Well, isn’t that cliché?

A heavy downpour had soaked Ian to the bone as he approached Twilight’s library. This was like something out of a terrible romantic comedy, hell he might as well be carrying a boom box playing some sappy love song. “No, that’s too pathetic,” he muttered.

Ian was about to knock on the door when he heard laughter within. At least seven ponies were inside, laughing at something hysterical. His heart began to thud when he realized one was a male’s.

Please no, please no, please no, please no.

He peeked into the nearest window and felt a part of him die. Twilight was there, just as beautiful as ever, along with Fluttershy and four other mares, and a stallion had his arm around her. Well…at least she knew how to pick them. Her boyfriend was tall, sturdy, and admittedly pretty damn handsome. His glossy white coat and flowing blue mane made Ian tremble with rage. It was that anger one gets when they see someone better than them; he was green with envy. The guy was strong, good looking, got along great with Twilight’s friends, and had incredible blue eyes…that were staring at him.

Uh oh.

Ian ducked out of sight and listened closely. It was hard to hear over the rain, but it sounded like the unicorn said, “Angel.”

“Excuse me,” he called before Ian could run, “you’re an Angel aren’t you?” The pony stuck out his hoof and smiled. “It’s an honor to finally meet one of you.”

“Yeah,” Ian shook his hoof and tried to give a convincing smile, “always nice meeting a friendly Local.”

The unicorn chuckled excitedly and struggled to think of what else to say. The lucky bastard didn’t even know how well off he was. “W-what brings you to Ponyville?” His pearly teeth were begging to be punched. “I couldn’t help but notice you looking through the window. Should we be concerned, or maybe we could even help?”

Yeah, you can jump off a cliff- oh god, did I really just think that?

“Ian?” Twilight asked through the window.

“Hold on,” said the stallion as he jerked his hoof away. The look of joy and excitement had devolved into bitter accusation. “Are you Ian McCoy?”

Ian nodded and slammed against the tree as the stallion slugged him in the cheek. “You have some nerve coming here after what you did to Twilight,” he barked, choking Ian with both hooves. Despite Ian’s attempts to throw him off, the unicorn easily overpowered him.

“Shining, let him go!” Twilight teleported to the stallion’s side and pushed him back. Shining backed off as Ian coughed and wheezed, but he still had a vengeful look in his eye.

“You aren’t welco-”

“Shining, would you please give us a moment?” The stallion looked at Twilight, then back at Ian, and snorted before going inside. At least he had a respect for his girlfriend. “What are you doing here Ian?”

Ian wiped a hand across his cheek and stared at the blood. “I don’t know,” he sighed, “I guess I just wanted to say I’m sorry.”

“That was three years ago,” she said, sitting down beside him. Now that he was human he couldn’t smell anything except rain.

“And it’s been the worst three of my life. All I could think about was how I hurt you, I’ve had the same nightmares every night, I…” Fuck, why was it so hard to think of what to say? Five minutes ago this all seemed so damn easy.

“It’s alright Ian.”

“No it’s not. Twilight, you’re beautiful, you’re smart, you’re funny as hell, and you’re the kindest girl I’ve ever met, and what I did to you was not, ‘alright.’” He was talking so fast, he momentarily ran out of breath. “I don’t want to come between you and Shining-”

“My brother?” Twilight laughed. Ian sank back and breathed a sigh of relief. Never had he been so happy to be wrong. “You thought he was my coltfriend?”

Ian wiped more blood away and laughed with her. Smiling hurt his face, but it felt good to hear her laugh again. Once she’d stopped laughing, he looked into her eyes and said, “I love you. I wish I could take back what I said in the forest, I really do. You’re the most incredible thing I’ve seen in a thousand years of the multiverse, and I’m ashamed it took me so long to realize that.” It was freezing, but Ian pushed the thought away as he waited for her to say the three words back.

“…I’m sorry Ian, but I can’t say it.” Ian did his best to keep his composure, but he couldn’t help but cry. Thankfully, the rain masked it. “We only knew each other for three days, and what happened on the third- I don’t know where that came from.”

“Heat of the moment.” Ian gave a weak smile and stared at his feet.

“Exactly. How can we say we’re in love when we hardly know a thing about the other? For instance,” she put a hoof on his shoulder, “I’m incredibly persnickety, and I’ve often been called a know-it-all.” He wanted to tell her he liked smart girls, but it seemed pointless to argue.

“And I never think things through.” Ian turned and kissed her muddy hoof. “I hope you find someone who makes you happy.”

“You too.” Twilight cocked her head at the cut on Ian’s cheek which should have healed by now. “Why do still have that cut?”

“It doesn’t matter.”
“Ian-”

“Because I’m not an Angel anymore,” he said bluntly and tried to stand, only to have Twilight keep him seated.

“What? How?”

“After we…the Angels banned me from this universe for being romantically involved with a Local, so the only way to see you again was to leave.”

“You can do that?”

“You remember Mark, right? He said that for a thousand years of service, I was getting into Heaven, but somehow he convinced them to give me a new life here.”

Twilight’s eyes were brimming in shock, either by the romantic gesture or the sheer stupidity, it was hard to tell. “You gave up Heaven, just to see me?”

From behind the window a mare squealed, “Awwwww.” The two looked up and saw six faces staring at them. Shining Armor and a blue Pegasus were eyeing him disapprovingly, but there was also a white mare with tears in her eyes.

Ian jumped to his feet and rushed away in embarrassment. “Do you have anywhere to stay?” Twilight asked. “I have a spare bed if you like.”

He shoved his hands into his pockets and looked at her through the pouring rain. “Thanks, but I think it’d be a little awkward. If the Everfree Forest is good enough for a dragon, it’s good enough for me.” All he had to do was make it out of town without breaking down. He turned and hurried away, but Twilight quickly ran in front of him.

“Would you like to have lunch tomorrow?”

Author's Note

If I had more time, I might have been able to write this better, but I'm running out of writing time.