CHAPTER 26
When Shadow, Espio, and Knuckles had made it out into the corridor of the church, they saw Anita arguing with Jack and Garnet.
Knuckles stared mindlessly at the sight, "Those old people are about to go at it."
In panic, Shadow spun around to Espio, "Espio, break them up and please keep them away from each other. I gotta get this wedding started."
Espio made a nod before they all had split up, "Got it!"
Meanwhile, Tonya had flung the door open to the room Rouge was in.
Rouge and Julie-Su had turned to Tonya while hearing piano music playing outside the room.
The white bat bit her lip anxiously, "…Is it time?"
The purple cat made a small nod, "Yeah, it's time."
Rouge had began to feel even more nervous than she was at first. She didn't even think she could move her feet. She had then felt Julie-Su holding her hand and squeezing it. When she turned to her, she saw her forming a small smile.
"It's okay, Rouge. You can do this."
Rouge had took a deep breath to try to calm her nerves, "Okay here I go."
Meanwhile, Shadow was standing in front of the corridor glancing around the room to see if everything else was going the way it was supposed to. As he looked around, he saw that the entire Chaotix gang had showed up, he also saw Sarah and other few friends that he and Rouge knew. He then saw Espio run up to him and stand beside him. "How is everything?"
The chameleon sighed heavily, "Do you know how hard it is to break up two old women?"
Shadow shifted his eyes over to him, "Anita's in her late fifties."
The chameleon shrugged carelessly, "Same thing?"
"You got that ring?"
"Duh!"
"I'm just checking."
The priest who was a male brown badger had whispered over to Shadow. "Are you ready to begin?" When he saw him nod, he gave the pianist the cue to play the 'here comes to bride' theme.
Everyone stood from their seats and directed their attention at the opposite end of the room. They saw a woman wearing a long and beautiful white dress carrying a bouquet of flowers walking down the aisle with her arm wrapped around her father's arm.
Shadow couldn't take his eyes away from the beautiful white lace dress she was wearing. Even though the white veil was covering her face, he still thought the sight of her was breathtaking.
Nails wanted to tear up over the sight of Rouge. She held Tikal's hand as she tried to fight back her tears. "My baby sister's so beautiful!"
When Jack had led her to the front, he hatefully rolled his eyes at Shadow before walking away.
Shadow tried to ignore him and focused on his beautiful bride. He pulled back the white veil that was covering her face. When he did, he felt like he couldn't take his eyes away from hers. "You look gorgeous, sweetheart."
She placed her hand in his and smiled warmly. "Thank you, Shadow."
The priest had decided to begin the ceremony. He cleared his voice before speaking. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the joining of these two in holy matrimony. Except the bride's parents, does anyone have any reason why these two should not be wed?"
Jack who sat beside Garnet crossed his arms in annoyance. "That damn hedgehog", he growled .
As the ceremony went on, Shadow and Rouge had spoken their vows to each other and had placed the ring on Rouge's finger.
The priest had turned to Shadow. "Do you, Shadow, take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife? To love, honor, and cherish her through sickness and in health, through times of happiness and travail, until death do you part?"
Shadow turned to her and smiled at her as he held her hands, "I do."
The priest then turned to Rouge, "And do you, Rouge, take this man to be your lawful wedded husband? To love, honor, and cherish him through sickness and in health, through times of happiness and travail, until death do you part?"
She happily smiled at the hedgehog, "I do."
As they watched, Julie-Su leaned her head against Knuckles' shoulder and held his hand.
Espio and Tonya who sat next to each other couldn't help but to glance back and forth at each other.
Nails and Tikal were practically on the edge of tears watching the beautiful event taking place.
Anita was wiping away the tears from her face as she was happy to see Shadow finally getting married.
The priest continued, "You come to me as two single people and you will now leave as a married couple, united to each other by the binding contract you have just entered. Your cares, your worries, your pleasures, and your joys you must share with each other. The best of good fortune to both of you. You may kiss the bride."
As the two leaned in to kiss each other, they and everyone else were startled by a loud crashing sound from a nearby room.
Before anyone could investigate, a door had been busted down by a huge gray furless four legged creature.
Everyone got out of their seats and immediately started to panic at the sight of the creature.
"Oh my God!" Tonya shouted.
Appex saw the drool dripping from the creature's mouth. "What the hell is that?"
Rouge looked over to Shadow in worry. "Shadow?"
He made sure Rouge stood clear of the strange creature. "Stand back!"
The four legged creature hungrily sniffed around until it spotted the wedding cake setting on the table.
Rouge gasped in horror as the creature jumped on the table and began to eat the cake. "The cake!" She and Shadow turned as they heard laughter coming from the room the creature came out of. In shock, they watched as Nack and the rest of The Raiders appear out into the corridor with guns in their hands.
Shadow angrily fixed his eyes onto the purple weasel. "Nack!"
The weasel rested the long barrel of his rifle against his shoulder. "Looks like there was a wedding, but we weren't invited. How rude!"
"What do you want?" Rouge demanded.
"Only to give you your best on your special day. We even went out of our way to get you a new pet." He held up the barrel of the rifle towards Shadow and Rouge. "Until death do you part!"
In The Next Chapter…
Julie-Su: What the hell is that thing?
Ker: How could they be so capable of summoning a demon like this?
Knuckles: We gotta stop that thing!
Rouge: My dress is ruined!
Shadow: They'll all pay for this!