“Whoa! I don’t know about this… I mean, I’ve thought about this, but Celestia will never approve and I have enough trouble to face when I get home!” Twilight protested as she was shoved forward by Applejack, who was now much smaller than Twilight was.

“Which is why you need a family with you to help you deal with Celestia,” Applejack retorted as she gave Twilight a hard shove towards Bucky’s makeshift throne, Lyra’s lyre now playing a slightly more ominous tune.

Twilight stumbled and nearly fell over, scrabbling to stay up on her hooves, her wings flared out to help her keep her balance, her wingspan now nearly twice what it once was. “I dunno about this Applejack! Celestia would never approve!”

Flash Sentry, still silent, looked around the group, realising he was defeated, and approached Bucky with his head low, letting out a raspy sigh as he accepted his fate, Fluttershy still cringing and prodding him along, letting out pained squeaks with every poke she made.

“Twilight, this might be your only chance to get married in a manner of your own choosing, away from Princess Celestia and all of the pomp and circumstance that you hate. While I would love a big royal wedding for you, that would not make you happy. Being your friend, I want what is best for you, and this is your chance to be happy,” Rarity said sternly, looking Twilight boldly in the eye.

“Flash, are you up for this?” Twilight squeaked, realising there was no escaping.

Nodding, Flash Sentry gave a grunt of consent, his voice still not working very well.

“Well, I must say, it is a lovely day for a wedding,” Bucky announced. “Being the commander of this ship and being king gives me all of the authority I need to pull this off. Celestia will have no choice but to recognise this union and leave you be. Plus, this deck is the Lunar Court, meaning Celestia would have to petition her sister to even begin to challenge what is about to take place… so… who is up for a marriage?”

“I suppose I… I… wait, this is what I wanted, why am I so afraid?” Twilight Sparkle stammered, the first hints of anger coming into her voice.

“Because you have always done what Celestia has wanted you to do without question and now you are doing something YOU want and you know that it might not be what Celestia wants,” Applejack mused, pushing her hat back from her eyes.

“I… I… I want… I want what I want,” Twilight growled, lifting her head up to her full height and towering over Flash Sentry. For a moment, with the breeze whipping the remains of her mane around her head and neck, even with her still damaged face, she looked incredibly regal, and as she stood tall and proud, the music from Lyra’s lyre went silent. “I love Flash… he protected me. He loves me for who I am, a nerdy bookworm, and not as a princess. I will finally have something I want.”

“Wait, we’re missing something… be right back, Rainbow Dash has done slipped off. If’n all y’all will pardon me, I has me a pony to go and wrangle,” Applejack drawled as she headed off to the door that led belowdecks.

“While we are waiting, I’d like to take a moment to appoint Flash Sentry as a hero within the Lunar Court for his defense of the Princess Twilight Sparkle. As Princess Luna’s personal representative and her acknowledged second in command, I hereby grant you the title ‘Sir’ for your noble efforts. It is only right that a princess marry a noble,” Bucky announced, squirming to sit up in his chair, his black cloak spilling around him.

Flash Sentry gave a snort of acknowledgment and bowed his head.

“Wait… you… you’re being clever again Bucky… you just placed Flash Sentry under the protection of the Lunar Court by making him a member… any move to challenge this marriage would be a move against the Lunar Court,” Twilight Sparkle stammered nervously, leveling her gaze upon Bucky.

Cackling ever so softly, Bucky nodded his head, saying nothing, the dreadful purple mist creeping up and out of his hood, completely unaffected by the wind.

“And as queen, I appoint you as a representative of my court, granting you the title of ‘Ambassador’… and as queen, I approve of this union to strengthen our ties to the various courts of Equestria… did I say everything right my husband?” Belisama said in a halting voice, her announcement ending in a question.

“Close enough for my purposes,” Bucky responded. “WHERE IS RAINBOW DASH?” he thundered. “We don’t want her missing her best friend’s wedding!”

“Shall I go with Applejack to fetch her sir?” Ripple inquired, her guard looking eager.

“No… I think Applejack has it, but I am impatient,” Bucky replied as he turned to look at Ripple. He knew full well the details of the plan and said nothing else, it would not do to spook Twilight Sparkle at this point.

“I’m really very sorry for poking you repeatedly… I do hope you will forgive me,” Fluttershy said, apologising to Flash Sentry. “But I had to make you cooperate and my friends put me up to this.”

Smiling a broad toothy smile, Flash turned to look at Fluttershy. He touched her gently with his wing and then ever so gently, nosed her in the neck with his snoot, causing Fluttershy to inhale sharply and run away, her wings fluttering, her cheeks turning bright pink under her sunny yellow pelt.

“You always know just what to say Flash,” Twilight remarked as Fluttershy giggled off behind Rarity. “I’m scared out of my mind right now. If I faint, just keep going. I’m… I’m willing to go through with this.”

Applejack burst through the door, rope in her teeth, dragging a hogtied Rainbow Dash behind her on the deck. She dutifully pulled forward, bringing Rainbow Dash with her.

“I didn’t want ponies to see me cry… I didn’t want to ruin this… my head was hurting and I just wanted to be alone in my cabin,” Rainbow Dash whined as she was pulled over the deck. “I was trying to be a good friend… I gave my word I wouldn’t sabotage Flash Sentry’s efforts to win over Twilight and me crying might make her feel guilty… I didn’t want to be a bad friend, I’ve done enough of that,” the pegasus cried, her words causing her to collapse into sobs.

Spitting out the rope, Applejack looked down at Rainbow Dash and smiled. “We can’t have you missing your own wedding Dash.”

“What is going on here?” Twilight demanded, suddenly aware that there was trouble ahoof and she was in the middle of it. She smelled a plot, and she suspected it was Rarity’s.

“I didn’t do it Twi, I was trying to be good,” Rainbow sobbed.

“Rainbow Dash here, she loves you Twilight. She’s loved you for a long, long, long time now. But you are too durn thick headed to see that. She’s also developed a bit of a thing for Flash Sentry, but she’s trying to be a good pony and stay out of that because she loves you,” Applejack explained as she gently patted the hogtied pegasus.

“And as for Flash Sentry, there is no doubt that he has had his eye on Rainbow Dash for a while. Both of them love you Twilight… they were both nearly killed trying to defend you… and I know Rainbow Dash really does love both of you because she has actually been trying to be good. If you sit down and think about it, she’s been giving you plenty of space so you and Flash Sentry could spend time together, and Rainbow Dash hasn’t been at your side trying to drive him away… Rainbow has been a loyal friend at the cost of her own broken heart and feelings,” Rarity said, elucidating upon the situation. “Our brash little pegasus has finally learned to love, and what it means to let go. She wanted your happiness more than her own.”

Her mouth hanging open, Twilight Sparkle looked down at Rainbow Dash and blinked a few times, trying to take everything in. Using her magic, she undid the rope securing the pegasus’ legs and wings.

Squeezing her eyes shut, Rainbow Dash refused to look at Twilight Sparkle, her sobs were heartbreaking as her whole body hitched from her weeping. She covered her face with her hooves and lay on her side, her misery evident to all that viewed her.

Using her magic, Twilight gently lifted Rainbow Dash up and set her gently down upon her hooves, steadying her. She cast a glance at Flash Sentry, trying to figure out his feelings, and saw deep concern in his eyes.

“What do I do to fix this?” Twilight asked in a raspy voice husky with emotion.

“You know what needs to be done,” Bucky said in a low voice, leaning forward slightly as his hood fell back from his face.

“Twilight, Rainbow Dash is your dearest and most trusted companion, your boon friend, and somepony that you trust. Would it be so awful to share a husband with her? Ask yourself my dear… do you think you would be happy?” Rarity questioned, raising her eyebrow at Twilight.

“I’ve actually thought about Rainbow Dash… in that way… but I didn’t think she was interested in mares… I mean… she’s Rainbow Dash… she’s into racing and sports and-”

“And she’s into you,” Applejack interrupted, cutting Twilight Sparkle off.

“Love is special. The more you share it, the more of it there is,” Fluttershy said in a soft voice as she shyly approached Rainbow Dash to comfort her sobbing friend. “Personally, I only see myself loving one other creature, but for the three of you… I see a flock of pegasi waiting to happen. Look into your heart Twilight, and try not to think of Princess Celestia or of yourself as a princess… think about what you want as a pony.”

“Rainbow Dash… would you be willing to share me with Flash Sentry?” Twilight breathlessly inquired, tears now coming out of her own eyes, her four legs visibly quivering, her ears twitching uncontrollably as her emotions took over. “And Flash Sentry, would you be willing to share me with Rainbow Dash?”

“I can share,” Rainbow Dash replied, wiping her eyes fiercely with one fetlock. “I’m a selfish pony, but I can keep both of you. That’s not sharing… that’s having my cake and eating it too.”

“Oh gosh, there she goes, being honest,” Applejack grumbled, rolling her green eyes.

Grunting, Flash nodded as he looked at Twilight, and then he moved over to Rainbow Dash. Extending his wing, he placed his feather tips under Rainbow Dash’s chin to make her look up at him. Unable to say anything, he leaned forward and kissed her softly, a quiet gentle kiss on the snoot that said everything his crushed larynx wouldn’t allow him to say.

“I don’t know what to say or do here,” Twilight said. “I’ve never made a decision like this on my own. Celestia has always been there to guide me.”

“Ow, stop shoving, Sentinel,” Spike protested as he was pushed forward.

“You have a say in this,” Sentinel said to his friend as he continued to shove Spike forward towards Twilight Sparkle.

Looking at Spike, Twilight’s eyes went wide. “Spike, what do you want?” Twilight asked in a pleading voice filled with uncertainty.

Freezing in place, Spike clutched his tail nervously and began to tremble.

“Spike… Sentinel is right… you have a say in this… I can’t do this without you,” Twilight stammered nervously, her eyes locked on Spike.

“I want... a family Twilight… a family might be nice. If I am not going to be your assistant any more, but your little dragon… then I’d like to have a family and some attempt at being normal,” Spike said in a halting voice full of pauses.

“A family,” Twilight Sparkle said, closing her eyes. “A family would be nice. Wait… a family, Rainbow Dash!” she exclaimed, opening her eyes.

“What Twilight?” Rainbow Dash sniffled in reply.

“Your adoption of Scootaloo was blocked because you were deemed too irresponsible to be a single parent,” Twilight stated.

“Oh thanks for bringing that up right now… kick me while I’m down Twi,” Rainbow Dash cried, more tears now flooding out of her eyes and splashing to the deck.

Using her magic, Twilight snatched Rainbow Dash and pulled her close and then pulled Flash Sentry to her side. She made a gesture to Spike to come closer, and the little dragon waddled over as fast as his legs could carry him to stand with his mother.

“We’re going to make a family,” Twilight announced. “And a responsible parent out of Rainbow Dash if it kills us.”

“Wait, Twilight, what are you saying?” Rainbow Dash asked in a raspy whine.

Standing tall between Flash Sentry and Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle raised her head high. “We’re going to make a family, and we have one more member to go home and collect when all of this is over. Derpy told me change begins at home just before we left…” Twilight announced, her words trailing off. “We were talking about changing the world.”

“Scoots?” Rainbow questioned.

“Flash, would you mind?” Twilight inquired.

Looking thoughtful, Flash nosed Twilight on the neck in consent, causing the taller mare to shiver. He smiled and sighed in resignation.

“We’re going to have a family,” Twilight said again as she looked up at Bucky.

“Scoots,” Rainbow Dash repeated, now sobbing even more. She fell over onto Spike, who struggled to hold up the wailing pegasus.

“Bucky, you said the world is changed by examples, not opinions in your speech. Well, you wrote it but Belisama said it… anyway, I want to set an example,” Twilight announced, her cheeks stained with tears.

“Very well Twilight… I will help you to that end,” Bucky agreed in a soft voice.

“Am I going to get a sister?” Spike asked.

“Yes Spike, you are. You’re going to get what you wanted,” Twilight replied, looking around at her friends, all of whom were looking at her with proud expressions.

“Do the lot of you accept one another?” Bucky asked, looking at the group in front of him. “Do you understand the mortal danger you are placing yourselves into and the sort of fury that is going to come down upon your heads when you get home? Are you willing to face that danger together?” he questioned.

Nodding, Flash Sentry grunted in reply, pressing himself against Twilight’s side.

“We pegasi stick together,” Rainbow Dash said in a strangled voice, still being held up by Spike.

“Twilight?” Bucky inquired, his nostrils flaring. He caught a whiff of fear on the wind.

“I accept this mortal peril,” Twilight acknowledged, looking at Bucky with wide unblinking eyes, her pupils shrinking with fear.

“Well then, my word is law… be bound together and never part,” Bucky commanded. “And be forewarned. Celestia’s wing slaps hurt like nothing else. I’d rather be gnawed on by wolves again,” he said a blood curdling voice of warning.

Twilight blinked as Rarity’s camera flashed several times in a row and it slowly dawned upon her that she was now a married mare. She had done something life changing on her own… without Celestia, without her mother, without her father, she had done this with her friends. She swallowed, tried to speak, and found that her voice was lost. All that came out was a squeak.

“Aw, that was beautiful,” Applejack muttered, wiping her eyes.

Author's Notes:

This was a joy to write. I hope you all enjoy it.

Let me know about typos.

Scoots was always intended to be included from the moment I began to plan this, and somehow, I didn't give away my own surprise.