//------------------------------// // CHAPTER 13: A Canterlot Wedding- Part II // Story: One Pony Death Punch // by Sol Nemesis //------------------------------// This was the happiest day of Cadence's Life. So far. She said to herself as a reminder. The day that previously held that title was the day Shining Armor proposed. Before that it was when they started dating after that fateful school dance. Princess Cadence smiled in the hope that there were many more happiest days to come. She blushed a little as she wondered about a foal with her beloved Shining Armor. She glanced sideways at him and wondered if whether or not she should tease him about it. She decided to bide her time and wait for an opening. It would be rather imprudent at the moment especially since her beloved husband, was chatting up some old friends. "Alright you two. We won't take any more of your time. Enjoy the rest of the night. Try to get out of the marriage dungeon every once and a while, ya?" Said a yellow unicorn with a not-so-subtle wink at Shining. Shining Armor chuckled awkwardly. "Oh, you guys. Get outta here!" "Yessir Mr. Prince Sir!" The yellow unicorn saluted mockingly before doing an about face and marching off into the crowd, the rest of Shining's friends turned and followed him, laughing uproariously as they disappeared into the crowd. Shining Armor sighed. "I'm really gonna miss those guys." "Oh honey don't worry. I promise to let you out of the 'marriage dungeon' every once in a while. Besides..." She fluttered her eyelashes at him, as she saw her opportunity. "...I'll be showing you a brand-new rpg come tonight." Shining Armor wasted no time and took his wife into his hooves. "Don't you worry Cadence, I've been looking forward to this game release for a long time. Maybe it's a tabletop?" Shining whispered into his wife's ear. Cadence giggled before kissing her husband deeply, not caring who was watching. After a moment they recollected themselves and turned their attention back to a growing que of well-wishers that gathered at the wedding party table. Cadence graciously let Shining do most of the talking, as her eyes wandered over the crowd. She spotted Twilight acting rather strange, weaving in and out of marble columns and tables before making her way over to Cadence while keeping her head on a swivel. "Enjoying yourself Twilight?" Cadence asked trying not to laugh at her new sister-in-law's antics. "Yes Cadence. I'm just...trying to find my friends?" Twilight smiled awkwardly knowing full well that she wasn't fooling anypony. "Twilight you know you can tell me anything. What's wrong?" Twilight gave a sideways glance at Shining Armor who was busy talking to some important pony with medals so stacked it threatened to pitch the stallion forward. Seeing that she was safe from being overheard, she leaned into Cadence so that she was sure her B.B.B.F.F. couldn't hear. "I bumped into that guard again, and well... I'm no good at these things..." Cadence frowned. "Did he make you feel uncomfortable. Should I have a talk with him?" "Well yes...I mean, No." Twilight shook her head. "He didn't do anything wrong. Flash apologized for bumping into me at the hospital even though I was the pony who bumped into him and...I sort of ran away and left him with my friends." Cadence blinked. "Is everything always supposed to be so awkward?" Twilight pleaded, covering her face with her hooves. "Not always. But any kind of relationship, platonic or otherwise can sometimes be awkward to begin with." Cadence said reassuringly deciding not to tease Twilight, in her current bout of social anxiety. Cadence knew Twilight was studying the magic of friendship, but she didn't know how much of that socially anxious filly was still around in that magnificent brain of hers. "I don't know if there's something I even want. What am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to figure this out? Is there a textbook for this?" Twilight asked seriously and Cadence had to resist the urge to facehoof. "Twilight. In my experience, its best to keep things simple, stick with what you know, and allow a relationship to develop naturally, if you decide that's what you want." "Stick with what you know." Twilight pondered the phrase while tapping a hoof to her chin. There was a moment of contemplation before a spark of inspiration hit her. Twilight's grin spread from ear to ear. "Stick with what you know OF COURSE! I should be thinking about Flash Sentry as a potential FRIEND." "Oh Twilight, that's not exactly what I..." Cadence said, quick to interrupt this train of thought. Unfortunately for her the Twily train had already left the station. "Oh thank you Cadence! If I think of it like an exercise in FRIENDSHIP, things are manageable. If I manage to think of him as a FRIEND, I'll have enough time to figure everything out. I CAN DO THIS." Twilight hugged Cadence in thanks before leaping back into the wild. Cadence groaned and lifted her Champaign with her magic. She took a longer than was proper swig before setting it down. She bowed her head and silently asked for forgiveness from whatever authority governed her powers of love. All hail Twilight Sparkle, princess of the Friend Zone "Thank you for coming sir, are you enjoying yourself?" "I am. Thank you, my Prince." Cadence's eyes shot up as she recognized the voice. Rocky Road stood in front of their table, dressed in a noble pony's formal wear. He looked different from when she last saw him. Clearly, Princess Celestia would spare no expense for one of her own childhood heroes revived and made manifest in the flesh. Standing next to him was Octavia an earth pony mare who reportedly fought alongside Flash Sentry and Rocky Road. Cadence felt a low hum resonating between Rock and Octavia, and it made Cadence heart flutter with joy. "Rock! Welcome!" Rocky smiled and bowed his head. Octavia, following his lead, curtseyed. "It's wonderful to see you and your beloved together. It fills my heart with much happiness." "Oh please don't be so formal with us. Shining, this is him! The stallion that saved my life!" Cadence said linking a hoof around her husband's forehoof with one leg and gesturing towards Rocky with the other. Shining Armor's eyes grew wide and he leaned forward, he grasped Rocky's hoof and shook it. "So you're Lord Macadamia! It's great to finally meet you. I hear so much about you from Cadence, I was beginning to wonder if I should worry!" All four ponies laughed, some a little more awkwardly than others. "In all seriousness though." Prince Shining Armor bowed his head in respect. "Thank you so much for saving my wife. It is my greatest shame that I fell for Chrysalis' ruse. Cadence suffered from my lack of ability to see things clearly." Rocky bowed his head to mirror Shining Armor's bow. "Think nothing of it. Queen Chrysalis was a formidable foe. If she could overcome Celestia herself, I doubt there was little you could have done otherwise." Shining Armor turned her attention to Octavia who was waiting patiently at Rocky's side. "And who might you be?" Remembering himself Rocky cleared his throat and gestured towards Octavia. "Forgive my rudeness, this is my...uh...friend Octavia Melody. She stood with me and fought valiantly in the battle of Canterlot." Rocky paused before adding. "She is also my date for the evening." Cadence suppressed a giggle at the look of exasperation on Octavia's face. The poor mare. "You fought the changelings too?" Shining asked surprised. "Yes your highness." Octavia said "Though I must confess that my FRIEND over here did most of the work. I merely pitched in a helping hoof here and there." Princess Cadence actually laughed at the frustrated emphasis on the word friend, but quickly stifled it with a hoof to her mouth. Not quickly enough for Octavia not to notice but it was a valiant attempt. Octavia looked over at Cadence curiously. "Princess Cadence, Prince Shining Armor, If I may, would you be able to help settle a bet?" Octavia asked. "A bet?" was Shining Armor's reply. "Yes. You see, Lord Macadamia over here claims that he is a 3,000-year-old warrior monk protecting ponies using a form of earth pony magical martial arts who was awakened from a slumber in stone by a broken heart to protect and serve pony kind. " Octavia paused, looking at the expressions of Cadence and Shining Armor for any sign of confusion. When she saw nothing, she continued. "Can either of you verify this?" Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadence looked at each other. Then at Rocky (Who looked way more nervous than he had any right to be). Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadence nodded their heads in unison. "Yes. I believe I was briefed by princess Celestia herself that that was indeed the case." Shining armor said. "I had to sit through Celestia's ravings on Tei-Rah-Doh History. Rocky truly is the real deal." Cadence added. Octavia did not react at first, but then she started to sway. Oh dear. I know that look. Cadence thought concerned. Octavia's knees started to wobble. Attempts to steady herself met with failure. Cadence gave Rocky a look, but thankfully Rocky was already watching Octavia carefully. "Oh mein Gott, worauf habe ich mich da eingelassen" and there she goes... Rocky reacted quickly, reaching for Octavia and steadying her with a hoof over her shoulder just as she was about to collapse. Ever so gently he lifted her back onto her own four hooves. "Octavia. Let's find a place to sit." "Ich habe mit einem alten geflirtet" was her spacey reply. Rocky looked at Shining armor who nodded and waved as Rocky led Octavia back into the reception. Princess Cadence sighed. Good luck you two. You're going to need it.