Where the last dance is done also successfully to everyone's delight, but still Geno will come to observe and face more strange stuff soon enough.

No one's POV:
-

After Reaper left so unexpectedly causing the monsters to wonder where did he go, Danarei tried and managed to calm everyone down. The marriage had to continue. The planks were quickly removed from the white circle. Monsters from all directions now started carrying branches and logs, throwing them in the middle.

They were going to start a fire as it seemed. After all it was required now. At last, the final dance was here. The dance of trust.

"It might look funny for the ones watching the couple getting married. But for them it will be difficult, almost dangerous. The slightest fail could cost them their previous success. Also if they bump to any other pair dancing." Alter started.

"Wait. More pairs?" Geno asked.

"Yes. The 2 brides will be dancing amongst other pairs of monsters. But it's not that simple." The taller skeleton explained the rules quickly.

Before the dance, both Fuku and Skate had to drink a very strong monster drink called from the ancient times Vinuo Gurgando. The spinning wine. Drinking one small glass of it by itself without adding water was able to make the drinker's vision to immediately start playing tricks.

The abrupt consumption of it was able to make someone vomit, if not used drinking. That however can make the drinker sober, if that wine doesn't stay in the body for more than half an hour. While wine isn't flammable, this one was. So Fuku wouldn't really have a problem drinking it.

But it would need great luck to not set some things or monsters on fire 😓. Both brides had to drink one glass of this wine AND big, without spitting it later in the dance. Geno was already imagining HOW drunk the 2 women would be after drinking the glasses. Would they even be able to dance in such condition though? Most importantly,

"Are they even going to be able to stand up?" He asked.

"This wine at first will stimulate their senses instead of numbing them. A lot. Fuku and Skate will be wide awake and on constant move. And Skate will have to be able not just lead Fuku in the dance but also stand up, not loose her from her arms near the end and keep her balance. Once one of the 2 brides hit the ground or they collide with any other pair, everything's over." Atalanta said.

"And this is how the trust comes in? That Skate will not let Fuku go and will help her stay up while also being drunk too and can't really help it?" The small skeleton asked again.

"Oh yes punk!"

"Poor Pyros when he…" Geno murmured looking away without finishing his sentence. Atalanta heard that either way.

"Why don't you explain that to my face loud and clear punk?!"

"I mean!" The smol hurried to explain. "As a mermaid you are and with your strength, how did Pyros manage to dance with you while you were both drunk on your marriage? How did he lead you if you were uncontrollable?" He completed. The male goat and the mermaid stared at each other for a moment surprised. But then Pyros huffed cheerfully.

"Aaah! I get what you mean! Despite in the class I am I could have chosen for both of us to have a more quiet, the political marriage, we went through the traditional way! When the time for the dance of trust came for us 2 indeed, despite drunk, Atalanta in fact handled the situation for both of us instead of me! Not even a minute in the dance and she had taken the lead acting the way I should have! Not like it's against the laws of the marriage! Having to keep up with her was one of the most challenging but absolutely fun things I've ever experienced!" He turned and kissed the back of his wife's hand gently. "Meu amor <3!"

"Fu hu hu. The way you say it!"

"I've heard that alcohol hits sirens and mermaids heavily, getting easily drunk even by the smell, making them more agressive towards people they don't know or like, but also making them be more loving and affectionate but also possessive to the ones they do love. I can only imagine how 'happy' your wife kept you after your marriage." Alter suddenly said, smiling so physically and innocently you could question what he meant- wait >:0

"Did he just-?" Geno thought surprised looking up to him, see if he betrayed anything on his expression. No way, he just kept smiling casually sweetly. But as it seemed, Pyros and Atalanta had gotten the meaning and were MADLY blushing while looking down. The small skeleton facepalmed and groaned embarrased. "Wait, where's Tefra?!" He suddenly asked. Just now he had realised the small female goat had left the company, who knows when. But Pyros didn't seem to bother.

"I saw her approaching Skate and Fuku…" He said, gradually managing to relax from his embarrassment.

Everyone turned and with their eyes (for the 2 skeletons eyesockets) found and watched as the 2 brides were holding Tefra's hands, Fuku the left one and Skate the other, talking to her with excitement and happiness in their eyes. At the end suddenly they bended and kissed her hands, to which the small goat seemed ready to pull back but didn't.

Fuku seemed to say something else but in a much calmer, melancholic expression. Tefra didn't reply to that, just slowly freed her hands from the brides' hold and smiled. But once she turned her back and started approaching again her company, that smile dropped and became thoughtful. Maybe close to… sad?

That seemed to change Pyros' mood, his face started having tints of melancholy. Alter bended towards him and started whispering stuff which Geno couldn't catch. Whatever he said, the male goat closed his eyes and nodded. After that they both turned to look at the other small goat approaching and smiled.

"Ah, Signorina! What were you discussing with the brides? Hopefully not something concerning." Alter asked, calmly grinning. Tefra sighed but instead of replying to him turned to her brother placing hands on her hips.

"They want me to come up too bro."

"But maybe you should this time sister!"

"Come up for what?" Geno turned at Alter, but Atalanta was soon going to answer the question.

"For the last dance are called many pairs to come in the circle and participate as the brides dance. Whom, while are drunk must not bump to any pair as said. That is an obstacle too, required to increase the difficulty of the dance of trust. The pairs however are instructed to dance without minding the brides. As if they're not amongst them."

"So, the pairs can't avoid the brides even if, for example, they're coming at one of them?"

"Yes punk." Geno looked again at the goat siblings. Pyros had his hand placed on Tefra's shoulder, who had her head lowered and arms wrapped around herself. She seemed even more sceptical and melancholic than before.

"And why is Tefra so sad?" He asked. That question suddenly seemed to trigger Atalanta, who looked away biting her lips, frustrated, as if there was something she wasn't allowed to say and was trying to find other right words. In all honesty, that must have been the case. Who knows.

"In other monster marriages of the past, she had been called to come up, pair up with someone and participate in the dance of trust. But not only Tef most of these times refused to participate, even if she wanted to dance, there aren't males who would dare share a dance with her. Something about being respectful of her status, but I do think they're just secretly… scared. *sigh* She has changed so much and abruptly…" The mermaid closed eyes and crossed arms, not saying anything anymore. Geno blinked thoughtful from all this and unconsciously turned to look at Alter, who was not by his side again.

"When on earth did he move?!" He thought as he could now see the tall skeleton standing next to Pyros, facing Tefra and talking to her quietly but cheerfully. Suddenly he bended forward and his hand stopped in front of the small female, as if he waited for something. "No way…" The small skeleton thought, suspecting what his friend wanted to do. A few pairs of monsters were already entering the white circle, standing at random spots in it and waiting, probably for the music to begin.

Geno looked again at Alter and Tefra, as she seemed genuinely surprised, looking at his eyesockets and then lowering her look at his hand that waited in front of her. She seemed to look at Pyros, confused and uncertain but more over suspicious. Her brother however didn't seem to bother.

"Go on Tef. It's ok." He started, talking now really calmly and gently, smiling. "You can dance, if you really want of course." Ultimately it was now the smaller goat's choice if she accepted Alter's offer or not. Firstly however she crossed her arms and looked straight in the taller skeleton's eyesockets, her eyebrows lowering and her eyes slightly 'daggering'.

"Signorina. If one of your reasons that make you hesitate dance with me is because I'm coming from another land, then I will assure you, just like how I showed yesterday, I am familiar with the dances here. Bernard showed me a lot and I learned. I really do hope I can have this dance with you." He said with his classic fluency, never loosing his smile as he stably stared back in Tefra's eyes.

"Que as noivas se levantem!" The Judex suddenly called and silence started falling around.

Only a very few pairs of monsters were walking in the circle. Tefra didn't flinch hearing the Judex, in fact she still seemed to think of Alter's offer calmly. She looked one more time up to him before exhaling from her nose and slowly stretch and hold his hand.

"What is he doing?!" Geno thought confused and surprised. Didn't Alter say he wanted not to 'interfere' with Tefra in any way? Avoid her? Then why was he-? The small skeleton slapped himself mentally. "Why am I not trusting him? Why do I think of him like… he will do something all of a sudden absurd?! For whatever reason he wanted to pair up with Tefra, he knows himself what he wants to do and how to handle this. Heck, he has handled the most for both our sake in the mission!" He inhaled and exhaled from his nose, closing his eyesocket in the process. "Trust him Geno. Let him." He exhaled and stared again at his friend with the small female goat facing each other and standing a step away.

It wasn't helping much however that many monsters around were staring at Alter and Tefra, whispering to each other and showing their curiosity. Well, if that was not the big gossip of the moment. It seemed to them like a big deal. Geno still tried to ignore.

Observing more closely, Alter was suddenly not cheerful at all like a while ago. Behind his fake glasses, part of his disguise, the green inside his eyesockets was darker, more seriousness and hidden silent thoughts as he stared down at Tefra.

Who didn't even seem to acknowledge the tall skeleton's expression and looking at the brides. As much as Geno was curious and concerned with Alter's behavior, he was also trying to get his look off him and watch all that what was happening, the procedure before the last dance.

The fire horse monster approached and stood in front of Skate and Fuku, holding 2 copper glasses. Now the purple monster was holding in her hands an ebony big bottle. With the Judex's nod of head she pulled the cork off and poured a dark liquid in the one glass.

Geno couldn't tell what color it was with the only source of light being the torches around and the stars. Once she filled it, she handed the bottle to Fuku, who was seen clear as day gulping. With quite shaky hands she poured wine in the second glass. The smell of the alcohol started slowly filling the air. Atalanta next to him tapped his shoulder.

"If you've never had alcohol, not even smell it, I suggest you don't breath much prince." She whispered. Geno wondered if the smell would really do anything to him, having only half siren nature in him.

"Unless I've also inherited weak alcohol tolerance from my mortal side, I'm doomed." He thought and shrugged his shoulders. Though so far he didn't feel anything changing. He wasn't feeling dizzy or affected. Yet.

"Punk, I'm going with Pyros in the circle too. Don't miss us too much." The mermaid said then.

Geno didn't say anything just spared a small glance to Atalanta and nodded, looking at the same time again at the brides. With the edge of his eyesocket he saw her and Pyros walking in and stopping somewhere randomly in the circle. Only a few monsters were talking still. Geno wasn't paying much attention to the comments.

He was curious about why the dance wasn't getting started and instead the Judex had his eyes nailed to the sky with crossed arms. He looked up too. There were a few big clouds up, covering a big part of the night. However the moon could be seen peeking down on the earth, very slowly coming out and revealing itself.

"Meus olhos realmente não estão me enganando Gatarina." Geno heard another comment from a woman very close to him and he had managed to understand that one.

"Faz tanto tempo desde que a vimos dançando Cadesta." Another woman spoke and Geno became confused. He turned to look behind discreetly. 2 old women, a cat and a dog were talking.

It's been so long since the last time we've seen her dancing~

Thanks wind.

That man Lady Infernal is with~

Is he going to keep up with her~

Oh, how I feel sorry for him. But it's not his fault at all, alas. Not because he doesn't know her expectations but… you know~

The Lady clearly has shown that she doesn't allow men easily approach her, ever since… And if she does, they better believe they know her well enough or read her moves fast~

"Oh stars…" Geno thought as he quickly looked again at Alter, more worried. "But what did the woman mean exactly with that "Ever since?" Is she talking about 4 years ago? If so, amongst so many tragedies, what else happened-?"

"A luana está em posiçãne!" The Judex suddenly said loudly. Dead silence fell upon everyone, all monsters raised heads to look up. Geno did too. The moon was now completely visible, white and pure. No cloud was staining it. The fire from the torches died down completely.

"Uuuh… now what?" Geno thought trying to look around. The moon was giving plenty of light but it was still a little difficult distinguish stuff. The fire horse entered the circle and stopped near the pile of wood. If not clearly seen by some, he could be heard scratching the ground with his hooved foot and suddenly kicking ahead. Small flares were made from that last kick, flew towards the pile of wood and the very next moment, they lit it up. "Woah!" The smol did almost jumping from surprise. More light embraced the plaza. The Judex opened his arms.

"Que a sorte esteja com você mesmo agora!" He only said loudly and stepped out of the circle.

(at first, i actually wanted to put the song firecracker of camicat for the last dance. but with my logic and judge i decided that 2 songs of hers in the story were already enough. meanwhile the one i ended up with was ringing in my ears very nicely too and has a lot of lyrics that fit a lot with the atmosphere and situation. without further delays, here comes my favourite ever song from the band blackmore's night to give melody for the dance of trust😔👌🏽)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-9orJAMORM

And then, the music finally started. On the first notes all pairs of monsters opened their arms. On the rhythm of the melody, they were standing on the tips of their toes, their ankles slightly up, hitting off the ground gently again. Except from the brides. These 2, oh, these 2!

They already looked like they were completely drunk, they could barely keep themselves motionless, not to stumble. But even a little late, they took same position like the others and faced each other.  The melody (at 0:14) repeated but with an air instrument playing the main.

All pairs of monsters then, from jumping lightly to the rhythm, were now taking spins and stomping their feet on the ground. Unconsciously Geno's look went from the brides to Alter and Tefra. Now they were both staring at each other intensively and so serious you could mistake that they had vendetta.

Or that they were competing each other on who would dance better. But observing better, they were just focusing. On their steps or on each other's gaze though? More drums at (at 0:28) were heard and all pairs took one step away from each other as they kept dancing and spinning.

The poor brides had a hard time to take even one spin without stumbling, especially Fuku. Skate was nodding at her, she seemed to silently encourage her. Grillby seemed to have the biggest difficulty to keep it together, as he had his arms wrapped around himself tightly and the flames on top of his head were moving spastically.

He was worried. At last, amongst the musicians, one of Danarei's crew stepped ahead. As it seemed, the leader wasn't going to be the main singer this time. She took one deep breath and started singing with her brightest, most confident and excited smile.

Here in the twilight
Under the moonlight
I feel your hungry eyes

For the last dance of the monster marriage, there are symbolic steps to follow. These will be explained as the song goes on. At first, for every step one of the two monsters take towards their partner, the other steps back.

Whether it's the male partners, or rather, the dominant partners (after all there were some same gender couples of monsters) who are attempting to dance towards their submissive, whether the other way around, they maintain a stable distance at first.

Drums in the distance
Echoes of madness
Around the firelight

And that happens at all times for the first part of the dance of trust. As said, that and every move on this dance is symbolic, relevant not just with the monsters getting married but for any pair that connected through the bond of eros.

It symbolises the still undiscovered bond, the whole uncertainty 2 monsters have for one another but still are getting attracted and don't know that they are meant for each other. Like when their souls have discovered each other, but their hosts haven't realised it yet. In a way, it also symbolises the dance of recognition.

In the heartbeat of the night

Indeed, Skate was approaching Fuku, Fuku was stepping back and that was happening the other way around. But both with difficulty (because, well, drunk). All pairs were doing the same. But Geno could have sworn, at least internally, that something was off between Alter and Tefra, even though the tall skeleton didn't look like he was troubled.

Hey, hey, hey, till the break of day
La lala lalalala lala lala lala
Hey, hey, hey, dance the whole night through
Nothing gets between
The dancer and the moon
Nothing gets between
The dancer and the moon

One or two times, where Tefra seemed to step back, she would suddenly stop getting away but keep dancing. No one else seemed to do that. She was staring up to Alter with an investigating and suspicious expression. However, whatever she was trying to do, Alter seemed to read her moves immediately.

Whenever she stopped, he would stop approaching her too, smiling at her cheerfully, as if he wasn't understanding what she was doing. Geno guessed that this was what the two women behind him kind of meant when they were talking about the small female goat.

Was she trying to make him mistep or confuse him? No matter, so far Alter looked like he was dancing casually just like the others.

The pairs started changing courses and steps. Now, the submissives started turning their backs at their partners, both with getting away and moving in the boundaries of the white circle. Everytime they were spinning around themselves, their followers were doing so too.

Follow me closely
Arms wrapped around me
Life is a sweet, sweet wine

So did the brides try. And there, things started getting a lot more difficult for them. Fuku couldn't navigate slowly amongst the pairs but still managed to maneuver and not bump into them. Skate was hunting-dancing behind her, trying to keep up with her and maintain a decent stable as close as possible distance.

Now this kind of game, again as symbolism, it is that throughout the time, slowly not just the souls, but their hosts too (always talking about soulmates) start recognising the bond of eros that ties them, but they are not quite to the point yet to come close. Especially the submissives are still uncertain.

Somehow the other pairs of monsters seemed to care little to no at all if the green flame was approaching dangerously close to them. Even Atalanta had managed to keep her chill when Fuku passed only a breath away from her. But she didn't react negatively.

At this point Geno saw that Tefra seemed to move slightly faster around and alright, Alter really did have to take closer and sharper turns to prevent her fast pace at times. Especially when Fuku passed between him and the small goat, seperating them temporarily.

Glittering gold as
Stories unfold those
Secrets are lost in time

But even when a few seconds later he almost bumped into Skate (lucky him for having fast reflexes) once again he didn't seem troubled truly. He kept treating the situation like a casual dance, a nice game.

To the heartbeat of the night

Hey, hey, hey, till the break of day
La lala lalalala lala lala lala
Hey, hey, hey, dance the whole night through
Nothing gets between
The dancer and the moon

The pairs were all dancing without troubles as long as the chorus was sang twice and the brides had managed to not 'kill' anyone. But Fuku seemed to not feel well at all now. Had the wine hit her harder than Skate? She was stumbling a lot more than a minute ago and…

Was it only Geno or together with the big fire in the middle of the circle the heat and degrees had increased a lot more? From any pair of monsters Fuku passed, these pairs seemed to wipe their sweat off their forehead while dancing. No doubt, the young green flame had started loosing control of her temperature.

Geno got even more certain of that from comments around him. As said, the wine was flammable, alright? It was fine for Fuku to drink, but come on guys, exactly because it was flammable, that was making things difficult and dangerous. The problems were not avoidable.

Geno gulped. Would the dance be over without someone receiving burn marks? As the music started playing a lot more intensively, for the third and last time the pairs changed again.

While the dominants kept hitting their feet on the ground gently and fast alongside the rhythm they streched their arms towards their partners, waiting for them to hold them. Instead of avoiding their partners, most of the submissives approached them immediately and held their hands.

Others took a little bit more time before they do the same. And even though it becomes tiring making specific comments for a certain specific pair of monsters, here it is again. Just a paragraph ago mentioned, some submissives purposely delayed to approach their partner. But Tefra?

Anything but purposely she wasn't approching Alter. Her expression had darkened. But there was also wonder and an unknown impression as she looked up to him. Something was holding her back from coming closer to him. The tall skeleton was smiling, but even that seemed frozen as he waited for her.

Suddenly that wonder changed. Was Geno seeing well now, or the female goat's jaw was slightly shaking? She lowered her head as her moves started loosing their first grace. There, Alter approached her himself and seemed to tell her something. Whatever was that something he told her, always smiling, Tefra looked up to him again.

Despite these emotions on her face, she finally accepted and took the tall skeleton's hand. While all pairs had come really close and now holding both hands, the goat and the skeleton were working differently. We'll come back to them later.

Master of fate, how
You captivate me
Filling my one desire

Skate having to hold Fuku was a labor. Even with the gloves she was wearing, she was biting her lips from pain, they weren't protecting her from the heat of her love's hands. Her chest so close, pressing against hers was hurting too. She was sweating uglily.

Once, the green flame stumbled so badly that she almost took down Skate together with her. Really, she seemed so dizzy, ready to give up, she had no endurance in her almost. But despite all pain, Skate luckily had found the way to help their situation, even if it was adding slightly more danger.

Licking her lips for a few seconds, in front of the whole crowd of monsters she kissed Fuku as they danced. After the first surprise, that gave the green monster courage and with some new force in her, endured and kept dancing more stably in Skate's arms.

Two of a kind, with
One state of mind you've
Set my whole world on fire

Was it said we'll come back to our tall skeleton and Tefra? Well, these two due to the big height difference they had, they hadn't come as close as the others. Instead, for the most part, Alter was holding her from one hand and spinning her, sometimes bending and moving her even around himself. That was what Geno saw.

In the heartbeat of the night

Hey, hey, hey, till the break of day
La lala lalalala lala lala lala
Hey, hey, hey, dance the whole night through
Nothing gets between
The dancer and the moon

The chorus was sung with more passion and the pairs danced like that too. Skate was handling Fuku well and they could guess, the song was coming to an end. The hope and courage had increased for both of them.

When the chorus was sung for a second time, on the last lyrics, the singer slowed down, and the word moon was extended as the music went on. Finally, it ended with a loud «hey!» and silence of one second followed, as it soon vanished in the applause and cheering of all monsters.

They were congratulating the brides. They had make it. Even the Judex was clapping, while he hadn't done so in any previous dance. Grillby was clapping and at the same time trying to hold back his emotion seeing his baby and his daughter-in-law succeeding once again.

Geno clapped too, sharing the excitement of everyone else. He even whistled loudly. The whole experience of watching a monster marriage from the beginning until the very end was majestic for him and he definitely didn't want to forget it, even if he was seeing more of them in the future.

But then his eyesocket fell on his friend.

Alter had kneeled in front of Tefra and staring at her with such intensity and seriousness, the smaller's smile dropped confused. He started worrying. The small female was looking back at him curious, betraying her concern too.

And then, the tall skeleton held her from her shoulders, stared at her for some more and leaned forward.

"What is he-?" Geno thought and the iris inside his eyesocket dissapeared.

4800 words. let's not keep you in agony for long. go to the next chapter immediately small cute bembehs.

*pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat*