Love of flightby Thunder-DasherChaptersPrologue/The crashMeeting the princessesAirbornePrologue/The crash"Hendersonville traffic, Cessna November-Seven-Five-Echo-Romeo, departing runway Three-Two, straight out," I said. After pushing the throttle all the way in, and lifting my feet to release the brakes, my Skyhawk started off down the runway. I gently pulled back on the yoke at about sixty two knots and started leaving the ground. I always found that taking off always seemed to calm me down for some reason... even though it's one of the most dangerous parts of flying. Anyway, that's not all that important. After about a minute, I glanced at my altimeter to see it reading three thousand, three hundred feet. I gently pushed the yoke forward to start leveling out. Now, it was time to raise the flaps, slow down to about two thousand, two hundred RPM, and start trying to get into straight and level flight... not an easy thing to do, I might add. It took close to six and a half minutes to get to straight and level flight... a new record for me. The beauty of the landscape below always takes my breath away. There were few clouds in the sky, which I liked quite a bit. There was a nice lake nearby that I decided to flyover, as I normally do. The lake, couple together with the forest and mountains... man it was a beautiful sight. Unfortunately, this wasn't going to last. The forecast for the day was clear, calm weather. There were no storms forecast at all... though, this wasn't really your average thunderstorm. Darks clouds came out of nowhere, the rain was so thick, it looked like I was surrounded by paper or something, and the crazy lightning strikes coming down in large groups at the same time... it was freaky. I didn't have any actual flight time in stormy weather like this, so I didn't know what all to do except try to get home. I turned and headed back in the direction of my home airport to land... but that's when it got really freaky. Out of nowhere came a really bright light, which I'm guessing was a rather large lightning bolt, that blinded me for a brief bit. Instinctively, I let go of the yoke to hold my hands up and cover my eyes... bad idea. I could just feel myself dropping out of the air... and I blacked out shortly after the fall began. When I came to, I noticed that I was still alive, and all in one piece. I climbed out of my Skyhawk to check the damage... well, she'd seen better days. Half the nose was gone, all the windows were either cracked or shattered, the left wing was completely gone, the elevators were somehow bent backwards, but still attached... explain that one to me. Whatever, I'm just glad I made it out ok. Only thing is... where did I land? This place looked nothing like home... it was way too colorful. After about an hour, I began to wonder how long it would take before somebody found me... and the answer was really soon. My rescuer, however, was not what I'd expected. Standing in front of me now was a small horse with a uh... teal coat, green eyes, and a light blue and purple, bi-colored mane... that was somehow long enough to be braided. As if the crazy colors and braided mane weren't odd enough... it can also talk. I don't remember what it said because I kind of fainted as soon as it started speaking. Ok, so could my situation have possibly gotten any worse? Well, I guess not. As I came to, I noticed I was in a house of some sort. Did somebody actually find me? What about that crazy colored talking horse? Did that thing even exist? All these questions, and more, ran through my head as I tried to process my situation. I didn't even notice the talking horse enter the room till it spoke again. "It's good to see you're awake," The horse said. I jumped slightly when I heard its voice. I was speechless for the longest time. As I stared at the horse, my mouth hung open, I couldn't help but notice she cocked her head to the side. "Are... are you alright?" The horse asked. Ok, so, based on the sound of this horses voice, it's female. Ok, so talking horses with brightly colored coats... nothing weird about that. Nothing weird at all... except it's just not normal. Also, where the hell was this horse's owner, and why was she allowed to walk around inside the house? "Can you even understand me?" The horse asked, "If you can, please nod your head twice". I didn't nod my head, but spoke up myself. I needed some answers now. "I can understand you... though I'm not really sure how," I said, "It's not really all that important though. What I wanna know is where the hell I am". "Well, you're at my cottage just outside Ponyville," The horse said. First, I crash land in a brightly colored area, then this teal colored talking horse comes to rescue me, and then I find out there's a place nearby called Ponyville. Ok, where the hell is Togo? "You alright?" The horse asked. "Yea, I uh... I just need to wrap my head around all this," I said. "Do you have a name by any chance?" The horse asked, "I'd like to know what to call you". "My name is Anthony," I said, "Am I to assume you have one as well?". "Crystal Melody," The horse said. "Right..." I start, "Look, do you have an owner or somebody else here that I can talk to?". "I'm not a slave if that's what you're asking," Crystal said, "And I'm the only one who lives here". "I didn't mean to imply you're a slave," I said, "I just wanted to know if there was another human here I could talk to". "Is that what you call yourself? A human?" Crystal asked. "Yes, it is," I said, "Now, is there another like me that I can talk to?". "Not in Equestria," Crystal said, "Well... that I know of anyway". Great... so I'm in a place with brightly colored, talking horses, and I'm also the only human. What a grand day this has become... if only. Well, I guess I'll have to get used to this for a little while. "So, uh... is there anything other than horses around these parts?" I asked. "Well, first off, we're not horses. All citizens in Equestria are ponies. I would advise against the use of the word 'Horse" as it is quite offensive," Crystal said, "As your question, yes, there are other beings, though I would advise against trying to find them as they aren't very friendly. They all reside in the Everfree Forest... and you don't ever want to find yourself there". That's when I it. This isn't any regular hor- I mean, pony... she has wings! She's a uh... oh what are they called? Well, time for another question. "So, I see you have wings," I said, "Tell me... what kind of hor- I mean pony, sorry, are you?". "I'm a pegasus," Crystal said. Pegasus, that's it! A winged horse said only to exist in myth. That proves it right there, I am not in Kansas anymore. But, if there are pegasuses here, then surely there's other mythological creatures. I wonder what else there is. "So, are there any types of ponies other than pegasuses?" I asked. "Pegasi is the proper plural term," Crystal said, "And yes, there are unicorns, Earth ponies, and we are all governed by two alicorn sisters". Wait a second... Earth ponies? EARTH ponies? Maybe there's hope for me to get home after all". "You said you have Earth ponies living here," I started, "Does that mean you know how I can get home?". "I'm afraid I don't understand what you're talking about," Crystal said, "But, Princess Celestia or Princess Luna might know. We can go see them if you want". "If it'll help me get home, then let's go," I said. I misjudged the size of this house, as I slammed my head against the ceiling when I stood up. Should've figured that a house where a pony that's up to my waist would be too big for me to walk in. Oh well, at least I would get a nice nap for the second time today. Meeting the princessesWalking through Ponyville made me feel like Gandolf walking through the Shire. Keep in mind that I'm only five foot, four, but these ponies make feel like a giant. Not only did they make me feel huge, but they also seemed to be scared of me. So, would that make me and evil Gandolf? Ah, whatever, I could only hope that I wouldn't intimidate the princesses. The train was kind of cramped. I had to sit on the floor so I wouldn't put some lumps on my head... or a hole in the roof. Since every other pony was scared of me, it was just me and Crystal on this side of the train car... not that I really complained. "So... these princesses... are they friendly?" I asked. "Very much so," Crystal said. "Anything I need to be aware of when meeting them?" I asked. "Well, when you approach, bow before saying anything," Crystal said, "When addressing them, make sure to use either 'Your highness', or 'Princess'. Also, bow before you turn away from them". "Ok, so nothing out of the ordinary," I said. "Oh, and don't be surprised if the royal guard don't let you in right away," Crystal said. "Sounds like they take their job pretty seriously," I said. The rest of the train ride was pretty uneventful. I actually fell asleep to pass the time. I was just getting to the good part when I was awoken by something prodding me in the side. I opened my eyes to see the assailant was Crystal. As we got off the train, my eyes trailed over the city I now stood in. I just ignored the ponies giving me weird or terrified looks as I took in the amazing sight. I wondered how ponies could construct something like this... then I remembered I just got off a train built and used by ponies. As we finally approached the castle, I took notice of some ponies dressed in armor, holding spears. They were, I figured, the royal guard. Something about them was actually slightly intimidating... good job there, guys. They were also ninjas as I didn't even notice four of them walk over until one of them cleared his throat. "Who, and what, are you? And what is your business here?" One of the guards asked. "Well, my name is Anthony, and I am a human," I said, "I am lost in this world, and was hoping your princesses could help remedy that issue". "In that case, I do hope you don't mind an escort," The guard said. "Not one bit," I said, "You have a duty to perform, don't let me get in the way of it". "Good, then follow me," The guard said. I was already impressed by the city, but this castle blows that out of the water. The whole thing is practically a carved out chunk of marble. The floor and walls gleamed wonderfully in the sunlight. The decorations were also something to marvel at. Stained glass, banners, busts... it was all just amazing. I guess it must also be said that I could actually fit in here. It didn't take long at all for us to reach the throne room. As the doors were opened, the very spacious room came more and more into view. What caught my eye, however, was the rather large pony sitting on a throne at the other end of the room. I couldn't even believe that was a pony... she was massive. While the guards intimidated me, this one in particular really terrified me. Not only was she huge, but she just radiated power. As I approached the throne, I did as expected and bowed... both out of respect for this seemingly powerful being, and fear of what would happen if I showed even the slightest disrespect. "What are you?" The princess asked. Even her voice was scary. It seemed gentle, but also quite stern at the same time. One wrong move, and I could end up broken in half with no hassle at all. "Well, your highness, I am a human," I said, "My name is Anthony, and I'm kind of lost in this world with no idea whatsoever how to get home". "Lost, you say?" The princess asked. "Yes, your highness," I said, "I arrived here when a bright light came out of nowhere and blinded me". "Interesting... very interesting," The princess said, "A lost soul in a world which he does not belong. I do not currently have an idea of how to help you, but I will certainly look for one. You are the first of your kind to set hoof here in Equestria, and I do not wish to give a bad impression". "Your kindness is well received, princess," I said. "Please, call me Celestia," The princess said, "It is good that you are humble, but you do not have to refer to me by title". Ok... royalty asking to be called by their name instead of their title? What kind of a world am I in? "Also, until I am able to find a solution to your problem, you are welcome to stay here at the castle," Celestia said. There's something you don't hear every day. "While that offer is very generous, I actually wish to stay with my friend here down in uh... Ponyville, I believe it's called," I said. "If that is what you wish, then you stay with her," Celestia said, "However, until enough trust can be built up with my little ponies, I ask that you not leave her house unless she is with you. More so for your safety, of course". "I can agree to that," I said. "And one more thing as well to help you," Celestia said, "With your permission, I would like to shrink you down to more manageable size. It will help during your stay, and will be reversed before you go home". "I can't really say no to that," I said, It'll be nice to not hit my head on the ceiling when I stand up for once". Without saying anything else, Celestia's horn lit up like a light bulb, and I soon felt my body tingling. The room started to get bigger as I shrank. It didn't hurt, but God if it didn't tickle like hell. Once the process was done, I was having to look up at Celestia, and I didn't have to look down at any of the other ponies. "I do ask that you at least stay till night when my sister will be awake," Celestia said, "I would very much like you to meet her". Ok, so I found out just how powerful the princesses are. They move the sun and the moon for God's sake... no wonder they're intimidating. I just got done watching at the night princess, Luna, put on the most spectacular light how a she set the stars in the sky and raised the moon. She was a little curious about me, but everything was explained to her by Celestia shortly after we met. We had said nothing to each other as of yet, but that would change now. "That was the most impressive thing I have ever seen," I said. "Well, thank you," Luna said, "It is not often I receive such complements". "It's hard to imagine others do not wish to complement you on your work very often," I said, "You're quite the artist". "Now you just wish to embarrass me," Luna said. "Not at all," I lied. She may be an all powerful god pony, but Luna's actually kind of cute when she blushes. "Well then," Luna said, shaking off her blush, "Why not tell me more about yourself?". "What do you want to know?" I asked. "Well, let's start with the most interesting topic," Luna said, "What are your hobbies?". "I don't suppose you would know what video games are, would you?" I inquire. "No, I do not," Luna said. "They're a really entertaining, if not expensive, form of media," I explained, "All they are, are a bunch if lights on a screen that you control, but they're really fun... and great stress relievers". "Are there genres of these games?" Luna asked. "Quite a few," I said, "Anything from simulations to first person shooters... you name it". "First person shooters?" Luna asked. "Do you know what war is, by any chance?" I asked. "All too well, I'm afraid," Luna admitted. "Well, first person shooters are war sims," I explained. "You certainly have... an interesting culture," Luna said. "Yes... well, there's to me than that," I said. "Anything else... violent?" Luna asked. "The most peaceful hobby I have is flying," I said, "I was actually taking a nice flight when I arrived here". "Where are your wings?" Crystal asked. "I don't have any," I said, "I'm what's known as a pilot. I fly these things called planes". "I see," Crystal said. "However, when I arrived here, I was blinded," I said, "As a result, I ended up crashing. The plane I was flying will never touch the sky again, sadly". "Where is the crash site?" Luna asked, "Night time is not really busy, and I'd love to see this plane of yours". "It's going to take a good bit to get back to it, as I have no wings with which to fly myself," I said. "Then climb on," Luna said as she laid down. "You want to carry me there?" I asked. "It'll be much faster, and I am sure I can hold your weight," Luna said. "Follow me, Princess," Crystal said, "I'll take you right to it". AirborneAs soon as we'd landed, Crystal excused herself to go home and sleep. Luna and I stayed behind at my crash site so she could get a good look at it and I could answer any questions she'd undoubtedly have. After showing her the exterior, I opened the cockpit to show her the inside. The whole thing confused her to no end. "What is this for?" or "What does this thing do?" were the most common questions. Overall, I'd say my presentation of a Cessna 172 Skyhawk was pretty good, considering the state of the poor bird. "So, you said this thing needs something called a runway to get into the air, correct?" Luna asked. "Yes, and this Cessna needs about one thousand, six hundred and thirty feet minimum to take off," I explained. "Any particular direction it should face?" Luna asked. "As long as it's flat and straight, the runway can face any direction," I explained, "Why do you ask?". Luna didn't answer, but instead lit up her horn. I was really confused at this point... what was she doing? It was then that I saw a blue strip race across the ground... she was making a magic runway. I don't really know why she'd take the time, though, I'd never get my crashed Cessna into the air again. As soon as the magic runway finished, Luna used her magic to clear away some trees that would impede takeoff. I really don't know why she did all this. "With all due respect, Princess, that's just wasted time and effort," I said, "With my plane in it's current state, it'll never move... forget about getting airborne". That's when she really surprised me. The next spell she cast was on my plane. It was obvious she wanted to fix it, but I didn't think she could. She didn't know what kind of engine it used, how it should look... she had no idea what she was doing. I let her try though... not like it'd hurt anything. If anything, it actually worked. Magic is awesome. I was no longer looking at a destroyed Cessna, but one that looked fresh from the factory. She also shrank it so I could actually pilot it properly. "How did you do that?" I asked. "I used an advanced repair spell," Luna said, "It can return anything that is broken back to its original state. You could give me a crumpled up ball of something, and this spell would turn it back into its original form and make it look brand new". "If only we had that ability in my world," I said, "Just one last problem". "And that is?" Luna asked. "Fuel," I said, "Without fuel, this might as well be a nice metal statue". "And where is this fuel kept?" Luna asked. "In the wings," I said. "Then let us get some water in those wings," Luna said. "Water doesn't work as fuel," I said, confused. "When touched by magic, water can power almost anything," Luna said, "It'll be a little taxing, but worth it in the end". "If this actually works, I'll owe you big time," I said. "Simply think of it as a gift," Luna said, "No repayment needed". I went to get enough water to fill the wings. I was still skeptical about the whole thing, but I was willing to give it a shot. If Luna could actually get water to fuel my plane, I'd love her forever. How many of you can say you've kissed royalty? Add me to that list now. I was able to line my plane up with the runway Luna created for me. After doing so, I shut off the engine, got out, walked right over to Luna, and kissed her. Did I mention she's cute when she blushes? "Whatever was that for?" Luna asked. "You fixed my plane, and gave me a runway to use," I said. "So, is this a custom of your world in such cases?" Luna asked. "Not really, no," I said, "I just... to be honest, I don't know what I was thinking". "Well, you are definitely welcome," Luna said, "Though, one question". "Ask away," I said. "Does it really have to be so loud?" Luna asked. "There's no way to fix that," I said, "Unless you can make it mute with magic". "Only on living things," Luna said. "Well, even if you could make it mute, I'd ask that you not," I said, "I kind of like the sound of the engine. It's also an audio cue at certain times". "Well... alright then," Luna said. "And whenever you want to take a flight, just ask," I said, "It's the least I can do". "I still have time left," Luna said. "And I'm too tired to keep us safely airborne," I said, "But, we can take a flight tomorrow night if you want". "That would be wonderful," Luna said. Ponies sure know how to make beds. Being able to finally fit in one, I could notice just how soft it is. But all good things must end, and the new day was soon to accept my presence. As I awoke, I was assaulted with the smell of fresh waffles. After getting out of bed and stretching, I went downstairs into the kitchen to get my breakfast for the day. "So, you able to fly now?" Crystal asked. "Luna fixed my plane, created a runway, and made it so water can act as fuel," I said, "Yea, I can fly now". "Well then, wanna show me how this plane of yours works?" Crystal asked. "I don't see why not," I said. I would have to get used to that request. No doubt there's tons of non-pegasus ponies who would love to fly at least once. Hell, I could probably even open up an aerial tour business. I don't have commercial pilot's license, but should that really matter in Equestria where those laws don't exist? Only thing I need to know is how the money works in this world so I can set a reasonable price. After breakfast, I got all cleaned up and nice... going to need some more clothes, though. Oh well, I'll just go shopping for custom fitted clothes later today. Anyway, I went outside and walked over to my very new looking plane. I opened the cockpit, grabbed my checklist, measuring stick, and filtered fuel beaker. I then began to go about checking everything off so I could safely fly. "So... when are we going up?" Crystal asked. "First, I need to make sure everything on this checklist can be checked off," I said, "Unlike a pegasus, a plane can't just stop in mid-air if something goes wrong". "Well, that's interesting," Crystal said, "How long does it normally take?". "About 5 minutes, give or take," I said. Everything is fine on the outside, everything is fine on the inside, let's get airborne. After strapping myself in, I went through the steps of getting the engine started properly. Crystal was starting to get kind of bored of waiting at this point, but she'd just have to deal with it. The engine was roaring healthily, everything was in perfect order, it was like this plane had never been touched. Magic is awesome. "Ponyville traffic, Cessna November-Seven-Five-Echo-Romeo, departing runway Two-Five, straight out," I said. The radio was incredibly useless, but habits are hard to break. Anyway, I pushed the throttle all the way in, lifted my feet, and did my best to keep on the runway as my Cessna began to speed up. I'm glad Luna was smart enough to give me some space to lift up. I hit the minimum takeoff speed at the very edge of the runway, but that didn't matter this time as my take off was successful... but I would have to ask Luna to extend the runway before I try to take off again. "This is amazing!" Crystal exclaimed as she looked out the window. "I'm glad you like it," I said. The whole flight took close to an hour, but we went all over the place. Equestria looks really nice from the air... though I kind of felt like I was on a slight acid trip with all the bright colors everywhere. Did I mention I also managed to accidently scare the poor pegasi living in Cloudsdale? Yea... oops. Oh well, now it's time to land. "Ponyville traffic, Cessna November-Seven-Five-Echo-Romeo, approaching runway Seven to land," I said "Alright, so we're going to stall just above the runway, and there's going to be a rather loud noise. Just ignore it, it'll be alright". "Whatever you say, you're the one flying this thing after all," Crystal said. At about five feet above the runway, I lifted the nose up, prompting the stall warning to go berserk. She knew it was coming, but poor Crystal was still freaked out by the stall warning. As the front wheel touched down, she could set her heart rate back to normal. I'd have to see if Luna could make a nice little turning area so I could turn my plane around with ease. For now, I'd just have to settle for my current spot on the runway. "That was incredible," Crystal said, "Though, don't be surprised if you're not allowed to visit Cloudsdale after that stunt you pulled there". "Yea... I'll probably hear that later," I said, rubbing the back of my head. First flight in Equestria was a total success. Knowing that, I could now officially think about starting up a flight business. Yea, I might be offered a way to go home, but I might actually turn it down. After only about twenty four hours, life here in Equestria seems to just be so much nicer than what I'm used to from my world. The only real reason I'd probably even think about going back at this point is to be with my human friends, all of whom aren't even local anyway, and family with a way to come back here any time I want. That's a bridge I'll cross when, or if, I ever get to it.
Prologue/The crash"Hendersonville traffic, Cessna November-Seven-Five-Echo-Romeo, departing runway Three-Two, straight out," I said. After pushing the throttle all the way in, and lifting my feet to release the brakes, my Skyhawk started off down the runway. I gently pulled back on the yoke at about sixty two knots and started leaving the ground. I always found that taking off always seemed to calm me down for some reason... even though it's one of the most dangerous parts of flying. Anyway, that's not all that important. After about a minute, I glanced at my altimeter to see it reading three thousand, three hundred feet. I gently pushed the yoke forward to start leveling out. Now, it was time to raise the flaps, slow down to about two thousand, two hundred RPM, and start trying to get into straight and level flight... not an easy thing to do, I might add. It took close to six and a half minutes to get to straight and level flight... a new record for me. The beauty of the landscape below always takes my breath away. There were few clouds in the sky, which I liked quite a bit. There was a nice lake nearby that I decided to flyover, as I normally do. The lake, couple together with the forest and mountains... man it was a beautiful sight. Unfortunately, this wasn't going to last. The forecast for the day was clear, calm weather. There were no storms forecast at all... though, this wasn't really your average thunderstorm. Darks clouds came out of nowhere, the rain was so thick, it looked like I was surrounded by paper or something, and the crazy lightning strikes coming down in large groups at the same time... it was freaky. I didn't have any actual flight time in stormy weather like this, so I didn't know what all to do except try to get home. I turned and headed back in the direction of my home airport to land... but that's when it got really freaky. Out of nowhere came a really bright light, which I'm guessing was a rather large lightning bolt, that blinded me for a brief bit. Instinctively, I let go of the yoke to hold my hands up and cover my eyes... bad idea. I could just feel myself dropping out of the air... and I blacked out shortly after the fall began. When I came to, I noticed that I was still alive, and all in one piece. I climbed out of my Skyhawk to check the damage... well, she'd seen better days. Half the nose was gone, all the windows were either cracked or shattered, the left wing was completely gone, the elevators were somehow bent backwards, but still attached... explain that one to me. Whatever, I'm just glad I made it out ok. Only thing is... where did I land? This place looked nothing like home... it was way too colorful. After about an hour, I began to wonder how long it would take before somebody found me... and the answer was really soon. My rescuer, however, was not what I'd expected. Standing in front of me now was a small horse with a uh... teal coat, green eyes, and a light blue and purple, bi-colored mane... that was somehow long enough to be braided. As if the crazy colors and braided mane weren't odd enough... it can also talk. I don't remember what it said because I kind of fainted as soon as it started speaking. Ok, so could my situation have possibly gotten any worse? Well, I guess not. As I came to, I noticed I was in a house of some sort. Did somebody actually find me? What about that crazy colored talking horse? Did that thing even exist? All these questions, and more, ran through my head as I tried to process my situation. I didn't even notice the talking horse enter the room till it spoke again. "It's good to see you're awake," The horse said. I jumped slightly when I heard its voice. I was speechless for the longest time. As I stared at the horse, my mouth hung open, I couldn't help but notice she cocked her head to the side. "Are... are you alright?" The horse asked. Ok, so, based on the sound of this horses voice, it's female. Ok, so talking horses with brightly colored coats... nothing weird about that. Nothing weird at all... except it's just not normal. Also, where the hell was this horse's owner, and why was she allowed to walk around inside the house? "Can you even understand me?" The horse asked, "If you can, please nod your head twice". I didn't nod my head, but spoke up myself. I needed some answers now. "I can understand you... though I'm not really sure how," I said, "It's not really all that important though. What I wanna know is where the hell I am". "Well, you're at my cottage just outside Ponyville," The horse said. First, I crash land in a brightly colored area, then this teal colored talking horse comes to rescue me, and then I find out there's a place nearby called Ponyville. Ok, where the hell is Togo? "You alright?" The horse asked. "Yea, I uh... I just need to wrap my head around all this," I said. "Do you have a name by any chance?" The horse asked, "I'd like to know what to call you". "My name is Anthony," I said, "Am I to assume you have one as well?". "Crystal Melody," The horse said. "Right..." I start, "Look, do you have an owner or somebody else here that I can talk to?". "I'm not a slave if that's what you're asking," Crystal said, "And I'm the only one who lives here". "I didn't mean to imply you're a slave," I said, "I just wanted to know if there was another human here I could talk to". "Is that what you call yourself? A human?" Crystal asked. "Yes, it is," I said, "Now, is there another like me that I can talk to?". "Not in Equestria," Crystal said, "Well... that I know of anyway". Great... so I'm in a place with brightly colored, talking horses, and I'm also the only human. What a grand day this has become... if only. Well, I guess I'll have to get used to this for a little while. "So, uh... is there anything other than horses around these parts?" I asked. "Well, first off, we're not horses. All citizens in Equestria are ponies. I would advise against the use of the word 'Horse" as it is quite offensive," Crystal said, "As your question, yes, there are other beings, though I would advise against trying to find them as they aren't very friendly. They all reside in the Everfree Forest... and you don't ever want to find yourself there". That's when I it. This isn't any regular hor- I mean, pony... she has wings! She's a uh... oh what are they called? Well, time for another question. "So, I see you have wings," I said, "Tell me... what kind of hor- I mean pony, sorry, are you?". "I'm a pegasus," Crystal said. Pegasus, that's it! A winged horse said only to exist in myth. That proves it right there, I am not in Kansas anymore. But, if there are pegasuses here, then surely there's other mythological creatures. I wonder what else there is. "So, are there any types of ponies other than pegasuses?" I asked. "Pegasi is the proper plural term," Crystal said, "And yes, there are unicorns, Earth ponies, and we are all governed by two alicorn sisters". Wait a second... Earth ponies? EARTH ponies? Maybe there's hope for me to get home after all". "You said you have Earth ponies living here," I started, "Does that mean you know how I can get home?". "I'm afraid I don't understand what you're talking about," Crystal said, "But, Princess Celestia or Princess Luna might know. We can go see them if you want". "If it'll help me get home, then let's go," I said. I misjudged the size of this house, as I slammed my head against the ceiling when I stood up. Should've figured that a house where a pony that's up to my waist would be too big for me to walk in. Oh well, at least I would get a nice nap for the second time today.
Meeting the princessesWalking through Ponyville made me feel like Gandolf walking through the Shire. Keep in mind that I'm only five foot, four, but these ponies make feel like a giant. Not only did they make me feel huge, but they also seemed to be scared of me. So, would that make me and evil Gandolf? Ah, whatever, I could only hope that I wouldn't intimidate the princesses. The train was kind of cramped. I had to sit on the floor so I wouldn't put some lumps on my head... or a hole in the roof. Since every other pony was scared of me, it was just me and Crystal on this side of the train car... not that I really complained. "So... these princesses... are they friendly?" I asked. "Very much so," Crystal said. "Anything I need to be aware of when meeting them?" I asked. "Well, when you approach, bow before saying anything," Crystal said, "When addressing them, make sure to use either 'Your highness', or 'Princess'. Also, bow before you turn away from them". "Ok, so nothing out of the ordinary," I said. "Oh, and don't be surprised if the royal guard don't let you in right away," Crystal said. "Sounds like they take their job pretty seriously," I said. The rest of the train ride was pretty uneventful. I actually fell asleep to pass the time. I was just getting to the good part when I was awoken by something prodding me in the side. I opened my eyes to see the assailant was Crystal. As we got off the train, my eyes trailed over the city I now stood in. I just ignored the ponies giving me weird or terrified looks as I took in the amazing sight. I wondered how ponies could construct something like this... then I remembered I just got off a train built and used by ponies. As we finally approached the castle, I took notice of some ponies dressed in armor, holding spears. They were, I figured, the royal guard. Something about them was actually slightly intimidating... good job there, guys. They were also ninjas as I didn't even notice four of them walk over until one of them cleared his throat. "Who, and what, are you? And what is your business here?" One of the guards asked. "Well, my name is Anthony, and I am a human," I said, "I am lost in this world, and was hoping your princesses could help remedy that issue". "In that case, I do hope you don't mind an escort," The guard said. "Not one bit," I said, "You have a duty to perform, don't let me get in the way of it". "Good, then follow me," The guard said. I was already impressed by the city, but this castle blows that out of the water. The whole thing is practically a carved out chunk of marble. The floor and walls gleamed wonderfully in the sunlight. The decorations were also something to marvel at. Stained glass, banners, busts... it was all just amazing. I guess it must also be said that I could actually fit in here. It didn't take long at all for us to reach the throne room. As the doors were opened, the very spacious room came more and more into view. What caught my eye, however, was the rather large pony sitting on a throne at the other end of the room. I couldn't even believe that was a pony... she was massive. While the guards intimidated me, this one in particular really terrified me. Not only was she huge, but she just radiated power. As I approached the throne, I did as expected and bowed... both out of respect for this seemingly powerful being, and fear of what would happen if I showed even the slightest disrespect. "What are you?" The princess asked. Even her voice was scary. It seemed gentle, but also quite stern at the same time. One wrong move, and I could end up broken in half with no hassle at all. "Well, your highness, I am a human," I said, "My name is Anthony, and I'm kind of lost in this world with no idea whatsoever how to get home". "Lost, you say?" The princess asked. "Yes, your highness," I said, "I arrived here when a bright light came out of nowhere and blinded me". "Interesting... very interesting," The princess said, "A lost soul in a world which he does not belong. I do not currently have an idea of how to help you, but I will certainly look for one. You are the first of your kind to set hoof here in Equestria, and I do not wish to give a bad impression". "Your kindness is well received, princess," I said. "Please, call me Celestia," The princess said, "It is good that you are humble, but you do not have to refer to me by title". Ok... royalty asking to be called by their name instead of their title? What kind of a world am I in? "Also, until I am able to find a solution to your problem, you are welcome to stay here at the castle," Celestia said. There's something you don't hear every day. "While that offer is very generous, I actually wish to stay with my friend here down in uh... Ponyville, I believe it's called," I said. "If that is what you wish, then you stay with her," Celestia said, "However, until enough trust can be built up with my little ponies, I ask that you not leave her house unless she is with you. More so for your safety, of course". "I can agree to that," I said. "And one more thing as well to help you," Celestia said, "With your permission, I would like to shrink you down to more manageable size. It will help during your stay, and will be reversed before you go home". "I can't really say no to that," I said, It'll be nice to not hit my head on the ceiling when I stand up for once". Without saying anything else, Celestia's horn lit up like a light bulb, and I soon felt my body tingling. The room started to get bigger as I shrank. It didn't hurt, but God if it didn't tickle like hell. Once the process was done, I was having to look up at Celestia, and I didn't have to look down at any of the other ponies. "I do ask that you at least stay till night when my sister will be awake," Celestia said, "I would very much like you to meet her". Ok, so I found out just how powerful the princesses are. They move the sun and the moon for God's sake... no wonder they're intimidating. I just got done watching at the night princess, Luna, put on the most spectacular light how a she set the stars in the sky and raised the moon. She was a little curious about me, but everything was explained to her by Celestia shortly after we met. We had said nothing to each other as of yet, but that would change now. "That was the most impressive thing I have ever seen," I said. "Well, thank you," Luna said, "It is not often I receive such complements". "It's hard to imagine others do not wish to complement you on your work very often," I said, "You're quite the artist". "Now you just wish to embarrass me," Luna said. "Not at all," I lied. She may be an all powerful god pony, but Luna's actually kind of cute when she blushes. "Well then," Luna said, shaking off her blush, "Why not tell me more about yourself?". "What do you want to know?" I asked. "Well, let's start with the most interesting topic," Luna said, "What are your hobbies?". "I don't suppose you would know what video games are, would you?" I inquire. "No, I do not," Luna said. "They're a really entertaining, if not expensive, form of media," I explained, "All they are, are a bunch if lights on a screen that you control, but they're really fun... and great stress relievers". "Are there genres of these games?" Luna asked. "Quite a few," I said, "Anything from simulations to first person shooters... you name it". "First person shooters?" Luna asked. "Do you know what war is, by any chance?" I asked. "All too well, I'm afraid," Luna admitted. "Well, first person shooters are war sims," I explained. "You certainly have... an interesting culture," Luna said. "Yes... well, there's to me than that," I said. "Anything else... violent?" Luna asked. "The most peaceful hobby I have is flying," I said, "I was actually taking a nice flight when I arrived here". "Where are your wings?" Crystal asked. "I don't have any," I said, "I'm what's known as a pilot. I fly these things called planes". "I see," Crystal said. "However, when I arrived here, I was blinded," I said, "As a result, I ended up crashing. The plane I was flying will never touch the sky again, sadly". "Where is the crash site?" Luna asked, "Night time is not really busy, and I'd love to see this plane of yours". "It's going to take a good bit to get back to it, as I have no wings with which to fly myself," I said. "Then climb on," Luna said as she laid down. "You want to carry me there?" I asked. "It'll be much faster, and I am sure I can hold your weight," Luna said. "Follow me, Princess," Crystal said, "I'll take you right to it".
AirborneAs soon as we'd landed, Crystal excused herself to go home and sleep. Luna and I stayed behind at my crash site so she could get a good look at it and I could answer any questions she'd undoubtedly have. After showing her the exterior, I opened the cockpit to show her the inside. The whole thing confused her to no end. "What is this for?" or "What does this thing do?" were the most common questions. Overall, I'd say my presentation of a Cessna 172 Skyhawk was pretty good, considering the state of the poor bird. "So, you said this thing needs something called a runway to get into the air, correct?" Luna asked. "Yes, and this Cessna needs about one thousand, six hundred and thirty feet minimum to take off," I explained. "Any particular direction it should face?" Luna asked. "As long as it's flat and straight, the runway can face any direction," I explained, "Why do you ask?". Luna didn't answer, but instead lit up her horn. I was really confused at this point... what was she doing? It was then that I saw a blue strip race across the ground... she was making a magic runway. I don't really know why she'd take the time, though, I'd never get my crashed Cessna into the air again. As soon as the magic runway finished, Luna used her magic to clear away some trees that would impede takeoff. I really don't know why she did all this. "With all due respect, Princess, that's just wasted time and effort," I said, "With my plane in it's current state, it'll never move... forget about getting airborne". That's when she really surprised me. The next spell she cast was on my plane. It was obvious she wanted to fix it, but I didn't think she could. She didn't know what kind of engine it used, how it should look... she had no idea what she was doing. I let her try though... not like it'd hurt anything. If anything, it actually worked. Magic is awesome. I was no longer looking at a destroyed Cessna, but one that looked fresh from the factory. She also shrank it so I could actually pilot it properly. "How did you do that?" I asked. "I used an advanced repair spell," Luna said, "It can return anything that is broken back to its original state. You could give me a crumpled up ball of something, and this spell would turn it back into its original form and make it look brand new". "If only we had that ability in my world," I said, "Just one last problem". "And that is?" Luna asked. "Fuel," I said, "Without fuel, this might as well be a nice metal statue". "And where is this fuel kept?" Luna asked. "In the wings," I said. "Then let us get some water in those wings," Luna said. "Water doesn't work as fuel," I said, confused. "When touched by magic, water can power almost anything," Luna said, "It'll be a little taxing, but worth it in the end". "If this actually works, I'll owe you big time," I said. "Simply think of it as a gift," Luna said, "No repayment needed". I went to get enough water to fill the wings. I was still skeptical about the whole thing, but I was willing to give it a shot. If Luna could actually get water to fuel my plane, I'd love her forever. How many of you can say you've kissed royalty? Add me to that list now. I was able to line my plane up with the runway Luna created for me. After doing so, I shut off the engine, got out, walked right over to Luna, and kissed her. Did I mention she's cute when she blushes? "Whatever was that for?" Luna asked. "You fixed my plane, and gave me a runway to use," I said. "So, is this a custom of your world in such cases?" Luna asked. "Not really, no," I said, "I just... to be honest, I don't know what I was thinking". "Well, you are definitely welcome," Luna said, "Though, one question". "Ask away," I said. "Does it really have to be so loud?" Luna asked. "There's no way to fix that," I said, "Unless you can make it mute with magic". "Only on living things," Luna said. "Well, even if you could make it mute, I'd ask that you not," I said, "I kind of like the sound of the engine. It's also an audio cue at certain times". "Well... alright then," Luna said. "And whenever you want to take a flight, just ask," I said, "It's the least I can do". "I still have time left," Luna said. "And I'm too tired to keep us safely airborne," I said, "But, we can take a flight tomorrow night if you want". "That would be wonderful," Luna said. Ponies sure know how to make beds. Being able to finally fit in one, I could notice just how soft it is. But all good things must end, and the new day was soon to accept my presence. As I awoke, I was assaulted with the smell of fresh waffles. After getting out of bed and stretching, I went downstairs into the kitchen to get my breakfast for the day. "So, you able to fly now?" Crystal asked. "Luna fixed my plane, created a runway, and made it so water can act as fuel," I said, "Yea, I can fly now". "Well then, wanna show me how this plane of yours works?" Crystal asked. "I don't see why not," I said. I would have to get used to that request. No doubt there's tons of non-pegasus ponies who would love to fly at least once. Hell, I could probably even open up an aerial tour business. I don't have commercial pilot's license, but should that really matter in Equestria where those laws don't exist? Only thing I need to know is how the money works in this world so I can set a reasonable price. After breakfast, I got all cleaned up and nice... going to need some more clothes, though. Oh well, I'll just go shopping for custom fitted clothes later today. Anyway, I went outside and walked over to my very new looking plane. I opened the cockpit, grabbed my checklist, measuring stick, and filtered fuel beaker. I then began to go about checking everything off so I could safely fly. "So... when are we going up?" Crystal asked. "First, I need to make sure everything on this checklist can be checked off," I said, "Unlike a pegasus, a plane can't just stop in mid-air if something goes wrong". "Well, that's interesting," Crystal said, "How long does it normally take?". "About 5 minutes, give or take," I said. Everything is fine on the outside, everything is fine on the inside, let's get airborne. After strapping myself in, I went through the steps of getting the engine started properly. Crystal was starting to get kind of bored of waiting at this point, but she'd just have to deal with it. The engine was roaring healthily, everything was in perfect order, it was like this plane had never been touched. Magic is awesome. "Ponyville traffic, Cessna November-Seven-Five-Echo-Romeo, departing runway Two-Five, straight out," I said. The radio was incredibly useless, but habits are hard to break. Anyway, I pushed the throttle all the way in, lifted my feet, and did my best to keep on the runway as my Cessna began to speed up. I'm glad Luna was smart enough to give me some space to lift up. I hit the minimum takeoff speed at the very edge of the runway, but that didn't matter this time as my take off was successful... but I would have to ask Luna to extend the runway before I try to take off again. "This is amazing!" Crystal exclaimed as she looked out the window. "I'm glad you like it," I said. The whole flight took close to an hour, but we went all over the place. Equestria looks really nice from the air... though I kind of felt like I was on a slight acid trip with all the bright colors everywhere. Did I mention I also managed to accidently scare the poor pegasi living in Cloudsdale? Yea... oops. Oh well, now it's time to land. "Ponyville traffic, Cessna November-Seven-Five-Echo-Romeo, approaching runway Seven to land," I said "Alright, so we're going to stall just above the runway, and there's going to be a rather loud noise. Just ignore it, it'll be alright". "Whatever you say, you're the one flying this thing after all," Crystal said. At about five feet above the runway, I lifted the nose up, prompting the stall warning to go berserk. She knew it was coming, but poor Crystal was still freaked out by the stall warning. As the front wheel touched down, she could set her heart rate back to normal. I'd have to see if Luna could make a nice little turning area so I could turn my plane around with ease. For now, I'd just have to settle for my current spot on the runway. "That was incredible," Crystal said, "Though, don't be surprised if you're not allowed to visit Cloudsdale after that stunt you pulled there". "Yea... I'll probably hear that later," I said, rubbing the back of my head. First flight in Equestria was a total success. Knowing that, I could now officially think about starting up a flight business. Yea, I might be offered a way to go home, but I might actually turn it down. After only about twenty four hours, life here in Equestria seems to just be so much nicer than what I'm used to from my world. The only real reason I'd probably even think about going back at this point is to be with my human friends, all of whom aren't even local anyway, and family with a way to come back here any time I want. That's a bridge I'll cross when, or if, I ever get to it.
