8 years, six months, and ten days since exile.

Fortunately, they made it to the wedding in time. The bridesmaids scrambled past her, careful not to trip over themselves as they ran up to the dais. Castus and his groomsmen were already there, dressed in their own togas. Her soon-to-be husband wore a toga himself, as the Pryhans, despite all their technological advancements, hadn't yet invented the concept of the dress suit. Still, it could be worse; it was a nice toga, an off-white color with purple trim and ornate brass buttons holding it in place. He was stiff as a board, and even from here, she could tell he was trying not to sweat a new tributary to the strait.

Rainbow couldn't blame him all too much. The wedding was, while by no means a large event, still had a decent amount of creatures. These were mostly Castus' family members, along with a few of her friends and her officers. The guests sat on wooden benches in a section of the park near a pond, so far just chatting and wondering where she was and when it would begin. Her son was standing by his Grandma, bouncing up in down in the seat with his wings springing out periodically as he did so.

"Hello, my dear", a voice said off to her right. Looking over, she was face to face with Cicero, Castus' father. As her own dad couldn't really do this, he had volunteered to perform this action. "I must say, you look stunning."

"Thank you sir", she said, looking down at her own dress. It was a simple white dress, draped over her back and her wings. Over it was a yellow cloth veil, covering her head and shoulders. It made her somewhat uncomfortable being in such thin clothing and to have her wings so constricted, but she could care less. The same could be said about the light amount of makeup she was wearing, even if she had never really worn any before.

"I told you. None of that 'sir' nonsense." He walked up next to her, turning his head to look up at the dais. His eyes landed on his son, and he sighed. "It's amazing, you know? It seemed like yesterday, he was playing around at home, making little houses out of blocks and drawing crude pictures of our family. Now, he's getting married to a beautiful, loyal mare. Where does the time go?"

Rainbow didn't reply but just looked up at him, trying not to cry. She was happy; so much so, she could barely speak. Her eyes caught the eyes of Castus, who shot her a look of compassion. The two stayed locked in this gaze, and Rainbow wanted this to get started so she didn't have to stand over outside of the area. Finally, Castus' mom gave a signal for them to start, and she straightened up, took a deep breath, and began to trot down the aisle.

Those on either side of the aisle turn to look at her, even looking over each other to look at her. Several musicians on the right side of the dais began to play, the sound of soft, twangy sounds floating over to her ears. All eyes were focused on her, but for once, she didn't feel the need or desire to show off.

Finally, she arrived at the dais, stepping up the short flight of stairs. Finally, after two days of separation, the two of them were close again. He smiled at her, and she smiled back. The two locked eyes, and didn't want to let go.

The minister cleared his throat, drawing their attention. He opened up a book upon the small altar and began to speak. "Friends, family, all of those gathered here on this holy day. We are here to bear witness to this union; a joining of two bloodlines, two loves, and two lives into one. As Damocles the Founder decreed our ancient laws, he also decreed our ways of love, and beauty, and life."

He then began to read from the book, going through the rites needed to assure the marriage. While he did so, Castus whispered to her, "Hey."

"Hey," she whispered back, grinning widely.

"It's good to see you again."

"I don't want to do that again, cocks-for-brains."

"Same."

After that little exchange, the minister said, "Do you have your declarations?" Both looked at him, nodded, and pulled out the small folded bits of paper. "Would you go first, sir?"

"Yes, minister", he said. He then unfolded the parchment and began to read: "I was walking along one day, minding my business. Then, love came and hit me in the eye. I saw you, a celestial fallen to our unworthy surface. You were broken, but you pressed on. Over time, that determination became loyalty. To the Empire, to your family. And as that time marched on, I was swept along with it. I don't know what it was; love is a fickle, unkind master. And yet, here I am, willing to bind our lives together. I love you, is what I'm saying. I love you."

Rainbow began to lightly tear up, despite hating herself for it. She, barely able to hold it in, unfolded her own parchment: "Castus, I'm not good at this mushy stuff, but I'll try. When I met you, I was in a hard place. I was broken, blind, and on the edge of taking a plunge. A plunge into a pit of despair and darkness, from which I might never return. However, you helped me. You fixed me, you helped me see, and you pulled me from the edge of that cliff. You aided me in my endeavors, supported me in my tasks, and helped me overcome my own doubts. Like I said, I'm not a sap, but," she looked up from the parchment, locking eyes with him. "But I truly, deeply, care for you. I love you like you said."

The minister said, "Do you, Castus Tauta, take this mare to be your mate? To cherish, love, and comfort her in her trials? To hold her in health, sickness, and death? To embrace her, even unto your own last breath?"

"I do", he said, eyes never leaving her.

"And do you, Rainbow Dash, take him to be your mate? To be his loved one, his one and only, his second half? To remain faithful, virtuous, and unwavering in your devotion? To keep him close, in all things, even unto your own last breath?"

He had barely finished when she said, "I do."

"Then, with the power given to me by the Empire, by the gods, and by your own choice, I declare you bound to this union. You may embrace."

The two practically slammed into each other, locking arms around one another. Their lips met in a deep, passionate, almost sloppy embrace. Behind them, the assembled crowd cheered, but they might have been a thousand miles away. All that mattered was her embrace of her mate.

Next Chapter: 76~Bread and Games Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 12 Minutes