A pop signified someone teleporting into the room. Turning, Twilight found none other than Discord standing there.
Before she had a chance to voice her surprise, he spoke. “So, Twilight, what’s the plan for this thing?”
Stunned and wide-eyed, she could only ask, “What?”
His expression turned serious. “What’s the plan for this thing, Twilight?” He waggled his eyebrows. “Or should I say Captain Sparkle?”
“What?” she asked again, taking a step back.
Smirking devilishly, his voice gained volume, “What, a cat got your tongue?”
Twilight blinked, and she was suddenly looking at a lion with Discord’s head. “What?”
He took a look at his paws and answered his own question, “Well, I guess not.” He looked back to find her eyes the size of pinpricks and she’d backed up another half-dozen paces. He turned and looked himself over. “What, do I have something in my mane?”
Twilight blinked again, and he was back to normal.
A tiny Discord knocked on her head, just to the left of her horn. “Equus to Twily, hello? I hope you haven’t forgotten how to speak Equuish in the time I’d been gone!”
She shrieked “What?” and hopped back again, backing into the wall.
The door opened, Celestia walking through the portal. Discord whirled, arms spread wide. “Tia! How are you, darling! I’ve just been trying to speak to dear Twily here, but she seems only to–”
He was instantly grabbed in a yellow aura and brought to Celestia. “Discord! What have you–”
Despite her firm magical grasp, he reached over and shut her mouth. “I have done nothing, Celestia. I merely came to visit and ask how I may be of service for the wedding.” He released her mouth, looking over to see Twilight’s terrified expression.
“Wedding? But we haven–” She smacked a hoof to her head. “–you’re Discord. Of course you’d know.”
He smiled brightly. “Now you’re catching on! It’s like I was asking Twily–”
At the mention of her name, she spoke, “What?”
His smile turned devilish. “What planet you from? I ain’t heard of a planet called What. They speak Equuish on What?”
Celestia immediately saw what he was up to and slapped him. “No. You are not allowed to quote old movies at us.”
Crocodile tears in his eyes, he threw his best puppy-dog stare at Celestia. “Please? Just this once?”
“No.” Setting him down, she moved over to Twilight. “Twi? Honey? Are you alright?” She wrapped a wing around Twilight’s shaking form, pulling the trembling mare tight against her.
Twilight almost literally flung herself at Celestia the moment their coats touched. Her eyes never left Discord, but her shaking stopped considerably. Celestia rested her head on top of Twilight’s whispering and cooing to calm the younger mare down. “Shh. It’s alright love. He’s not bad, remember?”
Discord played along, conjuring a halo over his head. As it descended into proper position, it snagged on his antler, tilting. He swatted at it to knock it free and it slid into place. He exclaimed, “I promise!” like he hadn’t been totally listening in.
He cowered in fake fear until Celestia shot him a dirty look, turning his fake cowering into more convincing half-fake cowering. “What do you really want, Discord?”
The halo vanished. “I’m being serious for once. I actually want to help.” He held his eagle claw up. “Scout’s honor.”
Twilight calmed down some, her eyes no longer pinpricks, but her stance was still tense. Celestia spoke firmly, “We haven’t even started planning yet–”
He launched into the air, startling them both. “You haven’t started yet? Oh no no no, no! That simply will not do!” He snapped his talons and a stack of wedding-planning magazines and books appeared on the table. He pulled up a chair and immediately grabbed a magazine.
“What are you doing here, Discord?” Twilight finally found her voice.
He looked up from the magazine. Slowly and calmly, so as not to startle her, he spoke, “I already explained that, I’m here to help with the wedding.”
“Why?” she asked, leaning out from Celestia’s wing a little.
“Why not?” he shot back.
“Even all the time we’ve known you, the only pony you’ve ever really helped was Fluttershy. After she passed, and the funeral was held, you all but disappeared.” Tears in her eyes, she hiccuped once. “Why now? Why did you come back now?”
He was shaken. “I… how long has it been?”
“Four-hundred and fifty-two years this summer,” Twilight replied, causing Discord to freeze, his eyes widening in shock. “I… we all missed you. After the first century, even Tia had given up hope that you would show up again.” Celestia nodded.
A tear in his own eye, he whispered, “I hadn’t known.” The magazine made its way back to the table. “I’m sorry, Twilight, Celestia. I hadn’t known.”
“What happened? Where did you go?”
“To Elysium,” his reply came like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “I spent some more time with Fluttershy, Pinkie, Dash, Applejack, and even Rarity!” His claw and paw made their way to his face as the realization hit. “I’m sorry! If I had known…” He broke down completely, sobbing uncontrollably.
A pair of hooves made their way around him, guiding his head against her barrel. Discord’s eyes opened and he saw a field of lavender in front of him. He wrapped his arms around her and wept openly. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry…” He felt her tears drip onto him as he cried into her.
One of her hooves worked its way behind his head, holding him comfortingly. Celestia came up next to her and joined, helping console the distraught pair. She wrapped her wings around them, pulling both into her embrace.
After a few minutes, both Twilight and Discord calmed down enough to break away. “Twilight, Celestia. I’m truly, truly–”
A violet glow shut his mouth. “We know, Dis. You’re sorry. We had no way to contact you. Any messages we sent, like from Spike’s dragonfire, were destroyed. It was like you were…”
“Dead, yeah.” He chuckled. “I told you, I was in Elysium.”
“How did you manage that?” Twilight asked, her eyes puffy.
“Spirit of Chaos, remember? There’s a whole bunch of stuff I can do that nopony else can.” He perked up as if remembering something. “They’re all doing wonderfully, by the way. They also miss you, likely as much as you miss them.”
That sent a fresh wave of tears to Twilight’s eyes, but she smiled. “I’m glad to hear that they’re doing good.”
He hugged them both. “I really, truly want to help with the wedding, alright?”
After sharing a look, both ponies nodded. “If you want to help, we’d welcome it.”
“What do you think about these colors?” Discord asked, holding up a light purple color swab with a dark blue one.
“They do match my coat and mane. But they won’t work with Celestia’s colors.” She stepped up next to him, confirming that they did.
“Dear, nothing works with both our colors at the same time.” Celestia pulled a light blue swab out and compared it to the streak in her mane.
“What about black? That goes with everything.”
“We are not having black as a major color at our wedding, Dis.” He started pouting. “We want a wedding, not a funeral.”
The pout faded. “Right.” He looked over the swabs until two colors stood out. A lightbulb appeared over his head, between his horn and antler. “How about these two?”
“Perfect.”
Six months later…
“Ah ah! No peeking!” Discord corralled Celestia, herding her away from Twilight’s room.
“Dis, I already know what her dress is! I helped her design parts of it!” She half-heartedly fought his attempts to get her to leave.
“And? It’s still bad luck for a mare to see her special somepony the day before the ceremony!”
Celestia huffed. “Fine. But you get to help her dress tomorrow. I’ve got Luna helping me.”
“That was my plan, dear.”
A beautiful spring morning sun greeted Celestia as she rose. ‘Thanks, Luna.’ She looked over to the dress on the ponykin in the corner. It, and the ponykin, had to be custom designed for her size. An elegant, white silk made up the dress’ main body, Celestia’s own not-quite perfectly-white coat stood out radiantly with it. Golden laurels spiraled and danced across its surface and down the train. The sides were left mostly open so her wings wouldn’t be restricted, and to help show off her own coat’s color. Her normal golden hoofcovers and peytral were integrated into the ensemble, giving her her two major colors. Instead of her normal tiara, a golden wreathe with her own cutie mark and Twilight’s inlaid sat on top of the ponykin’s head.
After a quick shower and breakfast, Luna showed up. Her sister had aged well since her redemption. They now looked each other in the eye equally, Luna standing as tall as she did now. Gone was the small onyx tiara, signifying that she was the younger sister. Once Luna had rivalled Celestia in height, a new tiara and peytral were forged for her. The remnants of Nightmare Moon’s armor was smelted and forged into a new blue-silver tiara and peytral. The tiara was the same size and shape Celestia had, a trio of diamonds resting in the center. Like Celestia’s peytral, a massive amethyst sat directly in its center, with Luna’s crescent moon cutie mark in studded diamonds around it.
“Sister?” Luna asked nervously.
Celestia looked over into the mirror with one eye as Luna helped apply her makeup. “Yes, Lu?”
“Today’s the big day.” Luna looked nervous. “I hope all goes as planned, Tia.”
She looked out the window. “It will. I couldn’t have asked for a more lovely day to hold it, either.”
Celestia jumped as Luna affixed a small pair of earrings to each ear, one pair of an orange sun with a blue moon inlaid, the other pair of a tiny emerald star.
Twilight woke with a start. She’d not slept well, but made sure to get to bed early to compensate for sleep quality.
She looked over to her own ponykin and wedding dress, both also custom-tailored. Her own dress was a deep, royal purple. Like Celestia’s, the sides were kept open for her wings. Excepting the Element of Magic and her coronation, Twilight never really wore a crown or tiara, so a new one was forged for her for this occasion. A small little thing, like Luna’s old tiara, but in a matching deep purple steel alloy. The trickiest part wasn’t in forging the crown itself, but in forging it at the proper temperature and metal mixture for it to retain its color. A large diamond was inset in it, enchanted to hold the tiara to the wearer’s head, no matter their relative position or how much gravity wanted to say otherwise.
The dress’ barrel was an inspiration from Discord, a design of each of her friends’ cutie marks, Luna’s, Shining’s, and Cadence’s cutie marks surrounding her own and Celestia’s. A green flame represented Spike, and a dark grey eight pointed star signified Discord on each shoulder. Her train was simple, a lighter purple that faded to white as it reached the ground, golden embroidery designed to show her cutie mark with Celestia’s inlaid into the big star.
A knock at the door grabbed her attention. “Wake up, Twiley! Rise and shine!” The door opened and Discord strolled through, a breakfast tray in paw. As he looked at the mare still tangled in her sheets he exclaimed, “Goodness! We’ve got our work cut out for us!”
“I still need a shower, Dis.”
“I should say so, you look like you just rolled out of bed.”
Twilight shot him a flat look before chuckling and shaking her head. “I just did.”
“Then let’s not waste any time!” He grabbed her and took off to the bathroom.
A quick, indignant shower later and she was clean.
She spoke between bites of a bagel, “You didn’t have to help.”
“I did too! You haven’t seen the time, have you?”
Glancing at the clock, she stuffed the rest of her breakfast in her mouth. “Ponyfeathers! I’ve got to get dressed!”
“Twi, that’s why I’m here. Tia sent me to help, just in case.”
“Oh thank Celestia.” Twilight blinked. “Literally, in this case.”
“Just make sure you make it up to her tonight.” He winked.
She blushed and refused to meet his gaze.
The day was perfect. Despite everyone trying to keep it a small, secret affair, word had gotten out about the wedding months before. Anyone who was anyone wanted to attend, the newsponies wanted to cover the event, everyone else wanted to go just to say they’d been there when Twilight Sparkle and Celestia got hitched. In short, the small event turned out to be the event of the decade. Plans had changed, the small ceremony was thrown out in favor of renting out the largest building they could, Canterlot’s aerosports megadome. The owner didn’t even charge, once word got out. ‘The publicity alone would make a fortune,’ was the reason. A stage was erected, reporters and their crews hovering and staged all throughout, ready to start. The Federal Guard was mobilized to provide security, a dozen escort gunships hovered on standby just in case anyone tried anything, and what could only begin to be described as an army stood guard and ready to protect the ceremony.
Luna stood at the stage’s center, next to an altar, her regalia freshly shined and polished. In front of her, bench seating, packed with the Celestia’s crew, was separated by a rich red carpet. Discord wouldn’t budge on the carpet being red for some reason, so it was. The carpets led to a pair of tents meant to house the two most important ponies of the day until it was time for their big reveal. The stadium around them was packed and the crowd’s collective voices was a dull roar in her ears. She eyed the minotaur at the piano off to the side, watching him limber up his fingers.
Discord popped in next to her. “We’re ready.” A few seconds later, Cadance leaned out of a tent, flashing a big smile in Luna’s direction, nodding once.
“Good. Let us get this show on the road!” Luna reared up, kicking her forehooves excitedly. Discord popped back away, a goofy grin on his face.
The traditional marriage music started, the minotaur playing beautifully.
Cadance, matching Twilight’s height - just shorter than Celestia and Luna, emerged from the tent, hoof-in-hoof with Celestia. Cadance’s dress was similar to the one she’d worn during Twilight’s coronation, her mane even done up in the ceremonial Crystal Pony Headdress. Luna noticed Cadance lacked the scar on her left foreleg and right ear, from the fight with the Changelings’ second attempted-kidnapping-turned-attempted-assassination two centuries back and felt for magic with her own. The only magic that Cadance had used was a minor illusion, the scars were still there, just hidden from those not actually looking for them. She walked hoof-in-hoof with Celestia up the aisle, only splitting apart once they reached the altar. She took her place, behind Celestia as her mare of honor.
Spike stood on the other side, with his age he grew immensely, his form magically had to be shrunk so he could easily fit on the stage. All four looked eagerly at the other tent, waiting for Twilight to emerge.
And emerge she did. Discord walking with her, his paw around her left foreleg. Both Twilight and Celestia froze when they saw the other in their dress. Discord leaned down and asked, “Beautiful, isn’t she?”
Twilight nodded, her eyes not leaving Celestia.
“Let’s go get her, then.” A tug on her leg started her walking again.
Celestia, for her part, tried to describe Twilight’s beauty. The Equuish language failed to capture the required description, and was quickly discarded. As Celestia went through each language she’d learned over her life, discarding it like trash, she only stopped when Discord and Twilight reached the altar. When they were standing next to Celestia, Luna signaled the minotaur to finish. Discord handed Twilight over to Celestia, who smiled and wrapped her closest foreleg around hers.
Luna, using a small mic attached to her peytral, spoke through the loudspeakers. “Dear friends, family, and well wishers all: we are gathered here today to witness the union of two ponies, Ex-Princess Celestia Astralis Lightbringer, and Ex-Princess Twilight Andromeda Sparkle. We all know and love them, but not as much as they love each other!”
A loud chuckle rippled through the crowd. Both Twilight and Celestia quirked an eyebrow Luna’s way. She shook her head and covered the mic. “It was a last minute change to the script.”
Rolling their eyes, they both smiled.
Luna uncovered the mic and continued, “In the years they have been together, their love and understanding of each other has grown and matured, and now they have decided to live their lives together.”
“Do each of you have your own vows?” Luna asked, full-well knowing the answer before seeing both ponies nod.
She looked to Twilight first, who cleared her throat. “Celestia, in my long life, I’ve known you for all but the first seven of those years. I aspired to be just like you, one of the greatest mages the world has ever seen, maybe even raise the sun one day. That dream slowly changed after I became your Faithful Student, and again when I became the Princess of Friendship. We went from teacher and student to the best of friends. It changed again when the Princesses were no longer needed. Equestria, nay, Equus as a whole had grown and had to leave its mother’s nest.”
She took a deep breath. “When time took my family, my parents and Shining, I was thrown into a deep depression. You were there to help. When time struck again, taking the other Elements of Harmony one after another, I was devastated. You were there to help me through that time, and many others.” She looked to Cadance, the pink mare winking. “When I needed help, you were the first I went to. When you needed help, you came to me. When we had free time, we spent it with each other, whether the other had free time or, often enough, not.”
A single joyful tear slid down each of her cheeks as she finished, “Celestia, you’ve given me many happy years of life, and I am overjoyed at the prospect of spending even more time by your side.”
Twilight looked to Luna and nodded. Both turned back to Celestia, who hiccuped once.
“Twilight, that was beautiful,” Celestia cooed.
Twilight smiled, the expression lighting up her face like the sun Celestia brought every morning.
“Twilight, ever since I met you that fateful morning, I knew you were special. At first, I thought you were merely just an extraordinarily powerful, if introverted, unicorn, but then I really got to know you. Underneath that introverted exterior was the most intelligent, talented, adorable, and amazing mare, in a dozen other ways I could spend the next hour on, beneath and I love you for that.”
Celestia brought a hoofkerchief to her nose and blew. “When you saved my sister, I was infinitely grateful, of that there was no doubt. I had a tugging in my chest. When you sealed Discord away–” The Draconequus in question rolled his eyes, “–and after helping Cadance and Shining defeat Chrysalis, that feeling grew stronger. When you became a Princess and defeated Tirek, I knew the feeling in my chest. I had fallen for you.”
“When I raise the sun in the morning, from that day on, it was for you first and foremost, and for everyone else second. When you smile, you light up my life brighter than that ball of gas in the sky. When you laugh, not even the most skilled composers or musicians can come up with a more perfect sound. When you cry, I can think of doing nothing else but helping you.”
Celestia bowed, getting down onto her knees. “In short, Twilight, since I’ve known you, you’ve brightened up my life. It’s the least I can do to brighten yours.” After a moment, she returned to her hooves and looked to Luna.
Luna motioned to Cadance and Spike. “Wedding rings are made precious by our wearing them. Your rings say that even in your uniqueness you have chosen to be bound together. Let these rings also be a sign that love has substance as well as soul, a present as well as a past, and that, despite its occasional sorrows, love is a circle of happiness, wonder, and delight. May these rings remind you always of the vows you have taken here today.”
Cadence stepped forward first, floating a cushion with a horn-ring bearing Celestia’s cutie mark. As the ring floated next to Celestia, Twilight knelt and tilted her head forward.
“With this ring, let it be a reminder that I am always by your side, now and forevermore.” The ring slid down Twilight’s horn firmly setting into place near the base.
Cadance stepped back and Spike stepped up. In his claw was a matching cushion, with a ring bearing Twilight’s cutie mark. Unlike the extravagant and, if Celestia’s complaints were any indication, ill-fitted ring she’d been given before, it was simple and properly fitted.
Their positions reversed, Celestia knelt down and presented her horn for Twilight. A shiver ran down Celestia’s spine as Twilight removed the engagement ring, replacing it with the true wedding ring. The engagement ring floated over to Spike’s cushion to be collected later.
“With this ring, I wed thee. With it, I bestow upon thee all the treasures of my mind, my heart, and my life.”
Spike stepped back, smiling broadly.
Luna’s voice rose, “And now, by the power vested in me as Space-President of the entire Equusian Federation, I hereby pronounce you mare and wife. You may now kiss the bride!”
Twilight and Celestia leaned together, sharing a passionate kiss as Luna spoke, “Mares, Gentlecolts, and everyone else! Celestia and Twilight Lightbringer, newlyweds!”
A literal wave of sound slammed into the arena’s center as the crowd went wild. Everyone, be them changeling, even-tempered minotaur, even the arrogant griffins, were caught up in the excitement, the atmosphere rolling and boiling over like an unwatched pot of water.
A camera drone hovered down to them, camera rolling. As the kiss ended, both ponies noticed, and waved happily to it. After a few seconds, the drone pulled back, retreating to a more advantageous wide-shot.
After the crowd settled, all those that were invited moved onto the reception. The various friends and descendents of those whom could call the Elements of Harmony packed the pews.
In the centuries since becoming an alicorn, Twilight had learned to dance properly, and the two greatly enjoyed dancing together. Twilight and Celestia shared the reception’s first dance as a married couple, per tradition. After the first dance, Luna took Celestia’s hoof, pushing her back onto the dance floor as Cadance did the same with Twilight.
They cut the cake, shared their gifts and spent a merry time with their friends and family. As everyone danced, partied, feasted, and drank, the day quickly passed, and it was soon sunset. Only when Luna left to set the sun and raise the moon did the newlyweds retire, stepping into an old, pony-drawn chariot.
Bidding their farewells, Discord himself hitched himself to the chariot and took off. Once in the sky, Discord’s erratic flight path ‘helped’ both ponies slump into each other.
Celestia’s head rested on Twilight’s, a wing intertwined with her wife’s. After loosing a massive yawn, she spoke, “What a perfect day.”
Twilight’s reply was a simple, “Yep.”
“Think, all it took to help us get this far was that crazy Draconequus.“ Celestia chuckled. “Who would’ve thought it?”
“I’m sure you would’ve had just as spectacular a wedding day without me!” Discord’s voice shouted back from the front of the chariot.
Twilight, relishing in Celestia’s warmth, started to doze as her energy waned. “I can’t wait to find a bed.”
Celestia’s smile turned sultry as she kissed Twilight, next to the mare’s horn. “I can’t either.”
Unaware of Celestia’s look, Twilight sighed. “I’m so tired, I could sleep for a few days.”
“Are you sure that’s the first thing that comes to mind, love?” Celestia kissed her way across to her wife’s nose, sensually locking their muzzles for a moment.
“Absolutely.” She cuddled deeper into Celestia’s embrace, her eyes sliding shut.
Undeterred, Celestia pushed on, sliding her right wing across Twilight’s closed one, interlocking some of their feathers. “Are you sure that’s the first thing you want to do? Isn’t there something else that newlyweds do first on their wedding night?”
Twilight groaned, clearly approving of Celestia’s action. Opening her eyes, she shot a sincere look at her wife. “You’re right. A bath sounds lovely first.”
Celestia’s jaw dropped and after a moment Twilight’s mouth trembled. After a few seconds, she snorted before laughing. Pointing at her wife’s face, she yelled, “Got you! Of course we’ll do that. I just want a bath after.”
Sighing softly, Celestia resisted the urge to cuff her wife upside her pretty head. “Thank goodness. I know the anticipation all day has got me wound up.” She lidded her eyes, turning on the charm. “How about we get started in here, first?”
“What about Dis? He’s kind of flying us,” Twilight inquired her ears perking toward the carriage’s front.
Celestia’s lips met hers again, a hoof stroking up and down her foreleg. “What about him? It’s not like he hasn’t seen either of us before. We don’t exactly wear clothing all the time.”
“Nope! Not dignifying that with a response!” was shouted at them. A snap rocked the carriage, throwing Celestia and Twilight into a corner. With the snap another yell sounded, “Mayday, mayday! We’re going down! I repeat, we are going down!”
Their moment interrupted, instinct took over, each pony slamming out of a door into the sky. Once outside, they watched, only half in amusement, as Discord fell with the carriage. He clung to it like a cat to a tree until it hit the ground.
As Twilight and Celestia hovered, debating on seeing him, a sign saying “I’m okay!” floated up to them. Both ponies giggled at the sight, knowing Discord’s antics.
“We’ll just have to fly there, I guess.” Celestia looked about, getting her bearings. With a hoof, she pointed toward the rising moon. “It should be this way, and not too far.”
Nodding, Twilight followed.
“Mmmph. Tia, just like that.” Twilight moaned loudly, fading into a sigh.
“How about when I do…” Celestia’s voice practically purred with desire. “This?”
Twilight screamed in ecstasy, “Right there! Right-there!”
Their door smashed open, Discord tumbling through back first. The smashed door showered splinters over the newlyweds. Twilight looked out from under Celestia, annoyed that the best massage she’d ever had was interrupted.
Luna followed him, her eyes doing their best to melt his head. Snorting once, she bellowed, “DIS-CORD!”
“It wasn’t me! I swear!” He flailed on the splinters for a second before freezing. All three sets of eyes were on him.
“Dis? Luna?” Twilight’s annoyance faded as she noticed the two. “What are you doing here?”
Discord ‘eeped’ as Luna replied, “I caught this one listening in at your door.” She shut her eyes and smiled smugly. Discord curled in on himself and teleported away.
“And pray tell, dear sister, what were you doing here to catch him? You run the federation, after all.” Celestia’s look was nothing short of menacing, her eyes narrowed with a scowl firmly in place.
Luna raised a hoof and scoffed. “Please. I’m just a figurehead. The most I do is sit in my office and be bored on most days. Some days, I even get to sign a document or attend some kind of fancy party!”
Celestia’s voice held no joy as she spoke, “Welcome to my life while you were banished, Luna.” Shaking her head once, she asked, “And that gives you reason to snoop on our honeymoon because?”
“Actually, I’m here once a week. Their masseuses are exceptionally skilled. Why do you think I recommended this place as a honeymoon?”
At that the scowl vanished, replaced with an uneasy smile. “Oh, right.”
Twilight shifted slightly, sliding out from under Celestia. She asked, “Still. Why were you up on our floor?”
Luna’s reply was simply, “Because.”
Both Celestia and Twilight shot her a flat look. Luna smiled devilishly before adding in a deep voice, “I’m not apologizing.” An instant later she teleported away, leaving the room as pristine as it was before she’d entered.
Shaking their heads at Luna’s exit, they laughed for a moment. After calming down, Celestia stared down into Twilight’s eyes. The hunger in them surprised her, but not as much as when Twilight pounced on her.
A moan sounded through their room. “Oh Twilight!” Twilight kissed, nipped, and licked her way down Celestia’s long neck as the atmosphere in the room changed. Gone was the sense of release from the massage. This was an expression of love, in one of its most physical forms.
But that fun is for another story.