Nya nearly fell to her knees in shock, feeling the tears build up in her eyes. Behind her, she heard the clinking of the castle's inhabitants as they approached her.

"Where's Jay?" Lloyd whispered, his voice breaking. Wu shushed him, telling him to go to bed.

"Nya." Zane spoke. "I promise you, our master will return to us."

"That sorcerer..." Nya shook her head, unable to think. "How am I going to combat against magic? He took Jay to... who knows where..." Nya slipped down to the floor, covering her face. Zane moved to her side and rubbed her arm gently, Pixal and Wu soon following.

"I was going to tell him..." Nya whimpered between tears, her heart breaking.

"Tell him what, Nya?" Pixal whispered.

"I was going to tell him... I know him, years ago, I knew him from our childhood, and..."

"And...?" Wu asked.

"... I love him."

In a flash of orange light, the room cried out. Nya found herself flying to the side as a loud bang shook the walls of the castle.

Then, after a moment of silence, Nya shakily opened her eyes, only to widen them in shock. She scrambled to her feet, only to stumble back again, completely stunned.

Three people sat in place of the living objects, all as stunned as she was. "Nya..." A young woman with white hair whispered in Pixal's voice. "You just broke the curse."

Nya felt her heart sink into her stomach. "I... I did what?"

The one in Zane's place, a tall man with blonde hair, scrambled towards her, only to trip over himself and crash into her. He laughed, giving her a large hug. "I forgot how tall I used to be. Nya, thank you so much!" He squeezed her tightly.

An old man with a long, white beard approached Nya gently. "I'll let these two explain. I need to find my nephew and Misako."

Pixal and Zane both nodded, giving Nya space and allowing her time to process what had happened.

"So... all I had to say was..." Nya shook her head. "I just had to say I loved him? That was seriously..." She laughed, tears forming in her eyes. "That's so simple."

"Well, you genuinely had to be in love with him too." Pixal elaborated. "That was why we were afraid it could never work. We couldn't tell you because we were afraid you would feel forced to."

"We are surprised you two fell in love so quickly." Zane smiled. "Perhaps that has to do with you two already knowing each other. I didn't expect that."

"Same here." Pixal breathed. She glanced around in awe, and Nya realized the entire castle was transformed as well. As they all stood to look out the window, Nya gasped, nearly falling to her knees again.

The harsh blizzard had gone away, with only sunshine and green grass surrounding the shining courtyard. Rose bushes bloomed all around the castle gates, and the forest surrounding the area seemed to thin out. She could finally see Ignacia, which wasn't so far from the castle after all. People from the town were beginning to make their way over, and inhabitants from the castle were now dashing out of the gates, meeting everyone below.

"The castle has returned to its former self." Zane smiled.

"But no Jay." Nya whispered, realizing the orange rose was still floating in its place. Taking the glass case off, she reached for the rose and took it in her hand, the thorns piercing into her skin.

"Nya? What are you doing?" Zane and Pixal approached her and watched as she stared into the rose's center.

Ronin, Kai, Cole, and Dareth all rushed in, panting heavily. "What the hell just happened to this place?" Kai wheezed, glancing around the room.  "One moment it was all normal, and then it just... exploded."

Zane smiled, approaching the group. "Your sister just broke the curse on this place. I will explain later."

"She did?" Cole grinned. "That's wonderful... Uh, what's she doing now?"

"And where's Jay?" Ronin asked, glancing around.

"That's what I'm trying to find out." Nya answered the thief, reaching into the rose's center with a bloodied thumb. "I think the sorcerer took him in here. This is the only thing left with his magic."

Pixal took Zane's arm, shaking. "I just hope he isn't harmed at all. Our poor master has been through so much."

Zane held her tightly. "He will be alright. Nya's already saved him once. She can do it again."
-
The prison Nadakhan had locked Jay in wasn't much of a prison, but rather, an infinite space. It was as if he was trapped in amber, forever floating in one spot, the awful smell of dusty roses and liquor intoxicating him.

"Comfy?" Nadakhan asked Jay before cackling, not letting him respond. The sorcerer left to tend to his other prisoners, which seemed to be miles away.

In the distance, Jay could have sworn he heard the voices of his friends and Nya, but he chose to ignore them. It was all in his imagination, anyway. He even began to think he heard Nya say the words, the ones that would transform him back into his normal self. How foolish of him.

Then, a strange feeling began to build up in his chest. Jay tried to ignore this as well, but a certain burning to his skin made him unable to. Nadakhan's probably punishing me again. Jay huffed. How cruel. Hasn't he damned me enough?

At once, Jay slowly felt himself shrink down. Now he's sinking me deeper into this stuff. I should probably stop thinking about hope and all that. I'm only making matters worse for myself.

Still, the burning sensation didn't go away, causing Jay to double over in pain and shut his eyes. God, what is he doing to me? His fingers and teeth ached, as if his claws and fangs were retreating back into-

Wait. This is...

Jay opened his eyes, looking at his scaled hand, only to realize it wasn't scaled at all.

Nya did it. Jay thought, tears forming in his eyes as he glanced at every part of his new body. She really did it.

Nadakhan seemed to sense this too, as he almost instantly cried out in alarm. He floated towards Jay, seething with rage. "What have you done?" He growled, taking the prince by the neck.

"Not me. Her." Jay choked out, grinning from ear to ear. Nadakhan's grip loosened in shock. "Nya loves me." Jay declared, tears of joy forming in his eyes. "She loves me!"

Nadakhan growled, but soon smirked again, jabbing a finger at the entrance to the prison. "You are still trapped here with me, foolish boy. You may be human again, but Nya can never save you from this place!"

Jay swallowed, glancing at the entrance. He could hear the voices again, and then...

Blood. A drop of blood fell through the entrance and dispelled into the amber fluid. Nadakhan noticed this too, his face twisted in disgust.

Suddenly, the blood turned a dark blue, soon transforming the entire prison into an indigo sea. Nadakhan and Jay both cried out in alarm as they were swept up into the water, and the voices of the other prisoners soon joined them. The walls of the prison began to shatter, golden light shining through.

Jay closed his eyes as he extended a hand and spread his fingers, aiming towards the entrance. As if it were in his instincts, he uttered a small phrase and opened his eyes, white lightning blasting from his palm.

A white light. Darkness. Silence.

And then, the voices of familiar faces, all flooding in. Some were frantic, some were relieved, but all of them soon transformed into voices of fear.

Jay opened his eyes, realizing he was facing a weakened Nadakhan, two prisoners trapped behind him. They were all inside his chambers once again, only this time the whole castle was transformed and alive. He scrunched his brows nervously, only to feel a certain soft hand slipping into his own.

"Jay?"

Nya.

Jay turned around and faced Nya, swallowing. "Hey. Um..." He realized this was the first time Nya was seeing him as a man. She was just below his height, but she was still looking at him with uncertainty and almost... fear.

"Nya, it's me..." He whispered, squeezing her hand. "It's okay."

"I know." She spoke at last, her trademark blush returning. "I... I thought you'd be a little taller..."

Jay laughed and picked her up, spinning her around. Nya giggled and hugged him tightly.

"I missed you so much." He whispered into her ear, finally letting her go. "I waited for so long... to hear you say those words. You really love me?"

Nya nodded. "Yes! Yes, I love you!"

Someone cleared their throat, and Jay turned around to see a large group of people, including his friends in the castle and a few familiar faces.

He instantly recognized Kai, who was drawing a sword. "Look, I'd hate to interrupt... whatever this is, but we have a sorcerer to drive out of here."

The other men nodded, each pulling out a weapon. Kai tossed a couple of swords to Jay and Nya, who instantly caught them and held them to Nadakhan's throat.

"Answer for what you've done." Nya growled, pushing her blade closer to the sorcerer's throat.

The sorcerer shakily reached for the rose, now a deep blue and dripping with water, white streaks laced throughout it like lightning. So that was where he had me. Jay thought, watching Nadakhan's every move.

Nadakhan opened his mouth, blowing on his ruined rose. "I think... you should stay right where you are."

Before Jay and Nya could act, Nadakhan smashed the rose onto the floor, and the entire world was colored blue.

Jay and Nya glanced around in shock, realizing everyone had been frozen in time expect the three of them.

Nadakhan stood now, extending all four of his arms. Orange dust began to swirl around his body. "There. Seems a bit more fair now, don't you think? The Sorcerer, the Snake, and the Samurai."

Nya and Jay raised their blades, prepared to attack. Whatever he threw at them, Jay and Nya both knew they would show him absolutely no mercy.