In the two years since they fell for each other, Cadance and Coin Counter grew closer as their love blossomed. For them, their hearts which had been aching for so long have been healed, putting their woes to rest for good. Flurry Heart was also happy and joyful that her mother had felt at peace and for that, she thanked Coin Counter for making her smile. But eventually, like with all couples, their love could only grow to such heights before the classic four-word question was popped with Coin Counter holding up a golden hoofband. To say that Cadance was happy would be a grave understatement. Both Coin and Cadance wept tears of joy as they were soon to be wed, consummating their relationship.

(Six Months Later)

The day of the wedding had arrived. The sun was bright and its light was unabated any clouds in the sky. For them, both Coin and Cadance found it to be the perfect for an outside ceremony, especially in the garden of Castle Canterlot. As Coin counter stood at the altar under the wings of Princess Celestia, nervousness and joy filled his being as he starred on at the crowd consisting of his colleagues, family, and those who were close to Cadance, including an excited Flurry Heart.

His best stallions that accompanied him at the altar were his immediate friends and his protege Scale Stock. With him soon to claim the title of Prince, Coin appointed him as his replacement, confident that he’ll carry out his station the way he was trained to do. Looking to his left, there were the bridesmaids, mares that were close friends of his fiancee. Among them was Princess Twilight Sparkle, looking on at the crowd before she locked her sight with his. Even after her brother had passed, Twilight still held Cadance with the same regard as a sister. To see some stallion wed the mare that was a big part of her childhood was an odd feeling for her but she got used to it. Nodding her head with approval, Coin Counter couldn’t help but crack a smile and nod back at Twilight.

(Play BGM 08 - Leia’s Theme)

Then, from behind the hedges, emerged a sight that he’ll remember for years to come. Cadance, the Princess of Love, clad in her bridal gown, trotted down the aisle while being escorted by her aunt, Princess Luna. With her closing the distance between them, Coin Counter’s heart began to beat at an ever-increasing pace as time seemed to slow to a crawl for him. There it was, it was time for them to go through a wedding for the second time. When she reached the end, Cadance turned to look Coin in the eyes, both sets filled with love and longing. Emotions were at an all-time high and flared with the energy of a swarm of parasprites.

“To those who are gathered here today,” Celestia said, breaking the silence. “We bear witness to the union of Princess Cadance and Coin Counter of the Crystal Empire. It is not every day where love binds two ponies together in a manner where they choose to give their hearts to one another and live their lives together. If, for any reason, that anypony feels that this couple should not be wed, please speak your minds or let your silence be taken as consent for this union.” There was silence, not a whisper and not even a muffled cry. Nodding her head and clearing her throat, Celestia continued on with the ceremony.

“Very well.” She muttered. “Now is the time for the couple to exchange their vows.” Both Coin and Cadance began to read out their respective vows the spent weeks memorizing.

“Cadance,” Coin spoke up, “in the times that you’ve grieved, I was there to give you an ear or a shoulder. Though you were my ruler, I’ve regarded you as a friend. When I myself grieved, you were there for me in my darkest hours. You’ve given me meaning, hope, and the strength to move on. For that, I’m ever so grateful. Through good times and bad, I’ll honor and cherish all the moments we share until death. That is my bond with you, my love. With you at my side, I’m ready to spend the rest of my life with the mare I love.”

“Coin, you’ve been not just a loyal advisor but one my heart trusts as a friend. When I found that your heart was broken by tragedy, I too felt that sting. As if by chance, our aching hearts found solace with one another. With my union to you, our love shall make us whole once more. I promise my love for you shall remain strong. As I’m faithful to our empire, I’ll be faithful to you. I’m honored to be your wife, my love.”

After the exchange of vows, Celestia grew a smile on her face as she knew the moment had arrived. Using her magic, she summoned a small pillow with two hoofbands. Both Coin and Cadance each took hold of one.

“Will you, Coin Counter, take Princess Cadance, to be your wife? To cherish and be faithful to as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.” Coin said as he put his hoofband on Cadance.

“And do you, Princess Cadance, take Coin Counter, to be your husband? To cherish and be faithful to as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.” Cadance tearfully replied, putting her hoof band on Coin Counter. The two ponies took a long look at each other before Celestia cleared her throat once again.

“Then let it be said. By the power of harmony, let these two ponies before us henceforth be known as mare and colt.”

The rest… was history. They didn’t need any instruction to do so as Coin and Cadance leaned in for a kiss, the first as husband and wife. No longer were their hearts wracked with nervousness. They were now a married couple after years of dating. Just as he turned to walk back up the aisle with his new wife in tow, he was caught by surprise from an ebullient Flurry Heart, hugging one of his forehooves.

“Daddy.” Hearing that one word sparked a synapse in him. It made him realize that it presented him with something he was denied all those years ago: fatherhood. Though she wasn’t his flesh and blood, it didn’t matter to him in the slightest as he got down and hugged her back, shedding tears of joy. For him, fate had given him a second chance at the life he was robbed of. Getting up, both he, Cadance, and Flurry Heart walked back up the aisle, ready to begin their new life as a family. For Coin Counter, it was the happiest moment in his life, the first in a long time. However, it would only get better for him.

(Two Years Later)

“Hey daddy,” Flurry spoke, trotting down the halls with Coin. “What does mommy want to see us for?”

“Well, I don’t know.” Coin Counter replied. Unbeknownst to his stepdaughter, he knew the reason Cadance had summoned them. Soon enough, they arrived at his and Cadance’s quarters where she sat on a couch near their bed. Once she caught sight of them, her eyes lit up, beaming with excitement.

“Well, how are the two most important ponies in my life?” Cadance sang as Coin and Flurry trotted in.

“Well honey, I’m still amazed at the size of this castle.” Coin shot back, remarking about the size of his residence. “But, a good bit of trotting around is always a good thing.” Patting a hoof on the spot next to her, Cadance beckoned Coin Counter to join her on the couch which he does. Both of them struggled to keep their excitement under control as they knew Flurry Heart would go wild with joy.

“Mommy, Daddy, what's going on?” Asked Flurry Heart, breaking the silence. “Is it something bad?”

“Oh goodness, no!” Cadance chuckled. “In fact, it's something we're excited to tell you.”

“What is it?” Cadance and Coin looked at each other and nodded. Holding her close, Coin Counter prepared to tell his stepdaughter the news.

“Flurry… you're going to be a big sister.”

“What?!” Flurry Heart gasped. Her eyes and face bore the expression of both disbelief and excitement. There, Coin Counter put a hoof on his wife's lower stomach, rubbing it as he smiled along with her.

“That's right,” Cadance confirmed. “ Mommy's going to have another foal.”

Just like that, Flurry Heart's eyes lit up the brightest her mother had ever seen since she first opened them. She began screaming with much excitement as she began flying around with glee. She was so happy that she was to have a little brother or sister. She then jumped into the hooves of her mother, hugging her midsection as Cadance gingerly brushed her mane.

“I love you, the both of you.” Coin muttered as he joined in the embrace, holding both his wife and daughter in his hooves. They were both excited to add another member to their family. To him, Coin was nervous due to past experiences but a gut feeling told him that everything will be ok. Putting his mind at ease, Coin Counter eagerly awaited the arrival of his new foal with renewed hope.

(Eleven Months Later)

Sitting in the waiting room, Coin Counter and Flurry Heart sat, waiting for a nurse to summon them. It had been a little more than nine hours since Cadance went into labor. Due to Flurry Heart being with him, Coin couldn’t be by Cadance’s side as she brought their foal into the world and had to look after his stepdaughter. Though he was a little upset, he knew it was for the best.

“Daddy,” Flurry spoke. “Why did you marry mommy?”

“Well, because I loved her.” He responded, ruffling her mane to her feigned annoyance.

“What about before?”

“Well…” Coin sighed. “I was with another mare around the time you lost your father.”

“What was she like?”

“Sweet, kind, energetic and loving.”

“What happened?”

“One day, I… I lost her.”

“Lost her?”

“It’s when she leaves this world… *sniff* and never comes back.”

“Like my father, Shining?

“Yes. But, your mother taught me one thing.”

“What did she say?”

“Sometimes, it’s better to move on and make new and better memories than to let the past hurt you.” Coin Counter pulled Flurry into a hug, prompting her to wrap her wings around him, as small as they were. “And I’m glad to have made them with you and your mother. I can’t say enough how much I love the both of you.”

“I love you too, daddy.” As they both continued the hug, Coin Counter saw Patchwork come in. He approached them with a neutral expression. Coin Counter couldn’t tell whether the news he had was good or bad.

“My lord, please come with me.” It was all he said as he trotted back towards the door, prompting Coin and Flurry to follow. The anxiety was getting to his head, his heart racing at an unfathomable rate, not knowing what to expect. His past fears were starting to come back has he mentally fought to suppress them. Only one question consistently raced through his mind: Was it going to be a repeat of last time? Eventually, Patchwork stopped at a door, gesturing Coin to enter with a hoof. With one last mental gulp, Coin walked in and braced himself. But what he saw before him had surprised him.

(Play BGM 09 - Green and Blue)

Cadance laid on a bed, exhausted and holding a bundle in her forehooves. The look on her face spelled peaceful and content. Coin mentally breathed a sigh of relief as his worst fears were put to rest. Calmly, he and Flurry approached her with warm smiles meeting her tired gaze.

“Coin,” Cadance muttered tiredly. “It’s a filly.”

“A filly?” He gasped with excitement, moving to his wife’s side. Looking closer at the bundle, he saw his newborn daughter, wiggling around in the bundle with her tiny forehooves held out. Like her mother and her older sister, she was an alicorn. “She looks beautiful, honey.”

“She does. She even has your eyes.” Cadance said holding out the foal. “Would you like to hold her?”

Slowly, he reached for the bundle and took it in his hooves. Just the look on his newborn daughter’s face, so full of joy, made him crack a smile that looked goofy. The foal began reaching up towards him with her free hooves, cooing as tried to reach for her father’s face. Sitting in the chair next to the bed, Coin Counter began rocking back and forth as the filly began calming down. Then, he saw Flurry Heart next to the chair with an anxious look on face.

“Come,” Commanded Coin, patting the spot on the chair next to him. “meet your baby sister, Flurry.” Flurry Heart leapt onto the chair and was met by her baby sister, wrapped in a blanket. Their eyes locked on each other and both were excited to have met for the first time. Flurry could not resist giving her a hug. “Heh, I can tell that you two will be inseparable.”

“Yes,” Moaned Cadance with an exhausted smile, filled with pride. “Flurry will be a great big sister.” As Coin held his foals in his lap, he looked into the eyes of his newborn filly. Her eyes and mane shined brightly, much like the lights he would sometimes see at night.

“Aurora Trail.”

“What?”

“Her name. She reminds me of the great northern lights at night.” Pondering her husband’s words, Cadance saw the wisdom in his words. With a smile and nod, she agrees to his suggestion.

“Aurora, a beautiful name.”

Giving the foal back to her mother, the family all shared a loving embrace. No longer will heartbreak rule them. They’ve found love in each other and from that, a new life was born. In that moment, Coin’s mind couldn’t quantify the amount of happiness he felt. All was right in the world for him and he got to share it with his new family. For as long as he’ll live, he’ll hold that memory close to his heart.

“I love you, the both of you.”

Author's Note

I do apologize it took me an eternity to get this epilogue out. To be frank, I was a little worried that it would turn out bad. But now, I feel satisfied to give this story a proper ending. Now, here it is and I hope you enjoy this conclusion.