When the prince and princesses heard of Loki's sudden reformation, it was no surprise that they were skeptical about the situation. It was Harleen who eased their worry when she said:

"You gave me a second chance, brother. Why should you not do the same for him?"

Needless to say, it took an earthquake for Loki to gain their trust. After he saved Columbus from a natural disaster, Prince Auer saw that he had truly reformed.

Of course, it was difficult for Loki to go from plotting against Ohio to doing good deeds, but for the sake of pleasing his beloved, he controlled himself. Most of the time. He still played a few pranks on humans every now and then, but hey, he was the God of Mischief, after all.

Life in Ohio could not have been better, especially for Madisyn and Loki. Now that the tension was lost between them, their dates were less stressful. When he was not spending his time with her, the Frost Giant was helping people with their problems. For instance, he settled a disagreement between Diana and Nichole Price. It turned out that the prior was giving the latter a hard time because she was jealous of her and Chris. He also used his magic to protect Ohio from disasters, making Madisyn the proudest woman in the world.

It was a year following their confession when he proposed again.

He had surprised her while on a picnic, making a ring box appear and popping the question, as he had done a year ago, only this time, she was more than willing to say yes. He gave her the very same ring, but the inscription had changed.

"To my one and only  Madisyn" she read, "the love of my life, the apple of my eye, my other half. Without you, my life is empty. I still think that one day I'm going to wake up and meeting you was all a dream, but if it is, I'll take it. You are the best thing that's ever happened to me and I hope you can say the same about me."

She then realized she had been turning the ring over and over, the message continuing. She looked up at the Frost Giant.

"I'm not going to ask how you managed to fit all that in."

He chuckled. "Believe me. That's the short version!"

It took a month to plan the wedding. It was even bigger than when Anna and Mirrak Mora had gotten married. Hundreds of humans came from Newark and nearly everybody in Columbus attended. Even though few were fond of the groom. Of course, many were skeptical of the match, but if marchers, princesses and earth humans could get along, why could a marcher not marry a Frost Giant?

On the big day, the bridesmaids hastened to get Madisyn ready. Tatum, obviously, had made dresses for all of them, including the flower girls: Regina Mills, Snow White and Lydia. Vahl was performing the ceremony.

"Oh, you look absolutely gorgeous, darling!" Tatum exclaimed once she had made the final adjustments to Madisyn's gown.

She directed her toward the mirror and Madisyn thought she was looking at another person. Her dress was simple, but elegant, with a vine design for trimming. Her veil hung from a wreath of pink roses, which sat perfectly atop her curled hair.

"Tatum," she marveled. "It's beautiful!"

"You're beautiful, Madisyn!" Tatum hailed. "I only made you better!"

Nichole Price laughed. "I never thought you'd be the first of us to get married, Madisyn."

The princess sighed. "Yes. I thought it would be me, as I did catch Anna's bouquet, but...oh, you really do look the part, sweetie!"

"Maybe you'll be next, Nichole," Alyssa chuckled, teasingly poking the tan marcher in the side. "Chris might pop the question any day now!"

"Ooh!" Cwryen chimed. "Then we can have another wedding! How does next week sound?"

"Knock it off, you guys!" Nichole shouted, blushing. "We've only been dating for a year."

"Madisyn and Loki dated for a year!"

"Yeah, but..."

"And you love him right?"

"Well, I..."

"Admit it! You love him, you love him, you love him, you love him, you..."

"Alright, alright! I love him!"

Cwryen jumped into the air. "Yay! Another wedding!"

"Now hold it right there! He hasn't even asked me yet!"

Everybody burst out laughing, except for Lydia, who shifted in her dress.

"Aren't we a little old to be flower girls? After all, we have our cutie marks."

"Maybe," Madisyn replied, "but I couldn't think of three kids better suited for the job."

Alyssa laid a hand on her shoulder. "We're really happy for ya, Sugar Cube."

"Even if it is Loki?"

"Well..." Tatum stammered. "We may not approve of your choice one hundred percent, but..."

Vahl finished for her. "We're happy that you're happy."

There was a frantic knock on the door. "Hey, Alyssa! You in there? Emergency!"

Alyssa approached the door. "One second, Boise."

"Are you mad?!" Tatum yelled. "We're getting dressed!"

The cowgirl rolled her eyes. "I'll only crack it."

As she opened the door, she blushed when she saw the dog in his tuxedo and top hat. He was still oblivious to her feelings, which had rapidly increased now that he was in formal attire.

"Thank goodness! I'm having a problem with..."

He froze when he caught sight of the woman in front of him. He hardly recognized her without her hat. She was dressed in an autumn colored gown, her hair released from her ponytail and hanging loosely around her shoulders with a gentle curl to them, a wreath of roses sitting lightly on top. She looked...well, like a girl. And she was not that bad. He could have sworn she was sparkling.

Alyssa raised an eyebrow when she noticed him staring. "Is everything alright, Boise?"

Boise shook his head. "Yeah, I, uh...what was I saying?"

"You have a problem?"

"Oh, right! It's Loki. He's getting..." He peered over at Madisyn and said the rest in a whisper. "Cold feet."

The cowgirl gasped and called to her friends. "I gotta go check on the groom. I'll meet y'all at the altar!"

Loki needed a best man or woman, but unfortunately, he was still a rookie when it came to making friends, so Alyssa had volunteered for the role. After all, she had been the first to support the match.

When she and Boise entered the groom's dressing room, it was empty. They searched in all directions for the Frost Giant.

"Loki, get your rump out here!" Alyssa commanded. "You're gettin' married in thirty minutes!"

She then had a thought and looked up. Sure enough, Loki was hanging by his hands from the ceiling. The cowgirl stomped her foot.

"Get down here!"

"Make me!" Loki taunted. "I can stay up here all day!"

He summoned a pillow and stretched out against the ceiling.

"But ya gotta get married!"

"No! I can't go out there!"

"Oh, no you don't! You're not abandonin' Madisyn at the altar!"

"I'm sorry, Alyssa, but this is the honest truth: I can't do it!"

"Ya can't get cold feet! You're the one who wanted this to happen!"

"I'm not the one with cold feet."

He snapped his fingers and Alyssa yelped as she felt a sudden chill in her feet. She glanced down to see that they had been encased in ice.

"Quit foolin' and get down! Madisyn's gonna be heartbroken!"

"What makes you think she will be?"

She spun around as the Frost Giant teleported beside her. She tried to tackle him, but her feet were stiff in the ice. Loki sighed and went over to stare at his reflection in the mirror.

"What makes you think she'll care if I leave her? She'll probably be relieved!"

"How can you say that?" Boise inquired.

"Well, just look at me! I don't know how I could possibly have thought I could be worthy of her! She's the most beautiful woman that ever lived and I'm just a lowly Frost Giant. Even if I'm not evil anymore, that's never going to change."

"But you're..."

Alyssa attempted to walk over to him, but she could not shake off the blocks of ice. Boise used his dog breath to melt them and free her.

"Thanks," she beamed, before approaching Loki. "Now listen here, partner. You may be...different, but I've never seen Madisyn so happy in my life. You may not be from the same realms, but love comes from all realms."

"Yeah," Boise nodded. "Like with me and..."

He trailed off unexpectedly, his cheeks turning pink as he avoided their gaze.

"Like with you and Tatum?" Loki huffed. "Please, like that's ever going to...yow!"

He cried out as Alyssa stepped on his foot. He caressed it as he glared at her.

"What was that for?"

"Never mind that!" the southern girl shouted. "My point is that I know what love looks like, and I've never seen two humans, or any other people from any other realm, more in love than you and Madisyn. Unless I was mistaken and you don't love her..."

"What are you talking about?" Loki snapped. "Of course, I love her! You think I would have asked her to marry me if I didn't love her? You think I would have given up my plans for hostile takeover if I didn't love her? Well, let me tell you something, AJ! I love that woman more than anything! You hear? More than anything!"

Alyssa smirked. "Whadya waiting for then?"

The Frost Giant blinked and then glanced in the mirror. He then snapped his fingers, making a tuxedo appear on his body.

"Look out, baby! Your new hubby's coming!" He slicked back his hair. "Oh yes, you handsome devil! You can do this!"

"I can't do this!"

He winced as Alyssa nudged him in the side. "You better not bail!"

Everybody was in their positions at the altar. Nichole Price, Tatum and Cwryen Caster were lined up beside the bride's vacant space, Alyssa stood alongside Loki, Boise ready with the rings. Vahl stood in the middle, beneath the arch of roses.

The guests had all arrived and the room was packed. Since Loki and Madisyn had no relations, the Columbus folk sat on the groom's side while the people from Newark and Cleveland sat on the bride's, along with many of Madisyn's animal friends. Loki could recognize a few faces, including Frea, Andrew Spence and Martha (who were married months ago), Liberty Iler, Nichole's boyfriend Chris, Logun Sims, the Carter's with their twin toddlers, Vahl's parents, Tatum's parents, Cwryen's family, Nichole's father and many of Alyssa's cousins. Auer and Harleen were seated in the back row, since they were the tallest. Anna and Mirrak Mora sat up front, holding their tan newborn baby, Selina Madisyn Kyle. They had named her in honor of Madisyn, of course.

Vahl noticed Loki's nervousness. "You're not getting cold feet, are you?"

"Of course not!" he choked. "In fact, it's quite hot in here, don't you think?"

He tugged on the collar of his suit and wiped the sweat from his brow. "You don't suppose she's changed her mind, do you?"

"She's not late," Nichole Price whispered. "The ceremony's not supposed to start until three."

"But everybody's here! Shouldn't we start now? Ouch!"

"Pull yourself together!" Alyssa hissed.

"Quit doing that!" He pulled his foot away and turned it into a fan.

"Relax. We haven't been standing here that long."

"You sure? This seems to be taking an eternity! I should know! I spent that time in ice!"

"Put that fan away! It's startin'!"

Sure enough, the bird choir began singing the bridal march, with Max directing them. Loki returned his foot to normal as the doors opened. As the flower girls hopped down the aisle, scattering their petals, he started panicking.

What am I doing? I shouldn't be here! Why am I here?

Then he looked up and remembered why.

She entered the room with grace and elegance, causing everybody to gawk in awe. She walked down the aisle with her head held high, meeting the groom's gaze through her veil. Her long train was carried by more birds.

A smile spread across Loki's face. "She's beautiful."

Alyssa gave him a sly grin. "Easy, Sugar. Save it for the honeymoon."

Meanwhile, the others were tearing up, including the flower girls.

"It's so romantic," Snow White whispered.

"I just hope he doesn't go all berserk again," Regina Mills muttered.

"Naw," Lydia said. "If anybody can handle that guy, it's Madisyn."

Madisyn giggled at them as she passed by. Then she turned her attention back to Loki as she walked up the steps. He gently lifted her veil to reveal her beautiful face. After exchanging a loving look, they faced Vahl.

"Women and gentlemen," the dark elf announced. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Madisyn and Loki. Never in the history of Ohio has there ever been a love so powerful, so strong, yet it started from the most unusual of circumstances. These two standing before you have proved that love surpasses all differences, all flaws, all faults."

She turned to the bride. "Do you, Madisyn, take this, um, Frost Giant to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, until death, do you part?"

Madisyn looked up into Loki's adoring eyes. "I do."

"And do you, Loki, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health, until death, do you part?"

He was so lost in his bride's eyes that he did not hear her at first. "Huh? Oh, I do! Yes, I most definitely do!"

Vahl chuckled. "In that case, may I have the rings?"

Boise presented the pillow and Vahl used her magic to levitate the rings. She slid one onto Madisyn's ring finger. The other slid onto the ring finger of Loki's hand.

"By the power vested in me," the dark elf continued, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss..."

The Frost Giant did not wait for her to finish and pulled his bride in for a dip before pressing his lips against hers. Most of the audience cringed, but then stomped their feet in applause.

Tatum nudged Nichole Price and tilted her head outside.

"Oh, right!"

The marcher zoomed out of her gown and out into the skies. The couple pulled away just in time to see her sonic rainboom through the windows.

"BEST WEDDING EVER!" Cwryen cried.

The reception was held in the garden. Emma Rose played the song for the bride and groom's first dance: "Somebody to Love." Loki had selected it, considering it 'their song.' Afterwards, a slower song was played, drawing various couples onto the dance floor.

"Shall we?" Chris bowed to Nichole Price.

"Um, it's kinda slow, isn't it?"

"Well, I get if you're not up to the challenge..."

"Hey, wait a minute! Are you saying I can't handle a slow dance?"

"Can you?"

She grabbed his hand. "Come on, you rascal."

Meanwhile, Tatum was met with an all too familiar male prince.

"Miss Tatum," Prince Burr greeted. "Would you care for a dance?"

She narrowed her eyes at him. "You're kidding me, right?"

Fortunately, she was saved by another male prince. "Pardon me, your highness, but may I cut in?"

Tatum's eyes lit up at the sight of Logun Sims. "You most certainly may!"

Boise sighed as he watched the girl of his dreams dance with another guy. Alyssa noticed his sadness and approached him, following his gaze.

"Sorry, Sugar Cube."

The dog shrugged. "Yeah, whatever. I guess some things just aren't meant to be."

"Hey, you never know. They could be just friends."

"But what if they're not?"

"Then you let it be. If you really love somebody, you do what makes them happy." She put an encouraging hand on his shoulder. "But hey, if you ever need a shoulder to cry on, I'm here."

Boise looked up at her. She was wearing her hat again, but that did not change the affect she had on him. His heart fluttered in a similar way it did for Tatum, but he felt something else along with it: comfort, familiarity. He rubbed his arm nervously.

"Hey, Alyssa...you, um...wanna dance?"

The cowgirl could not believe her ears. "Ya mean it?"

"Yeah, you know...if you want to..."

She smiled at him warmly. "I'd love to."

Loki gazed down at his new wife as she buried her face in his suit. Then he noticed a familiar figure standing off to the side.

"Yo, Frea!" he called.

Madisyn looked up as he led her over to the nord.

"Greetings, you lovebirds, and salutations," she said. "I just wanted to offer my congratulations."

"We have you to thank for this," the bride insisted.

Loki raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? I never told you."

"See, before I accepted your deal, I went to Frea for advice and she told me that you weren't all that bad and we would be happy together. Wait. Never told me what?"

"That I asked Frea for advice and she told me to make you that garden! Hey, hold on!" He pointed accusingly at the nord. "You knew this was going to happen all along, didn't you?"

Frea laughed as she walked away. "Nice to see you finally catch up. Why do you think I set you up?"

"B-but...how did she...? She's not even a magic-wielder! And that wasn't even a rhyme!"

Madisyn silenced him with her hand. "Does it really matter, dear?"

He sighed and took her in his arms. "No, I guess not."

The carriage was ready with six horses to take the couple home, but Loki waved them off.

"No need to exert yourselves, boys. We can drive ourselves."

He snapped his fingers, releasing the horses and opened the door for his bride with a bow.

"Shall we be off, my dear?"

Madisyn was about to step inside but paused. "Oh, I almost forgot!"

She picked up her bouquet of flowers and tossed it over her shoulder. All the single women wrestled to catch it.

"MINE!" Tatum shouted, trying to push the others out of the way. "For sure, this time!"

But the bouquet went high above her head and the crowd parted to reveal that it had landed in Nichole Price's hands.

"Oh boy, Nikki!" Cwryen cheered. "That means you're next down the aisle!"

"W-what?" the marcher stammered, her face flushing.

Chris laughed beside her. "Well, you'd look pretty good in a wedding dress. Oh, that reminds me. Nichole, there's something I've been meaning to ask you."

Once the newlyweds were in the carriage, everybody waved to them and they waved back, until they were a spot in the distance.

Loki sighed and glanced slyly at Madisyn. "Alone at last."

He was about to put an arm around her when an acorn hit him. He turned to see Max and the other animals sitting across from them.

"What the...what are they doing here?"

"Well, I said they could move in with us," Madisyn explained.

"You what?!"

"They're just going to live in the garden. They won't get in the way."

"But do they have to ride with us? I can just zap them to the garden and..."

She stopped his hand before he could cast a spell. "Please? They want to ride so badly. Don't worry. Once we get home, I'm all yours."

He groaned. "Oh, alright!"

The entire ride was awkward and silent. Whenever Loki attempted to move in on his new wife, the animals would cry out in protest and throw another acorn at him.

"I'm married to her! Get used to it!"

When they finally reached the castle, Loki did not wait to get rid of the pests.

"Okay, we're here! Now scram!"

He snapped his fingers and they were gone in a flash. Madisyn shook her head.

"You're going to have to learn to get along with them."

"Yeah, later." He looked at her slyly. "In the meantime..."

He teleported himself outside and opened the door of the carriage. He then lifted her into his arms bridal style and carried her towards the castle.

"Home sweet home," he mused. "I hope you don't mind, but I renovated a little."

Madisyn looked up at the estate. The gold walls had been painted blue with patches of green and black.

"It's much more colorful."

Loki shrugged. "Yeah, golden castles are kind of boring after a while. You like?"

"Oh yes, very."

"Good, because this time, you're never ever leaving."

She giggled as he poked her in the belly. "I think I can live with that."

The front door opened automatically and Madisyn could not recognize the place. The main hall was still disproportional with stairs leading to nowhere, but all the doors were right-side-up. The walls were also green and the doors blue.

"What do you think of the interior?" Loki inquired.

"Less dizzy."

He chuckled. "I thought you'd like it. Wait until you see the honeymoon suite."

At his command, a door hanging high on the wall with no stairs leading to it opened. He  teleported her up to it and Madisyn gawked at the décor of the room. Everything was in the shape of a heart: the bed, the pillows, the windows, the chandelier, the candles in the chandelier, etc. She did not know what to say about it.

"It's, um...very..."

"Mushy, I know. Makes me want to gag too, but isn't this how most honeymoon suites look?"

"I wouldn't know."

"Oh well, I'm too tired to change anything now."

The door shut behind them and a 'Do Not Disturb' sign appeared on the knob outside. Loki waved back the gossamer curtains and laid his bride on the bed.

"Now, we're alone," he whispered as he moved on top of her and pulled her in for a gentle kiss.

When he moved away to look at her, he caressed her beautiful face. At long last, he had his prize, his true love. What made this moment even better was that she had married him willingly with no strings attached. He never thought he would be married, let alone to the girl of his dreams. Who knew what future lay ahead of them? Maybe one day they would have a baby and become family. To him, that sounded a lot more promising than ruling Ohio.

She suddenly broke his eye contact and looked off to the side.

"What's wrong, my love?" he inquired.

"Nothing," she murmured. "I just...I'm just a little nervous. This is a big step, you know?"

He smirked. "Don't be. If I do anything you don't like, just say so."

She gazed back up at him and a small smile appeared on her lips. "I love you."

Loki's heart thumped wildly. "I love you too, my beauteous bride."

Then he clapped his hands and killed the lights.

                                                                                        THE END