Beyblade Fan Fiction ❯ Majesty ❯ Epilogue ( Epilogue )

Authoress' Notes: I changed my mind. There's no more chapters. *sweatdrops* Sorry about that. It just seems like people have lost interest, and besides, I can wind things up with this one last little bit rather than dragging it all out in two full chapters. Anyway, just a little note: several chapters ago, I came to the discovery that Lee and Mariah were siblings (therefore making that particular pairing…EW). What I've done is tried to pretend like I didn't make that mistake, and given them separate families. *shrugs* I may go back and edit the previous chapters they appeared in someday, but not right away. For now, this'll do. So here is my final update to Majesty. Thanks for reading, everyone, and my gratitude to all my reviewers who stuck with this year-long project of mine.

 

Oh…one last thing. I am dedicating this entire fic to the person I call my greatest fan and harshest critic (all at the same time! *grins*). I know I love her work very much in return.

 

Dedication: To Ranma. Love you!

 

Warnings: Yaoi, language, violence, lemons, dramatic angst, etc.

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade. Only this fic and its OCs.

 

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Epilogue

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A month and a half later, the peace and tranquility of Bay City was shattered. One afternoon, the weather abruptly changed from a cool, sunny day in late fall to a lightning and thunder storm that was so intense the people of the city ran for shelter and barricaded themselves in to hide from it's ferocity. The priests and priestesses of the temples scrambled to perform auguries and ceremonies to appease the gods - who they assumed had been offended somehow.

In the Palace, the throne room cleared out nearly as quickly as the lightning strikes flashing through the skies and the throne room itself.

Kai sighed and buried his face in his hands. Running his fingers through his hair, he tried placating his mate before someone got hurt.

Namely, his hapless cousin.

“Tyson, love, calm down. You nearly incinerated Duke Robert and the Ambassador from Lumina. I hope you realize the gifts I'll have to apologize with are going to be expensive.”

The dragon growled a warning not to speak to him and Kai raised his hands in supplication, sitting back in his seat and letting the bluenette vent. Tala was watching Tyson carefully, like a wild animal who'd been cornered. Hilary, on the other hand, was glaring at her cousin and tapping one slippered foot in annoyance.

“Kinomiya Takao! I swear, if you're going to do this anytime Tala says something to me or makes a request to enjoy my company - with supervision even…” She scolded him loudly. Huge sparks, like mini-lightning bolts, surrounded Tyson in an electric blue aura that flared as she spoke and his gaze flickered to her momentarily. Flinching, she curtsied deeply and backed away a little.

“This, Hilary, is substantially more than a request for your company.” Tyson growled, eyeing Tala predatorily. He took a step down from the dais and Tala had to call on every bit of his training not to back away and run for the hills.

“Well, yes.” The redhead managed to say. He swallowed hard. “I'd prefer to have her company permanently for the rest of our lives. I'm asking for your blessing, Kinomiya-sama, to ask her for the privilege of being her lifemate.” He deliberately used Tyson's formal title in the hope of staying on his good side - sort of.

Hilary's head shot up and whipped toward Tala. Tyson saw it and realized she had no idea Tala had been planning this.

“Give me one good reason I should even consider it.” Tyson stared down at him, swallowing back some of his power - along with this temper. He was still glowing, and his eyes were still shaped very much like they were when he was in his dragon form, but the random lightning strikes in the room had gone away, and sunlight once again filtered into the room.

Tala hesitated, his ice-blue eyes flicking to Hilary then back to Tyson. Hilary was staring at her suitor with wide eyes, a faint blush decorating her cheeks.

“Tala?”

The new general of the Royal Guards met Tyson's eyes and he finally replied, “I love her.” quite simply.

Hilary sucked in a sharp breath.

Kai looked up from the interesting design on the marble floor of the dais that he found just fascinating. It was the first he'd heard of that much sentiment from his cousin about anyone.

The only other people in the room were Daichi and Kenny (who were always in attendance with their masters), and Bryan, who seemed to take his duty as Hilary and Tala's chaperone very seriously. All three were watching the scene play out with baited breaths. Everyone else had run away at the first opportunity when the storm broke.

Tyson was staring at Tala, steadily, his face an emotionless mask that showed no hint of what he was thinking or feeling. It was not an expression that anyone in the room was used to on the bluenette - he was, after all, one of the most open people. At that moment, however, it was downright scary, particularly to Tala.

Suddenly the dragon closed his eyes and turned, climbing back up the steps of the dais to sit back down heavily beside Kai. His aura calmed and disappeared and any residue static electricity floating around the room seemed to have dissipated.

“Tyson?” Kai asked in concern. He sensed something was bothering his lifemate, and took one hand between his own. “What's wrong love?”

“I'm fine.” Tyson shook his head and opened his eyes, giving Kai a small smile, meant to reassure. Then he looked back to Tala. “Tala.”

“Yes?” the red-head returned the gaze as calmly as he could.

“Do you truly love Hilary? That you would honestly give up any and all other…pursuits for her?”

There was no hesitation before Tala's short nod and reply. “I have done so - since the night I assisted in your escape from the Tower prison. There has been no other nor will there ever be. I so swear it.”

“And you understand that if you go back on your oath, and prove to have lied not to me but to Hilary…” Tyson's midnight blue eyes flashed dangerously, but Tala didn't flinch. “There will be nowhere in this world that you can run from my wrath.” It was not a threat. It was a promise, a statement of fact as Tyson saw it.

Tala merely said, “I won't need to run away. I have not nor will I lie to her.”

Tyson seemed to accept that because his gaze turned on his cousin. “Hilary? Have you anything to say? Ask?”

“Ah…no, cousin.” She shook her head, eyes still wide and the blush still present on her face. “Not at the present time.”

“Very well. Is what Tala has requested and offered something that is acceptable to you?”

The blush deepened and she looked at the armour-clad warrior shyly. “Yes.”

Tala released a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, and smiled at her. She smiled back softly.

Looking at the phoenix, Tyson raised an eyebrow. “Kai? Do you have any objections?”

“Why are you asking me? I do not speak for Tala as you do Hilary.” Kai gave him a slightly confused look.

“Because he is your cousin. And because you are my lifemate. I value your opinion.”

“Ah. Well, quite frankly I'll be ecstatic to see Tala mated to a nice woman such as Hilary. It will keep him honest and out of trouble.” Kai couldn't resist a smirk down at his scowling cousin. “He needs to settle down.”

Tyson rolled his eyes, knowing that the rivalry and needling the two seemed to enjoy engaging each other in would probably never end. “Then I have made my decision.”

Hilary took a step forward, her hand outstretched as if to make a plea and her other hand clutched to her heart in a fist. “Kinomiya-sama?”

Schooling his features into the most austere and solemn expression he could, he said simply, “I give my blessing.”

Tala opened his mouth to protest and begin arguing for all he was worth, but blinked and snapped his mouth shut in shock when that sunk in. He hadn't believed the dragon would agree so readily - not at first, anyway.

Hilary took in a deep breath and beamed, silvery tears of happiness trickling down her rosy cheeks. “Thank you, Takao.” She said in a thick voice.

Tyson waved it away. “Hey, I'm not a monster. I know how you feel about him, Hilary. And I'm slowly beginning to believe he feels at least the same for you.”

Hilary laughed and ran toward her new soon-to-be lifemate. Tala turned to her just in time to catch her in his arms, but before he could say or do anything, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him hard.

Tyson winced and averted his eyes. This time, at least, he couldn't scold her or obliterate Tala for the display of affection. He was still feeling protective of his only remaining close family member, but even he knew he had to let go sometime. Kai patted his hand in understanding and rolled his eyes at the couple.

“Okay, you two, break it up.” He stood and pulled his mate up with him. Tala and Hilary broke apart and stared at each other with those silly smiles of a couple who are ridiculously happy.

“Tala?” Hilary murmured in a quiet voice. He looked down into her eyes and nodded.

“Yes, Hilary?”

“I love you, too.”

He smiled gently and bent to kiss her again, lightly.

“I think it's safe to say Court won't be held today - since Tyson has scared everyone off.” Kai declared, grinning when the bluenette looked sheepish and shuffled his feet.

“Sorry, love.” He apologized.

“Oh please. Any excuse to do something else is fine with me.” Kai scoffed and brought their joined hands up to place a kiss to the back of his hand. “Come, lover. Why don't we go for a walk through the gardens?”

Tyson nodded and let him lead the way out the great doors of the throne room, Daichi and Kenny trailing behind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Inhaling a deep breath of fresh air, the bluenette smiled peacefully and crouched down. He passed a gentle hand in the air over the bed of brightly coloured fall flowers, just barely brushing the petals.

Kai watched him from the bench he sat on, sipping his tea. Compared to the violent temper that had lashed out not twenty minutes ago from his lifemate in the throne room…well, Kai would have thought Tyson was two different people if he hadn't known better.

“Here, Kai.” Tyson came up to him holding a single, cheerful blossom in his palm. “Isn't it pretty?”

“Yes. I take it you enjoy these gardens.” Kai smiled and watched the dragon carefully place the blossom on the surface of the waters of a small koi pond near the bench. “I'm glad. They were among one of few places in the Palace I loved growing up here.”

Tyson dusted his hands off and returned to his phoenix, joining him on the bench and automatically reaching to grasp Kai's hand. “I think there was a time I may not have considered you a flower kind of guy. Still, this place is truly phenomenal.” He sighed. “I'll be sad to see the flowers hidden under the snow, come winter.”

“The winter has it's own beauty. The scenery is nice - it's the cold I don't like.” Kai raised their linked hands and kissed the back of Tyson's once more. “How are you feeling, love?”

“I'm fine. I haven't felt nauseous in a few days now. How are you?” Tyson let go of Kai's hand and placed it on the dual-haired Emperor's flat stomach.

“I feel just fine. I haven't been sick like you.” Kai snickered at the dragon's scowl. “And I haven't had those wicked mood swings either.”

Tyson pouted and snuggled into his mate's side. Kai relented and draped an arm around his shoulders, his fingers combing through his midnight blue hair. Tyson had taken to wearing it down a lot more often since not just his `delicate' condition had been discovered, but Kai's also.

“It's not fair. Why am I the one who has to suffer all this? You haven't lost your temper once for nearly two months. You don't go through that hellish sickness every morning for weeks as I have. It's not fair!”

“I'm sorry, my love.” Kai turned his head and kissed Tyson's forehead. “I know you've suffered, and I agree. It's not fair.”

Sighing deeply again, the bluenette shrugged. He lazily rubbed his hand over Kai's stomach and let out a deep purr. “I guess we can't be too upset with Drisana. I know I'm going to enjoy holding our children and playing with them.”

Kai didn't really say anything. He still wasn't sure about the whole parenthood thing. It scared him spitless, truthfully. At the same time, however, he was enjoying the strange serenity and peacefulness that had come over him since he'd felt the first fluttering of life beginning inside himself. It had been weird to know he was pregnant - at the same time as his beloved lifemate was, no less - but he'd figured it out before anyone else had. For a few days at first, he'd been so scared at the prospect of not just being a parent, but of the entire process of giving birth…until his practical personality had taken over and decided to take it one step at a time.

Practicality was his specialty, after all.

Tyson shifted until he lay along the bench with his head pillowed in Kai's lap comfortably. Kai glanced down at him and stroked his hair.

“Are you not feeling well, love?”

“I'm fine. Just sleepy.” He hugged Kai's leg like a giant pillow and nuzzled. The dragon let out a sigh and purred softly. “You're warm.” He murmured so quietly Kai almost didn't hear him.

“Sleep, my gorgeous dragon. Take a nap.” He ran his fingers through Tyson's hair lethargically. “We won't be disturbed out here for a while, I don't think.”

He got no response. The bluenette was already asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Winter came and went. By the time the snow had melted and spring had turned the world bright with colour once more, affairs around the Empire had been settled, fixed, and instituted, running smoothly and peacefully as it hadn't in many years.

With the stability and peace came the next big lifemating ceremony in both the Empire and the Dragon Clans. On the first official day of spring, Tala and Hilary were united on the newly built steps of the keep at Castle Kinomiya - which was still under construction. Despite that, everyone had put down their tools, cleaned up, donned their finest clothes, and attended the ceremony to witness it. Rei and Max - along with Max's parents, Lee and Mariah and their respective (not to mention numerous) children and mates, and of course, Tabitha - had all made the journey to be there, too.

Rei and Max, having been gone for nearly eight months, hadn't been very surprised to find out both Emperors were with child. When Tyson asked why, Rei just looked pained and Max laughed, explaining that their `Guardians' had decided to drop by on occasion and keep their eyes on the two. Draciel and Driger had, therefore, dropped hints sometimes in their conversations.

About an hour before midnight, Tala scooped Hilary up into his arms, and disappeared out the nearest exit with his blushing lifemate, heading for the carriage that was returning them to Bay City and the Palace. Not only would they keep an eye on things for the next few months, but they would have their honeymoon there also.

Tyson and Kai remained at the dragon's ancestral home, supervising the continued reconstruction of not only the castle, but the rebuilding of the Clanspeople's homes and villages.

Castle Kinomiya was completed near to the end of June, which turned out to be most fortuitous for the Kinomiya and his lifemate.

Now living in their new residence, as they had planned to do for at least another month, maybe two, they woke one morning feeling quite well rested and prepared to take on another day of settling minor disputes among Clan members over various issues and continuing to supervise the rebuilding of a nearby village.

During a pause at mid-day for lunch, Tyson noticed Kai wincing and trying to get comfortable in his seat at the table.

“What's wrong, Kai? Are the chairs uncomfortable?” He inquired. Kai shook his head.

“No. It's not the chairs. My lower back ahs been aching all day, and it just seems to get worse.” The phoenix said, one hand moving to the sore area of his body, as if he could make the pain go away somehow.

Tyson frowned. “You too, huh? Mine started aching last night. I thought it would go away, but it hasn't.”

“Maybe it's because of the strain of carrying this extra weight around for so long.” Kai rubbed his swollen abdomen absently, smiling at the somersaults he could feel the baby trying to perform.

“Probably. We weren't actually made to deal with giving birth as females are.”

The doors to the room opened and Daichi strolled in with a stack of parchments.

“Takao, I brought those treaties and trade agreements you wanted to see.” The flame-haired youth declared, setting them down on a table. Tyson had broken him of the habit of calling him by his so formal title of `Kinomiya-sama' all the time - with the exception of formal-type occasions, of course. As for Kai, well, Daichi didn't like it but he called the dual-haired man by his name (again, except formal occasions). At those times it was usually `Hiwatari-sama' or `Your Majesty.'

“Thanks, Daichi. Have you seen Dragoon or Dranzer wandering around anywhere, lately?” Tyson asked.

“Nope. They've been gone for days, cousin. Strata Dragoon thinks they're busy preparing a nest for Dranzer's time.” He rolled his eyes. “I tried explaining to him that the Gods don't need a nest, but he insists on it.”

“He's a dragon, after all. He can't help thinking like one.” Kai said in amusement at the thought of his fiery ancestor nesting like the Phoenix she was. “I wouldn't be surprised if Strata was right though. Some instincts die hard.”

“I thought Drisana said that phoenixes only had one or two offspring in their entire lives. Amazing that Dranzer is with child again, isn't it?” Tyson reached for his tea cup, grunting at a small pain that was still sharper than he'd have expected leaning forward like that.

“She's a goddess, though, love. I think she can have as many children as she wants to.” Kai flinched at what he thought was a particularly hard kick. “Ouch. Must you aim for my ribs?” He asked aloud. Daichi snickered.

A strange sensation washed over Tyson suddenly, and he had to set his tea cup down before he dropped it. Light headed and chilled all of a sudden, Tyson pushed himself half-way out of his seat, as if to get up. However, another, sharper pain made his legs shaky and he sat down hard again. It felt like something had ripped open for a moment, and that hurt.

“Ah…oh no.” He groaned, looking down. “Oh…no…”

“Tyson? You've gone very pale on me, Kinomiya. What's wrong?” Kai asked, wide-eyed with concern.

The bluenette took a deep breath and closed his eyes, focusing all his mental abilities and power into one near-panicked cry for help.

{DRAGOON!}

Before Kai could manage to get himself out of his own seat to go find out what was wrong with his mate, he suddenly found he had problems of his own. The first contraction hit him hard, nearly doubling him over with the pain of it, and a strangled cry escaped on a gasp of breath.

Daichi, poor kid, looked back and forth between the two in a panic. He had no idea what was going on or what to do. Lucky for him, help appeared on a warm breath of wind through and open window.

Two phoenixes and a dragoon few in, and between one blink and the next, Dragoon, Dranzer, and Drisana stood there taking in the scene at a glance.

“Oh my…” Dranzer waddled over to her descendant quickly. “Oh, oh, oh! Chibi ichi, it's time, isn't it?”

Dragoon was at Tyson's side in an instant. “You didn't have to shout, you know. Here, take my hand, little dragon.”

“Sorry. Didn't know if you'd…ah!” Tyson's hand clamped down with surprising strength on Dragoon's as a contraction gripped him. The Dragon god winced at it. “Damn it! That hurts…”

Taking charge, Drisana started tossing out orders. “Daichi! Go see that everything is prepared in the birthing room, and find Kenny!” She called after him as he ran out without question. “Bring Tyson, Dragoon, if you would. I'll bring Kai.”

“I could…” Dranzer began to say. Drisana shook her head and shooed her sister away, easily lifting Kai in her arms and carrying him out the door.

“No, sister. Not in your condition. You'll have enough to do soon, anyway.”

Once Kai and Tyson were made as comfortable as they could be (all things considered), the wait outside the birthing room began.

Four hours later, Dragoon came out looking a touch pale.

Bryan, who had stayed with Kai as his bodyguard (not that he really needed one) and second in command in Tala's place, raised an eyebrow in question.

“They're okay - so I'm told. I got kicked out, though. Apparently I'm not much help.” Dragoon shrugged. “Women.”

“I wouldn't know, my Lord.”

Daichi had been sent to Bay City, to the Palace, to let Hilary and Tala know that their cousins were delivering and to escort them back to the Castle. Since the trip took about a day's worth of hard riding without stopping to get to Bay City from Castle Kinoimya, it was entirely probable Hilary and Tala weren't going to make it in time to witness the births.

So Bryan, Dragoon, and Kenny sat outside the room to wait as patiently as they could, with the eager Clans gathering (as news spread like wildfire) beyond the Castle walls.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The first rays of the morning sun threaded through stormy grey-white clouds in burning reds and golds against a pale blue backdrop.

New life arrived in those wee hours of the day - wailing in protest at being removed from what had been a warm, silent, comfortable home.

And somewhere in those shining white heavens, where the souls of the dead watched over the living, a wily, wise old man grinned and wished his family - blood clan and new extended members included - all his blessings. He couldn't have been more proud of his grandsons.

“Well done, T-man, K-man. Very well done.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Five Years Later…

 

“Daddy! Dad! Wake up!”

A child's voice cut through the pleasant dreamscapes of his parents' deep sleep.

“Dad! Da~ad…come on, Daddy!”

An annoyed growl came out from under the pile of covers on the massive bed. Tyson felt the mattress under him move as a weight pounced on the bed at their feet. Cracking an eye open, he met on of his lifemate's own crimson eyes.

{He didn't get it from me.} Kai pointed out.

{At dawn, he's your son, Hiwatari. I was having a perfectly wonderful dream.} With that, the Kinomiya rolled onto his other side and ignored their son's chattering, trying to go back to sleep. He sent Kai a short, mental message of “Send them back to bed or sleep on the sofa tonight,” kind of emotion.

{Oh, like I wasn't? You looked very delectable in the chocolate sauce I borrowed from Chef Oliver's kitchens…} Kai scowled and returned the sentiment emoting down their bond from Tyson. It had been five years since he and Tyson had brought their sons into the world, and while neither had been what one could call calm about the situation at the time, when it was over, Kai had discovered he didn't mind being a father so much.

Of course, it could have been his hormones talking…

“Otosan! Dad! Come on, please? It's a special day! We're going on a picnic, remember?” Both adults winced and sighed when their feet got grasped and shaken insistently.

“Makoto, it's too early for that yet!” Another child's voice, this one more calm and at the moment really sleepy, spoke up in an attempt to intervene. “You know they won't get up before nine…”

“But oniichan! It's our birthday!” Tyson and Kai heard the pout in their younger son's voice (younger than his brother by only a minute, in truth). “They promised a picnic and cake and presents and a party and…”

There was a sigh, then a startled yelp and a thump as - what their parents assumed - Makoto being pulled off the bed.

“Leave them alone, chibi. It's only five-thirty in the morning. Let's go back to bed.”

“Hey! Gou! No way!”

“Ow! No shocking, Makoto!”

A growl and an answering hiss made Tyson roll over onto his back again. Kai did, too, and threw back the covers so they could both sit up.

Gou, with his dual-shaded hair and crimson-flecked stormy violet eyes, held a small fireball in his palm, while Makoto (with his blue hair and even bluer sapphire eyes flecked with silver and gold) held his hand up with electric sparks dancing from finger to finger, and faced him unflinchingly at the foot of the bed.

“Makoto! Gou!” Tyson said each of their names sharply and saw both boys shiver. Neither looked away, however.

“That's quite enough of that.” Kai didn't waste breath trying to talk them out of it - he'd noticed their sons were just as stubborn as he and Tyson were and that no amount of talking got them to change their minds once set on a goal. Instead, he reached out and called the fireball in Gou's hand to his own.

“What?! Hey!” Gou watched the phoenix study the small ball of fire no bigger than Gou's own fist, then close his own around it. When he opened it again, a tiny puff of smoke was the only evidence of it left. “Great. Thanks a lot, Otosan.”

“Don't you take that tone of voice. You know neither of you are to use power against each other except in training drills with us supervising.” Tyson scolded his sons, cutting off the static crackling around Makoto's hand. Makoto looked ready to cry.

“He pulled me off the bed and I nearly bashed my nose on the floor!”

“You tried kicking me!”

“Enough.”

Kai's voice shut them both up without another word.

“It's too damned early in the morning for your squabbling! I know it's your birthday, but for Heaven's sake cut…it…out!” He stared at them owlishly and flopped back onto his back again, yanking the covers up over his head. There was a muffled, “Go back to bed!” then utter silence.

Tyson blinked, yawned, then raised an eyebrow at them. “And you're still standing there…why?”

The boys shuffled their feet and chorused, “We're sorry, Daddy.”

“We got carried away.” Gou reached out and took his brother's hand. “It won't happen again.”

The dragon laughed and rolled his eyes. “Don't make promises that you probably won't be able to keep, Gou.” He sighed and motioned them to the bed. “Come. You can sleep here with us for a while longer, alright? Give the rest of the Palace a chance to wake up.”

That offer didn't happen often and their eyes lit up. They moved as one unit, clambering up onto the bed and crawling over to settle under the covers between their parents. Gou snuggled up to Tyson's chest, Makoto lay on his back behind his brother, and Kai lay on his side facing Tyson on Makoto's other side.

“Gods, you are so like your Dad, Makoto.” Kai snickered and Tyson glowered at him.

“What do you mean, Otosan?” The little boy gave him wide-eyed innocence with his question.

“You sprawl out like he does, hogging the bed.” Gou replied, trying to burrow into Tyson farther. “And the covers.” He added after a moment of afterthought.

“Don't start.” Kai laid a finger over Makoto's mouth, cutting off an argument. “Go to sleep, both of you.”

The Hiwatari-Kinomiya Royal family fell back into their slumber, curled and snuggled together like a pile of puppies or kittens.

Truthfully, they all tended to sprawl out and be cover hogs.

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Authoress' Notes: Ta da! ^___^ And that's the end of it. Hope you all enjoyed the ride! Stay tuned, and please R/R!!!!

 

Fin Ende Owari

 

~ Yami FireKali ~