The Stranded Pilot

Maverick dusted his hands off. It was done.

"Good job Engie. Now we just need some paint."

"Ah reckon Ah can help with that." Maverick turned and saw Big Mac with half a dozen paint cans on his back.

"Well hello there Big Mac. Did Applejack send you?" Maverick asked.

"Eeyup. She says ya should probably go get the fillies while we paint."

"Well, guess I can do that. I'll be back in thirty minutes." Maverick said. He turned and walked towards Ponyville. But as he left Sweet Apple Acres, he heard the familiar put-put-put of a wing propelled scooter.

'Damn, I'll have to distract them for a while, or Big Mac and Engie won't finish.' Maverick thought. He jogged down the path between the orchards as Scootaloo cam round the corner, pulling Sweetie Belle and Applebloom in a wagon behind her.

"Hey Scootaloo!" he shouted, waving to get their attention.

"Hey Maverick!" Scootaloo shouted. She and the other two fillies waved and stopped. Maverick walked up to them.

"What're you doing here mister?" Applebloom asked.

Maverick realised he should have come up with an excuse beforehand. "Uh, just helping Applejack with something. What are you doing here?" Maverick asked changing the subject.

"Rarity kicked us out when we spilt grape juice on one of her dresses, so we're gonna get our cutie-marks here." Sweetie Belle explained.

"Uh, can I help?" Maverick asked.

Scootaloo raised an eyebrow. "Sure. Let's go!" she shot off down the path towards the barn as the trio shouted their next idea. "Cutie Mark Crusader Actors!"

Maverick face-palmed. This was sure to be interesting.

A half hour later Maverick led the trio into towards the tree-house.

"You got your eyes closed?" Maverick asked.

"Uh huh." the trio said in unison.

Maverick reached the tree and saw Big Mac and Engie standing next to it proudly, flecks of yellow, blue and red paint on their coats.

"Ok, open your eyes." Maverick said. He heard several small gasps, then squeals of delight as they ran past him and into the tree house. It was much like their old one, but larger and with a balcony that ran the whole way round. The trio of fillies stopped at the door and turned around.

"Thanks Maverick!" the trio said still in unison.

"It was nothing, but thank Engie and Big Mac as well. Couldn't have done them without their help. And try not to burn this one down." Maverick crossed his arms jokingly.

"We won't. Thanks Engie, thanks Big Mac!" Sweetie shouted. "Come on guys, let's decorate!"

"Yeah, Cutie Mark Crusaders Clubhouse Decorators!" Applebloom joined in, and they high-hoofed.

Maverick laughed and his stomach growled. He realised he was hungry and when he looked at his watch saw it was now 1:30ish.

"I'm going to get some lunch. Thanks for your help you two. And Engie, I trust I'll see you tomorrow for my premier flight?"

"Wouldn't miss it." Engie replied.

"Alright then. See you later." Maverick turned and left, heading for Twilights library.

When he arrived he saw Luna and Twilight studying over a pile of books. He glanced at one of the covers. Time-stopping for Beginners – So you want to shift the time-space continuum? He guessed they were researching the spell Twilight had used. Why one of the Princesses was involved he didn't know. They both turned and smiled when they saw enter.

"Hello Maverick. How did the errand go?" Twilight asked.

"Well." Maverick answered.

"And what precisely was this errand?" Luna asked.

"A small gift for some friends." Maverick said vaguely.

"How kind. Tell me, Twilight says you have a small device capable of playing dozens of records. May I see it?" Luna asked.

"Sure. I'll just go get it." Maverick went into the basement and picked the IPhone up from the bed. He walked upstairs and saw Luna was now sitting on a couch. As he walked over Luna plucked the small device from his hand with her telekinesis. She looked it over.

"What a curious device." she poked the screen with a hoof and her eyes widened in surprise when it lit up. "There is a miniature sun in here!"

"No, it's just artificial light." Maverick laughed.

"Slide to unlock…" Luna said.

"Here, let me." Maverick held out his hand. Luna placed the IPhone in his hand and he sat down, before sliding the small button across the screen. He tapped in his password and showed Luna the new screen.

"You pay for extra little things called 'apps'." Maverick explained. "Like games."

"Games?" Luna asked.

"Yeah, like Angry Birds." Maverick navigated through the pages and selected an app.

"Angry Birds?" Luna asked curiously.

"Yeah. The birds are angry because some pigs have stolen their eggs. Look." Maverick waited until the main menu came up and selected New Game. He fired the bird and watched as it ploughed through a wooden block and knocked out a pig.

"Intriguing. May I try?" Luna asked.

"Sure. Just press the bird in the slingshot, drag it back then let go." Maverick explained.

Luna did so, and managed to hit a pig on her first try. Her face lit up. Before she fired the next bird, Maverick stopped her.

"If you tap this bird in flight, it turns into three more."

Luna nodded, and when did so managed to hit two pigs and cause an avalanche, crushing a third.

"Ha ha! The birds have been tripled!" she exclaimed.

"Well, I'll leave you to it." Maverick stood up and walked over to Twilight. "How's the spell going?"

"It's pretty complicated. I'm still trying to work out how I did it in the first place." Twilight explained, looking up from her books.

"Don't you remember what you did?" Maverick asked.

"No, it was a sort of, magic overload." Twilight explained.

"Meaning…"

"It was more powerful then I meant it to be." Twilight looked back into her book.

Maverick decided to occupy himself with some drawing. He made his way into the libraries study and picked up a pot of ink, a quill and some scrolls. Carrying them under his arm he walked past the couch Luna was sitting on. He looked and saw her face crunch up in concentration. She pulled her hoof back from the screen and Maverick heard the snort of a pig, signalling a KO. "HA! Take that swine!" Luna said.

Maverick chuckled and ducked through the basement door. He'd created a gamer. He closed the door behind him and nearly dropped the stuff when he saw Dash trotting on the treadmill.

"Dash! What the hell are you doing here?" he asked.

Dash turned to look at him. "Hm?" she asked, as if this was a perfectly normal thing to do.

"Why are you in my room? And using my treadmill?" Maverick asked.

"I was waiting for you, and I need to increase my wing power." Dash explained. She stopped and let the treadmill push her off. "I was gonna ask something."

"Go on then." Maverick asked. He set the stuff down on a table.

"Well, your plane has two seats…" Dash trailed off.

Maverick realised what she wanted and crossed his arms, smiling. "Go on."

"I was sort of wandering, if, well…" she looked at the floor and rubbed the back of neck with a hoof.

"You could take the other?" Maverick asked.

Dash nodded and looked up. "Can I?" she pleaded.

Maverick couldn't have said no I he'd wanted to, but there was a complication. "To fly in that plane, you need a helmet." he said and walked over to the wardrobe, opened it and pulled out his flight helmet. "Specifically, a helmet like this."

"I could get Twilight to clone it." Dash suggested.

"She can do that?" Maverick wore a puzzled expression, but shook his head. "She's busy enough researching that spell."

"I'll ask. HEY, TWILIGHT!" Dash shouted, ignoring Maverick.

"Dash!" Maverick said.

Twilight appeared in the doorway, an eyebrow raised at the cyan pegasus. "Yes?"

"Can you clone Mavericks helmet?" Dash asked, pointing at the helmet in Mavericks arms.

Twilight looked it over, then picked it up with her telekinesis, bringing it closer to her. She spun it around in front of her. She nodded. "Sure, but it will only be temporary."

"That's good enough." Maverick nodded.

"Can you Twi?" Dash asked.

"It will only last a few hours, but yeah."

"Alright!" Dash pumped the air with her hoof.

"Well, if that's all…" Twilight placed the helmet back in Mavericks hands and walked out, closing the door behind her.

"Guess I'm ok to draw now." Maverick turned and sat at the desk, placing the helmet on the floor next to his stool.

"Can I watch?"

Maverick looked back and saw Dash looking around his shoulder. He sighed.

"Dash, you know I don't like others watching me draw."

"I know, but, please?"

Maverick thought for a few seconds. "Run on the treadmill."

"The treadmill?" Dash asked.

"I don't want you to watch me, but I could draw you." Maverick shrugged.

"Alright." Dash turned and stepped onto the treadmill. As she began running Maverick dipped the quill in the ink and gently placed the tip on the scroll, dragging it down and forming the shape of the treadmill. When that was done, he moved on to Dash, carefully sketching in her legs, then her body, her head. Carefully he added her wild rainbow mane and tail. Finally he added her cutie-mark, the rainbow lightning bolt shooting from the cloud. It was done. It had only taken fifteen minutes.

"Ok Dash. You can step off now." Maverick placed the quill on the desk and softly blew on the scroll, drying the ink.

"Lemme see!" Dash flew over.

"Nuh uh uh, let it dry." Maverick held it away teasingly.

"Come ooooooon!" Dash leant closer, reaching for the scroll.

"Fine, but be careful. The ink's still wet." Maverick turned it around and handed it over to Dash. She held it between her front hooves.

"This is cool." Dash smiled.

"Keep it." Maverick said.

"Really?" Dash asked, looking up at Maverick.

"Sure. Not like I'm going to be able to take it with me when I leave." Maverick sighed.

Dash looked sad. "When are you going?" she asked.

"As soon as Twilight can perform the spell. You know that Dash."

"I know." Dash sighed. "Anyway, I gotta go train the other pegasi. It's only 4 days until the rainy season."

Maverick nodded. "Good luck."

"Thanks." Dash smiled and flew out of the basement, the picture on her back.

Maverick sat down and went back to drawing. As the afternoon sun became lower in the sky, he remembered something. Luna was the Princess of the Moon and Stars, right? That meant she lowered and raised the moon. Maverick wanted to see this. He climbed up the stairs and as he opened the door he was almost blown back by a powerful shout.

"CURSE THOU SWINE! WHY MUST THOU COWER FROM THY AVION JUSTICE UNDER THINE UNBREAKABLE GLASS!"

Maverick blinked a few times before stepping into the library. Luna was staring at the IPhone angrily and Twilight had placed some cotton in each of her ears.

"Last pig stuck under some glass?" Maverick guessed calmly.

"Yes. And thou glass is unbreakable." Luna muttered through gritted teeth.

Maverick decided to change the subject. "Are you going to raise the moon?"

Luna looked out the window and when she saw the darkness her eyes widened in shock. "Uh oh." she stood up and ran up the stairs towards the second floor, letting the IPhone drop onto the couch. Maverick followed her and until she stepped out onto the balcony. Maverick held back and watched. She sat on her haunches and closed her eyes. Her horn lit up and was surrounded by a magical aura. Maverick had learnt to recognize the brighter these auras got, the more powerful the magical spell. Maverick had to shield his eyes as the light emitting from Luna's horn became unbearable.

When Maverick looked up, he could see the moon slowly cresting the horizon as the sky became darker than before. He saw the light dying out and lowered his hand. He blinked to clear his eyes and saw Luna looking at him.

"Now that, that was cool." he said.

"Do you not do that in your world?" Luna asked, cocking her head to the side.

Maverick shook his head. "We don't do half the things you do in Equestria. We don't move the clouds, raise the moon and sun, clean the seasons."

"How odd. Anyway, I wish to continue playing on your, IPhone. Is that name correct?" Luna asked.

"Yeah, but I'm not sure you should keep playing." Maverick said.

"And why not?" Luna growled.

Maverick stepped back, holding up his hands. "Nothing, but, maybe you should play another game."

Luna stopped and pondered this. She nodded. "That it acceptable. Let us go." Luna said, walking past Maverick and out down the stairs.

Maverick turned and followed. Once they arrived at the couch he picked up the IPhone and hit the main button, going to the menu. He looked through his apps. Most wouldn't go down well, but soon found one that was acceptable. He selected it.

"This game is simple. Just swing the sweet so it lands in the creatures mouth." Maverick explained and held it out. Luna picked it up with her magic and began to play. She completed the first level and nodded.

"This game is satisfactory." she said.

Maverick smiled. "Good to hear." he turned and walked into the kitchen. He made himself a sandwich, put it on a plate and made his way into the basement, bidding Twilight goodnight. He closed the door behind him before peering down, looking for signs of a wild rainbow mane. Content he was alone, he sat down and ate his sandwich in silence before going to sleep, anticipating the next day.

Mavericks excitement woke him before the digital beeps of his watch the next morning. He sat up and saw it was only 6:23. He jumped up and thought for a few seconds. He stepped onto the treadmill and ran, thinking more about what he was going to do. First he would have some breakfast – no, scratch that, he didn't want to wait. An apple would do – then he would get his flight suit on, gather up the ponies that wanted to watch, get to the clearing, let Twilight clone his helmet and then…

Take to the sky.

Maverick stepped off the treadmill, now fully awake, and walked over to the wardrobe. He swung the doors open and pulled the vest, shirt and pants down from the rail. Changing quickly into flight attire, he turned to the helmet. The visor was still cracked. He put the helmet on and flipped down the visor. The crack split the vision from his right eye in two.

"Bugger." he said, flipping it back up and taking the helmet off. He heard a noise at the top of the stairs. It was Twilight.

"Hey Twilight, what are you doing up so early?" Maverick asked.

"I guess I'm excited about today." Twilight explained.

"You think you're excited?" Maverick laughed. "I'm pretty nervous as well though. If this goes wrong, that's it. If I crash, well, we saw what happened when I made a controlled landing." he looked over at her. "Also, can you repair cracked glass? Or in this case, my helmet visor?" he held up his helmet.

Twilight smiled and nodded. "Easy. Hold it out." Maverick did so, and the visor was surrounded a purple aura. There was a crackling noise, and when the aura disappeared the visor was fixed. Maverick smiled and shook his head.

"I'll never get over what you can do with magic." he chuckled.

Twilight laughed and for the first time looked over Maverick, recognizing what the clothes meant.

"Ready to fly?" she asked.

Maverick nodded eagerly. "Oh yeah!"

A/N: So far no-one had found the Easter Egg so here's a hint: he appears in chapter 5. Props go to Crimson Banner for spotting the Gen. Shepard reference in the last chapter. And here's something important: For the next 2 weeks nothing's happening, so expect a large number of updates. And also from now on I'll be saying when an update is coming on my FIMfiction blog, so check that.