//------------------------------// // The Big Day // Story: BPT: Fluttershy & Big Mac's Big Day! // by Wolven5 //------------------------------// Today was the big day. It was too important to mess up, nothing could go wrong! “Everything must be perfect!” Blueblood declared as he gave his friend’s mane a good brushing. “Ow! Blue, not so hard,” Mac complained as he struggled not to fidget. Macintosh and Blueblood were in the farmer pony’s room as the unicorn had volunteered to personally prepare Big Macintosh for today. He’d showered, brushed his teeth, put on deodorant and even some cologne. Now Blueblood as taking on the arduous task of styling Macintosh’s mane, which was normally just let loose and casual. His days working the farm often resulted in his mane being sweaty, maybe some dust and twigs in it on occasion, and no small amount of knots. “Really, Macintosh,” Blueblood sighed as he shook the loose hairs out of the brush, Mac grumbling as he sat in front of the mirror, “I know you’re just a humble farmer, but everypony should take some measure of pride in their appearance.” “Ah don’ need no fancy stylin’ t’ be me,” Macintosh maintained, “jus’ make it look nice enough.” “Nice enough, you say?” Blueblood deadpanned. “Macintosh, when dear Fluttershy sees you awaiting her at the altar, she should see a sight truly stunning! Not ‘nice enough’.” “Ugh, no wonder you an’ Miss Rarity get along so well,” Macintosh grumbled when a knock came at the door. “Come in,” Blueblood invited and in came Soarin, dressed in his tux. “I got Big Mac’s tuxedo here,” Soarin gestured the ensemble he was carrying on his back. “Then bring it in, I say!” Blueblood directed Soarin to lay the tuxedo out on the bed before returning his attention to the groom’s mane. “Just a few finishing touches, and… Voila!” Blueblood stepped back to admire his work while Soarin gave the result a good look before stating his opinion. “Mmm… Here, Mac, try this on.” Soarin hoofed over a smaller and less bulky version of Big Mac’s work collar. Being careful that it wouldn’t mess up his mane, Macintosh slipped it on, and then both his friends smile and nodded. “Excellent call, Soarin,” Blueblood spoke, “he just doesn’t seem right without a work collar on.” “Go on, brony, check yourself out!” Soarin gestured to the mirror and Macintosh gave himself a look. The big red farmer had to admit - Between his styled mane as well as his tail, normally loose and unkempt, and the sleeker work collar - He looked like a new stallion. He couldn’t help looking at his mane from different sides. “Huh. Ah’ve always been told Ah’m a looker but… Blue, Ah gotta say, ya made me look pretty damn good!!” “Heh, if you think you look good now wait till you try on your tux, cowboy,” Soarin lifted the lid off the case holding the tux and Blueblood levitated it out. Meanwhile. outside, Pinkie Pie was with everypony else over at the gazebo as she made sure the decor was perfect, Cheese Sandwich and the Cakes looked over the wedding banquet table, Rarity was checking the bridesmares’ dresses, and Twilight was making sure everything was going as it should, checking things off with her check-list. Applejack and Thunderlane and Midnight made sure the chairs were in their proper places, Rainbow Dash had left to alert all the invited to come in about an hour, and strangely enough Angel, Owlowiscious, and Dreamer were making sure the doves stayed as they were before they were to be released, and Eris was standing by, ready to be the usher. “Everything looks wonderful!” Twilight marveled at the red, yellow, and pink streamers, apple blossom and butterfly decorations, and the matching balloons as well as the flowers the Flower Trio had prepared early on. “So where’s the bride?” Midnight asked, coming over. “Inside with her mother and Granny Smith,” Twilight answered before asking, “Midnight, remind me again when Cadance and Shining Armor arrive?” “They’re due any minute now,” Midnight confirmed. “They even departed via pegasus-drawn chariot instead of a train to save time.” “Excellent, and hopefully they’ll arrive before the guests,” Twilight couldn’t help but squeal, making her Midnight smile warmly at her. “I still can’t believe our Fluttershy’s getting married!” “Yeah, who’da thought she’d be the first out of you all to tie the knot?” Spike chuckled as he walked by, wearing his own little tux and carrying a platter of cold cuts. “Oh! I simply cannot wait for us all to behold her as she walks down the aisle, garbed in her dress,” Rarity swooned with delight as she finished her check-up of the bridesmare dresses.. “Her father beside her, her face obscured by the wedding veil!” “Speaking of, isn’t about time she gets that dress on?” Thunderlane called from above as he surveyed the rows of chairs, and nodded in satisfaction that all were in place. “Goodness, you’re right!” Rarity gasped, “I’ll away to help her with that, so all of you finish up here, and then get into your garments.” “A’ight, Midnight?” Applejack called to her brother, “Let’s go an’ see Big Mac. Ah wan’ th’ Apple Family t’ have a quick word t’gether.” “Sure thing, AJ,” Midnight said before asking Twilight, “You OK for now?” “Go on, things here are well under-” Twilight was interrupted by the sound of somepony yelling ‘oof!’, followed by a loud clatter, and a yelp. All eyes turned to Spike, who had tripped on Cheese Sandwich’s rear hoof, causing them both to drop their platters in a small mess. Twilight flinched but Midnight nudged her with an encouraging smile that smoothed out a little of her edginess. “Well, most things here are well under control.” Midnight chuckled and levitated the platters Spike and Cheese had been carrying onto the banquet table while Cup Cake hooved them some washcloths to clean themselves up. “Keep up the good work, everypony! Be back in a little bit. Rarity?” “Coming!” Rarity answered in a singsongy-tone as she followed Midnight and Applejack back to the farmhouse. Inside the living room, Midnight, Applejack, and Rarity found Granny Smith, Applebloom, Twinken, and Big Mac having some Apple Family cider as they noticed the arrivals. “Big brother!” “Howdy y’all!” “Is tha’ mah pretty granddaughter an’ handsome royal grandson?” “Heh, not as handsome as your big red grandson, what with those nice duds he’s got on,” Midnight couldn’t help but admire the tuxedo his brother was wearing. Big Mac wore a dbl-breasted tuxedo, colored a nice, shiny black, on his head a felt western-esque fedora colored a golden brown with a green apple-shaped accessory on the band, a sleeker and not-so-bulky work collar around his neck, and a red bowtie. “Boy howdy, big brother!” Applejack marveled, “Yer’ lookin’ sharper than a hot knife through apple butter!” “Oh my, Macintosh,” Rarity chuckled with a raised brow, “my Blueblood certainly knew what he was doing!” “Speaking of Blueblood, where’s he and Soarin?” Midnight looked around. “Soarin went t’ tell all th’ Apples t’ come t’ Sweet Apple Acres soon,” Applebloom answered, Twinken adding, “And Blueblood went to meet Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor.” “And th’ bride?” Applejack asked. “She still upstairs?” “Yeah-huh, sweet lil’ Fluttershy an’ her folks ‘re upstairs,” Granny Smith explained. “Her daddy’s makin’ sure th’ big red lump here don’ try an’ sneak a peek.” “Granny!” Big Mac turned even redder. “Ah only wanted t’ see if muh `Shy was okay.” “Ah-ah-ah, Macintosh,” Rarity tsk-tsked, “You know it’s bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony. I’d better get up there and be sure she’s getting the dress on correctly.” As Rarity went upstairs, the Apples regarded each other as what was about to transpire finally fell upon them in this moment of taking a breather. “Ah’m gonna be a husband,” Big Mac was nervous but couldn’t help but smile at the statement. “And we’re gonna get new sister!” Applebloom and Twinken cheered while sharing a happy look. “An’ th’ Apple Fam’ly grows lil more,” Granny Smith smiled warmly and proudly as she looked up at her oldest grandson. “Yer gonna be tha’ nice mare’s beau, but more importantly, yer gonna be her provider, her protector, an’ her lover. You cherish her more than life itself an’ perhaps someday th’ two o’ y’all will make th’ Apple Family grow even more by makin’ new life t’gether.” “And the two of you couldn’t be more perfect for each other,” Midnight added when Applebloom noticed him blinking sharply. “Midnight…” Applebloom gave him a smirk, “Were you almost gonna cry?” “No, it was… liquid pride,” Midnight debated sheepishly, making the family laugh. "Well whatever it is, Ah'm starting to get some muh’self,” Applejack was teary eyed, and her voice was a little hitched, but the happiness she glowed with filled the room. “Big Mac, we are all so dang proud of you. Now come `ere and give your little sister a hug." Seeing her forelegs out in warm invitation, her big brother, tears in his own eyes, wrapped his own massive forelegs around her in a crushing hug, the rest of the family all joining around him in one massive glomp. They were Apples through and through, and today Mac would bringing in one more member of the family. Meanwhile, upstairs, with her father standing guard outside the bedroom door, Fluttershy beheld her visage in the mirror, fully garbed in her wedding dress, her mother and Rarity both sighing happily and proudly. Fluttershy’s dress drew a little inspiration from the dress Rarity made her for the gala. It was a trailing gown, resembling layers of white rose petals, the neckline of the bodice bearing a butterfly design, with hems of spring green and blossom pink, white hoof sandals with ribbon ties wrapping snugly around her fetlocks, her hair was pulled back into a high ponytail with a posey-shaped hairtie, with her hair bound together in a golden ribbon encircling her hair, tied at the end with a butterfly accessory, and resting over her shoulder. Her wings were preened, not a single feather out of place, her make-up was subtle yet showed off her natural demure beauty in just the right way, and set snug behind her ears were white lilies. “Oh! My little baby’s getting married!” Posey cried shrilly as she struggled to hold back the tears. Rarity smiled warmly, watching Posey fuss around her daughter, cuddling her and praising her. She was the happiest mother in the world. With her mane getting squished over her face by Posey's nuzzles, Rarity couldn't make out the expression on Fluttershy's face, but the unicorn knew she was probably over the moon with happiness. “Now Posey, I can see you want to snuggle your little Flutters, but I'll need you to step aside for a moment so I add the finishing touches and put on her veil. After all, for a day this important, she needs to look the very definition of perfect." As Rarity and Posey smiled at each other, they didn't notice the slight shake in Fluttershy's frame at the unicorn's words. "Ooh, Rarity, she is going to be so pretty! Although... I don't see the veil anywhere," Posey gave the room a once over, but the aforementioned veil was missing. This alarmed Rarity for a moment, before a sudden realisation came over her and she calmed down. "Of course. I brought it with me, but Sweetie Belle wanted to show it to Apple Bloom before we set it on Fluttershy’s head. She must still have it downstairs. I'll just hurry down and collect it from her." "Certainly, dear. In fact, I'll come with you. I need a quick glass of water as I suspect that I'm going to get very teary eyed seeing my precious little butterfly walking down the aisle with her father…!” Posey sighed warmly at the thought before adding, “So I should make sure to keep myself hydrated." "You're absolutely right, darling. I should do the same." As the Earth pony and Unicorn turned to exit the room, Rarity briefly spoke back to Fluttershy, "We'll just be a moment, Fluttershy. Take a moment to breath and relax while we're gone, as you likely won't get another chance until after the ceremony now." As her mother and friend stepped out and went down the stairs, Fluttershy finally started to quiver, having held it in but could no longer now that she was lone. Now, the poor pegasus was completely consumed by her own self doubts. Ooh, I don't think I can do this! We're about to get married! All the pressure, all the ponies staring at me, it's too much! With the negatively thoughts swirling around, Fluttershy's tendency to put herself down was even stronger than ever. Maybe I shouldn't do this.... But I need to get somewhere to be alone right now and clear my head and think. I just can't do it here! With Rarity and my mum and the Apples, there's too much pressure. I need an escape. I need an exit. I need… The doubts and insecurities came to a head, as Fluttershy started pacing when she felt the outside breeze tickle her ear and she looked at its source. An open window. Midnight and Twinken stood at the back row of the seats for the ceremony, welcoming the guests and inviting them to take their seats. First came the enormous hoard of Apple relatives, all giving their own happy, hearty, and friendly greetings as they shuffled along on, primarily seating on the groom’s side of the seats. Following closely behind were the Ponyville guests. A lot of the townsfolk had showed up to support the wedding, as well as many of the animals Fluttershy had taken care of over the years. Though they mostly kept to the sidelines and found places more comfortable to watch. There was Zecora, shuffling in with a friendly rhyme as greeting. Miss Cheerilee and a few of the class foals who were close with the Apple family followed after, a notable pink and silver filly missing, along with a blue pegasus colt. There was the happy couple of Mr. & Mrs. Cake and their twins, followed by the motherly Mrs. Chilli Spice from Pepper Pony's. Doctor Time Turner Whooves, his wife, Ditzy Doo and their daughter sweet little Dinky stumbled in cheerfully with warm smiles and heartfelt congratulations to the bride and groom on the faces. Though for some reason, Twinken and Dinky blushed at each other when they made eye-contact before Dinky’s parents scooted her along towards their seats. Cadance trotted by trying to console the already teary-eyed Shining Armor, whom continued to claim it wasn't the wedding making him cry but a severe allergy to the farmland (nopony of course believed him, but they nodded with false sympathy none the less), while Blueblood tried to help without managing to let Shining's tears stain his coat while the unicorn prince directed his cousin to go find Twilight. Even Cranky Doodle Donkey and his marefriend (donkeyfriend? Midnight wasn't sure) Matilda had come to express their congratulations. Midnight and Twinken greeted them all one by one with big smiles and happy hearts, when suddenly three new guests arrived that shocked them. Celestia, Luna, and Sombra approached, warms smiles, with a hint of cheekiness on their faces. "Celestia, Luna, Master Sombra, I'm so glad you could make it. I was a little worried you wouldn't be able to get away from Canterlot." Midnight greeted them all, though he didn't bow to them. After all, he was technically their equal now, and further, they were all his friends, and friends don't need to bow to each other. Still, he did give a respectful nod to his master. "Greetings, Midnight. Do not fear. Canterlot will not collapse without our presence for a few hours. Besides if anypony raises a fuss, we can simply have them directed to our royal advisors. It might stress them out a tad, but they have been required to fill in for us temporarily before, and I know they will be able to do so again for a few hours," Luna gave a smirk before nuzzling the smaller alicorn to his bashfulness. Celestia followed suit before following her sister to their seats, trying to ignore Luna's declaration that she brought the gift and so Celestia would need to bring the next one. Sombra shook hooves with his apprentice, his smile fully heartfelt and a rare warmth in his eyes. "It gladdens me to see you again, Midnight. I fear we haven't been able to speak with each other often enough as of late. Your magical skills are growing evermore impressive, and I very much wish to see them improve further. We must book in some time to meet up in the future." "I would like that very much, master. While you're here, there is somepony I would like you to meet." Midnight looked to Twinken who was sitting politely by his hooves, looking a little unsure of how to address royalty. "This is my little brother Twinken. Twinken, this is my mentor, Prince Sombra." Twinken gave a polite nod, still feeling a little unsure, but Sombra smiled wholeheartedly nonetheless. He even lied down on his belly to better meet Twinken in the eye before addressing him. "Hello Twinken. I must say, it’s nice to finally have a face to your name. Midnight has told a great deal about you, and I am very pleased to meet you." Twinken blushed a little to hear that his big brother had been speaking about him to the Prince, but it also made him feel a little more confident. "It's great to meet you too, Your Highness. Midnight always speaks highly of you too. He said you're very wise and strong. Hey, maybe you can help me! I want Midnight to pony up and marry Twilight, `cause I think she'd be a great big sister, but Midnight just keeps saying that comes later. Can you make him do it soon?" Midnight was looking panicked and very red in the face, but Sombra just laughed. "Twinken, my son, I'm afraid there isn't anything I can do to help there. Everypony, even I, can see that Midnight and Twilight have something very special together. But it is solely up to them, when they wish to take that next step. Until then, you'll just have to be patient." However as Midnight was sighing in relief, Sombra grew a sly look over his face, before leaning close to Twinken and whispering into his ear. "Though I don't think you'll need to wait too long." “Master!” Midnight protested, causing his brother and teacher to both laugh. Then with a wink, the royal stallion returned to his hooves to join his beloved wife, and took his seat beside her. Everything was going amazing well, everypony was having a great day, and soon Mac and Fluttershy would be together forever. Everything was perfect. So when Rarity came sprinting up to Midnight, panic and terror across her features, he immediately knew that things had gone horribly wrong. Up until she said, “Midnight, it’s awful, it’s terrible! Of all the worst things that could happen, this is the. Worst. Possible.... THING!!!” She sighed morosely as she pulled a fainting couch out of nowhere and toppled over it like the drama-queen she was. Sighing with a chuckle, Midnight asked, “What is it, this time, Rares? Somepony forget the napkins? Somepony mess up the flower arrangement?” He stopped laughing when Rarity snapped up and smooshed his cheeks between her hooves, a mad look in her eyes! "Midnight!! Fluttershy... is gone!!!" A large curtain had been set up behind the gazebo for Cadance, Twilight, and the others preparing the ceremony, as Cadance said, “Oh, Twilight, I still can’t thank you enough for getting Fluttershy and Big Macintosh to let me be the one to wed them!” “You can pay me back by being the one to wed them,” Twilight quipped, spurring some laughter between the two sisters in heart. “All right, Macintosh is coming,” Blueblood spoke up, “is everypony ready?” “Bluey, relax,” Cadance giggled, “I’m the one who’s overseeing this ceremony. All you and the others have to do is stand there and look pretty.” “Stallions don’t do ‘pretty’, Princess Cadance,” Soarin spoke up as he showed off his groomstallion tux to Rainbow Dash. “We do sharp!” “Ahem… Indeed,” Blueblood concurred albeit looking a bit flustered. “Now, would somepony get Midnight? We need all the groomstallions and bridesmares back her-” “WHAT?!?!” The friends all startled and peered around the gazebo to see everypony present was looking towards the back. Confused mutterings sounded among the goers but the friends all recognized the voice having been Midnight. What the friends saw however appeared to be Midnight and Rarity having a heated but hushed discussion. Seeing the look of worry on both their faces, Twilight whispered to the others, “Let’s see what’s up. Cadance, stay here.” Noticing their friends’ approach, Midnight and Rarity pulled on forced smiles, Rainbow Dash whisper-yelling, “What’s all the hubbub?! Everypony heard you, Midnight, and now they’re getting antsy.” “Uh…!” Midnight stalled when he waved them through the flowered archway set before the beginning of the aisle. Once they gathered through, Midnight whispered with a nervous chuckle, “We, uh-heheh, appear to have a slight problem with the bride…” “Define ‘slight’,” Thunderlane pressed with a raised brow. “Ooh, ooh! I know the definition of slight!” Pinkie raised her hoof, only for everypony to silence her with a stink eye while Cheese gave her an understanding shrug. “Well…” Rarity drawled, Midnight’s eyes getting shiftier than Applejack’s when she told a lie, “hypothetically speaking, how would you all react if I were to say, have left Fluttershy in her room after helping her into her wedding dress so I could get the veil, and upon returning, I find her gone and the window open?” “Hoo! Boy, good thing she said hypothetically speaking, right guys?” Cheese chuckled in relief except for nopony else was the feeling mutual. *Smack* “Cheese!” Rainbow Dash snapped, having wing-slapped him on the back of his head, “She’s not speaking hypothetically!” “Fl-Fluttershy ran away?!” Twilight was flabbergasted, the others sharing looks and whispers of worry. “Oh I hope she went somewhere clean,” worried Rarity over something completely besides the point. “I spent hours making that dress and repairing it after Sweetie Belle accidentally tore it!” “Look, everypony! We’ve gotta do something and quick!” Soarin spoke up as he gestured towards the wedding-goers. “Everypony’s ready and waiting for this to get started!” “Hmm…” Midnight considered before Flashing to the end of the aisle, all eyes falling upon him. “Fillies and gentlecolts, due to unforeseen circumstances, we must keep you waiting before the ceremony for just a little longer. Until we get started…” *FLASH/FLASH* Pinkie and Cheese found themselves at Midnight’s sides as Midnight pulled a mike out of Pinkie’s hair and announced, “I leave you with the comedic stylings of the Ponies Party that make you hearty, Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich!” As Midnight Flashed away, Pinkie and Cheese gave each other and then the wedding goers an awkward look as an even more awkward silence befell them. They then shared a quick rushed hush before nodding in agreement. Cheese streaked aside, and for some reason, it got noticeably dark even though it was all outside, a show curtain fell behind Pinkie while a spotlight fell upon her, and she pulled a hoe from out of nowhere, using it as though it were a microphone. “Heh-hey, everypony, and welcome to the show! Looks like we got a pretty good crowd tonight!” “Oh so you like it here, Pinks?” All eyes looked to the side to see Cheese Sandwich in front of a microphone and a few musical instruments, wearing a colorful Hay-waiian shirt, his curly mane tied back with the usual curl hanging above his face, and a pair of sunglasses over his eyes. “Oh yeah, definitely! I love coming here to… to… this… town right here!” Pinkie stalled nervously. “That’s great, which town?” “What?” “Which town?” “This one!” “Which is…?” “The… one we’re in right now!” There were a few scattered chuckles among the crowd yet the awkwardness hung in the air thicker than molasses as Pinkie’s eyes got shifty when Cheese asked, “Uh Pinkie?” “Yeah?” “Where are we?” “...You don’t know?” Pinkie asked in a silly way. “I don’t think you know,” Cheese corrected with a smirk. Clearing her throat, Pinkie said, “So I was out with my bull friend the other day, and he worried me about his charging, so y’know what I did? … I cancelled his credit card!” Cheese added the rimshot but instead of the reaction they were hoping for, a bull in the audience moo’d in offense before stomping off. “Eesh! Tough crowd!” Cheese commented, Pinkie muttering, “Tell me about it…” All the while Pinkie and Cheese were dying out there, the others were discussing what to do about Fluttershy’s disappearance over in the front yard of the farmhouse. “OK, so Rares, how long wer’ you an’ Miss Posey gone before ya went back up t’ see Fluttershy?” Applejack asked. “Only a few minutes!” Rarity insisted. “Before we left, we were just discussing how happy we were for her and Macintosh getting together!” “Well, did she say anything?” Rainbow asked. “...No! As a matter of fact, she was quite silent the entire time!” Rarity realized. “But I just thought she was so happy she couldn’t speak!” “It sounds as though she might have gotten cold-hooves,” Thunderlane suggested. “But why?!” Twilight was fretting and pacing. “She’s getting married to the stallion she loves, she has all her family and friends here to support her, this is only the…” Twilight halted, earning everypony’s attention as her eyes widened in realization, “The biggest and possibly most important decision of her life…! Oh my goddess, no wonder she ran off!” “Fluttershy ran off?!” Everypony gasped and looked to see Big Mac standing at the front door of the farmhouse, looking upset. All of a sudden, everypony seemed to develop an interest in their hooves, or the clouds, or just whistled in innocent whimsy. But as Big Mac came closer with a look on his face that showed he was in no mood to be stonewalled, so Rarity talked. “Macintosh, I’m sorry! Fluttershy’s mother and I were with her, making sure she was ready, and… I suppose just didn’t notice how quiet she was, or how worried. We only left her alone for a few minutes so I could get her wedding veil and when I returned, she was gone! I can only assume she flew out the window.” “But… why?” Big Mac looked hurt and on the verge of tears. “Did Ah do somethin’ or… maybe said somethin’ to upset her?” “Macintosh, I’m sure it’s not your fault,” Twilight assured, “I think Fluttershy just got stage-fright, with all the wedding goers who will be watching!” “Yeah, Fluttershy was never one for the spotlight,” Rainbow Dash agreed. “OK, everypony, we gotta hurry and find Fluttershy,” Midnight spoke up, “let's split up and search all her usual haunts.” “Rainbow, Soarin, Thunder, you all search from the sky,” Twilight instructed, “the rest of us will pair off. Applejack, you come with me, Midnight will go with Mac, Rarity, you and Blueblood. If anyone finds Fluttershy, one of us will launch a magic signal skyward or our eyes in the skies will signal with a crack of thunder.” As the friends planned out their search party, Apple Bloom and Twinken watched from nearby, hiding behind the well. “Twinken…?” Twinken looked at Apple Bloom, a guilty sadness on her face, “Did… did we say sumthin’ wrong to Fluttershy? Did we scare her away?” “Well…” Twinken hesitated, “maybe we might have just brought up something that she was already worrying about. But… I dunno. Still, I think we should help find Fluttershy!” “Well then… Where would Fluttershy go?” Apple Bloom wondered, Twinken pondering as well. “Hmm, well, she might have gone somewhere where she’d feel comfortable.” “Yeah, an’ wha’ kind o’ places duz Fluttershy feel comf’table in?” Apple Bloom asked in dawning realization. They smiled at each other as they both said, “A place with nice little animals!” “Y’think she might be somewhere around here?” Apple Bloom guessed. “It is a farm, an’ there are plenty o’ animals here.” “No harm looking,” Twinken shrugged before saying, “C’mon!” The colt and filly checked the hen house first, only to get chased away by the rooster. They tried the pigpen, but both the smell and the mud encouraged them to leave, partly because they didn’t want to get their tux and dress dirty, knowing their siblings as well as Rarity would scold them. They went to the pasture where they kept their flock of sheep but the rams and ewes weren’t any help. In fact, they were actually kinda moody. As they walked away, Twinken grumped, ”I can’t wait for shearing season…” “Ah heard somewhere ya need some kind o’ password t’ get sheep t’ cooperate wit’ ya,” Apple Bloom brought up. “Baa, ewe…? Ugh, Ah can never remember how it goes!” Back at the gazebo, things weren’t exactly going well, as Pinkie and Cheese tried to keep the wedding goers entertained and distracted from the continuously-delayed ceremony. “I gotta tell you, it was kinda muddy getting here, everypony!” Pinkie was sweating nervously. “How muddy was it, Pinks?” Cheese asked from the sidelines. “It was sooo muddy, I had to wear…” Pinkie dramatically pulled out, “My rain boots!” A few minor chuckles responded to the incomplete double-pairs of rainboots Pinkie was holding up, and she gawked a moment when she realized, “Hey! One of them’s missing!” - She made a show of looking around - “Where’d that other one go?!” She tried looking over the attendees, peering behind the gazebo, and even lifting one of the attendees, who said, “Hey!” to look under his rump before putting him back, and then giving the audience an incredulous look, “Y’know, I’m always losing that rainboot!” Her response was the classic sound of a cricket. Chuckling nervously, she muttered to herself, “Everypony, hurry! I’m dying out here!” Returning to the farmhouse, Twinken and Apple Bloom found Midnight and Big Mac speaking to Fluttershy’s parents in the living room. “Sunsplash, Posey, I swear, wer' all doin' our part to find Fluttershy and make sure this day isn’t ruined,” Midnight assured. “Oh, why didn’t I realize?” Posey sniffled, looking low as she held her hooves up to her quivering lips. “My baby was nervous and I was too caught up in… Oh!” “It’s not your fault, honey,” Sunsplash tried to console his wife but his own voice was heavy with worry, as he wrapped his wing around her shoulder. “Our little butterfly… I’m sure she’s just a little scared.” “We’ll find her, Sunsplash,” Macintosh promised, “an’ we’ll sort all this out…” But the big red earth pony’s green eyes glistened with worry and fear for his `Shy as he wondered, Did Ah do sumthin’ wrong…? Twinken and Apple Bloom shared a troubled look and stepped back into the kitchen, Apple Bloom whispering, “We gotta find Fluttershy before this gets worse!” “Yeah, but I wish we had an idea of where she could’ve gone,” Twinken fretted when they heard a light thumping on the door. Twinken’s aura opened it and in hopped a familiar white bunny, looking his usual abrasive self given the way he was glaring at Apple Bloom and Twinken. “Angel?” Twinken said curiously, Apple Bloom asking, “What’re you doin’ here?” Angel pointed at them while tapping his hind leg, chittered angrily, and then pointed out the door. “Ah think he wants us t’ follow `im,” Apple Bloom said to Twinken. “Maybe he knows where Fluttershy is!” Twinken realized in agreement. They nodded affirmatively and followed after Angel out the door, unaware somepony had seen them go. The little unicorn colt and earth pony filly hurried after Angel, as the bunny led them through a grove of trees not far from Fluttershy’s cottage but the canopy and foliage was quite dense. “This’d make a good hiding place for anypony!” Twinken panted as they hurried after Angel. “Uh-huh, th’ trees’re so thick a pegasus pony’d never see anypony hidin’ in here from up high,” Apple Boom agreed. “Wait, whazzat ahead?” The flora ahead dispersed and for a moment the colt and filly were blinded by sunlight before their eyes adjusted and they gasped! Before them was a clearing of natural beauty, with a pretty little pond in the center, lily pads floating, several cattails here and there, a large meadow of flowers with a fallen tree on one side blanketed in soft emerald-green moss, and by the pond was a beautiful weeping willow. But what drew the colt and filly’s attention was the missing bride beneath the willow, looking sadly at her reflection in the pond. “Fluttershy…!” Twinken whispered and was about to call to her when Apple Bloom placed her hoof over his mouth, saying, “Shh! Ah think she’s sayin’ sumthin’. Let’s get closer an’ listen” Twinken nodded and ever so carefully did the two sneak up until they were behind the willow tree and slowly peered around to see Fluttershy. Her dress was amazing and appeared no worse for wear, so she might have flown into this grove to avoid the dense foliage. Now that they were closer, they could hear Fluttershy as she spoke sadly, “Oh… What was I thinking? By now, everypony’s surely noticed I’m gone, but how will they react? And everypony who came, just for Macintosh and me… All those attendees…!” Twinken and Apple Bloom couldn’t help but notice how shivery Fluttershy seemed when she said those last few words, but then Twinken felt something tickle his nose and he saw it was a willow vine. “Ah… Ah… AH-CHOO!!!” “EEP!” Fluttershy jumped to her hooves and whirled about to see who sneezed but both Twinken and Apple Bloom had already hidden behind the willow’s trunk. “Is somepony there?” The colt and filly shared a nervous look but then saw Angel hop out for Fluttershy to see him, making her sigh. “Oh Angel Bunny, was that you? That was rather loud for such a little bunny, perhaps you’re coming down with something.” Angel face-pawed before pointing towards the tree, indicating there was somepony there. “Um, now, I’m not making any accusations, but is somepony there, really?” Fluttershy asked again. “You don’t have to answer, if you don’t want to.” She heard two sighs and gasped lightly to see, coming out from behind the tree, “Twinken? Apple Bloom? What are you doing here?” “Angel led us here,” Twinken answered, Apple Bloom adding, “An’ we din’t mean any harm but... we kind overheard wha’ you were sayin’, Fluttershy.” “Oh… so you heard the things I said,” Fluttershy looked away with a guilty expression. “Fluttershy, did wha’ we say an’ ask you last night scare you?” Apple Bloom asked, looking sorry, as did Twinken, who asked, “Did we upset you?” “Oh no, no!” Fluttershy went over and held them both in a wing-hug, which they returned warmly. But when they let go, Fluttershy sighed. “Even so, I have to admit, the things you said? Well, you just caught me at a bad time, because I was already rather worried last night, and I couldn’t stop worrying about this whole wedding business.” Apple Bloom and Twinken listened with rapt attention, all of them unaware that somepony else was listening as Fluttershy went on. “It’s not that I don’t want to go through with it all, it’s just marriage is so… final! And all those wedding attendees… watching me! Oh, why do I have to be such a scaredy cat? Everypony else is so brave, but I can never be, I mean... This is my wedding day! I’m supposed to walk down the aisle and kiss the stallion who will be my husband in front of all those attendees, but I'm just so afraid! Oh why can't I ever be brave. especially on a day like today…? I’ve never been comfortable being the center of attention, and then I just started worrying a little more about the commitment, and I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to be all that was expected of me.” Twinken’s ears pressed against his head while Apple Bloom’s eyes started to tear up, the both of them hating to see Fluttershy like this. “Oh, it’s not that I don’t love Big Macintosh, I do! I love him in a way that I’ve never loved anypony! Not even the way I love my parents, my friends, or even my animals! He’s strong, kind, reliable, and he’s always there for me, but… This whole time, he’s been so sure that everything would be perfect.” Fluttershy sighed, unaware of the other presence finally understanding. as she said, “Doesn’t he ever get scared? Doesn’t he ever have doubts?” “O’ course Ah get scared, `Shy.” Fluttershy, Twinken, and Apple Bloom gasped and looked to see Big Macintosh step out of the foliage, with a guilty look in his eyes as he approached them. “Mackie! H-how did you find me?” Fluttershy met him halfway. “Ah saw th’ foals here with yer rabbit an’ thawt maybe he was leadin’em t’ you, so… Ah followed `em,” Big Mac admitted when he took Fluttershy’s hoof. “Oh `Shy, why din’t you tell me that you were afraid?” “I don’t know, Macintosh, I…” Fluttershy sighed, “I suppose I just didn’t want to disappoint you or hurt you! I was afraid that if you thought I had doubts that you might think I didn’t want to be your wife.” “Oh Fluttershy, honestly? Ah’ve been scared too,” Macintosh came clean, “Ah’ve never been more scared in muh life! Ah jus’ thawt if Ah made everything just right it’d turn out alright, an’ that you’d have no doubts yerself. But Fluttershy, by Faust, Ah love you! Ah wanna be wit’ you always and spend th’ rest o’ mah life makin’ you happy.” “Oh Mackie...!” Fluttershy smiled as Macintosh wiped away her tears, and their lips met in love understanding. “Aww!” Apple Bloom swooned while Twinken blushed and looked away, muttering, “I’m too young for this…” "So three ponies walk into a bar and say ow!" Cheese hit the drum roll as Pinkie finished another weak joke. Once again, there wasn't anything more than a bored look, random cough, or annoyed grunt. Pinkie and Cheese were already under pressure here, but they were just about out of material and really lacking any kind of follow up. "Wow, tough crowd. So how's everypony doing? I see some of you have had to travel a fair way to get here. I just flew in myself and boy are my hooves tired." Cheese pantomimed flapping his front legs, but this got even less of a reaction. In fact he seemed to even confuse Pinkie Pie. "Wait, you flew in? But you live here. Besides you're an earth pony." The stallion just sighed and faced-hoofed. What else could he do here? He couldn't use his full slapstick, he was at a wedding. ...Or could he? "OK, you two, I believe this act should come to an end now. I'm unsure why you two are performing, but we are all in attendance for a wedding, not a comedy routine." Pinkie looked up from where she been strolling across the stage on her hind legs holding a mike and tucking her front hooves into pockets on her dress (that hadn't been there before) in an attempt to mimic Jerry Stallionfield, to see Prince Sombra making his way to the impromptu stage the two party ponies had set up in front of the alter. "Uh, no, no we need to keep performing... it's uh... part of the wedding ceremony?" she replied nervously, her eyes scanning back and forth to try and find some sign of the rest of the gang nearby. Sombra marched up onto the stage looking a tad irritated, though he kept a calm tone. "While I'm unsure what role a comedy routine plays into a wedding, I believe you two have reached the end of it. I do not mean to sound rude, but I believe your exquisitely prepared food is far easier to swallow then your stand up." "Then how about swallowing this!" Sombra blinked and looked to Cheese Sandwich, only to receive a cream pie to the face. As he staggered back, he slipped on a banana peel that had not been there earlier and skidded across the stage until he fell off into a large hay bale that had also not been there earlier. After a few moments, the dark stallion pulled himself up from the bale, his face covered in cream and straw and his mane in tangles filled with twigs and hay. He gave a snort and a bright red cherry flew out of his nose. Every pony in attendance immediately went silent and stared. “PFFFT BAHAHAHAHA HEE HEE HAHAHAHA!!” The laughter echoed from the back of the reception, that everypony turned to see Princess Celestia bent over her seat laughing her plot off, tears of joy falling from her eyes. Next to her Luna was facehoofing, though there was a wide smirk on her face, and her shoulders heaved from trying to hold back her own titters. Immediately after, Cadance started cracking up, holding her belly as her laughter bellowed out. With all three Princess' laughing, the crowd sensed they didn't have to hold back anymore and all cracked up of their own accord. Shining Armor was pounding his hooves on the seat in front of him, Zecora was clapping her hooves with joy, and Eris was floating above everypony howling with laughter. The scene had turned from completely boring to possibly the most hilarious thing they had ever seen. Sombra just stood there for a moment looking cross, before he too accepted the humor of the situation and let out a chuckle. Cheese just looked on proudly at all he had accomplished with a bit of slapstick. "Great work Cheesy! Stand-up might not be our best material, but funny tricks and goofy pranks will always get some laughs!" Pinkie bounced around on stage, soaking in the merriment alongside her partner in jokes. "Psst! Pinkie, Cheese! You can cut the act now, we've found Flutters!" Pinkie and Cheese looked off to the side where Midnight was signaling to them. Behind him was an excited looking Big Mac and a shy but happy Fluttershy. The two party ponies pulled ear-to-ear grins at her presence and immediately got to work. "Well that's all for now, folks, thanks for being a terrific audience. Now, back to our scheduled wedding!" In the blink of an eye, the two had shoved the stage and their props out of the way and gave the group one last bow before taking their positions. The rest of the elements all got into their positions and Posey retook her seat. Finally groom took his place at the altar, looking both terrified and like there was no place in the world he'd rather be. He felt a wing brush against him as Cadance took up her position as the officiator. The smile she gave calmed him down, and he prepared himself for the most important event in his life. Everypony was in place. Cadance and Big Macintosh at the altar in the gazebo, Applejack and the groomstallions on one side of the aisle, Rainbow Dash and the bridesmares on the other. Solemn silence befell the reception as the birds on top of the gazebo began to sing a wedding march, just as they did at Cadance and Shining Armor’s wedding. Everypony watched as Apple Bloom happily trotted down the aisle, gently shaking her basket and leaving flower petals in her wake. Not long after her was Twinken, looking adorably determined as he levitated the cushion with the wedding bands, that Aunt and Uncle Orange couldn’t resist snapping a photo. As the main event was nigh, Shining Armor was trying as hard as he could to keep it together and failing miserably as he blubbered tears of joy, Eris nearby with an irritated look while filming the wedding highlights as she whispered to him, “Oh for pete’s sake, Shiny, would you give it a rest? Your bitch-crying’s gonna be in the background of my entire video!” All eyes turned towards the back, and at the start of the aisle was the bride, her face obscured by the wedding veil, and at her side was Sunsplash whose face could express only the deepest loving pride a father could have for when his daughter finally found her special somepony. However, instead of walking down the aisle, father and daughter flapped themselves aloft as they made their way down. It was actually a pegasus tradition that when a pegasus pony gets married he or she doesn’t touch the wedding aisle until he or she joins her betrothed at the altar, symbolizing their grounding themselves as they made roots with the pony they would devote themselves to. There was hardly a dry eye among the attendees as everypony watched came the bride. At the halfway point, everypony watched in wonder as a robin and a blue jay carried a woven circlet of flowers and flapped over to gently place it on top of Fluttershy’s head. Through the veil, Fluttershy looked and saw on top of the gazebo a teary-eyed Angel, with a hanky, and she couldn’t help but smile. She had been quite nervous as she’d started flapping down the aisle with her father and seeing everypony look at her, she was just glad the veil hid her face. But then she looked towards the end of the aisle, towards the altar in the gazebo, and it was the face of her Mackie that finally set her heart ease. She saw a handsome, kind, and loving pony she cared so deeply about, and in her heart, she knew he would always be at her side. At the altar, Big Mac smiled proudly and lovingly with just a few nervous flitters in his stomach until finally they arrived and Sunsplash held his daughter’s hoof as she alighted herself down, before passing her hoof to the hoof of her stallion, father and about-to-be son-in-law sharing a smile of mutual respect, before Sunsplash went to join his wife in the front row, Posey already wiping away tears of joy. Cadance waited for Big Macintosh to lift the veil of his bride and what he saw worth more than all the apples in the world. It was the face of the pony who stole his heart so long ago, a beauty demure, pure of heart, unpretentious, the genuine article of kindness. Fluttershy gazed up at him, her cyan eyes glistening with tears of joy that only lightly began to affect her subtly-applied make-up that in no way marred the natural beauty she was. She couldn’t help loving the stallion before her, his usually-relaxed demeanor was joyous in a way that couldn’t be explained in words while his green eyes were as teary as her own, his combed mane had loosened a little but it made him more like his usual self, the way she loved him. What she saw, she realized, was the pony who embodied the promise of a devoted husband, provider, and maybe one day the father of her children. “Fillies and gentlecolts, family and friends,” Cadance began, “we are gathered here on this beautiful day to celebrate the union of Macintosh Apple and Fluttershy Dawn, and I simply must say I cannot imagine two ponies more perfect for each other. Macintosh, do you take this mare to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love and cherish, to protect and provide for, to be with in the best of times and the worst, for as long as you both shall live?” “Eeyup!” Big Macintosh answered before turning to make his vow to his bride, “Fluttershy, you may not know it, but this here gazebo is more than where we start our lives t’gether. This gazebo, which Ah built with th’ help o’ mah friends an’ neighbors, is th’ same place where you an’ Ah met as foals.” Fluttershy’s eyes widened as she finally understood the sense of nostalgia she’d been feeling since coming down the wedding aisle. “Back then, whether or not our meetin’ was coincidence or fate, in some part o’ mah mind Ah knew th’ sweet an’ shy little filly Ah accidentally kissed tha’ day would be somepony special in mah life. But then muh folks were gone an’ Ah lost sight o’ that for a long while, until mah brother helped me remember how Ah felt for you. Fluttershy, Aw swear on mah parents’ graves t’ be at yer side always, t’ love you, respect you, an’ make you happy for as long as you’ll have me.” Fluttershy lightly squealed in joy and had to use every ounce of self-control to stop herself from leaping into her stallion’s chest and kissing him. “Fluttershy,” Cadance’s voice snapped the bride out of it as she paid attention, “do you take this stallion to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and cherish, to trust and support, to be with in the best of times and the worst, for as long as you both shall live?” “I… I do!” Fluttershy couldn’t stop the waterworks, and so many ponies smiled happily for her as she made her own vows. “Macintosh, I… I am so happy! I’m happy that we’re here, that we have everypony we love and care about and who love and care about us to be a part of this! Early on I was afraid, that I wouldn’t be brave enough to go through with this, and that maybe… maybe I wasn’t ready to be a wife, or something more, but… The moment I saw you, waiting for me here, not only at this altar, but at this very same place where we first met as foals…! I know it in my heart, Macintosh, you are the pony I am meant to be with, the one pony who truly makes me happy, makes me feel safe, and I swear to love and support you as your wife, and perhaps one day we’ll love and support a family of our own together!” A few ponies (especially Shining Armor and Posey) broke out into sobbing joy as Princess Cadance nodded happily. “Here before us, the bride and groom have made their vows. As the Princess of Love, I bless this union, with faith, with fertility, and with happiness. Marriage is a vow of mutual love and trust that can only survive through commitment and compromise. Macintosh Apple, Element of Devotion, Fluttershy Dawn, Element of Kindness, here before all these ponies, I unite you in holy matrimony. May we have the bands?” Twinken stepped forward, levitating the cushion holding the wedding bands, which Candance levitated towards the bride and groom. Fluttershy held out her left hoof as Mac slid on the wedding band with her engagement jewel onto her hoof before taking the gold band with the engraving of Mac's cutie-mark and slid it onto his hoof. “As Princess of Love, I now pronounce you, Stallion and Wife! You may kiss the bride,” Cadance declared, and no sooner did she did Fluttershy pounce her husband, and everypony cheered as the newlyweds finally kissed! Closer to the couple, their closest friends watched with joy (and for a few, just a hint of envy), as the bearers of Kindness and Devotion took the firsts steps on their new path. But for Big Mac and Fluttershy, they could hear none of the cheers or the flowing happiness. For them in that singular moment, in that one kiss, it was as though they were the only two ponies in the world. All they needed was each other, and from now until forever, they would always be together. Before, this may have been scary or worrying. Now, it was the best feeling in the world. Finally the newlyweds completed their kiss and took in all the happy faces, some cheering their lungs out, others crying tears of joy, and for once in both their lives, they were not afraid or nervous. Fluttershy and Big Mac waved happily and proudly at their family, friends, and neighbors, and gasped in marvel as doves flew overhead and dropped a gentle shower of gorgeous apple blossoms over everyone. Seeing flowers fall, Fluttershy looked and her bouquet and smiled before throwing it. “IT’S MINE!!” Rarity shrieked as the bouquet sailed towards Rainbow, who eep’d and tried to get out of the way, only for- “OOF/OW!” In her attempts to avoid the bouquet, Rainbow kerscuffled into Rarity, bringing them both down in a heap as something pink blurred by, yelling, “I CAUGHT IT! What’s my prize?” There was a large good-natured collective face-hoof of several ponies around Pinkie, while Rainbow looked at the bouquet, feeling a tinge of regret. As Soarin and Blueblood helped their mares to their hooves, Rainbow gave her stallion a nuzzle so there’d be no wrong impression. The tapping of a glass quieted everypony down as the mare of honor stood up from her seat. The ceremony had been beautiful, and many tears had been shed all around, but now the attendees had all moved away from the altar to the dozens of tables that had been set up in front of the orchards for the reception. Ponies all sat gathered in groups watching the head tables where all the element bearers sat surrounding the newlywed couple. Rainbow put her glass back on the table, turning her gaze to her oldest friend with a warm smile before addressing the guests. "Hi everypony. While I'm sure my awesomeness proceeds me, for those who for some ridiculous reason aren't aware, I'm Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy's mare of honour. Being selected for this role makes me feel more proud than just about anything in Equestria, because I get to stand beside my oldest friend and watch as she takes her first steps into a new life. I've known Flutters here since we were both little fillies without cutie marks. She was the first friend I ever made, and that friendship is something I have cherished so much over the years. This beautiful, kind mare has helped shaped me into the mare I am today, and I would like to think I have helped her become who she is as well, which just makes this day so much more meaningful to me. When Fluttershy and Big Macintosh first started dating, I was both happy and worried. Mac is one of the nicest, most genuine individuals I have ever met, so I know he will take care of Fluttershy, but after watching over her for years, it still felt really sca... worrying, to watch her take her first steps out of her comfort zone and put her heart on the line. But seeing the two of them now, I know I have nothing to worry about." Rainbow turned back to Fluttershy, who was smiling back with tears in her eyes. "Fluttershy, you are one of the best friends I have ever had, and I can't wait to see where this new life with Big Mac leads you. Be brave and be strong like I know you are and make your life a happy one together. I'm so proud of you, and I hope for you and Big Mac a lifetime of happiness. Together!" The instant she finished, she felt Fluttershy grab a hold of her in an enormous hug. Both mares had tears in their eyes as they embraced one another, once again reinforcing the sister-like bond the two shared together. Ponies cheered and clapped, shock at how heartfelt and eloquent the rainbow mare's speech was, but feeling the love and care that came with it. As the two split apart, Fluttershy gave her a watery thank you, touched at her best friends kind words. "Jeez, Rainbow, Ah didn't think ya had it in ya to write somethin’ so nice." Applejack spoke up from her position next to Big Mac, her jaw hanging open. "Heh, I am pretty awesome." Rainbow wiped the last of her tears aside and stuck her chest out proudly, before timidly shifting her head to the side as she admitted, "Though... I had a fair bit of help from Soarin." She placed her hoof over her coltfriend's in gratitude, and he responded with a smile and a quick peck on her cheek. As she tried to cover her blush, Applejack smirked and decided to take her turn as the Best Mare, and so rose from her on seat. "Well now, after hearing Rainbow's speech, Ah'm really hoping mahn can measure up. Still, as mah brother's Best Mare, Ah'll give it muh best shot. Now seeing tha’ more than half th’ guests here are Apple Fam’ly members, an’ th’ rest are all close friends from town, Ah think it's safe t’ say that ya’ll know Ah'm Big Mac's lil sister. As such, Ah've grown up with th’ big galoot, an’ got to watch him turn from a brave and young colt giving his all to support a family that had just lost it's ma and pa, into th’ strong, dependable work-stallion we all know today. Ah've seen this stallion at his worst an’ Ah've seen him at his best, but in all th’ years Ah've known him, Ah've never seen him so complete, as when he is with muh good friend Fluttershy. These two just fit together so well, more than just about anypony Ah've ever met. Fluttershy's kindness and delicate disposition complements mah brother's strong, devoted nature so well, it's actually hard not picturing these two together anymore. So, before Ah ramble anymore, there's just one last thing Ah have to say." The orange mare gave her brother a warm smile before continuing. "Big Mac, all us Apples are so dang proud of you. Ever since Ma an’ Pa left us, You've always been the backbone of the family. Taking on the extra work, taking care of your little sisters and your Granny, and if that wern’t enough because o’ you we found ourselves with two new brothers! An’ here you are now, getting ready to bring a new bond into our family. We all love you, Mac, and we are so happy for you & Flutters. I wish the two of you years of joy, and Ah know from the bottom of mah heart, just how proud ma and pa would have been of you." Finishing pouring her heart out, Applejack felt the strong and yet so gentle embrace of her brother, whose stoic and expression was long gone, leaving only the teary eyed joyful look of a brother who loved his sister with all his heart. All the gathered ponies started clapping in appreciation. Cadance was rubbing a once again sobbing Shining Armour's back while Eris (who had somehow been assigned to sit at their table) was still filming everything and facepalming at the Prince's tears. "Jeez, and they call me annoying." Dinner had been lovely and as the sun was just beginning its descent, the orchards were covered in its warm orange glow, displaying its natural beauty to all present. All the guests were gathered around a large polished wooden platform that had been placed on the grass. It was just about time for the couple’s first dance as husband and wife. As Big Mac was preparing to signal the band to begin playing, Fluttershy placed a hoof on his chest to stop him. At his curious look, she whispered her idea into his ear and he eagerly nodded, moving toward the band to signal a music change. As he did this, Fluttershy approached Rainbow Dash and Soarin whom were stuck off a little bit to the side (at Rainbow's request, still feeling a little embarrassed after her mare of honour speech). "What's up Flutters? I thought you and Mac were just about to have your first dance." "Well we are, but um... I was kind of hoping you might um... sing that song we used to sing together." While it had been a very quiet request, it did nothing to stop the massive blush spreading across Rainbow's face. "Uh I-I don't know Fluttershy. I haven't... sung that in a while. It's... it's kind of embarrassing..." despite her hesitance, Fluttershy gently grabbed a hold of Rainbow's front hooves, looking straight into her eyes. "Please Rainbow. I know it's not your usual song choice, but it would really mean a lot to me." It took all of one second before Fluttershy's puppy dog eyes and pleading tone broke Rainbow, and the athlete caved. She gave a sigh then nodded her head while her oldest friend squealed in excitement and rushed off to grab a microphone for her. Whilst she was doing this, Soarin's curiosity rose and he leant in close to his marefriend. "What song are you going to sing, Rainbow? It obviously means a lot to Fluttershy, but you seem kind of embarrassed about it." Rainbow gave another sigh before whispering into Soarin's ear. She expected him to give a snigger at the mushy song she was going to sing, but his reaction surprised her. "Really? I love that song! Hey, how about we make it a duet?" his eager look and his desire to sing with her brought a smile back to Rainbow's face (though her blush didn't seem to be going away anytime soon. "A-are you sure? I-I'd love if you'd sing with me!" Rainbow hesitated up until her stallion gave a coltish smile and a nod before Rainbow nuzzled him in appreciatively. She of course immediately tried to hide this from some of the other guests who had spotted the show of affection, but Soarin seemed content to keep her blush up as he wrapped a wing around her. A few moments later, Fluttershy returned with two mics (Cheese had intercepted her with a spare. As she did with all of Pinkie’s activities, she didn't question Cheese’s). She gave Rainbow a hug to show her gratitude before dashing out onto the dance floor where her new husband waited for her. As they took up proper dancing positions, Rainbow began to speak through her mic. "Ok folks, it's time for the newlywed’s first dance. Fluttershy has asked Soarin and I to sing a special song for this, so everypony quiet down and get ready." The rainbow mare gave one last look at her coltfriend, who smiled and gestured for her to continue. She gave a sigh, before steeling herself and letting the music from the speakers begin. [Rainbow] Funny how it turns out that everything can change What I feel right now is not the same as yesterday Big Mac smiled as he gently pulled Fluttershy forward. he led her in a circle before they started to sway together. [Soarin] There's more than I imagined deep inside my heart Emotions that I never knew and this is just the start Fluttershy felt a little nervous again to be the center of attention, but the assurance she felt in Big Mac’s hooves. Then, to her surprise, Big Mac rose up on his hind hooves, towering over her, while also guiding her up onto her own hind hooves. He guided her gently to set one hoof on his shoulder and held her at her waist while they held their free hooves out and together, and start dancing ballroom-style. “Since when could you dance like this?” Fluttershy gazed dreamily in her new husband’s eyes. “Blueblood,” Mac answered simply with a humored smile. “Wouldn’t get off muh back about it. Ya like it?” Fluttershy sighed happily and laid her head against Mac’s chest as they continued to dance. [Rainbow Dash & Soarin] So many things I've been missin' not watchin' but, that was all in the past Now I realize There’s so much more to learn, I’m ready for the world Not scared of letting go Now I realize There’s so much more to feel And my heart knows it’s real The part of me, so long forgotten, Is calling, and this feels like home Home, home, feels just like home [Rainbow] Learning how to smile again Free to show my heart Knowing I can face the things That used to seem too hard [Soarin] I look inside your eyes and see A different part of me What I didn’t know I want in life You're everything I need [Rainbow Dash & Soarin] So many things I've been missin' not watchin' but, that was all in the past Now I realize There’s so much more to learn, I’m ready for the world Not scared of letting go Now I realize There’s so much more to feel And my heart knows it’s real The part of me, so long forgotten, Is calling, and this feels like home Home, home, it feels just like home (Feels just like home) [Rainbow] Right from the start, been friends forever [Soarin] But somehow we're meant to be together [Rainbow Dash & Soarin] I feel like you show me How to find my way home (Find my way home…!) Now I realize, feels just like home (Feels just like home) Feels just like home (Feels just like home) Feels like home….! Now I realize There’s so much more to learn, I’m ready for the world Not scared of letting go Now I realize There’s so much more to feel And my heart knows it’s real The part of me, so long forgotten, Is calling, and this feels like home This feels like home, home, home Feels just like home [Rainbow] Feels just like home The wedding party was happy and wonderful. Big Mac and Fluttershy cut the wedding cake and each mushed a piece into each other’s faces, spurring a round of laughter from everyone. Applejack and Thunderlane got into an eating contest at the wedding buffet, Rainbow worked up the courage to get past the mushiness and asked Soarin to dance with her, and the two did a beautiful aerial dance that made everyone cheer. Cheese Sandwich played his accordion as Pinkie got the Cutie-Mark Crusaders to join in on a limbo dance, everypony participating with the traditional chant of ‘How low can ya go’. After her parents took an embarrassing photo of their daughter their new son-in-law with mushed cake on their faces, citing it was parental tradition to take embarrassing photos, Fluttershy had a dance with her father Sunsplash while Big Mac kindly asked Posey for a dance. As Sombra and Celestia danced, Eris abruptly cut in and took Sombra on a whirl of a dance to the point he screamed, “STOP THE WORLD, I WANNA GET OFF!!!” As the party began to wind down, Twilight decided it was time for wedding gifts! Blueblood had (surprisingly) gotten Big Mac a set of new tools, something the farmer really appreciated. Thunderlane had gotten them a lightning rod for protection from any storms he and the Ponyville weather team ever brought along. Twilight had gotten Fluttershy a first aid kit filled with veterinary medicine, which Fluttershy loved so much she gave Twilight a big hug! Rainbow Dash had gotten Fluttershy a framed picture of themselves as fillies, hugging while smiling at the camera back in the junior speedsters flight camp days, along with a necklace made from a black ribbon with a crystal butterfly pendant. Fluttershy hugged the picture fondly before giving a hug to Rainbow Dash, who insisted she was shedding liquid pride, not tears. All of their friends and family and neighbors gave them wonderful gifts that Big Macintosh and Fluttershy all really appreciated. Some were odd, others a tad embarrassing, but then it was Midnight’s turn. As the blue alicorn walked up to his brother and new sister-in-law, he wore an unreadable smile with his eyes closed as he said, “Mac, Fluttershy, I hope you find this gift to your liking.” Then, before Big Mac and Fluttershy’s eyes did float a pair of keys in Midnight’s aura, which Big Mac confusedly accepted before asking, “And… wha’re these keys for, haystack?” Midnight chuckled and pointed past them, and they followed his hoof towards a grove of trees while Midnight called, “Master! Luna! It’s time!” Sombra and Luna both nodded and their horns flared, and the trees appeared to come to life as their roots tore themselves out of the ground, their leaves shaking, as the trees moved out of the way, creating a path from the wedding party and the gazebo towards… a house! Big Mac and Fluttershy gasped at the structure! It was a two-story house, painted butter yellow with a brown thatch roof, a red brick chimney, a nice open yard, , a verandah with a porch swing, a nearby henhouse and a large shed, all an’ all a very homey-looking abode. The wedding-goers all marveled at this surprise delightful domicile while Big Mac was flabbergasted! “M-M-Midnight, Ah… Where di- How di-Wha’ is this?!” “Midnight! This house, it can’t be for us, now could it?” Fluttershy was equally blown. Midnight smiled warmly, and answered, “Yes, this house is for you two. Now before you protest, at least hear me out. Big Mac, I’m not exactly the same Midnight you first met outside Ponyville, but I am on the inside. Back then, you and the Apple Family took me in, and ever since then I learned so much from you all. I learned about honest work and giving it your all, as well as the principle of things and doing the right thing. “But more than that, you gave me a home and a family I am proud to be a part of! But now, you and Fluttershy are starting your lives together, so you deserve a place of your own. I didn’t bring it up before because I knew you both would be uncomfortable about it. Mac, you wouldn’t dream of leaving Granny Smith or AJ or Apple Bloom, and Fluttershy, you wouldn’t want to leave all your animals over at your cottage near the Everfree Forest.” Big Mac and Fluttershy shared a look and saw it in each other’s eyes that Midnight was right. “So, I came up with this solution. This house is still on Sweet Apple Acres property, it’s just a short walk away from the main farmhouse, and it’s closer to Fluttershy’s cottage! I’m not saying you have to accept it, but at some point or another, you're both gonna want a place where it’s just the two of you, and maybe one day it’ll be more than the two of you, so this way you’ll have room to raise any foals you have together.” Midnight’s words made the newlyweds blush but they were also so reasonable they kept listening. “Mac and Fluttershy, you’re both so important to me, and you’ve both done so much, not just for me, but for all of us! I just wanted to do something equally special, and though this might not be what you want right now, I hope you’ll appreciate my intentions.” Big Mac and Fluttershy considered Midnight’s words for a moment before meeting each other’s eyes again. They both smiled and looked at Midnight, Fluttershy saying, “Midnight, I think it’s a wonderful house!” “A nice place t’ call our new home,” Big Mac agreed. “But how did you get this house on Sweet Apple Acres without any of us noticin’, or even afford it?” “Hm-hm, I’m a prince!” Midnight replied playfully, “And… I’ve got my own little family fortune, not to mention I had some help from my master, Princess Luna, and even Eris!” “Prince Sombra an’ Princess Luna?” Big Mac echoed in surprise, Fluttershy adding in equal bafflement, “And Eris too?!” “It’s true!” Flashing between them did Eris appear, “Somby and Loony-loo arranged the construction while I just popped that lovely abode on over here! That’s how none o’ you daft darlings ever saw it.” Soon it was all over and just about time for the newlyweds to ride off to their honeymoon. Big Mac and Fluttershy gave and got so many hoofshakes and hugs, a few kisses here and there, they thought it’d never end. But as the last of the wedding guests left, it all finally began to fall upon them. They were husband and wife and about to ride away via pegasus-drawn chariot to Horseshoe Bay Resorts. Their friends had offered them a honeymoon to Hay-waii, but both Big Mac and Fluttershy were uncomfortable crossing even a little of the sea in a chariot. As their ride arrived, Big Mac and Fluttershy, their bags already packed, stood side by side, nuzzling each other, when Sunsplash and Posey came up. “We’re so proud of you, my little butterfly!” Posey sniffled as she and her husband gave their daughter a warm and tender hug, Fluttershy shedding a few tears of her own, as she said, “Thanks, Mum… It means so much to hear that.” Sunsplash looked to Big Mac and held out his free foreleg, “Family hug needs the whole family, get in here ya big galoot!” Big Mac chuckled and did as he was told, but as he embraced his wife and parents-in-law, for a moment he squinted his eyes as the afternoon sun began its fall for the evening, and he saw two ponies standing in the trees nearby. Big Mac gasped as he saw a stallion taller than even him, wearing a stetson hat and workhorse collar and beside him was a beautiful mare with her mane loosely tied back. The both of them were smiling proudly and happily at him, and he felt his heart beat loudly n his chest as he realized who they were. As the hg ended, he was about to call out to those two ponies but the sun blinded him again and when he looked they were gone. Could it have been…? “Hey son, you alright?” Big Mac looked to his wife and parents-in-law, who were all looking at him with a bit of concern. “...Eeyup, Ah surely am.” Then Granny Smith, Applejack, Apple Bloom, Midnight, and Twinken came up to hug the big red pony, and Granny Smith said, “Aw sweetie… It does this ol’ mare’s heart good t’ see th’ Apple Family grow a lil’ more. Ah rightly think yer folks would be real proud of you.” Big Mac smiled a knowing smile, “Y’know wha’, Granny Smith? Ah do believe they are.” “Y’all go an’ have th’ time o’ yer lives, big brother!” Applejack joined in, followed by the rest of their siblings. “Will ya bring us souvenirs?” Apple Bloom asked, Twinken nodding, “And take lots of pictures!” As the family let go, Midnight said, “All you have to do is have the time of your lives.” “Thanks, Midnight,” Big Mac smiled warmly at his family, “Thank you all. For ev’rything.” “Mac, son!” Big Mac looked to Sunsplash, and saw the bags were on the chariot, and his wife was smiling at him as she said, “Time to go!” Big Mac chuckled and said to his family, “See y’all later,” before joining his wife on the chariot. Before taking off, Sunsplash teased, “Now don’t you two get too frisky in the bed now!” “Daddy!” Fluttershy squealed and reddened, Big Mac chuckling nervously. “Sunny!” Posey elbowed her husband, who couldn’t help laughing. “Don’t you mind him. Just… make your first time special, and don’t worry! You have to decide together when you’re both ready to be a momma and a poppa. Just… don’t take too long.” “Yeah! We wanna spoil our future grandkids rotten with plenty of time to spare!” Sunsplash laughed. Big Mac and Fluttershy laughed nervously but shared a look, and knew it truly was something they both wanted to be one day soon. The position of the sun told them to get going if they wanted to make it before dark, and after a few more I-love-yous, good-lucks, and best wishes, the chariot took flight. Big Mac and Fluttershy waved goodbye for now to their family and friends below as they rode off to their honeymoon. But as they sailed through the sky, Fluttershy grew quiet, Big Mac asking, “Y’alright, sugarcube?” “...Oh I’m fine, Mackie, it’s just…” Fluttershy looked up at her stallion, her lover. Her husband. He was all hers, hers to love, hers to support, hers to be with always and forever. “I’m just thinking, after this… what’s next?” Big Mac lifted her face to his and gave her a soft yet tender kiss. “Whatever we decide. Together.” Fluttershy smiled and they nuzzled cheek to cheek as she agreed, “Together.”