The autumn sun soars high in the sky as the ponies of Dawnpick gather in the open space in front of their dining hall. The trees are all ablaze with the many vibrant reds and fiery oranges of the autumn season, creating a warm, cosy atmosphere as the vast majority of the ponies take their seats in rows on two sides of an empty column, facing the front. Before them stands Glaive and the Baroness, Lady Virtue. The bearded unicorn is dressed in a formal military uniform, dark in color with chains of gold and buttons of silver, with his armored boots of polished steel shining in the sunlight, and Lady Virtue is dressed in her familiar blue dress, the best she owned if a bit mundane for someone of noble status. Glaive’s thoughts are swirling in his head; he is nervous, not about being married to the most wonderful pony he knows, but about the ceremony that was almost imminent.
While everypony else is enjoying the fresh air and natural beauty of autumn outside, Falcata finds herself standing somewhat apprehensively inside the hall itself, screened from view by the heavy, oaken double doors, which are closed firmly in front of her. She is dressed in a lighter version of her usual armour, her gold-embedded peytral polished to such a degree that it almost seems to radiate a lustrous glow, even in the relatively dim indoor light. In addition to her usual armour, she wears a long, white, flowing gown, most of which would trail along the ground as she walks.
Again, she glances towards the doors, wishing that she could see through them instead of merely being able to hear the burble of many ponies conversing outside. The only cue she and little Friesden, the yellow, stripy flowerfilly, would be getting would be a sudden hush as Virtue silenced the crowd, once everything was ready. I wish there was a window or something so I could see outside What if I start daydreaming and miss the cue because I’m not listening? No, wait, Friesden will be going out first, won’t she? Of course she will; but what if I miss her leaving? No, don’t be silly, you couldn’t miss those great big doors opening if you tried, Falcata. Relax.
As the pegasus idly stands there, repeatedly running over the planned sequence of events again and again, determined not to let anything go wrong, the noise from outside dies down abruptly. Swallowing a lump of apprehension, she watches as Friesden bounces up to the door and opens it wide, almost bouncing out of her skin in happiness.
As Virtue quiets the crowd, Glaive swallows and looks toward the door. Flux raises his instrument to his muzzle and begins to play, and then the huge hall doors begin to open.
Friesden bounces forward in the aisle between the two columns of seats, scattering flower petals from a little container hanging from her neck. “Meow, meow!” she said in happiness, which was bunnyspeak for “This is so fun!” She continued to bounce forward, scattering the flower petals.
The wooden doors having been opened, Falcata steps hesitantly forward, slightly daunted by the vast array of ponies arranged before her. The multicoloured display is somewhat intimidating for the pegasus, who generally preferred to avoid being the centre of attention, let alone walking out in front of a crowd so large to participate in a highly formal ceremony. Silently, she runs her mind over her prepared speech for the umpteenth time, Her flagging resolve soon strengthens itself again, though, upon her catching sight of Glaive and Virtue, the two already standing in a clearing in front of the crowd, at the end of a path leading from the hall’s entrance. Even from this distance, she can clearly tell that Glaive is even more nervous than she is, and she’s fairly amused at the thought. Still, all he has to do is stand there; she has a long, slow walk to be getting on with, and Flux has already started the wedding march, the sound of his perfectly-tuned bronze lyre carrying high and clear through the otherwise silent day.
Best hoof forwards, then.
Following the trail of brightly coloured flowers Friesden was happily and enthusiastically throwing everywhere, Falcata proceeds towards the bearded unicorn, a warm smile already taking up residence on her face. That uniform really suits him. Almost looks too stylish for him to have come up with, I wonder who he got his fashion advice from? I’ll have to get it out of him somehow. With each step she takes, more and more of the tension caused by the large audience melts away, her bearing and poise becoming more self-assured.
As Falcata makes her way out of the hall and into Glaive’s line of sight, the unicorn stands awestruck by her. Her flowing white gown, coupled with her shining gold plate and flaming red mane made her look stunning. She had never looked as beautiful to him as she did now. As the triumphant, lilting music plays and she grows closer, he watches her approach and looks into her golden eyes from afar. He offers her a smile, though he fears it betrays his nervousness. The crowd while mostly silent, let out a few murmurs at the sight of her in her gown. Glaive tries to block out the thought of the crowd of ponies staring at them, and to instead focus on Falcata, his very soon to be wife.
Eventually coming to the end of the line, Falcata maneuvers herself deftly into place by Glaive’s side. Catching his eye, she flashes him a grin, her previous anticipation having totally transformed itself into excitement and joy, now that the moment she’d been longing for had finally arrived. Shuffling her hooves and fidgeting slightly, she gazes with interest as Virtue starts the ceremony.
She looks out over the crowd and offers a warm smile. “Friends and family of Dawnpick, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of Glaive Regshetbeth and Falcata Odomgeles in marriage. In the years they have been together, their love and understanding of each other has grown and matured, and now they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife.
“True marriage is more than joining the bonds of marriage of two ponies; it is the union of two hearts. It lives on the love you give each other and never grows old, but thrives on the joy of each new day. Marriage is love. May you always be able to talk things over, to confide in each other, to laugh with each other, to enjoy life together, and to share moments of quiet and peace, when the day is done. May you be blessed with a lifetime of happiness and a home of warmth and understanding.”
She looks to the couple. “Glaive and Falcata, today you choose each other before your family and friends, to begin your life together. For all the tomorrows that follow, you will choose each other over and again, in the privacy of your hearts. Let your love and friendship guide you as you learn and grow together.” Her eyes return to the crowd. “We will now hear the couple’s vows.”
When it becomes time for Glaive to speak his piece to Falcata, he looks deep into her topaz eyes and then, without breaking his gaze, he begins: “I, Glaive Regshetbeth, take you, Falcata Odomgeles, to be my wife, knowing in my soul that you will be my constant friend, my faithful partner in life, and my one true love. On this day, I offer to you in the name of Reg Keepersearches and in the presence of all those in attendance my sacred vow to stay by your side as your faithful husband in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, through the good times and the bad.
I promise to love you without reservation, to honor and respect you, to provide for your needs as best I can, to protect you from harm, to comfort you in times of distress, to grow with you in mind and spirit, to always be open and honest with you, and cherish you for as long as we both shall live.”
Virtue turns her eyes to Falcata, a smile forming on her face as she ushers the mare on.
Falcata beams at Glaive's well-delivered vows, chuckling slightly to herself. By the book, Glaive, by the book. I hope you'll approve, dear, because I'm doing this a bit less traditionally. And I've gone over this a thousand times already, so bugger changing anything, else I’ll only get confused. Oh, I hope this goes well... Giving a short nod to Glaive, she breaks eye contact, turning to face the assembled crowd, Falcata takes a single step towards them, tilting her head back to leave the scars on her throat clearly visible. She calls out in a strong, clear voice, making sure that it would carry far enough to be audible to everypony present. "Bear witness, each and every one of you all, to Glaive Regshetbeth; he who many months past slew the fell beast of legend, Cog Bisekurist Gulgunorshet, may its name be forever damned. In achieving this heroic feat, not only did he ensure the safety of all the lands from its poisonous, vile influence, but he, Glaive Regshetbeth, did save my life on that day, delivering me from an otherwise ignoble and bloody death!" Speaking with a frenetic passion and with her eyes seeming to burn with intensity, she paces back and forth rapidly before the crowd, occasionally punctuating one of her points with a vehement stamp of a forehoof.
“Remember, if you will, his selfless actions many years ago, when he earned the right to bear the artifact shield known as the Touch of Leaves. Remember the way in which he unrelentingly gave chase to his elusive quarry, the scurrying, foalnapping badger pony, and saved another life by virtue of his tenacity and determination!” she proclaims, suddenly raising a forehoof to gesture at Sienna and Hickory, the mother and daughter situated side by side as they watch the proceedings.
"Let it be known that I, Falcata Odomgeles, do love and cherish him with all my heart, for he is a pony of honour and of kindness, of valour and of gentleness, of pure soul and of unequalled integrity. For these reasons, for his legendary feats and for our mutual, undying and eternal love, I, Falcata Odomgeles, by the grace of Tolun Peacefulrights do find this unicorn, Glaive Regshetbeth, worthy, and I do pledge myself wholly to him as his wife, in accordance with the vows he himself has today laid as a foundation for our unending, binding unity." Head now bowed, she finishes her speech, moving back towards Virtue and her love.
Glaive is taken by surprise by Falcata’s sudden nontraditional speech, but he is touched by her words all the same. His nerves now almost completely calmed, he watches her as she reassumes her place beside him before he turns to Virtue, listening as she begins to speak once more.
Virtue is moved by the pegasus’ words. It was all true, of course. Dawnpick was a much better place from both their actions, and she couldn’t think of anypony else the two should be with. It takes her a moment to compose herself, and she continues, “By the power vested in me by the kingdom of Coupledye and the barony of Dawnpick, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” She smiles broadly. “You may now kiss.”
Glaive locks eyes with Falcata for a moment, before grabbing her in his forelegs, pulling her in tight, and planting the deepest, longest, most vigorous and most passionate kiss he had ever given her upon her lips. The crowd stands and stomps their hooves on the ground in celebrations, a few playful calls and shouts can be heard as well. The two lovestruck ponies do not separate for a long time, but when they eventually do so, they run off together to join the celebrations with the other ponies. The ceremony was finished, but the day was still young, and there was much to celebrate.