> To Have, and To Hold > by Ponyess > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Prologue: 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- We had decided to send three very important messages. I sent the first to Princess Cadence of the Crystal Empire, since I had intended to have the ceremony at her place. During the third Fair of the Empire, which would be at the very center of her most important time. When the chrystal heart was to be 'refilled', but what better way to lift the spirits, then to hold a marriage? What better place, to have my first foal, then at the fair, on the very special day, with the most loving of ponies by my side? By the calculations of Twilight, we need a Unicorn per Mare which means two. Second, for asking to have twins, then you would need another. This means we need five for safety reasons. We chose, however, to have two extra to make certain there was no stress on any partaking Unicorn. Even if five are know to be Alicorns and are strong, we still wanted to be safe. It is at least my understanding. We had chosen the Fair, with Cadence, for the sake of the purity of love. Now I need both Celestia, and Luna, since I know them to be both true and able Alicorns. The third message went to Trixie. I may know part of her act is just that, a 'Stage Act', but she could still do some good, and if she accepted my offer, she would gain from it, greatly. In the presence of Cadence, the pure love should shield her from whatever corrupting influences, or it is what I was hoping. She would be invited to the wedding as well, just to show good will. I had no hard feelings towards her. Maybe it is my element, or it could be Zecora, who influenced me yet further? I guess she would be nice to keep by my side, at the wedding? “If you would agree, I would love to hold the Wedding at your fair. In hope it would lift the spirits, as well as the joy of visiting you. If you would attend, and help me with another matter. I would need your help, for the pregnancy, you see, I would love to have twins, with Rainbow Dash, who would wish for the same. If you and Shining Armour was there, it should give the best chances, for the foals to come. I am going to ask Celestia and Luna to help out, together with Twilight, and another friend, but two of your best guards should complete the result!” the message to Cadence red. “I'm planning to hold the wedding with me, and Rainbow Dash, at the Fair of Crystal Empire, and would love for the two of you to be there, Celestia and Luna. I would also wish for the two of you to help with the coming foals, for me and Rainbow, if it isn't too much to ask.. I am asking both Cadence, and my friends to be there for us!” the second message, to Celestia and Luna red. “Trixie, if you are interested, I would love to see you at the third Fair of the Crystal Empire, it would be a great honour for you to perform at the fair, for one. But I would also love for you to be at my wedding, and to help me with another matter. If it all goes according to plan, I know you would gain more, then you may expect. Ofcause, it isn't just to be seen with Royalties by your side, which I doubt you put to much import to? It isn't so much of the challenge, as the time to show yourself, on a stage, greater, and more important, then you are likely to see the likes of, in your lifetime?” my message to Trixie red. I never told any of them, I was to bring certain reinforcements, or that Trixie may have a chance, to play the role of an Alicorn, if just for the short duration of this play? I had asked Twilight, and she had apparently agreed to lend Trixie a pair of wings, for the tree days the spell would give, not the wings made out of due, but real wings, this time. Wings doesn't make a Unicorn into an Alicorn, as I had come to realise. Trixie would merely be passing for the Alicorn, while she would in fact just be a winged Unicorn. It would still give her a boost in confidence. Maybe it would pull her out of the slump? If so, she could become the great and powerful Trixie, she liked to fancy herself? In the presence of Cadence, what influences would take the most, and long lasting hold? Could even the Amulet pull her down, with such pure love, so close at hand? Not in the Crystal Empire? It may all be a great gamble? Either way, I had taken the risk. Messages had been sent, and received. Now, all I wait for, is the day to come to pass, and the replies. With the positive not, that is. > Planning Ahead: 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Apparently, I had been granted my wish. The wedding will be held at the third fair of the Crystal empire. The luck, beyond all hope. “Pinkie? Is it so bad, pulling a few strings, to get what you desire, since it is in the name of love?!” I asked. “You know I want the wedding, just as much as you do. What better place then the Crystal Fair? What better time? Besides, what can lift the spirits, as a wedding?” Pinkie pointed out. I knew she was right, at least on the reason of when and where, even if I still did not take her word for just how important it was. It is important, not just to me, to us. It is a gesture, to the entire Empire, we are going to do everything, in order to keep them, happily within Equestria. Celestia knows, just how much we had already done, and how far we had been pushing ourself, in order to do the right thing, both for the empire, and Equestria, not to mention, Pony kind at large. Maybe, just maybe, we could be granted just this one small reward? I love Pinkie Pie, knowing full well, she loves me, just as dearly. I had realised, she would be the one Pony, who could have a chance, keeping my pace, even if she commonly had been earth bound. If an earth pony could keep up, with the fastest of all Pegasi? What'd the foal be like? I dared not thinking further, not just because there was so much that could go wrong, before we even got to the wedding. Secondly, genetics isn't my strong suit, that's Twilights part. You never know what brood within genetics, what if all the wrong traits takes the prime, rather than the once you hope for, and dream of? Thus I left this to the four winds. Winds, that's where I excel. Even if the Rain Boom is my name? I had gathered all the responses. Both Cadence, and Celestia had approved of our wedding, every last detail. They were to grant us the one wish. Even Trixie had been enticed. I guess Pinkie knew how to pull her in. She always knew everything, at least, the impossible things, and when it mattered the most. Maybe that's another reason, why I love her so dearly? I love to think it was. It does go well with my Element, 'Loyalty'. Now I just hope, I can make, or keep her happy. Keeping her in tune with her element, 'Laughter'. Not just because I love her, but because we need her, the way she is, even if her overly hyped self could be trying at times. Try to fly away from an earth pony, only to find her waiting for you, at the end of every escaperout? It's not what you wish for, it sounded more like the meme of the Nightmare, which was in part the Element of Luna, during her years as 'Nightmare Luna'. I wish not return to that past. What surprised me the most, is when Zecora had been over, just the day after I had gotten the final confirmation on our wedding. She is her usual cryptic self, even when she had the giggle into her voice, from the amusement she had been struck by? What she told us, a few pieces of advice. What to think of, was it. Thankfully, Pinkie had listened. > Arriving at the Emire: 3 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Trip had gone well, as uneventful as I could have ever hoped for. Thankfully, I had managed to keep Dashi happy, even though the trip is fairly long, measuring by train standards. She could have flown over, but then, she's the faster of all the pegasi. It's not so much her speed in the air that drew me in, if the speed of her wits does keep me on a happy tune. We had made the final preparations for the wedding on the train. Saved us some time, we rather spend at the fair, rather than sitting about. At least, this time around, we're not personally responsible for the fair, unlike the one fateful time, when we got it going, just after the empire had returned from the accursed void, in which King Sombra had hidden it. He's the least of our concerns, these days. Princess Cadence had seen to that. She was born the Element of Love, after all. Who is better to take up the burden? Finally!” Dashie pronounced, as we were slipping off of the train, just as it had stopped, at the end of the line. This was after all an express rout to the capital of the empire. Not that Cadence were at the station, but to our surprise, we soon found Shining Armour there, greeting the lot of us. Not just Dashie and me, but also Rarity, Twilight, Apple Jack, and the rest of the ponies of Ponyville that came with this train. Apparently, he felt the need to stretch his legs, or was it just to honour us, by his presence, and greeting us? I could see it as a small repayment for what we had done, the first time around? “Hi, Sining Armour!” I and Dashie greeted him, just after we slipped out of the train, just as we had spotted him. “Welcome to the empire. I'm honoured to house your wedding, and Cadence feels the same way!” he spoke, declaring his joy of our presence. We felt it was the right place, the only place for the wedding, in part, to hold another ceremony, while we're at it. On a side note, what better way to raise the spirits of the city, than a wedding between Rainbow Dash and me, we were here back then, saving the Empire, after all. Ofcause, just as we explained in the message, we're going to require your help with the second ceremony. I hope everyone will be as happy for us to have this here, as well!” I pointed out. “It's not as if we had too many weddings here, lately. Since you're the Heros, they'll be jubilant, no doubt. The second Seremony, I expect to go off, just as planned!” Shiny replied. “Let us be off, the fair should be about to begin?” Twilight pointed out, eagerly. Apparently, she was just as eager to arrive, as the rest of us. > The Reseption: 4 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- We had decided on enjoying about half an hour of the fair, before the wedding was set to start up. With that, we had had some time to enjoy what was up. Looking at some of the shows, sampling the foods, naturally, we just couldn't pass this up. Then the time to chat with friends, new and old. The other ponies from Ponyville we could see most every day, but the once of Canterlot, and CloudsDale, we're not seeing as much as one may wish. That's for the old friends, but we had made a few friends here, at the first fair, and the games held here, which we had also been a part in. Even if we had not been on the fields. Then we trotted into the palace, in order to preparer for the event. The marriage is a major thing for us. We're declaring love, in the bastion of love, for the sake of it. In hopes to lift spirits, when it is in the most need, since it is the day when the crystal heart was supposed to be reactivated, for the year to come. The better it was done, the safer everypony would feel, for the year to come. I don't argument with the magic behind this, I make my best to have everypony rejoice. Pricess Celestia and Luna respectively were carrying our dresses for us, to the rooms, in which we were to prepare for the event. Naturally, Rarity had agreed to make them for us. That was a reaffirmation of our friendship, as much as it is a confirmation in our trust in her skills in her craft. They're wonderful. She had made a beautiful job, I couldn't deny it. To have an Alicorn holding the dress does help, they're delicate in their grasp of our precious garments. I knew we could trust them in this matter. After all they had done for us, not just me and Rainbow Dash, but for all the six of us, our friends, Ponyville and Equestria at large? In Lunas grip, the dress flow over me, and fall into place as easily as her mane flow behind her. I guess she do have the most delicate grip I have ever seen, since I had never seen Celestia managing the dress of Rainbow, she's in the other room. I couldn't see her before the wedding now. That's the tradition. Luna slip every part into place for me, securing it snugly, true to Raritys design. Either she had seen how it was supposed to fit, or she simply had a knack for it? I guess either would do? Just on time the door swung open, then Luna lead me out of the room, towards the large hall, in which we were to conduct the ceremony. This had been the Throne room. I guess it is befitting, after all. This is where Cadence, the princess of the Empire is waiting for us. I felt Lunas presence following me as I moved towards the room. Just as I knew Celestia followed Rainbow, from the other room, then we entered the hall. The room is packed to the brim, just as expected, it is what had been planned. Everypony important had been invited, after all. Twilight had calculated the space, in order to make certain, everypony invited were squeezed in. Since Cadence is in the centre of it all, I and Rainbow, followed by Luna and Celestia, then Rarity, Flutter Shy, Apple Jack, and finally Twilight sparkle, with Spike at her side in the first line. The there were Princes and Princesses just behind them, uncharacteristically tightly packed, then there are all the friends of ours, the more personal or important friends. Who could leave Big Mack and Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, or Scootallo behind. Ofcause, Scootallo counts as family, for all intents and purposes. Just as Mioster and Missis Cake had to be there. I guess we had slipped the entire class of the Crusaders in, once we realised we had room for them, but they're not that many. There are the Wonderbolts, couldn't leave them out? Not just because they're important to my Dashie, but they were required in order to pull the last drop out of it, they had been holding a show, just at the opening. Everyone had been standing agape at the latest of their stunts, just as usual. I had heard of something, Soarin had enjoyed yet another of Apple Jack's Apple Pies, who'd thought? Actually, the pie had been brought in, just for this event. I was approaching the makeshift altar, the throne from the left, and Rainbow from the right. Cadence standing just below, awaiting the two of us, as we move in the few final steps. The emotion running high, ponies crying right and left. If it is merely the wedding, since some ponies are known to cry at weddings? On the other hoof, it's not just any wedding, it's a stately spectacle, and for two of the heros of not just the Empire, but to all of Equestria. Counting all the times we saved the Empire, or the entire of Equestria form what disaster had been at hand, starting with Luna, when she was Nightmare Moon. “Do you take this 'Pinkie Pie, to cherish and love, in victory and in defeat, from this day, and until death do you apart?” Cadence pronounced. “I do!” Rainbow Dash promised. “Do you take this 'Rainbow Dash, to cherish and love, in victory and in defeat, from this day, and until death do you apart?” Cadence pronounced. “I do!” I promised. “In the name of the power invested in me, I pronounce you married!” she stated. “You may now seal your vows with a kiss!” she then finished. I lean over towards Dashie, and she leaned over towards me, then we kissed, as our muzzled touched. Just after that, the cheers were heard from all over the hall, and all the way out, throughout the city. The ponies slowly started to file out through the large Throneroom doors, from the back. Guards standing on each side, both inside, and outside. With this many ponies in the hall, security is at a premium, we couldn't afford any injuries, not at this time. Once the last of the invited ponies had cleared the room, we slowly started to move towards the exit. Happy it had gone off without a hitch. > The Ritual – A Ceremony: 5 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- First things first, Rainbow Dash and I had been dressed up in the special robes for this ceremony. I knew Princess Celestia, Princess Luna and princess Cadence had dressed up in other robes. Just as Prince Shining Armour and the Gard had been dressed up in slightly different robes. Likewise, the Zebra Zecora and her now Aprentice Trixie are dressed up in their robes. All the seven of them, now taking their respective place on the edges of the star Zecora had drawn up on the floor of the room. The room had aptly been chosen, because it had originally been a magics laboratory in the first place. Due to this fact that the room is thick with magic, even before the first part of our ceremony had started. Zecora could be heard chanting in her tongue, under her breath. It is apparently how some of their more powerful magic works, from what I had gathered. As I look around, I see the ponies I know and love, all dressed in black robes, with merely a fiery blue symbol on the chest. I could see as much as to say that each and every symbol is different, as it glow intensely, the glow intensifying as she was chanting. What caught me off guard, is the fact that the lower her voice, the more the effect gripped and pulled the magic in. I may have known her to be wise and powerful, just as I had figured there were reasons behind our initial fear, but her person soon had changed my mind, she had never hurt a single pony, but helped every individual in her presence, even in the instance where we barged in on her, and ruined much of her belongings, accusing her wrongly. We know nothing of her homeland, more than the small selection of belongings she keeps in her small hut, and the tales she openly shares with us, and the sound of her voice. There is nothing to go on, and thankfully, now we trust her to help us, whenever we're in need. At the time I could see their respective horns start to glow, all in their respective hue, the floor was starting to give off a tingling chill to my hooves. The air feels thick, charged in a less than comfortable way I just couldn't put a hoof to. This made me doubly happy I have my friends around me. All the way from Celestia, down to Trixie. Maybe I don't know the guard all that well, but since Cadence had picked her, and both Celestia and Luna by her side, I had nothing to worry about. Worry, the only cause of worry for me, right now is what my foals are going to be like. Who of me and Rainbow they will be more like. Since I know they will be like us. I'm looking forwards to the day, some eleven or so months ahead, when I'm giving birth to my twins, and Rainbow Dash will give birth to hers. Even if they're all our foals, from the first day. I have no worries on this matter. I have known her for way too long, and knowing her as the element of loyalty, of all the elements to choose from. The glow of each horn increasing until it hit the peak, at which time the beam shoots out from each and every horm towards me and my love Rainbow Dash, engulfing the two of us in a blinding light. The intensity soon overwhelmed me, and my senses went all numb. It is a mere white noise of a silence. I feel nothing. Not even the floor under my hooves, which should have worried me, if not for the fact that I knew who gave me the gift I'm about to receive. Having all my friends around me made all the difference to me. The white darkness soon shifted to a black darkness, and I felt something, not just the floor under my hooves, but the air I breath in and out, the rhythm of my heart, but a clear sign, I'm pregnant. There was no doubt, and no point in denying it. I know what I feel. It isn't the Pinkie sense that told me, but it would have confirmed, if I had been listening. The instant when my senses came back is filled, flooded with joy. Knowing all our efforts were about to allow us to have, what we had desired all along. First now I could see the rest of the room as the lights were starting to come back. Aside from the symbols on the floor, the walls and the ceiling, the room is barren, and there is nothing to see. All of what had been in here before had apparently been moved out, placed in the next magic laboratory. As I look around me, I noticed that all my friends are feeling spent, tired after the effort of giving me and my beloved darling Rainbow Dash the twin foals we so desperately love to have.