The walk over had been short, and I was met at the doors of the Crystal Castle by four guards and Cort. Once inside I took note of quite a few guards, not just Twilight guards, but both Solar and Lunar as well.

Walking down the hall, I followed my fellow Canterlot Ranger into the map room. There the girls..minus Applejack all sat, along with Luna, Celestia, Fancy and his wife, Cross, Dusty, a few ponies I didn’t know, and to my surprise, Golden.

I caught myself glancing at the one empty chair around the map. The one with three bright red apples on it. I didn’t think about it, but I suppose my face showed how I felt. As I felt something slam into my legs almost knocking me over. Looking down, I saw a pink-maned, butter yellow-pelted pegasus hugging my legs tight, trembling, gazing up with cyan cores brimming with tears.

I didn’t need to look up to know others were doing the same as they watched. I just knelt down as she spoke. “O-oh, Shane, she will be okay. We are all here for you.”.

Kindness, thy name is Fluttershy. I put my hand on her back and gave her a light hug back. “I am all right, thank you, Flutters. Just keep AJ in your prayers, she needs them.”

Pinkie, being a bit more serious than she was usually, asked as I stood up again and Fluttershy returned to her spot. “You say that a lot, pray, and god, and lord… what does it mean?”

I was saved, however, by Princess Egghead, who shot me a knowing soft look. We had in my first months here gone over quite a bit about my faith and beliefs. I, in turn, learned of some of the cults that came up surrounding the sun and moon, and even some fledgeling ones around her own ascension. Seems some ponies took alicorn to mean god.

“Pinkie, where Shane came from, it is a powerful structure of religion. A faith-based belief. We can talk about it later, okay? I will explain it all to you.”

That seemed to be enough for most there and a lot of nods were given. My eyes turned to Celestia as I walked up and gently laid my rifle across the table. The dull metal click of it on the stone made a few there wince. “I have an interrogation to run, but I suspect we should go over where my…” I paused, “...our—as in the Canterlot Rangers—jurisdiction starts and ends. “

The alabaster alicorn returned a nod. “Before we do that, Shane. I wish to speak to you. You my little human have done more than you understand. You have started change, a new way of things, of law.” I blinked as many there nodded their heads.

She proceeded to continue. “I told you, that when you took that badge and rushed off into the Everfree, you did so understanding nothing of what you were undertaking. It is now, my little human, that you will come to understand the gravity of the path you have chosen and the ponies you have taken with you on that path.”

I lifted a eyebrow, before I heard a noise behind me. A bench slid over across the floor, held in a warm golden glow. It came to a stop so I could sit, and I offered the alabaster alicorn a nod as I took a seat. “Thank you, go on,” I gestured.

She exhaled and peered to Luna, who continued for her sister. “We never wished you to rush into this, Shane. It was our wishes to have you guide others into becoming Rangers. To help form a law enforcement wing with the goal of fugitive apprehension, and law enforcement to places that had none.”

I chewed on that in my head, it was pretty much what the Texas Rangers did. I shared equal glances with the three alicorns at the ‘head’ of the table and asked. “I guess I can see where you wanted to go with all this, but… why?”

That seemed to fall to the adorkable purple princess who let off a little squeal and with a flash of light. PAMF! There on the table lay every report I had sent—every letter, every scroll.

“Because of you, Shane, because you showed Celestia and Luna there was a hole, a flaw in the system of law Equestria is based on. There was nopony out there,” she gestured. “We have the guard, we have our military, and we have city law enforcement. However, go to places like Ponyville and outside of town, it is the guard that perform the enforcement, not a trained… uh,” she paused.

I watched her flip a few pages over, then smiled. “LEO,” pronouncing it lee-oh.

That, of course made me chuckle. “El-Eh-Oh, Twilight, the letters are an acronym for Law Enforcement Officer.”

A warm blush grew on her cheeks in embarrassment and she gave a nod. “Right, a LEO. The point is, Shane, our laws had no place for such. We did not see the flaw and overlap in authority that could be abused by criminal and soldiers alike. “

Celestia spoke up once more. “And so my little human, we wished to have you guide my little ponies, to form what...you have now done in such a brash manner. Please understand I did not want you to feel pressured into things, but what’s done is done.”

I pondered on that. So this was her ultimate end game, overall not such a terrible one. I began to look back at things, and I can see where she was nuding here and guiding there. You know what, all things considered I guess I was the one that stuck my foot in it, not her. Well, she was right, what is done, is done.

“So now what, Princess?” I said, looking back to her.

She gave a warm smile. “First, you learn the why and what, then you pick your first company. Company... if I remember the traditions you spoke of right?” titling her head some.

I nodded once. “Well, we have no captain,” I remarked, “or supporting staff, and of course a budget, and…” I paused when I noted all the smirks from around the table. Again, I glanced at the chair missing a pony, a pony I wanted to see the smile of right now. Looking back around once more, I shook my head.

“You have already planned all this out haven't you?”

Luna had a smirk, Twilight was nodding her head like a idiot, Celestia… well the damn white witch had her grin going warm and wide.

I shook my head. “Who?”

It was Fancy who responded. “Well, ol’ chap, it seems due to Equestrian law, you required a voice in the council, and a patron. One to advocate for you, and it seems Dame Lulamoon bid my wife and myself for that cause”

I blinked at that and looked over at the two of them, both with big warm smiles. “So, in matters of new law, of budgets and such?”

He gave a nod. “We will be your oversight, yes. Working directly with your captain and support staff, of course.”

I hiked a eyebrow and looked around, before I noted something I had missed before. Not only was Crossed Swords out of uniform, but he had a small chain around his neck. Hung from it, was a badge, just like the one that adorned the chest of Cortland and myself.

I suspect I had quite the confused tone in my voice when I spoke. “C-Cross?”

He gave a nod of his head. “The Canterlot Rangers charter demanded a trained officer take the roll of captain up. I was approached by Sir Pants and Dame Lulamoon. With the princesses blessings,” he stood up a bit more. “I am proud to take up the badge, and learn from you so I might teach another generation, Shane. What has been started here, it is a new honor, a new tradition, and I would not miss it for the world.”

My eyes roamed over to Dusty now, who looked at her husband with a smile, then turned and locked stares with me. She lifted her hoof up. “Oh, no badge here, but somepony had to keep you idiots in line and keep your paperwork right.”

I muttered. “Support staff, of course,” shaking my head. This was a lot to take in. It was a lot to do. I was being asked to help start a whole new tradition, a new form of law enforcement. I paused in my thought, I wondered what my ancestor Ranger McDonald would have thought of all this.

Golden spoke up next. “I have taken on the job as dispatch and processing. I will be your liaison between local law, guard, and the Rangers.” her smile said it all, and the perk in Cortland’s stance spoke of how proud he was too.

Next Fancy spoke up and gestured to the unicorn and pegasus next to him. “This is Red Ledger, the Canterlot Rangers accountant and finance manager.” The soft blue mare dipped her head to me.

He then motioned his hoof to the pegasus. “And this, is Swift Note, she will be recruiting and training messengers. Ponies that can get a fix on where our Rangers are and get them messages, wanted posters, and such, along with bring back news and letters.”

I gave her a nod, as I thought about all this. So much to think about, a lot of weight. The one pony I had to talk about such stuff with was… I cut that thought line off. Shawna, what have I gotten myself into? Would you be laughing right now… never mind, I know you would be.

“So, I suspect we have a lot of ground to cover. Can this wait? I want to learn all I can about our… guests.”

Rarity furrowed an eyebrow. “Guests, darling?”

I shook my head and gestured down. “The three scum buckets cooling their feathers in the lockup.”

A few frowns crossed a few particular faces. Twilight spoke up. “Shane, that isn’t a very nice thing to say about somepony.”

I rolled my eyes. “Twilight, they attacked Sweet Apple Acres, put Applejack in the hospital and kidnapped a foal. They are not exactly good people,” I pointed at the apple unicorn on my left. “Not a word.” He smirked at me.

Twilight huffed. “Still not a nice thing to say…” as the door behind us opened and we turned. I found myself looking right at a gryphon, but one I knew. Gladblade walked over and bowed to the princesses before turning to me and bringing his claw up over his chest and heart area. I smiled and returned it in kind.

“I have come to observe the questioning of the verrater. I have already read the report,” his eyes returned to me once more. “The Empire disavows the ones you hold. Do as you wish with them, they are not our citizens. Nobirdy who would put a foal in harm's way is worthy of being a citizen of our country.”

I glanced at Celestia once he spoke his peace, one eyebrow lifted. “Princess, this seems to be a pretty big deal. Why am I the one that seems to be calling the shots here?” I really was confused by this. I had been a Ranger for all of a day now.

As a few times before I saw a crack in that fasad she put up. The big white alicorn frowned lightly and looked right at Twilight?

“It would seem, Ranger McDonald, that the charter for the Canterlot Rangers had a few things put in that make this a… touchy situation.”

I glanced at Luna who just had a rather knowing smirk on her face, and then at Twilight who was blushing and her ears were down some. “Somepony wish to elaborate on this?”

Celestia nodded in turn, then her horn lit up. With a soft pamf, a book appeared next to the scrolls and my writings. It was a thick looking thing, had to be a good three inches, perhaps four. It opened and flipped pages under that golden glow, coming to a stop I would say a few hundred pages in. Clearing her throat, she began. “Article seven-seven-three, subsection one-through-eight, I will just paraphrase,” the sun goddess started.

“Under the articles and charter above, any Ranger making an arrest, is lead investigator of the crime. This includes the right to keep the suspects for up to seventy two hours without filing charges, and blocking all inquiry in that time by any entity including the crown,” at that part she shot a look at Twilight again.

Looking back at me again, she flicked her ears back some. “That means, Ranger, right now, for the next,” pausing to look out the window at the sun then back to me, “forty nine hours, no one may question them but you, unless you sign off on it… not even my sister or myself.”

I looked around, and I will admit, I was purely shocked. I mean, sure, I made the arrests with Cort, but no Miranda, no lawyers, not even the rules of the kingdom could intercede for seventy-two hours. Some of that sat poorly with me.

As if reading my thoughts, Luna spoke up next. “By the charter, we may observe, and somepony can intercede should things become aggressive or harmful to anypony involved. The accused has the right to say nothing, I believe you wrote, The right to remain silent?”

I gave her a nod and looked back to Celestia. “Why would you, all of you, agree to this?”

Luna shrugged some. “We thought to give the Rangers space to work. To find criminals and not be tied down, but still give our ponies their rights too.”

Well, ain’t that a shocker. Glancing around the room and back over to Cross, I looked at him and he gave me a nod back. “We will go over all of the charter, Shane, but time is ticking away now,” he gestured down with his hoof.

I repaid him a nod of acknowledgement. “Sure thing, Cap,” slipping back into lingo without really thinking about it. You can take the badge from the Ranger but you can’t ever take the training away. “One last thing, it seems this was all well thought out. No, I am not mad you did this, Celestia. For once, I think one of your plans is working out smoothly,” hinting to her of all the past ones we had seen in the show. “Where will we be based out of?”

Celestia smiled some “The Canterlot Rangers will have a station in Canterlot, of course. However, there will be one sub station at the start. Here, in Ponyville.”

Cross again spoke up. “Company A will be based here in Ponyville, you will have one support staff,” he gestured to Golden who beamed warm and bright. “Two Rangers, that would be you and Sergeant Cortland,” he, again, motioned. “The rest of the Canterlot Rangers support staff and myself will be based in Canterlot.”

Turning my head back to the princess of the sun, I reached up and took my hat off. “So, you really did plan all this out?”

That she gave a smile to, and nodded. Lifting herself up some, taking on that regal pose. “Shane McDonald, your words, your writing, inspired me. The more you wrote, the more I found myself admiring your laws and your path of life. I hoped almost as strong as I have in the past for other things, that you would carry this vision of law to my little ponies.”

Well, hell, standing there among so many, and having her say it like that. I blushed and gave a nod of my head. “Yes Ma’am” was all I could manage.

I slid my hat back on and glanced around before picking my rifle back up off the table. Holding it in one hand, barrel down so as not to point at anyone. “I guess I have some perps to talk to.”

Once more Pinkie Pie spoke up. “Then I can throw a ‘congratulations on being a Ranger’ party!’, right?”

I exhaled and was about to say no before she added with her ears back. “You said birthday and special events, and we Pinkie promised!”

I blinked. Well, fuck, she was right. I guess the Element of Laughter got the last laugh. I looked at her. “Can it wait until…” I looked once more to the empty chair. Her eyes turned as did most the ponies in the room then her mane deflated a little bit. I blinked as she hopped off her chair and walked around the table to sit down, looking up.

Her hoof reached out and she reared up so she could plant that hoof on my chest, maintaining proper eye contact with me. “It will be the best ‘welcome to being a Ranger and we are glad you are okay Applejack party’ I have ever thrown!”

I couldn’t help myself, reaching out and put my hand into her mane lightly and gave her ear a gentle scratch. “You got it, Pinkie, I will even play a song if you ask.” and she gave my wrist a nuzzle before hopping off again and walking back to her seat.

I turned before anything else could be said, back to the room as I walked for the door. “Cort, we got some gryphons to question.”

“Shane, a moment of your time before you go down there,” I heard Celestia say. I waited as she walked over and then gestured. We together walked outside the map room and I glanced down at Cortland.

“Find us a room, near the cells, soundproof as can be if you can, clear it, just a table, and three chairs.”

He gave a nod, “You got it, LT,” and trotted off to do just that.

I turned and looked at Celestia and then sighed. Taking my hat off once more, I couldn’t quite look her directly. “It is my obligation to apologize for the way I addressed you.”

Her hoof came up and rested on my shoulder. “Shane, I forgave you as soon as you walked out of view. I would like to think you are a friend, and friends forgive.”

I looked up now at her face and gave a nod.

“Keep your temper in check, Shane, do not lash out. They did unspeakable things, but they are still living creatures and one of them died. That is going to have its effect on them.”

I gave her a nod and slid my hat back on as her hoof lowered once more. “I know, thank you.”

She smiled, then spoke in a far softer volume. “Shane, when she is awake… tell her. Don’t let the moment pass, don’t lament for the rest of your life a lost moment.”

I looked back into her eyes then exhaled “I will… try,” watching her face fall a bit, then she gave a nod.

“Go. Do what needs to be done, Ranger McDonald.”

I clenched my fist around my rifle a bit tighter. “As you bid, Princess,” and turned, heading for the door down to the cells.