Epilogue - Blue Suede Skies

Six Weeks Later...

Tharsis had finally healed its numerous, deep and tragic scars from the Red Dragon War. Everyone honored those that had sacrificed their lives for intergalactic freedom, especially those that paid tribute to Victoria Terpsichore, Reshiram and Zekrom, most of the Reploids that had fallen during combat as well as the members of the ISSP.

Thanks to the astronomical payout for the surviving veterans, Annie's black market had transformed into an outlet selling more various goods while still serving some ammunition and weaponry for those who're willing to keep the peace in Tharsis and other planets. Not only that, but a small apartment was built at the top floor housing Spike, Julia, and even Trudy. She had her own space, while Spike and Julia shared theirs, just like the old days when he was taken in after he was wounded during the fatal war against the White Tigers. The would-they-won't-they couple gave Trudy the honors for reviving and reuniting them in exchange for no longer living in the slums on Earth, nor inside a worn-down spaceship. The young space cowgirl was so thrilled by their offer.

Faye also had some new private quarters of her own, as one of the ISSP officers had perished. She gladly took over residence in one of the apartments in uptown Tharsis. She also decided to care for Victoria's feline companion, Zeros. After awhile, he grew accustomed to his new owner and lived a healthier life than when he was devastated over his previous owner's loss and refused to eat or move. They now had a comfortable new place to call home, instead of just dreading it being destroyed by oncoming meteors.

After several weeks of renovation, the former Red Dragons hideout had been bulldozed, then rebuilt to half its size. Both Jet and Zero wanted to live together at the revamped skyscraper, which would actually function as a sort of home base for their spanking new bounty hunting team! Although Zero still wasn't used to fighting humans, he has been an extraordinary assistant to the Black Dog in terms of engineering and technology.

For Mary and her cousins, they resumed their normal lives, as if little to nothing has happened. That is except when they mourned for their fallen titans, Reshiram and Zekrom. The Dark and Light Stones were still opaque and dormant and the texture even had some weak particles here and there, like loose dirt. Both Lizzie and Beth put away these Stones and actually prayed for the Pokémon to return and get resurrected since their Ice counterpart, Kyurem, is still around.

As for X, he had the opportunity to achieve his wish on witnessing peace and tranquility for the first time in his life. Sigma and the Red Dragons have been vanquished at last, yet he still performs his duties both as a Reploid and a savior for humankind on Earth, especially when he and his men keep a lookout for any oncoming devastating meteor storms. He also wishes Zero well in his outpost on Mars, and he wishes to visit him and his new friends again one day. Oh, and he has been promoted as the Head of the Maverick Hunters during Zero's absence.

It turned out that it was Vicious', or rather Striking Snake's, guardian star that fizzled within the night sky instead of Spike's, or Swimming Bird's, as originally predicted. Which was a very good sign since their guardian stars never got a chance to fuse into one, thus his red one and Spike's blue one were averted creating a supernova and hence Spike was never forever being linked with the volatile blood made by Kim Yokushimo. Like a blown out candle, Vicious' red star was no more, and it prevented Spike's inevitable fate; instead, his own star was restored to its natural hue, though it darkened, symbolizing its next phase as well as his advent life hurtles.

For Spike and Julia, they couldn't be anymore at ease; in fact it changed him in a way they never thought possible. Spike was actually cutting back on smoking, as he took some gum that helped his nicotine cravings. He also reduced his drinking habits, while only consuming alcohol on social occasions. And at times he does train Julia and Trudy the same vigorous ways his late master, Mao Yenrai, did way back. However, things were also looking grim for him; he hadn't been like himself since before his so-called demise. He seemed to have been sleeping for many hours a day, even goes into unconsciousness constantly, and seemed to no longer be his flamboyant self. He later got his groove back, but Zero made a diagnostic scan, revealing he suffered from a concussion. Doc was safe and his private hospital was unscathed, though he made the prognosis that Spike developed amnesia, as he couldn't remember the incidents nor the war after he fell in the devastated Dragons' headquarters; he also theorized he may be prone to PTSD and even epilepsy. having episodes of brief unconsciousness. He gave him a cocktail in which he reluctantly took with Julia and Trudy's ongoing support.

Thanks to the victorious war effort, everyone pitched in to raise money and fund the long-abandoned program, Big Shot. Inside the new store, the small, archaic TV set churned on with the familiar jingle of a banjo playing American Money. Sure enough, it was indeed Big Shot in all its fabulous, advanced glory. The usual pair greeted the audience with their same old routine.

"Howdy amigos!" cried the black cowboy. "We are back on the air!"

"That's right, Punch!" his partner, Judy, exclaimed. "Thanks to a very generous donation from the courageous and valiant Bebop bounty hunters, we're back and better than before, broadcasting brand new bounties from across the galaxy!"

"You're about to take your first lesson on fetching a bounty head, Julia." Spike commented.

Trudy silenced the couple, and they listened attentively to the briefing.

"Before we announce our first catch of the day from the last couple months," Punch, aka Alfredo, said, "I'd like to introduce a new space cowgirl and cowboy to our growing family of over 300,000 hunters. Victoria, and Zero."

In front of the announcers, both Julia and Zero proudly folded their arms and faced the screen. The red robot at the right, with their backs against each other, winked as his green eyes fizzled with blue sparks.

Just then, the segment ended as the logo of the Bebop flashed on a black screen. A signal went off and Jet appeared. From his control room at the reduced skyscraper, he found a brand new bounty head that's worth a few thousand woolongs. "So, whaddaya say, guys? You up for it?"

Trudy spoke up at the center of the Televid. "Jet, if you want us bounty hunters, you take ALL of us bounty hunters; even the new candidates, Julia and Zero." Spike and Julia gathered around her.

"From now on, every mission we do, we do together." she clarified. "Searching a bounty? That's easy. Keeping a team, or a family, together... That's difficult. And that is truly our mission that is worth fighting for." she said proudly before shutting off the receiver.

A short time later, the sun was shining down on the peaceful, bustling streets of Tharsis. Trudy was seen walking toward her comrades. She met up with Zero and they watched both Julia and Spike looking through the windows after an embrace, before he jokingly closed the blinds on the meddling observers.

"Aghh!" They both let out their discontent.

Trudy smiled as she looked up, her eyes becoming vacant, her face blank.

"Trudy? Trudy? Mars to Trudy?" She looked back at him. "What're you looking at? Watching for meteors? Or anymore Red Dragons?" he mocked.

"No, Zero. I was just thinking what the future may hold. I'm very concerned about Spike; it's gonna take awhile before my fears'll vanish, instead of worrying about his condition, or that he may have another violent tendency again. Also...I've never seen a blue sky so clear and beautiful on Mars before. It's always red because of all the carbon in the air."

He seemed unfazed. "So... Now that the Red Dragons are gone, and Spike and Julia are one again, I guess the future looks quite bright for all of us." Trudy couldn't possibly agree more. "So what now, space cowgirl?"

She couldn't be anymore prouder at her new title as an official cowgirl, rather than a space cadet with a wandering mind amongst the heavens. She looked at him in a determined manner, and declared, "Well, Zero? The sky's the limit!"

A/N: Of course, the story will end like the series did, featuring the song, Blue, just when Zero asked what the future would lie for them. Only, while the usual credits roll, scenes from the war should play out, like a sort of recap found in the finale of games. Besides, Spike, Julia, Trudy, all of Mars, and the entire universe are free from the Red Dragons' dominion.

I have already carried all that weight, which was what motivated me to write this fic in the first place. And now, I can finally rest easy now that it's done after five years in hiatus. Fans don't have to guess about Spike's fate, nor worry for Jet and Faye; it's all over now. I've always wanted to have Big Shot back on the air, let Jet have a new base, and also recruit Julia and Zero as new bounty hunters.

I want to give some quick shout-outs to those who have driven me to write and finish this story that's been hidden away for five years: First is pikaace, I couldn't have done any of this without you, especially when it centers on your Pokémon Trainer OCs. To space-cowboy 656, you are the best! He's a fanatic and knows anything and everything about the Bebop series and I could NEVER have ended up here if it wasn't for his extensive knowledge. I also want to appreciate those that reviewed it and gave it high praise such as Bionic Slime and Chris Stuckmann; especially the latter since it's considered to be his all-time favorite anime ever! You rock, and I wish you could see this epic, and tell me what you thought of this as a whole. I'd wish there'd be a way to discuss this in great detail, though. And also a quick notice to Itionoben for getting me into the Mega Man X series, particularly X and X4, as well as the Great Clement who regards them as his favorites, myself included.

I might develop another story highlighting one of their brand new missions, but I'm not sure how to put it together yet. I really wanted to end the doom and gloom on a very positive note addressing to the viewers, 'cause after all, like Trudy said...

THE SKY'S THE LIMIT!