Estrellas: Book 2

CHAPTER THIRTY: THE END OF THE WAR

(told in perspective of Andrometa)
"No more war! No more war! No more war!" The chant rang out through the entire valley. Matthew beamed with pride as he stood in front of everyone, and I stood close to his side.

"You finally did it Crustello." I gave him a playful nudge, "You finally got to do something more in this war... In fact, you ended it."

"No Ms. Turner," he laughed at calling me this, "I didn't do any of this," he smiled while looking at me, "They all did, and so did you, the only thing I did was give a speech." He shrugged, and I looked across the battlefield astonished, Sols we're caring for injured Luna's, usual conversations that lasted ten seconds looked like they could go on for hours. And, the best thing yet, they all looked happy, yes, tired, maybe even injured, but happy. Matthew now looked out with a sparkle in his eyes, "I never thought I'd see it in my lifetime." Matthew gave a content sign, then he wrapped his arm around me and leaned his head into mine.

"Neither did I."

(told in perspective of Cassandra)

I stared at the medical truck, heartbroken. My one true love, gone, and he didn't even get to see the end of the war. Every person that survived after the battle had watched Matthew give his speech. And sure, I was proud of him, it had to have taken a lot of guts to go up and speak infront of a weaponized crowd. But, the death of Brutus was so fresh that I was still grieving the loss. Zana came up to me and gave me a giant hug. I started to cry.

"Hey, I know that your sad..." Zana patted my back, "But we'll get through this together, I promise."

"I-I just don't know what to do now that he's... gone." I paused and tears streamed down my face.

"Well, I didn't know Brutus too well, but I can tell you this: he's the kind of guy that would want you to honor his memory, and move on in life, not be stuck in the past and grieving him." Zana pulled out of the hug. "Now I get that he was just killed, and I understand that you are just beginning to grieve, but just promise me one thing, and I'm saying this because I care about you. Don't be so crushed inside that you never let love in again." I smiled and nodded, and right then and there, I silently made a vow to myself to honor his memory, and to tell others of his bravery and courage.

(told in perspective of Draco)

Later that day, everyone, Sols and Lunas alike, decided to throw a party in honor of the end of the war. I grabbed a few cups of fruit punch from the refreshments table and started to walk through the crowd. I met Danny, Matthew, Pandal, Cassandra, Andrometa, and Matthew in the farther back side of the room. "Fruit punch anyone?" I held up the cups and Danny and Pandal took them. "Can you guys believe it? The end of the war!" Draco looked out at all the partying Sols and Lunas.

"I can't believe it either, but, I'm just so sad about Brutus dying." Cassandra looked like she might cry, and I gave her a hug.

"Yeah, I heard about that, I am so sorry for your loss." Matthew said sadly, "he really was a good guy, wish we had gotten to know him better." Pandals dog began to whimper and he knelt down to pet it.

"I'd better take Brutus outside, wouldn't want him to pee on these nice floors." Pandal laughed.

"You finally came up with a name huh?" Cassandra gave the dog a pat on the head.

"I thought it would be a nice way to keep the memory of, we'll, you know." Pandal smiled and put the leash on him.

"Yeah, it really was..." Cassandra trailed off, she seemed touched by this, and I was happy that she was feeling better. The crowd began to cheer as a girl climbed onto the stage that the Luna's had for performing nights.

She smiled and then said, "Welcome Sols, Luna's, Medias, whoever you might be. I'm Jessica, and I just wanted to give a thank you to Matthew and his team! Come on up here!" Everyone started cheering and we began to walk to stage. Pandal had come back inside, he probably didn't know what was happening, but he got a general idea once we climbed on stage. "Now, Matthew Crustello, is it?" Matthew nodded and gave a sheepish grin. "We all just wanted to formally thank you for what you did out there, saving us from the war, giving a speech when it was probably nerve racking enough to be out there in the first place!" Matthew smiled then shook his head, she gave the microphone to him, and he began to speak.

"It wasn't nerve racking at all, I knew what had to be done, and I knew what might have happened to me if I did it. The most important part is that I had friends and loved ones by my side to support me through it all." Everyone started clapping and cheering, Matthew handed the microphone back to Jessica and all of us walked off stage.

(told in perspective of Matthew)
Three hours later, the party was over, everyone had begun to leave, and we all started to pack up the vans to leave for Media base for the very last time.
"I'm proud of you Matty." Zana ruffled my hair.

"Sure, AUNT Zana." Matthew shook his head and laughed.

"Oh, so you figured that out, didn't you?"

"Nah, my Mom and Dad told me." Matthew laughed but then trailed off.

"Hey, I know you miss them, so do I, but just remember that thanks to you guys, the war is over." Zana gave me a hug and we all loaded into the van. As we drove back to Media base, I finally began to feel like I made a difference in the war, I finally felt free to do what I wanted, and everything we had gone through and worked for was finally worth it. I looked around at my friend's smiling faces, yes, this was it, this was my family.
THE END FOR NOW