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Twilight and Spike are the last to arrive at Sweet Apple Acres and Pinkie Pie waves her over. She can't help her smile; seeing her friends is exactly what she needs right now.
"Twilight!"
"Spike!"
"Hey girls," She pulls up a chair, "How is everyone?" she asked.
"Pretty great!" Pinkie Pie said.
"Wonderful darling." Rarity said.
"Nice. You?" Fluttershy said.
"Awesome!" Rainbow Dash said.
Granny Smith, Apple Bloom, and Big Mac continue to set the table. The chatting settling around Twilight like a soft blanket. She's pretty sure that something's going on, they've all gotten so busy that this casual setting is precious and uncommon.
"Now, that ya'll are all here, we got something to say." Applejack said.
Rainbow Dash and Applejack share a look with each other before turning back to the others.
"We're getting married, y'all." Applejack said.
They erupted into cheers, shouts, and squeals. Twilight giggled at how Pinkie Pie is practically vibrating in her seat and Rarity now bombarding them with questions about who was going to wear what. She noticed that Granny, Apple Bloom, and Big Mac weren't surprised. She wonders how long they've known, impressed at how well they can keep secrets, unlike a certain pink pony she knows. Twilight giggles harder.
"They're getting married!" Spike said.
He's looking around the table. An exclamation of joy disguising itself as an obvious observation. Twilight laughs, wrapping a forelock around him and kissing the top of his head. Rarity and Fluttershy are holding back tears. Big Mac has the widest grin Twilight has ever see. He nudges Apple Bloom and she goes over to nuzzle into Fluttershy and Rarity's sides. Fluttershy and Apple Bloom wrap their wings around each other. Rarity peppers them with kisses.
Rainbow Dash and Applejack are leaning back, taking it all in. They share another look and when everyone calms down enough, they start speaking.
"We figured you'd want to be in on this, so you can help." Rainbow Dash said, tilting her head.
Pinkie Pie and Rarity cheered at different volumes.
"Yay yay yay yay!"
"Oh, wonderful darlings!"
"Ya'll are the best." Applejack sniffed and her voice grew stronger, "Now, here's what we were thinkin'." She said.
~~~
Rarity is starting with Applejack's dress, the bodice is going to be understated yet elegant, with a bit of shine to it. Not so much that it wouldn't be her but enough to make it feel special. Beads glittering at her hooves. Instead of using apples in the motif, she's going to use lightning bolts, using different colored gems to create a gradient. It will lead down to the skirt, striking the clouds made of tuille that gathers at the hips.
Greens and pinks look good on Applejack, light breezy fabrics, a hemline that won't drag, and wide enough that she can move around easily. With every stitch she has to avoid crying. She takes her time, letting her memories or Applejack wash over her. When she hangs it up, she considers it her best dress yet.
Starting her work on Rainbow Dash's outfit, her first thought is apple shaped buttons, each one in a different color.
~~~
In the Crystal Library Twilight watched Rainbow Dash continue to pace, quill hovering over a piece of parchment. Spike, leaning back in his seat, fiddling with many crumpled up parchment littering the table.
Rainbow Dash groaned, "Uuuugh why is this so hard?" she asked.
Twilight, trying not to laugh, "Because it's important to you." She said.
Rainbow Dash blushed a little, "Well yeah bit still," She said, "I've known her for years. It should be easy…"
Twilight smiled. "Don't worry about how it sounds, just think about how you feel about her." She said.
Rainbow Dash exhaled, waving her hoof out in front of her like she's seen Twilight do so many times.
"Ok." Rainbow Dash said.
Then she began.
"Applejack, you…"
Twilight let the quill pick up again, dictating, its scratching adding a confirmation to Rainbow Dash's words. In all the years that Twilight's known her, this is the softest she's ever seen Rainbow Dash. Even with how the other mare grew more comfortable expressing herself, getting at ease with saying the 'mushy stuff' is now flowing out of her. Rainbow Dash's eyes are far away and warm, smiling as she kept listing Applejack's virtues and skills. Spike stared, transfixed and Twilight could feel her heart melt.
A part of her is wishing that she could one day meet someone who could bring something like this out of her.
'One day.' Twilight thought.
At last Rainbow Dash stopped, finally remembering she has an audience.
"Awwww." Spike said.
Rainbow Dash blushed. "Anyway, what do you think?" She asked.
Twilight sniffed, "It's perfect." She said.
~~~
Pinkie Pie is so excited for this! Sure to be the best day of her life or at least in the top ten. There's a mess of stan mixers, spatulas and spoons, and bowls of every size decorating the kitchen as she and Cheese Sandwich go into furious baking mode. They taste test everything the other makes, laughing loud in the borrowed kitchen of the Cakes. There's batter in Cheese Sandwich's curly mane and Pinkie's mouth tingles with the taste of raspberries she's eaten.
They somehow have all the time in the world for these practice bakes and yet there's not enough time for this moment. She wants to preserve it in time forever.
It's the best day of her life.
~~~
"I can do it!" Applejack said.
"Nonsense honey, you just put your hooves up and let us handle everything."
"But Granny-"
"No buts" Granny Smith said.
"Yeah, it's your wedding, you have to do anything." Apple Bloom said.
"Eeyup." Big Mac said.
Applejack sees how outnumbered she is and relents, leaning back. Granny, Apple Bloom, and Big Mac grin back at her. Applejack allows the sounds of her extended family to wash over her as they kept up with the cleaning up of the barn, calling out to each other, and passing tools and carts. They're still coming up to congratulate her, chatting with her Granny as the two watch Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Bell off up drinks of cider and lemonade to anyone passing by or coming up to them.
Applejack still isn't used to just stepping back and taking it easy, but she's beginning to learn.
~~~
Soft music filles the greenhouse, sweet flower scent filling the air. Fluttershy held the watering can up until the soil grew dark and droplets made the petals shine.
"Mmmm still hard at work I see."
Fluttershy smiles, a kind of shivering similar to her namesake is ringing throughout her body. She turns around, knowing exactly who she'd find.
"Hello Discord." She said.
"It's been quite dull lately." He said.
"Aww, I’m sorry," She said, "You know this could go by faster if you helped."
Fluttershy is no longer afraid to tease him, secure that he is comfortable with himself and not taking it personally when she wins. He smirks at her as if he can sense her thoughts. Well, they've been friends for long enough. The warmth increases inside Fluttershy and suddenly she's blushing. Discord doesn't quite double take, but his smile is peculiar and he reaches for the watering can. His paw brushes against her hoof and lingers.
~~~
The turnout is huge, the barn full of creatures from all over Equestria.
Spike and Thorax are next to each other as a bunch of changelings chitter and sigh, their bright scales shimmering at all the love in the air. Kirin are bowing their heads at Applejack and Fluttershy, making space for the Yaks shouting out congratulations. Students from the School of Friendship keep calling out to others in the crowd, making space for relatives. Eventually the space is full.
Rainbow Dash and Applejack face each other, staring at one another as if they are the only ones there. Their vows echoing in the space, permeating their hearts like magic, and shivering at the power of their words. Then they're kissing and the ceremony is done, cheers rising up to the rafters.