At Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack is living her life working the orchard and support her family. But little does she know that her life is about to be changed forever…
One night, a few years after the outbreak of World War II, while flying with her brother, Applejack Apple is looking out over the large and successful apple orchard that over time has become known as Sweet Apple Acres! But during that one flight, a man serving in the United States Air Force enters the picture. Neither of them know it, but both of their lives are about to be changed forever, and in ways they never even imagined!
It was a perfect night for flying: clear skies, bright stars, full moon, and a crisp cold wind. Applejack stared down the ground to the apple tree fields, green and well cared for. She breathed in the fresh air and sighed contentedly. The silver and red biplane she was in inched forward on the runway, the cold wind blowing in her face. The field stretched far in every direction only cut by her house and the runway. Her brother, Big Macintosh stayed under a thousand feet, taking in the night sky. The few minutes of flying felt good on her face.
Suddenly a blue and silver airplane screamed past them. It's nose was beginning to fall low. Big Mac increased power, and the biplane streaked across the sky, "Nose up, nose up!" He called over to the pilot in the silver plane next to him.
The pilot in the plane next to his did so.
"Alright, my runway is just that way," he banked to face the strip of asphalt.
"Flaps down, ease off the pitch," his counterpart was struggling to keep his plane's wings steady.
"Good, landing gear down." The landing gear extended from the bottom of the blue and silver plane. The silver and blue plane's wheels bounced on the runway as its pilot applied his brakes.
Soon, Big Mac and Applejack landed their biplane. Applejack hopped out and ran to see the pilot of the blue and silver plane. He was standing next to the plane, panting with heaving breaths, "Thank you." Now that Applejack could see him properly she was surprised to see the pilot of a P-51D Mustang panting on her runway.
"I don't know what happened; I don't think I would've made it without you. The names Riley, Riley Samborski." Riley said, shaking Applejack's hand.
"I'm Applejack, Applejack Apple" she said, escorting him to her house. "You've gotta rest and I'm sure Big Mac can fix yer plane right up."
Riley shook his nose, "No, I have to get to Galveston before ten. I've gotta train for war."
"No, your plane can't fly after a fit of engine failure; you'll end up crashing and in the hospital." Applejack replied.
She showed him to a barn where a tall boy around the age of 16 was putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Having heard his sister's footsteps, he looked up from his puzzle with a straw of hay in between his teeth. "Who is this guy and what is he doing here?" He asked.
"Engine failure," Applejack explained, "He's gotta be up and runnin' again soon or he'll be late for his training."
Riley folded one arm in a salute, "That's right. I'm going ta be deployed to the 826th Fighter Group, the Wonderbolts." He said.
"Oh really?" Big Mac said crossing his arms, "So you think just because yer goin' to be sent off to war your plane don't need to be fixed. Listen, buddy, yer not goin' anywhere until I look at yer plane's engine."
"I told him," Applejack said smugly. Riley gave her a glare.
Big Mac went to go grab his tools. But a few minutes after Big Mac started working on his plane, Riley shut his plane's engine cowling on Big Macintosh's wrench. "Be careful! That plane is United States Air Force property! I don't need your help, thank you very much." Riley said.
Big Mac took his sisters hat and slapped Riley's wrist with it and it stung. Fierce pain pulsed through it, "Ow! Jeez, what was that for?!" Riley demanded, clutching his wrist.
"Yer a stubborn guy aren't ya. Look, I'm not gonna even let you set one foot in that cockpit until that engine gets fixed. I don't care what important business you have to do." Big Mac replied.
Riley groaned but this time he let Big Mac look at his wrist. "Isn't my plane's engine more important than my wrist?" Riley asked.
"Sure," Big Mac said, "But yer engine will prevent you from flying. You won't be able to fly if yer plane's engine doesn't work."
Riley watched as Big Mac worked on the engine, rubbing his wrist at the spot where Big Mac slapped it with his sister's hat. Before he finished, Big Mac looked at him, "I'm not sure why I'm doin' this fer ya when ya don't even want me to. It seems to be a waste of time." He said.
Riley smiled weakly and shrugged his shoulders, "You're a mechanic, what am I gonna do?" As Big Mac worked on his plane's engine, Riley began wondering about the blonde girl that had saved him. It seemed so lucky that she had been flying with her brother that night or that his plane's engine gave out when it did. It was as if she was supposed to be here for some reason, but at the same time, Riley wondered who she was and what her name was. As if it was fate that called him here. A few minutes transpired, when Big Mac's voice shattered the silence, and snapped Riley out of his thoughts.
"Typical," Big Mac muttered.
"What?" Riley asked.
"Using too little oil for quite awhile. Maybe these kinds of things wouldn't happen if ya just put in more oil sometimes. It would be good fer the engine."
Two weeks passed before Riley's P-51D Mustang was gassed, geared and ready to fly, but he didn't want to go. He had fallen for Applejack. She and her family had grown the apple orchard on their own, plowing, planting, and dusting the fields until they grew tall. She was also kind and honest. "I know you can't come with me, but how would you like to go fly with me?" Riley asked.
She smiled, "Of course."
Applejack flew with Riley in his Mustang farther then she expected to. She liked Riley and she sensed that he liked her too. Then Riley opened the throttle pulled on the stick and his Mustang began to climb higher and higher. "C'mon, Applejack, we should fly higher, the view is amazing."
Applejack hesitated before blurting, "No, Riley, I'm afraid of heights."
Riley leveled off at 980 feet, staring at her in shock.
"I'm a teensy bit afraid of heights." Applejack stammered.
Riley nodded, "I understand." He said.
"You… do?" She asked.
Riley smiled caringly, "If I hadn't been trained to fly high, I wouldn't like heights either." They shared one last look before flying back to the farm. As Riley walked back to his Mustang he called behind him, "I'll come back, I promise."
And Riley did return every month to say hello. Applejack and Riley developed a bond like no person in Ponyville had seen before. And one day he returned with excitement bright in his eyes, "I came back with a surprise!"
He and Applejack walked up a small hill and he faced Applejack, got down on one knee and asked, "Will you, Applejack, be my girlfriend?" He produced a ring in a little velvet box and showed it to her.
Applejack was too shocked to respond at first. "Yes," she whispered hoarsely. "Yes!"
Riley slipped the ring over her index finger with a grin wrapping around his face. Applejack looked right into Riley's brown eyes, and Riley looked right into applejack's green eyes. Right on that hill, they had their very first kiss. Applejack took her Stetson and put it on Riley's head. Riley combed his fingers through her hip length blonde hair, and Applejack combed her fingers through Riley's dirt brown hair. As they kissed on that hill, Applejack's hair shone like gold in the light of the setting sun, but to a slight extent, like Applejack's hair, Riley's hair took on a golden hue, and their peach colored skin glowed.
The next day, Riley was out training, and Applejack felt different, as if there was something wrong with her. She took it to Big Mac, who was catching up on his puzzle. He had to stop the puzzle so he could fix Riley's plane. "Is there anything wrong?" He asked, between eating an apple
Applejack's eyes shone, "No, it's that I have something to tell Riley, he would be excited beyond comprehension." She gushed.
Riley returned from training that night tired. As Applejack watched Riley's P-51 taxi up to the house, from the comfort of her bedroom window, Applejack didn't know if she should tell him. She couldn't leave him in the dark. She was going to have to tell him one way or another.
Applejack ran down the stairs and out of the house. She slowed down as she got close to Riley's plane. She walked up to Riley just as he hopped out of his Mustang
"Um, Riley?" She asked.
Riley smiled, "Yes?"
"Um, I have something to tell you and…"
Riley looked concerned, "Are you alright?" He asked.
The farm girl took a deep breath, "Riley, I want you to meet my sister. Come downstairs by 7:30 AM, okay sugarcube?"
Riley nodded. "I love you." Applejack said before kissing Riley on his cheek.
As Riley stood where he was, he felt heat rushing to his face. "Love you too, AJ." Riley sighed. But truth be told, Riley was blushing crimson red.
Riley paced back and forth in his room that he shared with Applejack. It was March 18th, 1943 the day he would make acquaintances with a very well known member of the Apple Family. Riley bit his lip, scuffing a shoe against the floor. "Come on, come on, I gotta know if she's up yet!" Just then a half hour past 7 am, the worried, agitated fighter pilot burst through the door as fast as his feet would take him. "Applejack!"
"Riley," the farm girl giggled, "Shh!" She moved the skirt of her nightgown away revealing a young girl around the age of 6. She looked so tiny compared to her bigger sister. She had freckles, just like her sister.
But before Riley could react, Applebloom ran up to Riley and shook his hand with a vice like grip. "Hi Riley I'm Applebloom. Nice to meet you." Riley smiled warmly.
"Isn't she lovely?" Applejack said softly, her eyes full of proud love.
"She's quite the ball of energy.." Riley said as Applebloom shook not only his hand but his entire arm.
Riley had foolishly forgotten to clean up in the rush to get out the door and down stairs to the living room. He and Applejack had been out frolicking in the bluebonnet fields adjacent to the orchard, and still the pollen clung to his flight jacket, but as his arm was being shaken in Applebloom's strong grip, his flight jacket shook for a second and a cloud of pollen settled on the little girls nose. Applebloom sneezed. Applejack laughed, "You need to clean up, Riley. You're getting pollen all over her." She moved her arm protectively over Applebloom.
The next day and Riley, who had by now completed his military training, had to leave. He was being stationed at Canterlot Airfield in England with the 826th Fighter Group, known as the Wonderbolts. He was appointed as Fighter Group Commander, although any pilot that had been in the squadron longer than him could have easily taken that spot. It was an honor to be chosen, but Riley didn't want to go.
Applejack nuzzled him before he climbed into his Mustang, there was such lonesomeness in her eyes already that Riley couldn't look into her eyes. He instead looked at Applebloom. In only a day he had grown fond of the little girl and he had formed a very special bond with her. She knew enough to know that Riley was leaving.
Riley looked away and turned, "I have to go."
"I know, Riley," Applejack sighed, "I know. Just be safe. And DON'T DIE!" She said.
Riley forced a smile, "I will, I promise. I'll be back before you know it." He said. He told Applejack to get away from the plane as he he started the plane's engine. Then Riley blew a kiss at Applejack as he taxied away.
Soon the entire farm was filled with the sound of the massive inline engine. Riley taxied towards the runway. Once on the runway, Riley closed the canopy and opened the throttle to full power. "Be safe, sugarcube." Applejack said as she watched Riley's Mustang take off, circle the farm and fly towards Galveston. As Riley circled overhead the orchard, he looked out his canopy and once he saw Applejack and Applebloom, he waved goodbye and set a course for the Galveston air station. In fact, as Riley's Mustang approached the Galveston station, he had no way of knowing that bad times were ahead, for everyone in the Apple family.
Applejack sat down sighing.
Big Mac put a hand on her shoulder. "He'll be okay Applejack… He's a grown man, he can take care of himself." He said, reassuring his sister.
"That doesn't mean I'm not gonna worry." She said. "That's part of my job as his girlfriend… But I know he'll do it… He trained in the Wonderbolts too… They never give up… And he won't either."
"Just please keep your promise Riley….Come back alive…" Applejack sighed as she saw Riley's P-51D Mustang fly off.
At the apple orchard, Applejack was in her room, fanning herself with her Stetson hat when her brother walked in. "Letter for you, AJ." He said.
"Thanks Big Mac." Applejack chirped. He walked out of the room.
Applejack used her finger to open the letter, all the while being careful not to get a papercut
November 13, 1943
To: Applejack Apple, Sweet Apple Acres, Ponyville, Texas
From: Commander Riley Samborski, Canterlot Airfield, England
My dear Applejack,
I wish that I was back in Texas with you, I miss you terribly. Oddly, I haven't been on any patrols since October 25. The only flying I've done was not professional. Part of the problem is the weather, as you've asked about.
The storms here are wild, nothing like the storms in Texas. They seem to have no limit to how long, or how strong they are. The wind's been keeping everyone on their feet, as some of the worst winds are trying to rip our planes' wings off. There are barely enough patrols and no time to fly for fun. The only reason I've done any flying was for weather observation, photo reconnaissance, and show of force patrols.
Let me tell you, AJ, the pilots in the Wonderbolts, the pilots that Spitfire and I are honored to lead, are going to become fast friends. If there were pilots so loyal, I haven't met them.
There are seven pilots that Spitfire and I are to lead: their names are Misty, Fire Streak, Fleetfoot, Lightning Dust, Soarin', Wave Chill, and Rainbow Dash, who's from Cloudsdale, it's a small suburb a few miles from Houston. Some of them go by their planes' numbers. As you saw on your orchard, my plane's number is 63, Spitfire is number 8, Misty is number 32, Fire Streak is number 24, Fleetfoot is number 44, Lightning Dust is number 3, Soarin' is number 12, Wave Chill is number 22, and Rainbow Dash is number 11 It will take some getting used to being saluted every time you speak, but I'll manage. There isn't much else to report, other than that I feel like we'll never see each other again. I only long to be back in Texas with you, Big Mac and with Applebloom.
I miss you, so much..
Riley
Reading that letter made Applejack's heart beat a mile a minute. "Aw, I miss you too, Riley. And Applebloom misses you too." She said to herself, still holding the letter in her hand, and seeing her little sister playing in the garden to the right of the front porch. "I wonder how Riley's doing, fighting for us. What I wouldn't give to be there with him.." She sighed, looking out her bedroom window, her elbows on her windowsill.
The day started off perfectly normally for the pilots of the Wonderbolts. Riley Samborski, the squadron's appointed Commander, second in command of the Captain of the squadron, Spitfire, was in his bunk, reading the months issue of Time magazine. As Riley reads his magazine, a calm atmosphere descended on the normally noisy airfield. But suddenly, just as Riley turned a page, the calm atmosphere was shattered. The call to general quarters rang throughout the air base.
"This is it! Time to get hands-on." Riley said as he felt a thrill of anticipation as he put on his pilots hood. While he'd flown his Mustang on numerous jobs, this one was different from them all.
"Shooting down the Me-109's in an P-51D Mustang: so much more safer and a whole lot easier than in a Supermarine Spitfire." Riley said.
Rainbow Dash agreed. "Ready to bask in the greatness of my flying skills Samborski?" She asked.
Riley just finished locking into place his life vest. "Ready for me to show you how it's done Rainbow?" He asked.
"Hope you can keep up." Riley said. They arched arms in a last salute, then walked for their Mustangs.
"The one who shoots down the most planes buys cider at the end of the day." Riley said.
"You're on, Samborski!" Rainbow smugly replied. Once they had run out onto the airfield, the nine pilots rushed to their planes. Once she saw everyone were in their planes, Spitfire gave the order for engine startup.
"Alright Wonderbolts, start your engines!" She declared. The pilots who started their Mustangs first were Riley and Spitfire. Soon all nine Mustangs had their engines started.
Then, once lined up on the runway, the pilots got the green light for takeoff. "Wonderbolts, let's fly!" Spitfire ordered. The 9 Mustangs took off.
The crews on the airfield cheered as the formation of nine P-51D Mustangs circled overhead and flew off. As the Wonderbolts flew towards the rendezvous point, Riley looked at a picture of Applejack on the instrument panel, a lone tear ran down his cheek. "Oh Applejack, I shouldn't have left you." He sighed sadly.
Then Spitfire's voice crackled over the headphones. "Wonderbolts, control just got unconfirmed reports of Me-109s being scrambled, so keep your eyes peeled." She ordered.
"Will do!" Riley said, looking out the cockpit of his Mustang.
"Now THAT is a pilot who follows orders..." Spitfire mused as she watched Riley.
Then 15 minutes later, Riley pointed out a formation of more than 30 Me-109s at 10:00 low. "Alright Wonderbolts, let's get them!" Spitfire declared. Undeterred by the 23:1 odds, the pilots gun their planes engines.
The 9 Mustangs nose over and dive. The roar of 9 Rolls Royce Merlin engines fills the sky. Then once within gun range, the 9 pilots fire. Spitfire, Fleetfoot, Soarin', Wave Chill, Misty, Fire Streak, Lightning Dust all score hits, shredding the enemy planes before their pilots can react. The strike is a success, the German planes scatter. Then Riley saw a pair of Me-109s collide, both planes spiral to the ground in flaming pieces.
He then saw a lone Me-109 at 11:00 high, he sped up, flew up and for the first time, he opened fire with his Mustang's six fifty caliber machine guns, and was quickly rewarded when his target went down in flames. "Ha! First kill! Bow before me, Rainbow Dash!" He declared.
Rainbow was annoyed, although she tried to hide it. "Hmph! First is only the opening act. The glory goes to whoever downs the most planes. And that pilot will be ME!"
"Then you'll need to catch up, because I'm already pulling ahead." Riley said as he turned his Mustang away from Rainbow's Mustang to engage more targets.
"Not so fast, Samborski!" Rainbow said turning after Riley.
"There goes another one, mine." Riley said as he shot down another Me-109 with another burst of his Mustang's machine guns.
The determination from the German pilots was swiftly being replaced with desperation, as the Wonderbolt Mustangs and the Mustangs from other squadrons destroyed more and more of them. It seemed that those that remained were on the verge of fleeing. "Don't let them," Spitfire ordered. "We're here to destroy the Germans, so ensure that they are all shot down."
"Alright—wait, look. We've got two Me-109s already flying away." Riley noted as he watched the pair of German planes fly away.
"Then let's get them. Or, should I just get them both for you?" Rainbow Dash asked.
Spitfire heard them. "Whoever does it, go after them and finish them off."
"We're on it." Riley said.
He and Rainbow Dash raced after the Me-109s, Rainbow Dash right beside Riley. "Pick a target, and let's see if you can hit anything without anything getting in your way." Rainbow Dash taunted.
"I'll take the one further ahead." Riley said. Both pilots focused on their target of choice, and opened fire as they raced over the ground.
"They're already fleeing for their lives. It shouldn't be too hard to make them get careless," Riley noted.
"I'm way ahead of you. Mine's starting to panic; haven't you noticed?" Riley taunted.
"How about yours?" Riley asked Rainbow.
"It's a cool one so far, but not for long." Rainbow Dash said.
"Maybe you just aren't that good. I guess you'd actually have to be trained for that." Riley said.
Riley narrowed his eyes at the enemy plane he pursued. The pilot in it was frantic. "Perfect." Riley said to himself. He opened fire, and as he'd expected, his target burst into flaming pieces. "My kill first… again!" Riley said smugly.
"Don't get too comfortable gloating, Samborski. I'll take this one." Rainbow said.
For the pilot in the 2nd Me-109, the situation was desperate, the two Mustangs were gaining on him. The German pilot knows a Me-109 can't outrun two Mustangs, he dives for his life. But to his mutant horror, the rainbow haired pilot has anticipated the maneuver perfectly, she dives after him. Rainbow Dash's finger slips over the trigger. The Me-109 gains airspeed, but Rainbow Dash's P-51D Mustang, having a considerable speed advantage, quickly gained on the other plane, the pilot inside is petrified. Once within gun range, Rainbow Dash fires her plane's guns.
The German pilot screams as his plane is turned into an inferno as the bullets from Rainbow Dash's Mustang's guns sank into the engine and the cockpit, a few bullets dug deeply into the pilots thighs. "Ha ha! MY first kill!" Rainbow Dash said.
"Alright we're done here, back to base everyone." Spitfire said.
"But we're not finished yet!" Misty protested. "The other Mustangs will take care of the rest." She said.
"I got beaten..by my own second in command." Rainbow Dash said dejectedly as she flew back to base along with the other Wonderbolt pilots.
Soon, all 9 Mustangs were back on the base. "Not bad for your first dogfight, huh Samborski?" Spitfire asked Riley, elbowing him in his ribs as they walked away from their planes and back to their bunks.
"Yeah, not bad. I took out 3 planes and Rainbow only got 1." Riley said.
"We all saw you. You shot down more planes than any of us, Riley!" Fleetfoot said,
"Aw shucks, it was nothing, Fleetfoot. Just fly and shoot straight." Riley said shrugging his shoulders.
"Riley, just a quick warning. Rainbow can get pretty feisty when someone beats her at just about anything." Spitfire called over to Riley.
"Surely she's not THAT bad." Riley said, rather doubtful that Rainbow Dash didn't take being beaten in anything well.
"Don't trust Rainbow, Riley, she's a double agent! The moment you turn your back, she'll make her move." Spitfire said grimly, reinforcing her warning.
"I'll keep that in mind." Riley assured Spitfire.
"You'd better..." Spitfire warned as she went to her bunk.
Riley saw Rainbow Dash looking over the airfield from her plane, sitting on her plane's wing. "Rainbow?" Riley asked.
"Don't rub it in, okay Samborski? You had your little victory, so go take your gloating elsewhere!" Rainbow snapped.
"Rainbow, I won the bet, so I'm paying for cider tonight!" Riley called over to Rainbow.
"Oh pooh..." Rainbow Dash pouted, crossing her arms.
"Okay, I'll leave you alone, now. I'll have the cider ready for you." Riley said, walking back to his bunk.
"Enjoy today, Samborski, because come next dogfight, I WILL beat you!" Rainbow Dash said coldly as she watched Riley walk away.
The day on the airfield began perfectly quietly. Riley was in his bunk reading the June 1942 issue of Time magazine. The mechanic for his Mustang walked into the room, "Mail for you, Commander Samborski!" He said.
Riley looked up from his magazine. He took the letter and set it down on his desk. "Thank you, Ashton." Riley said. The mechanic, whose name was Nicholas Ashton nodded and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. Riley got up, sat at his desk and opened the envelope with the letter opener.
January 19, 1945
To: Commander Riley Samborski, Canterlot Airfield, England
From: Applejack Apple, Sweet Apple Acres, Ponyville, Texas.
Dearest Riley,
I have to say, I'm sorry I haven't sent you a letter yet. I've been meaning to, but tending to the orchard and taking care of Applebloom has gotten my hands in knots.
If only you were home! I miss you more than you could imagine and I only hope for your safe return. How's the weather out there? I've heard that some terrible storms have hit down there. We'll get a good cider season this year, I can already tell. Big Mac and I have plucked the apples and the rain's been pouring like you could ever imagine. I just can't wait to get apple bucking again.
You should see Applebloom; she's been running around the house like a lunatic. I can tell she's got your energy, and she'll make a good farmer on the farm when she grows up. Knowing you, I can hardly see that happening. Applebloom is going to be a handful, that's for certain, especially since you're not around.
If only you could have been here for it! She got a hold of our American flag, the one we have hanging out front over the front porch overhang. I don't even want to know how she got it down, but she did. Well, my little sister was waving that thing all around until it flapped in her face. But that's not all! No, after that incident she went pulling up one of the flags from the flowerbed. She took it in her mouth and ran all over the flowers playing with it. The garden's ruined! But let me tell you this, but I found out how to keep her busy when I need to.
Give her a flag, and she'll disappear for an hour running around the farm with it. Good thing I have Big Mac to help me around.
I miss you, sugarcube, so much,
XOXO Applejack
Reading that letter made Riley's heart beat 10 miles a second. He smiled brightly, more brightly than he did in his entire life. "Aw, I miss you too, AJ." Riley sighed, putting the letter from Applejack on his desk. But the tranquility on the airfield was once again shattered by the call to general quarters. Soon, he and the other Wonderbolts were in the air again.
Riley was very determined to deal with them. He quickly turned his attention to shooting down as many of the German planes as he could. He was rewarded to see one, then another, explode before him, with bursts of his Mustang's machine guns.
Despite his focus on that task, though, something tore at his attention. It wasn't just Me-109s that were being blown out of the air. Fw-190s and other German planes were being destroyed, and he could see their pilots dying. One German pilot tried to block it out, but the death cries increased, more and more of them all around him. They were dying to the American pilots.
Out of the corner of her right eye, Rainbow Dash saw an Me-109 trying to get behind Misty to shoot her down. Only one thought burned in the rainbow haired pilot's mind now. A thought that would stick with her for the rest of the war. Shoot the Germans. Rainbow Dash let out a war cry and using her Mustang's machine guns, she shot the German pilot who shamelessly and mercilessly tried to shoot down Misty's Mustang. All of Rainbow's bullets made their mark. But some of the bullets found their way into the cockpit, and the chest of the German pilot exploded as blood splashed onto the canopy. The German plane went down, only to be shot to pieces by Riley's Mustang, and they had now shot down the majority of the German planes.
As the B-17's fled, under the protective cover of the other Mustang escorts, the air battle intensified. Nearly half the German planes had been shot down already. They were in real trouble, and a dark reality dawned on one particular German pilot. In just a few years, the American pilots had become a true threat to the Germans.
Oil and fuel surged through their lines, hydraulics whirred madly, electronics buzzed deafeningly loudly. Rainbow Dash pushed her P-51D Mustang past its limits. Shoot the Germans. That one thought buzzed in Rainbow's head like a swarm of angry hornets. The next 3 planes went down. Rainbow thought to herself, "That's what they get for trying to shoot down my friends!" Now she had shot down 3 planes altogether. It all seemed too easy.
Letting her lust for blood consume her completely, Rainbow Dash fired at 2 more planes, mutilating their pilots. She didn't care. Three more Me-109s converged on her. In a display of pure anger, Rainbow Dash twirled her Mustang around and she shot all of them down. "That's 8 planes in my streak. I'm an ace now!" Rainbow said to herself.
Only Rainbow's Mustang's inboard guns were still loaded. The two outboard guns were empty. She was now low on ammo. But she didn't care. 3 more planes fell from the sky, thanks to her sharpshooting. 2 more Me-109s converged on Rainbow. But as she prepared to fire, Rainbow Dash's Mustang 's inboard left gun fired its last bullet. She was now out of ammo. But Rainbow still had one last dangerous trick up her sleeve. Gathering all of her willpower, Rainbow Dash noses over and dives.
Her Mustang accelerated past 470 mph, its Rolls Royce Merlin engine howling. The enemy pilot doesn't see her coming. Riley and the other Wonderbolt pilots look on at their fellow pilot diving in a ramming attack. By this point, Rainbow Dash's Mustang now speeds past 503 mph.
Then there was a brilliant shower of bright sparks and then came the sickening sound of ripping metal as the propeller of Rainbow Dash's P-51D Mustang sliced through and shredded the tail of the unsuspecting Me-109 to ribbons. The German plane tumbled from the sky out of control, and another Mustang shot it to pieces, it was Riley, that made her smile. On the other hand, Rainbow Dash's Mustang's propeller had weathered the ramming attack, despite considerable damage to the blades.
The last Me-109 shot at her planes tail. He found his mark. Barely. Rainbow Dash could still fly. She could still turn. And as long as Rainbow could still fly, she would keep on fighting. Rainbow Dash let out a yell of rage and she pulled up steeply, the German bogey still on her tail. Her plane's engine howled. Then... Her Mustang stalled. She let her plane fall. Rainbow entered a nosedive and picked up speed. Gravity pulled her down.
Everything was in shambles for the Germans, their planes were in pieces in the ground and their seasoned pilots were dead. In truth, he was sure that by now, their seasoned pilots were dead already, given everything that was happening. As Riley shot down more and more German planes, he was watching and listening to everything going on around him, but the truth was inescapable, the Me-109's days of glory were over. To the remaining German pilots and the other Mustang pilots, the Wonderbolts seemed invincible, all the while demonstrating the lethal superiority of the North American P-51D Mustang over both the Me-109, the Fw-190 and the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt.
The last bogey still kept firing at Rainbow Dash, bent on blowing her out of the sky. But she refused to let him. At the last second Rainbow pulled up. And the German plane crashed into the ground, exploding in fragments. Soon, there were almost no planes left. A few of the Wonderbolt Mustangs had flown back to the airfield. Riley and Rainbow Dash were the last to return to the airfield.
"Know where Rainbow is?" Riley asked Fleetfoot.
"She's on her plane's wing." Spitfire replied.
"Thanks." Riley said
Fleetfoot nodded.
He then proceeded to walk over to Rainbow's Mustang, and he found her sitting on the left wing, her legs draped over the gun ports and looking out over the airfield.
"Boy, Rainbow, it’s obvious to say you were pretty vicious up there, you might have been just as vicious as me.” Riley chuckled, walking up to her.
“I totally was,” Rainbow had possibly the biggest grin on her face that Riley had ever seen on her face. “I never knew that today would be so much fun! I totally demolished those Me-109s! Oh and those Fw-190s didn’t stand a chance! I could hear the bullets hitting. But I just brushed that off and I shredded that Me-109's tail! It was so awesome!” She gushed.
“Hehe, yeah,” Riley averted his gaze in embarrassment, "I learned that at our first dogfight too. Sometimes you get so caught up in the excitement of shooting down the enemy that you can't help but have a little bit of fun every now and then.” Riley said, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Oh but it was so worth it! Shooting down the Germans, and lots of them, is the coolest thing ever! But still, my Mustang isn't as fast as I hoped it’d be.”
Riley wore a sly grin, “Oh really? How fast do you want it?” He asked.
"Eh, it needs to be about 20% faster.” Rainbow said.
"Yeah, I know, but, the Mustang's already 20% faster than the P-47 Thunderbolt, the Me-109 and the Fw-190." Riley said, scuffing a shoe on the deck of the carrier.
"Rainbow Dash, you..were...AWESOME!!" Fleetfoot gushed, running over to the two pilots, and interrupting them.
"It was nothing, just fly and shoot straight and look good doing it, like Riley." Rainbow said, shrugging her shoulders. Then, the other Wonderbolt pilots started converging around Rainbow's Mustang.
Still mostly sprawled around Rainbow's Mustang, on the airfield, Riley listened as several of the Wonderbolt pilots who he had been flying with talked to each other and with Rainbow about the events of today. He could hear them boasting about their kills as they chased after the German planes. However, despite their boasts, Riley was thinking about Applejack.
From what he saw, the propeller of Rainbow Dash's P-51D Mustang had taken serious damage in the ramming attack, three inches were gone from the tip of each blade. But the repair crew assigned to Rainbow's Mustang said that it could be repaired. For Riley, it was a relief. Rainbow was going to live to dogfight another day. Riley finished the day with 21 kills, Misty had 11 kills, Fleetfoot had 9 kills, Spitfire had 15 kills, Fire Streak had 10 kills, Lightning Dust had 13 Wave Chill had 17 kills, and Rainbow Dash had 19 kills and Soarin' had 12 kills.
The American flag was flying over the airfield and Spitfire and Riley, were in their dress uniforms. Spitfire walked up to the podium on the stage and made a speech at the other Wonderbolt pilots. "Wonderbolts, we are gathered here today to celebrate a most momentous occasion. Our most loyal pilot, Rainbow Dash has done many things since she joined the squadron. But yesterday, Rainbow Dash did something extraordinary! Overcoming immeasurable odds, she attacked and shot down an Me-109 that tried to shoot down Misty, saving her life. Not only that, she rammed another Me-109, and became an ace in a day, proving that she is ready to be promoted to the third highest rank in the Wonderbolts, only below Commander Samborski and myself. Wonderbolts, I present to you for the very first time, Vice Commander Rainbow Dash!" Spitfire declared. The other Wonderbolt pilots saluted. The crews along with the other Wonderbolt pilots cheered.
Rainbow Dash walked over to where Spitfire and Riley were standing. Spitfire handed Riley a velvet case. He took out the Distinguished Flying Cross, Spitfire took the case from Riley. He walked up to her, and pinned the medal on her flight jacket. As soon as the medal was secured, Rainbow Dash looked at the medal, scooped it up in her hand, looked at it, and saluted at Riley and Spitfire. They saluted back.
Riley and Rainbow Dash walked down from the stage to the airfield. A whistle sounded and a Wonderbolt pilot shouted. "Commander Riley Samborski and Vice Commander Rainbow Dash on deck. Victory!" The crew and the other Wonderbolts spoke up, and put their hands up in a salute. "Victory!" Riley and Rainbow Dash walked over to them. Riley and Rainbow Dash put their arms up in salute as well.
"Lets go flying, Vice Commander!" Riley said to Rainbow Dash, they walked over to their Mustangs and climbed into the cockpits.
Misty and Soarin' walked over to Rainbow Dash as she was in her Mustang, putting on her harness. Misty spoke to Rainbow Dash. "Our Vice Commander. How does that feel, Dashie?" Rainbow Dash grinned.
"It feels great!" She squealed.
Soarin' chuckled. "Looks like our petition to get Rainbow promoted worked like a charm, huh, Samborski?" He asked.
"Well, she IS the most loyal pilot in the whole squadron, that's for certain. " Riley replied back.
Riley and Rainbow flight checked everything, and started up their planes engines. Riley called over to Rainbow over his headset. "You ready, Vice Commander?" Riley asked.
Rainbow Dash giggled. "Ready."
The two pilots took off and circled the airfield in their Mustangs, Riley's Mustang flew next to and to the right of Rainbow's Mustang. Through the open canopies, Commander Riley Samborski looked proudly at the official Vice Commander of the Wonderbolts in the P-51D Mustang next to his. "We're all so proud of you, Rainbow, and so am I." Riley sighed.
The day on the Canterlot Airfield began just like any other day. But Spitfire had an announcement to make. "Wonderbolts, this just came in from General McCarthur, Okinawa is ours!" She announced."
Her words caused cheering to ring throughout the airfield, Spitfire turned to Rainbow Dash, "Vice Commander, pull out the cider, we're celebrating!" She declared.
"With pleasure!" She declared. Rainbow Dash popped open a bottle of apple cider, pouring some for the rest of the pilots including Riley.
"They did it." Spitfire said turning to Riley.
"Yes, the war's over, Spitfire!" Riley said to Spitfire, hugging her.
"Yep, just a little longer." Spitfire replied. Her words dawned on Riley, in just a few more months, the war was going to be over and the moment Germany and Japan surrendered, he would be back on the orchard in Applejack's arms and playing with Applebloom.
"I'm coming home soon, Applejack, just wait a little bit longer." Riley sighed, looking out the window of his barracks towards the ground.
But the festivities were cut short by a report of a possible Me-262 fighter base. "This is it. Our last patrol." Riley said to himself as he climbed into his Mustang. He was just about to close his canopy when Fleetfoot and Misty came running out of their barracks. They were just getting into their planes when Spitfire walked over to them.
"What took you so long Fleetfoot and Misty?" Spitfire asked.
"Sorry we're late, Ma'am. Readjusting our hoods took a little longer then expected," Misty replied.
"Alright, you two, get in your planes and let's get on this patrol." she said as she closed her canopy and proceeded to start her Mustang's engine. The 9 planes took off from the airfield. 15 minutes later, the formation of 9 P-51D Mustangs were at 13,500 feet.
"Hey, Rainbow, can you see anything down there?" Riley asked.
"Negative, Riley, I can't" she replied.
"What about you Soarin'?" Rainbow Dash asked the pilot in the Mustang next to Riley's.
"No." He replied. He looked down at the ground below them. He spotted something.
"Look Spitfire. Enemy Airbase, Two O' Clock low, two miles. Easy pickings, what do you say? Let's do it!" he asked Spitfire.
"Negative, Soarin'. Our orders are to recon, and report back," Spitfire sternly replied.
"Oh come on, Spitfire, it'll be like the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot." Soarin' said.
"Let's do it, Spitfire," Misty said.
"Yeah, come on," Wave Chill and Fleetfoot pleaded.
Finally Spitfire gave in. "Alright. We're going in for a closer look." she replied.
"But keep your distance," Riley ordered. Then the Wonderbolts jettisoned their drop tanks, lined up in a dive-bomb formation and headed down towards the ground. As they got lower and lower, and they popped out of the base of the clouds, bullets started flying towards them.
"Holy Celestia, it's the enemy antiaircraft batteries!" Wave Chill screamed.
The Wonderbolts all opened fire onto the base below them.
In a frantic effort to save the squadron, Spitfire gave the order to abort the patrol. "Mission abort! Everyone pull up!" Spitfire desperately ordered. But amazingly, despite the barrage of shells, all 9 Mustangs in the squadron were able to escape the deadly hurricane of antiaircraft fire with their planes in one place.
After a few harrowing minutes, Riley's voice crackled over Spitfire's headphones. "Okay, Spitfire, everyone's here and accounted for!" Riley said.
"Thank you, Commander. The mission is now aborted. Back to base, Wonderbolts!" Spitfire said.
The flight back to the Canterlot Airfield went smoothly, until Misty looked at her fuel gauge and she saw that she was almost out.
"Riley, Rainbow Dash, I'm almost out of fuel! How much longer until the airfield?" Misty said.
"About 12 minutes!" Riley replied.
"I don't think my plane's engine will last 12 minutes. I'm almost out!" Misty said.
"Can you tap into your emergency reserves?" Riley asked.
"No, the emergency reserves were in the drop tanks and we jettisoned them." Misty said.
"How much fuel do you have Misty?" Riley asked.
"I'm almost on empty." She said.
"Well, we've got a good tailwind, so it shouldn't be too long...I hope." Riley said.
"Spitfire, and everyone else, you go ahead and head back to the airfield, we'll catch up!" Riley ordered.
"What about you Riley?" Wave Chill asked.
"I'm staying with Rainbow and Misty. Go now! That's an order!" Riley shouted.
"Yes sir." Misty said. The other Mustangs left, and once they did, Riley, Rainbow Dash, and Misty were completely alone.
A short while later, the patrol was almost 4 miles away from the airfield. The other 6 Wonderbolts were beginning to land. "Her Mustang's engine doesn't sound good at all…" Rainbow Dash said to herself as she listened to the worsening sputtering.
Then came a grinding sound and Misty's Mustang's propeller stopped completely. Misty panicked, "Rainbow Dash, RILEY, HELP!!!!" She screamed.
Then, Rainbow dived towards Misty. "Hang on, Misty! I'm coming!" Rainbow said.
In a quick maneuver, and with Riley watching, Rainbow Dash flew under Misty's Mustang and held it up with the right wing of her Mustang. "I got you, Misty!" She said to Misty.
"Thank you, Rainbow Dash." She said.
With Misty's engine now out of commission and Rainbow Dash holding her up, Riley knew that both pilots were now vulnerable to attack. A plan formed in his head. "Okay, Rainbow Dash, here's the plan. While you're holding Misty up, I'll keep top cover for you two." Riley said.
"Got it!" Rainbow acknowledged him.
"How far to the airfield?" Rainbow asked.
"About 5 minutes." Riley said. "Come on, Misty, keep your wings level.." Riley said, watching Misty. The flight back, with Misty in tow went smoothly up until the final two miles from Canterlot Airfield.
"Riley, I can't hold Misty up much longer…her Mustang is starting to drag mine down.…" Rainbow Dash strained, struggling to hold Misty's P-51D Mustang in the air.
"Alright, Dash, it looks like this going to have to be a joint effort if we want to get Misty back to the airfield alive and with her plane in one piece." Riley said. He then joined Rainbow Dash in holding Misty's P-51D Mustang up.
A few minutes later, the formation of 3 P-51D Mustangs were approaching the airfield. "Alright, Misty, gear down." Riley ordered.
Misty did as Riley ordered her to. "Alright Riley, gear's down and locked!" She said.
"Very good." Riley said, acknowledging her.
Then Misty's Mustang began to accelerate its altitude loss. Riley quickly broke formation with Misty and Rainbow Dash. "It's not going to work, Dash, get off Misty's Mustang, she'll only drag you down with her!" Riley ordered.
"Sorry Riley…she's my friend." she thought before focusing as she flew with Misty, holding her P-51D Mustang up with everything she had. The strain made the metal groan. She ignored it growling a little while holding Misty up. "I'm not...Giving up!" Rainbow Dash said, she was determined to get her fellow Wonderbolt pilot back to base alive and her plane in one piece.
Misty's Mustang hit the ground hard, but it was a landing that the airframe was designed for. Misty applied the brakes and the fighter plane stopped just barely halfway down the runway. Misty took the chance and got out of her plane as fast as she could. The men on the airfield cheered at Rainbow Dash's remarkable rescue. "Thank you, Rainbow Dash!" Misty said as Rainbow Dash streaked overhead in her P-51D.
Rainbow Dash climbed, flying up to avoid hitting the ground. Riley watched as Rainbow's Mustang flew through the sky, all the while smiling proudly at her.
"Rainbow Dash." Riley called to her over the radio, and she turned and looked at Riley's Mustang, he was flying right next to her on her left side. "Good move…Vice Commander.." Riley said, saluting the rainbow haired pilot. Rainbow smiled, and saluted back. Riley and Rainbow Dash were the last to land on the airfield. Riley was the first to step out of his Mustang, and Rainbow Dash was the last.
"Oh, thank you, Rainbow Dash, you saved my life, again!" Misty said, running up to Rainbow Dash and hugging her.
"Hey, I never leave my fellow Wonderbolts hanging." Rainbow said, shrugging her shoulders.
"Well, Dash. I guess I was wrong about you. I always knew you were loyal, but I just didn't know HOW loyal you were." Riley said, trying to hide a rapidly developing blush.
Rainbow Dash was touched by Riley's compliment, touched to the point where she was on the verge of tears. "Darn it! Since when did you get all sappy Samborski?!" Rainbow Dash asked.
"I don't know, I guess I'm just good at complimenting people." Riley said, shrugging his shoulders.
The next day, Spitfire and Riley walked up to Rainbow, smiling. "Rainbow Dash, for your extraordinary act of bravery, for saving Misty's life, I hereby award you The Bronze Star!" She declared, pinning the medal on her flight suit. Spitfire, Riley and the other Wonderbolts saluted, Rainbow saluted back.
It was a week later, and Riley was finally going home. The Wonderbolts time in Europe had expired. At long last, Germany was defeated, and their leader, Adolf Hitler was dead. The 9 P-51s were on the Essex class aircraft carrier USS Victory.
A week later, and the USS Victory was docked at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas. As the other Wonderbolt P-51Ds were being offloaded at the dock, Riley was still in his bunk. All of a sudden he realized that Applejack needed him. As fast as his feet would carry him, he bolted to the flight deck, and there it was, his P-51D Mustang, fitted with replacement drop tanks, it had newly replenished ammunition reserves, it was fully fueled and ready to fly. When no one was looking, he ran for his plane, fired up the Merlin engine and took off from the carrier to Sweet Apple Acres.
2 hours later, it was only a few miles further in his Mustang and he'd be back with Applejack, and her family. On the way, Riley rubbed his shoulder, which still throbbed slightly from his hard landing at Canterlot airfield upon returning from their last patrol before Germany surrendered. It was a painful reminder of his near death on his last war patrol in his plane.
The final tally was as follows:
Riley had 32 kills
Spitfire had 19 kills
Rainbow Dash had 22 kills
Fleetfoot had 18 kills
Soarin' had 16 kills
Wave Chill had 20 kills
Misty had 16 kills
Fire Streak had 16 kills
Lightning Dust had 17 kills
Riley finished the war as the highest scoring Wonderbolt pilot, Spitfire was second highest scoring Wonderbolt pilot, and Rainbow Dash was the third highest scoring Wonderbolt pilot. But more than that, Riley was the highest scoring P-51 Mustang pilot of all time. He utterly crushed the kill record set by U.S. World War I pilot Eddie Rickenbacker, who had 26 kills to his record and the record set by George Preddy, who had 28 kills to his record. But sadly, George Preddy didn't survive the war to claim his victories. He was killed when his Mustang crashed after being accidentally hit by friendly antiaircraft fire, he would never meet Riley Samborski, the Mustang pilot who shattered his record.
Soon Sweet Apple Acres came into sight. Riley approached the runway and landed. "And we have touchdown," Riley said to himself as he applied the brakes and the Mustang came to a stop. He then shut off the engine. For once in what seemed like forever, Riley smiled. He was back home.
One afternoon at the White House in Washington, D.C., former First Lady Mia Celestia was in her room mourning the loss of her husband, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who died from polio when her sister, First Lady Lulu Luna walked into her room to find her sister with her head hanging down. Her husband, President Harry Truman was in Germany in Berlin for the Potsdam Conference.
"Tia?" Lulu asked, stepping into the room.
"Oh, hey, Lulu." Tia sniffed.
"I was wondering how you were doing." Luna said, stepping into the room. Tia turned to face her sister, Luna saw that Tia's eyes were bloodshot, and her dress had tearspots on it, the former First Lady had been crying.
"Are you still thinking about Franklin?" Lulu asked. Tia sniffed and nodded yes, Luna sat beside her sister and saw that Tia was holding a pocket sized picture of herself and Franklin during their wedding, back when Franklin was young, and could walk. Both of them were smiling in the picture. "I can't stop thinking about him.." Tia whimpered. "I just can't believe he's gone.." Tia sniffed.
Lulu went over to her sister, sitting down so she was eye level with her sister. "Tia… If you had blamed yourself for Franklin's death… I would've never ever forgiven myself… this isn't healthy for you, you haven't slept for over a week!"
She gently tilted Tia's head up so she could look into her eyes, smiling gently. "Tia, I just want you to know that even though Franklin is gone, you still have him in your heart."
Tia looked at her before smiling a little, a small tear got out, and streaked down her cheek. Lulu looked at her elder sister, an encouraging smile on her face.
"Oh Lulu…where would I be without you?" Tia asked.
"What are sisters for?" Lulu asked Tia, hugging her.
A few minutes later, after Tia and Lulu hugged each other, a Secret Service agent assigned to the Presidential Detail, Agent Shining Armor, walked into the room.
"First Lady Luna, your husband will be returning from Berlin in 2 hours. I also have this letter for you. It's from Cadence in London." Shining said, walking up to Luna and handing her the envelope.
"Thank you, Agent Armor." Luna said. Shining nodded and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.
"What does it say?" Tia asked, her curiosity peaked.
"I don't know, I have to open it first." Lulu said. Being careful not to get a paper cut or crumple the letter or the envelope, Lulu carefully opened the envelope, took out the letter and started reading it.
"Dear Lulu Luna,
I am just as devastated as you are about the death of Tia's husband. He was a good man, and a wonderful leader of not just men in military, but a country, and I loved him as much as Tia did. I will miss him as much as you and Tia will.
My husband Winston is equally as devastated by Franklin's death, and he will miss Franklin as well. He always considered Franklin more than an ally in war, he considered Franklin a brother. The British crown is wishing the best for you and the American people.
Yours and Tia's close friend, Mi Amore Cadenza."
"Cadence.." Lulu sighed, holding the letter in her hands. "You always have ways of cheering us up.." Luna sighed. Luna's and Tia's best friend Mi Amore Cadenza, was married to the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill even though she was born in the United States.
"Luna, I'm back!" Harry called as he walked into the White House foyer.
"Harry, did they accept the Potsdam Declaration?" Luna asked Harry, walking up to him, Tia by her side.
He forlornly sighed, "No, Lulu, they didn't. Prime Minister Suzuki said that the Japanese government will ignore the Potsdam Declaration, he even used the word mokusatsu." Harry grimly said.
"What does that word mean?" Tia asked, confused.
"It means 'To kill with silent contempt'. Which leaves us with only one choice, the atomic bomb will be used." Harry said.
"No, Harry! We don't know what will happen if something goes wrong!" Tia protested.
"Tia, I can assure you that all potential problems with the bomb were ironed out during the course of the Manhattan project, we've invested more than $500,000,000 and spent 3 years on this! With the assistance and the expertise of some of the worlds finest scientists, including Albert Einstein." Harry reassured the woman.
"Harry, there has to be another way to make the Japanese surrender!" Tia pleaded, trying to change Harry's mind.
"I wish there was, Tia, but I'm sorry, there isn't. The war needs to end, and it needs to end NOW!" Harry said, walking away.
"If only there were another way..." Tia said.
"No, Tia, Harry's mind is set. It's best if we just stay out of his way."
"You're right, Lulu, he's already tired from traveling from Berlin all the way back here." Celestia said.
"Riley!" Applejack gasped, "Riley… oh, I just… are you...?" she did not have the words to describe what she was feeling or how to respond.
Riley was just too happy to be home for the time being to think about what had happened during his time in Europe. "AJ, it's okay, I'm home, I'm fine. That's all that matters." He walked up to her joyfully, brushing his nose against hers.
She pulled away, her eyes full of happiness. "Riley I think Applebloom will want to see you."
"Okay." Riley said.
It turned out that Applejack had brought her over to the living room. Applebloom snorted happily and barreled into Riley.
"You're home! You're home! Where have you been?" The red haired girl asked.
Through their tears, Riley couldn't help a smile, neither could Applejack.
"I've been on a little adventure," Riley chuckled, blinking away his tears.
"Not now, I'll tell it to you later," the Mustang pilot said, smiling. Applebloom looked disappointed.
"Ah," he smiled, "Don’t be sad. I've brought you back something."
Applebloom's face lit up, "Show me! Show me!" The little redhead girl jumped up and down in excitement.
As soon as they got to the living room, Riley pulled out his gift for the little girl. It was a miniature flag –one of the things Applebloom oddly loved, as Riley had found out in a letter from Applejack- with the Wonderbolts insignia printed on it. Applebloom went wild, holding the flag in her hand and running across the yard, watching it whip around as she ran.
As Riley watched this, he was thankful. He was thankful to be back in Texas, alive and in one piece. The Mustang pilot knew the dreadful memories of his time in Europe during World War II were going to be permanently pounded into his head, but that didn't matter. He was home and reunited with Applejack. The war was over, the Allies had won, and the Axis Powers had lost. He turned to his girlfriend, Applejack, and she looked at him. As the two lovers looked at each other, Riley knew that they had a lot of catching up to do.
