//------------------------------// // 89. A Canterlot Wedding - Prologue // Story: Blaze the Pony Tale // by Wolven5 //------------------------------// Life went on in Ponyville, especially for Fluttershy and Big Macintosh. Ever since his love confession back on Tornado Day, they’d spent a lot of time together. But time waited for nopony, as the hectic carried on, as it does in Ponyville. Twinken alerted Midnight of how Diamond Tiara had been placed as editor-in-chief of the School Newspaper, and Midnight strongly recommended to Cheerilee to change her mind. He took a shameless delight in seeing a disgruntled Diamond Tiara relieved of her power and demoted to running the ink press while a Pegasus colt named Featherweight replaced her. He had a very good feeling he’d prevented something terrible from happening. Then, for the National Dessert Competition, the Cakes made an amazing cake they called the Marzipan Mascarpone Meringue Madness, and the hell they went through getting it to the train to be delivered to the contest in Canterlot. Then Pinkie went on a psychotic rant of accusations after the cake was mysteriously bitten in three places, throwing them at the fellow competitors on the train, a Prench- accented griffon chef by the name of Gustave le Grand and his eclairs, Doughtnut Joe and his Donutopia, and the famous celebrity baker Mulia Mild and her Chocolate Mousse Moose. Then, after poking holes in all her wild theories, and the other bakers’ entries got nibbled on Twilight and Midnight both took over the investigation. They correctly concluded the cake had been fed on by Rainbow Dash, Thunderlane, and Rarity while the bakers had eaten each other’s desserts, not out of spite, but because of how Pinkie Pie had made them sound irresistible. Pinkie learned a lesson in getting the facts rather than throwing unfounded accusations. She and the bakers then combined their desserts into one big delectable delight and it easily won the blue ribbon. But one night, Midnight had been in his workshop, working on a new invention when he fell into a trance. But it was not from a premonition. Putting down his tools, he exited his workshop and followed the un-hearable call of whoever had placed a spell on him. He went rather far, going straight through the orchard until he stood outside the Everfree Forest. He was completely unfazed as a mysterious hooded figure rose from the shadow of a tree, made visible only by the few moonbeams piercing the treetops, his face blank yet tired. The figure held out a beckoning hoof and Midnight nodded submissively as he levitated a scroll to the figure. He unrolled it to be sure, and nodded. “Go home, and when you awaken this will be nothing more than senseless dream…” *Cock-a-doodle-doo!!!* “Ergh…” Midnight tossed and turned from the racket. But he felt something prod his side. “Big brother, wake up!” Twinken goaded. “Or Applejack will kick your rump downstairs again!” “Uhh, Twink, not so loud,” Midnight grumbled as he sat up, grunting as he bumped his horn on the bunk-bed above him. “Weird… I don’t remember coming to bed last night.” “I heard you come in,” Twinken said. “You went straight to bed, so I assumed you were just tired from being in your workshop.” Sighing, Midnight got out of bed and opened the window, shielding his eyes from the break of dawn. Taking a deep breath, he felt his mind and body pep up a little and sighed appreciatively. “Well, come on little brother,” Midnight levitated Twinken onto his back. “Time for a spot of breakfast.” It was a nice day out, so nice in fact, Twilight invited her friends altogether for a picnic. They met in Ponyville Park, everypony bringing something to the picnic blanket, and just talked and enjoyed the day. Sighing, Rarity, topped with a nice chapeau, said, “It is just gorgeous out today!” “Not so gorgeous as you, my dear,” Blueblood said as he gave a giggling Rarity a kiss on the neck. “So Soarin, how’re your studies going?” Thunderlane asked. “Great, thanks to Twilight!” Soarin said, Twilight waving him off. “Oh come on, Soarin,” she said humbly, “you’re the keen study, I’m just helping you with the research material!” “She doesn’t just help me,” Soarin insisted, “she drills me! And I am totally grateful for it. I got an awesome grade on my last assignment!” “Glad to hear you’re happy, Soar,” Rainbow smiled at him. “That means a lot coming from you, Dashie!” Soarin smiled back. He then surprised her by giving her a peck, making her blush, “Aw come on, Soarin, don’t get sappy on me!” Everypony laughed, for it was a rare sight to see Rainbow Dash squirm in such a way. “Ya mean like this?” Big Mac teased as he and Fluttershy kissed. “Bro, get a stable!” Midnight cracked, making everypony laugh harder. After it died down, Twilight was about to take a bite of an apple when she heard somepony running and they saw it was Spike as he ran up, panting, “Twi… light… I… have... lemme just…” He keeled over and… *BELCH* A scroll fell before Twilight’s hooves and she unrolled it. “‘Dear Twilight’,” she read aloud for everypony. “‘I am sure you are as excited as I am about the upcoming wedding in Canterlot’. Wedding?” Everypony all just shrugged or tilted their head questionably. “‘I will be presiding over the ceremony, but would very much like you and your friends to help with the preparations for this wonderful occasion. Fluttershy, I would like you and your songbird choir to provide the music’…” “Oh my goodness, what an honor!” “‘Pinkie Pie, I can think of no one more qualified than you to host the reception’…” “Hip! Hip Horray!” “‘Applejack, you will be in charge of the catering for the reception’…” “Well color me pleased as punch!” “‘Rainbow Dash, I would very much appreciate it if you could perform a sonic rainboom as the bride and groom complete their ‘I do’s’…” “Yes!” “‘Rarity, you will be responsible for designing the dresses for the bride and her bridesmaids’…” “Princess Celestia wants me to” – she stammered excitably – “make a dress? For a Canterlot wedding?!” Blueblood prevented Rarity from falling over as she fainted. “‘Midnight, due to some unforeseen circumstances, the groom is in need of groomsmen, so I would be grateful if you, Big Macintosh, Thunderlane, my nephew Blueblood, and Soarin would fill in’…” "I'm in!” “Eeyup!” “Whoo!” “Let's do it!” “Awesome!” “‘Spike, I would deeply appreciate if you would play the role of ring-bearer’…” “Oh yeah!” “‘Also, we are in need of some flower fillies and pagecolts to carry the bride’s train. I think the Cutie Mark Crusaders will be perfect for the roles, if their brothers and sisters are comfortable with it’…” “Ah cain’t wait to tell Twink n’ Bloom!” “Oh my, I must prepare Sweetie Belle and Button!” “Ah, the squirt will fill in just fine.” “I’m sure Rumble would like to partake!” “‘And as for you, Twilight, you will be playing the most important role of all – Making sure everything goes as planned. See you all very soon. Yours truly, Princess Celestia’” Twilight then looked the scroll over, “But… I don’t understand. Who’s getting married?” “Oh, right!” Spike brought up as he held out another scroll, “I… probably shoulda given you this one first.” Twilight took it and read: “‘Princess Celestia cordially invites you to the wedding of Princess mi Amore Cadenza and…’ My brother?!”