1Okay, this chapter, as you will discover is a while after the battle. I just wanted everyone to know how things turned out for everyone. The group has been separated for a while and they are getting together for a special reason. I checked out what everyone's opinion and it seems that the popular vote was to have this be the ending. Sorry for those who wanted it to be a one shot, I hope I don't make you upset. Anyway, please read the Storm stories that will come out sometime in the near future. I don't really know when exactly though. Thank you so much to everyone who has been reading, hopefully there will be more Storm in the near future. Thank you thank you thank you...I can't do this enough. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone from TOS, but I do own Storm (she's mine I tell you!) Also, the excerpt in this chapter is called I Love You by Roy Croft (I don't own that). The excerpt isn't being said by anyone, but it's in italics.
Chapter 23: Truly Happy
Kratos was so nervous, he was about to walk down the aisle at his daughter's wedding. He was probably more nervous than Zelos or Storm were. Who ever thought such a powerful seraph could feel fear at something as simple as a wedding. But, it was more than just a wedding for Kratos, it was the moment when he would give his daughter to another man. Was it the right choice, would she truly be happy with Zelos? He really hoped that it would work out for her.
Suddenly, he heard the door open and Storm stepped out. She looked so beautiful to Kratos at that moment. She was wearing a rather simple, yet elegant looking dress. It was not huge, but looked stunning on her. She was wearing her hair in an elaborate bun and was showing off a dazzling smile. She walked over to her father who gazed at her proudly.
"Are you okay Dad?" she asked him as she smiled at him, patting his hand reassuringly.
"Yeah. Storm...you look so beautiful. You look like your mother," he said.
"I thought I looked like you," she said.
"I guess, but I see your mother in you," he replied.
"Well, thank you. You look pretty good too," she said flashing that large smile again.
They were all congregated at the Church of Martel in Meltokio. Sheena and Lloyd were ready to walk into the church. Storm and Zelos had two children from Heimdall come to the wedding. One would be the ring bearer, the other the flower girl. Lloyd was the Best Man and Sheena was the Maid of Honor. Raine, Genis, Regal, Presea, and Colette were all seated already waiting for the wedding to start.
"Ready?" Lloyd asked Sheena.
"You bet," she replied.
The two locked arms and walked down the aisle, soon followed by the young ring bearer. The flower girl followed soon after, throwing pink petals all over the floor. Zelos stood at the alter with a look of nervousness on his face.
Suddenly, the music changed and everyone in the church rose to watch as the bride entered. Kratos and Storm walked down the aisle together. Zelos' eyes brighten up when he saw how gorgeous Storm looked. He felt a rush of complete joy rush through his heart as he saw Storm walk down the aisle. Storm looked at the people in the crowd and saw many familiar faces. She saw many people from Heimdall, including the elder. She saw Yuan and a few of his leading officers. Almost the entire village of Mizuho was present at the ceremony as well as a large portion of Meltokio. Dirk and most of the people from Iselia had arrived to watch the young couple as well. Strangely enough, the King of Tethealla, as well as the Princess were present after hearing of Storm and Zelos' bravery to defend Symphonia.
When the two reached the end of the aisle, Kratos gave Storm over to Zelos, but before he did he managed to give her one more hug.
"I'm so proud of you Storm," he said.
"Thank you Dad. Now, I can be truly happy," she replied as he released her from his grip and let her walk over by Zelos. Kratos took his seat with the others as they watched the ceremony.
I love you, not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you. I love you, not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me.
"I, Zelos Wilder, take you, Storm Aurion, to be my wedded wife. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish 'till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness," Zelos said to Storm.( A/N: Actual wedding vows! I checked!)
I love you, for the part of me that you bring out. I love you, for putting your hand into my heaped-up heart, and passing over all the foolish, weak things that you can't help dimly seeing there, and for drawing out, into the light, all the beautiful belongings that no one else had looked quite far enough to find.
"I, Storm Aurion, take you, Zelos Wilder, to be my wedded husband. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish 'till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness," Storm said to Zelos.
Soon, it was time for the two to exchange their wedding rings. Zelos took the rings from the ring bearer and gave one to Storm.
I love you, because you are helping me to make out of the lumber of my life, not a tavern, but a temple. Out of the works of my everyday, not a reproach, but a song.
Storm took her ring and said to Zelos, "Love has given us wings, and our journey begins today, Zelos Wilder, wherever the wind may carry me, I will stay by your side as your wife, take this ring as a sign of my love," and gently she placed the ring onto his finger.
I love you, because you have done more than any creed could have done to make me good, and more than any fate could have done to make me happy.
Zelos took the ring that he was holding and looking deeply into her eyes said, "Love has given us wings, and our journey begins today, Storm Aurion, wherever the wind may carry me, I will stay by your side as your husband, take this ring as a sign of my love," and he placed the ring onto her finger.
"With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride," the priest said. Zelos looked over at Storm, who was trying to hold back tears. The feelings that they both had at that moment were undescribable. The utter bliss that consumed them, to be man and wife, to be together for the rest of their lives, it was hard to hold in.
You have done it without a touch, without a word, without a sign. You have done it by being yourself. Perhaps that is what being a friend means, after all.
"My pleasure," Zelos said as he kissed Storm on the lips as she wrapped her arms around him.
"I'm proud to be the first to acknowledge these two as Mr. and Mrs. Zelos Wilder," the priest finished as Storm and Zelos exited the room.
Lloyd was happy for his sister, he looked over at his father and noticed a single tear escape from his eyes as he watched Storm and Zelos leave the alter. He looked over at Sheena and she looked back at him.
"I think that she's finally happy," Lloyd said to Sheena.
"I think that they're both finally happy," she replied.
Storm and Zelos spent the rest of their night with their friends and family at the reception, as they talked about their adventures, and more importantly about their future. Storm had never experienced this kind of joy in her life and leaned over and placed her head on Zelos' shoulder while holding onto his hand. He looked down at her and gently kissed her on the forehead.
Yuan and the elven elder came over and disrupted the moment with some important information.
"Storm, now that you have defeated Pronyma you are now the ruler of Derris Kharlan and all of the angels who reside there," he said.
"But, if I go there, I can't be with my family," she said sadly.
"She doesn't have to go does she?" Lloyd asked.
"I'm not sure what else we can do," the elder said.
Storm looked sadly at Zelos and then looked at Yuan. "Hey Yuan, would you like to take care of Derris Kharlan for me. You're better at being a leader than I am anyway. You could set up another Renegade base there," Storm suggested.
"Well, I suppose I could send some Renegades there and I could occasionally visit," Yuan said hesitantly.
"Just make sure that nothing bad happens to them up there, that's all I ask," she said.
Yuan looked at Storm and saw how happy she finally was and responded, "I can take care of it for you."
"Thank you so much Uncle Yuan!" Storm shouted as she threw herself around him in a large hug.
"No problem," Yuan said as Storm let go of him and walked back over to Zelos.
Before the night was over, Storm walked over to her father. Kratos looked at his daughter, still in her wedding dress. Storm gave her father a large hug and whispered in his ear, "Thank you Daddy. This never would have happened if it wasn't for you. I love you."
To hear something like that made Kratos' heart fly. It made him feel as if every wrong decision he felt he had made in his life, had somehow ended up with a happy ending. There was hope for the future. A slow song started up and Storm and her father enjoyed a dance together, as father and daughter.
Well, that's it from me. I saw that poem and some of those vows and just had to use them. Sorry if the whole thing was kind of corny. I hope you did like it. I thought that the excerpt described almost exactly how Storm and Zelos bring out the best in one another. I thought that it was cute. Thanks and I hope that you liked it. Please, I hope it wasn't horrible.