The morning sun had kissed her awake. Slivers of light peeped through the drawn blinds, casting thin golden stripes across her angelic face. She opened her eyes and slowly, drowsily and lopped-sidedly, she smiled.
Today's the day. The day she had been waiting for so long. The day she could finally marry the love of her life.
She pulled herself right out of bed and walked over to her vanity in the corner of the room. A rose sat in front of the mirror - thornless and a deep shade of red. It was still fresh, its petals damp beneath her fingertips. She gently brought it up to her nose, inhaling its scent. A small piece of paper was tucked between two of its petals. She took it out and examined it closely. She scoffed as she read the words written on it.
'This rose is for you. Not Beautifly.'
May placed the rose back onto her vanity. She glanced at a framed photo, brushing her fingers gently on it. It was a photo of her holding a ribbon cup. Her ribbon cup. Drew was standing next to her, his hand around her waist. A gentle smile graced her lips. Every single detail of that day was vivid. It was one of the happiest moments in her life. She had finally achieved her dream of being a Top Coordinator and she had the one person she loved the most, right beside her. The person who had been there for her from the start. The person who inspired her to always do her best.
Her smile grew wider.
The same person who she'll be spending the rest of her life with as of today.
Streams of sunlight fell through the thick wall of trees, filling up every space between the leaves with warm, sugary light. The rays tumbled down strands of grass, which gleamed with remains of the morning dew. The sky had ripened from a fresh orange color into a pale blue. Wisps of white clouds stood unmoving. They were so thin, they appeared to be stray brush marks on blue canvas. What a wonderful day it was for an outdoor wedding – warm, but not terribly so. A pleasant breeze rustled in the surrounding shrubs, cooling the guests as they took their seats on either side of the walk leading to the gazebo. Sweet strains of classical music drifted through the air, as they waited for the beginning of the ceremony.
May and Drew had decided to have their wedding in the garden behind her house. They wanted it to be a private and intimate one – having only invited their family and close friends.
"Where is she?" A bespectacled boy groaned, folding his arms. "This is so May. Always late. Even on her own wedding day!"
"Be patient, Max. Your sister's got to look her best on her big day. And that takes a lot of time," Norman told him firmly.
Caroline chuckled and placed her hand on Norman's shoulders. "I'll go check on her. Think you can keep everything under control here?"
He nodded.
Caroline walked into the house and approached her daughter's room. She gave a light knock on the door, turning the handle and carefully slipped through the door. May was sitting at her vanity, already in her wedding ballgown as she stared intently at the engagement ring on her finger, twirling the rose in her other hand. Her makeup was simple and natural, yet it still enhanced her facial features - florid cheeks and flawlessly sculpted lips, as if crafted by angels themselves. She wore her warm, brown hair in a chic, 'half-up half-down hairstyle', the soft curls bouncing past her shoulders. Alluringly, she would blink her eyes from time to time, allowing her eyelashes to flutter like the wings of a butterfly. Her eyes were simply spellbinding. They were a glimmering colour of sapphire, lovely yet gentle.
Caroline smiled at her, wiping a tear that trickled down her cheek. "Oh, honey. You look so beautiful."
"Thanks, Mom!" May squealed as she hugged her mother tightly.
Caroline noticed the rose in her hand. "Drew told me to give that rose to you. I placed it on your vanity late last night when you were already asleep. I thought it would make you smile when you wake up in the morning."
"It did," she replied, slowly pulling away. She promptly set the rose back onto the vanity, propping it against the framed photo. "I still remember the first rose he ever gave me. It's crazy to think that so many things have happened since then."
"How are you feeling, dear?" Caroline asked.
"I can't believe it's today," May breathed, giving her mother a faint smile. "I'm so nervous. What if I fall down while walking down the aisle? What if I step on Drew's foot while we dance? What if -"
"May sweetie, calm down. You'll be alright." Caroline chuckled. She held her daughter's hands. "Tell me. Do you love him? Do you love Drew?"
"Of course, Mom! I love him a lot. He makes me so happy."
"Then, there's nothing to worry! It's completely normal for a bride to feel nervous on her big day. I was like you too when I was going to marry your father. Believe me," Caroline reassured, giving her hand a tight squeeze. "Today's your day. Both you and Drew. And we're all happy for you, honey. We love you so much."
Her eyes started to glimmer with watery tears.
"Oh no! You better not cry and ruin your makeup." piped Caroline.
May laughed as she gently dabbed it with a tissue.
Caroline gestured towards the door. "Shall we? You don't want to keep everyone waiting."
May nodded, and she carefully followed her mother downstairs. They headed outside where Norman and Max were waiting.
"About time," Max grumbled, rolling his eyes.
Norman shot him a look before turning to smile at his daughter. "You look really beautiful, princess."
May grinned. "Thanks, Dad."
"Alright, Max and I will be going to our seats now," Caroline said as she gently kissed May's cheek. "Good luck, sweetie."
May watched as Max and Caroline walked through the archway and towards the front. Her hands shivered slightly as she held the bouquet.
"Are you ready, May?" Norman asked, extending his hand to her.
May turned to face him. She inhaled deeply and nodded. She took his hand and allowed her father to lead her through the archway.
The classical music stopped instantly, and all heads turned to face the far end of the walk. The opening to the bridal chorus started to play. Down the aisle she walked with Norman holding her left arm. She smiled nervously as all eyes shifted to her. There were so many familiar faces she could spot in the crowd. She could probably name all of them, but her attention was fixed on the man standing at the gazebo at the end of the aisle. The moment their eyes met, he gaped as he took in her appearance.
A gentle flush of pink seared through her cheeks.
There was something about the way he smiled, the way butterflies seemed to escape from the pit of his stomach and the way the sun had somehow toppled down from the sky and made a home right there in his heart. He wore a black, single-breasted, satin tuxedo with a white-wing collar shirt. He looked really handsome. Even from afar, she could see the green tendrils that circled his pupils, filling up his irises with every wonder of life that intoxicated her with their depth.
After what seemed like hours, she finally reached him, and Norman hugged her.
"I'm proud of you," he said softly, and then presented her to Drew.
He accepted her hand from Norman, holding it tight. Before Norman walked away, he patted Drew on the shoulder and gave him a confident smile. That was his way of welcoming him into the family.
Drew leaned in towards her and whispered, "You look perfect."
She could feel the heat growing in her cheeks. By now, they must be beyond an attractive rosiness.
"We are gathered here today to witness one of life's greatest moments. To which we shall witness the marriage of Drew Hayden and May Maple. These are the hands of your best friend, holding yours as you promise to love each other all the days of your life. These are the hands that will comfort you in illness and trials and share the joy and happiness of life together. May you always hold each other and give strength to each other, to hold onto the storms and difficulties of life," the mayor of Petalburg announced. He glanced over to Drew, signalling an okay to begin his vow.
Drew nodded.
He took a deep breath and cleared his throat.
"I'm not someone who gets nervous easily. But last night, I couldn't sleep. Not because I was scared, but because I was so excited to marry the love of my life. You are the most loving and understanding person I've ever met. And every time I look at you, you get more and more beautiful. The most important thing to me is to see you happy. Even if it means spending hours watching you shop at the mall. Or get dragged to every single food place just to satisfy your cravings and huge appetite."
He paused, laughing a little. "I can't wait to spend every single day with you. I can't wait to grow old with you. I promise to care for you. I promise to always be here for you and support you no matter what life brings us, because I know we're stronger and better together. Through the good days. And even the difficult days, because difficult days are so much easier when you know you've got someone there for you. And I'll always be here for you."
He smiled at her, as tears slowly rolled down his cheeks. She gave his hand a slight squeeze, giving him a boost of confidence. He smiled, thanking her and wiping the tears away.
"I shouldn't make these promises. But I do know there's one promise I'll always keep. And that is to always love you no matter what. You are the most important person to me. You deserve the world. But since I cannot give that to you, I will give you the next best thing, which is my world. Only you can make all this world seem right. Only you can make the darkness bright. Only you and you alone can thrill me like you do. And fill my heart with love for only you."
He finished by planting a light kiss on her hand. The whole time, his eyes never left the woman standing in front of him.
She returned his smile and took the microphone from him, placing it in front of her lips.
She looked into his eyes again and took a deep breath. "I wasn't looking for anything at all when I first met you fifteen years ago. I wasn't planning to fall for anyone so soon. Then, I found myself slowly wanting to spend time with you. And I think that's how the best relationships begin. You're not looking for anything and then suddenly you realise, you have everything. And I have you. I turned out liking you a lot more than I originally planned. And every time I see you, I fall in love with you all over again."
As much as she tried to hold it in, the beads of water started falling down one after another, without a sign of stopping. Her lips trembled, as she tried to continue. Drew stroked his thumbs gingerly over her knuckles.
"Thank you for loving me through everything. You have seen me at my worst and my best. Every day, I am grateful that I have you in my life, because so many things could have kept us from meeting each other. From being together. What if I decided not to become a Pokémon coordinator? What if I didn't travel to Johto back then? So many things could have happened to keep us from existing together. And that is why I will forever be grateful that somehow, we ended up together. That somehow, in this infinite universe, we found each other. And I will always be grateful for that. I will always be grateful for you. And if the end is us together, I'd go through everything again. With you," she continued.
She blinked, and the tears burst forth like water from a dam and made wet tracks down her face. She slowly wiped it away, mumbling a quick sorry into the microphone. Drew smiled, pulling her into a hug and stroked her back gently.
They pulled away moments later and proceeded to exchange their wedding rings.
"I pronounce you, man and wife," the mayor announced. He turned to Drew. "You may now kiss the bride."
With that, Drew angled his head to the side and pulled her closer. He cupped her cheeks gently as his forehead touched hers. He stared deeply into her eyes before leaning down to kiss her. As they broke apart, her lips curved up into a smile and he couldn't help but smile back, their foreheads never left each other. They turned around slowly and walked back down the aisle, arms linked together with identical smiles on their faces. Everyone rose to their feet and exploded into cheers, clapping for the pair.
And from that moment, they were finally one.
The wedding reception was held in the Petalburg Gym, which May's father was not exactly thrilled about. The thought of his Gym be turned into a dance hall wasn't exactly music to his ears. But after much persuasion from his daughter, he gave in.
The place was dimly lit, elegant in a minimalist sort of way, yet still echoed the natural world outside. Several mahogany tables were scattered all over the place. Tall, silver candelabras commanded attention from the centre of each table, holding smooth white candles whose wax never dripped. Down the centre of the tables were runners with Celtic design woven in gold and beautifully folded napkins to match it. The polished silver cutlery shone brightly in the early evening light and the rim of tall wine glasses were perfect band of black and white, as if a fragment of starlit sky raced around it.
The place buzzed with excited chatter with soft jazz music just audible as background noise, filling the air without effort, like the waves filling holes in beach sand. Some guests were still eating while others continue in chatter.
Then there was the scraping of chairs as the guests got up, applause spread across the room as the bride and groom entered, holding hands. They slowly made their way to the front, happiness radiated from them.
The applause died down, with everyone's eyes focused on the newlyweds. May and Drew took their places and took a step forward and bowed. They circled each other, gaze remained locked as they followed the soft flow of the music. Drew placed his hand on her hips while her hands were wrapped around his neck. Together, they danced to the music, their feet in perfect sync. As the song progressed, May felt relaxed, and allowed a small smile to form on her lips. The warmth between them grew more powerful by the second and their heartbeat grew steadily along with it. The dance was perfect, everything from their breathing to how their feet moved stayed in sync. If, by the end of this dance their breaths were taken away, they would know the exact reason why.
Drew guided her across the dance floor as if they were in a dream. He kept his eyes on her, yet still, he knew exactly where to take her. Every moment, every angle seemed to be planned in advanced. Nothing felt forced. And then he gave her a smile that just seemed so genuinely sweet with just the right touch of shyness, that unexpected warmth rushed through her.
"You're in a good mood," May whispered.
He chuckled softly. "And you're beautiful."
He leaned down slowly and kissed her. Their breaths mingled as they parted, pressing their foreheads together. May let out a blissful sigh and they swayed along to the music.
"So, do you like my dress?" she asked him.
Drew smirked at her. "I'm going to like it a lot more later, when you take it off."
"D-Drew!" she squeaked.
He chuckled, brushing his nose gently against hers. "The dress is perfect, May. I love it. And I love you."
She smiled. "I love you too, Drew."
Her eyes fell closed. Before he could say anything else, she pushed herself onto him and kissed him again. The music stopped just as they slowly broke apart. The crowd exploded into loud cheers and clapped for the two, who bowed down to everyone. The couple walked over to their assigned table and sat down, as Norman took their place at the front and brought a microphone to his mouth.
"Hello everyone. For those who don't know me, I am Norman, the Gym Leader of Petalburg City and also the father of this beautiful and radiant bride. On behalf of Drew and May and my family, I would like to start by welcoming you all and to thank you for coming here to celebrate this very special, happy occasion," he addressed everyone.
The crowd responded with a wave and quick hello, prompting him to continue.
"I hope you have all been having a good day so far, and that you enjoyed the food and drinks. It really is great to see so many friends and family here. I know it means a lot to Drew and May that you're here with them today."
He turned to May. "Every wedding is special, of course. But to see your daughter get married is something else. May, our walk down the aisle this afternoon is a memory I shall cherish. You looked absolutely beautiful in your wedding dress. As Dads, we get used to the idea that we are the man who provides love, comfort, protection and advice to our daughters. But today, it is time to hand her to another man to provide her with that same love and protection. Though I am confident that I am handing her over to someone who will do a great job, and who will always have my daughter's best interests in his heart. To be honest, no father can really ask for more than that. I want her to know that I will always be around for her, no matter what."
His eyes shifted to Drew. "I do want to take the opportunity to welcome Drew properly into our family. Caroline and I are very happy to do so, and know how much May loves him, so that makes him a special person in our eyes. During the time we have known Drew, we have come to realise how special he is to May, and how much of a kind, caring, pleasant and genuine nice man he is, and what a great son in law he will be. We honestly believe May could not have met a better man to spend the rest of her life with and we're glad and proud to have him as our son in law."
"I think my time is just about up," he laughed a little, "so to all of our guests here today, I can only say thank you so much for being here. Enjoy the rest of the evening but please, can I first invite you all to fill up your glasses in a toast to the happy couple. To wish them both a long, happy, healthy future together, filled with the sounds of love and laughter."
Norman ended his speech by raising his glass, with everyone following him, as they made a toast. One after another, friends and family took turns to say their piece to the newlyweds. It was heart-warming, as they listened to the different speeches everyone gave, recounting back the good, old times and moments that they all shared.
As dinner was slowly wrapping up and the dance floor was open to all, everyone was a little more hyped up than they should be. Some were dancing like they'd forgotten how to stand still, while others were hanging around having conversations. Drew and May took this opportunity to mingle with the guests and catch up with their friends.
They walked over to a table towards a group, which Drew recognised was May's old travelling companions. A blue haired woman in a short dress ran towards May and embraced her.
"Dawn!" May chirped, hugging her back. She turned towards the two men sitting at the table, grinning from ear to ear. "Ash! Brock! It's so good to see you guys again. Hello, Pikachu. I've missed you!"
She walked forward and stroked the electric mouse.
"May, Drew! Who would've thought that you two would finally tie the knot," Ash chuckled.
"Yeah, congratulations!" Brock chimed in.
"Thanks!" May giggled.
Drew walked over and stood beside May. He smiled, wrapping his arm around her waist. "Thanks for coming. It means a lot to us, especially May."
All of a sudden, Brock leapt to his feet and sprinted towards a lady who had just walked past, seizing her hand and wooing her.
"I guess some things never change, huh. Max would've dragged him by the ear at this point," May chuckled softly. She faced her friends again. "So, Ash, what have you been up to lately?"
"Oh, nothing much. Mostly training," Ash shrugged.
"Training? Please. More like fawning over his new girlfriend!" Dawn teased, nudging his arm slightly.
"I didn't know you had a girlfriend, Ash!" May gasped. "Who is she? And why didn't you bring her along?"
Ash averted his gaze, a gentle flush of pink crept on his cheeks. "Her name's Serena. We met back when I travelled in Kalos. I invited her to be my plus one but, she's busy. I'll introduce her to you one day."
"I look forward to that!" May smiled and turned to Dawn. "So, where's Paul? I thought you said he was coming."
Ash arched his eyebrows, puzzled. "Wait, what? Paul? Since when did you two –"
"He had something to do, so he couldn't make it today…" Dawn interrupted. She let out a soft sigh. "But, no need to worry!"
Ash chuckled. "That's when I worry the most."
May laughed. She carefully observed her best friend, who was anxiously playing with her fingers and had her head hung low, avoiding further social interaction and eye contact. May bit her lip slightly. Something doesn't seem to be right. Something was clearly bothering her. But there was no way she was going to share with everyone else around. And knowing Dawn, she wouldn't say anything tonight. Not wanting to ruin the happy occasion. Not wanting to ruin her wedding day.
"Anyways, Drew and I got to go. We still have a few guests we've yet to talk to. But it was so nice to finally catch up with you, Ash. Brock too. Stay in touch alright," May said. She turned to Dawn, holding her hand tightly. "Call me soon, okay?"
Dawn gave her a faint smile. "Yeah, I will. Congratulations again, you two! And enjoy your honeymoon."
Drew and May thanked her before they turned and left the table. As they slowly approached another, a man, who appeared to be in his thirties, rushed towards them. He had long, purple hair that reached a little past the nape of his neck.
"May! My cute, little honey bunny!"
He pounced on her, wrapping his arms around her tightly.
Too tightly.
"Oh May, don't you look so ravishing?" he continued, grinning widely at her.
"H-Hey Harley. It's so g-good to see you," May choked, breathing heavily, though he didn't notice her lack of oxygen. She squirmed in his arms, trying to break free.
Drew narrowed his eyes at him. "Harley, I'd appreciate it if you don't try to suffocate my wife."
"Oh Drew, sweetie! Still the same grumpy, little boy you always are!" Harley joked, slowly letting go and winked at Drew.
Drew rolled his eyes. "And you're just as annoying."
Light footsteps approached behind them.
"It's been more than 10 years and you two are still bickering."
They all turned to the source of the voice, a flurry of pink hair stopped in front of them and forced a laugh.
May's eyes lit up instantly. She dashed forward and hugged her. "Solidad!"
She stumbled back a little, but slowly regained her balance and patted May gently on the back, a soft smile on her face. "May! It's been a while, hasn't it?" Solidad chuckled, "you look beautiful."
May pulled back slowly, returning her smile. "I'm so happy to see you guys again! Thank you for coming! I didn't think you'd be able to make it."
"I've known Drew for a long time, and I've heard him gush about you for years. Did you really think I'd miss the wedding?" She couldn't help but laugh. "And, I've never seen Drew as happy as when he's with you, May."
Drew scowled at her, his ears turning bright red. He flicked his hair to the side, trying to hide it.
"How cute," Harley sniggered.
Solidad turned to face Drew. A myriad of emotions crossed her face – happiness and mostly, pride. She brought her hand onto his head and ruffled his hair slightly. "My, don't you look all grown up now!"
Drew lowered his head, moving back a little. As much as he loved Solidad, he wasn't going to let her mess up his hair.
He smirked. "It's good to see you, Sol."
At that, she embraced him.
May smiled to herself as she watched them. Back when Drew was still a teenager, he always looked up to her and highly respected her. He and Solidad had always held a relationship one would see between a mother and her son. Even after being apart for so many years, the bond that they shared was still strong as ever.
And even after all these years, they were all still a family.
The four of them.
The reception went on well into the night and it was almost time for May and Drew to take their leave.
Once again, they were on the dance floor, having their final dance for the night before saying their goodbyes to everyone. The slow music twirled like thread around them. The violins came in, then the piano, and then the slow and sure beating of a drum.
May pulled him closer as she wrapped her arms around his neck, letting him sway her body to the music. A lock of hair fell over her eyes, like a curtain blocking out the sunlight. She began to withdraw her hand to brush it away, but his hand clutched onto hers. He carefully laid her hand on his shoulder and delicately tucked the lock behind her ear, her sapphire eyes twinkled back at him in greeting.
Her lips went to his ear as she whispered ever so softly.
"You sure know how to be romantic."
He smiled and leaned down, planting his lip on hers. When they broke apart, he smirked at her. He stopped dancing, placing his hand deep into the pocket of his pants.
"How's this for romantic? I have something for you."
"What is it?" she asked.
"Turn around."
She arched her eyebrows. She shrugged and turned her back to him. She heard him inhale deeply and the next moment, she felt something around her neck. She glanced down and her eyes widened. Gingerly, she let her fingertips touch it. It was a silver, heart-shaped locket pendant with beautiful engraved flowers.
She turned back to face him, her eyes teary. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing seemed to come out. He slowly brought his hand forward, his fingers brushing hers gently and opened the locket, revealing a small photo of them. It was the first photo they took as a couple which brought back fond memories of their past.
"I promise to always love you. I hope that this locket will help to remind you that my love for you will never change." He smiled, bringing his hand to her face and caressed her cheek softly. "And when we finally have a family of our own, we can take another photo and put it beside that one."
"Drew, it's … it's beautiful," she whispered. Her eyes slowly met his, staring into them deeply. "I love you."
He smiled. "I love you too."
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him, pressing her forehead against his. Suddenly, she felt something perched on her head. She pulled away and looked up, with Drew following her gaze. She instantly broke out into a wide grin when she saw her Beautifly and embraced her. Drew patted Beautifly's head gently, smiling at the pretty Pokémon, to which she trilled cheerfully.
Suddenly, they heard loud footsteps heading straight towards them. They shifted, turning to the direction and gasped. Every single one of their Pokémon were charging towards them. They had initially placed their Pokémon in Norman's greenhouse for the wedding and will only take them back when they return from their honeymoon. They hugged every single one tightly, talking softly to them and explaining what was going on and where they were going. Their Pokémon nodded and cheered happily for them. A hungry Munchlax attempted to escape to the buffet table and just as May was about to chase after him, he stopped in his tracks, his stomach grew larger and larger. Max slowly emerged from behind and beamed, pushing his glasses up his nose and holding up May's Pokéblock case. May sighed and patted Munchlax on his head, laughing a little.
"I let all of your Pokémon out so that you two could say goodbye to them before you leave," Max explained.
"Oh Max, thank you so much!" May squealed, rushing over to hug her brother. She ruffled his hair playfully and kissed the top of his head.
Drew smiled at him. "Yeah, thanks Max."
"Don't worry about them. I'll take good care of them till you get back," Max spoke as he slowly kneeled down between Glaceon and Absol, stroking their fur gently. "Now, you two better get going. Your ride's already here."
May and Drew nodded, turning to hug and say goodbye to their Pokémon one last time before they headed outside. Norman and Caroline were waiting patiently in front of a limousine, smiling brightly as they approached. May immediately threw herself at her mother and pulled her into a hug. She was a little thrown off by her sheer force, but regained her balance and laughed, stroking the back of her head. May watched as Norman pulled Drew into a hug as well and smiled.
"Have a good time, both of you!" Caroline chirped, switching her eyes between May and Drew. "Take care of each other, alright?"
"And don't worry about your Pokémon. I'll help to keep an eye on them. I don't think your brother would be able to handle all of them by himself." Norman chuckled.
"Now go, or you'll miss your plane!"
They gave their last goodbyes and entered the limousine. Caroline felt her face settle from nervous excitement into a gentle, warm smile. Norman wrapped an arm around her waist as they watched the limousine pull out of the driveway and drove off.
May leaned back into the seat of the limousine, touching the pendant around her neck as she rested her head on his shoulders. Drew pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head.
She smiled as she intertwined her fingers with his, their wedding bands glistened when they made contact. "Here's to the start of something new."
He whispered, "and to the start of the rest of our lives."
Author's Notes: Hey everyone! Thanks for reading! This chapter turned out longer than I expected with over 5,000 words. I actually had more in mind when I first started writing this chapter and there were some parts that I did not include as I figured it would have been long and draggy just for a wedding chapter. I hope you guys still liked it. Stay tuned for the next chapter. And as always, reviews are greatly appreciated!