Old War Memories

by Island_Dancer96

Rating: everyone
Tags: Slice of Life, Human, Alternate Universe, Romance
Length: 988

After returning from World War II relatively unscathed, Riley reflects on the events that have changed his life since the war ended.

Former Wonderbolts Commander and triple ace Riley Samborski, now almost 90 years old, reflects on the many changes he went through since returning from deployment overseas in World War II while watching a sunset with his girlfriend, Applejack.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2015-12-07 07:42:21 UTC

Reflections

The day in Ponyville, Texas ended just like any other day, peaceful and quiet. At Sweet Apple Acres, former Wonderbolts Commander and P-51D Mustang ace Riley Samborski, now 84 years old and walking with a cane walked over to the wooden swinging porch chair, his legs wobbling. Already sitting on the swinging porch chair, painted a ivory white. was his girlfriend, Applejack, now 85 years old. Even though both were now elderly, their eyes were unmarred, but through the seemingly endless sea of white hair, a few streaks of chocolate brown and blonde hair stuck out on their heads, something that Riley was thankful for.

Applejack was watching the sunset herself when she heard the front porch floorboards creaking. She turned to see Riley walking towards the swinging chair, relying on his cane to walk. The old war veteran smiled when she looked and smiled at him. After a few minutes of wobbly walking, Riley got to the porch swing. He used the wood steps that were put under the porch swing to get on. Applejack put her arm around Riley's shoulder and rested her head on it, and that made him smile.

Applejack's sister, Applebloom, now 72 years old her husband Adam, who was now 68 years old, their children Katherine and Samuel, who were past their young adult years, and the other members of the Apple Family were the only members left, including Riley, Applejack, Applebloom, and her husband. Just like Applejack and Riley, on her hair, there were a few streaks of cherry red on her white hair, one other thing Riley was thankful for. As Riley watched the sunset, he reflected on the changes he went through over the past six decades. 4 years upon returning from deployment in the European theater of operations in World War II while in the United States Air Force, 826th Fighter Group, Applejack's grandmother, Annie Smith died after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at 108 years old, much to the heartbreak of the entire family including Riley.

The elder Mustang pilot's memories on the farm were still as fresh as the day they were made. "I miss Big Mac." Applejack sniffed, tears streaming down her wrinkled cheeks. "I miss him too, AJ, I miss him too." Riley said, a forlorn look adorning his wrinkled features.  He kissed her cheek and wiped away the tears with his thumb. Applejack smiled and nuzzled her head against Riley's chest and put her left hand hand over his heart, feeling it beat. Riley smiled and stroked Applejack's head, his fingers combing through her hair. Truth be known, Riley missed Big Mac too. After the war, since his girlfriend Kate Moore dumped him, he descended into a deep depression, that to Riley, seemed endless, and things spiraled downhill from there, he descended into alcoholism and became a chronic smoker, which got worse and worse... Riley tried to get him to stop and get help, but he stubbornly refused. He ended up passing away at 79.

The old war veteran chuckled at the memory of the day he first met his great grandchildren, they were quite enthusiastic about meeting him. Truth be known, Riley's P-51D Mustang was as old as he was, and it still had the Wonderbolts paint scheme, the Fighter Group Insignia on the cowling. Riley's mustang's machine guns hadn't fired a single shot since World War II ended, and the fighter plane still had ammunition in the guns. Whenever taking a nap, or sleeping, whenever Riley closed his eyes, the sound of his P-51 Mustang's rolls Royce Merlin engine was still as fresh as it was the day he first heard it. But recently, Riley had gotten too old to fly his plane. He missed flying his old war bird, and flying his Mustang brought back a lot of memories of his time with the Wonderbolts.

Now recently, almost all the Wonderbolt pilots had passed away, but their planes were preserved in flight museums all across the Texas panhandle. Riley, Misty, Rainbow Dash, Fleetfoot, and Spitfire were the only pilots left. Like Riley, Rainbow Dash, Misty, Fleetfoot, and Spitfire still flew in their Mustangs, but also like Riley, they had gotten too old to fly their planes, and they were forced to sell their planes to flight museums in Corpus Christi, Houston, and Galveston, but Rainbow Dash was hesitant to let go of her old war bird, after some long thinking, she ultimately decided to pass on her plane to her great great grandson, Michael Dash on the condition that he didn't modify it and kept the paint scheme exactly the way it was. He was an air show performer, and for to have him meet Riley Samborski, the fighter group's official Commander was an absolute honor. And Michael flew with Riley in Rainbow's Mustang, which was an even bigger honor for him. Riley was set on following suit, and he would hand down his Mustang to his great great grandson on the same conditions

As the sunset turned golden, an idea sprang into Applejack's head. She pulled Riley off the porch swing and started dancing with him. The elderly couple danced on the porch, with Riley humming a tune that only he knew, and Applejack and Riley decided to relive the moment when they had their first kiss on the hill where Riley proposed to her 66 years ago, the rays of the setting sun illuminating their skin in a warm rosy glow, and their white hair with the streaks of chocolate brown and blonde shined like gold in the golden sunlight. The memory of their first kiss came flooding back to Riley, and it was still fresh, even after almost 70 years. "I love her, so much." Riley said to himself as he looked into Applejack's eyes and as Applejack looked into his. That was one memory that Riley Samborski wasn't going to be forgetting any time soon.