A/N: Remember, -this- is telepathy.

Chapter Five - The Union

Hotaru couldn't help it, she began to mist up again as she sat there with the crown upon her head. She'd never really thought anything of this whole ceremony before, it had always been just a formality. But now, being in the throne, wearing the crown, hearing her people cheer... it was overwhelming. And it was only the beginning. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment stretching out her senses. She ignored the powers of her mother, Akira, Sora, and her people and quickly found Yamcha's energy not far away.

"Not much longer now." she said softly. She felt her mother's hand on her shoulder and looked up.

Sora smiled down at her, tears in her own eyes, and nodded. "You've grown up so fast." she said softly, only Hotaru heard of the din of the crowd. "Whenever you are ready."

Hotaru nodded and took another breath. She waited a few moments while the crowd calmed on its own before standing. She moved over to the microphone and waited a few more seconds as the crowd went silent. They fidgeted about all along the beach eager to hear what she had to say. After one last deep breath she began. "The Coronation is complete. However, today's events are not yet over. There is still one more ceremony to be held. The Union."

As soon as the words left her lips a hushed roar filled the air. No one had been expecting this. Sango glanced over at Akira and then back to Sora in slight shock. Only the Queen showed indication that she'd known. It took her a moment to grasp it all and then she was grinning like an idiot as she looked at her friend. /Well what do you know?/

Hotaru took a few moments before continuing. She wasn't waiting for the crowd this time, this time she was waiting for her heart to slow down. It was one thing talking about this with Yamcha and arranging it with her mother, it was something else entirely to be doing it. "In a few moments The Union Ceremony will begin. Today's Union will be unlike any before. Until today all members of the Royal Family were Tanarian. But today that will change. Today will be more than a Union of two people. Today will be a Union of two races. Today will be a Union of two worlds."

She went silent and turned her head skyward to where Yamcha stood atop a near-by building. That was his cue and he floated down to the stage slowly. He was dressed in the formal dress of the Tanarian king. The actual outfit was hidden beneath the deep purple and silver cloak wrapped around him. Under the cloak was deep purple shirt and pants with silver trim. Silver shoulder pads reached out an extra six inches on his sides. His feet touched down on the stage with a soft click and he turned to face the crowd as nervous as Hotaru.

The Tanarian continued. "Today Tanaria and Earth become one. We are their people and they are ours." She turned to face Yamcha who turned to face her and then both turned to face Sora who approached them.

It was Yamcha who spoke next. "With your permission Queen Sora I would like the honor to marry your daughter."

Sora smiled gently and nodded. "And you have it Yamcha. I have only known you a short time but I know you to be a good, caring, and honest man. It would honor us to have you in the family."

Yamcha bowed lightly following the outline Sora and Hotaru had given him of the ceremony. It was a short and simple procedure, little more than a formality. The Tanarains were more about actions then words when it came to important matters, the ceremonies only made things official. He took a deep breath as he reached out a hand to his side and grasped Hotaru's. His life had changed so much in less than two years.

Ever since they'd put a stop to Pilaf all those years ago up until a few days before Bardock arrived on Earth he'd envisioned himself with Bulma. Never had he pictured anyone else in her place. Not until he'd met Hotaru at least. So much had changed. His power was far greater than anything he'd ever dreamed, he was no longer with Bulma, he was on an alien world about to marry an alien Queen. It was still a lot to take in and as he did absorb it all he couldn't help but smile. He only hoped that Bulma found someone like he had.

Sora looked her daughter in the eyes for a long moment. She'd known that Hotaru would eventually grow up. That she would eventually become the ruling Queen of Tanaria. And that she would eventually marry someone. She just never expected it to come so soon. It seemed like only yesterday that she was holding her in her arms as she stepped foot on their new world for the first time. It took her a moment to gather her thoughts back to the present and she moved her eyes over to Yamcha.

She'd only known the Human for a short time. But in that time she'd seen how much he cared for her daughter. She'd seen a depth to him and his soul that was rare. A depth she'd only seen once before, in her own husband. She smiled at him and glanced down at their clasped hands. They were ready to begin. "Let The Union begin." she said before turning and motioning to a few people holding a couple of boxes.

Yamcha waited in silence. He knew what was about to happen. The one box held a specific stone that had been used in all royal Tanarian weddings since recorded time. He and Hotaru would both hold the stone between them and let their energy flow into it. From there... well, that was up to the stone. It would be a spectacle for the crowd at any rate. When it was done he and Hotaru would share a telepathic link. There would be a few more words and it would be over. Well, at least he hoped that's how it went. The other box held his crown. /Prince Yamcha... heh, who would have ever thought?/

Sora removed the stone from the box and brought it over to the two. Holding it up before them Yamcha and Hotaru released hands and took it in both of their hands. The stone was fairly large, bigger than softball, and was colored blue though it glowed a faint red. As they gripped it Sora took a step back and spoke. "You will pass your energies to each other through the Union Stone and it shall judge your conviction. You may have my permission Yamcha but now you must have Union Stone's as well."

Yamcha felt some comfort in the fact that only five people had ever been rejected by the stone in all the millennia it had been in use. And that it judged you based upon your emotions and purity. Sora had explained it to him. If he was true in how he felt about Hotaru then there would be no problems, and she believed he was. Glancing up into Hotaru's eyes they both nodded ever so slightly and began to channel energy into the Union Stone.

Sora, Sango, Akira, and the entire crowd watched intently as Yamcha's white energy and Hotaru's orange energy poured into the stone. It only took a few seconds for it to begin to react. The Union Stone began to glow a fierce red and in seconds both the Human and the Tanarian were hidden from view. Sora held her breath as a spark of blue surged about the glow before her, she'd never heard of such a reaction. Though, she'd expected it to be a little different since Yamcha was Human. Still, she was uncertain how this would end.

More and more lightning like blue energy arced about the red aura that hid the two. And then, in a blinding flash of blue, the stone went dark revealing both people once more. They were still looking into each other's eyes. The gathered people held their breath awaiting the results. -Yamcha, can... can you hear me?- Hotaru asked mentally, hoping that it had worked. He'd not been flung away from her as the others who'd failed had been but...

Yamcha grinned. -I can hear you loud and clear.- he replied.

Hotaru grinned as well and they handed the stone over to Sora once more. "We are linked." she said to cheers from the crowd.

Sora nodded and returned the Union Stone to its box and then taking out the crown. Yamcha knelt down on one knee as Sora walked over to him. "You're convictions have been proven sound and so, with this crown, I declare Prince Yamcha, husband of Hotaru and future King of Tanaria!" She lowed the crown and rested it atop his head before taking a step back.

Yamcha stood to even more cheers from the crowd. He turned toward Hotaru who instantly leapt into him and kissed him which drew more cheers from the crowd. After a moment she pulled back again and looked out of the sea of people and then up at the clouds. After a moment everyone had gone quiet again and she looked at them once more. "What's with the silence? Come on! Today's a day of celebration, let's have some music!" And just like that the party was back on again.

The newly crowned Princess and the newly made Prince stayed at the party mingling with the people until sunset came. As night fell upon the city the party began to draw to a close and the two retreated to the confines and privacy of the palace. "You know something Yamcha... we do still have one last formality to deal with."

"Hmm? What do you mean?" he asked as they walked toward Hotaru's chambers.

She turned and started walking backwards in front of him, a smile on her face. "Well, our Union is official and on the books and all now. But... that's all just formality. We still have to make it official." Yamcha raised an eyebrow and grinned before shaking his head and laughing. "Come on, I'll race you back to my chambers." she said turning and running off.

"Hey! No fair getting a head start!" he called chasing after her.