Chapter 26
The entire palace of Konan was gleaming in white and red decorations, with an abundance of flowering decorations trimmed with gold ribbons. The great hall of the palace seemed to sparkle, for indeed, it was full of glitter. The day had finally come.
Kristin wore a long gown of white, with a simple veil over her head. She stood in front of her mirror, waiting for the signal for her to get ready to walk down the long aisle. They were all waiting for her. In her hands she held a bouquet of red and white flowers, tied together with gold ribbon. Her hair had been brushed many times over, and fell gently over her back. Beneath the veil she had flowers stuck in her hair above both ears, and red and white ribbon sailed down her hair from the flowers. These flowers were held there by bobby pins, which in effect, held the veil in place.
Kristin gave out a nervous sigh.
"This is it," she said to herself, speaking to the mirror. "I'm going to be the Empress of Konan now. There's no turning back. I'm . . . I'm going to be Hotohori's wife." Kristin began to blush.
A door creaked open behind her, and a head popped in. It was Boboshi 2, smiling. He was cloaked in white today. All the men were dressed in white for the special occasion, while the ladies were clothed in a light pink, red being too flashy for a royal wedding, such as this one.
"They're ready for you, Kristin-sama," Boboshi's voice rang out.
Kristin gave out another sigh. "This is it," she said. A smile crossed her face. She had never been so excited and nervous all at once! She pulled the veil down before her face, hiding it, and followed Boboshi out to the court yard where the wedding was to take place.
Nearly the whole of Konan was there, standing out in the courtyard, itching in nervousness, awaiting to see their new Empress. Hotohori was already there, standing before an alter, dressed in a white suit, his hair tied loosely back. A few strands fell over his face. Behind him stood Mitsukake, looking a bit awkward in white, with Tama perched on his shoulder, a pillow strapped to his head.
The theme music began as soon as the great doors opened, and there was Kristin, gleaming in all her happiness and joy. Everyone gaped and awed as the music started to play the traditional Bridal March, and she walked down the aisle, just the way an Empress would. Her head was up, her steps were slow and flowing. She was gentle and did not rush or sway. She made it up to where her father stood besides Hotohori, also looking a bit awkward in white suit, but meeting his eyes and smiling.
He gave Kristin to Hotohori as the Priest told him to, and she took Hotohori's arm, and now, they were standing before the Priest, before everyone of the courtyard, listening to the long, touching speech.
Finally, the moment came.
" . . . do you, Hotohori take this woman to be your wife, as the new Empress for our Kingdom, swearing to keep her, by all bonds of faithful love, until you two do part?"
"I do." It was clear and crisp, and Kristin felt her nerves melt away. Finally!
"And do you, Kristin, take this man to be your husband, swearing to keep him, by all bonds of faithful love, until you two do part?"
"I do!" Kristin said. She could feel herself blushing.
"If there is anyone here who does not feel these two belong to one another, speak now or forever hold your peace."
Silence.
"I, therefore, pronounce you both man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
And what a kiss it was! Kristin let herself melt into Hotohori's arms, and she knew she was never going to have a happier moment than the one she was in right now. This day she would cherish for all memory. Hotohori scooped up his bride, and took her away, as the crowd cheered heavily, and bubbles (thanks to Caitlin) danced around the departing couple.
And how did it get so perfect? How did this day come to pass? The screen begins to fuzz, and we all know, that it's time for a flash back . . .
. . . They were lying in a heap, Nakago pinned on the bottom, and Hotohori sitting gracefully on top of them all. With a small pop, Naiidoska appeared. "You're back, your Highness!" he squeaked. "back in the world of Maybury . . . and look! you've saved the Damsels, just as I thought you would!"
"Dear Naiidoska," Hotohori said, ignoring the grunts of the mass of people lying underneath him. "You will be able to take us back to our world, right?"
"I believe," Naiidoska said, "that the Damsels will want to return to their own homes here, in their world, first. You should stay here as well, young warriors. I . . . I have some problems to work out first . . ."
"Problems?!" Hotohori asked, horrified. "What sort of problems?! Nothing has gone wrong back in my kingdom, has there?"
"Oh, no, no," Naiidoska said, shaking his head, "it's not like that it's . . . it's the time situation, Your Highness. I have to be able to fix the Link back so that you will appear back when you left. It's . . . it's been a few years since you've left. The others worry. They think you and Tasuki are dead. They think the mission failed, since it has been so long. But I reassured them . . . it's only because time runs differently in the world of the Wolfdom and in the world of the Four Gods. Time here takes longer. So, they have felt at least twelve years gone by since you left (I calculated it out, and one day equals roughly a year, so, it seems to me that the warriors and the Damsels were in the Wolfdom for a week and a half, I think, so this is as close as the time gets to accuracy . . . )"
"Twelve years!" Hotohori exclaimed. "How dreadful! They shall be all old by the time we get back!"
"That's way I'm fixing the Link," Naiidoska said. "So that you will go back, all of you, to the time you left . . . or at least around it. Give me some time. Stay here with the Damsels."
"And what shall we do in the meantime?" Hotohori asked.
"Don't you have a wedding to plan?"
Indeed, they had a wedding to plan. Flowers were bought, and cake was made, (with a taste of approval from Nakago, who said it would be better with cheez its, but Hotohori and Kristin refused to have the cake cheez-it flavored - it just wouldn't work out that way! But, they did decided that they would serve Cheez its at the wedding, of course, not merely for Nakago but for all.)
"The most exciting part is the dress," Martha said to Kristin one day, as the girls sat in her house, flipping through a catalog for bride dresses.
"You should wear something more Chinese than these dresses, though," Caitlin said. "I mean, you're going to be the Empress of Konan, Kristin. You must have regal looking wedding robes, not a mere gown of lace."
"You're right," Kristin said. "I want it to sparkle. But where do I find a sparkly Chinese wedding robe?"
So, to the Internet they went. After going on a google search, they found it. The perfect dress for Kristin. White, shimmering robes, large at the sleeves, hiding the hands. A large, wide, white sash to tie it with, creating a lovely bow in the back. And the back of the dress was long, dragging a bit, like a train of a modern wedding dress. Then, they found a veil with some white glitter set in it, and white flowers to put in her hair with ribbon dangling from it.
It was too perfect. They even found her some matching white shoes, that glimmered in the sunlight.
Kristin wouldn't let Hotohori see her in her wedding dress, deciding to go the traditional way of not showing herself like this incase of bad luck. Hotohori helped in picking out flowers and other stuff, and then, of course, his own suit.
"I must have white," Hotohori said. "For it looks stunning on me, but ridiculous on everyone else."
"Does that mean I have to wear white?" Mitsukake asked. He was, after all, the best man.
"Yes!" Hotohori said. "You must! And do something with your hair . . . smooth it down a bit."
"Mitsukake," Kristin told Mitsukake later, "you don't have to do anything with your hair. I like it the way it is. It reminds me of those little troll dolls."
"Troll dolls?"
And Kristin gave Mitsukake his first troll doll, with red hair that stuck up just like his. This, thus, started his troll doll collection. The red haired troll Mitsukake neatly tied to the front of his white suit for the wedding, with gold ribbon, and he put glitter in his hair, and made him hold tiny, white flowers in his hand. Hotohori was just glad that Mitsukake didn't dye his hair red as well to match the troll.
And now the wedding was on a roll. Hotohori was fitted with white robes, layered upon each other with giant sleeves. He continued to refer to it as his 'suit' though it really wasn't a suit, and was happy to see that all the men were wearing white suits, not robes, to make his look better.
Nakago looks bad in white suit.
Tasuki looks bad in white suit.
Tomo looks horrid in white suit.
Miboshi's hair is white and blends too much with white suit, therefore making it look terrible on him, especially since he has lost an arm as well, and had to fold up the left sleeve.
Nuriko was the only one there who looked good in a white suit.
Even the Seiryu Seishi were invited to the wedding, and it was quite a sight to see Ashitare in a little white suit, glasses perched on his face, sitting cross legged in his chair during the wedding. Several times, Kristin had to bite her lip hard from not laughing while the Priest spoke on.
The girls, though, did not have to wear white suits (though Nuriko did, probably reminiscing to the days that she was a he because we all remember what Nuriko's wish got him, right?) They had their pink dresses, not a bright, lurid pink, but a light red, since regular red would be too bright for the wedding. They matched nicely with the red flowers among the white, as well as with the red of the troll on Mitsukake's suit.
And so, the perfect wedding had been made, and Kristin was finally wed to her beloved, whom she had longed for ever since they had first met. The screen grows fuzzy, and we are back to the present, where Kristin and Hotohori sit in a darkened room. Outside, the sun is dipping ever lower into the horizon, creating pink and purple strips against the dark blue sky. The two happily wed couple sit on the balcony, overlooking the sunset, Kristin pressed against Hotohori's body.
"I never been more happy," Kristin sighed.
"I'm glad to hear it," Hotohori said. He smelled her hair deeply, and kissed her gently behind the ear. The wedding party had ended already, all the cheez its gone thanks to Nakago. There was still a crowd outside the palace, and some kids got fire crackers ready, and soon, a shower of lights lit up the city sky. It was a very beautiful sight, and a beautiful end to the night.
Kristin stayed in Hotohori's arms for a very long while, not moving, but letting herself melt into his warm arms, his robes hugging her. The two did not speak for a long time. They watched the sun go down, and then, the brilliant display of fireworks from over head. The people were happy. Finally, they had an Empress. Their Emperor was back from what they believed had been a two day journey, (thanks to Naiidoska), and Konan was in peace.
"Kristin-sama?" Hotohori whispered, his voice gently breaking the silence around them.
"Yes?"
He pulled her chin up to hers and kissed her longingly. Then, he scooped her up into his arms, and moved her away from the window, taking her to the large, royal bed, and we all know what happens then.
The End . . . for Kristin's part, that is. Tune in next time for . . . oooh, who do you think is going to get married NEXT?!
The entire palace of Konan was gleaming in white and red decorations, with an abundance of flowering decorations trimmed with gold ribbons. The great hall of the palace seemed to sparkle, for indeed, it was full of glitter. The day had finally come.
Kristin wore a long gown of white, with a simple veil over her head. She stood in front of her mirror, waiting for the signal for her to get ready to walk down the long aisle. They were all waiting for her. In her hands she held a bouquet of red and white flowers, tied together with gold ribbon. Her hair had been brushed many times over, and fell gently over her back. Beneath the veil she had flowers stuck in her hair above both ears, and red and white ribbon sailed down her hair from the flowers. These flowers were held there by bobby pins, which in effect, held the veil in place.
Kristin gave out a nervous sigh.
"This is it," she said to herself, speaking to the mirror. "I'm going to be the Empress of Konan now. There's no turning back. I'm . . . I'm going to be Hotohori's wife." Kristin began to blush.
A door creaked open behind her, and a head popped in. It was Boboshi 2, smiling. He was cloaked in white today. All the men were dressed in white for the special occasion, while the ladies were clothed in a light pink, red being too flashy for a royal wedding, such as this one.
"They're ready for you, Kristin-sama," Boboshi's voice rang out.
Kristin gave out another sigh. "This is it," she said. A smile crossed her face. She had never been so excited and nervous all at once! She pulled the veil down before her face, hiding it, and followed Boboshi out to the court yard where the wedding was to take place.
Nearly the whole of Konan was there, standing out in the courtyard, itching in nervousness, awaiting to see their new Empress. Hotohori was already there, standing before an alter, dressed in a white suit, his hair tied loosely back. A few strands fell over his face. Behind him stood Mitsukake, looking a bit awkward in white, with Tama perched on his shoulder, a pillow strapped to his head.
The theme music began as soon as the great doors opened, and there was Kristin, gleaming in all her happiness and joy. Everyone gaped and awed as the music started to play the traditional Bridal March, and she walked down the aisle, just the way an Empress would. Her head was up, her steps were slow and flowing. She was gentle and did not rush or sway. She made it up to where her father stood besides Hotohori, also looking a bit awkward in white suit, but meeting his eyes and smiling.
He gave Kristin to Hotohori as the Priest told him to, and she took Hotohori's arm, and now, they were standing before the Priest, before everyone of the courtyard, listening to the long, touching speech.
Finally, the moment came.
" . . . do you, Hotohori take this woman to be your wife, as the new Empress for our Kingdom, swearing to keep her, by all bonds of faithful love, until you two do part?"
"I do." It was clear and crisp, and Kristin felt her nerves melt away. Finally!
"And do you, Kristin, take this man to be your husband, swearing to keep him, by all bonds of faithful love, until you two do part?"
"I do!" Kristin said. She could feel herself blushing.
"If there is anyone here who does not feel these two belong to one another, speak now or forever hold your peace."
Silence.
"I, therefore, pronounce you both man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
And what a kiss it was! Kristin let herself melt into Hotohori's arms, and she knew she was never going to have a happier moment than the one she was in right now. This day she would cherish for all memory. Hotohori scooped up his bride, and took her away, as the crowd cheered heavily, and bubbles (thanks to Caitlin) danced around the departing couple.
And how did it get so perfect? How did this day come to pass? The screen begins to fuzz, and we all know, that it's time for a flash back . . .
. . . They were lying in a heap, Nakago pinned on the bottom, and Hotohori sitting gracefully on top of them all. With a small pop, Naiidoska appeared. "You're back, your Highness!" he squeaked. "back in the world of Maybury . . . and look! you've saved the Damsels, just as I thought you would!"
"Dear Naiidoska," Hotohori said, ignoring the grunts of the mass of people lying underneath him. "You will be able to take us back to our world, right?"
"I believe," Naiidoska said, "that the Damsels will want to return to their own homes here, in their world, first. You should stay here as well, young warriors. I . . . I have some problems to work out first . . ."
"Problems?!" Hotohori asked, horrified. "What sort of problems?! Nothing has gone wrong back in my kingdom, has there?"
"Oh, no, no," Naiidoska said, shaking his head, "it's not like that it's . . . it's the time situation, Your Highness. I have to be able to fix the Link back so that you will appear back when you left. It's . . . it's been a few years since you've left. The others worry. They think you and Tasuki are dead. They think the mission failed, since it has been so long. But I reassured them . . . it's only because time runs differently in the world of the Wolfdom and in the world of the Four Gods. Time here takes longer. So, they have felt at least twelve years gone by since you left (I calculated it out, and one day equals roughly a year, so, it seems to me that the warriors and the Damsels were in the Wolfdom for a week and a half, I think, so this is as close as the time gets to accuracy . . . )"
"Twelve years!" Hotohori exclaimed. "How dreadful! They shall be all old by the time we get back!"
"That's way I'm fixing the Link," Naiidoska said. "So that you will go back, all of you, to the time you left . . . or at least around it. Give me some time. Stay here with the Damsels."
"And what shall we do in the meantime?" Hotohori asked.
"Don't you have a wedding to plan?"
Indeed, they had a wedding to plan. Flowers were bought, and cake was made, (with a taste of approval from Nakago, who said it would be better with cheez its, but Hotohori and Kristin refused to have the cake cheez-it flavored - it just wouldn't work out that way! But, they did decided that they would serve Cheez its at the wedding, of course, not merely for Nakago but for all.)
"The most exciting part is the dress," Martha said to Kristin one day, as the girls sat in her house, flipping through a catalog for bride dresses.
"You should wear something more Chinese than these dresses, though," Caitlin said. "I mean, you're going to be the Empress of Konan, Kristin. You must have regal looking wedding robes, not a mere gown of lace."
"You're right," Kristin said. "I want it to sparkle. But where do I find a sparkly Chinese wedding robe?"
So, to the Internet they went. After going on a google search, they found it. The perfect dress for Kristin. White, shimmering robes, large at the sleeves, hiding the hands. A large, wide, white sash to tie it with, creating a lovely bow in the back. And the back of the dress was long, dragging a bit, like a train of a modern wedding dress. Then, they found a veil with some white glitter set in it, and white flowers to put in her hair with ribbon dangling from it.
It was too perfect. They even found her some matching white shoes, that glimmered in the sunlight.
Kristin wouldn't let Hotohori see her in her wedding dress, deciding to go the traditional way of not showing herself like this incase of bad luck. Hotohori helped in picking out flowers and other stuff, and then, of course, his own suit.
"I must have white," Hotohori said. "For it looks stunning on me, but ridiculous on everyone else."
"Does that mean I have to wear white?" Mitsukake asked. He was, after all, the best man.
"Yes!" Hotohori said. "You must! And do something with your hair . . . smooth it down a bit."
"Mitsukake," Kristin told Mitsukake later, "you don't have to do anything with your hair. I like it the way it is. It reminds me of those little troll dolls."
"Troll dolls?"
And Kristin gave Mitsukake his first troll doll, with red hair that stuck up just like his. This, thus, started his troll doll collection. The red haired troll Mitsukake neatly tied to the front of his white suit for the wedding, with gold ribbon, and he put glitter in his hair, and made him hold tiny, white flowers in his hand. Hotohori was just glad that Mitsukake didn't dye his hair red as well to match the troll.
And now the wedding was on a roll. Hotohori was fitted with white robes, layered upon each other with giant sleeves. He continued to refer to it as his 'suit' though it really wasn't a suit, and was happy to see that all the men were wearing white suits, not robes, to make his look better.
Nakago looks bad in white suit.
Tasuki looks bad in white suit.
Tomo looks horrid in white suit.
Miboshi's hair is white and blends too much with white suit, therefore making it look terrible on him, especially since he has lost an arm as well, and had to fold up the left sleeve.
Nuriko was the only one there who looked good in a white suit.
Even the Seiryu Seishi were invited to the wedding, and it was quite a sight to see Ashitare in a little white suit, glasses perched on his face, sitting cross legged in his chair during the wedding. Several times, Kristin had to bite her lip hard from not laughing while the Priest spoke on.
The girls, though, did not have to wear white suits (though Nuriko did, probably reminiscing to the days that she was a he because we all remember what Nuriko's wish got him, right?) They had their pink dresses, not a bright, lurid pink, but a light red, since regular red would be too bright for the wedding. They matched nicely with the red flowers among the white, as well as with the red of the troll on Mitsukake's suit.
And so, the perfect wedding had been made, and Kristin was finally wed to her beloved, whom she had longed for ever since they had first met. The screen grows fuzzy, and we are back to the present, where Kristin and Hotohori sit in a darkened room. Outside, the sun is dipping ever lower into the horizon, creating pink and purple strips against the dark blue sky. The two happily wed couple sit on the balcony, overlooking the sunset, Kristin pressed against Hotohori's body.
"I never been more happy," Kristin sighed.
"I'm glad to hear it," Hotohori said. He smelled her hair deeply, and kissed her gently behind the ear. The wedding party had ended already, all the cheez its gone thanks to Nakago. There was still a crowd outside the palace, and some kids got fire crackers ready, and soon, a shower of lights lit up the city sky. It was a very beautiful sight, and a beautiful end to the night.
Kristin stayed in Hotohori's arms for a very long while, not moving, but letting herself melt into his warm arms, his robes hugging her. The two did not speak for a long time. They watched the sun go down, and then, the brilliant display of fireworks from over head. The people were happy. Finally, they had an Empress. Their Emperor was back from what they believed had been a two day journey, (thanks to Naiidoska), and Konan was in peace.
"Kristin-sama?" Hotohori whispered, his voice gently breaking the silence around them.
"Yes?"
He pulled her chin up to hers and kissed her longingly. Then, he scooped her up into his arms, and moved her away from the window, taking her to the large, royal bed, and we all know what happens then.
The End . . . for Kristin's part, that is. Tune in next time for . . . oooh, who do you think is going to get married NEXT?!