The Silver Lining | MLP Fanfic

Prologue

The soft orange glow along the horizon had faded to a soft purple, and the softer shades of starlight now revealed cascaded onto the city of Canterlot. I gazed up at the beauty of the night quickly and looked back to the ponies around me. The soft breeze ruffled the flowers in the garden's wedding altar that I stood by. I glanced nervously at Princess Celestia, who was standing besides me, and she gave me a small reassuring smile and turned her attention to the garden's entrance.

I did the same, just in time to see the entrance doors swing open slowly and majestically, revealing the pony I had been waiting for, my bride, Fire Shot. I nearly gasped as I saw her. The wedding dress she wore, obviously enchanted by some magic, flowed behind her like a mellifluous, lacy song, and the veil she wore hid her face just enough so that I could faintly see the beautiful contours of her perfectly sculpted visage. She made her way down the aisle, and the soft music from the small, four-instrument chamber ensemble began to play.

As she took her spot next to me, we turned to face each other, and I smiled at her, to which she returned with her own, blushing slightly. The music ended as the precession ended, and Fire Shot's bridesmaids took their places, allowing Princess Celestia to clear her throat and speak loudly with a gentle posture to all the ponies attending.

"Mares and gentlecolts, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of a couple that has endured more hardships than any other I know of. We are here to celebrate the union of Fire Shot and Shaky Scalpel. It is without doubt that there is no other couple more deserving of such a grand celebration, for it was Fire Shot and Shaky Scalpel, along with the help of Midnight Glow, who singlehoofedly vanquished The Tempest and saved all of Equestria from certain doom. The strength of their commitment is clear. The power of their love, undeniable. May the courage and durability they showed during Equestria's darkest days prove timeless throughout their marriage! May we have the Amulets please?"

Beside us, the zebra filly, Midnight Glow, walked slowly towards us and presented a red velvet cushion that housed two masterfully crafted golden amulets.

Princess Celestia, with her magic, guided the the amulets to Fire Shot and me and placed them gently around our necks. "Your vows, now, if you please," the princess of the sun smiled. "Shaky Scalpel, you first."

Fire and I held each other's right hoof, and Celestia cast a fiery yellow aura around our hooves, ready to enchant our vows with her blessing.

I cleared my throat and gazed into Fire's eyes, and said in a calm, collected, and unwavering voice,

"Upon spheres of existence that transcend all space and time,
The bond that lives between us shall always remain sublime.
Throughout hours of happiness and hours filled with strife,
I vow to shield and care for you,
My loved and cherished wife."

The aura blazed brightly around our hooves, but fluctuated between brightnesses.

"Your turn, Fire Shot," the princess said.

Fire Shot, still looking passionately into my eyes, began her half of the vows with a voice as certain and resolute as mine.

"Upon planes of existence that stretch out in endless ways,
The love that lives between us shall provide us endless days.
Through trials to be thrown at us and darkness that has been,
I vow to love and nurture us,
My one, my true husband."

And with a gale that tossed Fire's veil behind her head, the magic binding our hooves glowed furiously and shot up like a golden beacon into the heavens, exploding in the air more beautifully than any firework anypony could conceive.

"I now pronounce you mare and colt!"

As if by some force that resonated between both of us, Fire and I simultaneously closed the gap between our lips.

...

The music blared boisterously, and I chuckled as Fire danced subtlety in her seat. She turned to me and said, "Stop laughing at me! I like this song. It's not every day you get to hear a live performance of your favorite music."

"It wasn't my idea for the wedding to be this elaborate anyway," I admitted, placing my fork down and pushing away the now-empty wedding cake dish. "Thank Princess Celestia for arranging this all for us!"

"Oh, trust me, after all the gifts she has given us since we, you know, saved Equestria, I have been way more than thankful."

The high-pitched squeal of a microphone broke out conversation, and all of the ponies attending were silenced as well.

"Fillies and Gentlecolts, may I have your attention?" Princess Celestia announced. "May the couple of tonight's celebration please step up to the ballroom floor? We are eager to begin tonight's festivities, starting with the Wedded Couple's first dance."

"Are you ready?" I asked Fire, grinning slightly.

"You know I am," she responded coolly, smiling at me lovingly.

Together, we walked to the center of the ballroom and took the positions we had practiced for weeks. As the spotlight narrowed on us and the music began, Fire and I wrapped our arms around each other and began the waltz.

The steps came naturally, having practiced them so much, so that I was not caught off guard when Fire whispered in my ear, "Hey Shaky?"

"Yeah?" I breathed back, barely audible to anyone but Fire Shot.

"It feels like I've been waiting forever to tell you this..." She wrapped her arms a little more tightly around me and smiled. "I'm pregnant."

And my heart was filled with joy.