A Gentle Voice Calls Him Father

I am only moments away from walking down the aisle, to meet my wonderful groom. The music had started up, and my bridesmaids are already in their places on the steps. My flower girls skip in front of me, scattering rose petals with each hop. At long last, after weeks of turmoil, strife and hard work, I finally get my moment. I start down the aisle.

I notice Rarity start to tear up, and dab carefully at her eyes to clear it away, and while she wasn't looking, Applejack slipped her iconic hat on. I see Twilight, standing to Shining Armor's side smiling widely. Shining Armor himself can't keep his eyes off me. I smile at him, but my eyes move to my aunt, who is giving me her standard serene, graceful smile. Her official, public smile, a kind that doesn't tell me anything.

A small glace to the side lets me see Shining Armor's parents tearing up. I know they're both very happy for us. I'm sure they're very proud of Twilight for her hand in uncovering the wicked queen's plot to take over Equestria.

Finally, I reach the steps, and my eyes are locked on my groom's eyes. I can't believe my luck, the stallion I've had a crush on since before I got my cutie mark is going to be my husband. Slowly, I turn towards my aunt to begin the ceremony.

I break from the kiss I'm giving Shining Armor to watch the rainbow trailing after the cyan pony turn into Sonic Rainboom.

“Isn't this just perfect, dear?” I ask him, as Rainbow Dash completes a full rainbow, just for us. “All this effort, just for us? It makes me feel like I'm so loved by the people around me.”

“You are, Cadence,” he said to me. “You're loved by the people of Canterlot, you're loved by your friends, you're loved by Twilight, and all the other mares and colts you used to foal sit for, you're loved by Princess Luna, and Princess Celestia, and most of all, you're loved by me.”

I nuzzle against him, glad that he's finally my husband, and that the whole terrible mess of the changeling invasion is far behind us. Suddenly, I hear someone call out to me.

“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza!” I hear one of the royal guards call out.

“Princes Cadence, please,” I correct, turning towards the guard.

“My apologies, Princess Cadence,” The guard replies.

“What is it, Steel Wing?” Shining Armor asked the pegasus guard.

“There's someone here to see the Princess,” Steel Wing reported in an official voice. “He demands to speak with her.”

Shining Armor and I exchange a look. Who could possibly want to speak to me who wasn't already in attendance at my wedding?

“I'd better take care of it,” Shining Armor says. I want to stop him. This day is our day, to spend together. It'd hardly be much fun if my husband had to work today.

“I'll take care of it,” aunt Celestia offered. “You two head towards the ballroom.”

I put it out of my mind as my wedding party and I went to the ballroom to join the rest of my guests for the lovely dinner that Applejack prepared. I was almost finished my own dinner when the double doors to the ballroom swung open, and a white pegasus with very bright, flowing orange, red and yellow hair. Aunt Celestia came galloping in behind him.

“I told you that you cannot come back here,” she says in her royal voice. I've only ever heard Aunt Luna use the royal voice. Apparently I have the ability to use it, and Aunt Luna wants to teach me, but Aunt Celestia said no. Dinner was stopped as everyone stared at the scene.

“I will see my daughter if I want to, Celestia.” I nearly fainted right there. He used the royal voice back at her. He was nothing like in the few memories I held on to, but there was no denying.

“Father?” I say in a gentle voice.

“Mi Amore!” I hear him say in a normal voice, and memories come rushing back: In a brightly lit kitchen, when I was maybe four, and I was helping Mom make some kind of cookies, kicking a soccer ball in past Father's hoof, feeling Blue kick from inside Mom late in her pregnancy. They were things I could barely remember, or not remember at all, brought back in almost painfully sharp clarity.

“Father!” I exclaim louder, much more assured. I run over and hug him.

“Mi Amore,” he says lightly into my mane.

“Actually, Father, it's Cadence,” I tell him as I pull out of the hug. “Oh, Shining Armor, come meet my father!” I didn't even notice Shining Armor was already nearly right behind me.

“Father, this is my husband, Shining Armor, he's captain of the guard,” I introduce and explain. “Shining Armor, this is my Father.”

“It's good to meet you, sir,” Shining Armor says, reaching out for a hoofshake. The older stallion returned the hoofshake, but said nothing.

“Really, now, Solaris, you are interrupting a wedding reception,” aunt Celestia reminds him sharply. “One that you were not invited to. I'm going to have to ask you to leave.”

“You're going to demand I leave my own daughter's wedding, Tia?” he asks in the same tone. He turned to me. “You want me to stay, right Cadence?” he asks in a cotton candy soft voice.

“Of course I want you to stay, Father,” I say. “Please Aunt Celestia? It wouldn't be too hard to set one extra plate, would it?”

Aunt Celestia sighs in response. She clearly doesn't want my father here, and I don't quite understand why. Finally, she relents, and one of the waitstaff sets up an extra plate at my wedding party table. Right next to Aunt Celestia. This, for sure, was going to be an awkward dinner.