"The Wait"
(TwiPie)
I really, really hope she didn’t bring the party cannon.
Twilight Sparkle waits.
What am I even thinking? Of course she brought the party cannon.
The light is too bright, and the murmurs from the gathered crowd are entirely too loud.
Maybe Rarity managed to stop her, somehow? There’s no way Rarity would let her bring that cannon, if there was a chance of stopping her.
Shining Armor whispers something to her, something soft and low and probably meant to be reassuring, but she doesn’t hear. She can’t quite make out the words over the thundering of her own heart in her ears.
Oh, but she’s tricky. I bet she could’ve hid that darn cannon somewhere or other.
The music starts.
I bet Rainbow Dash helped her, too. I bet Rainbow thinks it’s funny, just the greatest prank ever, but Rainbow Dash isn’t the one who’s going to be banished to the moon for sneaking unauthorized artillery into the palace.
Three little fillies come traipsing down the aisle, all smiles and sunshine. Flower petals get strewn haphazardly along the floor as the girls make their way down. Twilight begins to sweat.
I should have asked Applejack to tie up both of those troublemakers until we were ready to start. Oh, stupid, stupid Twilight! Always forgetting everything important, all those little details, so disorganized ...
Something smooth and warm touches her shoulder. She doesn’t look down, doesn’t need to look down, to know it’s Spike. He’s probably worried about her, too, just like Shining Armor. Twilight can’t help but think that both of her brothers are acting completely silly--treating her like a live grenade instead of the perfectly rational pony she actually is--but she forgives them instantly, as she knows they mean well.
Is it too late to ask Fluttershy to use the Stare on her? I know Fluttershy said she can’t do it on command, but that sneaky little pegasus could have been just holding out on all of us.
Two mares, an earth pony and unicorn, walk down the aisle next, all steadiness and grace, respectively. They are resplendent in their gowns, as perfect and as beautiful as the statues in the palace gardens. The unicorn’s eyes keep darting discreetly to the hat sitting proudly atop the earth pony’s golden mane, disdainful glances which the behatted pony ignores just as discreetly.
I can’t believe this is real. This is real. This is … oh, my gosh, this is really happening. There’s Shining Armor, and Spike, and there are Mom and Dad, and … and … oh, by the moon and sun, I think I’m going to throw up.
After the earth pony and unicorn follow two pegasi, just as beautiful and just as brilliant in their formal attire. But all similarities end there. They are fire and ice, the pegasus mares--the one basking in being the center of attention, preening, head held high, the other practically cringing as she trudges dutifully forward, ducking her head so that her mane obscures her face.
I can’t do this. I haven’t done enough planning. I haven’t read anywhere near enough books, and I didn’t even have time to research the mating customs of the Kyllpon tribe of Griffdonia! I haven’t, I haven’t, I haven’t--
At the end of the long, carpeted aisle stands a pink earth pony wearing her unruly mane swept up in a loose bun, with a few escaped strands framing her face. She is dressed in a gown of the purest white, with accents of blue and gold. The blue in the dress matches perfectly the blue in the pink pony’s eyes.
I … she ...
Those huge blue eyes never leave Twilight’s, not for a second, and in turn Twilight is unable to tear her gaze away from the pony before her. The mare manages to take a few small, restrained steps down the aisle--steps that seem so strange, so awkward--before she gives in and begins bounding forward with all her usual energy and enthusiasm.
As she approaches, the pink pony’s eyes dance and laugh and sing. Silently they sing out, “Twilight, I love you.”
… she’s beautiful.
The princess steps forward, her voice warm and her eyes shining with joy. “We are gathered here today …”
Twilight doesn’t bother to listen. Instead she focuses on how very near the other pony is standing, how she can feel the warmth radiating from that bright pink body, how she can smell the vaguest hints of cocoa and vanilla.
She’s so beautiful.
Pinkie leans in close, her voice a warm whisper in the unicorn’s ear. “Are you okay, Twi? You were all frowny-faced just a second ago.”
“Yeah. Yeah, I ...” Twilight swallows thickly. Glances over at Pinkie from the corner of her eyes, not daring to turn her head, as the princess is still speaking. “I was just thinking about how beautiful you look.”
And then Pinkie smiles, wider and brighter than Twilight Sparkle has ever seen her smile before. The earth pony’s entire face just glows, and it sparks a flame in Twilight’s own chest.
That smile. Oh, by Star Swirl’s beard, that smile. I love that smile. I need that smile.
“Pinkamena Diane Pie, do you take this mare to have and to hold from this day forward, for better and for worse, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?”
“Oh, yes! Absolutely!” She turns to beam at Twilight, perfectly happy and utterly unguarded. “I totally, totally do!”
I need that smile. I need her love.
I need her.
“And you, Twilight Sparkle. Do you take this mare to have and to hold from this day forward, for better and for worse, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?”
I do.
“I do,” she promises, her voice soft but steady, just a hair above a whisper.
The world is blurry now, as though she’s sitting at the bottom of the ocean looking up at the sky beyond the water, and for a fraction of a second she feels confused. Then she realizes--she’s crying. She sniffles a bit and, for reasons she doesn’t even know, lets out a quiet little laugh. She hears Pinkie laugh in reply. It’s a loud, boisterous laugh. A beautiful laugh. A perfect laugh.
“I now pronounce you …”
And then Pinkie is kissing her, and she’s kissing Pinkie, and the entire crowded hall is cheering wildly. But she finds she can’t focus on anyone or anything but the pony who is now strangely, inexplicably, wonderfully, her wife.
I do. Oh, Pinkie, I do.
Twilight pulls away, blinking away her tears as she does, to find Pinkie still smiling back at her. The unicorn reaches out to tenderly lay a hoof along her beloved’s face. Her hoof barely has grazed Pinkie’s fur, however, when there’s a sudden, deafening explosion that shatters every window in the palace’s hall.
A moment later, festive and brightly-colored confetti comes raining down from the ceiling above.
Of course. Of course she did.
“Pinkie Pie.”
In response, the earth pony gives her a nervous grin, a grin that Twilight knows all too well and sees all too often. “Um. Oopsy daisy?”
Of course she brought the party cannon.
that was a wonderfully beautiful chapter;
and oopsy daisy is such a perfect Pinkie response
You got me again you wonderful man. Who the hell has been cutting onions around here?
Ugh. All of my feels for this chapter.
Twilight can’t help but think that both of her brothers are acting completely silly--treating her like a live grenade instead of the perfectly rational pony she actually is--but she forgives them instantly, as she knows they mean well.
I loved this for two reasons: First, I love that you called Spike her brother because I adore that dynamic between them and it works so well. Second, as always I love in-denial Twilight.
The mare takes a few small, restrained steps down the aisle--steps that seem so strange, so awkward--before she gives in and begins bounding forward with all her usual energy and enthusiasm.
Fantastic. I loved the image of Pinkie attempting to conform and do what is expected, but being unable to because she is Pinkie Pie and is just full to the brim with joy.
And then Pinkie smiles, wider and brighter than Twilight Sparkle has ever seen her smile before. The earth pony’s entire face just glows, and it sparks a flame in Twilight’s own chest.
That smile. Oh, by Star Swirl’s beard, that smile. I love that smile. I need that smile.
I don't even know. I just like it so much.
In response, the earth pony gives her a nervous grin, a grin that Twilight knows all too well and sees all too often. “Um. Oopsy daisy?”
Of course she brought the party cannon.
The perfect way to end this. It's fun because we see Twilight's familiarity with Pinkie's antics. And I just love the line "Oopsy daisy?" because it's so Pinkie. Pinkie would never allow her wedding to be without a party canon.
The only other thing I would mention is that I wasn't sure what was happening until the vows started, but I assumed that's what you were going for. It didn't detract from the story at all, in fact it was a pretty fantastic surprise when I finally connected the dots, but I figured I'd go ahead and mention it. Good work as always!
YESYESYESYESYES. You finally do Twipie(for this collection) and it is AMAZING. My heart melted, it was adorable, it is exacty how a Twipie wedding would go, just dawwwww. My favorite by far!
Now, what pairing is next, now that my OTP is out of the way? Frankly, the one I want the most? Flutterpie. I don't even like that ship that much, even before Putting Your Hoof Down happened, but something that has always interested me is a fic that would ship them AND confront the likely huge obstacle of what Fluttershy said and did that episode. And you could pull that off wonderfully, with wonderful amounts of angst.
Oh wow. You clever bastard. That was delightful! Just adorable, haha.
You know, I think that (other than the TwiDash KINDA) this was the only happy ending to any of these stories.
Sure, you could argue, probably successfully, that the AppleDash was a happy ending, but they really didn't end up together in the end of the story.
members.shaw.ca/akrizak/images/aj_rarity_sisterhooves.jpg
"Donny's Boy, why do you have to be so good, and make me look so bad?"
Seriously, this right here is amazing. The moment Shining Armour was mentioned as being there, I was like, "Ohmygosh, wedding!" And how the neuroses of Twilight keep building and building until Pinkie appears, her joyful energy and love washing away all of Twilight's fears and doubts... even when those fears were completely justified vis-à-vis the party cannon.
There's... Donny, there's just no words. You stole all my words with this.
Bravo, sir, bravo.
Absolutely wonderful. It was so short, but already my cheeks hurt from how wide my smile is. I'm pretty sure I let out a school girl giggle several times throughout the reading, starting from when I realized Twilight was getting married right at the beginning! Eeeeee! I can't even properly express how happy and excited this made me. So brilliant. I love it. I love it!
It's okay. I didn't need that heart. I can get by without it.
Just brilliant. This was at the same time absolutely heartwarming and beautiful and hilarious. I love it.
I really, really like the way you wrote it - the alternating narrative styles give it a real interesting feel - I think it echoes Twi's happiness crossed with her absolute panic really well. And I think you've captured Twi here perfectly - she would absolutely be a panicked mess at her wedding, especially given who it is she's marrying. I love her mentally going over ways she could have prevented the party canon being present - especially because you know (at least i'd say so) that if she'd just asked Pinkie would've left it at home just for her. And Dash? Dash totally helped smuggle the canon in. And so did Rarity, just because it's Pinkie's big day and she should have everything she wants. (Nothing will convince me that that is untrue.)
I also love the way you captured the personalities of the others - Dash, 'Shy, Rarity and Applejack (I remembered for once) - in just a handful of words each. Something about how you've done it injects them with so much personality it's not funny - you can picture them in your head and almost hear their thoughts as clearly as Twi's - they feel, somehow, every bit as important and developed as she does. And Pinkie. I don't even know what to say. Her reaction to Twi calling her beautiful was absolutely amazing. It knocked the breath out of me, good sir. And I adore that as soon as she's there there's just calm from Twi - and how all the other narration focuses on her, because Pinkie is her world.
Also? The image of Pinkie trying to be demure and formal at her wedding amuses me tremendously. As does Twilight's paranoia in regards to Dash and Fluttershy - but you know what doesn't?
You had a story. And I never realised it was here. How did that even happen? Oh well - at least I have lots to read now.
Awesome work, DB. Just amazing.
I have to say that TwiPie is not my favorite ship by far - it often seems to me that they're at the same time too different and too similar! - but damn, if this doesn't work beautifully!
And that last line... Absolutely perfect.
Dawwwwww!! Who would have guessed that a fictional wedding between two fictional ponies could cause such feelings?
Whoo! Thanks for the kind words, y'all. Also, I should give props to Baby Seal Burritoes, AbsoluteAnonymous, and SleeplessBrony--this little piece was inspired and influenced by recent stories from all three of those wonderful writers.
555515
It is FIRMLY my head-canon that Twilight and Spike see one another as family. And yeah, the confusion was at least partly intentional (though I'd meant for readers to catch on sooner than the vows, so, OOPS. Or perhaps I should say, "Oopsy daisy?").
555574
Glad you approve! I always hope I do right by folks' OTPs. And I am writing FlutterPie! Also, gosh yes, "Putting Your Hoof Down" is just a goldmine of Pinkie/Fluttershy and Rarity/Fluttershy relationship exploration. *nod*
555856
Well, I think the problem is that most of these don't really have ENDINGS. So instead, at least in my own head, I categorize them into "happyish" and "sadish" in terms of overall emotional tone. I'd put the RariJack, TwiDash, ApplePie, AppleDash, and this all into the "happyish" category. I'd put the RariDash and FlutterDash vignettes into the "sadish" one. But that's just me. *shrug*
556114
Heh, thanks. I am glad to hear that you think I did our girls justice. Though, really, you're writing what's shaping up to be THE TwiPie multi-chapter story, so I should be the one complaining about you making ME look bad.
556634
I'm glad you like it! Especially good to hear about the alternating narrative styles, since that was a bit of an experiment.
And so did Rarity, just because it's Pinkie's big day and she should have everything she wants. (Nothing will convince me that that is untrue.)
Y'know, originally I'd had the thought that Rarity would fight the cannon tooth and nail, and that Pinkie might have Rainbow district Rarity so she could sneak the cannon onto the train to Canterlot ... but I like this idea better. Pinkie just batted her baby blues at Rarity, all, "But Rarity! PARTY CANNON." and Rarity sighed and said, "Oh, all right."
And I adore that as soon as she's there there's just calm from Twi - and how all the other narration focuses on her, because Pinkie is her world.
Oh, yay, I'm glad that came across! I'd hoped it wouild.
557536
I think this is the best chapter, too. Thanks for the kind words--and for the link to the song. I wasn't familiar with Laura Stevenson, but I love that song.
562655
I'm just really slow. I should have caught on when Pinkie was walking up the aisle alone, but I was just herpaderping my way through "SweetMosesTwilightthinksPinkieisbeautiful! HowcouldIhaveexpectedthisfromaTwiPiefic?".
557536
I just have a lot of feels, man! A lot of feels!
[rant]It's sad I found out about this chapter through your blog instead of checking my (extremely large) unread chapters list. I swear, I am never going to read all the stories on there, when new and awesome stuff keeps coming out every day, and updates, and school, and having a life(which comes in somewhere around third in my priorities). Oh and by the way, I started writing the ApplePie today, but somehow the other two priorities keep getting in the way [/rant]
So... this story.
t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQyFeYnEsSNTVb_U08mAuQzSl9jG7_Q6S-hAeMMfqMH-VDwjgsuGQgONQ5qQQ
It's hard to express in words how fantastic this is, how you had me thinking this was the Royal Wedding, and never mentioned by name the characters who walked down the aisles, and Pinkie's adorableness, and I swear if I write something this good I'm just gonna read and never even bother writing again. I can't even... I...
t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQyFeYnEsSNTVb_U08mAuQzSl9jG7_Q6S-hAeMMfqMH-VDwjgsuGQgONQ5qQQ
557536 Truly it is.
Finally! A shipping that doesn't make me feel conflicted
I love everything! Twilight getting more and more paranoid about the party cannon, Rarity and AJ's hat, Pinkie wearing a wedding dress! And this:
Of course she brought the party cannon.
This has to be my favorite part ever!
You don't have any idea of how much I love you right now.
563729
Hee, hee. I feel you on having a really long reading list. And I'm glad you liked the TwiPie.
563968
Yay! I'm glad I finally wrote a pairing that doesn't make you all ! I just could see Twilight focusing on one single, relatively unimportant detail as a way of managing all her big scary emotions about an event as important as a wedding.
Damn you! What am I supposed to do with all these feels? So many feels...
It was just beautiful.
TwiPie, Twinkie, whatever it's called, is my ship. And I absolutely loved this. I knew it was a wedding because you said it when you linked me, but it was still an amazing story. It was just...lovely? Awesome? Whatever, I loved it.
D'aww.
Having found this, this is now my headcanon ending to Like an Unexpected Song.
This has to be my least favorite ship, but you did a fantastic job writing it!
I am loving these short stories.
3983678
Haha, I'm rereading this and I can definitely say that I love this ship.
6461064
and I'm back again.
This was beautiful.
Everything I could possibly say was already said by professor piggy.
Go back and read his comment again :D
6918085
And again.