//------------------------------// // Celestia Bless The Broken Road // Story: The Incredibly Musical Life of Octavia Philharmonica & Vinyl Scratch // by The Autumn Princess //------------------------------// ~Chapter Six~ ~Celestia Bless The Broken Road~ This was it. Finally. One of the most special days in everypony's life. And honestly, Vinyl Scratch always thought she'd never have that. But somehow, in some way, she was granted with it. Today was going to be perfect... she hoped. Today was the day she'd be getting married to the mare of her dreams, although, her nerves and emotions were all awry. She was as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs, but at the same time, her heart felt as light as a feather, feeling as if she could practically fly down the aisle (despite the lack of wings). She had been waiting for a moment... no, for a mare like this her entire life. Octavia was just... perfect. In every way possible. And now was not the time to chicken out - even if every cell in her body was telling the unicorn to strip off her tux and run out, screaming at the top of her lungs. Sure, she was young, but that didn't mean she hadn't struggled, and loved, and lost to finally realize what was right. She knew that this wasn't going to be a mistake. All the heart break in the past was nothing now The music started up and Vinyl held her breath. Any second now and.... there she was. Octavia began her walk down the aisle, her dress fluttering lightly as she walked. And while everypony else also had their gazes upon her, Vinyl knew very well that in only a few short minutes, with only a few simple words, everything would be changed and it wouldn't be their lives any longer... It would be their life. Together. The music slowed and Octavia was beside Vinyl, a smile on the grey mare's face. Overwhelmed by how beautiful her bride looked, the DJ almost stumbled as she stepped forward to slowly lift Octavia's veil, and as she did so, Vinyl felt like as if she was looking at a completely new mare. Her Tavi was secluded, shy, modest... but this Octavia was rather more bold, and confident, completely sure of herself. This day was indeed perfect. "Fillies and gentlecolts," the officiator announced boldly, immediately shushing everypony's murmurs. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the matrimony ceremony between Vinyl Record Scratch and Octavia Aria Philharmonica. Seeing how the couple has written their own vows, who will go first?" "I will," Octavia quickly replied, as the slightest of blushes crossed her muzzle. Clearing her throat and looking up for her lavender eyes to meet Vinyl's magenta ones, the cellist released a deep breath. "Vinyl, I'll admit, when I first met you, I thought you were just some trashy street mare - somepony I'd never in a million years affiliate myself with. You were loud, wild, bossy... everything I wasn't." Her smile widened a little and she let out a low chuckle. "I suppose that's why I found myself shocked when I realized that I was attracted to you. But somehow, in my torn life, where I was always lost and misplaced, I had finally felt a connection with one who was completely different. You were - and still are - foalish, while I am mature. You take the free fall without thinking twice, but I think too much. You aren't afraid to speak your mind, and I'm always the one to hold back my thoughts." Not a single expression wasn't melted by the romanticism of the whole scene. "But, now... I'm not." Octavia declared, with a proud smile. "And so, Vinyl Record Scratch, I am proud to call you my partner. For now and forever." Vinyl swallowed the lump in her throat and looked at her beautiful almost-wife. Compared to what Octavia had just said, Vinyl felt that her vows were so much less heartfelt. Inhaling deeply, Vinyl stared into the lavender eyes in front of her. "Octy," she began, feeling that her nickname for the mare would be more fitting. "When I met you, I was broken. We all saw the magazines. I'd been with more ponies than they cared to count, and none of them worked out. I thought...well, I thought I wasn't meant to be happy. Then I met you. Once you were in my life, nothing else mattered. I'm not the smartest of ponies, but I know this much- I was meant to find you and fall in love with you. I love you, Octavia Aria Philharmonica. More than anything in all of Equestria, I love you." And even though the unicorn's words were simple, they were precise, and with the two mares' sudden declaration of love for one another, it prompted practically everypony in the room to break out their tissues or cameras to capture this beautifully heartwarming moment. Then, the officiator levitated over the small pillow that held the two necklaces and cleared their throat, "And so, do you, Vinyl Scratch, take this mare, Octavia Philharmonica, to be your lawfully wedded wife - to have and to hold, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, 'til death do you part?" "I do," Vinyl declared, without the slightest twinge of doubt in her voice as she took the silver necklace of the two and placed it carefully around Octavia's neck, with the golden band handing from it standing out perfectly. "And do you, Octavia Philharmonica, take this mare, Vinyl Scratch, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to-" "I do." Octavia suddenly blurted out, prompting a sudden blush to form across her cheeks, and smiles grew even wider throughout the crowd as everypony watched her almost clumsily placed a golden necklace that had a silver band hanging from it around Vinyl's neck. A moment of silence passed only before the officiator spoke up. "If anypony does not believe that these two mares should be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace." As it should be, there was absolute quiet. The anticipating sort of quiet. One that nopony could stand. "I now pronounce you mare and wife. You may now kiss." -xoxo- Octavia nuzzled Vinyl's neck and the unicorn tightened her hold on the sleeping mare. In the years they had been married, they'd been through a lot. After all, what was marriage without fights or threats of divorce? They'd gotten through it all, together. Vinyl pressed her lips against Octavia's slightly wrinkled forehead. The earth pony complained about the wrinkles endlessly, but Vinyl never failed to assure her wife that she was still as beautiful as she had been the day they met. "Nana Vinyl, Harmony and Operetta won't let me have a turn with Nana Octy's cello!" a little voice said as it stumbled into the room. "Did you ask nicely, Vibrato?" Vinyl asked the filly. Vibrato looked up at her grandmother and nodded, her lavender eyes wide. Vinyl smiled. Octavia's eyes had skipped a generation, but all three of their grandfillies had the same bright lavender eyes that Vinyl had fallen in love with. "Well, I guess you'll just have to play with Nana Vinyl's turntables instead, right, V?" The filly's eyes went wide. Vinyl never let anypony touch the old turntables. "Really?" Vibrato asked, blowing her long black and blue mane out of her face. "Sure, kiddo. You know where they are, right?" The pale grey unicorn filly was already bolting from the room, teasing her sisters as she ran to Vinyl's old workroom. Before too long, two more unicorn fillies were stumbling over each other trying to get to Vinyl. "I wanna play with the turntables too!" the soft purple one cried, her red mane sticking up in places. "Yeah, that's not fair!" the white one said, stamping her hoof. Vinyl ruffled her choppy black mane and laughed. "Then you should have let Vibrato have a turn with the cello." In unison, the two stubborn fillies crossed their forehooves and pouted, which prompted Vinyl to chuckle once more. Never did she ever think, in all of her wildest dreams, that one moment, one day, and one certain mare could lead her down the road to pure happiness...