"Snow, there's no reason for you to be a dick. Be nice to the kid."
"Aye sir."
"That's better. It's what? 0700?"
"Aye."
"I've still got an hour to kill. I sure as hell don't want to spend it here. Fuck, nevermind here comes the crowd. It's going to be one loooong day for me." You say as you see other ponies now coming from their tents, temporary hangars, and from the hotel an hour early.
"Just hope nobody wants to talk to me. Before the scheduled time."
"We'll take care of that sir."
"Thank you Blaze. Any word from those MiGs?"
"They should have arrived already. Yesterday I think." Blaze said as the four ponies spread out and made a perimeter around you.
As much as you have thought in the past that you don't need security around yourself, for events like this, you may need these four ponies to scare a hole for you to stand in. So you sit rather pleasantly atop your ADFX waiting until it's time to officially start the Festival, and remind the four ponies to let your family into the box they've made or you'll definitely break their kneecaps when they aren't looking.
 
0800 Hrs. Runway, Avalon's Shadow.
Falken, Morgan and Thunderbolt are here, along with a few "important" ponies on the stage behind you. You're waiting on the crowd to settle down a little before you begin talking.
 
"Alright settle down you ponies! I've got a few things to say before I kick off this year's Sun 'n Fun." You say as you're standing up on the back of the ADFX. "First off, welcome to Avalon's Shadow, the capitol of Avalon, just a reminder to try and keep it clean. Secondly, we've got some important ponies from Equestria here, Princesses Celestia, Luna, Cadence and Twilight Sparkle. I'd tell them to stand up and wave, but naw, I think you'd all rather me start the fun."
The crowd roared at your statement making you motion for them to quiet down.
"Alright, alright I get it, stick to the schedule, and with that all being said, I declare this year's Sun 'n Fun Festival open!" You say
When you announced Sun 'n Fun open, you covered your ears as you were likely to go deaf from all the yelling and noise being created by the entire population of Tu-95s.
It took a few minutes for the noise to die down, but when it did, a good chunk of the crowd dissipated, leaving you with a horrendous line forming to talk to you.
Out in the line you see a few familiar faces, Chaika, Skybreaker, Gagarin, Korolev, Titov, Marcela and Alberto. Their familiar faces spread across the line at least allows you to take a bit of comfort in the fact that they're somewhat familiar, and lets you smile, slightly relieved.
So there you sit, with everypony else out and enjoying themselves you're trapped.
 
0830 Hrs. Edge of Space.
"Finally, we got some down time."
"Yea, ain't like this place to be this slow right now, but you an Ah got a bit o work ahead of us to get ready fer that lunch rush."
"KC, can't ya take ah minute fer yerself?"
"Ah can, but this is tha time that makes me the most cash. Sorry if I'm rushin ya about hun, but Ah got a business. I'm mighty grateful fer yer help Sadie." KC said as he stopped to take a breath at the bar
"Ya gonna run yerself ragged KC, Ah can handle a bit of the cleanin, you jus take a break for ah hour er two. Go out see some sights, see if there ain't anythin new or somethin ya want to get fer this place."
"Alright, but tha bar stays closed. We ain't doin business if Ah'm out."
"Ah got that, now go enjoy yerself." Sadie said as she took the broom away from KC and shooed him outside into the festival.
"Heh, been a while since Ah been out hea." KC said to himself as he began to walk around some of the booths, remembering his own humble start as just another one of these vendors, who never really left.
KC wanders around and talks to a few out of town drink salesponies, just to see if he can expand his option of drinks, even if just a little, but being smart, he's waiting to see who has the best sales by the end of the festival.
"Hey KC! Whatchya doing outside of your place?"
"Well, hiya Osprey, Ah guess Ahm jus out takin a break. Sadie said go get some air, an here Ah am."
"So Sadie's running your bar?"
"Good heavens no. She's jus cleanin the place up fer me. That's all. I really appreciate her help. Say how you likin the festival so far?"
"It seems bigger than last year." Osprey said as she looked around at the crowd.
"Well, Ah wouldn't know, since fer the past few of 'em I've been in mah bar."
"Well it certainly feels bigger than last years."
"Maybe yer right, but Ah should probably git back to Sadie now."
"Alright, see you around KC."
"Right, see ya around Osprey." KC said as he meandered his way back to his home, and place of employment.
 
0945 Hrs. Taxiways.
"Hey, look at Rex over there."
"He looks miserable."
"I know isn't that great!"
"Raptor! Don't say things like that, do you want someone to hear you say that?" Nora said as she hissed out the last part.
"Who the fuck is going to care?"
"You know."
"Please, she ain't got shit on me."
"Don't enjoy Rex's misery or I'll get him to bear down on you."
"For what? Enjoying the fact that he's miserable right now?"
"For what I told you about her." Nora said getting Raptor to shut up instantly.
"You wouldn't would you?"
"Raptor."
"You would. Hey isn't that Blue and Strizh over there?" Raptor said trying to change the subject.
"Yea it is, you want to go and say hi?"
"Naw, poor Blue's probably heard enough shit from the Hornets, me going over there ain't going to help her at all."
"Well, at least you have some sense." Nora said as the two of them walked down the taxiways.
 
Across the way: Strizh and Blue.
"Is shit you not flying with us."
"Don't be like that mate, tell ya what, I'll buy ya a drink when that big bloke gets back to open his bar."
"Very kind, but not needed. Just mad at Rex. Is good he stuck in single place today."
"Well, he's only stuck there until 12 mate, after that he's free to do what he wants." Blue said
"Shit, not what want to hear. I hope being there miserable for him."
"You don't mean that Strizh, he's jus tryin to be fair that's all. Ya know he's seen me fly with tha Hornets an we do well. That an I am not related to any of ya."
"Da, is still frustrating. Buy me drink da?"
"Oh ya takin my offer are ya?"
"Da." Strizh said with a little bit of dejection in his voice.
"Alright let's go see if KC is in and get ya that drink." Blue said as she put an arm around Strizh neck and awkwardly walked with him to Edge of Space.
 
1000 Hrs. VTOL hangar
"Lightning! Want Cider!"
"Where the fuck am I going to get cider woman!"
"Go check booths, There probably same apple booth as last year!"
"Fine I'm on it. Don't stress yourself out, and you're getting the non alcoholic! You're not harming our child!"
"Whatever just get cider!" Sasha yelled forcing Lightning to go out and forage for for a particular orange mare, who's family had an obsession with apples.
"Stupid condition making her want things." Lightning grumbled as he walked through the stalls looking for what would hopefully be a recurring vendor of apple based products
"Well you're lookin mighty glum. What seems ta be the problem?"
"Thank Celestia, you've returned."
"Well, the Apple family did make ah good profit last year, though y'all don't take too kindly to us ponyfolk."
"Eh, right now you're a godsend. How much cider you have? Preferably non alcoholic."
"Well, we had a decent harvest, an we did save some cider fer this here festival, an Ah do got more on the way." Applejack said as Lightning was trying to cut the crap.
"Well, price?"
"Y'all drink so dog gone much, fer a barrel it'll be a hundred bits."
"Done."
"Ya wha?"
"Here."
"Yer spendin a hundred bits on a single barrel of Cider?"
"Yes, I need it for someone else who really wants some right now, and it's best that I get it to her before she chases me down." Lightning said as there was a small pouch of bits on the table before Applejack.
"Whoa there nelly. Why such the hurry?"
"Let's just say I've got to get it to somepony who really wants it right now."
"Alright, yer still willin to spend a hundred bits on a single barrel?" Applejack asked confused as to why Lightning would be dropping so much money.
"Yes, I'm fine with it. So am I going to get that barrel or not?"
"Yea, hold on."
"Thanks ummm."
"Applejack."
"Right, thanks Applejack, oh and by the way name's Lightning for future reference."
"Always nice ta meet a new pony. Jus give me ah minute ta get ya yer cider." Applejack said as she disappeared with the bag of bits and returned with a barrel of the cider Sasha wanted.
"Thanks Applejack, kinda hope to see ya around."
"Likewise."
"Thanks again." Lightning said as he picked up the barrel and ran home to give it to Sasha before she pounded his face into the dirt.
 
1030 Hrs. VTOL hangar.
"Got it Sasha! I got your cider."
"Very good. Now give."
"Here. Try not to make yourself sick." Lightning said as he produced the barrel from his main weapons bay.
"Da, is good. You try some."
"I can just go and buy another barrel or ask for a sample if I wanted to."
"Try it." Sasha said as she pushed the straw into his mouth.
"Hey, this is pretty good."
"When you get chance, go buy more, not needed right now."
"Yea, I'll definitely go do that. Oh you mind if I go and see the festival for a while? And bring you back some treats or something?"
"Da go ahead. But be ready for hell." Sasha said allowing Lightning to leave and go have a little fun.
 
1130 Hrs. Runway.
You've endured three and a half hours of the morning sun. With only thirty minutes remaining you've cut off the line to end it at approximately the time you want to go and eat. Then have to check on your shop to make sure nopony is hurt. Right now, you're trapped with Chaika.
"So, what normally goes on here?"
"Next to nothing Chaika. There's nothing really worth noting outside of what I've already told you about the princesses visiting" You say
"Well, that's not a normal occurrence for us."
"Because they had nobody in command to talk to Chaika. With me in power, they have someone to talk to, make deals with, primarily trade."
"Still, that's really interesting."
"Well, I can see how that is for you all, it's not often you have anypony of any sort of importance here." You say as you're doing your best to not lie on the ADFX and stare up at the clouds out of boredom.
"Still though it's really nice to have you as my commander."
"Chaika, you've spent the last half hour talking to me. Don't you think it's time to let the other ponies talk to me?"
"But, what of Rugido?"
"Alberto already told me, and I told him I'd take care of it. I promise." You say as you motion to Archer to escort Chaika out of the area.
"Come on Chaika, lets go and see if they set up a cafe yet."
"Oh, like in Rugido?"
"Yea, like in Rugido." Archer said as he attempted and successfully managed to get her from the area as you check your watch to see how much time you had left. She ate up 45 min.
"I've got time for one more pony Blaze, and this time, check to see if there's a short one before going to a plane" You say as Blaze shoots you an indignant look for calling him out for nearly stepping on a earth pony.
He let a single pony through, it was Rainbow.
"Dash, what a surprise"
"Thought you were finished with me didn't you?"
"Oh no, I just didn't expect you to be so persistent. What brings you to the last fifteen minutes I've got available." You say breaking from your sarcastic rant as the other F-14 start to break up the line
"I uuh, I'd like to apologize for something"
"Oh? What would you like to apologize for?"
"I may have been a bit unfair the last time I was here when I challenged you. I mean you're a really good flyer, even if you don't fly like me."
"Are you just admitting that you tried to cheat?"
"I'm trying to apologize for being a jerk about how I acted when you beat me. I uhh, don't take losses well." Rainbow said as you chuckle
"Clearly. Frankly, I'd like to make sure you eat up the remaining time till I have my lunch, so if you mind staying around for the next fifteen or so minutes, that'd be great, I mean we can talk about next to nothing just as long as they think you and I are talking."
"Well, are you going to accept my apology or not?"
"Fine, apology accepted. You happy now?"
"Yes. Oh, and who's the weird one hanging over by Twilight?"
"Holographic eyes, many cameras on his face, forward swept wings, coppery red color?"
"Yea that's the weirdo."
"That's my son." You say as Rainbow is now trying to find the words to apologize to you.
"You didn't know, don't take it so hard. He and I get that more than you care to know."
"I uhh, wow that was really stupid."
"Yea, it was."
"Heh heh heh, sorry about that. Anything I can do to make it up to you?"
"Kill the time like I asked. To answer the question you asked earlier, Falken is a friend of Twilight."
"Alright, but what could those two possibly have in common."
"They're massive nerds."
"Nerds?"
"They do nothing but read all the damned time."
"Wow, they're eggheads."
"I guess they are. Falken's a bit dense at times though."
"Whaddya mean dense?"
"He's book smart, not always common sense smart. Sometimes that get the better of him." You say as you watch the time to make sure it's passing.
 
1205 Hrs. Your home
"Finally freedom! Time to get this off."
"You know you've got to check your shop and make sure there's not a line ya know."
"I'm sure I would have been called by now if there were any accidents Thunder." You say as you walk to your room as you're stripping off the stuffy uniform.
"What did you make for lunch?"
"We're having lunch with Celestia dear."
"You can't be serious."
"I am, and I know you're not looking forward to it, but Luna will be there. Morgan's out with her friends and Falken is with Twilight, they're talking about some book I've never read." Thunderbolt said as you changed clothes
"Wonderful."
"You don't sound so happy about that."
"Because I'm not happy about it. I'm stuck with Celestia, whom is probably still upset about her cake."
"Well, they're having lunch here."
"Perfect, just perfect." You say as you now really hate the situation this first day has put you in.
"Thou does not sound the slightest bit happy that I have arranged it so that you are not left alone with my sister."
"Yea, I'm not. You I'm alright with, Twilight and Cadence borderline, Celestia on occasion."
"Then you shall be pleased to hear tis just the four of us. You and your wife, Me and my sister."
"Actually, that works out alright."
"I was hoping it would" Luna said as you smile a little, for as powerful as her sister is, she still managed to pull a few strings here and there.
 
1210 Hrs. Your home.
"Princess, what a surprise. I hear you and Luna are having lunch with Thunder and I."
"Well, apparently you have been informed."
"I'd prefer if you didn't surprise me." You say as you let her into your home, for the first time.
"This is very........ humble."
"That's how I like it, simple. I don't need a huge throne, or a lot of decorative stuff. I just need what matters most. A roof over head and my family."
"If only it were that simple."
"For one of privilege I can see how this seems difficult." You say as she's looking around your home, to which it is simple, but you don't have the time to travel the world or have large statues made, nor the money to do so. You have the cash to keep your business running and live in relative comfort.
"Well, what is for lunch?"
"For you three, I thought I'd make a nice pasta dish without Jet-A, for me, I'll just be drinking half a drum of Jet-A."
"Isn't that extremely flammable?"
"Technically yes, but we more just soak our food in it if that's what we're having. It will be done in a couple of minutes." Thunderbolt said saving the explanation of their diet for you.
"Well, that would explain why Morgan would request a 10 gallon drum of ice cream when she visits."
"Luna, you let her have TEN GALLONS of ice cream?"
"Yes, I did."
"That's more than I eat in a month and she ate this in what? An hour?"
"Twenty minutes."
"How many calories do they need to survive?" Celestia asked rather shocked that Morgan could eat more sweets than her.
"Celestia, you don't want to know."
"How many?"
"They drink one of the highest energy dense fuels known in this world, which I'm very grateful you can make from thin air, they need the diet of ten earth ponies, or pegasai, whichever of those eat more. I don't know exactly how many it would be and do not ask me to give you a number, but it's more than you eat in a week." You say making the princess go wide eyed and slack jawed.
"Ah, lunch is ready."
"Thank you Mrs. Tremendae."
"Thunderbolt, if you would Princess." Thunder said as she brought the large bowl of pasta to the table and blushed when Luna spoke.
"Well, since I'm the most informal of you all, how about we just eat? Sound good?"
"That's fine with me."
"Good, since you two are the guests, dish yourselves first." You say as Celestia then stares at the pasta in the bowl before her unsure of what to do.
Luna on the other hand, since she's stayed here before, grabs the serving tongs with her magic and plates herself a decent amount of the pasta, while Celestia now looks on in horror.
"If you were expecting me to serve you, ain't going to happen. Perhaps if you ask your sister."
"NO."
"Alright, serve yourself, I'm waiting on you." You say as Celestia very timidly serves herself a small portion of the lunch.
"Sweet leftovers, that's going to get me through work if I have any." You say as you now get yourself food.
From how Celestia reacted it wasn't every day that she was not waited on, well you'd say hand and foot, but they've got four hooves, so that statement doesn't really make sense, but whatever that's not the point.