Trapped with a Way Out

by Jeffery Martinez

  "Schrodinger?!"

  He stood in the place of the ring-bearer, wearing a little tuxedo and holding a cushion with the ring box on it. He grinned.

  "Surprised to see me? You shouldn't be. I am everywhere und nowhere."

  What shocked her wasn't just seeing him, but seeing him on legs. Gone were his body-long fish's tail, his barbels, fin-like ears, claws, and glowing cat's eyes. He looked like—

  "You're a little boy!" she said.

  "That's right! Didn't you know?" he said. "I am to be the ring-bearer today. I thought it was only fitting that someone you knew do it—not like that flower girl you've never met. But it's okay, I won't do a bad job."

  "B-but how did you get here?"

  "Same as you!" he grinned. "The Sea King did not want me near his palace anymore, so part of the deal to make you human was to make me human too, so I could join you."

  Before William could figure out how she felt about that, Shrodinger wrapped his arms tightly around her waist. "Now we can be together forever."

  Her heart melted at his embrace. Even now, she could not stay mad at him. He had been her closest friend for so many years, and supported her when others dismissed her. Though she had been hurt and furious when she had found out his deal with the Sea Witch (part of her still was—it was a small wound in her heart that she knew would never fully heal), he had redeemed himself when she had seen that he had helped Harkonnen convince the Sea King to make her human. She leaned down and embraced him back.

  "Ich liebe dich, Schrodinger," she whispered.

  He grinned ear to ear, then licked her cheek. William shoved him away. "UGH!"

  Captain Bernadotte's guests all laughed and laughed as William wiped her cheek and made it to the end of the isle.

  Even Pip was grinning in amusement. "So sorry not to tell you, but I thought you'd like to be surprised with your brother at our wedding?"

  "Brother? He's not my brother!" William said.

  He knitted his eyebrows in confusion. "Your cousin, then."

  But before she could correct him, the music changed, and the priest called for silence. Her heart leapt into her throat, and she knew this was it. Schrodinger quickly faded from her mind, and she was instantly aware of Pip standing beside her, looking his best, and her standing beside him, looking her best, and the people all looking at them, expecting the best, and it finally hit her that this was it. They were doing it. This ceremony that she had dreamed of doing for so long, she was now about to undergo with Pip, the man she loved, and they would be together, forever—for the rest of their life, and beyond.

  She barely heard the ramblings of the priests, she was so nervous. It all felt like a dream—a happy dream, but a dream none the less. She was afraid of being woken up.

  It was all so formal and official. Captain Bernadotte was French, and therefore he was Roman Catholic like the Van Helsings. So, like the Count and Countess' wedding, William had to go through the Catholic ceremony again. There was a lot of chanting in a language she did not know (Latin), flicking her and Pip in Holy Water, and the priest having them repeat their vows to each other after him. It was all a little more pomp and formal than William would have liked. But then, it also made it all feel more official, and it made William but thrilled and terrified that they were doing this—she was doing this—"the right way."

  The only part that felt truly real was the kiss. The moment William' lips touched Pip's, she felt her heart soar, like their spirits would twine and fly forever into the heavens.

  She was brought back to earth when the Count's two hunting hounds (the same two that brought them together time and time again) jumped up and licked their cheeks. William grinned as the crowd cheered (espially Pip's side), and the doves sang and the wedding bells rang. Carlotta burst out crying, and used Walter's cravat as a handkerchief.

  The merpeople all cheered too, and Harkonnen and the stage girls all grinned and waved at William.

  Rip Van Winkle crowed in delight, and ordered the band to play a merry tune to commemorate the occasion.

  William embraced Helena, who had always been so kind to her when she needed most, and Helena smiled fondly. When it was time to throw the bouquet, Helena caught it, which surprised all the other maidens who would have wanted it.

  In order not to leave the merpeople out, William threw that same bouquet over her shoulder into her water, but the struggle was more bitter. The girls swarmed the sharks and shoved and slapped at each other to get to it, like crocodiles trying to get a slab of meat. William flinched, but then laughed when the girls all had a piece of the bouquet they wanted, and all was well.

  While the humans on the ship prepared to mingle and eat food from the buffet, William leaned over the bulwark to smile fondly at the closest thing to her father in this life.

  Harkonnen raised his hands, and used his magic to have the water carry him up to her eye level. They looked at each other for a moment, and then they embraced. It did not matter to her anymore (as it once did) that he was old and fat and grey, or that he was sweaty and smelled. He had remained dedicated to her wellbeing long past the point she felt she deserved it, and she would be forever grateful to him.

  She meant to say thank you, but instead her lips uttered, "I love you Harkonnen."

  This seemed to touch him deeply, old and tired as he was, and he embraced her as a daughter. "Your mother would be so proud of you."

  She beamed, and was not the least bit humble when her new husband came to meet someone so close to her in her old life. To his credit Pip bowed respectfully, and Harkonnen nodded his head in polite acknowledgement, but it was William he cared for most. He did not take his eye off her as he sank back into the waves, and she blew him a kiss as he descended.

  But the celebrations were not over yet. Just like the last wedding, there was much music, decorations, feasting, drinking, dancing, and celebrating. While the mermaids could not join them on deck, they danced and swam to the music from the water surrounding the ship.

  William enjoyed the first dance with Captain Bernadotte, as well as the first slice of cake, and the first song dedicated to the bride and groom.

  Presents were, perhaps, the best part. William never knew the custom of people getting the bride gifts for her wedding, but a nice table of beautifully wrapped presents stood tall for all to see. William' favorite was when the Count led the ginger filly, now a ginger mare, still called "Ginger Snaps," over to William. She was so happy she gushed over the pretty filly.

  "She is yours, my little foundling," the Count said.

  "Oh no, I couldn't-!" she tried to protest.

  "You'll need her if you will want to ride around as you explore the world."

  "What?" William asked blankly.

  With a secretive little smile, Pip said, "Do you like this ship we are on, William?"

  "Yes, very much."

  "Then how would you like to live here? Sail the world in this thing?"

  "W-what?!"

  The Count and Captain chuckled. "Do you remember that ship you first saw us drowning in? That was my ship, the Wild Geese. When it was destroyed in the storm, I had little choice but to go work for some other man's ship, or work for the Count. We had always had it planned that when I served him for a long enough period, I would get my own ship back, and sail the world once more."

  He smiled at her, "And now that I have a wife, I can do just that."

  William was so thrilled she tackle-hugged him, and kissed him deeply.

  The look the Count and Countess gave them as they openly gushed over each other at their own wedding was one of mild envy. Those two were not bound by rules of etiquette as these two were. Oh, sure, they had the money to go where they wished, but they would always be bound to the pomp and etiquette surrounding their class. These two, who were not of the nobility, could freely embrace and sail around the world in a ship and never want for anything but each other's company.

  William, for herself, was delirious with joy. Her husband owned a ship
, and they could sail anywhere around the world she wished, so she could see all the human world! The ginger filly she loved so much, no longer whipped or forced to pull heavy loads, but there to ride in the hills and plains whenever she desired? A ship near the water, where she could be near to see her friends and family whenever she wished?

  She danced joyously with the party guests, and sashayed and swayed with the melody she heard when she first drew near human vessels.

  For the first time, she had no reservations about singing.

  I'll tell you a tale of the endless above

  And it's 'hey,' to the skyward, my love!

  Look out, lass, a human be searching for you

  In the mysterious upwards above!

  Pip grinned and tipped his hat, acknowledging those lyrics were his.

  William turned and addressed the Count and Countess, who still sat regal as royalty at her wedding.

  I'll sing you a song of the count on the sea

  And to his wife whom he serves faithfully

  The Countess smirked at these lyrics, as did the Count, who leaned his head against her shoulder to show his devotion.

  Up in the mysterious upwards above

  As William swayed and sashayed, Captain Bernadotte swooped up behind her and caught her in his arms. She squealed and laughed, and spun in his arms several times. He led her in a deep dip, then pulled her up, where she wrapped her arms around his neck, and lifted his hat off his head a second time.

  When he pulled away from the kiss, she grinned, and holding his hand she reached her hands up.

  Up in the endless skyward above…!

  The end.