Twilight had been busy, that was clear. Spike helped her lug a cart full of books around behind her, though the weight of them made it clear that she needed the dragon's help. She looked over at the two larger ponies that had fallen in line behind them. "Thank you both for your assistance."

"Of course." One nodded, keeping perfectly in line with the procession. "Do you require all of these books at the same time?"

"I am a very fast reader," Twilight replied, "So yes. I'll have them back on the shelf in a few hours, I think. This is everything I haven't had the time to look at since I got here."

Spike pushed his along. "You may think she's joking, but she can really devour a mountain when she puts her mind to it." He tapped the side of his head, snickering. "It's a wonder to behold."

Blue Belle giggled. "Then we can safely leave you to it, Twilight." She turned to Sand and smiled. "Come, my dear. I think we should go and prepare for the afternoon."

Sand abandoned the procession to the guard trailing them. "If you are certain. I had thought perhaps you wanted to spend more time with what appeared to be a pony you knew."

"I hardly know her, on a personal basis." Blue Belle led the way with purpose. "I know of her deeds, but we've not really shared words, let alone a meal. Charming enough."

Sand fell in step alongside her. "I see. Then what are your plans, oh princess?"

She grinned. "To make sure this wedding is perfect."

Sand laughed, the sound echoing through the halls. "That is a plan I can support. What part of it do you wish to shore? I doubt we'll need more food, but perhaps you have some other idea on how we can improve our ceremony?"

"I just want to be sure that we're all ready for it." She rubbed the back of her head, blushing lightly. "I feel confident on my part of the ceremony, but I was hoping to practice our part. The parts we do together. It's hard to practice those without you at my side."

He turned sharply towards her, giving a gentle smile. "Then of course. I would never refuse such an offer." Sand took her to a garden outside the inner walls of the palace. "Shall we practice our dance?"

Blue colored at the idea. "I had thought to start with the more rigid wedding details, but if you're offering, I can hardly turn down such an invitation." She giggled and spun about as Sand started a slow beat on a drum.

He watched her with his soft smile, one hoof on a traditional Saddle Arabian drum. The rhythm was slow at first, but it slowly increased until they were twirling and jumping about at high speed. Other instruments joined as servants sat down nearby and played without being asked, freeing Sand to focus on his part of the two-pony routine of the dance itself.

Sand danced with Blue, the two spinning around in a graceful arc as the servants played. The music grew softer and more gentle, their steps slowing to the beat of it. As the music died out, he leaned towards her with a smile, lifting her gently up into the air by her arms and touching his nose to hers. "My lovely Blue flower, how I look forward to showing the country how well we match." He let her back down with a soft sigh. "I have never seen such grace in my life."

Blue blushed furiously at that, glancing from side to side quickly before she leaned up to nuzzle him. "Your moves were exquisite, and don't allow anypony to tell you otherwise, Sand, my dear." She brushed back over herself. "Now, I ask you not think of me as Blue a moment. How well did I perform that dance?"

Sand inclined his head slowly. "Very nearly perfect. There was one part where you stepped incorrectly, but I do not believe anypony would recognize that. You're a quick learner, Blue, and that makes things go very smoothly. I can hardly imagine anything going wrong." He gestured for the servants to stop their music.

"Perfect is what we desire." She nodded firmly. "But not something easily obtained, when it can be felt with one's hooves at all." She closed with Sand. "Now, much as I'd love to soak in your praise, we should move to the less exciting parts of the wedding. Exchanged vows and gifts and such, hm?"

Sand nodded. "As you wish."

***

Twilight Sparkle examined a scroll as she walked along the hallways of the palace, reading carefully over it. She glanced up to make sure she was not about to walk into a wall or somepony and went right back to reading.

"Must you read to the very last moment?" Blue Belle walked along at her side, Spike between them. "You should visit again, if our libraries entrance you so thoroughly."

She giggled and nodded. "I just might." The three had come to the landing pad on which Twilight arrived, where the guards waited. "Thank you for the hospitality." She bowed gently to the guards.

Spike gave a far more flippant salute. "Thanks."

With that, both went up towards the airship that'd take them home. Blue waved to the two. "Tell Auntie I'm doing well, and I hope to see her at the wedding if she can carve out time enough for it."

Twilight waved back. "I'll be sure to pass that along!" She stepped onto the airship and turned to look at Spike. "I am going to miss that place, all those books and things to learn."

Spike rolled his eyes with a smirk. "You never stopped reading. I wanted to see more outside that palace, but I couldn't drag you away from it."

Twilight blinked softly. "Why didn't you just go on your own?"

Spike rubbed at an arm lightly. "Because I didn't want to go alone? Besides, you might have needed me."

She smiled and patted Spike's head. "Thank you for thinking of me." She looked towards the palace as the airship rose up into the air and started back on their route. "Sorry for getting so absorbed. Next time, you get to set the itinerary, promise. I'll even let you drag me away from the books."

Spike snorted and gave a thumbs up. "You're gonna regret that one." He chuckled. "So, how did you like meeting Blue Belle? She seemed to keep herself busy too, at least."

Twilight shrugged slowly. "It was nice to see her, I guess. I think I'd have liked to spend a little more time with her, but I'm glad I wasn't in the way of all the wedding preparations. I feel like we were both thoroughly distracted, and that happened to work out."

***

The wedding was finally upon them. Blue Belle was fitted in her Saddle Arabian wedding dress. It was as lovely as any Equestrian dress, but its cut and design was unique to the sand people, leaving no room for confusion as to where it had come from. In it, she strode up along the aisle in the view of the others.

Most of the ponies there were Saddle Arabians, looking down on her with a mixture of expressions. Some were supportive, others she could feel were far less so.

Others were visiting Equestrians, smiling in their kind way. They hadn't visited from so far away just to scowl at her, at least.

There, among them, was also Princess Celestia. She had come all this way for the ceremony, to make clear her support of the two.

But she stood next to a great pony in a mask and shawl, which was a bit more unusual.

Blue knew who it was only because Sand had warned her. The current king, face concealed, watched the marriage of his son. There were rumors he opposed the marriage, and his presence was an indication of how far the royal family had to bend to please their populace.

She could think of worse fates than becoming a princess, if that's what they wished. She took a slow breath, banishing those thoughts. It was no time to face the past. It was time to approach the future and welcome it with all the pomp it rightly deserved.

"Do you..." Cadance was dressed as richly as either of the ponies to be bound. She spoke with deep solemnity in each word as her eyes moved back and forth depending on which pony she was addressing. "Prince Sand, Princess Blue, do you swear on your name and life, to love and cherish one another for as long as you shall live?"

"I swear it." Sand's voice was even more firm than usual.

"Until the last breath has escaped me, I will support him!" She tapped a hoof on the ground, a stomp, muted for want of being proper.

Ponies clapped behind them, a sign of support that all went on for at least three minutes, some of the Saddle Arabians taking their time with that, a bit of silent judgement that they could offer as a warning of what might come if they were unhappy.

"I then announce you, Lady Blue Belle, Prince Sand Storm, to be Prince and Princess consort; husband and wife from today into perpetuity. May your reign be long and blessed."

She trotted up alongside Sand, both turning to face the crowd. Celestia applauded louder than any pony there, though her size alone might have had something to do with that. With the applause done, all stood, giving one last look over them before they made their exit from the altar. Flowers rained upon them from either side, physical manifestations of the blessings the ponies could offer them.

Celestia and her companion stepped away as the newlyweds came down the aisle. The great stallion in a mask stared at her, but she never looked at him.

***

Blue Belle was surprised to see Celestia at a table with Sand's father. Though that surprise faded quickly. "Of course." She pressed a hoof to her forehead. "Why am I surprised the rulers of the two nations would share a table?"

Celestia giggled gently at the sight of her. "Dear Blue Belle, your wedding was beautiful. I'm so glad I could be here to see it."

The masked stallion sat back, sipping his drink slowly. "I don't think we've had the pleasure of speaking." He raised a hoof to his face. "If you are now a wife to my son, hiding my face from you is no longer proper."

Celestia reared back in surprise. "Should I leave?"

He turned the mask around on its hinges, his eyes visible at last as they fixed on her with all the intensity of a hawk's gaze on a field mouse. "No need. You will hear it all, and faster if you are here." He brushed the mask aside, allowing his face to be viewed. Despite the power of his voice, he was clearly aged, well in his senior years.

The king fixed Blue Belle with his dark brown eyes. "Welcome to the family, Blue Belle." He tapped his hoof on the table. "My son, the crown prince and heir to Saddle Arabia. He will need ponies at his side, and I pray you will be another, to support him, and through him, this land as a whole."

Blue bowed her head slowly. "I swear that I will do all in my power to aid him, and give him the strength he needs."

"Good." The king nodded gently. "Though I must say, Blue, that I had hoped to see a bride of our own kind for my son." He chuckled at some distant thought. "This was an idea of some advisors. I had my reservations, but you have shown me to be quite the foal. You have stood strong against winds seeking to blow you over. you have lent gentle hooves when called, but not an inch to those that decried you. These are lovely traits in a princess consort. I welcome you."

She bowed again, this time deeper. "Thank you, my king."

Celestia glanced between them. A slow smile spread on her face. "She has grown immeasurably in her time here. Perhaps she needed the warm sun of this realm to finally blossom, and what a marvelous pony she has revealed herself to be for all of us."

Sand stepped up to his wife. "It is a good thing that she was allowed this chance. I am forever grateful." He smiled at Blue, then turned to embrace her, holding his little wife close. She no longer felt like a foal in his arm, just a little short, but to be lost in his grip still was a wondrous thing. His powerful limbs holding her so safely.

"My son," said the king, "I have approved your marriage to the Equestrian princess, but I must ask that you do not become too attached."

Blue frowned. "Attached? What manner of thing is that to say on our wedding day?"

Sand set her down quickly. "My father speaks of propriety. A dinner table is no place for embraces such as that." He lowered his head with shame. "I got carried away, Father. Forgive me."

The king inclined his head. "You are forgiven. Now, I see many dignitaries waiting for their turn at speaking with you." He waved towards the tables nearby where Saddle Arabians sat. "Do not keep them waiting too long." With a brush, his mask returned to its rightful place, hiding just how old their king was.

Author's Note

What, no sand changelings?

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