[MLP] Equestria at War: The Return of Friendship

Chapter 2: Remembrance

* * (Y/N)'s POV * *

'Where did the wind come from?! The briefing said it would be calm skies for the drop! Ohhh... man, that tree is coming in fast! Very fast! Oh, sh-'

The stallion struggled with a grunt as he crashed into the canopy of the tree, hitting a few branches on the way down as he saw the ground rapidly approaching, being very high up. He put his hooves over his (E/C) eyes only to abruptly come to a halt, partially gagging as his parachute harness momentarily tightened over his body and caught him. He slowly opened his eyes and looked up; his parachute had gotten tangled in the tree and saved him from hitting the ground... good news. Bad news... he's stuck dangling in the air. He looked to the skies, Changeling spotlights shining back and forth from the direction of Ponyville. He also caught a glimpse of the perfectly good transport plane he and his team had just jumped out of, fading both from view and earshot.

His squad must've landed at the right position. He just has to catch up with them. They'll wait. But right now... he has to find a way down. He brought one of his forelegs up, gripping a knife blade in a sheath wrapped around his wrist with his teeth and pulling it free. Knife-in-mouth, he swung his head up and managed to cut the cords holding him up. He dropped the knife from his mouth as he let out a surprised yelp, falling the remaining several feet between him and the ground. At least he's no longer in the tree.

The stallion rubbed his head under his helmet, a bit of (M/C) mane poking out before adjusting the helmet back. He got to work shaking off the parachute pack and going over his gear. Backpack? He slung his standard-issue backpack over his shoulders. Check. Ammo? He patted the webbing over his airborne uniform, finding rectangular ammo pouches lined up. Check. Weapon? He tugged open the ammo case left on the ground, looking over his issued firearm.

Limestone-type SMG? Check.

He slung his weapon around one of his shoulders with a sigh as he began a quick trot towards the source of the spotlights.

'Sergeant (L/N).. back into the fray!' He told himself in his mind, though his pace slowed as he continued watching the spotlights, voicing his thoughts out loud now.

(Y/N): "It's only been a year since I left Ponyville.. my home.. and already it's in Changeling hands. It's just been loss after loss, and we keep getting pushed back. At this rate, we won't even make it to the winter season before Changelings march down Canterlot's streets. Has it always been this bad...?"

His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a bush shake to his side. His reaction was immediate: Unslinging his weapon from his back and aiming it towards the bush. He watched it for a moment until he started hearing.. a woman's voice? Yes.. yes. Whispering to him.

The stallion slowly slung his weapon back over his gear as he began to follow the sound of the voices, going deeper into the Everfree Forest. He began hearing it much more clearly. His entire focus was on this voice, for some reason. He had lost track of the time.