My training continued apace as Trixie continued to care for little Marina, though she complained about being stuck in the Castle and wanted to get back on the road.
"Who's supposed to care for Marina if you go back on the road?" I asked her. "Why would you want to get back to performing on the road, when you can do that around Canterlot? There are plenty of different areas you can go to."
"Trixie is bored with Canterlot and the Castle -- she needs a change of scenery! Perhaps you and Sparkle can care for her while Trixie is out and about," she mused.
"You realize just how close Marina is to you -- she would have a difficult time adjusting to your absence," I postulated. The little one cooed softly to her mother as she held her close, cooing in response. "She needs you, Trixie -- you can't leave her behind just because you want to get back to your travels."
"Trixie needs something to do to keep from being bored to death!" she cried in exasperation. "Trixie has explored the entire Castle! Trixie has seen all of Canterlot! She was born to travel all over Equestria, not be a mother!"
I sighed in resignation. "So you would rather have somepony else care for Marina so you can go back to doing what you love? My place is here in the Castle, the Royal Sisters are to leave on their vacation in a few more weeks, leaving Twilight and me to watch over all of Equestria. I would hate for little Marina to lose her bond with you, but if it is your desire to return to your traveling ways, I guess I can only plead for you to stay, though it bores you so much. Have you studied the books in the Archive?"
"Yes, Amethyst, Trixie has read as many books as she can and has studied as much magic as she can tolerate. Please let Trixie return to her travels!" she begged.
"I trust you will dream of me each night when you lay down to sleep in your caravan?" I asked. "We will ensure that Marina receives the best care here while you're away -- Twilight and I will do our best to care for her, though it may cause her some sadness."
"Trixie wants you to travel with her, Amethyst, and she does not want to leave Marina behind, no matter how well she may be cared for," she stated.
"I cannot do that, Trixie. I must stay here to guard Equestria while the Royal Sisters are on vacation."
The show-mare was deeply conflicted by this and took several moments to contemplate my words, a series of different emotions playing across her face. She hung her head sadly before speaking.
"All Trixie has ever known is traveling on the road, performing her magic show for everypony who was willing to watch. She was never meant to stay in one place for very long and being a mother was totally out of the equation for her," she stated sullenly. She used her telekinesis to gently lift little Marina from her and placed her in my fore-legs for me to hold.
"Trixie is very sorry for doing this, Amethyst -- she hopes you can forgive her in the future," she said as a tear trickled down her cheek. She rose to her hooves and left the room before her sobs became audible, only to be replaced by the sound of her hooves clopping as she galloped as fast as she could from the confines of the Castle.
I stood in stunned silence, holding Marina closely. The little one cooed to me almost quizzically. "Shh, mommy's going away for awhile. I will look after you as best I can, but Twilight will help as well," I said softly to her. She looked up at me with tears in her eyes before she started wailing loudly. I tried rocking her gently back and forth in an attempt to calm her down. I fashioned a sling pouch to carry her on my back as I trotted to the throne room, cutting in line in front of the procession of ponies who gawked at me, some bowing before me. The guardsponies at the front doors to the throne room stood aside for me and opened the doors.
"Celestia, I have some troubling news. Trixie has decided she no longer wants to remain here in the Castle and has left Marina to my care. I am going to need assistance with this endeavor in her absence," I stated flatly.
"And where is Trixie now?" the Solar Princess asked.
"She has left the Castle, Celestia," I replied flatly.
"Would you care for us to have her returned?"
"No, Celestia. I feel that this is a lesson she must learn on her own, though it pains me to allow her to leave Marina behind," I replied, the infant still crying softly.
"Please, allow me to hold her," the elder Alicorn said softly, using her telekinesis to lift her gently off my back and into her forelegs, cooing to the little filly softly. Her warmth soothed the foal, quieting her immediately. "Amethyst, she is quite the wonder. I should very much like to have a foal of my own to care for," she said wistfully, smiling at me, then cooing to the filly again. Marina giggled, smiling at the Solar Princess.
"Celestia, you seem to have quite a way with little Marina there," I said, smiling as well.
"I should very much like to adopt her as my own," came her response as she returned a smile.
"What about your vacation?" I asked. "Surely your sister is interested in taking a break from her duties as well," I postulated.
"Who says we have to leave immediately? We can wait awhile, time can wait for us, Amethyst."
"And Trixie can be out there enjoying herself," I mused.
"Aren't you going to miss being with your wife?"
"I was under the impression that Twilight and I would be covering for you and your sister in your absence. I do not wish to abandon Marina, so I am willing to stay here and help raise her," I replied.
"You are welcome to stay here and raise your filly as you wish. We will see fit to provide you with the necessary assistance to raise her -- not to mention the fact that my sister and I will stop by to visit periodically. I am sure Twilight would be interested in having some company, so I will assign her to assist you in caring for Marina," the Solar Princess offered.
"You have my deepest thanks, Celestia," I stated, giving a very slight bow before her. There was a part of me that was concerned for Trixie's safety, and by all rights, I should have been out there to accompany her, but she left Marina in my care and I was going to have to raise her. Even so, I was to be given a great deal of assistance in raising her, which would help lighten the burden on me.
"You may return to your room, or explore the Castle at your leisure, Amethyst. Please be sure to let me know if you need anything as far as Marina's needs are concerned," the Sun Goddess stated, gently returning Marina to the sling pouch on my back.
"Thank you, Celestia," I stated and turned to leave.
"You're welcome, Amethyst. Be seeing you soon," she smiled as I left. Twilight brushed past me as she strode up to her mentor's side to chat with her.
"Pardon me, Twilight," I said as I left.
"Oh, sorry about that, Amethyst, I was in such a hurry," the lavender Alicorn offered. "Where's Trixie? Shouldn't she be watching your little filly?"
"She decided she wanted to go back to traveling and left the Castle and Marina to my care," I stated flatly as I exited the throne room and made my way back to my bedchamber. Marina started crying again, but I laid down on the mattress, holding the little filly gently in my forelegs, giving her a soft kiss to her forehead, just below her horn. She stopped crying and smiled warmly at me.
"Oh, Marina, I hope she comes back safely," I said softly to her.