Fallen Eagle

Chapter X: The Journey Home

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(Hospital Room. Cougar's POV)

Despite being hung upside down for a mere few seconds was the worst thing Discord did to me, I still felt uncomfortable after our little meeting. What was next? A surprise musical number from Pinkie? Scratch that, I'll take Discord's treatment over Pinkie Pie's. And thanks to that hodgepodge that Mother Nature spat out, I was still thirsty and had nothing to drink, just great. My head smacked onto my pillow as I grumpily laid back down on my hospital bed, secretly wishing that Rainbow wasn't sleeping. Then, there was a soft knock on the door that garnered my attention. Slowly the door opened to reveal Soarin' and Luna trotting inside the room.

"Found her for ya Coug," Soarin exclaimed and sat down on his stool next to Rainbow Dash, "wasn't too hard," he added, "she was just in the kitchen grabbing a small bite to eat," he explained. Luna floated a bag of what looked like ordinary corn chips up to me.

"Would you like some Cougar?" She offered while two chips floated out of the plastic bag and one floated towards me and the other into Luna's awaiting muzzle. She used her magic to shake the bag a few times, tempting me to take a chip or two.

"No thanks, I'm more thirsty than hungry," I politely shoved the bag of chips back towards the midnight blue alicorn. Luna shrugged and then poured the rest of the chips down her muzzle and tossed the empty bag like a basket ball into the nearest trash bin. After wiping her muzzle of crumbs, she produced a six pack of Marwaukee Brew and levitated it in front of my face.

"Then how about a drink if you are indeed that thirsty?" She winked at me. How could I resist that offer? Even though I'm not an alcoholic, who wouldn't pass up a cold one after what I went through?

"Sure, why not?" I joked and grabbed a cold can from her magic aura and popped the top. "Soarin' you want one?" I offered up and took a second can from the six pack rings. The Wonderbolt rested his stool on all four legs and leaned forward with his right hoof.

"Buck yeah, toss one over Cougar!" He exclaimed excitedly. I smirked and tossed over the second can which Soarin' caught in his mouth and popped the top off to start drinking it. Luna then let out a much softer belch than her one the other night and wiped her mouth from the foam.

"Much better," Luna began, "now, what did you need to talk to me about Cougar? Is it about your lie to Applejack?" She asked me. My eyes widened and I ceased drinking the beer. Save for the beeping of the hospital machines, things became silent. Even Soarin' stopped sipping his beer that I gave him.

"Woah Luna, how did you find out? I never said anything about it," The Wonderbolt Captain said, flabbergasted. The alicorn in question simply rolled her eyes and chucked her empty can into the rubbish bin across the room.

"Even though I watch over dreams as I did with you Cougar," she pointed her hoof towards me, "I can still sense conversations in the real world, hence how I knew Sweetie Belle was going to save Rarity's hat from falling apart not too long ago," she explained and used her magic to pull up her own chair. She cracked open a second beer and sipped it but grimaced slightly as the liquid flowed into her muzzle. "Hmm, not cold enough," she stated and the can was suddenly surrounded in her whitish aura. The can now looked as if it had been in an ice chest for a day or two and cold steam slowly swirled out of the aluminum can. "Ahh, that hits the spot," she wiped her mouth. "Now, back to the matter at hand, what is on your mind?" Luna crossed her legs and rested her head on here foreleg.

"Well, it's actually two things Luna," I sighed in defeat and set my can on the nightstand adjacent to my bed, though I didn't say anything else for a minute. "First thing is yes I did sort of lie to Applejack, though Discord of all, whatever the fuck he is, told me that all I did was hide the whole the truth instead of lying."

"Which can be just as bad Coug," Soarin' took a slow sip of his beer, "I mean, I've been given the shit end of the stick a ton in the Wonerbolts," he added.

"Yes, I've witnessed several of those events Soarin', but you've proven yourself to be a fantastic Captain," Luna replied to the Wonderbolt. The pegasus set his beer can down on the floor and tilted his stool back.

"And what happened to you if you're the Captain? I mean, you didn't throw the ponies that hid the truth from you into the stockade or the pit for lying?" I asked.

"No, no, I've only been the Captain for a month, but before then I was the co-captain and the other captain hid the truth and lied to me several times for half a decade until her most recent ploy got her ass thrown in the dungeon," Soarin' explained. The anger inside me rose; I couldn't bear the thought of a Captain or my own CO lying to myself or the rest of my squadron for his own personal gain.

"I'd love to get my hands on that bastard and ring his neck," I commented and angrily sipped my beer.

"Spitfire was a girl," Sparin replied as he finished his beer. I was set to reply when Luna cut off our conversation.

"IF we can get back to the matter at hoof," she said in a louder voice, "Cougar, I think what you did was both bad and good. Yes, you kept the whole truth locked away in the dark from your friends, but at the same time, you were trying to keep them from becoming frightened of you and fearing for their own lives, I would say you are definitely, uh," Luna tried to come up with a good euphemism for me.

"Up shit creek without a paddle," I said for her.

"I was going to say stuck between a rock and a pickle, but yours works too," she sipped her beer again. Soarin' and I exchanged quick and confused glances at Luna's accidental mashup of two euphemisms. "Anyway, I do believe that once you apologize, she'll forgive you since you saved her life and have been a good friend to her for a month now," Luna attempted to cheer up my demeanor.

"Except for the fact that my relationship with her family was started off a lie basically," I countered and took another drink of my beer, the can now becoming lighter and lighter. Soarin' set his stool down on the tiled floor and crossed his forelegs together.

"Don't be so hard on yourself Coug, like you said, you just wanted to keep them from getting scared of you, I'd say that's pretty friendly," he reassured me.

"Okay, let's say I go right after this hospital visit to talk to Applejack about it, she already knows I'm sorry and she won't accept my apology yet. I don't want to be that one guy who begs for his friend to forgive him and be all cliched by saying I'll do anything for her to forgive me, and plus that'd make me sound like I'm trying to get a girlfriend back," I threw in.

"So, how are you going to get her trust and forgiveness back Cougar?" Luna curiously placed her elbows on her knees and chin on her hooves. Boy being original is harder than I thought.

"I don't know; I've gotta come up with something by tomorrow at least so she can know I'm really sorry and not putting on a show," I explained. The Wonerbolt and the Princess both nodded their heads at me, yet said nothing for a good while.

"And there was a second thing you wanted to talk to me about Cougar?" Luna asked me.

"Oh right. Well, I lost my gun that I used to kill one of the Timberwolves and it fell into the river. I'm afraid that somepony could find it and accidentally hurt themselves or somepony around them," I said. Luna stood up from her chair and tucked the remaining two cans of Marewaukee Brew into her mane.

"I shall have the Elements and several royal guards stationed near water ports to be on the look out for a miniature looking cannon and if we find it, it shall be returned to you Cougar, you have my word," Luna bowed. Her magic aura surround the door knob and opened the door, yet she stopped halfway out of the door. "Oh and one more thing Cougar, you may want to talk to Rarity about making you some new duds since you lost a good majority of yours," the Princess of the Night bid farewell and trotted outside of the hospital room.

"Oh man, did the Timberwolves rip all your clothes up Cougar?" Soarin' asked me.

"Something like that," I replied, pissed that I only had my cargo pants and my flight suit left as reasonable clothing, though in this heat, my flight suit would be out of the question.

"At least it's not Wintertime," The pegasus cheerfully said, "I'm sure nopony will mind if you don't wear a shirt; most ponies don't wear clothes at all unless they're at a huge event like the Grand Galloping Gala," he explained to me.

"The fuck is that, a masquerade party?" I replied.

"Not really, it's for Canterlot's most elite and sophisticated ponies to gather with Princess Celestia and Luna in the Fall. The Wonderbolts get invited every year and it's always a blast, for most of us anyway," he said. "And this is the first year Dashie is invited as a Wonderbolt, this is gonna be the best Gala ever!" He declared. My eyes went to automatic roll at his nickname for Rainbow, though I gotta admit, they are perfect for one another. Suddenly, Rainbow let out a mighty yawn and sat up in her bed, scratching her back.

"I think butt is making its own imprint on this bed, I gotta get outta here!" Rainbow complained and stretched out her wings, but she didn't wince or cry out in pain. "Yes! I can get back in the air in no time-" she started celebrating, but stopped when she saw Soarin's crumpled up beer can in the trash bin. "Did you guys have beer?" She asked us.

"Yeah, Luna brought some by for us and we shot the breeze," I replied while scratching my ear.

"Well, is there any left?" Rainbow asked hopefully.

"No, Princess Luna took the last two cans back with her," Soarin' explained. Rainbow's face scowled at Soarin' and myself and she crossed her forelegs in front of her chest and laid back down with a pout.

"And nopony bothered to wake me up to give me one?"

"Sorry Dashie, you were asleep," Soarin' apologized. Before Rainbow could retort, the door to the room opened up and the whole gang minus Luna, Celestia and Fluttershy trotted inside.

"Rainbow, you're awake!" Pinkie Pie hopped up and down, blew a noisemaker and quickly tied a Rainbow colored balloon to Rainbow's foreleg.

"Is your wing feeling better Darling?" Rarity's fake accent asked. Rainbow's demeanor brightened as her friends surrounded her hospital bed. I was actually glad more of our friends came in the room, things were starting to feel a little gloomy in here.

"My wings feeling awesome! If the doc'll let me go soon you can count on a Sonic Rainboom as we leave Canterlot!" The adrenaline junkie announced. Twilight rolled her eyes like me and patted Rainbow's back.

"At least your spirit isn't damaged," Twilight joked. I took notice of the fact that Applejack didn't even glance my way, though I completely understood why. At least Pinkie came by after a few minutes of chatting with Rainbow.

"So, how's the hero patient doing?" She grinned widely and handed me a cupcake, "You deserve the best tasting cupcake in all of Equestria for saving Applejack's, Rainbow's and Rarity's lives Cougar!" She patted my head like an owner to a cat or a dog. "And Gummy is even proud of you too!" The baby alligator was laid onto my stomach where he proceeded to try and bite me.

"Wow, this is pretty delicious Pinkie Pie," I said after eating the whole cupcake and petting her alligator.

"I made it using the Cakes' special ingredient that makes them oh so special!" She whispered loudly in my ear.

"Well, thanks Pinkie," I replied and scratched behind her ear as a thank you which she enjoyed, a lot.

"Ooooh right there, that hits the spot!" Her rear leg started to kick up and down on the floor. Smirking, I stopped scratching her ear and handed her pet back to her.

"Hey Pinkie, I noticed you've stopped trying to beg my forgiveness for the incident at the lake, any reason why?" I asked her. I was actually wondering why she stopped; she didn't seem like the kind of pony to just up and quit something.

"Oh, well I was planning on slipping you a cupcake with sleeping pills, throw you in a burlap sack and bring you to Sugar Cube Corner to throw you an 'I'm Sorry Party'," she began before I cut her off.

"Wait, you were going to drug me and kidnap me!?" I asked in a fearful tone.

"Details, details," Pinkie Pie shrugged, "anyway, then I began to think, what if me asking you over and over again would just drive you away from our friendship since it was brand new? Heck, I would've pressed on if I did that to one of my other friends and wanted their forgiveness, so I decided to do something different, I just let you be and I continued doing what I do best, being Pinkie Pie!" She threw a foreleg around my neck and hugged me. A lightbulb went off over my head as I processed exactly what Pinkie Pie had told me.

"Pinkie, you're a genius," I whispered to her.

"Why does everypony keep saying that? I'm just a party pony and sometimes a chicken," the pink mare questioned, yet looked towards the wall. She then frowned at the wall and shook her head.

"Whatever Pinkie Pie," I said as she hopped her way back to Rainbow's bed, "hey Rarity, can I have a little chat with you please?" I called to the pearly white Unicorn with three diamonds on her flanks. Rarity adjusted her purple mane, turned around and trotted over to me. My fingers pressed down on the adjustment button for my bed so I could sit up more to be more polite to Rarity.

"What can I do for you Cougar for saving my life?" The sophisticated pony asked me.

"How'd you know I wanted a favor?" I replied curiously. Rarity playfully rolled her eyes and flicked up her mane.

"Oh Cougar, I know the face of many a pony who want a favor done by me, and your face is no exception, what with the furrowed eyebrows and darting eyes," she explained to me. Damn she's good at this.

"Alright, yes I do need a favor Rarity," I admitted, "could you please make me some new clothes? Thanks to those Timberwolves, I'm only down to my Cargo shorts and my Drive to End Hunger hat," I asked her politely. She raised her foreleg to tap her chin as she considered the proposal. "Hmm, I don't know Cougar, I don't even have a mannequin that looks like you, and I don't have your ahem, measurements," she explained.

"Look, for the summer, I may not mind not having a shirt with all the work I'm doing at Sweet Apple Acres, but come winter time, I will need some more protection, and from what I hear you're the best pony for the job," I asked, but did not beg her. "Come on, it's only maybe a few T-shirts and new jeans, that's all I'll need until the snow starts to fall."

"I-I don't know Cougar, this would be something extremely new and challenging for me," she paced around the foot of my bed, studying my figure. "I mean I've created costumes for other creatures, but none quite like you. It would be a complete and total experiment." Great, now I'm going to have to persuade her.

"Think of it like that then Rarity. You'll be the first and ONLY pony to ever design for a human." Her eyes lit up at that statement. "Your designs for me will go down in history as some of the most important pieces of fashion memorabilia of all time. Think of all the jealousy from rival designers and all the notoriety you'll gain," I did my best to persuade her. She bit down on her bottom lip to contain her excitement as she began to tremble at the endless possibilities this could take her career into.

"Meet me at my boutique at 2:00 'o clock sharp tomorrow Cougar! We'll take the fashion world by storm!" She rubbed her hooves together and trotted merrily back to the rest of the group.

"What, have I created?" I softly rubbed my temples.

---

(Train Ride. Several Hours later. Cougar's POV)

After finally getting the clearance from the doctors, Rainbow and I literally ran out of the Royal Infirmary. "Oh it feels good to stretch!" Rainbow stretched out and popped her cyan wings above me. "I swear I am NOT going back into a hospital bed unless my wings are cut off!" She swore and did a few loops in the air.

"How do you keep up with that?" I whispered to Soarin' and nudged his shoulder as we boarded our Train. The pegasus smirked at me and nudged me back.

"I got may ways, but I'd do anything for my Dashie," Soarin' replied with a warming smile as Rainbow landed in front of us and took the first empty compartment she saw. Not trying to make fun of Fluttershy, but since she had already left earlier to tend for her animals and have a tea party with Discord, the compartment was a little roomier than the last time we all rode the train.

"Window seat, I call window seat!" Pinkie Pie shoved Twilight out of the window seat. The alicorn grumbled in frustration but took her seat next to the compartment door. I took the seat next to Soarin' who was sitting next to Rainbow's door seat, but Applejack sat across from me, rather than next to me like last time. Rarity sat next to me instead, which I was fine with. Luna's moon was just starting to peak over the horizon as the engineer blew the rain whistle and the train lurched forward. I let out a little yawn as I stretched my back again and leaned back against the wall of the compartment.

"Twi," Applejack began, "are we gonna be ready for thu Summer Sun Celebration tomorrow? Ah'm sure sum 'o the ponies back home started on decoratin', but there may still be sum things ta take care of," the southern mare asked the Princess.

"Well luckily for us, I've already begun a preparations check list," she bragged and brought up a large check list for us to read, "and a checklist for that checklist," she boasted once more and used her magic to show us the second check-list. I raised my hand in front of her like a student, to which she actually called on me. "Yes Cougar?"

"Yeah, is there a check box for us giving a crap about your second check list?" I asked in a smart-ass tone. Rainbow and Soarin' held their hooves to their mouths to stifle their laughter while Pinkie Pie giggled and held her belly, and Rarity just smirked. Twilight and Applejack on the other hand weren't so enthralled by my joke. Twilight zapped my face with her magic and I found my mouth zipped up with a zipper, but at least I could still breathe through my nose.

"Ya don't have ta be so damn rude Cougar," Applejack spat out and looked out the window. After a little struggle, I managed to unzip my mouth zipper and got it off my lips without ripping off any skin in the process.

"Sorry, I just think having a special check-list for another check list is a little redundant," I explained and tossed the mouth zipper onto the ground. Twilight huffed and flared her nostrils at me.

"You were in the military weren't you Cougar? I'm sure they made you guys double and triple check everything!" She pointed out. She got me there, I recalled being busted once in my rookie days for not double checking over the operating systems of my F-15, luckily nothing happened; the base commander berated me severely on the importance of double checking things.

"Yeah, but when we double and triple checked everything, we didn't make out new check lists for them, we put the double check check box on the same check list, it saves paper and our sanity," I retorted. "But I'm sorry for making fun of you," I extended out my hand. The Princess glared daggers at me, but she reached out with her hoof and shook my hand.

"Apology accepted Cougar," she said with a forced smile. "By the way," she added, "did you have to submit any reports after flights or anything?" She asked me.

"Yeeeeesssss," I said slowly with a raised eyebrow.

"Like reports for accidents or if one of your fellow pilots had to make an emergency landing or if they were shot down?" She asked me. I suddenly had a Flashback of Reaper's F-16 Falcon engulfed in flames right before I blacked out and woke up in Equestria. "REAPER!" I heard Twilight's voice as a far away echo and I felt my body shaking violently.

"What!?" I replied with a shout and blinked several times to find myself still in the train compartment.

"You just froze there and were saying Reaper and No several times, is everything alright? Reaper was your best friend right?"

"No more questions," I glared down at the floor.

"Come now Twilight, the poor dear has been through enough the past 24 hours, I think he could use a little breathing room," Rarity cut in and patted my head.

"Thank you Rarity," I said quietly, trying again to repress the memory. But then, as if by a saving grace, a mare's voice called out in the hallway of the train.

"Anything from the snack kart? Anything from the snack kart?" The voice called out. My stomach rumbled slightly and I reached into my pants pocket to produce about five bits.

"Anypony want something to snack on?" I asked.

"Naw, I'm all set," Pinkie Pie grinned like the Joker again and held up half a dozen cupcakes.

"Actually, I could go for a soda and some cookies," Rainbow's mouth drooled.

"I second that!" Soarin' smiled.

"Not at the moment, but thank you for the offer Cougar," Rarity replied and opened up a fashion magazine.

"I wouldn't mind a fruit cup," Twilight licked her lips.

"Can do," I smiled and opened the compartment door. Unfortunately, the mare that was running the snack kart had a negative reaction to my presence. I tapped her on the shoulder and showed her that I have the money for snacks, but instead was replied with.

"What the buck is a hairless ape wandering around the train for, did you escape the zoo?" She asked.

"Excuse me?" I asked her, hoping that the clacking of the wheels on the tracks drowned out what she actually said.

"A hairless ape that talks? What kind of freak are you? DON'T TOUCH ME!" She scolded, "did that monster Luna give you the ability to talk so she could have some company?" Oh fuck no, she did not just say that.

"Don't you DARE, talk about my friend like that lady," I jabbed a finger in her chest. This bitch would've been the perfect mate for Blueblood.

"I'll say what I want, it's a free country."

"You have a monarchy dumbass," I replied. Now the compartment full of my friends heard the debate going on and poked their heads outside the doorway.

"What would you know two-legger? I don't serve freaks like you, now get out of my way so I can serve four-leggers," she hit me with her hoof across the jaw. Now, I know some folks might think I lost my temper and hit her back, but I didn't. Instead, Rainbow flew out of the compartment at full speed and knocked the mare onto her back.

"You say one more bucking racist thing to my friend here," she began.

"Or hit him," Pinkie Pie warned while Applejack pounded her right hoof into her left hoof and Twilight flared her wings.

"And we'll pound you into cream bucking corn!" Rainbow held the mare by her shoulders and shouted in her face.

"Oh the elements of Harmony and Princes Twilight!" The pony gushed, "this is your friend? I didn't know he was your friend, what can I serve you?" She asked as Rainbow let her off the ground.

"We don't want anything from you anymore madame," Rarity replied, "you are by far one of the most despicable and rude ponies I've ever met," she huffed and turned tail back into the compartment.

"What is your name?" Twilight asked the pony.

"Ladybug," she replied with a fake smile.

"Well then, I'm sure Princess Celestia and Luna will love to hear about how you not only assaulted my friend Cougar and acted like a racist towards him, but you also insulted Princess Luna and called her a monster," Twilight warned. Ladybug's eyes shrank and she cowered to the floor.

"N-no, p-please. I'm going to college and this was the only job I could get on the weekends!" She begged. Twilight smirked and stamped her hoof to make Ladybug stand up.

"Then I suggest you apologize to my friend here, take your little snack kart and zip up your bucking mouth, got it?" Twilight gritted her teeth. Woah, I've never taken Twilight to be a pony that swears, but I guess this just got under her skin enough.

"Y-yes Princess," Ladybug turned to me, "I'm sorry for acting racist towards you and hitting you," she apologized.

"Just get out of here," I replied. The pony grabbed ahold of her kart and quickly trotted to the next compartment.

"Cougar, are ya alright there?" Applejack asked me, "that was a mean right hook she gave ya across the jaw," she took a close look at where I was hit. "Twi, his jaw is startin' ta turn purple, do ya know any healin' magic?" Applejack questioned while we all sat back down in our seats.

"Hmm, there's one that I know of," Twilight replied and touched her horn to my jaw which was starting to turn sore. I seethed as she touched it a little too hard, but I didn't stop her. My jaw began to vibrate as her lavender aura surrounded my head and softly dissipated into the air and my jaw felt fine. I put my fingers on the spot where I was punched and applied pressure, only to find nothing.

"Thanks Twilight," I moved my lower jaw around. "I'm lucky I didn't lose any teeth; that was a pretty hard hit she gave me," I joked.

"We've still got another hour before we arrive in Ponyville, why don't we get some rest?" Rarity suggested as Luna's moon was now high in the sky.

"What? No, let's have a midnight train riding party!" Pinkie declared before slumping down and resting her head on the wall of the compartment, letting out small snores. Rarity's aura engulfed the light switch and flipped it down, killing the light of the compartment except for the glow of the moon. She too fell asleep, resting her head on her forelegs while Soarin' and Rainbow snuggled against each other. Twilight yawned and wrapped herself in her wings for a blanket.

"You tired Applejack?" I asked the southern mare.

"Sense we were in the hospital all day long, Ah ain't tired that much yet. Ah can wait till we git back home," she replied, staring out the window at the silhouetted landscape. "What about you Cougar?"

"Please, I was asleep practically all day; I think I can stay up for a little bit longer," I grinned. We both sat in silence for a good fifteen minutes, listening to the clacking of the train wheels and the whistle of the train itself before I opened my mouth again. "Applejack, can we talk for a bit?" I asked her.

"Depends on what that is Cougar," she turned to me. Thanks to the shadows of the night, only the lower half of her body was shown, her top half was hidden from the shadows, but I could still make out her emerald eyes in the darkness.

"I really just wanted to say I'm sorry again for lying to you," I said. Applejack sighed and trotted over to me and sat down next to me with her head hung low.

"Cougar, thu fact that you lied to me isn't what Ah'm upset about. Ah'm upset because ya lied to mah family. Especially little Apple Bloom, she's goin' through a tough time right now tryin' ta git her cutie mark; Ah don't think she'd appreciate thu fact that ya lied to her when ya first met," Applejack explained to me. I opened my mouth to reply, but Applejack had more to say, "'N then there's Big Mac, he already doesn't like ya very much 'N now he might even try ta run ya off our farm! 'N Granny Smith, she puts her trust in only a select few ponies, Ah don't know how she'll react, but Ah think she won't be very happy," Applejack scolded me.

"I wasn't proud of myself for that," I replied quietly. "It's just, every time I get friends, no matter what I do, I lose them," I felt my eyes begin to water and I wiped them with my thumb, but they would just get wetter every time I wiped them. It was strange, I could literally feel Applejack's disappointment vanish and comfort set in. Her hoof began to rub my bare back.

"What are you talkin' about Cougar?" She asked me softly. I sniffled and wiped my nose. I wasn't bawling, but manly tears were slipping out of my eyes.

"I swear, I have a curse or an omen set on me. Every time new friends enter my lives, they somehow find themselves out of my friendship. Like, when I was six, I had Reaper of course, but I also had another friend named Richard. The three of us were inseparable; a year later, he got Leukemia and had to leave for another town to get his treatment where died five months later. Then in eighth grade, I met a new friend name Greg who liked to hang out with me and Reaper, but his abusive Dad killed him in a drunken rage only a month after we met. And then Grizz, Tex and Boa, I only knew them for several years before-," I couldn't say anything more; more and more tears began to fall out of my eyes and I covered them with my hands. I choked a few times before saying one final thing, "th-that's why I l-lied to you and you-your family. I-I didn't want to lose a ft-friendship before it st-started," I clenched my eyes shut to keep more tears from falling. Applejack's hoof left my back, but I instantly felt the warmth of her orange fur against my torso as she hugged me.

"It's okay Cougar, Ah'm here fer ya," Applejack whispered and hugged me tighter. "Ah didn't mean ta snap at ya earlier."

"I'm just a b-bad fr-friend, you should just forget I ever existed Applejack, only bad things happen to my friends," I was able to speak without a sob interrupting.

"Now you stop that thinkin' right this instant Cougar," Applejack pushed me away and glared at me, "Ah ain't that shallow or selfish; Ah treasure our friendship, especially after you selflessly saved mah life and mah friends' lives and mah sister's. None of those bad incidents were yer fault, they were just unfortunate accidents," Applejack hugged me again.

"I still have a big apology to give," I wiped my wet eyes.

"Ya won't have ta give it alone, Ah'll give it with ya in case Big Mac has a negative reaction," she gave me the warmest smile I had ever seen in my life, even warmer than Celestia's or my mom's.

"Thank you," I hugged her in return.

"What're friends fer?" She asked me. I chuckled a bit as we sat close to each other. "What's so funny?" She questioned.

"This morning, you said I was pretty warm, but you're the one warming me up tonight," I smiled.

"Well, ya don't have a shirt anymore to cover ya, what time didja say Rarity was gonna meet with ya tomorrow?" She asked me.

"She said around 2:00 in the Afternoon after everypony helps with the Summer Sun Celebration decorating," I replied, "by the way, will you still be able to buck apples with your leg?" I asked curiously. AJ looked down at her right rear leg with all its stitching and wiggled it around.

"Ah still can, Ah jest have ta watch how many trees Ah buck in a day," she explained.

"So, what is the Summer Sun Celebration?" I asked her after not realizing what exactly the holiday was.

"It's to celebrate the longest day of the year fer us. Luna lowers the moon really early in the morning 'n Celestia raises the sun really early too. Everypony gathers 'round early in the mornin' jest to see it happen. After that, we have a big get together to celebrate both the moon 'n the sun 'cause the days start ta get shorter till the winter months," AJ explained to me.

"Sounds like fun to me," I grinned. "Do you want to come with me to Rarity's?" I offered up.

"No thanks, Ah've gotta get baked goods ready fer the celebration while everypony is decoratin'." she replied.

"Alright, how bad could getting a new set of clothes be?" I asked.

---

(After the train ride. 3rd Person POV)

"It's good to be home," Applejack trotted happily away front the train station and took a deep breath in of Ponyville air.

"I must agree, our simple little town may not be fancy like Canterlot, but the charm it has is second to none," Rarity adored how the town looked in the white light of the moon. Cougar adjusted his hat and wiped his hair down.

"Hey Rainbow, before you go, I lost my aviators back at the campsite, do you know where I can get a spare pair?" he asked the Wonderbolt. Rainbow thought for a minute until she realized she was in the Wonderbolt's for Celestia's sake!

"Yeah, I think Soarin' can scrounge you up a pair of official Wonderbolt Shades, right Soar?" Rainbow asked her boyfriend. Cougar turned to the pale blue pegasus with a raised eyebrow, the guy code for asking.

"Sure thing, I'll see if I can find a new pair for ya Coug," Soarin' told the Air Force pilot, "anyways, we've got training early tomorrow," Soarin' took a quick look at the local clock tower, "whaddya say we get back to the academy and catch some zees?" he asked Rainbow.

"I'm all for that Soarin'! I'll catch you guys tomorrow night for the celebration!" the dare devil called as she and Soarin' took off together into the dark blue night. Pinkie Pie also had to get up early and begin making snacks, so she headed back to Sugar Cube Corner. Rarity, Twilight, Applejack and Cougar stood at the Train Station for a few moments before heading off towards the Golden Oaks Castle so Rarity, AJ and Cougar could collect their respective fillies and catch some shut eye.

"Do you think our sisters are already asleep Twilight? Sweetie Belle does tend to get restless, especially since she has been here for whole night and day without us," Rarity asked the Princess of Friendship.

"Ah think they should be dozin' off by now," Applejack replied, "'N we shouldn't be worried. Spike may be jest a few years older than our sisters, but Ah know he'll do a good job takin' care 'o them, 'member how he took good care of our pets?" She pointed out.

"Oh I'm not worried about how Spike-Wikey took care of them, I'm just worried that Sweetie Belle will want to play a game or something when I take her home; I am not in the mood to stay up any longer than I have. I need my beauty sleep and my 100% total focus on making Cougar some new clothing," Rarity explained. The quartet turned a corner and found the castle looming in front of them.

"Well, here we are, I think I'll skip my book reading session tonight," Twilight chuckled and the door knob glowed with her lavender magic. The door swung open and Twilight gasped. "SPIIIIIIIIIIKE!" Her voice shouted into the castle.

"Kid's in some deep shit," Cougar said as Twilight marched over to Spike's sleeping body. His belly was distended and he had dried melted chocolate ice cream all over his face, belly and the floor surrounding him.

"Sweetie Belle! Did you eat like a little piggy!?" Rarity nudged her little sister who was surrounded by what Cougar believed to be vanilla ice cream.

"Applebloom, ya git up right now young missy," Applejack rolled Applebloom over onto her back. The yellow filly had both chocolate and vanilla ice cream splattered all over her face. The little purple dragon burped fire in shock and accidentally singed Twilight's eye lashes off her face.

"T-Twilight! What're you doing back so soon?" Spike fearfully asked whilst trying to hide the ice cream.

"We've been gone for a day! And I see you've helped yourself to all the ice cream in the castle after I specifically told you to leave all the ice cream alone mister!" The alicorn glared at the little dragon.

"What's gonna happen Twilight?" Spike gulped in fear.

"You're in BIG trouble mister," Twilight's magic cleaned up all the ice cream and yanked the dragon by his ear, "upstairs, bed, NOW! No comic books for a month!" Twilight scolded Spike and tossed him into his bed. Rarity, Applejack and Cougar gathered up Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo from the ground and hauled them outside.

"See you tomorrow Twilight!" Rarity called cheerfully as the six shut the door to the library.

"Wait a minute, who gets to scold Scootaloo?" Cougar asked, referencing the little pegasus that was still sleeping.

"Jest bring her to thu Farm Cougar, she can stay in Applebloom's room," AJ replied.

"Haven't I taught you better than to eat like a little piggy Sweetie Belle? Imagine the look on mother's face if she saw you scarfing down sweets like that!" Rarity berated her little sister. "We'll see you all tomorrow, especially you Cougar, my ticket to Fashion history!" Rarity waved her hoof. Cougar slung the sleeping Scootaloo over his right shoulder as Applejack and Applebloom began to walk back to their farm.

"So, didja have fun at Twilight's Applebloom?" AJ asked her sister. Applebloom looked down at the ground in shame, tears threatening to escape her eyes.

"Ah'm sorry Applejack," she replied.

"Don't be tellin' me yer sorry, ya best apologize to Twilight fer deliberately disobeyin' her instructions," the older mare said to her sister in a tone that wasn't angered, but held a tone of disappointment. "Yer grounded missy, Ah hope ya know that," Applejack added.

"F-from what Applejack?" Applebloom asked with fear.

"Ya can't do any Crusadin' business fer two weeks, understand?" The orange mare instructed.

"WHAT?! B-but how am Ah gonna earn mah Cutie Mark Applejack?" The little filly asked in desperation.

"It'll still come naturally little sis, but ya can't go and hang out with Sweetie Belle or Scootaloo startin' tomorrow afternoon, got it?" Applejack scolded.

"Cougar, ya gotta back me up, isn't that a little harsh?" Applebloom pouted her lips and begged to the Air Force pilot. With his arm still cradling Scootaloo over his shoulder, Cougar looked down at his little friend's begging face.

"Sorry Applebloom; this is a family matter and Applejack gets the final say, I can't say anything to swing her decision," Cougar apologized. Applebloom let out a choked sob and ran away quicker to the house, crying. "That hurts," Cougar said after Applebloom ran off.

"Don't worry about it Cougar, she'll be alright. Thanks fer carryin' Scootaloo all the way out here," Applejack said.

"It's no trouble, she's light," Cougar bounced Scootaloo on his shoulder. The two didn't say anything else after that. Cougar and Applejack walked into the house and gently laid Scootaloo onto Applebloom's bed where the yellow Earth Pony was silently sobbing. Cougar leaned down and ruffled her hair before turning around with Applejack and exiting the room. The two stood outside in the hallway, not saying much of anything.

"Well, good night Ah guess Cougar," Applejack placed her hoof onto Cougar's chest with a warm smile.

"Good night Applejack," Cougar replied and softly stroked her blonde mane. "Hope you sleep well," he added as the two let each other go and parted ways.

"Same to ya," Applejack responded and entered her room, softly shutting her door. Cougar then found himself lying down on his cot inside his house, staring up at the wooden ceiling, hands behind his head, thinking. His talk with Applejack on the train sparked old memories that he wished he could erase permanently. He reached in his back pocket of his pants that were lying next to his cot on the floor and pulled out his phone. The battery was at 14%, but Cougar knew he could probably have Twilight or Luna charge it with their magic.

Sighing, the pilot clicked his thumb on the pictures app on his phone and scrolled down to a file marked Ghostrider Squadron Inaugural Flight. He then clicked on the first picture he saw of himself, Reaper, Grizz, Tex and Boa all standing in front of their respective planes, though Grizz hadn't yet received his F-22 at the time. All five were arm in arm, smiling with their flight suits and freshly painted helmets with their call signs on. A small smile appeared on Cougar's face as he started to shake and cry. More tears started to streak down his face as he scrolled through pictures of he and his friends celebrating their goals that they had reached. He stopped scrolling when he came to a picture of himself and Reaper sitting on the ladders connecting their two jets in a hanger, both of them arm in arm, wearing their respective purple and red helmets and giving the thumbs up to whomever took the picture. He looked at the date the picture was taken: June 21, 2018.

"I'm sorry," Cougar whispered softly as his thumb stroked some tears off his phone screen. Cougar lost all feeling in his right hand as he let his phone drop from his grasp and fall onto the floor. He turned onto his side and rested his wet eyes onto his arm as he cried himself to sleep. Even though his sobs were quiet, Cougar didn't realized he was heard. Up above his little shack, Applejack was leaning out her window, laying her head on her foreleg as her heart broke for her friend.

End Chapter X

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I know I said this chapter would contain the Summer Sun Celebration, but I think this was a great place to stop. Next chapter I PROMISE we will have the Summer Sun Celebration. Also, we delve into how crazy Rarity will get in creating a new wardrobe for Cougar.