The past should remain buried, but I suppose I couldn't hide it forever. -Gladius

Walking through my town felt so relaxing. Being here with my family instantly melting away any shadow of the previous days, renewing my strength and banishing the pain as we weaved past small groups of my neighbors and close friends. They would all greet us with nods and smiles as we passed, some of my fellow soldiers with their families saying hello and how good it was to see me again. This in itself made me smile somewhat more through my stitches as I paused on the outside of my home. This was when my little Tenebris finally ceased her hopping on my back and jumped to the ground instead.

It was an old place, a farmhouse of which we'd found dilapidated and falling apart about fifty years ago. Since those days, we'd restored it to a near pristine state and built up much more around it thanks to our Company's Combat Engineer who had since taken his nickname of Steel Smith to heart. I couldn't help but admire the simple building that had helped me raise my new family and found our town before walking up to the door. At my side, Tenebris was almost jittery with excitement at the prospect of new ponies to play and spend the night with as I pushed the wooden door inward and stepped into our parlor. The room, once likely having been great; now was a humble space that heralded bare walls and a faded red carpet floor. A few lounge chairs that were hoof-crafted by Steel Smith sat in a semi-circle to a carved coffee table that had been here when we arrived. Around the floor, several toys we'd found up in the attic were scattered about; most notably Tenebris's little figures of Lunar Rangers and Pony Soldiers that she'd left here likely before heading out into town today.

Despite seeing these everyday, and recalling the significance they meant to me; I would allow her to play with them as she did not know herself of what they signified. However, she wasn't interested in them at the moment as she was chatting excitedly with Bulls Eye who had just entered behind Applebits. My love was setting off for the kitchen, no doubt to prepare some warm tea from the different plants we grew in the fields for our guests to enjoy as I took a seat in my chair in the corner. I saw Applebits hesitantly do the same, although it had taken some encouragement from my daughter as she chirped, "Daddy's soldier friends all sit in these chairs and they are big! I think you can too!"
Doing my best to relax, I could slowly feel the stress releasing as I sat back further into the plush seat and back of the chair. Tenebris was now settling next to Lightning, asking him all sorts of questions about the wasteland and what it had been like the past few days with me. He answered them all; though it seemed like he was intentionally trying to not scare her about our experiences and I could feel a little more respect for him as he described the tale in an almost heroic, storybook way.

Within a few minutes, my love was bringing us a tray of tea that she sat upon the coffee table before nodding to our guests as Tenebris moved to Shadow Star and her sisters and was asking them if they'd like to play hide-and-seek in a little bit. They were looking at her oddly, at least until she explained what she meant and they all took off for upstairs after Shadow Star gave her approval.

Finally, my wife settled down next to me after nuzzling one last time. It was now that we turned to the others, who most of which were actually enjoying the tea and complimenting Shield on just how good it was compared to what they were used to. She didn't take notice, only was still smiling at them when Bulls Eye spoke up while staring almost confused as to why she didn't respond. "Are you alright Miss Shield?"
My blood answered for her, since she could not. "My lovely Moonlight Shield sadly is deaf dear friend. She lost her hearing over the years due to the massive noise of the artillery she used to command for the Apploosian Artillery Batteries Mercenary Company."

After that, everypony was no longer speaking in direction to my love as I watched them sip their tea in silence. For minutes this went on, and both of us enjoyed the simple silence as we nuzzled lightly; trying to enjoy our company now since she knew I very well couldn't sleep in bed with her tonight or any night. And speaking of night, I took notice of the fact that our old grandfather clock that Smith had repaired was heading towards nighttime. This delighted me somewhat, as I took in the account that the light outside was darkening; I knew that perhaps I could enjoy my peace alone and allow my new friends to rest here in the parlor as I rose with Shield in almost perfect unison. She took the empty cups, taking them to the kitchen to be washed the following day before she departed upstairs and came back down with blankets and pillows. She set them up on the empty chairs we had after reclining them, making them into temporary beds before nodding faintly and disappearing upstairs. I knew she would handle putting our little one to bed, and my little Tenebris's new friends came back down to Shadow Star before I bid them all to rest. "Please, sleep well friends. Make yourselves at home here."

With this, I departed off to the basement; the place where I spent my many nights alone and unobserved. Hours passed in the night, peacefully and quiet as I heard the sound of deep breathing from above. I sat, as I always did, in a chair with an old radio that Steel had fixed so I could listen to my holotapes and try to forget. he melodies soft, the singer's vocals beautiful; and yet nothing could ever make me forget what I stared at now. Hung up along the wall I faced, my old uniform. Tattered, but still in decent condition; the long brown belted overcoat with matching trousers and black combat boots. A thick vest, filled with holes from the war; wide shoulder guards with my rank insignia on the right and my squad insignia on the left. To the left, pictures of all those in my squad, the Death Devils. Their tags hung on small driven nails under each picture, and to the right laying upon a desk were some documents with a few photos and my old rusted auto-cannon.

The gentle melodies grew somewhat louder as the mare hit a particular note, but even this couldn't stop the slight sound I heard come from the bottom of the stairs at the other end of the room. The only difference, was I knew who this pony was; I had been expecting her after all. As such, I had actually removed my stitches as I spoke once more in a soft voice for the second time since the war to her. "Ya know it's rude ta sneak up on somepony in their own home."

There was a sigh I heard as the one realized they'd been caught. "Perhaps...But I never got the chance to ask what I wanted to know. Nor did I get the chance to apologize." The voice belonged to Applebits, I could tell as I turned the chair some so I could see her out of my one good eye.

"And what did ya come to ask about?" I said. "And there's no need fer ya ta apologize fer earlier...Ah wasn't angry with ya fer kissing me. More so ah just can't stand it when a soldier gets drunk."

I could tell she blushed slightly at the mention of the kiss and her embarrassment at being drunk, but she nodded faintly in response. "I'm still sorry about that...But since we met...I've been wondering about you. Who you are, and what you are to be exact."

"Well, ya likely done figured out that ah'm not like no normal pony ever was." I whispered softly as she came up and examined all that was laid out. "Ah was a soldier before tha war. Gunnery Sergeant Gladius O' tha First Battalion. ah led under mah command tha Death Devils, tha roughest and toughest bunch O' brothers ah ever knew; specially since we were all in tha same boat together."

"I remember that unit, from the war." Applebits said, eyeing the patch of a pony skull that was flaming with crossed auto-cannons. "They were all almost like Rangers in their own right, wherever they were the tide of the battle turned in favor of our army."

"That's because we were all Rangers" I said, turning the documents as Applebits gave me a confused look. "Look these over, they'll explain what I mean." I hoofed the small stack over to her, letting her have a few minutes to read them before she gave me a look of shock. "Before tha war began, tha princesses decided they needed ta prepare a force that could stop tha Stripes should they desire ta fight. They needed super-soldiers, an as a result tha princesses put into action a top-secret project tha nopony was to know about save tha researchers and themselves. Tha result was the Proto-Ranger Project, an experiment that utilized genetic enhancement and physical augmentation of specially selected candidates into super soldiers. Not ta mention we were also imbued with ancient arcane magics to enhance our bodies even further. Ah was one O' tha candidates, along with two-hundred others. Tha Project was a failure, most died or were crippled...only about five O' us came out. We were now stronger, faster, and far more intelligent and durable than tha soldiers of tha standard army. We all had powers, although mine ah had since ah was little an it was only enhanced. Mah control O' blood, be it from mahself or another pony; ah could use it to also enhance my augmented strength even further now. Every one O' us was also given injections of genetics from Equestria's greatest warriors and commanders; including that of General Knight himself. Before tha Project was shut down in favor O' tha other plan from tha Ministry of Wartime Technologies of your breed O' Rangers, ah was given the title O' Chief Ranger due ta being tha most capable and enhanced; and mah future squad O' survivors delegated beneath me as standard Rangers. We were told after the cancellation O' the project by tha princesses ta never speak O' it unless absolutely necessary...and we were dispersed into tha regular army as tha first ones ta go ta battle."

Finally, I fell silent. Allowing her to absorb all that had been told as the melodies finally settled to silence with the holotape ending as my gaze remained locked on my fallen comrades photos from long ago. Surprisingly enough, Applebits didn't say a word to me about any of this. She simply remained silent herself and was still looking everything over as though taking everything in once more before she settled on the photos as well. A silent vigil, our eyes on the past; something I could actually live with and share as the holotape started over with the soft, happy vocals coming again. "Haven't spoken that much in two-hundred years to anypony...Guess my conscience is just trying to tell me it's okay to let go...Or is she just that special to me?" He pondered before shaking his head and attempting to just listen to the sweet music and vocals as the night wore on.

Author's Notes:

Gladius' past explained at long last, Applebits seems to be satisfied with the answers, but is this that'll happen in the absence of Tempest, or will something spur our band of ancient warriors onward?

Find out soon in, Fallout Equestria: Ancient Protectors!

Stay Brony Everypony!