So, with Europa utterly and completely destroyed, the war was finally over.

When the soldiers stormed the Capitol building, they found the council members sitting in their spacious room, not trying to run, not trying to escape. They were swiftly detained, and put in the highest security prison New Asia had to offer. Their trial was quickly given a date, and all but a few were sentenced to death.

Then came the aftermath of the war. Millions who were displaced by the war need shelter and food. The government of New Asia, along with the help of The Merchant’s Cabinet, sent thousands of tons of humanitarian aid to Europa. Of course, that was no where near enough, but at least it was something. Then they organized hundreds of aircraft, to ferry the residents of the now ruined Europa to New Asia.

A month after the ceasefire, the four massive gates in New Asia’s walls were opened for the first and final time, allowing the city to expand beyond its original boundaries. The doors were then welded in place, so that they would never close again. Along with the opening of the gates, travel in and out of the city was completely opened up too, allowing the many Europeans to leave their ruined city, and settle in New Asia in search of a new life.

Much debate was had over what to do with the massive circular surrounding New Asia. Some thought that it should be knocked down, and the materials to be reused in construction projects. But others thought that it should stay, and be repurposed into whatever people wanted it to be. In the end, much against the authoritarian nature of the government, a public vote was held. The result was a slight victory for the side which wanted the walls to remain.

With the unconditional surrender of Europa, its printing technology was also revealed to the world. Despite the implications of what such technologies could do, the government, much to the support of everyone, almost immediately ruled it to be illegal to print humans. The skilled genetic engineers from Europa were put on more mundane tasks such as lab-grown meats and other things which were less ethically questionable.

The loyal soldiers who had fought for New Asia in the war mostly lost their purpose too, and an order was issued which allowed anyone to retire if they so desired. A great majority did, and went to carve their own paths in the growing city. But many also decided to stay, and safeguard the peace which they had fought so hard to create.

Half a year after the end of the war, economic and political turmoil was reaching its peak. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. The huge influx of immigrants caused a huge housing crisis, and also a huge demand for goods and employment. Economic growth was the highest it has ever been, yet unemployment and suicide rates have barely decreased. With the demand for arms and munitions gone, factories were closed down and repurposed. Millions lost their jobs, but almost immediately found jobs again elsewhere.

The slums were knocked down bit by bit, and towering skyscrapers grew out of the ground in their place. The many layers of the factory districts were dismantled too, allowing for a central economic district to be built in the center of the city.

New structures and buildings spurted from the open gates of New Asia. Like floodwater breaking through a dam, the city expanded out of its walls at a breathtaking speed.

Society was going through rapid change too. No longer was there a common enemy, no longer was there a clear distinction of “friend” or “foe”. Everyone was anyone now, and everyone could be anyone. The immigrants from Europa received lots of discrimination at first, as expected, but were quickly assimilated into New Asian society.

Culture became unimaginably colorful and diverse. Not only did the cultures of New Asia and Europa mix and blend, so did the cultures from countless small towns littered all over the continent. People were very familiar with the hate and suffering of war, so they embraced the unity and happiness of peace. At least, for as long as it lasts.

Alongside the cultural and economic turmoil, politics were in turmoil too. With the war over, the old governing system began to show its flaws. A newer, more relaxed, less authoritarian government would be needed to facilitate economic and cultural change. At first, the old government was unwilling to give up their position of power. But after several protests, they decided that maybe it was for the greater good to step down from their positions. And so, almost unbelievably, the government made a decision, not to reinforce their power and popularity, but to benefit the entirety of humanity.

A memorial of the war was erected on the western side of the wall, a huge stone spike, with a falcon taking flight on its tip, towards the direction where Europa once was. A war museum was also built in one of the former military bases inside the wall, detailing the war from beginning to end.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

Trials had also taken place for many people. Captain Yuki and his sister were tried for their mutiny and murder of several guards, but given that they had helped to defeat Europa, the judge gave them nothing too severe.

Captain Steiner was tried too, but Captain Yuki, One-five, Two-five and Takeshi all testified to defend him. Because of that, Captain Steiner was only given five years in prison. Some argue that it was too light a punishment, but no one could argue that his actions weren’t crucial in ending the war.

Then, almost in a flash, a year had gone by. The political, social, and economic turmoil has slowed down a little, and people began living more stable lives. Quality of life was much improved, and the threat of destruction had become nothing but stories of old. Instead of fighter aircraft flying in and out day and night, it was now trading planes buzzing around the airports.

With the recovery from the war nearing its end, people started to look forwards to future opportunities. The government began discussing exploration missions to other continents, even North America, in the hopes of discovering other surviving communities to establish trade relations with. Even if there weren’t any other cities out there, they needed more place to set up civilization anyway, as New Asia was beginning to grow far too large for its own good.

But for now, everything was good, everything was peaceful.

Maybe it’ll be like this for another year, maybe ten, maybe a hundred. Until the next conflict brings humanity back down to its knees, it was pointless to worry about things like that.

Now is a time for peace and love, not a time for pessimism and worry about the future.

*****

“…The two teams of pilots, disregarding their hate for each other, united together to put an end to this war, even if it meant they had to make the ultimate sacrifice. In that white light, their identities were lost forever, but their stories will remain for all eternity,” said Kang, reading out from a big placard at the war museum.

“That’s pretty cheesy,” Lenn chuckled.

“Well, personally I kinda like it,” Kang replied, a wide grin on his face.

Ying sat in the wheelchair he was pushing, smiling widely too.

“You know she can walk fine with crutches right?” Lenn asked Kang.

“Yeah but he likes pushing me around,” Ying replied in a whisper.

Kang’s cheeks went a little pink. “I’m just making sure you don’t get tired, okay?”

“Too bad they can’t honor the two who actually gave their lives…” Rei sighed.

“Hey, it was what they wanted,” Lenn patted Rei on the shoulder.

Back when the war had just ended, nobody truly knew what had destroyed the plasma weapon. Soon enough, though, word of the two teams of pilots began to spread. The New Asian government sent journalists after them in order to get a complete story, both for press and for the history books.

But Lenn and the Europeans refused to have their names put in the history books. They wanted to remain anonymous.

The Europeans especially, wanted their story to be that they all sacrificed themselves. One-five and Two-five did not want to be remembered as heroes.

And it may have been for the better too, as One-five and Two-five definitely would not have liked to live under constant attention from the public.

“I just want to live like a normal person for once,” One-five had told Lenn.

Thankfully, the young reporter who found them was understanding enough, and agreed to not record any of their names. But he asked for a compromise. He thought that such a great story should not be lost to the flow of time. The truth would be hidden away somewhere, in some inconspicuous document or something, so if anyone really wanted to know, they’d eventually be able to connect the dots and uncover the identity of Lenn and his team.

“Those who wish to remain ignorant won’t know you, only those who seek the truth will find your real names,” the reporter said.

Lenn and his team agreed, and so it was written down in history that four anonymous warriors, and four nameless warriors, had come together to end the war. It really was a romantic story, one that the public loved, even though it wasn’t quite the truth.

“Come on, let’s go…” Lenn exhaled a long breath. Remembering all those past events had taken him on a brief but quite thrilling emotional rollercoaster. “One-five and Two-five are there waiting for us already.”

“Sure…” Kang agreed.

*****

Some ten minutes later, they joined One-five and Two-five at the top of a little hill at the edge of town, below the wide canopy of a blooming apple tree. Daisies dotted the landscape, their delicate petals swinging in the breeze.

In front of them stood two little gravestones.

They are simple gravestones, unadorned by fancy designs or intricate carvings. There is no writing on them, so that only the six people currently before them would know who they honored.

One-five and Two-five went forwards and laid some flowers down in front of the stones.

Then Lenn and his teammates walked up, Kang helping Ying off of her wheelchair so that she could also put some flowers down.

“We’ve come to see you again…” One-five whispered. “It’s already been a year… Time sure flies…”

“We all want to remember you forever, though everything will always become a distant memory,” said Lenn.

“Are you two happy? Where ever you may be?” Whispered Ying.

“Of course they are,” Kang murmured.

“Please wait for us up there… some day we’ll come and find you…”

“But right now, we’ve got to move on. There's so much more to life, and it’s all laid out right before our eyes…” mumbled One-five.

“Thank you,” Rei whispered.

“We’ll see you in the next world, One-six, Two-six.”