Cherry Berry was a small filly. one with a lot of imagination and play things. One day she found a nice-looking tube object that gave her enjoyment of her whimsical plays. From playing pirate with Scottaloo to pretending to be an astronaut on a space station. There were many ways to entertain oneself with a tube and every time she came home she would reach into her drawer and pull it out and play with it.
Time passes, and a little Cherry is now a big foal who still has the tube and plays with it every day. The parents were a little concerned with how often their daughter played with this simple object. But the parents say to every pony who watched, “This is just a phase”. The object turners dirty.
More time passes, Cherry berry is now a teen, and the tube object is now the ugliest thing in Equestria, but Cherry Berry still plays with it, and one day her parents said that they had enough of this tubular madness so they set her aside for a minute.
Her mom spoke first; “Cherry Dear, why must you play with that ugly tube? It's not even shiny anymore and smells filthy”
“Dad likes it” Cherry replies”
Cherry's dad spoke next ”whether it smells bad or not you haven’t been really sociable with other mares or stallions,”
“I like my tube! It's fun to play with! it's not like you two didn’t have a fun plaything when you were a filly?”
Cherry’s mom responded, “we did, but we grew out of it, and we made lots of friends!”
“Well then call me sentimental! I like my tube and I'm not parting from it.”
Dad stood a bit taller “ listen to yourself! You can’t stop thinking about it! It's like you have an addiction to it!”
The teen pony was belligerent. “An addiction is where you think about something that could potentially harm you.”
“It could harm you!”
“Dad it's plastic.”
“ENOUGH OF THIS” he swiped the tube away from her.
“Hey!” She said in a sad tone.
“You will go outside, you will make one friend, and then you can have this back!”
“Dad thats not fair!”
“FAIR? Don't talk to me about fairness, your grades are down and I went into the army for your education, tell me is that fair?”
A short pause later Cherry dashes out the door in tears.
“I think you overdid it.” said her mother.
* * *
Outside. Oh, joy…. Thought the bittersweet Cherry Berry. That tube was all she thought about, and she realized that she would do anything to get it back. She could get it back by sneaking, or she could actually get a friend.
Sneaking would just cause more anger she would need to do it by the book.
Cherry shivered, she hated books. She would rather fantasize about what she could do with the tube that was her source of entertainment through the years.
So all I had to do is make a friend? Can't be all that hard.
She wiped away the tears and started to trot in a random direction when she bumped into a purplish pony.
“I am sincerely sorry,” it said,” I didn't see you there, please accept my apologies!”
The purple female pony looked at her for a second.
“Oh No! Your crying!”
“They took my Tube away!” Cherry said.
“They took your Tuba away?” asked the purple horse.
“No my TUBE T-U-B-E Tube”
“Ahh tube! My apologies my mind is somewhere else”
“Tell me about it I can't stop thinking about it. They said I can’t have it back until I made a friend”
“Who told you?”
“My parents.”
“What's so important about a tube?”
“That tube is my childhood! We grew up together!”
“Tubes can grow up?”
“You know what I mean.”
“So sentimental value”
“Well that, but I use it to fantasize stories I make up.”
“Stories? I like stories, from books!”
“Books?” Cherry scoffs “no thanks I rather make it up”
“Don't you know that some books are about made up stuff?”
“But none of them has my tube I bet.”
“Just trust me on this... Just look at this book. It is about a space station… and it has a conscience…”
***
“Mom, Dad I made a friend!”
“That was too fast.” said the father
“Mom Dad, meet Twilight Sparkle!
An exchange of hellos is made.
“Twilight sparkle reads book said cherry putting on a false smile.”
Hope kindled in the eyes of Cherry Berry's parents, in fact, they could be bursting with happiness that their daughter had finally grown up.
“So do I get my tube back?”
Their hope was watered with this one sentence, she didn’t learn at all.
“I made a promise,” said the dad. “Here you go.”
“Yaaaayyyy” said Cherry berry and made a vroom noise to make it seem like it rocketed out of there
“Common twilight let me show you my room and we can play space station while you read your book”
They thump up the stairs
The parent is a bit less tense. Maybe there was some hope after all.
* * *
“Do you really like your tube that much?” Asked Twilight Sparkle with her nose cleaved
“What can’t you do with it? You can dance with it and tell it secrets and it won't tell any pony. It makes a good friend. Im afraid my parents will take it away again.”
“Yes but it's just an inanimate object it's not like you can marry it or anything.”
“TWILIGHT THAT'S A WONDERFUL IDEA”
“What?”
“I'm going to marry this tube and then my parents won't have any say about taking it away… thats against a law to take your spouse right?”
“Only when it's a person.”
“Screw that noise I'm going to marry a tube! I'm going to get ready.”
She goes rummaging through the draws looking for her finest clothing and once she finds them she begins to go down the stairs.
“Where are you going?”
“To see princess Celestia so she can marry us!” and she goes outside.
Twilight goes down the stairs to see the parents in a startled gaze
“Did she?” began her mom.
“Yep.. she is” replied Twilight sparkle.
***
Waiting in line was a pain, but she was writing a certificate when twilight and her parents arrive.
“Think about what you're doing!” said her father. You are going to marry an ugly tube!
“Frick you father,” said Cherry. I want my tube, I don’t want you taking him away from me.
Cherry gasped, She actually gave it an identity, and she really thought she really wanted to marry it.
“I DO! She said “ I LOVE HIM! PLEASE DON’T STOP ME!
“What do we do about this?” asked her mother.
We appeal to her child side! sparked Twilight.
“By doing what?” asked her Father.
We play along and “pretend” that they are getting married.
“Is that going to work?”
“I'm going to princess Celestia to let her know the plan."
“Wait how…”
“I'm a student” she replies.
It was finally Cherry's turn, she was next in line... She saw Twilight Sparkle whispering to her parents, then dashing off inside the castle. It was very odd that the guards did not catch her. Why didn't they even flinch?
"Excuse me"
Two words from the scheduler pony echoed in her head enough to give up this odd coincidence. After all. Her tube was all she wanted.
She step forward to the desk where the pony looked over her with a nonprejudiced look as if the pony already look at ponies who were just like her hundreds of times.
"Name?" he blandly asked. His job was to listen to problems and file them accordingly and send her for a later date.
"Cherry Berry," she stated what she thought sounded to be proud, and yet a squeak was heard at the end of the sentence that made a few ponies giggle a bit.
"and what problem do you have?" the pony asked in the same monotone voice.
"My dad took my tube from me because I hadn't made any friends, so I was wondering if you could marry us so I can keep my tube..."
The pony's face went blank and was about to say something about wasting the Queen's time when the royal announcer whispered into the scheduler ponys' ear.
whatever the other pony whispered made him stand a little straighter and when he stopped whispering the scheduler pony looked back at Cherry.
"Cherry Berry correct?" he asked in a regal tone "A thousand apologies, it seems the queen is already awaiting your arrival."
"Uh, Really?" asked a doubtful Cherry Berry. She was not anticipating she would get a wedding this easily. but she wasn't complaining.
she gripped the tube tighter and shared this wonderful place with the dear tube she had many adventures with.
she jumped however when a fanfare of the wedding came from the royal trumpets.
What was going on? she thought. Things were going too fast for her.
She looked to the right side to see Twilight and her parents looking respectful.
This change of attitude and instant wedding were too good to be true. Something was going on, and hopefully, Cherry Berry would be smart enough to bypass the trap that was laid for her.
"Salutations Cherry!" Celestia said with her radiant mane ever waving."Welcome to our home. I've been waiting for you! I hope you find everything to your liking."
"Hello Princess Celestia," Cherry returned the greeting.
Celestia raised her arm to signal a guard to come over.
"Take Cherry Berry to the Royal suite and prepare the ceremony," Celestia said.
Cherry was taken to a bed chamber with a huge four-poster bed and it was decorated with flowers that made it look like the most beautiful room in all of Equestria.
the guard lead her further in where she saw a small table full of snacks and drinks.
"I'll be here if you need me," said a familiar voice.
Cherry turned around to see Twilight Sparkle as she smiled.
"Thank you Twilight, but... what's going on? I would have expected a little more resistance about what I'm doing?"
"Why Cherry are you feeling guilty that you are marrying a tube? isn't this what you wanted?"
"I... I was just surprised! I didn't think you guys would let me do this so easily!"
Twilight giggles "Well I guess you were pretty persuasive!"
"Yeah, I have a talent for that sort of thing..." she said knowing full well she didn't even give an argument as to why she wanted to marry the tube to anyone but her parents and Twilight.
Cherry Berry looked through the many articles of white dresses for her and small rat-sized suits for the tube.
“Oh no! I forgot the ring!” Cherry exclaimed.
“Don't worry I got you covered.”
Twilight produced a box from nowhere and put it on Cherry.
"This is it. The most expensive gem in all of Equestria. The most valuable diamond in all of Ponyville," she proclaimed.
Cherry opened it up and gasped.
"It's beautiful! Thank you, Twilight."
"Now, it's time to get suited up."
She was led to a mirror where she saw herself wearing a long white dress with a big blue bow on the back, while also wearing a pair of white gloves that gave her hooves a little extra protection. the entire ensemble made her look absolutely stunning.
it was the tube's turn to get dressed. "May I suggest you clean your tube before it goes out?" asked Twilight "after all, we want everything to be perfect."
Once Cherry Berry and tube were ready, she was led by the guard to the royal chambers.
“Just remember, when the time comes, say 'I do and seal the deal.” Said the purple unicorn
“Ok..." Cherry said taking a deep breath. "I'm ready!"
She walked into the royal chamber again with her tube, walking down the aisle but this time under the wedding march and it was absolutely perfect.
“Ladies and Gentlemen!" Celestia started "may I present to you, Cherry Berry and the no longer ugly tube!"
"The heck?" Cherry Berry cried. She just remembered she had an ugly tube before and now it was shining again with all of its plastic glory. All the memories that were part of each piece of dirt were now gone. and it was all thanks to her wanting to keep to herself because she loved it. What's worst of all is that she was the one who washed it. she felt dirty and ashamed.
"It's ok to cry during a wedding," said Twilight fake smiling.
"This isn't fair!" Cherry Berry said, "now the tube isn't special anymore! I had very good memories associated with all that dirt! and now it's gone!"
Celestia could see why Cherry might feel that way, but she couldn't let any pony go around feeling upset over something so silly.
"Cherry!" Celestia called, "you mustn't think that! Your tube is still happy to be here! It loves you and always has! Don't you think it's weird that the dirt is gone, but you still remember the many memories you shared with it?
"Yeah... I still do remember all of them" exclaimed Cherry Berry.
"So you should rejoice that you got your tube back! If it means that much to you, then go ahead and marry it!"
"Thank you, Princess Celestia!"
"No worries. Now, let's get your tube married.
she then spoke in a loud voice "Dear every pony! we are gathered today to make join two things together in a historic event that Equestria has never seen."
Twilight Sparkle had a growing dark expression. Celestia was supposed to let it go not actually marry them. What was she thinking?
Cherry Berry gasped.
"Princess Celestia will be marrying Cherry Berry and her beloved tube, the most adorable thing in existence!" she announced,
"Are you serious right now?" Twilight shouted in disbelief, "She just wants you to marry it because she doesn't want to lose her best friend which is an object!"
There it was, the resistance that Cherry was expecting, but she would not consider Twilight to speak in this tone.
"It's ridiculous!" Twilight yelled.
Celestia stood up and said "That's enough! This is a sacred union! I admit I was a bit curious when you told me about this. I mean I never even heard of a pony liking an object enough to marry it. I admit I thought the pony would be a bit... unstable... but I see this pony in earnest, and I will actually bring them together in matrimony."
"What?" Twilight yelled, "you can't! They're just objects! You can't just marry them!"
"You may not be able to see it with your pony eyes, but these two shared a bond only a few other ponies ever have."
Celestia was right.
"A marriage is supposed to be between two things that love each other" Twilight objected "How can that happen when only one is capable of love?"
"An analogy then," said Celestia "When you put salt on a sandwich, does it not enhance the flavor? It only becomes thus when you bring the two together. Likewise, Cherry Berry's willingness to marry a tube will enhance her life."
Twilight looked down and bowed in defeat as she could not argue with this logic.
"Cherry Berry," Celestia bellowed "do you truly indeed love your tube enough to marry it? To hold it? To treasure it? and to make it yours as long as you live?"
"Yes, I do!" Cherry replied in a thunderous voice.
"Would the two of you now please take your rings and place them on each other's hooves and tube?"
Cherry Berry took the tube's ring first and placed it on it. then she puts her own ring bracelet on hers.
"Then I pronounce you tube and wife!" Celestia finished. "You may now kiss."
"I... what?" Cherry exclaimed.
"Kiss the tube."
"Wait she can't, the tube doesn't have lips!" Twilight said giggling a little.
"You have to kiss the tube! it is tradition." Celestia said.
Cherry groaned and reluctantly nodded.
"All right, I'll do it!" she said and kissed the tube. She didn't expect the taste to be awful, but it was.
The parents awkwardly applaud and Twilight clopped on the floor in congratulations. The deed was done, the tube and Cherry were now married.
They both sat back down and Cherry's father stood up.
"Proud to be your father, Cherry Berry."
"And I'm proud to be your mother, Cherry Berry," said Cherry's mom in a sweet voice.
"You are ok with this?" asked Cherry Berry.
"If Celestia says this is ok, we cannot argue..." said her father "I mean we can it just won't be heard cuz you two are now married by Celestia."
"It's ok to not like us father," she said. "that is your right, but never forget this makes your daughter happy."
"I know.. and I'm proud of you for standing up for what you believe in."
"Thanks, dad I'll always remember that."
and thus Cherry Berry had many more memorable experiences with her tube uninterrupted. Her grades improved and she graduated to be a marriage motivational speaker. She wrote a book about that if you feel that your experience can be improved by just one object, become one with it and see where it takes you.
that was the thing Cherry Berry did with her tube
and It was the best thing she ever experienced till the end of her days.
THE END
