//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Need for Feed // by totallynotabrony //------------------------------// “Unknown aircraft, identify yourself!” demanded Goose over the radio.   Said jet did not respond to the hail. In the front of the Tomcat, Maverick spun the jet right ways up, falling to a trailing position behind the pink pony plane.  His thumb moved the weapons selector to the position for a heat seeking missile.  The pony did not seem to care very much about the Tomcat, the pilot either unused to evasive maneuvering or not deeming the F-14 a threat. “There’s still no response on the radio,” Goose said.  “I’m trying every frequency.” Maverick considered it, and then moved the selector to the gun setting.  “I’m going to fire a warning shot.  That’ll get his attention.” “Hang on,” Goose protested.  “Was that some sort of small horse or pony in the cockpit?  How do we know he has any idea what he’s doing?” “He might know how to fly a jet,” Maverick pointed out.  “But if he doesn’t know the rules and common courtesies of international aviation practices, then he has no business being in the air.” “Mav, you’ve probably broken more of those than anyone else.” “You’re probably right,” Maverick agreed.  He paused, shrugging to himself.  “I’m going to fire a warning shot.” As he pulled the trigger, the gatling gun in the nose of the Tomcat spun up and fired fifty rounds, the tracers zipping past the fuschia jet.  Shoving the throttles forward, Maverick and Goose pulled up alongside the pony plane.  The pilot glanced to the side, looking wary.  Apparently he understood machine guns. Goose pointed his hand at the ground, again sending a radio request to land. Instead, the pony cranked the jet over and pulled into a hard turn. “Fight’s on!” Maverick called, jerking the controls to follow.  Vapor streamed from the Tomcat’s wings as the jet banked hard into the turn.  Goose hung on for the ride, waiting for Maverick’s weapons requests. Calling up a Sidewinder missile, Maverick pointed the jet’s nose at the escaping pony plane.  He waited for the distinctive sound that told him the heat-seeking missile had found its target.  However, he never got tone. Brow furrowing under his helmet, Maverick cycled the switch and tried again.  Still nothing.  A brief glance downward at the status panel showed that the Sidewinders on the jet appeared to be functioning correctly. Realization dawning, Maverick called, “I don’t think this thing has a heat signature!” “Huh?” Goose replied.  Thinking quickly, he said, “Try a Sparrow.” Slewing the radar to catch the fleeing target, Goose got a lock.  “It does have a radar return, at least. All those soft angles aren't good for low observability.” Maverick pulled the trigger and a Sparrow left the rail.  The rocket motor fired and the weapon raced away. And then the pink jet disappeared in a flash of light.  The missile went sailing harmlessly through the spot of sky where it had just been. “What the-”  Both aircrew had nearly the same reaction.  Twisting in his seat, Goose spotted the jet heading in the opposite direction.  “Four o’clock low!” Turning hard again, Maverick continued the chase.  “I’m going for guns this time!” However, before the Tomcat could close the range, the pony plane teleported again.  This time, it was just a speck on the horizon. Going to full afterburner, Maverick attempted to again gain the advantage, but one more hop and the mysterious aircraft was gone.  Scanning the horizon with radar, Goose found nothing. Barely believing what he had just experienced, Maverick reluctantly turned the jet back towards Diego Garcia. Back on the island, the gang and the girls were getting acquainted. “So cute!” “I love the different colors!” “They’re all so awesome!” “Yeah, I guess you ponies are okay, too,” said Shaggy. “What are we looking at?” Velma asked, squinting. Meanwhile, Scooby was attempting to keep Pinkie from sniffing out his Scooby Snacks.  This was turning out to be more than a little frustrating because she was harder to stop than his nephew Scrappy. They were all interrupted by the incoming Tomcat, touching down on the runway and rolling into the parking area. Shutting down the engines, the two aircrew climbed out looking dejected. “It got away,” Goose said. “This is bad, this is so very bad!” the purple pony said.  “Without that aircraft, we might not be able to get home.” “Where is home?” Fred asked. “Equestria, the land of the ponies,” the purple one said distractedly.  She continued to fret.  “What are we going to?  We can’t go back without completing our mission, but more importantly, we might not be able to go back at all.” “Maybe I’m missing something,” said Goose.  “Are you saying you’re an alien?” “That’s-”  Twilight paused, flustered, and really looked around for the first time.  The expanse of pavement, the jet, the group of strange looking inhabitants of this world.  “I suppose I must admit that it’s true.” “Aliens,” muttered Maverick. “You don’t have to rub it in!” Twilight snapped. Maverick glanced down the runway, spotting a truck filled with security personnel zooming towards them.  He said, “Not to cut things short, Princess, but security is on the way.” “That’s great, we can explain the situation to them,” Twilight said. Maverick frowned, noticing that the purple one hadn’t seem insulted by being condescendingly called Princess.  He replied, “No, I don’t think you understand.  They’re probably coming to lock you up, you being aliens and all.” “Let ‘em try!” the rainbow one said, punching the air. “They’ll probably just shoot and kill you,” Goose advised. “I don’t want to be killed,” said the yellow one, quietly. Fred rubbed his hands.  “Well gang, it looks like we need to help them.” “We’re going to harbor extraterrestrials we just met and lie to base security personnel who are just trying to do their job and keep everyone safe?” questioned Velma. “Yep, that’s the plan,” said Shaggy.  “Especially if this one keeps the cupcakes coming.” “No problem!” declared Pinkie with a giggle.