Another day or so passed, and suddenly it was the day of the wedding.
The Fairy Village had transformed overnight.
Soft lights floated through the air like drifting stars, casting gold and violet glows across woven branches and natural platforms shaped into elegant terraces. Petals fell in a constant, gentle rain, dissolving into magic before ever touching the ground. Music echoed lightly through the air—something between chimes and wind—blending with laughter from thousands of gathered fairies.
At the center of it all stood the ceremony platform, formed from living branches and glowing vines.
But the fairies weren't alone.
The Dimensional Gateway had changed that.
Word had traveled quickly through Solmere that Jax Darquebane was getting married again.
And apparently everyone wanted to come.
It probably hadn't helped that the UK Chronicle had run an article the previous morning.
UK CHRONICLE
FAIRY QUEEN SPOTTED WITH JAX DARQUEBANE — ANOTHER VIXEN?
Fairy Queen Pixelle was recently seen throughout Solmere accompanied by Jax Darquebane and several members of his growing family.
Witnesses reported seeing the Fairy Queen visiting multiple shops associated with wedding preparations, leading many to speculate that another Darquebane wedding may be imminent.
Neither Darquebane nor Queen Pixelle has publicly confirmed an engagement.
However, sources close to absolutely no one involved have informed the Chronicle that the answer is "obviously yes."
The more interesting question may be what such a marriage would mean for Darquebane himself.
If Jax Darquebane marries a reigning Queen, what exactly does that make him?
Jax hadn't read the article.
In fact, Jax hadn't read the Chronicle in several days.
Which was why he had interpreted the sudden wave of congratulations throughout Solmere exactly as anyone in his position naturally would.
People were happy for him.
Apparently, they really liked Pixelle.
Jax could understand that.
She was a keeper.
What he hadn't expected was for so many people to actually attend.
Jax stood near the ceremony platform, taking in the enormous gathering.
Thousands of fairies filled the village.
But behind him stood hundreds of familiar faces from Solmere.
Brannic stood nearby in formal attire that looked only slightly out of place on a dwarf of his build. Grathok had somehow managed to find clothing that qualified as formal without looking any less intimidating. Kaelor stood among several members of the Adventurers Guild. Mayor Halvren had come. Pophov and Ellie were there.
Merchants.
Workers.
Adventurers.
People Jax had done business with.
People he'd helped.
People who had helped him.
Even Roger had managed to get himself invited somehow.
Jax wasn't entirely certain who had authorized that one.
He suspected Bunny.
Actually, he was almost certain it was Bunny.
Jax looked across the gathering again.
Then smiled.
"…This is a lot."
Brannic glanced toward him.
"You've got a lot of friends."
Jax looked over the crowd.
"I guess I do."
Brannic chuckled.
"You sound surprised."
"I didn't realize half of Solmere wanted to watch me get married."
"Maybe they're making sure you actually go through with it."
Jax looked at him.
"I've been married twice."
"And yet somehow people are still curious."
Jax shook his head.
Behind him, the Vixens stood together, dressed for the occasion as bridesmaids.
Nyxian leaned toward him.
"Don't mess this up."
Jax gave her a look.
"I helped beat the World Tree."
Nyxian smirked.
"This is harder."
Jax considered that.
"…Fair."
Bunny gave him an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
"You'll do great!"
Zee smiled.
"Just be sincere."
Llandra crossed her arms.
"And don't say anything stupid."
Jax looked at her.
"Those two instructions may conflict."
"They shouldn't."
"That's easy for you to say."
Llandra's mouth twitched.
Nyxian leaned closer.
"Just remember. Whatever happens, we'll be here to laugh at you."
"That's comforting."
"That's what fiancés are for."
The music changed.
Thousands of conversations immediately began fading away.
Jax straightened.
The ceremony was beginning.
The crowd quieted.
Then Pixelle appeared.
Jax smiled.
Even at only three inches tall, Pixelle somehow managed to make an entrance worthy of a Queen.
Her wedding dress was elegant and unmistakably fairy in its design, delicate fabric flowing around her tiny body as she flew forward through drifting petals. Her bright pink hair fell around her shoulders, her translucent wings catching the magical lights as she approached.
She looked beautiful.
Absolutely beautiful.
Jax's smile widened.
Then he noticed Lexi.
She flew beside Pixelle.
Also dressed in white.
Jax's smile remained.
But his eyebrows slowly drew together.
That wasn't a bridesmaid's dress.
Jax looked at Lexi.
Then Pixelle.
Then Lexi again.
He glanced toward Nyxian.
She was already smiling.
That was concerning.
Jax looked back toward the approaching fairies.
Pixelle and Lexi landed on the ceremony platform in front of him.
Pixelle smiled up.
"You clean up well."
Jax smirked.
"You are as beautiful as ever, Your Grace."
Pixelle's eyes widened just slightly.
"Oh, Goddess. I love you."
Jax chuckled.
Then looked at Lexi.
Then at her dress.
Then back at Pixelle.
"Why is Lexi wearing a wedding dress?"
Pixelle blinked.
"Because she's getting married."
Jax paused.
"Today?"
"Yes."
Another pause.
"To me?"
Pixelle's expression became genuinely confused.
"Obviously."
Behind Jax, Nyxian made a noise suspiciously close to a laugh.
Jax slowly turned toward her.
"You knew?"
Nyxian smiled sweetly.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"You're terrible at lying."
"I'm not trying very hard."
Jax looked at Bunny.
She immediately looked away.
Zee suddenly seemed fascinated by the ceremony platform.
Llandra maintained the expression of someone who had absolutely nothing to do with anything.
Jax looked back at Pixelle.
"Nobody thought this was something I should know?"
Pixelle put her hands on her hips.
"You know Lexi is a Vixen."
"Yes."
"You know she loves you."
Jax opened his mouth.
Pixelle continued.
"You know you love her."
Jax closed his mouth.
"And you know she wants to be part of our family."
"Yes."
Pixelle spread her hands.
"So what exactly are we confused about?"
Jax stared at her.
"Apparently wedding invitations."
Lexi laughed softly, but Jax noticed the nervousness behind it.
His attention shifted to her.
The humor faded from his expression.
"You're sure?"
Lexi didn't hesitate.
"I've never wanted anything more in my life."
Jax looked at her for a moment.
Then smiled.
"It just feels… right, doesn't it?"
Lexi's smile grew.
Jax looked toward Pixelle.
She nodded immediately.
Jax's grin widened.
"Let's do this!"
The nervousness disappeared from Lexi's face.
Pixelle beamed.
Behind them, Bunny cheered.
"Yes!"
Nyxian laughed.
"I knew he'd do it."
Jax glanced over his shoulder.
"Apparently everyone knew I'd do it except me."
"That made it better."
Merriweather stepped onto the platform.
She had been trying very hard to maintain the dignified expression expected of someone officiating a royal wedding.
She wasn't succeeding.
"Are we ready now?"
Jax looked at Pixelle.
Then Lexi.
Both smiled.
"Apparently I'm getting married."
Merriweather glanced between the two brides, then back at Jax.
"Twice."
Jax nodded.
"Let's not complicate the math."
Merriweather laughed.
Then her expression softened as she turned toward the gathered crowd.
She raised her hands.
The village quieted.
"Today, we celebrate more than a union of hearts."
Her voice carried easily across the Fairy Village.
"We celebrate the joining of lives, families and worlds."
She looked toward Pixelle.
Then Lexi.
Then Jax.
"Three people have chosen one another."
Jax glanced toward Lexi.
She smiled back.
"And today, before their families, their friends and the Fairy Court, they choose to walk forward together."
Merriweather turned toward Jax.
"Jax Darquebane."
"That's me."
Several people laughed.
Merriweather gave him a look.
"Do you wish me to start over?"
"No."
"Good."
She looked toward Pixelle.
"Do you take Pixelle as your wife? To stand beside her, protect her when she needs protecting, trust her when she doesn't, and share whatever strange adventures your lives somehow manage to create?"
Jax smiled.
"I do."
Pixelle's wings fluttered.
Merriweather turned toward Lexi.
"And do you take Lexi as your wife? To stand beside her, trust her, support her, and share your life with her as part of the family she has chosen?"
Jax looked directly at Lexi.
"I do."
Lexi's smile became impossibly bright.
Merriweather turned to Pixelle.
"Pixelle. Do you take Jax as your husband?"
Pixelle lifted her chin.
"I do."
"And Lexi. Do you take Jax as your husband?"
Lexi didn't hesitate.
"I do."
Merriweather smiled.
"Then I believe we need some rings."
She reached into a small pouch at her side.
Pixelle immediately leaned forward.
Jax noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"That was definitely something."
Merriweather removed an elegant ring.
The metal was delicate, its surface carrying faint traces of golden-green magic surrounding a small jewel.
Pixelle stared at it.
Her eyes widened.
Jax knelt.
Pixelle held out her tiny hand.
Jax carefully slid the ring onto her finger.
Magic erupted.
Golden-green light surrounded Pixelle.
Her body expanded.
Three inches became a foot.
A foot became three.
Three became five.
The light faded.
Pixelle stood before him at five feet, six inches tall.
Her wings stretched behind her, shimmering with magic.
For several seconds, Pixelle simply stared down at herself.
She flexed her fingers.
Looked at her arms.
Then her legs.
Her hands slowly moved over the wedding dress, which had expanded perfectly with her.
She looked at Jax.
"…Oh, wow."
Jax smiled.
"Welcome back."
Pixelle immediately threw her arms around him.
Jax laughed and hugged her.
When she finally released him, she turned toward Merriweather.
Merriweather reached into the pouch again.
And removed a second ring.
Jax looked at it.
Then at Lexi.
Lexi stared at the ring.
Jax glanced toward Merriweather.
She smiled.
Jax nodded.
"Mrs. Darquebane?"
Lexi flew forward.
She held out her hand.
Jax carefully slid the ring onto her finger.
The magic activated immediately.
Lexi gasped as golden-green light surrounded her.
Three inches became a foot.
A foot became three.
Three became five.
And then—
The light faded.
Lexi stood on the platform.
Five feet, eight inches tall.
For the first time in her life.
She didn't say anything.
She simply stared.
At her hands.
Her arms.
Her body.
She stretched her wings behind her.
Then looked around.
The world hadn't changed.
But from where she stood, everything looked different.
She looked at Jax.
Not upward from his hand.
Not from his shoulder.
Not while hovering in front of his face.
She simply looked at him.
Her eyes began to shine.
Jax smiled.
"Hey."
Lexi laughed softly.
"Hi."
Then Bunny tilted her head.
"…She's taller."
Pixelle's head slowly turned.
She looked at Lexi.
Then slightly upward.
Her eyes narrowed.
"…Why is she taller?"
Jax looked between them.
"I don't know, but it's only like two inches."
Pixelle's eyes snapped toward him.
"Only?"
Jax immediately realized his mistake.
Nyxian turned away, shoulders shaking.
Zee gave him a sympathetic look.
Llandra didn't even bother hiding her smile.
Lexi raised her hands.
"I can shrink."
Pixelle looked at her.
"No."
Lexi blinked.
"Okay."
Pixelle lifted her chin.
"I am not insecure."
Nyxian coughed into her hand.
"Obviously."
Pixelle pointed at her.
"Say it."
"I didn't say anything."
"You thought it."
"I think lots of things."
"I know."
Lexi looked down at herself again.
Then at Pixelle.
She studied her for a moment.
"Your boobs are bigger."
Pixelle froze.
Everyone went quiet.
Pixelle looked down.
Then at Lexi.
Then down again.
Her expression slowly changed.
"…They are."
Jax frowned.
"They look about the same to me."
Every woman on the platform looked at him.
Jax raised both hands.
"I'm going to stop helping."
Nyxian nodded.
"Excellent decision."
Pixelle looked back at Lexi.
"So we're even."
Lexi smiled.
Pixelle considered that as agreement.
"Fine. You can keep the two inches."
"Thank you."
"But no heels."
Lexi laughed.
"I wasn't planning to wear heels."
"Good."
Merriweather waited.
Then cleared her throat.
"May we continue the wedding?"
Pixelle waved a hand.
"Yes."
Jax looked at Merriweather.
"Please."
The crowd laughed.
Merriweather regained what remained of her ceremonial dignity.
She spoke of family.
Of commitment.
Of the strange paths that brought people together.
Of two women from a world hidden from most of humanity and a man who had arrived in their world with almost nothing except questions.
She spoke of choices.
Not the choices made for them.
Not the roles others expected them to play.
But the choices they made for themselves.
Pixelle listened quietly.
So did Lexi.
Jax looked between them.
Neither relationship had been something he expected.
But standing there now—
It felt inevitable, and perfect.
Merriweather smiled.
"Then by the authority entrusted to me, and before the Fairy Court, your families and your friends…"
She paused.
"I pronounce you married."
Cheers immediately rose through the village.
Merriweather smiled at Jax.
"You may kiss your brides."
Jax turned toward Pixelle.
For once, Pixelle didn't have anything clever to say.
She simply smiled.
Jax leaned forward.
And kissed her.
The Fairy Village erupted in cheers.
Pixelle wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him there just slightly longer than necessary.
When they separated, she smiled.
"Hello, husband."
Jax chuckled.
"Hello, wife."
Then he turned toward Lexi.
She stood waiting.
For just a moment, she looked almost overwhelmed.
Jax smiled.
That was enough.
Lexi smiled back.
He stepped toward her.
And kissed her.
This was her first kiss as a big person, and the sensation was overwhelming.
The cheers grew even louder.
Lexi's arms slipped around him. She tried to hold the kiss even longer before Jax finally pulled back, very aware of the thousands of people watching them.
When they separated, she looked at him as though she still couldn't quite believe any of this was real.
Jax smiled.
"Hello, wife."
Lexi laughed.
"Hello, husband."
Jax stepped back.
He thought that was it.
Pixelle apparently disagreed.
She turned toward Lexi.
Lexi barely had time to register what was happening before Pixelle grabbed her.
And kissed her.
The Fairy Village exploded.
Thousands of fairies screamed, cheered and whistled.
The reaction from the Solmere guests wasn't much quieter.
Nyxian threw both hands into the air.
"YES!"
Bunny doubled over laughing.
Zee covered her mouth.
Even Llandra's carefully maintained composure disappeared.
Pixelle finally released Lexi.
Both women were blushing.
Pixelle looked toward the crowd.
The cheering somehow got louder.
She looked back at Lexi.
"…Okay."
Lexi grinned.
"Okay?"
"That might have been a little fan service."
"A little?"
Pixelle glanced toward the screaming crowd.
Then smiled.
"I liked it."
Lexi laughed.
"So did I."
Nyxian shouted from behind them.
"SO DID WE!"
Pixelle's face turned even redder.
Merriweather was laughing too hard to continue.
She took a moment to compose herself.
Then another.
Finally, she cleared her throat.
"If everyone is quite finished…"
Nyxian raised a hand.
"I'm not."
Another wave of laughter rolled through the crowd.
Merriweather pointed at her.
"You will have your wedding."
Nyxian lowered her hand.
"Fair."
Merriweather took a breath.
Then straightened.
Her expression became formal.
Ceremonial.
The laughter slowly faded.
She looked across the thousands of gathered fairies.
"And now…"
The village grew quiet.
"I present to you…"
She turned toward Pixelle.
"Queen Pixelle Darquebane."
The fairies erupted.
Pixelle smiled proudly, standing beside Jax.
Merriweather turned toward Lexi.
"First Maiden of the Court, Lexi Darquebane."
Another roar swept through the village.
Lexi looked surprised by the title.
She glanced toward Pixelle.
Pixelle smiled and nodded.
Lexi straightened.
Then Merriweather turned toward Jax.
"And Jax Darquebane…"
She paused.
"King of the Fairies."
The village exploded again.
Jax didn't move.
He stared at Merriweather.
Then slowly looked at Pixelle.
Then back at Merriweather.
"…What?"
Merriweather blinked.
"King of the Fairies."
"I heard that part."
"Then why did you ask?"
"Because nobody mentioned that part."
Pixelle stared at him.
"You're marrying the Queen."
"I know."
"I am still the Queen."
"I know."
Pixelle waited.
Jax stared at her.
Then looked around.
Thousands of fairies surrounded him.
His eyes moved across the glowing Fairy Village.
The ceremony platform.
The Fairy Court.
The thousands of people now cheering for their Queen.
And apparently—
Their King.
Jax slowly nodded.
"…Yeah."
He looked back at Pixelle.
"I probably should've seen that coming."
Pixelle smiled.
"Probably."
Jax turned toward Llandra.
"You knew?"
Llandra raised an eyebrow.
"Of course."
"Zee?"
She smiled apologetically.
"Yes."
"Bunny?"
Bunny shrugged.
"I figured it out."
Jax slowly turned toward Nyxian.
She was already laughing.
"Oh, I absolutely knew."
Jax stared at all of them.
"Nobody thought I should know?"
Nyxian wiped at her eye.
"And miss that?"
She pointed at his face.
"Never."
Jax shook his head.
Then Pixelle slipped her arm through his.
Lexi took the other.
Jax looked at one new wife.
Then the other.
The Fairy Village continued cheering around them.
He had arrived expecting one bride.
He'd gotten two.
And apparently—
A kingdom.
Jax smiled.
Yeah.
I really need to start asking more questions.