Suddenly, alarms began to blare within the bunker, and the displays started to shift.

"Uh, what's happening?" I asked.

"Sounds as though there's new information being fed into the system," dad explained. "I got used to this happening during my time in the forces."

I nodded, and glanced down at the table to see if something interesting was happening. And it sure was.

"Sir! We have an update from Recon Flight 7. The flagship of Chris Chan has been spotted moving at sublight speed, direction South South East over earth pony territory!"

"Understood, updating system now." The map began to shimmer, and suddenly a huge object appeared on the map. It was large and saucer shaped, and it was moving very, very slowly.

"Estimate speed?"

"Speed estimate based on readings is 20 knots, sir. Currently proceeding alongside an invasion force."

"Calculate estimated stop point."

"Underway." Some more whirring and clicking of machines, and another screen updated with an estimated stop point. "Current projected destination is coastline, a few miles off Maretime Bay. Energy weapon detected, probably Class 9."

"Ponish, for the benefit of the non-military ponies."

"Powerful enough to cut through to the planet's core."

I think my heart skipped a beat when I heard him say 'Maretime Bay'. It looked as though Chris was going for the knockout punch and targeting those I kn-

Wait. Maretime Bay?

WHERE THE CRYSTALS ARE?!

This was really, really bad. Chris' plan no doubt was to destroy the crystals, thereby eliminating our best shot of stopping him, and then he would destroy the world!

"We have to get troops there, fast!" I said.

The General looked up. "Pardon, Ma'am?" he said. Ma'am is the correct address after first using Your Royal Highness, as he had earlier in the conversation.

"The earth ponies have something valuable which I believe could turn the tide of the war," I explained. "It includes the crystal that used to be in mom's- sorry, the Queen's- crown, and Chris is moving to destroy it to ensure we can't stop him. Do we have anything in the area?"

The General looked at his information. "We can scramble paratroopers there in about half an hour, but the fastest way to get anything there is to send fighter jets and have them perform area denial as best they can."

I nodded. "I volunteer to go with them."

"What?" dad said. "Zephyrina, you cannot be serious!"

Seems dad also did the whole 'calling me Zephyrina when surprised or annoyed' thing as well. Oh well. "I know it's risky. But the ponies Chris is threatening are my friends. An attack on one of us is an attack on us all, and seeing as he poses the greatest threat to our world since... well, forever, I think the least I can do is help undo the mess I made."

Dad looked touched by those words. "That's very noble of you, Zipp," he said. "Your mother did a superb job of raising you in my absence. General, can my fighter be prepared and scrambled?"

"Sending the orders now."

Dad looked to me. "I'd best be contacting my squadron mates. This'll be like the skirmish over Oberlon Heights!"

A short time later, we were at the airport, and several fighter aircraft were lined up on the runway, preparing to take off. Their engines hummed and they waited in line, preparing for the go order from the tower.

I was in one of them, and truth be told the heavy helmet, flight suit, and breathing mask weren't as heavy as last time. Clearly the aid of use when it comes to clothes also applies to military equipment. I checked through the final switches and displays and ensured all was good to go.

"Goldhawk Squadron, this is Tower. Sound off, over?"

"Goldhawk Leader, ready for takeoff."

"Goldhawk 2, five by five."

"Goldhawk 3, prepped and ready."

"Goldhawk 4, engines spooled, suited and booted."

"Goldhawk 5, engines primed."

That just left me. I breathed in and spoke into the microphone. "Goldhawk 6, ready for takeoff."

"All Goldhawk callsigns, confirmed prepared for takeoff. You have permission to elephant walk, launch vectors to follow."

"Thank you, tower out." Dad's voice came in over the radio again. "Now for the fun part!"

Suddenly, the engines of the other planes cycled up to full power, and before I knew what was going on the other aircraft were surging down the runway.

I had to keep up, so I punched the engine lever forward and brought the throttle up to full power. Within seconds I was barrelling down the runway at incredible speed. Good thing ours is on a cliff, huh?

"V1."

This was it. The moment of no return. We had to take off now or crash.

"Rotate!"

I pulled back on the stick, and alongside the other planes started to climb into the sky. The wheels had left the ground, and suddenly I was in the sky as the ground peeled away.

Once more, I was flying, just as the pegasi of old had once been able to do. I would be lying if I said it didn't feel amazing to be up in the sky once more, and now that we can fly again I intend to be in the air as much as I can.

Anyway, the radio cut in. "Goldhawk Squadron, form up on me, Dagger formation. Set course for Maretime Bay."

"Yes sir!" said several voices.

I followed their aircraft into position, and we were soon whizzing towards Maretime Bay over the Equestria I hadn't really explored. Vast amounts of empty land peeled away beneath us, and the odd settlement was passed coupled with some military action. Ponykind was really holding its own against our extradimensional enemies.

"Maretime Bay is 35 miles, mark."

35 miles? Wow, time flies. As I glanced down from the cockpit I could have sworn I saw Izzy at some point, but that was probably just my mind playing tricks on me. She wouldn't be able to gallop that fast, would she?

"Contact! We've been bounced!"

Dad came on the radio again. "Shit, I feared this would happen. Break formation- freestyle combat!"

In a perfectly synchronised move, the fighters all suddenly broke formation and started to peel off, each going and chasing their own target. It was like watching dancers split off for the coreography, and would have been thrilling to watch were it not for the fighters chewing up our six.

One had formed up behind me, and was lining up the shot. Well, not today. I pulled back on the throttle, hit the speed brakes, and pulled up. My jet flipped over his and landed behind him before I secured a lock tone. I then hit the fire button, and the missile was launched, crashing into the other fighter and blowing it to pieces.

As the wreckage rained down, I climbed again.

"Your first kill! Nice!"

As we continued to duel in the air, we continued to drift closer to Maretime Bay. It was then dad had an idea. "Follow me into the canyon! We'll have an advantage down there!"

We dived into the canyon, knowing it popped out somewhere near Maretime Bay. I flew down it as fast as I could, dodging weapons fire and missiles being fired at us.

"Drop flares if you have to!"

We continued to fly down the canyon at blistering speed, having to navigate very carefully to ensure we didn't crash. As I'm still alive and telling you the story, you can tell we did not crash, but it was still nerve wracking all the same.

As we whizzed along, the canyon continued to get narrower and narrower. We were trying to fly as well as we could, but even our skills were being tested by this one.

Eventually, it got too narrow. "Goldhawk Squadron, climb out of the canyon!"

We all pulled up to clear the canyon walls, and were soon in the skies-

-joined by a cacophany of lock tones.

"SAMs! Evade! EVADE!"

What followed was several seconds of rolling and dropping flares to keep the missiles of our backs. I can't tell you much of what I did as I was acting entirely on instinct, but I can tell you it was pretty damn scary.

Unfortunately, my luck also ran out around this point- as did my flares.

"Shit! I'm out of flares!"

Suddenly, there was a huge explosion near my aircraft, and I could see smoke trailing from the rear. Not to mention an entire section of the wing looked like it was about to come off.

I reached down and pulled a lever, which blew the cockpit canopy off. I then pulled on the ejector seat handle.

Nothing happened.

Aware I was in a rapidly collapsing aircraft, I undid the straps holding me in and jumped, dropping until I was clear of the wreckage and then opening my wings to glide.

I landed a short distance outside Maretime Bay, and once I had dumped my uniform and helmet I began to follow the sounds of battle. At least the lighthouse still stood, so that was promising.

Author's Note

As you can probably tell from the ending, I am a Top Gun fan.