Naive woke up after something happened.
A snow storm.
Was...it a snow storm?
No matter.
The important task ahead of the Griffon was to focus on getting up, getting his squadmates, then finding what-in-the-buck had really happened.
Lifting his Resting Sword to get up, he saw something that made his heart skip a beat.
It glowed.
He gulped, clutching it to his chest as he shouted in song, "My country is of mine/ My body is of your's/ We sail on the wings/ Of those who fought before!"
He soon heard whistles come from the sword before three spirits appeared before him to finish the song, "Although we die in life/ We keep our fighting spirits/ Never cast doubt/ Onto my soldier's merits!"
Naive was floored by their ghosts appearing before him, asking of his squad head, "How did...this happen to you?! All of you?!"
Although all of them were around the same age, Broker still referred to Naive as a child, "Kid, it happens. Might as well move on."
"But...I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye."
Sake didn't even give him an inch as she bellowed out, "What kinda droppings is that? We're dead, not deaf, dumbplot."
Cannon asked that his also-dead teammate still hold onto her manners, even in the afterlife, "Might I suggest you follow-"
Sake was having none of his lip, "Cram it like a sandwich, big guy. Don't give two bucks to Sunday. I'm not bound by our stupid regulations anymore. Kiss me where the Sun refuses to shine."
Broker piped up, "We all have more to worry about than ignoring regulations, following them, and even our being separated from our bodies."
Cannon wondered mainly to himself, "How'd I die? Hm."
Sake chuckled, "Believe you got stabbed by a giant motherbucking icicle to the brain, boy."
"Really? Why don't I remember it, then?"
"Why would you want to remember an icicle-"
"Guys!", Broker finally snapped at the two gibbering Griffons, immediately making them tighten their beaks.
Broker never got an attitude unless he wanted a point across. When he did though, all eyes were on him.
"Now, as I was saying, we have much more alarming issues. Like...where's everygriffon else?"
Naive's eyes widened at him, looking off into the distance as they all soon did.
The sky was only a massive clump of dark clouds, snow falling below onto what might have been a battlefield.
Naive stared across at the landscape, expecting to see a pale spirit out in the expanse.
He found nothing aside the cold wind howling and his own frost-nipped breathing.
Broker, Sake, and Cannon all looked down in pity for all those who had fallen...destined to never get up again. Themselves not included.
Naive asked of them, "There has to be somegriffon out there. Another...rookie could've been just as lucky as me."
Broker sighed as he remarked, "You were probably already thought dead."
"But, why would whoever it was-"
Broker put his ghostly arm around Naive, telling him in the nicest of ways, "Questions have their times. You must escape this place before the cold overtakes you."
Naive was determined to search for survivors, "I will find whoever is outside of my view. I must. Nogriffon left behind."
Broker said politely yet forcefully, "No, you won't. There is nogriffon here. Anywhere around here."
"Does that mean-"
"Forward march, soldier."
"But-"
"Forward march."
Naive walked for hours, steadily increasing in his ability to pick up the pace by the encouragement of the rest of Echo squad.
After what felt like ages, he soon collapsed at the very literal end of the snowy landscape, in which it was punctuated by a groan of pain as he crashed into an open field.
When he awoke, he was in a hospital.
...
Or, he should say, staring down the muzzle of a pony wearing a...fairly odd nurse's outfit.
Taken aback, he prepared to draw his sword...which was carefully placed onto a table labeled 'patient's belongings'.
Speaking of which, he was now nude of all things, which made him blush as he covered up his genitals.
The doctor-dressed-in-nurse-wear only laughed at his attempt of decency, finding the look on his face priceless despite being a doctor. One who couldn't make fun of her patients, yet she felt inclined to do so all the same given the circumstances.
She giggled as response opened up their dialogue, "You be may shocked at this, but a majority of anypony you'll ever meet is naked, dear griffon."
Naive rolled his eyes, still not unconcealing his privates as he delivered with unquestionable sarcasm, "Yes, I am aware. But, as a soldier, it is inform-"
Stop yourself, Naive. Starting to sound like Cannon.
He adjusted his words to better fit his way of speech, "Look, it just feels weird without them."
The doctor smirked to herself as she delivered unabashedly, "Oh, I know such a feeling on clothes. Just thought you looked a bit in pain with how much you tossed and turned in your armor is all. Otherwise, wouldn't have been an issue."
Naive thanked her for saving his life, yet had to wonder, "How did you find me?"
"You had collapsed on somepony's private property. They asked the local hospital to come pick you up. We did, and here you are."
Naive raised an eyebrow, demanding to know what her name was, "So, you drag me all the way here? No drink, misses-"
She opened up her dialogue with a scoff, "So not into you. Or, others like you. I came to get you because a doctor is only allowed to not hurt or kill if it can be avoided."
Naive nodded to the answer with approval, "Ah, you have a code you live by as well. Unexpected, but fine all the same."
She shrugged putting gloves on before turning the griffon over to a side, dishing out gossip as well, "Eh. Really only the one rule."
Naive still desired to know the name of the pony who saved him, "Still don't know who you are."
She answered as she shoved a hoof directly into his plothole, eliciting a groan/cry/moan all within seconds of each other, "Lewd. Now, cough."