Weddings and Trials

Hey guys! Just a quick note, this is a sequel to A Tale of Equestrian Proportions.
To get a better feel for the characters, I suggest you read that first, but you may continue to
read on!
Almost the same as before, this story is written from two ponies perspectives, odd chapters are
from Matt's perspective, while even ones are from Robbie's.
Hope you enjoy!

It had been months now. The portal to Equestria had been sealed and closed behind me so there was no way back in. But then again, why would I want to go back? Sure, Robbie was still there and we had always been good friends, but the memories of Twilight and I just haunted me whenever I was there.

I let out a sigh as I lay in my bed, staring at the ceiling of my darkened room. Sleep was evading me a lot recently, but I had grown accustomed to it. The silence and emptiness allowed all of the good, and the bad memories to creep back, even though they were unwelcome and I let them know it whenever one reared its ugly head.

“Shut up, just go away!” I moaned at my ever overactive brain, rolling over to get comfier. It was no use though, the thought had implanted itself firmly at the front of my mind. With another heavy sigh I heaved myself into a sitting position and checked my alarm clock.

Three AM. I was never going to be in a fit state for college in the morning. I pressed the power button on my pc as I dropped into the chair, which was surrounded by empty energy drink cans and assorted food wrappers. The screen lit up brightly causing me to flinch at the invasion of my eyes before I finally adjusted and began to browse the internet.

I hadn’t watched My Little Pony since I had made my final return from Equestria, the memories were just too much to bear whenever I saw Twilight Sparkle and her friends. Even though it had happened months ago, it still felt fresh in my mind whenever I thought back to that day.

I had passed through the portal, like any other time I had visited my marefriend at the library, and as usual Robbie was in the house to greet me. We exchanged the usual banter, catching up, seeing how school was going for me. Robbie was visibly excited that day because he had received a letter from GoldenHorn Studios, one of the most prestige record labels in all of Equestria, informing him that he had been given a minor contract to record two albums. He had been a DJ around a few of the local nightclubs, but until now nothing had ever came from it.

I bid him farewell fairly quickly as usual and made my way to the library with a skip in my step. Opening that door and greeting Twilight, I could immediately tell something was wrong.

“Matt, we need to talk” She had said, motioning for me to take a seat. I obliged her and sat, but she would not make eye contact. Given what she was about to say, I wouldn’t have been able to either.

“Look, I really love you, but I need more than someone who is only in town for a few days a week. We’ve been dating for a while now, but it seems like you’re not in the place to make the commitment that I need.” My eyes were betraying me, stinging as tears welled up in the corners; my heart sank in my chest, as if it had suddenly become made of lead. Was this really how it was about to end?

“I’m sorry Matt, but I don’t see this working with us living so far apart, and you only being here when you can. I think it’s time we called it off” Her head sank, still avoiding eye contact. I could tell it was as hard for her as it was for me. The tears now freely flowed from my eyes and, silently, I rose from the chair and galloped away.

“Matt! Wait!” I heard Twilight shout after me, but I would not listen, I couldn’t go back there now. I can’t remember most of the gallop back to Robbie’s cottage. I just remember bursting through the door. He had immediately sat me down and I told him what had happened. He was very concerned and offered me a place to stay for the few days I was in Ponyville, but I wouldn’t be staying.

“I’m going back Robbie.” I picked up the portal gun in a rush, a cross between rage and sorrow filling my body.

“I can’t let you go back like this. Just stay a few days and we can just hang out and I can help you start to move on!” He practically begged me to stay, but I wouldn’t listen. This was one thing my best friend couldn’t help me with.

“I DON’T WANT TO MOVE ON! I WANT TO BE WITH TWILIGHT, BUT THAT DOESN’T LOOK LIKELY NOW DOES IT!” I snapped at him. One of the many things I look back on and kick myself for. He backed off a little and I let out an angered grunt before I opened the portal.

“I want you, to close the portal behind me and never re-open in for any reason, do you understand?” I said through gritted teeth, panting heavily from my outburst. Robbie’s eyes filled with confusion.

“You mean you’re never coming back?” He retorted, his voice cracking slightly.

“That’s the plan,” I took a step towards him now, letting out a sigh, “I just don’t think I can ever come back with this hanging over my head.” Robbie nodded as if he understood, and he approached me before giving me a hug.

“I’m sorry things turned out the way they did Matt, but you know everything happens for a reason right? Please don’t beat yourself up about this too much, and for the love of Celestia, don’t do anything stupid.” He pleaded with me the last couple of phrases. I couldn’t guarantee him that so I just nodded and he gave me a smile.

“Well I guess this is goodbye then.” He held out his hoof towards me and I bumped it with mine, the final bro-hoof to be shared between us.

“I guess it is.” I simply said before turning and dashing through the portal. I landed on my bedroom floor with a thud. My hands curled into fists and tears once again meandered down my cheeks onto the floor. As promised, Robbie closed the portal behind me and I was left alone, in my darkened room with my memories and thoughts.

Not much had changed from then until now. I still thought about Twilight every day, I regretted not giving Robbie the proper goodbye he had deserved. We were best friends after all. I mostly regretted running out of the library the way I did, there was a chance we could have talked it out, but my emotions got the better of me, and I had to make an escape.

My hands once again curled into fists as I thought back. I had zoned out for so long my computer screen had gone onto my screen-saver. I watched the fish swim lazily around my screen and thought back to my old screen-saver, which had been all of the mane six, playing and laughing on a loop. I smiled slightly at the thought but then the image of Twilight flashed before my eyes and I was pushed back down into my pit of depression where I had been living for the past six months.

Sighing, I rose to my feet, oblivious to the new light that filled the room. Only when I turned to face my bed did I notice the orange glowing oval that occupied my wall. I squinted at the surface, which had once been filled with a Little Comets poster. I approached the all too familiar portal with caution, I was pretty sure it was just my mind finally giving up on me and pushing me into full blown hallucinations. But as I drew closer, something told me this was real.

I reached my hand towards the portal, curious to why it had suddenly re-appeared. Then something shot out, grabbing my wrist and pulling me through onto a hardwood floor which I recognized instantly.

“Hey man! Long time, no see!” I looked up to find the source of the voice, and before me stood a grey Pegasus, with a bright red mane with blue tints running through, looking down at me.