“He and I love each other. Not like you loved mother… but I aspire that our love will reach the level of love you and mother shared. We started dating two years ago and I want to spend eternity with him,” he said, without fear. He looked into his dad’s eyes, assuring him of how serious he was. “I would like your blessing to our marriage.”

Mandlenkosi’s eyes flared open as he smiled at what he had just heard…

“Oh my… um…” a thought arrived in his head. “Aren’t you still married to Angelosi?” he asked as he squinted his eyes.

“She is dancing with mom in Heaven, but before her time on earth expired, Angelosi gave birth to twins, my children. I experienced a hard time tata… you left, without a trace. Angelosi followed behind. Darkness followed, and I fell into a dark pit where I forgot how to love. I even lost my mind at one point.” A single tear fell.

“But then a mist descended on Luxury City and I thought of you. I thought I’d find you in it but I never did. Instead I found him. And when I saw him, I knew that he was my chance at love again. The fact that he was a man was the last thing on my mind, because I was in love. One thing I’m sure of about love is that it doesn’t look at gender, race or age, but looks at happiness, and I am happy with him. He reminded me of love and how it could obliterate the darkness. I fell in love with him and he is the only person I want to spend my eternity with.” He looked straight into his father’s eyes with deep respect.

“Wow…” Mr Ngonyama exhaled as he found a bench and prepared to sit on it. Arafci shot a purple fume to the bench and he covered the cinnabar chair with a purple crystal. “Your love and happiness is something that I value, nyana. If your heart belongs to this man, who am I to throw a stone at God’s most treasured gift, love?” he said as he looked at Mandlenkosi then back to his son. “You have my full blessing nyana.” He nodded. “Once again!” he whispered, before emitting a chuckle.

The four laughed. The couple walked towards the father. “Enkosi tata!” Lukhanyiso said. “This is Ara–”

“Arafci Ntiorce Doveira and Peoreu Ntiorce Doveira,” the father said as he stumbled up and knelt before the siblings. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you!”

“No, no…” they said at the same time as they lifted him up and motioned him to sit. “It is my pleasure to finally meet the man who fathered Lukhanyiso,” Arafci said as he knelt to his level.

“Well then, I need to see my children,” Lukhanyiso looked at Mandlenkosi and smiled. “Our children.”

“Yes of course. Peoreu, can you please accompany Khanya to the castle, he needs to rest. I will send these two to the hospital.” He extended his hands to Lukhanyiso and Mandlenkosi.

They held hands in a small circle, each closing their eyes before a purple beam of light, orbited by two other lights, shot up to the sky.

*****

The Distort-World always had sunny days, but on this day… rain poured on the beautiful alternate world.

“Blessings!” Khanyile Ngonyama said as he held the two identical children in his arms.

“Yes. He is blessing this union,” Peoreu whispered back, as she wiped away her tears.

“Hush you two!” Arafci silenced them, but he wiped his tears away too.

“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and husband. Sealed with a kiss,” a priest standing in front of them uttered. He was not human, but an ancient humanoid with pale dark skin and piercing sea-green eyes.

The kiss was brief but magical as Lukhanyiso held on to Mandlenkosi. They held hands and walked down the aisle as married men.

“And the next destination is the honeymoon!” Peoreu said as she punched the air, “Get ready you two. Europe is beautiful at this time of year!” She extended her arms to them.

“We need to say goodbye to our children first,” Mandlenkosi said as he took Lukhangelosi from his grandfather. Lukhangelosi touched the band on his father’s finger, a platinum ring which had an infinity braided design around it. The first accent stone was the ‘eye of the storm’ stone and the second accent stones were two ‘fire agates’.

Lukhanyiso looked at his platinum ring which had the identical design but with different stones; the first accent stone was an ‘angel phantom quartz’ and the second accent stones were ‘ametrine’. “Thank you for the rings Arafci. They are the most beautiful rings I’ve ever seen.” He smiled at Arafci and took Mangaliso from his father.

“It is my pleasure. Good choices on the stones you picked for each other,” he complimented.

“So, father, what are you going to do?” Lukhanyiso asked his father.

“Distort-Earth is the perfect place for an archaeologist. I’ll do more research here with the help of Arafci,” he said as he motioned the newlyweds to return the twins to their grandfather. “Now, you two should go and enjoy yourselves.”

They returned the five month old babies and walked towards Peoreu. The three of them created a circle. Before they could close their eyes, a roar reverberated from outside the castle.

“Not again!” Arafci cried out as he turned his body into purple mist and shot outside.

Mandlenkosi rushed outside the castle, ready to join the battle.

Lukhanyiso took off his shirt and extended his wings before destroying another evil threat which threatened Actual-Earth and Distort-Earth.

***

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