//------------------------------// // Wedding of the Millennium // Story: A Twilight Rose Love // by Mystic Sunrise //------------------------------// Twilight listened with mounting annoyance as Gallus finished his report. “Gallus. If this is your idea of a joke, I am not laughing. And gods forbid if this is you and Smolder’s idea of a prank. On my wedding day of all days. I will demote you to permanent latrine duty if so. With a toothbrush!” Gallus looked horrified at the thought but kept his composure all the same. “This is no joke or prank, your highness. Ponies keep saying they saw two ghosts come out of that mirror you have in the Side Library. One of them looked like Pearl as well.” Twilight’s frown grew. “Impossible. Pearl is at home right now. She’s banished everyone but her mother from helping her get ready. Including me. You know how she is with this.” Gallus nodded. He liked the Pegasus. Had for as long as she had been Twilight’s student and soon-to-be wife. “Well, something is going on. Once can be brushed off. But not this many.” Twilight’s frown melted a little. That was true. But the mirror shouldn’t be doing anything at the moment. Her Canterlot High friends had just arrived and would be staying the night. Gallus looked out at the nearby Everfree Forest. “Could it have something to do with the forest being so close? I still don’t like it. It isn’t right it grew so damn fast, and moved as it did.” Twilight bit back an annoyed sigh. “This seems outside anything it would do. And why would it? It’s had plenty of time before now. Why do anything today?” “I was wondering if it might do with that fox-like creature I’ve seen on occasion in your throne room.” Gallus looked at the Forest a little more. Before turning to the princess. “Come to think of it, the other ghost was reported to be a fox. One of my lieutenants tried to stop it from going into a library but it just ignored him and walked through him.” Looking up Gallus could have sworn he had just hit Twilight over the head with a sledgehammer. Twilight’s eyes began twitching. “Oooh. Damn it all. This means…” “Hey Twilight, LOVE the decore you have up. It seems this is going to be a wedding for the ages.” Pearl smiled as she stepped into the room. “I hope we aren’t too early.” Twilight groaned. And there it was. “No. You are not early, Pearl. But how are you here?” “What’s wrong? We were invited to watch the wedding.” Pearl quirked an eyebrow. “Well yes, you are. But I was going to have the mirror moved to the throne room just before the ceremony. What did you two do to get back across the Void?” Twilight reached out and tried to place a hoof on Pearl’s shoulder only to fall face first onto the ground. Twilight turned around and went wide-eyed. Pearl was literally standing inside of her, all she could see was from the upper thighs up. Pearl giggled and walked over and stood next to the Queen’s desk. “Yeah sorry about that. Even I’m not sure of how this came about. All I know was when that mirror turned on, there was another, much older Kohaku looking at us. He smiled at my Haku and they both nodded before exchanging a few words that gave me a headache. Placed their paws on the mirror and in a flash of light, here we are. All this walking through walls and ponies takes some getting used to.”  Twilight rubbed her snout irritably. “Ooh. I’m going to have words with Forestsong about this later. You’re not physically here, Pearl. Neither is your Haku. I’m not sure what the proper word is. But you’re both in this universe and your own at the same time. It seems our Kohakus pulled this off somehow. But now I’m worried what this might mean for what Lumena and Shenlong said.” “OH, I wouldn’t worry too much about them.” Pearl, Twilight, and Gallus turned their heads to see Kohaku standing there in the doorway, his four tails swishing about. “It’s called Illusionary Dream Walking. Used by many seers and oracles to visit other worlds and view events unfold without actually leaving their own universe.” Walking in, he lovingly nuzzled his girlfriend before turning to Twilight. Twilight blinked as this Kohaku seemed a bit older as did his Pearl. The two were almost perfect mirror images of their counterparts here. How much time had passed in their world? And when did Kohaku get a fourth tail? “Anyone with seer blood can do it, I just couldn’t do it alone. I haven't reached that level so I needed a bit of help.” Kohaku smiled sitting up. Already he was a head taller than his Pearl as his four tails wrapped around her. Pearl’s head rested down on his shoulder. “I asked Pearl here to not do anything rash and keep a low profile for now. But you know Pearl. She’s not one to do as told.”  Pearl just huffed and stuck her tongue out at Kohaku while Twilight laughed. Gallus just watched this while getting dizzy trying to comprehend what was going on. Twilight felt a weight lift from her shoulders. “Well. Try to listen this time, Pearl. I am pulling rank as your teacher in both worlds. I doubt other me would say otherwise. Seeing you in two places at once could be too much for most guests. And please, for the sake of my captain there, try not to walk through walls or… other creatures.” Pearl wilted under the look she was getting. The same look her Twilight still used on occasion. “Fine. It was fun while it lasted at least.” Kohaku chuckled a bit. “Don’t look so down love. How about after we wake up from all this I…” leaning in he softly whispered into Pearl’s ear.  Twilight quirked an eyebrow as suddenly Gallus’s whole body turned red and Pearl’s wings puffed out stiff as a board as a flush came across her cheeks. Twilight knew of only one thing that could make any Pearl’s wings do that. The thought of it caused a blush on her own cheeks as well. A look Kohaku didn’t fail to catch. “I take it your Pearl loves that too huh?” Kohaku smiled as the Queen nodded. The pair shared a chuckle. Coughing, Gallus tried his hardest to compose himself. “I’m just.. Going to withdraw my petitions here and, try to find an iceberg.” with a quick bow he dashed out of the room. Pearl rolled her eyes. “Griffons.” She looked around a moment. “Where is other me anyway?” Twilight chuckled. “She is at her home at the moment, getting ready. Only her mother is allowed inside. And she’s promised unholy retribution on anyone who comes in. Especially me. Even though all this seeing the bride before the ceremony is nonsense.” Twilight huffed. “But maybe you can go. If you want to. I doubt she would turn away her own daughter, even if you are another version of her.” Twilight watched as Pearl got excited only to have Kohaku place a paw between Pearl’s wings and shake his head. “No can do love. Remember we can’t leave the borders of the castle or its courtyard. We can go anywhere within them. But not outside.” Kohaku sighed. Pearl huffed and crossed her two front legs across her chest. “Damn it. I forgot you mentioned that.” Twilight was confused. “What happens if you leave them?” “These bodies fade away, and we wake up in our own world. Unable to watch the wedding at all.” Kohaku continued to caress his Pearl’s back as she almost cooed at the attention. Twilight’s ears wilted. She didn’t want that. “Well. I would get you two some chairs. But I don’t think you could sit on them. And the two chairs that might fit are for our Kohaku and his mate. If they come.” “OH, chairs can work. We can sit on them no problem.” Kohaku chuckled at Twilight’s confused look. “Normal physics works a little different in a dream-type scenario. It’s why we aren’t falling through the floor right now. And my counterpart did say that they were going to attend but have their own seating arrangement they want to use. Whatever that means.” Kohaku shrugged. “So if those two chairs will work for us, we’ll use them.” Twilight nodded. “Please do. It would be a waste to let them go empty.” She smirked. “And technically, they are for you. Unless you haven’t crossed that line yet? But I don’t see why not.” “Yeah, she’s not my mate yet. But it has been a subject of conversation. But as we’re still so young, no need to rush it.” Stretching and yawning Kohaku scratched his ear with a hind leg. “Love I’m going to the courtyard. I need some open air right now.” Kohaku smiled as Pearl just nodded and whispered something into his ear. With a grin, he backflipped before leaping out the window. Earning a gasp from Twilight and an eye roll from Pearl.  Twilight ran to the window only to see Kohaku land on all four paws as gracefully as a feline before walking over to the largest grove of trees bordering the Everfree. Turning to Pearl she smiled. “I don’t mean to pry but you two look a lot older now than when I last saw you.” Pearl smiled watching her beloved curl up under an aspen tree. “Well, it has been two years. I was beginning to wonder how long you were going to wait for your wedding. But as you don’t look older I’m guessing time works differently here.” Twilight nodded a bit. Having experienced this when she goes into the human world. “I guess so. I also notice he’s sporting an extra tail. How did THAT come about?” Pearl giggled. “I’d rather not say. But it did involve a riot, a flood, a lost circus monkey, and a donut.” Twilight felt her eye twitch again. She didn’t want to know how all of that led to Kohaku getting his fourth tail now. It made her brain hurt just to try and imagine it. “I believe I need a drink after just hearing that.” Pearl rolled her eyes. “Join the club. Our Twilight emptied her whole drinks cabinet afterward. And then drank Ponyville’s bar dry, and still was just slightly buzzed afterward. Kohaku did offer her some of his homebrewed sake but after the last time. She outright refused it.” “I’m afraid to ask…” “She downed one bottle, a small one at that. Woke up five days later, naked in Canterlot’s castle moat.” Pearl groaned at the memory. “All while proclaiming she was the Lizard Queen.” Twilight made a mental note to never take sake her Kohaku offered, and just politely decline any offers. “Well. I am Queen of Equestria now. So I’m sorta on the way I guess?” “As long as you don’t try to cause an uprising with an army of baby alligators and crocodiles I think you’ll be just fine.” Pearl giggled. “And what’s best is I didn’t even have to punish Kohaku for it. As her apprentice, he was the one who had to take over her duties while she was away and the time she took to sobered up which was about another week.” Twilight smirked. “And how did that go?” Pearl rolled her eyes. “Equestria is still standing at least. We almost lost two princesses when Luna and Celestia burst into a five-hour laughter marathon at the sight of you trying to command all those baby lizards.” The two shared a laugh before a maid entered. Casting a very confused look at Pearl, she whispered something in Twilight’s ears, who nodded as she turned to follow her. “I am sorry, Pearl. I have to get ready myself but please make yourself at home. This has used up the leeway I worked into the schedule.” Pearl blinked in surprise. “You built time in for something like this?” Twilight scoffed, holding a hoof over her heart. “Pearl Rose. I thought I taught you better than that. I am offended that you think I wouldn’t.” Pearl rolled her eyes as Twilight and the maid left. Point. No matter what universe, some things about Twilight Sparkle would never change. Lumena coughed and spit out her drink as she saw the events unfold around her. Watching as the two younger pains appeared in her universe. "Th.. that is against the rules...I'm ending this right now!"  Shenlong's small human hand rested on his counterpart's shoulder. "They have broken no rules or barriers." Producing a mirror of his own he showed Lumena that the young pair were sleeping peacefully together in front of the crystal mirror.  Lumena narrowed her eyes and harrumphed. "You knew they'd do this, didn't you? Why didn't you tell me?"  "Because your reaction is just too hilarious my dear. Come now let's enjoy. It's not every day we watch the wedding of a pony queen."  "I hate you," Lumena sighed.  Leaning in, Shenlong whispered and grinned. "No, you don't." Cirrus smiled as Pearl finally came out of her room. “Oh, honey. You’re beautiful. I know it’s said all the time. But I think Rarity has truly outdone herself this time.” Pearl blushed. “Thanks, mom. Still can’t believe today’s the day.” Cirrus chuckled. “I understand the feeling well, dear. When I married your father, I couldn’t believe it myself. Not until we finally kissed did it feel real to me.” Pearl giggled as she spun around, getting a good look at herself now that she was in her dress and was ready for the ceremony. “Think this’ll knock Twily dead? I feel bad for keeping her out.” Cirrus rolled her eyes. “Pearl. If this doesn’t knock her socks off, I will personally slap her silly. Queen of Equestria or not. This will turn heads no matter what. Mares and stallions.” Pearl rolled her eyes as they headed for the front door. “Too bad for them that I’m a taken mare then.” She looked towards the Everfree Forest and bit her lip. “Think they’ll come?” Cirrus sighed. She knew the two her daughter meant. Or four, as it could be. “I don’t know, honey. But even if they don’t, they’ll be here in spirit. And that is more than we can hope for.” Pearl nodded glumly. It wasn’t what she wanted to hear. But as they opened the door Pearl and her parents gasped loudly. Where she assumed would have been a royal guard and carriage. Was something completely different? While there was a carriage, it looked to be made of soft carved river stone. Adorned with white lilies. Inside were two benches of orient design with bright red silk cushions. But it was at the front that was the most shocking. Instead of ponies, there were four massive timberwolves. Each one looked to have been fashioned from a sakura tree. Their pink eyes all looked at Pearl as if awaiting her command. “Leave it to him to give me something like this.” Pearl smiled at the gesture her friend had made for her. Velvet smiled as Twilight stepped out of her room, now fully done up for the ceremony. “Honey. You look beautiful. If this doesn’t knock Pearl’s socks off, then she needs to be re-educated.” Twilight giggled. “Thanks, mom.” Twilight stood straight and blinked to herself. Looking forward and then behind her she shook her head quickly. “Mom? Did someone redecorate?” Velvet blinked herself as she looked about. “Now that you mention it…” She whispered.  Gone was the hallway of her castle and in its place was something out of the Everfree Forest. The floor was a softly flowing river with white lily pads outlining their walking path. Where her walls once were, was a canopy of cherry blossoms. Lightly showering them with petals.  Looking forward Twilight saw that this new hallway lead directly to the wedding hall. Waiting at the end was a large statue-like pony adorned with silver scales and brilliant river blue eyes. When it nodded to her, the river stone statue bowed and held its position as if awaiting her command. “Those two.” “Who?” Velvet tilted her head.  “Forestsong and Summer, I think this is their way of showing me off in style.” Twilight warmly sighed. “Well, I like it. At least the lily pads are high enough that your dress won’t get wet.”  Velvet giggled as she teased her daughter, before lightly poking her. “And I expect lots of grandchildren.” Twilight’s face burst into a roaring blush. “Mom!” Velvet only smirked. “Don’t ‘Mom!’ me young filly. I’m not getting any younger, and good luck getting your brother to do anything. I love Flurry. But I don’t want her to be the only one.” Twilight groaned. “I can’t promise anything, mom. All I have is obscure research, and I won’t risk a child’s life unless I know for sure it would work.” Velvet’s smirk slipped as she saw the sadness in her daughter’s eyes. “I know, dear. And I would hate that you would do so just to please me. You might be Queen of Equestria. But I am still your mother, and I can still permanently ground you.” Twilight rolled her eyes, but she was still smiling all the same. Cirrus and Pearl smiled as they stepped out of their carriage at the entrance to the castle courtyard. Looking up at the decorated castle, Pearl’s heart beat harder. It was really happening, her dream come true. “Thank you very much.” Pearl turned to the timberwolves who all nodded and slowly took off back to the Everfree Forest. “I’ll give Forestsong credit. He knows how to impress me.” “You don’t know the half of it.” A familiar voice came from the castle entrance. “Sometimes I think Haku likes to show off, regardless of the universe.”  Both mares blinked and looked over, Standing nearly just as tall as Pearl, was her counterpart in a white kimono with pink cherry blossoms.  “Hi, mom. Pearl.” Pearl politely bowed and giggled taking a few steps forward.  “Pearl!” Cirrus smiled and dashed forward only to slide right through her ‘daughter’. “Huh?” The older Pearl just blinked and shook her head before looking at her counterpart. “Okay, what?” “Yeah sorry bout that. At least you didn’t fall face forward as Twilight did.” Both Pearls and Cirrus giggled at the thought.  “How?” The older Pearl waved her hoof lightly through her younger counterpart a few times. “I thought you were just going to watch the wedding via the mirror.” “Yeah but Haku had other ideas. My pain in the flank, with help from yours, concocted this little trip. So now I can be here and talk to others, while we remain in our own universe,” the younger Pearl smirked. “Well, regardless I’m so glad to see you again. Having both my daughters about is wonderful.” Cirrus smiled and stepped up after brushing herself off. “You are going to be sitting with your family while your sister gets married?” Both Pearls rolled their eyes together and smiled at their mom. “Yes Mom,” the two Pearls answered in unison before laughing together. “Wait.. what if Summer shows up? That cushion was for her.” “Oh don’t worry, she’ll be here and has her own seating arrangement. At least that’s what Haku said.” the younger Pearl smiled. “Oh yeah, father’s waiting for you in the room off to the side. He sent me out to collect mom.”  Cirrus and the older Pearl smiled nodding. “Then I know she’s in good hooves.”  “Come on mom I have so much to catch you up on.” The younger pearl giggled as she and Cirius walked almost shoulder to shoulder, Cirrus asking countless questions while Pearl did her best to answer them. Pearl watched the two walk off as she moved up and greeted her father.  Stratos’ grin would have made Pinkie Pie proud as they hugged. “Oh, my little girl. I never thought I’d see the day!” Pearl groaned. “Dad! I am not that bad.” Stratos only shook his head. “You’re right. You’re worse. You beat around this bush for years. Say all you want otherwise, but I know you’ve wanted this for as long as you’ve known Twilight. Even when you and Lotus got together.” Pearl sighed in exasperation but smiled all the same. “So. Got any advice? I’m still so nervous something can go wrong. Look what happened at the last royal wedding.” Stratos’ smirk dropped. “Nothing that you haven’t heard already, Pearl. Only that, yes, there will be little disasters. But you will get overcome them. Together. Never think that Twilight doesn’t love you. The moment you do? Have her slap you silly.” Pearl snorted but was smiling all the same. “Thanks, daddy.” Stratos's smile grew as he kissed his daughter’s forehead. “You are very welcome, Pearl.” At that moment, the wedding march began, causing Pearl to jump. Stratos chuckled as he locked hooved with her. “That’s our cue.” Pearl did her best to stifle the butterflies in her stomach, but it was a lost cause. Twilight smiled as she stood next to her sister-in-law Cadence. Her own belly was filled with butterflies, which all halted the second she heard the start of the wedding march and she saw Pearl step into the grand hall. Oh my…. She’s so beautiful her thoughts all silenced to that one. Everything in Twilights world ceased to be but her as Pearl walked slowly with her father. “Who gives this mare to be wedded today?” Cadence asked with a smile. Stratos stood tall and smiled. “I and her mother do. We consent and gladly give.” with a bow he slowly handed Pearl’s hoof to Twilight.  Twilight lovingly pulled her beloved up onto the alter and stood staring into her eyes. “My Little Ponies, today…” Cadence smiled but was silenced when a crash of thunder shook the castle. All lights went out as the sky turned dark.  Whispers around the room echoed in the hall as Twilight moved closer to Pearl. With a second clash of thunder, a flash of lightning illuminated the part of the river that flowed through a special opening Twilight had made so that it would feed through her castle and down into Ponyville. The river itself splashed upward as a second flash of lightning illuminated the floral canopy that the happy couple was under. Pearl blinked and internally groaned. Can they be any less showy? As the last crash of thunder erupted and the sky again cleared. Two massive forms stood against the back wall. From the river stood a nine-hoof-tall dragoness, her scales glistening like brilliant pink gemstones. Her near twenty-hoof length circled along the wall as she stood next to her mate. From the floral decorations came a twelve-hoof-high fox. His emerald fur glistened in the light as his amber markings shimmered in the light of the sun. His nine tails fanned out behind him. Each one sporting an emerald flame in the shape of twin hearts.  Twilight sighed with relief that it was only these two. Looking about half of her guests who had never experienced them were looking on almost terrified while the rest were in awe at how large they truly were. “From the forests to the planes, I the guardian of nature Forestsong greet you all and bless this union today.” Forestsong politely bowed. “From the rivers to the seas, I Summer Rose, the guardian of water, send greetings and bless this union today.” Summer too bowed.  Twilight smirked and cocked an eyebrow at the pair who produced a set of thrones. Forestsong’s was made of pure jade behind Pearl while Summers was made of white marble set behind Twilight. The pair smiled down and placed a paw and a claw next to Cadence in their palms were a set of hoof rings. One fused with maple leaves the other with seashells. “Please continue Princess of Love,” Summer said tenderly. “And apologies for interrupting you,” Forestsong nodded to the princess as the pair set the rings down on the designated pillows.   Cadence looked at Twilight, who smiled and nodded. She had known something like this might happen. But nothing like this. She shook her head and smiled once more. “Every creature. I welcome you all to the wedding of Twilight Sparkle and Pearl Rose. We are here to recognize and celebrate the love between these two mares as they unite into a beautiful marriage.” Twilight and Pearl barely listened as Cadance did the reading. For them, the whole world consisted solely of the mare before them, the butterflies in their stomachs forgotten. Cadence smirked as she came to the end, and saw neither had paid the slightest mind to her. “Let’s begin with the exchanging of vows. Pearl. You may go ahead and say your vows now.” Pearl gulped. “I, Pearl Rose, take you, Twilight Sparkle, as you are, and promise to love you as you are now and who you will become in the future. I promise to intently listen to you, continually support you and be accepting of the support you give me. I will always love you and not lose the faith in the love that you have for me for the rest of our lives that we have together.” She smirked. “And I will drag you from your throne and desk if and when I need to. I love you too much to watch you work yourself to death.” This got a giggle from all in attendance, knowing the queen’s habits quite well, even those who were not especially close to her. Cadence smirked. “Twilight Sparkle, now it is your turn to profess your vows to Pearl Rose.” Twilight’s smile grew. “I, Twilight Sparkle, take you, Pearl Rose, as you are, and promise to love you as you are now and who you will become in the future. I promise to intently listen to you, continually support you and be accepting of the support you give me. I will always love you and not lose the faith in the love that you have for me for the rest of our lives that we have together.” Cadence’s smile grew as she took the pillows containing the rings in her magic. “Now comes the exchanging of rings, as the symbolism of your love for each other.” Pearl took the ring with the maple leaves and slid it over Twilight’s horn. “With this ring, I promise that I will love, appreciate, cherish, and defend you for the rest of our lives. Until time itself is unmade.” Twilight’s smile softened as she took the seashell ring and slid it lovingly around Pearl’s hoof. “With this ring, I promise that I will love, appreciate, cherish, and defend you for all time. Until the universe itself is unmade.” Forestsong looked at Summer who was so moved by the moment took his paw with her claw. While at the same time Kohaku looked at his Pearl as he wrapped his paw around her hoof. Looking into each other's eyes and silently repeated vows to each other. Cadence’s smile threatened to burst off of her face as the pair took each other’s hooves. “Twilight Sparkle. Do you take Pearl Rose to be your lawfully wedded wife? From now until the end of time?” Twilight nodded. “I do.” Cadence just barely held back a squee. “And Pearl Rose. Do you take Twilight Sparkle as your lawfully wedded wife? From now until the end of time?” Pearl just barely held in her excitement as she squeezed Twily’s hoof. “I do.” Cadence began to squee now. “Then by the power invested in me as a Princess of Equestria and the Crystal Empire, and by the power invested by the Mother of Life in the Silent Years before the Forging, I now pronounce you wife and wife.” She smirked. “You may now kiss.” Twilight didn’t need to be told twice as she pulled Pearl into the deepest and most passionate kiss she could. Pearl was more than happy to return it in full force. Cadence silently snorted as she spread her wings to the crowd. “I present to you, for the very first time, Queen Twilight Sparkle and Princess Pearl Rose! Let their union be as unbreakable and eternal as the Armor of Eternity itself.” The crowd cheered as Twilight swept Pearl off her hooves and into her own, earning a happy giggle from her wife as they began the walk back down the aisle.