Trials of Love, the Frostclaw Chronicles 8: The Binding of Two Souls
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After finally being released from hospital, the invitations had been sent out to the other realms to invite them to the wedding of Alexander and Lyra, the newly appointed lord and lady of Gazpartim. Akari had been working hard on making their wedding clothes and even went so far as to stay up late to finish them. Once they were done, Sasha had taken them both and delivered them to the couple. Alex had asked Tatsuya to help him out while Lyra took help of Tarja.
In the throne room of the castle, Alex stood in front of a mirror, looking at the royal blue kimono he was wearing while slowly spinning around to really look at every little detail of it, the embroidered cherryblossoms, various Japanese hirigana for good luck and what really made it unique, the cuffs for the arms being made to resemble a dragon head and a tiger head, "I think the gods of Japan are envious of me now." Tatsuya hissed softly and laughed, "Well, I am sure envious, Aru-san." Alex turned around to face the naga before smiling, "We got to get you a nice kimono too." Striking a samurai pose, Tatsuya laughed, "Akari sure made it perfect for you."
In the observation room, Lyra had finally managed to put on what seemed to be a cross between a kimono and a dress, the long and flowing green material from the kelp's pigment, while the kelp itself had also been woven into the fabric itself. She was smiling as Tarja did her hair like Tatsuya had taught her to do to get that Japanese look. Adding the final clip, she moved back to examine her handiwork, smiling proudly, "You look like a dream. You will floor uncle Alex for sure now." Lyra smiled, "I plan to floor him and all, Tarja." Tarja giggled before giving the shark a hug, "You will still be the goofy little street vandal, won't you?" Lyra gave a toothy grin, "I got no idea what you are talking about." Both laughed together.
Meanwhile down in the courtyard of the castle, family and friends were taking their seats to witness the upcoming wedding. And like at the earlier weddings, size determined your seat. Unlike the other ones, it was Tenchi who stood as the ceremony mistress of this wedding. Having been worried for doing it wrong, she had her wife Peridot nearby to support her. The more people that entered, the more Tenchi could feel her legs turning to jelly, but a soft kiss on the cheek from Peridot gave her the strength to keep on.
As the last ones took their seats, Tenchi swallowed and soon spoke out loudly with her voice, "Entering first. The groom of the day. The lord of Gazpartim and my sensei, Alexander!" Alexander walked inside with the escort of Tatsuya and Akari following him as he waved to the loud cheers and some even loudly complimented his outfit, soon standing in front of Tenchi who whistled, "There was no saving with fabric here. You truly dress like a lord now." Alex laughed and soon bowed in respect to Tatsuya and Akari as they took their seats. 
"And finally, the bride of the day. The lady of Gazpartim and the one who has made the duo with Alexander, Lyra!" From behind the corner came Tarja and J.R., leading what seemed to be a terracotta sarcophagus. Everyone looked confused before they put it down and Tarja struck the top of it before the shards fell down around something until Lyra was fully revealed, making everyone gasp out in shock and Alexander was taken back by it before Lyra walked up to the altar, noticing how he was crying now, "Aww, relax." Alexander sniffed, "You are just so beautiful and that entry. You outdid yourself."
With the couple standing in front of the altar, Tenchi smiled as she cleared her throat, "Honorable families and friends, we have gathered here today to unite this couple, that fought against the hatred for an entire tribe and came out winning, 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 proud dragon to finally get his beloved shark." Tenchi closed her eyes to recollecting the entire holy text, "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. We were blessed with their guidance and blessed with the wonder of living in their paradise. We also had to witness the battle between good evil. The warrior of light and the god of destruction and darkness. As the prophecy once told of a being that would deprive from their existence, they would seek the one they were bound to and take their place. Sasha was this being that the prophecy speaks of, and she brought down the opposition and sadly also a noble soul. But even with that price and the regret she felt, she still brought herself a future that made her the mother to many wonderful daughters, and with her curious nature also made her create the one standing in front of me, as well as brought her close to her brother, so now it is time to finally let them become one. Although, even with the noble soul's death, she saw something within the soul of the warrior that sacrificed himself to save ones that he could have just left behind. He may not carry the same value in their eyes, but he is still a very proud and righteous warrior. This is even more of a reason to bless him with the right to a prosperous future."
Tenchi took a break from speaking as the applauds could be heard and once she was ready, she began to speak again, "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." It was then a voice spoke up as a purple dragoness jumped out from behind the corner, quickly advancing towards the altar, "I object to their marriage and to their life. I am the one who slayed Jae Frostgate XXIV, and now I will add two more to my list! Die!" Tenchi quickly jumped in front of Alexander and Lyra before the assassin could get to them, drawing out Lòeón's Light before impaling it through the chest on the dragoness, her eyes focusing on the face before she smirked, "Overruled. And now, you are sentenced to death." With one shot going through her chest, the dragoness was feeling the revolver being pulled out before a round burned off her right arm, then left arm, right leg and finally the left leg. Tenchi thought and soon fired the last shot through her gut, leaving the dragoness hissing in pain as she mocked her a little, "Awww, does it hurt? No worry, you will see your family soon." Lifting her foot, Tenchi soon stomped down on her face and crushed the skull completely before looking at her foot, adding that final insult to injury, "You got blood on my foot." In the distance in the sky, Faarg's voice could be heard clearly, "Remind me to never piss her off."
The silence after the execution was deafening, if silence could make you deaf. But after a minute, Tenchi continued, "As one insolent objection was silenced, I think it is time to proceed with asking these two now." Tenchi turned to Alexander and Lyra, smiling warmly before asking Alexander first, "Do you, Alexander Hedin, take this Lyra Sharkmuff to be your loving wife, and love her no matter what until your bonds are broken to be reforged?" Alexander could not do anything but smile, "I very much do." Tenchi then turned to Lyra, "And do you, Lyra Sharkmuff, take this Alexander Hedin to be your loving husband, and love him no matter what until your bonds are broken to be reforged?" Lyra could not hold back her tears anymore and nodded, "I do, and so much more!" Tenchi smiled before nodding, "And as normally this is where Alexander and Lyra would do a performance, but this time I am doing one with my wife, my daughters and with Alexander's daughters."
Alexander and Lyra stood shocked at this before a very catchy beat began to play and Tenchi took center stage for the moment, "This is gonna be the one, this is gonna be the one, yeah! I tell you lover, oh lover. It feels so right, cause it doesn't matter if life wants to prove us wrong. We can make it through. We can make it through." Peridot joined in with country-like accent, "I tell you, he's been a soldier since childhood days. He has fought a battle in every way. He's gonna fight for her, yeah. He's gonna fight for her." Both joined in on the next part, "Don't stop! When you live for all hope and glory, you can form your heart's own love story, when you live for all hope and glory now! All the battles you lose and the battles you'll win, this'll be the one, this'll be the one. When you live for all hope and glory, love. It's gonna be the one."
Now it was Ainohi and Yin's turn, "Now, listen lover, oh lover. A heart can break, cause you'll never know how much trouble a heart can take. I'm gonna be right there. I'm gonna be right there." Making their voices louder, the duo kept on singing, "Don't stop! When you live for all hope and glory, you can form your heart's own love story, when you live for all hope and glory now! All the battles you lose and the battles you'll win, this'll be the one, this'll be the one. When you live for all hope and glory, love. It's gonna be the one. It's gonna be the one. It's gonna be the one."
It was this point when all four of them joined in for a final chorus singing while Yang and Kari was dancing a fast waltz, "Don't stop! When you live for all hope and glory, you can form your heart's own love story, when you live for all hope and glory now! All the battles you lose and the battles you'll win, this'll be the one, this'll be the one. When you live for all hope and glory, love. It's gonna be the one. It's gonna be the one. It's gonna be the one." Then with the final one, they went for as long as they could muster, which happened to be about thirty seconds, "It's gonna be the one!" The applauds went loudly as Peridot, Yin, Ainohi, Yang, Kari and Tenchi took a bow, "Thank you everyone!"
Tenchi was about to speak before she noticed Phoebe standing up with Sapphire as Sasha joined them, waving her fingers before what sounded as an orchestra began to play a song. Phoebe was wearing a white dress and had her hair set up into a bun on the head, smiling before what many had seen as a serious sniper and person, became the softest singer ever, "Here, at the peaceful break of day, there's a feeling love is wakin' up again. The sun-rays of warmth heats the ground we walk upon. And in heaven, there's no teardrops for the rain." Sapphire brought out some feathers before making them into a heart as Sasha joined in as the second voice, "We can hear a distant song." Phoebe took the next part, "That will stay in our hearts forever." Sasha smiled warmly as she sung, "Words that lay us still to the joy."
Sapphire crushed the heart before making a lonely dove appear before releasing it as it flew by Phoebe as she sang, "An angel passed me by so high in the sky." Next the dove turned into a heart in midair for the next part, "But she turned around and let her smile shine on down. Like a warm morning sun, like the stars laid one by one. Showin' us a wonder that is all the while all around." Phoebe saw the heart slowly lower itself until she touched, "Eternal love."
As if the gods listened to this, slowly the day turned to night before the heart flew away and became a moon as Sasha moved in to hug Phoebe from behind, "When the night is closin' in, there's a moment when we safely breathe as one." Sasha sung into the microphone softly as the moon soon landed on the ground and the night went back to day, "The wind that slowly past the years." Slowly black and red roses grew around them both as Phoebe sang, "Brings the sun down a thousand roses."
Sapphire lift a hand before all the roses bloomed at the same time and released tiny orbs of light that swarmed around Sasha and Phoebe as Phoebe sang as well as she could, "An angel passed me by so high in the sky. But she turned around and let her smile shine on down. Like a warm morning sun, like the stars laid one by one. Showin' us a wonder that is all the while all around." At the part of the stars being laid one by one, the orbs began to slowly disappear one by one before Phoebe took one of the hands of Sasha and the final orb broke between them as Phoebe smiled, "Eternal love."
It was a pause in the song for a while and Phoebe looked around to see the reactions. Most were mesmerized by the show, but both Alexander and Lyra were crying from how beautiful it had been so far until Phoebe heard the part coming up as Sapphire had brought out more feathers to make even more flowers, "An angel passed me by so high up in the sky. But she turned around and let her smile shine on down. Like a warm morning sun, like the stars laid one by one. Showin' us a wonder that is all the while all around." It was then that Sapphire pulled the final string of the show to turn all flowers into a painting of Phoebe, Sasha and Phoebe's mother. This caused Phoebe to nearly break into tears as she fought it to let out a final soft line "Eternal love."
When the music finally died off, the screams of cheers and applauds were only measured up to Phoebe walking over to Sapphire and hugging her tightly before Sasha joined them. Tenchi smiled and soon had Peridot bring her back to what she was needing to do, "That was one heck of a performance! Not one, but two songs and what a show that final one was. Now it is time for the couple's speeches." Alexander turned to face his shark before speaking, "Lyra, we might have only been working as entertainers together, but once I was put in my place by my thoughts, I knew that I always loved you, but wanted to keep it professional. I regret that it took me such a long time to finally crack open my shell, but I am glad that I did. I love you, Lyra." Lyra teared up a little, "Alex, I did feel the same about you. I loved you, but kept it professional. When they came that I was faced with confessing it, it was the best day of my life and I really know what a fool I was. Now I am here and I will never stop loving you."
Tenchi dried her eyes gently before clearing her throat, "Very heart-warming and short. Either way, please page-girl come forth." Jokeress suddenly appeared and warmly bowed before taking off her hat, pulling out two platinum rings before winking, "As by Gacealian custom, I hereby offer the rings of which to bind you in the holy ritual of marriage." Taking a ring each before the ring ceremony began, "I, Alexander, take you Lyra to be my lawful wife and love you forever, as promised by this ring." Lyra soon followed suite, "I, Lyra, hereby take you Alexander to be my lawful husband and love you forever, as promised by this ring." With the words spoken they put the rings on each others' fingers with warm smiles before Tenchi's voice rung out loudly, "Hear me, Ca'Li'Hu! Today, we celebrate the marriage of Alexander and Lyra. May their life be fruitful and their future bright!"
She then lowered her head before smiling, "By the power as the goddess of justice, I hereby pronounce you married by divine guidance and blessing. Now you may call yourselves Alexander and Lyra Hedin. And seal it by kissing the bride." Alexander warmly grabbed Lyra and leaned her back before singing a little bit, "Oh, now you are finally mine!" Lyra giggled and soon returned it, "Oh, and now you are finally mine!" Then they leaned in to kiss each other deeply, the applauds going loud before a tall stallion appeared around the corner and Sasha gasped out when she saw who it was, "Zeus!"
Everyone turned to look at the stallion that had appeared in the courtyard, "Awww, did I miss the wedding? Poor shame." Everyone looked confused before Sasha rushed over and threw her arms around him, kissing him deeply before four more arms arrived around her and Sasha was soon gasping out in surprise at the girl and guy standing next to them both before Zeus smiled warmly, "Love, this is Aphrodite and Jove. Kids, this is your mother." Sasha felt her world going dark as she fainted from the news.
A few days later, May entered the grand hall where everyone was eating before taking a seat with the rest, her face carrying a smile that made Sasha curious, "Oh? Who did you fuck now, May?" May giggled and winked, "No one, I just met this girl online and I invited her to go with me to a convention in the UK, so I wonder if anyone would like to tag along for the ride." Everyone at the breakfast table looked at each other before looking at May, "When is the convention?" May quickly replied, "In about a month, I can get us tickets straight away." Akari smiled warmly, "I would not mind going." Julie Ruby giggled, "It would be amazing to see England again. You coming too, mom?" Julie looked at her mother Ruby sitting nearby, "Of course, dear." Jane, Leona and Magea warmly nodded, "Count us in. We need a good relief after the wedding. And those two probably need some time alone." They looked at Alexander and Lyra still having some post-marriage diabetes moments. Tenchi and Peridot smiled, "England, huh? Could be fun to visit the place where we met." Topaz smiled happily, "I need a vacation too. Could also give me some time to get to know mom a bit better." Nicole grinned, "Oh, you rascal, come here!" Topaz giggled as Nicole playfully bit her ear, the sudden sound of a gun going off making them jump as Tarja giggled, "Well, perhaps it can help to expand the game library in my room." Tatsuya laughed and Jaeger soon chuckled, "That is my daughter! I am coming too!" Phoebe nodded, "Oh, I could come too. Would help to rewind from this wedding."
May soon smiled as she ordered sixteen tickets before noticing that she was getting hungry as she grabbed the sandwich with carrots and peas in, as Jane smiled, "So, who is the lucky girl then, sis?" May soon pulled out a photo of a cute alligator girl that made Jane, Magea and Leona nearly wet themselves, "Whoa, you are living wildly!" May grinned before she stole Alexander's upcoming line, "Oh yeah, living on a prayer!" Soon everyone laughed before letting the food silence the mouth. Just a month remaining now before it might be time to plan another wedding.

The End.