Post by Derpy on Sept 16, 2013 18:35:44 GMT -5
I wrote this many months ago, and only finished cleaning it up now! Hopefully if you saw the original, it's not too distant in your mind yet! But if you want to see it before you read it, click here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_v7QrIW0zY
Otherwise, read on...
- - - - -
WHEN Twilight left her home in Canterlot, she left behind a dear sibling and a beloved foalsitter. Later, she learned of their plans to wed only upon receipt of the invitation. Her understandable disappointment only reflected the magnitude of her sudden separation from Canterlot.
But what if Shining Armor and Princess Cadence had accompanied Twilight to Ponyville? Imagine this...
- - - - -
Princess Cadence walked up to Twilight Sparkle's home, having been invited there to try out a new spell Twilight was working on. Naturally, Cadence was happy to assist her boyfriend's sister in her pursuits, just as she enjoyed helping all the wonderful ponies she'd met in Ponyville these last two years.
“If you'll just have a seat, Princess!” said Twilight, indicating the back of a wheeled, hooded chariot and grinning nervously.
“What is this spell meant for?” asked Cadence, seating herself comfortably.
“Welll,” stalled Twilight. “To be honest? It's not so much a spell as it is... a song!”
Cadence's interest was peaked—it wasn't like Twilight to be less than straightforward. "A song?"
The unicorn nodded enthusiastically. "That's right! Basically, it's a song that... tends to, er... exemplify your relationship with my brother. Or... I guess the word is 'expounds'? Explicates! Exhibits? Something like that.”
"Your brother? This is about Shining Armor?" Despite the duplicity, Cadence had to admit she was anticipating this more and more.
“Well,” said Twilight, levitating a padded mallet and a miniature marimba from beneath the chariot. “You'll see. It goes a little something like...”
The chariot started to roll, which didn't really surprise Cadence—that's what it was for! What surprised her was the music that emanated from sources unseen, perfectly complimenting the occasional notes Twilight struck with her mallet. Twilight backed up as the chariot pulled slowly forward, then swerved suddenly around a corner, out of sight! Just as unexpectedly, her assistant dragon—Spike—appeared on the street in a tuxedo jacket, accompanied by Twilight's seamstress friend, Rarity. Cadence grinned as they began to sing to the music:
SPIKE: It's a beautiful night...
We're looking for something dumb to do.
Hey baby--
I think I wanna marry you.
The way the little dragon swooned toward the white unicorn touched Cadence's heart. This might be a show, but it was obvious he felt something for her.
RARITY: Is it the look in your eyes?
Or is it this... dancing juice?
Here, the town's silly gray mailmare streaked by, her eyes rotating in opposite directions. Cadence laughed despite her intention to remain dignified.
RARITY: No matter, darling!
I think I'd like to marry you.
These two faded back, only to be replaced with another couple—Cadence's friends Lyra and Bonbon. With tenderness toward one another, they sang:
LYRA: I know this little chapel on the boulevard we can go;
No one will know!
With that, Bonbon eagerly shoved a thick bouquet into Lyra's hooves.
BONBON: Well, come on, girl!
The next to appear were the schoolteacher and her rumored special somepony, Big Macintosh.
CHEERILEE: Who cares if we're trashed? Got a pocket full of cash we can blow!
Take me to the disco?
BIG MAC: Yup, it's on, girl.
Cadence was awed—this was becoming an increasingly elaborate display! Now a train of local stallions wound into sight, snaking around the other dancers and rhythmically clomping the ground as they went. Cadence recognized Caramel, Clover, Time Turner...
STALLIONS: Don't say no, no, no, no-no;
Just say yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah;
And we'll go, go, go, go-go.
They spun to face Cadence, who found herself blushing.
ALL: If you're ready, like I'm ready!
In time to the lyrics, the troupe's hooves pointed collectively from Cadence to themselves. Twilight Sparkle reappeared then, strolling in casually from the right.
TWILIGHT: Cause it's a beautiful night;
We're looking for something dumb to do...
On this cue, the score of assembled ponies set to looking around helplessly, as though for a lost treasure. Spike and Rarity joined Twilight in crouching and pointing at Cadence:
TWILIGHT, SPIKE AND RARITY: Hey baby--
I think I wanna marry you.
An assortment of ponies from Cadence's life in Canterlot staggered by on their hind legs, wiggling their forehooves, and curved around to join the crowd. The mailmare and the local unicorn DJ peeked up from below her line of sight, their eyes googly and hidden respectively.
ALL: Is it the look in your eyes?
Just as quickly, the mailmare and DJ were gone, replaced by a pair of snappily dressed traveling sales-stallions.
ALL: Or is it this dancing juice?
The racketeers zipped away and the crowd continued:
ALL: Who cares baby,
I think I wanna marry you.
As Cadence's amazement built, the dancers divided into two columns, revealing Applejack and Pinkie Pie strolling and pouncing respectively up the middle.
APPLEJACK: Reckon ah'll go get a ring, let the choir bells sing like, oooohh!
Applejack leaned hypnotically in and out as though sleep-deprived.
APPLEJACK: So what you wanna dooo?
PINKIE PIE: Let's just run, girl!
And they ran, tails waving. Applejack vanished and Fluttershy popped up, taking her place.
FLUTTERSHY: If we wake up and you wanna break up, um...um...that's okay.
Don't worry...I won't blame you.
PINKIE PIE: It was fun, girl!
Angel leapt from Pinkie's mane and scowled, leaving Fluttershy to quail out of sight. The rest of the pets kept by Twilight's best friends appeared—the cat, the tortoise, the alligator, the dog, and Twilight's owl, all excited—and they were joined by an assortment of Shining Armor's colleagues from the palace.
GUARDS: Don't say no, no, no, no-no;
Just say yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah;
And we'll go, go, go, go-go.
If you're ready, like I'm ready!
From above, Rainbow Dash's face peeked over the chariot's hood and sang, upside-down:
RAINBOW DASH AND ALL: Cause it's a beautiful night,
We're looking for something dumb to do.
Leaping up to hover before the chariot, she struck a spunky pose and pointed, squinting one eye, at Cadence.
RAINBOW DASH: Hey baby,
I think I wanna marry you.
Rainbow then zoomed to and fro before Cadence's eyes, leaving a dazzling multicolored trail. The crowd reformed into a wedge formation.
ALL: Is it the look in your eyes?
Another quick appearance from the mailmare, the DJ, and Pinkie Pie. The DJ's glasses were off for a split second, and Pinkie's eyes were even swirlier than the mailmare's.
ALL: Or is it this dancing juice?
Now the Cutie Mark Crusaders kick-danced by, grinning huge, genuine grins! In their wake came Zecora, the zebra herbalist, toting a wagon of rattling potions and grinning toward Cadence.
ALL: Who cares, baby?
I think I wanna marry you!
Despite the spectacle to this point, Cadence was astonished anew when the necks and heads of Equestria's reigning princesses suddenly appeared from either side of her field of vision, their lips pursed in song:
CELESTIA AND LUNA: Just say I doooooo!
The royal heads withdrew in perfect time. Now two columns of uniformed royal guards marched into Cadence's sight, first facing away from her and then turning sideways to unite in the middle.
ALL: Tell me right now, baby!
Tell me right now, baby, baby!
Mr. and Mrs. Cake, Granny Smith and the mayor of Ponyville now ambled into place before the carriage, each bearing a magical orb. Within these, images swirled of far-off folk: The Great and Powerful Trixie; Gilda the griffon; the ponies of Appleoosa; and, most touchingly, Cadence's own loved ones from her original home.
TRIXIE, GILDA, BRAEBURN, ETC.: Just say I doooooo!
The orb-bearers backed away, exposing the six Elements of Harmony in the front line of dancers, stepping and singing in unison:
ELEMENTS OF HARMONY: Tell me right now, baby!
Tell me right now baby, baby!
With great moment, beginning with these six, the entire crowd parted evenly down the middle. At the end of the aisle stood Celestia and Luna, flanking—well, who else? The love of her life, Shining Armor. And suddenly, his was the only voice.
SHINING ARMOR: Oh, it's a beautiful night,
We're looking for something dumb to do.
Hey baby—
I think I wanna marry you!
Cadence grinned, wiping a tear away. Of course it been a proposal. What else could this ever have been?
Shining Armor advanced up the aisle, singing with intense focus even as he tried to feign casualness. The assembled crowd reared up and wiggled their forehooves frantically to either side, except for Celestia and Luna, who tilted their bodies rhythmically and fluttered their wings at dramatic angles.
SHINING ARMOR: Is it the look in your eyes,
Or is it this dancing juice?
Who cares, baby?
I know I wanna marry you!
The music ended, and Shining Armor stopped before her sitting, then kneeling. On a red pillow, he produced a ring. Cadence looked it over—it was beautiful, like him, and like the moment.
She gathered herself, forelegs extended over the edges of the chariot. “That was a nice proposal, sweetie... but I think I'm gonna hold out for a better one.”
The crowd stared, many of their faces transforming to expressions of dismay.
“Just kidding!” chimed Cadence. “YES, absolutely yes!!” She leapt from the chariot and embraced her beloved, who melted against her.
Relieved, the crowd laughed, and no one missed the music.
- - - - -
Luna stepped close to Cadence on her way out, touching her with a lengthy wingtip. "You can expect to outlive Shining Armor by several thousand years. You will require a great many marriage proposals. After this spectacle...good luck with that!" And she walked away, leaving Cadence dumbfounded.
- - - - -
Oh—and you won't want to miss this:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXAg5XdK8ac
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_v7QrIW0zY
Otherwise, read on...
- - - - -
WHEN Twilight left her home in Canterlot, she left behind a dear sibling and a beloved foalsitter. Later, she learned of their plans to wed only upon receipt of the invitation. Her understandable disappointment only reflected the magnitude of her sudden separation from Canterlot.
But what if Shining Armor and Princess Cadence had accompanied Twilight to Ponyville? Imagine this...
- - - - -
Princess Cadence walked up to Twilight Sparkle's home, having been invited there to try out a new spell Twilight was working on. Naturally, Cadence was happy to assist her boyfriend's sister in her pursuits, just as she enjoyed helping all the wonderful ponies she'd met in Ponyville these last two years.
“If you'll just have a seat, Princess!” said Twilight, indicating the back of a wheeled, hooded chariot and grinning nervously.
“What is this spell meant for?” asked Cadence, seating herself comfortably.
“Welll,” stalled Twilight. “To be honest? It's not so much a spell as it is... a song!”
Cadence's interest was peaked—it wasn't like Twilight to be less than straightforward. "A song?"
The unicorn nodded enthusiastically. "That's right! Basically, it's a song that... tends to, er... exemplify your relationship with my brother. Or... I guess the word is 'expounds'? Explicates! Exhibits? Something like that.”
"Your brother? This is about Shining Armor?" Despite the duplicity, Cadence had to admit she was anticipating this more and more.
“Well,” said Twilight, levitating a padded mallet and a miniature marimba from beneath the chariot. “You'll see. It goes a little something like...”
The chariot started to roll, which didn't really surprise Cadence—that's what it was for! What surprised her was the music that emanated from sources unseen, perfectly complimenting the occasional notes Twilight struck with her mallet. Twilight backed up as the chariot pulled slowly forward, then swerved suddenly around a corner, out of sight! Just as unexpectedly, her assistant dragon—Spike—appeared on the street in a tuxedo jacket, accompanied by Twilight's seamstress friend, Rarity. Cadence grinned as they began to sing to the music:
SPIKE: It's a beautiful night...
We're looking for something dumb to do.
Hey baby--
I think I wanna marry you.
The way the little dragon swooned toward the white unicorn touched Cadence's heart. This might be a show, but it was obvious he felt something for her.
RARITY: Is it the look in your eyes?
Or is it this... dancing juice?
Here, the town's silly gray mailmare streaked by, her eyes rotating in opposite directions. Cadence laughed despite her intention to remain dignified.
RARITY: No matter, darling!
I think I'd like to marry you.
These two faded back, only to be replaced with another couple—Cadence's friends Lyra and Bonbon. With tenderness toward one another, they sang:
LYRA: I know this little chapel on the boulevard we can go;
No one will know!
With that, Bonbon eagerly shoved a thick bouquet into Lyra's hooves.
BONBON: Well, come on, girl!
The next to appear were the schoolteacher and her rumored special somepony, Big Macintosh.
CHEERILEE: Who cares if we're trashed? Got a pocket full of cash we can blow!
Take me to the disco?
BIG MAC: Yup, it's on, girl.
Cadence was awed—this was becoming an increasingly elaborate display! Now a train of local stallions wound into sight, snaking around the other dancers and rhythmically clomping the ground as they went. Cadence recognized Caramel, Clover, Time Turner...
STALLIONS: Don't say no, no, no, no-no;
Just say yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah;
And we'll go, go, go, go-go.
They spun to face Cadence, who found herself blushing.
ALL: If you're ready, like I'm ready!
In time to the lyrics, the troupe's hooves pointed collectively from Cadence to themselves. Twilight Sparkle reappeared then, strolling in casually from the right.
TWILIGHT: Cause it's a beautiful night;
We're looking for something dumb to do...
On this cue, the score of assembled ponies set to looking around helplessly, as though for a lost treasure. Spike and Rarity joined Twilight in crouching and pointing at Cadence:
TWILIGHT, SPIKE AND RARITY: Hey baby--
I think I wanna marry you.
An assortment of ponies from Cadence's life in Canterlot staggered by on their hind legs, wiggling their forehooves, and curved around to join the crowd. The mailmare and the local unicorn DJ peeked up from below her line of sight, their eyes googly and hidden respectively.
ALL: Is it the look in your eyes?
Just as quickly, the mailmare and DJ were gone, replaced by a pair of snappily dressed traveling sales-stallions.
ALL: Or is it this dancing juice?
The racketeers zipped away and the crowd continued:
ALL: Who cares baby,
I think I wanna marry you.
As Cadence's amazement built, the dancers divided into two columns, revealing Applejack and Pinkie Pie strolling and pouncing respectively up the middle.
APPLEJACK: Reckon ah'll go get a ring, let the choir bells sing like, oooohh!
Applejack leaned hypnotically in and out as though sleep-deprived.
APPLEJACK: So what you wanna dooo?
PINKIE PIE: Let's just run, girl!
And they ran, tails waving. Applejack vanished and Fluttershy popped up, taking her place.
FLUTTERSHY: If we wake up and you wanna break up, um...um...that's okay.
Don't worry...I won't blame you.
PINKIE PIE: It was fun, girl!
Angel leapt from Pinkie's mane and scowled, leaving Fluttershy to quail out of sight. The rest of the pets kept by Twilight's best friends appeared—the cat, the tortoise, the alligator, the dog, and Twilight's owl, all excited—and they were joined by an assortment of Shining Armor's colleagues from the palace.
GUARDS: Don't say no, no, no, no-no;
Just say yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah;
And we'll go, go, go, go-go.
If you're ready, like I'm ready!
From above, Rainbow Dash's face peeked over the chariot's hood and sang, upside-down:
RAINBOW DASH AND ALL: Cause it's a beautiful night,
We're looking for something dumb to do.
Leaping up to hover before the chariot, she struck a spunky pose and pointed, squinting one eye, at Cadence.
RAINBOW DASH: Hey baby,
I think I wanna marry you.
Rainbow then zoomed to and fro before Cadence's eyes, leaving a dazzling multicolored trail. The crowd reformed into a wedge formation.
ALL: Is it the look in your eyes?
Another quick appearance from the mailmare, the DJ, and Pinkie Pie. The DJ's glasses were off for a split second, and Pinkie's eyes were even swirlier than the mailmare's.
ALL: Or is it this dancing juice?
Now the Cutie Mark Crusaders kick-danced by, grinning huge, genuine grins! In their wake came Zecora, the zebra herbalist, toting a wagon of rattling potions and grinning toward Cadence.
ALL: Who cares, baby?
I think I wanna marry you!
Despite the spectacle to this point, Cadence was astonished anew when the necks and heads of Equestria's reigning princesses suddenly appeared from either side of her field of vision, their lips pursed in song:
CELESTIA AND LUNA: Just say I doooooo!
The royal heads withdrew in perfect time. Now two columns of uniformed royal guards marched into Cadence's sight, first facing away from her and then turning sideways to unite in the middle.
ALL: Tell me right now, baby!
Tell me right now, baby, baby!
Mr. and Mrs. Cake, Granny Smith and the mayor of Ponyville now ambled into place before the carriage, each bearing a magical orb. Within these, images swirled of far-off folk: The Great and Powerful Trixie; Gilda the griffon; the ponies of Appleoosa; and, most touchingly, Cadence's own loved ones from her original home.
TRIXIE, GILDA, BRAEBURN, ETC.: Just say I doooooo!
The orb-bearers backed away, exposing the six Elements of Harmony in the front line of dancers, stepping and singing in unison:
ELEMENTS OF HARMONY: Tell me right now, baby!
Tell me right now baby, baby!
With great moment, beginning with these six, the entire crowd parted evenly down the middle. At the end of the aisle stood Celestia and Luna, flanking—well, who else? The love of her life, Shining Armor. And suddenly, his was the only voice.
SHINING ARMOR: Oh, it's a beautiful night,
We're looking for something dumb to do.
Hey baby—
I think I wanna marry you!
Cadence grinned, wiping a tear away. Of course it been a proposal. What else could this ever have been?
Shining Armor advanced up the aisle, singing with intense focus even as he tried to feign casualness. The assembled crowd reared up and wiggled their forehooves frantically to either side, except for Celestia and Luna, who tilted their bodies rhythmically and fluttered their wings at dramatic angles.
SHINING ARMOR: Is it the look in your eyes,
Or is it this dancing juice?
Who cares, baby?
I know I wanna marry you!
The music ended, and Shining Armor stopped before her sitting, then kneeling. On a red pillow, he produced a ring. Cadence looked it over—it was beautiful, like him, and like the moment.
She gathered herself, forelegs extended over the edges of the chariot. “That was a nice proposal, sweetie... but I think I'm gonna hold out for a better one.”
The crowd stared, many of their faces transforming to expressions of dismay.
“Just kidding!” chimed Cadence. “YES, absolutely yes!!” She leapt from the chariot and embraced her beloved, who melted against her.
Relieved, the crowd laughed, and no one missed the music.
- - - - -
Luna stepped close to Cadence on her way out, touching her with a lengthy wingtip. "You can expect to outlive Shining Armor by several thousand years. You will require a great many marriage proposals. After this spectacle...good luck with that!" And she walked away, leaving Cadence dumbfounded.
- - - - -
Oh—and you won't want to miss this:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXAg5XdK8ac