Glasses clinked. Chairs creaked. Hooves tapped.

Eyes flitted towards other eyes, some familiar and some unfamiliar. Clashing irises and piercing pupils made the encounter seem even more strange, the queerness of it all becoming even more obvious. Words were not exchanged, nor would they be permitted to, as the foreignness of peers and company made the entire encounter just all the more bizarre.

Awkward coughs. Small murmurs. Tiny hums.

Finally, one brave soul managed to break through the silence. "Anypony know what time it is?"

There was collective relief, and an air of frustration, too, that came with the shattered stillness. A yellow coated mare looked down at her watch, the hands of which holding cartoonish little lightning bolts. "Little before five?"

Half of the occupants groaned and the other half sighed.

The questioner didn't seem to mind the obvious delay in time. "Meh, I guess we have to keep waiting, huh?"

An irritated sigh followed his statement. "Sthoarin, the wedding was sthupposthed to sthtart earlier. What'sth the holdup?"

"Easy now, Fleetfoot," warned Spitfire. "Don't want you gettin' riled up again."

Fleetfoot rolled her eyes. "Any clue why we're here? I don't even know why we were invited."

Soarin shrugged. "Guess 'cause we're friends with Rainbow Dash... Besides, I ain't complainin'! Pinkie Pie sure knows how to throw a party after all!"

Spitfire and Fleetfloot rolled their eyes collectively. Spitfire looked around the castle's ballroom for a brief moment, where the chair were all placed around into rows, then returned her gaze to Soarin. "Ya know, there are an awful lot of ponies here... Like, famous ponies." She nodded her head to a row that was in front of them. "Check it out, it's Sapphire Shores."

Soarin looked where Spitfire was looking, his eyes widening as he saw that Spitfire was telling the truth. His jaw dropped as he noticed the other celebrities that were seated among them. "Whoa, look, Hoity Toity's here! And, oh, cool, it's Fancy Pants and Fleur de Lis!" His eyes sparkled with foal-like glee and wonder as he picked out the different stars of Equestria from the rows, almost as if he were playing "Duck, Duck, Goose". "Trenderhoof, Photo Finish, even Prince Blueblood!" He paused for a brief moment and squinted as he tried to place the mare beside him. "Yo, who's that next to him?"

Fleetfoot groaned in annoyance. "It's Trixie Lulamoon. Remember her from that show we did a long time ago?"

"'The Great and Powerful Trixie,'" Spitfire said in a mocking voice of Trixie. She scoffed lightly. "She is such an egomaniac... She even spoke in third person."

Soarin frowned at his female companions, then arched a brow at Spitfire specifically. "Ya sure ya aren't mad 'cause Blueblood is dating somepony else, Spitfire?"

Spitfire grit her teeth. "I told you-- and the rest of the team--" She rolled her eyes as she muttered that last past. "--that I dumped him." She let out a tiny "hmph" to herself. "Makes sense that two self-absorbed ponies would end up with one another."

"We heard that!" Blueblood snapped suddenly, sparing Spitfire a sharp glance. He protectively wrapped a foreleg around Trixie, who seemed rather rigid and apprehensive, then sent another glare towards Spitfire and the rest of the Wonderbolts before leaning down to whisper something to Trixie. Soarin blinked, unsure what to make of his strange behavior, but decided not to comment on it.

Spitfire sniffed in a snide manner. "When is this wedding gonna start? I just wanna get this over with and eat some cake."

Soarin elbowed her in annoyance. "Seriously, quit with the attitude! We're guests, remember?" He sighed. "Yeesh, it's usually you who has to keep me in line. What gives, Spitfire?"

Spitfire went silent for a moment, her gaze uneasy and trickling with trepidation. Finally, she looked away and muttered with a light scoff, "I'm not a big fan of weddings, OK? Let's just leave it at that..."

Soarin, deciding that questioning Spitfire was more trouble than it was worth, looked around the room for a minute, then frowned as he failed to find who he was looking for. "I guess I can understand why all these celebrities are here..." Fleetfloot and Spitfire turned towards him as he muttered to himself. "But, what about the other Elements of Harmony...? Where are they?"

Spitfire grinned teasingly. "Ya mean Rainbow Dash, the chick you been eyeing since the Young Flyer's Competition?"

Soarin almost immediately put a hoof over her mouth, then the other on Fleetfoot's for good measure. His pale complexion was a very rosy red, which seemed to add to his unease. "Shhhhhh! You guys swore not to talk about it in public!"

Fleetfoot smacked his hoof away. "Dude, she'sth a bridesthmaid. You'll see her going down the aisle soon enough." She grinned slyly. "Maybe the next wedding you go to she won't be a bridesthmaid...?"

Soarin arched a brow in confusion. "What are you...?" His eyes widened and his blush darkened as he realized her meaning. He frowned at her, trying to hide his embarrassment. "Not. Funny."

Spitfire snickered with Fleetfoot, which caused Soarin to sigh in annoyance. Spitfire put a hoof on his shoulder as he pouted. "C'mon, we're just teasin'... Besides, I'm pretty sure that Dashie likes you, too, Soar."

"You're speaking of it," Soarin said through gritted teeth, his forelegs crossed over his chest in a childish manner.

Spitfire rolled her eyes. "Just sayin', dude... She seemed pretty keen on talking to you out of all the members, ya know... Even asked for a dance at the Grand Galloping Gala a couple years back."

Soarin's flattened ears perked up at that. "For real? She asked for a dance?"

Spitfire nodded. "Yep. But, since you were muzzle deep in pie--"

"I thought we agreed not to speak of pie in public, because you and I both know how it affects me mentally and physically."

"--she didn't get a chance to, and neither did you, ya big dork." She smirked. "Man, you should've been there at the academy when she was there... Ya know, I thought she wasn't Wonderbolt material at first, not like Lightning Dust showed me in the first couple of days."

Soarin rolled his eyes. "You told me this story. Lightning Dust was this epic student, but she was super reckless and nearly got a couple ponies killed in the process-- the Elements of Harmony, if I remember correctly." He shuddered. "Ya know, it scares me a bit, 'cause that was before Princess Twilight was... well, Princess Twilight."

Spitfire frowned, not appreciating his interruption, but continued nonetheless. "Aaaaaaand, when she was acting reckless, Rainbow was the one who called her on it. Heck, she even called me out when she came to see me about it."

Soarin blinked. "Say what? You never told me this."

Spitfire shrugged. "Anyway, Rainbow told me all about how Lightning was busting clouds with a tornado method and when I said it was a bit excessive, yet effective, she totally snapped on me. She told me flat-out, 'There's a difference between pushing yourself and just being reckless about it.'"

"Dash said that?"

Spitfire nodded. "Anyway, she was really upset about it, and said that if that was the kind of thing to be rewarded in the Wonderbolts, then she didn't want a part of it."

Soarin's eyes widened. "She quit the academy?"

"Yep. And left before I could say anything to her about it. At least, 'til I got outside and caught up to her, anyway. When I told her about her being right and how I was wrong--"

Soarin snickered. "That's new."

She glared at him. "--I made her lead pony and Lightning got kicked out." She smirked to herself. "Ya know, not a lot of ponies do that. Stand up to us, even when we're wrong about some things." She punched his arm playfully. "So, Soarin, thing is, if ya wanna have a chance with Dash, then you're gonna wanna prove yourself worthy of her. She is the Element of Loyalty, after all."

Soarin arched a brow in thought. "You know, I never got why we never let her join yet. Like you said, she's the Element of Loyalty, and she's saved Equestria tons of times. She even gave us our Pegasus magic back after the whole Tirek incident, ya know."

Spitfire gave him a deadpan look. "Being famous won't get you where you need to be, Soarin. Hard work, determination, and strength, however, will." She looked straight ahead. "Dash needs to work for her spot on the team, just like the rest of us did. She isn't disciplined enough, and she's still a bit... immature, for being one of us."

"Sthpitfire, you sthill sthleep with a nightlight on," Fleetfloot commented.

Spitfire ignored her. "Besides, there's still an awful lot she needs to learn..." She looked up, where several banners of Princess Twilight's and the other Elements' cutie marks hung about, though not enough to take from the wedding decor itself. "Rainbow has yet to grow into she's gonna be."

Soarin looked up with her for a moment, not sure what to make of her behavior, but shrugged. "Whatever you say, Spitfire." His eyes sparkled as they caught onto the rainbow decorated banner that held Rainbow Dash's cutie mark. He smiled to himself. "Whatever you say..."

"Shining, will you quit with that?" Cadence whispered in a hushed tone.

Shining groaned as he ceased scratching his neck. "This suit is super uncomfortable... Why couldn't I wear my uniform?"

Cadence frowned at him. "Because, it was dirty! I don't want to come into a wedding with you wearing your greasy, mustard stained uniform!" She sighed. "You should really stay away from corn dogs when you're wearing your formal wear, Shining..."

Shining put a hoof on her shoulder. "Listen, if this whole ordeal is too stressful for you--"

"No, I'm fine," Cadence assured him lightly. She held his hoof tenderly. "I'm sorry for being so snippy... I'm just a bit emotional, I guess. It doesn't really help, what with--"

"I know." Shining smiled at her. "I have a little sister, Cadence. I know how mares tend to get when they're expecting."

Cadence slapped his arm playfully. "Careful, now. Wouldn't want Twilight to overhear that, now would we?"

Shining chuckled. "No, I suppose not." He frowned. "Didn't you mention that Pinkie was expecting, too?"

Cadence nodded. "Yes. Looks like Sombra's gonna have a lot on plate after honeymoon, hmm?"

The couple laughed quietly to themselves, their hooves covering their muzzles upon entrance into the castle. Twilight's castle was decorated elegantly, though in a playful manner almost, as was expected of the bride and groom. Streamers hung about like banners, strewn around in the most orderly chaotic way as the varying shades of pink swathed the room into the likeliness of a blooming flower.

'Or, an explosion of confetti and streamers,' Cadence pondered, realizing this was a party pony's wedding, after all. Cadence smiled as she placed around the different, yet familiar accents of Pinkie's decor choices, ones that she had seen herself when Pinkie helped with the wedding plans. The chairs that were beside the aisle were tied up in pink bows and accented with blue ribbons, with small, crystallized hearts on and around them. Cadence speculated that was Rarity's touch. Then, along the backs of the guests' chairs, were similar pink bows, though smaller in size as not to take up too much room.

Cadence glanced back up at the ceiling, where more streamers hung around, though as accents to the colorful banners of Twilight and her friends' cutie marks that surrounded the room's interior. Cadence wondered for a moment over why Pinkie would allow the banners to remain when it risked taking from the decorations that were placed for the wedding, but then stopped. The banners were not just representative of Twilight, but of her friends, she remembered. Friendship was important to Pinkie, and since she was the Element of Laughter, it would make perfect sense for an Element like her to want her friends to a part of the wedding, both physically and aesthetically.

Cadence paused. 'I wonder if Sombra had a say in the decor?' She thought it over, than smiled at herself chidingly. 'He's marrying a party pony... I honestly doubt it.'

Shining nudged Cadence gently, then nodded his head towards the row where their names were written on small little placards. Cadence noted that there were seat placements for Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, but stopped as she took in the two ponies already seated on the row.

It was Blueblood, and an unrecognizable mare with a silver mane and blue coat, who sat rather uncomfortably and shyly, almost. Blueblood wore a simple suit that matched his coat, a small red rose adorning his puffed out chest. The mare was wearing a purple gown that accented her eyes, tiny, sparkly stars spread across it like the early night sky with matching shoes. A small star clip was pinned beside her ear, pulling her long bangs out of her face enough to show her gentle, yet somewhat fierce features.

Blueblood didn't bother smiling at Cadence, or Shining for that matter, as they approached the row. "Cadence. Shining." It was curt and simple.

The mare beside him spared him a frown. "Blueblood," she said in a low tone. "Enough of the pouting, now." She turned to Cadence and Shining. "Sorry. He's still a bit sour about the invitation."

Blueblood sniffed. "I'd have been invited if it weren't for that mare, Rarity." He rolled his eyes. "She was such a pretentious little thing..."

"Blueblood," the mare said in a more pressed tone. "Not now. We're guests, remember?"

Cadence sat down uneasily next to the mare, not sure if she wanted to initiate conversation with Blueblood so close in proximity. She took a deep breath, then put on a smile. "So, what's your name?"

The mare perked up at that. "The Great and--" She paused, as if realizing something, then faltered once more. "Trixie. Trixie Lulamoon."

Shining arched a brow. "Lulamoon? I could swear, I've heard that name before..."

Trixie looked down. "Perhaps from your sister, Princess Twilight? Surely she's spoken of Trix-- me on many occasions, no?"

A light flickered on in Cadence's mind. "Are you that Trixie?" She flinched as she realized her tone. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that... I just meant that you were the one to...?"

Trixie nodded. "It was a rather difficult time for Trix-- me. It was a rather difficult time for me."

Cadence gave her a reassuring smile. "It's quite alright. At least they're behind you now, right?" She looked to Blueblood. "How did you two meet?"

"A party," they said together, then blushed collectively as they did.

"A party," Trixie clarified. She twiddled her hooves nervously. "My friend brought Trixie--" She shook her head. "I brought my friend as a guest to the party, and when I was working on a couple of magic tricks--" She seemed relieved to have spoken in the first person. "--Blueblood saw me." She turned towards him. "What trick did you see, anyway?"

"I believed you called it 'the Trick-tacular'?" Blueblood said, a smile coming to his face.

Trixie groaned. "Seriously? What was Trix-- I thinking?"

Blueblood chuckled. "Not sure, but it did get my attention." He stopped smiling as he noticed Shining and Cadence looking at him, then cleared his throat. "Then, I asked for a dance and blah, blah, blah, it was as if we were the only two ponies in the world and it felt like time stopped and all that mess." Blueblood looked to Cadence. "You must get story plenty, don't you?"

Cadence noted the light blush across his cheeks before answering. "Yes, but it's always nice to hear."

Trixie shifted awkwardly for a moment. "Well, it was quite a night, to say the least... Too bad my friend couldn't stay... She said she had to go look at something, then didn't show up for the rest of the night." She shrugged. "Her loss."

"Indeed," Blueblood concurred.

Cadence smiled at their similar mannerisms. "Well, I'm glad to see you with somepony so well-derived and polite, Blueblood." She nudged Trixie teasingly, though carefully as not to seem intrusive. "You got yourself quite the stallion, Trixie. Keep a hold on him?"

Trixie blushed. "Trixie will try to..." She froze. "Oh, horseapples!"

Shining arched a brow. "Is something the matter?"

Trixie sighed. "Trixie has been trying to rid herself of this ridiculous third-person speaking habit for the past couple of weeks... It's ridiculous how Trixie's linguistics have turned on her."

Shining Armor perked up for a moment. "Wait, have you spoken in third-person for a long time?"

Trixie, though a bit perturbed, nodded. "Er, yes... Trixie developed it from her mother... Why?"

Shining relaxed. "No reason. Just was curious."

Cadence glanced at him in confusion, then stopped as it dawned on her. Among the families of elites in Canterlot, there was a family that seemed to hold a problem similar to Trixie's own. It was the House of Moon and Stars, which was thought to have descended from the bloodlines of powerful Unicorns, both politically and magically. Granted, the family itself was rather snobby and full of themselves, yet extremely prestigious nonetheless.

'Who was it that started the House...?' Cadence wondered, her eyes wondering to Trixie.

Trixie sighed. "Ugh, Trixie wishes that she brought her hat... My ears feel strange without it."

Cadence blinked. 'Oh. That makes sense, then...' She paused, then glanced over at Trixie once more. "Hey, Trixie?"

Trixie turned towards her. "Yes?"

"Do you happen to like bells?"

Trixie blinked, not sure what to make of the strange question, but she answered nonetheless. "Yes, Trixie has a liking towards bells. Why do you ask?"

Cadence smiled. "No reason." She held back a giggle. "No reason at all..."

"So... You're Pinkie's father?" Mr.Cake asked, somewhat awkwardly.

Igneous nodded. "Yes."

"Oh. I see." He tapped his hooves anxiously. "So, um, have you gotten to know Sombra, then?"

"Yes." Igneous remained monotone and unmoved.

Mr.Cake glanced at his wife, who was chatting it up with Cloudy Quartz quite easily, then back at Igneous. "And what did you think of him?"

"Pleasant." Igneous glanced at him, then looked straight ahead. "Sombra was pleasant."

Mr.Cake frowned at the short, curt answers, but then remembered how Maud had been the same way in her visit to Ponyville. 'That's where she gets it from, then...' he pondered, his eyes cutting to Cloudy Quartz, who was laughing lightly with Mrs.Cake.

Mr.Cake found the whole thing rather unnerving, being around Pinkie's family. Limestone was being sullen and cynical, occasionally muttering incoherent words of annoyance and anger, earning a couple smacks from Marble, who was fidgeting rather nervously in her seat. Her plus one, Florina, a mare with a blushing pink mane and tail with a pastel green coat, sat on the other side of her, offering small words of comfort to her when she began getting antsy about anything. Mr.Cake pondered the nature of their relationship, but decided it not to be his business to begin with. His eyes flickered to Cloudy Quartz, who seemed to be the most talkative of the bunch, and he felt a flicker of envy as he watched his wife hold an easy conversation with her while he struggled to get more than one syllable out of Igneous.

He sighed. 'Pinkie must take after her mother...'

Igneous grunted quietly. "I wonder where Maud is... She mentioned going to help Rarity with Pinkie, and she's been gone for an awful long time."

"I can go check on her!" Marble said, a little too eagerly.

Igneous arched a brow, but he didn't question it. "Alright, go check on your sister."

Marble nodded, then scurried off, a bit too quickly. Florina, not wanting to be alone, stood up. "Ah'm gonna make sure she's alright... She's kinda nervous." She left without anyone saying anything to her.

Mr.Cake looked to Igneous, who didn't seem to notice Florina's departure. "So, um, any idea what might be on the menu for the wedding party?"

Igneous turned to him. "Aren't you and your wife the ones catering the wedding?"

"Oh... Right." He looked straight ahead. "I'm just gonna stop talking now."

"Marble, slow down!" Florina called out, her tone hushed.

Marble stopped, took a deep breath, then exhaled before turning to face Florina. "Sorry for running off... I was freaking out, what with us being so close to Dad and I just--"

"Ah know," Florina interjected. "Believe me, Ah get it. Yer worried about yer Dad findin' out, aren't ya?"

Marble nodded slowly. "Yeah, I am... I don't know what to do if he makes the connection... And that's a pretty big 'if', because he can pretty dense sometimes."

Florina smiled at her, the sight of which making Marble a bit breathless. "It's alright to be nervous, Marble. Being honest with yer parents is hard to do, because ya both have different viewpoints on things and ya have different experiences. My parents didn't really get it either, ya know."

Marble felt a bit envious of Florina's parents, she knew. While Florina's family was country as all get out and perhaps a bit stubborn, they were accepting when it came to their family and livelihood. "My parents are different, remember? Mama's pretty open, but Daddy might just--"

"You don't know that," Florina interrupted. "Thing is, ya don't know anything that could go down." She smiled at her again, her pastel complexion practically glowing. "Come on, let's go check on Maud and Pinkie, then head on back to our seats, 'k?"

Marble smiled back at her. "I'm on board checking on the girls, but going back to our seats might be a bit of an issue..."

Florina frowned. "Why?"

Marble shifted awkwardly. ''Cause Trixie's seating in the front row on the other side of the aisle with her new coltfriend."

Florina's eyes widened, and she glanced back at the aisle to check if Marble was telling the truth. "Oh, horseapples!" She looked back at Marble. "Why didn't you say anythin'?!"

"Well?! How was I supposed to with Mom and Dad sitting in the row? Besides, I don't think I want everypony knowin' that she only quit the farm because of me... And proceeded to put Ponyville under siege all while banishing the would-be Princess of Magic and Friendship..."

Florina's frown lessened. "Good point... Yer gonna have to tell yer parents sooner or later, ya know."

Marble let out a hum of thought as she tapped her chin. "I choose later." Her eyes widened. "Crud, Trixie's lookin' over here, run!"

Florina sighed as Marble ran off. "Sweet Celestia, why do Ah always go for the wild ones?"

Author's Notes:

Yeah, headcanooooooons and shippiiiiiiiiiiiiing. So, um, if you're wondering why there isn't more to this chapter regarding the guests, it's 'cause... well, they don't need it. Little descriptions and shoutouts seemed like enough for the lot of them, so yeah, that's what they got. Also, they get more in other chapters... Spoilers?

Also, here's what Florina looks like:

She's pretty~