Chapter 4

All right, so maybe this wasn't a good idea. We had managed it back safe and sound to my mom's but I still had this nagging feeling that something wasn't going to go awfully terribly wrong. And how exactly would I know that? Because I was standing in a dress at my reflection wondering how the heck I was going to fight in it…if need be.

"Oh Max, what if she gets cold feet? It would be the worst, most terrible thing for me! Where is Angel? I would love to talk to her. She'll make it better," Total was fidgeting in his little dog tux that somehow Ella had managed to sew. He looked so ridiculous in it that I was having a hard top not laughing.

"Total keep still," Ella ordered as she made the finally adjustments, "Or I'll make Max hold you down." Total went rigid and refused to blink. We both knew how bad it would be if I was forced to hold him down when I was already in a bad mood. It was the dog's fault I was wearing this dress.

So you might find yourself asking, a dog wedding and you're getting all dressed up for it? Well, yeah, we are. If you haven't noticed, my flock and my friends don't go about things normally. We weren't made normal so why should we even try to act like it? I tried running my hand through my hair which was past the point of saving. The ends were split and there was no pattern. There was no style to put it in. I bit my lip frustrated. What did it matter? I already looked awful in the dress might as well add the hair problem.

Ella was wearing this pink dress that was slim and pretty on her. She didn't feel awkward in the dress but I remember her telling me she wore them to school dances all the time. My dress was a dark blue because I refused to anything pink, purple, or so girly I would upchuck all over it. Total was not happy with me at all but as Akila's made of honor he really had no choice.

Angel stepped in prepared to be flower girl just as she wanted. Her dress was decorated in those fake flowers made of fabric. She had a crown of flowers on top of her golden curls. "Hi Max," she smiled wide. "You look pretty." I made a face. Angel's attention turned towards Total seeing that I didn't want to hear anything about me being in a dress.

Enjoy the happiness you get, Max, you still have a mission. I narrowed my eyes and turned around from the group. I held my hand up against my temple.

"Must we do this now," I whispered. The Voice was back again being annoying coming during times where I didn't need them.

Just one minute for you is a lifetime for someone else, understand that you're running out of minutes. Well, I could've told him or her that. As for the mystery of the voice I still had no clue to who it was.

"Then stop playing games and just give me an answer. I don't want anymore questions," I replied back keeping my voice firm. And of course, the Voice disappeared and didn't respond. I couldn't even get a "hello" or "goodbye" from this thing. All I could say is if I could get rid of this pest the sooner the better.

I turned back to find three sets of eyes on me as well as two in doorway. Gazzy and Iggy had come to see Ella about their tuxes. Having amazing hearing like we all tend to, they heard everything. I scowled, "Stop staring, it's nothing new that I have a voice in my head." My half-sister blushed and turned towards the two new members of the room.

"Who is watching my love?" Total piped up. "I do not want to see her until it is the final moment down the aisle." He moaned and covered his eyes as if Akila was right there beside Iggy and Gazzy. Ella was straightening Iggy's tie and I went over to straighten the cuffs of Gazzy's suit. It was strange knowing that my mom had paid for all of this. The suits, the dresses, the flowers, and everything else she and a few other of her scientist friends had offered to put this together.

"Fang, Nudge and my mom are in charge of Akila, Total. Don't worry," Ella stepped back. "There, you look perfect." I saw a blush come on Iggy's cheeks as he nodded his head in thanks. Ella noticed it too and her face went a little bit red as well.

"Max!" The last person I wanted to see strode into the room. Dr. Brigid Dwyer almost knocked Gazzy over to wrap her arms around me. "Oh, you look so pretty!" She was dressed in a gown that was too revealing to me personally. Her red hair was all swirls and waves that made my hair look like a mop.

I backed away from her hug. I still couldn't forget her talking to Mr. Chu, my new enemy. As it was, she said she was trying to expose him but I couldn't shake off the doubt. I didn't trust her and for plenty of good reasons.

Angel looked up oddly at Brigid and then looked at me. I can't read her thoughts Max. Be careful. The room, being so crowded, was growing tense. Brigid noticed how the flock was staring at her. "I'll be downstairs with the rest of the group. I'm glad to see you all well." Then she left and the room went a little be brighter.

"I don't like her," Ella muttered, "She seemed strange." I gave my half-sister a smile. There was a similarity between us that we both got from people. We could see people with not so good intentions. "I think, Total, you should go down. Iggy and Gazzy, you should go down as well. I'll send Fang down too."

Total stood up on his paws and stuck his head in the air like the happiest dog I've in the whole world. Iggy and Gazzy followed right after. I heard them go down the stairs towards the back door where the entire ceremony would be taking place. Ella then left the room towards where Akila was being readied.

"Max, I'm nervous," Angel whispered, placing her small hand in mine. "It's been so quiet." I nodded my head. Angel was the smartest six year old in the entire world. She knew when something was up. And I knew the M-Geeks bothered her. She couldn't read their minds to see if they were coming.

"Let's act as if nothing is wrong. We can't ruin this for Total or Akila," I led her towards the hallway. I stopped in the doorframe watching as Fang walked by. He gave me a smile, a rare Fang smile that is the better than anything else in the world. I blushed and looked away knowing I was dressed so ridiculously.

When it was sure that he was gone, I headed towards were Ella, Nudge, my mom, and Akila were waiting for us. "He thinks you're really beautiful," Angel whispered. She giggled and covered her smile. I stared at her knowing there was no arguing with her. She had read Fang's mind.

"You've got to stop doing that all the time," I informed her. But Angel couldn't help it. Her mind was like a radio that never turned off. She was always hearing something and all she could do was focus on certain stations.

Nudge was decorating Akila's collar with pink and lavender flowers. Her golden fur was brushed and glossy from a bath. Surprisingly, Akila just sat there letting Nudge mess with her color. I had never met a normal dog act so weirdly with the just sitting there and listening to the humans. She certainly belonged with Total. My mom rushed over and hugged me, "You look pretty." I tried to smile and take the compliment but I wasn't use to it. I preferred hearing something about my fighting or my flying. My looks was another different subject that I hated talking about.

Nudge stood up, dressed in a gorgeous purple dress that she had designed with fabric my mom had bought. She placed her hands on her hips in victory and in one of the shortest Nudge sentences I've ever heard said, "We're done. Let's go."

My mom and Ella went down the stairs and then outside to group of people waiting. I stared at Akila, "You ready?" She sniffed my open hand before licking it. "I'm taking that as a yes." Angel went down first, then Nudge, followed by Akila and me.

When we stepped outside I could only think about how silly this all seemed but it's what would make Total happy and he was a member of the flock. It was my job to make sure he was happy. Angel danced about, her white wings fluttering with the breeze. She threw petals in the air and laughed. Nudge followed behind showing off more her gown than her wings. Her hair was actually pretty calm and pulled back into a ponytail.

Akila walked beside me and I wondered if she understood what she was doing. Did she realize she was getting married? Did she even know what marriage was? But I know when she saw Total cause her ears perked up and she pulled her lips back in a huge doggy kind of smile. A tongue drooling also was part of it but it was cute I had to admit.

We made it to the end and I had managed to keep my eyes straight ahead without looking at any of Total's groomsmen. I stepped next to Nudge and stared at the crowd. There were only four or five people. My mom, Ella, Jeb, Brigid, and John, the doctor who had helped us to the end during our last adventure, were all there smiling as if a dog wedding was normal. I guess my flock and I had ruined their idea of what was strange. Then, Jeb stood up and went to stand under the little arch thingy that Total and Akila stood in front of. He was the one who would perform the ceremony for them.

I stared over the dogs to see Gazzy standing there slightly bored. He rubbed one of his eyes with his scar from the jellyfish attack still prominent. His blonde hair was still messy as usual and the cuffs I had fixed for him were ruined already. Iggy had his head titled towards the crowd as if he was listening to them instead of Jeb's voice. There was a smile on his face.

Fang caught my attention, his eyes already on me when I went to look at him. He smiled again and I gave a grin back. There was a lot said between that one look. We had managed to do that as far as I could remember. We knew each other too well to not know what the other was thinking. A wind blew and his black hair ruffled as well as the black feathers of his wing.

And that's when my worst nightmare became once again, a reality.