It was dawn on September 15th.
As the sun peeped over the lazy, still sleeping hills, a soberly colored pony was sternly mirroring in his room.
"Sunburst, pass me the jacket please."
That pony was Mudbriar, and this was his wedding day to Maud Pie.
Over the months he had formed a beautiful friendship with the sunny unicorn, and was happy to know that he was recently engaged to his bride-to-be's best friend.
"Here it is." said the wizard, and Mudbriar quickly slipped it on. In his black groom suit he looked even more serious than usual, well past his thirty-two years of age.
"It fits you very well."
"Thank you. I need some cologne…"
At the same time, at the Pie house, Pinkie was literally flooding her sister's bed.
"My big sister is getting married! Sniff… I'm so happy!"
Maud smiled faintly as Limestone rolled her eyes and handed her more colorful sister a tissue to blow her nose.
"Thank-Thank you…"
"Don't also use it to wipe away your tears, for Twilight's sake!" she scolded her, like when they were little girls.
The pink pony laughed, enjoying those unrepeatable moments of closeness with her sisters.
"Urgh… What is all that fuss about?" murmured a voice thick with sleep, as its owner popped out of the bathroom.
"Oh, Starlight. Good morning." Maud greeted her.
Seeing Starlight always put the geologist in a good mood; she could easily consider her her best friend.
"But how can you be so active already? That bachelorette party pretty much knocked me out…"
To testify her revelry, Starlight had two flashy black circles under her eyes and her hair was a mess.
"Don't worry, now let's have a nice breakfast and then we'll all get ready together." Marble assured her.
"Yippie! Wedding pancakes for everypony!" cried Pinkie, disappearing into the kitchen.
From six in the morning until ten, it was all a whirlwind of preparations. Between make-up, combs, manespray, train and veil, the hours passed like raindrops quickly absorbed by the ground.
Maud's dress was not particularly striking, and was perfectly in line with her personality: a flower-worked sapphire tiara to hold up the veil, a ruby necklace, a fitted long-sleeved white dress studded with small lilac, clear and purple crystals. Simplicity and gems, two words to describe Maud Pie.
As for Mudbriar, over his white shirt he wore a double-breasted black jacket with gold buttons and a red brocade tie.
The ceremony was performed by Igneous Rock Pie, as has been the custom in his family for generations. From the mayor of Rockville he had obtained the power to perform wedding and funeral services, and as head of the Pie household he was proud to discharge his duty.
After welcoming the crowd in the main square of Rockville, he gave the floor to Cheese Sandwich, as younger brother of the groom:
"I thank you for being so numerous on this day of celebration. My brother Mudbriar was the symbol of solidity for me, and knowing that I would always have my rock gave me the strength to follow my own path. So, I'm here with you today, my brother. I wish you and Maud Pie all the best."
A thunderous applause followed, which gave Marble Pie time to organize the four pagefoals, who in this case were the paternal cousins of the Pie family.
Acacia, the eldest, a twelve year old filly with dark green braids, handed out wedding favors to the guests.
Birch, a six-year-old colt, carried Maud's wedding ring on a cushion, though his chief occupation seemed to be jostling his twin Oak, who was careful not to drop Mudbriar's wedding ring, though he would gladly tug a hoof to Birch.
Lastly, little two-year-old Spruce, who trotted along the white carpet of the walkway scattering rose petals (and putting some into his mouth).
Finally, the wedding rings arrived safely to Igneous, who was able to pronounce the fateful sentences:
"Will you, Maudileena Daisy Pie, take Mudbriar Sandwich as your wedded husband, through thick and thin, until death comes to bring the curtain down on your story?"
"Yes, I do."
"And will you, Mudbriar Sandwich, take Maudileena Daisy Pie as your wedded wife, through thick and thin, until death comes to bring the curtain down on your story?"
"Technically, our story will continue even after death… So I do."
Pinkie was moved by the stoic Mudbriar's correction, those were very sweet words.
After the rings exchange, the ceremony came to an end and attention moved to the large buffet that had been set up for the occasion, on that noon of a still hot September.
After the various courses, including various types of rock cooked in the most disparate ways, Igneous asked Maud's hoof for a dance and so did Peanut Pastry, Mudbriar's mother.
Peanut Pastry was a nice-looking chubby unicorn, and she worked in a grocery store. She made the jams and the hazelnut and acorn cream herself, products of incredible success in Manehattan, her hometown.
As for Cloudy Quartz and Iron Quake, Mudbriar's father, they sat watching their children dance, chatting amiably about their future, fantasizing about possible grandchildren and making conversation with the rest of the guests.
At one point, Pinkie approached the microphone and spoke:
"Attention, please… To worthily celebrate our newlyweds I propose a game… I have prepared some cards with rocks and branches with flowers and leaves drawn on them… Divide into groups: whoever guesses the most wins!"
The couple smiled, as their main passions were rocks and wood.
There was a lot of names mixed up and mispronounced, from "papparusha" to "macedonian nut" wood, and genuine laughter for everyone.
At the end of the party, when it was time to clean and clear the tables, Cheese sneaked up to his big brother and put an arm around his shoulders.
"So, big bro… When is the baby?"
Mudbriar's usually colorless cheeks turned a conspicuous red.
"Do these look like questions to ask?"
"Technically…" Cheese began, gleefully mocking his brother's verbal tic, "…This is the perfect time for questions like that!"
"Everything in due time…"
Quickly, Mudbriar raised one hoof and ruffled Cheese's hair as he did when they were small.
"… Brother."
Finally, a smile painted on Mud's lips and the day ended like this, with a renewed family bond.