Spinning Gears, Painted Letters and Onyx Gems

We're alive I swear! This time it will not be such a long break between chapters, that's a promise! But for now, enjoy!

Ah weddings, one of the most beautiful events in history, ponies coming together, joining in love and harmony- “Where’s my dress?! Where the freak is my dress?! I’m getting married and my dress has disappeared!!!” A cry came from the top window of the manor’s east wing. You know, one of these days I’m going to finish an intro without being interrupted, I swear to Faust I’m going to do it! Ugh, alright, where was I? Adhesive frantically made his way into the manor, Rainbow wailing away in his arms while he attempted to balance him and Ebony’s dress. He quickly made his way to the dressing room, shoving the child into Circuit’s arms before hoofing over the dress.

“Sorry sorry, running a little late. Rainbow didn’t want to get into his tux, he’s been crying the whole way here. It’s okay now though, cause I got your dress and it looks great now put it on.” The mare nodded absentmindedly, pulling on the beautiful bridal gown while also using her magic to pull up her hair into an elaborate twist of curls. It was a long white gown, medieval in design with long billowing sleeves trimmed in sky blue and silver with a matching bodice and blue ribbons sewn into the hems. The material was softer than silk and shimmered slightly with the change of light. On a chair nearby the elaborately woven veil with a looping silver crown of golden gems sat ready and waiting.

“Could somepony help me with this last ribbon? I can’t see what I’m doing so it’s hard to get into place with magic.”

“I got it.” The green maned stallion said as he moved to help her, Circuit busy with trying to calm down Rainbow. The foal was still crying, very upset at being put in tux despite his dad..Mom..Thing’s..Best attempts at calming him down.

“Where’s Crescent? Usually he can get Rainbow to calm down pretty fast..”

“I’m right here dad, I’ve got him.” The teenage colt hurried past the other adults and picked up his little brother. “Hey buddy, I got you alright? Crescent’s here, how about we go downstairs and find you something to munch on huh?” Crescent Script took his brother out of the room and headed off towards the kitchen to give his parents and aunt some time to talk.

“Thank you guys, ugh I’m so nervous! Have my bridesmaids arrived yet? I should go check.” She moved towards the door, skirts billowing behind her.

“No no no!” Circuit quickly herded her back to her seat. “You stay right here and let everyone take care of your mane and makeup, I’ll go see if I can find the bridesmaids. Adhesive, make sure she stays calm.”

“Yes sir!”

“But, but… oh Faust.” The mare hung her head and let out a long sigh. “I’m a wreck, always the bride, but never a wife. Who am I kidding? I don’t deserve him, I-I should just call it off, save him the trouble….”

“Oh no you don’t! I have been waiting for years, YEARS WOMAN, for you to finally get off your butt and get married. This wedding is happening.” Circuit shrieked from the hallway before going to do what he actually said he would. Adhesive just chuckled, lightly patting her head.

“You heard the stallion, now c’mon, let’s get your mane all done up.”

About an hour later they all stood at the main doors of the manor, waiting for the music to start so they could go outside and walk down the aisle. Ebony, was shaking like a leaf, she was giddy, but also scared. Long ago she’d imagined this moment, being walked down the aisle by her father, her brother as one of the grooms ponies, and her mother at the front with tears in her eyes.

“C-Circuit… w-will you.. Walk me down the aisle?” She asked softly, staring intently at the heavy mahogany doors. The stallion looked a little shocked at the question, but nodded nonetheless.

“Of course I will..Just relax.” He smiled as he gently linked their arms together, giving her a comforting squeeze. “You ready for this?”

“I’ve been alive for over a thousand years, I’m more than ready.” With that, the music began to play, and the doors were pulled open by guards that flanked it. Outside the gardens had been transformed into a beautiful aisle. Roses flanked the walkway down to a raised dais with a wooden arch covered in lilies and orchids. Rows and rows of seats lined both sides of the altar, half completely overcrowded with changelings in various attire. Some in tribal and traditional looking clothing, other in more recent fashion, the other half of the seats were lined with ponies of all sorts.

Nimbus’s family was right at the front obviously, Adhesive’s mothers, Circuit’s grandmother, all of their friends and family, everypony had come to the biggest party in Ponyville history. Ebony thought that for a second she saw a bouncy and very curly pink mane in the seats for just a split second, but it could’ve been her imagination. Then her eyes fell on Nimbus, he was standing there at the stone altar engraved with Faust. He wore a modest tuxedo overvest with a longsleeve white dress shirt rolled up to the elbows, a black bowtie and a huge smile on his face. Their eyes met, and as corny as it sounds, he stopped and stared, eyes wide and jaw dropped. Everypony turned and looked at her, smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes. Circuit allowed everyone a few moments to look at the bride before he gave her a little gentle nudge to suggest they start making their way up the aisle. He gave a quick glance around to make sure everything was in place, smiling when he saw that Crescent was standing off to the side with Rainbow in his hooves, having somehow managed to get the foal to calm down. The brown colt was happily chewing on the corner of the pillow Crescent was holding, the pair of earrings for Ebony and the bracelet for Nimbus shining brightly on it.

Circuit smiled as he released Ebony once they got to where Nimbus was, giving her hoof a comforting squeeze before going to go stand in his spot. The mare beamed at her friend before she took the hoof of her soon to be husband. The crowd sat down as the priestess rose to begin the ceremony. She was an old changeling, withered with age but wise, the priestess turned to Nimbus and then Ebony, giving them a nod.

“Welcome, welcome, we gather here today to bond these two in holy matrimony under Faust’s great name. Their decision to marry has not been entered into lightly and today they declare their private devotion to each other.” The mare smiled, making sure she had both the groom and bride’s attention before she continued.

“Do you pledge to share your lives openly with each other, and to speak the truth in love? Do you promise to honor and care for one another, cherish and encourage each other, stand together, through sorrows and joys, hardships and triumphs, for all the days of your lives?”

The two turned to each other and they spoke together. “I do.” From the crowd Buggy could be heard softly sobbing and blowing his nose while Chichina tried to comfort him.

“Do you pledge to share your love and the joys of your marriage with all those around you, so that they may learn from your love and be encouraged to grow in their own lives?”

A soft ‘I do’ came from the mare and was followed by a slightly gruffer ‘I do’ from the stallion. By now Circuit and Adhesive had both joined Buggy in tears, though their sniffles were a little quieter.

“May these earrings and this bracelet be a symbol of your union. As often as you look upon them, may you not only be reminded of this moment, but also of the vows you have made and the commitment you have made to each other.

“Nimbus, please repeat after me. I, Nimbus, promise to support and love you, Ebony and live each day with kindness, understanding, truth, humor, and passion. With these earrings, thee I wed.” As she spoke Crescent stepped forward, handing the earrings to Nimbus.

Nimbus cleared his throat and repeated the phrase. “I, Nimbus, promise to support and love you, Ebony and live each day with kindness, understanding, truth, humor, and passion. With these earrings, thee I wed.” With that he took up the earrings and gently fastened them in place. “Ebony Teresa Runwick, from the moment I met you, my heart was pierced by Eros. I want to say that in that moment, that was when I first fell in love with you but it isn’t. The day I fell in love with you was the first time you showed me all of these good ponies. Your people, your passion and your love. I saw what a wonderful mare you’ve become and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life figuring out the mystery that is you.” The priestess smiled at them, turning to Ebony and gestured for her to repeat the same words she’d had Nimbus say, though with the names switched obviously. The mare wiped a soft tear from her eye before repeating the sacred words.

“I, Ebony Runwick, promise to support and love you, Nimbus and live each day with kindness, understanding, truth, humor and passion.” The hybrid swallowed before continuing with her own vows. “Nimbus, I thought I was going to spend an eternity alone, and for a long time, I did. I was on my own for so long that I almost forgot how to love and to be loved. Thank you, for bringing me out of the darkness and showing me that the light isn’t such a bad place to be. For the rest of my life, however long that will be, I promise to use every moment to aspire to be not only the mare you fell in love with, but more importantly, the mare you deserve.”

“Go now in peace and live in love, sharing the most precious gift you have- the gifts of your lives united. And may your days be long on this earth. I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride.”

The batpony pulled his bride forwards and dipped her into a loving kiss, his bride letting out a soft laugh before wrapping her hooves around his neck. It was chaste and sweet, but did the job and soon enough, everypony was jumping up out of their seats, hooting and hollering in congratulations. Ebony smiled and Nimbus let out a laugh before the two ran off down the aisle and towards the ballroom which would hold the traditional changeling wedding feast. Circuit grinned as he watched them go, sniffling a little as he wiped as his eyes. Him and his family waited for the crowd to disperse a bit before following after, Crescent still cradling Rainbow in his hooves.

Inside the immense manor the ballroom stood, a vaulted ceiling with beautiful paintings of figures dancing, parties and tales of old. Elaborate wallpaper lined the walls and the flooring was polished wood waxed till it gleamed. A raised platform at one end of the room held a stage and an assortment of tables, next to it another, smaller platform held a large orchestra which played beautiful melodies in time with the mood of the event. Ebony and Nimbus went to the stage and took their seats at the head table, there was room for six more, well, five and a baby highchair of course. Adhesive happily pulled Circuit over so they could take their seats while Crescent slipped away to quickly go change Rainbow before joining them. Adhesive happily snuggled up to the gray stallion’s side, a wide smile on his face.

“This place looks amazing...Ah, it’s bringing back memories of our wedding, I’m gonna start crying again.” Chichina and Buggy joined soon after, and Ebony let out a laugh at her friend’s comment.

“Oh yeah, I distinctly remember falling into a pool and being pulled out by this handsome devil over here.” She gestured to her new husband. “How does it feel to be a Runwick-Darkclaw?” Circuit laughed at the memory, giving Ebony a little nudge.

“You can’t be too upset that now though. After all, if you hadn’t have fallen in the pool, you never would’ve met Nimbus, and we wouldn’t be here now. Plus it’ll be a great story to tell the kids.” He shot them both a pointed look. “And grandkids too one day, but of course kids have to come first.”

Ebony, who’d been taking a sip from her goblet at the time, did a very dignified spit take as Nimbus went beat red from the tip of his ears to his hooves.

“Um… I-I mean.. If Ebony wants children…” His new wife gave him a pointed look.

“Of course I want children! I just didn’t expect that comment from Circuit here, for the love of Faust man! Gimme a year or two to settle in, Faust damn it!” The mare teased, clearly happy at the idea.

“Come on, can you blame me? I want Rainbow and Crescent to have some decent cousins, and Faust knows they won’t be getting that from any of my siblings.” He let out a very elegant snort as he took a sip of his wine, setting it to the side so he could take Rainbow from Crescent when he appears next to them again. “Gotta have more foals around for these two to hang around with.”

“Okay that makes sense, but that won't be for a bit alright? Now then, how about we throw the bouquet hmm?” The mare stood up and clinked her glass with a spoon, making the room go quiet. “Hey, who wants the bouquet?” Cheers erupted from the crowd as many a maiden and stallion grouped up over to the side. Ebony turned and then threw the large rose arrangement behind her. The bouquet flew through the air, landing smack in the middle of one dark coated stallion’s hooves. Crescent stared at them with wide eyes, a warm blush spreading across his face. The blush only got worse as he heard the cheering around him, Adhesive clapping him on the shoulder. Circuit let out a little snort, shooting his son a pointed look.

“Just because you caught that doesn’t mean you need to be thinking of marriage or anything of the like anytime soon. You’re still far too young.” He huffed as he pulled the colt close, ruffling his mane. “I don’t want to see any stallions, or mares, or anyone in between flirting with you for a long time.”

“Welp, as per tradition in this family, you’re going to be married next. And it doesn’t matter if you don’t believe it, I sure as hell didn’t, and look at me now!” Ebony chuckled. The mare then stood up and cleared her throat, “Hey everyone! Is this a party or what?! LET'S DANCE!!!!”

Whoops of agreement went up as rave music began playing around the ballroom as ponies and changelings jumped up and began to dance wildly. Some did pretty well, others… not so much. A few looked like they were just flailing wildly and trying to pass it off as dance moves. Circuit grinned, passing Rainbow back to Crescent, pulling Adhesive onto the dance floor so they could join the others in flailing about in what looked kind of like dancing. Crescent just shrugged, setting the bouquet of flowers off to the side before going to go dance around with Rainbow in his hooves.

Everypony was dancing, laughing and generally having a great time when a commotion near the front door stopped the celebration.

“What in the name of..?” The bride questioned, before a group of guards entered the ballroom, dragging a very familiar brown dressed Faustian purist into the room. Ebony’s eye narrowed and her muzzle fixed into a snarl.

“Golden Cross.”

“We found her and a few others outside the gates M’lady, they were carrying signs and shouting slurs. It was only after this one began throwing rocks at us that we thought it best to kkbring her to you.” The Captain of the Guard stated, bowing respectfully to the Duchess.

“Thank you T’ulani, looks like now we can really break out those old changeling traditions hmm?” It was clear that, while she was trying to look tough, the words had sent a chill through Golden Cross. She managed to keep her spine stiff though, gritting her teeth as she flicked her gaze around.

“I’m not here to cause any trouble, believe me I’d rather be anywhere then this..Freak show you call a wedding.” She spat. “I’ve come to collect my daughter.”

“Why am I not surprised?” Ebony rolled her eyes. “Crescent, could you come here for a second? It’s okay, I promise, I just want to prove a point.” The colt blinked at her nervously before nodding, passing Rainbow off to a nearby changeling before stepping forward to stand beside the yellow mare.

“Mother...You..” He took a shaky breath before forcing himself to look straight at his ‘mother’. “You shouldn’t be here. You’re interrupting what’s supposed to be a happy occasion.”

“Oh my little Morning Dove, what have they done to you?” Golden tutted softly, shaking her head. “I just thought I’d give you one more chance to leave this mess behind and come home. It will take time, but Faust will forgive you for this.”

“You see, that’s where you’re wrong Golden Cross. Crescent is very happy here, he’s enjoying his life. And you know what? He’s found a home, he’s happy which is something he never had with you.” The mare raised her chin in defiance at the intruder. “But enough from me, sweetheart, I know this may be hard, but would you like to say anything to this… mare?” Crescent nodded, taking a deep breath before stepping a little closer to the unicorn.

“She’s right I’m..I’m happy here. I finally feel...Right. That what I feel on the inside finally matches what I look like. And I’m not going to leave that anytime soon. I know..I know you don’t understand, but please..At least respect my decision, okay?” The mare didn’t respond, her frame slowly beginning to tremble as a wave of anger washed over her. Without thinking she let out a screech of rage, throwing herself at Ebony.

“You did this to my daughter! You ruined her! You...You half bred freak!” Immediately shouts and cries of anger erupted from the changelings through the room, the guards practically tearing the unicorn off of their Mistress, weapons instantly at her throat. Ebony stood, brushed herself off and cleared her throat.

“Not very bright are you? Your son just told you he was finally happy, aaaaaand you’re in the middle of a manor filled with changelings who many of which owe their lives to me. Of course, you just attacked their savior, what do you think they’re going to do hmm?” All around over a thousand changelings stared down the unicorn with absolute murder in their eyes, brandishing teeth, magic, and even blades.

“Course, if I let them loose, which I’m very tempted to do, Crescent here wouldn’t be very happy, because you’re his mother, so I’ll leave it up to your brother to decide. Circuit, what do you want to do?” Circuit thought about it for a moment, tapping his metal hoof on his chin. Finally he let out a sigh, shaking his head.

“Just toss her out of here. Don’t want to risk getting blood everywhere, especially not on your dress.” Golden let out another shriek of rage, squirming in the guards hooves. Despite the anger in her voice, there was clear fear in her eyes.

“Y-you can’t do this to me! That judge was wrong, you’re not fit to raise my child! You’re just going to turn her into a freak, just like the rest of you! I-I pray to Faust that you and that filthy rat with wings never have any disgusting mutated foals” Ebony immediately clutched her midsection in concern.

“Well that’s no concern of yours now is it. Guards, take her away, and throw her into the Everfree Forest. Maybe a brush with a few timberwolves will teach her to come snooping around here ever again!” The changelings nodded before Nimbus stepped forward.

“Wait, I want to say something.” Immediately they bowed and threw Golden Cross to his hooves. The stallion stared at her for a moment before enveloping the unicorn in a hug. “I don’t know why you do these things, but I refuse to believe that you can’t come back. I hope one day you understand what your son feels and come to terms with it.” He then got up and nodded to the changelings. She stared at him for a few moments, stunned into silence as the guards began to pull out her out. She seemed to come back to herself as she was being moved, spitting at Nimbus as she was pulled out the door.

“I don’t need your pity rat! You’re all going to rot in Hell!” Circuit let out a weary sigh as he watched her go, tutting as he shook his head.

“Sorry about all that..Let’s ah..Go back to the party now, yeah?” Ebony just went over to the table and grabbed the bouquet, pulling out a long metal weapon from it and pressing the trigger. A jet of flame shot out for a moment before she handed the item to a changeling guard next to her.

“Scare off the others would you?” Adhesive blinked at her, looking between the bouquet and the guard.

“You...You were going to give my son..A flame thrower!?”

“Relax, it’s got a childproof lock on it.” The mare rolled her eyes as if that was the dumbest statement she’d heard in awhile. Nimbus calmly put a hoof on his new wife’s shoulder.

“Still not the best idea though, even if Crescent is the most responsible adult here.” Circuit just shook his head, letting out a weary sigh.

“I’m fairly certain Crescent is old enough to know how to get past a childlock-”

“I am!” Crescent butted in.

“Right...Next time, at least tell us when you’re going to give our child dangerous weapons, okay?”

“Meh, I didn’t expect him to catch the bouquet, it was just kind of an oversight thing.” The mare shrugged before turning towards the ensemble of guests. “Hey, let's get back to the party huh?!” Cheer erupted from the crowd and the party went on for the rest of the night, and for long into the next day. By the end, Circuit was passed out under a table after singing ‘Let It Go’ for twenty minutes straight at the top of his lungs, Adhesive was draped over a large statue and covered in glitter, and the newlyweds had long since disappeared upstairs. Crescent was the only one who was spared the embarrassment of his fathers due to Rainbow, but then again, he’d been roped into a ceremonial ribbon dance with a few of the younger changelings. Circuit never told him that he got it on tape.

Ah weddings, I love these, and hopefully, if tradition holds up, there will be another one soon! Now can I please finish an intro without being interrupted?