Chapter Two: Knowing is Half the Battle
"The Mare of Honor is essentially the chief bridesmaid." Twilight Sparkle told Pinkie, who had come to her library home for information. "It's her job to organise, plan, and of course, take part in the main ceremony."
"Really?" Pinkie asked. "Well, that sure sounds easy enough! Okay, first, I'm gonna need ballons, lots of balloons... Ooh, and I'd better load up the old party cannon! And then I-"
"No offense, Pinkie, but I think you may want to lay off on the "party" stuff." Twilight interjected.
"Twilight is absolutely right, darling." Said Rarity, who had come to Twilight's library to check out a book on the history of the hem stitch. "A wedding is a solemn, dignified occasion. Though the reception afterwards does tend to have something of a "party" atmosphere, there's certainly no place for your usual antics in the main ceremony itself.
"What?" Pinkie gasped, genuinely shocked. "No streamers, no noisemakers, no... no party cannon!"
"I'm afraid not, Pinkie." Twilight told her.
"That doesn't sound like a lot of fun." Pinkie mused.
"Perhaps you should politely decline Cranky and Matilda's offer." Rarity offered. "After all, it doesn't really seem to suit your... talents, shall we say?"
"No, I can't do that!" Pinkie declared stubbournly. "They wanted Pinkie, and they're gonna get Pinkie! Just... a little less Pinkie then usual."
"You sure about that?" Twilight asked.
"Positive." Pinkie said determinedly. "I can do this. Cranky and Matilda will have the most solemn dignified wedding Equestria has ever seen! This, I Pinkie Promise!"
Pausing only to place her hoof inches next to her eye, Pinkie boldly trotted out of the library. Twilight and Rarity shared worried looks.
The next day, Pinkie was again visited by Cranky and Matilda, who gave her a list of official Mare of Honor duties.
"Don't worry about a thing, you two lovebirds!" Pinkie told them "I'll get all this done, no sweat!"
"Of course you will, Pinkie." Matilda smiled.
"We have complete faith in you." Cranky told her.
"Yep, no problem!" Pinkie chuckled nervously. "Easy-peasy apple-squeezy!"
As the two donkeys left Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie's happy face collapsed into worry.
"I hope..." She mumbled to herself.
The next day, Pinkie arrived at the local church, where she found Daisy Lilly and Rose, who had agreed to being Matilda's bridesmares.
"Okay gals, let's get to work!" Pinkie declared cheerily. "Whaddya got, Rose?"
"I've brought some lovely white roses." Rose held up one of several bouquets of white flowers. "I thought they'd look lovely by the atlar."
"Sounds good to me. "Pinkie nodded, although privately she thought more colorful flowers would have been better.
"And we've put together some great matching ribbons!" Piped up Daisy.
"They'd make great bows to put on the pews!" Lilly smiled.
"Great." Said Pinkie, less enthusiastically then before.
As the day wore on, Pinkie's mind began to wander. She began fantasising about what the church would look like covered in brightly-colored streamers, balloons and confetti. She shook these visions off as rapidly as they appeared, but they continued popping up with increasing rapidity.
By the end of the day, Pinkie could contain herself no longer. The instant Daisy, Lilly and Rose left, she dashed over to Sugarcube Corner, loaded up her party cannon to overflowing with all the party supplies she had, then barreled back to the church.
Aiming the cannon, Pinkie was about to fire when she heard a familiar voice behind her.
"Pinkie, what are you doing?"
It was Twilight.
"Twilight!" Pinkie gasped. "What are you doing here?"
"I was on my way home when I saw you charging over here with your party cannon." Twilight told her.
"I was just..." Pinkie started, then gave up. "I'm sorry, but I just couldn't take it anymore! These decorations are so... drab! So... nonfun!"
"Look, I know it's hard for you to put aside your innate... Pinkieness." Twilight sighed. "But Cranky and Matilda are your friends, and they're probably expecting a traditional, low-key wedding. You don't want to let them down, do you?"
"No." Pinkie sighed. The pink pony was willing do anything for my friends, even putting aside her 'Pinkieness'. "Thanks, Twilight. I almost made a big mistake."
"No problem, Pinkie." Smiled Twilight, before turning to leave.
"And just to make sure I don't almost make it again..." Pinkie's eye's narrowed as she upturned the party cannon, emptying it of it's contents. She then looked around the church for somewhere she put away the party elements, out of sight and out of mind. She spotted a large wooden object in the corner of the room. Believing it to be the perfect spot, she shoved every last streamer, balloon and confetti piece inside. "There! No more temptation. This wedding will be perfect!"
Pinkie trotted out of the church quite proud of herself, neither knowing nor caring just what it was she had stuffed her party supplies into. Unbeknownst to her, she would know soon enough...
To Be Continued...