Chapter 33: It’s a Nice Day For a White Wedding

Castle’s Tailor Room - Aka Dressing Room

Twilight looked at the mare that had asked Endymion for the ability to date their herd. She looked like an earth pony, but she had felt the swell of magic that occurred when she sang. There were ancient legends about immortal creatures that had the ability to use their voices in order to get what they wanted. The fact that Barrel Crusher had said that they lived on a separate island led her to understand that it wasn’t so much legends as it was most likely old accounts. She wished that she would have brought Star Gazer’s library with them.

Being connected to Pinkie and Endymion like this did grant her some beneficial abilities it didn’t take away from the fact that books were typically her go to. If she wanted to know something then she found a book and looked for it. Even now she found herself going to her books to find answers for things that she didn’t know. This mare fit into the realm of things she didn’t know much about. She’d heard stories about what she seemed to be. Ancient legends of sirens, creatures that most often looked to be more sea monsters than ponies, that could enthrall ponies with their song.

She’d attempted to use her magic with Endymion, but it wasn’t to seduce him. She had simply wanted a chance. When he didn’t fall prey to the enthrallment she seemed happy. It was like she didn’t want to use it on him. That in and of itself spoke volumes to her. She didn’t want to automatically make Endymion do anything he might not want to.

“Bagatelle Addolorato,” Twilight said, “As I understand it you wish to date our herd. Part of which is getting married today.”

“Aye, a'm waantin' tae,” she said, “A'm feelin' a drawl toward a' o' ye, 'n' a'm waantin' tae be pairt o' this.”

Twilight smiled, and then she looked at Pinkie who walked closer to her.

“Did you attempt to make our stallion do anything he didn’t want to?”

Bagatelle stood there for a moment before she sighed, “Na, ah didnae huv a go tae mak' him, juist g’ve him a nudge. Ah wouldn't mak' ony pony dae anythin' thay didnae waant.”

Pinkie studied her for a moment, “If you were dating us, and somepony used a power they had to make him do something they didn’t want, would you be mad?”

“Mad, na, a'd be pumpin' pissed. Keek, sure ah tried tae nudge him, bit it didnae wirk. Ah'ament mad aboot that, bit if somepony wis tae actually mak' him dae something he didnae waant, force him tae bugger thaim or something, a'd be mad as Tartarus.”

Pinkie nodded, “We’ll discuss it, and we’ll come to a decision,” she said “But you’re welcome to stay and help.”

Bagatelle smiled, “Ta. Mibbie thir's something that ah kin dae tae hulp?”

Looking at her Pinkie could see that she was blind. Although blindness didn’t mean that she couldn’t be helpful. She considered for a moment and smiled. There was something that she could help do. There was cooking, decorations, but what actually came to Pinkie’s mind was something else entirely. She gently took Bagatelle’s hand, letting the not quite an earth pony, feel her hand completely before leading her over toward the kitchens. Bagatelle smelled the air and the rich fragrance of baked goods hung in the air.

“Whit's that barry reek?”

Pinkie grinned, “Sweetstuff, this is Bagatelle,” she said, “She’s going to be our checker.”

“Whit's a checker, 'n' whit urr ye asking me tae dae?”

Pinkie’s grin was infectious, and she wished that Bagatelle could see it, “Oh, I just want you to check the cakes and make sure that they’re sweet enough.”

She could see Bagatelle’s attention turn toward the cake, “Sae, yi'll waant me tae check th' cake, mak' sure tis sweet enough, 'n' then whit?”

Pinkie moved closer to her, “Then, depending on what we decide we will formally announce if we’re going to date you,” she said, “Just so you know dating the herd is exactly that. It is dating our full herd. If you’re not comfortable being with another mare then you need to reconsider what you’ve asked. But if that doesn’t bother you, and we’re okay with it, you will be welcomed with open arms.”

“Na, a'm braw wi' pumpin' a lassie juist a maiter o a laddie, sae thir's na kinch thare.”

Pinkie grinned, “Good, then I’ll let you taste test everything. Just let them know what you think of it, and they’ll adjust.”

With that Pinkie left her there and then walked back where Twilight was standing. She could see that her soon to be official sister wife was deep in thought. She touched her arm, and Twilight gave her a slight smile.

“She’s not what she seems,” Twilight said, “I mean, she’s not an earth pony.”

Pinkie nodded, “Oh, I know,” she said, “But she doesn’t seem like a bad pony, and honestly she was more open about what she wanted than Fluttershy was.”

After a moment Rarity looked up from her slight alterations on Pinkie’s dress, “Darlings,” she said, “Not that it is any of my business specifically, but exactly what is it that Fluttershy did?”

Twilight sighed, knowing that this was going to come out at some point or another, “She used her stare on Endymion,” she said, “She used it, and then she continued to use it in order to breed with him.”

Rarity stood there, and her eyes widened, “Fluttershy?” she asked, “As in our Fluttershy did that? You mean that she… Well, Luna preserve us, she raped Endymion?”

There it was. Twilight had been avoiding that word. She’d been doing her best to avoid it. She didn’t want to think of Fluttershy like that. After all, Fluttershy was one of her best friends, but now it was out, and she felt awful that she had pushed Endymion to move on and forgive. The very idea that her friend had raped her soon to be husband sat poorly in her mind. She didn’t want to think of Fluttershy like that. She certainly didn’t want to think of her as the kind of pony that would use her ability to take advantage of a stallion, but that’s exactly what she had done.

“Yes,” Twilight said closing her eyes, “She did, and she’s trying to set things right, and she’s wanting to join our herd, and now that I think about it.”

Rarity looked at her, “Twilight, darling,” she said, “I don’t know everything there is to know about everypony. I know that Fluttershy is a good mare, and for her to act like that, I can only wonder if her estrus had anything to do with it.”

Twilight shook her head, “I… I don’t think so.”

Pinkie looked at them both, “Nope,” she said her curls started to turn a little flat, “But she wants to make it up with Endymion, and she wants to join our herd. We already agreed to let her try.”

“Pinkie, how do we make this up to him?” Twilight asked, “We’ve asked him to accept his rapist as a herd mate. I wasn’t thinking of it like that before. I was thinking of Fluttershy as our friend, as my friend, and I wasn’t considering what she had done to Endymion.”

Pinkie looked at her, “We make it so that she is never alone with him,” she said, “We ensure that she never does that again, and we make sure that she understands that if Endymion says no, then it means no.”

Twilight nodded, “I suppose, but should we stop her from even trying to make it into our herd?”

Pinkie shook her head, “No,” she said, “Because she needs to earn forgiveness, or at least she needs to earn it from Endymion. Plus, I wanna make sure that she doesn’t try to throw any more ‘Surprise I’m naked, now look into my eyes and rut me like a bad little filly, parties’.”

Castle upstairs - Applejack and Charm’s room

Charm looked at the mare lying on her side. After they had gone out, and after whatever it was with the crown prince, Applejack had come looking for him. Specifically she’d come looking for comfort. It’d been something that he offered willingly, but he noticed that she seemed troubled. He understood about the foals that had been killed. As an earth pony foals were more than they appeared. They were a promise. They were the future, and to lose a foal was to potentially lose a family line.

He gently touched her, feeling the softness of her coat, the firmness of her muscle under her skin, and then he felt the bed shift. She turned and looked at him. There was a question in her eyes, one that he understood. They kissed, and he felt her tongue as it gently nudged his own. The few times they’d been together he learned that she wanted to be free of control. She was somepony that had responsibilities placed upon her. She’d talked about her past, how her parents were lost, and both she and her brother had to step up and become more. Their grandmother had thankfully been alive, but that little to stop the fact that they didn’t have the luxury of being foals anymore.

Instead they had work like grown ponies, and from the time she was thirteen she had to work the fields. She’d told him that her joining the guard had been a double edge sword. She wanted to learn another trade, but in truth she wanted to escape. She had helped raise her younger sister, her brother had done the same, and she felt that her life had settled into what it would always be. She understood the worry that she had. After all it was difficult to ignore the possibility of never getting to do anything else other than what it seemed was your purpose.

She confided in him, and he swore that it wouldn’t tell another soul. That night had made love for hours, and she’d allowed him to completely explore her. Now, at this moment, they were doing something similar. She was openingly giving herself, but he wasn’t gorging on her like a starving stallion. Instead he was taking things slow, making her feel good, doing what he could to make her feel good. The minutes turned into half an hour, then a full hour, and in that time he’d made her climax three times.

She was an instrument that he was learning, and like anything that was worth learning it was worth taking time. It was worth taking the time to take it slow, to make her happy, to give her pleasure. One thing that he noticed was that she was a quiet lover. She made soft sounds, little moans, light gasps, but there was no screaming, no rendering of the bedding, no ripping of the pillows. It was just her, as she was, and she was perfect. He’d worried about his father, and about the potential that he would steal her away from him. Those fears were baseless. His father had more of a chance to raise his mother back from the dead with just his muscles than he had of stealing away Applejack.

Her green eyes looked into his own, the love, the lust, the need, the want, and the passion told him that she was beyond ready. He moved, giving her a moment, and then he was inside of the inferno. She panted softly as he found the rhythm that worked for her. Her large breasts bounced in time as he did his best to hit that spot that drove her wild with each stroke. She never screamed, but he felt her legs move. She wrapped them around him, and he was fine with that. She wanted him inside of her, deep in her, and he couldn’t ignore her desire.

“Ah love ya,” she said, “Charm…”

They kissed again, this time he led, his tongue touching hers, but not overpowering it. This wasn’t dominance, this wasn’t unchecked desire, this was love plain and simple. This was the purest expression of love that he had to give. The best expression of love that he wanted to show, and it was coming through completely. The minutes ticked by, the hours changed, and finally after her twenty-second climax they lay beside each other.

He didn’t do any of that foolish pulling out. If they became pregnant then they became pregnant. It was what she wanted, and it was what he wanted to give her. The spot below her belly, where her womb was, was pooched out some. His seed sat inside of her, desperately looking for its other half. She lay beside him, his essence leaking out of her, and the door opened. She was too tired to reach for a sheet which had feel to the floor, and honestly she wasn’t modest enough to attempt to find it. Instead she watched as Rainbow Dash entered, looked at them both, and growled.

“Seriously?!” she exclaimed, “AJ, of all of the times. Look, I came to talk to you about that new girl that arrived, and you’re getting plowed!”

Applejack looked at her, “Rainbow, it can wait,” she said, “There’s time, and whatever it is can wait.”

Rainbow Dash sighed, “I don’t know AJ, this all feels… Oh wow,” she said, “Umm, Charm, you might want to use two hands there.”

Charm looked at her and shrugged, “Figure that it ain’t the first.”

She rolled her eyes, “Yeah, and it isn’t going to be last either, but ummm, I wanted to talk to my friend.”

Applejack sighed, got up, and found her clothes. She’d packed more than her armor, and what she pulled on was a decent set of pants, that Rarity had made for her, a shirt, and she didn’t attempt to put on any undergarments. In truth the moment she and Rainbow were through talking she was crawling right back into that bed, and she was going to let Charm just completely wreck her. Maybe she wasn’t handling everything as well as she would have hoped, but Charm was making her feel better.

“Okay, let’s talk,” she said, “So, what is it?”

Rainbow looked at her, “You know that Endymion, Pinkie, and Twilight are getting married today, right?”

At that Applejack looked surprised, “Wait, Ah thought they would be getting married back in Canterlot.”

Rainbow shook her head, “Nope, today. I overheard most of it. Barrel Crusher believes that it would be good for the isle for them to have something to celebrate, and apparently them getting married is something worth celebrating.”

“He ain’t wrong,” Applejack said, “And honestly Ah figure that they’ll make the entire thing into some kind of holiday.”

Rainbow looked at her, “They’re not marrying Fluttershy into it.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow, “Why?” she asked, “Actually, Ah don’t think we found out what really happened between her and Endymion.”

Rainbow looked at her and then at the ground, “I’m kinda afraid to find out,” she admitted, “What if it was something really bad? I mean what if she forced him to do something?”

Applejack looked at her, “We’ve known Flutters ferever, Ah gotta figure that whatever she did it weren’t that bad.”

Charm cleared his throat, “Have either of ya thought ta go and ask either of ‘em?”

Rainbow looked at him, and then looked anywhere else. Because he was standing proud again, and damn if it wasn’t a decent size. Especially for somepony of his frame. The fact that he was so small framed it made it look like he was carrying something as big around as a bottle of apple soda and twice as long.

“Seriously, you mind covering that thing up?” she asked, “Cause it looks like it can put out an eye.”

Shetland Isles - Isle of Goats - Castle Downstairs - Grooms Dressing Area

Endymion looked at the clothes that were presented to him. He knew that Rarity had overseen much of the wedding clothes, but as per tradition the stallions of the isle had prepared his wedding garments. First was the kilt. He knew that it was most likely rushed, but somehow they had managed to get his mother’s colors for the kilt, or he thought it was a rush until he realized that the kilt was far older than he was. He studied it for a moment and realized that the kilt had belonged to Jolie Maison.

He studied it for a moment and smiled. Next was the shirt, suit jacket, and bow tie. All three similarly matched the colors of the kilt, and he realized that they too were Jolie’s clothes. They had stored Jolie Maison’s wedding clothes, brought them out, and wanted him to use them. These clothes were meant for the greatest hero that the Shetland Isles had ever known. He undressed, feeling the faint tightness of his skin. It no longer burned, thanks to Twilight, but he would be lying if he said that the scars didn’t feel as if they needed to be stretched. He started with the shirt, and realized that the cufflinks had been Jolie’s as well. Unfortunately they wouldn’t work without the spell refreshed on them. He tried to remember the spell, but found himself unable to recall it.

Instead he used them as normal cufflinks, knowing that they would work as that, but unfortunately without the spell cast on them they wouldn’t be able to self adjust. Still, they were a set of brilliant Platinum era cufflinks. Which of course meant that they were ancient when Jolie had arrived. He noticed that the shirt fit fairly well, and soon he pulled on the jacket. Like the shirt it fit almost perfectly. He grabbed the bowtie and gently tied it. Memories of what his mother had taught him came to mind as he finished. Then he looked at the kilt.

Like a traditional kilt it was laid out on clean fabric, He needed to lay on it, grab an end, roll, and then sit up, put on a belt to hold it in place, and go from there. He did just that. Rolling was the easiest part. Getting up wasn’t too difficult, but getting the belt around himself while keeping the kilt from falling was a practice in patience if he’d ever experienced one. Finally it was done, and he looked in a mirror. What looked back was a stallion that looked as if he’d seen battle, but was dressed like a gentlecolt. He knew that officially he was a human, a man, and he knew that it was expected for him to call himself as such, but he didn’t care to.

What he’d seen of other humans left a bad taste in his mouth. They’d been prone to violence, attacking without provocation, and he didn’t want to associate himself with them. No, he was an Equestrian. He might not look like one, but he felt that he was far more pony than human. He was raised as a pony, he lived as one, and he knew that if the time came he would die as one. The ponies he knew were noble and decent. Even Captain Wayward Sparrow was a decent sort. It was obvious that the stallion was a ladies stallion. Still, he wouldn’t fault him for that. Instead he had seen that the captain was honestly attempting to help. While his ship was docked at the isle he was helping with fishing, helping with harvesting, and of course helping with burials.

His mind was distracted enough that he didn’t hear the door open, but he did hear the sound of hooves. He turned to see Rarity walking toward him. She stopped for a moment, glancing at his wedding clothes, and she gave a brief nod. She walked around him, checking him over, and after she seemed to have checked the clothes completely she looked at him.

“First, while this is certainly old fashioned, it is suitable for a wedding. I dare say that it was crafted with the same kind of care that I show,” she said, “Luckily enough I know Twilight well enough that her own dress is modeled after a similar era, so it should match.”

He grinned, “Glad to hear it,” he said, “So, what’s second?”

She looked him in the eyes, “Twilight and Pinkie told me what happened between you and Fluttershy,” she said her voice icy and hard, “I have never felt so much. Darling, I am so sorry that you suffered. I truly am, but I am going to help fix it.”

He looked at her, “Rarity, there’s not much to fix. Twilight wants me to try and get over it.”

She studied him, “And she broke down after actually coming to terms with it,” Rarity said, “It was difficult for her to admit that her friend could do something like that. Pinkie doesn’t want you to get over it, but instead she wants to ensure that you’re never alone with Fluttershy again. I completely understand her point.”

He looked at the ground, “I don’t know what is going to fix it,” he said, “I really don’t. I want things to go back like they were, but they can’t.”

Rarity touched his shoulder, “Endymion, I do hope you don’t mind me using your first name instead your highness, but no, things will always be different now,” she said, “Nothing can return to how it was. I’m sorry for that, truly I am sorry, but things can change to be better. Fluttershy has given lip service, as I have been informed, about the situation, but there has been no action. Perhaps the very thing that will help both of you is action.”

He looked at her, “Action, like how?”

She grinned, “Action given by Sol himself.”

With that she grabbed Endymion’s hand, and she led him out of the dressing area, into the castle, and upstairs until they came to a small chapel. The chapel itself was dedicated to Sol, and besides Fluttershy there was a single other priestess there. The Priestess, upon seeing the Equestrian Prince, bowed her head, stood, and left the room. That left only Rarity, Endymion, and Fluttershy. Fluttershy stood off to the side, uncertain of what was going to happen.

“Fluttershy, darling,” Rarity said, her voice sounded icy and hard again, “Twilight and Pinkie informed me of what happened. They informed me of what you did, what you did in order to get it to happen, and of course both of them are coming to terms with it.”

Fluttershy looked away from her, “I… I know it was wrong, but I felt that it was the best option at the moment.”

“That is hardly an I’m sorry, is it?” she asked, “So, instead I have considered a solution that should work for the both of you. Endymion and I want you to contact Sol, confess, and listen to his judgement on it.”

Endymion’s eyes widened as he heard it, and he saw the surprise on Fluttershy’s face. She looked stunned.

“Ummm, no,” Fluttershy said, “If I tell Sol about this, he might… He might demand that I leave being a priestess.”

Rarity looked at her, “So, you would rather have raped an innocent than submit to whatever judgement Sol the father of all Alicorns would give you?”

Fluttershy looked at the ground, “Well, it wasn’t really rape,” she said, “I don’t mean anything, but Endymion’s a stallion.”

Rarity looked at her, “Fluttershy!” she exclaimed, “I can’t believe I have to say this, but it doesn’t matter if he’s a stallion or not. He did not willingly consent to you taking advantage of him. He did not willingly give himself to you. You took him, you stole his free will, and you forced him to breed you! That’s rape!”

Fluttershy stood there a moment, and finally, after a moment her eyes widened. It was almost as if the entire ghastly event was fully shown to her. She stood there, her hand over her mouth, as she realized what had actually happened. Much like Twilight she had compartmentalized it. She’d slowly convinced herself that what she had done wasn’t evil, or wrong, but instead it was simply a matter of getting what she so desired. Rarity, being the good friend she was, laid it out for her. She pointed it out, explained it to her, and she realized that she had done two things that demanded forgiveness.

The first was that she had raped Prince Endymion Everfree, son of Princess Luna, and the second was that she had gone against the very teachings of Sol himself. One must have the courage and strength to live life to the fullest, but at the same time one was not to use that strength in a way that violated another. Fighting, battling, war, and adventures were something that Sol allowed, and smiled upon those who used their powers to protect others, protect their home, and uphold his teachings.

But the moment somepony used their abilities, powers, or skills against somepony else in a way that violated them, then Sol frowned upon it. She’d done that. She’d done that, and now she was being held accountable for it. She looked at Endymion, “I’m sorry.”

She turned toward the wall with the image of Sol carved into it. She bowed, and lowered her head.

“Sol, father of all alicorns, I come before you. I have wronged one, and I seek your council.”

The candles on the altar began to smoke for a moment, and then they burst into flames. The flames blew against the carving, and a moment later an entire being formed of fire stood before them. The fire never caught anything on fire around it, but instead the being stood there a moment before looking at Fluttershy.

“I have heard you, and I have not touched you until I was certain that your heart was ready,” Sol said, “You’ve wronged your champion, and in doing so it was as if I have wronged him. You are my voice in the world, all of the priestesses are, and yet you’ve purposefully used an ability you had to violate your champion. Such a transgression is worthy of banishment from my sight.”

She didn’t raise her head, until she felt the warmth of his touch, “Rise,” he said, “Rise and face me.”

She did and she looked into what appeared to fatherly and loving eyes, “I am disappointed, greatly, and as such I have decided on your punishment. You will inform those close to you, and to your champion, of what you have done. You will follow the words of wisdom the alpha of his herd has laid down, and you will do so with a glad heart. Lastly, you will only come to your champion when he asks for you to. Until all of these terms are met I will begin removing my power from you. It will begin slowly, but every moment that you resist my commandment, you will lose your connection with me. If you refuse to do so long enough you will no longer feel my presence, nor will you gain my blessings. Your name will be removed, and you will be shunned by those that once accepted you.”

She nodded, “I understand,” she said, “I will begin this very day.”

He studied her for a moment, “There is one last thing,” he said, “In order to understand his torment you will experience his memories, emotions, and feelings after the event. My newborn daughter will have the ability to ensure that you share in them.”

She whimpered slightly, “Of course,” she said, I will do as you ask.”

With that he disappeared. Rarity studied them for a moment, and then looked at Fluttershy, “Fluttershy, while I wholeheartedly agree with Sol on what must be done, I will accompany you to visit both Rainbow Dash and Applejack,” she said, “I have a feeling you may need somepony there when you inform them; although, I do ask that you please give me time to develop a strong enough material to withstand Princess Luna’s magic when you inform her.”

Shetland Isles - Isle of Goats - Castle Courtyard - Thirty minutes later

Tables were being set up, a stage had been built, and currently Rainbow Dash was watching as Applejack helped move the food toward the tables. She also noticed that her friend was actively attempting to keep from putting much pressure against her dock. Memories of seeing what she and Charm had been up more than explained the reason. In truth she wasn’t sure that she actively wanted to see that again. She saw Endymion coming out, the scars that he had looked more healed, which she chalked up to magic, and he looked fairly presentable.

She watched as Rarity gave a few once overs of the decorations, something she had delegated out, but also refused to completely be hands off. As for herself Rainbow Dash had helped make the drinks. Specifically they had a normal punch for anypony that wasn’t old enough to drink, and then they had Shetland Rum surprise. She learned that the surprise was that there was the taste of anything other than the rum in the punch. She looked at her own dress, which Rarity had supplied, and she had to admit that it looked good. Although she wasn’t a huge fan of pink she understood that as one of the bridesmares she basically had to wear what was given.

As such she was wearing a backless pink dress that fit her like a glove, it came down mid thigh so as to not show too much, and it did a nice job of ensuring that her boobs were nice and covered. She’d heard Rarity once say that you could be stylish and sexy at the same time. That was exactly what this dress was. It was stylish and sexy all together. She noticed that Applejack was wearing a similar dress, and Rarity was fussing over her getting it dirty. Rarity’s own dress was similar, but the only one not wearing a bridesmare dress was Fluttershy.

Instead Fluttershy was wearing her priestess robes. She wondered why, but chalked it up to the fact that maybe Fluttershy couldn’t change out of the robes because of some religious reason or another. She moved toward the front of the stage, preparing for the marriage, and a few moments later she was joined by Applejack and Rarity. She noticed that Spike was near Endymion, and that his own suit of clothes looked like a modern take on Endymion’s.

The difference was that Spike was wearing pants with his jacket and shirt. Still, he looked nice, a bit more grown than he had before. She could also see the way that Rarity looked at him, and she wasn’t about to bring that up. The last thing she wanted to do was get Rarity upset about hinting that they were sleeping together. The only thing worse would be to walk in on them like she did with Applejack and Charm.

She looked out at the people gathering and she saw Charm, Muddy, and Moondancer standing together. Off to the side she could see Captain Wayward Sparrow and his wife, near them was one of the crew that she learned was Charm’s dad. Toward the middle Trixie and Flash Sentry stood, both of them watching with what looked happy/blissful expressions on their faces. yeah, she wasn’t going to ask them what they had been up to either. Then she saw Princess Celestia coming into the courtyard and beside her was Flintheart. The old stallion looked better, but he also looked older. Whatever he’d done had robbed years off of his life. They moved up and Princess Celestia moved toward the stage itself. Flintheart came to stand near Endymion.

Finally she heard a small trumpet fanfare play and she saw Pinkie and Twilight coming out. Beautiful didn’t even begin to cover what they looked like. Twilight’s dress was something from the same era, or looked to be, as Endymion’s suit. Pinkie’s dress seemed to be tied to her Romani heritage. Both of them had their hair braided, their makeup done, and both looked to be models instead of the friends she knew. She couldn’t help but think that Endymion was a lucky stallion to have both of them.

As Rainbow Dash watched, Princess Celestia looked over those gathering. She’d heard, and seen, Twilight’s ascension, and she couldn’t be prouder. She wished that her sister was here to see her prized student ascend to an alicorn, and specifically to the role of princess. The Shetland Isles were now Princess Twilight Sparkle’s sovereign lands. The ponies here reminded her of the ponies from Equestria a thousand years ago. They were hardened by life, but still looked toward a celebration like this with hope.

“Sol the father of all alicorns smiles upon those who move forward in life,” she said, “Those who choose to stand each day and state that they are here, they will continue, and they will make the life that is worth living for them.”

She stretched out her hands, “Thus, I see such lives today in my nephew and his chosen brides. It is why I give my blessing on this ceremony, and I call for Sol himself to bless the three of them with a wonderful life, plenty of foals, and continued ambitions that are worthy of them.”

There was a roar from the gathered crowd, and she heard even more outside of the castle, those that couldn’t fit were watching while standing on the draw bridge. She smiled at them, “As such, with my blessing, I hand the ceremony over to Laird Barrel Crusher who will make the official announcement.”

Barrel Crusher walked upon the stage, and he looked at the gathered ponies. Then he looked at Endymion.

“Laddie, dae ye tak' thae twa tae be yer brides?” he asked, “Dae ye tak' thaim in sickness, in health, in guid times, in ill, 'n' dae ye promise tae bugger thaim proper?”

Endymion nodded, “I do,” he said, “I promise to do so all of my days.”

Barrel Crusher nodded, and then he looked at both Pinkie and Twilight, “'n' dae ye twa promise tae loue, cherish, 'n' bugger his brains oot?”

They both grinned, “We do,” they said together, “We promise to do so for the rest of our lives.”

“Then, by th' powers ah hae by bein' Laird o' th' Shetland Isles, ah pronounce ye guidman 'n' brides. Na winch 'n' then gang bugger ilk ither silly.”

They three of them kissed, and then they broke apart. Soon the food began to be distributed out, and as it was there was a feeling bubbling up around them again. Endymion felt it, the stir of Harmony magic, and slowly it began to flow out of him. Like with the others he felt the words leaving him.

“Almost heaven, West Virgina.”

Every other voice began to fill in singing the same tune, and he looked to see Charlotte walking down. She was wearing what looked like a simple maid’s dress. It was obvious that she was still blinded, but somehow she was walking with ease. Within moments she was standing with them, singing the simple song. For some reason her singing brought memories that had been long forgotten. It was a house he didn’t recognize, two faces, similar to his own, and one of them was speaking softly to him.

“We’re going to go on a plane and see Grandma, ain’t that wonderful?”

“Yeah wonderful, Imma gonna be missing a week’s worth of work. That damn mine ain’t gonna run itself Rose.”

The woman, red headed, with what looked like a farmer’s tan looked toward the mountain of a man near her, “James, this is important,” she said, “Mama dun called and said there was something important we needed to go over. ‘Sides, you’ve hardly took a day off of work for the past year. This will be good for you.”

He saw the mountain of a man give the woman a hug, “I know, I jest don’t want that Timmothy to go and screw everything up. Jest ‘cause he’s got a degree don’t mean he knows jack ‘bout the safety in those mines.”

“I know,” she said, “And I know you want to protect those boys. But this is important. Mama said we needed to be on the next flight out. Not sure why, but She’s always seemed to know what’s what. After all, she knew that we’d find each other.”

The mountain of a man hugged her, “True,” he said, “A couple days will be fine, I love ya Rose.”

She kissed him, “I love ya too James,” she said, “Now lets get going.”

He grabbed their bags, which looked like everything they practically owned, and they walked out, “I ever tell ya that yer mama scares me a little? I mean, she’s a damn witch.”

He could see her looking back at the mountain of the man as she carried him, “James, you ain’t been complaining about putting a child into a witch, you don’t get to complain about my mama being one. Comeon, we’ve got ground to cover.”

The memory left him, and he realized that he’d seen his parents, both of them, and the song had somehow unlocked that memory of them. He looked at Charlotte who nodded with understanding. Not all humans had been evil. His parents were loving people that had loved one another. His father had the welfare of those that worked down in a mine at the front of his mind. Still, he wouldn’t accept himself as a human from this place. None of them had proven to be like his parents were, and despite the memory he knew that he had a mother here as well. But there was a feeling that perhaps his grandmother had known that they had to be on that plane, on that trip, and she had known that he would be sent here.

Now, my little Stevie, you remember wha’ yer granny tells you. Wind makes water dance, making fire burn, and the mountains stand tall above it all. Ya’ll remember that.

A new voice, not one present here, filled Endymion’s ears. He wasn’t certain when or where he had heard it, but the voice was familiar to him. It spoke of wisdom, it spoke of experience, it spoke of power… and it spoke of death. But beyond those, which seemed like trivial things to Endymion, she spoke of magic, He could not remember what kind of magic or it's source, but he could remember that this woman- this relation? She spoke of magic and her, maybe his aslo, ties to it. He now presently wondered if those discussions were about the manner of his current magical conundrum: gifted in the arcane crafts but seemingly unable to cast even the simplest spell. Maybe- maybe his magic was of a different branch?

Wen’Ja hira, samparr samm, daywa padda, shiiaka swaa
Wen’Ja hira, samparr samm, daywa padda, shiiaka swaa

A song, half remembered, his- grandmother- sang to him as a lullaby… It was something important but Endymion was unsure why.

Shagwwas, balti mammaf, hhafchuu, tiigri kannda

(Power, mammoth's strength, swift winds, tiger leaping)

Kana, banda janhaus, shwsa, shayyuu dhgwa

(Chant, unite the tribe, roar, alight thine spirit)

Yes, yes, something important… A lesson- a- directive- Said in song? And- accompanied by dance? Endymion was sure that was the key. It was a song. A tribal sound, done as part of a ritual. He could remember no more of it, though.The words sounded nonsensical and even the interpretation he could recall didn’t make any sense. Even so, he felt the pull of something strong, leading- somewhere…

“Endymion?” Twilight asked, “are you okay?”

“Twilight?” the prince roused, “what’s going on?”

“Endy?” Pinkie began, “are you losing your memory?”

“I’m- unsure,” Endymion answered, “we did get married right?”

Twilight and Pinkie breathed a sigh of relief and Twilight nodded, “Yes we did. After that song, though, you kind of spaced out. Is something wrong?”

“I- don’t think so,” he replied, “but, I think I had a recollection about something. Anout my- mother.”

“You mean Princess Luna?” Pinkie asked before she shook her head, “no, no, not your mother here… Your mother from- the Other Side?”

“I- believe so, my darling Pinkie,” Endymion said, “and- and my father. Maybe also my grandmother? The memories are hazy, half forgotten… I was, maybe, too young to understand? And yet, those recollections, they have sparked something in me. I- I don’t think I’ll be acting upon that impetus now. We have a splendid wedding reception to attend. And,” Endymion added huskily, “I know of two mares who are in dire need of breeding and I have every intention of making that happen for this night and many nights to come…”