Cadence called Celestia, her [adoptive] mother and told her about the proposal. She immediately started preparing the wedding. Usually it was customary for the husband’s family to pay for the wedding but while his family was very well off, he was marrying into money big time. Like, retire at 25, buy a small town in the north and become mayor for fun type of money.
Celestia was coming around with Luna for dinner and celebration of the event. They assumed Twilight would be too. She’d either been nearby to see it herself or had someone there to ‘collect’ or… actually how beside the first option no one really knew but they all knew it was a prank so surely Twilight would figure out in turn that her parents had ratted her out to Shining who as usual, given their prank’s history, flipped it back on her.
Celestia with Luna and a bottle of expensive champagne. Very expensive champagne. VERY. “Velvet, Orian. I’ve heard so much about you. It’s great to finally meet. I’m Celestia, and this my sister Luna. I brought you a gift. Hope you like Blanc De Flancs. Oh, and there was this little box was...” Celestia stopped talking at she clearly wasn’t being heard anymore.
Velvet didn’t hear anything after Celestia had handed her the champagne bottle which she took with amazement. She didn’t know much about high class champaign but looking at the bottle she knew this needed to be on ice. OC was just trying to to feel emasculated at being the shortest person in the house, made even more noticeable by these two amazoness’ that had just walked in. “Take a seat, dinner’s just about ready.”
The smell of indian was in the air. They would’ve prepared something fancier but none of them knew ahead of time, save Shining who only knew by last night and let alone they’d have guests. Even Cadence hadn’t been expected to be here tonight. They sat down and awaited the engaged couple to serve up dinner. Why the celebrate-ies were cooking dinner was beyond anyone there but that wasn’t the weirdest thing today. Most of those things she would neglect to mention to her mother and auntie-sort-of-other-mother.
Oh god they’re going to ask for details… Twilight better get here soon with some context. Cadence set the plates and Shining served up the food. There was more than enough for everyone plus Twilight when she arrived and her place at the table was set. It was slightly cramped with six people at the table and would only get worse when she arrived. Food served, everyone at the table had the tact to not eat until Cadence and Shining had been seated.
“Are we expecting one more?” Luna asked looking at the seat set for Twilight.
“Yes, it’s been so long since I’ve seen Twilight. Will she be with us tonight? Or is away at college? I think she’d be about that age by now. I haven’t seen her in many years. Not since Cadence used to sit for her.
“Well, you see…” Cadence began.
“Long story, she’ll probably be a bit late.” Shining finished as he took his seat along with Cadence. “I’ll say grace.”
“Really? In front of guests?” Cadence asked. “Well, I guess it’s best they find out now than later.”
“Eh-hem” Shining said, closing his eyes and putting out a hand to either side of him. They took them and he began. “Good rice. Good curry. Good golly. Let’s hurry. Neighmen.”
While most followed with neighmen, Luna just snorted in laughter. They all dug in for about a minute before Velvet asked “Shining Armour, would you like some champagne?” as she motioned to the glorious monument of glass and ice in the center of the table.
“Not just yet.” he said, looking at her. Her eyes almost fully round. “Oh… yes, I’ll open the bottle.” and he reached oven and pulled the bottle out of it’s cooler. Undid the the covering and stared for a moment at the cork that was neither a pop off or twist of beer bottle cap. Celestia offered him a corkscrew and about a minute later, he opened the bottle and poured himself and his fiance half a glass. “Would you like so-”
“Yes!” and he poured her a glass. Then Celestia. Then his mother. Then Luna and his father. As he went to put the bottle back in the ice bucket, he noticed small ring box on the table.
“Oh yes, that was out on the doorstep when we arrived. There’s a note on the bottom saying ‘congratulation’ so I brought it in for you. I almost forgot about it with your mothers excitement over the bottle. Well, go ahead, open it.”
The small box was a velvet plush covered box that a ring or some such jewelry would usually be in. And with just about half a centimetre of duct tape was attached a note covering the top, wrapping over the front and going to the bottom. And the top of the note did indeed read’ Congratulations’ as one word cut out from a magazine. It read...
Congratulations
on your engagement
In celebration we got you a gift
P.S. we want bits, not the ring
Both Cadence and Shining looked sheepishly at one another. Peeling the note off they opened the box. The two of them stared for a moment. Then at each other and a wordless question was asked between them. The answer was yes. That was in fact a severed human ring finger in the box.
Shining was the first to say something. “Huh… I thought they said the first one would be the only message.