Chapter Nine

Prince Vince walked throughout the length of the Neitherworld castle, where he had lived since he was a little boy. He had checked every room he had come to so far, with no luck of finding the man he was seeking.

Vince was getting anxious as he was nearing the center of the castle, and had still had no luck finding 'him.'

Finally putting his pride aside, he turned and asked one of the guards lining the dimly lit corridor. The guard was forbidden to speak to him, so merely gestured for Vince to follow him. The Prince nodded to him, and they traveled in silence to the Dark Room. This was a room where no light entered, or escaped. Though in name and definition the room sound unwelcoming and alarming; but in truth it was quite pleasant to be in. One could think without interruption.

Once they had reached the doors that lead to the Dark Room, Vince dismissed the guard, and entered, not waiting for him to leave. The room as always was dark, and it took the Prince a moment to regain his sight. Though when he did, he wasn't disappointed; for there on the other side of the room was a man concealed by the shadows. Though it was pitch black in the room, Vince could make out his silhouette from where he stood. It was 'him,' the man he had been looking for.

"Why do you disturb Prince Vince?" The figure asked solemnly from his place at the blackened window.

"I have heard a troubling rumor," Vince replied, running his fingers through his hair nervously.

"What is this rumor that has troubled you enough to come and interrupt my contemplation?" The man asked.

"I heard it from an old woman from town," Vince began pacing across the length of floor in front of him. "She said that there is a wedding taking place in town today. And Beetlejuice is the groom."

"That is no rumor." The man said in a stern voice.

"Maybe not," The Prince agreed. "But the other part can't be true."

The figure gestured with his hand for the Prince to continue.

"People are saying that his bride is the Fair Lydia." Vince said giving a small giggle. "It's ridiculous!"

When the man didn't laugh with him, Vince began to get antsy. Why wasn't he laughing? This couldn't be true; could it? Vince's greatest fears were recognized as the man spoke.

"I'm afraid that that is also another piece of truth, my Prince. Lydia Deetz is to be joined in marriage with Betelgeuse the Poltergeist this afternoon."

Vince's fist clenched, "Why would she marry that unclean buffoon?" Vince asked angrily.

"Because she wants to," The man said walking over to the distraught Prince. He gently placed a large gloved hand on Vince's shoulder, "You have to let her go my Prince; for she is too far out of your reach."

Vince glared at him, and shrugged away his hand. "She is my Lydia; and mine alone!" He yelled.

"The girl is no longer a daydreaming child, she is a young woman now, and as such, she has the right to choose to marry who she will. Leave her be, and let her make her own decisions." The man reasoned, hoping that the young Prince would heed his advice.

"I will not leave her with that hideous creature!" Vince whispered anxiously, before he turned on his heel and exited the Dark room.

The man shook his head, and went back over to the window sill. The Prince had made him loose his concentration, but it extremely was easy to gain back. As he turned back to the window, the crystal ball that rested on it began to shimmer. Soon it was a blinding light, and with the light came an image.

At first the image was blurry, and impossible to make out, but with more focusing on the man's part, soon it was clear. The man sighed as he watched a beautiful young girl, as she got ready for her wedding; dressed in a red and black dress.

Lydia Deetz you are the key. He thought to himself, as he stroked the magical glass. You will save us all.

"Do you Beetlejuice take Lydia Deetz to be your lawfully wedded wife?" Judge Mental asked his empty eye sockets boring into the ghost he hated so much.

Beetlejuice looked from Mental to Lydia and back again before he said. "Yeah."

Mental glared at him and then turned to Lydia, "Do you Lydia Deetz take the Ghost known as Beetlejuice as your lawfully wedded husband?"

Lydia hesitated, and looked at her best friend; who was anxiously waiting for her to answer. His eyes became uncertain for just a moment until she smiled at him reassuringly, and reached for his hand.

"Yes."

Mental cringed but continued the ceremony. "Then by the power invested in me and the Neitherworld's most gracious King, I pronounce you husband and wife." He made a face before he continued to say the hardest part. "You may kiss. . . . The . . . bride."

Lydia blushed as Beetlejuice lifted up her veil, and grabbed either side of her face. "Let's make Mental mentally scarred, shall we?" He whispered with a snort at his bad pun, before he planted his mouth on hers.

Lydia wrapped her small arms around him, and sighed into his mouth as he deepened the kiss, using his snake-like tongue; making Lydia swoon. With the couple's passion, they forgot where they were and what was happening around them and would have stayed that way if Mental hadn't cleared his throat in disgust.

"I hope you are done." He said scrunching up his nose in distaste. "Because I don't think anyone in this assembly can take seeing another moment of that. . . . Whatever it was."

"Did it make you sick Judgey?" Beetlejuice asked smiling broadly, as he looked down at his new bride, who was blushing madly.

"Let us just say, if I was still alive, I would now be dead." He snapped, pushing past them and walking towards Bea and Gnat. He extended his skeletal hand to each of them, his fingers gripping theirs in a firm manner.

"Congratulations." He said to each in turn, before he turned to address everyone.

"The reception will take place in the room next door, where food will be provided, as well as music, and dancing for anyone who wishes to do so."

"WHHHHAT!" Beetlejuice hollered. "I thought we were done after the ceremony!" Mental upon seeing the look of pure agony on the ghosts' face, smiled for the first time all day, loving how uncomfortable Beetlejuice looked.

"No Beetlejuice; you must attend the reception, and talk to all of your guests. I am sure that they would be deeply grieved if they could not tell you congratulations." Mental said, smirking at him. "Besides, it's a part of our contract."

"I never agreed to go to some snooty party Mental." Beetlejuice said in a low growl, his eyes blazing dangerously.

"If you wish to keep you and your new bride out of a detention cell on your wedding night, I suggest that you attend." Mental said; an annoying tone of finality in his screechy voice.

"Yes your honor we will attend; thank you." Lydia answered, holding Beetlejuice back with a cautious glance.

"At least one of you has sense." Mental grumbled before he headed into the reception room; followed by almost all of the guests. Only one stayed behind, and he had a big smile on his face.

"I'm so proud of you Pumpkin." Charles said hugging his daughter. Lydia noticed his eyes were red from crying during the ceremony.

"Dad, I'm so glad you're here." She said beginning to cry herself.

The two hugged, and when they pulled away from each other both of them were smiling. Lydia turned to her new husband and blushed. "Umm, dad, this is Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice this is my father, Charles."

Beetlejuice held out his hand to her father and they shook hands. Lydia half expected Beej to trick him, and us an electric shock on him; but nothing happened. It was a regular handshake, with nothing out of the normal. Lydia looked at her best friend in shock. For the first time since she had known him, he had passed up a joke! He was actually being serious.

"Pleasure to finally meet you Mr. Beetleju-" Charles began to say before he was cut off by the Ghost with the Most.

"Don't say it!" Beetlejuice warned him loudly.

"Say what?"

"The B-word Chucky; Lyds already said it twice."

"Why can't we say your name more than twice?" Charles asked confused.

Lydia jumped in this time. "When you say his real name three times, he is transported between the Neitherworld, and the world of the living. Its how I've been calling him for years." She explained smiling up at Beetlejuice.

"Alright," Charles said, trying to understand. "So by calling his name, you can travel places?"

"That about sums it up." Lydia said.

Charles shook his head, "I thought I was imagining things for years, and now I find out that those things were really happening." He scratched the back of his head. "This is all a lot to grasp."

"You're doing fine Charles." Beetlejuice said with a chuckle. "You haven't fainted once yet."

The three of them laughed together. Before Mental stuck his skull back into the room and yelled, "BEETLEJUICE!"

Beetlejuice cringed, and looked at Lydia with huge eyes. "Mental mad," He pointed out.

"We better get in there." Lydia agreed.

Beetlejuice took Lydia's hand and they began to walk over to the Reception room door. But Beetlejuice stopped at the door.

"What is it?" His new bride asked.

Beetlejuice didn't say anything; but her question was soon answered. Charles came behind them and as soon as he was standing next to his daughter Beetlejuice snapped his fingers and the door slid open.

Lydia's could help but smile at the Ghost standing next to her.

"You waited for him?"

"He is my father in law Lyds." Beetlejuice replied quietly, returning the smile she had given him. "What do you say we crash this party?"

"Count me in BJ." She said giggling as the door closed behind them.

I know I keep drawing out the wedding, but there is just so much to say about it. The next chapter will be the Reception, with a little pep-talk for the newly weds about the wedding night. XP I have big plans for the next chapter. Please drop me a review if you can. I would love to hear what you think about my little ole BJ fic.