Blaze the Pony Tale

by Wolven5


90. A Canterlot Wedding - Part 1

“What?!” Blueblood took the scroll and read it himself. “My cousin is marrying your brother?!”

“Well congratulations, Twi,” Applejack shook Twilight’s hoof.

“Blueblood, darling, I didn’t know you have a cousin,” Rarity commented.

“Adoptive cousin, technically, although she's always been more of an older sister to me,” Blueblood sighed with a warm smile before furrowing his brows and rubbing his hoof to his chin.
“Come to think of it, she did mention she’d been seeing somepony in our last correspondence.”

“I can’t believe this,” Twilight snapped. “I have to find out something like this from an invitation, not my brother himself but a piece of paper?! Thanks a lot, Shining Armor!”

She levitated a sandwich and did a ventriloquist act, “‘Hey Twilight, just thought you should know I’m making a really big decision that changes everything. Oh never mind! You’ll hear about it when you get the invitation’.”

Her friends all gave each other uncomfortable looks.

“Princess Mi Amore Cadenze, who the hoof is that?!” she snorted angrily.

“Uh, Twilight, are you okay?” Fluttershy asked.

“Sorry, it’s just that Shining Armor and I have always been so close! He’s my B.B.B.F.F.!”

“Big Brother Best Friend Forever?” Twilight explained, causing everypony to “Oh!” in understanding.

“Before I came here and learned the importance of friendship, Shining Armor was the only pony I ever really accepted as a friend!”

She sighed morosely as a bird landed on her hoof and she gave it a quick nuzzle.

(Twilight Sparkle – Unknown to her, Midnight uses an illusion to show everypony what she’s singing about)
When I was just a filly, I found it rather silly
To see how many other ponies I could meet
I had my books to read, didn't know that I would ever need
Other ponies to make my life complete

But there was one colt that I cared for
I knew he would be there for me

My big brother, best friend forever!
Like two peas in a pod, we did everything together

He taught me how to fly a kite (Best friend forever!)
We never had a single fight (We did everything together!)
We shared our hopes, we shared our dreams
I miss him more than I realized
It seems...

(Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Thunderlane, Big Macintosh, Blueblood, and Soarin)
Your big brother, best friend forever!
Like two peas in a pod, you did everything together

(Midnight Blaze)
But even though he’s far away
You know he’ll always stay
Your big brother best friend
Forever…

(Twilight Sparkle)
Forever…

Midnight could’ve sworn he saw what looked to be Shining Armor attempting to dry Twilight’s tears. But a glare from the sun made him squint and when he looked again Twilight stood there alone.

Applejack went over to her, “As one a’ yer P.F.F.s-”



“Pony Friends Forever” – “Oh!” everyone said as it dawned on them – “ Ah wanna tell ya that yer brother sounds like a real good guy.”

“He is pretty special,” Twilight agreed, “I mean, they don’t just let anypony be Captain of the Royal Guard.”

“So let me get this straight,” Rarity interrupted, “we’re helping out the wedding of not only a princess but a Captain of the Royal Guard?!”

“I guess we are,” Twilight muttered, Rarity fainting and Blueblood catching her again.

“Well, for what it’s worth, Twilight,” Blueblood spoke, “I have to say my cousin and your brother are good matches for each other. She is the princess of love, after all, Cadance bless her heart.”

“What?!” Twilight grabbed Blueblood’s face and invaded his personal space as she gaped into his eyes. “Wait, did you say Cadance?!”

“Y-yes! Princess Mi Amore Cadenza is her full name,” Blueblood replied nervously, “though she considers it a mouthful so she insists everypony calls her Cadance!”

“I don’t believe it…!” Twilight gasped.

“So you actually know her, Twilight?” Midnight asked.

Know her?! Why she’s only the most amazing pony ever!” Twilight was starstruck as she reminisced. “Back when I was a filly, she was my favorite foal-sitter! She’s beautiful, caring, kind! I mean, how many ponies can spread love wherever they go?!”

“Ooh!” the mares all said in response.

“But I’m still miffed Shining didn’t tell me himself,” Twilight maintained.

As they rode the train to Canterlot, the others were all getting psyched about the parts they would play in the wedding. But Twilight sat apart from them, still trying to wrap her mind around it all.

“Bit for your thoughts?”

She looked to see Midnight giving her a sympathetic smile. She sighed and gestured him to sit, and he did.

“Twilight, I’m sure your brother has a reasonable explanation as to why he didn’t tell you in person that he’s getting married,” he assured her. “You and he were obviously close when you were young and that never goes away so long as you treasure that bond! Take it from the Element of Faith who is a big brother himself, and have faith in your brother! No matter what might go on between you, he will be there when you need him.”

Twilight looked at him, clearly on the verge of tears, and she didn’t push away the hug he gave her, finding comfort in his embrace.
“It’s just ever since I moved to Ponyville, we’ve been seeing each other less and less. And while I am honestly glad he’s marrying Cadance, I wonder if he’ll ever have time for me again.”

“Twilight, what did I just say?” Midnight said playfully.

She gave him a look as he wiped away her tear.
“Have faith in my brother.”

“That’s my girl,” he chuckled and flinched when she kissed him on the cheek, making him put on a goofy smile.

Before long, Pinkie announced, “We’re here, we’re here!”

A lot of them poked their heads out the windows and saw just ahead were a pair of sentries siding the track. Between them was a barrier the train slipped through no problem. It even went through the inside of the train, making Midnight gasp.

“Is something wrong?” Twilight asked him.

Midnight looked outside and saw that all of Canterlot was enveloped in this barrier.
“That barrier is some powerful magic…!”

But as they arrived at the train station, they noticed something.

“Whoa, what’s with all the guards?” Rainbow asked the million bit question.

The Royal Guard ponies were all over the place and they looked ready for anything.

“I’m sure they’re just taking the necessary precautions,” Rarity dismissed it. “Royal weddings do bring out the strangest ponies.”

“Actually, hon,” Blueblood conflicted, “this is honestly a little overkill.”

“Well come along, everypony,” Rarity paid his words no mind. “We’ve got work to do.”

“And you’ve got a big brother t’ go congratulate,” Applejack said to Twilight.

“Yeah, congratulate,” Twilight echoed in spurious joy as she stormed past some guards, “and give him a piece of my mind while I’m at it.”

“Twilight, wait, I’m coming with you!” Midnight ran to catch up.

Midnight accompanied Twilight to the Canterlot Royal Guard HQ Building, where all military operations originated, where the higher-ups coordinated patrols, assigned platoons, squadrons, and managed the day to day life of the Royal Guard. On a large balcony, a tall and regal unicorn stallion clad in purple armor and helm, with a plume colored to match his multi-shaded blue mane, directed a unicorn platoon and then sent off a pegasus squadron.

“I’ve got something to say to you, Mister!”

Some guards stood fast with spears at the ready as their leader peered over the balcony to see…
“Twily!”

He hurried down the stairs to meet her, “Oh I’ve missed you, kid! How was the train ride o-”

“How dare you not tell me in person that you’re getting married?!” she raged at him, making Shining Armor flinch. “I’m your sister, for goddess sake!”

“I-it’s not my fault,” Shining Armor replied warily, “Princess Celestia has requested a major increase in security. Didn’t you see all the guards at the train station?”

“Yeah! There’s a big wedding coming up, maybe you’ve heard about it?” Twilight snapped as she moved away in a huff.

“It has nothing to do with the wedding,” Shining Armor explained, “A threat has been made against Canterlot.”

“A threat?”

Shining Armor looked up to see Midnight and gave him an odd look.
“Oh, excuse me, my name is Midnight Blaze, I represent Faith, one of the Elements of Harmony, and I’m a friend of your sister. Princess Celestia requested I fill in as one of your groomsmane?”

Shining Armor shook his head and said, “Oh! Uh… right, the groomsmane…”

“What’s this about a threat?” Midnight asked as he approached.

“Well, we don’t know who’s responsible for it,” Shining Armor explained to them both, “but Princess Celestia asked that I provide… additional protection.”

“You mean like this?” Midnight asked. He closed his eyes, furrowed his brows in concentration, and his horn flared with life before Shining Armor or Twilight could interrupt.

The siblings watched in amazement as a beam of turquoise-blue energy rose up like a beacon and made contact with the barrier surrounding Canterlot. To their shock, they watched as its magenta color began to swirl and mix with the turquoise of Midnight’s magic, looking similar to food coloring mixing with water. And they could feel it! The barrier had become stronger!

“Ah!” Midnight shook his head, feeling a headache. “Wouldn’t wanna keep that up on a daily basis!”

“How did you do that?!” Shining Armor gaped at him in shellshock. “That’s a unique barrier spell only I’m supposed to be able to do!”

“When we passed through the barrier on the train,” Midnight explained, “I felt the power of the barrier, and its magic. I imagined how it worked and gave it a go!”

Shining Armor couldn’t believe it, and gaped at his sister.

“He’s a fast-learner in magic,” Twilight shrugged.

“Well…” Shining Armor decided to roll with it, “Since the threat was made, the burden of protecting Canterlot has rested squarely on my shoulders.”

He led them up into the building towards a bridge.

“Staying focused on the task has been my top priority.”

“Okay, I get it,” Twilight sighed. “You have a duty to the protection of Canterlot, with a unique barrier that… until now, only you could conjure. But still… how could you not tell me something as big as your wedding? Am I not that important to you?”

“Hey, you’re my little sister,” Shining Armor assured her, “Of course you’re important to me.”

“That’s what I told her but you know how hard it is to assure a neurotic,” Midnight quipped, earning him a stink eye from Twilight.

“Yeah…” Shining Armor said before giving a playful smile to his sister, “But…! I’d understand if you didn’t want to be my best mare now!”

“You want me to be your best mare?” Twilight smiled.

“Well, yeah!”

“I’d be honored!” Twilight and Shining Armor embraced, Midnight smiling at the moment, which came to a grinding freaking halt. “But is it true?!”

“What?!”

“You’re marrying Cadance? My old foal-sitter?!” Twilight grinned hopefully.

“Who else?” Shining Armor chuckled. But then he faced Midnight, “So um… Midnight Blaze, right?”

“At your service,” Midnight gave a bow.

“Well… Midnight, I, uh… This is kinda awkward,” Shining Armor said. “I mean, I’ve known of you from Twily’s letters but… honestly, you’re not what I was expecting. But what I’m trying to say is… Could you maintain the barrier? At least until the wedding’s over?”

“Shining Armor, I accept this task willingly and with understanding of the burden you are passing onto my shoulders,” Midnight said with a serious expression as he gave a salute.

“Then thank you,” Shining Armor sighed with relief and saluted him back. “I’ll speak with you later. Could you go see Princess Celestia and explain this to her?”

“I’m off,” Midnight said with a wave before he teleported away.

Shining Armor looked at his sister, and she said, “You can count on him, he’s a good friend, and somepony I’m grateful to have at my side.”

Finding Princess Celestia was no problem for Midnight. He’d sensed her magic the moment he’d entered the barrier and simply zeroed in on her location.

“Oh, Midnight!” Celestia greeted him on the tower, looking up from her telescope. “What can I do for you?”

“Good day, Princess,” Midnight bowed respectfully. “At Shining Armor’s request, I will be maintaining the barrier for the duration of the wedding.”

“Ah, I thought there was something different about it,” Celestia noted the swirling mix of Shining Armor and Midnight’s magic. “I’m impressed Midnight! Up until now, I thought this spell was unique to Shining Armor! His special talent always was protecting others, and his magic reflects that. You are certainly full of surprises!”

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Shining Armor went into his office for a well-deserved break. He couldn’t help but feel relieved that the burden had been passed onto another, but he felt guilty and slightly ashamed, for it was his own to see to.
Can I honestly say I deserve to be captain if I so whimsically entrust the very safety of the kingdom to somepony I’ve only just met…?

“Having second thoughts?”

Shining Armor lurched and looked in the direction the voice came from, a shadowed corner in his office.

He sighed, “Y’know, most ponies would knock before coming into the office of the Captain of the Royal Guard.”

“Well then, it’s a good thing my name is not ‘Most Ponies’, is it, old friend?”

The Hooded Pony rose from the shadows, and Shining Armor honestly felt glad to see him.

“I take it you’ve met him.”

“I did,” Shining Armor confirmed as he stood before the floor-to-ceiling window of his office, looking over his protectorate.
“He’s surprising, to say the least, yet impressive. But now I am having second thoughts about entrusting the keeping of the barrier to him.”

“There is a reason he represents the Element of Faith,” the Hooded Pony said. “As your sister assured you, you can rely on him.”

“It just astounds me!” Shining Armor noted, “How was he able to cast my spell just by feeling its magic?!”

“It goes without saying,” the Hooded Pony said vaguely. “You’d be surprised to know what that unicorn is capable of.”

“He’s like you in that regard,” Shining Armor eyed him suspiciously. “And I wouldn’t be surprised if you knew the source of the threat made to Canterlot.”

“You know I can’t answer that.”

“But if you’d just tell me! I’d-”

“Change the future,” the Hooded Pony interrupted, “set in motion a new series of events, unforeseeable events that could lead all of Equestria into catastrophe.”

Shining Armor sighed woefully.
“I hate it when you use that against me.”

“Forgive me, old friend,” the Hooded Pony said, sounding sincere. “But to know the future often comes with the temptation to change it. In order for what I have seen to come to pass, the individuals surrounding this wedding, the good and the bad, must play their roles in what is to come. I will not – cannot – risk even the slightest deviation, for such could prevent the great destiny that is fast approaching.”

“You mean for Midnight?” Shining Armor asked.

“His time will come, but no,” the Hooded Pony replied. “Before I take my leave, Shining Armor, I will tell you this… This wedding, you and Cadance, are meant to be. Never lose faith in that.”

Shining Armor sighed as he looked out the window and in the next moment, he knew he was alone.

“Well, I’m at ease knowing you will help in the protecting of Canterlot, Midnight,” Celestia thanked him.

They’d had such a long discussion they didn’t even notice it was time for Celestia to retire until Luna appeared.

“Greeting, sister, Midnight Blaze,” she said as she flew down to them.

“Oh, sister!” Celestia greeted her and just now noticing the hour. “My apologies, I guess my talk with Midnight just got away with me.”

“A pleasure to see you again, Princess Luna,” Midnight bowed to her.

“You as well, Midnight,” Luna smiled before telling Celestia, “Rest, my sister. As always, I will guard the night.”

“Come, Midnight,” Celestia bade him and he followed her inside. As they walked through the hall, Celestia asked, “It just dawned on me, Midnight, you haven’t been fitted for your groomsman attire, have you?”

“Oh no, I forgot about that,” Midnight chuckled.

“Well, we should take care of that before it escapes us again,” Celestia decided.

Later, Midnight met his friends at Joe’s doughnut shop.
“This is gonna be a wedding to remember, I can tell!” Thunderlane declared.
“Eeyup!” agreed Big Mac.
“Oh I can just imagine my squad-mates being jealous,” Soarin chuckled.

“Blueblood, are you okay?” Midnight asked, noticing Blueblood swirling his tea all absent-minded.

“Well, maybe it’s nothing…” Blueblood said warily, “but I saw Cadance today, but she was different! She seemed to have forgotten me, and she demanded I call her by her formal name. She’s always hated that unless it was during some formal or important event.”

“Hmm,” Midnight felt like he was forgetting something.

Ah well, if it’s important I’ll remember later.

The next day, the wedding rehearsal was already in full swing. But right in the middle, Midnight felt something was wrong. Looking outside, he noticed something was wrong with the barrier. Then it hit him.
“Uh-oh!”

Everypony looked at him, and he said, “Please excuse me, the barrier needs tending.”


He teleported out into a courtyard, looking up towards the barrier. Sighing, he gathered his power to his horn, concentrating… before he unleashed that magic. It zoomed straight up, sparkling and blazing as it and the barrier made contact, before it coalesced, the mana stabilizing the barrier, and the last bit of magenta vanished as Midnight’s magic took over fully.

Midnight rubbed his head and shook of the migraine.
I wish this could’ve happened before morning. I didn’t feel any migraines at all those times I kept it up throughout the night. Uh-oh, the rehearsal!

*Flash*

Midnight’s teleport was a little off-track, as he reappeared in the hall.
“Ugh, stupid migraine must’ve thrown me off. Oh well, the rehearsal isn’t that far.”

But as he made his way there, he was confused to see Shining Armor come towards him, looking furious.
“Uh, Shining Armor! I was just-”

“Midnight! You’re my new best mane!” Shining Armor snapped as he passed him by.

“Wha- But… what about Twilight?!” he called after him.

“She’s not invited anymore,” Shining Armor said in a low tone.

“Twilight not invited?” Midnight couldn’t imagine what had happened since he’d left the rehearsal.

Then he noticed everypony else, all looking angry, disappointed, or sad. He didn’t know what to say, and he noticed Twilight wasn’t among them. Then he noticed Princess Celestia.

“She’s in the wedding hall,” she said without looking at him.

As he watched them go, Midnight felt like something terrible had happened. A great rift had come between Twilight and her brother.

Deciding to find out for himself, Midnight galloped towards the wedding hall, finding the doors closed. He felt wary for some reason and chose to slowly and quietly edge the doors open and peer through.

There was Twilight on the steps up to the place where the bride and groom would meet before Celestia. And he could hear her crying. The very sight of her, the sound of her sobs, it broke his heart.

But before Midnight could step through, he noticed somepony. She wasn’t as tall as Princess Celestia, or even Luna, but she had the horn of a unicorn, the wings of a pegasus, her coat was pink like a blossom, her mane went down to her fetlocks, colored purple with streaks of rose and gold, and her cutie-mark was a crystal heart sided by golden lace, matching the golden royal jewelry she wore.

“That must be Princess Cadance,” he whispered. “But where’d she come from? I thought Twilight was alone in there.”

He looked at how Cadance started gently stroking Twilight’s mane, and she looked up at her, finding a forgiving smile.

“I’m sorry!” Twilight sobbed.

“…You will be,” Cadance responded ominously as her horn flared a poisonous green!

Midnight gasped in horror as he watched, Twilight was surrounded by a ring of green flames, Cadance smiling wickedly. Then Twilight was engulfed in a sphere and slowly sank into the floor, Cadance walking away without looking back.

“Twilight!” Midnight whispered in horror!