//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: The Iron Ghost // by Emerald Harp //------------------------------// 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.