By: M Monroe Casey
Part One
The couple stood at the end of the line but with two journeys taken in life that ended up in the same place together eventually. From Monica Dancer, it was a path taken throughout Arizona as a young child to Oregon then Castle Johnson. In terms of Clariette Jordan or CJ, it was a path throughout Pyroclastia City as a young child to Oregon then back to her own world.
Looking at the commonality of Oregon, it was truly fitting that they would meet on the shores of the illustrious and unforgettable Pacific Ocean. Throughout the soft waves, very much like their own shared world now, they kindled their love. Holding hands in the early moments of their beautiful connection, all they would do for days on end was talk, drink and dance.
Sure, they were separated across dimensions and more after that moment but not even the intense magical bending powers of the Count could keep apart how they felt. Monica kept that photo that they took together with her at all times, holding onto it and knowing that she would do anything it took to make it back to her. Even after she learned of the Curse of the Castle and that her memories might be taken, she knew all hope wasn’t lost. She would fight through it and find her beloved Clariette still. Because that’s just what her heart and soul were meant to do.
But as they held hands like the formative stance of one former Goddess of Beauty in a small room in the south of Chandler, Arizona, they both knew every bit of the journey had been absolutely and holistically worth it. Then, as the two of them promptly finished their “I do’s” in front of a collection of their Earth based support systems, the grand group of “Earthly Windowsill Project Regulars,” clapped along.
Ranging from Monica’s parents to Baleigh’s whole family and the other six Goddesses in attendance, the leading ladies of the whole event smiled at first before they shared their umteenth kiss in just as many hours. Finally sealing the deal there.
With Timmie and Jimmie themselves hollering and crying in the second row on the right, it was all falling together perfectly but the next location was calling as time was running low for them. But I suppose such is the life when June Seventh completely forgot her string instrument for the processional music so they had to improvise with a series of partly filled glass bottles and small woodland sticks.
Looking at her left-handed watch, Monica nodded as they went towards the door. Following each other to the exit, hand in hand, CJ’s florally patterned knee-high blue dress softly swished in the same velocity as her Monica’s florally patterned red one. Each with a type of rare rose embroidered and designed into the side, it matched their equally shaded floral pieces in their blonde and brunette hair respectively.
With a few hugs given to their immediate family nearby, the Dancer clan waved them off as they waved back to them and everyone else. Heading out into the setting sun of the Arizonan late autumn. Looking off into the distance, towards Crowopolis floating above them all, CJ opened up a portal that they both stepped into promptly. One that led them directly to Old Pyroclastia and the next main stage of their unique ceremony.
Part Two
As their golden portal closed behind them in the immediate backdrop of another setting sun, CJ and Monica were already progressing onward with their blue and red flats onto the soft ground just outside of the City.
Walking up to an event center that her parents rented, Clariette led the twosome as they approached the Pyroclastian half of their entourage with smiles and waves abounded.
With CJ’s parents and extended family, Marche, Veronica, Hagro, Liahuk, Augustin, Quirlain, Bnonoa and a few others in attendance, it was truly a spectacle to behold as in the center of gathering, there was the typical and ceremonial giant golden clock that is found in each and every Pyroclastian wedding.
Assuming their spots in the center of this organically designed artistic wonder, the others gathered fully around them, left foot touching right of the one next to them, all the way around.
Keeping this shape and idea in mind, each member of the group would step forward with one left hand full of silver flower petals and one right hand of golden sand. Dropping first the golden sand around them with a cheer, it began.
First, Augustin went.
Then, Hagro followed by Liahuk.
After Marche, Veronica and more.
One by one, they did it all as the procession brought itself back to Augustin Tadala. Once they emptied the sand from their hand, they would snap with that same finger. Forming a slowly growing beat together. Smiling at two individuals he grew to enjoy throughout his connections between his father and new stepmother, he made eye contact with CJ then dropped the silver petals from his left. Snapping immediately after in the same unison as his right, simultaneously stepping back to the edge of the circle.
This same process moved from on from his right towards Hagro, Liahuk, Marche, Veronica, etc. all over again.
Once it ended, the whole group surrounded the couple with one big group hug as they felt the Pyroclastian energy and love all around. Pulsating from each member of that big group, the ceremonies of CJ’s homeworld came to an end as she looked over to see Veronica and Monica hugging on the edge of it all.
Two sisters who fought through the adversities of life and love but still ended up in their own individually branded paradises, nonetheless. Two beings who knew that maybe they would never find love after what happened in the Castle truly rocked their souls but they still found it regardless. Here they were and as Monica held her twin in her arms with a beautiful smile of almost unequaled joy, CJ knew she never loved her before more than she did right now.
“Well, everyone… The Earth dwellers should be there soon so… let’s go. Cal and Tadala want to see all of you too, I’m sure.” Interrupted CJ in the festivities.
Agreeing with one half of the Stars on the big day, the whole group followed her golden portal this time to their timeless world. Onward to the big party that awaited them all.
Part Three
Stepping onto the similar shaded sand that they were just celebrating with, the whole group looked off to see the Earthly crew arriving at the same “time” using the Smile of the World that Monica borrowed her Baleigh to access their world.
Holding hands and walking towards the whole collaborative efforts of their two homeworlds, the two Windowsill-Watchers stopped for a second in a shared silence to appreciate all of what they have seen and accomplished in this massive undertaking.
Through this project, they met the Tadala brothers and the Goddesses.
They saw the humor of the Roommates to the Count and the losses of Roberto.
They saw ties get broken, reshapen and changed forever.
They saw a revolution start and ultimately stop under their watchful eyes.
But still, even with their unique living situation, they never felt truly out of it. Every soul currently sitting on their patio that was drinking a cocktail, mocktail or the other had directly contributed to their lives in some way or another. So, it truly made sense to party and dance with them for “hours” on end in everyone’s most comfortable half-casual outfits.
Kissing her love on the cheek, Monica then guided them towards the whole and prosperous dancefloor ahead.
Standing in a complete and massive dance circle, even Cal and Tadala seemed to bop their animalistic heads to the happy beats around them.
Carrying them all into the new age of the Cosmos.
One where the cultures of Earth and Pyroclastia became just a little closer as Lillie LaDestino and Jessica Maddy did a partner-based-shimmy routine in the center of the dance circle. Naturally, this only sparked a two person dance competition throughout all in attendance as they began to pair off, all in the attempts to win the bragging rights at stake.
With Lillie and Jessica going first, Lenna-Anna Nicole and Vittoria Ivonee went next. Followed by Baleigh Sofia Luisa and Nathaly Queen and Delanie and Harold Evelyn after. KJ joined Heldum while Bnonoa went with Udo as the song changed per group.
Pair by pair, the applause reached its truest height though when Veronica and Marche brought a whole vaulting and gymnastics routine to the space, blowing everyone else out of the water and basically securing the win then and there. Tossing his beloved into the air and catching V in his ridiculously muscular arms, it was then evidently clear it was all over as their combined-and-mixed salsa and breaking routine concluded after.
Stepping aside to watch the circle fill in to let the moshing commence, Monica asked the nice question of her love, staring into her beautiful eyes with a sense of true intoxication, “Hey babe, should we get our bags? This has been fun but I think the Goddesses can finish it from here and end the party when everyone wants to stop. Assuming they ever do at this rate. Hahaha.”
“Oh, most definitely. Let’s gooooo before another round of the dance battles start…”
“You know it. I don’t feel like carrying you again… Mrs. High Goddess that Can’t Dance…”
“Hey! Rude!” Playfully hitting her beloved on the arm, the two of them stole away from the group to grab their bags. Giving another two temporary portals to Baleigh and Lillie, they said their goodbyes before heading out in a standard transportation option of their own.
Stepping out of their magical method of movement in unison onto the sandy shores of the Pacific Ocean, just south of the center of Cannon Beach, Oregon, they stopped hand-in-hand for a second as their latest portal closed.
With a heavy overcast above, the light of CJ’s hoop dimmed with the closing magic as a bright flash in the sky almost immediately after it rumbled across overhead. There wasn’t too much other light there but the two of them were back where they once fell in love all those “years” ago so it made perfect sense that their honeymoon brought them back here again. After the fateful river gorge where they literally met, this is where they came to spend those aforementioned nights of drinking and dancing while eating a combination of sushi and pizza.
Looking back and remembering the reason they both thought of this place for their first trip as a married couple, Monica once craved the warm, melted wonder known as a nice four-cheese pizza here while Clariette oogled the idea of a nice salmon sushi roll by the seaside. Not knowing how to please them both on their third date, they came up with a compromise to treat it like a “mall food court,” and just get what they want to eat individually but have it together. So, with those two exact dishes on hand, they eagerly knew just what lay in store for them now.
Sitting down in the beauty of their compromise and in the shelter from the downpouring rain, they finished it very very promptly after the “hours” of dancing that came before that completely wore them down physically. After disposing of their trash and recyclables, they took to walking on the lit-up beach with their arrival storm coming to pass and move along finally. Leaving only a calm night of the Cosmos’ stars shining down upon them as they slowly moved along.
Stopping for a second and admiring the roaring dark waves ahead, they stopped to kiss one more time. Embraced in their eternal love as beyond them still about fifty meters out, above the mighty ocean’s movements and sways, Tadala opened up a portal to roar across the multitude of the heavens themselves.
It was a pounding and deafening sound that turned heads across everyone and everything then. All who heard it looked, marveled and appreciated for it was a single roar symbolizing one thing and one alone.
This day, love has truly conquered all.
The End.
