Chapter 4: The Wedding

They traveled through the vast network at pipes. Wendy lead everyone, while she carried her dress in a clear bag, her shoes, train, pearls, and perfume in various boxes. It was a large amount to carry, but she was able to manage while Iggy held the map.

"Don't I have a say in the matter," Luigi asked. He had finally gotten used to walking on his new feet, and he was dressed in his tuxedo, and it may have appeared to have been a bit loose on him, better a little loose than way to tight, His hair was gelled up and styled as a pompadour, even his moustache appeared to have been groomed.

"Do you want to say anything?" Larry sneered. His Mohawk was pulled back flat and held in an elastic, forming a spiky ponytail, the Iggy and Lemmy had similar hairstyles. "What human woman would want to be with a Koopa, and you have to admit our sister is the most beautiful Koopa of them all."

"Excuse me?" Ludwig cleared his throat and gave their younger brother a look.

"One of the prettiest," Larry rolled his eyes. "Dru and Wendy are the prettiest Koopas around, and Tethys is the prettiest Praniret of them all, and I am certain Lemmy's girlfriend is also pretty."

"Yes," Lemmy nodded.

"Did she send you a picture?" Morton asked.

"Yes," Lemmy nodded again. "Sent me a picture." A blush formed in his cheeks.

"Did you send her a pic of yourself?" Morton asked.

"Yes," Lemmy pressed his talons together.

"I'm surprised she still writes to you," Morton chuckled.

"Enough," Wendy grabbed Morton by the horn. "This has nothing to do with Lemmy and his girl friend. This is my day. We are going into the chapel, you will all get into your places, Ludwig and Dru will play beautiful music, and then I shall walk down the aisle."

"I admit Wendy is pretty," Luigi placed a hand over his nostrils." I don't remember it smelling this bad down here."

"Koopas have a better sense of smell than humans," Roy grabbed onto Luigi's snout. "You will grow to appreciate the benefit of being a member of our species."

"Don't grab too hard," Wendy said. If Roy harms her soon to be husband, then he is going to be in a world of hurt.

"Sorry," Roy released his hold on Luigi. "I wish you told me sooner. I could have invited Tethys."

"It was a bit of a last minute situation," Wendy said.

"We are here," Iggy pointed to another pipe, " We just go through this pipe, and Marrymore is on the other side."

"Finally," Wendy peered into the pipe. She could see the romantic and beautiful landscape of the village. It was still day time, but the sun had started to set.

"I don't want to interrupt another wedding that is in process," Luigi said.

"We aren't," Wendy smiled. "Everything has been planned. Places everyone."

Wendy slipped into the cathedral's bathroom and quickly removed her usual dress and replaced it with her wedding gown. "Something old," it had been her mother's dress. She didn't have many things that belonged to her mother. She remembered when she first came across the dress. It was a few years after her death, and Wendy was playing hide and seek with Iggy and Lemmy. She had decided to hide in one of the closets that was never used, and when she stepped inside she saw the dress, hanging in clear plastic. It was then she had realized she had stepped inside the closet that had all of her mothers old things, all of her jewelry, her favorite dresses, her shoes, the little clear bottles of perfume and lotion she used to collect. The scrap books, everything. It was also the last time she was in that closet, at least until her teen years.

"Something new." She changed into her new shoes. They were white and shiny, and the heels were shorter. She had seen pictures of brides dressed in beautiful gowns and they wore shoes with at least three-inch heels. She knew they would trip and fall over, and of course some of them did. She was not about to risk embarrassment for that level of fashion.

"Something borrowed," she put on the pearl necklace she had borrowed, correct, stolen from Peach. "And something blue." She slid on the garter before she removed her bow and placed on her wedding crown fitted with train. "And the finishing touch." She stared at the bottle of perfume, good ole Koopa no 9, the perfume that contained natural pheromones. She sprayed it on, and knew full well that it would not have any effect on her brothers, due to their relation.

Ludwig had begun to play as soon as she stepped out. Her eldest brother had selected a beautiful song; the notes were like pure magic as he played. Dru accompanied him on her violin, adding more magic to the melody. Wendy tried to walk with the beat of the music, but her heart wanted her to walk even faster. She wanted the wedding to begin.

Luigi stood at the front of the podium. His face had a look of pure terror in his eyes, but he couldn't run, even if he didn't have both Morton and Roy to hold him back he would not be able to run on his feet, not if he had trouble walking earlier, running is out of the question.

Wendy kept her eyes on her groom as she approached him. She didn't even notice the man behind the podium.

"We are gathered here today," the minister was an old toad. He had large bushy eyebrows, a neat and square shaped beard and long moustache, similar to the whiskers of a catfish. His large hat was black and worn like old leather and speckled with white spots.

Wendy did not pay any attention to his words, and instead stared into Luigi's eyes. Luigi's eyes were the most beautiful shade of blue. He had a deep green face that matched his shell and his horns were like polished ivory.

Luigi's nostrils twitched during the procession and the fear in his eyes was replaced with one of desire. He smacked his lips once after he blinked his eyes and shook his head a few times. When he reached for her hand she grabbed back.

"Do you Luigi-" The old toad blinked a few times. "Luigi is it?" He read the name in the book in front of him and stared at the couple. "I thought I was marrying that young fellow, the brother of Mario, I forgot what their last name was.

"I am Luigi," Luigi said in a dreamy tone of voice.

"I see, although that Luigi is human."

"They have the same name," Wendy said.

"I see," the old toad nodded. "Do you Luigi take Wendy as your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, love and respect, in poorness and in wealth, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

"I d-d-d-d." Luigi adjusted his collar. "I d-d-d-o do do." The perfume had taken its full effect.

Wendy nearly fainted when she heard the words. Luigi was hers. They were going to be a couple. She almost ignored the same question repeated to her..

"Ahem," the minister cleared his throat. "I shall repeat myself. Do you Wendy take Luigi as your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, love and respect, in poorness and in wealth, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

"I do," she said.

"You may exchange the rings." The old shroom said.

"I have them." Iggy held out his hands where a pair of golden rings rested on each palm.

"Thank you," Wendy accepted the band for Luigi and slid it up his finger, only reaching the halfway point before it became stuck. A few sparkles appeared on the band and it widened enough for it slide all the way.

Luigi took the second band, the one with the sparkling diamond and slid it onto Wendy's finger. This time the problem was in reverse, with the ring being too large, but as before it sparkled before it shrank to fit her finger. Either Kammy or Kamek had enchanted the rings and she had to remember to thank them later.

"Now you may kiss the bride."

It was the moment Wendy was waiting for. She closed her eyes when Luigi placed his lips against hers. The kiss was better than last time.

"Wendy," Luigi breathed her name.

"Yes?" Wendy asked.

He didn't say anything and kissed her again, only it was deeper, and fiercer than last time.

"Ahem," the minister cleared his throat. "May I remind you we are in a church."

Wendy peeled her new husband off her. "Sorry. Now Luigi dear, we can wait until we are in the suite. Let's have something to eat first."

Morton did not care much about the wedding. He did admit Wendy did look nice in her gown, and Dru was pretty in her little red dress as she played the violin. He had noticed Wendy was wearing a unusual perfume and Luigi was acting odd, right before the former human was being fussy about the whole thing, now Luigi was all over his sis, but Morton chalked it up to Luigi actually falling for her.

Once the ceremony was over they ran to the reception hall, and sweet Shy Guy on a pogo stick did was there a spread. There were all sorts of salads, melon balls, tasty wings, mozzarella sticks, something that looked like turnovers, egg rolls, pizza rolls, a few fondue pots, and that raw fish stuff Wendy liked.

At the end of the table was the cake. It was four layers tall, covered in mostly white frosting with pink and red trim. Morton had no idea if it was a chocolate cake, or a vanilla cake, or just a basic yellow cake. He also had no idea if it was going to come to life. Their father had mentioned once when Smithy took over the fortress and he had made Mario and some of his friends temporary members of the troop they came across a large cake that came to life.

"I better not take any chances," Morton proceeded towards the large pastry and grabbed the nearest knife.

"Just what do you think you are doing?" Lemmy asked from behind.

"What does it look like I am doing?" Morton asked. The tip of the knife was inches away from the frosting.

"You look like you are about to cut into the cake," Lemmy grabbed his wrist. "You know the bride and groom are supposed to cut it."

"I wasn't," Morton had to think fast. "I was just going to poke it."

"Poke it?" Lemmy repeated.

"Yeah, poke it. Just to make certain it won't come alive and attack us. Dad told us about the last time he was here. He said a huge cake had actually come to life. You remember that story. It was a wedding cake, and it was here, and baked by the same guy. We can't take any chances. The cake might come to life again."

"Of all the pathetic excuses you can come up with you chose this," Lemmy rolled his eyes.

"You don't believe what our father said?" Morton gasped. "I thought everyone believed him."

"I did believe him, and if I remember correctly, father said the cake in question was taller than this, and the top part had something that resembled a face."

"I still say you cannot be too safe these days."

"Come on," Lemmy grabbed him by the shoulder and dragged him away and much to Morton's chagrin, to the end of the line.

Both he and Lemmy grabbed paper plates and filled it up with the various foods.

"What is this?" He picked up something that looked like a cracker, but it was covered with strange brown paste and what looked like olive slices. "Is this bean dip?" He sniffed it. It did not smell like bean dip, but it still smelled delicious.

"No," chef Torte shook his head. "That is a canapé."

"Can of what?" Morton asked again before he placed the cracker in his mouth and ate it. "Whatever it is it is good."

"Just fill your plate," Lemmy sighed.

"Yeah, less talky and more eating," Morton placed more of the cracker treats on his plate.

He didn't say anything else until he came across the raw fish. "What is this called again, Sissy? Shoe she, sashi?"

"Sushi," Torte glared.

"Oh yeah, Sushi," Morton placed a few rolls on his plate before he pointed to the turnovers. "What kind of turnovers are those? Apple, blueberry, raspberry?"

"None," Chef Torte raised his fists. "They are calzones. They are filled with meats and cheese, and peppers. Why didn't you read the menu, you live in a castle, you should not act like a plebe."

"I am so sorry about my little brother's rudeness," Lemmy dragged Morton away after Morton had managed to grab one of the calzones.