Band of Ponies

        Starlight awoke in a cold sweat. The room had a sterile smell to it, and was a bit chilly. She opened her eyes, and saw the white ceiling above her.  She tried to get up, but cried out in pain. She realized her left side was very painful, and sore. She couldn't hear out of her left ear either.

A pretty unicorn mare walked into the room, and looked over the clipboard at the foot of Starlight’s bed briefly.

“What happened to me?” slurred Starlight, realizing she must be really doped up on painkillers. The nurse blinked at her.

“You’re up already?” She replied.

“What happened to me?” Repeated Starlight, louder this time.

“Apparently you survived a grenade blast right next to you.” Said the nurse, looking over the clipboard. “Four broken ribs, and multiple shrapnel wounds.” She looked over to Starlight. “We mostly took care of the flesh wounds, but you’ll be in here a few weeks while your ribs are healing.”

Starlight laid back against her pillow. Truth be told, she was glad she’d be in the rear for a few weeks. She couldn’t complain about that.

She learned that MorningDew had survived, barely. They almost didn’t get her back fast enough. She’d lost so much blood. She was headed home as soon as she was recovered. Four other ponies had been shot, two fatally, and five more were killed in the APC when it got hit. They’d been the unlucky ones, dying in a blazing inferno.

Starlight shared a room with another mare named CottonCandy. A name she hated, and insisted Starlight just call her Candy. Candy was from Starlight’s company, and had been shot in the flank, punching a hole right in the center of her cotton candy cutie mark. The scar, fortunately, had been repaired by magic. Starlight quickly grew fond of her roommate, and even had a slight crush (It was hard not to. Candy was incredibly cute!), but wasn't sure if she felt the same way.

Her conversations with Candy did help to pass the time, but she was starting to get anxious. She WANTED to go back to the front. It had been too long away from combat. She hated it, but at the same time, she’d never been good at anything else. Her cutie mark (Two crossed bullets) was proof of that fact. It didn’t help at all when Candy was sent back out. Now she not only had nopony to talk to, but she was worried about her friend. She tried not to think about what the Gryphons would do to Candy if they captured her.

After what seemed like months, Starlight was released from the hospital. Her ribs had completely healed, helped by the magic of the doctors. Starlight was immediately sent back out, to an air force base outside Fillydelphia. Being airborne, she was put back with the same unit she’d been with before. She was delighted to discover that Candy had been reassigned to HER platoon, which was being reinforced by soldiers from other platoons in the company. They’d at least be a bit less understrength.

In addition to this, they’d all been issued new uniforms, and equipment, The Earth ponies and Unicorns were issued new parachutes as well, these made out of camouflaged silk rather than white. This meant they were going to be jumping into combat soon. As predicted, preparations began for a major offensive. Troopers were given maps, and studied sand tables and photos of the area. Starlight learned the area so well she could draw a map from memory.

This would be a massive push to force the Gryphons out of Equestria. If it failed, it would cost the lives of hundreds of soldiers.