//------------------------------// // Equestria's Pride Parade // Story: My Little Star Butterfly 2: The Runaway Bride // by Omegathyst //------------------------------// "Why're we all going to Canterlot several days before the Friendship Festival again?" "The Equestria Pride Parade is being held; it's really important to me Tom." Pinkie frowned. "Y'know, because I'm pan?" "Yeah, I know." Tom smiled, although he wasn't crazy about remembering his wife's history of dating. Before the two met, Pinkie had given up on finding someone to be with her long-term. She banged almost every stallion, mare, and gender-neutral pony in Ponyville to keep her mind off her loneliness. Even though it was a distraction in a way, it was a really fun distraction to the party pony that loved getting drunk and partying. She stopped drinking excessively and sleeping around when she started dating Tom, but he didn't believe that he was worth her loyalty anymore. Not when he wouldn't give her the only thing she's ever wanted from him. I love her to the ends of the Earth, but what if she deserves better? Accompanying the two was the remainder of the Mane 6, Fluttershy's family, and Jackie. Rainbow Dash and Marco both nervously avoided Jackie, the former knowing why she was coming with them: because she was questioning her sexuality, and Fluttershy encouraged her to come to the Pride Parade because of it. "I think you should talk to Jackie." Fluttershy whispered to Marco, sitting next to him in the seat holding Josefina. "Y'know, to clear the tension in the air." "How about you tell me more of your worst ideas?" Marco retorted. "I know you're not telling me something 'Shy. Jackie must've been a little more than bummed out that I started dating you. If I find out that she laid a talon on you-" "She didn't!" Fluttershy wasn't lying, Jackie was about to lay a talon on her, but she never did. Marco sighed, believing her. "Alright, I'll go talk to her." Marco got up and approached the green and platinum blonde griffin. "Hey Jackie, what brings you to the Pride Parade?" "Well...I drunkenly slept with Rainbow Dash." Jackie leaned in and whispered. "You know me, I've never been with a girl before, so this was very new and weird for me. I think coming to this LGBT-friendly event might help clear things up." "Y'know, if it helps, you'll always be Jackie Lynn Thomas no matter what sexuality you identify with." Marco smiled. "Thanks and I...nevermind. Thank you for being nice." Jackie was about to apologize for almost killing his wife, but decided not to say anything as to not ruin the moment. Rarity and Rainbow Dash wore bisexual themed outfits, Applejack wore a beautiful dress with the lesbian colors designed by her fiancee, Pinkie wore the pan flag's colors, and Tom, Marco, and Fluttershy wore shirts with the straight ally symbol on them. Jackie wasn't wearing anything. "Don't worry dear, there's still time to find something at the mall before we go." Rarity reassured her. When they made it to Canterlot, Princesses Celestia and Twilight were waiting for them. Celestia wore a crown and dress with the pan colors and Twilight wore a crown and dress with the demisexual colors. "There's something we have to tell all of you before my sister beats me to it." Celestia sighed as all of them got off the train. "Twilight and I have been dating for almost two years now. Ever since the changeling attack actually. And,uh..." "I'm really sorry that I didn't tell any of you girls." Twilight frowned. "I never dated anyone before, and I wanted to make sure that things would work out between us before I told all of you." "Dear, you don't have to feel sorry at all." Rarity smiled. "Just know that we'll be here for you if you want us to be." Applejack added. "Wow, I guess I'm the only single Element of Harmony now." Rainbow Dash laughed dryly. "And I'm the Element of Loyalty for alicorn's sake. How ironic." "You'll find somepony, Dash." Twilight put her hoof on her friend's shoulder. "Who knows? Maybe you'll even meet somepony at the Pride Parade!" Princess Luna wore a dress and a flower in her mane with the lesbian colors while Star wore a dress and flower crown with the bisexual colors. The former was still ignoring her sister and Twilight, and Star felt like her nervous heart was about to give out. The Mane 6 and Marco showed up earlier than she thought they would. She thought she was doing a great job on getting over Marco so far, but what if seeing him makes all that progress disappear? And would she see Vanita there? Probably not. The mare was either still stubborn or she was desperate for Star.  Star genuinely hoped it was the former since she wasn't into her anymore. She loved the pony with all the makeup and nose rings, but she wasn't in love with the real her. "Remember Star, this is a great opportunity to meet new friends." Luna told her. "And what about you? You'll be with Songbird Serenade right?" Star asked. "I'm afraid not. She's really busy preparing for the Friendship Festival." Luna shrugged. "We're both very busy mares, so it'll probably take forever just to set up a date with her." "Princess Luna, you shouldn't be alone during the Equestria Pride Parade." Star told her. "Come with me, we could really have fun together." "Alright, but soon enough you'll be making friends without me." Luna told her. "I enjoy hanging out with you, but you can't have only one friend you know." Princess Luna left the castle to stand with Princesses Celestia and Twilight in the introduction speech, leaving Star with a lot to think about. Was the Moon Princess really her only friend at this point? "What about a bisexual-themed outfit darling?" "Umm..." Jackie rubbed her wings nervously. "I don't know if that's right for me. Do I have to decide my sexuality right now before the parade starts?" "Oh goodness no!" Rarity gasped, dropping the outfit she was holding. "I just thought you wanted to wear something." "I do, but I don't think I want a label to be tied with it..." Jackie clarified. "Well there's a few Questioning outfits to wear if you're questioning your sexuality dear." Rarity replied. Jackie's eyes lit up. "That sounds perfect." Jackie sighed with relief. Rarity smiled and led her to various Questioning outfits. After she picked a black shirt with a rainbow question mark, her eyes landed on a rainbow skateboard with a question mark in the middle. "Hell yes."Jackie put her paw on the skateboard and knew it was meant to be. "And let the Equestria Pride Parade commence!" First came the creatures down the parade pathway in pansexual outfits lead by an excited Pinkie Pie, then came the creatures in bisexual outfits lead by Rarity, then came several more groups including the asexuals, demisexuals, transgender, agender, and more. Then the gay and lesbian creatures walked down the pathway last. Jackie skated past all of them, proudly showing off her shirt. She felt afraid and pushed away when Rainbow Dash kicked her out. But now, the wind against her wings set her free. When I become Twilight's student, maybe I'll ask for flying lessons! Once Celestia started the parade, her sister walked into the crowd without a second thought, Star tagging along with her. They went to the snack stands and bought lots of rainbow-fied junk food. Luna didn't plan on forgiving her sister for a long time. "Hey dudes, you want to join us at the Tasty Treat? Pinkie and Tom are paying." Rainbow Dash asked. "Oh why not." Luna smiled, dropping her junk food. Star took a big bite out of her food before tossing it and following the two ponies. Star was really happy to see the rest of the Mane 6 again. But then again, as her eyes landed on Fluttershy's foals, she realized that Marco was probably coming to the restaurant table. "We're having the wedding at the Apple and Pear Tree at Sweet Apple Acres." Rarity announced happily, leaning against her fiancee. "And all the food at the reception will be apple-themed of course." "Angelo, please stop squirming dear. You're going to knock something over." Fluttershy whispered. Princesses Celestia and Twilight entered the Tasty Treat to join the ponies at the table, and Marco came out of the restaurant bathroom at the same time. Star began to freak out, she even attempted to leave the table when Princess Luna put her hoof on Star. "Stay cool." She whispered. Celestia, Twilight, and Marco all joined the table. Princess Luna gave a curt nod to Celestia and Twilight, and Star mimicked the same action to Marco. Princess Luna's a genius! We're briefly acknowledging them without having to talk to them! "So, did Sugarcube Corner really do well this quarter?" Applejack asked Pinkie. "No, I'm just using the bits that would've gone to my future foals' college fund since I'm never going to have foals." Pinkie gave a smile, but the heartbreak in her eyes was all too clear. Well, clear to everyone except for Tom. "If you're trying to guilt-trip me, it's not going to work." Tom growled. "Quit bringing our private discussions to the dinner table with your friends." "Y'know, I should make sure the Pride Parade is going well. Tom, you can pay and meet me back at the hotel." Pinkie jumped out of her seat and waved briefly at her friends before hopping out of the restaurant. Everyone at the table proceeded to glare at Tom. "What? She's trying to make me look like a piece of shit when I only want to keep her safe!" Tom protested. "We're not paying with this bag of bits she brought, somepony else can pay." Tom left and Celestia rolled her eyes. "Guess Twi and I will pay." Celestia decided. Everyone kept talking and enjoying their food. Star got to catch up with the rest of the Mane 6, and she didn't even have to talk to Marco. In fact, the more she glanced at him, the less her heart felt like exploding out of her chest. Instead, she leaned against Princess Luna casually and ate the pasta she chose; perfectly content. Soon the Friendship Festival would begin, and she was nervously hoping that she can make new friends.