The World War

Chapter 1: The Ponies

"Hey Crash?" another officer shouted as my flight and I sat down on the train, keeping to ourselves as always.

"What do you need Wild Card?" I replied, rolling my eyes at the nickname they had given me when I crashed my third plane while practicing landings.

"I'm surprised you graduated seeing as though you can't land Rainbow Crash!" he yelled laughing, earning more of the officers and even a few enlisted to laugh with him.

"Hey, leave her alone!" Scootaloo yelled back in my defense.

"Okay, Chickaloo!" he chided, making me stand up abruptly and march up into his face.

"No one insults my flight, find your seat!" I yelled, glaring at him as he walked off laughing.

"Don't let him get to you Scoots, they're just as nervous as we are." Fluttershy cooed.

"Some less than others." Lightning Dust added with a glance at the pink haired pilot.

"Lets not get into this again Ace." I said, using her nickname to keep the mood light.

"Yeah, okay Dash." she said, getting the hint that she needed to shut up.

"First Lieutenant Dash!" a voice rang out as a sergeant made his way through the crowded train corridors.

"That's me." I shouted as I wove my left hand to get his attention.

"The Colonel forgot to give you this ma'am." he said as he gave me a quick salute and handed me a folder, before running back to the door to leave the train.

"Whats in it?" Thunderlane asked as he loosened his tie.

I opened the folder and it had detailed orders as to which stop we needed to take and where we were going, along with who we were to speak with once we arrived at the base in which we would become familiar with the new planes and be flown over seas.

1st Lt Dash,

If all goes well you will be leaving the train at 0400hrs tomorrow and walking to the Baltimare Airmy Air Field, I know this is short notice so I suggest you and your flight get some sleep. Once you arrive at the base you will need to speak with Staff Sergeant Flying Scott, he prefers just being called Scott, so that he can get your facilities prepped while you take a look at your planes. You, unlike your collegues, will have two weeks before a B-24 Liberator crew takes the six of you overseas and to your actual planes, the ones in Baltimare are only for training purposes.

Good Luck to you,

Col Windcharger, EAAC

"Just our orders, we should get sleep earlier than the others, since we are getting up at an unfathomable hour." I said with a small frown as I hated getting up any earlier than necessary, but then again this was the last time I would get any real practice before showtime.

"What time would that be?" Ditzy asked as she rose her brow.

"0400hrs." I sighed.

Scootaloo smiled, "You don't sound to thrilled about that." she said as she pulle dout a small deck of Bicycle Playing Cards.

"Well you know me, I like my sleep." I replied.

"So what are we playing?" Thunderlane asked as the train lurched forward.

"Dash wake up!" Scootaloo whispered as the train rolled to a stop at their station.

"Ung, time already?" I replied as the world slowly came into focus.

"Yeah, grab your bag everyone else is already walking out the door!" she replied a little loader than she meant too.

"Thanks kid." I replied as I grabbed my duffle bag and charged out of the stall with her right behind me.

As soon as we stepped off the train the whistle blew and the locomotive was tearing out of the station. With a sigh I quickened my pace and caught up to my flight with Scoots to my rear. No one said a word as we made our way to the front of the station, it was almost pitch black outside and the streets were quiet.

"This is Baltimare right?" Lightning Dust asked as she looked around.

"Yeah, this is the place." Derpy replied.

Looking around with my sleepy eyes I spotted a single army truck with a sergeant who was napping at the wheel. When I knocked on his window he practically jumped out of his seat as his eyes grew as wide as headlights.

"Hey sarge!" I said, thus getting his attention.

"Ma'am, I am supposed to be waiting for Angel Flight!" he replied, still looking startled.

"That's us, are you okay to drive?" I asked since he looked as if he had just had a panic attack.

"Yes ma'am, that is why I was sent." he replied as he turned the engine over.

I looked back and nodded to my flight before tossing my duff in the back and climbing in, my actions were followed by each of my pilots. Once we were all seated I knocked on his window and he began to drive towards what I assumed was the base and not a ditch, though part of me wondered if we were safe with him driving.

"So, you ready to see these new ponies?" Scootaloo asked as she bounced her legs to keep herself awake.

"I'm more interested in the inside of my eyelids right now Scoots." I replied, earning a couple nods of agreement from bothe Lightning Dust and Thunderlane.

C'mon Dash, they're Mustangs, don't tell me you don't want to fly one as soon as possible?" she asked.

"Flying tired is worse than flying drunk Scootaloo." Derpy stated, to which I gave a nod as I stifled a yawn.

"Fine, I'll wait to fly it tomorrow." Scoots replied with a fat lip.

I stifled a laugh before smiling, "Hey, at least we don't have to kill ourselves now that we are out of training."

"Yeah, now we are part of the regular officers!" Lightning shouted.

"And how should officers behave?" Derpy chided, getting both of us to calm down.

"Yeah, your right Ditzy, I suppose we are all just a little tired." I said before elbowing Thunderlane in the arm.

"What?" he asked.

"You are overly quiet?" I asked.

"Nothing really that I want to say." he replied.

Even though it didn't feel as if it had taken that long, we arrived at the Army Air Field shortly afterwords. Getting out of the truck with my duff on my back I could see the sun peaking over the horizon, which meant I wasn't going to get to sleep anytime soon.

"Okay, I got you all here in one piece ma'am." the sergeant said as he got out of the truck and yawned.

"Good work, now return to your normal activities, and talk to your superior officer about getting some rest." I replied as I returned the salute he gave me.

"Are you Lieutenant Dash?" a gruff voice said from behind me.

"Yes, who's asking?" I turned around to be greeted by a lone Staff Sergeant.

"My name is Scott, I was told that you would be arriving today to get settled in and see the planes we have here for you." he said as he saluted me.

"Thank you, though I think we are to tired to safely fly today, it would still be nice to get familiar with the systems in the new planes." I replied, returning his salute.

"Fine by me, the planes are yours to fly on your call." he said as he silently began to walk towards what looked like barracks.

Without another word said we started after him toward what would be our new home for three weeks before we were to be sent off to Braytain for our deployment.

"This is the officers barracks." he said as he stopped in front of the two minuet building that was closest to the runway.

"Thanks, any particular area you want us to set up in?" I asked as the others walked inside.

"So long as you stay in the same row I'm happy ma'am." he replied, to which I gave him a smile and a nod before heading inside myself.

"This place is nice, almost like the one back at boot." Thunderlane commented as he set his bag down next to a bunk in the very back.

"Yeah, but here we don't have to worry about our lives being run by a push up crazy drill sergeant." Lightning replied as she set her bags down next to his and claimed the top bunk.

Fluttershy set up her bunk under Scootaloo, while Derpy claimed the lower bunk of the bed I chose. Hearing a cough behind me I turned around to see a fellow First Lieutenant standing there with another second lieutenant.

"Hello, my names is Big Blue, and this is my co-pilot Silver Wing, welcome to the Officers Barracks." he said as he held out his hand.

"Hey, my names Rainbow Dash, this is Ditzy Doo, Fluttershy, Scootaloo, Thunderlane, and Lightning Dust." I replied as I shook his hand.

"You are the fighter pilots that we are supposed to take over?" he asked while his co-pilot merely yawned and gave a small wave.

"Yeah, do you know where everyone else is?" I asked.

"They will be arriving after we leave in three weeks, so you have the base to yourselves for a bit." Silver Wing replied for his commanding officer.

"Ah, so when is breakfast?" Derpy asked, her left eye scanning the ceiling while her right looked at the two pilots.

"Are her eyes supposed to do that?" Blue asked as he raised a brow.

"Nothing abnormal for Derpy sir." Scootaloo responded with a small smile.

"Breakfast starts in an hour, need help unpacking?" Silver answered her, as Blue was still questioning if she should fly, let alone walk.

"Thanks, also is there a rule about when we sleep, we woke up at 0400hrs this morning?" I asked as Blue helped me hang up my spare spare uniform.

"You can go to sleep right after dinner tonight if you want, otherwise they keep us to a tight schedule." he replied as he tucked my duff away.

"Thanks, and why are we putting that away?" I eyed him oddly.

"You will only need a few uniforms out, your going to be packing this bag sooner than  you know it." he stated, flashing me a smile.

"Okay, so where is the mess?" I asked as I turned to find that everyone was ready to go.

"Just follow us, we'll get you there." he said as he walked away.

We walked out right behind them and Scott gave a salute, which both myself and Blue returned before we all started walking toward the mess. I turned around to find my flight staring off to our left and followed their gaze, over there sitting out on the ramp were six P-51B Mustangs glistening silver in the morning sun.

"LT, would you mind if we stopped by the ponies?" Scootaloo asked, to which I had no problem as breakfast didn't start for thirty or so minuets.

"First time seeing a Mustang?" Blue asked.

"Yeah, they finished our training in Kittyhawks, that's why they sent us here, so we could get used to the new planes." I replied as we walked up to the majestic planes.

"I think I'll name mine Angry Hen!" Scootaloo stated, naming it after her own nickname.

"You really want to stick with that?" Lightning asked as she examined the planes 30mm hispano guns.

"Yeah, whats yours gonna be called?" the shorter orange winged pilot asked.

"I think Ace up my Sleeve will do fine." she replied, a wicked grin crossing her face.

"Um, I like Hopping Mad." Fluttershy spoke out, to which most of us cracked a smile before looking at Thunderlane for his idea for his plane.

"Thunder's Pride?" he asked as if he needed approval.

"That sounds good, what about you Derpy?" I asked the blond pilot.

"The Battle Muffin!" she stated as she crossed her arms, "What about yours?"

"Needs to be 20% Cooler." I said with a smile, to which everyone laughed.