A Midnight Wedding

The mirror is a strange thing. Glass, right? But something reflective behind it to, you know, reflect. Otherwise it'd be clear. And the reflection isn't perfect, no matter how it may seem. There will always be some slight, unknown difference between the stallion standing on this side and the one standing on the other.

All the same, it's hard to reconcile the fact that the stallions are both me, and that I look the way I do now. For when Time so kindly put me back in the land of the living, the changes he made to my form were not to be the last. Since then, my mane has developed a slight wave, nothing as resplendent or powerful as Luna's or Celestia's, but it's there, if you look. Similarly, if you study my moving locks, you would see the hint of starlight, a sign of my affiliation with the night. And they're even more apparent in my under feathers, where they gleam like living spots on my wings.

I sigh. I'm not unhappy with my changes, but they're much to be getting used to. I shift in front of the mirror. One thing that didn't change was the scars. The seven bolt-marks remain, strewn across my side from the last battle between the Moon Killers and the Lunar Guard. Sometimes I wonder to myself why Time left them, or why they don't now fade as my form continues to change. At the same time, I think that they serve as great reminder of what I've done and am willing to do for my love.

My love.

Even now, nearly a year later, it feels so fresh and wholesome to be able to say it, to think it. Everytime I do it is as if I am remade again, for her and her alone.

I sigh again. I should be getting ready. Tonight's a night that's been in production for three months. It wouldn't do if I didn't show up on time, and underdressed. Of course, with Luna helping me with attire, I certainly won't be underdressed, if I would just get dressed. I levitate the tail-coat suit over. This is a rare, full-body one. Most are made without the pants, because most suit-requiring functions require only the jacket and tie parts. But for a wedding, I think the full thing is definitely called for. At least, from the Lunar Guard's General, and current only pegasus-alicorn in existence.

Ah, now, that was a fun conversation. When I realized it, I thought it was hilarious! See, statistically, there would and should always be more of the demi-alicorns, or 'lower' alicorns than the 'high' alicorns or alicorn-alicorns. Luna, Celestia, and this other princess, Cadence, are all alicorn-alicorns! Their gathered existence is statistically improbable, whereas my solitary state of pegasus-alicorn is lacking in numbers and also statistically improbable. There should be more of the pegasi-, unicorn-, and earth pony-alicorns than there are anything else. 'Should be'. Aren't. Oh well. It was a laugh between us at the time.

I slip into the undershirt, pants, vest, tucking things in when required, and hesitate when I'm left with the tie and suit jacket. I look pretty nice, the faint yellow of the vest both contrast my natural black and white scheme, and complement my green eyes. I'm excited for this night, so why do I hesitate so much? I can't seem to express it.

There's a knocking at the door of my 'changing room' and a call:

"Knights?" It's Jasmine. What's she doing here? She's supposed to be getting ready too.

"Yes?"

"You okay in there?" Why wouldn't I be?

"Yeah. Fine. Having, uh, trouble with the tie." I lie, and poorly. She opens the door slowly. l am presented with her turquoise dress with white accents, chosen to match her natural green self. Her hair is done up in a triad of buns, decorated with turquoise and white pins in the shape of flowers.

"Are you having trouble with the tie, or having trouble about the tie?"

"Jasmine… This is a big night for you, and.. I'm happy for you and Maclura. Truly, a match made in the Eternal Herd! But I never in a thousand nights dreamed I'd somehow be the stallion to walk you down the aisle, and although I know that's literally all I have to do.. I feel like I should do more. You and Maclura are my best friends, and honored members of the Night Court, and…" I don't know what else to say.

"Knights.. This is the biggest thing you could do for me! It's also a great way to finally present you to the public eye in a controlled and pleasant setting."

"No, don't make this about me coming out of the alicorn closet. This is your night, and that's what I want it to be about. You and your blue warrior stallion, tying the knot, and having yourselves a happy forever after."

"See? That's why you're doing this, instead of my father. Besides, he's away on serious diplomatic business. You know that. I asked you to bear this responsibility because you're not going to make it about you. Because you're my friend, and you care. Because I know you'll do everything to make it perfect, even if that's just keeping it the way it is."

"You seem to have a lot of confidence in me."

"Knights, if ponies knew about your story, you'd be legendary. One of your best quirks is that you're a better person than you think you are."

"Stop sweet talkin' me. I'm gonna start crying."

"If you cry, I'll cry, and then I'm going to ruin my makeup. Luna worked really hard on making this." She gestures to the whole of her face and the well worked makeup. Luna's come a long way from struggling with a tube of lipstick. Especially with her magic restored, her dexterity and confidence have grown, and the artist in her is starting to emerge again.

"Fine, fine."

"Were you really having trouble with the tie?" She asks.

"I would have… if I started.."

"Pff. Let me." She comes across the room, finally, and takes the tie up in her dextrous hooves. "You should learn to do this yourself, you know."

"I will. One day."

"And you have so many days to do it.." She says, almost under her breath. And there it is. The thing that scares me the most.

"That's the other thing, Jasmine. Is now that I'm… as I am… I'll have to watch you continue to change and, and age, and… One day, like with Mary, I'll have to say goodbye." As she ties the knot slowly, I look up at the ceiling and fight back tears. "And I'm scared that even if we fill each and every day and night with the most beautiful memories, one day I'll look back over my life and you'll be so buried by other days and nights with others or alone or whatever and you'll be as good as forgotten.

I'm faced with eternity, but not in the way I'd ever expect.

You're raised knowing that good ponies go to the Eternal Herd, where you'll be happy forever. But I may never die now, and forever without friends is an awful long and lonely time and, and.. It would never be fair to you to forget you! Even if you're perfectly happy in eternity, I owe it to you and everypony I'll ever love to remember you, and what if I can't?" I turn to face her, tears welling. "What if I can't?" She finishes the knot and turns to me.

"Then you can't. And in my eternal bliss, I'll know that it was not without great struggle that memories of me slipped away. And, though I predict it is a loooong way off, I expect you'll see us again. So even if you do forget, I'll meet you at the entrance and give you a great big 'remember me' slap. And then a hug to apologize."

"I'll hold you to that." And then I pick her up in a big hug. When I put her down, I slide on the coat, and offer her my arm. "Shall we go then? It's just about time."

"Yes. Let's." She slides her hoof through my arm and I escort her out to the gardens, via teleportation. We're just outside the gathering of ponies. Luna is already out and standing at the makeshift altar. She's presiding over the affair, one of her favorite princessly duties. She's dressed in simple black, trading her silver shoes for cloaking fabric. Maclura stands with her, talking.

"Are you ready?"

"I've never been more ready, Knights." She says, with rapt attention fixed on Maclura. I magically signal the musicians, and they start the waltz they chose for the walk. Maclura and Luna turn towards the start of the walk, and soon everypony follows suit, standing and turning.

And then the music grows louder, and I take the first step, leading Jasmine down the twenty foot long aisle. Her eyes are fixed on her soon-to-be, her movements dreamlike and instinctive. The only moment she breaks attention on him is when we pass the section of wall that hides Mary's grave. She gives a small nod, and then her eyes are back on the altar. As we get there, I turn to the side, facing her, and I lean down and give her a hug. She stands apart from Maclura , holding a single hoof as Luna stands over them. I go to the side, standing where best mares and stallions would go. Luna starts:

"These two ponies have come together, and chosen to stay together through the act of marriage, the sacred covenant between two that binds them together for all their lives and more. Together, and in each other, they have found love, compassion, honor and commitment, and are ready to seal and tie themselves to one another thusly. We are gathered here with them to bear witness to this monument of love, to give them their first blessings in their new life together. I, Princess Luna, She Who Is The Moon, am here to seal their bond, and to bless them in my own right.

Before the exchanging of vows, I would like to tell you a story.

Long ago, when the world was new, and ponykind began its climb from the bottom to the top, love was not new. It was new to ponies, yes, but it had existed long before them. For, you see, it was love that fundamentally started and created the world and beyond. And when ponies discovered it, they knew that it's magic was a beautiful and powerful thing. The rite of marriage was once far more ritualistic, all in the name of honoring the force of love. In these days, we are a little more casual with it, but it holds every bit of power now as it did then. So, when these two ponies are wed, they will be as intrinsically and mystically tied to each other in the force of love as any two ponies ever were before.

So now I ask, that if anypony here suspects their love is not true, that they speak now, or let these two be bound forever." Luna looks out on the audience, and in the smiling silence she too smiles. "Then we shall continue. Jasmine Sky, you are a mare of hardwork and dedication, love and commitment, passion and profession. Do you claim and accept the stallion before you as your own? Do you promise to forever love him as strongly or stronger than you love him tonight? Will you stay by his side in his times of need, and will you stay with him even if the world falls down around you two?" And then, with sheer love and in the traditional phrase Jasmine speaks:

"I do; I belong at his side." Her words ring clear, and I am sure that you can hear the sound from the garden entrance despite their softness. Luna nods and turns to Maclura.

"Maclura, you are a stallion of ferocity and diligence, mirth and joy, resolution and willingness. Do you claim and accept the mare before you as your own? Do you promise to forever love her as strongly or stronger than you love her tonight? Will you stay by her side in her times of need, and will you stay with her even if the world falls down around you two?" And almost as eagerly, with just as much love, Maclura says:

"I do; I belong at her side." Even softer, his words fall around us, just as powerfully.

"Then by the sacred rights of life and love, you are now bound to each other, forever and always, in life and death, you are as one. Go forth from this place, on this night, and begin your new life together, and go with each and every pony's blessing. You may now kiss to seal the bond." Luna steps away as Jasmine and Maclura meet, faces and hooves entwining. Their kiss is passionate, and I can tell they really do belong together. Forever and always. "Good, now lead us to the after-party, oh married two, and let the festivities begin!" Everypony cheers, and Jasmine and Maclura nearly run down the aisle to the next part of the garden over, where the reception is. I walk with Luna, slowly, as everypony else picks up and leaves.

"Well spoken." I say, though it's obvious.

"Thank you. She looked so happy, walking with you. You nearly tower over her, though." She smiles back, head bonking softly into mine.

"Yeah, well, I'm still shorter than you. Prince of the Sky isn't so regally high, so to speak."

"Don't make me regret giving you that title." She teases. The night's calm washes over us, and for a moment we're peacefully quiet.

"Say, will we ever get married?" I ask.

"I don't know. In a way, I don't see the point."

"Hmm?"

"Think: mortal ponies do it to pledge the rest of their lives to each other, to make a finite promise that will one day end in one of them.. dying. We have a foreseeable forever together that we've already in more than one way promised to each other... marrying as mortal ponies do.. seems almost contradictory." She smiles. "Besides, you're already so fond of that promising phrase.."

"I am; I belong at your side." I close my eyes and slide my face up next to and against Luna's. "And you, Moon Goddess? Are you fond of this phrase?" She giggles.

"I am; I belong at your side." I kiss her then, a quick and loving peck. "Does this make us a newly wed couple, too, then?"

"Not in the same way, you're right. But in a way, yes. If anything, it's almost our anniversary from our first kiss."

"Not our first kiss ever, though. I kissed you once before, a thousand years ago. We're not so newly wed, then." She laughs. "Come, let us go to the party. They're.. 'getting it on' without us."

And we walk off into the night. All is well.

"I love you."

All is perfect.