Sweet Marriage Chapter Two: Of All the Pomp!, a sonic the hedgehog fanfic

REMEMBER: Shadow, Amy, Eggman, Rouge etc-none of it belongs to me but to SEGA!

CHAPTER TWO: Of all the Pomp!

Tomorrow was the day, the day Amy and Shadow became husband and wife! Everything was set: flowers, tables, curtains-everything. All the guests were to come dressed as English ladies of old, all the men acting as gentlemen. The behavior, wording, and style of the wedding were to be like a role-play and whoever played it the best would win 1000 in cash!

Amy drowned in the endless layers of her wedding dress as she put it on once again just to test her reflection. Her gown was v-necked, lined with transparent pink lace tucked into the sleeves and neck trim; the dress flowed far in the back for more ceremonial extravagance. Around her neck clasped a golden chain necklace with rubies lined on it's outer side and her hair had been, with much toiling pain, curled 18th-century fashion around her temples though her quills hung the same in the back. Satin, silk and velvet her gown was sewn with, full of swirling, beautiful patterns, complete with a veil and high waist line as all the gowns of the time had been.

Shadow was going to look more dashing than any of the other men in the whole church, she mused. Even without any special clothing on, he was the best-looking guy around and thinking of him dancing with her dressed like a gentleman caused her nerves to start jumping. She had carefully picked out the wardrobe styles for the ring bearer, best man, and flower girls-oh, this was going to be perfect!

"Don't take my gentle countenance as a definition that I am a witless girl. 'Tis a crime indeed if you thought of me as that, I declare." She practiced some random English at herself in the mirror but came out dissatisfied at how her accent sounded. Still work to do and only one day left to practice! She worried about her wording.

"This is a fake piano player," Eggman explained to a set of androids recently built, "It will play the piano out of key-extremely. You,"-pointing to a replica of the priest that was to perform the ceremony-"Are to not wed them. You are to mess up your wording so much that their wedding shall not be valid!" The android nodded so Eggman turned to his last android which had the greatest part. "You are to destroy the food, ruin the flowers, and rip up the cloths as well as park all the cars in illegal parking spots as the chauffeur." It too nodded and Eggman was satisfied. "Now, get all of you out of my sight, stupid, worthless machines-to your work!"

Simultaneously, the three machines nodded and stalked from the room.

"One, two, one two, one two…"

"Practicing the wedding march, Tails?"

"Hmm?" Tails glanced up from his slow walk down the sidewalk, "Oh, hey Sonic. Ya, I was. I'm really nervous about this."

"What's the big deal?" Sonic slung his legs over a railing, dressed in a full 18th century formal costume, "You hold the pillow up with the ring and take slow steps to the front of the ol' church. Think about delivering chili dogs to a customer-no difference!"

"Geez, that's sort of a lame example," the cute fox wined slightly, "This is a lot more important than working at a fast food restaurant. Amy and Shadow are truly in love, Sonic, and this wedding means a lot to her even if she over does things sometimes."

"You're too mature for your own age sometimes, Tails. I know you're right-but I don't care!" He hopped off the railing and started scratching the silk stockings, "This stupid outfit is giving me all sorts of problems! These-these-these-"
"Stockings." Tails bit his lower lip, giggling cutely as Sonic clawed at his legs.

"Stockings! Yes, these stockings are itching me insane and these-what are these anyways?"

"Breeches?"

"Yes! I have never worn anything as stupid as this in my LIFE! How did those frilly, silly, girlish guys back then even stand this stuff? It's totally dumb!"

"But you do look pretty cool in them, Sonic."

"COOL? In this coat?"

"Look, here comes Rouge and Cream and Whip and Butter-wow, they all look so great!" Tails escaped from Sonic's ranting into a more safe company of English-dressed girls and pretty women plus Knuckles. They all instantly commented and praised his appearance for he was garbed in a handsome suit, matching Sonic's and Knuckles', of white, silk stockings, black velvet breeches and coat, topped with a frilly handkerchief around the neck and frilly sleeves.

Rouge was wearing a creamy white, satin gown that flowed to her feet. Her top was square and low, as usual, and trimmed with lace. The gown's sleeves were three-fourths and flowing with soft lace at the trimming. At her shoulder swung a fancy umbrella for show and a round her neck sat a gold chain necklace with a fat, purple ruby. The three little girls' gowns matched hers, but had cute hats to go along with them.

"You look very grown," Rouge winked at Tails and Knuckles rolled his eyes from her other side. He hadn't wanted to become part of the mess of this whole ceremony, but Amy had insisted that since Knuckles was part of the gang, that he should take part in something. It hadn't been his choice to wear the matching costumes of the men but he had been forced to and his own collar itched his neck almost to the point of insanity.

"Thanks, Rouge. You look wonderful!"

"You're so sweet," She turned to Knuckles and tucked her hands under the crook of his arm tighter, "Let's get to the church, sweetie. As coordinator, I need to be there early to make sure everything's going fine."

He blushed and cleared his throat, motioning to Sonic, who ran over in a flash. "Don't ruin your clothes, Sonic."

"Stop ordering me around."

"I wasn't." The guardian headed off towards a huge, old stone cathedral standing against the sun on a hilltop. "I'm just in a fowl mood so lay off me, hedgehog."

The room hushed, all voices died away. Pachabel played live from a grand orchestra situated at the far right corner of the open cathedral's main auditorium. The double doors opened and a small form hesitantly emerged from the darkness of the room within. Proud faces beamed as Tails mentally reviewed his small, but important role in his mind.

"Right, left, right left," He whispered only to himself, taking cautious steps, a maroon pillow extended with two golden rings lying on the soft padding. He swallowed nervously, but suddenly tripped over a lose string of vines that had been lying on the floor in front of him and with a loud wail, fell forward smack on his face! "CRUD!" The fox bolted up after the running rings in a panic, "I didn't do it-I swear! It's not my fault!"

The guests gasped emphatically and Shadow stood in shock at the front of the altar. "Tails! Get the rings!" He spoke up hastily, "How could you be so clumsy?"

"Stop scolding me, Shadow! This would have happened to you as well if you were the ring bearer and I was getting married!"

"No it wouldn't have. I can't even imagine you getting married and me being in your position!"

Tails had to admit that he couldn't imagine himself getting married either, nevertheless Shadow carrying the rings. But he shoved the thought aside, crawling underneath benches, causing old hens to scream and hoot when he slid under their skirts.

"What's going on and what's that awful racket?" Rouge entered the auditorium in a rush, her hand raised to her right ear where a speaker was attached, "Tails!"

"Rouge! Some vines were in the way and I tripped and fell and now I've lost the rings!"

"WHAT!" She roared loudly, "Well-well-find them!"

"More easily said than done." Tails shoved a fat old bag of a woman out of the way, ignoring her wails, and started scouting the grounds again on his knees. "I FOUND THEM!" He suddenly erupted from a far corner on the church. A male hedgehog grunted loudly when Tails reached into the man's shoes and retrieved the pair of rings. "Let's go!"

Rouge pinched Tails on the ear before disappearing back inside the doors and out of sight. The music continued, but for some reason, it wasn't the heavenly, soft tune of before, but a wild rock and roll tune. Hedgehogs, echidnas, squirrels-the whole crowd looked at each other, murmuring. Tails ran up to the front of the church and tripped over his too-long pants this time, falling flat on his face again, his arms extended. The rings flew into the air and Shadow dove forward, snatching them within his gloved palms.

"TAILS!" He roared.

-Jump5: Joyride-

Next came the flower girls. The order might have been wrong, but Rouge wasn't a professional wedding coordinator and so no one would know or care, she figured. Besides, the little girls looked like angels skipping down the isles and tossing daisies around the room.

"It's time for you to go in," The bat turned to a shaking bride standing before the closed doors. "You'll be fine. Shadow loves you and that's what's important."

"Oh, Rouge, you've always been here to help me through my problems."

"Yes," Rouge checked the flowing English gown one last time before hugging Amy Rose, "I know-accept when I wasn't around, but you're not a girl anymore and your problems aren't small and unimportant. You're a woman who has huge, looming issues that only the one you love can help you through now. You can always come to me but go to him first. I mean, c'mon, I'm not a therapist or anything. Today, you will no longer be Amy Rose Hedgehog the single woman; you will be Mrs. Shadow Hedgehog. Oh! I'm so happy for you! Go: go out now before I kick you out there!"

Somewhere along that line of happy thought, Rouge had gotten teary and so Amy turned away from the jewel thief and inhaled as the doors opened. She clawed at Sonic's arm. He rolled his eyes and stepped out into the light. Everyone stood for the bride and many 'ooos' and 'aaas', accompanied by happy sighs and sniffles from friends and family, filled the room. The wedding march started.

Amy gripped Sonic harder and he could swear that her fingernails had punctured holes in his coat as she slowly marched down the isle up to altar.

What's up with the piano player? She glared at the pianist who was banging the keys harshly and out of tune in a mechanical manner. His head shifted heft and right in a freaky Frankenstein manner and his hands were frozen as he banged the keys.

At the altar, the couple stood side by side. The music ceased and the priest's hand rose over them both in a blessing. He made the cross symbol over his chest and started to speak. "Here now come before us today, these here two 'hogs to become a thing. Today, they do the marriage pomp to live as a happy couple should. But we all know it won't last. They'll fail with squabbles and pain as all marriages do. In about a year, they'll do the divorce thing and split. It's normal." Bone silence crept over the room but the priest continued monotonously. "Shadow, ya take this chick as your girl?"

"Uh…" Shadow blinked in shock at the demeanor of this priest and his verbal indolence. "What in the world do you think you're doing?" Glancing at his bride, he saw her enraged face but warned her to be calm.

"Stick the gold on her finger, you twit." The priest ignored his questions and gestured angrily. "Oh, I forgot to ask if anyone might not want these two 'hogs 'doin the marriage."

"Stop this and do this right! Don't ruin my special day!" Amy screeched.

"No one? I say neither of you can be married!"

"Who gave you such authority?" Shadow growled viciously, "What has come over you to act in such a manner? I demand you perform the ceremony correctly or leave!"

"Does not compute! Danger, danger! Error! Mal-function! Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!" Head spinning, the priest's arms vibrated wildly. First, his robes flew off in random directions then his head blasted off through the ceiling with a deranged smirk on its frozen face, fireworks screaming through the building.

Amy screamed as building rubble started collapsing around them but Shadow was faster than the slabs of falling ceiling and whisked her up in his arms out the door into the parking lot.

"That priest was a fake!" Shadow seethed, "Made my Eggman no doubt to ruin our wedding!"

"I hate that rotten egg more than ever now!" Amy stomped her foot, "Trying to wreck my wedding is so evil it's unimaginable! Who will marry us now?"
"Guys, what happened?" Knuckles just happened to run up from nowhere with the master emerald in his hand. "I was touring the grounds when I saw fireworks and the church starting collapsing! I used the master emerald to transport everyone to safety. What happened?" He repeated.

Shadow nodded slowly at Amy who had been staring at Knuckles and so she innocently approached him, laying a silky, gloved hand on his shoulder. Knuckles cringed at her strange behavior and openly raised a cautious eyebrow at her.

"Since the priest is… unavailable now, would you marry us, Knuckles?" Her eyes sparkled like diamonds, her expression anxious and soft. Her fingers clutched his coat sleeve with determination.

"Sheesh, Amy. I've never married anyone before. I can't do this! I mean-this is way different that guarding the master emerald! This can't work!"

"But you can and you will so get up on that soap box and DO it! I will be a married woman today and NO one's stopping me!"

"Fine! You're such a brat sometimes!" Knuckles hopped up on a rotting box in the parking lot, looking almost laughable in a full costume. He cleared his throat and looked around him. Tails was standing with the rings, Sonic was nearby, Shadow and Amy were present as wall as Butter, Cream, and Whip. "Gather round!" He yelled loudly. The crowds packed in. "Since the church is destroyed, Amy has asked me to perform her wedding so I'll do it!" The red Echidna now looked down at Amy and Shadow. It was more than a strange moment as Knuckles's demeanor changed from a guardian to a priest and he professionally commenced, "Shadow, do you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife? To love and to cherish from this time forth, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?"

"I do." Shadow gazed into Amy's hazel eyes seriously and she gazed back with loving passion.

"Amy, do you take Shadow as your lawful wedded husband? To love and to cherish from this time forth, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?"

"I do." She responded clearly.

"May we have the rings?"

Tails lifted the cushion and Shadow carefully turned the hard, gold ring over in his fingers then turned and took Amy's extended hand.

"Repeat after me," Knuckles started as Shadow slowly slid the ring onto her finger, "I Shadow the hedgehog, give you this ring."

"I, Shadow the hedgehog, give you this ring."

"Wear it with love and joy."

"I choose you to be my wife, to have and to hold from this time forward."

"I choose you to be my wife, to have and to hold from this time forward." The ring slid almost fully onto her slender finger. Shadow rubbed her palm slowly.

"For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer."

"In sickness and in health, to love and to cherish as long as we both shall live."

The guests once again sighed in proud acclamation. Now Knuckles turned to Amy and repeated the wedding vows with her obediently reciting the words to Shadow. She slid the matching wedding band on his, now un-gloved, hand. At last, Knuckles blinking broadly, he said, "You may kiss the bride."

Shadow lifted the veil slowly and dared not breathe at how beautiful and perfect Amy was. She was his now and forever and no one else would ever be able to hold her or kiss her or love her the way he could. How did he ever become the special, privileged one to ever deserve her attention and adoration? They were so different, but people had always said that opposites attract.

He protectively brought her against him and wrapped her within his arms in a tender kiss. "Now you're mine, sealed forever." He smirked by her lips and she smiled back, like an angel.

"Eggman couldn't have spoiled my wedding no matter what he would have tried. You're mine and mine only and no one would have stopped me from marrying you."

"I remember when you once used those words with Sonic."

"Yes, I remember too," Her cheeks darkened, but she quickly brightened and broke away, "Remember: we're all going to the ball now so we best put our English skills to the test!"

"But-but!"

Amy and Shadow's reservations at the ballroom hadn't been damaged from Eggman's last fit so everyone was dancing and laughing.

English dances were far different than any of the de-generated body movements of the current age. Around fifteen couples would stand across from each other and when the music started, they'd perform a flowing, graceful dance of stepping around other partners, linking back together, and performing some slow turns and movements of their arms. The whole dance, any dance, was a very complex matter of skill, timing, and elegancy and it took hours of toil to learn it.

"Ah, dear Amy, when are you and your groom to quit this place for your honeymoon? The city of Casinopolis is quite the attraction these days, I dare say."

"At six, lady Acorn," Amy had changed from her wedding gown and now wore a bright pink gown of the richest fabrics and fanciest designs that trailed her feet. Poof sleeves hung from her shoulders sand lovely pink blossoms were pinned atop her head. Sparkled had been sprinkled over her face and on her gloved hand proudly beamed the wedding band. "We are to go first forth through the city to the airport where he finest of planes shall bring us to the tropical islands of Islandopolis where we shall not quit until the next week."

"Not a fortnight?"

"I could not stand to stay there for so long! Do you even know what a fortnight is?"

Sally dodged the question with further inquiries as to the lodgings and what activities the couple would be doing while on their honeymoon, repeating her hopes of their greatest joy. The princess was wearing her royal insignia with Sonic by her side sipping punch silently, glancing at the dancing couples longingly. Amy could only guess what was slurring through Sonic's highly illogical, immature brain. That boy must have fallen on his head when he was young, she believed.

"Miss Amy?" Cute Tails approached bashfully, "May I reserve the next two dances?" His English accent was flawless.

"Most happily, Tails." She smiled and curtsied. Tails bowed and walked off.

Sonic suddenly grabbed Amy's hand, "Remember, sweet sister, you had promised me a happy jig this round!" He smirked at her but Amy turned away from him. "Aww, don't slight me!"

"I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY FAILED!" Eggman had no one to release his rage on, so instead he snatched a Chaos Emerald from the counter and started smashing it over and over on the steel surface. The priest had blown to pieces, the pianist had been destroyed in the crash, and the valet had driven a car into a ditch and ceased to function from the water.

"I'll just have to RUIN their honeymoon personally! If you want something done right, you have to do it YOURSELF!" He swung his massive bulk into a long tube. The glass hissed closed like a vampire's coffin and Eggman (sucking in his fat gut) laid back patiently as the tube powered to life and exited the lair with a powerful thrust forward.