Disclaimer: I'm just the crazy fan who wrote this.
Save the Date
By: athrunzala
Chapter 11: Zero Hour, Part 2
Lilly looked down at her scroll. The small device had not left her hand for some time since she had first picked it up once she had been given her mission. As the minutes ticked away, she waited, becoming more and more impatient as time seemed to be passing slower than normal. She knew that she only had to make sure that the bridal party got to the location safely.
Her alarm sounded, shaking her from her thoughts. As she looked down, she silenced the loudly ringing device, which caused a door to open.
"It's time?"
Lilly looked over at Blake and nodded. Blake then opened the door and held it as Yang led Weiss out, followed by Nora, who was leading Pyrrha. As she shut the door, Lilly took point, with Blake bringing up the rear.
The few students who remained behind were shocked to see the procession of women in dresses. Any who dared to approach were met with a stern glare from Blake, who seemed to have instilled fear in a few of them during the normal course of the school year. For the most part, though, the group was largely recognizable as members of Team RWBY and Team JNPR, mostly because Nora was semi-skipping her way there.
At the cliff, Jaune and Ruby were being given last minute checks and inspections by Ozpin and Glynda.
"You two have come a long way since your first days here. Allow me to be the first to say it: Congratulations."
Ruby rubbed the back of her head and smiled. She knew that the silver-haired professor meant well, but she was still nervous.
"Thank you… Still…"
"Ruby, I have made my fair share of mistakes, as you are fully aware. I don't see you and Weiss coming together in this way as a mistake. You two have made your decision."
"Besides," Glynda chimed in, "You both managed to graduate from Beacon, despite the pressures on you from being together as you were."
She then turned to Jaune.
"Mr. Arc, I don't know how you did it, but you definitely improved and have become a strong Hunter. Do not let anybody tell you should never have come here."
"Jaune, you and your partner have managed to stay together, even through some trying circumstances. Do not get discouraged. Your toughest battles are yet to come."
The blonde male chuckled nervously as Sun walked over.
"Just got the word. They're coming. Time to get you two front and center."
The Faunus then led his two friends up to where Oobleck was waiting.
"Are you two nervous?"
Both Ruby and Jaune nodded.
"Don't be. You two have an impeccable history of decision making. Continue doing that and nothing will stop you."
Both Ruby and Jaune swallowed hard as a hush fell over the small crowd of people. They were slowly joined by their former team mates and family members, with Yang not overshadowing either bride, despite her being dressed in the white strapless dress that tapered into a deep crimson at the base, a pattern Weiss had insisted upon. Nora's dress was similarly patterned, except hers was a knee-length crimson with goldenrod accents across it. Ren's suit was similarly styled to hers, as was Neptune's to Yang's.
As Ruby looked over at her sister, Yang smiled and looked back in the direction she had come from, causing Ruby to look over. Jaune did at the same time. Both of their jaws would have hit the floor, had it not been for them clenching their teeth together out of sheer nervousness.
Weiss was dressed in a stunning white gown that was held up on top by a piece of fabric attached at the neck. On her arms were sleevelets, which hung loosely, the fabric bouncing slightly as she took her steps. At her waist were several sashes, which seemed to be attached by a white flower that was accented with red and white dust. The more she saw it, the more it was apparent that it was a white rose. Much to Ruby's surprise, she was being led up by Professor Port, who had been suspiciously absent prior to that.
Following behind was Pyrrha, being walked up by Sun, a personal choice, as he and Blake had been almost completely instrumental in securing the space needed for the ceremony and the accompanying reception. The red-head's dress was infinitely simpler, looking more like a statue of a foreign deity, the simple garment fitted to her every curve. As Jaune looked on, Ren was vigilant enough to notice a tear come down his friend's face, and immediately produced a tissue, albeit too late, as the blonde had already wiped it away with his hand.
Once they had reached the front, Oobleck started on the ceremony, being probably the most nervous minister in the history of weddings in Remnant.
"Today," he began, "We are here to celebrate the joining of multiple lives into… two. And it is for this reason that we…."
And he began on his unintentionally long-winded speech, which was finally ended as a breeze blew in and took away his notes.
"Oh dear," he sighed. "It would appear that we cannot continue down that path. So, I shall make it shorter and go off of what I know. Be warned: This is not something I do regularly."
He then turned towards Jaune and Pyrrha.
"You two came to this school seeking to further your skills. After your graduation, you became closer. And it is now that I ask you, Jaune Arc, do you promise to be with this woman? Keeping her with you, above all others? Staying true to her, until you shall die?"
The blonde swallowed hard and donned a serious expression.
"I do."
The caffeine junky turned to face Pyrrha.
"Pyrrha Nikos, do you promise to be with this man; remaining faithful to him and him alone, until such time as you die?"
"I do."
"Excellent. Excellent. Moving on!"
He then zipped over to Ruby and Weiss.
"In light of the… circumstances, I shall ask you both at the same time. Do you promise to be with this woman; remaining faithful to her, until you both shall die?"
Ruby and Weiss looked at each other and smiled, responding in unison.
"I do."
"Very well!"
The caffeine combustion chamber then zipped to stand between the two couples. Glancing down, he noticed one note had managed to stay with him.
"With this being as it is, I give you Mr and Mrs Jaune and Pyrrha Arc, and Mrs and Mrs Ruby and Weiss Schnee!"
As the newlyweds turned around, the otherwise quiet crowd applauded.
Oobleck looked at both couples.
"You can exchange a kiss, now, if you like."
Neither pair needed to be told twice as they met in a pair of kisses unlike any that they had ever experienced.
To be continued…
A.n./ - Well, well, well. Looks like I managed to write a successful wedding! Haha! I actually almost didn't describe the dresses outside of writing "a white garment", but a couple friends pushed me to actually design them. In fact, I had thought about dropping the dust-infused rose on Weiss' until a friend questioned it.
I want to thank those of you who have read through all 40 chapters I have posted from this storyline thus far. So I feel I owe you all an explanation as to why I changed the title.
Just One Date was originally meant to just be Jaune and Pyrrha getting together, and the document on my computer for the plot layout still shows that legacy, still bearing the name "arkos_fic_layout". Once it expanded to include the other characters, I had to go and end the story line with the best way possible, so, part way into writing Volume 3 (It was around Chapter 5, I think), I started laying out the basis for Volume 4. Of course, that volume changed to be this, which is the sequel to Just One Date, called Save the Date, which is a direct reference to the reminder cards that some couples can obtain for their weddings.
It should also be noted that this fic was conceived almost entirely in the days leading up to Valentine's Day 2015, when Volume 2 concluded. I knew, at that exact point, that I needed to end it with a wedding. So, with the next chapter, I'll post the reception highlights, which should be interesting.
As for the other thing: Why did Jaune and Pyrrha go first?
The answer lies in some research into a double wedding. Traditionally, the older bride will go first. Well, both Weiss and Pyrrha are the same age. So I twisted it to be the older groom goes first. Since Ruby seems to have an aversion to dresses (combat skirts don't count, come on) and heels, I made her the second groom. As Jaune is older, he and Pyrrha took priority.
Oobleck as the minister? A suggestion by a friend. We both thought it sounded funny, so I ran with it. And I think it worked.
Why did Ruby take Weiss' last name? I don't know. But, having a fairly good idea on how unmoving Weiss is, and with Ruby not having a stake in what equates to a fortune 500 company, Weiss kept her last name so that she COULD clear her family's legacy and make things right.
Will there be an epilogue? Maybe. A sequel? Probably not. A re-release with corrections and more content? Maybe. I don't know right now.