The freedom of flight is seen by many, known by few, and mastered by even less. The feeling of the air through one’s hair, a full range of movement of the appendages and no care to be known has been mastered by one pony early in his life, but recently lost in procedure and ceremony. Grace Aero is a flight commander in the Royal Guard, First Royal Equestrian Air Force, Third Fight Flyer Squadron, Bravo flight and has been in the military for the last four years, he himself chuckles at how fast he has flown through the ranks…literally. His raw skill as a flyer and innate leadership ability defines his personality. His cerulean blue coat, vector cutie mark, brown yellow and ultramarine mane and tail physically symbolize his abilities and personality.
Aero, no one calls him Grace, looks over his shoulder to see his flight in a left wedge formation. To his right his wingpony trails in his shining armor, his best friend Boomer. The color of his coat, being an off-yellow, contrasted greatly with the sky and did little to camouflage him, let alone his brown mane and mustache. To his left the other two under his command fly, scanning the ground for trouble. Their job today was a routine reconnaissance flight along the border of the Everfree forest. Aero always found the forest itself to be serene and calm, what they were there for was what lie beyond. Aero looked to the horizon over the forest, just off his left shoulder. He gazed and let his body fly on course on its own, allowing memories of the past to flow over him. Then he saw a group of four shapes emerge at a high sprint from the tree line. His focus immediately returned and allowed the adrenaline to pump. He moved his hooves from the forward position to straight at his sides to get his flight’s attention. He turned his head to Three, the element leader to his left and said, “Go get ‘em,” His voice was calm, cool and collected through experience, “Two and I will fly cover at a one hundred meter orbit”. With a nod, three signaled to his wingpony and entered a right breaking turn as Aero’s element entered their left orbit around the target.
Aero observed the enemy closely, a small group of four timberwolves, medium-sized and moving in an erratic pattern generally moving towards a small town a few miles away. A standard catch, nothing too special, Aero has complete faith in his subordinates and the know it. Aero observed Three and Four extending their wings and positioning their hind hooves forward. ‘Good call,’ he thought to himself. Three impacted the side of the one of the timberwolves, then Four, rolling them over a few times. The leading two wolves turned to a skidding halt and saw their brethren fall. The two howled loudly which made Aero look to the tree line for a possibility of reinforcements. The trees rustled from the wind, but no movement otherwise. His attention returned to his attacking element which was now turned and approached the remaining two timberwolves. They used a different tactic this time, approaching in an in-lined formation known as a stacked line where the lead pony is in front and bellow, while the wingpony is behind and above, hidden behind the lead pony. This tactic makes the target attack too early as the lead pony shifts out of the way, opening the target for the wingpony. ‘A selfless move he’s learning,’ thought Aero, constantly evaluating his flight.
The attack was effective. After the third timberwolf had fallen, the fourth nudged his collapsed brothers and they began their return to the wood. The attacking element joined the supporting element where Aero gave Three a celebratory hoof-bump. They continued their course along the tree line and returned to Canterlot. The flight back was uneventful besides a small cheer from the city’s outlying towns where Boomer noticed a group of cute girls. He smiled mischievously and waved down as he began to descend when Aero smacked him aside his head. The pale-yellow stallion shook his head and smiled at Aero as Aero rolled his eyes with a slight grin.
After their landing and equipment return, they headed to the de-briefing room, all four hootin’ and hollerin’, hoof-bumping, high-hoofing and all of the sort. With the door closed, Aero turned to his flight and began. “Fantastic job today. We began with a routine flight along the Western border with the Everfree forest and approximately one hour and twenty minutes into the flight we encountered four timberwolves moving towards Cobbletrot. We engaged the enemy with a standard covering maneuver where Three and Four were the attacking element. And Three, outstanding tactical decision making and leadership out there, you’ll have my job in no time!” The group laughed at Aero’s light-hearted joke. “Anyways, Boomer and I are headed to the O-club after this if you would like to join us”.
“And what, ruin your date?” Four joked, laughing.
Aero Laughed and retorted, “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” He looked to Boomer seductively, but immediately busted out laughing as the rest joined in. “Ok, we have the weekend to ourselves so I will see you on Monday, but keep an eye on your mail boxes. Dismissed.” The group left the room, each smacking the squadron shield wings painted just above the door with their wings.
At the O-club Aero and Boomer were drowning themselves in cider as flyers do, singing songs with their squadron ponies, hoof-pounding and all of the sort when an enlistedpony trot into the room, walking from pony to pony asking for Captain Aero. Aero and Boomer noticed this from the bar and watched him for a good five minutes before the stallion noticed the two officers watching him and realized that it was they whom he was looking for.
“Good evening gentlemen,” Chirped the young stallion.
“Good evening private” Replied Aero with a smile, still chuckling from the joke the bartender just made.
“Sir, the Colonel would like to see you and lieutenant Boomer.”
“Which Colonel?” Replied Boomer, rolling his eyes at the obviously fresh pony. Aero nudged Boomer with an elbow as Boomer replied with an oomph.
“Colonel Rider of Third Squadron Sir,” The private replied looking at Aero.
“Does he want us now? We aren’t exactly…..well, coherent” said Aero with an apologetic grin.
“The Colonel knows you’re at the O-club sir, he said it was important.”
“Ok, let us pay, then we will head straight there.”
The young stallion saluted, about faced and headed out of the club. Boomer and Aero looked at each other with a look of ‘what did we do now?’ Boomer placed three bits on the counter while Aero placed eight and they headed out the door towards the Commander’s office. They didn’t say a word on the way there as their minds went through all the things they may have done wrong in the eyes of the commander and considered excuses or explanations for their actions that may get them out of the mess.
They arrived at the door and Aero knocked once with his hoof at attention as Boomer stood behind him the same. “Enter” boomed a voice from within. Aero opened the door and marched in, followed by Boomer as he closed the door behind them. They both stood at attention with the commander facing away, looking out a window. The room was filled with awards, commendations, trophies and plaques ranging from speed competitions to commander awards. This guy was hot stuff, and everyone knew it. “You two are a real pain, you know that?” Rider said turning to Aero and Boomer. Boomer began to open his mouth, “Don’t, don’t answer that, Lieutenant,” said the Commander shaking his head. The mood was tense, Aero thought he had lost feeling of his legs and didn’t even care to bend them slightly to let the blood flow. “Do you even know how much paperwork I have to do about you two and Bravo flight? Commendations, awards, promotions, all of that stuff, it takes most of my day!” the commander was almost yelling, which just added to the newly confused feeling that both Aero and Boomer had. ‘Is this guy losing it?’ thought Boomer. “I was greatly relieved,” the commander continued, “when I received orders from General Typhoon that I had to send two guys off for a quarter as representatives of the Royal Guard.” This statement simply added to the confusion. ‘Is Colonel Rider losing it?’ thought Aero. “I get to send you two jokers to the Wonderbolts as Liaisons.” Boomer started shaking, a grin forcing itself onto his face while Aero couldn’t help but roll his eyes.
“Permission to speak, sir?” requested Aero.
“Granted,” replied the commander.
“Lieutenants Trotter and High are more suited for this job than Boomer and I-“
“-Aero!” nudged Boomer under his breath.
“I know your feelings about the Wonderbolts Captain,” interjected Rider. The Commander was well aware of Aero’s dislike of the Wonderbolt’s pointless showponyship. “I also know how good of an officer and leader you are,” The mood changed again, now it was more like a father sending his son off to college, knowing he will do well, knowing how proud he is of his son. If the commander ever smiled, this would be one of those situations, but alas, he did not. “What about Bravo Flight sir?” Asked Aero after the Colonel finished.
“Three will the temporary flight commander while you are away, it’s all been taken care of” answered Rider quickly. Aero noticed the irony of what he told three earlier, but ignored it. “Your travel time is from Monday to Thursday of next week, you have the weekend to prepare and relax, on Friday you have a scheduled briefing and practice at zero-seven local.”
Aero and Boomer saluted, about faced, and then marched out of the room. The door closed and Colonel Rider returned to his view out the window. A small grin began forming on his face when a loud ‘Yes!’ was heard muffled by the door. A frown formed once again.
Aero and Boomer decided to take the train because the Guard was going to pay for it whether they took it or not. Plus, it was a long trip and they could sleep. Aero found a Cider bar car and spent most of the seven hour ride there, looking out the window and sipping his drink. He left Boomer to sleep in their compartment.
The train was older and not as well kept as others he had been on. Of course, this was paid for by the military, and free is good. He noticed every creek and became amused every time he walked to get another drink and noticed the bartender look up. He found himself looking up at the sky, thinking about how blue it was, and how he was starting feel a little cramped in the small compartment. He leaned back and stretched his hind legs under the table, reached as far as he could with his wings to the side, and his fore legs forward over the table. He yawned as memories from his childhood began to flow over him. Excitement began to fill him as it finally hit him: he was going home where he was raised, in Cloudsdale. He smiled at that thought and rested his head against the window, drifting off into dreams of flight and fun.
