Chapter 10: Epilogue

Ten years have passed since that day at the water tribe general's home. Peace was reigning in Kouka. The fire tribe was out of the famine and drought; Iza Seed had saved the tribe from dying out. The new government began to help it's citizens. The earth tribe was no longer in debt, but was now expanding their infrastructure, towns were expanding, exports of tea, ore and gems were up, and the once falling apart Earth general's manor was now pristine. The human trafficking problem was no longer there. With the rumors of a flying dragon in the ports with the combined threat of a crimson haired warrior protecting the people, traffickers moved on away from the ports towards the inner parts of the earth tribe only to be squashed by the General's forces. The water tribe no longer had a drug problem, with the druglord gone the dealers tried bringing their own in, only to deal with Lady Lili who now had the title of Protector of the Water Tribe as she had been apart of a group of mysterious people who had stopped ships filled with drugs from making landfall. Divers had planted explosives, which destroyed the ships. People kidknapped and forced to work on Sei fortresses were saved and released by Lady Lili and her mysterious friends. Afterwards she had been given the title of protector by King Su-won. She raised up female warriors who were trained by Tetora and Ayura and protected her tribe with her women warriors. The wind tribe adverted war with Xing, saved a group of people who were held hostage by Princess Kouren and Lord Tae-woo earned the name Kagemusha meaning shadow warrior, because he and his people had worked in the shadows to save the Kouka citizens that had been held hostage by Princess Kouren. The intelligence used in the operation had made Tae-woo's actions noticed by King Su-won.

Five years after the almost war with Xing, Kai under the leadership of Li Hazara attacked the northern parts of the fire tribe where Lord Tae-jun was stationed. The beacons were lit, but the army force had been too great. Lord Tae-jun was thought to have perished under to immense onslaught of enemy forces. His brother Lord Kyo-ga himself went to the front lines to avenge his brother and the men lost only to arrive and find Li Hazara surrendering to Lord Tae-jun and his mysterious allies.

On the tenth anniversary of King Su-won's rule an invite went out that asked the five general's of Kouka to Kuuto and Hiryuu Castle. When there it was revealed that the King and Princess Yona would be marrying. The once naive young woman had blossomed into womanhood. Her hair had grown and was now in a long red braid that reached her waist. Her child-like features had smoothed out and turn into soft mature features that caused men to take notice. Next to her, at all times was former wind general Lord Hak and her four guardians who were rumored to be the descendants of the dragon warriors of old, little did people know how right those rumors were; for the most part.

Once married the strain between the King and former general Hak was noticeably there. It wasn't until after Yona was many months pregnant that she got irritated by this and took both her husband and best friend off to the side training field and told them to fight it out.

Looking towards Hak she rubbed her round stomach. "Hak, I'm tired of the stress, but I don't want to loose you." She touched his shoulder. "I learned to forgive him, but you always held onto it and it's not healthy." She took a step back from him. "I want you both to fight this one time, and whoever wins, wins the forgiveness of the other." She looked at Hak. "That means you can no longer hate him for killing father or exiling me." She walked over to Su-won and kissed his cheek. "You need this fight as much as he does. Once it's over neither of you are allowed to hate each other any longer." She then walked over to where her warriors were Jae-ha placing an arm around her shoulders pulling her away from the fight while Zeno leaned back against a pillar with his hands placed on the back of his head, a smile on his lips while Yun began to prepare bandages and ointment for when the fight was over.

The two men looked at each other. "You say something to her?" Hak inquired as he square his feet off and got ready to rush at the King.

Su-won smiled as his eyes twinkled with a mischievous look to them. "You never have to tell Yona anything." He replied. "She always knows everything." He pulled his sword out of it's sheath before tossing his cloak to the side. "First blood?" He inquired as he brought the sword up causing it to gleam in the sunlight.

Hak smirked. "Of course." He stated as his eyes gleamed.

The two stared each other down before they rushed at one another. The quandao's blade sang as it rushed through the air only to be stopes by Su-won's sword. The King spun on his heel as he stopped the blade and pushed it away. Hak's feet followed in tandem. It was like a deadly dance between the two. Their feet followed each other as their bodies spun around one another in dodging each other's blades until it finally happened Hak's spear cut through skin and muscle as it went through Su-won's shoulder. At the same moment Su-won's sword went through Hak's side. Blood splashed against the stone cobbled ground.

Hak grimace at the sudden pain in his side and dropped his weapon before stumbling. Su-won going to his side stopping his former friend from falling. Both men looked at each other before knowing that the other had forgiven them.

Yun's rushed footsteps could be heard before Hak began to chuckle at their stupidity. Su-won's own laughter joining in and for the first time Su-won's tortured soul was finally free of the pain he had caused.

Moments later Shin-ah had come into the training yard, his golden eyes looking at the scene before him. Both men looked at the blue haired male. "Yona." He had said and that was all that needed to be said.

When morning came the next day the cries of the new heir could be heard. In his arms Su-won held a sandy blonde haired baby girl. Her violet eyes closed to the world as she cried in her fathers arms. The new dawn's light filter into the room through the bamboo shades. His eyes never leaving his daughters soft features as she finally calmed down. Her tears beginning to dry. His arms tightened around her form.

"Do you have a name for her?" came Hak's voice from behind him.

Su-won smiled. "Zora." He said. "It means dawn."

Hak chuckled. "Makes sense, she was born at dawn." His eyes turning downward towards the being in his own arms. Su-won looked a the dark curls on his sons head. The child had been a surprise. Twins were rare. "What about this one?"

Su-won shook his head. "I don't know." He said before looking at Hak. "Why don't you name him? I can't decide a name."

Hak looked up a bit surprised at Su-won's words and the honor they had with them. "Oh you don't want that." He chuckled nervously. "I may just name him Katsuro, meaning victorious son, just to get a reaction out of you."

"Katsuro." Su-won mumbled before smiling down at his daughter. "I like it, and so will Yona; once she is done resting."

Hak smirked. "It's your boy." He chuckled as the child began to make a small sound as he slept in Hak's arms.

"It fits him." Su-won replied before turning towards his friend. "Yona tells me that you and Tetora are expecting soon. Congratulations." He smiled causing Hak to groan.

"Yeah." He said as he looked away. "Have no idea how this is going to go."

"You'll make a fine father." His King replied.

"We'll see." He replied as he laid Katsuro in the silk bedding of the baby's bed.

Hak turned to leave but was stopped by Su-won's voice. "Hak, I do hope we can put this behind us now."

Sighing Hak spoke. "I don't know the future," he stated. "but for now I don't want to kill you, just yet." He smiled before turning his head towards Su-won, his eyes narrowed and gleaming with ill intent. "But hurt her again and I'll tear your heart out."

Su-won's eyes narrowed back. "If I hurt her again I'll gladly let you kill me." He said back before Hak left. Looking back at his slumbering wife Su-won felt his heart clench. "I'd rather die than hurt you again." He murmured before turning back towards the rising sun his daughter sleeping softly in his arms and his family safe in their home.

M-Angel: Thank-you to everyone who favorited, followed or reviewed this story. I hope you enjoyed it!