Wings of Hope

The rain beat down on her without any signs of stopping. The storm had consumed her, and everything that was around the area. A deep feeling of panic urged her to get out of there as fast as possible. Still all she could do was just lay there. "Get up." She said to herself. Pushing against the cloud, she tried lifting her body up. Pain quickly punished her for this attempt, forcing her back down. "Please, get up." She told herself. "I have to get back or else..."

"2404!" A voiced called out. "2404, respond immediately!" A pegaus came into her line of vision several feet away. "2404, get up right now!" Her superior officer yelled through the loud wall of water. "You wings better be broken or else you're in for a world of hurt!"

She looked at her wings that had been pelted by the rain's fury. The left one was bent awkwardly, and it almost sickened her at the angle it was in. Her right wing was less bent, but it hung lifelessly from her body. This caused her to panic even more, and quickly she began to move again. She tried lifting them both up to take flight. Pain once again greeted her and made sure that she wouldn't try it again. Tears rushed from her eyes, and began mixing in with the water that was on her face. Still though she managed to stand up one more time.

"I think they are sir!" She shouted back trying to mask the pain in her voice. Before she could say anything else she collapse again. Even though it was no great distance between her and the cloud, it felt like falling off a building. Her wings felt the impact, and quickly made her let out a cry of agony.

The officer quickly came over to her. Using his wings, he shielded her for a second from the raging storm. He bent down to take a look at the state she was in.

"I am sorry if this hurts, but I need to know the servility of the situation. Okay solider?" He asked.

She gave him a nod to proceed while bitting her tongue to prepare for what was about to come. He grasped her left wing gently and gave it a little tug. Moving it shoot pain all over her body again. She didn't realized how pathetic her scream was until she saw his reaction.

"I am sorry, I am sorry!" He said letting it go gently.

She couldn't say anything back to him that didn't sound like dribble.

"Listen Star, I need you stand up one more time. Think you can do that?" He asked.

"Yes sir, I'll try." She said weakly.

She placed her hooves firmly on the cloud. While standing up, she tried to keep her wings still. It took all of her will power not to whimper at the pain this was causing. Once she was standing upright her superior officer took off, disappearing underneath her, and out of sight.

"Did he just leave me here all by herself?" She asked terrified.

She closed her eyes as soon as hail began falling from the sky, pelting her wings. Each on felt like a pony was bucking at them with full force. Suddenly, her officer came from beneath the cloud she stood on, dissolving it almost. She was now clinging onto to him for dear life.

"Hang on, this storm is getting worse by the minute." He yelled while trying to adjust her on his back.

He quickly took off, and headed for the direction of the academy. She tried keeping her wings close to her as they flew through the unpleasant weather.

"Was I the only one who go hurt?" She asked weakly, thinking that he probably didn't hear her.

"No, but you're the most critical right now. Just relax, and try to rest. We'll be back soon." He said.

She closed her eyes, and began to drift off.

"Dad when can I go off on my own?" She asked.

Her dad let out a laugh. "Easy there, you just now getting the feel of it. Hovering for a solid minute doesn't really qualify you for full on flights."

She let out a sigh. "Yes sir."

"Hey cheer up you'll get there on day. If me and your mother can do it then you can certainly do it too." He said adjusting a part of his armor.

"Your father is right dear, one day you'll be soaring over the skies like it's nothing." Her mother said coming into the room. "You forgot your helmet strap again honey." She said handing it to her husband.

"Thanks." He said taking it, and strapping it on.

"Now Star, you think you'll be good here while me and your father are away?" She asked.

"Oh, she'll be fine with your parents, won't you Star?" Her dad asked.

Her mom gave him a look. "Now Star remember to stay within the boundaries we set up okay?"

"Yes mother." Star said.

"Oh, we'll be fine don't you worry." Her grandpa said stumbling in. His words were direct to the empty side of the room.

"Dad we're over here." Her mother said shaking her head and smiling.

Her father stumbled, and looked in their direction. He felt something on his neck that turned out to be his glasses. Resting them on his face he noticed his mistake. "Oh, of course I knew that."

Star watched as her mother placed the armored plates that covered her into perfection. She and Her father looked like they were ready to charge into battle, just like in the stories.

"Now sweetie promise me you'll be on your best behavior." Her father said giving her a hug.

"Yes sir." She said.

"And listen to grandmother a little more than papa got it?" He whispered.

She nodded her head to signal yes. Her mother came over and picked her up to kiss her on the cheek.

"Oh, I am going to miss you so much." She said embracing her tightly to the point of suffocation.

"I'll be fine mom it's not like you're going to be gone long is it?" Star asked gasping for air.

"I just hate leaving you thats all." Her mother said finally putting her back down.

"Come dear, we're going to be late if we don't head out soon. Now you be awesome sport and I'll teach you some more flying lessons once I get back." Her father said heading to the door with her mother.

Star smiled. "See you when you get back."

"See ya sport." Her dad said with a salute.

The two pegasus looked at her before leaving, and then within minutes they were off.

"Someday, I am going to be just like them." She thought.

"Just like them." She mumbled.

A thunder clap jolted her awake as she was being lifted off the back of her officer.

"Careful now, both wings are damaged pretty badly. She seemed to be still conscious, but we need to get her inside now!" He said holding on to her as a stretcher was being brought out.

She was soon placed on a medical stretcher, and she was quickly whisked away into the warm interior of the medical hall. Voices kept coming in and out as she laid there staring at the ceiling rolling by. All around she could see lights flickering, each one seemed like a sun blinding her. Apart from her wings her head ached, and begged for relief. Everything was becoming fuzzy, almost like she was standing in a fog. Her conciseness also was begging to fade in and out again. She felt herself being picked up, and transferred to a bed. A cloth was soon placed upon her forehead, it was cold and soothing.

"What happen to her?" A voice called out.

"Patient has suffered injuries to the wings sir!" Another voice responded.

"I can see that, but the question was what happen to her?" The voice asked again.

"Don't know sir this is how she was when she got here. If you want to know then asked officer Heart."

"Oh, I am going to and should anything else happen, I'll make sure he'll never hear the end of it."

She felt a needle dig into her shoulder, as she started to close her eyes.

"Just like them." She mumble before nodding off.

A sharp pain caused her to sit up. Looking around she could she that it was now early in the morning. Her breathing was heavy, but she was able to slow it down. Everything was spinning around her but that was probably her head. Soon everything stopped and she was able look around.

"Oh, good you're up." A doctor said standing beside her. "You were out for a good while there."

She rubbed her head. "How long was I out for exactly?"

"Four days, but judging how you came in here I thought you would been longer." He said putting a clipboard down. "How are you feeling?"

"Besides the splitting headache that's driving me insane? Pretty good." She said.

"Funny, now you'll avoid getting out of bed for the next three days. Don't worry you're officers have been notified. Overall we will keep a close eye on you as you go through the healing process." He said walking away.

"Wait sir my wings, I can't feel them!" Star said worried.

"Oh yeah that's right, forgive me for worrying you. Right now you're on medicine that has prevented feeling to you're wings at the moment. If I didn't give you that you would be in agonizing pain right now." He said.

"Are the gone for good?" She asked hopelessly.

"Your wings weren't broken but they where forced out of place, if any more stress was put on them I am afraid I would have to say yes. You're lucky that they were in the shape they were in. Also you had some minor damages to the head but nothing that would cause brain damage. Overall you should heal in about nine weeks." He said.

"Nine weeks?" Star asked.

"Yes, and I except you to let yourself heal for that time period. Understand?"

"Yes sir. Thank you sir" She said.

"Good now I'll be back later too check up on you." He said.

"Wait." She said.

"Yes?" He asked.

"Is their a mirror I can use or at least for a moment?" Star asked.

The doctor pulled out a long wooden slab from one of the cabinets that stood on the side of the room. Turning around he revealed the mirror to her. Looking at it she could bearly tell that is was her in the reflection. Most of her blue coat was now encased with white bandages. The top of her head was now also consumed in all white, save the few patches of her yellow mane sticking out. She looked just plane  tired.

"See?" The doctor said putting the mirror away. " At least you didn't injure your face."

Star smiled. "Thank you."

The doctor headed for the door. "Now I will be back later so just try and get some sleep."

A pegaus came storming into the room, almost knocking the doctor over. "Doctor status report on 2404." He said.

The doctor saluted and was at ease. "Patient suffer multiple stress fractures along core bone surrounding the base of her wings. Wings were forced out of place and bruised greatly, noting too major. Force them back into place, had to do that multiple times to get it right. Patient should be ready in nine weeks."

"Good, dismissed." He said.

The doctor scurried out of the room leaving the two alone.

The office sat down on the chair beside the bed. She kept her head down for she felt ashamed to be there at that moment. He sat for a moment before letting out a sigh.

"Sorry officer Iron Heart, it wont happen again sir." She said as fast as she could.

She tried her best not to look at her superior officer in the eye.

"You better be glad that there is a next time. I mean what where you thinking going out of formation? Especially during a sudden thunderstorm?" He asked.

"I wasn't sir." She said quietly.

"Star, look at me." Iron Heart said.

She slowly looked at him making sure she made eye contact with him. Her eyes began to become watery showing that she was full of fear.

"Please don't give me that look, you know I can't stand it when soldiers are terrified." He said. "You disobeyed my orders, and tried to do whatever it is you always do. Right afterwards you disappeared making me franticly searching all over to find you." He said looking at the window on the other side of the room. Star waited for him to hand down her punishment. "Look the fact of the matter is that you're alive and thats the most important thing to me. Just relax, and let yourself heal. Now If you excuse me I have some reports to fill out."

"Um sir?" She asked.

"Yes?" Iron Heart asked.

"Since I can't fly how am I going to move forward with my training?" She asked.

"We'll figure something out later, but for now rest." He said.

"Sorry once again sir." Star said.

Iron Heart open the door. "It's not me you're going to be apologizing to." He whispered to her then standing still and quickly saluting.

"Thank you officer Heart you are dismissed." A voice answered.

Her heart froze as general Laz entered the room closing the door behind him. She gulped down the last of her pride that she had left, preparing for what was about the scolding that was to come next.

"Star." he said slowly. "Are you severely hurt anywhere, like permeant damage?" He began slowly.

"No sir." She responded quickly.

He let out a sigh. "You know when you joined this program I was very against it, not on my terms mind you. Everyday I have to question weather or not I made the right choice. Seeing you in that hospital bed passed out almost fueled my nightmares for years to come. It would haunt me to the end of my days if something happen to you. You know that right?"

"I know sir." She said slowly.

He sat down on the chair next to her. "If your mother was here she wouldn't have been mad at you. I know thats what you're thinking right now."

Star let out a sigh. "I know sir."

"Now as for me, she would put a spear through me if she knew you got hurt." He said chuckling.

Star smiled at this. "Thank you sir."

He returned her smile. "Now Star, I took a risk by letting you in the academy in the first place. Again it was in the interest of your parents that you would not follow in their hoofsteps. But I felt that deep down this was your calling, and I could see that determination in your eyes on that first day. So in the future please try to not get hurt and overall please don't make me regret my decision."

"I won't sir, and thank you sir" Star said.

"No problem kiddo, now rest up you are to report to classes by the beginning of next week." He said getting up.

Star closed her eyes as soon as he left the room. Relief washed over her.

"Thank you." She said to herself.

She laid back down forgetting the pain that returned once she did. It was obvious that the medicine for her other injuries were begging to ware off a little. Grinding her teeth, she tried falling asleep but she already knew that she wouldn't receive any. She kept closing her eyes, and eventually she gave up on the idea completely.

"Next." The old mare said handing Star her tray. She stared down at the mush that was going to be her lunch. It was a grey pile that looked like mashed potatoes of some kind. The only distinct thing that was there was a red apple separated from the rest of the meal. Taking it she began making her way to the table area, which was filled with fellow ponies. She looked around for she began to notice that everypony was looking at her. It had to be the bandages that incased her wings, holding them tightly wrapped to her body. Overall, her appearance must have made her look like she just had survived a rockslide. It felt awkward as she went down the space between the tables. Each student and trainee whispered amongst each other as she past them by. Spotting an empty table she went to it, and set her tray down. Slowly she began to attempt to eat what was on her plate.

"Hello there!"  A Voice said from behind.

The source of the voice soon came into view as the pony who owned it sat directly across from her. Star looked at the pony who had a grin as wide as it could be. She had a bright yellow coat and a dark orange mane.

"Hello." Star returned shyly.

"What's your name?" She asked kindly.

"Most ponies call me Star." Star said slowly.

"Star huh? Thats a nice name. My name is Quintina Firelance, but everypony calls me Quinn." She said extending her hoof out.

"Nice to meet you Quinn." Star said shaking the pegasus hoof, and returning to her meal.

Quinn began eating as well. "So you here at the academy too huh? What division did they put you in?" She said in between bites.

"I am under office Iron Heart." She said.

"Really me too!" Quinn said almost to excited.

Star looked at her confusedly. "Sorry it's just that I didn't see you out in the training fields yesterday."

"Oh, thats because I am training in military medicine. So thats why I don't usually fly with the others." Quinn said biting into her apple. "I study everpony from afar so that I could spot emergencies when needed."

Star nodded in understandment. "So why medicine? I mean isn't every pegasus's dream to be out on the front lines doing battle. With the heat of war right there in they're faces?"

Quinn looked up. "Oh heavens no, that sound absolutely dreadful. I just wanted to enter a field where I can take care of others while serving our kind. Doing battle with somepony else sounds like a complete nightmare." Quinn said.

This caused Star to smile. "Let's hope you never have to rush into a battlefield to help save somepony." She said to herself.

Quinn took a bite of her food. "So what happen to your wings? I couldn't see anypony go down yesterday due to that storm."

Star's wings ached just of the thought of them. "The doctor said that they were misplaced and they were some other spots that got bruised. He said I should be able to start up in about nine weeks."

"Thats seems like a short amount of time. I would have think it he would have you wait longer." Quinn said thinking out load.

"I can't wait that long, and besides the doctor said it would be fine." Star said rather annoyed with feeling of pain returning to her head. "So you're under the same devision as me? Tell me what classes are we suppost to go today? I am still a little out of it."

Quinn smiled. "Today we are going to listen to general Hills's lecture about 'the dangers in the sky', and 'how to deal with them'. From what I heard all he really does is tell you war stories and encounters he has had over the years. But hey, I am not complaining." She said finishing off her meal. "By the way I never caught your last name."

Star instantly became panic for she knew what would happen if her last name was revealed. Looking around she made sure that no other pony was around to hear her. "Can you keep a secret?" She asked.

"Yeah, but why is your last name a secret? It can't be anything that bad." Quinn said jokingly.

"I am being serious. If I tell you my name you can't tell anypony okay?" Star said.

"Okay, I won't tell anypony your last name. I swear." Quinn said holding her right forehoof up as if swearing to a pelage.

"My name is Star Wonder." Star said slowly.

Quinn's eyes grew wide upon hearing that. "Wonder? You don't happen to be related to......"

Star shook her head. "Yes."

"You're kidding? You're related to the famous Wonders? How?" Quinn said keeping her voice low, and under control.

"They were my parents." Star said sheepishly.

"You're telling me that you're parents were Flash 'The Wonderbolt' and Sky 'Wonderbolt'?" Quinn said flabbergasted.

"I told you that it was a secret." Star said. "Please don't tell anypony, I don't want ponies asking me a bunch of questions."

Quinn sat back in her chair. "I can't believe that you're the daughter of two of the most greatest flyers to take to the air. My goodness I mean, thats incredible. Oh, and don't worry you're secret safe with me friend. I mean wow"

"Friend?" Star said to herself. "I've only know this pony for about five minutes."

A sound from the bell alerted the trainees that the lunch period was now over, and courses were about to begin. Star waited for a majority of the others to leave before moving.

"So you ready to listen to an old colt ramble on about stuff?" Quinn asked.

"Yeah, it beats having to listen to another lecture." Star said with a smile.

She felt good that Quinn decided to sit down at her table. It felt like she had actually made a friend here.