Chapters The deafening boom of rifled cannons could be heard in the distance. A small grin parted the General’s lips as he listened to the sweet music of solid shot. He’d helped design those guns two years ago. Now, they were doing the Lord’s work here in front of Dodge City.
“General, we shouldn’t be so close to the forward trenches. If the Tartarians break through here, you could be killed,” the pony paused before continuing. “We can’t afford to lose you, sir.”
The General turned to face the pony who spoke. Gently he replied, “Your observation has been noted, Major Macintosh, but I’d rather be here with my boys than sitting on my hindquarters in the city.” Placing a hand on his wooden field desk, the General looked down at the map that was spread upon it. “Besides, if they break us and roll up our line, then my safety is of little importance. Her Excellency can promote generals, but she can’t replace this army.”
At that moment the General felt a light tapping on his leather boots. He looked down and saw a small blue and gold dragon with a piece of parchment between his claws.
“Message from Major General Applejack, sir,” the little lizard said in a squeaky voice.
“Thank you, Corporal Tike,” the General replied as he took the offered message from the dragon.
The General broke the seal and unrolled the scroll. “Have you received any word from Lieutenant General Hayseed?”
“No, sir, General Jackson. I would have given it to you if I had. I am a bit worried, though. Usually my brother sends a message around this time to let me know he’s okay.”
Stonewall pulled at his beard for a moment, and turned to one of his staff members and called, “Lieutenant Brass Hoof.”
“Sir?” The dark brown earth pony replied.
“I want you to run over and see what has become of General Hayseed. Head for the cannons down the road; he should be nearby.”
“Yes, sir,” Brass Hoof saluted.
“And check on Tike’s brother while you’re there.”
The pony nodded and took off down the communication trenches.
“Thank you, sir. That makes me feel a lot better,” Tike murmured.
The thanks fell on deaf ears, for Jackson was reading the new dispatch from Applejack. As he read the message, the General noted that the ponies manning the cannons had switched their ammunition to canister shot. The demons were attacking in force again but were paying in blood with every foot of ground they crossed.
Stonewall Jackson read quickly, and when he was through, his eyes lit up. He announced to his staff in a proud voice, “Friends, Providence has smiled upon us this day. Major General Applejack has repelled, pursued, and destroyed the Fifth Horde in front of Appleloosa.”
A loud cheer erupted from the throats of Jackson’s earth pony staff. None were louder than Big Macintosh.
All were cheering, save for one pink pony. She wore a bleach-white skull mask over her scarred, pink, face. The bone-mask clashed with her black leather armor making her look like a vision of death itself. Pinkamena Diane Pie never cheered nor spoke, but her death mask always smiled. She paused and looked up to hear the General speak. He was the only one she truly listened to after he had saved her from the fire all those months ago. Shying away from that memory, she returned to sharpening her already razor-edged scythe after the General had made his announcement.
As the cheers died down, Jackson picked up a lemon from a nearby bucket and began to suck on it noisily. Careful not to get juice on the note, he added the message to the other dispatches he had received from his subordinate officers. Other than Applejack’s good news, the picture the messages painted was bleak. The demons were attacking the Army of Southern Equestria all along the Desert Front, but thus far, all the assaults had been repelled. But holding back the flood of Hell Denizens came at a price. The thin brown line that connected Appleloosa to Dodge City was getting thinner, and Canterlot could spare no more soldiers. This worried the human, but he did not let it show. He despised this war of attrition he was being forced to fight. His victories came from outthinking and outmaneuvering his opponents. That being said, he could not abandon the two towns to the Tartarians. The repeating crossbows and the new artillery had bled the demons badly, but the enemy could replace their losses easier than he could.
As Jackson pondered this, Tike belched forth another message wreathed in blue flame. Jackson snatched the message out of the air with his metallic left hand, paying no heed to the baby dragon’s scorching breath. Stonewall frowned. The note, according to the seal, was from General Hayseed. However, that was not the troubling part of the letter. Half of the dispatch was covered in a green sticky liquid, almost like dragon . . .
In an instant, Jackson spat out the lemon and tore open the seal. He turned his body away from Tike, blocking the dragon’s view of the letter.
“General? What’s wrong?” the dragon asked.
By this time the other ponies were looking at Jackson with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. The General ignored the question and the stares as he read the message. It only had three-blood covered words.
WE ARE LOST
The words were hurried and scrawled, but Jackson recognized the handwriting of Tike’s older brother.
Crumpling the bloody letter in his grasp, he threw it as far as he could. Before anypony could ask any further questions, Stonewall bellowed, “Attention!” A dozen ponies and one dragon became rigid as statues. Calmly, Jackson sat down in his chair and began to write, his hand a blur across the paper.
Seconds later, the human handed Tike the completed message. “Send that to the Sky Marshal and all Corp Commanders.”
Obeying, Tike set the paper ablaze with azure fire.
Jackson, rose from his chair and donned a steel helmet. “Major Macintosh.”
“Eyup Sir?
“Escort Corporal Tike to the rear and evacuate the field hospital to the town,” Stonewall said as he buckled on his sword and put on the last pieces of his armor.
Big Macintosh’s jaw clenched tightly in distaste but he held his tongue.
Tike, on the other hand, had no such restraint. “What? No! What, what was on that letter you threw away? Why did it have dragon blood on it?” Tears welled up in the dragon’s eyes as the General paused and looked at him with boundless pity. “No . . . NO!” the dragon wailed.
Jackson ignored as best he could the heart-wrenching cries as Tike was carried away by Major Macintosh.
After saying a quick prayer for Tike’s brother, Stonewall yelled to his tiny command, “The rest of you with me!”
All of Jackson’s staff dropped their maps, charts, and quills in favor of swords and crossbows. They moved past Jackson down into the trenches. Only Pinkie and Jackson were left in the dugout. The skull-faced pony planted her scythe in the dirt and looked at the human expectantly.
“The Cherry Orchards,” the General said as he picked up his own crossbow and ammunition. Jackson then turned and followed his earth ponies into the split in the earth, not bothering to look behind him. He knew the pink pony was no longer there.
Jackson led the group deeper and deeper into the maze of trenches, all the while panning left and right with his crossbow for targets. They were close to the orchards now. The smell of rotting cherry trees mixed with the putrid fumes of decaying corpses. Jackson barely noticed the stench as he stepped over the disemboweled body of Lieutenant Brass Hoof.
Seeing movement to his left above the trench, he brought his crossbow to bear upon the unknown threat. The enormous creature he saw was once a unicorn, judging from the warped protrusion sticking out of its forehead. But whatever creature it once resembled, the creature was now a nightmarish mockery. The abomination had no skin and galloped forward on legs that belonged to a much larger creature. Jackson let loose a bolt at the monster as did those who accompanied him. The creature stopped in its tracks as it was pierced to death by nearly a dozen steel-tipped darts. It fell twitching to the ground in a pool of its own black blood. Its pathetic mewling and moaning cut short by a dart to the head.
Down the narrow confines of the trench came several dozen fresh horrors. They came lumbering forward on limbs with too many joints, brandishing misshapen claws, hooves, and weapons. Stonewall’s stomach turned as he witnessed their unyielding, sickening approach.
“General, we have to go back. There’s too many of them,” said a mare with a terrified edge in her voice.
Jackson replied coolly as he stared down the demons in front of him. “Never take counsel of your fears.”
Handing his crossbow to one of the soldiers behind him, Jackson brought up his metallic appendage and pointed it at the demons. The ponies behind Stonewall got down and covered their ears. They knew what was about to happen. Where once an arm was attached to the general, there was now a cannon barrel. The demons were close, almost within striking distance of a spear. They pressed forward, heedless of their own safety.
Jackson said something, but his words were lost in the deafening explosion as he fired his weapon into the mass of monsters.
The slaughter was terrible. The demons were torn to shreds as hundreds of serrated metal balls penetrated their bodies. One blast was all it took to kill all of the creatures.
As the general coldly surveyed his grizzly handiwork, his weapon melted and reshaped back into an arm once again. This was not the first occasion he had used his weapon against the enemy, but it was the first time he let them get this close.
Staggering to their hooves, some of the ponies arose with bleeding ears and noses from the concussive blast. The first to recover was a mare from Manehatten. Cautiously, she climbed up a wooden firing platform and peered over the trench. She saw hunched, shadowy figures marching quickly in the neighboring trench. Pushing her way through her still recuperating comrades, she made her way to the human and tapped on the back of his mud-brown armor.
The General turned and saw Major Coco Pommel. She was trying to tell him something, but he couldn’t hear her.
“What?” the general asked loudly.
Not bothering to repeat herself, the Major pointed down the trench where the Tartarians had come from and raised her crossbow.
Catching the pony’s meaning, the General got down on one knee and raised his metal arm again.
This time, what came around the corner of the trench was not a monstrosity, but a grime-encrusted pony. The soldier came forward a few steps looking from side to side, his loaded crossbow grasped tightly in his hooves. He stopped dead in his tracks when he looked straight ahead. Eleven crossbows and one cannon were aimed at his head. His fear of getting blown to pieces turned into wonder as he asked, “General Jackson . . . is that you?”
The General couldn’t hear the soldier speak, but he could read lips well enough. As he and the rest of his command lowered their weapons, he beckoned the soldier forward with a wave.
Sergeant Buck Wood nodded and turned to look down his end of the trench. “Come on, you foals. It’s the Iron Ghost. He’s here to get our asses out of the sling.”
“What? Are you sure, Sarge?” asked a soldier from behind Buck Wood.
Grabbing the Private by the neck of his jacket, the Sergeant dragged the confused soldier around the trench corner. The Private’s jaw dropped when he saw the gore-splattered human looking back at him with his piercing blue eyes. Letting go of the pony, the Sergeant walked forward, picking his way through the eviscerated bodies of the Tartarians. When he reached the human, he began to speak but was cut off when the General raised a hand.
“I can’t hear you, Sergeant. I managed to deafen myself. I need you to take me to General Hayseed if he yet lives.”
Buck Wood’s shoulders slumped as he looked at the General. “He’s dead, Sir.”
The muted words flayed another piece from the human’s already battered heart. Closing his eyes, the General concentrated on what to do next. They had come too far to retreat now, and he doubted that they could even if he ordered it. No, retreat was out of the question; they had to buy time for the army to reorganize and refuse the broken line, but how?
As Jackson pondered this, the ears of everypony perked up as they heard the all too familiar gibbering battle cries of the Tartarians. Major Pommel, having been in enough fights, knew that a huge force was coming up behind them.
The Ghost opened his eyes and saw the nervous faces of his troops as they looked around. He didn’t have to guess what they were hearing. Looking behind the Sergeant, he spied in the distance a lone artillery piece up on a small hill. Strangely the cannon shared the hill with a blossoming cherry tree.
“The Lord doth provide,” Jackson whispered to himself.
“Sir?” Buckwood asked quizzically.
“Follow me!” Jackson yelled.
The ponies didn’t hesitate as they followed their general up the hill to the very top. Jackson looked behind him and counted how many ponies he had. His force had tripled in strength since he had led them on this errand.
A low, loud rumble issued from his stomach. Firing his weapon had cost him more energy than he had feared. Feeling a tapping on his human arm, he turned to see a soldier offering him a piece of fruit. “Thank you, Major Pommel.”
The pony nodded. She knew that if the General didn’t eat, his weapon would get its raw material from somewhere else in his body.
As Jackson ate the rest of the fruit, he was proud to see the ponies readying the cannon and themselves for combat. They fanned out and took whatever they needed from their fallen brothers and sisters who surrounded the hill.
Watching the ponies drew the human’s eyes to the cherry tree in the center of the hill. Removing his helmet and wiping the sweat and blood from his face, he approached the beautiful object. Jackson marveled at the tree’s endurance, having survived so much in the center of this Hell. Almost nothing would have made the General happier then to lie down beneath its branches and sleep. He would dream of Virginia, his home where he grew up and learned about the world, about life, and about God. He would dream about a time before the war that tore his home apart. But most of all, he would dream about his wife and baby daughter. He would go to them and . . .
Jackson turned sharply from the tree. He could not afford to go to that painfully sweet place in the back of his mind, not now.
Donning his helmet, he looked off in the distance and saw nothing. He knew they were out there though; with every fiber of his being, he knew the demons would come.
“We will defend this place,” said the Iron Ghost suddenly.
Jackson unbuckled his sword and after drawing it, threw away the sheath. He turned to face his soldiers who were staring at him with a mixture of resolve and fear.
“We will defend this place as if it were Canterlot itself. We will buy the time necessary for our army to destroy the black tide. And we will acquit ourselves before God and Celestia this day, my friends, for they are watching. Do not disappoint them.”
No sooner was the General done speaking, then the first demons came into view. Jackson turned his head and nodded at the ponies manning the cannon. Seconds later, a black sphere of death crashed through the Tartarian vanguard, killing a score. The demons pressed on, rising and falling like waves as they crossed over and into the pony-made trenches.
While the ponies played havoc on the enemy ranks, Jackson turned his eyes to the heavens. A black cloud was forming on the horizon. Stonewall smiled as the thrill of battle began to sing through every part of his body. This is what he lived for, to fight in his Lord’s name and to destroy his enemies, whatever form they might take. Reveling in the moment, the perfect weapon for this sort of occasion began to take shape from his metal arm.
Standing by the General’s side, Sergeant Buck Wood saw the human’s artificial appendage begin to change. The metallic mass had reformed into a rod surrounded by six tubes with a hand crank at Jackson’s elbow. Knowing that the General couldn’t hear him, the soldier said to himself, “What is that?”
Surprisingly, Buck Wood heard the General say, “It’s God’s mercy.”
No sooner had Stonewall uttered those words, than the tubes began to spin, and the metal crank turned on its own accord. His weapon spun faster and faster until it began to spit death at the coming cloud of demons. The winged Tartarians fell out of the sky in droves, as each round Jackson fired found its mark. The pierced, bullet-riddled bodies crashed down onto their grounded brethren below.
Jackson fired until crimson streams ran from his ears and down his armored shoulders. The ponies, emulating their leader, sent bolt after bolt into the packed ranks of horrors, but still they came. Marching over the bodies of the fallen, the monsters weathered the storm of bullets, bolts, and cannon fire. After what seemed like an eternity of bloodshed, the first of the demons reached the hill.
Feeling something pounding on his left side, Jackson turned to see Coco pointing desperately down the hill. The Iron Ghost turned his Gatling-arm on the Tartarian infantry as the last of the winged demons were blown out of the sky. The hill became slick with gore as the horrors climbed over corpses to make it up the hill. Little by little, they clawed their way forward.
After reloading his crossbow for what seemed like the thousandth time, Sergeant Buckwood caught a glimpse of the General. Jackson’s weapon was now a blur. As the barrels whirled, the human was paying for that blistering rate of fire.
Jackson dropped his sword and fell to his knees, clutching his stomach with his normal arm. His reserves of energy long spent, the weapon was now claiming other sources of fuel. Fat, blood, bone, and muscle were now being taken from the Iron Ghost and being turned into ammunition. Ignoring the crippling pain from his chest and stomach, Stonewall continued to feed his weapon.
Knowing there was nothing he could do for the General other than pray and fight, Buckwood turned back to his own killing. As he fired what must have been his hundredth bolt at the demons, he heard the Iron Ghost’s weapon begin to slow. Seconds later, the buzz-saw noise was gone altogether. He glanced to his side to see Jackson down on all fours. The human was vomiting grey bile onto the muddy earth; the weapon had taken too much.
The demons, sensing the tide had turned, redoubled their efforts to take the body-strewn hill. Jackson looked up just in time to see an ugly, two-headed demon running toward him. He tried to bring his Gatling-arm to bear one more time but could not. It was just too heavy. As the demon raised a huge club to end the General, the earth in front of Jackson erupted upwards.
A black and pink pony seemed to arise from Hell itself. Its bone mask was grinning with savage glee. In one motion, the equestrian killing machine bisected the demon with her unbelievably sharp blade. With the slightest of efforts, she turned and sliced upwards, eviscerating another Tartarian that had tried to sneak behind her. Pinkamena didn’t utter a sound as she went about her business; she let her weapon speak for her.
All around Jackson, ponies clashed with the denizens of Tartarus in brutal close quarters. The Equestrians bravely stood their ground against the ocean of enemies. For every pony that fell, five demons fell with them.
His chest screaming in protest, Jackson picked up his sword and came to his feet in the epicenter of the maelstrom. The ponies were fighting all around him, protecting him from the nightmarish fighters. Once more his metal appendage changed, this time as an axe blade.
No sooner had he taken his first halting step, the Tartarians fell back in the face of the Equestrians. They withdrew several paces creating a ringed no man’s land between themselves and the surviving ponies. Major Coco looked around to see how many ponies yet lived. Besides herself, Pinkamena, and General Jackson, only four other ponies were left standing. She saw Sergeant Buckwood lying among the dead, his body cut in twain by a Tartarian blade.
Jackson saw the corpse of the mutilated Sergeant as well. Pure rage threatened to overtake him as he glared at the demons with bloody weapons. Taking a deep breath to steady his abused body, he focused on the hatred and not on the pain coursing through him. With practiced ease, he unhooked the clasps at his sides in preparation for the next round of fighting. The battered mud-brown breastplate that had protected him throughout the campaign fell to the blood-drenched earth. While taking a halting breath, he spied a black cloud floating up the hill. The demons didn’t part ranks to let the cloud through; it just washed over them like morning fog. Coming to the General’s side, Pinkamena recognized the face that had materialized in the center of the gaseous dark blob.
“Sombra,” Jackson whispered to himself.
The gas quickly took the shape of a black and grey unicorn, and it stood there smiling wickedly at the survivors.
“Very impressive,” the dark unicorn’s lips didn’t move when it said this, but to the Iron Ghost, the harsh voice was loud and clear. “I’ve never seen such slaughter since I happened upon that camp of mares and foals six weeks ago. Oh, what was the name of that place? I forget.”
Trembling, Jackson screamed, “Camp Hope, you butcher! May God damn you forever for what you did!”
Sombra’s smirk widened as he saw the human wince in pain as he finished his tantrum. He also reveled in the hate-filled energy coming from the surviving ponies in Jackson’s group. “Yes, that’s the place.”
Two lances of black energy shot forth from the unicorn’s horn. Not having time to reform his metal appendage into a proper shield, Jackson stepped into the beam, swinging his axe arm. When Jackson’s weapon and the black beam met, a blinding light encompassed all who beheld the General’s feat. Sombra’s energy lance was cleaved in two. The dual beams struck two demons behind the Iron Ghost, killing them both.
As Jackson’s vision cleared, he felt a sharp pain in his right leg. He looked down, and to his horror, he discovered he was no longer attached to the appendage. Eyes wide in shock, the General fell backward onto the red ground. As Jackson’s mind was overcome with agony, he saw that the blossoming cherry tree had been felled.
Berserk with fury, the earth pony soldiers launched themselves at the unicorn who had assaulted their leader. The demons laughed at the futility of the assault, for the ponies didn’t have a prayer. Sombra killed three of the attackers before they even got close to him. The fourth made it into striking distance, but the former Crystal King easily dodged the pony’s hasty attack. Becoming bored, Sombra gored the pony through the eye and threw the body away casually.
Maneuvering herself out of the unicorn’s peripheral vision, Major Pommel threw a dagger at the distracted Sombra. The weapon flew straight and true, but before it could pierce the back of the unicorn’s exposed head, it stopped. The blade hung in mid-air, suspended by Sombra’s magic. The unicorn turned and shook his head. He then reversed the dagger and sent it speeding on its way into the heart of Coco Pommel.
As the last pony fell to the ground, the demon leader roared his triumph to the heavens. The demons took up the cry and joined their master’s cheer. Smiling maniacally, the unicorn slowly walked to where Jackson lay. His body was broken, but the slow rise and fall of his chest confirmed he yet lived. As Sombra stepped over the corpse of the pink earth pony, he knew he would treasure this victory forever. Except something troubled him as he gazed at Jackson’s form; it was like he had forgotten something.
A second later, he remembered what was lost from his mind. He never killed the pink pony. This fact dawned on him, as he collapsed onto the bloody stumps of his hooves. Suddenly in a pool of his own blood, Sombra looked skyward and saw the skull-faced pony looming over him. It was the last thing he saw as Pinkamena’s scythe pierced his brain.
The demons stood and stared at the earth pony, not quite comprehending what had happened. As the Tartarians began to close in around Pinkamena, she somersaulted backwards to where the General lay. Determined to die protecting the one who saved her, the pony made ready for the end.
From above, a whistling sound was heard. The black-garbed pony watched as black spheres tumbled from the sky and exploded among her enemies. She fell to the ground and covered Jackson’s body as the sound of screaming and renewed slaughter filled the air.
Minutes later, she heard a voice, “Pinkie, Pinkie are you okay?”
Other than the voice, Pinkamena could still hear the distant sound of combat, but it was miles away. Raising her head off the General’s chest, she looked up into the face of a pegasus. She knew this pony, although it had been some time since she had last seen her. Ignoring the new comer’s question, the skull-faced warrior got to her knees and put her ear to the general’s heart.
“Is he alive?” the pegasus asked nervously.
Pinkamena nodded.
“He looks too bucked up to move. We’ll have to do what we can for him here.”
Several ponies came forward wearing hospital uniforms. Armed with the tools of their trade, they began the battle to save the life of Equestria’s greatest soldier.
The black-garbed demon slayer noticed that the sky was filled with pegasi. Most were heading toward the fighting, but some were gazing with worried looks at the human. Turning her attention back to the General, Pinkamena watched the ponies work feverishly to save the human. Never taking her eyes off him, Pinkamena removed her bone mask and let it drop to the ground.
“Don’t worry about Thomas. They won’t let him die,” said the familiar winged pony behind her.
She turned to face the pegasus who did not recoil at the hideous burns all across the earth pony’s face. Instead, the pegasus stepped forward and said, “It’s good to see you, Pinkie.”
In reply, the pink killing-machine enveloped the other pony in a delicate embrace. She whispered, “It’s good to see you too, Dashie.”
The General walked slowly into the throne room, his wooden cane thumping softly on the carpeted floor. Unlike the last time he was here, there were no cheering throngs of ponies, no fanfare of any kind, in fact. That was just fine with him; he hated the pomp and ceremony that went with his Canterlot visits. But, this kind of silence was deafening all the same, and it made the soldier ill at ease.
The General turned to his aide. “I do believe I like this place better when it’s loud. What say you, Major?”
“Eyup,” the reddish-orange stallion replied as he walked beside his commander. The pony eyed the human. “How bad are you hurting, sir?”
When the General didn’t answer right away, the Major continued, “It’s getting worse, isn’t it?”
The general grimaced. “I’m fine Major.”
“With all due respect, sir, no, you’re not. Do you need some of your medicine?”
“No, thank you, Major, but I do have a hankering for a lemon. I’d take one now if I could, but I do believe our Commander in Chief would not take kindly to it.”
“Eynope.”
After a moment’s silence, Big Macintosh asked, “Permission to speak freely, sir?”
“Granted, although you’d probably speak thusly anyway.”
“Are you going to ask her, sir? She wouldn’t refuse you now. She can’t.”
Turning the question over in his head, Jackson replied, “That is my business, and my business can wait.”
Big Mac stopped, “No it can’t, sir.”
“I repeat, that is for me to decide,” Stonewall glared. “Do I make myself clear, Major?”
Lowering his eyes, Big Macintosh said quietly, “Yes, sir.”
“Good, then let us speak no more of this.”
The two soldiers did not speak again until they reached a massive pair of crimson doors guarded by four armored stallions. The guards nodded their heads in respect at the two.
“Identification please, sir,” one of them said.
Stonewall gave his walking stick to Major Macintosh. He then held out his human hand. The stallion drew a dagger from his belt while another guard stepped forward with a bowl. The guard with the knife cut into the general’s palm. The General winced as the dagger parted his flesh and blood dripped into the bowl. The guard quickly used his magic to mend the general’s hand. “I’m sorry, General. We –”
The General interrupted, “Sir, what we cannot afford is to have another changeling attack inside this castle. If my blood is needed to serve my country, then take as much as you need.”
The sentry nodded. Glancing to his right, Jackson saw his aide go through the same bloodletting process. The two bowls were then placed in a small cavity inside the crimson portal. The pony shut the door to the cavity and waited; moments later, the doors opened. The old soldier sighed and mentally cursed the changelings for making such measures necessary.
Minutes later, the two soldiers found themselves alone in the Princess’ war room. The General had to admit, the ponies had rebuilt this part of the palace well. One would never suspect so much death had happened here. Noticing his commander staring at the rebuilt chamber, Major Macintosh silently opened the ornate wooden case that he had carried in his saddle bags.
“General, would you like to wear your iron tonight?”
The question jarred the old soldier out of the past, from the memory of broken and bloody pony corpses. “Thank you, Major, I shall. She would want me to.”
A well-rehearsed dance commenced between the officer and his aide. Major General Stonewall Jackson limped forward and sat down at the table where his aide had placed the case. In the wooden box was the artificial left arm. The polished, beautiful weapon was almost perfect, a mirror image of the General’s human arm. The only flaw was a small notch below the pinky finger where Stonewall had cleaved Sombra’s death ray. Jackson reached down and grasped the heavy, cold device. Major Macintosh, meanwhile, rolled up the shortened dark brown sleeve of his commander’s left arm to reveal a chrome stump. Jackson brought the device up to where the two metal objects met to become one.
Jackson grunted as his left side became heavier. The doctors who saved his life had insisted that he not wear the appendage. “It will put too much strain on your weakened heart and frame,” they had said. He had obliged them at first, but now was not the time to show weakness in front of the Princess. The General raised his polished limb and wiggled his metallic fingers. The magical device never ceased to amaze him. A sad smile appeared as he remembered the day Princess Celestia had presented him with this gift.
Standing up straight, he turned to his aid. “Well, Major, how do I look?”
“Like you can take on the world, sir,” the Major replied.
From behind the General, the doors to the chamber opened, and two pegasi entered. One was yellow-orange, garbed in the purple armor of the Royal Guard. The other was sky-blue and clad in the leather uniform of the Wonder Bolts. Neither wanted to be where they were now. Like Jackson, both were seeing bloody phantoms in the haunted room.
The General immediately came to attention and saluted. The Major mirrored his Commander’s action. The guardsman returned the salute, as did the pegasus. The return to military formality seemed to alleviate them of their painful memories. “At ease, General. We should be the ones saluting you for the miracles you performed on the Southern Front.”
Stonewall relaxed a fraction and nodded. “Thank you, Field Marshal Flash Sentry. I shall give the Army of Southern Equestria your praise.”
Shaking her head, the sky-blue pegasus replied, “Lighten up, Thomas. You don’t need to be so stiff around us.”
Frowning, Jackson drew breath to speak, but before he could, the pegasus cut him off. “And if you ask me, ‘Permission to speak freely, Sky Marshal Rainbow Dash?’ I’m gonna hurt you.”
Stonewall closed his mouth and opened it again, but no sound issued. Finally, the aura of the professional soldier collapsed around him as he relaxed fully. “Discipline is the first casualty of war when the commanders are all friends,” Jackson muttered. “We are setting a bad example.”
“Don’t worry. I think we can count on Big Mac to keep his mouth shut. Can’t we, Big Mac?” Flash Sentry asked.
“Eyup,” replied the earth pony happily.
Rainbow Dash gave Big Mac a hug. “How’s your sister?”
“Doin’ just fine,” replied the Major.
“Indeed,” Jackson said. “Lieutenant General Apple Jack and her troops acquitted themselves well.”
The Sky Marshal’s jaw dropped. “She’s been promoted again?”
Smiling Jackson replied, “She earned it.”
“Better be careful, Thomas. If you promote her again, she’ll take your job,” chided Flash Sentry
The General nodded. “She’s closer to doing that then you think.” Jackson tried to keep his tone light, but there was a touch of melancholy in his voice.
The Marshals had been around Jackson long enough to sense his change of humor. Before any of them could ask what was wrong, the doors opened once more. This time all the officers stiffened and bowed as Princess Luna quickly trotted into the room. She was garbed in jet black armor that sported several cruel spikes. The Princess waved off the salutes as she beckoned her field commanders to sit down.
“Report,” Luna said.
Flash Sentry spoke first. “The royal guard regiments have retaken the towns west of Ponyville, your highness. Heavy losses were sustained, but victory is ours. We will press our advantage after we have resupplied.”
The Princess nodded. “Well done, Field Marshal. Your efforts and those of your guardsmen in the west have kept our kingdom in the fight. The Equestrian apple-basket is vital to feeding our ponies and soldiers.”
Luna turned to Rainbow Dash. “And what news is there from above, Sky Marshal?”
A hunter’s smile parted Rainbow’s lips. “My pegasus and gryphon squadrons have taken prisoner Chrysalis your majesty. Thanks to a tip off from one of our changeling turncoats, we found her hiding in what was left of the Everfree Forest along with most of her followers.”
Princess Luna closed her eyes and let out a long sigh, as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. “This is excellent news, Sky Marshal. Where is she now?”
“We have her and her kind locked up tight in Cloudsdale, Your Highness. What are your orders?”
The Princess was silent for several moments before saying in a voice of steel, “You all remember what happened in this room. What they did. We must not let the memory of that tragedy distract us from the task ahead. From now on, we put the past behind us and never look back again. Our friends, my sister are gone but never will they be forgotten. And neither will I forgive. Dispose of them as you see fit, Sky Marshal.”
No one objected to this order. Jackson indeed remembered the slaughter that happened in the very chamber in which they were sitting; how the changelings smuggled a demon into the palace when Princess Celestia was hosting her war counsel. The changelings were discovered and put to the sword quickly. But the demon had exploded, killing almost everyone in the chamber. The Equestrians were devastated at the loss of not only Princess Celestia, but Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, Shining Armor, Iron Will, Spitfire, and the majority of the Equestrian leadership. Only the commanders who were meeting with Princess Luna on the other side of the Palace were spared.
The alicorn looked to the human General. “What news from our South, Iron Ghost?”
Jackson stood up slowly, using the table for support. He tried to keep the pain from showing on his face. Big Macintosh made to rise to support his commander, but a slight shake of Jackson’s head stopped him.
“There is nothing new to report, Your Excellency,” Jackson began. “Our army is all but finished cleansing the South of the demon filth. The
Luna looked at Jackson for a long moment before asking, “Has your conditioned changed?”
Stonewall knew this question would be asked, but that didn’t make it any easier. He sighed, “No, your Excellency, it has not. In fact, I’m getting worse.”
“What?” Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she got to her hooves. “You told me you were getting better! You said so in your letters!”
Jackson’s jaw clenched in distaste as he said, “I’m sorry, Sky Marshal, but I was under orders to mislead all about my health.”
The pegasus’ anger lessened as she comprehended the reason for Jackson’s deception. If the Equestrians knew that one of their best soldiers was hurt or dying, it could crush the spirits of citizen and soldier alike. Morale was key, especially now when the tide appeared to be turning.
Sitting back down, the Sky Marshal asked, “Well, how bad off are you?”
Stonewall ran his good hand through his hair. “The doctors fixed my ears, and reattached my leg. Both should be as good as new in another week. My heart, however . . . is dying. I guess that’s the best way to put it.”
"How?” Flash Sentry asked. “I thought your weapon couldn’t take from your organs.”
Jackson shook his head. “It’s not the arm that’s the problem, sir, although using it like I did didn’t help any. Some of Sombra’s dark magic entered my body when he parted me from my leg. According to the doctors, that magic traveled through my system and crystallized in my heart. Eventually these crystals will slowly shred that organ from the inside.” Jackson said as he rubbed his eyes in irritation.
“Can’t the doctors remove them? I mean, there’s gotta be something we can do,” declared Rainbow Dash.
The General could hear the fear rising in her voice. She didn’t want to lose another friend when so many others had died. Jackson nodded. “They can remove it, but not without killing me.”
Frustrated, Rainbow Dash pounded the table. “There’s got to be a way!”
This was not the news anypony wanted to hear. Big Macintosh, one of the few ponies who did know about his Commander’s condition, struggled to keep his composure. Flash Sentry slumped in his chair, staring down at his hooves in defeat.
Rainbow Dash looked angrily at Princess Luna. “Can’t you do something? We gave him a metal arm. Can’t we give him a metal heart, too, or something?”
“Enough!” Jackson cried.
The whole room went silent as all stared at the human.
“Our country teeters on the brink of annihilation, and we speak of me? God has chosen the time and place of my death. I do not burden myself with this truth and neither should any of you. We must focus our thoughts, hearts, and souls on the utter destruction of Satan’s minions in this realm, not contemplating on how to give an old man a few more days of painful existence.”
The Marshals were stunned into silence. The General had never spoken with such anger in the presence of his superiors.
Luna for her part bowed her head to her human soldier. “Well said, sir. If we had more ponies like you, we would have ended the war years ago.”
Jackson waved off the compliment and continued. “Am I correct in assuming you have summoned us to begin preparations for an assault on the Demon Gate?”
“Yes. And, I have received a letter from our Northern Commander. He will abide by whatever decision is made here.”
Jackson chewed on his lip at this bit of news. The crystal ponies and their allies were barely holding back the demon horde from the gates of the Crystal Empire. Whatever was decided tonight had to work and work soon. Otherwise, the north would fall and with it, Equestria
Jackson lost track of how long he and the other leaders had planned and plotted in the Princess’s war room. Judging from the way his bones creaked and ached, probably a good five hours. The holographic image before them depicted a simulation of the coming battle. Even from a bird’s eye view, the unreal fighting was desperate and bloody. Equestrians and demons made of dancing lights slaughtered each other in brutal close-quarter fighting.
As the battle ended, Princess Luna used her magic to switch off the crystal that was displaying the images. “I’ve seen enough.” She paused and then added, “I believe we are as ready as we are ever going to be for this offensive. What say you?”
The group was silent until Rainbow Dash growled, “I don’t like this.” She wasn’t looking at the Princess. She had directed the comment at Jackson.
“What are your objections, ma’am?” asked the Iron Ghost.
“Everything! I don’t like relieving you, our best General, of your command before a battle. I don’t like abandoning the Crystal Empire. And I sure as Tartarus don’t like trusting our entire strategy to Discord. We don’t even know for sure if he is on our side.”
Jackson nodded. “If the circumstances were any different, I would agree with you. But, we are out of time. If we do nothing, the demons take the Crystal Empire and with it the north. If we go to aid our imperial allies, we give the enemy time to reinforce the gate. While we war in the north, they will eventually renew their offensives in the south and center of Equestria.” Fixing the pegasus with a hard look he continued, “In six months our land will be a burnt husk. We cannot fight this war forever. We must strike now and with everything we posses while the momentum of victory is on our side. I will be dead in a matter of weeks, and God only knows if I’ll make it that long. For the final offensive you will need a strong right arm, and Applejack is ready for such a role.”
“But what about . . .” the Sky Marshal started to say but was interrupted by Princess Luna.
“Grand Commander Rainbow Dash, if you will not fulfill the plans that have been laid at your hooves, I shall find somepony else who will.”
Flash Sentry and Big Macintosh winced at the alicorn’s tone.
Rainbow Dash glared back at the Princess. “I will do as you ask, your Majesty, although I do this under protest.”
“Noted,” Princess Luna sniffed. “You are all dismissed.”
Jackson rose and retrieved his cane from his aide. As the other Commanders left the hall, he paused at the threshold of the door. Hearing the lack of foot falls behind him, Big Mac turned and saw the human staring into space.
“Sir, are you coming?” the earth pony asked tentatively. Hearing the question, Rainbow Dash and Flash Sentry both stopped and looked at the human curiously.
The Iron Ghost shook his head. “There’s something I must talk to the Princess about. You three go on ahead. I know you have family and friends here in the city you want to see.”
Coming up to his commander, Major Macintosh whispered, “What about your arm, sir? You’re not supposed to wear it for too long.”
“Let me worry about that, Major. You go now, and give my regards to Miss Cheerilee.”
The earth pony hesitated before finally saluting and rejoining the Marshals. As Stonewall shut the door, he smiled reassuringly and waved good-bye to his friends. Jackson turned and limped back to the table. Surprisingly, the alicorn had a question for him as well.
“Do you think she’s ready?”
“Who? Sky Marshal . . . I mean, Grand Commander Rainbow Dash? Yes, your Excellency, I do. She is confident, brilliant, and listens to her gut as well as her head.”
Luna smiled. “In other words, she is a lot like you.”
Jackson chuckled. “That could be good or bad.”
As suddenly as Luna’s smile had appeared, it was gone. “Why, Thomas? Why did you have to try and get yourself killed?”
The human didn’t hesitate, “My reserves were committed, my line was broken, and my boys were dying by the hundreds. What would you have had me do? Skedaddle like a frightened Yankee with my tail between my legs?”
Stonewall wheezed the last part and began to cough violently. He fished out a handkerchief and covered his mouth. When he was done, the cloth was flecked with blood. He stuffed the piece of fabric into his pocket and continued, “Rainbow Dash does have a point about Discord. She is not the only one concerned about his loyalty and intelligence reports.”
Luna looked at her soldier with pity. “As you have said, we don’t have a choice. We will strike and destroy the gate, no matter what we may face.” She didn’t say what the alternative was if they failed. It was too horrible to imagine, much less speak.
Jackson’s grip tightened on his cane. He looked behind him to make sure the magically enchanted door was closed before asking in a low voice, “Is project two nine zero prepared in case the army is defeated?”
She stiffened. “It is. Two nine zero will be presented to you at a time when my agent feels is right.”
The general blinked. “I don’t understand. By the time this attack is launched, I’ll be with the Lord watching our glorious offensive from on high.”
The Princess smirked. “I haven’t given up all hope on you, Thomas. I want you to visit Rarity’s Canterlot facility tonight.”
Despite his discipline, the General couldn’t help but ask, “Why?”
“Trust me,” Luna replied. “I want you to handle two nine zero above all others. If we can save you, then we will.”
Despite himself, the mere thought of the instrument he could be wielding caused his human hand to tremble slightly. “No one else knows of it?”
“None besides you, me, my agent, and Dr. Hooves. The Doctor’s assistants that have labored in creating two nine zero only knew of their own personal assignments. Only the four of us know what the sum of the parts can do.”
“Has it been tested?”
“No. We had time to make just one. If you die before or during the battle, somepony else shall use it, but I know you have the best chance of success.”
Jackson took a deep breath. “Your Excellency, I highly recommend that you tell the Grand Commander about this weapon. A General must know of all the tools in his . . . or in this case her arsenal.”
Luna shook her head. “The fewer ponies who know about this, the better. And besides, you and I both know she might hesitate to use it. I have no doubt in my mind that you won’t, should the need arise.”
Thomas closed his eyes, and for a moment he pictured himself using the weapon against a multitude of demons. “And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, ‘Come and see.’ And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.”
“That’s a quote from your Bible, isn’t it? The book of Revelations I believe . . . it seems appropriate.”
The two stood in silence for a few long moments until at last Jackson spoke. “Your Excellency, may I ask a favor of you?”
“Name it,” Luna replied.
Tapping his cane on the wooden floor in nervousness, Jackson asked, “I want to know how events fair from where I come from. Has Virginia achieved her Independence? Is my family well?” The words tumbled out of his mouth much faster than he had wanted, but what was done was done.
Luna frowned at this request and slowly turned her back on the Iron Ghost. “You know I can’t tell you any of that.”
“Begging your pardon, your Excellency, but I believe it’s more of a question of will then ability.”
The alicorn turned around to face the waiting soldier. She held his blue eyes for a moment with her own, and then looked away.
As the seconds rolled by, Jackson drew breath to speak but thought better of it. He had asked this question before and had gotten a similar reply. Perhaps it was better this way, to remain ignorant of what had happened since his “death.” Bowing his head to his Princess, he began to limp back to the door.
“Wait,” the Princess said suddenly.
The hair on the back of Jackson’s neck started to rise in anticipation as he turned back around.
Walking up to her former Southern Commander she said, “I can’t show you everything you desire, but what I can show you . . .” Luna paused but continued firmly, “Are you sure you want this?”
Jackson hesitated only for a moment before nodding.
Not wasting a moment, violet, black, and green alicorn magic began to gather on the tip of Luna’s horn. Her eyes became jet black as the beam of gathered power shot forth and blasted into the center of Stonewall’s mind.
Rainbow Dash had not been waiting long outside the Princess’s war room when the heavy metal door opened. Out stepped a weary midnight-blue alicorn. At once, the Grand Commander bowed respectfully.
Luna favored her new Grand Commander with a tired but disapproving glance. However, as she wondered why the outspoken pony was still here, her eyes fell on the wooden case at the pegasus’s side. Without uttering a word, she nodded and departed down the long hallway that led to the blood-doors.
As the Princess left, Rainbow Dash considered calling after her and asking if Thomas was still down here. Her question was answered by a muffled cough as Jackson slowly made his way out of the room. The pegasus was shocked at the human’s transformation. The Iron Ghost was a proud man with burning passion and energy. Gone was that man, replaced by a haggard, older-looking copy who limped forward haltingly.
Jackson, leaning heavily on his cane, closed the door to the room he never wanted to see again. Too many bad memories now haunted him from that place, from the past, and now from the present. Lost in thought, he barely heard his name being called from right in front of him. He looked up slowly, and his bearing changed immediately. He rigidly straightened his demeanor, and his right hand rose in salute.
“Grand Commander, my apologies, ma’am. I thought I was alone down here.”
Rainbow Dash smiled at the human. His eyes were red and puffy and his hair and beard were wildly unkempt. His earth-brown uniform though, was as straight and crisp as the moment she had first seen him in the castle tonight.
“Element of Loyalty, remember? I’m not going to abandon my new advisor. A talk with the Lunar Princess can be painful sometimes.”
In spite of his mental torment, Jackson laughed a little at that. “Tell me, Rainbow, did you have to wrestle my arm-case away from Big Mac, or did he surrender it willingly?”
Patting the wooden box like she would Tank, the pegasus replied, “It wasn’t an unconditional surrender. He said that I’d have to stay here and wait for you until your meeting was finished.” Pausing she then continued, “He also said that if you didn’t detach yourself from that metal thing the very second you were finished with the meeting . . .” Rainbow Dash smiled evilly, “that I was supposed to tell Granny Smith that you were misbehaving.”
Thomas sucked on his teeth at this latest revelation. “You’re bluffing.”
Eyes narrowing, the pony replied, “Try me.”
The two stared at each other until finally Stonewall sighed. “Her Excellency made no mistake in choosing you to lead the army in the final battle.”
After handing his cane to the pony and rolling up his sleeve, Jackson grasped his metallic wrist and gave the slightest of tugs. The appendage disconnected from the chromed stump easily. Coming forward, Rainbow Dash took the arm from the human and shut the weapon in the case.
As Jackson took his cane back, he said awkwardly, “Well, Grand Commander, I appreciate you waiting on me, but do you not have somewhere else to be?”
“Why? Are you trying to get rid of me so I won’t ask you about what you and the Princess were talking about?”
Yes! Jackson wanted to shout as he took back his cane. He wanted to say it badly, but he couldn’t, not to a superior officer.
“No, I just don’t want to keep you from more pressing matters. Surely you have someone you want to visit here while you are still in the capital.”
“At 4 a.m.?” The pegasus asked curiously. “The only ponies that are up are guards and ghosts.”
Nodding his head in agreement, Jackson beckoned to the blood door, and the two started to walk. As they continued past the guards stationed on the other side, the human asked suddenly, “Out of those two choices, what am I?"
“What?” Rainbow Dash asked looking up at Jackson.
“Am I a ghost or a guard?” Jackson asked.
“You’re the Iron Ghost. You have been ever since your string of victories in the Hayseed Swamps, the Bad Lands and the Rambling Rock Ridge. You moved your earth ponies so quickly it was like you were at all three places at once. Many of my pegasi commanders are still jealous about how fast you can get your ground troops to move.”
Jackson smiled at this as he limped down the crimson carpet. He knew that Rainbow Dash was trying to keep his spirit high as best she could, but it was a losing battle. The General was doing all he could not to think about what Princess Luna had just shown him. He did not want to lose his composure now in front of a superior officer, but he feared that he might not have any choice.
As they walked, he looked up at the stained glass windows. Each one was magically lit so that the viewer could gaze upon them both night and day. He stopped to look at one in particular. It depicted a human warrior woman, armed with a spear and a sword standing over a defeated opponent. At the bottom of the window were the words Sic Semper Tyrannis. Princess Celestia had wanted a portrait of General Jackson depicted on the window to commemorate his service to Equestria. However, the human had insisted the flag of his former home be portrayed instead.
Normally, the Iron Ghost would pass this window and look upon it with pride. This window was a reminder of what he had fought to defend seemingly a lifetime ago. Now though, the image caused hot tears to come streaming down his face. He did not even try to hide them. There was no point now. Seconds later he lost all composure as his body was wracked with sobs.
Feeling a couple of hooves being placed on his arm, he found himself being gently led to a nearby bench that was used for viewing the windows in all their glory. There the two sat silently for a while as Jackson released his pain.
Rainbow Dash wrapped a wing around the man. “You don’t have to tell me, but I am asking because I am your friend. What did the Princess tell you to cause you such sorrow?”
For a moment Stonewall said nothing. What he wanted to do was curl up and die. . . no, that was the coward’s way out. He was a Christian soldier, and the last thing Christians and soldiers did was give up and lose faith. Wiping the tears from his eyes with his sleeve, he looked up once again at the stained glass window.
“She . . .” Jackson began shakily. Taking a deep breath, he tried again. “She didn’t tell me anything; she showed me. And I wish to God I could take it back. I shouldn’t have asked her, but I had to know.”
“Know what, Thomas?” the pegasus asked gently, taking Jackson’s hand in her hooves.
“I had to know about what was happening to my home, to Virginia, to my family. I had to know before I died.”
Nodding in understanding, the pegasus waited for her friend to continue.
Jackson bowed his head and looked at the ground. “It’s over. The Confederacy is no more. Richmond is burned, and the southern armies have surrendered.” As he said these words, he recalled all the images of endless bodies and rivers of blood. These memories were not his own, but they were so graphically real they might as well have been. Names appeared out of the ether of his mind. Gettysburg, Vicksburg, The Wilderness, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, The Crater, Atlanta, Franklin . . . the litany of slaughter stretched on and on. So many dead, so many lost.
Not wanting Jackson to dwell on this defeat, Rainbow Dash asked, “How is your family?”
“That’s the worst of it. I don’t know. She couldn’t show me their fates. She could only show me . . .” Jackson struggled for the right word, “generalities of events that had happened over there since I’ve been gone.”
Rainbow Dash squeezed Jackson’s hand encouragingly. “I’m sure they’re alright. From what you’ve told me, the Yankees wouldn’t harm mares and their foals.”
The Iron Ghost shook his head as he leaned back on the bench. “I know. I just wanted to see them one more time before the end came. I wanted to face death without doubt in my heart for their well-being. Now, all I see is death and my old country shattered. I shouldn’t have looked back. I shouldn’t have asked her for this. Why did I? Why . . . ” Jackson couldn’t bring himself to complete his sentence as new waves of grief swept over him.
The pegasus held him as he despaired. Finally after several long minutes, Jackson took a deep breath and let go of the pegasus.
“Thank you, Rainbow. I . . . needed to do that.”
Rainbow Dash wiped away her own tears as she said, “No problem, Thomas. You did the same for me.”
Slowly the human soldier stood up and said grimly, “My wife, my child, and Virginia. . . I must leave in God’s hands. There’s nothing I can do for them, other than pray that we will meet in the life to come.”
Getting to her hooves, Rainbow Dash responded, “We all will eventually, Celestia willing.”
“Amen,” replied the Iron Ghost.
After leaving the castle, the two soldiers made their way down the dark streets of Canterlot. They were flanked on both sides by guards clothed in Earth Infantry Brown, and Wonderbolt Blue. No one spoke until Jackson finally stopped at a well-lit boutique.
“Not that I mind seeing Rarity again, but, why now? You have to be tired,” declared Rainbow Dash as she stifled a yawn. “I know I am.”
Jackson rubbed his eyes in weariness as he replied, “Before her Excellency showed me my old country’s . . . state of affairs, she told me to come here. I know not why.”
The Grand Commander shrugged. “Okay, good enough for me.” With that, she pushed open the windowed door.
This was the first time the General had been in Rarity’s shop. He had promised her to someday come and see her establishment in person. There was no time like the present. The guards stood at attention outside while the pegasus and human went in. They browsed the clothing, and it wasn’t long before Rarity approached them.
“So, what do you think?” a sweet feminine voice asked.
Jackson was examining a dress on a pony manikin. He knew Rarity was behind him and deliberately took his time rubbing the cloth between his fingers. “Well, I reckon it’s a bit drafty. However, if I resolve to lose a few pounds and learn to walk on all fours, it might work.”
The Iron Ghost turned, grinning from ear to ear, as the two mares laughed loudly.
He took off his hat and bowed as low as his reattached leg would allow. “And how is my favorite armor designer fairing?”
Rarity giggled and curtsied in reply, making Rainbow Dash roll her eyes at the mock formalities. “Quite well, Thomas. Thank you.” The white unicorn’s eyes became very large. “Oh, good heavens, where are my manners? I must get you a chair. I’ve forgotten you were injured in this last bit of fighting.”
“Oh, this?” Jackson asked thumping his hand against his aching leg. “Good as new. Barely even a scratch really.”
The fashonista ignored the human as she galloped into the back of the store. Seconds later she reemerged with a beautiful, hoof-crafted seat with a plush cushion.
As Jackson said his thanks and sat down, Rainbow Dash asked, “Where’s my seat?”
“Oh, dear. I’ll be right back.”
But before Rarity could react, the pegasus had moved to block her way. “Calm down, Rarity. I’m just messing with you.”
The unicorn glared at the pegasus for a moment and then smiled. Turning her attention back to Jackson, she asked, “Is there anything else I can get you? ”
Jackson shook his head. “No thank you, Miss Rarity. Just the pleasure of your company does this old soldier’s heart wonders.”
Rarity blushed while Rainbow Dash cringed at the General’s choice of words.
Rarity stretched her fatigued legs. “It is good to see the two of you. But I am curious. What brings the Sky Marshal and the Iron Ghost to my doorstep at this hour?”
“Do we need a reason?” the pegaus chimed in.
“Well, no, I suppose not.”
Tapping his cane lightly on the ornate wooden floor, Jackson said airily, “The truth of the matter is I was ordered to come here by the Princess.”
Rarity frowned for a moment before her eyebrows rose in surprise. “You’ve come to see the progress I’ve made on the mach four armor, haven’t you?” The fretting unicorn added quickly, “Tell Princess Luna that I need a little more time. The material I am working with is quite cumbersome.”
Jackson smiled and shook his head. “No, I don’t think that’s why. I was hoping you could tell us.”
“Well, I am sorry to disappoint the two of you, but I haven’t heard from the palace for a week now.”
Jackson and the Grand Commander looked at each other in confusion. The Iron Ghost pulled at his beard in thought. “Her Excellency would not send me here needlessly. I am certain of that.”
Rarity looked at the floor in disappointment. “And here I thought you came to visit me.”
The human winced. Before he could apologize, the front door to the boutique opened. The three friends turned to see who the newcomer was.
A hooded pony stepped through the doorway. Jackson eyed the newcomer curiously, becoming all too aware that he had left his mercury arm with the guards outside. Even though the General could not see the pony’s face, he had the feeling that he or she was looking straight at him. Without a word, the pony removed the hood of her cloak to reveal a black and white mohawk mane.
Rarity gasped in happy surprise. “Zecora!”
The zebra smiled. “Ah, Rarity it is good to see you, as well as the Sky Marshal, and the Iron Ghost, too.”
Jackson’s eyebrows rose in surprise. Was this the pony who had conjured the amazing potions and balms that had saved so many of his soldier’s lives? Anxious to meet the miracle worker, the human tried to rise from his seat. An ice-cold lance of pain flared in his chest and forced him back down.
Rarity was by the General’s side in an instant. “Thomas, what’s wrong?”
Jackson screwed his eyes shut and clenched his jaw as he rode out the pain.
Rainbow Dash said hastily, “He’s alright. He broke a few ribs during the last campaign. It’s nothing to worry about. Right, Tom?”
The General did not reply.
Rarity took Jackson’s hand in her hooves. “Is there anything we can do?”
Stepping forward, Zecora produced a flask. “I have what this human needs. His trouble lies close to the heart indeed.”
Taking a deep breath, Jackson let go of Rarity’s hoof and slumped back in his chair. He gave the flask a curious glance. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I don’t drink alcohol.”
The zebra laughed. “Nor do I, but this is something you might want to try.” Placing the container in the human’s lap, Zecora continued, “The Princess told me your chest was a fire, but this brew will keep you away from the funeral pyre.”
Rarity covered her mouth with her hooves. “It’s that serious?” Nobody answered her.
Jackson unscrewed the lid and sniffed the contents. Strangely, it smelled of sunflowers. The human looked to the zebra. “Does her Excellency wish for me to drink this?”
Zecora returned the blue-eyed warrior’s stare with her own. “That is up to you, the one who is true.” The brew master sighed. “It may cure, and it may not. But either way, your path with danger is fraught.”
Closing his eyes and leaning back in the chair, Jackson handed the flask back to Zecora. Wordlessly, he fished out a folded envelope from his breast pocket and held it out for Rarity to take. “Miss Rarity, I’ve been waiting for the right time to give you this. I should have done so before the last campaign, but I was foolish and did not make the time. So I am doing so now, just in case I do not get to in the future.”
Tears filled Rarity’s eyes as she took the envelope from Jackson’s hand. “Thomas, what is wrong with you? What are you not telling me?”
Jackson hesitated only for a moment. “I’m dying my dear, but I believe I have been granted one last chance to serve Equestria before my end comes. However, if this is not so, than know that I am not afraid and shall be thinking of you and all my loved ones.”
Jackson gave Rarity’s hoof an affectionate squeeze as she tearfully took the envelope. The Iron Ghost turned his sight on the Grand Commander. “Rainbow.”
“Yeah, Tom?” the pegasus replied hoarsely.
“Take care of my boys in case I don’t wake up, and know that it has been an honor to serve with you.”
Too overcome with emotion to reply, Rainbow Dash only nodded.
Looking over to Zecora, Jackson said quietly, “I am ready.”
The zebra handed the flask to Jackson. “For it to work you must drink it all, and hopefully the evil in your heart will stall.”
The Iron Ghost drank. The brew was as sweet as honey, but burned hotter than Hades as it scorched down his throat. As he swallowed the last bit of the potion, he blinked and waited for something to happen. “Ms. Zecora, I think . . .”
The words died in Jackson’s throat when he realized that he wasn’t in Rarity’s boutique anymore. He looked around him, and all the General saw was darkness and trees. An eerie apprehensiveness crept over Jackson. He knew this place but could not recall it at the moment. His musing was interrupted when in the distance he saw a faint amber glow flare into existence. He also heard low murmurs coming from the light. Overcome with curiosity, the Iron Ghost quietly advanced. The trees were very thick in places and Jackson had to use both arms to push away branches. Jackson stopped dead in his tracks as this realization struck him. He raised his left arm and looked at it in the moonlight. It was his arm, the human arm that he had been born with over forty years ago.
“How can this be?” Jackson asked himself quietly. The voices jarred him to action as he heard uproarious laughter.
“I’ve never seen them Yanks skedaddle that quick before. Ol’e Blue Light really put the scare into them this time, that’s for sure,” one voice said.
Jackson stopped breathing. Ol’e Blue Light, that was one of the nicknames his Virginians called him during the Second Revolutionary War. The General crawled forward in the brush, eager to hear more.
“Yep, I bet Ol’e Fightin’ Joe Hooker done shit his drawers when he saw our whole corp come stormin out of them trees. Ha, ha, mark my words boys. Them blue bellies are licked for sure. One more push tomorrow and we’ll bag em all,” replied another.
“This can’t be real. It can’t be,” Jackson thought to himself as he crouched behind a tree, mere feet away from the voices. The Iron Ghost could not believe what he was seeing. Here right in front of him were ghosts from his previous life. Confederate soldiers clad in dirty grey and butternut uniforms talking in the thick southern accent he only heard in his dreams.
A third soldier, took a long draw from his cigarette. “I hear we captured General Howard himself and his entire command today. If we had had some more damn daylight, we would have pushed the Yanks out of Chancellorsville and back across the Potomac.”
Jackson’s heart skipped a beat when he heard this. Did Zecora’s potion send him back in time? Was he really back in Virginia in 1863?
“Christ Almighty. Quiet down, ya dern fools,” hissed an irate Sergeant. “You’re supposed to be on picket duty. At least act like it.”
The three other soldiers withered under the non-comm’s glare.
“Sorry, Sarge,” replied one of the soldiers. “But I don’t think the Yanks are gonna’ attack at night, not after the whipp’n they took today.”
A moment later, Jackson heard the galloping of horses. The Southerners heard it, too, as they brought their muskets to bear on the road they were guarding.
“Yank Calvary!” the Sergeant yelled as he leveled his weapon on something he could see down the road.
Before he knew what he was doing, Jackson was running into the midst of the pickets screaming, “NO!”
He tried to tackle the Sergeant to the ground, but to his surprise, he passed right through the Confederate like he was a ghost. Before Jackson could rise, the soldiers were firing into the darkness. Their weapons lit up the night as the powder within their muskets ignited.
“Stop firing! You’re shooting your own!” an all too familiar voice barked, sending chills up Jackson’s spine. But the rebels did not stop shooting as more unseen soldiers added their musket fire to the chaos. The general howled in sudden agony. It felt like someone was sticking a white-hot poker through his left arm in two different places. Men yelled and horses shrieked, galloping rider less past the tortured human. After what seemed like an eternity of noise, all was quiet.
Without a word between them, the pickets moved down the road, ignoring the General who was grasping his bleeding arm. Slowly, Stonewall Jackson rose and followed them, knowing full well what he would find. Passing through several Confederates, he looked down and saw . . . himself. The wounds he had suffered moments ago were in the exact same places as the wounds of his copy.
“Oh, my God. What have we done?” a distraught soldier asked.
“Get a stretcher,” another commanded.
“Hold on, General, we’ll get you back to camp.”
As the pickets raced to help their fallen hero, Jackson watched a couple of the soldiers run down the road. He squinted off in the distance, and could have sworn he saw a pair of bright green eyes staring at him in the bushes before disappearing.
The Iron Ghost looked back at his double, and to his shock, his world had changed again. No longer was he in the middle of the woods, but standing outside the office building of a plantation. The entrance was guarded by two Confederate soldiers. Both were looking straight ahead, ignoring his presence. The pain in his arm had dulled but not vanished as it hung limply by his side. He ran his right hand over the appendage and could feel the smashed bones within. He needed to see a doctor. A name emerged from the fog surrounding Jackson’s memory.
“Dr. McGuire,” Jackson thought. “I must find him. Perhaps he is in here.” As Stonewall walked up to the door, a harsh, cold voice blasted through Jackson’s mind.
“I wouldn’t go in there if I were you. They’re about to cut off your arm.”
Jackson froze as he was reaching for the door knob. He slowly turned around. Standing a few feet away was Sombra. The pony was disfigured almost beyond recognition. The right side of the unicorn’s head had been sliced open revealing the brain matter beneath. He levitated over the floor for his hooves had been cut off. Sombra’s voice reverberated in Jackson’s mind. “I have been waiting for you, Thomas.”
Jackson grabbed the revolver holstered at his belt. Using his good arm, he emptied the cylinder into the horrific looking pony. The shots passed through the pony as if he had never fired them.
“I’m inside your body,” Sombra growled. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily. I have a proposition for you.”
“I have nothing to say to you, murderer. You--” Jackson screamed as pain tore through his left arm. He looked at his ruined arm and, to his horror, felt an invisible saw cut through bone and muscle. Jackson kicked the door open. Sure enough, Dr. McGuire with a saw in hand was amputating his arm. Jackson shoved his handkerchief into his mouth to bite off his screams of torment. He fixed a hate-filled glare at Sombra. A half grin parted the pony’s lips at the human’s agony.
Even after his arm fell to the ground, Jackson’s misery continued. The mind-numbing pain shifted from the stump of his left arm to the center of his chest. Having long since been driven to his knees, Jackson reached the peak of human endurance and began to black out.
“Oh, no, you don’t,” Sombra said. The unicorn’s horn glowed with black magic, and instantly the pain in Jackson’s chest faded away.
Jackson staggered to his feet. “I’m not going to beg, monster, so if you’re going to kill me, just do it.”
Sombra frowned. “Why would I kill you? We have so much in common, you and I.”
“We have nothing in common!” Jackson shouted.
“Oh, but we do. We are both leaders, we are both nearly dead, and we are both traitors.”
The Iron Ghost winced.
“That’s right, Thomas. We know all about you. Your alicorn mistress isn’t the only one who can see beyond her own realm.”
Jackson remained silent.
“Tell me,” Sombra drawled. “Have you asked her about the war in your native country? Surely you have by now. What did she say?”
Jackson clenched his fist. “She told me the war was over.”
“And?”
“What is there to tell, monster?” Jackson asked angrily. “It’s over. The Confederacy is gone, and that’s God’s will.”
“God’s will?” Sombra asked curiously. “If there is a god, Jackson, he had nothing to do with your country’s downfall. Your precious Virginia and the Confederacy burned because it kept millions of men, women, and children in chains. Is that the country you fought to defend? If it is, then you and I are more alike than you could possibly imagine.”
The General sighed in weariness. “Perhaps you’re right. Perhaps this is God’s way of punishing my old home for its sins just as he punished Sodom and Gomorrah.”
“But when I die and I am to be judged with those other brave men who defended Virginia with their lives, I shall take whatever retribution God has planned for me gladly. For that was my home and I would die for it again,” Jackson declared forcefully.
“Interesting,” Sombra replied. “What if I told you that you could go back and defend your home?”
“I would say the promise of a demon lover is worth less than the word of a demon,” Jackson spat.
Sombra fixed his gaze on the Confederate soldiers behind Jackson. He levitated up to one of them. “They hang traitors, you know. The Union will want revenge for four years of bloodletting and for the death of their president.”
The color in the General’s face drained away. “What?”
“Oh? Did she not tell you?” Sombra asked, feigning disinterest. “Abraham Lincoln was assassinated a month ago by Mr. John Wilkes Booth, a stage actor, I believe.”
This revelation was like a blow to the stomach for Jackson.
“That’s right, Thomas. You know what the North will do. They will want blood in return. And if I were them, I would retaliate against the families who did the most harm to the Union. In fact, that is what they are doing as we speak.”
The human struggled to maintain his composure, but he was losing. “No!” Jackson gasped. “No! You’re lying.”
“Lincoln is dead. Why would I lie when a truth cuts far deeper?”
“Be gone from me and let me die in peace!” Jackson yelled.
The Iron Ghost turned away from Sombra to gaze at the still form of his past self. The dark pony would give him no respite. Sombra reappeared placing himself between the two Jacksons.
“Fear not, General. You can still save your family and Virginia from the North’s wrath.”
Before he could stop himself, he asked, “How?”
“Lord Tirek has the power to send you back, back through time and space to the point where your nightmare began.”
Jackson shook his head as he watched Doctor McGuire bind the other Jackson’s ravaged arm.
“Not only can he send you back, he will send you back with an army.” Sombra paused, letting his words sink in. When he continued, his voice rose with volume and passion as he showed Jackson images of a possible future.
“Imagine it, Thomas, you at the head of an invincible army, crushing the Federals in every battle in your God’s name. Virginia would be independent. Her people would be safe, and the north would beg forgiveness for daring to invade your home.”
Jackson opened his eyes and watched himself leading an army of demons up Pennsylvania Avenue and into the White House itself. He would be lying to himself if what he was witnessing was not tempting.
“What is the price of Virginia’s salvation?” asked Jackson quietly.
Sombra smiled. “Let me have control of your body for the next twenty-four hours.”
The human recoiled at the thought. “I might as well hand you the keys to my soul.”
“Nothing is free, General. In your hands lies the fate of two nations. In one hand you have Virginia and the Confederacy, your wife and child, your real friends and neighbors, and your birthright. And in the other lies a nation of ponies you owe nothing to. They kidnapped you and made you fight their hopeless war. They stole you away. You might have recovered on your own from that sickness. They denied you that chance.”
The Iron Ghost did not reply.
“All you have to do is say yes. I’ll do the rest. The next thing you’ll know, you’ll be back in Virginia with both arms, and the greatest army on Earth at your back. What say you, Stonewall?”
The General bit his lip till blood ran down his chin. This felt so wrong, he couldn’t stand it. And yet, how could he refuse? He could save his home, his men, his family from the fires of revenge and war. Did he not have a responsibility to them?
“Just say yes. And all of this goes away,” Sombra said soothingly.
Jackson tried to move away from the foul beast. Wherever he turned, there was the black unicorn, tempting him. Jackson’s frantic gaze fell upon an open Bible near his duplicate’s body. It was his personal Bible. He recognized it with all its scuffs and tears like they were his own scars. He went to the nightstand and examined the book. Half a dozen lines of text were shimmering. He read:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Ephesians, Ch 6, Verses 10-13
Jackson clung to those words like a lost child to his mother. As the seconds passed, the maelstrom that was raging inside him changed. No longer did he feel filled with despair about what to do. It was now all clear. Jackson turned to face Sombra.
“I would rather my body be sundered by a million lashes then lead your demons into Virginia. Every soul on earth would resist their coming for that is what they are doing in Equestria. Good shall forever triumph over evil in all its forms, and I would rather die on the right side than live forever as your master’s pawn.”
Before Sombra could respond, Jackson picked up a large, bloody knife and pointed it at the scarred unicorn.
The pony smirked mirthlessly. “And what are you going to do with that, Thomas? I’m inside you, not in front of you.”
Jackson turned held the blade over his chest. “Yes. In my heart to be precise.”
The human stabbed himself with all the strength he could muster.
“No!” Sombra screamed and launched himself at the wounded human. Both fell to the ground. “I need you alive! If you won’t turn willingly, I’ll take you by force!”
Dark magic vomited out of Sombra’s horn. The black tendrils slithered into the General’s face. The human tried to raise his weapon for a killing blow but could not. He no longer controlled his body. His soul still fought with everything it possessed to keep the corruption from spreading into his mind. The battle waged on and slowly, Sombra could feel Jackon’s defense crumbling. The unicorn pressed his attack.
Jackson would not surrender. He poured all his good memories and emotions against the invading darkness into his mind’s bulwarks. The damned unicorn’s advance slowed but did not stop. Knowing the end had come, Jackson prayed. Father, into your hands I commend my Spirit.
Strangely, he felt nothing at first. His vision was the first thing to return to him as he looked up from the blood-covered floor. Blinking with exhaustion, Jackson beheld a strange sight. His duplicate’s body was being lifted off the table by a lavender aura. The body floated out of the room. A pony was using her magic to carry the old Stonewall Jackson away and back to Equestria.
“Strange,” Jackson murmured as he coughed blood onto the floor. “I thought Princess Celestia was the one who brought me to my new home. Her magic is gold-colored.”
Feeling the sunlight peaking through the window, Jackson smiled. “Well, I always wanted to die on a Sunday, but some other day will do I guess.”
“Not yet,” a sweet voice declared.
Jackson beheld Princess Celestia.
“Your Excellency,” Jackson whispered in awe. He tried to salute.
“Thomas, please stop. You’re hurting yourself.”
Unbridled happiness overcame him. “Am I dead, Your Excellency?”
The alicorn shook her head. “No.”
Jackson closed his eyes in disappointment. “I’m tired, Your Excellency. I want to go home. I want to go to the place our Father has prepared for us.”
A warm tear fell on Jackson’s face as Princess Celestia knelt beside her warrior. “I know. And I’ll be waiting for you, I promise. But I need you where you are. I ask that you carry on a little longer. One more time and then . . .” The Princess looked away unable to meet Jackson’s understanding eyes.
Jackson nodded. “I will, for you, one last time. Promise me that you’ll watch over my wife and child.”
“I will.”
From outside, Twilight Sparkle spoke. “Princess, we have to go.”
“Just a moment,” Celestia answered huskily.
The alicorn bent down, and kissed Jackson on the forehead and whispered, “I’ll see you soon, Thomas.”
The human was about to reply, when he found himself opening his eyes again. As his sight gradually returned, he could tell that he was back in Rarity’s boutique. His body had not been moved since he had taken Zecora’s potent medicine. Jackson turned to see a very surprised Granny Smith.
“Hello, young lady,” the Iron Ghost said weakly.
The old earth pony took her hooves from her mouth. “Hello yourself you, scalawag.”
“How long was I asleep, Granny?”
“Two days. Not bad considerin’ the know it all doctors said that you’d never wake up again. But I knew you would. You’re too stubborn to die, just like me.”
Jackson laughed as he tried to sit up. Granny Smith placed a strong hoof on his chest, pressing him to the pillow. “Now you just lie yourself back down while I get Applejack and the others.”
As she turned to go, the old earth pony called, “Pinkie, make sure he don’t go anywhere.”
Sure enough, there was his scythe-wielding body guard in the corner. Surprisingly, the scarred warrior was not wearing her death mask as she came to the bed. She gave the General a rare smile. “I gotta do what she says, boss. Don’t wanna get into trouble.”
Jackson nodded as he leaned back in his chair. “She ranks us.”
Jackson breathed the cold mountain air, relishing its icy bite. Walking the high mountain paths of the capital was his favorite pastime when he was in Canterlot. He usually made these pilgrimages alone with the exception of his bodyguard. But under Jackson’s orders, Pinkamena had grudgingly taken the day off. However, today the General had a different companion.
“Oh, it’s simply divine up here, Thomas. I’m so glad I suggested this foray into the rough. But, I’m not keeping you, am I?”
The General sighed as he sat on a nearby bench to take in the scenery. “Not at all. The final war counsel has already been held and our objectives made clear. Word has gotten round that General Applejack has taken command of The Army of Southern Equestria, and I am to be advisor to Grand Commander Rainbow Dash.” Jackson laughed. “I must say my load has lightened since I’ve been relieved of my command. Honestly, it has been a long time since I’ve felt this good. My physicians and Granny Smith aren’t happy that I’m up and about, but Zecora’s elixir has worked wonders. But enough about me. Are you too cold, Rarity? Would you like my coat?”
“How chivalrous, General. You are a much better date then Prince Blue Blood.”
“That is not high praise.”
The two laughed and sat quietly for a while, gazing out at the Equestrian landscape. The Demon legions had yet to set foot in the capital province, leaving the country unspoiled and beautiful.
“Thomas,” Rarity said quietly.
“Yes, my dear?”
“Are you coming back? After the fighting is done, I mean.”
Jackson thought for a while on how best to answer. “I have warred with that question for a long time. What to do with myself when this struggle is over? I do not believe I can return to Virginia. I swore an oath to Princess Celestia that I would defend her realm. And I pray that Equestria will no longer have need of my services when this war is over.” The human blinked, realizing he was rambling. “My apologies, Ms. Rarity, but the honest answer is I do not know.”
“You could stay with me. Maybe we could start a new business, maybe start a life, and maybe grow old together.”
The human looked at the pony and smiled. The General squeezed Rarity’s hoof affectionately. “Nothing would make me happier. But when I married my wife, I said the words ‘until death do us part.’ She is still my wife and I her husband. Even though I am no longer physically in her life, I am with her always in spirit, and she with me.”
Rarity closed her eyes and nodded, disappointed but not surprised. “I knew you’d say that. And quite frankly, I love you for it.”
“I love you too, Rarity.”
The pony’s cheeks turn red as she returned the human’s squeeze. Reaching into her saddle bag, she pulled out the envelope Jackson had given her. Rarity hesitated, not at all relishing what she had to do. “I have something for you, Thomas.”
Seeing the envelope, Jackson objected. “No, Rarity, I gave those to you so they could be used as you see fit.”
“I know, and it was very touching of you to think of me during those horrible moments you endured. But I gave those royal war bonds to the ‘Foals of Fallen Heroes’ Foundation.’ What I’m about to give you I pray that you will never have to use.”
Curiosity overcoming him, he broke Rarity’s violet seal that was seated next to his own. In it was a single sheet of paper with one number and two words.
“290. Pinkamena knows”
As soon as his eyes beheld those numerals and words, the paper crumpled into dust.
Jackson stared at Rarity like he’d just seen a ghost. “You? You’re the agent?” he asked.
The former fashionista smiled. “I know. I was just as shocked as you are now when the Princess asked me to be the one to hide 290. Also, while you were recovering, Pinkamena was told of the weapon’s existence. She is to make sure that you and the seed are kept safe at all times.”
The General couldn’t believe it, but it was true. The message was written with Luna’s mouth. Only ponies the princess chose could bear the message without it being destroyed. Jackson’s blood turned cold as he beheld Rarity’s saddle bag. “It’s here, isn’t it?”
Without a word, Rarity opened the bag, and using her handkerchief, pulled out what looked to be a cannon ball. Upon closer inspection, Jackson could see blue runes etched into the chromed surface. The General had never seen the device up close before. The ball steamed and hissed as it interacted with the atmosphere around it.
Just holding the sphere seemed to be causing the unicorn pain. “Take it.”
The command snapped the human out of his trance. With his artificial hand he grasped the destruction or salvation of the equine race. The most powerful artifact ever created melted and oozed into the General’s metallic skin. Feeling a cold sensation travel up his arm, Jackson rolled up the sleeve of his coat to see the same azure runes appearing all over his metallic appendage. Wordlessly, the Iron Ghost flexed his fingers and noticed they were creating their own micro climates. With the merest of thoughts, the human throttled the magic coursing through his body. Jackson rolled down the sleeve of his coat and put on a pair of mittens to hide the stigma of power. Under the layers of winter clothing no one would assume that this human now controlled powers to bring continents to their knees.
“Remember, Thomas, use 290 if you have no other choice. Nopony knows what will happen if you break all of the seals. There is a good chance Equestria could be destroyed if all of this power is unlocked. And . . .” Rarity fought back tears as she continued, her voice becoming husky and strained. “And your life will be forfeited if you break any of the runes to release this power. Your entire body will be converted into magic no matter what. The more runes you break, the faster this will happen. As you well know, the Canterlot scientists estimate that you will have no more than ten minutes once you break the first seal. After that . . .” The fashionista couldn’t continue. Rarity dabbed at her eyes with the sleeve of her coat. She looked at Jackson who was as cool and collected as the mountain breeze. “I don’t know how you do it, darling. How can you remain so calm when so much is at stake?”
Wordlessly, the General put on a set of reading glasses and searched through his pockets to find a small book of the New Testament. Turning to the desired page he began to read.
”Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; And yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? . . . Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew chapter 6, verses 25-30 and 34.”
After reading the passages, the General looked at his friend. “Rarity, I cannot promise you I will return from the coming battle. But I will promise you this. It will be the last battle, the gate will close, and Tierk will die.”
The Tartarian Gate:
The pony carrying the Equestrian flag stumbled. Jackson seized the twin-sister colors before they could touch the ground. He favored the flag bearer with a quick glance. An arrow had found a gap in the equine’s armor and pierced his throat. Jackson bit back a curse. There were far too few unicorns left to shield this broad of an advance. The Iron Ghost, ignoring the murderous flight of enemy missiles around him, screamed, “Press on Equestrians! We’ve weathered fiercer storms than this! A sword for the LORD and Celestia!”
“A SWORD FOR THE LORD AND CELESTIA!” The cry was taken up by the 45,000 advancing Equestrians of Jackson’s strike force. The soldiers advanced over the corpses of friend and foe alike from the previous attempts to conquer this ground. The dead so carpeted the black land that it was nearly impossible to tread the earth without stepping on bodies. Thomas returned fire with his mercury arm, arching explosive shells into the waiting ranks of demons. Hell minions screamed and burned, not only from Jackson’s incendiaries, but from the endless sorties of dragons of all sizes. Hundreds of tartarians perished in seconds from the all-consuming fire of the great wyrms and drakes. Jackson’s army flooded through the gaping holes burned through the defenders’ position.
Jackson momentarily watched the mesmerizing sight before the colors were seized from his hands. The General was not surprised to see Big Mac holding the venerable standard. The large pony passed it to a nearby soldier who accepted it with pride. Ponies, minotaurs, deer, zebras, trolls, even creatures from the old Everfree Forrest streamed around them. Stone Wall continued to bellow orders and direct the assault, even after protests from his aide.
“Sir, you’re too damn close. You should leave command of the Reserve Army to Subgeneral Lyra and return to H.Q. Leave her in charge of the diversionary attack.”
The big earth pony was interrupted by Tike. The blue hatchling had grown and matured since Jackson had last seen him. The death of his brother had affected the dragon greatly. “General, fresh orders from High Com---- . . .”
The young drake wanted to say more, but an incoming missile from the Tartarian living artillery cut him off. All three soldiers dove into a nearby crater. Huddled on a mattress of dead ponies, Tike screamed at the top of his lungs, “General Applejack’s attack has failed! She is falling back to Echo Zone. The orders are for the reserves to continue the offensive here to pin down as many Tartarians as we can, signed Grand Commander Rainbow Dash.”
“Very well,” Jackson replied, climbing to his feet.
Before the Iron Ghost could follow his troops into the teeth of the waiting demons, Tike grabbed the General’s shoulder. “The Grand Commander requests that you return to H.Q., if able.”
Immediately the General replied, “Reply to the Grand Commander that I am unable. Tell her that I trust in her and that we will kill every Heaven-damned demon in this sector.” And with that, Jackson took off after his advancing army.
The force Jackson now found himself commanding was a strange mix. It was composed of reorganized regiments and companies decimated during the previous hours of fighting. But at its core was a division of unicorns that had been commanded by General Blue Blood. The blonde unicorn absorbed the orphan troops into his ranks primarily to be used as cannon fodder so his unicorns could swoop in and claim the glory. But in spite of this, if it were up to Jackson, he would prefer General Blue Blood still be in command. For all his faults, Blue Blood was a skilled leader despite his cavalier attitude and his perceived high and mighty superiority over nonroyalty. But all the generalship and confidence in the world can’t save anyone when a Tartarian lops off one’s muzzle. The Iron Ghost, seeing a vacuum in that organization’s command structure, volunteered to fill the gap. Grimly, Rainbow Dash had approved. When the reserve army heard who would be replacing their fallen leader, even the unicorn division cheered. Jackson was not surprised to see that these soldiers were every bit the fighters as his old command. The General’s force scythed deep into Tierk’s army, driving all before them several miles before meeting a force as determined as themselves.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The human grimaced as he spat out a couple of teeth. He rose shakily to his feet and winced in pain. He was sure his nose was broken, judging from the blood streaming from it. But the General was not complaining. He was still alive. Fighting Tirek’s elite bugbear bodyguard brigade hand-to-hand was not something he relished. As quickly as his dazed mind would allow, the human reformed his arm from a kite shield to a double-barreled shotgun. His bug-bear opponent charged, its abdomen thrust forward brandishing the deadly stinger. Jackson waited until the last possible moment before pivoting on his heel and dodging the attack of the massive creature. As the monster passed, the General shot it in the back of the head with both barrels. Brains and skull fragments showered all that were nearby. Taking a moment’s reprieve, Jackson surveyed the whirlwind of battle swirling around him. Every moment that passed, a corpse fell to the blood-soaked ground. Pinkemina was nearby. She back flipped onto the back of a buzzing bear and in a blur cut the limbs off the monster. She then grabbed the bear’s antenna and rode the beast like a coach driver, scything any enemy that came close.
Big Mac and Tike fought back-to-back. Tike scorched two bug bears as the huge pony ducked. The Clydesdale rose and brought his powerful hooves up under the chin of a bear that was nearly twice his size. The monster’s head went flying into the distance. The rest of the bear’s body flailed its razor claws against its nearby kin.
But it wasn’t enough, not nearly enough. Each Equestrian that fell was a soldier that could not be replaced. The enemy could afford the horrifying losses they were incurring. Their source of reinforcement was so very close and for the Equestrians so very far away.
Jackson did not dwell on this thought for very long before wading back into the fray. But before he could advance very far, he was face-to-face with a creature the stuff nightmares were made of. The newcomer led a force of centaurs that bulged with muscle and demonic power. The creature looked at Jackson and winked before blasting all twelve of the centaurs into piles of dust. “I’m surprised you made it this far, Iron Ghost. We need to talk.”
Before the human could say anything, he blinked and before his eyes stood Discord and Rainbow Dash. They stood in a black void, the fighting and dying happening in front of the Tartarian Gate was gone.
“Shut up and listen!” Discord roared before anyone could speak. “I can’t hold this pocket realm together long. Tierk probably knows of my betrayal by now. He is sending half his army to crush you, Jackson. It appears you and your rag tags are the direst threat. He will be arriving in person on the battlefield any moment.”
The human nodded. “At last. The hour draws near. Let him come.”
Discord laughed. “You’re as crazy as I am for helping you. Do you honestly think you can beat him? I’m telling you this so you and what’s left of your force can get out while I cover you.”
“No. There is nowhere else to run. If we don’t have a victory this day, it’s all over,” Jackson replied. “But, I can win.”
“How?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Tierk is more powerful than ever, and we’ve been bled white. We’ve thrown everything we have at these bastards. I’m not retreating, but I don’t see us winning either.”
“With respect, ma’am, we haven’t used everything.” The runes on the human’s arm blazed as if sensing the dire situation.
For the first time, Discord took a look at the symbols on the General’s arm. “Oh my sweet Fluttershy . . . I don’t believe this. What is Luna playing at?”
“What? What’s going on?” asked Rainbow Dash.
Discord, never taking his eyes off the blue runes replied, “Those runes on his arm are containment wards. I’ve only seen those on artifacts powerful enough to level cities.”
The Grand Commander’s eyes went wide. “What the hell is going on, Thomas?”
“To be brief, my arm contains the only known seed from the Tree of Harmony. It took a thousand of the most brilliant minds in Equestria a thousand days to conjure a way to merge the seed with a host. They encased the seed with the same magic mercury that my arm is made of and sealed the seed with runes only an alicorn knows. This experiment was happening before my arrival under the surveillance of the Princesses. They suspected that victory may not be possible by force of common arms and magic. So uncommon means were sought and exercised.”
“Can you control it?” asked the pegasus.
The Iron Ghost hesitated. “I have been ordered to use this power only if necessary, and if I am not mistaken, it is now necessary. I cannot guarantee I can control this power and spare our forces from destruction. But I would rather sacrifice myself and everything on this planet than have the sun set on a Tartarian victory. Her Excellency feels the same. I am using this power, ma’am, and I am asking for the support of the army and of you, Sir.” Jackson looked at Rainbow Dash and Discord in turn.
Rainbow Dash started to speak, but the void was shattered. The next thing Jackson knew, a screaming Tartarian was nearly upon him, brandishing a maw far too large for its body. The monster exploded before it could reach the human. Behind the destroyed creature stood Discord, blowing the smoke from his red-hot index claw.
“I’m in. I don’t want to live in a world without Fluttershy anyway. What do you need?”
In reply, the General bellowed, “Equestrian’s to me! Rally to me!” Everypony within earshot of the human’s loud voice gathered around their commander. The reserves threw up a strong defensive circle around the Iron Ghost. To Discord, Stonewall shouted, “Give me time, as much as you can buy.”
Wordlessly, the chimera turned and struck out in every direction. Where once there was one Discord, there were now dozens slashing, clawing, biting, and blasting every Tartarian in reach. So ferocious was the chimera’s onslaught, he drove back the demons single-handedly.
Jackson spotted a familiar face in the ring of ponies. “Subgeneral Lyra!”
The mint-colored unicorn started and looked at the Iron Ghost. “You are now in command of the reserves! My last order is for you to hold this ring until I give the signal.”
“What signal?” she asked.
“You’ll know it when you see it.”
“Thomas!” Rainbow Dash yelled, appearing above Jackson’s force. “I’m sending what’s left of the army your way. Do what you need to do and Godspeed.” And with that, the Grand Commander took to the air to direct the reinforcing legions that represented the last of the Equestrian Army.
“Sir, what the hay is going on?” Big Mac whispered to his Commander.
“Judgment,” replied the General. And with that, Jackson closed his eyes. When he exhaled, twin streams of super-cold vapor blew from his nostrils. The runes engraved in Jackson’s mercury arm began to disappear as the General muttered the words of power to the first of Luna’s seals. Ominous grey cumulous clouds began to form and rapidly built into thunderheads. Nature itself was reacting to the power Jackson was summoning.
A blood-curdling roar issued from the Tartarians. The ground shook as the massive centaur approached. Tierk towered over all of his troops, standing as tall as a seven-story building and just as broad. Black corposant crackled between his horns. The Lord of Hell turned his gaze to the heavens and saw the great clouds forming. He pondered on this strange phenomenon for a moment until he saw the Equestrian air force flying his way. Tirek was impressed. The sky was filled with Griffons, dragons, pegasi, and even a few flying machines had taken to the air. Commanding in a language long dead to those of the Equestrian plain, the centaur called forth his own demonic squadrons. Bodies dropped from the sky like massive hail stones as the battle was rejoined.
The centaur spotted Discord in the midst of a thousand demons. Tierk’s lips curled in disgust at the sight of the traitor. Taking a deep breath, Teirk vomited a molten beam of pure magic at the chimera. Gone was Discord and the legion of demons. Only glass remained.
In the center of the Equestrian ring, Jackson sensed the death of the chimera and opened his eyes. Gone were the beautiful orbs the human was born with, but instead the chilling gaze of an elemental looked to the sky. Even Pinkimena shuttered when she looked at Thomas.
“General?” Big Mac said.
The human turned to his friends and in a voice as clear as day ordered, “Tike, tell the Grand Commander to pull back the army as far as she can. I will cover you. This duty is mine, but the consequences are God’s.” Jackson glanced at his arm. Seven out of the ten wards were broken. Without another word, the General took to flight on unseen wings. As he flew, Jackson raised his arm and slowly turned it in a circle. The monstrous grey clouds above mirrored the human’s movement, and a funnel cloud formed. The twister touched down on the blood-soaked ground and followed its creator to the Tartarian vanguard. Demons were sucked into the vortex in droves as Jackson pulled down lightning to smite Tartarians from above.
Tierk watched this spectacular display with interest. Finally, an opponent worth fighting had emerged. The great centaur bellowed a deafening challenge to his God-like foe and threw his own black lightning at Jackson. As soon as Jackson saw the attack coming, it was too late. The lightning bolt exploded through the human’s chest cavity, exposing the General’s split heart, ruptured lungs, and crumpled stomach. The human didn’t even blink as his blood and stomach contents poured onto the ground below. With a wave of his hand, Jackson replaced the destroyed organs with magic constructs.
Jackson pointed at the Lord of Evil with his mercury arm. The thunderous clouds above moved and streamed into the Iron Ghost like water through a dam. The storm’s might was distilled into a freezing cone of ice directed at Tierk. Instantly the ground around the centaur froze and spread faster than a wild fire. Demons froze where they stood, for only one could resist the freezing death that awaited them.
The Lord of Hell roared in pain as the arm that was shielding his face froze and broke off at the elbow. With hatred burning in his heart, the enormous monster let loose his ire with a great magical attack that blazed forth from his eyes. The attack cut through the cone of cold like a knife through butter, gouging deep into Jackson’s mercury arm where the Seed of Harmony was housed. Jackson’s scream was so loud that demon and Equestrian for miles around were brought to their knees in agony. Liquid power ran through Jackson’s fingers as he tried to stop the bleeding. Fighting through his pain, Jackson could feel the constructs in his midriff begin to fail. Tears streamed down his face as he realized what he had to do. Speaking in words known to only alicorns, Jackson broke the final three seals in reckless succession.
Tierk grinned in triumph despite the loss of his arm as he watched his foe squirm in agony. Final victory was his. He opened his mouth to blast the human General out of the sky when the brightest light he’d ever seen blinded him. And . . . and
“Take your time, Grand Commander.”
Rainbow Dash looked up at Princess Luna with blind eyes. Voice heavy with sadness she continued, “Once the seed was breached, Thomas knew he couldn’t beat Tierk with the final seals unbroken and him losing his power. So he let go of all the seed’s magic in the biggest explosion I’ve ever seen. Anypony who was looking that way when it happened lost their sight. According to my recon teams, Tierk is dead, and the gate is destroyed, ma’am.”
The alicorn slowly nodded.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” the pegasus’s voice hardened. “Why didn’t you tell me about the Seed of Harmony? I could have based my strategy around that. I could have saved thousands of lives. As is, Thomas was forced to not only kill himself, but half of my troops who couldn’t clear the explosion in time. I lost almost as many ponies to the detonation as to the fighting.”
Luna didn’t even blink at her Commander’s outburst. “I didn’t trust you.”
“What?”
“Those deaths you speak of are my burden to bear. I ordered Jackson not to tell you about 290. He was in favor of notifying you about the weapon, but the only ponies I trusted with knowing the weapons capability I counted on four hooves. I wanted to keep it that way.” The Princess paused before continuing. “Perhaps I should have told you. But I do not regret my decision in the least. I completely trusted Jackson to wield 290 if he had to. Would you have ordered the deaths of everypony on Equestria if the decision was yours to make? Because if Tierk had not wounded Jackson before he broke the last of my seals, that is what would have happened.”
The Grand Commander hesitated. She did not like her own answer to the alicorn’s question. Sidestepping the question altogether, the pegasus asked, “What would have happened if he had been killed before he could use the weapon?”
“Then Pinkamena would have used 290. I instructed her on how to remove my wards while General Jackson was recuperating from Sombra’s infestation.”
Rainbow Dash wanted to argue more, but what was the point? The dead were dead, and her side was victorious in spite of horrifying losses. Only one soldier in five had made the return journey back to the capital, and over a third of them were blind. Stealing herself away from insubordinate thoughts, she asked, “What of the Crystal Empire, ma’am?”
“With the death of Tierk, the enemy is leaderless. Old rivalries between the Tartarians have resurfaced, and they are fighting each other just as much as they are fighting us. Because of this chaos, the Crystal Empire and other besieged areas of Equestria are counter attacking. This will still be a long and drawn out war, Grand Commander, but ultimate victory is no longer a question of if, but when.” The Princess looked at her soldier and said, “Get some rest. You’ve earned it. And I know that this doesn’t mean much to you now, but I am proud of you, and I will do what I can for your sight.”
The pegasus didn’t reply. She just saluted and glided out of the throne room with the assistance of one of her Wonderbolt bodyguards, all the while trying not to think about the friends she had lost in the past few days.
Two Years Later
The earth pony walked slowly to the edge of the crater and stopped. Despite being high in the air when he unleashed the seed’s power, the hole he created was two-hundred feet deep and six-hundred across. This was the spot where her charge had killed Tierk and obliterated the gate to Tartarus.
Pinkamena looked down and gazed upon a small but beautiful tombstone. Compared to the gargantuan statue of Jackson being erected in the capital, this marker did not do the man justice. But the human she knew would have ordered the steel monstrosity destroyed and the material be used for something else. This thought caused the beginning of a smile to tug at the corners of the pony’s scarred face. Stealing herself, the assassin read the words carved upon the marker.
You may be whatever you resolve to be.
T.J. Jackson
Taking a deep breath Pinkamena began to speak in a voice not used to talking. “Well, sir, we won. And we couldn’t have done it without you.”
Pinkamena paused and listened. “I’m sorry for not coming sooner, but I’ve been busy. The Tartarians aren’t going to slit their own throats now, are they?”
“How’s Rarity? . . . She’s fine. She misses you very much. We all do, but she’s taking you not being here pretty hard. Her business is booming now that she’s a fashionista again and not designing armor and shields. She’s turned away a lot of suitors; I think you were the one her heart was set on.”
The assassin sighed. “I know. I know it’s God’s will and all, but that doesn’t make it easier for us down here. While we’re on the subject, how’s Princess Celestia, Twilight, Fluttershy, and the others?”
The earth pony closed her eyes and smiled. “I’m very relieved to hear that, sir. Tell them ‘Hi’ for me.”
Pinkamena smiled. “I know I don’t have to call you ‘sir,’ but I want to. You were the best General, period.”
“How’s Big Mac? . . . He’s okay, but Granny Smith just passed away. He’s pretty torn up about losing her and A.J., but you get to see them every day. Between her, Celestia, Apple Jack, and Tike, you’re probably getting bossed around 24/7. Tell them ‘Hi’ too, please. . . . Yeah, I’ll keep an eye on the big fella.”
“Dashy and Princess Luna are still not talking to each other. Dashy blames herself and the Princess for what happened at the gate.” Pinkamena paused. “It wasn’t your fault either, sir. . . . Yeah, I know you were the one in the driver’s seat. But you did the right thing. I’m proud of you, sir. . . . Uh huh, you’re welcome.”
Pinkamena listened some more as the wind gushed through her flat mane. “What’s bothering me? Nothing. Why?” The earth pony sighed a moment later and replied, “You could always see right through me, sir. The truth of the matter is I think I would have been better off dying in the war. All I know now is how to kill, sir, and now there are no more enemies.” The pony frowned. “Parties? Oh no, sir. It’s been years since I’ve done that, not since . . . the fire.” Pinkamena was on the verge of tears. “Sir, I don’t know what to do. Most of my friends are gone. I don’t know how to go back to who I was.”
Before Pinkamena could shed a single tear, she sniffed and asked, “Repeat after you? Okay. Is this another prayer you like to do? No offense, sir, but that’s more your thing then mine . . . . It’s not? Then what . . .”
Pinkamena blinked. She heard words and music on the wind. They were lyrics to a song, and all her friends were singing along. The pink pony couldn’t hold back her tears any longer as she joined in.
“. . . It doesn't matter now If you are sad or blue Cause cheering up my friends is just what Pinkie’s here to do.
‘Cause I love to make you smile, smile, smile Yes, I do. It fills my heart with sunshine all the while, Yes, it does. ‘Cause all I really need's a smile, smile, smile From these happy friends of mine . . .”
When the song was done, Pinkie breathed deeply and wiped her eyes. “Thank you, General. Thank you, my friends. I’ll give parties a try again.”
Before turning to leave, she asked, “Will you still be here when I come back?”
Pinkie Pie listened to the reply and smiled.
