//------------------------------// // Chapter 23- Matri-moany // Story: Restart // by Alden MacManx //------------------------------// On our third vacation break, Silver Strings completely broadsided me with a proposal. Yes, THAT sort of proposal, meaning getting married. She could tell I was surprised by it, and while I responded positively to the offer, (down, boy!) she could tell my hesitation. “Let me handle all the details of the wedding, Tristan. You keep on doing what you do best,” she told me. I could only nod in agreement at the time, my mind completely cross-circuiting at the idea of marrying Silver Strings. It was not something I had even considered. Sure, she is my best friend, and maybe even my ‘special somepony’, but marrying her? Making her my wife? My brain put up an argument, which I handled in the best way I could. Excusing myself, I made my way to Twilight’s School of Friendship, then completing construction. I managed to corner Twilight for a while, convincing her to have lunch with me. I confessed to her Silver String’s proposal. She squealed in delight, hugged me tightly (alicorn strength…) and offered me all the support I needed. “You know, she’s right for you, Tristan. Cadance told me so a while back,” she told me once she settled down- and let go of me. I took a cautious breath or two before replying, checking to see if I had any broken ribs. Fortunately, I didn’t. “Cadance, eh? Now I know what she meant when she told me about needing a special somepony,” I said quietly. Alicorn of Love, yes. Whyinhell did she have to put ME in her crosshairs? “You really do, Tristan. I’ve noticed how close you and Silver Strings have been getting these last few months. Once you marry, then Accurate Strike could move on to another post, if he wants to,” twilight told me. “Somehow, I don’t think he will, Twilight. He likes it here and likes being my chief bodyguard. So far, several attempts on me have been repelled, and he’s hinted that there are more I don’t know about. I deliberately did not push him for details.” “But he is also your best friend here, right?” Twilight asked. “My best stallion friend, yes. As for best friend overall, it must be Silver Strings. We do get along together, in the house and out, in the lab, on the road, and wherever. I’m just surprised she moved first,” I said, reflecting on Silver’s and my relationship. “Nothing surprising to me, Tristan. You are a wonderful pony, but you get so focused on what you are doing, you hardly ever think of yourself. It’s a failing I’m familiar with,” she said, her dazzling smile and bright eyes taking any sting out of her words. “I’m sure you are, Twilight. How goes the school?” I asked. For the next fifteen minutes, I got a complete rundown about her school, getting students from all over Equestria, including the sea ponies she found while on the run from the Storm King. I let her run on while I had lunch, paying attention to her words. “A yak?” I said at one point. “Yes! A yak. Yona is a nice girl. You’ll like her. Ever consider joining the faculty?” twilight asked I shook my head. “While I am certified to do so, I like what I’m doing too much to do what you want as a full-time job. A substitute, or a guest lecturer, I’m okay with. Touring does take a lot of time, and Ponyville is home to me now. I want to help my home town be a better place to be,” I told her. My turn down did not damp her enthusiasm. “I understand, Tristan. If you weren’t such a good friend, I would not have asked in the first place. You, of all ponies, truly understand what friendship is, and I do want you to teach some of what you have learned to more than just ponies.” “Understood, Twilight,” I said, disposing of my lunch trash. “I must go now, before I get a call from Silver Strings asking where the hell I went,” tapping the magirad headset I wore. “Tristan, you’re always welcome here. Oh, how is the wall mounted magirad idea coming?” she asked. I rolled my eyes some. “Designing a switchboard using the mishmash here of magic and technology is giving me a pain behind the horn, but we’re making progress. I’m just glad for one thing on this idea- no wires between the houses,” I told her. “Yeah, the pegasi would not like that. You have a great day, Tristan. My best to everypony!” I could only agree with her, say that I would before leaving, and headed out. Trotting back to the house, I looked around the village, truly looking at it for the first time in a while. Today, it seemed brighter and better than before. If this is what it means to be truly in love, well then, I’m all in favor. It is a wonderful feeling, something I have never truly felt before. For some reason, I found myself tap-dancing (well, almost- you know what I mean) to the tune of ‘My Old Bam-Boo’ from Mary Poppins. I should curse my parents for getting me hooked on old musicals, but no, I’m not the type. Townsfolk saw my joy as I headed home, and the smiles and waves I got in return made my prancing about worthwhile. Of course, just as I got to the front door of the house, my hoof skidded on the welcome mat as I was doing the closing buck and wing, and my nose impacted the door rather forcefully. I woke up to find myself on the sofa, Silver Strings and Vectorex standing over me, giving me The Eye. I smiled up at them, and they just kept on giving me The Eye. Finally, I gave in. “Sorry…” I said in a small voice. “You, stallion of mine, really should learn how to knock on the front door without knocking yourself out,” Silver Strings said in a cold voice. “What she said, boss,” Vectorex added in similar tones. “You can stop trying to intimidate me, ladies. You know it does not work for long. My good mood stops for no pony or even loose door mats,” I told them, the smile coming back to my face as I got up. Vectorex then made an observation. “Dark fur goes a long way in hiding bruises and black eyes.” Silver Strings backed up the statement. “It does, but not completely, if you know how to look.” “I’m not that bad, am I, lovely?” I asked Silver. She pointed to the kitchen. “Get to work on the dishes, and I’ll forgive you. This time.” I did the dishes, singing an old Beatles tune, ‘If I Fell’, one I had not released or even brought up. It just came to mind. I heard Vectorex say to Silver Strings, “You got him well trained and you’re not even married yet. How do you do it?” “Native talent and a pliable student. He takes training well,” was her reply. I countered with another song, ‘You Talk Too Much’, by Joe Jones, another dredged from my memory. That resulted in laughter from the two ladies. The wedding was scheduled for after the next tour, a ten-gig routing that would end in the Crystal Empire. We had made no announcement of our engagement, but somehow, news of it spread. Why is it that the only thing faster than light is gossip? By the time we got to the last stop on the tour, I had to hire another boxcar to haul along all the wedding presents we were given. My announcement that many of the gifts were going to be donated to charity did not stop the deluge from well-meaning fans. After the last show, Silver Strings and I had a private audience with Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. There, she gave us her personal blessing on our marriage, adding “See, Tristan? I told you that you would be much better off with your special somepony.” “Cadance, I have to admit you were right. My history with love and romance never turned out sweet, just mildly sour, so I stopped trying. It took this wonderful mare, and coming here, to turn matters about,” I told the Alicorn of Love. “It was love at first sight for me, but I could also feel his shyness and hesitation. I just waited for the right moment to propose. Thank you for hinting when that moment should be, Princess,” Silver Strings added. I gave the Princess a long Look. “Did anypony ever tell you that you are a skilled puppet master, Princess?” I asked in tones which mixed humor, admiration and sarcasm. Cadance let out a long laugh, got between Silver Strings and I and gave us a long wing hug. “Many, Tristan. Don’t ever change. You know how to put us alicorns in our place and we appreciate it.” “That’s because I was not born here and have never been fully indoctrinated to consider an alicorn to be a top ruler. Respect, yes, but worship? No, alicorns are ponies too, and they deserve to be considered as such. Don’t undermine their authority, but don’t consider them so far above you can’t tell them when they are being foolish. Also, don’t consider yourself so far above them that they can do no right. I can be just as wrong as you. Just remember, two wrongs don’t make a right, but three rights make a left.” Silver Strings just stared at me while Cadance started giggling, backing out of the hug as the giggles built more to laughter. “How did you do that?” she asked me. I gave my fiancée a blank look. “Damned if I know, but it worked.” “No fair breaking an alicorn, Tris,” she said as Cadance’s laughter built. “I’ll put her back together. Now, where did I put the alicorn glue?” I asked, searching my saddlebags. That earned me a playful look from Strings as Cadance rolled on the floor, laughing harder. “Oh, dear, I left it in my other pants.” “You don’t wear pants, Tris.” “No wonder I can’t find it.”