A/N: The last chapter!! Hurray Hurrah!! Anyways I'm not gonna bug with all my useless babble, so read on!
Disclaimer: I don't own SM.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~***
Title: Lost Star Light, Burn Bright
Chapter Twenty-two ~ The Epilouge
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~***
It was only a few months later that Rei Hino was back on her feet, fully recovered…and demanding that Terrestria Gun make a choice about marrying her or not. Terrestria only last week had given up her position as High Queen Terrestria of the planet Teres, and took her place as Leader of the Dragon Maidens. The Castle sacred grounds were rebuilt quickly, making it look more spectacular than before with it's domes and gardens. A statue of the late Airenia Gun was put in the main garden, where only one other statue stood tall and beautiful to glimmer in the sun, one of a woman named Feradiy.
The royal family of the Earth came with helping hands and rested worries that both Rei and Terri had survived, along with their little daughter Kirei. Kirei was very happy though, since her mother had vowed to be in her true state more than her Senshi one, so was she, and Kirei was never on the ground for long with her still small wings. But the fact of the matter was, that Rei had asked about a million times (Mina and Lita were counting), and Terri had yet to give an answer…
****
" Terri! Come on, make a decision all ready! I don't see why it's so hard to say yes or no!" Rei followed along side her dragon, who was in the rather skimpy outfit that all the maidens wore, not that she minded or anything.
" Rei, please. I love you really, but it's something I can't think about right now! And besi--What's this?" Terri stopped her arguing when she caught sight of a familiar pair of heads, closely nestled on a couch in a very tight embrace.
" Ummm…Hi?" Lita grinned weakly at them, letting go of her hold on the woman in her arms. They sat up right and looked at their laps.
" Oooo, when did this happen?" Terri ran in, grinning like a fool and sat down in a chair, wings folding up behind her.
" A while after we were back to our old selves, and after finding out Ami and Amara had…died." It was obvious Michelle was still in mourning of her old love, but now she had Lita, it was easier to deal with.
" Well, I'm happy for you! Oh, will you look at the time, gotta go!" Terri had known Rei would be distracted and she made for her escape. Her wings spread and through the skylight she went like a bat out of hell.
" Damn her!! See ya later." Rei called behind her as she broke into an all out run down the corridors, trying to track her love's masked signal.
" I think they have way more problems than us, you think?" Michelle looked up into her new love interest's emerald eyes, smiling brightly.
" Oooh yea, but Terri's just scared. You just know they'll live happily ever after." Lita grinned and kissed Michelle again, and kept repeating that action for a good hour more.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~***
Serenity grinned, seeing Terri come down onto her guest room's balcony. Luckily, tea had just arrived and the blonde prompted for her to sit down and take a breather from 'cat and mouse'.
" I see you got away." She was really amused by all of this.
" You like this way to much. Maybe I should just say yes." With a sigh, Terri relaxed into her chair, annoyed with herself.
" Your just scared Terri, I was too, only that was after the ring was on my finger. I never thought marriage would be the one thing that scared you." Serenity quirked an eyebrow at her and sipped from her tea cup.
" I'm not scared of it…just insecure?…" Terri rubbed her head in confusion.
" Or, maybe because your being asked? Think about it, right now, I promised Seiya a secret meeting in one of the gardens. Talk to you later. Hope it works out soon. I'm dieing to see you in a dress!" Serenity giggled and walked out of the room.
- Me being asked? What's that suppose to mean?…-
The brunette ended up flying down into her favorite garden full of daisies she'd seen on Earth, and thought about what Serenity said. Then an idea popped into her head…
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~***
Rei sat glumly on the stone railing of her and Terri's balcony, watching the two suns set. The fiery one couldn't figure out why the thought of marriage scared Terrestria so. It all seemed so simple in her mind. A ring twisted over in her hand and she grinned, thinking of what it would look like sitting on her dragon's left ring finger. The band itself was a dragon, twisting into the band with it's head coming up with an open mouth. Inside the mouth was a large diamond, smooth and spherical like that red stone. She'd made it extremely special over a year ago. A door opened behind her and she didn't bother to turn to see who it was.
Terrestria walked up hesitantly, now wearing jeans that hugged her hips, brown leather sandals, and a dark blue t-shirt that stuck to her curves and showed a small strip of her stomach. Her hair was in a ponytail with the white strands hanging down. Her arms sneaked around Rei's stomach and her head rested on the Senshi's shoulder.
" Rei, are you angry?"
" No, not angry, confused maybe, but not angry."
" Well, will this make you less confused?"
Terri's hand opened in Rei's lap to reveal a ring made of a material that resembled silver, but looked much more elegant. It was shaped to be like a red phoenix, with an open mouth holding an oval red ruby inside it's mouth. The sun suddenly hit it and the ruby sparkled majestically, Rei's breath caught at the beauty of it, and the surprise.
" I-Was that your problem the entire time?" Rei twisted herself around and stared into Terri's eyes, happy that it was all coming together.
" Yes, well, pretty much. But, now can I have an answer?" Terri smiled, her eyes saying how unsure she was, but ready to do the whole marriage thing finally.
Rei took the ring from Terri's hand and slipped it on her long finger, seeing how nicely it fit on her hand. Then she took Terri's and slid her own ring onto her tan finger, grinning like the luckiest woman in the galaxy.
" Yes, my lovely dragon."
" Sorry I took so long." Terri gasped at the gorgeous ring on her hand, letting the suns of her planet bounce beams off it to make it glimmer.
" I would have waited forever."
Rei captured her lips in a kiss filled with passion and love. Terri couldn't have wanted more. She could have died right then and there, and been happy. Luckily, she didn't.
*****
* A month later *
It was nothing big, and only the Senshi and Dragon Maidens attended the ceremony. Rei had decided she like the idea of a mix between an Earth and Teres marriage, mainly because of the dress Terrestria would wear. It was to be held in the main garden where the suns shown with shade from a large tree that resembled something from an Earth fairytale.
Terri felt rather indifferent in her gown type apparel. A veil lay over her face and trailed down her back to the ground. The dress had thin silk straps and lace ran over the top that covered her chest, but showed a fair amount of cleavage. It ran to just under her bust, then split to show her smooth toned stomach and the silk ran along her sides to the ground. The skirt itself went to mid thigh as silk, then broke off into a stream of little ribbons around her legs down to white high heels that slipped over her feet with straps. Her hair was in many curls and pulled half way up.
Rei was wearing something very similar, since it was law on Teres that the couples wear a matching set if they're of the same sex. Instead of a veil, Rei had a light red cape flowing to the ground. The top of her dress dipped like a 'v', the white contrasting nicely with her creamy skin. The skirt was also the same, but her ribbons were the red of her cape matching with her ankle boots which had open toes. Rei didn't mind not getting to wear a tuxedo just as long as her love stayed in that dress.
" Ready?" The Priestess grinned at them both, happy at the arrangement.
" Yes."
" Yes." They both said the words like they couldn't get them out soon enough, both were nervous beyond belief.
The Priestess was brought over a small round gold tray which held two red and black ribbons and the rings of the phoenix and dragon. The old woman began to talk as the ceremony was under way.
" A ribbon in our world, is a binding piece to the one you will always love. The color of red; love whilst you are alive. The color of black; love whilst your soul roams the spirit world and heavens." The Priestess picked up the ribbons and placed the red one over Rei's outstretched wrist and let it hang. Then picked up the black one and placed it on Terrestria's awaiting wrist.
" With this being a mixed wedding of beliefs, the rings are a symbol of trust, care, love, and loyalty." The dragon ring was picked up and for a second, it seemed alive.
" My lady, Leader of the Dragon Maidens Terrestria Gun, with this ring, you will be bound for eternity to Rei Hino, Sailor Mars of the Earth. Do wish this upon your soul?"
Terrestria glanced with a grin over to Rei, who looked eager to know it was final, and their lives as a true family could be started.
" I wish it." Terri felt a rush of peacefulness flow through her as the ring was slipped onto her left ring finger where it burned slightly, nothing painful, and glimmered in the sunlight. The Priestess then turned to Rei with a warm smile.
" Lady Rei, Sailor Mars Protector of the Earth and Universe, with this ring, you will be bound for eternity to Terrestria Gun, Leader of the Maidens. Do you wish this upon your soul?"
" I wish it." Rei felt the peacefulness as the ring her love made slid to stay on her finger where it burned slightly and sparkled in the suns rays.
" Please join hands." The couple did as the Priestess said, their fingers intertwining, and their arms meeting the other to close the gap between them.
" With the joining of sacred ribbons comes the joining of souls." At her words, the ribbons grew long enough to snake around both arms and create a pattern of red and black, then the ends hung loosely over their adjoined hands.
" May you never regret this day and love each other through your many lives." The Priestess tied the ribbons in a bow and stepped back for Rei to throw away Terri's veil and kiss her. With the end of their kiss, the ribbons disappeared.
Cheers went up from the guests around them, everyone rushing up to congratulate them. Little maiden Kirei (who technically was still a princess by her father's side, but not of Teres.) was led through the crowd by her auntie Serenity and uncle Seiya.
" Mommy!! Daddy!!" She giggled as she was showered in kisses from her parents and squished between them in a hug.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~***
A week later the newly married/bonded Hinos arrived back to the sacred grounds of the Maiden castle to be greeted by their large family. Serenity and the others were ready to return back to the Earth, but the Queen said she had one last gift to give.
" A gift? You've already given us gifts Sere!" Terri felt confused, but kept herself attached to Rei's arm.
" Well, it's for you all, but mostly for Rei. You see, I wanted to make things fair for her. You and Kirei can both just fly off when you want, which could be bad when Kirei gets older. So, I give Rei the ability to fly outside her transformation!" The Silver Imperium Crystal suddenly flashed in her hands and Rei felt a new weight added to her body.
" Oh my…" Terri looked surprised as her lover turned her head and flexed her new red raven wings.
" Thank you so much Sere!" Rei hugged her friend tightly, grinning like mad.
" We thought it might help. Unfortunately, we have to leave now. See you at Christmas?" Rini smiled at them, letting go of her little 'cousin' who ran to her parents happily.
" Christmas it is. Goodbye Rini." Rei hugged her little niece tight, seeing as she wouldn't see them for a good few months.
" We'll miss you at home Rei, but you have a new one now." Mina hugged her tightly and made room for the others as she went to squeeze Terri goodbye too.
Rei, Terri, and Kirei watched them leave through the newly created portal and waved goodbye. As they were walking down the corridors Kirei tugged on her mothers yellow sundress and looked up at her with her large amethyst eyes.
" Mommy? What's 'Christmas'??" The little girl giggled when her father laughed and picked her up, describing the point of Christmas and it's traditions.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~***
* 12 months later *
Within three months of each other, six children were born to the Senshi. The Crystal Palace had never been so hectic as it would be in later years. Nine or so months ago, it was found that Mina and Michelle were pregnant. Mina giving birth to two and poor Michelle, four.
Lita and Michelle had made it official four months before their babies were born. Setsuna and Mina just a month before the other couple. The first to arrive were Mina and Setsuna's, both with dark green hair and big crystal blue eyes. Astra was the one that most looked like Setsuna and her conjoined symbol of Pluto and Venus showed that the Venusian sign overlapped the other, she was the next generations Sailor Venus. It was the opposite with Mika, who looked like her mother, but was to be the next Pluto.
The four children that belonged to the Kino's all had different colored hair. The first had Michelle's aqua hair and Lita's emerald eyes, they named her Nixie, Sailor Jupiter. Next was Kailani, she looked a lot like the late Amara Ten'oh, with sandy blonde hair and her mother's eyes, the future Sailor Neptune. Sailor Mercury, or Nariko, with brown hair and dark blue eyes like the deceased Ami Mizuno. Lastly came Azura who had sapphire blue hair and teal blue eyes, she was to be neo Sailor Uranus. Each baby had their own specific symbol with another one to overlap. Michelle had never thought she could fit four human beings inside her, but she had, what shocked her all the more was the fact that two baby's looked as if they'd had different mothers or fathers. She didn't care though, she knew the Silver Imperium Crystal did this to make sure the team of Senshis stayed complete.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~***
* Yet another Year later…*
Kirei sat on her father's shoulders, giggling for no reason as she was carried down the great crystal halls of the Palace she hadn't seen in a year. Today she would meet all her new cousins and she wanted to show all of them her strong dragon wings. Turning her head, Kirei watched her wings as she flexed them.
" Kirei, don't go flying through the halls while we are here alright? I don't want you flying into a chandelier or something you didn't expect to be there." Terrestria smiled up at her, but kept a sternness to her eyes to make sure she was understood.
" Yes mommy. I'll be real careful!" Kirei grinned at her mother and hovered off her dad's shoulders to the ground between them.
" Besides little maiden, your wings are still weak from when you flew into that pillar last week." Rei giggled to herself remembering how funny it had been, until her daughter had needed medical treatment that is.
" Rei! It wasn't that funny!" Terrestria reached over and pinched her husband's arm, containing a laugh herself.
" Of course not Terri. Your only laughing yourself."
There conversation ceased when they came to the tall ivory doors of the Throne Room. Two guards bowed and opened them up to allow them entrance. Inside was talking, laughter, and some crying.
" This must be the biggest family I have ever seen!" Rei grinned as all movement stopped and everyone stood.
" Auntie Rei!" Rini ran faster than the rest of them and ran to her Aunts and cousin like the wind.
" Rini! It's so nice to see you all!" Terri squeezed the now thirteen year old Princess.
" Oh Rei! Your hair!" Serenity rushed forward to her dear friend, a giggling baby with blue hair in her arms. The others rushed up to the newcomers, most with babies in their arms like Serenity.
" Like it? I thought it had to be done." Rei grinned at them all, her hand going up to smooth down her now short hair, it was an inch under her chin now, the purple hue it had shining more than ever.
" It's lovely Rei. Come on lets go to the Senshi room." Setsuna moved them all out the door and down the halls to the very familiar corridors of the West Wing.
Inside the Senshi team sat on the couches and chairs. Setsuna held a laughing baby in her lap who tugged on her dark green hair. Mina had the other twin in her lap, the baby was still and giggled now and then from the others who made faces at her. Michelle held two babies, one with her aqua hair, the other with sapphire blue hair. Lita held another pair, one with sandy blonde and her sister with auburn brown hair.
" I'm dieing to know who the cuties are! Don't make me wait any longer, what's their names?" Terrestria tapped the nose of the one in Mina's lap and she giggled happily, taking hold of Terri's fingers.
" This one is Astra, my baby Pluto." Mina giggled and hugged her baby close, smiling over at Hotaru, who came over to ruffle the tuff of green hair on her sisters forehead.
" This is Mika, baby Venus." Setsuna handed Mika to Rei, who gladly took the one year old and made her giggle.
Everyone's eyes went over to Lita who was bouncing her little ones on her knees.
" This one.." Lita patted the sandy blonde head softly. " Is the future Sailor Neptune, my little Kailani. Nariko, is this little one, neo Mercury." Kailani took notice of her sister then and started to poke her experimentally and soon both Nariko and Kailani were in a fit of baby giggles. The others laughed at the two and looked over to the last pair.
" Nixie, little Jupiter. Azura, little Uranus." Michelle handed them down to Terri, who eagerly took the little bundles of joy and cooed them playfully.
" Michelle, how did you get four of them out?! I had trouble with one!" Terrestria looked curiously at her from her seat next to her own daughter.
" Painfully, very painfully." Michelle giggled watching her children be passed around for all to see and play with.
" Their so little mommy! Was I this little?" Kirei looked up from Nixie, who was in her lap toying with Kirei's cotton shirt.
" Yes, little maiden, you were just as little. Oh! Hotaru, do you like having sisters?" Rei looked up from Kirei to the fourteen year old Hotaru.
" Love it, until they get older of course." Hotaru laughed, feeling her mom's hand petting her head as she played with Astra.
For the rest of the night, the family caught up with each other and told stories about what happened while they were apart.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~***
It was possibly two in the morning and all the original Senshi were out in the main garden of the Crystal Palace running around and hanging out.
" Sere?" Terrestria looked over the chess board to her blonde friend.
" Yea?" Serenity looked up after moving her last pawn forward.
" Since there's a child for each of the planets so far, do you think we'll each have another child too? Another Star Fighter and Mars?" Terri looked at the board with a determined expression.
" We might. I never thought of that before. You think it's possible for one Senshi to protect two planets at once? I might not, since there are many other Senshi to protect Kinmoku, but you could very well have another. Your still young. We're not even thirty yet." Serenity laughed, they'd gone through more than most parents already in their forties.
" Well, we are the youngest of our generation of Senshi, but just one more year. Would you want another?" Terri laughed too, but looked teasingly at Serenity for an answer.
" Yes, most definitely. I could use another little one. What about you Terri? You finally tied the knot with Pyro over there, gods know what you went through." The two giggled at the memories of Rei chasing Terri around for an answer and watched her and the other 'adults' race after each other.
" Another Rei? Gladly. I wouldn't want Kirei to be an only child, but if she was meant to wield the powers of Mars and Teres together, so be it. I wouldn't mind another." Terrestria sighed and played her queen and grinned.
" Checkmate!" Her laughter rang out into the garden until she ran away from the table with Serenity on her heels.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~***
A year later, the High Queen Serenity the 2nd got her wish and was blessed with a new baby girl. The royal family happily named her Alana, which meant peaceful and serene. She had dark blue hair like her father and bright blue glacier eyes that looked like they were always laughing like her mother's. Rini was extremely happy with the new arrival, knowing in later years she would have a sibling to play and bicker with. Neo Sailor Senshi Star Fighter.
Just a month later, on the fourth of August, yet another baby was born on Teres to the family of Hino's. Her name was Candace, known by all the maidens of the sacred castle as the fiery maiden, who looked just like her older sister Kirei. Candace had the purple amethyst eyes and rich dark brown chestnut hair that glimmered a slight purple. Next generation's Senshi of Teres.
With the new additions to the ever growing family came life that everyone was happy with. And so they all lived happily after, even with new evils in the way.
Finally----- *~ The End ~*
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~***
A/N: This epilogue is the longest piece I have ever written! Hope you liked it! Please review! C ya in my next fic! - Coming soon to readers everywhere-
JupeJupe^_^