Dear Journal,

Today, Captain Armour selected me for a special assignment: escorting the Princess on her trip to Ponyville. Why the Princess would take the precious time out of her day to visit a small town like that, I don’t know, but this was a great opportunity! One that I just couldn’t pass up!

I started off my day as usual; I poured myself a nice bowl of Hay Flakes (can’t properly wake up without them!), and read the Canterlot Courier, the best newspaper in all of Canterlot…Though to be fair, it’s the only newspaper in all of Canterlot.

There wasn’t much of interest in the newspaper today. Prince Blueblood was confirmed as a guest of honour at Fancypants’ next social gathering…Somepony called ‘the Great and Powerful Trixie’ was advertising a show at Canterlot 5th Park next week…The Wonderbolts were apparently fighting amongst themselves. That was probably the most interesting news in the paper today.

So after breakfast and a quick scan through the real-estate pages (still nothing within my price range), I brushed my teeth and prepared for my morning trot. Got to stay in shape if I want that promotion to Lieutenant.

My morning trot could have gone better. I suppose it’s my fault for not properly paying attention to the weather forecast, but still, to have it suddenly start raining on you heavily, when you’re three blocks away from your house, is usually a sign that bad things are going to come.

After I returned home from my trot, I had just enough time to shower and dry myself off quickly, before I had to leave for my assignment. Of course, this would be when I realise that my umbrella had a huge hole in the top of it. When and how did that even happen?

Regardless, this meant that I had to run quickly though the streets, completely exposed to the rain, save for the few parts that were covered by my armour. Did I mention how quickly you get worn out when running in this heavy armour?

Upon my arrival at the castle, I was greeted by my Captain, and the other guard who would be escorting the Princess today. The Captain was finishing some business with the Princess, so I waited to the side, saluting him and the Princess, as is protocol, until they were finished.

“At ease,” the Princess said as soon as Captain Armour was no longer there. I obeyed, though it’s hard to feel at ease when you’re before one of the Princesses of the entire kingdom. One slipup could cost me my job, or worse! “Don’t worry, Private Galahad. You can just be your usual self around me,” is what she said, but that’s still easier said than done.

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I arrived in Ponyville after about a one hour ride. The Princess was greeted by a purple Unicorn pony, who I recognised as the Captain’s little sister, Twilight…Twinkle? No, Sprinkle? Something along those lines.

Anyway, she was also greeted by five other ponies. Quite a small reception for the Princess of the Sun, right? Well, this was just outside of Ponyville. When we entered the actual town itself, she was welcomed by practically everypony around. There were banners, streamers, flowers, balloons, the whole package! Proof that the citizens of Equestria truly loved their Princess. Us guards, on the other hoof? Not even a simple ‘hello’…Guess that’s just the way of the world.

The Princess made her way towards the town’s bakery – a place called Sugarcube Corner. There was a pleasant scent coming from within, and when I took a peek inside, I could see an assortment of cakes, jell-o (or jelly, if you’re from Britmane), muffins, sandwiches, hay-fries…All of it looked and smelled so delicious, and I wanted so much to go in and sample everything.

But alas, my duty was to remain outside, and prevent unwanted company from entering. Which didn’t take long; within the first ten minutes, I encountered a suspicious pink pony approaching, with seven balloons tied to her tail, a pair of green-framed shades on her face, a fake moustache, and a whole bunch of presents on her back, of varying shapes and sizes.

I didn’t bother questioning her strange appearance (it wasn’t really my job, no matter how curious I was), but I did have to stop her to ask her name, and to examine each present individually.

She began speaking to me, but she said so much, in such short timeframe, and all I really got out of it was that her name was Pinkie Pie.

“May we examine these presents, ma’am?” I asked her, keeping my cold gaze fixed on her. She seemed unfazed by this…Although it was hard to tell through those shades she was wearing. It wasn’t even a sunny day, so why was she wearing them?

“Of course! But you can’t open them! They’re for the Princess, after all!”

“Well we kind of have to open them. It’s our job,” I explained, though I didn’t think she understood.

“Ooh, I get it!” she shouted. “I’m sorry! You guys must be feeling left out, huh? I know! Just wait riiiight here!”

Before we could stop her, she leaped up into the air, and zoomed right past us, between our heads…An Earth Pony, jumped up, and dashed through the air. Not only that, but this was just a civilian, and a commoner, at that. And yet, she had completely broken past our security, as if it were nothing. Needless to say, this experience was left out of our report to the Captain.

Me and my partner turned around, and were about to charge in, when the same pink pony, now without her shades and fake moustache, burst through the doors, dropped something to the ground, and then ran back inside.

We both looked to the ground, and found two slices of chocolate cake at our hooves, and two cups of punch. I have to say, that was the most touching thing that had ever happened to me while on duty. Somepony actually cared about us lowly guards, and tried to include us in the festivities.

At the same time, that pony had rushed into the party where the Princess was, carrying presents that had yet to be examined. As we were about to charge in, another interruption came from behind us.

We both turned around to see a white Unicorn mare, with an air of elegance around her, and the most beautiful dress I had ever seen…Not just in Ponyville, but in Canterlot, too. Was this pony a noble? What were they doing here?

“Excuse me, may I please enter?” she asked. Her tone was also similar to the what one would expect from nobility.

I noticed the present on her back, and signalled for my partner to take care of the pink pony, whilst I took care of this one. “Name?” I asked her, returning to my previously cold persona.

“Rarity, and might I say it is rude for one to ask a lady her name before introducing oneself.”

Yep, definitely not somepony from Ponyville. She had to be from Canterlot, or Manehatten, at the very least. “I’ll need to examine your present before you can enter.”

The Unicorn sighed, and used her magic to levitate the present towards me. “I suppose, if you must…But do be careful, won’t you? It took me such a long time to make.”

I lowered my head and charged some magic into my horn. I began to tug at the ribbon, when a cough from the pony in front of me caused me to stop. She warned me to be careful – to not tear the ribbon by mistake. I sighed, and gently undid the ribbon. Once it was off, I lifted the lid of the box into the air, and looked inside.

Inside the box was a dress…And not just any dress. A dress fit for a Princess. I was genuinely surprised, and still am. Many dressmakers have tried this approach before; attend a party with the Princess as a guest of honour, and impress her by making her a custom dress. But this…This was the first one I had seen that actually looked fit for a Princess. Who was this mare?

I put the lid back on the box, fastened the ribbon back on, and allowed the pony entry into the party. At the same time, my partner came out, reporting that the pink pony was a friend of the Princess’, and that the Princess told him that she didn’t need to be searched.

That pink pony was a friend of the Princess’? Did that mean that she was one of those ‘Elements of Harmony’ ponies? One of the heroes of Equestria, who had defeated Nightmare Moon and Discord, and were our only hope should such villains rise again? That pony?

“Hey!” was the next word that I heard, which snapped me out of my thoughts, and directed my attention to a rather colourful Pegasus hovering in front of me. She had a blue coat, and a rainbow mane and tail. I knew exactly who this was: Rainbow Dash, the winner of the Best Young Fliers competition. Even if I wasn’t necessarily a fan of aerial sports, I had seen her in the newspaper, and such a colourful pony was hard to forget.

“So, is it, like, in your job description to just stand around, acting like statues?”

Actually, it was. As a Royal Guard, it is part of my duty to simply uphold the law, and act not on my own personal feelings, but on what those above me tell me. I have to view the world through neutral eyes, and as such, my expression must also remain neutral and professional.

“Ok 50 bits says I can make you change your expression!” I didn’t respond, and her smile grew wider. “Alright! Let’s shake on it!”

She landed and lifted her hoof of the ground. And then spat on it…And pointed it at me. Was this tradition in Ponyville? Did she honestly expect me to touch that hoof now? After a few seconds of silence, with me just staring at her, and her looking back with that big grin on her face.

“Alright! Let’s do this!” she shouted, jumping back into the air. I continued staring forward, trying not to follow her movements. She began to perform some movements in the air, flipping around and dashing back and forth so fast that it produced a rainbow trail. Impressive, but I still didn’t lose my focus…Too much.

Her next move was to try to make me and my partner laugh, by tickling our noses with her feathers. This was a little harder to beat, but we still managed to keep our composures. She then proceeded to make silly faces, which were far less amusing than she perhaps thought they were, and finished by pretending to throw a few punches our way, trying to provoke us into fighting her.

“…Pft, fine, you win,” she said sulkily, before entering the party. I already knew who she was, so I didn’t need to stop her to ask for her name.

Once she was inside, my partner and I finally had some time to relax, as nopony else came by for about the next thirty minutes. For the most part, the ponies we encountered from that point forth were admirers of the Princess, wanting to offer her a gift, or to simply see her. Naturally, we had our hooves full fending them off.

Once the party was over (about three hours later), we had to escort the Princess back safely to her chariot, keeping her many fans at bay with hard, cold glares. I hate this part of my job, but for the Princess’ safety, I have to play the bad pony.

Once we returned to Canterlot, I was given permission to take the rest of the day off. I decided to hit the gym for a bit, to work up an appetite before dinner. Not much happened there, other than me meeting an interesting pony, whose entire vocabulary seemed to consist of the word: “YEEEEEAH!”

Come dinner time, I had indeed worked up quite an appetite, and decided to try out that new restaurant that had just opened up not down the street from my house. What I saw there still shocks me even now: it was the Captain, but he wasn’t alone. That’s right; he was on a date! And with a Princess, no less! Princess Mi Amor…Something, she likes to be called ‘Cadance’ for short.

The two looked really happy together. They talked and laughed about many things, and started bickering about something halfway through their meal. I swear, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say they were already married!

Seeing them together really made me feel warm inside. It was love in its purest form…Yet, it also made me feel…Jealous? Depressed? Lonely…I have many friends within the Royal Guard, and even outside, but…I’ve never had a ‘special somepony’, and I guess seeing the two of them together like that, really made me aware of that fact.

But, I’m not going to dwell on it too much! After all, each day is special, and each day holds something new! I’m going to approach tomorrow with a smile on my face, and not worry too much about the here and now. So I’m alone right now? Then tomorrow, I’ll work towards finding that special somepony who makes my life complete!

Tomorrow’s my day off. I’ll ask my buddy Mordred for some tips. As long as I have my friends to help me out, I won’t let life get me down!

Well, that was my day. Signing out,

Galahad – Royal Guard, Private.