A frown was plastered on Rainbow’s face as she stood in front of the small hangar. The hangar was a decent size, close to both Ponyville and Cloudsdale. There were several sheds housing equipment and planes, and a large control tower stood in the center. The dark blue coated pony who usually occupied the tower was currently at Rainbow’s side. A pegasus with a pair of white wings surrounded by a white circle as a cutie mark, Sky Sailor was the sole Air Traffic Controller of the Explorers Airfield. Sky flicked his tail and watched over Rainbow with a concerned glance.

“Are you sure about this?” he asked, glancing at Rainbow. Rainbow nodded, determination filling her.

“I’m grounded from military duty, I can still fly my own plane if I want to. Not like they revoked my license.” Sky raised an eyebrow.

“You have a license?” he asked dryly. Rainbow gave him a playful punch on the shoulder before pulling open the hangar doors. In front of the two pegasi stood a small, white and blue plane, with the word ‘Sailboat’ in text over the hull. Rainbow smiled contently at seeing her plane. She had acquired it ages ago after a bet with a wealthy pegasus, and had already put it through nearly every stunt conceivable. Usually, a quick flight with her wings was enough for Rainbow to escape her problems and thoughts, but this time was different.

“Well, let me know when you’re ready,” Sky said before leaving the hangar, heading for the tower. Rainbow focused her attention on the plane. Despite owning it, Rainbow knew nearly nothing about the mechanics and engineering behind planes. She let Sky Sailor handle the maintenance and engineering, and he did a fine job. Rainbow pushed over a metal staircase to the cockpit, climbing in. She took a shaky breath as she strapped herself in.

She had made countless flights, but this was the first one since the accident 6 months ago. But she was over that now. It was only her in the cockpit this time, she told herself. Nopony else had their lives on her shoulders. Then why was she shaking?

Rainbow tried to push the lingering doubt out of her mind as she started the engine. She maneuvered the plane to the runway, pulling her headset over her ears. She spoke into the transmitter. “This is Sailboat, ready to copy.”

The radio squawked, and Sky Sailor’s voice cut through. “Roger that, Sailboat. You are cleared to Canterlot, fly runway heading. Climb and maintain 6 thousand feet, departure on 104.3, squawk 8.43.”

“Cleared to Canterlot, fly runway heading up to 6 thousand feet. Departure on 104.3, squawk 8.43, Sailboat,” Rainbow read back.

“Do you want the ATIS?”

“Negative, I checked with the weather team before this.”

“Roger that. Wind speed is 15.4 mph. You’ve got the runway.”

Rainbow closed her eyes and took another breath. This was all standard procedure, albeit more casual than in the Wonderbolts, she told herself. She had done it a thousand times.

“Sailboat, you are cleared for takeoff.” Rainbow acknowledged, and the plane lurched forward. It was simple, routine, easy. Still, Rainbow felt her hooves trembling. She blocked out her thoughts, focusing on the runway in front of her. The plane was picking up speed, and soon Rainbow would have to pull the plane up, leaving the ground. She would be in the air, where she belonged. Simple. Just before Rainbow pulled up, a memory flashed in her mind.

“Mayday! Mayday!” Fleetfoot’s voice suddenly called from somewhere behind her.

“Blue-2! What are you doing?!” Soarin’s voice called from her left.

“Mayday! Mayday!” Rainbow squeezed her eyes shut as Fleetfoot’s haunting voice called again. She instinctively cut the engine, and the plane’s propeller slowed to a stop. The plane crawled to a halt, stopping on the runway.

“Sailboat, everything alright?” came Sky Sailor’s worried voice. Rainbow didn’t respond, slamming her hoof into the plane’s dashboard. After a few shaky breaths, Rainbow wiped the tears from her eyes and picked up the transmitter.

“This is Sailboat. I’m scrubbing.” There was a beat of silence.

“Roger that, Sailboat.”

As Rainbow maneuvered the plane back into the hangar, Sky Sailor entered the hangar doors. Rainbow could practically feel his concerned gaze through the cockpit. With a roll of her eyes, Rainbow wondered what compelled her to tell him all of her problems.

6 Months Ago

Sky Sailor hummed to himself as he squared the papers straight against his desk. Reaching over to the stapler, Sky noticed a flash of movement from one of the hangars. “Probably just a joyrider…” he muttered to himself, noting the time. His frown deepened when he recognized the hangar number. “Dash would never joyride this late… She’s going to kill me if anything happens.”

Sky carefully approached the figure trying to pry open the hangar door, a flashlight in his mouth. “Hold it!” he shouted. The figure turned, and the flashlight in Sky’s mouth illuminated her rainbow mane. “Dash?”

“Who else *hic* would it be?” Rainbow slurred, stumbling over to sling her foreleg around Sky and flashing a wide grin. Sky could smell a particularly strong brand of alcohol on her breath. Sky rolled his eyes and sighed. It was going to be a long night.

Rainbow woke up around noon in the control tower. Sky had wrapped her in a blanket, closed the window, and given her a bucket in anticipation of her hangover. “Should have let me fly the damn plane,” she muttered as she clutched the bucket to her chest. Sky rolled his eyes.

“Like I’d ever allow drunk flying.” He pulled up a chair to the couch where Rainbow lay. “So tell me. What brought you to get so wasted?” Rainbow glared at him.

“Don’t want to talk about it.” Sky rolled his eyes.

“Looks like you do.” Rainbow gave a defeated sigh. Sky knew her too well.

Reluctantly, and against her better judgment, Rainbow recounted the fateful flight that bound her to the ground and Fleetfoot to a hospital bed. As she finished, Sky set down the mug he was carrying. “Wow. That’s… tough.” Rainbow glared at him again.

“You think?” Sky shook his head.

“Look, Rainbow… I get that you’re feeling bad about this, but isn’t it a bit early to start throwing your career away? The Military Police might find you innocent.” Rainbow groaned and sat up.

“Who cares? I’m never going to live this down. I can’t even look any of the other ‘bolts in the eye.” Rainbow threw off the blanket, standing up to leave.

Sky followed her out the door. “Hey, if you ever need anyone to talk to…” Rainbow scoffed.

“Thanks, Sky, but that’s what my friends are for.” With that, Rainbow spread her wings, flying away.

Now

Sky remained silent as Rainbow climbed out of the cockpit. Rainbow did her best to ignore him as she descended the metal staircase. Eventually, he broke the silence.

“No luck?” Rainbow sighed and shook her head. She sat in a folding chair, laying her helmet in her lap. As her pulse slowed and her head cleared, Rainbow was filled with a sudden anger. She stood and hurled her helmet across the room. It hit the wall and rolled to a stop on the floor. Sky stayed silent.

“I can’t… I can’t do it,” Rainbow growled as she buried her head in her hoofs. Sky sighed and laid a hoof on her shoulder.

“Don’t talk to me about it. You have friends for that.” Rainbow cringed. She was hoping he had forgotten about that comment. “Go talk to them, Dash. You’re not going to do any good here.” With another shaky breath, Rainbow nodded and stood. She left the airfield, not daring to look him in the eye.

As she left, Sky sighed and picked up the helmet from the ground, noting the new scratch across the back.

The cell was a dreary metal gray, with a small window on the far side of the wall. Applejack sighed as she lay on the bench, her hat resting on her chest. She didn’t bother looking at the approaching hoof-steps. “I really expected more from you.” Applejack rolled her eyes, turning so she lay facing the wall instead of the cell door. “Applejack. Look at me.”

With a grunt, Applejack turned to see Rarity staring at her. The unicorn was obviously displeased, a fiery look of anger in her eyes. Applejack chose not to meet her gaze and stared at the recruitment posters plastered on the wall behind her.

The first poster was simple, picturing ponies in uniform smiling at the camera, dressed in clean, crisp uniforms. “Enlist now!” The posters were colorful and simple and had attracted dozens of colts and fillies to join the army as soon as they could, without worry or care for the possible consequences.

Applejack was torn from her thoughts when the jail door opened. A Marshall had arrived at some point and pulled the door open. “I paid your bail,” Rarity said before turning and leaving, followed by the Marshall and then Applejack.

The sunlight caused Applejack to squint as she left the jail. Trotting faster, Applejack caught up to Rarity. “Honestly, what on earth were you thinking?” the unicorn snapped, glaring in her direction. Applejack scoffed as she caught up.

“Ah gave them plenty of warnin’.”

“That’s still no excuse. You know they’re bent on taking the farm and redeveloping it into Celestia knows what.” Applejack rolled her eyes. Her hoof was still sore from making contact with Flim’s jaw.

“Rarity, don’ worry about me. ‘Ah know they’re game. If ah even touch a bit, they’ll drop enough interest on me to drive me to three lives worth of debt.”

Rarity huffed. “And you simply gave them more ammunition. Why I heard they’re plotting a lawsuit against you know!” Applejack frowned. She hadn’t thought of that. “Besides, what if I hadn’t paid your bail? What would I tell Apple Bloom? Or Big Mac?”

Applejack gritted her teeth at the name. Rarity noticed this and remembered that her brother was still a sore subject, even after 6 months. “Applejack… I know you still miss him, but what would he say if he were here?”

“Doesn’ matter, cuz he ain’t here,” Applejack spat before turning to the direction of Sweet Apple Acres, Rarity’s concerned gaze following her.

The wail of the train filled the station, ponies walking about in every direction. A yellow earth pony stood at the ticket window, a saddle bag across his back and a brown cowpony hat on his head. The pony on the other side of the window pulled a ticket out, placing it on the counter. “Ticket to Ponyville. Federal agent... so no charge,” he said as he slid it through the window. “Going on pleasure or business?”

“Business, I reckon,” replied the yellow pony. “Sure as hay ain’t pleasure.”

The ticket master chuckled. “Just need your ID, and you’ll be all set.” The yellow pony nodded and pulled a gold badge from his bag. The other pony checked the badge number, scrawled it down, and nodded. “Good luck.”

“Thanks, I’ll need it,” the pony responded before leaving the window. Sitting on a bench, the yellow pony reached into his bag and pulled out a folder with the word ‘Confidential’ stamped on the front in bold red text. Opening it, the pony frowned as he stared at the image of a sky blue pegasus with a rainbow colored mane.

Author's Note

Shout to anyone who recognizes the musician I'm referencing with "Sky Sailor," "Explorer's Airfield," and "Sailboat."