"BEEP, BEEP, BEEP!" Thwack. Damn that alarm. I hate waking up early, but my Father would have my hide if I was late. I swore I would do my best, and make him proud; And Celestia be damned if I won't do just that. Getting up, I walk over to the bathroom. The lights automatically illuminate the room in a soft white, and the smart glass wall activates, showing my reflection; my bright green bed head, gold groggy eyes, and blue-purple ragged coat. I showered last night so instead I go straight to brushing my teeth and mane.

A noise from my bedside table disturbs my brushing. Walking over, I see my mom on the ID. Pressing the green Icon, I answer, and a tiny hologram of my mom's head appears over the comm.

"Yes, mom?"

"Oh good, my little mare is awake." She said with a hint of humor in her voice. "Your father wants to speak to you before you head to the airfield sweetie. In the meantime, I've had breakfast prepared. Come down soon, before it gets cold." she explains.

"Of course, mom. I'll be there. See you in a bit." I said with a smile, before disconnecting the call. Going back into the bathroom, I finish up my brushing, and proceed to put on my attire. I'm no fan of the choker style collars, but it's not my call. With my fancy shirt all buttoned, I throw on my coat, and my hoof boots. Just as I'm about to leave, one of the maids, a Pegasus, steps in.

"Oh! Your Ladyship! I apologize. I didn't see you there!" She stammers, with a quick bow.

"It's alright Dusty. No harm, no foul. And please, you know my name. You know I hate that titles rot." I smile. Once she stands back up, she has a sheepish smile.

"Sorry, Mi- I mean, Nova. I was actually just doing my rounds in the routine house cleaning. But she is waiting for you in the dining hall. I would suggest making haste. Lady Stellar can be patient, but that only goes so far." Dusty says, calmly explaining.

"Thanks Dusty. See ya around." I smile as I leave her to her work. The walk down to the dining hall was relatively quiet, with the occasional 'Good morning ma'am' from the staff. I gave each one a bow of my head and a simple 'Good morning'. The morning light shone in through the windows, illuminating the hallways and stairwell as I descended in a soft orange light. I decide to stop and look out, parting the curtains.

This planet is... beautiful. I don't know why the Bluebloods had such a hard time here. Looking out, I see the two stars that this planet orbits; a binary star system. The holo-books describe them as a pair of main sequence stars. One, a high gravity Red Dwarf, and the other, an Orange Dwarf. Looking further up, I see the rings that surround this planet. This world, our world, is named Beryl. Not very creative if you ask me, but I didn't discover this planet. Much like Equis, it's covered in ocean. Probably about 85% is ocean, where Equis is 75%, with two large continents. This is more like one continent, with an archipelago surrounding it.

Continuing on my way, a wonderful scent hits my nose. Elder flower pancakes. I may be a mare now, but I can't get over my foalhood addiction to those. Sitting down at my seat, next to my mom, she finishes pouring a glass of mango juice.

"Good morning sweetie." She chirps happily. "Glad to see you up at a reasonable hour again."

"I would hardly call dawn 'reasonable', but I am trying to change." I said as I pour some syrup on my pancakes. As I slice off a piece, my mom continues.

"Glad to hear it. I know you hate my lectures on how we are to be better than the other Noble houses originally from Canterlot. Sparkle and Fancy families notwithstanding." she explains. "And those other four are who?" She challenges. Swallowing my pancake, I answer.

"The Novellus, The Upper Crust, The Gilded, and the Bluebloods." I admit, I may have added a hint of venom in those names. They were notorious for all kinds of problems not just in Canterlot, but all of Equestria. Everything from sky high taxes, to fraud scams, and even some small wars. Celestia and Luna tried their best, now even Twilight is having trouble keeping them in line. I don't know how but those names seemed to sour my pancakes.

"Good. Ever since we ponies took to the stars, they've become an even bigger pain in the flank. Not just for us, but for everyone. Anyway, neither here nor there. So, finish your breakfast and go see your father. He's out at the tide pools." Looking down, I was about halfway through my pancakes. So I continued to eat, in relative peace.

~~~~***~~~~

I may be a mare, but I love those pancakes. I really wish the house keepers would let me see that recipe. I walked outside, headed for my father. The ocean blew in a cool breeze, making my coat sway away from me, and messing up my swept back mane. The tide pools we an easy twenty minute trot away, and before long, I saw my father, Stellar Wing poking his grey hoof gently at local sea life. His Ocean blue eyes focused on the small fish, his long golden mane draped over his face.

"You wanted to see me father?" I ask as calmly as I could.

"Ah, my dear Nova. I was beginning to wonder if you had even woken up on time." He chuckled. I don't know how, but dad's smile could reassure even the most pessimistic doom-sayers. "I know your growing up hon. I also hear you've been clocking up time in the Ornithopter sim. Think you're ready?"

"I'll do my best dad." I said with a smile. His hoof gently meets my chin, and from there, I swear his ruby eyes stared right through me.

"You have doubts." He says plainly. "Tell me what troubles you."

"I... I'm afraid of failing you... That... that I wont be the mare you want me to be." I have no idea how dad does that... "I... what if I'm not?" a small smile graced his face.

"You were always the mare I wanted you to be. Walk with me." he states, turning towards the beach. Of course I follow him without a second thought. "What brings these doubts out?"

"Well... Until we came here, to Beryl, I... was... barely better than an Upper Crust. I barely passed school, flaunted my bits like a foal with a new toy..." I honestly could have gone on for hours describing myself.

"And what made you want to change?" My father asks gently.

"I... went to a party, thrown by one of the Bluebloods." I started, remembering back those years. "I had fun... at first. Until Duke Midas Blueblood brought out some... I don't know what, but everypony began to put it in their drinks, on their food, or even snort it." I felt a cold chill go up my back, despite my coat. "I didn't want to partake, but... the duke blew some in my face... and... I... had a bad trip" Not quite a lie, but not true either. "It was after that when I told you I wanted in the guard."

"And instead I whipped you into shape myself?"

"With mom's help of course." I add playfully. that got a chuckle out of him.

"Yes, with your mother's help. What I'm saying is, if you had chosen to be a guard, you'd probably be relegated to guarding those very ponies... And we both know you wouldn't want that." Father explained, calmly. "Now, as per you failing me; You've never failed me, and you were always what I've always wanted most." He said as he held me in a hug. "Now, Show me how my daughter flies!" he laughed as he took of galloping towards the sky port. With a laugh, I followed quickly after.

~~~~***~~~~

Our gallop turned into a simple canter not to far away from the beach. The sounds of ponies trotting in formation up and down the runway, reminds me of Equis. I find myself getting a little homesick, honestly.

"I gotta go get in my flight suit, father." I say breaking off towards the barracks.

"Of course. Be on your way." He says back. I didn't need to see the smile on his face. I quickly made my way to my locker, and placed my formal uniform inside. The jumpsuit was a little awkward to put on and wear, but with practice it got easier. Before too long, I had it on, my helmet on my head, with the flight visor flipped up so I could see without too much obstruction.

"Ready?" My father asked.

"Yessir. Ready for flight." I say with a salute.

"Then lets find your bird."

"031249, AKA, Wyvern." I say as I spot it right out. Stepping up the rear ramp of the dragonfly shaped Ornithopter, I see my survival pack already strapped into place. I then go about making sure everything is in working order. From the wings, to the fuel level, all the way down to the temperature and consistency of the oil.

"NOVA! GET YOUR TAIL OUT HERE!" Oh bugger... my commander... quickly dropping what I was doing, I dash out the back and greet her with a stiff salute.

"Yes Ma'am?" She casually passes me a manilla folder.

"Your orders. Your to fly several miles out to sea in a routine patrol route. You should be back by the end of the day, and you'll be in constant contact. Nothing to worry about kid." She briefed. Her face, stern. But only for a moment. "First real flight. You nervous?" She asks with a smile.

"Only a little, ma'am." I answer with a light blush.

"I'd have called you a liar if you said no. Now get on the bird. You have a patrol to fly. I assume you ran maintenance check?"

"Yes ma'am. All set and ready to fly." I salute, before turning and entering the cockpit. Flipping my visor down, and starting the ornithopter, I see the grey of the metal become vibrant as the micro-cameras on the outside display on the inside(like our adaptive camo). I also see the heads up display light up the visor. Everything is displayed, from my fuel level, to oil temp, it even recognizes me as the pilot, displaying my name and rank. 'Lance Corporal Nova Dust'. "Tower this is Wyvern, ready for liftoff." I say into the comm in the helmet. I standby for the reply that comes almost instantly later. Looking down out the cockpit, I see another pony, a Pegsus waving his wings in the code telling me to start the wings.

Flipping the switches, I hear the gentle mechanical movements of the six wings begin to unfold, and slowly start to flap up and down. Reminding myself that they are supposed to move out of sync with each other, I take a breath to calm myself. They begin to move faster and faster until the become a constant buzzing noise.

"This is Tower, Wyvern. Your clear for liftoff." I hear my father's voice on the comm. I can also hear a hint of pride in there.

"Tower, this is Wyvern, lifting off." I say as I move the control yoke. I feel the 'thopter slowly lift as the weight is taken away from the landing skids. Flipping two more switches, the rear cockpit entry closes, and the landing skids fold up to the underside of the fuselage.

"Fly steady Wyvern. Tower Out." I hear for the last time. Turning the ornithopter to my designated heading of 241, I take off to the south. Looking up I see clear weather as far as the eye can see, and the jungle of the mainland beneath quickly moving past. Reaching to my left, I tap a few times on a holoscreen, and my personal playlist starts playing. starting with some classic Songbird Serenade, from my granmare's time. It's dated and old stuff now, but it's still catchy.

Before too long I'm flying over the marine layer than lines the coast. Off in the distance, I see the archipelago's edge. Our geographic study finds that half of them were formed by volcanic activity, and some of the larger islands might still be active, where the others were more tectonic. The Bluebloods who were here before, didn't find any evidence of native intelligence. I've personally been of the opinion that they didn't tell the crown everything, or what they were really doing, but that's neither here nor there.

My flight became pretty dull after the first hour. Sure, I would take pictures every now and then when I saw something particularly beautiful, but beyond that, it was near unending blue in every direction. Looking higher up, Beryl's rings shone in the twin stars light. It truly was beautiful here. Truly, if the Bluebloods hadn't been here, it could be said this place was untouched by pony hooves. Again though, neither here nor there.

~~~~***~~~~

"This is Wyvern, routine comms check?" This would be my third check-in on this flight. we do this routinely on patrols.

"Copy that, Wyvern. Status?" I heard from my earpiece.

"All clear, no troubles." I respond, calmly. Strangely though, I hear static.

"Hold zzzzt, Wy-zzzzzt"

"Say again command? I did not copy that."

"zzzt Wy-zzzzt. Zzzzt you co-zzzt"

"Command? I do not copy!"

"Zzzzt-Vern! Storm inco-zzzzt! Zzzzzzt Out of there!"

Just then, my console readouts begin flaring to life. A massive storm had just... appeared around me. Be it divine, or just dumb luck I was in the eye. Looking out of the cockpit, what used to be endless blue with little puffs of white had become eerily dark grey, slowly swirling to my left. Flashes of lightning began to line the walls of the storm. Well... shoot... turning to my navigational computer, I run a course projection for the safest and fastest way out of the storm.

The data returns as a left, but is having trouble detecting landmasses... Double shoot... Comms down, strange storm appearing around me, only sign of land is a small coastal inlet, and my compass is now out of whack!

I'm shaken out of my near panic into total panic as a massive bolt of lightning strikes my 'thopter. Now my left wings are refusing to function, and its really thrown my electrical system out of whack. The left side of my cockpit screen is fried, with dark grey where the electricity fried the camera feeds, looking almost exactly like electrical arcs.

"Okay, okay Nova. Don't panic, uh... Ah!" I swear I'm trying to reassure myself! Locking the right wings in place, rather than buzz wildly out of control in a downward spiral into the sea, I have turned my ornithopter into a six winged glider, and aim for the island. Hopefully the lightning didn't fry the emergency beacon.

The rain is beginning to pound on my bird, and the wind is doing it's best to put me in the drink, but I dont let it stop me. I'm wrestling with all my power(and being an earth pony that's alot) with the stick. I begin watching as the small islet I was aiming for, slowly grows into a dark silhouette of a large island with a single large mountain near the middle. Well... this is going to get interesting. Looking down to my altimeter, I'm loosing altitude fast. I quickly face right and pull a stiff lever. My approach feels like it's slowing down... Good. That means my air brakes still work.

Those trees are getting awful close... I try to aim for the beach, but another draft of wind ends up blowing me off course and 'WHACK!' My ornithopter suddenly jerked hard left as my left wings collided with a tree, shearing them right off. Now my cockpit is facing the dirt and I'm in free fall.

"Ah Horse-apples..." Was all I could say before suddenly blacking out, and loosing consciousness.

Author's Note

Well lemme know what ya think. I know I have other fics I need to finish but hopefully this can help get those creative thoughts flowing. Writer's block is such a pain.