With everyone ready, and the hot air balloons here, it was finally time for them to leave.

Lucy turned to the guests and smiled warmly, all the while looking at the Cameras too.

"Everyone, thank you all for your patience."

"Princess Lucy, no need to thank us."

"Yeah. This has been the best wedding that we've ever attended."

"I agree. It was like watching a live-action movie.

Awesome!"

(^∆^)

With everyone relaxed and unbothered, Penelope and the rest stopped out of the dome, followed by the guests.

And what the people saw made them so stunned that they were speechless.

"Look!

Large balloons! And on them, people!"

"Holy mother of Fertility!

Are those people flying?"

Their hearts heard loudly, and their mouths quivered in shock when they saw the hot air balloons hover over the enormous square.

One should know that the hot air balloons were launched in mid-August, and now it was still September.

So the news hadn't even reached Carona's Capital city yet.

Seeing this sight paralyzed many of them, as their realities were shattered by the heavenly flying balloons that could somehow carry people up.

The children, on the other hand, had already come up with a conclusion of why it can fly.

"Waaaawww... It's really flying!

They must have used Pixie Dust from Tinkerbell."

"Yeah. It's said in the Peter Pan book that Tinkerbell made a ship fly. 

So she's obviously the one who did this."

"Of course it's her!"

"Hey! Maybe we can fly too if we keep having happy thoughts!"

"No, silly! One must first get acknowledged by a fairy and then get fairy dust.

Because happy thoughts alone won't make you fly.

The second book series even said the lost boy Ruffy tried that and was never heard of again.

I'm guessing he died.

So you see, you must first get the acknowledgement from a fairy."

"Ahhhh... But how do we do that since they're always invisible?"

"By doing good and being worthy?"

"That's it! What you said makes sense!

I wonder if a fairy is around me now.

Hello, Miss Fairy. I'm really good."

"Yeah, Miss Fairy. Come out. I'm also a good boy."

"_"

.

Landon and the rest who heard some of their conversations just chuckled.

Well, they wondered how these children would react once they got on the hot air balloons.

That's right.

They had brought so many hot air balloons, in different seater sizes.

So they, alongside some of the children, would get on and fly a little low, waving to those below.

And the children will also be tasked with throwing flower petals down too.

Of course, each child would have a guardian onboard.

And if 4 or more children have the same guardian, then all the better.

After telling the crowd that the children and a few guardians could come up, everyone started going crazy.

"Sister, I should be the one guardian taking the children up.

After all, our children are cousins. And they know me so well.

The same goes for you, Judith.

I could look after your children too.

So leave all 7 children to me."

"No way!

Including these 7, you also have 2 of your kids, making it 9.

And Alice dear, as your elder, I know you well.

So how could you handle such a large number of children?

Forget it; I'll do it."

"As the man of the house, it's my sworn duty to protect all my family's youngsters.

Whether they're my sister's children or mine, I will be the one to climb on the balloon with them.

"_"

Everyone's eyes burnt with determination as they kept debating while never taking their eyes off the hot air balloons.

What a joke!

This might be a once-in-a-lifetime thing.

So how could they not want to get on it?

The newly married couples who hadn't had children yet looked at the balloons and felt like crying.

Why did they not have children before getting married?

Now, look at it!

They missed out on this grand opportunity!

In fact, even if they had a newborn baby, because the child wouldn't remember the experience, Landon was more inclined to give it to those children who would.

.

And so because there was no time to waste, everything was mainly settled by flipping coins, and guardians were chosen.

Landon and the rest, including some of the Cameramen and the Sapos and Baymardians priests, got on a 26-seater space stall basket with 3 pilots.

Meanwhile, Penelope and Santa got on a 5 seater one, with one pilot and 2 guards.

Of course, the children, their guardians, and some of the guards got on the other balloons.

Finally, it was time for lift-off!

Drrrrrrrhhhh.

As the balloon rose, Penelope truly found it enchanting.

Santa held her hand, and both smiled warmly.

This was their first time on a hot air balloon.

And the fact that they had to share this experience alongside each other made it all the more magical.

Both didn't say anything, as they understood each other very much.

Penelope looked below and smiled.

At first, she thought that everything was unnecessary.

But now, maybe it wasn't so bad as she thought.

Or maybe it was because so already had a workout after the ceremony that freed her tension... Who knows.

But what was clear was that she was genuinely enjoying this moment now.

Santa faced her while still smiling.

"My darling wife, marrying you has, and will always be, the greatest accomplishment in my life.

I'm just happy that you gave me a chance.

I promise to try my best to protect you and our people.

Looking at the city from above once again made me realize my goals and the sort of future I want for you, our children and our people." 

He paused and kissed one of her hands. "Penelope, I promise always to do my best. Thank you for giving yourself to me."

Penelope turned her head away swiftly: "Fool."

Was she crying? Or was she just looking at a different angle from above?

No one would ever know.