"Kai!" Nya called out into the night, the wind howling past her ears and setting her hair loose from Pixal's intricate styling. She was riding atop Flame, changed back into her smithing outfit with only a fleece shawl to protect her from the cold. "Ronin, Cole!"

"Nya?" A weak voice called out her name, joined by a few others.

Nya gasped and moved towards the sound of their voices, almost driven to tears when she saw the three, no, four men that had come for her. If only they had known I wasn't in any danger.

"Nya!" Kai stumbled towards her, shivering. "That... horrible snake let you go?"

Nya nodded, wrapping her shawl around her brother. "His name is Jay, and... oh god, this is going to sound ridiculous." She laughed a little. "He isn't horrible at all. In fact, I..."

She blushed, thinking to herself for a moment. Do I really love him? Is that what I've been feeling all along?

Kai rose a brow, snapping in front of her to get her attention. "Hey, sis? We kind of have a situation here."

"Right. Sorry." Nya cleared her throat. "My point is, the castle is safe and there's plenty of room and food for you all to recover. It isn't too far."

"Well, if there's food and a warm bed, then I'm going with her." Ronin announced, moving to hug Nya. "I'm just glad you're safe."

"Me too." Lord Cole said shyly, placing a hand on the other man's shoulder. "This is Dareth, by the way."

Dareth waved hello. "I'm freezing. Can we head to this castle already?"

Kai scrunched his brows as they all walked towards the gates. "Nya... did you say his name was... Jay?"

When Nya nodded, Cole glanced at Kai. "Wasn't that the same name as the Walker boy?"

"The Walkers? Like the inventors-" Nya suddenly gasped in realization. "Oh my god. Jay the snake is Jay Walker!"

The group froze in their spots, shocked beyond belief. Everything began to fall into place as their memories all returned, like floodgates bursting open with a sort of golden light.

"Jay!" Cole cried out. "We used to play with him all the time! How could I have forgotten?"

Kai shook his head, tears filling his eyes. "He was one of my best friends growing up... Nya, he used to play with you all the time. Don't you remember?"

Nya almost fell to her knees in complete shock. Everything made sense now, her memories laughing and playing with Jay Walker, the little boy with sapphire eyes and freckles across his nose.

He was the one that introduced her to inventing. He was the reason, her past, present, and...

Future. Her future. I'm in love with Jay Walker. Nya thought to herself, tearing up with a smile. I've always been.

"That sorcerer lied to you all." The man called Dareth interrupted her revelation.

"Dareth, you're right." Ronin nodded. "No wonder why his story sounded sketchy."

"Story? Sorcerer?" Nya shook her head, confused. "I-Is he the one that cursed Jay?"

Kai nodded. "That's what it sounds like." He ran his fingers through his spiked hair, biting his lip in worry. "Oh god, what are we gonna do? We have to do something, right?"

Cole nodded. "Of course we do. He was our best friend. We can't let him lose to this sorcerer." The young lord crossed over to Nya and took her hands. "Nya, we need all the help we can get. How much time does he have left?"

Nya shook her head. "From what it looked like, not enough, probably only a day or two. We need to hurry and help him find a cure!" Then, remembering she had the mirror hanging at her hip, she unlatched it from her belt and held it up high. "Please! Show me Jay!"

Nothing was shown. The swirling orange dust appeared, only for it to remain on the glass.

Then, the silver handle grew hot in Nya's hand, causing her to scream and drop it on the snow. With a shake and a humming noise, the mirror shattered into a million pieces before sinking into the snow.

"Jay's in trouble." She concluded breathlessly, mounting Flame and riding into the castle gates. As the others chased after her, begging her to come back, Nya called back, "There's no time to waste! I need to go save him!"
-
"Ah, my boy, don't act so surprised to see me."

Nadakhan's true form was shining forth, all four of his arms extended and a trail of dust following his floating steps. Jay whimpered and closed his eyes, clutching onto the fabric of his shirt. "Nadakhan, please... I still have time..."

"Yes, about that..." The sorcerer was inches away from Jay, the intoxicating smell of roses and liquor filling the air. "You are trying my patience, and you forget that I have control over your deadline."

Jay grit his teeth, meeting Nadakhan's eyes with an intense gaze. "You promised me ten years in the beginning, and yet you continue to diminish my time. I've done nothing to offend you, monster!"

Nadakhan laughed wickedly, floating back. "Monster. Oh, that is priceless. Have you looked inside the mirror lately?" The sorcerer glanced around for something, only for his amused expression to grow sour.

"What?" Jay growled, narrowing his eyes. "Looking for something?"

"My mirror..." Nadakhan hissed, his eyes darting about. "You've lost it."

Nya. Jay's stomach sank. She must have taken it in the rush. Oh god, please let her be safe.

"No regard for others. Typical of a Gordon." Nadakhan growled, floating towards Jay again. "Your father was selfish, slithering filth. A shame you followed in his footsteps."

"I didn't wish for this." Jay muttered, closing his eyes again. "You've hurt so many innocent people, just because I made the mistake of letting you in."

"No. This was exactly what you wished for." Nadakhan raised a hand, holding up three fingers. "One. You wished to be just like your father."

"Stop!" Jay cried out, covering his ears and gripping at his hair. "I don't want to hear this again!"

The sorcerer continued. "You wished to be just like your father, the king. You believed it would help you become a great ruler, loved by all." Nadakhan cackled. "Instead, it transformed you into what your father truly was."

"Stop it! Nadakhan, I'm begging you!"

"The king was a snake, a cruel, cold-blooded monster that cared for no one. He treated his servants like objects, and so I changed them as well. Finally, the kingdom was left to rot, and those closest to you had their memories wiped. Reduced to nobodies and alienated, just as the wicked king saw his people."

Nadakhan crossed towards the rose. "Your second wish, after all of it was finished, was not to be rid of it all, but instead to have a solution. A cure."

"One that could be attainable by any means." Jay quickly recited his second wish, as if it was only yesterday when he had begged for a cure. "Yes, I know."

"Foolish, for you to ask me of such a thing." Nadakhan smirked, tenderly stroking the remaining petals. "While I did provide you with one and a window to the outside world, I still made it impossible for you to tell anyone outside of the castle. You were also made unable to travel past the gates."

"Despite everything you set to trap me, someone still did come to me." Jay smiled confidently. "She may not have said the words, and she may not even love me romantically, but I know for certain she cares for me."

He stood up straight, meeting the sorcerer's eyes. "After everything you put me through, knowing that is enough to keep me going. I love Nya, Nadakhan, more than anything in this world. Don't take her away from me."

Nadakhan stood for a moment, stunned into silence. His expression twisted into a scowl. "You still think so highly of yourself, selfish boy. I dealt with many losses because of your father's cruel reign. He hunted those with magic and slaughtered them like animals!"

Jay lowered his eyes, shocked. "I... I didn't know that."

"You know nothing, boy." Nadakhan spoke after a moment of silence, his voice low. "You don't even know about your mother."

"What about my mother?" Jay snapped, meeting his eyes again. "I know my father drove her out to the streets because of her status. I'm not an idiot!"

Nadakhan laughed. "How ignorant. You really don't know, do you?"

Jay shook his head slowly, fear gripping at his heart. Whatever Nadakhan was about to say wasn't going to be good.

"Your mother, foolish boy, was a sorceress. A creature of magic, just like me."

"No..." Jay backed away, shaking his head. "Then that would mean..."

"Your father had her killed, right after she gave birth to you. Then he tossed you aside to his chief inventors and drove you all out, like you were garbage."

Jay was stunned beyond belief, falling to his knees and shedding tears. "Th-That would mean... I'm like her too..."

"In a sense." Nadakhan waved one of his hands. "You will never have the full extent of her powers, but the magic is still there."

"Why are you telling me all of this?" Jay asked, trying not to let his voice break. "Why did you come here? The rose hasn't yet wilted!"

"I came here to give you a choice." Nadakhan knelt next to the prince. "I have just revealed terrible truths to you, my dear boy, truths that you will not be able to live with, even if Nya transforms you back. Even if you live a happy life, the guilt from your family's past will consume you."

"Your choice is simple. Let everything go and wish it all away, returning everything back the way it was and saving the lives of your servants, or let them all perish and lose your mind as you become full monster."

Jay shook his head, wiping his tears. "You're tricking me... I choose neither. Nya will come back for me, before the last petal falls." He met Nadakhan's eyes once more. "Leave me alone until then."

Nadakhan sighed heavily. "Very well. You leave me no choice."

And with that, he grabbed Jay by the back of the collar and dragged him into a swirling cloud of orange dust. The last thing Jay heard was Nya's voice, screaming his name.