Days passed as they prepared the wedding. There was much to get ready. Dresses and suits and flowers and catering all needed to be prepared, not to mention a venue had to be chosen. For all the talk of the Apple family tree, it just wouldn't fit the needs of so many ponies. For the vows, certainly, but they opted for the main orchard for the bulk of the before and after.

Applejack waved at the town. "Now, who we gonna have give the ceremony? Somethin' tickles me 'bout callin' fer Mayor Mare, just like mah parents had!" Then, she paused. "What would you say ta that? Mayor, fer the officiatin'?"

Rainbow shrugged from her position sprawled out on the bed. Her wings and mane drooped slightly. "Whoever you want, whatever you want."

AJ sped to her side. "Something' wrong? Yer lookin' harried. How's mah pretty, perfect mare?"

Rainbow Dash groaned softly and flopped over. "I feel off, and I feel heavy. My stomach hurts, too. It's like I can feel my body pulling energy away and using it to grow this baby."

Applejack let out a quiet oh. "Well, that's exactly what's goin' on, Ah'm afraid." She leaned in for soft nuzzles. "Want a hug? A cuddle? A roll in the hay?" She wiggled her eyebrows with the last one.

Rainbow giggled softly and nudged AJ. "You silly filly. Let me sleep."

Applejack smooched Rainbow's cheek. "Ah'll do that. Let this be the last question then. Are ya okay with Mayor Mare bein' the official?"

"Yep. Do that, please." Rainbow's eyes drifted shut. Sleep came swiftly upon the exhausted Pegasus.

Applejack settled on the floor next to the bed and watched her bride to be sleep. "A sight even when yer sprawled out." She let out a fond sigh and hopped back to her feet. Tired wife or not, she had work to do.

The day approached fast, with Applejack getting ready at a fast pace. The dress was beautiful and white, with pink flowers in the pattern, and she had her hat secured on top of her head, refusing to leave it behind, though a veil was draped from beneath, trailing down to conceal her from the sides and back, but doing nothing for the front. She took charge of arranging things, leaving Rainbow to focus on the life blossoming within her.

"You must be nervous," Applejack brought up over breakfast one morning, her eyes on Big Mac.

"Ayup?" He took another bite of the apple-chunked oatmeal before him.

"You have two moms of yer foals, gettin' ready for that big day, at the same time. Ah can't even 'magine bein' in yer hooves."

"Yep." He didn't sound bothered. In fact, he was smiling.

Applejack rolled her eyes, glancing towards the door where Rainbow was sleeping in late. She'd done so often the last couple days with how tired she was. "Kinda hopin' this phase don't last too long. Ain't like Rainbow to sleep in quite this much."

Sugar Belle took her role as a Best Lady seriously even before the wedding, with helping with the preparations, giving Rainbow tips on what to expect, and comforting Applejack as she fussed over her mare and future foal. She was already showing a small bump in her belly, but Rainbow wasn't far behind.

Ponies could hide their progress when they wanted to, but it was an effort. Not a great one, but more than nothing. Fortunately for Sugar, The Apples didn't mind if she just let it show, most happy to see it, and fawn over her when she came around.

She showed up with her belly on display, and Applejack greeted her with a hoof rub. "You look radiant." She leaned in, touching nose to nose with the pregnant baker. "They said it was a thin' with expectin' mares, and they weren't wrong none. Rainbow's showin' it too. She's startin' to feel better, but that glow she got, wow!"

Sugar smiled back at Applejack, leaning in to whisper softly, "Thanks AJ. I'm glad you're noticing that too."

Applejack gathered Sugar for a firm complete hug. "Now, let's get on with gettin' ready fer this here weddin'. Gotta be ready for the day, an' it's a comin' soon!"

The day approached faster and faster. Rainbow was getting excited about it, even through her exhaustion. "We're gonna be married, Applejack!" She threw a wing over Applejack. "Finally." She leaned in, pressing cheek to cheek. "All this work is worth it, for that."

The mare laughed warmly. "Ah know what ya mean. Ah think about it all the time. What's it gonna be like? Is it gonna be different? Will we act different? Ah can't wait." She danced in place, just considering it. "Oh! Are ya gonna take my name? Rainbow Apple? Rainbow Dash Apple?" She laughed, unable to even try to still her racing heart.

Rainbow laughed warmly. "We'll talk about that after we're married. Who knows? Maybe I'll be a new Apple! Or maybe not. But that doesn't matter as much to me as the promise we're making." She nosed against Applejack. "Besides, I'll be an Apple either way, name or not. To be honest, I think I'd feel odd if I wasn't Rainbow Dash. I do live up to that name. So, if anything, Apple after it would be better, but then I have this big name!"

"Maybe ya shoulda been Rainbow Bolt." Applejack winked. "Ah can't wait fer ya to be an Apple, no matter what ya do. Just glad yer mine, and gonna be fer a long while yet."

Rainbow snapped a sharp salute. "Hey, I was the element of loyalty for a reason. I'll be at your side for a nice long time. Minus when work calls me. Oh, shoulda seen the look on her face."

"Look on who's face?" Applejack chuckled gently. "Ya didn't go messin' up some poor pony, did ya?"

"Worse! Spitfire challenged me to a race, and I beat her again. The look on her face was priceless! She knows I'm expecting, and she was hoping for an easy win."

"Shoot, Rainbow. You shouldn't be doin' those sorts of stunts! Ya got a little foal growin' in there, no sense strainin' yerself. Ah don't want you hurtin', y'hear?" Her words ended as Rainbow kissed her full on the lips, pressing her back into a feathery hug.

"I have this." Rainbow licked Applejack's nose. "It was just a race, no stunts. I'm on break from the Wonderbolts until after the big day. So, there's no stunts, and I'll be safe."

Applejack rubbed their foreheads together gently. "Yer doin' all sorts 'a silly stuff." She nickered quietly. "But if ah wasn't ready for that, that's a bit on me fer not seein' it comin'." She took a slow and cleansing breath. "Alright, we're almost ready fer this thin'."

***

The day of the wedding came. The brides were both in flowing dresses, walking down the aisle with all of Ponyville, plus the Wonderbolts, plus a good portion of the Apples cheering them on from either side. Mayor Mare stood at the altar with the two Best Ponies, Big Mac and Sugar Belle. They were in front of the Apple Family tree, its branches laden with fruits for the occasion.

Applejack's heart raced. "This is it! Finally!" She couldn't stop her hooves from prancing.

Rainbow elbowed Applejack, other three legs carrying her forward at the proper rate. "Easy. Focus on moving with the music."

Applejack took a deep breath and tried to focus. Her hoofbeats slowed and evened out, matching Rainbow Dash's pace, and she let the rhythm carry her down the aisle to the altar.

They stood there as Mayor Mare announced what was happening. The crowd was silent as she did so. "Do you, Rainbow Dash, take Applejack as your lawfully wedded wife, to love, to hug, to adore and support in good days and poor for each of your days?"

Rainbow Dash nodded, speaking clearly, "I do." She grinned warmly at Applejack. "For each and every day."

Mayor turned to AJ. "Do you, Applejack, take Rainbow Dash as your lawfully wedded wife? To support, chase, and love for each of your days?"

Applejack, for her part, simply said, "Ah do." She grinned back at Rainbow. "An' that's a promise." Her heart hammered in her chest, but she kept her gaze locked with her mare's eyes.

Mayor Mare brought her spread hooves together. "Then, with honor and pleasure, I pronounce you two married." The crowd erupted into stomps on the ground, cheers, and clops of hooves together.

Big Mac and Sugar Belle both cheered as loudly as anypony there. Sugar Belle's yells may have come in a little slower, but her heart was just as much into it as anypony else's.

Applejack pointed, a few happy tears forcing their way free. "Now c'mon, everypony! The reception's back at the orchard, and ah bet ya got a mighty hunger after all that." She waved the crowd onwards and then galloped after them, laughing. She paused to look at her bride. "This is the start of the rest of our lives."

Rainbow Dash laughed back, eyes sparkling brightly. "About time!" She pounced Applejack, but not to the ground, instead grabbing tightly to hover in the air and hold her dressed wife as the two kissed in mid-air.

Applejack's tail swished rapidly. "This is gonna be a mighty fine day." She grinned warmly. "Now let's get this here part started. Ah know a bunch of ponies waitin' to party with us."

"Right." Rainbow released Applejack to the ground before landing herself, the two trotting side by side to the orchard.

"Huh." A stallion smirked with a chuckle as he regarded Rainbow at the party. "Guess you finally crashed into something you couldn't just stand up from."

Rainbow looked up with a frown, recognizing the pony after a moment. "Wow, it's been ages! When did you get in town?"

The stallion swatted at her shoulder. "As if I'd miss your big day. Congratulations."

The two laughed and caught up, which they hadn't since flight school so many years prior. He was a childhood friend of hers, one she had lost touch with after she'd left school and gone on her own ways.

Applejack's friends were all known to her, either Ponyvillians, Apples, or Wonderbolts, and she knew all of those. She nodded to each as they came up with their fond words, and she had a word or two to give back. Big Mac was among them, his congratulations firm and warm. "Eeyup!"

"Thank ya kindly, Big Mac!" Applejack laughed and hugged him back. "Now ah know how ya felt on yer big day. Glad you an' Sugar are here."

Big Mac simply ruffled Applejack's hair with a hoof, smiling brightly. "Yep!"

Sugar Belle approached slowly and wrapped them both in a hug. "Thank you. For having me here." She kissed either's cheek. "This is quite the party you've lined up here. Did Pin—"

As if hearing her name start to be said, Pinkie was there, smiling at them all. "Having fun?"

Big Mac just nodded, but Applejack smiled. "We're mighty glad that you're havin' a good time too, Sugarcube. And Pinkie, thank you kindly fer puttin' this all together."

Pinkie waved it off. "Much as I'd love to take credit, you did at least half of the putting, AJ. You could not be stopped." She bounced once in place. "Glad I could help though!"

Sugar Belle laughed softly. "I'm glad I could help with things too. Even if my help was only being the maid of honor to the bride."

Pinkie wiggled in excitement. "It's your day! She waved towards the thicker parts of the reception. "Don't be a stranger. Everypony's here for you and Rainbow."

Applejack nodded, stepping away with a smile and trotting to rejoin the crowd. A number of them greeted her with smiles and congratulations. "Hey," she said as she approached the table. It promised to be a long evening, but a good one, she reckoned.

Author's Note

That knot is formally tied. Which name do you think Rainbow should go with, or keep the one she has?

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