Adam breathed softly, "You got my eyes...", smiling gently, "You're so beautiful...our little princess.", and the baby girl cooed before whining lightly, and Adam lowered her down to his nipple, seeing her latch into it immediately.
Pippa smiled, "Just like her older siblings...What shall we name her, my love?", and Adam sighed lightly, thinking, and Ethan spoke, "If I may suggest a name, Papa?".
Adam looked at him, "Oh? What is it, Ethan?", and Ethan smiles warmly, "I like the sound of Asteria. It means 'starry'.".
Pippa hummed warmly, "That's so perfect. She's beautiful like a star inside and out.", and Adam smiled, "I love it.", sighing, "For her middle name...I only wish I knew the Enchantress' name...If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have met you, or had Ethan, the others, and this one...".
As if by cue, somehow, Adam's words had reached out to the mirror; he hadn't used it for quite some time, but it magically heard his request and slowly started to life from the table before it flew right out of the West Wing and straight towards the gazebo.
Ethan looked up, seeing a green-blue glow, and blinked in surprise as he recognized it, "Magic mirror incoming!", and Adam & Pippa looked up, with Adam instinctively hiding Asteria in his arms as she kept feeding.
The magic mirror stopped, hovering in the air, and suddenly, a projection began to appear from the magic mirror, taking shape, and Adam gasped, recognizing the features and shape all too well, even if it has been over three centuries.
Standing in her green dress, with her long, blonde hair, with gleaming jade green eyes, with pale skin, solid yet transparent, it is the Enchantress who has cursed Adam and his servants so long ago.
"Peace, King Adam. I'm only here to apologize for what I've done to you so long ago, and to formally introduce myself. I have heard your words in concern of your daughter, and I would be extremely honored of that. I am Sabrina, half-sister of Evangeline.", Sabrina smiled warmly.
"Sabrina...", Adam muttered. Long ago, if she showed her face again, Adam probably would've had her killed... or did it himself with his curse, but the years had passed and in a way like he said, he wouldn't be where he was if not for her.
Sabrina bowed her head, curtseying, "Yes, my king.", and Adam exhaled, "I cannot forget what happened so long ago, but I can forgive you. You have brought Pippa to me indirectly, and for that, I am extremely grateful.", slowly uncovering his daughter into view. "I introduce you to your new princess, Asteria Sabrina Fox.".
Sabrina cooed softly, "What a beautiful girl! I thank you for the honor, King Adam, and to thank you for your forgiveness, I will offer a gift for her, but with your permission.".
Pippa exhaled, "And what does this gift do, Miss Sabrina?", and Sabrina smiles warmly, "She will have an affinity for languages. After hearing a conversation of a foreign language, she will naturally know it. Enchantia is not the only nation in this world. There are far-off lands beyond the horizon of the islands. I do not know of what lies in those far-off lands, but I am sure Asteria would do brilliantly, but only if you permit me to give her this gift.".
"If you wish.", Adam nodded as Sabrina waved her hand over Asteria. "It'll take time though... obviously she will still have time where she will be a fairly normal baby... but expect in a few years when she's a young girl that she'll be able to understand many languages.", Sabrina nodded with a fond chuckle.
Pippa smiled warmly, "Thank you, Miss Sabrina. And oh, is this going to overwhelm her in the future?", knowing how teenagers are. Sabrina smiled reassuringly, "Her mind will be like a library, and the languages she will understand, they will be in different books, locked until she needs it. After all, anyone could be confused to have a mix of Spanish, French, English in one conversation altogether, yes?".
Adam chuckled, "I can see what you mean, Miss Sabrina. And thank you for everything. I wish you happiness and peace.", and Sabrina smiled warmly, "Thank you, King Adam. I wish all of you happiness and peace. And you shall not have need of this mirror anymore. There's more than enough magic in Enchantia to make it up for it.", with a bow of her head before vanishing into a white orb, flying up to the sky, and the magic mirror became no more, vanishing into nothing but speckles of dust.
"Feel good right now?", Pippa asked. "Well, at least in terms of finally speaking to Sabrina again, yes... in terms of pain from the birth... will still need some time.", Adam grunted.
Ethan smiled, "Don't worry, I have potions to help with that.", before chuckling, "Looks like 'Teria wasn't even fazed by Sabrina. She is still eating.".
Adam chuckled, "Well, the picnic was interrupted by her, so it makes sense for her to make up for it.", before smiling at Pippa, "So, she's the last one, then?".
Pippa smiled, "Yep. Asteria is enough to keep us on our feet for quite a while.", with a chuckle, and as to prove her right, Asteria gave out a hiccup momentarily before burping and then fell asleep with a tiny, adorable snore.
The others laughed warmly at Asteria, and yep, throughout the years, she is an incredible natural at translating foreign languages for her friends, and vice versa, with new friends in the far-off lands, to her parents and everyone else.
(Epilogue Part 2) -
Indeed, by the end of the third century, Enchantia became more proficient in traveling, and the far-off lands soon learned about Enchantia, and with incredible progress, the rest of the world became known, and maps were created, and with several points of healing, magic, peace, and prosperity, the whole world is even better than before.
The Talons, on some days, couldn't believe just how much their efforts had brought this world to be different from the one they were born in. As the years continued, the war felt more and more like a distant dream in some ways...
Transportation has even gotten more incredible as from the far-off lands, people has found magical floating rocks, and so, without needing to use large amounts of pixie dust, the floating rocks became part of ships, hence magical, hovering ships, increasing trade, commerce, travel, and more.
Unfortunately, the United Talons didn't have knowledge of outer space travel. Oh, sure, they knew the basics, but they couldn't build space rockets or anything of the sort, but nobody cares as long as they can see the stars, reach as far as they could without freezing or breaking down, and see more stars with telescopes, with the United Talons 'inventing' them.
Perhaps someday that day could come, but for now, the Talons were perfectly content to stay tethered to the planet; to enjoy the world that they helped build.
Emma, technically the oldest of the team, sighed deeply as she sat upon one of the chairs on the royal balcony in Cair Paravel, wrapped in a shawl, enjoying a steaming cup of hot chocolate as she waited, watching for the sun to rise.
It's now getting close to the fifth century of their lives, and today is the last morning of Emma and John's royal lives as later on this morning, she and John is giving the crowns over to Kyle and his husband, Ping, for Kyle, thanks to the pregnancy potion, as of last week, has given birth to a princess, which is the last child of seven.
John has been thinking for a while to travel for their retired years, needing some quiet adventure of their own, and Emma didn't mind as she knew that John is the oldest man of all the spouses in the team, and it would do him good as he had been growing exhausted of ruling the throne for so long after Mickey and Minnie gave them the throne a couple of decades before their deaths...
"You alright right now, love?", John asked as she nearly jumped when she turned to see John behind her. "Yeah... yeah, I'm alright.", Emma said.
John smiled lightly, "You know, you're just as beautiful as the first time I met you...Even with the gray hairs in your hairdo...Way better-looking than me. I got silver hairs, ironically...", rolling his eyes as he sat down next to her.
Emma giggled softly, "You're still the same handsome, crafty scoundrel cyborg to me, dear John, and nothing would change that. I guess you felt the cold side in the bed, huh?".
John chuckled, "Yep. It's unusual for you to be up, at the brink at dawn. You're usually up at 7. And after centuries, I have grown too comfortable with snuggling up with you, Emma.".
Emma laughed warmly, "I just wanted to see the sunrise, the last sunrise that I'd be queen...It's amazing to believe that we have five children, 21 grandchildren, and even 2 great-grandchildren...".
"Honestly, we should be up to 10 generations below us...", John chuckled. "But the kids all just wanted to take their long time... took forever just to get the first grandchild.".
Emma smiled, "Can you blame them? They wanted to be masters in their own right in their chosen jobs, and of course, there was courting their true loves...I was admittedly surprised to find that Kyle was first in finding his soulmate and true love, Ping...The others took longer in finding their true loves.".
John laughed, "Yep, that's for sure. I would never forget the look on Jason's face when he saw that Ping was one of the first in getting married out of all the 1st generation.".
Emma smiled, "I think he was no longer surprised by the time when Dove was the last one in the generation to get married to Koda.", and John nodded, "Haku beat him there in the surprised expression department.", with a chuckle.
"Isn't that the truth?", Emma sighed as she thought back to the memories. "It's weird, it really doesn't feel so long ago when you think about it, yet centuries have been passing by us.".
John caressed her shoulder as he hugged her, "Beyond weird, but somehow it's normal for us, and I haven't regretted it at all. True, we have witnessed many old friends and family members passing away, but we have guided their families, and the dragons are back thanks to us, and many magical creatures have been flourishing as well...".
Emma nodded, "Indeed. The world is beyond anything I have ever dreamed of, and I'd be sad to leave for the heavens when the day comes, but I know our families will lead it in our place...", with a deep sigh as she saw the sun rising over the horizon.
John kissed her temple, "Yes, but we will be happy together beyond death...I love you so much, Emma Silver.", and Emma smiled, kissing him on the lips, "I love you even more, John Silver.".
The bell tower then rang to signify the sunrise, and John smiled, "Shall we get ready for our last breakfast as king and queen? I believe Jim and Eilonwy has prepared to make our favorites.".
"Jeez, John, you make it sound like it's our last meals before the revolutionaries have our heads.", Emma joked as John nodded, "Well, thankfully we clearly ruled well enough to keep that from happening.".
Emma chuckled, "True. And I trust Kyle and Ping to lead as kings. I know they will do spectacular.", and John chuckled, "I can agree to that, luv.", with a smile.
With warm kisses and hugs, the two royals went back into their bedroom to get changed as they're already awake anyway, telling the guards outside the doors to pass on the word that they will be ready for breakfast in the parlor down from the throne room.
Indeed, it was a bittersweet day, but it was necessary to be. Without any trouble, an hour and half later after breakfast, in the throne room, with representatives from other kingdoms to witness the crowning of Kyle and Ping, and the last announcements of King John and Queen Emma, the ceremony went very successful.
"Where exactly are you taking me, John?" Emma asked that evening after their dinner as John carried her away from the castle while having herself blindfolded as he wanted to keep what he had planned a surprise.
John chuckled, "Don't worry, luv, you will love it. I promise you.", and Emma pouted, "Can you spare a hint?".
John gave a hearty laugh, "Well, I suppose I could. It's just off the shore, with only a short walk to the beach.", and Emma gave a sound of excitement, "Ooh, now you're making me even more curious!".
"Good to know. We're almost there, luv.", John kissed her temple, glad that he's using both his dragon and cyborg strength to carry Emma. His bones are getting old on him, and the cyborg parts are aching as more of late, even if they are as new as they could be, thanks to developing technology and magic.
Emma smiled, "I can't wait!", and John chuckled heartily as he kept going, and after 10 minutes, they made it to John's surprise, and John gently let Emma down, "Okay, we're here. You ready, Emma?".
"Yes!", Emma nodded, and John softly took the blindfold off, letting Emma to refocus, blinking before she gasped in shock and disbelief. They are in the cove where the Crescent Moon is, and somehow, there's a new section of land, with a beautiful garden and a fountain, and right there, is Emma's dream house, the one from her mindscape, the unique house of reds, blues, and golds, in the style of American Craftsman and Low German.
Emma spoke, "H-How?", and John smiled, "Haku and the rest of the team knew about your dream house, and when I told them that I wanted to give you something for our retirement gift, they suggested this, and so, they created it. There's a trail down from the cove to the beach, and of course, we have the new pier for my ship where we can go anytime, anywhere we want...".
"I take it we're going to set sail soon then?", Emma chuckled as John nodded, "Of course, I don't know about you, but I've been aching to get my sea legs wet again and sail out on the vast waters. It's been too long.".
Emma smiled, "Sounds good to me, but I want to spend a night first here at our new house.", and John smiled, kissing her on the lips, "Good plan. We can set sail in the morning, refreshed and stocked up. It's less dangerous that way than setting out at night...".
Emma giggled, "Come on, John, let's spend our first retirement night.", holding his hand, and John chuckled, happily following his wife, and headed to their home.
Indeed, the former king and queen began their retirement years from that night and intended to spend them on the seas most of the time, with breaks on land.
The rest of the Talons would share the same experiences as John and Emma in different ways; enjoying the many more years they had with each other, enjoying the long days of peace that they helped achieved.
The End