A Canterlot Wedding Part 1
Night's POV
Night and his friends were out having a picnic just outside of Ponyville and things were going well. "Ahh! It is gorgeous out. Just gorgeous!" Rarity commented. The group continued eating when they heard something running their way. They looked and they saw Spike running toward the group.
"Twi… light! …I… have… Lemme just…" Spike started, clearly exhausted. He took a deep breath and let out a plume of fire that turned into a scroll.
Twilight opened up the scroll and started reading.
Dear Twilight, I am sure you are as excited as I am about the upcoming wedding in Canterlot.
"Wedding?" Twilight asked the others, but none of them knew what Celestia was talking about.
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!" Fluttershy said.
Pinkie Pie, I can think of no one more qualified than you to host the reception.
"Hip, hip, hooray!" Pinkie celebrated, knocking a few things in the process.
Applejack, you will be in charge of the catering for the reception.
"Well, color me pleased as punch!" Applejack said.
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!" Rainbow shouted excitedly.
Rarity, you will be responsible for designing the dresses for the bride and her bridesmaids.
"Princess Celestia wants me to– *unintelligible* ...wedding dress? For a Canterlot wedding... I, ah, ooh, oooh!" Rarity said as she fainted smiling.
Night, I'd like to discuss your role face to face. I'll explain everything when you get here
"Why doesn't she say what she wants me to do via letter?" Night asked himself. Twilight shrugged as she continued.
And as for you, Twilight, you will be playing the most important role of all: Making sure that everything goes as planned. See you all very soon. Yours, Princess Celestia.
Twilight looked over the letter again and asked, "But... I don't understand. Who's getting married?"
"Oh, wait! Uh, I was probably supposed to give you this one first," Spike said as he gave Twilight another scroll. She rolled her eyes and read it.
Princess Celestia cordially invites you to the wedding of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and…
Twilight started then she gasped. "My brother?!" Twilight questioned.
"Wait, you have a brother?" Night asked.
"Your brother's getting married? Congratulations, Twilight! That's great news!" Applejack congratulated.
"Yeah, great news. That I just got from a wedding invitation! Not from my brother, but from a piece of paper! Thanks a lot, Shining Armor," Twilight said.
"Wait, wait, wait. Shining Armor? As in, 'Captain of the Royal Guard Shining Armor'?" Night asked.
"You know him?" Rarity asked.
"Yeah, we worked together when I was training the Black Guard," Night explained. Twilight then continued.
"But still he couldn't tell me personally?" Twilight asked as she picked up a sandwich and did an imitation of her brother. "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." She then went back to her normal voice. "Princess Mi Amore Cadenza? Who in the hoof is that?!" Twilight asked and she snorted in anger.
"Um, 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!" Twilight explained. The group looked at Twilight wondering what B.B.B.F.F meant. "Big Brother Best Friend Forever?" she told them
"Ohhh!" they said.
"Before I came here and learned the importance of friendship, Shining Armor was the only pony I ever really accepted as a friend," Twilight continued.
"So, who's this Princess he's marrying?" Rainbow asked, looking at Night.
"Wish I knew," Night answered, not recognizing the name.
"Well, as one of your P.F.F.'s…" Applejack started and they all gave her stares wondering what that meant. "Pony Friends Forever…" she clarified. "... wanna tell you that I think your brother sounds like a real good guy," she told Twilight.
"He is pretty special," Twilight said with a smile.
The group boarded a train to Canterlot and headed over. "A sonic rainboom? At a wedding?! Can you say 'best wedding ever'?!" Rainbow asked.
"Best wedding ever!" Pinkie shouted as they entered a tunnel.
"So you all get to help with the big fancy wedding, but I'm the one who gets to host the bachelor party! I have just one question. What's a bachelor party?" Spike asked.
"It's a celebration on the night before the wedding. Kind of the last party the groom gets being single and is celebrated with other bachelors," Night explained.
"Ohhh," Spike said. The group, minus Twilight, laughed at Spike's response. Night looked and saw Twilight was looking kind of down.
"You okay Twilight?" Night asked her.
"I'm just thinking about Shining Armor. Ever since I moved to Ponyville, we've been seeing each other less and less. And now that he's starting a new family with this 'Princess Mi Amore Ca-whatshername', we'll probably never see each other," Twilight worried.
"He's your brother, and from what I've seen of him, he is a very loyal pony. I'm sure he'll find the time," Night said, trying to reassure her.
"Couldn't seem to make time to tell me he was getting married," Twilight pointed out.
"We're here, we're here!" Pinkie shouted when they reached Canterlot's outskirts. As they entered, a red forcefield filled the train. They passed through it without a problem. Things got even stranger when they exited the train and found a ton of guards by the train station.
"Whoa, what's with all the guards?" Rainbow asked.
"I'm sure they're just taking the necessary precautions. Royal weddings do bring out the strangest ponies," Rarity said.
"What's going on?" Night asked one of the guards.
"Not my place to tell, Prince Night. Princess Celestia wants to see you," he told him.
"Alright then, lead the way," he said. He saluted and four guards accompanied him. "You all go get your things done, we can talk later," Night told his friends as he left. Looking around, he noticed that the guard's stance was more for fighting an outside threat than a nearby one. They made their way to the throne room where Celestia was talking to an assistant.
"Your highness, Prince Night is here," one of the guards announced.
"Ah, thank you. Return to your posts," Celestia told the guards. They saluted and left as Night headed over to Celestia as her assistant left as well.
"Okay, you care to explain to me why there's a sudden increase in security?" Night asked.
"A threat has been made against Canterlot," Celestia told him.
"What kind of threat?" Night asked.
"The very worrying kind. I don't know who's made this threat, but they sound pretty serious," Celestia explained.
"Let me guess, you want me to oversee security while I'm here?" Night asked.
"I would appreciate it. You'll be working with Shining Armor during this," Celestia told him.
"Where are the Black Guard?" Night asked.
"I have them on the advance lookout. They've also been helping some of the other units with combat training. I just hope it will be enough," Celestia answered.
"Well then, I'd better get started," Night said. He left the throne room where two guards were waiting for him. "Where's the captain?" Night asked them.
"Near the central courtyard," one of them answered.
"Thank you," Night said as he headed over. As he headed over, he saw Shining Armor and Twilight talking.
"You're marrying Cadence! You're marrying Cadence!" Twilight started chanting.
"Did I miss something?" Night asked as he came up.
"Prince Night, it's good to see you again," Shining Armor said.
"Night! There you are," Twilight said as she hugged him.
"Um, what is this?" Shining Armor asked with amusement.
"Oh… uh… well…" Twilight started, unable to find the words. She looked at Night hopefully.
"Don't look at me. You're the one who got herself into this," Night told her smiling.
Shining Armor laughed. "For somepony giving me a lot of pain for not telling them that I was getting married, you sure are hypocritical," he said.
"Your thing is bigger than mine," Twilight countered.
"Should I come back later?" Night asked.
"Oh no, it's fine," Shining Armor said.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything important," Cadence said as she came up.
"Cadence!" Twilight shouted excitedly. She ran up to her and started to do a dance. "Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!"
"What are you doing?" Cadence asked, sounding off.
"Cadence, it's me, Twilight!" she told her.
"Uh-huh," Cadence answered, sounding uninterested.
"You feeling okay Cadence?" Night asked.
"I'm fine," Cadence said in a way that made Night suspicious.
"I've gotta get back to my station, but Cadence will be checking in with all of you to see how things are going. I think I speak for both of us when I say we couldn't be more excited to have you here. Right, dear?" Shining Armor asked his fiance.
"Absolutely," Cadence said with a grin, but Night didn't trust it.
"Well, we'll let you get to it," Shining Armor said to Twilight.
"That was…" Night started.
"Weird?" Twilight finished.
"Yeah. I'll be overseeing security, but can you keep an eye on Cadence? I have to make sure everything is in place," Night told her.
"I was going to do that anyway. I'll see you soon," Twilight said as she gave Night a quick kiss on the cheek and headed off. Night did as well and asked one of the guards to tell Starry Sky that he wanted to speak to her.
Twilight's POV
Twilight headed toward the kitchen where Applejack was working on the food. "Cake, check. Ice sculpture, check. Best darn bite-size apple fritter you ever tasted…" Applejack said as Twilight checked off the list and she was given an apple fritter.
"Mmm. Check," Twilight said.
She looked around and saw Spike with the figures of Shining Armor and Cadence. "I do. Do you?" Spike said with a deep voice before it turned high. "I do!" He then starts to have the figures kiss when Twilight glared at him. Spike laughed nervously and set them down.
"Hiya, Princess!" Applejack said and Twilight saw that Cadence had entered.
"Please, call me Princess Mi Amore Cadenza," Cadence requested in a way that didn't sound like a request.
"Hiya, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. You come to check out what's on the menu for your big day?" Applejack asked.
"I have!" she answered. Applejack gave her one of the apple fritters and Cadence took a bite. "Delicious! I love-love-love them," she said, but Twilight could tell she was lying.
"Aw, shucks. Why don't you take a few to go? I know how you brides can be. So busy, you forget to get a little somethin' in your belly," Applejack told Cadence, giving her some of the fitters. Once Applejack wasn't looking, Cadence threw the fitters in a trash can.
"Did… you see what she…" Twilight asked Applejack, but she had already continued her work.
Twilight then headed over to Rarity to see how the dresses were coming. "Oh, you should have seen how she acted back there. I don't know when she changed, but she changed!" Twilight told Rarity before doing her best Cadence impression. "'Please, call me Princess Mi Amore Cadenza'."
"Did I hear someone say my name?" Cadence asked as she came in.
"Your highness! Let me just start by saying what an honor it is to play a role in such a momentous occasion," Rarity told her.
"Uh-huh. Is my dress ready?" Cadence asked with little enthusiasm.
"Yes, of course. Um, I've been working on it ever since I was given the assignment, and I think you'll be pleased with the results!" Rarity said proudly as she showed Cadence the dress.
"I was hoping for something with more beading and a longer train," she told Rarity, who wrote down the request. "And those should be a different color," Cadence said, referring to the bridesmaid's dresses.
"I think they're lovely," Twinkleshine said.
"Me too!" Minuette agreed.
"I love them," Lyra added.
A cold glare from Cadence shut them up. "Make them a different color," she confirmed. She and the bridesmaids then left.
"Gee, maybe her name should be 'Princess Demandy-pants'," Twilight commented.
Cadence then headed toward where Pinkie was having the reception and Twilight hid nearby where she could hear. "Okay, let me see. We've been over the games… the dances… I think this reception is gonna be perfect! Don't you?" Pinkie asked Cadence.
"Perfect! ...If we were celebrating a six-year-old's birthday party," Cadence commented.
"Thank you!" Pinkie said, not seeing the insult.
Later that day, Twilight and her friends, minus Night, headed over to a restaurant to relax. "Bet I can guess what you're all thinking. Cadence is the absolute worst bride-to-be ever," Twilight said. Her friends looked at her surprised.
"Who, me?" Spike asked in a high voice holding the Cadence figure.
"Spike! That goes on the cake," Applejack told him.
"Twilight, whatever are you talking about? Cadence is an absolute gem!" Rarity protested.
"Rarity, she was so demanding!" Twilight pointed out.
"Well, of course she is! Why shouldn't she expect the very best on her wedding day?" Rarity asked.
"Applejack, did you know that after she told you how much she just 'love-love-loved' your hors d'eouvres, she threw them in the trash?" Twilight asked her.
"Aw, she was probably just trying to spare my feelin's," Applejack said.
"No, she was just being fake and totally insincere!" Twilight told her.
"She did raise her voice at one of my birds during rehearsal," Fluttershy said.
"See? Rude!" Twilight said.
"But he was singing really off-key," Fluttershy pointed out as the bird in question appeared and sang very off-key.
"Pinkie Pie, you had to have noticed how Cadance treated–" Twilight started but stopped when she saw her and Spike taking the bride and groom figures and having them kiss. "Never mind. Rainbow Dash, you're with me, right?" Twilight asked, looking for her support.
"Sorry, Twi. Been too busy prepping for my sonic rainboom to pay much attention to the bride's bad attitude," Rainbow said as she stretched her wings.
"There you are," Night said as he came up, looking really tired.
"You okay?" Rainbow asked.
"I've been 'training' some of the other units. And by training, I mean getting them to do stuff. The younger units are able to get the idea, but the older ones don't seem to get it. One of the commanders was saying things that were borderline treason," Night explained as he slammed his head into the table.
"That bad, huh?" Applejack asked.
"Yep. At least I can rely on the Black Guard if things go wrong," Night said.
"What could possibly happen here?" Rarity asked.
"You said it yourself. 'Royal weddings do bring out the strangest ponies'," Night quoted back.
"So Night, do you agree with Twilight about the princess?" Applejack asked.
"Cadence? I don't know what, but something has changed about her. I've met her before and she wasn't like what I saw today," Night told them.
"The princess is about to get married. I'm sure any negative behavior she might be displaying is simply the result of nerves," Rarity said. Twilight slammed her hoof on the table.
"And I'm sure it's the result of being an awful pony who doesn't deserve to even know Shining Armor, let alone marry him!" Twilight stated.
"Think maybe you're bein' just a tiny bit possessive of your brother?" Applejack asked.
"Uh-huh," everyone but Night agreed.
"I am not being possessive, and I am not taking it out on Cadance! You're all just too caught up in your wedding planning to notice that maybe there shouldn't even be a wedding!" Twilight shouted as she slammed her hoof on the table again and walked away.
Twilight went over to Shining Armor's home and saw two guards wearing the colors of the Black Guard standing outside. She went up and knocked on the door and her brother answered.
"Twily!" Shining Armor said excitedly as he let her in. "Your big brother's looking pretty good, don't you think?" he asked her. He then saw the look on Twilight's face. "Huh. Everything okay?" he asked.
"We need to talk. I think you're making a big–" Twilight started when she was interrupted by Cadence clearing her throat.
"Oh, uh, hi, sweetie," Shining Armor said when he saw her.
"She sure has a way of sneaking up on people," Twilight commented to herself.
"Could I speak to you for a moment, dear?" Cadence asked Shining Armor, going into another room.
"Better see what she wants," Shining Armor said as he followed Cadence much to Twilight's worry. She then heard their voices muffled by the door.
"Look, we need to talk," Cadence said.
"I'm here to talk," Shining Armor said.
"It's about your sister, okay?"
"I– look, look, she's okay–"
"Just... listen to me, alright?"
"I'm listening, I'm listening," Shining Armor said as Cadence seemed to notice something. Twilight got closer to the door. She opened it a little so she could see in and watched.
"I thought I made it perfectly clear I didn't want you to wear that," Cadence said, pointing to something on Shining Armor's uniform.
"This was my favorite uncle's," he told her.
"And?"
"And I think I should wear it."
"Are you disagreeing with me?"
"I guess I am– Ah!" Shining Armor started as he touched his head like it was in pain.
"Oh, dear. Are you getting another one of your headaches?" Cadence asked. She then used her magic on Shining Armor and his eyes went crazy. It looked like she was trying to control him. "Feeling better?" she asked Shining Armor
"She isn't just unpleasant and rude. She's downright evil!" Twilight said in shock. She ran for the door.
Mountain Cliff's POV
Cliff was standing outside the captain's home keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. Many of the other units had a lot of wild speculation about the increase in security, but Lieutenant Starry Sky told them the real reason, and it met up with the popular speculation. "Still think anything is going to happen?" he asked Corporal "Digger".
"We'll see. I hope something doesn't happen, but one can never be too sure. That's what we trained for," "Digger" said. The door behind them suddenly opened and the captain's sister ran out of the house.
"Twilight!" he heard Captain Shining Armor shout.
"Digger" signaled Cliff to see what was going on inside. Cliff looked in to see the captain and the princess close together. "Is something wrong sir?" he asked.
"N-no Private," he answered. Not seeing anything wrong in the house he closed the door and took back up his post.
Twilight's POV
Twilight didn't stop running after she left Shining Armor's place and ran all the way to where she and her friends were staying. "Shining Armor's in real trouble! You have to help–" Twilight started when she saw her friends in dresses. "Dresses? What are you–?" she asked.
"Can you believe it? We're gonna be Princess Mi Amore Cadenza's new bridesmaids!" Fluttershy said excitedly.
"New bridesmaids? What happened to her old bridesmaids?" Twilight asked.
"She didn't say. But she did tell us that she would love-love-love it if we'd fill in for them," Applejack said.
"Seeing as we've been working so hard and everything," Rarity added.
"And you had your doubts about her," Applejack said.
"Told you she was an absolute gem!" Rarity stated.
"You sure this is what I should wear? Doesn't seem all that aerodynamic," Rainbow said.
"Hmm. I'll see what I can do," Rarity told her.
Twilight left the room, going to her room. "Twilight!" Night called out. "You okay?" he asked when he saw the sad look on her face.
"She's gotten to them, we're on our own," Twilight told him.
"What are you talking about?" Night asked. After heading to her room, Twilight explained everything to him. "I wonder if she's possessed or something?" Night wondered.
"We don't know that. Still, I have to stop this," Twilight told him.
"Well, be careful. I have to keep an eye on things while Shining Armor is at the rehearsal," Night told her.
"That's funny, coming from you," Twilight said.
"Fair point," Night commented. The two shared a quick chuckle and Night headed out. "Sleep well," he said.
"Goodnight," Twilight said as he closed the door. She decided to get some sleep as well, knowing tomorrow was going to be big. She'd make sure of that.
Twilight awoke the next day and headed to the rehearsal. She was late, but it wouldn't matter. "Hey... has anypony seen Twilight?" She heard Shining Armor ask.
"I'm here! I'm not gonna stand next to her! And neither should you!" Twilight shouted.
"I'm sorry, I... I don't know why she's acting like this," Shining Armor told Cadence.
"Maybe we should just ignore her," Cadence said coldly.
"You have to listen to me!" Twilight shouted.
"Oh, goodness! Are you okay?" Fluttershy asked.
"I'm fine," Twilight answered.
"Ya sure about that?" Applejack asked. Twilight put Applejack's hat in her face as Twilight stepped forward.
"I've got something to say! She's evil!" Twilight announced. Shining Armor stepped in front of Cadence as everypony started chattering, concerned. "She's been horrible to my friends, she's obviously done something to her bridesmaids, and if that wasn't enough, I saw her put a spell on my brother that made his eyes go all" Twilight said, making what she saw Cadence do last night at the end. Twilight cornered her smiling, knowing she had her.
Cadence started crying. "Why are you doing this to me?!" She asked as she ran away.
"Because you're evil!" Twilight shouted after her. She then teleported to the doors as Cadence ran out. "Evil! And if I don't stop you, you're gonna ruin my brother's life!" She turned around, her mission complete and ran into Shining Armor, who was glaring at her.
"You want to know why my eyes went all *way his eyes went*? Nuh! Because ever since I started having to perform my protection spell, I've been getting terrible migraines. Cadence hasn't been casting spells on me. She's been using her magic to heal me! And she decided to replace her bridesmaids because she found out the only reason they wanted to be in the wedding was so that they could meet Canterlot royalty! And if she hasn't been on her best behavior with your friends, it's because with me being so busy, she's had to make all the decisions about the wedding!" Shining Armor stated.
"I was just trying to–" Twilight started, but was cut off.
"She's been completely stressed out because it's really important to her that our big day be perfect! Something that obviously wasn't important to you! Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go and comfort my bride," Shining Armor continued. Twilight felt hurt, but her brother wasn't done. "And you can forget about being my best mare. In fact, if I were you, I wouldn't show up to the wedding at all." Twilight looked at her friends for support.
"C'mon, y'all. Let's go check on the princess," Applejack said. They walked past her, not even as much as a glance at her. Twilight then saw Princess Celestia.
"You have a lot to think about," she told Twilight. That was the nail in the coffin for Twilight, as she started crying, thinking about what she just did. Could she and Night be wrong about Cadence? Twilight wasn't even looking at anything when she felt something touch her side.
She looked up and saw Cadence with a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry!" Twilight apologized.
"You will be," Cadence said. Before Twilight could react, green flames surrounded her.
"What are you doing?!" somepony asked. Twilight looked and saw two pegasi wearing Black Guard colors holding spears charge at Cadence. Cadence didn't even flinch and threw the two guards in with Twilight as the fire turned into a sphere and started to fall into the ground. The guards tried to break the sphere but their spears disintegrated on impact. Twilight shouted for help as the sphere fell through the ground.
And cliffhanger. I know, fun when that comes up. Tune in next time.