//------------------------------// // Epilogue - Return of the Harmony // Story: Harmony: Equestria at War // by RedstoneDreamEclipse //------------------------------// A whole year had passed since the victory of the civil war, 2nd January, Year 15, Second Celestial Era. The citizens had returned to their original homeland. Although being destroyed and burnt to the ground, they kept being optimistic, as a bright future lied ahead of them. The lands of Equestria had now been restored, and the races had now been officially united as one. The Griffonstone Empire had recognised itself as part of Equestria, and the new Emperor, King Malachite the Brave had established a propaganda of peace and unification. As for the dragon race, they had finally allowed open trade and communication with Equestria, building railroads and turned the reddish, burning rocks into an actually habitable place for all the races. The crooked changelings, however, still had trouble accepting the fact that their plan of ultranationalism had failed for the third time. Queen Chrysalis lived a great life with the rest of the Empresses of Equestria, while taking care of her own subjects. The economy system had been completely destroyed in the civil war, but it eventually started to recover, as industries and cultivations had started to thrive again, just like how it was before the war had begun. With the society back on track, Eclipse could finally make decisions about his own life. He remembered his vow - to be with Lightningbolt forever. He decided that now is the time to get married with the mare he had always loved. He still had problem deciding where should his wedding be held, Canterlot or Shadow Realm. As the hero of Equestria and the Prince of Shadow Realm, his wedding would be grand, inviting everyone of every race to attend. Decision was made as everyone suggested it would be best for the wedding to be held in Canterlot, as it was the most convenient place in Equestria for anyone to attend. The best singers and performers were invited to perform, the best fashion designers were gathered to made the most eye-catching attire for the Captain and the Colonel, and the best chefs were hired to cook the best food and dessert for the event. It would be a big event, as it was not only his wedding, but his inauguration as the Captain of the Wonderbolts and the first memorial anniversary of the victory of the civil war. It was such a massive event that the entire nation of Equestria was issued a week-long official public holiday just for the event. ************************************************************************************* “Are you that nervous already now, my brother? You look calmer on the battlefield than your own wedding.” Lunar teased as he helped his brother dressed up for the event. “Yeah, I won’t lie. I am quite nervous now. You know, I’m not particularly good at anything except flying and shooting.” Eclipse chuckled, a little embarrassed. “Chill, Your Royal Highness. Everything would be alright. Come on, check yourself out. You look just magnificent!” Eclipse walked in front of a tall mirror as he looked at himself through the mirror. He was in a full set of white attire and a pair of white leather boots, with aiguillettes crossing his chest from his shoulder. Three shiny golden badges hanging from his chest as awards of his services in the war. His mane was made to look more handsome, as it was much tidier than his normal day outlook. He buttoned up the gold plated buttons on his coat with his hooves and applied a little perfume. He looked up at the mannequins, wondering wether he should wear a crown or a Captain’s cap. Lunar picked up the crown and placed it on Eclipse’s head, making the decision for him. He attached his sword on his waist and stepped out from the changing room. With his two brothers by his side, he walked towards the hall of the castle. The doors were opened as he approached the hall, and from there he could see his mare starting at the very end of the hall, up the stage. Lots of fillies and colts stood by the side of a red carpet that led him up the stage. Some were Royal Guards, standing straight with swords in their sheath and a whole set of armour, polished so bright that as if it actually glows a silver light. Some were Wonderbolts, standing adjacent to the Royal Guards in their format attire and wings stretched confidently in the air. A black and white cap, a set of well-ironed uniform as blue as the skies, and a pair of white leather shoes. They all stood aside with their rifles, not the ones they use in the battlefield, but the ones in galas. The organ was played as Eclipse entered, approaching the stage. The blades were unsheathed by the Guards and the rifles were raised to form an arc as Eclipse passed through. On the stage, Princess Celestia was the priest, and Lightningbolt stood with her sister Dasher as the bride maid. Lightningbolt was in a set of wedding dress that looked as if it was made of snow flakes. Her mane was also tidied, and lied around on her neck. The stallion stepped up onto the stage. “Lightningbolt… You are so pretty…” Eclipse complimented. “You looked very handsome, Eclipse.” Lightningbolt giggled, and she complimented back too. “From now on, you’re my princess, forever and beyond.” “So, shall we begin?” Princess Celestia asked, as the two were finally here. The two nodded in response, and held their hooves together, as Celestia started to speak. “We gather here to unite these two ponies in marriage. Their decision to marry has not been entered into lightly and today they publicly declare their private devotion to each other. The essence of this commitment is the acceptance of each other in entirety, as lover, companion, and friend. A good and balanced relationship is one in which neither pony is overpowered nor absorbed by the other, one in which neither pony is possessive of the other, one in which both give their love freely and without jealousy. Marriage, ideally, is a sharing of responsibilities, hopes, and dreams. It takes a special effort to grow together, survive hard times, and be loving and unselfish.” “Do you both pledge to share your lives openly with one another, and to speak the truth in love? Do you promise to honour and tenderly care for one another, cherish and encourage each other, stand together, through sorrows and joys, hardships and triumphs for all the days of your lives?” “We do.” Eclipse and Lightningbolt replied. “Do you pledge to share your love and the joys of your marriage with all those around you, so that they may learn from your love and be encouraged to grow in their own lives?” “We do.” “May these rings be blessed as a symbol of your union. As often as either of you look upon these rings, may you not only be reminded of this moment, but also of the vows you have made and the strength of your commitment to each other.” Two gold rings were placed on a stand in front of the couple, with extremely detailed carvings and finished with a flawless diamond on each ring. “Lightningbolt, please repeat after me ... I Lightningbolt, promise to love and support you Eclipse and live each day with kindness, understanding, truth, humour, and passion. With this ring I thee wed.” Lightningbolt repeated the vow, and she took one of the rings from the stand with her magic. She pulled Eclipse’s mechanical wing over with her hood, and fitted it into a gap Eclipse cut away in advance just for this occasion. The ring slipped into the gap easily, and now fitted snugly onto the wing. With the ring fitted onto Eclipse, Celestia continued. “Eclipse, please repeat after me ... I Eclipse, promise to love and support you Lightningbolt and live each day with kindness, understanding, truth, humour, and passion. With this ring I thee wed.” Eclipse did the same thing and repeated the vow solemnly. He feared that his dark magic may hurt his mare, so he just physically picked the ring up with the feathers on his real wing, and gently slid the ring down her horn, which also fitted just tight enough to be held in place, and not easily removable. “Go now in peace and live in love, sharing the most precious gifts you have - the gifts of your lives united. And may your days be long on this earth. I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” With that said, Eclipse pulled Lightningbolt over into his embrace, and the couple’s lips touched. Everyone cheered as the two kissed lovingly. The confetti was dropped, the blank shots were fired, and the fireworks were launched. The two were officially married. It was a marvellous day. Not only was Eclipse and Lightningbolt married and Bolt became the Princess of the Shadow Realm, Malachite had become King of Griffonstone Empire, Shadestep and Dasher started a relationship… While the rest of Equestria continued celebrating, Eclipse still had his duties and promises to fulfil. Still in his Prince attire, he travelled to the gate of Canterlot, to move some ‘shipments’. Two brown wood boxes were lying there under a pavilion, with a flag of Equestria covering one, while a flag of Griffonstone Empire covered another. Being a strong stallion, he loaded the two coffins onto a little bird chopper, which he flew it to the Crystal Mountain range. He landed on the mountain, somewhere which the coldest winds never blew and the harshest chill never reached. It retained a forever sight of red and orange leafed-trees, with hay and dried grass. It was also so far up the north that it reached the arctic circle of the planet, and the sun would never set at the location. The place was a graveyard, where the royalty, the heroes and the important ones’ body rest forever. Eclipse unloaded the two coffins and carried it to where the Alpha Team’s remain rested. “Rest in peace, my Captain.” “Rest in peace, my partner.” He saluted, as he stare blankly at the massive graveyard.