Chapter 12: Fade Into You
After the ceremony, all of those in attendance were invited to the reception. Everypony present were there to eat, drink, and give their best wishes to the newly married couple. Also, since Pinkie Pie herself had baked the wedding cake, she insisted that everypony come and enjoy the celebration.
“Alright, everypony, it’s time for the newly weds first dance together!” the MC announced as he directed the entire audience’s attention to the center of the dance floor.
Slowly trotting out onto the floor, Rainbow Dash and Big Mac were sheepishly looking at each other. They both laughed a little as they raised their hooves up and placed them on each other. Rainbow placed hers around the stallion’s neck, while he placed his hoof on the pegasus’ back, right above her wing. As the music started to play over the speaker, the two began to sway to the soft ballad.
“I want to hold the hoof inside you. I want to take a breath that’s true. I look to you and I see nothing. I look to you to see the truth,” as the lyrics were being sung, Rainbow pulled closer to Big Mac, causing him to do the same. The two knew that everypony was watching them, and while it did make both of them feel a bit uneasy, they felt as if they were in their own world, slow dancing.
“Fade into you, strange you never knew. Fade into you, I think it’s strange you never knew,” the song continued to the chorus.
As their dancing continued, Rainbow whispered quietly, “So….this is it, huh? We’re finally married….”
“Eeyup,” Big Mac replied gently.
Nuzzling closer to the stallion as they danced, Dash spoke softly, “I love you, Big Mac….”
Not replying verbally, Big Mac smiled lightly as he pulled Rainbow closer to him, still drifting to the music.
The song finally came to the close and so did the first dance between Big Mac and Dash. With the cheer of applause, the two parted from the dance floor and rejoined the audience. A number of ponies went up to the two ponies and congratulated them.
This was cut short, however, by the speakers playing a very upbeat and energetic song. This caused Pinkie Pie to rush over to Rainbow’s side and pulls her out onto the dance floor to join the rest of their friends in dancing, “Come on, Rainbow Dash, this is our jam!”
Left by himself, Big Mac watched as the six friends started to dance with one another. His observation was interrupted by a familiar pegasus stallion trotting next to him.
“Hey there, Big Macintosh,” the pegasus greeted with a smile.
Recognizing the rainbow colored mane, the red pony knew it was Rainbow Dash’s father, “Howdy, Mister Rainbow Stratus.”
“Please, you don’t have to be so formal. Especially after today, we’re family now,” he smiled, “Stratus is just fine.”
Big Mac smiled and nodded at his comment. He turned his attention back to the dance floor, watching the mares on the dance floor continuing their shaking and grooving.
Rainbow Stratus also watched on, laughing slightly and sighed, “My Rainbow Dash has really grown in the last few months. And to think, it was all because of you, Big Mac.”
The red stallion’s ears perked up at the comment, “Beg pardon?”
Stratus turned to look at Big Mac, “She’s really matured recently and I think it has a lot to do with you and how much of an impact you have on her.”
“Ah don’t think ah have all that much of an impact on her,” Big Mac admitted.
“Nonsense. You affect her far more than both of you realize,” Stratus explained, “When she was a filly, she was a little hellion. Always getting into scraps, testing her limits, and being adventurous. Heh, she’s still the same in some ways in regards to that. Something she got from both her mother and myself. But I can’t help but think about what it would have been like if her mother were around to help raise her.”
Feeling a little uncomfortable about asking, Big Mac carefully spoke, “Why wasn’t her mother around, if ya don't mind me askin'?”
Stratus sighed as he answered, “Well, her mother and I had often got into arguments. Nothing major, just disagreements from time to time, and we would always make peace at the end of them. She and I knew that we loved and cared for each other no matter what, so we would always make come together at the end. One day, however, we had one argument that caused her to leave our home. I don’t even remember what it was, it seems so trivial now. But as night came, she didn’t return. The next day I learned she had gotten into an accident and passed away.” He paused taking a deep breath before resuming, “Rainbow Dash had just been born and….I didn’t have the heart to tell her the truth of what happened. So, I just told her that everything will be okay. In doing so, I guess I helped molded her into what she is now.”
“Does she know? 'Bout her mother that is.”
“No, but I plan to tell her sometime later today. I feel that it’s the absolute least I could do for her,” the pegasus answered before changing the topic, “Anyway, this isn’t about that, Big Mac. It’s about how much you mean to her. Say what you will, Big Mac, but she has told me that you have gotten her to straighten herself out and think about more than just herself.”
“Ah still don’t get why she thinks it’s me who did that, what ‘bout doin’ all that fer her child?” Big Mac asked.
Stratus smirked slightly, “Well, you didn’t hear it from me, but Dash told me that you were the first pony to take a serious interest in her and her well-being.”
“Well, ah do care fer her an’ all….” Big Mac admitted.
“And it seems your warm, caring personality rubbed off on her. All because of you, Big Mac.”
The red stallion thought for a few moments before speaking, “All because of me?”
“Because of your kindheartedness and your compassion,” Stratus corrected, “but yes, because of you.”
“Gosh….” was all Big Mac could say in response.
Placing a hoof onto Big Mac’s back for reassurance, “You’re a good stallion Big Mac, and you got a big heart. I’m proud to call you my son-in-law and I know Rainbow Dash is proud to be married to you.”
“Thank ya, Stratus,” Big Mac smiled.
As the two stallions finished, Rainbow Dash trotted up to Big Mac, started to tug the stallionn out to the dance floor. “Come on, Big Mac, they’re about to play a song I requested for us!” Dash eagerly stated.
Big Mac seemed to not have a choice in the matter, and he waved quickly to Stratus before having to dance with Dash.
With a chuckle, Stratus spoke to himself, “She’s quite a hoofful, Big Mac, but you’ll do just fine.”