Journey To A New Home

"I guess I should introduce myself. I am Princess Luna, ruler of the night and caretaker of the Dreamscape."

This place has magic, human-like beings named after an animal that can harness said magic for various tasks, the weather is controlled by said beings, and now I'm meeting a member of a royal family who can supposedly converse with people... and ponies in their dreams. Go figure.

"As much as I'd like to say that I'm pleased to meet you, the sheer fact that we're in my head is just a little bit disconcerting." She turned to give me a genuinely surprised look.

"One cannot peer into the dreams of others back where you come from?"

"Lady, the closest we have to that kind of thing involves a lot of science and guesswork. We can't see dreams, but we can detect if someone is in fact dreaming. It's a step in that direction, I think." She sighs and turns her attention back onto the F-15.

"It's a wonderful craft, is it not? The speed it can achieve and the agility it possesses would certainly put some of our best fliers out of business." She gives off a few chuckles as she pauses. "I can only assume what Rainbow Dash would think if she ever had the chance to see this in action." I've gotten over the shock of realising that I'm in a dream, and that she's in my dream, and have moved to a state of frustration and anger.

"Look, enough with the admiration of my jet, can we get back on the topic of being inside my fucking head?" I look at the jet, and with a small flash it vanishes, leaving the 'princess' visibly disappointed. "Sorry, but priorities, okay?"

"Right, I'm sorry. I should have realised that being from a land with no known dream-walking capability, that performing such an act on you would have less than desirable effects." She offers a weak smile at me. "Shall we start anew?"

"If you feel that's necessary, then go ahead." I cross my arms, my frustration clearly evident through my stance and my voice. She just nods her head and snaps her fingers. Instantly the space around us lights up and is filled with various different projections, displayed in such a high quality that I would have sworn I was watching a show on an HDTV. As I watched some of the pictures, I noticed that each of them was from a first-person viewpoint, and that on closer inspection, they were of moments in my life. We were watching my memories. One 'screen' had a memory of my first day on Sand Island, another the day I received my acceptance papers from the OADF. One particularly large screen that was at the forefront of the space was replaying what I saw during my final moments; the air raid over November City. A sniffle drew my attention away from my memory, and I saw Luna standing beside me with a few loose tears in her eyes. The memory froze at the moment I 'impacted' the stadium, and faded away into the darkness.

"It never gets easier watching that particular memory..." She looked at me, and before I could say anything she started to talk once more. "When you had initially passed out, your mind had also started to replay memories and dreams you have had in the past. As a guardian of the Dreamscape, I was surprised to see that somepony was dreaming at that time of the day. I didn't expect to find what I did, but I can only imagine what you were feeling during that time in your life." She sighed again, using her hand to wipe away the tears that were threatening to fall. "When I watch these dreams, I can only gather so much from them. It is much like watching a movie; the emotions and feelings you experience are completely those of the viewer, and not always the same ones shared by the director or writer. I cannot know for sure what you were experiencing fully as you faced what you presumed to be your death."

I shook my head as I finished watching another memory, one of the day where we were assigned to cover the rendezvous of OFS Kestrel, OFS Buzzard and OFS Vulture. I could feel the emotions return to me as I watched the flash of the first burst missile light up the dull skies over the fleet.

"It's not something I'd want to wish upon anyone, that's for sure. Nobody should have to face their mortality until they need to. I woke up that day thinking I was going to go back to sleep in the same bunk at the end of that day. I thought that the flight was going to be simple, with no major issues. Even when the enemy started to attack, I thought that the odds would once again stack in our favour and we would overcome the enemy's advance. I didn't think that maybe..." I left that thought trail off as a new memory started playing, the night we celebrated the sinking of the Scinfaxi submersible aircraft carrier. I watched as myself and Grimm partied hard as I caught a glimpse of Blaze and Nagase standing off to the side, a mild blush on Nagase's face as Blaze kept on talking with a drink in his hand. "Now, I don't know what to think anymore." I looked at Luna. "There are things that I want to know that I can't possibly find out now. I don't know if the others managed to fight off any remnant forces, or if my 'death' affected them so much that they ended up being shot down themselves..."

"I may not have the answers you seek, but I can certainly put you in the right path to finding out." Luna spoke up, placing her hand on my shoulder. "Sleep well, Chopper, for we will be meeting once again very soon..."

I awoke to the aroma of something that smelt like pancakes and orange juice. Opening my eyes confirmed my theory, as I saw Nurse Redheart pushing a tray of food through my door and to my bedside.

"Jeez Red, you keep this up and I might just have to request you for outpatient care." I laughed as I pushed myself up to a sitting position. She shared a laugh as she transferred a tray of food from her trolley to a table that she wheeled to my bedside.

"Sorry Mr Davenport, but I'm afraid that Ponyville Medical doesn't offer house calls." She started to say, her tone filled with the sound of an official. But I saw the glimpse of a smirk before she continued. "Besides, I'm sure you'd much rather the care of someone who doesn't have to empty bedpans or handle hazardous waste for a living." She started to laugh again.

"Red, you sure do know how to let a guy down gently. Don't make me crash land again just to get your attention; F-15s don't go cheap in these parts, I would assume." I chuckled as I started my assault on the delicious-looking breakfast. Redheart looked over my chart again as I started to swallow my first bite.

"I wouldn't go making any plans, you've got the Princesses coming to visit you in half an hour." The piece of pancake I had just consumed decided it wanted to rejoin its brethren on the plate, and so started to force its way back up my throat. After a quick and painful negotiation with it to stay in its place, I gave Redheart a look that could only be deciphered as 'you gotta be shitting me.' "That's right, both Celestia and Luna are coming to meet Ponyville's newest addition. Twilight Sparkle had sent them a letter shortly after she left yesterday, I guess that you've made such the impression that they can't wait to meet you."

Looking back, that half an hour was probably the longest half an hour I've ever had to experience. The flight from Sand Island to the Razgriz Straits in northern Anea felt faster. Shortly after Redheart dropped that bomb onto me, Twilight came in and started running me through basic etiquette in regards to having royalty visit. I swear, she had a checklist that was as long as two of me if I were to stand on myself. She was checking everything was up to standard, and I mean everything: sheets were folded and tucked away, unnecessary equipment stowed into their places, the valves on the IV bags and lines facing the 'right' direction. Now, the attention to detail that Twilight was expressing would have been appropriate if, for example, she was wiring up the fuse and guidance components of a 'Big Blue One-Oh-Nine' with a JDAM kit; I would be worried if she didn't. However, it was a royal visit. I can understand if she wanted to tidy the place up and give me a rundown on the basic 'P's and Q's' of conversing with royalty, but I severely doubt that the princesses are going to mind if one of my socks is a little higher than the other.

Thankfully, I wouldn't have to deal with that much longer. Twilight was In the middle of going through her checklist one last time when the door opened, revealing two new visitors. They were flanked by a group I could clearly identify as guards, though I don't understand why they were dressed in old-style Centrium armour. If anything, it was a clash with the apparent modern-style medical technology they have here. Though, with a different world, maybe they have different ways of doing things. Still, that old bronze armour wasn't going to be stopping any bullets any time soon.

"Princesses!" Twilight exclaimed in surprise, dropping her checklist and running over to.... hug one of the princesses in the doorway. What the hell? I get half an hours worth of how to address royalty and how to act proper around then, all for her to throw all that in my face and embrace said princess in an embrace more suitable for family.

"It is good to see you, Twilight Sparkle. It has been quite some time since we last visited each other." The first princess spoke, her tone very motherly and caring, yet also carrying a sense of authority in it. She was tall, easily six foot three, and had both a horn and wings, much like the princess I met I my dream last night. She was different though, as she was slightly thicker in her build, if I had to put a word to it, it would be maternal. Her fur was also pure white, her dress a shade darker than her fur. The dress fit her form fairly loosely, but also worked to accentuate certain features. My gaze shifted to the second visitor, the princess I knew from my dream, Princess Luna. She wore the same attire that she wore when we first met, though her fur and dress seemed lighter in the daylight. She also looked a little more nervous than she did in my mind, her eyes darting around the room and her hands slightly fidgeting with themselves.

The first princess finished conversing with Twilight and turned her attention to me.

"And you must be Mr Davenport, the new arrival that Twilight has told me much about." She smiled at me as she took a seat on the side of my bed. I looked over at Twilight, who wore a slight blush on her face at this princess's statement. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Princess Celestia, guardian of the day and ruler of Equestria."

"Captain Alvin Davenport, Osean Air Defence Force. Pleasure to meet you ma'am." I decided to fall back on my training in regards to meeting and conversing with heads of state. After Twilight's little break in her own protocol, I figured I might do things my own way as well.

"Twilight told me in great detail about the manner in which you arrived, as well as some of the information you had shared with her in your conversations. I must say I received quite the shock when I heard about your actions prior to your arrival." She wore a slightly saddened expression as she told me this. "I will admit, it raised some alarm when I heard that you were a 'guard of the skies' and that when you arrived you were in the midst of combat, but given everything else that Twilight has told me, I must say that I have no concerns regarding your future here in Equestria."

Celestia's statement triggered a train of thought in my mind. I had been magically transported to another world, and that same magic might be able to send me back. But as far as everyone back in Osea is concerned, I am well and truly dead. I had a lot to return home to, and yet I had nothing to return to either. How would I explain my apparent survival? Hey guys, I actually managed to survive that crash into the stadium: the canopy blew at the last moment and I was able to jump clear of the wreckage before it crashed. Even if I said something like that, I couldn't explain the fact that I am basically unscathed. Nobody could completely heal from something as improbable as jumping clear of a crashing fighter jet.

"I can't begin to understand the amount of stress and pressure that you are experiencing right now, having cheated certain death and finding themselves in a new world. However, I can only make the suggestion that you embrace this second chance that life has seemingly provided you and make the most of it." Celestia gave me a gentle smile. "I can only assume that this happened as some form of recognition for your heroic sacrifice. I wish you the best in your future endeavours, whatever they may be." I pondered over her words as I thought of a response.

"Well, thank you for that ma'am. I'm kind of still processing what's going on, but it's all for the good at the moment. I do have a myriad of questions to ask, but only a few that really stick out as a priority." I looked between the three visitors in my room. "If any of you could answer them, that would alleviate my concerns."

"We'll try our best Chopper." Twilight spoke up from the side.

"Okay then. First off, what did you do with the wreckage of my jet? Secondly, where am I going to stay? Third, is there any possibility of me returning home?" They all looked deep in thought before Twilight looked through some of her notes.

"Well, the salvageable pieces of your jet are being stored at Sweet Apple Acres, nearby where you crashed. A squad of guards are standing watch over it, keeping prying eyes away from it. And I guess you can stay with me at the library, you can stay in the guest room for however long you're here for." Twilight said with a smile. I relaxed a little, knowing that the remnants of my fighter were under secure watch and away from the public. I couldn't imagine the reaction if they got injured after tampering with pieces of the jet they shouldn't tamper with; namely the weapons, countermeasures, radar or engines.

"As for your return," Celestia started, "since we do not know exactly how you came to arrive here, and only the circumstances surrounding your arrival, we cannot say for sure that we could return you. Though, I am puzzled as to why you would want to return there." She gave me a curious look, pondering my third question.

"Well, it's not a matter of if I want to. It's not like I can go back anyway; to everyone who knew me, I'm dead. They saw me crash into the stadium and knew that I couldn't eject. How do I explain surviving something like that?" I let my statement sink in to the others, before I continued. "I just was curious to know if it was possible, that's all."

We spoke for another half an hour, discussing my life back home and other things that Twilight had shared with the princesses through her letter. The two of them, Celestia and Luna, both were not what I was expecting in the manner of leadership and royalty. They were benevolent and showed genuine care and love for their nation, and both truly put the interests of their populace first and foremost. It was almost a complete inversion of the leadership I had been exposed to back in Osea, were the president makes all these promises in the hopes that he gets elected, then proceeds to either not follow through on his promises or do the complete opposite.

Nurse Redheart, and the doctor in charge of my case, paid us a visit and gave me the news that I was ready to be discharged and was only required to avoid heavy strain on my body as I was still recovering from the bruising. Both the princesses and Twilight were pleased to hear this news, and were more than willing to assist me in gathering my things and help me over to the library that would become my residence for the foreseeable future.