Author's Note

I know its been almost a year folks. With all that went on in the world, work, and some stress in life (mom passed on) I lost the will to write.

I got it back, it just hit me and I cranked this out. I don't have any editors right now so I am sorry for the formatting. I tried to do my best on it but it isn't like previous chapters even I can see that.

Anywho, off we go

62 - Pip and the station

I looked at the little bedridden paint pony, watching him ponder what had just been said by the whole of the apple family and myself. His case worker, Love Tap stood near his side, we at the end of the bed. On the bed next to him lay a pretty pink little filly who had refused to leave the room and made a darn good argument as to why she should stay so she had been allowed to.

Pip looked to really be trying to chew on his words as his mouth opened and closed a few times. “Y-you want me to come live, at Sweet Apple Acres? W-With you, Ranger sir?” you could hear his tone starting to break.

I smiled “I think that is exactly what Granny asked, pip” glancing over to see Big Mac nod his head and say in a soft tone “Yeeep”

Pip turned to look at Love tap who smiled down at him, having to lean around his upraised leg in its cast. Then the paint sniffled and looked at Diamond who just gave a nod of her head. “This is right, Pip. I will be right there with you, every day I can.”

I dawned on me just how powerful the relationship between the filly and colt was growing. They had both lived through the worst, and faced it as friends, as more. I could see the dedication in Diamonds eyes, and likewise the trust in Pip’s.

He turned and looked at me, then turned some and looked at Granny Smith. The old mare stepped forward and lifted her trembling hoof, resting it on on the blanket, touching where his leg was.

Pip gave a little sniffle, and tears welled up in his eyes, as the faded green mare moved forward more and gently put her hoof on his belly. Triggering him to start sobbing as he whispered “o-ok”. This triggered AB to leap up and start to hoot and run around despite the air in the room.

“WOO Hoo! I got another brother!”

I chuckled softly to myself but restrained. Poor pip was too far into his emotional rollercoaster to have caught what Bloom had said. I squatted down and got a hug from the little filly and whispered quietly “we can celebrate later ok?” then I paused as a shudder races down my spine. I quickly said out loud “No pinky, not now, later when its time.”

Applejack looked at me funny as I stood up again and mouthed “Pinkie ain’t here”. I knew that, logic said that, but one never knows. What made it all the creepier was the fact I felt something behind my ear, like where I use to put my smokes back when I did that. I reached up and there I pulled a rolled up little bit of paper. Unrolling it it just said ‘Okey Dokey” on it. Yea...that mare still worries me, a lot!

Granny was quietly talking to Pip, so I listened in. I noted Big Mac had backed off some, heading for the door kind of nuding a quiet AB with him. Jackie was tucked in next to her grandmother, but keeping quiet.

“You just quit your fussing child. Ah will make darn sure yer welcome among us. Ain’t no Apple that would turn their back on a foal in need.” her hoof still on the sheets. I noted she was smiling at DT but Jackie was the one that said “and you don’t worry none about Diamond here being welcome. Why I will go talk to Filthy myself about her visiting any time she wants.”

The paint just turned his head and hid his face into the pink fillies shoulder and neck. I suspect it was all a bit overwhelming. I caught Tap’s eye and she gave a nod so I spoke up.

“How about we all give Pip some time to nap.” getting the others to nod, Diamond again spoke up “may I stay please Ranger McDonald?” being very polite. A little trick I have noted she used to get adults to take her serious.

“I don’t see any harm in that Diamond” Reaching out and patting her on the head lightly. “You just make sure to let pip rest some...and Pip don’t argue with me ok? I know Emerald will be by in a hour.”

He glanced quickly up at me from the bed “That is the nice pony that talks to ponies and helps them right?” as I gave a nod and the pink filly next to him said in a softer voice. “She is the one I go talk to also” getting the paint pony to nod his head despite his face still being hidden into her neck/shoulder area.

As I stepped out into the hall, joined by the two apple mares. Granny nudged my leg and said “You dun right by somepony again.” and slowly headed off at Big Mac’s side with AB in tow. Standing there watching them head outside, Jackie rubbed her side along my leg.

“Guess we should talk about it, shouldn’t we?”

I exhaled and looked at her, then smiled “We will figure things out, we always have”

She gave a nod and pressed to my leg harder, not quite enough to knock me over but close.

A few days had passed. I had helped Big Mac clean out the spare room that was AJ’s, moving the rest of her personal things into my house. He still gave me the stink eye but I think he and I both knew where this was going to end up anyways. I did rib him some about Sugar, and he admitted he was having thoughts about the mare of the more long term kind.

We worked all day getting it set up for Pip. New mattress on the bed, new sheets that Cort and Golden donated. Money as always did not grow on trees around here so Mac reconditioned some furniture he found out in one of the other barns. I will say this, that guy…er stallion, can do wonders with wood, some sand paper and stain.

I was just getting the bed made as Mac glanced over at me. It always surprised me when he spoke more than a few words.

“How you holding up?”

I glanced over at the deep voiced red male and frowned then figured out what he was talking about. I turned back to my work as I talked.

“I will be fine, the boy needs this. Truth be told perhaps I do too. This all reminds me of the day we got Cassidy her first adult bed…”

I felt his hoof touch my arm and turned to find the big stallion looking at me. Once more reminded that ponies in general took a different view on life, loss, and such.

“It still hurts, but Jackie, you, the family. Hell everyone, it all helps.”

He gave a nod “Eyeep” then continued “ah hope ya never ferget, yer an Apple far as we are concerned. Family is there fer each other”

I lifted a eyebrow, that was more than Mac said to me in most days. I pondered him a bit then gave a nod “You been talking to Cort too much, your getting soft” but said it with jest in my voice. I knew this guy, and he was like a brother to me, abet a overprotective, soft hearted one.

He slugged me in the arm, damn that hurt! I rubbed it as he turned and went back to finish fitting the door to the closet. I watched him a moment then gave a nod. “Thank you” is all I added and went back to my work on the room.

About a hour later I was just heading out to my barn room when Lightning Dust landed next to me. She gave me a smirk as she held out her hoof to me.

“Shane, Cort said to remind you to do your paperwork sometime this week.”

I snorted and bumped my fist to her outheld hoof.

“That stallion nags like a old lady”

She laughed and gave a nod, fluttering her wings to settle them as she turned and walked with me.

“So, I got to ask ya something”

I glanced over at her as I held the door to my room open for her to go first. Walking in behind her I took my hat off and hung it on the peg. Starting to unbuckle my gun belt after.

“Quit beating around the bush here LD, whats up?”

She gave a nicker and looked up at me then laid her ears back “Ah hell. I wanted to ask, well look.” she again paused “Redheart and I want you to officiate for us”

I blinked, a few times looking at her then tilted my head “Officiate as in, are you telling me you finally popped the question to Red?” a smile coming to my face.

She nodded her head, a hint of pink under her teal fur. “I did, she said yes. Look Dash already said she would be my best mare, but we talked and we want you to marry us. We wouldn’t be together if it wern’t for you and giving me a second cha…”

I cut her off with a finger to her nose. “I would be honored deputy Dust” getting a response of her leaping up and winghugging me tight before she caught herself and landed back on her hooves blushing furious.

“S-sorry Shane I just”

Again I shook my head “its all good LD, congratulations by the way. I am really happy for you both.”

She smiled up at me “So, when are you going to pop the question to” again I cut her off with a finger to her nose and frowned.

“When it feels right, you and Cort both need to chill the fuck out on that”

She snorted and sat then reared up enough to do that hoof to the pastern of the other leg ‘flipoff’ Cort did to me since they didn’t have fingers. This of course made me laugh, having hung the gunbelt up I walked over to the kitchen area of the big single room. “Ya know you are learning some bad habits from Cort”

She again snorted “like you and your foul mouth had nothing to do with that right?” walking over to talk as I started to get things out. “Dinner?” she asked.

I gave a nod “Yea, Pip comes home tomorrow so I figure I will cook for Jackie and I to take the load off Mac and Granny for the night” I paused as I realized I once again said home about this place.

She gave a smile “You are doing a nice thing Shane, that colt is going to have a stable place to come to terms with what happened and grow up some.”

I glanced over at her and gave a nod. I was still chewing on things in the back of my head but, I had chosen this path along with the Apples and I meant to stand to that, even if it caused me some personal issues.

“Well I need to get going, I have to fly over to Fluttershy’s place and pick up some eggs then fly them out to Maud, she asked for a favor.”

I gave a nod to her as she turned to leave, heading for the door “Tell Flutter and Maud I said hi” and went back to cooking as the door closed.

—

“I don’t like this Jackie” looking down at the mare as she packed her bags.

She glanced over her shoulder at me and frowned but went back to her work. “Don’t start this again Shane. This here is what I do, ah am one of the elements of harmony.” Pausing before she turned, sat down and looked up at me with a soft smile.

“I love you, I love how worried you get over little ol me. Makes me feel real special in a way I ain’t never felt with nopony before…but shane, ah have to go do this. Twi needs us, said whatever this ponyhenge place is, well this here is a us thing. Just like when you go off on patrol because its who and what you are, ah got to do the same.”

Giving a long exhale I got down on my knees so I was head height with her. Looking into her green cores I forced a smile up. “I still don’t like it, but I get it I guess. Just…you be carful out there. I know what kinda things you have faced in the past.”

She lifted up and wrapped her forlegs around my neck looking me in the eyes. “Ifn’s that big dumb galoot Tirek and ol Nightmare couldn’t do me in. Well I suspect some circle of rocks ain’t going to be much of a problem.” As she leaned forward.

I met her half way and melted into a kiss, as warm and deep as any we shared. Only breaking it after a time I shook my head and lifted one hand to brush her hat up so I could rub her left ear. “Look you just keep the rest of them safe. Lets face it Jackie, among them all you and Rainbow are the physical ones, the most likely to fight and win. I guess Twi can hold her own but…”

She gave a snort “ya ain’t seen Rars in a sloberknocker, she gets downright mean. Back in the fight in canterlot some changeling took a chip out of her hoof.” now she shuddered and closed her eyes for a moment. I could see her envisioning the fight. “Rar why she cast some kinda magic, and what musta been a thousand sewing needles swarmed around her then went after that changeling. It weren’t a pretty sight, she didn’t kill him but ah am willing to bet he wished she had when it was over.”

I shook my head “I just can’t imagine the same mare that whines about sweat, getting that mean” I chuckled and leaned forward kissing AJ on the nose.

“Oh she ain’t as prim and proper as she pretends to be. Remember her daddy was a star hoofball player. She grew up knowing how to take care of herself. She ain’t no master in Wing Fu like Rainbow and Derpy are but she can take her knocks.”

I gave a nod “OK, just, come back to me safe ok?” repeating the same thing she tells me all the time. I lowered my tone “how did Pip take you having to leave?”

She finally let go of my neck and turned walking back to her bags to continue to pack. I got up off my knees and walked over grabbing a few items out of the bathroom I knew she would need. “Well he wern’t happy none but he understood. Shane you are going to need to keep a eye on him. Ah know he hides things, but he let it slip the other day he still sees a face when he closes his eyes.”

I frowned and walked over next to her “Its only been two months Jackie, give him time” not telling her I still see the faces when I close my eyes too.

She gave a nod “Oh and when we get back, we are throwing LD and Red a bachelors party and a bridal shower. Yer expected to take care of LD on that. Doctor Heartshine is taking care of Red’s.”

I smiled a bit “Already on it” leaning down and kissing the bridge of her muzzle. “God help me, I love you so much, just come home safe ok?”

She looked up at my eyes “Ah pinky promise”

—

Sitting at my desk at the station, I looked across the top at LD, it had been two weeks since AJ left, I missed the hell out of her.

“What do you mean they are on their way back with, more than they left with?” my eyes narrowing some.

The Teal and gold pegasus mare before me shrugged. “I mean, that was the message, its all I got. They are on the way back, they have others in tow, and would explain when they get back. Ah figure day after tomorrow if I go by what info I got.”

I exhaled and shook my head “I hate when we don’t get all the facts. Ok thank you Dust, do me a favor. Fill Cort and Golden in on what we know. Then head on over to the station and pick up the boxes for us. OH and could you please quit drinking the last of the coffee and not making another pot?”

She looked at me and lay her ears back “er..sorry about that boss” as I shook my head at her “Don’t be sorry, just try, now get out and thank you for the handoff message.” shooting her a smile.

As LD trotted out I heard Amethyst yell from the front desk “You got payroll to finish, and then I have a stack of form twelves up here you need to sign.” making me groan. Before I could answer I heard her add in “No it can’t wait a hour, if I let you procrastinate as much as you try to, this place would fall apart.”

I heard laughter from another place, Golden, and I lowered my forehead to the desk. “I hate this job sometimes.”

Lifting back up I grabbed a stack of papers, starting to flip them as I scanned them. Mostly update reports and such. I came across one from Twilight, something about a friendship party or something, Looked like it was set for next spring and up in Canterlot so I tossed it aside. I am sure she would fill me in sooner or later on what she needed.

Once I got thru all that, I picked up the ledger book and opened it up. Staring to fill things in, god I hated this.