Slowly but surely, word of Twilight and Flash's engagement spread across Equestria. Every newspaper in the land had presented the news for all to see. Over the following weeks, Twilight had received hundreds of congratulatory letters. She was pleasantly surprised, having had no idea how much the ponies of Equestria liked her.
Even Princess Celestia had taken time out of her busy schedule to extend her well-wishes.
"Congratulations, my dear Twilight." She said as she hugged her. "You can expect myself and Luna at the wedding."
"But you don't even know when the wedding is." Twilight pointed out. "And you're so busy..."
"Not so busy I'd miss the wedding of my best student." Celestia smiled. "We'll be there. Trust me."
"Thank you." Twilight beamed, nuzzling her teacher. "It really means a lot to me that you and Luna will be there."
"You are welcome, my darling student." Celestia chuckled.
A few days later, Twilight was at Flash's cottage, enjoying a quiet afternoon with her fiancé. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
"Who could that be?" Flash asked, trotting over to answer it.
The door opened to reveal a pegasus with a light green coat, a dark green mane, gray eyes, and a cutie mark consisting of a bit with wings.
"Hey, cuz!" The pegasus beamed.
"Quick?" Flash gasped. "What are you doing here?"
"Just thought I'd check in on my favorite cousin!" Quick declared. He spotted Twilight on the couch. "And is this who I think it is?"
"The better question is: Who are you?" Twilight asked.
"Twilight, this is my cousin, Quick Buck." Flash made the necessary introduction. "Quick, this is my fiancee, Princess Twilight Sparkle."
"Of course I know who she is!" Quick snorted. "Quick Buck, entrepeneur extraordinaire, at your service. You want it, I got it!"
Trotting over to Twilight, Quick took her hoof and kissed it sloppily.
"Charmed, I'm sure." Twilight replied, wrenching her soaked hoof free.
"So, Flashy-boy, you're really doing it?" Quick asked. "You're marryin' a princess! Bravo!"
"Well, she's not just a princess, you know..." Flash said awkwardly.
"I know." Quick nodded. "She's also Princess Celestia's personal protege! You sure can pick 'em, huh?"
"You could say that." Flash smiled.
"Mind if I crash here for a while, cuz?" Quick asked.
"Hope you're not planning on staying until the wedding." Flash declared. "We haven't set a date yet."
"Perish the thought." Quick shook his head. "I'm just gonna stay with you a couple a' days. Y'know, recharge the ol' batteries, then I'll move on back home, and come back for the wedding."
"Well, I guess I can live with that." Flash admitted. "But I don't have a spare bed, so you'll have to sleep on the couch."
"No problemo." Quick waved off the statement. "Say, can you fetch me somethin' to wet my whistle? I'm parched."
"Sure." Flash nodded.
"I have to get going." Twilight rose off the couch. "I promised Rarity I'd discuss wedding dress designs with her."
"Okay." Flash smiled. "See you later, darling."
"Until then, my handsome stallion." Twilight kissed him on the cheek.
After Twilight left the cottage, Quick cleared his throat.
"Still waitin' on that drink, cuz." He said impatiently.
The next couple of days were, simply put, a nightmare for Flash. Quick was the worst houseguest in the history of houseguests; He did nothing but lay around all day, making demands. Flash was at his wit's end. If Quick wasn't family, he'd have thrown him out on the first day.
On the afternoon of the second day, Flash was preparing to depart the cottage.
"Where ya goin' cuz?" Quick asked.
"Over to Twilight's." Flash replied.
"Mind if I tag along?" Quick asked.
"Mind if I ask why?" Flash asked.
"She's gonna be my cousin-law soon." Quick smiled. "I really should get to know her."
"Fine." Flash growled. "Whatever gets you off my couch."
The two made their way to the library. Flash knocked on the door, which was opened by Spike.
"Hey, Flash." Spike smiled, before turning his gaze to Quick. "Who's this?"
"My cousin, Quick." Flash told him. "He's staying round my place for a little while. Is Twilight in?"
"She's in the bath right now." Spike declared. "But she should be done soon enough. Come in."
Flash and Quick both entered entered the library.
"Nice digs." Quick smirked. "Not exactly a castle, but I like what she's done with the place."
"I'll get you guys some tea while you're waiting." Spike declared.
As Spike went into the kitchen, Quick turned to Flash.
"Gotta admit, cuz, this is a pretty good scam you've got here." He smiled.
"Scam?" Flash repeated. "What do you mean?"
"I mean this." Quick declared. "Hookin' up with a princess. I didn't think it'd last, but then I heard about your engagement. Way to bag the game, cuz."
"I still don't-" Flash shrugged.
"Soon, you'll be a prince, with all the royal regalia and status that goes with it." Quick grinned sleazily. "Tell ya what, you let me be your official publicist. I'll have your faces put on magazines, t-shirts, mugs... We'll soon be rolling in bits!
"I don't care about any of that." Flash declared.
"Suuuure ya don't." Quick winked.
"I love Twilight." Flash clarified. "And I'm not marrying her just for the status upgrade, or for money. I oughta give you a hoof to the face for even suggesting otherwise."
"You're not kiddin', are ya?" Quick asked.
"No, I'm not." Flash declared.
"Always the non-profit pony, huh?" Quick smirked. "The wrong guy's gonna be a prince. If it were me, I'd milk that position for all it's worth."
"Same old Quick." Flash shook his head. "It's only ever been about money and fame to you."
"You know, it's a pity, really." Quick sighed.
"What do you mean, 'pity'?" Flash asked.
"I mean it's a pity that the princess fell for you, of all ponies." Quick sneered."She must be either desperate, or nuts."
"What?! Flash snarled. "That's my fiancee you'e talking about, 'cuz'! Not to mention a princess!"
"Some princess." Quick smirked. "I've seen the pictures; She barely even knows what she's doing. Small wonder she wound up with you, Mr. 'royal guardspony-who-does-nothing-but-stand-around-all-day."
"How dare you!" Flash roared.
"I'll still be attending the wedding, though." Quick taunted him. "It oughta be a laugh riot. Two loser ponies, pretending to be somethin' they're not, together!"
"Ahem." Came a sound from the top of the stairs. It was Twilight, fresh from her bath. She swiftly teleported down, right next to Quick.
"Oh, hey, princess." Quick trembled. "Now, this isn't what it looks like."
"Get out." Twilight said quietly.
"I, uh..." Quick mumbled.
"Out!!" Twilight roared, her horn flaring.
The next thing Quick knew, he was being hurled out of the library. He awkwardly scrambled to his hooves.
"So, does this mean I'm not invited to the wedding?" He chuckled nervously.
A beam of magic scorched the ground near him.
"Alright, fine!" Quick yelped. "I'm going! Jeez!"
Quick beat a hasty retreat.
As Twilight made heavy, hate-filled breaths, Flash gaped at her.
"Sorry about that." Twilight apologised. "Went a little over-the-top there."
"No need to apologise." Flash smiled. "I'd have done that to him myself."
"Please tell me there's nopony else like that in your family." Twilight implored.
"Thankfully, no." Flash grinned. "Quick's the black sheep of the family. I honestly don't know where uncle Dinero and aunt Mazuma went wrong with him. They're such nice ponies."
"Nice to know you come from such good stock." Twilight chuckled.
Spike walked in from the kitchen, carrying a tray with two cups of tea.
"Okay, here's you tea... wait, where'd Quick go?" He asked.
"Long story, Spike." Twilight smirked. "Tea, Flash?"
"Don't mind if I do." Flash nodded.
They all sat on Twilight's couch and drank their tea.Twilight and Flash were both hoping the same thing: That Quick's visit would be the biggest trial of their engagement. As they leaned against each other, that hope increased. And if anything worse happened, their love would ensure they could weather it.