Hugo stayed there kneeling, holding Alex's hand, until it turned cold. He had rolled the body over, and had closed Alex's eyelids. He had grabbed a cloak from Alex's horse and gently laid it over Alex. Hugo went up to Sofia and helped her up. They gently walked back over to Alex's body and paid their respect with a few Minutes of Silence.

Hugo held Sofia in a warm embrace and they settled down on the floor waiting on the arrivals of the others. Sofia had her head on Hugo's shoulder, nestled under his chin, he had his head resting gently on her head. They sat there, the grief weighing them more than the wins of the war. Sofia's eyes were glossy, the turmoil of the events still playing in her head. Hugo put on a brave face, but even then it was hard not to cry.

Over in the Isles of Protectors, the protectors had won over the prisoners and had locked them back up. Although a lot of damage had been caused and there had been a lot of casualties, the creatures of the Mystic isles cheered for the war was over. The protectors had split the responsibilities into three sections. One section would focus on the casualties. The other section would focus on the damage and the last section would go over to the Isle of Witches, where Sofia and Hugo awaited them.

When Vega, Orion and Chrysta had arrived at the top of the mountain, they found Sofia and Hugo in the clearing in the middle of the battlefield with Alex's body at their feet.

The three slowly approached them and slowed down when they had reached the two. They noticed the dirt on them and how their bodies slumped, their eyes red. They could see the turmoil on them.

"What happened? Are you two okay?" Vega asked first, kneeling down to them.

"Yeah, we're fine," Hugo responded. "Just a lot."

Hugo turned away and the three waited patiently for the two to explain themselves.

Sofia and Hugo began to explain everything that had happened from the moment they had left the Isles of Protectors. They explained how they had to trick Ichamura and how they had used Vega's plan of getting her to become vulnerable on her own. They explained the double trick of first caging off Sofia and then having Ichamura think she really killed Sofia the second time. Then Sofia explained how she had used a dead possum that she had found on her way up the mountain as a way to get Ichamura to think that she really was dead. That the blood on the statue was really that of a possum. That way it would be easier to attack her when she least expected it.

Hugo explained how it took all his mental capacity to truly think and believe that Sofia was dead even though he knew she wasn't to sell it to Ichamura. He explained how he used the thought of her being dead to fuel his precision in defeating her army. Hugo also explained how Sofia was the one to tumble Ichamura, and how he finished the job.

They hesitated before they explained how Ichamura had moved her soul into Alex's body and how Alex was the true hero at the end. They explained how Alex sacrificed himself by killing himself in order to end the villainess Ichamura.

The three stared in silence, that really was a lot.

"Sofia, Hugo, we truly are indebted to you," Orion proclaimed.

Orion got on one knee and bowed down. Without hesitation, Vega and Chrysta followed, also bowing down towards them.

"You have nothing to thank us for, we were simply doing our duty," Sofia mumbled out, a soft smile.

"So, what now?" Hugo asks.

"Don't worry about anything else. Leave the rest of it to us and we'll send someone down to relay what happens. You guys should go home and rest for now."

Hugo nodded his head, he turned towards Alex.

"Do me one favour, Orion," Hugo requested.

"Of course," Orion replied.

"Bury Alex in the Ever Realm where his mother and father and Sister lay," Hugo told him.

Orion hesitated, looking over at Vega, but she nodded.

"As you wish Hugo," Orion bowed.

"We have a carriage waiting for you," Vega tells them. "Take that and go home, don't worry about anything up here, we can handle it, we will send a messenger with the official records of today."

Hugo nods, rising he helps Sofia up with him and together they slowly walk down the mountain.

"Sofia, Hugo, you guys are brave warriors! Mystic Isles thanks you! The world thanks you!" Chrysta exclaimed, grabbing their hands.

Sofia smiled gently, waving her off as they walked down the mountain. They reached the bottom and Hugo helped Sofia into the carriage, before following her in. The sun had started coming back up at this point.

The carriage ride back to the Ever Realm and into Enchancia felt long. The two just sat there, in their own minds. They soon arrived, where only James and Vivian awaited them. The two had been sitting on the stair outside, huddled under a blanket. When they saw the carriage, they rose and went down to greet them at the bottom. The carriage landed and the two stepped out.

James breathed out a sigh of relief he had been holding in. He greeted the two, "hey, how are you two?"

"Alive," Hugo responded, smiling gently. It was Hugo's way of letting them know they'd be alright.

James smiled back. He noticed that Sofia was quite weak, without hesitation, he grabbed his sister and picked her up. He supported her back with one hand and swung her legs over his other arm. Sofia curled up in her brother's arms as he climbed up the stairs into the palace.

"Are you okay, Sofia?" James asked, looking down at her.

She kept her eyes lowered, and just pressed in harder into James,

Down at the bottom, as Vivian and Hugo followed them, Vivian noticed how Hugo kept swaying. She got in under him, and slung her left arm around him.

"Come on Hugo, you can rely on me," Vivian gently assured him.

Hugo gently smiled at that, accepting her offer of assistance. He let his right arm fall over her shoulders. Together they climbed up the stairs slowly.

James had ordered ages ago that the maids prepare a bedroom full of calming aromatics and purified the air beforehand. They had prepped clean sheets and had put shut out blinds up, so that no light would pour through. He had also ordered that the left wing of the castle be shut off for the next 24 hours, with guards to stand guard at the entrance.

James entered the room he had prepared for the two of them, he gently set Sofia down on the bed, sitting her up.

He kneeled down in front of her, "I don't want to push you Sof, but if you can, go wash up and change in the bathroom. I'll go run some hot water, okay?"

Sofia nodded, smiling.

James quickly went to run a bath. As he did so, Hugo and Vivian had just entered. Vivian led Hugo to the sofa in front of the fireplace. James walked out, and held out his hand for Sofia.

"I'll get Sofia to wash up first, and then you can go in after Hugo," James filled in.

Hugo looked up, and nodded, right now he was beyond grateful. Instead of asking what had happened these two were running around making sure they were comfortable first. He really was blessed.

Vivian followed Sofia into the bath, there to assist when needed. Vivian turned around as she stripped, and only turned around when Sofia was sitting in the bath. Sofia lay her head atop the bath.

Vivian knelt beside her, scrubbing away at her arms first. Sofia watched her in silence.

"Thank you, Vivian," Sofia quietly appreciated.

"Of course, that's what friends are for," Vivian replied smiling. "You don't have to force yourself to speak, ya know."

Sofia nodded, closing her eyes and just letting her muscles relax in the hot water. Soon after, she trudged out, Vivian helping her wrap a towel around herself. Vivian left and she changed. She walked out and Hugo and James walked in. She heard James empty the tub and start running the water again.

She made her way to the vanity table, where Vivian dried off her hair. She watched as she did so in the mirror, and that's when something shiny caught her finger. She stared, it couldn't be...

She turned around and Vivian stopped.

"Is-is that a ring?" Sofia asked.

"Huh? Oh, ye-yeah," Vivian blushed.

Sofia stared at first as it slowly sunk in. Sofia grinned, properly, for the first time since the battle.

Sofia got up and hugged Vivian, she cheered gently "congratulations!"

"Thank you!" Vivian graciously thanked.

They made their way to the bed, where Vivian helped Sofia in bed. She sat upright waiting for Hugo to finish.

"Tell me everything," Sofia begged.

"I will, but not now, you're drained and need rest." Vivian scolded like a mother.

Sofia pouted. At this Vivian's heart finally calmed. Her friends would be okay.

James opened the washroom doors, Hugo behind him.

"Right, well, I know it's been a crazy 20 hours, but we can talk about it after some good rest, yes?"

Hugo nodded, but Sofia sat there silently. They all turned to her.

"I don't feel like sleeping," she revealed to them, almost childlike.

"You don't want to sleep?" James asked.

"I don't think I can right now, and I'd rather have you two here if you don't mind." Sofia reasoned.

Vivian giggled, "we'll be across the corridor if you need anything, but I truly think you'll need some rest Sofia."

"It'll catch up soon," Hugo told her.

Once again she pouted.

"Come on, Sof, we'll see you both later, okay?" James tried.

"Fine," Sofia agreed.

Vivian and James left to their own quarters, across the corridor, smiling as they did.

Hugo climbed into bed, patting the spot next to him, beckoning Sofia to come. She shuffled over and into his arms. They stayed like that just breathing, too tired to move, but too awake to sleep.

Sofia looked up at Hugo, and he looked down at her once he felt her gaze.

"Guess what?" Sofia began.

"What?" Hugo responded.

"Vivian and James are officially engaged, I saw Viv's ring," Sofia giggled.

Hugo's eyes widened slightly, "really!?"

"About time!" Hugo laughed.

The two settled down, the awkwardness from the war settling.

"Hugo?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you... Do you think that Alex would have lived a different life if it wasn't Ichamura who got to him first?"

"Probably," Hugo faltered.

The heavy topic had opened. Hugo started softly petting Sofia's hair. Soothing the two of them.

"I know that we won, but why did it have to be at the cost of lives?" Sofia asked again, tearing up.

"There are those who grow up knowing peace, and those who grow up only knowing war, and that difference is what shapes their understanding and emotions." Hugo answered.

"The only thing we can do is educate on the importance of thinking creatively, there is never just one way to a solution, there is always a way to get to something without having to sacrifice something else." He continued.

"Do you think it will ever end? The idea of War?" she asked again.

"Probably not, but we can always educate, so the chance decreases," Hugo reassured.

Sofia nodded.

"Do you think we will have to do it again? War?" Sofia continued.

"I pray that we don't," Hugo answered.

Silence fell upon them again.

"Hugo?"

"Mhmm?"

"I love you."

"I love you too, Sofia."

Hugo pulled Sofia in closer and although it wasn't instant, the two drifted off to sleep.

After 14 hours, the group of friends sat in the same room that Hugo and Sofia slept in that night. James and Vivian had woken up at about 7 p.m., and Hugo and Sofia woke up an hour after them. It was now 9 p.m. and the four sat comfortably around the room. Vivian and James had made themselves comfortable on the couch, which they flipped around to be facing Hugo and Sofia who sat on their bed.

Vivian sat with one foot under her, and one dangling down the couch, James sat next to her on the other end of the couch, legs stretched out. Hugo sat resting his back on the headboard of the bed, and Sofia was laying on her stomach facing the end of the bed. Their maids had brought in snacks and drinks for them to share.

Sofia and Hugo had already explained the whole war, and what had happened. This time however it was slightly easier, thanks to the comfort of Vivian and James. Vivian and James also explained what had happened with the gargoyles. Everyone wanted to feel like nothing had changed, and so now Vivian was in the middle of explaining how James had proposed to her.

"And then the idiot decided to jump off the roof!" Vivian exclaimed.

"James!" Sofia scolded, popping another grape in her mouth.

Hugo nodded in his direction, a silent nod of approval. Raising his beer to toast him. James raised his own beer back.

"Don't encourage him, Hugo!" Sofia scolded.

"How did you even see that, you're not even facing me," Hugo objected.

"Don't underestimate women," Vivian teased.

Hugo rolled his eyes jokingly. "Anyways, continue."

"Yes, right, so then, I go check on him," Vivian started, she paused taking a sip of her wine. 

"More like scolding and yelling," James interrupted.

Vivian shook her head and continued, "he tried to justify why he jumped off, and then thinks to himself, why not just propose here, in front of everyone!"

Hugo bursts into laughter, and Sofia is giggling.

"What?! It's not like she gave me a choice, she wanted a promise, so I gave her a promise, plus, that's like the most unique proposal story ever, don't you think?" James tried to justify.

"So now, I'm stuck with him," Vivian pretended to be upset.

"Hey!" James cried.

"Wait, did you even kiss?" Hugo asked.

James shook his head, sheepishly he explained, "it wasn't exactly the best moment for it."

"Do it now!" Sofia basically ordered.

"Love shot, love shot, love shot!" Sofia cheered. Hugo joined her. "Love shot, love shot, love shot, love shot!"

James shrugged and Vivian blushed. The two got up and intertwined their arms and took a sip of their drinks. They pulled away, but before going back to sit, James grabbed Vivian's chin, giving her a soft kiss.

Sofia cheered, and Hugo clapped. The two sat back down, smiling.

They ate and drank some more and chatted some more. Laughter filled their chamber and slowly they all started to heal. The stories continued.

"Do you want to hear how I almost blew my cover?" Sofia asked.

"What do you mean?" Hugo asked, because this was the first he was hearing about it.

"The battle wasn't exactly quiet, and I heard everything you guys spoke about, including chickens!" Sofia cried out, trying hard not to laugh right now.

"Chickens?" Vivian asked, smiling because Sofia's giggles were contagious.

Hugo was still confused but waited patiently.

"So, I was running up the mountain, trying to be stealthy as possible, and I'm almost there, I can hear their voices, and then out of nowhere I hear Hugo question Ichamura and she says something like 'When a chicken is born does it question why it has to lay eggs, or does it just know it was born to do so'." Sofia pauses smiling, a few giggles escape.

Finally Hugo remembers what she is talking about, and he smiles.

"And-and then Hugo answered with; 'Are you a chicken? What kind of answer is that?'," Sofia bursts out into laughter.

Vivian widens her eyes and spit out her drink laughing. It lands all over James, and as if the room wasn't chaotic enough, everyone's laughter becomes louder. That's how the group spent their time recovering. Being with each other and laughing away.

Over the next few days things go back to normal, and Sofia and Hugo get the official documents of the war in the Mystic Isles. First it was noted that Ichamura was officially dead. There were 25 casualties from the Mystic Isles, and 75 from the prisoners, with all of them now locked up. All the damage on the Isles were either already restored or in the process of restoration. The Law and Order weapon had been cleaned, dismantled and and now both parts had been reallocated, with extra protection in place. Alex was also officially deemed dead, and as a side note, he was buried where Hugo requested.