Chapter 35: A Wedding to Remember

That evening, everyone in the Great Valley had gathered in a large clearing in the center of the valley, where everyone was waiting in anticipation, standing on either side of a large aisle. Since the kids returned to the Great Valley, everyone had been busy excitedly preparing for the double wedding. Pterano and Mama Flyer flew into the Mysterious Beyond and gathered many old friends over, including Guido, Doc and Dara, Tippy and his mother, Dinah and Dana, and even Elsie and Mo and his family, who had a special path connecting the Great Valley to the big water made for them to come visit. At the edge of the clearing, surrounded by gleaming shiny stones that Tria had collected and arranged for the occasion, Littlefoot and Petrie stood together, smiling at each other as they awaited their brides. To the right of the two grooms stood Mr. Thicknose, who was serving as the officiant of the wedding, and he smiled gently as he waited for the brides.

"Me can't believe this actually happening!" Petrie exclaimed to Littlefoot, delight radiating from his voice.

"Me neither, Petrie," Littlefoot told him gently as he smiled happily. The two of them then looked out to see that Ali and Shorty were walking in, cheerfully chatting to each other while holding onto either end of a huge, filled up leaf. The two of them seemed to be getting along very well with each other ever since they met, and spent most of the last few hours filling up the leaf with treestars, yellow flowers, tall grasses, and berries, which were the favorite foods of the newlyweds, in addition to some tree sweets which were added for celebratory effect. They were followed by Ruby, who was carrying two slabs of clay up to the front, and once she arrived, she set them by Mr. Thicknose before heading back to gather sweet blossoms for Tricia, who was serving as the flower girl. A little while later, Chomper, Shorty and Spike entered, walking over to Littlefoot and Petrie's side, while Ruby and Ali walked in and stood by the spot where the brides would stand, waiting for them to come in.

In the audience, most of the parents stood in the front row, watching the proceedings with tears of joy in their eyes. Only Mama Swimmer and Topps were not there, for they were preparing to escort their daughters down the aisle. "I'm so glad I could be here for such an important moment in Littlefoot's life," Bron told Grandma and Grandpa Longneck, who nodded happily.

"So am I," Grandpa Longneck added. "You know, I'm still amazed with how things worked out. My wife and I were trying so hard to find the perfect wife for Littlefoot, but all this time she's been right before our own eyes!"

"Now our greatest concern has been put to rest, and we will be happy knowing that our son has finally found his true love," Grandma Longneck smiled as she rubbed against her husband contentedly.

Tria nodded brightly and said, "I'm so glad that Topsy finally came around to see how great they'd be for each other."

"How is he doing? He's not having any regrets about this, is he?" Mama Flyer asked worriedly.

"No, actually, he's taking it really well," Tria happily explained. "You know Topsy. Once he decides on something, he doesn't look back. Once he finally looked beyond Littlefoot's species, he's been looking on the bright side and he's finally realized that the two of them are meant for each other. He's now talking to anyone who'd listen about how proud he is to have a son-in-law with such good character."

"My, why times do change!" Grandma Longneck happily laughed, and the others laughed along with her.

But just then, a silence rolled through the crowd, as Tricia had begun to walk forward. She was carrying a large pile of sweet blossoms in her tail, scattering them as she cheerily walked down the aisle as the audience smiled affectionately at her.

Then, Mama Flyer excitedly whispered, "Here comes Ducky!"

And from behind a tall stone wall, Ducky came forward, with Mama Swimmer by her side, and the two of them began to walk down the aisle. Ducky smiled broadly as she walked up to Petrie and grinned excitedly at him, while Petrie happily smiled back.

When they got to the end of the aisle, Mama Swimmer cried as she patted Ducky on the shoulder, and cried, "My little Ducky…getting married…I'm so happy for you!"

"Thanks Mama! And I'm so happy too, yep yep yep!" Ducky exclaimed.

Mama Swimmer gulped, before walking over to Mama Flyer's side. "It's so wonderful," she tearfully said as Mama Flyer nodded. "After all the time they've dreamed for this…their dreams are finally coming true."

"Yeah," Mama Flyer told Mama Swimmer. "They truly deserve to be with each other, for they both are such wonderful children."

Mama Swimmer nodded, but before she could reply, Tricia walked forward again once again, scattering more flowers in the aisle, and everyone fell silent. Then, Cera and Topps came out from behind the stone and walked down the aisle. Like Ducky's mother, Topps had a hard time keeping a straight face as Cera grinned delightedly as she reached Littlefoot, and the two of them instantly smiled and set their eyes on each other. Topps, watching the scene, gulped, and then to everyone's shock, torrents of tears began to fall from his eyes. Everyone was completely taken aback, for no one had seen Topps cry in a long, long time.

He gulped again, before he looked at Cera and Littlefoot passionately before saying, "Cera…Littlefoot…you two have shown me… the error of my ways…how I was too rigid to accept anything. I never really understood…how strong your feelings were for each other…but now…I'm just happy for you. I'm glad that you followed your hearts and now…you're…you're getting married!" Topps spluttered, tears falling from his eyes, before he softly continued, "I can already tell that you two will be a great couple, for you two are so heartfelt towards each other." Then he leaned toward Cera and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek before saying, "Cera…I'm sorry for everything I did to try and tear you and Littlefoot apart…for when I look at you now, it's clear that you two were right all along."

"Oh, dad, that's all right," Cera told him gently. "I'm just happy that you've changed your mind and approved of our love. It really means a lot to me, especially since you can be as stubborn as sinking sand."

Topps chuckled and said, "Look who's talking…but it's a good thing you are." He and Cera both laughed, before smiling at each other as he rubbed his frill against hers for one last time. Then he turned back, hiccupping and crying, and walked over to the other parents. Upon his arrival, Tria made room for him, and he gratefully took his place next to her side.

"I'm so glad this is happening now," Topps sniffled to the parents. "They're all such wonderful children…and they really deserve each other."

"Yes, we think so too, Mr. Threehorn," Grandpa Longneck told him contentedly.

Then Topps turned to face Tria, who was looking softly at him. "Tria…I'm so sorry for all of the trouble I caused…and for thinking that you were conspiring against me. You… you were right about Cera and Littlefoot, and…"

"Aww Topsy," Tria told him sweetly, and before either of them said another word, they rubbed their frills and smiled contentedly at each other. Then he looked at Tria's contented face and pleadingly asked, "Tria…can we be together again?"

Tria smiled gently at Topps before answering, "Of course, Topsy. You know, in a way, we are just like Cera and Littlefoot. We may have disagreed and gotten into a big fight, but we still care about each other and you will always be my love."

Topps and Tria chuckled before they smiled at each other rubbed their heads together as Grandma and Grandpa Longneck, Bron, Mama Swimmer and Mama Flyer smiled down at them, knowing that the two of them had made up. Grandpa Longneck then happily said, "Well, I'm really happy about how well everything played out, and I know without a doubt that all of our children will be in a happy marriage forever."

Everyone else nodded in happy agreement before they heard a voice clearing their throat from the front. Turning, the parents noticed that Mr. Thicknose had moved forward so that he stood right behind the two couples, and he looked out at the audience to make sure that he had everyone's attention. Then he cleared his throat and called out, "Ladies and gentlemen…we are here today to celebrate two marriages between four of the most heroic dinosaurs that I have ever known, Littlefoot and Cera and Ducky and Petrie!"

The audience looked on eagerly as Littlefoot and Cera, smiling at each other, placed their front feet so that they were touching those of their loved ones, while Ducky and Petrie, grinning excitedly, took each other's hands. "I may not be a professional at this," Mr. Thicknose said, "But I have known these wonderful young dinosaurs ever since I met them as kids shortly before an intense blizzard struck our valley. Because Ducky was determined to be with her brother Spike and Littlefoot, Cera, and Petrie were determined to find Ducky, they took the initiative and left the safety of the Great Valley to make sure that they would be together again. By a whim of fate, I was the fortunate one who helped guide them on this adventure."

"But on this adventure, I found that they really did not need my guidance. For I knew then that these children were special, for on this journey alone, they determinedly took on the bad weather and plowed resolutely on, joined me in taking on a sharptooth, and helped find food and water for everyone in the midst of the cold time. That was only one time that these young dinosaurs have proven how truly exceptional they are, for they have done so many things, from saving lives to defeating sharpteeth to finding water during the drought we had to helping to keep our herds together. And just now, they have led the way in stopping a plot to massacre the Great Valley and helped make sure that no lives had been lost in this dangerous fight, not to mention they have just help saved the Great Valley from the most dangerous sharptooth of all."

"And today, we celebrate yet another one of their accomplishments, for these special young dinosaurs will be the first dinosaurs that I have ever known to be united in a way that breaks the species divide, not only uniting themselves but bringing the whole Great Valley closer together. Our double wedding here will celebrate the great, unconditional love that our brides and grooms feel for each other. So without any further ado, let us proceed to the exchange of vows!"

Mr. Thicknose then walked forward and gently pushed one of the two slabs of clay that Ruby had brought to him over to Littlefoot and Cera. He looked at them as he asked, "Do you, Littlefoot, agree to take Cera to be your wife?"

"I do," Littlefoot told Mr. Thicknose, and he gently stuck his foot in the clay and placed a footprint there.

Mr. Thicknose smiled, then he turned to Cera and asked, "Do you, Cera, agree to take Littlefoot to be your husband?"

"I do," Cera answered, and she placed her foot in the clay and made a footprint right next to Littlefoot's. Smiling together, Littlefoot and Cera watched Mr. Thicknose walk over to Ducky and Petrie, pushing the other slab of clay over to them.

Mr. Thicknose then cleared his throat before asking, "Do you, Petrie, agree to take Ducky to be your wife?"

"Me do," Petrie answered quickly, as Ducky gave him a very affectionate smile, and he stuck his foot out and placed his footprint in the slab of clay.

Then, Mr. Thicknose turned to Ducky and asked his last question. "Do you, Ducky, agree to take Petrie to be your husband?"

"I do, I do, oh yep yep yep!" Ducky exclaimed, grinning broadly as she placed her footprint next to Petrie's, and everyone grinned excitedly, hardly being able to contain their emotions, as Mr. Thicknose walked back and stood between the two couples.

"Well with that, I now declare..." Mr. Thicknose began, but before he could say another word, Spike ran over to Mr. Thicknose and gave him an insistent look.

"Spike wants to finish it, he does!" Ducky excitedly told him.

Mr. Thicknose nodded in understanding, and he stepped aside and Spike moved to the front, standing in between the two couples. He looked at the audience, smiled, and for the second time that day, he spoke, "Friends now married…friends happy forever…friends can now start kissing!"

Everyone laughed as Spike bowed his head as he stood and watched his best friends look at each other in disbelieving, blissful delight. Then, with their eyes watering with joy and their smiles wider than they had ever been before, Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky, and Petrie leaned forward and pressed their lips against those of their lover's. A warm, thrilling sensation more wonderful than any of them have ever felt coursed through them as they felt the sensation of the kiss that they knew would last in their hearts forever. Then, both couples broke away from their kiss and Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky, and Petrie each smiled affectionately at and looked delightedly into the eyes of their new spouse as the crowd began to erupt with loud, thunderous cheers.

As Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky, and Petrie each looked into their lover's overjoyed eyes and heard the enthusiastic cheers of the audience, they knew for certain that their dreams and desires have finally came true and they could live happily within the Great Valley forever in the company of their beloved. And as the audience cheered, Spike led the way back down the aisle, followed by Littlefoot and Cera, still looking and grinning at each other, and Ducky and Petrie, still crying with delight, and together, they walked down the aisle and towards the setting bright circle, and began to happily imagine their futures together.

THE END

Thanks everyone for reading! Please tell me what you think! I will also write an epilogue to wrap up some loose ends.

Also, if you liked this story, be sure to read the sequel to this story, The Passage to the Future, which is also on this site!