Chapter 1

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General Ulysses S. Grant puffed away at his cigar as he looked down at his war map. He seldom slept, and drank heavily, so he was always in a somewhat drunk and sleep deprived state. He spent most of his days and nights at the Capitol, with his generals of the Union Armies and the admiral's of the Union Navy. He could barely understand the situation at hand. With surprise attacks on Granite City and Altop in Illinois, Evansville and New Albany in Indiana, Hopkinsville and Middlesboro in Kentucky, Sioux City and Council Bluffs in Iowa he could barely understand the reports and information that came into him from those states. The so called Princess Celestia and her nation of Equestria, performed surprise attacks and raids and the weirdest factor; THEY WERE PONIES!! To Grant the war seemed to be formed out of pure fear and hate. It seemed for the so called Princess Celestia, that humans were a dangerous race that needed to be eliminated or her own ponies would suffer. But, Grant being the fiery hearted General that he was, would not have it. The main reason that Princess Celestia and her armies of Equestria attacked the Union was out of old tales and folklore, being that humans were a ruthless race running their own people into the ground and politicians driving corrupt governments. But, Celestia did not realize that the Union was a very strong and powerful nation.

Celestia whenever she did attack would always capture some humans to kill, enslave, experiment, or torture. Men, Women, Children, the Elderly no one was safe from the ruthlessness of Princess Celestia. Those who were taken prisoner, were immediately taken to camps or to laboratories. Those that were taken to the camps and talked negatively at all about the Princess, were stabbed, shot, or beaten. Those who continued to try and win the rights for their fellow prisoners and talked negatively of Celestia, were sent to laboratories to be experimented on. The Princess wanted to understand how the human anatomy would work by injecting them with lethal chemicals, severing limbs, decapitation, or even worse. Some were even given to Pegasus's who would throw them on the ground from high altitudes to watch their limbs break in sudden and painful agony.

"Those terrible and ungodly atrocities how could anyone for that matter have any peace, love, or kindness with in them" Grant yelled at his fellow generals demanding an answer as he pounded his fist on the table. He poured himself another glass of whiskey and swallowed it in one gulp as he flicked the ash off his cigar. Since the attacks he barely ate, slept, or bathed, keeping his eyes glued to his war map, smoking cigars, and drinking large amounts of alcohol. But, his eyes were not locked on Washington D.C. or the area's attacked by the ponies, it was to the east of the map beyond the paper. Ponies that could talk, reason, love, fight, or much anything else sounded like a fairy tale and then large attacks and raids appear from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Iowa. The eastern half of the continent was but uncharted territory to the Union and frankly seemed extremely frightening and troublesome. The land was apparently made up of great mountains, deserts, forests, and swamps.

"I agree with you General Grant. But, for now we must live with such evil atrocities and ungodly acts. And fight for what is right in this great open world of ours. It is rather selfish of us not to think their is more than one species in this great world" a voice said from behind.

Grant turned around in and was shocked slightly for it was the President; Abraham Lincoln. "Welcome Mr.President I did not except your visit" the General said with a salute. The President walked over to the planning table. "I absolutely agree with you Mr. President" Grant said rather flustered.

"I trust all is prepared?" said the President.

"Yes Mr.President. My soldiers, supplies, heavy weaponry, subordinate commanders, and myself are ready and on the trains to depart for Chicago which then we will march down to the Southern Half of Indiana and confront this so called Princess Celestia" Grant said with assurance.

"Very good General. But, is there any new information on these Ponies, Equestria, or Celestia?" Lincoln asked.

"Sadly No Mr. President all we have are the documented attacks and the profiles of the kind of ponies. They are devious and very skilled in deception" Grant answered with a sigh before puffing on his cigar.

Lincoln was not the kind of man to have a temper but he felt he was gonna burst with anger and frustration but calmed himself at the last moment, "We must repel these damn things or we will all be enslaved. General you must deal with them swiftly and with as little bloodshed."

General Grant stared down at his feet and sighed before tears started to form in his eyes. "Mr.President.. you know that I have been trying to deal with my drinking. I don't want to be a sloppy commander in the field, I am frightened from the hairs on my head to my toes in my boot. I will protect my family and the people of the Union until the last bullet! Even if that mean's going right into their capital and burning it to the ground."

Lincoln looked from the war map to General Grant who was now full fighting spirit and smiled. "General I trust you do well out there on the front. I hope none of your soldiers suffer a terrible fate."

"I wont fail you Mr. President" said the General who saluted Lincoln and then shook his hand. Grant went over to a large tube on the far side of the room and grabbed the rolls of parchment sticking out of it which were battle maps. He then walked out of the room followed by other generals who were his subordinates.

Lincoln was all alone in the room. He looked at the war map and spoke softly, "God Speed Grant. Return with Victory in your grasp."

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D.C.'s train station was all hustle and bustle with soldiers, wives, children, workers, and others walking to and fro. Great Union Flags waved almost everywhere. The weather was very clear and it was very hot. The General wiped his brow as he headed towards his train car. Many ranks of soldiers not having boarded the train saluted the General. The General saluted back and then spoke.

"Now Men we must fight hard and well. We must drive these so called ponies and Celestia from our homes and farms and restore peace and order in our NATION!!!" Grant yelled.

"Sir Yes Sir" said his soldiers in unison before boarding their train cars. Grant got aboard his car while his subordinates got on a train car right next to his. Grant sat down and rubbed his forehead. The train whistled and then its gears began to lurch and turn and soon the train was heading off down the tracks. Grant puffed at his cigar and drank a glass of water while he looked outside at the rich green landscape after being stuck in the Capitol War Room for days on end without fresh air, clean water, and being in the dark.

"I won't fail you Mr. President. I will bring this Princess Celestia to her knees" Grant whispered.

Chapter 2

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Grant slept heavily on the train ride to Chicago. He didn't get any sleep for almost 2 weeks at the Capitol taking only short naps. Nobody dared to disturb the General since his temper was far fiercer in the morning then at dusk. The General dreamt many dreams and nightmares ranging from Celestia's attacks to sitting on a porch after the war with his loving wife. He slept almost as soon as the train left the outskirts of D.C.. The train passed many beautiful farms, towns, villages, rivers, forests, caves, and many other extravagant things. Many of the soldiers in the train cars slept, smoked, ate from their haversacks, wrote letters home, or day dreamed about their wives and sweethearts far off else where in the country. It took a few days to cross the great expanse of the Union even by train and Grant virtually slept all the way only occasionally to get up to use the bathroom or have a drink of water.

"General. General Grant wake up sir." came a voice. The General awoke grumpy and angered.

"Who in their right mind is waking me. Well show yourself you son of a bitch. I will have you court-martialed!!" Grant said frustrated and tired with his eyes still closed tightly. One of his subordinate generals, General George Sykes drew the short straw and had to wake up the General.

"General Grant sir. We have arrived in Chicago sir" Sykes said slightly flustered but, that was to be expected since Grant bashed anyone who disturbed his sleep or concentration. Grant opened his eyes slowly and saw Sykes before him at attention giving a salute. Grant gave the salute back and then looked out a window.

"I take back what I said Sykes. You are one of my better officers and I can't lose you" Grant said with slight anger towards himself. As Grant looked out the window he saw the troops beginning to exit the trains and march away to the outskirts of the city where the General would join them on their long march to the southern end of Illinois to confront Celestia's troops. Chicago was one of the Union's most bustling and booming cities. Many factories littered the landscape making weapons, supplies, and other various goods. Grant grabbed a cigar from his pocket and began to light it before realizing Sykes was still standing at attention before him.

"Would you care for one?" Grant offered.

"Surely sir but only if you are smoking one sir" Sykes said. Grant laughed slightly and reached into his pocket and pulled out another cigar and gave it to Sykes. He then reached for his other pocket and drew a box of matches. He lit the wick and held it to the end of the cigar and waited for a couple puffs of smoke to appear from his breathing. He then lit Sykes cigar and waited for the little puffs of smoke to come from Sykes mouth.

"Finest cigars in almost all of the Union" Grant said with a slight chuckle. Sykes nodded in agreement it made him feel relaxed and calm. Grant grabbed his general's coat and hat. He then exited the train car with Sykes close behind. Two guards saluted Grant on his way out of the train car. The weather had changed to overcast and with a pattering of rain. Grant and Sykes walked past Grant's personal Company Guard that soon followed after the Generals walked past. Grant's other subordinate Generals soon followed behind after giving him a quick salute. Grant mostly looked at his surroundings. The little skyscrapers, the great smoke stacks that littered the sky, and the many people going to work and simply shopping. Grant was happy he lived in such a great country.

It took quite a bit of walking but eventually Grant, the other generals, and Grant's Company Guard arrived at the camp on the outskirts of Chicago. Grant was rather hungry and staggered on his legs since he had not eaten anything in a long while.

"Tell the cook to bring me breakfast" Grant said to one of his subordinate officers. The Officer saluted and headed toward's the mess tent to get the General's breakfast going. Grant then turned to his other generals and went in a tent with a large table. He took out the maps that he had brought with him from Washington D.C., they were maps of Southern Illinois, South West Indiana, Southern Kentucky, and Eastern Iowa all the places Celestia's attacks and raids took place.

"Okay Gentleman, as you know attacks were reported in these said cities" Grant pointed to the cities that had been attacked. "I figure that we go to Southern Illinois since it was the first place Celestia attacked and she might come back to get us to come down there but, we will be waiting for her" Grant said with a slight grin before letting out a great smoke cloud from his cigar. His generals agreed with this plan. Grant continued on about battle positions, commander positions, cannon trajectories, cavalry movements, how courier messages would be conducted, if a corps became separated during the battle, and capturing of prisoners. The Officer soon returned with the General's breakfast of powered eggs, two slabs of salty bacon, hard tack, and coffee. Grant practically gulped down his food without chewing he was so hungry after not eating for days on end munching only on cigars and drinking booze. The battle plan discussion carried on for a couple hours before the General's emerged from their tent.

"Let's get a move on Gentleman we have a lot of ground to cover and not a whole lot of time to sit idle. Now where is my horse?" Grant asked one of his subordinates. The subordinate gulped slightly as Grant had a rather rare smile on his face that slowly turned to his more traditional frown. "Well?" Grant said crossing his arms.

"Umm General. You, your officers, and other generals will not have horses. They had to be commissioned to pull the Artillery and serve as cavalry horses" the subordinate finished. Grant looked as though he was gonna burst with anger he was a general and should be allowed the right to ride a horse while traveling across a state but he simply sighed.

"Alright then. I always liked walking it helps my limbs stretch and keeps my mind open" Grant said patting the subordinate on the shoulder before walking away with his officers and generals close behind. It was dusk at this point and Grant was tired still. He saluted many regiments along the way to his tent. Before he entered his tent to sleep he gave his officers and generals these simple words.

"We leave at dawn."

Chapter 3

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Even before the sun appeared over the horizon, the Army of the Potomac was suiting up to head to Southern Illinois to defend the Union against Celestia and her armies. Many soldiers who had never left their home state were now heading to their destiny and the future of their nation which lay in their hearts, bullets, bayonets, shells, swords, and their souls. Grant spent the evening not able to sleep since he was still very troubled. What kind of tactics would Celestia employ? What would her soldiers be like and what would they look like? Would he be able to save the Union from this sudden evil? He was scared beyond belief. But, he also felt strong in his heart to do his duty for his country and with that he grabbed his hat, great coat, sword, pistol, and a lit cigar.

"Good morning General" one of Grant's subordinate's said with a salute. Grant saluted him back with a lit cigar puffing away between his lips. Many regiments were rushing back in forth getting into place for the long march down into Southern Illinois. Grant headed over to the mess tent for his breakfast.

"Good Morning General. What would you like this morning?" the cook said with a smile and salute. Grant saluted him back and then gave him his order.

"Let's see eggs, bacon, an apple, and a cup of coffee" Grant asked.

"Coming right up, General" the cook said as he began to prepare the General's breakfast. In the mean time, Grant headed over to a table and took a map of Illinois out of his coat pocket and laid it down on the table. He was heading for a specific city; Carbondale. The city lay right on the south western border of Illinois and looked like an ideal place for a raiding party. Grant took out another map but this time of Jonesboro. He studied specific locations near it such as the large forested areas, small ridges, and other little details that could shape a battle. Meanwhile, the cook brought Grant his breakfast.

"There you are General, do you need anything else?" the cook asked. The General looked up from his concentration put out his cigar and smiled.

"No that's good Thank You" Grant said. The Cook went back to packing up the kitchen. The General ate in silence while studying the map. They would have to march 325 miles to get to Carbondale. Soon, he finished and thanked the cook again and headed back towards the now assembled ranks of the Army of the Potomac. The Sun still had not risen across the horizon but, Grant could see the ocean of blue that stood ready for marching on that old road. His subordinate Generals were waiting for him along with his officers. He saluted them.

"Well Gentleman we have a long way's ahead of us and not much time to do it" Grant said. He lit a cigar but, before he began to puff and chew on it he screamed his orders.

"ARMY OF THE POTOMAC PREPARE" Grant yelled. Down the line Grant could hear generals and other officers yell Prepare to their divisions, brigades, and regiments.

"FORWARD" Grant yelled. Again down the line Grant could hear generals and other officers yell Forward to their divisions, brigades, and regiments.

"MARCH" Grant yelled. He put the cigar in his mouth and began walking without a horse down to Carbondale to meet his enemy and with him were 100,000 able bodied fighting men. The Army Of The Potomac.

*4 very uneventful days, 3 very uneventful nights, and 325 miles later*

"We have arrived" Grant said smiling a rather large grin even though his legs felt like jello and his feet felt like they had hundreds of sores. After 325 miles across rather hilly terrain and along old forests roads, across little streams, big rivers, they finally arrived at the city of Carbondale. The Army marched through the city and set up camp on the southern end of it. Grant immediately called an organization of his officers and generals. He displayed maps of Illinois, Southern Illinois, and Carbondale.

"Okay Gentleman we are here and ready. We must immediately begin setting up fortifications for an attack by Celestia. Now, we will build breastworks out of the surrounding forest and as you can see gentleman" Grant pointed towards the field of battle. The forest separated in two for a good 5 miles showing a small clearing that bared a resemblance to a small valley. "That Gentleman is the field of battle that is where we stand against Celestia and her Armies. Now the center will be occupied by George H. Thomas and his XIV Corps. To the left of him off near that small creek will be Winfield S. Hancock's II Corps. To the right of Thomas near that little lone group of trees will be George G. Meade and his V Corps. To cover the flanks will be John Sedgwick and his VI Corps and James M. McPherson and his XVII Corps. If Celestia decides to mount a cavalry attack I want the Cavalry Corps split between Phillip Sheridan on the left and Alfred Pleasonton on the right and a small detachment under John Buford and Henry Slocum's XII Corps will defend the wagon trains. I want reserves close to field if need be I have no idea the size of Celestia's force so I will need reinforcements close. Am I clear Gentleman?" Grant said puffing away at his cigar. All the Generals nodded. General Oliver O. Howard of XI Corps came up to the general.

"General how do you know that Celestia will attack here and does she know we are here?" Howard questioned. The rest of the Generals looked on while Grant stood in somewhat silence chewing on his cigar. Grant then pulled it out of his mouth and blew a cloud of smoke.

"General Howard sir, scouts that were here during attacks have said that she is apparently in this vicinity and yes she does know we are. And I'm going to push her back to what ever god forsaken rock she came under from and make sure she stay's there" Grant said pounding his fist on the table. General Howard backed off slightly and joined the group of Generals. "Now do I make myself absolutely clear Gentleman?" Grant said through his cigar clenched teeth. Grant looked up away from the Generals and saw the sun was departing from the sky he became worried. "Gentleman get to your Corps and Divisions as fast as you can and begin building breastworks and await any further orders by me" Grant said fear in his throat. It was shocking and scary to see Grant frightened here was this big tough Western general who looked like a little kid who just broke his mother's china. The Generals nodded and began to walk towards the locations of their Corps and Divisions to prepare for the battle that was soon to come. "Wait!!" Grant yelled to them as he came up with a thought. His Signal Corps told him it was going to be completely overcast that night and he decided to use it to his advantage. "NO Fires. We must confuse Celestia into thinking we are all asleep and there are no more than a few guards out to watch over the Army" Grant said with a grin. The Generals nodded their heads at the great deception Grant just came up with. As soon as the Generals left, Grant went down to the immediate area where XIV Corps would be and surveyed the landscape. Other than the soon to be built breastworks and fortifications it was pretty bare and the sun was fleeing the sky quickly. Grant took out a handkerchief, removed his hat, and wiped his brow.

The rest of that evening Corps, Divisions, Brigades, Regiments, Company's, Artillery Battery's, Engineers, and Cavalry were all preparing for the gruesome battle that was soon to occur. Great piles of dirt and tree trunks were used as barricades. Cannons were put behind great mounds of dirt on small hills, large hills, and anything that gave a good vantage point on the clearing. The Cannons were loaded ahead of time in case the attack was quick and sudden. Sharpshooters, even hid in the trees and tall grass ready to pick off any of Celestia's soldiers. Just, before the attack came Grant passed on a message to all his commanders to read to his soldiers. It went like this:

"Gentlemen of the Army of the Potomac, tonight will be a battle of epic proportions. I trust in all of you that we will win this battle and crush Celestia's pathetic little Armies. No Fires as I have said before we must send Celestia into a false sense of security and make her think that she got us by surprise. One last thing, when Celestia's Armies approach from the other side of the clearing and get with in 400 yards of your fortifications your commanders will tell you to Open Fire and you give THEM HELL. We will win this fight for sure. Signed, General Ulysses S. Grant Commander of all Union Armies and the Army of the Potomac" the officers read. As Grant was getting ready to head out onto the field he heard the cheering of many of his soldiers who had gotten the message. Grant lit a cigar and with one last swig of whisky, with binoculars in hand, he headed down to meet General George H. Thomas in the center. The stage was set.

*2 hours passed and the clouds now were cast over the entire sky*

The first they heard was the sounds of something in the brush. A great rustling of the sorts. Grant was talking with Thomas just a little way off the field about what should happen if one of his lines was breached and where the closest reserve was.

"So the closest reserve is the 4th Division, 8th Cor-shhh. Did you hear that?" Grant said. Grant turned towards the front lines and looked through his binoculars. He could barely make out the bushes that encased the forest but they were most surely rustling and he could hear the clanking of equipment. Thomas waited for Grant. Grant turned towards Thomas and grinned with a cigar clenched between his teeth. "She is here" Grant said. Grant and Thomas quickly hurried towards the front lines. Many of the soldier's were extremely frightened and not sure what to expect.

Suddenly, something began to emerge from the forest. All the soldiers were quivering in their boots with their fingers turning as blue as their uniforms as they clenched their rifles. What Grant saw next made him drop the cigar from his mouth and remove the binoculars from his eyes. Great ranks of ponies with brightly colored manes and strange colors of fur began to emerge from the wood at least 3 ponies deep in some regiments stretched almost the entire length of the Union lines with torches, spears, swords, shields, and many more gruesome weapons. Grant was frightened at what he saw Ponies PONIES FREAKING PONIES!?!? He did not laugh because he was genuinely frightened if ponies could march in proper form with weapons. Grant looked up and down the Union line and made sure not a signal spark, colorful flag, or flame appeared. The Union Line was completely dark while the ponies line's were bright with their torches and white clad armor.

"Forward, let's get the Union scum" one of the so called pony officers said rather loudly. The ponies war drums beat loudly against the ears of the Union soldiers who still sat silent. The Union soldier's grew wide eyed and even more scared ponies that could talk that COULD TALK! Grant felt shivers from head to toe surging through him, he puffed more heavily on his cigar to calm himself. Soldier's tried to run but their officer's encouraged them to stay since they would be considered cowards and let the ponies walk all over them. Grant could see the ponies getting closer and so he slowly started to walk towards the back of line near the artillery batteries so he would not be able to get shot but he stopped near General Thomas.

"As I have told you before when the ponies get within 400 yards you open fire. But, when they get that close scream out the order to fire and tell the flag bearer's to wave their flags valiantly and with pride" Grant whispered to General Thomas as he continued to walk up towards the artillery batteries. General Thomas went to a couple of regiments and told the flag bearers when he gave the order to fire to wave their flags vibrantly and that every regiment up and down the line would follow suit. The ponies got closer and closer and you could almost see their faces and then they got within 400 yards.

"OPEN FIRE" screamed George H. Thomas. The Union banners went up like a shot of lightning waving vibrantly in the night air and the line erupted with gunfire. The ponies were shocked beyond compare and began to gallop quickly towards the Union lines in the hail storm of bullets. Grant turned to his artillery commander.

"You may open fire" Grant said. The artillery commander gave the order and great fire blasts could be seen from the many various hills and small knolls where the cannonballs rained down on the ponies. The Union soldiers poured on volley after volley trying to keep Celestia's soldiers back all they could. It was a massacre for the ponies. They were simply raked with gunfire and many fell dead or mortally wounded but, they kept going. Soon a couple of regiments managed to get behind the breastworks in certain areas of the Union lines. Many couriers came to General Grant telling him that the ponies had broken through certain sections of the lines. Grant immediately sent in 2 regiments of infantry one to finish off the ponies and then a second one that would join with the first and plug in the hole. Many of the ponies did retreat back into the forest and the soldier's began to celebrate thinking they had won but, soon more ponies were coming but this time with something far worse. Out of the woods, came bolts of magic that hit the Union lines and blew up great gaps in certain areas where the line was strong and then made virtually powerless.Then, ponies would gallop in from the brush and fill into that hole making the line begin to waver. Soldiers began to panic and start to run from the bolts of weird magic that were coming out of the woods but their officers stopped them smacked them a good one and told them what they were truly fighting for to defend their homes and sweethearts. Grant feared that if he didn't deal with whatever that was firing magic on his lines then he would most certainly be defeated. He called over his chief of artillery.

"Use your fire charges on those woods and stop that magic wielding" yelled Grant. The Artillery Commander told his batteries to start using fire charges on the opposing wood. A fire charge was essentially a shell which encased was pure alcohol with gunpowder and it would explode in mid air and then send the alcohol down in an almost liquid wax affect and seriously burn or kill who ever was in its way and even possibly start fires. As the fire charges were shot into the woods the magic began to slowly dribble away and then completely stop. The woods caught on fire but, the ponies continued to come and Grant continued to put in more reserves. The battle was becoming a slogging match with extremely fierce hand to hand combat. Grant's soldiers were seasoned veterans and they fought ruthlessly in their breastworks against the pony attackers. Grant observed up and down the battlefield that ponies were trying to wheel around the Union lines and strike from behind. Grant sent out couriers as fast as he could to cavalry leaders Sheridan and Pleasonton to charge at them. He made the orders just in time for when the ponies had just begun to wheel behind the lines the cavalry charged in with full might and drove them back. Grant wiped his brow and chewed on his cigar heavily. The battle was only getting more and more intense and places were already getting nicknames for the savage fighting that had broken out such as the "Broken Knoll, Bloody Stream, and many other names". The ponies kept coming and coming and Grant only put in more reserves. But, just as the ponies seemed to be getting the upper hand they retreated back into the fiery woods they had come out of. The field and the breastworks were littered with the bodies of both sides. Many dead with missing limbs or with very severe mortal wounds. The soldiers were exhausted and again they thought they won but, Grant sensed something very big was coming.

Grant then heard it the very loud flap of many wings. "WINGS!?!" he thought this was the big one. Grant ran down to the main lines himself to see what it was. Out of the sky came many flying pegasus's led by one pegasus who also had a horn and had a weird mane and black fur it was an alicorn. Grant was scared beyond belief as were his soldiers. Suddenly, the pegasus's made a b-line for the center of Thomas's line's where Grant was. Grant ran as fast as he could to his chief of artillery.

"BRING DOWN THOSE THINGS!!!" he yelled. The cannons elevated into the sky and fired at the pegasus's bringing a couple down but not the whole of them. The pegasus's crashed into the center and then suddenly the giant final waves of Celestia's Armies came out of the brush and charged at the bewildered Union defenders. The line was cracking and many troops began to rout. Grant took all his reserves and put them into the battle. More and more Ponies also emerged from the wood what followed was an epic firefight. Many soldiers fired their rifles into the sky at the incoming pegasus while others used their bayonet as a cutlass like a pirate against a unicorn's sharp horn. Grant lit a cigar, unholstered his pistol, unsheathed his sword, and ran into the firefight his subordinates chasing after him. This black alicorn was tearing through Grant's lines and freshly arrived reserves. It stabbed his soldiers in the gut, shot intense death magic at them, shouted in a booming voice, and took them into the air and dropped them from the sky. Soldier's saw Grant join in the fight and began to feel courage run through them. Their very own general was joining them in this terrible fight. The Army of the Potomac and Celestia's Personal Army were evenly matched in tactics, strength, hardiness of soldiers, and seasoned veterans. The On both sides of the battlefield either the Union, Ponies, or no one was gaining the other hand. Gruesome hand to hand fighting reigned supreme as both sides had the other at their throats. Grant soon got to the center of Thomas's lines after slashing, shooting, and brawling his way through many ranks of Celestia's soldiers. As he passed many of his soldiers he sang in a very loud voice that made him almost hoarse the lyrics to the Battle Cry Of Freedom:

Yes we'll rally round the flag, boys, well rally once again,
Shouting the Battle Cry Of Freedom,
The Union Forever! Hurrah, Boys, Hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star;
While we rally round the flag, boys, rally once again,
Shouting the BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOM!!!!

Then he confronted the black alicorn.

"YOU,YOUR MEN, AND YOUR PATHETIC LITTLE UNION WILL FALL TO CELESTIA. PREPARE TO DIE!!!" the black alicorn said as it charged at Grant. Grant tried to shoot it with his revolver but the black alicorn shot his pistol from his hand leaving Grant only with his sword. Grant met the black alicorn's horn with his sword and they were deadlocked. Grant still held the cigar between his grinding and angered teeth.

"What gives you the right to disturb our homeland?!" Grant screamed as his sword and the black alicorn's horn were in deadlock. Grant mustered all his strength and held his ground against this terrible foe with its pure white eyes of terror. Grant held his own as his troops continued to battle with the ponies, unicorns, and Pegasus's. Slowly Grant began to feel his footing loosen so he dug his feet into the ground. He was essentially sinking with his sword still locked with the alicorn's horn. Grant looked to the sides of him and saw his men begin to triumph over the ponies and the ponies began to retreat in mass back into the woods. The black alicorn looked about with her eyes and saw her ponies retreating but, she wanted to finish off Grant. Grant assembled the last of his strength and the alicorn's horn and his sword met with another mighty clang. Fire blazed all around them and the field was shrouded in smoke almost covering the dead in a fog. Grant spat out his cigar and positioned himself and began to get the better of the alicorn until it knocked him back.

"You haven't see the last of me" the alicorn said as it looked as though it was about to take off. Grant saw a loaded rifle and just as the alicorn was about to fly off Grant shot it in the wing. The alicorn let out a screech and fell to the ground in pain with blood gushing out of its wing. It shot magic at Grant who barely missed a couple shots to the chest. Grant dared not get close to it but, he had it now as his prisoner. He yelled at some soldiers to get some rope. The soldier's got rope and Grant pointed at the black alicorn who was slowly drifting between fainting from the loss of blood and the present. The soldier's tied up the alicorn tightly and put a special harness over its horn and wings so that it could not fly off or use it's magic. They then took it to a field hospital for the wing to be patched up. Grant took out a cigar and lit it and saw a Union flag in the lying in the mud still clutched by a dead soldier's cold fingers. He picked it up out of the soldier's hands and stood atop the breastworks. His men saw him and cheered great cheers. They had successfully repelled Celestia's attack but at a very heavy price in men. But, Grant had done it he had beaten Celestia's Personal Elite Army. He knew the war was not over but he had won the first major battle and saved the town of Carbondale from certain destruction and taken quite a worthy prisoner that being the black alicorn. Grant was a very tough man but he sobbed tears as he held the flag of the Union over the breastworks with his soldiers cheering him on in their valiant effort in repelling the attack. That day in Southern Illinois the Union Stars and Stripes waved vibrantly in the face of danger and near defeat and came back to win a tremendous victory against a terrible foe.

Chapter 4

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Celestia studied over her war map back in her camp. It was a map of Southern Illinois and the positions of the Army of the Potomac and the plan of attack she would conduct on the Union. She was anticipating to hear how the attack had went from her sister Princess Luna. Celestia hadn't noticed the Colonel walk into the tent.

"Your Majesty" the Colonel said with a salute. Celestia was slightly startled by the Colonel's voice and was even more shocked at what she saw. The Pegasus Colonel had a wing wrapped up in bandages and the top part of his head was wrapped in bandages as well.

"How did the attack go and where is my sister Luna?" Celestia asked. The Colonel looked down at his muddy and cut up hooves and began to cry softly. Celestia only stared at him anticipating an answer on the attack.

"The attack failed and Princess Luna..... was...... shot..... and..... captured" the Colonel chocked out as tears streamed down his face of all the death and destruction he had seen. Celestia was beside herself the words kept passing through her head until they became dull "Attack Failed Luna Shot And Captured" she kept repeating in her mind. Tears began to well up in her eyes thinking that her sister might be dead in the hand's of the enemy but, also the thought of the enemy holding her sister as a prisoner infuriated her. The Colonel still standing at attention watched Celestia's mane turn a vibrant red, and her fur a very dark black, and her horn a terrible purple. She was boiling with anger at what the Union Army might be doing to her sister; maybe they violated her? maybe they simply shot her or amputated all her limbs off? Celestia's anger began to depart and her mane, fur, and horn turned to their original shades of color and she began to cry. The Colonel then spoke up.

"Do you wish to hear the battle figures your majesty?" the Colonel asked. Celestia nodded the Colonel pulled out a long list of the battle's description and of the casualties suffered. It went like this:

"Marched upon enemy believed to be fast asleep. Moved within 400 yards and then entire front erupts in gunfire many ponies fell. Rushed towards entrenched enemy soldiers and got within trenches and disrupted lines but was forced back multiple times by fresh reserves. Repeated assaults making it into the trenches with magic wielding blasts from unicorns but, unicorns defeated by fire charges. Tried to wheel around behind lines but enemy cavalry subdued the attack and beat it back. Luna led the final attack by air and ground slamming into the Army of the Potomac's center breaking the enemy's line. Luna engaged in hand to hand combat with officer. Last full scale assault failed and were beaten back with heavy losses including the loss of Luna due to capture by enemy. Failed to achieve objective.
Celestia's Personal Army Strength: 250,000
Army of the Potomac: 320,000
CPA KIA: 14,250
CPA WIA: 124,754
CPA Missing/Captured: 24,179
Total: 163,183 65% of total force" the Colonel finished the report. Celestia was dumbstruck at the loss of life her army one of the greatest in all of Equestria renowned for its seasoned veterans, brute strength, and immense courage was BEATEN BACK BY HUMANS!!!

"Thank You Colonel you are dismissed" Celestia said saluting the Colonel. The Colonel saluted back and headed out of Celestia's tent. Celestia immediately headed over to her war map and studied over the Union positions again. Her plan seemed flawless strike the enemy when they were asleep and slit their throats. But, what went wrong? "Scouts" Celestia thought "Scouts" she hadn't considered the factor she was being watched. Her Army did not do well in concealing their movements and that was probably one of the reasons her Army failed on the field that evening. Celestia went over to her desk and grabbed more maps. She laid them out on the table and looked for a new place to strike but, she had to let her army recuperate from such drastic losses and she needed to get her sister back. Celestia sent letters to six ponies that led some of the most elite fighting forces in the history of Equestria. They were the Elements of Harmony.
-General Twilight Sparkle and her Army of Ponyville (More Elite than Celestia's Personal Army)
-Major General Rarity and her Army of the Crystal Empire (Slightly Pompous, Proud, and Strong)
-Lieutenant General Fluttershy and her Army of the Everfree Woods (Quiet, Concealed Movements, and Deceptive)
-Major General Pinkie Pie and her Army of Rambling Rock Ridge (Very Loud, Boisterous, and Troubling)
-Lieutenant General Rainbow Dash and her Army of Cloudsdale (Famous for its deception and scouts)
-Major General Applejack and her Army of Appleloosa (Extremely Tough And With Very Seasoned Veterans)
These 6 Generals commanded the Elite of the Elite Armies in Equestria. There reputation was fiery and temperamental but, they did not lose many battles at the most about 3 battles each they lost. But, Celestia made sure to contact Rainbow Dash first and the Wonderbolt Scouts in a rescue mission to get her sister back. Luna's life was on the line.

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Grant arose from his tent that warm summer morning. It was the day after the battle, and the work of burying the dead and treating the wounded had already begun before daybreak. One of his subordinates came up to him.

"Good Morning General" the subordinate said with a salute. Grant returned the salute.

"We got a telegraph message from President Lincoln this morning. It's for you sir" the subordinate said handing Grant a slip of paper with scribbled writing from the telegraph machine. It read:

"Dear General Ulysses S. Grant,

I have received word that you won the first major battle of the war. I congratulate you sir and what you did on those fields especially the capture of a high ranked enemy officer. But, that is not the only reason I am sending you this telegram. I just passed this through Congress and got their approval to establish 6 new armies with 4 new Corps in each to help in dealing against this new threat. They are:
-Army of the Cumberland
-Army of the Tennessee
-Army of the Ohio
-Army of the Mississippi
-Army of Kentucky
-Army of the James
I wish for you to pick 6 of your Corps Commanders and promote them and then send me back another telegraph of the ones you have picked Thank You.
Sincerely,

President of the Union,

Abraham Lincoln" Grant read over the letter and then stuck it in his pocket for later when he would decide who he would promote. Grant was not entirely sure of who he would promote all his generals were extremely effective commanders and were seasoned veterans to take away any of them from his Army would cripple the fighting effectiveness of his troops but it would also allow for the troops to be farther spread out around the Union in case multiple attacks happened at once. Grant had to have time to contemplate over who he would pick. He turned to the subordinate.

"Send a message with my name back on it to give me sometime and that I will send him another telegraph message with my answer" Grant said.

"Yes sir" the subordinate said before turning towards the tent with the telegraph to send to Lincoln. But, Grant had more pressing issues to attend to that morning. As he walked past the breastworks where regiments were simply relaxing some soldiers eating apples, writing home, or simply sleeping, he saw the large holes that had been opened in the line the night before. Grant simply shook his head at the loss of life and still the many bodies that littered the field of battle. He headed towards a tent on a small hill it was guarded by the 4 best regiments in the Army, 5 artillery batteries, and 2 companies of cavalry with the Iron and Irish Brigade flanking the sides. Grant entered the tent and waiting there for him bound in chains with horn bagged, wing wrapped heavily in bandages and with 10 guards surrounding it was the black alicorn. There was two chairs and a table between the chairs. The alicorn sat on one side with heavy guarding and the other side with three chairs two occupied by General's George H. Thomas and William T. Sherman. The last was for General Grant.

"Do not get up" Grant said. The Generals and soldiers saluted him as Grant headed to his seat. The alicorn was steaming with anger as Grant came in. It had not forgotten who shot it in the wing and dueled it the night before. Grant sat down and looked into the eyes of the alicorn that were screaming with frustration and pain from the bullet wound in its wing.

"What is your name?" Grant asked as he blew a puff of smoke from his cigar before extinguishing it. The Generals looked with keen eyes at the alicorn who simply sighed since struggling would only result in more pain and a tightening of her restraints.

"It is Princess Luna" the alicorn said. The Generals grew slightly wide eyed but Grant was stone faced.

"So what gives you the right to enter our homeland and kill our people?" Grant questioned. Luna sat silent. "What gives you the right to enter our homeland and KILL OUR PEOPLE?" Grant yelled louder. Luna was still silent. Grant knew what she was doing she was being silent as not to reveal any secrets. Grant lit a cigar and blew a great puff of smoke into Luna's face and sighed. "I know Luna that you won't talk. But, you will have to eventually or that" Grant stopped and pointed to a hangman's noose "will be the place where you meet your fate. Now tell us why you ponies invaded the Union?"

Luna's face bore greater and greater anger. She suddenly lunged at Grant but she was held tightly back by her chains and one of the guards hit her over the side of the head with his rifle. Blood slightly trickled down her face. Thomas called one of the nurses but Grant stopped him. Grant got up from his chair and walked over to Luna's side. He grabbed one of her hooves and blew a big puff from his cigar lightning the embers before burning the cigar into Luna's hoof. Luna screamed loudly as Grant's cigar burned her skin. Grant then extinguished the cigar and returned to his seat.

"You monster. You will BURN IN THE SUN" Luna chocked as tears of pain streamed down her face. Thomas and Sherman looked at Grant rather bewildered. He was a very fiery General but they didn't think he was that cruel.

"I want answers and I expect you to give them to me. Now, why did the ponies invade the Union?" Grant questioned. Luna gritted her teeth in anger and thought of lunging at Grant again so she could shove her horn into his chest and impale his cruel heart but, the pain of the burn told her that if she did Grant could do something worse.

Luna cried and chocked out; "Celestia and I heard in ancient tales and songs about how cruel humans were but we did not believe them until, recently when this little nation was found. Celestia had made it her duty to wipe out the humans to save her ponies and keep the world in balance. That is all I know" Luna finished. Grant slowly clapped his hands.

"Hey that's all we needed. Thank You very much Princess. But one last question where do your ponies hail from?" Grant finished.

"Equestria" Luna said.

"Oh, really. Thank You for your help today Princess. Gentlemen" Grant said to the soldiers. They stood at attention.

"Yes, sir?" they said.

"Take Luna back to her prison tent. Put more guards on duty and if she causes anymore trouble you have my permission to whip her. She may be a Princess but she is a prisoner of ours. That is all" Grant said. Thomas and Sherman were very hardy generals themselves but they were wide eyed at Grant. Grant was a good general and a somewhat kind man with a drinking problem but, whipping was a whole ballpark away. The soldier's forced Luna up and slowly dragged her away in chains. Many guards could be seen passing in front of the opening of the tent following the soldiers and Luna to her prison tent.

Grant got up from his chair and saluted Thomas and Sherman who were still somewhat flustered at Grant's orders. "Evening Gentlemen" Grant said before leaving the tent to his own. Grant passed regiments, batteries, cavalry, and the breastworks before returning to his tent. Grant took out the now crumpled telegraph from Lincoln and pondered about who he would pick. Grant then decided:
- Army of the Cumberland - General George H. Thomas
- Army of the Tennessee - General William T. Sherman
-Army of the Ohio - General Oliver O. Howard
-Army of the Mississippi - General John A. McClernand
-Army of Kentucky - General Gordon Granger
-Army of the James - General George G. Meade
Along with his decision Grant wrote a short message to Lincoln.

"Dear President Lincoln,

Here on my picks for the new Army Commanders. I hope they will be successful in their commands. We did interrogate the alicorn who's name is Princess Luna and she said that human's to their ponies were merely from folklore but, Celestia said if they ever found a nation of humans they would wipe them off the face of the earth. That is all I have. Thank You.

Sincerely,

General Ulysses S. Grant,

Commander Of All Union Armies"
Grant finished his letter and immediately went over to one of his aides.

"Telegraph this to President Lincoln immediately" Grant said.

"Yes sir" the subordinate said as he rushed off towards the tent with the telegraphing machine. Grant looked up and sighed.

"The stars look absolutely beautiful tonight. I do miss home but, a soldier's work is never finished I promised Lincoln to defend the Union at all costs" Grant thought to himself before heading back into his tent and getting some well-deserved sleep. But, what Grant didn't realize is that night was soon to be filled with chaos and confusion.

Chapter 5

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General Rainbow Dash walked into Celestia's tent. Celestia was looking over her war map unaware that Rainbow Dash had entered her tent. The sun was slowly setting and Rainbow Dash had been racing to Celestia's camp from Canterlot all day but, she did not feel tired nor winded she was still full of energy. Her Army was catching up with her slowly the first couple of brigades just starting to arrive.

"General Rainbow Dash reporting for duty" Rainbow Dash said to Celestia with a salute. Celestia was somewhat startled by Rainbow Dash's entrance but she collected herself.

"Hello Rainbow Dash I thank you for coming with all due haste" Celestia said.

"Sure thing Princess but, what do you need?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"I need you to save my sister Princess Luna. She is being held in the Union Camp and I need you and the Wonderbolt Scouts to go and get her back from Grant's evil clutches" Celestia said. Rainbow Dash looked at Celestia's war map and saw the lay out of the Army of the Potomac's camp. "I don't know where she is being held exactly but, you can assume that she is under very heavy guard. I need you to save her Rainbow Dash. Who knows what the Union is causing to my poor sister" Celestia said as tears began to well up in her eyes. Rainbow Dash patted Celestia on the back.

"Princess I will get your sister back. No matter what it takes. I will make those Union bastards suffer" Rainbow Dash said with assurance. The sun had almost completely departed from the sky.

"Can you be in the sky off towards the Union Camp in an hour?" Celestia asked Rainbow Dash.

"Princess, I can be in the air and have your sister back in less than 30 minutes" Rainbow Dash said jokingly as she walked out of Celestia's tent to join the Wonderbolt Scouts in take off procedures to retrieve Princess Luna from the clutches of the Union.

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"General Grant" General Winfield S. Hancock saluted Grant as he walked into Grant's tent. Grant looked up from his war map and grinned. Grant slept only a couple of hours and soon was back on his feet pondering the Army's next move.

"Ah General Hancock it is wonderful to see you sir. You said you wanted to show me something?" Grant said with cigar clenched between his teeth as he shook Hancock's hand.

"Yes sir if you will follow me" Hancock said opening the tent flap for Grant. Grant walked out of his tent with Hancock as Hancock walked him towards the front lines. Hancock's II Corps took over the front line since General Thomas's XIV Corps was so badly damaged in the battle. Grant and Hancock soon arrived at these weird contraptions that looked like cannon's up and down Hancock's line.

"Um General Hancock what are these?" Grant asked removing the cigar from his teeth and blowing a pool of gray smoke into the air.

"These General Grant sir are Gatling Guns fresh from D.C. . Invented by Dr. Richard J. Gatling this baby even though hand cranked can fire 100 rounds per minute. That is as much as two fresh regiments. We can also have them aimed skyward in case any more of those pesky Pegasus come along" Hancock said with slight excitement. Grant was impressed a gun that could fire 100 rounds per minute without having to be reloaded every round. It was a wonderful invention. He placed his hand on the barrel of the gun and looked at Hancock.

"Lets hope these serve us well General Hancock" Grant said. The sun had all but disappeared from the sky and the moon slowly rose from the opposite direction. Grant stretched his muscles and yawned a great yawn. He retired back into his tent and got some more sleep.

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"There it is" Rainbow Dash pointed to the Union camp. It was the dead of night and all was quiet while she and the Wonderbolt Scouts zoomed in the air to rescue Luna from the clutches of the Union. "Let's land a little way off in the forest so that the Union soldiers can't hear us" Rainbow Dash called to the rest of the scouts. They soon began to glide down into the forest. They landed just far enough for the Union soldiers not to be able to see them but, they could see the campfires of the guards. The Wonderbolt Scouts were not wearing their regular uniforms but instead were completely camoed in black. They even wore special shoes so that their hoof steps would be concealed.

"Okay let's go to that hill. That might be where the Princess is being held" Rainbow Dash pointed to a tent with 4 guards at the entrance, *the rest of the guards had been relieved of their duties and went to bed*. Rainbow Dash and a couple of the scouts got extremely close towards the Union guards. The rest of the scouts watched on hiding behind trees and bushes. Rainbow Dash unsheathed a dagger she had with her as did the other scouts and they got closer and closer. Rainbow Dash got behind one of the guards and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Who's ther*hugh*" the soldier said as he fell dead after Rainbow Dash stabbed him in the back with her dagger. The other guards looked about before they too fell with dagger wounds to their backs. Rainbow Dash entered the tent and was shocked at what she saw. Princess Luna was chained up, in bandages, and had long streak marks with dried blooded from where she was whipped. Luna looked up and saw the familiar Rainbow mane of Rainbow Dash and was filled with excitement but pain since all the whipping she had been put through and the bullet wound in her wing.

"Rainbow Dash I'm so glad to see you. Get me out of here" Luna said. Rainbow Dash was still horrified at Luna's appearance but, she began to help Luna get out of her chains.

"I remember now" Rainbow Dash said as she grabbed a mane pin she had in her mane. She began to undo the locks of Luna's chains. Soon Luna was free. "We have to get out of here" Rainbow Dash said. Rainbow Dash helped Luna out of the tent where some of the Wonderbolt Scouts were waiting. They too were shocked at the sight of Luna as they slowly helped her towards the rest of the regiment of the Scouts. Luna was slightly yelping in pain because of her wing and the whip marks. They were almost in the clear until, one of the Wonderbolts helping Luna tripped and landed on Luna's injured wing.

"OWWWWWW" screamed Luna. The Scouts and Rainbow Dash were in slight shock. They began to hear voices.

"What was that?"
"Who is there?"
"THE PRINCESS IS ESCAPING WITH PEGASUS'S GET HER!!!!!" screamed a soldier. The whole camp began to erupt as soldiers awoke with guns in hand, artillery batteries began to fire in the direction of the screaming. Rainbow Dash and Spitfire (Captain of the Wonderbolts) started to help lift Luna into the sky. The rest of the scouts were already in the air waiting.

---------
"GENERAL GRANT WAKE UP. THE PRINCESS IS ESCAPING" yelled Grant's subordinate.

"WHAT?!?" Grant screamed. He immediately rushed out of his tent and flares began to ignite the sky and reveal the bodies of many Pegasus's in the air. Grant ran towards General Hancock.

"General get your Gatlings aimed into the sky to bring down those ponies. Our cannons can't simply make the cut. You have got to bring down the Princess!!!!" Grant screamed. Hancock headed over to the Gatling operators and gave them their orders.

------
Rainbow Dash and Spitfire were struggling to get Princess Luna into the air. The rest of the wonderbolt's made evasive maneuvers to avoid the cannonballs, musket, and pistol fire. Slowly but surely Rainbow Dash and Spitfire got Luna into the air and began to take off in the direction of home. The Wonderbolts followed in suit but, just as they thought they were home free many Wonderbolts began to go down. Rainbow Dash and Spitfire didn't no why until they saw the Gatling guns. They were monsters able to fire many rounds in only a short amount of time and they were bringing down many of the Elite Wonderbolt Scouts. Rainbow Dash and Spitfire continued to pull Luna along until Rainbow Dash was hit in the wing.

"Gah" Rainbow Dash said as she slowly began to lose altitude. Spitfire lost her grip on Luna's hoof and accidentially made them drop right near the clearing of the previous battle which was still the Union front line. But, she acted cowardly and she and the rest of the Wonderbolts left back toward's their camp leaving Rainbow Dash and Luna at the mercy of the Union.

"Go Luna leave me" Rainbow Dash said unable to get up from the bullet wound to her wing.

"I won't leave you" Luna said.

"You must they may do terrible stuff to me but they will do far worse to you. Now GO!!!" Rainbow Dash cried. Luna slowly limped towards the forest where she led Celestia's Army only a night or two before. Luna quickly hid in the brush hoping she was not seen. She looked around and saw many of the Wonderbolts dead or wounded around the camp that was now fully lit. Slowly, she saw General Grant, some of his generals, subordinates, and Union soldiers come towards Rainbow Dash who was mortally wounded.

-------
"Well Well what have we here?" Grant said with cigar between his teeth looking down at Rainbow Dash who was seriously hurt. Rainbow Dash looked up at Grant.

"I am Rainbow Dash and you are a heartless bastard" Rainbow Dash spat at Grant. Grant only laughed and smiled.

"Rainbow Dash is it well then, oh let me see your mane" Grant took his cutlass and cut away Rainbow Dash's camo to reveal her bright rainbow mane. Grant was genuinely surprised. Luna in the brush only looked on in horror.

"Bring me a pair of shears" Grant said to one of his soldiers. The soldier saluted and soon returned with a pair of shears. Grant knelt down to Rainbow Dash's side and stroked her colorful mane. It was beautiful.

"What are you going to do?" Rainbow Dash said frightened and in pain.

"I'm gonna give you a haircut" Grant smiled. Grant slowly cut Rainbow Dash's mane from her body until she was completely bald. Rainbow Dash never felt more bald. She cried as she looked up at her beautiful mane now detached from her body. Rainbow Dash felt practically naked. Grant unholstered his revolver. Luna put a hoof to her mouth as she tried to hide her sobs as she walked away at the scene she did not wish to see. The once great General Rainbow Dash was reduced to nothing.

"This is for the Princess's escape and to tell your Princess Celestia never to mess with the Union" Grant said as he pointed the barrel of the revolver at Rainbow Dash's head and pulled the trigger. Luna heard the shot in the distance with tears still streaming down her cheeks but, she continued to limp back to her lines.

Nothing more was said that night.

Chapter 6

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Grant looked down at his hands as he sat at his desk in his tent. He almost killed Rainbow Dash at point blank range. Was he really that evil of a man? Just as he was about to shoot Rainbow Dash, Grant fired his revolver into the air and then dropped it collapsing into tears. "Take Rainbow Dash to the aid station and fix her wing. She has suffered too much this evening" he chocked. The rest of the night he sat at his desk not wanting to talk to anyone only to be with himself. Grant was a fiery man and a passionate general, but he was not cruel nor terrible. Why he cut off Rainbow Dash's mane baffled him was he stooping down to the level of a cutthroat?

The sun slowly began to rise revealing the many dead Wonderbolt Scouts on the field from the night before. Grant got up from his desk and put on his hat, coat, revolver, and cutlass. Just as he was about to leave his tent he grabbed Rainbow Dash's mane that he had chopped off her head. Grant felt the mane the hair coursing through his fingers like rocks in a river. It smelled sweet and fresh like a meadow of flowers he felt absolutely terrible for cutting off Rainbow Dash's mane. Grant walked near the breastwork's and looked at the Gatling Guns. The terrible weapons that had brought down so many of the enemy the night before. "Terrible thing war is. Everything changes when the bullet is fired from the gun and when the pen writes the treaty everything is irreversible" Grant thought to himself as he walked along the breastworks toward's the aid station. The aid station had many guards around it. Grant entered and saw many Wonderbolts getting amputations, dying, being treated, or suffering. Rainbow Dash was sleeping on a cot, her wing throughly bandaged from the Gatling Gun wound. She was bald after what Grant did with the shears. Grant felt immense sorrow towards her. He did realize she was a General and what she did to rescue Luna was very honorable. Grant stared at Rainbow Dash while she slept. Slowly Rainbow Dash began to awake and she saw Grant with her mane and she immediately tried to tackle him.

"YOU BASTARD!!! YOU KILLED MY STALLIONS & MARES AND CUT OFF MY MANE!!! YOU ARE A HEARTLESS BASTARD!" Rainbow Dash screamed. Grant stood there dumbstruck. Soldiers, Surgeons, and Nurses tried to hold back Rainbow Dash as she wanted to strangle General Grant. Eventually a doctor gave her a shot that calmed her down but she was still filled with anger and hate. Grant got slightly closer to the cot. Rainbow Dash looked up at him, her face filled with anger, rage, and hate. "What do you want , you bastard?" Rainbow Dash angrily asked.

"I wanted to give you back your mane and to tell you that I am sorry" Grant said. Grant knew it would be impossible for Rainbow Dash to forgive him. Grant handed Rainbow Dash her mane back to her and she quickly grabbed it out of his hands and held it. "I know you will never forgive me even to the day that I die. But, I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry for what I did. I couldn't kill you for one being what you did to save Luna was more honorable and had more courage than any man I have ever know. These Wonderbolts are probably some of the greatest flyers that I have ever seen" Grant said holding back tears looking at the many injured and wounded Pegasus's. Rainbow Dash looked at Grant a little curiously. She was told that humans were heartless and cruel and here was one that was apologizing to her for killing so many Wonderbolts, cutting off her mane, and nearly killing her. "I just wanted to say that I am sorry and if you won't forgive me that is fine. Goodbye" Grant said as he left back for his tent. Rainbow Dash still didn't quite believe him. Just as Grant was about to leave the aid station he turned around and looked at Rainbow Dash.

"You are probably one of the most honorable and bravest Generals I have ever met" Grant said before leaving the aid station. Rainbow Dash looked down at her mane and hugged it. She looked at the doorway where Grant was standing and had a single tear drip down her face. Maybe Humans were not as vastly terrible as they actually were? Maybe they shared the same loves, fears, sadness, and other emotions as ponies did. Rainbow Dash looked at her wing and touched it with her hoof it was still very much in pain. She tried to get some sleep and rest for a while.

Grant walked back to his tent. But, was stopped by one of subordinates.

"General sir" the subordinate said with a salute.

"I don't want to talk now please excuse me" Grant said continuing to walk towards his tent after saluting the subordinate.

"I have a telegraph message from President Lincoln sir" the subordinate said. Grant stopped and looked back at the subordinate who held up the telegraph message. Grant walked over to the subordinate and took the message.

"Thank you you are dismissed" Grant said to the subordinate saluting him. Grant headed back towards to his tent. Grant sat at his desk and opened the telegraph and began reading it:

"Dear General Ulysses S. Grant,

I received your message and I do agree with your choices for the leaders of the new armies. They are all intelligent, seasoned in battle, and they know how to win. So, what are you going to do with the Princess?" Grant stopped and reread the sentence a couple times and thought about when the Princess escaped and when Rainbow Dash was shot he then continued to read. "With that out of the way I do suggest you must send out the new commanders as soon as possible so they make take their new posts in case Celestia attacks else where. We can only hope to repel Celestia from our lands and for her to never come back. Stop them all you can General Grant. Thank You and God Speed.

Sincerely,

Abraham Lincoln,

President of the Union"

Grant put the message on his desk and stroked his forehead. Grant grabbed a cigar from his coat pocket and contemplated. He told his subordinates he would not see anyone for the rest of the day and evening. Grant was too busy planning where he would place the new armies in case Celestia attacked.

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Celestia paced back and forth in her tent. She was deeply troubled. Rainbow Dash had not returned and neither did her sister. Late the night before, Spitfire and the Wonderbolts returned. They were very few in number when they did return. Celestia was extremely concerned for both Rainbow Dash and Luna. She feared the worst. Celestia began to cry when one of her subordinate's rushed into her tent.

"CELESTIA CELESTIA BEG TO REPORT YOUR MAJESTY?" the subordinate said out of breath and with a salute. Celestia looked the subordinate dead in the eye.

"What What What?" Celestia said back with a salute.

"We found your sister!!" the subordinate said. Celestia was slightly struck back.

"Wait what did you say?" Celestia wanting to confirm what the subordinate said.

"We found YOUR SISTER!!" the subordinate repeated. Celestia rushed to the subordinate and hugged him.

"Oh Thank You Thank You. Where is she?" Celestia asked her voice filled with joy. The subordinate was being held in a death hug.

"In....the.....aid station your highness" said the subordinate. Celestia practically flew out of her tent towards the aid station. Tears streaked down her eyes as she flew as fast as she could to the aid station, she was so happy to see her sister back in her camp. But, as Celestia galloped into the aid station she was slightly stricken back at her sister's appearance. Luna was heavily bandaged, she had long whipping marks on her sides, and one of her wings showed the sign of a bullet wound. Celestia slowly walked over to Luna's cot and watched her sister tears in her eyes.

"Hello Luna" Celestia said. Luna opened her eyes and looked up at her sister with a smile.

"Hello Celestia it is wonderful to see you again my dear sister" Luna said with a weak smile. Celestia hugged her sister softly as not to cause her bandages to separate or to put her in pain. Celestia looked in to Luna's eyes and smiled.

"What did they do to you? Did they violate you?" Celestia asked with anger in her eyes as she looked at her sister's wounds. Luna simply sighed.

"Well they chained me up, whipped me if I did anything bad, and I was shot in the wing by an officer I had a duel with and I still think it was General Grant" Luna said. Celestia became furious hearing the name Grant was it really the man she had faced on the field of the battle and the same one that had wounded her sister?

"I will throw him into the sun and make sure he suffers" Celestia yelled. Luna watched her sister burst with anger and she laughed. She put a hoof to Celestia's shoulder and sighed.

"I hope you will my sister but, I do fear the worse for Rainbow Dash" Luna said with a sigh. Celestia calmed herself and listened keenly to her sister's words. "I had to leave for our lines as quickly as I could Rainbow Dash gave me the chance to escape. I told her I won't leave her behind but, she would not have it. I watched in the brush as Grant cut her mane off but, I could not bare to watch" Luna chocked up on her tears "him kill Rainbow Dash." Celestia bowed her head holding back tears at the loss of one of her best generals. Luna began to cry thinking of Rainbow Dash's mane being cut away from her and hearing the shot that killed her. Celestia with tears streaming, red in anger, and filled with hate towards the Union kissed her sister on the forehead.

"I will have my and your revenge sister" Celestia said to Luna. Luna smiled tenderly even though the pain from her wounds was almost unbearable. Celestia hugged her sister again. "Please try to get some rest" Celestia said. Luna nodded and closed her eyes to try and get some much needed rest after walking close to enemy lines and her wounds being unbearable. Celestia left the aid station and headed towards one of her subordinates.

"I want telegraph messages sent to each of my commanders. I want to tell them where I want them to attack I only hope that we can overwhelm Grant and force him to surrender" Celestia said to her subordinate. The subordinate saluted and grabbed a quill and paper ready to jot down Celestia's message to each of her Generals.

"Okay let's start:
-General Twilight and her Army of Ponyville- Attack and Capture Sioux City, Iowa (Use your knowledge and planning to the best of your abilities)
-Major General Rarity and her Army of the Crystal Empire- Attack and Capture Cincinnati, Ohio (Use your strength and prowess wisely)
-Lieutenant General Fluttershy and her Army of the Everfree Woods- Attack and Capture Hagerstown, Maryland (Use your deception and quietness to your advantage)
-Major General Pinkie Pie and her Army of the Rambling Rock Ridge- Attack and Capture Evansville, Indiana (Make it the enemy absolutely fear you by being loud and sound like your force is 3x bigger than it actually is)
-Major General Applejack and her Army of Appleloosa- Attack and Capture Kansas City, Missouri (Use your seasoned and skilled veterans carefully and you will prevail)

Sincerely,

Princess Celestia,

Ruler of Equestria" Celestia finished and then turned to her aide.

"Get this message out as fast as possible to the Generals. It is time we bring Grant and the Union to its knees" Celestia said with a very evil grin. The subordinate saluted and immediately headed to the telegraph machine to send out the message. Celestia turned towards the direction of the Union.

"Grant will feel my wrath, as will Lincoln, the Union, and all the people that live within it" Celestia said to herself with an evil smile. The War to Defend the Union had truly begun.

Chapter 7

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The New Army General's George H. Thomas, William T. Sherman, Oliver O. Howard, James McPherson, Gordon Granger, and George G. Meade waited for General Grant. The Generals were soon to be off toward's Chicago where they would board trains and go out to their new armies and defend certain areas of the Union. Grant had not been feeling well for the past couple days and spent the whole night coughing, sneezing, having mood swings, cold sweats, and headaches. Grant had been different over the last couple days.

"Apparently he's been slipping something in his coffee each morning to calm himself" General Thomas said to General Howard.

"It's cocaine. That new wonder drug he likes to use it to calm himself but it has some weird side effects" General Howard said back to General Thomas.

"Good Morning Generals" Grant said with a smile and salute. He was feeling much better that morning after getting some much needed rest after picking intricately where he would send the new armies.

He decided:

-General Thomas and the Army of the Cumberland- Head to Fort Dodge, Iowa to protect the Iowa sector
-General Howard and the Army of the Ohio- Head to Middletown, Ohio to protect the Ohio sector
-General Meade and the Army of the James- Head to Thurmont, Maryland to protect the Capital and the Maryland Sector
-General Sherman and the Army of the Tennessee- Head to New Albany, Indiana to protect the Indiana Sector
-General McPherson and the Army of the Mississippi- Head to Sedalia, Missouri to protect the Missouri Sector
-General Granger and the Army of Kentucky- Head to Louisville, Kentucky to protect the Kentucky sector

"I hope all of you are ready with your subordinates to move out towards your new positions. Gentlemen, we all must understand that these ponies will do what ever is possible and in their power to destroy this nation. We cannot let that happen think of your homes and family do you wish to see them persecuted and brought to their knees by these so called intruders?" Grant asked his generals a cigar being chewed between his lips.

The generals just looked about themselves with cold, dark, heavy-set faces that looked as though they were marching to their own demise. General George H. Thomas walked forward to Grant "General Sir, We shall give them hell. I am not going to be some four-legged son of a bitch's servant. I am going to be a man and destroy these invaders and drive them from my home" Thomas said before standing back in the line of generals. Grant smiled slightly and blew out a puff of smoke.

"Gentlemen that is the kind of ruff courage, tenacity, and greatness I need to see in all of you. Now before I send you on your way I have the latest telegraph decoding and information from our spies" Grant said before walking back into his tent. The Generals waited a short while before Grant came back out with stacks of papers and small slips. Grant handed each General his sector and what information had been gathered there and of the whereabouts of enemy movement and mobilization. Grant stood before them yet again.

"Gentlemen I will say it again we must defend our sectors, we must defend our country, and we must drive these mud waddling, dastardly, inept,INBRED PONIES FROM OUR NATION!" Grant said with a triumphant roar. The Generals cheered and saluted Grant. The Generals and Grant then headed in the direction of the train station. When they got there everything was according to plan and preparation.

Many troops were preparing to head aboard their designated cars. Cannons, horses, food stocks, Gatlings, tons of Ammunition, and Explosives were also being loaded aboard at a very quick and no nonsense pace. Grant walked over to a platform and stood before many Union soldiers who were busily talking, writing home, eating, or tending to other things then he raised his hands. The ranks of Union Soldiers were silenced and looked at the mighty head General of the Union Armies. Grant put out his cigar and took a swig of whisky and then spoke.

"Gentlemen, as you know we are in the midst of a great and brutal war. We are fighting to keep our homeland, liberty, and freedom in tack from these so-called invaders. I am here to ask you all to fight as hard and as stubborn as you can. These coming months my dear friends, will be some of the most trivial and difficult in all our lives. I know that many of you were there during the first attack and we lost many to the enemies swords and magic. But, let that not disgruntle nor drive you down for you are the mighty men of the Union. Think of your homes, families, wives, sweet hearts, the soil you feel through your fingers in your fields, the mighty wood in which you chop, the steel that you mend and bind, the soft touch of your loved one's lips, do not let these PONIES take that away from you. Our founding fathers established this country in the name of liberty and justice for all but, there are some who want to take that away from you. Gentlemen, I fear that our enemies wish to see us dead and nothing else we are to be exterminated. No pity nor mercy will they give us only blood and torment. We are seen as vicious, dangerous, and a threat to all but, the only threat I see is the enemy that faced on the battlefield. We shall win this fight, drive them away, and show them that the Union will never fall nor perish not from the mightiest sword or cannon ball. If we should fall it is because we fell into our own toil and greediness. The Union will stretch from coast to coast but, it shall never FALL!!!" Grant yelled triumphantly. Cheers erupted loudly and Union flags were waved in the wind. Grant stood there out of breath and smiling to his valiant soldiers. Many soldiers cried many tears of happiness because they knew that General Ulysses S. Grant would lead them to victory. Grant gave one final salute before stepping down from the podium. His Generals clapped happily for Grant.

Soon, the cheers died down and the troops filed into their cars and the trains began to leave. Grant spoke with his generals one last time.

"Gentlemen, Fight gallantly and triumphantly. If you should die it will not be in vain. I wish to see you all again at the end of this. May we all return home to those that we love. Let's give them hell and keep the flag waving so our future generations will come to love and hold this country near to them until the end of time." Grant said with one final salute. The Generals all saluted and then got into their own carriages. Soon many train whistles could be heard and the trains rumbled and sped away to their respected areas. Grant stood in the once bustling and now empty station. Rain began to patter down on him. Grant stared into the sky.

"May God Help Us All"

Chapter 8 - Thomas vs Twilight

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Twilight Sparkle was huffing and puffing as she continued the march at the head of the Army of Ponyville as they approached the outskirts of the Hawkeye State. It was the beginning of June and the weather had been unusually hot in the 85 to 95 degree range. The air was hot and muggy as the Army of Ponyville continued to march on. "I bet those Union chumps are suffering just as much as we are" she muttered under her breath. She could hear the clanging of metal, the pattering of hooves, and the panting of tongues. Twilight was called upon by Celestia to invade the state of Iowa and threaten the right flank of the Union and the heartland itself. Twilight's Army was far more experienced and trained then even Celestia's Army. Before Twilight even began her long march to the Hawkeye State she sent scouts to observe Sioux City to make sure it was safe to enter and that any Union Army was far away for safe entry. As Twilight approached the border she saw a sign:

Welcome to Iowa the Hawkeye State

Twilight let out a slight chuckle and continued her long march. Before her was a long open road with fields spread on either side. Many green stalks of corn extended their reach for many more miles. A couple of trees dotted the landscape but, nothing much else. If one had a telescope you could make out a couple of farms and silos sparsely put but, they were too far out of reach of the objective so Twilight did not bother.

"Major Emerald" Twilight called to one of her subordinates. A tall stallion with a grey coat and green jacket trotted up to Twilight.

"Yes General?" the Major replied.

"I sent those scouts out what 2 days ago and I have no idea where they are. Have you heard any word?" Twilight asked.

"Sadly no General I-" the Major was suddenly cut short as a young pegasus fluttered next to Twilight.

"Hello General" the pegasus said with a salute. It was one of the scouts that Twilight had sent out. A very young mare with a speckled white coat and good stature. Twilight saluted back.

"You have been gone two days. What have you got?" Twilight questioned the scout.

"Yes General well" the scout said reaching for a map inside her haversack "General we travelled many miles and found Sioux City. As of currently there are no signs of the Union Army within at least 200 miles. The City is in fact little more than 10 miles away from this exact spot" the scout finished. Twilight's face lit up slightly.

"Well that is some good news. If we quicken our pace we could be at the outskirts of the city in three hours or less. Thank You young Scout you have helped keep this Army safe from destruction" Twilight said with a salute. The Scout returned the salute. Twilight then called out and the Army quickened its pace.

*3 hours later*

Twilight looked out with a telescope out at the city of Sioux. Her Army had marched very hard for three hours to approach the city and were exhausted after over a 500 mile march in total but, the ponies still wanted a good fight. Twilight let them rest for a short while as she observed the city and looked over her many maps and battle plans.

Sioux City was the traditional MidWest City not to big but, big enough for settlers or explorers going west. It had a population of 3,500 people who were sparsely spread apart but, the community was tightly niched. The town had a general store, drug store, Sheriff's office, bars, two hotels, and had a Farmer's Market on the Weekends in the Mid Spring to the Early Fall. The perfect representation of a MidWest town.

"Quite nice and small. Shouldn't put up much of a fight" Twilight thought to herself. She stared through the telescope again and looked around the many plains and prairies stretching east and north. There was no sign of the enemy only fields filled with corn or some other product with the occasional silo or tree. Twilight stared back down at her map and called for her other generals. They all configured in a large tent made of canvas. The map was dotted with many purple squares representing the forces of Twilight's Army with a small intricate square in the center of the map representing Sioux City.

"My fellow ponies, this is where we begin our assault into the Union's heartland. After receiving vital information from my scouts I have found out there are no enemy forces within 200 miles so our assault will most likely commence without bloodshed. First, I want a slight artillery barrage made on the town not so much as to crater the place but, more as to frighten and shake the people. Then I want a wide sweeping formation from my left flank and then followed with a sweep from the right and center. I want this attack carried out in 1 hour and I want that city taken before dusk" she said with slight assurance in her voice. Twilight was the kind of general who always needed everything to follow a precise schedule and there were to be no muck ups or that subordinate officer would face her wrath. "Do I make that clear?" she said her face filled with seriousness and coldness. The Generals nodded their heads. Twilight's Generals were some of the best tacticians in Equestria since they were trained by one of the greatest generals in Equestrian history. There were 3 Corps Commanders each with 2 divisions under their command.

General Jasmine was a soft spoken pegasus who had a silver blue coat with an elegant white mane that shimmered in the sun. General Iron was a hard talking, heavy drinking unicorn who was gruff with a black coat that could conceal him in any night. General Violet was a fiery and passionate earth pony with a purple and grey coat that made her look extremely fearsome and frightening. These were the great generals of Twilight's Army of Ponyville.

"Now General Iron you will carry out the sweep on my left flank while Jasmine and Violet you will follow up with the sweeps from the center and the right okay?" Twilight said. Jasmine nodded her head and Violet felt slightly angered since she wanted to carry out the main attack.

"Ok General I will whip those Union bastards into submission. You can count on it" General Iron said in his gruff and deep toned voice with a salute. Twilight returned the salute and Iron trotted off towards his Corps to tell his divisional commanders to prepare for the attack. Jasmine and Violet followed in suit. Twilight headed out of her tent and looked out upon the field of battle and the city.

*1 hour passed*

Twilight motioned over one of her subordinates. A young pegasus with a flowing red mane.

"Yes General?" the subordinate said with a salute.

"Go tell the Chief of Artillery to begin lightly shelling the city and then fly to General Iron and tell him to begin his attack in exactly 30 minutes" Twilight ordered. The subordinate saluted and then trotted off to the Chief of Artillery. Within minutes the sound of cannon fire erupted along the many plains and great red plumes began to appear down at the city below. The city was made of wood so it already began to be scorched. But, Twilight could care less.

*30 Minutes Later*

Twilight watched with her telescope as the divisions of General Iron's Corps began marching on the city. The dark purple armor cast a slight shimmer against the sun that was now at half mast across the sky. Each brigade held two flags one representing the Army of Ponyville and one symbolizing the crest of Celestia. It was a spectacle worth seeing. Twilight could see a few townsfolk mostly men fire upon the ponies with guns but, that did little to stop the onslaught. The fighting townsfolk fell and were swallowed up by the wave of purple. Twilight then turned her head to the center of her lines and her left. Another great set of waves began to approach towards the city. Twilight could only smile at the spectacle taking place. Was this really the best the Union had? A couple of backwood hillbillies with pop guns.

An hour or so passed before a subordinate pegasus of General Iron flew to Twilight carrying some parchment.

"General Twilight this is from General Iron" the pegasus said with a salute. Twilight saluted back and took the parchment.

Sioux City Captured. No serious casualties only minor injuries. Townsfolk are all dead. Awaiting further orders. General Iron

Twilight looked out with her telescope and smiled widely. The flags of her Army were dancing high in the air with her soldiers cheering greatly at their victory. The sun only then began to depart upon the victorious troops of Ponyville.

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"General Thomas General Thomas sir wake up" one of George Henry Thomas's subordinates said trying to shake the general awake. General Thomas shot up in anger and sleepy eyed.

"What is it Colonel? Whatever it maybe it better be important otherwise I will see you go on a 20 mile hike" Thomas said rubbing his eyes. General Thomas and the Army of the Cumberland had been taken by train from Carbondale to Chicago and then to Des Moines, Iowa and then had to march 84 miles in the dead heat of Iowa in June for 1 day and 1 1/2 nights before arriving at Fort Dodge. Thomas was extremely exhausted after marching and also from tediously planning his defense and possible attack against the Equestrian forces in the area. Unbeknownst to Twilight and her forces who watched every step they took coming into the Hawkeye state they were being watched by a small batch of scouts darting all over the place and riding hard for almost an entire day and night to get back to Fort Dodge in time. The Colonel gulped.

"General sir this a very important message. Sioux City has fallen and there is a large Equestrian Army within the area now" the Colonel said handing Thomas the scout messages. Thomas took the messages and read them over and grew wide eyed.

"God help those people in Sioux City. They are probably all dead but, there is nothing you nor I could have done about it. Well since I have already been rattled as it is I will get up" Thomas said stretching himself and sitting on the side of his cot. He shoved each of his feet into one of his black leather boots that were caked with mud he then stood up and did some of his daily stretches. He went over to his desk and grabbed his general's coat and buttoned it up and fitted his hat upon his head. The Colonel held open the tent flap for General Thomas.

"Thank You Colonel" the General said with a slight smile. The air was still still muggy and hot yet the moon showed brightly in the sky. It was 1 am the scouts had only arrived about 1 hour before. Many tents lined everywhere with campfires gloomily lit giving some other light then from the moon with guards watching keenly for any sudden movements from the plains beyond or in front of their own faces. Thomas then turned to the Colonel.

"Wake all of my Corps Commanders and have them meet me here. But, let the boys sleep for a little while longer they will need it" Thomas said. The Colonel rushed off and headed to find and wake the Corps Commanders. Thomas stared at the moon and lit a cigar. His nerves were rock hard but, he was slightly terrified at these ponies after seeing of what damage they caused at Carbondale to his troops.

*25 minutes later*

General George H Thomas, General David S. Stanley (IV Corps), General John M. Palmer (XIV Corps), General Joseph Hooker (XX Corps), and General Washington Elliott (Cavalry Corps) surrounded a map of eastern Iowa with a large red circle around Sioux City. Large Blue Squares surrounded Fort Dodge and small intricate black squares indicated small towns and cities between the two large cities. Thomas was staring over the map tapping Sioux City with his finger and occasionally sipping some water. The air was deathly still and quiet you could hear a fly switch between two leaves at least three miles away. Then General Stanley spoke up.

"General sir I understand the seriousness of the situation but, I do need orders or what you need us to do to meet this threat head on or by surprise?" Stanley asked with an eyebrow raised. The other generals looked on at Thomas who had shut his eyes deep in thought. His finger continued to tap the paper.

"Stanley sir, this threat I believe might be more difficult than what we faced in Carbondale. Gentlemen you all know that Carbondale was a difficult and long drawn out fight in which we lost many men but, I fear blood shed might be even far greater in the battle to come. If we are to meet the enemy on the field then we cannot allow their spies to spot us upon the morn we must travel by night and form at this town" Thomas said pointing to a small town "Correctionville. It serves as a good vantage point for us and there is actually some woods on the west side of town. If we can hold those then not only will our troops be shaded from the heat but, it will allow our snipers to not be so out in the open. Now General Stanley I want you to form on the right flank and serve as the anchor in these fields and woods" Thomas said pointing to Stanley who looked over his position and where to put his divisions in the most effective way possible. "General Palmer I want you to be set in the center woods and hold until the very last do not break or budge because there will be nobody on your back except your own divisions" Thomas said pointing at Palmer's position in the center which Palmer then studied. "General Hooker I want you on the left of this army in Bacon Creek and at the Little Sioux River wrapping the rest of your force around in the fields" Thomas said pointing at Hooker's position on the left flank which Hooker looked over. "Finally General Elliott I need your cavalry to be ready for any attacks that will try to wheel around the right or left flank" Thomas said pointing to the edges of the right and left flanks of the two Corps Elliott studied the paper intricately. "Also Gentlemen have your Gatlings positioned into the air if their any sudden aerial attacks without those then we couldn't stand a chance from their diving bombing pegasus" Thomas said while his generals studied their set positions and copied them down onto their own maps.

"One last thing Gentlemen if we lose at Correctionville then the way through Fort Dodge, Des Moines, and the heartland of this nation will be open. We cannot lose. Is that understood?" Thomas said with fury in his voice. His generals looked up and nodded. Thomas was a brilliant tactician and when he saw potential in a good advantage point that was more than 80 miles away from their already set position he would use it to the best he could.

"Alright Gentlemen awake your troops immediately and get your ranks formed, cavalry saddled, cannons readied, and be set in 2 hours" General Thomas said with a salute. The Generals returned the salute and hurried out towards the areas where their Corps were located getting them ready for the march. Thomas stepped out of his tent and stared at the moon. Its brightness still showing in the hot and muggy air like a massive snowball in the middle of hell.

*2 hours later*

The Army of the Cumberland was set and ready to march off from Fort Dodge. The many soldiers had tired and sleepy expressions on their faces but, determination was in their hearts to repel this foe from the Union. Thomas finished getting himself dressed and headed out towards the front of the army where his subordinates waited for him to give the command to move. Thomas looked on at the closest brigades the flag of the union and of the regiment bounced slightly in the cool night wind.

"ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND PREPARE" Thomas yelled. The subordinates followed suit and sounds could be heard down the line repeating the command.

"MARCH" Thomas yelled as he started the long haul. The word was repeated down the line and the soldiers marched off to the tiny town of Correctionville.

*one very slow and tedious day and four hours later*

Thomas felt his legs ache and crack as he walked to the first tree in the forest. The Army of the Cumberland had finally arrived to Correctionville after a tedious day of constant scout patrols and slow movement worrying about spies and enemy scouts. It was two am when the Army finally arrived at the western outskirts of Correctionville. Thomas slumped down and rested against the tree sipping a canteen after marching in the dead heat of Iowa in cotton. Couriers from the Corps commanders came towards him.

They all asked the same question "should they begin building fortifications their men are exhausted but, the general awaits your order?" the couriers would ask. Thomas lifted his hat slightly up revealing his eyes.

"Tell General Stanley the sooner his men get the fortifications and breastworks up the more time they have to sleep and rest" Thomas finished by getting on to his legs and heading over to where the makeshift commander center had been set up with his subordinates. The couriers then scurried away back to their commanders. Thomas then could hear the sound of axes, shovels, and picks busily cutting or digging in preparation. "Music to my ears" Thomas said with a slight chuckle.

*three hours later at the first sing of morning light*

Thomas awoke when it was first light and immediately headed out to the fortifications and inspected each one thoroughly. Great mounds of earth had been piled up and tree trunks were used as makeshift pillboxes. Almost any vantage point their was a piece of artillery would sit upon it. The Gatling guns had their noses pointed straight to the sky. Then he would meet each of his Corps Commanders and their Divisional Commanders to make sure everything was according to plan. The Army of the Cumberland was set.

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*the night before*
Twilight was busily talking with her Corps Generals when a Pegasus scout came into the room. She was planning the Army's next movements deeper into Iowa.

"General Twilight?" the scout said dread filled her voice as she raised a hoof in a salute. Twilight turned to the scout and returned the salute.

"What is it?" she asked. The scout handed her the parchment which Twilight took and began to read. Twilight's face filled with shock which slowly broiled into fury and frustration.

"BY CELESTIA'S MANE, THE UNION IS IN IOWA" Twilight yelled in anger. Jasmine, Iron, and Violet looked on rather confused. Jasmine waved the scout away so he would not bear the brunt of the wrath starting to flow from Twilight. Violet approached Twilight.

"What do you mean Twilight? Iowa is a state in the Union" she said. Twilight shot her an angered look.

"I know that but, there is a Union Army in Iowa. Some enemy scouts must have found out because now there is an army 33 miles away entrenched" Twilight groaned. She was a meticulous planner but, she could easily be unravelled if things did not go according to plan. Her Generals were still slightly confused.

"Can't we simply go around the enemy? We could sneak away" Violet said.

"We can't because if the Union Army finds out we have gone around they could strike us from behind and wreck us. We must destroy them and put an end to their nuisance" she said pounding a hoof. The Armies of Equestria were all but blind without their scouts and spies in the Union. The generals nodded in agreement the opposing Union force had to be destroyed.

Twilight immediately went through with her generals how they would attack. "Okay my fellow ponies in the message it said that the enemy was deeply entrenched, gatlings were pointed at the sky, and every vantage point was covered with a cannon. Any way we go will be heavily monitored and observed. There will be much bloodshed on this day sadly. Now General Jasmine I want you to come through the top half of these woods to the north" Twilight pointed to the upper half of the forest north on the outskirts of Correctionville.

"Oh Okay" Jasmine said in a very small voice as she wrote down where she would put her troops on her own map.

Twilight then turned to Iron "General Iron I need you to pound the center of their lines with a heavy cannon barrage to soften them up and then charge head strong but, make sure that your troops are sparsely put so they will not get killed in chunks."

"Alright Twilight I will make those blue bloods howl" Iron said with fury as he wrote down the locations and placements of his troops in the center.

Twilight turned lastly to Violet "General Violet I need you to try and take some of the pressure off of Iron so I want you to try and swing around the enemy on the right and try to defeat the Corps. But, be careful because the enemy is backed up against a river which some of your troops might not be able to traverse."

"Yes General I will make the Union pigs reel" Violet said with a snicker as she turned to write down her troop positions.

"My fellow ponies I want this Army on the move in less than 2 hours" Twilight said. The Generals nodded and headed off towards their respected camps to prepare their Corps. Twilight stared back down at her map and went through the meticulous process of writing and memorizing every location and troop strength of the enemy.

*2 hours later*

"MARCH" yelled Twilight at the head of the column. Voices shouted down the line the same word and the Army of Ponyville began marching to meet the Army of the Cumberland.

*The Sun is just barely rising over the plains when the Army of Ponyville gets into position just out of cannon range*

Twilight looked through her telescope at the Union positions. They were indeed heavily entrenched and she could make out a couple gatling guns pointed into the sky. She studied over her maps again.

"There is no other statistical way of getting around this entrenchment and blood not being spilled. I fear the....worst..*sniff*....will...*chokes*....befall...*quiet sob*....us...all" Twilight said to herself as tears streamed down her face. Twilight then galloped out to a brigade of ponies waiting to begin the attack. They all cheered great cheers when they saw Twilight. She waved her hoof triumphantly in the air trying to form a powerful smile.

Twilight looked at the faces of these ponies. They were some of the toughest, fiercest, great, and powerful ponies in all of Equestria. Their faces ranged from young to old but, they all had seen their shares of war. Twilight had tears streaming down her cheeks knowing a majority of these fine soldiers would probably never come back as their destiny awaited them. The soldiers continued to cheer and cheer waving their swords, spears, and flags triumphantly in the air. Some couriers suddenly appeared.

"General Twilight can General Jasmine begin her attack?" asked a courier.

"General Twilight can General Iron begin his attack?" asked a courier.

"General Twilight can General Violet begin her attack?" asked a courier.

Tears continued to stream down Twilight's face. She did not want to face death, defeat, or shame. "I'm sorry" Twilight chocked.

"Ma'm are you okay?" the couriers asked in unison. Twilight gained her composure and turned to the couriers.

"Yes you may begin the attack" she replied.

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General Thomas had just finished inspecting the center of the Union entrenchments then he heard cannon fire. Thomas turned to General Stanley.

"Is that our artillery?" Thomas asked Stanley.

"No sir but, it seems something is coming" Stanley said handing Thomas a pair of binoculars and pointing over his shoulder. Thomas was not extremely surprised at what he saw. The entire other side of the prairie was erupting with fire and large purple squares stood at the ready. Soon many shells began to blow up over their heads.

"Return Fire immediately and have the troops set to their positions. They are coming" Thomas said rushing for cover. Stanley drew his sword and rallied his troops to their positions and sent a courier to begin firing at the other end of the prairie. Soon the sounds of cannon fire back in forth echoed through the air.

"Hold Fast Boys hold fast this is just like Carbondale hold steady" Stanley yelled. His infantrymen had faces of stone at what terror might be coming towards them.

"Colonel and Major" Thomas yelled over to two of his subordinates.

"Yes General Thomas sir?" the Colonel & Major asked in unison.

"One of you got General Hooker and General Palmer and alert them of the enemy's presence and to expect an attack at any time" Thomas said in a calm voice but, his nerves were slightly jagged. They both saluted and ran off in either direction. Thomas wiped his brow with a handkerchief.

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(Hooker's XX Corps Southern Part of Battlefield)

"General Hooker beg to report!" yelled the Major with a salute. General Hooker turned to the Major and returned the salute.

"What is Major?" asked Hooker.

"General Thomas says that the enemy is already beginning an attack and he says to be on high alert for any sudden enemy attack or presence within your sector" said the Major. Hooker suddenly grew wide eyed.

"Need not worry Major" Hooker said pointing over the Major's shoulder "the enemy is already here".

Great waves of purple armor started marching towards the heavily entrenched columns of blue. The Union soldiers poured on volley after volley into the great lines of ponies and unicorns but, they continued to march after many of their number had fallen. Soon enough a few brigades had suddenly broken through the Union line causing havoc. Hooker ran out of his tent with his subordinates in hot pursuit.

"PUT IN A RESERVE DON'T LET THEM WALK ALL OVER US!" yelled Hooker. A subordinate ran off towards a spare brigade and they immediately went to work plugging in the hole. Cannons began to pour on more and more shot and canister into the ponies lines but, the cannonade from the ponies was just as furious. Smoke began to choke the field as did the cries of the wounded. Hooker looked on with his binoculars just a little farther down towards unprotected line of the river and saw small masses of purple trying to come up behind.

It was a diversionary attack. Hooker ran towards two fresh brigades.

"Run to the end of that field over there and stop those ponies from reaching the other side of the shore" Hooker yelled amid the chaos. The brigadier generals nodded and ran their brigades as fast as they could to the southern end of the field. Hooker looked on at the current carnage in the woods and fields. Fierce hand to hand fighting had ensued. Tails and limbs were being ripped from their owners, flags would constantly drop and then be taken back up again, and bayonets and swords clanged in the air with sheer terror. Pegasus soldiers began to dive bomb the Union troops and drop rocks or grab the soldiers and drop them from great heights. The Gatling Guns pushed with all their might until their barrels were white hot trying to bring down the Pegasus foes. A subordinate grabbed Hooker by the arm.

"General please stay back we can't lose you" said the subordinate officer. Hooker nodded knowing the line would collapse if he died. He watched on with binoculars at the carnage ensuing further down river. The ponies and two brigades had gotten into a furious fight on the bank of the river and in the river itself causing many to meet a watery demise by being dragged down by their armor or pack.

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(Palmer XIV Corps Northern Part of Battlefield)

"General Palmer beg to report sir!" yelled the Colonel with an exhausted salute. General Palmer turned to the Colonel with a rather hectic salute.

"What is it Colonel?" the General asked worry and anxiety filling his voice.

"General Thomas says the enemy is beginning their attack and wants to tell you to be on high alert for any enemy attack or presence in your area" the Colonel said resting his hands on his knees catching his breath.

"Need not worry Colonel the enemy is already here" General Palmer said pointing through a clearing of trees the onslaught that was already occurring. Purple armored unicorns were already trying to do great damage and death with their magic against the blue clad men. Both sides fired cannon back in forth but, the trees on the Union's side seemed to be catching fire and only progressed since their was a slight wind and the heat was unbearable.

"PUSH THEM BACK SOLDIERS PUSH THEM BACK TROOPS DRIVE THEM BAC-*oh*"YOU ARE GONNA GET IT YOU BASTARD!" yelled Palmer as he drew his sword and dueled with a unicorn. The soldiers looked on at their General and some diverted and shot the Unicorn and begged the General go to the rear. The General fired a few shots from his pistol before retiring behind the cannonade. He stared through his binoculars.

The ponies were sending great waves of troops and Palmer could only send so many as to conserve for later efforts. If the enemy sent a brigade he could only send in two regiments.

"I need two regiments to plug up that hole immediately" Palmer said turning to one of his subordinates. The subordinate would then salute and return with two fresh regiments. Palmer was holding against all as his troops were pushed harder and harder pouring volley after volley.

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(General Stanley IV Corps Center of the Union Line)

Suddenly the cannon barrage stopped. Many of Stanley's soldiers lay dead but, many also managed to survive against the terrible onslaught. Stanley and Thomas had their eyes glued to their binoculars. The Colonel and Major got there just in time.

"General Thomas, General Hooker is holding against all but, is slipping slightly" the Major said out of breath with a salute.

"General Thomas, General Palmer is holding very well but, the enemy is relentless" the Colonel said exhausted with a salute. Thomas saluted both back without giving them a glance. Suddenly the great purple ranks began to rush forward at the entrenchments of Stanley's forces. The Union cannon continued to pour on more and more but, that did not deter the enemy. Leading the charge of these great ranks was a large unicorn in black armor. Any shot fired at him was deflected.

When the enemy forces got within firing range of the Union forces muskets they began to gallop into the onslaught of fire. The Union soldiers were staring destiny and death in the face. The ponies slammed into the Union fortifications causing havoc.

General Stanley turned to a subordinate "Bring three more brigades on the double" he yelled. The subordinate ran off to get the brigades.

"Somebody has to stop that black unicorn!" yelled Stanley. General Iron was causing havoc amongst the Union ranks like Princess Luna did back in Carbondale.

General Thomas began to walk forward in the direction of the black unicorn. Stanley tried to stop Thomas "Don't Thomas we need you stop stop we can't lose you STOP STOP!!!!" yelled Stanley but, to no avail. Thomas unsheathed his sword and began to sing the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

My eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the lord,
He is trampling out the vintage where the Grapes of Wrath were stored,
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON!!!

Thomas's sword met Iron's horn. The two generals clashed and clanged at one another as the battle continued to rage on. Fire and Anger burned in their eyes.

"Where are those brigades?" Stanley yelled. The subordinate had still not returned with the brigades.

General Iron smiled evilly "You are filthy swine and should rot in what ever hell hole you came out of".

General Thomas kept his face determined and solid "You are the one's who are intruding on our lives. I will see you are the one that is destroyed". Suddenly Thomas began to feel himself slip.

"GOD DAMN IT WHERE ARE THOSE BRIGADES!!!!" yelled General Stanley. He could hear something far off in the distance but, looked on in horror as Thomas was laying on his back with General Iron bearing down on him. Thomas held his sword over his chest trying to stop the stab by General Iron.

"YOU PATHETIC FOOL NOW YOU SHALL DIE!!!" yelled General Iron as his horn was about to plunge. As General Thomas slowly began to close his eyes accepting his fate a great wave of blue overcame and he saw General Iron no longer on the ground but, instead pinned by 5 Michigan Union Soldiers. One soldier stabbed General Iron through the chest with a sharpened bayonet.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" echoed Iron's scream through the air and then was silenced by a gunshot. The Ponies looked on at their General Iron laying dead with 5 Union soldiers standing over him they suddenly bolted or surrendered. General Stanley helped up General Thomas and retrieved his blade. Thomas walked over to the five soldiers. They saluted as did Thomas.

"I owe my life to you Gentlemen Thank You" Thomas said shaking each one's hand. Thomas then looked over at a fallen Stars and Stripes and held it aloft in the air. This mighty stone man began to cry tears and bawl as his soldiers cheered him on.

The center of the Union Line had held.

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(Twilight Headquarters for the Army of Ponyville)

Twilight looked on with her telescope at every angle of the battlefield watching keenly when the ponies were gaining the upper hand. She suddenly saw tons of General Iron's troops fleeing in mass. Twilight galloped at full speed to meet them.

"DON'T RUN STAND FIRM SOLDIERS STAND FIRM!" yelled Twilight. Some began to rally around her while others continued to run or were picked off by snipers.

"General Iron is dead" yelled a few soldiers. It hit Twilight dead on. One of her greatest generals dead, her fiercest, her most brutal, and most powerful now gone. She felt like a shattered mirror with a thousand missing pieces. She tried to gain her composure, when suddenly two couriers came towards her.

"General Twilight beg to report" they both said in unison with a salute. She returned the salute.

"General Violet's forces have broken and suffered heavy losses. What remains of her command are returning to this position" one courier said.

"General Jasmine's forces have suffered 75% losses and are retreating with many wounded to this position" the other said. Twilight's eyes welled up with tears. She began to bawl as troops began to gather around their once proud and now broken general.

Soon enough Generals Jasmine and Violet appeared. Jasmine had one of her wings bandaged from a sniper bullet and half of her flank had cut and scratch marks. Her eyes were full of tears.

"I'm sorry General Twilight. We failed you I'm so sorry. I should have pushed my troops harder. I'm too soft" Jasmine said her head down with tears dripping in great waves. Twilight could only look at this already fragile pegasus(AUNO: NOT LIKE FLUTTERSHY) who was suddenly broken beyond repair. Twilight put a hoof to Jasmine's chin and looked into her tear filled eyes.

"Don't worry Jasmine it was never your fault it-" Twilight said before being cut off.

"It was my fault" yelled out Violet. Her back left leg was bandaged and she had blood trickling down her side. Tears welled up in her eyes "I should have been far more careful and cautious when attacking the Union. All those ponies lost" she said as she began to bawl. This tough back talking earth pony was suddenly nothing more but, like a crying foal. The troops began to cry out it was none of their faults.

"IT WAS MY FAULT!!!" Twilight yelled at the top of her lungs tears streaming down her face as her troops and subordinate officers looked on surprised. "I should have known attacking a place like this was a disaster from the beginning. I should have pushed harder" she said turning Violet "but, I should have also been more cautious" she said turning to Jasmine. The troops began to cry out No or they should try again. But, Twilight held up a hoof.

"Now here me friends here me there will be another day to fight but, it is not this day. Now we must show good order and never let the enemy see you run. We will be back again...someday..." Twilight said as her troops cheered her on. Jasmine and Violet trotted over to Twilight's side.

"What are your orders now General?" they asked. Twilight looked at the many dead bodies, crushed weapons, burnt flags, and at her two out of three Corps Commanders left. She dug slightly at the dirt and then a single tear dripped down her face.

"Retreat" she said.

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General Thomas, General Stanley, General Palmer, General Hooker, and General Elliott gathered around a campfire resting themselves.

"So General Hooker" General Thomas asked "How was the fighting in your sector?"

"Very fierce General very fierce. I do fear there were many casualties but, we did drive the enemy from the field" Hooker said.

"That is good" Thomas said gloomily "General Palmer how about you?"

"The enemy set fire to the trees periodically but, we managed even though we were nearly broken three times. There were massive casualties" Palmer finished his voicing choking thinking of all the dead.

General Thomas turned to General Stanley. They nodded. Thomas agreed to tell the other generals what happened in the center after they had gathered the wounded and better established their position. Thomas then turned to General Elliott.

"Well General Elliott the enemy never truly got to surrounding us. But, still how was protecting the back of the flanks?" Thomas asked.

"It was fine General we were mostly idle but, the occasional Pegasus would fly in and we would kill it swiftly" Elliott said staring at his boots. General Thomas checked his watch, it was 2 am. He yawned a great yawn and looked up at the moon.

"Gentlemen I think I will retire for the night. Good Night and see you in the morning" General Thomas said getting up and saluting. The other Generals followed suit. General Thomas then headed off for his tent.

Thomas removed his officer's coat, hat, and sword. He took out his pen and paper ready to write telegraph notes to send to Lincoln and Grant. He stopped himself and looked at his sword. He nearly lost his life today but, many of his soldiers lost their lives he was saved yet they weren't.

"War never....*sniffs*....gives....*chokes*...it....only....*slight sobbing*....takes" General Thomas said collapsing into tears.

The Iowa Sector of the Union was now in the safe hands of the Army of the Cumberland.

Author's Notes:

Well guys here is the latest chapter. Again I'm extremely sorry for not writing consistently. It's okay if you are mad at me I understand but, I have a ton of work and I have been working extremely hard at school to keep my grades spectacular. However I managed to find just a little time to write another chapter. What will happen to Twilight, Jasmine, and Violet since the Army of Ponyville was destroyed? Will we see General George H Thomas in future chapters? We will see.

Now these next couple of chapters are going to get very confusing because they are essentially each sector of fighting and they are divided between a Union General, Equestrian General, and what sector they are fighting in. These chapters will also be very long because I am writing about the lead up to a battle, the battle itself, and some of the aftermath. I will have an index I for each chapter. It will go like this:

General Thomas and the Army of the Cumberland vs General Twilight and her Army of Ponyville
Iowa

General Howard and the Army of the Ohio vs General Rarity and her Army of the Crystal Empire
Ohio

General Meade and the Army of the James vs General Fluttershy and her Army of the Everfree Woods
Maryland

General Sherman and the Army of the Tennessee vs General Pinkie Pie and her Army of the Rambling Rock Ridge
Indiana

General McClerand and the Army of the Mississippi vs General Applejack and her Army of the Appleloosa
Missouri

General Granger will protect the Heartland of the Union from Kentucky.

If anyone requests I might be able to do an Order of Battle for each army MAYBE. I'm sorry if the commanders positions are not completely historically accurate just bare with me. But, again I hope you guys enjoy this chapter.

If you find any grammar mistakes please P.M. me or comment below since it really helps with my writing. Thanks a bunch!

The Map has changed so that no southern half of the US exist's but it's just the Northern Half of the US (Civil War Era).

Chapter 9 - Howard vs Rarity (Part 1: To set the Midwest ablaze)

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"General Howa- Oh sorry to disturb you general" one of Oliver O. Howard's subordinates said turning away. General Howard was kneeling over his bed and praying. He then did the crucifix symbol on his head, chest, and shoulders before standing. He approached the subordinate.

"That is alright Major. A man should never be afraid to express his spirit and how much he loves the lord above" Howard said. He turned his back from the Major and closed his eyes to finish the prayer.

Oliver O. Howard the commanding general of the Army of the Ohio was a very religious gentleman and a very capable commander of his men. Ever since Carbondale, Howard had been praying more often then he would. Often calling to the lord to give him guidance on how to disband this equine menace. Many in the Army of the Ohio could care less of the general's religious affiliations since he was a staunch and capable commander.

"Amen" Howard said and stood to his feet. Walking out of the tent with the major he took a wide look of the camp and the surrounding land. The Army of the Ohio was camped out on the other side of Middletown on the banks of the Mad River. Middletown was a small community of 2,500 wayward settlers and other Americans mostly interested in rural farming, heading out west, or commuting to Cincinnati just south. Howard was given imperative instructions by Grant not to enter or engage with any pony armies in the vicinity especially those that may approach Cincinnati.

General Howard reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a letter that Grant had given him before leaving Carbondale. He must have read it at least a dozen times but, another couldn't hurt. It went as "General Howard, You cannot willingly get in an engagement with the ponies especially if they get you into a street brawl in Cincinnati. I will not guarantee your armies survival in an urban environment for a long duration. If you choose to get involved in a situation such as that the only Armies close enough to support you are General Sherman and General Granger. Although they are only 130 miles to the South they might not be able to show in time to see you win the day. If the enemy is upon you proceed with caution and try to defeat them soundly or retreat accordingly until a more suitable position can be established. God Speed and glory for the Union!" signed Ulysses S. Grant. General of the Union Armies and General of the Army of the Potomac.

Howard looked up and scanned his eyes across the army. The Army of the James numbered at about 95,000 men and was considered one of the smaller armies in the Union (especially when compared to the Army of the Tennessee and the Army of Kentucky that numbered close to 200,000+ and the Army of the James in Maryland that numbered close to 300,000+). The Army of the Ohio was thought not to take on such larger forces and work more as a wandering army that could be readily deployed elsewhere in the Midwest if need be. Howard sighed to himself.

"Well at least we not worry for some large force" Howard thought.
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"Yuck how can these humans live so filthy" Rarity exclaimed wiping her foot off of mud. The Army of the Crystal Empire had been on the march through Kentucky and now slyly laid nearer the border Kentucky and Ohio in Maysville. The ponies had traveled relatively undetected through Kentucky and now rested after marching on the banks of the Ohio River. "Someone bring me a towel right this instant" Rarity called to one of her subordinates who she treated more as chauffeur's then actual military individuals. A younger mare came trotting along with a clean white towel. Rarity dappled her forehead and then stared down the mare. "That will be all". The mare with tail between her legs scurried back to her fellow officers.

The weather in that part of the country had been unusually hot and humid and it made progress somewhat slower than what was originally suspected. Nonetheless, the ponies moved nearly effortlessly to avoid detection from the Union Armies potentially on the prowl. Rarity took out her personal compact mirror. It was a silver case with two red heart shaped gems and Rarity's name engraved in glossy writing. On the back of the watch it said, "To Rarity my love. Your's forever, Spike". Rarity let out a small smile. "Oh my little Spikey Wikey how I wish I could I see you" she thought. She popped open the mirror and looked at her hair. It was all frizzled and frazzled from the hot and humid weather. She reached into one of the sacks on her back and pulled out a hairbrush. She slowly brushed it to remove as many of the knots and unnatural curls that were being made.

"Ah now that's better" she said to herself. Her eyes then darted over to the group of junior officers who were staring at her like statues in the snow. "Well aren't you all going to your soldiers" Rarity said her eyebrow raised. One of the officers approached her quivering slightly. Rarity was at times quite surly and a little rude to her underlings but, she was also a fierce and determined fighter that many in the Army of the Crystal Empire respected and trusted with some of the more dangerous tactical situations presented to the equine soldiers.

"General we found a survivor from Maysville. We think he might be a Union scout" the lieutenant said. As soon as the Army of the Crystal Empire went into Maysville they pillaged it for all its worth so as to begin inciting fear among the populace. Rarity was hoping to draw out one of the Union armies onto a battleground of her choosing especially since her Army was one of the biggest in all of Equestria numbering nearly 210,000. Rarity raised an eyebrow and looked at the lieutenant.

"Well bring him over. What are you waiting for?" she said. The lieutenant saluted and scurried back to the group of junior officers. Behind them out came a young man in a blue shell jacket and blue trousers. His face was bruised and a large garish lash had been stricken along the front of him. With his hands bound two unicorn's threw him to the ground. He coughed loudly as he kicked up dirt where he lay. Rarity slowly walked over to him and put a foot against the side of his head. Her head met his.

"Well well what do we have here?" she said mockingly. The young man stared at Rarity unflinchingly although you could see tremendous fear in his eyes. "So, do you know where the rest of your sniveling compatriots are hiding in this awful land" Rarity said. The young man said nothing. Rarity pushed her hoof harder on the side of the man's head. He whelped quietly with pain. "Oh so you do squeak?" she said. "Where are the rest of your kind hiding". The man finally spoke.

"I won't tell you a fucking thing you four legged monster" the young man said with blood trickling from his mouth. Rarity scoffed.

"How rude!" she exclaimed. Her hoof pressed harder on the side of his head. Again the man whelped but, did not say a thing. Rarity began to grow more impatient at the insolence of this human. She pressed even harder on his head. The young man was writhing in pain as his head felt like it was being crushed by a vice. But, again the man said nothing. Rarity finally relented. "If you won't talk then we have other means" she said with a sinister tone. She waved a hoof over to one of her junior officers.

"Yes general?"

"Bring me the scorcher"

"At once General"

The junior officer disappeared for a short while. Upon returning they produced a branding iron that was as red as the sun and bore the symbol of Princess Celestia's house. Two unicorns came and pulled down the pants of the young man exposing his buttocks. One unicorn took the branding iron while the other held the young man in place. Rarity's face once again met the man's.

"I played fair with you all this time and you still won't speak. You have left me no other choice. Since your kind seems so keen on branding ours it is only fair that we give you a symbol of gratitude" Rarity said with a devilish grin. The unicorn edged closer and closer with the branding iron. The young man prepared for the worst pain imaginable that was to come. The searing hot pain from the branding iron combined with his already grievous wounds would surely kill him. The young man closed his eyes and thought of his home.

"HOLD WHAT YOU ARE DOING!" came a voice. Rarity, the young man, the unicorn attendants, and the junior officers looked to where the voice came from. A Pegasus was approaching from the sky. It was one of Rarity's scouts. "General Rarity! I have a report for you from the scouts" he said. Rarity walked over to the scout.

"Read your report" Rarity said keenly.

"Yes sir" the scout said as he produced a scroll. He laid it out in the dirt and began to read.

"Reports indicate to stay far and away from Louisville, Kentucky. Two Union Armies with unknown size are present and are actively scouting the surrounding area including Lexington. Decision would dictate to look further north at Cincinnati, Ohio. A much smaller Union Army is only present in the outskirts of the city to the north and could be easily dispatched. Union scouts are traveling the roads more frequently in the daytime so it could be best to travel at night and along the Ohio River to avoid detection on approach to Cincinnati. Further instructions are needed". The scout finished and gave the report to Rarity. All the while the two unicorn's still stood with the branding iron and the young man's ass hanging in the air.

Rarity slowly turned back to the young man. "See? That wasn't so hard" she said with a grin. The young man's eyes were screaming in pain and anger. Rarity saluted the scout. "Thank You again. This will be a great benefit to us all" Rarity exclaimed. Turning to her junior officers. "Make ready the army we are marching to Cincinnati at dusk" she commanded. The junior officers saluted before darting off in various directions of the Corps and divisional commanders camps. Rarity turned her gaze back to the young man.

"However, we must set an example" she said. She looked at the Pegasus' guards and nodded. They applied the branding iron. The young man screamed in violent pain before his throat was slit cleanly. Rarity simply walked away back to her tent in preparation for the Army's departure.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A courier approached General Howard's camp at dusk. Howard was just about to sit down to supper with his officers when the courier approached in a huff and mild panic. "General sir General beg to report!" the courier shouted between breaths. A major got up and walked up to the courier.

"What's your report Corporal?" the major said. The courier handed the major a note and the major walked it over to Howard. Howard held the letter near a fire and read:

"Advance scouts approaching from some mass of ponies. Yet unknown size. Movement is sporadic and for a large part undetected. Last reported sighting was in Flemingsburg and Murphysville. Further instruction is required." Howard looked up from the letter.

"What did it say sir?" asked a colonel.

"It says a group of ponies is in the vicinity. It can't yet be determined if its an Army" Howard said. He stroked his beard slightly and thought. Grant warned not to bring on a general engagement due to the size of the Army of the Ohio however this might be nothing more than a raiding party. They could be aiming to attack Cincinnati or to draw the Army of the Ohio away in order to get them in a wild goose chase. One thing Howard thought with confidence is it couldn't be an Army otherwise the Army of Tennessee and the Army of Kentucky would be on the move. Howard sat for a moment.

He finally spoke, "Whose element is the furthest south of the Army?" Howard asked.

"General McClerand's division" a colonel said. Howard thought again about Grant's words but disregarded them again since this might have been nothing but a small raiding party.

"Tell McClernand to go immediately to Cincinnati and to address the situation" Howard ordered. The courier saluted and rode off to the south. Howard and the junior officers sat in silence.

"Pardon me sir but is it wise to send just a division? It could be an army" an officer questioned.

"I hope it is enough" Howard said quietly.

"Do not bring on a general engagement". Grant's words echoed in Howard's head.

Chapter 9 - Howard vs Rarity (Part 2: Cincinnati Crossroads)

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As morning light began to peek through the clouds on that summer day in Ohio, McClernand's division was on the move. Having marched in the middle of the night from the Army of the Ohio's position in Middletown, only now had the division made its way into the vicinity of Winton Woods and the Colerain Township. The division had marched non-stop through the night to reach Cincinnati to address whether a pony raiding party was present. McClernand could not put out forward sentries due to the heavy cloud cover the night before blocking the night sky.

McClernand yawned mightily. "Why march all the way in this humid place only for us to get there and for nothing to be there" McClernand thought to himself. He hung around at the back of column with the second brigade mostly made up of men from Illinois. McClernand briefed his brigade commanders the night before on Howard's behest to not bring on a general engagement and to only engage if absolutely necessary against a potential pony raiding party. Huff, all this for a simple raiding party. McClernand thought he could do a better job running the Army of the Ohio then Howard ever could but, kept himself grounded and his thoughts to himself.

The division began to pass through Winton Woods. A slight wind stirred in amongst the trees affording some relief along with shade to the soldiers from the tremendous humidity and now the heat of the sun. The Winton Woods was an oak and hickory forest. The trees seemed to creak with a strong enough gust. The division passed silently through the woods as to not draw attention to themselves or the potential pony spy that could be watching their every move deeper in the forest. McClernand took a map from the satchel on his horse and asked his subordinate to come to his side. It was a map of the Southern half of Ohio, Indiana, and the Northwest half of Kentucky. It gave a somewhat general outline of the surrounding geography and the various cities, towns, farms, and woods of the area. The one intriguing thing it had going for it was it showed general troop placement of not only the Army of the Ohio but, also of the Army of Tennessee and the Army of Kentucky. If this fell into enemy hands it could be disastrous for the three armies in the vicinity and could potentially spell destruction for the entire Midwest. McClernand turned to his lieutenant.

"In any circumstance that should happen to me or the general command. This map must be destroyed to prevent capture by the enemy" McClernand said. The lieutenant saluted.

"Yes sir" the lieutenant said. McClernand saluted back and then waved off the lieutenant. The lieutenant joined the rest of his junior officers by the colors. As the rest of the troops passed through the Winton Woods they crossed Winton Lake and soon arrived at a clearing. A courier was galloping reverse to the column and stopped at McClernand's side.

"Colonel Crocker sends his compliments sir" the corporal said. McClernand returned the salute. "The colonel wants to know if the Army will be retiring soon or at least stopping for water and food?" the corporal replied.

"Tell Colonel Crocker not at this time. We must make for Cincinnati with all due haste." McClernand replied. The corporal saluted and galloped back towards the front of column. McClerand's aide de camp approached by his side.

"General sir it might be a good idea to at least give the troops some rest. They have been marching non stop in this terrible humidity and now the sun is starting to peak and soon will add even more discomfort to them" the aide de camp asked. McClernand sighed.

"I wish I could. But, if we are to ensure the safety of the people of Cincinnati we must make there with all due haste"

"As you command sir" the aid de camp replied before returning to the colors.

*Hours later*

The heat of the day began to truly take effect as the division slowly approached the slopes of Mount Airy. McClernand was sweating profusely from his horse and his troops were no better. The long march had been tedious and distressing forcing the division to crawl more then march. McClernand soon had enough. He ordered over his aide de camp and a few other officers in his camp. "Prepare to stop. The division can't continue any further in this kind of weather. We sooner keel over then have a bunch of ponies kill us in our sleep" McClernand exclaimed. The officers saluted and then took off in general directions up and down the line. Soon the division came to a halt and many soldiers sat and began to eat and drink from their haversacks and canteens. McClernand rode ahead to the front of column. He eventually reached the first brigade under Crocker. Colonel Marsh from the second brigade was also present. McClernand saluted the two colonels which the colonels returned.

"Gentlemen, we are less than halfday's march from Cincinnati. We need to rest for now and continue on past this hilly region and prepare to meet this raiding party head on" McClernand ordered.

"Yes sir General" the Colonel's replied. Colonel Crocker pulled a map from his horse saddle and held it between Marsh and McClernand. "General how should we go about deployment once we are in Cincinnati's vicinity? Since reconnaissance would indicate that this is but a mere raiding party on the approach" Crocker asked. McClernand opened his own map and held it between the two colonels.

"Under the behest of General Howard we are not to bring on a general engagement nor get caught in an urban fight with the ponies inside of Cincinnati itself. It would be best if we set our troops in open proximity along Clifton Heights so then our cannons are aimed towards the city." Marsh and Crocker looked at the General with slight concern.

"General wouldn't that put our own people in direct fire. Wouldn't it be best if we crossed the Ohio River and deployed in Covington or Newport so as to keep the enemy out of the city" Marsh argued.

"That has been considered Colonel but, you must remember that we are not to bring on a general engagement nor to get into an urban brawl with these ponies. If we cross the Ohio and the ponies were to somehow get behind us or drop bombs on the river crossings then the entire division could be routed. We must setup outside the city to ensure a successful withdrawal if need be."

"Understood sir" Marsh replied. Marsh was somewhat anxious at McClernand's decision making but, he would not want to face an insubordination charge arguing further with McClernand and potentially face a court martial and the wrath of General Howard or General Grant back in Washington. The General and the Colonel's talked for a few more hours allowing the troops to relax and to attend to themselves. At 2 PM the division carried on.

*Hours pass*

General McClernand's troops arrived at the outskirts of Clifton Heights. McClernand informed each of his brigade commanders that the enemy could appear at any moment and to have picket's and cannons active. The sun began to set at 9 PM as the division settled itself in for a night's rest after a long march from Middletown. Picket's were posted on a 1 hour basis along with Artillery crews having a spotter active to awaken the crew to jump into action if necessary.

Two Illinois picket's looked on from Colonel Raith's 3rd Brigade.

"Apparently the ponies are roaming all along the country side" one picket exclaimed.

"I heard it was a whole army and not some little raiding party that the reports dictate"

"Either way we are going to kick their raw hides from whatever hell they came from"

"You better believe it! Who would a thought a bunch of horses would put up su-*ech" one of the picket's was cut short. The other readied his rifle.

"Who goes there?" the picket called out. The only light were from the fires of the divisions camp behind him. Nothing but blackness was before him except for the very faint light from Cincinnati. "Show yourself demon" the picket called out. Unbeknownst to the picket a looming figure appeared behind him. The last thing the picket saw was a valley of shining silver and suddenly darkness.

The Army Of The Crystal Empire had fell upon the division by almost complete secrecy. Rarity looked on from a knoll far off. She turned to her aide.

"Kill them where they sleep" she ordered.

Chapter 10 - Grant and Rainbow Dash (To earn trust is a rare gift)

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The Army of the Potomac had been slow going since the Battle of Carbondale. Combined with the night attack by the Wonderbolt Scouts and the departure of Grant's Corps Commanders the Army had been feeling slightly sluggish in terms of mobility. Grant had been weary to move the Army out of the vicinity since Celestia might still be present with a force roaming through Kentucky or Missouri. There was also the issue of Rainbow Dash. Surely, a Union army although massive in size (measuring at about 340,000+ troops) could easily deal with any threat the ponies threw at them was still hesitant keeping such a high profile prisoner in its captivity. Grant knew he had to get back to Washington to meet with President Lincoln to discuss the situation across the US as well as how to best protect the capitol from any oncoming attack.

On a rather cloudy day, the Army of the Potomac started to set out to Chicago. Grant pondered his movements for a short while and if it was a wise idea to head immediately North to Chicago or to think of diversionary tactics so as to elude Celestia or any other pony army. Grant thought of this as he headed over to the POW medical tent. Grant entered rather solemnly his hat clenched in his hand. Many Wonderbolt Scouts were still bed ridden from that fatal night with the Gatling Guns. On the far side of the tent, was Rainbow Dash. She had two guards from the Iron Brigade present on either side of her bed. Her wing was still very tender from being shot, her face bore a few scars from being cut up falling into the woods. She stared up at the ceiling with a slightly askew complexion to her face. Her hooves still clung to her mane but, her mane was beginning to grow back slowly but surely. She started to hear footsteps heading in her direction. She did not turn her head but, slowly moved her eyes in the footsteps direction. She soon recognized Grant's form and huffed a snort. She turned her back to him as he approached. Grant approached the guards.

"Thank You we won't be needing any guards. Head outside the tent" he said. Without hesitation, the two big Michigan men departed and waited at attention outside the tent. Grant stood before Rainbow Dash' bedside.

"What do you want?"

"I just want to talk"

"Why so you can torment me or scalp me?"

"No just talk"

"Well get to talking or get to fucking off from here" Rainbow Dash retorted. Grant was slightly taken aback by the language but, he could remember on more than one occasion using the same kind of language especially in the face of defeat. His hand clenched tighter and his complexion grew slightly sterner.

"Where do you hail from, Rainbow Dash?"

"Equestria. Are you dumb and stupid too?"

"No just wanting to know where you call home. Georgetown, Ohio is mine."

"Well that's just great"

"There are times I truly miss my home. You must feel the same way"

"Yes but, why would you care?"

"Well you aren't some savage so you clearly come from a place where you care about others. To defend your homeland is probably more important to you then what you think I might know. Does that sound right?" Grant said. Grant knew he was acting in a somewhat humble manner but, he did not care. If he was going to learn more about the ponies and why they were so dead set on destroying the Union he needed answers to provide to President Lincoln. Then, there was silence. Rainbow Dash pressed her cheek into her pillow and rolled her eyes before replying.

"Ponyville" Rainbow Dash finally replied. "It's a town where me and my friends are from. I was originally born in Cloudsdale before moving to Ponyville when I befriended a Griffin. Happy now?" Rainbow Dash said. She never turned to meet Grant's visage. Her hooves clenched harder on her shaved mane. She missed home badly and dreaded the thought of never seeing Ponyville or her friends or family again.

Grant thought for a while. "Ponyville? Clousdale? Griffins? This sounded like a truly astounding place, Equestria." He recollected his thoughts.

"Rainbow Dash we are planning to leave Carbondale soon enough. I feel that my mistrust and anger towards you might have been slightly misguided. You are free to ride with me at the front of column when the Army departs otherwise, you will be left under extreme guard in a hospital wagon at the back. I can't guarantee your treatment or safety in that case. If you choose to escape or try to escape my men are authorized to take you down and make sure you stay down" Grant said firmly. Rainbow Dash sat in silence her eyes welling with tears at the idea of the treatment the Union Army would do to her or if she would be sent to a prison camp to wither away. Grant reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigar. He fixed his hat atop his head and turned away from Rainbow Dash.

"Think about it until we leave this evening. Good day to you" Grant tipped his cap and exited. He lit the end of his cigar before motioning to the two guards to enter back in.

Rainbow Dash cried softly into her mane with gritted teeth before slowly falling asleep.

*Hours pass*

Grant exited from his tent as the Army of the Potomac began to draw into general formation to begin the long 300 mile march to Chicago. As he exited he looked up into the night sky. It was a humid yet comfortable night in southern Illinois. Grant headed in the direction of the prisoner medical tent. As soon as he entered his eyes fell on Rainbow Dash. She was sitting calmly but, her expression could kill if she wanted. Grant slowly walked his way to her bedside and motioned the guards to leave.

"Well?" Grant asked.

"Well what?"

"About my offer"

"Oh that" Rainbow Dash sarcastically spoke. She was left with a conundrum. Risk her life at the end of column and potentially be beaten to death or left to die in some hole somewhere or at least be treated with some respect and dignity by the head of the Union Army. Rainbow Dash was never one to bend the knee but, she realized it was either life or death at this point. She went back to the night that she was shot down by that awful Gatling gun and she shuddered. A voice called out to her in her thoughts.

"Well?" Grant asked again. Rainbow Dash finally spoke.

"Fine I will join you but, no funny stuff or I will skin you alive" she snarled. Grant smiled slyly.

"If it makes any difference the same goes for me as well" Grant said sharply. He then motioned to the guards and the on hand doctors. "Prepare her to ride with me" Grant said to one of the guards and to the doctors. "And you" Grant said turning to the other guard, "Find the quartermaster and let him know I will need a coach for the ride up to Chicago".

"Yes sir" said the guards and doctors in almost unison. One guard immediately exited the tent and headed to the Quartermaster while the other guard and doctors began to help up Rainbow Dash in preparation for travel. Grant turned away and returned to his tent to get his papers and other materials in order.

*An hour passes*

Grant walked along the side of his army toward the coach at the front of column of the 1st Corps. He puffed on his cigar once more before stamping it out with his foot. He turned to his aide de camp, "Prepare to begin the March".

"Prepare to leave" the aide de camp called out. Up and down the line the same call was made. Grant approached the coach side door. It was a black yet somewhat elegant coach with a red leather interior that the Army of the Potomac used to entertain politicians or anyone from the War Department should they choose to appear from Washington. Grant grabbed the brass handle of the coach and gave it turn. Inside was Rainbow Dash staring out at the long columns of blue troops ready to begin their march. Her ears perked up and she turned to meet Grant's gaze as he entered the coach. Grant shut the door behind him and sat across from Rainbow Dash. If looks could kill they would certainly do so here. She looked at him up and down and then stared intently into his eyes.

"You really know how to make yourself seem weak, don't you?" Rainbow Dash quipped. Grant shook his head.

"Nope, only to let our enemies know what its like to be part of a real Army" Grant rebutted. Rainbow Dash's expression grew darker at the slight made by the human.

"You are so vain and overzealous. What makes you think that you humans stand a chance against Equestria?"

"Well, we just want to know where you came from and why you are attacking us so fiercely? We never did anything to your kind nor knew you existed before the invasion. That was a very odd conversation to have with our leader that a bunch of ponies had invaded our country" Grant said.

"You are nothing more but vile creatures intent on enslaving our people and turning Equestria into nothing more then a smoldering ruin. Your kind don't deserve pity you only deserve the tip of a sword" Rainbow Dash said with a scrunched face. Grant was expressionless and slightly annoyed at the fervent yet passionate response from the Pegasus. He sighed and waved his hat out to his aide de camp.

"March"

"March!" came yells up and down the line. Soon the coach gave a jolt and the Army of the Potomac began its long arduous journey up to Chicago. For the most part Grant and Rainbow Dash sat in silence staring at each other. Rainbow Dash's face was angry while Grant's remained expressionless. Hours passed and soon nightfall fell upon the Army of the Potomac. The two coach mates stared at each other until Rainbow Dash finally spoke.

"Where are we going?"

"Chicago"

"How far is it from here?"

"300+ miles"

"Geez that freaking long?"

"Yep so might as well get comfortable" Grant retorted as he took off his boots and stretched. Rainbow Dash looked at Grant with a slightly raised eyebrow.

"Chicago?" she thought to herself. It sounded awfully similar to Chicoltgo in name. Rainbow Dash stared intently out to the night sky. She was never sure if she was going to see her family or Equestria again. She held back her tears and gripped her mane tightly. Grant stared out at the night sky. A beautiful moon shone high above as the coach creaked and rolled along the dirt road. The stars were in brilliant form that evening with just a touch of big puffy cloud here and there. It seemed like a painted canvas high above. Grant then heard whimpering. He looked over at Rainbow Dash by the moonlight and saw her collapsed in tears with her hugging her shaven mane so tightly like a child would a teddy bear. Grant produced a handkerchief and held it out to Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash through stricken tears and snot looked up to see Grant offering a piece of cloth.

"Here" Grant motioned to the handkerchief. Rainbow Dash looked down at the handkerchief and then took it willingly. She blew her nose and cried some more into it. Grant could only watch and his expression softened somewhat. Here was a living breathing creature that expressed very real sorrow for its homeland. Grant realized that these ponies must have had loving families and friends back in Equestria. He stared out the carriage a long while giving Rainbow Dash time to be sorrowful. Some minutes later, Rainbow Dash turned to Grant.

"Thanks" she said as she tried to return the handkerchief. This was the first time Rainbow Dash showed any courteousness to her captor. Grant waved his hand as to say he declined taking it back.

"Not saying you will need it more but, might as well hold it in case" Grant said. Rainbow Dash with puffed red eyes then stared sternly at Grant.

"What you never cried before? You've never cried about whether or not you were going to see your family or your country ever again? Have You?" Rainbow Dash's voice raised hoarsely after her sobbing.

"Yes" Grant answered. "When you join the military you are never certain if you will make it home. You are never promised to not die in some hole in some godforsaken backwater. You are never guaranteed to see your family or friends again. I've chosen this career because I must protect that which I love and hold dear. If it means for the preservation of the Union and the lives of my family and friends then I welcome any invader to try and take it from me" Grant said. This slightly took Rainbow Dash aback. Not only did Grant speak eloquently and with compassion but, everything he said seemed to come from the heart. This human cared greatly for not only his homeland but, his people regardless if they were related to him by blood or not. It was daresay honorable in some respects. Rainbow Dash rubbed her eyes and settled into her seat more.

"So what's this Chicago place like?" she asked looking to make conversation. She was still very apprehensive of Grant but, thought he might at least have some shred of kindness in his flesh.

"It's one of our main ports of industry for the Union" Grant said.

"How do most in the Union feel about the invasion?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Many are still trying to understand why you invaded us in the first part. It's unknown to me why you ponies invaded us in the first place. We have never caused you harm in our history as far as I can recall" Grant said. Rainbow Dash had a thoughtful expression on our face. Why did Princess Celestia hate the humans so much? Rainbow Dash didn't even know they existed until a few weeks before the invasion. If humans were mainly like Grant then why would Celestia have such a heinous hatred to them. Other then her mane being taken off her head Rainbow Dash began to have slight concern why Celestia would take on the humans especially for how savage she described them as.

"They sound like an impossible foe to defeat" Rainbow Dash thought. She remembers being led to the Coach and seeing the many long columns of Union soldiers and there formidable cannons and the dreaded Gatling Guns. These creatures were not something to screw around with. If their ruthless potential was called upon it could mean Equestria could be turned to ash. Yet, Grant was somewhat defusing these savage ideas that Princess Celestia had placed into Rainbow Dash's head. Rainbow Dash then noticed Grant was sitting waiting for a response.

"Honestly I can't tell you. We were always led to believe that humans were savages and the only real intent in your short miserable lives was to inflict as much pain and suffering to others around you" Rainbow Dash explained. Grant's raised an eyebrow and rubbed his hands together.

"Well you and your kind are doing a spitting impersonation of that now aren't you? Savages, miserable lives, pain, suffering? You must really think low of us" Grant said with a slight grin. Rainbow Dash grew slightly miffed at Grant's cheerfulness.

"You certainly have a high opinion of yourself" Rainbow Dash retorted.

"Look who's talking?" Grant rebutted. Rainbow Dash let out a slight chuckle at this.

"Tell me more about this Georgetown, Ohio?" Rainbow Dash asked somewhat curiously.

Hours whizzed by as Grant and Rainbow Dash talked about their childhoods as well as the differences between humans and ponies.

Soon enough, the morning sun began to rise and the Army came to a halt. They had arrived at Dodds, Illinois to give the troops a chance to rest. Grant and Rainbow Dash peered outside and noticed the sun starting to rise. Grant yawned and then did Rainbow Dash.

"Hey don't do that! It's infectious" Rainbow Dash said as she yawned.

"Sorry" Grant chuckled. He then stood and opened the carriage door.

"Ladies first" Grant said. Rainbow Dash began to step out.

"You Mother fucker" Rainbow Dash said with a slight grin. They both stretched mightily as they got out of the carriage. Rainbow Dash stretched her damaged wing but, slightly yelped as she might have overdone it. She adjusted herself and then stood with Grant.

"What now?" she asked. Grant motioned over to guards. They went on either side of Rainbow Dash.

"These gentlemen will find you a place to bed in my part of the camp" Grant said. The soldiers were tall men from Maine with bushy beards and burly chests. "I must attend to some other issues and will see you again when we depart this evening" Grant said tipping his cap before heading off in the direction of John Reynold's 1st Corps Camp.

"This way" one of the soldiers motioned with his rifle to Rainbow Dash. She followed quietly by the two guards until arriving amongst a row of rather large tents. Eventually, they stopped and a soldier motioned to one of the tents. "This ones yours" he said gruffly. Rainbow Dash walked into the tent. There was a writing desk, a stool, and a bed. The guards stood outside her tent at attention.

Rainbow Dash could not think of anything else except to sleep. She plopped herself onto the bed and found it somewhat soft. She curled herself up into a ball and began to drift off to sleep. She took one last look at the handkerchief Grant gave her.

"These humans are exhausting but, maybe they aren't all bad" she thought before drifting off to dreams of Cloudsdale and Ponyville.

Chapter 10 - Grant and Rainbow Dash (Train Rides & Dreams)

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Rainbow Dash awoke. She found herself in a large luxurious room with gold tapestries of Princess Celestia, a massive bed with satin sheets, a makeup desk that looked akin to something Rarity longed for, a large window that looked out to a courtyard in Canterlot, and two massive doors carved with gold and bearing the house of Celestia in the form of ruby's, sapphires, crystals, and emeralds. Rainbow Dash could hardly believe it. Where was Grant? The Army of the Potomac? The Cannons and Gatling Guns? The bandages on her wing? HER WING.

Rainbow Dash looked at her wing very carefully to see if there were any bullet holes still left from when the Gatling Gun shot her down. The wing looked perfectly normal as it did long before the invasion of the Union. She breathed a long sigh of relief.

"It was only a dream" she said to herself, "The Union, General Grant, the Gatling Guns, her man-" Rainbow Dash ran to a nearby mirror. Her mane was still very much attached to her head and bore the colors of a rainbow after a spring rain. Her eyes welled with tears. Rainbow Dash ran her hoof through it and smelled it. The sweet scent of morning dew.

That awful nightmare was finally over and she was back home. She wiped the tears from her face and then stared out at the courtyard from the window of the room. The doors to the room started to open. Rainbow Dash turned and saw Princess Celestia. With her face refilling with tears she ran to her Princess and cried openly into her chest.

"Celestia, it was terrible! I'm so happy to be safe and home again" Rainbow Dash said. What Rainbow Dash didn't realize was the magical aura emanating around her and the complexion of Celestia. She was angry, fuming even. Rainbow Dash felt herself being lifted off the ground and then flung against the wall. She crashed with a mighty thud and looked at Celestia across from the room with bewilderment.

"How dare you?!?! You traitorous little bitch!" Celestia yelled. Rainbow Dash was still dazed from being thrown against the wall. She slowly got to her feet.

"What have I done Celestia?" she said. Celestia's mane began to take on deeper and fiery colors as she again used her magical aura. She threw Rainbow Dash repeatedly to the ground and then back up to the air and then down again like a rag doll.

"You betrayed your country and your friends! You conspired with those human savages! You are no subject of mine" Celestia said with ferocity. Rainbow Dash tried to gain her composure and fight but, she couldn't muster herself. All the energy seemed to dissipate from her.

"I don't know what you mean Princess? What Union?" Rainbow Dash asked. Celestia laughed.

"Don't play dumb. You knew full well that you gave the Union the location of Canterlot. They will be here to rip us to shreds! AND IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!" Celestia screamed. Rainbow Dash was dumbstruck. What in the world did she mean that she gave the Union the location of Canterlot.

"My Princess, I would never betray you or my fri-" Rainbow Dash was interrupted as she was again thrown to the floor. It hurt not just physically but, emotionally. The same Princess she remembered as a very young filly being so kind and sweet was now branding her as a traitor. Her face began to well with tears. "The humans aren't bad Celestia! They don't even know why we are attacking them! They didn't even know that we existed!" Rainbow Dash yelled back. Celestia drew closer to Rainbow Dash her breath becoming hot and her mane as red as the sun.

"Don't you dare lie to me! They are going to come here and pillage this entire land for all its worth! And where will you and I end up! As trophies to some lower being! Is that what you want?!?!" Celestia yelled. She stood on top of Rainbow Dash and stared at her with a piercing glare. Rainbow Dash could only curl herself into a ball and pray that this was some dream within a dream.

"Wake up Rainbow! Wake Up! This is just a bad dream! Just a bad dream" she said to herself. Celestia aimed her horn at her.

"You don't deserve that which you prize!" she said. With a flash Rainbow Dash's mane and tail fell to the ground losing all its sheen and turning into a dull grey color. She looked at the mirror over at the makeup desk and she was completely bald. She stared at Celestia and gritted her teeth.

"Don't you dare take away from me what makes me!" Rainbow Dash screamed. She lunged at Celestia. Celestia moved slightly to the side. Rainbow Dash skirted across the floor of the room.

"You have nothing you traitor! The only thing that awaits you is a noose!" Celestia yelled with an evil grin. "Guards!" Celestia called out. Two Pegasus guards appeared and grabbed Rainbow Dash on either side of her. Celestia motioned down to the courtyard where a small crowd was gathering around some gallows. "Take her there" she said to the guards. They saluted and lead Rainbow Dash through the castle. She tried and tried to squirm out of their grip but, it was useless. When she and the guards stepped out she saw many faces staring at her. She looked around and saw Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Spike, and many other familiar faces.

"Guys help me please? Celestia has gone insane!" she called out to her friends.

"I wouldn't consider some traitor my equal" Twilight said coldly.

Rarity turned her back to Rainbow Dash.

Applejack threw a rotten apple at Rainbow Dash's head. It was sticky and smelled as it dripped down her face. "That's what you get you human loving dog" Applejack yelled out.

"You stupid big meanie how could you turn on us?" Fluttershy yelled softly.

"I never want to have a party with someone like you. Now dance from that noose!" Pinkie Pie yelled out.

"You get what you deserve!" Spike said.

Rainbow Dash could hardly believe it. Her friends turned their backs on her when she needed them most. How did they know she spent time with Grant or the Union? Didn't they realize she was their prison? Soon enough the guards and Rainbow Dash approached the steps to the gallows.

"Wake up Rainbow! WAKE UP! FOR CELESTIA'S SAKE WAKE UP!" Rainbow Dash screamed internally. As they reached the platform of the gallows, Rainbow Dash noticed that Celestia, Luna, and Cadance were all staring menacingly from a royal viewing box. As the executioner fit the noose around her neck, Celestia began a proclamation.

"Rainbow Dash you have been convicted of high treason against Equestria! You are a traitor, an enemy, and plight upon our lands! You have conspired with the Union and the humans leaving us with the only option of execution! HANG HER!" Celestia called out. Chants came out from the crowd.

"Traitor!"

"Coward!"

"Enemy!"

"Hang the bitch!"

Rainbow Dash was practically inconsolable. As the executioner reached for the lever to the trap door a voice called out different from what she heard before yet familiar.

"Rainbow Dash"

"Traitor!"

"Rainbow Dash wake up"

"Not Friend"

"Rainbow Dash!"

As the trap door opened. Rainbow Dash awoke and fell out of bed. She was delirious but, quickly looked about her and saw a pair of boots in front of her. She looked up and saw General Grant and a guard staring at her. Without hesitation and almost as an emotional response she grabbed onto Grant's boots and began to shake and cry uncontrollably. The guard drew closer.

"Keep your hands off the general!" the guard called with his rifle butt ready to smack Rainbow Dash's head. Grant raised a hand and the guard lowered his weapon. Grant lowered himself down to Rainbow Dash's view. She was practically inconsolable.

"Rainbow Dash it is nightfall and we must be off to Edgewood before sun up" Grant said. Rainbow Dash whimpered.

"I don't want to die. Please don't let me die. I never betrayed my people. I don't want to die" she repeated over and over. Grant raised an eyebrow.

"You'll only die if you escape or we meet on the field of battle again if you do escape" Grant said bluntly. Rainbow Dash looked up at Grant and realized what she had been doing. She collected herself the best she could and stood tall though her spirit was damaged.

"Sorry Grant! I had a nightmare and nothing will show from it" she said proudly but, masked. Grant nodded and stepped out with the guard. Rainbow Dash collected her mane and the handkerchief Grant gave her but, hid it in her mane.

The long lines of blue were ever present again. The barrels of the Union soldiers seemed to glint against the moonlight. Many bore an expression of determination and others simply blank. The night air had cooled the land significantly from that afternoon. Rainbow Dash found herself shivering and she walked with Grant to the coach. Grant again held the door open. Rainbow Dash looked at him.

"Thank You" she said softly and gravelly. She sat down and relaxed. Grant called out to his subordinate.

"Prepare to March!"

"Yes General!"

Grant then entered the coach and sat across from Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash was trembling from her nightmare and the cold night air. Grant waved his hat! "March" he ordered.

"March!" came the response up and down the line. The coach lurched and then began to move from the campground of the Army of the Potomac as it continued its march up Illinois to Chicago. Grant looked at Rainbow Dash and could tell she was perturbed slightly.

"Everything alright?" he asked. Rainbow Dash with her mane clenched tightly looked at Grant and gave a gentle nod. She then shut her eyes and tried to sleep. Even after sleeping for the better part of the day she was exhausted. Grant fixed his hat over his eyes and relaxed on his side of the coach.

After a short while Grant pulled out a cigar. As he was about to light it he looked at Rainbow Dash. She was shivering from the cold night air and tried to wrap herself in her mane to no avail. Grant sighed and took off his frock coat. Quietly and without looking to disturb Rainbow Dash he placed it over her and then sat back down. He lit his cigar and stared out at the night sky.

Rainbow Dash although trying to sleep only could sit with her eyes shut. It was surprisingly cold that evening even after the heat of the day. She was tired, hungry, and homesick. She thought about crying again until she felt a sudden warmth envelop her. She didn't want to open her eyes and see Grant again but, she suddenly felt comfortable although whatever it was that made her warm smelled of sweat, cigar ashes, and just the faintest smell of hickory. She didn't mind. She slowly drifted off to sleep. No hangmen, no friends calling her traitor, no Celestia throwing her around like a rag doll, it was just her flying amongst the clouds on a spring day as she did so much back home before the invasion. For once in a long time she got rest.

A few days passed. The Army stopped periodically to rest and eat. That entire time Rainbow Dash slept with Grant's frock coat draped over her only arousing herself occasionally to adjust the frock coat and where she was sitting on the coach bench. The Army passed through Effingham, Mattoon, Urbana, Kankakee, and after nearly a week of hard marching they arrived in Chicago. It was a slightly rainy day in Chicago yet the industries of the Union were hard at work ensuring that the Union could turn back this invasion from Celestia.

Rainbow Dash began to stir and looked out. What she saw awestruck her. Great billowing smoke stacks of soot filled the sky, many coaches and people ran or wandered past the coach as it went down the muddy street. There were tons of shops with a menagerie of things to sell from bread, medicine, perfumes, silks, guns, and about anything that Rainbow Dash could think of. She covered her head slightly with the frock coat so as people wouldn't recognize her as a pony. She looked over at Grant. He was completely comatose with a cigar hanging out of his mouth. He must have been hard at work to get the Army nearly 300 miles north to Chicago. Rainbow Dash sat in silence and stared out at the great bustling metropolis.

Soon enough the coach came to a stop. And a soldier opened the door to the coach. "General Grant we have arrived at train station" he said. He then jostled Grant awake.

"Hmpf! Huh! What the hell do you want?" Grant said angrily. Again Grant was not someone you would want to anger if he was asleep. Grant then realized the soldier was waking him. Grant saluted the soldier. "That will be all" he said. The soldier returned the salute and headed back to the front of the brigade directly behind the carriage. Grant turned to Rainbow Dash who faked yawn.

"How did you sleep?" he said while rubbing his eyes. Rainbow Dash tossed his frock coat back to him.

"Fine, Thank You" she said staring back out the window. Grant realized he might be back at square one with Rainbow Dash in terms of trying to build trust. He let Rainbow Dash step out of the carriage first and he subsequently followed.

Before them were several mighty trains sporting many cars of transport. Rainbow Dash looked down the long line of locomotives. It stretched for what felt like miles. She looked at Grant.

"We are a big Army and must move quickly" he said before continuing to walk. Rainbow Dash followed behind with two guards from Wisconsin following closely. She couldn't tell if Grant was angry at her or what. Especially after the nightmare she had she felt everyone was out to kill her. She had no allegiance or ground to stand on. A part of her felt like everyone was her enemy and hated her. Her ears then twitched and saw a group of civilians being held back by a company of soldiers. They were screaming.

"THOSE ARE THE BASTARDS THAT KILLED MY SON!"

"SEND EM TO THE GLUE FACTORY!"

"SHOOT EM WHERE THEY STAND!"

Rainbow Dash stopped in her tracks. Her opinion on these humans was changing more rapidly as time went on. They may not be savages but, they are passionate about their own kind. Fiercely they fight and defend their land but, they care so much because they have worked so hard to forge their own paths. Rainbow Dash began to question Celestia's mentality on humans more and more.

"Rainbow Dash?" Grant called out. Rainbow Dash snapped out of her trance and saw Grant standing on the steps of a rail car. "Well aren't you coming?" he said. As Rainbow Dash got closer a glint of gold caught her eye. It was the Wonderbolt Scouts. How selfish she was. All she thought about was herself for the past week and not once for her own troops. What she noticed shocked her. Although many of the scouts were still very wounded and needed great help to get to the train car for them many of the Union soldiers actively helped them walk or carried them to the train car. They weren't hitting, stabbing, shooting, or name calling the scouts they simply looked on with determination and care for their prisoners.

"Rainbow Dash?" Grant called. Again Rainbow Dash looked at Grant confused but, soon realized where she was. She mounted the steps to the train car. Grant entered and she followed behind.

The train car had many large tables for map viewing but, comfortable seats and plush pillows. A red carpet lined the floor and blue drapes were on each set of the windows. Each table had a Candelabra in the center of it with sticks of varying sizes. Grant took a seat at one table and Rainbow Dash sat across from him. Rainbow Dash stared outside.

The Army was busily putting soldiers and supplies on the train car for the long ride back to Washington. Rainbow Dash began to realize the sheer size and magnitude of the Union and the resources it had at its immediate disposal. Unbeknownst to her and General Grant, a courier was arriving with a message in South Bend Indiana about the movements of Rarity and her Army of the Crystal Empire. Grant smoked a cigar out of an open window while Rainbow Dash sat quietly watching the Army's hustle and bustle. After a few more hours the train suddenly jolted, and began to slowly pull its way out of Chicago. The Army of the Potomac slowly but surely was making its last leg to Washington.

*After two hours*

The train came to stop at a station out in the countryside. Grant looked out the window and saw the train station read South Bend, Indiana. It had been barely two hours and they were already stopping. A Courier came up to the door of the Corps Commanders cabin car. General Sedgwick opened the door to find an exhausted Major.

"General sir!" the Major said with a salute. He handed Sedgwick a message. The other Corps officers in the car watched as Sedgwick read the note. His eyes began to widen.

"Get General Grant here on the double!" Sedgwick ordered the Major. The Major saluted and disappeared in a flash to Grant's car.

Grant heard a panicked knocking at the door of the train car. He got up and slid it open. The Major stood before him. "General Sedgwick requests *huff* your presence *puff* at once *huff* sir" the major said gasping for air. Grant saluted the Major and slid the door behind him. Walking along the stone platform to the Corps Commanders car Grant thought to himself. "Whatever this is it better be good" he thought to himself. He arrived at the door of the train and the Corps Commanders all stood at attention. Grant saluted.

"Gentlemen please sit. Now why are we stopping here in Indiana and not already crossing into Ohio by now" Grant asked still chewing on the cigar between his teeth. Sedgwick approached him and gave him the letter.

"A message from General Howard sir" he said. Grant took the letter and began to read. His complexion grew darker and darker as he read further with the brim of his hat covering his eyes. The embers from his cigar grew wilder and hotter.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN MCCLERNAND'S DIVISION WAS MASSACRED!?!?!?!" Grant shouted.

Chapter 10 - Grant and Rainbow Dash (The Potomac Strain and Grant's Dilemma)

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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.

Facing Northern Lightning

by The Prancing Red Pony

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8 - Thomas vs Twilight

Chapter 9 - Howard vs Rarity (Part 1: To set the Midwest ablaze)

Chapter 9 - Howard vs Rarity (Part 2: Cincinnati Crossroads)

Chapter 10 - Grant and Rainbow Dash (To earn trust is a rare gift)

Chapter 10 - Grant and Rainbow Dash (Train Rides & Dreams)

Chapter 10 - Grant and Rainbow Dash (The Potomac Strain and Grant's Dilemma)