Warning! This is a very long chapter. I am very sorry for the long delay.
¿* Pinked * Memories * ?
¿* Chapter Eight * The Wedding at Night * ?
The dark shadows were long in this room. The moon outside radiated with its borrowed light. Every now and then there would be a cold breeze that would pass through the window and move the shadowy curtains and the ghost-like veils that surrounded the large bed.
The wind brings its chill.
He shifted in his seat and continued looking at her.
Dorothy lay in the middle of the bed, her head was slightly turned towards one side. Every now and then her rhythmic breathing would be disturbed and she would let out a moan.
She had a deep frown on her face.
His green brows crossed in worry. He feared for her. Could she be dreaming of things that should remain forgotten? He placed one hand on top of her forehead, hoping that she would calm down a bit.
She shivered a little.
His hands went down from her forehead and took the edge of her blanket and pulled it up to cover her body.
His hands lingered on the spot where it came in contact with her exposed skin.
She stirred, as if noticing the warmth.
Then suddenly, she gasped and opened her eyes, as if awakening from a nightmare.
"Serafid!" she called out. She sat up immediately, and panted. She raised one hand into her chest to feel her racing heart.
She looked around in the darkness. She ran her hand on the other side of the bed, feeling for him. "Serafid...? Serafid, where are you?!"
"Darling, I'm here," he answered. He grasped her hand with both of his. "I'm sitting right here. Don't worry, go back to sleep," he said gently.
"Ohhh," she said as Serafid rose up from his seat and sat beside her on the bed. He took her in his arms and tried to calm her. She wiped her forehead with her other free hand. "I had an awful, awful dream..." she laid her head on his shoulders. "But I can't seem to remember it..." she whispered.
"Its alright, please rest," he coaxed.
"Serafid... what happened?" she asked, looking up at him.
"What do you remember?" he asked carefully. He pulled the blanket and wrapped it around their bodies.
"The party... some people came... and... Doris..." she frowned. "I seem to have been fighting with her... I... Seravi...?" she said, frowning.
Serafid did not move or make a noise. He simply listened.
"There was a man that looked so much like you... His name was Seravi, and..... he's your brother! And..." she shook her head.
"It happened again didn't it?" she asked him. "Every men... they were..." her voice trailed off.
"Except those who were already truly in love, every men wanted you," he said for her.
She bowed her head, pulled her hand back from his grasp and tried to move away from him. "I am sorry... I took off my mask..." she tension building up in her voice.
"Dorothy? Dorothy, look at me," he requested.
"I have disgraced you again. Forgive me..."
Serafid went to her side in the bed and enveloped her in his arms. "Its alright, it doesn't matter,"
"I am truly sorry..." she said truthfully. Her voice thick was with emotion.
"It is fine." he shook his head. "Do not let it trouble you so," he stroked her head. "However, there is something I would like to ask you..."
"Say it. I will do anything," she said readily and looked at him.
Serafid got up from the bed and went to the side table where he took something from on top it. He then went back to her and placed the object in her hand.
A curly blonde-haired doll with little button for eyes and an ever-smiling face looked up to her in the darkness. "You were holding that doll. Where did you get it?" he asked.
She stared at it for a moment, analyzing the doll "Oh, that's right! I found it inside the hedgemaze."
"Do you know who it belongs to?"
She examined it carefully, taking in every detail. She shook her head. "No I don't. But... she seems so familiar to me..." she said then looked up at him.
"Its like something from your previous life...?" he suggested. Serafid looked away and sighed heavily. "Do you remember our deal?" he asked carefully, looking back at her.
She adjusted her position on the bed and looked at him for a moment and then spoke. "You mean, what happens after our marriage...?"
"Yes..."
"You.... intend to do it now...?" she asked. She cannot fully see his face in the darkness, but his voice told her that he was serious. She turned her face away from him.
"Yes."
"But...why?" she whispered in a barely audible voice.
He raised one hand and tucked a tuft of her hair behind her ears. "Even if it was a part of our deal, do you mean to tell me that if I do my share of it in advance, you won't do yours? You're not marrying me simply for that are you?"
"Of course not!" she protested. "But..."
"You are afraid of what it might do to you?"
"Yes," she admitted.
"But still, forgive me... I have to take this risk. I have to do it... Please understand. It might just place you in a better position to decide if you want to go on with the ceremony tomorrow, before its too late. I won't hold it against you."
Dorothy looked away. "You still haven't told me why..."
"If you allow me to go on, then you will find your answers,"
"Is there no other way to it...?" she shook her head. "I suppose you're right. I cannot refuse you. I did not want to do this because I thought that it wasn't that important. That what matters is who I am now... but... I might only be fooling myself..." a brave look dawned on her eyes. "This perhaps will be the final test of my feelings for you..." she looked at him in the eye.
"Thank you for understanding..." he said.
His hands reached for her in the darkness.
They kissed.
¿¿* ! *??
Seravi walked through the hedgemaze. He turned left at the fork where his brother and him had parted ways, and now he's standing face to face with a very young little girl who had blonde hair, wearing cute pink clothes, and had a big bag on her back. She turned around.
"Who are you!?" she demanded. She went closer to him and towered over him.
The little Seravi then did not know what to do. So he held his spot and stared at the beautiful girl who was in front of him, eyeing him suspiciously.
"You don't seem like the ones who are after me. Judging from how you look, you must be the gardener's son!" she said. Then she smiled sweetly, "Thank heavens." her tone suddenly changed, from utterly boisterous to heavenly saccharine. "I want to get out of here, please show me the way!" she pleaded with him.
"Errr.... ummm.... errr.... errr......" Seravi stammered, unable to get a word out.
"Come on, little boy. Let's get out of here, I want to get out of this place but I seem to have taken a wrong turn somewhere..." she said as she looked around where they were again. Her blonde hair then was 10 times shinier, 10 times shorter than how he had remembered.
"W-w-w-why?" he managed to croak out in an infinitesimal little voice.
"Huh?" she faced him once again, her golden locks bouncing after her. She had a confused look on her face.
"Why would you want to l-leave this place?" he asked, gaining momentum. "You're already rich! There are so many people around you waiting on you, ready to do anything for you! You could have anything, anything that you desired, you have all the world!!" he stepped forward.
"What about those who you will leave behind?!" he said with passion, thinking of himself if he was to be left behind by his brother. "Have you not thought of them? Why?! How could you be so SELFISH!!!!" he exclaimed.
After the words left his mouth, he tasted its bitterness. He wanted to somehow take it back but knew that he could not. Those were the words that should have been addressed to his brother but... he couldn't stop himself from throwing it out on her.
She did not speak for a while. He slowly looked up at her, assessing the damage.
Dorothy was shivering. Her head was bowed and her fists were clenched tightly. When she looked up at him there was only pure fury in her eyes. "WHAT WOULD YOU KNOW YOU BRAT?!" she lashed out. Tears formed on the corner of her eyes.
"I-I-mm s-ss..." he stammered, trying to apologize.
She turned a sideways a little, a shady look fell over her eyes. "I don't think you're old enough to understand this, but I'll tell you anyway..." she gave a deep sigh.
"This place is a prison! You think all the world is mine?! Oh yeah? You don't know how its like!"
Brother, you may not understand it yet. But we are prisoners of this place. The voice of Serafid came to his head, it was the words of their last serious conversation together before they drifted apart.
"Day in, day out, there are people around me. They train me, they say, but for what? I'm not happy with it, I don't think I'll ever be happy with it. I want to go to a school like all normal children do! I want the freedom that they have to choose how they want to live their life!"
What are all these education for, can you tell me? We are being trained to become someone, something, that we did not choose. Will we be happy? Will you be happy if you are forced to eat a bitter candy brother? Do we have to follow everything that our parents want us to do, even if it will make our tummy hurt?!
"I have a right to dream too! And by all means I want to follow that dream! I believe in magic! I want to be the greatest magician in the world someday..."
And what about what we want to be? What about ourselves? Our own happiness? We are not merely extensions of their existence! We have a right to be ourselves, be different. We have a right to choose what candy we're going to eat!
"And when I become the greatest magician in the world, I'll know that I did it with my very own hands, not because of my lineage, not because of my wealth, but because of who I am, what I have innately. There can be no cheating in magic. I will finally be able to be proud of myself, just because I am myself. I will become the greatest magician in the world, and not someone's obedient, dutiful wife!!!!"
I have a right to choose everything in my life. I have a right to choose my career someday, and whom I will love and marry! I do not to spend the rest of my life with some stranger that I have not even met! I don't care bout family relations! I will not be responsible for a wife, someone who I feel nothing for!!!! That candy isn't good!!!!
And then they both screamed.
Seravi covered his ears.
And when it was over, Seravi looked up to see the little Dorothy in a quite normal mood again.
"Boy that felt good..." Dorothy said, after taking a deep breath. Her voice changed from utterly melodramatic, to cheery and composed once again. "So! What do you say? Help me alright?" she gave him a sweet smile.
It was then that they heard Serafid's voice calling out to them, announcing that he had found the exit.
And that was how they met. And how he fell in love with her.
Seravi opened his eyes, now back from the land of dreams.
He got up mechanically and went outside the room.
He went outside the cottage and climbed the walls to the side. When he reached the rooftop, he raised his face as if a rooster who was about to crow.
He drew a deep breath.
"DOROTHY I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!" he screamed for the world to hear.
He took a deep breath and went for it again "DOROTHY!!!! I NEEEEEEEEEEEEEED YOU!!!!!!!"
Cha-cha suddenly jerked awake and fell down on the floor. She scratched her head and wondered what had awakened her.
"YOU CAN'T MARRY HIM DOROTHY!!!!!! III''MMMM TTHHHHEEEE OOOONNNNNEEE FOOOOOOR YOOOOUUUUU!!!!!!!!!" he screamed on top of his lungs.
"What the?! Teacher Seravi!!!!" Cha-cha looked out the window and tried to see where he was.
"DOOOOORRRRRROOOOOOOTTTTHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYY!!!! COME BACK TO ME HONEY!!!!!!!"
"Teacher Seeeraaaaaavvvviiiii!!!" Cha-cha screamed out to him. This time, a sleepy-eyed Seravi peeked from the roof.
"Oh, hello there Cha-cha, goodmorning." he greeted as if nothing happened.
"What are you doing? What's going on?!" she asked.
"Oh, its just my daily declaration of love," he said unemotionally.
"Huh...?!?! But you never used to do that teacher!!" she protested.
Tears welled up in his eyes and he clenched his fists. "Yes, yes I know... its been so long... It's been so long since I've been so in love... the memory of the pa---no! The nightmare of my life is finally over... my golden-haired ANGEL has come back..." he smiled as if in a dream. Tears were falling down his cheeks.
"Oh okay... but wait! She's getting married to your brother today!!!"
Seravi fell face first into the ground.
"Yes!!! I know!!!!!" he said with passion. "And I'll take her back somehow... I have to rescue her from that evil monster who holds her captive (in his mind's eye, a picture of Dorothy, in the clutches of a red-eyed dragon-Serafid who was reaching out to him, calling him for help).. ohhh!! Dorothy!! I promise I'll rescue yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyooooooooooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!" his voice reached the stars.
¿¿* *??
"Has he been like that since this morning?" Riya asked irritably as they went into Cha-cha and Seravi's bedroom to peek on him.
Seravi was praying in front of a little shrine that he had made in one corner of the living room. In the middle of the altar was a stolen shot of Dorothy from yesterday's event. She still had her hair up in her head, and she was looking at something, oblivious to the cameraman.
Riya was snapping fingers in front of Seravi's eyes, but he was in a trance of some sort once again.
He was holding a lighted incense stick and was taking a bow every now and then, mumbling something.
"Yes... well, I'm glad that he's a lot quieter now, before you guys came for breakfast, he was on the roof screaming out Miss Dorothy's name," Cha-cha said.
"Yes we know, I think the damage in my ears is permanent," Riya said as he placed the icebag on his ear.
"Man, this is just so sad... I wonder if my good ear can still understand what he's saying..." Shiine said as he approached Seravi and listened more closely to what he's saying.
"What is he saying Shiine?" Cha-cha asked.
Shiine's eyes widened, he blushed, froze then fell down the floor. Riya had to slap him back in order to awaken him.
"Well, what did he say Shiine?" Cha-cha asked again once he came to.
"Ah-ha-ha-ha," Shiine said, laughing lamely. "I didn't hear a thing.... nope, not a thing!" he said.
"You're such a goody two-shoes," Riya said.
They went outside the room.
"Well..." Cha-cha said, taking a deep breath. "What are we going to do now?"
"What do you mean Cha-cha?" Riya asked.
"About Miss
Dorothy's upcoming wedding... Its later today isn't it? What are we going to
do?"
"She doesn't even remember us Cha-cha," Shiine said, a far-off look clouding his eyes. "And we won't be able to sneak into the palace again,"
"That's it! We sneak into the palace!" Riya said.
"Didn't you hear me?!?!" Shiine flashed a peeved look at Riya who was still holding an icebag to his ear. Shiine crossed his arms on his chest. "Even if we sneak in side there... what can we do?" Shiine retorted. "The last time that we got too close to her, she had an attack of some sort... She was really in pain..."
A momentarily silence descended upon them.
"And lets not forget, I'm sure that Serafid will be by her side, and from the looks of it, Serafid is more powerful than Seravi," Shiine said in his calculating pose.
"How can you say that?! Nobody's stronger than my Teacher!" Cha-cha said.
"As much as I'd like to agree with you, we have to face the truth..." Shiine replied.
"Ohhh..." Cha-cha said, and looked down the floor. "But still! We can't leave Teacher Dorothy the way that she is!" she said.
"That's right! I sort of missed her fights with Seravi! When they almost used to kill each other, whooo it was so cool!!!" Riya blurted out, cheering some sorts.
"Riya!!!" Shiine and Cha-cha said in unison.
"What?"
"What if she's being manipulated by Serafid? What if she's going go through with the ceremony against her will?" Shiine suddenly thought.
"Yeah! A shotgun wedding!!!" Riya suggested.
"That's horrible! We have to save her!!!" Cha-cha exclaimed.
"That's right! I must get back my teacher!!!!" Shiine cheered, joining in.
"Alright let's go!!!!" Cha-cha said, they marched towards the door and opened it.
And they suddenly stopped in their tracks, their eyes wide with surprise.
¿¿* *??
"Alright... I'm done praying to all the gods in the world," Seravi said as he got up from his praying position. "Whooo, that took longer than I thought. With their divine blessing... hehehehehe... now for plan---"
"Teacher Seravi!!!" Cha-cha screamed from the living room.
He dashed out of his room and went to the living room.
He stopped in his running, there standing outside the door was his very own goddess!!
"Dorothy!!" he screamed out, opening his arms and lunging for her. "That was faster than I thought, the gods must really like the offering that I g---"
He stopped in midair as his eyes saw Serafid who was standing at quite a distance away near their helicopter. He was holding a sniper rifle in his arms, ready to fire.
The red dot that the aiming laser in Serafid's gun found and stayed at the spot between Seravi's eyes. Seravi composed himself and started to act civilized.
"Hello Seravi," Dorothy greeted. "Please excuse my unannounced arrival, there was no time to tell you in advance," she said apologetically.
"That's.... fine... errr.... Darl--, I mean, Dorothy," he said thankful that he stopped himself in time.
Serafid's eyes narrowed.
"And please excuse Serafid, he strongly refused to come too near to you." she looked apologetically at the red dot in his forehead. "I understand that you had... issues left unsettled," she shook her head and smiled bitterly. "Anyhow, I came here to give you this," she said, handing Seravi a lumpy brown package.
Their hands came in contact with each other at the side of the package.
Dorothy smiled sweetly, then tried to pull her hands back gently.
Seravi didn't let go. "Dorothy," he whispered, bubbles forming in their background. "We can go and runaway, right now, just you and me..."
"I..." Dorothy said, clearly surprised.
"We could be happy! We'll be together, just like you promised..."
A mysterious shine appeared in Dorothy's eyes. She did not pull her hands away, she continued to look at him unmoving.
Suddenly a bullet hit the wall, centimeters away from Seravi's head.
Seravi dropped his hands immediately.
Dorothy didn't even look back at the shooter. She smiled and continued speaking as if nothing happened. "You'd find Elizabeth, and your invitation to our wedding later this day inside. Please come and try not to be late," she said. Then she paused.
"Seravi... I thank you for your offer," her eyes were shining. "But I am already happy," she said truthfully. She bowed her head and turned around.
She looked back at him one last time as she came close to Serafid. She gave a tiny mysterious smile, as Serafid helped her get up in the helicopter.
And then just like that, she flew away.
Cha-cha, Shiine and Riya who had been eavesdropping from inside the cottage, smart enough to keep out of it, came out and looked at him.
Seravi had a peaceful almost content expression on his face.
"Teacher...?" Cha-cha said reluctantly.
"What's inside the package Seravi?" Riya asked.
"Oh this? Let's see..." Seravi said as he casually opened the brown package. Sure enough, Elizabeth was there, instead of the black dress that she wore when the last time that Seravi held her, she now wore a white wedding gown. And she still smiled as always.
"Elizabeth..." Seravi said as he hugged the doll.
Shiine took the four cards inside and examined it. "These are invitation for the wedding, we're VIP's," he exclaimed, his eyes wide with happiness.
"Wow!! Really?!" Cha-cha cheered.
"Yeah!!!" Riya said as he and Cha-cha danced around each other, cheering for their luck.
"So what does it say eh, eh??" Riya said as they pored over the exquisitely hand-maid invitation card. They went back inside the house and left Seravi to his thoughts.
Seravi remained standing where Dorothy had left him until the sun had finally set.
¿¿* *??
The wedding was set at night. It was held in the lawn behind Dorothy's parent's mansion, there was not a light visible coming from inside the large establishment. This night the whole place was transformed.
The moon was full and was shining with its full potential. The only other source of light in the place were soft different colored lanterns, some floating in the lake, some hung from trees, and fireflies trapped in large bottles set at strategic positions along the place and at the center of black tables where they will eat.
Every now and then a scent would scatter into the air, through the blooming flora that were arranged throughout the place.
The site where the actual wedding was to take place was the most exquisitely designed of all.
The benches were the people would sit on were colored darkly, on its edges it glowed a soft warm yellow color. The aisle where the bride will walk was lined with cloth made out of pure gold and black velvet sheets. And scattered randomly on the cloth were petals of a white flower.
Before the altar, on the floor where the bride and groom were to stand, were several markings that glowed. It was said that they were seals of goodluck and security. It was also said that once the bride and groom had stepped inside, no one else can ever stop the ceremony.
The men were all required to dress in black tuxedos or formal wears, and they all blended in well with the night. The women on the other hand were asked to dress in shades of gold or green. There were no bridesmaids. Only the bride herself was to dress in white.
Those who did not dress to match the color code were not allowed to enter.
"They prepared well... I feel like I'm in a fairytale..." Shiine said as he leisurely played with his champagne bottle that contained water (as he was still too young to drink). He was walking around the lawn looking around for any sign of impending trouble. (Also, he was looking for Cha-cha who he hasn't seen all evening. He was quite excited to see her all dressed up in formal wear complete with--). Suddenly, he bumped into a lady whose face was almost completely covered by her golden hair.
"Wha--? I, I'm sorry Madam," Shiine said as he bowed his head and assessed if there was any damage done.
"What the..? Shiine...? Is that you?" the 'Madam' said.
Shiine blushed, "I know that voice! Cha--Cha-cha?! Is that.... is that you?!" he asked bewildered, he tried to look at her in the face.
The green-dressed lady turned her head in time with Shiine's turning to avoid a full show of her face.
"H-ha, haha, oh young man you are quite mistaken!!" Cha-cha said in a voice that was trying to be mature but was obviously hers. "Nice seein' ya, bye then!" she said as she dashed through the crowd and away from him.
"W-wait!" Shiine said and then ran after her.
¿¿* *??
"Hmmmm..." someone's voice said. He got there somehow, somewhere, and he was planning to put an end to the madness.
He one was with the shadows of the room. All dressed in black, all devoid of color, (he carefully tucked in all strands of his hair behind his ninja costume) except for his emerald green eyes.
Two patrolling guards passed through. No problem, he wasn't noticed.
After this and that, he reached his destination. He stood outside the large double doors and opened them.
"I've been expecting you..." greeted a voice from inside as he got in.
Their eyes met, green against green.
"Let's finish it why don't we," he said, his voice unwavering.
"Of course, but do me a favor and hurry up, I don't want to keep my bride waiting..."
"She is not your bride you freak, she's betrothed to me."
"Oh really, on what grounds does your claim lay? She was betrothed to me first you vile-scumbag-pathetic-excuse-for-a-brother!! I abhor the fact that we're related!!" he said, his voice ever arrogant.
"You're not the only one. Why, those childhood memories where you used to run around only in your underwear traumatized my young brain!!"
"Gah, what are you talking about?! You pervert!!!! You're the one who caused me nightmares! You were walking around with poop drooping from your diapers! And you always used to pull my hair!!! Dorothy must never be with the likes of you! Well it doesn't matter, after this night, she'll be mine... forever~!! We'll have little blonde-haired kids running around the lawn---"
"Ahhhhh, shut up!!!!! You've done something to her haven't you?! I'll never forgive you!"
"I don't need your forgiveness. All I need is for you to get out of my life!"
"Enough talk. I will get Dorothy. Let's do it,"
"She will never be yours. But do try, let's see if you'll succeed..."
darkness
¿¿* *??
Even before the actual reception, the people were allowed to eat. This opportunity was taken up, and of course abused by Riya.
All sorts of expensive and exotic dishes were at the table and was being refilled every few seconds after Riya sweeps them all in one stroke.
"Hmmm... where's Cha-cha..?" he said in between swallowing. "She's missing out on all the food!" Riya said as he gobbled down more food on the buffet table. His black suit was stained with a variety of food scrubs.
"Wait! Stop right there! Cha-cha!" Shiine called out as he chased the lovely black dressed woman who refused to show her face.
"What the? Was that Cha-cha?!" Riya said, he blushed for a moment, looked at his food, and then without a hesitation, ran after them.
¿¿* *??
After a while of idleness, someone in the crowd announced, "The wedding's about to start!".
The people started to gather and took their seats and waited for the ceremony to begin.
The priest appeared in front and stood there dignified, waiting for the bride and groom.
Some of the fireflies around the site were released and they lighted the aisle, waiting for the bride to pass.
The groom appeared at the end of the aisle, unnoticed.
The Orchestra began to play a soft calming music with the flute and the violin. Its melodies somewhat resemble the bridal march, only this was a mellower, more calm and not hurried version.
A black veil was lifted from the end of the aisle, there stood the bride in her full whiteness.
The fireflies started to hover around the bride, showing the details of her exquisite hand-made gown.
She stood there with dignity, the only whiteness among the dark void of the place. She had a veil on her face that had fine, translucent cloth. Her blonde hair was gathered to from on top of her head, crowned with a tiara that glittered with a thousand diamonds.
Her white-gloved hand held a bouquet of white roses that were laced with small glittering jewels at the stalks.
She started to walk, slowly and surely.
She kept her eyes down the whole time.
She looked like pure spirit walking among the ranks of the undead.
Everyone marveled at her beauty.
Her train spread down the trail after her. It shimmered in the moonlight like a silver river.
The groom stared in stunned silence at her bride. He smiled bitterly. Tears welled up at the corners of his eyes, but he was quick to blink them away.
After what seemed like eternity, the bride arrived at his side. She looked at him sideways, never meeting his eyes, and gave a mysterious smile.
They stepped inside the sealed altar.
The Priest opened his bible and laid his hands on top of its page. The marriage that would join the two great families has begun.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today..."
The groom looked at his bride, her beauty was beyond compare. He was elated. But a nagging thought was bothering him at the back of his mind, telling him there was something wrong.
"... speak now or forever hold your peace...."
At that moment, the groom held his breath.
After the priest went on, and nobody protested, the groom let out a large sigh.
The ceremony went on. They came to the point where they faced each other and were to exchange their vows. He took her right hand.
"I take you, Dorothy, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to love and to serve..."
She kept her eyes down, a smile forming on her lips.
She would not look at him. He frowned. The voice of the nagging thought was now a little bit stronger, but its message still cannot seem to get through.
She gently took his right hand and proceeded to insert the ring in his ringfinger.
"I take you, Seravi--"
Seravi jerked his hand away. His were eyes wide with surprise.
The bride stopped speaking.
"...what did you say...?" he asked her suspiciously.
Silence descended upon them, the orchestra stopped playing.
"Ohh... did I, did I say something wrong?" she raised her hand and covered her mouth.
"You called me Seravi... How did you... how did you know it was me?!"
The priest slammed the bible shut and stared at the two with disbelief.
"Huh, huh? Oh, I didn't say a thing... hohoho..."
Seravi fished out a big halogen light from his pocket and pointed it to the bride.
"Ohhh my god!!!!!!" he cried outloud. "Not you!!!!! NOOOO!!!!!"
'Dorothy's face contorted into a wicked smile. "Hahaha, its too late, you can't get out of this seal.... We will be man and... wife! Hohohohohoho!!!" Doris declared and ended with her classic signature laugh. Then she turned to the priest and said in a sweet voice. "Please continue father,"
¿¿* *??
"Cha-cha... stop running!" Shiine cried outloud to her. "We're missing the wedding!!" They've been chasing each other every since he spotted her earlier.
Cha-cha stopped in her tracks.
"Oh yes, that's right!! Ohh, no!!!! We have to go back!" Cha-cha made a sharp about face and bumped into Riya.
"Huh?! Hey you smell good!!! Hey you look good!!!" Riya said as he held on to the woman who bumped into him. "Hey, its really Cha-cha!!!" he puckered up his lips for a kiss.
Then a big bonk was heard as Shiine hit Riya's head with a big fist that he materialized.
"You lousy dog! I knew that you were more perverted than me!!!" Shiine said as he dematerialized the weapon he used.
"Why you, why'd you spoil my moment!!" Riya said as he got up.
"Stop it you guys!" Cha-cha said. "Or else I'll change back to my old clothes!" she threatened.
They behaved immediately and were immediately buddy-buddies again.
At the silence of the moment, two suspicious shadowy figures moved across the lawn and entered the hedgemaze.
"Hurry up, you old coot! Do you want to be late for our only daughter's wedding?!" a familiar female's voice said called out to the second figure.
"I'm coming, I'm coming, alright..." the other suspicious figure replied to the call.
"Huh?!" Cha-cha and the gang said as they stared at the suspicious figures disappear with the shadows.
"Did I just hallucinate?" Cha-cha asked Shiine who was still looking at them.
"I know that voice... It's the voice of Miss Dorothy's parents!!!" Shiine declared.
"Huh, but where are they going? The altar's that way!!" Cha-cha cried outloud.
"Something's up, let's follow them!" Shiine suggested.
"Right on!" Riya cheered, transforming into a wolf and leading the way.
After a while of walking in the dark, they came upon a secret gathering that was held at the middle of the hedgemaze.
A few candles were lit around the place, and there were only 7 people there.
They hid in the bushes and surveyed the situation.
"There's a woman dressed in white standing with a man... wait a minute! That's Dorothy!!" Riya said outloud.
"What?! How could that be..." Shiine cried.
"Shhhh!! Keep quiet you guys, they might hear us!!" Cha-cha said in an obvious scolding voice.
The three were pulled suddenly plucked from the bushes.
"What the?!" Riya protested.
"Shiine, Cha-cha, Riya! Is that you?" Dorothy asked. The attention of all those gathered there were fully turned to them.
Serafid dropped the two boys roughly but carefully placed Cha-cha on the ground. "Its just them three, were you followed?" he asked.
"What is this? Is that you Teacher? What are you doing here?" Shiine asked as he got up and tidied himself.
Dorothy who was only wearing a simple white dress without any glamour nor glitter. She was also holding a bunch of wildflowers.
She smiled. "I'm amazed you found this place. This is where the true ceremony will take place," she said. "Serafid knew that his brother would do anything to stop the wedding... so... you see..." she said, looking apologetic. "We had to fool everyone..."
"Wow! That's so smart!!" Riya said.
"So only close families are here..." Shiine said as he looked at the other remaining people.
"Yes, my parents and Serafid's parents," Dorothy said as she pointed to the happy looking couple over the other side of the lawn. The woman looked quite sickly. And the man was none other but the older version of Seravi/Serafid.
"Now that you're done explaining, can we proceed with the true ceremony, please, Dorothy?" Serafid requested.
"Yes, alright," Dorothy answered. They took their place in front of the priest.
"But then, then, who was the bride there?!" Cha-cha asked.
"Oh?" Dorothy said, looking back at them. "My sister was more than happy to take my place..." she said, smiling a bit.
"And the
Serafid..."
"Who else but the idiot who looks like me..." Serafid said. Someone in the background coughed. "Sorry mother," he added.
"Oh..." Riya said.
Realization dawned upon them.
"Oh my god!!!! We've got to stop it!!! Ewwww!!!" Shiine said. He turned to his side and tried his best not to vomit.
"What?! I don't want to live with a person who's not sure about its gender!!! Waaaaahhhh!!!" Cha-cha cried. Her eyes were all teary with disgust.
"You cannot stop it. Once they enter the sealed altar, they cannot leave until the ceremony goes through and is finished. I placed a seal there exactly for that purpose, that is, they won't be able to leave that place unless they have been declared man and wife. That's Seravi's punishment for trying to spoil the occasion... again." Serafid said arrogantly.
"And it was a little harsh," Dorothy said, somewhat regretting it. A frown formed on her head.
"But, but we can't just leave him be! I don't want to live with that... that thing!!!!"
"You can try if you like," Serafid said. He turned to his bride, "Dorothy..." he said suggestively.
She smiled at him. "Yes, let us continue with our ceremony."
Suddenly there was large explosion.
"What was that?" Dorothy's mother asked.
They looked up at the sky and sure enough there was a large wave of energy that was coming from the site of the fake wedding.
"My god... Did he... did he break the seal?!" Serafid asked with disbelief. "At least we're still a little bit safe, he does not know that we're getting married here, so come on! Let's get on with it!"
"Yes, please hurry Father," Dorothy requested.
They turned to the priest and went on.
¿¿* *??
"This is the limit of my patience with you Doris." Seravi said, his eyes dark with fury. "I have tried to tolerate you out of respect for your sister who I so love with my every being," His hair was flying up and pure energy was resonating from his body.
"But I will take no more. I will not stand for any of your stupid tricks again. Answer me this one question falsely and I will not hesitate to grant you eternal peace,"
"Y-Y-You're not k-ki-kidding are you...? B-but Seravi... why can't you just..."
"Now!!!" he screamed at him. "You thing! Tell me where Dorothy and Serafid is!"
"Waaaahhhh! They-they're inside the h-h-hedgemaze!!! They're getting married there right now! They're probably done with their ceremony already... its probably too late..."
"Never!!!" Seravi cried as he was gone in a flash.
"But Seeeerrrraaaaaaaavvvvviiiiiii!!!!" he cried, his beautiful wedding dress all but torn to pieces. His wig and fell from his head along with his beautiful expensive tiara.
He stood up and tore the other garments of his dress away.
"I won't give you up!" he cried. "Never!" he said as he picked himself up and ran off somewhere.
¿¿* *??
In an instant, Seravi appeared behind them.
"You cheater," he said to Serafid.
Serafid did not turn around. "What now? Won't you let the priest finish his sentence? He was about to declare us man and wife. But then again that does not matter now does it?" He turned to Dorothy and lifted her veil, then leaned in to kiss her lips.
Serafid was suddenly thrown away from her.
"Serafid!!" Dorothy screamed. She picked up her dress and tried to run after him.
"Away!!!" Seravi told her. "Move away, please, Dorothy and take the children. If you come between us now you will only end up hurting yourself, and you will only injure us more."
"He's right Dorothy, please go away, get out of the hedgemaze." Serafid said as he got back on his feet. He looked at Dorothy's parents and nodded for them to take her.
Dorothy's parents grabbed her and started running away. Cha-cha and the others materialized their brooms and started flying to safety.
Serafid and Seravi's father took her mute protesting, frail wife in his arms and also ran away.
"Finally, a fair fight. I got quite suspicious that I beat you so easily in your room before... who was that? Your doppelganger?" Seravi said.
"Of course, how you underestimate me little brother..."
"I am neither little nor your brother anymore, did you not break the blood ties between us yourself long ago?"
"Oh yes, but the true resolve will come now,"
"Yes, and enough talk, let's do it,"
They closed their eyes, a lazy light green haze enveloped them both.
"W-what are they doing?" Cha-cha asked as she looked back to them.
"They look like they're meditating..." Riya commented.
Dorothy stopped struggling from her father's grasp, realization dawned on her face. She screamed out, "No... Serafid, Seravi don't do it!!!" she screamed.
But it was already too late... the lazy green haze had turned into a burning aura. The group could see more clearly now that the two of them had been chanting incantations.
"They're summoning." A voice from behind them said.
They turned around to see Sherwin the referee on the scene.
"Hey its you!!" The trio greeted.
"Of course, I never miss a magical match!" he said with a smile.
"What do you mean they're summoning? Summoning who?" Shiine asked.
"They're calling on divine deities to fight for them. They're almost done, you'd see the deities' physical form soon..." he said.
"They're getting brighter..." Cha-cha said as she shielded her eyes.
"We'd better get out of here..." Riya suggested.
And then Seravi opened his eyes. He raised his hands and said to Serafid, "Come forth and defeat my vile kinsmen, Witch of Urizuri mountain!!"
And then a black cloud appeared behind Seravi, marking the arrival of the summoned deity. From the haze of black came forth the giant pink-haired witch!!
Her violet skirt flowed after her. The star ornament hanging from her pointed hat flew in the wind. She had her arms crossed in front of her face and she slowly opened her gray eyes.
Cha-cha and the others fell to the ground. "What the? He's going to use Miss Dorothy?!" Cha-cha commented.
"Hahahahahahaha!!" the summoned deity "Witch of Urizuri mountain" laughed. "I won't show any mercy! Prepare to witness my true power!!!" she said in perfect imitation of the pink-haired witch.
Seravi was on the ground, holding a joystick and projecting the words that his deity said.
Serafid opened his eyes and saw Seravi's deity. He frowned in distaste, "You would continue to haunt my beloved Dorothy by showing her these?! I cannot condone this! You will pay!" He raised his hand.
"Come to me and defend my just cause! Blonde Child!!!" he said. Then from Serafid's back, white clouds formed. And from the white mass, appeared the giant version of the young blonde-haired Dorothy!
Her glittering curled-up blonde hair was moving with the wind. Her costume was complete in every detail from her pink shoes, to her pink laced dress, to the red ribbon on top of her head.
"You!!!" The "Blonde Child" spoke. "I will not forgive such blasphemy to my beautiful hair!! You will be annihilated!!" she said as she raised her hands into the air gathered her powers.
"Ummm... hah! Ice needles materialize!" she said as sharp pointed ice materialized in the air and darted to the "Witch of Urizuri Mountain".
"Ohh no!! How can you possibly make me fight with myself!! I can't defile her!!!" the "Witch of Urizuri" mountain said. "Look at her, she's just so cute!!!" she added as she slapped the ice needles away and dodged some of them in a half-brained manner. Seravi was absolutely mooning over the Blonde Child, his childhood urges coming back.
"Isn't she the cutest?!" Seravi thought as he stared at the giant Blonde Child.
"Well that's too bad, because I won't hesitate to distort you!" The "Blonde Child" said. "Let's see if you can take this! Lightning Bolt from the heaven's descend and electrocute her!!" she said.
Then big electric bolts shot down from the heavens and unto the "Witch of Urozori Mountain", making her jump from one place to another in a pitiful dance for her life.
¿¿* *??
Meanwhile, down on the ground.
Cha-cha and the others were cheering for Seravi.
"Go Teacher Seravi!! Don't give up!!" Cha-cha said.
"What a lame fight!! Why can't you almost kill each other like Seravi and Dorothy does whenever they fight?!" Riya said.
"Yeah go! My teacher—uhh," Shiine cheered, then he suddenly realized that the true Dorothy was right behind them. He turned around to look at her.
Dorothy was looking up at the two deities, watching the two Dorothy's fight each other. There was a blank look in her eyes.
"Mi-Miss Dorothy?" Shiine asked as he reluctantly approached her.
Dorothy continued to be in her state of unreceptiveness. Her eyes were fixated on the "Witch of Urizuri Mountain" and little by little the shine in her eyes came back.
"... pink... pink h..air..." she said in her trance.
"Dorothy dear?" Her mother asked her.
"... pink, pink hair..."
flash
"I don't want to talk to somebody who's got weird pink hair on her head!!"
-----------------zztt
"... at least my hair isn't green. You never fail to ruin my day!!!!!!!!!!"
------------------zzzzztttt
"Have I ever bothered to tell you that it's not normal to talk to a doll?"
-------------------zzzzzzzzzzttttttttttt
"I want my title... Give me back my title!!! Come on Seravi, we're going to have a magical match!!!"
"I don't want to fight you Dorothy... I love you too much..."
"That's ridiculous! Ok fine! The only time that you'll fight me is if you don't like me anymore correct?! Ummmm... uhhh!!!"
pink flowing hair as far as the eyes can see
"Miss Dorothy?!" Shiine asked, getting more worried.
"No!!!! Stop it!!!" she suddenly exclaimed. "Stop it, stop it, stop it!!!!" she fell to her knees. But her woes were out of earshot of the two who were fighting there.
"Dear Daughter!!" her mother said as she went to her aid.
"I have blonde hair!! My hair is blonde! My-hair-is-blonde-my-hair-is-blonde-my-hair-is-blonde!!!" she started chanting.
"Hey... I think her screw finally turned loose..." Riya commented as looked at her.
"Miss Dorothy!" they tried to call out to her.
"Its just like Serafid said!! ...hairisblondemyhairisblondemyhairisblonde..."
"Dorothy dear! Stop it!!!" her mother called out to her. She shook her body and tried to face her.
"...blonde...blonde...blonde...hair!!!!" she remained out of reach. She closed her eyes and tears started to fall.
¿¿* *??
Back at the battle field, the "Witch of Urizuri Mountain" was losing. By now, the Blonde Child was using her face as a punching bag. Seravi was looking blankly at the Blonde Child in utter bliss.
"Ahhh... she's so cute even when she's angry!!" he said amidst the direct hits in the face that his deity was getting.
And then suddenly... a cry resounded to them.
"S...Seravi... Serafid... my sons..."
They stopped fighting. The deities stopped moving.
The two of them looked to where the voice came from to see their frail mother standing, with difficulty on her own.
"M...mother..." Seravi said.
"Selena! You can speak again!" their father said, coming to her side.
"No... more... please do not fight anymore... My sons..." she said with difficulty, she then fell on her knees.
"Mother..." Serafid said. They both dropped their joysticks and went to her side.
The two deities suddenly stopped moving and then disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
"I was... so... so sad... my sons were fighting each other... And they weren't together anymore... Serafid went away to far off land. And then Seravi too... and never returned..." Selena confessed to their sons.
After such a long time, the family was assembled again, close together like this... as they had been once before.
"I'm sorry mother... I..." Seravi tried to say.
"No... its alright..." she said as she touched Seravi's cheek.
"Yes of course its alright," Serafid said with spite. "You're her favorite son! I was just second place!" he stood up.
"No!! Its not true..." Selena protested. She tried to stand up to reach Serafid. "Its because I couldn't see my sons together... Its because they fought each other... that's why... I couldn't speak... I couldn't call them anymore... because they won't come... And it was our fault... because we arranged your lives for you... our sins... pulled you apart... Could never forgive myself..."
"Oh Selena..." her husband said.
"M-mother..." Seravi said as tears fell down her cheek. Serafid looked away and tried to suppress his own.
"I'm glad... I can see both of my sons again... grown up... but no more fighting... the woman you love... why not let her decide? And whoever she does not choose... do not hate the other..." she suggested.
The two brothers looked at each other. Now with the tie on Serafid's hair gone, his hair came was spread out and he looked like Seravi more than ever.
"You... bound by blood... so please... please end this..."
"That's right my sons," their father said. "Please do not let the line of our kin end this way. Listen to your mother, for the last time... It is, I think, the best way..."
"Brother..." Seravi started, looking at Serafid. "If you agree... let's end this..."
Serafid frowned and looked at the pleading eyes of her mother. He sighed and frowned. "I can never forgive you for taking her away..." Serafid said to him.
"I did not take her away!" Seravi said. "I followed her..."
"And because of that she learned to love you more!" he returned. "I spent all those years studying in a foreign land, all by myself, because I thought that when I returned, she'd be there... And that she was waiting for me..."
"I..." Seravi said.
"But I should have known better... I should have stayed by her side!! That's what you did isn't it?! That's why she grew fonder of you. You said she promised to marry you? That's because I wasn't there and she had no idea of what 'marrying' was then! You took her away from me..."
"Its not my fault that you were unable to keep your ties together!" Seravi retorted to him. "You said I stole her away from you, fine! She may have felt something for you before she felt something for me... But is it my fault that you never reinforced your feelings for her? That you never told her that you loved her and you just assumed she understood! I proclaimed my love to her everyday!" he proclaimed, for the first time, serious about his feelings. "That was, before she got ugly," he added.
"And whose fault do you think it is that she dyed her hair in the first place?! And even with a slight change of appearance you condemned her and shoved her away! That is not love!! You only loved her because she was beautiful!!"
"That's not the only reason why I loved her!!" Seravi said. "I just couldn't say it... because... how else was I supposed to explain the grounds of my love? I could say I loved her because she was beautiful... but after then... what was I supposed to say? Since I can't give a valid reason... I started teasing her... I..." he tried to say... having difficulty to explain what he never said to anyone before.
"You're just making excuses! You could never really love her when her hair is pink! You're just one of the countless man that would fall victim to the curse that runs down her veins, the countless men whose attracted only to her physical form. Stray away from the picture of perfection and the 'love' that you felt would suddenly just fly away, am I right?" Serafid said.
"And I suppose you can love her even when her hair is pink?!" Seravi asked him.
"Well of course I can!!"
"And so do I!!!"
A silence descended upon them. The look in both their eyes were determined and calmer now. After airing out their hurts, they have now come to conclude what they should do.
"Lets go to her," Serafid said.
And they began walking.
¿¿* *??
Dorothy's condition has not improved though.
Riya teased her. "Hey Dorothy! Can you say 'blonde'?" he asked, hovering over her.
"... blonde... blonde... blonde..." she saida and continued chanting.
"Wow! See! She can still talk!" Riya exclaimed.
"Stop making fun of my teacher!" Shiine said as he hit Riya's head.
"Ohhh my daughter, my daughter my daughter," Dorothy's mother exclaimed as she cried out to her. She was already crying and was desperate in trying to reach her.
Seravi and Serafid entered the scene.
They saw Dorothy sitting on the floor, all intellect gone from her mind.
"What, what happened here?!" Seravi asked as they rushed to her side.
"She cracked, plain and simple," Riya said. In a second he had four broken bones.
"Its your fault! Bring my daughter back to normal!" her father demanded.
"Serafid!! What's happening to her..." Seravi asked him as he looked at her catatonic eyes.
Serafid leaned to her. "Dorothy...? Dorothy Darling, look at me, look at me..." he said as he tried to meet her eyes. He placed his two fingers on her forehead and began to call her to come out from her trance.
"S... S..." Dorothy tried to say. But no words came out.
"Allow me to put her out of her misery," a voice from behind them said.
They all looked behind to see Doris pointing a gun on Dorothy.
"Doris!!" Her mother said.
"Well don't act so surprised mother, she had it coming," he said, there was something different about the way that he spoke and looked at everyone. He had ceased to mimic a woman's voice, and he still wore the tattered wedding dress, all hidden muscles bulging out.
"My life was going fine until she came back again. In fact, I was planning to marry Serafid in place of Seravi. I figured I could do with him... And then she just had to come back waltzing with her blonde hair," he said.
"So that's why you forced me to come with you on that island... And the helicopter breaking down..." Serafid recalled. He felt as if he could throw up.
"Ewwww..." Cha-cha and the others said under their breath.
"Well that's the past. Now is now. The two of you, move away from her, slowly, or else she'll get it..." he ordered.
"Never!!!" The two of them said in unison as they embraced her body more.
"Martyr to the end huh? Fine, this bullet will go through your bodies and hit her anyway, I didn't pay top price for nothing..." he said.
"Doris! The inhumanity! She is your own blood! Why?!" their mother demanded, she was shivering from anger.
"Everybody knows 'why' mother, or are you still trying to deny it? I will never change... my feelings for Seravi will never change. Now if I won't have him, I will make sure that she doesn't either. It's the least I could do," he said, he was beyond reasoning now.
"I was actually planning to do it on the day of engagement, because I didn't trust that things would go the way that they planned it to be, that is, that Dorothy gets married to Serafid leaving Seravi to me. I had planned to kill her from the beginning, but couldn't do it because Serafid was always hanging around her, giving her new memories, erasing her past. So, I waited... My chance came when she went inside the hedgemaze all alone during the engagement party... but he appeared," he said, pointing to Seravi. "So I couldn't do it... So she should be quite thankful because I at least gave her more time..."
"I knew we couldn't trust you..." Riya said as her barked at him.
"I don't care. Well, so now that the explanation's over, the shooting begins... I'll count to three then shoot. One..."
The two brothers held her more tightly, not caring for their lives.
"Two..."
"Stop this madness Doris!!!" Her father commanded.
"Give it up, I won't listen to whatever you say... Three!"
"Wait, sister!" a female voice said. It was Dorothy.
Seravi and Serafid looked at her.
Her eyes were open now and she was back to normal. She smiled a little. "Thank you for protecting me, but please let me go now," she requested.
"Dorothy..." Serafid said.
"I understand my sister... Its alright..." she said.
"No!! We can't allow you to die..." Seravi said.
"Would you be able to live knowing that the woman you loved belonged to another?" she asked logically.
"Well I..." Seravi said.
"Its better this way... so please," she said as she removed their hold on her and started walking to Doris.
"Smart move sister!" Doris praised.
"Be quick with it," she said.
"No problem. Don't worry, I'll follow after you... but let's not do it here, it'll get too damn messy. Let's go somewhere else... start walking." Doris ordered.
"Alright," Dorothy agreed, and she started to walk towards him.
When she was almost face to face with Doris, a glint fell on Doris eyes.
Serafid saw this, and then...
Everything seemed to slow down.
doris pulled the trigger of his gun
"Nooo!!"
Dorothy's blonde locks flew up into the air.
She fell to the ground
White dress stained with blood
"Dorothy!!!!!!" Seravi screamed as he went to her.
The smoke cleared.
Serafid lay in her arms, gasping, he took the bullet for her. Blood was flowing out from his lower chest.
"Serafid!!" Dorothy cried out in a barely audible, her eyes went blank.
"Se...ravi..." Serafid strained to talk. "Hur...ry... protect her..." he struggled to get out.
Doris realized he didn't get her. He pointed it again to Dorothy's head, who was in plain sight.
Seravi reached out to touch Dorothy
He grasped her arm
Another shot rang out.
The moon hid behind the clouds, enveloping them in darkness.
When the moonlight finally shone again, they saw Serafid lying on the ground bleeding profusely from his wound.
Doris pulling the trigger over and over again, but hitting only the soil.
And Dorothy and Seravi were nowhere to be seen.
¿¿*!!!*??
I'm sorry for the long delay. This and that delayed it. Well the truth was I had a major WRITER'S BLOCK. Oh well, at least the wait was worth it! Well I... I hope this chapter's 'fine'.
Anyway, I'm proud to say that there is only one last chapter left!!!!
The conclusion is coming soon! Please bear with me for one more!!!