Fangpyre Husband, Hypnobrai Wife

Summary: Sequel to Reuniting of the Tribes. Pythor and the freed Serpentine return to Ourobourus so that Fangtom and Alura can get married. And the long lost Snake King knows of one particular Wind Ninja who'd be the perfect wedding planner.

Ch.1: Reflecting on the Past

The sun has just risen over the horizon of the Sea of Sand by the time Alura woke up and slithered out of her large tent. She, her Constrictai comrades Rokin and Rolin, and their group of Serpentine arrived at the meeting point where they're to meet Pythor. However, their Snake King's group has not returned yet, so a few of the Scouts are keeping watch for them. Stretching her arms with a light groan, the female Hypnobrai slithered over to a Fangpyre Scout.

"Lucaso," she asked, "any sign of them yet?"

"Not yet, Lady Alura," he answered with a small shake of his head, "and I've just started my shift. But don't worry; I'll keep looking for Master Pythor." Alura just smiled at him in reply before patting him on the shoulder.

"Very well, Lucaso," she said before slithering over to the edge of the dune on which they're camping. After leaving Lucaso alone to do his duties, she looked out into the horizon until her eyes fell up on a familiar landmark about twenty miles from where they stood…Ourobourus. She can hardly believe that she will soon be home after being away for six months. She will soon be reunited with her brother General Scales of the Hypnobrai…and finally marry her fiancé General Fangtom of the Fangpyre. Although this whole engagement is an arranged marriage her brother set up for her, Alura is happy to go along with the marriage. The two siblings have known Fangtom since they were children, and she had known him to be the most loving Fangpyre she has ever known. But when Slithraa started the war with the Fangpyre Tribe, the two siblings felt as though a part of them has been taken from them. That's why Skales tried to claim the title of General from him; to end the fighting between the two Tribes. When her brother won the title and Fangtom happily, Skales asked the Fangpyre General to take Alura in as his wife to prevent another war between the two Tribes.

At first, Alura thought it would be weird of her to marry her brother's best friend, but a talk with Fangtom changed it all.

*~*~*Flashback*~*~*

Alura sat on a snow-cover rock to gaze out at the gorgeous view of the mountains. The snow had stopped falling, so the mountains look more beautiful under the setting sun. Despite the beauty, Alura felt bothered, especially when she looked down at the tail that was once her legs…a sign that she's chosen to be the bride of a General. Not just any General, mind you; General Fangtom of the Fangpyre, her brother General Skales' best friend. The arranged marriage, however, has made her feel uneasy. She had strong feelings for Fangtom ever since they were teenagers, but she never said a word of it to her brother because she's afraid it will upset him. But it's not wrong for a Serpentine of one tribe to fall in love with a Serpentine of another tribe…is it? And even if it isn't wrong, what are Fangtom's true feelings for her?

"Alura?" The female Hypnobrai snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of a familiar voice. She turned, and sure enough, there stood Fangtom. Alura then turned to the sunset so he wouldn't see her blush.

"I was just watching the sunset," she said. "It's very beautiful when it's not snowing."

"It certainly is," Fangtom's right head replied, looking out at the colored mountains as the left head turned to her.

"May I join you?" the left head then asked her.

"Uh…of course," she answered nervously. She then felt her face get warmer as the Fangpyre sat next to her on the rock. She just wanted to scream with delight at how close he is to holding her hand, but she held it in the best she could.

"Alura, are you alright?" Fangtom's right head asked her.

"You're shaking," the left head stated.

"Oh, I…uh…"Alura started with a slight gulp.

"Are you cold?" the right head asked.

"M-Maybe a little…"

"Here," the left head said. "Allow me." Alura's face became redder and her body stiffer as Fangtom wrapped his tail around hers and wrapped his left arm around her waist. Her heart began pounding faster as he also held her closer to his body to keep her warm and held her right hand with his right hand.

"Better?" his right head asked her softly. Alura couldn't help herself; he's just so sweet and kind to her. Just like when they were teenagers.

"Much better," she sighed, placing her head against the throat of Fangtom's left head. Both heads smiled as he gave her a small hug.

"That's good to here," he said to her. "I wouldn't call myself a true husband…if I let you freeze out here." Alura gulped at hearing him call himself a true husband. Does he really see himself that way…or does he truly love her? She now knows that it's now or never if she's ever to find out.

"Fangtom," she said to him, "there's something I…I have to tell you." His right head turned to her.

"What is it, Alura?" it asked. His Hypnobrai bride took a deep breath before giving her confession:

"I've been in love with you ever since we were teenagers. Even when the fight between our Tribes stared, I still loved you. I didn't tell you because of how you might react. And I never told Skales because I'm afraid it might upset him. I'm so sorry I didn't tell you sooner." Fangtom's right head just smiled softly before nuzzling her nose softly.

"Your brother and I…already knew about your feelings for me," he explained. "Your smiles and blushes…always gave you away." Alura then looked into his glowing white eyes.

"Is he mad at me?" she asked. Fangtom just gave her a friendly chuckle.

"Why should he be angry with you?" he answered. "He had a feeling you and I are made for each other. And he trusts me to take care of you should anything happen to him. Besides…I love you too. Your courage and strength make up your true beauty in my eyes. That's why your brother arranged the marriage…besides wanting to prevent another war between our Tribes…now that he is General. However…I wish to make this right." Fangtom then pulled out something and held it before Alura. The female Hypnobrai felt like shedding tears of joy when she saw that it's a golden ring encrusted with a blue diamond encircled by tiny red rubies.

"Lady Alura," Fangtom then said, "sister of General Skales of the Hypnobrai…Will you marry me?" Alura then looked up at him, a tear trickling down her cheek.

"Yes," she answered with a lump in her throat. With a smile on both faces, Fangtom took her left hand and slipped it onto her ring finger. In reply, Alura kissed his left head on the lips, and he returned it as his right head kissed her cheek, jaw line, and neck.

Alura mentally thanked the heavens for favoring Skales to win in the Slither Pit against Slithraa. She thanked her brother for arranging the marriage. She even thanked little Lloyd for reuniting the three of them…

"General Fangtom! General Fangtom!" The two lovers broke apart at the call. Turning, they saw Fangtom's second-in-command Fangdam running towards them.

"Fangdam?" the Fangpyre General replied as the two-headed Warrior stopped before him to catch his breath. "What's wrong?"

"Huge…" Fangdam gasped in between breaths. "Tomb…Hoo-boy…" Fearing he may pass out, Alura went over to his side.

"Fangdam," she said to him, "take a breath first, then tell us what's wrong." Fangdam obeyed and took a deep breath with both mouths. When he's caught up with his breath, he told them what was going on.

"A huge Serpentine has arrived at the Hypnobrai Tomb. But it's not just any Serpentine…It's an Anacondrai…of the General Rank!"

"An Anacondrai General?!" Alura cried with fear. She had heard that the Anacondrai's the most powerful of the Five Tribes and are greatly feared, especially by other Serpentine. And an Anacondrai General's said to be the deadliest. Alura clung to Fangtom in fear.

"Oh, Fangtom," she whimpered fretfully. "If the General's here, he must have brought his tribe with him. I'm frightened!"

"That's the strange part, Lady Alura," Fangdam said. "He came alone."

"Alone?" Fangtom replied as his fiancée turned to the Warrior in confusion. That's odd…Show us the way, Fangdam." With a nod, his second-in-command led them back to the tomb, and the two betrothed followed, Fangtom holding Alura's left hand.

*~*~*End Flashback*~*~*

Alura then looked down at her left hand, the engagement ring still on her finger. She was very frightened by Pythor at first that she stood close to Fangtom for protection. But after the Anacondrai has shown her no harm, she has begun to trust and respect him…especially when Pythor has given her and Fangtom his blessing. With a small smile, the female Hypnobrai looked out at Ourobourus.

"Please wait for me, Fangtom," she whispered in prayer.

"Lady Alura!" She snapped out of her thoughts when she heard a familiar voice call out to her. Turning, she saw Lucaso running up to her in excitement.

"What is it, Lucaso?"

"One of the Scouts has just spotted King Pythor and his troops heading towards the camp," he exclaimed. "They'll be here in a minute or two." Alura felt her smiled getting a little bigger. Once Pythor's army gets here, they can head for the city…and she'll be closer to reuniting with her brother and her beloved fiancé.

"Very good, Lucaso," she said to the Fangpyre Scout. "Let us go greet our king." With a nod from her loyal Scout, the two Serpentine headed for the western part of the camp where Pythor was sighted. A minute later, the Anacondrai landed before them on his Draco-Steed Nebula.

"Welcome back, Master Pythor," Alura said while Lucas held Nebula's reins so Pythor can dismount with ease. "Judging by the larger number of Serpentine in your group, I'd say you've succeeded in retrieving the rest of the Serpentine." The two of them then turned to see the Serpentine in Alura's group greet the Serpentine in Pythor's group. Most of them even embraced those who are their friends, whether they're of the same Tribe or not.

"Yes," Pythor replied with a nod as he helped Arctica off of Nebula's back. "As I have anticipated, however, I ran into the ninja at the Toxic Bogs."

"But no prisoners?" the Hypnobrai asked.

"Trust me," the taller snake stated. "If we do that, they will only cause us even more trouble than they usually did. Remember the Fangblade fiasco at the Mountain of a Million Steps." Alura groaned at the memory.

"Point taken."

"Besides," Pythor added as Arctica hopped out of his arms and onto his shoulder, "we have something more important to take care of. Your wedding." Alura couldn't help but chuckle, even though he's right. Once they reach Ourobourus, Pythor will talk to the Generals about postponing the Slither Pit restoration so to have Alura and Fangtom's wedding.

"I agree," the Hypnobrai said to him. "I really miss Skales and Fangtom." Pythor nodded before turning to the other Serpentine.

"Alright, listen up, everyone," he called out, making them all turn to him and give him their undivided attention. As you all already know, your Generals and a handful from each of your tribes are busy restoring our beloved Ourobourus, wanting to make it more capable for all of us to live in after the whole Great Devourer scenario." Everyone nodded in reply with concurring mumbles.

"Man," a Constrictai said to a Fangpyre, "that incident was more than just plain nuts."

"However," Pythor continued, "their restoration project is taking longer than the Generals themselves have hoped due to having no enough workers and to various construction injuries. Unless we can give them extra help, they will never get it done. What do you say we lend them a hand?" In a split second, the immense crowds cheered and the wolves and wolfdogs howled in concurrence.

Pythor smiled at his success. He knows that these Serpentine miss and worry about their comrades in the city, and he still has his way with words of leadership. And since they brought some medical supplies with them, the injured in said city will be properly cared for.

"Then let's move out," the Anacondrai announced, mounting Nebula. "TO OUROBOURUS, AND TO OUR COMRADES!" Nebula reared up with a powerful neigh, and the still loyal Serpentine cheered again. Once his Twilight Guardian is back on all fours again, Pythor turned to Alura.

"I will fly on ahead to meet up with the Generals," he said to her. "You lead our Serpentine to the main gate. Be sure to tell them who you are and your relations with Skales and Fangtom should they ask. Also tell them to send for them."

"Yes, my liege," she replied with a bow.

"Oh, and before I forget," he added, holding his hand out to a large carriage pulled by four strong Constrictai Warriors. "Please be careful with that carriage. It holds some gifts I have for your brother, your fiancé, and Generals Skalidor and Acidicus."

"Will do, sire," she replied with a nod, and Nebula flew off for the city, Pythor and Arctica on his back.