We hold Sky and Khrys's wedding on the beach, a not too formal affair. Their joy is my own. Bronze is best man, trying not to burn his rented tuxedo. Why there is a tuxedo rental in this tiny town, I have no idea. Maybe a lot of people like weddings here. Probably not Pokemon marriages, which are rare, but I think anyone would love this.
I imagine myself standing here. With a revolting jolt, I realize that the only person that I can imagine being on the altar with... is Morty. Ugh. No.
Maybe it's just because he's the only man I know. Okay, that's not true, let's do a head count. There's the Professor- old, creepy, senile. Nope. There's Ethan- Marill. Nope. There's Silver- I don't even want to think about that. Maybe there is someone out there for me. Just not any of them.
My fantasies drain away as Dill reads through the rest of the ceremony. "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Through my golden-flecked eyes, their joy is mine. Lilly scatters the flower petals, she was the flower girl but pretty much everything else that involved a girl. To be honest, I know nothing about weddings. I don't think that the happy couple cares. Sky, holding the bouquet of golden-yellow roses, flings them to the watching five of us.
Everyone cheers.
"Where do you want to go?" Khrys asks suddenly.
"For the honeymoon?" Sky says, excited.
"We sort of have to save the world." Dill points out. The rest of the team nods.
"I don't want to go back through the islands. What do you guys say to another week or so?" I suggest.
Everyone cheers.
The afterparty is food, and lots of food, while dancing in the moonlight. I clip speakers to my Pokegear and play the radio loud, no commercials.
Sky and Khrys collide in a beautiful aerial dance, their silhouettes poised against the night sky, stars bright on their skin.
Bronze and Lilly are attempting to dance, mainly her laughing at his attempt at tangoing with a rose from the bouquet between his teeth. He eventually takes off his tux and just goes back to dancing in the sand.
Dill and Toxis sit together at the edge, near me and the buffet. "Bachelor party?" Dill suggests with a wry smile.
Toxis shrugs it off. "There's someone out there for us, buddy."
Dill looks at the stars, bobbing his head to the music. "Yeah."
Something in his tone is off. I flash to him, reaching out my influence to tap into his thoughts. Longing overcomes me more powerful than the waterfall.
Look at me. He pleads. Please.
Toxis is still looking up.
Can't it be like when I was little and you used to teach me how to fight? I may be big, but carry me. Look at me again.
It's so intense, it holds me there, unable to pull away. Quickly overcoming my need to comfort him is the realization that if he turns around and sees my golden eyes he'll know I'm intruding.
He doesn't notice. He puts his head gently on Toxis's spines, and says, "What do you think the one will be like?"
"She'll be... funny. Smart. Someone who can hold her own. Someone who likes affection. Lots of it."
I can be your one. Please.
Dill's thoughts are invading my head, now giving me a headache. I pull away to see Sky in my face, her fanged grin wide.
"Enjoying the cake?"
"Oh. That. Yes. Good cake."
"I just wanted to thank you. You know, if you had never found me, I would never have all this. So if I don't make it..."
I feel my stomach churn. "Please don't say that. You have to make it."
"If I don't make it, just know that I am not your slave. I choose to be here and I will fight for you. Got it?"
I nod, and hug her, tears streaming down my face.
She raises her bigger set of wings, and says, "Oh! Also, try not to pry. Hopefully I was the only one who noticed. Maybe you should get colored contacts?"
I sniff gratefully. The feelings are mutual throughout the team.
We can save the entire world.
So why do I just want to sit here in the moonlight forever?
