It really felt like life had given me a break at long last. The next two months working for the Apples were some of the best I could remember in a long time, and the most laid back recently. I earned enough bits now to start a small bank account of my own. I paid for my own things, helped cook and clean around the house, I had my own room in the barn all set up now. Winter was on its way, and the Running of the Leaves took place yesterday, and I was out with the rest to watch.

AJ and I, well, things were all right. We had gone on a few what I would call dates; we spent quite a bit of time talking, and a lot of time avoiding certain words. Overall, I very much enjoyed spending it with her, though I still found myself to be severely conflicted on my feelings. More so lately, when I would catch her looking over at me, I would be desperately wanting to just pull her close and... and what? Kiss her? Hold her? Tell her I love her? How could I? I am still a human, and she is still a pony. Despite all the friendship and feelings, I still had to deal with that, as well as the ghosts of the past in my head I was avoiding.

Last week had been a pretty eventful one. I had finally heard the story of Applejack’s parents, and I met her paternal grandfather. Ol' Grand Pear, nice enough guy, but a lot of guilt there. I can see why, though. He left his daughter behind and never had the chance to say sorry before she was gone. I understood that type of stubbornness well, and I felt bad for the guy. Hearing that Granny had extended the Olive branch and they had ended a silly feud, I think that was one of the high points.

I had to leave shortly after that and catch the train up to Canterlot for my monthly meeting with the princesses. I figured AJ and the family had a lot of catching up to do, so me not being around might help a bit, too.

Of course, Canterlot remained the same as it always has. Snooty ponies ignoring the nicer ones, the hard working ones that let the elite stay in their pretend world of high society. I had a chance to have dinner with Fancy and his wife the first night there. That was a good time, despite the gossip of who is saying what and where.

One thing of note, Blueballs and his little clique were no where around. Usually I would bump into one of them, but, nothing. In fact, Dusty had made comment that they have not been complaining about... in their words, that filthy monkey. This should have set off alarm bells, but it didn’t.

---

Pulling into the station, I got up and grabbed my bag, slinging it over my shoulder. I was really thankful for it, and Twilight had not spared any expense on it. I could wear it like a backpack, or just sling it over one shoulder. It held nearly a week of clothing, plus a bit of food and even had a pouch for a canteen on it.

Stepping off the train, I saw Twilight immediately, flanked by four of her guards. This was not the usual. Hell, usually Applejack or one of the Apples were here to greet me on my return. The purple alicorn maintained a very worried and concerned look on her face, and even her guards looked moderately upset atop their typically collected miens.

Walking over to them, I spoke up. “Hey, Twilight, what's up?” giving the guards a nod, “fellas?”

Twilight's ears pinned back, and I suddenly felt a sinking feeling in my gut. “Shane, t-there was an attack on the farm…”

The pack slid off my shoulder and crashed to the wood of the platform. “W-what?!”

I could see her lip trembling, holding back tears that were welling up in her eyes. “S... Shane, AJ is, is in the hospital, s-she is in a coma.”

I was gone. I shoved past them faster than any of them could react and I was at a full sprint. My heart pounded, mind focused on one thought. Please, Lord, please let her be okay! I didn’t hear her shout for me to stop. I didn’t even notice the guards trying to keep up.

However far I ran was beyond me. I don’t know how long it took me to get here. I crashed through the swinging door, huffing hard and rapidly. I snarled, “Where is she?” at the white unicorn behind the desk.

Poor Redheart, she was a very good-hearted mare, but right now it was clear she was afraid of me. Trembling, her hoof pointed down a hall. “R... room one-f-five o-o-one”

Still breathing hard, I fast walked in that direction. Ponies shoved themselves to the wall to stay out of my way. I must have looked terrifying to them. I couldn’t worry about that, I was just focused on getting to her side.

Pushing into the door, I saw her laying there, a tube in her mouth, two IVs in her foreleg. Her left eye was swollen and black, her right hind leg in a cast, and a long bandage surrounded the whole of her barrel. I wasn’t aware of anyone else in the room. I just felt like the whole world was crashing down around me.

I walked over closer to the bed, taking in the individual beep of the machines, the soft chug of the breathing tube and air being pushed into her lungs. I fell to my knees with a hard thud. My hands came up and I clenched them together as I trembled, and did something I had not done in eleven years. My head bowed and I spoke out loud.

“Please, please, Lord, I know we ain’t talked in a long time. I know I am angry with you, I know I am not a good Christian. Please, please, Lord, don’t do this, not again. Don’t take her, don’t... I... I am not strong enough to face this again. Please, God, Lord... please!”

I didn’t hear the door open behind me, I just kept praying. “Please, Lord, I don’t even know if you can hear me here. I know my thoughts are... please, just... please... don’t take her from me, too.”

A hoof came softly to rest on my shoulder and I jerked my head around. Looking into the eyes of a purple alicorn, tears raced down her cheeks. “S-Shane, she is getting the best care in Equestria.”

As I knelt there, tears streamed down my face as I looked at that orange mare. In that moment I had a realization smash into me. I had fallen in love with her, a mare, another woman; not my Shawna. I loved this pony, laying there in the bed... and I would never get a chance to tell her. I waited too long, my pride got in the way like it had before, and now...

I reached up and wiped my face, trying to wipe away the tears that had spilled down my cheeks. I sniffled, then gave a low toned question. Rage welled up inside me. I turned my head and looked right into Twilight’s eyes.

“Who.”

Twilight shook her head, confused. “Shane, I…”

I growled at her louder. “Who?!”

Looking back into my eyes for a moment, her ears flattened, before she responded in fear. “Gryphons, six of them from the first reports. They struck about three hours ago. Big Mac has a concussion, Granny and Grand Pear were both knocked down, but will be okay…" She then stopped, taking in a deep breath to collect herself a bit. "Shane, they took Apple Bloom.”

I clenched my fists and looked down, slowly pushing myself to my feet and off my knees. “Where?” I questioned, not meeting her eyes.

Twilight again shook her head. “S…” she stopped herself, then added, “North, into the Everfree, but there is—”

I didn’t listen, all I could see was red. Rage held me in its unrelenting grip and I pushed past her. I stormed past the girls, not hearing their pleas for me to stop. One of Twilight's guards stepped in front of me. “Sir, the princess asked you to—”

My fists clenched tight. I came to a stop, cutting him off. “Move, or I will break your fucking horn off like a twig!”

His ears flattened and he shuddered, scrambling to get out of my way. Somewhere deep, deep inside, I felt regret for that. It was wrong, but I had a mission now. I had a filly to find and six bandits to bring to justice. I just walked out the door, heading for the farm.

“Twi, should I go after him?” Dash queried, peeking over at her friend.

Twilight shook her head firmly. “No. Spike, take a letter. We need help.”

---

I had on a pair of my best old canvas hose pants, a long sleeve shirt, and my western duster. Right now the safe was wide open, as was the door to my barn room. On the bed lay a few boxes of ammo, the Winchester rifle, and a polished oak wood box. I had the old Peacemaker in my hand as I loaded the last shell into it. I then heard a noise and a voice.

“Shane, we need to talk, my little human.”

I looked up, perhaps how cold my eyes were reflected my feelings right now. “You here to try and stop me, Celestia?” I took note of the twenty or so guards gathered behind her, gazing in the window and trying to get a look at what was going on.

She paused, then shook her head. “May I step in?”

I spun the gun off my finger and dropped it into the holster. Glancing back at her, I gave a nod, not bothering to watch as I turned and picked up the Winchester and a handful of cartridges, beginning to load them in the gate as I listened to her.

“Shane, what do you plan on doing?” Well, give her credit, she wasn’t attempting to play politics for once.

I once more looked up at the alabaster goddess of the sun, and looked her straight dead in the eyes. “Track down six bandits, save a filly, and bring them to justice, whether that be dead or alive.”

She was quiet for a moment. As I racked the lever then gently lowered the hammer back to safe, pushing one last of the .45 long colt rounds in to replace them one I had just chambered.

“And if they will not come peacefully?” Celestia questioned.

I gave a shrug of my shoulders “Then I will bring them back... for their next of kin.” I wasn’t going to mince words or try to make this soft. Celestia knew exactly what was going on and I owed it to her to at least be truthful.

Again, she went quiet, looking me in the eyes. She then shook her head. “I can’t let you do this, Shane.”

I clenched my jaw, tossing a glare her way before I turned back to the bed. I picked up the lid of that oak box, and from it I pulled out a huge handgun. It was a remake, but it was still a Colt Walker, the single biggest cap-and-ball pistol ever made and carried by law enforcement from the old west.

Tilting it up, not looking back at her, I checked to make sure each cylinder had wax over the chamber before I bent down. Still not speaking, I picked up a white tin, opening it and starting to pull out six copper little primers.

“I ain’t yours to stop right now, Celestia, this... is a Ranger issue.”

She frowned some and gave a horse-like snort, unlike any I have heard from her. “You gave up being a Texas Ranger, Shane, when you swore allegiance to my sister and I, to Equestria.”

It galled me to know she was right, but I couldn’t stop now. There was a filly in grave danger, and criminals to make pay. Turning, I stared at her as my fingers set a primer in place. I could do this in my sleep, so I didn’t need to look down as I rotated the cylinder and set another primer in place. I made a point to be sure the huge walker pointed down, not at her. “You expect me to just stand here and do nothing then?”

She maintained steady eye contact, then wandered her gaze to the badge on my shirt peeking out from behind the edge of the oil coat. I saw her jaw set and then she said to a unicorn next to her. I realized only a moment after that it was Cort! “Sergeant, give it to him.”

Something held in his crimson magical aura produced out of his pack and flipped at me. Reaching up with my right hand, having set the last primer in place, I caught whatever it was. It felt like metal, turning my hand to look.

It was a badge, very close in style to the Texas Ranger one I had on. However, in center was the symbol of the two sisters, and around the outside ring, it read 'Canterlot Ranger'. Dead center where the two sisters circled sat the number one in small numbering. I lifted an eyebrow, glancing up at her even as my left hand slid the colt walker into my belt.

“I didn’t want to give you that this way, Shane. I wanted to talk, to bring you on board with the idea, to ask you to be the first. However…” Her tone was discernibly irritated, though I could make out that she was worried, too.

“Shane McDonald, you put that badge on, and you accept the responsibility of it. You swear to uphold the law, to protect the citizens of this country. You are going to accept this blind and understanding you know nothing of what duty it brings.”

I ran my finger over it, turning the badge in my hand a few times. I met her eyes once more, reaching into my shirt, I pulled the Texas Ranger star from it. Looking at the two side by side in my hand now, I licked my lips then tossed the Ranger badge on the bed. Using both hands, I carefully pinned that Canterlot Ranger badge onto my chest for all to see.

I looked back up in time to see her nod. “By the authority vested in me, I hereby name you Shane McDonald, Canterlot Ranger. Ranger McDonald, find Apple Bloom, and bring her back.”

I returned a single nod. “Yes, ma’am,” picking up the rifle from the bed.

Behind her, I heard Cort speak up. “Ma’am, permission to accompany Ranger McDonald!”

There was a long pause, then she shook her head. “Permission denied, Sergeant, you are still one of the Solar Guard.”

I glanced at him, and I saw his eyes steel. “Then I resign my posting.”

She arched an eyebrow looking down at the unicorn, even as he slid his helmet off, breaking the spell that transformed the coats of every guard.

“You would give up your retirement, your job, everypony you work with, to stay at Ranger McDonald’s side?”

He gave a nod. I got to give him credit, he didn’t blink, nor flinch. “Yes, my princess.”

She again let off a snort. “Captain.”

Walking around Celestia, damn this little room was getting a bit full, Stepped Cross. He glanced briefly at Cortland, then lifted a hoof up holding a badge like the one I had just put on. Seems this had been the white mare's end game, however it had played out. I gave her credit in my mind, she had a plan and was seeing it to its end now. “No going back from this, Cortland Apple. You put that on, and you may not return to the Guard.”

No hesitation, no blink, I observed as Cortland grabbed it and slid it on the edge of a buckle that held part of his armor on.

Celestia lifted her head high. She couldn’t extend her wings, but, it did become noticeably brighter in the room as I watched on.

“By the power vested in me, I name you Cortland Apple, Canterlot Ranger. Ranger Apple, you are hereby assigned the rank of Sergeant, uphold that rank and the honor it brings.”

He gave a stiff nod, as I blinked this time. “Wait, then what rank am I?”

Celestia turned, and the troll was back as she smiled smugly. “Why, Lieutenant, you should have thought to ask first.“

---

I glanced at Cort, who was loading a crossbow. Admittedly, he looked pretty naked, considering the fact that he was. I tossed a package down on the ground next to him as I checked my weapons over, ignoring the looks of the girls, of Celestia, of the guards.

“I had that made for you, was going to be a Christmas gift... Hearth's Warming, whatever.“

He paused and picked it up, ripping the string off it and unfolding out of the wax paper, an oil coat just like mine, but made for a pony his size. He looked it over then gave a moderately wide-eyed nod. “Thank you.”

A noise came from my right, I turned to see an old faded mare, eyes rimmed in red. She had been crying for some time now. I knelt down and looked Granny Smith in the eyes as she spoke. “Young fella, you bring my granddaughter home safe to us.” her hoof touched my arm, “and you bring yourself home safe. You don’t worry none about Applejack, we will watch over her.”

I saw it in her eyes, she knew. I suspect she knew all along how I felt, the battle inside me, and the regret I now felt in aces. I reached up and took my hat off, looking her right in the eyes. “Yes, ma’am,” then I slowly stood up and put my hat back on my crown.

I picked up my rifle from where it leaned, glancing at Cort. He was tugging on the oil coat, the badge of a Canterlot Ranger where all could see on the left chest of it. “We got hunting to do, Cort.”

Cortland grunted back, “Lead the way, LT.”

We were more than six hours behind now. We had some moving to do.

---

“I don’t understand why you are not sending the guard with him!” Rainbow Dash said for the tenth time.

Before Twilight could answer for the same count of times, Celestia replied. “Rainbow Dash, our guard are very good, but they are not trained for this. They are guards, not law enforcement, not hunters. They would only serve to slow the Rangers down.”

“Celestia, will he…”

The white alicorn looked down at the shorter purple one next to her and gave a soft, almost pained sigh. “He will do, what he must do, Twilight Sparkle, even if that means taking a life. That human, he doesn’t know how to do less than his best.”

Twilight flattened her ears and looked at where the two had slipped into the woods. “Please, bring Apple Bloom home safe,” as a white wing gently pulled her close and hugged her.