> The Moon Worshiper After the Fact: Dream Wedding. > by CreatureofTheNight > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > A Mother's Love > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tonight is the night. Months of planning, of preparation, of skill and of time and patience have all come down to this. One event, one love finally given the ultimate recognition as it shakes the heavens. The wedding of Princess Luna and her knight, her beloved first coltfriend, Dark Sidewinder. She could not have been happier for today than any other day of her entire life (which considering her age) had been a pretty long night. Dark and her had worked so hard to get to this point... They had tried trial, after trial, after trial with each other. There were some times she wanted to smack Dark for allowing some of those trials to turn into a mountain. However, she didn't care. This was her day, with her stallion. Tonight was the ultimate night. Celestia had agreed to take over on moon duty for this one night, just so Dark and Luna could have their moment. Luna smiled as she remembered how lucky she was to have Celestia. While she isn't looking forward to it, her sister's advice on how to deal with Dark's eventual demise had helped her become a better mare. She had a long life ahead with him, and that long life would create so many memories and so much joy that their father would be smiling down from the sky above proud of his youngest daughter. However, with one thought of a parent, came the other. The Queen of Dreams... It had been so long since Luna thought about her mother. Her mother, the pony who raised her. Her mother, the pony who had trained her to raise the moon. Her mother, the kindest Queen Equestria had ever had. Her mother...the pony who tried to put all of Equestria to sleep with her foul magic. Her mother who tried to kill her fiancé in a fit of mad ideals and darkness. Her mother...the lunatic. Luna's demeanour changed noticeably as she sighed to herself. However, she instantly slipped, an (albeit fake) smile onto her features when she heard the door open and Dark came trotting in. He smiled. "I can't believe that tonight's gonna be the night! he said excitedly. "We're gonna be married!" Luna smiled. "Yes." The single word was authentic; she couldn't wait for tonight either. Tonight would be the greatest night of her life. Everypony who's anypony would be there. Well...all but...one... Remembering her thoughts, Luna's mood dipped so much that Dark took notice of it. "Luna,"he asked, concern building his face. "Are you gonna be okay?" "What?" Luna asked. She shook her head and paused. "Oh, no...I'm fine." Dark raised an eyebrow skeptically. "I was just thinking about something." "Thinking about what?" He had to ask. Not wanting to lie to Dark, Luna sighed. "I was thinking about mother." Dark immediately paled and Luna bowed her head. "In times of old," she began, "when a Stallion proposed to a Mare, he asked the permission of her parents, getting their approval before he...pops the question." Dark blushed and swallowed. He had asked Celestia if it was okay to marry Luna. She said yes and looked at him like he was strange when he had done so, telling him that he was already family to her in any case. It was a nice feeling. Dark gazed at Luna who smiled wanly. "As a filly, I always thought that when I got married, Father and Mother would throw the grandest of balls to celebrate, Celestia would be my Maid of Honor, and I would dance with my handsome prince while my parents looked on, thinking about how happy I was, and how incredible it would be to have a new member of the family" She let out a deep sigh as Dark tried to say something, but she simply continued. "However, it was just a dream wasn't it? My father is dead, my mother is in a permanent sleep, deep in Tartarus..." She bit her lip. "It took a thousand years to get to this point, and the only thing that stayed the same was my sister; at least she's my Maid of Honor." She kissed Dark on the cheek. "Though honestly...I think I got a better trade off than the handsome prince" Dark smiled dreamily at her words...when suddenly, something occurred to him. "Princess Luna...can you create a shared dream? " "Yes why?" Luna asked, pausing at the seemingly random question Luna asked "Well, if you're missing your mom...why don't we visit the sleeping Queen in her dreams?" Luna blanched. "Are you crazy!?" she yelled. "Don't forget what she tried to do to Equestria...what she did do to you!" Dark paused...it wasn't as though he could forget. He winced in pain as suddenly, the memories of battle burned into his skin. However, he shook his head. Luna needed this. She rolled her eyes."I...I know she's my mom but..." "Luna..." Dark interrupted "Perhaps that's why we need to do this. Don't you think that your mother should know that you're moving on with your life, and that you're gonna be happy? As evil as she is, she needs to know that." Luna hesitated, then lowered her gaze, relenting. "Will...will you come with me?" she whispered. "Of course," Dark said softly. He offered his hoof to her and Luna held it in returned. "I always will be with you." Luna merely smiled as she lowered her horn to Dark's head. Immediately, the two fell asleep. In Luna's dream realm, they walked past door after door. The line was long and Dark began picking out which doors belonged to which pony. He smirked as he looked at his own and realized how meta the experience was. However, Luna called to him and he ran up to her. She was looking at a door that was as red as lava with a handle as black as night. She clenched her teeth...she wasn't unsure. Dark placed his hoof on the door as she placed her hoof on his. "Ready?" he asked. "No," she replied quietly. Slowly, they opened the door. Inside, they found something they had never expected to see... It was beautiful. The sun was shining, the birds chirping, the weather was...even in the dream...warm and inviting. It was quite the contrast to what Dark and Luna were expecting. Luna looked on as the dream-filly version of her trotted to her mother. "Momma," she said, "there's some strangers here. One of 'em looks a lot like me." Nuit paused and turned her head upwards."You don't say," she hissed. Her eyes shifted to a glare. "Why don't you go play with in your room with Celestia?" "Big girl stuff?" The filly Luna asked quietly. "Really big mare stuff" Nuit replied as she slowly stood. Luna bit her lip. "Oh don't worry there are still fifty foot statues of me everywhere, and everypony still calls me the super goddess of awesomeness," she noted sarcastically. The filly glared reproachfully at her, before turning on her hooves and running out of sight. Nuit glared at Dark behind Luna as Luna gulped slightly. "Well...he's unexpected...is he here to rub it in? That with all my god-like power, all my strength, and all my glory...I had problems with an insignificant thestral fly." "Mother," Luna said. Dark had expected fear, but her tone was stronger. Gentler...protective. "Please do not talk about my special somepony like that." Nuit paused as Dark smiled. Sure, hehe had heard the term used to describe him before, and from Luna's lips at that...but his heart still fluttered every time she heard it. "Your special somepony?" Nuit commented 'Well...you certainly have been a busy girl while I've been out." She glared at Dark. "Congratulations." Her tone was appropriate for speaking to a rather large pile of crap. "Mother..." Luna started. "Don't you "mother" me, Luna, " Nuit snapped. "I was this close, this close to having a better world, a peaceful world, a world where nopony has to fear a changeling impersonating their spouse, where no pony becomes power mad and tries to create eternal night, where no centaur could suddenly awaken and steal magic, where there are no problems because nopony or any creature can hurt one another." "I admit that does sound nice," Dark started. He sighed and lowered his gaze. "But all you'd be doing is dooming them to a lie. It's great to get what you want too, but peace can't be achieved through lies and illusion." Luna nodded. "Not to mention basic survival needs." "You sound just like your father," Nuit said bitterly. "Always telling me that I'm wrong, that I'm going crazy, that I've lost my mind. No...for once, everything in my life is clear. There never was an example of true peace in the waking world. Look here..." The flash of a silloutte in the dark made Luna shy away in fear. "In the waking world...he's no longer there. Here...he's alive and well." Nuit said. Dark frowned. Was she really talking about Luna's father. Luna's lip quivered. "Daddy..." she stumbled. Dark's heart twisted...she sounded like a little filly. Dark's eyes blazed. "Stop it, Nuit. You're playing mind games with her! She's my special somepony too, and I will not allow you to toy with her mind like that." "I'm just showing her the perfect world...a world without pain," Nuit responded, watching Luna as she gazed at the shadow of her father soaring in the sky. She than saw her little filly self flying towards him along with a filly Celestia and the three of them started playing in the sky like they had done when they were young. "A world where there are more than just four alicorns...Luna, Celestia, Twilight, and Cadence are the only ones left now." A tear rolled down Luna's cheek. "This world..." Nuit continued. "That pain has ended" "Well, who says pain's a bad thing?" Dark countered. Nuit to glared at him and Luna turned to him in shock as she snapped out of her trance. "Pain can be a motivator. If I was truly content with being in a dream-like state, I would have stayed in the Everfree forest only talking to Luna with letters, blissfully mumbling to the moon. However, I never was happy...I was in pain with that choice I had made with my life. It motivated me, along with six brave ponies, to try to meet her. Now look at us...we're about to get married. The world can't be without pain, it needs it!" "It...needs it? How so?" Nuit asked, amused. "Look at what we're doing now. The only reason why we are here was because Luna's pain over missing you was too strong. Pain makes people grow and get better and your daughter is living proof of that," Dark hissed. A slow smile spread across Luna's face. "My pain caused me to love my sister more when it ended. It made me appreciate what I did have. It made me let go..." Nuit glared and said "You lie..." "I don't lie," Luna said quietly. "Mother...I was hoping that maybe your time here would ease your mind. But it's clear that my sister's right...you're too far gone" Nuit paused as Luna continued. "Yet it was still nice to see you again mother. It was nice to see Father again too...I miss him..." Suddenly the Queen of Dreams asked a question that surprised Luna. "How did your father die? You keep saying it was an accident, but...what are you talking about?" "Celestia and I were playing in the garden of our castle and there was a loose gargoyle that our servants failed to notice. Father did, but only as it fell towards us...Celestia and me, I mean.He reacted quickly and pushed us out of the way, taking the gargoyle himself." She brushed tears from her eyes, tears suddenly mirrored in her mother's. "He...died telling us...how proud of us he was..." Nuit closed her eyes in visible pain. "Lightwalker....thank you. You always did put the kids above your own needs," she muttered. Dark smiled slightly as the dream world came crumbling down. Luna glanced around and saw that they were now inside Nuit's cell in Tartarus. Her mother was curled up pathetically in the corner. Luna realized Dark that they were floating outside and then paled as another realisation hit them. Luna wasn't using her dream walking spell anymore. "Shock," Dark said quietly "That's how you break that spell...your mother...shocked herself." Luna paused, seeing Nuit placed her head against the cold ground. "I see..." She sighed as she realized that she was now looking at them. "Have a wonderful marriage you two." For the first time since Dark had known her, and for the first time in a while in Luna's eyes, Nuit slowly smiled a genuine, happy smile that wasn't of sadistic intent. "I'm proud of you, daughter of mine." "Celestia keeps pictures of all the wedding's in Equestria" Luna said with tears of joy slipping out of her eyes. That tone...this was her mother, not some crazed lunatic. Dark placed a hoof to his mouth as Luna wept three, simple, beautiful words flooded with tears: "I love you!" "I love you too" Nuit said replied softly. And then, The Queen of Dreams laid her head on the cold, stone floor, remembering her husband, her daughters...and a life forever lost to her broken soul. > Wedding Fever > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- TWACK! A star-struck changeling went soaring over a precariously-balanced vase of flowers, suffering the effects of a hoof kick from Fang. Yet another pony fanboy snuck in behind the Fang as he glared at Starnight, who was staring into space dreamily. "A little help would be appreciated Starnight!" he snapped. Starnight gazed listlessly at the swarm of fans trying to get to his best friend, Dark Sidewinder, while Fang (literally) beat them back with a stick. "How can someone get this popular!?" Fang exclaimed exasperatedly.”I think I've hit back some of these guys twice!” "Well, Dark’s inspirational, he grew from nothing into the next Prince of this land,” Starnight reasoned. He raised an eyebrow as Fang presented a particularly vicious whack to another fanboy. He looked so cute when he was mad… With all of this wedding stuff happening, Starnight was beginning to wonder about the future of himself and Fang…of their future. He bit his lip suddenly as he wondered if Fang would ever even be interested in getting married to him. He snapped out of his chance to a yowl from Fang: ”I can't hold them off forever Starnight! Help me out here!" Starnight paused and screwed up his eyes. Hi bowed his head, then barrelled into the crowd as fast as he could, catapulting the fans away into the gardens. Fang did the same and after about an hour, they succeeded in getting all the changelings out of the castle and into the grounds. The Guards quickly slammed the door shut, and Starnight winced as the sound of changelings and ponies slamming into the door made their way to his ears. He sighed and tilted his head towards Fang. “Maybe we should take a break" He sighed and tilted his head towards Fang. “Maybe we should take a break?” The changeling coltfriend of Starnight nodded as they both sat down. He had to ask. “What's been with you lately? You've been completely out of it lately.” The altar looked so nice to Starnight that he didn't hear a thing. Fang rolled his eyes.” EQUESTRIA TO STARNIGHT! he yelled. “PAY ATTENTION TO ME!" Starnight flinched. “Sorry…” "Yeah you've been doing that a lot lately,” Fang replied, unimpressed. "What's with you? You've been acting all weird lately." "I have not!" Starnight protested. Fang raised an eyebrow skeptically, mentally recounting the events of the past few days. First there was the time that Fang had been busy buying some streamers for Pinkie to use at the wedding. There were far too many of them and he had been having difficulty holding them all. Starnight, in the meantime had been looking at a suit as though he was imagining himself in it. Then there was the time that Fang and Starnight had been tasked with retrieving one of Rarity’s gemstones from the diamond dogs. Fang had found the whole thing really funny: when they had brought up Rarity, the diamond dogs had turned into blithering cowards. However, while Starnight was busy checking out a golden ring that the Diamond Dogs had stole for over an hour, Fang had been forced to traverse a deep, spider-infested cave to get one gemstone. Alone. Then there was the bachelor party. Starnight and Fang had insisted, but Dark had been skeptical. It had been going fine…until Dark brought up how unbelievable it was that he was getting married to a princess. That’s when Starnight shut down and didn’t say another word the entire night. Fang sighed, smiled lightly and placed his hoof on his shoulder "Come on Starnight. You can tell me anything." Starnight paused and glanced down awkwardly. "I...I was thinking about something.” “About what?" Fang asked curiously. "I was thinking about the wedding and how cool it is that my best friend is getting married and I'm the best man..." He sighed. “And then I...start thinking about the future...about you know...you and me" Fang turned scarlet. “Is this a proposal?" he asked, terrified. He wasn’t ready for that at all. He’d only been dating Starnight for about a week. "No! No!" Starnight quickly protested. "It's just...something I'm thinking about. I can see myself settling down with you, being completely in love with you…you know, making our love shake the heavens and all that kind of stuff.” He sighed "I guess I’m a little jealous of Dark for getting married so soon.” Fang smiled. "Don't be. I may not be there yet...but I have been thinking about it too..." Starnight paused as Fang grinned and ruffled his hair with one hoof. "I love you. You know that right?” "Of course I do" Starnight grinned back. “I have an idea...if you want to hear it out" “Okay…” Fang said a little nervous "Fang" Starnight began "After this wedding is over…do you want to move in with me? In the Crystal Empire I mean..." Fang’s eyes widened. He loved Starnight with all his little changeling heart, but Fang wasn't sure that a changeling would exactly be allowed inside the Crystal Empire…especially after the Chrysalis incident at Cadence and Shining Armour's wedding. Sure, Chrysalis has changed, but that's kind of a thing that most ponies wouldn’t forget. Fang, however, smiled. Maybe they should give it a shot… "I'd love to.” Yelped in delight, Starnight hugged Fang happily. "This is the best day ever!" Suddenly, the Groom's door opened and Dark trotted in. "Well? How do I look?" He said dazedly. Eeping in delight Starnight hugged Fang so happily and said "This is the best day ever!" Suddenly the Groom's door opened and Dark walked forward "Well? How do I look?" He said happily. "Like a million bits, dude,” Starnight grinned. "I'm gonna be married to the beautiful Luna soon,” Dark said with a smile. "I can hardly believe it!” Fang and Starnight leant against each other, as the both thought the same thing "You know, I'm suddenly becoming more open to that marriage idea.”   > Chrysalis's Lament > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well this was unexpected. Chrysalis thought that she would never be invited to a wedding again…definitely after the last one. Truth be told, it was nice to actually be invited to this one instead of having to impersonate a Princess to harvest love for a starving population, not to mention her own greed. Now, she could laugh it off: it was Cadence of all ponies who had given her the invite to Dark and Luna's wedding. She really did need to hang out with Cadence more often…though it would probably be incredibly awkward, especially with Shining Armour there. Could they ever really be friends after the stunt she had pulled? However, when her mind drifted to Shining, the groom of the wedding popped into her head, Dark Sidewinder. Ah, her favourite thestral. If she confessed, despite what she had told him during the royal ball in celebration of the changeling alliance with ponies, she really hadn't gotten over him quite yet. She sighed as she remembered Dark's kind actions towards her, especially when she was at her most vulnerable after the big revelation of the Changeling Kingdom being in Tartarus: Chrysalis sighed “I at first ignored his (Fang's) words but...the more I thought about it...the more that Fang's words rang true. I had a plan for selfish vengeance because of my own damaged ego...when...” She looked down truthfully as Dark's special talent came into play once more, he knew what even General and Starnight couldn't deny anymore. “Instead I should have thought of my people...I thought that you wouldn't need to know if you didn't have to” For a few moments, there was silence…then the General sighed. “I can tell by your voice you're not full of it...but I'm keeping my eye on you from now on” Starnight nodded in agreement than looked at Dark. Dark walked towards the Changeling Queen and did what he had done for Princess Luna before: He wiped a stray tear that was in her eye and smiled gently. “It's okay...just...don't lie to us again.” Chrysalis turned slightly red as she nodded saying “Er yes…yes of course.” Still red in the present, Chrysalis smiled as she remembered her gallant rescuer and how angry he had become when he had thought she was dead. If it wasn't for Luna, Dark probably would have killed Fang for what he did, though secretly she was very grateful he hadn’t. She wondered if that's just how any hero would act if they saw her death? Of course not, they would be happy to have someone who did such horrible deeds to be six feet under. Karma or some kind of crap like that. However Dark...got angry...Dark...cared about her. She sighed aloud. “And it's not like the Changelings are exactly lining up to marry me. Fang was the only one who wasn't scared of me, and now he's "playing for the other team" with Starnight,” she muttered. “Don't I deserve that special somepony? I'm the Queen for pete’s sakes there has to be at least one suitor lining up for me." She turned expectantly and noticed nothing; there was no changeling in sight. They were all too scared of her. They feared her temper, her aggressive take no prisoners personality, or her status. The problem with trying to court your own subjects is that they either feared you or used you for power. She didn't have a single changeling she could call “her” Dark Sidewinder. Instead, all she got were frightened stares. She'd changed, right? Sure she got annoyed at her changelings when they mess up, but which leader didn’t? As she kept walking, she tried to bring Dark out of her mind, but his sweet smile and kind heart just refused to leave her in peace. However, as she walked she imagined a future where she and Dark were together. However, every time she imagined it, she noticed something in Dark's eyes. He was faking happiness to make Chrysalis happy, and eventually...he would grow to fear her too. Maybe the problem wasn’t the changelings or her feelings for Dark, but maybe possibly herself? She paused and realized that she hasn't exactly been the nicest pony in the world. There were the obvious forms of villainy, but she's a bit temperamental and liked to yell at her subjects for mistakes. She ruled with fear for so long she thought it was the only way to rule. She sighed as began walking her Kingdom quietly. She looked around and saw the Changelings were packing getting ready for the wedding, all of the Changeling Kingdom was allowed to be there. Well those who weren't overly fanboying over Dark and Luna. She paused and realized that she hadn’t exactly been the nicest pony in the world. There were the obvious forms of villainy, but she was a bit temperamental and liked to yell at her subjects for mistakes. She would rule with fear for as long as she thought it was the only way to rule. She sighed as began prowling her Kingdom quietly. She glanced around and saw the Changelings packing, getting ready for the wedding. Most of the changelings were allowed to be there…well, those who weren't overly-fan-boying over Dark and Luna. Chrysalis raised a hoof. “Attention! To every changeling here…can I ask you all something?" They all turned and stared at her as she flinched. "Am I really scary?” she whispered. More staring…but softer this time. Eventually a brave little colt waved a hoof in her direction. “A little your majesty" he said sweetly. "And you all feel this way?" Chrysalis said quietly. Her face fell at the series of nods she received. The little changeling walked to Chrysalis and suddenly Chrysalis felt her forming tear being wiped away. She paused at the familiar gesture as the child spoke softly. "Don't cry your majesty. I'm scared of you, but you're still pretty cool to me.” Chrysalis paused at that, and then gently held the little changeling, showing her softer side. She let go and said "Thank you child" She smiled and asked "What's your name?" "Chomper" replied the little changeling. "Well than Chomper...I think we're a little late for a wedding" Chrysalis said, getting up. "We should head out" > An Innocent Memory > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Luna was sweating bullets. Sure meeting up with her mother again helped, but she's going to be freaking married soon! She's going to spend the rest of Dark's natural life with him, and she didn't know what she was doing. Thankfully Celestia was here to ease Luna's nerves. Celestia smiled and said "Thank goodness you aren't a bridezilla" Luna paced around only giving a slight chuckle. "If you want I can tell you another Charming Heart story" Luna paused mid walk and asked "Is that really okay?" "On days like this' Celestia started "There are few other ponies I like thinking about" "Lets see" Celestia started "Ah I got it, let me tell you the tale of our first date. It was two months after he and I got together, a beautiful late summer day. I had the sun shining just as we planned, this was days in advanced. We had to, because it was the night of what I lovingly named the Twin Sisters Meteor shower. This shower is a celebration of both myself and my sister, so I thought I could spend the day with my "Prince Charming". I went down to his room first and then I heard something I didn't want to hear, loud, bourus, coughing. I went back in and saw that poor Charming had got himself sick. Charming smiled and said weakly "Hey" "Oh no really tonight?" I said with concern and looked at Charming "Are you okay?" Charming smiled and said "A little queezy but I'm better now that you're here" He smiled and said "I'm looking forward to tonight" I looked at Charming, he was a sickly green color, and he looked like he would puke at any minute. I couldn't let him strain himself and said "Charming..." Charming smiled and said "This meteor shower is dedicated to you and your sister, I'm not missing it due to be a little under the weather" As if on cue, Charming floated a bucket to him and uncontroablly threw up in it. I sighed and said "That's not a little under the weather" "But..." Charming again attempted to protest, but I wasn't hearing any of it. Using my magic I brought in a small medical mask for myself and some water, Charming looked so disappointed when I sat next to him and started to put one of those hot water medical bags on his head. I smiled and Charming and patted his head "It's okay, I'm disappointed sure but your health is more important" Charming said "I know, it's just I wanted our first date to be special. You're the first mare I had this strong of an affection for. I wanted you to be happy." Thinking fast, I said "Who says we aren't on our first date now?" I pulled up a chair and continued "Every pony else will be watching the meteor shower tonight, so how about you and I spend the night together" He smiled at me then looked down "But what are we gonna do?" It was my turn to get a clever little smile and said "Well, how about you and I play a game called Back and Forth, where the two of us ask questions about each other back and forth" I admit this game had another motive. As much as I knew Charming, and I knew his sweet-hearted nature, there were things that I didn't know about him. Especially his deepest darkest secrets, and I admit that I was of a curious mind. Charming smiled and agreed "Okay, Princess's first" I wasted no time starting with "when you first met me you were scaling a tower trying to find me. Why didn't you take the stairs?" "I tried, your guards wouldn't let me. They thought I was some raving fan boy with a delusion" Charming started "My turn! What's your favorite memory of your sister". I admit that I cursed him slightly, having me remember Luna as I was trying to keep her buried deep down in my mind, but I answered anyways. "When we were fillies, it was the middle of the afternoon. Luna was trying to prove herself to me, father, and especially our mother. She bet that she could lift the moon, just like our parents. I told her that she didn't have to, but she insisted. She went and tried anyways. She kept trying and trying, and I could hear her crying when it wasn't working. However, in a fit of rage she screamed out and mighty magic rocked the old castle. With a lift of her head the moon rose and she collapsed. Mother put the moon back into place as Father and I scolded her. However, I was so proud of her." I smiled as I remembered my younger sibling and how strong she was. "My turn' I paused and had to ask something very personal. "Since you went personal" Charming paled "How did you break your horn?" Charming looked down as I immediately regretted my choice. I began to apologize to him telling him that he didn't have to, and was about to ask him a new question. When suddenly he started "I was just a little one...about five years old." He let out a hefty sigh which made me gulp. "My mother and father didn't like each other, in fact they hated each other. So much so that Mom decided to be unfaithful for dad, with a stallion that was in her own words "four times the horse than he would ever be". I was the result of that affair. Father hated me, he hated my horn on my head saying that I was an abomination. Eventually he snapped at my mother and in a fit of rage took it out on me. He tossed me out of a window...to kill me..." Charming smiled "Obviously he failed, but...I landed on my horn and it...broke off..." He sighed "it really hurt. I ran away from home after that, and found refuge in an orphanage. I'm grateful I found that place...if I didn't, I would have ended up just like him: Bitter, Angry, and Destructive" I winced as I looked at him "Charming, I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have asked this..." I looked down guilty as Charming pulled him to him and held me close "Charming...are...are you" I felt something wet on my shoulders. "It felt so good to finally tell some pony else" Charming said smiling with tears streaming "I...I had that held in for so long..." I paused as Charming asked "My turn? Do you love me?" "Of course I love you" I said with a smile as I leaned into him. I opened the window, and we both watch meteors flying by. I saw the moon, which still had Nightmare Moon on it, and whispered "I love you too" Luna heard the bells of Canterlot ringing at the end of the tale. Celestia smiled and said to Luna "Shall we?" Luna smiled "We shall" Celestia paused and looked up in the sky saying "I hope you're happy Charming" > The Moon Princess and her Prince > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The bells tolled and chimed with heavenly bliss as the bells rang, the moon rose high in the sky as it shined upon the altar where a very nervous Dark stood in place, looking at the arrangements. His nerves were at an all time high, this is it, this is the ultimate step. He looked to his left and saw General with Mayor Mare sitting next to each other, the latter of whom leaning on the strong hearted military pony. He smiled as he saw all the mane 6 minus Twilight sitting in the front row looking at Dark with a smile as they praised their friend for finally making this far. With such a smile from their mouths and their hearts that Dark couldn't help but smile back. Chrysalis was there as well, two rows ahead of her subjects who were still kind of scared of her, all but one. Little Chomper sat next to his Queen as they both looked on, it was a start for Chrysalis of course. One row ahead of them was Fang sitting next to an empty seat looking on enjoying the quiet. Behind him was his best stallion and friend, Starnight looking at him with a smirk as if congratulating him. Dark's nerves eased as he looked at the podium. Since Celestia was Luna's Maid of Honor, and Cadence barely knows Dark, the role of the priest was being played by the only princess left, Twilight Sparkle. If Dark could be entirely honest, it was like a blessing from Celestia herself, and probably planned by his future in law now that he stopped and thought about it. Suddenly he heard the trained birds from Fluttershy, who got out from her seat to lead, begin their sweet chirping of here comes the bride as Dark finally found his nerves easing away, destroyed by the beauty of his fiancé walking down the isle, her sister right beside her as Celestia was her only truly surviving family member, or at least the only one that wasn't dead or in Tartarus. In front of them was the CMC, who practically begged to be Luna's flower girls as a thank you for all she's done for them. Celestia smiled with a sweet tears in her eyes as they came to close, her own version of liquid pride, as Shining Armor put it, showing. However, what Dark focused on the most was his beautiful fiancé, she looked positively elegant, her dress was designed by Rarity of course, and the white unicorn did a wonderful job, as she made Luna not only pull off the traditional white wedding dress, but she also made it clear that Luna was the Princess of the Night. Luna smiled warmly as they made eye contact through Luna's veil. Dark whispered "You look beautiful" Luna smiled and said "Thank you, you look great yourself" Twilight began and said "Fillies, Gentelcolts, Mares, Stallions, and even Changelings, welcome. As I look around the room today, I feel like today's day is more than just a wedding, it's the ultimate culmination of a long journey between two ponies whose lives started in the dark, and came out into the light. Dark's practical worship of Princess Luna, and his own journeys and trials have touched the lives of every pony here, from my own heart to even the heart of one thought to be our enemy." She smiled as she looked at Chrysalis's big old grin, as Twilight went to Princess Luna. "And of course Princess Luna's own journey, from one of the worst monsters Equestria has ever faced to one of it's most important figures. She's truly a pony to be admired and beloved, and while many of us don't quite understand the dark, we don't fear it as much as we used to, because know that we have our beloved night guardian there. These two have gone through so much, and the fact that they found each other is truly inspiring. Now, the couple has insisted on writing their own vows, so Dark would you mind starting." Dark smiled and said "Thank you Twilight." He cleared his throat and said "Luna I'm so grateful for all you have done for me. You have turned this weak little nobody into someone great. Now it's my turn to return the favor. I will protect you, no matter what, I swear that you will have nothing more than my absolute loyalty, my love, and my passion. That is a promise that I can never break, until the day I die" Twilight then asked for Princess Luna who smiled deeply behind her veil. "Dark, I'm so glad you came into my life. You've helped not only Equestria, but myself grow in ways you can not possibly imagine. I know that this can't last forever, however...I will do everything in my power to make our time together full of magic. That is a promise from me to you, I love you." Dark responded with "I love you too" Twilight smiled already knowing their awnsers, but tradition and all. "Do you Dark Sidewinder take Princess Luna to be your lawfully wedded wife?" "I do" Dark said with a smile. "And do you Princess Luna take Dark Sidewinder as your lawfully wedded husband?" Twilight asked as Luna smiled. Luna responded with "I do" "Than by the power invisted in me as a Princess of Equestria, I now pronounce you Colt and Mare. You may kiss the bride" Twilight said as Dark did just that. The two kissed as the crowd erupted in thunderous applause for the two, however neither could hear it. The two broke both with happy tears getting to this point. They both looked at the crowd and took a bow, the moon glistening above shining down upon them as if it was giving it's own approval. Luna smiled as the two walked down the isle together heading towards their new life together, a life that they will never forget nor they will never regret, with the moon shining above.