Nervous. That's the only feeling I have right now. The butterflies are really screwing with my stomach and I'm starting to doubt whether I can go through with this. I fiddle with the tie of my tuxedo, which Rarity insisted I wear, and take a deep breath. Cadance stands in front of me, and Princess Luna and Celestia are behind her, and I'm still sweating like a black cat on the hottest day of summer.
I have my back turned to the crowd, mainly because I want to keep how amazing Applejack looks a surprise until we're right next to each other, and also because I don't know if I can say my vows knowing that everypony in town is watching me. I run through the speech a million times in my head, making sure I know every detail of what I have to say, and run my hand absentmindedly through my mane, causing a few yellow and orange strands to fall into my eyes.
"Calm down, Rainbow... You got this..." I half whisper to myself as I fix my mane. I know I'm the one who proposed, and I know it was in a fairly crowded restaurant, but I'm still not overly comfortable doing all this mushy stuff in front of a crowd. When we're alone, well, that's differerent. There's no need to hide anything when it's just me and her. I feel a tug at my sleeve and see Twilight standing next to me.
"You ready for this, Rainbow Dash?" She asks me.
"Of course I am, Twi," I say, puffing my chest a little. "I was born ready for this." My confident grin betrays my otherwise terrified mental state, and she sees right through it. Luckily, she doesn't comment on it. Instead opting to nod.
"I know you were," she says before taking her place on my side of the altar.
I take a deep breath and stretch my wings a little, trying to occupy myself before she comes in. Next to Twilight stands Pinkie Pie, and both wear what could only be their absolute best attire. Twilight in her royal gown, and Pinkie in her gala dress from last year. To my left are Fluttershy and Rarity, both of whom wear gentle, white dresses to match the bridesmaid look. Everything has been perfectly planned and handled... All that's left is for...
Music. My heart starts pounding as the organist starts playing, and I can hear the crowd stand up in unison as Applejack walks down the aisle. I'm assuming it's Big Mac walking her down, but I still don't turn around, wanting to keep her hidden for as long as possible to keep myself in suspense. I already know she's going to look amazing.
Before long I can hear her walking up the three steps of the altar, and I can feel her warmth as she takes her place next to me. I turn to face her, and know for certain that Rarity has once again outdone herself. The dress is beautiful, with a long, flowing veil that trails behind her and a perfect amount of gold silk along her shoulders and sleeves. I can see an apple-shaped jewel in the centre of her chest and several rubies adorn her headdress. I gently lift the veil away from her smiling face and let it go over and behind her head, smiling brighter than the day she said yes.
I take her hands in mine, and I notice a few happy tears in her eyes. I can actually feel a few of my own, but I keep them hidden. This is it. The greatest day of my life. Not even joining the Wonderbolts is gonna compare to this once I do. I smile as I stare into her beautiful green eyes, and Cadance begins.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two of our most treasured citizens, Applejack, the Element of Honesty, and Rainbow Dash, the Element of Loyalty, in the beautiful confines known as marriage," she says, and I can't stop the smile threatening to split my head in two.
As she continues, I notice that Applejack's headdress is actually a pure white Stetson, adorned with several rubies and the veil attached. Damn, Rarity... You have definitely outdone yourself. No question, I think to myself, and then Cadance looks at me expectantly, and it hits me that I wasn't paying any attention to her.
"Uh, what?" I stumble out, and she and Applejack giggle a little.
"I said, do you have the ring?" she asks.
"Oh, of course I do," I pull the small, pure gold ring encrusted with six small gems, one of each colour of the rainbow, and hold it between my index finger and thumb as I hold Applejack's hand. "With this ring, I give you my life. So that no force on heaven or earth will separate us, and so you will be mine, and I will be yours. Forever and ever." As I finish, I slide the ring onto her finger, and she smiles brightly as I do so.
Cadance then turns to Applejack, and Apple Bloom walks up from her seat in the front row and hands her the ring. It's the same size as mine, but has no gems. Instead it has her cutie mark next to mine engraved on it, and I smile at the sight of it.
"With this ring," she says as she takes my hand, holding the ring in much the same manner as I did, "I give you my life. So that no force on heaven or earth shall separate us, and so that you will be mine, and I wi be yours. Until the end of time." She slides the ring onto my finger and I smile.
Cadance smiles as she prepares to ask the final questions. "Rainbow Dash," she looks at me, and I stare into Applejack's eyes. "Do you take this mare to be your wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, till death do you part?"
"I do," I say, the smile growing even more.
"And do you, Applejack, take this mare to be your wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, till death do you part?"
She draws in a quick breath before saying it. "I do."
"Then by the powers invested in me by Princess Celestia and her graces, I now pronounce thee, mare and mare," she looks at me. "You may kiss your bride."
I don't hesitate to pull Applejack closer to me and press my lips against hers, closing my eyes as the marriage is sealed. I can feel her kissing me back, and I wrap my arms around her waist and feel hers around my shoulders. I lean forward a bit, holding her head with one hand, and then lean down even more, holding her close to me as the kiss continues. Best. Day. Ever. I think, and I know she's thinking the same.
I can hear the audience applauding, and after a few seconds I stand back up with her and we break the kiss, but I don't dare let her go. I look into her eyes and smile as bright as I can, and she smiles right back at me.
"We did it, AJ," I whisper. "We're married."
"I can't wait for the rest of our lives together," she whispers back with a smile.
"Neither can I."
Author's Note
Don't tell me you didn't see this coming. Because seriously, it was inevitable. Hope you enjoyed the fluff!
-Devs
