//------------------------------//
// ACT SEVEN: The Wedding 
// Story: Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree, With Anypony Else But Me 
// by Stormbringer 
//------------------------------//

Twilight walked out from the side door to the front of the dais.  There she bowed to the three princesses standing there.  Then she took her place. 

A guard told AJ’s party that the bride’s maids needed to come out, the Bride would be called when all was ready.  Apple Bloom was to escort her mother when the time was right.  It was only fitting. 

The bride’s maids left the room, led by the guard to the closed Throne Room doors.   

To signal all was ready, Sweetie Belle escorted Granny Smith to the front row of Applejack’s side.  Then she returned to the back where the rest of the bride’s maids and flower fillies were waiting. 

Rarity along with the others were surprised to see how Twilight’s attendants, their escorts, were dressed.  Rarity understood and was pleased. 

The guard opened the door and Princess Celestia nodded for the music to begin.   

Rarity saw Twilight up front and nearly fainted.  She looked beyond beautiful in a dignified way. 

Twilight Velvet escorted Rarity, then Shining Armor escorted Pinkie Pie with Rainbow Dash escorting Fluttershy. 

When they were all in line, the music paused, and the Throne Room doors closed again. 

As the last of the attendants entered the Throne Room, the doors closed, and the guard went to get the bride. 

There was a knock at the door and the guard stuck his head in. 

“All is ready, My Lady,” said the guard. 

Apple Bloom and Applejack kissed a mother/daughter kiss. 

“Let’s go get ya married, mama.” 

“Lead on my beautiful daughter.” 

The two walked to the Throne Room doors.  There were Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo with baskets of rose petals to spread before the bride.  Diamond Tiara had a cushion with a tiara and gold Earth Pony ring.  Silver Spoon had a cushion with a gold Pegasus ring and a smaller tiara.  

The guards there opened the doors and the sounds of the wedding march commenced.    

The flower fillies and ring bearers proceeded to the front. 

Applejack saw all her friends and Twilight’s family.  She understood why Twilight had kept this a secret.  Even Apple Bloom said: 

“Wow!” 

There in the front on the far right stood Rainbow Dash in her Wonderbolts dress uniform.  Next to Rainbow was Shining Armor in his red coat, and white trousers of his Royal Guard Commander’s dress uniform.  Then there was Twilight Velvet, she was in the Royal Guard dress uniform of the Special Unit, the jacket and skirt were black.   

AJ also noticed that on the sleeves of the uniforms there was gold braid to designate rank.  One stripe of gold braid on Rainbow’s, four stripes of gold braid on Shining’s and a thick band of braid with four smaller stripes and a Ψ inside a wreath  above it on Twilight Velvet’s. 

But what impressed AJ the most (and aroused, not that she wasn’t already) was Twilight standing there in the red jacket and white skirt of a female EUP officer.  Her braid was a thick gold braid, even wider than her mother’s.  Above the band was an embroidered gold crown.  On her head was her tiara.   

Applejack didn’t know how she found the strength to not rush to Twilight and cover her with kisses right there. 

Twilight saw her bride and knew that Rarity had out done herself.  The dress was shining white with lace and beading.  It reminded Twilight of all the fairytale princess wedding dresses she’d ever heard of.  As Applejack processed, Twilight saw the train of her gown was about half the length from the dais to the doors. 

Twilight’s heart beat so strongly, she half feared that she’d have a coronary.   

“You’re so very lucky, princess,” said Twilight Velvet. 

“Thank you, Field Marshal Velvet,” answered Twilight to her mother. 

AJ’s attention was brought back to the here and now.  As the sounds of the wedding march continued to swelled the air.  Apple Bloom led her mother by the hoof down the aisle.  All the gathered stood.  Ponies who knew Applejack, especially the ones from the Apple family couldn’t believe their eyes.  If anypony ever looked like a princess, right now it was Applejack.  A stranger wouldn’t believe that this beautiful mare had ever bucked an apple in her life. 

When they reached the front, Apple Bloom kissed her mother and handed her hoof to Twilight.  They advanced up the dais and bowed low before the three princesses.  It was hard to tell who of the five on the dais was smiling larger.       

“Be seated everypony,” said Cadence. 

“My beloved subjects,” said Luna, “what my sister is about to ask is the most important words two ponies can ever pledge.  And I can’t think of two ponies who have waited for and respected each other more than the two before us. 

For almost a year they have dwelt together yet kept their chastity as a sign and pledge of the high quality of their love.   

Now along with the blessings of the Princess of Equestria, I, the Princess of the Night do give my personal blessing for the oldest and most important ritual of the night: that of love. 

My sister?” 

“Princess Twilight Sparkle has been my student, protégé and mostly my friend since she was a filly.  She has all my trust and all my love. 

Applejack Apple has been the touchstone of honesty and forthrightness of a circle of friends the like most ponies wish they had. 

Both of these ponies have assisted in saving all three Princesses before you, Equestria and the world itself.    

I can’t think of a better pair of ponies to be joined.” 

The princess paused then looked at Twilight: 

"So I am honored to ask: 

Princess Twilight Sparkle, will you have this mare to be your wedded wife, to live together after the ordinance of the Crown in the Blessed Estate of Matrimony? Will you love her? Comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others keep you only unto her as long as you both shall live?" 

Twilight took AJ’s right hoof in hers and looked her lover in the eyes. 

"In the name of the Crown, I, Princess Twilight Sparkle, take you, Applejack Apple, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow." 

Tears were playing at Twilight and Applejack’s eyes. 

Then the princess looked to Applejack: 

"Applejack Apple, will you have this mare to be your wedded wife, to live together after the ordinance of the Crown in the Blessed Estate of Matrimony? Will you love her? Comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others keep you only unto her as long as you both shall live?" 

"In the name of the Crown, Ah, Applejack Apple, take ya, Princess Twilight Sparkle, to be my wife, to have an’ to hold from this day for’d, fer better, fer worse, fer richer, fer poorer, in sickness an’ health, to love an’ to cherish, ’til we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow." 

“The rings please,” said the princess smiling. 

Twilight took the ring from Diamond Tiara; Applejack took the ring from Silver Spoon. 

“Rings are a symbol of the love and the promise of marriage.  They have no beginning or end.  And so the rings are given as a sign and a pledge of your love for all time” said the princess. 

“Twilight, place the ring on Applejack and repeat, ‘With this ring, I thee wed’.” 

“With this ring, I thee wed,” said Twilight placing the ring on Applejack's left forehoof. 

“Applejack, place the ring on Twilight and repeat, ‘With this ring, I thee wed’.” 

“With this ring, Ah thee wed,” said Applejack as she placed the ring on Twilight's wing. 

“Can anypony give good reason why these two ponies should not be married?” said Celestia. 

All of the friends looked at Rarity. 

“What?” said Rarity quietly. 

No other sound from that gathering. 

“Hearing none, then in the name of the Crown and our August Selves,” said the three princesses together, “we pronounce you wed.  You may kiss your bride.” 

There were cheers and applause’s but Applejack nor Twilight heard.  They only heard their hearts beating as one. 

“May I be the first to introduce Mrs. Twilight and Mrs. Applejack Sparkle. 

The princesses smiled at the couple.  Twilight nodded to proceed. 

“Applejack Sparkle,” said Celestia, Applejack’s heart leapt at the name, “kneel before us.” 

Applejack knelt down. 

“Princess Twilight?” said Celestia. 

With her magic, Twilight took the tiara from Diamond Tiara’s cushion and placed it on Applejack’s head. 

“I, Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship, hereby name you, my beloved wife as Princess Consort.  Rise and be recognized.” 

Twilight kissed her bride and the crowd cheered.  Twilight then signaled for quiet. 

Twilight turned and called out to Apple Bloom to come up. 

“Please kneel,” said Twilight, Apple Bloom complied. 

Twilight took the tiara from Silver Spoon’s cushion and placed it on Apple Bloom’s head. 

“As daughter of my beloved wife,” said Twilight with a smile.  “In the name of the Crown, I hereby officially adopt you as my daughter as well and pronounce you, Princess Apple Blossom Sparkle.  Rise and be recognized.” 

Again the crowd cheered.  Twilight embraced the filly and gave her a kiss on the cheek. 

 “You don’t have to use the name ‘Sparkle’ if you don’t want,” whispered Twilight loud enough for Apple Bloom and Applejack to hear. 

“Ah think Ah like it…  Mom,” whispered Apple Bloom.  “An’ maybe Ah’ll start using the name Apple Blossom too.” 

The three joined in a family hug.  Then were hugs and kisses of blessings given from the three princesses. 

Recessional music sounded and the new family led the ponies out to the reception.