"Well, he's not trying to get me to shut up anymore."
"I'll believe that when I don't hear him yelling at you. Just because he's sick doesn't mean that he's still mad at you."
"Oh you're just being judgmental."
"Am I?" Nora said said while.
"The two of you want me to go and talk to the PAK FA. The least you can do is cut me a little slack here at home."
"Look, I talked to her today, she's kind of shy, but she's nice."
"You're just saying that so I'd go and talk to her."
"Would the entire Sukhoi family be trying to protect her otherwise? She's defenseless, she doesn't have a gun." Nora said trying to coax Raptor into talking to Alyona.
"Who's being judgmental now?"
"I guess I am, but still, I think I'm allowed to be a little concerned about her."
"Still, you should."
"I know. It's what you two want me to do, and it's probably the right thing to do, but I don't know if I could do it." Raptor said with a sigh as she looked away from both Mobius and Nora.
"Raptor, I'm not going to make you do anything. I'm just saying what you should do. Would it help you earn my trust back? Probably."
"Nora, I want you to love me again."
"I still do love you stupid, you just broke my trust when you talked about what my family did to me!"
"I'm sorry."
"It's too late for that one. So until I can trust you again, I'm going to be a little angry for that incident. In front of Princess Luna, how can I not be angry for that?"
"I was an idiot" Raptor said as she now hung her head in shame
"Yea sounds like it"
"Mobius, leave her alone on that one, it's my issue with her not yours"
"Whatever" Mobius said as he was lying on the couch
 
1430 Hrs. Sukhoi hangar
"Berkut why can't I go out on my own?"
"You know perfectly well why the family didn't let you leave Kubinka for all this time"
"Just because I can't defend myself doesn't mean I can't run away faster than they can"
"Yes, you probably can outrun most of the ponies here, but you can't out run a missile"
"That's what flares are for" Alyona said
"Alyona, flares and defensive maneuvers can defeat missiles, but you aren't supposed to be doing those."
"I'm the experimental version of the PAK-FA line, I think I can. You forget Terminator had my turbines replaced today."
"You've got new turbines?" Berkut asked as that statement caught him a little off guard.
"Yes, Rex installed them today."
"So that's what you were doing in there for two hours."
"Yes, he was very kind to me. I didn't even notice him working."
"That's his strong suit. He can work on even the meekest of ponies and have them in flying condition by the end of the day, or week depending on how much work needs to be done and how shy they are."
"You're very lucky to have him here Berkut." Alyona said as Berkut smiled a little and then pulled a telegram from Kubinka out.
"You mean we. Family still says your trip out here is indefinite. I lobbied to have you sent here rather than where the others send their experimental ponies to die."
"Where's that?"
"Depending on who you are, Edwards is either the place where you die or the place where you break every record that you can."
"Sounds dreadful."
"It is, I've been there. The American X plane series lives there, and they thrive on the isolation and clear skies. It's the proving grounds for many of the American fighter families. Very much like our Kubinka, but they wanted to send you there. It would not have been good." Berkut said as faint memories of visits to Edwards came back to him.
"Why does that place sound so grim?"
"It's just my view on it. It's too hot, dry and there's only one paved runway. I didn't like that place and I thought I was going to die there."
"Good reason."
"But even in that desert there is life. Many ponies thrive in that enviorment. They would not move for the life of them. The pony that first broke the sound barrier she lives there, and she loves Edwards." Berkut said as this long winded distraction took Alyona's attention away from asking if she could go out unsupervised.
But as Alyona and Berkut were talking there was an eruption of laughter that was indicative of a surprise visitor.
"Morgan! Favorite unrelated relative! What bringings you here?"
"Oh, I was kinda hoping I could talk to Alyona Flanker."
"Ha! Good luck in tryings to get through Berkut."
"Oh it won't be that difficult Flanker." Morgan said as the hangar erupted with laughter again. You were right, the Sukhoi family loved Morgan to death, so much so that they tease Terminator about her.
"Why you want to talk to Alyona, Terminator is here?"
"Well, I want to get to know her. I know what you're trying to do guys."
"Terminator! Your girlfriend here!"
"Don't you guys think I'm a little too young for that?" Morgan said with a laugh, though that brought Terminator away from what he was doing with a sputtering and mumbling of a frustrated pony.
"YOU IDIOTS KNOWINGS SHE TOO YOUNG!"
"We know, is just your face. Priceless."
"Why I live with idiots?" Terminator said getting a laugh out of Morgan.
"They're your family Terminator, they're going to tease you. The first time they said that I was pretty flustered too. Then I kind of got used to it. Is Alyona around?"
"Da, with Berkut. Why you lookings for Alyona?"
"I just want to talk to her." Morgan said as she noticed Berkut peeking out from a side room.
"Berkut, I know you're there."
"Am not home. Very sorry."
"Berkut. I just want to talk with her."
"Why?"
"Is it wrong that I potentially want to make another friend?"
"You wantings to be friends with Alyona?"
"Well, it's better than having her cooped up in here all day with just all you to talk to."
"Da I guessings you can talk to her." Berkut said as Alyona very gingerly stuck her head around the corner to see who was making all the noise.
"Alyona, Morgan would like to talk to you."
"Why?"
"Look do you want to talk to somepony other than us or not?"
"Well yes, but."
"But what?"
"Isn't she Rex's daughter? What if I offend her?"
"You won't. She put up with our teasings." Berkut said
Most of this went over Morgan's head, but Terminator and the Flankers had taught her enough to just barely understand what was going on.
"I promise, I not bite."
"What?"
"Sorry, my Russian, it not very good."
"Who taught you?"
"Flankers, Terminator." Morgan said in extremely broken Russian.
"You understandings us?"
"Barely. I can put together bits and pieces, but I really don't understand most of what you're saying. I promise, I don't bite. I just want to talk to you." Morgan said as what she was saying very slowly drew Alyona towards her.
"We already know each other name. It take away from meeting."
"Well, how about this. Hi, I'm Morgan, what's your name?"
"Alyona. Is nice to be meetings you."
"Yes it is. So are you new to Avalon's Shadow?"
"Da, I get here yesterday."
"Oh, would you like me to show you around?" Morgan asked as some of the Sukhois were a little cautious of what she just said.
"I would be likings that very much. Berkut, may I be leavings?"
"Morgan you stay by Alyona. Do not be leavings her alone for any reasons." Berkut said.
"Of course, I'll take care of her, and besides, everyone will be a little more comfortable with me next to her than all of you. Come on Alyona let's go show you the city." Morgan said as Alyona stuck very close to Morgan when the two of them left the safety of the Sukhoi hangar.
Morgan began with what was close to the Sukhoi hangar and then spiraled outwards, explaining all the landmarks and who was doing what. It just so happened to be nap time for Patches and you, though when Morgan and Alyona went by you were tucked under Patches' right wing, and snoring rather loudly.
"And there's my grandma and father taking a nap. All those old fighters around them are making sure nopony bothers them while they nap."
"Your father snoring." Alyona said getting Morgan to laugh.
"Yea, he is. We probably shouldn't wake them. There's other things to see here." Morgan said as she took Alyona past the VTOL hangar.
The two of them were out for about four hours, laughing and getting to know one another. There was one topic that was avoided, T-50, as it was a rather sensitive matter for both of them. Many of the ponies in Avalon's Shadow were a little confused to see Morgan and the PAK FA laughing together and appearing to have a good time. After your nap, you saw the two of them walking around together and Morgan explaining what was where and the landmarks. Like the Mund river that ran through some parts of the city. Though you were bombarded with questions of why would you let Morgan talk to that thing, your answer was simple enough.
"Morgan can take care of herself. She's more than capable of fighting back with just her ECM and her gun. She doesn't need missiles or lasers to kill." You would say and that usually got everyone to stop asking and think for a minute, if you were willing to let Morgan talk to Alyona, how bad could she really be?
 
1900 Hrs. Sukhoi hangar.
"Many thanks for showings me around Morgan."
"Hey, no problem Alyona, you're pretty fun to be with."
"And so are you." Alyona said blushing heavily from Morgan's comment. It was the first time anypony had complimented Alyona outside of her own family.
"Yea, we should go and fly sometime, Avalon's Shadow's much cooler from the air."
"I would be likings that very much. But I should be gettings in, am late for dinner."
"Oh shoot so am I. I'll see you around Alyona."
"Da. Be seeings you." Alyona said as Morgan ran off, back home giving Alyona the chance to sigh rather contently.
"Morgan didn't leave your side did she?"
"No, she's a wonderful pony. She seems very familiar."
"Well, that's because we do share some design characteristics. So she's kind of like a distant cousin to us Alyona."
"Oh, she said I was fun to be with." Alyona said getting rather excited to share that with Berkut.
"Well, yea you are. Did you see any other ponies while you were out?"
"Some, but I wasn't really paying attention." Alyona said.
"Well, it couldn't have been bad, you were gone for about four hours."
"Really that long?"
"Yes, your dinner has gotten cold."
"Oh, I guess we lost track of time."
"Yea, you two definitely did." Berkut said as Alyona went to the kitchen to go and get her dinner which was now cold.
 
Terminator was very relieved to see Alyona back home and safe. Though she was eating Terminator kept an eye on her at nearly all times. Except when she was with Morgan. He at least trusts her.
"Termintor, you shouldn't be watching Alyona."
"Berkut, don't tell me what to do. I am her uncle you know."
"Yes, and I her brother. Leave her be."
"You and I are both paranoid about her safety you know that." Terminator said.
"I know we are, but cut her some slack. Morgan is involved now. That's the best thing that can happen."
"I know, because if she is, that means Rex is too. Alyona cannot be touched by any pony other than us, Rex and Morgan."
"Comforting isn't it?"
"Yes, but I suppose you are right, I should let her be." Terminator said as he went off to his room.
 
1925 Hrs. Your hangar.
"So how was your time with Alyona?"
"She's pretty interesting. Really shy, but once she warms up to you, she's really friendly."
"That she is. Sounds like the two of you had fun. I heard a lot of laughter around the city today."
"Yea, we had fun. She's actually pretty entertaining. I even invited her to come flying with me."
"Oh, that's going to depend on if Berkut and Terminator let go of their leash on her."
"They let her go unattended with me."
"Yea but I bet they told you to stay right next to her." You say as you and Morgan are talking in the kitchen while you rewarm her dinner.
"Oh, you're back. How was your time with the bigger shut in than I?"
"Falken you don't know anything about her."
"True, but I do know that she hardly leaves her hangar."
"Doesn't mean you get to say anything about her. Hey how are you Twilight." Morgan said getting your attention to turn to Falken immediately
"Oh hi Morgan, I'm alright. How are you?"
"Perfectly fine knowing my brother is in a lot of trouble."
"Huh?" both Twilight and Falken said as you're kind of angry with him bringing her here without your knowledge.
"Twilight, did I know of your arrival?"
"Falken said it was alright."
"Does Thunderbolt know you're here?"
"I don't think so."
"Then that makes two of us that DIDN'T know we were having a guest." You say as you glare at Falken, and you know Twilight sees it too, as she's probably very cozily seated in his cockpit.
"Uh I can explain, Mom went off to Skyhawk's and you were napping. I didn't want to wake you and Mom doesn't like it when I intrude to ask if I go places, she usually says go ask you. I figured for once that I'd be ok if I went and got her. It was either ask you or ask Morgan who would harass me about it."
"Falken, just wake me up next time alright buddy? I won't be mad. It's a little late for me to make you take her home without handing you an open invitation to stay the night at her place, so you're welcome to stay here for the night Twilight. Though I'm not very pleased about this Falken, I'm going to let this one slide. Do it again and there's going to be consequences." You say as you've now got a headache. Though it does reveal Twilight who moves from the concealment of Falken's cockpit to his back.
"That's very kind of you Rex. I do hope I don't overstay my welcome."
"I hope so too. It's just a little easier when I know who's in my home. Now nerds go and do whatever you nerds do." You say offending Falken.
"Dad, must you call me a nerd all the time?"
"No, it's just when you're with Twilight it's exaggerated."
"You're being obtuse."
"Do I look like an angle to you?"
"No, but."
"Then don't call me obtuse, and I'll limit how much I call you a Nerd." You say forcing Falken to play your game to get what he wants.
"Very well then, if either of you need us we shall be in the library." Falken said as you roll your eyes.
Falken walks off to the library that you didn't know you had.
"I was expecting you to be angrier with him."
"And do what? Give him what he wants? Morgan he tries to out think me in what he's doing. Today he managed to almost out-think me."
"Well, I still think you should have done something."
"I do subtle things. Guess who has to make his own breakfast tomorrow."
"Nice, you think Berkut and Terminator will let Alyona come fly with me?"
"I dunno. That depends completely on how much they trust you and I. I know they trust you, and they have to trust me otherwise I never would have been able to do their maintenance."
"Yea, that's true. When do you think that's going to happen?"
"Bloody hell if I know Morgan. They can be unpredictable at times." You say as there's a knock at your door.
"Who the hell is coming over now."
"I don't know. It's what? 2000 hrs?"
"Yea whoever it is better have a good reason." You say as you go and answer the door only to have your chest tapped on lightly by a rather impatient Alyona.
"Alyona? What are you doing here?"
"Morgan home?"
"Yea, she's eating. Come in."
"Spasiba"
"Welcome. There anything I can do to help you?"
"Nyet, going flying with Morgan."
"At 2000 hrs?" You ask a little confused.
"Alyona? What are you doing here?"
"I sneak out. Let's go flying."
"Can I have like five minutes to finish eating?"
"Da."
"Thanks." Morgan said as she looked to you for help but all you can do is shrug and shake your head, you don't have any ideas either.
"I know it very short notice, but I was wantings to fly on new engines. Did not know when I get chance because Terminator and Berkut keep careful watch on me."
"Oh, so that's why you rushed over here."
"Da. I knowings it very odd seeing me so soon."
"A little, but that's ok." Morgan said as you're just listening and keeping an eye out for Berkut and Terminator.
"Well I'm done. Dad you care if we go for a night flight."
"Just be careful. Alyona, you should probably follow Morgan." You say
"We will dad, I'll make sure nothing happens to her."
"Just be careful. Try not to alert the Sukhois that she's missing."
"Trust me dad, they won't know."
"They better not." You say as Morgan and Alyona leave to have a nighttime flight.
"Hey wait up you two."
"What?"
"Don't mind if you have another tag along do you?" You say getting a smile out of both of them. Now there's no way the Sukhois can be mad at you. You and Morgan were going up with Alyona.
"Well, at least we have the best nighttime flight guide with us Alyona."
"Who that?"
"My dad can fly around Avalon's Shadow at night with his eyes closed." Morgan said bragging a little.
"That's stretching the truth a little there Morgan. I've just gotten good at flying by the stars. Thanks to Luna's help."
"You fly nights often?"
"More than I'd like. Sometimes I'm just out here to look at the moon and the stars."
"Morgan, your family very interesting. Very different than mine." Alyona said as you knew Morgan was smiling.
"Oh we're only half of it. When things calm down more you should meet my mom and brother. He makes Berkut look normal."
"I findings that difficult to believes."
"Trust me, he's an oddball." Morgan said as you laugh, she wasn't wrong. You lead the two of them around during the night for a two hour flight.
 
2100 Hrs. Just outside the Sukhoi hangar.
"You know she's up there right?"
"It's too late now."
"Yea, you recognize those two radar IFFs?"
"Rex and Morgan are up with her. She'll be fine." Berkut said as Terminator just sighed as the two of them watched three sets of navigation lights skirt through the sky.
"I know, but you do know she is my responsibility if anything happens to her, it's my ass they want."
"So that's why you're taking things with her so seriously? Don't worry so much with Rex and Morgan on her side, there's really not much that can go wrong."
"I still worry Berkut. She is in my care. I have never had anypony under my care before." Terminator said coming clean to Berkut
"Your first responsibility is your sister's kid. That's kind of rough. Makes me feel like I'm lucky to have to do research all the time."
"You're more fit for research than I am Berkut."
"True, but you're holding onto her with an iron hoof, which is why she was sneaking out on you."
"I'm just glad she went to those two." Terminator said. Though wasn't really another choice for Alyona to run to. She didn't know where Nora lived, and she only knew your shop and where you lived so it was the only choice.
"What do you think they're doing?"
"Having fun. Alyona's not much older than Morgan."
"I guess you're right. I should probably get some rest. Perhaps tomorrow we'll try something different." Terminator said as he went in to go and sleep.
 
2130 Hrs. VTOL hangar.
The noise of your nighttime flight woke up Lightning.
"Who the hell is flying at this hour?"
"Is nothing. Air defense not firing it friendly."
"Yea, but it's freaking late"
"Be makings of the quiet and come back to bed." Sasha said as she rolled over and went back to sleep.
"I'm going to go and look." Lightning said only to get a mumble out of Sasha as he left their room and went outside.
Your group was circling in pattern for landing as Lightning was walking out to the runway to go and investigate.
"Morgan? Rex? What are you two doing up?"
"Were you sleeping Lightning? It's only 2200."
"I went to bed at 2100. I always sleep early, hey who's with you?" Lighting asked as he noticed Alyona sneaking to hide behind you and Morgan.
"A shy friend of mine. So you came outside to see who was flying?"
"Yea. Well she must be pretty shy if she's hiding behind you two"
"Alyona, it's ok, it's another friend of mine. His name is Lightning" Morgan said as she tried to coax Alyona away from behind you
"Well have fun you three, I'm going back to be... Is she a PAK-FA?"
"Da. Am PAK-FA"
"Huh, so you're the one my sister is afraid of, that's great. Raptor won't hear the end of this" Lightning said with a laugh as he went back home
"Did he say I one sister afraid of?"
"Yea, that's Raptor's little brother, I wouldn't try to get his attention. It's pretty clear that he finds the situation more amusing than troubling."
"But I wantings to talk to him."
"Save your breath there, I can tell you he hates her, he's only going to make things worse." You say as Lightning is walking back to his hangar.
"How you know that?"
"I'm the one everyone has to talk to at some times or another. So I know things." You say as Morgan knows just as much as you because Lightning told her. That and from what Nora told you that one night when you were flying with her to and from Canterlot you could just assume that he hated Raptor. And with how he walked away laughing, you probably weren't wrong.
"Why do those who can help me not care about one who I want apologize to?"
"Alyona, it's not your fault. He did what he did because that's just what happened. We can't change it and neither can you."
"I know. Is just difficult to live with knowings what he did."
"Alyona, you just need to forget that it happened." Morgan said as you sigh.
"Morgan, she won't. So this is one of those things where you just have to support her. Like how I support mom in thinking Litvyak is alive."
"So it's one of those situations?"
"Except yours is a little more likely to happen than mine. Alyona, just keep trying, you may not get through to Raptor through her brothers, but if you can befriend Nora, you can probably get a way to Raptor." You say handing her practically an outline of what to do.
"Spasiba Rex."
"No problem. You should get home before someone misses you Alyona."
"Da. What of you two?"
"Oh, we're probably going to go home." You say as you walk home with Morgan close behind.
"She's pretty fun isn't she?"
"Yea, good thing she's going to be around for a while. If you and I have anything to say about that."
"Yea. The ponies around here can't hate her now. Hey isn't it only the American ponies that don't like her very much?" Morgan asked.
"I guess it's just that national bias. Then again, one of their own did get pretty messed up by a Russian. I guess that could be why."
"But isn't Avalon's Shadow almost perfectly split between American and Russian designs?"
"Yes, with a few various other ones in between. We're largely American due to most of the ponies here being NATO, which in my opinion sucks ass, since we're kind of Warsaw pact based."
"Yea, I guess they have their reasons for not liking her."
"They're stupid if you ask me." You say as you and Morgan walk home.
"Yea they are stupid reasons. Do you really think Litvyak is sill alive? It's been what? Like 70 years or so since her disappearance?"
"For my mother's sake yes I truly hope she's alive. I know that's the one thing that will break her heart if she finds out that Litvyak is dead. So I hold onto the hope that Litvyak is still alive."
"What would grandma do without you?"
"Do what she's always done. Survive, and continue to live her life her way." You say as the two of you get home.
"So the two of you went on a night flight?"
"Yes we did. Who was that pony I've never seen her before."
"Someone you don't get to meet Twilight."
"Then could Falken take me on a night flight?"
"You'd have to ask him." You say as you and Morgan both sense there's something odd about that request.
"Uh, about that, could I just ride with one of you instead?"
"I dunno. Can you?"
"Rex, I kinda want to talk to you."
"Alright. Let's go but remember I don't like people touching things inside of me." you say as you force Twilight to climb up on you.
"Yea I know. You don't like ponies riding along with you."
"Flying besides yes, inside of me, oh hell no." You say as you have that uncomfortable feeling of a pony sitting inside of your head basically.
"You know, I'm probably never going to get used to that."
"You will."
"No I won't. I'm not the kind of person who lets ponies take joyrides with me on a whim." You say as you walk outside with what always gives you a headache
"You know you can be a jerk sometimes."
"Well excuse me Princess, I think that I'm entitled to do what I want when I want. So what was it you wanted to talk about?" You ask as you walk to the runway.
"Well, it's about why I'm here."
"And why are you here?"
"Because I uh may have invited myself over."
"And you let me blame Falken for that? You're a damned genius." You say as you take off into the sky.
"Hey! I was more kind of thinking back to the letter Falken wrote to me."
"Oh god, What are you thinking?"
"I was thinking I may have been a little too hard on him."
"Nope."
"What do you mean no? I friend zoned him, shouldn't you be a little more alarmed?"
"Twilight I'd love to eject you right now, but since I don't know what kind of damage that's going to do to me, I'm not going to. Of course I'm alarmed that you're rethinking that."
"There's no need for you to be. Ok never mind there's plenty for you to be upset about there." Twilight as you roll your eyes as you climb above an incoming cloud layer.
"So since you're rethinking what you did, what exactly are you going to do?"
"Since you'll probably have me cleaning Celestia's hooves if I outright date your son, I was thinking he and I could be very close friends."
"And by very I'm assuming that the two of you would be VERY close."
"Yes. As much as you want to avoid this topic, you're actually being very informative."
"Every light inside of my head right now should be red, showing you how irritated I am that you would bring this up now. First I blame Falken for bringing you here unknown to us, and then I find out that you invited yourself over without checking with either Thunderbolt or I. I honestly don't know what to do with you right now."
"Can I get a yes or a no?"
"Yes, you can be VERY close friends with Falken, but if I hear or catch the two of you in anything inappropriate for his age, polishing Celestia's hooves is going to be the least of your worries." You say showing your irritation with Twilight.
"Right and my limits are?"
"You may do age appropriate things. Let's see he's about seven or eight in your years, I think he's like one by now. So if that helps you."
"Give me definitive boundaries."
"You can kiss, cuddle, hug and such like that, but if I catch you with his tong down your throat or the two of you doing something else completely off limits, YOU are going to have a very bad day."
"I understand. Hey, it's a beautiful night up here."
"Yea, yea it is." You say as you're more than happy that Twilight changed the subject.
"I've never seen the stars from up here before."
"Well, someone should fly at night more often. You've got wing Twilight, you can do it yourself."
"I can but I'm usually tired at the end of my day."
"Well, you need to exercise more, or find ways to reduce your workload."
"You saying that I'm getting fat?"
"Wouldn't bother implying Twilight. Have you said all you need to say?"
"Yes, I've said what I wanted to. Could you take me back to Falken?"
"Sure, but you and I are to never speak of this again. If Falken has to come to me for clarification you may as well start polishing Celestia's hooves now." You say as Twilight only responds with worried laughter.
 
2200 Hrs. Your hangar.
"Hey dad, where's Purple?"
"Right here Copper." Twilight said making you gag, you still hated that nickname.
"What are you doing on dad's back?"
"We were just having a talk Copper."
"About what?"
"Remember what we talked about earlier?"
"Oh yes, and he said?"
"We're ok. Just as long as we keep it appropriate for your actual age" Twilight said as you're now really gagging instead of making gagging noises
"Rex? Are you ok?" Twilight asks as she flies off of you and onto Falken. Though your response makes you sound like a Russian speaking broken English
"For love of god shut hell up. HUURRGGGH"
"I think it's the nicknames again Twilight" Falken said to your response that woke Morgan up as she poked her head out of her room to see you rushing away from the two of them
"I don't even want to know what you two did to make him do that."
"We really didn't do anything Morgan." Falken said as he gave Twilight a kiss, causing Morgan to back away slowly and close her door. Needless to say she was a little shocked at that revelation.
"Dad please tell me you saw what I just saw." Morgan thought and all she could hear in response was you gagging even more.
Though you shouldn't be finding this very odd, and should probably be more accepting of this than you are, it's just odd. Especially because it's the pony that always seems to bring trouble with her when she brings projects here with her.
 
2215 hrs. Skyhawk's hangar
"Thunder there's an awful lot of noise coming from your home. Shouldn't you go and check on it?"
"Nope, that's Rex gagging. Which means one thing Twilight's over and calling Falken copper again. I kind of had a hunch that this would happen today Sky and that's why I'm here with you."
"Wanna go get a drink?"
"Why not, as long as it gets me away from that mess for the rest of the night."
"Alright! Girls night!" Skyhawk said as she and Thunderbolt went off to go and get Osprey, then were at the bar no later than 2230.
 
"Now Ah ain't see tha three of y'all together in a while. There a special occasion?"
"Yea, me staying out of my home for the night. Twilight must have come over uninvited."
"Ah hear ya, Ah swear Ah can hear Rex gaggin from here." KC said with a laugh at your expense, but it did get the three to laugh along with him.
"So you mind getting us the usual KC?"
"Sure, ah Napalm fer ya Thunderbolt, ah Mark 82 fer ya Skyhawk, an ah M777 fer Osprey."
"Yea those will do KC."
"Ah though so Thunder. Y'all make yerselves at home." KC said as he went off to prepare their drinks as the three friends went and took a booth.
"So Thunder, how's thing with Falken and that pony princess of his?"
"They're fine as far as I can tell Osprey, but I'll know otherwise if Rex comes here or tomorrow morning by how he looks."
"I'd say you're lucky, your son is technically dating royalty."
"That's nothing, both Rex and Morgan are good friends with Princess Luna."
"Yea, I'd take that over some princess most of us have never heard of." Osprey said getting the table to burst out into laughter. While they were laughing KC brought their drinks and then departed as silently as he arrived.
"Oh could you imagine Rex' face if Falken somehow manages to date Celestia?"
"He'd probably blow his canopy off at the sight of the two of them together!"
"That'd be something to see Skyhawk."
"Oh don't I know it Osprey. Whaddya think about that Thunder?" Skyhawk asked turning the conversation over to Thunder.
"That'd be the one thing to make Rex lose his temper. And he's managed to stay remarkably calm. As funny as it'd be to watch him loose it, I don't want that to happen." Thunderbolt said still giggling at that thought. The three mares laugh and talk for the next hour and a half until you come into the bar.
"KC I need something strong."
"Sure, somethin strong comin up Rex."
"Thanks buddy." You say as you drink what KC poured for you and then end up choking it down barely.
"Straight jet fuel? KC you know I still can't handle that stuff straight."
"Yer ass is jus bein a pansy."
"No I physically can't handle it KC, how about I slip some chicken in your lunch?"
"Rex, ya know we can't handle meat too well."
"Yea, I know. I've tried." You say as you reach past KC to find something to dilute the Jet-A he gave you
"Rex, what are you doing here dear?"
"Thunder? Well, I'm trying to repress tonight's recent events, hopefully I can kill them before they become long term memories."
"Then I think you're going to want to join Sergei and Ivan."
"Sergei's out informing the Yakovlev family, and Ivan's already passed out." You say
"Then join us Rex we were just talking about you."
"Really?"
"Yea, what would you do if Falken was dating Celestia?"
"Find some way to leave this planet." You say in a straight deadpan. Twilight was difficult enough on your brain, but Celestia? The single pony you hated more than anything for just pure reactions that you had no control over, yea you'd find the first one way ticket off the planet and stay gone.
"Of course we're just joking."
"Of course. Now I'll need to drink more. Excuse me ladies." You say as you now hammer down their drinks, and Osprey's tastes an awful lot like unburnt gunpowder.
"Osprey what the hell did you get?"
"M777."
"Explains the taste of gunpowder in it." You say as Osprey and Skyhawk laugh at you.
"Ah brought ya somethin a little more ta yer likin."
"KC, that's the fucking frutiest drink you've got here. I'm not drinkin that."
"It'll cover up tha taste of tha fuel in it."
"KC, just bring me some vodka or whiskey, I'm trying to forget things here."
"Ah how bout ah bring ya ah need ta forget stuff."
"Sure, and while you're at it, if you think you're up to it, make a gargle blaster."
"Ya are damned serious about tryin ta forget tanight." KC said as you nod and place your face onto the table.
"Rex, what's a gargle blaster?"
"Osprey, it's a fictional drink from my old world, which in it's universe is said to have the effect of having your brain smashed with a large gold brick with a wedge of lemon wrapped around it."
"That sounds kind of painful."
"It's effects in this place are near impossible to replicate. Other than what would have been me killing a few brain cells if I was still biological, hopefully this just disrupts things enough to forget tonight." You say as KC comes back.
"Ah don't think ah can make the one ya asked fer, but here's two Ah think AH forgot last night."
"Thanks KC, just bill me later." You say as you take one of the drinks and slam it down.
1100 Hrs. Skyhawk's hangar.
"What the hell did I do last night?"
"Rex, you're awake."
"Thunder? Where am I? And why do I hurt?"
"You drank two I think I forgot last nights at KC's last night."
"Explains the hangover. How'd we get here?"
"You weren't going home in the state you were in." Thunderbolt said as you shield your eyes from any sort of light.
"Yea, he's still alive Sky."
"Well that's good. He remember anything about last night?" Skyhawk asked as she walked into the room as you now cover your ears.
"Quiet, and no I can remember flying with Alyona and Morgan, but that's about it."
"Your plan worked. Oh and Twilight is in our home."
"FFFFFFUCK." You say as you pull the blanket that was on you completely over you.
"Are you ok?"
"Yea, I'll be fine, Skyhawk, can I stay here until I'm able to walk without throwing up?"
"You're both hung over, so you're not going back to your place without a lot of assistance. Frankly I can't support both of you let alone you Rex. You're a little too big for me to help." Skyhawk said as you black out again, this time from feeling like shit not alcohol.
 
1130 Hrs. Your home.
"Morgan, where's mom and dad? It's nearly noon."
"Dad went out to drink, and Mom's probably at Skyhawk's still. If anything they're both at Skyhawk's."
"Well, I'm hungry."
"Make something you're smart enough to read a cookbook." Morgan said as she was eating a bowl of cereal out of sheer laziness.
"Can't you pour me a bowl of cereal?"
"What about Twilight?"
"What about purple?"
"Shouldn't you make something for her?"
"Damn it." Falken said when he realized that Morgan was right and set out to make something much to Morgan's pleasure as it means that he's going to be occupied for the next thirty minutes doing something productive.
"Copper what are you doing?"
"Trying to make lunch. I've kind of burnt the last three things I've attempted to make. I'm sorry, I'm not a terribly good cook, even though I'm following these directions exactly." Falken sa