Hope had now begun to fade.
But thenâ
Dr. Aron rushed into the room, his usual calm shaken.
He placed his hands on Tim's wristâand his eyes widened.
"I feel it... A pulse."
Everyone in the room froze.
Aron looked up at Rei, his voice filled with disbelief and awe.
"It's because of you... Because you never left his side."
Rei's breath hitched.
"What...?"
"Your bond... Was slowly stimulating him all those days. His energy had been reacting to yours faintly but now it's clearly reacting. I had been keeping quiet about the slow simulation as I never wanted to give false hope as a doctor. And I was unsure if it had a meaning."
Aron smiled softly.
"It's a miracle, Rei. One only the two of you could create. I believe it's the result of your Celestic Resonance."
Rei's hands trembled as she clutched Tim's.
She knew what she had to do.
She closed her eyes, feeling his warmthâeven if faint.
Her lips quivered as she whispered, her voice full of desperate love:
"You are my Sun... and I am your Moon."
It wasn't a plea.
It wasn't a command.
It was their bond.
Celestic Resonance.
Jim, Jeromy, Gravik, Henry, Marie, Sheila, Aronâeveryone stepped closer.
One by one, they spoke to him.
"Come back to us, Tim."
"We still need you."
"You're our brother, our friend."
"You can't leave yet!"
Darren and Maria came too, understanding the situation completely in unison prayed:-
"You can't leave yet big bro! Big sis needs you."
Outside, the entire Resistance gathered along with some Celestic Justice members and even all the Solar and Lunar people who supported them in the battle against Dark Void, their voices uniting, sending their emotions into the room.
And thenâ
A single warm light flickered from Tim's chest.
His fingers twitched.
His breathing deepened.
And his eyes slowly opened.
Rei gasped.
Her voice broke.
"Tim...!"
Tim's gaze landed on her.
Weak, tiredâbut smiling.
"Sorry... for worrying you."
The moment those words left his lips, Rei collapsed onto his chest, sobbing.
She held him tight, tighter than ever before.
"You idiot... You absolute idiot!"
Her fists lightly pounded against his chest before her grip softened.
Tears soaked into his hospital robe.
Tim weakly raised a hand, brushing through her hair.
"I'm here, Rei... I'm here."
And thenâshe whispered the truth.
"We're going to be parents."
Tim's tired eyes sparkledânot with surprise, but understanding.
His smile widened.
"I knew... I felt it... when we fused into Solunar Warrior."
Rei blinked, shocked.
"What...?"
Tim exhaled softly.
"That's why I fought so hard. I didn't want you to push yourself too much."
Rei's lips quivered.
She lightly punched his chest before burying herself deeper into his arms.
"You're such a fool."
Tim chuckled weakly, resting his forehead against hers.
"But I'm your fool."
And for the first time in seven daysâ
The room was filled not with sorrow... but with love.
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, the tension in the air finally broke.
Tim was alive.
The news spread like wildfire, sending waves of relief and joy through every Solunar citizen, Celestic Justice and Resistance squads.
People who had once feared the worst now cried with happiness.
Jim wiped tears from his eyes with a smirk.
"You really scared us there, big bro."
Henry and Marie clutched each other, laughing through their tears.
Jeromy folded his arms, shaking his head with a rare smile.
"Tch. I knew you were too stubborn to die."
Even Gravik, usually the most composed, let out a long, shaky breath, his hands clenched into silent gratitude.
Sheila pulled her children into a tight embrace, whispering words of reassurance.
Dr. Aron sighed in relief, the weight of seven days lifting off his shoulders.
"You did it, Tim..."
Yet, none of them had suffered as much as Rei.
For seven days, she had been living in hell.
She had refused to leave his sideâfighting against exhaustion, hunger, and despair.
Now, holding him in her arms, she finally allowed herself to breathe.
She traced her fingers along his face, as if memorizing every detail.
Tim's tired eyes softened as he reached up, cupping her cheek.
"You didn't give up on me."
Rei laughed softly, though her voice still trembled.
"I never will."
Tim's thumb gently wiped away her remaining tears.
"And... about what you said before..."
Rei's heart pounded.
"We're... really going to have a child?"
Rei nodded, her own hands drifting to her stomach.
Tim's eyes shined with emotionânot fear, not hesitation, but absolute joy.
A small, genuine chuckle escaped him.
"I guess that means I have even more reason to stay alive."
Rei sniffled before giving him the softest of smiles.
"You better."
The Next Day...
Tim was discharged after getting full recovery. Rei never left his side. Everyone around them celebrated. Even Darren and Maria were clutching their hands with Tim and Rei, shouting in joy.
"Big bro came back for big sis."
It somehow made Tim and Rei blush.
Even as they celebrated, they all knewâSoluna was in ruins.
The battle against Dark Void had left behind devastation.
Many lives have been lost.
They stepped out to look at the condition of Soluna.
They already knew but looking at a large number of bodies of Solunar people and how every Solunar survivor grieved for them not even wanting to give them a burial, simulated something in them.
They knew, it was unacceptable.
It was pretty much impossible to accept so many deaths even for them.
They wanted to save the dead even if it was impossible.
Tim clenched his fists.
"Even after all that... Soluna is still in pieces."
Rei's eyes glistened with emotion.
"We saved them... but now, we have to heal them."
Thenâa vision flashed in their minds.
Their bodies trembled as a familiar presence took hold of them.
For a moment, they were no longer themselves.
Tim's mind was flooded with the voice of the Solar Prince from long ago.
"You have walked the path we once failed to complete..."
Rei heard the soft, sorrowful voice of the Lunar Princess.
"You have walked the path we once failed to complete..."
The memories poured inâmemories of their past lives, of the war that had once divided them.
The Solar Prince and Lunar Princess had fought to unite their people, only to be cast aside by those too stubborn to see beyond their hatred.
But this timeâ
This time, their story had ended in unity, not war.
A warm, radiant energy surrounded them, and from the depths of time itself, two ancient figures emergedâThe Ancient Solar Lord and The Ancient Lunar Lord.
They gazed upon Tim and Rei, acknowledging their successors/reincarnations.
Ancient Solar Lord: "You have earned the right to rule."
Ancient Lunar Lord: "But more than rulers... you are the protectors of Soluna."
With those final words, the ancient spirits faded, leaving behind a powerful blessing.
Tim and Rei opened their eyes, their minds clearer than ever before.
They turned to the people, fully accepting their destiny.
Raising their weapons high into the sky, they channeled their Solar and Lunar energyâthe very essence of the Solar Sun and Lunar Moon.
A powerful light erupted from them, spreading across the war-torn land.
Then, as if answering their callâ
The very ground beneath them rumbled.
From the ashes of battle, something magnificent began to rise.
A castleânot of war, but of unity.
The Solunar Castle.
It stood tall and proud, its structure a perfect balance of Solar and Lunar energy. The golden glow of the Solar Sun illuminated one side, while the soft, deep blue radiance of the Lunar Moon shined on the other.
This was the symbol of their victory.
This was the heart of their new world.
Tim and Rei stepped inside, guided by instinct.
They knew what had to be done.
Inside the sacred hall of the Solunar Castle, they performed the ancient marriage ritualâa ceremony that had once been forbidden between Solar and Lunar people.
The marriage ritual of Tim and Rei was unlike any ceremony in history. This was not just a union of two individualsâthis was the merging of two worlds, the ultimate symbol of Solar and Lunar unity.
For centuries, Solar and Lunar people had been divided, their traditions kept separate. But today, for the first time, the forbidden ritual would be performedâthe Solunar Bonding Ceremony.
The sacred hall inside Solunar Castle was bathed in two lightsâgolden sunlight from the Solar Sun and dark blue moonlight from the Lunar Moon, both converging into a soft, radiant glow.
Tim and Rei stood at the center, clad in ceremonial attire representing their dual heritage.
Tim wore a white and gold robe, embroidered with the symbol of the Solar Brightnessâthe mark of a Solar Warrior.
Rei wore a black and dark blue gown, adorned with the symbol of the Lunar Shadowâthe mark of a Lunar Warrior.
The ritual was performed in order:-
Step 1: The Sacred Vows of Sun and Moon
Unlike ordinary vows, this part of the ceremony was done without speaking.
Instead, Tim and Rei placed their foreheads together, closing their eyes.
Their Energy began to intertwine, flowing between them in white and black streams.
Their thoughts, emotions, and souls connectedâas if speaking without words.
It was a vow beyond language, one spoken soul to soul:
"I am your Sun, forever shining by your side."
"I am your Moon, forever illuminating your path."
As their energies synchronized, a warm Solunar glow surrounded them.
Step 2: The Binding of Light and Shadow
Two eldersâone Solar, one Lunarâapproached them, carrying sacred relics from their ancestors.
The Solar Elder held a golden ribbon, representing the strength and warmth of the Sun.
The Lunar Elder held a dark blue ribbon, representing the calm and guidance of the Moon.
The elders wrapped the ribbons around Tim and Rei's wrists, binding their hands together.
Then, they stepped back, allowing the couple to complete the ritual themselves.
In perfect harmony, Tim and Rei lifted their bound hands to the skyâcalling upon the blessings of both celestial forces.
Suddenly, a magnificent pillar of light burst forth from the heavensâhalf golden, half dark blueâilluminating the entire hall.
This was the final blessing of the Solar Sun and Lunar Moon, recognizing them as one being, one soul.
Step 3: The Eternal Mark of the Solunar Bond
As the celestial light surrounded them, a mystical symbol began to form on their hands.
Tim's right palm and Rei's left palm glowedâa fusion of the Solar Light and Lunar Shadow, forever marking them as soul-bound partners.
This was the Solunar Markâa sacred emblem that only true destined partners could bear.
It symbolized:
Unity of Light and Shadow
Balance of Strength and Wisdom
The Eternal Bond of Sun and Moon
With the mark complete, their energies surged together, creating a spectacular burst of Solunar Radiance.
At that moment, the land of Soluna itself respondedâthe skies cleared, the stars shined brighter, and a new era of peace was truly sealed.
Step 4: The Kiss Under Sun and Moon
As the final moment arrived, Tim and Rei gazed at each other, their hearts pounding.
This was it.
Under the watchful light of the Solar Sun and Lunar Moon, they leaned in, their lips meeting in a deep, passionate kiss.
A kiss that marked the true unification of Solar and Lunar people.
A kiss that rewrote history.
A kiss that sealed their eternal destinyânot just as warriors, but as soulmates, rulers, and protectors of Soluna.
As they broke apart, a roar of cheers erupted from the people gathered around.
The Solar and Lunar people kneeled before them, pledging their loyalty and devotion bound by an oath of unity.
After the ceremony, Tim and Rei intertwined their energiesâtheir Celestic Resonance spreading across the entire planet.
The impossible happened.
The wounded warriors began to heal.
The deceased in Soluna began to revive.
The broken lands began to restore.
The skies, once tainted by war, became clear once more.
Hope had returned to Soluna.
When they emerged from the castle doors, they were no longer just warriors.
They were now the true rulers of Soluna.
The Solar and Lunar people, once divided, now bowed before them as one.
For the first time in historyâthere was no war.
Tim raised his hand.
"We vow to protect Soluna, not as king and queen..."
Rei placed her hand over her heart.
"But as warriorsâyour warriors."
The crowd erupted in thunderous cheers.
Henry and Marie shouted. "They really pulled it off."
Jim added. "Like legends!"
Tears streamed down the faces of those who had once been enemiesâbut now, they were one people.
As the night fell, the celebrations continued, but Tim and Rei found themselves drawn back inside the castle.
They stood in the sacred hall, staring at the place where their journey had reached its true purpose.
This was now their home.
Their true place in the universe.
As the Protectors of Soluna.
Tim turned to Rei, a soft smile playing on his lips.
"We did it."
Rei gazed up at him, tears of happiness shining in her eyes.
She reached out, taking his hand in hers.
Then, under the light of the Solar Sun and Lunar Moon, outside the sacred halls of their new kingdom, they finally shared their official kiss.
And for the first time in 6000 yearsâ
Soluna was at peace.