Disney's World Of Adventures: Princess Alliance
Chapter 06 – At Long Last, True Love Arrives
The next day arrived, and with it, the wedding. What was once planned as the union between Princess Marianna of Hermosa Vista and Prince Gruber of the Southern Isles would now be a union between the Princess and her faithful lady-in-waiting, Susanna.
Both ladies awoke early that morning to prepare for their big day. Maria wore a wedding gown, pure white as the freshly fallen snow—the same dress her mother, the late queen, once wore on her wedding day. Susan, meanwhile, wore a violet gown that she would have worn as the Maid of Honor, but which she now wore as the other bride.
When the hour of the wedding arrived later that afternoon, both ladies marched down the aisle to glorious fanfare. Both stood before the altar facing each other as the bishop officiated their wedding. Both exchanged their vows and said their "I do's", and both embraced each other in their first kiss as lawfully-wedded wives. They had marched down the aisle as friends, and marched once more as a married couple.
The wedding ceremony had been hosted in the palace's sanctuary, and the following reception was hosted in the grand ballroom. There Maria and Susan were formally introduced as they made their grand entrance. They shared their first bite of cake, their first sip of sangria, and their first dance as a married couple. Maria tossed her bouquet, and Susan tossed the garter belt. Both celebrated with food, dancing, and overall merriment. They cavorted with their fellow guests, including their new friends, and continued the festivities well into the evening.
As the sun began to set, both Maria and Susan retreated to the balcony for some quality alone time as a couple. The orange sun dipped into the ocean, appearing to melt within the water, and the sky shifted from tangerine to indigo as the stars faintly appeared. Both ladies held each other's hand as they watched the dusk transform into the evening before them.
"Funny," Maria said. "Only a few days ago we were watching the sunset as friends. Now here we are staring at the night sky of our wedding night. I always assumed I would be married one day. I just never thought it would be so soon, or that you'd be the person I married."
Susan chuckled. "I never even thought I would ever get married; but now that I am, I'm glad the person I married was you."
Maria blushed redder than a maraschino cherry. She could only giggle in response, though her smile soon became a frown.
"What's the matter?" Susan asked her frowning wife.
"Oh, nothing," Maria replied, her frown returning to a smile, or rather, half-smile. "It's just that—"
"Hey, there you two are!" a voice called from behind them.
The two married ladies turned to see Rapunzel approaching them. She waved at them as she stepped onto the balcony. She was joined by Eugene, who carried a plate of wedding cake and taking several bites of it, along with Aurora and Phillip.
"We wanted to congratulate the two brides on their wedding day," Rapunzel said, hands clasped together as her cheeks blushed rosy pink.
"And to commend them on the wedding cake," Eugene stuffed his mouth with another forkful. "Mmm. Now that is melt in your mouth scrumptious. I'm tasting almond in the cake with lemon in the frosting. And a hint of sherry, I'm assuming?"
Susan smiled as she nodded. "Family recipe."
Maria stepped toward the two other princesses. "Rapunzel. Aurora. I want to thank you both for standing up for me. If it hadn't been for you, I wouldn't be here today married to my true love."
Susan pulled Maria close to her and nuzzled her chin against her wife's pink hair. Maria sank into the softness of Susan's embrace and rested her head against her shoulder.
"You're more than welcome," Rapunzel replied. "You know, fighting a dragon can be quite daunting. But standing up for true love? That's a battle worth fighting."
"Indeed," Aurora added. "As someone who had to choose between marrying her betrothed or being with her true love, I know it's something worth fighting for. I was simply lucky that my true loved and betrothed were the same."
Phillip wrapped an arm around Aurora's waist and pulled her close to him, allowing her to rest her head upon his shoulder.
"You both stood your ground, and now you both get to enjoy your happily ever after," he said.
Maria blushed, then curtseyed to the others. "Thank you all for everything you've done. You allowed Susan and me to enjoy our happily ever after. But—"
"But what?" Rapunzel asked.
Maria turned away and leaned upon the balcony railing, gazing over the scenic view below. "I don't want this to be my happily ever after. Like, I love being able to marry my true love, but I don't want this to be the end of my story. There's so much I want to do with my life, so much I want to achieve."
The others approached the railing and leaned against it, sharing the view with Maria.
"Don't think of it as an ending," Phillip replied. "Think of it as a new beginning. After all, the ending of one story is the start of another."
"Yes," Aurora said. "It's the beginning of a new chapter, and you have a new companion to join you on your new journey."
"Actually," Rapunzel said. "You have several new companions. We're your new friends, and you can always call on us if you need help. And you're always free to visit our kingdoms if you like. You'll love Corona, especially on my birthday. That's when they fly the lanterns into the night sky."
"Yeah, it's quite a view," Eugene said. "Actually, this view, right here, this is a nice view too."
Maria smiled and turned to him. "You can see why they call it Hermosa Vista—Beautiful View!"
Eugene positioned his fingers into a frame and looked through them. "Oh yeah, I can get used to a view like this. Hold on. Yup. I'm used to it."
Maria clung to Susan as they shared the view with the others.
"Well, you're always welcome to drop by Hermosa Vista to enjoy the Hermosa Vista," she said. "Looking out over the scenery tonight, with the lovely weather, I can just tell that this is the start of something new and beautiful."
"Your majesty!"
Maria noticed a royal servant step onto the balcony. "Yes?"
The servant fell onto one knee and bowed suppliantly. "A very important guest has arrived. He's requested an audience with you."
Maria motioned for the servant to stand. "Very well, then. You may fetch him."
"No need," a voice spoke from the shadows. "I'm already here."
Maria and the others turned to the far edge of the balcony cast in shadow. From out of the darkness stepped an elderly gentleman. He was dressed in a long, flowing blue robe with a matching pointy blue hat. His hair was white, as was his beard which stretched down to his feet.
He took a bow, then adjusted his glasses as he stood up straight again.
"Your majesties! I humbly make your acquaintance, and commend both Princess Maria and Susan on their wedding day."
Maria and Susan shot a glance at one another before gazing back at the old man standing before them.
"Thank you very much," Maria replied. "But I don't believe we ever met."
"Yes," Susan added with a raised eyebrow. "Who are you, exactly?"
"Forgive me," the old man bowed once more. "Where are my manners? Allow me to properly introduce myself."
He pressed his hand against his chest as he stood once more. "I am the great wizard, Merlin."
"Wait," Eugene asked, eyebrow raised, finger pointing at the man. "Merlin? As in the Merlin? As in King Arthur? Camelot? Sword in the Stone?"
"One and the same," Merlin replied.
"Wow!" Rapunzel exclaimed. "Such an honor to meet you. And what, exactly, brings a wizard like yourself here?"
"Why, to congratulate both Princess Maria and Susan on their glorious wedding day," Merlin replied. "And to commend you, princesses, for your victory against a great evil. Unfortunately, I'm afraid it is not the only evil."
This news shocked the six friends.
"Whatever do you mean?" Phillip asked. "Is there another evil to come?"
"Yes," Merlin nodded. "An evil much greater than Bruja Dama. And you will need the help of many others to defeat it."
"What others?" Aurora asked.
"My dear," Merlin said with a twinkle in his eye, "you don't think you're the only princesses in the world?"
The three princesses looked at each other before looking back at the wizard.
"Of course not," Maria replied. "There are many other princesses in many other kingdoms."
"Correct," Merlin said. "Princess, you have become a part of a whole new world, and you simply do not know it yet."
Susan raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"I'm here to talk about the Princess Alliance," From his sleeve, Merlin pulled forth a wand. "We have much to discuss and so little time. Come with me and I'll explain more."
Before anyone else could say anything, let alone blink, Merlin had waved his wand over his head, and they all had disappeared in a twinkle.
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