~About a month later…
"I heard Pinkie Pie's going to throw you a birthday party, 'Bow," said Thunderbolt as they walked through Ponyville, the sun just starting to set. "Pinkie Pie will have any excuse she can to throw a party," Rainbow said. It was the day before Rainbow Dash's birthday, and Pinkie had been talking about it for weeks now. "True," Thunderbolt said, "I… have something to show you." "What is it, Thunder?" asked Rainbow. They'd been together for little over a month, it had felt like years to them. One thing about pegasi: they have this tendency to rush things. And by 'things', I mean everything. Regardless, Thunderbolt said, "Come with me."
They flew to the place, that open section of grassy land on that hill between the edge of Ponyville and the forest. Not the Everfree Forest, just a large forest beyond the hill. "Remember this place?" asked Thunderbolt. Rainbow remembered it, it was the place that Thunderbolt had helped her regain her signature Sonic Rainboom. It was also the place that, from which, Thunderbolt had taken off to do his Sonic Thunderclap and obtain his cutie mark. "Yeah," Rainbow said simply, reminiscing, "Lots of awesome stuff happened here. Why'd we come here, Thunder?" "There isn't really an easy way to say this," Thunderbolt said, "Watch this."
Lately, Thunderbolt had gotten MUCH better at his Sonic Thunderclap, so it was almost as effortless to him as Rainbow's Sonic Rainboom was to her. Almost. Regardless, he flew up real high and did a whole bunch of awesome moves as Rainbow watched. "His agility's gotten better," remarked Rainbow, "But I don't see what… oh. Oh my…" Just like how Rainbow had written in the sky, Thunderbolt had figured out how to do the same thing. And Rainbow realized why it'd be hard to say when she read it. The two hardest words for anypony to say were also the two that are the most endearing…
"Marry me?"
He'd written in lightning, sparkling in the evening sky. Rainbow, teary-eyed and red-faced, waited as Thunderbolt flew down. "The sky's pretty tonight, isn't it?" he said. "I…" said Rainbow, at a loss for words. Thunderbolt wiped the tears from her face and said, "A face as beautiful as yours deserves no tears." "Yes!" Rainbow exclaimed, sobbing in tears of joy, "Yes, I will!" She flew up and hugged him, dragging him with her as she grinned ear to ear.
They flew incredibly quickly to Rarity's, where Rainbow burst through the door, Thunderbolt by her side. "May I help you?" asked Rarity. Rainbow only barely managed to let her finish, exclaiming, "Make me a wedding dress, Rarity! I'm getting married!" Rarity nearly fainted. "I'll… get right on it!" Rarity exclaimed, "And I'll tell Pinkie to start planning it!" "No," said Thunderbolt, incredibly happy himself, "I think 'Bow is gonna go tell Pinkie Pie herself." "You got that right, Thunder!" exclaimed Rainbow, Thunderbolt and her bursting through the door and shouting back at Rarity, "See ya!"
They arrived at Sugarcube Corner, where Pinkie Pie was making the last of the day's cupcakes. "Pinkie! Pinkie, I need you to plan a party for me!" exclaimed Rainbow. "Ooh! For what, Dashie?" asked Pinkie, bouncing over. "We're getting married!" Rainbow and Thunderbolt said in unison. "Oh! Wow! Okay, I'll get right on it!" Pinkie said, obviously surprised, bouncing back and getting out her party-planning supplies. "Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh!" exclaimed Rainbow, then she took a deep breath in an attempt to slightly curb her ecstasy, "This is the best thing that's ever happened to me, that's for sure." "Even getting into the Wonderbolt Academy?" asked Thunderbolt. "Nope!" exclaimed Rainbow, "Not even getting into the Wonderbolts, PROPER, would trump this. Although… it's a close second." "I'd believe it, they're pretty awesome," said Thunderbolt. "Not as awesome as you!" exclaimed Rainbow, "C'mon, let's go check on how Rarity's doing!" "Would she have barely started?" asked Thunderbolt. "No, not Rarity, she's awesome at this stuff. That's why I asked her!" exclaimed Rainbow as she and Thunderbolt flew across Ponyville once again, Rainbow's current and seemingly endless energy helping a good bit.
Rainbow had the courtesy to knock this time. "Yes?" asked Rarity, "Oh, hello, Rainbow Dash! I've almost finished your dress, I'd like you to try it on! Also, although you didn't ask, I know…" Rarity led the two inside, demonstrating two mannequins, then she finished, "I made you a suit as well!" Thunderbolt's suit was dark gray with white accents, there was a good bit of yellow (accentuating the collar and cuffs) on it as well. There was a badge on the front that looked exactly like his cutie mark. "See, told you that Rarity's awesome at this!" Rainbow said as she looked over at her dress.
It was a very skin-tight, sleeveless dress with a relatively short, triple-layered train (for a wedding dress), it was accented with sky blue ribbons on the sides of all layers of the train and the neckline. There was a light blue hair band that shimmered with something that looked like ground sapphires, and there was a simple shoulder veil tucked into the ponytail holder. "Go ahead and try them on!" exclaimed Rarity, levitating the various bits and pieces off the mannequins and to each pony. "Okay," said Rainbow, rushing off to one of the changing rooms. "Sure thing!" said Thunderbolt, running over to another.
Rainbow walked out first. The dress fit perfectly and Rarity had given her a necklace that had her cutie mark symbolized on a charm in the middle of the golden chain. Thunderbolt walked out and his jaw dropped. "You… look…" he said, unable to say very much, "gorgeous…" "Why, thank you," said Rainbow, nodding. While she'd been out, Rarity had also done her a little makeup, "Just so they can see you from all the way across the room, darling," as Rarity had put it. A shimmering, pink lipstick, dark blue eyeshadow that cascaded to a slightly lighter shade as it got higher up on her eyelids, and just a tiny bit of blush. "That's what I was going for!" exclaimed Rarity, "Your to-be husband looks handsome as well, Rainbow Dash!" "I'd agree," said Rainbow, "Nice job, Rarity!" "Thank you," said Rarity, "I'll work on bridesmaids' dresses… just as soon as you tell me who your bridesmaids will be!" "You and the rest of my friends, of course!" exclaimed Rainbow (may I remind you, the Element of Loyalty), "Oh, and the ones you used for Twilight's brother's wedding should suffice." "No, that will never do! I'll start with all new designs!" exclaimed the fashionista, "Back to the drawing board!"
"I suggest you get out of those for now, I need to make a few touch-ups!" Rarity said, wiping Rainbow's makeup off. "You look much prettier without the makeup, if you ask me," said Thunderbolt. "Thanks," said Rainbow, walking back into the dressing room to carefully take the dress off. "Pinkie should be done with the preparations by now," said Rainbow as they walked out the door, "Thanks, Rarity!" "No problem, darling!" exclaimed Rarity, not even looking up as she jotting notes on a piece of paper and levitating fabrics around. "Everything happens so fast around here," Thunderbolt remarked. "That's what happens when everypony's so good at what they do!" Rainbow replied as they flew back to Sugarcube Corner to check up on the pink party pony's progress.
They arrived, and Pinkie had several long scrolls of paper, covered in party-plans. There were bags and boxes and packages filled with balloons and streamers and party hats, along with many other party supplies. Then there was the party pony herself, stuffing things into a light blue cannon. "Oh, hey, Dashie!" exclaimed Pinkie, not even looking up from her work as she continued to stuff things into the cannon, "What's up?" "Other than me?" asked Rainbow, hovering. "Ooh, that's so punny!" exclaimed Pinkie, "You know, pun and funny combined! Anyways, I'm almost done stuffing my party cannon, so as soon as we arrive at… wherever you're hosting this thing… I can just shoot it and we'll be all good!" "I was thinking an outdoor wedding, on that hill to the west, shortly outside the outskirts of town," said Rainbow, "You know where that is, right, Pinkie?" "Yes-indeedily!" exclaimed Pinkie, "Okay, I'll pack some portable tables and chairs and plates and forks and knives and… stuff… also! Okay then, thanks, Dashie! I'll be ready in five-ten minutes!"
"By the way," said Pinkie, "I'm kinda busy. Can you give out invitations?" She pointed to two baskets full of rainbow-colored envelopes, sealed with little dark blue stickers. "Nice design," commented Rainbow, "Sure, Pinkie! Wanna help out, Thunder?" "No problem, 'Bow!" exclaimed Thunder, picking up one basket in his mouth. "Great," said Rainbow as she picked up the other, "See ya, Pinkie!" Then the two rushed out the door to give out invitations.
After all the invitations were given out, Rainbow said to Thunderbolt, "There's only one more thing to take care of. You need a best mare." "There really isn't anypony who I'd be willing to give that position to," said Thunderbolt, scratching his head. He had no siblings, so that wouldn't be an option. He had no really close friends, and finally he said, "You decide for me. Pick somepony you'd like me to know." "Well, I have a little sister who you haven't met as of yet, she was off in Fillydelphia with the rest of her friends for the last two months," said Rainbow, "Her name's Scootaloo, she'll be back…"
"Rainbow Dash!" they heard a voice from behind them. Rainbow and Thunderbolt spun around to see a little, dark orange pegasus with a purple mane. "Hey, Scoots," said Rainbow, "You'd never believe what's happened over the last two months." "What?" asked Scootaloo, "Tell me tell me tell me!" "Okay," said Rainbow, "I'm getting married!" "You're… what?!" exclaimed Scootaloo, "Wow! I missed a lot of cool stuff!" "Yeah, you did," said Rainbow, ruffling her little sister's mane, "I have one question. Thunderbolt here doesn't have anypony he's real good friends with to be his best mare. Would you…" "Would I?!" exclaimed Scootaloo, "Of course! That's… like… a key part of a wedding, right? I'd do anything to be a key part of your wedding Rainbow Dash!" "Well, she took that well," muttered Thunderbolt. "If it involves Rainbow Dash, I'll take anything well!" Scootaloo said happily. "Okay," said Thunderbolt, "You going to ask your friend Rarity to make Scootaloo a nice dress for the occasion?" "Sure," said Rainbow, "I'll go do that." "I'll come with," said Thunderbolt. "Hey, you two," said Scootaloo, pulling out her scooter, "I'd assume Rarity's gonna need me there for measurements. Oh, and I'll ask Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle if they'd like to be the flower fillies!" "I like that idea," said Rainbow, "C'mon, Scoots!"