“Mares and gentlecolts, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Vinyl Scratch and Octavia Philharmonica in blessed marriage,” Ponyville’s Mayor Mare intoned solemnly. She scanned the small crowd of families and friends gathered in the town hall, reverently quiet for the special occasion. “Does anypony know of a reason why these two should not be so joined?” The crowd shuffled nervously, trying to see if anypony would be so bold as to object. Fortunately, no one came bursting through the doors like in a movie to derail the process and Mayor Mare continued. “Very well. Do you, Octavia, take Vinyl to be your wife for as long as the bonds of love and life hold you together?”
Octavia gulped, facing the most important words of her entire life. She froze, her mouth open but unable to speak. A second after she began to panic, she found her answer; it arose from her heart rather than her mind, but she knew it was the correct one. “I do,” she said, vibrant with confidence.
“Will you show her kindness when she hurts, generosity when she wants, and laughter when she is sad? Will you be honest and loyal to her, that you both might be bound by the magic of your love?”
“I will,” Octavia answered immediately. She would love nothing more than to do exactly that.
The mayor nodded, turning her attention to the other mare before her. “Do you, Vinyl, take Octavia to be your wife for as long as the bonds of love and life hold you together?”
Unlike Octavia, Vinyl didn’t need to process the question. It bypassed her brain and addressed her feelings directly and they answered without hesitation. “Hay yeah I do,” she said.
Mayor Mare’s stoic exterior cracked slightly, and half a smile met Vinyl’s characteristic attitude. Octavia reminded herself not to facehoof. “Will you show her kindness when she hurts, generosity when she wants, and laughter when she is sad? Will you be honest and loyal to her, that you both might be bound by the magic of your love?” the litany continued.
“I will,” Vinyl agreed. Really, it was the least that Octavia deserved from her.
“Then, by the power vested in my by the sovereign nation of Equestria as the Mayor of Ponyville, I now pronounce you wedded,” Mayor Mare said. There was a twinkle in her eyes as she continued, “You may now kiss the bride.”
The crowd hushed in expectation. Octavia turned to see her brand new wife, radiant in one of Rarity’s finest designs, staring back at her. Amethyst and ruby eyes locked gazes but neither of them moved. They had kissed countless times before and done other things too, but somehow it was different now that they were married rather than merely a couple.
Octavia broke the ice first, gingerly closing her eyes and stepping forward to receive the expected, appropriately modest press of lips against her own.
Instead, Vinyl pulled her roughly forward, administering a sloppy kiss with plenty of tongue. Octavia’s eyes widened in surprise for a second, but she soon melted into it. The crowd cheered and stomped in approval and a certain green unicorn could be heard whooping with glee.
Perhaps, Octavia thought as the moment stretched on, it isn’t so different after all.
When they finally stepped reluctantly back from each other, they found that the Mayor had already taken her leave of the stage. They turned and walked side-by-side down to face the onrush of ponies that took their cue to surround them, congratulating and offering good wishes. “What a lovely ceremony,” Melody said with a glistening smile as she stepped forward to embrace Octavia. “My little filly is all grown up!”
Her little filly resisted the urge to point the urge that she had been all grown up for a while now. “Thank you so much, mother. It means so much having you both here today,” she said instead as she returned the hug.
“You look darn good, sweetie,” Silver Strings said as he joined in.
“Thank you too,” Octavia said as she returned his hug as well. “This was the best day of my life. I’m glad I got to share it with both of you. If you’ll excuse me a moment, though, I’m looking for somepony.”
“Of course, honey,” Melody said with an understanding smile. “Go and find her.” Octavia stepped away from her parents, only to find a different crazy unicorn than the one she was after.
“Hey, that was a nice kiss you two had up there. No shame, just like it should be,” Lyra said as she wrapped a foreleg around Octavia’s back. “I got you a little something for your honeymoon,” she whispered conspiratorially as a small, wrapped box slipped into one of the folds of her dress. “Enjoy.”
Lyra disappeared without another word. Octavia knew better than to inspect the contents of the box here. She would open it later, preferably when she and Vinyl were suitably alone. In fact, she spotted Vinyl herself standing by the small refreshment bar, sipping on a glass of something non-alcoholic; they had both known better than to provide anything intoxicating. She was clearly waiting for her wife, and the word still sent a little jolt through Octavia, to join her. So she did just that, sauntering over to nuzzle cheekily at her. “Vinyl, my love, this is the happiest I think I’ve ever been.”
“I think you’re right,” Vinyl agreed, passing Octavia another glass that she put to her lips. It was apple cider, the good kind from Sweet Apple Acres. Rarity had probably tugged a few strings to get them a keg out of season. Octavia added another item to the list of “things to thank Rarity for.” She smiled at her partner, the smile that meant that she was dying to say something. “Hey, Treble Clef, guess where we’re going on our honeymoon.”
Octavia drew a blank. “Honeymoon? We never talked about a honeymoon. If anything, I figured we might stay for a few days in Canterlot or Baltimare to give us some alone time.” Oh, how she craved that alone time. Lyra’s damned box was eating at her curiosity.
Vinyl kissed her again, quick and sudden like a pouncing beast of prey. “Actually, I hear the Crystal Empire is nice this time of year.” She smiled at Octavia. “Our train leaves tomorrow morning.”
Octavia gaped. “But the Crystal Empire is so far away . . . it will take us days by train to get there.”
“It sure will,” Vinyl agreed. “Days in a private train car just for the two of us, with plenty of—“she smacked her lips—“alone time.”
Octavia suddenly found herself very much on board with Vinyl’s idea. Part of her wanted to gallop off right that very instant. Still, she reminded herself, she couldn’t do so just yet. “I think that may be the best idea I have ever heard. But before we get that time to ourselves, I believe that we are obligated to pose for approximately twelve thousand photographs.” It was a time-honored tradition that every wedding must be accompanied by far more pictures than anypony could ever need, after all.
Vinyl saw a number of cameras already being set up and groaned. “I guess you’re right. That’s okay, though.” She leaned closer to whisper in Octavia’s ear. “The longer I have to stand beside you without being able to get under your tail, the more time I have to think of things to do to you.”
Octavia smiled, her face warming at the implications. “You’d better get creative, then, because I have a few ideas of my own,” she challenged.
“Oh, I will. I’ll be getting creative with you for years,” Vinyl said. “And that’s a promise,” she added firmly.