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- >The large barn echoes with the clinking of metal and tightening of bolts.
- >You dig your arms down further, almost elbow-deep into the engine, making what are hopefully the final adjustments.
- >Big Mac watches from a small distance.
- >His hooves and face are coated in engine grease and oil, as are your own arms, hands, and face.
- >He yawns.
- >It's been a late night.
- >With one last crank of your wrench, you lift out your arms and wipe your hand across your forehead.
- "...Alright. That should be good."
- >Big Mac nods, and begins to walk over.
- >You pull out your once-white cloth and wipe down your hands.
- >"D'ya think ya finally got it?" he asks, peering at the engine block.
- >You close down the hood and nod.
- "I hope so."
- >You put your cloth back into your back pocket and move away slowly from the front of the machine, walking around the side.
- >Months of close-but-no-cigars and failed start-ups have made you wary.
- >But you haven't given up hope.
- >You duck under the two protruding wings from the side and peer over into the cockpit.
- >The familiar knobs and gauges greet you.
- "Alright..."
- >You say, reaching toward the ignition.
- "Let's see if this old crop duster can still purr for me."
- >Big Mac smiles.
- "Can you give the propeller a push for me, buddy?"
- >He nods, and places his hoof on one of the blades. "Eeyup."
- "Alright, ready?"
- >"Eeyup."
- >You start up the biplane, the engine vibrating the entire machine and giving a low growl.
- >Big Mac simultaneously pushes down hard on the propeller, assisting in the start up.
- >It spins for a little bit, sputtering an odd noise, then stopping.
- >Mac reaches again with both hooves and cranks down as hard as he can.
- >The propeller spins once more, but this time, it catches.
- >It begins to spin on its own; quickly, rapidly, blurring the blades til you can't tell which is which.
- >The entire plane moves with a healthy vibration.
- >The barn contains and multiplies the sound of the machine's low rumble.
- >As you lean into the cockpit, you smile.
- >A feeling of joy and success wells up inside your chest.
- >You lean out with a big grin on your face, give Big Mac a look, and raise your arms up in the air.
- "...We did it!"
- >He hops up a bit and stomps his hoof to the ground.
- >"Yee-haw! And it's about time, too!"
- >Your smile could split your face in half.
- >Finally... after all of these months...
- >After the damage your poor crop duster took when you arrived in this magical land...
- >You can fly once more.
- >You peek back into the cockpit.
- >The fuel gauge catches your eye.
- >It's only a little above halfway full.
- >...
- >You quickly reach in and shut the old bird down.
- >The propeller sputters a bit before slowing to a stop.
- >The growl spirals quieter and quieter until the barn is settled again in silence.
- >You back away from the craft and admire it.
- >...You breathe in deep, then let out a content sigh.
- >Big Mac walks up and joins you in your admiration.
- "...Thanks, buddy."
- >You finally say.
- "I couldn't have done this without your help, or your space here."
- >He nods.
- >"Anythin' for a friend."
- >You smile, then walk out to the entrance of the barn.
- >As you observe the beautiful night sky, complimented by Luna's full moon, you pull out your cloth once more and wipe your face down.
- >The open sky seems so endless...
- >Big Mac again joins you.
- >"...Ya think she'll be excited?"
- >You look down to him, then smile, laughing a little bit.
- "She'll be ecstatic."
- >You give your plane a quick glance.
- "She's been waiting for this forever. Since I got here. Wanting it so bad... hell, probably more than me."
- >He nods.
- "I'll have to tell her first thing in the morning."
- >Big Mac laughs.
- >"Tell? Why not just show?"
- >You wipe your hands a little more, then hand the cloth to Mac.
- >He nods in thanks, and begins wiping down his hooves.
- "Like a surprise...?"
- >You think for just a moment.
- "...Yeah. Yeah, that sounds even better."
- >Big Mac smiles, then hands your cloth back.
- >"Good. Now go git some shut-eye, Anon. Ya got a big, exciting day ahead of ya tomorrow."
- >You let out a breathy laugh.
- "I sure do."
- >8:30 am.
- >Your alarm starts buzzing loudly, signaling your waking.
- >You sit up in bed and take a deep breath, then reach over and shut it off.
- >Absorbing the morning for a bit, you gaze outside at the beautiful, sun-lit landscape.
- >A smile graces your lips.
- >It's going to be a great day.
- >You throw your covers off and stretch your legs out, then stand up on your feet.
- >Better hurry.
- >Rainbow Dash will be here in about half an hour.
- >You quickly get dressed, finding an appropriate shirt and pair of pants to don for the day.
- >You scope out your leather flight cap and flight goggles and store them in your bag, throwing it over your shoulder.
- >The wooden stairs of your house thump as you climb down, then scurry to the kitchen and grab some breakfast.
- >You throw a pot of coffee on, and by the time you just finish your meal, you have a cup of black gold to idly sip on.
- >The caffeine only seems to add to your anticipation as you sit down at your table, waiting.
- >...
- >9:00 am, on the dot.
- >A knock is heard at your door.
- >You smile, placing your cup down and walking over to the source.
- >You swing the door open.
- >There she is, Rainbow Dash, greeting you in the morning as she almost always does.
- >She sees your happy demeanor and smiles.
- >"Hey Anon," she announces happily, "you seem real upbeat today."
- >You laugh a little through your nose and nod.
- "Yeah, I think today's going to be a pretty special day."
- >She grins.
- >"Oh yeah? I do too. I have, like, four new moves to show you! I've been working on them all week!"
- "That so?"
- >You say nonchalantly, adjusting your backpack for comfort.
- >She nods.
- >"Yeah! So, wanna head over to the field now?"
- >You drum your fingers against your doorframe, poking your tongue into the side of your cheek.
- "Mmm... in a bit. I need to stop by Sweet Apple Acres for something real quick. Want to tag along?"
- >She spreads her wings and takes to the air.
- >"Sure. Let's not take too long though, I'm already all warmed up!"
- >You close the door behind you and begin walking.
- >Rainbow Dash hovers at your speed next to you.
- "Oh, I don't think it'll be too long."
- >You two make idle chat as you walk through town.
- >The other p0nies up bright and early smile and wave at you two as you pass by.
- >It isn't long before you find the path down to Applejack and Big Mac's farm.
- >You two snake down it, and soon, the endless sea of apple trees are in sight.
- >Your eyes fall to the big, red, Apple family barn.
- >Big Mac is already up, doing some miscellaneous farm work and rearranging some equipment.
- >He spots you two coming from a distance.
- >You can see his smile from here.
- >Your chest is starting to well up with excitement once again.
- >"So what are we getting from here, anyway?" Rainbow Dash asks.
- >You try to hide your smile.
- "Oh, I bought some apples yesterday, but I'm only picking them up now."
- >She nods slowly, but squints her eyes a bit when she notices you two approaching the barn.
- >"Hey... isn't your machine stored in there?"
- >Your facial muscles give, and your smile broadens across your face.
- >You don't respond, opting to keep walking.
- >Dash looks at your face and pouts.
- >"Hey! What's so funny? What are you actually doing?"
- >You close in on the barn, and Big Mac gives a wave with his hoof.
- >"G'morning, Anon. Hiya Rainbow Dash," he greets.
- >You wave back.
- "Good morning, Mac."
- >Dash flutters next to you, confusion on her face.
- >"Y'all ready?" he asks, beginning to unlock the barn.
- >You laugh a little.
- "Yeah, I think we're ready."
- >He nods, and grips the door in his teeth, pulling it open.
- >"Anon," Dash begins, "honestly, what is going on? Why are you--"
- >She cuts herself off when the door finally opens completely.
- >Your old crop duster is in full view, completely repaired and ready to fly.
- >Dash's mouth gapes.
- >You and Big Mac look at each other and smile.
- >"A-Anon... Is that your machine?"
- >You cross your arms and laugh.
- "Sure is."
- >She zips into the barn and starts inspecting it all over, at a rapid pace.
- >"B-But the wing here! It was completely demolished!"
- "We fixed it."
- >You say, walking in with her.
- >"And... and the engine! You said it would take half a year to finish!"
- "We found a way."
- >"The rust! The giant scratches and holes in the side! They're all... all--"
- "All gone."
- >You pat your old bird a few times.
- >You look Dash in the eyes.
- "We did it, Dash. She's all fixed up."
- >Her eyes begin to well over.
- >"Does... does that mean that we can... that you and I can..."
- >You gaze deeper at her, a broad smile completely overtaking your face.
- "She's all ready to fly."
- >The excitement on her face was absolutely priceless.
- >Ever since you first crash-landed in Equestria, she's wanted to fly with you.
- >To share the sky together, to see how your people have actually modified themselves to do things they normally can't.
- >Fixing your plane was originally in your own interests.
- >It evolved into a hobby, almost.
- >But the last few months of working on it... they've been for her.
- >You push the back of your plane as hard as you can, getting out into the open field the Apples have.
- >Applejack and Big Mac pull with ropes from the front, and the plane slowly makes progress to the makeshift runway.
- >Applebloom and Granny Smith watch from afar with interest.
- >Time to see what the hunk of junk taking up their barn space is for.
- "Alright, here should be good!"
- >You call.
- >Mac and Applejack look to you and nod, then drop their ropes.
- >They untie it from your plane as you place your bag down onto the ground.
- >You pull out your flight goggles and snap them onto your face.
- >Ahh... it's been too long.
- >You take your flight cap out and do the same.
- >Rainbow Dash flies circles above you in excitement.
- >"Are you almost ready!?"
- >You look up to her and smile.
- "Just about."
- >You walk over to your plane and open the cockpit.
- >You climb in and close the door, securing yourself in safely.
- >You look over to Big Mac.
- >He smiles, already knowing what to do.
- "Alright, we're ready to get started!"
- >Applebloom, Applejack, and Granny Smith all cheer from their spot.
- >Rainbow Dash lands back to the ground next to your plane.
- >You ready yourself, physically and mentally, and hover your hand over the ignition.
- >Big Mac places his hooves on the propeller.
- "Alright... let's go!"
- >You press the ignition.
- >Big Mac pushes down the propeller with all his might.
- >The engine catches it, and the propeller begins spinning rapidly, beautifully just like last night.
- >The plane hops a bit and vibrates, the engine growling perfectly.
- >Rainbow Dash smiles.
- >You take a deep breath, then exhale.
- >You look out to the vast, straight land ahead of you.
- >Perfect...
- >Your eyes trail down to the fuel gauge.
- >In the same spot as before.
- >Your eyes linger on it, and you give a soft sigh.
- >You'll worry about that when it comes.
- >You give the old biplane some gas, and the mass of metal begins to slowly roll forward.
- >Rainbow Dash hops in excitement and begins trotting next to it, matching its movement.
- >The engine purrs a little louder as you gain speed, rolling at a nice pace down the flat surface.
- >Rainbow Dash's trot turns into a run.
- >You continue accelerating, bumping and swaying a bit in the cockpit as your wheels run over rocks or dip into uneven surfaces.
- >You're going very fast.
- >She's full-on galloping beside you now.
- >When you've hit the optimum speed, you pull up.
- >You can feel the force push you back softly into the seat of your plane.
- >Your craft tilts upward, the air catching underneath its wings, and you begin to lift up into the air.
- >The engine bellows its entire cry now: a high-pitched, growl-like roar that radiates throughout the sky.
- >Your p0ny flight companion takes off with you, her own wings carrying her into the air.
- >The plane continues to climb, crossing over apple trees and pulling leaves off as the air sucks past them.
- >The landscape broadens around you, and the land grows lower and lower.
- >Everything starts to get smaller.
- >Blue begins to surround you.
- >You look over to your right, spotting the cyan p0ny.
- >She's focused, but smiling, staring right ahead.
- >She tilts her head to meet you.
- >Your eyes lock.
- >The cool wind barrels past your face, whipping into your clothes and dancing around your limbs.
- >It does the same to Dash's mane, the mess of rainbow colors spiraling beautifully around her head.
- >You give her a happy nod, then return your focus ahead of you.
- >You're plenty high in the sky now, so you begin to bank to the right.
- >Your craft tilts, shifting the landscape ahead of you sideways from your perspective, and you begin to turn.
- >Rainbow Dash matches this movement, turning in synch with you.
- >The miniscule town of P0nyville crawls into your sight.
- >You smile, and stop your turn, straightening back out.
- >The blue mare follows, but, once you're on a normal path again, breaks off and begins spiraling around your biplane.
- >She leaves a rainbow trail that corks around you.
- >You let your eyes wander for a moment to observe its beauty.
- >She catches onto this, smiling at you, before zipping back up and above you.
- >She lands on the top of your plane, just in between the two wings, and lies down.
- >You crack a smile.
- >The town grows closer.
- "Hey!"
- >You call, grabbing her attention.
- "How about an aerial tour of P0nyville?"
- >She laughs, resting her head onto her hooves.
- >"Sounds great! Please, show me!"
- >You laugh as well, pulling down on your controls.
- >The plane begins to gracefully dip downward towards the town.
- >The land around you grows larger, and P0nyville gets closer and closer.
- >You pick up some speed as you drop, and Rainbow Dash stands to her hooves, her mouth open and smiling in excitement.
- >You smile yourself.
- >Despite doing this herself, not to mention much, much faster, she seems to be having a lot of fun.
- >The plane continues to drop and pick up speed until it's about 150 feet above P0nyville.
- >You can easily make out the buildings and p0nies that walk about them.
- >You pull back up, and your aircraft straightens out, soaring above the town.
- >The cry of its engine whines and radiates between the buildings and throughout the village.
- >All of the p0nies drop what they're doing and look up, gazing with awe and confusion at the flying contraption above them.
- >Rainbow Dash cheers loudly as you cross the town, then pull up right as you reach the town's limits.
- >You begin your ascent once more.
- >"That was amazing, Anon!"
- >You laugh and shake your head.
- "Oh trust me, you haven't seen anything yet!"
- >You continue to climb, as high as before, then just a little higher.
- >A ceiling of clouds sits above you, and your plane passes through it, the fluff pushed up onto and then off of your machine.
- >Several weather pegasi, about their daily jobs, stop and gaze at the loud machine that flies by them.
- >You wave at every awestruck p0ny.
- >When you reach the end of the sea of fluff, you dip back down, again dropping and gaining speed.
- >When you get a little faster, you pull back up.
- "Get ready!"
- >You call to your pegasus companion.
- >She straightens her wings and takes off to the air once again, gracefully and seamlessly transitioning from on top of your plane to flying beside it.
- >You press to the left on your controls, tilting your plane but keeping it level.
- >The landscape begins shifting to the side again from your view.
- >You can feel the gravity of the planet pulling you toward it, seemingly on your side.
- >You keep it going, tilting the plane even further.
- >The land soon appears to be upside down, and your head gets slightly lighter.
- >You finish up by continuing the tilt, rotating the plane completely around, finishing your slow roll.
- >Rainbow Dash zips ahead of you, clapping her hooves together.
- >You smile, the cool, fast wind blowing into your face and moving your smiling lips a bit.
- >You raise your finger toward her, as if saying "one more."
- >You pull up and to the side, moving your craft in a diagonal direction.
- >The engine roars as you continue this trend, moving up and to the side, then, flipping upside down, twirling to the other side.
- >The entire world shifts around you like a rolling ball.
- >You fly upside down, moving to the side, corkscrewing through the air, before moving back down to where you started, leveling out.
- >A successful barrel roll.
- >You did them all the time back home.
- >Dash claps again, then emulates your move, something she's probably done a million times.
- >Her rainbow trail corkscrews in the air, leaving a gorgeous, breathtaking path in the sky.
- >You grin.
- >Moving your plane toward the trail, you begin to follow it, corkscrewing and barrel rolling in its wake, as if following Dash.
- >She catches on to this, and you two play in the air for a bit.
- >She leaves a trail for you to follow, and you copy her as best as you can with the limitations of your aircraft.
- >Soon, she breaks off and slows down, matching your biplane's speed.
- >You look to her and smile, and begin another barrel roll.
- >She follows the exact opposite way, mirroring your move.
- >You spiral together in the air, continuously rolling as you swirl around one another.
- >The p0nies on the ground look up in bewilderment and wonder at the mysterious air show put on before them.
- >You break off the stunt and level out, flying straight once again.
- >Rainbow Dash spirals around your plane, then flies up to the cockpit.
- >As the clouds blow past your craft and the wind graces your face, the cyan p0ny sits herself onto your lap.
- >"Anon!" she cheers, "This is the most fun I've had in so long!"
- >The smile looks beautiful on her face.
- >Her eyes are closed happily, in the style of genuine content and joy.
- >You smile back, and take one hand off of your controls, petting down her mane.
- "It's been a blast!"
- >She smiles, and settles into your lap a little more.
- >And it has.
- >You gaze out to your side, looking down at the far away landscape of Equestria.
- >You look ahead, seeing the distant mountain and the city of Canterlot.
- >The thin air that you breath... the cool wind against your face...
- >It's been so long since you've flown.
- >You smile, and let out a content sigh.
- >...
- >Your eyes trail to your fuel gauge.
- >The needle almost sits at E.
- >...
- >You tap Rainbow Dash on the neck with your finger.
- >Her head looks up to meet your eyes.
- "We need to head back now."
- >You call over the wind.
- >Rainbow Dash sighs.
- >"Already?" she says disappointedly.
- "Afraid so. Will you fly back with me to Sweet Apple Acres?"
- >Her mouth curls again into a smile, wiping the sadness from her face.
- >She stands up in your lap and stretches her wings, the hops out into the air, acrobatically spinning around your plane.
- >You smile. A soft, bittersweet smile.
- >You look down to your fuel gauge, just one more time.
- "Alright..."
- >You mutter to yourself, turning your plane to the right, back towards P0nyville.
- "Let's get this thing grounded..."
- >As you descend lower toward the ground, the red dots on the apple trees become clearer.
- >You can make out the Apple family at the end of the makeshift runway waving toward you.
- >You dip the plane lower, keeping it level for a nice, steady landing.
- >Rainbow Dash mimics your movements next to you, gliding with her wings toward the ground.
- >The runway approaches quickly, and your wheels touch down nicely to the ground.
- >Your plane hops a bit, rattling you around in the cockpit, but they place down again softly and properly, and you speed on the level Apple family territory.
- >A perfect landing.
- >Dash lands next to you and gallops alongside.
- >You slow the hunk of metal down as efficiently as you can, at first speeding quite quickly, but by the end, rolling to a nice stop.
- >You cease movement right by the Apples, and the clap their hooves together happily and cheer as you switch off the ignition and climb out of your plane.
- >"That was amazing, Anon!" Applebloom cheers as you take off your goggles.
- >You smile at her, trying not fall over.
- >Need to get your land legs back.
- >Big Mac walks over and pats the machine he helped repair.
- >"Eeyup. Ah'd say it was all worth it."
- "Definitely."
- >You comment, removing your flight cap.
- >Rainbow Dash takes to the air and zips around you, spiraling to the top of your head, then hovering.
- >"That was awesome! It was exactly how I imagined that machine would be like!"
- >You smile and lean against your plane.
- >The poor thing, worked so hard.
- >"When can we fly again?" Dash asks in excitement and hurry. "Can we go again tomorrow? Or! We could go again tonight, if you're up for it!"
- >Your smile slowly fades from your face as you look to the excited mare.
- >The excitement and high in your chest quickly whittles down.
- >She grins widely, but her own happiness mellows when she sees your change in expression.
- >You sigh, then look over to Big Mac.
- >He as well has stopped smiling.
- >You look to his eyes.
- >...He nods.
- >...
- "Dash..."
- >You start, rounding around your plane to the cockpit once more.
- "...I'm afraid there isn't going to be another time."
- >Her expression doesn't change, but she looks to you, her magenta eyes slowly moving back and forth between your own two eyes.
- >"...Wh... What do you mean...?"
- >Big Mac closes his eyes, then leaves the plane, returning to his family.
- >You pat your aircraft, a solemn mood suddenly overtaking you.
- "...That was my plane's first and only Equestrian voyage..."
- >Rainbow Dash slowly flutters toward you.
- "...She won't be flying again."
- >She looks over your plane.
- >"What's wrong...? Is it... is it damaged somewhere?"
- >She examines the outside, the wings, the propeller.
- >"B-But you can repair it, right? You and Big Mac can--"
- "No, Dash, it isn't the plane itself."
- >She looks to you and hovers over.
- >She peers over your shoulder, and you lean into the cockpit, tapping the fuel gauge.
- >It sits completely on E.
- "It's what goes inside it."
- >Her face hangs stoic.
- >"I don't... I don't understand..."
- >You sigh.
- "My biplane needs fuel, Dash. Only a specific kind of fuel will allow it to fly."
- >You look over to Big Mac.
- >He's happily chatting with his family.
- >Trying to avert them from your conversation with Dash.
- "Mac and I tried to find an alternative, but... nothing worked."
- >Rainbow Dash lowers herself to the ground, then sits.
- >Her eyes begin to water as she stares downward..
- "I just used the last of the fuel I had with me from Earth."
- >She looks up to you, her lip beginning to slowly quiver.
- >"Then... Then why did you waste it? Why just mess around in the air doing tricks?"
- >She lays her head down.
- >"...Now we'll never fly together again..."
- "Hey, hey,"
- >You say, walking over and sitting down beside her.
- >You pat her back.
- "I didn't waste my fuel. Not in any way."
- >Her eyes slowly rise to meet yours.
- "Flying in the air once more, after so long... sharing the sky with you, interacting as we maneuvered together..."
- >You smile.
- >It's so bittersweet...
- "It's about the best way I could think to use it."
- >She closes her eyes, trying to conceal her emotions.
- >She sniffs, then places her head on your lap.
- >You place your hand on her back and begin to pet, looking at your old crop duster.
- >You let out a breathy laugh.
- "The old bird may never fly again... but her last flight was a damn fun one."
- >Rainbow sniffs again, then snuggles into you a little more.
- >"...Th-Thanks for sharing your final flight with me, Anon..."
- >You laugh, then rustle her mane.
- >She playfully flinches and looks up to you.
- >Her tears are juxtaposed by the smile on her face.
- >You return it.
- "...Now come on. I believe you had some tricks to show me, didn't you?"
- >She wipes her eyes with a hoof, then nods happily.
- >"Uh-huh. Come on, let's go to the usual field."
- >She widens her wings and takes to the air.
- >You sit yourself back up and stretch.
- >You glance over to your trusty airplane...
- >And smile.
- "Thanks, old bird."
- >You then turn around, and begin your walk to the field with Rainbow Dash.
- The End
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