//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: A MacDash Wedding // by Captain Unstoppable //------------------------------// A MacDash Wedding Collaboration Chapter 5: Confrontations Written by: Bad_Seed_72 Perched on a cloud high above the strip club, Thunderlane looked at the imaginary watch he had drawn on his left fetlock. While no time had visibly passed, Rainbow Dash was still taking far too long. He had thought that she only needed a few minutes to locate her “fiancé,” drag him out by the ears, and deliver the tongue-lashing (and subsequent breakup) he deserved. Considering that the bachelor party had been his suggestion in the first place, Thunderlane had it all planned out. Although Dash was acting oddly casual about this whole thing, she would be mortified when she saw some trashy mare grinding on her husband-to-be. The fact that her stallion abandoned her for a night of drinking and easy mares would finally hit her, smacking with more force than the big lug had in his clumsy hooves. In Dash’s distress, Thunderlane would swoop to her side and comfort her, showing that he was the stallion of her dreams, not that dim hayseed. And that would finally be the end of all this nonsense. However, as Thunderlane looked down again over the cloud at the club, he couldn’t help but worry. What was taking so long? What if the other stallions were blocking Dash from seeing Mac, feeding her lies? What if that big, red brute had erupted into a rage when Dash found him in the hooves of some harlot? Worst of all, what if his plan didn’t work? Tired of waiting, Thunderlane sighed, stretched his wings, and stood up. He was ready to take off when a group of laughing, hiccupping stallions emerged from the club, bottles of cider and beer in hoof. Caramel led the group, which included Bulk Biceps, Chimney Chute, and Time Turner. The four reclined against a tree and clacked their bottles together, their whoops of laughter grating to Thunderlane’s ears. “Woo-ey! Mac’s got the hottest mare in the club all to ‘imself!” Caramel exclaimed with a hiccup. He stomped the grass with a hoof and wiped his lips free of foam. “Lucky bastard! Bahahaha!” “YEEEAH!” Bulk Biceps flexed his foreleg muscles. Standing on his hindhooves, he threw the empty bottle of beer in his hoof to the ground, shattering it into a million pieces. While the others backed away, he brought his forehooves to his mouth and cheered, “GET SOME, MAC! YEEEEEEEEEAAAH!” Swaying, Time Turner snorted and pushed Bulk Biceps down to his hooves. “Hic! H-h-hey, buddy, hic, k-keep it down. Don’t wanna get us kicked out now, would ya?” Chimney Chute leaned against the tree, raising his bottle of beer to his lips with a sly grin. “Y-yeah, an’ if you do that, Ol’ Mac ain’t gonna get to finish with that sexy lil’ thang, yeah?” The group erupted into a round of laughter and glasses clinking together in merry agreement. As his lips curled back in an instinctive snarl, Thunderlane knew he had heard more than enough. With a quick kick against the cloud, he dove down to the ground, spreading his wings as he made a soft landing on the other side of the club. After steadying himself, he checked to make sure that the group of drunkards hadn’t noticed him, then headed off. Caramel smacked Chimney in the ribs, a frown replacing his grin. “’Ey, waitaminute! That’s Dash, bro! Don’t you t-talk ‘bout Mac’s fiancée that way!” Chimney didn’t even flinch, flashing a toothy smile. “Awwwww, c’mon, Mel! It’s all in good fun! Horseapples! Hic! ‘Sides, I got mares linin’ up at ma own door! What ‘bout you, eh? Anypony caught your eye? Mebbe… that crazy mare down at Sugarcube Co—“ Caramel smacked him again, his muzzle heating up from more than just liquor. “Dammit, Chute, shuddup will ya?!” While the four continued their banter, Thunderlane approached the front doors of the club. The bouncers at the door simply nodded and stepped aside. “You’re gonna have a great time tonight, buddy,” one said with a smirk. “Oh, I bet.” Thunderlane snickered. The air was thick with the combined scents of sweat, smoke, and liquor. The booming thump of a DJ’s turntable, along with dimmed, glowing lights above, added to the atmosphere. The main room was packed wall-to-wall with grinning customers, mostly stallions. Some sat at the various stages, throwing bits into the tip-buckets as the strippers writhed on the poles, then approached them for some more intimate thank-you’s. Others occupied the free seats and benches, pounding drinks and getting an eyeful of beautiful mares for the price of cover alone. No sign of a redneck stallion sitting at any of the stages. That just left the V.I.P. Rooms. The private rooms. “Of course he would,” Thunderlane muttered with a low growl, shaking his head in disgust. While he stomped his way towards the back of the club, Thunderlane braced himself for the horrifying scene to come. Once he determined which room housed a cheating stallion and a sweaty, filthy dancer, he would move on to finding Rainbow Dash. And when the twain would meet, she would finally be his. Grinning under the club’s glowing-red light, Thunderlane began his search, victory only one door away. ~ Big Macintosh ran his forehooves over his mare’s back and sides, closing his eyes in pure bliss as she straddled his hips, then laid a trail of kisses down his jawline and neck. “D-Dashie… Haah… Are we… R-really—” “Shhh…” As her wings flared open to salute the ceiling, Dash exhaled hotly into her stallion’s ear and pressed her forehooves against his chest. “Shhh… Just relax, big guy… Relax, and get ready for the ride of your life…” This was really happening. Really really. Lowering her eyelids, Dash pulled back to meet Mac’s emerald eyes, smiling down at him before pecking him lightly on the lips. Wearing only the red stockings on all four hooves, she rose up to grind against his hips. The stallion grinned back at her, then tightened his grip around her waist. Strong and steady, he held her close, his free forehoof traveling up to that special spot between her wings. Dash tensed, then sighed when he began stroking her there, making her wings spread further, stiff and wide. “M-Mac… Haah… N-no f-fair…” “Ah can be a t-tease t-t-too,” Mac slurred, running his forehoof along the primary feathers of her wings. Dash panted in response, her tongue lolling out of her mouth. A part of him was beyond shocked that this was happening right here, right now, with only a door separating them from an entire club full of ponies. Though he would have normally wanted to save this until they were back at hearth and home, right now, Big Macintosh had no intention of stopping. And, despite her earlier statement to the contrary, it looked like Rainbow Dash didn’t either. Perhaps it was the liquor rolling through his veins. Perhaps it was the sight of his fiancée in stockings and panties. Perhaps it was the entirety of the night itself, and his impending wedding, that made him so bold, so brash, so raw. Equestria shrank down to just this bench in the V.I.P Room of the Naughty Rabbit Gentleman’s Club, to just this moment of intimacy between he and Rainbow Dash, the love of his life, his mare, his soon-to-be wife. When Big Macintosh leaned over, nibbling playfully at Dash’s wingtips, he was rewarded with a high-pitched shriek of delight. Laughing, he moved over to her other wing and granted it the same honor, teasing her with light nips. “Y-yer so cute when ya do that…” he murmured. “W-well… I know what gets you going, too...” A deep blush spread across her cheeks as she began to return the favor. She kissed his nape and the base of his erect ear while her forehoof trailed lower down his chest, past the thick tufts of fur on his barrel, then past his stomach, and then— Behind them, Big Macintosh heard the sound of a door ramming open, its lock failing. Dash gasped and pulled her forehooves up from him, while he thrust his own pair down to cover himself. Her wings flared in shock, Dash looked past his shoulder, wide-eyed, jaw agape. “Thunderlane?! What the buck?!” At the word Thunderlane, Mac felt a rush of adrenaline flow through his sluggish veins. Somehow, even in his drunken haze and the relative cleanliness of the club, he could smell a rat. As he stood tall, crossing his hindhooves to hide his dissipating arousal, Big Macintosh caught eyes with Thunderlane. Thunderlane seemed to cower in his gaze, looking away. This only served to confirm Mac’s growing anger and suspicion, making him step forward. Thunderlane stood in the doorway, his wings flared to full height and his cheeks tinged with pink. Rainbow Dash slipped on her panties and stood next to her stallion, her muzzle contorting and twisting into a myriad of emotions that ended in unmistakable rage. Thunderlane raised both forehooves and started to back away. “S-s-sorry, Dash! I’m so s-sorry!” “Sorry?! What the hay are you doing, Thunderlane?!” Mac could practically taste the white-hot fury oozing from his fiancee’s words, could practically feel the fierceness of her stare. Her magenta eyes fumed, flames roaring up in her irises as she stomped towards the distraught stallion. If there was one thing Big Macintosh knew, it was not to make Dash angry. Ever. Mac stomped along with Dash towards him, an anger of his own rising to tempo in his chest as they forced Thunderlane back into the main floor of the club. As soon as the couple emerged from the V.I.P Room, the DJ pulled the needle from her turntable, stopping the music with an ear-splitting scratch. The mares on the poles ceased their rhythms, all eyes within turning to the center of the club, where Big Macintosh and Rainbow Dash had backed Thunderlane against the main stage. From the corner of his eye, Mac saw Caramel, Chimney Chute, Bulk Biceps, and Time Turner stumble back in through the front doors, along with the bouncers. He didn’t glance too long their way, his narrowed eyes reverting back to Thunderlane. “I-I-I can explain!” Thunderlane assured her, his forehooves still raised in surrender. Sweat trickled down his forehead as his eyes darted around the club. “You’d better start,” Dash said with a growl, forcing her stiff wings to clamp at her sides. “Eeyup,” Mac agreed, pawing a forehoof at the floor. The stallion lowered his head and glared daggers at Thunderlane. In a moment of lucidity, he hoped for his sake that his explanation was good. “’Eyyy, it’s Thunderlane,” Chimney Chute said with a chuckle, joining the circle. The other three stood beside him as Chimney looked over. “An’ Dash an’ Mac! Hic!” He raised his half-full bottle of beer. “You two have some fuuuun, huh?” Caramel smacked him a third time. “Dude!” “What’s goin’ on?” Time Turner asked, leaning against Bulk Biceps for support. Dash pointed at Thunderlane. “He burst into our V.I.P. room and inter—interr—“ She paused, blushing furiously. “He, um— Well, it doesn’t matter what he interrupted!” she exclaimed, throwing her forehooves into the air. Dash pointed at him again, looking over towards her stallion. “Thunderlane went crazy when he found out you and I were getting married, Mac! Sayin’ all this crap about how it should be him, not you! He—he even had the guts to call you a dim hayseed!” The entire club shared a collective gasp. Big Macintosh drilled holes into Thunderlane’s eyes with his own, his stare so intense that it may as well have been Celestia’s sun bearing down upon the jealous stallion. Dash continued, “And then he showed up at Sweet Apple Acres and dragged me over here, made it sound like you were out… I dunno! It was like he was trying to get me to doubt you! Isn’t that right, Thunderlane?!” Thunderlane stood frozen, the sweat dripping down his forehead and neck now landing in little plops of puddles on the floorboards. “So ya want ma fiancee, is that it?!” Big Macintosh snarled at Thunderlane, stomping the floor again. His lumbering form raised to its full height, staring down at the smaller stallion with an unflinching glare. “This whole bachelor party thing was all Thunderlane’s idea!” Caramel exclaimed with a growl, pointing over at him. “It WAS!” Bulk Biceps chimed in, almost toppling Time Turner over. The stallion snorted, the veins in his neck beginning to pop to the surface. Dash glared at Thunderlane and pawed a forehoof of her own at the floor. “So it was your idea to have a bachelor party all along? And you tried to make it sound like it was a bad thing! Are you freakin’ serious, dude?!” Glistening with sweat in the low lights of the club, Thunderlane swallowed hard, then lowered himself to all four hooves. Instead of cowering, he took a bold step towards Big Macintosh and narrowed his eyes. “Yes, Dash, I did! And you know what? I should be the one marrying you, not him!” Thunderlane pointed at Mac, his forehoof trembling. “You can do so much better than this oaf! I heard he was with some whore in here, and that’s why I—“ Dash deadpanned, “That whore was me.” Thunderlane’s eyes slowly widened in terrible realization, his forehoof frozen in place. Rainbow Dash, red as the stallion beside her from snout to tail, quaked with rage. The air was palpable with her anger, the atmosphere becoming as hot as the blood boiling in her veins. Ponyville became the Badlands in a matter of seconds, scorching and silent. Big Macintosh, his heart pumping erratic fury throughout his tensed muscles, snorted steam through his nostrils, the veins in his own neck emerging from the strain of suppressing his wrath. Like a bull ready to charge, he pawed at the floorboards again, his forehoof digging deep indentations into the wood. All his prior shame was forgotten, that energy transmitted to nothing but the purest rage. Nopony called Dash a whore. Nopony. Like a bull before a foalish, unprepared, matador, Big Macintosh saw red, and rushed at him with all his might. Suddenly, four sets of hooves were around his barrel and neck, pulling Mac back from the shell-shocked stallion just in time. “Whoa! Whoa! Easy, buddy!” Caramel shouted, yanking on Mac’s thick collar. “Not worth gettin’ thrown in jail! Hic!” “Calm down, Mac!” Time Turner struggled to hold the stallion back. Even Bulk Biceps was straining, his tiny wings flapping furiously to hold him in place. Ears flattened, Mac exhaled a cloud of steam and stared straight into Thunderlane. “You. Take. That. Back!” Dash draped a wing over her fiancé and turned to Thunderlane, gritting her teeth. “Thunderlane, if you know what’s good for you, get. Out. “Now.” The two bouncers approached Thunderlane, along with a few others from the bachelor party’s entourage. He was now surrounded on both sides, nopony rushing to his aid, or even speaking in agreement. A few moments passed in thick anticipation, the four stallions still struggling to hold Big Macintosh still, before Thunderlane finally reacted. With a droop of his wings and a crestfallen countenance, Thunderlane slowly nodded to Dash, then turned around, facing away from her. The sea of club-goers parted for the ashamed stallion as he trotted past, his head hanging low. The bouncers warily returned to the door and held it open for him. Before Thunderlane could finally make his exit, Mac roared and, with a burst of strength, broke free of the four holding him. Dash pulled her wing back, making no motion to stop him this time. Big Macintosh grabbed Thunderlane by the shoulders with both forehooves, held him above his head, and, without so much as a warning, tossed him out of the club like a ragdoll. Thunderlane skidded across the ground, caking his coat in dirt and grime. ”Oof!” Above, the weather-pegasi gathered enough clouds for the evening’s rain and kicked them loose, sending rain hurling down to the thirsty ground. The dirt churned to mud on his coat. Thunderlane groaned as he laid on the ground for a few painful moments. Then, retaining the last shred of his dignity, he weakly rose to his hooves. Looking over his shoulder, he shot a glare at Big Macintosh, then spat into the mud. Mac leaned against the doorway with a smirk, unfazed and unflinching. “That’s right! Git! Don’t be showin’ yer face ‘round our weddin’, ya hear? Next time, Ah won’t go so easy!” Thunderlane spat on the ground again and snorted. Then, without a parting word, he slinked away into the rainy night, shaking mud from his feathers and coat. Both bouncers offered Big Macintosh a hoof, which he eagerly bumped. “Way to show him, buddy.” “Great aim.” “Eeyup!" Rainbow Dash met Mac in the doorway. Caramel, Bulk Biceps, Chimney Chute, Time Turner, and the rest of the bachelor party followed behind her. She looked over to see Thunderlane limping away, coated in mud and defeat. Despite her previous sympathies towards Thunderlane, Dash couldn’t help but smirk at the sight of karma finally catching up to him. “Looks like he won’t be bothering us anymore, huh?” she said with a laugh, wrapping a wing around Mac. Mac grinned and kissed her cheek. “Eenope.” Dash leaned a forehoof on his chest and kissed his snout. “That’s my stallion,” she said with a giggle, prompting a hint of darker crimson on his cheeks. As Big Macintosh and Rainbow Dash trotted back into the club, the bachelor’s entourage raised their glasses and shouted in triumph: ”Way to go, Mac!” “You showed him!” “That’s our Mac!” “YEEEEEEAH! KICKED HIS FLANK!” Once the commotion settled down, the ongoing party resumed in full swing. Loud, bass music filled the club once more. The strippers began their dances, swirling and twirling around their poles for the satisfying clink of bits. Cider, beer, and whiskey were passed around, the waitresses trotting from bench to bench. And, last but not least, the stallion of the night took his seat on one of the benches, grinning like the cat who had finally caught the mouse. Rainbow Dash crawled up and sat beside him, grinning just as wide as she curled up in his forehooves. Caramel sat down on Mac’s other side, offering him a fresh bottle of cider. “Sorry ‘bout all that, Mac. If we woulda known Thunderlane was up ta no good wit’ this, we woulda stopped ‘im. Right, fellas?” The other stallions grunted their agreement, brows furrowing and jaws clenching at the mere mention of him. Rainbow Dash accepted a bottle of beer from Time Turner, twisted the cap off with her teeth, and took a long drink. After wiping her muzzle, she said dismissively, “Aw, that’s alright, Caramel. Forget it. He’s gone, and I’ll make sure he won't be coming back. Might have to assign him to work at the Rainbow Factory for a while, but, either way, I’ll make sure he’s far from me.” “Better be.” Mac tipped his bottle back, shaking his head. If Thunderlane showed his muzzle at the wedding, Mac had half a mind to make him a gelding, especially if he ever called Dash that filthy word again. Dash grinned and traced circles on his chest with a forehoof. “It was pretty sexy seeing you throw him out like that, not gonna lie." While his friends snickered at his blush, Mac rubbed the back of his neck. “Aww, shucks. Well, Ah wasn’t gonna let nopony talk ta ma mare that way.” Dash’s tail swished across his hindhooves. “I know. It was awesome!” “Not as awesome as you,” Mac said with a slur, making them both chuckle. Caramel laughed and shakily stood up from the bench, raising his bottle of cider high. “’Ey! ‘Ey, everypony! S’time fo’ a toast! A toast, fellas!” At his summons, the entourage assembled again, surrounding the happy couple. Caramel signaled for the others to raise their drinks. While the group raised their glasses and bottles, Caramel looked over to his best friend, grinning wildly. “To Mac an’ Dash, the most flank-kickin’ couple this side o’ Equestria!” Big Macintosh and Rainbow Dash raised their bottles high to meet Caramel’s, huge grins spreading across their muzzles. The others leaned in and shouted in unison, “TO MAC AND DASH!” All glasses clinked together, then were knocked back, a toast to two of Equestria’s finest. Wiping the foam from her lips, Rainbow smirked over at her stallion. “Heh heh, Thunderlane may have interrupted some of our fun—“ Mac blushed briefly—“but that doesn’t mean the party’s over yet!” Mac hiccupped. “Oh y-yeah? What ya mean?” Spotting a mare serving drinks to the patrons, Dash waved her over. “How about a drinking contest?” She tickled his chin with a wing, then folded it back to her side. “Or are you too chicken?” she taunted, flapping both her wings and clucking in mock challenge. After grabbing another bottle of cider from the waitress, Big Macintosh smirked back at his mare. “Yer—hic!—on! In fact…” Mac snatched an additional bottle from the waitress’s tray. “Let’s up the ante! Two bottles a round! First one ta quit or pass out loses!” Dash tilted her head. “Two bottles a round! You sure about that, big guy?” “Eeyup!” Mac declared, flashing her a confident grin. Dash chuckled and took a second bottle. “Alright, but don’t say I didn’t warn ya!” To the hoots and hollers of Mac’s friends, the two clinked their bottles, threw their heads back, and began to chug the first of many drinks to follow… ~ “Ugggghhhh...” The bag of ice did little to soothe the ache in Big Macintosh’s head. It felt as if a thousand angry hammers were knocking at his skull, showing no sign of relenting. The intensity and duration of the pounding sensation reminded him of the last Apple Family Reunion, when he and his relatives had built and raised a new barn in a matter of hours. The nails had been treated with more care than this torment. The squeezing of measuring tape around his barrel only amplified his accompanying nausea, making him cough in protest. While he hadn’t been able to choke back more than a few bites of oats this morning, this seemed like a very bad idea in retrospect. Despite his obvious discomfort, the mare responsible for compressing his torso only clicked her tongue in reply to his groans. A shaking of her head accompanied her dismissal, making him roll his eyes. “Please hold still, Macintosh Apple,” Rarity chided, levitating the tape back up to read her latest measurement. “If you keep squirming, this will take even longer, I assure you.” Mac sighed. “Yes, Miss Rarity,” the hungover stallion muttered. While Rarity had been kind enough to offer him a bag of ice for his headache, if she kept squeezing him with that tape, he would need a bucket next. Hay, maybe even two, if his roiling stomach was any indicator. Seated on a couch across from the Boutique’s stage, Dash only laughed at her fiance’s predicament. “Told ya two bottles a round was a bad idea,” she said with a grin, crossing her forehooves across her chest. Mac snorted. “Ya shoulda told me ta stop after that fifth bottle o’ cider…” Dash laughed again. “And miss out on that little speech of yours, Mister Poetic?” Mac pressed the ice against his forehead, struggling to hold still. “Speech? What are ya talkin’ ‘bout, Dash?” Fluttering her eyelashes, Dash brought a forehoof to her lips. “Oh, you don’t remember? That’s good. I was hoping you wouldn’t remember! Can’t say the same about Caramel and the others, though…” Mac groaned again. Great, just great. “Liquid courage” was an understatement; alcohol brought out a bolder stallion in him… one that didn’t seem to mind getting him into trouble. Not only had he gotten… frisky with Dash in the V.I.P. Room and thrown Thunderlane out by the scruff of his scheming little neck, he had apparently gone and spilled his romantic guts in front of everypony. If Dash’s continued giggles were any indicator, his “speech” had probably been incredibly sappy. Like his mare, Mac preferred to save those sort of private exchanges for… private time. Of course, there was nothing he could do about it now; he would just have to endure the jokes that were sure to come. For right now, he focused on enduring his hangover while Rarity continued to take his measurements. His father’s suit was draped over a ponyquin nearby, ready to be altered. If his stomach decided to betray him, he would aim the furthest away from that garment as possible. Rarity hummed while she worked, measuring the width of the stallion’s neck. “Don’t you worry now, Macintosh. Just a few more measurements, darling, and then I’ll start altering your father’s suit. Then I’ll have you try it on and make sure everything fits correctly. Sound good?” “Thank ya kindly, Miss Rarity,” Mac replied with a pained smile. The hammering in his head returned with a vengeance, making him wince. “May Ah please have some more ice, ma’am?” Rarity smiled. “But of course! Give me just a moment.” While Rarity whisked away the bag of half-melted ice in her aura and headed to the kitchen to refill it, Mac gave his fiancée a cheeky grin. “Ya know, pretty soon it’ll be you havin’ ta git all measured, an’ then Ah can laugh at you.” “At least I won’t have a massive hangover when I do,” Dash countered, sticking her tongue out at him. “That wasn’t the only thing ya said was mass—“ “Baaaaack!” Rarity announced in a sing-song voice. She levitated the bag of ice over to Mac, who accepted it eagerly, pressing it against his head. Once he was settled, she grabbed the measuring tape again. “There. Does that feel better?” Sighing in relief as rivers of ice raced down his fevered forehead, Mac could only nod. While Rarity continued taking her last few measurements, Rainbow Dash stretched out on the couch, tucked a pillow behind her head, and closed her eyes to take a quick nap. Although she had won the drinking contest by a mile, she didn’t have even the hint of a hangover this morning. However, a few refreshing winks wouldn’t hurt anypony, especially on a day like this. The couple had a busy day ahead of them. Once Rarity finished altering Mac’s suit, they would be heading to Sugar Cube Corner to choose a wedding cake. Knowing Pinkie, there would probably be at least a dozen cakes to taste-test, if not more. With her fiancé currently slugging his way through a hangover, that left the task solely to her. Dash licked her lips in anticipation, nearly drooling at the thought of carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, Germane chocolate cake, red velvet cake, lemon cake, vanilla cake with raspberry filling... The bell above the Boutique’s door rang, snapping Dash’s eyes open and yanking her from her sugary daydreams. When she saw the culprit, she smiled and sat up on the couch. “Oh, hey, Fluttershy! How’s it goin’?” Dash asked. Fluttershy looked around the shop, briefly meeting Mac’s gaze. She took a step back, her mane falling in front of her eyes. From this angle, Dash swore she saw the mare blush when her eyes met the stallion’s. After a moment, Fluttershy finally met Dash's gaze and answered her. “Oh… H-hello, Rainbow Dash. H-hello, B-Big Mac,” Fluttershy said quietly. She did not look the stallion’s way when she greeted him, instead trotting over to the couch and sitting down beside Rainbow Dash. Rarity smiled over at her visitor and nodded. “Good morning, Fluttershy. How are you, dear?” Fluttershy paused before saying, “I’m f-fine. Thank you, Rarity.” Mac smiled. “Mornin’, Miss Fluttershy.” Fluttershy just nodded in response to him, hiding behind her mane again, making Dash raise an eyebrow. Before Dash could comment on this odd behavior, Rarity looked between the two pegasi on the couch. “This is going to take a little while, Rainbow Dash, especially with poor Macintosh being a bit under the weather this morning. Isn’t that right, dear?” Rarity asked asked him. “Eey-urp...” Mac mumbled. Dash smirked, crossing her forehooves victoriously. “Never gonna take me on a drinking contest again, are you?” “Ee-nope.” Rarity rolled her eyes. “Anyway, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, perhaps you should give me about an hour or so? Macintosh’s suit will be ready by the time you get back, and then we can do your measurements, Dash.” Dash facehoofed. “Today?! I thought you said you would be doing that tomorrow!” “Might as well get it all taken care of today so I can start on the decorations. Besides, it’s a lovely morning. Surely you’d rather go for a nice walk, Rainbow Dash?” As Rarity spoke, Dash noticed her eyes darting back to Fluttershy. She subtly seemed to nudge her muzzle towards the Boutique’s front door. Confused, Dash looked over to Fluttershy, who had remained silent since she had sat down beside her. Fluttershy said at last, “Yes, Rarity, you’re right. That sounds wonderful.” She turned to Rainbow Dash, a light blush on her muzzle. “D-Dash, would you like to stop by my cottage? I… I have something to show you.” Rainbow Dash looked over at Big Macintosh, who was slowly turning a unique shade of green. “Go on, Dash,” he muttered, clearly fighting the urge to paint the floor with a unique palette of oats and stomach acid. “Ah’ll be here. Heh, heh.” Dash looked between the three, two of whom seemed to be communicating telepathically to each other, before finally shrugging. “Um… Alright.” After rising to her hooves, Rainbow Dash walked over and planted a gentle kiss on Big Macintosh’s muzzle. “I’ll be back in an hour, okay? Drink some water or something. You look like you’re gonna be sick.” “Ah’m f-fine,” Mac insisted, returning the kiss with a soft one on her lips. “Y’all have fun. Bye, Miss Fluttershy.” “B-bye,” Fluttershy replied meekly, joining Dash’s side. She turned around, craning her neck to look at her friend. “C-c’mon, Dash.” While Fluttershy trotted out the door and into the morning mist, Dash looked over her shoulder at Rarity, shooting her one last inquisitive look. Rarity merely nodded in response, then squeezed her measuring tape tight across Mac’s foreleg, making his eyes bulge. Ready to get this... whatever it was… over with, Rainbow Dash started for the door, then headed after Fluttershy. ~ When they reached Fluttershy’s cottage on the outskirts of Ponyville, Rainbow Dash was not prepared for what she saw. Though she had expected that Fluttershy might gather a few songbirds to perform the traditional Equestrian wedding march, or perhaps something a little more light-hearted for the reception, she was not expecting an entire flock of them. Perched in every branch of a tall oak tree near the cottage were finches, sparrows, robins, jays, chickadees, and many more birds of every feather and color, some of which Rainbow Dash had never seen before. The flock of feathered friends looked down at the two pegasi as they approached the tree—cautiously, quietly, as Fluttershy had requested, as to avoid startling them. Nevertheless, Dash couldn’t help but whistle, never having seen these many birds in one place, short of their yearly migration. “Wow, Flutters. All of these birds are gonna sing for me and Mac at the wedding?” Fluttershy nodded. “Well, of course.” She turned to her, smiling, that same tint of pink on her cheeks. “It’s the least I could do for my best friend.” After pausing, she looked back up at the tree again. Dash noted the odd tone in Fluttershy’s voice, but chose not to comment on it. Fluttershy gave her a warm smile. “I hope you like it, Dash.” Fluttershy whistled to the birds. Raising her forehoof like a conductor in Nature’s grand orchestra, she said quietly, “Okay, my friends, just as we practiced. A one, a two, and a…” As her forehoof came down on the unsaid three, the birds began a steady but rising crescendo of chirps and trills, some rising high, some falling low. The melody seemed to follow Fluttershy’s forehoof, which danced up and down on an unseen sheet of music, directing each note of the birdsong. Dash looked up in awe, both hearing and seeing each bird sing his or her note on cue and in tempo. It was the most beautiful music she had ever heard. In spite of herself and her own prerequisites against crying in public, she felt a single foalish tear form at the corner of her eye from the majesty of it all. All Dash’s previous suspicions fell away into the wind, replaced by the final notes of Fluttershy's masterpiece—her gift to the couple for their wedding day. And there was nothing more Dash could have asked for. The final notes of the song’s crescendo faded away, leaving a rising warmth in Rainbow Dash’s chest. She looked over to see Fluttershy, her forehoof falling down to the grass as the song came to an end, a tear in her own eye. “Flutters…” Dash sniffled the tear away, then laid a forehoof on her friend’s shoulder. “That was beautiful. You… You did this for Mac and me?” Fluttershy sniffled in turn, then turned to face her fully, looking up into her eyes. “Y-yes, Dash, I did. I… I’m glad you liked it.” The birds perched in the oak tree began to spread their wings, alighting and hovering, then taking off into the air. Dash took a step back, her wings spread in surprise. “Flutters, where did they—” “Dash…” Fluttershy took a step forward, gently pushing Dash’s forehoof from her shoulder. Her voice sounded stronger now, almost… bold. “There’s… there’s something I need to tell you.” Dash looked down and met the smaller mare’s eyes. A lump rose up in her throat, pulling the last remnants of her suspicion to the surface. So she hadn’t brought her here to hear the gift after all… At least, that wasn’t the real reason. “Sure, Flutters.” Dash folded her wings and steeled herself. “Go right ahead.” “Okay…” Sighing, Fluttershy looked down at her hooves. “This is… This is really hard for me to say, s-so… Please… Please don’t be mad…” The lump slid down from her throat into her stomach. Her suspicions confirmed, Dash smiled softly, then lifted Fluttershy’s chin with a forehoof. “It’s okay, Shy,” Dash said as the mare met her eyes. “I… I get it.” Fluttershy blinked. “You… You do?” “Yeah! Of course!” Dash released her grip, a small smirk replacing her smile. “I mean… Don’t get me wrong; I didn’t see what was so great about Mac when I first met him either. But after the Apples ran the Flim-Flam brothers out of town and we started spending more time together, I just…” Dash sighed, almost dreamily. “I just learned what a great stallion he really was… The right one for me… And… And I get if you might have felt the same way. Or feel,” Dash corrected. “But, Flutters, Mac and I are getting married, and—” “Dash, this isn’t about Big Macintosh,” Fluttershy said, that same boldness shining through her voice. This time, it was Dash’s turn to blink in confusion. Tilting her head, she stared at Fluttershy, dumbfounded. “What… What do you—” Fluttershy raised a forehoof. “Please. Please… I… I need to say this.” In Fluttershy’s eyes and voice, Rainbow Dash saw a practiced determination, one that might waver at any moment. Nodding, Rainbow Dash sat on her haunches on the grass, giving her friend her full and undivided attention. “Okay. Sorry. Please… Go ahead.” Fluttershy sat down in turn, then poked a forehoof at the grass. Overhead, a few early morning clouds passed by, obscuring the sun. The silence that settled between them was not borne of the peaceful enjoyment between friends. No, in this, Dash could feel the tension, as palpable as a third heartbeat between them. And then, with a deep breath, Fluttershy sliced it at last. “Dash… I… I’ve felt this way for a while, but…” Looking up, Fluttershy’s wide, blue eyes met Dash’s magenta. “I… I didn’t know what it meant, and I didn’t want to l-lose you… As a friend… As anything… “And… Now that you are getting married… I… I think I should tell you…” Slowly, the pieces began to assemble before Dash’s eyes, making them widen. “Dash… this isn’t about Big Macintosh… I don’t have feelings for him… “I’m… jealous of him.” Silence again. When Dash didn’t reply—only stared at her, wide-eyed and motionless—Fluttershy blushed furiously, a deep scarlet Dash had rarely seen, even from her, and hid behind her mane. “I… I’m sorry… I… I should go…” “Wait!” Rainbow Dash grabbed Fluttershy’s forehoof, still in mid-lift. “Please, Shy…” Wrestling her forehoof from her grip, Fluttershy then stood to all four hooves and avoided Dash’s eyes. “I’m sorry… I… I didn’t mean to…” “Shy… It’s okay…” Fluttershy bit her lip. “Really, it is…” Without a word, Rainbow Dash wrapped her forehooves around Fluttershy’s neck and pulled her into a hug. Without hesitation, Fluttershy wrapped her forehooves around Rainbow Dash’s waist, burying her face in her shoulder. “I’m… I’m so sorry, D-Dash… I…I know you would never f-feel the same, and… I… I just…” “Hey… It’s okay. C’mon.” Dash rubbed her friend’s back. “I know you can’t control how you feel. Nopony can choose who they fall in love with, Shy.” Fluttershy sniffled. “I… I know… But—” “No buts. If this is who you truly are, then I support you, one-hundred-percent.” Fluttershy slowly raised her head, looking up at Dash as tears rolled down her cheeks. “R-really?” Dash wiped her tears with her wingtips. “Really, Shy. You’re my best friend, and you always will be. Nothing could ever change that. Not you liking mares, or stallions, or both. Even if that mare happens to be me.” Fluttershy wiped away the rest of her tears with her own wing, then shook her head. “B-b-but… How… How can you be so accepting? E-especially since I… thought of you like… that…” “Because you’re my best friend. Duh,” Dash said with a chuckle, rustling Shy’s mane playfully with a forehoof. “You’ve been by my side through thick and thin, even when it was hard for you. Like today. Like this gift,” Dash said, gesturing up at the tree, which was beginning to be filled once more with the songbirds. “Even though you had a reason not to be my Mare of Honor, or not do this for me and Mac, you did it anyway. And that, to me, shows that you value our friendship over your own feelings. And what would I be if I shunned you, especially after all that? A jerk, that’s what.” Fluttershy nodded slowly, then asked quietly, “So… You don’t care if I’m… a… f-fillyfooler?” Dash glared at her. “Hey! Don’t refer to yourself using that dirty word. The correct term is ‘lesbian,’ Shy.” Fluttershy blinked. “Oh… O-okay. S-sorry.” “It’s fine,” Dash said with a wave of a forehoof. “And no, I don’t mind. You honestly think nopony on the Weather Team swings that way, or anypony in Ponyville or Cloudsdale? I mean, sure, when I met the first pony who was like that, it weirded me out a bit. But I got over it. It’s not a big deal. Some ponies just love differently, you know? It doesn’t change who you are. You’re still a good pony. “You’re still my best friend, and I’m glad you’re my Mare of Honor.” As they embraced a second time, the rest of the birds returned to their branches on the oak tree, chirping happily as the two friends broke past the only barrier between them. When they pulled away, Fluttershy beamed up at Rainbow Dash, relief visibly washing over her muzzle. “Th-thank you, Dash. You’re a good friend.” Dash nudged her in the side. “So are you, Shy.” They shared a giggle. “So… Anything else you want to tell me?” Dash asked. “Well… Actually… I was wondering if… I could bring somepony to the wedding,” Fluttershy said, a light blush returning to her cheeks. Dash let out a squee of joy. “Ooh, you met somepony already?! Who's the lucky mare? Tell me!” “Well…” Fluttershy pawed a hoof at the grass. “She’s… Not exactly a mare…” “Not a mare?” Dash tapped her chin. “Um… Zecora?” “No…” “Um… Iron Will’s sister? Or cousin? Or something?” “No…” “... Spike have some long-lost female dragon relative?” “Dash,” Fluttershy said, that same boldness returning to her voice, “it’s… Gilda.” Dash stepped back, her eyes widening to the size of twin suns. “GILDA?!” Fluttershy quickly held up a forehoof. “Just! Just let me explain! Please? Please, Dash?” Dash groaned. “All… Alright.” Fluttershy sighed. “Well... Last month, Gilda came to visit me… I… I guess she felt awful about what happened when she was in town a few years ago, and… She wanted to apologize. And she made me swear I told nopony that she had visited…” Dash nodded slowly. “Uh-huh. And…?” “And… We’ve been keeping in touch through letters, and… I… I think I like her, Dash,” Fluttershy admitted, smiling sheepishly. Dash managed a smile. “Well… Considering what she did last time she was here, I can’t say I’m too happy Gilda’s the mare—er, chick? Hen? Ah, whatever, Griffon—that you have your eye on, but if she apologized to you, I guess that’s a little better. And her being gay would explain a few things, after all.” Fluttershy nodded. “Mmhmm. Well… Anyway… Um… The reason I’m asking is because I told her you and Mac were getting married, and… She… She wants to come to the wedding. If… If that’s okay, of course.” Sitting back down on her haunches, Dash mulled it over. Of the two revelations Fluttershy had presented to her this morning, Gilda’s possible appearance at her wedding worried her far more. Hay, Fluttershy could’ve been both gay and polyamorous, and Dash would’ve barely batted an eye. But Gilda? At her wedding? Considering the mess Thunderlane had tried to make of Big Macintosh’s bachelor party, Dash had no doubt that Gilda—bigger, meaner, and definitely louder—could cause no small amount of trouble. Not to mention that their other friends, along with the Apple Family and most of the guests, wouldn’t exactly be too keen on Gilda being there. On the other hoof, this was not only a request from her Mare of Honor, but her best friend in all of Equestria… From the same best friend who had just bared her soul to her. When Dash took into account just exactly how brave it had been for Fluttershy to admit what was probably her deepest secret, she couldn’t exactly dismiss her request so easily. And, on a third hoof, Rainbow Dash realized that if there would ever be a chance for her to bury the hatchet with Gilda, it would be now. What better time for a fresh start on a friendship than her own wedding, her own new horizon? “Dash?” A smile on her muzzle, Rainbow Dash turned back to Fluttershy, then nodded. “Alright…. She can come.” A high-pitched squee filled her ears, startling her. In a flurry of hooves and wings, Fluttershy was hugging her tight again, exclaiming, “Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, Dash!! I promise you won’t regret this! Oh, thank you so very much!” “You’re welcome, Flutters,” Dash replied, hugging her back. I hope you’re right, she thought, otherwise, I’ll join Mac in kicking somepony—er, Griffon—out of our wedding.