((STORY EXTRACT))
"I see 'em… we might have a problem. How fast can you get that plane of yours started up?" The gryphon came to a stop on the dam, dropping her duffel bag and pulling the zipper open, starting to go through it's contents. It really did take a lot out of me to not have my hooves just give out right then and there — we might have a problem? What the hell does she mean by that!? "It looks like Aerith's been teleporting them both, I dunno how far away that base-thing is from here but she is not looking right. When they get here, she needs to get on the plane and get to Hopeville as soon as possible, got it?"
"I… I… I'll get the Valkyrie started, bring her in through the bomb bay, there's plenty of space and Static can help." Spreading my wings, I took to the air and landed back over by the Valkyrie, wasting no time in climbing up into the cockpit and dropping into the pilot's seat. Primers, engines one through four, on. Hydrogen talismans, running. VTOL… can't have it running when they get in, okay, so it won't be that fast a takeoff. Bomb bay doors, open. Looking up, I could just about see Hispano on top of the dam, a sudden blue flash of light producing Aerith and Static. They both seemed to stumble on their hooves, Hispano catching Aerith as she fell over limp, the alicorn's horn looking visibly charred and blackened even from this distance. Oh, this was a horrible idea, why did we go with this idea?!