When the guys were back, life resumed as if they had never been gone. The girls would ask how Las Pegasus was, and the guys would all say something along the lines of “It was fun, but I’ve had my share of it for now.” And they had; they all needed a break from that little adventure.

A lot had apparently happened while they were gone. Well, not a lot, but something big. Discord was released. He was one of the first to greet the guys when they returned. He and Ryan had a starkly emotional reunion, physically hiding everything but in their minds, overjoyed to meet again. They had both had an enormous impact on each other; Ryan changed Discord’s perspective on life, and Discord saved Ryan from being dead.

It was only when they returned that Ryan finally put active thought into the coming wedding. Naturally, other than needing to get Mac home in one piece, it had slipped his mind. He was to be the Best Man, and he needed to get his act together and prepare whatever the Best Man prepares for the wedding. Discord was helpful to Ryan in that regard.

Later on, after days of preparation, the wedding finally came. Thanks to Rarity and the others; mostly Rarity; it was an extravagant affair for the few who were present. Everything was pristine and of the absolute highest quality. The wedding took place at a gazebo in the park, which had been vacated of its usual park-goers for the event. The grass was all cut to be just so high, enough to be a cushion for hooves but still looked long enough so as to block the dirt.

The guest list had everyone Ryan expected, and then a few others he certainly didn’t. Fluttershy’s mother was attending, of course, as were her friends. The ones he didn’t expect were pretty high profile. Discord had apparently become Fluttershy’s homie or something when he was released. Princess Celestia was there to actually marry Fluttershy and Big Mac, and Princess Luna came by with Starstep in tow. Besides them, Soarin’, Fleetfoot, Fancy Pants, Fleur, a bunch of animals, and parents of friends and friends of friends and showed up. Cadence and Shining Armor came, but the Princess of Love was sort of a must have for this.

The ceremony went off perfectly. Mac stood still in his spot at the end of the aisle, waiting for his beloved whom he had not yet seen because of some weird legend regarding seeing the bride in her dress before the ceremony. To everyone else, he looked confident and strong. Ryan knew better; he was a nervous wreck. Ryan had been forced to put a paper bag over his snout in the bathroom to make him calm down. It was good that someone had thought to bring them.

When Fluttershy came down the aisle, Ryan felt a twinge of pride swell up in his chest. Over time, he came to see what ponies saw as pretty and such in their species, and if what other ponies thought was anything to go by, Mac had done incredibly. A pretty, kind, talented, and loving mare was what he had gotten in Fluttershy. He thought he might not deserve her, which was the source of his earlier panic. Ryan was almost to the point of smacking him to make him see that he had earned her love.

When Fluttershy finally came close, Ryan could see Mac’s heart getting ready to stop. But the workhorse stood strong, and when Fluttershy came, he barely managed to avoid being lost in her veiled eyes and astonishing wedding dress and turned with her to face Celestia.

“Mares and Gentlecolts,” Celestia started.

Ryan didn’t particularly listen to her speech, mostly watching Mac and the crowd. Fluttershy’s friends looked about ready to burst, especially Pinkie. She looked about ready to die from waiting for the no doubt outrageous reception she planned. Ryan heard that she also did the bachelorette party, and somehow managed to respect Fluttershy’s desire to have a toned-down party, like what Mac would have done. Mac’s big pre-marriage event was just a little bit… “More exciting”, than a standard party.

Eventually, Celestia finished, and it was time for Ryan to hand over the equivalent of the wedding ring. It was a gold set of wing pieces, attaching to the base of the wings and clipping on. They didn’t interfere with flight or look uncomfortable, and even if they were, she wouldn’t have noticed. When she turned back around, Mac brushed away her veil and they sealed their lives together forever with one short, love-filled kiss.

The crowd cheered and clopped hooves together, whistling and, in some cases, crying. Fluttershy’s mother looked on with tears of joy as her daughter went back down the aisle with her new husband. Rarity nearly fainted form the happiness of the occasion, if that can even happen, and her friends were all cheering. Applejack, in particular, was in an uproar of glee. One of her best friends and her brother, together in matrimony. The apple family just gained one welcomed new member.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle were the flower fillies, and followed the two down the aisle. When the group left, everyone else poured after them, exiting through the gate. Outside the park, a large number of chariots awaited them to take them to a new venue where the reception was set to be. Mac and Fluttershy would arrive first, followed by Ryan, Soarin’, Fancy, the girls, and then everyone else. Even the princesses took a back seat tonight.

The next venue was simple; a large white tent just outside of town with food, tables, and other reception items. As ponies arrived, everyone wanted to congratulate the bride and groom and wish them their best. Presents were brought and arrived, ponies took their seats, and everyone settled in.

“So have ya got a speech ready?” Mac asked, leaning over to Ryan.

“I’m bad at speech writing,” Ryan said. “I’ve got a bit, but if it’s cool, I think I’d rather wing it.”

Mac smiled. “With you’re wit, Ah’m shocked you couldn’t get something with the amount of time ya had,” he said, drawing a grin from Ryan. “Don’t let me down.”

“I won’t,” Ryan said. He stood up and clinked his fork against his glass to get everyone’s attention.

“So, here we are,” Ryan said, lifting his glass and sort of pointing it at everyone. “We’re here celebrating the joining of two souls into one, celebrating the end of one glorious, raucous part of life and the beginning of a new, calmer, simpler part of life. At least until kids come in.” Everyone chuckled, especially any parents in the crowd. Mac and Fluttershy chuckled, too.

“But it’s tat new beginning that’s really what we celebrate. People, and I guess I should say Ponies, never really want anything to end. We never want to end relationships; we never want to see a part of our lives come to a close. Marriage… it gives us something new. When we know we love someone, it gives us another level to strive for.

It’s these beginnings that define our lives. Can we accept a new beginning? Can we embrace what the world has to offer us, what it plans to throw at us? No one can plan for everything, but that’s a part of the fun of life. You two-“ Ryan pointed at Mac and Fluttershy. “-Are going to find all kinds of new things that you never would have thought about before. It will fill you with excitement, fear, happiness, anxiety, passion, and a bunch of other stuff I don’t know any words for. Twilight, I’ll need to borrow your dictionaries later.

Mac, I know that you and Fluttershy will lead incredible lives, an incredible life, together. You two… you might be the best couple I’ve ever seen. I know that you’ll always support each other.

I know that because both of you saved my life.” Ryan felt his eyes getting wet as he spoke. “Mac, when the girls found me out in that field, dying, and brought me to you, you could have seen me as dead there. You could have made an excuse to leave me, and never have dealt with me at all.

Fluttershy. When the bear attacked me in the forest, I thought I was gone. I was broken, bleeding, my mind was numb. But you came out there to save me. You left the comfort of your home to run through the most dangerous place in Equestria, through monsters, beasts, poisonous plants, a Hell on earth, to come get me. It would have been reasonable to leave me out there, but you put yourself there to save me.

That’s why I know you two are going to do great things together, why you’ll always be with each other and you’ll always support each other. You’re my friends, and I am your friend. If you both would do those things for me… My mind can’t comprehend what you will do for each other. Only that your love is unmatched anywhere.” Ryan looked to Cadence. “I said that, yeah.” Again, chuckles, even from Shining Armor.

Ryan looked back to the newlyweds. “So, what advice would I give you? Nothing you don’t know. If anything, it’s you who would give it to me. But I’ve already learned a lot from you. And I can only hope to match you someday.” Ryan raised his glass one last time. “To Fluttershy and Big Macintosh!”

“Fluttershy and Big Macintosh!” Everyone cheered. Ryan sat back down, and everyone went back about their business.

Mac leaned to him. “Ah liked it,” he said.

Ryan smiled. “Thanks. Every word was true.”

Now, as Best Mac when the music started, Ryan had to dance. The Maid of Honor had been Cinny, a choice Ryan didn’t expect. Ryan was willing to leave Mac and Fluttershy with the other guests who wanted to see them, and he hadn’t gotten a chance to talk to Cinny, so he jumped at it.

“May I have this dance?” Ryan asked when he reached her table. The music was just starting. Cinny stood from her seat, where sitting around her was Fleur, Spitfire, and Fleetfoot.

“I’d be glad to,” she said with a smile.

Ryan took her hoof in his hand and led her to the dance floor, where they started tearing it up.

…

Not really. Ryan can’t dance for his life. But it’s about having fun, right?

He kept her hoof in his hand and spun her around. He tried to his best attempt to imitate the good ball dancers that were his parents, whom he hadn’t seen in some time, but when dancing with a pony, it doesn’t work so well. Cinny was having fun, laughing and stepping in tune with Ryan and the tune.

“So how was the wedding for you?” Ryan asked. Around them, other ponies started joining in.

“Oh, it was great!” she said. “While you boys were being riotous ruffians elsewhere, we were having a blast preparing. Fluttershy has a great sense of humor, I’ve learned.”

“It’s good to see you’re the maid of honor,” Ryan said.

Cinny pssh’d. “They did this because they knew you were the best man,” she said.

“Oh?” Ryan said. He pulled her in close. “They knew that you would be scared of asking me for a dance?”

“Hardly,” Cinny replied, putting her foreleg around Ryan’s neck. They took a few steps in whatever direction. “They knew I would be resistant to your charms and wanted to force me here.”

“So I AM charming and beautiful,” Ryan said with a grin.

Cinny grinned back. “A little, I guess,” she said.

Ryan spun around with her a bit. “Oh, you love me,” Ryan said.

Cinny poked him with her nose. “What if I do? She asked.

Ryan pressed back. “Then I hope you’re ready for a roller coaster of being happy at the top and confused when it derails and lands on some new tracks,” Ryan said.

Cinny laughed. “You’re definitely a friend of Discord, that’s for sure,” she said.

Ryan spotted the Spirit of Chaos sitting with Celestia. “Friends? Totally. But compared to me, he looks like a psychiatrist.” Cinny laughed, and they continued to dance and have a ball on the dance floor.

Away form them, at a table with the girls, Princess Luna situated herself with Starstep by her side to have pleasant conversation. She noticed that the girls would look oddly between her and Starstep, and Rarity glanced at the dance floor once after meeting Luna’s gaze. After looking once at Starstep, she made up her mind.

“Starstep,” she said.

“Luna?” he replied.

“You seem to be falling out of the Royal Night Guard’s fitness standards,” she said, poking him in the side. He squirmed, but chuckled. “You must dance with me to get back into shape!”

“Seems reasonable,” Starstep replied. The pair excused themselves from the table and walked to the dance floor. The whole way, the girls and Spike, who was with them, watched them knowingly and with bated breath.

Luna took Starstep’s foreleg in hers and they started doing a pony ball dance, far better than Ryan or Cinny could manage. They had, after all, learned dancing and such for classy events and were both ponies, making it much easier. With the music in full swing, they started up and got right to it.

Not thirty seconds in, they were laughing and breathing hard and sweating it up. The wooden dance floor under them vibrated from the force of their hooves crashing down on it. Starstep couldn’t stop smiling, and his face practically tore in half from the smile when he got to get in close to Luna and hold her up by her back.

When he pulled her back up, she nearly landed on him. “Oh, sorry,” she said between giggles.

“Keep it up!” Starstep said. “All that royal cake has gotten to you too!”

Luna smirked. “I’ve never understood chubby chasers,” she said.

“I don’t chase chubby mares, personally,” Starstep said. “It reflects on their lifestyle.”

“So you like skinny mares?” Luna asked.

“I like healthy mares,” Starstep said. “You’re healthy, for example.”

“Example?” Luna repeated with a cocked eyebrow.

Starstep realized his blunder and smiled nervously. “E-example, eh, yeah.”

Luna put her head next to his. “I like healthy stallions, a similar standard,” she said. “And from what I know, and that’s quite a bit, guards must be quite healthy.”

Starstep’s heart skipped a beat. “Uh, yes!” he replied eagerly. Luna removed her head and looked into his eyes. “We are. Quite, healthy.” He smiled, still nervously, but also excitedly.

Luna felt the music pick up, and Starstep maneuvered her to be just off the floor, facing up, held up by his foreleg. Over her was Starstep’s face. Using her magic to help her up, she brought herself back up past his face, brushing it with her ethereal mane.

“I suppose we will have to learn more about each others’ fitness levels,” Luna said. “Perhaps over lunch, we should find a restaurant and eat together. Nutrition is a big part of health.”

“Sounds lovely,” Starstep said.

Away from them, off of the dance floor, Celestia and Discord were sitting together relatively quietly. They had been pestered by Cadence and Shinning Armor earlier, being prodded at with questions and private affairs, but the duo soon left to see the owners of this night. Now, they were watching Luna and Starstep dancing their hearts out not so far from Ryan and Cinny.

“Even now, Luna can’t keep herself far from Ryan,” Discord commented. “It’s like she sees him as her own little man.”

“She has her own stallion now,” Celestia said, looking at her sister. “I think she’ll be rather distracted for a time with this, though she will keep Ryan in mind. It’s not like she can easily forget what happened.” Celestia looked up at Discord after her last statement.

“I know what that feels like,” Discord said, bad memories coming back.

“It is important not to forget the moments and events that have significant impacts on our lives,” Celestia said. “But we must learn to move past them. It looks like one of you already managed it.”

Discord looked at Ryan. “Hm… I wasn’t sure he ever would.” He smiled. “I’ glad I was wrong for a change.”

“For a change?” Celestia scoffed.

“Well, I was right about you,” Discord said, scratching just under her chin. She liked it and closed her eyes. “You waited for me.”

“I did,” Celestia said. “But after so long in stone, so stiff and rock solid, you must have trouble moving. We’ll need to work on your flexibility.”

Discord stretched out tall. “Well, whatever yoga positions you have been practicing in anticipation of my return, I would love to try them out.”

“And we might,” Celestia said. “If you behave properly.”

“I won’t misbehave,” Discord promised.

“I never said that,” Celestia said with a smirk. “Just that you need to behave properly.”

“How naughty can I be?” Discord asked.

Celestia ran her tail across his torso. “We’ll see.” Not long after she said that, the music slowed, and Ryan and Cinny finished dancing and moseyed back to a table. “Excuse me for a moment.”

“Tell him I said his dancing is bad and he should feel bad,” Discord said. Celestia shook her head playfully as she walked over to Ryan.

Ryan and Cinny were too busy talking to notice the large, white, shiny princess’s approach. She watched them for a brief moment before letting them know she was there. They were having a fun time, chatting about old stories with the bride and groom and the craziness of their friendships. They sat right next to each other, always holding each other somehow, and Celestia felt some joy at the sight of a human and a pony.

“Greetings, young ones,” Celestia said.

They turned. Cinny bowed immediately, but Ryan just looked up at her with a grin and leaned back in his chair.

“What’s up, Sun Butt?” he asked.

“At this point, the moon,” Celestia replied. “Moon Butt did a good job with the stars tonight. It is a special occasion, after all.”

“Very special,” Ryan said, looking to Mac and Fluttershy chatting away with their guests.

“I liked your speech,” Celestia said.

“Thanks,” Ryan replied. “I had one planned, but it wasn’t so great, so I sort of made it up as I went.”

“Impressive,” Cinny said.

“Very,” Celestia affirmed. “How was the bachelor party? Fluttershy’s was pretty tame.”

“We were generally tame,” Ryan lied casually. “Nothing deviant going on.”

Celestia chuckled. “Yes, unlike my niece’s bachelorette party,” she said. “It was just us princesses and a few select individuals. Cadence didn’t do anything, but you should have seen Luna; she was hammered.”

“Moon Butt loves Moonshine?” Ryan asked.

“Not just her,” Celestia said. “I might have partaken, just a tad.”

“The princess of the sun, being naughty?” Ryan replied. Cinny looked up, shocked. “I would find that hard to believe if I didn’t see you sitting with Discord over there.” Ryan looked past Celestia. “I see you!”

“Hi!” Discord replied, emphatically waving his hand in the air.

Celestia laughed. “Oh, he said that you dance bad, and you should feel bad,” she said.

“What can I say? I dance the way I dance.” Ryan shrugged. “I’m not at Luna’s or Starstep’s level, but I can always say that as a human, I dance just as well comparatively.”

“Really?” Cinny asked.

“No,” Ryan said truthfully.

Celestia giggled. “Well, I’m glad that you two are having a good time,” she said. “I must keep an eye on Discord, though. Keep him from doing anything chaotic.” She looked at Cinny. “Do enjoy yourself.”

Cinny blushed and smiled sheepishly. “Absolutely, your majesty.” With that, Celestia left them to their own devices and went back to her… guy, person, thing. Whatever.

A new song came up, one that sounded less demanding, so Ryan and Cinny made their way back to the dance floor, not far from Luna and Starstep, still going at it. They were dancing a little slower and with fewer large movements, making it safe to be near them. Both Ryan and Cinny wanted to hear whatever was happening there, as they both knew what was inevitably to be.

The dancing duo saw them coming and invited them to come over. When they got there, Starstep and Luna separated and offered to switch up dance partners. Cinny accepted in a heartbeat, eager to get details from whoever she could. Luna accepted Ryan’s hand and they got to dancing.

“So. You and Starstep,” Ryan said with a cocked eyebrow and a trollish grin. “I was wondering how long it would take.”

Luna’s face took on some redness. “Well, I hadn’t thought about it for a long time until somewhat recently. After I met you, actually.”

“I just inspire others to find love I guess,” Ryan said with a playful shrug. “I’m like the male, human, sillier, and more hittable version of Cadence.”

Luna laughed. “Definitely, you are more hittable,” she said.

They did some light spins. “So, how has it been, having this guard for so long that you just now decided to give a try?” Ryan asked.

“Interesting,” Luna replied. “We always had a special relationship.”

“I’ve heard,” Ryan said, drawing a bush from Luna.

“Yes,” Luna said. “But recently, he has become much more vitalized and happy.”

“Oh?” Ryan asked, not so curious. “What happened?”

“We don’t know,” Luna said. “His old friend and comrade, Blazer, has come home. He’s in a military hospital right now, recovering from years of captivity. We tried to ask him how he came to be here, but he said that he didn’t remember. He knows that he was rescued by ponies, or maybe gryphons that are on our side, but he can’t be sure. He was so exhausted and pained at the time that he wasn’t able to easily keep anything in his mind.”

“What a shame,” Ryan lied. “I’m sure the public would love to know who brought him home.”

“They would,” Luna replied. “As would I and Starstep. The heroes should be rewarded! They have done a great service to Equestria.”

Ryan chuckled. “I’m sure you’ll find them eventually,” he said. “Maybe not soon, but eventually.”

“What do you think of them?” Luna asked.

Ryan thought for a moment. “I think they’re good guys who probably just want to help. It would explain why they don’t want to be known. Back home in America, a lot of guys like Special Operations Forces, SWAT, and the like don’t reveal their identities because of either safety, or, as often, because they aren’t interested in fame.”

“A good point,” Luna said. “It’s nice to know that we have such ponies among us.”

“Among us,” Ryan repeated. “Always, they’ll be among us.”

They continued to dance near Starstep and Cinny, who were talking about Starstep’s and Luna’s newly formed relationship. After a short time, all four of them were tuckered out, and went back to the side to sit down. They made small talk and watched the ponies around them. Ryan saw Spike asking Sweetie Belle to dance, and the two of them made their way to the floor. When Spike saw Ryan watching he blushed, and Ryan raised a glass to him in congratulations.

Ryan also saw the girls dancing with various stallions. Twilight was with some orange guard with a blue mane who came here with Shining Armor and Cadence, who were also dancing together. Shining was giving a death glare to the guard every chance. Applejack danced with someone Ryan didn’t know, as did Pinkie and Rarity. Rainbow Dash was sort of on her own, but looked to enjoy dancing with Braeburn, AJ’s cousin.

Finally, off at the main table, Mac and Fluttershy were freed from everyone’s graces and could hit the dance floor. Ryan was expecting a slow dance song to play, one that he wasn’t sure Cinny would be so interested in dancing to. When they approached the dance floor, that was what started playing. But Mac and Fluttershy weren’t interested, and gave a quick nod to the DJ with the electric blue mane.

A different song came on, and Mac and Fluttershy took the center of the floor and led the way through the night. With tha kind of lead, who couldn’t go to dance? Everyone; royals, spirits of chaos, regular ponies, the human and maid of honor, and the little ones, all piled onto and around the dance floor, forgoing any thoughts of preserving dignity and dancing into the night.

Everyone started doing a square dance, picking the right partner and just having a blast. Spike and Sweetie, Scootaloo and Rumble, Apple Bloom and some dotted guy, Ryan and Cinny. The most ridiculous, though, was Celestia and Discord. It was weird, seeing those two having fun like normal ponies. It made the atmosphere so joyous and fun that no one even seemed to care about who Discord had been to them for so long.

Eventually, the dancing and the songs finished up, and Mac and Fluttershy said their goodbyes and ran off to a carriage to go somewhere “more private-like”. Mac carried Fluttershy on his neck the whole way s she could wave goodbye to her friends, who waved and cheered to her as she went. None of them seemed to be thinking about the context of where they were going, which was far from lost on Ryan. He gave Mac a quick salute as he looked out from the carriage one last time before going to parts unknown for the honeymoon.

When the carriage was out of sight, ponies started making their ways home. Ryan didn’t, though. He still hadn’t had any of Pinkie’s cake. There was still a little bit left of the massive wedding cake, so he quickly made his way back under the tent to snag a piece.

He picked up a big piece and made his way to a table. He was the only one sitting inside the tent now, as the others were finished for the day. The princesses were heading home, to either Canterlot or the Crystal Empire, and all the girls were eager to get to bed after such a great event. Ryan was still awake, though, and he wasn’t alone.

Discord entered behind him, floating and doing his best to be silent. Ryan knew he was there, though; a guy his size has trouble breathing silently. Ryan swallowed his first bite and gestured with his hand for Discord to sit.

“Come on, sit,” Ryan said. Discord snapped himself over and sat across the table.

“Not heading home?” Discord asked.

Ryan took in a deep breath. “I am. Just not yet.”

Discord nodded. “Not just ready?” Discord asked.

“I still need to have my cake and eat it too,” Ryan replied.

“I love cake,” Discord said, snapping his fingers and getting a piece. “Mm, this is good!”

“Pinkie’s got talent,” Ryan said.

“So how has life been for you?” Discord wondered.

“You’ve been there the whole time,” Ryan said. “Why don’t you tell me?”

“I wasn’t always there,” Discord said. “Not the week that Fluttershy ‘reformed’ me. Nor several other weeks and individual days throughout the months you’ve been here.”

“Months, huh?” Ryan repeated, staring at nothing. “Feels shorter. Not even a year here.”

“Good times,” Discord said.

“Yeah,” Ryan replied. “Good times.”

Discord waited for a moment before standing. “Well, I should be going back to Canterlot, I guess.”

“Shouldn’t you be coming into Canterlot?” Ryan replied with a grin.

Discord chuckled. “Not any time soon, I’m afraid.” He put a paw on Ryan’s shoulder. “Good to have you back, Ryan.”

“Always a pleasure,” Ryan replied. In the blink of an eye, Discord was gone with a flash, and Ryan was left alone in the tent.

Ryan finished his cake and left. Cleaning ponies would take care of it in the morning, so all he did was move a few chairs and make things orderly before exiting. When he left, no one was outside, and there was only a cool, late night breeze, caressing his face. The lack of light in the night made everything around him too dark to see, but it didn’t mean anything. The dark didn’t scare him.

He looked to the sky. Up there, there were millions of stars, planets, and other astronomical phenomena lighting up the world as he knew it. Every little thing in the universe was there, giving something to him and his friends and family. Everything contributed something.

One slow step after another, Ryan walked back to Carousel Boutique, his ponyville home, and kept his eyes on the sky, thinking about what he would do and what was left for him. He didn’t smile or frown, his pace didn’t change. He knew what was left.

It made him sad, in some ways. But he knew that it had to happen.