//------------------------------// // 40: The Admiral's Death // Story: The Jolly Rogers // by lockheed //------------------------------// ~~~~~ 10:00 Hours March 22, 1988 Jones Family Mansion ~~~~~ I walked into the living room where Thunderstreak laid on the couch and stared out the picture window at Ponyville as another round of snow clouds loomed on the horizon. I walked over and knelt down by the couch to wrap my arm around her in a hug as I sighed. "I have to get to Canterlot. Try to stay off your hooves as much as you can, alright?" I said and she nodded in response. I leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek before standing back up. "I love you. Try to get feeling better, alright?" I told her as she sniffled, her snout red as she reached for a box of tissues. The recent weather had caused several of us around the house to get a cold but thankfully it hadn't reached me yet. Grabbing my coat, I walked outside and saw that Lyra had pulled my vehicle around. There in the drive sat the type of vehicle that had been my first, a 1947 Hudson pickup truck. The red paint shone in the morning sunlight and I smiled to myself as Lyra opened the door. "Good morning, Lyra." "Good morning, James." She replied as I climbed into the truck. I smiled to her as I put the key in the ignition and started the truck. As I let the truck warm up, I conversed with her about various things that had been going on lately. For her it was her uncle being discharged from the Marines while she wanted to know more about my latest tour of duty. Once the truck was warm enough, I shifted into first and gave Lyra a small wave as I started to drive down the driveway and off for Canterlot. ~~~~~ 13:15 Hours March 22, 1988 Canterlot, Equestria ~~~~~ I walked up the steps of the Equestrian Supreme Court and held up the folder in my hand to shield my eyes from the flashbulbs. Once I reached the top of the steps, I walked inside the large marble foyer where Fancy Pants was waiting for me. "Where the fuck have you been?" He asked in a high whisper as he started trotting along side me. "Traffic was hell. Plus, do you know how hard it is to find parking big enough for a truck around here?" I asked without looking at him. We stopped in front of a courtroom where several ponies in suits stood around smoking cigarettes. Fancy Pants pulled out his own pack and lit one up before offering one up to me. I denied it with a small shake of my head as I sat down on a bench by the courtroom doors. In the last few months I had noticed my knees and other joints hurting worse than normal, my face had more wrinkles than I cared to admit, my eyesight was starting to go down hill, and I had said farewell to the last of my black hair as it was now nothing but grey. Pulling out my reading glasses from my inside pocket, I slipped them on and flipped open the folder as Fancy Pants sat down beside me. "I've compiled a list of things that should help your case. Now, Iron Hoof is a good friend of Round Trip, right?" I asked him and I turned my head to look at him. He nodded in confirmation and I looked back to the list. "Well then, here's the list for you and I'll be standing by in case you need to call me as a witness." The doors to the courtroom opened and the ponies in suits all tossed their cigarettes into a bin before entering the room. Standing with a groan, I gave the folder to Fancy Pants before we entered the crowded room. "It's showtime." ~~~~~ 17: 45 Hours March 22, 1988 Equestrian Supreme Court ~~~~~ I wiped my brow with a handkerchief as I walked out of the crowded courtroom. The heat generated by the couple hundred bodies and camera lights in the room had pushed the temperature into the nineties and several reporters hurried over to nearby water coolers to refresh themselves before returning to their offices. Fancy Pants found me in the crowd rather easily I'd imagine and followed me down into the foyer where we stopped as ponies filed out of the court. "Well, that seemed to go rather well. I also think that was the first time I've ever seen a member of the royal cabinet called an asshole on live television." I said with a grin at Fancy Pants' action earlier in the day. We finally walked out onto the steps after the foyer had emptied out and made our way down the steps towards the street. "Say, come with me, I think I know someone who can help you with this case." I told him when we got to the bottom of the steps and I led the way to my pickup. Once we were on the way to the yet undisclosed location, I made sure to check the truck's mirrors to ensure we weren't being followed. After about twenty minutes of driving, and more turns than required, I stopped in the alley way between two apartment buildings. I climbed out and led Fancy Pants through a door on the side of one buildings and up several stories of stairs. We reached the seventh floor and I paused near the stairs to try and catch my breath as Fancy Pants came up behind me. Once I had caught my breath, I led him down the hallway of apartments to the last one in the hall where I knocked on the door. "Coming!" A voice shouted from inside and we stood waiting outside. A moment later, the door opened and John stood before us with only a towel that was pitched like an army mess tent. "Interrupting something?" I asked with a grin as the smell of sweat and sex seemed to pour out of the apartment. His face was red, though I'm sure it was before mention of the subject, and he gave a tense nod of his head as he stepped aside for us to enter. We stepped inside and Fancy Pants and I both removed our hats to place them on the rack by the door. "Let me get some clothes on real quick and I'll be right back." He said before entering what I assumed was his bedroom. Hushed voices came from within and I could hear the voice of a mare that had a country accent. My lips tuned up into a sly grin as I realized that clearly we hadn't just interrupted them in the middle of an energetic session, but one that had lasted all day. John returned a couple seconds later in jeans and a t-shirt. "Alright, what's up?" He asked as he sat down in a chair as Fancy Pants and I sat down on the couch. "We need you to get some information on someone. As much as you can get." I told him and he leaned forward to ensure the conversation stayed quiet. "Who is it?" He asked. "Iron Hoof." I replied as Fancy Pants sat silently next to me. "So let me get this straight." John said as he stood up and walked over to the apartment's windows to pull the blackout curtains. With his action, I reached over and turned on a light that sat on a stand by the couch and it was soon the only light available. "You want me to collect information on a stallion who's a member of the Royal Cabinet and holds more hearings a week than a damn Puritan in Salem?" He asked as he sat back down in his chair and looked across to us. His damaged eye was a foggy blue but his other one glared at us with extreme questioning as we sat in silence. I nodded my head to answer his question and he quickly leaned forward with a small grin. "It's a damn good thing for you that you and Princess Luna think about the same. She's had me collecting information on him for months now. She wants him gone but he's too useful at the moment for them to dispose of him. I'm certain she won't mind me sharing the information with someone else. Come with me." He stood up and I glanced at Fancy Pants before following John into a room next to his bedroom. He turned on a small lamp that sat atop the desk in his home office as he sat down behind the desk. With a wave of his hand, he invited us to take a seat across from him. Once we were seated, he pulled a file out of his desk and flipped it open. "Before we begin, I want to know something." Fancy Pants said and we both looked over at him. "Was all this intel obtained legally? If it can't be used in court than it's of no use to me." "Mister Fancy Pants, I can assure you that it is all legal." John replied and Fancy visibly relaxed at that bit of news. "We've got enough for you to win your case. Of course, that's not enough for us to get rid of him but it'll get him off your ass." He said as he started to flip through the papers inside the file. "His likes, dislikes, where he goes, what he does, who he does; you name it and it's in here." John told us with a grin as he slid the file over to us. Fancy Pants looked through the file but paused when he saw a certain paper in there. And, from where I sat, he had a the biggest smile I'd ever seen from him. ~~~~~ 10:27 Hours March 23, 1988 Equestrian Supreme Court ~~~~~ I sat directly behind Fancy Pants and I fanned myself with my cap as the room was sweltering despite it being freezing outside. The banter and occasional shouting between them had been going on since nine that morning and it was quite often the same thing that they'd been debating over for the last few days. "Why not just say what this damn hearing is about?!" Fancy shouted from his seat and the other cabinet members around Iron Hoof had found ways to distract themselves as the two argued. "Or did I just hallucinate you telling me during lunch at your home to sell Trans Equestria to Air Luna?" This question made the cabinet members look up from their books and crosswords and glance over at Iron Hoof. "That is not what is being argued here Mr. Pants!" Iron Hoof shouted across the floor to Fancy Pants. "Maybe it's that my company is one of the largest warplane and tank producers in the nation?" Fancy asked as he pulled out the file from the day before and set it on the table in front of him. "I have evidence here that you've attended NESP meetings." Iron Hoof's face turned red and he went to grab the gavel by his hoof but an orange stallion placed a hoof on the gavel and looked at Iron Hoof. "Let him speak." He said before turning to look at Fancy Pants. "Mr. Pants, what is the NESP?" "It is the National Equestrian Socialist Party. It basically follows the same ideals as the National Socialist Workers Party in the Griffin Empire. Those in that party are currently waging war against us. Should the judgement of a supporter of their's be permitted in the National Court of our great nation?" Fancy Pants asked as he stood up and pointed a hoof at Iron Hoof who now sat in shock as he looked at the file on the table in front of Fancy Pants. An angered murmurer went through the courtroom and I could see the other members of the cabinet were suddenly expressing great interest in the hearing. "You may also note, after doing some research among the court's public records, that in the last year, most of Mr. Hoof's cases have been against companies or citizens that have been helpful to the war effort. Now, I don't know about you but this is something that raises some questions about the patriotism of Mr. Hoof." Fancy Pants said. The members of the cabinet besides Iron Hoof all looked to each other before the orange stallion spoke up again. "In light of these revelations, I think it best we dismiss this case. All in favor, say 'aye'." The stallion said and all the members beside Iron Hoof said "aye". With a motion of his hoof, the stallion grabbed the gavel and brought it down on the table in front of them. "The case of Equestria virus Fancy Pants Industries is dismissed. Mister Pants, you may go now. Court is adjourned." Fancy smiled triumphantly at Iron Hoof and the old stallion glared at Fancy in response. Everyone stood and applauded as Fancy Pants walked down the small aisle towards the doors of the courtroom. That day would eventually lead to the battle between Trans Equestria and Air Luna for domination of the world's airways. ~~~~~ 21:45 Hours March 25, 1988 Jones Family Mansion ~~~~~ I sat in front of the fireplace in my chair as I swirled whiskey around the glass in my hand. The cold of the outside seemed to leak into the house but I needed not to worry about that as I watched the fire. Hooves gently wrapped around me and I felt Thunderstreak's chin rest on top of my head. Raising the glass to my lips, I took a sip before lowering it again and the only sound in the room was the crackle and pop of the fire. "What're you still doing up?" I asked her as she moved around the chair to come and take a seat on my lap. "I could ask you the same." She offered as her rebuttal. "Just thinking." I said as I watched the fire. "A bit for your thoughts." She watched me with a slight frown. I sighed and took another sip from my glass before looking at her. "I wish I could tell you." I told her while I set my glass on the small table by my chair. Bringing my hand over, I stroked her cheek and gave her a weak smile. "But it's nothing to worry your beautiful little head over." "James, what's wrong?" She asked as she scooted closer to me and put her forehead against mine. "It's classified. All I can say is that a lot of our boys are going to die." I told her as I picked her up and started to carry her towards our bedroom upstairs. But as we went up the stairs, she pressed a hoof against my chest and I paused my walk with one foot on a different step. "James, I just want you to know that I'm always here if you need to talk." She said and I gave her a nod and another pathetic smile before resuming my trek upstairs. ~~~~~ 12:05 Hours March 26, 1988 War Department, Canterlot ~~~~~ I sat in front of two different maps of different locations that had several small ships and aircraft placed on them. My eyelids drooped as I looked at the maps and I let a silent sigh escape me as one of the admirals continued on about the invasions. I was no longer interested in how the invasions would take place after the death estimates for each were announced. The smaller invasion of the two would cost at least twenty thousand troops their lives. And then there was 'the Big One' as it was so called. It would cost at least the same amount but in the first wave alone. "General Jones, what is your opinion?" A voice asked and I looked up from my thoughts to see everyone else at the table looking at me. "My apologies, I'm afraid that I zoned out." I replied and Princess Luna looked at me with concern. "General, you do not look so well. Perhaps a stroll through the gardens will help you feel better." She said and I nodded before standing and walking over to the door but I stopped and turned my head to look when I heard hooves following me. Luna was approaching me and I held the door open as she led the way out into the corridor. We silently walked down a couple flights of stairs and out a door to enter the snow covered gardens of the palace. "James," Luna said to begin conversation "what is troubling you?" She asked and I did not look at her as I kept my eyes on the gardens. "Things." I told her as we stopped and watched a group of Blue jays in a tree. "This damned war. It's not fair. Not to those who must go and fight and die in nations that were once just as peaceful as Equestria." With a deep sigh of tiredness, I brushed the snow off a nearby bench and sat down on the damp wood. Luna cleared a spot next to me and sat down. "And the night terrors?" She asked as she removed her crown to show that she was not asking as Princess of the Night, but as a concerned friend. "I know that they deny you sleep. Perhaps it will help you to talk about them?" I chuckled as I looked at the ground and clasped my hands together. "You know, you sound like a filly I met back in Crystal Empire." I told her and I looked over to her with a very small smile. "But, honestly, it probably wouldn't. Unless you can get them to go away, I doubt it'll help." Standing up, I looked down to her and gently took her crown from her lap. Placing the crown on her head, I offered up a small smile to her. "Now, Princess, I think you should get back to that meeting. Send the details to my office. I have something I need to do before I head home this afternoon." ~~~~~ 13:30 Hours March 26, 1988 Equestrian National Cemetery ~~~~~ I stood in front of a headstone and looked down at it as I wiped away a couple tears. Kneeling down by the stone, I gently patted it as I looked at the writing on it; Corporal Blueblood 1966-1988 379th Bomb Group Royal Equestrian Air Force Bronze Star, Air Medal, Good Conduct Medal My head dropped as I thought about the events of the day that Blue had been killed and my hand curled up into a fist as it sat on the headstone. "I'm sorry, Blue." I said in a whisper between me and the grave. The distant roll of thunder made me look up at the sky that had been growing cloudy. The weather that week had been abnormally warm during the day and I was not surprised to see rain moving in, but one thing did make my breath catch in my throat. From my peripheral vision, I saw a white pony approaching me. I stood and turned to face them but let out the breath that I'd been holding as I saw it was Princess Celestia. She stopped and stood next to me while I turned back to the headstone. "He requested we not put his royal title on his stone." She said and I turned my head to look at her as the first few drops descended and melted the snow where they landed. "He wrote a letter. They found it in the tail turret when they took him out. I'm guessing that he wrote it during a lull in the attacks." She used her magic to teleport a letter in front of her and then levitated it over to me. I gently grabbed it from her magic as she watched me. To whom it may concern, please give this letter to my aunt Auntie, if you're reading this than I have passed on. I know I wasn't always the most well behaved foal, especially compared to Cadence, and I would like to say sorry for the stress I caused you. Tell Cadence I'm sorry I couldn't make our lunch date before I shipped out. Give my best to Shining Armor as well. I know that I surely will meet my fate among the clouds and I have one request of you. Please ensure that my title not be included on my stone. I wish to put my days as royalty behind me should I be lucky enough to live. And now to our fantastic skipper. James, I wish you nothing but the best with your life and all future endeavors. May your life be filled with joy and your home filled with love. I do hope that I should live through this ordeal so as to share a proper drink with you. Perhaps if I survive we could meet at the Copacabana and have a couple bee The letter ended there and the page had small red spots splattered all over it. I turned the letter back over to Celestia as the rain began to really fall down. She teleported it away and I looked back down at the stone as she started to walk back towards the palace. While I stood in the rain, I saw something else moving behind the stone. I looked up at movement and saw something that made me freeze all movement and hold my breath. There, behind the headstone, stood a white unicorn stallion with a blonde mane in an air force dress uniform. He had a blueish glow to him and I watched as he smiled and gave me a salute. I finally snapped out of my shock and saluted the ghostly apparition before me. I broke the salute and he did a second later before he turned and started to walk away, only to vanish into thin air. I stood there looking at where Blueblood's ghost had stood moments before, before turning and walking away. A new sense of determination filled my soul and I had a new mission after protecting those I loved; I had to avenge Blue. ~~~~~ 09:54 Hours March 28, 1988 Jones Family Mansion ~~~~~ I walked through the quiet halls of the house and had my hands clasped behind my back as I was deep in thought. Though I'm sure I looked odd walking the halls in nothing more than fatigue pants and a bathrobe, I didn't pay it much thought as I contemplated the plans that had been sent to my office. Over two dozen airborne transport units would be needed, meaning that we would be needing more C-47s and C-54s for the front line units. Then there was the fighter cover that would be required to support landings. Dozens of squadrons of P-51s, P-38s, P-47s, and even a squadron of the new P-82 Twin Mustangs would be needed. Rescue planes from the Navy would be under Air Force jurisdiction as well for rescue operations from our bases as well and we had began taking care of transferring them to their new bases. The sound of hooves behind me made me stop and turn around to see a cook stop a yard away and remove his hat. "Sir, your breakfast is ready." He told me with a small bow and I found that weird but shrugged it off as I followed him to the dining room. I sat at the head of the table and looked at the plate in front of me. Two pieces of toast, a scrambled egg, three strips of hay bacon, and a bowl of bran cereal was my usual breakfast and now there it sat before me. "Thanks." I told him as I pulled my plate to me and picked up my spoon so as to start my meal. I slowly made my way through the food but stopped halfway through my toast as the telephone in the living room began ringing. Standing up, I walked through the halls and into the living room where the phone by my chair continued to ring. Picking up the receiver, I listened to the silence on the other end for a half second before talking. "Hello?" "James, it's Amelia. We need to talk." She said on the other end and I sat down in my chair. "What's wrong?" I asked her due to her voice sounding tired and strained. "Your father is in the hospital. They said it's his liver. I guess the booze finally took its toll." She told me and my grip on the phone loosened until the receiver fell from my hand. The sound of hooves behind me didn't grab my attention until a hoof was placed on my shoulder. I turned my head to see Thunderstreak hovering behind my chair. "James, what's wrong?" ~~~~~ 11:02 Hours March 28, 1988 Canterlot Royal Hospital ~~~~~ I stood in the hallway as the doctor in front of me explained dad's condition. "It's cirrhosis of the liver. I'm afraid that even if we could perform a liver transplant, it may not take and he could be worse off than he is now. It would likely kill him. We would use part of your liver but the risks with your health is just too great. Not to mention that such and operation is still considered experimental and has, at most, a twenty fiver percent chance of living a year." He removed his glasses and tucked them into the pocket of his lab coat. "I'm very sorry Mister Jones." The doctor turned and walked down the hallway to another room and I stood there for a few moments taking deep breaths. After I felt I was ready, I entered dad's hospital room and saw him laying on the bed. His skin had a yellow tint, his face looked thinner, his stomach was swollen, and he looked exhausted despite simply laying there. "Jimmy, come here." He said in a tired voice as he slowly raised a hand a couple inches off the bed. I walked over and gently squeezed his hand. "Jimmy, I'm sorry. For all the trouble I've put you through over the years." Sitting down in the chair by his bed, I felt my eyes begin to water. "It's fine, dad. It helped me become who I am. You don't need to apologize for that." I told him as he slowly turned his head to look at me. He gave the best smile he could muster and then turned his head to look back at the ceiling. He sighed and opened his mouth but it was several seconds before any words came out. "I'm going to die. I know it." That made me about start crying but I made sure to keep myself from doing so for his sake. "We're all going to die someday, dad." I said as I patted his hand to try and offer some sort of comfort. "Well I think my someday is soon. Very soon." He told me. His lips turned up into a small grin and he looked back to me. "It's like what your grandpa Jones always said; ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if the women don't get you then the whiskey must." A knock at the door made me look over and Amelia stood in the doorway. I let go of dad's hand and walked out into the hallway with her. "The doctor talked to you, right?" She asked and I nodded in confirmation. She grabbed my hand and we both sat down on a bench in the hallway. "They said it's like he's just given up. He's not wanting any treatments of any kind. Just some pain killers and that's it." "That sounds about like him. I remember this one time when I was a kid, he broke his foot but he still went and flew the crop duster after he did so. He looked like he wanted to cry every time he pushed on the rudder pedal." I replied with a faint grin as I looked at the floor. Amelia placed a hand on my shoulder and I looked up at her. "Go home now. Go see your wife. Cause one day we'll all stop breathing, turn cold, and die. Spend time with her. I loved your father every day I was with him. Now go and spend time with her while you can." She squeezed my hand before she stood up and walked into dad's room. ~~~~~ 06:25 Hours March 29, 1988 Jones Family Mansion ~~~~~ I walked out onto the balcony for Thunderstreak and I's bedroom and sighed as I looked at the surrounding countryside. A small valley nearby was filled with morning fog and the grass shined with dew as the sun began to rise over Ponyville. The sunrise painted the morning sky a vibrant shade of pink, almost as pink as Pinkie Pie, while it faded into a light blue where the sun peeked over the horizon. Two legs wrapped around my arms and chest as Thunderstreak rested her head on my shoulder. "I was thinking, the kid's spring break starts tomorrow and maybe we could do something special. You know, just the two of us." She said as I placed my hands on her hooves that were placed on my abdomen. "That'd be nice. Problem is, can we convince someone to watch the kids?" I asked her as the first noises of the day came echoing up from Ponyville. Every morning I would wake at six just so I could hear it. The clock tower chimed for six thirty and the melodic chimes echoed off the surrounding landscape. On days like that morning, the chimes bouncing off all the different hills would sound like a song. Whether it was something made intentional by the builders or simply by accident, I was glad that it happened because of the beautiful noise. "I'm sure I could convince one of the girls to watch them." She said as the last of the chimes faded away and we were once again surrounded by silence. "I was thinking that maybe we could go to a nice resort in Mexicolt. Relax on the beach or in a spa for a week. Maybe see about getting you some hair dye." "It would like to have a hair color other than grey again. Yeah. Yeah, let's go. It'd be nice to spend some alone time with my girl again." I turned to face her and smiled at her brown mane which was sticking up in every which direction. I kissed her on her snout and she let out a small giggle that made me smile even more. Just as I was about to kiss her again, the phone in the bedroom rang and I excused myself from our moment to go and answer. When I picked up the receiver, I could hear someone sniffling as though they were crying. "James, it's Amelia." A female voice said and I immediately sat down on the bed as I knew that it wasn't good. "It's your father. I'm afraid-" Her voice cracked and she sniffled again before continuing "James, he's gone."