Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam, SEED or Destiny. Oh well.
Spoilers: I am going to alter Destiny's storyline for this challenge.
I am altering our bargain, pray I don't alter it more! –Darth Vader to Lando Calrissian.
"And we thank the Goddess Haumea for watching over these two blessed …" the preacher went on an on about this and that.
Cagalli stood idly by in her wedding dress, a strapless white gown with blue running in a circular pattern down the dress. To her right stood her groom, Yuuna Roma Seiran, the man with a purple mullet.
Her unwanted fiancée. The marriage was a political one, meant to unite Orb as the nation joined the Earth Alliance. The original plan was to hold the ceremony outside under the beautiful sun, but a freak rainstorm ruined that plan quickly.
The preacher reached the part Cagalli feared most. "Do you, Yuuna Roma Seiran, take Cagalli Yula Athha, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to hold in richer or in poorer, in sickness or in health?"
"I do." Yuuna replied solemnly, nodding his head.
"And do you, Cagalli Yula Athha, take Yuuna Roma Seiran, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to hold in richer or in poorer, in sickness or in health?" he directed at Cagalli.
"I …" there was no getting out of it. She'd have to marry him. " … I do."
Yuuna smiled. The preacher finished up. "To any who may object to this blessed union, speak now or forever hold your peace." He waited for a few seconds and continued. "I now pronounce you man and –"
He was interrupted by glass shattering. Shards rained down from the skylight, letting in the grey misery from outside, along with the driving rain and … a man dressed in black? Cagalli had taken a step back when the skylight suddenly blew in, and she took three more to escape the rain and glass. Yuuna was so shocked that he stood there, oblivious to the rain that began to soak his formerly impeccable suit.
"I object." The new man growled.
"How dare you!" Yuuna yelled, taking a step towards the newcomer.
Quick as a flash, a fist wrapped in black gauntlet struck out, connecting with Yuuna's cheek. The man took a step forward to counter Yuuna's involuntary step back. "How dare I?" the man started. Cagalli recognized that voice … "I dare because you dare. I dare because you are corrupt like your father. I dare because you would force yourself upon her –" his other arm pointed backwards at her. "- when she clearly loves another!"
Cagalli gasped as his faced turned with his arm. It was …
And she sat up straight in her bed, clutching the sheets and sweating. It was all a bad dream. She really didn't get married to that pig named Yuuna. Flopping back down, Cagalli looked at the clock. The indigo numbers apparently thought it that it was 4:43 AM on Saturday morning.
Sighing, she wiped her forehead and tried to fall back asleep. As she closed her eyes, a realization struck her. She really was going to get married to Yuuna, and the date was set on Saturday, at 2 in the afternoon. Bolting upright again, the blond girl realized that it was today!
"Oh god no …" she moaned. In just over nine hours, she would be walking down the red carpet, and it wouldn't be to meet Athrun at the end, it wouldn't be Kira to give her away … it was going to be a living nightmare.
'Athrun …' she thought with a pang. The blue-haired Coordinator was now on a PLANT, talking to Chairman Dullindal about something. Cagalli fervently wished that he was here with her still. She raised her left hand over her head and eyed her now bare ring finger. At least Kira would have received the letter and Athrun's ring by now …
'Kira …'
The last conscious thought that entered her head before she fell back asleep was 'help me'.
It was now 1:30 in the afternoon. Cagalli stood on a small stepstool as two maids fussed over her makeup and dress and general appearance. The winds could be heard howling outside as the drove the rain down hard.
A freak rainstorm had blown over the nation just after 11AM, just like in her dream. Cagalli considered it to be a bad thing. "Are you ready milady?" one of the maids asked.
Cagalli sighed in reply and closed he eyes for a moment to think why she was doing this. 'This is for Orb, the country that I owe so much. I must be strong, for my people and … for myself.'
Opening her eyes, she nodded at the maid, who promptly left to inform the preacher. The bride shivered nervously, and the second maid took note of it. "Don't worry Miss Cagalli." She tried to assure Cagalli. "You'll do fine out there."
Of course, it wasn't the marriage itself that concerned Cagalli, it was the groom. Soft organ music started to filter in and rustling of clothing could be heard. "They're ready for you." The maid said as she lowered the veil over Cagalli's face.
"Knock 'em dead." She whispered to the bride.
A man stepped in and offered his arm to Cagalli, and she quickly linked arms. Carden Tain was an old friend of Uzumi's and had decided to offer as much support to the girl as possible.
They walked down the carpet to the alter, where Yuuna stood, smiling so much it looked like he was smirking at his victory. And he probably was. Carden bowed his head respectfully and then stood behind Cagalli and her bridesmaids.
The preacher began the ceremony. "We are gathered here today to witness a joining in holy matrimony. We ask our revered Goddess Haumea to continue to watch over her people, and we thank the Goddess Haumea for watching over these two blessed …"
Cagalli tuned the man out, desperately thinking of a way to delay or cancel the marriage as a small part of her mind reprimanded her for thinking such selfish thoughts. Afterall, it was for Orb that she did this.
The preacher reached the part Cagalli feared most. "Do you, Yuuna Roma Seiran, take Cagalli Yula Athha, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to hold in richer or in poorer, in sickness or in health?"
"I do." Yuuna replied solemnly, nodding his head.
"And do you, Cagalli Yula Athha, take Yuuna Roma Seiran, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to hold in richer or in poorer, in sickness or in health?" he directed at Cagalli.
"I …" there was no getting out of it. She'd have to marry him. " … I do."
Yuuna smiled. The preacher finished up. "To any who may object to this blessed union, speak now or forever hold your peace." He waited for a few seconds and continued. "I now pronounce you man and –"
He was interrupted by glass shattering. Shards rained down from the skylight, letting in the grey misery from outside, along with the driving rain and … a man dressed in black? The drop-in landed with practiced ease on his feet. Cagalli had taken a step back when the skylight suddenly blew in, and she took three more to escape the rain and glass. Yuuna was so shocked that he stood there, oblivious to the rain that began to soak his formerly impeccable suit.
"I object." The new man growled.
Cagalli was stunned. It was just like her dream!
"How dare you!" Yuuna yelled, taking a step towards the newcomer.
Quick as a flash, a fist wrapped in black gauntlet struck out, connecting with Yuuna's cheek. The man took a step forward to counter Yuuna's involuntary step back. "How dare I?" the man started. Cagalli recognized that voice … "I dare because you dare. I dare because you are corrupt like your father. I dare because you would force yourself upon her –" his other arm pointed backwards at her. "- when she clearly loves another!"
Cagalli gasped as his faced turned with his arm. It was …
Kira Yamato!
DUN DUN DUN!
Uh … so yeah. This was created in response to a challenge put out by Inulover4eva (even though FanFiction disallows challenges and I try to enforce this by not responding.)
"True Feelings" will be updated, but since it's my main work right now, it will unfortunately be a while. I would like to shamelessly promote my website, the URL is on my profile page. Please, look it over and perhaps even leave a guestbook entry.
Until the next chapter (of whichever)
