"One more day till Gala! Can't wait!, I thought in my head as I was preparing what I would wear to Gala.

As I prepared my clothes and my speech for Royal Guards just in case if there is a special test I got a knock on my door.

I walked down the stairs and opened my door, I saw Shining Armor and his carriage behind him.

"So, are you ShadowMere?", he talked in friendly kinda way.

"Umm, yes I'm.", I answered confidently.

He looked at me as he never seen me before, "Are you new...? I ask, because barely anyone knows you in Canterlot or Pony Ville. Unless... PinkiePie made a welcome party and I didn't know about it."

"Well you got the right answer about the party and the reason nobody know me in Canterlot is because.. I never spoke to no-pony.", I answered.

"Oh. Well.. never mind, so Princess Celestia said that you rescued my sister Twilight Sparkle? Is that true?", he asked me as he would think Princess was lying.

"Yes, I did save you sister.", I answered slowly and calm.

"Okay... I believe you. Thank you, ShadowMere. If you wouldn't be there... my sis' you know... could have died.", he said in sadness on his face.

"Don't worry about her. She is fine.", I answered so I could calm him down and cheer him up a little bit.

"Mhm. Let's go then.", he answered.

As Shining Armor stopped speaking me and him walked to the carriage, where two pegasus ponies would lift us up in the sky like a hot air balloon and fly us away to Canterlot.

About 4 minutes later we arrived at Canterlots' borders, as we arrived the two guards nodded to each other and we were let through into the Canterlot. Canterlot seemed pretty big place for me, never have been in Canterlot in my life, so I was amazed by every structure I saw. The ponies seemed much more posh in Canterlot then Pony Ville.

So I asked, "Are these ponies 'High Quality'... I mean like posh talking or?"

"Yes, they will inspect you.", he said to scare me a little bit.

"Are you serious?", as I said that I hid from the ponies which were looking at me and quietly speaking about me in thei own little conversations.

"No... I was joking you silly! They do this to... umm.. I really have no idea why. Maybe because they don't know you.", he tried to explain to calm me down a little bit.

I gulped, "Okay."

As we arrived by the palace me and Shining Armor went to Princess Celestia's throne. As we arrived she walked up to us with her sister, Princess Luna.

Princess Celestia spoke first, "Ah. ShadowMere nice to see you here in, Canterlot."

"Nice to see you too, Princess.", I answered back.

Princess Luna asked her sister, "Who is this pony standing next to Shining Armor?"

"That's ShadowMere, he rescued Twilight.", Princess Celestia explained to her sister.

"Hello, ShadowMere. My name is Princess Luna.", Princess Luna gave no facial expression.

I answered, "Hello, Princess Luna. I'm ShadowMere."

I looked at Shining Armor and said, "So.. why did we came here in the first place, again?"

"Princess Luna wanted something from you.", he explained.

Princess Luna looked at me and said, "I want you to be my personal guard in the Gala. I believe you can handle the job?"

"Sure, Princess.", I answered back.

"It's settled then. Meet you at the Gala all.", Princess Celestia said as we walked out of the palace.

"Well that was a little bit awkward wasn't it?", I looked at Shining Armor

"No, it was not for me.", he looked confused.

After some time we arrived at the guard house, where all the guard meetings, weapons, armour, clothes are held. Shining Armor looked at me and said,"ShadowMere, if you are up to being a Royal Guard, sign this paper."

I used my magic to pick the pen up from the table which was left side of me as I levitated it, I started to type my signature, 'ShadowMere'.

Shining Armor looked at the paper and said, "Welcome to the Royal Guards, ShadowMere. Good Luck and see you at the Gala. Dissmissed."

I looked confused, "That's all? I thought there would be tests and stuff, well I guess not. So I start my duty tomorrow?

"Yes, you will meet Princess Luna at her carriage, by the Galas' entrance.", Shining Armor explained.

I nodded to show that I understood what he said to me.

The next day the Gala was on. I was prepared with my clothes, armor and all what I need for the Gala evening.
As I stepped out of my house I didn't see any of my main six friends, I didn't see Twilight Sparkle nor FlutteryShy, AppleJack, RainbowDash, PinkiePie or Rarity.

I seemed confused and thinking, "Where have they gone?"

As I thought I would like to meet up with them, I just walked back to my house to prepare and wait for the Gala.
The time was on to go to Gala. As I stepped out I saw Princess Luna's carriage waiting by my door step.

I asked her, "I thought you are going to wait me by the entrance, Princess"

She looked at me, "By the time you would be there, the Gala would be ended already."

"Oh.", I said without giving any facial expression.

I stepped into the carriage and the carriage was levitated by two of Luna's pegasus.

As we arrived at the gala I saw another carriage behind us I didn't quite spot any ponies on it, but I saw two pegasus leading it to the Gala as well.

"Hmm.... I wonder...", I said by myself.

Princess Luna looked at me, "Wonder what?"

"The other carriage behind us, maybe it holds my friends in it and they're going to the Gala as well., I explained

"Maybe, maybe.", Princess Luna said while looking away from the other carriage behind us.

I stepped out of the carriage while opening small carriage doors for Princess Luna, "Thank you, ShadowMere.", Princess Luna said to me while stepping out of the carriage.

"Okay, ShadowMere. I want you to take a look around. I will be my sister if you need me, or if I call you.", Princess Luna explained while going to Princess Celestia.

I walked around the Gala, I saw the carriage which was right behind us, I noticed a pegasus, green color body, orange and yellow mane and the tail, had a suit and that was the pagasus I saw of the carriage which was going behind us. Before I could even move anywhere Princess Luna stopped me and said, "Before you go. Meet Shining Armor for your clothes and armor."

"Okay.", I nodded as I was walking towards Shining Armor.

"Oh, good. ShadowMere you are here. Take this.", as he was speaking he gave me a armor which didn't seem to be the same as the other guards. The guards I saw had black, white or gray mane.

I looked confused and said, "Why I'm the only one different?"

"Because, you saved my sister. You can't just be a normal guard if you do that kind of job.", he explained

I nodded without speaking. I put my armor on and looked at the mirror to see if it fits me. I had gold armor with bright yellow leather and white cape on my back.

As I walked out of the building which Gala was held in to get a fresh air, I saw the pegasus going into the maze.

He said something by himself, but I didn't hear what he said. So I just spoke to warn him that the maze is easy place to get lost, "Hey! I wouldn't go in there if I were you.", I saw him turning around so I spoke again to finish what I was saying, "It's very easy to get lost in there. Trust me"

"Unless you have wings.",the pony said while pointing at his wings.

"Good point.", I said to the pony.

The pony seemed curious, "What... kind of a guard are you?"

"I can't tell you.... that.", I said

"So you are a normal guard?", he looked more curious

"No. I'm Princess Luna's personal guard...", as I realized what I said I face-hoofed myself.

He looked at me differently this time in a friendly kinda way, "So.. umm what's you name?"

"My name is ShadowMere.", I answered

"Never seen you before.", he looked at me while inspecting me

"Yes, I know, hardly anyone knows me here anyway.", I explained to the pony

He stopped inspecting me, "Oh. Anyway, why did you came to me again?"

"Well first. To stop you going through that maze and secondly I saw you behind our carriage, did by any chance you lead the six ponies?", I explained to the pony while he was looking at me

"Yes, I did and by the meaning of 'six ponies' you mean... AppleJack, Rarity, Twilight Sparkle, RainbowDash, PinkiePie and FlutterShy?", he asked

I looked at him, "Yes, and do you know where is Rarity right now? Never met her before."

"Oh, she told me she is going to see her Prince Blue Blood, oh look", he pointed at the white pony, " there she is!

Rarity seemed un-happy and angry at the same time.

"I have to go... sorry.", I said as I galloped towards the white pony.

I saw Rarity and Prince Blue Blood together, I suddenly felt hate in Prince Blue Blood as I saw he used Rarity for many things, but as I saw Rarity putting down her blanket on the wet puddle I shouted, "Don't do it Rarity!"

Rarity suddenly stopped and looked at me as I was galloping towards her, "Take the blanket away from the puddle."

I arrived by Rarity and Prince Blue Blood in couple of seconds and using my magic I lifted up the blanket which was about to drop in the puddle, "You should be ashamed of yourself, Prince Blue Blood. How dare you to use this lady for yourself?"

Prince Blue Blood looked at me and said, "Hmph. What you are going to do with me anyway? I'm a Prince. So... just go."

I suddenly felt angry, "No."

As I stopped speaking I forced the Prince Blue Blood's blanket from his back and dropped it in the puddle, "Rarity, come."

Rarity stepped over and didn't say anything, as Prince Blue Blood tried to step over I levitated the blanket and put the blanket on where it was, on Prince Blue Blood's back, "You shall not pass!", as I spoke those words I giggle a little bit and walked away with Rarity.

Rarity looked upon me, "Thank you, darling."

As I looked upon Rarity I suddenly felt warm, I fell in love with this beautiful pony called Rarity, "It's okay...", as I spoke I blushed a little bit.

"What is your name?", she asked

I answered the question, "ShadowMere."

"Thank you ShadowMere, Prince Blue Blood was using me for the most foolish things ever, opening doors for him, I needed to give him a rose, putting my own blanket in the puddle to let Prince Blue Blood pass, but you were there to save me from that nonsense." , as she spoke I saw her cheecks to beging blush a little bit too, I didn't know was it from me or was she shy.

"That's okay Rarirty, for beautiful pony like you, I would do anything just to save you.", I said

She began to blush even more, "Thank you."

As she leaned towards my face she kissed my cheek, "See you some other time...", she blushed and galloped away to her friends.

I was standing there wordless, I couldn't say anything, I just stood there and was thinking about Rarity.

After couple of minutes I walked inside the Gala, because Princess Luna was calling me. I galloped towards her, "Yes, Princess?"

"The Gala is over ShadowMere. We have to go.", she said.

I nodded as we walked to the carriage. I opened the small doors for Princess Luna and we began our journey to Canterlot.

"Did you enjoy Gala, ShadowMere?", she looked at me while asking

"Mhm....", I said.

She looked at me, "Is there something wrong?"

"No.. not at all.", I answered.

"What happened in Gala, tell me..", she looked curious.

I looked at her, "I fell in love, Princess."

"Oh.. with?", she asked curiously

"The white pony called Rarity, she is the most beautiful pony I have ever seen in my life.", I explained

She looked happy, "Good luck."

We arrived at Canterlot in couple of minutes, as I opened the small doors for the Princess, she began to speak to the pegasus in front, "Please, can you be grateful and take this pony to Pony Vile?"

The two pegasi nodded and waiting till I enter the carriage, as I entered the carriage I waved at Princess Luna and began to be taken to Pony Ville. I arrived at Pony Ville in couple of minutes and was let out right by my house doors. As I entered my house, I put my armor down and began walking steps to my bedroom, after that I used my magic to open my diary, and take a feather from my small pot with ink and began to write,

~Dear Diary

Today, I met the most beautiful pony in the whole world called Rarity. She has white body dark blue many and makes beutiful dresses as I have seen what she was wearing today in Gala, and what other ponies said about her. I have been recruiting in the Royal Guards and saved Twilight from dying when Trixie was controlled by this 'Purple Smoke', I will investigate further what it was, but for now.... let's just let the life go as it is.

I put down my feather in the small pot which was on the table same as the diary, I closed the diary as well, and jumped into my bed and fell asleep while thinking about Rarity.

Author's Note

Chapter not finished yet. I won't add a cliff-hanger here :3. ShadowMere meets his first love here in this chapter. (Sorry about writing 'Prince Charming' i forgot that he was 'Prince Blue Blood' *Face-palm*)