Gravemind

Overcast looked across the sofa at his Fiance, Rainbow Dash. it was only a month ago that Overcast proposed to his unmatched love, and tomorrow, at the Summer Sun Celebration at city hall, they would be bound together in marraige. Rainbow wasn't sleeping, or eating, and she could barely speak. But it's predictably. Why wouldn't the Bride be the smallest bit anxious about their own big day. In the passing month, Overcast had assembled the Groomsmen: Thunderlane, Soaren, and Icy winds; and he had chosen his best man, and fellow begger, Wings McGee. He had also given Applejack the job of Food preparations, and the reception would have been hosted by Pinkie Pie, but Rainbow had chosen her, Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rarity to be her Bridesmaids. Overcast had chosen the one to wed them, Mayor Mare, and even the usher, his Ponyville friend, Caramel Apple. The wedding was planned to go off without a hitch, but knowing the reputation of weddngs and Ponyville recently, that probably wouldn't be the case. But Overcast was prepared for the worst: If their wedding was ruined, he had set up a backup secret wedding to be held at the top of Cloudsdale Tower. OC wasn't about to let his wedding be ruined by some crazy monster, or Chongeling, or even some kind of huge, underground, creature from the Multiverse with tentacles that dig up through the ground and control everypony's thoughts through some kind of evil system called 'Gravemind', or something crazy like that. Nope, Overcast was prepared for the worst.

Now, Rainbow managed to say, unexpectedly calmly, "You know, OC? Let's take today off. I mean, tomarrow we're getting married, and we have plenty of time to be stressed out then. For now, let's just pretend like we're friends again. You know, before that midnight flight, or your proposal. just a while after we first met, okay?"

This was just what Overcast needed to take his mind off of the wedding, so he said, "Yes. that would be fantastic." The very same thing he said when Rainbow offered to take him in. "What do you want to do?"

"Hmmm" Rainbow thought of her favorite things, and said, "How about a race. from here, all the way to Canterlot Mountain, through Ponyville, and Ghastly gorge, then a rainboom for me, and for you if you're up to it, and finally, we meet up at Cloudsdale tower. just like the last one we did."

"You're on." And so, Rainbow took a commanding lead immediately. This is just what she needed to get her confidence back: going as fast as any Pegasus could ever have gone. Overcast followed close behind, on the stretch to Canterlot Mountain. At one point, OC even overtook Rainbow, only for her to rocket ahead again. Their competitive spirits were unmatched, even by each other, which I know doesn't actually make a whole lot of sense, but they did anyway. Regardless, Rainbow made it to the peak first, only a second or two ahead of Overcast. They went off towards Ponyville neck-and-neck, but urban flying had always been Overcast's specialty, and so he took a huge lead over Rainbow through Ponyville. He stopped ay the road out of Ponyville, and waited for his love. She didn't acknoledge OC, so she flew directly over him. He liked a challenge, and he caught up with Rainbow at Ghastly Gorge, where she did regain the lead. Eventually, they met up again, and started going up to the correct height for a Sonic Rainboom. OC followed Rainbow down as they tried something never before attempted. Rainbow broke the barrier of sound, and a huge rainboom colored the sky, then OC did the exact same thing in the center of the Rainboom, creating a dazzling array of every color ever concieved, and even inventing a new, breathtaking color, that not even I can describe in human words. This gave both the bride and groom all of their confidence back as they broke the cloud layer, and landed on the top of Cloudsdale Tower.

Overcast narrowly beat Rainbow for the first time ever. He was rooting for himself, and Rainbow, even though she lost, couldn't help laughing at what a fool Overcast was making of himself. He didn't know, or care, he was just happy that their willingness to get married was restored.

Their feelings to each other were out in the open now, so Rainbow had no trouble saying, "I love you, Overcast."

"Me, too," Said Overcast, "I mean, after all, who wouldn't love me?"

Rainbow started laughing again, and said, "You know what I mean."

"Yeah, but I was just trying to make you happy. You know, you have the most beautiful laugh I've ever heard."

"Of course. You tell me every time I laugh."

"It's just that; you haven't laughed since I proposed to you."

Rainbow walked over to Overcast, put her hoof around his neck, and said, "Well, you know how it is for a bride to get married. It's like nothing in the world exists except for stress. I'm sorry if it seems like i've been not wanting to do this. I do. I really, truly love you, and want to spend the rest of my life with you. It's just that, I've been thiking of our future. I mean, what if we-"

Overcast placed his hoof over Rainbow's mouth, and said, "I've been thinking about this, too, and i've had the exact same question. But let me assure you, If anyone else is to come into our family, I'll be ready for anything that ensues. I promise."

"I'll hold you to that." Rainbow said as she looked into the sky. The sun was at it's Zenith. "Come on, OC. Let's get lunch."

Overcast and Rainbow Dash went to cloudsdale's finest restraunt to eat. There, they talked about their future.

"So," said Rainbow, "Tomorrow, after we get married, what do you think we'll do next?"

"Like I said before, I've been thinking a lot about this topic, and have so many questions, much like you. For example, what will we do for our honeymoon?"

"I had an idea about that. What do you think about taking a trip to Appleloosa, to visit Applejack's cousins."

"That might work. What questions do you have?"

Rainbow looked at her food, and started playing with it with her fork, which she was somehow holding. She looked up, and said, "What'll we name the kid?"

Overcast was taken aback by this question. He was unaware that they even duscussed the possibility of children, except for that question on Cloudsdale Tower. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, If we have children, what'll we name them?"

"I was unaware that we decided we were going to have children."

"We never did, but in every married couple's life, they consider children. And i'm not completely rulng out the possibility that I want to be a mother."

"Tell you what: We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. for now, lets enjoy our last day together, before we're husband and wife."

"Sure." Rainbow Dash raised her glass of sparkling apple cider, and said, "To marriage"

"To Marriage."
*****

The next day, Rainbow was in a real hurry to prepare evrything. Her bridesmaids perpared her dress and makeup, and Overcasts groomsman delivered the flowers. Overcast and Wings McGee were chatting in the city hall, where the wedding was to be this afternoon. Overcast was already prepared like his Groomsmen, with a fancy black and white suit. Everypony in Ponyville was there for the last time Celestia made an appearance in Ponyvilles summer Sun Celebration for over 300 years! Overcast couldn't have made a better decision chosing the location. Wings was asking a lot of wierd questions, though, and Overcast was getting suspicious.

"Are you sure you want to hold this wedding here? now?"

"Why not here? Why not now? This seems like the best time to hold a wedding: where absolutely everypony in Ponyville and parts beyond can see!"

"Haven't you heard?"

"Heard what?"

"Last night, there was a strange lightning storm."

"Lightning storm? There was no storm scheduled for last night."

"Exactly. It's startin' up a conspiracy theory about the pegasi. You should be careful having a Pegasus weddin' here in Ponyville."

"I'm sure eveything will be fine. And besides, if this doesn't work out, I have a backup wedding planned."

Wings shook his head. "You know, that lightning storm wasn't the only strange thing last night."

"What else was there?"

"Ponies in Cloudsdale all reported sayin' that they heard a wierd voice in their head, and it said the same thing to all four of em': Find the Key."

"Those four all probably got drunk, and made up a plan for popularity. it happens all the time in big cities."

"Alright. If you have nothin' to fear, carry on with this weddin'. But I warned ya."

Overcast walked off. The ceremonies for the Summer Sun Celebration were about to begin: Celestia would raise the sun, Then they'd move onto Overcast and Rainbow Dash's wedding. Then, Everypony would go home. Simple as that.

"Fillies, and Gentlecolts!" Began Mayor Mare, "May I present to you, our tyra-um, er I mean, Terrific ruler and Dicta-um, umm, Dilapodaseous Princess Celestia!"

Everypony cheered as Princess Celestia stepped onto the balcony. Overcast watched in awe as her horn began to glow golden, and brilliant sunlight shimmered through the darkened windows. It was amazing to see a pony raise the largest thing in the solar system, from millions of miles away. When the sun was raised, Celestia walked back off of the balcony, and Mayor Mare stepped to the wedding setup. "And now, Ponyville," Mayor Mare began, "We shall move on to our next order of business: the wedding of Overcast, and Rainbow Dash! Icy Winds!" Once again everypony cheered as the first Groomsman, Icy winds, took his place farthest to the right of the center. "Soaren!" The second Groomsman, Soaren, stepped next to Icy winds, closer to the center. "Thunderlane!" The third Groomsman took his place. "And the Bridesmaids! Rarity!" The first Bridemaid took her place farthest left of the center. "Fluttershy!" Fluttershy stood next to Rarity, not making eye contact with the crowd. "Pinkie Pie!" Pinkie stood next to Fluttershy, and launched confetti into the air, "Twilight Sparkle!" Twilight stood closest to the center on the left. "Now, the Best Man!" Wings McGee stood next to Thunderlane, closest to the center on the right side. "The Groom: Overcast!" OC stood right to the right of the center. "The Ring-bearer!" Spike came and stood at the foot of the stairs on the right side. "And now, the bride: Rainbow Dash!"

Overcast watched in unbearable love as his soon-to-be wife, Rainbow Dash walking up the center lane, being given away by Big Macintosh, the closest thing to a father Rainbow had. Rainbow stood across from Overcast, closest to the center on the left side. Big Mac sat down.

Mayor Mare stood at the podium, and began her speech: "We are gathered here today, on this happy and joyous occasion, to join this mare and this stallion in holy matrimony.

Marriage is a solemn institution to be held in honor by all, it is the cornerstone of the family and of the community. It requires of those who undertake it a complete and unreserved giving of one's self. It is not to be entered into lightly, as marriage is a sincere and mutual commitment to love one another. This commitment symbolizes the intimate sharing of two lives and still enhances the individuality of each of you.

Overcast, do you take this Mare to be your wedded wife? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health, remaining faithful to her as long as you both shall live?"

Overcast smiled as he looked into Rainbow's eyes, "I do."

"Rainbow Dash, do you take this stallion to be your wedded husband? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health, remaining faithful to him as long as you both shall live?"

Once again, Rainbow was brought to silent tears, "I do."

"Then by the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Overcast and Rainbow shared a long, loving kiss, symbolising the mutual love between them so strong that it has bonded them inseperably in holy matrimony. It was official: Rainbow Dash and Overcast were married, and now they began their life, their unexpected married life, full of surprises.
*****

Overcast and Rainbow couldn't have been happier that next week. They visited Appleloosa, took the express to Canterlot, and partied there, then returned home. Only a month after sharing the same room, Overcast got suspicious. He was seeing less and less of the happy Rainbow Dash, and more and more a easily tempered Rainbow Dash, not to mention her packing on a few pounds. One day, overcome with concern, and nervousness, Overcast and Rainbow Dash to go to the hospital, see if somethings wrong.

The next day, when Rainbow got back, she gave Overcast the news. He couldn't be happier. Or more worried.

Rainbow Dash was pregnant.