Death Dealer

One Week Later

It was a beautiful day for a wedding. Eli made sure of that the weather team wouldn't plan any bad weather for her special day.

Eli walked down the hallway of the Apple family house, the girls all decided to stay the night before while the groom stay in his own apartment, using it as an opportunity to have what possibly was the last slumber party they would ever have together. Eli had just arrived at the house, wanting to check on the progress the girls had made in getting the bride ready.

He wore a pair of black pants and a white shirt, a blue vest and bow tie accentuated everything and made him look sharp, but not sharp enough to outdo the groom. he stood in front of the Applejack’s room and knocked.

“Who is it?” The voice of Rarity came through the door

“It's me.” Eli responded, “Just wanted to check on the progress you guys were making”

“Oh! We should almost be done,” Rarity said, cheeriness in her voice, “just give us another hour and we should be good to go!”

Eli groaned at her definition of ‘almost done’ “Ok, Well we are almost ready too.” Eli continued as he dusted his shoulder and straighten his tie. he was about to say something else, but was interrupted before he could open his mouth

“Ya better be” Applejack from what sounded like next to the door, “Ya don't want to have the poor girl waiting for the groom instead!”

“Of Course!” he responded faux indignation in his voice “What kind of best man would I be if I didn't get the groom to the church in time!”

“A slow one!” Rainbow Dash responded, quickly followed by a laughter from everyone inside the room.

“Alright alright” Eli raised his hands in defense, “I need to talk to Granny Smith real quick girls, then I'm going to go get the grom. we'll be waiting for you guys at the church” a chorus of okay’s quickly followed and Eli walked away. As soon as he did the room returned to the normal chatter.

Walking down the stairs and turning to the kitchen, Eli saw Granny Smith was putting the finishing details on the wedding cake. Looking at the wedding cake, it was obvious to him that a lot of care and attention had been put into it. Everything from the countless multicolored sugar flowers to the miniature bride and groom was perfect.

Eli stood in the door to the kitchen waiting for the old mare to finish her decorations, and once she did Eli gave a knock on the door frame, attracting the mare’s attention without startling her.

“Oh, heya sonny,” she said with her grandma smile “you here for the stuff?” she asked as she winked.

Eli just smiled back and winked “yes, granny” was all he responded.

Granny smith just nodded and walked to a closed liquor cabinet. Unlocking it, she pulled out a bottle of Zap Apple Cider. This one was not vintage or anything, but it was still her special recipe, and one of the rarest alcoholic drinks in the world, as she only made two or three bottles a year.

This surprised Eli, when he asked Granny Smith for a bottle of cider he was just expecting a normal bottle not this. “Granny smith,” Eli broke the silence, “what is this?”

“Well its Zap Apple Cider of course!” she said as if it was nothing, “you asked me for something to make a special toast. Or did ya forget?” continued the old mare, her signature smile on her face “I’m supposed to be the forgetful one, not you young whippersnappers”

“Yes, but I wasn't expecting it to be Zap apple” he said as he grabbed the bottle of cider. “You don't make many of these any more”

“Yea, thats true” Granny Smith walked back over to the cake inspecting it one more time “And I don't drink any of it but maybe once a year!” she said as she sounded irritated “I have an entire cellar full of the stuff because of that damned Doc!” she looked back at him from where she was standing “And plus, you are family sonny, even if you aren't an Apple, and I would only give the best for family” she turned around facing the cake again, a shaky hoof rubbing her chin “I also have a little gift for the bride and groom too. It’s a vintage that has been in the cellar for about 40 years, a little older than the one I gave you”

Satisfied with her work, Granny Smith walked over to the sink, starting to wash her utensils. Eli just looked at her for a moment and remembered that he had to pick up the groom and take him to the church.

“Thanks Granny” he said as he looked at the watch “I have to go, but ill see you at the wedding”

“See you then, Eli” and with that he left the house

Walking out of the door, his personal limousine, a black limousine that was conceived by one of his younger designers, awaited him. He couldn't help but notice it reminded him of a chopped and stretched 49 Mercury. Behind his limousine a much longer, white limousine awaited for the bride and her entourage.

Waiting by the door to the black limousine was his chauffeur, whom Eli liked to affectionately call ‘Alfred’. As Eli got closer the car Chauffeur opened the door for him, granting him access to the vehicle. “Welcome back, Sir. Where would you like to go?”

“Its almost time for the wedding,” he said as he entered the car and sat on the seat, “so take me to riverside tower. Lets see how our groom is doing”

“At once, sir.” Was all the chauffeur said as he closed the door. With that, Eli left for one of the few high end apartment buildings that had recently sprung up in ponyville lately.

***

The stage was set, Eli was standing in a room he had used to give the groom a few encouraging words, though by looking at him you would think it made it worse. with some free time, Eli decide to go over his list, a little habit he had picked up from Twilight, and put a check on everything that was done.

‘The church was rented: Check(obviously)’

‘So was the venue for the reception: Check(double obviously)’

‘The Cake was done: Check’

‘The decorations were immaculate: Check’

‘The priest was here: Check’

‘The catering was set up and was delicious’...Eli popped a “sample” he had taken from the kitchen: ‘Double Check’

Eli looked up from his list and saw that the groom was nervously fidgeting with a lightning shaped pin on his chest, his dress mirroring Eli’s, but with a black suit and not just a vest.

‘The groom is nervous...:Triple Check ‘

Everything seems to be in order, but at that moment, the light blue pegasus decided to assault Eli with a thousand-and-one questions...again “how do I look? Does my hair look okay? Is this supposed to look like this? Is it hot in here? How do i look!? does my hair-!”

“Come down buddy” Eli, with a light slap to the face of the stallion, interrupted what was probably going to be a very long string of the same questions “I’m here for you, and I'll be literally standing by your side when the mare of your dreams walks in through those doors” he said as he put his hands on the stallion's shoulders, “just don't expect me to hold your hoof, Okay?”

This drew a laugh from the stallion and he visibly relaxed. “Thanks, Man. I needed that”.

“Thats what I’m here for, literally.” Eli gave the best reassuring smile he could give “well that and to prevent any stallions from coming in and stealing the bride from the altar” he added under his breath

“What was that?”

“Nothing” He responded, “We should get going, the ceremony starts in about 15 minutes”

“But do you didn't answer my questions! How-”

“You look fine, really” Eli said in time to stop the stallion from going into panic mode again. “Now c'mon, Soarin. Its time for your wedding”

***

The church was beautiful, and it was more beautiful as Rainbow Dash came in through the doors, flanked by the other five girls,

Scootaloo and Applebloom carrying the bride’s train.

Her dress was, of course, designed by Rarity, it was a white gown with stripes of color throughout the dress, train and veil, a little bit make up applied to her face, though Eli knew it was most likely Rarity’s idea. How did she get RD to let her put makeup on her? Rarity has her ways.

The girls wore much simpler dresses, each one a different color of the rainbow. just after the bride and bridesmaids Eli saw the ring bearers, Spike and Sweetie Belle. Spike carrying the rings on one hand, and in the other, he held Sweetie Belle, arm in leg.

Besides him, Eli could have sworn, he heard a clang. Looking to the groom he saw Soarin, mouth agape and eyes wide. Giving him a gentle shove with his knee, Soarin snapped out of his zombie like state and closed his mouth with a click.

Eventually, the bride and the groom met at the front of the altar, looking at eachother in the eye. “You look beautiful, RD.”

At the sudden compliment Rainbow Dash blushed, shifting her weight nervously “T-Thanks, you look very handsome too.”

At that moment the priest decided to start the ceremony “Dearly beloved, we gather here today to…”

***

The reception was being held in a high end hotel on the edge of Ponyville’s new “rich district”, near Soarin’s apartment building. Eli was sitting besides the now husband, who was sitting next to his wife and besides her Scootaloo sat, the other seven girls sat in their chairs of choice with no particular order. Before them where were several tables that were reserved for close friends and family.

*DING DING DING* the hitting of a fork on an empty glass brought all of the attention to Princess Twilight, she was the prime organizer for this function, but due to her princess duties, she had to leave most of the legwork to Eli. He didn't mind, actually, he enjoyed it. It was the first thing he did in several years that did not concern his job.

“Hello, Everypony” she started sounding a little bit nervous, she had gotten a lot better at public speaking since she and Eli had met, but every once in a while the nervousness returned. “It is time for the bride and groom's friends and family to say a few words. First up, the man who made all of this possible.” She finished as she looked at Eli.

Standing so that everyone in the crowd could hear, Eli cleared his voice started thinking what he was going to say, but it didn't take him long to come up with something. “Hello everypony. Let me just say how honored I am to have Rainbow Dash as my best friend. We’ve known each other since before we went touring around the country, doing shows and demonstrations to expose my inventions to the public eye. After that, she was my right hand mare, helping me organize races and other events, to say that we have gone through a lot is an understatement.”

“I remember the time she told me she was in love, and his name was Motor Racing” this drew a hearty laugh from the crowd and a blush from Rainbow Dash who laughed too. “And I believed her, so when I needed someone to take over the racing division of my company, there was no better choice.”

He took a moment to looked at Rainbow Dash, the nostalgia making her eyes water. She gently wiped a tear from her eye so that she did not smear the make up, lest she draw Rarity’s Wrath later on.

“Now Soarin on the other hand, I met while I was recruiting drivers for the first Equestrian Dakar rally race.” Eli remembered it like it was yesterday, the first truly massive event RD and Eli organised. It was a 500 mile race going through all types of terrain, from desert to sea to mountains.

“He had decided to try his hoof at motor racing while the Wonderbolts where in between tours, and went out to one of the venues we where using to test the driver’s skills. Turns out, he is a better driver than he is a flyer,” now it was time for Soarin to be the but of the joke, another round of laughter and another blush later, Eli continued “But that’s saying something, he is an awesome flyer. After he won the first Equestrian Dakar Race, he decided to leave the Wonderbolts and pursue a career as a professional race car driver. As soon as I heard that, I extended him an invitation to drive for my company, and believe me, I could not shove it in his face hard enough.”

At that comment, the crowd gave a small chuckle, not knowing if it was meant to be a joke or not. Tensions dissipated once a hearty laugh was heard from Soarin followed by a “You can say that again!”

“The final things I want to say, are that I have a gift for you, Rainbow Dash, that I will give you later, and to say...” there was a short pause where Elli tried to keep the mist from his eyes “that I think of both of you as my best friends, without you too, I would not have made it through these tough times in recent years.” At that, the crowd let out a sad ‘AWWW’ “for that I would like to propose a toast” a unicorn server appeared from one of the many doors and made his way around the guests of honor’s table and the one for close friends and family, serving each a glass of Granny's Zap Apple Cider. “To the lov-I mean Awesome couple” he said as he turned to look at the husband and wife, giving them a wink and drinking his cider. “Thank you all for your attention”

Eli left the stage center of the room and took his seat back besides Soarin, who gave him a brohoof to the shoulder.

“Thanks Eli, for that wonderful speech” Twilight said as she took center stage this time “I would like to say some words now. *ahem* Let me start by saying that when I first met Rainbow Dash, she didn't give the best first impression. It was the summer sun celebration and...”

***

The day was coming to an end, the cake had been eaten, the bouquet had been thrown, and the dance had been danced. Right now everybody had walked out of the church to bid the husband and wife farewell. Eli stood at the end of the rows of people, next to the driveway. He watch as Soarin and RD made their way through the crowd of ponies just to stand in confusion as the limousine was not waiting for them.

“Where is our ride?” Rainbow Dash asked, confusion rising as a smile cracked Eli’s face in two

“Your ride will be here soon enough” He said as he passed an envelope to them. Opening the envelope, Rainbow found luxury hot air balloon tickets, and a set of directions stating that they didn't need anything and to report straight to the airport.

“What is this” she asked.

“Part one of your gift,” Eli said grin still on his face “part two should be here right about now” and at that moment the roar of a first generation, V8 diesel engine ripped through the crowd, one of only two ever made.

The effect on Rainbow Dash was immediate, her ears perked up and her eyes widen, pupils the size of dinner plates, tears starting to run down her face, she could recognise that engine anywhere “H-h-how dd-did you...wher?” she wiped her eyes, deciding to hell with the make up. A moment later the car rolled to a stop in front of RD and Soarin, being driven by Alfred.

Rainbow Dash stared at the car for what, to her, felt like hours. To her this was no ordinary car, this was thesonic wave, the car Rainbow Dash drove when she and Eli were on tour. Rainbow Dash thought she had lost it, and after the accident Eli thought so too.

“I found it on a junkyard near fillydelphia last year” he said as a flash of nostalgia crossed across his face “even rebuild it my self in the old shop. I thought it would be a goo-”

“T-the old shop?” Rainbow Dash interrupted him “but you had mothballed it. You brought it back on-line just for me?” RD asked, not knowing what else to say. A moment later all Eli saw was a blue blur that few up to his face and hugged him “THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!” she said as she rubbed part of her makeup on his face “you are the best friend a mare can ever have! Besides direct nitrous injection...But thats besides the point! THANK YOU!!!”

“Your welcome,” Eli smiled, it truly was worth all of the time he put in it “but I think you should get going. You wouldn't want to miss your flight would you?”

“You are right!” Rainbow Dash said enthusiastically as she wiped the remainder of her tears and (much to Rarity’s displeasure) make up “Rainbow Dash is never late!” With that RD and Soarin jumped in the car, which had been modified to be street legal and a passenger seat was added.

Rainbow Dash quickly put on a circlet, its center housing the car’s control crystal, and started the car. the sound and vibrations of the engine made Rainbow’s hair stand on end. it was better than she remembered, but she could not get lost in nostalgia all day long, she needed to get somewhere, and she was not going to be late, ‘not in this car I won’t’. leaning out of the window for a moment, Rainbow quickly waved at the crowd of ponies but disappeared inside the car and spedoff into the night.