I've had this story in the works for little over a year. I'm glad I'm finally getting it together and typed up. Feels be comin'.


"You should totally enter!" A shiny P-51 exclaimed. "It'll be fun!"

"No, Andrew, I ain't enterin' in no race. I'm a war plane, not a racin' plane." A seemingly clone said. He was more withered than the first.

"But, most war planes race and stuff after they retire, don't they?"

"Not me."

"Now you're just being stubborn."

"When ain't I?"

Andrew sighed and strolled up to the sight seeing double. He prodded the elders' side with his wing, forcing eye contact. "C'mon, it'll get you out there! More people will know, there's another Red Tail out there. People need to know." Andrew insisted.

Khalon stared at him, thinking it over. He didn't want to bother with racing, he enjoyed fighting more. But seeing how Andrew loved to fly, and didn't dare make Andrew go on his own, he had to agree.

"Alright, fine. I'll sign up with ya." Khalon sighed. Andrew smiled.

"I bet you'd win." Andrew said in an intriguing manner.

"I doubt it." Khalon scoffed. "Where is this sign up thing then?"

"In Nevada. I heard you fly a little test race to see if you qualify or not."

In no way did Khalon feel like leaving the island at this moment. He was more than happy here. But the pleading look on Andrew's face struck him in a way he just couldn't say no. "Fine. Let's pack up some extra oil just in case." He rolled behind the hangar as Andrew closed the doors. Khalon still wasn't sure if he was even prepared enough for a race. But he figured, if he could handle and survive all he's been through in the past, this, was nothing.

Once in the sky, Andrew practiced some turns and different tricks in the air to prepare himself.

"Yer gonna make yourself dizzy before we even get there." Khalon said.

"You should practice too. You might be a little rough on your tricks." Andrew replied, smiling, hoping he'd push Khalon to do some.

"Me? Rough on my tricks? Nah, you just watch, son. Lemme show ya how it's done."

Andrew smiled with his victory and leveled out so Khalon could preform. Once ready, Khalon pointed his nose up in the air and dove down a little. He did a barrel roll as he dove and before he got too much out of the way, he stopped the roll and flew upside down. He did a clockwise loop until he was back by Andrew.

"Have you ever done a barrel roll around a plane before?" Andrew asked.

"No, why the hell would I?" Khalon joked. "Ain't that a bit dangerous?"

"Not if you know how." Watch!" Andrew moved under Khalon and began. He moved down to give some room between them and barrel rolled to the left. When he got out of range, he stopped the roll and turned right, but pointed his nose up. Then he continued the roll over Khalon, and turned left, but this time pointed his nose downwards and completed the roll as he turned left. He then finished by flying back over to Khalon's side. Khalon laughed.

"That was the dumbest thing I've ever seen." He laughed. "What was that museum teachin' ya?"

"Apparently a lot of crazy stuff like that." Andrew smiled. "Maybe someday it'll come in handy."

"I can't wait for that day." Khalon joked. He looked down and saw land arrive below them. "A little more and we'll stop for fuel. And maybe we can meet up with Ryan to make sure we're good enough for racin'."

"Good enough for me." Andrew responded.

After stopping, getting checked out by Ryan and refueling, the two took off again for Nevada. Khalon could tell Andrew was excited but nervous. Khalon was only nervous. He hadn't flown in front of a crowd before, and now that he was getting judged on his flying, he wasn't so sure of all this. He forced himself to it for Andrew. They finally landed in Nevada at the qualifiers. As they rolled through the tents and planes, Khalon over heard the announcer mention the 'Wings Around the Globe Rally'. He braked suddenly.

"Wait, you never told me this was for the Wings Around the Globe!" he exclaimed.

"What? I didn't know, all I heard was that there was a big race happening soon. But how cool would it be to fly around the world?"

'Big race' wasn't quite the word Khalon was thinking of to describe this race. "You know how much time I got on this engine already? Yer gonna be the death of me."

"But just think, if we do make it in, everyone can see us legendary Red Tails racing. It'll be awesome!"
Khalon couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm.

"Alright, let's go sign up."

The two Mustangs went to sign themselves in and once they were ready, they together rolled past some of the tents that held war birds and famous stunt planes while they waited for the test to start in an hour. At last, the time had come. Andrew was after Khalon on the list. After a yellow plane had gone, Khalon was up to go. He started his engine after it failed once and rolled up to the start line. He was almost about to go when he overheard a plane on the sidelines mutter, 'Grandpa'.

Khalon shot forwards, leaving behind the audience in his exhaust. As he climbed higher, he let out the smoke under his tail, brought in his landing gear, and began. He performed knife edges, turns, and flips. for his last stunt, he climbed up into the sky for a backflip. his engine roared as he flipped over, dived down to the ground, and landed. He calmed his engine as he rolled to a stop.

"You did great!" Andrew smiled. The crowd cheered. Khalon's name appeared second on the leader board. The plane in first was Ripslinger. Khalon could see from the corner of his eye that the green plane, apparently named Ripslinger, had a scowl on his face.

Andrew went next and came in second, moving Khalon down to third. "We both qualify!" Andrew cheered. Khlalon smiled. As much as he was nervous doing this race, he liked to see Andrew happy.

"We should stay in the states if the race begins in New York." Khalon started. "no use flyin' all the way back to the island if it's comin' up soon." Andrew nodded. As they were about to take off, the green plane, Ripslinger, blocked them off.

"You'd better watch your back, grandpa." He scowled.

"You'd better go back to hell where ya belong. yer voice is so low, you might as well be the devil himself." Khalon retorted.

"You don't know what you're up against."

"No, you don't know what you're up against. now outta my way before I pin yer tail to the ground with my bullets." Khalon revved up his engine to life and brushed past the plane, Andrew following. The plane glared after them.

"I think we just gained a new enemy, Andrew." Khalon stated, settling his engine a little once more. "Better keep an eye 'im." Andrew nodded as they both took off into the air.


I'd add more but I think this is good for a first start. More to come! With work and school in the way, it's hard to find time but I'll do my best to update again on the rest of my stories.

FF.N deleted all the stories in progress I had from no activity so starting over will be tricky, finding the places I left off at, but whatever. It's good to have a fresh start once in a while.