Act 4: Bound To Be Together

"Hurry everyone, we're close!" Yongbok shouted, leading Ni-ki and Jungwon's subjects through the forest towards the Dark Moon palace.

Wait, Ni-ki thought as he stopped running, "Hyung?!" Ni-ki said seeing Jungwon running into the forest. Ni-ki decided to follow him, "Mr. Ni-ki, where are you going?!" One of the group called out seeing Ni-ki break away, but the royal man didn't hear him.

The person was about to call him again, but he was distracted when he heard an explosion from the direction of the Dark Moon palace, What the... Yongbok thought, seeing the explosion, "Let's speed up!" Yongbok ordered and immediately ran towards the palace, followed by the others.

The Dark Moon Palace was thrown into chaos by an attack from a dragon and other disfigured creatures that appeared out of nowhere.

"Hurry everyone get out of here!" Jeongin ordered the guests out of the ballroom, "Sunghoon, help papa evacuate the guests and call for reinforcements, I'll help dad with the dragon," Jay asked taking out his sword, Sunghoon nodded. "Jay," Sunghoon called grabbing Jay's hand before he left, "Be careful," Sunghoon said, Jay smiled then kissed Sunghoon, "I will," Jay then ran towards his father, while Sunghoon helped Jeongin evacuate the guests.

Heeseung was panting and his body was battered, he was facing Sunoo. "What's wrong prince? Starting to get tired?" Sunoo taunted as he shot fireballs at Heeseung, luckily he managed to dodge all of them, "Annoying...." Heeseung said as he slashed one last fireball. I have to finish him off soon, so I can chase Jungwon, Heeseung thought as he charged towards Sunoo, but the dark sorcerer managed to dodge all of Heeseung's attacks.

Sunoo saw Heeseung off guard after attacking him, he took advantage of that to launch an energy ball at Heeseung. The prince was shocked to see Sunoo's attack, he was not prepared to avoid the attack.

Heeseung closed his eyes, preparing to receive Sunoo's attack, but the energy ball didn't touch his body at all. He opened his eyes and saw Soobin and another person blocking the energy ball with their swords then throwing it back at Sunoo, and successfully hitting him and causing him to fall to the palace courtyard.

"Are you okay, Prince Heeseung?" Soobin asked, approaching Heeseung, "Yes, I—" Heeseung fell to his knees, his breath coming in short gasps, "Prince!" Soobin, who was panicking, knelt in front of Heeseung to see the prince's condition. "Prince, drink this," said the person with Soobin as he handed him a bottle of pinkish liquid. Heeseung looked at the person, "You... are one of Jungwon's subjects," Heeseung said, remembering that he had seen the person at the lake. The person nodded, "Don't worry, this is a potion that Prince Jungwon usually gives when one of us is sick," the person explained as he handed the bottle back. Heeseung accepted the bottle and drank the potion inside, in an instant, his wounds disappeared and his energy increased again.

"Aish, there's always someone who disturbs my fun," said Sunoo, Soobin and Jungwon's subject immediately stood ready while pointing their swords. They saw Sunoo flying back to the veranda assisted by a pair of jet black wings on his back.

"Prince Heeseung, your horse is waiting below, you should leave this man to us," Soobin said without lowering his guard, Jungwon's subject nodded, "You have to chase after Prince Jungwon, right? He ran towards the Ruins of Chaconne Kingdom earlier, I'm sure Mister Ni-ki has already caught up to him," Jungwon's subject said, Heeseung frowned, he hesitated, but then shook his head quickly, "I leave it to you," Heeseung said then ran to his horse which was in the palace courtyard.

"I didn't think this day would come again," Soobin said while still looking at Sunoo, Jungwon's subject chuckled, "Don't you dare leave me again, Soobin," the horse keeper chuckled this time, "Of course not, Yeonjun–hyung," Soobin said.

Heeseung spurred his horse towards the Chaconne Ruins. "Wait for me, Jungwon," Heeseung muttered.

Jungwon arrived at the Heaven's Canyon, "I've been waiting for you, prince," Jake said with a grin when he saw Jungwon. Jungwon, with darken eyes, approached the dark sorcerer, "What should I do?" Jungwon asked when he was close to Jake, "It's not difficult, you just have to throw yourself into this canyon and your subjects will be free from my curse" Jake replied. Jungwon remained silent, when he was about to head to the edge of the canyon, a dagger was thrown at him, making the prince stop walking.

"Don't do it hyung!" Ni-ki shouted who was not far from them, "Ni-ki—" before Jungwon finished speaking, Ni-ki had moved behind Jungwon and took his dagger. Ni-ki then pushed Jungwon away from the edge of the canyon, "I won't let you throw yourself for that evil sorcerer," Ni-ki said taking a fighting stance in front of Jungwon. Jake just smirked seeing that, "Ni-ki I—", "Haven't you ever thought about how your subjects would feel if they had to lose you?" Ni-ki asked, the younger's question made the swan prince silent. "You are the only remaining royal family from Chaconne, the only legitimate leader of the Chaconne Kingdom, if we lose you... then Chaconne... will be completely lost..." Ni-ki said trying to hold back his emotions, his eyes redened from holding back tears.

"Ni-ki...." Jungwon said in a low voice.

Heeseung arrived at the Ruins of the Chaconne Kingdom. "Jungwon... where are you?" Heeseung muttered. The prince tried to trace every corner of the ruins. "I beg you, Jungwon... show yourself," Heeseung said while still riding his horse, "JUNGWON!" Heeseung shouted, hoping the swan prince would answer him.

Jungwon was still silent behind Ni-ki. "I'm sorry, Ni-ki," Jungwon said, Ni-ki suddenly flinched as he felt something crawling up his leg and suddenly a vine tied him in place, "Hyung! What are—", "I'm sorry, Ni-ki, but you're right," Jungwon said as he approaching Jake, "I'm the only remaining member of the royal family," Jungwon said facing Ni-ki.

"Therefore... it has become my responsibility to protect you, the remaining citizens of Chaconne, with all my heart," said Jungwon, who was firm in his decision.

Jake grinned hearing that, Good... his love is growing.... Jake thought. While Ni-ki was shocked to hear Jungwon's statement.

Heeseung was still riding his horse through the Chaconne Ruins. Heeseung stopped his horse for a moment so it could rest. "I don't understand, I've almost explored all of these ruins, but there's no sign of Jungwon," Heeseung muttered as he began to fall in despair.

But in the midst of his despair, Heeseung suddenly saw a pure white feather fall floating in front of him. Heeseung caught the feather, "Swan feather..." Heeseung said holding the feather. Heeseung immediately looked around, and at one point, he saw many white feathers falling make a path, as if they were giving Heeseung directions. Seeing that, the prince immediately rode his horse following the path covered in white feathers.

"Hyung, please, you don't have to do this..." Ni-ki begged. Jungwon didn't answer. In silence, Jungwon walked to the edge of the canyon and looked down the canyon.

"Hyung, please..." Ni-ki couldn't hold back his tears anymore, he really couldn't imagine losing his best friend in front of his own eyes.

Jungwon turned to take one last look at Ni-ki and smiled, "Thank you, Ni-ki, goodbye," Jungwon said before throwing himself into the canyon, "HYUNG!!" Ni-ki shouted as he saw Jungwon throwing himself.

"JUNGWON!" Heeseung shouted as he spurred his horse from across the canyon.

Jungwon closed his eyes, Goodbye, Ni-ki, I entrust my people to you and Yongbok–ssi, Jungwon thought. Heeseung... I'm sorry I can't be by your side anymore... I—

"Jungwon!"

Surprised, Jungwon opened his eyes and saw Heeseung hugging him, "Heeseung?! What are you doing?" Jungwon asked, panicking when he found out that Heeseung had jumped into the canyon. "Didn't I promise I would always be by your side? Didn't I promise that I would help you break the curse on you and your people?" Heeseung asked back, hearing that, Jungwon's tears flowed again, "You idiot! You don't have to sacrifice yourself for me you know?!" Said Jungwon who was annoyed. Heeseung just chuckled at that, "I don't care, as long as I can help you, and as long as I'm with you, then I will definitely be happy," said Heeseung wiping Jungwon's tears. Jungwon chuckled, even though his tears were still flowing, "We're really blinded by love, huh?" Jungwon asked, they both laughed.

"That reminds me," Heeseung said reaching into his pocket and taking out the ring that was almost put on Sunoo, Jungwon's eyes widened when he saw it. "Jungwon, with this ring, will you bind your love with me and make our last moment a happy moment?" Heeseung asked looking into Jungwon's eyes, the swan prince smiled, "I will," Jungwon replied, Heeseung's smile widened when he heard that. He then took Jungwon's hand and put the ring on Jungwon's finger. They looked at their intertwined hands before finally kissing.

"Stupid prince, he thinks he can change something after jumping?" Jake mocked after seeing Heeseung jump into the canyon.

"This way, all of Chaconne's power will be mine and I will become the strongest sorcerer in the world," Jake ended his sentence with the most satisfying laugh he had ever let out, while behind him was Ni-ki who was slumped on the ground, Jungwon's ties had been released a time ago. "Hyung..." Ni-ki said as he lowered his head, he clenched his hands while sobbed.

Suddenly, a huge earthquake came from the canyon, "It's time..." Jake said excitedly. Not long after, the earthquake stopped, and from within the Heaven's Canyon, a pink pillar of light appeared and exploded in the sky, "THERE IT IS!!!" Jake exclaimed excitedly, waiting for the great power to be absorbed into him.

The explosion of the pillar of light was seen and heard all over the place, until the battle that was happening inside the Dark Moon palace stopped because the pillar attracted the attention of every creature in the palace.

"Success... you succeeded hyung!" Sunoo exclaimed as he saw the pillar of light. Sunoo laughed, "Now it's time... for the end of every creature's life in this world..." Sunoo said opening his arms as his wings carried him flying from the veranda. "Get down befo—AGH! What?" Sunoo asked as he felt the burning sensation from his wings. Slowly, Sunoo's black wings began to burn with purple flames, "What the hell?! It shouldn't be like this!" Sunoo said as he felt the pain of his wings burning. Sunoo fell after his wings were partially burned. "No! It shouldn't be like this! This power should be ours!" Sunoo exclaimed rolling around trying to put out the remaining flames before they burned his body.

"What happened?" Yeonjun asked as he saw Sunoo who was almost burned alive. "Hyung look!" Soobin exclaimed as he pointed into the ballroom, Yeonjun's eyes widened because not only was Sunoo burned, but the creatures that were not clear in shape and the dragon were also burning with purple flames. "Could this be..." Yeonjun muttered.

Jake screamed because his whole body was covered in purple flames, even though his body didn't look like it was burning, but the dark sorcerer could feel the heat of the fire burning him. "What's happening?! This isn't how it should be—AGH!!" Jake shouted as he tried to put out the fire, while Ni-ki could only look at Jake with a horrified look without knowing what to do. Jake continued to struggle from the fire, until he was unconsciously on the edge of the canyon, "ARGH! Put out this fire!" Jake shouted in pain, "Jake wait—" Ni-ki shouted, but it was too late Jake had fallen into the canyon, Ni-ki wanted to catch him, but couldn't, he saw the light of the fire burning Jake until the light was swallowed by the darkness of the canyon.

Ni-ki's breath hitched, he still couldn't process what was happening.

Not long after Jake fell, Ni-ki felt something being pulled out of his body. When he opened his eyes, he saw a transparent silhouette of a swan flying up the pillar of light in front of him, he also saw many silhouettes of swans flying up the pillar.

"You did it... you did it hyung...." Ni-ki said after realizing what happened. Tears came out of his eyes again, but this time, instead of feeling pain in his chest, he felt happiness from the tears.

Slowly, the pillar of light dimmed and the sun showed its face greeted by cheers from Jungwon's subjects who had not returned to their swan forms.