It's been a year since the landing on Zebrica and Sunset doesn't even recognize herself anymore, inside and out. So many scars and wounds from close calls, some of which are infected due to poor medical aid and/or the conditions she finds herself crawling through. She's now the only survivor of Squadron 13 and a veteran in everypony's eyes. She didn't feel like a veteran, just a battered pony who's ready to go home. Her differences with Celestia seem so petty now.
The ground erupted from a shelling, Sunset didn't even flinch and a ghost of a smile flickered on her muzzle as she watched the 'younger' soldiers cower. She strolled through the trenches, relishing the warm dirt that rained down as it thudded against her pelt.
She had just come from the grub tent and had a hearty meal, one of the best she's had in a month. Now she's walking towards her post beside Squadron 26. Technically, she was part of that squadron, but it felt like a betrayal to her team to switch out dog tags, despite not knowing them all that well, and never will. Perhaps, after this is all over, she will scrounge through the battlefield to find the tags of everypony who was in Squadron 13. Now there was a thought, she nearly giggled at the absurdity of it.
Sunset nodded to the leader of 26 and rested her rifle on a wooden plank before slumping on the floor herself. She felt beyond tired, she couldn't remember what proper sleep felt like. She watched through lidded eyes as the leader ordered her squadron. It was humorous how she revered Sunset, despite her being 20 years older. She doesn't even know her name, yet she practically worshiped her. Oh, here she comes.
"I have positioned Squadron 26 like..." Sunset let the details fall on deaf ears as she pretended to listen. "...is that okay?"
"Yeah, sure." Sunset tried for a smile, it came out as a weak grimace. The leader beamed and went back to her troops. It was then did Sunset notice a throb in her left hoof. She inspected it and noticed a giant flint piece stuck in her frog. She frowned, that couldn't mean anything good. She heaved herself on her hooves and prepared herself to make the journey to the medical tent when she heard a shout.
She looked up and noticed a white flag in the distance. Squinting, Sunset could make out that it was a zebra waving the white flag. She let the realization sink in. It was over. It's finally over. She started laughing, then doubled over and laughed even harder.