Disclaimer: I do not own "Gummi Bears," and "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," or its characters. They are both property of the Walt Disney Company, Python Pictures and their associates.
"Wedding at Swamp Castle"
By TwlightSparkle3562
Chapter 1
"Wedding Invitation"
It was another beautiful day in the kingdom of Dunwyn and Princess Calla, daughter of its ruler, King Gregor, was outside with her best friend, Sunni Gummi, a member of the Gummi Bear race. The two had been best friends ever since they first encountered one another in Castle Drekmore, home of their archenemy, Duke Sigmund Igthorn, an ex-knight of Dunwyn. Because of her friendship with Calla, Sunni had always been enchanted with the ways of the human world. She always wanted to learn and understand everything that made the human culture what it was. At times, it would often get her into trouble, but Sunni was aware of the dangers.
On this particular day however, Sunni was having troubles of her own as she was struggling to hold on to a horse as part of a horseback riding lesson that Calla had been teaching Sunni. After a few moments, Sunni lost her grip and fell down on the grass on her stomach.
"Ten seconds, Sunni," laughed Calla as she helped Sunni to her feet. "That's the longest you've stayed on yet."
"I would have stayed on longer if that horse hadn't buckled out from under me," remarked Sunni, bitterly only for the horse to bite her on the rear. This caused Sunni to face the four legged creature and wave her fist at it.
"Ow! Why you four foot legged excuse for a…"
"He's after the sugar cubes," said Calla. "Give him a couple."
Sunni reached into her pocket and pulled out a pair of sugar cubes that she had been carrying. Rather than just bending its head down to take them, the horse stuck out its tongue and not only licked the cubes out of Sunni's hand, but also licked Sunni herself, right in the face.
"Oh, Sunni," giggled Calla, who noticed that the sun was beginning to set and she needed to return to Dunwyn Castle. "It's getting late. Same time tomorrow?"
"Sure, see you then," replied Sunni, wiping the horse's saliva out of her face.
But, just as Sunni prepared to leave, Calla suddenly had a thought that she wanted to share with Sunni. There was something important coming up and Calla thought that since Sunni liked high class functions at Dunwyn, it was something that she thought would greatly interest her.
"Oh, wait just a minute, Sunni," called Calla and stopping Sunni from going any further. "I forgot to tell you something that I thought might interest you."
"What is it?" asked Sunni, excitedly as she ran back over to Calla. "Is there something you want to tell me? Are you having a ball? A dinner? What is it?"
"Father and I are going to be attending a wedding in a nearby kingdom tomorrow," answered Calla. "And I was wondering if you wanted to sneak in and attend."
The thought of attending a wedding greatly excited Sunni. She loved nothing more than two lives coming together to be united forever. There weren't any Gummi Bear marriages for 500 years, but there were plenty of human weddings and Sunni had the honor of attending a few of them.
"Oh, boy! I'd love to come, Calla," replied Sunni, jumping and down in excitement. "Who's getting married? Is it someone we know? Is it Princess Marie? Who is it?"
A sudden frown came upon Calla's face when Sunni asked her who was getting married. As far as she was concerned, the wedding that she and King Gregor were attending was a wedding that was to be due to an arranged marriage. Still, she kept an upper lip, especially for Sunni who could only just stand there and be excited.
"It is a very good friend of mine, Sunni," said Calla. "He is being married to the girl of his dreams. However…"
"Say no more, Calla," interrupted Sunni, excitedly. "I've got to get ready for the wedding. See you then!"
So, Sunni ran off excitedly as Calla watched and once Sunni was gone, she led the horse back to the stables while thinking about the wedding that she and King Gregor were supposed to attend. It was a wedding that, in Calla's mind, was something that really bothered her greatly. Being a princess, she had to obey certain laws that would often times dictate her life. This would often put her at odds with King Gregor, who always wanted Calla to set an example for her subjects.
"Ah, Calla," said Gregor as Calla walked in from the stables. "I see we are looking forward to the wedding at Swamp Castle tomorrow, aren't we?"
"Yes, father," replied Calla, trying to keep up a happy front about the situation. "I'm very thrilled for Prince Herbert and his new bride. But, can I ask you a question, father?"
"Of course, Calla," said Gregor as they walked towards Calla's bedroom. "What is it that you wish to ask of me?"
Calla and Gregor walked up to the door of Calla's bedroom and the young princess placed her hand on the doorknob before looking at Gregor right in the eyes.
"Father," said Calla, not sure of how to address her feelings. "I was just wondering if maybe an arranged marriage isn't a good idea. Do you think this is what Prince Herbert wants? To be married to someone he doesn't love?"
Before Gregor could answer, Calla opened the door to her bedroom and the king and princess of Dunwyn went inside and sat down on the edge of Calla's bed. In his lifetime, Gregor had attended numerous weddings and realized that weddings were not only the unions of the married couple, but also of the two kingdoms where the brides and grooms came from.
"You see, Calla," explained Gregor, placing an arm around Calla's neck. "Sometimes we all have to do things we don't want to do. King Herbert lives on a swamp and if he wants to be a respectable king, he needs land that is not on a swamp. Prince Herbert is being married to someone whose father has a ton of land that King Herbert can expand his kingdom on."
"I know that King Herbert has good intentions, father," remarked Calla. "But, don't you think that Herbert is a little young to even be married? He and I are both the same age."
"Well, it's how it is, unfortunately Calla," said Gregor. "But, King Herbert has good intentions for his kingdom and Prince Herbert will one day take the throne of Swamp Castle from him. Furthermore, my reign will one day end, Calla and you will be married to someone to share the throne with."
Calla took in this thought with a worried look on her face. She didn't want to have her freedom come to an end just like that, especially if she was to be one day forcefully married against her will. In her mind, Prince Herbert still had a childhood to live through and an arranged marriage at his age was just unacceptable. But, Calla didn't make the laws, her father did and there was nothing she could do about it.
However, Prince Herbert would eventually be saved from this arranged marriage as this story developed…
