Ranger

Tipping my hat back some on my head with two fingers, I looked up and muttered "what the, hell?"

At the current moment I stood before a huge log wall, much like the old forts of the west had. Towers at the two corners I could currently see manned by ponies. What really stood out was above the big gate was a flag post with the same American flag that had been given to me at the show with an Equestrian flag flying under it.

Below that, across the gate, was a carved wood sign that said “Fort Texas.” That also had my eyebrow lifted.

I heard a pony call out, “Open the gate! Open the gate! Ranger incoming!” The call was repeated from behind the log wall. Soon the large gate swung in and I could see the cabin I’d arrived in in the center of what was a large clearing. The whole fort must have been a good couple acres large. Right along that circle at its edge was a short picket fence to keep folks from crossing over it.

Pony guards of all types ran out of cabins and lined up, I noted more than a few thestral among them, eyes covered in tinted goggles to protect them from the daylight. A small flight of 6 pegasi came down and joined the lineup before one last pony came from a cabin that looked almost like an administration building.

An earth pony that had on the same uniform as the rest; a kind of blue and yellow that reminded me a bit of a calvary outfit came to a stop in front of me and brought his hoof up in a salute. The rest of the platoon of 30 or so others all did the same.

“Welcome to Fort Texas, Ranger Mcdonald.”

So this is what Celestia’s smirk was all about. “I, uh, what is all of this?”

He chuckled. “First off, I am Captain Wallbreaker and it is my honor to welcome you to the United States of Amareica. The princess sent word so it's my duty and honor to inform you that right now, inside the walls here, you stand on sovereign Amareican land.” He gestured around. “This is all to protect the cabin you came in, secure your legacy and the place you came from, ambassador.”

I just stared at him for a bit before I snorted. “Why am I not surprised she pulled this shit?” As he blinked with a touch of a cringe, he then shrugged. I gave him a nod and turned looking at all the others then back to him again. “So, all of you are ambassadorial guards?”

He gave a nod. “Yes, sir. Each of us have sworn our first allegiance to Amareica and this land over our homeland of Equestria. It is our honor to be the Twelfth Ambassadorial Defence Force assigned to you and your land’s safety.” He smiled and gestured to his foreleg where there was a patch sewn onto his overcoat, an outline of Texas with two calvary type swords crossed behind it. “There are forty troops here in total. We work to keep the Everfree cleared back from the walls, maintain the land and fort, and provide for its defense.”

I just gave a nod and exhaled, not much could be done about this. I once again made note to myself to have a little chat with the white witch about talking to me and my lack of joy at surprises of this magnitude. “Very well, Captain, thank you and thank all your troops for me. I am honored so many have put so much into preserving a tiny section of my history.”

He smiled and called out “Dis-missed” before looking back up at me. I noted all the others breaking off and going back to their jobs. “Will you be staying long with us, Ambas-”

I cut him off with a finger to his snoot that made him go cross eyed and give me a frown. “Captain, please, just call me Shane, okay? I don’t like pretentious names and titles much.”

He pondered, then gave a nod.

“I just came to pick up a saddle and a few things in the cabin before I need to head back to Sweet Apple Acres again.”

He once more gave a nod. “If you want to eat before you leave, let me know. Again; it’s a pleasure to have you here Am-, er, Shane”

I gave another look around then headed for the short fence and gate around the cabin. I took a small walk, making note they had really expanded and now the cabin was dead center of the fort. Opening a little gate I walked across the nullstone line, also taking note nothing had grown; it was still just dead rock and dirt.

Walking up to the door I glanced around and noted a few ponies watching me, but not many as the rest were going to their tents aligned along one wall. I wondered when they’d be building barracks and what they’d look like before I gave a shrug, reached up above the door, and pushed a little wood panel open. Tugging out the key I unlocked the lock on the door and returned the key to its stealthy hiding spot.

The inside was as I left it: No bed, open hole in the floor where the safe was, kitchen was stripped down some. I had left a sofa, two chairs and the table along with a few other things. I reached up and hit a switch and the LED light came on.

So the one battery and single solar panel is still working, that’s good. I thought.

Walking back past the kitchen I opened up a door just to the side right next to the back door. This was the large pantry and steps down to the root cellar. I had found that it was intact on my first inspection years ago when I came here. Reaching up and flicking a switch, another LED light came on as I hit it. I went down the stairs and just to the right was what I needed.

I reached out and pulled down Gypsy’s halter, a few leads, and a few ropes. I slid my backpack off and started to tuck stuff in. Next was three blankets, along with some of her brushes and other care products. All packed I stood back up and slid the much heavier pack over my shoulders. Last, I grabbed up the big western saddle off the bar it rested on.

Tucking stuff together and strapping it into a bundle so it would be easier to carry I took one more look around..

Taking note of the MRE’s still in good shape, some water containers that looked good, I gave myself a nod and heading back up and out, turning the light off as I went. Again I glanced around; then I stepped over to the wall right next to the bathroom and tapped, making sure nothing had messed with the wall there. Satisfied, I turned and hit the light before heading out. Pausing to lock up again before I walked out across the ‘no mans land’ and out the little gate.

Many guards were watching now. Perhaps curious about the saddle and stuff, but I really had no time to deal with all that. Making one last bit of chat with the captain and a few of the other guards, I headed back out and my hour or so walk to home began.

It had been a long two weeks since I was out at the cabin. Jackie was in full swing running the farm and working. I had my patrols-the day to day stuff- and of course spending a few hours every day with Gypsy, trying to get her broken back to the saddle. I was at the point where she would let me put it on her and buckle her in, but she got skittish when I climbed on. No bucking or trying to throw me; just very skittish, so I was taking it slow and steady with her.

Speaking of, she had taken to Pip; much to his amusement she would follow him everywhere, almost like a giant puppy. The boy, for his part, seemed to really get into taking care of her. Big Mac had built a kind of ramp and platform so he could walk up and work on brushing her out while standing on the platform.

I kept an eye on things and the kid really had thrown himself into taking care of the larger horse. Perhaps this was for the best as it seemed to be cathodic for the boy. He wasn’t breaking into tears at night anymore and he had started staying in his own bed up at the house all night.

I had decided I was going to pop the question to Jackie soon, but knew as a gentleman I had to talk to Granny first. I also wanted to go talk to Burnt Oak, since he was Bright Mac’s best friend and about as close as I was going to get to Jackie’s father. I felt I needed to get his approval too, just as a way to show respect to the family.

On top of all that, I had that silly friendship thing Twi was putting on next month. Things there were a bit tense. She had pushed hard to not have any visible guards or law enforcement. In her opinion it would make the event seem less friendly.

I, of course, along with Cross and many of the guard high command had pushed back. Finally, with Cadence acting as arbitrator we had come to the unhappy solution of two active rangers, that being myself and Cross, along with the First Exercitus Solaris , and the Lunares Tenebrosus. We would all be on call in the solar barracks; about a two minute run or gallop away from the main festival grounds.

In the meantime the castle guards would all remain in place, modified to not be visible up on the walks and towers. I sure as heck didn’t like this, no one did, but it was as it was. Luna and Celestia having abstained and deferred to the Princesses of Friendship and the Princess of Love.

I guess I could be overthinking all this: Despite all the happenings since my arrival and before that, who was going to attack Canterlot while it was fully packed and had all four alicorns at full power? It would be suicide!

Just something in my gut said this was all a bad idea, but I had no real reason to think it. I chalked it all up to my being overly jumpy since the jail break and the finding that the SAA attack had been an attempt on me.

Perhaps it was the fact we still had no more movement on that front. Other than the two gryphons killed during the breakout; the one I took down during Apple Bloom’s abduction, and the one gryphon I shot down at the river. We still had five diamond dogs and two of the gryphons on the run. They were out there somewhere and not one of them had made enough noise to get on the Ranger’s radar.

Whatever the case, they would slip up somewhere and we would get them.

A few days later I was sitting down at a small hoof built log table across from an older gray pony. He tilted his head looking at me for a time before he said, “Ah respect you coming to talk to me. But, why?”

I gave a little smile. “Like I said, Oak; because you knew Bright Mac and you were his best friend. It would mean a lot to me to know I have your, and via that, Jackie's fathers approval.”

He smiled at me, but there was a sadness to it. Tears hinted at the bottom of his eyes and he gave a nod. “Ah think he would be mighty proud to have you as a son”

I reached out across the short table and took his hoof in my hand. A little choked up myself, I looked into his eyes. “Thank you, Oak. I won’t let anything happen to her.”

His smile never faded as he shook my hand back. “Ah don’t think you could do less. Ponies know who you are, Shane. A pony… Ah’m sorry, a Man of your word”

“Granny, I need to talk to you for a moment,” I asked as the old green mare turned her head from where she stood and the sink, washing carrots for part of dinner. She eyeballed me, then turned back to her work. “Go on, youngin’.”

I exhaled. “I, well… I got something to ask you and…” I paused and snatched the hat off my head because I had forgotten I had it on.

“Well? Ah ain’t got all day. What’s on yer mind?” She asked, sounding frustrated at my hesitancy

Closing my eyes for a moment, I opened them and found she had turned and was looking at me now. Up on the stool as she was, leaned on the sink, she was almost eye to eye with me. “Well you know, Jackie and I have been living out in my barn for a while now and…”

She cut me off with a equine snort. “About time you got around to this. ‘Ol Burnt Oak said you might be by with some questions fer me.” Her cold look turned into a warmer one when she smiled. “Go on now, just ask directly. Ah want to hear it, cause it’ll be likely the only time Ah hear it, what with Bloom bein’ so young.”

I frowned at that and the implications of her words but then looked back to her eyes. “Ah, well… I want to ask Jackie to marry me and I’d really appreciate your approval before I do so, Granny.”

She was very thoughtful for a long time then gave a nod of her head. “Yes, but,” she got off the stool, dropped to all fours and walked over to me. I sat down so I would again be mostly at her height. She lifted her hoof and set it on my knee and looked at my eyes. “Firstly, ya do right by my grandaughter, that A’ll have yer word on.”

I nodded. “You have my word on that.”

Her smile dipped some, a sadder look crossed her expression. “Second, yer first family's names are going on the apple quilt, to be remembered as one of us.”

Now it was my turn to be choked up a bit. I blinked, trying not to let emotions out too much. “Granny, I… are you sure?”

She gave a stern nod. “Just cause the’re gone, don’t mean they ain’t remembered or missed. It’s the right thing to do, the Apple thing to do. Ah won’t have a filly you dun brung into the world or her momma being forgotten.”

I nodded my head. “Thank you,” I said as she gave me a soft smile, patted my knee, and then grunted.

“Now get out of my kitchen ya lanky weird looking monkey thing,” she joked as she turned away, but I had seen the tears forming in her eyes as I got up.

“Yes ma’am.” I stated, putting my hat on to walk outside

She commented as I was half way out the door. “Ya send that fool little foal inside ta help me clean veggies fer dinner now, ya hear me?”

“Yes ma’am,” I replied as I walked out.

It was a week later, just two weeks before the big event up at Canterlot. I was sitting out under the tree named Sir Appleton as Jackie walked up. I lifted the brim of my hat a bit and smiled at her as she leaned in and I got myself an apple flavored kiss.

“Feeling lazy today? Ya ain’t in the office and you ain’t helping in the orchard?” Jackie asked.

I shook my head. “Nah, been pondering stuff… and I’ve been meaning to talk to you, Jackie.” I watched her sit in front of me, putting us on the same height.

“Well, go on then, always got to be a slobberknocker just ta get ya ta talk sometimes when yer chewing on things, and ya’ve been chewing on something all week.”

I exhaled and gave her a nod. I didn’t really speak, I just watched her green cores as I tugged a little box out of my pocket.

See, I had been planning this for a long time. I lifted the lid on the box and inside was a gold, apple shaped pendant, but it had the oddest sheen to it. Her eyes widened and a blush rushed up in her cheeks and ears.

I spoke up. “See, I had this idea. So this here is gold from my old wedding band, and a few other things I had melted down. Luna helped by putting a spell of some sort on it that will let ponies touch it and whatnot, and …”

I got a hoof into my lips, covering my whole mouth. She was glaring at me, and lowered her hoof again. “Just say it, please.” There was a pleading in her eyes.

I swallowed loudly. “Jackie, would… will you marry me?”

She gave a slow nod of her head, too choked up to talk for a moment. Her ears back, shock, awe and love in her eyes.

I said nothing as I lifted the chain and pendant out and slowly slipped it around her neck, clicking the clasp and letting it settle. She blinked at something and then whispered, “Sh-shane what just happened?”

I shrugged. “Well, Luna said only you could ever remove that, no one can take it off you or force you to remove it. You have to be willing to take it off so… yeah.”

She again gave a nod and whispered, “Yes.” She was leaning in. Soft pony lips pressed to mine as I knocked my hat up out of the way and pressed back into a pretty deep and loving moment. I had asked Shawna for permission, I had begged my little girls spirit for guidance, and all of it seemed right so, here I was.

Breaking the kiss, breathing a bit heavy as I pressed my forehead to hers. I spoke softly because my mouth was near her ear. “So, I guess Bloom and Mac will need to be told.”

She pulled her head back. “Now, what about granny?” she asked, pausing when she saw my smile, she smiled back.

“I took care of that, asked permission from her and I also talked with Burnt Oak.”

At that she seemed shocked then pondered then gave a nod. “Ah think you done right. Pa’s spirit would approve, fer sure”

She then let out a giggle that was so not her usual stoic self and hugged me tight enough to squeeze the air out of me for a moment. “Ah’ve got to go, I got to… oh my Celestia, Ah have to tell the girls!”

I laughed and gave her a little push on the shoulder. “Go on, girl. I love you.”

I got another kiss. “Ah love ya too,” she said before she spun and was off at a gallop.

I tucked my hat back on and leaned back on the apple tree behind me. “Well, I hope I’ve done the right thing.”

A light breeze wafted in out of nowhere and the oddest of things happened. Two buttercups floated and landed on my open hand.

Ain’t that just the weirdest thing?