A/N: A while back I had MarioXPeach, LuigiXOC in my summary, then i removed it because I thought it would be painfully obvious who he'd go for when the character was introduced, and I'm' sure all of you saw that coming, but hey? Fanfics are predictable. Yet, then again, the whole Crystelle thing probably got at least someone going until she verbally slapped Luigi. At any rate, please welcome Jennie as Luigi's future wife... if she lives.
Anyway this story will end in about 3 chapters. Sad isn't it? But at least it won't be one of those never ending stories, like what I felt Lost was like, ugh! Lost- that show lasted forever and still doesn't make sense to me.

Anyway the whole moon thing was definitely inspired by Super Mario Galaxy.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: BITTERSWEET

Luigi ran up the stairs, leaving his friends behind- he felt it was his duty to watch Aeolian, to make sure the Dragon knew what he was doing. He quickly ran up flights of stairs as quickly as he could, not wanting to waste a second. He was glad the castle was symmetrical and was not built of confusing twists and turns- he knew exactly where he was headed- the very top of the citadel.

When he finally made it to the last stair, he was out of breath and panting. He knew he was very close- the balcony was just in reach through two giant, iron doors. He thrust them open, and frowned. There wasn't much of a balcony- it was made for dragons, who could fly, and it was probably meant for a quick escape route.

He looked up at the gigantic moon which hovered over the citadel. He could see Aeolian and Growle on it, standing on its white surface, drawn by its gravitational force. Luigi wondered if there was another way to reach it, if not, he would have to watch from here.

"Aeolian!" He cried, cupping his hands around his mouth. "How are you doing up there?"

Aeolian saw Luigi out of the corner of his eye and smiled. "Growle's been weakened! I think I can do this!"

Growle seemed to agree with Aeolian- his eyes were wide and fearful. He seemed to know that he was going to lose.

Aeolian roared triumphantly as he ran across the moon's surface, and he collided with Growle, knocking the great ice dragon off of his feet. Growle's cold body hit the moon hard, and he screamed, "Stop it! Stop it! I yeild!"

Aeolian stared at him, wondering if he was only trying to get Aeolian to drop his guard.

"Wait!" Luigi cried. "I have this bracer!"

He showed Aeolian the bracer in his hands. He was far away, he wasn't sure how he could get it to Aeolian. Then again, he could always throw a football farther then Mario could...

Luigi looked up and screamed, "catch!"

He threw the bracer to the moon with every ounce of strength he had- and it came in reach of the moon's gravity. Aeolian caught it, whirled around, and clasped it onto Growle, who seemed furious, but he knew he couldn't do anything now.

"Now, its time to finish this..." Aeolian said to himself. He closed his eyes, then said, "thank you, Luigi. You've redeemed me even though I have done nothing good to you. You've shown me every ounce of compassion and I have shown you no mercy earlier. If it wasn't for you I wouldn't be here."

Luigi smiled, yet he was confused. Did Aeolian know what to do? Had Kinimanji mindchatted with him? Was it dangerous?

"Luigi, tell the others that they were so good to me. And most of all, tell Jennie I mean best wishes for your marriage.

Luigi's smile reverted to a surprised frown. Was Aeolain going to kill himself?

"Aeolian-" he could not finish what he was saying as he saw Aeolian leap into the air and spin. His scales began glowing, and he cried, "I am the heir of the stars and moons, and I wish to end this war!"

He then collided head-first with the great celestial being.

At first, there was nothing but a thud. Luigi could see Aeolian's hands planted firmly into the moon, and he could see Growle struggling to stop Aeolian, but he had no power. There was a few moments of silence.

Then, a rumble. He could see something fall from the sky, but he wasn't sure what it was. The blazing object collided with the moon, and then, something extraordinary happened.

A large crack appeared in the moon, and within it, a blazing light appeared, blinding Luigi. He gasped and sheilded his eyes, falling to his knees on the balcony. He wasn't sure what was going on, but he could hear many different sounds- Growle screaming, the moon shattering, and his friends cheering from inside the citadel.

But what of Aeolian?

When the sounds stopped, Luigi forced his stinging eyes open, and could see a vast, empty spot in the sky. Then, something hit the ground hard behind him, and he jumped. He spun around, and then saw Aeolian, lying lifeless on the ground.

"Aeolian?"

Luigi could see that Aeolian's scales were no longer glittering. The dragon's back was facing Luigi, so he could not see Aeolian's eyes. But, as he thought about what happened, he soon came to realize what Aeolian had done.

What had hit the moon earlier- was a star.

Aeolian's star.

The star was strong enough to break the moon- the star of the Prophecy seemed to work against the evil of the moon, and thus, destroyed it for good.

He then saw Growle climb onto the balcony. His body was smoking, for the moon must have been white-hot inside. The evil ice dragon collapsed on the balcony, alive, but completely drained of power and authority.

Luigi turned to Aeolian again. It took him a while to let the information finally sink in- Aeolian and sacrificed himself for the world. Did Kinimanji know his son would die? Did he tell him this? The thoughts made Luigi angry, so angry, and as he shuddered and began to feel tears again, his friends burst out onto the balcony.

"Aeolian you did it!" Zin cried, but then, she noticed what was happening in the scene before them.

"Aeolian..." Peach murmured.

"Explain this," Demanded a red-eyed Reyva, who was being comforted by Mario. Nearby, Zin was carrying Jennie, who's leg was tightly bandaged. Malidor was standing behind her, looking nervous. Symphony and Opus stood holding hands, staring at Aeolian's limp body in mourning.

"Aeolian's star... collided with the moon... and destroyed it..."

Luigi glanced over at Zin, seeing that she had taken off her moon necklace, as did Malidor. But he could not see Malice with them- perhaps he left, too surprised to face the music. Luigi then remembered about Ironclaw, and whatever happened to him, but decided it was best not to think about that right now.

"It was... for the sake of us all..." Jennie said, "I... I feel terribly for Aeolian, and Kinimanji... but there's nothing we can do now but burn his remains, as we did with Serphen."

Luigi bowed his head, feeling the cool tears stream down his cheeks once more. It was over. But it felt so... wrong. Did it have to end this way?

He then looked at Growle. "And what should we do with him?"

"We will set him to work as a servant in the Arcane City..." Reyva breathed, rubbing her eyes. "We will treat him with kindness, unlike how he's treated Jennie all these years... and hopefully, we can break him."

"You will never break me," Growle spat, "I'd rather die then go with you!"

"Well too bad, cuz we aren't killin' ya." Zin was beginning to regain her playfullness, but still, she could not be completely herself with Aeolian lying dead on the balcony.

"You... you guys do what you need to with his body..." Luigi felt a bit sick to his stomach as he spoke, "I... can't watch this..."

He stood up and entered the citadel, his hands over his eyes.

0000000000

They entered the Arcane City, their minds swimming with mixed emotions. Two Dragons were missing, yet were replaced by four new dragons and a human. Everyone in the Dragon City bowed to them as they walked, Luigi in the lead with his brother behind him, followed by Peach and Zin, then Malidor and Reyva. And Symphony and Opus walked behind them, their bond tighter then before. Behind them, they dragged a long chain which was connected to Growle's bracer. They dragged him along, and he hated every step.

Kinimanji was waiting for them in the Arcane Palace. He opened his arms wide, and said with sorrowful eyes, "you have done it..."

He walked forth to greet them. "You, brave few, have saved our world..." there were tears of both joy and sheer sadness in the black dragon's blue eyes. "I... I have lost my son... for the sake of us all. I have lost my only heir, and thus, I will pass away. A new leader must step forth, however... a new leader must bring the throne... yet, who needs a king, when Growle's reign has ended?"

He beckoned for Reyva.

"You have been with me ever since you were born, Reyva. You have shown me the qualities of a leader... and you have such depth to you. I am extremely sorry for Serphen... but you must know, that even if his star fell, he is a lasting memory in all of us... and he still shines whether we chose to see it or not."

Reyva's lower lip quivered, and she stood there in front of the crowd of dragons, looking like a mouse in a Colosseum.

Kinimanji walked to her, and embraced her, hugging her tightly, letting her cry on his shoulder. When she had gathered herself, she bowed to Kinimanji and said louder then she intended, with a quivering voice, "I... I humbly accept your crowning..."

Kinimanji then did something unexpected. He peeled from his arm, a black scale, and then, placed it in Reyva's hands.

"I pass my duty to her."

He then looked over at the humans Luigi, Mario, and Peach. "If it wasn't for you three, Aeolian would have never succeeded... if it wasn't for your commitment to him and saving all good people, we would all have been killed. This is something nothing material can repay... and unfortunately, it is something worth far beyond what I have to give... and all I have to offer is our eternal alliance with you and your kingdom."

"Its fine..." Mario spoke, "Luigi and I already have everything we want..." as he spoke, he took Peach's gloved hand and smiled behind his mustache.

"And I... have found my life..." Luigi said, glancing over at Jennie who was still in the arms of Zin.

"I am happy to hear this." Kinimanji said, then he looked over at Jennie. "You have been a slave for so long, in Growle's evil hands. You have saved Luigi's life by expressing such compassion for this stranger, and thus, you have also saved Aeolian, and found the man you were meant for. You deserve nothing lower then the greatest treasures in the world."

"Yet I want none..." Jennie said, "I want nothing more then a life in peace... with Luigi..."

Kinimanji smiled warmly. Then he looked over at Zin and Malidor. "You have been in the wrong hands, even if you thought you were right. You have made the wrong choices even as you lied to yourselves that what you were doing was best. Yet, in the long run, you two have proven to us that everyone has a chance to be redeemed."

Zin and Malidor bowed their heads.

Kinimanji then looked at Opus and Symphony.

"Even as you practice forbidden Dragon talents, you used your rare talents for a good cause. Through love you, Symphony, have saved your fiance's life, and you have shown me that your talent can be a good thing, and you have shown me that I have judged you both wrongly. I hearby welcome you back into our village."

"Thank you, Kinimanji." Symphony nodded.

"Now," Kinimanji continued, "please, rest- tend to your wounds, and eat and drink. At this time- there will be a time of silence and recovery... and soon therafter, we shall have a celebration... but only after we have given those who have lost their lives here a worthy portion of our thoughts and time."