A Not-So-Royal Las Pegasus Wedding

To Starlight Glimmer, at that moment, she was looking at the most handsome stallion in Equestria. Not even the splendor of Las Pegasus’ finest chapel could distract her love.

Sunburst stood at the altar in a tuxedo, his beard trimmed and his orange mane slicked back and well-groomed. A welcoming smile called his bride.

Starlight’s face went red-hot. Her heart pounded so hard she figured Firelight could feel it thumping as he escorted her down the aisle.

“I’m so proud of you, pumpkin,” Firelight whispered into her ear. Starlight didn’t look at him, but knew he had tears in his eyes. “You’re all grown up but know that I’ll always love you.”

“I love you, too, Dad,” Starlight whispered back.

The walk down the aisle seemed forever, but Starlight somehow kept her composure long enough to find herself face-to-face with Sunburst, swimming in the aqua blue of his eyes. She cast an aside glance at Firelight and saw him wipe his face as he took his seat. Her dad really was crying, just like she knew the softie would.

Princess Twilight Sparkle stood at the podium, beaming with pride at how far her student had come before she addressed the crowd. “Welcome, everypony! You may all be seated.”

The select contingent of well-dressed ponies obeyed, along with the students from Twilight's school, as Twilight paused to recapture everypony's attention.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the joining of Starlight Glimmer and Sunburst in sacred marriage. Their love for each other is clear and we affirm this is a union entered into with due consider and forethought. Therefore, without objection, we will continue…”

The room remained silent except for the thumping of Starlight’s heart.

“Today is a very special day, not only for my best student but for myself. There can be no greater satisfaction than watching a pony with such potential grow into the mare she's become. Now she has the stallion of her heart to walk this wonderful path by her side. And so, without further ado, I ask that you two hold each other’s hooves.”

They did so, gazing lovingly and longingly into each other’s eyes.

“Starlight Glimmer, do you take Sunburst to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold and to cherish, through both happiness and strife, and both sickness and health, as long as you both shall live?”

She felt the joy of each syllable. “I do.”

“And do you, Sunburst, take Starlight Glimmer to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold and to cherish, through both happiness and strife, and both sickness and health, as long as you both shall live?”

“I do,” Sunburst said. The look of love on his face transformed into a vicious sneer. “Not!”

Starlight’s heart had been ready to explode in exultation but instead she did a double-take. “Wait, what?”

Before Starlight had time to process Sunburst’s answer, a green flame wreathed him, and he transformed into a tall, dark, insect-like creature whose body was riddled with holes.

“Chrysalis!” Starlight shouted. She lowered her stance, ready to fight. “What have you done with Sunburst?”

Chrysalis turned her face towards the ceiling and cackled. “Oh, you needn’t worry about your little Sunbug. I’ve already drained every last ounce of love from him! I told you, there is no revenge you could possibly conceive compared to that I would exact upon you, Starlight Glimmer! I’ve waited too long for this. This is my ultimate vengeance!”

All at once, the serenity of the procession erupted into chaos. Some of the ponies, even Twilight herself, turned into Changelings. Others screamed and galloped out of the wedding chapel, leaving a few behind to fight. Magic beams darted back and forth, sending a chair flying through the air as bodies slammed into the pews, snapping them in half with cracks of splintering wood.

And Chrysalis stood at the center of it all, laughing with insane glee at the carnage.

It was all too much to bear. Starlight went prone and covered the top of her head with her hooves, tears streaming down her face. In a matter of moments, what should have been the happiest day of her life had become a nightmare. The only thing Starlight had the frame of mind to do was to scream.

“Nooooooooooo!”

***

“-Oooooooo!” Starlight snapped upright, panting in a cold sweat. For a moment, she tried to make sense of what had just happened. Only when Sunburst’s hoof touched her shoulder did she understand. She was sitting in their bed, in the darkness of their room at the Ponylaggio in Las Pegasus.

“Starlight, what’s wrong?” Sunburst whispered.

Thank Celestia, it was a dream. Starlight latched onto him. “Oh Sunburst, I just had the worst nightmare! We were at our wedding, and Chrysalis, she was you-”

“Starlight…”

“I mean, you were her, and Twilight and the other ponies were all Changelings and–”

Sunburst pulled her closer. “Starlight! It was just a dream.”

“I know, but it felt so real!” Starlight rested her head on his chest; that always calmed her down. “I guess I’m still afraid of losing you. I don’t want anything to ruin our wedding.”

Sunburst hugged her tighter and stroked her mane, his voice reassuring. “Come on. You know Chrysalis was turned to stone. The rehearsal dinner’s tonight and the wedding’s tomorrow. You’re excited. It’s just nerves.”

“Nerves, right,” Starlight sighed and let out an anxious giggle. “I’m still working on that after all these years.”

“The wedding’s going to be perfect, I promise.”

She closed her eyes, listening to Sunburst’s heartbeat and felt his chest rising and sinking with each breath. In an instant, she was at peace. “I love you so much, Sunburst.”

“I love you, too, my beautiful bride-to-be,” Sunburst answered. Starlight didn’t respond. She’d already drifted back asleep using his chest as a pillow.