Chapter Twelve “Ties That Bind”
Peter glanced to the side. “Hey, Luna? Do you like the snow?”
Princess Luna shifted her attention away from the telescope, only to glower at Peter. Three years had passed ever since she started dating the aloof stallion, and nothing had changed. He volunteered to keep her company during her night watch as usual, but Luna questioned her own wisdom for accepting the gesture tonight. Yes, it was sweet, and Peter's company was always enjoyable.
However, she had a job to do, and her coltfriend was in a strangely talkative mood tonight, at least more than usual. Equestria needed her watchful eye to remain vigilant, but Peter's insistent pestering was proving to be rather distracting. A low shudder escaped from the mare, involuntarily. Small flakes of snow danced on the breeze in their descent, landing on her body.
It had been going on like this for the entire duration of the day. Snow was always a work hazard. Granted, Celestia urged her sister to avoid working on such cold days, but in Luna's eyes, enemies could take the time to attack when somepony least expected it. It was her duty to protect her kingdom, and nopony would find a way through her defense, whether it was through rain, sleet, or snow.
Unfortunately, Luna's mouth betrayed her mind. “Yes, it's quite beautiful. Why do you ask?”
Luna blankly stared to the side, chiding herself. Once again, she humored the fool. While they were closely acquainted, so much that Luna deemed Peter her coltfriend and personal knight, it should not have affected her way of thinking. Yet, it did. Whenever she was around him, her heart felt light, like the clouds overhead. Peter treated her like an equal, something that everypony else couldn't bring themselves to even attempt. While it was to respect her royal status, it was also out of fear, for the memory of Nightmare Moon remained fresh in their minds.
Peter was different however. Her tainted legacy meant nothing to him. In his eyes, Luna was his lover, and that meant the world to the princess. Her lover was a naive fool, but he was invaluable. Shaking her head, Luna placed her eye back into the telescope, attempting to shift her focus back into her work, where it belonged.
“I was just curious. You've been standing here all night in the snow,” Peter lightly replied, furrowing his brow.
Luna huffed. “It is my duty to watch over the land. You know that, and it is yours as well. A little snow is no excuse to slack off.”
Such a distraction. How could he not take a hint? Was he just antagonizing her again for the sake of humor? Considering how close he and Celestia had grown, Luna wouldn’t put it past either pony to consider such a dastardly act.
Peter grinned. “Yeah, I know, but aren't you cold? I mean, even with fur, it's pretty chilly out here.”
The mare exhaled but shivered at the same time, letting out a shudder. He had a point. Luna's expression turned blank as she cursed the frailty of her body. Despite eons of growth and experience, she yielded to the cold like anypony else. Peter gave no verbal response, only furrowing his brow at the stubborn princess. Luna refused to look in his direction. No doubt he was scowling at her with his eyes. She was co-ruler of the land. Never would she allow somepony, aside from her sister, to scold her. Sadly, her vulnerabilities continued to surface, evident by a pair of stifled sneezes.
With a quick swipe of her hoof, Luna cleaned her snout, all while avoiding Peter's gaze. “I assure you... I am fine.”
However, Luna's eyes widened once a warm cloth fell around her neck. Peter placed his jacket on the mare's back. In spite of her harsh thoughts, her stallion willingly gave her his clothing, sacrificing his warmth for her. Luna's cheeks flushed, growing as hot as the sun, despite the cold climate, and her conditions only worsened once her blue irises found his wide smile. Luna's body suddenly stiffened. Oh, how she loathed feeling so vulnerable.
Peter began running his hooves along her limbs in an attempt to warm them. “You don't always have to put on the tough girl act, you know. I mean, it’s your birthday, and you haven’t even given it a second thought.”
Luna’s eyes softened. “You remembered.”
Chuckling, the stallion nodded. “Of course I did. There was something that I wanted to give you.” He reached into a pocket on the jacket, retrieving a small box. “I always say that you don’t have to act tough with me. No matter what happens, I’ll always love you the same way. So, maybe…” he trailed off, groaning as his words failed him. Peter simply scoffed at the thought, offering the small box to the alicorn. “I’m not good at mincing my words anymore. I have you to blame for that. Just open the box, and you’ll see what I’m trying to say.”
Luna merely arched a brow at the stallion, using her magic to open the box. However, her blue eyes shot open at the sight that awaited her. A clear diamond, sharply yet carefully crafted, bore the shape of a crescent moon. However, a second, smaller jewel rested alongside it. It was of a black gem, crafted into the shape of a spider. Both items were conjoined, as if unified, and a small folded letter was pinned to the box. Luna gently placed the item down before opening the letter.
It simply read, “An eternity is a long time to be spent alone. While my life is short, I know who I want to share it with. You are the bright moon in my life, chasing away the darkness while lending my heart warm and loving light. My Princess Luna. You graced me as your knight. Now, will you also give me the same regards as…”
“You fool…” Luna muttered as her eyes widened. An expression of genuine surprise and shock surfaced on the mare’s face, struggling to finish the letter’s lasting word. “My… husband?”
Peter pursed his lips and simply knelt, taking hold of the mare’s hoof. “My wife, hopefully. Will you marry me?”
She pulled her hoof away, causing Peter to glance up at the princess with a puzzled look on his face. Before any negative thoughts could enter his mind, Luna rubbed her head against the side of his own affectionately, keeping it there for several moments. Peter was invaluable, and she did not want to let him go. Eons worth of loneliness seemed like an all-too distant memory, giving way for the fleeting warmth that threatened to consume her. Eventually, reality set in, and Luna simply nodded a response, never ceasing as tears poured from her eyes. Not even the pouring snow could repel the heat burning within her. Luna soon lowered, capturing Peter’s mouth with her own for an impromptu yet passionate kiss. It would not be the last, considering how bright the future look.
She was a fool, too. A fool in love, and Luna couldn't be happier.
News of Princess Luna’s engagement with Peter Parker had quickly spread throughout all of Equestria, and a date for the reception had been booked. Now, everypony within Canterlot scrambled to ensure that the castle was prepped to the bride’s liking. Celestia helped with the details, using knowledge of her sister’s preferences to her advantages. Times during the preparations were equally parts wondrous and stressful.
However, that quickly changed to the latter as the rehearsals continued. The night before the wedding turned out to be less joyful than she had hoped. Missing persons, sudden changes of plans, and unfortunate events didn't sit well with the intricately planned out schedule she'd painstakingly written up before hoof. In the back of her mind, a small fleet of fear wrecked havoc, able to only be subdued, yet not silenced, like guilt the subconscious cannot wash away.
Holding a hoof over her chest, that certain subject had not left her mind. In less than twenty-four hours, she and Peter would be forever linked in holy matrimony. Yet, there was trepidation plaguing her thoughts. She knew how long eternity truly was, and one pony’s life was just a blink in the flash of time in comparison. There was a means to counteract such fate, but it could prove to be detrimental, leading way for more irrational conclusions farther down the road.
The mare exhaled, shaking her head. It was fruitless to even think about it, considering her decision had already been made the day prior, and the princess had yet to recover from the incident. She had lost a part of herself, yielding it for her beloved, and now, her life was changed forever, open to both bliss and vulnerability. By the powers of fatigue and caressing of soft pillows on her flushed cheeks, Luna found herself in the embrace of slumber within a matter of minutes after returning to her room.
Luna laid in bed for some time with her back to the door, curled up under three layers of blankets and sheets. Celestia simply smiled at the sight from afar before closing the door to Luna’s private quarters. Her sister made a life-altering decision from the heart, showing unmatched trust in her soon-to-be spouse. They would always be sisters, as nothing would change that, but tomorrow was the dawn of a new era, for both alicorn sisters.
For Luna, her loneliness would be exorcised, and Celestia would let her sister go. She was no longer her sister’s protector. From this day forth, Luna’s knight would be her rock, shield, and heart from now on. With a content smile, Celestia departed as a lone tear streaked down her cheek. Luna’s only visitor was the kiss of night by the creamy, white moonlight. She welcomed it.
The next morning, chaos ensued as ponies ran from room to room, preparing for a great union. The bridal wing was kept off-limits to those not participating. In addition, all males were being exiled from Luna’s room, especially Peter. Equestrian tradition considered the bride and groom seeing each other before being formally given by an ordained entity of bad luck, and the tradition passed on to the residents of Canterlot as well. The legend had been passed down from generation to generation. Though not all were superstitious, none wished to offer their wedding as a test subject, considering Luna had been rather unstrung (understandably so).
However, there was a slight dilemma. Luna originally had her wedding dress fitted, thanks to Rarity’s keen eye, but her measurements had drastically changed in the coming days, forcing the fashionista to improvise. Fortunately, Rarity would not rest, evident by the large bags under her eyes, until she had completed the task. As the unicorn put on the finishing touches to the dress, Celestia walked into the room before sharing a glance with her sister. The alicorn was considerably much shorter in stature, practically the same height as a normal pony. Her aura-like mane was gone, replaced with luscious, bright blue locks.
In spite of the inconvenience of her bodily change, Luna maintained a bright sense of happiness. This day was special, and nothing could ruin it. With a content smile, Celestia only supported her sister’s decision. Soon enough, Rarity approached the younger alicorn with her dress, prompting the pair to begin the fitting process. The most important part hadn’t begun, and the butterflies had already reemerged in her gut.
Meanwhile, Sunset Shimmer accompanied Peter as he began preparations, and they were later visited by Fancy Pants. His suit alone took much longer than it should have, thanks to Peter having absolutely no idea how to properly wear ribbons and ties. Sadly, he ended up ruining it with a row of knots, which took Fancy Pants an entire hour to untie. For all his heroic talents and time spent in Canterlot, Peter still lacked the air of nobility. Although many admitted that was part of his charm, hence why everypony remained patient with the stallion, in spite of the clumsy setbacks.
The following day, all preparations were met, and the wait was finally over. After a meal, she slipped into her dress. Hair, makeup, and subsequent accessories succeeded like clockwork. Everything happened so fast. Before she knew it, Luna was standing on a plush carpet at the entrance of a long aisle within the castle gardens, facing a hundred or more ponies while holding a bouquet of flowers under the clear blue sky, may the stars have mercy. Then again, she had her sister to thank for such a beautiful day.
Looking straight ahead, she saw familiar faces smiling with joy, and eyes on the brink of tears, tissues capturing them. Rows of witnesses were awaiting her arrival and turned to stare in awe. Gentle breezes wisped through the air, and her veil danced in the wind... but to her, everything seemed ethereal, like a blissful dream. Inwardly, to her left stood nopony, just as her right. The princess ventured down the aisle alone, which was no unfamiliar feeling, but it would be one of the past.
Never again would she be alone.
Her steps were graceful, and her head high, giving off a sense of victory with confidence, as an organ flared through the air of its majestic tune. She looked straight on, eyes unmoved, though not much could be seen from behind the chest length, semi-sheer veil hanging from her tiara. The dress was lightweight and hugged her curves, caressing her elegant figure. She continued to look straight ahead, avoiding eye contact.
Peter stepped forward to meet her, taking her hoof in his. “You look so beautiful,” he mused, narrowing his gaze with a smile, “You’re still a little taller than me, but you’re much lower to the ground.” His eyes softened momentarily. “What’s done is done, but are you sure you’re okay with sharing your essence with me? You’ll be very vulnerable now, and… you may never be as strong as you used to be. I mean, we’ll both live the rest of time together, but…”
A murmur glided over the witnesses as well as those standing at the altar. However, a smile could be vividly seen underneath the bride’s veil. “I’ve never been more certain about anything in my life, Peter.” She simply nodded, caressing the stallion’s hoof. “You will fill the void in my life. I’ve spent eons being alone. Power is meaningless if there isn’t somepony worth fighting for. Now that I have you, I have no intention of letting you go. We’ll spend eternity together, and if I have to sacrifice a part of myself to sustain that, then so be it. I’ll make this decision countless times all over again if I could.”
“I’d say my sister’s mind is set,” Celestia reaffirmed, grinning as Peter nodded a response. The princess cleared her throat before her horn glowed, levitating a large, hardcover book that looked older than she was before the pair. Once the book opened, the alicorn sobered. “Shall we begin?”
Luna nodded. “Yes.”
Celestia began with the blessing, speaking first in ancient Equestrian before translating into a language all could understand as she read from her book. Then came the exchanging of the vows as the bride and groom turned to face each other. Peter fiddled in his pocket and pulled out a wrinkled piece of paper covered with scratch outs, tears, and water stains. He had no time to rewrite a revised copy, for the letter itself took much longer than expected. Though its appearance seemed worn and distraught, the words it contained were beautiful and everlasting. Luna returned the favor with her vows, with promises of her own.
“May the stars bless you,” Celestia sweetly declared, “If there is anypony who has a reason to object to this union, speak now or forever hold thy tongue.” Nopony spoke or gave reason to interrupt this long awaited union. A sense of relief took over. Luna and Peter could finally relax. There was nothing else to worry about. They would be sworn to each other, and the journey of the rest of their lives would finally begin. Soon afterward, Celestia’s smile widened. “Peter Benjamin Parker-- Spider-Knight--, do you take this mare to be your wife for as long as you both shall walk this life?”
Peter nodded, never averting his gaze from his soon-to-be wife. “I do.”
Celestia shared a glance with her sister. “Now, I ask the bride. Princess Luna, do you take this stallion to be your husband for as long as you both shall walk this life?”
Luna inhaled deeply before smiling brightly. “I do.”
Celestia choked back a sob, but she maintained a firm demeanor, nodding. “Very well. Groom, you may present your bride with your ring. With this ring, you bind your life to hers, as she already did by sharing her essence with you. This contract will last for the rest of your lives.”
The best mare took her cue as Sunset Shimmer held out a pillow holding a small ring. Her eyes swelled up as tears congregated on the edges of her eyelids. She sniffled, eager to blow her nose, but her hooves stayed out stretched until Peter retrieved the ring. Peter caressed Luna's horn, massaging it as he prepared to finalize the ceremony. Now was his time. He prepared for weeks as he fought anxiety, and the nervous feeling that made him feel nauseous to the point of vomiting.
In spite of his many near-death encounters as Spider-Man and Spider-Knight, he never felt this uneasy, and he hated it, finding a showdown with Thanos much easier on the nerves. He knew all of it was in preparation for this very moment, but it was worth it. Now, in this moment, he was finally ready. Peter slid the custom made wedding ring on Luna's horn as if he had practiced it to perfection. The fit was snug, modeled to her form, and with this act, the contract was signed.
Celestia held her gaze on the couple before shifting it to the surrounding crowd. “By the power given to me in the name of Canterlot, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Everypony, please stand and acknowledge the union of Peter Parker and Luna Parker.” The crowd stood to their hooves, and a roar took over the land. Thunderous applause and cheers filled the area. “Peter, you may kiss your bride. Today, for the first time, you kiss her as your wife.”
The stallion smirked, anticipating this to be his favorite moment of the day. It wasn't the prospect of kissing Luna that excited him. He received such displays of affections all the time. It was the idea, the knowledge, and the understanding that he would kiss her for the first time as his wife. Their union had been marked for quite some time, but today, it was official. It made the kiss of the rest of their lives that much more joyous. It sweetened the kiss and made it taste like her lips had been dipped in sugar and honey.
Peter lifted the veil gently to reveal the mare’s beauty and moved in until his lips met hers briefly yet affectionately. He brushed his hoof against her cheek for a moment, sending a chill down her spine, and she blushed for a moment, evident by her glowing cheeks. Luna's lips tightened and twisted slightly, half annoyed at the idea of Peter teasing her. She'd been waiting for such a kiss for the same reasons, and the stallion had the gall to tease her during the wedding ceremony. How unprofessional, but when it came, it was everything they'd expected and more.
All the anguish, anger, and pain she suffered through over the eons had been cleansed, like a panacea for poison. As husband and wife turned to face the witnesses, the bridal party beamed and finally let their tears of joy flow like streams. Everything leading up to this very moment had been a journey for them all, but in the end, each found contentment in knowing it was all worth it. They'd fought hard. This was the last battle, but the war, the journey through forever, had just begun.
Another day was marked in history. Princess Luna and Sir Peter Parker were joined in holy matrimony. This moment was one of the most special ones they would ever experience. It was a milestone reached after chipping away at the numerous roadblocks they had faced with the sole purpose of halting progress. At certain times, they felt as though they were armed with nothing more than wooden sticks, in spite of their great individual strengths. Other times, they had nowhere to turn to but themselves. Now, it was over. It was time to enjoy life. It was time to never look back.
The past was dark and blurred. The future was so much brighter.
Deep within a dark room, a unicorn paced in place. “They took everything from me. My teacher. My friends. My love. She ruined everything.” Stepping from the shadows with a black and crimson amulet around her neck, Twilight laughed wickedly as her horn emitted crimson energy. “Now, I’ll make them all pay.”
Elsewhere, within the reaches of the astral plane, Discord watched with a furrowed brow. “I must admit that the long dry spell to peace and order has been challenging.” The draconequus straightened his posture upon settling his gaze on Twilight as she continued to scroll through walls of texts in her many books, most containing the forbidden arts of dark magic spells. Shrugging, Discord simply nodded. “However, it would be foolish for me to intervene at this point. My plans for Peter Parker have yet to be adequately rebuilt from Princess Luna’s unforeseen intervention. Besides, Twilight will soon throw everything into chaos herself without my help.”
Just as the draconequus snapped his talons and faded from sight, a bright light distorted into existence near the unicorn. Suddenly, a broken fragment fell from the light and pierced the ground upon landing. Twilight walked towards the fragment, eyeing its glowing surface with a narrowed gaze. She lifted the stone via magic, and its energies dissipated, fusing with that of her own. Tremors shook through the entire vicinity while Twilight’s irises faded behind a blinding light. Soon, the unicorn cackled maniacally as the fragment faded from sight.
-u-
“Every single thing you do matters. You have been created as one of a kind. You have been created in order to make a difference. You have within you the power to change the world.”
― Andy Andrews (The Butterfly Effect)
“The moon is a loyal companion. It never leaves. It’s always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do. Every day, it’s a different version of itself. Sometimes weak and wan, sometimes strong and full of light. The moon understands what it means to be human.
Uncertain. Alone. Cratered by imperfections.”
― Tahereh Mafi
The End
...Spider-Knight will return.
