Whoa! Exciting! Vows this episode! By the way...when you see the song, sing along so all the lyrics fit the tune okay? It's gonna be important *hint hint wink wink nudge nudge slap*
All late OC's will be in the reception!
As the doors swing open, there is a collective rustling of tuxes and gowns as the heads of every single guest turns to see the bridal procession.
First comes the groomsmen and bridesmaids. The best man and maid of honor pad down the aisle first. Silverstream is glowing with happiness and excitement as she walks paw in paw with Tadpole. The little tom looks handsome and adorable padding along beside the taller, elegant queen. Silverstream looks down and smiles at Tadpole, who meets her soft blue gaze and purrs. Graystripe smiles at his mate when she passes, and her kits grin at their mother. Silverstream's half-kits eyes shine when she waves to them.
After them comes Sorreltail and Brackenfur, mates and pairs for the wedding. The tortie and white she-cat beams, pale blue bridesmaid dress rippling with every step. Brackenfur gazes lovingly at his mate the entire way down the aisle. Lilykit and Seedkit wave excitedly to their parents when they see the couple pad up the white carpet.
Next in line are Thornclaw and Brightheart. The ginger and white warrior practically bounces down the aisle, while the large golden tom, while desperately trying to keep up with his partner, merely smiles at the other guests. Dewkit, Snowkit, and Amberkit wave happily to their mother, while Whitewing covers her face with her paws, embarrassed by the older she-cat's energy.
Bramblestar and his sister Tawnypelt come down next. Tawnypelt reaches up to whisper something quickly in her brother's ear, and the tabby tom chuckles, eyes still trained on the altar. He and Squirrelflight wed in a small, private ceremony moons ago, and his eyes swell with emotion as he remembers it. The ginger and white she-cat is in the audience, and nods encouragingly to her mate. Since there are more bridesmaids than groomsmen, the other she-cats walk down the aisle in pairs.
Yellowfang and Mothwing walk together, each clutching their bouquets proudly, eyes gleaming with joy. As there are two bridesmaids left, they walk together as well, a duo of pale blue gowned she-cats down the aisle.
Cody and Leafpool, old friends reunited, saunter down the aisle. Leafpool scowls at the sight of Crowfeather with Feathertail, and makes a show of winking at the other single toms in the crowd. Cody just grins self-consciously runs a paw through her fur.
At the altar, the bridesmaids and groomsmen line up in a pair of diagonal line, angling themselves so they face the guests and the Justices of Starclan. Ties are slightly adjusted and bouquets are rearranged as they wait nervously for the next group to stride down the aisle.
The grand entrance opens again, and the flower girls enter. They prance down the white carpet, smiling at the guests and flinging petals and blossoms. In their fluffy, sweet pale blue dresses and glimmering tiaras, it looks as if a herd of giggling princesses were flouncing down the aisle. Mitzi is first, with little Timmy tucked in her basket. The black tom squeals with delight as he throws blossoms at the faces of the guests. Mitzi, so caught up in her 30 seconds of fame, doesn't reprimand her little brother. Tammy and Jasmine prance down after her, a cloud of pink, white, blue and purple petals trailing them. Tammy scowls at her parents when she sees them, and gestures to her dress. 'This is ridiculous!' she mouths. Nutmeg and Jake merely smile at their daughter and shoo her on down the aisle. Firestar, sitting beside his parents, waves cheekily to his little sister. She rolls her eyes and returns her gaze to the altar as she arrives. Jasmine skips happily after Tammy, fluffy her brown and white pelt and winking at Snowkit, who blushes profusely. The flower girls stand in front of the bridesmaids, who beam down at them and whisper words of congratulations and 'good job!'.
The ring bearers enter next, each tiny tom carrying one wedding band on their large blue pillows. Bartleby and Domino pad in side by side, grinning at each other. Each looks adorable in his little powder blue suit. Domino prances ahead cockily, glancing back at Bartleby and smirking. Bartleby hurries to catch up, but the ginger and white tom stumbles when he trips over his older brother's tail. He fumbles frantically for the pillow, and nabs it in the nick of time, checking to make sure the ring was still there. Thankfully, it was. Once the toms reach the altar, they're greeted heartily by the groomsmen with claps on the back and chuckles about the fumble. Hawkfrost beams at the young'uns. The two stand in front of Bramblestar, heads held high. Every member of the bridal party has reached the altar, except for the bride. The main event. The princess of the party. No, the queen.
"Where in the name of all things dank and slimy is Cinderpelt?" Mapleshade hisses to Jayfeather, "I can't take much more sitting! And this organ music is going to drive me insane!" She growls.
"Mapleshade, be patient. It must take forever to walk in that gown I saw in your mind, and-"
"How many times have I told you not to use your telepathy on me?!"
"Many, but I can't help it!" Jayfeather sighs.
"Just like I can't help being impatient! And so help me, I'm gonna murder whoever's playing that orga-" Mapleshade snaps, only to be cut off by a sudden change in music. "Finally!" She mutters. Jayfeather shakes his head and strains to hear the new song. Finally, over the confused din of the other guests, he detects the faint first notes of one of his favorite songs…
"Can you feel the love tonight?
The peace the evening brings
The world for once
In perfect harmony
With all its living things,"
"OhmiStarclan! I love this song!" A slender bright ginger she-cat with green eyes shrieks from three rows back.
"Tansy, hush!" Ashfur mews quickly. Then, to the guest's surprise, Hawkfrost steps forward from the altar and begins to sing.
"So many things to tell her,
but how to make her see,
the truth about my past?
Impossible,
She'd turn away from me," He sings, deep bass resonating in the ballroom.
A soft, silvery voice answers him, coming from…the doorway?
"She's here!" Mapleshade shriek-whispers.
Cinderpelt pads in, shimmering pearly-white gown flowing behind her, along with her sheer, lacey veil. Her tiara glimmer when it catches the light, and the guests gasp. She looks...magical. Royal. Majestic. Gorgeous.
"He's holding back, he's hiding,
but what I can't decide,
why won't he be the king I know he is,
the king I see inside?" She mews, her voice light but strong. Her deep, dark blue eyes stare into Hawkfrost's, and both of their gazes gleam with joy. The chorus begins again, and Mapleshade notices a Starclan-cat choir in the back, dressed in pale silver robes like the Justices, accompanied by similarly robed orchestra.
"Whoa, Frostfur really pulled out all the stops on this one, didn't she?" Mapleshade mutters to Jayfeather. He nods.
"Can you feel the love tonight?
The peace the evening brings
The world for once
In perfect harmony
With all its living things,"
Mapleshade sits back to watch the bride process and prepares herself for the "Here Comes the Bride" theme to begin playing from the organ as soon as the Lion King song stops, but the orchestra plays on.
"Without Timone and Pumba, the song ends now, doesn't it?" She mews, confused. Jayfeather replies uncertainly,
"Yes?" He says. But then, Hawkfrost begins again.
"I was so confused," He sings softly.
"Aren't we all?" Mapleshade grumbles. Graystripe shh's her from her other side.
"The dark was gone and light had come,
there was nowhere left for me,"
Cinderpelt, still gliding ethereally up the aisle with Frostfur by her side, replies in her high, airy tune,
"We had won the battle,
and the stars shone bright,
I felt the love,
And reveled in the liiiight,"
"I was caught and went to rehab,
where I saw the truth,
there's good inside
everyone,
even in my heart, too!" Hawkfrost says, his rich voice resonating in the open space. Cinderpelt keeps coming towards him, and her gown ripples out in tiers behind her, and her veils slides along the white carpet for an even longer stretch. Her dark blue eyes gleam as she sings back to him,
"I met him on a mission,
to help those cats in need,
he touched my heart,
and showed me,
what true love really means,"
Mapleshade begins to tear up as the bride nears closer to the grrom. Hawkfrost's eyes, as well, have become large and watery, while Cinderpelt holds strong. Tears race down Frostfur's snowy cheeks.
"Ever since I saw her,
she was on my mind,
and no matter how
hard I tried,
I knew she'd be my bride," Hawkfrost croons as his mate-to-be reaches him. He holds her paws and looks into her eyes. Cinderpelt smiles.
"Now we stand here today,
and may our vows be true,
that I'll love him forever more,
and he will love me too." She hums softly.
The orchestra plays one last note, a high one, so it seems to be reaching up to the top of the ballroom ceiling, full of hope and promise. The heart of every guest pounds. Frostfur steps aside after licking her daughter softly on the cheek, and sits down in the reserved seat in the front row. The snow colored queen beams and sobs at the same time.
"Do you, Hawkfrost, vow to stand by your mate's side, for better or for worse, to be a loving partner and friend in marriage, to talk and to listen, to trust and appreciate, to be honest with and stay true to, to respect and cherish Cinderpelt for as long as you both shall live, and further into Starclan?" Thunder rumbles, his amber gaze resting on the warrior.
"I, Hawkfrost, take Cinderpelt as my mate for forever and always. I promise to always be your biggest fan and your partner in crime. I promise to create and support a family with you, in a household filled with laughter, patience, understanding, and love. I promise to laugh at all of your jokes, or most of them anyway. I promise to care for our kits as much as I care for Firestar's little siblings. I promise to agree with your curtain choices, no matter how much I want the long flow-y ones and you want the short flouncy ones, just to make you happy. I promise not to quit my job at WCC unless I'm sold into indentured servitude again,"
"No promises!" Mapleshade calls out, causing the guests to roar with laughter and Frostfurand Sasha to glower at the outspoken tortie.
"I vow not just to grow old together, but to grow together. I will love you faithfully through the difficult and the easy. What may come, I will always be there, each one believing that love never dies. As I have given you my hand to hold, so I give you my life to keep. I love you, Cinderpelt." Hawkfrost finishes. Jayfeather wipes away a tear.
"I hope that's us up there one day, Jay-bae." Mapleshade sighs happily.
"Do you, Cinderpelt, vow to stand by your mate's side, for better or for worse, to be a loving partner and friend in marriage, to talk and to listen, to trust and appreciate, to be honest with and stay true to, to respect and cherish Cinderpelt for as long as you both shall live, and further into Starclan?" Shadow meows, eyes serious, yet soft and encouraging.
"I, Cinderpelt, take Hawkfrost as no other than himself to be my one and only," Cinderpelt smiles sweetly. Frostfur bawls, and Mapleshade rolls her eyes.
"Okay, so now it's just getting mushy." She grumbles.
"Loving what I know of you, and trusting what things I will discover, I know I can always adore you more every day. I will respect you as a person, a partner, and an equal. I promise to take you as you are, and try not to snoop into your work, however amusing and fascinating it is. I promise to listen to all of your woes, and be there for you forever. I promise to respect all of your decisions, even the terrible ones such as eating sketchy sushi before dinner with my boss, and support you every step of the way. I promise to have beautiful kits with you, five at the very least, because that's your favorite number. Mine is twenty-three, but let's not shoot for that. I promise to watch Modern Family every Friday night with you, no matter how much I despise Phil and Claire. I promise to keep you, rich or poor, sick or well, happy or sad. Before you asked me, I was yours and I am devoted to you in every way. I marry you with no hesitation or doubt, and my commitment to you is absolute. I love you, Hawkfrost." Cinderpelt murmurs the last four words.
Wind raises a paw and swirls it clockwise, shrouding the bride and groom in a flurry of glittering silver stars, twirling and spinning around them. White mist joins it, twisting in thin pale tendrils and blocking out every clear space in between the stars.
"Starclan wishes these vows to be true, and let love rule their mateship. The ancestors of the lands bless this pair!" Wind shouts above the storm of magic. Once she speaks the final words, the star fade and the mist evaporates, leaving the couple standing there, looking slight ruffled but otherwise unharmed. The ring bearers
approach, and Cinderpelt and Hawkfrost exchange wedding bands, glowing rings of moonstone and diamond.
"Then I know pronounce you mates for life and the ever after. You may lick the bride. May the odds be ever in your favor," River finishes, with a flourish and a wink.
Hawkfrost leans forward, and licks Cinderpelt lovingly on the cheek. She returns it, and the guests cheer, rising out of their seats and clapping. Cinderpelt laughs, and waves to all of them, tossing her bouquet into the crowd. Every she-cat strains to reach it, paws flailing, but it lands right in Mapleshade's unsuspecting paws. She had been going in for a hug from Jayfeather.
"W-What?" She splutters, surprised, as the flowers appear in her paws, "Jay-bae! Do you know what this means?!" she screeches happily.
"Oh, Starclan…" Jayfeather groans.
"I know what it means!" Lark squeaks from beside Graystripe, "It means Mapleshade and Jayfeather are gonna get married!" She squeals.
"Maple and Jay, sittin' in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g! First comes love, then comes marriage," Pine squeaks, his sister finishing the rhyme:
"Then comes kittens in a kitty-carriage!" Lark yowls.
"Jay-bae! It's fate!" Mapleshade gushes. She shoos away the kits with a flick of her paw, "Shove off, brats. Pesky kits..." She hisses, throwing her paws around Jayfeather's neck.
"What have I gotten myself into?" He wonders.
What have you gotten yourself into?
QOTD: Like the song? Favorite vows?
Update soon!
-Bright