I woke up to a knocking on my door. As always I tugged the sheets up around me out of instinct. Sure, I had on a pair of boxers, in fact about the most comfortable set I had ever worn. Rarity once again went above and beyond about a month ago and made me five sets. I finally got her to let me pay her for them at last, only to have her turn right around and take me to lunch and pay... With the hard earned bits I had paid her for them with. That mare!

“Uh, yeah, come on in," I said aloud.

I looked up to see Dusty trot in, and a warm smile pursed my lips. It was nice to see her again, and now that I knew the truth about who and what she was. It made things a lot more friendly, at least in my mind.

“Shane, good morning. Still in bed, I see,” she said with a grin, glancing at the clock on the shelf. “You do know you have an hour to get ready, yes?” as she slid a brown paper wrapped package off her back onto a chair.

“Er, yeah, I was just going to jump in the shower... okay, yea I was still asleep,” I smiled sheepishly as she turned around. I got up and grabbed a robe, another gift from the Element of Generosity herself, snugging it around me. “All right, so what's in the package?”

She chuckled and looked at me. “Why, darling, it would not do to have you accept your citizenship before the princesses and all of Equestria in anything but the finest,” she did a passable imitation of Rarity’s voice.

I blinked and shook my head. “She does too much for me. I mean, it is really nice; an honor, really, but still.”

Dusty set about starting to open the package. “She is the Element of Generosity, might as well get used to it. Next you are going to complain about Rainbow Dash being loyal, or Fluttershy being kind to you!”

I shook my head, chuckling. “Yeah, yeah, I get it,” as I walked into the bathroom and shut the door.

I walked out a half an hour later to find Dusty was gone. However, one thing that stood out most, hanging on a tall coat rack was a suit. I walked over and fingered the black coat on it. “Well, I will be damned. She made a perfect Lubbock suit,” my look of surprise transformed into a smile.

Not ten minutes later, I was dressed up in the dark coat, the white shirt, my bolo tie, of course my finely polished black cowboy boots. I had even spent a few moments brushing out the stetson to give it as good a look as the ol’ thing had in it.

Giving myself one last look in the mirror, I strolled over to the door and opened it. It came across as a little surprising, seeing Golden and Cortland there, in full dress armor. The gold shined, the white gleamed. Both looked like they had spent quite a bit of time grooming themselves.

Golden gave a smile and a nicker. “Well, Rarity is right, you do clean up nice.”

I shook my head and glanced at the two of them. “Let me guess, soon as I left Applejack, the hens came clucking?”

Golden may have look confused at the term, but Cort let off a soft laugh. “Ya have no clue, poor cousin AJ, but ah suspect they had a good girl's night in talkin ‘bout that date.”

I gave a nod and looked around, taking note of no other guards present in the hall. “So, I take it you are my formal escort?”

They both nodded in response. “We are proud to take the assignment, too, as it is our last,” their ears individually falling some. “After this, we are likely to both be pulled back into our units, Shane. I mean, heck, you will be a citizen after today.”

I gave a soft frown, then glanced down the hall. “Doesn't mean we are going to stop seeing each other, Cort, Golden,” I pushed a small smile onto my face and looked back down at them. “How about we get going? I suspect it is bad form to keep a princess waiting.”

He gave a nod and the fell in step next to me, Cortland on my right, Golden on my left. I heard Golden sniffle, “I really am going to miss Ponyville, I made so many friends there.”

That got me wondering too. After all, I only had two weeks left on my sentence and I was a free man. Where would I live, where would I work? I really had no clue. They were things I needed to start thinking about immediately.

We turned the corner to find two individual rows of guards. There must have been forty day guards, and the same amount of night guards. Staggered down the hallway on both sides, alternating solar then lunar. As two I recognized saw me, they snapped to attention and bellowed out together. “Honor Guard, ATENHUT!”

Like a gunshot, eighty spears snapped up their shafts banging into the ground so they were upright, eighty stallions and mares went rigid and at attention. I really did have to pause. I mean, was this that big of a deal?

The two commanders, Solar and Lunar, walked over. Looking first to Cross, then over to his lunar counterpart, I dipped my head. “Captain Crossed Swords, Captain Night Shade, what is going on?” asking with a tinge of confusion in my tone.

Both smiled, but it was the slit-eyed, bat-winged pony that spoke. “It has been six hundred years, Shane McDonald, since a new species has become a citizen of this country, let alone one that holds the Guard's highest respect and trust around our princesses. We are honored to provide you, and your personal escorts, an honor guard.”

Cross Swords called out over his shoulder. “Huhaa!” and eighty voices barked back as one.

“HUHAA!” before the captain looked back at me. “Captain Armor wanted you to understand your place here, that you have earned respect among the Guard, as well as among the princesses.”

I swallowed the small lump forming in my throat and lifted my right hand up to touch two fingers to my hat brim. “I am right honored, all of you."

To my right, Cortland spoke up. “Captain, permission to continue?”

Both grinned and nodded. “Sergeant, Private, see to it nothing happens to your charge,” before saluting, the two ponies at my side returning the respectful gesture. The captains rejoined their ranks and we started our walk. Each pair of guards we walked past, right and left side, snapped their spears forward as we passed them.

A glance back out of curiosity I could see the tips touching, a kind of arched block. The symbolism was not lost on me at that moment, just as I could not go home, I could not walk back the way we had come. This was a step, another in the path of leaving my old life behind and accepting what I had here.

Returning my eyes to watch where I was walking. The meaning of all this was clear, this world, the ponies and other creatures in it. They were not my own, and I was not theirs, yet they were willing to give all they had to see me happy. From my new friendships, to the princesses who ruled this country. My harmony, my happiness was what was important to them.

It was a lot to take in, and a bit for me to reflect on later. For now, as we passed the final guard and turned facing a door, I paused and looked right, then left at my two friends. “Thank you both, I—well, I wouldn’t have made it this far without the two of you at my side.”

Both beamed as bright as can be, Cort replying, “We can say the same, Shane. Heck, if you had not come along, I don’t think Golden and I would have had the time we have to get to know each other, and…”

Golden’s blush said it all, and I gave a nod to Cortland. “I get it, buddy, I get it. Now, perhaps we should get going?”

He grunted and reached out a hoof, banging on the huge door three times. A golden glow bright as the sun took hold of it, and the doors started to open.

As they finished opening, what I saw must be two, perhaps three hundred ponies! No, no not just ponies. There were gryphons, a few Minotaur, including a big blue one I knew. There were the deer tribe, their friend from the caribou tribes. I let my eyes wander the room, trying to take it all in. As I did, I noted more guards, again both from the Celestia's Solar Legion and from Luna’s private Lunar Shield. Up front, upon the diaz stood four alicorn goddesses, a golden carpet laced with blue and purple lines and symbols, edged in pink led from where I stood up to them.

From our right, a voice addressed loud and clear. Shining Armor himself, in his full dress armor, called out. “My princesses, a worthy soul has come. One that shows true harmony, who carries in his heart honor, truth, and kindness. I beseech you on his behalf, welcome him.”

All right, I really had no clue this would be so formal. Determined to play my part and not embarrass my friends or the ones standing to watch, I stayed very quiet and listened on.

Celestia spoke up audibly, her voice carrying across the room. “Let him approach, we will hear of his story.”

Cortland whispered up to me. “Walk up, stand in the middle facing them, do not kneel... yet.”

So I did just that. Walking along the rug I noted so many that I knew from here or there. Not just guards, but ponies from Ponyville, from Canterlot, nobles, shopkeepers. There standing near the rope edges was a mare I had to blink a few times before I realized who she was and why I recognized her. It was the one I had recovered the purse for. I watched her dip her head in respect to me.

I stood, looking up at the four alicorns, and they looked right back at, each with a warm smile and looking proud. To the left side now that I was past the crowd edge, I spotted the girls all dressed up nicely. Applejack gave me a wink, and I decided that was all I needed. I eased up a bit more and turned looking at Celestia once more.

“Speak your name, your species, and your home's name, so all may know you, young one.”

I lifted my head a bit, raising my voice for all to hear. “My name is Shane McDonald, Texas Ranger. I am a human, and I come from a place called Earth.” I wasn’t really an active ranger anymore; but, once a ranger, always a ranger.

Oh, I did not like the sparkle in the big alabaster mare’s eyes. She had that exact one when she invited me to meet the nobles. She is up to something, and like before, I was too far back to even hope to catch up to her.

Luna spoke next. “We recognize you, Shane McDonald. Do thou know why thy stand before us?”

I gulped softly and nodded. “I come before you…” reaching up and taking my hat off, holding it close to my chest. “Hat in hand, no home, no people of my own, a stranger to this land,” I just spoke what my heart felt. It was a rather odd feeling, almost like something was feeding me words, something far bigger, far more powerful than any creature in this room. It wasn’t a terrifying feeling, rather it was warm, happy, safe. I could not place my hand on why, but I knew deep inside something far bigger than myself was guiding me.

I also did not miss the princesses all look at each other in surprise at my response. A glance by Cadence to the apple unicorn to my right earned her a head shake of no from him.

Recovering, Cadence spoke next. “You stand here, and ask us for a home then? A place of your own, where you can find friendship, harmony, even love?”

I thought for a moment or two, then nodded my head. “Yes, Princess, I do.”

It was Twilight who chimed in after a few seconds passed. I am not sure I had ever seen her look so... well, so princessy if that is even a word. Even at her coronation there was a newness to her. Now it was pretty easy to see she was starting to come into her own.

“Will any among you tell us why we should accept this, human?”

A voice raised to my left “Ah will!” my eyes looked to Applejack, whom stood forward and then walked down the steps to turn and stand in front of me. “Princess Twilight, Princesses. Ah with ma' own eyes watched this human when he first arrived. Ah watched as he gave up his own protection, ta make sure we were the ones safe. I watched this stallion, scared and alone accept friendship an extend it in kind. Never once has he lied, never once has he tried ta hide the truth of who, an' what he is.”

Celestia eyeballed her, then gave a nod of her head. “The Element of Honesty has spoken, and we accept her eyewitness account. Will anypony else speak?”

“I will,” came from where Applejack walked back up to stand with her friends. The blue pegasus mare lifted off some and glided down to land, standing in front of me facing the princesses as Applejack had.

“I watched with my own two eyes as this stallion saw a criminal act. With no thought of his own safety, he chased down the purse snatcher and subdued him without doing any real harm, even returning the stolen purse to its owner,” turning, the Wonderbolt in full dress pointed to the mare in the audience. “And now, she stands here, to watch him come before you princesses. A chance encounter that has made a friend.”

Luna gave a nod of her head. “So speaks the Element of Loyalty.”

As Rainbow Dash returned to her spot, Celestia called out. “Will anypony else speak?”

To my right, a country voice spoke out. “I will, my princess!”

She seemed to have been expecting it, but I sure as hell wasn’t. Looking down at Cortland Apple as he stood forward, he stepped in front of me.

“We recognize Sergeant Cortland Apple, of my first Solar division. Speak, my little pony.”

He cleared his throat and bowed his head. “My princesses, I witnessed the human, Shane McDonald, do many things. Ah witnessed him commit a crime,” a soft gasp emit from the audience, “and I witnessed him own up to it, as well as accept his punishment. Ah have witnessed him give knowledge and kindness to a school full of foals... but.”

He paused and looked around, then back to the alicorns. “The act I witnessed that was greatest. I watched as this stallion, this human, faced down foul creatures bent on mercilessly slaughtering foals. I watched as he took grievous wounds, ones that would have left him bereft of life were it not for fate. I watched this, friend,” his face turned back over his shoulder to look at me, smiling, then back to the princesses on the diaz, “spill his life blood on Equestrian soil, upholding the most sacred of honors, protecting life.”

Each princess in turn gave a nod as Cortland backed up into his spot. Among the gallery of ponies and others, mutters were heard. Folks whispered and spoke quietly at what had been said. After a few more moments, Celestia banged her hoof into the marble three times and the room grew quiet once more.

“Shane McDonald, you have heard the witnesses. Some tell of your bravery, some speak to your sacrifice, some speak of your criminal act, and your drive to better yourself after it. We, however, must draw one and only one conclusion.”

She spread her wings, and with her, Luna, then Cadence, and finally Twilight followed suit. Their horns lit up, and their voices spoke as one. “You have spilled your blood on our soil, in the act to protect others. For this, we accept you into our lands."

Each slowly closed their wings and Celestia looked straight to my eyes. “Come forward, human, kneel before us if you would bend your knee and accept us as your princesses.”

This was the big moment, and you know what, I didn’t really need to think about it. Sure, Celestia was a pain in the ass; sure, Luna was butting into things she shouldn’t. Yes, there were games played here to get me to this spot here and now. However, what good would it do to decline? I was being handed a chance to start over, to make a new home when I had nothing left of the old.

Moving up the steps, I looked Celestia right in the eyes, then slowly dipped my head and took a knee before her. A moment later, a long white horn touched my right shoulder, and a long dark blue one touched my left.

“Do thou,” Luna speaking first, “Shane McDonald, swear allegiance to Equestria, to uphold the values of her ponies, and her princesses?”

I gave a firm nod of my head. “I do, Princess Luna.”

Celestia spoke next. “Do you, Shane McDonald, swear to protect harmony, peace, and love with all that you are, even if it means Thanatos calls you to his side?”

I had to pause. There was that word again, Thanatos. Who, or what, was that? Thinking a moment back to when Cross had said it, too. It kind of slowly dawned on me. It was their word for death; perhaps the angel of death?

I closed my eyes, reflecting on things for a quiet moment more. Saying yes would mean I gave my word. I was swearing on my honor to become a citizen, to leave behind the United States, leave Texas, and become an Equestrian. I knew the right answer, and I might have a long road before me, but I was here now.

“I swear, I will.”

Two horns lit up, and life became a blinding white light for a few seconds. It didn’t really hurt, in fact it was kind of warm and tingly, not unlike being in the summer sun, or laying in a warm grass field as the moon came up. Slowly it faded and the two alicorns stepped back.

“Rise now, and turn my little human. Turn, and let Equestria greet its newest citizen. Mares and gentlecolts, may I introduce to you, Shane McDonald, Equestria’s first human citizen. Let nopony, nobirdy, noone ever doubt he is one of Equestria's now."

I turned, as I did I saw the girls, tears in their eyes. Then came the applause, it hit me like a wave crashing into the shore. Hooves stomped, claws clacked, every creature there, from pony to gryphon, and two large minotaur. Even one little purple and green dragon... applauded for me. I did the only thing I could do, I bowed my head in appreciation.

Then it was all ruined, or perhaps not ruined but... it was Pinkie Pied! With the boom of a canon going off, confetti and streamers filled the huge hall. Tables flipped into existence as if pivoting out from the floor filled with food of all kinds. Much to the surprise of all, other than perhaps her friends, Pinkie was already at the other end of the room, where two huge speakers and a DJ booth had appeared with a white unicorn mare in sunglasses next to her. She bellowed out, “Let’s get this party started!”

I muttered to myself as the beat kicked in and music started to play. “How?”

From my left Celestia spoke very softly. “It is a question, Shane, I myself do not dare ask. I even dare think Discord keeps from looking too closely at her antics.”

I nodded. “Yeah, sounds like that is the best course of action.”