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sweetandshortTitle: Once In A Lifetime
Fandom: Disney Crossover, featuring Beauty and the Beast, with cameos including but not limited to Mickey Mouse, Aladdin, House of Mouse, Tangled, Robin Hood, Lilo & Stitch, Wreck-It Ralph, Merida, Winnie the Pooh, Nightmare Before Christmas, The Lion King, Jungle Book, Alice in Wonderland, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella
Author: Apache Firecat
Characters: Chip/OMC, Lumiere/Cogsworth, Beast/Belle, Genie, King Richard, Hatter/Hare, Jack/Sally, and many more hinted/referenced
Rating: PG/K+
Summary: It's a once in a lifetime kind of event, reunion, kingdom, and even just a once in a lifetime moment.
Word Count: 3,658
Written For: Sweet and Short: April 2023: 10 out of 20: ALL Prompts
Warnings: Multi-fandom Real!Disney Crossover
Disclaimer: All characters within belong to their rightful owners, not the author, and are used without permission.
This isn't the first wedding he's been to -- oh, no, not by miles! He's been to many of the most prestigious events all around the kingdoms, and his first ever wedding was right here in this very castle, the same castle where he grew up and is as much his home as the King and, especially, the Queen. His mother may not have ever worn a crown or sat in one of the thrones, but she grew up here as well, and her mother before her, and her mother before her... Chip knew every one of their stories, and he was boasting with pride as he raced through the entrance way of the castle, not waiting for anyone to announce him.
They liked to announce him sometimes, even though he wasn't royalty. Queen Belle still made certain to treat everyone equally, and she insisted that others do so in her presence as well. They were not just a kingdom, especially those who lived at the castle. They certainly were not royalty and subjects -- why, Chip had heard her get on to one of the decorators just the other day when they'd made such a horrid, yet normal, assumption! She welcomed all her friends, treated them all equally, all the way to the actual royals to the goofy dogs and even the lowliest serving ware, and loved all the subjects as though they were all one great, big, happy family.
She had grown up in a quaint village where, despite its small size, she had been ridiculed nonstoppingly for being different, for being intelligent or so he'd often heard her say, for not wanting to fit in with the normal folk, for not letting others decide her destiny. She had known, from a very early age, that people, and even animals and enchanted objects, should not be judged by their outward appearances but by who they were on the inside. Thank Goodness Queen Belle had grown up that way, had believed in that and still did! Why, if she hadn't, the curse never would have been broken -- not that it did them much good these days, as their bodies changed as frequently as the King's moods! But if she hadn't, they certainly wouldn't be here now, freely gathering for a celebration of love.
The two being wed today also were not of royalty, although Cogsworth certainly acted like he was, with his stiff, upper British lip and everything. Chip had known them his entire life, however, and knew very well that their love was every bit as real, important, and everlasting as the King and Queen's. He had been the ring bearer at the King and Queen's wedding, but today, he had possibly an even more important job! The horns had tooted to announce his arrival, and Mike had been about to make his announcement over the tellies, but Chip had not stopped running. He had not given anyone a chance to deter or otherwise distract him, and although there was a flurry of activity going on all around him, he knew exactly where he wanted to be, and the scoop he wanted!
He just had to find the right room. His best friend babbled incoherently as Chip looked around, still without pausing or slowing his hopping gait. Peter Pan flew with Tinker Bell, the Good Fairies, and a plethora more across the castle's cavernous roofs, perfecting last minute touches to the decorations and also, Chip knew, keeping a keen eye out for Maleficent. She wasn't all bad anymore -- or at least that was the gossip, and Queen Belle and his Momma did say anyone could change --, but she was rather known for destroying wedding days and Lumiere and Cogsworth had agreed they wanted her nowhere near. That was one good thing about not being able to have a baby, Chip surmised -- with no baby to be born, there was also no one for Maleficent to cast a sixteen-year curse upon!
He rounded another corner and spotted the Mad Hatter and the March Hare having tea in the middle of the corridor. They had never been very sensible, and it was as though they had taken leave of their senses altogether, Chip noted, as they sloshed a strange purple liquid, not their usual brew at all. The Cheshire Cat grinned at him from high above their heads. He was floating upside down with the largest grin Chip had witnessed on his face to date. His fluffy tail swayed in the air, and he waved a paw slowly at him before vanishing from sight. The Caterpillar took another drag off of his pipe, along which a tiny, blue bug crawled.
Alice, who was surely much too old for such foolishry now, waved at him to join them, but before he could respond, and think of a polite way to decline their off, a great, booming cacophony erupted from the other end of the corridor. Chip ducked instinctively, though, as a teacup, he was already so small that he could easily slide onto the red-carpeted floor and avoid most mishaps. His quill trembled and jumped out of his hand in fright.
An elephant trumpeted amongst the aggravated shouts of several, far more human voices. Chip grabbed his quill and dodged out of the way as the elephant stampeded down the corridor, tossing the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, and their table out of the way with his long, gray trunk. The Hatter managed to grab rather suavely catch the Hare in one arm and their teapot in his other hand, but Chip was too busy watching the fleeing elephant. He had recognized the animal immediately and wondered why Abu had been transformed this time, but there was no mistaking the monkey from the shock of brown hair and the little cap he wore on top of his head -- nor by his companions as a red parrot and tasseled Magic Carpet flew beside him.
"AND STAY OUT!" At first, Chip thought it was a human man speaking, but then he heard the squeaking and realized that the loudest voice of all came from the little mouse sitting on a chef's shoulder and waving his spatula in the air. He noticed a beefy, black and white cat haul tail out of the kitchen, as well, choosing that moment to escape with a large piece of meat in his mouth as a crab scuttled out of the way and slipped underneath the other door. Chip sniffed. There might be a story there as well, but it certainly wasn't the one he was looking to tell!
Chip ignored the other story as well displaying between the Hatter and the Hare as they were kissing passionately, the hot teapot still clutched in the Hatter's hand, and hurried on. He came a halt again not too far away, however, when an arrow whizzed over him. It was way over his head, since he was such a little cup, but the voices were loud and jovial, demanding his attention. "I-Is that Queen Belle?!" his friend whispered, and Chip nodded.
"Yes," he said, hopping in place with his excitement, "it is!" He had never seen the Queen hold an actual weapon, but though times were peaceful, he knew from prior experience that it never hurt to be prepared. He watched as the bow was handed off from Queen Belle to Queen Cinderella to Pocahontas to Mulan to Vanellope to Merida's brothers, who then instantly began to fight over it. Chip shook himself out of his reverie upon that sight, that reminded him so much of his own struggles and skirmishes over the years with his younger brothers and, admittedly, a few of he older ones as well.
He tooted as he brought himself up to his full height and jumped into place. He was not here to play, or to watch spectators' sports, fun and games, or even dancing! He was here on official business! He was here to fill a book, or at least a full and detailed report that he already hoped to one day turn into a book, on the most momentous and joyous celebration taking place -- taking place and making history!
The quill quivered with laughter beside him as a short, squat, and blue alien took the bow out of the hands of the boys who couldn't stop arguing over whose turn it was, strung the arrow through the bow, and extended his shot, beating all those who had come before him by shooting his arrow straight through the arrow Lady Merida had shot in the beginning of the tournament. It was quite Robin Hood style, and the boys could see the fox nodding his head and rubbing his furry jaw in approval. Chip glanced down the hallway before looking longingly back toward the archers. He would have plenty of other opportunities, however, to watch any and all of them in action, so even with Queen Cinderella scolding Merida's brothers about the need to reach a compromise, Chip forced his attention dutifully away from the tournament, grabbed his quill, and continued on his journey.
He passed by Pirates cheating at cards, a kidnapping attempt with a wooden boy he knew wasn't going to work, and many more elite officials and royalty, as well as common folk like himself, before hearing a thundering sound that made his heart race and made both himself and his best friend hit the carpet again. "Isn't that the King?!" Peiter whispered to him. Chip clapped his porcelain lips together and slowly, glumly, nodded. He should have expected the King to be here, and of course, he did, but why on Earth was King Beast roaring so?! Who could have possibly made him that furious on such a happy day of celebration?
He had just begun to crawl forward toward the door from which the King's roars were blasting when he heard another King's telltale squeaky tone. "Now hold still, Beast! This won't take much longer! We're almost there!"
The King roared, and there was a sound that Chip knew meant he had thrown the smaller King against a wall and, he suspected, a few others as well. There was furious quacking with words Chip could neither pronounce nor wanted to. A whiny canine asked, "Gawrsh, Beast, don't you want to look good for your subjects' wedding?"
"And," King Mickey squeaked, "for Queen Belle! I know I want to look good for -- "
Whatever Mickey said next was drowned out by more roars, and more bodies being thrown. Chip turned and fled, carrying Peiter with him without being asked. He wasn't about to leave his best friend to be trampled by the King in one of his foul rages, and besides, he couldn't write his story without him!
Chip kept his gaze pointedly down throughout the rest of the trek. There were plenty of other scenes trying to gain his attention, including some young girls whose voices seemed very pleasant but in whose clique Chip had no interest. He had enough people in his young life, perhaps too many with the way the King still carried on (he didn't know how Queen Belle always tolerated him, and almost always, at least eventually, found a way to soothe his red-hot raging temper!), and was not interested in adding any more. He was doing quite well on his journey too, the King's anguished roars even having faded at last from his hearing, when a head rolled right up underneath him.
He jumped up, taking Peiter with him, and looked back down at the lifeless, beady eyes staring up at him from the banister. "I am sorry!" a thin man he vaguely recognized as being one of the Mayors from one of the many, little nearby towns exclaimed, rushing up to them. "My Sally does lose her head sometimes when we're dancing!"
To Chip's astonishment, and also quite a bit to his horror, the Mayor set about fastening Sally's head back onto her shoulders. He felt Peiter shivering against him and turned them both quickly away. The floor below them was full of dancing couples. Phillip and Aurora were waltzing while Baloo and Mowgli cut a Skitterbug. They were couples tangoing and long lines of people dancing together. It looked like a lot of fun, but once more, Chip reminded himself sternly that he had a mission.
Looking back, he was glad to see Jack and Sally had moved on -- and more relieved to see Cogsworth's door. His friends did not very often argue, but they had argued about the wedding preparations, mainly as to rather or not they would see each other this very day before their ceremony. Although they had not wished to be parted from each other, Cogsworth had determined to remain loyal to tradition and, especially with evil Fairies, Demons, and whatnot always on the loose, had insisted they stay separated until they saw each other again at the altar.
He watched as the doorknob to Cogsworth's dressing room turned and a big, white horse trotted out of the room. Chip caught a glimpse of the same bartender who had tended to the King's looks, and especially to his curls, when he had wed Queen Belle, and hopped immediately after the horse, whom he recognized as being the Captain of the Guards in another nearby village. Maximus came to a stop at another door and whinnied, long and sharp.
"I'm telling you, Lumiere is not going to regret this!" The door opened a crack, and a man looked out at the horse. "Cogsworth's ready?" he asked to which Maximus leaned his white ears back against his equine head and let out another long, but softer, whinny of agreement. "Okay," Flynn acknowledged and shut the door back behind him, but not before Chip and Peiter had hopped into the room. "I don't know why you think marriage is a bad thing, Tigger," Flynn continued without pause, looking back to the others gathered in the room. "Marrying Rapunzel is the best thing that ever happened to me!"
"I'm a bear of very little brain," Pooh began, touching a yellow paw thoughtfully to his yellow temple.
"We all know that," interjected Bernard from on top of Lumiere's dresser, "but I agree with Flynn. Marriage is the most wonderful thing that can happen to a man -- as long as it's to the right woman!"
King Richard adjusted his royal cape over his shoulders and gently cleared his throat. It was a very subtle sound yet seemed to command every bit of attention in the room.
"The right person!" Bernard quickly amended.
"It's not about who makes the stripes," a zebra said, "but how they connect!"
"We connect perfectly," Lumiere said, checking himself one last time in his mirror, "although I do wish -- "
"I really do think the only reason why Tigger is said of marriage," Pooh spoke quickly, finally managing to get out the information he'd wished to share with them all, "is because -- "
"Tiggers aren't afraid of nothing!" Tigger bounced on the end of his striped tail.
" -- is because," Pooh continued, tapping a paw against his temple, "it was when Christopher Robin grew up and married and there was a Missus Robin that changed everything!"
"Cogsworth has tried to change me for years," Lumiere announced, spinning as he checked his tapers. "It's not going to happen. I only wish -- "
He was once more interrupted as Genie exploded into the room. "Cameras! Action! Grooms! Kisses! We're all set!"
Lumiere sighed, and Chip watched a droplet of wax drip down from him.
"What?" King Richard asked, his tail swishing.
"Yes, what do you wish?" Pumbaa the warthog added, coming trotting closer despite his beloved Timon pulling on his ears and trying futiley to make him go in another direction.
"What do you wish?" Chip added.
"There's a wish? There's a wish!" Genie spread his beefy, blue arms wide and spun smoking circles in the middle of the dressing room. "What do you wish, Lumiere, old buddy, old pal? Whatever your wish, your wish is mine to grant! Today only!"
Lumiere sighed. "Thanks, but you can't -- "
Genie had popped on a hot pink dress and a curly, blonde wig. He had been holding a notebook but tossed it away and snapped his fingers as it vanished into nothingness. "Oh, honey, don't ever tell me there's something you want that I can't dish! I know exactly what you want, and you know what? It's my wedding gift to you, sweetcakes!" Genie started snapping his fingers in a faster rhythm and spinning this way and that. In seconds, Lumiere had his human body back and was dressed to the nines. "Or you want a gown?" His top-of-the-line tuxedo became in a beautiful, sparkling, and flowing white wedding gown.
"Genie, it's beautiful!" Lumiere exclaimed, grabbing the trail and spinning with it. He gushed for a long moment as Chip stood in stunned silence, eyes wide with awe. "But Cogsy would hate it! He'd so blow his top! It's a wonder I'm even getting him to do this!"
"He's doing it, sweetheart," Genie said, placing a reassuring hand on Lumiere's thin shoulder, "because he loves you! We all love you! The whole kingdom has been waiting for this! But if it's a suit you must wear to please your man, then it's a suit you'll wear, but it's not one anyone's ever going to forget!"
Genie snapped his fingers again, and lights like two emblazoned candlesticks without the tapers twirled around Lumiere. When the lights finally extinguished, the suave, fashionable maître'd, who had always been akin to a father to Chip, was the most beautifully dressed he had ever seen. His suit was very top of the line, even beyond anything Chip had ever seen the Master wear. It spun and sparkled like diamonds, but the back of his jacket was in stripes of the very brightest hues of the rainbow. His tails dropped down and seemed alight with a fire that seemed almost to be blowing as though someone was blowing on an enormous candlestick.
"Honey," Genie said, floating back and surveying his work, "they're going to be talking about this wedding for millennia to come!"
"They're going to be talking about it for millennia anyway, my dearrrrs," King Richard practically purred, moving gracefully forward and rearranging the lapels of Lumiere's jacket, "because this is going to show the whole world not just who you are, my dearrr Lumierrre," he said, kissing the maître'd's cheeks, "but who we all are!" His furry ears flicked back and forth. "Come, let us go! I can hear the music starting!"
"Oh, honey, we're not going like that!" Genie shook his head and kept snapping his blue fingers.
Chip suddenly remembered his interview, but almost everyone else was already gone. "Don't you worry about your interview, kid. I'll give you a one-on-one that the whole world won't forget after this wedding that they also won't forget." He winked, and then he slapped his hand together.
Chip found himself in the aisles of the cathedral, watching as his mother and Lumiere began to descend down the aisle. The King and Queen already stood at the pulpit where Mister Cogsworth waited, almost as splendidly handsome in his plain, three-piece suit as Lumiere was in his dazzling, rainbow outfit. Chip realized, with a fresh, stunned breath, that what truly made the two men so beautiful were the love shining unclouded from each of their faces. He had never seen them happier, more at peace, or more freely allowing their love to flow.
Chip felt a little hand on his arm and looked down into Peiter's face. His hair, despite their young age, had the same shaggy, black and soot gray appearance of the feathers with which he was adorned when in quill form. Chip's eyes met his, and in that moment, time itself seemed to stand still. This was what the day had actually, truly been about all along, he realized. It was about celebraitng love, about celebrating two men who loved each other and had found their way together in this world, and about celebrating love and finding one's True Love in all its ways. Chip clamped a hand down onto Peiter's. He'd been lucky: his love had been there for him all the time.
Genie started snapping again, but this time, the cosmic being ws snapping photographs instead of fingers. "I told you the world wouldn't forget this!" he exclaimed jubilantly, taking a close-up of Chip and Peiter. Chip just beamed, his eyes never moving from those of his best friend, even when the Priest began to speak. Genie had been right. Lumiere and Flynn had been right. Queen Belle and his momma had been right. When you knew, you knew, and Chip knew he had found his once in a lifetime right here on this day that the world, and especially they, or his other best friends, would never, ever forget.
Hearing Cogsworth begin to speak, Chip quickly shifted his gaze back to the couple at the altar. He had watched these men fight, become friends, and fall in love over the span of his entire lifetime. He did not want to miss a word, but all through the ceremony, he was very much aware of Peiter's hand on his arm and their short, stubby fingers entwined together. And after Lumiere spoken, and the Priest had said what needed to be said, and his lifelong friends kissed, as a very real and very beautiful fire was leaping up from them in the explosion of a heart, Chip pulled his best friend closer and kissed him too in what would prove to be the first of very many kisses yet to come in the new making of their very own happily ever after.
The End
Fandom: Disney Crossover, featuring Beauty and the Beast, with cameos including but not limited to Mickey Mouse, Aladdin, House of Mouse, Tangled, Robin Hood, Lilo & Stitch, Wreck-It Ralph, Merida, Winnie the Pooh, Nightmare Before Christmas, The Lion King, Jungle Book, Alice in Wonderland, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella
Author: Apache Firecat
Characters: Chip/OMC, Lumiere/Cogsworth, Beast/Belle, Genie, King Richard, Hatter/Hare, Jack/Sally, and many more hinted/referenced
Rating: PG/K+
Summary: It's a once in a lifetime kind of event, reunion, kingdom, and even just a once in a lifetime moment.
Word Count: 3,658
Written For: Sweet and Short: April 2023: 10 out of 20: ALL Prompts
Warnings: Multi-fandom Real!Disney Crossover
Disclaimer: All characters within belong to their rightful owners, not the author, and are used without permission.
This isn't the first wedding he's been to -- oh, no, not by miles! He's been to many of the most prestigious events all around the kingdoms, and his first ever wedding was right here in this very castle, the same castle where he grew up and is as much his home as the King and, especially, the Queen. His mother may not have ever worn a crown or sat in one of the thrones, but she grew up here as well, and her mother before her, and her mother before her... Chip knew every one of their stories, and he was boasting with pride as he raced through the entrance way of the castle, not waiting for anyone to announce him.
They liked to announce him sometimes, even though he wasn't royalty. Queen Belle still made certain to treat everyone equally, and she insisted that others do so in her presence as well. They were not just a kingdom, especially those who lived at the castle. They certainly were not royalty and subjects -- why, Chip had heard her get on to one of the decorators just the other day when they'd made such a horrid, yet normal, assumption! She welcomed all her friends, treated them all equally, all the way to the actual royals to the goofy dogs and even the lowliest serving ware, and loved all the subjects as though they were all one great, big, happy family.
She had grown up in a quaint village where, despite its small size, she had been ridiculed nonstoppingly for being different, for being intelligent or so he'd often heard her say, for not wanting to fit in with the normal folk, for not letting others decide her destiny. She had known, from a very early age, that people, and even animals and enchanted objects, should not be judged by their outward appearances but by who they were on the inside. Thank Goodness Queen Belle had grown up that way, had believed in that and still did! Why, if she hadn't, the curse never would have been broken -- not that it did them much good these days, as their bodies changed as frequently as the King's moods! But if she hadn't, they certainly wouldn't be here now, freely gathering for a celebration of love.
The two being wed today also were not of royalty, although Cogsworth certainly acted like he was, with his stiff, upper British lip and everything. Chip had known them his entire life, however, and knew very well that their love was every bit as real, important, and everlasting as the King and Queen's. He had been the ring bearer at the King and Queen's wedding, but today, he had possibly an even more important job! The horns had tooted to announce his arrival, and Mike had been about to make his announcement over the tellies, but Chip had not stopped running. He had not given anyone a chance to deter or otherwise distract him, and although there was a flurry of activity going on all around him, he knew exactly where he wanted to be, and the scoop he wanted!
He just had to find the right room. His best friend babbled incoherently as Chip looked around, still without pausing or slowing his hopping gait. Peter Pan flew with Tinker Bell, the Good Fairies, and a plethora more across the castle's cavernous roofs, perfecting last minute touches to the decorations and also, Chip knew, keeping a keen eye out for Maleficent. She wasn't all bad anymore -- or at least that was the gossip, and Queen Belle and his Momma did say anyone could change --, but she was rather known for destroying wedding days and Lumiere and Cogsworth had agreed they wanted her nowhere near. That was one good thing about not being able to have a baby, Chip surmised -- with no baby to be born, there was also no one for Maleficent to cast a sixteen-year curse upon!
He rounded another corner and spotted the Mad Hatter and the March Hare having tea in the middle of the corridor. They had never been very sensible, and it was as though they had taken leave of their senses altogether, Chip noted, as they sloshed a strange purple liquid, not their usual brew at all. The Cheshire Cat grinned at him from high above their heads. He was floating upside down with the largest grin Chip had witnessed on his face to date. His fluffy tail swayed in the air, and he waved a paw slowly at him before vanishing from sight. The Caterpillar took another drag off of his pipe, along which a tiny, blue bug crawled.
Alice, who was surely much too old for such foolishry now, waved at him to join them, but before he could respond, and think of a polite way to decline their off, a great, booming cacophony erupted from the other end of the corridor. Chip ducked instinctively, though, as a teacup, he was already so small that he could easily slide onto the red-carpeted floor and avoid most mishaps. His quill trembled and jumped out of his hand in fright.
An elephant trumpeted amongst the aggravated shouts of several, far more human voices. Chip grabbed his quill and dodged out of the way as the elephant stampeded down the corridor, tossing the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, and their table out of the way with his long, gray trunk. The Hatter managed to grab rather suavely catch the Hare in one arm and their teapot in his other hand, but Chip was too busy watching the fleeing elephant. He had recognized the animal immediately and wondered why Abu had been transformed this time, but there was no mistaking the monkey from the shock of brown hair and the little cap he wore on top of his head -- nor by his companions as a red parrot and tasseled Magic Carpet flew beside him.
"AND STAY OUT!" At first, Chip thought it was a human man speaking, but then he heard the squeaking and realized that the loudest voice of all came from the little mouse sitting on a chef's shoulder and waving his spatula in the air. He noticed a beefy, black and white cat haul tail out of the kitchen, as well, choosing that moment to escape with a large piece of meat in his mouth as a crab scuttled out of the way and slipped underneath the other door. Chip sniffed. There might be a story there as well, but it certainly wasn't the one he was looking to tell!
Chip ignored the other story as well displaying between the Hatter and the Hare as they were kissing passionately, the hot teapot still clutched in the Hatter's hand, and hurried on. He came a halt again not too far away, however, when an arrow whizzed over him. It was way over his head, since he was such a little cup, but the voices were loud and jovial, demanding his attention. "I-Is that Queen Belle?!" his friend whispered, and Chip nodded.
"Yes," he said, hopping in place with his excitement, "it is!" He had never seen the Queen hold an actual weapon, but though times were peaceful, he knew from prior experience that it never hurt to be prepared. He watched as the bow was handed off from Queen Belle to Queen Cinderella to Pocahontas to Mulan to Vanellope to Merida's brothers, who then instantly began to fight over it. Chip shook himself out of his reverie upon that sight, that reminded him so much of his own struggles and skirmishes over the years with his younger brothers and, admittedly, a few of he older ones as well.
He tooted as he brought himself up to his full height and jumped into place. He was not here to play, or to watch spectators' sports, fun and games, or even dancing! He was here on official business! He was here to fill a book, or at least a full and detailed report that he already hoped to one day turn into a book, on the most momentous and joyous celebration taking place -- taking place and making history!
The quill quivered with laughter beside him as a short, squat, and blue alien took the bow out of the hands of the boys who couldn't stop arguing over whose turn it was, strung the arrow through the bow, and extended his shot, beating all those who had come before him by shooting his arrow straight through the arrow Lady Merida had shot in the beginning of the tournament. It was quite Robin Hood style, and the boys could see the fox nodding his head and rubbing his furry jaw in approval. Chip glanced down the hallway before looking longingly back toward the archers. He would have plenty of other opportunities, however, to watch any and all of them in action, so even with Queen Cinderella scolding Merida's brothers about the need to reach a compromise, Chip forced his attention dutifully away from the tournament, grabbed his quill, and continued on his journey.
He passed by Pirates cheating at cards, a kidnapping attempt with a wooden boy he knew wasn't going to work, and many more elite officials and royalty, as well as common folk like himself, before hearing a thundering sound that made his heart race and made both himself and his best friend hit the carpet again. "Isn't that the King?!" Peiter whispered to him. Chip clapped his porcelain lips together and slowly, glumly, nodded. He should have expected the King to be here, and of course, he did, but why on Earth was King Beast roaring so?! Who could have possibly made him that furious on such a happy day of celebration?
He had just begun to crawl forward toward the door from which the King's roars were blasting when he heard another King's telltale squeaky tone. "Now hold still, Beast! This won't take much longer! We're almost there!"
The King roared, and there was a sound that Chip knew meant he had thrown the smaller King against a wall and, he suspected, a few others as well. There was furious quacking with words Chip could neither pronounce nor wanted to. A whiny canine asked, "Gawrsh, Beast, don't you want to look good for your subjects' wedding?"
"And," King Mickey squeaked, "for Queen Belle! I know I want to look good for -- "
Whatever Mickey said next was drowned out by more roars, and more bodies being thrown. Chip turned and fled, carrying Peiter with him without being asked. He wasn't about to leave his best friend to be trampled by the King in one of his foul rages, and besides, he couldn't write his story without him!
Chip kept his gaze pointedly down throughout the rest of the trek. There were plenty of other scenes trying to gain his attention, including some young girls whose voices seemed very pleasant but in whose clique Chip had no interest. He had enough people in his young life, perhaps too many with the way the King still carried on (he didn't know how Queen Belle always tolerated him, and almost always, at least eventually, found a way to soothe his red-hot raging temper!), and was not interested in adding any more. He was doing quite well on his journey too, the King's anguished roars even having faded at last from his hearing, when a head rolled right up underneath him.
He jumped up, taking Peiter with him, and looked back down at the lifeless, beady eyes staring up at him from the banister. "I am sorry!" a thin man he vaguely recognized as being one of the Mayors from one of the many, little nearby towns exclaimed, rushing up to them. "My Sally does lose her head sometimes when we're dancing!"
To Chip's astonishment, and also quite a bit to his horror, the Mayor set about fastening Sally's head back onto her shoulders. He felt Peiter shivering against him and turned them both quickly away. The floor below them was full of dancing couples. Phillip and Aurora were waltzing while Baloo and Mowgli cut a Skitterbug. They were couples tangoing and long lines of people dancing together. It looked like a lot of fun, but once more, Chip reminded himself sternly that he had a mission.
Looking back, he was glad to see Jack and Sally had moved on -- and more relieved to see Cogsworth's door. His friends did not very often argue, but they had argued about the wedding preparations, mainly as to rather or not they would see each other this very day before their ceremony. Although they had not wished to be parted from each other, Cogsworth had determined to remain loyal to tradition and, especially with evil Fairies, Demons, and whatnot always on the loose, had insisted they stay separated until they saw each other again at the altar.
He watched as the doorknob to Cogsworth's dressing room turned and a big, white horse trotted out of the room. Chip caught a glimpse of the same bartender who had tended to the King's looks, and especially to his curls, when he had wed Queen Belle, and hopped immediately after the horse, whom he recognized as being the Captain of the Guards in another nearby village. Maximus came to a stop at another door and whinnied, long and sharp.
"I'm telling you, Lumiere is not going to regret this!" The door opened a crack, and a man looked out at the horse. "Cogsworth's ready?" he asked to which Maximus leaned his white ears back against his equine head and let out another long, but softer, whinny of agreement. "Okay," Flynn acknowledged and shut the door back behind him, but not before Chip and Peiter had hopped into the room. "I don't know why you think marriage is a bad thing, Tigger," Flynn continued without pause, looking back to the others gathered in the room. "Marrying Rapunzel is the best thing that ever happened to me!"
"I'm a bear of very little brain," Pooh began, touching a yellow paw thoughtfully to his yellow temple.
"We all know that," interjected Bernard from on top of Lumiere's dresser, "but I agree with Flynn. Marriage is the most wonderful thing that can happen to a man -- as long as it's to the right woman!"
King Richard adjusted his royal cape over his shoulders and gently cleared his throat. It was a very subtle sound yet seemed to command every bit of attention in the room.
"The right person!" Bernard quickly amended.
"It's not about who makes the stripes," a zebra said, "but how they connect!"
"We connect perfectly," Lumiere said, checking himself one last time in his mirror, "although I do wish -- "
"I really do think the only reason why Tigger is said of marriage," Pooh spoke quickly, finally managing to get out the information he'd wished to share with them all, "is because -- "
"Tiggers aren't afraid of nothing!" Tigger bounced on the end of his striped tail.
" -- is because," Pooh continued, tapping a paw against his temple, "it was when Christopher Robin grew up and married and there was a Missus Robin that changed everything!"
"Cogsworth has tried to change me for years," Lumiere announced, spinning as he checked his tapers. "It's not going to happen. I only wish -- "
He was once more interrupted as Genie exploded into the room. "Cameras! Action! Grooms! Kisses! We're all set!"
Lumiere sighed, and Chip watched a droplet of wax drip down from him.
"What?" King Richard asked, his tail swishing.
"Yes, what do you wish?" Pumbaa the warthog added, coming trotting closer despite his beloved Timon pulling on his ears and trying futiley to make him go in another direction.
"What do you wish?" Chip added.
"There's a wish? There's a wish!" Genie spread his beefy, blue arms wide and spun smoking circles in the middle of the dressing room. "What do you wish, Lumiere, old buddy, old pal? Whatever your wish, your wish is mine to grant! Today only!"
Lumiere sighed. "Thanks, but you can't -- "
Genie had popped on a hot pink dress and a curly, blonde wig. He had been holding a notebook but tossed it away and snapped his fingers as it vanished into nothingness. "Oh, honey, don't ever tell me there's something you want that I can't dish! I know exactly what you want, and you know what? It's my wedding gift to you, sweetcakes!" Genie started snapping his fingers in a faster rhythm and spinning this way and that. In seconds, Lumiere had his human body back and was dressed to the nines. "Or you want a gown?" His top-of-the-line tuxedo became in a beautiful, sparkling, and flowing white wedding gown.
"Genie, it's beautiful!" Lumiere exclaimed, grabbing the trail and spinning with it. He gushed for a long moment as Chip stood in stunned silence, eyes wide with awe. "But Cogsy would hate it! He'd so blow his top! It's a wonder I'm even getting him to do this!"
"He's doing it, sweetheart," Genie said, placing a reassuring hand on Lumiere's thin shoulder, "because he loves you! We all love you! The whole kingdom has been waiting for this! But if it's a suit you must wear to please your man, then it's a suit you'll wear, but it's not one anyone's ever going to forget!"
Genie snapped his fingers again, and lights like two emblazoned candlesticks without the tapers twirled around Lumiere. When the lights finally extinguished, the suave, fashionable maître'd, who had always been akin to a father to Chip, was the most beautifully dressed he had ever seen. His suit was very top of the line, even beyond anything Chip had ever seen the Master wear. It spun and sparkled like diamonds, but the back of his jacket was in stripes of the very brightest hues of the rainbow. His tails dropped down and seemed alight with a fire that seemed almost to be blowing as though someone was blowing on an enormous candlestick.
"Honey," Genie said, floating back and surveying his work, "they're going to be talking about this wedding for millennia to come!"
"They're going to be talking about it for millennia anyway, my dearrrrs," King Richard practically purred, moving gracefully forward and rearranging the lapels of Lumiere's jacket, "because this is going to show the whole world not just who you are, my dearrr Lumierrre," he said, kissing the maître'd's cheeks, "but who we all are!" His furry ears flicked back and forth. "Come, let us go! I can hear the music starting!"
"Oh, honey, we're not going like that!" Genie shook his head and kept snapping his blue fingers.
Chip suddenly remembered his interview, but almost everyone else was already gone. "Don't you worry about your interview, kid. I'll give you a one-on-one that the whole world won't forget after this wedding that they also won't forget." He winked, and then he slapped his hand together.
Chip found himself in the aisles of the cathedral, watching as his mother and Lumiere began to descend down the aisle. The King and Queen already stood at the pulpit where Mister Cogsworth waited, almost as splendidly handsome in his plain, three-piece suit as Lumiere was in his dazzling, rainbow outfit. Chip realized, with a fresh, stunned breath, that what truly made the two men so beautiful were the love shining unclouded from each of their faces. He had never seen them happier, more at peace, or more freely allowing their love to flow.
Chip felt a little hand on his arm and looked down into Peiter's face. His hair, despite their young age, had the same shaggy, black and soot gray appearance of the feathers with which he was adorned when in quill form. Chip's eyes met his, and in that moment, time itself seemed to stand still. This was what the day had actually, truly been about all along, he realized. It was about celebraitng love, about celebrating two men who loved each other and had found their way together in this world, and about celebrating love and finding one's True Love in all its ways. Chip clamped a hand down onto Peiter's. He'd been lucky: his love had been there for him all the time.
Genie started snapping again, but this time, the cosmic being ws snapping photographs instead of fingers. "I told you the world wouldn't forget this!" he exclaimed jubilantly, taking a close-up of Chip and Peiter. Chip just beamed, his eyes never moving from those of his best friend, even when the Priest began to speak. Genie had been right. Lumiere and Flynn had been right. Queen Belle and his momma had been right. When you knew, you knew, and Chip knew he had found his once in a lifetime right here on this day that the world, and especially they, or his other best friends, would never, ever forget.
Hearing Cogsworth begin to speak, Chip quickly shifted his gaze back to the couple at the altar. He had watched these men fight, become friends, and fall in love over the span of his entire lifetime. He did not want to miss a word, but all through the ceremony, he was very much aware of Peiter's hand on his arm and their short, stubby fingers entwined together. And after Lumiere spoken, and the Priest had said what needed to be said, and his lifelong friends kissed, as a very real and very beautiful fire was leaping up from them in the explosion of a heart, Chip pulled his best friend closer and kissed him too in what would prove to be the first of very many kisses yet to come in the new making of their very own happily ever after.
The End
