Pilot Purgatory AKA: Grounded
Mission: AirShow
"Wing 6 pull Up!!"
"Wing Six, do you copy? Over."
"PULL UP PULL UP!!"
Pull up.
Pull up.
"Wing Six Do you read me!"
"WING SIX!!"
"BAIL OUT WING SIX!!"
"EJECT EJECT!!"
Speed.
Light.
Noise.
Silence.
Flashing Lights.
Sirens.
Darkness.
"It is with a Heavy heart, that today we honour the Death of Demonstration Pilot Alan B. Edwards, who died in the line of duty, doing what he loved. " The voice pronounced over the Speakers, "it is in times like these, that we must remember that we are only human. We aren't immortal, and death spares no man. As Pilots we test fate every day, every time we climb into our aircraft, we know what challenges and risks come with it. It is believed by the Investigation Team that Pilot Edwards, call sign: Wing Six, had entered G-LOC after a minor malfunction with the Engines aboard his F-18. This thrust increase is believed to have not been caused by the pilot. A similar Malfunction brought his Aircraft into a dive with a malfunction on the Control Surface of the aircraft's horizontal stabilizers. It is believed that both Malfunctions are linked to a Mysterious Discharge of energy around the aircraft. We are led to believe that it was a severe Lighting strike. The Report concludes that Pilot Edwards could not have recovered from this Malfunction safely without ejecting. We can't not sufficiently conclude why the pilot failed to eject besides G-LOC. We as a Team mourn the loss of a Fellow Pilot, Comrade, and friend. Our prayers go to Captain Edwards family. He... He will be missed."
The Team Commander paused. She looked up to the sky, wishing she had been up there, Instead of him. She wished she could be flying right now... Above, up there with the clouds, where all this... all these troubles and sadness was behind her.
"Thank you for your time, Until further notice, The Blue Angel Demonstration team is currently on Stand down, until we feel our pilots are ready to be back up there. Thank you, again." The Commander stepped away from the Podium, and the Funeral procession for the downed pilot Marched on. She choked on tears, swallowing her emotions, she remained stoic, but pain read across her face.
Worry not. Your Pilot is safe, And he will be happy. Worry about the rest of your team, and their safety.
She looked around, No one else on the stand had spoke. They had no room for words. She looked to the sky, the sun had started shining down through the grouping of clouds.
The only thing you can do now, is Stay safe.
By the time the Twenty One gun Salute began to sound off, she for some odd reason felt... Comforted... She felt Good, resolved even.
She didn't know why, but the energy around the crew felt... positive.
Why can't I eject? Why didn't I eject? Why was it me? I could've pulled the ejection cord... I could've reached it, my fingers were right on it. Why couldn't I just pull?
"Piiiiiiiiiilot... Oh Piiiiiiiiiilot... Wake up."
Alan shot forward clutching to his chest a Burning feeling with an icy tingle spreading through it. His breath heavy and quick, he felt something in his throat, but he couldn't cough it up. Alan reclined into his chair his cough dying down. He took in his settings. He was still in his Flight suit, and was sitting in his ejection seat. The room was white, set up almost like an interviewing office, but not a speck of colour besides white. In front of him sat a White desk with a Glass of Chocolate milk on it.
"Well, Its about time you woke up captain."
Alan's eyes shot back to the desk, where someone now sat.
"Before you say a single word: Yes, you're dead, Yes, We cleaned and Pressed your flight suit, Yes, that is your ejection seat. No. You cannot have my Chocolate milk, Its mine dammit."
Alan took in who was sitting across the table from him. In a white Jacket sat the one and only Amelia Earhart, She held his flight helmet in her hands.
"Back in my day, we didn't have half of these fancy do-hickeys. Do you even fly the plane anymore?"
"Uh..." Alan was Awestruck.
"Nevertheless... Do you know why you're here flyboy?"
"... Because I'm dead...?"
"Partially. You are here, because you're not quite done yet. You are a good pilot, and you are needed. However, Universal Law Number 938756363654.3774 states that we can't force you to do anything like this without you agreeing first. So, how about it fly boy, ready to get back into the saddle? Quite literally this time."
"You... Is this where Amelia Earhart's been?"
"Focus Flyboy."
"Sorry"
"Its fine. You're being reassigned to a younger world, Much like yours. You will still be a pilot there, but you won't be able to mention anything that transpired here, or in your past life captain. Do you accept?"
Alan stood up, "I I can't, I have no idea what I'm walking into right here! I'm dead... Why am I here!"
"Well, you're Grounded currently... as, you are in fact dead. But the Land of Equestria has a bit of a... Exchange program so to speak, where we trade pilots and other valuable ponies after they've passed away. We've had this "program" for hundreds of years now. We are asking if you are interested in keeping your wings Captain Edwards, Nothing more, nothing le--"
"Wait, did you say "ponies", "
"Did I stutter?" Amelia said, Drinking back her chocolate milk.
"No, but..."
"Then Shut up fly boy, and answer my questions. Your options right now, are either to: Decline and fade away, or Accept and fly again. One will be painless, while the other, will be painful, but you'll get to fly again. You'll be reincarnated as a Pegasus Pony, and Serve with the Equestrian Air Force's Wonder Bolts, to help bring Light, and freedom to them. Do you accept?"
"... Well, Yes."
Amelia Smiled, "Thats why we chose you Fly-boy. Now, Sign right here, and give us a couple of minutes to finalize your paperwork. Oh, yes... One last thing... I am, or rather, was Amelia Earhart, and I did sit in that exact chair. I too accepted the offer. The problem is, is that in this realm, I can choose whichever form I please. Would you like to see what's in store for you?", She gestured to her empty glass of chocolate milk that refilled itself. Alan nodded, unsure of what to expect.
In a blinding flash of light, the lady standing in front of Alan transformed into a Small Brown Horse that had a red mane, with wings, wearing a white Leather jacket and Aviators scarf.
"For you, it won't be quite as easy... Or painless. I'm going to go finalize that paper work, And I'll be back, Mmkay fly boy?"
Before Alan could respond, the door had already closed.
"Well... Too late now I guess."
Outside of the "Interrogation room" as the Universal Earth-Equestria Program workers called it, The Hallways were still white, but less blinding of a white. Earhart let out a silent Whiny of excitement, it wasn't very often that she got pilots, which was what she was there for, and it was even rarer did they'd accept. But according to the Director, something untold was brewing in the future, and they may be seeing more "applicants" in the near future. She started to Head to the Director of Realm's office. Which was Princess Luna. Earhart had had the pleasure of meeting and being recruited by her many years ago, after she went "missing" on earth. As she approached the office, she quickly rasped the door with a quick knock.
In a pause no more then a second or two, she reflected on herself. On her way over she had passed Humans and Ponies alike. They were all employed here to help transition and find "applicants". A second chance for a greater good, as she had been told. Earhart's job wasn't always easy, She often met Pilots downed in war, who wanted nothing but to go home. Even though it wasn't an option. A question she had when she first got here, was where was the "Realm". It was in-between this universe and Earths, Time and Space had no bounds here, but only God-like individuals could enter. But only two horse ones knew of this realm.
When she wasn't working here, she was living a simple life on Equis, She and a few other "Applicants" lived together out in the middle of no where. Quick commute to work, common Earth Amenities that they had been used to. A interesting thing she learned, was that she could only talk about her past life with other "applicants". She was still the same soul, just a different body.
Before her thoughts could develop more, the door opened with a Blue aura.
"Princess Luna, I think I have one for you!" Earhart said, Trotting up to her with the files under her wing.
"Well Miss Earhart, what about it?"
"Well uh... He's the one you and your sister have been looking for..."
Luna stopped. "Which room is he in?"
"Room A, Ma'am. He's waiting right now."
"It would be bad of us to let him wait longer, would it not Miss Earhart?" Luna rose from her desk, quickly walking to the door. And with that, the duo left, out to go and greet the new applicant.
As Alan sat in the office, he felt a burning sensation over his heart. Looking over, he noticed his Wings were set ablaze. Alan quickly tried to slap it out to no avail. In the heat of the moment, (quite literally) he didn't notice them not burn anything else. Standing up, he began to try to take off the flight suit, but that didn't corral this hell-bent fire. As it began to singe Alan's chest, he let out a pained shout. Before he knew it, The fire had stopped. Alan looked down to where his Golden Naval Aviator wings had once been, to find a A golden Shield with wings scorched onto his chest. He noticed that unlike a tattoo, it wasn't on the skin, but more so... In it. He could feel energy radiating out from his left breast.
The door swung open with a bit of unintentional force.
"It has already begun, Earhart, please gather me his information so I can find him when I wake" Luna spoke, Not daring to remove her eyes from the spectacle in front of her.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME!?" Alan screamed. He could feel something... Something changing within him.
"I did nothing to you captain. You accepted the Contract not only Verbally, but in your heart as well. Signing it something much stronger then any pen. What will follow will be painful, but, I can only numb the pain so much in this realm I'm afraid. But, when you awake, you'll be someone new. A fresh face, a Fresh body..." Luna attempted to comfort him, but Alan pushed her away.
"What is going to happen!?!" He said, as something made a large cracking noise.
"The best part" Luna smirked. "Although, before you wake, I must warn you, my world has a lack of Aerial Vehicles that you are used to, but you shall get a kick out of what we have planned, I've experienced both, and I prefer this one much more. You are one of many, A blue Angel, yes? The time has come for you to put that "angel" part of your title to use, Captain. I'll see you when you wake up."
Alan tried to protest, but he felt something grow on his back, and his bones and muscles shift. He looked up to the Horse in front of him, before a blue cloud touched his face and he fell into darkness.
Later on, back on Equestria...
"You could be less harsh in the future princess... Remember, he's not going to be willing to help us if we break him now..." The orb spoke to her.
"I acknowledge your disapproval of my tacts Amelia, but I believe that if we put him under pressure now, he'll be a better suited for his job role. He has to... I can only predict so much, but this cloud of darkness over our land grows every day. He will understand when we explain it to him... For now, he must rest, gain his strength. I would like for you to begin looking for other Candidates for the program. He is the first of several, Who shall help keep our world in balance." Luna pronounced, pacing around her quarters as the moon began to sink below the horizon.
As luna paused, she realized how much her hooves echoed throughout the room.
"I can get that arranged next work day Luna. But I must object to the taking of such High-level and renown pilots... My people are smart, but only a few are aware of this program... Just like in Equestria. Only those who need to, know of its existence. Hell, it's only you and your sister who are aware of the program in this government." Amelia argued
"I am aware of this. But would would you propose? Neither of our planets can just straight come off about the truth like this, and a slow leak takes too much time. Secrecy is the only medium we have to work in for now." Luna countered. She sat on the balcony outside of her quarters, watching the last few minutes of her moon. "Tell me, have you sent the Captain down to Equestria yet?"
"Not yet Ma'am, if you'd like, I can send him now. Same Retrieval plan? It seems the system is getting worse with depositing them in their proper places." Amelia asked. She trotted down an old dirt road, her Orb following in tow as she spoke.
"Try and Triangulate if possible please. I'd hate to have another "Robin Williams" Incident. That took days to clean up. Please send him when ready." Luna silently reflected on the incident. Only a few years ago it had been. He had something very valuable to Equestria, Laughter. On his normal days, he works in a Stand Up comedy booth in Manehattan, But his nights, he works in Realm, helping search for candidates for the program.
"I still can't believe he caused that much Chaos without summoning Discord..." There was a short pause "The package has been sent, Alert the retrieval team."
Luna looked up to the sky, watching a certain small star, where a particular blue planet orbited. Only she knew of this stars direct coordinates, and it would take astronomers forever to see it. The star flashed. She felt the magic of her world concentrate on one general area, and then fade.
"Thank you Amelia... You are relieved of duty for the time being." With a short series of goodbyes, the connection ended.
Luna looked up to that small star. She smiled, but it was hollow. She hated this program, but understood neither society could survive without helping the other. A dangerously perfect Symbiosis. She had taken a Man from his family, from all he knew, all he loved. But she knew it wasn't all her blame. The universe selects Applicants, it's selection seemed random, but had never failed to help both societies. She and her program can only look for Candidates, People and Ponies who would be good for the other world. They keep tabs on these individuals, and try and offer them a second chance.
She knew the other way this man would die. She didn't like that option, and hopefully, if he was effective here, others of his kind wouldn't have to suffer.
Energy is a fickle thing.
Dark and Light.
Both require a balance.
But there's times where one is bigger, more lethal.
Uncontrollable even.
The universe tries to stop this from happening, but can't always.
But Darkness requires a shadow to grow.
And this shadow grows only stronger...