The Storm

John yawned, stretched, and rubbed his eyes. He swung his feet over to the side of the bed, and groggily walked downstairs.

Twilight was sorting books with her magic. When she saw John, she paused and said, “Good morning! I thought you might come down here, if you’re quick, you might catch the tea while it’s still warm.”

John perked up visibly at the mention of tea. He walked over to a table where a kettle and teacup and saucer were sitting. He immediately poured the tea, and sipped. It was lukewarm, but still acceptable. He tasted a strong hint of tart punch, but with the consistency of apple juice, and he was very satisfied. He swore he could feel his body getting more energy by the sip.

“That’s Zap Apple tea, if you’re wondering,” said Twilight.  “Very good for restoring energy and waking up. It also just tastes pretty good in the morning.”

“Really? It’s good, better than most tea I’ve had,” said John. “I could do with some bangers and mash, though.”

Twilight opened her mouth to inquire what ‘bangers and mash’ were, but, suddenly, there was a knock at the door. “Who is it?” she yelled.

“Ya know very well who it is,” replied Applejack’s voice.

John got up, walked over to the door and opened it. “Morning,” he said in the most casual, nonchalant voice possible.

“Mornin’,” said Applejack, who apparently didn’t realize who she was talking to and ignored him. “Now Twilight, have you seen Blue? I thought I…” Then, Applejack spun around, a mix of surprise and touch of fright on her face.

John smiled politely and waved at Applejack.

“Oh mah stars…” said Applejack quietly.

“Don’t be alarmed. Applejack, this is Blue. Well… not as a pegasus anyway. He’s a… Human, right?” said Twilight, looking at John for confirmation.

“Yes miss, one and only,” John.

“Uh, Twi, If Blue Typhoon is his pegasus form, then what’s he called as a Human?” said Applejack.

“I’m Wing Commander John Robert Baldwin, No. 198 Fighter Wing, RAF,” said John.

“R… A… F?” asked Applejack.

“Royal Air Force,” explained John.

“But how do you… fly if you’re in an air force?” said Twilight. “You don’t have wings! At least, not as a human…”

“Just because I don’t have wings, doesn’t mean I can’t fly. Think for a moment, what was the first sign of my arrival?” said John. He already knew Twilight really liked to know about stuff, and she’d interviewed him before, but, come on... she must have some amount common sense somewhere in her head.

“No… do ya mean ya really fly that green and grey contraption?” said Applejack, figuring it out before Twilight could.

“Really; and your description of my plane was very amusing. It just quite doesn’t do it justice, though,” said John.

“Plane? Is that what  you call it? Interesting, perhaps we should have a look at it,” said Twilight.

“I’ll do you one better,” said John. “I’ll give you a demonstration.”

“That I’d like to see,” said Twilight, excited at the prospect.

“Come on, then, let’s move out!” said John. He, Twilight and Applejack exited the library and walked to Sweet Apple Acres. John was out of his mind in delight. He could finally fly again! After walking out to the field where the Typhoon was parked, John ran over to the plane and said, “This (John patted it twice, both pats filled with love and respect) is the Hawker Typhoon. It has a Napier Sabre IIB engine, giving it a top speed of 663 Kilometers an hour. Armament consists of four Hispano MKII 20mm canons, two in each wing, and eight RP-3 air-to-ground rockets.”

“Impressive,” said Twilight. “If I even knew what half that stuff was, anyways…”

“The rockets would be the black arrow like things on the bottom of the wings, and the cannons are like little rods poking out from the wings,” said John, trying to end anymore confusion in terms of weapons.

“This’ll be fun!” John chuckled as he climbed into the cockpit. “Well, for me, anyways. Oh, and, please move out of the way, unless you want to lose a limb…. just saying.” Twilight and Applejack backed away as John yelled, “CLEAR!”

PRT PRT PRT PRT PRT PRT PRT… VRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

The Napier Sabre IIB engine started up and the Hawker Typhoon was ready to fly. It slowly rolled down the field, gaining speed as it went. As the plane went faster and faster, it started to lift up off of the ground and soon took off into the air, the landing gear folding into the black and white 'invasion stripes'.

As he flew, he could see Twilight and Applejack look at the plane as it soared around. He circled around Sweet Apple Acres twice, and then flew over Ponyville. John could see the ponies look up at the plane, and he was trying to imagine what they were thinking. After flying over Ponyville, he turned and flew back to Sweet Apple Acres.  He spotted a large stack of hay bales, and decided to give a brief demonstration of of the power of the 20mm Hispano cannons.

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!

In a series of loud bangs and flashes from the plane’s wings, the hay bales were decimated by a seemingly invisible force.

“Whoa!” said Twilight.

“Gosh darn it! Ah spent two hours stackin’ that!” yelled Applejack.

The Hawker Typhoon made one circle around the farm and the landing gear popped out from the black-and-white ‘invasion stripes’. The Typhoon landed in the field and slowed to a stop a few feet in front of the ponies.  John climbed out and said, “So? What do you think?”

The two equines were speechless. The craft was completely artificial, but it had flown just as good as any pegasus, except Rainbow Dash.  But even Rainbow couldn’t destroy objects like John’s plane did. They could only stare in a amazement.

“Well, I suppose you’re too wowed to answer,” said John.

Meanwhile…

The desert sun’s rays beat upon Gerhart and Karl mercilessly, who were already debating which one had to go back to the oasis to get water. Karl suddenly reached into the pocket of his pants and pulled out a shiny 5-Reichsmark Coin.  The pressed face of Paul von Hindenburg seemed to glare and stare back at him as if to say, “Sie nicht nur herumsitzen und sieh mich an. Ich bin praktisch nutzlos! Was wirst du tun, erhalten Sie Ihre Kartenspiel aus, starten Sie ein Pokerspiel, und verwenden Sie mich als Mittel? (Don’t just sit around and look at me. I’m virtually useless! What are you gonna do, get a pack of cards out, start a game of poker, and use me as funds?)”

Karl turned to Gretel and said, “Gretel?”

“Ja? (Yes?)” said Gretel.

“Hier habe ich eine Reichsmark. Wer Seite landet nach oben hat, um Wasser zu bekommen.

(Here, I have a Reichsmark. Whoever’s side lands face up has to get water.)” said Karl.

“Warum muss man immer drehen, um alles zu lösen? (Why do you always flip to solve everything?)” mumbled Gerhart.

“Was? (What?)” said Karl. He just shook his head and tossed the coin. He caught it, and quickly slapped it against his arm.

“Nun? (Well?)” said Gerhart.

“Es sieht aus wie Sie, um durch die Wüste ... Pech gehabt zu Fuß! (It looks like you get to walk through the desert... tough luck!)” said Karl with a grin that clearly indicated pleasure.

“Glückspilz… (Lucky bastard…)” mumbled Gerhart. He got up and grabbed the Drilling and both canteens, (which were sitting on his lap) and started back to the oasis. After crossing a few dunes, he began singing Wenn Die Soldaten, serenading the dunes as if they were a crowd. “Wenn die Soldaten, Durch die Stadt marschieren, Öffnen die Mädchen, Die Fenster und die Türen. Ei warum? Ei darum! Ei warum? Ei darum! Ei bloß wegen dem Schingderassa, Bumderassasa! Ei bloß wegen dem Schingderassa, Bumderassasa! (When the soldiers are marching through the town, the girls open the windows and the doors. Hey why? Hey because! Hey why? Hey because! Hey merely because of the ringing of the brass, beating of the drums. Hey merely because of the ringing of the brass, beating of the drums.)

Zweifarben Tücher, Schnauzbart und Sterne, Herzen und küssen, Die Mädchen so gerne. Ei warum? Ei darum! Ei warum? Ei darum! Ei bloß wegen dem Schingderassa, Bumderassasa! Ei bloß wegen dem Schingderassa, Bumderassasa! (Two colored scarfs, Moustache and stars, Hearts and kissing, The girls so gladly. Hey why? Hey because! Hey merely because of the ringing of the brass, beating of the drums. Hey merely because of the ringing of the brass, beating of the drums.)

Eine Flasche Rotwein, Und ein Stückchen Braten, Schenken die Mädchen, Ihren Soldaten. Ei warum? Ei darum! Ei warum? Ei darum! Ei bloß wegen dem Schingderassa, Bumderassasa! Ei bloß wegen dem Schingderassa, Bumderassasa! (A bottle of red wine, and little piece of roast meat, the girls toss to the soldiers. Hey why? Hey because! Hey merely because of the ringing of the brass, beating of the drums. Hey merely because of the ringing of the brass, beating of the drums.)”

Despite walking through the desert, Gerhart couldn’t help himself and he started marching as he sang. Despite multiple attempts to stop himself, he sang as he collected the murky water at the oasis and filled the canteens.

“Is that… singing?” a voice asked from somewhere across the oasis.

Gretel suddenly stopped and became dead silent. He closed the canteens and did a wind sprint to the nearest patch of cover.

He thought everything was fine, until he realized he had set down the Drilling and hadn’t grabbed in his attempt to hide himself! “Ich bin so ein Idiot… (I’m such an idiot…)” thought Gerhart. He mentally facepalmed and banged his head against the palm tree. Like something from a cartoon, a coconut fell from it and hit the ground with and extremely loud and exaggerated THUD. He let loose another quiet profanity, and waved his arms around in short, jerky motions.

“What was that?” the voice asked, much closer.

Gerhart could tell it was feminine, and that whoever was speaking was coming over to investigate.

He heard muffled footsteps and the girl spoke again, “What is this? It’s like a stick… but with metal? What does it do?”

Gerhart had to clap his hand over his mouth so as not to exclaim another profanity as heard the girl mess with the loaded Drilling. Last time he checked, the safety was on, but if she somehow turned it off and pulled the trigger while pointing it in her direction… well, he already knew too well what would happen. Somehow, in his unconscious nervous shuffling, he stepped on a dry palm frond, which made a loud crunching noise. He cursed himself once more as he heard footsteps drawing nearer to his hiding place. Just as a limb reached through the brush, he sprinted out to the Drilling, picked it up, and began sprinting out of the oasis.

“WHAT THE?!?!” he heard the girl’s voice say. Curiosity getting the better of him,  he stopped, whipped his head back and saw… a tan pony with wings, a black mane and tail and magenta eyes?! And also wearing clothes and a sun helmet?! Even weirder, it looked shocked or surprised, as if a ghost had just pinched it on the butt. Knowing that he didn’t have time for wondering if it was real or not, Gerhart turned his head back and ran. He thought he heard a camera flashbulb go off, but he just ignored it and continued sprinting.

Meanwhile…

Daring Do, a tan pegasus with a black mane and tail, wearing an olive green button-up shirt and sun helmet, stood in complete shock. She shook her head and quickly turned to a tall, Saddle-Arabian pony and said, “Did you get a picture of the thing?”

“Yes ma’am, you can’t see much of it, but it’s in the photo,” the Saddle-Arabian pony replied. He handed Daring Do a photo, which, when she inspected it, she could see bit of the creature’s body and it’s helmet it was wearing sticking above a dune.

“This is serious. I need to send a letter to Prince Tresed Al-Hayar immediately,” said Daring Do. She immediately went into her tent, taking the photo with her, and she began composing a letter.

Meanwhile…

John was tired. For most of the morning, he had been busy informing Twilight’s closest friends about his true identity. He didn’t realize how much walking was involved, or the fact that ponies really hated anything that was morally wrong. He wished he could’ve just flown. Needless to say, the first thing he did was going to his bedroom and beginning to nap, like a cat. For about two hours, he only knew of sweet ignorance.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

“John? You awake?” asked Twilight from outside in the hall.

“Yes sir… I mean, Ma’am!” said John as he bolted out of bed. He looked at his flight suit. And boy, was it a mess. it needed to be washed AND ironed. John then decided that perhaps he should try a get a couple more sets of clothes, or at least get his flight suit washed. Because one could only wear the same outfit for certain amount of days, and the flight suit was starting to smell a little.

“Well, I have a letter from Princess Celestia. You might want to have a look,” said Twilight.

John stepped out of his bedroom and followed Twilight downstairs. Right away, he noticed a letter in a fancy cursive font on a piece of parchment. He picked it up and began reading it aloud, “Dear Twilight, thank you for informing me about John. I would like you to inform John that he and you ONLY are to come to the Royal Palace at Canterlot (John grinned and chuckled at apparent or unapparent Camelot pun) tomorrow. Bring the “Hawker Typhoon” that you described as well, a special train is being sent as you read this. It will arrive at 12:30 in the morning. Be ready to leave then, NO EXCEPTIONS. John, if you happen to be reading this, know that we are only curious and wish to know more about you, you need not feel threatened or afraid. However, there is another thing; shortly after this letter was sent, I and Princess Luna recived a letter for Prince Tresed Al-Hayar of Saddle Arabia. In said letter, the prince wrote that one of my ponies had a photo of a mysterious creature that had, according to my subject’s account, walked on two legs, sang a song in a foreign language, wore tan clothing as well as a sun helmet and goggles, collected water into canteens, and ran when it was spotted. It also was carrying strange wood and metal stick, about 4 feet long. Twilight, I think it’s very possible that from your description of John, it could be another human. Currently, I have not sent any response to the prince. I want to know your and John’s opinion about this. It is also very likely you will be going to Saddle Arabia to speak with Prince Tresed Al-Hayar. Be prepared for a very long journey. Yours truly, Princess Celestia.” John was stoked at the prospect of another human in this world. He was very excited and could barely hold it in. He just felt so… alone, and bored here. Sure, there were some things he could do, but it all was just to peachy and happy to make him actually feel comfortable. He flung the parchment and began skipping around the room. “ANOTHER MAN! ANOTHER HUMAN! It’s like a dream, a dream I’ve wanted to come true!” said John, truly happy for the first time since he arrived in Equestria. He went over and nearly crushed Twilight in a hug. He then let go, a bit embarrassed but still happy, and then, ran out of the library. John was so happy he decided he was going to fly a victory lap around the town.

“John… I… JOHN!” said Twilight, desperately trying to get the RAF pilot’s attention. “John, come back! This is serious!”

John ignored her blissfully, loudly singing It’s A Long Way To Tipperary as he ran out of the library and towards his plane, which he had parked closer to the edge of town, “Up to mighty London Came an Irishman one day. As the streets are paved with gold, Sure, everyone was gay, Singing songs of Piccadilly, Strand and Leicester Square, Till Paddy got excited, Then he shouted to them there: It’s a long way to Tipperary, It’s a long way to go! It’s a long way to Tipperary, To the sweetest girl I know! Goodbye, Piccadilly, Farewell, Leicester Square! It’s a long long way to Tipperary, But my heart’s right there! It’s a long way to Tipperary, It’s a long way to go! It’s a long way to Tipperary, To the sweetest girl I know in Tipperary! So it’s goodbye, Piccadilly, Farewell, Leicester Square! It’s a long long way to Tipperary, But my heart’s right there.

Paddy wrote a letter to his Irish Molly-O, Saying, ‘Should you not receive it, Write and let me know!’ ‘If I make mistakes in spelling, Molly, dear,’ said he, ‘Remember, it’s the pen that’s bad, Don’t lay the blame on me!’ It’s a long way to Tipperary, It’s a long way to go! It’s a long way to Tipperary, To the sweetest girl I know in Tipperary! So it’s goodbye, Piccadilly, Farewell, Leicester Square! It’s a long long way to Tipperary, But my heart’s right there! It’s a long way to Tipperary, It’s a long way to go! It’s a long way to Tipperary, To the sweetest girl I know in Tipperary! So it’s goodbye, Piccadilly, Farewell, Leicester Square! It’s a long long way to Tipperary, But my heart’s right there!”

“JOOOOOOOOOOOOOHN!” yelled Twilight.

John, who was still enthralled at the idea that there might be a fellow pilot somewhere else in the crazy world he was stuck in, paid no heed to Twilight’s cries, or anything else for that matter and belted out It’s A Long Way To Tipperary (earning him a variety of odd looks from some ponies) as he ran out of Ponyville and towards his plane, until…