Taylor tried to sleep on it that night, but even in his dreams, all he could see, was himself standing at a crossroads.
"One path leads to life in Equestria, the other leads to home. James already made his choice, now it's time for me to make mine."
As he continued to lay in his bed, he continued to think about the pros and cons of both staying in, and leaving Equestria.
"Well, for benefits, I would still be working with Fledgling Aeronautics, I would still have all of my friends here, as well as Redheart, James, Princess Celestia, and others. The only real cons that I can think of, would be the fact that those back on Earth would never know what happened to us, and worst of all, my mother believes that I'm dead. If I never go home, then that means that I'll never be able to see her again.
If I went back to Earth, I would have to leave everything behind that I've helped do in the past almost 4 months. I'd also most likely never be able to return. On the plus side though, I would be able to tell Flight 19's story, and see my mother again. Also, there is the possibility of a court-martial, both due to my being AWOL all this time, and losing my squad-mates.
God, why do decisions like this have to be so tough?! Why?!"
Taylor kept tossing and turning all night while thinking about it. He barely slept at all. However, by the time dawn broke the next morning, he knew what he was going to do.
When Taylor's alarm clock went off the next morning, he got up, brushed his teeth, combed his hair, shaved his face, and then got dressed, in his pilot's uniform.
After sighing, he went downstairs into the lower workshop. Sure enough, he was the only one there.
"Hmm, I guess that the others are either still asleep, or are getting up, or maybe eating breakfast. However, it's time for the pre-flight checklists."
Taylor then went over to his plane, and climbed up to the cockpit. "Do I really want to do this though?" He muttered to himself.
After running his checks, everything seemed in order. Taylor then sighed, and after sending a letter to Celestia, informing her of his decision to return home, he then went to the hospital, to tell James, Redheart, and Freckles that he was leaving in person.
"I still can't believe that you're going to do this Taylor."
Taylor sighed. "I really don't want to James, but it's something that I have to do. As an officer, it is my duty to face the consequences for what happened in the Triangle on December 5th."
"But what happened wasn't your fault, it wasn't anypony's fault! It was a combination of bad luck, and bad timing. Just a couple of crossed lay-lines, nothing more."
"I know Redheart, but, it's just.....ugh! It's so complicated!"
She placed a hoof gently on his shoulder. "It doesn't really have to be though Taylor. Just say that you're staying, and then we can be past this rough spot. James told me that you were ignoring me on purpose, but that you did it for a reason. Maybe not the best reason ever, but it was a reason nevertheless. I forgive you for it."
Taylor hugged her. "I know, and that's why leaving is so hard. But, it's already been scheduled. At noon today, I take off from Drywood Airbase for Fort Lauderdale. I'm going home."
Redheart nodded, but she didn't say anything. His mind seemed to be made up, but when she looked into Taylor's eyes, all she could see was fear, and uncertainty.
"Now I know that his efforts to return home really are half-hearted at best." She thought. Just before he leaves, I'll give him my letter. Maybe that'll convince him to return to Equestria."
Redheart could only hope that this would be the case.
A few hours later, close to the set time, Taylor's plane was moved from the workshop, out to Drywood Airbase. It was rolled out to the end of the runway, it's wings were unfolded, and it's brakes were set. Once this was done, Taylor then turned to the crowd that had gathered to see him off. Most of them looked to be either sad, or still in shock that he was leaving. Taylor turned to them.
"My friends, acquaintances, fellow ponies, admirers, and all others, I know why you have come out here today. You've gathered to see me on my way back to Earth. Most of you might also be asking yourselves, 'why? Why is he leaving?' Well, I'll tell you.
From the way that I see it, I am an officer, and one of only two survivors of Flight 19. It's my obligation to return, and reveal to the world what happened. It was a storm, and we ran out of fuel. I also have to go home to see my mother again."
"But, how will you explain your being missing for nearly 4 months Mr. Taylor?" Somepony asked.
"Um, well,.....that's um, something I'll have to think up on the fly. Most likely I'll say that it was a 'hiccup' between Time and Space, meaning that I entered the storm on December 5th, 1945, and exited on March 6th, 1946. A time-jump, if you will. Assuming that that makes any sense to you all of course."
Some ponies nodded, but others just looked at him confused. Taylor sighed. "I wish that I really didn't have to do this guys, really I don't, and if I didn't have the obligations, then I would reconsider, but because I do, I have to return to Earth."
"But, why can't you just return to Earth, and drop off a letter or something with your home-base, and return home?" Somepony else asked. Unfortunately, Taylor didn't hear this question due to the noise of the crowd. If he had, then maybe the further damage caused to his plane wouldn't have happened!
When the time came, it was exactly noon. As she promised, Celestia opened up a new portal to Earth.
"I opened this one in the exact same location as the one before it, so all you'll have to do is get through, and then fly home. That is, if you really want to leave. Couldn't I convince you to stay?"
Taylor hugged her. "I really wish that you could Princess. I'm going to miss you most of all. You brought me to this world, and you helped me not only with the plane, but also with the Cyclops, and most of all, you paid for my medical care while I was in the hospital. And for that, I offer you my greatest thanks."
"Goodbye, My Sunshine", she whispered.
Taylor then said goodbye to Starlight and Tinker.
"Goodbye Starlight. I'm really going to miss you. You were the best nurse that I had during my hospital stay, second only to Redheart."
She blushed a bit. "Oh, well, um, thank you, Taylor. I'm, really going to miss seeing you."
"I know. I'm going to miss seeing you too."
"And I'm going to miss you too, Flyboy."
Taylor turned to Tinker. "As am I, Tinker. It was really fun, those times that we had in Canterlot, as well as the occasional games of cards that we played when I visited the Aeronautics workshop in Canterlot."
They both hugged.
Taylor also said goodbye to all of the Airplane 8, who duly thanked him for helping them to get Fledgling Aeronautics off the ground.
"It was my genuine pleasure. It was also my thanks for you guys for helping me with my plane all of those times. I just hope that you keep it going, and one day show Equestria that they were wrong about airplanes being unsafe."
"We will Taylor", Metalwork assured him, "We will."
Finally, Taylor came to the last two that he had to say goodbye to; James, and Redheart.
"Goodbye James", Taylor said as he hugged him. "You were the best comrade that I ever had. I wish that I didn't have to leave you behind."
James sighed. "Actually Taylor, I don't think that you'll have to, at least, not for very long."
"Huh? What do you mean by that?"
"Because, I'm pretty sure that by this evening, we'll all be laughing about this over dinner at a cafe here in Ponyville, while you tell us the story about how you wanted to return home, but realized that you're life here was more important."
Taylor was surprised. "Now how in thunder do you figure that James?"
James shrugged. "I dunno. You're asking the wrong person. However, Miss Redheart might know."
Taylor turned to her. "Um, Redheart, what does he mean by this?"
Redheart reached into her saddlebags, and pulled out a letter. She then handed it to Taylor.
"Huh? What's this?"
"It's just a little something that I wrote for you. Read it once you're airborne, and then make your final decision."
Taylor looked at her curiously, then put the letter into the pocket of his jacket. He then hugged Redheart. "Goodbye, Redheart. Out of everypony, I'll only miss Celestia more than you. You were always there for me, by my side almost every minute while I was hurt, while I had my broken arm, you did all of my writing for me. Heck, you were even the first one to FIND me when I got here, and you brought me to the hospital in the first place! For all of this, I offer you my greatest thanks, and my most sincere goodbye."
Redheart hugged him back. "I know Taylor. And goodbye, at least for the next 20 minutes or so. Like James said, I'm pretty sure that dinner at a cafe here in Ponyville later on tonight would be marvelous. Oh, and you'll be back in time for lunch at your workshop, right?" Redheart smirked a bit.
Taylor looked at her curiously. "Well, I guess it all depends on what's in the letter that you gave me. I guess that, like you said, I'll read it once I'm flying, and then make my final decision."
She smiled. "Yes, you do that. I'll be here waiting for you when you get back!"
Taylor looked like he was about to say something, but then he just closed his mouth, and turned back to the plane. Once he'd climbed up to the cockpit, he sat down, strapped himself in, and began his pre-flight checklists.
Once that was done, he started up the engine. "Engine starting up!" He warned.
After pulling the lever, the engine coughed a bit, but then roared to life. The engine's roar was much more powerful when it had the proper fuel, instead of the "Moonshine knock-off" as it had come to be known. After reaching out of the plane one final time to wave goodbye to everypony, he released the brakes, and took off down the runway. a minute or so later, the plane was airborne.
"So, how long do you think it'll take for him to come back, assuming that he does decide to stay?"
Redheart smirked a bit. "Well James, I think that it'll be about 20 minutes or so. He'll most likely fly through the portal before reading the letter, then take another few minutes to make his choice, before turning around and coming back."
Celestia was worried. "Yes, but that may be time that we don't have. I could see that the weather on Earth in that area was overcast. Rain could be on its way. If that happens, then the portal could become unstable again, and if it collapses before he gets through it......" Celestia couldn't finish that thought.
James looked worried as well. "I know Princess Celestia, that's why he has to make the right choice, he just has to!"
Meanwhile, high above them, Taylor banked his plane to the right, and flew towards the portal.
"Ok, here we go. Just hold together old girl, we can make it!" Taylor then looked at the picture of his mother that he'd placed into his compass. "We have to make it! For mom, and for my return to her safely!"
Taylor then flew into the portal, and vanished from sight.
"Is the portal holding steady Princess?" James asked.
"For now James, Yes, but only just for now. I can't make any long-term promises.
Once he was inside the portal, it was just like last time; some of his instruments went haywire, but this time, his engine stayed strong, since it had plenty of fuel. Eventually, Taylor exited the portal, and came out back on Earth.
When he examined his surroundings, he was very surprised. "Wow, not much seems to have changed since I was last here. Not that it's easy to tell if an ocean's changed from the air, but still! Aside from the lack of rain, it does look almost the same. However, it does look like a storm could start up at any minute, so I'd better get going!"
As he continued to fly along, Taylor turned on his radio. "Lauderdale Base, this is Blue 1. I've been missing for nearly 4 months now in the Bermuda Triangle. I am the only survivor of Flight 19, I repeat, I am the only survivor of Flight 19. Do you copy, over?"
Only static met his message. "Huh, I thought that this frequency was still in use. Maybe it isn't." Taylor then felt the letter in his jacket pocket. He pulled it out. "Ok, now then Redheart, let's see why you're so convinced that I'll return to Equestria in less than 20 minutes." While using his knees to steer the plane, Taylor took the envelope, opened it, and pulled out the letter. Then, with one hand on the control stick, he began to read.
"My Dearest Taylor", the letter began,
"No doubt by the time you read this letter, you're flying home to your base in Fort Lauderdale. I would just like to say now that I already miss you, and are awaiting your return to Equestria. I also have some pretty good reasons as to WHY you should return.
First of all, since it has been about four months now, you have certainly been declared dead. Therefore, you are released from your obligations, as I'm sure that you are aware, a dead man cannot answer to a higher military authority.
Next, I already know that your desire to return home is half-hearted at best. Your main concern is your mother. Well, I have a solution for you! Thanks to James, he was able to build a wooden tube with a hollow interior. Contained inside the tube are papers, documents, and photographs that myself, Princess Celestia, and James put together that explain your entire situation. Celestia figured that you could take the tube close to land, and using the attached parachutes, drop it to the ground. Also contained inside that tube is a letter of explanation to your mother by Princess Celestia. It explains everything, and what you have to do in Equestria.
I know, all of this sounds too good to be true. Well, check underneath your seat! The tube is there! Just grab it, fly over land, and parachute the tube to the ground. Mission accomplished!
Then, please hurry back as fast as you can, as I'm sure that your lunch of, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with a side of cucumber slices might be getting soggy!
Yours Truly,
💕Redheart.❤"
Taylor was in shock. To check, he reached underneath his seat. Sure enough, he pulled out a two foot long, torpedo-shaped tube painted orange, with two attached parachutes on it as well. On the sides of the tube, in black letters were the words, "To Fort Lauderdale Naval-Air Station, Fort lauderdale Florida. Here inside lies the truth of Flight 19, and it's two survivors, Lt. Charles Taylor, and Ensign William James. FRAGILE!!! HANDLE WITH CARE!!!"
It was then, that the realization of everything hit Taylor like a brick.
"What am I doing?! I have to get back to Equestria now!"
He looked down below him in the ocean, and saw a small fishing boat. Taylor then knew what he had to do. Just before he opened up the cockpit to drop down the tube, his radio suddenly came to life!
"Unknown aircraft, unknown aircraft! This is Lauderdale Base, we have received your message. Please respond, over."
"Lauderdale base, this is Lt. Charles Taylor. I'm flying Blue 1, or TBF Avenger T-28. I have come back to deliver a message." Taylor then gave his current coordinates. "The message is located in an orange, torpedo-shaped tube, which I am now dropping down to the ocean. There is a small fishing boat down there, and they may pick it up first. Please be advised that that tube contains information related to myself, Lt. Charles Taylor, and Ensign William James. , the only survivors of Flight 19. That tube MUST be delivered back to Lauderdale Base, it is IMPERATIVE!"
For the longest time, there was only silence. Then, a reply came. "Ok, listen, I don't know who you think that you are, but we are NOT hauling ass out to some spot in the Bermuda Triangle, to retrieve an orange tube from a fishing boat. Now then, get off of this frequency, before I have you found out and arrested!"
Taylor sighed. "I guess that I should have seen this coming. None of you would believe me, because you thought that I was dead. Well, then I guess, farewell, Commander Jones. It was an honor serving under you, and I wish you the best of luck." Taylor then turned off his radio.
He then turned his plane back towards the fishing boat, and once he was close to it, he opened the canopy, and released the tube. It's parachutes were opened, and it floated down to the sea, where it was picked up moments later by the fishermen.
Down below him, the small group of fishermen were doing their work, when all of a sudden, they heard a plane.
"Hey, that sounds like a TBF Avenger!"
They looked up, and sure enough, it was. It was flying all alone, and seemed to be slowly cruising along. Suddenly though, it turned, and began to circle their boat.
"Huh? Now what in thunder is that pilot doing? Is he in trouble?"
Eventually, the pilot of the plane dropped an orange object down close to their boat, and then flew away. The fisherman picked up the object with their nets, and found it to be come kind of package that needed to be delivered to Fort Lauderdale. One of the fisherman however, Dan Young, suddenly looked rather pale.
"Hey, what's wrong Dan? You look like you've seen a ghost!"
"We all just did! Did you guys see that plane's number?"
"No, why?"
"That plane was TBF Avenger TF-28!"
"So?"
"So! That plane was flown by Lt. Charles Taylor. On December 5th last year, he and his squadron, Flight 19, flew into the Triangle, and were never seen again! That was four months ago. We just saw the ghost of Taylor's plane!"
They all looked at Dan in shock. Maybe he was a bit paranoid, but then again, was the plane that they had just seen TF-28? And if it wasn't what plane was it? They decided then to take the tube, and deliver it to Fort Lauderdale when they returned to port.
At Fort Lauderdale Naval-Air station, the radio station was in confusion.
"How could that have been Taylor?! He's dead, isn't he?"
"Well, if it was, how was he still flying? How did he survive the storm?!"
The base commander, Jones was deeply disturbed. "If that wasn't Taylor, how did he know that my name was Jones? Or that I was the one on the radio? Is it possible that he is still alive?"
Whatever plane it was, it shut off it's radio, then turned around to fly back into the Bermuda Triangle, where it disappeared a few moments later. Nobody at the base knew what to do, as none of what just happened was covered by protocol.
After dropping off the tube, Taylor stuck around just long enough to witness the tube being picked up by the fishermen, who then seemed to be prepping their boat for a return to land.
"Must be trying to beat the upcoming storm", he thought. He then he flew back towards the portal. By this point though, the weather was starting to really deteriorate. A rain had begun, and the wind was really picking up. "Gosh, I really need to hurry. That portal could collapse at any time!"
Taylor then pushed his throttle farther forwards, causing the plane to go faster. "I have to make it, I have to make it!"
"Oh no."
"What is it Princess?" James asked.
"The portal is beginning to destabilize! I can see Taylor coming, but he has to hurry! This portal could collapse any minute now!"
James looked towards the portal. "Come on Taylor, come on! You have to make this!"
"Come on", Taylor growled, "Come on! Work with me old girl! We have to make it to that portal! I can already see that it's collapsing!"
Taylor pushed his throttle as far forwards as it could go. The plane was now flying ax maximum speed, and the engine was approaching the red-line. Too much more stress for a long period, and something inside of the engine could break, causing it to seize, and fail.
"Come on old girl, don't let me down now! Just a little bit more, that's all I need!"
Suddenly, lightning began to strike close to the portal.
"Oh no! That'll collapse it for sure! Come on, I'm now about 5 miles away! I can make it!"
"Augh! I need help keeping this portal open! Taylor is only a few miles away, and closing rapidly!"
Several unicorns came to their princess's aide, and used their magic to keep the portal open. However, even combined, they maybe had less than a minute until the portal was doomed.
"Come on Taylor, hurry!" Celestia mentally pleaded with him. "Just a little bit more, you can make it!"
From inside of the engine, something did indeed break. One of the engine's pistons began to crack, and this caused a huge strain on the engine. With an audible BANG!, something else snapped, and smoke began to come from the engine. Taylor could see that he had mere seconds before the portal collapsed.
"It's all or nothing now! BOOM OR BUST!"
Back in Equestria, Celestia and the other unicorns finally lost their battle with the portal. With an audible WHOOSH!!!! The portal suddenly closed.
"Did, did he make it?" Redheart asked nervously.
"I don't know, Nurse Redheart. I could see him right there, but the portal collapsed before I could see if he made it inside. It did collapse on our end, but if he made it inside from his end before it collapses, then he should pop up in a few minutes. Assuming of course that nothing went wrong, or that he didn't make it."
Redheart didn't even dare dwell on that thought. She kept looking up to the sky, hoping against all hope that Taylor made it inside.
Mere seconds before the collapse, Taylor's engine was at the brink of seizing up. It had had all it could take, now several of its pistons were cracked or broken, and the smoke kept coming. However, it was then that Taylor saw the portal going. It was now or never.
"AUGH!!!!!' He flipped the plane onto it's side, and then, just mere moments before the portal closed, the plane whizzed inside, then the portal closed, just barely missing the plane's tail, and then Blue 1 was gone, never to be seen, or heard from on Earth ever again.