A/N- Hey guys! This was a fast post for me, but I really wanted to write. There are two more chapters after this. One more real chapter and then an epilogue. Well I hope you guys like this chapter!

Milkshakelvr- Yes the war is over! Now we get to move onto other things…

AfGhAnCuTiE- The ending is either next chapter of the one after that so you don't get to read it yet.

vegetasprincess1- It's def. a good thing Darien's alive… he has an announcement to make.

Silver Moon Goddess1- Thank you!

ZOey89- I wanted to put her as a phoenix at some point, but I never had the right time to do it. I didn't want to make her a complete bird, but I also didn't want to make her like human when she is a phoenix too. That's why she got the fire wings (white ones are too cliché and are for the angels).

Melody87- Yes he's dead, you can celebrate with everyone else in the chapter.

eliza-morgan22- Glad you liked it!

Butterfle- Well someone's already celebrating. The wedding isn't this chapter so you will have to wait a little bit for that.

cosmoscrystal96- Glad you liked it so much!

Rei was pacing in front of the front window of the castle's library. From the window she could see a couple miles out, but of course there was no sign of her brother, any of the generals, Serena, or any person that was fighting for that matter. Amy was reading yet another book, though she had probably already read it. Mina was sitting in one of the plush chairs trying to keep from fidgeting. Lita was at a desk writing down some recipes she wanted the chefs to try. She liked their cooking, but she had always wished that she could be the one doing all of the cooking, well at least cooking the pastries. "Rei, stop pacing! It's bothering me!" Mina whined.

"I can't help it! They should have been back by now! It's been nearly two weeks!" Rei replied. She leaned on the window sill and sighed.

"They will be back as soon as they can. These wars aren't instantly won. If you look at the twenty year war between your grandfather and King-" Amy began.

"Thank you for the history lesson." Rei growled.

"Rei, you should just find something to do and Mina, you should probably find something also." Lita said. Mina got up from the couch and walked over to the window where Rei was.

"Hey, isn't that someone coming? Actually isn't that a group of people coming?" Mina asked. Rei returned her attention to the fields outside of the castle wall and Lita and Amy walked over to join the other two. "They're back!" Mina exclaimed happily. The four girls burst through the library doors, surprising the guards that had been assigned to watch them and ran down the hallway. The girls ran through the town, becoming the talk of the village, and then to the large stone wall. A guard tried to stop them, but instantly backed down when Rei started yelling at him. The four were on the wall a few minutes before the army reached the wall.

"Are you not going to let your king in?" Darien shouted. He saw his sister and her friends standing on the wall looking for everyone.

"I'm not sure about our king, but I will let in my brother and his friends." Rei responded with a smile. Darien returned the smile and urged his horse on when the gates started to open up. The army quickly dispersed once they were inside and Darien had released them. Most of their families were starting to gather in the center of the town. Horses were becoming riderless as their masters jumped off to embrace mothers, sisters, wives, and kids. Darien smiled as he watched his men. He hoped that now they wouldn't have to deal with the threat of any more wars. He quickly invited the other armies who had been helping him to stay with them for a few days and for a celebration that they would have in honor of the victory. Rei and the others finally managed to get through the crowd. Rei gave her brother a hug before finding Jadeite standing with his father. Mina was already kissing Malachite and Nephrite and Lita were locked in such a tight embrace Darien was sure they would never separate again. Amy and Zoicite had also finally found each other and were talking as they hugged.

"Darien?" Rei called as she walked back over to her brother.

"Yes?"

"Where's Serena?" Rei asked. The question got the attention of the other girls who also waited for the answer as they stood in the arms of their lovers.

"Who? Me?" Serena asked walking up behind Mina. She was followed by her mother, Molly, Lord Charles, and Tristan. The four other girls ran over to her and gave her hugs. "It's good to see you all too." Serena laughed.

"Are you ok?"

"Were you trapped the entire time?"

"What happened? How did you escape?"

"What did Diamond do to you? I swear I'll kick his-"

"Lita!" Nephrite said as he stopped Lita from saying something un-lady like.

"What?" Lita asked turning around and looking at him with innocent eyes.

"I don't remember all of the questions." Serena said as she laughed.

"Let's go inside. I'm sure we can all discuss everything that has happened. Just know this, Diamond will never be bothering us again." Darien said. The girls all smiled and nodded. As they walked into the castle Lita rushed off, probably telling the cooks what to make for the returning army. She returned to the library to see everyone sitting. She had a few drinks with her as well as a couple servants who were carrying more.

"So can you tell us what happened now?" Mina asked impatiently.

"I guess we could." Serena said as she looked at Darien. For the rest of the afternoon the four girls listened to the story of the war from when Serena was saved to when Darien finally killed Diamond.

"Of course Serena gets part of the credit for killing Diamond. She did, after all, cover my sword in fire." Darien concluded.

"But you were the one to stab him." Serena reminded. "I just made sure it was a fatal blow."

"How would the fire make sure the stab would have been fatal? If anything the fire would have burned the flesh as Darien's sword went through it. When the flesh was burned it would stop the blood flow and create a sort of scab." Amy asked.

"Well the sword did go through Diamond's heart. Blood would not have been able to been circulated without his heart so that's one way. Also I never said my fire was the same as the one that burns in your fire places." Serena answered with a smile.

"Excuse me, but when do we want to have the victory celebration?" Mina asked. "Because we will need to start working on it as soon as we can."

"Why don't we plan for it to be in three days? That gives the chefs time to prepare what they want to cook and we can also get the ball room ready. Plus the soldiers will be rested." Darien said. Everyone agreed to the date and the girls got to work. The others left to go get some rest. They wouldn't wake up again until the next morning.

Three days passed quickly. The day before the ball Rei was complaining that she didn't have enough time to get everything ready, even though she knew there was nothing she could do. Darien and Serena had been spending the two days to walk together in the gardens or explore the secret passages in the walls. Serena had decided she liked sneaking up on people using the secret passages. She had been able to surprise Darien once and nearly gave her mother two heart attacks. Serena spent the day of the ball with her mother. Serena was standing in the middle of her room as her mother and a seamstress talked about the dress she was going to be wearing to the ball. Molly was sitting on Serena's bed and laughing as Serena made faces and joked around.

"Ow!" Serena exclaimed as a pin stabbed her leg. "That hurt!"

"Stop moving and playing around and maybe you wouldn't get hurt." Selene replied. After another hour Serena was allowed to change back into a simple dress. She had a few hours before her dress would be back and she would have to get ready for the ball. Of course Serena spent that time doing one of the things she loved to do…sleep. When her dress returned Serena was forced to get up. Three new maids were helping the seamstress finish the last details as well as getting Serena's hair up. Serena fought the two girls working on her hair until they let her do it. She quickly put it up in the odangos she normally had. She found some pearls and placed them in front of the two buns. When she was done the seamstress was just finishing. Her dress was light blue and fell off the shoulders. The top of the dress was like a corset, but luckily Serena could still breathe. There were pearls and crystals scattered on the netting that covered the blue material on the top. The rest of the dress fanned out till it reached the ground.

Serena was escorted by Tristan to the ball. Selene didn't want Darien to take her and Darien had agreed, much to Serena's disappointment. Tristan arrived at Serena's door and sucked in a breath as he watched Serena glide out of the room. "Can we go? Please?" Serena asked. "I'm sick of being couped up all day."

"Of course, tell me something. Is it being couped up inside or not seeing Darien that has you so up in knots?" Tristan asked. Serena was silent before answering Tristan with a glare and practically pulling him to the ball.

The ball room stayed simple enough. There were crystal chandeliers on the ceiling and small bouquets of red and black roses on the tables. The plates were the best china and the cups were made of crystal. As Serena walked into the room with Tristan she let her eyes scan over the crowd, instantly finding Darien standing near the throne. Serena and Tristan separated once they were among the masses. Tristan went over to talk to Molly while Serena joined Andrew and Rita to talk about recent events. Rita had her mother taking care of the children for the night so they could celebrate with everyone else for once. Mina and Rei eventually dragged Serena away to talk to some ladies of the court. Serena tried to answer the questions truthfully without giving away too much information like Rei had told her how to do before the ball. She knew these women were watching her every move and probably criticizing her behind her back. It was all part of the life in the courts of men.

"Excuse me ladies and gentlemen." Malachite called. He was standing on top of a small platform in front of the throne. "Your king has a speech." Anyone talking in the hall immediately stopped and turned their attention to the platform that Malachite had stopped off of and Darien standing on.

"Finally we have won! It was a long and costly battle, both in money and men. We lost a lot of good men. Men from home and the lands that have helped us have been lost. We were lucky that we had the number of men who did survive. We are also lucky that we are victorious. Diamond is dead and his men have scattered into the forest. When they are seen they will be dealt with accordingly. Let us celebrate our victory, but never forget those who were not allowed to come." Everyone murmured their agreement while some cheered at the victory. "I also have another announcement to make." The hall quieted down again. "Many have wondered how long that I would remain single and rule alone. Let me just tell you, that time has come to an end. I would like you to meet your future queen, that is, of course, if she accepts." Darien's eyes moved to Serena, whose eyes were wide before she realized what was happening. He walked over to where Serena was standing with Mina and Rei. "Serena, you already know how much I love you, will you marry me?" Serena just smiled and nodded her head.

"Yes, yes I will marry you." Serena cried. She threw her arms around Darien and buried her head in his shoulder. The audience in the ballroom all clapped and cheered as their king finally found his queen.