//------------------------------//
// First night 
// Story: A new kind of flier 
// by Karlsson 
//------------------------------//

As the day started to come to an end the ponies started to go home one by one, until only I and AJ remained. The orange country pony had taken a bit of a liking to me after I had challenged Rainbow to race me the next day. She said that she had never seen anyone do something so bold and that I was either really brave or really dumb to challenge Ponyville’s best flyer to race me in her natural element, some ting that no one had ever thought of doing after that race where she got her cutie mark. AJ had challenged RD to a race at one point but that had been on the ground where they had been equally matched.


"So K how are you going to race against Rainbow tomorrow? AJ asked as we sat down next to a tree to have a bite to eat. AJ still had some sweets we had got from Sugar cube corner and I prepared the MRE I had with me. "It is still true that you don't have any wings on you ya know."

I thought for a few moments if I should tell her about The F35-2s. Finishing my meal I decided that I could trust her and that she would not to tell anyone about it until the next morning.


"AJ I can show you, but you have to promise not to tell anypony about it until next morning when the race starts. Think you can handle that?"

"Sugar cube I ain't no Twilight. You can trust me with whatever you have to show."

"OK follow me then and I will show you my wings and I promise that nopony has ever seen something like what you are about to see." AJ was really happy when she heard that she was going to be the first pony to see my wings. We started walking towards the field where I had hid the F35-2s. On the way AJ asked if I wanted to race her to a tree about 200 yards ahead. I told her that I did not have a chance against her in something like that. She was cheating after all, I only had two legs against her four.
"Oh come on," She said with a begging look on her face. "it will be fun."


"OK," I sighed. "But I get a head start!" And I started running before she could react.

"Hay! No fair partner." She laughed as she too started to run. She quickly made up the ground I got from my head start and as she got up to me she gave me a wink and said.

"See you at that tree slow poke"

She started to pass me but I was not going down without a fight. I decided to test my theory of that these ponies where big and strong enough to ride, So jumped up on her back. She was really surprised by this so she stopped and turned her head to look at me.


"Now just what the hay do you think you are doing up there?" She had an angry expression on her face but I noticed some features in her eyes that told me that she did not really have any big problem with this. So I gave her a smile and rested one arm on her head and stretched the other one in front of her, giving a slight laugh as I spoke.

“No matter how fast you run my hand will be at that tree first." But as I said this her face got that same look that she had when
she kicked down Rainbow from her napping tree.

"If you can take this bull by the horns you better be ready for a ride." I started to think that I might be in over my head to be riding on AJs back knowing how strong she is and all. She turned her head around and there was just one thing going through my head and that was. 'Oh shit'. Suddenly she started jumping around bucking with both her front and back legs trying to buck me of her back laughing as she did, shouting.

"You won’t be able to hold on for long partner!" I could only hold on for a few seconds before an extra hard kick tossed me in the direction of the tree we were supposed to be racing to, during the ride we had gotten closer to the tree and this flight got me just 20 yards from it with AJ standing just about 6 yards behind me. With this advantage I might actually win this.

I hit the ground surprisingly softly considering the force of AJs kicks so I was able to get on my feet very quickly and started to run. AJ noticed this just a little too late to catch up to me, and I reached the tree only a few inches before she did. I sat down leaning against the tree panting after the exhausting sprint.

"Looks like I won." I said through my panting. "And you were right it was fun."

"Looks like you did but only by this much." She held her front hooves up showing the distastes I had won by. "And it’s only because you rode in my back half the way you lazy human." She said with light chuckle.

"I guess so, but you have to admit it made things more interesting.


"It did, we are going to have to do this more often. Think you can handle it?"

"I am up for that but next time I want to have something to hold on to so I don't fly off on your first strong kick"


After we had caught our breaths we continued to walk towards the F35-2s.

"OK AJ we are just about there. My wings are behind these trees."


"Well what are we waiting for?" She asked. “Let me see them already"

"I have hid my wings over there so I am going to ask you to stay her until I uncover them."

She sat down and put an expecting look on her face. I took that as my go ahead so I went behind the trees and started to remove the shrubbery I had used for camouflage. When I was done I climbed in to the cockpit and called to AJ telling her come and look. When she got past the trees her jaw dropped open.


"What do you think?" I asked from the cockpit raising my arms in to the air.

“What in tarnation is that!? She said pointing a front hoof at the plane.

"This dear AJ is my set of wings, it´s an F35-2s fighter jet." I said banging the side of the aircraft from the cockpit creating a metallic clinging sound. "It can go faster than 1.8 times the speed of sound thanks to the Pratt & Whitney F135 mark2 engine inside it.
"Now how’s that for an iron pony?"


I could tell that she had no idea what I was talking about. And why would she? Not even every human knows what a Pratt & Whitney F135 mark2 engine is. I climbed out of the jet, walked up to her and closed her mouth by lifting her jaw up.

"How can that huge piece of metal even fly?" She asked still in shock. "It`s to big no way it can fly."

"Oh it can fly, trust me. Now let me give you the tour of my wings." We walked closer to the F35-2s and I started telling her about the planes rudders and how they got the plan to move in the direction I wanted to. I told her how the engines created thrust by sucking in air in the front heating it up and then blowing it out from the back. She was amazed of all the buttons, switches and lights in the cockpit and wanted to know how it all could work. I showed her the main stick, the throttle control and the foot pedals used to yaw the plane left and right. I also told her about the radar and how it was sending and receiving signals to find and track other objects in the air. After some time I remembered that I had aborted the systems checks earlier today.

"Hey AJ How would you like to get a little firsthand view of this baby in action? I have to make shore everything is in order for tomorrow’s race." AJ looked really shocked at my question like she had not been expecting it.

“That would be great K: Just let me back of a bit so I am not blown away by all the wind you were talking about." AJ started to climb down but the built in ladder when idea struck me.


"AJ if you want you can be in the copilot seat when I do the tests. We just have to unload some supplies to make room for you"

She had gotten all the way down and was now looking up at me, there was a moment of awkward silence before she yelled.

"Well what are we waiting for partner? Let’s get those supplies unloaded already."

I started to lift out the boxes with different supplies like food and first aid and handed them down to Applejack who was carrying them away where they would not be blown away by the jet winds from the engine. Al tho I mead shore to carry the case holding the carbine my self, I didn't want to risk having to explain to AJ about the weapons I had with me until a later time.  On the bottom of it all I found the copilot helmet with mask and all. I picked it up and put it under my arm.

"OK AJ climb in and I'll get you set up." She climbed up to the copilot-seat and sat down.

"This feels kind of strange, I have only seen Lyra sit like this before. What is that by the way?"

She pointed a hoof at the helmet I was holding under my arm.

"This? It is a helmet that has been integrated with the jets systems. I am going to have to ask you to put it on. Just put your hat in your lap for that time."


"Why." AJ asked probably being a little skeptical about taking her hat of.

"Well first of all for safety and also because this helmet and my helmet have two way radios inside so we can communicate with one another. The engine makes a lot of noise you see."


She nodded and put the hat in her lap so I could put the helmet on her head. It was a bit of a tight fit but I got it on with a little bit of twisting, after that I secured the seat belt around her and mead shore her helmet was connected. And lastly came the mask that would supply air at high altitudes and it also contained the microphone for the radio.

"OK AJ you are all set, just remember to not touch anything unless I say so."

"Ah got it K. Not touching anything." I gave her a nod and put myself in the pilot’s seat. When everything was strapped down and connected I turned the plain on and immediately I could hear AJ talking through the internal coms.

"K!? K what's going on? A bunch of lights just turned on and are these dials supposed to move like this? What do I do what do I do!?"

"Ha-ha. No need to worry AJ that is what is supposed to happen. I will tell you if there are any problems OK. You will be just fine." She took a deep breath and spoke.


"OK partner, ah trust you."

"OK good. Look over your right side I am just going to test he flaps there first, then the left."

"Got it."

"OK, right side." I looked over and moved the stick. To my delight everything was responding nicely. AJ sounded impressed to, making sound like wow and ahh. "Left side." I turned my head to see that everything was responding nicely on that side as well.

I made some more minor computer checks before saying.

"OK AJ everything checks out now I am just going to take us up a bit to see that I can get up and over these trees."

AJ only responded with a simple OK. I turned around to give her a thumps up before turning up the throttle, the engine came to life and being a VTOL or Vertical Take Off and Landing aircraft it slowly started to go straight up.

"We have taken of, all systems are functioning and everything is stable. How are you doing back there?"

"Well partner, I have had a lot of memorable experiences in my life but this has got to be one of the most memorable things that ah have ever experienced."

"Ha-ha you think this is memorable? Just wait till you see me race against Rainbow tomorrow. Now that will be memorable."

After a short hover above the trees I landed the F35-2s and powered it down. By this time it had started to become dark outside and we both started to get tired so after getting AJ out of the copilot’s seat I told her that she should get home and get some rest so that she would have enough energy to come to the race tomorrow.


"I guess that you are right K, I am getting kind of sleepy." She started to walk back home but suddenly stopped turned to face me. "What about you?" She asked.

"What about me?"

"Where are you going to sleep? It is going to get too cold to sleep outside and if your seat feels like the one in the back did then you will be stiff allover if you sleep in there. Why don’t you come down to Sweet apple acres and spend the night there?"

"Can I do that, are you sure the rest of your family won't mind?" I was starting to hope that I was going to spend the night in a worm bed instead of the cockpit seat.


"It will be no problem at all sugarcube." She said with an encouraging wink.

"That would be grate, thanks AJ I will just pack up the supplies we took out, hide my wings and we can be on our way."

After we packed up and I had hid the jet we started to walk towards sweat apple acres. On the way we had several races like the one we had on the way to the F35-2s. Only this time AJ seemed to be more interested in the bronco buck then the actual racing. She practically let me get on her back only so that she could buck me of again and again, I was getting better at holding on to her. I managed to hold on for almost 10 seconds without her holding back like she had done before.

We eventually reached Sweet apple acres, both of us being totally exhausted after all the running and "bull riding" we did on the way. AJ showed me to a room with a big bed that had been pleased near a window, the covers had a nice pattern, there was a bunch of squares of which some had apples in them. Other than the bed there was the window, a table mirror with some drawers and a clock on the wall of the room. Before I had any more time to observe my new surroundings AJ spoke.


"This is where we will be sleeping tonight." She said as she closed the door to the room.

"We?" I asked a bit surprised.

"Yeah, this is the only available room that has a bed that is big enough for both of us to sleep in, ah didn't exactly have time to prepare one of the guestrooms ya know."

I hesitated a bit having seen and read some r34 stuff back on earth and I didn't really want to be in a situation like that on my first night in Equestria. It was as if AJ had read my mind as she laughed a bit.

"Ha-ha don't ya worry sugarcube, I aint gonna try no funny business tonight."

Did she just say what I think she did? OK it didn't matter how good of a poker face I had I still felt my cheeks blushing. After all AJ was the kind of girl I would have been in to back on earth, spunky, independent, strong, honest and that southern accent and down home style was something I really liked.

In the end I decided that I was too tired to argue and that AJ did represent the element of honesty so I didn't need to worry about her trying any "funny business". So I sat down on the bed and started to take the knife holster of witch allowed me to take my boots off. But when I toke of my black jumpsuit AJ looked a bit surprised, I guess that she did not expect me to have more than one layer of clothes on. Wearing a black T-shirt and a pair of boxers I put the rest of my things by the table mirror. Then I noticed AJs pulsed facial expression, so I asked her if there was something wrong.

"That mark on your arm. Is... Is it your cutimark?" She was pointing a hoof at my right arm where I had the same Grim reaper tattooed that was on my F35-2s. lucky I was still wearing my shirt, I had some scars on my body I didn't really want to talk about. I pushed them out of my head and pointed at the tattoo asking if this was what she was talking about to which she nodded.

"No this is not a cutimark, we humans don't have them. This is a tattoo, it is a picture that has been permanently drawn in my skin so that I can always have it with me. You have seen this image before you know, is painted on the back of my wings. I got it when I started to fly with them."

"That is kind of cool. How is a tattoo made? Just paint it on with a brush and some special permanent collars or something?"

"Not that simple. The ink used to make a tattoo is actually put in to the skin by coating a rapidly moving needle with it. When the needle pierces the skin a small amount of the ink is permanently fused with it."


"A needle? But that has to take thousands of stings to make something like that. That has got to hurt right?"

"Well it hurts a bit but that is a good thing, if one wants a tattoo they should be committed to it and there for be able to take a bit of pain."

"Like I said cool, but don't you tell Apple Bloom or her friend about tattoo making. Who knows what they would do If they found out that they could just paint a cutimark on like that."

"It would not work for them anyway. Unlike me they have fur all over their bodies and a tattoo can only be put on skin."


"Well that is a relief. So you humans only have that hair on your head and now wear else?

"We have little hair all over our bodies, but it does not keep us warm though so we humans wear a lot of clothes, mostly to help us cope with difficult climates like tough terrain." I held up one of my boots. "This helps me to walk in places I couldn't reach otherwise, I don't have hoofs so I can’t really walk on rough surfaces without hurting myself." Then I pulled on the shirt I was wearing. "And this keeps me warm kind of like your fur, like I said humans have almost no fur you know.

"So no fur huh?"


"No not really." I replied and yawned. "But can we talk about it some other time? I really need to get some sleep before the race tomorrow."

"Ah guess you're right, we don't want you to be all sleepy when you win tomorrow." It was really nice to hear her say that. I could practically feel a worming sensation in my chest as I felt less lonely then I had done for a long time.


"You really think I will win? I asked as I lied down in the bed and closed my eyes falling asleep almost instantly, but before I did I felt AJ lift the covers and lied down next to me and whisper.

"I know you will sugar."