Though Luna and Twilight were successful at sneaking her into the stadium and giving her one of the private boxes up high, word spread quickly that Celestia had arrived and everypony wanted to see her. Luna took it upon herself to shield her sister from their questions for now, allowing the older alicorn some time to bathe and rest before trying to speak with anyone else. As the night princess told everyone of the dragons and the gryphons and all that they had learned about their enemies, a quiet sort of panic set in that, for some, led to silent numbness.
Many ponies decided to hide themselves away in their tents with their friends and loved ones, some were compelled to find something to do to keep themselves busy, while others still sat around camps and just stared blankly into the flames. Without anyone saying it, all accepted the fact that this night would be their last in the new community they'd built together, if they were even allowed the night. Weeping could be heard at times, mostly from children who were too afraid to do anything else. The Elements and their chosen mates huddled together in one tent with Apple Bloom, Silver Spoon, and Spike. No one said anything, not even Pinkie Pie. She just rested her head on Braeburn's withers and let Spike hold her hoof, his other hand filled with Twilight's hoof. Apple Bloom lay in between Big Macintosh and Applejack, and Silver Spoon curled herself into a ball between Pokey's forelegs. Eventually Luna and Pipsqueak joined them.
It was late and everyone was either half asleep or already there when Twilight spoke and broke the silence. “I have something I want to say.” Half closed eyes turned in her direction and the children took turns yawning. “All of my life I never thought I would need anypony in my life besides my family. I always thought friendship was a burden I didn't want, something else that would have to be managed, prioritized, and kept up with. The day Princess Celestia sent me to Ponyville I thought, rather dramatically, my life as I knew it was over. And I was right. That day I met five amazing ponies who showed me so much kindness, generosity and loyalty, laughter and truth that I simply didn't deserve. None of you knew a thing about me, yet that day we became friends. My life, the one of seclusion and loneliness that I would have never admitted to was over, and I couldn't be happier. You're my very best friends and I love each of you more than I ever would have imagined possible. And when we get through this I plan on telling you each and every day how much you mean to me just as I should have done before.”
“I can't wait!” exclaimed Pinkie.
Applejack smiled. “We love you, too, Twi. You comin' to town not only changed your life but it changed ours as well.”
“Mine perhaps more than anypony else's,” said Luna with a good humored smirk. “You have all come to mean a great deal to me as well. Thank you for accepting my friendship so willingly, even when I was as...how shall I put it...belligerent as I was?”
“Aw, we love you too, Luna!” Pinkie exclaimed.
“As much as I enjoy all this lovely dovey stuff,” said Rainbow Dash, rising, “I think I'm just going to do a quick fly-around and see how things look out there.”
“You want company?” asked Soarin, but she shook her head.
“I'll be fine. Be back in a few.” Turning tail, she trotted away to leave everyone else looking after her.
“That pony cannot sit still,” Applejack said with a sigh.
“It is hard for me to doing nothing as well,” Luna said. “We have been so vigilant for so long now that sitting here makes me feel like I am wasting time.” Her eyes fell to the sleeping colt between her forelegs and a smile lightened her worried expression some. “Though this makes it easier.”
“Have you ever considered motherhood?” Rarity asked. “You've lived so long and yet you have no children.” A brow lifted. “At least none that you've told us about.”
Luna laughed quietly. “I have no children and cannot say it is an idea I'd ever entertained before.” She watched Pipsqueak take a deep breath in his sleep and tilted her head. “If things were different I would take care of Pip. He has no family now.”
“But things are different,” said Twilight. “Nothing is the same as it was before. It's not like you have a palace to go back to.”
“We will rebuild.”
“An' that's gonna take awhile.” Applejack shrugged. “You're gonna have to live just like the rest of us regular ponyfolk for awhile and Pip's gonna need somepony to look after him.”
Luna's expression was unreadable, but there was a quiet tenderness in her eyes that said she was thinking about it. “If I were to have a child I would want a boy.”
“And Pipsqueak loves you almost as much as I do,” prodded Pinkie, grinning widely. It made Luna laugh.
“Perhaps. Let us see what happens and go from there.”
Fillydelphia looked like something out of a medieval novel with dragons perched all along the inner wall and atop various buildings throughout the city. Most of them were still as stone, save the occasional blink of an eye or a rustle of a stretching wing, but even in their slight movements they looked threatening and ominous. As Rainbow Dash flew among them she couldn't help but wonder whether or not the harbingers or their leader would be afraid of the dragons. She always thought they were cool but now, seeing so many of them up close and willing to put their lives on the line for a bunch of ponies they didn't even know, she respected them a great deal.
Closing her eyes as she flew, Dash concentrated on the currents of air running through the plumage of her wings, gently brushing the hair from her face and let herself be comforted by the simple familiarity of sky surrounding her body. It had felt too hot and too close inside the stadium. Not that she didn't love her friends and everything but getting all mushy and spilling guts about feelings was just not the way she wanted to spend her last night before a war. They all knew how she felt about them anyway. For some it would take some getting used to seeing them with another pony, others somehow the matches were easier to accept. Fluttershy and Big Macintosh just made sense to her, and if anypony had suggested any sort of pairing at all that would be the one she wouldn't have laughed at. Clover and Twilight...well they were two dorks who were actually kind of cute together. They were...adorkable and being in a relationship really suited the unicorn. It softened those harder edges she'd always had.
Pinkie Pie and Braeburn hadn't said anything about their feelings for one another and they'd shown nothing in terms of public affection for one another, but Dash wasn't blind. She pretended not to notice or care most of the time, but she learned a long time ago from Fluttershy that you can learn a lot when you look like you're trying not to be involved in anything. It was the same with Rarity and Fancy Pants. No words of confirmation of their relationship, no nuzzling and secret giggles, it was just something about the way they were together. Those two couples may not have publicly declared their intentions but everyone knew they were there.
What she was having the hardest time wrapping her head around was Applejack and Pokey. She and AJ were the two who'd always vowed relationships were not for them. While the others could go off, get married, have foals, the two of them would be single and carefree. They'd all but vowed it to one another. Now? It wasn't that she didn't like Pokey, she didn't really know him. He just seemed like AJ's complete opposite in so many ways. He was goofy and uninhibited where Applejack was serious and, though she'd never admit it, a tad self-conscious. Maybe that was why they worked as a couple, because they fit in where pieces were missing. It would still take a lot of getting used to, especially if things progressed with them and they became a family with Silver Spoon as their adopted daughter.
With a sigh, Rainbow landed on the inner wall with no thought about what part of the city she was in or who was surrounding her. There was the constant sound of wings on the air as gryphons flew to and fro, as dragons shifted their massive forms. Though she'd had things well in hoof as far as security went, this was the first time in recent memory that Dash could actually admit to feeling safe.
Beside her a tall hematite colored dragon perched, seemingly unaware that she was beside him. The scaled skin beneath his eyes sagged and his shoulders drooped with age, but his red eyes stayed trained on the outside like a seasoned guardsman. Rainbow watched the way his sides moved with every breath in and out, felt the heat radiating from his body and stepped a bit closer.
“You should be resting, little one.”
She blinked and looked up to see the dragon swing his head around to look down at her. Suddenly she felt very very small. “Probably,” she admitted sheepishly. “But I've never been one to sleep before something big happens.”
The ridges around the dragon's mouth curved up into a small smile. “Neither have I. But then, you are very small and tire easier. You will need your stamina for the battle.”
Dash sat on her haunches and tilted her head curiously. “Not that I'm complaining or anything, but why are you guys helping us? I know gryphons aren't ponies' biggest fans and dragons really don't like gryphons. So why are you guys all here? And why would the gryphon king say that ponies are the most formidable species? I mean, I think we're pretty awesome, but...”
Turning back toward the outside of the city, the dragon took a breath in and slowly let it out. “Perhaps you have heard the saying, 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' before? We have put aside our differences for now to help defeat an enemy that could otherwise destroy us all. We dragons have no qualms with ponykind and would sooner work together with the gryphons than see them all destroyed. Though it is true we do not get along as well as we should they are still a noble race and deserve as much of a chance at life as everything else.” The dragon blinked slowly. “We dragons are large and powerful in strength, and gryphons are cunning and unpredictable, but ponies are intelligent, strong, determined and quick both in mind and body. You also posses, not only in your princesses but in your unicorns as well, the greatest and strongest magic this world has ever known. That is why the Revenant has chosen your species as his intended target.”
“Huh.” It was all she could think of to say, really. Dash had never taken the time to think about the differences in the three major species of the world, nor did she ever spare thoughts about their respective kingdoms. There was a lot ponies didn't know about dragons and gryphons and there was more than likely a lot they didn't know about ponies as well. “Kinda sucks that we have to come together like this, huh?”
“Indeed.”
“When this is over nothing will be the same. We're all going to have to start over from scratch. Maybe...” Dash's brow furrowed. “Maybe we can work on relations with the dragons and the gryphons. We shouldn't have to feel like we needs to be segregated to our own species. You guys are awesome flyers and I bet there's a ton of stuff you could teach us. And the gryphons are crazy smart when it comes to problem solving. Imagine what life would be like if we could all just be friends.”
“Friends.”
The old dragon looked thoughtful and Dash gave him a lopsided grin. “You know what they say; Friendship is magic.”
This made the dragon smile so widely that his pointed teeth shone in reflected moonlight. A deep chuckle came from the very pit of his stomach that shook the wall slightly. “Perhaps, little one. Now I think you should seek rest.”
“Probably.” She took to the air and flew up to be at eye level with the dragon. “My name's Rainbow Dash, by the way.”
“I am called Pyro.”
“Right on. Nice to meet you, Pyro. Guess I'll see you on the other side of this craziness.”
“Sleep well, Rainbow Dash.”
She leaned into the wind and banked right to head back toward the stadium, grand schemes already forming in her head. If they really could all find a way to live among one another on friendly terms it was possible they could avoid something like this in the future. Not like something like this would probably ever happen again, but if it happened once... Spike would no longer feel so cut off from his own kind, Twilight could study both dragons and gryphons to her hearts content, Rarity could start a whole new line of fashion – the possibilities were endless and it broke through the dread that was weighing on her spirit. As she landed right outside the stadium doors she was practically grinning over thoughts of the future when a voice behind her took all of that away.
“Hey, Flip Flop.”
It felt like her stomach dropped to the bottom of her hooves. Rainbow whipped around to see a familiar gryphon standing only a few meters away, a smug smirk on her face. “What's the matter? You look like you've seen a ghost.”
“Gilda.”
“Surprised you still remember my name after all this time.”
Dash lifted her chin importantly and gave a slight ruffle to her wings. “I'm not the one who went all psycho on ponies who were just trying to welcome her to their town.”
“No, you're the one who ditched your best friend for some loser pink party machine. But whatever, I'm over it.”
“Yeah, I can tell. So were you forced to be here like the rest of your people or did you come just to make my life a little more miserable?”
Gilda's feathers ruffled. “I came here on my own, okay? Not because I thought I might see you or any of your annoying friends but because I kind of have thing thing against dying. So if you guys bite it and they really come after us, at least I can go down knowing I tried to do something about it.”
“How noble of you. Well it was great catching up but I have sentimental goopy friends to get back to that I think I'll enjoy a bit more than this conversation.” She turned to head inside, only pausing when Gilda spoke once more.
“I saw that yellow pegasus friend of yours. What happened to her?”
Dash kept her back to Gilda and answered quietly over her shoulder. “She was attacked on the way here. Her wing got ripped off.” Gilda winced, making Dash turn slightly to better see her again. “One of my team is building her a mechanical wing, though. Hopefully when this is all over she'll be able to fly again.”
Gilda blinked, surprise on her face. “Seriously?”
“Yeah. You should see some of the stuff Epona and her crew have come up with. She's got wing bracers, foreleg cross bows, armor...you seriously would lay an egg if you saw it all.”
“Maybe I'll be able to see it before the crap hits the fan.”
“Maybe.”
They looked at each other, both remembering how it used to be when they were younger and the very best of friends. Dash missed the Gilda she knew and not the self-centered bird brain Gilda had become. “What about your other friends?” the gryphon hedged. “They make it out okay?”
“More or less.” The pegasus pawed the ground absently. “What about your family?”
“They're all here. Mom, Dad, the brothers. Our colony was just getting into it when Celestia came. We probably won't have much to go back to but, you know.”
“Yeah.” Rainbow looked at Gilda and shook her head. “Well I'm glad you're okay.”
“Same here. I mean for you.”
She smirked. “Guess I'll see you around.”
Gilda nodded. “Guess so.”
Not knowing how else to end the awkward conversation, Dash gave her a nod and disappeared into the darkness of the stadium hallways.
Twilight Sparkle passed the open door to the luxury box and headed up the stairs that would take her outside to the narrow walkway that surrounded the stadium, wanting to check in on her mentor before attempting sleep she was certain wouldn't come. She found Celestia alone, sitting quietly as she looked up at the star dotted sky. There was no crown on her head, no golden shoes on her feet and her neck was free of her chain of office. As Twilight approached she was forced to stop and catch her breath. Every time she saw her princess she was taken aback by how beautiful she was, but this moment was different. Her usually flowing mane and tail were still, her mane spilling over her back and melting into a pool of color with her tail to surround her body. Somehow, this small simple change left her looking absolutely stunning.
Perhaps hearing Twilight's gasp, Celestia turned to see the smaller unicorn and smiled fondly. “Hello, Twilight. I see you've found my hiding spot.”
“I'm sorry, Princess,” Twilight stammered. “If you want to be alone I can go.” But she hesitated. “Are you okay?”
“I'm fine, and you don't have to go. I would be glad for some company.”
Twilight closed the distance between them and sat beside Celestia. They were silent for awhile, both looking outward and upward. Occasionally a dragon or a gryphon would enter their line of vision and they'd watch until the distraction was gone. After awhile Twilight looked up at Celestia. “In all the years I've known you, I've never seen you like this.”
“Without my royal accoutrements?”
“And your mane so still. For some reason it didn't shock me as much to see Luna like that, but you...”
“Very few ponies have ever seen me like this. It is a vulnerable state I have not felt comfortable sharing with many.”
Twilight felt her heart fill at the unspoken compliment. Celestia was comfortable letting Twilight see her vulnerable. The princess of Equestria felt comfortable with her. As close as they'd become these moments always filled her with such love for the alicorn that they left her feeling a little high. Now, however, the glee was chased quickly by sadness. “Luna told us.”
She didn't need to say anymore. Just by the somber expression she wore, Celestia knew what Twilight was talking about. “I'm sorry I wasn't here to do it myself.”
“Why didn't you tell us before?”
“I never wanted to tell you in the first place.” Celestia looked down at her student, purple eyes clouded by sorrow. “I knew what a burden it would be to you.”
“The only burden I feel from knowing everything now is having to face the fact that you might...” She couldn't say the word. Celestia had truly been the one constant in her life since the day she'd met the princess. To imagine a world without her was like trying to imagine a world without books or magic; it was impossible and heartbreaking at the same time. “Will you know before it happens?”
“I hope so.” Celestia extended a wing to drape over Twilight and hold her close to her side. “Going under the theory that Luna and I will make it through this battle-”
“Which you will.”
“Which we will,” Celestia repeated, smiling slightly, “I imagine it will be, for us, like it was for our parents. We wait for the birth of the first alicorn and then the second.”
“Luna said you're tired, that you're starting to feel all the years you've lived. Does that mean the time is close?”
Celestia sighed quietly. “We are both very tired, yes, but our weariness is no indication of when to expect the next rulers. Our parents felt their waning lives for many years before they first found me.”
Twilight looked up, hopeful. “So that means it might not even be in my lifetime.”
“Perhaps not.”
Emboldened by the intimacy of the moment, Twilight turned and buried her face in Celestia's side much in the way she had with her own mother when she was very young. “I don't want you to die, Princess.” Celestia said nothing, only held Twilight closer to her side. Again a silence returned to them but they'd left behind the companionable silence of student and mentor, they now felt the bond of family between them.
To add to their family, Luna opened the door to the inside and stuck her head out. “Forgive my interruption, but there is somepony who wishes to speak with you, sister.”
Celestia didn't move to release Twilight and Twilight was in no hurry to leave, but the princess looked toward her younger sister with curiosity. “Who is it?”
“Big Macintosh.”
Twilight sat up, surprise on her face. “I'll give you two some privacy.”
“Thank you, Twilight.” The unicorn got to her hooves and left the protection of Celestia's wing to head in Luna's direction. When she looked back to give the sun princess one last smile she found that eternal unseen wind had returned, and Celestia was her composed, regal self once more.
Luna gave Twilight a wink before ushering her inside and past the waiting red stallion on the stairway. With a nod of approval from Luna he dipped his head to Twilight in greeting, then headed outside. When he was close enough to the sitting alicorn, he bowed.
Celestia turned her head and nodded once. “Big Macintosh. To what do I owe the pleasure of this unexpected audience?”
Straightening, Big Mac looked up at her with an unreadable expression. “Sorry for bustin' in on you like this, Princess, but I was hopin' I could ask you for a favor.”
This request certainly had Celestia's attention. She lifted a brow elegantly. “Go on.”
“Well I reckon we're all settlin' in here tonight thinkin' pretty much the same thing, that tomorrow we're gonna have to fight. An' I been doin' a lot of thinkin' about a lot of things, future mostly, an'...” He trailed off, a fleeting uncharacteristic look of nervousness in his eyes. “I don't want to go into battle whether it's tomorrow, next week or next month without makin' Fluttershy my wife.”
If Celestia was surprised it didn't register on her fact. In fact, she remained quite calm and eyed Big Mac with a penetrating gaze. “It seems I have missed quite a bit by not being here.”
“I've been sweet on her for awhile,” he admitted somewhat quietly.
“Take that and add the intensity of this situation I can understand how feelings can be heightened. Does she share your affections?”
“Eeeyu...er...yes she does, Princess.”
“Big Macintosh, I have known your family for many generations and I know what a good, trustworthy and hardworking family they are. Those same qualities have been passed down to you and your sisters as well. I don't question your intentions or the depth of your feelings, but your understanding of what you ask. Fluttershy is not just a mare.”
“No, ma'am, she's not. I know she's the Element of Kindness an' she needs protectin' more than the others do sometimes, but I'm willin' to take that on. I want to take that on. I want her to be my family an' one day have a family of our own. I always felt strong but with her around I feel like I'm the stallion I was always meant to be.”
“You love her deeply,” said Celestia evenly. “I can see that.” She paused as though considering, her gaze on him much the same as Luna's when she thought over letting him stay for her explanation on the balcony. It was as though they were reading ahead in a book everyone else was pages behind in and they had more of an idea of coming. For all the sisters said they couldn't see the future there were times this statement didn't seem quite truthful or accurate. “A union with Fluttershy is not a thing to be taken lightly, Big Macintosh. She has a very long road to recovery not only physically but emotionally as well. I have seen ponies suffer a loss like hers and some have never truly recovered. What will you do if, when lives begin to return to normal, Fluttershy cannot find that inner gladness she had before? What if she lacks the strength for the will to fight the depression and anger that are sure to come?”
Big Mac nodded slowly. “I saw a bit of that tonight, Princess. She's got a lotta anger in that little body of hers. When I told her I loved her I meant it, an' I'll mean it every time I say it. If there's work that needs to be done we can do it together. If she's not strong enough I'm still not goin' anywhere. I'll be right there to help her up every time she needs me to.”
“And do you think she is? Strong enough, I mean?”
“I do,” he answered confidently. “Lotta ponies write her off as weak. She writes herself off as weak but I know better. I know how strong she can be when she needs to be.”
Again Celestia was silent as she observed him. Her eyes, calm and unreadable up until now, sparkled with something that looked like amusement. “I believe you compliment one another well, Big Macintosh, and a union between you and Fluttershy will be the beginning of very good things.”
Big Mac shuffled slightly. “Does that mean you give me your blessin' to ask her?”
She smiled. “You have my blessing.”
He let out a sigh of relief, then looked up at her again. “Good, 'cause I got one more favor to ask.”
“A wedding?!” Rarity pressed the back of her hoof to her forehead looking feint. “Here? Now?” Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Twilight and Rainbow Dash were there as well, all excited and chattering quietly about Big Macintosh's news. All but Rarity, who looked at the stallion is though he was insane. “Do you realize I have no time to gather supplies, let alone sew a proper dress!”
“It's just gonna be a small simple thing,” he explained, trying to quiet the excited mares. “Just all of ya'll, the princesses and the two of us. Nothin' fancy, Rarity.”
“A wedding is nothing but fancy,” the unicorn argued. “If you think I'm letting my best friend get married in some day old bandage in a ragtag tent with none of the extravagances a mare's wedding day demands you certainly have another thing coming!”
Applejack chuckled. “Easy there, sugarcube. He ain't even asked her yet. What if she says no?”
“YOU HAVEN'T EVEN ASKED HER YET?!” Steam poured from Rarity's ears. “Why, in the name of Celestia, are you even standing her talking to us then?”
“Because,” Big Mac said patiently, “I knew you'd wanna do somethin' an' figured I'd give you a little time to get somethin' together.” He turned his gaze to Applejack, giving her a dirty look. “An' she'll say yes.”
Twilight perked. “Wait, this is happening tonight?”
“That's why I came here first.”
Her horn glowed and a checklist and pencil came flying to her from seemingly out of nowhere. “Okay girls, we have a lot to do and no time to do it in. I'm going to make a list and we'll divide and conquer!”
Rarity's horn glowed now as well and, with a glare spared for Big Mac, she magically yanked the checklist away. “I'll make the list, you go round up the boys. If we're going to get this done we are going to need help.” With a sigh she turned and looked fully at Big Mac. “Are you still here? Go on!”
“Yeah!” exclaimed Pinkie. “We've got a party to plan!”
Fluttershy stood with a towel in her mouth, waiting for the exact right moment. In front of her a small tub of water nearly exploded and a yellow ball of fur sprang forth and wrapped itself in the waiting towel. Sitting on her haunches, the pegasus reached out to rub the wiggling mound between her hooves. “That's my nose!” came a giggling voice from within. “And my ear! Your hoof is in my ear!”
Giggling, Fluttershy moved her hoof to a different spot. “What about here?”
“That's my other ear!” The top of the towel peeled away to reveal a wet red mane sticking up at all odd angles. Apple Bloom couldn't stop giggling which made Fluttershy laugh all the more. “You do know how to dry a pony off right, don't you?”
“Sure I do,” said the pegasus confidently, lifting a corner of the towel. “Like this, right?” She covered Apple Bloom's face and tousled, and the two were laughing once more. Eventually the filly was properly dried off and Fluttershy sat behind her, brushing her mane.
“Fluttershy, can I ask you a question?”
Setting the brush aside, Fluttershy nodded. “Of course you can.”
The filly turned around to look at the older pony. “How come you're talkin' now? What made you do it?”
Fluttershy looked down, thinking. When she answered her voice was soft. “I think it was you, Apple Bloom.”
“Me?”
“When you came to my tent this morning and told me how sad you were. All this time I didn't let myself think anypony else was hurting as much as I was.”
“I'm glad you're feelin' better, even if you're not really feelin' better. An' thanks for helpin' me with a bath.”
“Sometimes just being clean makes things better.” Fluttershy nuzzled the filly. “And sometimes talking to a friend helps, too.”
Apple Bloom hugged her. “You're more than just a friend now, Fluttershy. You're like family!”
It was that moment Big Macintosh entered, just in time to see Fluttershy wrap a foreleg around his baby sister and squeeze her tightly. It made something inside of the usually stoic stallion melt just a little. He waited a moment before clearing his throat and fully entering the tent. Apple Bloom looked up with a smile. “I'm all ready for bed. Fluttershy helped me.”
“I see that. Did you thank her for helpin' you?”
“Thank you, Fluttershy.”
“Good girl. Why don't you run along an' find AJ now. She's gonna need your help with somethin'.”
“Okay!”
Without further prompting the little filly ran out of the tent and left the two older ponies alone. Fluttershy turned to clean up while Big Macintosh sat and looked around awkwardly. He'd been in the tent she shared with Pinkie before but this time was a little different.
“Is everything all right?”
“Hmm?”
“You left so suddenly earlier, I was worried something was wrong...besides the usual, of course...but I could have been wrong.”
She trailed off quietly and Big Mac couldn't help but smile to himself. He'd missed the way she did that, so uncertain of herself. Though he noticed she didn't shy away as she spoke around him, as though thinking the world would come crashing down upon her should she say one tiny thing wrong. That in itself spoke volumes to the stallion about how she felt about him. “Nothin's wrong.” He got up and took the towel she was folding from her, tossing it carelessly over the side of the wash bin. Fluttershy looked up at him, startled and wide-eyed. Stepping close to her he said simply, “Marry me.”
She gasped and recoiled in surprise. “What?”
“Marry me,” he repeated. “Tonight.” Fluttershy's mouth opened and closed several times as she struggled for something to say, so Big Mac pressed on. “I know you probably imagined some romantic proposal from the stallion of your dreams, an' I can be pretty romantic when I put my mind to it, but there's no time for it right now. I can't promise you I'll always be the perfect mate or the greatest pony to be around all the time but I can promise I'll always be there for you. I'll always take care of you an' make sure you're happy. An' that's really all I've got to say.” Swallowing, he added, “Eeeyup.”
“I...” Her breath had sped up and she looked up at him as though she could find the words she needed in his eyes.
Big Mac felt his confidence in her answer waver and thought quickly. “If this is too fast or you're not ready or even wantin' to-”
He was cut off when Fluttershy threw her forelegs around his neck and pressed her lips to his. His head swam at the sudden fierce contact but he didn't pull away or open his eyes, not until Fluttershy pulled back and sniffled. She wasn't crying yet but there were definite tears in her eyes and he wasn't quite sure how to take any of it. “Does that mean...yes?”
“Yes!” she squeaked. She embraced him again, nuzzling her nose into the crook of his neck and whispering thickly, “I love you, Big Macintosh.”
Smiling, he wrapped a strong foreleg around her and held her tightly. “Love you, too, darlin'.” He pressed a kiss to her brow and grinned down at her. “How about we go get hitched?”
With the carnival music turned off and just the lights illuminating the area, the center of the grounds made for a perfect place for the ceremony. With Rarity's list of what needed to be done divvied up between eleven grown ponies and three little ones everything had come together amazingly well. Rarity looked at the white lights that had been strung around their chosen spot with a satisfied smile. Off to the side Octavia stood, playing quiet romantic music on her cello.
“I can't believe my brother asked the princess to marry them,” said Applejack, coming up beside Rarity.
“Who else would you have him ask, darling?”
“I dunno.” The earth pony shrugged. “But she's the princess!”
“And as the princess, she is one of the only ponies here qualified to perform a legally binding ceremony. Luna being the other he could have chosen.” Rarity looked at her friend. “Why do you seem so bothered by this?”
“She's the princess!” Applejack repeated. “Don't you think this is a bit...I dunno...beneath her?”
“Hardly,” said a voice behind them. Both ponies turned to see Celestia smiling down at them. “This is no ordinary wedding, Applejack, and you all are no ordinary ponies. I was quite humbled to have your brother ask me to do this for him. It is quite an honor.”
“Yes, princess.”
“Now...” Celestia looked around. “Where are the bride and groom?”
“They're coming now!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie as she bounced up and down.
Rarity turned back to the Celestia. “If we may, Princess, could we please have just a moment with Fluttershy before we begin?”
Celestia smiled gently. “Of course.”
As Fluttershy and Big Macintosh drew closer her friends converged and surrounded the pegasus, effectively cutting her off from her betrothed. “Don't worry,” called Rarity airily, “We'll return her to you in no time.”
Confused but complaint as ever, Fluttershy simply let herself be pushed along by her friends until they were hidden from everyone else, blocked from view by a glowing yet silent game stand. “What's going on?”
“Something old,” said Twilight happily. Her horn glowed and floated something out from behind her, presenting it to Fluttershy as the pegasus gasped. “This was in one of the saddlebags I took from the Canterlot ruins. It's a tiara and, from Rarity's guess, it's something that looks to have been passed down for some generations.” The tiara, a delicate thing of polished silver and diamonds, floated up and placed itself upon Fluttershy's head.
“Something new!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie. She turned in a tight circle, grabbing her gift so quickly it was impossible to see where it had been hidden or how she even had the chance to pick it up before she was facing forward again. It was a pretty silver necklace with a butterfly charm. As Rarity used her magic to clasp the jewelry around her best friend's neck, she glanced at Pinkie. “This is lovely, Pinkie! Where on earth did you find such a thing?”
“Er...don't ask.”
“Somethin' borrowed,” offered Applejack, saving Pinkie from having to explain anything.
“And something blue,” added Rainbow Dash quickly. “These blue ribbons are from Scribes. She doesn't know what we're doing tonight, only that I asked to borrow her ribbons.”
“They're lovely,” Fluttershy breathed, practically stunned as Rarity expertly wove the ribbons into her mane and tail. “I don't know what to say.”
“Good,” chirped Rarity, “because we're not done yet. Now remember I had very little time and practically nothing to work with as far as fabric and applique goes. I had to make do with what was available, but still...” Once more Rarity's horn glowed. From the darkness floated an exquisite dress, white and tiered with teal, green, and blue vine and flower embellishments at the hemline.
“Rarity...” All ability to speak left Fluttershy as the dress was laid across her back and fastened around her withers with ribbon ties. The sides of the dress were low enough to cover the bandage completely. The train trailed down over her long tail and Rarity gave it a gentle fluff before stepping back to admire her work.
“Yes, I think that will do nicely.”
Fluttershy shook her head, so full of emotion. “I don't know what to say. To any of you. I feel like thank you would never be enough.”
“We're so happy for you, Fluttershy,” said Twilight.
“Are you happy, sugarcube?”
“So happy,” the pegasus managed. “Happier than I ever thought I'd be again.”
Pinkie hugged her tightly. “Yay! I missed happy Fluttershy! Heck, I missed talking Fluttershy so happy Fluttershy is even better than what I was hoping for!”
“Come on,” Dash prompted, “let's not keep the big guy waiting.” As the four ponies headed back to where the ceremony would take place and the stallions that awaited them, Rarity held Fluttershy back just a moment longer.
“You look absolutely stunning, darling.”
“Thank you, Rarity. I don't deserve this, any of it.”
“You deserve every single bit of it,” the unicorn insisted, gently touching the side of her best friend's face. “Fluttershy you must believe you deserve every good thing in life. You're so precious to me and I have been blessed to be your friend.”
“Best friend,” said Fluttershy through her tears.
“Best friend,” Rarity corrected with a thick laugh. She wiped one of Fluttershy's tears away before hugging her. “Come now, you have a stallion waiting to make you his bride.”
Just as the girls wouldn't let Fluttershy get married without some of the pomp and extravagance of a proper wedding, the boys would not let Big Macintosh get married in his yoke. While they couldn't find a tuxedo to fit him, and likely wouldn't have gotten him in one even if they had, they did manage to convince him to at least wear a simple bow tie in lieu of his yoke. He was stretching it with a hoof when the girls began to filter in, and when he saw Fluttershy he nearly froze.
The moment they met eyes it was as though the past weeks had not happened at all. Everything sad, everything painful and shattering was momentarily taken from their memory. They weren't in the middle of a foreign city surrounded by their friends with strange dragons and gryphons watching from above. It was just them and there was nothing else important in the world. When she was finally there standing with him before Celestia the princess began speaking and even her words went unheard. They were lost in each other and the shared feelings between them.
Celestia cleared her throat and everypony present giggled when Big Mac looked around absently. “Sorry?”
“This is the interactive part of the ceremony,” Luna ribbed quietly, standing to the side of her sister.
“I said,” repeated Celestia with a smirk, “Do you, Big Macintosh, take Fluttershy to be your bride; to love and to honor her; to cherish and protect her; to provide for her for all the days to come?”
He grinned and said, “Eeeyup.”
“And do you, Fluttershy, take Big Macintosh to be your groom; to love and honor him, to cherish and shelter him for all the days to come?”
With a small smile of her own she answered quietly, “Eeeyup.”
Everyone chuckled and Celestia, fighting a laugh of her own, smiled down at them. “Then it is with the greatest pleasure that I pronounce you mates for life. Big Macintosh, you may kiss your-”
She didn't even finish before Big Mac had pulled Fluttershy to him and covered her mouth with his. Everyone present clapped and cheered and, to Fluttershy's deep embarrassment, louder cheers came from above as the watchful dragons and gryphons added their congratulations. Apple Bloom whooped and squeezed in the middle of the couple, hugging her brother first, then Fluttershy. “Now you really are family!” she exclaimed.
“So,” said Luna over the commotion, “who is next? Form a line right here and keep in mind, we charge by the hour.”