Sunset Shimmer snapped open her purse for the fourth time that minute. Her teal eyes gazed into the dark abyss of the bag as she plunged her hand inside and scavenged around until she found what relaxed her. A small black box which she immediately opened, unveiling a silver ring embedded with a sapphire.
A relieved smile crossed Sunset’s lips as she closed the box and placed it back into her purse. She tapped a golden heel against the marble floor as she sat alone at her booth. Crystal chandeliers hung above, emitting a silvery light across the restaurant.
Businessmen, politicians, now bankrupt boyfriends trying to look impressive for their dates all sat around her across the various booths and tables, the most wealthy of the customers having the more private dining experiences. The Crystal Heart was one of the most luxurious restaurants in the state, located at the bottom of the mountains just outside of Ponyville. Sunset turned to look out the window, seeing a lovely view of a clear waterfall pouring down, the mountains towering right behind.
Sunset momentarily stopped tapping her heel and pulled out her phone - five before seven. None of them were late yet - she wasn’t late. She was still coming.
Sunset set her phone down on the table, shifting in her seat as she gulped. She wished she could calm down. She had fought Sirens, saved two worlds from collapsing on themselves, and had asked out the most important woman in her life.
So why was the notion of proposing to her so terror inducing?
Sunset looked at her phone, the wallpaper showing her next to a silvery-blue haired girl, her violet eyes beaming with an inordinate amount of pride. Trixie Lulamoon was one of the most frustrating yet supportive friends Sunset had acquired back at Canterlot High and after graduation both girls found something more.
Sunset glanced at her reflection in the silverware, her fiery red and gold hair done up in a wavy bun a la Rarity’s help. She had also made the crimson dress that now adorned Sunset’s body. It had also been she who suggested the Crystal Heart to Sunset to use as the place to propose.
Sunset had prepared everything in advanced a year ago - the reservations, the ring, and - more importantly - friends to help her through this. The rest of the girls were too busy with their jobs and school to make it out for this, but luckily Sunset had managed to get Princess Twilight and Starlight to come over to help support her during this.
She just wished they were already here.
The clock on her phone changed to seven and Sunset held her breath as she lifted her gaze up swiftly and met the surprised gaze of those violet eyes.
Sunset’s heart walloped against her rib cage as she saw Trixie. Her hair was done up in a bun as well, a dark blue pin of a crescent moon with a star tipped wand holding it in place. Her cornflower blue dress reached down to her mid-thigh and was studded with glittering silver, a pair of dark blue heels on her wobbly feet.
“Trixie!” Sunset exclaimed in relief as she shot up to take hold of Trixie’s hands - both to steady her and so that she could feel the soft, comforting warmth Sunset always felt when she held Trixie’s hands. Sunset leaned in, partially closing her eyes as she neared Trixie’s glossed over lips.
“Uh, hold on a second - Trixie isn’t mentally prepared for such a sudden declaration from a new friend - as great and powerful as she may be to be worthy of all the adoration.”
Sunset froze, opening her eyes to look into the ones before her. So perfectly round and deep with confidence, yet also confused and not quite as mischievous as Sunset was used to.
Sunset’s blood ran cold as her eyed nearly bulged out of their sockets.
This wasn’t her Trixie.
“Sunset? Who is that?” an annoyed, yet haughty, voice asked from the side.
Sunset turned her head sharply to the side as she let go of the hands of the Trixie before her, the latter wobbling before falling over onto her rear. Next to them was Trixie - Sunset’s Trixie - with her hair done up in a high ponytail with her signature magician’s hat atop, her violet and blue dress resembling a tuxedo before reaching her hips where the dress slid down to her ankles, the sides slit open so she could show some leg. A blue bow tie sat beneath her neck and had the insignia of the moon with a star tipped wand on it.
“Trixie?! But I - how - why?” Sunset stumbled as her gaze went back to the other Trixie on the floor.
“Sunset! Trixie! Over here!”
Sunset and both Trixies looked up to see a young woman with wavy, purple hair with aquamarine highlights, her dark blue eyes glimmering as she came forward, before widening at the state she saw them all in. She wore a dark red dress that hugged her closely.
“Starlight!” Sunset exclaimed in relief. “Thank Celestia you’re here - where’s Twilight?”
Starlight smiled weakly as she rubbed the back of her head. “Uh, well, we were both readying to depart when the Map suddenly called for her and Applejack out on a Friendship Quest. Trixie popped by at the last second and decided to accompany me instead.”
“It was Trixie’s honor to fill the absentee role of Princess Twilight,” Trixie smirked as she steadied herself back up, “and Trixie’s pleasure to accompany Starlight as her best friend. Twilight seemed more than thrilled.”
Based on the daring grin of the Equestrian Trixie and the naive smile of Starlight, Sunset felt Twilight may not have been fully okay with this. She was starting to feel the same.
Still, she could work with this. She took a deep breath and smiled, helping the Equestrian Trixie to her seat. “Well, you’re more than welcome to be here. As a friend of Starlight’s as well, I hope we can get along well.”
“Trixie is still waiting to be kissed by her girlfriend,” Sunset’s Trixie stated testily off to the side.
Sunset sped away from the Trixie at the table and pulled her Trixie into her arms, embracing her tightly as she nuzzled against Trixie’s hair. “I’m so sorry, Trixie, I wasn’t expecting your doppelganger to show up.”
Trixie smiled as Sunset apologized, then as they locked eyes they drew closer, their lips brushing against one another before parting and them meeting once more, a bit deeper this time. They both broke into soft giggles holding each other’s hands tenderly.
Starlight sat down right next to her Trixie while Sunset and her Trixie sat next to each other across from them. As they placed their orders, Sunset reached her hand into her purse and felt around the contents until she could feel the small black box in her hand. All she had to do was make this dinner perfect and then she and Trixie could take the next big step.
“Trixie wishes to know how Trixie and Sunset Shimmer started dating,” the Equestrian Trixie stated as she toyed with her silverware in her newly acquired hands. Sunset made a note here to start thinking of the Equestrian Trixie as “Trix” to keep the two of them straight.
“Oh, it’s not as big as you’re making it out,” Sunset shrugged and took a sip of her wine. “We got together as simply as anybody does.
Trixie clicked her tongue and proudly stuck out her chest, placing one hand to it while dramatically raising the other up as she swished her hand about. “The Great and Powerful Trrrrixie never does anything as simply as anybody else! Especially not with Sunset Shimmer! Our love is a tale born of rivalry, flair, and my worth as her greatest and most powerfulest ally (Wallflower Blush stealing her friends’ memories also helped).”
“That’s a bit of a mouthful,” Starlight retorted with a small grin, Trix gently nudging her in the ribs as they shared a wink.
Trix then managed to drink out of her glass with barely any spillage and smiled proudly as she looked at Trixie and Sunset. “Trixie would expect no less from thyself, no matter what pony she decides to love! After all, how many ponies can match up to the world’s greatest and most powerfulest sorceress-”
“Magician,” Starlight whistled out without hesitation as she glanced over the dessert menu for later.
“-who managed to slay the Ursa Major-”
“Showboat,” Starlight interjected again as she held the menu up to hide her curling lips.
“-who defeated Twilight Sparkle in a magic duel-”
“With a soul stealing amulet as you told me.”
“-AND managed to help save Equestria from the threat of a Changeling Army led by the nefarious Queen Chrysalis alongside her best friend plus two more!” Trix finished as she shot Starlight a glare.
“Meh, I’ll give you that,” Starlight shrugged, followed a moment later by the two breaking into silent laughter.
“Wow, that’s certainly impressive,” Sunset started to say before Trixie awkwardly butted in.
“I - well - Trixie has managed to make it to the finals in the Battle of the Bands, and, uh, also helped Sunset find the answer to saving not only her friends, but Wallflower Blush as well, and Trixie also - is the only one for Sunset!”
Sunset turned her head, seeing above Trixie’s haughty look, sweat starting to moisten her brow. “Trixie? Weren’t we just talking about how we got together?” Sunset asked, but she wasn’t about to receive an answer.
Trix nodded, setting her elbows on the table and propping her chin up on her closed, bent forward hands. “Well, that sounds fun. But what magic have you been able to master?”
Trixie breathed in relief and closed her eyes as she began to answer, “Well, there’s the matter of card tricks, the death defying escapes, pulling rabbits out of Trixie’s hat-”
Trix leaned in, her eyes brimming as she clarified, “Trixie means what real magic has Trixie done?”
Trixie faltered, one eyes gazing at Trix while the other glanced at Sunset. “Pardon?”
Trix leaned back and continued, “Trixie has heard all about how magic started leaking into this world and that Sunset and her friends have managed to use and master magic. Surely any Trixie would be worthy as well. Why, Trixie herself has managed to master transfiguration, teleportation, minor shield spells…”
“Yeah, Trixie has come a long way since I started teaching her,” Starlight smiled as she patted Trix’s shoulder.
“...That does sound very impressive.” Trixie spoke softly, her hands resting in her hands as she clutched her dress.
Sunset looked at Trixie worriedly and began to reach out to hold her hand when Trixie suddenly slammed her hands onto the table, a frantic, eager look in her eye. “Trixie is still an accomplished magician! She has traveled statewide since leaving high school.”
“Trixie, what are you-,” Sunset started to ask as she noticed they were drawing unwanted attention, her face blushing like when Princess Twilight and her friends had first tried to defeat the Sirens in the school gym.
“Oooh, Trixie must hear of Trixie’s shows. She may be able to find inspiration for her next show on her Equestrian tour,” Trix smiled eagerly.
“Equestrian? As in… the whole country, right?” Trixie asked in a small, squeaky voice.
“Yes, that is correct. I am sure this ‘stateside’ is just as big as Equestria, right?” Trix asked.
“Heh heh, not exactly,” Starlight said.
“It doesn’t matter how big the tour is - Trixie is still the biggest star!” Trixie steamed.
Sunset rubbed her temples fiercely as both Trixies went at it, boasting of their feats. Trix looked relaxed, as if this was something natural, like she was telling it to herself. Trixie, though, looked on the verge of screaming, her nails digging into the table as she tried to beat out the magical exploits pathetically.
“...and that was how Trixie and Starlight helped change Thorax’s brother for the better. And then he told us how he used to make Thorax hit himself.”
“Well - Trixie still managed to be the one to-”
“TRIXIE, SHUT UP! NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR THIS!”
Everyone went silent, all eyes now on Sunset, whose face was an inferno red, huffing slowly as she gritted her teeth. The waiter had been about to return with their food before slowly walking back into the kitchen with no one the wiser.
Sunset’s heaving face began to slow down as her eyes turned to pin pricks, her gritting teeth loosening as her lips quivered. She turned toward Trixie, whose own eyes wavered and began to tear up, chewing at the corner of her lip. “Trixie - I - I’m so sor-”
Trixie threw down a smoke bomb and everyone around the table began to cough loudly amidst the smoke and dust. Sunset wheezed as the smoke settled and saw that Trixie was gone. “Aw, horse feathers,” she muttered, hitting herself in the leg disappointingly.
Starlight looked up and saw the manager coming over. She turned to Sunset and quickly said, “You go look for Trixie - I’ll handle things here.”
Sunset nodded and hurried on out of there while Starlight went to meet with the manager partway. She hurried out of the main dining area and went into the decorated halls, paintings lining the walls with crystal frames. Sunset began to burst into every room she could fine as she called out for Trixie and that she was sorry.
Hot tears streamed down her face as she cursed herself. She had let her temper get the best of her again! How many times did this have to happen before she stopped screwing things up? She didn’t want to remain stuck in the same place forever.
As Sunset rounded a corner she bumped into someone and upon seeing the silvery-blue hair she smiled and began to hug her, but stopped as she saw it was Trix. Sunset’s arms fell to her side as Trix rubbed her head. “Oh, sorry, Trix. I thought - I should go. I need to find my Trixie.”
As Sunset began to wander off, Trix grabbed her hand and looked up at her. “Trixie… I may have messed up. I’m sorry if I caused any problems between you and your Trixie.”
Sunset lifted her free hand to wipe a tear away. “It was my fault, not yours. But I appreciate the apology. Heh, you’re still as thoughtful as mine, in a way.”
Trix smiled softly and then said, “Try the stallion’s room. Nopony ever thinks to look for Trixie there.”
Sunset raised an eyebrow and then shook her head as she smiled. Leave it to Trixie to pull stunts like that. “Got it, thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Trixie hopes we can try to be friends after all this - with Sunset and Trixie,” Trix smiled softly.
Sunset took off, making her way to the restrooms and right as she did she saw a puff of smoke come from the inside and suddenly a young man found himself right outside, looking confused. He turned to look back at the door as Sunset reached him. “Leave this to me, you should go look for another one.”
The young man decided not to question her and just hurried off. Sunset looked at the door and sat down in front of it, leaning back. She could feel resistance from it being pushed open and knew Trixie was sitting on the other side.
Sunset lifted her hand back and knocked it against the door. “Trixie, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have blown up at you - her - both of you like that.”
Silence was her answer at first, but then she heard Trixie softly say, “Why are you ever with me?”
“Because I’m sorry over my outburst and-”
“No, I mean, why are you dating me when there are so many more wonderful people better than me.”
Sunset’s eyes widened as she heard this from Trixie. She really was hurting. “Trixie, what makes you think there’s anybody better than you?”
“Because it is true. All of Sunset’s friends have real magic, have fought and saved the world. Even my double is better than me. She has real magic and has done even far more with her magician career. How can I match up with that? You already have a better me you could date.”
“Trixie, being good or bad things isn’t why I love you. It’s because you’re fun, amusing, understand how I feel and…,” Sunset trailed off as she thought back to how Trixie was acting at dinner. “Were… were you trying to beat Trix at amazing feats to win my attention?”
“Along those lines, yes,” Trixie answered. “I was scared if you found her better than me, not only would you break up with Trixie, but leave to go back home permanently as well. The thought of that scared and hurt more.”
Sunset felt her breath catch in her throat. She beat her head back against the door and sighed. “I’m sorry for not noticing how you were feeling. I was anxious and everything became a loud blur with both of you trying to shout over one another. This wasn’t what I wanted at all. I just wanted to have a nice evening with you.”
“I’m sorry I ruined your proposal.”
“It’s not your fault - wait, what?” Sunset straightened herself up as she looked right at the restroom door. “Who told?!”
Trixie giggled from inside and answered, “Puhleeease, Sunset. The fancy restaurant, the romantic atmosphere, the anniversary of when we kissed - subtle, you are not.”
Sunset scowled playfully and pushed against the door, knocking it into Trixie’s head, making her exclaim, “Ow!”
Sunset laughed and pulled the small black box out of her purse, opening it to gaze at the ring inside. “Well, I’m pretty sure this night can be considered unforgettable, in any case.”
“Trixie is glad she didn’t punch Trixie in the face. That would have ruined it for sure if Trixie suddenly started fighting Trixie.”
Sunset pondered a moment and thought it over. “Huh, Trixie tangling with Trixie. That actually sounds fun to watch with popcorn,” Sunset grinned.
There was a bang of smoke and Sunset coughed as her vision cleared, finding herself in the boy’s room. A moment later, the door pushed open and knocked against Sunset’s head, making her go, “Ow!”
Trixie laughed from the outside and Sunset couldn’t help but giggle as well. She then looked down and saw the ring was gone.
“You’re sure you still want to propose?” Trixie asked from outside. “Even after how Trixie acted tonight?”
“We both made poor judgments tonight, Trixie,” Sunset said as she gave a soft smile. “This was just a bump in the road - and we’ll have plenty more as we continue on together. But it’s a journey I want to make with you - good and bad. If you’ll have me.”
Sunset stood up and opened the door, seeing a crying, yet smiling, Trixie on the other side, holding the ring. She held it out to Sunset, who took it and then got down on one knee. “Trixie Lulamoon, will you marry me?”
“Yes, yes, Trixie accepts!” she declared in a partially haughty and partially tearful voice. She took the ring and slid it onto her finger, then she jumped forward onto Sunset and they crashed onto the floor. They laughed as they snuggled up, Sunset running her hands through Trixie’s hair and over her back as their lips met.
The sounds of applause and squeals came from outside and they saw Starlight and Trix beaming down at them. “Congratulations, Sunset!” Starlight cried out.
“Yes, Trixie has made the best decision she could make,” Trix nodded as she smiled at her double.
“Why, of course,” Trixie declared as she stood up. “Trixie is the greatest and most powerfulest woman Sunset could have!”
“Trixie is sure,” Trix smirked. “But the great and powerful Trixie is still the best one in any dimension.”
Trixie frowned and soon enough the two were going at it again. Sunset and Starlight looked at one another and raised their hands in defeat. Sunset then stood up and picked Trixie up in her arms, making her squeal in surprise.
“I’ll take care of what remain, Starlight. You and your Trixie just head on home now,” Sunset told her.
“Have fun, you two,” Starlight winked as she and Trix held arms and walked off.
Sunset and Trixie smiled at one another, Trixie lifting her hand to stroke Sunset’s face.
“I love you,” Trixie stated softly.
“And I love you,” Sunset replied just as softly.
Sunset set Trixie down and they held hands warmly as they continued along where their love would take them next.