Ace Combat - Battle for Equestria - Chapter 18

The end of the war brought great change to Equestria and the countries that were once under Discord's control.

 Though pockets of resistance remained in the three countries, they were quickly dealt with. And one week later all had been eliminated by the Republic and Empire armies, and resistance groups.

 The Crystal Empire, where it all began, was the first to return to normal. Once all remaining traces of Discord were eliminated, Princess Cadence returned to rule over it once again.

 With the death of the original Changeling queen, her daughter Chrysalis, who went into hiding at the start of Discord's invasion, was welcomed in as the new one. The country has been rebounding quickly.

 Finally; The Griffin Empire began rebuilding their government, and adopted a temporary ruler until the new one was fully organized. The country's first elections will take place in November.

 Many ponies in Equestria called for arms reduction on both sides after the war. But since it had had weakened them greatly, it was decided to rebuild. Plus both sides began working on a top secret project to counter any threats that may come in the future. The only thing known about the project is the term "Bird of Peace".

  Perhaps the most important change was by Celestia. All of the Solar Empire's laws were rewritten to be similar to the Republic's, making both halves of Equestria as free as the other. With this, the possibility of another war between the two sides is next to nothing.

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  As I continued researching, even more opportunities for interviews appeared. And I didn't hesitate to take up on any of them.


Master Sergeant Dweedle. "Switchblade 1"
Former member of the Legion of Discord Air Force.
9th Fighter Squadron.

Originally with the Changeling Kingdom Air Armada, he was one of tens of thousands of Changelings forced to join Discord's armed forces.

"I wassssss stationed at the base near the factory complex. Asssss sssoon as the siren went off me and mmmmy squadron jumped into our fighters and took off.

We figured those sssssix planes wouldn't be a problem as ourzzzzzzz were just as capable. However their pilots were better, which made the diffrence. Esssspecially that Maverick.

I had nevvvver been in a dog fight like that before. I wasssss ssure I could take him, but it wouldn't be easy.

When the factory exploded, the ssssshockwave caused sssome of my ssystems to malfunction, and it jarred me quite a bit. That was all he needed to get me.

 Ssssure, I may have lost to him, but it's becauzzzzze of him and hisss ssquadron my country is free again. And I have him to tttthank for that."


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Major General Rainbow Dash. "Shadow 1"
Member of the New Lunar Republic Air Force.
1st Air Division. 1st Tactical Fighter Squadron.

 "When I first heard about Maverick, I was skeptical about how well he was doing. I didn't think anypony could take command of a wing that fast. That changed when I saw him flying for the first time. His moves were so awesome! I couldn't believe how hard he put it on Firefly. She was one of the Empire's top five pilots. If I hadn't got her I'm sure he would have.

When I heard him and Glory got shot down, I called Wigwam and demanded my squadron take part in the rescue operation. Needless to say I wasn't expecting them to rescue themselves. I mean they stole two of the LoD's planes  right out from under them. How cool is that? And of course all of the evidence they found ended the war between us and the Empire. I was so excited over the idea of being able to meet my friends on the other side again.

And of course him and Blaze flying into the tunnel and destroying Discord's weapon was the most epic thing I had ever seen.

I understand why he wanted to go back to his country to help rebuild it's air force, but I still hope he will return at some point. Of course then again, if he does, at some point he might knock me out of the top spot on the Republic's top pilot list."

   
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Lieutenant Colonel Nightshadow. "Shadow 2"
Member of the New Lunar Republic Air Force.
1st Air Division. 1st Tactical Fighter Squadron.


"I didn't really know him that much. The only times I met him in person was the first time at the bar, at the hearing, and then at the ceremony. If it was  engaging in a dogfight or beating the crap out of swabbies, he always seemed to stay cool and collected. His flying was some of the smoothest I've seen.

 After the first mission with them, Dash couldn't stop talking about Maverick. And after he destroyed Discord's weapon I think she became a fangirl of him. She won't admit it though.

 If he does come back, instead of Lunar I think we could squeeze him into this wing."

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2nd Lieutenant Carrot Top. "Sentry 2"
Member of the New Lunar Republic Air Force.
5th Air Division. 5th Electronic Warfare squadron.

 "I had known Lunar Squadron for several years. When Whiteblaze turned the wing over to Maverick, I was surprised. I didn't think somepony that new could take the reins that fast, but boy he did. And like Blaze he was calm and collected when communicating on the radio, which made my job easier. Listening to the wing's conversations, I almost felt lkie I was right there with them. The victories, the sadness, it was all a moving experience.

 I finally met them at the ceremony. I was just as surprised as they were when Angel appeared. I had met her only twice before in the past, and both times she pranked me. My plan was to get her back on the third meeting, but seeing her in that condition all I could do was give her a hug. After I did it Luna lightly kicked me in the flank. I turned around and saw everypony snickering. When I asked why Luna pulled a little "Kick me" sign off of my back. Angel had placed it there while we were hugging. All I could do was laugh.

 I'll get her back one of these days though.

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Chief Master Sergeant Ice. "Lunar 13"

 "I don't judge pilots until I've seen them fly. Once I saw Maverick's, I knew we had a good one in our wing now.

When Whiteblaze made him the squadron commander, I'll admit I was a little upset, because I was suppose to be the next in line. But I've always respected his decisions, so I just waited to see what happened.

And what happened was amazing. Not only did he display some of the best flying I've ever seen, he kept the wing together during those trying times.

When he got shot down along with Glory over the POW camp, I figured that was it for the squadron until I heard him reassure us over the radio they would be alright. And just like that, the next day they came back, and ended the war with the Empire, and led us to victory over Discord.

Now that he is gone, Blaze is our commander again. I still hope he will return someday though."



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1st Sergeant Glory. "Lunar 2"

"I didn't think too much of him at first. I just saw him as a replacement for the original Lunar Nine. As I watched his flying on the first two missions, I started to be impressed.

When he took Whiteblaze's spot it was kind of hard to swallow. I kept thinking it was my fault he got shot down. Maverick constantly assured me it wasn't, and I became his wingpony. The more I saw him fly, the more I was impressed. At some points I forgot it was him and not Blaze flying.

Then we got shot down near that POW camp. Again I blamed myself, and he was there to correct me. As we walked towards the highway he was talking about, we talked about our pasts, and i'll admit I started to have feelings for him. When we found that base and got the evidence, I was so excited to know I had just helped end the war, and soon I could go visit my family in Northern Equestria again.

I wanted to go into the tunnel with him, but he didn't want me to. I reluctantly accepted his decision. It turned out to be the right choice, because more than likely Nightshade would have shot me down. At least I saved Manehattan with him.

The ceremony was the happiest point in my life ever. Angel was alive, Blaze was back, and soon the members of our squadron who were POW's would be back. Then Spade said he was leaving, and my heart sank. I didn't realize how deep my feelings were for him until then. And when he got ready to leave, they finally came to the surface. It's only been 4 months, but I still miss him."

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Senior Master Sergeant Tiger Angel. "Lunar 3"

"I've always given newbies to my wing a hard time. He was no exception. However he seemed to be immune from my attacks, and he even got me a couple of times. That was my first sign that he wasn't a noob.

Then I saw his flying. Some of the best I've seen. There were several times I was sure he was going to stall his Terminator and crash, but he didn't.

Then of course I goofed up, and spent the rest of the war in a Solar Empire hospital. I felt bad I wasn't able to contact them and tell them I was alive. After the ceremony I learned the entire story of my rescue."

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Mountain range North of Prairie City, Crystal Empire
27 September 2017

The Solar Empire rescue chopper was passing over a small valley when a flare shot up.

"Flare to the right!," a white unicorn medic yelled.

"Roger turning now," replied the pilot. Soon they were hovering over a light blue Pegasus in a white SEAF flightsuit. It was one of four choppers that were searching for downed Empire pilots since the airspace above the area was now sanitized.

"Do we have room to land?"

"Yes, here we go." Soon the chopper was on the ground, and they could see two more pegasi and a unicorn off to the right under the tree canopy.

"Evac three to command we have located four pilots."

"Roger. Will you be able to get them all?"

"Yes we should be able to." The medic ran over to check on them.

"Do you have any injuries?" he asked.

"My right front leg is broken, but otherwise it's just minor cuts and bruises," replied a white pegasus.

"She needs the most help," the pink unicorn said pointing to a black and orange Pegasus. She was laying on a home made stretcher with a folded up parachute serving as a blanket.

"Let's see." The medic and the earth pony copilot of the chopper ran over to look. It was obvious just from her face she was in trouble.

"Take the parachute off," the earth pony said. They removed the parachute and got a first hand look. What they saw wasn't pretty.

"Oh shit. What happened?"

"We were stopped here when another air battle broke out above us," replied the  light blue Pegasus. "We couldn't see it because of the clouds, but we heard it. There was an explosion and soon parts of aircraft were falling out of the clouds. Then we saw her falling through them also. Me and him," pointing towards the white Pegasus "flew up and tried to catch her, but even though we did we had too much momentum going and we hit the trees hard, which is how his leg got broke." Then the two members of the rescue crew saw the flight suit she was wearing. Though it was blackened, the NLRAF patch was clearly visible.

"You saved a Republic pilot?" the earth pony copilot said.

"Of course. We couldn't just leave her. Sure she's with the enemy, but she's a pilot like us," replied the unicorn.

After a pause he said "OK let's go."

"Help me with her Sunny," she said to the yellow Pegasus.

"We don't have room for her, just you four," he replied.

"WHAT? We can't just leave her!" yelled Sunny Rays.

"Don't have a choice," he replied.

"I'll stay here then. You can come back for me," replied the unicorn.

"Get in, that's an order."

"I'm not going," she replied.

"same here. She goes too or none of us do," replied the white Pegasus. The other two agreed.

"You wanna get busted for disobeying an order?" he snapped.

"Ok you bigot you wanna' go that route?" the blue Pegasus yelled. "Well guess what? You need to read up on international law. Under the Gryphus Convention we are required to provide aid to enemy combatants that were injured at the time of capture. You try to punish us for that and I will take this matter of breaking international law all the way to Celestia you son of a bitch!"

The pony didn't say anything. Instead he went back to the chopper and got on the radio.

"Evac three to command we now have five pilots including two injured. We need a second chopper."

"Roger Evac three. Evac two get over there."

Sunny and the blue Pegasus went with Evac three, while the other two and Angel went with Evac two. Though she was still unconscious, as the unicorn helped load her into the chopper she said "You're safe now." And they took off for Stalliongrad.


--------------------
.

"I did get to meet with those four pilots, and needless to say I have four more friends now. The story reached all corners of Equestria, and not long afterwards they received commendations from both us and the Empire."

"I didn't get to see Maverick and Whiteblaze finish off Discord, and see the squadron save Manehattan until after I came home and got to see the footage.  

He was a great pilot, and I hope he returns so we can fly together again. As for me, you can see I'm still grounded, which is torture for any Pegasus. The doctors said I will be able to fly under my own power and fly planes again in another month, so I just have to tough it out."

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Captain Whiteblaze. Original "Lunar 1"

"A lot of ponies wondered why I picked him to take control of the wing. The fact was, I knew of his past. My dad was stationed at the same air base as him in Gracemareia, and he was always talking about him. Especially his actions during the war with the Griffins.

When he joined our Air Force, I was hoping to get him in here somehow, and the chance appeared when his squadron got wiped out, and Heart Throb got shot down and injured. I put in a request to Wigwam to send him here. I wasn't disappointed. Not only did he keep the wing together in my absence, he pretty much ended the war.

I know the squadron was upset when he left, but I didn't mind. The Crystal Empire needs somepony with his strength to rebuild their air force."


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Octavia:

"Neither of us felt like flying again, but when we learned the truth about this war, we immediately returned to the skies. We were there at the final battle as part of another squadron, and watched Lunar destroy Discord and his weapon.

 Both of us met Maverick and his squadron for the first time at the ceremony. Sunfire, the one who shot Vinyl down, actually apologized to her, then asked for an autograph. And of course she did. Then Vinyl started asking about the NLR's Thunderhoof plane, and if it would be possible to make a bass storm cannon for it, which was typical for her.

  It was surreal to see the pilots we tried to shoot down a week earlier chatting with us like nothing happened. It was then I fully realized peace would reign over Equestria once and for all."


Sunfire:

 "After the final mission, I watched Maverick's HUD footage of him flying through the tunnel, and I actually puked at one point. There's no way I could've pulled that off. I'd be a black spot on the wall of it."


Firefly:

"I met both Maverick and Dash at the ceremony. She apologized right and left for shooting me down, almost got watery eyes even.

It was then I realized just how much Discord had torn us apart. We were fighting over nothing but the past and the illusion of something in the present.

Since I'm in the reserves, I've decided to take a break from flying for a bit. If the call comes though I'll gladly jump back into the cockpit of a plane.

And hopefully Lunar squadron will be there with mine."


Gilda:

"Though he shot me down, I have to admit the mission he pulled off to destroy my former leader's weapon was impressive. Nothing I couldn't have done but still.

More importantly, he freed my country. I have to give him that. I will be returning to the Griffin air force again to help rebuild it and train new pilots."



   Though I searched high and low for Maverick in Gracemareia, I was never able to track him down. But it really didn't matter. I found out everything through his wingponies, others that knew him, and his enemies.

 However while searching for him, I did come across somepony I never expected to meet. Because, like everyone else, I thought she was dead.

Nightshade. "Windigo 1".
Former member of the Legion of Discord Air Force.
1st Fighter Squadron.

Once Maverick's friend, and then adversary, she is now living a quiet life In a small village in the Crystal Empire near where she was shot down.

 "It's obvious you already know the story between me and Maverick. And why I became so bitter towards him.
(Music 1)
 I should've died that day. I was going to just ride it out to the end, but for some reason, the Falken's ejection system activated and blew me clear just before it hit the mountain. I was already injured by shrapnel from Maverick's cannon rounds, and the ejection and landing injured me further. The last thing I remembered was the trees coming up at me. When I came to, my right wing and leg were broken. I removed my flight suit, grabbed my survival kit, and just started walking. I had no idea where I was.

 I dragged my injured body through the woods for almost a day, getting weaker and weaker before I was found by a unicorn who carried me to her small village nearby. The inhabitants immediately took me in and cared for me. I felt guilty. Because for all intents and purposes I was a traitor to my country, which meant to them also.

  I could say it was Discord's mind control, but it wasn't. I don't know why I joined his side when I should have fled or joined a resistance group. It might have been because I wanted to be part of something again. I looked up to Maverick almost as a brother, and the rest of the squadron as an extended family.  After that incident with my village and getting booted out of the Air Force, I had nothing. No family, or friends. All that time my resentment towards him  festered and grew. I pretty much went into hiding.

 When Discord came in, I was tracked down by his forces after they found my records at the air base when they took over. The air force commander looked over my records and saw how good of a pilot I was, and instead of sending me somewhere to work or execution, offered me a job as a pilot again. I wanted to return to flying and be part of a squadron bad enough that I accepted.

 I was put in the First fighter squadron. I was the only pony in it. The rest were griffins and dogs, but they treated me no differently. Just like with the Gracemareia squadron they were like an extended family to me. The joy behind that feeling kept the truth of what I was doing from sinking in. It didn't hit me until while I was laying in the bed of that little cabin recovering. I also kept thinking about what Maverick said to me in that last battle, and realizing he was right. My anger towards him and my actions were the reason I was there now.

 Then one day while I was recovering in bed, I had a visitor. I woke up, and there standing next to me was my childhood friend Sundance, who I thought had been killed in the fire. I started to well up. It turns out she was the only pony who wasn't in the village that day. She was gathering berries about a mile outside of town and watched the plane hit the village. Like me her parents died also. I figured she was dead because I couldn't find her afterwards. Turns out she had fled from there. She wanted to be as far away from the site as possible, which is how she had ended up in this village. She thought I was dead also, because.... I would have died fighting for my country.

 That was the last straw. I completely broke down and cried. When she asked why I told her what I had done. By the time I was through she was crying. All I could say was I'm sorry. I figured she would run off, but she didn't. Instead she put her front legs around me and we hugged each other for I don't know how long. Afterwards all of the hate I had inside me had vanished. I suddenly felt at peace for the first time in years.

 Really, Maverick was responsible for this meeting. How did it happen though? How was it my final stand with him was near this village? How was it the same one my friend fled to? I guess that's something I will never figure out. Fate can be both kind and cruel.

 I hope to return to the skies someday. Hopefully with my country's air force, but I don't know how others will look at me. They may not be as forgiving as my friend. Hell they might hang me for joining Discord. Right now though as you can see, I can't even fly myself. So I will continue to spend my life here. At least I have friends to talk to again.

 Hey. If you do find Maverick, can you give him this message from me?

Yo Spade. Still alive?

And thanks bro. Hope to see you someday."  

(Music 2)
 And so ends the story of Maverick and the Lunar squadron. How one group of pilots overcame insurmountable odds and tragedy to help win a war that was based on nothing but distrust and deception. Only time will tell if these heroes will return to the skies over Equestria to defend the country.

  As I look back, I like to think I played a part in ending the war too. Being the one who took the photo of Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy hugging that Celestia and Luna showed to the country.


                                                                                                                                      The end.