This story is a prequel to Romantic Meetings
Life had never been fair to Jake Taylor, not since he lost his parents thanks to his negligence. So, it’s pretty safe to say he wasn’t exactly the most friendly person around.
Unfortunately, a freak accident causes him to wake up in a forest...in another world full of ponies who value friendship. Jake, not being one for friends, magic, or well, ponies, freaks out. Too bad one pony in particular won’t let him leave
Here it is, the long awaited prequel to Romantic Meetings. I hope you all enjoy
Chapters (7)
And so it begins.
I had been wondering of how Jake arrived in Equestria and look forward to how he'll react to meeting the Twilight and the others.
Why isn't there an OC tag?
10078861
Meant to add one
EDIT: just did
So far so good. I’m reading this one before Romantic Meetings, so I get the chronological experience
10078639
Glad to see the reception is fairly positive so far!
10078965
This is gonna be awesome.
I don't wanna wait
10081425
You should’ve entered the competition
Love at first sight, lol
Almost died, then met a talking unicorn.
Weird day to say the least.
10089311
Could’ve been worse. He could’ve met a Manticore instead
10089274
Eh, not really
Sounds like a more realistic reaction than "HOLY F(
yay)K! A TALKING HORSE!!!" 
For some reason when Jake said that I thought of this:
Weird, huh?
10089433
🤔Come to think of it... I probably should start hitting like when faving stories.
10089439
Gee, that’s a good idea
10089434
Nice one
According to Jake since Unicorns aren't real....
"Scotland is NOT a real country: You are an Englishman in a dress!!" - The Soldier, Team Fortress 2
Twilight Sparkle is an englishman in a dress! D:
time to flee into the thicket I go!
10089862
I...what?!
10089870
the national animal of Scotland is the unicorn
10089886
Oh, well...how was I supposed to know that?
10089888
Obviously Scotland doesn't exist, neither do unicorns! So how would anyone know!‽
Twilight is way too trusting for her own good, taking in a strange creature she found in the Everfree Forest like that.
She's just lucky Jake is such a nice guy.
This is pretty much like I thought Twilight would react to Jake for the first time. Nice work.
“I don’t know who you are, or where you came from, but you’re my new best friend
”
Annnd cue the guilt train for most of the mane 6! Except for Twilight: she didn't do anything wrong.
Did I start something with my 4th wall break joke in my own author's notes...?
First off: omnivores, not strictly carnivores.
Second: Jake's too easily spooked, unless I'm missing something.
Lastly: I don't think you give Pinkie enough credit: she's sharp enough to pick up that something's off.
(I know, I know. "Your story, your rules".)
10101395
I think you forgot about Fluttershy: she hardly said anything.
10101440
Good catch. Both Fluttershy and Twilight didn't really say or do anything wrong.
I think I've been editing too much lately
10101451
Meh, it's all good. I missed something with the last chapter I posted in my current story.
Was one of those Applejacks the liquor? Quick, somepony contact Berry Punch! JK, but did notice the two Applejacks in the introduction of Twilight's friends.
10101703
Thanks for catching that, one of my funnier fails
Subtle, Rainbow, real subtle.
10101757
Well, she’s not exactly known for being subtle
I never thought throwing a funeral could act as a form of apology, but it works here.
Well done!
Thinking about it, I've read stories where the human was cool with not being able to go back home, and those that took not being able to hard, but later accepted it.
But I don't see many where they just don't want to go back even with the option there. Hmm.
10102469
Thank you, I got this idea from season 6 of The Ranch on Netflix
10102503
Well, that’s because most humans either still have a good life back home or they just don’t remember. Jake rememberers his old life clearly...and doesn’t want to go bock to that
10103459
Now that I think if it, I have seen a lot of stories where the humans has sad backstories, like how Jake does.
I think that different in those stories I'm thinking of is that the humans still tend to not have the option to go back, so they would be stuck in Equestria anyway, but Jake has the choice.
Some of the stories I can think of that the human could go back, tend to be the stories when the ponies adopt a human baby or kid.
But Twilight, alcohol stifles reasoning skills and contemplating repercussions, so Jake is more likely to be telling the truth when he's drunk.
And so Twilight's crush on Jake begins.
This chapter must be inspired by Pink's "That Morning I Woke Up With an Alicorn Princess"... similar plot device and technique with several situational differences you guys must bounce ideas between each other, prolly be interesting to see a Jake Taylorverse/Eric Reedverse crossover... an idea for a "Romantic Mischief" story arc mayhaps?
10107708
Actually this chapter was written before I even thought of the idea for my "That Morning I Woke Up With an Alicorn Princess" story, so I can't take any credit for any inspirations. I helped a bit with this story by offering a few suggestions, so that's how I know that.
10107802
Cool
10107708
We have thought about a crossover like that, but we’re not sure how exactly it would work
Saying goodbye is always hard, especially to someone you love.
This really got me right in the feels.
This is a very good and an emotional prequel. And Jake's backstory is sad and tragic.
At least he now has friends, including Twilight!
Spotted a typo near the start of the chapter.
So that's what Discord's been doing while he was stoned.
Me: 🤔 Hmmm...
Eeyup, gotta leave sumthin fer them thar proofreaders. 
Twilight:
10116712
Which is it?
10117404
Thanks for catching that
Liquor is involved, yet I'm a bit disappointed. I'd expect AJ & RD to start fighting or something of the sort.
Or Pinkie being the loud and obnoxious ("Oh my gawd, this song's about meeeeee!!" or some other silly nonsense).
10117666
Well, it was really just an excuse to help kickstart Twilight’s crush on Jake