Sasha was completely over excited to hear those words come from Lightning's mouth. Except he wasn't enjoying the almost crushing hug.
"Sasha, loosen up you'll crack my skin." Lightning said as she backed off and was completely red in the face.
"Very sorry." Sasha said as she looked at her hooves.
"I never said to back off. Just not so tight." Lighting said as it was now his turn to blush awkwardly.
"It late. Should be sleeping." Sasha said as she motioned to her bed.
"Oh, I'll uhh, I'll go then." Lightning said confused on what to say.
"Nyet. Stay. Please." Sasha said as she held her door closed.
"Alright Sasha, I'll stay with you." Lightning said as Sasha now very excitedly hovered before zooming over to her bed.
"Hope you don't mind sharing." Sasha said as she now landed and laid down.
"I don't mind."
"Good. I tend to cuddle." Sasha said as Lightning laid down besides her.
"Good night Lightning." Sasha said as she gave him a kiss.
 
2243 hrs. directly outside of Sasha's window.
Yellow Jacket had been following Lightning around since the incident in the bar.
"Aww shit, just wait till I tell the guys about this. They gonna have a field day." Yellow Jacket said as he ran back to the Hornet's nest.
2300 hrs. Hornet's Nest.
"Yo guys ya won't believe what I just caught!" Yellow Jacket said as he burst into the hangar.
"What'd you catch Jacket?"
"Ain't what I caught, but who I caught with who. I saw Lightnin kissin 141." Yellow Jacket said as the whole place started to buzz with activity.
"No way! Lightning and that Yak! Who'da thunk?"
"I'da thunk it Sidewinder. That's why I was out followin him." Yellow Jacket said as the noise coming from the Hornet's Nest was getting progressively louder.
"Dayum Lightnin got more cahones than I thought." Sidewinder said as Blue came out and smacked the back of his head.
"Watch it all of you, the volume's getting out of control. Keep it down, there's a base that's tryin to sleep." Blue said as she walked out to quiet them
"Buh Angel, Lightnin and Sasha, they an item."
"Stow it Sidewinder. Whatever it... Wait, you say Lightning and 141?" Blue asked as she was definitely interested in this.
"Yea I said Lightnin and 141. Yellow Jacket said he saw them kissin." Sidewinder said as the others were hollerin about making all sorts of dirty jokes, and a rather rude comment about Sasha being a "Husky Ruskie"
"Yellow Jacket. Location and time of this?" Blue asked pulling here intel together.
"About 15 minutes ago I guess, in the Ruskie's hangar. I was watchin from a window." Yellow Jacket said as he disliked being questioned.
"Well, this is certainly something. Little Lightning's trying to break the barrier between us and the Russians. Like hell if I fall for that flashy MIG-29." Blue said as she was planning something, most likely that both Raptor and Lightning wouldn't like.
"Why you gotta go and talk about the Migs Angel? Ya know we don't agree with em too much." Sidewinder said a little concerned about why she would bring up the Migs.
"Just forget it Sidewinder, we've got a tradition to keep to." Blue said as a smile creeped across her face.
There was a rattling of rocks against the side of their hanger.
"HEY you hornets. Shut hell up. We Migs are trying to sleep. We no bother you with noise and constant party." one of the Migs yelled after the Hornets looked at the wall that was hit.
"Aw go burn up somewhere you Migs."
"Go break faces on carrier." One of the Migs shot back to the Hornets.
There was just nose the rest of the night as the hornets wanted to keep to their Navy traditions.
 
0530 hrs. Your home.
You got up early so you could shower and be presentable for Thunderbolt today. You didn't want to disappoint her, or her friends. Her sister you didn't really care if you offended, but kept a bag of bolts on you for the chance that she may be crazy.
At about 545 Thunderbolt comes to pick you up.
"Thanks for letting me be in your cockpit Thunder." You say as she takes off.
"No worries Anon. It's not like you could hold on for the three hour trip. Are you comfortable at least?" Thunderbolt asked as she began the flight to the Wonderbolt's facility
"Yea, I'm pretty comfortable. Your cockpit's wider than what I'm accustom to, but I really like it, cozy. Just remember though, I see what you're seeing." You say as you keep your hands off of her controls.
"It's going to take a while." Thunderbolt said
"No worries. We'll get there when we get there Thunder. I'm not worried about the travel." You say as you lean back a little and examine your surroundings. You swear it's just a little larger than a normal A-10's cockpit, with the same visibility, but you're inside of Thunderbolt's head, a concept that takes some time to wrap your head around.
"So about that plane, what could it do?" Thunderbolt asked wanting to either know more about it or keep this from being a really boring flight.
"Find and destroy attackers, fighters, bombers and anything that's flying really. The weapons are still prototypes and most likely will not have the resources to be developed. Though they did manage to create a really funky ECM shield. The missile aspect of it I understood, but deflecting bullets from even an A-10 that I don't understand." You say as you feel her shudder at the thought of not being able to down a plane.
"That's a scary thought." Thunderbolt says as you both settle into the cruise
 
"Eh, When you think about it Thunder, it's a scary bitch for a reason." You say as you know why it was made, to kill planes like Raptor and T-50 without the need for stealth.
"I don't like it. Why did you want to fly it?" Thunderbolt asked
"Because it's something I thought would never exist on my world. Turns out I was wrong, wrong about a lot of things." You say as you're already settled in for the ride.
"Well, at least you said you were sick today. Lets you get away from your shop." Thunderbolt said as you just laughed. Sick, that was a way to describe the fact that you were honestly too tired to work.
"Yea, guess I've gotten ill." You say with a slight chuckle at her humor.
"You're not really sick are you?" Thunderbolt asks worried you might throw up inside of her.
"No, I meant it as a partial joke. Seems nobody really understands that." You say as you both laugh and continue on your way.
 
0900hrs in the muck outside of Edge of Space Bar and Lounge
Sidney has awoken from his vicious beating.
"Oh my fucking back. What the hell happened?" Sidney said aloud as both of his hooves were on his head.
"The entire bar took to beating you to a pulp. You insulted Osprey. Analysis indicates received treatment deserved AV-8 Harrier: Sidney." a drone said as he floated on by past.
Sidney stood up and looked at his reflection in a window, what he saw was very alarming. Sheet metal damage, a whole lot of it. To make matters worse, he was definitely unairworthy due to the fact that both spars in his wings were bent nearly 90 degrees upward instead of their usual slight downward cant.
"Celestia help me." Sidney said as he realized his reflection wasn't some sick joke being projected by a Smith on the window. Sidney ran off to the only shop that could repair this type of damage in short time and still allow him to be airworthy. Anon's shop. Unfortunately for Sidney, there was a large sign that said closed due to illness on the doors.
Sidney stared at the sign before letting out a pain ridden yell. at the steps to Anon's shop he collapsed in pain, looking very much like a wrecked heap of an aircraft, let alone a pony.
 
1000hrs. Russian VTOL hangar.
"Sasha! Lightning! Don't sleep all day!" Sergei yelled out as he himself just woke up.
"Sergei, already up. Lightning burnt sheets." Sasha said as Lightning was sitting in a corner in a self time out.
"Lightning. Why nose in corner?" Sasha asked as she put an arm around him.
"I destroyed your sheets. I'm really sorry Sasha." Lightning said as he looked at the ground very embarrassed of having a wet dream about Sasha again, but right next to her. Burning the sheets was a very bad way to cover it up, but it worked didn't it?
"I believe phrase shit happens useful da?" Sasha said as Lightning smiled a little and looked up at her.
"Yea, I guess." Lightning said as both he and Sasha were dragged to the kitchen for breakfast.
"Eat, no good if not fueled." Sergei said imparting his usual brotherly love unto Sasha, and very reluctantly unto Lightning.
After a while there was a knock on their door.
"Hey yo three eight, Lightnin here?" Sidewinder asked as Sergei answered the door.
"Of what consequence is it for you Hornet?" Sergei responded knowing Hornets are never up to any good when they ask specifics.
"Well, we was plannin a little party for the kid. So is he here or not Three eight?" Sidewinder asked as he was truly testing Sergei's patience.
"Da. Lightning. A hornet wants you."
"Which one Sergei?" Lightning asked as Sergei only looked at the Hornet due to the fact he really does not care or want to know the name of the hornet.
"Yo Lightning It's Sidewinder. You comin to this party or what?" Sidewinder said as he stuck his head into the hangar only to be pushed out by Sergei.
"What for?" Lightning asked as he looked out the doorway.
"Well it's for you an well we can't get it started without you bein there buddy." Sidewinder said
The VTOLs looked at Sidewinder with an uneasyness that could be felt from how little information he was giving them.
"Alright. When and where?" Lightning asked Sidewinder smiled.
"Edge of Space, we managed to reserve the entire place for ya. Be there in about fifteen minutes." Sidewinder said.
"Da, we'll be there Hornet." Sasha said,
"Oi, just Lightnin. You get to stay home." Sidewinder said a little irate that the plan may fall apart if the Russians are there.
"Unfair. NATO party for Lightning and whole base not invited. Rude." Sasha said voicing her displeasure with the Hornet.
"I just do as I'm told. I'll check again Ruskie." Sidewinder said as Sergei now slammed the door on his face.
"You make great Soviet Door Stop hornet. Please, do not bother us again." Sergei said as Sidewinder walked away disoriented from having a door slammed into his face.
"Sidewinder, report." Angel asked her Australian accent coming thorough a little.
"Lightnin's comin Angel. 141 didn't seem to be pleased that she wasn't invited. What are we doin again?" Sidewinder asked as Angel hit him on the back of the head for being an idiot.
"Mate, I'm not goin to tell ya again. You gotta remember this stuff. Ask Yellow Jacket, you know I can't be here when he shows up, Anon told him when things with the Hornets go down, I'm the indicator of trouble." Angel said as she went to hide in a back room.
 
1030hrs. Edge of Space.
"Sidewinder you in here?" Lightning called out as he entered the empty bar.
"Yea, I'm here buddy."
"That's great, but why are the lights?" Lightning asked as the lights came on and revealed the bar to consist only of the Hornets.
"It's time for a little bit of Navy tradition Lightnin. You've got the hots for a Husky Ruskie, an there's traditions." Yellow Jacket said as Lightning now realized he walked into a trap.
"Heh, that's. uh that's great guys, but, I uh I should be going" Lightning said
The hornet's blocked his exits.
"Come on guys this ain't funny." Lightning said as he avoided some of the hornets trying to grab him.
"Oi stop fuckin around out there an jus grab im." Blue Angel said as she stepped out and her appearance made Lightning freeze.
"FUCK." was the only thing Lightning both thought and said.
"Oi! Watch your mouth. Lightnin, we've got a few Hornet traditions to pass to ya. Since ya like hangin with us. Ya may as well become one of us." Angel said as one of the Marine Hornets chimed in.
"Hey He's the Marine Variant. I say ya don't haze the kid." Red Devil said as he and a few of the other Marine Hornets actually took to defending Lightning.
"Oi, Jar heads get outta the way. He's a navy fighta, so we gonna treat 'im like one" Sidewinder said as he threw a punch at Black Night.
"Marines, Navy boys wanna fight. So let's give 'em a fight." Red Devil said as a classic Marine vs Navy bar fight erupted in the building. Hooves flying left and right, Red Devil and Blue Angel going at it as dedicated leaders of the two Hornet factions. Lightning was just trying to avoid all the fighting and get out of the building. Every time he tried to escape through the doors he was cut off by a Navy Hornet.
The brawl kept going until Lightning managed to find KC and get him to stop the brawl.
"Alright you Hornet's knock it off. I ain't got the time to go and get ops to straighten you all out." KC said as he came into the scene of broken furniture and damaged glasses.
"Hey KC, who's that?" Lightning asked as he pointed outside at an unusual plane that was outside of Anon's hangar.
"I dunno Lightning, I ain't ever seen her before." KC said as that got the Hornets to stop fighting and look at the new pony.
"Yo Blue, what's that designation? I ain't seen that before." Yellow Jacket said as he pointed to the new pony that now had turned to face the bar, giving a glare that made everypony in the room feel like she saw into their soul.
"Red, you go talk to the new pony." Angel said trying to get the Marine to go.
"Hell no Blue, last time you made me do that I nearly got my head cut off by Osprey's rotors." Red said as he tried to figure out what the plane was.
"Well if you cowards aren't going to talk to her, I will." Lightning said as he walked out with the Hornets begging him not to go.
 
1300hrs. Just outside your home.
"Hi, I'm Lightning, are you new here?" Lightning asked as he walked up to this strange pony.
The glare on the pony softened to a light smile.
"I guess so. I just don't know where he went." She said with a relatively soft voice.
"He? Who are you talking about?" Lightning asked.
"The man who lives here. The one that was building me from scratch." she said as Lightning was in awe of the fact that this pony was built by your hands from the ground up.
"So, Anon built you?" Lightning asked.
"Yea, he did. Spent so much time carefully putting me together. He almost finished, but I decided to finish building myself." She said as she showed him the work that she did, which was even neater than yours.
"That's astounding. He never told anyone." Lightning said.
"I wouldn't blame him. My designation sort of scares him a little." She said as she sat by the door to your home.
"Oh? I never caught your name by the way." Lightning said as he sat next to her.
"ADFX-01. He calls me Morgan." She said her light voice beaming with pride from the name and designation you gave her.
"So your name's Morgan?" Lightning asked.
"It would appear to be so." Morgan said as she resigned to laying down.
"Hey how about I introduce you to some ponies I know around here. At least until he gets back." Lightning said causing Morgan to smile.
"Sounds wonderful." She said as she stood up and walked with Lightning to the bar first to scare the living hell out of the Hornets for trying to haze him, well, except for the Marines, they did alright by him.
1300 Hrs. Wonderbolts Training Facilty.
"Hey Thunder, just remember I can't walk on clouds." You say as the two of you walk atop this plateau where the facility was.
"Well, almost everything here is solid ground. You don't have much to worry about Anon." Thunderbolt said as the two of you hear the screaming of another A-10's turbines.
"THUNDER!"
"WARTHOG!" Thunderbolt yelled back as her sister came down from the sky to greet her.
"I was beginning to think you weren't going to make it sis." Warthog said as she hugged her sister.
"Well, I had an unexpected detour. Ran into a freak storm over Everfree." Thunderbolt said as the two were now oblivious to you. Something you took a lot of relief in.
You take the time to check your phone to see if there's any messages for you. There's a bunch of frantic texts from Sidney, you could care less, your shop is closed, and there's also a message from the Twins. Concerning, but you had other things on your mind other than what was going on at home. If it were Brezhnev or Sully, you'd be worried.
"Oh Warthog, you remember Anon right?" Thunderbolt said as you quickly put your phone away and held onto a few bolts.
"No hard feelings right Anon?" Warthog said as she looks away from you.
"Yea. I guess so." You say rather relieved and a bit conflicted at this change of heart of hers.
"Hey why don't you two stay for the show? It's at 1500 hrs. My treat." Warthog said as Thunderbolt looks to you.
"Sure. Thank you Warthog." You say as you're still conflicted about why she's so nice all the sudden.
"See I told you she wouldn't risk her spot." Thunderbolt said as Warthog went off to go and get the tickets or something.
"I guess so. Looks like she's changed. She's actually nice enough for me to be around." You say as you and Thunderbolt walk around the perimeter of the area.
"Why do you say that?" Thunderbolt asked as you two walked.
"Well, it seems like she's either mellowed out or is sorry about that thing she attempted." You say as Thunderbolt looks at you
"Well, she wasn't always so thick skinned. She used to be quieter than me." Thunderbolt said as you look at her in disbelief.
"No way that loud mouth used to be quieter than you? Sorry, I didn't mean to be so rude." You say as Thunderbolt makes an upset face at you for making an off color comment.
"Well, I should have expected it. You two didn't always see eye to eye."
"Yea, well there was a few incidents that kept us staying away from eachother." You say as you scratch the back of your head.
"Well the past is past. Hopefully she's trying to make it up to you." Thunderbolt said as you two walked off to the arena to watch the show.
 
1500 hrs. Wonderbolts' Arena
You and Thunderbolt are watching the show. Though you're not very impressed with it, Thunderbolt is enthralled by the Pegasi flying about doing aerobatic maneuvers. To you it needs a few more explosions, more turbines or piston engines.
You're a pretty hard crowd to the Wonderbolts as Thunderbolt applauds them as they finish while you sit and try not to look bored. That is until your phone starts to ring with a tone you've assigned to emergency only contacts.
"Go for Anon." You say as you leave the stands on your phone.
"Anon, there's a new plane here. She claims to know you." Sully said as you're genuinely confused.
"What's her name?" You ask.
"Lightning says her Name is Morgan. Says she's an ADFX-02. Said you built her." Sully says as you freeze. There's no way that the Morgan in your hangar, is built, or let alone alive like they suggest.
"You're positive her designation is ADFX-01 Morgan?" You ask.
"Yea, I'm pretty damned positive, I haven't seen anything like her before."
"Sully is she painted white with a red right wing?" You ask to confirm if it is your Morgan or not.
"Yea, how'd you know?" Sully asked
"Because I built her, and painted her that way. Though I didn't get a chance to finish, she must have done it herself." You say as you slide down the wall and sit on the ground in disbelief.
"You what?" Sully asked trying to figure out if you said what he thought you said.
"I built her. She was an aircraft back home that I thought I'd never really see. I got to see her, almost got to fly one, but instead I wound up here. I was building her so I could fly her, but since she's alive, one of you. I don't think I could." You say explaining it to Sully.
"Well, she wants to talk to you." Sully said as you heard his phone being passed.
"Hello Anon?" Morgan said, her light voice making you shake.
"Hey Sorry I'm not home right now. I'm at an event with a close friend. We should be on our way home soon." You say as you look at your shaking left hand.
"Anon, when are you coming home?"
"Soon Morgan, very soon."
"Are you ok?" Morgan asks as you know your voice was wavering.
"Yes, Morgan, I'm ok." you say lying to her a little.
"Alright. Oh Anon, one more thing before I see you."
"Yes Morgan?"
"Can I call you daddy?" She asks as you're slammed with feels.
"Of course you can sweetie. I'll see you soon my dear." You say as you she makes a happy tone and hangs up allowing you to break down and cry.
Twenty minutes after the show let out, Thunderbolt found you sitting on the ground leaning against a wall with a smile on your face and your eyes reddened from crying, which you're not sure whether it was joy or sadness.
"Anon are you ok?" Thunderbolt asks very concerned as to why you're on the ground.
"Thunderbolt I'm fine, really I am. Guess who has a daughter now?" You say smiling as you're sharing the news with her.
"What? With who?" Thunderbolt said genuinely concerned about her status.
"Remember how I said I was building a plane?"
"Yes, the ADFX-01 right?"
"Yea, turns out she's just like you now, and asked if she can call me daddy." You say as Thunderbolt smiles
"Then lets get you home. You've got a little girl to watch over." Thunderbolt said.
"We, I'm not doing this alone. I need someone to watch her while I work. I can't think of anyone else I'd trust with my little girl." You say as Thunderbolt helps you up and both of you get ready for the trip home.
 
2000 hrs. Edge of Space.
Everyone's gathered in the bar, well, except for Sid who's sitting in your shop hoping for fast repairs but with Morgan being more present on your mind your job now comes second.
 
"Thunderbolt radio down and let them know we're about five minutes out." You say as Thunderbolt happily fulfills your request.
Although night is falling, you can still see Morgan as she's out watching Thunderbolt come down. Her eyes seemingly fixed on you. The bright anti-flash white you've painted her allows you to spot her very well in the darkening sky.
When Thunderbolt stops and you climb out, Morgan is already running you down.
"DADDY!" she says her soft voice finally becoming louder as she gets closer to you.
"There's my girl. Hope you can forgive me for not being here" You say as she envelops you in a hug.
"Of course, if you can forgive me for not completing myself on time." Morgan said as she puts you on her back.
"I wouldn't worry about that too much Morgan. I'm guessing someone's been showing you around?" You say as she walks back to the bar.
"Yes, an F-35 named Lightning has." Morgan said as she looked at you with a smile.
"Oh so Lightning's been talking to you. I sincerely hope he's been kind." You say knowing you'd break him the next time he walks into your shop.
"Oh no, he's said nothing but wonderful things about you. Makes me really happy that you're my dad." Morgan said as her voice barely floated above the noise of the crowd.
You were surprised to see Raptor out and about, you thought she became a hangar case for sure.
You're sitting in between the NATO and Russian fighters. When one of them asks you a question