Of Wedding Bells and Banishments
By Melvin G. Biv
Celestia’s sun rose bright in the early morning sky, silhouetting the beautiful city of Canterlot and flashing off of the numerous golden spires and domes that dotted the precariously placed capitol of Equestria. There was an almost tangible effervescence of joy in the air across the nation, as a wave of excitement swept across the citizens. Today, for only the second time in history, one of their rulers was getting married. Princess Twilight Sparkle had been dating the young Captain Flash Sentry for a quite some time now, and things had finally come to a head a few months ago when he had proposed, and she had said yes. Now, their big day had finally come, and nothing could possibly go wrong. Of course, just saying that is begging for disaster, isn’t it?
From the moment the first rays of the sun had peeked above the horizon, all of the world, it seemed, had been abuzz. There was that holiday feeling in the air, as the denizens of Equestria shared in the revelry that came with a wedding, even though only a fraction of them would actually be attending the ceremony. Everywhere, businesses and schools closed for the event, and ponies were setting up for their own version of the reception. The biggest party was being set up in Ponyville, the headquarters of Princess Twilight Sparkle. A great number of common couples had chosen to wed on this day as well, believing that doing so would give them some luck or have some special significance. Nopony could have ever have predicted just how infamous this date would become; least of all those who would be most directly affected by the events that would transpire over the next few hours.
Bride-to-be Twilight Sparkle was in her suite at the Canterlot Palace, doing what all brides-to-be do on the morning of their wedding: chiefly pacing anxiously while her bridesmaids tried to help her get ready. Rarity, in particular, was doing her best to make her friend look her best; “sheek, unique, and utterly magnifique” were the words the alabaster unicorn had used. At long last, she, as well as the rest of the six, managed to get Twilight to stop worrying so excessively over everything that could go wrong. Finally, she stood before a mirror, adorned in habiliments befitting both a pony of her position and the occasion for which they were designed.
About this time, a train was departing from the Crystal Empire. It was running light, and running fast. This train was bound directly to Canterlot, and it carried with it a pony who would bring to light the greatest scandal Equestria had ever known, and perhaps even throw the great nation into turmoil. But for now, it was nothing more than an oncoming storm.
The time had finally come. Flash Sentry awaited his bride at the front of the huge ceremonial hall where the wedding was set to occur, framed by some of the imposing stained-glass windows that Canterlot was famous for. Also at the front was Princess Celestia, who would be delegating the ceremonies, Twilight’s friends and family, and a few close friends of Flash’s. Everything was perfect. The guests were in their seats, the orchestra began playing the Bridal March, Twilight began her slow journey down the aisle, and a train came to a halt at Canterlot Station.
It seemed to take an eternity for Twilight to traverse the length of the room, not only to her, but to Flash as well. When she finally arrived opposite him and all was ready to begin, there was a moment where they just stood there, staring dreamily into each other’s eyes. Celestia cleared her throat and began with the proceedings, but the happy couple barely noticed, engrossed in the other as they were. It seemed to them as if from this moment forth, nothing would ever go wrong ever again. As they were about to find out, this sentiment was far from being accurate.
It was almost time for the vows, but that time was never to arrive. Before the vows, it was traditional for the pony conducting the ceremonies to ask one question to the patrons; one question that asked simply “If any present see why these two should not wed, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
In response, the massive doors to the chamber were thrown open and a commanding voice rang out. “I OBJECT!” A soft gasp, followed by shocked whispering, swept its way through the crowd. Who would actually dare to interrupt such a solemn occasion? This answer soon became clear, as the owner of the voice strode into the room, flanked by two members of the Crystal Guard. The objector was none other than brother-of-the-bride, Prince Shining Armor. By the look on his face, the armor he was wearing, and the size of the broadsword hanging at his side, he was not happy.
Both the bride and bridegroom stood stock still, agape at this latest development. It was Twilight who found her voice first. She gave out an awkward, nervous laugh. “Oh, I see. This is just a way of getting back at me for what happened at your wedding, isn’t it? Because, uh, that was under special circumstances and the fate of Equestria turned out to be in the balance and this is much different.” Twilight smiled worriedly.
Shining Armor shook his head. “No, Twilight. This isn’t different. In fact, it’s even worse.” At this point, Flash began to stiffen slightly in anticipation, but if anypony noticed they just chalked it up to perfectly understandable annoyance at the circumstances. Shining pointed his hoof at the yellow pegasus. “This pony is a lazy selfish slob who abandons his post at the slightest whim! His negligence of his duties has allowed several security breaches, breaches that almost cost me and my wife our lives! I will not permit such a pony to wed my sister while I still draw breath!
Twilight looked at her betrothed softly. “These things- are they true? Flash. . .?”
“Go ahead and tell her.” challenged Shining. “Tell her how you were forced to step down. Tell her how you resisted. Tell her about your arrest. Tell her about what you had to do just to be here right now. How many guards did you kill? Was it six or seven? Tell her to her face what you are. Tell her that you are a traitor.”
Flash stood with his head bowed and eyes closed in shame. He had adjusted his wing to now cover the hilt of his sabre, ready to strike at any moment. He quickly grabbed Twilights hoof in his own. “It’s true, it’s all true, yes, but- that doesn’t change anything right? You can still love me because I’m still the same pony?” He tone and expressions were beseeching. Only her response could save him now. In the rear of the room, Shining her partially drawn his weapon with his magic. His Crystal Guard escort held their spears at the ready.
Twilight pulled away from Flash with a look of disgust in her eyes. Even Celestia stepped several paces away from him. “No. I cannot love you." Flash reeled in shock at the words of she who would have been his wife. "The colt I fell in love with is gone. I see now that he never existed in the first place, only an impostor, a prince charming that really was too good to be true. I trusted you with everything, I never withheld anything from you, and I thought you had done the same.” Tears began to fill Twilight's eyes. “We laughed together, we cried together, and we- we even slept together. Every one of those things was a mistake I will have to live with for the rest of my life. Just- just go.”
An expression of anger covered the rejected groom’s face. With a cry of rage, he drew his blade in his mouth and launched himself into the air straight towards Shining Armor. The large white unicorn quickly brought his own blade up and easily blocked the frenzied attack from his assailant’s weapon. Sparks flew as the sound of clashing metal echoed through the chamber. Then everything was dead silent. The two opponents remained locked hilt-to-hilt at close range. Flash broke free and entered into a sweeping sideways slash.
There was a flash of light, and Flash’s sabre impacted into a magical shield summoned by Shining Armor, shattering into several pieces, and its wielder stumbled to the floor. The disarmed pegasus had little time to gape in awe at the broken end of his weapon before Shining brought his sword down. Flash squeezed his eyes shut and the sound of rending flesh filled his ears. First, he didn’t realize what had happened to him. Then he felt a searing pain in his wing. Opening his eyes, he saw that his right wing had been cut halfway through, gouging the bone. It hung limply at his side, the hot blood turning the feathers red and staining the ornate uniform he was wearing.
Twilight approached the wounded colt. It looked as if she was about to say something, but instead she ran out of the room. As she exited, the edge of the train of her dress picked up some of the spilt blood of her former fiance. The two Crystal Guards lifted Flash up by his shoulders, and he held out his hoof in despair as he watched his would-be bride vanish. Shining Armor approached his prisoner with sneer. “That’s right, Flashie. Take a good long look at her. It will be your last.”
After Flash Sentry had been hauled off, Twilight’s friends searched her out. They found her in her suite at the palace, sobbing. At first they just circled around her, not knowing what to say, or even if anything should be said. As it turned out, they needn’t have even tried to find the right words, because it was Twilight who spoke first. Her voice was shaky and full of conflicting emotions. “I need to tell you all something, and I need it to be kept a secret. Can you do that for me?”
Her friends nodded, and one by one, went through the motions of the unbreakable Pinkie Promise. “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”
Twilight took a deep breath. “I’m not actually sure how to say this. You see, Flash and I, we’ve already. . .” She faltered in her explanations.
“Go on, sugarcube.” encouraged Applejack.
“Well, a few weeks ago we were together in amorous congress."
"Why darling, that's nothing to be ashamed of." Rarity stated in an attempt to console her friend. "Plenty of ponies have a brush with somepony they find out is a horrible being. It happens to the best of us."
"You don't understand. I cast a spell on myself just now, to see if I was. . ." Twilight trailed off momentarily, but regained her resolve. "I'll just give it to you straight. I'm pregnant."
The next day, a train on its way to the Crystal Empire stopped in a particularly blighted portion of the Arctic Wastes. A solitary pony was thrown out onto the snow, poorly wrapped against the cold, his bloody and bedraggled wing hanging limply at his side. From the looks of it, he would never be able to fly again. Rising to his hooves, he tried to maintain some look of dignity, glaring at the guards who had thrown him out. As the train began moving again, one of them threw something scintillating to him- the several shards of a shattered sabre, the very one he had been wearing just the previous day. To him, it now symbolized everything that was not to be. He gathered up the pieces and stowed them safely away amongst the tattered rags that he wore.
Facing a lifetime of banishment for his crimes, forever forbidden from returning to either Equestria or the Crystal Empire, Flash Sentry’s prospects were as bleak as the frozen landscape he found himself in. Most ponies would have just given up and died at this point, but he was not most ponies. He had worked too hard to give up on his ambitions now. Already, some of the pieces were falling into place. He had planted the seed of his body within the royalty of Equestria, now he needed to plant the seed of rebellion amongst the commoners.
Now that he thought hard about it, this banishment wasn’t much of a setback. In fact, it may may be just the opposite. Although it seemed like his future would be fleeting, he could already feel that his destiny was within reach. He’d been foiled here, but he’d be back. One day, Flash Sentry would rule Equestria.