Earth And Sky - Part 44 - Epilogue

PART 44 - Those Magnificent Mares and Their Flying Machines

The rolling hills of Sweet Apple Acres gleamed with pinkish white blossoms as they rustled in the warm spring breeze.

Applejack knelt in the grass at the foot of a large, gnarled apple tree that ruled the clearing, gazing with a wistful look in her eyes at two stones set among its deep set roots, the simple inscriptions and cutie mark carvings worn down by twenty years of sun and rain. Her blonde mane shone like burnished gold, and was braided with white ribbons beneath a flowing veil, and an antique wedding gown trimmed with lace and embroidered apples and leaves pooled around her like snow against the verdant green.

She cocked an ear and slowly turned as a deep voice called to her from the edge of the clearing. "Ya ready, sis?"

There her tower of a brother stood, a gentle smile on his ruddy face and a bright bandanna around his massive neck. He held her battered old cowpony hat in the crook of his broad hoof. Applejack rose to her hooves and walked over to greet him as he flipped it up onto his head. She cast a glance up at the plain brown stetson. "Kinda funny, seein' ya wearin' that there ol' hat, and me all gussied up in Granny's ol' dress like this."

Macintosh chuckled and nodded toward the base of the tree. "Well, the one who really oughta be leadin' ya down the aisle with this ol' thing on his head is havin' his rest in the sweet by n' by, but the one who wore that fine frock th' last time 'round is up by his side watchin' us n' smilin'. I've known it in my heart fer a long time, since ya took t' the sky with yer stallion for the first time."

Applejack nodded, and leaned forward to nuzzle his neck. "I reckon yer right. I can feel it too, through the roots and grass. Now come on, let's have this thing come to pass."

He met her loving gaze and nodded back, his voice cracking a bit as he replied. "Eeyup."

***

The band struck up, with mandolin, fiddle, and harpsichord, as little Windfall appeared in the archway wearing a gingham and lace [pinafore] and a shy smile, and proceeded to flutter down the aisle between the assembled family and guests scattering flower petals on the grass from a basket. Applejack and Big Macintosh followed on behind her at a stately pace, the blonde mare fighting back tears as she scanned the crowd.

Almost the entirety of the Apple Family had gathered from the four corners of Equestria. There was Braeburn, looking splendid in a rose colored morning coat and bolo tie. There was Cousin Babs, grown into a solidly built brick of a mare from her work at the produce markets of Manehattan, with her coltfriend Vinnie at her side. Granny Smith sat in the front, positively glowing with pride as her aged Cousin Apple Rose sat at her side dabbing her eyes with a hoofkerchief.

The majority of Ponyville's citizens had turned out as well, filling the orchard clearing with colorful ponies. Friends and families. The Cakes, the Pies, the Candys, the Silvers, the Richs, the Belles, and many more. Even the Flim Flam brothers, looking dapper in matching red jackets and straw boaters mingled respectfully among the crowd.

Here and there, a motley group of non-ponies were also in attendance. Zecora sat looking like a zebra queen in an intricately woven sarong and gleaming gold rings hung with good luck charms, flowers from the deep forest adorning her mane. Cranky and Matilda Doodle, bony and wrinkled but still feisty, craned their necks and perked up their long ears to hear as much of the ceremony as they could.

Baron Redtail sat proudly toward the back in a splendid red uniform tunic hung with ribbons and medals, with Greta at his side in a flowing silk gown of pale gold and bronze. The griffon noble clicked his talons and gave a formal bow as Applejack passed, while his betrothed griffoness gave a wave and a wink and nuzzled her mate to be's neck, ruffling his composure slightly as a blush spread across his cheeks.

Lulong the kirin had inexplicably shown up at the rehearsal with Pheng the phoenix perched on his withers, claiming to have been drawn to Ponyville by "subtle vibrations" after wandering the land meeting its ponies, doing good deeds, and getting in the occasional kung fu battle with bandits. He'd given Applejack and Soarin an auspicious prophecy of their future children's grand destinies, picked at the buffet, and then spent the rest of the evening talking obscure magical jargon with Twilight. He currently stood at the back, a garland of apple blossoms wound in his antlers and a cryptic smile on his face while Pheng preened and darted his gaze about the blossom lined bower.

Beside the mysterious kirin, Spike and Quillina sat holding claws, with the purple drake muttering explanations of what was going on into his companion's ear as she watched the proceedings with rapt interest.

A slight sob caught in her throat as Applejack turned her attention forward and saw them all standing there at the dais, her oldest and dearest friends. To the left her bridal party stood in a rainbow of gingham and lace bridlemaid dresses designed and brought into being by Rarity's impeccable hoof. Apple Bloom stood as her Maid of Honor, then Rainbow Dash, then Fluttershy, then Rarity, then Twilight, then Pinkie, all smiling and trying and failing with varying levels of success to hold in their tears of pride and joy.

To the right, Soarin stood, looking like he wanted somepony to nip him to see if he was dreaming but fully prepared to kick in the teeth of anypony who tried. He drew himself up, so handsome in his formal dress uniform jacket of deep blue.

Spitfire stood at his side in her own dress uniform, looking like she was giving Pinkie a run for her money in the volume of tears flowing from her eyes. Shootin' Star, Pip, and Rumble stood in dress uniform and tux and tails, respectively, maintaining their composure with broad grins on their faces.

At the center of it all, Princess Celestia stood with her gleaming wings spread in blessing over the proceedings. Applejack took a deep breath, and nodded in greeting to the ruler of the sun, the one who had brought its life giving glow to the groves they stood in for untold generations. She'd been quite taken aback when the princess had offered to officiate, demurring that she was a simple pony and that her highness didn't need to trouble herself. Celestia had assured her that as one of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony and a hero of Equestria several times over, it was her right and privilege.

Big Macintosh presented his sister, doffing his pappy's hat and giving a deep bow before giving Applejack a hug and heading over to join Granny Smith in the front. Soarin stepped up beside her with a smile and a gleam in his eye, and they both turned to bow to the Princess.

Celestia drew herself up and gave a bob of her horn, silencing the music and stilling the crowd. "Stallions and gentle mares, we are gathered here to witness and celebrate the union of Applejacquiline Anne Apple and Soarin Jetsamuel Farrenwide in blessed matrimony."

She turned to the groom with a benign smile. "Soarin, in the tradition of the earth ponies, I bid you present the seed for planting."  

The sky blue pegasus turned and fished under his wing, and then produced a small jewelry box, which opened to reveal a large, gleaming apple seed in the green velvet cushion. He placed it on his upturned hoof and turned to Applejack. "I bring this seed to plant and nurture. May it germinate and grow, branch and prosper, sheltering us and our offspring, feeding us with its fruit. May its roots dig deep and hold strong like our love, and may we sleep among them and nourish them when our time has passed."

Celestia turned to the bride and gave a nod. "Applejack, do you accept this offering into the earth your ancestors blessed with their tread, so that it may grow, and so that you both may nurture it and flourish, and so shall your descendants through the ages ahead?"

Only a slight hitch broke the blonde mare's voice as she nodded solemnly. "I do."

With that, she dug back a patch of dark, rich earth with her hoof. Soarin plucked the seed from its velvet cushion and gingerly placed it in the divot. As one, they rolled the turf back into place and pressed it down with their hooves, their gazes meeting with blushing smiles. A seedling popped out of the ground in a glimmer of green sparkles, a tiny pink flower opening at it's tip.

The princess turned to the bride and flared her wings. "Applejack, in the tradition of the pegasi, I bid you give of your heart's breath to thy husband."

The earth pony mare turned and blew a long, gentle breath into Soarin's outstretched wing, causing the feathers to rustle and glimmer with tiny motes of light. "My breath is as th' wind, may it always 'n forever bear my beloved over clouds n' clear skies."

The pegasus stallion turned and blew a breath in response across her back. Glistening sparkles of blue white magic whirled and spiraled from his lips, tracing a ghost of a wing where none had been visible. In a gossamer moment it faded as he met her smiling eyes. "So too shall my breath be as the wind, and carry my beloved until we are as one beyond the highest height, where wind and wing have fallen away but our souls fly on forever. So do I swear on my honor."

Princess Celestia smiled at them both and then drew herself up, flaring her wings as her whole body began to gleam like the sun. "So do you both swear, and so do I witness in my immortal sight, in honor of the one above who made us all. And thus, by the authority granted me by the proud nation of Equestria, and in the spirit of Harmony, before all those in attendance who bear witness as well, do I pronounce this mare, and this stallion, as husband and wife, now and forevermore, as long as you both shall live."

She dimmed her glow with a wry grin as she nodded to the couple before her. "You may now kiss the bride."

Applejack and Soarin turned to one another and kissed, as a cheer rose up from the crowd, along with a virtual explosion of exuberantly thrown hats and flowers.

Earth and Sky were joined together in love, joy, and harmony.

The End.