Ch.9: The Ceremony

Pam looked Alura over to make sure the dress was perfect. The female Hypnobrai looked so beautiful that the human wanted to cry tears of joy. The torso of the dress was made of pure silk, bearing a white rose in the center of the chest to make the bare chest area more modest. The only arms it has were a strip of white gardenias wrapped loosely around each arm. The torso went down and ended with a V shape before starting the shiny satin skirt shaped like a thin bell. And at the hem was sewn a row of more gardenias. The veil on Alura's head was decked with diamond-shaped star designs, and yet Pam can see that she's letting her hair down. Who'd thought that her hair would take up most of the width of her hood's back when unbraided and loosened up?

"So…what do you think?" Alura asked, fastening a blue sapphire necklace her mother gave her around her neck.

"You look beautiful," Pam breathed. The bride smiled in reply before letting out a nervous sigh.

"I hope I don't get cold feet," she said as Pam made sure the bouquet is alright.

"Trust me, you'll be fine," she assured her as she gently handed her the bouquet. "Besides, how can ya do that when you don't even have feet?" Alura laughed at the joke, a sign that she's feeling much better now.

"I couldn't thank you enough for what you've done for us, Pam," she then said. Pam just smiled back.

"I'm the one who should be grateful for the chance to plan a wedding," she replied. "I just hope the guys don't ruin the wedding if they come to my rescue. If they do, I'll smack their bottoms so hard, they'll be sitting on giant ice cubes for a week."

That got Alura concerned. She, Skales, and Fangtom are the only ones who know about Pythor inviting the ninja because he anticipated their rescue. But Pam doesn't know about it, and she wants to make sure the wedding goes smoothly. Before the bride could open her mouth to tell Pam, there was a knock at the door.

"Who is it?" asked Pam.

"It's Skales," came an answer. "Is Alura decent?"

"She's all set, General," Pam answered. "You can come in." The door opened, and Skales came in dressed in a navy blue cape held by a golden clasp bearing the emblem of the Hypnobrai and a navy blue belt with an ice-bladed sword. Pam understood that it's the customary attire the brides father should wear when giving her away. But since their father's gone, Skales will have the honor of wearing it as he gives Alura way to Fangtom. Alura covered her mouth with a tearful smile when she saw her brother.

"You look so much like Father," she said softly.

"And you look gorgeous," he replied, hugging her fondly. They and Pam then heard sniffling and whimpering at the door and turned to see Julien at the door. He was crying a little and drying his eyes with a handkerchief.

"Are you alright, Julien?" asked Skales as Pam knelt down and patted the lemur's shoulder in comfort.

"He's okay," Pam answered, taking Julien into her arms and standin up again. "He tends to get emotional at weddings." The Hypnobrai General nodded in understanding before holding his arm out to Alura.

"Shall we?" he asked her. She then draped the top half of the veil over her face before wrapping her arm around his.

"Let's," she answered with a fond smile. The two of them then left the room, Pam following behind to close the door behind her and hold the till tearful Julien on her shoulder.

Meanwhile at the Grand Hall, the last of the guests have arrived. Those last guests are none other than Nya and the ninja in their disguises. Hopefully, no one will see through them.

"Hey, you six." They all froze as Slithraa turned and called to them. Not good…

"Why aren't you at a table yet?" the Warrior demanded. "The wedding will be starting in a few minutes." They all felt relief wash over them.

"We, uh…we couldn't find a seat," Cole answered. Slithraa then looked around a bit until he spotted an empty table at the right of the altar.

"There's a table up there," he said, pointing it out to the group. "Flareflash will show you to it." Before anyone could ask who Flareflash is, a red Draco-Steed with an orange-and-yellow mane and tail and sunset-colored eyes walked up to them.

He's a Cometdash, a desert-dwelling Draco-Steed famous for its incredible speed. They are so fast, they literally leave behind a trail of blazing fire at their hooves. They love to show off their speed through racing. One way to tame a Cometdash is to present them with their favorite treat: cactus blossoms. Give him enough to give yourself time to hop onto his back. If you get on there in time, he will let you ride him and enjoy his speed.

"Uh, thanks," Lloyd replied before Slithraa left. Flareflash then led the group to the empty table. As they followed him, Kai couldn't help but notice that his hooves glowed like brimstone. He'd find it pretty cool if he wasn't so concerned about Pam's safety. As they headed for the table, Kowalski slid up behind them, keeping low. He was covered from head to toe with tan paint to blend in with the ground and walls.

Once they have taken their seats, the team observed the altar close by. Pythor stood in front of it, dressed in a violet robe as a sign that he is the justice of the peace. At his right stood Fangtom, dressed in a scarlet red cape with a diamond clasp bearing the emblem of the Fangpyre Tribe. Behind him stood his best man Fangdam, wearing a black bow tie on each neck.

Lloyd watched as Flareflash went up to Fangtom, who stroked his muzzle with a smile.

He must be Fantom's Draco-Steed, he thought as the Cometdash left.

"I just don't get why we can't attack now," Kai hissed.

"We can't risk creating a disturbance in case this is a trap Pythor set up," Zane answered.

"Besides, chances are he might've moved Pam and Julien someplace else," Nya added.

"And I don't wanna miss out on the cake," Cole hissed.

"Have you guys thought about setting up a cake intervention on him?" Kowalski asked from under the table.

"I heard that," the Black Ninja snapped, looking down at the penguin with a glare.

"You were supposed to." Before Cole could respond, a chorus of harps and flutes began playing. The wedding's starting. Quickly everyone quieted down so that the March of the Bride can began.

The first to walk up to the altar are Acidicus and his Tropiflora Bouquetina. A Tropiflora is a forest-dwelling Draco-Steed that is green with ocean blue eyes and a magical mane and tail that changes colors based on its mood and personality and blossoms flowers (Bouquetina's is rosy pink with magnolias). Like the Crystal back, she's famous for its beauty. When they walk dirt ground, flowers blossom in seconds at their feet. That would probably explain why Bouquetina's the flower girl. The best way to tame a Tropiflora is to wear a flower that she currently has in her mane. If you do, she will think you're one of her own and will stay with you, whether or not you're wearing the flower anymore.

After Acidicus (he has on a black bow tie like Fangdam) and Bouquetina took their places at either side of the altar, Skalidor (also wearing a black bow tie) came towards the altar with the ring bearer. He's the Constrictai's Quakestomp Pewterbolt, and a red velvet pillow with golden tassels was strapped to its back, bearing two golden wedding rings.

The Quakestomp is an earth brown Draco-Steed with a storm black mane and tail and sliver gray eyes. They dwell in caves and rocky mountains and are powerfully strong as shown by their means of defense. When threatened, they rear up and slam their front feet hard into the ground, creating a strong tremor like a small earthquake. They also are excellent at sniffing out and digging up gems, which to them is Turkish Delight. To tame a Quakestomp, one must approach him with a gem but must choose carefully (Quakestomps are quite picky about their chose of gems). If you choose the wrong type of gem, he will turn and walk away from you in rejection. But if you choose right, he'll eat the gem out of your hand and allow you to pet its ears and muzzle.

After Pewterbolt took his place next to Bouquetina and Skalidor next to Acidicus, everyone stood up for the last part of the March. In slithered Skales with Alura at his side. At their left walked Flareflash; at their right walked Stormglide. And holding up the train behind the bride is Pam, and Julien rode on her shoulder, still sniffling and drying his eyes with his handkerchief.

"Weddings tend to have an emotional effect on Julien," Kowalski explained.

"I don't blame him," Nya sniffed before wiping away a tear. "Alura looks so beautiful…"

"Yeah," Jay sniffed. "I'm so happy for her…"

"Awkwaaard…" Lloyd whispered, inching away from the pair.

"My analysis states that it's quite heartwarming when you think about it," Zane stated. The Black, Green, and Red Ninja turned to him with confused glances.

"Somehow, I can't help but get the feeling you should get out more," Cole said as the Hypnobrai siblings stopped before Fangtom. Skales then kissed Alura on the forehead before hugging her and letting Fangtom lead his bride up to the altar. Then he, Pam, and the Draco-Steeds took their place with the flower girl and ring bearer. When the music died down and everyone sat back down, Pythor began the ceremony:

"Serpentine of the united Tribes, we are gathered here today to witness the union of General Fangtom Fangpyre and Lady Alura Hypnobrai in this ritual of Serpentine matrimony…" Kai then turned to Pam to make sure she's okay. So far, all she did was smile at the bride and groom, happy that they'll soon spend the rest of their lives together. But when she turned to Pythor, her smile became a frown. Not an angry frown but a pained frown. Kowalski stated that Pam always makes that look when she feels devastated for someone. Why would she feel terrible for the one who makes her feel like Penelope Pussycat? What was it that happened to Pythor that made her feel sorry for him?

"Do you, Fangtom, take Alura to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love forever, even when death do you part?" Fangtom's two heads turned to her with smiles.

"I…do." Alura smiled with a blush on her face, remind her soon-to-be husband of their romantic sunset moment back at the Frozen Mountains.

"And do you, Alura, take Fangtom to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love forever, even when death do you part?" Said bride turned to Fangtom.

"I do." The two-headed snake's tail then gave her tail a small squeeze. Pewterbolt then walked up to the couple and knelt down so the ring pillow's leveled with the couple. Fangtom took one ring and slipped it onto Alura's finger, and she did the same with the other ring and Fangtom's finger. Pythor smiled as they then held hands.

"As Snake King of Ourobourus and of the united Tribes," eh then said, "I hereby pronounce you husband and wife." He then turned to Fangtom. "You may kiss the bride." The Fangpyre then lifted the veil gently off Alura's face before taking her into his arms, kissing her with his right head while nuzzling her cheek with his left head. As the two of them kissed, Pythor turned to the witnesses.

"May I present to you…Mr. and Mrs. Fangtom Fangpyre!" The crowds clapped and cheered, even the ninja, and Julien blew his nose into his hankie.