//------------------------------// // 34: Artificial Flowers // Story: The Jolly Rogers // by lockheed //------------------------------// ~~~~~ 10:27 Hours August 5, 1987 Tobuck Airfield ~~~~~ I looked at my crusher cap in my hand and slowly turned it back and forth to see the sun glint off the phoenix on the front. Stopping for a moment, I could see my feet on the rests of the scratch built wheelchair. I could feel myself growing hot behind the ears as I heard the flight surgeon's words play in my head, ‘paralysis below the waist from combat injuries’. I threw my cap into the sand ahead of me but felt myself lose my balance in my seat, causing me to fall forwards. From next to me I heard Franz jump up off the ammo crate he was on and hurry over to me. Looking up to him, I saw his head bandaged from an injury he’d sustained in the same fight as I. He was trying to get into a position to lift me when I snapped at him. “No, goddamn it! I’m gonna do this on my own! I’m not as helpless as everyone thinks!” He backed off and I turned around to crawl to my chair. I set the brakes and began to climb my way back up into the chair, though I had difficulty turning around. “James, do you need help?” Franz asked as the distant roar of a C-47 transport grew louder. I sighed and looked at the seat taken from a salvaged Warhawk. “Yes.” I replied in a voice that was barely audible. I felt Franz grab a hold of me and turn me in the wheelchair. Looking down at my legs, I grabbed my pant legs and set my feet on the rests. As I finished, a hand held a khaki crusher cap in front of me and I carefully took it from Franz. As a tan C-47 set down on the runway I could hear a vehicle approaching us from behind. Turning my head to see a kubelwagen as it slowed to a stop, I saw Galland, Marseille, and Erich climb out and walk towards us. “We thought we’d see you off.” Galland said as they stopped in front of us. We all shook hands and said our own goodbyes. “This also came across the wire for you. I wanted to deliver it before you left.” He handed me a telegram and I unfolded the piece of paper. To the best adversary someone could ask for, Heard you were going home. Best of luck to you. Hopefully I’ll still be around after this war and we can meet up for drinks. Once again, best of luck. ~Sergeant Michael Harper I smiled at the telegram and looked up to see Marseille was holding a piece of metal in his hands. He turned it around to reveal the small nose art from the side of my plane and the nine Balkan crosses underneath it. I thanked him as I took the panel from him. The C-47 rolled up and the doors opened for anyone coming or going. A couple new pilots hopped out and a moment later a metal ramp was pushed up to the door by a ground crew. We all shook hands again and Franz began pushing my chair towards the ramp. The ground crew stood alongside the ramp and I heard them snap to attention as we began going up towards the door. Raising my hand to my cap brim, I suddenly felt very sad. Not because of my legs, but rather because I was leaving behind so many pilots and ground crew that I had grown to think of as friends. Franz secured my chair in the back and helped the flight engineer carry me to my seat in the front row of seats. Around me sat wounded pilots leaving Zebrica and I saw many of them looking longingly out the windows at the P-40s. I was set down in my seat and Franz took his spot next to me. The plane began to roll down the taxiway and I refused to look outside in shame. What I was ashamed of, I don’t know, but in that moment I felt as though my world was collapsing around me. The plane turned onto the runway and I felt Franz nudge my shoulder. I looked up at him and he pointed to the window. There between the runway and the other taxiway in a line stood the entire group. The pilots, mechanics, cooks; everyone was there. They all snapped to attention and I could see salutes the entire length of the runway. The engines let out a roar and we gathered speed as we rolled across the sand. A blur of salutes passed by until we lifted into the air. As we headed back to civilization, I’d never felt more alone. ~~~~~ 08:00 Hours August 6, 1987 Ponyville Aerodrome ~~~~~ I looked up and over my shoulder at Franz who stood silently behind my chair, ready to push me down a ramp from the plane. On landing, I had seen a crowd of ponies and a few humans waiting for us. Now I was nervous at what their reactions would be at seeing me in a wheelchair. But of the reactions I worried about most; I worried about Thunderstreak and the kids. What would they say since they had no prior knowledge of my injuries? Would they welcome me back and act as though I was still the same person? I heard the thump of the ramp making contact with the fuselage and a moment later the door opened. Looking back to the morning sunlight that poured through the door, I took a deep breath as Franz pushed me forward. I immediately noticed that the shouting of welcomes died down and a murmurer went through the crowd. But the thing that made me forget the whispers was a group of kids, still smiling, held a sign that said Welcome Home. From the crowd darted a green pegasus mare who I felt my heart leap at seeing. I held my arms out and wrapped them around her as soon as she collided with me. Thunderstreak began to cry and I felt others hugging me as well. Turning, I saw Lancaster, Typhoon, and the Crusaders all with their legs wrapped around me. They all slowly broke the hug and I set us moving when I simply said, "Let's go home". ~~~~~ 08: 45 Hours August 6, 1987 A Hill Outside Ponyville ~~~~~ Franz stopped pushing as we reached the top of the hill. There in front of me sat a shed that clearly had seen better days. The paint had long since peeled off, the wood was grey from exposure, and the door hinges were almost rusted away. But to the kids who had lead us out here, it was pretty much the best place in Equestria. A hoof painted sign above the doors read Ponyville Glider Club and from what I could see through the gaps in the wood doors, there was indeed the beginnings of a glider inside. I wheeled myself closer and Scootaloo quickly opened one of the doors for me. Going inside I found myself in a room filled with tools and wooden parts. It smelled of glue and freshly cut wood; a scent that reminded me of my school days in wood-shop. On the walls were newspaper clippings that were held up by push pins. Going over to one I saw it was of Rainbow Dash receiving her Medal of Valor. I turned to look at the glider and all the kids gathered around, their faces showing pride in their work. Franz walked up beside me and began inspecting the glider. "Who's been gluing this together?" Franz asked as he knelled to look closer at the wing. "I did, sir!" A brown and white colt answered as he stepped forward. "What's your name?" "Pipsqueak, sir. But everyone just calls me Pip." "Pip, come here for a moment." Pipsqueak trotted around the wing and over to stand next to Franz. "You see these globs of glue here?" Franz asked him as he pointed to several areas where glue had been heavily applied. "Yes sir. I didn't miss a spot." Pipsqueak replied proudly. "There's glue in areas that don't need it." "But I didn't miss anything." Franz placed a hand on Pipsqueak's shoulder. "But that's not the point. A job should be done right." "Nopony will know once it's covered up." Pip argued. "Fix it because you'll know." Franz said as he looked down to Pipsqueak, who looked on the verge of tears. "Now, I'm not saying you'll be doing this alone. I did the same thing as you when I was a boy. I'll stay up here and help you sand the excess glue off. Even if it'll take us weeks." That seemed to lift Pip's spirits quickly and he grinned at the idea of having help with such a project. ~~~~~ 14:10 Hours August 7, 1987 Ponyville General Hospital ~~~~~ I laid still on the examination table as a doctor looked over my back. "Well Mister Jones, I have good news and bad news." He said as I felt his magic feeling around my back. "The good news is, we can repair your spinal cord. It'll take time but you'll be able to walk again." The sensation of his magic disappeared and I used my arms to sit myself up on the table. "I sense a but coming on." I said as I slipped on my white dress shirt. "But, with the area of your back that was hit," He levitated up an X-ray to show me my back. "I'm afraid that one more hit like that will permanently put you in that chair. Be careful Mister Jones. I'd hate to see you back here after we get you healed." He set the X-ray aside and pushed his glasses up his snout. "Now, your treatments will be every other day starting tomorrow." ~~~~~ 12:30 Hours August 27, 1987 Ponyville General Hospital ~~~~~ I shakily stood with my crutches and leg braces as Franz and a nurse stood on either side of me. Taking a few steps, I felt myself beginning to lose my balance. A hand suddenly grabbed my shirt collar and stopped me from falling. I quietly cursed myself for needing so much help as I was righted by Franz. "Are you alright?" He asked me. "Fine. Let's get going. I'd like to be walking on my own by Christmas if it's alright with you." I replied as I took a few more shaky steps away from him. "I'm gonna do this goddamn it." "James, you need help." Franz answered as he walked alongside me. "Bullshit. Help is for those who can't do things for themselves. Like kids or the elderly. I might be grey but I'm not that old yet." I told him as I turned myself around to go back to the other side of the room. "James, in the desert I was your wing man. What is a wing man's job?" "To protect and help the other- oh." I said as I stopped in my tracks. "Exactly. Now, let me help you. That's what I'm here for." He placed a hand on my shoulder and gave me a reassuring smile. I smiled back and slowly began walking forwards again. ~~~~~ 09:25 Hours September 26, 1987 Ponyville Glider Club ~~~~~ I hobbled up the slope of the hill as Franz walked along side me. I was now able to walk with the help of a cane and I found it to be much more preferable than in a wheelchair. Ahead of us was the old shed with the doors wide open. When we reached the top we were met by all the kids in the club as well as an inspector from the Department of Transportation Safety. He trotted around the completed glider and seemed to be impressed by what he saw. "Well, you kids certainly did a good job." The inspector said as he moved the control stick to see the elevators and ailerons perform as they should. "Very well put together. No excess glue visible under the fabric." Franz grinned as Pipsqueak beamed at the comment. "I'd say she's ready to fly." The kids all cheered the news and I smiled as I pulled up a stool that had been set nearby. Sitting down, I saw the kids all looking at one another in confusion. "Was ist los?" I asked them. "We never decided on a pilot for the first flight." Applebloom replied as they all looked to me. "Well, what if you all put your name in a hat and have me of Franz pull a name out?" I suggested. "Then everypony has a fair chance." They all seemed to agree on the idea and I removed my black fedora for them to use. One by one they all wrote down their names on pieces of paper and dropped them into the hat. I gently shook the hat to stir up the paper and all around me I could see the hopeful faces of the kids. Holding the hat up to Franz, he reached inside and pulled out a folded piece of paper. "And the pilot is," He unfolded the paper and read the name on it. "Scootaloo." There was a shout of joy and I saw an orange filly jumping around in the back of the group. As I smiled at the elated pegasus, footsteps coming up the hill made me turn to see who would be out in this secluded area. A man in an olive drab uniform jacket and crusher cap made his way up the hillside towards us. He looked up and I saw it was Charlie. He smiled but his eyes still held their usual worried appearance. "Your wife said I would find you here." He said with his smile still in place. I extended a hand and we shook hands as we looked at Scootaloo climbing into the glider. "That's a nice glider." "It is. The kids did a good job." I replied as I stood up and leaned on my cane. Walking up to the glider, we stood behind Franz as he gave Scootaloo a brief rundown of do's and don'ts. "I'll tell you what my brother August told me on my first flight. Keep it below one hundred feet and don't try to turn. Just get the feel of flying and we'll work on that other stuff later, alright?" She nodded in response and the other kids grabbed hold of the rubber launching rope. I heard another person coming up the hill and I saw August running up the hillside in a dress shirt and slacks. "Good, I didn't miss it." August smiled as he grabbed a hold of the glider's tail to keep it in place until launch. "Franz, did you go over the flight plan with her?" He asked as he looked around the body of the glider to Franz who was strapping Scootaloo into the seat. "Yes, August. I told her exactly what you told me. Keep it under one hundred feet and don't turn." Franz replied as he handed Scootaloo a flight helmet and goggles. "Now, let's get this filly in the air." Franz grabbed a hold the rubber rope and, together with the kids, began pulling it to build up tension. Charlie and I stepped back to avoid the wing hitting us on launch as Franz and the kids all stopped at the bottom of the hill. Scootaloo slid the goggles down over her eyes and nodded back to August. August nodded back and began the countdown. "Three, two, one!" He released the tail and the glider shot off. And then straight up into the sky. "Push on the stick!" We all shouted at Scootaloo. The glider leveled off and then nose dived. "Pull up!" We shouted again as we chased after the glider. I hurriedly hobbled behind everyone as the glider's nose lifted but not high enough to keep the glider's belly from hitting the ground. There was an alarming snapping sound of the glider's wooden frame and the craft skidded to a stop. We reached the glider and immediately checked on the young filly at the controls. Unstrapping Scootaloo from her seat, we lifted her out and set her on the ground. She shook her head and slipped off her goggles. "That could've gone better." She said as she removed her flight helmet. "You still did better than Franz's first flight. He nose dived straight into the ground." August said as he turned her around to check on her wings. "You'd think would've learned from your crash, Franz. We didn't compensate for her being lighter than the intended pilot." August said as he nodded that she was unhurt. After telling Scootaloo that she would be fine, we walked over to the glider to inspect it. From the belly stuck a shard of wood as sharp as a razor and as big around as my pinkie finger. Though the bottom was caved in a little and the back was bending a bit, the glider seemed to be in relatively good condition. "Well it can be repaired. Some hard work and it'll be flying in a couple weeks at most." Charlie said as he walked around the glider. "At least she doesn't look like The Pub." He quipped. "Ja. She's definitely better off." Franz said, earning a chuckle from all of us except for August, who had no idea what we were talking about. "Now," I said with a groan as I sat down on the side of the cockpit "we can put this little Humpty Dumpty back together. But how long is it going to take again? My hearing's already going downhill I'm afraid." "About two to three weeks at most." Charlie said as he placed a hand on the wing of the glider, which then promptly snapped and caused the wingtip to fall to the ground as the broken end hung on by a few small slivers. "Actually, better make it a month." He said as we looked to the broken wing. And if I didn't know better, I could've sworn I heard Pipsqueak start to cry. ~~~~~ 20:00 Hours September 26, 1987 1237 N. Main St. Ponyville ~~~~~ The clock in the hallway chimed eight times as I sat in my recliner in the living room. As I sat and looked off into space, I began to think about how it had been over a year since I'd arrived in Equestria. These thoughts lead to thoughts of Earth. What was the rest of my family doing? Was the world a radioactive no-man's land? These were interrupted by the sound of the radio clicking on and I looked up to see Thunderstreak walking away from the radio towards me. She climbed up into my chair and onto my lap, her rump on the left armrest and her back hooves sticking off the other side of the chair. I felt her forelegs wrap around my neck as she placed her head against mine with a content sigh. "Have I told you how happy I am that you're back?" She asked while I placed my left arm around her. "Everyday since I came home." I replied as the radio spewed out the day's news. Pulling her closer to me, if such a thing was possible, she kissed me on the lips with a passion that I hadn't seen since she had lost the foal. Returning the kiss, I kicked down the footrest of my recliner and stood up with her in my arms. She broke the kiss with a surprised squeal and for the first time in months, I took a step without assistance from a cane or someone else. Making my way over to the stairs, albeit rather wobbly, I kissed her again and behind us the radio played what would become our song right after Moonlight Serenade. ~~~~~ 08:00 Hours September 27, 1987 1237 N. Main St. Ponyville ~~~~~ I opened up the front door as I finished tying my robe. Leaning down, I used my cane for support as I grabbed the morning paper. I tucked it under my arm and walked back inside. I sat down at the kitchen table and unfolded the paper as I took a sip of my coffee. As I scanned the front page stories I saw it. There, under a story about another local pilot making ace, sat the line Top Griffin Ace Killed. Reading the story, I saw the name Michael Harper. My heart sank as I read the story. According to the paper he'd escorted a damaged B-18 Bolo back to its base, an act that the local Gestapo learned of. He was arrested and tried for treason. The Griffin Empire's so called "Blood Judge" had declared that he be hanged with piano wire to be made an example off. Setting my paper down, I looked down at the table and felt a pit in my stomach. A knocking at the door got my attention and I walked into the small hallway between the living room and the doorway. Opening the front door, I saw Franz holding his copy of the paper. "I'm sorry, James." He said as he stepped inside. "Not your fault he's dead. At least he went out knowing that he did something right and saved others by doing so." I told him as I hobbled to my office down the hallway. Franz followed me to the office where I sat down at my desk and he took a seat across from me. I reached under the desk top and felt a key I'd hidden under there. Pulling it out, I unlocked the bottom left drawer and pulled out a first aid kit. I opened it up to reveal gin, vermouth, a small jar of olives, toothpicks, and glasses. I made myself a martini and offered one to Franz, who declined the offer. As we sat and discussed what we'd read I saw Thunderstreak stick her head into the office, her mane and coat a disheveled mess as she'd clearly not been up long. "James, what's wrong?" She asked as she saw the drink in my hand. I slid the paper over to the corner of the desk as she trotted into the room. She picked up the newspaper and I tapped the story with my finger to show her the one. She looked it over before setting the paper back down. "I'm so sorry, James. I know you considered him a friend." "Yeah. So much for those drinks after the war." I mumbled before taking another sip of my drink. Setting the now empty glass on the desk, I stood up and looked to Franz. "Feel free to stay as long as you like." I then turned to Thunderstreak and smiled. "I'm gonna go into town if you need anything." "I think we're about out of bread and milk. That's it." She replied as I started to walk over to door. Stepping out into the hallway, I heard her follow me out. We got halfway down the hallway before I heard her wings flap and felt her breath by my ear. "Last night was amazing by the way." She whispered and I stopped in surprise that she would say that with a guest and a kid in the house. "Oh. Well, I do aim to please." I replied, still awkward at the conversation. "Although I must say, you weren't too bad yourself. Ten out of ten, would ride again." I said with a grin and the comment was met with a gentle thump on the side of the head with her hoof. "James," She grew serious and somewhat depressed sounding as she pressed her forehead to mine. "I was thinking last night. With Typhoon graduated and off at university in Vanhoover; I started to realize how lonely it can get when you're gone with just Lancaster here. And even then he's usually off with the Crusaders trying to get his cutie mark. What I'm saying is-" "I want another kid." I said; cutting her off from saying the same thing. She leaned back and looked at me in surprise and I saw her eyes were still filled with a slight sadness but a glimmer of hope was there too. "Not right away of course. But maybe sometime soon?" She said quickly. "Yeah. We'll decide when the time is right." "Absolutely. Say, how about we hop in the shower and run into town together." I said as we started to go upstairs. "Alright. But remember last time we tried anything in the shower?" "I didn't mean like that!" I said as we reached the top of the steps. "I don't feel like explaining anything to the ER nurse again." ~~~~~ 11:00 Hours September 27, 1987 Ponyville, Equestria ~~~~~ I held a bag of groceries with my left hand as my right hand held my cane. We slowly made our way back through town and around us I saw several ponies out having Sunday lunch. As we walked though, I could see two young pegasus colts ahead of us attempting to get passers by to buy flowers. I gently tapped Thunderstreak's hoof with my cane and slightly nodded for her to look ahead at the colts. She took the bag from me and I fished into my left pocket for my billfold. Opening it up, I pulled out a twenty bit note and tucked the billfold back into my pocket. We stopped in front of the colts and I saw the older one's eyes light up at the sight of the bill. "How much for two?" I asked as I looked at the paper mache flowers they had. "Five bits, sir." The older colt replied as the younger grabbed two flowers from a box. He gave them to us and I tucked the stem of mine into the button hole on my jacket. "Do your parents know you're out here selling these?" Thunderstreak asked as she tucked hers into her mane, the white of it standing out against the brown. The colts grew silent and I thought I saw the younger one start to tear up. "Oh." She said as she realized what I had. "Come, we'll fix you two a nice meal. Celestia knows how long it's been since you had one." This immediately made the younger colt perk up and smile at the thought of a good meal. The older one however seemed to not enjoy the idea as much as his brother. They however followed us back to the house, both of them being extremely quiet the whole way. We reached the house and led them inside. They sat down at the kitchen table next to each other and remained quiet unless we spoke to them. "So what're your names?" I asked them as I sat down and leaned my cane against the table. "I'm Orchid and this is my brother Black Lotus." The yellow pegasus colt replied as he pointed a hoof to himself and then his younger brother. The smaller, white colt nodded in confirmation and I smiled at him. "You don't talk much do you?" I asked him and he shook his head. A few minutes later there were plates in front of all of us with two grilled cheese sandwiches each and bowls of tomato soup to go with them. I took my time eating, a skill I learned from many successful dates, and watched the kids to see if there was anything I could pick up anything from them. They ate slowly and without making a mess. Every so often one would stop to wipe their mouth with a napkin. When we finished, we sat and began to talk with the kids or, in the case of Black Lotus, talk to them and got a nod or head shake in response. "So, if you don't mind me asking, what happened to your parents." "Lot, why don't you go play outside for a while." Orchid said and Black Lotus complied without hesitation. As soon as the front door shut, Orchid began his story. "Well, it was a few years ago. Lot is still too young to remember it very well. Our parents owned a flower shop in Derby just down the road. We had a greenhouse that was connected to the shop through a back door so that it was easy to get to the fresh flowers in the winter. Anyway, there were electric lights that ran along the top of the greenhouse and an automatic watering system that would water the flowers every twelve hours or so. One night there was an exposed wire for the lights and the watering system turned on. They said that the wire likely wouldn't have been much trouble if it wasn't for the water. The sparks that it made managed to catch the wooden racks on fire despite the water and soon the whole greenhouse was on fire." He took a deep breath before continuing. "By the time it woke us up it was already blocking all the doors on the bottom floor. We lived upstairs and I remember mom shouting and telling dad to get us out while she called for help. Dad came and told me to get Lotus out of the house. I grabbed him and jumped out the bedroom window. Thank Celestia I'd learned to glide by then. But mom and dad kept trying to put the fire out. By the time the fire department got there, they'd gone from all the smoke. After that I realized that I would have to take care of Lotus and get income somehow. That's when I learned how to make those little artificial flowers with paper." "So you have no home?" Thunderstreak asked as she wiped away a tear that was running down her cheek. "No, we do. You know that little Istallion restaurant over on second?" He asked and we both nodded in confirmation. "We've got a real nice box behind there. Plus with all the good food they throw away, we eat like kings." We looked at each other and I saw a look in Thunderstreak's eyes. We both nodded and I realized I must have had the same look. We turned to look at Orchid and I told him to fetch Black Lotus from the yard. They both returned and sat down in the chairs they had occupied before. "Now, I think I speak for both of us when I say that we're sorry for what you two have gone through." I said and from the corner of my eye I saw Thunderstreak nod. "But a box is no place for children to grow up and live. That's why we would like to take you in and, if you'd let us, maybe adopt you." Orchid's jaw dropped while Black Lotus jumped from his seat across the table and almost tackled Thunderstreak and I as he smiled from ear to ear. "Well, what do you two say?" We looked down to Lotus whose head could've flown off with how hard he was nodding. Looking over to Orchid, I saw him look to his brother and shrug his shoulders. "Sure. Why not?" And with that, we were on the path to the kids we had been seeking.