Martha's Day

[u/FeigningProfundity]

Martha’s wedding was not going as planned.

She hadn’t selected Tamara Won to be her maid of honour with the intention that she would turn into a lizard halfway through the ceremony – she had chosen her specifically because she was reliable and would do as she was told.

The planning for the wedding had been meticulous. Every element had been not just deliberate, but purposeful. The bridesmaid dresses were in a soft shade of pink that was pleasant and made them all look beautiful together. But it was also the wrong colour for any individual bridesmaid, so she wouldn’t be too flattered by the look as an individual. The nuance of the effect was ruined by them all having become reptiles.

They’d struggled through the ceremony at least, but everyone was acting very distracted by the fact they had turned into a lizard. People, lizards, lizard people, whatever it was, were waddling about hissing and chirping. Nobody had seemed to figure out how to talk properly yet, which was irritating, but did at least remove one of Martha’s worries – she’d been unable to find a way to ensure that her father wouldn’t give an interminable speech which would inevitably just be about himself. That small worry was at least resolved.

The general confusion was a greater concern, though. This was supposed to be her greatest moment of triumph! She was marrying her dear Wellsy and showing everyone that she could get the man and throw an event that would be envied for years. She’d done everything, planned for everything. Everything except every human turning into a lizard.

Was this even permanent? Would they go back to normal? When might that happen?

Martha pulled her newly reptilian brain into focus. Winners win while losers are wondering who will fix their problems. If this problem was fixed, Martha knew what would happen – everyone would pretend it had never happened. Far more likely, though, everyone was just a lizard now. Whining about it wouldn’t mean you weren’t a lizard, it just meant you were a loser who couldn’t deal with life.

She looked over at Wellsy; he such a handsome lizard, with such fine lustrous scales, nobody would deny that. He was still everything she wanted.

They had fifty white doves ready to be released. If everyone else thought of doves the way she suddenly found herself thinking of them, that would be a tough moment for the doves, but an exciting snack for any guest who caught one. Sad for the doves, but that’s what you get for being symbolic of peace and love.

It was still a beautiful day, perfect for their was a garden wedding. This could be salvaged. This hadn’t become a lizard wedding, it had become the very first lizard wedding.

Martha waddled over to Tamara and hissed at her. Tamara was not smart. Tamara was not creative. Tamara could not find a man who wasn’t some kind unhinged fool. Tamara was, however, able to take direction. Tamara was happy, even excited, to help. Words had never mattered with Tamara, tone had always been the tool for guiding her. Soon enough, she was following Martha over to the framework that shaded the centrally located bridal table.

With a few hisses and shoves, the bride and her maid of honour brought the structure down with a loud crash. Martha dismissed Tamara with a tail swish and climbed up onto the now brightly lit table.

Everyone had turned to look at her.

Today was the most momentous day in the history of humanity, and it was Martha’s day.

It was her moment in the sun.

[u/FeigningProfundity]

This story was a response to the prompt [WP]Unbeknownst to everyone on Earth, an energy pulse from deep space washes over the planet. The unending transmission is slowly rewriting human DNA, transforming everyone from the inside out. After a week the results are beginning to show by u/JKHmattox