//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: Pony of a Different Color // by Sparky Brony //------------------------------// Nightmare Night. Well the festivities don't start until the evening. I roll in my bed, thinking seriously of sleep. Celestia didn't lie when she said that my bachelor party would be one to remember. Also, note to self, don't try to get the ruler of this nation drunk, she was tipsy when I was ready to pass out. I still can't believe she got DJ-PON3 to DJ at the party, with pretty much every stallion in Ponyville and Canterlot in attendance, I took up the opportunity to chat up Fancy Pants, Filthy Rich, and a few other moneyed individuals. I think I can turn my time here in Equestria very profitable. No. Wait, I'm celebrating my marriage, I have a psychopath to track down, and I'm thinking about money? I groan and pull my pillow over my face. I'm almost ready to nod back off to sleep. Rainbow isn't here. She's in Canterlot, spending some time with Luna. I have been informed of Pegasi customs, with the exception of very few things, like the rehearsal, it is forbidden for the bride and groom to even see each other in the final week before the marriage. To violate that is to cast bad luck on the impending marriage. But not having Rainbow in bed when I wake up is agony for me. I miss her warmth, I miss her smell. I stir a little as I grab the pillow she usually sleeps on and inhale deeply. A hint of her smell helps me calm down. Just as my eyes close as I'm falling asleep when I hear an odd sound. A sound like something burning, crackling. And I feel an impact on the bed. I reach down. It's a scroll. Sparky, I need you to get your flank to the Golden Oaks Library immediately. Twilight Well, that's a quick missive. I sit on my hindquarters, I spread my wing and my forelegs in a massive yawn. I decide to be cheeky about it. I open a gateway in my bedroom, and I place the other side of the gateway at the outside of the hollow tree. A quick trot, and I'm there, knocking on the door. “You know, it's a public library Sparky.” Damnit, I should have simply teleported. I've gotten much better with it over the last few weeks. I trot in. She smiles at me and says “Head downstairs.” And she teleports away. I decide to follow her lead. And in moments I'm in front of her. I find myself immediately in her telepathic grip. I'm floated in front of a machine. Leads float around me and attach to me. I'm looking around, getting concerned by her abrupt behavior. “Twilight... what is...” She shushes me. I watch her trot from one machine to another. She looks at me. Back at her readouts. She levitates a quill into ink and writes some notes. “Uhh, Twilight....” I stop at a quick glare from her. She continues writing. I sit there, stewing in my own juices as she continues her work. Just as my temper is about to boil over. She slams a book closed. “Okay, I've got your baselines ready.” “Uhhh, what are you talking about, Twilight.” I look at her, she's exhausted. Bags under her eyes, but she has that manic look in her eyes. “Ohhh, you've been researching.” She clops her forehooves together as she smiles at me. “How many days Twilight?” “Oh, since the Bridal party.” “Uhhh, Twilight, that was four days ago.” “Really? I didn't notice. I've just been drawn in by my research, and I've come to a conclusion.” “And?” I know the best thing to do when Twilight is like this is to simply go along with what she's saying. “It would kill any normal pony, even any normal Pegasus. An Alicorn like myself or the Princesses would survive, but it wouldn't be easy. But you...” she trails off. “But I... what?” I prompt her. She shakes her head and continues. Trotting back and forth in front of me. “Well, we have bones, and tendons, and muscles. Skin, nerves, vascular system, I mean this involves every major bodily system.” She comes up to me, and puts her forehooves on my cheeks. “But I'm certain you can survive.” Now I'm really confused. “What exactly are we talking about, Twilight?” She clops her hooves together again, the manic smile on her face widens. “Oh, I didn't tell you when you came in? I'm going to give you your lost wing back.” Everything else fades away in my mind. I haven't flown since the battle. Every day it hurts to remember what I lost. Every day I've wanted to fly, in my mind, it's almost as bad for me as losing Saidin was for six months. And on my low points, it's worse. I've learned in my time as a Pegasus that we use our wings all the time. Nearly every movement I make reminds me of that wing being missing. Rainbow has been incredibly supportive, but I've seen her rub her right wing and wince. It's affected both of us. “Sparky, helloooooooooo?” I snap out of it, seeing Twilight wave her hoof in front of my eyes. “Come back to me. Oh, good, you're back. Now, as I was saying, Rainbow was telling me how horrible a time you were having missing your wing. She felt so bad. And she was so drunk, I seriously doubt that she remembers crying on my shoulder about how horrible it is for you missing your wing. She really is worried about you.” “Are you sure you can do that? You showed me some of your magic books, and those on regeneration. Normally something like that would take months.” “I know, and you would get, at best, fifty percent performance, due to the extended time between treatments, the neurological work would never be able to be one hundred percent right. But doing it all at once, on the other hand, eliminates that problem. The trouble is, that kind of spell is a total shock to every system involved. But you have something other Pegasi don't. You have Saidin. You can not only survive, but you will have a fully functional wing.” “Does Rainbow Dash know you are going to do this?” I ask, starting to get excited. “No, I'm intending this to be my wedding present to you both. And it will allow you to perform the traditional Pegasus wingbinding. Which I know Rainbow really wants in her heart.” “When can you start.” “As soon as you seize Saidin. I've been researching the spell. I'm not going to lie, you are going to define new levels of pain with this. But you will be pain free as soon as it's over. And I'm going to want you to fly before you leave here. Understood?” I eagerly seize Saidin, “I'm ready,” I murmur as I close my eyes. I'm ready for the pain. Pain? She should have said agony. I hold onto Saidin with every scrap of strength in my mind. It literally feels as though my body is being fed slowly through a grinder. I howl in pain. Even with pain all through my body, I can feel a bright spot of pain on my back, I feel the bones grow out, the flesh covering them, I imagine I can feel each feather grow, all with agonizing slowness. As the process finishes, I can feel her withdraw her magic from my body, I slump to the floor, unconscious. “Sparky?” An ethereal voice says. “Rainbow?” I mumble. “You have that mare on the brain, no, silly. It's me.” I finally recognize the voice. “Twilight. Did it work?” I stand up slowly. I feel my wings. I slowly extend both of them. For the first time in nearly a month, flaring my wings didn't make me feel off balance. I look at my new wing. I flex it back and forth. It feels amazing. I flap experimentally. In seconds I'm off the ground. I look over at the tired Alicorn. I have to swoop forward as her energy gives out. I scoop her up and fly her to her room. I know how tired she is. And I want her ready for the wedding, a few hours of sleep will do her well. I leave her in her bed, with strict instructions for Spike for her not to be disturbed until sundown. Our wedding will be right before midnight, she'll have plenty of time to get ready from then. I also swear the dragon to secrecy when it comes to my wing. Don't need him blabbing it around town. I teleport home. I need to get some things ready before my wedding. Just after 11 PM I'm standing in the Cathedral, Celestia next to me, Luna ready to officiate. I hear the start of some music, light, airy, and obviously a march, yes. Rainbow wanted a traditional wedding, including both cultures. She chose the music. I turn as the doors open. Three fillies in rainbow hued dresses bounce through the doors, spreading rose petals, huge smiles on all three of the Cutie Mark Crusader's faces as they bounce down the aisle. Moment's later, Twilight, resplendent in her mare of honor's dress. That nap really did her well. She comes down the aisle herself. And then the music shifts to Mendelssohn's march. There is Rainbow Dash, her gown is beautiful, Rarity did a far better job than she did for Rainbow to go to the Grand Galloping Gala. The wreathe around her head, holding her veil, was gold, with lightning bolts around the perimeter. Needless to say, I was stunned. Shortly she is next to me. She spreads her wings. I spread mine as well, I move so our wings are enfolding each others. She looks sharply, then gasps. Apparently Twilight was waiting to tell her until I showed her. The smile on her face doubled, then redoubled. She looks at Twilight, who grins sheepishly, then back at me. Silence until the vows is traditional, she mouths words to me. I just smile at her, I know what she's trying to say. We turn to Luna. “Mare's and Gentlecolts, we are gathered here today to celebrate one thing. Love.”