Hey guys! Ready for the last chapter?
Before we do, I actually forgot to mention a couple of things.
First, thank you to BumbleebeeFan25 and T8ECR34TOR for adding in their favs!
Second, I actually have a short vacation from school for five days, so hopefully I post an update every day during this time, maybe even two a day! But no promises!
Oh and also, I'm a little bit sick, but still good to write this chapter, there's a virus going on, and apparently it's also the start of flu season, so yeah…
Before I have to be bedridden for the night, I give you the final chapter!
Chapter 9: The Rest of the War
"And that, my children, is how my life changed." Alex finished his story to his two chicks, Cadence and Eddie.
It was currently nighttime and Alex's two children wanted a story before going to bed. So he sat down in a rocking chair and his kids got on his lap, listening to every word their father spoke. Besides Alex was a cane, to help him walk from his limp leg, the leg that got shot when Alex fought in his first battle.
"Wow dad, that's amazing." Cadence smiled.
"Yeah, tell us more." Eddie begged.
"Maybe tomorrow kids, you two have school first thing in the morning." A female voice spoke and stepped into the candle light of the room, revealing Lily.
"But mom…" Eddie put on puppy eyes.
"No buts mister, come on." Lily replied, picking up her two kids and taking them to their rooms.
After Lily tucked her little ones to sleep, she went back to Alex, who was of course having difficulty getting up due to his leg. Lily came back and helped Alex up, who smiled at his wife as a show of thanks.
"Thanks honey." Alex said.
"You're welcome, come on, lets get to bed." Lily said and the two walked slowly up to their room.
After putting on their nightclothes, they laid side by side on their bed, cuddled up lovingly as they kissed each other goodnight on the beak.
"Goodnight Lily, I love you." Alex smiled.
"I love you too, even thought you can be difficult sometimes." Lily chuckled.
"You take that back!" Alex replied in a playful manner.
"Make me!" Lily shouted back, playful as Alex.
"Oh, you're going to get it!" And Alex playfully attacked Lily and the two tossed around in bed until they got tired and fell asleep in each other's wings.
And another peaceful and quiet night passed in the now independent new nation of the United States, however the road to make that happen was very long and bloody…
The Battle of Saratoga, the battle that Alex first fought in, was a very pivotal moment in the revolution, as not only did it cause a whole British army (about 7,000 men, or in this case, birds) to surrender and become prisoners of war, but it also convinced King Louis of France that the American cause was worth supporting and not only did he send over full military and financial support, but he openly declared war against England, bringing France's military into direct conflict with England. Other European nations, like Spain and the Netherlands also joined the conflict on the side of the American rebels against England.
However, even with all this foreign help, the war would still rage on for four more years until 1781, when General Lord Cornwallis would surrender his army at Yorktown, under siege by a combined American and French army under Generals George Washington and Comte de Rochambeau. And it would still take two more years until 1783 when the peace treaty between America and England would be signed and the last British troops finally left American soil, bringing freedom and independence to the new, young nation.
During the war, Alex, Blu, Jugal, Mihael, and Zach all had their share of events in helping to fight and win the war for independence…
Jugal continued to serve under his new commander, Alex, becoming his personal aide and staying by his friend's side in battle no matter how tough the fight was. By the time of Yorktown, he was a lieutenant, leading his own men into battle, leading them by personal example.
After the war was over, Jugal would return home and work in his family's print shop, helping to create a new newspaper for the new nation. Eventually he worked in a very high position in the treasury department while Jefferson was president. He also married his own special girl and had three children with her, enjoying them very much.
Mihael would go on to become an expert marksman and he served as a lieutenant in Colonel Daniel Morgan's elite corps of riflemen. He served with pride and took part in the battle of Cowpens, a very decisive battle where Colonel Daniel Morgan successfully outsmarted British Colonel Banastre Tarleton and defeated him in a very resounding victory for the Americans.
Unfortunately for Mihael, he became one of the American casualties as a British dragoon sliced him across the chest with his saber, opening a big, serious wound in Mihael. He died a painful death, but his death helped to win the day. And while he was still alive, he had enough breath to tell his men to never give up and keep fighting, he spent his very last minute just staring up at the sky and saying a prayer in his head before he passed.
Zach would also continue serving under Alex, and like Jugal followed his commander into the heat of battle, like Jugal, he was also promoted to lieutenant, leading his own men into battle, following his commander's example of bravery and courage.
After the war was over, Zach, like his surviving comrades, returned to civilian life, staying with his family and then getting married and having two kids of his own. Zach would go on to become part of the belief of manifest destiny, the belief that America should expand from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, joining Lewis and Clark on their famous journey across the vast West. Unfortunately he would die from a time of terrible illness during the expedition, leaving behind a brokenhearted wife and kids.
For Blu, during the war, he would rise to the rank of Colonel, but even still he would ride into the heat of battle, rallying and leading his men froward, while being completely exposed to enemy musket and cannon fire. He would get shot at multiple times and even suffered some wounds, but luckily none of them were fatal and Blu survived the war to return home to his Jewel and his kids.
After the war, Blu helped to form up the new nation's army, getting them into fighting shape if ever a time would be needed to defend the new nation from an enemy attack. By the time the War of 1812 came, Blu was an old man, but he still contributed much to his nation's defense against England in the 'second war of independence'.
Blu's son, Tiago, would join the army when he was old enough and served under General Andrew Jackson when he battled the Native Americans in the Southwest and took part in the Battle of New Orleans, when the British tried unsuccessfully to breach Jackson's defense of the city. During one day, an astounding 2100 British casualties mounted as they charged straight at well fortified American troops, rows and rows of British redcoats falling to rapid volleys of rifle and cannon fire. There were only 13 American casualties in return.
The females of Blu's family, Jewel, Bia, and Carla would also contribute their part in the second war of independence. Jewel helping to sew clothes for the American army, while Bia and Carla helped as nurses, often needing to comfort young soldiers who were dying as best as they could.
And finally, for Alex and his family…
Alex would of course serve with Blu for the rest of the war, serving with as much bravery and courage as any other American, leading his men himself, while being exposed to enemy fire. Even thought Alex had a bad leg, he still fought, proving himself time and time again, by Yorktown, he had achieved the rank of Captain. He also convinced many captured British Scarlet soldiers that the British crown was not worth fighting for and that they could have a whole new life when America became free. Many of them took the offer and Alex kept his word, the redeemed British soldiers having new comfortable lives when the war was over, living in nice houses with their wives and children.
Alex also learned after the Battle of Saratoga that Noah had a family living in the town of Lexington, the very town where the war started. After Alex recovered a bit, he asked for some leave and Blu gave it to him, Alex taking that time to bring Noah's ashes to his wife and three kids, giving it to them and offering his condolences and telling them how brave their husband and father was.
Speaking of family, Alex, while in the front lines, wrote whenever he could to Lily. Telling her that he was fine and how the war was going, but most importantly telling her that he loved her and promising they will get married as soon as the war was over. Alex kept his word to Lily and he came back to her, the two getting married very shortly after and of course, having two kids of their own.
Their son, Eddie, also joined the army and took part in the War of 1812, where he was serving at Fort McHenry when the British tried to bombard the fort to rubble to take the city of Baltimore. It was also where Francis Scott Key, a witness to the event, wrote the Star Spangled Banner, inspired by the fort holding out under the bombardment. Key's poem would eventually become the United States' national anthem and the huge American flag that flew over Fort McHenry and the flag that really inspired Key, still hangs in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. to this day.
The females, Lily and Cadence also played the same parts that Jewel and her daughters did, helping to contribute much to the young nation winning against England a second time.
And all this would not have been possible if one Scarlet soldier didn't try to redeem himself and fight for the right side, choosing to fight for freedom and independence, rather than for an evil and greedy empire and crown.
And we are done!
Finally finished after many months! I wanted to finish this story in a couple of weeks after I made the first chapter, but after many problems and delays, it is finally finished!
I hope you guys are happy with the ending and see you in the next update!
