The Stranded Pilot

A/N: A lot of people didn't like the pony morph, so I'll be writing an alternative ending as an alternative to that chapter where Maverick leaves Equestria. For those that want to believe it, the Maverick in the next story will have to be somepony else :/

Other than that, on to the story:

Maverick groaned from under the blanket. His head hurt from the mild hangover he had, courtesy of last night. He couldn't imagine how the others must be feeling. Well, except for Rarity.

Maverick knew from experience that the sooner he got a glass of water, the sooner his headache would start to clear, and the sooner he could lose his hoarse throat. He pushed himself up and shook the blanket off his head. He groggily stretched his new body. He was still adjusting. He looked back as he felt a breezy sensation and grinned, despite the mild hangover.

It was a shame to lose his hands. No more clicking his fingers, or making puppets with his fingers and a torch, but he had found, surprisingly, he easily grip most things with his hooves. He couldn't fathom how, but it felt natural. And what had he gotten in return? Wings. The ability to fly without technology, with finesse that a machine couldn't quite deliver, whenever he wanted to, at a seconds notice.

In short, total, unparalleled freedom.

Maverick grinned. A worthy trade, in his opinion. And he got to stay in this world, away from the constant troubles of Earth. Fuel prices, crime, war. Nothing like that in this world. Even though he was also out of a job, but he could live with that.

That made a thought hit him. If he was going to live here, he would need a house, and a job. He couldn't keep mooching off Twilight, despite her hospitality. He pushed open the door and covered his eyes with a foreleg as sun streamed through the windows. As he stepped into the kitchen and poured himself some water, he heard a commotion upstairs, and muffled voices. He figured he'd bring Twilight some water and find out what was happening.

As he topped the stairs, Maverick could make out some of the speech.

"…have to get up Twilight, you need to leave later today for Shining Armour's wedding!" Maverick recognized the voice as Spike.

"UH! Go away Spike, I have a headache!" Twilight groaned.

"I didn't want to do this Twilight, but you leave me no choice."

Maverick heard a swish, and Twilight shouted. He heard several crashes from inside the room before he knocked gently. The crashing stopped abruptly.

"Come in." Twilight said.

Maverick stepped into a warzone. Books were lying everywhere, a flower pot had been knocked over and was leaking water. He sighed and walked up to Twilight, who was covering her eyes from the sunlight coming in through the open window. Spike was staring at Twilight, annoyed.

"Have a drink Twilight." Maverick said as he closed the curtains, darkening the room.

Twilight did as she was asked, and took the glass of water as Maverick held it out to her. "Thanks." she muttered.

"Bad hangover?" Maverick asked, holding in a laugh.

"The worst!" Twilight groaned and fell back onto her bed.

Maverick couldn't hold his amusement in any longer. He laughed. "Have fun today!" he said, as cheerily as he could muster with his own, much milder hangover. He turned and left the room as Twilight mustered up what magic she could to throw a book at him.

Maverick stepped into the kitchen to make himself some breakfast. He grabbed a couple of slices of bread, a couple of daisies, some lettuce and a tomato slice. He threw together a sandwich, and ate it slowly. That was another part of being a pony. Flowers tasted like different vegetables now, instead of plants. Delicious too.

Maverick finished the sandwich and decided to brave the outside world. AFTER a shower. He wanted to go job hunting, and maybe even look for a future house, but looking for either while being slightly hung-over wouldn't go well.

A half hour later, Maverick was clean and relatively well groomed. He stepped out into the sun and shielded his eyes for a moment. When he was able to keep them open for longer than a few seconds, he set off. As usual he got a few friendly waves and Good Mornings. He loved it here. The ponies, the buildings, the freedom. Trotting down the street, he was looking out for anywhere that would have a job offering.

After an hour, he'd walked around the centre of Ponyville and found nothing. Seeing as most of the towns businesses were there, Maverick decided that there probably wouldn't be any work elsewhere. He'd come back later, or ask one of Twilights friends. Applejack had an apple orchard, and Rarity ran a boutique, after all, though he couldn't really see himself working in the latter.

He shrugged to himself and stopped to think what he'd do next, but his thoughts were interrupted by another pony walking straight into him and dropping a tied parcel.

"Sorry, didn't see ya there." he said. When Maverick straightened up, he saw a light brown pegasus, with a black mane and tail, and brown eyes. Curiously, his cutie mark appeared to be a double edged sword.

"No problem. Your cutie mark, it's a sword?" Maverick pointed. The pegasus looked at his own flank, then back at Maverick and nodded.

"That's my special talent, all things swords." he grinned and held out a hoof. "The names Adven Tures."

Maverick shook his hoof and smirked. "Names Maverick. But, adventures?" he asked.

Adven laughed. "Yep."

Maverick looked down at the parcel. "Here, you dropped your parcel. If you don't mind me asking, what is it?" he asked as he picked it up.

"Wing blade." Adven said, taking the parcel from Maverick and placing it on his back.

"A wing blade? Sounds cool, can I check it out some time?" Maverick asked, eyeing the gently curved parcel.

"Sure. If you want, I can show you know. I got nothing else on."

Maverick grinned like a kid on Christmas day. "Sure. Where're you going?"

"Looking for lodging. I just arrived in town."

Maverick thought for a second. "I can't think of anywhere you could stay, but I'm sure there's a hotel or something in the centre of town."

"Alright, let's check it out. So, why the interest in my sword?" Adven asked.

"I've never seen one before." Maverick said.

"Really? They're used by the Royal Guards Pegasi division, they're not that rare. Well, except for the Commander sword." Adven set off to the centre of town.

"Commander Sword?" Maverick asked, cocking his head.

"Yeah. It's embedded with a special gem in the hilt, one of the rarest in Equestria. Only the commanders of the Guard get them."

"So, Shining Armour will have one?"

"Oh yeah. It's almost ceremonial." Adven nodded.

"He's getting married tomorrow, would he wear it then?"

"Nah, if he wore a sword it would be a standard deal. Hey, this place looks nice." Adven stopped in front of a three storey building, a sigh hanging over the front door, a picture of a bed on it.

"You wanna check it out?" Maverick asked.

"Sure."

They stepped inside to see a foyer with fancy wallpaper and carpet.

Adven whistled loudly, earning an annoyed glance from the receptionist. "Yeah, this place is fancy. I could totally stay here for a few weeks."

"Well sir, if you wish to stay here you need to fill out a small form." the receptionist said, now beaming at the potential tenant.

Adven nodded. "Sure. Hold on Maverick, I'll fit out this firm then I can show you it." Adven stepped up and grabbed the form with his hoof, making it unfold into a length about five times his height. "Uh…"

Maverick chuckled. "If you want, I can come back tomorrow?"

Adven looked through the form, frowning. "Probably best."

"Alright. Say, noon?" Maverick asked.

Adven donned a pair of glasses and was reading the form, but turned to Maverick smiled. "Sure. See you then."

Maverick turned and left the hotel, stumped for what to do next. There wasn't much to do, as it turned out. He heard a flap of wings and a dark grey pegasus landed next to him, whom he recognized as Thunderlane.

"Hey Thunderlane."

"Hey Maverick, have you seen Rainbow Dash? She hasn't turned up for weather duty."

Maverick laughed. "The way she was drinking last night, I don't think she will."

Thunderlane sighed. "That'll explain why she didn't answer. Thanks Maverick, no point trying to get her up if she's got a hangover." Thunderlane shuddered at the thought.

"She's still not up? It's like…" Maverick looked up at the cloudier than normal sky. "Noon."

"Well, if you're volunteering to go wake her up, be my guest." Thunderlane took off to pick up the slack left by the absence of Rainbow Dash from weather patrol.

Maverick, meanwhile, had flown off in a different direction. Rainbow Dash's cloud house. He noticed the clouds seemed darker than usual, probably reflecting the mood of their occupant. He touched down, still unsure how he was able to stand on the fluffy substance. He stepped up to the door, but thought better of knocking, in case it worsened Dash's surely already bad headache. He pushed the door open gently, spilling light into the darkened room.

"Rainbow Dash?"

There was no answer, but he heard somepony retching somewhere deeper in the house. He decided to press on. He walked down the corridor, to where he presumed the bathroom was. He knocked gently. "Dash?"

The retching ended and a muffled voice was heard from within. Maverick pushed the door open gently and saw Dash sitting in front of a flushing toilet.

"You don't look so good." he said.

Dash coughed and headed for the sink. "Gee. Thanks." she groaned.

"Sorry. Want any help?" Maverick asked, holding out a hoof.

Dash stuck her head under the faucet and turned it on, rinsing out her mouth. She pointed at a shelf behind Maverick and gurgled something. He turned and saw a bottle of mouthwash, grabbed it and handed it to Dash. She nodded and took a swig from the bottle, before spitting it in the sink.

"Better?" Maverick asked.

"Yeah, if you stop shouting." Dash rubbed her head. "I don't remember anything. Except leaving the bar on somepony's back."

"That would have been mine." Maverick said in a near whisper.

Dash raised an eyebrow. "Well, as I didn't wake up in bed with you, I guess that means you were a gentlecolt about it."

Maverick nodded. "I helped you in and got you a glass of water, but it was a little… awkward."

Dash stared at him, stone faced. "Ever mention it to anypony and I'll kill you."

Maverick almost laughed, but the glare from Rainbow Dash stopped him dead. He gulped. "Agreed."

Dash groaned again. "Good. I need a drink."

"Especially if you're gonna make it in time to leave for Canterlot, for Shining Armour's wedding."

Dash ground a hoof against her head. "Horse-apples, I forgot."

"Well, you might want to hurry. The train leaves in a couple of hours."

"Ok, ok. Let me get some water."

"Alright." Maverick walked out to the front door. He stood and watched as Rainbow Dash got a glass of water and some sunglasses. In a minute, she stepped beside him and closed the door behind her.

"You know Dash, those sunglasses look good on you." Maverick grinned.

"Shut up. Which ways the library?" Dash asked.

Maverick sighed. "Just follow me." he stood on his hind legs, fell off the cloud backwards and swooped towards the ground. Dash soon followed, at a much slower pace. She flew groggily alongside to him as they made their way to the library. When they arrived, the others had already congregated in the libraries main room.

Rarity was the first to speak. "Ah, good morning Rainbow Dash. How are you feeling?"

"Queasy." Dash said simply.

"Oh no no no, that won't do for a trip to Canterlot. Here," Rarity stepped up to her and performed a spell. Dash rubbed her head.

"Hey, my headaches gone. Mostly."

"No need to thank me, I've found that spell can be most useful." Rarity said.

"Alright girls, the trains arriving in half an hour, so let's go to the station." Twilight said, levitating a checklist in front of her. She levitated a saddlebag onto each of the mares as Maverick watched them preparing to leave. "In each of your saddlebags is your dress for the wedding. Now let's see, have I forgotten anything?

As Twilight ran through the list, Pinkie Pie was bouncing with excitement, as per usual.

"This is so exciting! Twilights brother is getting married to the Princess's niece!"

"Calm down sugar cube, no need ta get all excited yet." Applejack said.

"Should we go?" Fluttershy asked quietly.

"Alright, check. We're ready to go. Are you sure you can look after Spike and the library for me Maverick?" Twilight asked.

Maverick smiled and nodded. "No problem. Have fun!" he said, ushering her with his hoofs.

"Ok. Let's go!" Twilight said, smiling.

"Yeah! Canterlot or bust!" Pinkie shouted, bouncing out the door.

As the door shut behind the group of mares, Maverick turned to look at the quiet, empty library. What now?

A/N: For anyone that watches the Bronystate stream of MLP, I'll be watching tomorrow in the Rarity room, under the name LeCritWrit, for anyone that's going to be watching.

AND I FORGOT: The OC Adven Tures belongs to cyber5555, go check out his story. Credit to him :)