"Are you issuing them a challenge Rex?"
"No, I'm just sayin. I flew Morgan to prove to Dash that I was a better flyer and I beat her rather badly at a game of chase."
"Twilight? Did he really?" Celestia asked as she probably figured it happened when Twilight was here the first time
"Yes, he utterly beat Rainbow Dash at her own game. It was sad to say the least" Twilight said as Morgan lets out a slight laugh.
"Now's not an appropriate time to be laughing about that Morgan"
"No look. Look at the MiGs"
"Blue you cheating bitch." You say with very little restraint as you look skyward to see her flying, leading the MiGs.
"Looks like you get to fly with your cousins. Just make sure that you come back for our flight"
"Got it."
"Oh, Morgan.
"Yea?"
"Make sure Blue knows I saw her with them." You say as Morgan nods and runs off to get into the air
"What was that all about?"
"Letting an outsider fly with the MiGs though she's not part of their family."
"Blue Angel? She's flying with the MiGs."
"Yea, and she's not even remotely related to them. So Morgan gets to fly with the Sukhois for a while. I just hope she makes them both look equally as bad." You say as Morgan is now chasing the MiGs through the sky and primarily focused on Blue
"That daughter of yours, she can be pretty intimidating."
"I would know, she frightens some of the toughest guards I have."
"Really? You know anything about this Rex?" Thunderbolt asked, to which you nod
"Yea, Luna informed me that Morgan was making a few of the guards wet themselves."
"Luna told you that?"
"Yea, there a problem Princess?"
"No, there's no problem, it's just I could not bring any guards because of her."
"Which is fine, like I'm going to let anything happen here." You say as the seven of you walk down the taxi ways through the stalls of the vendors.
"Right, but your air defense systems are down."
"Because there are so many ponies here. Not risking friendly fire Princess."
"Ah but if there is danger?"
"There wont' be." You say
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because there will be hell to pay if something goes down. Trust me."
"I guess I have to Rex. Don't let us down."
"When have I?" You say as you smile and depart with your family.
 
1400 Hrs. VTOL hangar.
"Lightning! Wantings chocolate and saurkraut."
"Sasha, no offence, but what the fuck is with these random as fuck cravings?"
"Get me what I want or I WILL hurt you!"
"Alright damn, I'll just ask Rex then." Lightning said as he was forced to slink from the hangar to retrieve sauerkraut, which all of the hangar's residents didn't like.
Lightning runs into you at the store while you're just making sure that Antonov has all that he needs.
"Hey Rex, got a moment?"
"Yea, whatddya need Lightnin?"
"Umm, it's a personal question." Lightning says as Antonov points to an empty section of the store, exactly where the sauerkraut is kept.
"So what seems to be the issue?"
"Sasha and those weird cravings of hers."
"Ah, well that's normal for a mare to have during her pregnancy, hopefully you'll only have to deal with it for the term. She's going to be a bitch for about 11 months. Welcome to a hell I couldn't even create for you."
"Eleven months?" Lightning somehow managed to stutter out.
"Sorry buddy, but you did that, and all I got to do is deliver the child."
"There's got to be a way to make it quicker, not have to live in that hell?"
"Nope. You're fucked."
"Fuck me, oh, sauerkraut, that's what Sasha wanted." Lightning said both frustrated and relieved that he found it
Back at the hangar Lightning handed the sauerkraut to Sasha who combined it with a couple nibbles of chocolate before eating the sauerkraut itself.
"Wake me up if you need anything else Sasha." Lightning said in such a dejected manner as he collapsed onto the couch and hoped for a nap.
"Hey, you be gettings up now. I needings couch. Use your bed."
"Sergei? What time is it?"
"Is 1800 Hrs. Sasha very tired, she in bed already."
"I feel like shit." Lightning said as he got off the couch
"Is because you nap during day. Come drink with Sergei, many problems solved with good drink."
"Sergei, the last time I drank, Rex sprayed me with a firehose. I'd rather not be hungover again."
"Baby. Why you not drink like man? You too afraid of consequence of drink?"
"Sergei, I already feel like shit, what's drinking going to do that's not just going to delay feeling like shit?" Lightning asked getting a confused look from Sergei as Ludmila came back home.
"Sergei, you met old friends da?"
"Da, what of them?"
"Well, little Helix not want to stay where there constant arguing."
"And you think bringings of Helix here good idea?"
"Da, gets Helix away from Havoc and Apache. She need time away." Ludmila said as she motioned to the slightly smaller helipone behind her
"Sergei, I think now is the time to tell her."
"Nyet, what world don't know don't hurt it. Besides, if Sasha find world knows, you scrap"
"So, we're just going to let this happen?"
"Da, Helix can stay, but Sasha has been cranky lately." Sergei said as Lightning just sighed and went to his room to find Sasha asleep on the bed, the bulge on her belly getting slightly bigger than before
"I just hope I can be a better parent than mine."
"Lightning, I not doubt you be better than yours. Come to bed sweetie, you need rest just like I." Sasha said as she pushed the covers back for Lightning who more than gladly climbed in and when Sasha rolled to her other side, cuddled up to her
"I hope you're right." Lightning said as the two of them slept
 
1830 Hrs. Nora and Raptor's
"Hey Nora?"
"Yea?"
"You think Lightning's doing ok? I mean it looks like he doesn't sleep well anymore."
"Raptor, if you're that worried about him, go and talk to the guy." Nora said as she walked up to the couch
"I don't know if he's still mad at me Nora. What if he is?"
"Then you quit being a chicken and talk to him, surely you can still talk to your little brother can't you?"
"Well, I guess I can." Raptor said as she looked up into Nora's eyes
"Well you better or I'm not going to talk to you."
"NORA!"
"I'm just kidding, damn, you can't take a joke." Nora said laughing a little at Raptor's misery.
"I'd say I hate you, but I don't think I can."
"Aww, that's really sweet of you Raptor."
"Well, why don't you join me on the couch? Just for a little while." Raptor asked, with full on puppy eyes.
"How could I say no to a face like that?" Nora said as she sat on the couch, almost atop Raptor.
 
2000 Hrs. Your home.
"Thank you for letting me borrow so many books Purple."
"Falken, it's Twilight."
"Yes I know, you're reminded me 136 times today alone. I understand your name is Twilight."
"Wait, you counted how many times I've corrected you?" Twilight asked as Falken was stacking up her books.
"Merely created a program to count for me, it just so happens to listen for the words Name and Twilight within the same sentence."
"How did you do that?"
"It's merely a subroutine of my processors, or as you would understand a small part of my brain solely listens for that. If I may, can I get different books?"
"A small part of your brain is doing that?"
"Yes, about the books?"
"Right, books on what?"
"Anything really." Falken said with a passing disinterest in the conversation.
"You're asking me for a stack of books that big on you don't care?"
"Precisely. I do not care what the subject matter is, I just simply wish to read and know all that I can from books."
"What about your friends?"
"Friends?"
"You know the ponies you hang out with?"
"Understand, I don't have many friends, outside of Morgan's." Falken said as he now moved from his room to the living room where you were lying on Thunderbolt's back.
"Dad?"
"Yea?"
"Do you think Purple is one of my friends?"
"Well, that depends on you. I think she is, otherwise why else would she have lent you so many books at a given time without taking something as collateral?"
"Oh, may I ask another question?"
"Of course." You say as you now move over to the edge of Thunderbolt's wing.
"If you're alright with it, may Twilight be my friend?"
"Falken, you don't have to ask me if she can be your friend. Ask her not me."
"Why must I ask her?"
"Falken, for as much as you're read, did any of the stories you read ever tell you how ponies meet and become friends?"
"Yes, 15 of the 50 books I was loaned had that as their contents." Falken said as you do your best to not roll your eyes at him.
"And how do those ponies make friends?"
"They have similar interests, or they are simply friendly."
"Yea. You and Twilight read. Way more than I ever would, but the two of you have that in common, you both can fly, and do I really need to tell you all this stuff Falken?" You say as you're sitting on Thunder's wingtip.
"Perhaps I just didn't understand. Thank you dad. Twilight, may I ask you a question?" Falken said as he turned to look at the small alicorn in your house, other than Luna, who you can hear laughing in Morgan's room, most likely at Celestia or Twilight's expense.
"Falken?"
"May I ask you a question."
"Yes, you can ask a question."
"Would you like to be my friend?" Falken asked there was a distinct shyness about his tone.
"I don't know Falken, would that be the explanation behind why you've been calling me purple?"
"Perhaps it has been. I am not good with meeting new ponies."
"Yes."
"What?"
"Falken, I've been a friend, I wasn't going to blindly trust you with those books, and the first series of Daring Do books at that. I was just waiting on you to realize that yourself."
"R...Really?" Falken asked in a bit of a shock, from having made a friend himself, that neither you nor Morgan got him to talk to.
"Yes, it's not often I find a pony who likes to read as much as I. Though you've still got a lot to learn. Like you need to make some friends, sure you have an odd appearance even for the plane ponies, and Morgan scares guards out of their armor, but everypony is unique and special in their own way." Twilight said making Falken smile.
"For as smart as you are Falken, sometimes you can be as dense as a post."
"Ha ha, thanks for the insult dad. I thought you were supposed to care about me."
"Falken, I care, which is why I answer every question you have, no matter how silly or dumb I think they are." You say which gets a chuckle from him.
"Damn you and your jokes that make me feel like crap." You say as Falken is now laughing, his eyes going fuzzy due to his lack of focus. His laughing did get you to laugh too, and it was only a matter of time before your entire home was filled with laughter.
 
0800 Hrs. Temporary Helipone hangar.
Apache and Havoc are at it again, arguing about who's the better attack helipone.
"Why they always do this?"
"Hokum aren't you an attack helipone like them?"
"Da, but those two never endings arguments. Is constant annoyance. Is why Helix and I not live with you."
"Speaking of your sister, where is she?"
"Went with Ludmila. Not staying around this." Hokum said as Helen nodded in agreement.
"Least you and Hind not argue."
"Hind is more of an attack chopper than he is a utility like me. Hell, I have more in common with Ludmila than them."
"But you agree they pain in ass."
"Definitely Hokum." Helen said as she laughed at the two helipones arguing like there was no tomorrow. Though it was now a day until Sun 'n Fun, these heilpones still argue like it's any other day for them. Not that Hokum, Helen or Hind care, they just wish that those two would shut up every now and again
 
0830 VTOL hangar.
Raptor walked up to the door and stood before it, not knowing what to do, wishing she had Nora at her side, for confidence at least.
Raptor was about to knock on the door when Sergei opened it
"What you want?"
"Is Lightning in?"
"Da, hold." Sergei said before he turned and yelled for Lightning to get the door.
"Sergei, I sleep until 0900, there better be a good reason for me to be awake thirty minutes before. Oh! Raptor, haven't seen you in a while." Lightning said his anger now subsiding
"So, what brings you here?"
"You." Raptor said as Sergei pushed his way from the hangar.
"Me? Raptor, you ok? You don't seem to be your normal self."
"Well, I'm just worried about you that's all."
"I'm fine, just a little lack of sleep. I'll be ok." Lightning said.
"Lightning! You come back here right now!"
"Gotta go sis, Sasha needs me."
"Get back here NOW" Sasha yelled as Lightning sighed and went back inside to tend to his wife
Raptor followed him in.
"Stay here. You're not allowed in our room." Lightning said as he moved into his room as quickly as possible, only to help Sasha get to her hooves.
"Sasha, my sister is here, she followed me in. She's in the living room."
"You stupid? I can't leave room with her here. Ludmila ok, your whore of a sister no."
"Heh, yea, I'll try and get her to leave." Lightning said as he quickly slipped back out of his room.
"I'm fine Raptor. I've got Sasha to look after. I just get a little tired some days that's all."
"Well, ok, I just worry about you sometimes little bro."
"Right."
"Look I know when you left and I kicked you out, that was a mistake, I'm sorry."
"Raptor, don't dig up the past." Lightning said as there was a knock on his bedroom door
"She gone? Need pee."
"Nyet, hold it."
"Will not make, need go now. Unless you want piss for pillowcase."
"Sasha, she's going to know now."
"Fuck, fine she can know. But if she tell anyone send Morgan after her." Sasha said as she hurried to the bathroom.
"Yea, I know. So, you want to know why I've really been losing sleep?"
"Yea."
"Sasha's pregnant."
"What?"
"You heard me. Sasha is pregnant." Lightning said as Sasha went to get something to eat, making an abomination of food before eating it.
"Lightning please tell me you're kidding." Raptor said as she looked at Sasha
"You're not kidding oh my Celestia you're not kidding!"
"Keep it down. I don't need everyone knowing"
"Lightning you're barely ten! How could you?"
"You're a shit influence" Lightning said knowing both were to blame
"I'm a shit influence?"
"I'm surprised you have not had a kid with Sidney."
"Don't you bring that piece of scrap up in conversation with me!"
"Raptor, you don't think that all of that didn't have something to do with why I ran away, or had very little impulse control?" Lightning asked making Raptor sulk a little.
"Well, maybe a little. But you can't pin this all on me!"
"Sure I can't I'm just as much to blame as you."
"Really?"
"Raptor, I'm just sayin shit to make you feel better." Lightning said as he was very uninterested in talking to his sister who, up until this very point in time, had no interest in how he was doing, except if his feelings were hurt.
"Why would you do that?"
"Lightning very stressed, say not ready to be dad. But he will be, and better than your parents."
"I guess I've overstayed my welcome."
"No, you just annoy him. Besides, is not good time." Sasha said as she attempted to comfort Raptor a little.
"Yea, come back again when the baby is born. Maybe both of us will be a little less grumpy." Lightning said as he motioned to himself and Sasha. Raptor nods in agreement, before wiping her eyes and departing with a friendly reminder to not tell anypony.
 
1000 Hrs. Skies over Avalon.
"Hey MiGs, you have caused a very big problem."
"Fuck off Terminator, don't interrupt our practice."
"Oh? What about her? I thought she was banned?"
"She is not flying with us you asshole!"
"Right, then you won't mind our friend flying with us today." Terminator said as Morgan comes flying down, to break up the small formation.
"You cocksucker! You're cheating!"
"No more than you are MiGs. Remember, you're before us in the order." Terminator said as he and Morgan flew away, back towards where the Sukhois were.
"Very good. Scare hell out of MiGs."
"Yea, too bad Blue probably won't be competing with them, which means I don't get to fly with you guys."
"Is not problem. You fly with family first. Your father need you and brother." Terminator said making Morgan smile.
"Alright, I'll fly with family first, and then if you guys need my help. I'll come and help you out."
"Da, is good. Remember family come first, then relatives, then friends. But friends and relatives go by what you think important."
"Terminator, you'd make a good philosopher. Talking like this."
"Am happy you think so. Am always willing to help. I may be fighter, but think peace is better." Terminator said as the Sukhois lazily flew through the skies.
"Well, so does my dad, and to him, his priorities are family, nation, then his friends. That sound about right to you?"
"Da, is very good. When Rex did work on me in past, he and I talk much like you and I. About peace, what commander of Avalon be like, and how such commander lives. He hold many things we talk about dear. Has not let go of old values."
"I know, he's told Celestia repeatedly that our lives are precious and special, each one of us, old, new or in between. We're all important to Avalon."
"Such sweet words, you make me cry." Terminator said as he attempted to wipe his eyes. Morgan laughed a little due to Terminator's teary eyed sentiment for her understanding of philosophy.
 
1100 Hrs. Osprey's Hangar.
"Well, you and I definitely practiced for the time I was here, you mind letting today be a rest day?"
"Why not. You want to go see what's going on at the bar?"
"Why not? It beats sitting around all day." Erwin said as the two of them departed for Edge of Space.
 
1110 Hrs. Edge of space
KC's bar is packed, the VIP rooms filled, primarily Celestia, Twilight and some other ponies that refused to go to the hotel.
"If ya ain't gonna pay fer nothin get outta mah bar!" KC yelled as Sadie tossed a couple of plane ponies from the bar.
"Well, KC doesn't seem to be in a very happy mood."
"I see."
"Well, I doubt there's anything I can do to bother him. He's usually happy to see me." Osprey said as she went inside with Erwin close behind, the bar was packed, but Ivan, and Phantom managed to get their normal spots