"Ok, who threw this?" You ask as Morgan points to Twilight.
"Why would you waste this?"
"What?"
"Why would you waste food?"
"So you're not remotely mad at me?"
"Dunno, probably needed to be hit with something." You say as you take a bite out of the biscuit making everyone laugh.
 
2300 Hrs. "Abandoned" hangar.
"Ya still upset about Rex?"
"Da."
"Well, there isn't a need ta be so upset. He was stuck with the pony Princesses all day, an he near bloody hates Celestia." Blue said getting a decent laugh out of Strizh, which raised his spirits a bit.
"Is good she make him suffer. Shame you not fly with anypony this year. Perhaps next year be different?"
"I certainly hope so. I would like a chance to fly with a team again. Even if it's a composite team. Yella jacket tol me that those Marines lead by Red Devil really have been stirrin up a storm back in the Nest. I would prefer not to go back to that."
"Old friend tell you old home messed up?"
"Pretty much."
"Sucks for them." Strizh said finding a strand of enjoyment in the suffering of others. Though Blue would normally stand up for them, since they basically threw her under the bus so to speak, she hasn't been on good terms with them lately. Yellow Jacket telling her what was going on was only a courtesy to their former commander.
"It's pretty late Strizh, we should probably get some sleep."
"Da."
"Hopefully tomorrow's better."
"I is hopings it is." Strizh said as the two of them went off to bed.
0800 Hrs. VTOL hangar.
Morning of day two, Lightning and Sasha are still asleep on the couch, Sergei is rummaging around the kitchen for something to take the edge off him being sober all the time. That is until Ludmila finds him drinking and wakes up Lightning and Sasha. Fortunately for Sergei that has not happened yet.
"Sergei, you awake?"
"Da."
"Good. I want borscht."
"Now?"
"Da."
"Why not make Lightning get it?"
"He asleep, not want make him angry again. He put up with my crap." Sasha whispered as she did not want Lightning to wake up.
"Fine, I make you borscht. Not happy."
"Spasibo Sergei."
"Da. Will take time." Sergei said as he set about making borscht for his sister, which now gives him authority to make some noise in the kitchen when he's rummaging for ingredients, so Ludmila won't know. Hopefully Sergei won't wake Lightning before 0900. Not that anything bad will happen, it's just that the guy needs some rest.
Around 0830 hrs. Ludmila comes out of Sergei's room and walks into the kitchen.
"Thought I smelled borscht."
"Da, you are right."
"Didn't know you could cook."
"Borscht is about the only thing I can cook right. Without botching it up." Sergei said as he was watching the pot.
"Can I taste it?"
"Don't see the harm, but I am making this for Sasha, so her taste comes before yours."
"Understandable." Ludmila said as she used a clean spoon to taste the hot soup.
"Is good. Though you use lot of potato."
"Lusya, is for Sasha, not you."
"Da, still think you use too much potato."
"Lusya. Enough." Sergei said as he checked to see if it was done. Which it was.
"Sasha, it ready."
"You bring it to me or I have get it?"
"You come get."
"Fine, but I wake Lightning your fault." Sasha said as she somehow managed to slip away from Lightning and go get her borscht.
"Well, he still sleep on couch. No problems."
"Da, I guess all good. Now give borscht to Sasha."
"Don't eat all borscht, I make I want."
"You feeding two ponies in one. I need more than you." Sasha said
"Ugh, who's makin so much noise?"
"And now you deal with upset Lightning."
"Sasha, are you eating something?" Lightning asked as he walked into the kichen to find them all gathered around the table where Sasha was rather nosily slurping soup from the pot.
"Oh, hey it's 0900, guess I needed to get up anyways. Can I have some?"
"NYET."
"Alright, guess I won't be having soup for breakfast." Lightning said as he went and found a box of cereal.
"She not sharings with anypony."
"Well, there's a reason."
"Da, we know."
"Yea, but you haven't learned to just drop it and roll."
"What you mean drop and roll?" Sergei asked as Lightning seemed to be happily eating the cereal dry
"Drop the subject and keep on going cause there ain't shit any of us can do for the next eight or so months."
"Is not as easy as you make sound."
"Yea, it's not, but you get used to it sooner or later."
"Really?"
"No, you tune out what you know you can't win." Lightning said still very happily munching on the cereal
"What in fuck Lightning, what in fuck." Sergei said making Sasha and Lightning laugh
 
0915 Hrs. Edge of Space
"Ah thought we finished breakfast an were preparin fer the lunch rush"
"Ah thought so too Sadie, is jus that darned Princess makin me do everythin fer her." KC said as he had tiny little breakfast creations to deliver to the Princess. Well, tiny to both him and Sadie that is.
"KC, where is my breakfast."
"Princess, this 'll be the fourth time I've served breakfast to ya, Sadie an Ah really need to prepare this place fer the lunch rush. Ya ain't particularly makin it easy on us."
"Well, just be a good stallion and bring the last of it to me." Celestia said as she was sitting alone in a booth while Sadie was trying to sweep up and KC very irritably brought the food to her
"Here ya are Princess, if ya need anythin else PLEASE hesitate to ask."
"You mean don't hesitate don't you?"
"Naw, Ah do mean hesitate ta ask. Ah got ponies ta feed an such." KC said as he went to check on his supplies
For as grumpy as KC was, he was only like that for a few minutes before getting back to his somewhat cheerful self. Though his stockpile of the usual favorites were rather low, due to them being very popular this year.
"Ah'm gonna have ta pay Mriya ta bring me some more supplies." KC said as he looked at the checklist of what was out and what was in.
"KC, tha Princess is askin fer ya again."
"What does she want now?"
"Ah dunno, she's askin fer ya though."
"Well, tell her Ah'm busy, need ta figure out what we need ta order before midweek."
"Are ya askin me ta take care of it hon?"
"If ya'd be so kind." KC said as he went about counting all the things that he had left using his checksheet as a reference.
Back in the bar:
"Ah'm sorry princess, KC's rather busy at the moment, what can I do fer ya?"
"Oh, I just wanted to compliment him on his cooking. He's a wonderful chef."
"Ah can tell ya that. Ah'll jus pass that along to him." Sadie said with a smile and went back to work, cleaning the bar to an acceptable level for the lunch and happy hour crowds.
 
1000 Hrs. Your shop.
You're not pleased to be awake, but you've got to man this post, which thanks to a late arrival of a Mi-26 dropping a CH-47 onto the shop's doorstep complaining of a seizing transmission, which you knew what the cause was.
"How much hydraulic fluid have you drank in the past month?"
"Two gallons why"
"Don't you know your hydraulic systems leak like sieves? There isn't anything I can do other than repair the damaged parts and fill you with Hydraulic fluid. Thing is though you need to monitor how much fluid you lose and replace it as necessary."
"Well I know I leak like hell, but ain't there anything you can do? I feel like I'm wasting it all."
"Stay on the ground, it's all that damned shaking you helipones endure that makes you lose so much fluid."
"I think I'll just listen to you." Chinook said as you nod, that's exactly what you expected.
"That's what I thought. Let me just check to see how damaged your transmissions are." You say as you climb up a ladder and get on his back.
"Eh, they're alright, I was just running dry on hydraulic fluids."
"You're a fucking dick. So you like the taste of it?"
"Not really why do you think I've only drank two gallons of it?"
"Well, you're going to drink a full drum of it. and you're not leaving until you drink it all." You say as you give him an irritated kick and slide back down the ladder.
"Rex, is Chinook done?"
"No, he's not allowed to leave the shop until he drinks a full drum of hydraulic fluid. Who are you by the way?"
"Am Halo, the Mi-26 who drop him on doorstep."
"Oh, well you're welcome to wait here or force that red barrel full of fluid down his throat." You say as you point to the red hydraulic fluid barrel before Chinook.
"Chinook drink, Do not be makings me be your parent."
"But hydraulic fluid tastes horrible."
"Drink it or be stuck on ground."
"You drink it."
"Mechanic say you drink it not me. You want hard way or easy way?"
"I'll do it the simple way." Chinook said as he picked up the barrel and downed the contents.
"Was not hard da?"
"Yea but it tastes horrible."
"Problem is you little bitch."
"HEY!"
"Is true, you little bitch." Halo said as laugh and shake your head. They leave shortly after letting you go and watch what's going on from out front of your shop. Avalon's Shadow is packed and well, that's kind of what you expected. Since they all now have someone to look up to and someone who bears the burden of the nation. Only you know kinda stressful, since a whole bunch of things fall on your shoulders now.
 
1100 hrs. Your home. Specifically Falken's room.
"So whatddya want to do today Purple?"
"Well, I should visit a few of my friends that are here. Having a bit of company would be nice."
"Are you asking me to go with you?"
"Falken, do I really have to tell you?"
"Maybe." Falken said as his red face got  darker from embarrassment.
"Twilight don't be so hard on the boy."
"I'm just teasing him Miss."
"Well be careful."
"Yes ma'am." Twilight said as Thunderbolt gave her a gentle reminder.
"Well, shall we go?"
"Yes, mind if I ride on your back."
"Go ahead." Falken said as he knelled down to let Twilight climb up on his back, though he didn't need to because of Twilight's ability to teleport.
So off the two of them go to track down the few of Twilight's friends who are there. Who's the first one they find? The pony who's making the biggest fuss of course.
"Rarity what are you doing here?"
"Well, after that rather large sale to Thunderbolt, I thought I'd try my hand at making these ponies wonderful dresses and suits that are within the highest fashion standards."
"You know, they're more likely to repaint themselves than buy clothes you know?"
"Yes, but don't you remember how wonderful Thunderbolt looked in what I had made for her?" Rarity asked as she was trying to avoid the oil stains on the ground.
"Yes I remember, but have you had any luck selling anything to them?"
"Oh heavens no, it's been a losing battle, I was thinking of giving up on these dreadful ponies with no taste in fashion." Rarity said as Falken gave her a rather irritated gaze.
"I could crush you like a bug, and you'd probably just scratch me."
"FALKEN! That's one of my friends."
"Well, excuse me Princess, but we're not used to having ponies FORCE clothing onto us. What my mother did was a very special occasion." Falken managed to say without sounding too angry at either of the ponies.
"Well, all things aside, shall we continue to look for your other friends Twilight."
"Sure, Rarity climb up."
"No offence Twilight, but I'm not a bus. I'm not carting you and your friends around on my back. I am hardly comfortable with you on my back."
"Can she at least walk in your shadow?"
"I have no problems with that." Falken said as he waited for Twilight to point in which direction she would like him to go.
"Alright lets go and see if we can find Rainbow Dash."
"Ok, so where would she be?"
"I dunno with the Wonderbolts I guess."
"Right, let's go." Falken said as he began to walk towards where the Wonderbolts had a little booth for the few peagsai that came to this festival. It did not take the three of them very long to get there, considering that Falken can make a crowd move with a special effect. One that looks like he's drawing in power to charge his laser, when he doesn't even need to do that.
Upon their arrival, Twilight teleports off Falkens back causing his illusion of eyes to roll, as he now lies down on the taxiway to see inside.
"Oh hey Twilight. I've been talking to the Wonderbolts asking if they could use another pegasus for the fly off that starts tomorrow."
"And they told you no right?"
"Yea, but that doesn't mean I'm giving up on it."
"Rainbow, you really should. Sure you've flown with them once, but you were being chased by the single most dangerous pony here."
"Yea and? I managed to hold her off."
"For thirty seconds." Twilight said bringing back that bad memory.
"Right, I forgot about that part."
"Oh don't be so hard on yourself dearie, you gave it all that you could." Rarity said trying to comfort Rainbow a little.
"You challenged my dad who flew in Morgan, you must have had a malfunction to think that was a good idea in any form."
"I was just calling him out on his boasting that's all you metal freak."
"Hurtful, but not the worst thing I've been called. Definitely different." Falken said as he was more confused by the insult, they're almost always about his eyes, and this was the first one he had gotten about what he was made of, making him unsure if he should be irritated or overjoyed due to not having his eyes called out again.
"Rainbow you apologize to Falken."
"Why should I?"
"YOU apologize to him, or I'll make you."
"Fine, I'll do it later I'm busy." Rainbow said which was met by a massive rolling of eyes of almost every pony there.
"Well I think you should apologize to him dear, you could have upset him."
"Upset him? Rarity have you looked at him? It just looks indifferent."
"Rainbow, you're making a fool of yourself, if Rex finds out." Rarity said as Falken was wholly unconcerned with their arguments.
"Listen girls I don't give a crap if she said I'm made of metal, primarily because I am, I'm just happy she didn't make another comment to which I'm particularly sensitive to." Falken said trying to break up the infighting.
"See Twilight it's fine."
"Well he is my friend, it would make ME feel better if YOU apologized to him."
"Fine, I'm sorry I called you a metal freak." Rainbow said as Falken gave an unenthusiastic shrug the best he could but he was lying on the ground to look into the tent
"Are there any other friends I should be wary of Twilight?"
"No, there's only one more here, and she's probably too busy to leave her booth."
"So I'm guessing she's who we are visiting next?"
"Yup, so off we go!" Twilight said as she teleported back onto Falken's back.
"Where to?"
"See the green flag with a red apple on it?"
"Yea."
"Go there."
"Alright, Your friends are wonderful Twilight." Falken said with a monotone that just made Twilight frown in disappointment of him not approving of her friends.
It's only a short walk over to where Applejack has set up her booth, and again, Lightning is there talking to her.
"Falken? What are you doing?"
"Apparently I've become a bus."
"Whaddya mean?"
"Purple."
"Oh right one of them princesses." Lightning said as he greeted Falken.
"Well, ain't that the oddest thing ya ever did see."
"What?"
"Him an his eyes." Applejack said causing Falken to let out a rather deep sigh.
"And there's the comment I don't like."
"What comment?"
"About my eyes." Falken said holographic eyes glaring at Applejack.
"Applejack, he's rather sensitive about his eyes."
"It's a bit late now sugarcube. Seein ya before ah said anythin would have been nice." Applejack said
"How about this, we drop the subject and not have me fire my laser at anypony alright?" Falken said as he was now visibly agitated from the two of them arguing.
"Heh, sorry there. Ah didn't mean it honest. Twas a bit suprisin though."
"I said not talk about that."
"Sure, so what can Ah do fer ya?"
"Twilight, your up." Falken said passing the show to Twilight now.
He could hear the two of them talking about his eyes and a very audible smack, which made him chuckle a little at Applejack's pain.
When the two ponies emerged from the back of Applejack's booth one of them had a hoofprint on her side.
"How about we try this again? Name's Applejack."
"Falken."
"So uhh, how'd ya meet the Princess?"
"You mean Purple?"
"Purple?" Applejack asked.
"He means me."
"Oh, he base that on the color of yer coat?"
"I would assume." Twilight said as she rolled her eyes.
"So how'd ya two meet?"
"Well, it was during a punishment when she was helping organize my dad's shop that I asked him what she was, and what she was doing in his shop. After a brief explanation, I understood that. From there we talked a little about books and such, and she lent me quite a few of them. Including her entire collection of Daring Do, which I have read every book three times in order." Falken said sounding very much like a very pleased nerd.
"Huh, now ain't that somethin Twi? Looks like you two got somethin in common after all. Ya both love books."
"Applejack, he's only a few months old."
"He what now?"
"He's a few months old. Don't let his appearance deceive you." Twilight said as Applejack had to have Falken's age explained to her, which was rather amusing to him and Lightning. Their argument was rather amusing for both Lightning and Falken as the two of them would laugh at points Twilight was making.
 
1300 Hrs. Taxiway.
"Hey Erwin, doesn't this look interesting."
"It's just electronics, why would I be interested in those?"
"Well, they're interesting" Osprey said sounding a little hurt