//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: She Wore A Yellow Ribbon // by Backslasherton //------------------------------// Jackson returned to camp after the eight mares safely made it to town. The townspeople cheered as their solar princess was returned. And after an initial hesitation and an assurance from Celestia, they embraced their new lunar diarch with open arms. Luna seemed pleasantly surprised by their reactions, and smiled quietly as she watched the joyous festival. Much to the guards’ delight, the rest of the event went smoothly. So smoothly that Jackson felt that it would never end. He was bored out of his mind, but there was nothing he could do about it. It’s not like he could just magic up some drunks to deal with, even if he wanted to. Eventually, the end did come. And as they packed up all of their gear, Jackson found himself standing at the edge of the woods again, staring at the countryside. The soft rolling hills of the valley grew lush green grass, broken only by the clean gravel paths that crossed the land. He stared off at the farmhouse in the distance, closing his eyes as his imagination ran wild. The early morning sun warmed his face as Jackson left the small ranch house on the property. It was a bit chilly, with a slight breeze, but paired well with the soft touch of sun on the horizon. He took a deep breath, taking in the clean country air. The morning was still, not even the morning birds had sung their first song. Inside there was a light rustling of someone else starting their day. He smiled, and went in to greet them. “Good morning, swee-” His smile dropped, replaced by pure dread. That wasn’t Celestia he was seeing. In her place, was a man in desert attire and a Soviet era AK-47 in his hands. Strapped around his torso was a belt with several bricks of explosives. He turned and raised his hand, thumb on the detonator. “Allahu Ackbar!” Jackson jerked back to reality with a gasp. His head snapped around before he remembered where he was. You’re not there anymore. You’re okay. He reassured himself. He shook his head tiredly, staring at the ground. He kicked a broken stick on the ground and turned around to return to where base camp was being packed up. “You’re hurting… aren’t you?” He froze and looked up. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to watch.” Evening Shroud was standing there in her field gear. “It’s just… I saw you standing here and I was gonna ask you about… well why you were staring off into nothing. A-And then…” She sputtered as she tried to figure out what to say. “It’s alright.” Jackson sighed. “It’s not your fault.” The mare shuffled uncomfortably. “If I may ask, sir.” She met his eyes, worry poorly hid behind her own. “What is it that bothers you?” Jackson tilted his head casually. “I never told you?” She shook her head. Jackson shrugged and sat down by the tree he’d been leaning on. “It’s kind of a hard story to tell to someone who’s never seen war from my world.” “I know some of what happened, if that helps.” “Not the parts I didn’t want you to know.” Jackson shook his head. “Did I tell you about my friend Joseph?” She shook her head. “Right.” He nodded. “First Lieutenant Joseph Paul Carter, US Marine Corps.” He leaned back against the trunk. “My best friend since high school. We did ROTC in college together, and enlisted in the Marines together. We managed to get the same unit to command. And although we’d been taught the same things for years, we were still very different commanders. He was the common man’s officer. He knew every man’s name, his lovers name, and their kids’ names, if they had any. He knew these men. And they knew him. They respected him as a man who respected them and their lives.” “And what about you?” She asked. “I was a by the books commander. I could tell you about a dozen different tactics off the top of my head. Name, who invented it, and when. Like that.” He snapped his fingers. “But it always took me a second to get their names. The two of us together, we formed a good team. I knew tactics, and he knew the men. They trusted me because they trusted him. And we had a fantastic unit because of it. “But then came the night convoy.” Jackson shook his head. “It should’ve been easy. Start driving, and dammit don’t you stop for anything. If anyone gets too close, fire some warning shots to get them off of you, and escalate if they’re not backing off.” He paused, swallowing to clear the lump in his throat. “We didn’t even leave the damn FOB. Who the hell knows how many insurgents are at the top of the hill, screaming and shouting some bullshit, who cares what. We took cover and started shooting back. “We had wounded in the open. We need to get them back so they could be treated. And Joey,” Jackson shook his head, an empty laugh slipping out. “The bastard couldn’t stand to see his men left over there, so he and half a dozen others run out there to drag them back. We start giving covering fire to try and keep them safe. While we’re doing this, I see this son of a bitch start runni-” It took all his willpower not to break down there. “Start running up towards us. Screaming their fuckin’... ‘Allahu Ackbar’ like a sick motherfucker. He was a suicide bomber.” The mare gasped in shock. “Yeah. Some sick bastard so wrapped up in his beliefs, he’s gonna blow himself up to kill the other guy.” Jackson wiped the tears from the side of his face. “I tried to shoot him. I didn’t have any ammo in my mag. So I reloaded as fast as I could, but when I came up it was too late.” He gave a shuddering sigh as he steeled himself for what came next. “Joe tackled him. He took the brunt of the blast, only minor shrapnel grazing a few others. There wasn’t much left of him after that.” Jackson glanced over to his side. The orange mare stared back, appalled by the mere thought of someone doing that. He dropped his gaze back to the ground. “I got to go home and give his parents a folded flag from an empty casket.” He shook his head. “I got to tell them that their son died a hero. Which, for once, wasn’t some bullshit the brass made up to make the parents feel proud of their son. “I got sent to a psychological analysis to see if I was still fit to fight after taking my leave of absence early. I know enough about how those work that I was able to bullshit my way through it with a passing grade. I got sent back overseas to finish out my tour. They sent some greenhorn second lieutenant to replace him, but the unit wasn’t the same after that. He was what held us together. “I got offered a promotion and transfer, but I didn’t want it. I finished my tour, and I went home. I remembered something from a book I’d read about some soldiers fighting in the second world war. Major Richard Winters said after D-Day, ‘I would live this war one day at a time, and I promised myself that if I survived, I would find a small farm somewhere in the Pennsylvania countryside and spend the remainder of my life in quiet and peace.’” Jackson smiled sadly. “I wasn’t about to go to Pennsylvania, but I decided a small ranch in Texas would do fine for me.” “Did you ever get your wish?” Jackson nodded. “Eventually. Took me some time to find available property and to get the money together. I’d saved almost all the money I made from my time in the corps, so I was able to buy myself a few acres in Lockhart. Moved in and lived there for a few years on my own. Living one day at a time.” Jackson’s smile warmed somewhat. “That’s where I was living before I came here.” “Do you think it’s still there?” Jackson shrugged. “Who knows. Could be owned by some apartment complex now. Maybe my parents took it when I disappeared. That’s what I’m hoping, at least.” Jackson’s gaze fell once again on the serene valley before him. Shroud followed his eyes to the Farmhouse of Sweet Apple Acres. Her eyes widened in realization. “You don’t want to be here, do you?” Jackson snapped his head to his side. “What?” He asked. She pointed to where he was staring. “You want to be back on your farm. Living the quiet life you always wanted.” Jackson slowly follow her hoof, and sighed. “Yeah. I guess I do sometimes. But that doesn’t mean I don’t believe in the validity of my duties here.” He shrugged. “I’ve found my calling here, and I hold myself to the same standard I did back home. If I can keep your people at peace, then maybe I can keep myself at peace.” Shroud shook her head. “You’ve done so much for us already. No one is going to blame you if you don’t want to continue.” “I’ll blame myself if anything happens.” Shroud shrugged. “So will all of us. You taught us to be like that.” She smiled. “Just… at least take some time off every so often. You work too much.” Jackson laughed softly. “Yeah, I guess I do.” He turned and smiled at his lieutenant. “Thanks, Eve.” “You’re welcome.” She smiled. Sighing, she leaned back against the tree and stared at the valley. “As far as retirement destinations go,” She started. “I think you’ve got a good place in mind already.” Jackson leaned back on the tree with her, nodding to himself. “I suppose I do.” “Good evening, your majesties.” “Good evening, Captain.” Celestia smiled softly at Shining Armor. “I take it you’ve kept our niece safe during our absence?” “Of course, ma’am.” Shining smiled. “Safe and secure.” Celestia nodded. “Thank you, captain. You’re free to go about your regular duties. We’ll be visiting princess Cadence in her chambers.” “Of course, ma’am.” He bowed as the two royals continued down the hallway. Once they’d rounded the corner, he let out a sigh of relief. “You owe me a drink.” The air next to Shining Armor shimmered and waved as Jackson appeared, standing in its place. “After a performance like that, how could I not?” “Don’t you have a lieutenant or something that does this for a living?” “No she’s a lieutenant for a living.” Jackson grinned. “Besides, you won the drink.” “Well first you’d have to actually come to the bar and buy it.” “I will one of these days.” “Nope.” Shining stood in front of Jackson. “We’re going tonight.” “What?” Jackson said indignantly. “You heard me.” “But… I’m busy.” “No you’re not.” Shining’s horn started to glow. “Come on, let’s go.” “Oh you’re a bastard, you know that?” Jackson’s protests were lost as Shining herded him down the hall to the guards’ bar. He stumbled through the doors of the saloon, cussing to himself. Several of the Royal Guards tensed slightly at the sight of their captain and the alien general. “General!” A familiar voice called. Jackson looked up to see Captain Winds and Lieutenant Shroud sitting at a table on the far side of the room with a couple other members of Lion Company. Shroud was waving him over towards their table. “Dammit.” Winds cussed to himself as he slid a few bits over to Shroud. “Glad to see you finally made it to the bar, sir.” “Well if I’m gonna be here, you’re not gonna call me ‘general’ or ‘sir’ or whatever. Ruins the mood.” Jackson sat down. “Haven’t drank in a bar in a long time.” One of the Sergeants slid a mug of beer across the table from the bar. “Hope we can change that, sir.” The sergeant grinned. Jackson picked up the mug and inspected it. He usually didn’t drink beer, but he didn’t want to seem pretentious. “Fuck it.” Everyone cheered as Jackson tilted the beer back, falling back to his early days in the corps. When the last drop fell into his mouth, he slammed the mug back down on the table. “Can I get another one over here?” He called to the sergeant at the bar, grinning. “Aunt Celestia?” Cadence asked. “Where’s Jackson?” “Who’s Jackson?” Luna looked up, confused. Celestia smiled to Luna from her place at the table. “He’s a general in charge of a new division of the military. They’re a special group dedicated to locating weaponry that could lead to global warfare.” Celestia sipped her tea. “He earned his position and rank quickly due to his… experience in the matter. He’s well aware of what can happen if a global arms race were to come to our world. It’s been his job to prevent that for a couple years now.” “He sounds like a good stallion.” Luna said. “When may we be able to meet him?” “I believe you could right now.” Celestia smiled. “I’m sure he’s just in his office somewhere. I will warn you, though, he’s not a pony.” “Ah. That is no problem for us. We like to consider ourselves to be… progressive.” Luna smiled. “Well then let’s go find him.” The three mares stood and shuffled out of the room. Upon leaving, Celestia was stopped by one of the guards. “Ma’am. General Douglas is not in his office.” “What?” Celestia was confused. “Where is he?” “He’s at the guard saloon, ma’am.” “He is?” Celestia was pleasantly surprised. She’d expected him to be overworking himself in his office, as he usually did after a mission. “Well then. I suppose we’ll be taking a different route, then.” What the three princesses saw, was definitely not what any of them were expecting. “Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!” Was being choroused from inside the doors of the saloon as they approached. Cadence pushed open the doors, and thankfully no one seemed to notice. What the princess did notice, however, was the man that had just been praised holding himself upside down on a keg of beer drinking directly from the tap while the rest of the patrons cheered him on. Two earth ponies held his legs up while a unicorn held the tap in his mouth. He spat the tap out and the earth ponies let him down as he threw his arms up in victory. “What in the name of Equestria…” Celestia mumbled. In a stark contrast to the man’s normal starched attire, his jacket was strewn over the back of a chair, with his hat dangling off the side. His tie was off and thrown onto the table, presumably so it wouldn’t get in the way while upside down. He walked over to the corner of the bar where a guitar was sitting on the wall, and grabbed it. “Oh dear.” Cadence mumbled. “Can he even play the guitar?” Jackson jumped up onto the table of one of the booths and picked up the guitar. He started strumming wildly, doing some kind of ridiculous dance number and swing his arm wildly. Cadence had thought he’d gone mad, shouting something about the King or something like that. He jumped, and nearly lost his balance as he dropped the guitar. He laughed loudly as he righted himself, and looked around the room. “Hey! Celestia! What are you doing here?” He called. All the celebrations then promptly ceased. And they all turned and stared at the three princesses standing there in the doorway. “Um. Hello.” Cadence said meekly. Jackson jumped off the table, his dress shoes making a satisfying thud on the floor. He sauntered over, stumbling slightly along the way. He stood in front of the three princesses, his face completely neutral. He stared at the three of them, and slowly his eyes fell on Luna. He grinned and tipped his head. “Your majesty.” “Hello…” Luna greeted awkwardly. “We are Princess of the Night, Luna of Equestria.” He nodded, and kneeled shakily. “And I am General of DARP, Richard Jackson Douglas of Texas.” “Pleased to meet you… General Douglas.” Luna was uncertain of the man’s title, given his intoxicated state. He did look odd, as they said, not unlike a minotaur. The big difference was his legs, and he had clothing all over his body. As intoxicated he was, though, he managed a salute from his kneeled position. He tried to stand, but stumbled and crashed into a table nearby. “Oh!” Luna exclaimed as the man landed roughly onto the table, knocking over a few empty mugs. Her worry turned to confusion as instead of any sounds of pain, she just heard giggling coming from the man laying face down on the floor. The giggling turned into full blown laughter, which quickly spread to the other soldiers in the bar. Celestia walked over, bending down beside him. “Jackson, honey. Are you alright?” She asked softly. Jackson managed to suppress his laughter for a moment to look up at her. And then promptly started laughing even harder than before. Celestia, confused and embarrassed for him, promptly stood and decided that he’d had enough to drink. “Alright, General. I think it’s time for you to call it a night.” “Aye aye, princess.” He mumbled with a thumbs up. He managed to pull himself to his feet, and stumbled his way over to his coat and hat, which he slipped on before grabbing his tie and waving it. “Princess says I’m done. Night!” He yelled, despite the fact everyone could hear him normally. “Night, Jacky!” Shroud called from her table. “Goodnight, Douglas!” Shining followed. Jackson waved to them as he spun theatrically on his heels and pointed to the door like a general instructing his men to charge. “Let’s go, Rose!” Celestia shook her head, decided it’d be more work to get a straight answer out of him at this point than she really wanted to invest. He sauntered down the hall, whistling something unfamiliar to her. She sighed and mumbled to herself. “I don’t understand you sometimes, Jackson.” If he heard, he didn’t say anything. He just started to sing. “Atop, her head, she wore a yellow ribbon. She wore it in the springtime in the early month of May!” If they all learned one thing that night, it’s that Jackson was not destined for the choir. “Okay, let’s just get you into bed.” Celestia said softly to Jackson as she led him to bed. It seems he’d started to sober up, hinted by the fact he’d stopped singing. “You’re too nice to me, you know that?” He smiled as he leaned against her. “I’m starting to learn this, yes.” She mumbled. Jackson laughed. “Ah,” He sighed. “I love you, my little rose.” “Where’s that come from?” Celestia asked. “You’re my yellow rose of Texas.” He giggled. “It’s a song from back home.” “You’ve sang a lot of those tonight.” “Maybe I’m just a musician. I’m the next James Taylor.” He slipped off his jacket, and threw it and his hat onto a chair by his bed as he crawled into bed. “Hey honey?” “Yeah?” “Could you stay here tonight?” Celestia was surprised. He’d never asked her to stay before. She’d decided it was probably the beer talking, and decided to humor him. “I suppose I can.” She smiled. “Which one of me?” “'Don't matter. I'm asking you to stay, doesn't matter how you do it.” He grinned. She shook her head as her horn glowed and with a flash, a pale woman replaced the white unicorn that had been standing there before. She grabbed some clothes from his dresser nearby, slipping them on before climbing into bed next to him. “How’s this?” “That’s perfect.” He sighed softly. “I love you, Celestia.” “I love you too, Jackson.”