Chapter Twenty-Three: Double Wedding
December 2, 2023 at 8:57 AM
The military frigate returned to the port at night and all the residents greeted their prince and princess and other returning people with soldiers, as heroes returning from a great war. The people greeted the returnees with both regular candy crackers and fireworks made from rockets. Prince Sonic and Princess Sally immediately announced that they are now ready to get married and both of their kingdoms will not only be united, but will also take into account any wishes with complaints from any people and will do everything for them so that everyone is happy and lives well. In addition, they officially announced that the wedding will not only be in honor of them, but also in honor of the second couple of princess Amy Rose and citizen Silver. The wedding, as Sonic and Sally promised, will be ready tomorrow and absolutely everyone is invited. Afterwards, everyone from the people and even the strikers who helped the soldiers returned home to their families to see them again, hug them and tell them about what happened to them. Sonic, Sally, Robotnik, Amy and Silver, along with the soldiers, returned back to the palace.
The chef and Maria were waiting for them, and they immediately ran to hug Silver and almost cried. They were incredibly happy to see him and were so worried about him. The hedgehog was even pleased that they were worried about him and so unexpectedly ran to hug him. In honor of their return, the chef and his daughter invited absolutely everyone, even the soldiers, to the dining room for dinner. Everyone then went to the dining room to have a snack before bed. Everyone except Amy and Silver. They stayed near the exit for now and decided to talk among themselves:
β Forgive me, Silver. I... Well, more precisely, Rouge and I lied that we were from another land. I wanted to tell you the truth that I am actually a mermaid princess, but I was afraid that you would laugh at me and think I was crazy. Or youβll think Iβm a monster and wonβt want to be with someone like me.
β Why did you get that, Amy? I loved you for who you are, kind, honest and always ready to help. You helped me resolve the conflict with my adoptive father and sister. And besides, you didnβt abandon me when those evil mermaids kidnapped me. You gathered all the people, came for me and saved me. A person is always judged by his actions, not by his appearance. And a mermaid... Or, for example, a siren... Moreover!
β But I lied to you all, that I was always a human, although this was not the case. And moreover, I hid from you that at first I was in love with Prince Sonic, and at first I simply considered you a friend.
β So what?... Yes, you did wrong by doing such things. But even less, you recognized them as mistakes, tried to correct yourself, and even honestly admitted it. You immediately realized your mistakes and tried to correct them. And all this, first of all, does not punish you, but forgives you. Moreover, you brought all the people together, united them and inspired this battle to save me. Even I later joined you in the battle. You gave everyone hope for a bright future for every person and that people and mermaids can be together. Even if they are of a different type of race and not the same. Not to mention, the mermaids might finally realize that we humans aren't really a threat to them. The only problem is that you are a princess by rank. Sorry, I have nothing against princes and princesses. I just thought that you were an ordinary peasant woman or someone else from ordinary people. Well, for example, I or my parents were before death when I was born and became an orphan, as they told me.
β A! I'm sorry, I didn't think that being a princess would hurt you so much. β the hedgehog apologized to the hedgehog, and he answered her:
β Come on! Do not apologize! But due to the fact that Iβm essentially a civilian, and youβre a princess, we probably wonβt be able to get married. I love you too, Amy, but this is all a stupid law. Every prince and princess always marry only for convenience. By the way, some people donβt want to get married because of this, but want to marry for love, but their parents force them, because if at least one of them refuses, then there may be a war between countries and conflict. Only Sonic and Sally were lucky, since they had been introduced to each other since childhood and were still friends. And when they grew up, they fell in love with each other. They are lucky and they just want to get married as soon as possible. But we cannot, because by law the prince is obliged to marry the princess, and the princess to the prince. It never happened that, for example, a prince married an ordinary peasant woman. β explaining all this, Silver himself hung his head in despair.
β O! β All she could say and lowered her head down. βApparently Iβm still destined to become sea foam!β But donβt despair yourself, Silver. Iβm sure you may be lucky and someday you will meet some peasant woman who will love you and be similar in character to me.
At first Silver wanted to agree with this, but after thinking for a long time he decided that it would not be right. Rolling his eyes, the hedgehog grumbled to himself:
β Stupid law! If only there was a way to get around it!
Their conversation was accidentally overheard by Robotnik, Sonic and Sally. They themselves almost cried with joy, imagining them together. Coming out of the dining room, prince Sonic spoke:
β Sorry for overhearing and interfering in your conversation, but this stupid law is a zero gap! We could help you with this.
β When we get married and become king and queen, we will simply repeal this law or rewrite it so that the prince and princess themselves have the right to choose who they love. At least another prince or princess, at least a peasant or peasant woman. β said Sally.
β Or we can play it so that you, Silver, will become a prince for a while. Therefore, after you marry a princess, the limited status of a prince will disappear, but for that, the status of a king will appear and remain with you forever.
β No, uncle, it wonβt be wrong. This is called a lie. Here we need to do it honestly and according to the law. β Sonic explained.
β Itβs okay, weβll think of something. β Sally assured him.
β But why? β asked Amy.
β I do not know. When you think about something for a long time, sooner or later... β Before she could finish, Amy interrupted her:
β No no no. Why are you helping us with this?
β A! Just... You and Silver are so similar and close. You somehow remind me and Sonic. And we donβt want Silver to look for someone else when he already loves you. And even more so for you to become sea foam! You still have your whole life ahead of you and you should not live it all in vain.
β Sally is right. There is true love between you. β says Robotnik, walking up to the hedgehog and the hedgehog and bringing them slightly closer to each other. Then he approaches Amy and turns to Silver: β Silver, you wonβt find such a girl for yourself in a hundred years. Believe me, I know, I looked for it myself.
Amy sighed and said:
β Silver, I love you, but I donβt want to pretend to be anyone anymore.
β I understand.
Sally scratched her chin and an idea came to her mind.
β Wait! I think I have an idea. What if we have a double wedding?
β Double? How is that? β Robotnik didnβt understand.
β Oh, uncle! A double wedding is when not one couple, but two are married at the same time. That is, tomorrow Sally and I and Silver and Amy will get married at the same time.
β Is that possible? β asked Silver.
β Well... β Robotnik scratched the top of his bald head, thinking out loud: β In principle, Sonic and Sally are getting married. They are called prince and princess. And since you will get married at the same time as them, essentially nothing will be violated. In fact, one of the couples is a prince and a princess, which means the law is partially respected. In both cases, since you Silver will marry the princess, she will become a queen, and at the same time you will receive the title of king.
β Okay, how will we then rule and monitor the people? We donβt have our own castle on land. β Rose explained.
β Why not? What is our palace for? You will live in this castle and rule the nearest city, and for one thing you will monitor the people.
β And you? β asked Silver.
β What are we? Sonic and I will move to live in my castle in my country and rule there. Sally explained as she hugged Sonic. β Sonic and I can entrust you two with the rule of this castle with the people who live nearby?
Amy and Silver looked at each other, thinking about it and deciding on it, and nodded at the same time.
***
The next day, Prince Sonic and Princess Sally sent out real invitations in the form of parchment tickets to everyone in the city. Everyone came, even the same ones who went on strike and helped in yesterday's battle. There were a lot of witnesses, but as they say, in crowded conditions, but no offense. In addition, by coincidence, Sally's royal parents came to visit the wedding along with their security guard and were also witnesses at the wedding. Two future grooms, Prince Sonic and the butler Silver, in business tuxedos, stood near the arched altar and waited for their brides. While they were waiting, the chameleon himself arrived to them, who promised to marry Prince Sonic with Princess Sally. β Sorry, I'm a little late! Did I miss something? β Yes, something changed for us and we decided to have a double wedding. Silver also wants to get married at the same time as us. β Is it true? Okay, I'll marry him for the same thing. Who is his future wife? β Espio asked. β Princess Amy Rose. β Silver answered honestly and confidently. β Mermaid? β asked the chameleon, since he was also in the know, for rumors about the mermaid princess and her rescue feat spread throughout the city very quickly. β Quite original! Two brides, Sally and Amy, in their wedding dresses, were still in the palace at that time, standing in front of the mirror and trying on their dresses. Robotnik approaches them and asks: β Well, beauties, are you ready? β For a long time. β Sally answers. β Me too. β Amy adds, but then hangs her head and becomes sad. She was a little sorry that Rouge wasn't with them and that she couldn't see it. However, she tried to hide her sadness about it under a smile. The prince's uncle's butler took each princess by their hands, standing in the middle and slowly walked with them to the backyard, leading them to the wedding arch, where the grooms were already waiting for them. When they left through the back door into the kitchen, the witnesses turned in their direction and watched as they slowly walked towards the arch, first going down the stone steps. Rose was still sad that Rouge wasn't here. Now, if she were here too, perhaps she would be proud of them. But what does she see? Somewhere there, closer to the corner, behind one of the apple trees, Rouge herself was hiding in a crown with a trident in her right hand. She quietly looked out and watched Amy. She easily saw her from afar and was surprised to see her in such a situation. The sea queen with tentacles instead of legs, put one of her tentacles to her lips, like an index finger, and quietly shushed her, asking her not to give her away. Amy was incredibly glad that she herself came to them so unnoticed and would see how she and Silver got married. Judging by the way Rouge looked at her and smiled, she was really proud of her. As Robotnik and his two brides stepped onto the red carpet and walked slowly along it, one of the musicians with a baton tapped a couple of times on the tree and began to conduct. The birds that were sitting on a tree branch began to sing wedding music under the direction of the conductor. The grooms stood near the arch and looked at their brides. While they were walking towards them, Silver asked Sonic: β Prince Sonic, thereβs only one thing I donβt understand. Why did you postpone your wedding to Sally if you and she were already in love and wanted to get married? β Sally and I were just afraid that when we became king and queen after the wedding, being king and queen would be scary and difficult. But the witch... That is, Queen Rouge, in her own words, and Amy, who listened to Sally and Iβs advice, convinced us otherwise. Sally and I realized at this point that we were still ready to become king and queen. So we can rule well. I'm sure you and Amy will do the same. Of course it will be hard, but with experience you will quickly learn and the people will love you as good rulers. Most importantly, make sure that the people do not die out from hunger, lack of money, too hard work, or, for example, from the plague. β We promise! β Silver answers him. By that time, the brides had already approached them and took the hands of their grooms. Sally took Sonic's hand and Amy took Silver's. Robotnik stepped aside and sat down in his seat. By that time the birds had finished singing. β Ladies and Gentlemen! All creatures, young and old! β the chameleon began his speech, raising both hands to the top and moving them to the sides. β We have all gathered together today to witness the union of Princess Sally Acorn and Prince Sonic Hedgehog. β Just prince Sonic! β the prince asked politely. β Just princess Sally! β she also said. Espio smiled back and continued: β The union of Princess Sally and Prince Sonic, the strength of their feelings is obvious. The power of their love is undeniable, as is that of the couple Silver and Princess Amy Rose. Also known to us all as the mermaid princess. Their marriage union we also witness and consider simultaneously with the union of Princess Sally and Prince Sonic. Do you agree, princesses Sally and Amy, to take Prince Sonic and Silver as husbands, to live with them in sorrow and joy until death do you part? β Agree. β Sally answers. β I'll take it. β Amy answers. β And you, prince Sonic and Silver, agree to take princesses Sally and Amy Rose as your wives, to live with them in sorrow and joy until death do you part? β Agree. β Silver answered immediately, and Prince Sonic hesitated for a minute, a little afraid. However, having gathered his courage, he still answers: β Agree. β Rings please! β asked Espio and Hans Barsuchian Anderson came out to them, handing them a wooden tray with four gold rings on their index fingers. Sonic and Silver each took one of their rings and placed them on their brides' fingers. Then Sally and Amy themselves took their rings and put them on the fingers of their husbands. β So. Prince Sonic and princess Sally, as well as Silver and princess Amy. I pronounce you husbands and wives, and kings and queens. You can kiss! The witnesses at the wedding and even Sally's parents began shooting firecrackers and throwing ribbons, not forgetting to shout enthusiastically. Even Rouge, hiding behind a tree, clapped her hands. The brides and grooms kiss each other on the lips, and then the brides stand with their backs to the witnesses and throw their bouquets back. The sea witch queen jumped in place and began to quickly spin her tentacles, imitating a helicopter propeller. Flying in the air, she flies straight and grabs one of the bouquets of flowers into her hands. Then it flies up. The second bouquet falls to the floor and several girls run towards him, who also want to get married. They pushed each other, hit each other and tried to get to the bouquet, when suddenly the rabbit Cream runs past them with a tackle and grabs the bouquet of flowers herself. After rolling across the floor, she hands it to Charmy the bee. Rouge at this time, flying up to the sky on her tentacles, waved goodbye to Rose herself, believing that Amy saw her at that moment and flew back into the sea. Of course Amy noticed her, as did some of the witnesses. β βI hope she also finds her soul mate.β β Amy thought about her. Sonic picks up Sally, and Silver picks up Amy, and each of them carries his bride in his arms. Silver and Amy headed towards the castle, while Sonic and Sally walked towards the carriage on which Sally's parents arrived. Getting into the carriage, they went home to their country together. The union between the countries took place, and Silver became the new king by marriage. β This is a real double wedding! β Tails said hugging Anderson. β Yeah? - Knuckles asked. β You donβt know yet what I have prepared for the bachelor party. Yes, Silver was not a prince. But since he married the princess, it turns out that he rightfully becomes the king, just as the princess herself becomes the queen.
