For Better or For Worse

To Have and to Hold Part I

It was dark inside the Temple of Zon.  Shadows crept through the halls, looking ready to grab innocent bystanders, and statues bore the hideous faces of Zatan and his demons of death.  He felt his heart pounding in his ribs.  Sweat formed on his brow.  His chin shuddered like leaves in the wind.  Every fiber in his body was screaming at him to run out of there and never look back.  But he pushed those thoughts aside as he walked down the path, taking with him the prize that so many other men lusted after, his legs growing weaker and weaker with each step.

At once, the moon rose to it's highest peak in the night sky, spilling it's soft silvery light into the Temple.  The shadows retreated from the moon's rays, and the statues cast off their demonic faces, showing instead the holy faces of the Gods and Goddesses of war, music, beauty, wisdom, the sun and the moon, the harvest, and so on, illuminating them with a heavenly glow.  The whole hall was now filled with a lovely light.  But he was still frightened.  His legs trembled, wishing for his knee to buckle or his ankle to twist so he would fall and have an excuse not to be walking this path.

But he had to.  He was getting married.

Conner looked to his right at the woman he was escorting to the altar.  She was indeed a vision of beauty.  Her long brown hair was pinned into an elegant bun in the back of her head, with sparkling green Kryptonite crystals woven through.  The crystals dangling from her forehead fell just above her lovely green eyes, that were shining with desire as she looked at Kon-El.  She wore a beautiful silk dress that was the same glowing green as those lovely eyes that reached past her toes.  The sleeveless strapless sweetheart neckline was trimmed with white-silver, as well as the hemline of the gown as it reached past her toes.  The skirt trailed back behind her into a long silken train, dragging along as her body moved from every direction.

Her face was gleaming with white makeup, to symbolize her purity, signaling that she had never before been taken by another man, that she was a perfect untouched flower.  Her eyelids glistened with silver, brightening her already glittering eyes, with pitch-black paint motioning her lashes like a cat's eyes.  Two perfects circles of pink rouge was brushed onto her cheeks, lighting them up like cherry blossoms.  For the final touch, her lips had been painted a deep, lustful red, making them appear fuller, symbolizing her fiery passion as a woman, a lover, and a wife.  It was easy for any man to fall in love with this lady.  But Conner hadn't fallen for her, and he never would, but it would appear he had no choice, as he took her to the Temple to take her hand in marriage.

Conner had his arm out on his side, bent at a certain angle, as his young bride had her delicate hand, cloaked in a long glove that ended past her elbow, trimmed with white-silver at the end, folded on it in a sophisticated manner.  She fluttered her long, dark curled eyelashes at him.  "Something troubles you...my husband?"  Conner whipped hus head towards her, obviously annoyed.  "I am not your husband yet, Lora."  Lora laughed, her voice like tingling bells.  "Look around you, Kon-El!  We are moments away from being joined together!"  She stepped closer to him.  "In a matter of minutes, I shall belong to you...forever."  He turned away from her, staring dead ahead, focusing his sapphire eyes on the grand wooden doors, decorated with carvings of the Gods, that was inches from his face.  "I know."  If he had kept his gaze on her, he would have noticed two figures fly past the window behind her.

At that moment, the mighty double doors flew open.  A great white light surrounded them as music filled their ears.  Feet scratched against the floor as nearly a hundred people stood from the stands and looked over their shoulders to welcome the bride and groom.  Decorating the walls were stained glass windows depicting the marriages of the Gods, from  Sun God Zetes's union to mortal beauty Polta to the marriage of the Great Zon himself to his Queen Zora.  A shining white tear slipped down Conner's nose as he looked at the stained glass window shining light onto the altar, resembling Zolara, daughter of the Great Zon and the Goddess of Love and Marriage, floating down from the heavens to bestow her holy blessings upon the newlywed couple.

Suddenly, a dark figure looked out from behind one of the statues, high up in the air, a stained window being the only thing separating it from the Grand Hall. It was shaped like a muscle-toned young man, who's eyes were hidden behind a white mask.  He was as silent as a corpse, like a predator waiting for the right moment to swoop in, his eyes fixed on his prey.  He gave a signal, and one by one, a dozen more figures emerged from the shadows and gathered around.  The first one, who was obviously their leader, nodded his head head.  The coast was clear.

The musicians in the corner played as the bride and groom walked down the aisle, side by side. The tune they played sounded similar to the Wedding March, but with different notes and sounds here and there. The guests were all smiling, and some of the female watchers looked close to tears. When the couple passed a pew, the people standing at the end closet to them would throw flower petals over their heads before spitting at their feet for good luck. Lora was loving all the attention, smiling boldly and batting her eyelashes. Conner, on the other hand, didn't dare to look any of them in the eye. He kept his focus on the floor, staring as he dragged his feet down the long red velvet carpet, his heart sinking lower and lower the closer they got to the altar.

At last, they reached the end of the aisle.  Standing on the podium was the High Priest, wearing a silver cloak with black vertical stripes and a large silver headdress.  The wrinkles on his face were proof of his long life, and you could see the wisdom in his eyes.  He raised his arms over his head.  "People of Krypton, you have gathered in this Temple, under the light of Zotoza, Goddess of the Night and Moon, to witness the union of Kon from the House of El, and Lora-Kad from the House of Zol.  As Zotoza joins the dark with the light, so do we join these two young lovers, in the eternal and never-ending bonds of holy matrimony.  Tonight, these two shall become one, making a sacred vow, that shall last till the end of time."

"Should there be anyone gathered within these halls who has a reason why this enchanting young couple cannot be wed, than let the Great Zon hear your voice now, or else forever hold their pledge of love." Conner looked behind him, hoping against hope someone else would disagree with this wedding and he would have an excuse not to go through with it. But the whole room was silent, smiling at him and his future spouse with kindness and consent. His face fell as he turned his head back to the High Priest, not noticing the nasty smirk on Lora's face. "Didn't think so.", she muttered under her breath.

The Team had finally reached the end of the hall. Nightwing turned to M'gann. "I think Miss M should have the honors." She looked surprised at first, before nodding her head.  "You're right.  I should do this.  I have to."  She walked over and put both hands on each side of the door.  "Here goes nothing..."  "STOP!"  The team turned around to see Kryptonian monks behind them, with their shiny, spotless bald heads and shapeless black hooded robes. "And just what do you heathens think that you are doing? There is a wedding ceremony going on in there!" "We know!", Bart cried. "That's why we're going in! We're trying to stop it!" Jaime slapped his hand over his face.

"How dare you try to disrupt the sacred ties of matrimony!", said the leader of the monks.  "Men of Zetar!"  At once, the monks cast of their cloaks to reveal the martial arts uniforms they wore underneath.  Chris and Katie looked at them with wide eyes.  "Oh...did we forget to tell you guys that members of the Temple are trained throughly in Kryptonian martial arts?", Chris asked nervously.  La'gaan glared at him and Katie.  If looks could kill, they would both be dead as doornails.  "You guys are just remembering that NOW?!"

Nightwing stood in front of the Team, his eyes fixed on the army like a hawk, looking ready to attack.  "Let's do this..."  He pulled out his bow staff.  "TEAM, GO!"

Sorry to leave you on a cliffhanger, but I promise I'll have the next chapter up as soon as I can! I do not own YJ or DC.