"they say a relationship requires compatibility," Rarity said to herself as she was looking with a glittering eye and a smiling face to her future wife. "well, I guess they should come and see the two of us."
The couple was on the way to Canterlot with the rest of the group after they got Twilight's letter. The main reason was to help and support their friend in this life changing step. However, nopony knew till now about the great surprise Rarity and Applejack had prepared to reveal when they arrive to the palace. Rarity herself didn't completely believe that she made that step in her life, especially with a mare like Applejack.
She looked outside at the scenery outside of the train's window and sighed. She remembered the moments of this relationship. Rarity thought about these moments a little. They went through the best of times and hardest of times. Applejacks smiling face and words of support were with here every step of the way, especially in the darkest moments. Rarity thought how blessed she truly was to have a mare like Applejack in her life. She know that Applejack is a mare responsible enough to share a life with. But Rarity was truly concerned. When she went through these moments again she found out that she always was the needy one. Rarity was afraid that she wouldn't make the material of a good wife. She was afraid that she would stay the weak and needy side in this relationship. She didn't want that. She wanted to be an equal part of this relationship. More for Applejack's sake than hers
.
The train finished its three hours journey and reached the royal palace. Unsurprisingly the entire palace was fully decorated and each and every pony in the royal staff was working as hard as possible for the glorious wedding. Twilight and Luna weren't waiting for them at the door of the palace. So the girls were lead to the great hall where Celestia was waiting for them as well as Cadence and Shining Armor.
The girls took a short bow in front of the Princess, then they rose to the smiling face of The Goddess of The Sun. They became accustomed with dealing with royalty, especially when Twilight became one herself. Also the princesses considered the mares as friends of the royal family, so most of the known formalities that existed before weren't needed to be performed hence forth.
"Welcome, all of you." Celestia said, "I'm really glad that you are here."
"How can we decline the help of Twilight in her wedding day?" Rarity said.
"But where's Twilight?" Rainbow Dash said. "I don't want to sound cheesy, but I miss that egghead."
"Yes, all of us can't wait to see her." Fluttershy said.
"She's in the royal gardens with Princess Luna." celestia said, "They're, obviously, supervising the preparations of the wedding personally."
"But don't worry girls." Cadence said, "She knows you're here and she will be with you soon enough. She misses you as much as you miss her, maybe even more."
Applejack and Rarity looked at each other sincerely. This was the moment of truth. They're trully nervous, but they have to tell the rest of the girls what they had planned sooner or later. And there was no better occasion than this. They were nervous as they really didn't know how they would react to the news, but they knew for sure that their friends will never object to their happiness. After all, they supported them as well as Twilight and Luna from the beginning.
It didn't take much time for the brides to enter the hall and meet the girls. especially Twilight who was waiting on pins and needles to see her best friends. Luna also wanted to see this group of mares that she considered, not only as her friends, but as her saviors from the depth of darkness she was in.
After the warm welcoming that the princesses gave the mares, they went to the royal gardens once more to discuss the wedding details. Needless to say, a lot of the work was already done. But Twilight wanted her friends and bride's maids to be with her every step of the way. So, a lot of work was still ahead.
"I've really missed you guys, and I'm so happy that you're here." Twilight said to her friends.
"We have missed you greatly as well darling." Rarity said. "How are you faring?"
"I'm quite nervous." Twilight said. "This is supposed to be the greatest night of my life and I'll panic if something wrong happened."
"I can relate to that." Luna said in a joking manner. "I actually have to always be near her to keep here from having one of her episodes."
This joke made the group laugh and made Twilight pout a little. However, she got used to the way the princess of the night jokes so she didn't take it all seriously.
"How can we not come to help our dear friend?" Fluttershy said.
"Yeah, even though I'm not really into all this marriage stuff," Rainbow Dash said. "but I'll make your wedding as awesome as possible, granted."
All this time, Rarity and Applejack were looking at each other. It was like they were trying to telepathically agree on a moment to reveal what surprise they have to their friends. It wasn't easy to choose the right time to do so, as they didn't want it to come as a cheesy joke. So, they agreed that this might be the best chance to say what they have to say. After all, the entire group is here and it would be best to say it before they get to work on the wedding.
"A-actually guys." Applejack said after getting an agreement nod from her fiancé. "This ain't the only reason we are here for."
The rest of the group fixed their eyes on the blonde mare and the fashonista. Then Twilight said. "What do you mean by that?"
"Well," Rarity said. "There is another reason for our presence here. It's actually a little piece of news Applejack and I have for you. Isn't that right, darling?"
"Y-yeah," Applejack said. "And we thought it'd be best if y'all were here so we can share it."
"Come on, tell us already." Pinkie said in an over dramatic way. "The suspense is killing me."
"Alright, but can you please calm down Pinkie." Rarity said. "It's that, Applejack had, ehm, proposed to me."
"Really!" Twilight said with an astonished and gleeful look.
"Yep, that's right." Applejack said
"When did that happen?" Pinkie said.
"The day we got Twilight's letter." Applejack replied.
"I remember that now," Fluttershy said. "You were acting a little strange when you heard about the news."
"Yeah, sorry about that." Applejack said while she was scratching the back of her head. "I was deep in thought about the situation. I actually was a bit taken aback by the news."
"But that doesn't matter now, does it?" Rarity said.
"Of course it doesn't," Twilight said. "What matters is that you're are also engaged now. Oh! I just had the best idea. Why don't we have a double wedding?"
"A double wedding?" Applejack said, rather surprised.
"Well," Rarity said. "It is a very generous offer, Twilight. But it is rather sudden don't you think?"
"I think it's a great idea." Pinkie said. "Two weddings in one. That means twice the fun and twice the joy."
"But what 'bout the preparations?" Applejack said. "We'll need to make more food and stuff, right?"
"Don't worry about this at all." Luna said with her usual smile. "I don't think it would be much of a problem. We will just make some adjustments and it will be fine."
"But what about our roles as bridesmaids?" Rarity said, trying to persuade Twilight of her idea. "This is supposed to be your day. We can't take a part of the spotlight from you."
"It will never be really our day without sharing it with the people we love." Twilight said with a gentle smile.
"Don't try to persuade us off it." Luna said putting a hoof over Rarity's shoulder. "We have made our decision, a double wedding it is."
"Well," Applejack said. "We can't deny a request from two princesses."
Rarity let out a sigh. She thought about it objectively and found nothing wrong with it. "Alright, if it won't bother you. I will do it."
"Alright," Rainbow dash said enthusiastically. "What are we waiting for? Let's get going."
"You're right Rainbow Dash." Luna said. "But you must be tired form the journey. So why don't you go and rest in you rooms and we will start tomorrow morning."
All the girls retreated to their rooms to rest up before the big day tomorrow. Rarity and Applejack were given one of the royal suites as they became two of the brides of the double royal wedding. It was a surprise for both of them. Yes, they agreed to get married, but they never thought it would be so soon. And there's no turning back now after they agreed to the offer of the two princesses.
This led the couple to the continuous thought of the new life ahead of them. They thought about it before, but now they should take it more seriously. The new date of the wedding obliged them to have the big talk about their new life as life partners. But each one wanted the other to start. Also each one was trying to find the right words to begin this conversation with. The more fluent mare and the more concerned one thought it would be better to start one of the most important talks in any relationship.
"So," Rarity started with a quiet and steady tone. "We are here."
"Yep," Applejack said. "We are here."
"It's strange, isn't it? The offer Twilight gave us, to have a double wedding, and become wed at the same time."
"A little. We'd marry sooner or later anyway."
"But it came too soon, don't you think?"
"A little ah guess. Are you scared?"
"No, well yes, just a little."
"Haha, it's okay." Applejack said as she put a hoof on her fiancée's shoulder. "It's a scary change ah know."
"Yes it is. And I'm glad that I'm doing this with you."
"Same here babe, same here."
The two sat in silence enjoying each other's presence for a moment. But that small talk made Rarity's concern peak even more. Even now, she is the needy part and Applejack is supporting her. She knew very well that Applejack doesn't mind in the slightest. However, this made Rarity even more worried. She was afraid that Applejack would get fed up with her over time. Also, she wanted to be an effective part in this relation, she wanted to help. These thoughts filled her head and emotions bottled in her heart so much that she thought she might explode. So she made her mind to address this issue with her partner as they used to with any issue they faced. This was one of the traits that made their relation as healthy as it is.
"AJ," Rarity started, trying to keep her emotions at check not to explode. "Am I a needy mare?"
"Needy?" Applejack said strangely. "Needy how?"
"You know, as in whiny and always wanting and not giving as much as I take."
"Why would say that Rare? You're the element o' generosity. Of course you give more than you take."
"I don't mean materialistic AJ. I mean emotionally. Am I an active part in this relationship?"
"Of course you are. Rare," Applejack said an stared at her love's eyes. "Each one of us has a role in this relationship. You're better at thinkin' and I'm better at doin' things."
"But I always feel like I need your support and always complain about this and that. So, I-I" Rarity couldn't complete her sentence as she started to choke on her sobs.
Applejack took her in her embrace and tying to sooth her by gently stroking the long purple, silk-like hair of the gem in her arms. She knew what Rarity wanted to say. She thought about that exact thought more than once through their relationship. But she reached her resolution a long time ago concerning this issue. And this resolution is exactly what Rarity want to hear right now.
"Rare." Applejack whispered in Rarity's ears as a gentle breeze.
"Y-yes." Rarity said, trying to regain her composure.
"I can't live without you."
"W-what?" Rarity said, astonished.
"Ah said Ah can't live without you Rarity. You've given me a lot more than you think. You gave me hope, laughter, wisdom in the dark times. But the biggest thin' you gave me was yer love."
"Really AJ?" Rarity said with a smile on her face and teary eyes.
"Hey, Ah'm the element of honesty. Ah ain't gonna say this if ah didn't mean it from the bottom of mah heart."
At this Rarity's heart was at the point of saturation with a single emotion. She was floating in the ocean of pure love. These words of the mare in front of her made her feel the amount of love she bares of her, and how much she bare to the apple. She threw herself at Applejack's lips to lock hers in a kiss that she hopes that will do the work of words to convey the amount of love she had for her love.
Applejack was taken aback by the sudden kiss. But she felt a different sensation when she gave in the kiss. She felt the emotion of total love and pure bliss that was radiating from Rarity's tongue and was reaching her. She wanted to stay like this forever and ever. But they had to break the kiss to gasp for air. After that they didn't say a word. They felt that there was nothing more to be said, that just laying in bed embracing each other would say what's in their hearts better than a million love poem. They were meant for each other, and they will keep being together till the bitter end.