The next few months since Applejack had learned that she and Troubleshoes were having a foal, and since he'd gotten Big Mac's blessing to marry her, passed quickly. Both eagerly watched as her belly started to slowly grow after the three-month mark, with Applejack apparently being an early shower. They'd been on many dates since, and with each, they only learned how much they loved each other that much more.

They'd started to plan the wedding just recently as the date they'd chosen quickly closed in, planning such a large event a new experience for Trouble but not for Applejack. She was used to planning for such large events like marriages and the like after all, with the Apple farm also running a small-time catering business on the side for friends and family.

After he'd gotten engaged with Applejack and they had gotten serious with their relationship, Troubleshoes had noticed that he was no longer nearly falling into ditches or mud-puddles outside of at his rodeo performances anymore—and that, oddly, nothing truly unlucky had actually happened to him since Applejack had gotten pregnant. Though, now that he'd thought about it more, was Applejack getting pregnant really a bad thing if it meant he got to spend the rest of his life with such a wonderful, beautiful Southern belle? He didn't think so.

Perhaps she really was his good-luck charm as she'd always said, since the day they'd met...

~

Applejack tried to stand still as her dress was having some last-moment adjustments done, with her belly having grown quite a bit in the past month since the last one, her baby bump having continued its slow, gradual expansion all while its owner quickly busied herself making plans and preparations for the most important day of her life. Well one of them at least, with it being second only to the future birth of her foal she figured.

As Applejack stood in the fitting room and looked down at the beautiful wedding dress her friend Rarity had made for her being fitted upon herself, she couldn't help but chuckle giddily at just how plain it looked, and she could want nothing more than that.

Rarity was nothing if not a true fashionista, the fairly simple white wedding dress only accentuating Applejack's natural rustic beauty instead of covering it with gaudy frills and gems, a small group of subtle green accents accentuating her eyes and at the same time perfectly contrasting her natural orange coat color.

Her hair was pinned up in a style similar to how she'd once worn it as a filly, waving down in layers with a small emerald-encrusted tiara behind the bangs. She'd, of course, wanted to simply wear her mane down and unaccented, but Rarity had once again insisted she'd worn it like this, so with an exasperated sigh she'd agreed.

As she now stood outside the doors leading to the chapel, Applejack took a deep breath, mentally bracing herself for what she was about to do, preparing for a most important event in her life. As she heard the song-bird choir and organ music start, the doors were opened and Applejack was preceeded by her sister Apple Bloom and her sister's friends Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo—her flower-fillies—spreading rose petals along the center aisle, as well as her brother Big Mac accompanying her to 'give her away' at the alter in leiu of their father.

With one more deep breath she started walking, nervously biting down a little tighter on the rose bouquet in her mouth as she slowly made her way up to the alter when she felt the butterflies starting again, tasting the slightly-bitter plant-green flavor of the juice, hearing a small snap come from it as she'd bitten hard enough to break a stem.

The bride-to-be looked to her left and right as she walked, recognizing everypony on her side as her extended or close family and friends from Ponyville and all over Equestria, including her six best friends in the whole world – Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Princess Twilight Sparkle and Spike, Rarity, and last but surely not least, Fluttershy.

The three other Princesses of Equestria had also been invited to join and now attended, with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna for once not looking at odds with each other over something trivial, instead peacefully sitting next to each other and watching the proceedings. To their left was Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, or 'Cadence' for short, and her husband Prince Shining Armor, with Cadence having a rather large box of tissues handy for her husband's expected crying, as he did so at every wedding they attended.

On Troubleshoes' side were much fewer ponies, just a few of his fellow rodeo clowns and a few other friends he'd made through his travels, as well as his parents whom Applejack had met before. He never was much of a socialite, given his shyness and bad luck, and that fact now showing.

As the song met its end and Applejack refocused her attention, her hooves having worked on auto-pilot as she'd surveyed the crowd, she found that she stood in front of the alter facing her stallion-to-be just as practiced, Big Mac having guided her there and smiled as he gave her away.

As the minister spoke, opening the ceremony with the standard words of an Equestrian wedding, Applejack could only look up into her stallion's eyes through the veil, looking deeply into those deep green pools that strongly resembled her own. Looking into the emerald pools she'd many times before bathed in, almost consumed by them once more before she brought herself back to the surface, letting out a held-in breath of nervousness in a quiet woosh.

When the minister finished and called for the bracelets, with them being used as a sign of unity by Earth Ponies and sometimes Pegasi instead of the horn-rings used by unicorns, Apple Bloom brought the pillow with two gold bracelets.

Each bracelet was beautifully engraved with a pattern chosen by each for the other and set with a single small emerald in the center of each at Troubleshoes' insistence. Applejack's had a complex engraving of a farm panorama, highly detailed to the point where one could see the individual leaves on a nearby tree if they looked closely.

Troubles' had an engraving of a rodeo scene, including a pony running an obstacle course and another riding a bull, a couple more scenes in addition separated by a thick line between each, with Applejack knowing how much her stallion-to-be loved the rodeo.

At long last, the moment all had been waiting for had arrived. "Applejack Apple, do you take this stallion to be yours, to love and care for, so long as you both shall live?" the minister asked, then turning to Applejack.

"Ah do!" Applejack responded boldly, leaving no doubt she wanted to be forever joined with the stallion she loved.

The minister then turned to Troubleshoes. "...and do you, Troubleshoes Clyde, take this mare to be yours, to love and care for, so long as you both shall live?" the minister asked, getting a bold nod.

"Ah do. Proudly." Troubles responded, then looking to his mare, his soulmate, and the proud carrier of his foal. His soon-to-be wife.

They then placed their bracelets on each others' fetlocks, the act showing their dedication to each other.

"Then by the power vested in me, I hereby pronounce you mare and stallion, Mister and Missus Troubleshoes Clyde!" The minister announced, to an uproar cheer from the crowd. "You may now kiss the bride."

Troubleshoes lifted Applejack's vail to the stomping applause of the audience, gazing into Applejack's eyes for but a moment before lowering his lips to her muzzle. He made contact, but not quite correctly, as his lips landed on the top of Applejack's muzzle, right on her nose. With a light chuckle from his mare and audience, Trouble quickly pulled back and quickly fixed his trajectory, and this time their lips met, to another round of hooves stomping the floor, whistles, and cheers.

As he broke the kiss moments later, Trouble simply chose to hold her close to him in an embrace, his eyes closed, a single tear rolling down his cheek as he felt Applejack's hoof wrap around his arm. Subsequently, he heard a rather distinct stallion bawling loudly from the audience, followed by a quiet shushing. Looks like Trouble wasn't the only stallion crying at his wedding.

Shortly after, Applejack climbed on Troubles' back and was carried out of the chapel, followed by the guests into the front yard. Upon everyone arriving, Applejack tossed her bouquet out into the crowd, all the single mares clamoring to get it, but a purple-and-white head popped up victorious, the rose bouquet held proudly in Rarity's muzzle.

After Applejack gave Rarity a wink, the couple then went into the carriage, seen off with the throwing of rice, and joined with cheers. Everypony followed the carriage to the reception hall a short trot away, eager to get on with the celebration.

~

At the reception, Trouble and Applejack were greeted by the usual 'congratulations' and 'best wishes' as they walked along, thanking the ponies offering them and occasionally answering 'fine' as to how the foal was when asked, Applejack's five-month baby-bump visible even through the dress.

They first ran into Big Mac and Granny Smith, with Big Mac instantly grabbing Trouble in another bear hug. "Welcome to t' family, bro-in-law," Mac said when he finally let go of the second nearly-bone-crushing hug he gave Troubleshoes, with Mac then moving to Applejack and giving her a much gentler hug, whispering congratulations to her as well.

Granny Smith gave them congrats of her own before shakily holding out a wrapped box to them, presenting her gift to them directly. "Here ya two go. Ah wanted t' give ya this here gift directly so Ah could explains it to ya." Granny Smith said, holding the box out to the couple and softly pushing it towards them, telling them to take it.

Applejack and Trouble then took and unwrapped the box together, opened it and looked inside, finding another pair of small, velveteen boxes. As they opened those, they were presented with a pair of small gold broaches on gold chains, each engraved with an apple on one side, then a rightside-up horseshoe on the back. "Those there are the best good luck charms the Apples have." Granny explained, "They were presented to me an' yer grandfather when we were married, given t' us by one of our friends, a Zebra, who explained the'r significance to us. Then we passed 'em down to yer parents when they were married as well – an' now, Applejack, in leiu of yer parents, Ahm passin' them on t' you 'n' yer stallion."

As Applejack looked at the smaller, more delicate looking broach and chain obviously intended for a mare, she remembered her mother wearing that same necklace constantly when she was a foal and filly, then remembered it disappearing after—

Applejack quickly wrapped her hooves around Granny Smith's neck in a gentle hug, the sniffles coming from her showing just how much this meant to her, how meaningful it was to her to have such a precious heirloom passed on to her. After the embrace, Granny Smith continued; "Now these here necklaces 'ere a pair, and they only work when worn by a married stallion an' mare who're part of th' Apple clan. They'll bring good luck in all aspects to y' two so long as both a ya wear yer necklace at th' same time – an' that's includin' fertility!" Applejack and Troubles exchanged a knowing look at that one, with both barely stifling a chuckle. They certainly didn't need any help in that category, it would seem!

As Granny Smith and Big Mac parted ways, the next up were Applejack's Ponyville friends. Congratulations were given by all, hugs freely dished out to both Applejack and her new stallion. They then followed her over to the gifts table, with Trouble and Applejack then getting on to opening the many, MANY gifts given to them. After opening the various gifts from her family, most of which were practical gifts like housewares and linens, they gave them all a thanks – only to be given back a loud, shared 'congratulations' from the crowd. They smiled, then hearing another cheer given in their honor.

After the presents were collected and moved to a cart for transport, Applejack and Trouble then proceeded to the dance floor. Soon after, a slow, romantic southern-style song started, Applejack and Trouble then taking the dance floor for their first dance as mare and stallion. They did a slow dance, their chests pressed together throughout, their hooves moving in tandem with each other as Applejack pressed her muzzle against her stallion's side.

"Why shoot Trouble, Ah didn't know y' could dance..." Applejack said, realizing that he was dancing just as well as any of the other stallions – and even better than some!

"Ah didn't know either...never really danced before." Trouble said, just as surprised as his mare was by how well he was dancing. They continued their slow dance until Big Mac asked to take Troubles' place and he accepted, giving his new bride over to him for now.

~

After the reception came to a close some hours of joyous celebration later and everypony was leaving, Applejack and Trouble went to leave only to be stopped by her five best friends again, three of them holding a box each.

Twilight presented them an entire volume of foal–care books written by the experts of Canterlot. “I’ve read all of these, so I’m sure I can help at least somewhat with advice! Just call me if you need my help in any way!” she had said, and both Troubleshoes and Applejack nodded in acceptance, both sure they could use at least some advice with their baby here and there.

Rarity brought forth a number of clothing sets and a long, silken crib blanket she had crafted in neutral colors, as Applejack and Troubleshoes had yet to learn the foal's gender, but Rarity was too eager to wait to make them, wanting to have them ready before the wedding. She also promised to produce any other clothing they needed as the foal grew gratuitement, and that all they needed to do was ask her for it when it was needed. The two smiled at her as Applejack beaconed her over, and when she was in range reached out and wrapped a hoof around her neck, hugging her friend and thanking her.

Pinkie Pie promised she would be available to help watch their foal if they ever needed it, as well as for any catering help they may need for its future birthday parties, and adding with a chuckle that she could also provide any sweets cravings Applejack may get during her pregnancy upon request. Applejack chuckled at that one, knowing she'd indeed been visiting Sugarcube Corner more than she probably should be. She just gave Pinkie a smirk and Pinkie returned an overly-wide smile, an air of snarkiness about her.

Rainbow Dash offered some other, non-foal-related gifts, not wanting to get caught up in the whole 'baby' thing. She claimed that even the thought of ever having a foal kinda freaked her out, but that she would help with it if absolutely needed. She was, after all, loyal always to her friends. Applejack nodded her thanks, and Rainbow nodded back.

Fluttershy was the final one to offer her gift but bore no material item. Instead she said, barely loud enough to hear – “Um…if you want to you can come down my cottage…um if you wanted to…I mean if you’re free later…to choose a family pet for you two and your foal? I mean I know you have Winona already but...” she finished, hiding her face behind her mane. Both Troubleshoes and Applejack nodded in thanks, with Applejack reaching over to the yellow pegasus and hugging her dear friend tightly enough to get a soft 'eep' from her.

~

After all had calmed down and most ponies had left, Applejack and Trouble got back into the carriage and went to the train station, intending to take the next train to Dodge City for their honeymoon, to visit the town they'd first met in and now spent their first time together as mare and stallion. Both were now wearing the lucky broaches, and never would they remove them, with them a sign of their unity, and just how lucky they were to be together as they were. But was it really just luck?

Troubleshoes could already tell as he looked over his hometown and kissed his mare, that he was gonna be lucky for life with Applejack beside him.

Author's Note

Marriage! Yay!

One more chapter planned.