//------------------------------// // The Crescendo of My Life // Story: On the Inside // by Rose Quill //------------------------------// I shuffled uneasily on the grass, my feet killing me. “What’s taking so long?” I hissed to myself. “The same thing that was taking so long when you asked two minutes ago,” Adagio said from behind me, the bouquet of flowers in her hands complimenting the dress that she was wearing. I brushed my hands down the simple outfit I was wearing, white with a few embroidered wave-like patterns in the design. Most were shot through with a bit of iridescent thread that made it look as though light were flashing off of water if I moved just the right way. “I hate waiting,” I grumped. Or tried to, since the smile cropped up again as I thought of what was happening today. I saw Sonata standing across from me, dressed in an off-pink dress and holding a multi-shaded group of flowers. Carnations, I thought Idly. Dark red and white carnations. The deep red symbolize deep love and affection, the white are for love and luck. Leave it to Pinkie to pick arrangements that would send a message to those who could read it. Rarity suddenly struck a series of chords on the piano, beginning the song that signaled Pinkie’s entrance, and time stood still. She was a sudden vision of every good moment that had happened since those seven girls had welcomed us into their circle, every hug and laugh, every kiss, every morning waking up in her arms. She wasn’t bouncing today, at least, on the outside. I could see the manic happiness inside her eyes as she slowly glided down the aisle, Marble carrying her train. I swept my eyes across to find the other members of the Pie family. Maud and Cloudly Quartz were sitting calmly in the front, a few tears in Cloudy’s eyes. Limestone still had that glare on her face, but the corners of her mouth were crooked upward a little as she watched her sister step up to the altar. Pinkie’s dress was a multi-layerd affair, the white gown adorned with series of pink ruffles along the lower portion of the skirt. Where I had wave patterns stitched into my dress, she had faint outlines of her cutie mark and the ballon emblem that she used for her catering business, the fact that it was her counterpart’s cutie mark only being a coincidence. She finally faced me, and I lifted the off-pink veil and took her hands in mine. They were then covered by the rough hands of Igneous Rock, the Pie Family patriach, who was officiating the event. “Solid as the stone, but just as fragile is love,” he said. “And in face of that fact, it must be tended as you would any crop. Too much and you smother the growth, too little and it is withered.” He looked into my eyes. “Aria Blaze, before you stands one you profess to love. Do you so swear to love, honor, and stand by her, in fair weather and poor, better or worse, for as long as you so live?” I opened my mouth but it was suddenly dry. I looked at Pinkie, seeing the joy in her eyes and remembering every last moment of our time together. It wasn’t long enough. There isn’t enough time to repay her for the love she’s shown me. There isn’t enough time to show her all the love I now have to give. “I do so swear,” I said, a tear welling in the corner of one eye. “And you, Pinkamena Diane Pie, do you so swear to…” “I absolutely totally do!” she shouted, cutting her father off. A rustle of amusement roved through the hall as I shook my head. “Pinkamena,” Igneous grumbled. “Don’t interrupt me when I’m speaking.” “Sorry Poppa,” she said, shrinking a bit but her smile never dimming. Igneous cleared his throat. “Now, such vows having been sworn, I now proclaim that the veins of your lives have now come together.” He took a ribbon and wrapped it around our hands, the ends trailing up our wrists. “So long as you support each other, the stone of your lives shall be a strong as the mountains.” He placed a hand on each of our shoulders, leaning in and kissing Pinkie on the cheek and leaning towards me. “Take care of my little girl,” he whispered in my ear before kissing me. “I will,” I whispered back as he made us turn and face the crowd. “I do so present the brides,” he said, giving us a gentle push forward as Rarity took up the wedding march. We strode through the tossed birdseed (Fluttershy had been worried that some bird would eat the rice and get sick) and crossed into the parking area of the outdoor arena. Limestone stood there, leaning against a shrouded item. She looked at us as we stood there, myself mentally counting to ten as I had learned to do from the years of dealing with the woman. “Congratulations, Pinkie,” she said, whipping the shroud aside and revealing my wife’s party canon. “Just this once, let’s fire this off for you.” “Limey,” she said, tears in her eyes as her sister pulled the trigger string, colorful bits of confetti and streamers fluttering down. She came up and hugged Pinkie, then turned to me. “You hurt her, and I’m coming for you,” she said. “Then you got nothing to worry about,” I returned, gaining a nod from the woman. Later that night, after the dancing and the dinner and all were behind us and we were back in the hotel room we had booked for our first night of the honeymoon, Pinkie turned to me and smiled. “Wasn’t that just the best party ever?” she said sleepily. “It sure was, Pinks,” I said, smiling down at her. “Where did you pack all that cake though? I was sure you were going to be sick.” “Don’t worry,” she slurred, drifting off to sleep. “I have a separate stomach for cake and ice cream…” I smiled and brushed her curly hair back as she slept in my arms. “I’m sure you do, Pinkamena,” I whispered. “I’m sure you do.