Aline’s wedding

“You look… I’m serious, there are no words for it, Aline. You look so unbelievably beautiful.”
Her white veil covered her entire body and merged with her tail to reach the ground. Her mane where tied up, with two loose locks falling down.
“Well… thank you, Ivy. I hope Junai will feel the same.”
“He’d be a fool if he didn’t.” Ivy winked.

Twinkle Star looked at the scene from the corner of the room. She didn’t have a real role to play, it seemed, or at least that was how it felt to Twinkle Star. She was Aline’s official bridesmaid, sure, but it didn’t seem to big of a deal anymore. Twinkle Star wondered whether Aline had regret of her choice; would she rather have Ivy as her bridesmaid?

No, Twinkle Star, don’t think these silly things, she told herself. Of course Aline wouldn’t want Ivy. She had asked her, and she was her best friend, right? Yet, it didn’t seem like she could help with anything, because Ivy was doing all the bridesmaid should do.
“Is everything done with your hair, Twinkle Star?” Aline interrupted her thoughts. “Yes, I guess so. It looks really good, Aline.”
“Of course it does, I invented it, remember?” Aline winked. Twinkle Star’s hair was done in the same fashion as Aline’s, except it looked more… sober. Which was only natural, of course… she wasn’t the one who was getting married.

“Wow… you all look so beautiful.” A voice said from the door opening. Twinkle Star recognised the voice of her youngest sister Fleur, who was also dressed up but not nearly as fancy as she or Aline, or even Ivy. Of course, Fleur was only here as a princess, not as a best friend or a bridesmaid.
“You especially Aline, of course. It’s just…” Fleur was too impressed to convert it into words.
Once again, Aline blushed. “Thanks, Fleur.”

“Are you all ready? Everyone in the throne room is.”
“I guess we are, right?” Ivy asked.
Aline nodded. “Yes… so, I guess this is it.”
Twinkle Star discovered some traces of doubt in her friends face. “It is, Aline. You’re getting married now.”
Twinkle Star observed her friends face. “Are you really sure about this?”
Aline looked like she pondered over it for a short moment, and then her expression became more determined.
“Yes, I am. I definitely am.”

“Then let’s not delay this any further, right?” Ivy said enthusiastically. She trotted out of the room and Aline and Twinkle Star followed her.

When they reached the throne room, the doors were closed. Fleur slipped in, and a moment later they heard Fleur announcing Aline’s arrival. Ivy pushed the door wide open, and Aline, followed by Twinkle Star entered the room. To Twinkle Star’s surprise the room was packed. She didn’t recognise half the faces she saw, but she assumed they were all people from the country, as she hadn’t heard her mother, or anyone else, talking about inviting people from abroad.

She did notice little Câlin sitting next to Tsuyo and another maid. She smiled and waved at Aline, who winked at her, which made Câlin blush. Twinkle Star realised it had been a long time since she had seen Câlin look so trouble-free. She was truly enjoying this, which made Twinkle Star enjoy it even more.

Two ponies she did recognise were Aline’s parents, sitting in the front. They had arrived the evening before, relieved to find out they had made it on time. Aline had been delighted to see her parents again, and there was a strange but happy reunion between Regina and them. Of course Aline’s parents had knows Regina was alive for quite a while now, but to see her alive and well still made them cry. They even hinted that they would want to stay in the new Friendship Lands, residents of the new region.

Her mother was standing in front of the throne, wearing her official purple with white trim cloak and she was holding the star staff. Twinkle Star noticed her mother wasn’t wearing a crown, which was stolen by the pony who Illuvia’s soul claimed to be a princess of the Friendship Lands. For a moment Twinkle Star’s thoughts floated back towards that dreadful moment in which Illuvia was killed… and the mysterious pony disappeared. They hadn’t heard anything from her, or had any sightings of her. She had simply vanished with the crown.

“Twinkle Star!” A voice whispered, and Twinkle Star noticed everyone was waiting for her. Ste once again followed Aline towards the front of the room. They halted when they had reached Regina.
“My dear friends and guests,” Her mother started her speech, “welcome to this special wedding. Today, we will bind Aline and Junai in wisdom and love, and we will seal their bond for eternity.”
Her mother paused. Twinkle Star wondered when Junai would show. As was customary in weddings in the old Friendship Lands, the groom would only show up after the bride’s vow was sealed, for a woman’s word was not only towards her husband but towards the queen herself. This was especially true with ponies who would one day become steward, as their marriage made them eligible for that role.

“My dear Aline,” Regina continued, “I met you only six months ago, and already you have grown so much. Not only have you met and fallen in love with the man you are about to marry, but also you have accepted my request to take on the role of steward, which is yours by birthright.” Twinkle Star noticed Aline’s parents beam with pride. Surely, they had never expected to see this day again for so long.

“I am confident you and Junai will govern the new region of this country very well together. It hasn’t been many times in my life that I have seen love as pure as yours. And love is not only the base of a good relationship between the both of you, but also the base on which you will do everything else in your life. We are here now to seal this love you feel towards Junai, and through that to the entire kingdom.”

Regina raised her hoof, and Twinkle Star felt a small flow of royal powers enter the room. She had been very curious about this; she had known the sealing of the vows was done with royal powers, but she had never understood how this was actually done. It was rather different from the wedding she had seen in Kin, between prince Stanno and her own niece, princess Togli. There, the vows were sealed with some magic water. Twinkle Star now realised that was probably done because the royal powers the ruling family of kin possessed simply weren’t strong enough to seal such a powerful thing as love.

Regina put her hoof on Aline’s head, who had bowed before her queen.
“Aline Daiya of the Friendship Lands, will you take Junai from the Friendship Lands as your one true life partner, and through your love for him, will you serve this country as best as is within your powers, until the Guardians take you to their realm?”
“I do.”
For a moment, the royal powers became visible above Aline’s head. Pink they turned, and Regina smiled. Twinkle Star wondered if they could confirm this vow to the room somehow, if the color showed whether Aline’s heart made the vow.

“Your vow is sealed now, Aline. No matter the answer of Junai, your love for him will always fuel your actions in the future, and your bond to the Friendship Lands is made.” Twinkle Star realised this was quite a big thing. No matter Junai’s answer… so even if he said no, her love was meant to exist forever. No wonder a woman’s promise was taken so much higher than a man’s.

“I will now ask Junai to enter the room.” Her mother said, and Fleur, who was still standing next to the door, nodded and opened the room. Junai was already waiting there, wearing a red cape and his mane were brushed and washed. He looked absolutely stunning, Twinkle Star had to admit. Familiar, even… she had never seen Junai resemble his older brother as much as now. His coat was almost white now, and the pink in his mane was clearly visible. Kiyoi…

As Junai entered the room, she glimpsed at Câlin, and she noticed the pony was staring at her. She’s feeling it, Twinkle Star realised, my feelings… she can feel them again. But Câlin could only feel her emotions when they were really strong… and she didn’t feel that strongly about Kiyoi, right?

Meanwhile, Junai had reached Aline and Regina, and Fleur had closed the door again. Aline was smiling now, happy to see her future husband.
“Welcome, Junai. We are here today to take your vow to Aline Daiya of the Friendship Lands. As you know, by this marriage Aline will be eligible for the role of steward in our country. Her love for you is the base of her ability to take on that role. She will need your love and support to carry this love to others. Yet, this marriage is not based on the support for her, but on the love between the both of you. Ultimately, love is the strongest emotion one can posses, and one that will never disappear completely. Therefore, Junai, I will not only take your vow to support Aline in the future, but most of all, your vow of love.”

Junai softly nodded, and he also bowed in front of the queen. Once again, Regina raised her hoof, and Twinkle Star felt the small flow of royal powers once again enter the room.
“Junai of the Friendship Lands, , will you take Aline Daiya of the Friendship Lands as your one true life partner, and through your love for her, will you support her in her tasks for this country, until the Guardians take you to their realm?”
“I do.”
As with Aline, the royal powers floating above his head turned pink, and Regina smiled again.

“Aline and Junai, I have now sealed your vows towards each other for the crown. However, as you two requested, you would like to pronounce your own vows towards each other yourself. Therefore, Junai…” Regina stepped backwards, and Junai and Aline stood up.

“Aline… when I first saw you, you were only a servant here, but you stole my heart immediately. I knew at once you were the woman I wanted to share my life with. When the Queen asked you to become steward, I was shocked first, but I knew I wanted to be there with you. Through hard times, through easy times… Because Aline, for a girl like you… I don’t think there would be anything I could not do.”

Twinkle Star’s heart skipped a beat. When she heard Junai say those words, her mind transported her back to a year ago, where Kiyoi said those exact same words to her… the day they parted. She knew Câlin was aware of her feelings, but she felt she couldn’t stop them anymore.

“Junai…” Aline’s voice penetrated her thoughts, “I may not really know what is ahead of me. I don’t know where this will lead me. And I would be lying if I told you I wasn’t afraid of it all. But I know deep in my heart, that as long as you are by my side, I can face everything. I know one day I will become a good steward, because you are there for me, and I know I will always be there for you. I can not imagine a world without you anymore, Junai. I feel so safe with you. There might not be a lot I know, but I know my future is with you. Together, we will face and defeat anything that steps in our way, and enjoy all good things.”

The newly wed couple smiled at each other, and then kissed. All ponies in the room began to applaud. Twinkle Star joined them, but her heart wasn’t in it. Of course she was happy for her friend, but one thing didn’t want to leave her mind.
That could have been you, Twinkle Star… if you had chosen differently. A different future… And for the first time since she had left him, Twinkle Star wondered if leaving Kiyoi had been the right choice.