Formation becomes as follows, Falken, Blaze and Snow off your left, Morgan, Edge and Archer taking a partial edge of the formation and the trail.
"Rex, what's the plan?"
"Weaving, knife edge flight, and as much as I don't want to, supersonic pass."
"Wait, you're breaking the speed limit?"
"Yea, not entirely pleased about that, but when we're up and you hear the music from the ground, initiate Thatch Weave got it?"
"Right." every pony in your flight said as the seven of you took to the skies with you in the lead.
Short flight out and away and when you return this is what you hear: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhRnKDR6KrE. [Embed]
And right on cue, you break up into two formations and begin to weave back and forth, mixing between a Thatch weave and rolling scissors. To the watching crowd a beautiful display of teamwork and ability.
"Separate from the scisors on my mark. It's time for knife edge."
"Right."
"Mark." You say breaking the formation into the four F-14s and your family. Pulling this knife edge flight was the most nerve wracking experience you've ever committed to. High speed, very small window for error, and yet you go screaming towards the ponies, left wing towards the ground, your canopy towards their heads, and sweating like hell. So when the maneuver goes off without a problem, you and the others are screaming with excitement as you all form back up and heading into your supersonic pass.
"Once we get turned around, we're going to buzz the crowd at mach 1 got it?"
"Alright."
"Good." You say as the four black schemed ponies form up on your six and then you all start to accelerate towards the crowd, breaking the speed limit you've imposed and the sound barrier a mile from the crowd. Of course the seven of you pass before they could hear the boom, leaving them all in awe, and doing something almost all Pegasai cannot.
 
1300 Hrs. Ground.
Your now hopefully winning flight complete, you await the judges to give the verdict on who has won.
The judges are sitting there, plane pony and pegasai alike unsure on how to decide the outcome of the flights. They're visibly nervous like you are, and though you're repeatedly told them to be unbiased, they fear that you'll be mad if you don't win.
Well, they were right in a sense, you could be second or third, just as long as the Wonderbolts weren't in the contention for those spots.
"Ahem, so we've figured out the top three placing families or teams. In ascending order we have the MiGs." the B-17 pony said as there was a very noticeable display of disappointment from the MiGs.
"Second place, Sukhoi family."
"Dad, you're shaking." Morgan said as she tapped you causing you to look at a hand to see that it was in fact shaking.
"We can lose as long as it's not the Wonderbolts."
"You're that concerned about them winning?"
"It has to deal with Celestia." You say as you look over to her and use your link to her. Morgan just nods as the suspense right now is making your shaking worse.
"In first place, while bending some of his own rules to enhance his team's performance, Rex Tremendae and his group."
"What?" both you and Spitfire say as yours was a partial questioning what of amusement, and Spitfire's was of outrage.
"Rex, don't be an idiot, you preformed well under pressure, forming a team capable of winning in a matter of minutes, it is due to the pressure added from the Wonderbolts and their excellent performance, and both MiG and Sukhoi families stepping up to meet or exceed them, is why you took first. Much to the contrary of what these ponies believed we were not just going to give it to you."
"Alright, but I don't think I'm the one you need to explain the Wonderbolt's loss and my win to."
"Then whom shall we explain it to?"
"Spitfire and Celestia." You say as you can feel Celestia's presence behind you staring daggers into your back.
"Yes, an explanation of why HE won would be very helpful to me and MY team." Celestia said as she walked past you, glaring
"Well if you all would like to come with me, I would be more than happy to explain the scoring process to you Princess."
"Alright."
"Excellent, I would bring your team along too."
"Wonderbolts, come." Celestia said as she followed the B-17 pony with Spitfire leading the Wonderbolts, heads hanging in shame.
"Heh, guess that showed them, there anything else you need us for sir?"
"Snow, actually I do have a request for you all."
"And that would be?"
"Well, my family and I don't really have fighter escorts like the other royals. Would you four like to be said fighter escorts?" You ask making their jaws drop.
Three minutes pass before you get an answer.
"It'd be our pleasure to be your guards."
"Wonderful, naturally headquarters is here in Avalon, your rest and training area will be Hornet, and at least two of you will be here at any given time. I'll have a Guards hangar built."
"Thank you sir." Blaze said speaking for the group, as the rest of them are still a little shocked
"Alright, I'll have that hangar built after Sun 'n Fun. Your first official day as guards starts tomorrow morning. I'm just happy I've got four ponies that know how to work with eachother to start with. Dismissed see you all at 0800 tomorrow"
"Yes sir!" the four of them said as they saluted, of which you returned and walked off, to taxi your ADFX back home
Speaking of your ADFX, when you were flying it just now, you had an odd experience, you knew you were behind the controls pulling and pushing them, but what you saw and felt, was like flying Morgan through the link, everything in your face and very fine control of the aircraft, as if this plane had formed its own bond to you, for reasons unknown
 
1600 Hrs. Edge of Space.
"What's got y'all in such a bind?" KC asked six ponies all with their heads down at the bar with a glass of hard liquor in their hooves.
"Celestia, she's bearing down on us pretty hard right now"
"An why's that?"
"Cause we lost" Spitfire said, being the only one to still speak
"Now ya ain't sore about the competition are ya?"
"What do you think?"
"Well it ain't somethin ta be so darn sore about. We don't even give a trophy or a medal, it's jus fer fun mostly, it's only judged fer those who got the egos to say they the best."
"What?"
"Rex never woulda care if he won or didn't place, he's seen these, they's just fun." KC said as he was talking to Spitfire at the bar, getting all of their attentions.
"It's just for fun and egos? There's nothing to gain?"
"Yea, don't know why yer Princess is takin this like it's a full on competition."
"That's what she thought it was." Spitfire said as the Wonderbolts were now mad at Celestia for making them so much hard work just for their egos.
"Well, Ah'm sorry y'all took it that way, tell ya what, I'll comp tonight's drinks fer ya. Ain't no reason fer Celestia to be so frustrated."
"More like pooper pained if you ask me."
"Ain't nopony askin ya Phantom." KC said as he hucked the bar towel at him.
"Well, she's pretty bum sore at us for losing." Spitfire said as the other Wonderbolts laughed a little, as she wasn't wrong, Celestia was pretty mad at them losing a contest of egos of which you were more than ready to lose to the MiGs or Sukhois.
"Well, Ah still don't think she got any reason ta be so mad."
"Well, she's kind of mad at herself right now for not inquiring if there were any prizes for winning."
"Ah can see how that can be a problem. Ain't mine though, she could have asked any pony here and they woulda told her. Ah gotta get back ta business." KC said as he returned to managing his bar, tomorrow being the final day of Sun 'n Fun, he actually had a rather large order to make to a particular orange pony, for what would be a very profitable venture for the two of them.
 
1835 Hrs. Home.
Morgan and Luna are talking about today's performance, Thunderbolt got takeout as she was tired of cooking this week, and you thought now would be a good time to bring up the four you just informed would be guards.
"Hey Thunder, how would you react if say I hired four fighters to help guard the family?"
"Well, that's not a terrible idea. You can't always keep an eye on all of us. Even then, it does take you some time to ready your fighter."
"So you're not opposed to that idea?"
"Of course not, we're technically royalty to these ponies, and sooner or later you'd have to create a guard to help defend us and the nation, though you like to fight alongside everypony." Thunderbolt said as you laugh a little.
"Well I've started with a small squadron of F-14 ponies. The four who helped me out earlier today."
"Really? You've already picked four?"
"Yea, I have."
"Their names?"
"Blaze, Edge, Archer and Snow." You say as Thunderbolt nods.
"F-14s, well you've definitely made me far more comfortable with having long range interceptors as the first guards."
"Glad I can make you happy without thinking."
"You really are something else you know that right?"
"Yea I know. You're pretty special yourself." You say as you get her to blush a little, before the kids and Luna come in for dinner.
Dinner is quiet, outside of Morgan and Luna's chatter, Falken has set a book beside his plate. Reading and eating, talented kid.
Having a somewhat quiet dinner was nice, even if Morgan was the only one talking, after all the worrying you've been doing about Sun 'n Fun, it's nice to see that things are getting back to normal. Even if the closing tomorrow is going to be a bit of hell. The whole event ends at 2000 Hrs. tomorrow night. Something you're not particularly looking forward to. Since it's kind of a pain in the ass, and late at night. Damn festival takes the first five days of July.
"Rex, why is my sister so frustrated that she lost?"
"Well, the competition is more of a battle of egos, not to see who's better. So I guess she's just mad she had her ego hurt. Must have been pretty inflated for her to be this upset about it."
"Well, this is the first time something like this has happened. Ponies can beat gryphons, and other flying creatures, but these ponies are different all together." Luna said as you nodded.
"Well, she should have asked before she made an ass of herself. Anyways I'm off to bed, tomorrow's going to be very long for me, despite having no injuries this year. Which is astounding." You say as you walk off to bed.
The night was long for you, you were in bed at 1940, and you were either in the longest dream ever or were having a major out of body experience. But whatever happened, was retardedly long and you much rather would have stayed awake rather than suffer through the night like that.
 
0800 Hrs. Your alarm clock is blaring on this 6th of July, and you feel more tired than when you went to sleep.
"Anon, you awake yet?"
"Unfortunately yes. Yes I am."
"Well, those four ponies are asking for you, you might want to go and talk to them."
"Alright, gimme a minute to throw on what I was not wearing yesterday." You say as you've rolled out of bed and grabbed semi clean clothes to put on, you know you look like hell as you walk out to find the four of them in your living room, chatting with Morgan and Falken, Luna presumably off to talk to her sister.
"Hey guys sorry I look like shit. Did not sleep very well last night."
"It shows."
"I know. Well, since you're all here, lets get down to business." You say as you rub your eyes and climb up on a couch to be at least closer to their level.
"So, what are we going to be doing?"
"Right now, it's pretty simple. Stay around me, and the family, there's four of us and four of you, for the festival, or any important event I want one of you around each of us at all times. Otherwise it will be a two on duty two off, When it's like that, you'll be watching over whomever is going to be leaving Avalon's Shadow. If I'm leaving, one of you comes with me, if Thunder goes somewhere you both go.Pretty simple right?"
"Aye sir. Do we have a formal name for our group?" Snow asked as you now sunk into thinking mode as you weren't sure what to call them.
"Sir, I've got an idea, there's an island just large enough to house a wing of ponies in that lake by Hornet."
"Sand Island? That little strip?"
"Yes."
"You want to be the Sand Island squadron?"
"Well until we can come up with something better." Blaze said to which you nod
"Alright, from here on out you'll be known as the Sand Island squadron. I'm sure I'll think of something decent before the day is out. So I guess it's time to go about your duties, since we're all home, just relax, cause ain't none of ya following me into the shower. Especially you Edge. Nobody follows anyone into the shower. Got it?"
"Yes sir." Archer said with a little bit of timidness in his voice.
You smile and walk off, primarily to take a shower and put cleaner clothes on, and hopefully wash the shit feeling off of yourself.
 
0845 Hrs. Home.
You feel somewhat better, slightly refreshed from your shower, and having crammed food down your throat.
"Sir, what are you going to be doing today?"
"Besides shutting down the festival? Nothing, organize the shop a little, and maybe take a few naps or catch up on administrative work, don't know if I'm behind or not." You say as you motion for one of them to follow you to your shop.
 
0930 Hrs. Applejack's booth.
"Well, howdy there partner, what can Ah do fer ya?"
"Ah heard ya have one of tha best selling drinks offered by tha vendors here. Ah was wonderin if ya were up fer a bit of a joint business venture."
"An who did ya hear that from?" Applejack asked a little wary of what KC had in mind.
"Ah heard it from a friend of mine, he jus happen ta buy a whole bunch from ya, and spread tha news like wildfire, apparently ya got tha best cider any o these ponies have ever tasted. I have an idea if ya are willin ta hear me out."
"This friend of yers, his name ain't Lightnin is it?"
"Yes ma'am that's the one. Ya care ta hear what Ah got ta say or am Ah wastin mah time?" KC asked as he gave the illusion of being a very busy pony, though it's the last day, nobody drinks on the last day, bar was closed anyways due to lack of supplies. Mriya left yesterday to pick them up, she wasn't back yet.
"Ah'll listen to ya."
"Wonderful, now little missy, how'd ya like to increase tha volume of sales ya made durin this week?" KC asked.
"Ya ain't tryin ta swindle me outta mah hard earned bits are ya?"
"Naw, why would Ah? Ah make enough ta support mahself and tha bar in this week alone. Ah'm a fair stallion missy, Ah don't cheat mah potential suppliers."
"Potential supplier?" Applejack asked a little confused.
"As Ah was sayin, Ah own tha most popular joint here in Avalon's Shadow, an when this time of year come around mah supplies always take ah hard hit. An I've been lookin fer a while ta help vary tha drinks ah have." KC said explaining why he was bothering her.
"Yer offerin me ah chance ta sell mah cider in the most hoppin place in tha entire city?"
"Yes ma'am. That's what Ah'm offerin, if ya are willin ta accept."
"Ah think we can work out ah deal. Ah made quite a bit of bits here fer mah family, an yer offerin ta help me make more?" Applejack said to which KC nodded.
"Well, alright then, let's come up with a fair deal."
"Alright missy, we'll make ourselves ah deal, Ah'm KC by tha way."
"Applejack, an Ah ain't heard nopony talkin like us." Applejack said in reference to their similar accents.
"Now whatddya usually charge ponies fer a barrel?"
"Well, ah've been chargin a hundred bits per barrel here."
"An it's ah standard 55gal barrel?(208 liter)"
"They hold about that much maybe a little more"
"Personally ah think ah hundred bits per barrel is a bit steep seein as ah'll be orderin bulk. Fifty bits ah barrel sound fair ta ya?"
"No way, fifty bits ain't gonna cover tha labor, no matter how many barrels ya order."
"Then convince me why Ah should pay more fer yer cider."
"Why don't ya have a taste?" Applejack said as she went to one of the last remaining barrels and poured him a five gallon mug, these proportions, they're absurd to AJ.
"Well since ya are offerin, Ah'll take ya up on that, now about why tha price is so high, is it small batch cider er like that last mass produced crud two ponies tried to pass off as cider?"
"It's small batch. Taste fer yerself." AJ said as KC took a drink
KC looked at the large glass, gave it a whiff, for it's aroma, then took another drink, savoring it this time, as it was like nothing he had ever tasted, and he had the chances to taste some very rare vintages.
"Ah, think ah need ta raise mah lower window, seventy bits per barrel."
"Ah still think that's a little low. Mah family can produce a fair amount of it, but if we gotta be settin some aside, that's what tha cost is."
"Ah can tell, such a crisp drink, an it almost taste like ah just bit inta tha best apple ah've ever had." KC said complimenting Applejack and the family.
"Aw shucks KC, ya just bein nice that's all."
"Ah ain't, what's tha lowest yer willin ta take fer ah barrel or if ya prefer, ah'll share tha profits it makes in tha bar, afta I take a two precent charge as servin charges?"
"Now how much would ya make off of 10k?" Applejack asked, knowing her math was terrible.
"Jus 200 bits, ya get 9800, almost all tha profits. That sound betta to ya?"
"Ah think that's a decent deal, how many barrels ya want fer a start?"
"Ah'll take ten, startin next month, so ya got some time ta make some more. Ah'll pay ya when Ah reorder from ya. Remember ya gettin 98% of tha profits it makes, an Ah'm hopin it does well." KC said as Applejack smiled, knowing she probably just made the biggest deal of her lifetime with another down to earth pony, despite this one being gigantic, and capable of crushing her.
 
1209 Hrs. Repair shop.
"Sir, there's a pony here for you."
"Who is it?"
"Celestia sir."
"Ugh, let her in Snow, try not to make any jokes got it?" You say as he nods and departs to let her into your shop.
You're in your office doing official paperwork as always, that damned sea of paperwork never seems to go away, ever. Yet here you are hacking away at it with pen in hand, tired and annoyed.
"What do you want Celestia?" You ask as she walks in the door. You look up and see her rather flustered.
You do realize that I am very mad at you for not telling me that your flight contest here was just an ego boost."
"Yes, and if you would have asked anyone before you entered the contest you would have known that. Princess, you can't be serious. I understand that you're very mad for a very simple mistake, but you cannot complain to me for not getting the full information, which is not my job to issue." You say as you look up at her from your desk.
Celestia sighs and appears to calm down for the moment.
"I just wish I didn't force the Wonderbolts into trying to upstage you all."
"Well, you've sped up today, I don't have to do maintenance on any of these ponies, only thing I have to do is close the festival at 8PM tonight. And it's what? like 12:30 now?"
"Yes, so you have seven hours left."
"Well, are you still pissy?"
"I am still upset, if that is what you are asking."
"Well, don't. It's not your ego that's battered, it's the Wonderbolts' that got dinged." You say as it appears Celestia has calmed down from when she entered.
You just tap on the desk as you try and figure out why she's here.
"What else is on your mind?"
"Hm?"
"There's another reason why you're here, otherwise you would have left by now. Since you've calmed down slightly, what do you need." You ask
"Well, I've been having a few problems with my ponies, and they aren't exactly in the shape to make it out here."
"And you'd like me to fly to Canterlot to fix them up?"
"If you could um, assist me."
"And that's why you're also cranky, they're hurt and the only one you know who can fix them with relative ease is in Avalon. I can assist, so long as I'm only assisting. Who is it this time?"
"It's Foxhound again. Said that his turbines are a bit fuel starved."
"Sounds like a bad booster pump. Did you check the fuel pressure in the lines?"
"No, nor did I check the pump." Celestia said as you roll your eyes, as that's the first thing you would have checked for, after checking for leaking fittings and hoses
"Well, Canterlot is what? Three hours away?"
"About, yes."
"Well, it'd only take me an hour and a half to replace the pump. six hours in travel and an hour and a half for repair, that puts us at about 8PM for a return time."
"Well, I have a faster way."
"I do hope you aren't trying to teleport me."
"No, just a portal."
"And you understand how those work?"
"Mostly, I can have us there in a matter of seconds."
"Well, that would simplify things, but Snow would get pissed if I leave without telling him."
"Then bring him along, I'll open the portal large enough for us all to go through." Celestia said as you roll your eyes and follow her out as she puts a portal on your shop wall, large enough for Snow to walk through.
"Snow through the portal, we've got to go help Celestia with a bit of an issue, You're first. Right after Celestia."
"Aye, Princess, ladies first." Snow said as he motioned for Celestia to go through the portal.
Through the portal they both go, and you decide to have a little fun with portals. You jump through purposely acting like an idiot, after aiming to land on Celestia's back, which you fell a couple feet short of accomplishing. Two feet to the left to be precise.
"What are you doing Rex?"
"Trying to think with portals. By the way is there a cake around here?" You say as you notice this portal has an orange border whereas the one in your shop had a blue border.
"What in tatarus are you talking about?"
"Heh, nothin I guess. Guess you should get to work, with me advising."
"Right, Foxhound, I brought the doc, He's going to help me make you better." Celestia said as her compassionate side came out as she walked off to the rather sickly looking Foxhound. She was right, he was in no condition to travel, not even if Mriya carried him as cargo would you have wanted him moved looking like that. It was just the issues of a fuel pump that burnt out, you hope.