The Last Flight

Chapter three

Applejack couldn’t sit still. It had been five hours and the bombers that Dash had led hadn’t come back she stood at hanger seven and scanned the sky for any sign of the Bomber squad. But nothing came she got worried and started pacing. Her friends had to stop her from doing so. Flutter Shy stopped her pacing after it had been going on for about 10 minute`s she two was worried about Dash who might not come home. She held Applejack next to her and spoke softly.

"Don’t worry Applejack she’s going to come home okay." She said Flutter Shy wasn’t good at talking to other ponies in general but when it came to helping them or comforting them she was always on the case.

Applejack responded.

"But what if she doesn’t come home... “She was scared she knew that this war took no prisoners It was ruthless out there on the field. She looked out and saw one bomber come back she hoped out of Flutter Shy’s comforting hold and looked and the bomber returning. It was Damaged badly its engine was smoking and when it hit the tarmac the landing gear gave out and it skidded across the runway. It eventually skidded off to the left and off the runway. It caught fire and Applejack saw the bomber crew get out from were ever they could. She looked at the side of the plane and the painting on it. She saw a skull with guns behind it. It wasn’t Dashs bomber.

The Rescue crews were dispatched Immediately and the rushed to the crashed Bomber. They put out the fire and helped the wounded crew. Only one pony was killed in the crash. The under gunner who was crushed under the heavy weight of the plane. Applejack turned and went back to her friends who also watched anxiously for Dash to return.

It took twenty minutes for the next bomber to come in. It had holes in the side but it still wasn’t Dashs bomber. But this one landed safely. More bombers came in after that but none were Dashs. Applejack was starting to give up.

~~~

Dash awoke to a pain in her side she looked around Spitfire was still flying the plane and Derpy was now refueling the plane with the fuel canisters. She spoke her voice was barely audible.

"S-Spitfire w-what’s going o-on."

Spitfire looked over her eyes widened and she yelled to Derpy.

"Derpy she is awake. Dash everything’s okay all of the escort broke off... except Soarin He still flying next to our plane. But we are almost home okay stay with us a little longer." Derpy had walked over next to Dash and was checking the wound that was now covered from a piece of a leather jacket one of the gunners was wearing. It still bled but a lot slower. Dash was tired. Her eyes were half open and it was difficult to move. She kept thinking about her friends and Applejack. She didn’t want to leave them but if they didn’t get home any faster she wouldn’t make it home. Spitfire picked up the radio and spoke to Soarin.

"Shes awake Soarin. Shes doing okay but I don’t know how long she will last in her current condition."

He spoke he sounded nervous at first then he got anger.

"Well I`m glad she’s okay. But make sure she gets home coltdammit! I’m not going to lose another friend to this war."

Spitfire spoke and looked over to Dash.

"Gotcha she will be just fine okay."

"Okay" She put down the radio and kept flying. Dash looked at the metal cealing for what seemed like hours. It was only about twenty minutes before Spitfire spoke again.

"there’s the airfield you’re going to make it out of this one Dash."

Dash was extremely tired by this time and her strength was fading.

Spitfire had lowered the gear but as she did the plane jolted, she looked at the dashboard and a light blinked. The forward gear didn’t go down. She pulled them up and told the under gunner to get out of his ball turret. He did so and came up to the cockpit with the three ponies.

"Brace for impact we are coming in without landing gears hold on every pony." Everypony held onto something as the plane hit the ground. The gunner who stood behind Spitfires Seat had been thrown back, Derpy held onto Dash`s chair, Dash, Spitfire, and the Gunner were held in by their seat belts. The plane skidded to a stop they were the last plane to hit the runway. Dash tried as hard as she could to keep her eyes open, but as Derpy was unbuckling her seatbelt she blacked out. To her the world grew dark and everything went away.

~~~

Applejack sat there as tears rolled down her face. It had been over an hour since rainbow told her she would be home and she had given up she thought they had been shot down. For all she knew Dash was dead. Her heart broke and she collapsed inside. Flutter Shy held her as a few tears fell down her own face. Flutter Shy could manage death. She had lost her animal friends before but this was different this was her best friend. But she never gave up she kept scanning the sky. She noticed something at first it was nothing but it grew bigger and bigger it was a bomber coming in for a landing. She shook Applejack who looked up she pointed to the bomber that was coming in. It had holes in it and blood was splattered on the windshield. A fighter plane had accompanied them the whole way home and was now circling the base. The bomber came in low and the gears went down, but only two were shone from the belly of the plane after that they pulled up. They were crash landing. Applejack looked towards the side of the bomber. It was filled with holes but there painted was Applejack on her side, she saw the words "Hot Plot" Written on the side she jumped up and ran towards runway. The plane landed and sparks flew from under it as it came to a stop more rescue ponies ran from the hangers to assist the bomber crew. Applejack waited for the crew to come out. First was the gunners next it was Derpy who held Dash. She was unconscious; Derpy laid her on the ground. Applejack ran to her side along with her friends who stood behind her.

"D-dash." Applejack didn’t know what to say she was to shocked, worried, and scared to think of anything. If Dash was breathing no one noticed it. A Medical pony came and told Dashs friends to back off that he needed space. All of them backed off except Applejack. The doctor let her stay. Dash was still bleeding. The sight wasn’t pretty and a small pool of blood started forming around Dash. Two ponies put her on a stretcher and took her to the medical section of the base. All her friends followed. They weren’t aloud in the emergency room but they waited outside. It was three A.M. When they could finally see Dash they had waited for six hours to see her, but it was worth it to Applejack. She walked into the white room. Dash was in a bed hooked up to a few pieces of medical Equipment. She was asleep so Applejack waited in the chair next to the bed. Rarity and Flutter Shy had to go home. Flutter Shy had to take care of her animals then she would be right back. Rarity had a clothing line due in a week and had to get started. But all Applejack could do was sit in her chair and think about Dash.

~~~

When Dash awoke it was morning the next day. She looked around her room all her friends where there, except Rarity who was off somewhere for all Dash knew. But when she looked to her right and saw her Marefriend sitting in a chair, she smiled a big bright smile. Applejack was asleep her hoof was holding her head up, and her elbow kept her arm up. Dash thought about what had happened. She was glad to be alive and hoped she would get out of the hospital soon. The doctor came in; Dash asked a few questions about how long she would be there. Two months. Dash looked at her lap Two months. She wouldn’t be able to fly or do anything with her Marefriend for two months. Visits would be happy though and she knew Applejack would visit when she could but two whole months. But she was discharged to heal for a year. That made her extremley happy.

When the doctor left she sat there and looked out the window towards the airfield. She noticed her bomber all the way in hanger seven. It was held up by a crane and Spitfire was working on the landing gear that had failed when they landed. The holes in the side of the plane were clearly visible; a bunch went through the side paint she had worked on for countless hours. She turned back to Applejack who was stirring in her seat. Her arm slipped and with that the rest of her body. A small yelp came from her and she got up. She shook her head and looked at Dash who returned her gaze with a soft smile.

"Hey Applejack. " she said soflty

"Dash! Your awake. I’m so glad you’re okay. I was worried when i saw blood on the windshield. It scared me half to death Sugar cube. Don’t do it again... ever."

Dash laughed softly. "I won’t be for a while. I will fly but not for a year or so. But yea sorry for being late we hit some rough spots."

"Rough spots you took two bullets to your chest. You almost died. I don’t want to see you like this again."

"Dash looked at her lap and sighed." You won’t I promise. Okay I love you Applejack."

"And ah love you Dash. Just please don’t let this happen again."

Dash looked up and smiled at her Marefriend." I won’t okay."

"Okay but I have to go now Sugar cube, Big macs awaiting for me on the farm Love ya I visit soon"

As she ran out the door Dash spoke "I love you too Applejack see you soon."

~~~

After Dash was released she visited all her friends and was glad to see them they visited when they could but it was hard they all had busy lives. She had gone to Applejacks last; she was greeted with a big hug and a happy Applejack.

After that they spent all the time they could together. She got to know Applejacks family a lot better. Applejacks family knew her well enough and when Dash asked to move in they gladly accepted. Dash and Applejack were as happy as can be. Dash worked on the farm when she could. But when the time came around for her to go back she did, and Applejack couldn’t be happier. They had talked about this and they made agreements that they were planning on keeping. Dash`s bomber was fixed by that time and her first mission was two days after she was put back into commission. She kept flying missions and after every one Applejack would be waiting for her when she came home. But two months after she went back to flying sad news came in. Soaring Equestrias Ace had been shot down and was presumed MIA. Spitfire had her week off and when Dash told her she cried for hours. She lost a great friend. Dash was being escorted by him when he was shot down.

That didn’t stop either of them they kept going as a crew and hit every target head on. A month after that Derpy had been hit. Two bullets went through her chest. Dash did what she could to save the mare but Derpy died in her arms. Dash mourned and Applejack helped with it, she too was sad but stayed strong for Dash. Dash wanted to quit after that. She had grown attached to the grey mare she was like her sister. But she was gone. This war was turning on her. She was losing her friends. Four months after Derpy died. Dashs Bomber was shot down and crashed behind enemy lines. Applejack had cried for days. It broke her heart when she learned about Dash being shot down. Dash was presumed MIA.

The war ended a week after that. All the POWs were released and came home on a neutral Transport plane. Applejack watched as she saw many ponies she knew from her town come off. To her amazement two ponies she knew well walked off, Spitfire and Soarin. Neither died but Spitfire had some broken limbs. Applejack looked at the Pegasus. All Spitfire did was shake her head sadly and keep walking. Applejack Had lost Dash, at least thats what Spitfires impression put oppon her. Dash had promised she would come home but, she didn’t come home this time. The next planes came in and more ponies came off when the last plane came in Applejack Started to head home when she heard a pony yell her name. The voice was familiar and she turned and saw a sky blue Pegasus running towards her. She was hit with a big hug. Dash was alive. she couldn’t believe it. To her it was a Miracle, to Dash it was luck. After the war the two lived together happily, they never would leave each other again. They were never seen separated only on rare occasions. But the two loved each other. Dash took Applejack flying in a Bi-plane occasionaly. She had been working on it after the war it was stored in a hanger on Sweet Apple Acers. After the two landed on the airstrip Dash thought to herself. She was going to stop flying planes and stuck to her wings. When the message came in that she had been assigned a new bomber, She flew it only once. It was her last Flight.