//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 - Grant and Rainbow Dash (The Potomac Strain and Grant's Dilemma) // Story: Facing Northern Lightning // by The Prancing Red Pony //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash got up and looked around the train car. There were various photos throughout with intriguing landscapes. One read "West Point United States Military Academy" it showed a small town perched up on a bluff with boats sailing through a river. Another read "Scenes of Peace" it showed a young human and an older human fishing on a lake in the summer time. The last photo that Rainbow Dash looked at read "Abraham Lincoln 16th President of the United States" it was of a rather tall human who was thin. He had a mane around his face much like Grant and his face looked to be that of one who was weary yet full of life. His eyes seem to sparkle when light just hit the photo right. "This must be their leader" Rainbow Dash thought. How could such a frail looking human have so much command over these other humans that she had come across who were built strongly or had great initiative when it came to decision making. What made this human so special? Rainbow Dash sat back down and thought to herself. She soon caught the attention of something happening outside the window. A bunch of people were following General Grant and he was walking particularly fast. His hand seemed to point in her direction. Rainbow Dash lowered herself in her seat. Soon both doors of the train car opened and in stepped two men on either side. They were men from the Iron Brigade the same ones that guarded Rainbow Dash's bed back in Carbondale. They stood at attention in the cabin with their rifles having these long pointy ends fixed near the barrel. Rainbow Dash looked back outside and saw more men following General Grant and wondered where he was heading. Grant walked to the telegraph office particularly fuming. How could Howard disregard an order and send a division in to face a whole army by itself. Grant burst through the telegraph office's door. Two clerks were there finishing up their tasks for the evening. They both jumped at the sight of the burly general and nearly 40 men in tow behind him. Neither spoke. "Who's in charge here?" Grant said. One of the clerks an older gentleman raised his hand. Grant approached him. "Both of you take down notes to send out" Grant ordered. The two men stumbled for paper and pens and prepared themselves. Grant motioned to one of the men behind him. "Please get me a canteen". One of the aide de camp's saluted and ran off. Grant turned his attention back to the two clerks. "To General William T Sherman. A pony Army is in the vicinity of Cincinnati, Ohio. Do not engage. Head to Saint Louis for further instruction." Grant finished. Soon one of the telegraphers was busily sending out a signal. Grant turned to the other telegrapher. "To General Gordon Granger. A pony Army has destroyed General McClernand's command outside of Cincinnati, Ohio. Leave a detachment at Louisville and attend to helping the Army of the Ohio and General Howard in curbing the assault. Pursue the enemy as you please but, be mindful of the surrounding areas and the potential for further attacks." Grant finished. The other telegrapher began to send out the signal. A soldier returned with canteen. Grant undid the cork and drank deeply. He finished and the telegrapher was awaiting for further instruction. "To General George Meade. A pony Army has been spotted in the vicinity of Cincinnati, Ohio. This draws suspicion a large scale assault might be soon occurring. The Army of the Potomac is moving with all due haste back to Washington. Await further instruction." Grant finished. The clerk began to send out the mission. Grant turned his attention to the other clerk. "To President Lincoln. A pony Army has been spotted in the vicinity of Cincinnati, Ohio. We can not yet determine the casualty count. Reports indicate a division might have been massacred in their sleep. The Army and myself are making fast pace back to Washington in preparation for what could be a nation wide assault. Your humble servant, General Ulysses S. Grant." Grant finished. As he was finishing the other clerk began to receive a message. The expression on his face was grim. "General Grant. Enemy has been spotted landing soldiers at Point Lookout stop More soldiers are reported to have landed at Piney Point and Cedar Landing stop Enemy size can not yet be determined but possible siege of the Capitol is imminent stop Will await your arrival stop General George Meade." Grant was dumbfounded. The ponies were looking to attacking on multiple fronts. The room lay eerily silent as the other telegrapher finished sending out the message to President Lincoln. The clock began to fervently tick against Grant. He had to get back to Washington. He would have liked to stay in Ohio and march south to meet the threat at Cincinnati but, that was no longer viable. He saluted the clerks and quickly left. Grant practically ran back to the train car. Rainbow Dash was dozing off to sleep when she noticed Grant burst into the train car waving off the guards and motioning to the aide de camp to restart the trains. 40 other men poured in with various maps and other peripherals they laid them all out quickly on the tables throughout the train car. Grant shot a look to Rainbow Dash. It struck Rainbow Dash with fear. It was a menacing look of frustration, fear, anger, and calculated thinking. "Why is she still here? Get her out of here!" Grant yelled to one of the guards. Suddenly a hand grabbed Rainbow Dash by the neck and dragged her out of the train car and she was dragged into the subsequent train car. She was tossed inside and the guard slammed the door behind her and she then realized she was alone.....again. That was one of the few times Rainbow Dash had seen Grant get genuinely angry other then the night when she was shot down. This train car was a lot less regal then the last car. Rainbow Dash rubbed the back of her neck where the guard had dragged her. She then realized her mane was in the previous car. She thought about asking one of the guards for it but, she didn't want to anger Grant further. After all she was nothing more then a prisoner. There was a table with a bench on one side. Rainbow Dash suddenly felt sorry for herself. Something she was never sure she would experience. She was a prisoner of war of some alien army, she was starving, tired, and homesick. She sat down on the bench and tried to sleep but, instead she could only think of home. The train suddenly lurched forward and she banged her head against the table. "Ow" she whimpered. Blood slowly trickled above her eye. She began to cry. *Hours pass* "If we are going to stop them we need to stop them here" Grant motioned to the map at Charles County. Sedgwick and Sykes concurred. Reynolds and Slocum became concerned. "Shouldn't we focus more on trying to drive them from their landing grounds?" Reynolds asked, "If we can keep them amongst these little inlets then Admiral Farragut should be able to sink their ships and protect Washington from being attacked upriver" Reynolds said. "Yes but, you don't want to get caught near Wildewood and the bottleneck and strain that could create. If they were to break through there then how can we ensure the safety of Washington" Grant said before taking out a flask from his coat pocket, he took a swig and continued on, "Who is to say that Celestia isn't leading this attack herself seeking to annex our country or eliminate the head of our government. We have to be able to get as many troops within proximity of her as well as not bottleneck ourselves." Grant finished. Reynolds was still unsure. "How do we know that she won't land another force further upstream? Stretching Admiral Farragut and General Meade further" Reynolds asked. Grant sat and rubbed his forehead. This was true. How can they be certain that this doesn't turn into a multi front confrontation that two large standing armies and a chunk of the US Navy might not be able to handle in defending the Capitol. Grant put his fist under his chin and thought. Sykes and Slocum looked further on the map while Reynolds and Sedgwick debated on the best way to deploy troops. Grant looked out the train car window and watched the scenery whizz by. Against the moonlit sky he saw many outlines of farms and small townships dot the landscape. He feared for the people of the North and the kind of menace that was approaching on multiple fronts suddenly. Grant stood to his feet and began to pace. As he walked up and down the rail car something caught his eye. A small lump in the corner of the train car. It was Rainbow Dash's mane. Grant picked it up and held it. It was just as he remembered earlier in the month. It was soft to the touch and silky beyond belief. It still smelt of a fresh morning dew. He then felt something cloth like in between the hairs. It was the handkerchief. Grant realized now how frightened Rainbow Dash must be. She was all alone in some train car traveling at mach speed, far from home, starving to death, and now she didn't even have a mane to her name. Grant knew deep down she was a prisoner but, a part of him seemed to soften. His humanity and kindness was winning him over for this creature. His respect for the tenacity and fearlessness that the Pegasus displayed to him whenever he was in front of him was admirable. Especially that night in the carriage where she broke down in tears. He was a hardened man and one that many feared even in his own army but, he felt different a change of heart if you will about Rainbow Dash. He treated her more as an equal then she probably deserved as a prisoner but, she was no less a warrior that he respected. Grant's expression grew slightly sorrowful for how he had her dragged out by her neck and thrown into the other car. He was not sure if he could apologize to her or if she would ever forgive him when they only had then begun to build a bridge to trust each other. Grant turned back to his generals with the mane and handkerchief held behind his back. "That is enough for tonight gentlemen. We best get our rest before crossing into Pennsylvania." Grant said. The generals saluted Grant and took their maps and other peripherals an hour later when the train came to a stop for refueling in Toledo, Ohio. Grant slipped out of his train car with Rainbow Dash's mane and handkerchief in his frock coat inside pocket. On his way to the Quartermaster's store car he slowly walked by Rainbow Dash's car next door. She was not sitting in the window and the entire car was dark. Grant held his head low arrived at the store car. Grant found the barrels of fresh fruit and vegetables. They were just starting to turn from extremely ripe to beginning to rot. Still good. He then grabbed some salt pork, hard tack, two canteens of water, and a canteen of coffee. He also grabbed a blanket, a pillow, some head bandages, and a small flask of whiskey. With all his items in hand without letting others notice he slowly opened the door to Rainbow Dash's train car she was unceremoniously thrown into. He peered into the darkness of the car and eventually noticed a blue lump curled up in the corner of the car. He slowly approached as the train car jolted and began to pull away from the station. Grant placed the items down on the table in front of Rainbow Dash. The train jolting had caused Rainbow Dash to awaken and she stretched mightily. To her shock she saw Grant with a wrapped towel in the center of the table. The shock in her face quickly turned to anger. "You bastard! Why shouldn't I kick your ass right here right now! What gives you the right to drag anypony by their neck and throw them anywhere they please" she yelled. Grant's expression grew serious. "You think since you are a prisoner that you deserve some sort of special treatment?" "I deserve to be treated with some ounce of respect since I am a warrior and not some bitch you can throw around you fucking asshole" "Watch your mouth! I've tolerated your language thus far" "Fuck You" "Watch it" "Watch what? My ass? Are you going to take my cutie mark next or my wings and pretend you are some magical fairy spreading happiness and joy to all ponies. You are a fucking bastard. Maybe Celestia was right about humans. You only care about yourselves and your own kind." Grant was now fuming. "You think I wanted to do that!?!? Have you dragged out by your neck so you wouldn't hear our plans. Your kind are busily planning on the annihilation of our people and the destruction of our capital. I have not slept in days, or seen my family, I smell like a wretched hog that has rolled around in mud and its own shit for the past 5 months, I have not had a hot meal in three weeks, and now I am getting berated at by someone who deserves some sort of courtesy since they are a prisoner WHO I COULD HAVE THROWN TO THE BACK OF COLUMN OR HAD YOU ROT IN THE WILDERNESS!" Grant was on a tirade and he inched closer to Rainbow Dash's face with every angry step, "YOU KNOW WHAT THAT'S WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE! SINCE YOU THINK OF US SO TERRIBLE AND SO AWFUL THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED ALL THE WAY BACK IN CARBONDALE. I SHOULD HAVE AIMED THE PISTOL STRAIGHT AT YOUR GODDAMN HEAD THEN I WOULDN'T HAVE TO HEAR YOU BITCH UNTIL THE END OF TIME." Grant was now directly in Rainbow Dash's face. They were fuming at each other. The silence only broken by the train whistle. "Get out of my face" Rainbow Dash said through gritted teeth. "With pleasure" Grant said. As he took the white cloth bag with him he reached in and threw one of the more discolored apples to the floor as well as Rainbow Dash's mane. "So you don't starve. I'll be sure that you and your comrades are transported to whatever hell hole I want further north so then you can freeze to death. You are cold-hearted so it won't be an issue now will it?" Grant said before slamming the door to the train car. Rainbow Dash was once again left by herself. She looked down at the apple Grant had thrown at her feet. She picked it up and took a bite. It was delicious. It reminded her of the same apples that Applejack grew. She chewed angrily. How could some human treat her as a lesser being. Rainbow Dash took another bite and then it dawned on her. That bag that Grant had was full of food and medicine. He had canteens of fresh water. He was still carrying her mane. He was still carrying her mane. Grant was trying to apologize. Rainbow Dash now realized in her tired anger that he was trying to make amends for having her dragged by her neck. She felt terrible. She probably lost her only and best chance for mercy on arrival to the human's capital. Rainbow Dash realized how foolish she had been her own bravado and head strong attitude had cost her the potential of trust with the head of the Union Army. Droplets began to fall on the floor of the train car. With every bite of the apple, tears streamed down Rainbow Dash's cheeks. Grant slammed the door behind him as he entered his train car. He put the food down on the table and fell on his haunches to the couch. He tried to light a cigar but, he threw the matchbook on the table and buried his face in his hands. The morning dawn had begun to show and the train came to a stop again in Cleveland. As the guards changed at Rainbow Dash's car she slowly got out and walked to Grant's car. She peered in. He was asleep on the couch still in full uniform from the night before. She slowly turned the latch to enter the car and as she turned around to close the door behind her she heard a click. Grant had a pistol aimed right for her head. "So this is how its going to be?" Grant said. "You are going to come in here and murder me in my sleep. Have you had enough? Enough to finally kill me? Well here I am" Grant threatened. Rainbow Dash slowly turned to meet Grant's gaze. The man was exhausted but, still full of energy and rage. "Look I wanted to talk to y-" Rainbow Dash was cut off. "I should kill you right here right now. Yeah I can make up for what I didn't do back in Carbondale. GUARDS!" Grant yelled out. Soon two of the Iron Brigade soldiers came bursting in. "What is it sir?" one asked. "This little donkey wants to try and kill me. But, I'm not going to let her. Grab her!" Grant yelled. The two men threw Rainbow Dash to the ground. One with his hand pushing her backside down and his foot pressed down on Rainbow Dash's wing. The other held her torso and other wing down. Grant slowly approached with his pistol aimed directly at Rainbow Dash's head. He pushed the tip of the gun to her forehead. "Anything else you want to say?" Grant shouted. His finger slowly starting to pull the trigger of the pistol. "I'M SORRY!" Rainbow Dash cried out. Grant hesitated for a slight moment but, realized this could be a ruse. Rainbow Dash began to cry tears of anger. "I'M SORRY FOR ALL THE HORRIBLE THINGS I'VE SAID! I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU WERE TRYING TO MAKE AMENDS! I SHOULD HAVE NEVER CALLED YOU THOSE NAMES OR CURSED AT YOU! FOR YOU TO TREAT ME AND MY MEN WITH SUCH MERCY WHEN OTHERS WOULD HAVE KILLED US LONG BEFORE IS NOT COWARDLY! HUMANS ARE NOT SOME LESSER BEINGS! YOU HAVE YOUR OWN FEARS AND WANTS! IT'S NOT MY PLACE NOR THE PLACE OF THE CELESTIA TO DICTATE YOUR SURVIVAL OR NOT! YOU ARE ONE OF THE NICEST AND HONORABLE HUMANS I'VE EVER MET! BUT, IF ITS TOO LATE I DON'T CARE ANYMORE! I CAN'T TAKE BACK WHAT I SAID BUT, I CAN APOLOGIZE FOR YOU AT LEAST TRYING TO CARE!" Rainbow Dash sobbed as she spoke. Grant removed the pistol from her temple a look of shock was on his face. Grant fell to his knees there in the train car. "What should we do now sir?" one of the soldiers asked. Grant did not respond he simply waved. The two men shrugged and left the train car. Rainbow Dash still sobbed even after they let her go and Grant was still on his knees dumbfounded. The train lurched again as it began to leave the station. Rainbow Dash felt her forehead. There was no bullet hole and she wasn't among her ancestors in the clouds. She was alive. By the grace of Celestia she was alive. She then looked up and saw Grant. The mighty man of the Union Army collapsed to his knees and his eyes shut with a frown upon his face. He had spared her. Within an inch of her life he had spared her. Grant didn't realize but, everything that Rainbow Dash had said was directly from the heart. They were ideas and thoughts she had ever since he took off his own coat in the freezing night to make sure she didn't shiver. This wasn't just some mere enemy nor some mere man. This was a friend. A friend she wouldn't have ever realized in a hundred gabillion years to be a friend. Yet here she was on the floor of a train car, with the leader of the Union Army, in some unknown land, as the rest of her pony kind invaded it. She finally realized after debating for so long that humans are not these awful beings she was led to believe. Rainbow Dash got up on her hooves and walked towards Grant. Grant's eyes were still firmly shut with the pistol at his side. She hugged him tightly. For what felt like an eternity. She whispered to him "Thank You". She then looked and saw Grant had tears in his eyes. A big powerful man left to crying like a child. So much weight and responsibility was placed on one man to defend a whole country of 20 million people from destruction. He had experienced so much stress and sacrifice it wore at him like a dog chewing an old bone. Rainbow Dash released her embrace and looked at Grant in the eyes. "You are a lot stronger then I thought you ever were" she said with a slight smirk. Grant looked at her and chuckled slightly. "I was about to blow your god forsaken brains out" Grant chuckled. They soon were laughing at their back and forth arguing earlier in the campaign and earlier that night. Soon they stood on their own hooves and feet and sat across from each other on the table. Grant undid the white cloth bag. Inside were beautiful peaches, leafy heads of lettuce, huge eggplant, fresh peppers, bright orange carrots, sparkling apples, and a few fresh ears of corn. Rainbow Dash's mouth was watering. She hadn't eaten in so long and there was this medley of fruits and vegetables that look freshly picked in front of her. Grant motioned with a smile for her to eat. She ate ravenously while guzzling down water. It was delicious. How could human's grow such delicious food? Every bite and tear felt as refreshing as a spring rain. Grant sat quietly watching Rainbow Dash drinking his now cold coffee and eating a piece of hard tack. Rainbow Dash looked up at him and his meager meal and threw an apple over to him. "Thanks" Grant said with a smirk. The two friends then ate and talked for the rest of their journey. Grant called the surgeon over at the stop in Pittsburgh and he fixed Rainbow Dash's head gash. He then gave her the blanket and the pillow as night fell as they crossed through Pennsylvania. Soon enough at dawn, they arrived in Washington. Rainbow Dash could hardly believe it. She was at the center of the human's capital. The train came to a feather stop. Troops came out on mass from the cars and began to march South from the capital. Politicians were waiting outside the train car that Grant and Rainbow Dash were in. Grant looked at Rainbow Dash before exiting. "I'll handle them. Just keep quiet" Grant said. Rainbow Dash nodded. When they stepped out the talk between the politicians stopped and they stared at Grant and his coach friend. Grant shook hands and kept walking with Rainbow Dash right behind him. "What is that thing doing with you?" a politician called out. Grant turned. "This is a friend of mine. She is traveling with me to see President Lincoln and bring an end to this invasion." Grant said as he slowly walked up to the politician, "Now you can let us be on our way or I can bring this interruption up with President Lincoln who is expecting me and if you haven't realized there is an invasion force just 60 miles south of here that I need to address with him. Thank You" Grant said as he turned away from the politician. Grant and Rainbow Dash entered into a carriage and were soon off towards the White House. When they arrived Rainbow Dash was slightly awestruck. It was a beautiful building with elegant trim and architecture. It was something you would have seen in Canterlot. Grant got out first and then motioned for Rainbow Dash. They soon entered the White House. It was beautiful inside with many intricate paintings and woodwork. They walked down a long hallway before coming to a pair of white doors with gilded gold doorknobs. Grant turned to Rainbow Dash. "Now his name is Abraham Lincoln. He is our President and leader. Don't be surprised if he has questions about you or where you come from. He is a very kind soul I can assure you that" Grant said. Rainbow Dash simply nodded. Grant opened the doors and into a large room. In back center of the room was a desk with a man writing. The man looked up and stood. He was tall very tall to Rainbow Dash. He walked over and shook Grant's hand. "It is wonderful to see you again General even in these desperate times" he said. "It is an honor Mr. President" Grant said returning the shake. Lincoln's gaze soon fell on Rainbow Dash. Without hesitation he walked over to her and put out his hand. Rainbow Dash extended a hoof and shook it. "What's your name?" Lincoln asked. "My name is Rainbow Dash sir" she said with slight shock. It was the man from the painting. "Hello Rainbow Dash, I'm Abraham Lincoln" he said. Lincoln turned his focus back to Grant. "Now what is this about an invasion just 60 miles from here?" he asked.