Ace Pilots Plus an Indestructible FA-18 Hornet

Chapter 4: Proper Introductions of Newfound Power

"Well... it seems that our little puppets are going according to plan. Oh what fun! This quarrel of two powerful countries will be the pivoting point of military power as we know it! And the tides of savage war are changing as a new chess piece has entered the fray!" A voice cackled within the dark void he was confined in, his eyes zoning in on a golden blue orb containing images of the two pilots resting in a makeshift bed near the FA-18.

"Oh, and what's this?" He soon questioned, watching as the orb switched the picture to a griffin flying within the night. "The daughter running away from her daddy's castle? This is getting better than what I thought it would be!"

His laughter echoing throughout the void as the orb suddenly vanished out of thin air, leaving only a pair of gold and red eyes to shine within the void. "Time is ticking, boys, and this show has just begun! Hahahahahaa~!"

Canterlot Airbase

Alex suddenly jolted awake at the sound of distant laughter, looking around to find nothing of the sort on the runway, and placed a hand over his face, rubbing his eyes. "The hell was that?" He asked himself in a tired tone, now running his hand through his hair as he tried to remember the dream he just had. But all he drew was blanks except for an ominous laughter calling to him from the distance in a black void.

However, Alex's rambling woke Jamison up who also had the same dream as well. "Alex... were you laughing?" Jamison asked, still in confusion of his dream.

"I wasn't laughing... were you?" He said looking towards Jamison as he got up and stretched.

"You mean you heard the same thing as me?" Jamison asked as he sat up on the ground, running a hand through his hair.

"Coming from a dark void?"

"Yeah... fucking weird."

The pilots were about to reminisce more about the topic until they were approached by the same pony they met before on their way to Canterlot as she was escorted by royal guards.

"I hoped you slept well?" Celestia asked, levitating a cup of tea to her muzzle as she took a sip of her beverage. "How ever I do wish you two would've accepted my invitation to better sleeping accommodations."

"We slept... well, and thank you for the offer, but we can't leave our aircraft out of sight in uncharted territory." Alex said as he bowed to the Princess, Jamison doing the same.

"No matter, though you bring curiosity amongst Council and I wish for you two accompany me to today's meeting." She said, looking towards Canterlot castle.

"The Council?" They both asked looking towards the castle as well.

"A collection of nobles who help run Equestria along with me." She replied, looking back towards the pilots, as she sipped more of her tea.

"Well we might not actually have choice, do we?" Alex asked as he patted his pockets along his flight uniform for his sunglasses, putting them on as he found them.

"Afraid not," Celestia's head then lowered as her expression changed into one of being irritated from calm. "The Council has been up my flank with this war and, now with the knowledge of a new species with technology unlike ours suddenly appearing out of no where, they demand a session with you." She finished gritting her teeth.

Jamison held back laughter as Alex placed a hand on his chin in thought. 'It appears that our presence is known with the Council of this oh so great world, just fucking great. Just deepen the hole your digging, Alex, just keep digging.'

"Fine, we'll go." Alex sighed, placing his hands on his waist as he looked down, kicking the bits of rocks. "Let's give your Council some entertainment."

"Thank you and forgive me for the troubles my ponies are causing for you, I truly don't mean to drag you two around like this." Celestia said, holding a thoughtful smile. "But I must ask your opinions in the matter. Are you truly ok with fighting in this war?" She asked with concern.

"Personally I'm fine with it if this guy is," Jamison started but was interrupted by Alex.

"As long as you can promise our ticket back home with what ever freaky voodoo magic shit you have to." He said, pointing at Celestia authoritatively. "Us being here is an obvious sign that something isn't right, and only god knows if this is some cliché that we're here to fix this problem you guys have."

Celestia took a slight step back, ear flattening at Alex's tone. Regaining her breath, Celestia finally spoke. "I, Princess Celestia, promise to find a way to send you back home." She crossed her heart as she finished, earning a small smile from Alex.

He then held out his hand for a hand shake, or hoof shake in this case. Celestia, understanding the jester, placed her hoof in his hand as he then shook it. "Then I hope it'll be a pleasure working with you during this time of crisis." He said.

"I say the same to you, Mr. Fulcrum." She replied, placing her hoof back down, as she looked towards the castle. "It's best we get a move on, the council must be getting impatient for your arrival."

"Well let's not keep them waiting, got to leave a good impression to our allies." Jamison said as he began walking towards the castle ahead of them.

"Best to follow his lead when he's like this off base." Alex commented as he started walking as well, motioning for Celestia to join him. Celestia just giggled lightly at the duo, soon joining Alex as he followed Jamison's lead.

Canterlot Castle

Council Room

One Hour Into The Meeting

The Council was in a furious debate between trusting the two pilots or locking them up and salvaging the FA-18 for research and development. Neither pilots were allowed to speak during the first hour of the meeting, and it was driving Alex almost insane while Jamison just sat next to the wall slamming the back of his head against it as if to rid his brain of the memory of the meeting.

Alex slowly turned his head towards Celestia as she gave a small apologetic look before returning to her regular stoic expression. She was about to say something to gain the council's attention before Alex stopped her, having his own idea.

"We can't trust those... things with the safety of our country, we don't even know where they came from!" A council member yelled.

"But have you heard of what they've done? They took down one of the Griffin Empire's most powerful airships in a quarter of the time we can with our own devices!" Another one yelled back. Suddenly a loud bang silenced the whole room, looking towards the source to be one of the Pilots.

When he was sure he had their attention, Alex holstered his Beretta and placed both hands down on the table before him, taking off his sunglasses. "Alright! I want you all to listen and listen well! My name and rank is First Sergeant Alex Fulcrum, and my copilot's name and rank is Master Sergeant Jamison Mullins. We have agreed to help your people in exchange for your help with our own problem. Now if you want to toss us aside and watch your country burn, fine by me."

Alex took a breath, using his time to look around amongst the council members before he continued his speech. "But if you want your country to survive, we are the key to ensure that. You've heard of what we can do in that Aircraft in your airfield." He said as he point to the Canterlot Airbase. "And we sure as hell can do the same to you if you don't compromise."

The members of the council were speechless, while few murmured amongst each other. "What do you want in return?"

"A way back home." Celestia had cut Alex off, only glancing at him once before she continued. "With the events of Ponyville, the Griffin Empire will be going all out on their next attack when ever it is. As these pilots have shown, they can help our country achieve victory." Another round of murmuring had begun across the table, few of the members casting another glance at the pilots as they made their decision.

"Then it has been settled. If there are no more comments on the matter, then you are all dismissed." Celestia called out to the council, letting out a deep sigh as the members of the council exited from the room.

"Everything alright?" Alex asked, turning around and sitting on the large table that was once filled with intolerable ponies.

"Yes... This war is just getting to me." She said, resting her head onto the table, exhaling heavily through her nostrils.

"You're not the only one..." Jamison said, leaning on the table just to the other side of the alicorn. "Alex and me probably ruined more lives we can count from it."

"But we wouldn't do anything different no matter how much we may regret what we've done. We do what we do for our country and that's what matters to us." Alex added to Jamison's statement, running a hand through his hair.

"Such loyalty you hold for your country, your people must be proud of you." Celestia commented, lifting her head up to look towards Alex.

"Well it's a shame that there's a number of them that are willing to burn the flag of the country they were born in just because of a petty reason. Have it be who our President is, or what one group says because it conflicts with other's beliefs." Alex said albeit sadly in tone.

"They blatantly disrespect our armed forces and the country we fight for because of it." Jamison added, letting out a sigh.

"Well if they don't like your country, why don't they leave?" Celestia asked, shocked to hear about such a situation.

"That's the kicker, they don't. Most would rather complain and waste other people's time than to actually move or fix the so called 'problem' they have. Sure, America isn't as great as it could be, but is it truly problematic enough for that type of reaction?"

Celestia was about to say something else, but she was suddenly cut off by the set of doors to the council room being opened as they then slammed against the walls. When turning, there the three saw a griffon being escorted by five guards with spears pointing towards the griffon.

"Your highness, we found this griffin flying just outside Canterlot. She requests an audience with you." The lead guard said, bowing before Celestia.

Celestia did not respond however. Her silence being brought forth by the shock of whom this griffon was. "Princess Hestia? What brings you here?" Celestia found her voice, shock embedding itself in her tone.

There was a pause, Hestia looking towards Celestia with tears in her eyes. She finally spoke, almost as if she didn't want to. "I've come to take down my father's empire. He has proven to be unfit as a leader for our country... And- and I need your help."

'Shit just got fucking insane.' Alex and Jamison simultaneously thought at the same time, clearly shocked by this outcome. Clearly this war they were entering would be unlike any other they had taken a apart of...

Author's Note

And I am back to working on this story. Jesus, it's been a long time coming. Just haven't felt like writing this for the while. BUT! I am going to try to fix that. I get that it's short, and I do apologize, but I'm slowly getting back into it.

Please enjoy.