Spirits: The Tragedy of Mars

The Wedding Day (1.5 yrs later)

A year and a half had advanced, and this day was my wedding day. We spent the entire previous night rehearsing, freaking out, and binge eating. I woke up to an empty bed, as my fiance was already getting her makeup done by the most talented artists in the world, and that apparently took hours. Meanwhile, I had to get my hair trimmed by a local barber, along with my father, brother, Mercury, Uranus and Nebula. I designated Jupiter as my best man, and he actually seemed joyful at getting all made up. It had made me so happy to see a genuine smile on my brother's face after so long, especially as he was blissfully unaware of my ascension to power before his very eyes.

"Jupiter, it's so good to see you smile!" I winked at him, and grinned back.

"Well, thank you, you're lookin good, brother!" He returned my wink and turned his beaming to a smirk.

"Indeed he's right. You look like a true king, Mars!" My father winked at me and gave out a chuckle.
He was being attended to by Uranus, since both of their trims were finished. Uranus put him in his outfit, entirely blue suede. This was the first time I'd seen my father look his age. Yes, he had looked sickly and a little old before, but now I could see all of the wrinkles in his face and arms. His eyes were not as open as they used to be, he looked frail, but happy. And I suppose that is the best way to behave when you're old and decrepit, I wouldn't know.

What do you mean 'you wouldn't know'? This obviously happened millennia ago, like during Pangea, way before humans existed. You're mega old.

While I may have been alive for a lot longer than you, I certainly am not old and decrepit. I'll get to that in a minute.

Everyone was done with their trim, and we proceeded to get into our suits. Jupiter was wearing the suit he wore on the day of his rejection, which looked just as good on him in that moment as it did during his rejection. He had built a little more muscle mass, as he started to eat more throughout my engagement. I wore a black suit, which complimented my reddish skin tone and made me look extremely dashing.

"Mars! Mercury!" My father called. "Come here, old sport!" We both came over to him, his expression a tad pale.

"Yes father?" I knelt by his side.

"I wanted to tell you about the ties with Tenor. Today you and Mercury will sign a treaty aligning your two nations as one."

"Wait, Mercury and I?"

"Yes, dear boy. You ought to have a little experience with official documents once you become king, right?"

"Becomes king?" Mercury looked over at me with a mixed sense of excitement and anxiety.

"Shh! Keep your voice down. I don't want Jupiter to hear quite yet."

"Mars, you're getting married today, why don't you just tell him now?"

"Just trust me, Merc." I grabbed his collar, and looked him in his eyes, one of his frequently looked over at Jupiter, who was adjusting his front coat pocket in the mirror, oblivious to our conversation.

"Okay, well hey, congrats!" He nudged my shoulder. My father softly chuckled and pet my head, gently messing up my hair, but not enough to ruin it. I went over to the mirror where Jupiter was to fix it. He nudged me also.

"I'm proud of you, brother!" He said to me.
"Really?" I queried.

"I've looked up to you for years. Of course, I am. You're going to kill it today, Mars." He patted my back strongly and walked away, as I continued finger combing my hair and adjusting my tie. Everyone else left the room.

"Master Mars!" I heard Uranus call. I looked at him through the mirror. "Are you ready? It's nearly time! Nebula just started his prelude, and the groomsmen and bridesmaids have already begun to march down the aisle." Uranus was our wedding planner, as he was very good about keeping time and keeping things organized.

"I am!" I walked over to him. He puts his arms on my shoulders, looked me in my eyes, his were tear-stricken.

"You're all so grown up..., your Majesty. It will be an honor to serve you. Congratulations, be proud of the man you've become." I smiled, as tears started forming in my eyes. Uranus wiped my face and reprimanded me, "There's no time for crying, young Master, go! It's your time!" He gently shoved me near the door, as I stumbled out into the public eye next to Pluto, Gaia's maid of honor. Thousands of camera flashes nearly blinded me, but I did just as we had rehearsed. I locked arms with her, and proceeded to march in step with the music until we approached the altar. Pluto went her separate way next to Luna, one of Gaia's other bridesmaids, however first nudging my ribs and winking at me a tad menacingly. I winked and smiled back.

A sharp and jarring glissando on the piano queued in my bride. I looked at her, and I couldn't believe my eyes. More cameras flashing, but she wasn't fazed by it in the slightest. She wore a gold dress with a long white veil that draped as far as the entire room. Her makeup made her look more like a masterful piece of art, with cut creases in her eye shadow that was different shades of red, similar to my skin tone, contrasting her green skin tone. She walked down the aisle with Mercury, since that was the closest she had to a father figure. Mercury beamed at me, proud that his sister was actively marching down the aisle to be married. At this point, tears were streaming down my face at her otherworldly beauty. Her amulet, her ring, her dress, it all matched beautifully. I have always loved the feminine ability to make everything perfect. She approached the altar and stood before me as if I was even worthy to be in her presence.

Nebula got up from his seat, and approached the altar to officiate the ceremony.
"Ladies, gentlemen, and beloved, we have gathered here on this blessed day to unite the prince of Alto and the duchess of Tenor in holy matrimony. Truly beautiful!" He continued on, and it was a little hard to focus on what he was saying, I couldn't keep my gaze off of my bride. He went into tangents a few times, but both of us performed our traditional marriage rituals.

"Duchess Gaia of Tenor, do you take Prince Mars of Alto to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do." She announced without hesitation. Nebula beamed.

"And do you, Prince Mars of Alto take Duchess Gaia of Tenor to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, for as long as you both shall live?"

"Of course, I do." I held my bride's hands tighter as I declared it proudly.

"Perfect! I am so happy to pronounce you two as husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride!" Nebula exclaimed as he patted me on the back before I gently grabbed Gaia's face and kissed her. I heard more cameras flashing, but it felt as if no one was there. It was just her and I. Nothing was more powerful than our love in that moment. Not even my desire to be king. She was everything I could ever want in that moment and more. She was the world, and I didn't conquer her, I earned her.