"So, Michael, what do you plan on doing now?" Princess Celestia asked me.
"I have some unfinished business back on my homewold. I hope that I may return soon, and in a new body as well. I must admit that being Trixie has been quite fun, nearly as much fun as being Twilight, but I believe, as Pinkie Pie had told me earlier, that I should be my own pony and stop trying to be somepony else. Would you like for me to return this finery so you may keep it safe, should its use ever be needed again?"
"Certainly, Michael. Your assistance has proven valuable and I will admit to being pleasantly surprised by your abilities, even though I did not expect your return, timely as it was. I will safeguard your amulet and armor and should the need arise, it will be here waiting for you, regardless of which form you take when you return. I look forward to meeting you once again and would like to learn more about you and your home world when there is more time for such discussions."
"Trixie wants to know if she can accompany you, Michael, wherever you choose to go," she said optimistically.
"My home world is no place for ponies, Trixie. I'm afraid you cannot join me there -- however, I would like to meet up with you again in the future."
"Trixie enjoyed your company! You showed her a good time! Thank you for doing so!" she exclaimed in her happiness. She trotted over to me and gave me a hug and a quick kiss on the lips. I blushed at this.
"Thanks for being nice, Trixie, I really appreciated it. I look forward to spending more time with you as well."
"When you divorce your wife, will you return to take Trixie as your new wife?" Some of the ponies gasped when they heard this question. Twilight glowered at Trixie, then turned toward me and grinned. I gave a short shrug.
"Is this true, Michael? That you are choosing to divorce your wife?" Celestia asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Your Majesty, she and I have irreconcilable differences -- I have tried for 20 years to make her happy and none of my efforts have proven successful for long. Her happiness has always been fleeting at best and downright non-existent at worst. I have my reasons for filing for divorce and if this displeases you, I am truly sorry, however I feel that such measures are necessary for me to retain some semblance of sanity."
"It is not my business to meddle in the affairs of humans, especially when it comes to marriages. Even though I would strongly suggest you not do so, you are free to do whatever you feel is necessary. If your wife makes you feel so unhappy, then by all means, take those measures in order to restore your happiness. Life is too short to remain so unhappy for so long."
"I thank you for your blessing, your Majesty."
"Trixie does not wish to beg, Michael, but she really wants to come with you! Please?" she pouted and gave me that sad puppy dog eyes look again. Some of the others chuckled softly.
"Yeah, Mike, take her with you!" Rainbow laughed. "Maybe more of your good manners will wear off on her!"
"I envy you, Trixie -- I would like to accompany Michael to his home world so I could see for myself in greater detail everything there is to know about his home world," Twilight stated. "Princess Celestia, do you think it might be possible for me to visit Michael on his home world some time in the future?"
"We shall see, Twilight. There shall come a time for you to visit that world, but it will have to wait awhile."
"Please, Michael? Please, will you take Trixie with you?" she asked again, this time getting on her knees. I could swear I saw tears starting to form at the corners of her eyes.
"If I do, Trixie, you must be on your best behavior. You must promise me that -- in fact, I would daresay you must Pinkie Promise me that!"
"Trixie does not know what a Pinkie Promise is," she said, her expression one of puzzlement. Pinkie Pie glared at her.
"Don't even THINK of breaking that promise, Trixie!" Pinkie admonished her. "Mikey will tell me if you do!"
"Trixie does not see what's so bad about breaking such a promise," she said, almost nonchalantly.
"You've never seen Pinkie when she's in a rage, have you, Trixie?" I asked her. "Trust me, bad things will happen to you if you break a Pinkie Promise."
"Speaking of which, Mikey, did you keep the one you made your wife?" the pink earth pony grinned at me.
"That party we had, and my subsequent falling asleep made me two hours late -- technically, it was still my birthday, I think -- unless ..."
"You BROKE that Pinkie Promise? I don't believe you! How could you?" she glared at me, her mane and tail going flat. I was starting to get nervous, but Princess Celestia intervened.
"Pinkie Pie. Did you know that time passes differently between the two separate worlds? Did you encourage him to stay for the party you held for him?"
"Oh. Yes, Princess Celestia, I did encourage him to stay ... okie dokie loki, Mikey, you're cool. Don't let it happen again!" she pushed her muzzle against mine and gave me a low growl. "Or ELSE."
"I'm sorry, Pinkie Pie, I promise I won't let it happen again."
"Do you Pinkie Promise?" she grinned.
"You're impossible!" I chuckled. "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my ... eye? Ouch!"
"Good job, Mikey! Come back soon so we can have another party!"
"Sure thing, Pinkie. Trixie, are you willing to make such a promise for me? Will you behave yourself while you're on my home world? Even when I'm at work?"
"Trixie promises ... cross her heart, hope to fly? Stick a cupcake ... in ... Trixie's ... eye?" she paused. She imitated the movements, her left fore-hoof hitting her left eye. "OUCH!"
"Very well, then, Trixie. You may accompany me to my home world," I said, smiling at her. I was somewhat apprehensive about this, as I had no idea whether or not she would be able to adjust to living on Earth. "I must also warn you, Trixie, that it will take some time for the divorce to be finalized."
"How long does it usually take?" she asked.
"About six months, more or less. That is, of course, if I want it to be official. Otherwise, I suppose I could ask Princess Celestia for an immediate annulment, but I don't know if she'd be willing to do that. Additionally, I would also have to be transformed either back into a human, or into another pony. I have enjoyed being you, Trixie, but I don't think I can remain in this form much longer."
"Trixie wants you to be her for another night -- please! Please let Trixie spend one more night with you as her!"
"Okay, Trixie. One more night," I said. She smiled at me and hugged me again.
"Princess Celestia, I believe it's time for Trixie and I to leave. I hope to return soon, perhaps as a different pony. I suppose Trixie will still be with me as well. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for your hospitality and your assistance as well."
"You are quite welcome, Michael. Trixie, it is my sincere hope that you will obey your companion -- perhaps that's a bit much to ask, but he does have some intelligence and experience that will help you improve yourself as a pony. Michael, please keep me informed of her progress. Take care of yourselves, and good luck."
"Trixie promises to listen to Michael," she said and bowed before the Sun Goddess.
"Thank you once again, your Majesty. I will communicate with you as I can with regard to Trixie. If I have any problems with her, I will bring her back here, or perhaps to Ponyville." Trixie gasped at this. "That's why I asked you to behave yourself, Trixie. I know you most likely don't want to come back to Ponyville, do you?"
"Trixie would rather not do that, thank you," she shuddered.
"Okay, then, Trixie. Take my left fore-hoof, and we'll be off."
"Trixie wants to know how you can teleport so easily."
"Imagine a sheet of paper with two X's on it. Now fold the paper so the two X's meet at the same point. One of those X's represents your current location, the other one being your destination. Teleportation is like folding the sheet of paper."
"Very nicely put, Michael," the Princess smiled. "Essentially, that's about all there is to it, Trixie."
"Until we meet again, your Majesty," I said. Trixie put her right fore-hoof to my left and I enveloped us in my pink aura. Once again, the brilliant whiteness blinded us and again there was that sensation of stomach dropping. "I wish she had let me keep that amulet," I thought. We were now standing in the front yard of my house, the van still parked in the driveway. It was now very late in the afternoon, the sun just about to set.
"We are back on your home world now?" Trixie asked almost hesitantly.
"Yes, Trixie, we are. Let's go inside, I need to talk to Brenda again."