30,000 feet above the Hawk Peaks mountain range
200 miles east of Hawk City, Akael
July 4, 2016, 9:15 AM (0915)
Air Equestria flight 189, a 747-400 bound for the Akaelian capital, Gryphus, from Detrot, was about to commence its final descent in preparation for landing.
One of the passengers, a white, green-maned unicorn named Cutie Pie, saw an Akaelian Air Force MiG-29 flying towards the airliner.
He must be coming up to say hello! She thought as she saw the fighter close in. Her eyes went wide in an instant when she saw a plume of smoke appear under the MiG's wing and start moving towards the airliner at high speed.
Cutie Pie's heart started racing and she gasped in terror as she realized what the object was: an R-77 Adder radar-guided missile!
"OH NO! THERE'S A MISSILE COMING AT US! WE'RE GONNA DIE!" Cutie Pie screamed.
Other passengers around her and even one of the flight attendants looked out the window and saw the incoming missile.
The passengers that saw the missile started to panic as one of the flight attendants rushed towards the cockpit to inform the pilot, but before she could get to the upper deck, the missile made impact on the center of the fuselage, just below the left wing root.
The passengers screamed in terror as the aircraft was ripped apart. The oxygen masks fell from their compartments and the cabin lights flickered out.
Cutie Pie looked behind her and saw seats and other debris being ripped from the cabin through the open end, it was the last thing she saw before she passed out due to the sudden lack of air pressure.
The doomed jumbo jet fell towards the ground in two flaming halves, the wings being ripped off in mid-fall.
One extremely lucky Pegasus, a pink-maned mare with a yellow coat and a cutie mark consisting of three butterflies, managed to fly out of the wreck shortly after the missile hit, using the rush of air from the sudden loss of cabin pressure to boost herself out into open skies.
She continued descending as she watched in absolute horror as the wreckage hit the ground in the western edge of the Eagle-eye Forest. "Why?" she asked silently, still shocked and horrified by what had happened.
She looked to see the MiG-29 flying away, and eyed it with a hateful glare. The lucky pony, who now confirmed herself to be the sole survivor of the horrific event, rushed back towards the coast.
When she finally arrived fifteen minutes after Flight 189 was shot down, an Equestrian Royal Navy Lynx helicopter had just begun approaching the beach, likely sent in to investigate the loss of contact with the airliner by air traffic controllers.
The pilot spotted the lone mare and, figuring that she was a crash survivor, landed the helicopter on the sand. "Are you alright?" the cabin crewman asked as he stepped out.
"Y...y-yes." the mare replied, still in a state of shock. "Did anypony else make it out?" he asked.
"N..no, I'm the only one." the traumatized Pegasus replied, a tear falling down her cheek.
"Come on, it's gonna be OK, we're gonna take you home!" the stallion said as he led the shaken mare to the helicopter, which then took off to the aircraft carrier ERNS Loyalty.
A C-2 Greyhound then flew her to RNAB Aquarius in Seahorse City.
She then caught a commercial flight to Ponyville from there via a Harmony Airlines 737-900, where her friend, a pink earth pony with a curly pink mane and a cutie mark consisting of three balloons greeted her with a crushing, tearful bear hug.
"Oh, Fluttershy, I'm so glad you're OK! I heard that your plane crashed and that almost everypony on board was killed and I was so worried!" The pink pony, whose name was Pinkie Pie, said.
The two walked towards the nearby house where their friend Twilight Sparkle was waiting for them.
"Fluttershy? I thought that you were on the flight to Akael!" Twilight said, clearly surprised to see Fluttershy back so soon.
"Well, my plane was shot down and I was the only one that got out alive." Fluttershy replied in her usual quiet tone.
"Oh, oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, I didn't know that- wait, did you say that the plane was SHOT down?" Twilight asked.
"Yes, one of the passengers said she saw a missile coming at the plane and an explosion ripped the fuselage in two several seconds later!" Fluttershy replied, her voice getting shaky as she recalled the horrific events that she had survived just a few hours ago.
Later that day, 12:00 PM (1200)
NAS Angel Peaks
New Dream City, Arcadian Federation
Robert and his squadron-mates were watching the news in the officers' lounge when the story of the Flight 189 incident came on.
"This just in, new footage of the disaster on Air Equestria Flight 189 has just been received from an Akaelian civilian plane spotter who witnessed the carnage and caught it on film. Be warned, what you are about to see is graphic and disturbing, viewer discretion is advised." the reporter said before the image changed to that of the video, which depicted the doomed 747 in flight.
As Robert and the others watched, a small shape streaked in and struck the airliner, tearing it apart. The pilots could hear the cameraman's shocked and horrified reactions as he continued filming, and in the process caught the MiG passing by.
Everyone's jaw dropped instantly as they saw the unmistakable: the plane had clearly been shot down, but by who and why?
The image then returned to that of the reporter on scene. "Other witnessed have confirmed that an Akaelian Air Force MiG fighter was responsible for the shoot-down, but the motive for this horrendous act is unknown and currently under investigation. As a precaution, all flights to Akael from Arcadia and Equestria have been suspended indefinitely until further notice." The reporter said.
"Sweet Jesus!" Vidal said. "All those poor ponies, they never had a chance!" another pilot, Lt-jg Megan Jackson said.
"My God, it's a miracle that one of them survived!" Robert replied. The image then switched to an interview with the survivor, who was clearly very camera-shy.
Robert's eyes lit up when he saw the survivor. The other pilots could see it on his face and realized why he lit up upon seeing the shaken mare on the screen: Robert knew her.
"Friend of yours, sir?" Megan asked. "Yeah, I...I know her. I do know that Pegasus!" Robert said.
"What's her name, man?" Vidal asked. "Fluttershy, I know that yellow coat and pink mane anywhere." Robert replied.
"You love her?" another pilot, Ensign Angelo Vanders asked. "Vanders!" Vidal exclaimed as he elbowed Angelo.
"What? What 'd I say?" Angelo asked, clearly confused. "Settle down, guys, and to answer your question, Angelo, no, we're just friends." Robert replied.
So many questions filled Robert's head as he and his fellow pilots watched on.
Why did the Akaelian military shoot down a civilian airliner? Why WOULD they do something like that? Something's not right. He thought.
Twelve days later
July 14, 2016, 1:03 PM (1303)
Stallion Strait, 50 miles south of Pony Island
A pair of Equestrian Royal Navy F-14A Tomcat interceptors from ERNS Generosity were on patrol at 9,000 feet near the carrier when their E-2D, call-sign "Overwatch", detected a pair of contacts headed their way from the east.
"Trotter one, Overwatch, contacts appear to be heading 275, speed: 450 knots, altitude: angels 8." the radar controller on the Hawkeye said to the two Tomcat pilots.
"OK, let's come starboard about 40. Bogies confirmed at 61 miles now, bearing 095, angels 8, heading 274...steady up." Apocalypse, the pilot of the lead Tomcat said as he and his wingman, Hotshot made a defensive maneuver to the right to maintain an advantageous position over the bogies.
Apocalypse's RIO, Disaster noticed the bogies jinking to neutralize their defensive angles on his AWG-9 radar display.
"OK, he's jinking now, yeah, he's jinking to the right now, heading northwest. Speed: 430, angels: 5,000 and descending." he said.
"OK, let's take her down now, we're going down." Apocalypse said. "Showing up at 53 miles now, bogies appear to be heading directly at us now, I'm coming port, steady up 065 for 30 degree offset, 50 miles." he said.
The two groups came closer to one another, tensions increasing within the Tomcat pilots. "49 miles now, speed: 450 angels: 9, I'm going down to 3." Apocalypse said as he brought his Tomcat down to 3,000 feet, his wingman remaining at 9,000 feet.
"Offset back over." Hotshot's RIO, Jockey, said. "Roger." Hotshot replied. "Roger, 30 degree offset now. Bogies heading 100, speed 500, let's accelerate." Apocalypse said as he lit the afterburners, his wingman close behind.
"OK, they look like they're at nine thousand feet now." Disaster said as he continued to monitor his radar display.
"Roger, bogies have jinked back into us now, let's come starboard thirty degrees, the other side." Apocalypse said as he noticed the bogies jinking at them again.
"Coming to starboard!" Hotshot said as he followed his wingman.
"Roger, angels now eleven, steady up!" Apocalypse said as he and his wingman leveled off in a new defensive position.
"Trotter Flight, warning yellow, weapons hold, say again, warning yellow, weapons hold, Overwatch out." the Hawkeye operator said after assessing the situation.
"Roger, Hotshot, pass, Overwatch directs warning yellow, weapons hold!" Apocalypse said, making sure his wingman understood the situation. "Thirty-five miles here." Disaster said, still tracking the bogies.
"Roger, bogies have jinked back into me now, for the third time, with noses on at thirty-five miles, angels seven!" Apocalypse said.
"Overwatch, Hotshot, you copy?" Hotshot asked. "We copy." the Hawkeye operator replied.
"OK, I'm taking another offset, starboard, starboard...127." Apocalypse said as he maneuvered his aircraft for the offset.
"I got him locked up on IFF, confirmed as Akaelian Floggers, thirty miles, 13,000 feet." Jockey said. "Roger that, level off here." Apocalypse said as he leveled off, his wingman quickly following suit.
The MiGs jinked again, clearly showing an aggressive stance.
"OK, bogies have jinked back into me, for the forth time, I'm coming back starboard...back port now, twenty-seven miles, bogies at seven thousand feet." Apocalypse said as he countered the MiGs' next move.
"Bogies confirmed 135, 50 miles, angels 16. Heading 232." An Equestrian Royal Air Force Mirage 2000 pilot said as he detected the MiGs.
"Roger, same bogies!" Hotshot said to the Mirage pilot. Apocalypse watched in amazement as the MiGs jinked yet again.
These guys just don't get it, do they? He thought.
"OK, bogies have jinked back at me again, for the fifth time, they're on my nose now. Inside of twenty miles!" Apocalypse said as he activated his master arm switch, his wingman following suit.
"Master arm on, master arm on." he said after selecting his AIM-7M Sparrow semi-active radar-guided missiles.
"Red light, red light!" the Hawkeye operator said as he monitored the action.
"OK, centering up the T, bogies have jinked back at me again, sixteen miles, center of the dot, angels nine!" Apocalypse said as he lined up for the shot.
"Thirteen miles...fox one, fox one!" Apocalypse said as he locked up the MiG and fired. "Oh, Celestia!" Disaster said as he watched the missile fly off the rail from under the wing root.
"Jinking right!" he said as he watched the MiG's reaction. The MiG deployed chaff, which caused the missile to lose its lock.
"Roger that, ten miles, he's back on my nose, fox one again!" Apocalypse said as he fired a second Sparrow.
"Locking them up!" Hotshot said as he joined in the fight. "Six miles, six miles!" Apocalypse said as he watched his missile track the MiG-23.
"Tally two, tally two! Turning into me!" Hotshot said as the second MiG turned towards him.
"Roger that, five miles...four miles!" Apocalypse said as they closed in on the MiGs and prepared for the merge.
"OK, he's got a missile off!" Hotshot said as he watched the MiG closer to him fire off an AA-8 Aphid missile, which flew wide.
Seconds later, Apocalypse's Sparrow hit the lead MiG, which went down in flames. "Good hit, good hit on one!" Disaster said as he watched the result of the missile shot.
"Roger that, good kill, good kill!" Hotshot said as he turned to engage the second Flogger. "I've got the other one!" he said as the MiG evaded to the right, causing him to give chase.
He then selected his Sidewinder short-range heat-homing missiles as he turned hard to get in a suitable firing position.
"OK, I've got the trailer!" Jockey said as he and his pilot entered their first dogfight.
"He's coming hard to starboard." Hotshot said as he attempted to position himself for a god shot.
"Come on, shoot him!" Jockey said. "I don't have a tone!" Hotshot replied. "Where's the second one?" Apocalypse asked.
"I've got the second one on the nose right now!" Hotshot replied, not taking his eyes off the MiG.
"OK, I'm high cover on you!" Apocalypse replied as he climbed to a suitable position to watch Hotshot's back. "Come on, shoot him, shoot him, man!" Jockey said.
"I can't I don't have a fucking tone!" Hotshot replied in a frustrated tone.
Seconds later, he heard what he wanted to hear: the distinct high-pitched tone of a good heat-seeker lock.
"Fox two!" he said as he fired the missile. The AIM-9M flew true, exploding inside the MiG's tailpipe.
"Good kill, good kill!" Apocalypse said as he watched the burning MiG go down. The Tomcat pilots watched as the two MiG pilots, who, of course, were gryphons, ejected from their burning planes.
"Pilots ejected!" Apocalypse said as he saw one of the gryphons fly away. "OK, hotshot, let's head west, head west." Apocalypse ordered as he turned back west, towards the carrier.
"OK, I'm port side high, I'm coming down hard!" Hotshot replied as he raced to join up with his wingman.
"Roger, let's head west, let's go down low, down on the deck, down low at 500 knots, let's get out of here!" Apocalypse replied as the two pilots lit the afterburners again.
"I see no chutes, they must have flown off!" Hotshot said.
"OK, I've got one splash." Jockey said as he saw the remains of one of the MiGs hit the water below.
"OK, let's take it down to 3,000." Apocalypse said as the two Tomcats began descending.
"Confirmed splash 250 at 5 o'clock! Let's go, Hotshot, down to 3,000, let's get out of here!" Apocalypse said.
"I'm running west on your right side!" Hotshot said as he formed up on Apocalypse's 4 o'clock. "Roger." Apocalypse replied as they flew back towards the Generosity, low on fuel.
The pilots put their master arm switches on SAFE. "Confirmed two Floggers, two Floggers splashed, Overwatch, we're heading west." Apocalypse said.
They were debriefed on what had happened after they landed. What they didn't know, was this would not be the only engagement between Akaelian and Equestrian or Arcadian aircraft.
Two days later
July 16, 2016, 12:40 AM (0040)
Sweet Apple Acres farm, Ponyville, Equestria
Corporal Big Macintosh was on leave with his family at his home in Ponyville. He had walked outside to the apple trees for a quick midnight snack. When he reached up to pick a ripe apple, he noticed a brown square-shaped object attached to the trunk.
He grabbed the mysterious device in his fore-hooves and examined it carefully. He noticed that the object looked like it had some kind of clock attached to it, and that the clock was counting down. What the hell's this clock counting down to? Wait...OH, SHIT, IT'S A BOMB! Big Mac thought as it dawned on him.
Unfortunately, before he could react, the bomb detonated, creating a huge fireball that consumed his body, the tree and the trees next to it.
Applejack, who was on leave with her brother, jumped up and out of her bed upon hearing the explosion.
"What in tarnation?" she asked in surprise. She looked out the window and saw a patch of apple trees on fire.
As she looked on, two more explosions rang out, one in the barn, and another in a second patch of trees. She rushed to call the fire department and went to check on her family, to see if they were all still inside the house.
Several minutes later, three fire trucks had arrived on scene and a firefighting tanker plane made a pass over the burning orchard, releasing a load of fire retardant over the flames.
Applejack watched as several teams of fireponies got into position and readied their hoses.
Just then, she realized that somepony was missing: her brother! She began searching, but could not find him, and after an hour, she began to fear the worst.
It took an hour and fifteen minutes to get the fires contained. The orchards had been nearly destroyed by that time, and it took another hour to put the fires out completely. Once the last flames were extinguished, an assessment team was sent in to try and find the cause of the blaze.
The barn was totally destroyed, as was over 94% of the orchards.
One hour later, the assessment team came back, and one of the team members trotted up to Applejack.
"I'm sorry to tell you this, but we found a body within one of the burned areas, and it looks like an explosion of some kind occurred there. The body...may be your missing brother." he said. Applejack's eyes widened when she realized who the body could be.
She rushed over to the area where the center of the fire was located, and found Big Mac's shattered, burnt corpse. She gasped in absolute horror and tears began to flow down her cheeks.
She turned and saw Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle trotting up towards her.
Applejack quickly threw herself towards Twilight, wrapped her fore-hooves around her neck and buried her face in her shoulder, sobbing loudly over her brother's death.
"Hey, it's gonna be OK, Applejack, it'll be alright, shhhhhh." Twilight said softly as she gently stroked Applejack's back.
"But...but he's...mah brother's...he...he's GONE!" Applejack managed to say before she fell into another uncontrollable sobbing fit.
Twilight felt bad, Big Mac meant a lot to Applejack and her family.
Fluttershy was crying in Pinkie Pie's arms, equally devastated by the loss.
"I'm so sorry, Fluttershy. Mackie was a great friend." Pinkie said as she stroked Fluttershy's back, fighting back tears of her own. "I...I...I lo- I LOVED HIM!" Fluttershy said loudly before sobbing uncontrollably.
Applejack got up and made her way to Fluttershy. "Ah know, sugarcube, and ah just want ya ta know that he loved ya, too!" Applejack said before she hugged Fluttershy tightly, both of them sobbing loudly.
Twilight and Pinkie Pie were also crying, not just over the loss, but also over the immense pain that Fluttershy and Applejack were now suffering.
Arcadia Cruise Lines ship Angel Peaks
100 miles NNW of Arcadia Island, Atlantic Ocean
July 16, 2016, 10:00PM (2200)
Robert and Rainbow Dash were watching the news in their cabin when a special report came on.
"For those who missed this dramatic story earlier today, tragedy has struck the Kingdom of Equestria last night when the Sweet Apple Acres farm was nearly wiped out by a massive fire. It was reported that the fires were started as a result of a series of explosions whose cause is still under investigation. Assessment teams have confirmed one fatality, a farm pony named as Big Macintosh, who was a well-known Royal Army corporal." the reporter said as images of the carnage appeared on the screen.
Robert and Rainbow had looks of shock on their faces as the report went on. "No." Robert said under his breath.
Rainbow looked like she was about to cry, and Robert noticed. "Hey, you alright, Dash?" he asked. Rainbow turned towards him and, after a few seconds, threw herself into his arms and cried on his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry, I know this is a lot to take." Robert said as he gently stroked her mane. Rainbow continued crying, but let up slightly.
She felt safe and protected by Robert's gentle, comforting touch.
After twenty minutes, the two fell asleep, still feeling bad for Applejack, Big Mac and their family. Robert knew that the incident would have a huge impact on Equestria's food production and processing capabilities.
In response to this disaster, the Arcadian Air Force mobilized half of its C-17A and C-130J transport planes to began a massive humanitarian airlift operation whose sole purpose was to provide food and other needed supplies to the areas in Equestria that were affected by the losses caused by the Sweet Apple Acres disaster.
This solution was proposed and put into action after president Richard Mason met with Princess Celestia at Canterlot to discuss the long-term effects and seek out a solution. The transport aircraft would land at the major airports and the supplies would be transferred to trucks that would take them to their final destinations.
Launch pad 3A
Jason B. Kennedy Space Center, Archer Hills, Arcadia
July 18, 2016, 11:59 AM (1159)
The space shuttle Adventurer was just seconds away from launch, ready to deliver the final targeting satellite for the brand new Orbital Kinetic Weapons System (OKWS), commonly known as the "Rods from God".
Once this satellite was in position, the weapons system would be complete, and ready to be brought online. The seven-man crew was excited for this day, and proud to be part of this historical moment.
"T-minus ten...nine...eight...seven...six...main engine start...four...three...two...one...ignition, and liftoff of the Adventurer, and it has cleared the tower! The Adventurer is now on its way to complete the OKWS, writing a new chapter of security in space for the Arcadian Federation and the Kingdom of Equestria!" the announcer said as the launch began.
On the word "ignition", the shuttle's main engines as well as the solid-fuel boosters' rocket motors ignited, creating spectacular plumes of smoke around the launch pad as the spacecraft lifted off.
After two minutes, the rocket boosters separated from the massive copper-orange external fuel tank, parachuting to the ground to be recovered and used again.
After several more minutes, the shuttle was nearing low-earth orbit, and the now-empty external fuel tank was jettisoned, falling away to eventually burn up in the Earth's atmosphere.
After the Adventurer had established its position in orbit, the cargo bay doors were opened, revealing the satellite within.
Using skillful manipulation of the shuttle's robot arm, the crew managed to bring the satellite out of the shuttle's cargo bay and into its final orbit configuration.
After receiving the go-ahead from the shuttle crew, the controllers on the ground sent a signal that activated the satellite.
The next day, the shuttle prepared for re-entry. The cargo bay doors were shut and the pilot skillfully maneuvered the spacecraft into position using the shuttle's gas thrusters.
Soon after, the shuttle began entering the Earth's atmosphere, bright plasma trails streaming from the wingtips as the friction of re-entry heated the skin of the shuttle to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
At the same time, all radio contact with the shuttle was temporarily lost. After five tense minutes, the shuttle completed its re-entry and began gliding towards the runway at Riverton AFB.
Upon touchdown on the runway, the shuttle's drag chute deployed as the crew used every braking system on board to bring the shuttle to a stop.
What the crew didn't know was that the results of this latest mission would end up playing a key role in the events to come.
Talon Bay Air Base, Talon Bay City, Akael
July 20th, 2016, 6:43PM (1843)
A flight of Tu-22M3 Backfire-C bombers were preparing for takeoff. Each bomber was carrying a pair of Kh-15S (AS-16 "Kickback") anti-ship missiles.
Their target: the cruise ship Angel Peaks, their motive: make a statement.
Flames surged from the afterburners of the bombers' twin Kuznetzov NK-25 turbofans as they roared down the runway and into the sky, towards the unsuspecting ocean liner.
"This attack will send a strong message, Colonel. Those ponies and humans won't dare to challenge us." General Yuri said as he and Colonel Gilda watched the bombers get airborne.
"Indeed, General. We must always show our superior strength, any less, and someone will exploit any weakness we may show." Gilda replied.
General Yuri smiled, knowing that everything was going according to plan.
Two hours later, the bombers targeted the ship and the lead bomber launched its missiles, which streaked towards the unfortunate cruise liner at supersonic speeds.
On board Angel Peaks, 150 miles south of Pony Island, Atlantic Ocean
Two hours later...
Robert and Rainbow Dash were on the balcony of their cabin, watching the sunset. "It's so beautiful." Rainbow said as she leaned her head on Robert's shoulder.
"Yeah, it is." Robert replied. He started blushing upon feeling Rainbow's head make contact, but did not move. I'll tell her soon. He thought.
"You know, there's something I wanna tell you, since we're here now, alone." Rainbow said, her cheeks starting to turn red.
"What is it?" Robert asked. "Well, it's this feeling that I've had for a while, and I can't deny it. I've realized now how great a person you are, and how much we have in common." Rainbow said, her cheeks getting redder with each word.
She was determined to get it out, here and now. She turned to face him and gently placed her hoof on Robert's hand, which was resting on the railing.
"What I'm trying to say is...I...I love you, Robert" Rainbow finished, her cheeks now a deep, crimson red.
Robert was surprised at first, but then remembered that he had similar feelings for her.
They leaned in towards each other, the gap between their lips growing smaller and smaller by the second.
"I love you too, Dash." Robert replied. Just as their lips were about to connect, the ship jolted suddenly as a loud bang rang out forward of them.
"What was that?" Rainbow asked. "Oh, my God!" Robert said as he looked and saw that part of the ship forward of them was on fire! He then spotted several plumes of smoke off in the distance, which appeared to be closing in at high speed.
"What...are those?" Rainbow asked, but her answer came to her as the closest object, which appeared to be a missile, struck the ship, causing it to jolt again.
The shock threw Robert and Rainbow into the door. When they got up, Robert saw what looked like a Tu-22M3 Backfire-C bomber scream by overhead.
"Is that...an Akaelian aircraft?" Rainbow asked. "It's gotta be, I know those markings anywhere!" Robert replied.
Just then, a secondary explosion rocked the ship again.
"We gotta get out of here, this ship can't take anymore hits like that!" Robert said.
"I have an idea, get on!" Rainbow said as she turned her back towards Robert.
Robert caught on and gently yet quickly got on Rainbow's back, as he did so, he spotted six more missiles approaching the ship. "We'd better hurry, there's more missiles closing in fast!" Robert said as he wrapped his arms around Rainbow's chest.
"HANG ON!" Rainbow shouted as she took off, Robert hanging on for dear life.
Seconds later, as Rainbow hovered a safe distance away, the missiles struck the ship in pairs, nearly splitting the vessel in two.
They saw several of the lifeboats being lowered into the water as the passengers and crew that survived the blasts started to abandon ship.
Rainbow then spotted an empty emergency raft floating several yards from the doomed ship. "Hold on, I'm gonna set us down on that raft!" she said as she flew down towards the raft.
She carefully landed and Robert got off and they both laid down, exhausted by their hasty escape.
They turned to look at the ship, which had been reduced to a burning hulk. Two secondary explosions rang out amidships as some of the fuel tanks were ignited by the fires.
As Robert and Rainbow watched in awe, the Angel Peaks slipped beneath the waves, taking at least 75 percent of her passengers and crew to a watery grave. The two gulped, knowing that they were lucky to be alive.
As the two lay down, Rainbow winced slightly, as if she were in pain. "You OK?" Robert asked, concerned for his new marefriend (girlfriend).
"My left front hoof, it feels like it...oh, no." Rainbow said as she held her hoof up, revealing a deep cut on her leg a few inches from the hoof itself.
"Jeez, that doesn't look so good." Robert said as he grabbed the first-aid kit from a pocket on the raft to patch up Rainbow's wound.
"How...how did this happen?" Rainbow asked as Robert finished patching her up. "You must have taken a bit of shrapnel from the explosions." Robert replied.
Twenty minutes later, they heard the familiar sound of jet engines approaching. They looked up into the darkening sky and saw an Equestrian Royal Air Force EF-2000 Typhoon flying in at a low altitude.
Ten minutes later, they heard the sound of helicopter rotors and looked to see a pair of Equestrian Royal Coast Guard EH-101 Merlin helicopters approaching.
Robert grabbed a flare that was in a pocket on the raft and lit it, producing a bright, green glow. The Merlin descended as it approached the raft, the main cabin side door opening once the helicopter began hovering over the raft.
A search-and-rescue swimmer dropped from the helicopter and into the water, and swam towards the raft. The other helicopter, meanwhile, went on to locate the other survivors.
The swimmer signaled for a rescue basket to be lowered to get Robert and Rainbow on board.
"She should go up first, she's injured!" Robert told the swimmer. Rainbow carefully climbed into the basket, which was then raised up to the helicopter.
Once Rainbow was on board, the basket was lowered again for Robert. Robert and the swimmer both got in and the basket was raised again.
Once the two were on board, the helicopter flew off back to the Royal Coast Guard station at Seaddle.
Upon arrival, Rainbow had her wound stitched up and the two stayed at a hotel in Manehatten the next night.
That night, 9:34 PM
Stable Suites hotel, Manehatten, Equestria
Robert and Rainbow relaxed in one of the beds in their top-floor room. They were still exhausted from escaping their brush with death. "Wow, I...I never expected that to happen." Robert said as Rainbow cuddled up next to him.
"Yeah, but at least we're alive." Rainbow replied. "Yeah, we are, thanks to you, If it wasn't for your quick thinking, we'd both be at the bottom of the sea with that ship." Robert replied. Rainbow blushed at that comment.
"Hey, you know me, I never leave my friends hangin'..." Rainbow replied as they sat up, and Rainbow leaned over towards Robert, her face ending up a few inches from his.
"...and I especially never leave my boyfriend hangin'!" Rainbow finished as she drew Robert in for a kiss. Minutes later, that kiss evolved into full-on lovemaking.
The two lovers lay together for the longest time, sweat glistening on their bodies after their shared experience. Each was taking deep breaths, gradually coming down from that state of bliss-like high that had sustained them through their accelerated use of energy.
Robert lay on his back, and sighed in an expression of pure love when Rainbow crawled over and rested her head on her lover's chest. They lay there for some time, letting their heart rates slow down and their breathing get back to normal. They lay without speaking for longer than either cared to count, bonds building between them as they communicated without words. Then, Robert spoke.
"You know, Rainbow? I'm willing to bet that the others probably think that we're dead or something." Robert said.
"Yeah, They probably do." Rainbow replied. "But, that doesn't mean that they've lost hope so soon." Robert said.
"Yeah, my friends are known for hoping for the best, even out of the worst." Rainbow replied. "They'll find out tomorrow." Rainbow added.
"Yeah." Robert replied. Seconds later, Robert turned the radio off as they were finally pulled into the grip of sleep and entered the world of dreams.
The next morning, 7:00 AM (0700)
Robert and Rainbow woke up as the alarm went off. Robert turned off the alarm and turned on the TV. "I wonder what's on at this hour." Robert said. The image was that of a gryphon general who had a gloating look on his face.
"Greetings, I am General Yuri of the mighty Akaelian Army. As you may know, several unfortunate events have taken place in recent times, and you want to know the cause?" he said with a sinister sneer.
"It was US! It was, in fact, one of our MiGs that shot down Flight 189. The bombing of Sweet Apple Acres? One of our commando teams planted the charges that caused those blasts that reduced that farm to ashes. Those MiG-23s that tried to penetrate Equestrian airspace? They were on a recon mission, but those Equestrian fighters got the better of them, I see. The sinking of the Arcadian cruise liner several hours ago? That was also us, some of our bombers sunk the ship using cruise missiles. You may be wondering, 'why?' Well, I'll tell you: You puny ponies and pathetic humans think you can challenge our strength? You think you're so tough? Well, think again, for we have a little surprise headed your way, Equestria! Your lands will burn before our mighty forces! MWAHAHAHAHA!" he said before the image cut out.
"This was made just minutes ago, and as a result of this threat, all Arcadian and Equestrian military forces are beginning to mobilize." the reporter said.
Robert and Rainbow Dash stared at the screen in absolute shock and horror. "Oh, no! Does this mean that..." Rainbow began to say.
"Yep, they just declared war!" Robert finished. After a call from their respective bases, they got ready for action.
"I hope we get the chance to fly together in battle." Robert said. "Watch my back out there?" Rainbow asked.
"You betcha, you can count on it!" Robert replied with a smile. The two then left the hotel, and Robert caught a flight back to NAS Angel Peaks to rejoin his squadron while Rainbow went to Cloudsdale RAFB to do the same.
Throughout their journeys, they let the fact sink in: Akael had just declared war, and an attack could come at any time.