Love and Rivalry: A Neopian Wedding

     In the room next door, Harlis tied his tie, practiced his smile, and thought about Wila. Wila, who had never wanted to get married, was the one who proposed leading up to Altador Cup XIX. Wila, who fought for everything she believed in and worked hard at everything she did, managed to plan a wedding and come in third place in the event. Everything she did impressed Harlis, and he could not wait to officially celebrate her and the rest of their lives together. Harlis was not a fan of snow, but he saw how happy it made Wila. She found it romantic. He would do anything to see her smile — even get married in the cold while slowly losing the feeling in his limbs. He heard the scuttling of Raindorfs running in the fresh snow outside and couldn’t help but smile at the cuteness. Maybe not everything about the cold was so awful.

     Short-term teammates but long-term partners, these two had been through so much together. They knew their friends, family, teammates, and competitors were out there waiting to celebrate with them. Everyone knew how devastated they and Tyrannian fans were when Harlis got traded; even Wila wondered if their relationship would last. Somehow it endured. Getting engaged in front of their old shared team, having an engagement party with both teams, and now a wedding with all of the teams, family, friends, and even some fans and members of the media. Wila and Harlis knew this was to be a special event that would mean so much to many more than just the two of them. While they lived much of their lives in the spotlight, they still were not sure if they felt prepared for the kind of pressure that would come with such a public wedding. Even more eyes were on them than expected. They both wanted to win the Cup, of course, but neither ever expected it. But with Tyrannia squeaking in third place, Neopians all over were interested in Wila and her love life. Harlis would be jealous if he didn’t love her so much; she deserved the praise for her efforts. Still, it was more perception than they were prepared for after such a small engagement party.

     All of this swirled around in their minds as they tried to steady their nerves and look to the future together. They pictured one day being on the podium together, perhaps once again as teammates, declaring to all of Neopia that love knows no borders nor time apart. Maybe not next year, but one day.

     Someone knocked on both of their dressing room doors at the same time, snapping Harlis and Wila out of their thoughts.

     “It’s time! Come on out.”

     Harlis reached for the doorknob. He pulled it open in such an excited frenzy he nearly ripped it off its hinges.

     At the same time, Wila nervously reached for her doorknob and slowly pulled the door open.

     They looked at each other.

     It was the first time they had looked at each other — really looked at each other — in such a long time. They weren’t competitors or workout buddies today. They were not busy making wedding plans or sorting out other boring logistics long-term couples tend to get caught up in. They saw the one who made them feel love so deeply. The one who made them want to be the best version of themselves. The one who knew them better than they knew themselves. The one who completed their sentences and made a house a home. The one.

     “Come on! We don’t have all day!” an annoyed Yurble scoffed and marched down the hallway toward the double doors leading to where the ceremony was taking place.

     “Are you ready?” Wila asked.

     “For the cold? No,” Harlis said with a chuckle.

     Wila rolled her eyes and laughed. Of course he would make a remark on the snow.

     “Let’s go,” Harlis said to her as he extended his hand. She took it. They walked forward together much further behind the irritated Yurble. The venue was booked solid all day, the Yurble thought. They knew they had to keep a schedule. It wasn’t his fault he was irritated; he had to make sure they stuck to their schedule for his own schedule.

     They stepped outside into the brisk air, snow still falling, Raindorfs still playing. It was not only their wedding day, but also the Day of Giving. Decorations had sprung up all over Neopia over the last few weeks. It made for a better backdrop than a cold Harlis wanted to admit, but was it ever breathtaking … although, in his mind, it still was not as beautiful as Wila.

     They exchanged their vows and held the ceremony. It was cold but beautiful and more perfect than they ever could have thought. All of their friends, teammates, competitors, family, and even some fans were in attendance. It really made the day perfect. The holiday lights twinkled from under piles of snow. The snowfall made for fantastic photos and even more memories. The stone of the arches of Altador danced under the light of the fire Yooyus and Lightmites. The poinsettias lining the aisles flickered as they could see all their friends and family sitting in the benches. They felt the love from across Neopia — and heard it too, since the Techo Fanatic decided to show up front row. Their teammates made up their wedding party, and no one up there had a dry eye. Everyone had been waiting for this moment for so long. The Day of Giving was really giving to all who attended, in more ways than they could fully express or understand in the moment.

     Into the evening they danced big, laughed hard, and ate plenty. It was nice not to worry about working out, the next match, or avoiding injury. It was wonderful for both of them to just simply be present and enjoy the moment with each other. It was peaceful to be surrounded by the noise of everyone they each held dear and to know this was going to be the rest of their lives, and it was going to be their version of perfect.

     As the last of the guests trickled out, they collapsed on the floor.

     “I am so tired, Harlis.”

     “Me too. But a good tired.”

     “Yeah. A much more rewarding tired than even winning the Cup was.”

     They sat in silence, watching the crew clean up the banquet hall from their reception.

     Wila and Harlis had been together for many years, but looking around it hit them that this was to be their first Day of Giving as a married couple. It was going to be that much more fun and that much more special. Wila thought of the decorations she’d put up and the food she would cook. Harlis thought of the gifts he’d buy Wila to see her smile and the desserts he would decorate. They would settle in to a nice rhythm for now and forever … or at least until they were Altador Cup rivals again.

     The End.