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I awoke to the feel of silky hair caressing my chest. At first, I was puzzled as to why I was not in my room on the first floor of the Carousel Boutique. But it did not take long for me to remember what had happened the previous night. "Rarity and I..." I muttered to myself, finding my beautiful lover sleeping while facing me.

Rarity was fast asleep while lightly snoring, just as elegant asleep as she was while awake. She was truly an ideal sleeping partner. I gently reached out and caressed her face, trying to wake her as gently as possible. "Wake up, Rarity..." I asked quietly. She soon stirred and slowly opened her beautiful azure eyes. As soon as she saw me, her mouth curved into a pleased smile.

"Good morning, darling... How are you this morning?" She asked weakly, more than likely still exhausted from the previous night. I do not need to write out what happened a second time. Whoever is reading this should know to keep that particular part of the article out of the sight of children.

I smiled warmly as I caressed her cheek in response, "Just woke up myself... But I think I'd like to go back to bed."

Rarity giggled as she reached out and placed her hoof on my hand. "Great minds think alike, James. May I join you?"

I nodded quietly, feeling that not much was needed to be said. Rarity then rolled over so that her back was against me. She looked at me over her shoulder, a most tender expression on her face. "I love you..."

Her words were all the proof I needed that what happened the previous night was not all in my head. I reached over her and held her body against my chest. "I love you too, Rarity..." Minutes later, we both fell asleep together.

I think an hour had passed before I awoke again. Rarity was no longer in bed with me, so she must have woken up to get to work. Not wanting to continue sleeping by myself, I climbed out of bed and stretched. I then looked around for my clothes, as I was clad in just my boxers. However, I soon stopped as I remembered that they were downstairs in my own room. "I hope we don't have any customers right now..."

I crept down the stairs, trying to listen for any voices. Fortunately, all I could hear was Rarity's lovely voice singing. "Dressmaking's easy. For Pinkie Pie, something pink... For Fluttershy, something breezy..." As I came into the main workroom, I found my lover at work making repairs to Twilight Sparkle's dress from the previous day.

Not wanting to interrupt, I hurried into my room and put on my clean clothes. "Made with love..." I muttered under my breath as I slid on the clothing Rarity had made for me. I then noticed that they were still in pristine shape, as if they had just been made. Seeing this, I made a personal note to take care to avoid letting anything Rarity made for me get damaged or worn. Anything I received from her I wanted to last.

When I walked out into the main workroom, I found Rarity carefully sewing on new fabric to fill the gaps left by the tears on Twilight's dress. I then asked, "Honey, will you be taking my dirty clothes to the laundry mat today?" However, I covered my mouth right after I spoke. I did not mean to call Rarity 'honey'. It was just a reflex.

Rarity seemed equally shocked as she glanced over at me. "Did you...just call me...'Honey' now?" I did not want to lie to her, so I nodded shyly. However, Rarity then blushed deeply and giggled, "Oh, you... We're not even married yet you're calling me pet names? Do you really adore me that much?"

Relieved and surprised that Rarity was taking it so well; I nodded, "Yes... I mean, how could I not? I love you, Rarity. Isn't that reason enough?"

Rarity smiled, "Well, no. Just loving someone isn't enough for you to call them such sweet things. You need to feel very deeply for someone in a way that is difficult to explain. Just as I feel for you.....honey." I blushed as Rarity turned the tables on me. In all honesty, being called such a sweet pet name by someone you love enough to marry feels.....wonderful.

As I chuckled happily, Rarity approached me and reared up on her hind legs with her forelegs resting against my chest. "Kiss me, my prince." She batted her eyelashes at me in an attempt to make me comply. Of course, as we were now lovers, there was no reason for me to deny her. I placed my hand behind her head and pressed my lips against hers.

Just as we were starting to get more intimate, the front door of the Carousel Boutique opened. I could tell without looking due to the bell hanging just above the doorway. "Morning, Rarity! You open...yet..." We both froze as our eyes turned to see Rainbow Dash staring at us. There was a moment of awkward silence as she too began to blush. Her wings suddenly spread out while sticking straight up. "Uh... I'm not...um...interrupting anything, am I?"

I was naturally nervous about someone finding out about my relationship with Rarity. But before I could deny it, Rarity dropped back down on all fours and replied, "Oh, not at all. Is there something I can help you with?" I was amazed by just how calm she seemed, even though her friend had walked in on us while we were making out.

Rainbow Dash collected herself as she folded her wings. "Oh... Right, I could use a favor. Remember this?" She reached into a saddlebag hanging from around her neck and pulled out what seemed to be a rainbow-striped garment. "You remember what happened that night, right? Grand Galloping Gala turned Grand Grotesque Goof?"

Rarity giggled as she levitated the garment over to a mannequin, "Oh yes, that was quite hectic. I'm amazed our dresses were not positively ruined after that!" Once the garment was spread out on the mannequin, Rarity also levitated a few more items from the saddlebag to it. The rainbow-striped garment was actually a cape-like dress that had cloud-like ruffs around the edges. A golden wreath hung down between the ears while a necklace with what seemed to be a shiny bunch of purple grapes hung from it on the front. Of course, I am certain it was a glass replica, as no one in their right mind would wear real fruit with a dress. The design was topped off with a pair of shiny yellow 'sandals' on the forelegs with interweaving strips of fabric. Overall, the design reminded me of an ancient Roman hero. Certainly a design befitting Rainbow Dash's character. However, like Twilight Sparkle's dress, the dress itself was showing plenty of wear and tear all over it.

I scratched my head while I looked the dress over. "What happened? Get into a bar brawl?"

Rainbow Dash laughed heartily, "Nope! I try to stay away from that stuff anyway. Let's just say things got really crazy at the Gala in the end." But she then winked at Rarity, "So, what's been happening between you two? Did I miss something?"

Once again, I felt myself become uneasy about someone finding out about my relationship with Rarity. But to my surprise, Rarity proudly replied, "Oh, you didn't miss much. Just our first morning together as a couple. Isn't that right, dear?" She smiled at me and winked.

I froze as Rainbow Dash turned her gaze towards me. I know she claimed to support my bond with Rarity the day before, but I still felt uneasy about it. She then asked, "Really? You guys are all lovey-dovey now?" I shyly nodded, unable to bring myself to speak.

Much to my surprise, Rainbow Dash jumped into the air and shouted, "Woo! All right! I knew you two would go together!" She then turned to Rarity and asked, "Did you do 'it' with him last night? Huh? Did ya? How'd it feel?"

I facepalmed at Rainbow's question, knowing exactly what she was getting at. I never would have guessed that my wild pegasus friend was a closet pervert. Rarity seemed rather disgusted as she glared at the pegasus, "What?! How dare you ask a lady about something so personal! What James and I do together at night before bed is none of your concern!"

"All right, all right, sheesh! Sorry!" Rainbow Dash backed away at Rarity's outburst. But she then trotted over to me, hovered next to me and whispered into my ear, "Did ya do it? You can tell me."

Rarity was obviously onto us as she looked in our direction with a gaze of disapproval. I looked over at her; uncertain of whether or not I should tell our friend. My lover sighed and shrugged her shoulders as if to say 'Oh, why not?'. I then looked at Rainbow and grumbled, "Yes. We did do it last night. But don't go around telling anyone this. Got it?"

Rainbow Dash dropped down to the floor and cheered, "Whoahoho, you go! You rock, James!" As she said that, her wings once again suddenly spread and stuck straight up. Rarity let out a sigh as she shook her head.

By this point, I could not ignore my curiosity and asked, "Rainbow, what's the deal with your wings? Can't keep them folded?"

My question seemed to surprise her as she looked back at her wings. Due to her reaction, I suspected that this action was involuntary. She then chuckled nervously, "Oh, that. Don't worry about it. I'm OK."

However, Rarity smirked and spoke, "I'll get started on restoring your dress to pristine condition, Rainbow Dash. For five bits."

Rainbow Dash clearly was not expecting to have to pay for a favor from her friend as she gasped, "What?! But I heard you were repairing Twilight's and Applejack's dresses for free!"

Rarity grinned slyly, "Well, they did not inquire about my personal activities behind closed doors with my beloved, did they?"

Realizing why Rarity was charging her for the dress repair, Rainbow sighed in defeat. "Fine, fine... What do I have to do to get you to drop the price?"

I watched the two friends as Rarity held a hoof to her chin. "Hmmmm... I suppose I can repair your dress for free. If you tell James what that condition with your wings are." I snickered under my breath, amused by just how cunning and resourceful Rarity could be.

Rainbow Dash clearly was not thrilled about the idea, but she turned to face me anyway. Her wings were still pointing straight up. "Ok then... When a pegasus' wings point up like this for no reason... It's called a.....wingboner."

I raised an eyebrow at the term Rainbow Dash used. "A...what? Did you call it a wing...BONER?"

"I'm not saying it again! Besides, every pegasus gets it whenever they get...." She covered her mouth suddenly to stop herself from saying the rest, a deep blush on her face as her eyes opened wide in embarrassment.

I could not stop myself from laughing. "I guess the men aren't the only ones who get them!" Rarity laughed along with me as Rainbow Dash frowned menacingly.

"As promised, I will restore your dress for free, Rainbow Dash. But please show some restraint from now on. Nopony is comfortable about revealing those kinds of details to anypony." Rarity triumphantly spoke, a smug smile on her face.

Rainbow Dash looked up at me with an expression of defeat. "You won't tell anyone about this, will you? I have a reputation, ya know..."

I smiled as I stroked my friend's mane, "I wasn't planning on it. If you keep what I told you under wraps, your....wing...boner..." I once again broke down laughing, finding it hard to say that word with a straight face. "I mean... Don't worry. We won't tell anyone."

Relieved that the secret was safe with us, Rainbow held out her hoof. Seeing what she wanted, I got down on one knee and bumped my fist against her hoof. But just then, a thought occurred to me. "Rainbow Dash, what do you even call this gesture anyway?"

The pegasus replied, "Oh, that? It's called a brohoof." I chuckled under my breath, remembering that an identical gesture back home was called a brofist. Once we had said our goodbyes, Rainbow Dash trotted out the door while taking care to keep her wings folded.

"Well, that was funnier than expected. A wingboner? Good lord." I exclaimed once we were alone again.

"Yes. There are times I am glad I am not a pegasus. Having one of those moments in public would be quite embarrassing." Rarity replied as she began to examine Rainbow Dash's dress up close.

As I watched Rarity browsing through her fabrics to use for the repairs, I once again began to feel doubt. "Rarity... I'm sorry to bring this up again, but..."

Rarity seemed to know what I was going to say as she smiled confidently, "That's quite enough, James. I told you last night. I don't care what the rest of Equestria thinks of us. You are my true love. And that will never change." She then trotted over to me and reared up on her hind legs before placing one hoof over my heart. "Please believe me, darling... I have faith in our future together. Do you?"

She gazed up at me with her big azure eyes. As I heard her words and felt her touch, I felt my doubt and fears fade away. "Thank you, Rarity... Sorry for bringing that up again... I'm just not used to being in love yet." I spoke with my hand over her hoof.

The beautiful unicorn giggled, "There's no need to apologize, dear. You will become accustomed to it before long." She then reached out and placed a kiss on my lips, making me blush.

I embraced my lover tightly as I stroked her mane. But I then noticed the clock on the wall. "10:30? And it's Monday..." I then gently lowered Rarity to the floor. "I need to be at Sugarcube Corner at 11. Shall we dine out tonight for dinner?"

The mention of dining out in the evening seemed to excite Rarity as she gasped, "Oh, how splendid! Candlelight dinner. Live music. Making a toast under the night sky. So romantic! I would adore such an evening with you!" She embraced me tightly around my waist as I chuckled nervously at her enthusiasm.

I kissed my sweetheart goodbye and headed on my way to work. As I still had thirty minutes before I was to be there, I decided to stroll around to pass the time. I looked up at the sky, the day being pleasant yet not too hot. I looked around at my surroundings for a moment. Derpy Hooves was delivering mail to every home and business she passed. Rainbow Dash was lounging around on a low cloud above town. Old Mr. Hayseed was pulling a cart of hay through the streets. Nearly a week ago, I had arrived in Equestria without any knowledge of how I got there. I was lost and frightened. But now, I find myself strangely at home in this land of ponies. Far more at home than I ever felt back on Earth. "This... This is where I belong." I can distinctly remember muttering to myself.

As I wandered a bit, the leafy branches of the library came into view up ahead. I was rather curious if there were other books in there that I would like to borrow. But before I went to the door, I glanced around to make certain Pinkie Pie was not nearby. When I found that the eccentric pink pony was nowhere to be seen, I peeked through the window to make certain no one was approaching the front door from the inside. The only person on the ground floor was Spike and Owlowiscious, the former who was arranging books on some shelves.

I had to duck low in order to get through the surprisingly low door, but I was used to it by now. "Who?" Owlowiscious hooted as he turned to face me from his perch.

Spike turned to face me as I petted the owl on his head. "Oh... It's you." The young dragon grumbled as he glared at me. While I was not entirely certain of just why he always seemed so hostile towards me, I felt it was not my place to ask.

"Um... Good morning, Spike. Is Twilight around?" I asked, hoping to ask her for help in locating the right kind of book.

"Yeah, sure. I'll go get her." Spike replied nonchalantly. He marched up the stairs to the second floor, leaving me with Owlowiscious. With nothing else to do, I stroked the adorable owl's feathers.

A minute later, Spike returned. "She's not upstairs. But I know she didn't go anywhere yet..." He explained, seemingly puzzled by her disappearance. But right after he said that, a door opened on one side of the room that I had overlooked. And out came Twilight Sparkle.

"Huh? Oh, good morning! I didn't expect to see you just yet!" The unicorn exclaimed with a smile. She then trotted over to me, "Sorry if you had trouble finding me. I was in the basement performing some tests. Is there something I can help you with?"

I explained, "I was curious if I could borrow another book from here."

Twilight smiled, "Oh, you're welcome to borrow books anytime. What subject interests you? We have science, history, folklore, comedy, and geography to name a few."

I thought over my response for a moment. "Well... That encyclopedia is good, but I could use something with a little more in-depth information on the flora and fauna of Equestria. I know next to nothing about what's outside of Ponyville."

Spike spoke up, "Sounds like you need a copy of 'Natural Wonders of Equestria'. I know where it is." He climbed a stool to reach one of the shelves and pulled a book out of it without even bothering to read the title.

"Very good choice, Spike." Twilight said as Spike brought the book over. But as I took it into my hands, Twilight asked, "Before I forget, may I ask you a favor, James? It's important."

I nodded in response, "OK. Whatcha need?"

My unicorn friend smiled, "Well, there's this tree on the outskirts of town. Right at the edge of the meadow you pass through to get to Fluttershy's house. Could you meet me there this afternoon? I need to speak to you in private."

The mention of a lone tree brought to mind a tree that was just outside Ponyville that I always passed on my way to visit Fluttershy. For some reason, it always seemed to stand out to me. "Yeah, I know what tree you mean. How does 12:15 sound? It's when I take my lunch break."

Twilight nodded, "Sounds like a plan. I'll go ahead and get ready. See you there, James!" I noticed Twilight blushing as she giggled while heading upstairs. And even though she was a dear friend to me, almost like a reliable older sister even though I am certain she is younger than me, I could feel a strange sense of uneasiness. Like something was telling me that I should not go. But I gave Twilight the benefit of the doubt, as I had no reason to doubt her. Curious of what to expect from my friend, I left the library with my borrowed book in hand.

I still had some time left before I was needed at work, so I decided to go looking for the meeting spot Twilight had mentioned to be certain I knew where to wait. I took the same route I would when going to visit Fluttershy. Sure enough, I found a lone tree growing out in the open with no other trees near it. I made a mental note of its location. But as I was about to turn back to Ponyville, I could barely make out Fluttershy's cottage in the distance. As it was not far away, I felt it would be worth my time to say hello to my dear pegasus friend.

Fluttershy was just starting to walk under the bridge that spanned the creek in front of her house when I arrived. I waited for her to return to dry land before saying anything. Upon sticking her head out from under the bridge, Fluttershy noticed me and grinned, "Oh, good morning! How are you, James?"

I smiled as she jumped out of the shallow brook, which was probably no more than two inches deep. "I'm doing just fine today, Fluttershy. You feeding the ferrets down there?" I knew that a few ferrets had a den just under the bridge.

"Yes, I just finished giving them their breakfast. Now it's time for me to feed the robins." Fluttershy replied as she approached a small bowl. I knew for a fact that robins are not known for eating seeds and tend to prefer worms. I rushed over to the bowl before Fluttershy could reach it and looked down into it. As I expected, a few wriggling earthworms were in it.

"How are you going to get these things up to the robins? Earthworms wiggle like mad when you try to pick them up." I asked, having experienced earthworms' frantic wiggling at my touch every time I tried to get one off a hot sidewalk on summer days back home.

Fluttershy explained, "I just carry the worms up to them and toss them over to the birds. They're good at catching their food out of the air."

I did not see any handles on the bowl, so I could not see how Fluttershy could carry it. She probably got it out of her house by balancing it on an extended wing, but she could not possibly do it while flying. And the robins were perched in a tree nearby, requiring Fluttershy to take to the air to reach them. "And just how do you carry them up there?"

"The only way I can do it is to carry them in my mouth. It's not pleasant, but it's the only way to do it." Fluttershy replied.

I looked down at the timid pegasus, both impressed and disgusted. While I respect the lengths she goes to in order to care for animals, having to carry live earthworms in her mouth should not be required. "That's just gross. Let me try something else." I picked up the bowl and stood right in front of the tree that held the robins. "Soup's on, birdies! Come on down here and get your grub! It won't hurt you to stretch your wings a little!"

As the robins flew out of the tree and down to me, I muttered, "Did I really just say 'soup's on' just now?" The robins paid me no mind as they perched on the sides of the bowl and plucked the worms from the bottom.

"Well, that was easy enough." I chuckled as I watched the birds fly back up to their perches in the tree. I turned and walked back over to Fluttershy.

She smiled, "Wow... I never thought about just setting them out for the birds to eat whenever they wanted."

I replied, "They shouldn't become too dependent on you. If you just bring the food directly to them, they may end up becoming lazy over time. Try setting the worms out in the open with a tiny bit of water in the bowl to keep them moist."

Fluttershy nodded, "I guess you're right. If the birds got too lazy and just waited for the food to come to them, they would become too physically unfit to fly. I'll be sure to remember your advice."

I stroked Fluttershy's beautiful mane, "I'm sure the birds will be grateful. It'll add some variety to their daily routines."

I heard Fluttershy giggle as I ran my fingers through her long pink mane. "Well, what are you up to today?"

Remembering that I had to be at work in around ten minutes, I explained, "I have to get over to Sugarcube Corner since I'm working today. And then I'm to meet up with Twilight Sparkle at that tree near the edge of the meadow. She said it was important."

"Oh, then I better let you go. I'm sorry if I distracted you." Fluttershy bowed her head apologetically.

"It wasn't your fault, Fluttershy. I came over here willingly to see you. But now I'm off. See ya later." I stroked her mane with a smile as I waved goodbye. Fluttershy grinned widely, clearly reassured by my words.

I hastened my pace as I headed back into Ponyville, afraid I would be late for work. But as I neared Sugarcube Corner, I noticed Pinkie Pie taking shelter under a food cart. I muttered, "Why is she hiding under a.... Oh crap!" Before I could react, something fell right on me. Fortunately, it was not heavy and was even somewhat soft.

I pulled whatever had covered my head off and looked around me. Numerous letters were scattered around me as I found the object that had fallen on me to be a mailbag. One name came to mind. "Derpy Hooves..."

As I expected, the walleyed pegasus mare flew down to me to retrieve her dropped goods. "Oh boy, not again... Sorry about that!" I shrugged and began to help her gather up the letters and place them in the satchel. I watched as the mailmare trotted away, placing more letters into mailboxes.

"Wow, I didn't think it would happen that soon! You OK, James?" Pinkie Pie asked as she trotted over to me.

"I've actually gotten kinda used to it. Having something weird happen to me has almost become daily routine by now." I replied, not really fazed by the sudden incident.

Pinkie Pie giggled, "At least you're OK! I'll try to let you know right away if I see you when my Pinkie Sense is acting up. Anyway, let's get to work! We've got cupcakes to bake!" I nodded and followed the hopping pony into Sugarcube Corner.

I did not see the Cake couple when we entered our workplace. Probably in one of the back rooms. "OK, we need five batches of those chocolate chip cupcakes. Can you get the sugar and the eggs?" Pinkie Pie asked. I nodded and went to fetch the eggs from the refrigerator.

Once we started to combine the ingredients, I asked, "Pinkie, could I ask a favor?"

My workmate smiled, "Oh, sure! You want me to give you a few cupcakes to take home after work?"

I chuckled, "That would be nice, but it's not that. I was going to ask if you could put in a word with the bosses for me while I'm on my lunch break today. I recently applied for a job as a masseuse at the local spa. The days I'm supposed to work there are Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. But I need permission to take those days off from the Cakes. Could you ask them for me? I'm a little nervous about doing it myself."

At the mention of the spa, Pinkie Pie grinned, "Ooh, Fluttershy told me all about it! You and your magic fingers! I'll get on my knees and beg them to let you work there! I can't wait to feel it for myself!" I bowed my head and snickered; flattered that Fluttershy had already told her about the massage I gave her and Rarity.

"Thanks, Pinkie. Let me know what their response is when I get back. Could I head out at noon?" I asked as I mixed the ingredients together.

"Sounds good to me! And sure thing!" The pink pony replied as she looked through a list of goods we had to bake that day.

As I poured the batter into a cupcake tin, my thoughts began to trail off. I began to think about Rarity. I knew I had a job to focus on, but I could not get her out of my head. And how could I? I was in love. And I know she was in love with me. I could almost see her sway her tail at me while batting her eyelashes. But I soon froze in my place as Pinkie Pie stared me in the face.

"Got your head stuck in the cotton candy clouds today? I've been trying to ask you something, but you can't hear me! What's on your mind?" She asked, clearly curious.

I tried to brush her off, but she kept on insisting that I tell her what I was thinking about. "C'mon, I can tell what you're thinking about. Somepony special in your life, right? You got a girlfriend?"

I could feel my face tensing up as I started to blush. "Ooh! You're blushing! Who is it?! Someone cute? Someone pretty? Oh, wait! You were starting to get all dreamy while around...." She gasped with an excited grin, "Is it me?! Is it me?! Do you have a crush on me?!"

Pinkie Pie..... I could swear she just thought that I was playing a guessing game with her. I facepalmed as I replied, "No, no, no... It's Rarity. My girlfriend is Rarity!"

There was an eerie silence as Pinkie Pie stared at me with her face frozen with her goofy grin. She eventually asked, "Whoa... Rarity? Really? She's your sweetheart?"

I nodded silently, worried about what Pinkie Pie was about to do. She then shrieked, "That's awesome! Rarity's been wanting a boyfriend for a long time! I should've known something was going on with you two when she showed me that bracelet yesterday! So, when's the wedding?! Am I invited?! What kinda cake do you want?!"

She went on and on with her questions for a minute before I shut her up by stuffing a leftover muffin in her mouth. "May I get a word in please?" I asked, somewhat annoyed by her barrage of nonstop questions.

Pinkie Pie replied with a 'MmmHmm' as she gobbled the muffin down. I then explained, "We have no plans on getting married just yet. We only became lovers last night. I'm not even sure how long this relationship will last." While I certainly had doubts about my relationship with Rarity, I truly hoped that our bond would endure for the rest of our lives.

To my surprise, Pinkie Pie giggled, "Don't be silly! I know Rarity better than you do! She's a total romantic. If she's really fallen for you, then you have nothing to worry about! She'll stay by you until the end of time!"

Pinkie Pie's strong opinion about Rarity made me rethink my expectations. "So...she's really that loyal? She won't dump me for someone better?"

Her response was not what I expected. The silly pink pony smirked at me, "Oh, I know how true she is to the guy she loves. At the Grand Galloping Gala, she met a prince who she had a crush on for a loooong time. But he was..... Let's just say he was a lout. And even though he was totally self-centered and snobby, she stuck by him throughout the whole thing! She loved him that much! It wasn't until the very end that she realized he was a lost cause and dumped him."

Pinkie Pie jumped onto the table so she was eyelevel with me. "If she really is your girlfriend now, she won't ever leave you unless you really screw up in your relationship. But you're not that kinda guy. Right?"

I thought Pinkie Pie's words over in my head for a moment. Whenever I thought about Rarity, I never wanted to see her hurt or sad. I wanted to do anything I could for her. Even the thought of living without her was painful. And despite this, I could still feel some doubt gnawing at me in the back of my mind. I asked, "No... I'm not. At least I don't think I am..."

I heard Pinkie Pie sigh as she asked, "You don't have a lot of self-esteem, do you?" I shook my head, having never really seen much value in myself in recent years. She then looked away from me with a hoof on her chin. "Well, that's not good. What would be a good way to make you think better of yourself?" She then gasped, "Oh! I know!" She suddenly held my face between her hooves.

"What the... Pinkie, what're you..." I was cut off as my friend kissed me on the lips. My mind was filled with jumbled thoughts, not certain of what to make of this display of affection. The kiss did not last long as Pinkie Pie soon pulled away.

"Feel better?" She asked innocently while looking at me with her big blue eyes.

I mumbled, "What was...that for?" I was still slightly dazed from the unexpected kiss.

Pinkie Pie giggled, "Your self-esteem should be higher when you know someone loves you. Right?"

I could only bring my fingers to my lips, remembering the kiss. I think Pinkie Pie could see my confusion as she placed a hoof on my shoulder. "Listen, James. I love you. Twilight loves you. Applejack loves you. Rainbow Dash loves you. Fluttershy loves you. And Rarity loves you most of all. We all love you because you're important to us! Even if you don't think you're important, you'll always be special to us! Because you're our friend!"

Say what you will about my lack of self worth. I have good reason to not think highly of myself. I would rather not explain why. But I digress. I felt touched by Pinkie Pie's words. As I looked down at her balloon cutie mark, I suspected that it had a double meaning. It probably reflects her love of parties and her skill in 'inflating' the spirits of people who are going through depression or sadness. I could feel tears building up in my eyes as I took Pinkie Pie's words to heart. "Excuse me for a minute..." I turned and walked over to a corner before removing my glasses and wiping the tears from my eyes.

I am certain Pinkie Pie could see what I was doing as she asked, "Are you OK? Did I hurt you somehow?"

I put my glasses back on and turned to face her with a slight smile. "No... I'm just touched... Really..." I then walked back over to her and threw my arms around her neck for a tender embrace. "Thanks, Pinkie... It feels great to be wanted..."

My friend hugged me back, "Anytime, James. That's what friends are for, right? Actually, they're for lots of things, but that's one of them." We both chuckled together in unison.

Once I had gathered myself, I turned on the oven and placed the cupcake tin inside. "I hope we didn't lose too much time." I said while adjusting my glasses.

"Oh, we only lost a few minutes. No biggie!" Pinkie Pie replied as she hopped down from the table. "I'm gonna go mix some taffy. Could you start on the next batch of cupcakes while those are baking?"

I nodded, "Sure thing. Take your time." I watched as Pinkie Pie entered a side room. The sound of mechanical whirring was heard soon after.

Nearly an hour had passed by the time I had baked enough cupcakes. The scent of the freshly baked goods was making my mouth water. "Something smells awesome in there! Everything all done?" I heard Pinkie Pie ask as she came back into the kitchen.

"Yup. Five batches of cupcakes. Plus one for us." I replied. While Pinkie Pie was away, I had slipped in an extra batch of cupcake batter for the two of us. I had separated our cupcakes from the rest to tell them apart.

"Ooh! Thanks! I'll go put the rest out front for the customers. And if you want, you can take your lunch break now!" Pinkie Pie said with a smile as she placed the cupcakes on a plastic tray.

"Thanks, Pinkie. See you again in an hour." I replied as I grabbed the book I borrowed from Twilight from the counter and headed out the backdoor.

I headed for the meeting spot as planned and took a seat at the base of the tree. As I waited a moment for Twilight Sparkle to show, I began to suspect I had arrived too soon. "Guess I jumped the gun..." I remember muttering.

With nothing else to do, I decided to take the opportunity to start reading the book I had borrowed from the library. "Natural Wonders of Equestria... First up is...Appleloosa. A desert town located in southwestern Equestria." For some reason, I immediately suspected that the town was either like Arabian towns or like towns from the American west during the 1800s. When I saw an illustration on the following page depicting the town, I realized that it was the latter.

"Everfree Forest... Located to the west of Ponyville... No longer part of Equestria?" I was puzzled that the book would be titled 'Natural Wonders of Equestria' when one of the locations mentioned in it was not part of the nation. Hoping to understand why, I read on.

"Contains a castle.....once used by the royal sisters? Abandoned after the rise of Nightmare Moon? No wonder that place isn't part of the territory anymore." I muttered to myself as I read on.

After ten or so minutes, I glanced up from my book to see Twilight Sparkle steadily approaching me. Resting on her back was a straw picnic basket. "Hey there, James. I hope you haven't eaten lunch yet." She said with a grin as she drew near. For some reason, I could make out a faint blush on her face.

"A picnic? Man, I haven't been to one of those in ages." I exclaimed, curious of what was in the basket.

"In that case, I hope your first picnic in ages will be a pleasant one." Twilight replied as she levitated the basket off her back with magic. She then opened the basket and set out a white and red checkerboard tabletop before unloading the food. "I made sure to grill you some carrots. I remember that you like them the most."

I smiled at the sight of my favorite grilled vegetable. Along with those were a bowl of corn chips, a sandwich for Twilight, and a pair of cupcakes for dessert. "Looks great, Twilight. Thanks."

She giggled as she took a seat beside me, "Anytime, James. Shall we dig in?"

I nodded, "Let's." I wasted no time in grabbing a carrot and dunking it in some barbeque sauce. Twilight smiled as she took a chip in her mouth and crunched it.

After a moment, I remembered why we had met out here in private. "So, Twilight... What was this important stuff you wanted to discuss with me?" I asked, curious of what the reason was.

Twilight seemed to hesitate for a moment before she asked, "Well, I need to ask you something first. What do you think of us ponies?"

It was a question I was not expecting. But I replied as bluntly as I could. "You're good people. That's the best I can sum it up."

The purple unicorn mare asked, "Really? We're so similar to you that you see us as good people?"

I nodded, "You don't look like humans, but you're just as intelligent as them. If anything, you're better than humans. I prefer the company of you ponies to my own kind. You're some of the best people I've ever known."

Twilight seemed to smile gratefully at me. "I'm glad to hear that. I wasn't sure of what to expect for your answer. But I feel better now that I know for sure that we're equals in your eyes." However, she then set her hoof over my resting hand. For some reason, this sent a chill down my spine. "And now that I know that, there's something I have to tell you. The real reason why I asked you to meet me out here."

A sense of dread came over me as Twilight began to blush nervously. Her hoof was atop my hand, she was blushing while looking at me, and we were all alone. Somewhere in my gut, I knew what was coming. And I began to feel a terrible gut-wrenching fear at the thought of what Twilight was about to reveal to me. However, I kept a straight face as I hoped I was wrong. "And what is that, Twilight?"

She began to explain, "Well... I'm not particularly knowledgeable on the subject. But I researched it as much as I could and all the symptoms are there. Some of them are a rise in body temperature, lightheadedness, and a feeling of excitement whenever I see you. And one other thing... A desire to be with you." She then smiled shyly, "James... You have all of the qualities I like in a man... I really.....really.....like you....."

Under normal circumstances, I would have been flattered. But this revelation hit me like a brick to the chest. Knowing that I was loved by someone who I could not love back due to being sworn to another was..... How can I even accurately describe such a horrible dilemma?

In hindsight, I see that Twilight Sparkle would be a good match for me. She is knowledgeable and levelheaded and loyal to her friends. And she enjoys peace and quiet like I do. But fate had different plans for us. I had found love with Rarity and I could not bring myself to break up with her for another woman. And despite this, I wanted to return Twilight's feelings. But I could not. I wanted to love her just as she loved me, yet I knew I could not. And the thought of revealing that I was already in love with another to her was tearing me up from the inside. I could not bear to break my dear friend's heart.

As some may know, I have written various fanfiction stories about some of my favorite anime shows. And in many of them, they end with romance with the protagonist finding love with more than one woman at once. But this was not a fantasy. This was reality. And I knew that even Equestria's society would not allow one person to marry two people. But I could not lie to her. Twilight needed to know the truth. I could not hide it from her forever.

I removed my glasses as I held my face in one hand. Anxiety and guilt wracked my mind and heart as I felt the ever-growing urge to vomit. Twilight could clearly see that I was in emotional turmoil as she asked, "James... Are you OK? Is something wrong?"

I quietly replied, "You... You were not the first..."

There was a moment of silence as I waited for Twilight's response. I could not bring myself to look at her out of shame. She soon asked, "Wha... What was that?"

I muttered, "There's...someone else... I'm sorry..."

When Twilight did not reply, I slowly turned my head so my hand no longer covered my eye. Her ears were drooping as tears began to form in her eyes. The very sight of her sorrowful face drove me to the brink of tears, knowing that I had hurt her more than anyone else in her life.

"Who is it...?" She asked quietly, her voice breaking.

Knowing the damage had been done, I sighed, "Rarity..."

I watched as Twilight silently climbed to her feet. "I understand... Please tell Rarity that I wish her the best..." She then began to walk away from me towards Ponyville with her head hanging low.

Terrible guilt was gnawing at my heart as I watched my friend slowly shuffling away from me. She had been hurt and it was all my fault. Overwhelmed with fear and remorse, I ran after her, dropped to my knees, and embraced her around the torso from behind. I whispered, "I'm sorry... But please don't feel too bad... You're still precious to me, Twilight... I don't want to lose you. You're like a sister to me."

I prayed that my words would help soothe some of the pain I had inflicted. But my hopes were dashed as she replied, "It's not the same..." I could see tears falling to the grass, as she sobbed lightly, "It's not the same... I... I only want you as a...." She then took off running, the last thing I heard being her voice choking on tears.

There had never been a moment I felt so bad as that time. All I could do was watch as Twilight Sparkle disappeared from sight into Ponyville. All alone, I dropped down onto my hands as I allowed my tears to fall. It was a struggle to not vomit as my stomach churned from the extraordinary levels of stress I was under. After a moment, I was able to walk back over to the picnic site Twilight had set up. My hunger had been utterly crushed by my feelings of remorse. I did not want the food to go to waste, so I gathered up the food and tabletop before placing them back into the basket as neatly as possible. With a heavy heart, I carried the basket back into Ponyville.

I went directly to Twilight's house and knocked on the door. Before anyone could answer the door, I set the basket in front of it and got out of sight, knowing that my presence would only sadden Twilight further.

I watched from a window as Twilight answered the door. She hardly reacted upon seeing the basket. After looking left and right, she carried the basket inside with the handle in her mouth. Spike approached her as she set the basket down. They seemed to converse for a moment, Twilight looking just as depressed as when we parted ways. Spike suddenly jumped in excitement before emptying the picnic basket and eating its contents. My guess is that Twilight gave him permission to eat the leftovers. Still feeling miserable, I decided that I should return to work.

When I entered Sugarcube Corner though the back door, I found Pinkie Pie baking cookies. She seemed surprised that I had returned less than an hour after starting my lunch break as she exclaimed, "Hey, James! You decided to get some 'fast' food today?"

"No... Just lost my appetite." I replied blankly. I went to the central table and got down on my knees to read the list of baked goods that still needed to be made. But as I read the list, the memories of the discovery I had just made about Twilight swirled through my mind. My breathing became heavier as I felt my stomach beginning to wrench again.

"James, are you OK? Did you get a stomach flu or something?" Pinkie Pie asked as she noticed me clutching my stomach.

I knew that I was going to vomit soon, so I did not try to resist. "Where's the bathroom?" I asked. Pinkie Pie quickly led me to it out to the side of the front room. I dashed inside, closed the door, got on my knees in front of the toilet and..... Do I really need to go into detail about what happened next? You can probably imagine the sensation of vomiting as most people have done so before.

Pinkie Pie knocked on the door once my stomach had settled. "James, are you all right in there?" Her voice sounded less cheery than usual.

The act of vomiting had left me feeling drained and lethargic. I opened the door, breathing deeply. My workmate was holding up a glass of water to me. "Thanks..." I wheezed as I took the glass and drank it all down in one sitting.

"James... Did something happen while you were out? There's no way you could get this sick this quickly." Pinkie Pie asked, showing great concern over my health. Of course, I had not come down with anything at the time. Just massive levels of stress.

"I really don't wanna talk about it..." I replied softly as I returned to the kitchen.

Pinkie Pie followed me, not really saying anything. I attempted to crack some eggs to make a cake, but I was so emotionally distraught that I fumbled them as they rolled out of my hands and across the table.

"James... I think you should take the rest of the day off. You're not feeling very good." Pinkie Pie said with a sigh.

As much as I wanted to stay and continue working, she was right. I would only be a burden in my current state of mind. "Sorry about this... I just... There's a lot on my mind..."

Pinkie Pie then smiled, "Well, if it makes you feel better, I talked to the Cakes for you. They agreed to let you have Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays off so you can work at the spa."

The good news did little to lift my spirits. "Thanks, Pinkie... You can have the rest of that extra batch of cupcakes as thanks."

"Are you sure you don't want any? Not even for later?" She asked, her big blue eyes showing great worry for me.

I sighed as I took my book from the counter, "I'm sure... See you Wednesday, Pinkie..." I then left Sugarcube Corner through the back door.

The guilt of breaking Twilight's heart still weighed heavily on my mind. It would not leave me alone. All I could do was go home and rest. Hopefully something like a nap would help get my mind off it.

Along the way, I noticed Spike pass by me with a stack of books in his arms. For some reason, he seemed to glare at me suspiciously. But I was too depressed to really care at the time. However, as I headed home, I felt like I was being watched.

Once I was outside Carousel Boutique, I looked around to make certain I had not been followed. I began to suspect I was just getting jumpy, as there was no one to be seen. I then lazily opened the door, ringing the bell that hung just over the doorway.

"Coming! Welcome to... Oh! Hello, James! Are you on your lunch break?" Rarity asked as she trotted over to me. Near her sewing machine was a pair of black shoes that seemed to resemble the pair I was already wearing. Which was a good thing as my current pair of shoes was on their last legs.

"Not really... Pinkie Pie gave me the rest of the day off..." I mumbled as I approached a stool.

"The day off? Why? Did something happen? Have you come down with the flu? And why do you seem so tired?" Rarity stayed close to me, showing great concern as I sat down.

I looked at the unicorn's face. Such love in those eyes. I felt myself relax in Rarity's presence. But the pain of knowing I had hurt Twilight... It would not let go. "Rarity... Has Twilight Sparkle ever seemed like the kind of girl who is interested in finding a boyfriend?" I asked, curious if my friend had been lovelorn for a long time or if her feelings for me had bloomed unexpectedly.

Rarity brought a hoof to her chin. "Hmmm... Twilight searching for a lover? I've known her for nearly two years now, but she never once struck me as being the romantic type. She certainly adores her friends, but she's never shown interest in searching for that certain somepony. Why do you ask?"

I sighed as I bowed my head; "She invited me on a picnic today... And told me that...she loves me..."

There was a moment of silence as I waited for Rarity's reply. She eventually asked, "And...what was your response?" As she spoke, she rested a hoof on my leg.

I could tell what she was thinking. Rarity was hoping that I did not leave her for Twilight. Not wanting to lie, I placed my hand over her hoof and sighed, "I told her that she wasn't the first... Because my lover is you, Rarity."

Rarity nuzzled my face gently before throwing her forelegs around me for a tender embrace. "I know it must have been hard for you to turn her down. It's never a pleasant experience. But how well did she take the news?"

It was not easy for me to speak my response. "She... She cried. I tried to reassure her that I still loved her as a sister. But...she said it wasn't enough..." I gritted my teeth as I held back tears, "I've never felt worse than I did right there... It hurt to see her cry because of me..." My spare hand clenched my stomach, the painful memories making me feel mildly queasy.

To my surprise, Rarity cupped my face with her hoof and turned my head so we were eye to eye. "Darling... I know it must have hurt to watch your friend be hurt. But it was unavoidable. Love can be painful. And you can't really control who you fall in love with. Please don't dwell on it. And Twilight is very wise for her age. She'll come to understand it and move on. I know she will."

"But... You just don't understand... I..." I could no longer even find the right words to explain myself.

Rarity silenced me with a kiss. "James... I love you. But you need to move on. Dwelling on things like this is not healthy. Please don't forget that."

She had a point. One thing I tend to do is dwell on negative things for too long. I nodded, "Thank you, Rarity... I'll try to cope... I love you..."

Rarity gazed into my eyes for a moment before sealing lips with me. I felt a great deal of my pain and guilt wash away at that moment. Rarity... I was amazed by how supportive she was to me. I embraced her tightly and pushed into the kiss. But a moment later, I noticed what seemed to be a small fire right outside the front door.

"Guess I forgot to close the... Wait... Fire?!" I jumped up, not sure of where the fire came from.

"Good heavens! I'll be just a moment!" Rarity ran into the kitchen with a wooden pail floating behind her. A moment later, she ran by me with the pail full of water. I followed her outside and watched as she dumped the water over the flames. Once the fire was out, we found the charred form of a bush in its place.

"Well, that was random. Why would a bush just ignite like that?" I asked, puzzled by the sudden brushfire. But what baffled me most was that the flames were green instead of orange.

"It was a rather strange occurrence, wasn't it? And so close to our home! It could've spread!" Rarity exclaimed with great worry. The thought occurred to me that perhaps this was an act of arson or just a random freak accident. I can only hope it was the latter.

"Well, the danger's over. So no point in worrying about it." I muttered, still wondering what may have triggered the blaze.

Rarity nodded, "You are quite right. And I have some shoes to finish for you! Back to business!" I followed Rarity back inside and closed the door behind me.

A short while later, Rarity was carrying a basket of laundry on her back as she headed to the front door. "Could you mind the shop for me as I head to the laundry mat, dear?" She asked as I browsed the dresses and vests she had finished for her clients.

"Sure thing, honey." I replied with a smile.

"I shouldn't be too long.... Oh! Before I forget, I made reservations for us at the café for 7 o'clock tonight! Be ready!" Rarity exclaimed as she left. It was then I remembered the suggestion I had made a few hours earlier.

I leaned against the wall as I read the book I had borrowed from the library. But not even five minutes had passed before I heard something metallic hit the floor in front of me. "What the..." I muttered as I looked over the book. The lower half of the front door was open. And standing before me was Spike and Diamond Tiara.

"You again..." I grumbled upon seeing the local schoolyard bully. However, I paused as I noticed her picking up a large kitchen knife in her mouth. She seemed to have dropped it, causing the sound I had heard. Spike was also carrying a sharp tool, a hatchet meant for chopping wood that was almost as tall as he was. Somewhat intimidated, I asked, "OK... Is there something I can help you kids with?"

Spike was the first to speak. "We're not friends, if that's what you're thinking. But we both have a bone to pick with you." I knew that Diamond Tiara held a grudge against me, but I could not comprehend why Spike had teamed up with her.

"And why do you both hold a grudge against me?" I asked, slowly backing towards the hallway in the hopes of slipping out through the back door.

Diamond Tiara growled, "You know why! You stole my cutie mark! And I promised I'd kill you if you didn't give it back!" I felt a twinge of fear as I realized why she was armed with a sharp knife.

Spike then growled, "I told you, didn't I? Rarity is MY girl! But you... YOU... I saw everything! You stole her from me! I can't forgive you for that! Any last words?"

I had backed up all the way to the hall's entrance. The back door was at the very end of it. But first, I had to distract the two murderous kids for a moment. "Last words...? Uh... Well..." An idea popped into my head as I turned my gaze up to look towards the front door. "Rarity! You need to talk some sense into these kids! They've lost it!"

My ploy worked. Diamond Tiara and Spike panicked as they turned around to face who I was talking to. Spike gulped, "This isn't what it looks like, Rarity! We're just... Huh?!" Of course, there was no one there. The instant they turned their backs to me, I made a mad dash for the back door.

I had no time to close the door as I turned and ran towards Ponyville. Not surprisingly, Diamond Tiara and Spike were in hot pursuit with Spike holding his hatchet above his head, ready to bring it down with an overhead swing. My saving grace was that their legs were so short. But I was not in the best shape of my life, so I was in danger of tiring out. I had to find someone to help me before they could catch up to me and do...who knows what to me.

I ran through the town square with the two crazed kids only a short distance behind me. Much to my relief, I noticed Rainbow Dash lounging on a cloud right above the town hall. I screamed as loud as I could, "RAINBOW DASH!!!"

She must have heard me as I saw the pegasus peek over the side of the cloud as I nearly passed under it. I heard her shout, "What the... HEY!" My friend swooped down from her resting spot and grabbed Diamond Tiara by the tail using her teeth. "You've gone too far this time, brat!"

Diamond Tiara flailed her legs as she hung from my friend's teeth, "Let me go! I'm gonna kill that thief!" I felt a sense of relief as she dropped the knife, leaving her practically harmless. Now all I had to do was get Spike to stop. And only Twilight could do that.

By the time I had reached Twilight's house, I was starting to feel the burn of my muscles becoming worn out. I knew Spike was still right behind me and was eager to plunge that hatchet's head into me. However, I could not stop to open the door to the library, so I had to ask someone else to alert Twilight for me. Fortunately, Derpy Hooves was nearby while browsing a food cart.

"DERPY!" I called as I ran by her. The walleyed pegasus turned my way, seeing Spike chasing me with hatchet held high. I looped back to her and spoke as quickly as I could, "Get Twilight! Hurry!"

"OK! Hang on!" The mailmare replied as I began to literally run circles around Twilight's house. I watched as Derpy flew up to one of the balconies. A moment later, Twilight came bursting out of the front door right as I passed it.

"James! Spike! What's going on?!" She called out.

As I passed her, I replied, "He's gonna kill me!" Spike seemed oblivious to everyone but me, as he never showed any reaction to Twilight's presence.

After circling the tree house a few more times, I heard Spike let out a yell of surprise as Twilight stomped her hoof down on the tip of his tail. The baby dragon fell forward and landed on his face. Relieved that he had been stopped, I turned and panted, "Thanks, Twilidiyayi!!!" I yelped in fright as the hatchet landed right in front of my foot, narrowly missing my toes. The sudden fall had caused it to fly right out of Spike's hands.

Twilight seemed to be very angry towards her assistant, scolding him harshly. "Spike, this isn't like you! Trying to frame Owlowiscious out of jealousy is one thing, but attempted murder?! What's wrong with you?!"

I shuddered as I slowly approached the two, somewhat shell-shocked from nearly losing some toes. In response to Twilight's scolding, Spike growled while trying to crawl towards me. "He... Rarity... Stole her... Kill!" He was speaking incoherently, clearly blinded by rage.

"Spike... I'm not sure I follow. Could you try explaining a little more...in detail?" Twilight asked. I too was curious of just what had happened between Spike and Rarity that had made him so driven to kill me. Are they like siblings? Was she focusing more on me than him?

As Spike was not willing to cooperate, I turned to Twilight and asked, "I don't want to be a bother, but could you tie him up somewhere so I can have a talk with him in private? I don't think he's going to sit still for an interrogation on his own."

Twilight nodded, "Sure. And I know just the place." I waited outside while she levitated Spike into her home. A short while later, Twilight returned. "OK. He's ready. I locked him up in the basement."

"Locked him up?" I asked, somewhat worried that her methods were somewhat extreme. Twilight led me to the door that led to the basement. She stayed right behind me, probably afraid that Spike would break loose and attack me. The door led to a small flight of stairs that extended down into the ground. When I opened another door at the bottom, I found a large chamber that seemed to be right under the library itself as numerous large tree roots extended down from the ceiling. Some were even bigger than I am. The room itself seemed to have been carved out of the earth under the tree. The temperature was cool and a nostalgic musty scent filled the air.

I asked Twilight to stay right outside the door in case anything went wrong as I wanted to speak to Spike in private. She agreed and kept the door open a crack so she could hear me if I called for her. As I headed down to the lowest level of the room, I found that numerous high-tech machines lined the walls with various colored lights blinking. I could not honestly say what they were, but they looked like gadgets one would find in a professional science lab. "Never knew Equestria had access to this kind of technology..." I can distinctly recall muttering to myself.

Spike was sitting in the very middle of the room in a chair with steel chains binding him to it. "I guess Twilight isn't taking chances with you." I spoke as I reached the bottom of the room. The young dragon was still glaring at me, prompting me to keep my distance, as I knew he could breathe fire.

"What do you want?" Spike growled at me as I sat on the steps at the bottom of the stairs.

"Answers. I want to know what you have against me. What did I ever do to you?" I asked in return.

Spike glared harshly at me, "I already told you! You stole Rarity from me! I saw you two smooching at her house!"

"Then that fire outside... You started it?" I asked, remembering that the flames were green and that the fire Spike breathes is also green.

At the mention of the fire, Spike seemed rather embarrassed. "Uh... That was an accident. I couldn't help it when I saw you smooching Rarity..."

At the time, I thought Spike was just an immature little kid with a simple crush on Rarity. What was more, the age gap between them was great. Probably more than ten years apart. I believed that his jealousy had simply gotten the better of him. But I decided to hear him out to the end. "OK, Spike. Tell me. What is Rarity to you? And be as honest as possible."

Spike took a deep breath to calm himself, "OK... Rarity... She's pretty much everything to me. I'd do anything for her. ANYTHING. She's my...princess."

Despite the fact that Spike was just a child, his tone seemed abnormally serious as he spoke. I began to feel a small sickening feeling in my gut that was reminiscent of how I felt earlier when Twilight ran from me in tears. Spike's feelings towards Rarity seemed to be more than a simple crush. "OK... How long have you known each other?" I asked, becoming afraid of what I was about to learn.

Spike explained, "Almost two years ago... When I saw her..." I noticed that Spike was starting to tear up. "It was love at first sight for me... And it only got stronger over time. I just know that we would've gotten married someday..." He then glared at me as his tears overflowed, "Until you showed up, that is! I wish you never came here! You took Rarity away from me! And I'll never be able to win her heart now! I hate you!"

My anguish from breaking Twilight's heart was increased tenfold upon hearing Spike's heart-wrenching words. I was not particularly close to Spike, but he was a good kid. And knowing what I had done to him filled me with an absurd amount of guilt that even caused me to experience suicidal urges. My relationship with Rarity had not only broken Twilight Sparkle's heart. I had crushed a child's dream. A dream that may have become a reality in the future if I had never arrived in Equestria.

I could not even bring myself to apologize to Spike as I staggered up the stairs towards the door. "Hey, where ya going?! You can at least untie me! Get back here!" Spike yelled as he struggled with his restraints. I then heard a thud as the chair he was in fell on its side. "Ah, shoot..." The dragon boy grumbled out loud.

Twilight was waiting for me on the other side of the door. "Did you talk some sense into him?" She asked as I ducked to avoid bashing my head on the low doorway.

I muttered, "Yeah... You can untie him now..." I could hardly bring myself to speak at all. Even looking at Twilight was a challenge.

"James, what's wrong? Did something happen in there?" Twilight asked, clearly noticing my deadpan tone of voice. I could not reply as I climbed the stairs that led back to the library. "James? James! What's wrong?!" My unicorn friend called as I left her home. I offered no reply.

My emotions were a mess as I shambled through Ponyville. I was filled with a complex swirl of disgust, anger, sorrow, pain, fear, guilt, and shame. I wanted to cry, but no tears came to my eyes. All I wanted was to just disappear.

I walked out of Ponyville and rested with my back against the same tree I had met Twilight at that day. My gaze was turned towards the ground, not really looking at anything at all. I hoped that no one would come over to see me. But my hopes were unanswered as I noticed Rarity running towards me out of the corner of my eye.

"James! Darling! What happened?! Why were Spike and Diamond Tiara chasing you with those awful things?!" My beloved asked as she came to a stop in front of me. I felt I did not have the right to even look at her after stealing her heart from someone who loved like a lover should. After a moment of silence, she asked with a very concerned tone, "Darling... Please tell me... I was worried sick about you..."

With some reluctance, I replied dully with even looking at her, "They teamed up in order to kill me. But everything's OK now..." Of course, nothing was OK with me at the time. But the last thing I wanted was to bring more pain to someone I cared for.

Rarity looked over her shoulder at Ponyville. "Spike? What in the world could have driven him to do such a thing? He was always such a darling boy..." I was tempted to ask her about her relationship with Spike, but it would surely make her uncomfortable.

"He must've had a good reason... Don't be mad at him. Please..." I quietly pleaded, feeling that Spike had every reason for wanting me dead. I could not bring myself to feel any anger towards him at all.

"Well, it was certainly uncalled for. How dare he try to harm my betrothed..... James?" Rarity walked a little closer to me. "Why aren't you looking at me? This isn't like you... Am I too hideous to behold?"

I knew that Rarity was always self-conscious of her appearance. And my avoiding eye contact clearly was not helping the situation. I reluctantly raised my head so I was looking at Rarity's face. "You're still beautiful..." I muttered softly.

My words did nothing to make my lover smile. She held a hoof to my jaw as she whispered, "Dear... Your eyes... I've never seen such agony in them. What did you see today? What did you hear? Please, don't hide the truth from me."

Lying to Rarity was something I would never consider. But I could not bring myself to reveal what I had learned from Spike. It would only add friction to our relationship. "It was nothing important... Just feeling a little homesick..." It was a lie. I could not possibly feel homesick now that Ponyville had become a true home to me.

My lie worked as Rarity smiled compassionately, "Oh, James... I understand that you may pine for things from back home, but always remember that Ponyville is your home now. You've been accepted in Equestria and that will never change." She followed-up her words with a kiss on my cheek. Despite my depression, I cracked a small smile.

"I love you, James... If there is anything I can do for you, please let me know. It pains me to see the man I love so melancholy." Rarity said with a warm smile.

I nodded, "I love you too, Rarity... I don't want that to change... But could you head on back without me? I'm going to take a walk to get some things off my mind." It was a struggle to add some more emotion to my words due to my depression.

Rarity nodded, "All right then, dear. Just head on home whenever you can. And remember, we're going to have a stellar dinner tonight. That will surely lift your spirits." I nodded halfheartedly and saw my lover off.

As I claimed, I began to take a walk. But not to get things off my mind. All I wanted was to be alone and as far away from Ponyville as possible. And there was only one place I could think of that no one would find me at.

I entered Sweet Apple Acres without paying any mind to what was happening around me. I could hear the sound of hooves clopping. Probably just Big Macintosh or Applejack bringing apples to the barn or cellar. Applejack called out to me, but I was feeling far too unhappy to really care enough to reply. I then headed into the grove of apple trees as I began to search for the Cutie Mark Crusaders clubhouse.

Although I had some trouble retracing my steps, I eventually located it. The tree house rested in the branches of a stout apple tree just as I remembered. I slowly climbed the ramp to the door and peeked inside. To my relief, the place was deserted. I went over to a corner, sat down and curled up into a fetal position. Pathetic, I know. But most other people would probably do something similar if they were going through the same turmoil I was at the time.

I am not certain how much time passed before I heard the sound of a distant motor steadily becoming louder. The first thing that came to mind was a lawnmower. However, the motor suddenly shut off as it became fairly loud. The sound of hooves clopping began to draw near. Seconds later, the door to the clubhouse swung open as Scootaloo stepped inside. "Guess I'm early. I was sure Apple Bloom would've gotten here before me."

I watched silently without moving as the pegasus filly walked towards the notebook that contained the list of activities for them to try. But she soon looked in my direction. Just as she looked towards me, I ducked my face behind my folded legs. "Huh? James? You here too?" Scootaloo asked in a happy tone as she trotted over to me.

I remained silent, not in the mood for any company at all. Not even from someone who was like a little sister to me. The tomboyish filly tapped my leg with her hoof, "C'mon, big brother! Let's see if we can come up with some new things to try to earn our cutie marks!"

Seeing that she was not going to leave me alone, I sighed, "Not today, Scootaloo... This...hasn't been a good day for me..."

My 'little sister' looked up at me with her big purple eyes. She frowned, "Oh, sorry... Do you wanna vent? I can lend an ear."

I was not expecting Scootaloo to be this supportive of me during my time of need. However, I looked at her out of the corner of my eye and muttered, "Sorry, little sis... You wouldn't understand it even if I explained it to you. Besides, it involves...romance. And I know you think that stuff is gross..."

I stayed silent for a moment, expecting Scootaloo to say 'Ewww' or 'Yuck' in response to the mention of romance. However, she did not say anything. Instead, she asked, "Well... Is there anything I can do to help? Would a hug make you feel better?"

The idea of Scootaloo offering a hug gave me the impression that she was just trying to get a rise out of me. The Scootaloo I know would never offer to give a hug to anyone. But I decided to humor her and nodded, "Sure. Go ahead."

I extended my legs to allow Scootaloo to reach my torso. But to my surprise, the pegasus filly climbed onto my lap, reared up on her hind legs, and threw her forelegs around my neck as she nestled her face against my cheek. This show of affection was extremely uncharacteristic for Scootaloo, so I asked, "I thought you were disgusted with acts of affection..."

Her response surprised me. "You're an exception. I don't mind getting all cuddly with you because you're my big brother."

I was amazed by just how seriously she was taking our brother/sister relationship. We were not even the same species, yet she had really come to view me as a brother. Even so, I felt I was being a burden to Scootaloo, as I know she does not enjoy showing such types of affection. "You don't have to do this if you don't want to... I won't force you." I muttered softly.

Scootaloo smiled, "But I want to. I want to hug you, big brother. Is that OK?"

Even with all the emotional pain I had bottled up inside me, I could feel a twinge of happiness as I heard Scootaloo's words. Even a girl as tough and tomboyish as her could be gentle and tender to those she adores. And I was grateful that she was here for me. I gently stroked her mane and back as I whispered, "Yeah... It's OK..."

We remained together in each other's arms for several minutes. Scootaloo eventually chuckled, "I like listening to you breathe so deeply, James. Kinda relaxing." I tend to take deep breaths as I breathe without even really being aware of it. And as she had her ear right up against my neck, she was hearing every breath I took.

I continued to stroke her mane and tail as I asked, "Are you meeting with Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom here?"

My little sister replied, "I think in another fifteen minutes. But I really don't wanna move right now..."

I understood how she felt as I was feeling the same way. I was feeling so relaxed with Scootaloo in my arms that I did not want to move from that spot at all or even change my body position. I wanted it to last forever. And I am sure she felt the same.

Another ten or so minutes passed without much change. Just Scootaloo and I cuddling together. I heard her mutter, "James... Don't ever go away..."

Scootaloo's words touched me on a deep level. Even though I was afraid to see Twilight Sparkle now and Spike even wanted me gone, Scootaloo wanted me to stay. I felt some of my self-esteem return as I felt that someone needed me. Or rather, somepony. In response, I whispered, "I won't... I'll always be there for you, sis..."

The pegasus filly smiled, "And I'll always be there for you. OK?"

Without even really thinking, I held her tightly against me and nodded, "Thanks... I love you, little sis..."

There was a moment of silence as I realized what I said. Scootaloo was not keen on the use of the word 'love' towards her and I was afraid she was going to kick me. But instead, she sighed, "Ya know... It feels pretty nice knowing you're loved..." She then nuzzled my cheek as she whispered, "I love you, big brother."

We continued to nestle together, not wanting to be separated. But our time was interrupted as we heard the voices of Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle approaching. "Aw man, I was about to take a nap!" Scootaloo grumbled as she hopped off of me.

All I could do was sigh in disappointment. I was not in the mood for childish games at all or to have to listen to children play. Fortunately, Scootaloo asked, "Do you still need some time alone, James? Would you like us to hang outside for a while?"

I nodded, pleased by her consideration. "I'd appreciate that. Thanks, sis..."

"OK. I hope you're feeling better next time we meet. See ya!" Scootaloo smiled as she waved goodbye. I listened to her little hooves clop as she ran down the ramp. I did not pay much mind to what she said to her friends, but I soon noticed their voices becoming more distant. Once again, I was alone.

A short while passed before I heard the sound of hooves clopping as somepony climbed the ramp outside the clubhouse..... I suppose living in Equestria has caused some of the pony lingo to rub off on me. Now I am even using somepony instead of someone as I write. But I digress. I was expecting it to be Scootaloo, but this was not the case. The door opened to reveal Applejack carrying a small plate on her head that seemed to be holding a dessert of sorts with a slice of a yellow apple on top.

"Howdy there, James. Heard from Scootaloo that yer feeling a little blue." The farm pony said as she approached me while taking care to not drop the plate. She even remembered to include a spoon with it.

"I think this is the first time we've met today... And the latest time since I got here." I muttered as Applejack was often the first friend I saw in the morning. Well, except for Rarity as she lives with me.

"Yeah, I knew something was off when I went to town today! I never saw ya once! I was starting to think I'd never see y'all at all today. But enough of my yammering. I brought y'all something to cheer you up." She lowered her head to the floor and slid the plate off her head along with her hat. It was almost as if her hat was a serving tray. "It's some of my own homemade apple brown betty. The dessert, not my auntie."

I had hardly ever heard of the dish before, but it seemed to be something between a cake and cobbler. While I have never had much interest in apple-based desserts with the exception of applesauce, I did not want to turn down my friend's hospitality on such a bad day. "Thanks, AJ... You're sweet."

The farm pony giggled as she lied down in front of me, "Aw, shucks... Well, dig in and lemme know how it is, sugar cube."

I first ate the slice of apple on top. As it was my favorite type of apple, I liked it. I then scooped a chunk out of the dessert itself with the spoon and took a bite. I am not entirely certain how to describe the flavor, but I found it enjoyable. "Pretty tasty..." I muttered aloud.

"I knew you'd like it. Nopony doesn't like my baked goods." Applejack declared proudly. As I looked at her, I realized that this was the first time I had ever seen her without her hat on her head. Of all my friends in Ponyville, her mane seemed the most like a human woman's hair with nothing obstructing my view. She actually seemed more feminine and attractive without the hat. I think she noticed I was taking note of it as she asked, "Whatcha looking at, pardner? Something on my head?"

I replied honestly, "No... Just the opposite. When your hat's not in the way... You look really...uh...pretty."

Judging by her expression, Applejack was not accustomed to being complimented on when it came to her physical beauty. She blushed, "Well...uh... That's a first... Do I really look all that purdy without my hat on?"

I nodded and muttered, "It's just my personal opinion... I like how you have your mane tied at the bottom. Same with your tail."

Applejack chuckled for a moment before speaking, "James, yer the first fella to ever compliment my looks. Thank ya kindly. Guess I should start keeping my hat off when I'm not on the job."

As I continued to slowly enjoy my snack, Applejack asked, "Ya feel like telling me what's got ya feeling so down?"

The problems that I was facing were my own and I was afraid to get any of my other friends involved. "No... Sorry, AJ. But I don't wanna talk about it... I don't want you getting caught up in it..."

My friend sighed, "Well, all right then. But if there's anything I can do to help out, just holler." I nodded silently in response. One thing I liked about Applejack was her readiness to help her friends. My only regret was that I could not ask for her assistance in this matter.

I eventually finished my serving of apple brown betty and set the plate on the floor. "How was it? Good eating, right?" Applejack asked.

My response was a nod. "Better than I expected. Thanks for the snack, AJ."

Applejack smiled, "Yer welcome, pardner. Did that little treat perk you up?"

While I was still haunted by earlier incidents from that day, my time with Scootaloo and Applejack's compassion had slightly lifted my spirits. "Yeah... I'm feeling kinda sorta better."

"I guess that's better than nothing. Would ya like me to walk ya back to town?" Applejack asked as she climbed to her feet.

I shrugged, "I guess that's OK... I'll carry the plate and hat until we reach the main area of the farm." I picked the plate and spoon up in one hand and Applejack's hat in the other.

"Well then, let's mosey. I've got some more apples to buck." Applejack said as she headed out the door. I followed her while taking care to mind my head.

As the two of us walked through the grove of apple trees, Applejack asked, "Ya know, tomorrow marks the end of yer first week in Ponyville. What's it been like?"

I replied as honestly as I could. "It's strange... Even though I've been here for a short time, Equestria has come to feel like home to me. Even more so than where I'm from. As if I belong here..."

Applejack grinned, "Well, that's mighty fine to hear! Good to see yer all settled in now. I hope you'll be with us ponies fer a long time to come." I nodded in agreement, rather frightened at the thought of ever having to leave this wonderful world.

Once we returned to the area just outside the barn, Applejack asked, "All right then. Mind if I have my hat back, James?" I nodded and placed the hat on her head. She then took the plate from my hand by grasping it in her teeth. "I'll drop this off in the kitchen and get back to work. See y'all later!" I saw my friend off and headed back towards Ponyville.

I was careful to not go anywhere near Twilight's house. The very sight of me would probably stir up unpleasant feelings in Twilight and Spike. They had both been hurt enough for one day. The guilt was still gnawing at me, but I felt somewhat better thanks to Applejack and Scootaloo.

I proceeded to return home, ignoring the scorched remains of the bush Spike had accidentally ignited right outside it. But when I stepped inside, I found Rarity sitting before a mirror with a few cosmetics floating near her. "Um...dear? What are you doing?" I asked as I approached her.

My lover finished touching up her face with what I guess was a powder puff before turning to face me. "Why, I'm simply preparing myself for our fabulous night out on the town. I want to look absolutely perfect for you, darling." She gave me a wink as she finished speaking. I could see that she was wearing lipstick as well.

"Rarity, you look wonderful even without cosmetics. And even if you looked average or even unimpressive, I would still love you. Look's aren't everything." I explained, having come to love Rarity more for her personality than her looks. Even so, she was certainly very beautiful.

"Oh, James... I adore your modesty. But truly, I want to look fabulous enough for you. But while I'm getting ready, why don't you go wash up?" Rarity said with a smile. I nodded, wanting to be squeaky-clean for our first night out as a couple.

As requested, I went upstairs and took a shower. The feel of warm water pouring over me helped wash away most of my depression. I mentally prepared myself for the night, promising to leave out my problems until tomorrow. This night is all about my beloved Rarity and me. And I was not going to let my depression ruin it for us.

Once I had finished bathing and combed my hair before it could dry, I stepped out of the bathroom in just my boxers. I was tempted to wear the clothes that Rarity had woven for me, but chose not to due to them having been exposed to a good deal of sweat that day. Certain that Rarity was in her bedroom, I peeked inside to see if she was still getting ready.

"Oh, there you are, darling. Just a little more and I'll be ready." Rarity spoke, as she must have noticed me open the door a crack. To my surprise, she was wearing the elegant dress she had made for herself to wear to the Grand Galloping Gala. I watched as she lowered the gold tiara of the outfit onto her head with her horn just behind it. As I watched, I suspect I may have been blushing.

"All right. Now I'm ready... Oh my, you're blushing again? Do I really dazzle you so, darling?" Rarity giggled, confirming my suspicions about me blushing. She batted her eyelashes at me, probably to tease me.

"Well... I don't see how I couldn't. You look like a princess in that dress." I replied. But as I realized the dress she wore was originally meant to be worn to the Grand Galloping Gala, an idea popped into my head. "Hey, that gives me an idea. Could you wait for me downstairs? I won't be long."

Rarity smirked, "Ooh, a surprise? Then I shall wait patiently. But please don't keep me waiting long." I nodded as she left the room. I then turned my gaze to the black leather shoes, black pants, and spectacular robe she had woven for me.

A few minutes later, I walked downstairs clad in the clothing Rarity had made for me to wear to the Grand Galloping Gala. The gold threads that covered the robe added a surprising amount of weight to it, but it was still acceptable. If anything, it might help me lose weight. When I stepped out into the main workroom, Rarity gasped, "My stars, darling! You're going to wear your Gala attire?!"

I nodded, "Why not? You're wearing yours, so why shouldn't I wear mine?"

Rarity giggled as she walked around me to examine my clothing, "Oh, I was not being judgmental. You look absolutely smashing tonight. I swear, you look like a king in that attire! All you need now is a crown."

I chuckled, "Well, the world I'm from has had a king named James in the distant past. But I'm in no way related to him. And besides, if I'm a king, you're my queen."

Rarity blushed deeply as she smiled, "Well... If I am your queen, perhaps someday we will have a prince."

I began to sweat at the thought of us starting a family. Not out of fear, but out of anticipation. The thought of having an adorable little colt or filly with Rarity tickled me. But a question still remained. Could humans and Equestrian ponies successfully produce offspring together? I knew that no one had the answer to that, but I certainly was not afraid to try with her. "A prince... Or will it be a princess?" I asked in an attempt to add some humor.

"Prince or princess, it doesn't matter. It would still be precious to us..." I noticed Rarity shudder in excitement as she let out a faint squeal. "Ooh, I can hardly wait to have a little foal of my own! But what would we name it? Fashion Rose? Elegant Jewel? Elusive? Ooh, so many possibilities!" I snickered under my breath as I watched my lover. Knowing how caring and generous she is and how sweet she can be to her much younger sister, Rarity would make a fine mother if she ever had a child.

"Honey, what say you we hold off on thinking up names for foals and focus on the evening?" I asked as I opened the door for her.

"Oh, yes! Good idea. I should focus on the present for now instead of the future, hehehee..." Rarity said with a giggle as she headed out the door. I closed it behind me as I hurried to catch up with her.

The sun had begun to set by the time we left Carousel Boutique. I could hear the hissing of cicadas all around us, plus the mournful melodies of the Higurashi cicada. "I honestly can't get enough of that insect's call... So delightful." Rarity sighed. I too found it to be wonderful to hear, especially as they were not found where I lived back home. The soothing yet sorrowful call of this cicada was exotic to me.

Rarity led me to the café that I would often frequent for lunch. The tables now had candles in the centers to provide light as it was starting to get late. To my surprise, there was a quartet playing live music. They were all earth ponies. The two stallions were playing a harp and piano while the two mares were playing a sousaphone and cello. They all played their instruments well, but the pony with the cello caught my eye the most. She stood on her hind legs to hold the cello up with one of her forelegs. Her instrument was even taller than she was, but she seemed to know what she was doing. She also seemed to have no trouble gripping the bowstring in her foot joint.

"Something caught your eye, dear?" Rarity asked as she led me to a table that was right in front of the band.

"Just watching the band..... The cello player in particular interests me." I replied, taking a seat on a stool by the table... Wait. They had stools now? I suppose it makes sense as no one would want to sit on a pile of hay while wearing formal attire. It was even the right height for me.

Rarity glanced over at the band and smirked, "She is quite lovely, is she not? This band even plays at the Grand Galloping Gala every year. So we'll be seeing them again eventually."

Along with the menu was a pamphlet that seemed to be a calling card for the band. It included their names and the dates of when they would be performing. "Beauty Brass on sousaphone, Frederic Horseshoepin on piano, Harpo on the harp, and Octavia on cello?" I looked back towards the cello player. "So Octavia is her name. It suits her."

Octavia had her eyes closed as she played. Her cutie mark was a treble clef. She wore a white collar with a pink bow on the front. Her coat was a pale gray while her mane and tail were a darker shade of gray with a brighter tint to it. Her mane was very long and beautifully kempt, reaching past her shoulders. As the song came to a close, she opened her eyes, which were a faded purple. They were calm and serene, being only half open as she gazed out at her audience. In my eyes, she was the most beautiful earth pony I had seen so far.

I reached into my pants pocket and pulled out a single bit. I then tossed it towards her as the audience applauded. It landed at her feet, causing her to open her eyes widely in surprise. She looked down at her tip, then over to me. I waved to show that it was I who gave it to her. In response, her eyes returned to their calm serene expression as she gave me a warm smile. She then reached down with the tip of her bowstring, wedged it under the coin, and then flung it upwards. The bit landed behind her ear and was securely wedged between it and her mane. She smiled at me once again before the band began to play the next song.

Rarity grinned at Octavia's reaction to my giving her a tip. "She's quite talented, is she not?" The deep chilling notes from her cello were heard at that moment.

I nodded, "Talented and beautiful. But not quite as beautiful as you." The two of us chuckled together.

As we browsed the menus, I glanced around. It seemed that we were not the only couple. I saw Mr. and Mrs. Cake sitting at a table nearby. For some reason, I could never imagine them out of uniform. And yet, there they were dressed up for a candlelight dinner. At another table was Bon Bon and her friend Lyra, a unicorn pony with a cutie mark that depicted a lyre. I did not know either of them well, but I often saw them together. I suspected that they were close friends, but hopefully not lovers. There were a few other couples, but not anyone I recognized.

Eventually, the waiter came over to our table. "Good evening, Miss Rarity. Would you care for the usual?"

I had no idea what the 'usual' was, but she nodded, "Yes. And please bring one for James. I'm sure he will love it."

The waiter looked at me, then back to Rarity. "Is this a special occasion, madam?"

I blushed as Rarity giggled, "Oh, quite. This is our first night out as a couple."

I was expecting the waiter to be shocked or even disgusted that Rarity had fallen in love with a human like me. However, he calmly nodded, "Then I shall place an order for the 'couples special' at once." I watched as he left us alone and went inside the café.

"He took that surprisingly well." I said as I watched the waiter disappear inside the restaurant.

Rarity smiled as she set down her menu, "I told you our relationship would be accepted. And even if everypony in Equestria were against us, I would stay with you anyway."

I smiled warmly, "Same here... I don't ever want to leave you, Rarity."

The two of us continued to chat while the quartet played in front of us. By the time the waiter had returned, the sun had almost completely set over the horizon. And I was unprepared for what was coming.

The waiter set out a large platter of prepared fruits and grilled vegetables that had been set to form a large heart in a rainbow of colors. It was like getting dinner and dessert all at once. It was also too much food for one person to eat on their own.

Along with our meal were two wine glasses that seemed to contain a type of beverage. As the waiter left us alone, I asked, "Rarity, what's that drink?"

She replied, "It's a mixture of three drinks. I call it 'Bourgeoisie'. And I'm sure you will like it."

I am normally not able to stomach the stronger alcoholic beverages, but this drink did not look the part. It looked more like chocolate malt. Rarity levitated one glass as I took mine in hand. "Cheers, darling?" Rarity asked as she 'held' her glass out.

"Cheers." I replied as I lightly tapped the side of my glass against hers. I took a light sip of my drink. It tasted.....well... I honestly cannot describe alcoholic beverages by taste very well, but I enjoyed it.

As we headed home after dinner, Rarity constantly leaned against me. The stars and moon had come out, giving a truly romantic feel to the situation. "Darling... I'm looking forward to the future for us... I'm glad you came into my life." Rarity whispered as we walked.

I was equally grateful for having met Rarity. Before I came to Equestria, I had never met a woman like her before. Of course, I was also grateful for my friends. Applejack's straightforward and honest attitude, Rainbow Dash's energetic and spunky personality, Pinkie Pie's crazy yet uplifting antics and humor, Fluttershy's gentle and adorable kindness, and Twilight Sparkle's wisdom and guidance. As I was now, I could not imagine life without them.

Once we got home, the night went by without incident. Rarity and I bathed together and now we are resting in bed together. Some of the guilt and pain from today still lingers, but I have hope that the situation will work itself out somehow. Or maybe it is just the presence of my lover in my arms that is reassuring me. Either way, tomorrow marks the first full week since I first arrived in Equestria. But somewhere in my gut, I have a horrible feeling that it will not end well.

I can only pray that I am wrong. But for now, I must sleep.