A Canterlot Wedding, part 1

[no_vampires_plz]

Autumn may have already begun in Equestria, but the warmth of summer still lingers. It's no longer blisteringly hot, but still warm enough to have an afternoon picnic with one's friends in the meadow on the outskirts of town. Cake, tea, sandwiches, and your five best friends in the world--what could be better?

...well, not being interrupted by your baby dragon assistant running up and collapsing on the picnic cloth might be a plus.

"Twi--light," Spike pants. "I--have--lemme just--" After a few more deep breaths, he belches out a burst of green flame, which coalesces into the shape of a scroll.

Twilight picks it up and begins to read. "'Dear Twilight, I am sure you are as excited as I am about the upcoming wedding in Canterlot.' ...Wedding?" Twilight exchanges a bewildered look with her friends, then continues. "'I will be presiding over the ceremony, but would very much like you and your friends to help with the preparations for this wonderful occasion. Fluttershy, I would like you and your songbird choir to provide the music...'"

Comments

[needs_fern]

"Oh, my goodness!" says the pegasus in question. "What an honor!"

[no_vampires_plz]

"'Pinkie Pie,'" Twilight continues, "'I can think if no one more qualified than you to host the reception.'"

[havetubawilltravel]

At that, Pinkie turns a cartwheel across the blanket, calling "Yahoo!"

[no_vampires_plz]

"'Apple Jack, you will be in charge of catering the reception.'"

[nponyc]

Applejack gapes for just a moment before answering, "Well, color me pleased as punch!"

[no_vampires_plz]

"'Rainbow Dash, I would very much appreciate it if you could perform a Sonic Rainboom as the bride and groom complete their "I do"s.'"

[nponyc]

Rainbow, not expecting much (what with Canterlot having its own weather team) had begun to yawn as Twilight read. At the words "Sonic Rainboom", though, her attention is caught. "Yes!" she cries, lifting off the ground.

[no_vampires_plz]

"'Rarity, you will be responsible for designing the dresses for the bride and her bridesmaids.'"

[yestothedress]

Rarity was all about weddings, and had been listening to the letter with rapt fascination. When it got to her task, those blue eyes went wide as saucers. "Princess Celestia wants me to... ah... wedding dress?" She began to wobble as Fluttershy approached with concern. "Mmh... For a Canterlot wedding?! I... Ah... Woo!" Rarity proceeded to fall right over, and one might've thought she fainted - if it weren't for the massive, mile-wide smile on her face.

[no_vampires_plz]

(Of all the times for her not to have the "Summon Fainting Couch" spell ready.)

"'And as for you, Twilight, you will be playing the most important role of all: Making sure that everything goes as planned. See you all very soon. Yours, Princess Celestia.'"

Twilight looks at the letter. Rereads it silently. Puts it down with a puzzled frown. "But... I don't understand. Who's getting married?"

"Oh, wait!" Spike holds out a second scroll, looking a little sheepish. "Uh, I was probably supposed to give you this one first."

Twilight opens the second and reads it. It's not a letter, but an invitation. "'Princess Celestia cordially invites you to the wedding of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and--'" She gasps. "--my BROTHER?!"

[nponyc]

Well, isn't that just grand? Applejack walks over to give Twilight the first congratulatory hoofshake. "Your brother's gettin' married? Congratulations, Twilight! That's great news!"

[no_vampires_plz]

"Yeah, great news. That I just got from a wedding invitation. Not from my brother, but from a piece of paper!" Twilight tosses the scroll aside and scowls in the general direction of Canterlot. "Thanks a lot, Shining Armor. I mean, really, he couldn't tell me personally?"

She levitates Fluttershy's sandwich off of its plate to use as an improvised hand puppet. "'Hey, Twilight,'" says the sandwich in Twilight's best stallion-voice impression, "'just thought you should know I'm making a really big decision that changes everything! Oh, never mind, you'll hear about it when you get the invitation!'" She flings the sandwich back down. "'Princess Mi Amore Cadenza'?? Who in the hoof is that?!"

[needs_fern]

Well.

"Um, Twilight? Are you okay?" asks Fluttershy. All right, the answer is probably "no", but it's more polite to ask than to assume.

[no_vampires_plz]

Twilight takes a few deep breaths to calm herself.

"Sorry. It's just that Shining Armor and I have always been so close. He's my BBBFF."

[nponyc]

Nopony seems to have any idea what she means by that. They just stare in confusion.

[no_vampires_plz]

"Big Brother Best Friend Forever?"

[nponyc]

"Ohhhh!"

Mystery solved!

[no_vampires_plz]

"Before I came here and learned the importance of friendship," Twilight continues, "Shining Armor was the only pony I really accepted as a friend. He taught me games, told me stories, stood up for me when I got picked on in school... we shared everything."

She looks down at her hooves.

"I thought... I always hoped, even after I moved away, we could stay like that. Forever. I guess I was wrong."

[nponyc]

Once again, Applejack is the first to speak. "As one of your PFFs..." she trails off as the others stare in confusion (at her this time, instead of Twilight). "...Pony Friends Forever?"

"Ohhhh!"

"...I want to tell you that I think your brother sounds like a real good guy."

[no_vampires_plz]

"He is pretty special," agrees Twilight. "They don't let just anypony be Captain of the Royal Guard..."

[yestothedress]

For the second time during the conversation, Rarity gaped, eyes wide as she got into Twilight's space. "So let me get this straight. We're helping out with the wedding of not only a princess, but a Captain of the Royal Guard?" She was already smiling again.

[no_vampires_plz]

"...I guess we are." Twilight sounds less than enthusiastic. (And she's already holding out a pillow in preparation for the inevitable Dramatic Fainting Gesture.)

[yestothedress]

And she's already swaying. "Ohhh...!" And sure enough, she falls over yet again, that mile-wide grin on her muzzle once more.

[no_vampires_plz]

The rest of the assembled ponies talk excitedly back and forth about how they're invited to a wedding in Canterlot and they get to help organize it isn't that incredible...

Twilight is the only one who doesn't join in the excitement.

Shining Armor... what happened to you? What happened to us?