Applejack was on top of the platform as Rarity fitted her into a simple white dress.
Rarity wore her work glasses as she used her magic to carefully pin the dress and complained, "Oh, I do so wish you would let me do more with it… It just looks so drab the way it is now…"
"Come on, Rare, you know I don't go for those fancy frou-frou designs. Besides, I like how you made it simple and it's very practical too since the wedding will be at Sweet Apple Acres. Can't very well move in an expensive-lookin' dress if it's just goin' get dirty in the end."
Rarity sighed, "That would indeed be correct."
Apple Bloom pointed, "Besides, our mom didn't have a weddin' dress, so it's a good thing that you're wearin' one at all!"
Rarity gasped, "You never told me that! Your mother never had a wedding dress?! How sad!" tears welled in her eyes.
Applejack rolled her eyes, "It's not like she had the time to. Pa had already set up the wedding and Ma was goin' have to move to Vanhoover the next day. They had to be quick about it."
"At least let me do your hair so it will be absolutely gorgeous!" the unicorn proclaimed.
Applejack sighed in defeat, "Oh, fine. Just don't overdo it, for my sake."
Rarity slightly chuckled, "Pinkie-promise." she finished putting in the last pin and exclaimed, "There! Now all I need is to do is make the finishing touches and it'll be all ready when you say your 'I dos' to Spikey Wikey!"
AJ glared, "And why may I ask do you still call him that? He's a little old for that now, you know…"
Rarity rolled her eyes this time, "Really, Applejack, you're just paranoid because I used that name all the time when he still had that crush on me."
Apple Bloom nodded, "She's got a point there."
Applejack sighed, "Sorry, it's just… I rather not think about the times he practically worshipped the ground you walked on. I know that was before I gained feelings toward him but the thought of him goin' back to you…" she shook her head.
Rarity put a comforting hoof around her friend, "Darling, you have nothing to worry about… Spikey and I agreed we were friends first and foremost shortly before you two started to date. You know his feelings toward me diminished when he started to grow up more. I was his past, you are his future…" she brightly smiled.
Applejack gawked at the fashionista and uttered, "Rarity… that's one of the most beautiful things you have ever told me…" she embraced her friend.
"Think nothing of it, darling, I only want to see two of my dearest friends get their happily-ever-after…" she grumbled, "Unlike me…"
The cowgirl faced her, "Hey, he will come… and if he doesn't, then you can bet your entire collection of gems that I would find him and drag him by his ear just to see you."
Rarity giggled, "Applejack, you truly are a diamond in the rough."
They laughed until Spike came into the shop asking, "AJ, are you here?"
Rarity shrieked and moved herself in front of Applejack as she blocked Spike's view of Applejack's gown and Apple Bloom helped. The unicorn yelled, "Spike! You know it's bad luck to see the bride in her wedding dress!"
Spike quickly used his claws to cover his eyes and proclaimed, "Shoot! Sorry, AJ… When I stopped by the farm to ask where you were, Sugar Belle just told me that you would be at Rarity's. I didn't think you would be actually trying on your dress today!"
Applejack chuckled, "It's okay, Spike. Mistakes happen."
Rarity mentioned, "But I must insist you wait outside until after I get the dress back."
Spike said, "Or Applejack can just meet me at Sugar Cube Corner. That's the reason I came looking for her, I need her opinion on the Cakes' wedding cake for us."
Applejack stated, "I'll be there."
With his eyes still covered, he smiled, "I love you…"
She smiled back, "I love ya too…"
Apple Bloom volunteered, "I'll help you out, Spike." she helped the dragon out of the boutique and he was able to see again.
"Thanks Apple Bloom."
"Hey, what's a future sister-in-law for?" she smirked.
He chuckled, "That's true. And I'm very honored that I get have you for a sister."
AB nudged him playfully and in turn he rubbed her head making her red mane be ruffled.
"Hey! I got to keep my mane perfect for tonight!"
"Let me guess: a date?" he inquired teasingly.
"Yup! Pip's taking me to the movies." she sighed lovingly.
"Good for him." Spike said in approval before he started going, "I'll see you around."
When Applejack came into Sugar Cube Corner she found Spike waiting by a table and sat down next to him.
"I hope I didn't bring bad luck on us just now." he admitted guiltily.
AJ shook her head while saying, "You did nothing of the sort. Besides it's just an old mares' tale anyway, when we're married we are going to make our own luck."
Spike was comforted by that as he took her hoof and grasped it.
Mrs. Cake then came up to them and declared, "And there's the happy couple now! So, ready to see what Mr. Cake and I whipped up for your special day?" she led them into the kitchen where Mr. Cake was standing on top of a ladder putting the finishing touches on a large five-layer cake with gems and apple slices around the rims.
Both Spike and Applejack gapped at the delectable pastry.
Mrs. Cake pointed, "If it's not good enough we can always make it better."
Applejack addressed her, "No! I mean: no, that won't be necessary, mainly because it's perfect the way it is but are you sure that you're okay with this?"
The baker said, "Why Applejack, it would be my honor… After all, your mother was my best friend, it's only fair that I make sure her daughter gets the best there is on her wedding day."
Applejack's eyes started to well-up with tears, "Mrs. Cake… Thank you…"
"Don't mention it, dear." she smiled.
Spike put a claw around his fiancée as he told the Cakes, "This is really great, thank you so much for making it."
Mr. Cake proclaimed as he climbed down, "It was our pleasure."
Just then Burnt Oak came in with some firewood as he said, "Got more wood for your ovens, Mr. and Mrs. Cake."
Mrs. Cake told him, "Thanks Burnt Oak, just set them by the stove."
When he did, he spotted Applejack and told her, "And I hear congratulations are in order for you."
She blushed and chuckled, "I reckon so…"
Burnt Oak gave a sad smile, "Your dad would have been mighty proud of you…"
The tears welled in her eyes again, and asked, "You really think so?"
"Sure would have… He would have wanted you to marry for love…"
Mrs. Cake added, "I must agree and I know your mother would have wanted it too…"
"Oh, my…" she sniffled.
Spike rubbed her back, letting her have this moment.
Burnt Oak continued, "Yes, he would have made sure you were happy with your choice and if he were here you can bet that he would have walked you down that aisle…"
The tears escaped faster then she could stop them. She told him, "Thank you. That means a lot to hear that…" Mrs. Cake offered her a tissue that she graciously accepted.
"Ready to head on home?" Spike asked his beloved.
"Yes…" she nodded.
He escorted her out as they said their farewells to the Cakes and Burnt Oak. Once the couple was out of sight, Mrs. Cake said to Burnt Oak.
"Do you think that Pear Butter and Bright Mac would have been shocked that their daughter fell in love with a dragon?"
Burnt replied, "Nah… Something tells me that they would have laughed it off. After all, they were from two different fruit families so it wouldn't have mattered that their little girl fell in love with a different species."
"Ooh, good point."
By then a five-year-old Pumpkin Cake came into the room holding a photo album, "Hey, Mom, whose this?" she holded up the album showing an old class photo of Mrs. Cake with her classmates including Bright Mac, Burnt Oak, and Pear Butter as she wore her mane back. Pumpkin however was pointing to a unicorn filly with a deep purple coat and dark mane that was right next to Mrs. Cake and Pear Butter.
Mrs. Cake told her daughter, "That was an old school friend of mine and Pear Butter's. Her name was Sour Grape. But Sour wasn't anything like her name, in fact she was one of sweetest ponies you would meet."
Mr. Cake inquired, "What happen to her?"
His wife shrugged, "We're not really sure. One day shortly after Pear Butter and Bright Mac's wedding she just disappeared."
Burnt Oak mentioned, "You know, I seem to recall that Sour Grape had a crush on Bright Mac."
Mrs. Cake nodded, "Oh, she did, it was fairly obvious. But as we grew older she didn't express on it so much and stuck to me and Pear Butter like glue. Which is why it was so strange she disappeared. She didn't even say goodbye to us."
Burnt pointed, "I guess we'll never know what happen to her…"
In a mountain cave, was a living area with all sorts of stuff including different mirrors that went around the cavern. In the middle of the room was a large bubbling cauldron. Beside it was a deep purple unicorn with a curved horn and had shriveled up grapes for a cutie mark. She exclaimed as she magically put in vials of potions.
"Finally! After all these years I can finally go back and take my revenge!" She began to sing, "Finally, the moment I was hoping would come… The moment he would realize he chose the wrong one… There isn't any curse I could cast to match this feeling… The pain I knew when Bright Mac turned his back on my heart… At last will be Pear Butter's when her life falls apart… Suddenly the future's looking more appealing… Once I was filled with rage… Now I enjoy the ride… It's so electrifying… Watching all their dreams denied…
"Oh, I will fly into tomorrow… My friend full of sorrow… Finally paying for her sins… I'll smile, all the while she is crying… Inside she's slowly dying… Learning wicked always wins… Oh, evil may be powerful… But wicked always wins… If Pear Butter could see me now, she would ache with regret… 'Cause she'd witness all the glory wickedness gets… She went and made Mac her husband, and my blood boiled!
"But that's all history… Time they all understood… What they call "green with envy"… I just call "looking good"… Oh, I will fly into tomorrow… My friend full of sorrow… Finally paying for his sins… No strife, his life was so enchanted… He took it all for granted… Now he'll dream all could-have-beens… Oh, evil may be powerful… But wicked always…
She looked at the bubbling cauldron again and stated, "It's almost done… it just needs one last thing…" she summoned a red potion and poured it as she continued to sing.
"I'll give them a magic gift to bring the Apples down… When their whole lives fall apart, I'll swoop right into town… When they learn this spell was mine… Oh, Pear will see she should've chosen me… So I will fly into tomorrow… Delighting in their sorrow… As a better day begins… This time nobody's gonna stop me… No evil's gonna top me… Oh, wicked always wins… their happy ending will be mine… 'Cause wicked always wins!"
When she finished she turned to her mirrors and casted a spell as she said, "Show me Bright Mac and Pear Butter!" but when the mirrors did nothing she frowned and commanded, "Show me Chiffon Swirl!" this time the mirror did as she said and showed Mrs. Cake going over her photo album with Burnt Oak. Sour Grape clicked her tongue, "My, Chiffon, you've certainly have changed quite bit in these past years. You too Burnt Oak. So the mirrors let me see you but they wouldn't let me see Pear Butter and Bright Mac… why…?" but her answer became clear the minute Mrs. Cake said sadly.
"I sure wish they were here with us still…"
Burnt nodded somberly, "So do I… I loved Mac as a brother."
"And Pear Butter was like my sister… They were amazing ponies…"
"And they always will be, as long as we remember them and tell their story to inspire others…"
Sour Grape's eyes widen in shock before she let out a screech, "THEY'RE DEAD?! WHAT?!" in a rage she blasted a table and a couple of other things before she menacingly looked at the mirror and slowly said, "How dare they leave this world without me exacting my revenge… They will pay dearly… The question is how can I do that…?" then she heard what Mrs. Cake said next.
"I'm glad we were able to tell their story to their children… If anyone deserved to know it was them…"
Burnt agreed, "Absolutely."
Sour Grape uttered, "Children? As in… more than one?!" she told the mirrors, "Quick, show me Bright Mac and Pear Butter's children!" The mirrors complied with her wishes and Big Mac, Applejack, and Apple Bloom showed up in separate mirrors.
"So… these are their children… I certainly can see a strong resemblance to Bright Mac with just a hint of Pear Butter…" she slowly smirked, "Well then… looks like I have a new target and it'll be even better then what my original plan was! Revenge on Bright Mac and Pear Butter would have been wonderful but to take revenge upon their children will be more delicious!"
She cackled.