Canterlot Castle Courtyard, Evening…
The courtyard bustled with activity as every friend and family of Princess Cadance and Shining Armor had gathered for their anniversary. The evening was brightened with the presence of Princess Flurry Heart who babbled happily at the sight around her. Cadance and Shining Armor sat at their table with their beloved daughter sitting between them as Night Light and Twilight Velvet, the parents of Shining Armor and Twilight Sparkle, cooed over their grandfoal. Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and the royal sisters Princesses Celestia and Luna offered their congratulations and presents to the royal couple while the Cutie Mark Crusaders awed over little Flurry Heart. Nearby, Spike and Starlight Glimmer shared conversations with Flurry Heart’s crystaller Sunburst after presenting their compliments and gifts to the royal family.
Meanwhile, Princess Twilight Sparkle stood behind the curtains on a nearby outdoor stage as she watched the happy occasion. She smiled as she oversaw the celebration in the courtyard filled with her loved ones. It was the same courtyard where her “big brother best friend forever” and “greatest foalsitter in all the history of foalsitters” had their wedding reception so long ago. Celestia and Luna had ensured that the courtyard would be available for the evening’s anniversary party under Twilight’s planning and supervision. With the exception of a few hiccups along the way that Twilight managed to solve, Cadance and Shining Armor’s anniversary party proceeded just like she had hoped. Everypony smiled and enjoyed tonight’s gathering. And tonight would become more memorable for the royal family…
Twilight approached the microphone at the stage’s center and cleared her throat. “Hello, everypony!”
Everypony present stopped what they were doing and turned to Twilight.
“I’d like to say a few words for the happy family,” Twilight requested as she looked at her brother, sister-in-law, and niece. Both Cadance and Shining Armor smiled and nodded their assent while Flurry Heart squealed at the sight of her aunt.
“It seems not so long ago,” Twilight started, “that we had all gathered here to witness the joining of two very special ponies who hold an important place in everypony’s hearts.” Shining Armor and Cadance smiled appreciatively at Twilight’s words. “And now here we are,” Twilight continued, “at this exact spot, united by love and friendship once again to celebrate the day of their happy union. That day has now become more special,” Twilight pointed out to Flurry Heart, “with the presence of a new member of their family.”
Flurry Heart giggled as everypony turned to coo and awe at her. Twilight smiled adoringly at her beautiful niece, who has made the already-happy occasion more joyful with her presence.
“I would like to finish,” Twilight resumed, “by saying that we are all grateful that the three of you,” she pointed to Cadance, Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart, “whose love and happiness has brought us here will continue to make many new happy memories together. And whatever happens, you will always hold a dear place in our hearts.”
Hearing Twilight’s kind words, Cadance, Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart hugged together as happy tears brimmed their eyes. Everypony started to applaud when Twilight suddenly interrupted.
“Oh! Almost forgot!” she exclaimed. “I would also like to make this occasion more memorable by presenting a very special anniversary gift.” Twilight turned and stretched her hoof to the side of the stage. “With the help of a good friend…”
Everypony looked to where Twilight pointed, as a lone equine figure walked out onstage and caught their attention. A brilliant gamboge-coated, sapphire blue-maned pegasus stallion dressed in his best formal attire and carrying a guitar around his neck shyly approached the stage's center and took his place next to the alicorn princess. He greeted Twilight with a bashful smile, who returned with a grateful smile of her own and turned back to the audience.
“Please welcome my very dear friend,” Twilight announced, “Flash Sentry, who would like to play a special song for the royal family!”
Everypony clapped and cheered for Flash Sentry of the Crystal Empire Royal Guard, who gave the audience a warm welcoming smile in return. Twilight stepped aside as Flash approached the microphone and sat down. Adjusting his guitar strings, Flash looked at the royal couple and their little filly as they smiled at him.
Before, the pegasus royal guard had told the Princess of Friendship of his desire to sing a familiar yet heartfelt song for Cadance and Shining Armor’s anniversary. Although Twilight had given her wholehearted approval to his idea, Flash had also expressed reluctance to do so out of fear of being unoriginal and potentially disappointing the royal couple on their special day. It took Twilight’s kind words of wisdom and confidence to encourage Flash to follow through on his plan to present his anniversary gift to Shining Armor and Cadance. In addition, Twilight had also offered her idea to Flash on how the two of them could make the gift even more special…
Flash glanced at Twilight, who gave her friend an encouraging smile and a gentle nod to proceed. Turning back to the audience, Flash took a deep breath as he summoned up the courage to begin. He strummed his guitar with his hoof to test it out, the strings giving a delightful tune across the courtyard. Everypony watched eagerly as he prepared to begin his performance.
After a moment’s pause, Flash plucked the guitar strings as he started to play the introduction, the music’s soft melody grabbing the audience’s attention. Time seemed to slow down as the soft gentle guitar music touched the hearts of everypony present. Their memories went back to a special night long ago as they listened to the familiar tune.
From the side of the stage, Twilight watched as her friend played the music’s introduction with concentration and passion. Her mind went back to the night when she did the same thing for her beloved brother and sister-in-law.
Finishing the introduction, Flash rested for a beat before he resumed his guitar-playing and started to sing softly…
“Love is in bloom
A beautiful bride, a handsome groom
Two hearts becoming one
A bond that cannot be undone…”
Everypony in the audience watched enraptured as they listened to Flash sing out a familiar heartwarming melody that filled their hearts with joy. A sense of nostalgia stirred within Cadance and Shining Armor as their memories went back to the night of their wedding reception. Onstage, Twilight smiled as she watched Flash sing a slow and soft guitar cover of the same song she sang for Shining Armor and Cadance’s wedding…
“Because love is in bloom
A beautiful bride, a handsome groom
I said love is in bloom
You're starting a life and making room for us…”
With his singing finished, Flash continued his guitar-playing as he turned and smiled at Twilight, who returned with a warm smile of her own as she stepped out onto the stage. Everypony watched with interest as she approached Flash’s side and stood in front of the microphone as the music continued to play. The entire audience then watched in joy as Twilight started to sing…
“Your special day
We celebrate now, the pony way
Your friends are all right here
Won't let these moments disappear…”
Everypony in the audience, some with happy tears in their eyes, watched entranced as they listened to Twilight sing in her wonderful and melodious voice to the soft rhythm of Flash’s guitar-playing. Sitting between her father and mother, Flurry Heart watched gleefully as she listened to her beloved aunt sing out a beautiful tune for her loving parents.
Earlier, Twilight and Flash had worked together to compose additional lyrics for their cover of “Love Is In Bloom.” The new lyrics they wrote expressed everypony's joy and happiness for Cadance and Shining Armor’s everlasting love for each other. A love that has become more bound with the presence of their little foal Flurry Heart…
“Because love is in bloom
A beautiful bride, a handsome groom
I said love is in bloom
You're starting a life and making room for us…”
The music started to slow down as Twilight finished her singing while Flash played his guitar more softly. Everypony started to applaud their performance, but the princess and her friend had one more surprise for them…
With a nod, Twilight signaled Flash to prepare for their finishing act just as they had rehearsed. To everypony’s delightful surprise, the two friends then sang together in a duet…
“Because love is in bloom
A beautiful bride, a handsome groom
We said love is in bloom
You're starting a life and making room for us...”
Everypony watched wholeheartedly as Twilight and Flash reached the end of their duet. The two ponies stood near each other as they sang the last words to their song…
“For us,” Flash repeated.
“For us,” Twilight echoed.
“For us,” they finished together as their duet ended.
Upon finishing the duet, Flash rested for another beat and then played a reprise of the song’s introduction as its outro. He strummed his guitar with heartwarming passion as everypony listened with rapt attention to the music’s conclusion. They watched as Flash played out the last notes of the song, the fading music of the outro signifying the end of the performance.
As the music ended, Flash looked up from his guitar at Twilight. They shared a warm look, and turned towards the audience. A moment passed as they awaited their reception.
The silence is broken as Cadance, Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart started clapping for the duo’s performance before being joined by the rest of their friends and family. The entire courtyard filled with happy cheers as they gave a standing encore for Twilight and Flash.
As everypony cheered on, Twilight turned to Flash with a kind smile and offered her hoof to him. Smiling in return, Flash stood up and gratefully took Twilight's hoof with his. They turned back towards the audience and bowed together, an act which won them more applause.
From her spot between Shining Armor and Cadance, little Flurry Heart cheered as she watched her dear aunt and favorite guard bow and stand together. The little princess then surprised her parents when she suddenly teleported away from them and popped up onstage between Twilight and Flash.
Startled, Twilight nevertheless happily took her niece in her foreleg. Flurry Hearted squealed as she reached out for her smiling aunt and received a loving hug and kiss from her. She then turned towards Flash and reached out for him in turn. Smiling warmly at the little princess, Flash offered his hoof to Flurry Heart and let her wrap her little forelegs around it.
The three ponies smiled and laughed together onstage as everypony cheered and awed over the adorable sight of little Flurry Heart cooing in the forelegs of her aunt and bodyguard. Taking the initiative, Spike quickly brought out his camera and took a photo of the heartwarming moment.
“That’s another one for the scrapbook!” Spike enthusiastically exclaimed. Nearby, Starlight and Sunburst shared a smile, their thoughts mirroring the dragon’s sentiments as they watched their friends’ joy and happiness.
Within the audience, Rainbow Dash shouted out the words that summed up everypony’s feelings: “Best. Anniversary. Ever!”
Amid the celebration, the royal couple shared a hug as they took in the moment. Turning to his beloved wife, Shining Armor regarded Cadance with a tender expression.
“Happy Anniversary, Cadance,” Shining Armor proclaimed as he lovingly looked into his wife’s eyes. Looking back at Shining Armor, Cadance gave her devoted husband an affectionate nuzzle in return.
“Happy Anniversary, Shining Armor,” Cadance answered. The loving couple pressed and held their heads together as the night went on, their hearts filled with love for one another.
Indeed, this was a night that Cadance, Shining Armor, and their precious daughter Flurry Heart would long remember and cherish together…
The End
