This is it. The final chapter. I just want to say thank you so much for everyone who has read, reviewed, favorited, and followed this story till now. After this I won't be updating anything because I will be focusing on my next fic. But I promise I will finish it soon and get started on the sequel of this fic, "Heavy Rotation.". Please enjoy. "An Excuse Maybe" song belongs to AKB48
Three hours later, Tilamat and Lazuli were asleep. Tilamat snored in the chair as Lazuli lifted her head. She looked around before sniffing the air. She hasn't seen her mother all morning and she was getting antsy. As nice as Tilamat was, she knew that wasn't her mommy. Lazuli turned to him and squeaked loudly at him, but the doctor didn't budge, causing her to frown. She squeaked again, louder, but no results. She huffed before looking down at the floor, there was no way she was waiting until he woke up. However, the question then lied as to how she was going to get down.
She could jump down, but that probably wouldn't be safe. She then noticed a shelf next to the incubator and frowned. She looked back at Tilamat before getting up on all fours. This was the first time she felt fear as she looked at the shelf.
Lazuli looked at the distance between the incubator and the shelf and leapt. She landed on the top of it and wheezed. That was too close! She then strolled over to the edge and looked down, a basket of blankets conveniently next to it. This was the second time she felt fear as she looked down. She whined a bit but remembered that she had to find her mom. Lazuli then jumped down and landed safely into the basket. She looked around the fabrics and wanted to play in it, but maybe later. She peered her head out of the basket and hopped out. She quietly made her way past Tilamat as she scratched the bottom of the door. They didn't close the door all the way much to her surprise. It opened and she looked out into the hallway. It was very quiet and the halls were empty. She looked around before sniffing the air.
He was near! Lazuli could barely hold back her energy as she scampered out of the room and down the hall. The silence was eerie, not something she preferred. However, she was too hopped up on adrenaline and anticipation to care. When she saw the skirt of a nurse she hid behind one of the folds of the tent.
"And then I said that he was lying through his teeth, but that cheating jerk denied everything!" The nurse huffed as she walked past her and out of the halls.
Lazuli blinked before sniffing the air again, he was so close! She chirped as she darted down the hall, up to one of the tents. She scratched on the door and waited for a nurse to open the door. No response. She pushed the door open and entered the recovery room. It was a bit dark as she saw a large bed and many other things. She sniffed the air again, his scent was prominent in this room. She saw a large figure turning over in a bed. Lazuli squeaked loudly, it was him, mommy!
Lazuli went up to the bed and tried to jump, but she couldn't. She huffed and began to try several ways to get up. She tried running from a distance and jumping but that didn't work. She tried to claw her way up, but she only fell on her butt. She growled a bit, frustrated. How was she gonna get up there? Her mommy seemed to be asleep and no matter how many times she squeaked, he didn't wake up. Lazuli then noticed the rails that were connected to the bed and a lightbulb went off in her head. She went over to them and looked up. They seemed to reach the top of the bed, and had several ledges for her to climb on. Putting one foot and on hand on the rails, she climbed up and landed on the bed, face first. When she lifted her head, her mother's face was the first thing she saw. Lazuli's eyes softened as she went up to him. She sniffed him, making sure it was him before nuzzling him. Her lungs filled with unconditional love as she nuzzled his face. She sat next to him, looking around the room, occasionally looking back at Mandarin. Lazuli yawned, suddenly tired again. She looked up towards the pillows and hopped onto them. She circled around one area before plopping down and fell asleep, happy she found her mommy.
After an hour Mandarin slowly woke up as he lifted himself up. He felt out of it, both from the anesthetic wearing off and from the c-section. He felt the staples on his stomach before looking around. Mandarin began to look at the clock when he noticed Lazuli sleeping on the pillow next to him.
He was at a loss for words, his mind and emotions going in many different directions. They ranged from 'oh Veran this is really her, my small daughter' to 'how did she even get here? Please don't tell me they left her unattended and she wound up here! She could have been seriously hurt!' to 'She is so precious how is this even possible?' to 'oh god I could have crushed her with my hands I am already failing as a parent'. He gently touched the side of Lazuli's face with one finger, feeling so many emotions. He couldn't help but smile as the small infant made several sleepy noises.
All of the terrible morning sickness, cravings, heaviness, labor, and unbearable mood swings, oh how they were so worth it! Lazuli groaned before quickly waking up. She piped up her head as Mandarin took his hand back. Immediately she bounced over to him and nuzzled him. Mandarin had no idea what to do with himself right now as Lazuli chirped loudly.
"H-hello..." He said softly, laying his hand out for her to crawl onto.
Lazuli squeaked before crawling into his hand and nuzzling it. He slowly picked her up and held her close. She was so small compared to him, he felt a bit nervous on how holding her was going to work. However for now holding her in his hand worked fine. Lazuli grabbed his face and head butted it, clearly happy.
"How did you get in here?" Mandarin questioned, knowing he wouldn't get an answer.
Lazuli blinked before continuing to nuzzle him. Mandarin sighed, who knows? Thankfully she's safe. Suddenly the door burst open with a worried Tilamat.
"Mandarin I am the worst doctor ev-!" He began when he saw Lazuli cuddling up with Mandarin.
Mandarin waved.
"Good morning." He greeted.
Tilamat sighed in relief before glaring at the small infant.
"You!" He huffed before going over to them.
Lazuli looked up at him curiously.
"Don't just escape from your incubator! What if you got hurt?" He scolded.
Lazuli tilted her head, he wouldn't wake up! Why should she wait? Mandarin snickered as Tilamat shook his head.
"You're already causing trouble, great."
Mandarin nuzzled the top of Lazuli's head.
"She's my small trouble maker." He chirped.
Tilamat huffed but smiled, feeling the love between them. Mandarin booped her nose before looking at him.
"I take it the others have already seen her?" He asked as Lazuli squeaked.
Tilamat nodded.
"Oh yeah, she loves Otto." He said.
Mandarin turned to his daughter with a smile.
"Well of course, it's Otto."
If Lazuli had the ability to smile right now she could, for now she could only squeak and nuzzle him.
"You should have seen her with Willow, she got really comfortable with her." Tilamat said.
Mandarin nodded, that didn't surprise him. With what they went through and how strong their friendship became, it only made sense for Lazuli to feel the same way.
The door knocked and before Tilamat could open the door, a light blue Tabithian woman burst into the room.
"Where is my niece?!" She demanded.
Mandarin held her up.
"Right here."
The Tabithan's eyes watered as she went over to him.
"Oh! She's so big and beautiful!" She said as she took Lazuli in her arms.
Tilamat waved as he left the room.
"Nice to see you too Helix." He chirped.
Helix waved back before looking down at Lazuli again. The small baby chirped loudly before trying to grab her necklace.
"So how are you?" She asked him.
"Sore and tired." Mandarin sighed.
"But happy, I take it?"
Mandarin nodded as he fully sat up, watching the two bond. Helix smiled as tears stung her eyes.
"She looks so much like Liza." She muttered.
Mandarin looked away a bit sadly. She does. The pictures of Liza and Galison that he's seen before, he could see a lot of resemblance in her. The poor thing will never get to know them.
Lazuli tilted her head before gurgling. Helix wiped her eyes.
"No! No tears! This is a happy day." She told herself before placing her cheek against Lazuli's.
She looked towards Mandarin.
"You keep her safe now, you hear?" She huffed.
"Trust me, when she lives here she is going to quickly learn how to protect herself."
"Oh I bet! Still! Keep my niece safe." She said.
Mandarin nodded.
A green blur rushed into the room and onto the bed.
"Mandy!" Otto whined, hugging him.
"Otto careful! I have staples on my stomach!" Mandarin huffed.
Otto sniffled before nuzzling him.
"I'm just so happy you're both ok..." He muttered.
Mandarin sighed as he pulled Otto close to him. Lazuli squeaked loudly as she saw Otto, surprised.
"I'm fine now, sore and tired but fine."
"I know, you just made me worried." Otto huffed.
Mandarin kissed the top of his head. Otto curled up with him before realizing Lazuli was in the room.
"Oh! I'm sorry I didn't see you there!"
Lazuli squeaked and tried to wriggle out of her aunt's arms.
"Oh boy! She wants you bad!" Helix snickered before giving Lazuli to Otto.
Otto blinked.
"Who are you?" He asked with a straight face.
"Helix Ama, Lazuli's biological aunt." Mandarin briefly said.
Otto nodded, getting it.
"Oh ok! Nice to meet you!"
"Nice to meet you too."
Otto smiled before looking at Lazuli, who clung to his chest.
"So I see you've met your mommy huh?" Otto asked.
Lazuli squeaked in response, glancing at Mandarin. The four bonded for several minutes, Otto resting his head against Mandarin's chest.
"So I take it when you finish recovering, you're gonna train with us?" Otto asked.
"That's without question. I want to be ready when that little fake comes around again." Mandarin huffed.
Otto stuck out his bottom lip.
"So no pudgy Mandy?" He asked, causing Helix to snicker.
"No! The baby weight would probably go away quicker since my body won't be able to keep it." Mandarin huffed, cheeks flushing.
Otto pouted.
"Awww, but you'd be cute chubby!"
"No I wouldn't!" Mandarin huffed, causing Lazuli to squeak.
"Don't agree with him!" Mandarin huffed.
Helix snickered at the sight, knowing that Lazuli was in good hands.
Willow looked around as the others walked in and out of the recovery room Mandarin was in. Arwen and Brittany were peeved that no one called them to tell them the baby was here, but their irritability subsided when they saw Lazuli. She looked over to the med bay where Diamanda was in.
"So how is she?" She asked Gibson.
Gibson looked up at her.
"I'd say she's almost recovered, her Sueronian body must heal very quickly." He said.
Willow nodded before looking into the med bay. She wheeled into the room and went up to Diamanda's tank. She couldn't help but wonder how she was. Even after everything she has done, Willow knew that she had no idea of her own lineage. She sort of wished that she knew sooner, yet if she didn't Willow wondered how it would change things.
Trent walked into the med bay and went up to her.
"Marie said she'd be happy to take Diamanda home to the council. She said they'd brief her in and help her reconnect with others." He said.
Willow nodded a bit, not saying anything. The two were silent for a good few minutes.
"It's funny, a year ago I hated her guts. A year ago I only had you and Amanda as friends and we just went around trying to help others...now look at us." Willow said, staring into the glass tanks reflection.
Trent stared into it too.
"Yeah...you have a lover and I'm a celebrity..."
"You haven't been in Starlights for that long man!" Willow laughed.
Trent pouted.
"Still counts." He huffed.
Willow rolled her eyes.
"Things have changed so much...I'm kinda nervous on how things are going to be from now on." Trent admitted.
Willow looked up at him.
"I feel the same, but I think we're gonna be fine." She said, taking a sharp object out of her pocket and cutting her hair back to its original length.
Trent blinked in surprise before nodding. They heard tapping noises coming from the glass and turned to see Diamanda awake.
Trent's eyes widened before he ran out to get Gibson. Diamanda tapped the glass a bit more before looking at Willow. She held up a hand, signaling her to wait. Trent came back with Gibson as he rushed to the control panel, pressing a few buttons. The tank emptied before opening. Diamanda nearly fell before Trent caught her.
"I-thank you." Diamanda breathed before shakily standing up.
Diamanda held onto the edge of the control panel. She looked over at Willow and Gibson.
"U-um how long have I been out?" She asked.
"Only a day, you were a bit malnourished and injured but you seemed to be healed up alright. I just suggest you rest for a while." Gibson said.
Diamanda nodded slightly and her eyes widened when she saw Willow's cast and wheelchair.
"What...what did that bastard do to you?!" She asked.
Willow smiled and lifted her leg.
"He really burned my foot that's what happened." She said.
Diamanda glared and growled.
"Don't worry, he's gone for now and we have this for you." Trent said, holding out Diamanda's choker.
Diamanda's eyes widened as she was handed it. She quickly put it around her neck, not wasting any time. She sighed as all of her power came back to her.
"Ohh that feels so much better!" She said, her strength coming back.
"So I take it you're well enough to go to Sueronia?" Gibson asked.
Diamanda turned to him. She could go home now, her home. She could finally learn about who she is and why she lost her memory. She didn't want to go back, she needed to go back.
She smirked.
"That is without question, nerd." She said.
Gibson sighed angrily, not liking being called 'nerd' but at least she was happy. Trent stepped aside.
"You want to go see Marie? She says she can take you home." He offered.
Diamanda smiled but her smile dropped when she made eye contact with Willow.
"Umm...can I talk to Willow alone first?" She asked.
Trent and Gibson looked at each other before slowly leaving the room. Diamanda looked around before pulling up a chair and sitting down. Willow watched as her past enemy sat down in front of her. Diamanda held onto her dress before speaking.
"I just wanted to apologize for all that I've done to you for nearly the past twenty years." She began.
Willow nodded a bit, letting her continue.
"I mean, I had no realization of what I am. I didn't know that I had a choice of whether to stay like I am now or not." She said.
Willow laughed a bit.
"Me too." She said.
Diamanda chuckled a bit and smiled.
"But now that I do have choices, an actual home to go to, and possibly a family waiting for me I...I'm honestly kind of scared." She said.
Willow leaned over and touched her cold as ice hand.
"I know, believe me. I was so distraught and confused over me being half Sueronian. However I got through it thanks to the friends I made and the assurance I needed. I think the same can happen to you." She said with a smile.
Diamanda smiled and nodded slightly, having assurance of her future.
"But don't worry about before, it's all in the past now anyways. Antauri said that sometimes we have to put the past behind us for the good of others...I think that applies to our situation a bit." Willow said.
"Maybe.."
Diamanda slowly stood up.
"But again, I am sorry."
"Hey it's all good now, this is only the beginning for us."
Diamanda nodded and looked towards the door.
"I guess I'll be on my way then." She said.
Willow nodded and wheeled next to her. As they left the room and Diamanda started to leave with Trent, she turned back to Willow and some of the others.
"You know, I probably wouldn't count us as friends. Who knows? I might stick to my evil roots." She said, smirking before smiling regularly.
The team tensed at that, while Willow snickered a bit. Diamanda and Trent left, and a huge weight was lifted off everyone's shoulders. Willow felt Antauri's hand on her shoulder, and she held it.
A few days later, the Starlights were about to leave the planet to go on their debut tour. Trent and Brittany were nearly crushed by everyone's hugs.
"You call us!" Sprx huffed.
"I just got got through that with Willow! We'll call and message you!" Trent huffed before being hugged by Willow.
"You kick ass at every performance you have." She said.
"I will." He said softly.
Willow let go of him and turned to Brittany. The two of them paused before hugging each other. They held onto each other for a bit before letting go.
"The same goes for you." Willow said, holding back tears.
Brittany nodded as she wiped her eyes. She turned to Gibson and smirked. Gibson looked around, confused, as she walked over to him.
"I'm gonna miss you." She cooed.
Gibson kept looking around, hoping that this was a joke. He then looked back at her.
"Oh! I'll miss you too." He said, a small smile growing on his face.
Brittany smiled before kissing his forehead and running off. Gibson's face then turned into a similar color of Sprx's fur and collapsed. The others, minus Mandarin, Lazuli, and Willow, lost their collective shit. Lazuli frowned at everyone's reaction, wondering what the hell was so weird.
"I know, Lazuli. I don't get it either." Mandarin sighed, causing Willow to snicker.
Hours later, the ship was beginning to take off. Iris began to pack her things into the ship when she noticed her parents nearby. She turned to her other teammates.
"I'll be right back!" She called before going over to them.
Her father hugged her while her mother looked off of the side.
"You'll do great kiddo!" He said, smiling.
Iris smiled as she hugged him tighter.
"I know, thank you." She said before letting go.
She looked over to her mother, who frowned a bit before looking at her. She was silent and Iris was ready for whatever insult she had ready.
"You better fulfill that promise you made." Her mother huffed.
Iris blinked back in surprise before smiling.
"You got it!" She said before hugging her.
Her mother froze for a second before hugging back. Just then the music started up as Iris looked up at the stage. She then turned to her parents and began to back up.
"I...I'll see you later!" She called out before running to her ship.
Her mother reached out a hand, but her father held her close.
Trent and Brittany, all wearing black red and white school uniforms, were up front as their farewell song began. The team watched a ways away, watching them take off.
"Riding my bicycle," Trent began with Brittany repeating.
"Down that familiar road." Brittany sang with Trent repeating as they danced in front of each other.
"I'm wiping sweat from waiting in line," Yui and Violet sang as they walked up next to Trent and Brittany.
"And feeling the summer breeze."
So a year and eight months ago, the war is over, the Skeleton king has become the Alchemist and the Hyperforce now had several new members. Amanda waved her arms goodbye while Arwen watched them, at Willow's side.
"On our day off," Marina sang while Skyla repeated.
"If you can't make it, make sure you take care of yourself."
Otto hopped onto Mandarin's shoulder, who was holding Lazuli as she squeaked at the song. Mandarin was now reformed and starting a family of his own. He was unsure of whether he would rejoin them or not, however at least he was back with them and much happier than he was before.
"I thought that we were just friends, but now I want to see you. I miss you."
His utter confusion and frustration of Sueronians is still prevalent, at least he now knows what they are. Mandarin's overall relationship with Willow has also strengthened despite their first encounter.
The song fully kicked in as Brittany centered the group, like her mother once did.
"Maybe, Maybe! Maybe I like you! There isn't a single cloud in the blue sky!" Everyone sang as the citizens cheered.
Willow smiled, seeing her best friend and previous tormenter fulfilling their dreams. Everything right now just seemed right to her. She finally had friends who like her for her, a planet she loves and wants to protect, and to top it all off a boyfriend who she truly loves. The stage began to lift from the ground as they began to take off. Antauri floated next to Willow and kissed her cheek.
"Maybe! Maybe! Maybe I like you!"
As for her personally, she still had insecurities about being half Sueronian. There were still many things she didn't understand about herself or her kind, however as long as her friends and family were with her, she knew she would be just fine. Especially if a snark like Mandarin was with her too.
"Even though I know it's love," Starlights sang, waving good bye to their fans.
As for their future? It was uncertain, however whatever comes their way they'll fight it together. It always worked before.
However, maybe that's just an excuse.
"It's just an excuse, maybe!"
The ship took off, the music still echoing through the air.
Thank you for reading!
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