Sunset at Gifthorse Beach
Soggy Shoes and Wedding Blues
The scene at Gifthorse Beach looked positively serene to the average beachgoer. The sun was warm, and the clouds lazily floated into view from over the sea. Gentle waves flowed against the warm sand, the pleasant sounds echoing inland. The small seaside town had a long stretch of small shops, all staffed with smiling faces, complimented by a boardwalk lined with fancy hotels.
From one of those hotels, there came an ear-piercing shriek that sent the gulls flying away in sudden fright.
Sweetie Belle’s stoic face was summarily covered in cloth of all different shades of white as Rarity tore the room apart. Suitcase after suitcase had been poured out on the beds, although the resulting mess had managed to make things even more chaotic than before. In the center of it all, Rarity’s face was turning a hundred different shades of red. Frustration, anger, embarrassment… Rarity could name every shade, if she could only find a mirror.
“Rarity…” Sweetie Belle managed to say.
“How can you possibly be so calm at a time like this?!” Rarity said, sending the gulls outside flying away even faster. “How could I have been so careless? How could I have made this kind of mistake? I'm going to be seeing Sunset in a matter of moments – mere moments, I tell you! – and only now are you telling me that THIS is happening?!”
Rarity thrust her silk-gloved hands about an inch away from Sweetie Belle’s cloth-drenched face. Sweetie Belle could see her sister’s fingers twitching.
“Oh, for crying out loud…” said Sweetie Belle, pulling clothes away from her own face. “They’re the same color!”
Only after the words were already spoken did she realize what she just said. Sweetie Belle might as well have just activated a self-destruct sequence.
“The… same… color?!” Sweetie Belle swore the room shook. “The left hand is pearl, and the right hand is ivory, and you’re telling me they’re the same color!?” Rarity let out a scream and paced across the room.
“Rarity…” said Applejack, unplugging her ears. “You’re worrying way too much. Sunset ain’t gonna back out of marrying you cause of your gloves.”
“Applejack…!” Rarity turned, but Applejack already had her hand up.
“Sunset’s probably just as nervous as you are. And besides, you were going over not ten minutes ago about how much you love her.”
Rarity’s breathing slowed, trying to picture Sunset in her mind. She could remember the ways that Sunset had brought everyone together, and how generous she was with her time and energy, never missing the chance to lend an ear. Yes, Sunset did have a tendency to look for the good in everyone except herself, but Rarity had grown used to finding the rays of light in Sunset’s clouded heart. It made Rarity’s own generous spirit shine through.
A very awkward smile curled over Rarity’s face as she brushed her puffy white dress with her hands, then put them behind her back. “I just want this all to go perfectly.” Rarity’s hands stayed still a moment longer before they brushed across her dress again.
“I know, sugarcube. But it’s like they always say: something always goes wrong at a wedding. You just gotta be ready for it!”
Rarity’s dress-brushing came to an abrupt stop.
Sweetie Belle sighed, plugging her ears again. “Now you’ve done it.”
Sunset rocked back and forth on the heels of her polished shoes. It was uncomfortable enough standing out in the heat with a tuxedo on. Sunset tugged on the black sport coat for a little air, squinting into the sun. She sighed, looking across the beach, trying to pretend like everything was normal.
“Nervous?” said Twilight Sparkle, standing nearby in the shade of a palm tree.
“How’d you guess?” said Sunset.
"Oh, probably because you haven't moved in thirty minutes." Twilight smirked.
Sunset's face might have burned if she wasn't sure the sun hadn't gotten to it first. "I was told to wait right in this spot. I'm not moving."
"What are you so nervous about? You think you'll see Rarity and just... pass out?"
"Believe me, I've seen Rarity in a lot fancier. But this? She wouldn't let me see a thing. She was keeping it a closely guarded secret..."
That thought caused Sunset to smile a little bit. Her arms folded across her chest, looking out at the waves rolling against the beach. "When she wasn't screaming her head off about everything else." With a soft chuckle and a little sigh, Sunset's shoulders relaxed, her hands intertwining in front of her.
"That's what I love about her, though. Rarity never does anything half-hearted. It's always a hundred percent, or nothing. Sure, she can have her... episodes." Sunset glanced over at the front doors of the hotel. That scream she had heard earlier was one she'd come to recognize.
"But that passion is infectious. I'm going to tell her as much at our vows," she added, flashing a folded piece of paper from her pocket.
"I can't wait to hear what you have to say about her," said Twilight with a smile.
"Oh, believe me. I thought I was nervous handing in my assignments to Professor Angle Degrees in college? That was nothing compared to this. It was hard enough talking Rarity into having our wedding on the beach. I might as well try and corral a storm."
A clap of thunder overhead snapped Sunset's attention. Just as she looked up, the skies grew darker. A small pattering of raindrops fell from overhead, followed by a few more. And then, a few more.
And then, a lot more.
Sunset stood still, dumbfounded, staring up at the clouds. She had failed to notice the make-up running down her face, down into the white shirt of her tuxedo.
"Uh, Sunset...?" said Twilight, standing in what she hoped was safety beneath a balcony of the hotel.
"You can't be serious." Sunset turned and looked up at the sky, like she'd see some break in the clouds. Finding none, her face turned red, stomping her foot.
"Now? Why now? The forecast said it wasn't supposed to start raining until tonight! Where's the weather patrol pegasi when you need them?! It's supposed to be my wedding day! If I ever find out the son of a stable hand who did this, I swear I'll bury him up to his neck in sand! The easy way!"
A few beachcombers who had been coming in to seek shelter from the rain walked their way around Sunset. Some out of respect, but mostly out of fear for their lives.
Twilight kept checking her watch, looking around the corner with a desperate wince. "Applejack, where are you?"
"Sweet mother of apples, Rarity. Do you color your eyes with a marker or something?" Applejack dotted Rarity's eyes with yet another tissue to remove what she hoped was the last of the running mascara from her face. She had no idea where it was all coming from.
"Applejack! Just please tell me the dress has been saved!" Rarity clutched a small bouquet of red and purple flowers in her hand. The poor things were lucky they didn't have necks; Rarity would have been choking the life out of them.
"Everything's gonna be fine, Rarity. It's just a little make-up, and just a little rain."
"Are you sure? What if I get struck by lightning?!"
Sweetie Belle's hand promptly found her face, dragging down past her chin. She was just about to comment when she saw Twilight peeking around the corner of the hotel. There was a vague shouting from the other side of the wall.
"Twilight! How's Sunset doing? She still there?" said Sweetie Belle.
"Oh, she's over there... and you'd better hurry before she has an aneurysm. She's been worried about the rain."
"She's not the only one!" came another squeal from Rarity. It was loud enough that Sweetie Belle was surprised the windows of the hotel remained intact. The whole area seem to go quiet, the waves from the beach and the drops of rain falling silent for a moment.
From around the corner in that moment, came a soft voice. "Rarity...?"
Rarity suddenly straightened up, her cheeks flushing a soft pink. "Sunset..."
Twilight looked around the corner, back to Rarity, then quickly darted to Sunset's side, furiously and hopelessly trying to straighten the damp tuxedo. Applejack kept the back of Rarity's dress as straight as she could, holding up the long veil clipped to her hair.
Rarity inhaled sharply, hearing her own heart beating like a timpani. She took very slow steps down the front steps of the hotel, slowly turning the corner. There was Sunset, facing the beach again. Her hair was matted down from the rain, and even in the overcast weather, Rarity could see Sunset was soaking wet.
You didn't have to wait right there, you big goof... thought Rarity. She couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. Sunset's nerves shot to life. If she had been nervous about this before, now it was like she was about to turn and face a tiger.
Rarity stopped a foot behind Sunset. She slowly reached out with her free hand... before trying to compare the white with how she remembered Sunset's shirt. She alternated the flowers between her hands, holding each one up into the light.
Left hand? Right hand? I'm pretty sure there was a touch of blue in that white. It was a cooler white than this, wasn't it? But no, the right hand is practically off-white! What if she notices?
Sweetie Belle's hand found her face again. "Rarity! Just do it already!"
Rarity gasped. Her left hand touched Sunset's wet shoulder.
Sunset slowly turned around.
Rarity caught Sunset's eyes. She'd never seen them so wide. The rain stopped for a moment. Sunset would have sworn she was as dry as a bone. Her face curled instantly into a smile. She spun around again, just to make sure, catching another glimpse of Rarity in the gorgeous white dress.
"Oh my god, baby...!" said Sunset, failing to stifle a chuckle as her eyes welled up, wrapping her arms around her, feeling a lump welling up in her throat. It could have been raining shards of ice, and Sunset wouldn't have noticed. She rocked side to side with Rarity in her arms, a smile etched across her face.
Rarity clutched onto the wet black coat of Sunset, pushing her face into Sunset's neck. The long hours of stitching, sewing, and threading, well into the night until her eyes were heavy and her hands ached, were all worth it just to see the look on Sunset's face in that one moment. Those moments where she could make Sunset forget the world around them were worth their weight in gold.
Applejack and Twilight stood off to the side, exchanging a quick glance. Even Sweetie Belle was smiling now. They'd all been there when Sunset had proposed to Rarity after graduation. Twilight remembered the look on Sunset's face, and the way she could barely stand up even after Rarity had said "yes". Applejack remembered the four-hour long phone call later that night with Rarity, with Rarity shifting between euphoria and full-blown panic attack as she wondered what she was going to wear to their wedding.
Sweetie Belle only remembered the meltdowns Rarity was having. Now that the wedding was actually going to happen, Sweetie looked forward to nights that weren't punctuated by wishing death curses upon fabric swatches.
Sunset slowly pulled back, meeting Rarity's tear-filled eyes again. "Wow... holy crap. You look... gorgeous."
Rarity sniffed, minding the bouquet of flowers in her hand. "I've never worked on anything harder, darling."
"... Did you throw your sewing machine across the room?"
"Only when it wasn't cooperating."
Sunset laughed and slowly let go of Rarity. Her nerves calmed down enough to take a step back. "Well... we're almost ready. Just hope this rain cuts out soon. I know you don't want to get that dress wet."
"Oh, darling. Even if we both end up covered in sand, we'll be alright. Just as long as we have the ceremony and get the marriage certificate signed, we'll be as right as rain."
She looked up to the sky before giving a slight shrug. "Or, well... You know what I mean."
Sunset smiled. "Yeah, I know. But hey, since we've got the witnesses here," she said while looking over her shoulder at Twilight and Applejack, "let's get the certificate signed. Right now."
Rarity's heart fluttered for a moment. "Yes, let's. So, where did you put it?"
Sunset held still for a moment. "Me? Didn't you bring it?"
There was a loud crash of thunder before the rain started back up again.
"Rainbow Dash, I don't know what we'd do without you," said Sunset as she stared down at the marriage certificate. "The one piece of paper we needed to make this thing official, and it was probably sitting on my nightstand."
"I know what you'd be doing without me," said Rainbow. "What you'd be doing is wishing you had someone else who could run at light speed so you could get another one of these things."
"No kidding. You're a lifesaver."
Rainbow rubbed her aching feet, grunting as her shiny black shoes rested off to the side, thin black socks feeling like they were filled with caltrops. "Just never ask me to run in those shoes again? It felt like I had bricks tied to my feet!"
"Don't worry. We'll never forget this." Rarity sat next to Sunset on a couch in the foyer of the hotel, pen nervously in hand. Twilight and Applejack stood next to them, waiting for Rarity to sign her name.
In front of Rarity and Sunset stood an elderly man with graying gold hair, soft blue eyes and frail white skin, holding a book and a leather-bound folder under his arm. A clasped back suit with a white collar kept him nice and dry, though he also had the large umbrella in his other hand to thank for that.
"Alright ladies," said Heavenlight in his soft voice, idly twirling the tip of the umbrella against the floor. "Whenever you're ready."
Rarity's hand hovered over the page, turning her head to Sunset. She opened her mouth to speak, but said nothing. The time for words would be soon enough. She signed her name in long, flowing cursive before handing the pen to Sunset. Her hand naturally found its way to Rarity's as she signed her name on the other side of the page. The two sat back as Twilight and Applejack took their turns signing on the witness lines.
"... Did you freak out about the dress?" asked Sunset.
Rarity scoffed. "Only a little once I saw the rain," said with a smirk.
"Actually, for you? That was little," said Sweetie Belle. "I'm surprised you didn't end up setting the room on fire with how mad you were at that dress."
Sunset felt Rarity's finger's twitch in her hand, though they calmed down as Rarity loudly cleared her throat. "Well then! The paperwork's in hand! Let's get to the most important part: the ceremony."
"Are we going to be okay with going out in the rain?" asked Sunset.
"Not to worry," said Heavenlight. "I've got everything written down, and my friend here should keep things going along just fine." He tapped the umbrella to the floor a few times. "I trust it the two of you aren't going to mind being a little soaked?"
"I'm not!" said Sunset, standing up with Rarity's hand still in her own. Rarity was practically pulled to her feet, managing to balance on the high heel shoes.
"I'll manage!" said Rarity, her heart beating a few tick faster already.
"Wonderful." The preacher clasped the umbrella open with one hand, holding it over his head. "Then let's begin."
Heavenlight stood with an umbrella by Sunset on the small grass plain that overlooked the roaring waves of the ocean. He wasn't the only one. All of their friends from Canterlot were huddled together underneath umbrellas, some of whom had their own, but the majority of which had suddenly made new friends underneath someone else's.
Rarity did her able best to ignore the drops of rain as she walked arm in arm with her father towards the altar. The veil hid her face from the raindrops, but she could see Sunset's smile through it. Her steps slowed as she approached, finally stopping just before Sunset.
"Aww, look at my baby girl, all grown up," said Hondo Flanks, pulling Rarity into a hug so tight that Rarity swore he was trying to crush her ribs. "You go get 'er!"
"Mmmph! T-Thank you, Father!" said Rarity, patting his back quickly before her nerves got to her. At last, Hondo took his seat, leaving Sunset and Rarity face to face before Heavenlight. Rarity sighed, trying to shake out the cobwebs. She did, only for butterflies in her stomach to flutter up. And when Heavenlight opened the leather folder, they fluttered up even stronger.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to witness the blessed union of Sunset Shimmer and Rarity. As we gather here at the forefront of the ocean, under the light of the sun..." Sunset and Rarity nervously chuckled. Rarity already felt a tear starting to flow down her face. "We remember that their love, like the ocean itself, is vast, ever changing, and forever nurturing."
A quick glance from Sunset at the crowd saw every umbrella leaning forward, murmuring to one another.
"Did you catch any of that?" whispered Pinkie Pie to Fluttershy. Pinkie was either pretending to whisper or didn't have a concept of lowering the volume of her voice. Sunset found both options equally likely. Her attention turned back to Rarity, who was struggling much the same way as the crowd behind them.
Sunset and Rarity's glances to each other became suddenly nervous again.
Sweet Celestia. I can barely hear what he's saying, thought Sunset, who kept her hands folded in front of her. She at least managed to pick up every other word or so after a while, with the drumming rain and crashing waves taking turns drowning out the elderly priest. After a while, Sunset's eyes settled on Rarity's. Sunset trying to be helpful with a shrug, but Rarity looked like she was on the verge of tears for the wrong reasons.
Thankfully, Havenlight kept the strain on everyone's ears mercifully short as he lowered the leather folder back under his arm. "Now then, does the groom have anything she wishes to say to the bride?"
At least Sunset understood that. She reached into her pants pocket and pulled out a small slip of paper. She tried to unfold it, only to find it stuck together by the rain. Rarity caught this even before Sunset did, with her cheeks burning red. Sweetie Belle quickly put her hands over her own ears.
Sunset's arms quickly shot out to grab Rarity by the shoulders, making everyone else in attendance jump back slightly. "Rarity!" said Sunset, slowly stepping towards her. "I had this... this whole thing planned out how it was going to go, but now... Well, forget it! We've faced down way worse together than this, right?"
That made Rarity's nerves uncurl a bit. She leaned in closer to Sunset.
"You and I have been though a lot together. And you know what always made it worth going through for? Knowing that you, and all our other friends, were always going to be there for each other. You literally pulled me out of a dark hole at the lowest point in my life, and you never gave up on me!"
Everyone could hear Sunset plain as day. The raindrops fell a little softer. Rarity's throat tensed up.
"You're... I-I've never met a more beautiful person in my entire life than you, Rarity! I mean, sure, you look like a million bucks..." Another sloppy laugh from Rarity made her cheeks strain with a wide smile. "But your soul is what's most beautiful about you! Your generosity, your creativity, the way you always make the world around you a brighter place. Even when I thought about giving up on myself, you never did! You always showed me with your fierce temper, and your passion, that I was everything you said I was. You're my light, Rarity. So..." Sunset's hands slid off of her shoulders. "So I vow, right here, right now, for the rest of my life to you... I'm going to be that woman you see when you look at me. I'll be the kind of person who does for the world what you've always done for me."
"Sunset...!" Rarity's ivory-gloved hand covered her mouth, sniffling.
"That was a nice save," Pinkie 'whispered' to Fluttershy.
Rarity took a moment to compose herself before standing up straight. Applejack reached into her pocket for a small slip of paper. But Rarity held up a hand to Applejack and softly shook her head. Twilight put the slip back, fumbling for the ring to make sure it was still there. It was, but Applejack kept a grip on it like it was going to leap out of her pocket if she didn't.
"S-Sunset Shimmer!" said Rarity as waves rolled behind her. "I know how hard it's been, working through the things you have, but you've become the real ray of sunshine. I can't think of my dresses any more without wondering if you'd like them. I can always picture the way you'd come into my workshop, telling me that everything I do is wonderful with that big smile of yours on your face, and then I have to press you on every little detail until you tell me what you really think..." Sunset snickered, wiping a tear away.
"But, but that's I love about you! You take time out of your day to understand everyone, to express yourself, to help me and everyone around you... The way you've made it your life's mission to help others... The way you use your brain to make even the most complicated thing into the simplest thing in the world... When I'm near you, everything just seems easier. And if things ever hurt or feel dark again, I'll be right by your side to drive it out."
Twilight fumbled with the diamond ring in her pocket. The rain had finally stopped.
"I promise you, Sunset, that once this day has faded into memory, and we're growing old together... You'll have been the reason why everything was so full of sunlight. I'll... I-I'll laugh with you, cry with you, cheer with you... F-Forever, Sunset."
Sunset's face was bright red, tears openly flowing down her face. Pinkie was crying almost as hard as the two of them were. Even Rainbow looked like she was fighting back a few tears.
Applejack and Twilight slipped the rings from their pockets to Rarity and Sunset. "Here we go," said Sunset, slipping the silver diamond ring onto Rarity's right ring finger. Rarity took a moment to admire the ring against the glove. It matched perfectly. Rarity slipped a bright gold ring onto Sunset's hand before the two of them held their ringed hands together.
"Well then!" said Heavenlight, loud enough that everyone could hear him this time. "By the power vested in me..."
Rarity's hand clutched the wet veil in front of her face, ready to throw it off like a cap at a graduation.
"I hereby pronounced Sunset Shimmer and Rarity as wives in holy matrimony. You may kiss-"
Rarity threw the veil back as Sunset grabbed Rarity and kissed her so hard, Rarity was literally swept off her feet. Rarity's arms clutched to Sunset's jacket, kissing her as their passions erupted.
"... The bride."
"WOO-HOO!" shouted Pinkie. White and gold confetti came flying from nowhere over the whole scene as the gathered friends and family applauded. The sun started to break through the clouds at long last, casting a few of the rays down over the beach.
Rarity pulled back from Sunset with a smile on her face that would takes days to dim. Sunset just shrugged her shoulders. "Couldn't resist."
"Ladies and gentlemen..." said Heavenlight, heard by the newly-married couple and no one else, "I present to you for the first time... Mrs. and Mrs. Shimmer." Lucky for him, the crowd hadn't stopped applauding and cheering as Sunset and Rarity walked down the aisle together, arm in arm.
Sunset turned to Rarity. "Well... that sucked."
Rarity couldn't keep her laughter in, lightly swatting Sunset. "You jerk."
Sunset smirked. "More like your jerk."
With a sigh, Rarity kept her eyes on Sunset for a few lingering moments before the two broke apart for hugs and congratulations from everyone involved. Applejack was right; a lot went wrong. But none of it broke her and Sunset apart. And now, they would never be apart again.
She looked up as the dark clouds began to swirl back together with an ominous rumble of thunder, audible over the ocean's waves.
"Everyone, inside!" said Rarity. "There's cake to serve and gifts to open! And a lot of photos to take!"
She looked down at her wet wedding dress with a sneer.
"Right after a few rounds with a hair dryer."
Author's Note
This is partially based on the circumstances of my brother's wedding. Thankfully, his went a little more smooth than this one.
