Dash stood in the old grey stone temple, light streaming in through a window. On one side was her entire family. On the other side was Pinkie's family. While the differences were striking between the boisterous winged Pegasii with their brightly colored manes and the sober if noticeably more cheerful than usual grey and brown Earth Ponies they were all getting along.
Dash breathed a sigh of relief at that. Around her head was a bridal crown, a golden circlet in the shape of ivy leaves. Beside her was Pinkie. They had skipped the more traditional Pegasan rite of the groom kidnapping the bride. For one thing they couldn't decide who the groom or the bride was and it had sparked an argument. Around Pinkie's head was a crown of daisies, an Earth Pony tradition. Both Ponies had immaculately clean fur and their manes were slightly wet. Dash had undergone the ritual immersion in a sacred river while Pinkie had bathed in a sauna. Dash had rarely considered tradition important. But for this, she had undergone every dull, Pegasan ritual. She had prayed at the shrine of her ancestors, had gone through days of ritual purification...everything. Everything for the mare that now walked beside her.
This had to be right. Everything had to be right. Pinkie smiled at her. Dash's heart lifted up and she returned the smile. Dash thought about everything they had gone through. Facing Nightmare Moon and Discord, Chrysalis and Sombra. They had fought alongside each other so many times. She thought of how she had cared for Pinkie even when it meant missing a Wonderbolt's show, their weekly sleepover that had started this whole thing, the time they planned the perfect date then Pinkie's house had burned down and Dash had gotten attacked by an inept ancient evil, but it was still a perfect date simply because they were together. She thought of the heart-rendering moment when she thought their relationship had come to an end. Never again would she allow anything to come between them, not love struck griffons nor anything else that their crazy life could throw at them.
Speaking of love struck griffons, Gilda was sitting in the aisle with Dash's friends, including Lightning Dust. Both the griffon and the mint green Pegasus were engrossed in a whispered conversation. Dash had a feeling they'd hit it off. Slowly, Pinkie and Dash came closer to the altar where Princess Celestia presided.
She smiled her warm, motherly smile at them. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Rainbow Miriam Dash and Pinkamena Diane Pie. These two have shown a love that is strong and true, a love that has managed to survive through many trials. If anyone knows any reason that these two should not be joined let them speak now or forever hold their peace."
No one spoke. Princess Celestia nodded. "Rainbow and Pinkamena..." She rolled her eyes to high heaven at the formal speech. "probably don't appreciate all this formality. Pinkie and Dash have chosen to express their love in a way that combines the traditions of their tribes. Please, speak your vows."
Dash extended her wings, touching them to Pinkie's side. Pinkie shivered as they ran across sensitive spots. The sensation was familiar, but now the gesture was full of deep meaning. She extended her forelegs, touching them to the tips of Dash's wings.
"Pinkie, I take thee as my wife. My wings shall ever guard thee, they shall forever shelter thee. In sickness, I shall be thy health. In poverty, I shall be your riches. To me, you are my greatest treasure and I shall always hold you first in my heart."
Pinkie kept her hooves on Dash's wingtips. "Dash, I take thee as my wife. My arms shall forever encircle thee, my love shall forever nourish thee. In sickness, I shall be thy health. In poverty, you shall be my riches. To me, you are my greatest treasure and I shall always hold thee as first in my heart."
Dash moved close and they kissed. Together they spoke as her rosette eyes met Pinkie's blue. "Then let us be for one another a shield to the world, a fire in winter, a shade in summer and may our love through all ages endure."
Celestia presented a glass of cider, holding it in her magic. This was the Earth Pony part of the ceremony. Pinkie drank first, taking three sips. She took it in her hooves and passed it to Dash who took three sips.
Celestia took the bowl from them and took up a rope. They held up their hooves and Celestia wrapped the rope around their forelegs. "By this rope, I acknowledge the bond of love that exists between you. Do you vow to support one another through all trials?"
"We do." They spoke.
"Do you vow to be faithful to one another throughout all ages?"
"We do."
"Do you vow to love and honor one another?"
"We do."
"Then, I do declare thee wed in the sight of the Gods and before the Holy Empire of the Equestrian Nation."
Their families and friends cheered so loud that Dash was afraid the stone of the ancient temple was going to shake. The cheering continued for several moments before it died away. Celestia undid the rope. Pinkie bounced away from the altar. "Woo-hoo! Let's party!"
Dash chuckled and followed her wife towards the reception hall along with the rest of the wedding party. The hall had been decorated in streamers in every color of the rainbow as well as pink, balloons floated in the air and on the table was a scrumptious looking cake courtesy of Pinkie's employers who had also come to the wedding. The newlyweds darted over to the cake and cut themselves several generous portions before they were mobbed by their friends. Applejack took both Pinkie and Dash into a rib-crushing hug that the other Element Bearers soon joined.
Twilight nuzzled Dash and then Pinkie. "I am so happy for you two! Finally, I get to go to a wedding without any Changelings trying to invade!"
Pinkie and Dash burst into laughter along with the others. Pinkie wiped away a happy tear. "We'd have invited Chryssy, but we didn't know her address."
Her quip set off a fresh round of laughter. They went to sit down at a table and just before Dash could dive into a piece of cake, she felt a strong, rough hoof on her shoulder. She turned and came face to face with Pinkie's father's stony face.
A crack appeared where his lips were that suggested something akin to a smile." I'm right happy for you two. Y'know, I don't know much about mares, but I know about rocks. Pinkie's a gem. You treat her right and don't you ever break her heart, y'hear?"
Dash gulped. "Y-yes, Sir."
Pinkie's mom, beside her husband, shook her head. "Don't go scaring the child."
Dash's dad trotted over followed by her mom. He set a hoof on Pinkie's shoulder. "I know my daughter will give you many years of happiness. But, just like your dad said, treat her right."
Pinkie nodded and answered with a mouth full of cake. "Yes Sir, Mr. Rainbow Dash's dad, Sir!"
He chuckled. "Just Blaze. Or Dad if you prefer."
Dash almost asked if he could call Mr. Pie Dad. She decided against it. Mrs. Pie patted her shoulder, a gesture eerily reminiscent of Pinkie when she wanted to cheer Dash up. "He'll warm up to you, trust me."
Dash and Pinkie's parents congratulated them once more, they all embraced and then their parents went back to mingling with the crowd. Spike was awkwardly dancing with Rarity. Pinkie and Dash watched as they tried to figure out a way to work around their size differences. Cheerful music wafted through the hall and more Ponies drifted onto the dance floor. Even the Crusaders were jamming, or trying to in the elaborate dresses Rarity had made for them.
Dash reached across the table and grasped Pinkie's hoof. Pinkie squeezed her hoof and licked away the cake on her own lips before reaching over and licking a piece of cake from Dash's muzzle. No more words were needed as Pinkie took her onto the dance floor. Holding onto each other, they swayed and twirled to the music.
Whatever life, its joys and its trials would bring, from this moment on they would always face it together.