Here it is, the start of my next major series. The voting was close, with this beating out the story of Domino's Second Civil war by one vote. (Seven to six.) There were three votes for "other", and one vote for The Nature of Magic: Annihilation. I wonder if it would have changed the voting if I'd told you guys that Annihilation would have had Reyva's entire back story in the first chapter. Oh well, c'est la vie.
Disclaimer: I don't own Winx Club. I also do not own the song A Love Like This by Dan Fogelberg.
Warning: This story is a sequel to my previous series, The Nature of Magic Trilogy. If you haven't read it... You're probably going to get very confused. Sorry.
Warning two: This story starts out with two women getting married to each other. As in, as soon as the Author's Note is over. If you are in any way offended by this: 1) I'm very sorry for you, 2) tough cookies, it's not changing, and 3) you should probably go find something else to read, because these two women are both major characters and the relationship is not going to fade into the background.
With that out of the way, let's get going.
Artis stood at the altar that had been set up in Alfea's quad. Normally the school was empty for spring break, but the wedding had drawn many of the students. More than Artis, or anyone else for that matter, had expected. They'd already run out of chairs and there were still stragglers arriving. Artis fidgeted. She really didn't like crowds.
"Relax." Dhalia whispered in her right ear. "Or at least stop pulling at your dress. Nyssa would be very unhappy if all of her hard work was ruined at the last minute."
"I thought Stella made these."
"Nyssa designed them, remember?"
"Oh, right." Artis carefully brushed the long white dress back into order, then carefully clasped her hands behind her back, just under her long silver hair.
"Better." Dhalia said. "She'll be out in a minute, and then you can have the best day of your life."
The doors of Alfea opened and a very tall woman stepped through. She wore a gorgeous gown with a beautiful train, her black hair pinned back and covered with a veil. Her father escorted her out of the castle and down the aisle to the altar. A very muscular woman with jet black skin stood on her other side while two small children helped carry the train.
Artis could do nothing but look at the tall woman, discovering that eternal truth that there is nothing so beautiful as a bride on her wedding day.
Perdi stared at Artis as she and her father walked down the aisle. Reyva followed a half-step behind, keeping an eye on Perdi's niece and nephew as they helped with the train. Perdi hardly noticed any of them. She reached the makeshift alter and stood across from Artis.
Bloom, Fairy of the Dragon Flame, stepped forward. She would be officiating this ceremony for two of her old students. She smiled as she looked at the pair, then began to speak.
"We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of these two young women in marriage. If there are any objections, please speak now or forever hold your peace." The silence was deafening. "Then we shall proceed. I have been asked to be brief, so I shall keep my speech short.
"These women have lived together, fought together, wept together, celebrated together, worked together, traveled together, and loved together. It is only proper that they should truly be together, from now until death do them part." She turned to her left and accepted a pillow with two rings on it from her daughter Cynthia. She held up the pillow and the couple each took one of the rings. Bloom gave the pillow back to her daughter.
"Do you, Artis Miranda Conte, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do."
"And do you, Athena Perdilla Sophus, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do."
"Then I now pronounce you wife and wife!"
Artis slid her ring onto Perdi's finger. "I love you." She whispered.
"I love you too." Perdi replied as she slipped her ring onto Artis's finger.
"You may kiss the bride."
The reception soon began in earnest. All the Alfea faculty were there, as were Perdi and Artis's many friends. Over on the stage Musa, the new headmistress of Alfea, was getting ready to perform. A dance area had been cleared, and now Artis and Perdi stepped out onto it, hand in hand. The first song began, soft and gentle.
And now the lonely days are done
Artis and Perdi simply hugged each other and slowly turned in a circle, eyes tightly closed.
And with each rising of the sun, love begins anew
And if you ever ask me why I know that my love will never die
I'll say these words to you
"I love you." Perdi said, her voice muffled by Artis's hair.
"I love you too." Artis said, speaking into Perdi's shoulder.
Of all the souls I've ever known
Mine sings to yours and yours alone
And yours sings just to me
Soft tears of joy trickled down their faces.
In all this world I'l never find
A heart that could beat as close to mine
And this time I can see
A love like this is so hard to find
And so many never do
And loves like this, when they even exist
Are precious and few
You know they're precious and few
The two newlyweds smiled at their little joke. This was their song. If it had a second meaning, that was fine. The chorus began to repeat.
A love like this is so hard to find
And so many never do
And loves like this, when they even exist
Are precious and few
You know they're precious and few
They pulled apart a short ways, just far enough to see each other's faces.
Down the miles, through the years
Yours is the star by which I steer
The brightest star I've known
Perdi gently whispered the next two lines to her new wife.
And when I feel all hope is gone
Yours is the love that leads me on
Artis whispered the last three lines of the song back.
The light that guides me home
The light that guides me home
Your light will guide me home
They shared a tear-stained kiss as the song ended.
The next song began as more people began to flow onto the dance floor.
The dancing came to an end, then came the speeches, the food, and, of course, the cake. Various wedding presents were presented, thank yous given, and soon clean up began. By the time the sun had set, only five people were left.
"I think that went well." Dhalia said.
"Yeah." Perdi said in slightly dreamy tone. She listed slightly to the side, more than slightly tipsy.
"Easy there girl." Reyva said, catching Perdi. "Come on, let's get you up to your room."
The girls started walking back towards Alfea, Artis and Reyva holding Perdi between them as Nyssa and Dhalia gathered up the trains of their dresses.
A light flared in Andros. The Omega/Altivix Portal opened, and a girl burst through. Her brown hair hung just past her shoulders and her eyes were a cloudy brown. She was wearing a very battered traveling outfit with a pair of broken swords sticking out of her belt. She flexed cautiously, as if unfamiliar with her own body, then smiled.
"Success." She said in a voice dripping with malice.
"Indeed." She said, this time in a man's deep voice.
She flicked her wrist and a black flame burst into existence over her palm. She laughed.
"No one escapes me." The two voices said in unison. She vanished in a burst of black fire.
A/N: Perdi is now twenty three years old. Artis is either twenty two or one hundred and twenty two, depending on how you want to look at it. Reyva is also twenty three, while Dhalia is not quite twenty four. Physically speaking, Nyssa is currently twenty one. For reference, Bloom is forty one, although she only looks to be about twenty eight because fairies and other magical beings age more slowly than normal.
And yes, Perdi got drunk.
So, that's the start of the new series. I don't know how long this is going to be, or if there will be more than one book in this series, but I do have some interesting ideas I want to play with. See you all next time.
