Thunder wandered into the new house he shared with Zoom and his ears were blessed with a soft melody. He smiled, Zoom was playing the flute. A trill tickled his ears and made his wings quiver. With a smile, the stallion wandered into the lounge. With a delighted smile, he found her sitting up, eyes closed in the middle of the room. Her flute was held between her wings, primaries shifting with precision to craft the soft tune that filled the air.

With a pleased sigh, Thunder closed his eyes and allowed the soft melody to wash over him. He could picture himself and Zoom dancing on a cloud to the music. A hoof began to tap and his wings shifted side to side. Before long, the stallion found himself dancing to the music. He opened his eyes and froze.
Zoom was watching.

With a chuckle Zoom lowered her flute, “aww come on, I was enjoying the show.”

Thunder blushed, “y-you weren’t supposed to be watching...”

“Me, watch you? Never...” Zoom chuckled.

Thunder raised an eyebrow. “Are you gonna keep going? I was enjoying the music.”

A keen grin crept out across the mare’s lips. “Oh, I’ll continue... if you dance for me.”

“You like my dancing that much?”

“Yeah, I like watching you jiggle and sway, even if it looks like you got three left hooves.” Zoom chuckled.

“Well, now I really do want to dance...” Thunder trailed off with an indignant huff.

“Just entertain me, stud. I’ll play you something nice.”

“Alright.” Thunder snuck in closer and pressed a kiss against his mare’s snoot. “

With a pleased smile, Zoom stepped back to give her partner more floor space. She took a deep breath and then began to play a soft romantic melody.

Thunder listened for a few moments before he closed his eyes and began to sway slowly from side to side. His wings slipped out and began to roll like ocean waves while he lapped up her music.

With a final strong note, Zoom faded out her music. “You ready for something a bit more lively?”

“Sure.”

The tough mare stretched her wings before settling her flute back into place before her lips. Zoom struck up a lively jazz beat as though she were playing at one of the classy bars in the central city. She smirked to herself as her stallion let loose and enjoyed her music. An idea struck the soloist and she carefully stood and joined in dancing with her own subdued movements, careful to not distract herself from playing or make a mistake.

Delighted to see his lover joining in with his silly dance moves, Thunder began to dance around his mare. After a few circles around her, he began to dip in closer and closer till his wing ran along her back and down her cutie mark. The sweet music faltered as Zoom shuddered then span around to face her stallion.

“Hey, no disrupting my playing, cheeky.”

“Who, me?” Thunder feigned innocence as he fought back a grin.

Zoom booped her stallion on the snoot. “Just don’t do it again.”

Feeling oddly brave, yet bubbling with a funny, almost nervous feeling, Thunder snuck in closer and fixed his mare with his best dashing smile. “I can’t promise that. But I would like to enjoy more of your magical performance, please.”

“Alright, you can quit sucking up. I’m not that good.”

Feeling a little put off by her remark, Thunder stared at his mare with big adoring eyes. “Yes, you are.”

Zoom snorted and glanced away, unable to endure her partner’s intense gaze.

“I’m serious, I could totally imagine you playing at one of the big bars in town.”

“Thanks,” Zoom smiled bashfully as she set her flute to her lips. “But maybe I’ll just keep playing for my adoring fanbase right here.”

“Sounds good to me, Love.”

Thunder walked into the kitchen to find Zoom preparing breakfast. He admired the way her tail swished from side to side a little as she worked. The way her backside swayed slightly as she focused. A dopey grin lit his face as he stood there simply content to enjoy the view.

“Are you gonna keep staring at my ass like some kind of idiot or are you gonna help?” Zoom glanced back at her coltfriend.

“Huh? Oh, I’m enjoying the view.” Thunder winked. “I always enjoy this view...”

Zoom rounded on her partner and took a few steps toward him. “I know.”

“I don’t think you realize just how much I enjoy the view...”

“You sound mighty sure of yourself there, mister.”

With a light blush, Thunder thought back to their days of guard training. “Did you know... I uh... may have also chosen your butt to chase during basic training?”

Zoom sniggered. “Is that why I caught you looking once or twice?”

Thunder sheepishly clicked his forehooves together, “w-well you see... it might have been more times than once or twice.”

Suddenly very serious, Zoom eyed her stallion. “Did you look at anyone else’s flank?”

“Nope...” Thunder trailed off as he carefully wandered up to his mare and trailed a wing down her back as he circled around to her rear. “Just this one.” The cheeky stallion proceeded to lick the cutie mark before him.

“Come here you!” Zoom tackled her stallion and pinned him to the floor. “You’re gonna pay for that.”

“R-really?” Thunder stared up at his mare as she towered over him.

“Mmmhm,” Zoom smirked her eyes raked the downed stallion hungrily. “In fact... I think somepony is about to become my breakfast.”

The tough mare dove in for a kiss.

A month later, Zoom and Thunder found themselves landing in front of Bridlewood Forest. They were part of a five guard unit accompanying the Queen on a diplomatic mission. As the six pegasus group landed in front of the clear forest opening, a smile erupted across Queen Haven’s face at the sight of their welcoming party.

Zoom forced her own grin away and kept a respectful distance at the back alongside Thunder.

Alphabittle Blossomforth stood at the back of a dreary group of unicorns. While his fellows looked rather bored, their leader wore a shy smile and had eyes only for the pink queen.

As the pegasi strode toward the unicorns, Zoom leaned toward Thunder, “can you see what I can?”

“Huh?” Thunder stared at his mare, unsure what she was talking about.

“Eyes front.” Muttered their captain, Razor Wing.

Zoom rolled her eyes but complied.

Alphabittle led his unit out to greet the queen and the two leaders shook hooves. Zoom noticed how the two leaders' hoof shake lasted a lot longer than normal. They also shared a little smile. Zoom couldn’t help but smirk at the display. She glanced around, checking the area while she waited for her queen to finish.

Soon enough, the group were walking deeper into the forest. Walking… felt so slow now. Zoom itched to fly. To get above the trees. Do anything that involved moving faster than they were right now. Yet she forced herself to keep a watch and keep in step with everypony else.

Zoom glanced at Thunder and noticed that he was looking at her with an excited smile. She shot him a questioning look. His attention snapped to the front and he strode along stiffly. Unsure what to make of his odd antics, Zoom returned her focus to her duty.

That night, after their shift, Thunder led Zoom away from their encampment. The couple wandered in peaceful silence between the large trees. Zoom was quick to notice Thunder's excited trot. “What’s got you so excited?”

Thunder froze for a moment as though caught red hoofed at something. “Uh… you’ll find out.”

“Okay…”

Thunder glanced up through the trees and spotted a cloud overhead that should easily fit two pegasi. “Say… wanna cuddle on that cloud?”

Zoom quickly spotted the cloud in question and nodded. “Sure.”

“Alright.” Thunder grinned and pranced around on the spot happily.

“Just remember… when we cuddle, no sleeping in,” Zoom smirked.

“Now why would I sleep in?” Thunder gave his mare a playful ribbing with a wing.

“I dunno… cause some dummy has had to be woken up by me every day since we moved in together.”

“Well it’s not my fault… you’re too nice to sleep with and I don’t want to leave the bed.”

Zoom chuckled softly. “I’m glad I have such a profound effect on you. But we don’t want to keep them waiting. It's risky enough now that our queen is aware that we are dating.”

“Yeah, pretty cool that they let us stay together at work.” Thunder agreed as he took flight.

Zoom watched her partner’s green wings for a moment before she too took flight.

The couple carefully navigated their way through the canopy and into the open sky. With a whoop, Zoom looped round and round till she felt a little bit dizzy. With a wonky trail, she levelled out and smiled at her partner who was also twirling around, delighted to be free under the stars.

The couple dove for a cloud and alighted side by side.

Zoom took a deep breath and then relaxed. “So good being free...”

“Yeah.” Thunder agreed as he pulled his mare in for a winged hug.

“I don’t know what our queen sees in him. He can’t even fly.”

“What?” Thunder withdrew and stared at his mare, totally confused by her words.

Zoom rolled her eyes. “Don’t tell me you didn’t notice.”

“Notice what?”

“Our queen and Alphabittle like each other. They might already be a couple.”

“What? No way. They’re- well- uh...” Thunder dumbly trailed off. “You’re serious?”

“Yeah.” Zoom settled down on the small cloud and gazed out across the dense forest. “Anyway, enough about the ponies we guard. I’ll show you what I mean in the morning if you really want to know.”

“Sure.” Thunder agreed softly, “Maybe it will help me be a little less dense.”

Zoom snorted. “Na, I like my dense hunk of a stallion.”

“Yeah, yeah... laugh it up.” Thunder complained as he settled down beside his mare.

Zoom gave her partner a quick kiss on his cheek. “You know I love you.”

“And I love you too, Zoom.”

The couple fell into a peaceful silence. Content to watch the expansive forest, shining moon and the twinkling stars overhead.

After a while, Zoom rolled onto her back and gazed up into the night sky above. “So many stars...”

Thunder glanced at the endless expanse above. With a light smile, he joined his mare, lying upside down to better stargaze. “I’m used to the city...”

“Yeah. This is beautiful. Really reminds you why ponies live in places like this.”

Thunder beheld the stunning mare by his side, “Real beautiful.”

Zoom noticed where her coltfriend’s eyes were locked and snorted. “Real cheesy, stud muffin.”

“It’s true though.” Thunder murmured as he returned his gaze to the stars above.

Zoom watched her coltfriend a moment longer before she too, resumed admiring the glory on display above.

Time flowed onward as the couple cuddled up closer and continued to enjoy the view.

All of a sudden, Zoom became aware that Thunder was fiddling with a small bag around his middle. “Where did you get that from?”

“I uh... wings. Hidden.”

Feeling a little confused, Zoom stared at her coltfriend. “Okay?”

At last, the stallion fished out whatever it was he was hiding. He turned away from his lover and sat staring out over the treetops.

Zoom stared up at the seated stallion, feeling rather lost. “Is something wrong, Thunder?”

The stallion took a few nervous breaths, “No. Well, I hope- everything is great. Just- uh... why don’t you sit up?”

Zoom sat up and faced her partner. She noticed how his eyes sparkled hopefully under the stars.

The nervous stallion admired the beautiful mare before him. The way the moon and stars lit her eyes and face took his breath away. Unable to help himself, he leaned in and gave her a tender kiss.

After a long pleasurable show of affection, Thunder withdrew, smiling.

Zoom grinned back, “So... care to share what’s gone and got my stallion so tongue tired?”

Nervousness flickered across the stallion and his smile faltered. He took a deep breath, then with a flourish of his wings revealed a small old wooden box with two dancing pegasi carved into the top. “Zoom...”

The mare stared at the box, then up at her stallion. “Is that-”

“Zoom, you are my bestest best friend. The most amazing guard I could ask to partner with and I love you ever so much. I love your music, cuddles and- and everything about you. I believe you are the perfect mare for me.” Thunder took a deep breath and then carefully opened the old box, “Zoom… will you marry me?”

“Yes!” Zoom tackled her stallion to the cloud and planted a fiery kiss on his lips. The smiling mare withdrew and met her lover's shocked gaze. “Yes, I would love you marry you.”

The stunned stallion grinned up at her like a fool who had just been struck by lightning.

With a chuckle at her stallion’s current stunned state, Zoom took the moment to admire the hoof band. The embroidered silk hoof band was a rich purple and had gold and wings stitched into it. “Nice hoofband, wanna put it on me?” Zoom grinned with anticipation as she held out her forehoof.

Thunder very carefully got to his feet, the precious box securely held by his right wing. Using his left wing, he lifted the band up and allowed it to flutter slightly in the faint night breeze. “This was the band my dad proposed to mum with.”

With a shy smile, Thunder slipped the soft band onto his mare’s offered right forehoof. “Apparently, both my parents like you so much they insisted that you be offered... well... this. D-do you like it?”

“Thunder... it’s perfect.” Zoom admired the way the rich purple contrasted against her blue coat. The silver and gold feather art gave a cool sparkle under the moonlight. With an approving glint in her eye, Zoom pulled her lover in for a kiss.

The stallion’s eyes fluttered closed and he held the box close and deepened the kiss.

After a long, wonderful kiss that made everything else fade away, Zoom slowly withdrew. She giggled at the lovestruck look on her stallion’s face.

Laughter pulled the stallion out of his dazed state. "That face..."

Thunder poked his tongue out. "Yeah, yeah."

"I love that face." Zoom darted in and gave her stallion a quick peck on the check.

With a tender smile, Thunder carefully put the box away and settled down. With a gentle wing, he guided his lover in close for a winged cuddle as they lay side by side on the cloud for two. A love struck grin slipped out across his muzzle as they enjoyed the moment.

As Thunder stared out over the expansive forest below, he couldn’t help but tighten the winged hug. He nuzzled up as close as he could. “You really said yes...”

“Of course I did...” Zoom chuckled.

“That... that was the perfect moment I’ve been holding out for.” Thunder smiled blissfully as he withdrew to admire his mare.

Zoom smirked as she lay there in bliss. “You sneaky stallion. Don’t tell me you had this all planned.”

“Me? Plan? Pfft... I mean, maybe... just a little.”

The tough mare gave her stallion a playful shove, “nice.”

“You mean it?”

“I do. Does this mean you also organized a party for us once we get home?”

“Something like that... I had to slow your folks down, else they might have sprung the party before we even left. They seemed so excited.”

Zoom sniggered. “Yeah, I bet they are.”

“I look forward to getting to going on patrol with my wife.” Thunder grinned. “It’s going to be so cool.”

“How will it be any different to how we already function at work?”

“Oh you know...” the stallion slipped a possessive wing lower down his mare’s back. “I’m sure there are private places in the palace where a married couple like us could spend our break times.”

Zoom leapt up and tacked her coltfriend, pinning him to the soft cloud. “I love you, you silly colt.”

Thunder’s grin grew so wide it almost split his glowing face in two. He pulled his mare in for a tight, possessive hug. “You’re mine. I love you, I love you... so much.”

Zoom enjoyed the hug, responding in kind until she felt her stallion relax. The tough mare withdrew enough to gaze into the shining eyes of her husband to be. She couldn’t help but admire the way the light from the stars and moon overhead twinkled in those eyes. Eyes that shone with love for her. She continued to drink in the breathtaking sight as she slowly leaned down for a kiss.

Sensing her intent, Thunder eagerly met her half way then pulled her down onto the cloud on top of himself. There they proceeded to make out under the stars.

Author's Note

As I film weddings as a part of my job I don’t feel like writing about one and I think its pretty clear that there is a wedding coming soon.
The story I set out to write has been more than covered.
But I have a few short snippets to share before I mark this 'complete' and so will release them soon as a final epilogue of sorts.