Truthfully, when I had heard Trixie announce she wanted to have the wedding ceremony take place on Hearts and Hooves Day, about a week and a half after our happy reunion, I was under the impression that there wouldn't be enough time to make the needed preparations for it. I was surprised at how efficient the ponies can be when they set their minds to accomplish certain goals and this one was no exception. Rarity had finished our ensembles on the same day she took our measurements and I was truly impressed by her design. The color scheme she used accentuated my coat, mane and tail coloration, the trim in orange to match my eyes. She told me I would have to have my mane and tail restyled for the ceremony itself, as the mohawk style was too garish for such a momentous occasion. I told her I would be okay with this as I could always restyle it later or perhaps keep it in the new style if I liked it better. I will have to admit I was quite curious to see what Rarity had designed for Trixie -- so much so in fact that she had to tell me more than a few times to wait until the wedding ceremony itself to see it, informing me that it was bad luck for the groom to see his bride wearing her wedding dress before the ceremony.
As for what Trixie and I did during the intervening days leading up to the wedding, we met with Princess Celestia for the purpose of acquiring a house we could live in, discussing ideas of gainful employment, magic studies with Twilight to improve our skills (a prospect which made Trixie bristle uncomfortably) and engaging in other activities in Ponyville to improve our public standing among the local citizenry, volunteering some time and labor to assist in some projects. We were going to incur quite a bit of debt in order to become residents of Ponyville, and we were going to have to repay that debt as best we could. When I mentioned the idea of opening a pizzeria in Ponyville, the Sun Goddess asked me how much I knew about running a business of that sort. I informed her that during my 25 years of working for various pizza places, I had learned quite a bit about the management aspects of that business as well as food safety, preparation, storage and profitability. Celestia smiled at my explanation, appearing to be satisfied I knew how to run such a business, informing me that she would like to sample the food once I had everything up and running. I assureed her she would be the first recipient of a hot and fresh pizza.
Until our wedding, we were allowed to live with Twilight, sharing the guest room bed. This made for a very cozy sleeping arrangement for us, and proved to be irresistibly tempting for the two of us to engage in certain activities which would lead to Trixie's first pregnancy. I asked her if she was ready to have a foal of her own, and she responded by telling me that she was looking forward to motherhood as long as I was there to help her in every aspect of raising our foal. I assured her I would always be there for her, to help her in any and every way possible. We informed Twilight of the possibility of Trixie giving birth, to which she was absolutely elated. I asked Twilight for some books on raising foals and I studied these intently during the days leading up to the wedding. I also asked her if I could reference the material should circumstances arise and she was more than willing to allow me this privilege.
The following day, I trotted over to Sugarcube Corner and asked Pinkie Pie about what she knew about babysitting the Cake twins, but she was so excited over the prospect of Trixie and I becoming new parents, she would talk so swiftly as to be almost indecipherable despite my attempts to get her to slow down her speaking. I eventually asked the Cakes themselves about the experience of raising foals while working, but about all they could do was wish me luck.
"Well, Amethyst, about all I can tell you is that juggling running the bakery and having to raise our twins takes all our time. I don't know what you have planned for employment after your wedding, but if it's as hectic as running a bakery --" Carrot Cake began.
"I intend to run a pizzeria, which will probably be every bit as hectic as your bakery," I stated.
"Then all I can do is wish you good luck, unless Trixie will take care of any foals you two may have," he responded. "Now if you don't mind, I still have quite a few orders to fill for our customers. Your wedding cake is something my wife and I will work on the day before your wedding. We hope you and Trixie enjoy what will be a masterpiece."
"I'm sure we will -- after having had a slice of the MMMM cake, I still remember the intensity of all the flavors. I definitely look forward to having some more of it! Thanks again, Mr. Cake!" I said cheerfully as I made my way to Sweet Apple Acres to check on the status of the catering. Applejack met me as I approached the farm house.
"Howdy, there, sugarcube! How's things with you and Trixie goin'?" she asked, smiling warmly at me.
"Hey, AJ, we're doing good, thanks for asking. I was wanting to know what you and your family have planned for the catering?"
"There's still a few days left, but we've been stockpiling the food we need to cook for the wedding. We're makin' enough fer 50, and we hope that's all we need. I trust yer gonna eat as much as ya want, Ammy?"
"Oh, but of course, Applejack, your family's cooking is the best! I will be sure to allow the guests to take their fill as well."
"Thank ya kindly for the compliment! Just be sure ya don't let everypony else eat all the food before ya get some!" the orange mare chuckled.
"I hope they don't! But I'll be sure to sample as much of it as I can. Thanks again for your generosity, AJ, I'll see what I can do about repaying you as soon as possible."
"No need for that, Ammy, the Princess has already given us a hefty stipend to cover the cost."
"Then I'll have to thank her yet again for her generosity. I continue to be amazed by everypony's gifts -- and once I get the pizzeria going, I'll be sure to return gifts as I can. Hey, AJ, you ever had pizza before?"
"Only a couple times, and even then it wasn't very good," she mused.
"I know a thing or three about good pizza, and I can tell you once I get my place going, you'll love my food!" I smiled.
"Well, I'll be lookin' forward to it, sugarcube!" she chuckled.
"I'll hold a grand opening ceremony and you and the other Element Bearers, Princesses Celestia and Luna and my new mare will all get the first pizzas out of the oven. I look forward to providing Ponyville with quality food. Seeya later, AJ!"
"Well, best o' luck, Ammy, seeya later!"
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Magic studies with Twilight were an interesting thing -- and even though Trixie didn't seem to be too interested in it -- well, truthfully, she wasn't at all interested in learning from Twilight -- it turns out that I was going to be learning magic from both Twilight and Trixie. I suppose Trixie might end up learning something herself as a result of the instruction, so I went along with it.
"Okay, Amethyst, what we're going to be practicing today is casting multiple spells across several different magic disciplines," Twilight explained. "Trixie, you might want to pay attention as well."
"Trixie wants to know what she'll learn from this -- is there any practical application of this technique for her?"
"Well, Trixie, you never know when it might be useful to be able to engage in cross-disciplinary multi-casting, should the need arise," the lavender mare continued with her explanation.
"I believe practicing these techniques will improve one's magical strength, increasing the effectiveness of basic spells used in the multi-casting as well as the power level of those particular spells," I stated, almost hesitantly.
"That is correct, Ammy, but there are other benefits as well. By using these techniques you will also increase your magical vocabulary and lead to the creation of new spells. Experimentation with these techniques can bring about some amazing results which is why I recommend you pay attention, Trixie."
"Trixie will pay attention -- she could use a few laughs," the azure mare chuckled.
"I suspect Trixie thinks she already knows everything there is to know about magic," I postulated.
"HEY!" she blurted out, glaring daggers at me. I gave her a wink and a grin, letting her know I wasn't serious about my jab. Twilight stifled a giggle.
We started out with something simple, crossing levitation with teleportation -- in this case, a medium-sized rock was used. I lifted the rock using telekinesis then teleported it five feet away. I was then instructed to turn the rock into water, then heat the water until it boiled away, then condense the steam back into water, all while continuing to keep it from making contact with the ground. Trixie seemed intrigued by my display and Twilight smiled in approval as I succeeded with the exercise.
We went on to more complex tests until I had announced that I was starting to tire from the concentration needed to perform the magic, feeling a buzzing in my horn. I had developed a slight headache and let Twilight know about it.
"You're doing good, Ammy -- I guess it's time to take a break. Trixie? Would you like to try these techniques?"
"Trixie got tired just watching -- maybe later she'll be ready to try it out."
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One of the fourth day of Trixie and me sharing the guest room bed, I awoke to find myself alone -- Trixie had left in the middle of the night. I went downstairs to meet up with Twilight and Spike to find out what was going on.
"Hey, Twilight -- do you know what's going on with Trixie?"
"What do you mean, Ammy?"
"When I woke up this morning, she wasn't in the bed with me," I said with some concern.
"Um, well ... you two haven't been fighting, have you?" she asked, a slight look of worry marking her features.
"No, and that's what has me puzzled. I have no idea why she would leave me in the middle of the night. Do you know where she is?"
"I think she might be in my bed," Twilight stated flatly. "You want to talk to her?"
"I think I'll do just that. Thanks, Twilight," I said hurriedly and got up from the table, making my way back upstairs to find Trixie. I opened the door to Twilight's room to find my bride-to-be still sleeping in Twilight's bed. I trotted over to her.
"Wakey, wakey -- eggs and bakey," I said, nudging her somewhat roughly to try to roust her from her slumber.
"Mmm, let Trixie sleep a bit longer, she is still tired," she moaned.
"I thought you were supposed to be sleeping with me," I said, my statement sounding more like a question.
"Trixie doesn't think she's ready to be a mother just yet -- she is scared and wants to sleep with Sparkle," she said, almost meekly. "Please don't think Trixie doesn't love you, Ammy."
I gave a rather heavy sigh and held her close. "I understand, Trixie -- I'm scared of the commitment as well. I was in an unhappy marriage for twenty years, and I know it can be frightening to enter into a long-term covenant without knowing what the future may hold. So what is it you want? Do you want me to be a mare instead of a stallion? That way you won't have to worry about having foals if that's what you're worried about."
"Trixie does not know if she's ready to get married now -- she needs more time!"
"I tried to tell you we needed to have more time together before the marriage. Now it's just a few days away, and you're getting cold hooves about it? Do you want to call it off? You know how embarrassing it will be for both of us if you do?" I asked, my voice starting to raise, almost involuntarily.
"I ... I ... Trixie is scared, Ammy!" she wailed, tears starting to trickle down her cheeks. I held her even tighter, trying to comfort her.
"Trixie, there is something I must tell you. I need you, Trixie. I will never leave you. I will always be here for you. Trixie, I love you. If nothing else, please understand that. We will face this together -- please be strong for me, Trixie. Please," I stated softly, holding her as tightly as I could, giving her a soft kiss on her lips. She smiled ever so slightly. "Trixie, please sleep with me -- I get lonely when you're not there with me. Please strengthen your resolve on this matter, for my sake."
"Trixie will try, Ammy. I ... I ... Trixie wants to be with you, but she is so scared!"