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Disclaimer: Look, people. I've been telling you since CHAPTER ONE – I don't own anything related to Outlaw Star!!! Damn...
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Author's Notes: You all have no idea how strange this feels. To know that this is the finale...the end of everything...feels really WEIRD. I mean REALLY weird. –sighs- Anyway, I don't really know what to say, except that I'm a little sad that I didn't get as many reviews as I would have liked, but it's okay – I love all of you, even if you didn't review, and I appreciate your sticking by me throughout this journey. I'll see you all at the end.
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Review Responses:
The Ronin – Yeah...the whole Caster thing was one of my more brilliant –SNORT– ideas. I was really worried about how to finish this all up, and then it hit me like a slap in the face. Well...a good sort of slap in the face. More like a wake-up call. I'm really into Zelda – I was obsessed with Ocarina of Time when I had my N64. I'll be sure to check out the fic. What's the title? Anyway – I'd really like to say how grateful I am that you stuck by me ever since you started reading this and kept reading even when I acted like a baby that one time and blew up unnecessarily. It means a lot to me. Thank you so much. Your presence during the procession of Prince Charming is one I will remember above a lot of the other reviewers. Domo arigatou gozaimasu, and good luck with the rest of your story. Know that I'll be reading until the final chapter!
StoryWeaver1 – Ah, my good friend. You've been here with me since Chapter One – and chapter after chapter you have demanded fluff. Well – I'm both happy and sad to say that your wishes have both been granted and not been granted finally. I decided that an extremely fluffy ending would be a little too much for the ending of the story, but I will be writing a one-shot sequel that will be so fluffy, it's sickening. I hope that makes you happy. I appreciate the consistency you've shown in your reading and reviewing. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and will inform you when the sequel is uploaded.
SonJanusX – Thanks for the explanation about Sentinel 3. That was really starting to get on my nerves. I did a little research and it turns out that you're right – Locus is the city. Thanks for the info; I needed it for this final chapter. I'd like to go ahead and thank you for reading Prince Charming – it means a lot to me that you kept up with the story and reviewed almost every chapter. You've done more than you know, and all of your reviews helped give me that little extra boost of confidence. If you get me past 150 reviews, I will love you forever! Thanks so much for your support over these last few chapters. –bows appreciatively-
TetsuoTsuboshi – I know! It's so strange. And you describe the feeling perfectly, Tetsuo. I'd like to thank you for your support during this story. It means a lot.
Midi Tenshi – -kicks you- JUST SHUT UP! Stupid ass...
Moon Sunflower – Is it okay that I left the last few numbers off the end of your name? I hope so. I'm a lazy idiot, so... Thanks for the review! I appreciate it greatly! I hope the end is satisfying.
Seashah – Are you going to kill me? –runs for cover- My friend, you can be quite terrifying when you're angry. Anyway – I'm really glad you enjoyed the parts with Aisha. It was kinda cool to have someone comment on that. And Jim is actually 11. I researched for hours to find out if the age was right. Thanks.
TroubledSkye – You are the greatest! I feel so happy when people think my fanfiction is good! Thank you so much! –wipes away tears and gives you a hug- And you'll just have to see what happens, won't you? ;D I don't want to give anything away when it's the last chapter anyway!!!
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Fear not, all of you that crave fluff! I will be creating a one-shot sequel that will be filled to the brim with the WAFF ((Warm-And-Fuzzy-Feelings)) that has been absent in Prince Charming. And I know the ending line is corny, but I like it! XD
I want you all to know how much writing this story has meant to me, and I cannot express the gratitude and utter happiness all of your reviews gave to me.
I love you all, and will miss you desperately.
When I decide to write another story, I hope to see some of you there, reading – it's always nice to see some familiar faces in the midst of it all.
Farewell for now and, without further ado – I present to you all the epilogue of Prince Charming. I hope it meets your expectations.
- Lady Himiko
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Prince Charming: Epilogue
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"Hey Gene!"
It was dark outside and everyone was tired, including a certain flame-haired man that was currently lazing around in bed, having chosen not to move all day.
"Go away, Jim! I'm tired!"
Jim Hawking let loose a loud, audible sigh from outside the door and chose to burst inside anyway.
"Like I care – I'm hungry! Let's go down to Clyde's and get something to eat!"
His only reply was a noisy grumble that sounded something like "Go to hell" or the sort.
"Pft. Fine. Be that way. In case you've forgotten, Wednesday is when they serve Iris's apple pie."
The door immediately swung open and a fully dressed and fully awakened Gene Starwind flounced out. "Well, whaddya waiting for, Jim?! LET'S GO!"
Jim sighed, rolled his eyes, and followed faithfully.
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Gene let out a long, satisfied sigh and leaned back in his chair, setting down his fork happily. "I swear, Iris makes the best pie in the universe!"
Jim, for once, happily agreed. This was obviously something that didn't happen very often, but it was true – Iris made a mean pastry.
There was a long moment of silence during which the two simply sat and let the pie digest. Then Gene sighed again; except this one was not satisfied - it was quite the opposite – and rested his fore head on top of his elbow, arms draped across the table.
It had been three months. Three long, withering months since everything had been resolved, but it felt like years. The two had never realized how truly difficult it would be to have to say goodbye to the three women that had been what at one point Gene would have called 'stalking' them for so long. But it had been difficult - very difficult.
When they arrived back at Starwind and Hawking, Co., the hardest thing for the both of them had been knowing that Melfina, Suzuka, and Aisha had been no further than two or three hours away, but they couldn't visit them. Gene let it off as being fully occupied with work, but he found that he couldn't admit that the truth was that he still felt guilty for what had happened. He'd never really been good at dealing with guilt.
Jim observed his friend quietly, silently remorseful for the fact that he couldn't do anything to make time pass more quickly. The sooner the women got back the better.
Gene had been totally out of it the entire time they'd been gone. He hardly slept, he hardly ate – everything he was well-known for had become heavily unstable, and the younger boy had become worried about not only his physical health, but his mental as well.
Jim sighed wistfully and looked around Clyde's bar, wishing that he could stop reminiscing and get on with life. His searching eyes came to an abrupt halt, however, when the door suddenly swung open and a few people entered.
He opened his mouth to awaken Gene, who looked as though he'd fallen asleep, but found his throat wouldn't allow him to speak.
Instead he reached over and slammed his fist into the top of his head.
Gene awoke instantly and his head flew back, ready to yell at Jim for the harsh intrusion he'd made through his dreams, but stopped short when he saw the black-haired woman sitting at the bar, holding a cup of tea and blowing on it gently. A wooden sword rested on the counter beside her, silhouetted against the faint light that shone directly above.
A few yards away, a table had become occupied by another woman, this one tall with a long braid that was flipped over the back of the chair so as not to become stuck underneath her. Large, wolfish ears were easy to spot underneath the wild, light-colored shag.
"Suzuka?" he asked, catching the attention of the black-haired woman, who cast him a small smile and then went back to her tea. "Aisha?!" The C'tarl-C'tarl grinned and waved a bit.
All of a sudden, Jim cried out happily and jumped out of his seat, eyes shining happily at something – or, apparently, someone – standing behind Gene.
The outlaw's breath caught in his throat as a quiet, happy voice spoke, sounding like music that had long been absent from his life and had finally returned to light up his existence once more.
"Gene."
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...AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
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