A Landing Most Wibbly Wobbly

Chapters

In the Air
On the Ground
Up a Tree
The Open Door
Between a Rock and a Hard Place

In the Air

It was a calm night in Cloudsdale International airport. Ponies shuffled and waited for their planes. Going through security points, and typical travel jitters, they passed into their terminals waiting for their flights. Pegasi, earth ponies and unicorns alike, waited in the cloudy terminal.
While the building was made of clouds, it was solid for all species of ponies, thanks to the unicorns that patrolled its floors, making sure there were no weaknesses in the structure. In the lounges, at their respective gates, ponies talked and made loud chattering buzzes that filled the area. Not a single part of the airport was quiet.

A jolly air filled it, a seasonal joy that would only be caused by a special holiday, Hearth's Warming Eve. Ponies travelled with gifts, obviously for loved ones. Some ponies carried more than one, and that exceptional five or more gifts were seen occasionally. The jolly atmosphere was intoxicating, making a normally frustrating adventure a little less unbearable. The smell of holiday themed foods wafted through, tempting passengers to stop by and have carrot cake, fruitcake, candy cane. All of which was intoxicating ponies to purchase last minute food items before boarding their flights.
“Passengers for Pegasus Air flight 375 bound for Saddle Arabia, we are beginning our boarding with first class. Rows one through ten, thank you,” the PDA announcement sounded.

Upper class ponies, mares, stallions, and even foals stood. They began forming a line. A few grumbles from the coach members meant that boarding would be a little slow tonight.
As for ponies that had their tickets scanned, they entered the walkway, and eventually boarded onto the aircraft. As they did so, a spry, young mare greeted the passengers.
“Welcome, may I see your boarding pass?”
She looked the tickets over, and pointed each passenger to their respective seats.
“Thank you, have a wonderful flight!”
Her delft blue mane accented her silvery coat. Along with her burnt golden stripes, she stood out amongst the crowd. She was in her purser uniform; a clean-cut, sharp looking tunic and scarf around her neck; both navy blue, with golden stripes on the shoulder and the scarf golden.
“Welcome to Pegasus Air, please enjoy the flight.”
She made sure everything was in their proper place. As the last passenger boarded, she turned made a call to the jet bridge, “We’re all set, I’m locking the door now.”
With the all clear given from the cabin, she started to turn the door around, locked it into position, and turned the large knob to secure the door from any chance of it blowing off, or opening at any point unless opened by either the purser, or another member of the flight crew.

“Welcome to Pegasus Air flight 375, en route to Saddle Arabia. This is your captain, Blue Star, and my first officer Twilight Skies. Our flight time today will be…”
There was a pause.
“Six hours and forty minutes. It looks like our take off will be a little bumpy, but nothing major. Our cruising altitude will be 35,000 hooves today.”
The purser walked down the aisles, making sure all the ponies had their seat belts on.
“Excuse me, could you please fasten your seat belt? Thank you,” She smiled as she past.
Once the cabin had been checked. She moved up to the cockpit door.
Knocking gently, she opened the door, “Everything’s in place Blue. We’re ready to go when you are.”
She said this as she smiled. The pilot turned around smiling back.
“Thanks Air Fair.” Blue Star said, “Nice to know we've got you covering our flanks in there.”
The next moment he grinned, “You better get buckled up, we’re starting to taxi.”
“You got it!”
Air Fair closed the door, locked it, and then took her seat. With the key around her neck, she buckled herself in, and waited as they taxied to the runway.
“Mares and Gentlecolts, we’re about to start our take-off roll. Please direct your attention to the screens in your seats for a safety message. Have a great flight; we’ll give you an update after we reached our cruising altitude. Until then, just sit back, relax, and enjoy the view.”
Within minutes the aircraft was in position and ready to make its take off. With a roar of the engines, the machine started to increase speed. Air Fair looked down the aisles watching with excitement at the passengers. Most of the ponies that were spectators today were calm, though some seem excited. Most likely the excitement was more from the first time flyers as they revel in the new experience.
This was truly Air’s calling. Even her cutie mark held an aircraft marking. This was the job that she woke up every day to go to. Working overtime, late hours, weekends. Her heart raced in joy, excitement every time they took off and landed. The nose of the aircraft started to turn up as they reached the maximum velocity to take off. The wings caught the air, gliding up and slicing into the sky. Air’s stomach went to her hooves but she loved the feeling.
After a few moments, The plane levelled off, and began to raise in short step motions. Each time another stomach to hooves motion, gave Air flutters, as it always did. It was at this moment, a new announcement was made on the passenger intercom.
“Mares and Gentlecolts. We’re levelling off, nearing our cruising altitude. Our in-flight service will begin momentarily.”
Blue Star’s voice was calm, assured and friendly. At the end of the message, Air Fair got up, and started getting the preparations for the in-flight service. She was not the only stewardess on the flight. In fact, there were three others.
“Air, mind if we help?”
It was a pony Air knew as Snow Feather. Friendly and liked by all, she was a Pegasus whose bubbly personality made her a great stewardess.
“Of course Snow, here, hand me the cups.”
Air started to get refreshments, sorting them, arranging them.
“Is the food almost ready?” Air asked while sorting.
“Yes, nearly. Give it another twenty minutes,” was Snow’s reply.
“Excellent. Thank you.”
Air smiled, manoeuvring the trolley, and began to go down the aisle to serve the refreshments.
“What can I get you to drink?”
This repeated as she went along, giving ponies their preferred choice in drinks.
Half an hour later, when every-pony had been served, Air returned to her seat. Unbuckled, but still seated, she started to read a paper until the food was ready to be served.
It wasn’t long until a slight scent of poached hay wafted through the cabin, signalling that the food was ready. She got up from her seat, went back to the back of the plane again, and brought the food tray out. Giving each passenger his or her respective meal, she took it upon herself to make sure everyone was happy and well fed.
She also made sure to give the little foals and fillies toys, keeping them occupied while their parents did what they needed to do: work, study, write. Whatever it was, Air knew how the children loved to bother their parents during flights. Why wouldn't they? There was no room to play, run or cause trouble.
Air smiled, thinking of this, as she offered a pretty young filly a colouring book with some crayons, “Here you go, little one, would you like to draw?”
“Yes please, ma’am,” was the enthusiastic reply!

Kneeling down to look at the filly at eye level, Air composed herself and began to strike conversation.
“What’s your name?”
“Chocolate Chip.”
“That’s a beautiful name, Chocolate Chip. So, is this your first time flying?”
“Yes,” said the young filly, albeit a shy, hesitant response.
“Are you afraid?”
Air asked this as she tilted her head, curiosity plain on her face. All the while she comforted Chocolate Chip, “There’s no reason to be, flying is the safest way to travel.”
Covering her hoof, she whispered in the filly’s ear, “I heard there was a Pegasus who kept crashing into other Pegasi while she was flying.”
After saying this, Air smiled, and gave Chocolate Chip a little pat.
“Don’t worry Chocolate. I’m here, and as long as I have a say, nothing bad will hap---”
Suddenly, there was a horrible sound of ripping metal. The engines began to scream revving to their maximum power. Air was thrown against the walls of the cabin as the aircraft lurched right. A misty haze filled the inside, as a hole was ripped in the fuselage. Screams filled the cabin, uncontrolled unadulterated pandemonium.
“Stay in your seats!” Air screamed, over the howl of the air rushing.

Struggling to get to the floor, and get to her seat, she crawled along the wall, inching closer to the seat. After what seemed like a lifetime, she made it back to her seat, strapping herself in. She took the phone off the hold. Screaming into it, she tried to contact with Blue Star, in hopes to make light of the dire situation.
“CAPTIN! WHAT HAPPENED!?”
There was no response. Unbuckling herself, and fumbling with the key, she opened the door, to find nothing but night sky. The cockpit was gone; nothing left remained. It was now anyone’s guess to know how long they had. Taking a gulp, Air turned to the passengers who now relied on her.
“MOVE TO THE BACK OF THE PLANE!” She screamed over the howl of wind, making hoof gestures too if ponies hadn’t heard.
The reaction was instant. Ponies climbed head over hoof, scrambling to the back of the craft; fighting the gravity they were feeling. Like them, Air struggled to the back. At this moment, every-pony began in any available seat. It didn’t matter anymore, as long as it would ensure chances to survive...
There was a stomach lurching crash. Then the craft flipped over and over, up and down, rocking them like stones in a tumbler. When it finally stopped, everything was silent, deathly silent; not even a whisper could cry out.
As these hallowing moments passed, Air opened her eyes. She slowly started to look around.
‘Am I dead?’
She thought this as she lifted her head. She began twisting her head left and right; no real pain. She was relieved her neck wasn't broken, but what she thought, didn't help...
The front of the craft was missing, and, looking behind her, so was the back.
A section of ten or more rows were all that was visible of the craft she had just been on. Unbuckling herself, she fell to the left. The plane had been at an angle and she fell. This time, she was knocked unconscious, perhaps from shock.

She lay there; the only motion was her chest, falling and rising softly.

A light, coffee brown stallion emerged from a blue box. Rubbing his head, he began to turn back to the blue box, assumingly talking to it.
“Ol’ gal, what got into you? Never mind, you’ll have to jus--- Oi!”
He was suddenly shut out of the blue box, as it’s doors swung closed. A click was heard as it locked itself.
“Oi! Open up Ol’ gal! Let me back!” He cried banging on the doors.

After a moment, he shifted. Smoothing down his dark brown mane.
“Never mind then, you’ll just have to have your tantrum wou---”
He was interrupted as he saw smoke and orange glow, rising from the treeline near by.
“Oh dear...”
He adjusted his green tie, and ran towards the source of smoke, finding bits of an aircraft, large sections strewn around the area. Smaller sections, of the plane hanged from broken branches with torn bits in tatters, caught in the small branches. Paper, metal, luggage, everything seemed to be on fire. The smell of burning materials and even ponies met his nostrils. Recoiling, he covered his nose with a hoof.

The craft seemed to be in three major sections. The tail, to his right, was an inferno. Closer to him, however, was where the nose should have been. Instead there were only a few rows. Then the smallest piece, ten rows, likely no more than that, stood almost intact. It was damaged, of course, but on the bright side, it wasn't on fire...
He started to call, “Hello! Are there any survivors! Hello!”
Only his voice returned, an echo. The only sound heard was the roar of the fire.
“Oh no. This is terrible..”
His ears went back. He didn't know what to do. Then, it hit him.
“Of course!”
He could have face hoofed. Pulling out a pen like object, he began pointing it. A high-pitched sound filled the area, a buzzing, and then, a fluctuation. He began following the signal. Over rubble, through jet fuel yet to ignite, he treaded carefully over the bodies. Trying hard not to look at them, he was brought near another body.

“Blasted Sonic! Can’t you tell the difference between the dead and living?” He asked, with a dark scoff.

He shook it, and then scanned the white mare covered in soot and blood. Cocking an eyebrow, he decided to trust the device. Lowering himself to her, he listened for a heartbeat. To his surprise, there was, in fact, a faint flutter. Lifting himself up, he looked at her.
“You are one lucky mare...”
After a slight struggle getting her onto his back, he dragged her body away from the site, looking for a safer place. As long as there was fuel, nothing in the area was safe.
Finding a dark spot, he lowered her off of him. Taking a closer look at her, he didn't see any major or fatal injuries. No broken bones, maybe a badly twisted ankle, but nothing fatal (which was remarkable). She did have a cut ear, which had been bleeding, but was already clotting, slowing the amount of blood being let out.
She was, however, covered in jet fuel, and she was in tattered remains of a uniform; that had to be fixed. Blushing at the thought of removing them, he slapped himself.
“You old fool! Ponies are already naked, not having clothes means nothing. You’re becoming an old git...”
Gulping, he removed the soaked remains of her clothes. If she survived, and they got out of here, he promised he’d get her any clothes she wanted. Throughout the night, he was a pack mule, coming back to her, with water to wash her coat. Each time he would rub her coat down, and wash her.
But she was so out of it, she didn't move, or react; for which he was thankful. It was embarrassing enough that he didn't need this mare to feel uncomfortable by this either.

It was early dawn when he finally was satisfied with his job. She was now pearly white, nearly sparkling. He smiled sitting near her, watching his surroundings. He had to admit, this wasn't the worse place to be; plenty of shade, warm climate, abundant food.

Groaning, Air shifted, eyes fluttering open; slowly and unwillingly flickering up. As the surroundings focused she saw a brown stallion over her. Was this heaven? Or was it Limbo?
“Wh... What happened?”
Her voice was raw, as was her throat. Her mouth tasted horrible. The stallion noticed her moving, and smiled.
“Oh. You were in a plane crash, you were lucky. Seems you were the only survivor.”
His voice was different, not like any accent she had heard before; it was foreign; maybe Trottingham? But he was quite chipper...
“Where did you come from? Weren't you on the flight?”
She asked, slowly moving her body, to where she was sitting with her belly on the ground.
“Oh no, I came here by chance, my... Transportation seemed to have malfunctioned.”
He smiled rubbing his mane.
“So who are you?”
She asked, with a raised eyebrow. This was a little strange. How did this stallion get here? He didn't have any signs of injury. Maybe he had been in the crash and was having amnesia? Or maybe he was insane.
“Oh! How rude of me. I’m the Doctor! Who are you?”

Author's Note

This is the first chapter. I want to test the waters on this. I know I'm not the best writer, but for anyone who does read it, I hope you enjoy it. I spent a lot of time to think of this, and actually most of the day starting it. Since the start is always the hardest to write.
Anyways. I hope you all like it, and if you can give me any critiques that would be wonderful.
Enjoy!

On the Ground

Air looked at the stallion. Sorry, ‘the Doctor’? What kind of name was that anyway? Surely he was the doctor of something, it couldn’t be his name. That was too… egotistical. She raised her eyebrow again, in a far more questioning manner.

“No seriously. What’s your name?” She deadpanned again, measuring her tone.
“Just the Doctor.” He smiled and shifted his tie again.
It struck her as strange that somepony didn’t have a ‘real’ name. What kind of pony was without a name? His looks though, he looked like a regular average stallion. His coat was just a simple brown, his dark mane ruffled and spiked. Nothing making him stand out, or striking. He was of average looks, handsome, but not overly so.

She slowly got to her hooves. Testing her weight on them, only minor pain. Seemed nothing was broken. Besides being sore, she seemed perfectly intact. Which bothered her. Where were the others? Had there been other survivors? Why was it she came out without injury, yet the rest of them…

She pushed the thought to the furthest part of her mind. It wasn’t something she could handle right now. If there was one survivor, she had to focus on them. If even one was alive, she had some hope, it wasn’t all lost.
“Where are the others?” She asked, getting to the Doctor. Hoping he had seen others, or maybe he knew.
“From what I’ve seen, gone.” Was his soft reply.
“How could they be gone? Are they gone, wandered off? Or gone...” Her voice trailed off, not wanting to admit her passengers may be dead.

Giving him a second look over. Not looking at his looks, but his coat, his mane more closely. He had not a cut, bruise. Nothing. Not a single sign of singeing.
Clean. Completely and utterly clean.
Her brows furrowed. He looked as if he walked off the street, nothing misaligned.
‘Okay... Air, pull it together. This is ridiculous... You have to focus on the survivors, if there are any... Not worry about this strange stallion..’

“Then how did you get here?” She asked, changing the subject, inquisitive, yet almost chiding. She really doubted this pony’s story, surely he was a passenger, if he wasn’t... No pony would have any reason to be out--- Here? Where was here...
Looking around, the full scale of the situation hitting her. Above her, were trees. Uncountable numbers of trees. Full of lush green leaves covering the canopy. The sun filtered through in dappled ripples of light, casting an eerie mist, above and around the two ponies.
Making a hazy, smoky light. Clear enough to see. No vision impairment, but it gave a foreboding shadow.
“Are we in a jungle?” She asked. She knew the answer, she wasn’t daft, but it was one of those questions that has to be asked, under the circumstances.
Looking at her hooves. The ground was damp, covered in fallen leaves. Like nothing she’d ever felt. Spongy rot under her, gave her some cushioning. Looking closer she saw grubs and other insects crawling over the mulch beneath her.

“A jungle? Yes, a very remote one, by the look of it.” Was the stallions reply. “As for how I got here, I told you. My transportation malfunctioned. She seemed to be in a terrible mood.”

Air thought this stallion was perhaps delusional or insane. Could he have hit his head so badly, he didn’t remember he was in a crash, or he was hurt? This was indeed a strange situation and wouldn’t be easy to solve, fix or cope with.
But she didn’t remember seeing his face on the flight and she was good with faces.
It was a skill she prided herself on. Something ponies needed to be able to do, in her line of work.
Making sure she could recognize, incase a troublesome stallion, or mare tried to sneak into first class.
She was trained to remember where everypony was seated on that aircraft.

“So, I’ll ask again, Miss. What’s your name. I’d really like to get passed the exchanging of names. I am dreadful when it comes to staying in one place. I must say, I dislike stagnation.” He smiled, offering her a hoof to shake.

“Air Fair.” She replied, unsure how to react. Giving him her hoof. It would be rude not to.
But then again, right now, who was to say it was rude or not. They were stranded in a jungle, no food, water, shelter. No pony for hundreds, if not thousands of miles from them.

“A pleasure Air Fair. But I’ll probably just call you Air.” Was his lighthearted reply, while shaking her hoof enthusiastically... His smile was warm, but hid something deep within. What it was, she couldn’t tell, but one thing was for sure. He had a long, perhaps hard past. She decided not to delve into that chasm. At least not until they had a base of operations, if they were to survive.

“Sir, I want you to stay right there while I look for survivors.” Taking her hoof back, she turned and started to trot towards where the faintest traces of smoke lingered.
Not only that, but she could still smell the results of the terrible event, plain as day.

“Hello? Is anyone there!” She cried. Putting her hooves to her mouth. To amplify her cry.
When she reached the first sections of rubble were. It stopped her right in her tracks.
Debris was spread around the area. Paper, clothes, luggage. All hanging from branches. Trees still smoldered, embers still glowing faintly under bits of aircraft, on or in trees. small pools of jet fuel, still posed a potential hazard. Bodies lay, some maimed or burned beyond recognition others still intact with very little visible damage. She checked each body with greuling and or morbid dedication, both trending on a fine line, to make sure every pony was checked. In case there was a survivor.

“Hello?” She called again, hoping somepony may hear her. That there was anypony, just one. She could help.
Her ears went back. This was terrible, it was indescribably awful. Bodies lay where they landed, some still twisted in pain, others looked as if they were just sleeping. But upon further inspection, resulted in no pulse.

She began to crawl over big pieces of rubble, to expand her search, hoping it would yield more success.
It was slippery going, between the damp, humid air and the jet fuel that still clung to the body, the parts that hadn’t burned. Every body she saw nearly every passenger she remembered where they sat, and which drinks they had ordered and every plate of food.

After getting to a higher position, she lifted small sections of plane in her unicorn magic, throwing them away from the bodies and the area she was inspecting.
She stopped dead, her hooves shaking, her magic flickering and going out. The piece she had been holding, fell to the side of her, sliding down the intact fuselage.
There. Under a collapsed seat was a little filly. The filly who she had talked to, just before the accident. The same filly, she had told that nothing bad would happen.
“Chocolate...”
Her ears went down, as she stared at the tiny white coat, and chocolate spotted hoof, that stuck out from under the seat.
A light drizzle, fell around her, and the bodies of her charges and so too her tears mixed with the drizzle that fell.
The haze thickened, with the hissing of embers being extinguished by the rain. Steam rising around the ruins.
She turned. And saw the Doctor. Standing in the rain. Watching her sadly.
“Do you want help burying them?” He asked. In a soft, hesitant voice.
Blinking, it took her a moment to process what he had said. Of course she wanted help. She couldn’t possibly do this all by herself. No pony could. Especially somepony like her, who had worked with them, made them comfortable.
“Yes. I’d like that very much..” She brought the chair up surrounded by her magic, showing her Chocolate Chip’s full body.
Her tiny body was still relatively intact, some burns, a broken leg, it looked at first sight.
The frail little body, just so easily broken... It was too much...

Air looked away, unable to stomach it. “If you really are the Doctor… can you fix things?” She looked at him, hoping he would give her an actual answer.

“Depends on the thing, I am not what you would know as a doctor, I fix things. Yes. But not ponies.” Was his solemn reply. Knowing it wasn’t the right answer.

He watched her with his blue eyes.
She stood on top a part of the body of the aircraft. Her body obviously trembling. He couldn’t see what she saw, but it seemed to him, whatever it was, he didn’t want to find out, if he could help it.

“I know you want to help them, but I scanned everypony here. There wasn’t another soul, besides you, Air. You were the luc---”

Air’s eyes narrowed.
“Don’t you dare finish that! How dare you! How could you think that would help me, knowing I survived, but they didn’t?!” Her voice was cracking, tears becoming more obvious.
“Do you the torment that can cause? It should have been me! Not this little filly, or any of these ponies! I should have died too!”

Holding up his hooves, his eyes wide.
“I’m sorry, Air. . . I suppose it was tactless, I’m sorry. Here. Let’s check once more, maybe my Sonic didn’t catch everypony.” He tried to sooth the poor pony.
Taking a look at the young Unicorn, she couldn’t be older than early twenties.
Cute for a pony, then again, he didn’t find ponies attractive. It was just one of those bridges he never crossed. Not since Rose Luck.
His own demeanor darkened, remembering his last companion.
Locking his eyes with Air’s again, he watched her mane become heavy with rain water.
Her eyes, as fiery as her passion.
Maybe she would be a new compain--- no! That was foolish, this poor mare just survived a air crash. What was he thinking. Was he getting so old, he was so selfish... Maybe he was. Play it by ear, he finally decided, but he wouldn’t get upset if she wasn’t interested.
Shaking his head and mane. He started to scramble up to her.

“I’m sorry, Air.” His eyes focused on her’s. Honesty plain in them.
Her anger and grief seemed to settle. Clearly as her muscles started to relax.
Her head hung, looking at something under her.

Coming closer, he saw a tiny hoof.
“Oh no...” Was his soft gasp. “That’s what upset you...”

Air looked back at the body. “Can’t you check her? Please?”
Turning her gaze to him again, her voice was a whisper. “I told her before this happened, nothing bad wou--- Would happen...” More tears formed, making her eyes look bigger.

“Yes, if it would help.” He replied, bringing his Sonic out.
Air’s attention was momentarily taken from the grief of the scene around her.
“What’s that?” Was her question, clearly confused by it.
“It’s called a Sonic screwdriver. It scans things, giving me a stream of information about it, it can also unlock locks. I still haven’t gotten it to get a reading on wood. Still, you’d think, something as advanced as the Sonic would be able to open wooden doors.” He gave her a wry smile. “It could help.”

Waving it over the little filly. He brought it to his face, looking at the feed from it.
Raising an eyebrow, he stuffed it back in the neck part of the tie, and grabbed the filly as softly as he could, turning her over and listening to her chest.
“Looks like we have one survivor!” He said. His attention fully on the filly. “Air, I need some help moving her. You take her someplace safe, and I’ll look for more.”

A small short gasp came from Air. She was still alive! Her attention went to the filly too.
Lowering herself, she gave her back to the Doctor, to lift the filly on.
She’d take good care of her. If it killed her! That much she could promise.

After the Doctor had gotten the filly onto her back, after making a crude splint for her hind leg that was quite obviously broken. Air lifted herself back up to her hooves. Looking at the best way to get from the height they were.
“Thank you.” Was her soft voice, bringing the Doctor’s head up, to look at her.
“Of course, Air. I know your desire to help, believe me. I do.” With that a faint smile creeped across his lips.

Nodding she slowly started to descend, carefully putting her weight on sturdy sections. Being conscious of her tiny charge laying on her back. Barely weighing anything. A tiny frail feather, nothing more.
It brought Air’s ears down, head lowered. She looked back and saw the Doctor, start to scan more bodies, the ones she couldn’t see.
‘Thank you, who ever you are.’ She silently thanked him.

Returning to where she thought they had started, she slowly lowered herself down to her belly. Picking up, Chocolate Chip she rested her down beside her. Nuzzling her, hoping to rouse her.
Maybe if she could wake her up, she could somehow comfort the little filly. Making amends. Would that help? Would it matter? Maybe not, but... She had assured her.

Air’s mind wandered as she waited for Chocolate to wake. She began to think of when she first started training as a flight attendant.

It was the first day of stewardess training. Air stood, a broad smile plastering her face, the excitement too much to contain.
She stood in a line with other mares, who were starting their training too. All but Air were Pegasi...
“Isn’t this the best day ever?” She asked the nearest mare. Who looked at her and rolled her eyes, ignoring her.
Brushing it off, she stood, barely containing her joy.
When the instructor came in, she regarded the excited filly with vaguely concealed distain.
“Miss...” She looked at a clipboard. “Air Fair... What makes you think a unicorn can be a stewardess?” She asked with a cruel smile. Clearly taking an instant dislike to Air.
“Well... I love helping ponies, I think because I can use magic, it would be helpful on a flight, serving ponies...” Her smile never faded, obviously missing the racist comment.
Bitter Wing, the instructor, regarded her again. Making a scoffing sound.
“I highly doubt it, in the sky, the Pegasi reign supreme, we are the masters of the sky. Unicorns have no place in it. You may... Try... But I doubt you’ll get very far, land walker.” She walked past Air, with a flick of her tail.
“Now listen up, wannabes. This is a grueling job! Your happy go lucky attitudes end now. Your job is to help the passengers get from point A to point B. You’re not to be their best friends. No, you will serve them drinks, food, airsick bags.”
Giving a wicked glance at Air, she made a sneer. “This isn’t play time. Now! Let’s begin.”

“M...Mommy?”

Air blinked, her memory broken. She looked down and saw Chocolate’s tiny eyes open, vivid blue eyes staring right back at hers.
“Oh... Chocolate, Mommy’s not here...” Was a soft reply. During a flurry of licks and nuzzles.
“Where is she?” Chocolate’s scared voice quivered.
Air’s heart shattered, how could she tell her. She couldn't lie, but she couldn't tell her, she was still too young to understand the concept of death.
“She... She’s gone, sweetie. I’m sorry, remember me? I gave you that coloring book?” Air asked, trying her best to smile, to reassure the little filly.

“But, how could she be...” Chocolate paused. “Gone?”
Air’s eyes began to water.
“Remember when I told you nothing bad would happen? Tu..Turns out, maybe I was wrong. . . We had an accident, and.. Lots of ponies are gone.” She summed up her courage.
Chocolate just stared not comprehending.
She looked around her. “Where are we? Are we in Saddle Arabia?”
“No, we’re...” Air looked too. The light was fading, plunging them into darkness. Slowly bring the dangers that lay in wait. “Far from Saddle Arabia. We’re in a jungle, I don’t know where, but somepl---”

“I buried some of them...” The Doctor’s voice came through the brush, as he emerged.
Air glared at him. Trying to give him the hint.
“O...Oh. I mean... Hello there, little one. Are you feeling alright?”

Author's Note

So, I tried a new format. Hope this is easier to read.
Please stay tuned for more!

Up a Tree

Author's Note

A quick disclaimer.
With Chocolate's broken leg. The only time I've ever seen a broken leg, was my mom's hairpin fracture a few years back. She didn't scream, she didn't cry. She stayed calm. And didn't even use a cast. She kept walking on it, despite a broken leg. So, that's my only experience with it. So I'm sorry if it comes off as being a little unbelievable. I'd rather go off of things I know, to give a better sense of credibility to the story.
Anyways. Hope you enjoy!

Up a Tree

The Doctor approached the two. A look of shame crossing his otherwise calm features.
“I’m sorry, so. How are you feeling little one?” He repeated when he reached them.

“I hurt, and... I want to know where my mommy is..” Was her scared reply.
Air just looked from her to the Doctor. Ears flat. She felt responsible and now this little filly, didn’t have a home, or a mother.

“Where does it hurt sweetie?” The Doctor knelt down, resting like Air was. His belly against the ground. “Can you point where it hurts exactly?” He continued.
Taking a moment, to focus. She pointed to her broken leg, her chest, hip and forehead.

“It hurts here... There and here...” She looked at the Doctor, with such big, puppy dog eyes. It broke Air’s heart.
“Sir... I just... I want to know where mommy went... She” She pointed to Air. “Told me she’s gone.” She had no idea what death was. No concept of... ‘gone’ it was pathetically heart breaking and one of them would have to explain it.
Taking a gulp of air. Air Fair turned her head to look at her.
This would be harder, than anything she may have done before. Explaining to this poor little child. Explain there was no mommy anymore. There was no more ponies, besides them for what could be thousands of miles.

“Chocolate. Please, listen. You’re mother is gone, you know those really high clouds in the skies sometimes? You know, the really big ones?” Air gave her a weak smile. “Well, you’re mommy is on one of those. She’s not here, on the ground anymore. She’s safe, on a really big cloud, that almost touches the stars.” Telling a filly this, it was terrible. And twisted her stomach. What had the world come to, where she, of all ponies, had to explain death. Her mind, buzzed, making her sight blurred. Tightening her breath in her throat.
Why, why did she have to tell her. She was the least qualified pony to do it.

“She’s.” Chocolate looked up, at the fading light, to the few stars that were visible through the foliage. “Up there? When will she come back?” Her gaze rested on Air’s.

“Ch...Chocolate. She... Isn’t coming back...” Her emotions were surging, making tears come to her eyes. “And it’s my fault.” She admitted, wiping the tears away.
In some twisted sick way, this filly reminded her of her own foalhood. She had her own set of struggles. And all she could hope was this filly was just as strong and would survive. She would do everything she could to make that a reality. If they found their way out, they got back to civilization, she would keep searching for her father, if she had one and if she didn’t. She would adopt Chocolate.
Out of all the fillies and colts she’d ever seen, on the job. This little one stole her heart.

“Why.. Why would she leave me behind? She left me...” Her eyes were so wide and behind them, was... Anger? Was a filly, this young, able to comprehend such an emotion to the extent she showed?

“What will we do?” Chocolate asked changing the subject. To hide her own emotions.
The two adults both looked at each other, they needed to find something to dull the pain. This filly was very good at hiding it.
First things first that was to make a base. A place they could go, be safe. At least, relatively speaking. Nothing was ‘safe’ out here.

“We make a home, until we can get out. Rescuers are coming to find us, I bet and when they do. We’ll be get out of here.” This was of course highly optimistic. Thinking they would be found, anywhere, anytime. Regardless of how optimistic. Rather foolish, they were in a sense, a needle in a haystack.
“First we need fresh water... Doctor, can you watch her, I’ll go back and find food, at least one of the galleys was still together. There might be something to eat, or drink.”

He nodded, shifting into a position to comfort, Chocolate. As she had been.
“Of course I’d be happy too, just be safe. Take this, it can hel--- Oh, you’re a unicorn! I keep forgetting you all have spells! I’m sure I’m going senile!” He looked at Chocolate. “The best kind of senile, I assure you.” He nuzzled her gently, giving her nose a little rub.

The Doctor watched Air go and turned to the filly.
“Would you like to do something maybe a game, to get your mind off the pain?” He asked, trying to think of fun things to do. Cards? He might have some in his pocket... Maybe ‘I spy’? Or maybe she had a game she liked to play.

“No thank you, I am far too sophisticated to play trivial games.” Was her reply. Her eyes locked onto his. With an inner fire.
“While I may not know where my mommy has gone, I assure you I am not thick. I am, infact in desperate need of deeper forms of conversation than you, or her.” She pointed to where Air had left. “Seem capable of.”
Her words left the Doctor speechless.
“Oh, you’re surprised by my conversational level? that Airhead back there, is easily fooled, but you. You and I can think nearly on the same level.” She continued.
“And, I’m guessing you are a medical doctor, correct?”
Before the Doctor could reply.
“I’d really question your degree, if you've not gotten me bandaged up better than this. Surely you have some skill, if you call yourself the Doctor.”

The Doctor just stared at her. Thoroughly baffled. How was she talking like this. Why was she. Airhead? She meant Air Fair? That wasn’t a very nice name for her...
“Well, Chocolate. I’m... Not really that kind of doctor, it’s just my name.”
Her blue eyes locked onto his. The fire burning brighter.

“A doctrine then. Not very useful in this situation is it? Especially when you obviously lack the ability to help...” She put her hooves to her chin. “A poor helpless little filly like me.”

Air reached the now smoking debris. Nothing was smoldering. The rain had completely extinguished the fires and remaining embers.
The part of the aircraft she had been in, was still intact. Perfectly so, despite the slight curve where it hit the ground, and a few fractures. It could pass for a part, removed by a company for display. Luckily for her, there was a middle galley, where in normal aircrafts there was only two. One at the nose, and one towards the tail.
Of course, this was mostly drinks, but there must have been a little left over food.

She stood for a moment, reflecting on what had happened.
Sitting, she absorbed it.
‘You really are lucky, or maybe cursed... That’s yet to be seen, which of the two.’ She thought, looking at the wreckage. If they survived, she couldn’t ever fly again. No pony who survived a crash, stewardess, steward, pilot or passenger can fly after being in such an event. It warps the mind, changes ponies. And it would change her, if it hadn’t already.

Looking, she saw freshly dug graves. The dirt still damp, with small rocks making a halo like feature around where she guessed the heads would be.
Her eyes and expression grew somber.
“I’m sorry.” She whispered.
Getting to her hooves, she walked slowly over to where the galley would be.
The tattered remains of carpet welcomed her, and the stench of jet fuel and the beginnings of rotting corpses.
Covering her mouth with a hoof, she lifted herself up and over the fallen chairs, and weaved through the obstacles. And there. In a crumpled heap, was the galley.
Bottles of water, empty, full, and some half empty, strewn the floor. Soda cans too, some crumpled to small disks.
Looking for something to carry the supplies in, she found nothing obvious. This called for thinking outside the box.
Finding a nearly intact chair, she tore the fabric off, and laid it down. So she could place anything she would take, in it, and then carry it back in her magic.

Soda, that was a maybe. Sugar would dehydrate them, and they only had so much water.
Four bottles... Three full, and one nearly empty.
She sighed. They would have to find more somewhere.
She grabbed the soda anyways. It was better than nothing.
Opening the food compartments, she was greeted with five different kinds of foods each with it’s own problems.
Peanuts, which were salted. Bad to eat when having a limited source of water...
Hay, which was damp, and starting to mold. A bad smell filled the compartment. Wet hay...
She grimaced, not a pleasant smell.
Bread, which was individually wrapped, good for carrying.
Fruit, the apples looked good, but the melon. Not so much.
And there was also... Oats. Lots and lots of oats.

Figuring the oats, fruit, bread and peanuts. As salty as the peanuts would be, where infact better than nothing. She left the hay to rot.
As it should. With a horrid smell like that, she never wanted to smell it again.

Taking the water, a few cans of soda, the empty bottles of water. Incase they found a spring, She put the food into the little sash, she bundled it all up, in the makeshift carrier.
Lifting the central spot, taking minimal effort. She began weaving through the rubble once more.

When she exited, there was virtually no light. Nothing to see by, no moon, no stars.
The sky had become overcast again, threatening more rain as the fresh smell that usually comes with it hung in the already damp air.
“I’m guessing we’re in a rain forest...” She grumbled to herself. Bringing the bag of supplies to her mouth, she bit down on it. Casting her magic to illuminate her way...
Furrowing her brow, she stopped dead in her tracks. There was a first aid kit somewhere in there! She brought her hoof to her face. A little harder than she intended. Why hadn’t she thought of that...
‘You’re becoming forgetful!’ She thought as she turned.
Hanging the little bundle of supplies down on a branch, she made her way back into the wreckage. Going under and over the parts that littered the floor was getting tiresome. Her muscles ached with the strain.
Casting her rosy pink magic, she lit her way.
Now in the eerie light, the twisted remains of chairs, and parts of the cabin became ghostly figures.
She did jump multiple times, from the shadows, casted by her magic.

The last time she jumped, she pressed herself against the wall, holding her chest, trying to ease her heart, racing as fast as a derby racer.
‘Oh good, this one just looks like a kitty.’ She inwardly sighed. Glad it didn’t look like a pony, who’d been in the cabin.

As her heart slowed. It just as quickly picked up. The shadow moved, and it wasn’t her doing.
Gulping, she tried to stay as quiet as she could.
Lowering herself to the floor, she crept along. Measuring her breathing as much as she could, to not make a sound.
There was a soft growl, almost a purr of pleasure. Which made Air’s fur stand on end.
That was not a kitty, and it was not harmless. That was for sure. Lifting her head, she took a look over.
Seeing the last of a white tipped tail slip by a few aisles back. Her eyes widened. A scream bubbled up in her throat.
‘NO!’ she thought, if she made any noise she was done for, for sure.
Swallowing the scream, and the fear, she pressed on, as best she could.

When she finally reached where the supplies she had found where, she opened the lower compartments. It clicked, as it unlatched, and fell back with the angle of the plane.
Casting her light as quickly as she could she grabbed the purse like containment for the first aid.
Moving away as fast as she dared, knowing that sound would alert the ‘kitty’

Just as she turned the corner the leopard’s head poked over one of the chairs. It’s eyes narrowing, seeing the compartment door swing.
With a flick of it’s tail. It crawled over the seat, sniffing the still gently swaying cupboard.
It growled menacingly. It’s tail lashing in agitation
Air who, was only a few hoof steps away, trembled. She had to get out, somehow, get the supplies, and get back to the Doctor and Chocolate.
Without drawing the attention of ‘kitty’

She heard it pad off, maybe to continue stalking her. Not counting her blessings yet, she took a deep gulp of air. Peeking from her hiding place.
She didn’t see it. With her dimmed magical light.
That was good, meant she had a fighting chance of getting away.
‘Come on, you can do it... it’s... It’s just a kitty! A... Really big kitty, who wants to gut you... And possibly serve you to it’s cubs.’ She cursed her overactive imagination.
That didn’t help her mentally with this situation.
Getting to her hooves, she quietly got off the aircraft, at the back end, from where she had entered.
It would be a long way around, but at least it meant no going through that again.

The heavy smell of fuel still lingered in the humid air. Making breathing laborious and uncomfortable. It stung the nose.
Brightening her magic, she looked for her little parcel. After a minute of searching, she found where it was hanging on a branch. Safe and sound. Luckily nothing had touched it. Or tried.
Lifting it down, she put it on the only dry spot she could find, putting the first aid in there, tying it up again and lifting it in her mouth.

A growl from behind made her stop, her eyes wide.
“A little pony? Lost her way?” The leopard purred. Eyes glowing faintly in the light.

Air turned, and the leopard was gone. Her head twisted around, back and forth looking for it.
“Such a tasty treat... Shame, I’m not a scavenger. Plenty of dead meat, lying around.” Came the voice again.
Air couldn’t tell if it was feminine, or masculine. But whatever gender, both were equally deadly.

“Can’t you talk? Or would you rather not beg for your life?” The leopard asked, now visible stalking around Air. The cat was lithe, thin and ready for a chase, it’s coat gleemed. Casting a golden hue to it’s tawny fur. While it moved with deadly grace around the pony, Air gulped. She looked around for anything to defend herself with.
“It’s best if you don’t, I don’t take pity on prey. Makes my job easier.”
The leopard laughed, baring long fangs. Grinning with morbid pleasure.

‘Oh dear... what... What do I do.. Come on... Think! you can think can’t you? You survived a plane crash, you lived through stewardess training... Why is this any diffe---’
A blur made her come back to reality. She was knocked to the ground, on her back.
She screamed, but it was cut short as the air from her lungs was knocked out of her.

“Scream all you want, no one will hear you.” The leopard dug its claws into her flank. dragging her towards it and it’s expecting fangs.

“Let me go!” She howled, kicking and bucking.
Hitting the leopards lower jaw, she managed to wiggle free, she immediately rolled onto her hooves and looking around the dark surroundings.
Then it hit her.

“Leopard... Do you know what’s all around us?” She asked, a flicker of a grin on her face. With the weight of her on her limbs. Her left flank, flared in pain. The faint trickle of blood oozing down her leg.

The leopard shook itself. Glaring at her.
“Wreckage, which brought a tasty treat, what of it?” Was it’s short reply. It’s eyes regarded her with annoyance now, unlike the amusement from before. This meal was posing to be a problem.

“Can you smell that? The smell that burns your nose? The heavy scent of something strange, something you’ve never smelled before. Would you say it is?” Air asked. Her own eyes narrowed.

“Silence! Stop playing games, only I can toy with my kills.” It snarled. Baring it’s long saber like fangs.

“I beg to differ, that I’m about to do, might just stop your hunts, for quite a while!” Was Air’s counter. She looked for a wet patch, with a slick oily color.
Another blur brought her attention back.
She jumped and bucked, kicking the leopard in the ribs this time.
It landed a few feet away. Landing on it’s side. She watched, and waited. Maybe she didn’t have to, maybe she wouldn’t have to hurt the animal. It wasn’t it’s fault, it was only hunting. It wasn’t anything personal. But she had to protect herself, like any good prey does.
Putting up a fight.

“How dare you, hoofer!” It lifted itself up, it panted, clearly in pain. “How dare you hurt me!”
She raised an eyebrow to the creature. What kind of logic was this? Could she not defend herself.
Make hunting a little more challenging.
This was curious to her.

“I am Queen Bitter Claw! I rule the jungle... I know every rock, every creature. You’ve made a grave error!...”
She prepared another leap.

With a toss of her head, flaring of her horn. She held a rosy fire.
“Remember that smell? It’s called jet fuel... And this. Is what happens when you light it!”
She let the fire blast down to the puddle she had sighted earlier.
In a moment it was spreading through the clearing, a loud rushing enferno

Bitter Claw roared, both in shock, rage, and perhaps fear.
“What is this magic!” She cried, backing away.

Taking this moment, Air grabbed her bundle. Turned and ran. Before the fire spread to her. Her own hooves were wet with the fuel, and she didn’t need hot hooves.
Illuminating her way she kept herself going. Even with her rear leg surging in pain. It was almost over. Almost... A little further!

This filly was incredibly intelligent. Perhaps the most intelligent the Doctor had ever met. But, who’s to say she was smart. Many brilliant ponies, were in some way stupid. No pony was perfect.
But it seemed that this filly, was a genius. But the cost of which was, she viewed everypony else as less than her. Not physically less important, but rather. Beneath her mentally.
He had gotten this, hearing her story.
Which he wouldn’t repeat to Air. Didn’t seem like the proper subject matter.

“So you’re saying, the meaning of life isn’t 42, but rather---”
An ear piercing scream cut through the still night. The Doctor was on his hooves in an instant.

“Air!” He looked from the jungle to the filly. He couldn’t abandon her. Nor could he let the mare die.
Whatever was the right thing to do, tore him. He didn’t know which he should do.
His ears flicked back and forth, he pranced in place, at a loss.
What should he do...

‘Doctor, can you watch her.’ Her last words to him rang in his mind. Slowly he sat down. Looking at Chocolate.
“Do you want to do something now? Maybe some mathematical equations?” He asked trying to smile. He needed something to get his mind off this situation more than she seemed to right now.

He was just writing out a really long one in the ground when both a feral roar, and the raging blaze of a fire cut through the again silent night.
Looking to where the glow burned, casting an orange glow, visible faintly through the trees.
He looked at the filly, horrified.
Something was out there, hunting Air.
And would be hunting them too, if he wasn’t careful.
“Quick! We have to get to a high place...”
He looked up, at the trees for any flat, or safe crotch of a tree to hid in.

Looking from tree to tree, nothing really was yielding any results, until. Was that one? Yes! It was.
He grabbed the filly by the scruff.
“I’m sorry, no time!”

She howled in protest as he began to scramble up the branches that were accessible. He had to get to higher ground and fast!
Nearly falling twice, he got to the top of a strange tree, it wasn’t impossibly high, perhaps thirty feet off the ground or so. Perfect to see what was around them and keep them from most danger. He hoped.
He put the filly down as gently as he could. Putting a hoof to her mouth, to stop her crying. He gently pet her head.
“I’m sorry, I am so sorry. Shhhh, it’s okay.”
He cooed, trying to calm her down.

He was still hearing hissing and feral sounds, but they grew faint, going in the opposite direction.
His ears fell flat, as he watched the glow.
Air, what happened to her? Was she killed by whatever creature had made those sounds. Or... Was it the fire.

Down below, he picked up a new glow.
One that moved through the bushes and trees...

Peeking over the lip of the tree, his hearts nearly stopped dead.
There she was. She had survived!
“Air!” He hissed. He tried again, a little louder.

She stopped, dropped something and looked up.
“Doctor, what are you doing up there?”

Air looked up at the Doctor’s face in the crotch of the tree. It was almost comical. A pony in a tree. Who’d ever heard of such a thing!

“I managed to grab some supplies.” She smiled weakly.
Then collapsed onto her right flank. Yelping in pain.

The Open Door

Air hesitated for a moment, why did he tell her to wait, did he not say it wouldn't open? Did he not say it was their only way out? This baffled her why it was so important not to open the door by any means necessary. A door was replaceable, a life, perhaps, was not.

"Why? you told me it was our only way out of this place!" Was her retort. The rock hovered in her magic precariously. She wanted nothing more than to see it smash into the door, releasing them from this horrible jungle. However, the Doctor apparently had different plans.

"You can't... Just bash her in... She's a living, breathing thing. Not a normal box, made of normal wood. You wouldn't like somepony throwing rocks at you. Would you?" He held his hooves up to stop her. His eyes wide and pleading.
His back was to the blue box, clearly trying to protect it. He trembled slightly, afraid she'd throw it anyway, maybe hitting him in the progress.

Air just stared, at a total loss, not knowing what to think. Instead she slowly put the rock down, turned and walked back towards the tree they left Chip in.
This stallion was clearly deranged, it was better to leave him out in the wilds, where natural selection would take place. It was a harsh and cruel reality, but she couldn't look after an injured filly and a mentally ill adult.
She walked back with a cold, resolute form. Holding herself up, looking straight. Not deviating from her path back.
It was far less slippery this way back, knowing the route, the path and all the obstacles she faced before on the way to.

The Doctor just stared as she walked off.
"W...Wait!" He called out, but was ignored. She didn't stop, or quiver, but kept moving.
His ears went down, sagging. He watched her muddy form disappear into the thick jungle foliage.

A click behind him made his head swivel. The Tardis door swung lazily open.
Jumping to his hooves he rushed into the depths of the machine.
"You've gotten better!" He exclaimed, smiling brightly. He went up to the controls, beginning to read what she had gone through.
But, upon reading. His hearts slowed. Now he knew why she had locked him out, why he had been banished from her. It made sense and he now knowing, didn't blame her one bit.

Tears stung his eyes, his head lay on the console, stroking the controls.
"I'm so sorry... What will we do?"
A loud wurring sound.
"I have to take care of them... Make it as right as I can..."
A click was his reply.

He turned, getting back onto his hooves, going into the deeper parts of the Tardis. Getting a parcel of food, medicine, and towels, fresh water and bandages. He would have to explain, but it was more important to provide.
When he had gotten what he wanted, he took his leave. Giving the door a soft kiss.
"Thank you... And please don't hate me..." Then turned, as the door locked with another click. And left.

Air had returned and climbed up the tree. Curling around the little shadowy figure of the little filly, she rested her head. To protect the little pony, under her care.
Closing her eyes, she let sleep take her.

When the Doctor made his way back to the tree, he began to set up a shelter. Taking branches, fallen or fresh, forming a tepee structure. It was hard, manual labor. making sure there would be something for the two to wake up too.
A safe place, a home. To make their own.
He'd make this up to them. One way or another. He would atone and get them both out of here, as fast as he could. But the Tardis wouldn't let him leave, without doing something first. Perhaps, this was part of it.

He stayed up, until the Sun's rays penetrated the trees above him, lighting his nights work.
It was primitive, but obvious what it was meant to be. A house, made of branches and leaves, large ones on the top, to allow rain to roll right off, leaving the inside toasty and warm.
Even a secure entrance, with a makeshift door was apparent.
He stood, looking at his work, proud. At least he had done something right. Right?

He deposited the supplies inside and closed the door. Scaling the tree, he nudged Air softly.
"Air, I need you to bring Chip down, I made a shelter." He said softly as she blinked sleepily up at him. He smiled brightly.

"What are you doing back here?" She asked, rubbing her eyes, careful not to knock Chip, hurting her, or waking her.
She then opened her eyes, which were circled with dark pouches under them. She hadn't slept well, keeping guard, she had only just fallen into a restful sleep, before he woke her up.

"I made shelter, I'm sorry I couldn't do anything to really help the situation. I made us a safe place to stay and I'll do anything you ask me too." He said, offering her a hoof.
"I promise." He added, with a soft wink.

She regarded him unsure, but the offer for help, would be useful, surely. She took the hoof reluctantly, but nodded.
"Okay, but we need to find a reliable source of food, we can't just eat something, there is probably a lot of poisonus plants out here."
She glanced around, taking in for the first time how lush and dense this jungle was. It was going to be like finding a needle in a haystack, and not being able to eat the hay...
"We'll have to find a steady source, but how? We can't try everything, in hopes of not getting sick, or dropping dead." She continued, concerned.

"I know a few edible plants in this part of the world, might not be the tastiest, but I can promise you it will be nutritious" He gave another smile. Pointing his hoof to one plant snaking up the branches near them.
"That's edible, it will be bitter, but is good for stomach aches. And this bark If we cut it can provide us with a small amount of water."

She raised an eyebrow.
"Water? Sap, or actual water?"

"Actual water, see, the roots suck up water and the water stay--"
He was cut off.

"I know what you're talking about, the water then 'bleeds' from the tree when the bark is damaged, it's common in vines as well."

The Doctor stared dumbfounded at her.
"Fair enough."

Author's Note

Just letting you all know, I've been trying to figure out what to do with my life. Thank you, for everyone sticking with me, during this.

I know it's short, but I've been working on it for a few days and I wanted to get another chapter out. I'll make an extra long one for the next one.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Author's Note

I'm sorry for the late update, between some real life things and my own sluggish behavior.
I finally got the motivation to do this, and thank you all for being patient with me.
I should be able to get these out more often than once a month from now on.
Enjoy!

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Air turned her attention to her wounds. Licking furiously at them, trying to ease the pain.
Dropping her spoils from the excursion. Turning her full undivided attention to her flank.

“Air! You need to get up here, where it’s safe!” The Doctor hissed urgently.
“Air!” He hissed louder.
She ignored him. Her eyes were teary from pain, but she wouldn’t let that stop her, or distract her. She had to clean the wound as quickly as she could.
Who knew what diseases were out here, parasites and even flesh eating maggots. If she didn’t clean it now, and keep it cleaned. She might be in for far more pain than the initial wound.

Glaring at her, the Doctor turned to Chocolate.
“Stay!” He said firmly, starting the descend down.
“I’m not a DOG you know!” Was her very vicious toned reply. She pouted and turned her head. How was it that life threw her this card, it was a shitty hand of cards, for sure. Broken leg, survived a plane crash and was stuck with these two morons, not even a single cookie to be found. This was perhaps, the worst crime of all.

Carefully making his way down, taking one hoof at a time, one over the other. Made his way down. Reaching the distressed mare, he nudged her with his nose.
“Air. We need to get up, it’s safer up there.”
She turned her teary eyes to him.
“I need to clean it first, if I don’t. . . I could be worse off...”
Now the Doctor could see, four deep gashes in her upper flank, trailing down to her knee.
“What did that?” He asked, eyeing the surroundings, making sure whatever it was, didn’t come back.
“It was a leopard... Her name was Bitter Claws... I had to ignite the kerosene just to protect myself.” She said once she was done cleaning the wound.
“I brought as much supplies as I could find, just a few drinks, a bit of medicine, and very little food.” She held the pouch of spoils to him.
“Give Chocolate the medical attention she needs. There should be painkillers in the first aid.” Opening the pouch she passed him the little box of first aid.

He nodded. Of course he had to help her first. But at the same time, this potential companion was hurt too.
Which wouldn’t do, not at all.
“Are you sure you can’t climb with me?” He asked, taking the package, but standing by her.

“I’m pretty sure, this hurts lot. I could barely run, let alone climb.” She replied after her cleaning had been complete. The wound still looked horrible. Long, deep gashes, revealed the pink, tendons and muscles under the skin. Torn and broken. She grimaced looking at it.
“When I was a little filly, I did something really stupid once. Climbed a tree, and fell. Scratched my leg, not unlike this I was in hospital for a week.” She smiled a little.
“My parents didn’t like the medical bill. Cost too many bits.” She added.
The Doctor smiled back. Noticing she was seemingly alright, no pony would joke around, or jest when they were terribly injured.
That brought a sigh of relief to him, at least she would survive for now.

Air looked at him with a smile.
“Just help Chocolate Chip. She’s worse off than I am.” She pushed the medical kit at him again, turning him in her magic and pushing him towards the tree.
“Fine, you don’t have be so pushy!” He retorted, getting the message loud and clear.
Within a few moments, he had scrambled up, making his way to Chip.

“Alright, kiddo. Let’s get you bandaged up.” He said after spitting the handle to the box out.
She looked at him with her eerie blue eyes.
“What are you going to do?” She asked, clearly unimpressed.

The Doctor shrugged it off and opened the box, taking out the painkillers. Opening the bottle found only a dozen. If that.
“Oh dear...” was his comment to this.

Air down below got to her hooves as delicately as she could, trying to avoid putting a lot of weight on her back leg.
It didn’t seem to work, within seconds she was hissing from the pain. Limping to the tree, she curled up below it, under some shrubs. Concealing herself as best she could.

A yelp from above made her glance leaf wards.
“Are you alright up there?” she hissed from her hiding place.
“Just fine! Just Chip doesn’t like getting her hoof bandaged, now do you?” The Doctor’s voice floated down to her. Sounded like a little bit of a struggle.
She certainly wished she could climb, but sadly she was earthbound. Perhaps, after what had happened, wasn’t such a bad thing.
Closing her eyes, she let sleep take her.

She was on the plane again. Giving everypony their drinks, taking their used trays and scraps of food, depositing them in a bin as she went down the aisle.
“You’ll never be a proper stewardess, it’s safer to have Pegasi!”
Her mentors voice rang out in her mind.
She turned, seeing the nose and cockpit, with the pilots inside. Peel away from the body. Horrible ripping noises, loud pangs as the rivets burst from their sockets.

Her eyes widened in horror.
Instantly the feeling of dropping increased, making her stomach rise to her throat.
The pittering continued as they dropped gaining speed as they did. It was a terrifying experience once, feeling again just made it worse.
She screamed, clinging to the closest thing to her. Looking at it, she originally thought it was a seat, but it turned into a cream colored filly, with chocolatey brown spots covering her.
“Chip! It’s okay sweetie! It’s going to be okay!” She lied over and over again. Knowing it was not alright.
Her mind screamed at her, to get away, get out.
But she couldn’t. She didn’t have wings. Didn’t have the ability to fly!
And then, it all made sense.

Her eyes shot open, still hearing the pitter patter.
Looking around, gasping for air, she noticed.
What she had heard as rivets being shot out, was really large raindrops falling on the large broad leaves around her.
Sighing, she had caught her breath.
But it didn’t shake the nightmare.

She was wet, cold, scared and now. Even more exhausted.
But it made sense. Pegasi were better as stewardesses, because they could fly. Escape.
It also begged the question. To which Air’s fur crawled.
Did they leave the passengers behind? Saving themselves?
How could a pony, taking the job ever do that. Then again maybe most ponies didn’t take their job as seriously as Air did.
But the thought made her almost ill. Leaving behind the ponies, just to save one’s own hide.
Revolting.
She couldn’t think of any time where she would put herself before the ponies she worked so hard to keep comfortable, just leave them. Like that.

Even now, knowing she survived and only two passengers, was a horrible feeling.
She hid her face with her forehooves.
Whimpering.

She had loved flying so much, she had overlooked the core reason they chose flying ponies.

“Are you alright?” The Doctor slid in beside her.
Peeking out from her hiding place, she regarded him. Shifting her weight.
“Not really, but I’ll live, is Chip asleep?.” She replied sadly but asked softly.
The Doctor settled in beside her.
“Yes, she’s bandged up, and deep asleep. So, talk to me, We’ve hardly done so, perhaps to get better acquainted?” He smiled at her.
“Alright, I guess it couldn’t hurt. What did you want to know.”

The Doctor smiled at her reply.
“Great! Well, I’d like to know, what made you want to work on aircrafts.” His intentions were good, curiosity peaking though.
Air just sighed. Turning her head away from him.
“I thought I could be good at it. And, I went through hell to get my certification.” She said still looking into the distance.
“I wanted to prove unicorns could be stewardesses. But.”
She looked at the Doctor with sad eyes.
“Now I know, why we aren’t good at it.”

The Doctor, who had been listening, regarded her curiously.
“Why do you say that? You seemed to have done everything right in my book.”

Rubbing her forehooves together.
“When I was in the academy, I was the only unicorn. I thought that was curious. But I kept going, no matter what.” She looked off, as if in her own memories.
“I was given more trouble and hardship than any other trainee.” Her gaze rested on him.
“The reason, there aren’t any unicorns as stewardesses... Pegasi can fly.”

He watched her silently. Until she finished.
“Well of course they can fly!” He smiled. “But what does that have to do with this?”
Air sighed.
“Because they can get out of a plane, save themselves. It isn’t the passenger that are important.”
She trembled. “They are taught how to fly in extreme weather, and high altitudes.”

The Doctor, thought about this.
“But, then, if you weren’t a Pegasus. How did you get certified?”
“I put up with everything they threw at me. They knocked me down, I climbed up, till they had nothing to throw.”

She looked up at the tree where Chip was sleeping. With her ears folded down she returned her attention to the stallion.
“So, Doctor. Tell me, what are you doing here? I don’t remember you on the plane. Tell me what really happened.”

He laughed. He hated being put on the spot, curiosity was one thing, dangerous information, which could jeopardize lives, was another story.

“Well, you see. I wasn’t on the plane, I have my own ship, aircraft, thing. That I was flying.”
He watched her face, gauging what his next words could be.
“And she had a malfunction, and crashed a ways away.”

Air smiled. Giving his forehead a pat.
“That’s nice, you must have a really hard head, to survive, and remember a wonderful story like that.”

The Doctor gawked at her.
“It’s the truth though! Why wouldn’t you believe me?”
‘You are either the most brave mare, or the most stubborn... You’re the first not to believe me!’ He thought to himself.
He couldn’t believe it. But, now it was a challenge. He’d have to show her the TARDIS.
It was inevitable.
“Wait, I can show you my ship. If you’ll come with me, I’ll prove it!”

He stood, offering her a hoof.
“Would you come? Chip should be fine for an hour. My TARDIS isn’t too far.”
Her eyes traveled his features, trying to tell if this was some kind of joke.
“Sure, okay. But, if it’s not there, not another word, okay?”
She took his hoof, getting gingerly to her own. Careful of her hind leg.

He pranced forward, like a little colt.
‘I’d finally get to show her!’ He thought happily as he lead her away.

But not far, eyes watched them.
The form of burned fur slunk around, observing.
Golden eyes, watched in hatred, loathing. She would wait for her chance to attack. She would wait, until the perfect moment, and then.
“You’ll be mine, pretty pony... You’ll be mine.” Bitter Claw hissed under her breath as she disappeared, into the brush.

Air looked around, her ears flicking, eyes wide.

“Did you hear that?” She asked, with a worried tone.
The Doctor stopped, regarded her and shook his head.
“No, should I have?”

Air turned back to him, following, but always cautious with one ear turned behind them.
“I don’t know, I thought I heard something moving.”
“Air, we’re in a jungle, there is EVERYTHING, but the trees moving, that’s a silly thing to say.”
He smiled to himself. What a silly mare, he liked her, while she may be a bit of a downer at times, she was observant. Perhaps a little too observant.

The trail was hard for the mare, she kept tripping and hitting her hind leg, which stung every time. Making her hiss. But she followed, complaining only when it was a large branch she couldn’t get over, or climb under. Every time, she would find another way around, rejoining him, without further complaints.

The path was still slick and muddy from the rain, making the treck even harder. Being on four legs is easy. Three a nightmare. But she kept going. Her once white coat was now covered in mud, brown stains, blood, and sweat.
“It’s warm isn’t it?” She finally broke the long silence.
“Yes, it is. Means we’re in a tropical area and if I remember your planets map. . . There are few jungles, and the ones there are... Faaaar from cities or other poni--”
He turned and noticed she had stopped.
“What’s wrong?” That was a stupid question, and he knew it.

“We’re not going to get help, are we?” Her lower lip trembled.
“I didn’t say that, we’re just not close enough to go there. . .” He corrected.

“That means we’re not getting ponies to come find us, isn’t it? We’re on our own, we’ll have to fend for ourselves, forage. Oh sweet Celestia, what if you’re the last stallion I’ll ever meet!?”
She looked him up and down and scrunched her face.
“Ew.” Was her final reply.

“Oi! I’m not that bad! Not that I’m looking for a mare like you, either!” He retorted.

Air’s cheeks puffed up, a blush across them.
“I beg your pardon??”
Her eyes traveled upwards, to a tint of dark blue.
Squinting, she made out more of the shape.
“A box?” She cut the Doctor off, who had his mouth open ready to make another retort, possibly digging himself a bigger grave.

“A box? Oh~ That’s my ship!” He said excitedly. Turning and prancing to it.
“Hey o’gal. Are you ready to let me in?” After a few attempts, it was a clear no.
Huffing he leaned against it, his back to the door.
“Well, she was my ship, until she decided to lock me out...”

Air came up, and stroked the wood.
“This isn’t like any flying ship I’ve ever seen, but. Why would it lock you out. Do you have an autopilot? That’s very new technology for us. That’s what you must be!”
She looked at him triumphantly.
“You must be a spy from another kingdom! Trying to get information about our travel systems!”

He gawked again.
“You, mare, are crazy!” Was his snorted reply.

Her jaw dropped.
“I beg your pardon! You sir, are very rude!”
He nodded.
“Of course I am, of course.”

Patting the TARDIS he sighed.
“Well, I can’t go, without her. And if she would open up, I could take you AND chip back to civilization.”
He peeked, one eye open.

“If you help me open her, I’ll take you back.”
Air thought for a moment. It didn’t take her long to think of an answer.

“Alright, deal!”
She lifted a large rock with her magic, ready to throw.