Chapter Thirteen: The Trap
Lune nervously got out of the rickshaw, helping his wife down. Although he was a good friend of Princess Louise, he hadn't forgotten about the terrible things his father had done.
Yuki kissed his cheek to give him courage. He smiled gratefully at her before linking arms and walking into the Althean castle. They were led into the large throne room, where the wedding would take place. Lune gripped his crown shards, the ones he had gathered after his father's duel, prepared to use them if his father made an appearance. He may be the king, now that the kingdom could formally accept him and denounce his father for his deeds, but he still felt like a scared little kitten-prince at times. They were seated at the front row, just in case.
Renaldo Moon was at the front, next to Baron, for his role as best man. The Ylthean King was impressed that they had been able to make a tuxedo large enough for the criminal, who was strangely a good cat, underneath his fat hide and terrible reputation.
Lune looked up, surprised to find a sharply dressed human woman sitting on his other side. She looked at him and grinned. She stuck out her hand warmly.
"You must be King Lune. I'm Haru's mother."
Lune blinked, remembering a split second too late who Haru was. He smiled warmly at her and kissed her hand.
"Thank you for your daughter. She's pretty cool."
Yuki reached over and slapped his shoulder playfully.
"Don't tell me you're crushing on her, now of all times!"
He grinned before kissing his wife hard.
"Yuki, she let me marry you. Shoot, she helped me gain the courage to do it. If that isn't cool, I don't know what is."
Naoko laughed warmly, still a little tired. The redhead was grateful that her marble necklace had been upgraded, so that she could understand Yltheans as well as Altheans. She faced the front, and looked at her almost son in law. He was all in white, and appeared to be one of the least nervous people in the room. The orange cat had a dreamy smile on his face, completely calm. The woman fought her urge to giggle.
Hiromi hadn't taken the cat side of Haru's life as well as her mother had, so King Dominic erased her memories of Althea. The once-brunette had taken her best friend's reaction pretty hard, clinging to her mother for support.
Naoko had arrived the night before her daughter's wedding, determined that she would not miss her girl's special day. Dominic had been very accommodating to the woman that had born his reborn daughter, ever since meeting the woman. She thought it was funny, that she was getting along with her ex-husband's cat counterpart better than she ever had with her ex-husband himself. At least the Althean King wasn't shy about telling their daughter how much he loved her.
To be honest, there were times when she felt like she was married to the white king. But considering her past with marriage (and the fact that Haru told her that Altheans don't have divorce), she was content with slow steps. Dominic was completely respecting that, although she had caught him looking at her more than once; admiration clear in his sapphire eyes. She laughed lightly at herself, trying to keep the light blush from staining her fair cheeks.
The musicians in the corner started the wedding march, and a few flower kittens came down the aisle in sky blue dresses. Naoko had to resist her urge to pick one up and set her on her human lap; they were so adorable.
Then, the magic moment came. King Dominic appeared at the end of the aisle, a ghostlike Haru at his side. If she were a human, the dress would have looked great on her. It still did when she was a cat, but her white fur made for a monochromatic look. She also looked perfectly calm, squeezing her father's arm with one gloved hand and a bouquet of pale yellow roses in the other hand.
The king and princess of Althea glided down the aisle with dignity; Haru's shining brown orbs locked on her groom.
About three feet away from meeting him, a giant longhair appeared out of nowhere, and grabbed Haru.
"I'll be taking this!" he gloated.
Haru suddenly jammed her bouquet directly into his chest, shoving it in as far as it would go. The cat jerked and heaved, staring at her. His head nodded slightly as Baron came up behind him and gave a good whack over the head with his cane, making the gray cat howl. Haru managed to slip away from his paw, a crystal blade now sticking above the crushed bouquet. The blade was stained red.
Lune stood up, his eyes on fire as he approached his father. The old king looked up, his eyes starting to fade.
"Son… help me."
"No." Lune said firmly, opening up his shard bag. "You've done enough damage."
Baron stepped around the mound to hug Haru, grinning at the large cat.
"You were too late anyway." He and his bride locked eyes, and then nodded. In sync with each other, they pulled off their right gloves, to reveal a handsome matching pair of rings.
"Baron and I were married earlier today, while everyone was asleep and unaware. This wedding was just to draw you out."
Lune held the bag toward his father, concentrating hard as the dethroned monarch gave a final howl of displeasure.
Then, in front of everyone's eyes, the old king changed into an ugly black color, and he solidified into a block of granite. Lune sadly closed the bag while bowing to the Althean King.
"My soldiers will transport him back to Ylthea. I know a spot where he will be most at home. My apologies again, for what he has done."
Dominic waved one hand, grinning.
"As long as he stays just like that, I'll call it even." He turned to the rest of the wedding guests. "Sorry about not letting all of you see them married, but our princess's plan was just too good to resist. Let's adjourn to the dining hall, and celebrate."
His words were greeted with much enthusiasm, as people started to file out. Naoko lunged for her daughter, avoiding the blade.
"You were right, sweetheart; it worked like a charm!"
Haru giggled, but, as they usually did, her eyes strayed to her groom, who was also grinning evilly.
Now, everyone truly could move on with their lives. The white princess had seen what had been passing between her parents, and to be honest, she was on her father's side of the not-quite argument. She knew the Althean king would make her mother happier than her dad ever did.
He was no coward.
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Lots of love to; QuickStar, Lanari, kittydemon18, EarthGurdian, Watersoul the Head Star Walker, Youkai no Yume, Elvin Magi, InkyManipulation, Muu-chan, Thundercat, and mangafairy for the funny and thought-provoking reviews.
I hope everyone liked the ending to this one, just for the pwning that the Cat King got. Well, 'till the nest story!
YarningChick