Epilogue – Weddings and Funerals
A few months later, the official co-operation treaty between all nations was signed and came into effect. Immigration and mixing were specifically encouraged, and any discrimination of Naturals and Coordinators was strictly forbidden, in the effort to instil the fact that there was only one people. A statue of Shinn was erected on Orb, at the war memorial commemorating his brave sacrifice for the sake of peace. World leaders vowed that they would not repeat the mistakes of the past ever again.
Kira and Lacus stood at the site of the Orb memorial, along with Cagalli and Athrun, remembering the victims of the war. A statue of Shinn was being mounted in the memorial to serve as a reminder about the cost of peace, and the fact that it was so precious. A day of mourning and celebration had been declared the day that the war ended, privately the crew of the Minerva mourned Shinn's death, Vino and Youlan, Meyrin and Lunamaria all took it really hard and requested personal leave which was granted by the PLANT government.
The crew of the Archangel and the Eternal returned to their former lives before they had taken arms up again. Mwu moved into the seaside cottage with Murrue, in deep mourning over Stellar's death, but Murrue was there to help him over it and soon his heart ached less, as he began to focus on what was in front of him, Murrue and their future together.
A few weeks later, Athrun stood in front of the priest who was going to perform the wedding, the guests were all seated, he saw Mwu and Murrue, Andrew, Talia and all the heroes of the war, looking on. He looked across at Lacus, the maid-of-honour, the woman he was betrothed to for the longest of times, but he now knew that it was his destiny to be with Cagalli, just as much as it was for Kira to be with Lacus. He drew in another breath, more relaxed, knowing that Dearka and Yzak would keep him from stuffing up. For the world this was more than just a wedding, it was a statement that there was no difference between Co-ordinator and Natural, meant to send a powerful message to the last vestiges of any hate between the two groups, but for Athrun's and Cagalli's friends they knew it was nothing more than an expression of their undying love for one another.
As Cagalli walked up the stone steps in a resplendent white wedding gown, accompanied by her brother Kira, who would give her away to his best friend Athrun. Kira wore a black suit and they looked every bit family as they walked past the guests down the aisle. Kira saw Miriallia take photographs of them as they walked closer to Athrun. When they got to the end, Kira let go of Cagalli's arm and took his place next to Lacus. Television cameras were playing this wedding all over the world and all over space.
Cagalli stood opposite Athrun, her one true love. She had been down the aisle before, during the war, about to marry Yuuna, which would have been the biggest mistake of her life. She looked back at Kira, silently thanking him for showing up it the Freedom to save her. She turned back to Athrun as the priest began the wedding ceremony.
"Do you, Athrun Zala take Cagalli Yula Athha to be your lawfully wedded wife. To hold and to cherish, for richer or poorer, through sickness and health, till death do you part?"
"I do," Athrun replied, surer than ever that he and Cagalli were fated to be together forever.
"Do you Cagalli Yula Athha take Athrun Zala to be your lawfully wedded husband. To hold and to cherish, for richer or poorer, through sickness and health till death do you part?"
"I do," Cagalli said, knowing that she had made the right choice, even though there would be people against the marriage, they didn't matter.
"Then by the power vested in me, by the State of Orb, I pronounce you husband and wife," the priest concluded, "you may kiss the bride. Athrun lifted the bridal veil off Cagalli and kissed her on the lips. It felt like bliss for both of them, and they held on to each other for what seemed like forever. Cameras flashed as the many dignitaries and reporters took photographs of the happy couple.
The guests began to disperse for the cocktail party held at the Orb palace, where they would dance the night away, in celebration not only of the joining of two lovers but also the start of the new era of world peace.
Later, the crew of the Archangel and the Eternal gathered for a small private wedding ceremony. As Murrue walked down the aisle in her resplendent white wedding gown, looking down at the man she loved, she couldn't help but remember the last year that she had spent mourning Mwu's supposed death. It was a lot of time lost that they needed to catch up on.
Mwu watched as his bride came walking down the aisle, her gown trailing behind her, here is the perfect woman, my perfect woman. I'll never let go, never will anything come between us ever again. As she stopped next to him and the Reverend began to speak, he gazed into her marigold eyes and she into his blue eyes and all they saw was perfection.
All of their closest friends watched as the wedding took place, and as the sun set behind the cliffs, they all thought everything was perfect.
What happened after
Kira and Lacus went back to the orphanage where they continued to raise the war orphans to become responsible human beings. Sometimes, Lacus releases a new song, as a reminder of the peace that was achieved. Her songs are eagerly anticipated by all.
Cagalli and Athrun moved into Orb's palace and between Cagalli ruling Orb and their taking lessons on statecraft and politics from college, they managed to spend a lot of quality time together, even though their jobs took up a lot of time.
Miriallia went back to her career as a photographer and Dearka moved to Orb so that they could be together, they travel around the world photographing places, and people getting along together.
Mwu and Murrue retired to a little sea-side cottage where she fell pregnant within three months of their wedding.
Andy and Talia started seeing each other after the war and after she moved to Orb, where they started a Coffee chain. All government workers all over swear that the Coffee from that they brew is the only thing that keeps the government running.
Yzak and Shiho went back to PLANT where he now serves as an aide to his mother in the PLANT supreme council.
And as for Shinn Asuka?
"Hello, Shinn Asuka." A mysterious voice…but yet so familiar.
"Stellar?"
A/N: Well folks, that's it. Hope you enjoyed the ending. I purposely left the ending open just in case there is a third season of CE Gundam. Did Shinn Asuka and Stellar Loussier really die?
