears she was fighting to hold in. "Daddy. I did just like you said Mom did. I didn't take it sitting down and protected the weak with a big spell."
Jon knelt down and gathered his daughter in his arms. "Yes you did, sweet pea. Yes you did. Mom would have been so proud of you. But next time try to tell a teacher first. Ok?"
Cloe hugged him back. "Ok Daddy."
		                                                                                                                          		***
After a five hour drive Jon pulled up to an abandoned stone church. There were a large number of magic users flying around above the structure. He struggled to climb the dilapidated stone stair case to the top floor which was open to the sky. He had a stretch bandage around his left elbow and stopped several times to catch his breath. Even in the golden setting sun he was drawn and pale.
One of the flyers swooped down on him. "Who is the old jerk? He has no aura. He is a useless normal nora." The flyer mocked and thru a chunk of rock at Jon.
From above Albright heard. "Dad! Dad? What are you doing here?" 
Cloe landed next to him kicking up a dust cloud.
Jon coughed. "The Dean of Students called me. You haven't been to school in four weeks. This is where you were supposed to learn all the magic I couldn't teach you."
Cloe let out an aggrieved huff,"I don't need this crap. Dad." She was dressed all in black, her wings inky black as well. "Daddy you don't understand."
"Sweet Pea, yes I do."
"How could you possibly understand who I am and how I feel?" She crossed her arms and glared at him. "You didn't teach me anything."
"That's not true." Her dad countered.
Cloe held up her mothers spell book and shook it at him. "No. No you didn't."
Jon tried to step nearer to her but she stepped back."Sweet pea, of course I couldn't teach you magic. But I did teach you right from wrong and we did the best we could without your mom."
"But it's not fair." She cried.
"No it is not. Nothing is fair unless we make it fair."
Cloe yelled and shot a bolt of lightening skyward.
Her Dad moved a step closer. "We both miss your mother. But no matter where she is, she's never stopped loving you. Come home and let's have dinner."
Cloe scowled at him. "No. Dad. I have to go."
Albright watched as his daughter soared up and away out of sight. He sighed and scrubbed his eyes."Oh Cloe, my sweet pea."
		                                                                         	                                                       	***
On the night of the first battle, the sky battalions flat-top troop ship rocked in the swells caused by the cover storm.
Lieutenant Cloe Albright finished putting on her flight suit, adjusting it to accomodate her wings. New bright gold bars graced her collar. Glancing at her image framed in the mirror she adjusted her gloves and concentrated, her mother's worn spell book in her hand. Around her reflection a bright strong halo of light grew. It sparked and crackled as she stared at herself with grim determination. On the desk was a picture of her father. Next to that another frame held his medals. 	The PA rung out in the barracks area. "Officers and troops of the 65th Enhanced Flight Battallion we are about to face our most difficult challenge yet. Our lands have been invaded by the Magisterial Opposition. We must repel them at all costs." 
She heard cheers from all around her.
"Keep in formation and cast when you have a clear shot. WE CAN TAKE'M!" 
At the sound of a klaxon, Cleo ran out onto the flight deck. The carrier was turning into the howling tempest. She joined her squadron of winged soldiers, taking the lead position. She nodded to her chiefs. They stood wing tip to wing tip and leaned into the churning winds. The first squadrons spread their wings and lifted off in formation. All around them energy bolts exploded on contact with the dark ship. The midnight skies were filled with hundreds of shapes outlined by bursts of white flame. Cloe lifted off, followed by her squad. "Finally found the invaders Dad."