In case anyone was concerned in any way: I'm okay but I'm not fine. I'm sure everyones aware of the added insanity that has followed the pandemic and I wish for everyone's safety and well-being. Please remember that though there is so much pain in the world right now, there is so much love in your heart. Be kind to one another, to your neighbors and strangers as well as yourself.

Sorry for releasing this so late. We will be done shortly.

EIGHTY-EIGHT - Joined with Loved Ones

The Wistal Palace couldn't be more happy about the news.

When the gang returned to the palace, the entire staff had been out at the front, and awaiting their return. The grass area of the space between the front of the palace and the front gates were ornate with adorable lanterns. Several tables of food as well as seating areas were placed by the stars, as the staff began cheering and congratulating as soon as the gang was in sight. Shirayuki and Obi, hand in hand, were almost close to tears again.

"Congratulations, you two!" Garak greeted them first as they made it up the path to the front. She gives Shirayuki a hug before turning to grab another glass of whiskey. "Obi," she gestures, offering him the cup. He gladly takes it and they both have a toast before downing the swig of burning alcohol.

Obi coughed. It was absolutely searing his throat, "is this a new recipe, Miss Garak?" She nods proudly. "It's quite strong…"

"I infused more cinnamon into it," Garak admits, studying the empty glass in her hand, "I've aged it for a while, and I figured now is a better time than ever to finally have a taste." Obi tries to play it off while Shirayuki pats his back worriedly. "Good thing you guys came back pretty early. Prince Zen," Garak beckons.

"Yes?" Zen comes forward.

"Lady Haki has made it to the palace. She's with your-" Without another word, Zen pays everyone farewell before dismissing himself into the palace. He knew he had to ensure Haki's journey was safe, and immediately get her prepared for the next trip over to Izana. The gang laughed as a bit of the staff came over to congratulate Shirayuki and Obi.

It was ever so sweet. The palace was joined together, eating good food and sharing laughs. Zen had even prepared a wedding planner to join them tonight so the new fiances could start planning everything out. Obi never thought he'd ever be in this position but here he was, with his fiance right beside him and talking eagerly to the planner about what she wants in the wedding.

"I want to hold the wedding at the Mountain Lions base," Shirayuki said firmly, "I think it would be amazing if I had both of my worlds together for my special day with my fiance." She squeezes Obis hand while leaning forward against one of the many tables set outside.

The planner scribbles this done with his quill and looks up, "how soon would you like this to happen, Miss?"

"As soon as possible?" Shirayuki says with a nervous voice. Obi and the planner look at Shirayuki, wondering why she was so eager. "I'd really like to be called your wife already, Obi… and I'm really scared for Papa. I don't know if he's truly recovered or his life is still in jeopardy. I'd like for him to see us wedded before he passes, if he does."

Obi agreed. Mukaze was truly the last relative Shirayuki really had, and he would hate for him to pass before he got to see his daughter get married and have kids. Even though he's still optimistic for Mukaze and doubts that he'll pass soon, he doesn't want to risk it either. "Then it's final," Obi says with a nod, "tomorrow, lets get fitted and send a bird over to Mukaze so that he prepares for our arrival and the wedding."

Kiki and Mukaze overhear and join the conversation, with Mitsuhide arriving with a piece of parchment and quill, "let's get this show on the road, shall we?" He hands it to Shirayuki, who takes it gladly. "The tailors are already here, if you'd like to get everything done this instance."

Obi's eyes were wide with shock, "seriously? Already?" Kiki nods before going off to find the tailors. Everything felt like it was being rushed, but Obi knew the wedding was going to be as grand and spontaneous as it would be given more time. All he knew was that he wanted to be married to Shirayuki, and be addressed as her husband. It was truly going to be the greatest feeling he's ever felt in his entire life.

As they sorted the details out some more, Ryu comes over, rubbing his sleepy eyes while his feet barely lifted from the ground with each step. As he does, he quickly apologizes for missing the event and asks Obi what was going on. Obi takes the young boy and seats him right next to him. Ruffling his hair, Ryu looks up and repeats his question.

"Well…" Obi then shows Ryu his left hand and Ryu immediately spots the platinum band on his ring finger. "Do you know what this means?"

"You're… engaged, right?" Ryu croaks, taking Obi's hand to study it closely. It wasn't as extravagant as Shirayuki's, but it was enough to catch attention. "So you've finally proposed to Shirayuki…"

"Yes, I did." Obi gently taps Shirayuki and takes her left hand to show the young boy her own ring. "What do you think? Is the ring okay?"

Ryu studies it, adjusting it with his fingers, "it's a moonlight flower, but in yellow… it's quite interesting." Shirayuki giggles before catching Ryu's hand and squeezing it. "Will the wedding be soon?"

"Very soon actually," Shirayuki hums. That's when Obi also takes the young boy's hand and the couple smile gently at the boy. "We actually have a question for you." The boy looked at both of them, immensely puzzled.

"Even though the wedding is practically set, we're actually missing a ring bearer," Obi admits quietly. He smiles at the boy, giving his hand a squeeze, "we were wondering if you would do us the honor of being our ring bearer."

Ryu was now fully awake and taken by surprise. This request was unheard of, and Ryu didn't really know what to think. "M-me? Are you sure?" Ryu asks hesitantly, "that's a very important role, isn't it?"

"It is," Shirayuki admits with a soft nod, "but that's why we chose you. We want you to take on that important role and do us that honor, if you can." Ryu was stunned by the request, so the two allowed him to give it some thought. She then turns back to Kiki and Mitsuhide, who were at their table and helping the planner. "Kiki, Mitsuhide…"

The two look over at her, wondering what she wanted. Obi smirked at Mitsuhide, "well, I want you to be one of my groomsmen. Since, you know, the best man slot has been taken."

Mitsuhide growls at Obi, "Zen is your best man? Seriously?" Obi waves his hands nervously as Mitsuhide glared at him, obviously fuming. As they did that, Shirayuki looked at Kiki with a soft smile.

Shirayuki takes Kiki's hands in hers and gives them a light squeeze, "I'd like you to be my Maid of Honor, if that's okay?" Shirayuki then blushes a bit, "I know you don't like dresses, but I promise you can pick the color as well as the design."

Kiki smiled in return before accepting, "I very much accept. The tailors from Zen's wedding have actually been hired to return and prepare for your wedding. So they already have all of our sizes recorded…" Kiki then glances at Ryu, "except for young Ryu, of course."

Ryu looks nervous before the tailors come over and begin to escort him into the castle where there was better lighting to start his sizing. The atmosphere was so joyful and full of excitement. Everything was falling into place, and Obi and Shirayuki were finally going to tie the knot. The two have gone a long way, and Obi was glad he was there when Shirayuki was beat up and down. She needed solace, a hopeful light in the daunting darkness that she felt would never dissolve.

And honestly, this way felt right. Being with Obi felt so very right.

"...and I was prepared to have that scum-of-earth hanged if it weren't for Zen," Haruto begins with a harsh tone. "She would have been nothing but a body if-"

"Mother." Haruto quickly halts her vicious words and suddenly turns to see her youngest son at the doorway of the dining hall. Zen walks in and immediately spots Haki, and walks over to her. The beautiful blond woman with ocean eyes watched as the young boy stood before her and took her hand to bestow it a gentle kiss. "It's nice to see you again, Lady Haki."

"And you, little Zen," Haki says, her voice as calm as a summer's day, "look at you; you've become a fine young man. You look so much like your father." Zen thanks her before joining them at the table. They had already eaten, seeing as there were empty plates and cups before them. "I was just listening to Miss Haruto tell me about your horrid encounter with the Knight family."

"I apologize for interrupting," Zen jokes, looking over at his mother, "please, resume." He insisted, urging her with his hand.

Haruto bats him away, "oh hush! I was just telling Haki what a disgrace that family was, and how awful of a queen Sophia was." Haki and Zen share a laugh before Haruto leans in and stares at her son curiously. "So what's been happening, Zen? We've been short on staff tonight, have you laid many of them off without consulting me?"

Zen chuckles at her rash conclusion, "no, no! I was helping Obi propose to Shirayuki."

Haruto raised her brows in pleasant surprise, "a proposal? Are they officially engaged?" Zen nods. "How wonderful!" Haruto claps her hands together in joy, "is the wedding soon? Do they need any help? We can help fund whatever they need."

"I was already a step ahead of you, mother," Zen informs. "We've hired the tailors and chefs again for their wedding, and have made a prompt trip over to the palace. I'm not sure how soon they want it to be, but the wedding planner is outside with the rest of our staff, my aides, and the happy couple."

"That's wonderful!" She pushes away her plate and puts her hands down against the table, "I like that Obi. He's a great man, and I'm glad he's a part of our kingdom. I'm so happy for them."

"I do have a plus-one, seeing as I'm the best man," Zen announces, "so, if you'd like to go to the wedding-"

"YOU'RE THE BEST MAN?" Haruto exclaims. Zen and Haki both jump in their seats, watching as Haruto rushes over to Zen and takes a seat beside him. She takes his hands into hers and puts on a more serious face and tone. "Are you sure you're able to do that? Considering…"

Zen squeezes his mother's hands and smiles widely, no spec of sadness in his expression. He nods a bit, "I think it'll always hurt, no matter what. It is the one regret that might just haunt me forever." He then reveals a toothy grin, "but she's with the person she's supposed to be, and I'm more than glad it's Obi than any other man. He's the most honorable and valiant man I've ever met, and I wouldn't trade him for the world… even if that rapscallion is always being a pest."

"Oh!" Haruto's voice gush with pride and joy as she pulls her youngest child into her embrace. "I'm so proud of the man that you've become, Zen… it was no wonder that your father wanted you to take his place as King…"

Those words held quite the sentiment for Zen. For a long time, even if he didn't look like it, he has always missed his father. He constantly wished that his father didn't die so early, and that he was still around to keep the family together. Since his death, Haruto became inactive in their lives as soon as Izana and Zen were old enough to take care of themselves. Kain's death did more damage than the kingdom actually realizes, as the remaining Wistarias hid it so well.

But it did mean a lot that Haruto saw so much of his father in him. It felt like Zen was much closer to his father, with these new revelations about the way they bonded.

Before Zen could respond or react, the doors of the dining room opened and in came his aides, his personal knight, and his red-haired court herbalist. With the aides lagging back, Obi and Shirayuki quickly make their way to Zen, Shirayuki's face much more stern than Obi's. He wasn't sure if she was mad or not but quickly let go of Haruto to brace himself. But to his surprise, Shirayuki actually ended up jumping into him and wrapping her arms around him.

"Sh-Shirayuki-!"

He could hear here sniffling in his ear, her feet off the ground, "thank you for everything… thank you, thank you!" Zen glances over at Obi, hesitant as he kept his arms in the air. But Obi gave him a reassuring nod as he gently returned the embrace (though he made sure his hands were much higher against her back). "Everything going on outside is beautiful, and I couldn't have asked for any better people around me than you all."

She lets him go quickly and wipes away her tears as Obi takes Zen's hand and holds it. They look like they were going to arm wrestle, but rather, Obi just held their hands up in the air and gave Zen's hand an appreciative squeeze, "thank you, Master, for helping me set this all up… I truly will never be able to repay you for changing my life forever."

Zen chuckles before squeezing Obi's hand much harder, "as long as you treat Shirayuki right, and continue working for me. I don't plan on having a new personal knight anytime soon, so you're sort've stuck with it." Of course, Zen was joking but Obi took that to heart. He wasn't planning on quitting his job under Zen's command, seeing as it truly was the best job he could've ever found for himself.

As the two men snickered at each other, Shirayuki looked over at Haruto and Haki and quickly flushed red. "Y-Your Highness! A-and Lady…" She quickly bows, embarrassed at the fact that she barged in without realizing. "M'so sorry we interrupted your dinner!"

Haruto walks up to the girl and beckons her up, giggling as she looks down warmly at the young red-haired herbalist. "You're too precious, girl," Haruto begins with a small smile, "don't worry about a single thing! Haki and I were just about to join you all outside- seeing as you all were having much more fun than we were in here. But we didn't know if we were invited."

Shirayuki went pale, "th-this is your palace, Your High-"

"Oi," Haruto interrupts her, tapping on her chin, "it's Miss Haruto to you." Shirayuki nods, mentally apologizing for her mistake as she looks over at Obi. "This may be my castle, but that pre-wedding party was set up for you two. Especially seeing how much you two have contributed to our kingdom and family." She winks at Obi, still very grateful for the way he protected her dear Zen. "I hear the weddings being planned at your father's tribe."

Obi nods, "we've just sent a bird over to warn him of our arrival. He'll get everything prepared, we're sure, while we bring everything else." Haruto nodded, content for the update. "We hope you as well can make it, Miss Haruto. I was telling Master earlier that he could bring a plus one."

Haruto nodded, "he informed me. I'd love to attend, but someone has to be in the castle." Zen smiled sadly, flashing an apologetic expression to his mother. But Haruto quickly waves at him, smiling widely, "don't worry, I don't mind one bit. You must do what you need to for your friends. And truly, it's about time I get over this allergy." She looks around wistfully at the dining room, smiling warmly at the memories she made here with her last husband. "I'd like to come back around to Wistal for a little while."

Zen looks over, shocked, "y-you're staying for a bit?"

Haruto giggles, "I'd like to. I missed this Palace, and the kingdom. It's always been beautiful, and Wilant has been very cold lately." She shivers for emphasis. "And how else do you expect to be King without a proper coronation by the Queen herself?" Zen looks up, his face pleasantly surprised. "You will be King after all, no?"

Zen's heart raced, forgetting that he wholeheartedly agreed to take on the role as King of Clarines. He blushes a bit, flushed by the idea and chuckled, "that's right… I almost forgot about that."

"Almost forgot!?" Haruto begins to scold her son playfully, with laughter coming from everyone else. Zen waves her away as she grins over and holds his shoulder. "I'm very proud of you, and the people you've chosen to surround yourself with." She looks over at Mitsuhide specifically and giggles. "Mitsuhide especially. You've been here longer than most."

Mitsuhide shrugs, "what can I say? Keeping Zen out of trouble is my specialty." Zen glares at Mitsuhide, who quickly raises his arms up. "I wouldn't change a single thing."

"Anyways, I should get back to my chat with dear Haki," Haruto moves out of the way to introduce. "This is Izana's fiance." Shirayuki and Obi jumped with shock, while Mitsuhide and Kiki stood unphased.

Haki was destined to be part of the Wistaria family. Beautiful blonde hair, gold lockes neatly twisted into braids while still touching her gentle shoulders. And her eyes, blue as raw, uncut tanzanite. She was a lovely sight, so well composed and lady-like, with the most welcoming smile and warm gaze. She was everything that Izana wasn't, and for that, Shirayuki could understand why they worked so well.

It was still just very strange to take in.

She gives them a kind wave, and smiles, "Izana has written much about you two." Shirayuki and Obi look at each other curiously. She then points to Shirayuki and smiles wider, "he's quite fond of you." The redhead takes the compliment, more pleasantly surprised at the fact Izana more than tolerates her.

Taking her silence as gratitude, Haruto then waves them farewell before returning to the table with Haki, asking her if she was ready to see Izana again. As for Zen, he looks back to see Obi right in front of his face, "Obi."

"You should start resting soon, Master," Obi insists, "we have quite the few days ahead of us. I want everyone to be as ready and excited as we are." Shirayuki comes over and slides her hand into Obi's. She then also grabs Zen's hand and gives it a squeeze.

Mitsuhide and Kiki come close behind, with Mitsuhide's hands on Obi's shoulders while Kiki went beside Zen and nudged him a bit. "I think we're all pretty excited for your wedding," Kiki says quietly, "considering the one we were preparing for got cancelled."

"And rightfully so," Mitsuhide adds.

Zen nods, grinning happily. It was the warmest feeling in the world; the best of friends you could ever have surrounding you with loving smiles. It was at that point that everything that had happened, happened for a reason. But even through it all, these 4 individuals stand before him, helping him grow while also spending the most cherished moments. What more could a Prince ask for?