//------------------------------//
// Romance in Maris: Part Two 
// Story: The Royal Canterlot Family 
// by CartoonNerd12 
//------------------------------//

After Chip returned home and the royals and Guardians returned to the  Palace of Versaddles, Velvet looked as if she was trying to contain her  excitement. The Guardians were chatting amongst themselves until Nova  noticed that Velvet was being quiet.

The others fell silent and noticed this too as Nova asked, "Velvet? Are you okay?"

Suddenly,  she jumped into the air and shouted at the top of her lungs, "I LOVE  HIM!" She quickly covered her mouth as soon as she realized what she  did.

The smiling Guardians asked in amazement, "You do?"

Feather Bangs responded with a grin, "She does. Listen, the wedding's tomorrow, right?"

The Guardians nodded.

"I  have a plan." He turned to Velvet and said, "Velvet, when it's time for  you to walk down the aisle, you and Chip will walk down it together.  Then at the altar, you'll tell everypony in the chapel that you've found  love, and I'll call off the wedding."

Skater asked dubiously, "Are you sure it's going to work?"

Velvet  nodded, "My parents tell me to marry out of arrangement, but sometimes I  overhear them saying they want me to marry for love. I don't think we  need to worry about their opinion."

Mischief said, "Then that leaves Dandy."

Feather  Bangs told his friends, "My uncle likes to make a good impression, and  since there'll be a ton of guests at the wedding, there's no way he can  deny Velvet and Chip their happiness in front of a lot of ponies.  Believe me, if this plan won't get Uncle Dandy to change his mind,  nothing will."

Velvet Blue said, "I really hope you're right about this."





Flurry  Heart woke up on a hard, cold floor that was a sharp contrast to the  soft, warm bed she fell asleep in the previous night. Her blurry vision  soon focused and she saw her friends and cousins sprawled on the same  floor.

Blaze groaned as he rubbed his head, "Ughhh...Where are we? What happened?"

Nova moaned, "I feel like I got hit by a strong sleeping spell."

A voice then caught their attention, "Ah, yes. That would be Jean-Clod. He tends to be a little…excessive, you know."

Out of the shadows surrounding them came Dandy Grandeur, all dressed in his finest for a wedding.

Mischief asked in building defense, "Dandy, what's going on?"

Dandy  explained as he circled the group, "Well, if it was discovered you  approved of Princess Velvet Blue's – ahem – affair with the sculptor, it  would ruin my chances of an alliance with Gaiti. I like to keep things  neat and tidy, so I have thought of another way to keep you out of my  affairs. Look around you."

The Guardians did so and realized they were in Chipcutter's warehouse, although it was quite dark.

Nova said, "We're in Chip's warehouse?"

Dandy praised, "Correct!" He then said, "Only now it shall serve as your temporary prison until the wedding is over."

Blaze  stood up as he retorted, "Oh, yeah? We'll see about that!" He tried to  teleport outside the warehouse, but could only conjure up a small bit of  green magic that instantly fell to the ground. "What?"

Dandy chuckled, "Mm-hm-hmm. Now you see what I mean? Without your magic, you'll be helpless to stop the wedding…and so will he."

On  cue, the double doors opened and the Guardians gasped when they saw a  tied-up-and-gagged Chip struggling in the grasp of two guards.

The  king suavely said, "Poor fool tried to recreate a romantic scene from a  book to confess his feelings for Velvet. Unfortunately for him, my  guards discovered him and brought him to me. I would deal with him right  now, but I must be going. I'll be late for the prince's wedding if I  stay here a minute longer. Guards?"

In response, the guards threw Chip on the ground near the Guardians.

Roller Blade glared at Dandy and rebuked, "Velvet will never agree to walk down the aisle!"

He  gave him a sly smirk, "Au contraire. I think given my little  tete-a-tete with the young princess, she's finding it very hard to  refuse her duty now."

Skater demanded, "What did you do?!"

"I'll give you a little hint: she's too hypnotized by her big day to even care about Woodcutter."

Chip,  now freed from his rope and gag, fumed with anger and prepared to  charge at Dandy. "Why, you -!" Before he could lunge at the king,  several guards surrounded Dandy and blocked Chip with their spears.

Dandy  then ordered, "Towards the doors, gentlemen." As he and his circle of  guards went, he said, "Well, we shall take our leave now, but we'll send  you souvenirs of the wedding soon. Ta-ta!"

Two more guards closed the double doors and locked the Guardians and Chip inside.

Chip sat on the ground and sighed in defeat, "I'm sorry, guys. If I wasn't in love with Blue, we wouldn't be trapped here."

Flurry  put her hoof on his shoulder and comforted him, "Don't ever apologize  for falling in love with her. You two are meant to be together. You know  it, she knows it, Feather Bangs knows it. The only who doesn't is  Dandy."

Apple Butter then chimed, "Yeah. I think our mission is to make sure you two live happily ever after."

Mischief nodded, "And we're not going to stop until we finish it."

Nova asked, "Sure, we have the resolve, but how are we going to get out of here?"

Chip then looked up at the giant Velvet Blue golem and a cunning smile crept on his face, "I think I have an idea."





In  the wedding chapel at the Palace of Versaddles, Feather Bangs paced  back and forth on the altar while church music played. Velvet's parents  and Queen Sassy Saddles sat in their seats with anticipation.

Sassy  squealed, "Ooh, isn't it wonderful, Sugarcoat? A beautiful wedding in a  beautiful chapel! EEE! Can you think of anything more spectacular?"

Sugarcoat waved her hoof and nonchalantly replied, "You've seen one church, you've seen them all."

Trenderhoof  said to his wife with a smile, "Oh, come now, sugar bun! It's our  daughter's wedding day! Surely you must be excited for that! I know I  am!"

Sugarcoat still kept her expressionless composure and deadpanned, "Yay."

Meanwhile, Feather Bangs quietly fretted, "Where's Velvet with Chip? And where's Uncle Dandy for that matter?"





Back  at the warehouse, Chip finished carrying the last of the Guardians up  to the ear of the golem. After Nova carefully climbed inside the ear,  Chip followed. Inside the hollow head of the golem was a shiny quartz  disk that was the size and shape of a 5-foot round rug. The painted eyes  of the golem were almost transparent from the Guardians' point-of-view.

Skater asked, "Okay, now what?"

Chip  explained as he pointed to the quartz disk, "I need one of you to stand  here. Every move you make, the golem will make it, too."

Apple Butter remarked, "Ah. That's how the controllers did it."

Flurry  volunteered, "Chip, I would like to control the golem and get us to the  chapel in time. That way, you can just jump out of the ear when I bow  my head down to the ground."

Chip smiled, "I can't thank you enough, guys."

When the Pegasus took his position near the opening of the ear, Blaze hoof-pumped, "All right, let's rock and roll, baby!"

Roller glared at him, "One, that's a bad rock pun, and two, that's my line."

Flurry  then stepped on the quartz disk, which glowed blue with activation.  Slowly but surely, Flurry took small steps as if she was on a treadmill.  Outside the warehouse, Jean-Clod and the guards heard a low thudding  and felt a growing tremor in the ground.

One of the guards asked, "What's that?"

Another guard answered, "I think it's…giant hoofsteps."

Jean-Clod gulped, "Giant hoofsteps?!"

At  that moment, a giant stone Velvet Blue crashed through the front of the  warehouse, sending splinters of wood flying through the air.

As Jean-Clod and the screaming guards ran away, he cried, "Sacre-bleuuu!"

Inside the walking golem's head, the Guardians and Chip laughed at the scene before them.

Apple Butter chuckled, "We showed them!"

Flurry said in a daring tone, "Now, on to the wedding!"





At the chapel, Dandy had just arrived and now took his place beside his nephew at the altar.

He  reassured the prince, "Do not worry. Your dazzling bride will be here  soon." When they heard the ornate doors open, he pointed to the figure  standing there and said, "Ah! There she is now!"

When the double  doors closed behind her, Velvet – who was in her wedding gown and  wearing a very thick veil – began to march forward without pausing.

Trenderhoof squealed, "Oh, goodness, here comes the bride!"

Sugarcoat, however, found something was amiss. "Without 'The Wedding March'?"

Her mother joined her, "Without the Guardians?"

Feather Bangs was shocked to see Velvet commencing the wedding already and exclaimed, "Without Chip?"

When Velvet arrived at the altar, the music died down until only silence remained.

Dandy smiled, "Now that we're all here –"

FB interrupted him, "Uncle, we can't start yet. Chip's not here."

"Oh, nephew, we will tell him all about it."

The prince faltered as he tried to think of a good excuse, "But Iii want to share this moment with my friend!"

"That's what cameras are for." He then hissed to the priest, "Go ahead!"

The  priest then adjusted his glasses and spoke out, "Bonjour, everyone. I  would like to welcome the family and friends of the prince and  princess…"

Feather Bangs nervously thought, Where are you guys?





As the Velvet golem trod down the streets of Maris, the crowds screamed and ran for their lives.

Flurry continuously apologized to the frightened masses below, "Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. So sorry."

Blaze  groaned, "Will you please stop saying 'sorry' to every civilian you  see? We're in a giant golem! No one's gonna know it's us!"

Nova pointed to a few ponies in front of them, "Especially them."

The miniature ponies tipped over barrels on either side of the street, spilling a purple slime all over the road.

Flurry asked, "What is that?"

Chip gasped, "Flurry, stop! Turn back around!"

Unfortunately,  Chip's warning came too late, for when the golem's hooves stepped on  the slime, Flurry felt as if she was slipping and losing her balance.  Soon, the golem was sliding down the street with slimy stone hooves. Its  head was bobbing to the chaotic motion of its body.

Roller shouted, "Stop wobbling, Flurry!"

The alicorn replied, "Don't tell me! Tell my hooves!"

Suddenly,  they caught a glimpse of police carts and firecarts blocking their  path. One of the police officers commanded into a megaphone, "Stop in  the name of Prance!"

Mischief said, "Um, Flurry? I think they want us to stop!"

Flurry shouted in worry, "So do I!"

In  an instant, Flurry held her front hooves up to dry them so she could  attempt to make brakes of them. However, the slippery hind hooves of the  golem tripped over the police barrier and sent the golem flying through  the air. The ponies inside screamed before the golem's hooves landed on  a large firecart.

As the firecart sped away with the giant golem in tow, the police officer shrugged, "Okay, then, don't stop."

The  firecart rolled down the street at a fast pace with the golem's  occupants screaming in panic. All the while, Flurry concentrated on her  horn. To her surprise, her magic flickered back to life.

She told her friends, "Guys, the depowering spell is wearing off!"

Mischief also tried his magic, which too flickered. "It may not be much at the moment, but let's make it count!"

Nova shrieked, "River ahead!"

Acting  quickly, Mischief placed his front hooves on the quartz disk. His voice  projected from the golem as it sped by a large tent, "Sorry, have to  use this!"

Flurry and Mischief's combined magic emanated from the  Velvet golem's horn and immediately ripped the tent from the ground,  leaving the exposed ponies that were attending a hay dinner confused.  The couple in the golem's head then used what was left of their magic to  tie the tent to the back of the firecart. The tent instantly ballooned  into a parachute and began to slow the firecart down significantly. A  couple on a boat heard the growing sounds of a siren before catching  sight of a firecart with a giant golem approaching them. The mare  screamed before the firecart slowed to a stop right at the edge of the  river.

Flurry awkwardly spoke to the stunned couple as the golem  stepped off the firecart, "Sorry about that. Just go back to whatever  you were doing. Pretend we're not here."

Her friends face-hoofed.





As the priest addressed the congregation, a messenger ran up to Dandy and whispered in his ear.

The king only replied with a soft but irritated groan, "Ohh…"

Dandy  rose from his seat and walked down the far side of the congregation to  avoid attention. He opened one of the entrance doors and hissed to the  guard outside, "What?"

The guard told him very worriedly, "My king, a giant golem is heading this way!"

The  king raised his brow as he said, "A giant golem?" When his eyes caught  something, he gasped as a giant stone figure of Velvet Blue marched out  of the city and towards the palace. His eyes flickered to the guard  before he ordered, "Well, go stop it, you fool!" He immediately slammed  the door on the guard. When he looked back to see everyone but Velvet  staring at him, he tittered, "Um, Twilight sends her love."

As the golem marched slowly towards the Palace of Versaddles, Blaze shouted, "Go! Go! Go! Go! Faster! Go even faster!"

Flurry said, "Well, I can try, but I don't want to hurt anyone."

"There's no one around for miles!"

"Okay." She then picked up the pace and the golem began to gallop slowly towards the palace.

Inside  the chapel, the priest said, "For better or for worse, for richer or  poorer, in sickness and in health…Oh, dear me, I skipped a section."

Dandy  groaned as he face-hoofed. Just then, a deep thudding could be felt and  heard. The congregation chattered in wonder and worry.

Meanwhile, as the golem ran and jumped expertly through the palace gardens, Nova cried out, "Look! There's the chapel!"

Roller smiled, "We're home free, baby!"

Suddenly, Flurry felt as if she lost her balance and began to fall forward. "Oh, no!" she cried.

As the golem fell with her, the transparent eyes showed several guards holding thick wires that were tripping it.

Apple Butter shouted, "Timber!"

Blaze retorted, "Hey, that's my dad's name!"

The  guards covered themselves as the golem crashed onto the ground. As the  dust settled, the guards pointed their spears toward the head, which had  a crack running from its muzzle to its forehead. Its painted eyes were  broken like glass windows, with the left eye suffering more damage than  the right.

The lead guard ordered, "Come out with your hooves in the air!"

The Guardians then walked into view behind the jagged edge of the left eye with sheepish grins on their faces.

Skater said, "Hi. We're the Guardians of Equestria."

Mischief then spoke, "And we were just...borrowing this golem from Chipcutter."

Roller nodded, "Yeah. Haven't you heard of joyriding in a giant golem before?"

At  that moment, they heard a crash and an "Oof!" The guards looked back to  see Chip getting up beside a vase he had knocked over. Chip looked back  with a worried face that said "Uh-oh."

The lead guard commanded his subordinates, "You three, get him!"

As the guards pursued Chip several yards behind him, Chip hurriedly flew towards the chapel.

Mischief shouted, "Go, Chip, go!"

Blaze also cried, "Hurry!"

Flurry encouraged, "You can do it, Chip!"

At the altar, the priest spoke before the congregation, "If anyone objects to this union, speak now or forever hold your peace."

Feather  Bangs gulped as his hopes began to rise and dim at the same time.  Suddenly, the double doors burst open and Chip flew into the chapel  yelling, "Bluuuueeee!"

The congregation gasped at such an abrupt interruption.

Feather Bangs breathed in amazement, "Chip?"

The  moment Velvet heard Chip's voice, the hypnosis spell on her broke and  she asked in confusion, "Chip?" She continued to ask as she tore off her  veil, "Why am I wearing a veil? And where am I?"

FB smiled at her, "Does it matter? He loves you."

Velvet's heart soared with glee. As she ran towards him in ecstasy, Chip continued to shout, "Bluuueee!"

The two ponies soon embraced in a tight hug and laughter and kisses soon followed.

Chip grinned, "I've never been happier to see you."

His beloved replied, "And I you."

Just as they kissed for the umpteenth time, guards poured in and one of them shouted, "You are under arrest for trespassing!"

Before the guards could apprehend Chip, Velvet angrily defended, "Keep away from the colt I love!"

Just then, Jean-Clod entered the chapel and woefully reported to Dandy, "Sire! The kidnapping plot has failed!"

Though his heart dropped when Jean-Clod revealed the plot, Dandy commanded in anger, "Ignore that unemployed fool!"

Feather Bangs rebuked, "Uncle, the wedding is off! Chip and Velvet are happy together."

At that moment, the Guardians walked into the chapel.

Skater said slyly, "Hey, Dandy. Looks like your plan to keep things neat and tidy didn't work out so well after all."

Dandy knew he was busted, so he remained in humiliated silence.

Roller smirked, "Do you want to tell the entire congregation how you had us locked up in a warehouse without our powers?"

Nova  Rose added, "Or how you completely disregarded the fact that Velvet  Blue was in love with Chip, of which your own nephew clearly approved?"

Apple Butter then spoke up, "Oh! And don't forget how you hypnotized Velvet into continuing with the wedding."

Velvet  exclaimed, "I remember now! I had just gotten my gown on and you came  into my suite. The last thing I remember is you casting that spell on  me!"

The congregation muttered and rumbled with discontented  chatter. Dandy was mortified beyond belief. His whole monarchy was going  up in flames.

He shouted in a repentant tone, "Yes! I admit it! I did those horrible things to gain an alliance with Gaiti!"

The congregation gasped at his confession.

He fell to his knees and begged, "I'll do anything to absolve my crimes! Anything!"

The priest then said, "Well, there might be one thing…"





"I now crown thee King Feather Bangs!"

What  had been a wedding earlier that day was now a coronation at sunset. The  congregation cheered as the new king proudly rose before them with the  now-abdicated ruler by his side. Though Dandy was reluctant to give up  his crown, he knew that the scandal would mar the rest of his monarchy.

He whispered to Feather Bangs, "You'll do great things, my nephew. You'll certainly be wiser than I ever was."

The  young stallion smiled up at him, "I couldn't have done this without  you, Uncle. You helped me prepare to take on the weight of the country,  and now I can rule the land with confidence and grace."

Dandy smiled proudly, "That's my boy."

The  Guardians grinned happily when the two stallions hugged. Suddenly, they  heard a chiming sound and looked back to see their flanks glowing  again! This time, though, the smaller copies of their cutie marks  retreated back inside their original ones.

"Woo-hoo!" Skater cheered. "Mission accomplished!"

Velvet asked, "You're not going to leave already, are you?"

Chip nodded, "Yeah. You'll miss the party."

Flurry then smiled, "Well, I think we can stay for a little while longer."

The other Guardians then cheered.

Roller Blade shouted, "Party on!"