Finding Your Family

As the band fell silent, Smolder, who had been standing at the altar the whole time, raised her claws. "Everyone, take your seats!"

Everyone sat down with the exception of the wedding party and a few of the ponies running the event. Spike could see that Pinkie Pie was bouncing around the farmhouse though the window, and the Cakes and Applejack were in the kitchen. Ember was slow to sit, as were some of the other dragons she'd brought with her, and Garble had to be told a second time to sit down. Dragon weddings were not like this.

Smolder pulled up a small booklet that she'd brought with her and flipped it open. "Fillies and gentlecolts... and other non-pony races, we gather here today to witness the union of groom's name and bride's name."

There was a murmur from the assorted guests, and a bit of sniggering from the crowd.

Rather than continue reading, Smolder closed the book. "You know what? This book needs updating before we use it again. It's not fit for our situation."

As she set the book aside, Twilight grabbed it and a pen, and started scribbling. It wasn't the original, just a copy she'd made, so if there was to be a revision, this was a good template.

Smolder clapped her claws. "Anyway, we all know why we're here. Spike and Scootaloo have loved each other for a long time. They've built a home, built a family, and now, we're here to wed them to each other. By dragon standards, they're already married, but I guess ponies have a whole ceremony for it."

Twilight unbound the booklet and gave the first part, now revised, back to Smolder.

"If, for any reason, someone here believes these two should not be wed, speak now, or forever hold your peace," she read. "That line seems kind of strange, doesn't it? First of all, if someone didn't want to see them together, why would they come to the wedding? To stop it from happening? Kind of bleak, if you ask me... If they wanted to object, tell them before they spend all this time and effort putting it together. This would be the worst time for it." She sighed. "Okay, then. If anypony wants to ruin this whole thing, just belt it out now."

The crowd was deathly silent. Everyone from the ponies to the dragons, and even the birds were afraid to make a single chirp for fear of destroying all of the hard work being presented to them. If Equestrian, changeling and dragon royalty were supporting this union, no one wanted to be the one arsehole that openly opposed all three of them.

"Excellent," nodded Smolder as Twilight gave her the rest of the book, tossing a lot of the unused pages aside for later revision when she had time. "Now, the couple has decided to write their own vows, which is good because the one in the book sounds a mess. Spike, you're first."

Spike squeezed Scootaloo's claws. He'd written his vows with Twilight, and she'd made him redo them twice, and she had made him practice three times a day for the past week, even when he wasn't working. He turned to wave Cudgel up.

"Scootaloo, when I saw you crying on that park bench, I was instantly stricken with the desire to make everything alright. All I wanted in that moment was to help you find your smile again. To that end, I postponed the task I was supposed to be doing just to make sure you'd be okay. Since then, that has been my prerogative; to ensure that you are well, both physically and emotionally.

"On this day, my promise to you is that, for the rest of our time together, I will be by your side. If not physically, I will be there in spirit. I will be holding you aloft when your weather license comes in. I will be keeping you strong when the kids go off to college. When they start lives of their own, I will be right there beside you. Nevermore will you be lonely or defenseless, for I will be on your guard until the world itself is torn apart. This I swear, on my honour as a dragon."

A small scattering of applause rang out through the crowd As Spike slid the ring onto Scootaloo's claw, but it wasn't very much. Most of the reaction came from Twilight, who had to dab at her eyes with a hoofkerchief, which she stole from Thorax's pocket.

All Smolder had to do was look at Scootaloo, and she was ready to begin. She had taken some advice from Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, and it was her aunts that helped her memorize it.

"Spike, when I was at my lowest point, you brought light to my heart. You gave me a reason to keep going forward, and wings to reach my highest of goals. I was so scared when I saw these gifts, because I thought I was taking away from you something that I wanted, and that I'd deprived you of your own joy.

"Something I've heard from everypony here in town is "That's just the way Spike is. He's a kind, generous, loyal and honest dragon, who spreads laughter among his friends." I have found this to be true beyond any shadow of a doubt. Spike, you are a credit to dragonkind, and to ponykind.

"It is for these reasons that I want to return the favour. You have made me the happiest dragoness in the world, and I promise that a happy drake is what you shall be. I vow to be a joy in your life, even when you've given yourself wholly to everypony you care for. I give to you myself, wholly, in hopes that I can be even a fraction of what you deserve for all you do."

Holiday blew her nose in Lofty's hoofkerchief, having been brought to tears halfway through. As Scootaloo took the ring from Cudgel's pillow, he sat back down, letting the crowd see the ring fit onto Spike's claw for the first time.

"Now then," Smolder checked the notes Twilight had written, and then, grabbing the sashes worn by the couple and draping them first over the other's shoulders, placed the ends in their claws. "It is in the tying of this sash that we show the bonds that have already formed. Honestly, the fact that you each insisted separately that your sash match the eyes of your significant other was a bold step, but sure, let's tie the knot."

Spike took the ends closer to the crowd and bound them in a double fisherman's bend. Scootaloo took the ends in front of Smolder and tied them together in a Flemish bend.

"Let the strength of these knots represent the strength of your commitment for each other," noted Smolder. "Finally, by the power vested in my temporarily by Princess Twilight, representing the legal council of Equestria, I now proclaim you to be husband and wife."

Scottaloo jumped forward into Spike's arms, and Spike picked her up, passionately kissing each other as the crowd cheered.

"I mean, sure, you can kiss her," shrugged Smolder. "I was about to tell you to do that, anyway."