Drunk and In Love

I get all that right?" Cheerilee asked, looking up from the notepad in her hands. Sounds of agreement resounded throughout the room. Cheerilee smiled and snapped the notepad shut. "Alright then, that’s settled. Now that we have the bedroom rules cleared up, we can work out the house rules, chore schedule, and date nights. All of which can be decided once we figure out where we're living. But we’ll worry about that later." Cheerilee put her pad and pen in her pocket and zipped it shut. "Is everyone dressed and ready to go? No lingering smells?"

"I'm fluffy and ready to go," answered Berry, giving her armpit a quick sniff. "All fresh and clean."

"Same," the other three replied. Cheerilee took point at the front of the group and knocked on the door.

"So we're all just acknowledging the fact that Cheerilee is in charge now?" Redheart asked.

"For now," Carrot Top replied. "Honestly, she's the most organized of the five of us. Next to her, it's you, then me, and Spike and Berry are tied for most irresponsible."

"That's fair," said Spike and Berry with a shrug.

The door opened with a soft *click.*

"Oh, your timing is perfect," smiled Cadence. "Rarity is just about finished with Spike's tuxedo," Cadance sighed "It's the corniest thing I've ever seen."

"It made Berry and Redheart cry!" Carrot Top called back, earning a light smack on the nose from both. "Ow," she whined. "Spike?!"

Carrot stared at the drake with big, soulful, puppy-dog eyes and trembling pouty lips. She even added a small, pitiful whimper for effect. With a sigh, Spike walked over to her, picked her up, and gave her a couple of kiss on the nose.

"You feel better?" he asked.

"I'd feel a lot better if you'd carry me to the dressing room," she pleaded.

"Hmph! Being such a baby just to get Spike's attention," Redheart grumbled angrily, "wish I'd thought of that."

Carrot Top leaned her head back and stuck her tongue out at her as Spike carried her out of the room. The group moved down the stairs and back into Rarity's base of operations. Princess Cadance left them at the door.

"Sorry I can't come with, but I only just managed to convince Twilight to stay for the wedding. She’s going to greet the guests with me so I can keep an eye on her." In a flash, Cadance teleported away.

"Wait, who's coming anyway?" Spike asked in confusion. "Nopony really told me."

"They’d probably invited your friends and family, right?" Carrot Top asked as Spike set her down.

"Who are you friends with, anyway? I mean, everypony in Ponyville knows how close you are with Twilight and the other Element Bearers, but they’re already here? Who else is left?" Redheart asked, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed over her chest.

"That would be..."

Spike is cut off as Starlight appears and gathers their attention. "Alright you five, enough chit chat. It's time to get ready." Starlight motioned them forward. "Rarity just finished Spike's tux, so come on."

The group followed her back to Rarity, whom waved at them anxiously. Being tasked with creating the perfect outfits for the stars of the wedding had made her bubbly and excited, yet also nervous.

"Your dresses are ready, dears. Spike, your tux is over there, darling," she said, pointing off to the side. Redheart made a low growling sound when she heard Rarity call Spike the d-word.

"She calls everypony, “darling,”" Spike reminded her. "She's even called you darling before. Heck, she just called you “dear.”"

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Just reflex," Redheart replied as she began to undress.

The others followed her lead; the mares and Spike began stripping out of their clothes and putting on their wedding attire. A few minutes later, Redheart was the first to finish putting on her dress. She stood in front of a full-length mirror and closely examined herself. She twirled around once, then struck a pose.

"This is nice," she complimented.

Redheart looked at her reflection with admiration as she patted her white dress down. Her most favorite part of the dress were the twin copies off her cutie mark on her hips. After a few more moments, Redheart—satisfied with the results—moved aside so the others could have a turn.

Cheerilee stepped up to the mirror next. She waved her hands across the floral pattern happily. "Oh! It’s just how I imagined. Thank you, Rarity! And...um, sorry about...blowing up at you earlier."

"Oh don't mention it, darling," Rarity replied. "You're not my first customer to do that, and you certainly won’t be the last. There are a lot of mares out there who get territorial around their stallions. One time, a couple walked in to get outfits for a friend’s party, and the mare gave me a black eye for calling her stallion “darling.”" Rarity tittered. "Honestly, I'm just happy Starlight was here to save me from you girls."

"Oh!" cheered Carrot Top as she looked at herself in the mirror. "I love everything about it!" Her dress was the most colorful so far. The top was shaded purple like Spike’s scales, the middle was orange like her mane—which matched her cutie mark that was placed on it—and the bottom was light green like Spike’s ear frills and belly scales. The hem of the dress fell just past her knees, showing off her legs, and her fingerless gloves also matched her mane. "It's just how I imagined it would be!" Carrot Top excitedly spun in a circle, unable to take her eyes of her dress. Finally, Berry Punch came over in her black dress.

"You all look nice," she praised, looking all of them over just as Spike walked over in his new tux.

"Oh, Spike..." Cheerliee breathed as she stared at his tux. "You look so silly, but your intentions are super sweet!" She gave Spike a hug as she kissed him. The two stayed in their embrace for a good few seconds before breaking apart.

"Ok, ok," Starlight said before the remaining mares could move to Spike. "Let's get moving. You all have a wedding to attend tonight, and we still need to participate in the practice wedding."

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that," Spike said, sheepishly scratching his head.

"What exactly are we doing anyway?" Carrot Top asked, "I mean...what does bonding with the Crystal Heart even..."

She flinched when a bright flash of light suddenly lit up the middle of the room. Emerging from the light was the groom’s mother. Princess Celestia blinked as she noticed the surprised faces staring at her, but smiled when she saw her son.

"Oh, Spike...is that your Tux! That's adorable!" she cooed before looking at the soon-to-be-brides. "And as for you girls...your dresses, oh they're all so..." Celestia gently coughed into her hand, then she shook her head. "Sorry, got a little carried away there. So, let's move to the practice hall, shall we?"

"No offense," Berry said, scratching her head. "But why do you need to be at the practice?"

"Oh, well I'm the one who's going to be conducting your wedding," beamed Celestia. "As princess of Equestria, I'm the nation’s most legally certified priest." The four mares looked at her in shocked silence.

"Getting married by my mother..." mumbled Spike, breaking the silence, "that’s not gonna be weird in any way." Spike looked around with his hands up. "So, are we all just walking this time or does somepony want me to..."

"I call dibs!" cried Redheart excitedly. Spike proceeded to pick the alabaster mare up and carry her like a princess.

"Ah, dammit!" Carrot Top muttered angrily as the group followed Celestia out the door. "That's supposed to be my thing."