Life for Eli was different for him following his moving to Lamss' pokémon world. However, it couldn’t have been better. Eli stayed at the Lamss Manor for a minimal rent and an even greater salary. His previous experience as a drafter came in very handy when preparing stages for shows and he was good at what he did. He made more in three months than what his previous salary could make in a year. Eli had also come to greatly enjoy Duel Monsters, and being in a world where people enjoyed the game as much as he did was also a plus.
However, this new life came with some complications. Upon arriving, he had to forget his previous knowledge of cities and landmarks from his world and learn the cities and landmarks of the pokémon world, especially since he traveled with Lamss for each show, he should know where he was going. Plus, he didn’t want to look like an idiot if a person asked him about something that he would know had he lived in this world for as long as he had been alive. Also, he learned about the various species of Pokémon that inhabited the world. Studying took him about a month, but by early December, Eli was about as well versed about his new world as any one of the members of Lamss.
Thankfully, movies and music, two big influences in his home world, were very similar to his own, minus the fact that Pokémon existed in them and they were set in the newer cities, but Eli was able to catch up once he learned everything.
Eli had also gotten himself some new Pokémon. Along with his pidgeot, he also caught a wild Gabite and Riolu, the latter of which was especially fond of him. His Riolu was an exceptionally bright pokémon, even by pokémon standards, and he was adept at the English language. Eli found it initially weird how he “spoke” to him, using telepathic messages to relay thoughts, but Eli got used to it very quickly. In mid-December, the riolu evolved into a lucario, and Eli bestowed him with the name Vallon, the surname of one of his favorite movie characters of one of his favorite movies, Amsterdam Vallon from Gangs of New York.
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Ryan was content with living in this new world. He was accustomed to traveling to different worlds with different inhabitants, so the Pokémon weren’t a huge change for him. As long as he had his son, he was happy. Being an imaginative boy, Joel was enamored by the Pokémon that inhabited his world. He also had to learn the new cities of this world, but he, like his father, was very adaptive and bright, and he was able to learn them all within a couple of weeks. Ryan and his son had never lived happier.
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In early December, Lamss were able to have the Number cards authenticated for legal playing use by one of the leading Duel Monster card companies in the world, Strato Inc., under the condition that there couldn’t be duplicates of these cards. On December 17th, the members of Lamss held an auction at the Goldenrod City Hotel and Casino banquet hall, selling each individual Number card that was left to the highest bidder. The proceeds would go to charity, specifically to ones that focused on helping children and parents who have lost parents and children, respectively, to ensure that less people would need the assistance of another Vegas Bureau again.
All in all, the auction was a smashing success, netting almost 2.3 million dollars. As many auctioneers left, one younger auctioneer whom Alex could claim had a bottomless bank account, was able to purchase about twenty-five of the Numbers cards, easily being the biggest contributor to the massive amount of money made by the event. He wore a simple brown wool jacket, fine khaki pants, and a grey men’s pageboy cap. He placed the 25 Numbers in a padded briefcase and made his way to the cashier’s table. He wrote a check for the full amount of the purchases he made: $417,000. Maddie took the check and endorsed it while Charley wrote him a receipt.
“Congratulations on your winnings,” she said as she handed it to him. “God bless you.”
“Thank you,” he said calmly with a tip of his hat. “Happy Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas to you too.”
The man went through the exit doors of the banquet hall without a word. After a quick celebratory drink at a local pub, Lamss and their friends gathered back at the airport to fly. They wouldn’t be going home however. Instead, they would give Ponyville a surprise visit to celebrate a holiday known as Hearth’s Warming Eve with their friends.
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The following Spring, on March 22nd, the anniversary of Lucas’ adoption into the de Silva family, Charley de Silva and Lucas de Silva were to be married under a cloudless sky in the still-under-construction city of New Canterlot. Many ponies from all over Equestria had pooled together to rebuild the city, this time at a safer location, a little further inland, surrounded by mountains, forest, and a gorgeous lake. The royal palace, a chapel similar to the one where Shining Armor and Cadence were wed, and several other buildings were finished in their construction, but there was still so much more to be done. Princess Celestia had allowed Lucas and Charley to hold their wedding at the chapel to have them be the ones to christen it with the first wedding held in New Canterlot.
Preparations were made as always. Scott would serve as the best man and organist (he would use his keyboard), where he would play all of the music by Lucas’ side. Pinkie Pie, Maddie, Sammy, and Rarity would serve as the bridesmaids, while Alex, Eli, and Shining Armor served as groomsmen. Fluttershy was chosen by Charley to be her maid of honor. Pinkie Pie made the wedding cake herself. Seeing Lucas as a very special friend, she opted to make her own Marzipan Mascarpone Meringue Madness, to which Lucas was very grateful. Zelda and DJ Pon-3 would collaborate to make music at the reception, using some of Scott’s own vinyl records to mix. Rarity fashioned Charley a wonderful wedding dress, which even Rarity claimed to be her opus (which she later joked would change in a matter of days). Charley and Lucas were set to have a lovely wedding.
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At 3 o’clock, the ceremony began. As Lucas stood to await his bride he looked at the ornamentation of the ballroom. He giggled wondering how his adoptive father could match a wedding as extravagant as this. He and Charley would be married “officially” in their world a few weeks later, but he and Charley knew that his friends in Canterlot wouldn’t want to miss out on their marriage, and he didn’t want any complications between the humans from his world and the other-worldly equines to ruin such a day. It was about time for the bride to appear.
The doors opened as Scott opened with Wagner’s Bridal Chorus in C Major. Charley’s dress was being held up by Fluttershy’s collection of birds as she slowly walked towards the man she was meant to marry. Scott then segued into the main theme of Dream Theater’s Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, a choice both Lucas and Charley asked him to do.
“What’s going on?” asked Pinkie Pie.
“What happened to, ‘Here Comes the Bride?’”
“It’s okay,” said Maddie. “We’re progressive artists. We never do anything by the book.”
Charley began to step up to the alter as Lucas held out his hand to help her up the rest of the way, the theme being played by Scott reaching its climax. Princess Celestia continued with the rest as Scott continued to play with the piano part of The Spirit Carries On.
After the vows, Scott began playing the piano intro to About to Crash, and Princess Celestia had Spike, the ring bearer, present the rings. After putting the rings on their fingers, Princess Celestia ended the ceremony with, “I now pronounce you man and wife,” being careful not to say “mare and colt” as normally done in her world.
The timing was perfect, as Scott began playing the guitar, bass, and drum tracks for About to Crash on his keyboard just as Lucas and Charley’s lips met. The emotional levels were extraordinary, especially for Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, who were crying all the while. Scott continued to play them off as they left the chapel with their friends cheering them off. Charley and Lucas opened the door just in time to see a sonic rainboom form in the sky, no doubt by Rainbow Dash. They all made their way to the New Canterlot palace courtyards for the reception.
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Refreshments and meals were organized by Applejack and Pinkie Pie, the latter of which also decorated the reception. After a nice meal, Scott clinked his spoon on his champagne flute and made a speech for the groom.
“As most of you may or may not know, Lucas has been my best friend for many years. His exuberance both on and off stage has failed to not leave a smile on mine or anyone else’s face. Ironically, our meeting was supposed to be one of scorn and competition, being from rivaling schools playing the rival characters in the same musical together.”
Despite the intentions of the directors who organized the event, the day continues to be one of the best days of my life, because I knew that I had found a special kind of friend that I knew I could not only not forget, but without whom, my life would never be the same. So I would like to raise a toast to the groom, and all of the wonderful things he’s done in his life, a toast to Leonard Bernstein for having us meet, and a toast to Lamss for keeping us together.”
There was clapping and applause all around. Twilight was even moved to tears by the speech.
Fluttershy then stood to give her speech to Charley.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m usually not the best at talking to large groups of people, but I don’t want to ruin Charley’s special day.” There was slight laughter. “I really don’t, because Charley is too special of a friend to me to do that to her. The day she and her friends first arrived in Equestria, I expected the worst: monstrous, vicious beings. What I later learned was that they were anything but monstrous, vicious beings. One of them, especially, is one of the kindest and most caring individuals I have ever met.”
Charley was welling with tears.
“She not only has the heart of gold that Lucas fell in love with, but she has the heart of a warrior, fearlessly risking her life for her friends and giving them everything she has. Charley, your presence has brightened my life and all of those around you, and I hope that you brighten the lives of others in the future as well. Thank you.”
Cheers ensued. No one could believe that the timid Fluttershy could present a speech so powerful. Charley hugged Fluttershy before she sat back down.
After others gave their speeches, it was time for the groom and bride to have the first dance. However, they would be changing things up again. Instead of a dance, they would be singing All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera with each other. There wasn’t a dry eye in the audience as they serenaded the area with their song. Once they ended, the dance floor was open to everyone, and Zelda and DJ Pon-3 played music together.
Alex walked out to the balcony of the courtyard as it looked over the moonlit lake. Eli, Vallon, and Sammy found him.
“Alex, what are you doing?” asked Eli. “Come join the party!”
“I’m just thinking,” said Alex. “Whenever I look at the moon, I feel like all of my troubles just wash away. With Inverz defeated, the Numbers in safe hands, I just can’t believe that I feel like I have no troubles to wash away.”
Alex then turned to face Eli.
“We did it,” said Alex.
“Yeah,” said Eli. “We did it.”
They pounded fists together. Scott then ran up the stairs.
“Hey Alex! They’re playing your request! Come on!”
Alex shared a quick glance at Eli, and they all ran back to the courtyard to dance and celebrate this lovely night.