ValtonAce

What the fuck did that mean? One of us? Was I a horse now? These questions raced in my head as a white pony wearing nurses’ clothes undid the straps that held me to the bed. I dropped to the floor with a clack, my flight suit fluttering down around me. I glanced at the table next to the bed. My helmet still sat there, the number 3 emblazoned on the sides and my call sign, Valton, underneath. A phoenix soaring over the top showed my flight groups logo. The helmet looked odd though. There were two triangular bumps on the top. I was trying to figure out what they would be for when a voice interrupted my thoughts.

“Hey, who’s the new guy?”

Rainbow Dash glanced at the gray horse before turning to look at Twilight.

“Please don’t talk to him Rainbow. He had a bad-”

Twilight sighed as Rainbow Dash ran past her into the room. The weather pony had a habit of rushing into things without thinking ahead.

“Hi, I’m Rainbow Dash. What’s your name?” She said, sticking her hoof out to shake hooves with the newcomer.

“Uhh, what?”The horse said, staring at the proffered hoof.

“What’s your name? And what are you wearing?” Rainbow repeated, looking confused. The new pony apparently didn’t understand the common courtesies of Equestria.

“I’m wearing my flight suit, or whats left of it.” He said as if it was normal for a male pony to be wearing a dress.

“Well, take it off. I wanna see your cutie mark.”

The new pony looked horrified.

“But I’ll be... I’ll be naked.”

Rainbow grabbed the garment and said, somewhat muffled: “So?” as she pulled.

The movement was so sudden I scuttled back in surprise, but I tripped over my feet (hooves?) and sat heavily on the ground.

“Whoa! Twilight, come here! I've never seen anything like this!”

The purple unicorn came over and looked at me.

“What does it mean?”

Twilight, or whatever her name is, looked confused.

“I- I’m not sure. I’ll have to do some more research into this.”

I craned my neck, trying to see what they were talking about. There was a mark near where my thigh would be, but I couldn't see.

“Here, this should help you.” Twilight said, before closing her eyes. Her horn started to glow, and I slid backwards again.

“Oh Jesus, please don’t hit me again. I’ll do anything, I swear!” I pleaded, closing my in preparation of the pain.

“What? You never saw a mirror before? Sheesh, where do you find these guys, Twilight?”

I opened my eyes to see a giant mirror in front of me. The pony inside didn't look familiar.

“Who’s this?” I asked.

“You!” Both Rainbow and Twilight’s voices yelled, exasperated.

“Oh.” I said, studying my new form. My skin was gun-metal gray, and my hair (mane?) was jet black. The mark I couldn't see before was clearly visible. It was a plane within red cross hairs. The cross hairs looked like old WWII cross hairs, like ones you might find on a Spitfire.

“Kick-ass.” I muttered. I always wanted to be a Spitfire pilot, after all the stories my grandfather told me when I was just a kid.

“What's all the commotion?” Rarity said as she walked in.

“Yeah! I saw sparkles!” said Pinky Pie, who came bouncing in on the scene.

“Guys, meet uhhhh...” Twilight glanced at the table beside the hospital bed. The name painted on the helmet jumped out at her. “...Valton? Yeah, Valton!”

“Actually, my name is-” A voice called from behind a mirror, but was cut off by Pinky.

“Huuuuuuuuuh!” She shouted, before bolting from the room.

Valton pushed the mirror aside and walked out of the corner awkwardly, as if he had never walked before.

“Is that... normal?” He asked, glancing at Twilight.

“Yes. Valton, this is Rarity. The pony that screamed was Pinkie Pie.” Twilight said.

“Pleased to meet you. But my name is-” Valton was cut off yet again when Applejack came rushing in.

“Hey, have you guys seen the big galloot I dragged in here? I wanted to see if he wasn't hurt.”

“Wait, it was you who saved me? Thanks! I owe you my life.” Valton said.

“AJ, this is Valton. Celestia and I transformed him into a pony.” Twilight explained to the confused farmer.

“Well, how is it he ain't hurt? He looked pretty beat up when I picked him up.” Applejack said.

“Yeah, I was wondering about that too.” Valton said, looking accusingly at Twilight.

“The spell transforms the recipient and heals any wounds he/she may have. Well, that’s what the spell description says.” She explained.

A beeping interrupted my welcoming party. We all looked at my helmet, which was beginning to flash a red light as well as beeping.

“What is it doing?’ Rainbow Dash cried.

“I don’t know. I think it wants me to put it on.” I replied, walking over to it.

“Is that safe?” Twilight asked, looking worried. “I should do some research beforehand.”

“It’s just a helmet.” I said. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

I picked up the helmet. The beeping immediatly stopped.

“Here goes nothing.”

The helmet slid smoothly onto my head. I couldn't hear anything, nor see anything.  Suddenly green text appeared in the darkness.

“Welcome Phoenix Three. This is the Tactical Advanced Targeting System or TATS for short.”

“What? What happened to my old helmet?” I asked, not expecting an answer.

“I have alerted you because a flight of twelve MiG 35s and Tupolev Tu-22s. Recommend you climb to 35000 feet to deal with intruders.”

“MiGs? Here?!?” I exclaimed. “That’s impossible! “

“Loading airal footage of intruders...”

My eyes were treated by the sight of twelve MiG 35s flashing by a forest. The planes had no markings and were matte black.

“Oh shit! That’s a city!”

The planes, in perfect rows of two turned towards a small town and dropped their fuel tanks. Twelve subsequent explosions thudded in my ears.

“This is live footage. The planes are about 3.5 kilometers away from your current location.”

“Fuck.” I whispered before taking off the helmet.

I looked around the group of worried faces.

“We have to evacuate the village. There are bombers incoming.” I said.

“What in tarnation are those?” The Texan pony asked.

I sighed. “They are bigger versions of the plane I came down in. They carry bombs, which will destroy this town unless we can stop them.

“How?” Twilight asked.

“If I can get my plane back up in the air, I had some ammo I hadn't used yet. Where is my plane?” I asked.

Twilight glanced at the others. “It’s still in the swamp. There's no way we can get there in time.”

I stepped into the daylight. The sun looked beautiful on the clouds.

‘Too bad it won’t last long enough.’ I thought. Anger started to well inside of me.

‘Too bad I can’t get into the air. Too bad I can’t fucking kill the bastards.’  I closed my eyes, tears fighting to be free.

‘Too bad I can’t avenge Buzz and Mikey.’

“Uhh, Twilight? What’s happening to his cutie mark?” Rainbow Dash asked. Valton’s cutie mark was beginning to glow.

“I...I don’t know.” She replied, taking a step back. The wind began to pick up around them, cycloning around Valton. Trees began to bend and snap.

“He’s whipping up a tornado!” Applejack cried.

The images flashed into my head. Wings, stuts, pylons, all congregating on one thing. A plane the likes of which I had never seen before. I felt nothing, not the ground underneath my hooves nor the sun’s rays on my flanks.

‘Too bad that the fucking Russians tried to mess with me.’

“What is happening?” Rarity yelled over the wind. “My hair is getting ruined!”

Twilight didn't answer. She was too busy staring at the thing Valton was assembling. It was made of wood, yet looked like metal, shining in the sunlight. Suddenly the wind began to die down. Valton staggered and fell in front of the contraption.

“What is that thing Valton?” I heard Rainbow ask. The word just popped into my head.

“Phoenix.” I whispered. “Can anybody get to my plane and bring back some supplies?” I asked, slowly standing from the grass. I had noticed that although the plane had missile struts, it had no missiles.