CHAPTER 24
The next morning was the day of Shadow and Rouge's wedding. Everyone was gathered at the church meeting and talking with one another as they waited for the ceremony to start.
In a small room within the church, Rouge was getting herself ready.
A pink female echidna who was around Rouge's age was helping her to put on her wedding dress. She wore a green dress that came down to her ankles and blue high heeled shoes.
Rouge stared at herself in the mirror in front of her while she practiced saying her vows. "Okay how about this, Julie?" She cleared her throat as she began to say her vows. "I, Rouge, take you, Shadow, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold…" She was then stopped by the echidna woman.
She looked up at Rouge with an arched brow, "Hold on…wife?"
The bat's eyes widened as she realized she spoke a line that belonged to Shadow.
"You just realized you just…"
"I know! Cut me some slack, Julie-Su! I'm nervous!"
Julie-Su couldn't help but to giggle, "Chill out, Rouge. You're only marrying Shadow. Don't be so nervous."
She couldn't help but to make a small smile. Julie-Su was right. Her and Shadow were like best friends. It didn't make sense for her to get so nervous. But just thought of the wedding itself made her feel uneasy. "I can't help it. My nerves are shot. I just have a bad feeling about today."
Julie-Su continued to help her fix her dress. "Why? Because your parents are total douche bags? Or it is because your ex is in the same building as your fiancé?"
She bit her lip as she mentioned Knuckles, "Can it be both?"
Julie-Su sighed and turned to the white bat. "If you were so freaked out about Knuckles being here then why…"
"Because Shadow said it was okay. He swore that he and Knuckles were somewhat cool with each other. And besides, all that drama was years ago."
"Exactly", Julie-Su agreed. "Shadow and Knuckles are both hotheads but their big boys now. They have us."
She formed a small smile, "You're right. Everything will be okay. And thanks for coming today, Julie. This means a lot."
"Hey what can I say? You and Shad has helped me and Knux out plenty of times. Despite our past drama over the redhead."
She was relieved that Julie-Su had still remained a good friend to her despite when they were both fighting over Knuckles at one time.
"Hey why don't you practice that vow again? I want you to look and sound fucking angelic out there."
She made a nod and agreed that she should practice more. She looked back into the mirror. She once again cleared her voice before saying her vows again. "I, Rouge, take you, Shadow to be my lawful wedded husband…"
In another room at the church, Nails, Tikal, and Tonya stared at each other in disbelief as they looked at their reflection in the mirror in front of them.
"This isn't real…" Nails spoke.
Tikal bit her lip, "This can't be…"
"Just suck it up and be proud ladies", Tonya spoke. "We're not ass kicking women today. Today we are bridesmaids."
Nails couldn't believe what they were all wearing.
They were all wearing bright pink frilly ruffle dresses with the short sleeves being poofy.
"I can't believe this", Nails spoke. "I thought my sister had better taste in fashion than this."
Tikal made an uneasy look, "It could've been worse. What if Rouge had the same fashion taste as Shadow?"
"True", Tonya knew how Shadow had always liked to dress. Shadow always wore gothic and punk attire, but as the years went on, she had noticed that he had eased up and began dressing a little casual. Now he mostly wore skinny jeans and collared shirts. She figured he had calmed down with it because he had just simply wanted to look more mature and professional. "We could all look like we're going to a funeral instead of a wedding."
Nails made a disgusted look and crossed her arms. "Just look at me! I'm bright and fluffy!"
Tonya arched an eyebrow at the black bat. "Come on, Nails. Looking like cotton candy for a day won't kill you."
Nails flashed her eyes over at the cat woman, "It might."
"Come on, Nails", Tikal spoke. "We're doing this for Rouge."
Nails made a heavy sigh, "You're right. I'll do it for my little sister."
Tonya made a small smile, "That's the spirit. Speaking of which, I'd better find her to see if she's doing okay."
When they saw Tonya leaving the room, there was a strange awkward moment between Nails and Tikal.
Tikal began to get more and more nervous as she stood in the room with Nails. "Um, I'd better go with her." Before she could grab the doorknob, Nails grabbed her wrist.
"Hold on, Tikal."
The orange echidna turned to her in confusion.
A sympathetic look had formed on Nails' face, "Ever since we kissed, you've been acting weird around me. Like you've been trying to avoid me."
She bit her lip as she knew that Nails was right, "Um." She couldn't bring herself to face her.
She saw how she was reacting thought that she had done something wrong. "It's my fault isn't it? I came on too strong. Look Tikal, I know you're probably really confused because you've never had feelings like this before. Especially when you've never been in a relationship. If you don't feel the same way, I understand. I just don't want to lose you as a friend."
She looked down to the floor sadly, "It's not you Nails, it's me."
The bat tilted her head in confusion, "Huh?"
"It's just…there's so much about me that you don't know. And if you knew, I'm just afraid you wouldn't want to be around me anymore. Because…" She looked back at her with tears swelling in her eyes. "You're the first real person I've ever gotten this close to…ever."
"…Tikal…"
"If I tell you what I really am…oh I don't know. I've never felt like this before."
Nails cupped her cheeks and made her look up at her, "Sweetie, I'll accept you for who you are. You gave me a chance when I said that I've changed my ways. Now it's my turn."
Tikal thought that Nails seemed like she would take things well if she told her what she really was. She slowly took her hands away from her cheeks and gave her a serious look. "If you think I'm in my twenties or something, then you're wrong. I'm actually over five thousand years old. I died at the age of eighteen so my psychical appearance never changed."
The bat's eyes widened in shock, "…What? Are you…like Ker? A demon?"
She shook her head, "Ker died as a human being but by being brought back to life, he was reborn as a demon taking the form as a human. I on the other hand had lived my life on Angel Island. I was apart of an echidna tribe. We specialized in holy magic. We used our knowledge and powers to defeat evil spirits and demons. I, however, was very special. I could summon a powerful bow and arrow that could vanquish almost any demon. I even had a special bond with the Master Emerald. I was a valued asset to my tribe, until that unfortunate day when I was killed by a demon."
"How awful…"
Tikal made a slow nod as she remembered bits and pieces of the day before she had gotten killed.
"But how were you brought back to life?"
The echidna shrugged her shoulders, "I'm not sure exactly. I just found myself in a strange cave back on Angel Island that day Knuckles and Julie-Su found me. They took me in and soon I united with The Chaotix detectives. During an incident, I had my life taken from me again. But then I discovered something…"
Nails listened closely as she told her story.
"I discovered I had came back to life and I didn't know how. I just did. I can't die, Nails." A tear streamed down her cheek, "I can never die…"
"You're immortal? That sounds pretty sweet."
"It's not! She shouted while sobbing, "I have to continue living in this world forever. Watching all of my friends live their lives and die but I'll still be stuck living in this damned world always and alone." She kneeled down to the floor and began to cry softly. "I'd give anything…" She sniffed, "…To become mortal again and live a normal life." She then felt Nails' warm embrace.
"You may be an immortal soul for the rest of your life but you have to look at things like this…"
She sniffed while Nails hugged her.
"It's best to spend time with the people you love now than later regretting it when everyone you've cared for is gone."
She watched as Nails slowly pulled away from her. She looked at her with tears still flowing down her cheeks.
"Sweetie, I don't care what you are. You mean so much to me because you've brought me nothing but happiness since the day I met you."
She sniffed, "…Do you really mean that?"
She made a nod, "You are the light to my darkness, sweetie." She saw her reach out to her and began to wipe the tears from her face.
"Even though we won't be together forever, I'm still happy I met you, Nails." She placed her hand on top of hers.
She made a warm smile towards her. "Okay enough tears and junk." She stood from the floor and helped Tikal to her feet. "Let's not be late to the party." She walked over to the door, "Shall we get going?"
Tikal walked over to her and gave her a small peck on the lips.
Speechless, Nails gave her a surprised look.
The smiling orange echidna turned to her with a huge blush on her face. "Now we can go."
In The Next Chapter…
Espio: Tonya, I still care about you a lot.
Tonya: Espio…
Midnight: Charmy, you made it!
Charmy: Your new leader…is selfish…
Shadow: Knuckles?
Knuckles: Rouge…she deserves the best...