The Equestrian Ranger Corps

“Something has to be done about those Ranger bastards!” The noble’s voice reminded Celestia of a spoiled cat mewling for its dinner. It wasn’t very often her temper and ire could be provoked, but with each meeting she held with the nobilities she surprised herself with how long she had been able to hold herself in check.

“They can’t be allowed to run around doing as they please...” Another noble pony, a plump mare whose belly was no doubt suffering due to the recent raids on the noble’s food stores. Celestia sighed loudly and raised a hoof silencing the arguing nobles. “As I have pointed out countless times in past counsel meetings. The Rangers are out of the governments reach, beholden to no authority but their own.”

“That’s ridiculous!” another clueless noble blurted out. “We should send out the Royal Guards and...”

“Do what exactly?” Celestia snapped, making the nobles flinch. “Wage war against them? Lay siege to their strongholds?”

“Obliterate them!” the noble called out. It took all of Celestia’s resolve not to repeatedly smack the noble’s head against the table and pray to all the goddesses she could think of he would get some commonsense. Instead she took a deep calming breath, leveling a glare at the ponies in the room.

“I need not remind you, as I’ve also done many times before, that the Solar and Lunar guard have been greatly weakened since repelling the griffon rebellion.” She resisted pointing out the Rangers also played an integral part in saving their fat lazy flanks only made that way due to their treatment of the lesser ponies. “The resources we have left are barely enough to keep the peace of the kingdom. If we were to go up against the Rangers, heavy casualties, starvation, riots and internal rebellions would be the least of our problems. The Rangers are the only thing that stands between Equestria and a complete national melt down. I’m afraid the Rangers are a necessary evil.”

A grumbling chorus of displeasure sounded throughout the council chambers and dirty looks were thrown at Celestia. “Need we remind you, Princess, that your job is to make sure the peace of the kingdom is kept? You’ve allowed the Rangers to raid our lands, steal from our homes...”

Celestia cleared her throat pointedly and deepened her glare at the group of nobles. “As I recall correctly, anything the Rangers stole from you was given to the Castle’s treasury as they were the taxes you in fact owed to the kingdom in the first place.” Celestia smirked at the growing discomfort she could sense in the room. She had been doing this for a long time, she knew how to keep the nobles in their place. “If you all really feel that the Rangers need to be bought into check, I shall start an investigation into their crimes. Of course I shall have to collect each of your income records for an accurate and thorough investigation... All in favor say ‘aye’.” The room remained completely silent. “Excellent! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have an appointment with my student.”

“Something has to be done about the Rangers, Princess. You can’t keep avoid taking action against them forever.”

Celestia gave them a patient smile. “Well, as soon as you come up with a way for me to do that without throwing the kingdom into chaos and turmoil, you let me know.” Without another she rose from her throne and briskly trotted out of hte room. As soon as she was out of the room she allowed the scowl she had been keeping in check to spread over face. The nobles were nothing but selfish, greedy bastards that had no idea how lucky they were. If it weren’t for the fact she needed the noble’s wealth and resources to keep Equestria strong, she would have banned each and every one of the from the royal council room.

“That could have gone better.” Celestia squeaked in surprise and spun around facing the direction from which the mysterious voice had spoken. A bulgy shape in the shadows shifted and a unicorn with a dark mottled pattern over his coat seemed to step out the very wall.

Celestia let out a sigh of relief as she recognized the ranger as the messenger responsible for keeping contact between the base in Ponyville and Canterlot. “What brings you all the way here, Ranger?” She was slightly irked she couldn’t address with his real name as Rangers were notorious for keeping their names a secret least their loved ones be targeted by vengeful enemies within and out of Equestria. The ranger was, as always, grim faced without a trace of humor.

“Commander Tashi sent me, princess. Chrysalis’s changeling hive has been discovered hiding in the Everfree Forest.”

Celestia sucked in a deep breath at the ranger’s words and immediately turned around trotting more briskly to her student’s chambers. “Sister, please join me.” Seconds later Luna appeared in a flash of blue magic beside her sister. “The Ranger Corps have located the changeling hive hiding out in the Everfree Forest,” she explained, before Luna could question why she was so suddenly summoned. The Ranger remained grim faced and silent, following along after the royal sisters at a respectable distance.

“That... Is troubling,” Luna commented softly, her brow farrowing slightly with concern. “After the griffon rebellion, I am not sure we have the resources to defend Equestria if we are to face another invasion.”

“Princesses...” The two sisters stopped and turned to face the Ranger. “The Ranger corps, while not under your command have sworn to defend Equestria. All three hundred and seventy seven of us will be with you when the time comes.”

Celestia and Luna glanced at each other. Three hundred and seventy seven Rangers would make a massive difference in any kind of conflict, the Corps were comprised of trained soldiers from both the Lunar and Solar Guard. Soldiers who had seen war, grew tired of it and left the service to form a Corps dedicated to form a service outside any chain of command. With the Ranger Corps backing up the Guards, Equestria stood a much better chance of survival. Luna was the first one to talk.

“In the past the Ranger Corps have been trusted allies. Their only loyalty is to the Corps and the wellbeing of the commoners. But we will need somepony to act as a liaison between Canterlot and the Corps.”

“Twilight Sparkle,” the Ranger muttered. “She’d be the best one. She’s a princess, but not an integral part of Canterlot’s command. It will also give her the opportunity to learn how to make decisions of command without the noble pony’s corrupting influence guiding her.”

Celestia bit her bottom lip thoughtfully and glanced to Luna who nodded her approval. “Very well, Ranger. You shall take Twilight Sparkle back to the Ranger’s base in Ponyville. Luna and I will gather together some of our Guard and send them to you for support. How many more ponies will you need?”

The Ranger licked his lips looking somewhat nervous. “Twenty will be just enough to give us the support and strength we need to keep Ponyville and the Everfree forest safe. But, you will need to provide signed documentation that your guards will take no action against us.”

“Done!” Luna said with a curt nod of her head. “I volunteer my Night Terrors as support.”

The Ranger looked at Luna in complete shocked horror. The Night Terrors were a special ops group compromised of seven thestrals trained in the art of assassination and covert ops. They had singe handledly killed Silias Iron Claw the leader of the Griffon rebellion in his own tent, along with the entire command structure of the Griffon army. To let such a powerful force inside the base was a risk that the Ranger simply could not take. Luna smiled reassuringly and was quick to allay his fears.

“Do not worry, Ranger. My Night Terrors are completely loyal and obedient to me. They will do nothing without my absolute consent. The nobles have no influence over them and only answer to me.”

The Ranger nodded. “Very well, we shall take you up on that offer.” Luna was secretly a huge supporter and friend to the Ranger Corps, and if the nobles had no influence or authtority over the Night Terrors he would gladly accept that offer. Celestia cleared her throat and nodded to the door at the end of the hallway.

“Come, Twilight needs to be informed of these plans.” The three of them continued walked away not noticing the concealed noble pony watching them, smiling with malice.