The train down to Orlov had been a pleasant, if packed, trip out of Ponyville. Mahogany and I had sat together, amongst a whole group of ponies I’m not sure either of us recognized. Dusky and Terra had taken a train down with Merri and Star, as well as the rest of the wedding of the party. By the time we arrived, they should be already set up.
I’d hoped to get a bit of breathing room once the train disembarked, but came to realize that nearly everypony was heading in the same direction as we were, very likely all friends and relations of Terra and her fiance. It made me wonder just how much traffic came to Orlov that wasn’t related to any given wedding ceremony.
It was a beautiful city, with the sky a spotless blue and the sun shining brightly. There were palm trees similar to what I’d seen in Myrtail, and the distinct tang of the ocean in the air. This time, I could actually take in those sights with a much lighter heart, without any of the fear and pain that had shadowed our purpose for visiting Myrtail.
It was easy enough to follow the crowd towards the resort center, and once we were on the grounds, there was plenty of signage directing us to the Sapphire Lagoon hall for the ‘Stalwart / Terrabona Event’.
We arrived early, walking in from the beach level to find our way towards the deck where the ceremony was open. Some ponies were already heading in that direction to reserve seats. A few staff ponies walked through the crowd, offering drinks. I waved a hoof at the offer, but Mahogany grinned and took a glass. “I’m not much of a wine drinker, but I’ll take a good cocktail. Can’t wait for the reception though, that’s when they break out the champagne. It’s like the tea of booze, Flurry. You’d like it.”
I raised an eyebrow as Mahogany took his first sip. “The tea of booze? I thought tea sucked, though?”
He smacked his lips. “It does. Unless it’s alcoholic tea. Ever heard of a hard ice tea?”
“I can’t say that I have.” I glanced at a second tray that had arrived with a snack platter. I took a cube of cheese and popped it into my mouth.
“It’s good. It’s no Buzzard, but I mean, what is?” He paused. “Actually, forget I mentioned it. Someday, I’ll buy you some tea. My treat.”
I rolled my eyes. “I think I’ll pass.”
Soon, I managed to find somepony serving cups of actual iced tea, and after making sure that it was indeed non-alcoholic, I started to relax.
“Oy! Oy, Night! Mahogany!” As we crossed through the hotel towards the Lagoon hall, we suddenly heard Merri called out, waving a hoof to grab our attention. She was wearing a light sea-blue dress, which stood out mostly as a contrast to the darkened scale mail armor that I’d so often seen her wearing. “Over here, you two!”
We walked over, away from the other guests. Mahogany grabbed another cocktail on the way. “Hey Merri, you all ready for the big moment?”
“Pfft. As if. It’s not my big moment. Still, did you know there’s three groomstallions? And there’s only two bridesmares. Three on two, know what I mean? Maybe that other sexy weatherpony friend of yours will be there, eh, Night?”
“Wait, you don’t mean Dusky. You mean, um…” I blinked, totally caught off guard. I tried to wrack my brain for who else she could mean. “Rainbow Dash?”
“Nah, I’m talkin’ about that other stallion. Gray fellow, snowflakes on his butt. I figured if Dusky did so well with you, I should sample one too~.”
I stammered, blushing, but before I could answer, a round red pincushion collided with the back of Merri’s head.
Starshadow’s voice came from within the room, drawing closer as she admonished her sister. “Did I just hear you imply that you were going to attempt to seduce all three groomstallions, in addition to myself, into some horrible act of depravity? Disgusting!”
Merri waved a hoof between them. “Hey now, I was joking! Joking! We talked about this!”
“Do not make that kind of joke today!” Star opened the door the rest of the way and glanced out. “Ah, greetings, Night Flurry. Mahogany. I am afraid you have caught us just as we were finishing.”
Mahogany grinned. “Hey, it’s cool, we’re just waiting for them to let us in. Should be any minute now if you’re getting ready to go.”
Merri snickered. “Yeah, if we’re not in the prep room on time, I’m not sure who’ll be madder, Dusky or Terra.”
“Honestly, I do not wish to have either of them upset at us. Terra has placed a good deal of trust in us to perform this duty for her, despite our… past indiscretions.” Starshadow awkwardly cleared her throat and looked down.
“Aw, c’mon, Sis’. If it weren’t for your spell, this ceremony wouldn’t even be happening! I think she’s forgiven you.” Merri leaned in and nudged Star. “I’ll bet you bits for bagels that she’s not still worried about that spell when the honeymoon comes around, eh? Now stop worrying. This isn’t like back home. We’re here to support our friend, and have fun, and look sexy on the dance floor!”
Star sighed, “I suppose you are correct on most of your points. Now we should go. Night Flurry, Mahogany, enjoy the ceremony. We shall see you there.”
Mahogany grinned. “Don’t sneeze or anything! We’ll be watching!”
Merri stuck her tongue out at Mahogany. “Goes for you too. In Ostfriesen, it was a Royal offense for a wedding guest to sneeze during the ceremony. You’d be lucky if they just exiled you for that.” With that, she closed the door.
I glanced at Mahogany. “So, exile?”
“Now I really want to sneeze during the ceremony…” He squinted his eyes, wiggling his snout a bit, then gave up. “Sucks that you can never sneeze when you’re thinking about sneezing. They just sorta sneak up on you.”
Breaking a smile, I shook my head. “I think Terra would probably make good with Merri’s joke.”
Mahogany frowned. “Right… Terra. Yeah, lets not give her any more reason to freak out today, I guess.”
We waved them off and then walked back to join up with the main group, heading down the hall to find our seats in preparation for the ceremony.
---
We were seated towards the back of the hall, on Terra’s side. The whole thing was decorated in a similar aquamarine color as Merri and Starshadow’s gown had been, with valances hung around the room, and colored cloth streamers overhead around a large centerpiece. The whole room was decked out accordingly, but not so much as to be overwhelming. The eyes were drawn up to the front stage.
Mahogany had a particularly large smile on his face, surprisingly so.
I turned and raised an eyebrow. “Hm. I never figured you’d be so happy to be at a wedding.”
He laughed. “You should know I love a good party. Besides, this is Terra! She’s my best drinking buddy! Of course I’m happy for her!”
Grinning back, I nodded. “I might just like weddings.”
“Yeah, well, I give it until the vows start.”
“Until the vows start?” I tilted my head.
Mahogany grinned. “Before you’re crying. Let’s face it, Flurry, you’re definitely the kind of stallion who cries at weddings.”
I felt my cheeks warm, but didn’t let my own smile fade. “I, um, don’t see what’s so wrong with that.”
“Nothing wrong with it, just saying.”
We were prevented from going any further by the music starting up, and all eyes turned towards the back of the hall.
The officiant led the way with a confidence that came from performing this very ceremony a hundred times before. She knew exactly where she was supposed to stand, and took little time in getting into place so that the real wedding party could enter. Then came the grandparents, each walking together before taking their seats in the front row.
After a moment, the first pair of the wedding party emerged up from the stairs, and Starshadow stepped out with an accompanying stallion. She proceeded through the room with precision to the music, almost at a military pace, head high, much to the mild confusion of the stallion by her side.
As Starshadow reached the front of the hall and took her place, Merri emerged from the stairs, flanked by two stallions. Mahogany snorted next to me and leaned over to me. “Guess she wasn’t joking about her plans for the reception.”
I shook my head, not quite able to keep from chuckling.
Merri definitely was into it, though. She wasn’t quite strutting, but there was a clear and obvious swaying to her hips as she made her way up to join her sister. Star simply rolled her eyes, as Merri stepped up alongside her, winking to the stallions.
Then, it was Dusky who rose up from the stairs. Though she wore the same blue colored outfit as Merri and Star, on her, it looked absolutely amazing. Or, I suppose it just made her look that much more amazing. She moved with a grace that stilled my heart.
As I watched her, Mahogany nudged me once more, leaning over to whisper. “You didn’t even make it to the vows. I should have known it’d be Dusky that got to you.”
I lifted a wing to my face and wiped, realizing my eyes had indeed teared up. “She’s just… she’s so beautiful.”
Mahogany snickered as Dusky took her place, and I couldn’t keep my eyes off of her until Mahogany nudge me once again to turn back towards the stairs.
Stalwart, Terra’s fiance, came next, this time from the back of the hall. He wore a tuxedo, and he wore it well, with a back brace supporting him. Two older ponies were at his side, who I guessed were his parents. His father was trying his best to keep himself together, while the mare, who I believed was his mother, fretted over each step, clearly concerned for his back and making sure he made it okay. He came to the top of the platform and turned to stand alongside the officiant.
The gembearer bounced through next, an overly excited blue foal who nearly got chastised halfway to the stage. After nearly losing the jewelry off his back he eventually slowed his pace to something more reasonable. Then came Aster, who looked more awkward than excited. She didn’t exactly scatter her petals so much as throw them at the ponies closest to the aisle. It was admittedly pretty adorable and amusing for anypony not sitting at the edge.
There was a moment of silence as the two foals completed their paths. I could feel the excitement in the room, everypony looking back in expectation. The music swelled as the band switched to the traditional march and everyone grew quiet.
Terra stepped into the room, dressed in a gorgeous white gown, with traces of blue streaking through it and grinning ear to ear. Her parents walked with her, escorting her down the aisle and onto the altar.
My eyes turned back to Dusky as she and Terra exchanged a glance, and Terra turned to gaze at Stalwart. Dusky was practically holding her breath, only releasing it as the music stopped, and the officiant began the ceremony. “Dearly beloved…”