//------------------------------// // Epilogue Part 1 - Eleven Years From Now // Story: The World Is Her Oyster // by DraconequusMaximus //------------------------------// White. Everything was white, like a winter wonderland in the summer. There was the sound of bells filling the air, accompanied by the chatter of ponies and assorted other creatures. While every conversation blended together with the others, it was plain to anyone listening that excitement was in the air. Ponyville's Paradise Park wedding chapel was figuratively and literally abuzz for the coming festivities. Despite having access to any chapel in all of Equestria, the happy couple had decided to hold the wedding in the relatively modest building instead. Though rows and rows of seats needed to be added to the outdoor seating area, what with all the changelings, ponies, and members of various other species all gathered there. The one presiding over the ceremony was none other than The Princess of Love herself, Cadence. She had volunteered to hold the ceremony just as soon as the news was out, and the couple had been more than willing to accept. Everyone in the churchyard was silenced when a sudden roar of thunder, (courtesy of Skyla) signaled the beginning of the ceremony. Cadence tapped the microphone, testing it out. Once satisfied, she took a calming breath to be sure she wouldn't mess up. "Good Afternoon everyone. We're all here to celebrate the joyous union of two people we've all been expecting to tie the knot for quite some time. After a long, steady romance, I'm pleased to allow all of you to bear witness to the wedding of Princess Luna of Equestria, and Queen Chrysalis of The Hive of Equestria!" Cadence's amplified voice boomed over the audience. On cue, the band N.L.R. began playing a metal version of the wedding march. As the music started, a squad of thestrals in tuxedos released a number of bats a squad of changelings all used magic in synchronicity to burn away the white decor, revealing the wedding's true colors: black and midnight blue. The final touch was when the day gave way to night, which in turn gave way to an eclipse. Everyone in the audience pulled out their special eclipse-glasses that had been passed out before the ceremony, allowing them to watch the rest of the show without worrying about going blind. After a moment, something emerged from the epicenter of the eclipse. On a silver chariot, pulled by a great, white dragon, Luna and Chrysalis (in armor and spider-web themed dresses respectively) rode in from the light of the eclipse. The dragon landed squarely in the center of the aisle, letting the brides disembark the chariot, right to the podium. Luna and Chrysalis strode elegantly to the podium, allowing everyone to see the beautifully dark dresses Rarity and her new apprentice-lings had come up with. Pearl was attended to by a crew of thestrals and changelings, unhooking her from the chariot while the audience was watching the main event. Once free of the fitted harnesses and straps Pearl ran off to the back of the rows and used her magic to shroud herself in blue-green flames. After a few years of studying the changelings, Pearl had figured out their shape shifting. She could shrink herself down to a manageable size, all without a M.A.C. unit's help. For the occasion, Pearl added a rosy pink blouse, though she still preferred a hoodie. Luckily, even though she had momentarily been part of the show a certain somepony had saved her a seat. A certain pink stallion, wearing a white tux, peppermint-striped bow-tie, and a golden wedding ear-ring of his own. A fairly recent addition. Pearl carefully snaked her way through the other wedding-goers and succeeded in not interrupting anyone's good time. Pearl leaned over to her husband, whispering in his ear. "How was I? Should I have gone bigger? I used my normal size just in case I accidentally swung my tail and decked somebody. It'd suck to have to play doctor after ruining the wedding." Cinnamint rolled his eyes, dismissing Pearl's concerns. "You did fine. Your big, beautiful self was perfect, granted I was too focused on you to pay too much attention to the brides." Cinnamint joked back in a whisper. Pearl giggled, placing an affectionate smooch on Cinnamint's cheek. Even after years of dating and over a year of marriage Cinnamint still blushed furiously whenever receiving public affection from Pearl. Despite the embarrassment, Cinnamint wouldn't change a thing for all the bits in the world. Pearl and Cinnamint sat side by side, hoof in claw. The same could be said of Spike and Macintosh, sitting in the row on the side opposite them. Mac was getting a little grey, which was common of ponies in their late forties. Spike had grown again, and was now half the size of the family barn when not holding himself back via the M.A.C. permanently in his chest. Even still, both Mac and Spike loved one another just as much as they ever had. The ceremony continued as planned, and love was in the air. After The Ceremony It was late into the evening once the after party had died down. The only people still around were the newlyweds, and those closest to them. Spike, Pearl, and Luna were having the most epic drinking contest of all time, while Chrysalis, Cinnamint, and Mac cheered their spouses on as the others watched in fascination at the otherworldly display of drinking ability. Both Pearl and Spike were at their largest, and still having difficulty keeping up with Luna. It shouldn't have been possible, as Twilight had already tried to tell Luna her body should have given out long ago. She was likely more booze than mare at this point. Chrysalis herself was beginning to get worried. "Luna. If you don't stop now you're going to start off our honeymoon in Horseshoe bay with a week-long hangover." Chrysalis cautioned. Luna drained her current mug, letting it drop to the ground before looking over to her wife. "Silly Chrys, hangovers don't happen until morning. Ergo, I decide when morning is, meaning I can theoretically stave off a hangover for as long as my sister be willing." Luna explained in a drunken stupor. Luna then began snoring, having fallen asleep while still on her hooves. Chrysalis had long since learned Luna could sleep off damn near anything, the least of which was alcohol. She merely propped Luna up against her, placing a loving kiss atop her forehead. "I can only hope our first hybrid babies have half their father's endurance, and twice as much sense." Chrysalis prayed aloud. Several already reasonably buzzed members of the group heard and couldn't resist asking, Celestia included among them. The tension bubbled for a bit before coming to a full boil, forcing someone to ask. "How in tar-nation does that work? Aren't ya both mares?" Applejack piped up, beating the others to the punch. Chrysalis blushed, not realizing she had spoken aloud. Alcohol tolerance wasn't something she had in common with Luna, and the drinks from the after party were still with her it seemed. Still, everyone present was family. It couldn't hurt to share. "We had some doctors run some... unconventional tests on Luna and myself. Changelings can theoretically reproduce with ponies instead of asexually. Or at least a queen can. And Luna, this amazing mare-o-mine, well... Let's just say if she turns into a cobra, she'll have venom. Life finally found a way for Luna. We're gonna start trying for foals after the honeymoon. Or during." Chrysalis explained. "Baby corns." Luna muttered in her drunken sleep. "Yes sweet moon, all the baby corns we could ever want." Chrysalis replied, giving Luna an affectionate nuzzle. Spike and Pearl at this point ran out of liquor, and their respective husbands came to their sides, making certain they didn't try and fly about or accidentally crush anyone. Spike was on his back, and Pearl was devouring a literal barrel of pretzels to try and cope with the booze. Spike watched Cinnamint and Pearl, and in his state of inebriation the words just slipped out. "Have you two started thinking about kids yet?" Pearl almost choked on her pretzels, forcing Cinnamint to rear back and buck her in the throat like a tree as an impromptu Heimlich maneuver. "*cough* Thanks Minty." Pearl told Cinnamint gratefully, "Dad, I'm not even finished with medical school yet. And... you know, if we adopt I dunno if I could handle it. We're happy with it being just the two of us, and our awesome family for the time being." Cinnamint nodded his agreement before placing a kiss on the horn of Pearl's nose. "We've got a lot of family now, and if we change our minds down the road we can adopt." Cinnamint concurred. Spike blew a smoke ring into the air, pondering his daughter's words. His eyes fell upon Mac, who's mane wasn't getting any darker in color with time. The grandchildren discussion ended up taking place in their household at least once or twice a week now that Pearl and Cinnamint had their own place. Though to be fair, there was an awful lot already in the works elsewhere in Equestria. Steve and his wife Butterfly had just adopted a foal a couple years back, making Chrysalis a very happy changeling. Butterfly had once been one of the castle nursing staff, having been the first person to talk to Steve when he woke up. Steve became the first changeling to get married to a pony, since Chrysalis and Luna wanted to take things slow, being long-lived and all. Celestia too was pushing for great-grandmother, albeit more subtly. She had taken to dropping in on Pearl and Cinnamint from time to time, just to talk. Spike thought she might be planning something to convince them, being as she was about to have a lot of time to herself soon. Luna and Chrysalis were scheduled to move out of Canterlot Castle not long after their honeymoon, having spent a great deal of time and effort rebuilding the castle in the Everfree. Now it was black stone, and the windows had been tinted green. The whole building was a triumph of pony-changeling cooperation. Spike had even helped teams create a safe path through the Everfree, adding to the efforts to recolonize the area after a thousand years. It would be the changeling capital of Equestria, which had been under development for at least five years. Many people even speculated the true reason Luna and Chrysalis had waited so long to marry was so they'd have room for all the baby changelings Luna would want. Chrysalis and Luna had felt no need to dismiss these rumors. Times were changing, and the family was growing. Come what may, Equestria was in good care. Not even the passage of time could dispel love, or the bonds of friends and family that held the nation together. Spike decided it was Pearl and Cinnamint's decision, and he would be happy for them regardless. He and Mac headed home after Spike managed to get up and shrink himself, and everyone thought it best to call it a night as well. There would likely be some legendary hangovers waiting for them when they woke up, and unfortunately they couldn't miss their appointments. Pearl and Cinnamint headed to there home as soon as the party had fully died down, both knowing full well that everything was going to be alright in the end. Time, and even death itself wouldn't stop them from loving each other.