Star Wars: Rebels of the Stars (COMPLETED/BEING EDITED)

Chapter Sixty-Eight: Funeral Of The Heroes

Mercula gently brushed my hair the next evening. , the day of the funeral , as I had barely any energy to move. I looked at the purple dress she had helped me pick out, with the white sash. When a Star Phantom died, they did not wear black. They wore the color they were. Many had died, but since Jaa was the loved Queen, nearly everyone who didn't lose a family or close friend wore purple. I wore the white sash around my waist, tied into a loose bow, for Gor. Mercula tied a pink bow into my hair at the end of the braid she made, for Prosh.

"You look beautiful dear..." She whispered softly and held me close, hugging from behind.

I felt more tears fall down my face, as they dripped off the edge of my jawline, pouring like waterfalls down my cheeks, but dropping like raindrops onto my dress and sash.

I tried to speak, but my throat was raw from sobbing for days, making it painful to make noise. Nonetheless, I let out a heart breaking sob, still unable to believe that the fluffiest creature who loved to hug everyone.

Mercula held me close, and gently stroked my hair, doing her best not to mess it up too much, but to make sure that she was trying to comfort me. To stop the pain that I felt in my heart.

"Come on... I know it is heartbreaking, but, they saved us." She gently lead me down to where the others were.

Everyone was wearing Jaa's shade of purple, and several others had colors of family members or friends they had lost. Z held me close and squeezed me tightly, wearing a purple suit and a white shirt underneath, as well as another white sash around his waist. "Hey..." He gently held me close, as Anoles came over in her dress.

Everyone stayed close, as we heard faint singing. It was dusk, the sun was setting, and candles were alit.

I carefully lit mine with the torch that had been passed down the line, before giving it to Z so he could light his.

I listened, before I joined in on the words, knowing them from somewhere deep inside me. Maybe I had heard this song before, when I was a baby, before I was taken. Or maybe I was born with it in my soul.

"Recern-maern-maernrec, recern-maern-maernrec, tlihodern sertliarumrecser, serhodirenawern boprecire-gehodliwyo ornaw ur-ser." The song repeated over and over to a point where even the others could sing it.

Strong men and women carried the caskets of the ones who had died fighting, Jaa's leading the way, with tiny flowers no larger than a bead scattered upon the top of the closed casket, with the symbol of Harmonian royalty on it.

Behind her was a white casket, covered in snowflakes and had the Rainstorm symbol on the top of it. I felt tears streaming down my face again, as I kept singing the tune, trying to not let my voice crack as I had heard Z's crack. He shakily and secretly took my hand, squeezing it tightly as our hands shook.

We watched it go past, before seeing the next one as Prosh's. He had died trying to protect Jaa, we had later learned, and had only managed to escape and get to us in attempt to try to find help.

I looked down the line as the song was still sung by the crowd as a few dozen more were following the trail. When the last casket crossed the edge of the crowd, the song changed down there, as the Harmonians snuffed their candles.

"Orhod, wenarumtli-cethod orvilernrec ur-ser. Urpeo irenaw sertliarumrecser. Urpeo irenaw sertliarumrecser. Wenhodireliwern wenern recern-maern-maernrec, recern-maern-maernrec, yo-or-ur." They went quiet.

When they reached us, I slowly snuffed out my candle and sang it, before joining the parade of people who had started following the casket in to say their final farewells.

They slowly lowered the caskets into the ground of the castle, before a beam of light was produced once the covers closed over them.

I watched as they went through the cracked crystal on the roof, pointing to where their new stars were born, while a white light that was Gor's just dimmed and faded.

I watched as the other lights started fading as well, and we were left in pure darkness.
No one made a movement, except a few kids who were naturally wiggly, but were trying to stay still.

Soon the door we came in opened, and light flooded in, as we were escorted outside.

I felt a hand gently grasp my arm, and turned to see Achi, "Mira, will you come with me?" She asked softly, as Affe stayed by her side.

I nodded, and motioned for the others to go on ahead, as I followed Achi down the empty halls to her room, where she changed into her usual garb, and took a breath. "As per tradition, if the former queen should pass during her reign, her senator is crowned queen, unless some strange condition. They pick their advisor within a few weeks after. But, we have to do it in front of everyone. I have not picked my advisor yet, and I know you do not want that position, but, I was just wondering if you could be on the balcony behind me? I have never spoken in front of the people without Jaa by my side before, and..." I could see her hands shaking.

I gently took her hands into mine and gave them a gently squeeze, "It would be my honor, your majesty."

She gave a soft but sad smile. "Thank you."
I followed her and Affe to the balcony, where an elderly man waited. He started speaking in Harmonian, as Achi pledged back in her native language, before bowing her head, as he took off her senator crown and replaced it with a queen's.
The people down below cheered, as I politely clapped behind the new queen, hiding in the shadows inside the building.

I felt joy that I knew that Harmonia was in safe hands, but yet, I felt nothing but guilt. If only I had been a little bit faster. If only I had been protecting her.