The Stranded Pilot

Maverick walked down the path following the group of chattering ponies towards Ponyville. Hovering next to him was Dash, still reciting the events of the test flight to 'Gabby Gums'.

"…then, just before we hit the ground, Maverick pulled up and soared over AJ's farm!"

"If I didn't know better, Dash, I'd say you're an overeager fan." Maverick said.

"Please, that Scootaloo here's job." Dash ruffled the filly's mane.

"Hey!"

"It's true Scoots." Sweetie Belle said. "You're always saying how Rainbow Dash is the best."

"Only 'cause it's true!"

Dash turned back to Maverick as the two continued arguing.

"I don't get them, they seem to agree then five minutes later, they're arguing again." Maverick said.

"They're fillies." Dash just said by way of explanation. "Besides, they're right, I am the best!" Dash landed and struck her trademark pose.

"And that isn't boasting at all." Maverick said jokingly, as they entered the outskirt of Ponyville.

Maverick was the subject of intrigue, as ponies stopped when he walked by and looked out windows at him. They knew it had been him flying over, but the sound, sight and speed of his Eurofighter was to them, like him seeing magic performed for the first time.

It was something other-worldly.

The group ahead split up, Twilight and Luna going back to the library, Pinkie shooting off towards Sugar Cube Corner, Big Mac, Rarity and Applejack led the crusaders away and the engineers stopped and waited for Maverick and Dash; the Wonderbolts had had to leave after just ten minutes of talking in the clearing, to Dash's dismay. Maverick stepped up to the three engineer ponies and held out his hand.

"I can't thank you three enough. If it weren't for you, I'd still be hammering the dents out."

Frederic nodded and grasped Mavericks hand before shaking it. "A pleasure to help."

Grinder stepped forward and shook his hand. "Fixing your craft was an interesting challenge."

Engie was the last to shake Mavericks hand. "I may not have been much help with the plane, but it was still my pleasure to help."

"Especially with the crusaders clubhouse." Maverick nodded, smiling broadly at all three. Engie and Grinder turned and walked towards where the Anastasia had been docked, but Iron Clad stayed.

"Can I have a word with you?" he asked Maverick.

Maverick looked back at Dash. She was hovering upside down, waiting for them to finish. He looked back at Iron Clad. "Sure, now?"

Iron Clad nodded. "Just wanted to ask about stuff back on Earth. It's been about 4 years since I was there. Any popular bands? Games?" he lowered his tone. "Wars?"

"A lot of violence around Libya, a lot of countries helped rebels take Gaddafi down. Oh and you know Call of Duty?"

"Yeah?"

"It went modern, good graphics."

"I've gotta meet up with you some time, so we can talk properly."

"Yeah, I guess so. You've gotta go back to Canterlot now, haven't you?"

"Yep. The head blacksmith here has metal to melt and armour to shape."

"Well, I'll see you again sometime. Drop me a line sometime. Well, a letter. And before I leave!"

"Will do." Iron Clad nodded.

"Oh, and good luck with Luna."

Iron Clad stopped dead and turned back to him. "I, don't know what you're talking about."

"I saw you looking at her."

"No I wasn't." Iron Clad defended.

Maverick crossed his arms. "Sure. See you some time soon. And thanks again for your help."

"No problem." Iron Clad saluted and followed the other engineers.

Maverick turned back to Dash. "Off to the library."

"Finally." Dash muttered, earning a laugh from Maverick.

Maverick was lying on his back reading a book when Twilight knocked on the door.

"Hey Maverick, can you follow me please?" she asked.

Maverick put the book down and raised an eyebrow. "Sure." he stood up and followed Twilight into the library. The lights were off and it was dark.

"Twilight, you do know it's obvious there's a party set up?"

Twilight hit the switch and sure enough- wait, the library was normal. She turned to Maverick and raised an eyebrow, smiling.

"Oh really?" she asked mockingly.

"Ha. Ha. Ha. Alright. What was it you wanted aga-" Maverick was cut off by a loud bang that made him jump half a metre into the air.

"SURPRISE!"

Maverick stumbled back and grabbed his chest as a couple dozen ponies walked into the room from the kitchen, down the stairs and even from behind the couch and some bookcases. A certain pink earth pony was standing next to a smoking, pink cannon, and somehow streamers, balloons and a massive assortment of party decorations now adorned the room.

Maverick stood and regained his composure, dusting himself down.

"Ok. You win. Again."

Pinkie bounced up to him and slammed a party hat down on his head. "Let's party!" she shouted. At that moment a record player started up and the ponies began talking to each other, the ones closest to Maverick congratulating him on the successful flight of his plane. He looked over and saw PON-3 sitting in the corner, manning the record player. Twilight stepped up.

"How do you like the party?" she asked.

"It's cool, though I don't see how all these decorations appeared from no-where."

Twilight pointed at Pinkie, who lit the pink cannon. A second later there was a bang and the table in front of it was now adorned with decorations similar to the rest of the room.

"A party cannon?" Maverick asked.

"Yeah. Don't think too hard about how it works."

Maverick looked at the newly decorated table a second longer before shaking his head and looking back at Twilight. "I'll never understand how this world works."

"Hey, Maverick!" Maverick turned to a voice. It was Dash, hovering over the other ponies.

"Why hello Dash, whatever are you doing here?" Maverick waved.

"I never miss a Pinkie Party! As hyper, overactive-"

"Random!" the pink pony in question jumped up between them.

"That too, Pinkie here throws the best parties!" Dash finished.

"I sure do! Cupcake?" Pinkie held up a plate of cupcakes.

"Sure." Maverick laughed and took one. He began making his way through the crowd, greeting ponies, getting congratulations about the flight from some. He eventually found his way to PON-3 and greeted her with a bro-fist-hoof.

"Dude, your plane is loud. Not even my best beat on sub-woofers can make a noise that loud!"

Maverick laughed. "Thanks. You said you wanted to have a look at my IPhone, right?" Maverick held out the device. Scratch took it and looked through it, found the music and started playing a song.

"Sorry for part rocking." it started, the song scarcely audible above the hubbub of the part and the music already playing.

"There's maybe a hundred hours of music on that. Take your pick."

"Club foot?" the DJ pony asked.

"Yeah, that's a good one. Not good for parties, but still awesome."

"Last Friday Night?" she asked again.

"Now that's good for parties." Maverick nodded.

"Shame I didn't bring my speakers then."

"Yeah maybe some other time." Maverick looked up and saw Pinkie swing at a piñata with a baseball bat.

"That probably isn't going to end well." Scratch looked at where he was staring and laughed. Maverick looked over the rest of the party. It seemed surreal and Maverick had to convince himself it wasn't some kind of dream, even though he'd been living here for three weeks, spending his time repairing the plane, charging the battery and hanging out, as well as drawing a picture every now and then. He found himself at the punch bowl, getting a glass of the purple liquid. A second later he heard a smash and saw Pinkie push the blindfold up her head and smile sheepishly at Twilight, the bat apparently having flown through a window. Maverick laughed and face-palmed.

Maverick was standing in the bathroom, shaving away some of the stubble around his mouth and chin. It had been several days since the party, and Twilight was close to completing her spell. Maverick had flown again, with Dash in the back once again. The second trip had been fairly amazing, as Dash had navigated him towards Cloudsdale, and his flight had been joined by a group of a dozen eager pegasi. It was sitting under the tenting now, recharging for the final flight. The one that was playing on Mavericks mind and had been since the party.

Maverick finished and tapped the small piece of metal he had been using against the sink. He had nothing planned today. Except maybe drawing. Or he could go for a walk. He shrugged.

He'd do what the day gave him. It wasn't often you got to live in a cartoon land filled with magical and or flying ponies. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, after all. Or make combustible lemons to burn life's house down, but Maverick thought that was beside the point. He sighed and made his way downstairs after wiping his face with a towel. Twilight was, as usual, surrounded by books on magic.

"Hi Maverick. I see you've shaved." Twilight said.

Maverick laughed. "Yep." one of the things he had learnt was that somehow he ponies here (the male ones) could grow facial hair.

"Well, I should be able to perform the spell the day after tomorrow." Twilight said happily.

Maverick nodded, lacking his usual enthusiasm. "Good job Twi." he smiled and continued into the basement.

Twilight looked at the closed basement door for a moment. Something was obviously up. She stood and went to get Rarity. She was better at reading emotions than Twilight.

Rarity walked through the libraries front door with Twilight behind her.

"Honestly Twilight, I'm sure your just being paranoid."

"I don't know. He just seems…" Twilight searched for the right word.

"Distant?" Rarity guessed.

"No. Just, 'off'." Twilight said, looking at the basement.

"Like I said, I'm sure nothing's wrong." Rarity stepped up to the door and opened it a crack, peering through; Twilight stepped up and peeked with her. Maverick was sitting cross legged on the floor, facing away from the door. He was shuffling through the scrolls of his drawings with while listening to his IPhone, the headphones in his ears. He put the drawings down, sighed and ran his hands through his hair, looking up at the ceiling. Rarity closed the door and looked back at Twilight as they backed away.

"Well, you're right, he's certainly, 'off'. And I think I know why." Rarity said seriously.

"Why?" Twilight asked.

"Well isn't it obvious dear? The way he's going through those drawings," Rarity said. "He's sad he has to leave. Maybe he doesn't want to leave, period, Twilight."

Twilight pondered this. It made sense. Now she thought about it, he seemed to get down whenever she mentioned she was closed to completing the spell.

"What now?" Twilight asked, to herself or Rarity she didn't know.

"I don't know Twilight." Rarity said, trying to come up with a conclusion herself.

At that moment the two ponies heard a flash come from upstairs. A moment later, Spike appeared, a scroll in his claw.

"Hey, Twilight, I've got a letter from the Princess." he stopped when he saw Rarity and smiled. "Oh, hey Rarity."

"What does it say Spike?" Twilight asked, walking over.

Spike unrolled the scroll.

"To my most faithful student Twilight Sparkle, blah blah blah, impressed at the speed of your spell research blah blah blah, will arrive tomorrow. Princess Celestia." Spike rad out.

"The Princess is coming here? Tomorrow? Why?" Twilight asked.

"Dunno. Doesn't say. But my guess is it has something to do with Maverick." Spike looked at the basement door.

A/N: Sorry for short chapter, but I wanted to get something out tonight after this time, I've recently released a new story, as I'm sure you know, and I'm now splitting my time equally between them. Longer chapter coming up to make up for this short one.