In a game, there are winners and losers. The same goes for battles and wars as well, just on a bigger scale than the last one. So in the end, which side won the war and which side lost? The answer is, well, neither. Neither side won the war, but that doesn't mean that they lost either.
After a war, the side that loses ends up having to pay reparations to the winning side, having to be judged for their war crimes, having to be scorned by humanity as the villains of the age. And yet, the winning side suffers no negative consequences other than the lives that were lost and the cities that were destroyed, all to be lauded as heroes who defeated a great evil. Think about the wars of history and what happened to the losing side. Then consider if the same things would happen to the winning side if they were the ones to lose the war. Some sides may have less to lose than others, while some sides may have more. Life is unfair like that, and sometimes for good reason. Whatever their ideologies may be, both sides fight for the same core goals – the right to live, to exist, to be validated.
Following the ceasefire and armistice, debate raged over which side won the war. Did the Drylanders win because Parker punched the Shark King out of the sky, or did the Salacians win because Parker was prevented from dealing the killing blow to the Shark King? Did the Drylanders win because they suffered throughout the war, or did the Salacians win because the Drylanders made them suffer long before the war? Did the Drylanders win because they fought hard to defend their world, or did the Salacians win because they were trying to take back what was theirs? Thanks to Miss Marla, these questions needn't be answered.
Some time after Parker and Trebon's trials at the ICC, the Dryland-Salacia Peace Conference was opened at the former Unified Resistance Army base in Santos, a symbolic location given how it was central towards the ending of the war. Delegates from the many different countries and armies of Dryland came, including Parker, Fabio and Kate, and they were met by delegates from the many different kingdoms of Salacia. Talks took place all across São Paulo over a number of months as multiple treaties had to be negotiated among different countries. Thanks to Miss Marla's suggestions, the war had to be treated as if neither side won or lost to ensure that agreements were made multilaterally (between multiple parties) and that both Dryland and Salacia would pay reparations to each other.
A point of contention made during the negotiations was that because the first Drylanders were actually salines, the traditional owners of Dryland are actually the Salacians. Although the Drylander science behind this aligned with this assertion, as they believed that the first lifeforms on Earth originated in the oceans, this attracted much debate from religious and indigenous groups. Despite this, however, a great deal of Drylanders were surprisingly accepting of this as they made it a point to acknowledge the Salacians as the traditional owners of Dryland (over the indigenous peoples of their lands) even though the two peoples lived separate from each other for eons.
The Salacians also proposed establishing advisory committees to advise governments on matters relating to Salacia. In Australia/China, this was known as the Salacian Voice to Parliament. The Drylanders agreed with the sentiment, but they suggested that the committees should be more generalised so they can be better connected with the communities of both worlds.
Following months of negotiations, the treaties were locked in and ready to be signed. The first of these treaties, the Treaty of Santos, being the overarching treaty between UNIT and the Salacians, was signed by the generals of the Kongming and Yabusaki Armies along with the Shark, Starfish, Octopus, Penguin, Turtle, Whale, Swordfish and Barracuda Kingdoms along with Miss Marla, Duante and Seretao. The signing of the treaties symbolised the official end of the war.
Amidst all this, the protests from some Salacians and Drylanders continued, especially in São Paulo and Santos. Unlike other people, they would rather see either side be punished more or commit genocide against the other side instead of negotiating peace and learning to coexist for the first time in eons. Terrorist attacks also occurred in both worlds with perpetrators from both sides. Extremism is still a problem, whether in real life or in a fictional universe like Yabuverse PM10, so both the Salacians and Drylanders strived to counter it in any way they could.
Despite this, however, the rest of the worlds began adjusting to each others' existences. As soon as the war ended, Drylanders and Salacians began going back and forth between both worlds. Thanks to the signal being turned on permanently, Drylanders no longer had to fear drowning in the sea (or any body of water, for that matter) while fish could swim out of the water as they pleased. This caused a litany of problems in regards to farmed fish and seafood, but that's a problem for over there to take care of itself another time.
And before everyone knew it, a year had passed since the armistice was signed. This day would be known as Surf and Turf Peace Day and was declared a public (bank) holiday in most countries. Ceremonies would be held all across Dryland and Salacia to remember those who died in the war because remember, the Shark King's Time Vent didn't revive everyone who died. The biggest of the commemorations would be held in Salacia as all Salacian royals would be attending the headline events organised by the Shark Kingdom. They would also be joined by all the personnel of the Kongming and Yabusaki Armies, the former having disbanded in the aftermath of the war.
The first of these events was the morning remembrance ceremony, held at the Bubbles Lighthouse (well, one of them, anyway). Trebon made a welcome speech and Parker made a commemorative address to the audience before Miss Marla read the Ode of Remembrance:
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
- Ode of Remembrance, For the Fallen (Laurence Binyon)
Lest we forget.
Bugles then played The Last Post before there was two minutes' silence to remember the soldiers and civilians who died during the war. Following this, bugles then played The Rouse. These traditions were standard for Anzac Day and Remembrance Day ceremonies in countries like Australia and New Zealand.
Following this, the Peace Day Parade would be held on the main street of Salacia in the afternoon. Each of the kingdoms' royal families would lead their soldiers, staff and kin down the main street to honour all those who served their kingdoms and the goddess Salacia. From the following year onwards, the attendance of the royal families was up to their own discretion.
That evening, Salacian royals and Drylander officers along with other special guests gathered for a dinner gala concert, not at the Shark Palace, but at the Ruins of Salacia, also known as the Barracuda Palace in the Valley of Dusk, which had been rebuilt in the aftermath of the royal family's return. Numerous speeches were made and numerous awards and recognitions were handed out.
In between courses, there were numerous speeches and performances from different people. Here's a highlight of some of them:
言い訳ばかりの駄目な僕の中
今か今かと この手は震えてる
本当の姿が 誰にも見せられない
まだ今は 救えない僕を 許して Don't look at me
The song W (pronounced "double") was sung by Parker, symbolising the feelings of a child who wanted to be a hero.
"This song reminds me of how weak I was when I was young," said Polvina.
"Don't say things like that about yourself," reproached Ester. "You were just as strong back then as you are now."
"What's wrong with recognising your own weaknesses?" questioned Tubarina. "There were things we had no control over back then just as there are now. The only difference now is that we've been able to take control of what we can."
只因你太美 baby
只因你太美 baby
只因你實在是太美 baby
只因你太美 baby
Next up was 只因你太美 (Just Because You're So Beautiful) by Dustin, Marcello, Hugo, Sirilo, Maurico and Caton. Dustin had made his proposal song and dance for Agostinha into a group performance. It was nice, but it didn't change the memetic cheesiness of the song, despite what Dustin thought.
強くなれる理由を知った
僕を連れて進め
どうしたって!
消せない夢も 止まれない今も
誰かのために強くなれるなら
ありがとう 悲しみよ
世界に打ちのめされて負ける意味を知った
紅蓮の華よ咲き誇れ!
運命を照らして
Polvina's performance of 紅蓮華 (Gurenge) amazed the entire crowd. Even her best friends never knew she could sing like that because she never really sang near other people. This song was an ode to the war, for warriors to remember the reason why people became stronger.
Nossa, nossa
Assim você me mata
Ai, se eu te pego
Ai, ai se eu te pego
Delícia, delicia
Assim você me mata
Ai, se eu te pego
Ai, ai, se eu te pego
Ai Se Eu Te Pego (Oh, If I Catch You) is not a song really sung at formal events like this, but it has to be said, it got the princesses raving. Daniel was the one who sung this and Polvina was next to him on the stage in preparation for the next song:
解き放たれた心に宿した火よ
舞い上げ まとえ 今 夜明けの向こう側へ
君がいるこの世界もう一度愛せるまで
我が命 果てようとも 繋いで行こう
絆が紡いで生まれた奇跡を
絆ノ奇跡 (Kizuna no Kiseki) was the theme to the last part of this saga, highlighting the new bonds of love and friendship between Salacians and Drylanders.
Me quiere a mí (me quiere a mí)
Me quiere a mí (me quiere a mí)
No se va contigo, no
Me quiere a mí (me quiere a mí)
Por favor, entiéndelo
Me dijo a mí (también a mí)
Me quiere a mí (me quiere a mí)
A él le gusta su vaina rosada
Me quiere a mí (me quiere a mí)
A él le gusta su mermelada
In a nod to their childhood rivalry, Ester and Marli got a bit animated with each other while performing Me Quiere a Mi (He Loves Me), roleplaying themselves "fighting" over a boy.
Sex Machine
I am the sex machine
Sex Machine
I am the sex machine
Then, to "break up" the fight, Liam went on stage with the song Sex Machine.
Eu vou, eu vou
Sentar agora eu vou
Eu vou, eu vou, eu vou
Sentar agora eu vou
Parara timbum, parara timbum
Eu vou, eu vou
Eu vou, eu vou, eu vou
Sentar agora eu vou
Eu vou, eu vou, eu vou
Sentar agora eu vou
Parara timbum, parara timbum
Eu vou, eu vou
Since Polvina and Ester had performed a few songs, it was only natural that Tubarina at least perform one as well. Parara Tibum was another song not suited for formal events, but there were other dancers (princesses among them) on the stage, making for a copious amount of twerking.
They say "Who's that guy?"
そう呼ばれても
未来に遣せる何かを
過ぎ行く今 刻み込めたら
It's forever-ever never
消えない
The twerking continued as Parker joined Tubarina and the dancers on the stage for Who's That Guy.
Wow pasichi punchis, punchis, es para ti, para mi, para muchos
Wow pasichi punchis, punchis, ven, bailaras, sudaras conmigo
Wow pasichi punchis, punchis, es para ti, para mi, para muchos
Wow pasichi punchis, punchis, ven, bailaras, sudaras conmigo
Pasichi Punchis was performed by Veto, Dylan, Wilmer and Merlo together with Parker, Liam and Daniel in a parody of K-pop boy bands.
We've gotta hold on to what we've got
It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not
We've got each other and that's a lot for love
We'll give it a shot
Whoa, we're half way there
Whoa oh, livin' on a prayer
Take my hand, we'll make it I swear
Whoa oh, livin' on a prayer
Livin' on a prayer
Wilmer was into 80's rock music, so the boys decided to perform Livin' on a Prayer as part of their set.
How can we dance when our earth is turning?
How do we sleep while our beds are burning?
How can we dance when our earth is turning?
How do we sleep while our beds are burning?
The time has come to say fair's fair
To pay the rent now, to pay our share
The time has come, a fact's a fact
It belongs to them, we're gonna give it back
Parker joined Veto and his friends for Beds Are Burning, a song with a political message. The message of the song was originally about indigenous peoples and land rights in outback Australia/China, and while Parker may disagree with the movement in cities elevating indigenous people over everyone else, he was coming around to recognising the origins of his world and its people. Hypocrisy is a funny old thing, isn't it?
声をからして 燃える花のように 闇間を照らしたら
曖昧過ぎる正解も譜面にして
夜を数えて朝を描く様な 鮮やかな音を鳴らす
どんなに深い後悔も どんなに高い限界も
掻き消して 残響
For someone who was normally a ballet dancer, Angelina wowed the crowd with her performance of 残響散歌 (Zankyosanka), highlighting the more light-hearted moments of the war and paving the way for a new era of peace. There were many other songs before, after and in between, but the bottom line is that everyone had fun, and that is all that mattered.