Trixie and I trotted from the throne room to the dining hall to get a quick bite to eat. While we trotted, we had a brief conversation.
"Was Nightmare telling the truth? That you told her you wished you had married her instead of Trixie?" my wife asked, giving me a concerned look.
"You can't trust anything that dark Alicorn says, you know that! Even if I did say those words to her, I was not being sincere with her -- she wanted me to pretend to be her lover, not for real-real, just for play-play." I gauged Trixie's reaction to my words as a short silence became a pregnant pause. I sensed she was not satisfied with my explanation, so I continued. "Come on, Trixie, how many times must I tell you how much I love you? I know I haven't been here with you enough to prove my love for you, but --"
She interrupted me by giving me a passionate kiss on my lips. A few ponies witnessed her display and clucked in disapproval, causing her to chuckle.
"Amethyst is Trixie's stallion! She will give him affection any time she wishes to!" she admonished the nervous onlookers as we continued to the dining hall. We took our seats, ordered our food, and chatted a little bit more over lunch. Trixie once again brought up the issue of her boredom and I informed her once again of my obligations. This caused her to complain bitterly about said obligations and demanded I track down Celestia and force her to resume her duties.
"Hold on a minute, Trixie, I'm going to have some words with Twilight and figure something out. She cannot cover for Celestia, so don't bother asking her -- little Garnet will suffer if she doesn't spend more time with her mother, though I wonder if Summer Song is caring for both of them. Wait right here, I'll be back," I offered, smiling softly and giving her a quick kiss on the lips, causing her to smile and advised me to hurry back quickly. I nodded my head as an acknowledgement of her request and teleported back to the throne room.
"Well, Amethyst, what's going on? Are you ready to resume your duties?" Twilight asked. She seemed to be rather anxious to return her attention to little Garnet, her expression informing me as much.
"Trixie is bored, what else is new? Do you know where I can find Celestia? Trixie wants me to spend more time with her -- Celestia ruled Equestria for a very long time before I showed up. Now it seems as though your teacher doesn't want to continue with those duties anymore and would rather have me be her permanent replacement..." I let my words trail off as the lavender Alicorn's expression changed to one of concern. "Wait, don't tell me you don't know where she is?"
"Celestia now comes and goes as she pleases, Amethyst -- and the last time she met with me, she told me she was going off on another adventure and for me to tell you she would be gone for another year or so. 'He'll understand, I'm sure. He'll be fine,' she said. So what now? Don't look at me like that, you know I have to care for Garnet! Tell you what -- you have Trixie stay with me and we can be with our foals and do things together! Does that sound like a good idea?"
I smiled in response. "Trixie's in the dining hall, waiting on my return. Why don't you teleport to her and give her this idea -- I'm sure she'd be happy to have your company and the two of you can do stuff while I busy myself with the affairs of state -- boring as they are -- if there's any trouble, let me know immediately. Enjoy yourselves, I think you deserve a break after all you've been through."
"Thanks, Amethyst. You don't know the half of it! Nightmare Moon got the drop on me -- what did you do over there? Banish her for good?"
"Yeah, she's going to be gone for a long time -- and that universe's Luna has been returned! Moon Beam will be a little confused and Luna will probably be even more so, since our little filly's going to be a meat-eater," I grinned. Twilight gasped at this mention.
"What? A carnivorous Alicorn?" she asked, still surprised.
"I'm sure you've seen Nightmare Moon's canines, yes? Moon Beam has those as well, so her diet is going to include meat, I'm afraid," I replied nonchalantly.
"Hmm. That will be interesting. I just hope Garnet doesn't acquire a taste for meat -- I wouldn't be able to face Fluttershy if that happens."
"I don't think you'll have to worry about that -- I don't think any of my human genetics carried over to my equine persona," I responded, though I was still a little uncertain of my genetic make-up as an equine. "It's been so long since I was last in a human body, I don't even know what that feels like any more."
"Do you miss being a human?" she asked, grinning.
"I haven't given it much consideration, Twilight. I would say probably not, since I have become so acclimated to my status."
"Would you like to go back to being a human?" she asked, her grin widening a bit.
"Nah, I'm cool with this," I replied flatly. "Though I sometimes find myself reminiscing about my time running around as Trixie," I mused softly. My expression turned pensive as I recalled that one night when Trixie and I had been reunited and spent the night in Twilight's guest room.
"Amethyst?"
"Oh, sorry, Twilight, just thinking about something for a moment," I said, grinning sheepishly.
"You must have enjoyed being Trixie quite a bit, didn't you?" she asked, grinning very broadly, a light blush coloring her cheeks. "You know, I remember the night you two spent together in my guest room. There's a part of me that wished to join you in your activities, but I reminded myself that you two had become very close, and that intervening could have caused some problems."
"Truth be told, Twilight, there's a part of me that wishes you had come in to join us," I grinned. "I know it's wrong of me to want that, but..."
"Amethyst, I want you to know I have very deep feelings for you -- little Garnet is proof of that -- but I also know you are married to Trixie." She got off the throne and approached me, rearing up onto her hind legs, using her wings for support. "Please, Amethyst, give me a hug -- I hope you feel the same way about me," she said softly.
I reared up onto my hind legs and wrapped my forelegs around her, embracing her in a tight hug. I leaned my neck forward a little to whisper in her ear. Trixie entered the throne room at this point to see us embracing each other, the guard at the door apologizing profusely for allowing her in.
"Amethyst! What are you doing? Get away from Sparkle!" she shouted. She galloped over to us, her horn lit brightly. Twilight and I released each other just as she skidded to a stop and bumped into the lavender Alicorn. "Amethyst! Sparkle! Don't tell Trixie you were planning on having another foal!"
"Nope, not yet anyway. Twilight came up with an idea -- she wanted to spend time with you and Jade, so you could do things with her while I attend to the duties of being the Solar Regent once again. Celestia is going to be gone for awhile, and Twilight doesn't know where she went or how long she's going to be gone. I'm not willing to force her return, but Twilight assured me that she would be willing to help you raise Jade."
Trixie's expression softened. "Amethyst, you are willing to do this? Trixie likes the idea of spending time with Sparkle," she offered softly, smiling once again. "Twilight, I would be happy to have your company and I would like for you to show me some new things."
"Actually, Trixie, I was hoping you could show me some new things! It's been so long since I've gone on some new adventures," the lavender Alicorn mused.
"Trixie would be happy to have you accompany her, Sparkle!" she grinned. The two of them embraced in a quick hug and trotted off to get their foals as I slowly trotted to the throne and sat on it.
"Guard! Are there any new petitioners wishing to seek an audience with the Solar Regent?" I asked, magically amplifying my voice so it could be heard throughout the room.
"Yes, your Majesty," she replied and ushered the first of them inside. A dark-brown pegasus mare entered at this point. My eyes went wide with surprise upon seeing her.
"Chocolate Sweetness? Is that you?" I asked, not bothering to mask my surprise. She nodded her head sadly. "What brings you here? What is wrong?"
"Ah never thought Ah'd get a chance ta see ya again, Flamin' Star -- Ah know Ah told ya Ah had money ta burn -- well, that ain't th' case no more. Ah ain't got a bit ta mah name and Ah was wantin' yer help," she stated sadly as a tear tracked down her right cheek. She had lost quite a bit of weight.
"How's your singing voice? I was wanting to see you again, performing a song or two," I mused. She shook her head sadly again.
"Mah voice ain't what it used ta be -- Ah cain't sing no damn more," she replied, as another tear fell.
"I will see to it that you recover -- I will provide you a gift. Where do you live now?"
"Um, Ah hate ta say this, Star, but Ah ain't got nowhere ta live anymore -- Ah lost mah house in Neigh Orleans, an' Ah've been stayin' with whoever'd let me spend a night or two."
I called another guard into the throne room. "Please see Chocolate Sweetness here to one of the deluxe accommodations -- she is welcome to stay in the castle for as long as she likes. Please see to it that her needs are addressed as soon as possible." I turned to the dark brown pegasus mare. "Sweets, I feel I owe you a sincere apology for what happened a few years ago, and I will see to it that you have a place to live as well as food to eat. I will also see to it that your voice is restored as best as possible. I want to see you on stage, doing what you do best!" I smiled softly.
Tears of happiness took the place of sadness as she embraced me in a very tight hug. "Oh, Star, thank ya so much! Ah was hopin' ya'd be able ta help me -- Ah wish there was somethin' else Ah could do fer ya, but Ah promise as soon as Ah can sing again, Ah'll put on the best show ya've ever seen!"
"I look forward to it, Sweets. Take care of yourself. Guard, please escort her to her chambers." I watched as she was escorted out of the throne room and the next petitioner entered. I entertained another twenty petitioners before I adjourned Solar Court for the day and teleported to Celestia's bedchambers to lower the Sun. Luna was waiting for me there.
"Amethyst, we have a special request," the Lunar Princess said softly.
"Luna, I will entertain your request after I have lowered the Sun," I responded flatly. I trotted to the balcony and lowered the Sun, the effort requiring very little magic for me to perform. All that practice had rendered such a task mundane at this point. Luna joined me on the balcony and raised her Moon, then turned to face me.
"Amethyst, we know that thou hast been busy as of late, but we desire some affection from thee," she said softly. A light blush colored her cheeks.
"I suppose you were wanting a foal of your own, yes?" I asked, giving her an uncertain look.
"We would be honored if you would bless us with such a gift, Amethyst," she cooed softly and smiled.
"I will need some time to think about your request, Luna. What you ask of me --"
"We know it is a selfish request, Amethyst Flame. Verily, we have been wanting a foal from the moment we saw thee transformed into an Alicorn. We have been wanting an Alicorn foal for a long time, and we feel that thee hath the necessary strength, stamina, and sperm count to provide us with such a wondrous gift."
"If Trixie ever finds out, our marriage is finished, Luna. I'm not prepared to give her up -- I love her dearly, and I do not wish to cause her further grief. She has been through so much," I explained. I watched in amazement as the indigo Alicorn magically altered herself. She became much smaller, almost to the point of looking like a filly herself. She turned on all her charms, giving me her very best big eyes and pouty lips.
"Pweeease? For Woona? Pweeeeeeease?" she asked in her very best little filly voice. This elicited giggling from me.
"Really, Luna? Does it mean that much to you?" I asked, exasperation starting to creep into my voice.
"We were certain that trick wouldst work on thee..." she stated sadly as tears began to well up in her eyes.
"Oh, Luna, I'm so sorry. I know you want a foal to care for, but now is not a good time. Please bear with me a bit longer -- Trixie would be furious," I said softly, trying to comfort her. She returned to her normal size.
"Very well then, Amethyst. We shall bide our time until thou reconsiders our request," she stated rather coldly as she trotted away, most likely to her bedchambers, or perhaps to conduct Lunar Court. Either way, I felt a twinge of guilt for having refused her advances.
"Luna, I hope you understand where I'm coming from on this matter," I called after her retreating form.
"We understand all too well, Amethyst Flame," she retorted, not bothering to look behind her.
Why must these mares be so pushy? I thought to myself before retiring to bed.