It’s official. I have been taken off of active combat duty. An exception was been made for me being in the Rangers as a female, due to my magic. Pregnancy though, that is a no go. They won’t let me anywhere near combat, or even some of the training, while pregnant. Sure, with CS gas, I can understand. That stuff is bad for babies in all aspects, but the shooting range and such is the depressing one. It’s not like I’m going to be standing near artillery going off, where overpressure might be an issue.

Henry’s ultrasound is showing twins to boot. I’m having twins! Though we can’t tell yet if they are filly or colt, or even what tribe they are though. They are still way too young, and I’m not sure I want to know either. The book said that twins are not that uncommon. Paternal twins in mares happens fairly regularly. The Cakes are an example of that. Maternal twins are much rarer in ponies. Though not unheard of, take Cheerilee and her sister Cherry Blossom.

At least they let me keep teaching, like they could stop me from using magic. Though, as a teacher, I lose out on most of the combat bonuses and such. It is going to be tough and I am going to have to start planning for maternity leave. It’s still a long way away but I need to try and put something aside. The cut in pay for that is going to hurt.

Add to that I’ve got the wedding coming up. Honestly, it is one of those things I can’t wait for, but I’m terrified of. I know I want to marry Blaze. Not just here and now, but in Equestria, a long time ago. The thing about marrying him now though, will help the foals. There are a lot of laws and benefits for married couples here. That includes the ability to put in requests to be stationed at the same base if necessary.

My last unicorn class was made up of Fleur, as well as two Royal Guards. We jokingly had called them guard one and guard two, but they took the names Marble Blast, and Shattered Granite, based on their cutie marks. They are big. I mean Big Macintosh big. They were royal guards and all but still. Both of them were general infantry. Fleur though is CID, army police.

The classes have evolved however. They are no longer about just basic abilities, or just focusing on TK. Each unicorn I teach brings new talents and skills, the chance for new spells. When added to the information from the books you gave me, as well as the books from the UK, and we have ourselves an actual crash course in magical training.

It’s starting to feel like spell casting 101 as a college course. We cram everything we can into three weeks, twelve hours a day for five days a week over for a total of one hundred eighty hours. Learning basics, fundamentals, control, spell crafting, spell formulas, and so much more. At this rate, I’m really earning my cutie mark.

I am giving myself as much work as I give the students, but at least I don’t have the homework. The students, though, have said my name is fitting. I work them twilight to twilight. All I can say to them in my defense is… they would get it so much worse if Inkwell and her team were here. The funny thing is, when they leave, they are not just leaving as a pony, they are leaving as a trained unicorn. That’s something special.

My next class though is just two unicorns, one of them is the wife of a major and mother of two. Her name is Sunshine Petals. The second is Rose. She looks exactly like Roseluck of the flower trio with two big differences, one is her cutie mark, a red diamond, and the second is a bit more dramatic. She has a horn.

Closing my book, I touch my horn to it, “Miss you my little Twi-Twi.” I murmur.

A faint glow on the book’s cover lets me know the mail has been sent. Looking up, I giggle, seeing Rose trotting up towards me. I put my book in my bag as I stand up to greet her.

“Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake.” Rose calls out…

“Clap your hooves and give a little shake.” I can’t help but reply, giving my tail a shake. It’s just too much fun not to.

Sunshine Petals huffs, “Come on, I’m 25, I’m too old for that sort of thing.”

“First off, you’re not 25 as a pony, well you might be but I think you’re a bit younger. Second, we’re ponies, we’re allowed to be silly at times, it’s in our magic.” Smiling, I shake my head.

“My unit commander wanted me in here for training.” Rose said smiling. “I’ve sort of figured out my TK but he said he had heard good things about your course.”

“You’re finance right?” I giggle, “He wants you to be able to protect the cheques right?”

“Bah, it’s all direct deposit anyway.” Rose retorts with a laugh.

“Well at least I get to keep busy. Since I can’t do combat right now.”

“Oh I heard. You’re pregnant.” Sunshine says happily. “My husband was talking about it.”

“What? Is that traveling at the speed of gossip around bases? The unicorn trainer is pregnant?”

Ah-Pee trots by, “Eeyup.”

I just facehoof at that, “Why me?”

*** Fleur ***

“So what do we have?” Fleur asks, trotting into autopsy.

Watson looks up, shaking her head. “A mess like nothing I’ve seen before.”

“Police shipped the bodies over here.” Dr. Robertson snaps his gloves. “At first they thought it was local animals, but it just didn’t add up.”

“We have a lab tech, throat ripped out. It’s not a bite though, looks more like a 3 talon claw. Like a great eagle, or a falcon.” Moving over, he flips the cover off the first body. “The damage done was one hit, no signs of hesitation.”

“Both people worked at the same building on 58th street. Both went missing on the same day. It looks like both were killed in within hours of each other.”

Walking over, he flips the cover off the second body. “Service engineer, stomach was ripped out, he also shows talon marks in his chest.”

“Not the work of a pony. Both bodies were dumped in central park though.” Anthony says, “I just don’t understand the body dump. If it was an animal that did it, why dump the bodies? Why not just call it in?”

“A griffin.” Fleur says, blinking, “Anthony didn’t the reports say they had sold a griffin?”

Anthony flips the pages, “Yeah, but they didn’t know to who. It’s just a kitten or cub through.”

“Look at the spacing, it’s the size of a foal. It’s a griffin.” Fleur says.

Dr Roberson blinks, “A griffin? Really? You’re saying some mythical creature did this?”

All eyes just look at the doctor, who looks at Fleur for a long time, then he grimaces.

“They’re one of the species of Equestria, as such some of them might have been sent here too. So it’s a twenty-five year old human that became a griffin.”

“Point taken,” Shaking his head, he walks to the third body. “Air conditioning service tech, neck and face. If it is a griffin, it’s downright brutal. All three bodies were found dumped though. I think they wanted us to think the damage was done by natural predators.”

“Where did she come from?”

“Ugol'shik, just outside of Donetsk.” Anthony says, looking down at the file, then he blinks. “Donetsk, and why does that sound familiar?”

“It was in the news a lot, shelling of civilians between 2014 and 2016. There were attacks there in 2017 by US backed government forces.” Watson says, shaking her head. “For all we know, the girl could be suffering from PTSD. Tortured, brought to the USA. Doesn’t speak a word of English.”

“So somewhere in New York city, a griffin who has already killed three people, is hiding out.” Fleur sighs, “Ok think basics, food, shelter and safety.”

Anthony nods, “Ok, so alley ways, underpasses, maybe the steam tunnels.”

“No. You’re thinking like a human. She may have been a human, but her instincts will tell her get up high. Places where she can see danger coming and take flight if needed. For her we are going to need to search up, not down.” Watson says.

“Yeah, she would likely only come down for food. There are lots of places she could get water up high, buildings have water towers all though out the city. As well she could probably find all sorts of shelters, warm places up there or cool places.” Fleur nods.

“What’s she going to eat?” Anthony muses.

“Well, in the show, they are omnivores. She might try dumpsters, she might also try scavenging fish from the docks.” Shaking her head, Fleur sighs, “We aren’t going to find her with normal police methods. We’re going to need help.”

“What kind of help?” Watson blinked.

“Other griffins or pegasi, a helicopter will make too much noise. As well we will need access to any building mounted bird cameras, and maybe high mounted weather cameras. We are going to need everything.” Fleur shakes her head. “Looking for one small griffin in an area like New York, it’s going to be hard. What we need is to narrow down her hunting area. Hopefully she doesn’t keep relocating on us.”

Emma Watson nods, “Good call, I’ll authorize the lab boys to work on it. We’ll need flyers though.”

“520th?” Anthony asks.

“520th, I’ll get in touch with the Major over there. See what she can spare.”

*** LT James Fisher ***

It is a relaxing day, the weekend, no paperwork, no crisis, even the CMC EC are behaving. The heat is into the red zone, so all training is called off, except for essential business. Even then, on the weekend, there isn’t anything going on at the base.

Crossing his ankles, James lay in the sun chair by the pool. He’s been swimming laps, but now he is just relaxing, letting the heat dry him off.

The pony shaped shadow, though, hovering over his face, is a little distracting.

“Hello Derpy.”

Fleetfoot huffs, “Do I look walleyed?”

“Only after you have a crash. Or have a concussion.” James smirks.

“One time, one time… okay, twice… still…” hopping off the railing, Fleetfoot walks over and lay her head over his stomach.

Gently he reached up to scratch behind her ears. “Weekend off?”

“Yep, five days of chasing pegasi and birds out of flight lanes.”

“Birds?” James blinks in confusion.

“Florida has the highest number of false alarms right now, the radars at several of the airports read very large costal birds as pony sized. Two or three cranes or pelicans flying close together can look large enough to be mistaken. Though at the same time we’ve cut the number of bird strikes down.”

“Come here.” James says with a chuckle, and pulls Fleetfoot up beside him on the chair.

Stretching out on the pool chair, Fleetfoot sighs contently. “Oh, this is almost perfect.”

Reaching over James starts to gently rub Fleets tummy. “Belly wubs.”

“Never mind, it’s perfect now.” Fleetfoot just lets herself melt into him, sighing contentedly.

Using his other hand, he scratches at her wing joint, and her wing muscles. “I wonder, do ponies take flea dips?”

“I don’t know, I don’t care, just keep scratching and rubbing.” Fleetfoot says with a moan.

“We are in public.” James chuckles.

“Well we can always go to your bedroom, and I can let you rub me there.” Fleetfoot giggles, wingtips quivering.

“Rub you where?”

“Oh you can rub my…”

“That sky I watched one day. Was connected to your heart. All I can hear whenever I close my eyes. Is a voice calling my name.” Blares out of her phone.

“And that… would be work.” James chuckles.

Huffing Fleetfoot noses open her cell cover. “Yes?”

After a quick conversation on the phone, Fleetfoot sighs and turns to look at James, “Call out. I’ll see if I can wrangle any of the local pegasi too.” Sighing again, Fleetfoot looks down at James, before giving him a quick kiss. “Duty calls. Can I borrow Blaze?”

“Sure thing, just wash him before you return him.”

“Ok one, just ewwww. And two, Velvet would kill me.” Fleetfoot says with a giggle, then she gathers herself and shoots off.

“So this is what it feels like to be left at home when your spouse goes off on a dangerous mission. It needs more popcorn.” James says, laying back to relax again.

*** Dust ***

“Dust? DUST!” Mindy calls out, looking around the farm, grumbling.

“Up here!” Comes her voice from above.

Looking up, Mindy sees Dust lying on her back on a cloud she had pulled down to just above the barn.

“Dust, are you busy?” Mindy asks with a chuckle.

“Yep, I’m counting sheep.” Dust says relaxing.

“Ok, I’ll go tell this crying pony you’re busy.” Turning, Mindy starts pogo bouncing back towards the farm house.

Relaxing Dust twitches an ear. It’s such a warm sunny day, so relaxing. Mindy sounds so happy. Wait… Crying pony? The cloud disintegrates with the burst of speed Dust puts on to get down to the bouncing unicorn. “What?”

Mindy keeps bounding, “A pegasus is in your living room back in town crying. I’ll tell her you’re counting sheep.”

Blinking Dust shoots by Mindy, heading towards town from the farm to see what is wrong. Speeding into her living room, Dust finds Helen sitting with a white pegasus. The mare has a three tone pink mane and a diamond cutie mark. She is so stressed out that she is molting a little and her eyes are red with tears.

Slowing to a trot, Dust looks up at Hellen before sitting by the mare. “What’s going on?”

“Legal problems, and we are trying to figure out what to do.” Hellen says with a sigh. “She got here a few days ago, Fleetfoot sent her to us, even gave her some money to stay in motels on her way here.”

“Must be serious if Fleetfoot sent her, what’s the problem?”

“Go ahead, tell her Diamond.” Helen encourages, putting a straw into some warm tea for her.

“I changed a few weeks ago. Since then my husband’s locked me out of the house, banned me from seeing my two children, and he is filing to have the marriage annulled, declared invalid. He’s saying I can’t have custody. All because I became a pony.”

“The court filings she has say that since she was always a pony. Her returning to pony form is reverting to her natural or normal form.” Hellen starts.

“Well it is.” Dust says, flaring her wings in anger.

“Well, since she was always a pony, but that fact wasn’t disclosed, then the marriage should be annulled. Since she is no longer human the marriage is invalid.”

“But, she didn’t know… None of us did!” Dust pace, her tail lashing as she stomps back and forth.

“Doesn’t matter, they are citing cases of partners deciding later in life that they are homosexual as grounds for annulment, and citing cases where people have tried to marry non-humans, such as horses, cows, cats, dogs, and even dolphins, as legal proof that marriage is between two human beings.”

“He won’t touch me anymore, sees me as just some animal.” Diamond says, looking down.

“You are not an animal.” Dust says firmly. “Where is this guy?”

“Dust, if he isn’t attracted to her based on her form, we can’t force that. My concern is, her husband’s military. They don’t have a lot of joint assets. She doesn’t have a job. We need to find her a place to stay long term. We need to find her a job. Finally we need to get her children back in her life, even if it’s joint custody.”

Lightning Dust flaps her wings in annoyance, “We can’t let him get away with this, just give me five minutes to talk with him.”

“Hun, in this case, we need to throw lawyers at the problem.” Helen says, hugging Dust softly.

“I know, but it’s just not my style.”

Helen smiles, “Her safety and well being first. Beating him up, later.” Looking at Diamond, Helen smiles gently. “First we are going to get you set up, maybe a little house or something. A way to prove you can have the children safely. Then we are going to get the lawyers to make sure you have custody.”

The pony sniffles, “There’s no way I can afford lawyers for a custody battle.”

Dust stomps a hoof on the slate tile, looking at Helen, and at Mindy, who must have teleported back to the house, then she smiles, “That is nothing to worry about.”

Diamond looks plaintively at Dust, “Nothing to worry about?”

Dust moves over and puts a wing over the crying pegasus, “I’ll get the best damned family lawyer money can buy. When we are done, he will be begging for mercy.” Dust’s comforting smile changes, putting a thrill of fear into the other pegasus, “And we won’t give him any.”

Diamond cried softly and hugs Dust, and pulls Helen closer with her other wing, “Thank you. I just feel like an animal.”

Dust heads over to her office, a moment to put the new pony friendly headset on, she taps out the number for the lawyer for her company, “Harvey, I’ve got a job for you. Find the best family lawyer out there, I mean the best out there. And get him to call me. If I have to fly somewhere for a consult, I will. But I want this done yesterday.”

She listens to her phone for a moment, “Don’t worry, in this. Cost is no object. I know there is legislation about ponies being recognized as people running quietly through the Senate, we need to push hard on that. A mother should not lose her children because her form changes.”

She listens to the phone for a moment, then her smile would have Diamond shivering in fear.

*** Drizzle ***

“Sweet Celestia, you’re an animal.” Drizzle says, panting.

Jetstream shakes her head, “Nope, I’m a pegasus.”

“You’ve been flying nonstop for nearly eight hours straight.” Drizzle whines. “I think you’ve done enough training for today.”

Skidding to a stop, Streams huffs. “I’m getting used to flying again, building up my stamina.”

“Are you planning on a nonstop flight to Japan?”

“Nope, but I might visit Europe. Seriously, I just like being in the air at times.”

“I know… have you considered the offer?”

“For the pizza, of course!” Streams says cheerfully and kicks the shower bar with her hind hoof, letting the water poor over her back. Spreading her wings, she shakes under the water to get everything wet.

Drizzle face hoofs, “I meant the 520th offer, come fly with us.”

“Maybe, but, it’s… I’m still really not that social. And being part of the 520th would have me having to deal with everyone daily.” Jetstreams shakes herself out and sighs.

“Ponies. You know you’re better with ponies than humans.”

“It’s still hard. I’m just not a people pony.” Streams steps out of the shower and shakes herself off.

Drizzle puts her wing under Stream’s chin, looking into her eyes, “You do fine with me.”

“Yeah but… I know… it’s like we were meant to be friends.”

“Maybe we were friends in Equestria, whatever the case…”

“'Cause I love to see you beam, beam, beam. Yes I do, tell me, what more can I say to make you see that I do?” Comes blaring from Drizzles phone. Giggling, she taps the speaker.

“Really? You’re using Smile, Smile, Smile as your ring tone?” Streams giggles.

“Drizzle here, where do you need a splash?” Drizzle puts a hoof over her mouth, looking at Streams.

Streams rolls her eyes and looks back at Drizzle as she tries hard to fight a giggle.

“You know, anyone else would think you were a nut job for answering the phone like that.”

“Major, is that you?” Drizzle says into the phone.

“Yes it’s me, CID has called in a favor, they need all the wings they can get.”

Drizzle blinks and gets serious. “Search and rescue?”

“Sort of, I’ll explain when you get in. Shake your tail, missy.”

“Yes ma’am.” Drizzle says and hangs up.

“Sounds important.” Streams says, tilting her head.

Drizzle gives her best forlorn look, “Yeah, we could probably use your help.”

“Ok fine, this time. But when they don’t like me I’ll expect an extra pizza.”

Laughing, the two mares take flight, heading for the headquarters building. It’s only a few minute flight from the training area to the Headquarters building. And since a large block of airspace has been created for pegasi only flights, it means they can train or fly without dodging small planes or helicopters. A really nice perk around the base.

The airspace around the 520th though is about as bad as Ponyville. There are about two dozen pegasi coming in for landings from around the area. There were speedsters and slow flyers, there are even some other civilian ponies around. The 520th all have flight uniforms they wear that are reminiscent of the Wonderbolts. Air Force blue with gold trim, but the faces are open. They also had pouches and pockets for carrying transponders, radios, and a small computer that links to their flight goggles.

Jetstream gulps and leans down, biting Drizzles tail, just holding it two thirds of the way down in her muzzle. She doesn’t want to lose her only life line in here. She isn’t shy about people or ponies. She is more scared and confused by all the faces, all the talking, there is just too much going on here.

Looking back, Drizzle nods, “You can hold on Streams, I don’t mind.”

Walking inside, Drizzle lead Streams to the back of the room and they both take seats. Streams sits beside her with Drizzles tail still in her muzzle for safety. “I don’t like it here, I want to be outside again up in the sky. Or back in my room.”

“Don’t worry, it’s safe. This is rare. We don’t usually have a major call out like this. Usually there are only a few of us in here at any time.” Stream says softly.

Major Cameron walks slowly into the room, using her cane, and looks at all the ponies. Tapping her cane against the desk a few times she smiles at the group. “520th, Protecting America and Equestria!”

“520th” The cheer resounds throughout the room.

“Ok mares and stallions. We have a big one today. And I hope we have enough ponies for it. This is an aid to civil power mission. We are providing support to the New York Police and CID.” The Major says firmly.

A mumble washes across the room. “New York?” “Human police?”

“This is a serious matter, but I want you all to understand what you’re in for in this.” Clicking the remote she puts the picture of a little griffin cub up on screen. “Human and pony traffickers kidnapped this girl just after her change, from Ukraine. She’s been tortured, abused, kept in small boxes not much bigger than a dog carry cage.”

Several of the pegasi fluff their wings in anger. No one should be treated like that.

“She escaped, killing three humans, including an air conditioning tech and maintenance man. The guess is she likely used the buildings ventilation system to get out.” Looking over at the ponies, “This is where you come in. She’s scared, alone and willing to kill to protect herself against any threat, she likely doesn’t speak a word of English. So your mission isn’t actually to catch or corner her. They want you just to find her.”

Mumbles go across the room again.

“She’s likely gone up high. Found a place on top of a building somewhere to hide, a place where humans can’t go easily. Likely she only comes down to steal food or such. We can’t leave her on her own though. If someone corners her by accident, a police officer tries to stop her, she could kill again. I don’t know if griffins can blank or go feral… No one does. So be extra careful.”

Several ponies find themselves gulping timidly.

“Each of you will be given a box to fly in, keep your distance and use those pony eyes of yours. Stay up as long as you can and watch for signs of her. If you see her, call out to others and let them know where she is and where she’s going. Work as a group. Once we know where she’s nesting, a unicorn group will move in to try and talk her down.”

“Unicorns, why not another flyer?”

“Good question, the answer is simple. The unicorn’s magic will let them move items or give items to the griffin such as a cell phone, without them being close enough to be clawed apart. She may be small but her claws and beak are still deadly. We don’t want to hurt her or traumatize her anymore then she has been. She may be suffering from severe PTSD.”

“For those of you who are not part of the 520th, you’ll be issued police transponders and radios.” The major nods, “Each of your transponders will have the box you’re working in. It will let us update them on the fly.”

“520th!” The cheer goes out again.

“Fly safe my little ponies. And watch each others backs please.”

As ponies start filtering out, the Major begins handing out extra transponders and radios that an enlisted man brought in while she was talking. Glancing up she giggled, “Hi Drizzle, so this is Jetstream huh?”

“Yep, she’s going to help us out. She’s a weather pony speedster, but has insane endurance. She can already out-fly me for speed and air time.” Drizzle giggles.

Kneeling down so that she isn’t so imposing to Jetstream, height wise, the major offers her the radio and transponder. “Here you go. Don’t worry, you won’t really need to deal with anyone. Just stay up high, watch the building tops for signs of a griffin nest, and keep your eyes out for her.”

“Thank you.” Streams mumbles through Drizzles tail.

“Stay safe ok?”

Streams nodded, and turned following Drizzle out.

“And think about the offer to join the 520th, we can use every long range flyer we can get right now. And the pay is great.” The major calls out, smiling.

“I will sis.” Streams calls back as she trots outside.

“Sis?” Drizzle giggles.

“Huh?”

“You called the Major, sis.”

“No I didn’t.” Streams says, shaking her head. “Did I?”

“Yep, you did.” Drizzle says, taking wing.

“Bah, this is why I hate crowds… I get to confused, can’t remember names, and say stupid things.” With that, Streams shoots up after Drizzle.

Given the fact that they are staying as a group, it’s going to take a good four hours to fly to New York. Though there is going to be an hour break in Philly for food and such. A needed refueling break before the mission, because even pegasi need fuel. The military has already cleared an IHOP for them. Thirty pegasi in one IHOP is going to be messy as is.

*** Velvet ***

“You should have seen her face. She was just beaming in joy.” Henry says with a chuckle.

James shakes his head, chuckling, “You two make a cute couple.”

“Well I don’t know about that, but we do kind of have feelings.” Henry smiles, “we talk about a lot of things that other people wouldn’t understand, magic, cutie marks, stuff like that.”

Eric laughs, “Well we all know about cutie marks, but magic.”

I take a moment to shake my mane and tail out. Smiling I trot up and take a seat with the squad at the mess hall. “So what’s up?”

“Oh nothing, we’re just talking guy stuff.” Henry responds.

Perking my ears, I giggle, “Oh?”

Eric nods, “Noting important.”

Blinking a few times I look between them.

“Okay, who were you talking about?” I ask, blinking.

“It’s nothing.” Henry responds.

I cross my forelegs on the table laying my chin on my legs, giving them my best sad look. “Is it cuz I’m a pony that you don’t wanna talk guy stuff with me anymore?”

Eric blinks and starts laughing, “Nope, more the fact that you’re pregnant I guess.”

“Well at least he didn’t say its cuz you got an udder.” Henry says with a smile.

“Or I have a…” I start before the LT cuts me off.

“Nope, too much information already.” He says, smiling. “Let’s just say we think of you as a girl now, rather than guy.”

“And there are just some things we wouldn’t say in front of Ballad.” Eric says with a nod.

“So how are you and Ballad by the way?” I ask.

Eric blinked and blushes a bit. “We are… Doing okay.”

“Like… Sugarberry and Henry level of ok, or James and Fleetfoot level?” I say, smiling.

“She’s not pregnant.” He quickly protests.

Ah-Pee trots over and sits beside me, smiling. “So what’s up?”

“Oh we're just talking about swollen udders and chaffing.” I say, looking innocent.

“Who’s?” Ah-Pee guffaws.

“Actually I wonder if that spell can turn guys into mares.” Tilting my head, I think about it for a moment.

“NO!” All the guys say at once.

“If you weren’t pregnant I’d say try it on yourself to be human for a while.” The LT laughs.

“Ugh, bra shopping, I don’t even know what size I’d be.” I say, shaking my head.

Ah-Pee laughed. “Given Rainbow Dash’s size and she’s an athlete. You’d definitely be somewhere between a large C and a D cup.”

“Maybe someday I’ll try the spell for a few hours.” I say and nod.

“So how’s Blaze doing?” Eric asks.

“He’s off with Fleetfoot on a mission.”

*** Drizzle ***

The IHOP has at least been prepared for the ponies, even if the staff didn’t understand what was going on. The store has been closed down and booked for the full group of ponies by the Air Force, though the staff has never seen ponies before, and the MP’s coming through, confiscating cell phones or anything else capable of taking pictures and video was surprising to the employees.

Pancakes, sampler plates, and drinks are just flying out to the tables. Chicken strips, bacon, and turkey meals also go out. Every pony there knows, once they get on station, it would be hours before another meal.

“So it’s the Major’s birthday today!” One pony calls out.

“Oh come on!” Fire Streak yells, “She should have told us.”

“Mission first, 520th Protecting Earth and Equestria.” High Winds calls back, laughing.

“So anypony notice themselves calling her a different name?” Blaze calls out before stuffing his face with pancakes.

“What’cha mean?” Drizzle laughs, calling back.

“Sometimes our brains trigger and remember, or call people by their pony names. It’s usually because we knew the ponies in Equestria.” Another pony calls back. “For example, if I knew Roseluck and saw a picture of her as human, my mind might still trigger and remember her as Roseluck.”

“Nope, not here.”

“Just the Major to me.”

“Poor thing, lots of us were hoping she’d change. She so deserves to fly again.”

Drizzle blinks then looks at Jetstream. “Umm, Streams called her sis.”

All eyes fall on Jetstream. Who finds herself trying to hide under the table and behind some drinks.

“Sis?” Blaze blinks, “Anyone know if Jetstream had a sister in the show?”

“Nope not covered, but for all we know there’s more family members.” One of the pegasi calls back, checking on his PDA.

“Tell the desk Sargent, let them know to keep an eye on her and support her.” Fleet calls across.

“Congrats Jetstream, you may have a sister!” Blaze says.

“520th!!!”

The cheer goes across the IHop.

*** New York ***

“What do you think it is?”

“Some kind of cat bird mutation.” The second guy whispers back.

The two guys watch the griffin. The little thing is gnawing on a hamburger it had dug out from a dumpster behind a restaurant.

Taking off his jacket, the first guy starts heading forward.

“What are you doing?”

“Catch it. The things gotta be worth a few bucks to someone.”

Looking over, the little griffin spreads her wings wide, snarling at the man.

“Hey, if we can make five hundred bucks off it, that’s enough to buy a couple of 8-balls.”

“I’m in.” He moves to the right, trying to get on the other side of her, just in case he could close the bin door.

Seeing the threat to herself, the griffin lashes out with lighting speed. A moment later she is standing on the dead body of one of the men. As the second one runs off, she hops back up onto the dumpster. Loading some scraps into a bag, she takes wing, she needs to get higher again. Somewhere she could eat in peace.