//------------------------------// // Chiming Bells // Story: The Hardest Years // by MailleMaker //------------------------------// It was a beautiful day in Ponyville. The sun was shining, birds were singing, wedding bells were chiming, and Rainbow Dash was fretting as Rarity got her into her dress. "Rarity, I told you that all of this-" Rainbow Dash gestured to her dress, "isn't necessary. This dress is overkill." "Darling, this dress is the work of several years," scolded Rarity with a roll of her eyes, "it is not overkill." Rainbow Dash just looked at the dress in awe. It had long, white sleeves that billowed at the end. The bodice ended at the waist with a gold belt that the train attached to; and the train itself could be considered a work of art. Like Princess Celestia's tail, it shimmered in the light, but, instead of green, blues, and pink, the train matched the rainbow design in Rainbow Dash's mane and tail. Usually Rainbow Dash didn't like to wear dresses, but this dress was the prettiest dress she had ever seen. "This is such a beautiful dress Rarity, but how have you been working on it for years when Skeeter just asked me to marry him four months ago?" asked Rainbow Dash confused. "Well, to tell you the truth Rainbow, as soon as I learned that Scootaloo was your daughter and that Skeeter was her father those three years ago, I started making it. At first I wasn't sure I had done the right thing by making a dress so far in advance, but I'm glad to see that I was right," explained Rarity. Rainbow Dash just looked at Rarity in disbelief, "So you're telling me that as soon as you learned that I was Scootaloo's mom, you started making me a dress?' "Yes I do. Now, today is your wedding day; lets get you into your dress and ready to walk down the aisle," said Rarity as she lifted the dress in her magic. Soon, Rarity had Rainbow Dash looking perfect, including doing the bride-to-be's crazy rainbow hair. "Thanks for all of this Rarity, I have no idea how I would managed without you," said Rainbow Dash as the two walked to an enclosed pavilion outside. The wedding was to take place in a field next to Twilight's castle and later, the reception would be in the castle after the ceremony. Rainbow Dash was to wait in the enclosed pavilion until she heard the wedding march being sung by Fluttershy's birds. "You're welcome darling, now I must skedaddle if I want to see the ceremony," said Rarity as she quietly slipped out of the pavilion and trotted to the wedding area. "Mother, are you okay," asked Scootaloo who walked into the pavilion as Rarity made her exit, "you look nervous." "Yes, I'm fine," said Rainbow Dash as she looked at her daughter. "I just can't believe my daughter's a teenager and I'm just now getting married." "Mom, it's fine. You'll be okay-" the faint sound of the wedding march being sung caught the pair's attention. "Now, do your best and smile." Scootaloo left the pavilion and joined her friends, the other Cutie Mark Crusaders, and began spreading flowers in the path that Rainbow Dash was to walk down. A sudden gasp from the crowd, and Scootaloo realized that Rainbow Dash was walking behind them. As soon as the flower girls made it to the end of the aisle, they all made their way to their place and turned around to see that Rainbow Dash was standing next to Skeeter and the love birds were exchanging vows. Spike soon brought out the rings and Rainbow Dash and Skeeter sealed their marriage by saying, "I do." And they kissed. It was the sweetest, most love filled kiss that anypony had ever seen. There was not a dry eye in the crowd. Soon, everypony was enjoying the refreshment of the reception and congratulating the married couple. "Congratulation Rainbow Dash," said Twilight, "you two are such a cute couple." "Thanks Twilight," said Rainbow Dash with a blush. "Yes, thank you," agreed Skeeter. "And thank you for letting us use the castle for the reception. It was very kind of you." "Anything for one of my friends. I'm glad that you guys are happy," said Twilight, "do you have any plans for a honey moon?" Rainbow Dash and Skeeter exchanged a discreet smile before Rainbow Dash responded, "We discussed a honey moon to Las Pegasus but decided against it since Scootaloo is starting high school in a few weeks. We want to be here to see our baby girl's first day as a freshmen." "That's reasonable," said Twilight. "If you ever need me to watch Scootaloo, I'd be more than willing." "Okay, we'll let you know if we decide on anything in the future," said Rainbow Dash with a thankful smile. "Well, I must be going, there are a ton of guests here and I'm sure you'll be receiving several more congratulations before the day is over," said Twilight before she walked off to talk to somepony. True to her prediction, Rainbow Dash and Skeeter received many more congratulations and were glad to be home after the long day. Scootaloo and the other Cutie Mark Crusaders had remodeled the inside of their clubhouse over the summer and were spending the night there so Rainbow Dash and Skeeter could have some time alone on the night of their wedding. For that Rainbow Dash and Skeeter were thankful. "I love you Rainbow Dash," said Skeeter to his new wife. "I love you too," said Rainbow Dash blushing. "Do you want to watch a movie and snuggle for a while or go straight to bed?" "How about both," Skeeter said mischievously, "let's go watch a movie in bed and 'snuggle'." "Sounds great," said Rainbow Dash with a grin as she walked towards their new bedroom with a little sway in her hips. Skeeter followed slightly drooling and what happened that night is...probably best left unsaid.