Wind whipped around violently Cyrus and Rosemary violently, keeping both afloat within the tempest. The golden blobs around them smashed into each other, growing bigger like amoebas. Looking into the depths of the golden orbs, Cyrus saw a black skull made of electricity. It snarled at him causing him to flinch.

“Careful!” Rosemary teased. “Those are souls that have returned to the abyss. If they touch you, you’ll become one. Perhaps playing in this realm is too much for a baby like you!”

Cyrus was silent, he tactfully observed his foe as she hovered closer and closer with crazy shrunken pupils, a wide grin and her hands outstretched. He looked up and saw an opening between two large orbs.

”You don’t even have that briefcase,” Rosemary snarled. “There’s no way he can protect you. Best to be a good boy and give up the skull.”

With a brave face, Cyrus spoke, “I’m not giving up this skull without a fight.”

With his arm outstretched towards the heavens, Cyrus soared upwards, causing Rosemary to gasp in shock. Cyrus was weightless, defying gravity in an unworldly void. Sucking in his stomach, he pivoted between the golden orbs as his foe gave chase.

As he continued to fly through the void, he saw endless golden globes of people from Aristillus who perished. They lined a tornado that stretched to eternity. He weaved through them, hastily peeking behind him to see if Rosemary still gave chase. Much to his dismay, she did. Brandishing Celine’s weapon, she swung the Time Ripper attempting to sever his legs.

As he continued to fly upwards, a vicious cry came from behind. Peeking over his shoulder, Cyrus could see that his foe had vanished. Had one of the golden globs gotten her?

He heard the same blood thirsty cry from in front of him. A portal split the dimension over him. Rosemary with blood-shot eyes reached a clawed hand out of the void straight at Cyrus’ head.

With minimal time to flinch, Cyrus fell backwards. He flopped his arms helplessly attempting to regain momentum. Rosemary flew forward headfirst with a demented look of triumph on her face. Cyrus screamed and kicked with his legs. Like a swimmer struggling to stay afloat in a harsh current, he propelled himself sideways towards the edge of the tornado. As she flew down, Rosemary swiped at him, tearing the flesh of his right leg with her claw-like nails.

Cyrus screamed again and quickly flopped over. With a panicked expression, he dodged two golden globs. The liquid bodies swished loudly as they headed his way, one above him and one below him. Reaching the wall of the tempest, Cyrus tried with all his might to burst through. He threw his arm forward in a fist, but when he collided with the edge, he bounced off it harmlessly like a force field. He gasped as he saw two large electric skulls in the golden liquid close in. In between them, Rosemary hovered with her arms crossed and a self satisfied smirk on her face.

“End of the line, cutie pie,” she said, giving a haughty laugh. “Give it to me, and instead of becoming absorbed into the soul void, I’ll eat you instead. At least you can say you satisfied a beautiful woman before you passed on.”

Behind Rosemary, Cyrus saw a third golden glob floating behind her and his mind quickly hatched a plan. Cyrus squinted his eyes and looked back and forth. “Beautiful woman? I don’t see one…”

Rosemary grimaced, bearing all of her pointed teeth. She snarled, “Give it to me you bloated brat!”

Cyrus uttered a single word from his mouth. “Catch.”

Pulling his arm back, he hurled the skull with all his might. The skull soared past Rosemary, causing her to pivot around to follow it.

“No!” She screamed as it flew towards the golden orb behind her. Throwing the sword, she soared towards the skull, catching it before it could fly into the orb. Cyrus smiled as her momentum caused her to still fly into it. With a scream, she vanished instantly as soon as she touched it.

Cyrus flew out from between the two orbs surrounding him, heading towards the sword. Rosemary chucked it up in the air haphazardly and it circled towards several orbs at once. Cyrus kicked his feet hard, attempting to catch up with the weapon. Closer and closer, he moved towards the Time Ripper. He stretched his arm as far as it could, in order to grab it. His hand was in reach of the sword when suddenly he heard a squishing sound and looked down. His foot was inside one of the liquefied orbs.

Cyrus struggled as the golden globe continued to pull his body further and further away from the sword. “No!” he cried. “Please no! I don’t want to die here!”

Cyrus began to pray. “Please. I want to save Trinity. I have so much to live for….”

“YOU…DO…” A loud voice shook the void, causing every golden orbs to shake like jelly. The globe around Cyrus’ foot loosened its grip, allowing the young prince to break free. He wrapped his fingers around the hilt of the sword, and swung the Time Ripper forward. A portal opened up and Cyrus saw the room he fought Rosemary.

“Thank you…whoever you are…” Cyrus said, before soaring through it.

Cyrus breathed hard as the density of the air returned to normal. He dropped the floor, valuing every breath of air he could get.

“Cyrus!” Van exclaimed.

Cyrus looked up and his knight friend wrapped her arms around him.

“Van…” Cyrus said. “You guys are okay?”

“Of course,” Oga said, making a muscle with her small but toned arms. “Those demons were like water to a couple of battle hardened orcs!”

“Muchacho, we got your back…always,” Antonio said, with a suave smile.

“We were worried Rosemary had killed you!” Van cried. “We couldn’t find you anywhere.”

“Don’t worry,” Cyrus said with a brave smile. “Rosemary will never spook anyone again. I’ve conquered her.”

Everyone cheered and Cyrus heard a familar voice. “Princey-poo, I”m glad to hear you got over your fear of women!”

Cyrus looked up. The Majester approached him clad in white face paint and garrish orange and white checkered clothes. “Archibald!”

“Looks like the curse has been lifted,” Archibald said raising his gloved hands. “We’re free to enter this castle at will.”

The warmth had returned to Cyrus’ body. He was so happy to see his friends again. They were the ones who kept him fighting just as much as his love of Trinity. “So…” Archibald said. “Are you ready to save the princess like all great storybook heroes?!”

Cyrus nodded with a big smile on his face. “Am I ever!”

Cyrus and his friends made his way to the monastery. A morning sunrise over a pink lemonade sky peered through the stained glass window. The brisk air of broad day light refreshed him as he ran to the coffin. His legs were more sore than they had ever been but he didn’t care. They had carried him to his victory. He lifted the coffin, and saw Trinity.

Her face was a soft, fleshy pink rather than the pale undead palor she had when she was Rosemary in disguise. She breathed gently, her body rising and falling in a soft sleep. “Trinity…” Cyrus said. “Trinity.”

Trinity blinked her eyes and moaned quietly. “Who are you?”

“Trinity…I’m so glad to see you! Your prince is finally here.”

Clarity came to Trinity’s bright blue eyes and she pursed her thin, fragile lips in a confused way. “Oh?” She said. “Is he behind the fat guy?”

Cyrus turned his head to look behind him. His heart sank. She meant him.

“Trinity…I am Prince Cyrus…”

“Hm,” she said, her voice light and airy. “You seemed a lot…how should I say it, skinnier when I saw you in the mirror.”

Cyrus’ cheeks flushed bright red. He had held the mirror at an angle to cover up his size.

“Well, thank you for saving me,” Princess Trinity said sitting up. “My parents are in your debt.”

“But…” Cyrus squeaked softly. “What about you…”

“Come again?” Trinity said tilting her head, and Van rushed over to Trinity.

“Thank the creator, you’re safe, Trinity!”

The knight began lecturing the wayward princess with the sternness of a mother, “Remember: When vampires want you as a host for their dinner, you’re not serving them. You are their dinner!”

“I’ve never spoken with vampires before,” Trinity giggled. “I literally thought they wanted me to add a touch of royalty to their feast.”

“Well they did,” Van laughed.

“Mmm,” Antonio said, approaching Princess Trinity. He pulled her gloved hand up to his mouth and kissed it. “A pleasure to meet you, your highness.”

A look of hurt and disbelief flashed in Van’s eyes, but Cyrus didn’t care at that moment. He felt more hurt than Van could ever be. His whole adventure had lead up to a royal buzzkill.

Without any kind of warning, a loud tremor shook the castle. Every struggled to regain their foothold as the castle started to wobble. It brought Cyrus back to reality. “What’s going on?!” He cried “What’s happening to the castle? Are the Everblood’s using their last remaining power to take this castle and us down with them…”

“Hahaha nah,” Archibald responded slapping his knee. “This castle was just built on a really lousy foundation. We should probably get out of here before it collapses, ruining all of your hard work!”