"It's in my Witches, Fairies, and Wizards guide. It says- hold on-" Mikey flipped through the pages of the festival brochure. "Yep, we're screwed."
Denim suppressed a smirk as she reached out to straighten his elf ears. She was about to whisper a gentle reprimand about his choice of words when-
"What's screwed?" Clenching her fairy wand in one hand, Alli stretched on tiptoe and reached for his arm.
Mikey's eyes widened. "Uh, did I say that? I meant- it's just- uh- it says we're in a bad spot. It says we need to take the Queen of the fairies something before she'll give us the troll's sandwich." The corners of his mouth drew back in horror. "Without that sandwich he won't let us cross the bridge to get to the castle."
Alli hung on his every word, his dramatic tone reflected on her little glitter-covered face. Mikey knelt beside her. "If we don't hurry we're gonna miss out on the banquet."
Alli's blue eyes welled. "No! I'm hungry, and you'll starve if you don't eat the banquet!"
Because he was Mikey he could very well eat the entire lunch buffet, so Denim wasn't going to correct her daughter.
Mikey agreed, the set of his mouth grim. "I know right? I'll waste away into a skeleton turtle-elf."
Denim sighed. "All right you two. I'm pretty sure if we slip the troll a five he'll let us cross."
Mikey's head snapped up, causing his elf ears to flop. "But I only have a ten!"
"No!" Alli shrieked, lunging forward to throw her arms around his neck. "We'll never make it!"
Denim rolled her eyes. "Well you can always eat the troll's sandwich, that'll solve the hunger problem and save us five or ten bucks."
Alli and Mikey both stared at her.
"What?" She looked herself over. "Did I say something wrong? Don't tell me there's something on this costume. I mean I'm not even sure how you convinced me to wear this dress, it looks like a wedding gown." She fanned herself, snatching up a handful of her hair to hold it off her neck. "And it's so hot."
Mikey hugged Alli then released her, a grin spreading across his mouth as he reached for Denim. "Yeah it is."
Denim scowled as he mouthed to her, 'can you wear that later?'
'Hell no.' she mouthed in return.
He feigned a pout.
"Well?" Alli whined, tugging on the quiver Mikey had strapped to his shell. "What did the fairies want so they'll give us the samwich?"
Mikey flipped through the festival guide, his brow furrowing as he read. "Something pretty and sweet, chewy but not always neat."
"Like candy?" Denim asked, nudging her flower crown out of her eyes.
"That's it! Gum! I saw a gum ball machine by the ogre!" Mikey snatched Denim up, spun her around and kissed her cheek. "You're a genius, Blue Jeans!"
"Hardly," she shrugged as he set her to her feet.
"My turn! My turn! Spin me! Spin me!" Alli exclaimed.
Without hesitating he lifted her up, spinning her around so her skirt twirled, a fit of giggles tumbling out of her. He gave her a little toss up in the air and she squealed in delight, causing other fair goers to look their way.
The trumpet sounded announcing the arrival of the king's court, and patrons everywhere knelt along their path. Mikey quickly placed Alli beside him, both of them kneeling.
He gave Denim a sideways glance. "You're supposed to kneel, Blue Jeans."
Denim crossed her arms and let out an exasperated huff. "Not in this dress. It couldn't have been cheap as fancy as it is and it ain't ugly. You've got decent taste. Anyway, nope, sorry, not kneeling, I've got to draw the line somewhere."
Mikey grinned, despite her refusal to accommodate the custom. But, as the royal court approached Denim began tapping his shoulder. "Uh, Mikey, stand up. Mikey. Stand up. Stand up. Mikey!"
He ignored her, maintaining his position until she pinched him. "Ow! What was that for?"
"Your father is the king. Since when does he- what's this whole dress up thing called again? Never mind. This just got even weirder than it already was. Oh hell. He's coming this way… aaaand he's stopping right in front of us. Everybody is looking, and- Mikey! Please, just stand up!" Denim tugged on the sleeve of his peasant shirt, but he still did not move.
Kneeling beside him, Alli giggled. The sound was all too familiar to Denim and she tipped her head to the side, taking a closer look at her boyfriend and her daughter.
Mikey kept his gaze fixed on the dirt path beneath his feet, one fist to his plastron, one hand on the ground. Alli whispered something to the side of his head to which more giggling ensued.
He gently shushed her, only to let out a nervous chuckle of his own. Denim's brow furrowed, her lips drawing flat as she felt the weight of the 'Kings' stare.
It was when Mikey stole a glance at her, his blue gems darting to her then back to the ground that she lifted her gaze to inspect everyone else kneeling before the royal court.
Was that Leatherhead dressed as a blacksmith? And Pigeon Pete as a farmer? Wait, was that Mondo as the Kings Fool? There was Slash, Raph, Leo, Casey, Horace and Arcos as Knights! Her eyes roved the storefronts along the path revealing Dr Rockwell and Donnie rising to stand outside the apothecary... Aries smiled at her from the pub, Chanel on one hip, as he lifted his hand in salute. Medusa, Sappho wearing Scout and Jem, a very pregnant Zoe and April, and Karai wearing Shen, all hovering behind the 'Queen,' Phoenix, dressed as her ladies-in-waiting. Antonello and Yuuta dressed as pages peeked from the end of the line made up by the royal court.
Splinter cleared his throat, drawing her attention back to him. But right as he opened his mouth to speak Denim blurted out, "What the heck is going on?"
Splinter's furry brows drew together. Leo stepped forward, whispered something in his ear and stepped back, his chainmail creaking with every movement. How did he even find it to fit him?
Denim looked to Phoenix who managed to keep her face bare of expression, instead simply motioning her attention back to Splinter with a tip of her head. Denim let out an exasperated sigh, looking to her boyfriend's father, aka; 'The King,' for some form of explanation.
Splinter slipped an index card from the sleeve of his shirt then began to read. "Once upon a time..."
Anton and Yuuta darted out from the court. Yuuta squeaking as Anton announced, "there was a beautiful princess,"
Raph stepped forward, crossing his arms. "Who met a crazy mutant, er-uh, elf."
"He made her laugh," April called out.
"He took her on wild adventures," Zoe added.
"And he did some really silly stuff," Raph spoke out again, "like get his entire family to-"
"Thank you, Raphael." Leo put a hand on his hothead brother's shoulder and looked at Denim. "He made enormous messes- the elf did- I mean, that is, the elf made messes."
"Thank you, Leo, that's good." Karai mumbled.
Medusa exchanged a knowing glance with Denim. "And he made sssome well intending misssstakesss."
"But the princess was kind to him, always, even when times were hard." Arcos smiled at her.
"And they were plenty hard." Phoenix glanced at Splinter before shifting her gaze to Mikey and Denim. "But she stood up for him."
Karai took a step forward. "She fought for him."
"Listened to him," Sappho near whispered.
"And she treated him like an adult." Leo smiled.
Aries clucked his tongue. "Though he doesn't always act like one."
"The two were inseparable," Zoe said. "The best of friends."
Donnie motioned toward Mikey. "And though he wanted to, the laws of the land forbid marriages between mutants, er-he-he I mean, elves and humans."
"Until one day," Leo began, "after the princess and her sisters led many protests, held countless speeches, oversaw negotiations, fought in multiple battles, and voted at every hearing, the law was finally changed."
Alli popped up to recite her line and Denim thought she must've rehearsed it, but when? "And today a thankful elf has just one thing left to say."
Mikey reached out, slipping his hand in Denim's. She turned to face him, with tears in her eyes and her pulse racing. He grinned wide and honest, still kneeling and visibly shaking; the sight of which sent a pang straight to her heart. She squeezed his hand, resisting the urge to throw her arms around his neck and save him from his jitters.
But before she could, he took a calming breath then in a rare display, became very still and serious. "Will you marry me? Like, right here, right now cos' I can't wait another second to be Mr. Sanders, or Mr. Sanato, or Mr. Hamanders."
She giggled, trying to see him through blurry eyes. Taking a furious swipe at them she nodded. "I'd settle for becoming Mrs. Hamato if that's all right with you."
AUTHORS NOTE:
I should say publishers note, because I am only one of three talented authors to have participated in the creation of this epic saga. Five years we've been working on this masterpiece. I'm so, so blessed to have made two very dear friends and collaborated with them on this project. I'm very excited to announce the sequel is fully written and will uploaded very soon. Thank you for going on this journey with us. Who was your favorite character? Who was your favorite couple? What was your favorite part? We want to hear all about it.