My Red Princess Chapter 10

After months of preparation, the day was finally here.

I was overcome with joy.

I stood in a room. The room was empty and dark, only lit by a beam of morning light entering through the window. I was in front of a mirror.

My normally blue dress was white and I sported a veil. My physical appearance might not have been drastically changed, but I was spiritually ecstatic.

I smiled at myself. My bridespeople, Steven, Mom, Black Agate, and Turquoise, had done a great job getting me ready.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in." I said.

Mom peeked in. "Sapphire?"

I turned.

"Oh, Sapphire, you look stunning! I knew that dress was perfect for you! I can't believe the day is finally here!"

I hugged her. "Thank you."

"Are you ready? Everyone's waiting."

I nodded.

Mom took my arm and we exited the room into a larger room.

"You. Look. AMAZING." Black Agate gushed.

I hugged her. "Great to have you back."

"Mommy! Mommy!" Garnet ran up to me. I picked her up.

"How's my girl?"

"Mommy, you look so pretty!"

"Not as beautiful as you do! Ruby and I are supposed to be the stars, not you!"

"Can I ask you something?" Garnet asked, suddenly serious.

I nodded. "What's the matter?"

"Are you and Mommy in pain, Mommy? 'Cuz at night, you and Mommy are always moaning and groaning."

I was flustered. "Uh...well, sweetie, you see...we're not actually in pain. We're always doing, um..." Each other? Dammit, Sapphire, come up with something! "The thing is..."

"...sometimes the floor creaks..."

I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up (And thankfully I wasn't the only one who forgot about the subject). "Sapphire, it's time." Mom said.

I set her down. "Okay, it's time for you toss the petals just like you practiced." I kissed her on the forehead. "Knock 'em dead."

She smiled and nodded. The doors opened to the plant-filled outdoor palace garden. Garnet walked down the cobblestone pathway with the grasses of spring growing freely, tossing the blue, red, and purple petals. Chrysocolla, the son of Turquoise and Spinel, carried the rings. I walked out, my arm linked with my mother's, as I slowly made my way up the aisle. Finally, I reached the altar and the flower-covered arch which under stood Ruby in her suit, tearing up. Pearl, Amethyst, Jade, and Spinel stood near her. Steven, Mom, Turquoise, and Black Agate mirrored their positions.

"Don't cry yet." I whispered to Ruby, regretting not getting her waterproof makeup.

Her lip trembled. "Y-You look b-beautiful..." Unbeknownst to me, she clutched a white glove given to her when she was eight years of age by a passerby behind her back. It was a symbol of hope to a child in an abusive home. It was dirty and worn. Fulfilling the message it brought was no easy task, but today, the glove's journey was coming to a close at long last.

I smiled and held her hand briefly as the officiant stepped forward.

"Mawwiage. Mawwiage is what bwings us togethew today." Serpentine drawled.

Ruby's unstable emotion faded as Serpentine began to speak. She rolled her eyes. I giggled silently. Ruby caught my eye and snickered. Serpentine shot her daggers and continued.

I looked at Ruby. It was crazy to think that it was only three years ago my mother was throwing a ball to find me a spouse, which worked, but Ruby wasn't exactly the spitting image of my mother's fantasies. It felt like yesterday she saved me. It felt like yesterday I saved her. We saved each other. Strawberry Quartz's arrest. Finally getting Ruby, Amethyst, and Pearl out from their awful lives with Green Tourmaline and Pyrite. My mother's acceptance, my daughter's adoption, my lover's proposal felt a world away. The only thing that would never feel distant was Carnelian's sacrifice. We would never forget. But today was a celebration.

"Princess Sapphire of Gaea, do you take Ruby to be your wedded wife, to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her for better and worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to her, for as long as you both shall live?" Serpentine said, bringing me out of my trance.

"I do." I said calmly.

"Ruby, do you take Princess Sapphire of Gaea to be your wedded wife, to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her for better and worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to her, for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do!" Ruby said emotionally.

Chrysocolla handed off the rings.

"With this ring, I thee wed." I said as I placed the silver ring with a small sapphire on it on the ring finger of Ruby's left hand.

"With this ring, I thee wed." Ruby said as she placed the gold ring with a small ruby on it on the ring finger of my left hand.

"I now pronounce you wife and wife. You may kiss."

I held Ruby close. "You look like a princess." I said softly.

"Really?! You look ten times as beautiful as I do! You're actually a princess!" Ruby blushed.

"Well, you're my princess."

Ruby stared at me with a childlike love and wonder, tears of bliss welling up.

It was at that moment we became one. The ruby and sapphire in each of our rings had seemingly each changed to an all new stone. However, I was too awestruck by Ruby to notice.

We kissed.

Everyone cheered. Mom and Steven hung on to each other, sobbing uncontrollably. Black Agate cheered us on, the wild spark I'd missed for so long back in her spirited eyes.

"Mommies! Mommies!" Garnet shouted, running.

Turquoise, Jade, and Spinel hugged. Since everyone was focused on us, Amethyst gave Pearl a quick kiss of her own. Several guests stood up.

We pulled apart, staying close, a magnetic field of love keeping us close together.

"I really meant what I said. You really are my princess." I said teasingly.

My Red Princess.

THE END.

A/N: Wow, I can't believe it's over. It felt like yesterday I couldn't get the idea of a Cinderella Ruby out of my head. I was honored when I reached 100 readers and I never would've imagined reaching 1.5k reads. I never would've made it without the support of everyone who stuck with it till the end despite the time between updates. I'll miss this story. It's been so fun... Goodbye.

JK I'M NOT DONE WITH THIS

The fantasy isn't over yet! Expect a bonus oneshot, Laughy Sapphy Ice Cream, est. 1959, next Friday. It's also coming with a very special announcement...