"Well wallow in depression, it will do you a lot of good."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm being sarcastic do you ponies not understand that?"
"We do Falken, but don't you think that's a little mean right now?" Twilight said.
"I shall be in the library if you need me Purple. Try not to let her hurt herself from depression."
"Alright, I'll be along to help you after I get this sorted out." Twilight said as Falken picked up the books and walked back to the library, one book on each wing for balance reasons.
 
1022 Hrs. Castle gardens
Luna is walking in your shadow while Morgan is out ahead admiring the flowers and some of the animals that roam around the gardens
"So, how bad do you think the damage is?"
"Physically none, psychologically, probably devastated."
"That whole thing was a mistake on her part, she knew that I was faster the entire time, hell she could have asked Twilight, and Falken would have told her that it was a stupid idea."
"You're not blaming yourself for this are you?"
"Fuck no. Pardon the language, but I can't help but feel like this whole thing was unfair and exclusively in my favor."
"Then what do you suggest?" Luna asked still hiding in your shadow
"I say we let time sort it out, if she becomes a suicidal wreck, I'll intervene and talk her down, it wouldn't be the first time I've had a suicidal pony on my hands."
"Hooves."
"Luna, no offence, but I'm going to talk how I want to regardless of how I look, and hands because that's how I dealt with Osprey."
"Whatever suits you Rex. I think you should try to adjust to your new environment and adapt to our ways."
"Luna, don't get me wrong, I like being around you and all, but don't tell me what I have to do." You say as you stare down a random human who happened to be in the gardens too. He was staring because you said hands, and well, you were a towering plane pony.
"I do not think you should be telling a Princess that."
"Luna, you know how much I joke with you. I listen to a point." You say with a smile
"Yes and when you reach that point, it is no different than talking to the walls of my former prison in the moon."
"Oh come on, I'm not that bad."
"Rex, it may take a while for you to reach that point with me, but my sister manages to get it successfully after only a few minutes of talking to her."
"Mutual hate, that's all that is." You say making Luna laugh a little at the absurdity of your statement, you and Celestia, well you liked to disagree on everything. only thing you agree on is to disagree, which is why you tend not to listen to her.
"You do like to mess with my sister."
"Please if I was messing with her, I'd burn half these gardens and riddle the castle with 30mm rounds if I thought I could get away with it."
"That does not seem to be a decent joke."
"Yea, that's more of property destruction. Sometimes I forget where the line is between funny and destruction is." You say as Luna is shaking her head, disappointed with you.
"Now I know where your daughter gets her sense of humor from, for the most part, she is not as destructive as you, unless a guard looks at her wrong."
"Naw, that's just self preservation kicking in. Morgan don't go straying off and make a bear angry, I don't want to be wiping bear guts out of your intakes with a mop." You say causing Morgan to smile and trot back towards the two of you.
"So whatcha talkin about?"
"What type of psychological damage your father has caused to Rainbow Dash."
"Eh, she knew better than to challenge us."
"How can you say such a thing Morgan?"
"Luna, do you know how many times I offered to let her back down out of it? The reason she was late today was because I offered her another chance to back out. Which she refused. So much for me trying to be nice to her." Morgan said blurting out some of the past events and probably why this was put off for quite a while.
"You offered Rainbow Dash the ability to back out?" Luna asked to which Morgan nodded, and you smiled
It was a good thing for Morgan to offer Rainbow a way out even if she repeatedly refused to accept it.
"Yea, but she didn't get the hint. That funk she's in could have been prevented if she just backed out or said she couldn't make it. Dad, would you have let her back down?"
"I offered to let her back down repeatedly when I flew you didn't I? I think I could understand what you were doing and if she didn't show and you didn't reschedule the fiasco." You say as Morgan smiles.
"You two are very much alike."
"Well, we both give a damn. Might not always show that we do, but we care, kind of."
"Yes, it is a rare trait that is infrequently passed down. Sometimes I am shocked to see how kind you truly can be, coming from such a background of what Morgan has told me."
"Well, it was a learning process to figure out what to do. Sometimes it had a steep curve."
"Though that may have been, you've shown that even though you have "defeated" Rainbow Dash, you still have the consideration to make sure she is alright." Luna said as the three of you headed off for something to eat.
 
1310 Hrs. Castle Library.
Falken has made rudimentary sketches of a humanoid robot, and is now going over structural materials. Unfortunately the selection is rather slim on said materials, but he does know where he could find more materials data, deep within Avalon Dam, that is, if You let him.
"Falken did you design this?"
"Perhaps, why are you asking Purple?"
"These are ingenuous! I would have never thought of using push pull servos in the appendages."
"That is a rudimentary sketch at best, with what I would like where. I am having trouble finding a viable power source and what to construct it out of, wood, iron and other readily available materials are unacceptable due to their inability to resist corrosion and weight. I require something stronger than steel, and as light as aluminum." Falken said as he was still buried in the books, after checking where Twilight was.
Though his check showed Twilight, Falken knew there was another pony in the library with them.
"I know you're there. You can be as quiet as a mouse, but I'll still pick you up on Radar."
"Rainbow you might want to come out now."
"And why is she here?" Falken said as he scrambled to clean up the materials he had lying around, to keep Rainbow Dash from peering into his works.
"What's all this stuff? Advanced Robotics?"
"That is none of your business, Purple, why is this distraction here? I thought you said the library was a refuge from distractions."
"Me a distraction? No, I don't have the energy to do anything."
"As amusing as I find that, what I am doing is a private matter between Purple and I." Falken said irritation filling his voice.
"Falken I want to keep an eye on her for a little while, besides, you might make another friend."
"Why would I care to share my troubles with the arrogant blue one?"
"Do you want to be as insufferable as she is right now?"
"I cannot work with another potentially reading my plans."
"Falken, I can barely read what you write, and you taught me how to read those funny glyphs of yours." Twilight said as she pulled out a ciphered page of notes on material structures.
"I wrote down the decryptions for you, I hardly change anything. It is anything but difficult. My father could crack this in a matter of seconds, but I do not plan on him finding this."
"Sure, but I left that at home. I can only partially remember some of the meaning these have."
"As amusing at is is for me knowing you forgot your decryption page, I am not at liberty to make another one for you without changing a few elements on your page." Falken said as he gently took back the page of notes and placed it back into it's place.
"Why do you need so many books anyways? It's not like you're building anything." Dash said as she looked through the pile of books stacked beside Falken.
"That is none of your business Blue." Falken said as he turned to face her
"Of course it's not my business, it's yours, and I don't know why you're soo keen to keep it between you and Twilight."
"Because it is a personal matter to me, and I do not wish to spread how I feel to others." Falken said as he indignantly scooped up the books and relocated them elsewhere in the library.
"Falken, give her a chance."
"I shall not give the depressed blue pony a chance."
"She has a name you know."
"Yes, and I prefer to call you by colors. That is until I run out of colors to call you all or your name is simpler than the color."
"Falken, you don't need to be so anti-social."
"I can be if I so chose to." Falken said as he sat back to a corner and opened a materials book.
"You said there was a problem with power? How so?"
"Your current battery technology is vastly inferior to what my father had access to where he is from. Even then those are far too inferior for me to use. The machine will be using approximately 3Kw in normal operation due to the inferiority of the components having a high amperage draw. Batteries are out of the question. A Fuel cell is also unacceptable due to the explosion hazard. Unicorn and Alicorn magic are unacceptable as the draw from the device may seriously injure or cripple you. Therefore I cannot come up with an acceptable solution other than tethering the machine to a wall, which for it's intended purposes a cable is less than ideal. And it shall be putting a massive strain on our power plant in Avalon."
"Aren't there other options of battery, and solar cells?"
"No, solar cells are far too inefficient to produce that amount of power. A combination of battery and solar cells would work, if I was making a thirty ton walking death machine. You do realize I am trying to keep this thing under seven feet tall and less than three feet in width across."
"Falken I know, but without a power solution you may as well give up on building it." Twilight said, causing Falken to lower the materials book and glare at her
"Did I say something?"
"I will not give up on this endeavor, I must simply find a different power source for the machine. Those currently available are unacceptable. The power draw is simply too much for batteries or a combination of batteries. A fuel cell would work, but gaseous Hydrogen and Oxygen are just a recipe for disaster. I cannot allow an explosion inside of a hangar."
"Aren't there other types of fuel cells?"
"Well, there was a highly experimental one in some of the Grunder papers I managed to get my hooves on, but I don't think anyone would approve."
"What is it?"
"It's nuclear, and about the size of a large backpack, to a human, the only issue is containing the radiation and well, I prefer to not harness that type of power." Falken said as Twilight goes wide eyed and it goes over Rainbow's head.
"I don't get it, what's he talking about?"
"He's talking about splitting atoms."
"Huh?"
"The smallest particle of matter."
"Uh, Twilight, look who you're talking to."
"Right. They are the basic building block of everything The smallest thing, if you were to keep breaking a piece of paper into smaller and smaller pieces you could go no smaller than an atom."
"Oh, well I still don't get it."
"Ugh, why did I bother explaining that to you then?" Twilight said in frustration eliciting a slight laugh from Falken
"Well, at least you were correct in your examples purple."
"Oh shut up you. That type of power is unacceptable, what are you trying to do? End the world by burning away the atmosphere?"
"That is highly implausible, father comes from a place where they have used such devices effectively, and regrettably as weapons of mass destruction, and there is something he himself fears within Avalon." Falken said
"And what would that be?"
"You don't want to know."
"What is it?"
"He won't say." Falken said as he had a odd chill run up his back.
 
1436 Hrs. Canterlot park
Luna and Morgan are off in the park while you sit on a bench which is totally inadequate for your size
You watch as Luna is harassing a poor ice cream cart for the contents of the cart, as that's all that would satisfy Morgan's desire for the cold treat.You find it slightly amusing that Morgan is getting a little too pushy and she can knows that you're amused by it which makes her shy away.
Your amusement gets a few onlookers as you take up an entire park bench, and are laughing lightly at the scene before you. Most of those onlookers are ponies, and a few of the elite. Except for Celestia of course, who is used to these antics your family pulls. Though this being the first time you've seen this, you're amused, more than you should be. You'd be amused by it if it were not for Celestia appearing next to you.
"Fucking sun horse."
"Excuse me?"
"Why do you have to show up and ruin my show."
"What show?" Celestia asks as you point to her sister and your daughter harassing the ice cream salespony. She watches for a few minutes and giggles. Apparently she finds the scene amusing as you do, but it does little to ease the uneasiness of her sudden appearance.
"So, what brings you out here?"
"Rainbow Dash."
"Why does everything I do have to be brought to your attention."
"Twilight"
"Fucking Purple. Of course, I should have known. Spend much time in the library have you?"
"No, it was a message, a letter to be precise, sent by Twilight for Dash." Celestia said as you put a hoof to your forehead.
"The mare had multiple opportunities to back down, and she refused, therefore the pony at fault is her not me. I request that you do not inquire more than you have. I just gave her the taste of the unfair competition she wanted."
"That is slightly comforting."
"It is what it is."
"And what's on your mind?" Celestia asked as she repeatedly poked you in the side to get your attention.
"Ah, a little bit of thinking of home, wondering if Thunder is bored as all hell."
"Your wife correct?"
"Yea. What about her?" You ask as you turn to her
"She isn't lonely is she?"
"I don't think so, she's got her friends back home. Or she could go to her parents and complain about me."
"Why would she?"
"She wouldn't. We're just here until tomorrow morning, then we'll be out of this place and back where we belong."
"You must be very lucky having such a loving wife."
"Don't get sappy on me. I'll boot your ass back into the castle from here, and you know your guards can't do shit to me." You say getting a laugh out of Celestia as that was a standard joking comment that would usually get you in trouble.
"That humor of yours, to anyone else they may have taken you seriously."
"Whatever." You say as Morgan comes running back with Luna pushing the cart of ice cream they just liberated.
 
1448 Hrs. Avalon's Shadow, Tremendae hangar.
Thunder is slightly bored watching TV, while she's being pampered by two of the Sand Island squadron.
"A mare can get used to this." Thunder said when Blaze and Edge were out of earshot. Despite being pampered like the princess she now is, her thoughts turn to you and what you were doing, if only she knew that you were thinking the same.
"I wonder what Rex is doing."
"Ma'am?"
"Don't worry about it Edge, I was just thinking aloud."
"About Rex?"
"Yea, was wondering what he was up to in Canterlot. If it's anything like I think, he's probably watching Morgan eat ice cream like her little brother eats, messy as all get out."
"If he still had a human heart, I bet he'd be having complications."
"Yea, that daughter of his, she's pretty cute." Thunderbolt said rather prideful. Thunderbolt was partially right, Morgan was being cute over ice cream, but not in the way Thunder expected.
"Shouldn't they be home soon?"
"Yes, everyone will be back home tomorrow morning. Then Rex and I can have some time to ourselves."
"Right, you do know that one of us will tag along."
"Not if both Rex and I tell you not to." Thunderbolt said having already figured out how to get these ponies to shut up and not question her.
The Sand Island ponies weren't directly afraid of Thunderbolt, but they feared you and disappointing you. Sometimes things were done out of fear of failing you. Considering there's now two ponies capable of wiping them out of the skies easily.
"Can one of you go and get Osprey for me?"
"Yes ma'am. I just hope she doesn't try to run like the last time."
"Just don't look so menacing Blaze, you can say more than "Osprey, Thunderbolt wishes to speak to you." ya know." Thunderbolt said making Blaze sink slightly it's not that he was shy, it was just that he didn't like talking. Preferred to let others talk for him.
"I'll go, at least I won't be as terrifying as Blaze."
"That's very nice of you Edge, Osprey can be skittish at times."
"You've told me, but she seems to have warmed up to me a little." Edge said as she went to go and get Osprey. It goes silent in the hangar until Edge returns with Osprey, who seems slightly concerned about being summoned.
"What's up Thunder?"
"Nothin, just waiting for Rex to come home. Just hope Falken doesn't carry home a bunch of books again."
"That boy's going to do whatever he likes you know that."
"I know. I guess that makes up for Rex's minor lack of involvement with him."
"You know Rex is trying." Osprey said as the two F-14s retreated into the depths of your home.
"I know, and it doesn't help that Falken blames himself for what happened, it's like he is distancing himself from Rex. I know Rex doesn't like reminding him that it's not his fault. I've seen him stand outside of Falken's door at night, just listening all we ever hear out of that room is the sound of a pen on paper, and the pages of books being turned. Sometimes I wonder what that colt is up to." Thunder said as she was sharing her feelings with Osprey who nodded.
"Well, it looks like Rex hasn't given up on the boy, it probably hurts him just as much as Falken. To think your own son blaming himself for an accident that turned out to be a happy accident." Osprey said
"Happy accident is a hell of a way to put is Osprey. Mystery would be a better answer."
"Mystery? What's so mysterious about it? Sure how Rex got to be like he is, that's confusing, but there isn't a mystery around Falken's behavior. He feels that he's the cause of the problem."
"Osprey, that's my son."
"You don't think I know that Thunder?" Osprey said as the two guards were definitely trying to make themselves invisible. Arguments between the ruling family and their friends are personal and not the issue of the guard.
"What do those two have to say?"
"Nothing, they know their place, they know better than to speak of these things."
"But what if it spreads?"
"I've only got you to blame, which means Rex will have to fix the problem. You know what Rex fixing a problem entails, don't you?" Thunder said as Osprey nodded.
"So don't dwell on it, let Falken and Rex figure it out. I'm sure one of them has a solution."
"Or some crazy plan"
"Which one would that be?"
"Falken." Thunderbolt said as Osprey laughed and then the topic switched to something much lighter
 
1742 Hrs. Canterlot Library
Twilight, Falken and Rainbow are still conversing about power sources for a yet to be named machine
"What about a generator?"
"The excess vibrations will throw it off balance, that is unacceptable."
"Even one of the APU's?"
"Yes, as a temporary solution I could tether it to a GPU, but it is going to have to be a very large GPU. I know I have said repeatedly that there will be a large draw of amperage."
"Falken, your calculations can't be that high, it shouldn't take 3Kw to run a machine for 24 hrs. Can I see where you did the calculations?" Twilight asked as Falken then proceeded to write them all on a large chalkboard for Twilight to see
"Falken, you did this slightly incorrect."
"I understand I have, I was going on the low side of power usage, I am not expecting the intended recipient of said machine to use it much outside of it's intended purpose. It is only a estimate." Falken said
"Yea, a really low end estimate. It requires 3kW minimum for daily operations, it needs five times as much power to run at full capacity."
"You don't want it at full capacity. 3kW keeps it in the range of human strength, whereas the fifteen needed to fully power the machine gives it enough strength to pick up Galactus a C-5. I guess I can up the power to five kilowatts, giving it the strength of an earth pony." Falken said rather indignantly, knowing how strong his father's robot could become. Then again, it probably wouldn't take you long to figure out how to hotwire that cannon you ripped from T-50 into a shoulder mounted death device, you know for emergency uses and target practice.
"So what is this thing you're building?"
"Researching. I don't know if there is enough to even build it. I'm more concerned with seeing if it's possible to build."
"Whatever it sounds like too much work to me. Why not just let egghead figure it out?"
"Egghead?" Falken asked confusion mixing with the irritation he had at Rainbow's presence.
"She's referring to me. She calls me an egghead because of how much I read."
"That makes no sense, you do not have a head the shape of an egg."
"She's trying to call me a nerd."
"Oh, well, frankly you and I are what many ponies would call nerds. Though I am trying to broaden my knowledge of things. I do not wish to know everything, as that is impossible." Falken said as he and Twilight were having an explanation contest.
"Yea, you two are eggheads."
"Quiet you! If I required your input I would have asked for it."
"Alright there grumpy." Dash said laughing slightly. Falken isn't amused by her laughter and looks straight at Rainbow, a red dot appearing on her chest.
"I think it's time for you to not talk for a while Rainbow."
"Yea, I think so too."
"Falken, not now." Twilight said getting his attention, dot disappearing and his dormant 25mm gatling remaining silent.
"I think Morgan has a point. Shouldn't you find out what Falken is researching?"
"Well, I should if you're concerned about it Luna. Twilight, what's he researching?" You say bypassing Falken, and upsetting him slightly.
"Shouldn't you be asking me?"
"And have you dodge the question?"
"Yes, I would dodge the question, but only because it is for you." Falken said standing up and blurting that out to you.
"And do you need my help with any aspect of this robot you're building?"
"N... No. I can do this myself.. and with Twilight's help. I'd prefer to not ask for your help."
"Alright, but just consider a fuel cell for that power load. Getting the fuel for it is easy and relatively cheap." You say after Falken has a stuttering fit. He only nods and then looks to Twilight with a slight look of bewilderment on his face.
"Rex, how did you know that's what he was making?"
"I don't know exactly what it is, but there's a page of his robotics notes caught on a bay door. I can read a little of it from here. Interesting to say the least. Falken, you're fairly smart to come up with those figures." You say as Twilight pulls out the page of notes and then Falken shoves it into a different payload bay.
"I'm not going to read your notes son. Might try to help ya every now and again, but I'm not going to purposely interfere with what you're working on. How much more time do you need for research."
"Another day or two, materials are not being cooperative, I cannot figure out a lightweight but sturdy material."
"Ever think of a Titanium alloy?"
"Alloy? That might work dad, I just need to figure out what alloy."
"Try a titanium alloy, like I said, it's strong and light, depending on what you mix it with."
"Thank you I shall." Falken said as he pulled out a somewhat clean sheet of notes and wrote down Ti alloy? before quickly stuffing it back where he got it from. You just laugh lightly to yourself, getting a few giggles out of some of them