Last Chapter Everybody! Thank you so much for supporting Soldier Candy since its beginning!
Chapter 18: Epilogue!
"Mommy! Look! Look! I made it to the Candyland Palace! I won!" cried a little girl with short blond hair, with her mother's heart-shaped face and her father's deep brown eyes.
"Good for you!" exclaimed Sugar, who was now a full-grown woman with her hair still short, wearing a loose pink sweater and a chocolate-brown skirt.
She was kneeling on the floor in a large living room with white carpeting and furniture, surrounded by pictures of her, her husband, and her baby girl. The fireplace was blazing, and an antique clock ticked quietly. Just then, the doorbell rang, causing the little girl to stand up and run to the door. Sugar followed her, and was greeted by her husband.
"Miloe! I didn't expect you to be home so early." Sugar said, happily embracing him.
"Well it is Christmas Eve, Sugar-Pie," Miloe said. His blonde hair was down to his shoulders, and he was wearing a heavy winter jacket with a duffle-bag over his shoulder. "The next tennis tournament isn't going to be until after New Year's Eve."
"Yay!" the little girl yelled, getting both parents' attention.
"And how's my little Sweetie?" Miloe asked, picking up the little girl and twirling her around in the air.
The little girl, Sweetie, squealed with delight while Sugar watched with a smile on her face. Then while Miloe wasn't looking, she went into the kitchen and pulled out the roasted turkey from the oven. She showed it to Miloe and Sweetie, who followed her into the dining room with watering mouths. There, all the mashed potatoes, vegetables, gravy boats, cranberry sauces, were all laid out upon the table. After Sweetie was put in her high chair, the parents sat down, and ate. While her husband and daughter were eating, Sugar's thoughts drifted to Candyland.
I wonder how Princess Lolly and the Duke of Swirl are doing…do they celebrate Christmas there as well? Sugar wondered, but soon she was occupied with the task of cutting Sweetie's turkey into eatable chunks.
Meanwhile, in Candyland, a soft snow made of powdered sugar settled over the landscape, caused by Mint using Frostine's staff while standing over the balcony of the newly-built Candyland Castle. There was a party going on inside, as guests flocked around the Princess, who had recently been crowned the Queen of Candyland after her parents decided to step down due to old age. They were now happily retired in Gramma Nutt's cottage, which had been refurnished and served as a summerhouse for the other members of royalty during the past twelve years. She noticed Mint, and politely separated herself from the guests to join her on the balcony.
"Aren't you starting your duties early?" Lolly asked.
Mint jumped when she noticed her, but quickly calmed down and said, "I thought I would start them early, with the coronation and all."
"I see." Lolly looked out over the land, which was filled with warm cottage lights and the Candy Road was visible. "Do you think I made the right choice in not marrying the Duke of Swirl? After all, we were engaged when I was a baby."
"I think he's much happier, now that he can marry Sweetheart, whom he loved before you were born." Then Mint looked back inside, and saw the Duke of Swirl dressed in a pink and white-striped uniform with a beautiful woman clinging to his shoulder.
She had a delicate face, with a kind smile and tiny lips outlined by heart-shaped lipstick, and long brunette hair. Her dress was crimson-colored, with candy-cane trimmings around the hem and sleeves, with candy-cane patterned slippers. However, her chest was flat. But that didn't seem to bother the Duke of Swirl as they quickly kissed each other in front of the guests, which delighted them.
"Yes, he is very pretty," Lolly said, following Mint's gaze. "Even prettier than I am after all these years."
"Does that bother you?" said Lemon, who was walking towards Lolly and Mint from a different part of the balcony.
"No, not in the slightest," Lolly answered.
"Then why worry about it in the first place?" Cinnamon was lounging in a chair on the balcony when she overheard the conversation.
"After all, it was your decision, not ours," Vanilla said, sitting over the edge of the balcony.
They were all still wearing their uniforms, which made Lolly remember what happened to them twelve years ago, when they were enslaved, including the Duke of Swirl, and the choice Sugar made at that moment. It saved them from the enslavement, and it did allow Princess Lolly to rightfully claim the throne, but at a severe price that cost many lives. Sugar would've died if Lemon hadn't put up the Lemon Swirl Shield when Sugarplum set off the bombs that were wired throughout the Licorice Palace, causing it to collapse and kill Lord Licorice along with his generals. After that, Sugar and her parents were sent back to Earth after tearful goodbyes, followed by the portal being permanently sealed.
"I guess it was, though it was mostly Sugar's."
This surprised the four Candy Brigade members.
"Who's Sugar?" Vanilla asked.
When she realized what she said, Princess Lolly said, "No one important. Just ignore what I said."
"Alright."
Later, Lolly was called back inside to greet the Duke of Swirl and Sweetheart, and a few other guests before turning in for the night. However, Lolly was restless by the time she got ready for bed, so she looked out the window with the powdered sugar snow still falling, and a frosty moon was rising. She was sipping a cup of hot chocolate that was imported from Gramma Nutt's farm, when she thought, Even though they were good friends of Sugar before I came into the picture, it's better that they don't remember her, otherwise they wouldn't be able to stick to their duties without thinking about her. That burden should be mine, and mine alone, because if it weren't for her, Candyland would never be as prosperous and happy as it is now.
The End
