Journeys of Time 24: The Puppeteer's Release
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As the bells of Death realm's capital city rung to announce the coming of K'Anv'E, the season of rebirth, it also announced the event that the family had not been waiting for long. But the preparations had been tedious on most parts and for some, more than they had thought.
To make sure that neither would know how the other would look, Julie Ruby and her husband Akari had taken on themselves to not only work on the couple's wedding clothes separately, but also to not work while the other was there, as to let themselves have an unlimited freedom to be as creative as they wished for.
As by their newly formed tradition, Akari had taken Avril as the one he was making the dress or suit for, while Julie Ruby had Talia to make pretty for the wedding. It had meant that the days were often spent hanging with family and in the evenings it was a lot of snuggling.
Avril had learned to appreciate the hard work that Akari put into making the wedding clothes that she decided to break her no-dress rule just for this event, meaning that Akari had been sitting mostly the first days just thinking how to put up the dress for Avril in such a way it expressed her but also was elegant. Julie Ruby had not been having a lot of trouble as she was having an idea already from the beginning and had to do some changes that Talia wasn't comfortable with, but in the end, they had all come to an agreement.
The last day before the wedding, Avril and Talia had gotten to see their wedding dresses and while Talia had found hers to make her feel like a princess instead of Avril, Avril had been feeling like she wasn't a princess, but more of a queen from the attire she was presented, but to her it was only what Talia thought that mattered.
And on the day of the wedding, the sky was filled with roars of the various wyverns having come to visit as the family arrived from both other realms and Earth to witness the beautiful event that was about to transpire.
In the room of the bride, Talia was standing in front of the mirror admiring her neatly brushed hair that had been neatly done to suit the theme of her dress, her mother standing nearby with a proud smile on her face, even a tear falling down her cheek, "You are so immeasurably beautiful right now, Talia. You will make her so proud of you." Talia looked at her mother and licked the tear off her cheek, "Awww, thanks, mom. I am happy you could come and give me off." The mother smiled, "It is my pleasure, just make sure to visit sometime. I wouldn't mind getting to know her more." Talia giggled with a wink, "In other words, you wanna see how well you can stuff her?" Both the girls gave a burst of warm laughter at the witty remark of Talia's.
However, in the room of the groom or bride whatever you would call it, Avril was listening to her father's endless praising about how proud he was that Avril was finally getting married and how he wants her to be respectable and kind to her, and for most other parts the usual dad stuff. It wasn't until Avril grabbed his cheeks that he went quiet as Avril sighed, "Dad, can't you be silent for a minute? You are behaving like I am incompetent and don't have any class." A quick remark came from a corner, "You do not have any class as you didn't bother going to etiquette classes. You always belch in front of others when you eat and you enjoy having your sister sleeping in you." Avril looked at her sister Marcia standing against a wall, exchanging a playful grin with her, "Maybe I should stuff you in a jar later tonight." Marcia giggled before the door opened and a guard called out, "Princess Avril, they are all ready." Avril gave a nod before taking the veil and putting it over her face before leaving the room with her father as Marcia quickly snuck ahead to get a good seat.
Meanwhile down in the courtyard of the castle, family and friends had begun to take their seats to witness the wedding, and from the looks of it, it was seeming to become a very grand event as even some of the other royals had showed up, but from Dr'Wich came the same usual duo of Jae XXVI and Jermayn. Still, it was the same as the earlier weddings that your size determined your seat. The ceremony mistress was the goddess of sex, love, and fertility herself, Xixexa or Izae depending on if you were a Frostclaw or not.
As the last ones had taken their seats and Izae got the sign, she cleared her throat and spoke out, "Entering first. The groom of the day, even if a herm. The fifth heir to the throne meant for the ruler of the dead, Princess Avril!" As Avril entered, it was a spectacular sight as she was escorted by her father Sariya. Avril was wearing a white dress which seemed to be levitating a bit off the ground with the help of tiny butterflies, but what Avril had not told the others was that she had Akari stitch in a complicated network of fibers to allow Avril to use her natural puppeteering skills to work her puppets without the need of her hands, something that impressed many as they applauded at Avril's outfit. Izae looked at the display and noticed to her surprise with Tenchi and Sas'Ha that Avril had tiny dragons sitting on her shoulders and the same scarab that had been used to propose to Talia right on the top of her veil. Sariya hugged Avril tightly before going to take his seat.
"And now, the bride of the day. The lucky girl who made her move and earned herself a reward for her bravery, Taliatsune!" From around the corner came Talia, lead by her mother Cyan and as everyone turned to look at them, they gasped and Avril nearly felt her heart cease beating as Talia was wearing a wedding dress looking like a complete night sky and with the skills of Julie Ruby and some additional thinking, she had also made it so the fabric flowed to make it appear like it was alive and her hair was completing the look perfect as it flowed behind her. Cyan stopped at the altar with Talia and gave her a kiss on the cheek before taking Avril's hand, expecting just a normal handshake, but Avril pulled her into a hug that she felt was a lot more strong than Avril's body would have you think, before letting her go and finding Talia's hands in her own as Cyan made her way to take a seat.
With the couple standing in front of the altar, Izae smiled before she looked at the crowd and spoke up, "Honorable families and friends, we have gathered here today to unite this couple, that found their differences in both skills and social status to just be more attracting, in the holy ritual of life, called marriage. I have been granted the honor of seeing through that these two are given the blessing that comes with this ritual. For this wonderful dragon to get her wonderful wolf." Izae smiled as she could hear some sniffing before she began to read the holy text from memory but now with some slight changes, "Since the beginning of time, the three Creators made this planet, Ca'Li'Hu, the planet of light and darkness, as their planet to nourish and take care of, as well as contain a dark evil that threatened to tear it apart by the seams. We were blessed with their guidance and blessed with the wonder of living in their paradise. We also had to witness the battle good and evil. The warrior of light and the god of destruction and darkness. As the prophecy once told of a being that would deprive of their existence, they would seek the one they were bound to and take their place. The being was actually an avatar of the darkness that planned to tear apart the planet, but instead the darkness had changed its heart and even with its actions, it was what allowed the avatar to become a mother to many wonderful daughters, one of which stand here in front of us today and is about to get married to the one who saw past a hurt soul to find a truly wonderful girl. I see no reason why I shouldn't bless them with the right to a prosperous future."
Izae took a moment to breathe and to allow the applauds to be heard from everyone and once she was ready again, she spoke up, "With these words now spoken, I got no reason to further keep you waiting. If anyone wishes to object against this marriage, then let them speak now, or remain silent to never object to this in the future." There were sounds of blades being unsheathed, guns being unsecured and even the feeling of someone using magic. Making Izae look around before facepalming, "Okay, who permitted weapons here?" Tenchi smirked, "Hey, with how it went on the last wedding, we wanna be safe that it won't happen again. And if it is, then we quickly end it." A hand flew up into the air, "I object to that we wait any longer!" It was Sariya that said it and Janch could be heard, "I second that objection!"
Soon everyone cheered on and Izae shook her head, "Well fine. As no one objects, but actually spurs it on, I will be asking these two now." She turned to Avril and Talia, asking Avril first, "Do you, Avril Katsuo-Angeria, take this Taliatsune Furoshina to be your loving wife, and love her no matter what until your bonds are broken to be reforged?" Avril nodded warmly with a smile, "Yes, I am doing so much." Izae smiled at the forward before turning to look at Talia, "And do you, Taliatsune Furoshina, take this Avril Katsuo-Angeria to be your loving wife, and love her no matter what until your bonds are broken to be reforged?" Talia began to sniff before nodding as she smiled, "I do with all my heart!" Izae nodded before looking at them both, "Wonderful to hear. Normally as I am used to, we would have a performance now, but instead, we are having two. But we have them from the couple themselves."
A calm song began to play as Avril grabbed a mic from the altar and began to softly sing for Talia, "Tangled up like streets below us. Portland, 2 PM. Rain is falling, sirens wailing. Quiet on your bed. You ask me how I feel. And I know it is all real." Avril went down on a knee and Talia felt her tears starting, "You're my everything. You're my everything. You're my everything in my heart."
Everyone was amazed by how Avril really went passionately with her voice, "Downtown Portland on Monday morning. Sun wakes up the city. I can't help but stare and smile. How you fell for me. It's too much to explain. But believe me when I say." Avril stood up and wrapped an arm around her waist, "You're my everything. You're my everything. You're my everything in my heart."
Talia could feel how she wanted to have this being sung in the bedroom right now, but kept her mind on the ceremony as Avril seemed to put more effort into her song now, "Every now and then I tend to fall apart. Blame my worried mind. Blame my broken heart. But every kiss from you, makes me realize I'm not alone. To a place, I've never known but been searching for. Cause!"
Avril heard that every couple stood up to sing along now, "You're my everything! You're my everything! You're my everything in my heart! Everything in my heart! You're my everything! I said you're my everything! You're my everything in my heart!" Avril softly smiled as the dragons on her shoulders crawled down onto her chest and formed a heart with their bodies as Avril finished the song, "In my heart!"
The applauds went loud and Talia felt her knees go weak at how Avril had planned the song and performance in such a basic way, but so impactful that it was perfect to her. Izae was tearing up a bit, "I know a lot about love, but that right there is the embodiment of love itself in a song."
Talia sniffed, but a look at the audience gave her the queue that she might skip the original performance and go for the special one. Softly taking the mic from Avril, Talia dried her eyes, "I was going to sing something by the group known as Black Serpent. But I think I know a better song for this."
Avril was curious how Talia would get a loving message through to her as she had done to Talia, but it was apparent when the music playing was a rock song from a group she had heard once and now it was clear she aimed when her voice rung from the speakers as she had moved to near the entrance to the temple, "Here tonight. I show you what I believe in. And all the good in life you know I want it all. I'm gonna sing my song, and no matter who's listening. So I will make my bow and then, I give it all!"
Avril watched as Talia began to walk and like on cue there were fake bullets flying around her, merely bracing her by less of an inch, "Because you're making me free, in the line of fire! And I stood the test of time, I walked the line." Then suddenly the carpet leading to the altar lifted itself up below her feet to make Talia walk almost on air just as it seemed to turn night outside, "Because you're making me see, you take me higher! I am on my way tonight, I let it shine!"
Talia stopped her walk before pointing at Avril with a smile, "Your diamond rings, you know they never impress me. And all the best I got in life, I got for free. I'd rather be myself, than play someone else now. My heart will never let me down, I'm on my way." It was almost perfect timing as suddenly Talia was standing on a floating heart that was slowly approaching the altar.
"Because you're making me free, in the line of fire! And I stood the test of time, I walked the line. Because you're making me see, you take me higher! I am on my way tonight, I let it shine!" It was then that she clapped her hands to get everyone to join in a bit, "Ohhhohhh, ohhhohhh, shine!"
It was then that Avril got the biggest shock as Talia pointed at herself, "I am what I am. I will always be the same. I will keep on running." She then pointed at Avril, "You do what you do. You can always see it through. You will keep on running." Soon the family following along with her, "I am what I am. I will always be the same. I will keep on running. You do what you do. You can always see it through. You will keep on running."
Talia felt like she was straining her voice for the final part, "Making me free, in the line of fire! And I stood the test of time, I walked the line." Talia jumped off the heart that landed in front of Avril with a smile, "Because you're making me see, you take me higher. I am on my way tonight, I let it shine! I am on my way tonight, I let it shine!" With the final line done, the heart flew above their heads and Avril felt herself crying from how wonderful it was.
The applauds went really loud and Izae nodded to them while applauding herself, "I cannot say more. These two are made for one another if they can take this much inspiration to sing their songs. Now we shall hear the couple's speeches." Avril smiled proudly and dried her eyes, "Talia, meeting you after I had performed on stage and gotten to learn more about you and also gotten accepted despite what I do, I feel the luckiest girl around and I will be loyal to you for as long as I live. I love you a lot, Talia." Talia held onto Avril tightly and sighed happily, "Avril, you are the best thing that ever happened me. You have been genuinely warm to me for affectionate reasons and not for just getting in my pants. And the fact I got to know you made it even better and now I know the real you. And I love you dearly for it, Avril, for being the wonderful girl that I will make my wife, as I become yours."
Izae beamed proudly at the warm love coming from Avril and Talia as they made their speeches before coughing, "I am sorry, I got something in my eye. Can the page-girl please come forth?" Phoebe stood up and walked down the aisle, wearing a white long dress under a white coat with her hair done up in a neat bun, making Gui gasp from how beautiful she was as she walked by him, before pulling yet another one of Avril's puppets out, though it looked like an egg at first, but once she was close and Avril used a string to pull the egg open, it revealed a phoenix holding two gold rings safely in its talons before Phoebe smiled, "As, by Gacealian custom, I hereby offer the rings of which to bind you in the holy ritual of marriage."
Taking a ring each, Avril and Talia turned to one another before Avril began, "I, Avril, take you Taliatsune to be my lawful wife and love you forever, as promised by this ring." Talia followed suit with tradition, "I, Taliatsune, hereby take you Avril to be my lawful wife and love you forever, as promised by this ring." With their words spoken they put the rings on each others' fingers with warm smiles and tears before Izae's voice rung out loudly, "Hear me, Ca'Li'Hu! Today, we celebrate the marriage of Avril and Taliatsune. May their life be fruitful and their future bright!"
Izae lowered her head before giving them a warm smile, "By the power as the goddess of sex, love, and fertility, I hereby pronounce you married by divine guidance and blessing. Now you may call yourselves Avril and Taliatsune Furoshina-Katsuo. And seal it by kissing the bride." Avril smiled as she let Talia lift her veil before the scarab puppet began to roll up Avril's veil and both of them shared a warm and loving kiss in front of the family and friends that gave them a loud round of applauds as the kiss broke after a moment and Avril looked into the eyes of Talia before lifting her up and walking down the aisle with her in the arms before smiling, "Time for our honeymoon, Miss Furoshina-Katsuo." Talia murred and soon gave her a deep and loving kiss, "And the same for you, Miss Furoshina-Katsuo." The last they heard of the family was Izae speaking up in a question, "Okay, who is in heat here?"

The End.