//------------------------------// // Ammy's Aching Heart // Story: Ammy's Heartaching Life // by Tank Drill //------------------------------// -Ammy's point of view- "Ammy?" Twilight asked as she knocked on her door. "Are your there?" Fluttershy wondered as their both waiting on the other side. 'No, no, no, no!' I shouted internally. I woke up too late in the afternoon because I was up making another art piece. My mane and tails a mess, I smell like acrylic paint and sweat. Worst of all, I have my paintings scattered in piles of ten to twenty columns sitting around the house. I was panicking as I tried to find space to put my paintings away. It was useless, though, I've been painting ever since I left my parents house to pursue my dream as an Artist. It was a hoarding problem that I admitted to everypony because of how I made each piece to become unique. I quickly glance around the house and saw the closet that was accessible between two piles. I responded to them both, "I'll be there in a moment!" A pile of canvas's behind me collapsed making the floor hard to walk on, "I just need to clean up a few things." "Should we come back tomorrow? You sound like your sort of buried inside." Fluttershy wondered. 'Wow, she has great ears.' I thought. Of course she has that kind of ears, Fluttershy takes care of the animals at her cottage. She needs those ears to hear what's going on with them... I shook my head, 'Not helping.' "It's just a few..." I glance around as more and more cleaning had to be done around the area, "Minutes. Can't you be patient for a bit?" "We can wait outside," Twilight said, "but just to let you know, it's rude to let your guests wait." 'She sounds unhappy.' I frowned as I bit my lip. I invited them both and this is how I treat them? Twilight is busy as she's a Princess of Friendship and Fluttershy is always busy and barely comes into town. This was the only time they can show up before getting back to their daily chores of life. I gathered all of my canvas's that I could, put them on my back and inched my way towards the closest. While I was making my way, I had to arch my back up and down to dodge the piles of paintings. I was lucky that my art supplies were in another room, which was another mess I had to take care of. I opened the door to find out that is was empty. I quickly and neatly stacked each canvas into multiple piles until it reached the top. I glanced around myself to see that I've only scratched what I had already cleaned and I could feel the sweat coming down my forehead. 'How did this come to be?!' I tried to remember. -One Day Ago- I lightly burp through my napkin as I finished my Daisy sandwich, "That was delicious." "Nothing like a Daisy sandwich for a lunch break right?" Twilight said across the table. I nodded, "How was your's Fluttershy?" "Same response you had, but if I was Rainbow it would be..." She tapped her chin with her hoof, "It was good." Fluttershy tried to imitate Rainbow. I snickered, "Pretty much." "So, Melody was it?" I look to Twilight and nodded. "Why did you invite us for lunch, if you don't mind me asking?" She asked. I rubbed my back hooves together and blushed a bit, hoping they won't noticed, "Um, I was hoping you guys can come over so I could show you my art." "You make art?" Fluttershy wondered, "But isn't your cutie mark a music note with a heart?" I shook my head, "When I listen to music, my art really flourishes. It happened when I was listening to my mother singing and it inspired me to draw then to paint." "That sounds wonderful that you found your talent through music, and we'll be happy to come over your house tomorrow." Twilight smiled, "What time is it going to be?" "You guys can come over around 1-2pm." "Sounds good, I usually get done feeding the animals at that time." Fluttershy chimed in. Twilight nodded, "I also get my daily chores as a Princess done around that time as well." "What a coincidence." They both said at the same time and they look at each other than me. I gulped and smiled, 'Please tell me that it was that obvious?' I thought as I felt my heart accelerate faster than before. Twilight raised an eyebrow, "Yeah... It's a coincidence, right Ammy?" I nodded quickly, "It was a surprise for me as well." I was slightly stretching the truth. The truth is I have a confusing crush with them both. I didn't know what it was, but ever since I first saw Twilight and Fluttershy, I felt something in my heart explode. I believe I was experiencing love sickness, as my mom would say, and the only way to find out what was going on is to invite these two and face my fears. Even sitting with them at this very table was making me slowly nervous which made me twitch a bit. Fluttershy spoke up, "I see Angel bunny is waving at me, it's time for me to head back to the cottage." Twilight dismissed her suspicions and stretched her wings, "Alright Fluttershy, I need to head back to the Castle to finish up some books." She turns to me, "I'll see you tomorrow Ammy." "Oh, yes. I'll see you as well, Melody. Until then, goodbye." Fluttershy waved as she left. The both of them leave and I felt my heart twitching with exhaustion. 'That was too much heartache...' I sighed as I massaged my chest with my hoof. "Would you like anything else ma'am?" The waiter asked. "I'll have the check, please." I said. He cleared his throat, "Sorry, but somepony else has paid it for you." My furrowed my eyebrows, "Who was it?" He pointed towards a light blue mare, who was wearing a purple wizard hat with different colored stars. She had her face hidden with her hat and was looking across the other direction. Feeling curious, I walk up to her and tap her shoulder. She turned to me, but I couldn't see her eyes, "Yes?" "Were you the one who paid for my bill?" There was a very light-blue aura going around her hat, I could tell that she's a Unicorn. Though when I saw those light purple eyes, I felt my heart aching immediately. The color of her coat, mane and eyes were perfect. I just stared into her eyes as she says the following lines. "The Great and Powerful Trixie did pay for your lunch with Princess Twilight and her friend Fluttershy." She admitted. Her voice melted my ears and I mentally felt droopy, but I tried to hold my composure, "That is interesting, did you talked in third person just now?" I said. 'What am I doing?!' I shouted internally. She smiled and responded, "Sorry, old habits. My name is Trixie and I'm a magician." I shook my head, "Wait you're the magician that I keep on hearing about." "Hopefully the good kind and not the bad." I tilted my head, "No, nothing bad. I've heard good things about your performances." She raised an eyebrow, "Judging by the color of your fur and mane, you're new here?" I shook my head, "Actually, I've been in this town for most of my life since my parents moved here from Canterlot." Trixie scoffed, "Why is it that different Pony's move here from Canterlot?" I furrowed my eyebrows, "You're from Canterlot too?" The blue Unicorn sighed, "Yes and..." She shook her head, "Never mind. I just wanted to pay your lunch out of kindness because I felt like it." I smiled, "That was very nice of you and I was wondering about something." She raised an eyebrow again, "What?" I sighed internally. The truth is, I always wanted to become a magician or an assistant because my parents brought me to a circus and the magic tricks the magician did was amazing. Ever since then, I wanted to become a magician myself, but there was one problem, I was an Earth Pony. I really couldn't do any magic and I've attempted to do magic tricks, but failed. Though, when I got my cutie mark in making art, the 'being a magician' dream disappeared and became a memory. Now, I'm all grown up and the memory resurfaced when I met up with Trixie. I took a deep breath, 'Here goes nothing.' I thought. "I would like to ask you if I could become your assistant?" Trixie's eyes widened when I asked that question and suddenly tapped her hoof against her chin. My childhood heart was pounding with anxiety, the feeling of somepony is thinking whether or not to say yes or no really got my nerves on the edge. I closed my eyes and mentally said to myself that she will say yes, but my adult mind was saying that it wouldn't happen. She is probably busy as Twilight or Fluttershy. "Yes," 'What?' I thought as she continued, "I've wanted a new assistant since my last show didn't have as many attendants. For a few days, I was thinking of what would make my performance pop." I opened my eyes as she put her hoof on my shoulder, "You could my solution." "Wow..." I didn't know what to say at the moment as I felt my heart exploding with happiness. "I said 'could'. There is one condition you have to do for me." She said. "O-Of course!" I stuttered and cleared my throat, "I mean, what do you wish for me to do?" She smirked, "You're not the first one to ask to become my assistant and I had to ask of them do this simple task: Impress me by your talent." I tilted my head, "My talent?" The blue Unicorn nodded, "Yes, all the rest of them failed my task and never came back to ask again." "Oh..." I said. "Having second thoughts?" Trixie smirked. I shook my head, "No, I was brainstorming what I can do to impress you." She looked unimpressed, "Uh, huh." Trixie stood up and faced me, "You have this idea to me tomorrow, you'll meet me at the center of town around six, ok?" I nodded, "Yes, I can do that." She lowered her eyelids, "Until then, Melody, see you tomorrow." Trixie left the area, paid her lunch and left the restaurant. After a few minutes of standing, an idea popped into my head and I rushed back towards my house. I heart has never been like that when I was with Twilight and Fluttershy. This was something familiar, something new and my inspiration was full on one idea: Trixie herself. I would make a painting of Trixie that will knock her hat off and I'm sure it will automatically get me that assistant position. When I got to my house, I unlocked the door, went inside, closed and locked it behind me. I zigged and zagged through my piles upon piles of used canvases and pulled out a 2' by 6' blank canvas. Before I got my new canvas on the stand, I put my signature on my latest piece on the bottom right corner named Ammy with a paint brush. Once that's finished I took it off the stand. I always put a little shadow of a Unicorn with glasses because when I showed pony's my artwork, they believed the art was made by a Unicorn. They were even surprised to find out that I was the one who made them. One thing lead to another and my signature became a unicorn with glasses because of how many 'harmonious' art pieces I made just catches their eyes. "Beautiful as always Fluttershy." I said aloud and put it to the fiftieth pile to my right. "Alright, time to make Trixie impressed by my artwork." I pushed the power button of my stereo and I heard music being played on the speakers that were hidden behind the canvases. I bobbed my head back and forth to the beat. With my hoof, I dip my brush in the water cup and dipped it in red paint. Where there's a will, there's a way, kind of beautiful And every night has its day, so magical And if there's love in this life, there's no obstacle That can't be defeated For every tyrant a tear for the vulnerable In every lost soul the bones of a miracle For every dreamer a dream we're unstoppable With something to believe in Monday left me broken Tuesday I was through with hoping Wednesday my empty arms were open Thursday waiting for love, waiting for love Thank the stars it's Friday I'm burning like a fire gone wild on Saturday Guess I won't be coming to church on Sunday I'll be waiting for love, waiting for love To come around We are one of a kind irreplaceable How did I get so blind and so cynical If there's love in this life we're unstoppable No we can't be defeated Monday left me broken Tuesday I was through with hoping Wednesday my empty arms were open Thursday waiting for love, waiting for love Thank the stars it's Friday I'm burning like a fire gone wild on Saturday Guess I won't be coming to church on Sunday I'll be waiting for love, waiting for love To come around After the song had finished, the art piece was complete. It was beautiful and once I glanced at the outside, it was already night-time. I sighed and yawned at the same time as I stretched. 'Probably should start cleaning up for Twilight and Fluttershy.' I thought. I stood up and got discouraged by the mess and groaned, "Why must I hoard all of my paintings?!" -Present Time- As I got back from thinking about what happened yesterday, I only got the kitchen, the dining and entrance area cleaned. Though I collapsed on top of paint because I was really tired, moving heavy piles of canvases is a workout. Also, there was also the fact that usually I stay up for many nights. I guess karma or whatever caught up with me and my body just 'plopped' to the floor and I went to sleep. I glanced at the Trixie painting and smiled. "At least, I got you finished to where I might get my job, right?" "Ammy?" Twilight asked for me. I sighed, "I'm coming..." 'I could ask them to help me... Probably not going to happen.' I thought as I opened the door and braced for the gasps. "Oh, my." Fluttershy said. "Afternoon guys." I forced a smile. Twilight looked at me, "Were you up last night cleaning?" I yawned, "Yes, I only got the kitchen and dining area finished." They looked behind me and their eyes widened in amazement. I tilted my head and wondered what was going through their head. "May we come in and see your artwork?" Fluttershy asked. I looked behind me and noticed that several of the piles had collapsed to the ground and scattered across the room. They were exposed for Twilight and Fluttershy to see. "You don't mind the mess?" I asked. Twilight smiled, "We don't mind at all." Fluttershy nodded in agreement. I smirked, "Alright," I stepped to the side and waved my hoof towards the inside, "Go on ahead." They quickly went inside and a lot of events happened inside. Twilight used her magic to lift the canvases up in the air to look at each one. Fluttershy looked around as well as Twilight showed her some more paintings. I showed Fluttershy my drawing book and she was in awe when looking at each one. I was very happy, seeing my two new friends looking and complimenting my work, it made my heart all warm. My train of thought was interrupted by Twilight. "Ammy?" She called for me. I turned around to see that Twilight had ventured off into the living room, that was uncleaned, and saw that she was looking at my painting of Trixie. "Oh, I just made that last night." "I like your art of Trixie, but why does she look like that?" I smiled, "Well it's a funny story." She tilted her head, "What happened?" I explained to Twilight and Fluttershy of when I met up with Trixie. How she paid for our lunch out of kindness and I got mixed reactions from both. Fluttershy looked surprised and Twilight was just smiling. As I continued, I told them about how I wanted to become a magician when I was younger, but couldn't because of how I got my cutie mark in making art. So I told them that this piece of artwork supposed to impress Trixie so I can become her assistant. Twilight got another look at the painting and smiled, "I think you've blown it out of the park this time. Though I really can't tell," she said as she levitated several paintings in the air to see, "All of these pieces of art are just wonderful." Then I saw that an idea popped into her head, "Ammy, I have a question for you." "Go ahead, ask away." "I was wondering if I could take some of your artwork, with compensation, of course, and hang them on the walls of my castle." I smiled and squeed loudly, "Oh my goodness!!! Yes!!! I would love if you put my paintings in your castle. It would be an honor!" She smiled, "I'm so glad, I just need to go through all of them and I'll let you know what I take." I nodded, "Of course! Take your time." Fluttershy gasped and I turned around to see that she was looking at her painting of herself. "This looks amazing! I never thought I would look so... So..." "Beautiful?" I asked trying to hide my blush. "Yes..." Fluttershy sighed with happiness. "You could keep it if you'd like." She raised her arms in the air, but I put them down with my hoof, "It's on the house." "Oh, thank you!" She said grabbing it lightly with her wings. "I'll cherish it." I frowned inside, 'The sudden flutter in my heart had vanished....' I slapped myself in the head for that one. 'Stupid Ammy for falling in love at first sight.' I thought as an image of Trixie came into mind. It was then my cheeks went hot and my heart was beating quickly. 'Well I guess Twilight and Fluttershy are just friends and....' I smiled, 'I like it.' "What are you smiling at Ammy?" Twilight asked. I shook my head, "Nothing, just thinking." "Oh, well, it looks like your piles and piles of artwork has put me in a busy spot. I'll have to look at more of these tomorrow if you don't mind." I nodded, "It's no trouble at all." Fluttershy looked at the time, "Oh my, it's time to feed the animals again, I'm sorry to leave you like this." I smiled, "No problem at all." Twilight and Fluttershy left the house with some of my paintings and it made me feel happy that my artwork was being appreciated. Twilight told me that she would compensate me tomorrow for her troubles and I told her it was no issue whatsoever. I glanced at the clock and it was almost time to meet up with Trixie. I grab the canvas, put it in a huge cloth, put the stand for it and put them in my back. I took a deep breath, "Time to go." I headed out the door, locked it behind me, and headed to town. When I got into town, I set the stand near the fountain and put the covered canvas I set the stand and the canvas at the center of town, near the fountain, sat by my painting and waited. Since it was Saturday evening, everypony was back at their house around this time and it sort of made me nervous. Being alone at town, waiting for somepony you potentially like to see if they like what you made to get a job they offered.... 'That seems like a lot now that I think about it.' I thought. "Ah, you have arrived." Trixie said from behind which made me jump. "Y-You scared me." I panted, trying to calm my heart down. Trixie looked around her surrounding and shivered, "It does feel a bit eerie out here doesn't it?" "Well it's getting close to Nightmare Night and we've had more foggy evenings." "Hmmm, yes, quite." Trixie responded, "Go ahead and show me what you have to offer." I sighed, "I tried my very best and almost stayed up all night for this." I grabbed the cloth with my teeth, "Just remember, I'm trying to impress you with..." I pull the cloth off to show the painting. "Yourself." I finished and watched her reaction. She gasped in amazement, "This... This is me as an Alicorn?" I nodded, "When I first saw you, I didn't think much of anything, but when you revealed yourself, something sparked within me." I held my hoof against my chest, "In other words, my childhood just came back flooding in because I wanted to become a magician myself, but due to my cutie mark I had to let it go." "That painting is actually quite relatable to me." Trixie admitted. "What do you mean?" "We had similar ideas of what we wanted to do in the future, but our cutie marks got in the way." I held my question in because I knew she was going to answer, "I always wanted to become..." She was blushing, "A-An artist." "That sounded wonderful, did you like it at least?" She smiled, "Yes, I did. My parents praised me for what I made, whether it was made out of clay or a..." Trixie looked at my art and sniffed, "A painting. Now it's all a dream if I can ever recall it, but when I look at this piece of artwork you have made for me..." "Trixie? Are you alright?" I asked as I put my hoof on her shoulder. This was very sudden, Trixie pounced on me and gave me a hug. It was a tight one and I didn't really understood what was going on until I felt tears on my chest. I looked down to see Trixie was crying into my fur and I was awestruck. "Trixie?" "Thank you..." She gasped. "Whatever for?" Trixie looked up at me as tears streamed down her cheek, "For reminding me that... *gasp* I still can believe in myself even for what I did in the past." She whimpered as I stroked my hoof through her mane. I smiled, now I understand why she is in distress. My painting probably opened memories of her past and now... She is realizing that she can do more for this world. We both sat there, in the center of town, hugging one another and from what I can tell, this was going to be a lasting partnership. -Two Years Later- "It's been one whole year since that had happened." Trixie sighed. Trixie and I were back at the fountain after another successful performance of The Great and Powerful Trixie and her lovely assistant Melody. The shows were magical every time. We work together as a team to give the best illusions to everypony young and old. I made paintings for the show and Trixie brings them to life to either scare or excite the audience. Ever since the tenth show was finished, more and more pony's from across Equestria had seen our shows. It made us happy that we're successful each show, but not every show was successful. Three out of twenty-four weren't great because no pony showed up or they weren't interested. I leaned against her shoulder and she put her hoof around my neck, "Yeah, it has been and look where we are now." Since the fourth successful show, Trixie and I became closer. We've been dating for three months and it's nothing but good fun between us. We would have fun with making plans for our shows as well for our dates afterward. When we fought, it made a new show named 'Assistant Ammy vs. The Great and Powerful Trixie'. It was something we came up with even if we were mad at each other, but it gave the audience something to look at. They heard our bickering and loved every moment of them. Several pony's said it was great comedy. Now that I thought about it, it was actually pretty funny. I felt Trixie shiver, "It's getting cold outside." "Yes, but spring is getting close now." I look up to see her face. "What do you want to do Ammy?" I yawned, "Lets head back to my place and sleep together." Trixie hugged me, "That would be great, besides, I think you went a little too hard on the fake saw cutting." I stick out my tongue, "Well if you would have listened to me when I was holding paint cans on my back, I would've apologized. 'I still have some dried paint on my scalp.' I thought. Trixie gave me a light noogie, "You're still mad about that? I told you I was mopping the floors." I blushed and held my muzzle against hers, "Well I told you that I was moving things around." Both of us stayed in place as Trixie was the first one to crack a smile, which made me giggle. The both of us laughed at our past arguments, they were ridiculous, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. It was then Trixie pecked my lips and my heart fluttered as a yelp escaped from my mouth. "Gotcha." Trixie giggled. "No fair." I pouted. "All is fair in the war of love." I smiled, "You have that reversed." "Yes, I know-" I cut her off with a peck on the lips which made her blush a dark blue color. "Payback." I giggled. Trixie sighed, "I guess I fell for that one." She stared into my eyes, "I love you, Ammy." I sighed and hugged her, "I love you too, Trixie."