//------------------------------// // Piling It On // Story: Why Did I Choose to be Trixie? // by Mike the Red //------------------------------// "Trixie wants to know why her counterpart referred to herself in third pony," my Trixie wondered aloud. "I was rather embarrassed by the fact that my ... complaints ... could be heard outside. I was curious to know who was knocking at my door at two o'clock in the morning. Twilight and I just went to bed about an hour ago and we need some sleep," other Trixie stated, rubbing sleep from her eyes. She stood a good head or so taller than my Trixie, who continued to gawk at the azure Alicorn. "Is Sparkle the same size as Trixie?" the show-mare asked. "My housemate is indeed the same size as me," the co-librarian said softly. "That makes her bigger than her Alicorn counterpart in our realm," I told my wife. She gave me a very quizzical look. "If you don't mind my asking, your Majesty, what business do you have here?" asked Trixie. "I would like to see your housemate, Trixie," Celestia stated, smiling softly. "Yes, your Majesty. One moment while I fetch her, please." The azure Alicorn returned to the interior of the tree, climbing the stairs and waking her housemate. I heard some more grumbling and even more colorful language coming from Twilight's mouth, which caused Celestia to blush slightly and me to chuckle softly. The lavender Alicorn exited the library and upon seeing us, apologized profusely, bowing deeply. "You may rise, my faithful student," Celestia smiled. "Although I never knew you to have such a potty mouth!" "My apologies, your Majesty," Twilight said softly. The moonlight gave a nice back-glow to the librarians. "Trixie is very impressed to see both of you," my wife said softly. "Thank you for your compliment," both librarians said simultaneously. "Was there anything else you wanted, Michael? Why would you roust us from our sleep so early?" asked Twilight. "Have either of you tried raising the Sun yet?" I asked. "We haven't even been Alicorns for a single day, and you're already asking about that? We have a lot of training to do, Michael! It's going to take us quite awhile before either of us is ready to do something that magic-intensive," other Trixie stated, chuckling somewhat. "Your Majesty, what brings you here this time of morning?" "I was curious to see what changes Amethyst had helped bring about," Celestia mused. "You mean, you're not OUR Princess Celestia?" Trixie asked in astonishment. "My counterpart is still sleeping in her bedchamber in the Castle," the Sun Goddess said softly. "I expressed a curiosity to see what you two looked like. I must admit, I am quite impressed." "Hey, Trixie, Michael told us you tried to kill him again," said Twilight. The show-mare hung her head sadly. "Trixie is very sorry for attacking him, but he cheated on me," she said sullenly. "He wanted to start a herd even though he is married to Trixie." "Well ... there aren't very many stallions around," Twilight mused. "Trixie and I would like some male companionship from time to time ..." "Trixie does not want to lose her stallion to either of you! Amethyst is MY stallion, not yours!" my wife shouted in anger. "Considering the fact you tried to kill him, maybe he deserves better," Twilight mused. "Is Sparkle challenging Trixie?" she asked indignantly and lit her horn as her anger increased. "Calm down, lover girl," I said softly to her, practically leaning to her ear. "Trixie is afraid of losing you, Amethyst," she said softly. "You don't have to worry about that, unless you decide to attack me again," I stated flatly. "Do not give Trixie cause to attack you then, Amethyst!" "Violence is not the solution to your problems, Trixie," Celestia stated flatly. "There is no justification for resorting to the use of violence for the purpose of reprimanding your stallion for his transgressions, no matter how severe they may be." "Trixie, I told you exactly why I made those specific choices, yet you chose to allow your emotions to control your actions, rather than allow common sense to dictate a better course of action. We could have talked things through, but --" "Trixie is starting to think you don't want her, Amethyst," she said sullenly and hung her head again. "There is something you need to know about maintaining a long-term relationship, Trixie -- you must understand that there are going to be disagreements between us, but we cannot allow violence and anger to rule the day. You must be more patient and willing to accept me for my faults, just as I accept you for yours. You never hear me complaining about things you do that irritate and annoy me, do you? Yet almost all the time we've been together, you have criticized certain things I do that get on your nerves. You expect your mate to be perfect -- and even as an Alicorn, I cannot be perfect. That is too much to expect," I stated flatly. "Do not think for a moment that I don't want you or that I do not love you. All I ask is that you respect me." "You ask Trixie to respect you? After what you have done, Amethyst?" "I thought you said you were sorry. I'm sorry, too, Trixie. If you don't think our marriage is going to work out --" "Trixie ... I ... I'm scared of losing you, Amethyst! How can you ... stand there like that? You show no emotion!" "I try to keep my emotions under control, Trixie. Don't think for a moment that this isn't tearing me up inside. I don't want to lose you, either, Trixie. Please understand that, if nothing else." "But ... " Trixie began, tears starting to trickle down her cheeks. She hung her head again, her ears laying flat against the side of her head. "Amethyst? Do you desire an annulment of your marriage to Trixie?" the Sun Goddess asked me. "You realize, of course, that should I annul your marriage, you will be placed on an accelerated schedule to learn the duties being the Solar Regent of Equestria entail, thus allowing my sister and I to take an extended vacation. You and Twilight will share the duties Luna and I are responsible for, alternating turns as Solar and Lunar Regents." The co-librarians and Trixie stood with mouths agape at this mention. "Princess Celestia, how long is that break going to be?" Twilight asked. "We would appreciate his return, should he wish to leave his abusive wife." "I too would appreciate his early return," the azure Alicorn mused. "Luna and I have expressed a desire to take about a ten year break," Celestia smiled. "I would certainly appreciate his approval." "Stop it! All of you! Trixie will not give up on her stallion! Amethyst! Tell Trixie you will not abandon her like her father did! Tell Trixie you really love her! Trixie is so sorry!" she wailed, tears streaming down her cheeks. As the only non-Alicorn amongst us, she felt the weight of all our eyes upon her. She fell to the ground, sobbing loudly. I slowly trotted to her side to wrap a wing around her in an attempt to comfort her. "Trixie, I am willing to give you one last chance. For my sake, do not anger me any more. I am quite sure you understand the consequences should you decide to attack me again," I said to her as solemnly as I could. "Trixie ... I ... accept your offer, Amethyst. I only ask that you respect me as I would you," my wife said through her sobs. "I ... Trixie ... I don't understand why you think you can ... want the love of another as well as Trixie. Am I not enough for you?" "Please forgive my ... foolishness, Trixie. There just seemed to be something about that big brown pegasus that seemed to ... complete a picture of sorts, for lack of a better way of putting it," I said softly. "I know it was wrong of me to bring up the possibility of starting a herd. I should have asked you before, but ... I lost my head for a minute there." "Well ... Amethyst," Trixie's counterpart began, "I hope you will return to us someday. Celestia has told us we will live for a very long time -- and we will await your eventual return. We know you will, given enough time, become bored after you have outlived your wife --" "SHUT UP!!" the unicorn screeched. "Trixie knows she's not going to live forever like you! Stop rubbing it in Trixie's face! Amethyst, promise me you won't forget about me after I die!" "Your spirit will live on inside me for as long as I live, Trixie. Never forget that, no matter what obstacles we face, no matter how angry we might make each other, you will always be a part of me. You have my word on that, Trixie." She smiled and hugged me tightly and whispered, "I love you," into my ear and I repeated it to her just as breathlessly as she had whispered it in my ear. The librarians embraced each other exchanging a short kiss and returned to their bedroom. "Amethyst, if you don't mind, we should return to my counterpart's bedchamber so I may have a few more words with her," Celestia stated flatly. "As you wish, Celestia," I said, wrapping a wing around the Sun Goddess and my wife, and teleporting us back to the other Celestia's bedchamber. "So how did your visit with my students go?" she asked. "They are as beautiful as I imagined," our Celestia smiled. "I commend you and Amethyst on doing an impressive job." "I had no doubt in his abilities -- he is truly something special, and quite honestly, I'm jealous that he is returning to your realm. I would sincerely hope he might return to MY realm to assist ME!" "You have your students to assist you in your endeavors. Luna and I would appreciate him allowing us a short vacation, which is why he will be undergoing additional training upon his return to my realm," our Celestia explained. "Celestia, eventually I shall return to your realm. It may be a century or so before that happens, but if you should ever need my assistance for anything, please don't hesitate to either travel to our realm, or send your students in your stead," I smiled. Trixie glowered at me. "Trixie is not too happy about that prospect --" "Then why not extend her lifespan?" other Celestia asked. "She is a unicorn, Celestia," I said. "Then why not change her into an Alicorn, like her counterpart here?" "She has proven herself to be ... somewhat less than worthy of such an honor," I replied. "She has attacked him twice, both times in an attempt to kill him," our Sun Goddess stated. "I see," other Celestia said coldly. "Perhaps some punishment is in order for this impudent unicorn." "Trixie said she is sorry! How many times does she have to say that until everypony understands her contrition?" the show-mare stridently pleaded. "Amethyst, did you spend time in hospital as a result of injuries you sustained from her attacks?" "Yes, Celestia, and both times, your students worked healing magic upon me to speed up my recovery," I replied. "Trixie, you should consider yourself very lucky that you are not one of MY subjects," other Celestia admonished. "You should also consider yourself lucky enough to have a stallion who is so forgiving of you." "HE CHEATED ON ME!!" she screeched. "He has told me of his indiscretions, though your response was excessively violent. You should spend a year in the dungeon in order to pay penitence for your actions," the other Sun Goddess stated flatly. "Celestia, what punishment did you administer to Trixie?" "She has already spent five months in prison for her first attempted murder of Amethyst -- I chose not to administer further punishment, considering the fact that Amethyst provoked the second attempt as a result of his infidelity," she responded. "Trixie promises not to attack Amethyst a third time -- if she does, she is willing to accept whatever punishment Her Majesty sees fit to issue," the show-mare stated flatly. "Your contrition is admirable, Trixie, however, I feel that my counterpart should at the very least consider additional punishment to ensure --" "Perhaps everypony would be happier if Trixie just decided to kill herself?!" she wailed, her sobs returning in full force as she fell to the floor again. "Celestia, I have forgiven her. Your counterpart has forgiven her. I would appreciate it if you would refrain from passing judgment on her and that you be willing to forgive her as well. I shall refrain from further infidelity and she will refrain from attacking me again. With that having been said, I think it is time for us to return to our realm. I think Trixie has had a very bad day and is going to need time to recover from the emotional trauma she has been forced to endure," I stated flatly. "Celestia? Trixie? Shall we be off to our realm?" The two returned to my side and I teleported us back to our realm. "Thank you for standing up for me, Amethyst," Trixie said softly to me. "Amethyst, I will need you to accompany me to the throne room so you may observe Solar Court. I'm sure Luna has been waiting a bit impatiently to be relieved," Celestia stated flatly. "What is Trixie supposed to do, your Majesty?" my wife asked. "I shall send an escort to have you perform certain duties within the castle," the Solar Princess smiled. "Trixie does not want to be relegated to housekeeper status," she stated. "Consider this an alternate form of penitence, Trixie. The words of my counterpart have left me feeling as though I had treated your transgressions too lightly. So instead of locking you up in my dungeon, you will be helping my ponies around the castle with whatever tasks they assign you until your husband has finished his training. Hopefully, this should only take a few months." Trixie hung her head again. "Yes, your Majesty. Trixie guesses that is for the best, then." "Please understand I do this only to allow you to keep your mind occupied. Letting you spend your days in the castle sleeping or otherwise doing nothing while your husband is undergoing his training would be counterproductive, not only to you, but to me as well. I see your pregnancy is getting closer -- I will be lenient with you and not assign you tasks which could endanger the health of your foal." "Trixie wants to know if she carries a colt or a filly," she mused. Celestia lit her horn and used her magic to scan the unborn foal for gender. She was surprised by the result. "You carry a filly, Trixie. You might find yourself surprised after you give birth to her, though."