Where everybody just chills waiting for the 2nd dance, without strange things happening. Or maybe there are?

No one's POV:
-

Remember when it was mentioned somewhere that there were benches with black masks, capes and handkerchiefs? Probably not. But now it's their time to get used. All monsters can take something from these objects and wear them now if they want to hide from the other monsters' eyes.

Now that the dance of recognition is done succesfully, you could say it's time for the dance of the unidentified 👉🏽👉🏽. Any monster wears, if they want, whether a mask, or handkerchief or cape and with the music playing, they dance. But never in specific pairs. At anytime they change, when the lead musician says out loud, Troque!

Why that? First things first, in this specific time, between the first and 2nd dance comes the special dance of the monsters of Portugal for marriage. They call it on these lands from the ancient times Mutança. The steps can go from slow to fast, depending on the speed of the music.

It may find similarities on other traditional dances anyone might know. However as said, the moment the lead musician says Troque (switch or change), when they give that one word command, all monster pairs must separate immediately and search for a new partner.

In one dance like this, pairs can switch even 30-40 times. And if the monsters are all hiding their face, then you never know with who you might end up dancing for a while! It's with whoever they want. Whether of different, whether of same gender.

Funny, because sometimes when 2 are approaching the same monster wanting to dance with them they kind of seem ready to end up 'arguing'. In such case, the rule in the dance is that the 2 have to dance together and leave alone the monster they both approached.

Good question. In case more than 2 approach someone, that monster has to choose themselves who they want to dance with until the musician says again troque. Sounds definitely like a lot of fun. In the next hour almost, all monsters indeed had a great time. But if the truth had to be told, Geno definitely had enjoyed it more than anyone else.

Not just because he was seeing a marriage for the first time, even if truly, first time is always the most exciting. Partially true for Geno. But what made that time before the 2nd important dance fun, was seeing Alter dancing. He wasn't himself funny or bad, the opposite!

Some monsters were walking around, handing masks, handkerchiefs and capes for the monsters to disguise if they wanted once they were stepping up to dance. Eh, the real fun for Geno started when Alter refused to get a mask or handkerchief to hide his face. And he said he was going to dance!

"Are you sure you will survive dancing?" Geno asked ready to tease.

"It will be fine." Alter simply said.

"Will it be fine, or you're just way too much of a fine icon for the women that are staring at ya and suddenly seem eager to step in the circle to dance~?" The smaller asked again. Alter rolled his eyesockets.

"Dear, that is an exaggeration, no ladies are-." He stopped talking as he turned to look behind him. At least 10 pairs of female monsters' eyes were nailed at Alter, who quickly pretended they were looking somewhere else. The tall skeleton turned again at Geno and facepalmed. "Oh for God's sake..." He whispered and Geno fought to not laugh his pelvis off.

"Last chance to take a mask old man, the next dance will start soon." The smol said. Alter straightened his back and smiled.

"I'll just have to not pay much attention to this." He said simply and entered the white circle. All women staring at him a while ago immediately entered the circle too.

Geno fought to not burst from laughter again. In the next dances that followed and he was a simple viewer, he was laughing and at the same time admiring. Laughing because as he predicted it, the women were approaching Alter nonstopping.

The moment exactly Danarei was saying, Troque! That was causing the other males to stay for a few seconds ignored and without partner as they had to wait, luckily not for long, until Alter chose one of the ladies so the others had to scatter and pick other men.

Though Alter truly seemed not to bother, it was absolutely funny how all females were gently pushing each other away to approach him first. But as said, except from laughs and giggles, Geno was also in awe and amazed. Alter was dancing amazingly. Everybody was! They were all happy and cheerful as they were doing so.

Sometimes Skate and Fuku would come in the circle too and dance. In all honesty, they seemed to enjoy it more than anyone. Well, after their first dance was successful, why wouldn't they be happy and excited? Though, near the last dances Geno was observing them, he could start seeing Fuku showing seriousness.

Some concern and worry too. Whatever she was discussing with Skate and Grillby together, that was making her small eyes betray something that definitely didn't seem positive. Geno had wondered a few times watching them, the truth had to be told. But he wasn't just going to ask like that, it would be indiscreet of him.

That's how he thought. And so, he kept watching Alter as he danced. However on the 4th out of the last 5 dances, his friend started acting strange. He didn't seem that cheerful and excited now. And during these dances, Geno observed a strange pattern.

The tall skeleton seemed to get stuck more often to a short figure of a monster that was all dressed in black, wearing trousers and a mask that was covering not just their whole face but head. With that monster exactly Alter was exchanging moves more often. When Danarei was saying Troque, the 2 were temporarily separating.

But the moment the tiefling would say Troque again, Geno was seeing Alter and the unknown monster together dancing once more. And even stranger stuff seemed to happen. If Geno's sight wasn't deceiving him, he would have sworn that Alter was talking to his unknown partner when dancing.

Once separating, Alter wasn't opening his mouth. And when the dances were over, the 2 weren't stepping out of the circle, instead they kept talking and waited for the music to begin again. Which wasn't taking long. Geno really wanted to approach and ask. But he hesitated.

"Ironic..." Just yesterday he had danced with all of his skill and passion flamenco in front of the eyes of almost the whole monster town and now he didn't have the guts dance with a partner. He had done that with Alter once but no more. He knew he had to get out if his shell and try more often dare to do things he hadn't done before or many times.

And so, he straightened his back and while the music was still playing he actually entered the circle. Moving through the pairs of monsters that were spinning with grace he tried to approach Alter, who was once again dancing with the mysterious monster. He was only 8 steps away.

"Troque!"

The pairs separated and started searching for new partners. Geno got momentarily lost and looked around as the monsters were moving. He tried to spot Alter, only to realise he had lost him.

"How do you loose an almost 7ft skeleton-?!" Someone bumped on him and Geno stumbled ahead. He managed to keep his balance and when he stood normally he realised that a monster was in front of him.

The small skeleton recognised the mysterious partner of Alter's, that dressed in black figure, assumingly a male from the trousers. He hurried a little to follow his flow in dancing despite he didn't know the steps well and only from observing he had picked up a few.

He stared at the other intensively, almost investigating him. The stranger didn't take his look from Geno's either. They danced in silence for many seconds. Something about him wasn't sticking right. Geno couldn't figure out what. It felt threatening and bad, but at the same time...

Familiar.

Before he could think of it some more, the monster suddenly bowed down to him, waved goodbye and danced away. Geno was ready to protest and call him to come back, for, Danarei hadn't say yet-

"Troque!"

And the pairs started switching again. Geno flinched and momentarily lost his attention. It was enough for him to loose from his view the stranger.

"Ugh!" He groaned as a random monster had stood in front of him and they danced. Geno was barely focusing as he tried to locate where Alter was and at the same time having to watch not to bump into anyone. In vain, no priest in sight!

"Troque!"

Geno just stood motionless, not even intending to find someone else and dance. Kinda waiting for that someone to come by themselves. And that actually happened.

"Buonasera principe! Can I have this little dance with you?" He heard a very familiar friendly voice asking him from behind. Geno turned. At last, Alter! He started dancing with him.

"Who was that guy you were talking to?" He asked looking up to the taller with raised brow.

"A friend." Alter simply said, smiling calmly.

"What friend?"

"Some rich monster aristocrat from Valencia." Geno's eyesocket widened up a little.

"Pardon me?"

"He came all the way here to see the sights. Well, he happened to have arrived today that this marriage takes place. Which as he said gave him a little nice idea for later."

"What idea?"

"He didn't tell me. He said it would be announced after the 2nd dance which is soon coming up. Instead, we exchanged every now and then a few words about ourselves, everytime we would end up dancing together."

The cheerful music stopped and everybody clapped. The 2 skeletons walked out of the white circle. Despite Alter's answers, still Geno wasn't convinced. Enough things still seemed off to him.

"Very attached weren't you to that stranger you just tonight met?" He asked placing hands on his hips.

"The truth is it was enjoyable listening to him."

"If that was the case, you should have stayed out of the circle or keep dancing without approaching him every single time. The other ladies started getting frustrated by not being able dance with ya." Geno momentarily joked and the 2 friends chuckled. But soon the smaller looked at the taller serious again. "He didn't seem like just a new friend. You were serious as you talked. You rather seemed to know him. Who was he truly?" He asked.

"Ah, was it that obvious even for ya to see that I was-?" Alter suddenly stopped talking and his look stayed focused somewhere behind Geno. The small skeleton immediately got concerned. His friend's smile had now dissapeared. His irises had contracted in his eyesockets and his hands seemed to be lightly shaking. Geno turned to look behind him.

"The royal guards have come! All hail the monster guards!" The monsters started clapping and cheering suddenly.

Among them now were walking indeed familiar and not faces Geno remembered were monster guards. He saw again the 2 pairs of skeleton brothers, Rasp and Slim, Mal and Rus. This time however they were dressed, especially the taller brothers, a lot more elegantly.

"Sup punks!" Atalanta was heard yelling and her other mermaid companions started laughing in that way as if they were blowing something to cool down while greeting the crowd.

Many times the guards were stopping to shake hands with the other monsters, or get hand kisses. The mermaids were picking up children and lifting them up high causing them to giggle and squeal surprised. Though they were exaggerating because they were antagonizing who would lift most of them.

"Babe, come on! No more lifting children!" Pyros was heard trying to stop his mermaid wife from lifting her 14th child, she was already holding 13! Aside the bold behavior Atalanta was showing, she was gorgeous.

Her dress was a blue-grey color mainly, with a white transparent layer above the skirt that was sparkling. The grecian neckline was red, making a design on the bosom like 2 lines that were disappearing behind the back and assumingly meeting there. There were also white transparent puffy sleeves long to the wrist.

But her hair! Oh, these amazing red hair that Geno had seen them always being bounded only by a single ponytail. Now they were so smoothly braided on a curled plait style. At this time tonight, the wild tomboy mermaid seemed now like a high majesty. Geno crossed himself.

"Dios mío, she slayed it!" He thought as he looked again at Alter, who now seemed to have a pained and sad expression, filled also with guilt and regret. His irises had dissappear completely and his bottom jaw seemed to be clenched. What or who was he staring at like that?

The smaller looked ahead and tried to guess what had made his friend be suddenly this upset. He looked around slowly and almost in an instant, he felt he could guess who had cause Alter's agitation. Fuku was looking down on a small lady, shaking hands with her and she seemed all cheerful and excited.

And that lady was none other than Tefra. Her sparkling strapless pink dress, her eyes that were glowing so bright tonight, her white fur and that simple warm smile she had as she talked to the 2 brides were making her look like a small majestic flame.

There might were not yet many torches to give light around the plaza, but oh, she was so visible amongst the other monsters, simply more beautiful than ever, than any other day the small skeleton had meet and know her. A whole light stronger than other any at this time of the marriage tonight.

"Guido?" Geno asked in a soft voice and tried to get Alter's attention tugging him from his sleeve. Nothing. The other didn't even flinch. He had completely froze, seemed almost terrified.

Geno tugged him gently again. At last, the priest started showing signs that he was still here. His expression slowly softened. Kinda. He exhaled and closed eyesockets. His left hand moved and gently patted his chest 2 times. Then crossed his arms and sighed. He turned his head away and denied to look again ahead.

"Sup boneheads!" Atalanta approached after a while all excited and ready to pat backs, not so gently. But sensing the seriousness between the 2 skeletons she raised eyebrow. "Is something wrong?"

"Ah, don't mind us Signora Atalanta. I'm just a little dizzy, that's all." Alter replied slowly. The mermaid looked at the siren with a questioning look. After thinking of it for a moment, Geno naturally giggled.

"The truth had to be told, Guido danced too much. He took so many spins, it's not so surprising that he would get dizzy! Besides..." There Geno blowed air using his hand as if in a gesture that it was very hot, not a complete lie. "... There is so much flaming heat in the air tonight! Expected even more, since we have a young flame getting married! And after all, us 2 Atalanta, we understand how bad the sensation of the heat is for us, how much more dizzy we could be, don't we?" He asked. After staring at him for a few silent seconds Atalanta grinned.

"Of course, of course. Take however your guardian to drink water. Luckily Grillby first and better thought about us most beings not be able withstand the heat of the fire that will soon fall on the second dance especially and there is enough water for everyone."

"Oh, I am much better now Signora!" Alter finally responded as he turned to look at the mermaid. Casually smiling calmly as if he didn't seem ready to have a mental breakdown or something a minute ago. He quickly observed her. "My my! If I didn't know, I would have almost assumed wrong that you are the one getting married tonight! I don't know if the dress adds to your natural mermaid beauty or the other way around!"

"Maybe we shall assume both." Geno added.

"You 2!" Atalanta honestly seemed ready to get flustered but soon laughed it off. "FUHUHUHUHU! You're such nice boneheads! But maybe praise shall go to the 'daughter' too." She said looking at Geno with innuendos. Geno looked away rubbing the back of his head. "Even though I want to really laugh, because I see you, the mighty siren prince in that dress." The small skeleton looked at her again, with a frisked expression.

"Shush! You'll give me away and you said you won't!"

"I said I won't."

"Despite the appearance, does your character allow tonight hand kissing Signora?" Alter asked then smiling wider. Atalanta placed hands on her hips and wheezed.

"FUHUHUHUHU! MAN, GUIDO! You don't need to be this polite to anyone! You can do what I allow the other men around." And she suddenly grabbed Alter's wrist firmly. "A simple handshake is more than enough to-!"

"Signora." Alter suddenly cut her and looked at her in the eyes sternly. Despite still smiling. Atalanta stopped. "Remember what happend the first time we shook hands and you almost threw me out of Signore Grillby's restaurant. Right?" He asked calmly. The mermaid seemed to soon remember and nodded. The skeleton hummed, still smiling. "Then just relax. No violence needed. Let's hold hands and shake them without almost breaking bones, alright?" Silently, Atalanta consented and shook hands with Alter gently. They separated.

"Luckily you reminded me!" The woman said.

"I'm glad I prevented us both from getting hurt." The skeleton said.

"There you are guys!" Pyros' thunderous voice was heard as he approached the skeletons and the mermaid.

"Buonasera Signore!" Alter replied with the same enthusiasm. Goat and skeleton exchanged handshake and then a big bro hug.

"Woah!" Geno did.

"Eugenia!" Pyros suddenly turned to face Geno, giving him a big friendly hug too.

"Uuuh..." The smol did awkwardly, his hands not moving really to hug back the goat man. The thought also that he was hugged by a fire monster wasn't bringing him at ease. "He's not gonna burn ya, he's not gonna burn ya, he's not gonna burn ya..." Eventually he patted his back gently. "How are you Pyros?" He asked, remembering to add his girly pitch. The goat let go of him.

"I'm fine of course! But oh dear stars! You look so beautiful Eugenia!" Pyros said flailing his hands excited. Geno fought back the urge to hiss at Atalanta, who was silently wheezing behind the goat man's back.

"Thank you Pyros. You look amazing too." He complimented calmly. Pyros was wearing a dark purple buttoned shirt, dark grey trousers and elegant boots barely longer than the knee.

What was getting most attention of his look were the cape he wore, a little lighter tone than the shirt, with black endings and edges and his hair that were miraculously tied back on a bun. Indeed he looked amazing. And obviously the goat man would recognise that for himself, as he stood proudly and placed hand on his chest ready to brag.

"As an Infernal I am and a guard, of course and I always have to look amazing and irresistible! But it's not that I try, I know I everyday manage to be!" He said.

"Oh you sure are punk!" Atalanta suddenly interfered and wrapped her arms around the goat's shoulders, faces very close. "That is certainly the most handsome landlubber I'm married to~."

"Get a room." Geno murmured trying to cover his face with his headscarf while Alter was fighting to not laugh.

"Look away if you can't stand how amazing of a couple we are punk!" Atalanta seemed ready to hiss at Geno. But then Pyros whispered something close to the one fin on the side of the mermaid's head. Which made Atalanta gasp shocked, let go of Pyros and punch his arm. Her face seemed ready to be as red as her hair.

"Greetings." Another female voice said calmly. Everybody turned. Now Tefra was standing near the 4. Unconsciously Geno looked up to Alter. Surprisingly, he was still calm. Was the smaller dreaming when he thought the priest really seemed completely off minutes back? "Looking good Eugenia." Tefra's voice was heard really close and Geno hurried to look at her as she was standing now in front of him.

"T-Thank you Tefra. You look stunning." He said and they shook hands.

"Stunning? Oh no mi bambina, the word stunning is not enough to describe her." Alter suddenly approached smiling casually. Both the small skeleton and the female goat looked up to him. For a few seconds her and Alter stared to each other. Now Tefra seemed confused and a little surprised.

Alter bended forward and his hand stopped in front of her. Seemed that it was something already expected and normal because the small female just gave her hand for Alter to hold it. Then, the priest, never taking his eyes off hers planted a kiss on the back of her hand. Gently he let go and closed eyesockets.

"He handled it fine." Geno thought relieved, then internally laughed realising the accidental pun he made.

"A precious fiery gem, a lady with beauty as big as her power, capable to even compete with the beauty of sirens or mermaids even. And that is only the most laconic way I could describe you tonight, Signorina Tefra." Alter kept going. "Again I'm thinking, Bernard is a blessed man." He completed closing eyesockets and smiling innocently wider. Tefra blinked 2 times fast surprised. But instead of taking it casually chilly she looked away rubbing the back of her head.

"Appreciated. Thank you." She just said.

"Ah, what were you talking about with Fuku before?" Geno interfered so the topic could change and to not let it in a soon awkward silence.

"Asking the young lady how she feels for her upcoming dance. If she's ready for the fight." The goat lady said.

"Wait, fight?" Geno asked confused. "Isn't it all about dances tonight?"

"It is not a simple dance what comes next Eugenia." Alter said a little serious. "If Signorina Skate faced the difficulty of having to identify where her partner was by her soul only, soon Signorina Fuku will face the difficulty of not just having to dance until the end of the music says so, but defend herself."

"Defend... herself?" Geno asked with a bad feeling itching his soul.

"It was part of her oath! She must prove herself that she is strong enough to defend herself and show she will be able to defend her future children too!" Pyros added.

"Then I guess that won't be too hard. She seems strong... with such element as fire." Geno said slowly trying not to shiver in the mentioning of fire.

"She might be strong, but that won't count soon. Because fire can't kill fire." Atalanta said. Geno looked at her sharply.

"What does that mean?"

"You see Gena, as said, Fuku will have to defend herself. But from who you may ask? Us, monsters. But not just any of us. She will face monsters that posses or can withstand the fire. It is in the traditions, the monster that will carry the future children will face monsters that has similar magic to them. In Fuku's case then..." Tefra pointed her finger in the air, from which fire came out, flew and stopped above her head and Pyros'. Soon it formed 2 words,

Like us

Geno gulped.

"But... she might get hurt?" He asked, feeling a burden of worry in his chest.

"It happens. It has always been common. Many times a submissive can come out of the dance of strength bruised. There could even be deaths, not just of the submissive, but also if by accident they killed one of the monsters they had to defend themselves from." Tefra stated coldly. Geno looked at her as if she was coming from another land no one had discovered yet. How could she say these so calmly???

"So... is it possible that she might-?"

"Oooh, stop worrying punk!" Atalanta suddenly said. "Do you see Fuku? She's a literal fire, she can't get physically hurt by almost nothing! The only thing that could kill her instantly would be immersing her whole in water. By facing however monsters that have the element of fire in them or can withstand it, it would be short of like fighting but with a magic blocker on. In that case, she will have to rely a lot more on physical skill too, not really only magic." She completed.

"That's right babe!" Pyros nodded. "Another reason why she has to fight against monsters with similar magic, is to show that she is equally as strong as them and so reliable too for when the power of fire is needed!"

"I see. Thanks for clarifying that." Geno said still hesitant as he looked at Fuku's direction. Grillby was now standing in front of her, holding his daughter's hands. As their hands combined, the flames around them were making an olive-brown color.

While Grillby seemed unphased like most of the time, the flames on his head seemed smaller and moving in small spastic moves. Fuku was looking at him with a brave and determined expression, nodding sometimes as if she was reassuring him for something.

"It will be difficult for both of them especially. When they will face each other in the dance..." Tefra said.

"Wait what?! Grillby will fight her too?!" Geno asked shocked.

"Of course, after all they're same species and type." Atalanta said.

Geno was taken completely aback from such information. He looked up to Alter as if he hoped he would say something to ease his shock.

"Aside the danger in the upcoming dance, I really am looking forward to see you 2 Infernals participating. May luck and skill be on Signorina Fuku's side. But also, may none of the others who will participate get hurt. Good luck." The tall skeleton said simply smiling and nodded.

"Thank you Guido." Tefra said nodding back. Suddenly the low rapid beat of drums was heard from the side of Danarei's party. Everyone stayed almost completely silent.

"Enfim, chegou a hora." A monster near the 5 companions was heard whispering.

"We have to go now! We'll talk again soon!" Pyros said, stood in front of Atalanta and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

Tefra followed behind without saying anything, only waved at the 2 skeletons and the mermaid, momentarily smiling a little wider. She turned her back and walked ahead. Silence fell between the 3 last companions. But not for long as Atalanta soon looked at the 2 skeleton friends.

"Punks! I have left an important business unfinished a little further away. If you're fine, stay by yourselves."

"Will do. Take care of your business." Alter said.

The mermaid quickly left. The 2 friends stayed silent for a while after that. Geno looked up to Alter. He was staring somewhere ahead. The smaller followed his look. He was staring at Fuku and Grillby as they exchanged a hug, the green flame's head resting on her dad's shoulder. Skate was just watching them.

"Oooh, I can't! Please don't let this precious flame girl get hurt!" Geno thought.

"It really is a beautiful father-daughter relationship." Alter finally spoke. The smaller looked up to him. "I've heard, that Grillby has been raising his daughter alone. The mother passed away right after delivering... but he handled it just fine. A family bond shared by only these 2... I'm sure, I see it, it's certainly a powerful one."

"It must be painful for both of them knowing that the family bond won't be a reason to soften at all in the dance." Geno said placing hand on his chest.

"Tonight, it won't just be the young lady's moment to prove herself and shine. It will also be the father's greatest pride, to not just watch but compete his daughter in one of her most important events of her life." Alter spoke softly and slowly. Again for a few seconds, there was silence between them. Then, Geno felt the taller's hand wrapping around his shoulders. "Thanks." The smaller looked up to his friend confused and surprised.

"For what?"

"... Back when I was panicking. And when you allowed me to put myself together... thanks for not saying anything." Geno didn't reply. He just looked at the white circle. Now Fuku was standing in the middle of it, fingers intertwined in front of her chest.

She was looking down with seriousness in her eyes. The drums struck loudly one time and any conversation, any sound from the crowd vanished. Only the fire from the torches were faintly heard and the quiet breathing of all monsters as they waited with agony for the spectacle to begin.

In the white circle entered other monsters. Among them Geno saw Pyros and Tefra with grim expressions too. This time wearing black cloaks covering their bodies except hands and head. Further away from them Grillby was walking towards Fuku too. He was dressed in a black cloak too.

He stopped and crossed arms with his head directed to Fuku. Eventually Geno counted 11 monsters, most of them different, but all emitting the same impression: that they had fire magic. They circled Fuku and just stayed on their positions, waiting, possibly for the music to begin.

"If that horse monster that blessed Skate and Fuku posses fire too, why isn't he here?" Geno did his last question before everything was to truly begin. Indeed, that monster wasn't amongst the other monsters that had circled Fuku.

"The Judex is not allowed to participate in any of the 3 dances. Even if by coincidence he posseses fire just like young Fuku, by the traditions' sayings, he interferes nowhere except the beginning of the marriage. Let's consider it as one opponent less for the bride." Alter explained as he picked up Geno to sit on his shoulder.

The smaller looked ahead and felt the anxiety hitting him. If soon there was going to be fire, would he be able to control his chill? At such a moment of extreme negativity, he did what he had been taught by Alter to do and keep it as habit: he crossed himself 3 times.

me: alright raisa, let's try to keep this chapter short. you've got this!

chapter: 5150 words.

me: motherf-!

*pat pat pat*