Skylane (by Silver)

>she was your first
>so far your only
>she's helped you grow and learn all the ins and out of the Plane Ponies.
>She forgave you when you landed just a little too hard
>You know her every nook and cranny
>her every little quirk that makes her special from the other Cessnas
>But now you haven't spent much time with her lately
>You've moved on to faster, sleeker, bigger airplanes
>she's been there for you, always helping and supporting you
>but you haven't been there for her
>Tonight is different though
>This is her night
>No radios, no instructors, no passengers
>Just you, her, and the wide open sky
>You look her over, the memories almost becoming too much to bear
>Your first Flight
>Your First Solo
>Your first Cross country
>Your first License...
>It's been way too long
>You can tell she's eager to leap into the air
>You want to hop on and blast off as well, but safety first
>She understands, she couldn't tell if something small was wrong with her
>You stroke down her nose cone, along her cowling as you make your way to the cockpit
"We're ready to go."
>You climb in before she can start up from excitement
>You do your checks and plug in your headset and she spins up to life
>You're tense, out of practice with her systems that seem overly simple compared to the jets you fly now
>She's calm, as usual, just as you remember
>She lets you lead, but would never let you get hurt
>You thunder into the sky together, as much as you can thunder with a 4 piston engine
>But that doesn't matter
>The sun is going down and lights are flicking on one by one on the landscape below you
>The stars fade into view around you and the sky darkens
>the radios are turned off, it's just you, and her gentle humming
>you two enjoy the stars and the cities together, wheeling and circling and reminiscing on old times
>you both go quiet, just enjoying each other's company

>Why did you ever leave this?
>She's perfect for you
>She's always been there for you
>She's never failed you
>She breaks the silence, realizing it's been just the right amount of time
>"It's time to land hon..."
"...Yea... let's..."
>You two glide into the airport, and you button her up in her hanger, decorated with pictures and being as comfortable as your own bedroom
>"A-anon... I don't want you to go"
"I... I don't want to go either.."
>The hanger is closed now, leaving you too together
"But, I can't stay..."
>You don't think you've ever seen her this disappointed, sad even
>It pains you to move towards the hanger door, you just can't
"Skylane... you'll always be special to me"
>She looks at you, a sort of accepting sadness in her eyes
"And no plane could ever, ever replace you."
>She just nods, giving a small, fake smile, probably trying to keep you happy
>Much good that does
>You still feel a bit empty as you leave the hanger, leaving her until next time

>It's been a few weeks since your last flight with Skylane
>You're always just been "too busy" or "too tired" to spend some more time with her
>You're training can't exactly move on if you fly the same plane over and over
>In truth, you've.. kindof forgotten her.
>Seminole is a bit more... complex than Skylane
>She goes faster, looks sleeker, but is a bit tempermental.
>You have to watch yourself around Seminole, her twin engines are prone to make her overheat and go off on you
>You sometimes find yourself wishing you can just sit back and spend some quality time with your plane, but Seminole hasn't had it.
>It's worn you out
>There's finally a cloudy day where no one is flying
>It's also below freezing so if anyone goes into the clouds they'll ice up and crash
>You can't just sit at home, rereading the same theory book
>You decide to go out to the airport, not much else you can do
>It's amazingly peaceful, even as the cool breeze bites through your leather bomber jacket
>There's a few birds as well, fluttering about without being disturbed by the wirring of motors
>Looking down the rows of small hangers, you see one door open
>Stuffing your hands into your jacket pockets, you walk down the grey concrete apron to the hanger
>It looks like... yea, That's Cessna's nose and propeller there
>It's a bit unlike her to not be in her own hanger, when she's not with a student of course
>As you get closer you hear her talking to someone
>"Yea, the full package, it's about time I got it"
>The other voice doesn't sound like any airplane you've heard
>"Alrighty I think I can do that, but, are you sure?"
>"I'm completely sure, I kno-ANON!"

>She seemed flustered as you finally came around, able to see her completely now, talking to the resident mechanic
>If she was flesh and blood she'd definetely be blushing
>The Mechanic was right outside her cockpit, with her doors open
>nothing was disassembled, so nothing serious must've happened
>"Well.. um... I'll talk to you tomorrow Skylane"
>"Alright Dave...see you then"
>You've just been awkwardly standing there as Dave leaves
>no one even says anything until he got quite a few yards away
>"So um... anon.. I really wasn't expecting you..."
"Yea.."
>Quiet suspense
>She must not want to share what that all was about
"I um... well, the airport is nice and quiet on days like this"
>"Yea... I just, don't get to fly as much as all"
>Holy shit did that hit hard
"Yea... Skylane, I'm sorry.."
>"It's okay..."
>She's a bit warmer than the freezing wind at least
"Is it? I mean, I said I wouldn't leave you that long."
>"Anon. It's fine."
>If there's one thing that pisses off a plane, is not being confident in yourself
>You can hear it in the bit of snap in her voice
>You've only heard it a few times before, and you really fucked up then
>"I've heard your voice in the radio a few times, are you training with Seminole now?"
>She's a bit gentler now, but that tension is still there, just a little bit
>"She trains some good pilots, it'll be good for you anon. I mean, everyone has to move on to better things."
>You begin to think all those years of students have made her more than able to manipulate emotions because hot damn she's guilting you hard
"Skylane, I'm sorry. Just, Seminole is a hard teacher. She's been keeping me busy."
>"Yea, and Baron'll tear you a new one if you don't follow what Seminole tells you."
>She chuckles and shakes her head slightly
>"So she has reason to be tough. Don't worry hon... you'll get it."

>That little term of endearment was nice to hear again
>You haven't heard her use it with any of her other students
>It's quite nice to know that, but only makes these situations harder on you two when you spend so much time apart
"Thanks Sky... Mind if I sit a while?"
>"By all means"
>you take a seat next to her, nice and close
>she seems a bit warm for this weather, usually it being this cool made her metal skin just as cool
>Must've done a quick run up to keep the cobwebs out
>You two sit in silence for a while, looking up at the thin, overcast clouds swirl above the airfield.
>It's only birds until a private jet flies in
>they don't have a problem with ice in these conditions, with all thier special systems and all
>This seems to rouse the Cessna beside you to a question
>"Anon... what do you want to do when you finish up your training?"
>you have to think for a moment, it's been a while and got lost in the whirlwind of charts and questions
"I... I'd love to be flying one of those"
>you gesture down the ramp to the Jet, it's passengers stepping down the stairs with the pilot, laughing and enjoying themselves like they were all old friends
"It's like... I could go anywhere, see places I've never been..."
>you get lost in your own reverie for a bit before turning back to Skylane
>she looks like she wilted, not much, but maybe she was hoping for something else
>"That... That sounds like a wonderful plan anon.."

>You two sit in silence for a while before you have to say goodbye once again, but not before you give her a warm hug
>she's not able to hug back, but she gives the best nuzzle into you she can in reciprocation
>"Don't be a stranger anon... I love the time I spend with you"
>You just smile warmly back, leaving the hug and giving a slight wave as you close the hanger door for her
>You're the only one on the airport, aside from the jet being pushed back into a larger hanger on the field
>It looks very... well... tired. Makes sense, it's been doing who knows how much flying.
>Oh well, back to studying you guess...

>another day another flight done
>You feel like you were in the engine as it got knocked around
>a 3 hour flight With Seminole wore you out hardcore
>Full Instruments too
>She smacks you if you deviate more than 50 feet from your assigned altitude
>at least it's nice to be back on the ground
>Nice and solid.
>But still had a bit of wobbly legs getting out
>Though it was nice to go somewhere different than your little airport
>The clouds just starting to clear out, and sunset seems to be about a half hour out
>Quite nice, might as well sit here for a while.
>Nice quiet bench on the edge of the tarmac
>Still rather chilly, winter is on it's way, with the freezing weather and all
>Won't be able to fly much then
>There's a single airplane buzzing around, doing a few practice landings
>on its next pass you notice it's Skylane
>Landings seem a bit rough, must be a student pilot
>Either way, you sit there and silently judge, chucking at small faults and going through what the pilot could do better
>Time passes and Skylane eventually lands with the student aboard.
>She's a bit sluggish taxiing back to her hanger, she must be as worn out as you
>Granted, you've been sitting there for a a little while, you've gotten your land legs back and your mind straight
>You know she saw you, giving just a bit of a nod before her attention quickly turned back to the student
>Think he touched the brakes just a little too hard

>You give the two of them a few minutes, letting the sun go down as Skylane debriefs her student
>It's dark as you walk to the hanger, all lit up still as the other student passes you
>A smile and nod is exchanged, the other guy seems like he's in a hurry
>Your hands go back in your pockets as you get to the hanger and lean against the opening
>Skylane's dozing off, must've been a long day for her
>if you just left her alone she'd probably forget to close up and plug in her oil heater
>You decide to just not say anything, walking over to the door controls and pushing the close button, the electric motors closing the large hanger doors
>She noticed you before you crossed her nose, and you had to pause and just press a finger to her intake
>She shut up rather quickly, just giving a thankful smile
>As you latch down the hanger doors, she finally speaks up
>"I thought you were done an hour ago... you were Seminole's last student today"
>Seminole did mention she had spoke to Skylane the other day, just couldn't remember the details
"Well you know those long flights."
>"Yea, you always used to be so loopy after those long cross-countries"
>You both share a bit of a chuckle remembering those times. Even once where you fucked up the ending paperwork writing just squiggles
"You looked like you've been through the wringer too. That last kid seemed quite rough"
>"Most students are. Including you Anon."
>She's just smirking back at you, but you can tell her eyes glaze over rather quickly, she's fading fast
"Yea, well, I was young"
>"What's different about you Anon is that you didn't treat me as just a machine... That last student, well... he's so stuffed with facts and figures I don't even think he could deal with another being"

>Could explain his performance earlier, flying is as much an art as it is a science
>You've gone to the wall and grabbed an extension cord, moving towards her cowling and popping open a little access hatch
>Normally you use it to check the oil, but the heater plug was in there was well
>She didn't even flinch, she's so used to that hatch being used
>"Heh... I just wish more kids can be like you Anon..."
>You finally get her heater plugged in, giving her a loving look and a pat on the side as you close up the hatch
"Well... if everyone was like me we wouldn't have so many pilots to learn from"
>She laughs a bit, hell if you could call it a laugh.
>She's ready to fall asleep right there
>In your arms if you let her
>Goddamnit these hangers don't have heating
"I... I wish I could stay the night with you Sky..."
>"You... can stay a little longer right?"
>You're just running your hand along her cowling now, as if you're caressing a normal pony's cheek
"I need to go..."
>Another hug, but this one lasting a little longer
>You kiss her on her cheek, whispering, "good night" as you seperate
>She seems to be blushing again
>And no, that's not the oil heater getting red hot she's blushing
>Don't know how to feel, you just really acted
>thinking about it you're certaintly blushing, stammering over your words even
"G.. goodnight S-ky."
>"Goodnight... A-anon..."
>You're quick to exit through the human sized door, turning off the light for her on the way out
>Goddamn did you just do that?
>You just kissed her
>it wasn't like... an ACTUAL kiss. Just a little one
>But, well, it seemed like she wanted perhaps that.
>No, anon, seriously.... just.. get home, sleep it off, you had a long day.

Source: https://archive.moe/mlp/thread/21436833/#21510859