BONUS CHAPTER: AND THE BELLS TOLLED FOR THEM
Many months had passed since that fateful trip to Cloudsdale. Summer turned to winter, and winter turned to spring. With the spring came Winter Wrap Up, where the citizens of Ponyville cleaned up winter and made the transition to spring. The white snow covered landscape was replaced by a verdant green, which eventually speckled with color as the wildflowers grew and bloomed. The animals returned to their previous state of activity from the long hibernation period of winter. Life had returned to the land.
But life had never left Ponyville. All through winter, the ponies had gone about their daily routines and rituals, and that continued unabated with the arrival of spring. As the sun began to rise over the horizon, a few shopkeepers opened their stores for business. Several pegasi took off for their early morning shift with the weather patrol, clearing some stray clouds to allow the light of the sun to bath the town with its warmth.
But for those who didn't run shops, or who weren't on the weather patrol, today was a very special day, one that was long in the making, ever since that fateful day back last spring.
Fluttershy was already awake, as was her custom, but today that custom was especially important. She brushed her teeth extra carefully, and even took the time to rinse with mouthwash before take a warm shower, drying off, and brushing her mane down, making sure everything was neat. After that, she went downstairs and bade her beloved animals goodbye, promising to return. She didn't bother with breakfast, there would be plenty of time for that later. Right now, she had an appointment with Rarity, one that could not wait.
She walked briskly over to Carousel Boutique, where Rarity was waiting for her with a huge smile on her face.
"Fluttershy, darling." She said cheerily. "You're just in time." Fluttershy smiled.
"I hope there's enough time." She said. Rarity nodded.
"Yes of course." She said. "Don't worry darling, I'll have you ready in time for your wedding." She said those last words with a happy giggle. She couldn't help it. She was so happy that today was the big day. They had been planning Fluttershy's wedding for months, with Rarity, of course, leading the charge, including designing her a lovely wedding dress completely free of charge. She led her friend inside the boutique. Fluttershy caught the scent of fresh forget-me-nots, coming from baskets of petals laid neatly across one section of the floor. She guessed these were for the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who had volunteered to serve as flower fillies for the wedding. Their newest friend Pipsqueak would be serving as ringbearer. Fluttershy gave a soft but noticeable happy squee.
"I still can't believe this is all happening." She said. "I've never been more excited and joyous in my life." She fluttered into the air, her face split by a huge smile. Rarity giggled at her.
"As am I, and all our friends." She said. "Why, I'd say the entire town has never been happier." Fluttershy blushed.
"Oh... my." She said. Rarity led her back to the boutique's fitting area, where Fluttershy got the first look at the dress she had designed for her to wear on her special day. It was the usual white, but Rarity had added some twists to it. It was made of a soft, wavy silk, designed to look like it was flowing in the spring breeze. Forget-me-nots and rose petals were seamlessly woven into the fabric, and gave the dress a springtime scent to go with the springtime look. The train stretching out behind the dress was inlaid with gold thread in floral patters, and the veil was capped off by more forget-me-nots and was made of sheer silk. Fluttershy awwed at the sight of it. "It's... beautiful." Rarity smiled.
"Only the best for my best friend on her big day." She said. Then she suddenly seized up, as though trying to hold something in, but failed and began to hop up and down in one place, squealing like a schoolfilly who's crush had just asked her to the prom. Fluttershy watched her, a bit embarassed.
"Oh Rarity, please stop." She said, blushing and trying to suppress a giggle. "You don't want to put your dress on on when you're all sweaty do you?" She asked, but Rarity didn't hear her. She kept jumping up and down and squealing as the bell ran, indicating someone had entered the boutique.
"Has she gone full Pinkie yet?" Applejack's voice said. Fluttershy turned around to see the rest of her friends assembled. Apparently, Rarity had likewise summoned them early that morning as well. Rainbow Dash started cackling when she saw Rarity.
"Yep, she has." She said, in between her guffaws. Pinkie Pie started giggling.
"Gee, I thought I was the only one who was super duper excited." She said. Rarity finally stopped when she noticed everyone was staring at her.
"Oh, excuse me." She said sheepishly. "I'm just so happy, you know?"
"And now she's gone full Fluttershy." Twilight said. Everyone, Fluttershy included, laughed at that. Finally, Rarity clapped her hooves.
"Alright, enough chit chat." She said. "It's time to get ready." She said with a serious expression on her face. She started by dressing everyone in their clothes; Fluttershy in her wedding gown, the rest of them in their bridesmaids outfits. These were simple, but no less lovely, red gowns with pink sashes. Each one was set with rimestones and had a corsage of pink orchid pinned to the chest. Both Rainbow Dash and Applejack were decidedly uncomfortable wearing something so "frou-frouish" but they grinned and bore it. It was Fluttershy's big day, after all. They had no right to spoil it by griping.
Rainbow Dash busied herself by taking a moment to preen her wings. It was another unique ability of the pegasi, along with being able to walk on clouds. She delicately nibbled on each of her wing feathers, making sure they were clean and straight before finishing by preening the edge of her wings. Satisfied, she folded them back into her body. Fluttershy did likewise with her wings.
Twilight checked herself out in a mirror, making sure everything was straight. She smoothed out a few creases and perfectly centered her corsage. Applejack smiled.
"Prettying yourself up for mah cuz?" She said with a sly smile. Twilight blushed.
"Well, I might as well look neat right?" She asked with a sheepish smile. Applejack chuckled.
"Relax Twi, I'm just playing around." She said. Twilight giggled. Rarity came over and began applying makeup to her face, starting with some blush.
"Hold still please." She said. Twilight did as she was told. Rarity placed blush on her cheeks, did up her eyelashes and placed just a small amount of eyeliner on her. "Perfect!" She chirped, before moving on to the others. Applejack, Pinkie Pie and even Rainbow Dash were done up in a similar way, before she finally got to Fluttershy, whom she only placed a small amount of blush on, her reasoning being that Fluttershy was already "a natural beauty" and she needed little, if any, enhancement. Fluttershy turned crimson at hearing that.
"Careful." Rainbow said. "Someone's gonna mistake you for a strawberry." The girls shared a giggle at that, just as they heard a carriage pulling.
"Ah, just in time." Rarity said, spritzing herself with some classy perfume, and offering it to her friends. Everyone except Rainbow Dash and Applejack accepted, Applejack saying she brought her own, and Rainbow Dash simply drawing the line with perfume (she was never a big fan of perfume anyway). Applejack sprayed herself with a pleasant smelling modern scent before they went outside to greet their ride. They were in for a surprise when they saw who it was.
"Your majesties!" Rarity said with a gasp. Princess Celestia looked at them with a warm grin from her personal chariot, flanked by her sister. Both were dressed up in their finest; Celestia was dressed in an elegant wine red formal gown with gold highlights and jewels matching those on her crown encrusting the hem. Luna was wearing a black and midnight blue ensemble with a bottom half decorated with gold flake and real diamonds, giving it the appearance of the night sky itself. A pendant with her personal emblem, and pearl moon, capped it off. She was also wearing her formal crown in place of her normal tiara, made of pure silver and capped with a mother of pearl and two flawless sapphires.
"We wouldn't miss this for the world." She said. "Hello, Fluttershy." She said. Fluttershy smiled and bowed out of respect.
"Hello, Princess." She said. "I'm sorry if we seemed surprised, we just didin't expect you to come... you being so busy and all..." Luna cut her off before she could go on another apologetic ramble.
"Us? Allow silly things like 'royal duties' to get in the way of being there to see our dear friend on the biggest day of her life?" She said. "Preposterous! Perish the thought." She giggled.
"Oh, thank you." Fluttershy said. "Thank you so much." Celestia gestured toward the back, and they got their first look at the luxurious carriage being pulled behind the royal chariot. It looked like something out of a fairytale; seemingly made entirely of gold shaped into various patterns, they could see just enough inside that it had a red velvet interior.
"I was actually surprised we still had this one." Celestia said. "I've become so accustomed to the chariot I rarely use anything else. Lucky thing I was able to scrouge this old thing up." She said with a smile. "Only the best." She looked right a Fluttershy when she said this. Fluttershy turned crimson again.
"Oh, you don't have to." She said.
"Think nothing of it." Luna said, stepping down from the chariot. Her smile told Fluttershy that there was nothing to be apologetic about, that they were glad to do this for her, Luna seemingly especially glad. After all, it was Fluttershy and her friends who freed her from the corruption of Night Mare Moon and gave her her life back.
"Well then, what are we waiting for?" Rainbow said. "Let's rock!" She said, zipping into the carriage. The others rolled their eyes and boarded as well, the princesses sitting with them this time.
***
It looks like the entire town has come out for this one, Hailstorm thought as he paced about the outdoor garden where the wedding was being held. Indeed, the seating area was full of ponies dressed in their finest. Granny Smith was sitting front and center, alongside Twilight Sparkle's mother and father, Twilight Starshine and Nightlight. His parents were sitting on the other side of them, his mother already crying tears of joy. Next to them sat Fluttershy's parents; a rather large female pegasus, with her daughter's yellow coat and a mane of flaming red, named Steelheart, dressed in full Royal Guard uniform sans helmet, and her father, a smaller earth pony stallion with a white coat and pink mane, which matched his daughter's to a T. His cutie mark was a scroll and quill. In place of his wife's proud stance, he sat rather reservedly in his seat. It was obvious that Fluttershy took after him in personality.
Next to them sat another yellow mare, likewise with a pink mane. She had the same cyan eyes as Fluttershy, and looked so much like her that they could pass as twins. In fact, they were. The two had been born as fraternal twins, and their doctors were surprised just how much they looked alike. The only thing that marked the difference, other than Fluttershy being a pegasus and her sister being an earth pony, was their cutie marks. In pace of Fluttershy's butterflies, this mare had five pink tulips, her talent being gardening and raising flowers. She slouched a bit in her seat, getting a bit anxious at the crowd.
"Sit up, Posey." Her mother said gently. "Posture is important." Posey looked up at her mother, fiddling with the green bow in her mane.
"Yes, mother." She said. Like her sister, she took after her father in personality, though she was markedly less reserved than her sister. Still, she often got antsy in crowds, but that hadn't stopped her from coming. Her sister was getting married, and that was all that mattered. She shifted so she was sitting up straight. Her mother smiled and gave her a nuzzle. Despite her boisterous and outgoing nature, she was very gentle toward her two daughters and her husband, loving the butterflies out of all of them.
"I hope they're OK." Scribe, their father, said. "It's been such a long time.." He fretted, as he often did when it came to his darling daughters. Steelheart reached over and put a reassuring hoof on his shoulder.
"Relax, dear." She said. "Everything is fine. Fluttershy is nothing if not punctual." Hailstorm, meanwhile, was talking with his groomsmen. For his best stallion, he selected Big Macintosh, a close friend of the girls and sister of Applejack, and known across town as a stallion who could be counted on. Big Macintosh sunk himself into the role, even going so far as to help Pinkie Pie plan the reception.
Alongside Big Mac were Caramel, Doctor Whooves, and Braeburn, who was there at the invitation of Applejack. All four were wearing equally fine tuxedos, courtesy of Rarity, who had insisted on supplying the groomsmen's wardrobe as well as the bridesmaid's gowns. Hailstorm was beginning to sweat bullets, worried that Fluttershy would be late. Big Macintosh noticed.
"You OK?" He asked.
"Nervous." He said. Big Macintosh put a hoof on his shoulder and gave Hailstorm a warm smile. That appeared to help, just as a magnificent looking carriage pulled up. The crowd gaped at it, and even more so when the princesses stepped out and took seats at the front, right across from the gathered family. Braeburn hastily took off his hat and bowed, followed by the other groomsmen. Princess Celestia only smiled and waved to them to stand. Luna signaled a chorus of birds, which began to belt out the traditional wedding march. Hailstorm steeled himself. Here it comes, he thought, the biggest day of our lives.
From the back, the three Cutie Mark Crusaders, dressed in fancy country themed gowns loaned by the Apple Family, stepped and began to sprinkle flower petals along the aisle. Pipsqueak, beaming, followed them, carrying a cushion in his mouth bearing the two wedding hoof rings, one for Fluttershy and one for Hailstorm. He paused briefly to wave to Princess Luna, who smiled and waved back, before taking a spot near the groomsmen and across from the Crusaders, who finished their job by playfully throwing flower petals at the groomsmen, eliciting a laugh from everypony.
They were followed by Fluttershy's friends. Twilight led them, followed by Applejack and Rarity, with Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash bringing up the rear. They took their spots behind the Crusaders, Applejack taking a moment to straighten Apple Bloom's hair bow. Twilight smiled across the way at Caramel, and mouthed "you look handsome" at him, which caused him to blush crimson. The other groomsmen snickered.
And then it was Fluttershy's turn to enter. Everypony stood up as she came in, slowly at first, but picked up her pace as she got closer, her eyes locked on Hailstorm, her heartbeat quickening. In a pouch on her chest, she carried her traditional bouquet, filled to bursting with forget-me-nots, her veil draped over her face in the customary manner. Hailstorm gaped as she entered. Never in his life, had he seen her looking as beautiful as she did now. As she approached, he walked over and escorted her the rest of the way, until they were facing an elderly pony wearing a collar around his neck, carrying a scroll. As as the music stopped, everypony sat down, and the elderly stallion opened his scroll, and began to read.
"Dearly beloved." He said, his voice slurred a bit from his age. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the matrimony between this stallion and this mare..." Everything else he said was drowned out by the two lovebirds as they gazed into each others eyes. Fluttershy's eyes began to fill with tears. The only other time she had felt so happy was when she had been reunited with Hailstorm. Those memories began to come flooding back, and that song, their song, began to play in her mind. She began to silently sing along with the lyrics, mouthing them out, with Hailstorm catching and following along, a tear in his own eye. Just as they got to the end, the stallion cleared his throat. They turned to see him looking at them.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Fluttershy said. The stallion only gave her a smile and entered into the vows.
"Do you, Hailstorm Tempest, take this mare to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, so you as you both shall live?" The stallion asked him. Hailstorm's reply was instantaneous.
"I do." He said, conviction in his voice. The stallion turned to Fluttershy.
"And do you, Fluttershy, take this stallion to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, so long as you both shall live?" He asked her. Fluttershy sniffled a bit and dried her eyes, but she smiled.
"I-I do." She said, clasping Hailstorm's hooves in her own. The stallion gestured for Pipsqueak to come forward with the rings, and Big Macintosh and Twilight, who was serving as Fluttershy's maid of honor, each took Fluttershy's and Hailstorm's rings, respectively. Big Macintosh placed Fluttershy's ring in Hailstorm's hoof. He turned to Fluttershy.
"With this ring, I bind my life to yours, not in chains, but in cheer, precious as gold, never-ending as time. I love you, and this I take as my solemn vow." He said, slipping the ring on her hoof. Fluttershy began to cry in joy anew, as Twilight repeated the process with Hailstorm's ring. Her voice was shaky, but she pronounced her own ring vows with equal conviction. Several in the audience began to tear up, with Pinkie Pie taking the cake with her wails. Rainbow Dash and Rarity both produced umbrellas to block the cascade of tears that poured from her eyes.
"And now, inasmuch as Hailstorm Tempest and Fluttershy have demonstrated their commitment to one another and their desire to live their lives together through the taking of vows and the giving of rings," the stallion said," it is with great pleasure that I, through the power vested in me by all the powers of the heavens, now pronounce you Husband and Wife." He grinned. "You may kiss the bride." Hailstorm gently lifted Fluttershy's veil, and the two shared their first kiss as husband and wife. The entire audience burst into loud applause, joy for the new couple spreading about the room like the common cold. The Cutie Mark Crusaders jumped up and down and cheered, Fluttershy's bridesmaids clapped their hooves and cried, with even Rainbow Dash managing to shed a flood of joyous tears, and the groomsmen whooped and hollered.
"Jolly good show!" Doctor Whooves cheered. "One for the books, I say." Fluttershy and Hailstorm took a look into each other's eyes once again, as music began to play anew, and they took their walk down the aisle as newlyweds, ready to begin the rest of their lives together. The guests began to throw the traditional rice at them, eliciting giggles from the couple and the attendants who accompanied them. All in all, it was a joyous day, not only for the couple, but also for their friends and neighbors.
A fitting end to a most heartwarming story.
THE END