//------------------------------// // What Love Hath Brought Together // Story: Why Did I Choose to be Trixie? // by Mike the Red //------------------------------// The door to my room was opened rather brusquely as Twilight burst in. "Ammy! Wake up! You've got an hour or so to get ready!" she exclaimed. "What about Trixie?" I asked. "Pinkie and Fluttershy are getting her ready! I have to talk to Princess Celestia, but I will return to help you. Looks like you had a rough night last night, Ammy -- better take a shower before you get dressed. Here's your ensemble," she stated and telekinetically placed the outfit on the dresser directly opposite the bed. She then turned and left, trotting toward the throne room. I made my way into the shower, noticing even the subtle touches of elegance adorning the plumbing fixtures. I turned on the water, allowing the warmth to envelop my body. I used telekinesis to lather my coat, mane and tail with shampoo, using several scrubbing brushes to thoroughly clean all my hair. I was careful around my lower abdomen and had to rear up on my hind legs to make sure all the shampoo was rinsed out. I mindlessly sang aloud while showering: "I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you, And all the roads that lead you there are winding, And all the lights that light the way are blinding, There are many things that I would like to say to you but I don't know how..." My singing was interrupted by another knocking at the door. I finished rinsing off, turning the water off, and wrapping a towel around my midsection. I opened the door to find Twilight and Trixie from the other universe standing at the door. I allowed the two of them to enter as I toweled off in front of them. "Um, Michael? Do you still go by that name?" the Other Twilight asked me. She gawked at me a little. "So, what brings you two here? Are you here to be part of my wedding?" I asked, a grin on my face. "What? You're getting married? Today?" Trixie asked in shock. "Why didn't you tell me?" I hung my head, my ears drooping. "Well, if it's any consolation, your counterpart here has been acting very strangely, as though she is not herself. Truthfully, I owe you an apology, but because you're part of another universe, I thought you'd be too busy with your affairs. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Trixie." "I accept your apology, Michael, and as for my counterpart not acting herself, I don't know what to tell you. How soon is the wedding?" "In about forty minutes, more or less. I have to get into my ensemble here," I said, levitating the clothes, opening them, and putting them on my body. I stood before a mirror to check myself out. The two mares smiled in approval. "Oh, and another thing -- I don't go by my human name anymore, my new name is Amethyst Flame." "You always did have a flair for the dramatic," Twilight giggled. "Whoever made that for you did a wonderful job!" "That would be Rarity," I stated proudly. The Twilight from this universe made it back to the room to check up on me. "What? What are you two doing here?" This Twilight asked in surprise. "Our Princess Celestia sent us to seek his help again," the Other Trixie replied. "But it appears we will have to wait until after his wedding, since the ceremony is to start fairly soon." "Well, let me fetch Rarity to help with his mane and tail -- he can't be looking like THAT when he walks down the aisle!" This Twilight said with a little exasperation. She teleported away then returned almost immediately with Rarity. "Darling, your coiffure! It's absolutely dreadful! Here, let me help you with that," the alabaster unicorn offered, using her magic to shape my mane and tail into something quite attractive. "A pompadour? Really, Rarity?" I asked as even more exasperation crept into my voice. "I think it looks simply smashing, darling!" she giggled. The Other Trixie and Twilight chuckled softly. "I think it looks nice," offered this Twilight. "Oh well, I guess it can't be helped. Let's head to the throne room and get on with the ceremony," I stated flatly. "Why the sour mood, Amethyst?" asked Rarity as we trotted towards the throne room. "I'm still concerned about Trixie," I replied matter-of-factly. "I'm right here, you know," the Other Trixie stated, a small grin on her face. "Don't tempt me to ask for YOUR hoof in marriage, Trixie -- I was talking about your counterpart in this universe." "Oh," came her curt response. After about ten more minutes of trotting through hallways we made it to the throne room. The Royal Guards were a little surprised to see two Twilights, though one with Trixie's cutie mark distinguished her from the other. "Trixie, why aren't you in your wedding ensemble?" one of the guards asked. "I'm from the other universe, and unfortunately, I'm not the one getting married," she responded sullenly. "Amethyst, I wish you had told me earlier." "I'm sorry, Trixie. I didn't want to hurt you," I said glumly. "Well, I suppose it's for the best. I hope the two of you live a long and happy life together," the azure mare sighed. We entered the Royal Throne Room to see Princess Celestia sitting on her throne, a warm smile gracing her features. She raised an eyebrow when she saw the two visitors from the other universe, but beckoned them inside the room anyway. "Amethyst, please approach me. I have something I need to give you," the Alicorn stated. I trotted over to her and she levitated my blue diamond amulet to me, placing it around my neck. "You may need this," she whispered in my ear. The Cutie Mark Crusaders had been designated as the flower fillies for this wedding and Big Macintosh as my best stallion. He stood not far from me, smiling warmly. I returned his smile, mine a bit wider than his. I tried to spot This Trixie in her wedding dress but didn't see her. I walked toward the back of the aisle, past the many ponies who had gathered for the ceremony. Princess Luna and Princess Cadance stood on either side of the Sun Goddess, and they too smiled warmly at me. Shining Armor stood beside Big Mac. "Ammy, I have a specific location to watch the ceremony," This Twilight told me. She trotted over towards Princess Cadance and stood near her. Rarity trotted behind Twilight and stood about fifteen feet to Twilight's right. I noticed the other Element Bearers take strategic locations in the room. "Um, Ammy, if I may call you that," Other Trixie began, "why are your friends taking those specific positions?" "Something big is going to happen, Trixie. Perhaps you could stand near the back of the room and watch?" I half-asked. "This ought to be interesting," the Other Twilight mused softly. I stood at the back end of the red carpet delineating the center of the aisle and waited on This Trixie to show up. After about fifteen minutes of what seemed like interminable waiting, the mare of my dreams trots slowly into the room, wearing a truly breathtaking dress -- except for the fact that it doesn't fit her correctly -- it appears to be draped loosely about her withers and hind legs, the train ruffled a little too much on the floor. She turns to me but does not smile as she makes her way to my side. I smile warmly at her. "Glad to see you could make it to your wedding, my love," I said softly to her. Music started playing for us at this point. "Let's get this over with," she said tersely. As she trotted beside me on our walk down the aisle, I couldn't help but notice that same particular scent that was emanating from Xerxei in the club last night. I chose to remain silent, still smiling as we came to a stop in front of the Sun Goddess, who continued to smile warmly at us. The music stopped and Princess Celestia cleared her throat. "Ladies, fillies and gentlecolts, we are gathered here today to celebrate a momentous occasion. Today being Hearts and Hooves Day, it also serves as a perfect day to join a new couple in wedded bliss. Before the actual ceremony itself, is there anypony here who would choose to prevent these two from being joined together forever in marriage? If so, let that pony speak now or forever hold their peace," Celestia began. The room was deathly silent save for the breathing of ponies and the very faint sound of snickering from the mare beside me. I raised an eyebrow in her direction as I turned my head to meet her gaze. Her eyes flashed green for a split second. "As there is no pony who wishes to forbid these two in marriage, I shall ask Amethyst if there is anything he would like to say to Beatrix before the exchanging of vows and rings." I took my cue at that point and turned to Trixie. "Trixie, my love, I would like to say this to you: from the moment we first met, my feelings for you have blossomed greatly. The time we have spent together has made me happy and I truly feel blessed to have somepony as beautiful as you to be my wife. Though I have been married before, I feel that you can provide me with the love and happiness I have been craving for many long years. It is my hope that you will be there for me when I need you, that you will be there to comfort me when life gets me down, that you will be there for me every morning when I wake up. Trixie, you mean so much to me and there is so much I want to give you. You are the reason for my happiness and without you, I don't know if I could face the world with the confidence I know I can when you are with me. "Trixie, I am willing to give myself completely to you -- I give you a solemn vow that I will always be there for you when you need me, that I will be the one whose shoulder you can cry on, that I will be the one who will be your sword and your shield. I will do my best to make you happy and keep you happy for as long as you live. I can only hope that you will show me the same resolve to be as dedicated to loving me as I will to you. Trixie, I love you more than life itself and I would be willing to put my life in danger, to sacrifice myself for you if it meant keeping you alive. Trixie, my love, I need you more than I love you and I want you to be there for me always. Please tell me you feel the same way about me." Everypony stamped their hooves in approval of my speech, an applause which lasted a good minute or so. As the applause died down, everypony's attention was drawn to Trixie, who stood in stunned silence.