//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: All That's Passed - The Plunge // by OatmealAreYouCrazy //------------------------------// Applejack was just about at her wit’s end. She and her six best friends had been running around like mad ponies for the past two weeks putting the finishing touches on the wedding between Fluttershy and Big Macintosh, and while Applejack couldn’t have been happier for the two, she had had more than enough of wedding preparations to last her a lifetime. From tying little bows on the wedding favors to seating charts to flower arrangements, she was about ready to call it quits and suggest the couple elope. No, it’s fine, she told herself, it’ll all be over in a few hours, and Big Mac and Fluttershy deserve such a nice weddin’. The orange earth pony let out a calming breath as she helped Pinkie arrange hors d’oervres on golden platters. Just as long as nopony shrieks again— “Oh my Celestia, where on earth did I leave my pin cushion?!” Rarity’s frantic voice rang out through Fluttershy’s small, overly cramped cottage for the umpteenth time that morning. It took a monumental amount of effort for Applejack to keep herself from slapping her hoof against her own forehead. “Rarity!” Twilight Sparkle shouted, grabbing the frantic white unicorn’s hoof and showing her the red pin cushion which she had indeed fastened there only minutes previously. Rarity blushed and gave a rather sheepish smile before extracting two needles with an aura of pale blue magic and fixing them to the hem of Fluttershy’s white gossamer gown. “I’m sorry, girls, but I’m just so excited! Our very own Fluttershy, getting married,” Rarity gushed, stitching calmly despite Fluttershy’s trembling. “Oh, I’m just so nervous,” the meek yellow pegasus admitted, though her shaking hooves hardly made the confession necessary. “Not to worry, Fluttershy! I’ve got everything planned out right down to the I-do’s,” Twilight said, scanning her lengthy checklist. “Alright, ladies, we have to be ready to take our places in exactly one hour and thirty-six minutes. Applejack, Pinkie, make sure those appetizers are symmetrical and get them in the fridge so they have at least an hour to chill before the reception.” The two earth ponies nodded and Twilight made a sharp check on the thick yellow parchment in front of her. “Rarity, you have exactly fifty-four seconds to finish that hem before I need you to start on everypony else’s manes and make-up.” “Don’t even need it, dear,” the fashionista replied, biting the last loose thread from the dress. “Excellent. I need to run and check on the groomstallions and direct the band to the gazebo. I will be back in exactly,” the purple unicorn checked her watch, “twenty-two minutes and five seconds.” Twilight trotted briskly out of the cottage and Applejack breathed a small sigh of relief. She was sure glad that the overly-organized Element of Magic was handling things, but her constant time reminders were piling even more stress onto Applejack’s already tense withers. “Ah reckon Ah best be gettin’ to the boys’ tent, too,” she said, adjusting her formal cowpony hat. “Big Mac’ll be needin’ help with his tie.” “Well don’t dawdle, darling, I still need to do your mane,” Rarity called, wrestling with Pinkie Pie’s mass of curls. Applejack nodded and practically ran out the door, eager to leave the stuffy, perfumed cottage-turned-dressing room. She approached the white tent which would serve as the reception venue on the west edge of the meadow. “Y’all better be decent,” she shouted before entering. The unicorn waiters were all busy levitating golden platters filled with delectable treats, and the groomstallions were all gathered round and dressed in their white suit jackets trimmed with gold. “Well, y’all cleaned up mighty nice,” she chuckled, ruffling Braeburn’s mane. “Hey now, Ah just finished gettin’ it to lie flat,” her cousin replied in protest, attempting to smooth down his unruly hair. Applejack rolled her eyes and spied Twilight at the other end of the tent, apparently in the thick of an argument with Spike. “Come on! Just a little mustache?” “No!” Better not get in the middle of that, Applejack thought, peeking through the stream of waiters to catch a glimpse of her brother. Unable to spot his signature red coat in the flurry of ponies, she called out to Caramel, “Seen mah brother?” “I think he’s out back,” Caramel replied, not bothering to pause as he practiced his dance steps. Applejack nodded her thanks and ducked out the back side of the marquee. Big Macintosh had indeed purloined a golden chair from inside and was sitting on the edge of the ghostly white tent. She grinned as she noticed he was, as she had predicted, struggling with his golden bow tie. “Need a hoof, sugarcube?” Big Mac glanced up from his struggles and a flood of relief filled his apple-green eyes. Applejack could not help but feel a great sense of affection towards her brother as she fastened his tie perfectly around his collar, but she was surprised to notice a small sadness creep into her heart. “Do Ah look that bad?” Mac joked, noticing the sudden gloom that had cast its shadow over her face. Applejack grinned. “It’ll do,” she replied, but her smile was again replaced by a crease in her brow. “Just a little funny, Ah guess – from now on, Fluttershy’ll be the one tyin’ yer ties.” She cast her eyes down at the grass and kicked at a tuft of it, pulling the leaves loose from the rich earth. Mac lifted a large hoof and tilted her chin up. “Come on now, AJ, it ain’t like Ah’m leavin’ Ponyville, or even movin’ out of the farmhouse. Yer my sister, and there ain’t nopony in Equestria who could take yer place.” Applejack nodded, alarmed to find her throat growing tight. “Ah wish Granny Smith was here,” she mumbled, determined to keep the hot tears stinging her eyes at bay. “Me too,” Mac said, “and Ma and Pa.” “Ah reckon they’d be right proud,” Applejack said, gazing up at her brother through eyes glazed with sadness and love. “Eeyup.” Mac nodded, and for several moments the siblings simply sat in silence, listening to the echoes of the years pass them by on the summer breeze. “Hey, if it makes ya feel better, y’all can still tie my ties,” Mac finally said, and at this Applejack could not help but laugh. “Darn right!” She pulled Mac into a fierce hug before straightening his collar. “Now come on, big brother! As best mare, Ah can’t rightly let ya be late ta yer own weddin’!”