//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 - Big Events // Story: Wedding Party // by bigbear //------------------------------// The others had already completed their procession and assembled at the edge of the lookout. In a wedding party sefused with magic, populated by superheroes, presided over by an angel, and accompanied by the music of the ages, Twilight only had eyes for one, Fluttershy.  She was wearing a striking black tuxedo, the same color as the one Flash wore. But there the similarities ended. Fluttershy’s tux was tailored to perfection. It emphasized both the formality with which she was treating the proceedings and her superhuman beauty. Fluttershy's extravagant pink tresses, longer than she was tall, floated behind her in a gentle breeze.  Fluttershy had swept the hair from both her eyes. She locked them on Twilight and their mutual gaze was as if nothing else in the world mattered to either of them.  Flash could see that the rest of the participants made almost as much of an impact.  Sunset floated majestically in the center of the proceedings. Her wings of light were as broad as the wedding party. The fires of the last moments of the day set all the mountains behind her aglow. At the far right of the wedding party, Rarity and Pinkie Pie stood in their gowns as Twilight’s bridesmaid and maid of honor. On the far left, Applejack and Rainbow Dash stood in their own expertly fitted tuxes, as Fluttershy’s bridesmaid and maid of honor. Spike was standing in front of the wedding party, having completed his job as ring bearer. Flash guided Twilight toward the wedding party. It felt like she was gliding on air. As Flash couldn’t see Twilight's feet among her voluminous skirts, she might have been.  Fluttershy moved to meet them. She embraced Flash, kissed him on the cheek, and whispered, “Thank you.” Then Fluttershy embraced Twilight and led her to stand before Sunset Shimmer. The music fell silent.  Sunset smiled beatifically toward the couple. “Friends, we gather today to share in the joy of the wedding of Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle. This celebration is an expression of the inner love and devotion they have in their hearts toward one another. “Fluttershy, do you take Twilight Sparkle to be your wife, to love, honor, and cherish her now and forevermore?" “I do.” “Twilight Sparkle, do you take Fluttershy to be your wife, to love, honor, and cherish her now and forevermore?" “I do.” “Let these rings symbolize the vows you have taken before your friends.” Sunset opened her hands, showing one ring in each palm. Sunset’s hands glowed with golden light. The rings rose a few inches into the air, and rainbow motes raced around them until there was a bright flash. The rings remained, levitating above Sunset’s palms and glinting with a rainbow shimmer.  “Take these rings, place them on the finger of your beloved, and repeat after me.  “With this ring, I thee wed, and with it, I pledge you my love, now and forever.” Fluttershy and Twilight repeated the vows and slipped the rings on the fingers of their beloved. “Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle, before these witnesses you have pledged to be joined in marriage. You have sealed this pledge with your wedding rings. it is my pleasure to declare you married and partners in life!  “You may both kiss your bride.” Fluttershy and Twilight embraced and kissed passionately. An “aww” rose from all attending. Fluttershy and Twilght’s rings glowed with rainbow radiance. Yellow motes of magic emerge from Fluttershy’s ring. Purple motes from Twilight's ring joined them. The motes raced around the couple and levitated them until they were level with Sunset. Lost in their shared love, the couple were oblivious.  Flash scooped up Spike and moved toward the couple.  Pinkie held up a hand to stop them. “This is a part of the doozie I was expecting.” Pinkie turned to the rest of the wedding party, “Are we all in for these love birds?” Rarity, Pinkie, Applejack, and Rainbow nodded to each other and raised their hands toward the couple. Their ice blue, pink, orange, and navy blue beams joined Fluttershy and Twilight yellow and purple motes. The couple was surrounded by a swirling rainbow of magic. Sunset looked left and right for her part to play, but all the other girls were occupied. For all her power, Sunset was unsure what to do. She looked to the audience, to Flash and Spike, for some kind of reassurance. Spike’s tail wagged a mile a minute as he shook his head up and down. Flash grinned from ear to ear and mouthed, “go for it.” Sunset nodded. She raised her arms and brought her wings of light to full extension. The crescendo of a symphony rose and reverberated off the mountains. A tornado of rainbow power, as great as what the girls had already shared, gathered before Sunset. She thrust her hands and wings forward and added her magic to what encircled the couple. Flash raised a hand to shade his eyes from the blinding radiance. He could only see silhouettes of Twilight and Fluttershy inside the swirling magic. As he watched, both silhouettes grew. Their height, hair, and wings all became as large as Sunset’s. A sound like rolling thunder echoed off the mountains and the magic became too bright to watch. Flash covered his eyes with one hand and covered Spike’s eyes with the other.  When Flash could see again, Fluttershy and Twilight were continuing their passionate embrace. They were still levitating above where they had begun their fiery kiss. Both girl’s wings were enormous. Fluttershy’s yellow feathered appendages had a wingspan at least three times her considerable height. Twilight’s energy wings of indigo shadow were at least as large and sparkled with stars and nebulae. Glowing energy horns of yellow and purple projected from Fluttershy and Twilight’s foreheads. Masses of pink and magenta hair roiled about their heads. The power of magic and love poured off the couple like a physical thing, crashing over the wedding party. Fluttershy and Twilight ended their kiss but remained embraced. Pinkie looked up at the glowing brides. “That was a doozie of a kiss!” “Thank you! Thank you all!” Fluttershy said.  “This is the most amazing wedding gift ever!” Twilight said.  Both their voices rang with the same power that Sunset projected. Fluttershy and Twilight floated down to the ground, and all the girls surrounded them in a group embrace. Sunset, Fluttershy, and Twilight stood a head taller than the others, two heads if you included the hair that magically roiled above them. Flash stepped up and the girls parted. Spike jumped from Flash’s arms and into Twilight’s and began licking her. Everyone laughed. “Congratulations to you both,” Flash said. “May you share a long and happy life together.” It was strange to have to look up at Fluttershy and Twilight. But the happiness and love that radiated from the couple made today’s bizarre events seem like the only reasonable outcome. While the other girls were congratulating the happy couple, Flash noticed Rarity speaking to Pinkie Pie off to the side. He overheard Rarity say, “You said this was just part of your wedding doozie?”   “Yuparoonie, just a part!” Pinkie replied. She made a sidelong glance from Rarity over to Applejack. “Thank you, Darling,” Rarity said. “I’ll be one moment.” Rarity made a beeline for Applejack and pulled her out of the group with the blushing brides. A moment later they returned. “Fluttershy, Twilight, I wanted to congratulate you both again,” Rarity said. “This is a truly magical moment. And while I am loath to take the well-deserved spotlight off of the two of you… “Applejack and I want in!” Everyone was stunned. Sunset was the first to speak. “Want in on what?” “We want to get married too,” Applejack said. “Right here, right now,” Rarity continued. “Rarity and I’ve talked about getting hitched a couple a times,” Applejack said. “We’ve never set a date, but I can’t see that any other wedding we could plan is going to be as special as this event right here.” “But only if you two wouldn’t mind,” Rarity said. “I know it is a frightful imposition...” Fluttershy looked questioningly at her partner. Twilight smiled back and nodded.  “Rarity, today is all about joining together, not about dividing us,” Fluttershy said. “If this is what the two of you want, it feels right to Twilight and me.” “Thank you, thank you!” Rarity squeed. She turned and hugged Applejack. “Would you like a wedding gown or do you want to keep the tuxedo?” she asked her bride-to-be.  Applejack straightened her jacket and squared her impressive shoulders. “This tux looks pretty sharp,” she said. “And I figure you have something slinky and chic in mind for yourself.” “You know me too well!” Rarity kissed Applejack lightly on the lips then sashayed off toward the dressing divider.   Flash sidled over to Pinkie. “Is this the rest of the wedding doozie you were talking about?” “Definitely another part.” Pinkie said. “Another… part,” Flash said. “Does that mean there's more?” “Maybe,” Again, Pinkie drew out the single work into an entire sentence. She gave Flash a broad wink and a big smile. She skipped over to the group of friends planning a second wedding within an hour.  Pinkie seemed to be everywhere and talking to everyone. She lined up Sunset, Twilight, and Fluttershy and positioned them hovering where Sunset had been for the first wedding. Pinkie maneuvered Rainbow, Applejack, and Rarity together behind the divider. Then she directed Spike and Flash to their place in the “audience” of one boy and one dog.  Pinkie scanned the area to be sure everyone was where she wanted them to be. Nodding to herself, she gave Sunset, Twilight, and Fluttershy the high sign. Pinkie called out “Music!” to the hovering trio before dashing off behind the divider.  Sunset, Twilight, and Fluttershy lit their horns. The mountains rang again with music. Sunsets organ and symphonic harmonies were joined by energetic electronica and an angelic choir.  Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash came down the “aisle” first. They were still bedecked in their maid-of-honor dress and tuxedo. Pinkie turned left and stood in front of Sunset. Rainbow turned right and stood in front of Fluttershy. Once Pinkie and Rainbow were in their places, the hovering trio changed the music to Ode to Joy for the processional. Rarity dissolved the dressing divider into ice blue motes, revealing the happy couple.  Applejack and Rarity walked down the aisle together. Applejack was still sporting her black tuxedo. Rarity wowed everyone with her ice blue vintage satin wedding gown. The fitted bodice flowed seamlessly into a trumpet skirt that hugged her every curve and shimmered as she walked. Applejack and Rarity stopped in the center before Twilight Sparkle. “Friends, we gather today to share in the joy of the wedding of Applejack and Rarity along with the friendship vows of Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash. This celebration is an expression of the inner love and devotion they all have in their hearts. “Applejack and Rarity, do you take each other to be your wife, to love, honor, and cherish now and forevermore?" They both responded, “I do.” “Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash, do you both pledge to all in this ceremony, your love and friendship, now and forever?” They both responded, “I do.” “May I have the rings?” Rarity opened her right palm and waved her left hand over it. Four glittering rings appeared in a shimmer of ice blue magic. One was inset with gems depicting three ice blue diamonds. Another showed three crimson apples. The third had three balloons. And the final had a rainbow lightning bolt. Twilight cupped her palms together and lit her horn. The four rings levitated into her palms. Sunset and Fluttershy light their horns as well, and the four rings raced in a circle through three swirls of rainbow magic. After a bright flash, the rings remained. They levitated above Twilight’s palms and glinted with a rainbow shimmer. “Let these rings symbolize the vows you have taken before your friends.” Twilight levitated one ring each to Sunset and Fluttershy, keeping two hovering above her palms. “Applejack and Rarity, take these rings, place them on the finger of your beloved, and repeat after me.  “With this ring, I thee wed, and with it, I pledge you my love, now and forever.” Applejack and Rarity repeated the vows and slipped the rings on the fingers of their beloved. “Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash, accept these rings from your friends and repeat after me. “By accepting this ring I pledge to all of you my love and friendship, now and forever.” Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash repeated the vows. Sunset and Fluttershy slipped the rings on their fingers.  “Applejack and Rarity, before these witnesses you have pledged to be joined in marriage. You have sealed this pledge with your wedding rings. it is my pleasure to declare you married and partners in life!  “Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, you have pledged your love and friendship to all of us, now and forevermore. It is my pleasure to declare all of us, friends for life. “You may now embrace.” Rarity and Applejack embraced with a passionate kiss. Pinkie Pie leaped up and practically tackled Sunset, who returned the hug with equal vigor. Rainbow Dash raised on her wings until she was face to face with Fluttershy. Fluttershy opened her arms, and the two embraced with arms and wings.  Flash and Spike knew what was coming. They grinned and shaded their eyes. The wedding party was soon awash in magic. Motes of orange, ice blue, pink, and navy blue from Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash merged with rainbow tornadoes from Sunset, Twilight, and Fluttershy. A harmonic crescendo rose and reverberated off the mountains.  As before, Flash could only see silhouettes of Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash. All their silhouettes grew to match Sunset, Twilight, and Fluttershy. Rolling thunder echoed off the mountains again and the magic became too bright to watch.  When Flash could see again all seven girls were hovering in a great group hug. All had enormous wings of magic or feathers, glowing energy horns, and masses of hair that roiled about their heads. “Wow!” Spike exclaimed. “That must have been the rest of Pinkie’s doozie,” Flash said.  Pinkie turned her head from the hug, grinned at Flash, and gave him a big wink. Then she turned back and whispered to the girls. They all seemed to agree, but the only one he could make out was Twilight. “Absolutely.”  The seven floated to the ground and strode toward Flash. Their beauty and power were both tantalizing and intimidating. They towered over Flash with their height, wings, and hair. They radiated an electrifying aura of power and joy. Twilight spoke first, “Flash, we are all eternally grateful to you. If you hadn’t spoken to me from your heart, all of us would not have connected like this.” Twilight’s horn glowed magenta. “May your thoughts be always clear, and your friendships endure.” Twilight kissed Flash on the cheek. He felt a jolt like electricity. Fluttershy stepped up, horn also aglow. “I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and may all living creatures always be your friend.” Her kiss on the cheek felt refreshing, like a cool breeze on a warm day. One by one the rest of the girls stepped forward and honored Flash with a magical kiss on the cheek. “May you and those you care about find joy in all things.”  “May you inspire and receive loyalty from all you care about.” “May fortune smile upon you and yours.” “May all your dealings be honest and true.” Finally, Sunset Shimmer stepped up. “May you find your true love and know happiness for all of your days.” Flash was lifted into the air until he was face to face with Sunset. She embraced Flash with arms and wings of light and kissed him full on the lips. The warmth and magic Flash felt from all the girls swirled inside him until it felt natural and a part of who he was.  Flash knew that while Sunset, Twilight, or any of the other girls may not be his true love, they would all be special friends for the rest of his days. Rainbow was back to hovering again. “Where should we go for the wedding reception? I’m starving!” “We can use our reservations at the Las Pegasus Resort,” Flash offered.  “Thank you for the offer, Flash.” Twilight spread her energy wings wide and shimmered with lavender power. “But I think we have more options now.” “I hear Puerto Caballo is a lovely place for a honeymoon or a vacation,” Rarity said. “And the food is supposed to be divine!” Seeing acceptance from all the girls, and a stunned expression from Flash, Sunset Shimmer encased them all in a bubble of golden radiance. When the magic bubble burst, the lookout point was empty.