Epilogue: “Octavarium”
The library had been too small. Supposedly, the Party Pony of Ponyville had manged to fit over 50 ponies into the library for Twilight’s first bash, but she had run out of room for her latest work, so it had ended up spilling out into the town square. Dusk stood near the fountain and marveled at everything going on around him. There were ponies everywhere, and they were all wearing a similar giant grin. Pinkie had completely outdone herself.
Initially, she had thrown some huge fits when Dusk had refused to let her throw him a welcome party, and he had managed to delay her for almost a full year, but Pinkie had finally had her day. On top of that, it was the first time she had gotten to plan for so many things to celebrate in one party before. Her grin upon finding out that she would be throwing a “Welcome To Ponyville/Dusk Saved Apple Fritter From An Ursa/Dusk & Fritter Wedding Party” had threatened to unhinge the top half of her head.
The combination party had started almost four hours ago, and even though the sun was setting, it showed no signs of slowing down. When the party had started there had been three whole cakes baked by Pinkie herself, with a four-tiered monolith of a wedding cake as the centerpiece. Almost all of these were now gone, and the mare and stallion cake toppers had disappeared some time ago.
Dusk felt a touch on his wing. He looked over to see Apple Fritter, having long since discarded her wedding dress, running a hoof lightly over the wedding band clipped around the leading edge of his wing. He felt a surge of pride, as he did every time he saw that slender gold band encircling her hoof. He reached over and stole the hat off her head, complete with his feather still in the hatband, and put it on his own head, sticking his tongue out at her playfully.
She smiled warmly up at him. “So,” she said, just loud enough for him to hear, “is it anything like the first time?”
He thought for a few moments, going slightly distant, but quickly returning. “Nothing like it. This is…” he left off, waiting for the words to come to him. The first time he had been so much more emotional—almost giddy. Now he felt happy, but more peaceful and content with his life. Everything felt whole again. “… just right.”
He gave her a tender nuzzle and looked out of the chaos of the party, from Pinkie Pie’s sing-along over near the cider tent to the entire Apple Family’s horseshoe tournament grudge match. “It feels weird, though. As if I’ve been here before, even though this is a new place for me.” He chuckled. “I still can’t believe you said ‘yes’ to a damaged pony like me.”
She laughed back at him. “I wouldn’t say ‘damaged’, myself. You know there’s no shame in going through what you have.” He put his wing over her back and pulled her close. She looked around and then up at him conspiratorially. “Do you think it would be alright if we left yet?” she asked.
Dusk raised an eyebrow. “Got somewhere you need to be?”
She winked at him in a way that made him shiver. “Yes. Our house, if you take my meaning,” she said, walking off down the road towards their home.
Dusk glanced around a bit and trotted eagerly after her.
The End