//------------------------------// // Wedding bells // Story: Aggressively Small // by ShowShine //------------------------------// Spike, Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie pie, Rainbow dash, Rarity, and Fluttershy sat on a picinic blanket. Peewee laid in Spikes lap, wearing a red vest that said ‘Service Animal in Training’. “It is gorgeous out. Just gorgeous!” Rarity said as she looked at a few butterflies flying past. Everybody nodded their heads in agreement. Spike let out a belch and two letters fell on the ground. Peewee hopped out of his lap and pulled on one of the letters, trying to give it to Spike. Twilight giggled and levitated the letter from his beak. She started to read out loud. “Dear Twilight, I am sure you are as excited as I am about the upcoming wedding in Canterlot. Wedding? 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.” Twilight read out. Fluttershy gasped. “What an honor!” Fluttershy exclaimed. “Pinkie Pie, I can think of no one more qualified than you to host the reception.” She continued to read. “Hip, hip, hooray!” Pinkie shouted, doing a cartwheel into the cake. “Applejack, you will be in charge of the catering for the reception.” “Well, color me pleased as punch!” Applejack said while tilting her hat forwards. “Rainbow Dash–” Before Twilight could finish reading, she let out a loud yawn. “...I would very much appreciate it if you could perform a sonic rainboom as the bride and groom complete their "I do"'s.” “YES!” Rainbow dash shouted as she shot up into the air. “Rarity, you will be responsible for designing the dresses for the bride and her bridesmaids.” “Princess Celestia wants me to design a wedding dress?!” Rarity said in disbelief. She let out sputters as she rocked back in forth, getting ready to faint. Fluttershy tried to catch her, but she fell to the ground with a large grin on her face. “Spike, you will be in charge of the bachelors party.” “Sweet!” Spike said happily. “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 finishes reading. She tilted her head and looked at the back of the paper. “Who’s getting married?” Twilight asked. She levitated the other letter and started to read. “Princess Celestia cordially invites you to the wedding of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and...” Twilight let out a gasp. “My brother?!” She exclaimed in shock. Spike eyes widened in surprise. Applejack walked over to Twilight and put her hoof on her shoulder. “Congratulations Twilight, That’s great news!” Applejack said happily. Twilight scowled. “Yeah, great news. That I just got from a wedding invitation! Not from my brother, but from a piece of paper! Thanks a lot, Shining Armor. I mean, really, he couldn't tell me personally?” Twilight exclaimed angrily. She levitated a sandwich and moved the bread slices around as if it were talking. “Hey, Twilight, 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 said, mimicking Shining Armor voice. She let the sandwich drop to the grass. “Princess Mi Amore Cadenza? Who in the hoof is that?!” Twilight said with a snort. Everyone except for Spike took a few steps back at her outburst. “Twilight, are you okay?” Fluttershy asked. Twilight let out a sigh. “Sorry, it's just that Shining Armor and I have always been so close. He's my B.B.B.F.F!” Twilight said. Everyone tilted their head in confusion. “Big brother best friend forever.” Spike stated. “Oooh.” Everyone said. “Well Twi, we’ll be there every step of the way.” Applejack said comfortingly. Twilight sighed. “We should get going. I want to me this Princess Mi Amore Candenze.” Twilight said bitterly before marching off. Spike started to follow her and Peewee hopped after Spike. They sat on the train on the way to Canterlot, chatting happily. Twilight pouted out the window. “Why the long face, sugarcube?” Applejack asked, sitting across from Spike, Peewee, and Twilight “I'm just thinking about Shining Armor. Ever since I moved to Ponyville, we've been seeing each other less and less. And now that he's starting a new family with this "Princess Mi Amore Ca-whatshername", we'll probably never see each other.” Twilight said sadly. “Shining Armor cares about you too much to just abandon you like that, he’ll make time for you.” Spike said. Twilight let out a sigh. “He didn’t make enough time to invite me to his wedding.” Twilight said grumpily. The approached Canterlot, which was surrounded by a giant pink bubble and royal guards stood at every corner. “We’re here, we’re here!” Pinkie shouted excitedly while bouncing up and down. “Whoa, what's with all the guards?” Rainbow dash asked in confusion. Rarity scoffed. “Well there’s a royal wedding so obviously they hired extra security.” Rarity said in a matter of fact tone. They walked past the royal guards and into town. “Now, let's get going! We've got work to do!” Rarity said as she made her way into the castle. “And you have a brother to congratulate.” Applejack said, giving Twilight a nudge. Twilight looked around until she saw her brother standing at the part of the castle, ording guards to do things. She marched over towards him. “I've got something to say to you, mister.” Twilight said sternly. The guards pointing their spears at her and Spike stood in front of Twilight, making sure she didn’t get hurt. Shining Armor smiled and pulled off his helmet. “Twily!” Shining Armor said happily, making the guards out there spears down. He started to walk down the stairs to approach her. “I missed you kid. How was the train ride? I-“ “How dare you not tell me in person that you were getting married! I'm your sister, for pony's sake!” Twilight scolded, cutting him off. Shining Armor frowned. “It's not my fault! Princess Celestia has requested a major increase in security. Didn't you see all the guards at the train station?” He asked. Twilight rolled her eyes. “Yeah, there’s a big wedding coming up, haven’t you heard.” Twilight said bitterly, avoiding eye contact. “It has nothing to do with the wedding. A threat has been made against Canterlot. We don't know who's responsible for it, but Princess Celestia asked that I help provide additional protection. This, you need to see.” Shining Armor said as he took a few steps back. A beam of magic shot out of his horn and onto the top of the bubble, before coming back down and hitting his horn. He let out a groan and rubbed his head. “The burden of keeping Canterlot safe and secure rests squarely on my shoulders. Staying focused on the task at hand has been my top priority.” Shining Armor said as he walked up the stairs and gestures towards all the guards standing there. The walked to the top of a bridge to watch the guards march in perfect lines. “Okay, okay, I get it. You've got a really important job protecting all of Canterlot with a force field only you can conjure up. But still... how could you not tell me about something as big as your wedding? Am I not that important to you any more?” Twilight said sadly. Shining Armor smiled. “Hey. You're my little sister. Of course you're important to me. But I'd understand if you didn't want to be my best mare now.” Shining Armor said with a smirk. “Me, your best mare? I would love that!” Twilight exclaimed happily before going back into a frown. “But I'm still pretty ticked you're marrying somepony I don't even know! When did you even meet this "Princess Mi Amore Cadenza"?” Twilight asked. Shining Armor chuckled. “You tell me. She was your foalsitter.” He said. Twilights brows furrowed. “But I’ve only had one foalsitter and that was...” Twilights eyes widened in realization. “You’re marrying Cadance?!” Twilight exclaimed with a large grin. Spike smiled. “Wow, I didn’t even think you’d build up the courage to asked her on a date.” Spike said. Shining Armor glared at him before facing Twilight again. “You’re marrying Cadance, you’re marrying Cadance.” Twilight shouted in a sing song voice while hopping around. Cadance walked up behind Twilight with a scowl. Spikes scales flattened. She would never give that look to Twilight. “I hope I’m not interrupting something.” Cadance said as she walked up from behind. Twilight turned around with a large grin. “Cadance! Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!” Twilight said, doing the little dance that they always did together. “What are you doing?” Cadance asked in disgust. “Cadance, it's me, Twilight!” She said happily. Cadance looked at Shining Armor and started to walk towards him. “Yeah uh huh.” She said, not paying attention. Shining Armor wrapped her hoof around her shoulder. Cadance put on a fake smile that Spike could see right through. “I've gotta get back to my station, but Cadance will be checking in with all of you to see how things are going. I think I speak for both of us when I say we couldn't be more excited to have you here. Right, dear?” Shining Armor said while looking at his fiancé. “Absolutely.” She said as they both walked into the building. Once they were out of earshot Spike started to speak. “Something is off, Cadance it never like that.” Spike stated. “Maybe she’s just nervous for the wedding.” Twilight suggested. Spike shook his head. “I’m gonna find out what up.” Spike said while walking in the direction of Cadance. Peewee hopped after him with his short legs. Spike stood next to the bakery, standing on a wooden crate to peek through a window. Peewee sat on his head to look inside. Princess Cadance walked in the bakery with the look of disgust on her face. “Hiya, Princess!” Applejack said with a smile and a wave. “Please, call me Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.” She said with a sickingly sweet smile. “Hiya Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. You come to check out what's on the menu for your big day?“ Applejack asked nicely. “I have!” She said, her eyes flashing green for a split second. Spike gasped and wrote that down in his notebook. Cadance took a bite of a fritter. “Delicious! I love-love-love them.” She said, obviously trying not to gag. Applejack smiled. “Aw, shucks. Why don't you take a few to go? I know how you brides can be. So busy, you forget to get a little somethin' in your belly.” Applejack said while handing her a paper bag. Cadance smiled and walked out the door. Her face turned into a scowl. She tossed the bag out in the trash and went into the town. Spike hopped off of the crate and went to follow her. Spike sat on Rarity’s bed, listening to Cadance and Rarity speak. It wasn’t exactly spying, but it was the best he could get. “Your highness! Let me just start by saying what an honor it is to play a role in such a momentous occasion.” Rarity said with a nervous laugh. Cadance rolled her eyes. “Uh-huh. Is my dress ready?” She asked, not noting Rarity’s nervous state. “Of course your highness, it’s right over there.” Rarity said while pointing to a dress. Cadance made a look of disgust. “I was hoping for something with more beading and a longer train.” She said. That was not the way Cadance usually speaks. She would use please and thank you’s and be as sweet as possible. Rarity letter out some stammers. “Oh yes of course.” Rarity said with a little bow. Cadance would never let anyone bow to her. “And change the color it’s hideous.” She said with a scowl. “I like the color.” One of the bridemaids commented. “Me too.” Another one said. “I think it’s lovely.” The third bridesmaid said. Cadance glared at them, making them cower back. Spike wrote that down. “Make them a different color.” She said before walking out the room. Spike grabbed Peewee and followed her. Spike and Peewee stood behind a pillar, listening to Pinkie ramble on about the reception and the activities. “So isn’t this going to be the best reception party ever!” Pinkie pie exclaimed excitedly. “Yeah.” Cadance said with a smile. “If this were for a six year old.” Cadance insulted. Pinkie put her hoof on her heart. “Aaw, thank you.” She said, not understanding the insult. Spike wrote down more notes. Something was definitely wrong. Spike and the main six sat at a table in front of a cafe. Peewee ate some fruit from his fruit salad. “Has Cadance been acting like a jerk today?” Spike asked his friends. Rarity scoffed. “She’s just a little stressed from planning the wedding, it’s perfectly normal for the bride to be a little grumpy.” She said. Spike pulled out the notebook he had been writing in. “I’ve been taking notes of everything Cadance had done and this is completely out of character for her.” Spike said. Twilight gasped. “Spike, have you been spying on Cadance?” Twilight asked in disbelief. “That’s not the point, there’s something seriously wrong.” Spike said. Twilight shook her head. “Go up to Cadance and apologize now. When you’re finished, go to our room and think about what you’ve done.” Twilight said. Spike let out a grumble and place Peewee on the ground next to him. “I demand justice!” Spike exclaimed as he walked away from the table. He got up so quickly that he didn’t notice that Peewee wasn’t directly behind him. Spike muttered stuff under his breath as he made his way to Shining Armor and Cadances house, which wasn’t too far from the castle. Spike approached the house and when to knock on the door to see that it was unlocked. He looked around and entered the dark house. He saw that some light came from a room and he peeked inside. He heard Shining Armor groan and Cadance standing in front of him with a smirk. A green aura shot from her horn onto Shining Armors horn. His eyes turned green and he looked like he was in a trance. “I only serve you my love.” He said in a monotone voice. That was not Cadance. ”I have to tell the others.” Spike thought, getting ready to escape. He turned around and bumped into a table, knocking it over. He heard both ponies in the room go silent. Before he could run away, he came face to face with Cadance. “Well would you look here, it seem I’ve found myself a little spy.” Cadance said in a voice that wasn’t hears. “Do you know what I do with spies?” She asked. Spike knew if he tried to run, she overpower him. A green flame surrounded him. He reached his hand out to touch it and jerked his hand back in pain. Dragons were fireproof. This was magic fire. “We get rid of them.” Cadance said with a sickly smile. The flames washed over his body until he was gone. Cadance smiled and walked back into the room, closing the door behind her. Peewee stood at the doorway in shock at what he just saw. He had to get help.