You awaken to find a gloomy sky hanging overhead, the angry grey clouds threatening to drop their cargo at the slightest touch, and roll over so you can drape an arm around the neck of the mare lying in the bed next to you. After making sure that she is asleep, you kiss the back of her head and slide out of bed, before putting the covers around her and going into the kitchen.
The calendar on the wall grabs your attention, as today's date has been circled. Looking at it, you are quick to realise something important about the date in question. After all, it is very significant to you and Zayna.
As of today, the two of you have been in Equestria for two years.
At first, you struggled to adapt to this world of talking ponies; losing your home, business, friends and family was a lot to take in. For the first few months, there were times when you would lie awake at night and wonder how everyone was coping with your sudden and unexpected disappearance. At other times, you would cry yourself to sleep, thanks in no small part to your sense of loss.
You got a lot of support from Twilight and the Princesses, the former letting you stay in the library while a house was constructed specifically for you and Zayna. It was finished in a few months, and looks every bit like the place you used to live in; two floors, en-suite bathroom, large master bedroom, spare room, spacious kitchen and an attached stable for your horse. To earn a living, you got a job as an odd-job man, doing various things for the folks in town. Fingers and height, a winning combination. Zayna, on the other hand, was perfectly content with her new-found 'retirement.'
Pinkie Pie threw what she described as 'the house-warming party to end all house-warming parties,' where you were able to make the acquaintance of most of the ponies in town.
The party was fun, and you managed to make the acquaintance of many of your new neighbours — but once it was over, you went back to feeling as though there was a void needing to be filled.
It was later that night, as you were climbing into your new bed, when realisation finally washed over you.
You were lonely.
The 'realisation' came in the form of the fact you were never going to see a human woman ever again pushing its way to the forefront of your mind, leading you to realise you were going to be alone.
Forever.
Or were you?
You had Zayna, that much was certain, but she was your pet — a fact you had made abundantly clear to the ponies on your arrival. She was definitely out of the question when it came to answering the 'Who do I want to spend the rest of my life with?' question.
As the months went by, and you slowly began to accept that your new life was the one you were stuck with, you began to see one of your new friends as a 'suitable candidate,' for want of a better phrase. Sure, the two of you started out on the wrong foot – or hoof, as the case may be – but you had put your differences aside and gotten to know each other a lot better as of late.
You spent a lot of time together – and it soon turned out that you both had a lot in common – so you decided to broach the subject of a relationship one evening, by simply asking if she was even remotely interested in you in that way.
Subtlety never was your strong point.
As it turned out, she was interested, and you soon found yourself on the first date you'd been on since college. One date became two, two dates became three, three dates became four, and four dates became a make-out session at your front door.
And just like that, the void was filled. Fast forward to the present day, and you are still together. You spend as many nights together as possible, but she still hasn't moved in with you yet. Which is hardly a surprise, given where her place is located.
You end your trip down Memory Lane, tearing yourself away from the calendar so you can begin the process of making breakfast. Pancakes seem to be the choice for today, as they are every other day, so you gather the ingredients and get cracking.
As the mix sizzles on the hob, the sound of hoofsteps enters your ears and you turn around to see Zayna walking in with a smile on her face — followed soon after by a small foal.
The foal, a young colt, is brown in colour with a brilliant orange mane and tail, and green eyes. He is also quite tall, a trait he no doubt gets from his mother. The lanky lad takes a seat at the table next to Zayna, who nuzzles him affectionately.
"Good morning, you two," you say cheerfully. "Breakfast will be ready shortly, so grab a plate and sit tight."
"Is it pancakes again?" the colt asks, to which you nod. "Good, I love those!" He looks at Zayna. "What are you having, Mother?"
"I'll be having my usual, little Tafaha," Zayna replies. "A nice big tub of freshly harvested oats." She licks her lips.
"I'll get it once these are ready," you say. "I don't want to burn these things... again." You flip the pancakes for added effect.
Zayna nods. "I can wait, Master," she says. "It's no problem."
Tafaha cocks his head in confusion. "Why do you call him that, Mum?" he asks. "I just call him 'Uncle.'"
Zayna chuckles and ruffles his mane, making him squeak in protest. "It's a long story, little one," she replies. "And it is a story I will tell you when you are old enough to understand it."
"Aww, boo." Tafaha crosses his forelegs and sulks for a while, but he soon perks up as you place a plate of pancakes in front of him. He ignores the fork you offer him, choosing instead to bury his face in the pile and chew loudly.
While he eats – or, to be accurate, demolishes – his breakfast, you pour some oats in a tub and present it to Zayna. She nuzzles your cheek and digs in with dignified grace, something you assume she picked up from Rarity during measuring sessions for a new saddle.
"So, what's the plan for today?" you ask, as you sit down with your own pancakes, as well as a cup of tea and today's copy of the local paper. "Are you going to be doing anything interesting today?"
Zayna looks up from her breakfast. "Not really." she dabs at her muzzle with a napkin. "I need to go and visit Cheerilee later, to see about getting Tafaha a place at the school, and then I'm going for my usual walk around the perimeter of town."
Tafaha swallows noisily. "Dad said he was going to take me to work with him today!" he says eagerly. "I can't wait!"
You hear the front door opening, followed by heavy footsteps. "Speaking of 'Dad...'" you raise your voice. "We're in the kitchen!"
As the new arrival enters the kitchen, Tafaha shoots out of his seat and attaches himself to their neck. "Dad!" he squeals. "Are you here to take me to work with you?" The newcomer nods. "Woo-hoo! I'm going to have a quick shower and get my stuff. Be right back!"
He shoots off upstairs, leaving Zayna to greet your guest with a long and lingering kiss on the lips, separating after a while.
"Morning, Mac," she says. "Are you sure you're ready to have Tafaha helping out on the farm with you?"
"Eeyup." Big Mac nods. "He'll soon get tired out after a while. An' ya don't have ta worry 'bout him none, sugarcube; I guarantee you that he'll be fine. Ain't nothin' gonna happen to him on mah watch."
"I don't doubt that for a second, Mac," Zayna replies. "Now, are you and I still on for going out after the Ponytones concert tonight?"
"Of course we are, Zayna; ya know I ain't gonna let ya down."
Zayna kisses him again. "Glad to hear it." At that moment, Tafaha comes bounding down the stairs again. "Looks like he's ready."
"Sure looks like it." Mac turns to you. "Sorry 'bout ignorin' ya there, pardner, Zayna here kinda distracted me fer a while."
"No biggie, Mac." you wave a hand dismissively. "She can be a very distracting mare at times. Right, Zayna?"
Mac chuckles, while Zayna rolls her eyes. "Very funny, Master," she replies. "Anyway, Mac, you'd better hurry before a certain somepony starts to get cranky."
"I won't get cranky," Tafaha grumbles. "I'll just get really, really upset that we're not going as quickly as I want us to!"
"All right then, young'un," Mac says. "Let's get to it." He looks at Zayna. "Let me know how ya get on with Cheerilee, sugarcube, and I'll see ya later tonight." He kisses her. "Love ya."
"Love you too, Mac." Zayna calls after the quickly retreating form of Tafaha, who has shot outside like a rocket. "Have fun, behave and for the love of Celestia, be careful!"
Mac swiftly follows Tafaha out into the street, Zayna waving to him as he leaves. Once he's out of sight, she closes the door and returns to the kitchen, where you are washing your dishes.
"You two are cute together," you tell her. "You know that?"
"I do, as it happens," Zayna replies. "In fact, I could say the same thing about you and your special somepony." She giggles at the blush which creeps onto your cheeks. "Seriously though, Master, the two of you are perfect together. You have both become so close lately, it's almost as if the unpleasantness which went down when you first met never happened."
You chuckle. "I know, right?" You hear hoofsteps on the stairs, and a smile creeps onto your lips. "Speak of the proverbial devil..."
For the second time that day, another new arrival walks into your kitchen. She looks at you warmly, while you dry your hands, and Zayna nuzzles you one last time before heading to the door. She greets the new arrival with a nod and stands in the doorway.
"I'll go and meet with Cheerilee now," she says. "You two have fun doing... whatever it is you're doing today."
"We will," you reply. "I'll see you later, Zayna."
"Bye!" she leaves the house and soon disappears from sight, leaving you to walk over and greet your visitor in the same way Mac greeted Zayna earlier — with a long and lingering kiss.
"Hey, you," you say. "What's the plan for today?"
"Gathering ingredients, is my primary task," Zecora replies. "Your help with this endeavour, I do humbly ask."
You grin. "To refuse to assist, would not be a win," you reply. "In fact, I dare say, it would be a huge sin." Zecora narrows her eyes at you, but the smile on her face betrays her stern demeanour. "Point taken; I'll leave the rhyming to you in future." You walk over and open the door. "Shall we depart?"
Zecora smiles, kisses your cheek and leaves the house, allowing you to close the door and follow her on the latest instalment of what has been a truly extraordinary journey.