The flashing beacons from the wing tips and tail of the C-130 were the only things visible as the sun disappeared behind the horizon, making way for Luna's moon.
The cockpit became dark, and nobody could see anything. Applejack tapped Jake on the shoulder.
"Uh Jake, ya think y'all can turn on a light in here? Ah can't see nothin'"
"Yup, no problem. I have to anyways."
He reached over and flipped on the instrument panel light switch. In an instant, every gauge and knob on the control boards were lit up, making the cockpit glow bluish white.
He banked to the right and turned around, heading back to Ponyville.
"We best be getting back now. I've got to load up and get ready to go to Appleoosa tomorrow. Are you guys coming?"
Rarity spoke up.
"I think I speak for everypony here when I say that I can't miss out on seeing that ruffian Speed Demon get his flank handed to him. So yes, we're all coming."
"Good. We should be back in about an hour. Once I land I-oh crap."
"What is it darling?"
Jake scratched the back of his head.
"Uh, I just forgot, it's dark out and there's no lights on the field to tell me where to land. It'll be almost impossible."
They sat there in silence for a second before Mac broke it.
"Well we're up a creek without a paddle if ya ask me."
Rainbow Dash got up out of her seat.
"Not to worry Jake. I'll handle this. Let me out of here, and I'll fly back to Ponyville and figure something out."
He sighed.
"That sounds like the only option right about now, so yeah let's do it. Let me open the extraction hatch."
The pegasus was confused.
"Uh, what's that?"
"It's a small hatch in the cargo bay's floor. When you open it, you step inside, and it forms an airlock. Then you press a button and fall out the other side to the ground. It was designed so planes didn't have to descend to equal out pressure. However, this is still too high for you considering you're not in a jumpsuit with an oxygen mask."
"It's fine. All I have to do is hold my breath and curl into a ball to drop. Once I get low enough after only twenty seconds or so, I'll be able to fly again like normal."
"Ok. Just be careful. Twilight, make sure things are running smoothly up here. It's on autopilot so you shouldn't have to touch anything. Just warn me if something goes awry."
She grabbed the yoke and focused in on all the gauges.
"You got it."
Jake and Rainbow got up and headed out the cockpit door. Applejack called back to them.
"You be careful out there Dash! Don't go gettin' yerself hurt!"
The rainbow mare turned around and smirked.
"I'll be fine. I'm the best young flier in Equestria, remember?"
The farm pony rolled her eyes at that statement.
Jake led her over to the left of the Ferrari, and stopped at a square hatch about two feet by two feet. The perimeter was surrounded by a black and yellow striped caution border, and a large red twist and pull handle was on the bottom half of the door. A small glass window in the center allowed whoever was dropping the person to see them fall out safely.
He reached his hoof out and grabbed the handle. He turned it counterclockwise, then pulled up. The door rose with a hiss, then it swung open, revealing a compartment just large enough for a pony of Macs size to fit in. A small red lever with a little LED light above it that was sunk into the wall was the only thing inside.
"Ok, all you have to do is climb in, then when the little light above the lever turns green, pull it down, and you'll fly out. Be careful. Please."
Dash put a hoof on his shoulder.
"Jake, relax. I'll be fine. When I get to Ponyville, I'll enlist the help of some of the locals and we'll line the sides of the field with lanterns that we use on the streets. I remember the direction you took off, so I'll have them outline that particular area."
"Thanks Dash. You're really helping me out here."
She jumped down into the hatch, standing on her hind legs. She looked up at him one last time.
"I'm the Element of Loyalty Jake. It's what I do."
With that she closed the hatch door over her, and readied herself.
After a couple suspenseful seconds that felt like minutes, the little green light flickered on, giving the all clear signal. She let out a long breath and grabbed the lever.
"How do you get yourself into these situations Dash?"
She pulled the lever down, and was immediately sucked out of the plane. As she fell, the only sound that could be heard was the wind whipping around making her mane fly all over. Tthe temperature was freezing, and a little bit of ice began to form on the tip of her muzzle. Dash looked up behind her and saw the distant red and green strobes of the C-130 flickering on and off before plummeting into the thick layer of clouds and out of sight.
Jake returned to the cockpit and sat down again. He grabbed the yoke and turned off the autopilot, beginning a descent.
"I want to get down below this cloud layer before we get there so I can set up an approach. Normally, I'd have instruments that guide me exactly where I need to be."
He gestured over to the GPS, showing their location and altitude.
"But since there aren't any airports here, it's basically useless."
Mac chuckled.
"This'll be the second time in less than a week that you've come in fer a crash landin'."
"It's not a crash landing yet. Lets hope it stays that way. I hope Dash is ok."
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"Come on let's get these lanterns up! They're gonna be here soon!"
Rainbow Dash was directing about ten ponies who were frantically setting up the lanterns to border the makeshift runway. She had been determined to get back safely, and didn't let the cold or lack of oxygen get to her. Because of that, she made it back in less than fifteen minutes.
Lyra, one of the volunteers, ran up to her.
"Dash, I don't think we're going to have enough for the entire length."
She scratched her chin in thought for a moment.
"Ok. Just line them up as far as you can. Jake's a smart stallion, and I think he'll figure it out. All we need to do is let him see exactly where he needs to come in."
"Got it."
Lyra ran back in a hurry to join the other nine.
"Celestia I hope this works."
"Oh, it should."
"What the? Who's there?"
Rainbow turned around to face the stranger, and almost fainted. For that stranger was none other than Soarin, accompanied by Spitfire and Fleetfoot.
"S-Soarin! What are you doing here?!"
He walked up closer to her.
"We saw the plane pass Canterlot. We were going to follow it, but it went to high for us to pursue. I figured it must be heading back at some point, so I came here to wait. I've been dying to get a look at that thing."
Fleetfoot looked over to the volunteers running about.
"What's going on here?"
Rainbow Dash explained the whole situation to them. Soarin had a worried look on his face at the end.
"Ok, I think I know what to do here. Is there any way to get in contact with Jake?"
She shook her head.
"Not that I know of. Why?"
"I needed to know, because I have a plan to help him. Ok Spitfire, you follow to the right, Fleetfoot on the left. We are now an escort unit."
The three of them pressed a small button on their suits, and flashing white strobe lights started up on the top of their head gear. Dash was stunned.
"Where'd you guys get those?! I've never seen them before!"
Spitfire spoke up.
"They're special issue for when we want to practice high speeds at night. We're supposed to always have them on."
She looked to the sky.
"Ok, where would we find the plane right now?"
Dash pointed to the capitol city.
"He should be north of here passing Canterlot by now."
"Ok thanks. Come on guys."
With that the three bolted off to the north to rendezvous with Jake and the rest of Dash's friends. She watched them leave and turned back to the now semi-lit runway.
"This...is so...AWESOME!"
-------------------------------------
Fluttershy was getting nervous by the time they passed Cantelrot.
"What if Dash got hurt? What if Jake can't land?!"
Rarity put a comforting hoof on her back.
"There there Fluttershy dear. Everything's going to be fine. Dash is an amazing flier, and Jake is a trained professional at this sort of thing. Right Jake?"
He nodded in agreement and started to flip switches to prepare for landing. He was reaching up for another one when he stopped at the sight before him. Three pegasi were flying in a V-formation about fifty feet in front of the C-130. The lead pegasus fell back to Jake's window and made eye contact with him. Applejack's jaw dropped.
"Sweet Celestia it's Soarin."
Jake turned back to her confused.
"Who?"
"Jes listen to what he says an' we'll all be fine."
He skeptically looked out the window to the Wonderbolt captain. He made a gesture to follow him, and immediately Jake caught on.
"Hot damn! It's an escort!"
He nodded to signal his understanding, and Soarin flew back up to his position.
Jake lowered the flaps to ten degrees and pulled back on the throttles.
"Ok everypony, everything's going to be fine now."
The three Wonderbolts began their descent towards Ponyville. The lights on their uniforms providing a beacon of guidance towards safety.