> A Ranger's Retirement > by Jake Shadow Wings > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1: The end of the line for the ranger and start of retirement > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- My story begins where it ends. By that I mean where my story in the forgotten realms ends my story begins in another world. It all started when my companions and I traveled deep into the lands of a forgotten kingdom in search of a demon and its followers. We found the demon and faced off against it, a dark cleric, an evil magus, a black wizard, a rogue, a fighter, and a necromancer. My companions and I were better equipped but the enemy were powered up by the demon and making it difficult. We faced hordes of undead, hundreds of imps and other weak monsters, and eventually we all started to fall. My party consisted of myself a ranger who followed the goddess Mielikki, a druid of the god Silvanus, a paladin of Paladine the platinum dragon, a fighter who’s only goal was vengeance, a mage who followed Solinari, a rouge who followed Mielikki as well, a Halfling cleric, an elven monk, a dragonborn warrior, and an half elf fighter. The party had quickly lost our two fighters, though they took out most of the undead with them. The cleric kept most of us from dying for a while until she took an arrow in the throat from a demon archer. I was starting to run out of arrows as the last of the demons fell. The demons planned on summoning more but that was quelled by the paladin having taken on their lord and vanquishing him with his dying breath. I hadn’t learned my companions’ names, but I respected each and every one of them. The rouge was eventually slain by the wizard, but not before using an enchanted dagger to kill the necromancer. It was down to our magus, our monk, our dragonborn, the druid, and me to take on the last wizard. He realized he wasn’t walking away alive so he cast a spell to wipe out the area and take us with him. My arrow caught him in the throat mid-cast, causing him to fall and the spell to implode creating a rapidly enlarging portal that could only be shut from the other side. I volunteered to close the portal, knowing that it led to the infernal realms, and would allow demons through to terrorize the good people of our world and could possibly get the gods involved. I was enchanted by the druid and magus, before going through the portal the dragon born gave me a pair of longswords, seeing as my bow would be mostly useless and I jumped into the containment field around the spell. I found myself facing off against demons as soon as I entered the field. I was worried about the fact the wizard’s miscast creating a portal then realized he didn’t miscast at all. He planned on summoning reinforcements to help him destroy our world. I swore and ran through the demons then ran into the portal and closed it by severing the link between worlds with an enchanted dagger the mage had given me. As the portal closed it exploded and I found myself before Mielikki. I stared at the goddess, who’d taken the form of a unicorn human hybrid, and bowed slowly. She smiled and said “Rise Jared Shadow, champion of Mielikki.” I slowly rose to my feet and she said “I have seen your travels Jared, I know of your dedication to the light despite being a chaotic being. So, I have a proposition for you.” I bowed my head and said “What is this proposition milady?” She laughed softly and raised my head with her hand then shook her head to say I didn’t have to bow any part of me in her presence. I nodded and asked “What could you possibly have that I would take, milady? I would be happy just moving on to the afterlife knowing my home was safe.” She giggled, a goddess actually giggled, and said “I was thinking about sending you to a world a friend of mine runs. She like me is an animal goddess, but unlike my world she has a world of hybrids.” I raised an eyebrow and she explained “Unicorns, Pegasi, and regular ponies crossed with humans. I was thinking about sending you there with the body of a Gaian or earth pony as they call themselves. You would have the abilities you have now, but you would also be physically stronger, in a land of peace, and have a chance to retire so to speak. When you died you may remain in their afterlife or return to mine. Eventually you’ll be given another chance at rebirth. What do you say Jared?” I smiled slightly and said “Milady I would be honored to accept this. I’ve always been curious about those others would call hybrids, without wanting to become a therianthrope myself. However I must ask is there a catch?” She sighed and said “The land is heading toward a time of upheaval. You will arrive ten years before this upheaval as a young child. You will have time to acclimate to your new body. Actually you’ll be with a family that will know nothing of your abilities. Know that you will have much to do and only ten years to do it. After five years you will be old enough to travel on your own. When that happens, if you don’t already live there, head to the town of ponyville and befriend the local populace. I and my friend have seen that the world’s troubles will revolve around six young mares, five of which will reside in the town. It will be your job to protect them.” I nodded and said “As you command Lady Mielikki, so shall it be. I promise to do my best. I hope the gods watch over this world and the one I’m going to both.” She nodded and said “Also be wary of the ascended, they will know something about you and may be of help if you reveal to them what you know. Now off with you my champion.” She vanished and I felt myself falling into a deep sleep. As I slept I dreamed of rolling hills, endless forests, and endless mountains. I awoke to find myself in a forest with a gaping wound in my side, inflicted before my death, and was taken in by a shy pegasus. She said her name was Fluttershy and that she lived on her own, what was amazing was we lived near a place called ponyville. I chuckled as I realized my goddess had sent me right where I was needed. Fluttershy helped me to meet the apple family, a group of farmers with strong Gaian ancestry. They helped me build my own home on the edge of the Everfree forest. Many thought I was insane because of my love of the forest but it was my one reminder of home. Besides that the creatures within knew not to fight with me. I was no easy meal, and honestly the creatures respected me. After my first year I learned about the ascended my goddess was talking about, her name was Princess Celestia. She was an alicorn or fusion of all three pony races. I made plans to meet her and tell her I knew of the coming troubles for her land. However first I had to get to know the town better. This was the start of my retirement, and honestly it was looking a hell of a lot easier than the things I’d had to do in my own world so I was fine with it. > Chapter 2: Learning all about the world > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- At the start of my second year in equestria, I started to take in the world around me. The first year was all about culture shock and trying to adjust to my new body. I still had my old skills, I was still a beast master and ranger, it’s just now I was a child. I worked out regularly to keep fit and even volunteered at Sweet Apple Acres. I took in my new friends’ appearance this year, starting with Fluttershy. I noticed that Fluttershy was a little over five feet tall, which was surprising for pegasi, had a broad wingspan that fit her larger frame, had a decent sized chest, not that I had time for romance, and a gentle face. Her eyes were light blue, her coat was butter yellow, her mane and tail were light pink and fell midway down her back and over one of her eyes when she was scared, and she usually wore sweaters and skirts that went down to her ankles. The next of my friends I noticed was Applejack. She’d have done well as a warrior in a guild or as a paladin in my old world. She was strong, sturdy, and honest to a fault so definitely a paladin. Her mane and tail were honey blonde, her eyes were a deep emerald green, her fur was orange, and she had a few scars on her arms, and legs. Each of her scars had a tale of farm work behind it, which showed her life style. She usually wore checkered shirts that she tied up under her budding breasts, cut off jeans that were more like shorts than pants, and her father’s Stetson which she always had on top of her head when I saw her. With that said let me tell you about my days learning about the world I was in. Between working at the farm and exploring the region I tended to avoid going to school, though I did do the mandatory classes in the morning, which Applejack’s brother Big Macintosh wouldn’t let me work so the mornings were when AJ and I were in school, the afternoons we were working the field or I was exploring the area. Big Macintosh was as big as his name implied. He was six and a half feet tall, had sap green eyes, a straw colored mane and tail, and a bright amaranth coat. Big Macintosh taught me a bit about the mathematics of the world, saying that he understood them because of physics. I learned as much as I could about physics from him and asked why he wasn’t at a university. His reply was “I don’t need no university learning, I just need to watch the farm. My theories are good enough for me.” In school I learned about the different groups throughout the world, the kitsune of neighpon, the griffons of Griffonia, the cats of Carriou, the wolves of the canine isles, the dragons, and the diamond dogs of the deep mines. I found myself fascinated with the fact that piece reigned despite the diversity, of course there were trouble makers like the caribou of the deep north, the creatures of Tartarus, and others who had yet to be named but were out there, or so the conspiracy nuts believed. Besides that I also learned of the monarchy and the different parts of Equestria such as the major cities. These were Canterlot, Manehattan, Appleoosa, Cloudsdale, and Los Pegasus. I learned a lot more than that but this isn’t the time to tell you everything I learned. I found out we’d stop going to school when we reached fifteen and that we’d be able to choose our careers at that point. I didn’t have my cutie mark, though most of the class had there’s even Rarity, a filly that’d only moved to town recently and opened up a boutique with the help of her parents, had hers. It didn’t bother me though because I’d gone all my previous life and I knew that my calling was to be a ranger of Mielikki. Hell I didn’t know what my cutie mark would be, would it be the head of a unicorn, a ranger’s gear, or something else? I didn’t know and tended not to worry about it. When I found out Rarity was a seamstress I started going to her for clothes orders since it was simpler than going to Canterlot, though I had to buy surplus military clothes and have her alter it. Before I go any further I feel I should describe Ponyville’s resident seamstress. She was four feet eleven inches tall, going on five feet, had a royal purple mane and tail, cerulean eyes, and wore elegant clothing. Her clothing changed regularly but it was usually skirts or dresses. She usually tutored me in the more modern sciences because I had a habit of trying to put medieval, as they called the time period, spins on things that clashed with modern magic theory, technology, and fashion. Rarity was very particular about fashion when she taught me, we could spend hours on it, so I avoided bringing it up. After about half of my second year I knew the basics of equestria and was caught up to the rest of my class. As school drew to a close in the summer I worked more on the farm and less in the woods, though I had a habit of checking up on a family of manticore that were really just careful and had to put down the infringement of Timberwolves into their territory. I helped Fluttershy with the local animal populace, though it was hard for her to come out of her shell around me at first. Luckily I’d had companions who were incredibly shy so I worked with her through it. She thanked me, though she was still unassertive and a bit of a doormat so Rainbow Dash and I had to constantly look out for her. Speaking of Rainbow Dash she was the one who didn’t attend school. She was also the shortest of the girls standing at a grand total of four and half feet tall with cyan fur, a rainbow mane and tail with a boyish cut, and magenta eyes that reflected her loyalty. She was touchy about her height but my response whenever she came to me complaining about someone calling her short was “You’re not short Dashie, you’re aerodynamic.” Hanging out with Dash led to me meeting the town’s premier party planner, who was anxious about not throwing me a party when I first arrived in town and my avoiding her to make sure I never had a party. I sighed and relented after she gave me the filly eyes as many called them. Her name was Pinkamena Dianne Pie or Pinkie Pie for short. She was a five foot two inches tall bundle of energy. She had bright pink fur, a darker almost raspberry colored mane and tail, and was usually seen wearing a white shirt with two blue balloons and a yellow balloon on it like her cutie mark, and shorts or a skirt. I went to the party where I met most of the town that I didn’t know. There was the doctor, aka time turner, ditzy doo, and others that I didn’t keep track of other than Cheerilee who planned on being a school teacher after going to college for it. Cheerilee was a raspberry mare with a light pink mane and tail, purple eyes, and usually wore a long skirt that reached her ankles and a blouse that had flowers in the shape of her cutie mark. I helped Cheerilee by letting her practice her teaching on me. We became good friends thanks to that, heh seems like most of the girls I became friends with is because we were working toward the same goal or they were tutoring me. Kind of funny, Mac was the only male I really hung out with besides the doctor who was already out of school, and stood five foot eight, had a brown coat, brown eyes, a black mane and tail, that could be mistaken for dark brown, and an hourglass cutie mark. The doctor was pretty awesome. Anyway back to what I was saying, since school was out, and the farm didn’t need my help, I was currently hanging out with Rainbow Dash who I was teaching how to shoot. She asked me “So you’re saying pegasus magic should allow me to control the arrows to a degree?” I nodded and said “Yeah, if it’s anything like how earth ponies react to nature, your magic should allow you to angle the wind around the arrow. You just have to focus and imagine your own wind pushing the arrow to the bullseye. Personally I prefer relying on skill but let’s say you’re in a situation where a rabid beast is attacking someone you love, instead of thinking you should use your innate magic to guide the arrow when you don’t have time to judge the shot. For now we’ll get you into the mindset of an archer. I, unlike you, already have the mindset of an archer, a dual wielder, and a ranger.” Rainbow asked “What exactly is the mindset of a ranger?” I blinked, surprised that anyone let alone Rainbow would ask me what the mindset of a ranger is. I had to think about it, and decide what I would say. I closed my eyes lowering my bow and muttered to myself as I tried to categorize what a ranger’s mindset was. Eventually I had it. I smiled and said “A ranger’s mindset is broken down into three things. These things are Protection of the innocent, Guardian of the wild, and Slayer of evil. Ranger’s rarely have to be guardians of the wild in equestria other than for areas like the Everfree, anyone can be a protector of the innocent, and Slayer of evil is a title that I hope you never have to gain. I hope you never are forced to kill.” Rainbow gasped and asked “You’ve killed?” I nodded slowly and she said “Why?” I went on to explain every time I’ve ever had to kill. She blinked surprised and said “So you’ve never killed anyone who wasn’t a threat to life in general?” I shook my head in the negative and she said “Alrigh then, I guess we can get back to training.” I nodded wondering why she took me at face value, then realized she had a measure of me that told her all she needed to know. I guided her through the exercises my teacher had given me as a child and slowly she got into the mindset of an archer and started to learn patience. I chuckled and said “Trust me Dash, you’re learning. It takes years to master the bow. I have a lot of experience from a childhood in the wild. I had to rely on the bow to save myself from dying in the mouth of a monster. I can also teach you how to wield swords or daggers. The fact you can draw back my bow shows just how much strength you have. This bow is made for a powerful earth pony, and you’re drawing it back, it takes a lot of effort but you’re managing it.” She beamed at the praise and released my bow. I sighed and said “I have got to get you your own bow. How goes your hand to hand combat training?” She sighed and said “I can do the steel wing style fine but the style you’re teaching me is hard to get down. I know you said it’s meant to be used by anyone, but it’s just not working out.” I smiled and motioned for her to take her stance. She slowly dropped into a fighting stance and I corrected her with light touches. She blushed at every correction as if angry with herself for forgetting what I taught her. Afterward I guided her through the movements that I’d once perfected through years of training. I’d only had two years in my current body but a lifetime of memories and two years of training every chance I got led me to regaining my old skills, to a point. I hadn’t had a chance to find any swords so I made do with wooden blades I carved myself, but I had plenty of chances to work with my bow so I was more than adequate with it. I guided Rainbow through the forms and said “I can’t teach you sword forms without you having your own blades Dash. If you have to pay someone to carve them for you, but you need to get some practice blades so we can start working on your expertise in that department.” She sighed as I pulled out my own wooden blades and went through the forms I was talking about. She studied me and said “You know the way you move those swords is a lot like how I move my wings when doing steel wing.” I nodded and went to sheathe the swords in the makeshift holster on my back then stretched and motioned for her to grapple with me. She grinned, always liking to try and beat me, and lunged at me. I sidestepped her and she said “Damn it.” I smirked as she turned using her wings as a speed boost then tackled me and tried to put my arms behind my back. I shifted my weight preventing her from getting a good hold and she said “So, have you learned everything you wanted to about Equus? I mean I know you don’t remember anything from before Fluttershy found you, but by now you should have a good grasp on everything the school is teaching you, also did you know Fluttershy’s going back to finish flight school, then going on to be a vet?” I nodded in response to her question and tried to get out of her grip before saying “I’ve mostly gotten down the world’s geography and what not. I just am not used to the more detailed sciences, I prefer woodcraft anyway.” I found myself pinned and felt Rainbow’s groin grind against my ass and said “Someone’s frisky.” She quickly let me go and I turned it around so that she was pinned and I had her arms behind her back and her wings spread. She swore and I said “All’s fair in a spar Dash. Remember that next time. Also why were you grinding against my ass?” She blushed and said “I had an itch.” I shrugged figuring she wouldn’t lie even if she was embarrassed about it and stood up keeping her arms twisted behind her back. She asked “Why are you letting me up?” I smirked and replied “So you can try to break my hold the way I taught you. I’ve only got a tight enough hold to prevent you from hitting me with your wings or getting free without effort.” She nodded and twisted around freeing one of her arms then punched me in the stomach. I coughed slightly but my abs protected me from most of the blow and she said “That’s for being a jerk.” She kissed my cheek and said “And that’s for teaching me. I gotta get back to work, I’ll see ya around.” I nodded and let her go then watched her fly off. I turned and walked back to my house muttering “I think it’s time to head to Canterlot. I need to see the princess and plead my case. At worst she’ll laugh me off, at best she’ll believe me and offer me ways to learn how to work with my new body and help against the threat.” > Chapter 3: Canterlot, Conversations with the Princess, Tools to help > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I got up early the day after I worked with Rainbow and boarded the train to Canterlot. I sat alone on the train, the hood of a cloak pulled over my head, and wearing a t shirt and jeans rather than my tunic and breeches from my old life. I yawned watching the world go by out the window. I thought back on my conversation with my goddess, then sighed and mumbled “I can’t escape the gods even if I want to. I mean this world’s gods asked Mielikki to bring me here, but hopefully my life wasn’t preordained or anything. It would suck to know that I’d died just to have my fate ripped away from me. I didn’t honestly believe that, but I had to be sure. I focused on my feelings for the goddess and prayed for insight. Sadly I received none so I just sighed and leaned my head against the cool window as Canterlot started to come into view. I stretched and got up as the train pulled into the station then disembarked with the other passengers and looked around in curiosity. I started walking though the street my slightly above average stature for a colt my age making me look a few years older than twelve. I honestly looked fifteen or sixteen especially compared to the unicorns around me. As I walked I took in the sights and decided to head to Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns to see if I could learn anything about the more magically inclined race. I heard the sound of crying and laughing as I got closer to the school and walked up seeing a few teenagers surrounding someone who could only be my age at the most, more likely she was only eleven or ten though. She said “Just give me my book back and leave me alone,” through her tears. The bullies just laughed and kept the book from her causing her to start to charge her horn. I walked up and slammed my fist into the leader’s face causing her to gasp in surprise. I grabbed the book as it fell from his loose grip and said “Not very nice to pick on a filly who just wants her book back. Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?” They turned toward me as I handed the filly her book and said “Why don’t you head off, you don’t need to see this, nor do I want you to get caught in the crossfire.” The filly nodded and I said “By the way name’s Ranger. If you ever need help and I’m in town just find me or call my name. I’ll be there in a heartbeat.” She nodded again and ran off wiping her eyes and holding the book close. I turned to the bullies cracking my knuckles as the ring leader climbed to his feet then said “Now to deal with you jerks.” They glared and the one I punched said “Not very smart new guy. I heard you’re name’s Range when you were talking to the little nerd. I guess that means you’re some earth pony loser or something. No unicorn would name their kid something so lame. I mean Sparky is bad enough. Just because she’s the princess’ student she thinks she can do whatever she wants. We were just showing her she doesn’t rule the school.” I snorted and said “So you took her book and made her prepare to use trouble so you can say she started it since you just used your hands. Then when she was exhausted and in trouble you planned on hurting her or teasing her more. Then when she’s broken you planned on using her to further your own goals.” They stared surprised I’d figured them out when I was just a “mud pony” as many racist unicorns would call me. I growled and balled my fists tighter saying “I won’t let you hurt an innocent. She didn’t instigate things or you wouldn’t have taken her book. She doesn’t seem to think herself better than you, and honestly I think you have chips on your shoulders.” The leader glared as they all charged up their horns and started throwing things at me with Telekinesis. I dodged most of the objects flung at me and slammed my palm into one of their stomachs causing him to pass out. I figured these guys weren’t so tough but there was my proof. AJ and Rainbow would have gotten up after that and been pissed. I smirked and kicked another one in the horn breaking his concentration before bringing my foot back around and taking him down from the back of his neck. His eyes rolled in the back of his head and the leader faced me with two others. They rushed at me and I blocked them then head butted the leader busting my own skull open on his horn but disabling him before kicking him in the stomach and slamming his friends into each other and throwing them all into  a pile on top of their buddy. I sighed as blood ran into my eyes and said “You know I told you not to watch.” The filly, who was lavender with a dark blue mane that had a pink and magenta streak in it as well as her tail having the same streaks, stared at me. I looked at her questioningly and she pointed at the blood on my face. I wiped it away revealing a small gash in my forehead. She stared at me mouth agape and I said “I’m fine, just a little sore. Why worried that I’d get my tail handed to me?” I flicked my tail at that and she nodded again. I chuckled and said “Nah they weren’t tough. They thought that because I wasn’t a unicorn I’d be easy pickings.” She said softly “You’re like my big brother.” I raised an eyebrow confused and she explained “He joined the guard when he turned fifteen. That was a few years ago. He used to stand up for me, but I haven’t heard from him since he left for basic. Honestly I miss him.” She blushed realizing she may have said to much and put her head down and stared at the ground. I raised her face and said “Easy lass, I still don’t even know your name. I’m Jared Ranger Blaze. So what’s your name?” She blushed and said “Oh sorry, I’m Twilight Sparkle.” I smiled and held out my hand which she noticed. She slowly shook it and asked “So you have three names?” I nodded and she said “Why’d you tell me to call for Ranger and not Jared?” I smirked and said “Because I didn’t think we’d become friends so quick. Honestly only my friends back home call me Jared. My teachers call me Ranger. Anyway let’s get you where you were going before you were messed with. I plan on getting a visit with the princess ASAP.” Twilight studied me as we walked. I glanced at her from under the hood of my cloak and asked “Something wrong Miss Sparkle?” She shook her head and I said “You sure?” She nodded and the two of us continued walking in silence. Eventually she broke the silence by saying “Do you have an appointment with the princess?” I shook my head and she asked “Then why do you want to see her?” I smiled and winked at her. She stared and asked “You aren’t here to attack her, are you?” I shook my head and she asked “Do you have some sort of grievance only she can cover?” I shook my head again and she said “So, you don’t have a grievance, you don’t want to attack her, what exactly is your reason for seeing the princess then?” I chuckled softly and said “I want to see about learning from her guards and I have information she may need to know.” Twilight had an aha look on her face. I dug into my cloak and pulled out a piece of hay jerky and chewed it. She studied me and I offered her a piece. She shook her head and I shrugged saying “Alright more for me I guess.” I walked alongside Twilight and asked “Where exactly am I taking you?” Twilight smiled and said “The palace.” I nodded and escorted her to the palace, only being allowed inside because Twilight was with me then she said “We can part ways here, unless you don’t mind me listening in on your talk with the princess.” I raised an eyebrow confused as to why she’d be sitting in and Twilight explained “I’m her personal student. She usually tells me what I need to know about politics and what not. Honestly though what you were talking about seems to go beyond politics. Anyway if you want you can come with me to see her, then you could possibly talk to her before my lessons.” I nodded and motioned for her to lead on. She smiled and led me through the corridors, which were rather mazelike, then we stopped before a door with a sun depicted on it. Twilight knocked and we heard a mare’s voice say “Enter.” The door opened and Twilight and I walked in. Inside was Princess Celestia. She was a tall mare, at least seven feet tall from ear tip to floor, with an additional foot of height for her horn. She had a brilliant white coat, magenta eyes, and a main that was cerulean, light green, and pink which made me think of an aurora. Her eyes held wisdom that made me think of Mielikki. I bowed and she laughed saying “Please there’s no need for that my little pony, though I do wonder why Twilight would bring you to my chambers.” Twilight smiled and said “He helped me princess, and asked to meet you. I thought I could lead him to talk to you since it would be the least I could do after he helped me the way he did. I hope that’s ok.” Celestia nodded and I smiled slightly then she turned to me and said “So how can I help you my little pony?” My ears twitched and I thought about saying that technically I wasn’t a pony until two years ago but decided that while Twilight was there that was better left unsaid. She studied me and said “Would you prefer to converse in Private?” I nodded and she turned to Twilight then said “Twilight why don’t you go down to the kitchens and grab something to eat, and then go get Spike.” Twilight nodded and walked off to do as she was asked while Celestia put up privacy wards around the study we were in. I smiled slightly and said “Thank you your majesty. What I have to tell you is best doled out in moderation. To start I’m not from Equestria originally.” She raised an eyebrow and I explained “I’m from another world. I was brought here by the goddess Mielikki to help in a time of crisis before retiring. I was a ranger who followed her creed until I was slain by demons. I don’t know why she asked me to come here, other than that it was a world of little conflict, but I feel there will be danger in eight years. I was turned into a ten year old when I came here, but that’s not a big deal for me, it just means I have time to train my body to be used to my old skills. I was hoping I could learn from your guards on how to be an earth pony and how to train my new body. I know how to help humans, but honestly my body is so new to me that I don’t know if I could handle being in a fight with a truly dangerous opponent.” Celestia hummed and said “I can detect you’re not lying. Why were you there when Twilight Sparkle was in danger though?” I sighed and said “Pure coincidence. I found her being bullied and stepped in. I didn’t know she was your student or anything else. I just saw trouble and intervened. It’s a habit of mine. I may have put the colts responsible in the hospital. That said I will gladly pay any reparations I need to.” She raised an eyebrow and I said “I work at sweet apple acres. I don’t need a lot so I get most of the food I need from there along with my paycheck. That said is there anything in particular you’d like to know?” She nodded and asked “When exactly is the danger coming to Equestria?” I held up eight fingers and she said “Eight what, years, weeks, months, or days?” I held up a single finger to signal the first one. She nodded and said “Then it is the return of the nightmare you know about. I can have you trained to guard the bearers but you will be my agent from now on.” I nodded in acquiescence. She smiled and said “Can you come to Canterlot regularly and learn as well as be Twilight’s guard?” I nodded again and she smirked then said “I expect you to accept payment for this and to grow closer to Twilight, she needs more friends.” I chuckled and said “I’d have become her friend without your request. Honestly I feel regret you felt you had to ask me to keep her happy. So who’s Spike, her dog or something?” She chuckled and said “Spike is her son, or at least her dragon companion. Honestly he’s a darling child but he had some problems when he was younger. Honestly I’m amazed Twilight was able to take care of him so well. She has always seen him as a son even as a filly. It was adorable honestly.” I nodded and stretched thinking that I’d have to see this myself. She smiled and said “So my little traveler, what exactly is your name?” I smiled slightly and said “Jared Ranger Blaze, though everyone calls me Jared or Ranger. I would prefer while working to be called Ranger because that is what my travelling companions always called me back then.” She nodded and I said “Of course when we’re in private so long as I may call you Celestia you may call me Jared, Princess.” She smiled and acquiesced to my request. I grinned and said “I need new swords and other equipment. I have a bow I left at home that I didn’t think I’d need but I will bring it with me when I return. I’m an expert archer since archery is as much in the mind as the body. I actually have people I’m training back home, so I request time to spend with them.” She nodded and I smiled then said “If that is all I will gladly take my leave, unless you wish for me to remain until your student is completely safe.” She chuckled and said “Twilight can be much safer than with me. Honestly though if you’d like you can sit in, you never know what insight you could provide. After Twilight’s lesson you and I can walk to the armory to get your equipment. Then you may return to whatever province you hale from.” I smiled and said “Ponyville.” She nodded and stretched then I said “It’s a quaint town at the bottom of the mountain, I love it there but I especially like the Everfree forest it reminds me of home.” She stared at me amazed and I explained “I grew up in a magical forest similar to the Everfree and its guardians were my friends and protectors. I actually knew little of humans or the other races and their civilizations until I was sixteen and became a true ranger. My teacher’s forced me to learn everything I could. It was hard at first, but it was fun. Honestly the guardians of the Everfree seem to understand I’m a kindred spirit and don’t attack me.” She stared at me and said “Do you have an affinity for Chaos, Jared?” I shrugged and she said “Because only creatures of Chaos tend to enjoy the forest.” I chuckled and she said “I’m serious. Most creatures of harmony have a problem with that forest. It was the battle between me and the nightmare than unleashed the chaos which allowed the land to change like that. It was…horrifying.” I nodded in understanding and blinked as she lowered the privacy ward and Twilight entered. She turned to her student and asked “You have no qualms with Jared sitting in on your lesson, do you Twilight?” She shook her head as she held the hand of a young dragon. The dragon reminded me of Dragonborn from back home. I waved at him and he studied me with his finger in his mouth before looking at Twilight for confirmation that I wasn’t a threat. Twilight smiled and said “That’s just Jared, Spike. He helped me out earlier and had to talk with the princess. If you want I bet you could talk to him while the princess and I go over my lessons.” I smiled and shrugged causing Twilight to giggle. She glanced at me and said “So you want to learn magic despite being an earth pony?” I chuckled and nodded causing her to smile and say “Wonderful.” She turned to the princess and said “I’m ready to begin whenever you are Princess.” I yawned and leaned back as Spike walked over and sat next to me. I ran a hand down his spines making him smile and said “Hey kiddo. Like it at the palace with your mom and the princess?” He nodded and I said “They’re both pretty awesome ponies. I’m going to be your mom’s guardian from now on. It means where she goes I go. I hope you’re ok with that little guy.” He nodded and hugged me I hugged him back and tuned into Twilight’s lesson. Celestia was going over the laws of casting. I listened in and asked “Wait so there are three laws to casting, imagination, power requirement, and availability of matter?” They nodded and turned to me questioningly. I chuckled and said “Sounds like mages back home, though the availability of matter never seemed to affect them. The power requirement and imagination were big things casters talked about though. So magic is science applied to imagination and the forces of the universe. Kind of like the gods.” They nodded and Twilight studied me surprised. I smiled and said “Please go on.” Celestia nodded and said “As I was saying, the three laws are more conditions than laws. The true law of magic is equivalent exchange. This is also a fundamental law of alchemy. Everything must be traded for something of equal or lesser value. The greater the exchange the more magic or matter needed. Now Twilight what was the last spell we were working on?” Twilight smiled and said “Teleportation.” I grinned and mouthed “cheater” at Twilight who stuck her tongue out. She smiled and said “I almost perfected it. Want to see princess?” Celestia nodded and Twilight teleported from one side of the room, only to end up in my lap. I laughed and she blushed then quickly teleported to the center of the room. I continued laughing while Spike giggled and Celestia smirked like she knew something we were missing. Twilight said “I guess my concentration slipped.” I snorted and said “Or you were concentrating on the wrong thing. Admit it you were thinking about how sexy I’d be if I took off my cloak.” Twilight glared at me blushing and I chuckled then said “I’d better go princess I have to catch the train to Ponyville. I’ll be back after setting my affairs in order; I will have to tell people I’ll be spending more time in the capital. Of course I expect my tools to be ready when I return princess especially if you expect me to uphold my end of our deal.” Celestia nodded and said “Of course my dear gentlecolt. I will see you in a few days’ time. I wish you a safe journey.” I nodded and thanked her then walked out and headed to the train station. After boarding the train I fell asleep since it had been a while since I’d had a chance to do just that. As I slept I dreamed of a mare with a dark blue coat crying.