I woke up with a start, my body was sweating all over the place as my body shook uncontrollably.

It was that damn nightmare again.

I dreamed of it every time I closed my eyes, every single night since I got here.


"Golem 2, what's your status?"

A voice spoke through the radio as if it came from a faraway place. I didn't even realize it was my flight lead at first. My hands shook uncontrollably on the control stick as I desperately try to outmaneuver that monster in the SU-30. That beast was pursing me relentlessly, but he didn't fire the missile yet.

He was waiting, no, toying with me.

He knew I was doomed, and he wanted me to know it before he takes the killing shot.

He was like a wolf, and I was a lamb waiting to be eaten.

"Status report!"

He shouted again, his concerned voice was drowned out by the constant alert sounds that were blaring all over the cockpit.

"He's like a predator…the weak get eaten…" I muttered uncontrollably, tears ran down my eyes, blinding the visors on my helmet. I couldn't even see where I was flying to anymore.

"Golem 2, get a hold of yourself!"

I was going to die.

"Golem 2, get away from the enemy!"

Alone, so far away from home, in this flying coffin that was my aircraft.

"Mage 2, support!"

I shouted as loud as I could. My voice strained as I desperately hoped that by some miracle, my friend Trigger would save me.

That anyone would save me.

But nobody was coming.

"Somebody! Support!"

The missile alert alarm was blaring all over the cockpit, like a sound from hell. The beast finally took the shot.

I screamed for one last time as I closed my eyes shut, preparing for the inevitable.

"Eject, Brownie! EJECT!"

Trigger's voice was the last thing I heard as the missile exploded, and the whole world turned white.


Somehow, I survived.

The missile hit at the tip of my plane's left wing. Miraculously, it was not a killing shot.

I was hit by the shockwave from the explosion, my head smashed into the canopy, but luckily my helmet saved me from getting myself knocked out or getting my neck snapped.

The tip of the left wing was blown to pieces, but somehow the plane was still flying, though it was shaking uncontrollably.

It took all of my willpower and whatever sanity I still had left to press the eject button.

As I launched myself out of my doomed Super Hornet as it slowly caught fire and plunged to the ground below, I caught a glimpse of the SU-30 with the orange wingtip as it was flying away and disappeared into the clouds.

It was the sight that stuck with me up until this day. The devil that I always saw in my sleep.

The predator in the clouds. The monster in my nightmares.

It took me a good ten seconds before I snapped back to reality and deploy the parachute. My mind was still blank from the near-death experience I had just gone through.

I didn't feel the cold wind blowing into my face as I floated down to earth.

I didn't even feel any pain when I landed and face-planted into the ground because my legs were so numb that I couldn't even support my own weight.

I didn't even try to move as I crumbled inside my own parachute, crying my heart out as I realized I was still alive.

I didn't even try to hide as an Erusean patrol unit moved in and took me prisoner. One of the soldiers had to carry my sorry ass to the truck as I couldn't even walk on my own.

There was only one thing on my mind, one thing I kept telling myself over and over like a code programmed into my brain:

My flying days were over.


That was how I ended up here, in a POW camp in the middle of nowhere.

It was seven months since then, but I still remember it like it happened yesterday.

"Having nightmares again?"

The guy with a brown hair sitting opposite of me asked. He was another prisoner here. I didn't know the story, but he said he's been here even longer than I did, before this whole mess started, in fact. The guy looked to be in his early fifties, so I reckoned he must've been through a lot.

"You asked me that, like, the fifth time already this month, Arthur."

"Well, you kept having these nightmares, Brownie. It's been seven months. Keep this up, you'd go insane sooner or later."

"Shut up. You won't know how it feels. You just don't get over something like this. You just can't."

I told him sternly, though I wasn't angry. Arthur's probably the only real friend I had in this miserable prison throughout the seven months I was here. The guy's pretty chill. I didn't know his backstory, or what he did to land himself here. He's like that guy at work who acted like a big brother to everyone, always asking people who are troubled and offering advice, yet no one actually knew how he's like beneath the surface. Seemed like a cool enough guy to hang around with.

Then again, I wasn't really the one with the best judgment.

"Look, Brownie, I get it. I know what you've gone through when that guy shot you down, okay?" Arthur began, "Nobody should've gone through what you did. It's an awful experience, but always keep in mind that you're still alive. Against all odds, you survived all that, and now the war's ending. You'll finally be getting out of here soon. You'll see your friends and family again. Isn't that something to look forward to?"

For some reason, these 'therapy sessions' with Arthur actually helped calm me down a bit, at least when I'm not closing my eyes. We had been doing this ever since I got here, when the guards aren't bothering us, that is.

"Yeah, I guess I should really look forward to that," I replied, though I was not that particularly cheerful about it.

The prison alarm rang, and the guards moved in to bring us back to our cells.

Fort Ducard was a surprisingly friendly place when it comes to POW camps. For one thing, the guards didn't seem to have problems with us prisoners having a recreational time after a meal in the mess hall. The fort commander did bring me in for interrogations from time to time, but eventually, he stopped bothering once he knew that I don't have anything useful to offer them.

Sure, they did lock some of us in solitary from time to time, but those guys were asking for it anyway. It's not like they just throw us in there if we did so much as glancing at them the wrong way. I heard some Osean prison guards did that. Not sure if it's true, though.

Many Erusean guards here were actually conscripts from a nearby nation of San Salvacion. Most of them didn't even ask for the war, so when a radio broadcast by Princess Rosa Cossette D'Elise announced the peace declaration, both guards and prisoners alike cheered throughout the fort.

"About damn time she realized it already," Arthur said to me after the cheering died down, "this entire war is yet another proof of how we always resort to violence to get what we wanted. It happened many times before and it's no different this time."

"Shocker," I said bitterly.

Thanks to this goddamn war, I'm stuck in this prison for seven months and having to relieve that nightmare every single night.

I don't care how popular the princess is. I'm personally blaming her for putting me through this living hell. She started this war. She forced me into that battlefield. She's the one who gave me this never-ending nightmare. She can hide behind her pretty speeches and grandiose dresses all she wanted. To me, she's just a war criminal.

I never asked for any of this. All I wanted in my life was to fly in the bright, blue sky, and look where that got me.

Back then, I dreamed of soaring through the clouds and be the protector of the peace.

Now, whenever I looked up there, I can only see pain and death, and that devil with the orange wingtip.

I just wanted to go home.


A CH-47 helicopter landed in the central yard of the fort. It was Yuktobania's - our enemy-turned-ally in the previous war. I heard on the news that they're helping the Oseans providing relief efforts for the refugees in locations affected during the war, which is to say, almost everywhere in Usea.

I saw a lady in a dark brown coat wearing sunglasses walking gracefully out of the helicopter along with armed escorts. She talked with the fort commander about something – probably about terms of surrender and POW release procedures, then they both went into the central building.

At first glance, that lady looked more like a secretary to some businessman than a Major in one of the world's strongest military forces. She had that aura of mystery surrounding her. I wouldn't be surprised if she turned out to be a super-secret agent in disguise or something.

A few minutes later, a voice spoke through the loudspeakers, echoing throughout the fort.

"Attention. All prisoners of war are to report to the fort's airstrip in thirty minutes," I heard the fort commander spoke.

"We have arranged transports for you people in collaboration with the Yuktobanian Army. The planes will take you to San Salvacion to rendezvous with Osea's Long Range Strategic Strike Group, where you will receive further instructions. The guards will escort you to the airstrip, do proceed in an orderly fashion."

The commander paused for a moment as if to gather his thoughts before he continued:

"The war is now over. You people are all free now. Go home and enjoy your lives. Godspeed."

A thunderous cheer erupted throughout the fort. Several guards have to put out stun batons to keep the prisoners from getting too wild. The base commander did say only prisoners of war were to be released, after all. There'd probably be some actual criminals who would take advantage of the situation.

"Heh, better late than never," Arthur spoke, "I've been stuck here since the last war. Turned out the old base commander was such a dick, he never released us even after that war was over, and there was no pretty lady to negotiate for our release like this."

"Ouch, you, sir, are born unlucky," I said, punching Arthur's shoulder playfully.

"I prefer the term unluckily lucky. I'm still alive after all." He replied with a grin on his face.


Our transports turned out to be two C-13 Hercules, here to take us to San Salvacion.

Of all things, why must it be planes? I'd rather walk all the way there.

Arthur got on the plane first, before he offered a hand to take me abroad.

Somehow, my legs won't move.

"Come on, Brownie, grab my hand. The others' waiting." He said.

I didn't say anything. Suddenly my body started shaking again.

.

MISSILE. MISSILE. MISSILE. MISSILE.

"He's like a predator…"

.

"Hey, you're wasting time, girl. Get on already!" A prisoner behind me growled.

But I just couldn't move.

.

MISSILE. MISSILE. MISSILE. MISSILE.

"Somebody! Support!"

.

"Hey, Brownie. I know this is difficult for you, but everything's going to be okay. I promise. You're going home, alright?"

I looked up to see Arthur smiling gently at me, his hand still reached out for me.

"You're going to be okay."

What was it with this guy?

I took a long, deep breath, trying to focus my mind.

It's going to be fine. It's going to fine. I kept telling myself in my mind. I'm about to go home now.

I took Arthur's hand.


Fifteen minutes later, we were in the air. There were about twenty prisoners abroad, along with about a dozen Erusean and Yuktobanian soldiers. The plane was a bit crowded, but compared to the tiny cell I lived in for months it felt much more spacious by comparison.

Still, my mind was racing the moment the aircraft took off from the runway. I kept replaying the same scenes from that fateful day.

The plane shook a bit as it went under turbulence. I should be already used to this ever since I finished flight academy, but now it made my body shivered like someone poured freezing water down my spine.

I took a few deep breaths. It's only a few hours from here to San Salvacion. I can do this.

"I…before I got shot down…I was actually doing pretty fine, you know?" I began. I needed to get something out of my head, anything, otherwise I'd just keep thinking back to that nightmare. Talking to Arthur always seemed to help me relax, so why not?

Arthur turned to look at me and frowned, silently urging me to continue.

"It…it was somewhere over Chopinburg, I think. Me and my squadron were engaging enemy drones. It was absolute chaos. Dozens upon dozens of UAVs overwhelmed us. My plane got hit as well. A missile exploded somewhere near my right wing's tip, but I was still able to fly."

"You were flying with only one wing?" Suddenly, Arthur's eyes lit up.

"Nah, the wing's still there. It was just smoking like someone attached a smoke grenade on it," I replied, "Somehow I managed to shoot down another drone after that. It was my fifth kill overall."

"Congrats. You're officially an ace." He complimented, "I have to admit, that was rather impressive."

"Yeah, that's what I believed I was back then, too." I replied as I recalled the memories of that day, "You know, I actually had the audacity to tell my flight lead that I was still able to fight, but he ordered me back anyway. Come to think of it, I should've stayed instead of…"

That again…it always veered back to that nightmare again.

"I…"

MISSILE. MISSILE. MISSILE. MISSILE.

I took another deep breath. I swear people will think I have a lung problem or something.

Keep calm. Keep calm. It's all in the past, you idiot. Stay strong.

"I…I thought I was doing something right. It was just my third sortie yet I was already an ace. At first I thought it was just that I wanted to pull my own weight in the squadron…It was only until recently that I realized: I just didn't want my friends to have all the fun. I was cocky, especially when there was this one guy who kept downing more and more UAV bandits despite all the chaos around us."

The thought of Trigger made my mind calmer somehow. It had been a long time since I thought about that hot-blooded trainee. The last time I heard about him was that he participated in the failed attempt to rescue ex-President Harling at the Lighthouse. That couldn't have been easy. Hope he's doing alright.

"Hey, it's normal to be cocky. I know these things all too well." Arthur said, "I used to be quite cocky in my younger days as well."

"Ironic isn't it. I finally became an ace pilot, but now I can never bring myself to fly again." I bitterly replied. If it took all of my courage to step into this cargo plane that wasn't even flying into a combat zone, I'd probably never have the strength to climb back into the cockpit ever again.

I guess I was grounded, permanently.

"You know, I was an ace pilot myself, in a war that happened a long time ago," Arthur began, sparkling my interest. All this time, I thought he was just a foot soldier, "A cocky one at that. Back then, I went out on sorties feeling like I could take on the whole world. In the sky, I was unstoppable."

Suddenly, Arthur's face saddened as he lowered his head. I guess he didn't really have fond memories of his flying days as well. Guess we have something in common, after all.

He sighed before he continued.

"Needless to say, that war taught me a lot of cruel lessons. After it ended, I never fly again. People often said the horrors of war feel so trivial when you're up there in the wide, open sky, never witnessing the brutality of war firsthand. Well, I call bullshit on that. When you're up there, you can actually see everything that's happened, every atrocity committed in the name of some absurd ideal or political agenda. You'd never be the same after that."

I stayed silent. I had a feeling Arthur's deliberately hiding some crucial details in his story, but I decided not to pursue the topic further. It was obvious that whatever happened back then still affected him to this day. Who am I to judge? I was still recovering from my own scars as well.

Still, it made me feel somewhat glad that I wasn't the only one going through this alone.


The plane landed safely in San Profetta International Airport in San Salvacion about two hours later. The sun was already rising as I stepped out of the plane. The gentle warmth of the breaking dawn soothed me as I took in the scenery of the world around me.

I finally made it. I thought to myself. I survived.

"Well, Brownie, it looks like we'll finally have to go our separate ways," Arthur said as he dusted off his brown jacket. He actually looked like he used to be a pilot now.

"What, you're asking for my phone number or something?" I jokingly teased him.

"Nah, you're not my type."

"Excuse me?"

Out of the blue, both of us just burst into laughter, not caring for the curious eyes of the ex-prisoners who walked past us by. Damn it, I can't even remember the last time I laughed out this loud.

"It's just…" Arthur finally said after he calmed down, "It has been quite a while since I have any real friend to talk to."

"Really? You seemed like a pretty chill guy. I'd thought you would've have had more friends."

"Heh," Arthur avoided my eyes sheepishly, "There was this one buddy of mine, though. We've been through so much together a long time ago, but he never really talked much. Don't know where he is right now, though."

"Well, I hope you'll see him again soon after this whole mess, Arthur." I said with a smile, "You've been a very good friend, Arthur. I wouldn't have made it past these seven months without you."

Another silence. For a while, we just stood there staring at each other. I never realized how tired Arthur actually was. He looked like he had been through some pretty rough time before.

All that time in the camp, he had been my personal therapist, helping me trying to get over that nightmare, but never once did I ever ask whether he needed any help. Thinking back, I felt like such a jerk.

"My name's not actually Arthur," He began first, "It's Larry. Larry Foulke."

Larry? Well, that was kinda a letdown. I actually liked Arthur better. Sounded like a king's name.

Somehow, the name felt familiar. I thought I heard about it somewhere before, but I just couldn't remember.

"Well, to be fair, I've never really told you my real name, either."

"I'd be more surprised if your real name is actually Brownie." He jokingly said.

"Ha ha," I smiled, "It's actually Alicia. Alicia Harvard."

"Nice to meet you, Alicia Harvard," Larry said, returning the smile.

"Pleased to know you, Larry Foulke."

We shook hands with each other.

"I'd probably be going back to Oured in a few days," I told him, feeling that I probably shouldn't have seen the last of this guy yet, "If by any chance you happened to be in the area, look up my brother John. He's currently working as an educator at the National Air and Space Museum."

"Noted, buddy," Larry replied, his smile never fading. "Keep yourself alive, okay? See you again."

And then we parted ways.


Seemed like forever since I got to use a phone.

The Osean military official at the terminal allowed us POWs to use a phone call. It used the military's direct line so it wasn't affected by the satellite disaster a few months earlier.

At first, I decided that I wanted to call my brother, to tell him that I was actually alive after all.

Then I thought: maybe I should prank my old friend a bit.

"Hey, Trigger. Guess who's still alive?" I spoke into the phone, grinning all the while, "I still wanted to go to that bar, and nothing will stop me this time."

.

.

.

.

Author's note: Whew! That was a long chapter xD.

I actually have quite a bit of trouble with this one. I had to keep Arthur's true identity hidden while providing enough hints that he was actually the one and only Solo Wing Pixy so as not to make the reveal feel out of place. If you guys remember, in AC0 Pixy was being interviewed at a town near the border. The supplementary material reveals that he was fighting in Delarus, a small country in Usea, during the Usean Continental War (aka AC04). That's how he ended up in that prison. I might expand upon that story later, but for now, I just wanted to focus on our two favorite grounded aces. At least I managed to achieve that goal, for better or worse lol.

Also, Brownie's real name is actually Alicia Harvard. I intended for her to be the sister of John Harvard, the Osean astronaut who sabotaged the Arkbird to force it to descend down into the atmosphere, allowing the Razgriz Squadron to destroy it in AC5. Fun fact, your wingman in the original AC2 "Slash" has the name John Harvard as well, before Bandai-Namco retconned his name to be John Herbert in its remaster "Assault Horizon Legacy". Never played that one though cause I never owned a Nintendo 3DS.

Finally, about that Princess Rosa comment. I didn't actually hate her, okay? She did a terrible thing but she had a reasonable excuse for it. I made Brownie hated her because of lack of knowledge for it. Brownie didn't know what Rosa was going through, so in her mind, Rosa started the war that she almost died in. Anyone would've been pissed after that. Also, I wanted to reflect the divided opinions on Rosa in the fandom. Some of them admittedly have justifiable reasons to hate her for what she did. Even Vincent Harling has his haters, so why shouldn't our princess waifu do as well?

All in all, I'd say I'm a bit proud of this one. I managed to save my waifu Brownie at long last. Now I'm happy xD. Any review and criticism are welcome as always! There will also be at least another chapter focusing on another "grounded ace". I'll let you guys guess who will be that viewpoint character of the next chapter until I got it done lol. Have fun!

PS. Just managed to earn the No-Damage medal and the 4-hour speedrun medal at the same time in AC7 at long last. Goddamn, those freaking drones in the last mission was a pain to get through without damage.