1145 hrs. Avalon's Shadow runway area
"Rex, you home safe?" Skybreaker asked as you wanted to punch something.
"Yes, I made it home safely Skybreaker. I thought I asked you two to stay in Rugido." You say making the point of you're irritated with them very clear.
"Yes but we needed to make sure that you got home safely sir." Chaika said as you close your eyes and resist the urge to put your hand through your face. Though the sonic boom now ringing through the airstrip gives you something else to focus on.
"Who the fuck was that!?" You ask very angrily as Lightning answers the question.
"A MiG-31, our follower and uninvited guest." Lightning said as you just stare angrily up at the sky.
"Can I borrow someone's radio to talk to that moron?" You say as Skybreaker seems to be watching the sky with a confused look on her face.
"Skybreaker, you know the MiG-31 up there?"
"Possibly"
"Then get him down. They're causing enough of a ruckus." You say as Skybreaker starts making radio calls.
 
Less than five minutes later the trouble making MiG-31 was on the ground.
"Who the bloody hell are you and why the fuck are you flying supersonic in a residential area?" You say as you walk out to harass the new arrival.
"This is residential area? Skybreaker why you no tell me ponies live here?" the MiG said as you now want to turn your attention to Skybreaker.
"Did not know it was you Foxhound. I make message very general for that reason. Very sorry." Skybreaker said as your eye twitches out of anger.
"I am MiG-31 Foxhound. Glorious interceptor for Princess Celestia. Was not informed of anyone living out here in Avalon Territory." Foxhound said as he at least answered your question.
"Well, Foxhound, this just so happens to be a residential area, where the speed limit is mach .95. You blew through MY airspace at mach 2.8. I'm not very pleased." You say as you now have someone to take your irritation out on, considering he's Celestia's interceptor.
"Skybreaker why is little man talking like he big deal? He is not important." Foxhound said as you now turn to Skybreaker.
"Explain to him who I am Skybreaker. Tell Foxhound who I am." you say anger now filling your voice.
"The one you refer to as little human is Rex Tremendae. I no think he happy with you callings him of little. Foxhound I thinks you need apologize to him, before bad things happen." Skybreaker said making Foxhound laugh.
"I need apologize to him? You are makings me of laughing." Foxhound said as you reach a tipping point.
"Morgan," You start with a rather calm voice.
"Yes Dad?" she says.
"Go get Zoisite." you say with an unshaken calm.
"Really?" Morgan asks with a bit of excitement, to which you nod, and everyone in Avalon's Shadow goes quiet.
"Why everyone so quiet." Foxhound said as you just smile.
"You've got until Morgan comes back to realize who I am, now don't get me wrong, I don't like hurting plane ponies, but trust me, those that get on my nerves, I'll turn to scrap." You say as Foxhound just gives you a strange look. Even Chaika and Skybreaker know of the T-50 incident and what you did to him.
"Foxhound, that is Rex Tremendae. For sake of Celestia, realize this!" Skybreaker screamed at Foxhound, hurting your ears.
"Tell me, if you is Rex Tremendae, How did you bring down T-50, when you have no wings?" Foxhound asks as you point to Morgan, who had her laser on her back.
"She is my wings. She is how I destroyed T-50." You say as you're targeting Foxhound, taking slight control over the TLS from Morgan.
"So you are Rex Tremendae. Celelstia says many things about you, not all are good." Foxhound says
"I know what she has to say about me Foxhound. Do you have anything to say?" You ask seeing if this interceptor values his life.
"Da, Very sorry for intruding. Not often I get chance to scramble after a pony. Have not been in area for long time. You are like what I hear only when angry, very sorry I did not see you before Rex." Foxhound said
"Well, Foxhound, I'm going to detain you for two days for breaking the speed limit. You're free to move around Avalon's Shadow, but if you take flight, Morgan will force you down." you say as you still want to break something.
"Da, is ok, have not talked to Skybreaker in long time. Good excuse to catch up with her." Foxhound said as you walk off to your shop and enter through the doors meant for ponies and you.
 
1215 hrs. Your shop.
To take out the excess frustration you have you're hammering on an inch thick steel plate with a sledgehammer. You're not doing much of anything other than denting steel with a 10lb sledge.
You spend two hours tiring yourself out before you end up in your office slouched in your chair staring at your desk and the paperwork on it.
To the right there's administrative papers, and on your left, recent work orders being put in by your residents.
You look at the work orders to see if anyone was coming in anytime soon. Short list, but lot of work needing to be done on those coming in. Sully needed a turbine check, Galactus was overdue for an inspection, Ivan had an issue with his cannons, and Chaika needed an engine overhaul. A lot of work for four ponies.
The other stack of papers was much shorter, but there was a letter on your desk that wasn't there when you entered your office, and you have no idea how it got there. So you may as well read the letter.
"Rex,
You and I have had our differences in the past, and frankly that's where they should stay. I was disappointed to see that you were not among the escorts who brought my subjects back to me. Though being informed that you had other more urgent matters was a relief that you were attending to them rather than making fun of me before my own guard. As much as I do not wish to see you again, we must have a meeting about the gryphons that are causing us trouble. Rex, if they are after Twilight I must stop them. It is essential that you and I discuss these matters personally,
that is if you can set aside your arrogance for a few hours for two days. We cannot let these gryphons think they can get what they want.
Enclosed in the letter are sheets of paper, and an envelope that when you seal it will be magically delivered to me.
Rex, I know you still are upset about my decision in the past, but with this threat, our nations are not safe.
Princess Celestia, or as you prefer Sunbutt." the letter read, as it was from Celestia.
You're tired enough to see there is some sincerity in her letter, and you're more or less forced to respond to her this time.
You take the paper and envelope out of the larger envelope she sent you and then you grab a pen before clearing a spot on your desk to write a reply to her.
You sit for about twenty minutes staring at the paper knowing you have to respond, but you can't think of a proper way to start it without blatantly insulting Celestia.
Fortune though is on your side for once today, as there's a knock on the shop's door.
"Who's there?" You yell out hoping they'll hear you from your office.
"Anon, are you ok? You didn't hurt yourself did you?" Thunderbolt said as hearing concern from her was something you needed other than being yelled at for leaving to go and harass the gryphons off your land.
"Yea, I'm fine. Just took out aggression on the steel plate I have." You say as you walk to open the shop doors.
When Thunderbolt entered she saw the plate leaning against the wall with two broken sledgehammers by it.
"You were angry weren't you?" Thunderbolt asked as you look up to her with seriously written all over your face.
"Key word was. Now, just confused. There's something I want you to read." you say as you turn on a projector to enlarge the letter for Thunderbolt.
"Have you written your response yet?" Thunderbolt asked.
"No, I haven't. I can't think of a good way to start it. Every time I think of one, it always turns out to be a backhanded insult." You say
"Well, why don't you let me start it then?" Thunderbolt said
"That'd be great." You say as you get a clipboard and the pen you were going to use.
"Ok, I'm just starting the letter for you, you've got to figure out the rest." Thunderbolt said for you to nod.
"Princess Celestia,
I understand the need for us to meet, as it would be imperative for the continued peace of our nations." Thunderbolt said giving you the start of the letter.
"That's not bad Thunder.You should be a writer." You say as you make her go red with embarrassment.
"Shouldn't you continue that letter?" Thunderbolt asked as you nod and get back to writing.
 
"As you wish to meet in person, I suggest we chose a neutral nation outside of our own, that is not Oslo. You may chose the place, as long as it's not in Avalon territory or Equestria. I can set my "arrogance" aside if you truly do wish to bury the disagreements between us.
 
Please note that I will be bringing an escort just as I assume you will be doing the same.
 
I am currently detaining Foxhound for a speed limit violation over Avalon's Shadow. For future reference no plane pony flying in from Equestria is allowed to be past mach .95 over the airfields.
 
I do hope this doesn't cause any inconvienince or trouble for you.
Rex Tremendae." you write and tell to Thunderbolt for her approval.
"Well, that should certainly get a response, but why in a different nation?" Thunderbolt said.
"If we're both in a different nation neither of us have an advantage. Or you know, one of us is seriously fucked." You say as you fold the paper and place it in the envelope.
"Who's going to deliver it?"
"It'll deliver itself." You say as you seal the envelope and toss it away only to have it disappear in a puff of smoke.
"How?"
"Celestia's magic. For as stuck up as she can be, she knows some pretty neat tricks." You say as that's one of the things that doesn't seem lame to you.
"Right, she's an alicorn. Guess I haven't gotten out much." Thunderbolt said as you both laugh as there's another knock on your door.
You grumble, as if it were Morgan she would have let herself in already through the back.
"Who's there?" You ask with irritation in your voice.
"Is Skybreaker and Foxhound. You have minute yes?" from how they were talking, you could guess that it was Foxhound who was speaking.
"Yes, I've got some time Foxhound. Enter." you say as you sit and wait for Celestia's reply to your rather short letter.
"How you know it me?" Foxhound asked as he and Skybreaker entered.
"By how you speak. What is it you wanted to talk about Foxhound?" You ask as you grab a stool and sit.
"Long time in past, you crash yes?" Foxhound asked.
"Not going there. I'm sure Celestia's told you what happened." You say as you now get off the stool hoping this idiot won't anger you more than he already has.
"But why you no talk about it?" Foxhound asked.
"Because past is past. Let it lie." You say as you leave to your office.
"But."
"Foxhound, leave him, no good will come of bothering him." Skybreaker said.
"You should listen to Skybreaker." Thunderbolt said as you grab the third sledgehammer and then break it with a single hit against the steel panel you had
"Are you of oks?" Foxhound asked.
"No I'm very stressed out." You say as you turn to him holding the broken handle of the sledgehammer in your hand.
"Oh is not of good time to be talkings?" Foxhound said as the letter you were waiting for appeared.
"No, I was killing time Foxhound, it's just I don't talk about that. Skybreaker, take him from the hangar." You say as you toss the handle of the sledge aside and open the letter.
"Why I need to take him from shop? Is this not where he staying?" Skybreaker asked.
"He's confined to Avalon, not a single building." You say a little irritated.
"But where we staying?" Skybreaker asked.
"There's a hotel within Avalon's Sahadow's limits. you'll stay there, tell the owner I sent you, any troubles from him, send him my way." You say as you open the letter disregarding the others in your shop.
 
"Rex,
I do not understand why you would prefer to meet in another territory rather than mine or yours, but I shall allow you that. We shall meet in the Crystal Empire, in the capitol. My niece rules over the crystal ponies. We shall meet there in two days. Please try not to be late, and return bring Foxhound with you when you come, my air guard is very limited compared to yours.
Princess Celestia." the letter said. as you smile slightly.
"What now?" Thunderbolt asked.
"Well, in two days we're meeting with Celestia in the capitol of the Crystal Empire." You say as you point to the north on the map hanging in your shop.
"What do you mean we're going to Crystal city?" Thunderbolt asked.
"You, Me, Morgan, Foxhound, Raptor, Nora, Lightning, Sasha and Echo are going to meet with Sunbutt." You say with a smile on your face.
"What?" Thunderbolt asked again
"You didn't think I'd be going alone did you?" You say as she's genuinely surprised at this.
"I thought it would be just you and Morgan going, but that's a few of us." Thunderbolt said still rather shocked.
"Well, I'd rather Morgan not have to be outnumbered too badly." You say knowing Morgan can handle some shitty odds.
"I... I've always wanted to go there. I've heard stories of it being such a beautiful place, entirely made of crystal." Thunderbolt said as you smile unknowingly you just made one of her dreams come true.
"Anon, what do I have to do? When we're there?" Thunderbolt asked.
"Just make sure that Celestia's not trying anything sneaky, other than that, explore the air, make sure no gryphons can come in via ground, unless they have a pass." You say as Thunderbolt leaves the hangar rather excitedly and clearly very happy, allowing you to smile a little.
"You say I am to go with you? In two days?" Foxhound asked.
"Yes, it seems your Princess is rather limited in her airforce." You say as you've calmed down enough to deal with him as you would any other pony in Avalon Territory.
"What about me and Chaika?" Skybreaker asked.
"Well, I don't see the harm in you two coming along, but Chaika's going to need a few modifications if she wants to come along." You say as now it's Skybreaker's turn to run from the hangar leaving you and Foxhound alone.
"So Foxhound, how often do you intercept things for Celestia that are small? Like no bigger than a 150 in size?" You ask rather curious of how good his radar systems are, as you know Flanker's and Terminator's radars are pretty good, but Foxhound's rather bulky and has a lot of power to get his mass into the air.
"Is a good radar, I can see small ponies flying 200km away from me. Good no?" Foxhound said.
"Yes, that is a rather good system. How about engaging them?" You ask
"Celestia only want intercept, never engage. If I did, I can hit 150 km out accurately." Foxhound said rather proud of himself.
"Well, that's a good range, but what about your defenses?" You ask
"Is good, I fly fast like SR-71, speed is defense I need no other defense. But being built like brick good too." Foxhound said as he laughed a little.
"Yea, that is. Speed is life too. I can understand that." You say knowing that from running away slightly.
"Da speed can be life. If you have no armor." Foxhound said as you now laugh.
"Right, but if you can't hit what you can't catch what's the point?" You say knowing there'd be a good point behind that.
"Da, point is good. But what of range weapons?" Foxhound said.
"If you like hitting things farther than from what you can see." You say as you finally get along with Foxhound after he was a bit inconsiderate to you.
"Where is where you wanted us?" Foxhound asked
"There's a hotel on the other side of the local bar, that's where you'll be staying" You say