Author's Note

Long time! Kinda lost interest and motivation for all things MLP there for awhile. I will try and pick at the stories from time to time to get them finished but there is no set schedule. Sooo,

It's late.
I am my own editor
Semi-colons are the devil.
And as always, enjoy.

She clutched her chest and he left with a smile.

"Pinkie! Pinkie! It finally came!" James sprinted and stumbled into his house, clutching an official looking letter. He just happened to swing past the Ponyville post office on his way back from running errands for Mayor Mare. He knew immediately it was from the princesses due to the royal stationary it was printed on. He even pinched himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming... because it wouldn't have been the first time.

James barreled through the door of his bedroom and immediately heard the sound of his marefriend's unique snoring. She had been sleeping at his house nearly every night since their first time together. The previous evening she had thrown an enormous retirement party for one of the mayor's friends, so Pinkie was given the day off to recuperate.

He crept towards the sleeping mare, careful not to trip over the clutter in his room. She rested on top of the covers with her hooves pulled tightly under her chin. Her pink curls laid tousled around her, like she was laying in a big bowl of cotton candy. She wore a goofy smile, probably dreaming about ice cream mountain again. James took a deep breath and was about to shout once more but held it, frozen at the edge of the bed.

A sudden realness hit him and his arms went slack at his sides. He nearly dropped the precious letter he had so desperately waited for. Carefully setting the letter down on the night stand, he knelt next to the bed. The covers had been warmed by the summer sun and it smelled of fresh flowers and strawberries. Tentatively, he reached out his fingertips, gingerly moving the curls back away from her eyes. He rested his head next to hers and rubbed her ear between two fingers. She was radiant and wonderful, and by all the magic and terrible horse puns in Equestria he loved her and there she was, In his bed, curled up in a sun beam.

She stirred enough to schooch closer to him, putting their faces inches from one another. He closed his eyes and sighed openly, letting the warmth of her wash over him. Her ear turned as he began to softly sing an old song he knew from a music box his mother gave to him as a child.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy, when skies are grey." She didn't open her eyes but her smile grew as she chimed in on que, and they sang together.

"You'll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away."
"You'll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away."

"Good morning Jamesy."
"Good morning my love."

Sooo the news didn't go well.

"Ohh Pinkie, please stop crying. I promise I'll be back in a few weeks and besides, I don't even leave for a couple of days."

James stood in his living room with Pinkie in his arms and the long awaited letter from the Princesses clutched in one hand. He suppressed a laugh and hugged her to his chest, doing his best to calm her down. It was cute how ridiculous she could get sometimes. He gave her a long kiss on her head through her mane. "If anything sweetie, we should be celebrating. You know how long I've waited for the Princesses to find a place that would hire me."

"I know! It's just so sad! I will lose my Jamesy! You'll forget all about me and..." She cried incoherently into his embrace. James nuzzled her cheek with his. "Look how about this. Tonight I will take you out for a nice, fancy dinner to celebrate. My treat. Plus this will give me time to get you a proper present for you birthday!"

Like a summer storm that rained confetti, she stopped crying soon after she started. She pulled away and grabbed both of his cheeks with her hooves and spoke in all seriousness. "Okay Jamesy. Just remember, no matter what, I'll never forget you." He rolled his eyes and ruffled her mane.

Even though James didn't have what he would consider a steady job, he did manage to save a few bits here and there. It was mostly from odd jobs that his unique human physiology was better at doing than ponies. There were the fine motor skills that his hands brought him. He worked often for Dr. Hooves. The stallion had an odd fascination with him.

He was really good at climbing and carrying things, to which he put to great use in places where ponies didn't want to put things in their mouth: like the trash. Plus, there were always the scientists that seemed to come in a steady stream to ask him about one thing or another. You should have seen the look on their faces when he tried to describe the internet. All in all, he had a pretty hefty purse saved up.

He strolled through town, waving and smiling to the passers by. He looked up to see the sign of Carousal Boutique. He wanted to tell Rarity the good news and hopefully get a restaurant recommendation for the evening. His good mood soured a bit when he saw a customer run and stumble out of the shop entrance. They were looking down and seemed a bit uncomfortable. James recalled an interesting fact about most ponies. They tended to wear their emotions out in the open 24/7. They weren't as adept as hiding their feelings from one another, except for Princesses Luna and Celestia of course. He did manage to get to Celestia once when she caught him humming You are my sunshine. When she asked how the lyrics went, her eyes nearly bugged out of her head. You would think a sun goddess would know all the songs about suns.

James approached the large windows that decorated the front of the shop and peered in. He couldn't hear the conversation but he could make out what was going on. In short? Rarity was pissed. Not the, "Sweetie spilled something on my new line of fire silk dresses. The silk which has to be imported all the way from the Dragon lands!! "Let's just say Sweetie considered leaving the country for awhile.

No, this was an ex-coltfriend and not the long lost love kind. Even from his place out front, James could see the veins in her neck pop out as the earth pony stallion in front of her talked. She began pacing back and forth like a caged tiger. 1-2-3 turn, 1-2-3 turn, like if she didn't burn off some energy she may just choke slam this dude... Man that would be awesome.

Usually a passive guy, James considered waiting patiently outside and out of sight. It wasn't any of his business anyway, that was until Rarity had her back turned to the stallion and he reached his hoof up and caressed her flank. She immediately froze. What happened next would be burned in James' mind for the rest of his life.

Out of reflex, he ducked as the stallion smashed into the window he was next to, sending large fissures splintering all the way to the edges. As he stood to move toward the door, he heard muffled shouting coming from inside. This fight was just getting started.

The pleasant door chime was an odd sound in the hostile Carousal Boutique show room. Leave it to Earth pony durability, the stallion was already up on his hooves and marching toward the visibly drained Rarity. Whatever that spell was really took the wind out of her sails. She was laying prone, her back legs tucked under her and her front hooves splayed out in front. She was panting and sweating.

"Okay baby. If that's how you want to play it, fine. Besides, I know you like it a little rough." He marched forward with a smirk on his face.

"Enough!" James shouted in his best princess Luna voice. It didn't fully stop the stallion but it did distract him. He turned slowly, not realizing who was in the store.

"I thought I told ya to scra-- What the. What in tartarus are you?!"

"Nopony." James said automatically, his adrenaline already coursing through his veins. He had never been in a fight in his life, what was he going to do against an Earth pony? He didn't even know how strong they actually were and today was not the day to find out.

"I see that." The stallion barked a laugh. "Run along little ape, go eat a banana or something."

Think James, think. The best fights are won without even fighting... or something like that.

James laughed. "I don't eat fruit My little pony." He bluffed. Using every drop of condescension he could in those three little words. He knew when the princesses said them, they were filled with all the love in the world, but to James they always seemed belittling.

"You need to leave, now." He growled, surprising himself.

"Or what?" The stallion asked, turning fully to James now.

Ah Shit. Thanks a lot Sun Tzu.

"This is him!" Rarity shouted. "I told you I wasn't lying. I've moved on Walker."

"This thing?" The stallion pointed in disbelief. "Horseshit. Are you the guy?" He turned again to face James.

"Sure am." James replied without any hesitation.

Walker did a double take, then a triple. The tension in his shoulders deflated and he mumbled something under his breath that James didn't catch. "Fine. I wouldn't want you after this freaked rutted you anyways. I thought you were better than that Rares. But it looks like you'll jump on anything if it suits your fancy."

James gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. Passive nature or not, this guy needed to have his teeth stomped in.

Rarity stood shakily to her hooves and lifted her chin, always the lady. "Ohh after him." She cooed and batted her eyes in James' direction. "You wouldn't be enough darling."

The stallion gave James one more hard stare and snorted; the door chimed sweetly on his way out.

A few seconds of silence went by before James turned to Rarity and he shrugged his shoulders. "Soooo."

Rarity crumbled to the floor again, laughing, turning her bright blue eyes towards him. "Be a dear won't you and help me up?"

"Walker huh? I don't think you've ever mentioned him before." James considered, pouring them both a hot glass of tea.

She thanked him and sunk into her couch. "Yes well, you could imagine why." She said, not able to hide all of the embarrassment on her face. "I was young and dumb and he was handsome and charming. Why he's here in Ponyville, I haven't the slightest. I just hope he doesn't manage to fool another mare while he's here."

"Hm" James grunted. "Agreed."

"So my 'coltfriend', what brings you here today? Can't wait to wrap me in your big, strong arms and carry me upstairs?" Beamed Rarity.

"Very funny Rarity. Here." James pulled the sightly crumpled letter out of his pocket and held it out for Rarity's magic. She too knew who it was from before even opening it.

"Well, you aren't down at the pub drinking your sorrows away so I'd day it's good news!" She joked.

"That happened one time." He crossed his arms defensively. "And as a matter of fact yes, very good new." He gloated, dancing slightly in his seat, still excited about the letter and what it meant to him. "I was wondering if you had a restaurant recommendation that I could get reservations for tonight. I want to take Pinkie out to celebrate."

"Oh." Rarity said dejectedly which James didn't seem to notice. She cleared her throat. "Well, with such last minute request most really nice places won't be able to accommodate you. Let's see... Perhaps the new that just opened up, the one just off Cherry Street? Seasons, I believe it's called."

"Seasons? An odd name for a restaurant." James remarked.

"Yes well, the owner developed a new way of preserving off season items. The whole idea is to provide food that no other place can because it's just not in Season."

"Clever." He mused. "Have you ever been there?" James asked.

"No, but I hear good things." She smiled.

"Well thank you, I'm sure she'll love it." He stood and groaned, stretching his arms above his head. "Well, better get to it I guess." He moved around the table and leaned over to hug Rarity. She put her hoof up to stop him. He gave her a confused look.

"Sorry dear, I'm still all sweaty. It wouldn't be proper for you to go walking around with wet spots on your nice, pressed shirt."

"Oh." He paused, looking down. "I suppose you're right. Thanks Rarity! I do have a lot of stuff to take care of today. Man, I can't even tell you how excited I am. I finally feel like I have some control over my life. Ya know? Like things are finally going my way." He paused again and turned to look at her from the front door. "Thank you Rarity, really. You're a true friend. I'll see ya later."

She smiled back and choked out a, "You too."

She clutched her chest and he left with a smile.

Rarity sat in her empty show room, with glass scattered across the floor. "Broken glass and a broken heart." She thought morbidly. She wanted to sob into the plush pillows of her designer couch. Tartarus, she would eat the stuffing out of them if it meant not feeling like she had daggers in her chest. "Friendship is magic my flank." They never said it was good magic.

"Maybe I don't want to be friends!" She shouted into the pillows. She wanted to be his best friend, his only friend... More than friends. He was thoughtful, charming, sensitive, "And now chivalrous!" She sobbed internally. Slowly, she picked herself off the couch and levitated the broom out of the corner. "Just keep smiling Rarity, just keep smiling."

"Wow Jamesy. You got reservations for Seasons? That's like my most favoritest place ever! Even though I've never been!" Pinkie beamed.

"Uhh, sorry Pinkie. What?" He asked, a little distracted.

Pinkie Pie smirked and twirled around on her back hooves, putting her evening attire on display for him. There weren't any lollipops or candy corn on this dress, no. Black satin with silver accents hugged her like a lovers touch. A single strap over her right shoulder left her neck exposed for a silver locket that James had never seen before. Her hair was straight, straight as he had ever seen it. It hung like a waterfall against the side of her face, partly covering one eye. She stopped her spinning and looked up at him with a half lidded stare.

"Soo, whatcha think?"

"I-I don't know." He said, dumbfounded.

"Oh come on Big Guy" She teased, rubbing her silky smooth side against his legs. "You're a smart cookie. You haave to know something."

"I wish I was a poet." He said without thinking.

"A... poet?" She asked with an upturned eyebrow. "Umm, why?"

"I wish I knew how to tell you how beautiful you are."

He knelt, brushed her hair back, cupped her cheek and kissed her deeply. He willed his feelings into the kiss, hoping to say what his words could not.

She hummed and the kiss broke.

"Ohh." Pinkie said with a tremble. "Is that all?"

"More. Much more." He said, trying to be a tad corny.

"You're better than cupcakes." She whispered, then immediately covered her mouth.

"Really!" James exclaimed. "Well now that IS somethin" He gloated, popping his invisible suspenders.

Pinkie sorted then smacked his butt with her hoof. "Go get ready. Twilight said the magic in my mane wont last past midnight; and if you're a good human. Neither will this dress."