~~~~~
12:00 Hours
February 6, 1987
On Approach for Celestine Aerodrome
~~~~~
The camouflaged C-47 began to make a rapid decent as two Home Guard P-39 Airacobras flew alongside us. The plane suddenly leveled out and touched down on the north facing runway of the aerodrome. The pilot turned off as soon as he could and I saw a black staff car waiting for me at the hangar. As the pilot let the plane roll to a stop I stood up and walked to the back of the plane. Opening the doors I hooked on the steps and made my way down to the tarmac. Walking towards the staff car I saw the form of an alicorn step out from the back seat.
“Princess Celestia. I had heard you’d been fatally wounded.” I said as I gave her a quick salute.
“As did I. But I chose to ignore it and continue living.” She replied and in downtown I could see smoke rising from the south side of the palace.
“What’s the level of damage to the palace?”
“Not much. I had Luna end the martial law over the city.”
“Where is she?” I asked as we climbed into the back of the black Continental.
“She’s back at the palace helping to clean up. Thankfully the raid hasn’t done much than collateral damage and it’s managed to boost support for the war.”
“Any increase in enlistment numbers?”
“Most major recruiting offices report there’s been a steady increase all day. Especially in ponies wanting to become pilots with each branch.”
“Have you beefed up security in the city?”
“We’ve brought in marines from the new base in Ponyville. As well as one of their best new soldiers.”
“And who would that be?”
“Corporal Fluttershy.”
“Fluttershy actually made it into the marines?! How in the holy hell did she manage that?”
“The drill sergeant said she was the best recruit of the lot. Surprising considering her calm and peaceful demeanor.” Celestia said as she took a sip of the tea she had in a small thermos. “Her drill instructor actually said she has the possibility to replace him if she works hard enough.”
“Are you serious? How can that weak, shy pegasus possibly have the possibility of becoming a drill sergeant?”
~~~~~
15:00 Hours
February 6, 1987
Highway Marnie Corps Base
Canterlot
~~~~~
I stood on a reviewing platform as marines marched past and I looked for a yellow pegasus mare among the reviewing column. Finally I noticed Fluttershy in the front row of a group of marines in her olive colored dress uniform. Almost forty minutes later the reviewing parade was over and I made my way through the crowds of marines to find Fluttershy. As I walked past a small group I noticed a familiar pink mane under an olive colored cap.
“Fluttershy?”
She turned around and gave me a smile that stretched from ear to ear.
“James. I’m so happy you’re here. Mac told you the news right?” She asked as she showed me a diamond ring.
“Yeah, he told me. You look good in a uniform. I’m surprised you made it.”
“I was too at first. Although I’ve finally gotten the self-confidence I needed because of it. I’m no longer afraid to speak up for myself.” She said with a smile. Just then a young private bumped into her and I saw his cup of coffee spill onto her uniform. “What the fuck was that?!” She shouted as she spun around. “What the fuck was that?!” The young private quickly realized what he had now done and I could see a small flash of fear in his eyes. “Private Pile, I should have known you were the little fuckup! You have five seconds, exactly five fucking seconds, to un-fuck yourself! I’m amazed you’re even here! Did your parents have any children who lived?!”
“Ma’am, yes, ma’am!” He barked back.
“I bet they regret that! You’re so goddamn ugly you could be a modern art masterpiece! And why in the name of Celestia did you have a coffee on the parade grounds?!”
“Well, ma’am, I needed some coffee.”
“Oh, you needed coffee?! Out-fucking-standing! Your ass is on my shit list and I expect my uniform cleaned by oh five hundred tomorrow. Understood?!”
“Ma’am, yes, ma’am!”
“Now get the fuck out of my sight!”
The private quickly galloped away and Fluttershy turned around to continue talking with me. As we talked I noticed a stallion in a gunnery sergeant’s uniform talking to a lance corporal who pointed in our direction. The gunnery sergeant trotted over and tapped Fluttershy on the shoulder.
“Congratulations corporal. You’re being deployed to Ponia.*”
“When?”
“The eleventh. Congratulations Corporal Fluttershy. I expect great things from you over there.” He said as he gave her a quick hoofshake. As soon as he was gone I noticed a slightly panicked look in Fluttershy’s eyes.
“Flutters, what’s wrong?”
“Well the wedding was planned for the twentieth. We’re going to have to move it up and I don’t know if Mac and I could manage that.” She replied as we began to walk towards the gate where she was to be dismissed so that she could return to Ponyville. We met the MP who was in his little shack with her dismissal orders. She got her orders and we climbed into my new car, a sea foam colored 1959 Cadillac. Fluttershy looked around at the interior of the car as I started it up and we started driving down the road to Ponyville. Up above us a plane with a polished aluminum fuselage and blue wings roared past and we both looked out the windshield at the plane which was now ahead of us. I could see the propeller was losing rpms and the engine seemed to start coughing. Flooring the gas I sped up to catch up to the descending plane as we hit the plains south of Canterlot. The planes propeller was now near wind milling as the engine seemed to be at idle. Fluttershy and I watched in state of shock as the pilot crash-landed the plane in a small field. I slammed on the brake and the Cadillac screeched to a stop. We hurriedly got out of the car and ran over to the plane where the pilot was now out of the cockpit and inspecting the engine and propeller.
“Are you alright?!” I shouted and he looked up at me.
“I’m fine but the old girl is busted up pretty bad. We can fix her though, she’ll go faster.” He replied and I immediately recognized the voice.
“Fancy Pants?”
He removed his leather flight helmet and his blue mane fell out. “Nice to see you too general. Do you mind if I ask for a ride back to the diner just down the road?”
“Of course not. Got everything you need from the plane?”
“Yes sir.”
“Fantastic. Climb in and we’ll all get some food at the diner.” I said as I gestured towards the car. We all made our way to the Cadillac and climbed in. Driving down the road I looked in the rearview mirror at Fancy Pants who was rubbing his head. “You sure you’re alright?”
“Fine, fine. Just a little bump on the head, that’s all.” He replied as he set his flight helmet on the seat next to him. We drove in silence for about twenty minutes before I pulled into the small lot in front of the roadside diner. We all climbed out and made our way into the small red and white building. Removing my hat I placed it on the hat rack by the door as a young unicorn mare trotted up to us.
“Three?” She asked a she grabbed some menus.
“Yeah.”
We followed her to a booth and slid in as she set them menus down.
“What can I get you to drink?” She asked as she held her small notepad in her magic.
“Just tea for all three of us.” I replied and she hurried off to get our drinks. We picked up our menus and I noticed Fancy Pants looking at it funny.
“You know, I’ve never heard of half the items on this menu.” He said as he continued to look it over.
“You’ve never had a hayburger before?”
“They’ve never had anything like it at any of the restaurants I eat at in Canterlot.”
“Well I’d say it’s high time you tried one.” I said as I noticed the waitress trotting back towards our table.
“So are you ready to order?” She said with a smile and she was again holding her notepad and pencil in her magic.
“I think it’s just gonna be hayburgers and fries for us.” I told her with a smile as we handed her our menus. As she trotted away to place our orders I looked over Fancy Pants’ leather jacket. On his left chest I noticed his name in fabric paint. “That’s a nice jacket.”
“Thank you. I have a friend who sent me this from Ponyville.”
“Well who ever made it certainly did a nice job making it.”
“Also, do you know if the navy needs a new transport plane?” He asked as he leaned back in his side of the booth.
“I’m sure they would. What do you have in mind?”
“Fancy Pants Industries is currently building the biggest plane in the world. Uses as little metal as possible. Made primarily of wood.”
“How big is this plane of yours?” I asked as I leaned forward.
“The wingspan is longer than a hoofball field.” He replied coolly.
“That’s over three hundred feet. Are you sure that’d be practical?” I asked as the waitress brought us our food.
“It would be capable of carrying nearly eight hundred fully equipped troops. I trust the navy will see the possibilities.”
“And I trust they’ll see a big bill for it too.” I told him as I dipped one of my fries in a small cup full of ranch dressing. “Admiral Ironside isn’t the kind to appreciate spending more than absolutely needed. He’s so uptight about stuff like that that if you were to shove a lump of coal up his ass in two weeks you’d have a diamond. If the transport ships are doing fine then he’ll just brush your offer aside.”
“But I trust he’ll be interested in a fighter design I have.”
“Look, if you can come up with a good pitch for your planes then I’ll arrange a meeting between you two but it’ll ultimately need the approval of at least one of the princesses.”
“I can live with that.” He replied as he took his first bite of a hayburger.
“So why did you want to come down here again?” I asked him as I ate my fries.
“Oh, right. I wanted to see if they had a phone I could use. I saw this place while I was flying. Then the rpms started to drop with no explanation and then the engine just quit all together. That’s the problem with wars. It’s difficult to find good mechanics.”
“I’ll be right back. I need to use the phone real quick and then I’ll just let you have it.” I told him. Getting up from the booth I walked over to the small phone booth in the corner of the diner. Stepping into the cramped wooden box I shut the door and picked up the phone.
“Operator.”
“Yes, can you connect me to Ponyville please?”
“One moment sir.”
There was a click before the voice of the Ponyville operator came over the phone.
“Ponyville operator.”
“Hey Switchboard. Can you connect me to 1237 North Main Street?”
“Will do. One moment.” I stood in the small phone booth as she connected me to home.
“Hello?”
“Hey honey.”
“James, where are you?”
“Well that’s the thing. We had a bit of a delay in getting home.”
“We?”
“I was giving Fluttershy a ride home from Canterlot.”
“So what’s the delay?”
“We were driving along route three and an airplane crash landed in a field near us. We stopped to help the pilot and now we’re at that little burger joint about an hour from town.”
“I see. So when’re you going to be home?”
“Hopefully within the next couple of hours.” I told her as I turned to look at the booth where Fluttershy and Fancy Pants sat talking.
“Alright. Well be careful driving home.”
“I will dear.”
She hung up and I did the same. Stepping out of the phone booth I walked over to the booth and slid into my spot as Fancy Pants slipped out and trotted over to the phone.
“So Fluttershy, you worried about going overseas?”
“A little. You’ve been in combat. What’s it like?”
“Well I’m pretty sure it’s different than being in a bomber or a fighter. But one thing you need to know is, never get friendly with anyone you serve with. You’ll only live to see them die right in front of you .Keep to yourself and keep your head down. That’s about all the advice I can think of. Oh yeah, and shoot straight.” I told her as I took a sip of my Coke. A few minutes later Fancy Pants returned to the table and pulled out his wallet.
“Lunch is on me.” He told us as the waitress trotted back towards us with the bill. He took the bill from her with a smile and I noticed she had a slight blush as he smiled at her. Fluttershy and I slid out of the booth and walked over by Fancy Pants. “No need to wait for me. I have a ground crew on the way to pick up me and the racer. I’ll just wait here. Thank you for the lift general.” Fancy Pants offered his hoof for a shake which I accepted and he gave Fluttershy a kiss on the hoof. We walked out of the diner and climbed into the Cadillac where Fluttershy seemed worried again.
“Fluttershy? You alright?”
“I just remembered something. If Mac and I are deployed then who’ll take care of my sister?”
“Your sister?”
“Scootaloo. She can take care of herself but if you haven’t noticed, she can be a little reckless sometimes.”
“I never knew Scootaloo was your sister.”
“Most ponies don’t. Those that do can’t seem to grasp how we’re sisters. The shiest pony in Equestria and the wildest filly in Ponyville are somehow siblings.” She replied.
“Well, I suppose we could watch her. It wouldn’t be much more work than normal since Sabre left for Applewood this morning.”
“Are you sure? I wouldn’t want any more stress on Thunder than she needs.”
“Honestly I think she’s looking forward to having more foals around. Between Sabre being gone all the time and Typhoon being close to graduation, it’ll be good to have Scootaloo around.”
“Well, alright.” Fluttershy said with a bit of hesitation. “I’ll need to get you the list of things for her.”
“Like what?”
“Well she needs to take her meds with breakfast and dinner, you need to talk with Ms. Cheerilee about finding her a math tutor, and make sure she stays out of trouble to name a few things.” She told me as we continued to drive towards Ponyville. We talked all the way to Ponyville and when we entered town I noticed the streets were empty.
“Hey Flutters, does the town seem a little deserted to you too?” I asked as we continued to drive through town.
“Yeah, they do.” She replied while looking around at the empty streets. As we drove through the town square a brown mare in an air raid warden’s uniform flagged us down.
“Identification?” She asked as I rolled down the window.
“Commanding General James Jones and Lance Corporal Fluttershy.” I told her. She snapped to attention and I gave her a quick salute back. “What’s going on sergeant?”
“Sir, the enemy is using long range bombers and fighters to try and attack airbases in Equestria. They’ve tried to bomb Ponyville overnight but our pilots were able to intercept them in time.”
“So no bombs fell on Ponyville?”
“Not that we know of sir.” She replied.
“Do we know what kind of bombs they were carrying?”
Just as she was about to answer us a familiar orange mare came galloping down the road.
“James! The orchard’s on fire!”
“Dear god. Fluttershy, you go and ring the school bell, get everyone you can to help.” I said as I climbed out of the car to look at the orange/ red glow on the horizon. “AJ, you go try and help at the orchard! Sergeant, get as many other air raid wardens as you can and try to keep order!” I shouted to them as I climbed back in the car and sped away for the aerodrome. Behind me I heard the sergeant’s whistle crying out for the other wardens in town. As I drove towards the base I saw the MPs at the gate open it for me and I drove through before skidding to a stop in a thin layer of snow.
“Sound the alarm! Get everything that can hold water! Buckets, bottles, metal drums! Whatever we can use!”
“Why sir?”
“Fire at Sweet Apple Acres! The whole orchard is on fire!” I replied as I began running for the ramp where several bombers sat under the overcast sky. As I ran for the bombers the base siren began to wail. Pilots, aircrews, and ground crews all ran for their planes. As they ran a voice came over the PA system.
“All personnel, begin filling anything you can with water!”
“General!” I turned to look at where the voice came from. Behind me Big Macintosh was galloping towards me. “Where’re the empty oil drums?!”
“They’re by the motor pool!”
Mac galloped away and I could see crews filling glass bottles with water and tying them together so that they would scatter when released. They passed them to other crews that were loading them onto the racks under Warhawks, Lightnings, Mustangs, and any other plane that could carry them. Meanwhile bomber crews were loading fifty-five gallon drums filled with water into the bomb bays of B-17s. Running over to the hangar where the Tomcats sat gathering dust, I met the crew chief for my personal P-38 Lightning.
“Sir, we’ve got your plane fueled up and ready to fly. We’ve got drop tanks with water on the hard points.”
“Call the tower, have them see if there’s any recon planes in the area to give us an idea of what we’re dealing with.” I told him as I climbed the ladder up onto the wing of the Lightning.
“Yes sir!” He galloped away towards a phone and I climbed into the cockpit of the Lightning. Strapping into the seat I hooked on the parachute and shut the canopy. Going through the bare minimum of the checklist I started the engines and taxied out to the runway where a P-40 was about to take off.
“Air Force Fifteen Forty-nine is taking off from runway four.” The other pilot said over the radio.
“Air Force Two is taking off, runway four.” Pushing the throttles forward I began to roll down the runway alongside the P-40 and a few moments later we both pulled up and began to climb.
“Air Force Two, this is the tower. One of our recon planes has reported about one hundred fifty acres are on fire and growing. They’ve also reported isolated fire funnels coming from the blaze.”
“Roger that tower. Air Force Two, over and out.”
Leveling out over Ponyville we began to fly towards the burning orchard and I could feel the cockpit beginning to get warmer.
“You getting warm over there too sir?” The P-40 pilot asked.
“If it gets any warmer I’m gonna start sweatin’ like a whore in church. What’s your name airman?”
“Second Lieutenant Flare Charger, sir.”
“Where you from lieutenant?”
“Derby, sir.”
“Never been to Derby. Well, I went to a derby once but it wasn't a town and I lost five hundred bucks. Last time I ever go to Louisville.” I said as I looked down at the flames now under my plane. “Alright Flare, let’s drop tanks and get back.” I called over the radio to him as I wiped the sweat from my forehead. I flipped the switch for the hardpoints and I felt the tanks drop from the plane. Looking out the window I saw the drop tank falling from the P-40 and we began to bank away from the fire. As we leveled out from the turn I noticed the air seemed a little more rough than it had been. “Flare, you feel that?”
“You mean the turbulence? Yeah.”
Only a moment after he had replied, a tower of flames rose up from the ground and we both banked to avoid it. Soon more and more fire tornados began to spring up and we continued to bank left and right to avoid the fire. As I was banking left I felt the plane shudder and the cockpit suddenly felt like a baker’s oven. Looking at the rearview mirror on the canopy I saw the elevator fabric on fire.
“Jesus fucking Christ! I’m on fire!”
“Where’s the fire?”
“It’s my elevator! The fabric’s on fire!”
“Can you last until we’re over the fields up ahead?”
“I don’t know.” I replied as I looked at the mirror again and saw a burnt piece of fabric rip off as the flames licked at the middle of the elevator. “I might. If not I’m goin’ down in flames. That’d be the shits wouldn’t it? I survive bombing missions, flak fire, and enemy fighters only to get killed by an orchard fire.” I radioed over with a nervous chuckle.
“Don’t talk like that sir. I’m sure you’ll make it.”
“Right now I’m pretty sure all that’s keeping me up here is me saying every prayer I know.”
I looked down and I saw the snow covered fields of Ponyville and I began to pull back on the throttle. As I descended I lowered the flaps and dropped the gear. Pulling back on the wheel as I was about to touch down I felt the gear hit and there was a loud crunch from the nose. The nose of the Lightning suddenly hit the ground and it went tail over nose. I felt the seatbelt tighten as I held my arms up in front of my face. ‘Please God let me live.’
~~~~~
19:00 Hours
Ponyville Hospital
Room 203
~~~~~
“Looks like it was just a concussion. Nothing serious. You can go home tonight.” The blue unicorn stallion said as he looked over the medical chart. Thunderstreak glared at me from her seat against the wall as I sat on the hospital bed.
“So that’s it? Just a bump on the head?”
“Pretty much. You’re free to go home. Although, a message for the missus, no hitting him upside the head for this. We don’t need any brain damage.” He said while looking over at Thunderstreak.
“Ugh, fine.” She groaned and I could see her with slight disappointment on her face. Getting up from the bed I grabbed my blue crusher cap off the hat rack and opened the door. Thunderstreak trotted out into the hallway and I followed her out. Just as I was putting on my cap I felt a sharp pain and quickly dropped to the ground. Looking up at Thunderstreak I saw her with a small smile.
“Doctor didn’t say I couldn’t hit you upside the other head.” She said with her smile still on her face.
“You’re gonna be the death of me. You know that?” I said, all the while keep a hand over the family jewels. After a few minutes I was slowly able to stand again by climbing up the wall.
“Mares push a living thing out of us but if a guy gets one little hit to the nuts he’s down. Yet somehow we’re the weaker sex?”
“That’s probably because you all crawled up from hell or something along those lines my dear.” I replied as I was finally able to stop leaning on the wall for support. “Once I make sure my left bollock is still there do you want to go to the dance hall? Glenn is supposed to be performing there tonight.”
“Sure. I don’t have a dress that fits me though.”
“You know that doesn’t matter right?” I asked her as we walked out of the hospital.
“I know. But being the wife of a general means that appearance is everything.”
“No it isn’t. Honestly, how you look isn’t going to be noticed by anyone. Dress or no dress.”
“I heard that the Crystal Empire has an entire squadron of human pilots now. Someone said one of the pilots is here in town.”
“Really? Wonder why I wasn’t informed?”
“I’m sure it’s for good reason sweetie.” She replied as we neared the dance hall and we could hear the band from half a block away. Outside the dance hall there were dozens of pilots, marines, sailors, and soldiers who were all filing in with their dates. We made our way into the crowd and we were soon inside the crowded hall. Looking around I saw Big Mac and Fluttershy sitting at a booth in the corner and we made our way over towards them.
“Mind if we join you?” I asked. Mac waved a hoof for us to sit and we both slid into the booth next to them. “I figured you’d be out at the farm after this afternoon.”
“Not much we can do now. Just replant in the spring and hope for the best.”
“Speaking of hoping for the best, you’re up to twenty three missions right?”
“Eeyup.”
“Well I can guarantee your next two are gonna be milk runs.”
“Fantastic.”
As we sat around in our booth Mac suggested someone getting drinks for us and I was quick to volunteer. While sliding out of the booth I heard someone getting out behind me. Looking back I saw Thunderstreak following me and we both made our way over to the bar. Leaning against the bar I ordered three beers and a class of coke. While I was waiting I became aware of a man standing next to me. Looking over at him I saw he had dark brown hair and blue/green eyes. He smiled and extended his right hand which caused his RAF great coat to flutter a bit.
“You must be General Jones.”
“Please, just call me James.” I said as I shook his hand. “And you are?”
“Captain Jack Harkn-“
“James! You get those drinks yet?!” Mac shouted across the room and I turned to face in his direction.
“Yeah, give me a second!” I shouted back as I grabbed the beer and soda up off the bar. Thunderstreak and I made our way back to the booth and I passed around the drinks. Taking a drink of my beer I wiped my mouth and looked down at the dance floor where dozens of couples danced to the music. Just as the band was halfway through In the Mood the air raid sirens began to wail. Within seconds every servicecolt and mare was running for the door and many left without grabbing their overcoats or caps. Sliding out of the booth I hurried for the door and joined up with a group of pilots running for the airfield. Around us the lights began to go dark as searchlights crisscrossed the sky as the AA guns opened fire on several silhouettes which stood out in the moonlight. As we reached the base I heard the familiar scream of dive bombers and we all dived for cover. As the scream of the dive bombers died off it was replaced by the piercing cry of their bombs falling earthward. There was a tremendous explosion to my right and I felt small bits of dirt and concrete hit my back. Getting up I saw several parked fighters and a hangar completely destroyed.
“Get some fire trucks over here!” Someone shouted as I began to run for an undamaged P-51B. Climbing up onto the wing I opened up the canopy and climbed into the cockpit. Shutting the canopy I fired up the engine and made my way out to the taxiway. Lowering the flaps I firewalled the throttle and began to roar down the taxiway. Pulling back on the stick once I hit ninety I began to climb up towards the enemy bombers. Behind me a P-39 had taken off and was climbing to aid in the attack on the bombers. Banking right I scanned the sky and finally saw the silhouettes of a flight of bombers at my two o’clock. Lining up behind them I got the lead bomber in my crosshairs and gave a quick squeeze of the trigger. A short burst from my guns found their mark and I saw the lead bomber’s right engine begin to belch flames and black smoke. Banking slightly to the left I fired at another bomber and was met by them returning fire. I saw my bullets hit the side of the bomber but their fire also found its mark as well. The fighter shuddered and fuel began to spray out of several holes in the right wing.
“Air Force Two is disengaging.” I radioed as I banked away. As I was turning I saw yellow streaks ahead of me and the fighter shook again. The engine began to sputter and the coolant indicator slowly began dropping. “Tower, this is Air Force Two. I’m declaring an emergency. Requesting priority landing.”
“Negative Air Force Two. The runways are temporarily out of commission.”
“Are there any fire trucks available?”
“Negative.”
“Goddamn it.” I said as I let go of the throat mic. Leveling out I noticed the main road through town looked wide enough to accommodate a fighter. Pulling back on the throttle I reached down and lowered the flaps. As I tried to keep the fighter steady I lined up with the main road and lowered the gear. As the fighter descended I flipped on the landing light and the street was bathed in white light. The main wheels hit the cobblestones and I pulled the throttle all the way back. As the fighter slowed the tail dropped and I shut down the engine before reaching down and shitting off the landing light. Popping open the canopy I unbuckled, climbed out onto the wing, and hopped down onto the cobblestones. As I looked around the darkened street the sirens began to go off again but the held a steady tone. A few moments later the lights in town turned on again and I could see the dance hall just down the road. Walking to the hall I went inside where everyone who had stayed behind were sitting around with their drinks. As I was about to walk towards the booth I had been at when I noticed a new man sitting at the bar. Walking over I noticed a stump where his right hand should have been.
“Excuse me; I don’t believe we’ve met.” I said as I tapped on his shoulder. He turned on his bar-stool and that was when I noticed the patch over his left eye. “I’m Commanding General James Jones. And you are?”
“Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg; at your service.”