"There... There is no way," Rainbow said trying to be brave but failing enormously "That I'm going to let you take over my mind."
"I've got news for you my dear," Nightmare Moon said giving a fanged smile "It's not like you have a choice."
Suddenly the Alicorn's horn lit up as she spread her wings wide for balance, and after summoning up the spell she would need, fired it towards the mare in question, making the rainbow pony in question close her eyes in fright waiting for this to come to her.
But it never did, all that came to her were gasps of shock reaching her ears from the other ponies around her.
Slowly opening her eyes looking around to see what was wrong Rainbow saw it.
"SOARIN!" she cried rushing over to her coltfriend who was lying on the grass in front of her knocked out shivering slightly.
"Soarin no wake up," Rainbow said shaking him getting a bit fiercer as she saw him start to turn white. "Wake up!"
"Rainbow," the voice from before said calmly trying to sooth the mare "It will be alright Rainbow..."
'No' Rainbow thought tears coming out of her eyes, still trying wake Soarin up. 'No it wont...'
"Sure it will you'll see..." it said making Rainbow feel she was being hugged feeling warm inside. "Rainbow believie me it will be fine"
'How can you be so calm about something like this?' Rainbow screamed in her head as she hugged Soarin to restrain him from lashing out and hurting himself, not caring about what the others were doing.
"Pracice," the voice answered "I've been coping with stuff like this ever since she became Nightmare Moon."
As Rainbow Dash was tending to Soarin and listening to this voice in her head, the others were making a wall of protection between her and Nightmare Moon determination on their faces that she will not get by.
"As Princess of the Night I order you ponies to step aside right now," she said eyes running up and down the line.
"Sorry Moony," Scootaloo said standing in between Spectrum and Fire Blitz. "But no one's listening to you anymore. And if you have anything to say about that..." she said smirking getting Nightmare Moon to look around her and to the sky seeing the sun enter the clearing.
"No no no no..." she cried backing up determined to get to the shadows of the trees, only to find her way blocked by a mix of Wonders and Shadows Spitfire, Skye Storm, Applejack, Big Mac and Apple Bloom leading all looking ready to fight if necessary.
"You're not going no where Princess," Applejack said for everypony there.
At last the sun's rays finally touched the Mare of Darkness making her cry out as if it was burning her.
The longer she was in the sun the louder her screams got as more of her burnt away, making ponies cover their ears wincing with the pain the screams were giving them.
Finally after one last scream, all went quiet again as the ponies released their ears and began to cheer that the monster was gone. When Spitfire realized that there were two ponies missing in the cheering and rushed over to the other group to see what was wrong seeing Rainbow and Soarin together.
*
Rainbow was still trying to get a response from Soarin, who had stopped fidgeting but apart from his mane and tail was completely white.
Slowly Soarin opened his eyes everything being fuzzy, but he could see some pony was there, could hear them talking, could feel their tears that rolled from their eyes fall on to his face.
Smiling as he recognized the voice and rainbow hair, Soarin slowly raised his hoof and stroked her face making her gasp along with everyone else to see he was alright.
"Hey Cuz," he said in a tired voice "Why in Equestria you crying?"
"You're alright!" Rainbow cried tears of joy now in her eyes as she hugged him, then punched him in the arm.
"Ow geez what was that for?" he asked waking up a bit more rubbing it.
"For scaring me to death ya Nimbi!" Rainbow replied, the two of them forgetting anyone else was there. "Why would you do something like that anyway?"
"Ponies always do crazy things..." Soarin said smiling "When they're in love."
Not knowing what to reply to that answer Rainbow just blushed and turned away a bit avoiding his eyes, making hers land on everyone else all loving the scene that they just witnessed, both their families coming over to rejoice and congratulate them.
"So it's all over now right?" she asked no one in mind after helping Soarin back up to his hooves.
"Yes my little filly," Spectrum said hugging her "It's all over now."
==*==
8 Months Later
==*==
In the time since the defeat of Nightmare Moon, and the joining of the two Bolts, a lot has happened.
For starters Pinkie Pie threw a Ponyville sized party celebrating those two events that because of all the reasons to celebrate lasted an entire week.
Second, all four parents, Spectrum Dash and Fire Fly, and Fire Blitz and Lightning Strike, after a few arguments with their Bolts and children chose to step down as Captains saying that Rainbow and Soarin had both shown that they both had what it takes to be Captains during this.
Third a new flying team was created the Soaring Dashes, whose only purpose was to entertain the citizens of Equestria.
Fourth after the first few months of this one night after a show in Maris, the most romantic city in the whole of Equestria Soarin proposed to Rainbow Dash, who immediately said yes.
Now here we come in, in the the little old town of Ponyville where the biggest wedding of the year was taking place, being hosted by Twilight Sparkle, being the student of the decedent of Princess Celestia - Prince Solaris.
Soarin, back to normal and wing all better, was up next to her mainly tugging at his collar not believing how hot it was Spitfire next to him as his Best Mare.
"Oh com on cuz," she said never seeing him this nervous before. "You've done shows for the whole populations of every town Equestria has and you're nervous about this?"
"I... I'm no... not nervous..." he said stuttering giving of his 'I-am-so-lying' grin shifting his eyes.
"You sure?" Scootaloo asked from her place Rainbow's side being her Maid of Honor next to Applejack, Apple Bloom, Pinkie pie and Fluttershy who were the Bride's Maids "Because I think we can fill a swimming pool with all the sweat that's coming off of you at the moment."
"I'm hot ok?" Soarin said tugging at his collar again "Can't you girl feel how warm it is?"
"Err... Soarin," Big Mac said up there as well being one of the Groom's Men "It's the middle of Autumn, at night, and we're outside, I think the only one feel the heat is you."
Just as Soarin was about to protest again the music started up and the curtains pulled away to reveal Rainbow Dash in the same dress she wore to her twentieth birthday party, since it was when she and Soarin met.
Slowly a bit to her distaste but new it had to be done, Rainbow walked up the aisle eyes only on Soarin giggling slightly at seeing a blush on his face.
"Welcome everypony," Twilight began once Rainbow Dash was in her place and the music had died down. "We're are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Rainbow Merriam Dashery, and Soarin Skies," she began.
"Never before has it been heard of, of two families so full of hate and anger raging like a never ceasing fire, be doused by two ponies who through all the hatred saw love within each other." then she turned to Soarin and began with the vows.
"Will you Soarin Skies, take this mare to be your lawfully wedded wife? To love her, care for her, for rich or for poor, better or worse, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?" she asked.
"I will," Soarin answered eyes deep within Rainbow's smiling gently.
"And will you Rainbow, take this stallion to be your lawfully wedded husband? To love him, care for him, for rich or for poor, better or worse, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?" she asked.
"I will," Rainbow said eyes locked on Soarin too blushing a bit.
"Then... By the power infested in me, by the power of these rings," she said as she placed chained rings over each ponies necks "I hereby name you. Husband and Wife, you may kiss the... Groom?" she asked shocked as Rainbow was already kissing Soarin smack on the lips shocking everyone, only for them to cheer after a few seconds.
~~*~~
After a few minutes for Pinkie to set everything up for the reception, Soarin and Rainbow Dash had their first dance and man and wife.
"No more masks," Soarin said as they danced to the slow music.
"And no more secrets," Rainbow said smiling "But you mind if..." she asked shifting her eyes to the music stand.
"Not really," he said shrugging "This was drifting me off to sleep anyway."
"HEY PINKIE PLAY THAT NEW SONG VINYL SCRATCH GAVE YOU!" Rainbow called up to the stage getting ponies to look confused and turn to Pinkie as she placed a new record on the machine.
After that and a few cheers and applauds, the newly weds stepped off the dance floor and went to fetch a couple of drinks.
"Never thought you'd be one to listen to stuff like that Rainbow," Soarin said nodding to the bartender retrieving the two mugs of cider.
"What can I say," Rainbow said shrugging "This whole event's changed me. Besides Pinkie got the idea into my head way at the start."
Just then there was a gently "Ahem," of somepony clearing their throat making the two turn to see a white unicorn mare with a bright pink main, a sunflower Cutie Mark, and a kind smile on their face.
"I just came over dears to say congratulations," she said, in a voice Rainbow thought she had heard before but couldn't place, beaming like the sun "It's so beautiful when Romeo's and Juliet's actually get to live past their story don't you think?"
"Err... yes it is," Soarin said unsure who this mare was "And thank you. Care for something to drink or some cake?"
"Oh I'm sorry dear but I must be going," said the mare "I live a bit away you know and if I don't leave now I'll be late for my train."
"Oh well goodbye then," Rainbow said smiling.
"Hope to see you again." and with the mare left disappearing into the crowd.
"Who do you think she was?" Rainbow asked turning back to her cider.
"No one I could remember seeing before," Soarin answered shrugging but had a feeling that he had he just couldn't remember where.
*
A bit away from Ponyville the mare stopped and looked around checking no one was there.
Once she was sure she lit her horn in a golden aura that glowed over her whole body.
When it had died down, that pink mane was now an ever-flowing rainbow like one, and the sunflower was an eight pointed sun, and she now had wings to go with her horn.
"Well done my little Ponies," Celestia said looking back to Ponyville "Now I can finally live happily knowing that you are now safe from harm."
With that Celestia lit her horn again and set off for the world between worlds from where she came from.
The End