The early light of dawn creeped into my room, and awoke me with a startle. I quickly sat up, looking around for the big red stallion I had slept with the night before. Sure enough, he was gone. I sighed heavily, and doing my best not to be upset, he does have work, after all, get dressed. I put on a different pair of jeans than from the day before, and new shirt. I gripped the brush from the top of my dresser and moved to the mirror to sort out my hair.

After ripping out the knots and tangles, I finally looked at myself as 'done'. Plaid shirt, dark blue jeans, and my long, dark hair? Good look, if I do so say myself. I put some socks on, then my only pair of boots, and headed on downstairs. Waiting at the table was Applejack, Rarity, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Big Macintosh, and...

Celestia? What the hell is going on?

They all had a sour look on their faces, but Macintosh's was the worst of the group. "James," Twilight began, gesturing to a seat, meant for me. Hesitantly I walked over and sat, Macintosh next to me. "We think we've found a way for you to return home." she said, and instantly my stomach churned. "But I don't want to leave." I said simply, no emotion in my voice. My eyes darted to the side, stealing a glimpse of Macintosh. "James, you can't stay." This time, it was Celestia that spoke.

"Why not?" I challenged, feeling deeply hurt. "The magics of Equestria are unhealthy for your kind. They'll drive you mad, and then wreck your body." said she. "You'll die." Big Macintosh spoke. Quickly I looked at him, while he stared straight head. "But, Mac, I..." The tears welled up quickly, and I could see the shininess of unshed tears in his eyes, too.

I looked at the group of ponies in front of me, distraught that I had to leave the world I had so recently adjusted to. This was not fair! "You have until the end of the day to say goodbye to everypony." said Celestia. She looked between me and Macintosh almost imperceptibly, and instantly I knew she understood why I was upset. "I'll return at the end of the day." she finished, leaving the room with the rest of the ponies, save for Macintosh, and the door shut swiftly behind them.

The tears came instantly, and quickly I became a lump of sobbing, crying flesh. And just as fast Macintosh was next to me, foreleg around my back as I sobbed into my casted arm. "Oh, Macintosh, please don't let them make me leave!" I wailed, turning towards him and collapsing there. "Please don't make me go, I don't want to leave you!" I pleaded, pathetic and helpless.

"James, there ain't nothing we can do. So, instead of crying, James, why don't we go out for the day and enjoy the time we have together?" he said solemnly, still patting my back. The tears lessened, the were still there. He was right, after all. "Oh-Okay." I stammered, the both of us standing up. Macintosh began walking towards the door, and I quickly followed suit.

Exiting from the house, he stopped as I joined up next to him. "W-Where are we going?" I choked out, suffering from those strange hiccup-like things that happens after you cry really hard. I was less-than-attractive at the moment. "Where I found you." he answered. And with that, he walked off towards one of the many trails that lead through the orchard. Silently, apart from the hiccups, I went with him.

We passed trail after connecting trail as we walked down one I don't recognize. This one, unlike the others, looks less traveled. "I don't really remember when you found me, apart from what you told me." I said, my voice stabilizing to something close to normal. I prodded my brain as hard as I could for the memories of that time, but, as usual, nothing came.

Soon enough we reached a clearing with single, large tree in the middle. There was a small nook in the tree, where, judging by how intensely Mac's eyes were fixed on that point, was where he found me. "Is that it?" I ask gently, wanting to confirm my assumption. "Eeyup. That there is where I found you, James." He affirmed. "And it's also where I fell in love." he added. And that's when his tears came.

They weren't the water works that came from me, but they were gently falling down his cheeks, and soon we were holding each other, crying. Macintosh's soft, but deep drawl came to me in bitter-sweet words. "James, please, when it's time, go." My heart shattered as the realization dawned upon me. I was being forced to leave my first real love, and there was nothing that could be done.

Slowly but surely we shuffled over to the small crevice in the tree, and sat there, holding each other in a death-lock, I in Mac's forelegs, slowly crying myself to sleep. And, sure enough, sleep took me with open arms. While in that sweet state of dreams, I dreamed those moments Mac and I shared together, reliving every single one. And towards the end of my sleep, I remembered the crevice and Macintosh saving me. Then a gentle shaking awoke me.

It was Macintosh, the fur beneath his eyes still stained with tears. Up in the sky above him it was nearing sunset, and I knew it was time. With a silent nod, I stood and walked with him back towards the house. No words spoke between us until we reached the edge of the trail we followed. "James, do you regret today?" Mac asked, surprising me. "No, Mac, I don't. I spent it with you." I answered truthfully. I was ready to go home, even if I had to leave Big Macintosh.

We reached the house, entering through the door with me walking in first. Like this morning, all the ponies from earlier were seated at the table. Celestia looked firmly at me, and all I could do was nod. "Follow me, if you all would." Celestia asked, leaving towards the back. We all followed, Mac being the last.

What greeted us was a column of transparent yet shining light extending to the sky, and disappearing. This was to be my way home, apparently. "Once you step into the pillar, it will work as a reverse force field. You won't be able to exit again." Twilight explained. Further away I noticed Applejack and Macintosh exchanging harsh whispers, though what they were saying I don't know. Then Celestia joined the conversation.

Twilight urged me forward as Applebloom came surging from around the corner. "James! Please don't go!" she shouted, jumping into my arms. She cried heavily into my shoulder and clung to me. "Applebloom, I don't have a choice." I spoke softly, rubbing her head. "I'm sorry, Applebloom, I really am." I assured, setting her down. Macintosh, Celestia, and Applejack had joined the rest of us close to the pillar of light, there eyes focused on me.

I took a few steps towards it, and turned around to face them all. One by one I said goodbye, and finally I reached Macintosh. "Goodbye, Big Macintosh, it's been great, and there is so much more I wish we could do together. But it's been real." I assured my self with the last line. This was real, and I really did find actual love, even if that love was from a talking horse.

The tears streamed steadily down my cheeks, and I was struck by the smile on Macintosh's face. It gave me strength, and somehow, for some reason, I know things would be okay. With this new sense of courage, I turned around and stepped into the light. Everything flashed from a moment, and as I turned around I noticed the light changed to a shade of near-solid green light. I placed my hands on the glass-like field of energy, and closed my eyes as I felt the magic circulate in my body.

While waiting to be taken home, I felt a blunt object press against my and, when I opened my eyes, saw that it was Macintosh, pressing into the field with me. He stood on his hind legs, and as his body sunk into the magical field, I smiled. He was coming with me. My eyes shut once more as our lips met, and while we kissed I felt something changing. I realized soon that it was the feeling of fingers pressing against mine.

Startled, but not afraid, I let them slip in between mine and let my eyes slip open. And in front of me, his lips pressed against mine, was a handsome man with long, orange-blonde hair and the cutest freckles there were a smattering across his lightly tanned flesh. It was Macintosh. He let a smile cross his face, and I let one cross mine. We were together, and that was all that mattered.

Author's Note

So, yeah, there will be an epilogue to complete some things about this, but yay! I got over my writer's block to finish this for you guys! I know, I've taken bloody hell long enough about it. But I'm not sure how I feel about this. Anywho, hope you enjoyed my little adventure of sex and romance and that's kind of it. :) And if you can believe it, I wrote all of this in one day.... Well, maybe it's more believable than I think, but I want to assure it has not taken me five months to write this. It's taken me five months to figure out where I wanted to go with this.