Chapter 56

– Wedding Bells –

Ponyville was a buzz with ponies moving through the streets, but unlike most days, they were all heading in the same direction, towards Twilight’s Castle. Big events were rare in the quiet little town, though they had become more frequent ever since Princess Twilight was crowned. But this wasn’t about the Princess or any world crisis. This day was to be something beautiful.

“I can’t breathe.” Trail said, grabbing a paper sack and breathing into it.

“Oh don’t be such a baby. You’re just marrying a really hot unicorn who, let's be honest, is so out of your league.” Tala said, getting another bag ready.

Trail glared at the griffin, he wanted to hit her but his nerves won over his frustration with his sister.

The door to the room opened and Zala came in, seeing Trail in his state, her eyes went wide, “What are you doing? You haven’t even put on your suit.”

“He’s been too busy having a heart attack.” Tala smirked.

“And I’m sure you are being a marvelous help you vulture. Shoo! Shoo!” Zala said, kicking Tala out of the room.

“Alright alright fine.” Tala said, finally moving out the door.

Zala sighed in frustration, “Of all days, you’d think she could act seriously for once.”

“She’s always been like that.” Trail said, getting a little color back to his face.

Zala pushed him up and began to help him into his suit. Every time he’d open his mouth, she’d shush him until everything was perfect. She even took his hat and forced him down into a chair to do his mane. He hated it but she was convinced it was necessary.

“And the finishing touch.” Zala said, pinning a flower to the pocket of his suit.

“Oh thank Celestia.” Trail said.

“Perfect. For once, you look presentable.” Zala said.

“You know I hate when you do this to my mane.” Trail said, looking over to pick up his hat.

Before he could pick it up though, Zala snatched it out of his magical grip.
“Not a chance. This stays with me.” Zala said.

“Zala, come on, not my hat. Take anything, but not my hat.” Trail said worriedly.

“No. This is your wedding, not a date. You will be presentable.” Zala said.

The door opened and Comet poked her head inside, “Auntie Zala, the guests have been let in.”

“Ah, thank you sweetheart. Your father will be ready shortly.” Zala said, smiling to her niece.

Comet smiled at her father, “You look nice, Daddy.”

Trail sighed, “Thanks sweetheart.”

Zala then got an idea, “Sweetie, please keep this safe for me. I can’t have your father trying to swipe it from me.”

Zala handed over Trail’s hat to Comet, which the young filly gladly took hostage.

“Come on, sweetie. Give Daddy his hat back.” Trail said sweetly to her.

Comet thought for a moment, “Hmmm. No.”

She closed the door, leaving Trail to groan as his sister forced his head to the side and wiped his cheek with a handkerchief.

“This is a disaster!” Starlight yelled out.

“Darling, it’s not the end of the world.” Rarity said, picking up a hairbrush.

“But my mane is a mess, my fur is matted, my eyes have bags under them. I couldn’t sleep last night. I’m so nervous, I think I might die!” Starlight cried.

Rarity sighed, “Darling, you are overthinking things. Another hour and you will be glowing like the sun. Now you need to calm down, stress will only make it worse.”

“Trixie agrees, you are being more of a drama queen than Rarity.” Trixie said, brushing the split ends out of Starlight’s tail.

Rarity glared at her, “Hey! I am not a drama queen. I am glamorous and regal!”

“Girls, please. Starlight is the one we need to focus on.” Fluttershy said, bringing in the makeup kit.

Trixie sighed, “You’re right. Trixie is sorry.”

Rarity sighed, “Yes, I am sorry as well. Come on girls, we have a job to do!”

All three mares went into overdrive as Starlight was pulled in every direction. Her mane, her tail, her coat, her face, everything was a blur as the girls worked to make Starlight presentable for her groom.

Her groom, Trail..

Starlight thought about him, thinking about how handsome he must look in his suit. He was always handsome no matter what of course. His rugged physique, his cute smile, his warm embrace. She missed him so much, even though they’ve been separated only a single day.

Then she felt an exceptionally hard tug on her tail, “Ow!”

“Trixie is sorry, this one knot is being stubborn!” Trixie apologized.

Rarity hummed to herself while she worked her magic on Starlight’s mane, Fluttershy had taken to working on Starlight’s fur rather than start on the makeup. Starlight was starting to get tired of just standing in one spot for so long.

Then the door opened and rolling in was Valley Trail, “Hello ladies, how are things coming along?”

Rarity looked away from her task for a moment, “Oh Miss Valley, we hit a few bumps in the road but nothing we can’t handle. She will be ready in time for the ceremony.”

Valley moved to be in Starlight’s line of sight, as she couldn’t turn her head without Rarity turning it back.

“You look nervous dear.” Valley smiled.

“Were you nervous at your wedding?” Starlight asked.

“Oh Celestia, where do I begin? I was a nervous wreck, oh the day was glorious but the night before was a nightmare. I even tried to escape out the window in my wedding dress.” Valley said.

All four mares stared at her and said in unison, “You didn’t.”

“I did. Thankfully my mother dragged me back in by my tail and talked some sense into me. Now I may not move like I used to, but don’t get any ideas from this story Starlight Glimmer.” Valley said sternly.

Starlight chuckled nervously, “Of course, I’d never think of doing something like that.”

Valley raised an eyebrow, “Trixie, if her horn glows even a little, give it a good smack for me.”

“Absolutely.” Trixie said, returning to Starlight’s tail.

Starlight groaned and continued to stand still as the mares buzzed around her.

Comet gleefully walked through the room, helping to seat guests and fix any issues that came up. She was not only the flower girl, but also in charge of making sure everything was perfect. Well, technically Pinkie was in charge because she was the wedding planner, but Comet was definitely second in command.

The next guest stepped into the room, which was Starlight’s father Firelight who had come from Sire’s Hollow. Following in behind him was Sunburst, Starlight’s old friend who lived in the Crystal Empire, and his mother Stellar Flare.

“Welcome everypony, you’ll be on the right side of the aisle, right in front.” Comet said, greeting them.

“Hi Comet, today is the day. Are you excited?” Firelight asked.

“Sure am, everything is going perfectly.” Comet said, smiling at her future grandpa in law.

“This is such a lovely event, I love what you all have done with the decor. Oh it makes me look forward to the day my Sunburst gets married.” Stellar smiled.

“Ugggh, Mom.” Sunburst groaned.

“Surely you’ll find a nice crystal pony in the empire. You are such a catch, I can’t understand why they aren’t beating down your door.” Stellar said.

“MOM!” Sunburst shouted with a blush.

“Oh leave the poor boy alone Stellar. He’ll find a nice mare in due time.” Firelight said.

Then he picked up Comet with no warning, “But I’m the first one with a grandfoal!”

Stellar glared at him with rage while Comet had a deadpan look on her face.

“Grandpa, please put me down. You’ll wrinkle my dress.” Comet said flatly.

“Oh sorry pumpkin.” Firelight set her down gently.

Comet then showed them to their seats, the rest of the guests following soon after. Everyone eagerly awaited for the wedding to begin. Mayor Mare stepped in as she did with Cranky’s wedding to wed the two ponies.

Trail soon appeared and took his spot at the altar, sweat running down his brow as his heart drummed in his chest. And as he tried to take a deep breath, the music began to play and he turned to the door.

Opening with sunlight shining through, a mare walked up the aisle, accompanied by her father Firelight. Starlight’s mane had several gemstones and braids tied into it.

Firelight leaned in, “You look beautiful Pumpky Wumpkin.”

Starlight’s eye twitched as she tried to keep her smile, “Dad, we said no Pumpky Wumpkins in public.”

Trail’s heart went into overdrive, she was so beautiful. He nearly fainted when she arrived at the altar.

Mayor Mare cleared her throat, pulling Trail out of his stupor and standing next to Starlight in front of the Mayor.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join Trail Blazer and Starlight Glimmer in holy matrimony. If there is anyone here who rejects this union, speak now or forever hold your peace.” Mayor Mare asked.

No one in the hall spoke up and the ceremony continued. It felt so long to Trail, standing there next to Starlight, but even as the ceremony went on and on, Trail felt nothing but happiness. He was getting closer and closer to forming an unbreakable bond that he never thought he would have.

Then the exchange of rings came, Comet walking up the stairs to the altar with both rings on a pillow.

Trail took a ring and turned to Starlight, “Starlight, you’ve made me happier than I’ve ever been in my life. You’ve shown me that I could find love after what happened to me. Now, I want both of us to live our lives the way we want to.”

Trail placed the ring on her horn as tears welled up in her eyes. She wiped them gently with her magic and then picked up his ring.

“Trail, for the longest time my past held me down. All the awful things I did to my village, and to Twilight, made me think no one would ever see me as anything other than a villain. But you didn’t care about my past, and you showed me how to love when I never thought I could. I want to live my life with you.” Starlight said, tears flowing as she placed the ring on his horn.

“I now pronounce you, Husband and Wife, you may kiss the bride.” Mayor Mare proudly said.

Trail immediately pulled Starlight into a dip and kissed her with all the love in his heart. Starlight nearly fainted in the kiss but she kissed him back with every breath she still had.

Suddenly, confetti and streamers exploded in every direction of the venue. Everyone was covered from head to hoof in confetti. They all turned to give Pinkie with a look that said, “Really Pinkie?”

Pinkie looked at all of them, “Hey, I’m innocent for once. Twilight said no party cannons.”

A voice rang out in the venue, a laugh that most ponies knew all too well. From out of nowhere sprang Discord, The Spirit of Chaos himself.

“Oh what a joyous day indeed!” Discord shouted as he floated over the venue.

Fluttershy shook all the confetti off herself and flew up to the draconequus, “Discord, what are you doing?”

“Oh sorry Fluttershy, but this author has been keeping me out of this story for so long, I couldn’t miss this last chance to make a dramatic entrance.” Discord said.

“Author?” Fluttershy raised an eyebrow.

“Oh don’t you worry your pretty little head. It’s a chaos thing. Now seriously Mr. Hades, how could you go all this time without giving me one scene!? 6 years of writing and now I have to put myself in here right when you are about to close the curtains.” Discord pouted at someone.

For my own sanity to be perfectly honest..

“Pfft, sanity is overrated. If you could give Maud her moments, I can have mine. For goodness sake, Boulder got more attention than I did! Speaking of which.” Discord snapped his fingers.

Suddenly the doors to the venue opened wide and magic swirled around the plain carriage that was supposed to take Trail and Starlight to their honeymoon. The carriage grew three times in size and grew a large cowboy hat on top of it. Then giant mice appeared in front of it and were hooked up to the front.

Trail and Starlight looked at the carriage with wide eyes, then looked over at Discord.

“Uh, thanks Discord.” Starlight said.

Trail was sweating a little, his first meeting with the Spirit of Chaos leaving him in a small state of shock. He was honestly afraid to say something that might offend him.

Discord popped and appeared next to the newlyweds, “Your chariot awaits. And no worries Trail, I’m not made of glass.”

Discord then tapped his head with a hammer, which made him shatter into thousands of pieces. Then he pulled himself back together.

“Uh yeah. Thanks Discord.” Trail said nervously.

Trail and Starlight walked over to the carriage and before they stepped in, all of their family and friends took turns giving them hugs. The final hug belonged to Comet, who didn’t let go of either of them for several minutes.

“Have fun at Mount Aris. I’m so glad Silverstream got her aunt to give you both a honeymoon you deserve.” Comet said with tears in her eyes.

“We’ll be sure to thank Queen Novo. And tell Silverstream she’s always welcome to stay over anytime. Ocellus too.” Trail said.

“Be a good girl while we’re gone sweetie.” Starlight said, kissing Comet on the cheek.

Comet giggled, “I know Mom.”

Mom. Starlight was officially and legally her mother now. And that filled her heart with so much joy. Trail and Starlight stepped into the carriage and Discord appeared in the drivers seat. As their family and friends waved them off, Discord cracked the reins and the giant mice took off down the road.

Starlight then remembered that she forgot about the boutique. She leaned out of the window of the carriage and threw it at the crowd of ponies. A bunch of mares started pushing each other out of the way to be the one to catch it. But as Rarity tried to grab it, it bounced off her hoof and landed in the hooves of Zala, who began to blush heavily, as did Zecora. Everyone looked at them with big grins. Both zebras turned so red you almost couldn’t tell they had stripes.

The sun started to set as Princess Celestia’s horn glowed, giving them the perfect setting to their first steps as a married couple.

Starlight laid against Trail’s chest as the carriage moved along, letting Trail brush her mane and smile down at his new wife.

“This is it. Our life begins now.” Trail said, letting his eyes close in peace.

Author's Note

And here is the last chapter! WOO!

Just the Epilogue and it is done.