She Wore A Yellow Ribbon

by Backslasherton


Chapter 4

June, 1000 AN


“Jackson?” Celestia’s voiced called.

The man in question looked up from the book he was reading. Celestia was calling to him from the other room.

“I’m in the bedroom.” Jackson said, getting out of bed. “What is it you…”

Jackson’s sentence was cut off as he stared at the sight before him.

“What do you think?”

Celestia stood before Jackson, but not in the way she did normally. This time, she stood before him on two feet, with her arms held out by her side. She was a human woman. A woman with light, fair skin and her same long flowing multicolored hair. She was, thankfully for Jackson, wearing a long white gown that fit her figure well. A figure Jackson thought he could get used to. He stared silently, not knowing what to say. Finally, he pulled himself together.

“What?” Was all he could manage to say. Celestia’s smile could light the dark side of the moon.

“I’ve been working on this for awhile, and I've been keeping it for a special occasion. But I just couldn't wait, so I thought I’d give you an early birthday present.”

Jackson smiled big and wide. He ran over to the woman and picked her up, spinning her around. She giggled with joy at his reaction, and he set her down, but did not let her go. The two’s faces were only a few inches apart, and they were lost in each other’s eyes. The man bent down and kissed her tenderly. After what felt too little time for both, he pulled back.

“How did you do all this?” Jackson asked. “Was it hard?”

Celestia smiled.

“Well I did say I was working on this for awhile.” She shrugged casually but proudly. “It wasn’t hard to make the spell, but I had to learn how to be human first.”

“What does that even mean?”

“You humans walk so weirdly.” Celestia laughed. “I had to learn all that, plus how fingers work. Humans are just so… odd.”

Jackson smiled and nodded.

“And we’re damn proud of it.”

The two kissed again, longer this time. But once again, the two had to pull away. Celestia smiled and stared up at the man, something she was definitely not used to.

“Now what do you want to do?” She asked. Jackson grinned.

“I just want to enjoy it.” Jackson pulled her out into the center of the apartment. He held her close. “Do you think you know how to slow dance?”

“Do you?”

“Fair point.” Jackson smiled and reached over for a record player. He pulled a vinyl disc out of a stack of covers and set it on the turntable and set the needle down. Bursts of static came from the speakers before a soft, slow song came through. They started dancing not unlike two inexperienced high school students at their prom. It was awkward, shaky, and totally ungraceful. But it didn't matter to them. She set her head on his shoulder, smiling. The two stood, holding each other close for a long time. When the song faded off into its end, Jackson spoke while the next song started up.

“It’s so odd that I find humans more unfamiliar now than ponies.”

“Well I guess we can change that.” Celestia smiled. “I can do this whenever you want.”

Celestia didn’t see the pain on Jackson’s face as he remembered his home. The home he’d never see again. He pushed those thoughts away, and enjoyed his time with the woman he loved who had gone above and beyond just for him. He smiled and held her a little tighter.

“Thank you.” He whispered.

“You’re welcome.” She whispered back.


Evening Shroud pushed open Jackson’s door and entered his apartment (He hated calling it his “Chambers”). Same as every Thursday, he hadn’t woken yet. She went to his kitchen and started boiling his coffee, knowing he would stall by doing so. After that she got that going, she went over to his bedroom and knocked on the door before coming in.

“Come on, sir. Time to get up.”

A body rustled and sat up on the bed, and Shroud walked over and pulled the curtains open.

“Come on, sir. You’ve gotta do this.” She turned around to shake him awake. Her hoof shook the arm under covers firmly. Finally, the figure rolled over to face her, and Shroud yelped as she jumped back. “P-Princess?”

She spoke out of instinct, but the person before her only vaguely looked like the matriarch she knew. She was a human, like Jackson. Not only that, but she was wearing a baggy shirt that she’d seen Jackson wear before, along with some of his pajama pants. Jackson threw a pillow at Shroud’s face.

“Shut it.” He shouted, voice muffled by the blanket at his side. Celestia giggled lightheartedly, and shook Jackson awake.

“Jackson, you’ve gotta go to your appointment.”

“No I don’t.” Jackson mumbled into his pillow.

“Yes you do.” Celestia repeated. “Come on.”

“I already cancelled the appointment.”

Celestia’s playful nature grew more confused.

“What? When?”

“Last night while you were changing. I sent a letter with a guard to her.”

“Why?”

“I had more pressing matters to attend to.” Jackson mumbled, still not removing his face from the pillow. “I’ve had perfect attendance, one day won’t kill me.”

“What is going on right now?!” Shroud asked, still as confused as before. Even more so, after watching the couple be so casual about it.

“She loves me!” Jackson shouted blearily into his pillow.

“This was a special occasion for him." Celestia grinned at Shroud. "I do hope you can keep this between the three of us, Lieutenant?”

“Well... of course, ma’am. But,” Shroud shook her head. “I don’t even know what it is I’m keeping in between us.”

“She,” Jackson raised an arm and pointed to the princess. “Ain’t a pony.”

“I can see that. I’m asking why?”

“'Cause she loves me.”

“I made a spell,” Celestia explained. “It makes me human.”

Shroud’s eyebrows shot up.

“Is it an illusion or is it a complete transformation?”

Celestia placed a hand on Shroud’s head. The pony could feel her fingers and the palm of her hand, and they were definitely real.

“That’s amazing!” Shroud smiled. “I would love to find out how that all works.”

“I’d love to show you.” Celestia smiled.

A snore cut through their conversation. They looked over to see Jackson had fallen asleep again. Or was at least sarcastically pretending to. Shroud turned to Celestia.

“So why is this such a big deal, again?”

“Because I don’t exist.” Jackson shouted. Evidently, he had been faking.

“So?” Shroud shrugged. “The princess doing magic is nothing new.”

“Yes, but the press is going to find a way to twist that into insecurity or other things that would be detrimental to my image.”

“Well, that’s nothing new.”

Jackson raised a hand.

“Equestria’s gonna need to not have a princess that does that sorta thing here in a bit.”

“Honey... that was hardly even intelligable.”

Jackson mumbled incoherently into the pillow. Celestia swatted him with a pillow.

“Wait, why?” Shroud was even more confused than before she started asking questions.

Jackson sighed dramatically, resigning with the fact that he wasn’t going to sleep again. He swung his legs over the bed and switched to his formal-report mode as he explained.

“Due to possible shifts in the political climate of Equestria, they’re going to need a strong leader who doesn’t finagle with aliens or transform herself into one in an attempt to better their intimate relationship.” Jackson shouted as he walked to the bathroom. He dropped formal-report mode “Celestia’s gotta be a pony Franklin Delano Roosevelt.”

“Who’s Franklin Delano Roosevelt?”

Another dramatic sigh came from the bathroom.

“Ask me later!”

Shroud made very awkward eye contact with her princess. Celestia shook her head.

“You know the tales of Nightmare Moon?”

“Yeah?”

“They’re true. And this is the one thousandth year.”

Shroud stared back in disbelief.

“Are you serious?” Shroud asked. Celestia nodded. “So... your sister is real?”

“Yes. And if all goes to plan, she will be back on the throne by the end of the month.”

“You’re going to let Nightmare Moon become royalty?”

“Not Nightmare Moon.” Celestia corrected. “Princess Luna.”

“How are you planning on that?”

Celestia sighed.

“I’m not sure.”

The door to the bathroom crashed open revealing a mostly naked Jackson, who's bleary eyes hinted he may not be as awake as they'd previously thought.

“Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States from 1932 to 1945. His series of legislation called “The New Deal” allowed America to survive through “The Great Depression”, but America would ultimately be brought out of the depression officially due to wartime production during World War 2.” Jackson started grabbing pants and a shirt from the closet. “When he was Elected in 1932, America was in the worst of The Great Depression and America needed a strong leader. Problem was, he had polio. So he made an open deal with the press. They could come in and ask any questions. He was totally transparent for the most part. In return, the press would not take any pictures of him in a wheelchair. He hid his inability to walk so America had a strong leader both physically, and politically. He then proceeded to lead America successfully through most of the second world war. He served three full terms plus four months into his fourth one, which is when he died of polio. His lengthy tenure is the reason we have a bill that says you can only serve two terms.”

The pony and not-a-pony-anymore stared back at him. Jackson shut the closet and stared back.

“What?” He asked.

“Why do you know that?” Celestia asked.

“You had two World Wars?” Shroud asked.

“I majored in history in college. Why do you think I was an infantry officer and not a technician of some kind?” Jackson said to Celestia. He turned to Shroud. “And yes. Our world was not good at peace.”

“You can memorize all that, but you don’t know anything about the country you live in?”

“I enjoy my history. Yours is a bit… bland.”

“What’s bland about dragons?”

“I mean, fair." Jackson shrugged. "But it’s no World War 2.”

“That’s just terrifying, not fun.” Celestia shook her head. “In any case, you’re going to that session. Even more so, if you find World War 2 fun.”

“I didn’t say fun!” Jackson said. “I just said interesting.”

Celestia shook her head again, and with a flash she was back to being a pony. She floated over her jewelry. Jackson sighed.

“Fine.”

“...I brewed coffee?”

Jackson walked out of the door, hands raised in surrender. Celestia shook her head.

“He acted a bit… odd.” Shroud stated. Celestia nodded.

“It doesn’t even faze me anymore.”


Jackson crashed through the door to Evening Shroud’s office.

“I just don’t know who the hell would send me to a therapist, Shroud!”

“Good morning to you too, sir. Come on in.”

Jackson shut the door and sat down across from her.

“I just can’t think of a single person who I haven’t already talked to.”

“Well, maybe it was someone else who cares about your well being.”

“Well it isn’t Cadence, and Celestia is either the best liar in the world or she didn’t do it!”

“I don’t know what to tell you, sir.”

Jackson sighed in exasperation. He distracted himself by looking at the bland walls of Shroud’s office.

“You really need to spice it up in here a bit.”

Shroud looked around the place she called her workspace, and cringed.

“Yeah, it is a bit…”

“Soul sucking?”

“I was going to say generic, but I guess we can go with that.”

“I think you should just get some posters or pictures or something. Medals… awards maybe?”

“I don’t really have much.”

“Could get a wooden frame for that battlefield commision.”

“Yeah, I could.” Shroud shrugged. “In any case, I don’t understand why you’re still stressing over the whole therapist thing. It’s been months since you started seeing her.”

“Yeah but doesn’t it bother you that someone gave you orders, but you don’t even know who?”

“No, that’s just usually business as usual.”

“Really?” Jackson asked. Shroud nodded. “Huh. We should probably start documenting that.”

“Did you just come here to complain about your therapist and lecture me on office decor?”

“No.” Jackson sighed. He stared at the literally blank wall behind Shroud. “Yeah…”

Shroud threw her hooves up in exasperation.

“Don’t you have a department to run?”

“Why do you think you’re doing paperwork?”

Jackson ducked to avoid a flying pen.

“Go find something to do.” Shroud said. “I’ve gotta get these reports formalized.”

“Fine. I’ve gotta check on the joint training sessions, anway.” Jackson stood up and walked to the door. “But just… get something for the walls. It looks horrible.”

He closed the door before another pen managed to meet his face.


“Good morning, commander.” Celestia greeted Jackson.

“Good morning, your highness.” Jackson bowed.

“Ugh, don’t even jokingly do that.” Celestia scoffed in disgust. Jackson laughed as he leaned on his elbows against the marble railings.

Before the two was a vast field for training exercises. Unlike the one for the Royal Guards in the front of the castle, which was made with tourists watching in mind, this one was made for privacy. On the far side of the field was a large building, the department’s enlisted barracks. On the side they were on was the connection to the castle. On the left and right sides of the field were raised walkways with high hedges on the outside, rising several meters above the edges. The field itself sloped down from the sides onto a flat grassy field covered in various uniformed ponies doing combat and drill maneuvers.

“How have they been doing?” Jackson asked.

“I’d say they’ve coming along quite nicely.” Celestia smiled. “Lots of talented young ponies out there.”

Jackson nodded.

“I think you’ll be in very good hands next week.”

“How have the preparations in Ponyville been going?”

“Lieutenant Shroud had written nothing but good news so far, and had even more to say when I spoke with her after she’d returned two days ago.” Jackson turned around and shrugged. “Evidently, Captain Winds has done a thorough sweep of the area every morning and evening since we’ve sent them down there. And these diamond dogs make those insurgents back home look like experts.”

Jackson pulled a folded stack of papers from his coat pocket.

“The first day, they found not one, but five teams of scouts from literally the same terrorist group.” Jackson laughed. “And they were barely a hundred meters apart.”

Celestia smiled at the man.

“You find the weirdest things funny sometimes.”

“Well I mean, come on! They’re literally sitting there essentially on top of each other chatting up a storm, fires lit and everything.” Jackson folded the papers and put them back in his pocket. “I swear to you, a five year old could conceal a rock concert better than that.”

“So everything is going well?”

“So far, yes.” Jackson paused for a moment. “How’s Twilight doing?”

“Still as asocial as ever.” Celestia sighed. “I don’t know what to do with her. I’m afraid if she stays this way for too long, she’ll lose all grasp on the world around her.”

“Or worse. She’ll start writing fanfictions and posting them online.”

Celestia deadpanned at the man.

“If I knew what that was, I’d probably find that funnier.”

“You would think it was absolutely hilarious” Jackson shrugged. “Well why don’t you make her go to Ponyville for the festival.”

“Why?”

“Well I’m sure she’s bound to meet someone there.” Jackson grinned. “Maybe a handsome serviceman who will sweep her off her feet.”

“Hooves.”

“Whatever.”

“I suppose I could.” Celestia pondered. “Ponyville is a rather friendly place.”

Jackson shrugged.

“Whatever you wanna do. She’s your student. Besides, worse that happens is she gets a funnel cake that’s a little too doughy and the whole event is ruined forever.”

Celestia laughed softly.

“Knowing my student, she’d find a spell in her book to cook it for her.” Celestia paused, deep in thought.

Jackson’s grin fell.

“Oh, I know that face. What are you thinking?”

“Jackson,” Celestia smiled. “Twilight could do it!”

“Do what?”

“Help Luna!”

“Who’s Luna?”

Celestia stared back, her smile gone.

“You don’t know who Luna is?”

“...No?” Jackson strained an innocent smile.

“My sister….” Celestia said, trying to jog his memory. Jackson’s smile grew more strained. “...Are you serious?”

“I’m a very flawed man.” Jackson waved her to continue. “Just give me a crash course on it.”

“Luna was my sister, she became Nightmare Moon, she became imprisoned in the moon for a thousand years.” Celestia stared back. “Are you serious?"

Jackson's strained grin grew bigger.

"That was a thousand years ago, which is why the year is currently 1000 AN." Celestia deadpanned. "Did you never bother to ask what AN stood for?”

“Look, I didn’t even know what AD stood for backhome. I only guessed what CE and BCE stood for and happened to be right.”

"...You were a history major."

"I focused on the bit from 1776 to modern times."

"Stop making pop human culture references you know I don't get!"

"I majored in United States History! We only became a country in 1776, and it was a joke because of course I know plenty before then." Jackson sighed. "Back on topic, what can Twilight do with what now?"

“My sister, Princess Luna, is going to come back. I believe Twilight can figure out how to use magic to purify her. To save her.”

Jackson nodded, everything she said flying over his head.

“Alright. I take it this will be in Ponyville aswell?"

Celestia nodded.

"Alright," Jackson said. "I’ll have another detail setup to watch her too.”

“You have to be covert about it. She can’t know.”

“...Okay.” Jackson clapped his hands, and stood up. “I’m just gonna trust that you know what you’re talking about and go along with it.”

“Jackson, I may finally have my sister back.” Celestia said, more serious than Jackson had seen her since their fight. “After so long, I may finally have her back.”

Jackson's eyes met hers as a tear fell from her eyes. He suddenly got very uncomfortable as she started openly crying. He reached out, hugging her. He was happy for her, really he was, and he was happy that her family would be reunited after a thousand years. Now, he just had to make sure it happened. And no one could know about it.


“Shroud!”

“I swear I heard a rumor once that you have other people in this department.”

“Shroud, I need you to help me on a special assignment.” Jackson shut the door and sat down.

“You were literally here an hour or two ago. What changed this time?”

“Twilight Sparkle is now a VIP, and I need an additional covert body guard detail on her.”


"Of course she is." Shroud sighed tiredly. “Alright, I can get some guards together to escort her. When does she meet up with them?”

“She doesn’t. She won’t know she’s being guarded.”

“...Are you serious?”

Jackson shrugged.

“Why would I not be?”

Shroud deadpanned.

“You know what? Sure. Why wouldn’t you be serious.” She closed the folder she was working on. “So why can’t she know she’s being guarded?”

“That’s classified.”

“...Don’t pull that on me.”

“Classified.”

“Why?”

“That’s also classified.” Jackson stood and walked out of the room. “Just make it happen!”

Shroud shook her head, pulling out a seperate folder from her desk.

“Two battalions, four companies, an entire staff, and he chooses the first lieutenant to do all of it.” She sighed. “This is way out of my paygrade.”