Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Skylander Franchise save for the figures sold in stores. I am borrowing the Skylander characters for the purpose of telling a story.

Important notice: Whilst writing 'An Exception to the Rules', I was on vacation, spending three weeks with my cousin and her family. I was there long enough that their home became my home. Even though, staying with my cousin, I had the distractions of helping out on the farm, hiking, camping and other fun activities, I was still able to write my story and a decent one at that. Since coming returning to my home, I have been battling with depression and with my depression, comes writer's block. It may be a while for inspiration to come to me, but even when the inspiration does come, it may be even more time before I feel like writing and for me to overcome the urge to sleep all day long. Stay tuned for chapters to come.

Planning the Wedding

Cadence pushed the door to her cabin on Flynn's ship open and entered it. She had a cabin on his ship, but she didn't share one with him. Flynn rushed towards the door as it slowly closed behind Cadence and slipped through it.

"Cadence," Flynn said.

Cadence looked back at him, before looking away with a smug expression and began taking her gear off.

"You know he's gotta point," Flynn said.

Cadence dumped her riding armor on the floor and glared at Flynn.

"Oh I get it. He sent you to talk to me," Cadence said with a tone of anger.

"He didn't have to. I'm worried about you," Flynn said.

Cadence looked at Flynn. He walked up to her and put his hand on her back. Cadence didn't respond to him and began picking her things up, only to have Flynn stop her.

"Cadence! Come on, Cadence. Don't shut me out," Flynn said.

Cadence pulled away from him.

"I trained to be a Skylander, but with the way they treat me, I don't feel like one. I feel like an Alliance Officer. It stinks…worse than Stink Bomb," Cadence said, crossing her arms, her back to Flynn and scowling in anger.

"Hey, it's not all that bad is it?" Flynn asked, opening his arms up in a questioning gesture.

"It's worse than that," Cadence said, turning to him, "I am just as good as any Skylander out there, I've completed my training, but they aren't even going to give me a chance, just because Kaos managed to capture me," Cadence added.

"Because you have the ability to command all of the elements, to bend them to your will. It's not just about your protection but everyone's protection, the protection of the world. If you were captured and enslaved by Kaos, there's no telling what horrific things you could do," Flynn said.

Cadence looked at him with a sober expression.

"Seriously, when did you get to become so intelligent?" Cadence asked him quietly in a tired tone, not in the mean sense.

Flynn walked up to her and pulled her into his arms. He held her comfortingly, patting her on the back, even rocking her a little.

"I would think you'd be happy to not be sent away on missions. You can spend more time with me. We do have our wedding to plan. We haven't even picked a date," Flynn said.

Cadence let out a heavy sigh.

"I guess you're right," Cadence said and put her arms around him, "Thanks Flynn."

…^…^…

"Cadence can't really be considered a drifter," Hugo said to the small group.

Starfire walked past Cali, lowering its tail beside her. Cali smiled when she saw her bandana hanging on its tail and took it. She wrapped it around her neck and tied it. Starfire continued on, heading towards Flynn's ship.

"You're right Hugo. Cadence isn't a drifter. More like…a maverick," Cali said.

"A maverick?" Tanner asked.

"Yeah, you know, one who doesn't follow the customs of others like her. She's not like other Skylanders, she's unorthodox in her approach," Cali said.

Buzz thumped the ground with his crutch.

"Ha, unorthodox is just another way of saying she's clever in her approach," Buzz said.

"You didn't see her," Tanner said.

"No, Tanner. He's right. Sure, Cadence didn't have a plan and she did seem to be discombobulated, but she did rescue us," Cali said.

Master Eon looked off in the direction of Flynn's ship.

"Cadence improvised," Cali said.

"Cadence is a cheetah," Buzz mused out loud.

"Don't let Flynn hear you say that about her," Cali said.

Buzz rolled his eye, but he knew Cali wasn't joking. Flynn defended Cadence's hybridism with vengeance.

"Cheetahs are fast, even their minds are fast. They think better on the move and on their feet. Cadence was fast formulating a plan," Hugo explained.

Cali looked at Tanner who only shrugged.

"But, Cadence didn't even really fight back, she just…fled," Tanner said.

"The Skylander that runs away, lives to fight another day. Cadence's main concern was getting you and Cali away from your captors and back home safely. Had she stayed and fought, she might have compromised her main mission. Hmm…perhaps Cadence is greater than I give her credit for," Master Eon mused.

Cali, Hugo, Buzz, and Tanner looked in the direction of Flynn's ship.

"You are aware that Cadence stole the The Global Island Positions of Skylands map," Cali asked.

Master Eon didn't respond right away. Hugo looked up at Master Eon in shock.

"Yes, I am aware. Starfire however is a very strong dragon and intelligent. She won't let the map fall into the wrong hands. Trust me. I've sent my best Skylanders, my elite to try to retrieve it from her. They all failed," Master Eon said.

…^…^…

Flynn looked up when he heard Cadence enter the galley. He looked at her curiously. She walked further into the galley and looked at him. He was standing at the stove, stirring something in a large pot.

"What's for dinner? I'm getting hungry," Cadence asked.

Flynn smiled at her.

"Have a seat. I fixed up soup. Comfort food," Flynn said.

Cadence was surprised by this and took a seat at the table. Flynn never took his eyes off of her, he could tell she was troubled.

"You know you can always talk to me," Flynn said to her.

Cadence didn't reply right away, but she gave him a soft, "I know."

Flynn stopped stirring the pot and walked over to sit beside her. He rubbed her back gently.

"Come on, talk to me," Flynn said.

Cadence leaned against him. He held her comfortingly and rocked her gently.

"I'm just upset about the lack of confidence in my ability to be a great Skylander," Cadence said.

Flynn looked at her and tried thinking of something more to say and said the first thing that came to his mind.

"I think yer a great Skylander," Flynn said.

Cadence looked up at him and he gave her a small smile and a shrug, "If it makes you feel better."

Cadence smiled back at him and snuggled against him, "You always know how to make me feel better."

They embraced each other warmly, holding each other close. When they pulled back, they realized they were no longer the only two beings in the galley. Master Eon's spirit moved so quietly, they didn't hear him come in.

"Cadence, I may have misjudged you unfairly. Buzz said that you scored poorly when it came to conducting missions. True, your training was completed, but Buzz didn't feel you were…mission…material," Master Eon said.

Cadence let out a frustrated growl and stamped her foot, almost stamping on Flynn's. Flynn took a step back from her.

"Of course, my impulsiveness," Cadence said.

"And stubborn," Flynn added.

Cadence looked at him with an unimpressed and annoyed look. Then she smiled.

"Flynn, your soup is boiling over," Cadence said.

Flynn looked startled, looked back at the pot, yelping when he saw it was boiling over and rushed over and tended to his boiling pot.

"But when you went to rescue Cali and her friend Tanner…" Master Eon started.

"Her boyfriend…" Flynn corrected.

Cadence and Eon looked at him with another unimpressed look.

"Just saying, her expeditions are actually dates. Least, that's what she told me," Flynn said with a smile.

"That is beside the point. Cadence, Cali tells me that you did not get caught up in battling the Diamond Dogs…" Master Eon continued.

"WHAT!? DIAMOND DOGS! You went up against those ruffians?" Flynn said.

"Flynn, will you please refrain from commenting on this," Master Eon said, glaring at the Mabu.

"Yes, sir," Flynn said.

Master Eon returned his attention back to Cadence.

"Instead of fighting, you focused your attention on getting Cali and Tanner to safety. Perhaps I should give you a chance to prove that you can handle missions," Master Eon said.

"That was why you wouldn't let me go on missions. Not because of the danger of me getting captured?" Cadence said.

Master Eon looked apologetic.

"It was a necessary evil. Wrong actions, right reasons…sort of thing. Reports on your mock missions, as well as the information I got from Flynn after debriefing him when the two of you got captured, made me fear that you weren't a mission handling Skylander. It was my intention to have you on as security here at the academy, but I'll have you put back on the roster for going on missions," Master Eon said.

Flynn walked over to Cadence with a bowl of steaming hot soup and handed it to her.

"Careful, it's really hot," Flynn said.

"I figured that," Cadence replied taking the bowl from him, "Thank you, Flynn. And thank you, sir," Cadence added.

Hugo entered the galley. Flynn and Cadence nuzzled noses and snuggled against each other.

"Master Eon, we got a call from Gurglefin about a band of miscreants causing trouble in the major fishing spots and in the shipping lanes," Hugo said.

"So about our wedding?" Flynn asked Cadence quietly.

Master Eon thought about it for a moment, then looked over at Cadence.

"Cadence, would you like to take this mission," Master Eon asked.

Flynn and Cadence looked surprised at each other, then up at Master Eon. Flynn looked at Cadence for her response. Cadence thought for a moment, then looked at Flynn. Flynn was worried Cadence would take the mission.

"I'd love to take the mission," Cadence said.

Flynn let out a painful groan. Master Eon smiled and nodded.

"But I have a much more important mission," Cadence said, snuggling up against Flynn who smiled, "planning my wedding."

Flynn smiled even bigger.

"Oh yeah, that's right. You two do have a wedding to plan," Hugo said with realization, "going to take me a while to get used to the idea of a Skylander and a non-Skylander getting married."

"Better get used to it soon, Hugo. Because I'm wanting you to be my best man," Flynn said.

"WHAA?" Hugo said, surprised by this.

"Well, it's either you or Sharpfin and I've known you longer…so you get first chance at it," Flynn said.

Hugo looked like a kid that was offered the biggest bowl of ice cream.

"Wow, Flynn. I'd be honored," Hugo said.

Flynn smiled at the mole.

"Come along, Hugo. Let's leave these two lovebugs alone to plan their wedding," Master Eon said.

Cadence and Flynn waited for them to leave.

"I wish you hadn't done that without consulting with me first," Cadence said.

"Huh," Flynn said, surprised at this.

He looked at Cadence questioningly.

"What's wrong, Cade?" Flynn asked.

Cadence took a deep breath.

"I'm not entirely sure I want a…full blown…wedding," Cadence said.

"WHAT!? But we have to have a full blown wedding. Everyone expects us to…including my mother," Flynn said.

Cadence rolled her eyes when he said everyone expects us to, but looked startled when he mentioned his mother.

"Momma?" Cadence said.

"Yeah," Flynn said.

"She would expect a wedding, she is my foster mother," Cadence said and let out a sigh.

Flynn put his hand on hers.

"What's up with this about not wanting a full blown wedding? I thought all girls dreamt of full blown weddings," Flynn said.

Cadence looked down at the bowl of soup. Her stomach growled loudly. She looked up at Flynn and giggled nervously.

"First food, then we'll talk," Flynn said.

Cadence smiled at him and began eating the soup.

"Mmm, sure tastes good," Cadence said.

Flynn smiled at her.

"You always were a great cook," Cadence said.

"Thanks," Flynn said.

"Flynn, I'm not comfortable with a showy wedding. The wedding isn't important to me…the marriage to you is," Cadence said.

Flynn listened intently.

"Weddings…they require a lot of time consuming planning and organizing and they rarely ever go according to plan. Not to mention money, which I need if I want to purchase magic from Persephone to increase my attack strength and learn new abilities," Cadence said.

Flynn scratched the back of his neck.

"I can see where you are coming from," Flynn said and Cadence smiled. "I support you, Cade, but mom is going to expect a wedding of some sort, even just a small one. Can't we…compromise?" Flynn asked.

Cadence finished off the last of her soup and then took a moment to think it over.

"Maybe just a small one, no reception, just a handful of our friends," Cadence said.

"Agreed," Flynn said with a smile and a nod, "So when do we want to have our wedding?"

Cadence took her bowl over to the pot and dished some more soup up for herself.

"I'd like it to be soon…like…maybe…next week or two?" Cadence said.

Flynn almost choked on his mouth of food. He coughed and sputtered and hit his chest.

"Next week? Or two weeks…Cadence, pressure much. At least give us till next month," Flynn said.

Cadence let out a heavy sigh and Flynn thought it sounded sad even.

"Oh, but now that I think about it, next week is good," Flynn said.

She sat down at the table, a spot away from him. Flynn didn't hesitate to move closer to her, sat down next to her and put an arm around her.

"I'm sorry, Cadence. I'm guessing you want to have it next week because you want to just get it over with, get past the wedding and get to the marriage," Flynn said.

Cadence nodded quietly. Flynn hugged her and nuzzled her, rubbing his temple against hers.

"Before Master Eon changes his mind," Cadence said.

Flynn was surprised by this.

"He would never do that. Cadence, he knows what's best for his Skylanders. He knows you need me. I mean he did send me to talk some sense into you about going on missions. He's not going to change his mind about letting you marry me," Flynn said.

Cadence smiled at him and rubbed his temple with hers.

"And also, if we don't do this next week, we may end up putting it off and never get married," Cadence said.

Flynn nodded, getting her point.

"Alright then, we'll do this next week," Flynn said.

…^…^…

"Why? Why? Why did they have to schedule their wedding so soon?" Cali asked.

She was helping Mags and Hugo hang decorations up.

"It's only a small wedding," Hugo said.

"But still," Cali said, looking at Hugo with a scowl, "They could have given us more time."

Mags rolled her eyes at this.

"Cali, when you plan a party, you put the décor up on that day and take them down that day. Weddings are no different. And Hugo's right, it is a small wedding and we don't have many decorations to put up," Mags said.

Cali looked over her shoulder at Flynn and Cadence as the pair did practice runs of the ceremony.

"Shouldn't we be down there for the practice?" Cali asked Hugo.

"They'll have a practice run with the Best Man and Maid of Honor later when Flynn's mom," Hugo answered.

Cadence had asked Cali to be her Maid of Honor. At that moment, a female Mabu that looked like Cali only a few pounds heavier and with doctor scrubs on walked into the Great Hall.

"There they are, my son and my foster daughter," remarked the Mabu with a huge smile on her face.

"Oh yeah, I forgot, Abigail fostered Cadence," Cali said.

Flynn and Cadence looked back at Abigail and smiled. Flynn went to greet his mother first, then Cadence.

"Ooh, this is so exciting," Abigail said.

"There…all finished with the decorating," Mags said, breaking Hugo and Cali's attention on Abigail for a moment.

"Perfect timing. We can now have a full rehearsal. Mags, would you be so kind as to go and get the honorary Father of the Bride," Master Eon said.

"Sure thing Master Eon," Mags said and walked out.

Cali and Hugo got down from their ladders and walked over to greet Abigail.

"Oh look at you, all grown up and a full-fledged Skylander," Abigail said as she embraced Cadence, "oh you are gorgeous."

"Hey Abigail," Hugo greeted.

"Well, hello there, Hugo. Keeping everyone in line here?" Abigail asked, as she turned to the mole.

"Oh no, Mags does a better job at that than I do," Hugo said.

"And Cali, Flynn tells me that you tend to be the comforting mother type," Abigail said.

Cali nodded. Mags walked in with Buzz.

"Hello Buzz," Abigail said to the Skylander Trainer.

"Abigail?" Buzz said.

Flynn looked at Cadence with a surprised glance, then back at the two elders.

"You two know each other," Flynn said.

Abigail looked at him.

"Yes, we know each other. About seven and a half months before you were born, Buzz limbed into Boom Town. His ship had sustained very bad damage, has did he. I nursed him back to health. He stayed with me for three weeks before he left to rejoin the Trap Masters," Abigail said.

"Wait…seven and a half months before Flynn was born…that would mean," Buzz said as he figured it out.

Flynn was figuring it out just as quickly as Buzz was.

"Is Buzz my…dad?" Flynn said as Buzz said, "Is Flynn my…son?"

"Yes," Abigail said.

"If the meetings and greetings are over, then let us get on with the rehearsal," Master Eon said.

Cadence nodded.

"Cadence and Buzz, you two go outside the main entrance and wait. Flynn stand to my left, Hugo on his left," Master Eon instructed.

Buzz motioned for Cadence to follow him.

"Buzz, are you okay?" Cadence whispered to him.

Buzz let out a sigh.

"I'll be alright, but…it's a lot to take in…knowing I have a son," Buzz said.

He and Cadence went outside the Great Hall doors. Buzz tapped the button on the wall console and listened for the cue.

"Alright and when the march starts to play, Buzz will lead Cadence in. We don't have the march playable right now, so Buzz if you will," Master Eon said.

"Alright, here we go," Buzz said, offering Cadence his left arm.

Cadence hooked her arm with his and he led her through the door.

"Now there will be two Alliance Crew members to open the door at the actual ceremony," Master Eon said.

Flynn smiled at Cadence.

"She looks beautiful now," Flynn said.

"Slow down, Flynn. You want to do this the right way," Cali said.

Buzz led cadence up to them.

"Buzz will turn Cadence over to Flynn," Master Eon said.

Flynn stepped, Buzz stepped back and Flynn took his place.

"You look beautiful today," Flynn said to me.

I smiled at him.

"Hugo stand behind and to the side of Flynn with me in your sights, Cali, the same but behind Cadence," Master Eon said.

Cali and Hugo moved into their respective positions.

"Buzz and Abigail…the two of you will stand together behind and to the side of Hugo, again with me in sight. This is tradition, but has nothing to do with our recent revelation," Master Eon said.

"Understandable," Buzz said.

Abigail nodded in agreement.

"Then we begin with the ceremony. I'll say a few words, then ask the important questions, exchange vows, I will ask the crowd if there is anyone who disproves of the marriage…don't know why, doesn't make any difference…then I'll ask Abigail and Buzz, the witnesses, if the ceremony was conducted correctly, if they say yes, then I will pronounce Flynn and Cadence to be husband and wife and poof, THEY will be married," Master Eon said.

Flynn glanced at Cadence and smiled.

"Now, Flynn, Cadence," Master Eon said.

They looked up at the translucent spirit.

"Have you two rehearsed your vows?" Master Eon asked.

Flynn nodded as Cadence remarked, "Yes we have!"

"Good, then tomorrow is the big day. Get plenty of rest. Cadence will be staying with Cali until after the wedding. Remember, its bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding," Master Eon said.

Flynn turned to Cadence.

"This time tomorrow," Flynn said as he and Cadence went to leave the Great Hall, "we'll be husband and wife," Flynn said.

"See you tomorrow, Flynn," Cadence said and they went their separate ways.

"Sir, are you sure you are certified to wed Flynn and Cadence? You are a spirit," Hugo asked.

Master Eon looked at Hugo with surprise, but began to wonder this too.