//------------------------------//
// 3: The Marvelous Marriage 
// Story: The Royal Gourmet 
// by Octaviafan 
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Chapter Three
The Marvelous Marriage


"Tell us what you've been up to lately, son. We want to know everything! First of all, what brings you back to Manehattan?"

Cherry Pie and his father were seated in the kitchen while his mother whipped egg whites for a chocolate-raspberry mousse filling to put in the cake she was preparing. She had put a renewed effort into the cake, being so excited about her son's return. Such was her happiness that she seemed to float about the kitchen as she worked.

"Well," said Cherry Pie, "I hate to say it, but I'm only in town for tonight. I'm just passing through on my way to Canterlot. I have to catch an airship tomorrow." As he said this, he pulled his letter from the princess out of his saddlebag. "Princess Celestia has requested that I head the judge's panel for the cooking contest at the Royal Canterlot Harvest Festival. This could be my big chance! If I impress the Princess, I might be offered a court position!"

"Oh, but sweetie, the festival isn't for another week!" his mother said, dismayed. "Can't you stay for a little while longer?" She looked at him, imploringly. His father sighed, and said "Burning Star, he's not going to stay unless he has a good reason to." Turning to Cherry Pie, he said "Son, Fugue is getting married tomorrow. She wanted to send you an invitation, but nopony had any idea where you were, so she just gave your invitation to us, hoping you might show up in time. Sorry for the short notice."

Cherry Pie was shocked. Fugue was getting married?! Tomorrow?!?! He understood that it would've been difficult to send him an invitation since he was on the move so much, but still, the silly grey pegasus had been able to find him with the Princess's letter. He was just happy that Fugue had found someone to love, who (hopefully) loved her just as much. "Well, then I guess I have no choice but to stay. I wouldn't miss Fugue's wedding for the world. Who's the lucky stallion, though?"

Burning Star beamed as he said this and replied "He's a pegasus in the Security field. His name is Guardian  and he's been providing security at every one of her and Nocturne's concerts for several months, now! You know, being a security stallion and all, you'd expect him to be a real hard-apple, but he just melts when he's around her. They're SUCH a cute couple it's almost ridiculous!" She squee'd and the men at the counter chuckled at her enthusiasm. "It's good to be home," Cherry Pie sighed. "I had almost forgotten how fun it was just to be with you guys."

After much pressure from his parents, he began to tell them stories of his travels since he had last been home. The different festivals he'd attended, the ponies of note he'd met, and even a mare he had attempted to court, but who had led him on until she had to refuse his proposal and tell him that she had been betrothed since she was very young. Embarrased, he had left the city as quickly as possible. After that, he had been just wandering around for a month.

Now came the part about his sojourn in another country. He told his parents about getting lost and meeting the strange, aquatic hippocampi, how they led him to Seaport, and how he hoped maybe to return to the ocean and meet them again, someday. He told them about how amazing the Seaport harbour was, and how wonderful the town itself looked.

His parents listened carefully to his entire story, but when he finished the part about his stay at The Nautilus and Aleborn's strange behaviour, his mother began to laugh. She laughed so much she to put down the bowl of white chocolate buttercream icing she had been mixing. When her laughter died down, she was able to say "Oh, sweetie, you can be so oblivious sometimes! He obviously liked you! I mean, how could it be anything else? What makes it even funnier is that you utterly snubbed him without even realizing it!"

At this, she burst into laughter a second time and they had to wait for her to become capable of coherent speech again. She picked up her bowl of buttercream and continued mixing. "Dear, I know you're oblivious because back in your school days, there were several instances where young mares, some in your class and others without, would come to me, wondering what your problem was! You never even seemed to notice their advances. I'm glad to hear you made some advances of your own, so I have no need to fear your never getting married. I mean, look at you! You, never getting married?" She looked him up and down, then closed her eyes and shook her head as she said with mock despair in her voice, "tsk tsk tsk... It would be such a waste of good stallion."

His father coughed. "So, you got a letter from the Princess and decided to travel to Canterlot immediately? I can understand that, but I'm sure glad you understand how important it is to your sister that you be at the wedding. She was so worried you wouldn't be able to make it. You'll really make her day when she sees you tomorrow!" 

"I'm glad I got that letter when I did, then!" Cherry Pie exclaimed. 

Suddenly, he became aware of a particularly tantalizing aroma wafting from the stove, and realized he hadn't eaten anything besides a corner from one of those dreadful hard tack biscuits all day. "Mother, is that dinner on the stove? I don't know about you two, but I'm famished."

"Don't worry! It'll be ready soon, dear." Burning Star replied. Indigo Spark's stomach let out a particularly urgent gurgle, and she gave him an apologetic look. "And a good thing, too! I just love your stoicism, Indie, but I know your true feelings." With a mystic tone, she went on. "The stomach tells AAAAAAALLLLLL!!!"

Until dinner was ready, Cherry Pie's parents filled the time by telling him all about plans for the wedding. How it had taken forever to find someone to arrange the decor and find a suitable location that took full advantage of the beauty of the sun at High Noon, among other little this-and-thats that were to be expected with the planning for any large event. He let the dialogue just wash over him up until they came to the story of the dress. He knew he heard the name "Ponyville" in there somewhere.

"Wait." he said. "Say that again, will you?" His mother took the dish, now ready to eat, off of the stove and served it onto plates, looking confused. "Say what?"

"That thing about the dress. The pony who made it for Fugue."

"Oh, that. Well, I'm not sure how in touch you are with Fugue these days, but lately, she's developed a huge interest in travel to the more rural towns and cities of Equestria. She and Nocturne have been giving concerts at places like that to build upon their listener base and sell more albums." She whispered, conspiratorially "You know, it was actually Nocturne's idea. For being a musician, that filly has a real knack for sales as well. Fugue, of course, thought it was a brilliant idea and has loved doing so since."

She realized she was getting off the subject, then, and returned to her normal voice. "Anyway, they did a concert last month in a town called Ponyville where Fugue publicly announced her engagement to Guardian for the first time. A fashion designer living there, who happened to also have been an avid fan and owned all of their vinyls, offered her services in designing a dress for the wedding. Her name is Rarity, and I've actually done a little research. Some of her work is showcased in a few of Hoity Toity's fashion magazines and let me tell you, it is simply divine! I know Fugue's dress will be amazing. I just can't wait to see it!"

Cherry Pie leaned forward on his elbows with his hooves together. "That's twice I've heard of this place Ponyville. Aleborn gave me some cider from an apple orchard called "Sweet Apple Acres" on the outskirts of Ponyville, and now Fugue's wedding gown is coming from Ponyville as well. This is a strange coincidence. I've never even HEARD of Ponyville until a couple days ago."

"Well, it's nothing to worry about, son." his father said as he lifted a forkfull of food. "One of my former students from the Canterlot Magic Academy lives there now. She is one of the only ponies from those days who's stayed in contact with me. She tells me it's a really great town to live in. Not so small that there are no services, but not so big that everypony living there is an utter snob. And, the surrounding area is filled with great things to see. If you ever get the chance to go there, I bet you'd like it."

While they ate, his parents finished filling him in on the details of the wedding. Burning Star, who hadn't finished her cake yet, was first to leave the table. She sighed as she looked at it. It looked to be nearly done, since the white chocolate ganache coating had set. "Well, It's a good thing I started on this when I did. I'll be able to go to bed at a reasonable hour tonight. I'd hate to have saggy eyes at my own daughter's wedding!"

She moved to the refrigerator and took out what looked to Cherry Pie like a mass of leaves. As he double-took, he found that it WAS a mass of leaves. Very stiff leaves. He understood why they were so when his mother started pulling off the green to reveal perfect brown replicas underneath. He had only seen her use this trick once before, and he had to admit it was really cool. Once she had discarded the actual leaves, she set the chocolate leaves aside and moved to the stove, where she filled a conical bag with melted chocolate from a double-boiler simmering on the back burner. She snipped off the very tip of the bag and began piping the chocolate over the largest of the three cakes in an oblong diamond shape.

Cherry Pie was about to ask her if this was to be Fugue's wedding cake when his father stopped him. "I think we've both known her long enough to know that talking to her now would just upset her. It does take a lot of concentration to do what she's doing. Believe me, I've tried." Being the wise father figure that he was, Indigo Spark then answered the un-asked question. "Yes. It's your mother's wedding gift to Fugue and her new husband. She would get into a tizzy if anything went wrong with this cake. I think it's time we leave her to work her magic." 

They retired to the living room and talked of many things: of shoes, and ships, and sealing wax. Of cabbages and kings, and why the sea was boiling hot, and whether pigs had wings. They discussed Cherry Pie's plans for the future, after the Harvest festival, and Indigo Spark talked about the class he was currently teaching. How his lectures attracted not just unicorns, but also pegasi and earth ponies. Since all ponies were magical to a degree, all three classes of pony could take something useful from his teachings. He told Cherry Pie of a few books that might be useful in expanding his skills in magic, and offered to let him take a few of them to study while he travelled. "Atleast walking all over the place won't be so boring if you have something interesting to read while you do so."

They had just stacked a few books on the coffee table for Cherry Pie to take with him when Burning Star entered, with stray hairs sticking out all over and looking immensely relieved.

"Whew! It's done! Come and see!" she announced to the room at large.

The trio migrated back to the kitchen and were welcomed by the sight of a beautiful, three-tiered wedding cake. The diamond piping had been finished off with teardrop shaped blobs of chocolate along the outside edges of each cake, and clusters of chocolate leaves and raspberries hid the wooden dowels used to keep the tiers up, as well as a large arrangement decorating the middle of the top tier. A golden crust of crushed caramelized sugar had been applied to the sides, and marzipan figures of Fugue and a pegasus that Cherry Pie could only guess was Guardian stood on either side of the top, their front hooves resting on the cluster of leaves and raspberries, noses touching. 

"It looks great, mom. I can't wait to taste it"

"Congratulations on another masterpiece, honeybunch!"

Burning Star beamed at them both, and then looked at the old cuckoo clock hanging on the wall.

"Oh my! It's getting late. Time for bed! Oh, Cherry Pie dear, your old room is still just the way you left it except your sheets are clean, and I took the liberty of getting your old tuxedo cleaned and pressed. It's hanging just behind the door."

Cherry Pie thanked his mother for her thoughtfulness. They bid eachother goodnight, and then went to their respective rooms. Cherry Pie was surprised to find that his room was indeed in exactly the state of disorder he had left it, except for the pristine bedclothes and the tuxedo hanging on a hanger suspended by a hook on the back of his door. He took off his vest, placed his fez on one of his bedposts, and flopped onto the mattress, extremely happy to have such amazing parents. He was asleep in seconds.





As per usual, Burning Star was the first one up, but today she was particularly hyperactive. She woke Cherry Pie before Celestia's Sun had even broken the horizon, and asked if he would help her box the cake and keep it steady while Indigo Spark carried it. Knowing this was extremely important to her, he got up, put on his vest, and went to wash his face. When he looked into the mirror, he knew his mother would just make an enormous scene if he tried to go to the wedding with his mane in it's current condition. Sighing, he pulled a brush from one of the drawers beneath the mirror and started brushing his unkempt mane. It stuck. Groaning, he let it hang infront of his eyes as he left the bathroom and went downstairs to the kitchen.

"Mom, can you help me?"

She turned when she heard his voice, saying "Yes, I-" but keeled over, wracked with fits of laughter when she saw her son with a brush dangling before his eyes. "Oh, sweetie, you really are something else. I appreciate the effort, though. You were definitely right to at least try to do something about your mane for the wedding."

She walked up to him and slowly eased the brush out of his tangled mane. Together, they sat, and Burning Star worked on her son's mane for a solid ten minutes ("Wow! How did you ever manage to get your mane THIS tangled?!") He wasn't sure what to say, so he just remained silent. When she was finished, and his mane was smoother than he could ever remember feeling it, she looked him over and said "Well, that'll do for now. As far as styling goes, I think the best thing we can do for you is to straighten it. We'll take care of that later, though. For now, we have work to do!"

She led him to the kitchen counter, where a huge box sat with the front opened outward, looking expectant. "I have to get the cake in here, seal it, and then we have to carry it all the way to the Celestial Summer Plaza in Central Park. The box itself is imbued with a chilling spell your father put together for me, so it's like a light, single-use, mini refrigerator. It's a pity we didn't think to give it wheels as well... Whatever! No use crying over spilled milk! Let's get this baby in there."

Using their magic, he lifted the cake as she steadied it, and it slid into the box without a sinch.

"Well, number one on our extensive list of things to do today is done. Come on, let's go see if your father is even up yet." With a satisfied smile, the white unicorn trotted to the stairs, almost shining with excitement. Cherry Pie followed her, feeling a little silly. As he looked out the window, he was pleased to note that the sun was starting to light the horizon: It wasn't as early as he thought it had been.

As they entered the master bedroom, Indigo Spark had been in the midst of tying an exquisite cravat of golden silk round his neck. His wife giggled at the sight, for the tuxedo he was wearing was a little tighter than it should have been. His mane was slicked back in his usual fashion, but he had apparently used something to brighten the blues and whites. When he finished with the cravat, he turned from the mirror to face them. "Well, since you're up, Cherry Pie, I guess the cake is packed up and ready to go?" As he asked this, Burning Star went to her vanity and and picked up a straightening iron.

"Come here sweetie." She beckoned to Cherry Pie with her hoof, and he obediently loped to her side and sat. While they waited for the iron to heat up, the three unicorns discussed the preparations for the day, making sure they hadn't forgotten anything. They continued this discussion until they were satisfied nothing had been left undone, and Cherry Pie's mane was about halfway straightened. When it was all done, Indigo Spark went to retrieve his son's tuxedo as Burning Star took a black silk ribbon from a drawer and pulled his mane back, tying the ribbon around it in a bow to secure it.. With his mane styled in this fashion, he came across as extremely regal. "Hmmm. I think this is how I'll style my mane for the Harvest Festival."  he said, surprised at how great it looked.

At that point, Indigo Spark returned with the tuxedo and helped him get into it. With the combination of his mane and tux, he practically dripped regality. "I can think of more than just a few young mares in town who would be tripping over eachother trying to get at you, looking like this." His mother said, excitedly. "Perhaps we'll soon have another wedding in the family!" She sang the last word, betraying her extreme excitement at the prospect.

Since they were all finally ready, the family trooped downstairs and into the kitchen, where the boxed cake waited. They decided that rather than having one of them bear all the weight and two of them steadying, it would be easier if the two stallions carried it together while Burning Star kept the load from tipping. After checking that they had not forgotten any essential items, the trio picked up the cake and started the long trek from the house to Central Park. Not many ponies were up this early. The pegasi in charge of delivering mail were out, and a few early risers were out tending to the flowers in their planters before the heat of the day. A few other ponies carrying items for the wedding fell into step with them and exchanged pleasantries, but they didn't really meet anypony else on their way.

After perhaps an hour of careful walking, they reached Central Park and found the Celestial Summer Plaza already starting to see some action. An enormous cart laden with cushions for the seating had been drawn up near the plaza, and a large tent was being set up nearby for the reception. This was to be the final resting place of Burning Star's masterpiece, and they were all very glad to finally see it so close. Once the tent was set up and the refreshments table was put in place, they transferred the cake from the box to the middle of the table and drew a collective sigh of relief. "Well, now that's taken care of, let's see what we can do to help set up!" Burning Star was right, of course. It would be rude for them to hang around without helping, so they went to the plaza to help unload the seating from the cart.

The flowers had arrived by then and ponies were also starting to unload and place them along with white sheer fabric drapes, which hung from the edges of the large gazebo that dominated the plaza. Shortly after the seating had been unloaded and arranged, Nocturne arrived with her harp, and began to organize the music stands for the musicians who would be playing at the wedding; they had been left standing in a cluster to one side of the altar. Once she was done with that, she found a cushion to go with each of the stands, and then joined her family.

"Cherry Pie!" she cried, ecstatically. "It's been too long! I'm so glad to see you were able to make it after all. Of course, Fugue will be even more excited, but that goes without saying. It is her big day, after all. I'm in charge of the music for the ceremony and reception. I've never done a gig without Fugue, so I'm a little nervous, but I'm also really excited!" They all talked for a while longer, and then started drifting apart as more ponies arrived. The work was finally done with about two hours to spare, so those who were already there just socialized, or wandered a little ways into the city for a bite to eat. Cherry Pie's family had collectively not eaten that morning, so they were among those who wandered off for a while. Nocturne and Cherry Pie had virtually the same conversation he had had with his parents the previous evening, but that was fine with him. It truly had been too long since he last saw his sisters.

When they returned to the plaza, ponies had already begun taking their seats under the gazebo where the ceremony was to take place. The wedding wasn't scheduled to start until another forty-five minutes had passed, so the four of them continued to mingle for another half-hour or so, except for Indigo Spark, who had to go find Fugue so he could escort her down the aisle when the time came. The ceremony was supposed to take about 30 minutes, culminating in the kiss of the bride and groom, so at about a quarter past eleven, the family took their seats. Nocturne, among the music stands with a cellist and flautist, and the rest on the front row to the left side of the aisle, as family of the bride. 

Nocturne began setting the mood for the prelude with a few delicate chords on her harp, and, as the music built, the collective volume of the gathered ponies gradually lowered until it was more like a whisper. Finally, the groom went to stand before the altar, looking ridiculously dashing in his cream coloured tuxedo, with golden vest and red tie. The officiator appeared behind the altar a few seconds after, wearing a simple black robe and white collar. When she had taken her place, she signaled to the trio of musicians, and they began playing a beatiful, flowing piece with underlying tones of purpose and drive, no doubt a march of Nocturne's own composition.

A few measures into the march, a smattering of Ooohs and Ahhhs told Cherry Pie that Fugue had begun walking down the aisle. In due time, she reached the front, and Cherry Pie let out a gasp at the sight of her. His mother had been right about the gown, which was absolutely gorgeous, complementing her figure without being risque while also bringing out the pale pink of her coat, exemplifying that old adage about the "blushing bride". 

"Isn't she stunning!?" Burning star gushed. "Why, if it weren't her wedding day, I think I'd be extremely jealous!" Cherry pie chuckled inwardly at her statement, but continued to look on, awestruck at the spectacle before him.

"Welcome, Everypony." the officiator said, warmly. "We are gathered here today to witness the joining of this mare, and this stallion, in the bonds of Holy matrimony." She paused and began to lecture the congregation. "Marriage is what brings us together today. Marriage, that blessed arrangement. That dream within a dream..." The speech sounded vaguely familiar to Cherry Pie, but he couldn't quite put his hoof on it. He brought his attention 'round again as the officiator said "Then love, TRUE love, will follow you forever." The speech blurred into a meaningless mass of words for Cherry Pie until finally, the ceremony was drawing to a close. "I now pronounce you Stallion and Wife! You may kiss the bride!"

The timing was perfect. The moment their lips met, the crystal half ball embedded in the ceiling of the Gazebo burst to life. The etchings that were hidden within became visible as the Sun's blessed rays passed through them, creating intricate patterns all over the place. The Sun and crystal combined turned the gazebo into a brilliant theater of dancing rainbows and shadowy shapes. Tiny gems, painstakenly hoof-sewn into Fugue's gown caught the light as never before and completely dazzled the audience, making them gasp in delight.

From that point, the time went on in a blur. Cherry Pie could make neither head nor tail of the details of the reception. He recalled that the cake was absolutely divine, though. He knew he'd need to remember that later for when his mother asked him his impression. She'd flip if he couldn't tell her what he thought of it. He enjoyed the family reunion, though, and Guardian turned out to be quite an engaging fellow, once Cherry Pie got to know him.

Towards the end of the reception, Fugue introduced him to the mare who made her dress. She was amazing; her alabaster coat and rich violet, elegantly and expertly curled mane contrasting beautifully with eachother. Her sapphire eyes pierced into his own until he was sure sparks were going to ignite between them. He didn't hear a single word she said to him, but he did see that she was wearing a very beautiful gown, that seemed to be designed specifically to be breath-taking AND inconspicuous. He had no idea how that was even possible, but this mare had managed it. She gave him a few more words and then smiled sweetly, and floated away.

The reception had lasted for many hours, and it was time for the ponies to start going home. The crowd dispersed fairly quickly, and luckily, the cleaning and teardown crew was on time. They didn't need supervision, so the newly enlarged family headed back to the home of Indigo Spark and Burning Star. For once, Burning Star was absolutely exhausted, so they all decided to stop in at a restaurant on the way home; It was about dinner-time, anyway. Guardian recommended a wonderful place that served cuisine from the Appleoosa area. It was the best anybody could do as far as recommendations went, so they went there. That night's special was a barbequed apple'n'bean stew with roast radicchio and balsamic vinegar. It was absolutely delicious.

They trooped to the house and sat up, just talking, discussing the wedding, congratulating Fugue and Guardian personally and wishing them many happy years together. After an hour or so, Fugue and Guardian headed out. Nocturne announced that she would be staying with her family this evening to afford the newlyweds some privacy on their wedding night. As every one of them was completely exhausted, they all said good night and went to bed. It had been a truly marvelous day, and they all fell asleep more easily than usual.