Chapters White Night & his lover Braeburn had packed their bags & explained the situation to the ponies of Apploosa who all offered their condolences to Braeburn for the loss of his aunt Applesauce. The pair needed only stay a couple days in Ponyville but White had twisted Braeburn's leg into letting them stay a full week so he could get to know the stallion's most immediate family better. The day of their departure arrived & they trotted off to the train station. Braeburn was unusually stoic so White purchased the tickets himself. Before long the pair boarded the train, finding a secluded car, they settled in.
The ride was nearly silent for the first hour until White couldn't take it anymore.
"Brae, I know this is hard for you but I've never seen you so quiet, it's just worrying me a lot." He exclaimed. The look on his angel's face broke Braeburn out of his funk at which point he sighed heavily.
"Ahm sorry Angel but Ah haven't kept in touch with anypony in the family since my parents passed, Apples are supposed to stick together when things get bad. Ah feel like one bad Apple right about now."
"The only thing bad about this Apple is his rotten attitude, Brae you were going through a tough time, you made a mistake shutting your family out. But I'm here to make you fix this mess. Do you remember Hearth's Warming? You told me not to judge myself so badly because it hurt both of us, well now you're not taking your own advice Brae. It'll turn out alright. Just remember I'll be right there with you." With his sermon over he placed a kiss upon Brae's cheek.
"What did I do to deserve you Angel?" Braeburn asked as a smile returned to his face.
"You broke me out of my neurotic shell of a former self & showed me what it was like to be loved in every definition of the word." White stated smugly. Causing Braeburn to blush deeply.
"Did you prepare that ahead of time?" Braeburn asked still a shade of pink.
"We have been preparing for this for awhile now Brae." He stated matter-o-factly.
"I love you so much Angel." The golden stallion said happily
"I love you too Sweetie. Now lets get some rest before I start to panic too." With that the two drifted off after some effort.
The sound of the train whistle woke them several hours later, they headed into Ponyville to find a hotel to spend their stay in Ponyville in. With some effort they managed to find one not yet full of other Apples also there for the reunion to celebrate the Life of Auntie Applesauce. The "room" turned out to be nothing more than the dark, dank, attic of the hotel. White being a thestral didn't see the problem with the room so Braeburn decided just go along with it. Neither stallion tried anything physical as they slept that night due to the mass amount of Braeburn's family members in the floors below them being a huge mood killer.
The morning arrived & White & Braeburn prepared themselves for the day ahead. The pair waited until they had stopped hearing movement below to leave as Braeburn wanted to wait until they reached the farm to see everypony. White submitted to his terms, but eventually pushed his love out the door with great difficulty. White & Braeburn slowly made their way out to Sweet Apple Acres.
White was impressed at the size of the farm compared to the orchard back home. Even with bare trees the place was quite beautiful. White had a hard time believing that his lover feared the place for any reason. He looked over to his stallion who was attempting to calm his nerves by taking deep breaths periodically. White supposed this was an understandable reaction to the stress of the situation.
The pair was just past the entryway to the farm proper when White felt something peg him in the back of the head.
"Ow! what the hay was that?" The disgruntled thestral looked down to see the offending object was a small off-white bulb.
"Garlic? where the hay did-" White managed to say before being cut off by:
"Get away from mah cousin ya blood sucker!" Said a butter yellow filly with bright red mane & tail.
"Applebloom! What they hay are you doin?'" Braeburn yelled at the filly in question
"Saving you from the vampire?" Said Applebloom suddenly less sure of herself.
"White ain't a vampire! He's a thestral, a member of the royal family, & above all mah coltfriend! & you just hit him in the head with a vegetable!" Braeburn said angrily. At this Braeburn noticed her ears droop and eyes begin to tear up, making him feel terrible for making his little cousin cry. But, before Braeburn could apologize White punched him in the shoulder without saying a word & trotted over to the filly. He looked at her sympathetically before patting her on the head saying:
"Applebloom was it? Look, I'm not angry at you for the garlic thing, & I'm sure Braeburn didn't mean to upset you but Auntie Applesauce's passing has taken it's toll on him, & I swear that I would never hurt Braeburn. We're in love & I'm not a vampire." White said trying to soothe the filly's worries. Braeburn noted how good White was with foals.
"So you aren't gonna call the royal guard on me for hittin' ya in the head with garlic?" Applebloom asked with enormous sad-eyes that melted White's heart.
"Of course not! I couldn't arrest a filly." White added with a chuckle.
"I'm sorry though, yer highness, I was being a foal." She replied.
"You can just call me White. I don't have any real political power or anything." White said blushing.
"So y'all are a couple like miss Bon Bon & miss Lyra are?" The filly asked slightly confused.
"Well I don't know who those mares are but yes, it's the same thing. We're just stallions." He explained.
"Ok, so are y'all getting married like they did?" She asked innocently, Causing both stallions to stand there with red faces & open mouths.
"Applebloom?! Where are ya? We need, more cider! Go an' fetch it from the cellar!" A country accent yelled from the distance, breaking the awkward silence much to the relief of the stallions.
"Oh! That's Applejack I gotta go! Good to see ya cuz. Nice meetin' ya White!" She yelled as she sped off to the cellar.
"White, I-"
"Lets not have this conversation until after we fix your relationship with the rest of the Apples, okay?" White said as he placed a hoof gently upon Brae's mouth. To which Braeburn could only nod affirmative.
The couple walked further into the farm noticing several Apple family members in winter-gear chatting with one another. Several waved at Braeburn while others glanced at the couple unsure of what to make of them. This did little for either stallion's confidence. Braeburn was especially troubled because he couldn't help but think to himself:
"What's stopping me from asking him to marry me? It's legal & not so morally questionable to thestrals now. Ah know we haven't been together a very long time but we've been through so much, & we're so good for each other..." When no answer made itself known to him all he could do was sigh.
"Brae we've been standing in front of the house for like 5 minutes." White said breaking him from his self-contained melodrama.
"Whuh?" Braeburn stated as he returned to the scene at hoof.
"Oh, um... lets just go in then." He failed to say nonchalantly. To which Withe could only roll his eyes.
The farm-pony looked upon the house with both apprehension & nostalgia before knocking on the door. A moment passed before the door opened revealing an enormous red stallion with a sprig of wheat in his mouth. Th stallion despite his intimidating size had a gentle expression on his face.
"Howdy Big Macintosh. It's been awhile, hasn't it cousin?" Braeburn said guiltily.
"Eeyup." Was the only response Braeburn received. After a moment Big Mac motioned to White with his hoof.
"This is White, he's my special somepony, we've been together a few months now." Braeburn still not sounding himself told the hulking stallion. The farm pony then walked over to Whit whom he towered over. He stopped & began lifting a forehoof to the thestral. White visibly cringed but immediately felt silly as he saw Big Mac was merely asking for a hoof-shake.
"Heh, sorry. It's a pleasure to meet you Macintosh." White said as he accepted the greeting.
"Eeyup." was again his response.
"You don't say much do you Mac?"
"Nope." A smug Mac said.
"Mac here is one of us, so you ain't gotta worry none. Just don't go spreadin it around ok Angel?" Braeburn said, his expression slightly brighter. White was surprised but nodded none the less. Brae & Mac caught up a bit, White interjecting when the situation called for it. Though Mac probably only said 10 words the whole conversation. The trio entered the house soon were an elderly mare was napping in a rocker while an orange hoof motioned them around a corner into the kitchen. White immediately recognized her from the paper in Canterlot awhile back. It was Applejack the element of honesty herself, a national hero. White was glad he was already as pale as scientifically possible, because all confidence he had immediately left him when he saw her.
"Braeburn, ah didn't expect you here, you ain't been to the last three reunions. Did you come to pay your respects to Auntie Applesauce?" Applejack asked currently not noticing White.
"Yes, but I wanted to catch up with everypony & apologize for losin' touch. But I wouldn't be here without some convincin' from White here." Braeburn said as he motioned to the aforementioned thestral with a hoof. Applejack only now noticed the stallion who was trying to make himself seem as small as possible. White was surprised as the mare lifted him into a firm hug.
"Thank ya kindly for bringin' Brae back too us White, I was afraid I wouldn't get to meet ya what with Braeburn shuttin' himself off from us." The mare stated happily.
"You knew about us?" Both stallions asked confusedly.
"Well sure, y'all were all over the papers for a week! Never imagined you'd hook up with royalty cuz." The mare said before letting White out of her death-grip.
"You're okay with me bein' gay? I always thought you were more... traditional?" Braeburn asked genuinely surprised.
"Brae, we always kinda suspected it of ya. Ain't nothin wrong with love even the princesses say so, who am ah ta judge?" She said as if it was the most obvious thing ever. To Braeburn's surprise. The rest of the conversation progressed well & both White & Braeburn began to relax. Since it was February & the house was not large enough to accommodate the entire family the reunion would be held in the barn. The four soon departed to the barn & were joined by Applebloom, Granny Smith wouldn't be joining them as it was too cold in the barn. White was reassured that the other elderly Apples would be joining her where they would reminisce about Auntie Applesauce. When they reached the barn White saw dozens of ponies most all of them with apple related cutie-marks. Music & food abounded & everypony was having a good time. But in the center of a wreath at the back of the room was a photograph of an elderly green mare holding a pair of false teeth. There was a line of ponies taking turns paying their respects at the wreath. White motioned for Braeburn to join the line who nodded sadly.
Braeburn eventually made it to the front of the line. He took a moment before saying:
"Auntie, ah'm sorry I didn't get to see you more before this happened, but after my parents passed in the fire everything seemed so different. I couldn't stand seein' everypony else happy with their loved ones, so I convinced myself I didn't have any anymore. But I met somepony who had never been loved, & I realized how wrong I had been about everything. Now I have one more loved one, & I think talking to you like this has made me realize something else. I haven't asked him to marry me because I was worried that would change how things were between us. That's what I've always been afraid of, that's why I didn't come out to Ma & Pa before it was too late. Being back with the family & White I've realized I've been missing y'all terribly. I owe everything to him, I wasn't planning on coming back to the family. I would've missed so much."
At this point Braeburn had started sobbing from guilt & happiness & whole spectrums of other emotions. After a moment the familiar sensation of a leathery wing sliding over him gained his attention. White was looking at him with a warm smile.
"I'm proud of you, I didn't mean to eavesdrop by these ears hear everything. I'm so proud of you, you've been holding it all in for a long time. But you finally let it out." White said as he began to tear up himself.
White helped Braeburn back to his hooves. They returned to where they had been with the Apples that lived here. After Brae & White had calmed down Brae scanned the distance between them & the photograph.
"How'd you hear me all the way over here over all the ponies talkin?"
"The funny ears aren't just for show sweetie." White said as he pointed to the tufted ears with a hoof.
"So can you-"
"Yes, I can hear you sing in the shower from the bedroom even though you have the radio on." White said with an evil smile. Causing all of the other Apples to chuckle Braeburn's expense. The Apples & White traded various stories about their lives for several hours. Ponies eventually came to meet White & say hello to Braeburn, most of the Apples accepted him & if they hadn't they certainly didn't show it.
After the reunion the stallions had been offered the guest room in the Apple family home which they accepted.The night was still young so the stallions went back to Ponyville to retrieve their belongings from the hotel. Upon their return to the farm they found dinner was waiting for them, as apparently Granny Smith & the other elderly Apples had cooked lots of food during their little reunion. She had already headed to bed by now. The meal went well, stories were shared & laughs were had, at one point White excused himself to go to the restroom. Once Braeburn was sure he was out of range Braeburn leaned over to Applejack & whispered:
"Is there a good jeweler in town? There aren't any in Apploosa." Applejack immediately smiled & whispered the location of the building in question to her cousin. Braeburn swore everypony to secrecy before White returned unaware of what had gone on.
When dinner ended & everypony had split up to do their own thing, Braeburn said he needed to get some exercise which White was curious about but let the stallion enjoy his alone time as he didn't want to seem needy. White decided he would play with Applebloom to keep himself entertained. After finding the filly in question they played hide & seek, & several other games that Applebloom won each time despite the stallion's best efforts. This continued to happen until White asked:
"Care for a snowball fight?" The battle that ensued would go down in history as one of the most one-sided in history.
"You Cheated! You're invisible in the snow!." Applebloom whined. White merely stuck his tongue out at her as he trotted alongside her back towards the house. When the two returned White was overjoyed to find Braeburn sitting on the couch. Brae immediately took notice of his lover & his sopping wet shivering cousin.
"Snowball fight?" He asked with a smirk.
"Eeyup." was her response. The stallions merely laughed & fetched a blanket for the filly. After they were sure Applebloom was alright they retired to bed for the night. Both looking forward to spending the next few days with the Apple family.
The next few days passed quickly for Braeburn, he had everything planned out in his head. It was their last night in Ponyville & he & White were going to eat at "L'auge D'or" The fanciest restaurant in town later that night. Braeburn had made reservations during his "walk" days ago, among other things. He could hardly contain his enthusiasm while talking to anypony in the last few days. White got along with his family spectacularly, especially Applebloom which was a bit surprising considering how they had met. White had even helped out the CMC one day but decided that it was best left to them after he had somehow gotten glued to a tree while they were trying to start a campfire.
Author's Note
So yeah, I'm hoping I did this alright, I've never been proposed to before (*cries loudly*) but I think everything will turn out ok for my little ponies. Although since I'm the one writing I KNOW it but whatever.
Also for those of you who were wondering, the serving tray trick was done by the owner of the restaurant who used his unicorn magic to hold it down and in place until Braeburn tried it. Braeburn set everything up during his "walk".
White & Braeburn didn't leave the restaurant for over an hour after they had promised to live their lives together because they were finishing that bottle of wine & another in celebration. They decided to take the empty bottle as a keepsake to look back on down the road. The two were much closer to drunk than they were sober as they walked back to Sweet Apple Acres one with a wing wrapped around the other. White every now & again check his ear to make sure the symbol of their love remained in position, he never wanted to take it off if he could help it.
It was quite late when the pair managed to get back to the farm. They snuck into the house as quietly as they could & made their way to the guest room. In the morning they would share the news with the rest of the Apples in the house before having to return to Apploosa. They fell asleep quickly thanks to their inebriated state & slept soundly for the rest of the night.
All was calm in the room & the happy couple was sleeping like the dead. This was obviously tempting fate, as it was interrupted by Applebloom bursting through the door.
"Hey sleepy stallions! Y'all overslept! Breakfast is waitin' for ya!" She yelled causing the "sleepy stallions" to fall to the floor in surprise. Applebloom, noticing she had caused some distress put on a nervous smile & exited the room as quickly as she had come.
"Ugh, I'd be tempted to scold her if I could raise my voice that much, but this hangover is kicking my flank." Braeburn stated groggily.
"Give her a break Brae, she doesn't understand being hammered. It's an adult thing." White stated with a wave of a hoof.
"How are ya not upset about this? Ya drank more than me & you have super hearin!" Braeburn said in a state of confusion as he rubbed his temple.
"Thestrals metabolize alcohol better & I'm a bartender, I make & try dozens of drinks to perfect my technique. I've built up a tolerance." White stated smugly.
"You do remember last night right?" White asked slightly less cheery.
"I don't think either of could forget how special that night was if we tried." Braeburn stated with the best smile he could muster through the pounding headache. The two kissed briefly before getting up with Brae leaning on White as they slowly made their way down the stairs. They found every member of the household already eating their breakfast. Applejack noticed Braeburn's dilapidated appearance & said:
"Well you look like you got run over by a train, musta been one hay of a night."
White couldn't contain himself much longer & turned his head to give Applejack & the family a good view at his new earring before saying:
"You tell me." As all eyes widened at the couple.
"Y'all really are getting hitched!" Cried out Applebloom. As everypony else was still speechless for the moment.
"Well It ain't how we did it in my day, but as long as y'all are happy I cain't complain. & White's a good pony even if I think he could use some sun. Sides, it's high time one'a you youngins found somepony." Granny Smith stated from the end of the table as she said the last part the eldest Apple siblings visibly began shifting glances away from the speaker. After a moment,
"Welcome to the family White." was heard.
Every pony stared at Big Mac a tad surprised at the sudden complete sentence.
"Um, thank you Big Mac, It means a lot to me. I never had much of a family growing up & now I've got the royal sisters & the Apple clan in my life. I really never thought things would go so well for me. But I'm more happy than I've ever been now." White said as he began to tear up with a smile upon his face.
The entire room was filled with similar expressions as they all took this as cue for a group hug. The hug lasted for over a minute. Afterward more words of congratulations were offered but before long the couple had a train to catch. Luckily the car in which they had met was still available. The stallions reminisced over all that had happened between them in the last 6 months. They knew that didn't seem like very long but they had become irreplaceable parts of each other quickly & didn't care what anypony else thought of it.
The train had to make an unscheduled stop in Canterlot due to engine difficulties. The pair were not panicked by this as they knew the royal sisters would put them up until they could return home, they decided it was for the best anyway as now they could tell the princesses of their engagement in person. Getting to the castle was relatively easy & getting in was no trouble at all as White only needed show his sign of rank to the solar guards outside the gate. Upon entering the castle they saw the day court being held by Celestia who noticed them & motioned for them to head to Luna's part of the castle while the current petitioner was busy looking at a paper.
The two slipped past the bickering noble ponies without incident & arrived at the enormous silver door leading to Luna's personal rooms. They knocked upon the door to which they received an annoyed,
"It is open!" The stallions looked at each other & shrugged before Braeburn pushed the door open with some difficulty.
They were immediately bombarded with the sounds of futuristic weapons firing & ponies screaming threats & insults or simply screaming. White immediately tried to shield them with his wings on instinct but found himself looking silly, as it turns out Luna was merely playing a loud video game on a truly huge television that would have felt at home in a theater. Luna herself was sitting on a sofa in the middle of the room surrounded by more junk food wrappers & empty cider bottles than either bothered to even attempt to count. Luna seemingly had heard them come in as the game paused itself & Luna placed the controller aside with her magic. Turning to see the ones who had interrupted her playtime her expression changed from deathly serious to one of joy as she discovered their identities.
"White Night & Braeburn! Thou have come for a visit!" At this she momentarily returned to her game to save her progress & switched of her console.
"It is good to see our favorite couple, but why did you not send word of your arrival?" She asked upon finishing. To which the stallions explained their reason for being away for home & the train's technical difficulties, though they left out an important detail.
"We see, it is unfortunate that the railway is down. Would you like me to return you to your home?"
"Actually we had another reason for stopping by instead of getting a hotel room until the train is fixed." White explained failing to contain his smile. Luna then examined him closely at his words & he wiggled his ear garnering her interest. Her eyes widened just as the Apple's eyes had. The stallions had no time to react before they were swept up into an embrace that could turn coal to diamond & then crush them.
"Oh most joyous of times! When is the event? Will there be entertainment? Will there be a bar? Are you registered?" This line of questioning went on for until White was forced to kick her to signal that they were running out of air. Luna dropped them with a guilty expression.
"We apologize, our excitement took hold of us. We are very happy for thee. Has a date been set or plans drafted?" She said with a smaller but noticeable smile.
"Nah *cough* we just got engaged last night. We ain't got anythin planned just yet." Braeburn replied.
"I suggest you hold the affair here, as a member of royalty you are allowed the grand chapel & I would gladly front the bill as a wedding present." Luna said with a bright expression. The stallions seriously considered this but decided to withhold their answer until they had more time to think. Luna consented that this was a reasonable decision before saying:
"We do not wish to heighten the stress of the day but this will be a major day in pony history, this will be the very first gay marriage of a thestral as well as the first ever gay marriage of a noble in over 2000 years of Equestrian history." "Suck it Blueblood!" White thought to himself as Luna said her spiel with complete seriousness. Months ago this would have shaken White to the core, but now it barely fazed him as long as he had Braeburn beside him. After a moment of talking amongst themselves considering the new information they decided they would accept Luna's offer & notify her when they came to a decision about the date. Luna was overjoyed at this & ushered them to follow her out into the hall.
They followed her all the way to the throne room where Celestia was finishing with the last of the petitioners. Luna made a spectacle of herself behind the nobles so that she would speed it up. Celestia rolled her eyes & adjourned court for the day. She waited for the nobles to leave before walking over to the trio.
"What was so important that couldn't wai-"
"White&Braeburnaregettingmarried!" Luna interrupted with astonishing speed to Celestia's surprise & the couple's dismay.
"Luna don't ya think that we shoulda told her?" Braeburn asked in an annoyed tone. To which Luna only chuckled awkwardly.
"Well this is an interesting development, this will be the fi-"
"We've been through the significance already, but thank you Celestia." White said to the solar princess who had obviously become perturbed at being interrupted again. She opened her mouth to speak but White cut her off,
"Luna also offered us the grand chapel & assistance with the wedding bill." To which the only response was a sigh.
"I'm very happy for you two, would you like me to preside over the service?" Celestia asked finally having the upper hoof on her sister. The stallions looked at each other & nodded.
"That would be wonderful Celestia, don't worry about a gift. It's enough that you're both being so supportive." White said to which Braeburn nodded. The group took the next couple hours of conversation to the dining hall over coffee (coffee liqueur in Luna's case). The group talked of wedding plans & the couples time in Ponyville for several hours but no definite plans were made. As the hour grew to the time the train would have seen them home Luna instead magicked them directly into their living room.
The stallions had many things running through their heads but neither voiced any of their concerns. They merely went upstairs & joined each other in bed. For the first time in a week the stallions were alone in their home & decided to do something to celebrate all that had transpired & relax their nerves. Something that felt all the more right now that they had promised themselves to one another. There was definitely lust present in the room but above all there was love. After all was said & done the only thing left to be said as they embraced each other was:
"I love you Angel."
"I love you too Sweetie."
With that the cuddled couple drifted off to sleep oblivious to anything other than the warmth shared between them.
Author's Note
http://wulfricashbell.deviantart.com/art/White-Night-OC-001-419495108
I dusted off my scanner & drew up a brand new drawing of White! It's much more accurate than what I could do with the pony maker at the Hub. Unfortunately I didn't have anything to color it with & I'm not good with computer art stuff so just imagine the color scheme from previous pictures, & I'd like to thank everypony for their continued support at this, my second attempt at writing.
Also that's probably as close to clop as I'm gonna go, this is about fluff not sex, & I'm not sugar coating the fact that people/ponies use sex to distract themselves from things for a little while. I'm trying to be realistic.
Things returned to normal for the most part after about a week of non stop congratulations from all of the various citizens of Apploosa as well as several buffalo they were friends with. Braeburn began picking up jobs around town to stay busy while White resumed bartending at The Golden trough. Whenever they had time together they planned out their incoming nuptials. They planned around holidays & ponies they wanted their no matter what's schedules & finally settled on a date. The date that seemed most fitting to all parties involved was the 8th of May.
It was decided that Luna would be White's best mare as well as the one to give him away as White had no mother or father to speak of. Applebloom was to be the flower filly, much to her excitement. Big Mac was to be Braeburn's best stallion & Applejack & Granny Smith were providing catering along with several other Apples at the irate group of mare's insistence. Fuzzy Navel being one of their closest friends was going to tend bar to Luna's delight.
Everything had been sorted out & invitations had been mailed, the stallions took some time to relax. Today was the day of Hearts & Hooves day but Neither stallion felt like taking a long train ride just to go to dinner in a fancy restaurant. Instead they curled up under the large Apple family quilt Braeburn owned & enjoyed a frozen pizza, the first meal they had shared when they met. They coupled this with some cheap wine & enjoyed a cheesy romantic comedy on their small television. Though the night wouldn't seem like much to anypony else, it meant the world to the both of them.
Author's Note
Really short chapter, basically an intermission. Though it's also because writing this is bumming me out. Everything is going great for my characters but meanwhile I'm still all alone.
So in short, I'm jealous of cartoon horses. *Sigh* I really need a boyfriend.
It was soon time for everypony to head to Canterlot, it was the fifth of May & White was overseeing the decorations in the grand hall while Braeburn oversaw the food for the event. Luna & Applebloom assisted White in making sure of everything White was too busy to handle. Big Mac was setting up chairs in the grand hall for the numerous guests that were to attend. On Braeburn's side of the room would be the Apple family of Ponyville as well as several other alongside their friends from Apploosa. White's side of the room would hold the royal sisters, Fuzzy, the other employees from the Trough, & a surprising number of now out of the closet thestrals.
Things were going well, the menu options had been finalized & the grand hall looked beautiful, It had been decked out in white & gold the colors of the soon to be joined pair. At the end of the day the stallions retired to the same room they had used months before during the holidays. The room held special significance to them as it had been where they had first made love. However they decided to forgo repeating this act until after their wedding. This didn't matter to the pair as they would soon be a couple recognized by Equestria, & Faust. The pair soon slept as they had much to do in the days ahead.
In the morning the couple split to get fitted for their suits. White went with Luna to Ponyville to have his made by the element of generosity herself who was overly enthused to make clothing for royalty. Braeburn was being fitted by Celestia's personal tailor. The soon to be couple spent their days in Canterlot & Ponyville respectively. White was thankful to be out & about without ponies recognizing him as "That gay vampire prince" that Canterlot citizens had labeled him since the publicity garnered during New Moon Night.The thestral did however have trouble getting the seamstress to stop pestering him about his ascension to royal status. Braeburn found himself met with stares & whispers as he trotted around Canterlot heading to the jeweler to pick up Braeburn's own earring to wear when the couple joined at the ceremony. The jeweler who went by Gem Setter, brought out the item in question. It was identical to Whites in form, but the metal was gold & the gem was a ruby. The reason behind this was so it would be more noticeable against Braeburn's coat & match Braeburn's favorite outfit that he had been given by White. It cost a fair amount of bits coming from the best jeweler in Canterlot, but Braeburn wanted everything to be perfect so he didn't care.
Though they spent the day apart they met again at dinner, the dining hall was filled with the guests for the wedding. Everypony ate happily after their long day of preparations. Luna & Applebloom had become fast friends in the last couple days, which they spent pranking everypony at any given opportunity.
The stallions retired early that night to spend time alone as tomorrow was the day before the wedding & they were not to see one another from then until the ceremony. When they awoke they embraced & kissed before saying their goodbyes. To switch things up White would spend the day with the Apples alone while Brae would spend it with the princesses.
"Where are y'all going on yer honeymoon?" Applejack asked curiously.
"We're spending it in the countryside near Whinnypeg, no reporters, no photographers, no disturbances." White said dreamily.
"Whinnypeg? But that's where..." Applejack said with a saddening expression.
"Yes, We're going to see Braeburn's parents when we arrive. Braeburn hasn't been home since before the fire. He needs this, & I need to help him through it. Braeburn still carries the guilt of it all on his back, he's happier now but he needs to get past this. Then we can truly start a life together." The look on White's face contained happiness, sadness & longing all at once. Applejack knew that White wanted nothing more than to help his fiancee heal just by seeing the look
A similar conversation was being held by the other groom across the castle.
"You intend to resolve this matter during your honeymoon?" Luna asked skeptically
"It was White's request. He wouldn't let me say no. He still thinks I've done way more for him than he has for me even though he gave me happiness & reunited me with the rest of my family." Braeburn answered with with a saddened expression.
"White has felt much pain in his life, but you for the first time showed him love. He puts you before himself so that he can heal you as well. I wish such a gentle soul wouldn't place so little value on itself, but I can't deny that if I had been in his situation I wouldn't do the same." Celestia stated somberly.
"When all is said & done, we are sure the two of thee will be better for it just as the case of all that has happened until now." Luna stated as she placed a hoof upon Braeburn's shoulder.
The day came, the grand chapel held the crowd of ponies who waited for the ceremony to begin. All who had a place in the event were in position & at the head of room was Braeburn suited in black wearing the hat White had given him as well as his ruby earring. He stood before Celestia awaiting his fiance. The time arrived, Luna & White led down the aisle by Applebloom who was spreading pink flower petals all about joined him. Luna nodded to the pair before she & Applebloom took their seats. White was truly a sight, he wore a white suit with pink accents the same color as his hair. He had a red rose in his lapel & he wore a bow tie also pink identical to Brae's red one. They looked at each other with both joy & nervousness. Celestia motioned it was time to begin.
"Ladies & gentlecolts, we are gathered here today to join Duke White Night & Braeburn Apple in bonds of harmony. May any who oppose this marriage speak now or forever hold their peace." After this there was a momentary pause. As nopony spoke up Celestia continued.
"Very well, we shall continue with the ceremony. The grooms have written their own vows which we will hear now." White was the first to read from the card he kept in his breast pocket.
"Braeburn, I had never known much happiness, I was shunned by my family & left them as soon as I could do so, & was persecuted for my looks & orientation by my own people. Eventually I broke, But then you trotted into my life when I was trying to hide myself from the world. You picked up the pieces & put me back together, then you invited me into your life & gave me everything I had ever wanted from life. You saved me from myself & everything else I could never love anypony more than you." He said with tears in his eyes.
"White, my angel. You are the only pony who ever made me feel like myself. Nowhere felt as much like home as it did when I was with you. I never considered telling my parents I was gay until it was too late, after that I never felt like having a relationship but you broke me away from my guilt. Without you I'd still be alone in that house in Apploosa, just going through the motions of everyday life. I swear I will never leave you for as long as I draw breath." Braeburn said his eyes tearing up just as much as White's.
"Then do you, White Night take Braeburn Apple to be your husband?"
"I do." White said with absolute certainty
"And do you, Braeburn Apple take White Night the first duke of the thestrals to be your husband?"
"I do." Said Braeburn in the same tone.
"Then by my authority as the co-ruler of Equestria I pronounce you husband & husband, you may now kiss." As soon as Celestia finished the newly weds embraced in a kiss so passionate that Applejack covered Applebloom's eyes. When they broke the embrace White removed the rose from his pocket, flew upwards & threw it toward a large number of scrambling guests. To everypony's surprise Big Mac grabbed it in his teeth. His ears drooped & he wore a sheepish smile as all eyes fell to him. Celestia broke the silence with a cough & ushered everypony to the Ballroom.
The ballroom had been prepared for the party after the wedding. Food filled tables lined both side walls & the dance floor sparkled in the lights cast from the chandeliers. The Stallions had booked the band "Semisonic Rainboom" for the reception. Everypony was having a wonderful time & filling up on lots of treats (mostly apple related) & everypony was talking to one another. You could even see Big Mac not speaking with a thestral White had remembered seeing approach him at the banquet months ago. After awhile it was time for everypony to dance. The band began playing their song . The two danced for the first time. It was awkward & clumsy but nopony seemed to notice, certainly not the stallions as they were lost in each other's eyes. They danced every song until it was impossible for them to continue, then they were seated. It was time to cut the cake, a monolithic pastry that took four ponies to carry in. White cut the cake with a hoof guided by Braeburn, they took the first piece and took turns feeding it to one another. The night continued on until everypony was danced out & full of cake & treats.
The Stallions boarded a chariot attached to one solar guard Pegasus & one thestral of the night guard & were carried off to their honeymoon destination in Whinnypeg.
Author's Note
Okay, so I've only been to one wedding a long time ago so this probably wasn't as good as it could have been. Closing time is my favorite song so it's theirs by default & I thought it kinda went with White being a bartender.
The newlyweds were finally settled into their cottage outside Whinnypeg, it had taken several hours of flight to get there & neither stallion had been fond of it. White loved the night sky but riding a chariot is nothing like flying under your own power, Braeburn fared even worse as he was an earth pony & felt more & more airsick the longer the flight took. This was made up for by having two weeks to themselves to look forward to. However before they could start the rest of their lives there was still closure to be had.
The stallions awoke early the next morning, a gray dreary day suited to the task at hand. White cooked the couple scrambled eggs as neither knew how to make much else. Breakfast was eaten quietly & quickly. Braeburn then lead the pair down a long dirt road further into the countryside. After a two hour walk the pair arrived at Solemn Spruce Cemetery, the resting place of Braeburn's parents. Braeburn's mood didn't visibly change as they walked through the rows, but White could practically taste the hesitation & anxiety that permeated the air around him. Eventually they reached two graves near the center of the cemetery that read:
"Bismarck Apple devoted father, loving husband & Brina Apple caring mother, faithful wife."
Braeburn positioned himself directly in front of the headstone of his father, White stood next to him where there were no stones & draped a wing over his husband, as a show of moral support. All was silent for a moment until:
"Ma, Pa, I know you would have loved me no matter who I loved, but I was too busy being foalish to realize it. By the time I knew it it was already too late. I separated mahself from the family & ah didn't even go to the funeral. I completely ignored the reunions & was even cross with Applejack when she tried to help me. But eventually I met an angel in disguise, he was even more broken then ah was. But we fixed each other, White became royalty & I even became friends with the princesses. We just got married, I know you were always trying to get me to find a nice mare but I've never had any interest in em'. I wanted to tell you so badly, but I was too worried that you'd be disappointed in me. I'll always love you & do my best to remember you but i need to get on with life & White is my life now." Braeburn said through tears. But when he finished he began to smile through it all. White pulled him tight & there they stayed embraced for a long while. White wasn't sure about it but he could almost hear the wind whisper, "thank you". After saying goodbye the stallions promised to return at least once a year. But for now it was their honeymoon & they intended to enjoy themselves, & now that the weights of guilt had been lifted the loving couple had the rest of their lives to live through good & bad.
Author's Note
Okay so I'm not super fond of leaving them there but I have plans to revisit their continuing life together eventually. For now however I intend to do a story about two main characters, I already have them picked out. It will be a M/M fic as will most stories I make in the future.
