Caroline and Abigail enjoyed making things. They would paint and draw, stitch and stick, and mold and sculpt. If outside, they would collect leaves, feathers and interesting stones, and on rainy days, cut up old magazines, catalogs and food packaging. Wherever they were and whatever they did, Caroline and Abigail were never far from having creative thoughts or doing creative things, which
was why on this day they were collecting shells. They were at the beach and had already constructed a magnificent fairytale castle out of sand, complete with a water filled moat. Now needing shells to decorate the castle's walls and roofs, they'd walked along the shoreline in search of some. Here's a good one, said Caroline, holding up a curly shell. It was shiny with a hint of pink and cream. This would look amazing on top of the tower. Yeah,
agreed Abigail. And how about this one. It's enormous. We could use this one as a drawbridge. They'd already made quite a collection and their hands.
Were quite full.
Let's take these to the castle, suggested Caroline. Then we can run back here for more.
But they'd not gone two steps when they spotted an unusual couple stood upon the sand.
Not just unusual, very unusual, because they were.
Clearly not human. Are those aliens?
Asked Caroline, dropping her shells with surprise. The two figures had orange skin with a scattering of purple spots, thin bodies, large heads, and oddest of all, just one circular eye each. They were looking down at the sand between their three toed feet.
I don't know what else they could.
Be, admitted Abigail, putting her shells down more carefully. The aliens looked up and appeared to notice the girls for the first time. Look scoop of things, said one of the aliens, excitedly.
Oh, how fortunate, Yobel. Perhaps they are queens of this planet, said Swoop. Salvation's your royal highnesses.
This was said with a wave to Abigail and Caroline. Oh we're not royalty, replied Abigail. Oh what a beautiful planet you have, said Yobel. Oh we like it very much. Ah, thank you, said Caroline.
It would do very nicely, said Swoop. For what, asked Abigail.
For our wedding, of course, laughed yobl We are very much loving each other.
Oh, yes, agreed Shwoop. Loving your planet would be the perfect place for our wedding to take place. We particularly like this glittery stuff that you walk on.
The sand, asked Caroline. Yeah, we'd like it too. We'd like to make castles from it.
Oh did you hear that, Shoop, The queens construct their palaces from glitter. Oh, we truly are lucky to have found them, marveled Yobel. Indeed, Yobyl, we have chosen well, added Swoop. We would like one of your castles for our marriage. Please will you make one for us?
Well, we could show you how to make one, Abigail said, because we probably won't be around when you actually get married.
But you're here now, said Yobel. So you are around.
You mean you're getting married right now, spluttered Caroline, like today.
Oh yes, and we would like a magnivosent castle, and your royal Highness is to be there.
Grin Swoop, not royal highnesses, corrected Abigail. But what about guests and decorations? Don't you need those? Having two queens in a castle will be all we need, said Yobel. Please begin construction right away. But we've already built one, said Caroline. Over here. The two girls led the peculiar aliens across the sand to where their sand castle stood. I'm afraid it's not very big, said Abigail. Real castles are much grander than this.
Oh it's mauveless. Gush swoop. The builders you used to make it must be very skilled.
Oh no, we didn't use builders, giggled Caroline. We built this ourselves. The two aliens looked stunned. You built all of this out of the glitz stuff yourselves, gasped Yobel. Little wonder that you two have been made queens. We're not queens, said Abigail.
Oh I'm so excited, smiled Shwoop. This shall be a wedding like no other.
Oh, I'm very impressed, nodded Yobel. Shall we start. I really think you should have decorations, insisted Caroline.
What are these decorations you are speaking of, wondered Shwoop. Abigail and Caroline grinned at one another. Well, began Abigail.
There are usually flowers, lots of flowers, chipped in Caroline. Then there's bunting and streamers and balloons and table settings, added Abigail. And bows and ribbons and covers and lighting, continued Caroline.
Good moons of mupple pop.
Exclaimed Yobel. That is so much. Oh that's just the start of it.
Said Abigail.
Having flowers, bunting and balloons helps make a wedding look extra special.
Oh, Yobel, shouldn't our wedding be extra special? Should we have floors and bunnies and spoons? Said Shroop.
That's flowers, bunting and balloons, corrected Caroline.
It is enough custom to have these decorations at a wedding, said Yobel. It's a shame that there are no such items in sight.
That's true, said Abigail. You don't find those sort of things just lying around. Oh that is a disappointment, said Swoop sadly. But there are other things that are lying around and we could use, suggested Caroline, really brightened Shwoop, his singular eye opening wide.
No wonder, the people of this planet put you both in charge.
We're not in charge, said Abigail. Wait here, buy the sand castle, said Caroline, snatching Abigail's hand. We'll be right back. First, they returned to their drop shells. They use these to make a circular pattern in the sand with the two aliens at the center, although it did mean an extra trip to look for more impressive, said Yobel. Next, the two girls search for seaweed. It was the closest thing to flowers they could think of, so they gathered up as much as they could and laid it out in
the sand like fancy bouquets. Oh, very good, said Shwoop approvingly. Finally, the girls went searching for driftwood. There wasn't much, but what they found had been worn smooth by the sea and bleached white by the sun. They pushed the wood into the sand to create a wider circle that went around the shell circle and the sand castle. Outstanding, proclaimed yobl How are you able to make such things? Oh, we're always making things, said Caroline. We love crafts, the
queen of crafts, said Shwoop. Now let us start, Yes, agreed Yobel. It is time for us to get married. How does this work, added Abigail. Don't you need someone to conduct the ceremony?
Ceremony, repeated Shwoop. That sounds complicated. Indeed it does, agreed Yobel.
But we pick a lot of porians. Don't need extra Pickolotta Porians to be involved. We just need each other. That's different, said Caroline.
Let us show you, smiled Swoop and turned to face Yobel in the circle of shells. The two aliens held hands entwining their long fingers together. Shwoop, Will you be mine forever, asked Yobel. Until the end of time, answered Swoop. And Yobel, will you be mine forever until the last star in the universe fades away?
Responded yobl There said Shwoop, turning to the two girls.
It's done. Yobel and I are married, big, loving, and thanks to your royal highnesses, we've had the most memorable wedding of any pick a Lotta Porian couple in the history of the galaxy.
Smiled Yoble. Oh it's been our pleasure, said Abigail. Yes, agreed Caroline. It's been so all much fun to help. And there's a token of our thanks. Please accept this small shiny green rock, said Yabel, placing what looked like an emerald in Caroline's palm. These cover the surface of Piccolotta, our home planet, so we often give them away as gifts.
It's not worth much, but it looks pretty. Thank you both yelled out shwoop as in a shimmer of light, the two aliens transported away, presumably back to their ship. That was unexpected, said Abigail, staring out at the now empty seashell circle. Here you're telling me, said Caroline. Emeralds may not be worth much to them, but on earth these are worth a fortune. Well what do we do now, asked Abigail. Do you still want to finish the sand castle?
I'm not sure, replied Caroline. We've been so creative today already. Organizing an alien wedding was hard work, yes, but what fun, said Abigail. We'll remember today for the rest most of our lives. Excuse me, said a voice from nearer the shoreline. Turning that way, they were met with the sight of a small red alien with ten tentacles, one of which was looped into the enormous quad hand of a scaly green alien with.
A wide, hairy head. Are you the queens of craft more aliens?
Gasped Abigail. She was so surprised that she forgot to tell the newcomers they weren't royalty. You're not here to get married to you, are you, asked Caroline.
Oh?
Yes, said the little red alien.
News of your.
Elaborate regal wedding service has reached the far corners of the galaxy. Myself and Gurgle pibble ox Knock would be honored if we could have a royal wedding here. Listen, we're not royal, began Abigail, as the small alien held up another tentacle. It was wrapped around a large, fist sized ruby.
We will gladly give you this token for your troubles, your royal highnesses, said the alien.
Oh all right, then, said Abigail, grinning at Caroline. Caroline grinned back. Just give us a few moments, she said. We just need to freshen up the seaweed, the and