In the comfort of Zoom and Thunder's home, the mare herself was in the middle of cooking up four veggie patties while Thunder oversaw the grilling of four burger buns. Zoom returned her attention to the platter nearby on the counter top. With a quick shake, she placed a good helping of lettuce alongside the already grated carrot, cheese and sliced tomato.

Soon enough they were seated at their small square table, the platter of ingredients between them. The hungry looking stallion eagerly loaded his first bun with as many slices of cheese, carrot, lettuce and crowned with the largest patty of the bunch. As he carefully compressed the stack with the top bun in place, Zoom eyed his creation.

Thunder took notice of his audience, “what?”



“How will that fit in your mouth?” Zoom skeptically asked.

Thunder grinned. “It’s the perfect size.” And with that, he picked his monster burger up and took a very careful bite out of it. As the stretched maw closed over the burger, grated veggies and a lettuce leaf flopped out and landed on the table. Thunder was quick to scoop his food back into place.

Zoom eyed the display with a critical eye. “Glad to see you're enjoying that.”

The munching stallion nodded happily as he finished his extra large mouthful. “Oh yes, this is so good...” With that, he took another wide bite, seeking to further demolish his gigantic burger.

A dry laugh escaped the mare as she took a bite of her much smaller, neatly packed burger.

The couple settled into enjoying their meal together. Soon enough, Thunder had moved on to creating a second monster burger packed with as many ingredients he could stack between two buns without his creation falling over. He proceeded to shamelessly enjoy his creation.

Zoom alternated between enjoying her meal and observing her stallion act like a hungry little colt. As she was half way through her second small burger she noticed two eyes looking at her. She paused her meal, “yes, pig?”

"I'm really glad you're with me. Feeds like this are the best."

"You're cleaning up that mess," Zoom commented with a smile as she resumed her meal.

Thunder ignored her comment, choosing to instead pick at the platter of loose ingredients.

Zoom, Thunder, Zipp and Misty sat around a small table. A bowl half filled with a mixture of liquor sat between the group. Each pony had a shot glass in front of them. While Misty gave hers a tentative sniff, Thunder was eyeing his glass like it was dangerous.

"Thunder?"

The stallion in question screwed up his face, "what is that? It's so strong..."

Zipp laughed, "yeah, that's cause it's last mare standing."

"Hey, there's a stallion here." Thunder protested.

Zoom chucked, "so? Looks to me like my fiance won't be able to hold his liquor."

"Then it's name sticks, sorry Thunder." Zipp picked up her own next shot and knocked it back.

"Misty, can you make her change that dumb name?" Thunder asked the shy blue mare at Zipps side.

"Um... no? I was told it's funny when you fall over. I'm still waiting to see why Zipp says that." Misty gave her companion a shy glance.

Zipp smirked back.

Zoom laughed loudly.

Thunder shot his mare a dirty look and threw back his shot. "Fine. One."

Everypony else followed suit and thus began the drinking game of last mare standing.

"You may now kiss the bride."

Zoom tacked Thunder and gave her husband a huge kiss.

Cheering erupted from all present at the young couple's wedding. Zipp, the best mare was especially loud.

While on guard duty, roaming the halls of the castle, Thunder lent in and with a cheeky smile whispered in his wife's ear;
"Psst.. Zoom."

"What Thunder?"

"Wanna... Foxtrot Unicorn Charlie Kilo?"

Zoom rolled her eyes. "You know we are on duty."

"Yeah."

"You're abusing this being married thing aren't you?"

"No..." Thunder playfully shot back.

"Want to get us in trouble?"

The stallion shrugged, obvious disappointment building up. "Well... no."

"Then wait. Geeze, it's like we started and suddenly you always want action."

"Well, I just wondered..."

The couple were startled out of their little conversation by one of the junior guards as he strolled on past. The red stallion turned and smirked at the couple, shook his head then continued on his way.

Zoom and Thunder shared a look.

"I guess I can wait till after our shift then." Thunder muttered as he resumed walking.

"Good boy." Zoom patted her stallion on the back with her wing then strode off. "Stallions..." She muttered.

"Hey, I heard that!" Thunder quickly caught up to his wife.

"You were supposed to. Now, back to being professional."

"Yes, boss." Thunder rolled his eyes.

Zoom gave her lover a warning glare. "I'll show you boss."

"Well... technically you both are the same rank," Pipp spoke up.

The couple stared at the pink princess and Hitch as the new arrivals pulled up alongside them.

"Where did you come from?" Thunder wondered.

"We just finished lunch with the queen." Hitch shrugged. "Pipp wondered how long it would take for us to be noticed."

"Dare I ask how much you heard?" Zoom dryly wondered.

"Only the part about you being his boss when your really both the same rank." Pipp helpfully supplied.

Thunder huffed. "Missing the point, Princess."

Zoom sniggered, "Hey Pipp, wanna promote me?"

"Why?"

"Cause then I can offically boss him around at work." She shot her stallion a cheeky grin.

"Would mother approve?" Pipp wondered.

The princess met Hitch's gaze and he shrugged. "Don't look at me. I don't know."

"Well..." Pipp carefully thought for a moment longer.

Zoom looked overly excited.

Thunder was clearly less impressed by the exchange.

"I think... you two already make such a great couple. I don't think I would feel good if I changed only Zoom's rank and there was a sudden shift in power. What if it affected how well you perform your royal duties?" A horrified gasp escaped the mare. "What if you broke up?"

"Well... that wouldn't happen." Thunder put a wing over his mare's back. "She's stuck with me for life."

"Yeah. But I appreciate the concern. Sorry Thunder, your stuck with a wife who is the same rank as you." Zoom smiled at her husband.

"How ever will I cope?" Thunder bumped his wife's flank, and a cheeky smile crept out as his wing slid down her back.

"Not while we are working, remember?"

"He's worse than Sprout." Hitch joked, "and there I thought my deputy could be bad when his marefriend visits the office."

Zoom gave her husband a wink, "See Thunder, my handsome studd needs to cool down."

"Yes, yes... I will."

Zoom gave her husband a quick nuzzle, "good boy..."

"Awww..." Pipp cooed.

And it was in that moment the happy guard couple realised the pink princess's phone had appeared in her hoof.

"Please don't post that." Zoom grumbled.

Pipp's hoof hovered over the screen. "Oh... but it's such a cute photo."

"Send it in the palace chat or something. Just don't post it on your main account."

"And done." Pipp smiled. "Come on Hitch, I wan't to go shopping!"

The sherif waved at the couple as he was dragged away.

Zoom turned to Thunder. "Coulda been worse."

"Yeah."

"You're stuck with me too, you know."

"Even if I outrank you some day?" Thunder wondered.

"Even if you outrank me while we are working, yes."

"I love you Zoom."

"Love you too Thunder."

Three months after their wedding, Zoom and Thunder lay cuddled up on a big lone cloud overlooking a wild forest. The nearby clouds were almost glowing in the sunset. It was a magical atmosphere for the two ponies to enjoy.

"Thunder, I'm pregnant."

"What?" The shocked stallion almost fell off their cloud.

"Woah boy." Zoom caught her husband and steadied him. "You okay?"

The stunned stallion broke out into a huge grin and wrapped his wife In a tight hug. He nuzzled her eagerly, "y-you're serious?"

"Uh, yes..."

The grinning stallion withdrew to gaze lovingly at his wife. "We're gonna be parents! This is so cool... Oh, thank you Zoom..."

A relieved breath escaped Zoom and she collapsed on the cloud.

"Are you okay?" Thunder stared at his downed mare with concern.

"Yeah... I wasn't sure how you would take that."

Thunder cocked his head innocently to the side. "How else should I take it?"

Zoom smiled as shook her head and reached out with a forehoof to touch her stallion's cheek. "No other way. I was just worried. This is kinda a big deal after all..."

"Yeah. But bring it on. I bet you'll be the best mom ever!"

A dry laugh escaped the tough mare, "heh, dunno about best."

"Of course you will be..." Thunder tenderly nuzzled his wife.

"Maybe. I look forward to seeing you become a father." Zoom flipped herself over.

"Yeah..." Thunder cuddled up close and placed a wing protectively over his mare. "Hey Zoom..."

"Yes, Thunder?"

"I'm glad I get to live life with you. And I have a feeling this next part is gonna be extra awesome."

Zoom gave her husband a brief kiss, "I might just have to agree with you."

The happy couple fell into a peaceful silence, happy to cuddle and watch as dusk set in.

Author's Note

Just some short snippets of life to act as a sort of epilogue to this cute fic.
I feel done now.