Chapter Text

Inside one of the hangars of the Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, two people were silently enjoying some drinks together, now that they were given one of the rare free days they were allowed to have after the hard work they put during the war.

A man and, surprising to some, an Umamusume, one with silver colored short hair that brandished in her right ear an accesory akin to the fangs of a wolf and a black ear cover alongside it. They were exchanging some friendly banter and laughs with a few soft drinks when the friend of the Umamusume laughed.

"HAHAHA! You? One of our trustworthy aces, now deciding to get into the world of running? I thought you weren't interested in that, Steel Fang!"

"You may be right, friend. But. . .after all this time, all this fighting. . .I think I wanna settle down. To ease my aching bones after all those spins and turns inside of this lovely 'Ghostie' of mine, and everything related to that war I want to leave in my past. . .I thought about dedicating myself to something a bit more 'calm'. And it just so happens that with a few contacts I have, I was thinking of retiring to this 'Tracen Academy' and work there. It felt nice to finally acknowledge the Umamusume that I shoved deep inside my heart, and the thought of training some kiddos to follow their dreams reminds me of my days as a training instructor for other novice pilots of the Phantom."

"Huh. . .Y'know what, I'll cheer to that. I wish only the best for you, and I hope that this journey of yours takes you just as far as the steel wings you piloted once!"

"Cheers, partner."

Clink!

". . .Mm, and what about your bird? 'Ghostie' I think I recall you calling it before, right? Will you miss it?"

She felt her lips curl with gloom upon hearing that, slowly turning around to look at the now empty cockpit of her dear Phantom-II.

"Yes. I will sorely miss her. . .but just like I enjoy saying, both good and bad things eventually come to an end."

"Heh."

". . .her. . .?"

"Fangs? You good?"

"Whuh-? What?"

"I was talking to you and you didn't respond to me for a second. Anything passing by yer head?"

". . .No, I'm fine. I don't know what was that, but I'm okay."

"If you say so. . ."

Steel Fangs pondered for a moment what was that strange feeling that washed over her so suddenly.

. . .her gaze couldn't avoid locking on her winged steed while doing so as well. . .

The feeling of an empty can not dropping more sugary ambrosia into her lips brings her back from this second stupor. She crushes it with her hand and discards it on a close by bin. Blinking a few times, she turns once more to her friend.

"Well. . .This moment was nice while it lasted, but I guess this might be a goodbye for now. I have a lot of studying to do, gotta learn the ins and outs of a language after all."

"You don't say. It was nice indeed, Steel Fangs. Maybe once you're settled on that trainer office, overseering a bunch of young kids full of dreams, you can call me again and we can talk about our lives once more, eh?"

"Haha, yeah, any time!"

The two exchange smiles one final time before going on their way.

Leaving behind the F-4 Phantom II in the hangar. All by itself.

. . .

The days began to pass like the ticking sounds of a clock.

Tick. A day gone. Tock. A night passed.

Tick.

Tock.

Tick.

Tock.

. . .

. . .

". . .Pilot? Where are you?"

"I haven't seen the sun in a few days. . .why are you not opening the door?"

. . .

"Pilot, I wanna fly again. . .why won't you come back?"

. . .

"Pilot. . ."

. . .

The child didn't know nor understand the passage of time.

And yet, through the metallic chassis that it was made of, a 'feeling' appeared, a 'sensation' that was alien for it.

Yearning.

It yearned to fly again. To see the face it grew so fond of climb once more into it's cockpit and go through the skies together.

. . .If only this child knew that she would not be coming back. Ever.

"Pilot. . .You-You left. . .your charm. . ."

A bullet attached to a chain to be worn as an accesory around your neck.

Steel Fangs left this bullet behind as a memento of her days working as another cog in the very efficient machine that was the war.

The child 'held tightly' to this charm. It was the last thing it had of its dear Pilot. . .

". . .don't worry, Pilot. I-I'll. . .bring it back safe and sound for you. . ."

"When. . .when we meet again. . .and we fly freely on the sky once again like before. . .I will give it back."

"I. . .promise. . ."

". . ."

"Just come back Pilot. Please."

"I don't like being stuck in the dark. . ."

. . .

The child would not fulfill its promise.

It wouldn't move an inch from it's location without external assistance, and would remain in that static position forever; unable to see, hear, or speak until someone else were to open that door to help the child do all those things once more, or utilize what remained of it for other purposes.

. . .

Unless. . .the child was offered a helping hand. . .

. . .

Don't you feel it as well? This 'child' isn't like other children you've seen before. This one is. . .'different', and it's not made of multiple organs and body parts that are the pieces of a well put together puzzle. It's metallic, cold to the touch, and 'lifeless' from the outside.

And yet, from the inside. . .it feels so, so warm.

". . .I miss when we flew together Pilot. . .I-I enjoyed that a lot. . ."

. . .Do you think this child, taking note of it's abnormalities and irregularities, still deserves a second chance?

"When you said. . .'her'. . .I felt something weird. Is that why you don't come back?"

"I'm sorry Pilot. . .I won't do it again. . .please come back. . ."

Yes, I think so to.

I think this 'child' is just like all the others before her. What they currently look like is of no concern to us.

If they carry the will to dream. . .they are deserving of another chance.

HRHRHRHRSRSRRSSRS

"PILOT?!"

"Forgive me. But I'm not who you call 'Pilot'."

". . .Huh? You. . .you can hear me?"

"Loud and clear."

". . .Who are you? Where's Pilot? I wanna see her again. . ."

"I'm sorry, dear. I'm just a humble mechanic looking to do some maintenance on you."

"Oh. . ."

". . .But. I'll let you in on a little secret. If you work with me and behave, I might be able to help you."

"What?! I-I can see Pilot again?!"

"Mhm. I promise. You know what a promise is, right?"

". . .I-I think. . .I do. . ."

"Okay then. Shall I get started, then? It won't hurt one bit, and if you behave like a good girl, I will help you see your 'Pilot' again."

". . .G-'Good girl'. . .?"

"Something wrong?"

"N-No, I-. . .I just. . .felt. . .warm. . .when I heard that. . ."

". . .Would you like me to call you that while I do my job?"

". . .I don't know. . .But, if you can help me find Pilot. . .then. . .I'll be a. . .g-good girl. . ."

"Wonderful! You're being so brave right now, you know? I'll be done in no time, don't worry. Now, close your eyes."

The child didn't understand what the mechanic meant by 'closing it's eyes', but. . .it tried to do so regardless. It couldn't see to begin with without it's 'Pilot', but it could feel the mechanic walking forward, the sound of their footsteps letting out a 'clack' sound with every step.

The child didn't fully comprehend exactly what kind of "work" the mechanic was going to do or what it entailed, but. . .it also felt calm. It didn't feel like it was in any danger, unlike the many close calls it experienced alongside her Pilot.

. . .The child would do anything for her Pilot. In the sky, or in the ground.

"Okay dear, I'm gonna begin. Remember, stay still and don't move, and you'll be okay."

"O-Okay miss! I promise."

"Good girl."

. . .

The child promised, but it still felt the need to brace out of an involuntary reflex. Such things occur after the sights the child was exposed to long ago. . .

It waited for any kind of strange feeling or reaction to strike it.

But nothing happened. The child 'felt' the same.

. . .some of it's parts felt lighter now however.

Like its parts, that ached for the return of its Pilot and to fly through the skies once more, now felt. . .'happier'.

". . .I feel. . .lighter. . .?"

"That's right. I'm gonna help take some weight off of your shoulders."

"I. . .don't understand. . .but. . .keep going, please."

"I will. Don't worry."

Sometimes the child would pick up on certain noises, like metallic thuds, or something warm drawing shapes on it's chassis.

Slowly, the tension in the child's wing-win-wjo-'joints' faded away.

". . .What is happening. . .?"

"I'll explain soon, dear. I still need to work some more."

"Okay. . .sorry. . ."

"Why are you sorry? You're being very kind, dear. You're doing just as I said, and therefore I can work without any issues."

". . .Okay. . .!"

The child suddenly felt 'confused'.

What was that sudden outburst of energy it felt?

It was like the child was preparing for lift off, readying to cross the skies at high speeds alongside Pilot!

That 'boom' that it felt internally before leaving the ground. . .it started feeling a similar 'boom-boom' in the center of its chassis.

". . .I feel warm."

"This part is gonna be a little tricky, but don't worry, I should be able to do it just fi-"

CRASH

"AHH!!! WHATWASTHAT?!"

Boomboomboomboomboomboomboomboomboomboom-

The child felt that warmth spread through it's entire 'body'. It didn't like how it felt like the sensation was trying to leave straight through its chas-cha-ch-che-'chest'.

It's 'chest' felt like someone was knocking aggresively on it from the inside.

"I'm so sorry! That. . .that was my mistake. My hands slipped and I messed up. . ."

"I-It's okay. . .! I'm. . .I'm. . .okay. . ."

"Ah, what a novice's mistake that was. . .I'm not usually like this. . ."

". . .Don't. . .worry."

The child attempted to extend one of it's wings-wi-a-'arms', and gently placed it on the mechanic's head.

". . .What are you doing?"

"P-Pilot. . .used to do this after every mission. It. . .felt nice."

". . ."

"Thank you, dear. I'm almost done."

. . .

Something was wrong.

There was a new strange sensation plaguing the child's body.

. . .It felt cold.

So cold.

So, so cold. That it went straight through her ch-c-s-sk-'skin'. Deeper into her 'skin' and into her. . .

Her. . .b-b-'bones'?

". . .Miss. . .I feel. . .s-s-scared."

"Shh. . .There there, my dear. I know there's a lot of things you must be feeling. I will explain soon, just the finishing step. . ."

The child grit it's t-t-'teeth'. It clenched it's h-'hands'.

It. . .b-'breathed'?

It 'exhaled'.

"You're doing so well, dear. There you go. . .Keep doing that a few more times!"

. . .'breathed'

. . .'exhaled.'

'breathed.'

'exhaled'.

"Very good. . .Look at you, poor thing. . .You look just like your dear Pilot. . ."

". . ."

"I'm done, dear. You can open your eyes again."

". . .My. . .'eyes'?"

"Try to feel around your body. . .like your 'radar', for instance? That's how you used to see, right? Now you won't need anyone else to help you see."

The child did as told, and started 'feeling' around itself. . .right, it's radar. . .usually someone else had to utilize it to see when piloting the child. . .

But now. . .if the child tried to 'blink', then-

F L A S H

"AH!"

A light suddenly blinded the child.

"It's okay, don't feel afraid! Just 'blink' a few more times!"

Blink. Blink. Blink.

Slowly. . .the child began to get a clear view of it's surroundings.

It wasn't all black or green symbols this time, however. There was. . .so much to see.

So many complicated shapes and bright colours invaded it's eyes. It 'burned' it's 'eyes', but. . .it was too curious to comprehend what was happening.

The first thing that it took notice of was the person in front of it, it's 'eyes' slowly recording and processing the details that made up their face, who was looming over it with a warm expression.

"Hello! Can you hear or see me? Your brain must be handling a lot of stuff right now, so take your time adjusting to your surroundings."

". . .wa. . .i-?"

It stopped 'speaking' for a moment. What was happening to it's 'body'? Everything felt completely alien to it. On top of it's 'cockpit' it felt two strange things flick around every now and again as the person spoke to it, their eyes opening wide when they hear it let out sounds.

"Oh! Those. . .those were your first words! Good job, I'm very proud!"

". . .A. . .Aaa. . .Aaaaaa?"

A strange feeling echoed and vibrated inside it's 'throat'.

"Yes, very good! That, is how you 'speak', dear!"

". . .Hah. . .ha, haha. . .?"

Changes were ocurring to it's 'chest' and 'face'.

It's 'lips' twitched into a 'smile' and it's 'chest' went 'boom-boom' eagerly.

". . .Wy. . .?"

"Are you. . .smiling? Is it perhaps because you feel 'happy'?"

". . .py. . ."

The 'smile' doesn't stop.

"I. . .I'm. . .h-haah. . .py. . ."

The person also smiled.

"Dear, you're doing a wonderful job right now! I'm so proud of you. . .I was initially a little scared of how I was gonna be able to do such a feat. . .But everything went right as I planned, and it was all thanks to you!"

". . .Hahp. . .py. . .!"

"I don't know how much time passed since you started feeling like this. . .but I couldn't avoid wanting to give you another chance like the many that came before you. I'm so sorry for making you wait so long."

The child extended it's 'arm' towards the person and gently placed it's 'hand' on her head.

". . .Happy!"

This action made the person. . .tear up. The child felt a jolt in it's 'chest' and it's 'smile' vanish, had it done a bad thing?

"Oh no! No dear. . .I am happy. I'm just. . .proud of how much effort you're putting right now. I would love to teach you a few things before I follow on my second promise, is that okay?"

". . .Yy-ye-ss."

". . .Wonderful. . ."

And so, the child was taught a lot of things about her body.

Gone was her cockpit, and now in it's place, a 'head' rested, supported by a 'neck'. In the 'head' was all the important parts for 'expressions', as well as two strange pointy parts called 'ears', that flicked around every now and again which she used to receive incoming messages.

Her wings are now 'arms' with 'hands'. . .her landing gear was now 'legs' with 'feet'. . .

And instead of having stabilizers on the back, a 'tail' was wildly moving around. When she tried to grab onto it, it only caused her 'pain'. She 'remembered' to not do that again.

. . .wait-

". . .Hh-er?"

"Yes, my dear. Remember when you felt strange when you were called a 'good girl'?"

"Yyes."

"That is because you're now a girl! Well. . .you always were of course. . .otherwise, I wouldn't be here."

The person softly laughed, and she tried to replicate that motion.

"Hah. Hah. Hah."

"Hahaha. . .I really appreciate the effort you're putting into trying, it goes to show that. . .I should have tried to come sooner. . ."

". . .Paylot."

"Hm?"

"Pi-. . .lot! Pilot! Pilot!"

". . .Right. I promised you that, of course! Are you sure you want to go meet your dear Pilot?"

"Pilot! I. . .wanna, meet Pilot!"

She clenched her hands and shaked them around as she exclaimed at a louder volume.

"Alright, yeah, we can go meet your Pilot. But. . .before that, there's something you need to say when someone does something nice to you."

". . .!"

"And, that is?"

"Th-Thank you! For. . .h-helping me!"

"Good job! That is exactly what you say in this situation! Could you quickly turn around for me?"

She saluted with her right hand, like her Pilot did so many times before, and turned 180 degrees. When she felt a tap on her 'shoulder', she turned once more and found the person holding onto something strange.

"Those metallic rags you have right now simply won't do. Here, this might be better."

They resembled something like what her Pilot used to wear.

"Jacket. . .Shirt. . .Pants. . .Boots. . .?"

The person nodded with a smile. "Correct, and all this is?"

"Clothing!"

"Yes! Now, you need to wear it. Do you need help?"

Her face suddenly turned around to the side and slowly nodded. This was a new 'feeling'. She thought. . .it might be called 'embarrasment'?

"No need to be nervous. Asking for help is completely okay."

The person aided her into 'wearing' all these clothes. As she put on every individual part, she could feel that horrible 'cold' sensation leave her body, and get slowly replaced by the much nicer 'warm'.

"And. . .one last detail that's very important!"

The person shifted through the inside of her jacket and extended her hands to her. In them were two things, one was the bullet that her Pilot left with her, and the other was a small 'card' with letters written on it.

"Hello. My name is

Phantom Hourglass"

"This is your new name, dear. I hope you weren't too attached to 'F-4 Phantom II'. . .this one will be better in the long run."

Looking at this 'name', her 'tail' began aggresively swishing out of her control. Why was it doing that?! It won't stop!

"Ehe, I think someone may understand what it meant."

". . .?"

The person grabbed to the card and slowly attached it to the side of her 'chest', and then the bullet around her neck, as the chain allowed it to hang freely without falling, dangling left and right as Phantom steered in those directions.

"This will be the last thing I aid you with, unfortunately. I spent more than enough time as is, and I sadly can't offer more help. . .Once I bring you to your Pilot, we will say our first. . .and last goodbye. . ."

". . .Goodbye?"

"Yes, Phantom Hourglass. I know you enjoyed my presence, but. . .'all good things must come to an end', no?"

. . .

Her 'tail' stopped moving. Her 'ears' retracted down. Her 'mouth' curved upwards.

". . .I'm sorry, Phantom. I can't stay any longer. But you'll see your Pilot back! Aren't you ha-"

The person is cut off by Phantom Hourglass lunging at them with a hug.

Only after that does Phantom Hourglass realize that she doesn't understand what made her do this without voluntary input. But after the person 'hugs' her back, wrapping her arms around her-

Only 'warmth' remained inside her still confused brain.

". . .I'm so happy to have met you, Phantom Hourglass. You're gonna make a grown woman like me cry, how improper of me. . ."

Letting Phantom go, they cleaned their eyes of tears, softly laughing the sadness away before staring at Phantom with now clear eyes.

"Alright. . .no more distractions. Are you ready?"

". . .yes."

"Good. Close your eyes and hold my hand. You remember how to close them, right?"

She was correct, she still remembers how it felt to 'close' her 'eyes' when they did all that strange work on her. . .

As she gently placed her 'hand' in theirs and her 'eyes' obscured all light from entering them, the sensation of 'wind' rushed through her 'face' and 'hair', briefly reminding her of flying through the sky.

"We are here dear. Open them."

Doing as instructed, this time the reaction isn't as violent as her 'eyes' adapt much quicker, allowing her to instantly 'see' that in front of her was a new location, that being a building with a door in front of her.

Without hesitation, the person placed her finger on the wall close to the door, and a loud ringing noise invaded her 'ears'.

". . .Goodbye Phantom Hourglass. You will soon learn a lot of new things. Some might be strange, others familiar from before. But there's one more thing I ask from you."

The person took a deep breath, her hands placed on her lap, bowing to Phantom.

"Recover every second, minute, hour, and day that you weren't able to spend alongside your 'Pilot', running, or 'flying', as you desire and to your heart's content. Can you promise me that?"

"Y-Yes! I promise!"

"Hm~ Good girl. We three are oh so proud of you, and we won't easily forget just how much you wanted to live."

". . .We three?" Phantom wanted to correct the person, but-

Before she could, they walked away and disappeared into the shadow the building was casting on the ground. Phantom once again experienced an action out of her control, as she took a step forward and extended her 'arm' in the direction of the kind person, before the door in front of her opened.

Her entire 'body' shook and freezed at first, but when she saw who opened the door. . .

"Huh? Who are you? And why are you calling so late in the night?"

When she took a good analysis on her features, her hair, her sharp teeth, her ears. . .

". . .Are you also studying here at Tracen? Are you skipping on your curfew?"

When she saw the fang-shapped accesory on her right ear, with that black ear cover to match. . .

"Hey, if you don't answer to what I'm saying I swear I-"

A chaotic swirl of emotions crashed into her.

"P. . .Pilot?"

And made Phantom uncontrollably cry.

". . .What did you just call me?"

Her 'hands' shaked, she wasn't sure what was going on with her 'body' and why it felt so unresponsive. She tried grabbing onto the 'card' she was given and show it to her Pilot.

"P-Pp-Pilot. . .I-It-It's mmme. . ."

"Girl, I really need you to stop sobbing so much, I can't understand what you're saying! And what's that you're trying to show m-"

"Hello, my name is

Phantom Hourglass"

". . .What?"

"P-PILOT! Phantom! I-I'M. . .Phantom!!!"

". . ."

The woman in front of Phantom was astounded. She didn't know how to react, and her eyes were darting everywhere, checking every single miniscule detail about the Uma standing in front of her. And it's the moment where her eyes manage to finally stop around the neck of that girl and observe a small bullet hanging from a chain, that she lets out a sharp exhale and her eyes start pouring tears as well.

She knew the girl in front of her.

She knew exactly who this stranger is.

". . .in the name of the Three Goddesses. . .'Ghostie', is that you?"

"!!!"

Phantom Hourglass hadn't learned yet to control this new impulse. Because that word was what made her spring onto her Pilot and suddenly sob very loudly in her arms.

"What. . .why. . .HOW are you here, Ghostie?! I. . ."

"PIIIILOOOOOTTTTIMISSEDYOOUUUSHWOOOMUUUUCHBWAAAAAAAHHHHHAAHAAAAAHHHH!!!"

The grip of Pilot's arms around the familiar Umamusume grew slowly tighter with every tear she shed.

"What. . .what kinda miracle happened. . .? Why are you. . .like me? Why are you here. . .?"

She did not obtain a response this time. Her poor 'Ghostie' was completely taken over by the sobbing and crying.

Instead of her, Steel Fangs raised her eyes onto the stars above both of them in search for answers.

"Three Goddesses. . .did you do this? Did you. . .do whatever this is???"

The starry sky did not speak a word.

Steel Fangs inquired once more. "How. . .or why did you do this?! I-. . .I don't understand! Answer me!!!"

Still no answer, no matter how loud her pleas were. Still desperate to receive something vaguely resembling an answer, she pulled who she thought was 'Ghostie' away from her to look at her face once more, her hands pressing onto the tiny shoulders of the girl. One such face completely covered in tears and red like a tomato, with an expression that made Steel Fangs think that she just happened to find a daughter that she had lost a long, long time ago, and that daughter was now breaking down after finally meeting face to face with her mother.

"Ghostie. . .why are you here?"

"I-I. . .sniff. . .I. . .missed you. . .so much. . .Pilot. . ."

". . ."

"Ah-I-I. . .sniff. . .wanna. . .fly again. . .Pilot. . .sniff"

". . .Oh my sweet girl."

Steel Fangs embraced her Phantom once more with all of her vigor.

She is still trying to comprehend the 'why', the 'how', and the 'when' did her beloved Phantom jet plane that she flew during the war has not only turned into an Umamusume with a striking resembleance to her, but was ringing at her doorstep before bursting into tears at the sight of her 'Pilot' too.

She thought that objects couldn't feel.

So how did those tears feel so real to her? Why was she also crying too?

At the very least. . .she knew 'what'. What she was feeling at this present time.

Happy.