//------------------------------// // Epilogue~Burying the Hatchet // Story: Youngblood // by Centurion Pike-Wall //------------------------------// September 18th, 3310 Imperial Calendar (1737 AD) Cepolina, International Zone Iris Mico stared at the mirror in front of her and groaned. "Come on, come on", she muttered, adjusting the strap on her simple, uniform-like white dress. She flexed her wings, hoping to wiggle the dress into a more comfortable position, but only succeeded in further knocking it out of place. "Why did I agree to wear this stupid thing?" "Because you insisted on wearing something 'Traditional' because you're marrying an Equestrian", a voice said behind her. As she turned her head, she saw who was standing in the doorway, and groaned. "Don't you have anything better to do, Uncle?", she asked. Imperial Crest, Prince of the Crystal Empire and famed singer, merely smiled. He stood tall, his pale purple wings closed tight around his torso. He yawned, bringing a hoof up to his face while his rear paws stretched and twisted. "What? I can't help my Uncle's Great-Granddaughter get ready for her big day?", he said, walking up to her, his beak twisted in a facsimile of a smile. "I'm hurt, Iris; I really am." "Yeah yeah yeah", Iris said, turning her back towards him. "If you're going to be here, could you at least help me with this thing?" Imperial rolled his eyes but complied, lighting up his horn. A brown aura surrounded part of her dress, ironing out kinks and smoothing it out, before fitting it properly across her form. "There." "Nice", Iris said, examining herself in the mirror. "I've had to do that at a few of my performances", he said. "It's not that difficult." She ignored him, instead examining herself in the mirror. Her face had been given only a tiny amount of makeup, small amounts of eyeshadow and lipstick contrasting almost perfectly with her steel-blue fur. Her full Rainbow mane had been tied back into a ponytail, pinned in place by a simple silver tie. She reached for a small wooden box on the nightstand when it was yanked away by that same brown aura. "What are you doing?" "If I open this box, will I find an Aiguillette and several medals?", he asked. Iris replied, "And if you do? What of it?" "At your wedding? Really?", he said. "I mean, you don't see me wearing my Gorget at a performance." "Just because you don't doesn't mean I don't have to as well", she said, opening the box and pulling out a silver cord. "I suppose so", Imperial said, sitting down on the bed. "Still, your Great-Grandfather didn't wear any medals at his wedding. Nor did your father. Neither did old Granny Rainbow, if father is to be believed." "Well I'm not them", she said, beginning to tie on the knot. Imperial said, "I suppose not." As she finished attaching the cord, she reached into the box and pulled out the only medal in it. It was a simple cross, the silver extensions relatively plain. In the center was a multi-colored shield, colored like her hair, one after the other diagonally down the shield. She took the blue cord and hung it around her neck, letting it fall down her neck. As she did so, she heard the door open again. This time, it was a dark orange mare with a pale greyish mane, wearing a simple green dress. "There you are, Crest. Mystica and Radialis have been looking for you." "Alright then", the Alicorn said, standing back up and giving one last look at Iris. "See you in a bit." Crest and the other mare slipped past one another, with her coming up behind Iris. "You look good, Iris", she said. "Wouldn't personally go with the Aiguillette, but I wouldn't be wearing the dress either." "An Ariel Corps Centurion should look the part", she said, smoothing out a part of her fur. "Even during her-" "Geez", the other mare said, snickering. "I've known all my life you were a stiff, but seriously?" "It's... just how I see things, Gale Force", Iris said. Gale stood up, placing her own wing on Iris's shoulder. "This is about Rainbow and the whole grudge thing, eh?" "No, not really... Ok, maybe", Iris said. "It's been over two hundred years", Gale said. "Tartarus, from what I've heard, the whole grudge was just between them. Not something that really extended beyond them." "I guess", Iris said, standing up. "I take it that you're here because we're getting ready for the ceremony?" "Hell yeah, Couz", she said, nodding. "Let's go; you ain't gonna get married in here shining medals." +++++~+++++ Heartsong stood straight as a sentry, staring ahead into the mirror nervously. His pale, buttermilk fur was freshly brushed and perfectly smooth. His dark blue mane had been combed back, freshly clipped and still shimmering with water. His muzzle, more resembling a Minotaur than a pony, twisted in focus. "Hey, uh... Cravat?" "Yes?", the Purple and dull silver unicorn asked. Heartsong asked, "Is all this really necessary? I've been standing here for almost an hour." "Really, Mate", Cravat said, brushing a section of smooth cloth along Heartsongs back. "It hasn't been that long." "Uh, yeah it has, Cravat", Ammolite Pie said. The pinkish mare pushed back her sparkling green and orange mane, shifting from side to side on her stool. "I don't have to sit still, and even I'm getting antsy." "Be that as it may", Cravat said, lifting up and examining a pair of ties. "I think it prudent to be through. This is Heartsongs wedding, after all. This is a big day, and looking good for it is paramount." "It's really not that big a deal", Heartsong mumbled. "You're not gonna make any headway, Heart", Princess Acheron said, chuckling. She looked up from her book, her intelligent red eyes shooting Heartsong a warm smile, showing her inherited fangs. "Getting Cravat to stop this kind of thing is like trying to get a fish to climb a tree." "I resent the comparison", Cravat replied, not even looking away from Heartsongs suit. He tapped Heartsong on the shoulder, lifting up a simple, plain red tie. "A bit plain, but it works better than what I have here. Is this good?" "Yeah, that works", Heartsong said. Cravat said, "Splendid. Almost done, Mate. Just a few more minutes." "Right", Heartsong said. As Cravat worked his magic, he asked, "So, I take it everything has gone well with the decorations and whatnot?" Acheron nodded, having returned to her book. "Last I checked. Which was about ten minutes ago. So, unless Appletini or one of the guests messed something up, then everything should go smoothly." "Good", Heartsong said, breathing a sigh of relief. "This is a big day; I want it to go well." "Oh, relax", a new voice said, drawing all available eyes to the door. Said door slowly opened, with Prince Imperial Crest entering, now clad in a three-piece suit. "I swear, you're almost as bad as Iris." "Let me guess?", Acheron said. "Medals and a sword." "One medal and an Aiguillette", Imperial said. "That makes ten, Cousin." "Drat", Acheron muttered, pouting. "Anyway, I just want to check in and make sure that everything is at least tolerable on this end of things", Imperial said. "Don't need both sides of the union being as jumpy as Conscripts." "You needn't worry, Prince", Cravat said, stepping back and finally extinguishing his magic. "A proper groom, or what?" Heartsong turned around, smiling nervously. His suit was simple but elegant, being freshly ironed and smooth. A plain white shirt was underneath, while an equally simple red tie hung around his neck. Black trousers sat over his back, kept in place by a faux-leather belt. It was nothing to write home about, but between its simple form and Heartsongs own appearance, it just seemed to work. "You look great!", Ammolite said, smiling. "Iris'll love it." "You think so? I mean, she's... Well-" Imperial cut him off with a wing pressed over his mouth. "She's marrying you, isn't she? If she cared about how your suit looks like, why would she do so? She has plenty of excuses not to." "Right", Heartsong said. "Thanks, Crest." "I try", Imperial said. "Come on. Let's get this show on the road."