"Look who's out."
"Why'd you two lock me out there with her?"
"So you could learn."
"To learn what? That I pee myself when I get really scared?"
"To face what you fear the most." Mobius said as he passed by Raptor.
"Look at it this way, neither of them threatened to kill you or even tried. Alyona just gave you a hug and then walked away. Ok, Terminator did threaten you, but that was to keep you from doing anything stupid."
"You still locked me outside!"
"And you're being difficult again."
"Sorry, but it wasn't very nice of you to do that. Especially when you both know I'm afraid of her."
"She showed you that she was absolutely harmless." Nora said trying not to raise her voice or change her tone.
"So? It was still frightening."
"You tried to kill her. If it wasn't for us fighting you probably would have killed Terminator, and then have Rex's hoof shoved so far up your hindquarters he'd be using you like a puppet."
"You're no fun." Raptor said as she now pouted about.
"We're trying to help you but no you don't want our help you want to sit and suffer alone. Especially when the one you love the most is trying to help you and you're just pushing that help away." Nora said very sarcastically hoping that the point would get through to Raptor, but that's rather unlikely as at times like this she's pretty stupid.
"Nora, believe me I'm trying to learn. It's just I don't know how to ask for help without sounding weak."
"It's that attitude that's weak."
"What?"
"You're afraid to show you're weak again. You're not perfect nopony is. Not even Morgan. You're trying to hold yourself to an image that doesn't exist anymore. Stealth isn't everything, you should know that. I mean look at me, I failed, but I'm still here." Nora said trying to get sympathy from Raptor
"Nora, I know, look, I'm just not good at fully expressing things. You just happen to be a really good example of how poorly I can do that"
"And for that you deserve a hug." Nora said as she wrapped herself around Raptor
"Does this mean I'm back in your favor?"
"No, but it is a start. Sucks admitting what's wrong with you doesn't it?"
"Yea it does. So why make me do that?"
"Because you need to know what's wrong with you Raptor. I already know what your problems are, and if I keep telling you you're not going to figure them out." Nora said as she still held Raptor close, having been missing her touch for quite some time now.
"Nora, what else can I do?"
"Shut up, just let me have this one moment before you ruin it ok?"
"I can do that." Raptor said as she returned the embrace.
The two of them stayed like that until Mobius walked past.
"Get a room."
"Go get a marefriend."
"Still, use a room, not my entire home." Mobius said in passing.
"You ruined the moment we were having!"
"Eh, you'll have another." Mobius said trying to get Nora off his back. He was right though, there would be more moments like this to come.
"Uh Nora, how about you and I head out to Hornet for a couple of days?"
"Why there?"
"I know a couple of ponies who can get us a deal on a room."
"You know what? Why not? It's not like I've got anything better to do." Nora said with a smile.
"Ah, me time." Mobius said as he was promptly tapped on the back of the head for being self centered.
"I know, don't be like her."
"Don't think that jsut because you're not her doesn't mean you can act like her when you want to. Mobius."
"I get it or how else does she learn?" Mobius said which got a nod out of Nora.
 
2130 Hrs. VTOL hangar.
"Lightning you talk to sister since PAK FA show up?"
"No I haven't and I don't plan on it. The fact that she's afraid of an experimental PAK FA is hysterical and depressing at the same time."
"Because she failure now?"
"Kind of, she's failing like a few of the powerplant designs I had. they worked but worked like shit." Lightning said as the two of them were talking late into their night.
2300 Hrs Canterlot.
The three of you are sitting outside of the ice cream shop with a 5 gallon bucket of ice cream each. Of course you being in Canterlot brings forth the attention of Luna.
"It is a surprise to see the three of you here."
"Well, we just happened to be in the neighborhood and decided to stop in for ice cream."
"So the three of you are here to enjoy yourselves?"
"Yea, we had a couple of guests over for dinner, one of whom was a new arrival to Avalon's Shadow."
"Really?"
"Yea. Her name's Alyona." You say as the girls are enjoying their ice cream.
"Ah the one who is tormented by what her brother has done."
"Yea, you know what goes on inside of her head better than I would Luna, but we're not here for business, and besides, I've got to get back so I can do work tomorrow. I've apparently put off three appointments because of Alyona."
"And you must attempt to catch up?"
"Yea, it's either that or stay lagging behind." You say as you're slowly eating ice cream and talking to Luna. Then it was Morgan's turn.
"Hey how've things been?"
"They have been acceptable, and how have you been?"
"I've made a new friend."
"Is that so?"
"Yea, she and I get along pretty well. She's kind of shy though." Morgan said as you went to join Thunderbolt.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"Whaddya think of this place?"
"Its nice, I don't like the thought of you being so close to an area that you hate."
"Comes with the job, don't you think I would have done something stupid long before now?"
"Like the one thing in Avalon dam that you refuse to talk about?"
"Yea, that thing." You say with a little bit of a laugh.
"You won't ever use that would you?"
"No, only as a scare tactic, I really don't want to. The damned thing scares the hell out of me." You say as the two of you talk.
"The ice cream's pretty good isn't it?" You say changing the subject as you look to Thunder's drum to find it completely empty without a trace of any sort of melted ice cream
"Yea it is, uh are you going to finish your Rex?"
"Go ahead Thunder. I don't mind."
"Thanks. You know, I never really got to see how well Luna and Morgan got along outside of Avalon's Shadow. The two of them act like sisters."
"Well, I guess sometimes the awkward or misunderstood ones flock together. I guess that's why Alyona and Morgan get along so well, Alyona's both awkward and misunderstood in Avalon's Shadow. Morgan's just a tad bit misunderstood. Though she hasn't had an aggressive out burst in a very long time."
"True, perhaps Luna had something to do with that?"
"Maybe, but I should go home and get some rest, I do have to work tomorrow." You say as large red digital numbers float in your vision as you check the time.
"Should we be getting home?"
"Only if you want ... Did you already finish the ice cream?"
"Maybe." Thunderbolt said sounding a little guilty. She looked completely guilty though, there was some still on her face.
"Well, you missed some." You say as you wipe some of it off of her face.
"Hey dad, you mind if I spend the night with Luna?"
"Go ahead. Your mom and I are gonna head back home. Thanks for watching over her Luna." You say as you and Thunderbolt make your way to the runway and head back home.
0745 Hrs. Your shop.
You can't help but feel a little tired as you're preparing to open for the day, it probably has to do with getting ice cream late last night and then getting up to go and work at a normal time. Today you open a little earlier than normal, and when you did, one of the 150s you were supposed to work on today was already waiting.
"Good you're early."
"Trying to make up a little bit of time 150. I've been a little preoccupied with a new arrival and how she'd fare against another resident. Sorry about that, what can I do for you?" You say as the 150 walks into your shop and stands where almost every pony does.
"I'm feeling a little more sluggish than usual, and don't say it's because I'm a 150, I know I'm not fast Rex."
"Wasn't going to say anything. It might be one of your magnetos. One of them probably needs to be replaced."
"Can't you just repair it?"
"Look, I don't like fucking with those pieces of shit, I've got boxes and boxes of new ones and the used ones I send out to get repaired by someone else."
"So you're saying you're lazy."
"How about I show you why." You say as you swap to your robot and grab a used magneto that you have yet to send out. It's cheaper to do so in bulk. You buy them in bulk and you ship them out in bulk.
Once you have the magneto you've taken it apart and started to explain to the 150 why you don't work on it, all the time dreading having to put it back together.
"Ok, you know what? Just replace them both. If one went out the other's probably not far behind. I don't know how I've been getting more than 500 hrs. flight time on mine."
"Thanks for understanding this won't take very long." you say as you place the busted Magneto aside and go retrieve two new ones from the parts storage.
 
It takes you all of two hours to install and properly time the magnetos to where they'll function to the 150's liking.
"That better?"
"Oh yea, that's much better. Makes a pony feel a couple years younger." The 150 said making you smile
"Take care N68. Hope those Magnetos work out for ya." You call out after him as he walks off. As soon as you turn around G-BE is inside of your shop.
"Come now Rex, please try to do things in a timely manner."
"Jese BE, try not to do that to me."
"Sorry mate, but you are a little late in getting to me."
"Yea, I know. Had a new resident show up and she needed a little bit of guidance."
"Ah, a new pony in town. Wouldn't have anything to do with Raptor would you?" BE asked as you laugh a little.
"Perhaps, so what seems to be troubling you BE?"
"It's annual time for me. And a Hundred hour."
"Ah, a time sink for the both of us. Well, let's get started." You say as you begin to pull inspection panels off and look around inside of her wings. Though if you remember the Cessna manuals require you to remove parts to do a full inspection, like the wings and tail assembly, you don't do that here, as the ponies are rather uncomfortable without their wings or tail sections attached. Your way around that though was to use an ultra sound to check the joints and bolts without having to remove them. It works all the same, and since there is no FAA or governing agency to ride your ass about procedure, you can kind of do what you want, but all these ponies comply to FARs.(Federal Air Regulations).
Needless to say the inspection took up a good chunk of your time, forcing you to push lunch back until after you were done at about 1400 hrs.
"There ya are BE, all inspected and ready for flight. Any discrepancy has been addressed and you're clear."
"Thanks Rex. Be seeing you."
"Yea. See you around." You say as she departs and you flip the sign to show lunch break.
"It kind of helps that Beech is asleep just across the runway from the shop, which gives you time to run and eat something before having to head back into the shop to continue working so you're not behind.
 
After your hour and a half break, you're back in the shop with Beech. Of course he's got an issue with one of his engines.
Thing is you know Beech a little too well as he usually comes in for the same problem. He forgets to just spin his props to make sure that he's pushed all the oil out of the bottom cylinder. Which means he's blown another crankshaft and piston rods because he's failed to prevent hydraulic lock yet again.
"Beech you've really got to use those electric motors before you fire up your engines, or at least hoof prop them before you start. This is the ninth time I've had to repair a hydraulic lock for you. Don't get me wrong I love taking these apart, but you're giving me a headache buddy."
"Heh, sorry. I'm kind of a slow learner."
"No kidding. You're going to make me end up figuring out a way to drain the oil from your cylinders or rewire your engines so that the small electric motor runs for two minutes before you can start. Without overriding it." You say trying to scare him a little.
"You said that last time. You won't do that, you like these engines too much and you cut a pretty good deal for keeping them."
"You got me there Beech, though I'd like you to find a new problem, because this one is getting really old." You say as you're changing connecting rods, though that doesn't take very long, as you got the engine apart on him pretty quickly, the only problem was putting it back together after replacing each connecting rod. Though your process was to put the cylinder back on the crankcase when you replaced that piston's connection rod. So it was a somewhat painstaking process, fishing your robotic hands into the crankcase to remove the conrods, but on the bright side you couldn't do this before without removing the engine completely and taking it fully apart. This way is a little quicker, though if only by the three hours it takes you to dismount and fully dismantle the engine.
"Alright Beech, if somehow you manage to bend these Titanium alloy rods, I'm really going to rewire you."
"Look, I'll try not to."
"Well try to space it out a little more would you?" You say
"Yea, I'll try. Maybe I'll try to find a new problem that isn't hydraulic lock. Like detonation."
"Beech, that isn't something to joke about. You know how dangerous that is?"
"I've got two engines, I'll be fine."
"Until you blow both of them up at the exact same time which will kill you you moron."
"Yea, I know. I'll just burn an exhaust valve."
"That's a little more acceptable." You say with a little bit of a laugh as Beech is reassembled and almost ready for flight.
"Before you go, hoof prop each engine, especially your right one. It's pretty dry and needs to have oil in it before you scrape the shit out of the cylinders." You say forcing him to rotate each prop before you allow him to leave.
"There ya go. I'll try to do that more often. It's just a hell of a lot of work."
"Try being my mom. She's got two more than you and has never locked her engines."
"And we're about the same age. Think I would have learned?"
"A long time ago. You just got lazy Beech." You say to the Beech 18 as he leaves your shop and you take a little rest before seeing what else needs to be done. There's a little bit of cleaning that needs to be done, the parts need to be organized a little, and there's probably paperwork that needs to be done. So the first thing you do is the one that's probably the most vital, sweeping the shop floor making sure there isn't anything on the floor that could get ingested into an engine and wreck it. There's a lot of dust, but no FOD, which is good as it means you don't drop shit and there's no need to worry about a bolt or rock getting sucked into your turbines.
Sorting through parts is simple enough match the part with the part number on the shelves. Hardly any work, and your assistant that runs the front desk usually has it all stocked, except for the things the little pegasus can't lift, which leaves you with all the heavy lifting, but that's not bad. There's no need to do order forms, though the invoices on what you have ordered needed to be sorted
You hate accounting work, but it's got to be done, otherwise you don't know how much money the shop's got to spend on nice things like that CNC machine you've got, or some of the other more specific tools that you've made from raw materials on that CNC and vertical mill.
As you're doing the accounting work, just as you finish up, Patches walks into the hangar.
"Rex, do you mind accompanying me somewhere? I don't want the escort fighters with me for this one."
"Sure. Where we going?"
"Celone."
"Right, today's an anniversary date isn't it?"
"Yea, I just want it to be you and me ok?"
"Yea, I'm with ya mom." You say as you know what today is, and it makes your heart heavy with sorrow.
"Did you want to go now?"
"Yea, just give me a second to prepare myself." Patches said as she went through her pre startup procedures while you transfer back to your regular self and choke down some extra fuel since you don't know how long you'll be gone.
"Alright, let's get going."
"Right behind you mom."
"Ok. I wonder what Celone looks like now."
"If it's a ghost town we shouldn't stay too long. Ya know?"
"Yea, you're right." Patches said as the two of you walked out to the runway and you wait for her to get into the sky first. Being jet propelled had its advantages and disadvantages. Like staying with your mom is just barely above your stall speed, and you've got to fly with your flaps down just to stay with her and have some margin of lower speeds.
Flying at Patches' cruise speed, it's a four hour flight to Celone, and it's a very quiet one for a very good reason. It's October 21st, the day Litvyak went missing, though you've got the hidden hope that she's still alive from what Lightning had told you, you can't help but to feel the sorrow pouring from Patches.
"Hey, don't give up hope right? She could still be out there looking for you."
"Yea, I guess that's why I decided to go back to Celone this year." Patches said as you broke the silence of the flight
"Thanks for having hope Rex. It means a lot to me. It's like I've got 21 with me again."
"Mom, if there's one thing in this world that I know would make you happy other than actually having me born as your son would be finding Litvyak, and I want you to be happy, there's been enough sorrow and despair in your life. It's time for you to be happy, and I'll do everything that I can do to make it so."
"I'd hug you right now if it wouldn't unbalance us both in flight, oh look there's an airline, about 10000 ft above us. What is it?" Patches said as she looked up towards you and then past, the two of you were at 15000ft, and the other pony at 25000ft.
"IFF says it's a flight out of Garuda to the Crystal empire, a 747-400, a distant relative of yours."
"Don't get me started on those air carrier ponies."
"I didn't think the empire had a runway long enough for them, then again if they've got a few starfighters I guess a 747 could land there." You say in a distracted manner as you're subconsciously circling back to let Patches land first at Celone's airfield.
Once you landed you got a good look at the area, hangars were slightly dilapidated, though many were still in very good or excellent condition, many of the ponies here are decendants of those who fought in the same war Patches did 70+ years ago.
"What a dreadful place, they still think that what we did 70 years ago was their biggest glory. Look at it, it's barely changed."
"There's old propaganda everywhere. God I feel like I stepped back in time to 1940's England or even America with all this stuff." You say as a Lancaster walks past while the two of you are staring at a very large mural that looks very similar to old WWII USAAF bomber propaganda.
"Well, let's do what we came to do and get out of here."
"I agree with you there. Before we go to the monument to those of us who fell, you mind coming with me to my old hangar?"
"Sure, I'll be at your side the entire time." You say as you can hear the uneasiness in her voice.
It wasn't a long walk to a hangar painted with 44-67 on the upper portion, identifying who lived there.
"It's kind of dusty."
"Of course it is, I haven't been here in over 50 years I wish this town would have just let it fall apart."
"I could blow it up for you, it wouldn't take me too long to rig up a bomb to a timer and level this place with a 500 pounder."
"No, then you'd have this place on your ass. I don't want that. It's just another monument to this place." Patches said with a clear sadness as she dusted off a few picture frames while you looked around at the numbers painted on the floor. Three of them that were close together were 6715, 6719 and 6721. The three of them slept next to each other, and that's when you hear a little bit of stifled crying. When you walk back to Patches she's holding a picture she purposely left behind. A picture of her and two Yak-1s.
"Don't you cry. She might not be here, but look around, somepony's been living here off and on. There's different patterns in the dust, and your place is dust free. Who would do something like that?"
"it sounds like something she would do. Rex, I miss her so much."
"I know mom. It's going to be alright. She's probably looking for you. Let's get a move on, before you stumble across anything else you won't like." You say as she places the photo inside of her bomb bay to bring it home with her.
She sniffles and wipes her eyes before she speaks to you.
"Alright, we should get moving. I need your help with something at the monument."
"Of course."
"Grab a chisel."
"Ok" You say as you grab the nearest one and follow her out to the monument of what looks to be a bronze statue of a B-17 pony in flight on a large marble base with the names of the missing and KIA
"Since 21 didn't die in the war, he doesn't have his name on this. He deserves the recognition, he shouldn't be forgotten"
"Alright, you want me to scratch it in next to 15?"
"No, carve it in here, next to Litvyak"
"Alright" is all you say as you begin
It takes you all of five minutes to chisel 44-6721 into the marble monument, and when you finish you throw the chisel as far away from yourself as possible. A few onlookers stare at you and believe you've just defaced their monument, but when you turn around and yell at them, they leave you alone as they've heard the rumors of how dangerous pissing an AFDX off is.
"There anything else you need to do here?" You ask as you hug your mother.
"No, we should get going before I start to hear things."
"Okay, let's get you home. Remember, have hope, she might be MIA to us, and KIA to them, but I know she'll find you, I promise you that."
"Rex, that means so much, but you're going to have to pour everypony in Avalon's Shadow into finding her."
"Mom, don't worry about it. Come on let's go home. We've done what we needed to." You say as you get her up into the air for the four hour flight back home.
 
1900 Hrs. Your home.
"Where have you been? You weren't in your shop or office."
"I was with mom. She uh wanted to go to Celone."
"Oh. And?"
"It's a dismal place that clings to the past. She was haunted with memories the entire time. I made sure we didn't stay long."
"Rex, I'm so sorry."
"Don't be. I was there for her the entire time." You say as even Thunderbolt's a little upset by hearing where you went and with who.
"Is she ok?"
"She should be. I'll go check on her in an hour." You say as you lie down on the couch and stare at the ceiling.
"I know Sergei is looking for a pony with the same nickname as Litvyak, and if she's out there he'll find her. I want to tell mom, but I also don't want to get her hopes up so high that if Sergei can't find her that it crushes her."
"That's a risk you've got to take. Either you tell her or you wait until you know more, and knowing you, you're going to wait until you know more about the situation." Thunder said as she pushes you around on the couch before sitting next to you.
"Yea, let me know when an hour passes." You say
2010 Hrs. Avalon's Shadow.
While you're walking to Patches', Sergei has finally returned from a half month quest to inform all the Yakovlevs. He seems rather excited for someone who's usually very calm or uninterested in things.
"Hey Sergei what's up?"
"Nothings but oh right, I find Legendary Yakovlev. She comings to Avalon Shadow in week."
"This pony wouldn't happen to be a Yak-1 with a yellow 44 on her side would it?"
"Da how you know?"
"I had a hunch, besides Lightning told me you were looking for a particular pony, that happens to go by the nickname of White Lily."
"I findings of her, why you excited?" Sergei asked as this is pretty good proof that Litvyak is alive, probably needing some repairs, but still alive.
"Sergei, when she gets here, send her to my shop, I've got a few questions for her."
"Is first place she goings, needings a little work."
"Perfect, I owe you one Sergei." You say as you run off to Patches and try to calm down before going into her home.
"Hey mom you alright?"
"Yea, I'm ok. Thanks for coming to check on me."
"No problem, is there anything I can get for you right now?"
"No, just a little privacy will be fine. You really think Litvyak is looking for me?"
"Yea, I really do. Don't loose faith in her just yet. You said she was stubborn right?"
"Yea what does that have to do with giving up on her?"
"Maybe she's too stubborn to follow proper rules, too damned stubborn to die. You just need to have some faith."
"Thanks 21, I needed to hear that."
"No problem Mom. I'll let you be." You say as you leave.
 
2130 Hrs VTOL hangar.
"Sergei you home."
"Da, I home. I bringings news of White Lily."
"You findings her? IS she comings?"
"Da, in week she be here. She cannot fly well, havings to take trains."
"Where you findings of her?" Sasha said as she too was excited to hear this news.
"Orel."
"Orel? You find her there?"
"Da, she lookings for bomber, very specific." Sergei said and if you or Patches heard this the two of you would have flown out there
Sergei and Sasha talk idly for a while, Lightning was busy getting things from Antonov in preparation of Lilya. Though Lightning was the one doing the most preparations both him and Sasha were equally nervous about how they would be able to care for her. Though Lightning did pass on what you told him to Sasha, it did help, but if only to calm their nerves when they remembered what you said. It was helpful to Lightning, but Sasha could use a little more encouragement.
 
0000 Hrs. Your hangar.
There's a knocking on the your door while you're sleeping out on the couch.
"Uuugh who's there?"
"Sasha."
"Gimme a minute, I need to get off the couch." You say as you roll to your hooves and walk to the door.
"You do know what time it is right Sasha?"
"Da, but I nervous."
"Lilya?"
"Da."
"Come in." You say as you move out of the way to let this pregnant mare in. Though as you look at her, you start to revise the time table of when Lilya's likely to be born. She won't be a December baby anymore you were off, she may end up being a late October or early November baby. Which scares the hell out of you, and is probably why Sasha's nervous.
"Are you worried that you won't be a good mom Sasha?"
"Da, I afraid I will not be good"
"Sasha, you'll do fine. Once you have her, you're going to love her to death. But right now you're doubting yourself, just like Lightning probably still is. You need to stop that." You say as Sasha sits on another couch while you stand up and try to wake up at least a little for her
"I knowings, Lightning told same thing. Not to doubt self"
"And here you are filled with doubt. I'm sure you're just as ready as she is to be done with this pregnancy. I've got both good and bad news for you"
"Should I be worried?"
"I think not, but it's only one thing, I was kind of off when I said she'd be a December baby, from how you look she's probably going to be early November, late October"
"And this good news? Or bad?"
"Uh depending on your view both good and bad." you say
"What you mean depending on my view good bad?"
"Well, how ready are you for Lilya right now at this moment in time if she were to arrive right now?"
"Not ready."
"Well, It's already Oct 23rd, and I said late Oct or early Nov, so there's a problem for the both of us."
"You jokings with me da?"
"I wish. Sasha, from how you look, she's due very soon. I took my best guess on when she'd arrive, honestly this is the first time I've had to do this. I'm a little scared myself." You say as Sasha gives you a rather surprised stare.
"I know what to do so don't be too worried, I'm asking an expert to observe"
"And that is?"
"Patches. She's spent the like first three or four years of her life caring for foals, I'm sure she knows how to assist in their birth" You say getting a relieved sigh out of Sasha
"Is good to hear. Worried when you say you not done before"
"Yea, I didn't mean to scare ya. So you feeling any better about having her?"
"Little bit. Not by much"
"Sasha, you're a wonderful mare, I'm absolutely sure you'll do just fine. Just remember that I've got faith in you, if all else fails just remember that." You say as you give her a playful tap and she giggles
"Uh where is"
"Bathroom's down the hall first on left"
"Thanks"
"No problem" You say as she ducks off to the bathroom as you go and get a drink. After her use of the bathroom she heads back home, a little more at ease with the situation, but slightly unsure due to the fact that Lilya can be born at nearly any time now. That fact also makes you a little nervous too, as that means you can be woken up at any time because Lilya decided that it was time to be born. Though there was also something else on your mind, something that kept you in the living room so you could be the first to the door if someone should arrive looking for you. Though it's 0100 Hrs. and you fall back asleep on the couch
 
0930 Hrs. Hornet
Raptor pulled some connections out in Hornet to swing a room for a weekend, and is waiting for Nora to get up
So since Nora's still asleep, Raptor decided it was time to make breakfast for the two of them. It was the smell of food that finally got Nora to even stir into being awake.
"Do I smell food?"
"Yup, I thought I'd make us breakfast."
"Ugh, why didn't you wake me up earlier? We could have gone to get something." Nora said as she looked at the clock on the nightstand.
"Well, I thought it would be nice for just the two of us to have breakfast here, together."
"That's very kind of you Raptor. Is it almost ready?"
"Almost. Just another couple minutes." Raptor said as Nora pulled herself out of bed and into the kitchen of this hotel suite.
"Well, there's some pancakes done. What did you want to do today?"
"Oh I thought we could go and walk by the beach."
"But all those navy ponies are going to make fun of me. Especially the sea flankers." Raptor said in a very deflated manner.
"Well, we could go walk with all the other tourists."
"Fine we can walk down the beach."
"Besides, they'd have to actually see us, they can't sense either of us."
"You're not being any fun."
"Raptor." Nora said as she sat at the table to eat.
"Alright. I know, I shouldn't be too demanding of you. I kind of already did that."
"Exactly." Nora said as she began to eat.
"These are really good. No wonder Mobius didn't complain when you made him soup."
"Well, I kind of force fed it to him until he ate it on his own."
"Still, they're pretty good."
"You're just saying that. Nora."
"I'm not, you should work for KC, you're not as good as he is, but it will be something to keep you busy." Nora said getting Raptor to blush and babble incoherently at the comments.
 
1030 Hrs. Hornet
After the two of them had breakfast they set out to explore a little bit of Hornet. Well what wasn't a tourist trap for regular little ponies that is.
"Well, it's kind of a nice place, once you get away from all the shops and stuff. Locals don't seem to mind us very much."
"Yea, that is nice." Nora said as they walked
What both of them failed to realize that their base codes on their vertical stabilizers had AV on them. Hell, even you had AV painted onto your vertical stabilizers. Though you're about the only one who pays any attention to them. The AV of course stood for Avalon's Shadow. Which was why Raptor and Nora were left alone, though it did get a few onlookers. The ponies of Hornet had HN painted on their tails. Well that was all the military ones, the civilian ponies had their registration numbers ending in HN.
"Well, you want to head down to the beach?"
"Sure. Can we grab some lunch first?"
"Yea that's a good idea. Where do you want to stop?"
"Let's see what's by the beach." Raptor said as the two of them walked towards the beaches. It was a quiet walk back to the beach, there were a few onlookers wondering what they were doing there, as the two of them don't even have any sort of naval variants.
 
Raptor ended up choosing a nice little cafe by the beach, and their waiter was a little rude.
"So what brings you two here to a Naval city?"
"We're on vacation."
"Why not have gone to Avalon's Shadow, it's a little more suiting for the types of you."
"Excuse me?"
"Well, it's just you're both land based fighters and well this is Hornet."
"Look buddy, just because we're land based and can't tolerate the lake very much doesn't mean we can't come out here and enjoy the sun and the sand if we want to." Nora said standing up, allowing the waiter to catch a glance at the darker grey AV painted onto her tail.
"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know you two were from Avalon."
"Yea, that's right. Now you going to take our orders or are you going to be a little asshole and we'll take our business elsewhere?"
"Uh, what will you two ladies like?" their waiter said as Nora managed to intimidate him into compliance and after their order was taken, it was pretty obvious that the ponies of Hornet knew of the Sand Island guard division based in Avalon's Shadow, but didn't know who was in the squadron
With the belief that these two ponies were in the Sand Island squadron their lunch came rapidly and with a fair amount of respect that both of them didn't need or frankly deserve, well maybe for Nora, but Raptor? After all the shit she's caused, no.
"Well, that was rather pleasant."
"You mean after I yelled at the poor pony."
"Glad it was you and not me."
"Because somepony would have a broken radome."
"Yea, you know me a little too well, so how about that walk?"
"Sure." Nora said as the two of them paid and then left for their walk down the beach.
 
1500 Hrs. VTOL hangar.
"Wait, what do you mean that Rex was wrong about when Lilya would be born. He said December."
"Da, he inform me last night she probably come sooner."
"Oh dear Celestia. I'm not ready for this."
"Lightning we needings to be ready even if we not. She due very soon." Sasha said for once having a little more confidence than Lightning on this matter.
"Sasha if he was wrong about when she would arrive then what does that mean about us? What if he was wrong?"
"Calmings down, no needings for this."
"Sasha, I don't know if I." Lightning said as he was then promptly hit on the side of the face by Sasha.
"Thanks. I uh lost my cool there for a moment."
"Lost more than cool." Sasha said as Lightning laughed a little. Sasha could only shake her head, the news you told her was a little disturbing as she wondered when Lilya would decide to come, and that was frightening to her.
"What you two complaining about?"
"Sergei, Lilya be here sooner than expected."
"Jokings Da?"
"Nyet, not jokings"
"Is good things entire Yakovlev family on way to Avalon now." Sergei said as he asked what the commotion was all about. Then someone knocked on their door
"Who's there?"
"Mobius"
"Can he?" Lightning asked
"Da"
"Come in door should be unlocked" Lightning said prompting Mobius to walk in and see the three of them standing around
"Whoa she's pregnant"
"HEY!"
"Sorry, first time seeing her" Mobius said as Lightning yelled at him
"Mobius, don't you usually keep to yourself?"
"Normally. Just thought you'd like to know Raptor and Nora are in Hornet."
"Oh? What are they doing there?"
"Beats me."
"Oh, uh Sergei, Sasha, this is my older brother, and Raptor's older brother, Mobius." Lightning said as he formally introduced Mobius to his wife and brother in law.
"So this is F-22 that cause Yellow much grief?"
"Yea, that'd be me."
"Funny never thinkings you ok with Lightning and Sasha."
"It's his life. Not mine." Mobius said as Sergei was trying to give him shit, and knew more about him than Lightning did.
"So you just came over here to tell me that they've got to the beach?"
"Yea, for a couple days."
"You got used to company didn't you?"
"Yea."
"Don't you have the Sand Island barracks to stay at?" Lightning said halfway trying to get Mobius out of the VTOL hangar.
"I guess, but why go there when you live here?"
"Mobius, we're expecting a foal, there's almost too many of us here as it is, and we've kind of cleared the way to the doors so we can rush Sasha to Rex's when we need to."
"So I'll take that as a no?"
"You'll have to ask them. It's not my home." Lighting said with a sigh as he didn't want to turn his elder brother away, but it also wasn't his home.
"If you can give Sukhoi family hard time, you ok in my book. Sasha?"
"You part of family too. You stay, just please no gettings in way when Lilya arrive" Sasha said making Mobius smile
"No problem. You won't even know I'm here" Mobius said with a great deal of relief. Lightning and Sergei got him settled in while Ludmila and Sasha were just talking idly
"Someday you tell me story about Yellow Squadron"
"When I say more than ten words at a time" Mobius said with a smile getting Sergei to laugh
"Lightning! I likings brother in law already. Why you not bring him around earlier?"
"Sergei he lives with Raptor, what makes you think that I want to go over there and deal with her?"
"Nothings, but it been long search for pony who upset Yellow" Sergei said
"Sergei are you a detective or something?"
"Nyet why you askings?"
"You're really good at finding ponies. Like White Rose, and Rex."
"I just very determined to find certain ponies." Sergei said as he and Lightning went into the kitchen.
"Well, maybe you should talk to Avalon SAR, they might be able to use a pony like you Sergei."
"Da, but is only when I wantings to find certain pony."
"Well, it's just a thought." Lightning said as they were setting up a few drinks.