MLHM- Part 7

This is the seventh and last Part of "ML:HM".
It was released on 10.02.2024,
== Plot ==
Having successfully taken care of Owen Olson and tamed his band of mad scientists, ending their threat once and for all, Sophia and her group manage to get back to the mainland with minimal trouble. Like her brave cousin, she managed to prevent a widespread disaster from occuring, making her entire family proud as she comes back home. It was an achievement worth talking about, an act of bravery that shall be remembered for a long time. And now that Sophia managed to prevent science from razing the entire world to the ground, people will never put their full trust in it. Never again.
And yet, the troubles of the world have only just started. Even though the Dark Angel decided to aid Sophia in defeating the evil scientist, he also has his own agenda. And he is planning to set it into motion as soon as possible.
Will Sophia have a part in the grand scheme?
== Story ==
As the ship travels to the mainland, Sophia and Anna feel very anxious. After what they had to face in the sea, it is clear that their giant red vessel is a shining green light for the various pirates that sail them. They want to believe that their journey will be a pleasant one, but the odds might be against them once again.
Unsurprisingly, the bad things that are meant to happen occur not long after. A particularly strong band of pirates attempts to gun down the vessel, hoping to obtain the vast riches within. However, much to everyone's surprise, the ship's defensive mechanism activates. Hidden cannons appear and bombard the pirates' only source of transporation. Homing missiles follow the foul outlaws, even as they attempt to back away. In mere seconds, their entire craft is destroyed, leaving them to be punished by the unforgiving sea.
Sophia and Anna breathe sighs of relief. They never expected that their craft would have such an advanced way of protecting its masters, but they are very grateful nonetheless. Such a pleasant surprise is, without a doubt, a miracle for them. 
And thus, the journey ahead is far more peaceful. Even though more outlaws attempt to take down the tempting target, their foolishness is rewarded with constant streams of bullets. Many villains get sent into the dark sea below, the ruins of their vessels leaving grim warning for any would-be pariahs who would dare to ruin the lives of innocent people. Sophia and Anna stare ahead as the ship is doing its job, knowing that their journey is close to its end.
When the craft finally returns to the mainland, the two girls cry tears of joy. They never expected that they would return after this fateful journey. Excited that they will finally reunite with their allies, Sophia and Anna hug each other and share a laugh.
Realizing what they are doing, the two of them take a step back. Then, they stare at each other and blush.
"You know, Sophia."- Anna admits- "For a girl, you're not bad at all. In fact, you're the finest lady I've ever met."
Sophia smiles.
"Well, you are definitely very interesting yourself, Anna."- She responds- "Your enthusiasm's truly inspirational."
Without any shame, the two girls hug each other again. Excitement is still overwhelming their your hearts as they stare at the mists behind them, glad that they are not going to venture into the dark seas anytime soon.
Not long later, a group of warriors arrives at the coast. They stare at each other, then stare at the two of them. Among the group are Geralt and Alwyn, who came to take back the two do-gooders after they completed their mission.
Alwyn, reduced to tears, runs up to his sister and hugs her. Geralt calmly approaches his niece, but even he cannot contain his excitement anymore. The two of them hug as the nearly ship gives them a reassuring beep, congratulating them for surviving the ordeal.
"Sophia, you are truly a little enigma."- He says to her- "I never imagined that you would abandon the safety of your own home to see us again, yet here you are. You made the impossible a reality, and I cannot thank you enough."
He looks at her.
"Tell me, little one."- He adds- "How are your parents doing? Are they faring well without us?"
Sophia sighs.
"Well, mom has always been a little sad. She knows that you and Will are doing well, but is still unsure if you're ever going to return."- She says- "Sadly, after our city was ravaged by the forces of a certain villain, I made the decision to make sense of what has been going on. I'm the sole testimonial of our family's might."
Geralt nods.
"Your free spirit is truly admirable. Once again, you went against the expectations. You gave those villains what they were due."- She says- "I'll make sure to talk to your mother about this... sudden predicament. Until then, I'm sure that we can find a place for you to stay."
Sophia raises her eyebrow.
"A place to stay?"- She asks- "Don't you already have that sanctuary? The one that I've been trying to find for so long?"
Geralt sighs.
"Oh. You probably mean the Rainbow Sanctuary. The home of light, the guardian of order within a sea of chaos."- He says- "Yes. The place is quite real, unlike what the modern maps are trying to show. However, things have gotten quite dire after we helped to establish the safe haven. Allow me to explain."
Geralt tells his niece about the adventures that they had. He tells her how they met Alwyn and helped him take down his evil father, putting an end to an entire mafia, more dangerous than the government's army. Then, he explains how he and Will helped him turn his mother's tower into a thriving metropolis, keeping the woman's legacy alive. And finally, he tells her how the Kaos family had to leave the safe haven, in the hopes of catching more warriors of the Dark Angel red-handed and punish them for their crimes.
Sophia looks at Alwyn and smiles.
"Well, it looks like you've got quite a big part in this."- She says- "Thank you for ensuring the safety of my family. Consider me impressed."
Alwyn smiles sadly.
"Of course, Miss Sophia. I'm glad that I was helpful to all of you."- He says- "The news of those evil scientists trying to mutate the entire human race were very shocking. We never expected something like this. However, with the valuable knowledge that you provided, I believe that we could put an end to those vile experiments once and for all."
Sophia nods.
"It makes me happy to know that people are actually doing their job."- She says and pats him on the shoulder- "Keep up the good work, friend. We might be close to a great discovery. Don't disappoint those people. They need you."
Alwyn sighs.
"I wouldn't."- He responds- "Even if I tried."
Sophia looks at Geralt.
"So. Where's Will?"- She asks- "He's usually very excited when I'm around. What happened to him?"
Geralt sighs.
"Will is... dealing with a certain problem. A dangerous challenge that he had to accept, in the name of all that is sacred."- He says- "He's a little busy right now. I'm afraid that he cannot congratulate you for your success, not until the matter is dealt with."
Sophia raises her eyebrow.
"Really?"- She says- "Then let's help hm out! I won't let him fight alone!"
As the group goes back to the place where they left Will and his allies, Sophia and Anna witness an incredible sight. Her cousin, Will, is singlehandedly fighting against a large group of mutants, protecting Ella from the vile beasts. He uses magic and swordplay to turn them into piles of green ooze, destroying the precious experiments that Owen Olson tried to unleash upon the unsuspecting world.
"I have to admit."- One of the scientists says- "For a young hero, he's quite a promising one."
Another scientist nods.
"Indeed."- He says- "Maybe magic's truly a determining factor."
Sophia looks back and smiles.
"That's my cousin Will to ya."- She says- "He's always the pinacle of goodness and justice. Never misses a moment to make the world shine."
After Will finishes off one of the last mutants, he plants his blade into the ground and lays in a thinker's pose. Such an arduous battle, done without the help of anyone else, has gotten him quite tired. So tired that he does not notice the final mutant that attempts to choke him.
Seeing that her cousin is in danger, Sophia runs forward and jumps on top of the mutant. When it tries to throw her off, she grabs Will's sword and plunges it into the back of the monster's head. As it collapses in a pile of green goo, Sophia inspects Will's wounds, making sure to disinfect them to prevent her cousin from suffering the same fate as her dear friends- a fate that nobody deserves to experience themselves.
"Thank you for the help, cousin Sophia."- He says- "After all my years of training, I never expected my journey to end like that."
Sophia nods.
"Of course. Just try to be more attentive."- She says- "From now on, the enemies are only going to get worse. We need to be ready for anything."
Will sighs.
"If only we knew what they are capable of... "
Then, he looks at his cousin,
"Anyway, you should congratulate your little friend. She might not look like a fighter, but she definitely knows how to take care of her problems."- He says- "Truth be told, she is one of the bravest maidens I have ever met."
Ella stands next to Will and hugs him.
"Miss Sophia, your cousin is incredible!"- She exclaims- "The way he told everyone to stand back, so he could fight the freaks without endangering them. How he spared no time to protect me from them. I'm so glad that I got to meet him!"
Sophia raises her eyebrow.
"So."- She says- "Does this mean that you're friends now?"
Ella smiles.
"More than simple friends!"- She exclaims- "We are, like, best friends!"
Will looks at Ella and smiles serenely.
"She is the embodiment of an innocent little sister."- He says- "This means a lot to me, since I never had one in the first place."
Sophia looks at him, a little disappointed by his attitude.
"What about me?"- She asks- "Am I not a sister to you?"
Will raises his eyebrow.
"But you are my cousin,"- He argues- "Cousins are close, but not as close as the actual siblings."
Sophia nods.
"That's true. I'll never be able to serve the same role as Quinn."- She says- "However, I'm doing my best to fill the gap that he left ever since we were children."
Suddenly, Will falls very quiet. He looks down, as if lost in thought. This makes Sophia a little worried, since she knows that her cousin is not the type of person to refuse to talk about a certain topic. Unless he has a very good reason, of course.
"You know, I still can't believe that Bribri fell in love with that kid. He's always so insolent and self-centered."- She says- "And he even got her pregnant. How naive of him."
Will sighs.
"Look. I... don't want to talk about it."- He says- "After what he did, hearing that he is going to have a child with a friend of mine only makes it worse."
Sophia raises her eyebrow.
"By the way, where in the world is he?"- She asks- "I've seen all of the people that we used to know, but not him. What happened?"
Will sighs.
"Do you want to know the truth? Well, he is gone."- He says- "While sitting in his comfortable bedroom, he suddenly experienced visions of grandeur and left home before we could persuade him to forget about them. We've been trying to find him ever since, but luck has not been on our side."
Alwyn shakes his head.
"It's not true. We did find some evidence during the last few weeks."- He says- "However, not much happened after that. It's as if he vanished from this world and left nothing behind. I've felt bad for that kid, but this mystery made us rethink whether his feelings were genuine or not."
Sophia sighs.
"I understand. But this is no surprise- he's always been like that."- She says- "Quinn often used his heart to solve his problems, even though he was smarter than Will. However, Will has always been the one who has been using his mind to solve the world's problems. Maybe that's one of the reasons why he left. Jealousy can be worse than poison, if used correctly. And I fear that the damage is far bigger than we expected."
Ella looks up at the two of them.
"We will find this Quinn person."- She says- "Right?"
Will looks at Ella and pats her on the head.
"Of course we will, Ellie. Quinn may be a tricky one, but he will not escape from us."- He says- "Every story has a good ending. We shall make sure that his story is not a bad one."
Then, he looks at Sophia.
"I just want to ask you one more thing."- He says- "Please, do not tell Bri that Quinn is not here anymore. Those news are going to leave her heartbroken."
Sophia places her hand on her heart- an ancient sign of honesty and clear intentions.
"I won't reveal anything."- She says- "For the sake of my friend and her unborn child, I shall make sure to keep this a secret."
Will nods.
"That is good to hear."- He mutters- "With everything that has been happening to the world, I don't want any of those poor people to know that we have a traitor in our ranks."
Suddenly, Sophia remembers about the cure that she brought back to the mainland. She asks Anna for the solution samples and goes on to inject Ella with it. In just a few minutes, the weak, nearly lifeless girl that almost withered along the way, is now completely healthy and happy.
"Oh, Miss Sophia! I don't know how to thank you!"- Ella exclaims and hugs her- "You went through all that pain to save my humble life! You risked your own happiness to ensure mine! I... don't know what to say!"
Sophia smiles and hugs her back.
"And I'm glad that everything is back to normal."- She says- "Thank you for giving me the strength to make this dream a reality, little one. You are the real shining star of the show."
Then, Sophia prepares to inject the rest of the solution into Bridgette's body. However, she quickly notices something weird in the design. Although it looks normal at first, it soon becomes clear that the cure has been tampered with. It is almost as if a certain scientist wanted to prevent potential benefactors from receiving the cure that they needed.
Suddenly, a horrible chill runs down Anna's spine. Her hands grow cold as she realizes what happened while she was running to get the solutions. Time reverts back to the moment when Owen was wounded and tried to pull out his weapons to execute the rebellious scientists. It is at that moment when Owen started to tamper with his own solutions, knowing that he will not survive. Anna was lucky enough to grab the last usable solution from him, but the rest of them are ruined.
Anna, grief-stricken, approaches Sophia. Then, she places her hand on her shoulder and starts to cry.
"I'm sorry, Sophia. It's... my fault."- She says- "I was a fool. I should've acted faster, but I... "
Sophia, realizing that her best friend is completely doomed now, comes to terms with the inevitable. She hugs Anna and shakes her head.
"No. Don't be sorry."- She says- "I know that we were not fast enough, but you did your best. Were it not for you, Ella would've ended up in the abyss, as well."
Will looks down.
"This is horrible."- He says- "Is there nothing we could do for her?"
Anna shakes her head.
"I'm afraid not."- She says- "The corruption runs deep inside of her body, almost to the bone. We can only watch as she withers in front of our eyes."
Sophia looks up, completely heartbroken.
"Bribri."- She says- "Please forgive me. I... I'm a bad friend."
The group decides to reveal the bad news to the pregnant Bridgette. At first, she seems to be utterly shocked. However, she soon manages to regain her composure and accept her fate. She knows that she will not make it herself, but is confident that her allies will keep her newborn safe and sound.
"It looks like it won't be long before it's over."- Geralt says and looks at the rest of the group- "Make sure to say your farewells, everyone. This might be our last chance to do so."
Will looks at his uncle, utterly heartbroken.
"Uncle, please."- He says- "You are only making matters worse than they are."
Geralt sighs.
"Forgive me, Will. But this is a matter that concerns all of us."- He says- "Quinn impregnated this poor girl without our knowledge. What he did was truly unforgivable, but I still hope that he is alive and well. Even though he is a sinner, he is still a part of our family."
Will nods.
"And that is why we must bring him back at all costs."- He says- "Quinn needs to see all the damage that he has done. Maybe this will serve as a lesson for him in the future."
Sophia raises her eyebrow.
"But how could we possibly let him know?"- She asks- "By now, he must be far away from here. Are we just going to magically teleport to his location and apprehend him?"
Will smiles.
"Well."- He says- "I think that I have a better solution for this."
Having said that, he calmly asks his uncle for a flare gun. He fires a single shot in the air and, using his magic, makes the resulting blast look like the figure of a small child. If that is not enough proof for Quinn, nothing will ever be.
Amusingly, this does get a small amount of attention. A lone figure that was watching them from a distance lifts his hood, revealing the face of a familiar blonde boy. He watches in shock as the blast slowly takes shape, completely realizing the consequences of his action. Even though he is a free man now, he is bound to the people who made sure that he is in this world. The fact that they are clearly mad at him clear upsets him. However, he soon decides to return back to his original, ignorant state, nonchalantly leaving the area before anyone manages to notice him. He hopes that he will remain unseen, and it seems that this is the case.
Or so he thinks.
The moment when he puts back his hood and slides down the hill, Will lifts his head and manages to see him. He stares at him for a few seconds as he flees, sadness burning like a wildfire inside of his heart. He clearly knows what is going on, but decides to not act against him. Even though that person always backstabbed him, humiliated him in front of his friends and attempted to ruin his future more than once, he is still willing to forgive him for his crimes.
"Quinn."- He mutters- "I am sorry... "
Sophia looks at her cousin, confused.
"Will? What happened?"- She asks- "Are you doing okay?"
Will stares back. Then, he shakes his head, clearly resigned to keep this fateful encounter a secret. Not for the sake of his own safety, but for the safety of those who came to know that unfortunate person. He wishes to prevent both sides from starting a horrible conflict, protecting them from a fate worse than succumbing to the force of the Dark Angel himself. A fate that must not befall anyone.
"Everything is under control."- He says, resigned to protect the family that he still has left- "I was just checking the lands ahead. Making sure that there is no one else who wants to bother us. So far, I see no threats on the horizon. We might be out of the dark waters soon."
Of course, Sophia is not a fool who was born yesterday. She knows that her cousin saw something that he will never forget, wondering how severe it might have been. However, much like him, she decides to not open a new discussion and trusts Will's beautiful lie.
"I hate being a liar. I really do."- Will says to himself- "However, the person that we are talking about is my brother. Sure, he might be a jerk, but he is also a part of this family. Everyone is really angry and will probably put him behind bars, at best. I have to convince them that this is not the right thing to do."
He sighs.
"Maybe Quinn will never change. Perhaps he will always be a sullen jerk and heartless fool. I am not saying that we can change a wolf's views, and this might likely be the case."- He adds- "However, pointing fingers at someone just because they wants to be free is not the right attitude. People need to show concern and understanding, to be sympathetic toward them. Or, at the very least, supress their own emotions and remain neutral. Lashing out at someone because he is different is inexcusable. All of the people in this world are unique, and this is what makes the world itself so colorful. If I can make them see that, it would be great."
Sophia looks at Bridgette and shakes her head.
"Quinn was such a fool to leave this poor girl behind."- She says- "He had every opportunity to turn her into a loving wife. A girl that would always be by his side. But no, he just used her as a scapegoat for his sorrow. What he did was awful, and I can't-- "
Will shakes his head.
"That is enough, cousin Sophia. Please, cut it out."- He says- "I know that my brother did a lot of wrong things. But that does not mean that we should keep putting salt on his wounds. Please, let us refrain from talking about it for now. There are far worse matters to address right now."
Suddenly, everyone falls silent. They know how much Will loves his brother, even though his own brother never loved him back. Badmouthing Quinn will only make the boy's heart bleed even more. There is no point to keep on arguing.
"Thank you for the understanding."- He says- "So. What should we do next?"
Sophia looks at him, surprised.
"You're asking for help?"- She asks- "I thought you were the leader here!"
Will smiles serenely.
"Well, I am always open for suggestions."- He says- "If you have something to say, don't be afraid. I am always eager to listen."
Geralt looks at Bridgette, a sad look on his face. Then, he looks at Will and shakes his head.
"As it is, our poor damsel is just another target for vicious predators. Even though we are doing our best to protect her, an easy victim is just far too tempting."- He says- "What I'm saying is- we need to take Bridgette somewhere safe. Soon, she will start attempting to deliver a new soul into this world. Her screams and blood will attract all kinds of horrible creatures. And I don't want this to happen, not when we've done so much to keep her alive."
Ella stands by Geralt's side.
"I agree with Mr. Kaos!"- She exclaims- "Miss Bridgette is far too nice to stand helpless like this. We need to find shelter as soon as possible!"
Will and Sophia stare at each other. Then, they nod.
"Then it is decided."- Will says- "Rainbow Sanctuary is still a safe haven for those who are willing to protect each other. With the help of the settlement's warriors, we can prevent a disaster from tearing us apart."
Anna raises her eyebrow.
"But what if there are monsters on the way there? What if Bridgette starts to go into labor as soon as we stand back on our feet?"- She asks- "There are far too many things to consider, Willy. We can't just do this without a plan."
Will nods.
"And that is why I had this scenario in mind, Anna. I did not come here unprepared."- He says- "Remember the caravan that we saw ahead? The one that brigands didn't even bother to loot? Well, I recently discovered that it is still in excellent condition. If we fix the wheels and summon new animals to pull it forward, we can even make it work again."
Then, he looks back at his allies.
"Are you ready for this?"
Everyone nods, clearly agreeing with Will's plan.
"Alright then."- He says- "Let us bring the moth to the flame."
Working together, Will and Sophia manage to rally their team into creating a miracle for the poor Bridgette. A group of soldiers, accompanied by Alwyn and Anna, get to work and easily fix the caravan's wheels. Once the deed is done, Geralt steps forward and uses his magic to summon spectral horses to pull the caravan forward. The scientist deserters use whatever resources they still have inside of their packs to create makeshift boosters for the caravan, launching it forward at top speed and allowing it to outrun some of the fastest threats that they have to face, all while Will and Sophia assemble their own team and protect the caravan from dangers above the ground. Like, say, a huge flock of delta bats that are carrying dangerous explosives.
After making sure that the explosives get rid of the wrong targets, Will and Sophia jump into the caravan. Like a magical cowboy, Will pulls the reins and shouts at the spectral horses, making them go even faster. Meanwhile, the scientists use a fast car that brought them all the way to the shore to take the rest of the team toward the destination, allowing the entire team to reach Rainbow Sanctuary with minimal difficulty.
When they finally arrive there, tension has already risen. Everyone looks concerned, having heard about the attack that Owen and his allies launched against Sophia and Anna. Upon the sight of those scientists, the guards immediately draw their weapons. However, Alwyn manages to convince them that they actually mean well.
"Well, my friend."- Will says- "It seems like you have changed. A lot."
Alwyn sighs.
"I understand the mistakes that I made before. I wish to correct them."- He says- "It's clear that those people didn't want to be a part of this madness. Letting them into this comunity is the least I could do after they were freed from the demon that they had to deal with all this time."
Will nods.
"And that is what makes you better than the other members of your daddy's mafia."- He says- "You are not the type of person to point fingers at someone, just because they had to work with a certain individual. And that says a lot about you."
Once they are let further into the settlement, concerned doctors emerge from the nearby infirmary. With our heroes' permission, they take Bridgette into the building, allowing some of them to join her.
Will and Sophia are the ones who decide to accompany Bridgette on her way to the infirmary. Everyone else makes sure to help the militia in protecting the place from potential invaders, if the need arises. Geralt and Alwyn stand on top of the wall, aiming their weapons at an approaching band of no-good individuals.
Meanwhile, Sophia leaves Ella in the care of Rufus and Alicia- two people that are very close to Will. And if her cousin trusts them, then so does she. They make sure to keep the young elven girl entertained, telling her stories about their adventures and the people that they met. Even though she barely knows them, Ella easily forms bonds with both of them, showing just how much of a sweet person she is deep inside.
As Bridgette calmly lies on the hospital bed, Will and Sophia worriedly stare at each other. This nightmare is almost over, but the worst for their friend has only just begun. Soon, Bridgette will go into labor and expend much of her power, making her the perfect victim for the infection inside of her body. After that, it will not take long before her soul leaves her body for good.
To make sure that everything goes smoothly, Aurelia quickly enters the room and joins the children. She excuses herself for coming uninvited, then hugs both of her niblings. She tells Sophia how happy she is that she's finally here, and Sophia tells her that she feels the same way. Then, she motions for both of them to join her as they pray for Bridgette's safe descent into Heaven.
"May the almighty one spare this pure soul on this fateful day. May He give her the power to overcome her fears."- They say, in perfect unison- "May the grace of Valhalla shine upon her and illuminate her path toward the light. Amen."
Then, Aurelia looks back at her niblings.
"Children, this is the final stretch."- She says to them- "We have done the best that we could. Now, the rest if left to Fate."
As the two of them watch sadly, Sophia quickly goes into labor. Hidden dark magic inside of her body makes its way through her veins, filling them with the color of darkness and attempting to corrupt her very being. Even keeping awake is a struggle for her now, and the fight against the dark current has only just begun.
Sophia and her family assist the doctors in bringing supplies to the doctors, managing to keep Bridgette alive during this entire process. Since most of the medicine nowadays contains small doses of light magic inside of it, this also makes Bridgette's pain become less noticable. This gives her a much needed respite from the nightmares she is forced to face right now.
"Come on, honey. You're so close."- Aurelia says- "Keep it up! You're doing great!"
Finally, after a lot of hard work, the child of Bridgette is finally brought into this world. The first person to hold it is Bridgette herself, as is the tradition after every single birth. She watches the infant with tears in her eyes, barely believing that she made it to the end.
"He's so beautiful, Bribri."- Sophia says and smiles- "A perfect human being. Just like you!"
Bridgette smiles and attempts to hand the baby over to her.
"I feel like you deserve him as much as I do."- She says- "Come on. Don't be shy. He's your nephew, after all."
Sophia does not want to take the child away from its mother. However, if it makes Bridgette happy during her last moments, she will gladly make it happen. Without any regrets, she gently takes the child in her arms and pats him on the head.
But that is when she notices something- the child is not breathing."
"Oh dear."- She says, a chill running down her spine- "This is... not good. At all."
Bridgette is left petrified by this revelation. After all of this hard work, her baby's fate is now at the hands of life itself. Why must like always treat her like this, even during the end of her path?
"This is the price that I have to pay for my crimes."- She says and looks down- "I'm as much of a sinner as those villains."
Sophia looks at Bridgette, angered that she is blaming herself for something like this.
"Stop acting like you're the problem! There's no need to blame yourself for someone else's mistakes!"- She exclaims- "We're going to save your kid! I promise!"
As it is, the child may turn out to be stillborn. Even a single look at him reveals just how lifeless it truly is. There is little hope for its survival, but Sophia and her family decide to take the chance either way.
Sophia attempts to massage the child's heart and uses a headband, dripped in water, to lower its temperature. However, even though she is doing her best to turn things around, the odds are truly against her. Nothing she tries results in success and, even though she has a lot of faith, it soon becomes clear that it does her no good.
"No! No! No!"- She yells and falls to her knees- "Come on! Don't you dare go anywhere! You're meant for this world, little one! Don't leave so early!"
Realizing that all of her efforts are in vain, Sophia rests her head against the infant's chest and starts to cry. Even though the poor thing has barely lived in this world, the impact that it made on her life will leave a permanent scar, never to be healed.
"If there's anyone who has to be blamed, that person is me."- She says, tears falling from her eyes- "I should have never let you come with us. Taking you back to the mainland was the best option. And yet, I was so happy that you wanted to be with us. I wanted you to meet a lot of nice people. And yet, all that I did was bring you pain and suffering. All of the people that we met, they never deserved someone like you. And now, those scars shall keep bleeding for the rest of your life."
Bridgette shakes her head.
"I have no regrets."- She says- "Even though our situation was quite dire, I feel like I was truly myself. Getting to see you again has always been a dream of mine. I'm glad that destiny decided to reunite us."
Sophia looks at Bridgette and smiles sadly.
"I love you, Bribri."
Bridgette smiles back, her smile shining brighter than a thousand suns.
"I... love... you too... Sophie... "
Suddenly, Bridgette's vision starts to grow hazy. Her eyes start to close. It is clear that the corruption inside of her body is finally claiming its intended victim. There is nothing left to stop it anymore.
"I'm... sorry... "
As she is about to close her eyes, Will suddenly leaps to his feet. The entire sitatuon has given him some kind of an idea. He kindly asks for Sophia to hand him the infant, which she does almost immediately. He also motions for his aunt to start chanting a prayer.
Determined to bring the young one back to life, he uses his magic to heal the corruption inside of him. Since the effect is much less prominent on the child itself, all it takes is for a competent healer to wash it all away. Taking the infant's light twitching as a clear sign of life, Will smiles serenely and gently caresses its head.
"Hello there, little one. Welcome to this world."- He says- "Come on, don't be a stranger. Everyone is waiting for you. Please, do not give up."
As if done by a magician, Will's efforts turn out to be completely successful. His kind and encouraging words manage to break the child out of its trance, causing it to start crying soon afterwards, much to the delight of everyone in the room.
Sophia cries tears of joy as Will gently lays the child back in its mother's lap. She clearly expected this to be the end of both of them. And yet, Will just performed another miracle. He stood against the dark currents and brought light into their lives once again. With his help, the child will be able to see the world with its own eyes.
"Thank you."- Bridgette mutters and smiles- "I.. knew that you could do it."
Will smiles.
"I am glad that I managed to make this happen."- He says- "Seeing the smile on your face brings a lot of joy to my soul."
Bridgette nods weakly.
"I know that... you were the perfect one for me. The one who was meant to be... my guardian angel."- She says- "But before I go... there's one more thing. Can you... umm... "
Understanding Bridgette's instructions. Will nods and smiles.
"If that is what you wish, so it be."
Deciding to make Bridgette happy one last time, Will leans forward and gently touches her face. The slight motion of his hand makes the girl blush. Then, as if in a romantic movie, the two of them share a kiss in front of their audience.
Now that her last wish has been fulfilled, Bridgette gently takes Will's hands and places them close to her heart.
"Can you hear it?"- She says- "My heart. It's... beating for you."
Will nods.
"And so is mine."- He says- "You are a wonderful person, Bri. I will never forget you."
Bridgette smiles.
"Thank you... Will."- She mutters- "I... love... you... "
With the last fragments of energy finally drained from her body, Bridgette falls limp and allows her soul to leave this world behind. After all of those struggles, her journey is finally over. And yet, she will always be remembered as the bringer of new life, and respected as the martyr for a noble cause. Her sacrifice for the good of the world shall never be forgotten.
"We've reached the climax. It's over."- Sophia says, her voice filled with sorrow- "My dear friend finally managed to reach the white skies. She's free from the dark chains of the world. Free to never feel pain ever again. At last, her soul can find the peace that it deserves."
Will looks down.
"Maybe this was not the best fate for her. She definitely deserved better. But, at the very least, her soul is finally at peace."- He says- "Thank you for everything, Bri. You shall never be forgotten."
Will wants to leave the infant in Bridgette's arms. However, this is not going to happen. His mother is now gone, and Will has to take full responsibility for the child's future. He takes him in his arms and watches as he falls asleep.
"You know. I kind of feel like him."- Sophia says- "This week's been quite a long one. I feel very tired."
Will nods.
"And so do I."- He says- "But, for the sake of Bri, we must make sure that our world's future is guaranteed. Starting with protecting the creature that she left behind."
Sophia stares sadly at her late friend.
"What happened to poor Bribri, it's a real shame."- She says and shakes her head- "That poor girl went through so much. She struggled to survive, even in the face of certain danger. And she was rewarded with nothing more than pain and grief. She deserved so much more, yet the world begged to differ."
Will sighs.
"If only we could turn back time to help her out... "
With deep regret, Sophia and Will bid their farewells to Bridgette. Her soul is finally at peace, but their battle against evil has only just begun. The road toward the heavens is long and perilous but, with the help of their allies, hope is still standing.
Two days later, the two of them hear about the appearance of a mysterious individual. It is almost as if he is waiting for something to happen, but never dares to make a move. A silent observer, searching for an opportunity.
When the duo emerge from the safety of the walls to confront him, he barely reacts to their appearance. Instead of drawing his weapon, he simply watches them. He does not want to talk, nor does he want to fight.
"Hello there."- Will says- "You seem familiar. Do we know you?"
The man lifts his hood, quickly revealing his identity. As it turns out, he is Zander- the cowardly paladin who failed to put his past behind. In his quest for holiness and selflessness, he lost his heart and became mad. Not long after betraying his comrades, he ran away once again. And now, he is back, seemingly the same person that he was before.
"Ugh! Zander?!"- Sophia yells and draws her weapon- "Didn't you learn your lesson last time? Well, how about I remind you? You don't want to mess with us!"
As Sophia takes a step forward, Will extends his hand and stops her from approaching Zander.
"No. Leave him alone."- He says- "Maybe he changed his mind. It might not seem like it, but he is more than just some mindless creature. He has thoughts of his own. I know that it sounds like a bad idea, but maybe we should allow him to say his piece."
Sophia sighs. She truly wants to make Zander pay for attempting to hunt down her friends, but she knows that her cousin has dealt with similar people before. Deciding to trust him, she backs away and allows him to do the talking.
"Last time we saw you, you were acting like some kind of an emotionless puppet. You allowed chaos to consume your humanity and lose your ways."- Will says- "What is it now, Zander? Why did you want to see us?"
Zander looks down and sighs.
"I... finally understand it."- He says- "Survival's a necessity when it comes to living in a safer world. I hate you, but I hate villainy even more. And I can't bring myself to hate those who fight against it."
Sophia raises her eyebrow.
"I'm sorry, but you lost me."- She says- "Are you saying that you're here because you want to atone for your sins? Because you definitely have a lot of them, friend."
Zander sighs again.
"I just want to say that this feud is over."- He says- "I once believed that killing everything in sight would make the world safe. But now, I can see that it's not that easy. If the light's capable of bending its shape, so is the darkness. I dared to believe that I was doing the right thing, but sometimes, it's best not to do anything at all."
Will looks at him.
"So, you want to forgive and forget? Fine by us."- He says- "We know that you caused us a lot of trouble in the past, but we understand that you were just misunderstood. You tried to fight for something you once believed was right, but you decided to change your ways. And we, as the heroes, can respect your decision."
Zander looks up at them.
"Does this mean we're even?"
Will nods.
"It does."- He responds- "We once wanted to make you pay for your crimes. However, your exile is a punishment bigger than anything we could offer. Your time in the unforgiving wastes shall serve as a teacher, showing you the light that you are still seeking."
Zander respectfully bows his head.
"I... appreciate your generosity. I thought you were just another band of greedy adventurers, but I can see much more to your ways than I once did."- He says- "Thank you for giving me another chance."
As he starts to walk away, another mysterious figure emerges from the mist and approaches them. Unlike Zander, however, this person is not a familiar one. However, the magical aura that radiates from him makes our heroes feel like he is someone who should not be trifled with.
"It can't be."- Zander mutters- "Is that you... ?"
The man, a middle aged sorcerer with the stare of someone who has seen far too much, simply stares at Zander. Then, he decides to break the silence.
"It is true. The prophets did not lie."- He says- "My boy, I finally found you. I am the one who is known as your father."
Zander looks at the man with both admiration and hatred. He tries to make him pay for all the suffering that his mother and sister faced. However, like the situation with them, he just can't bring himself to do it. So, he simply lowers his head and sighs softly.
"I'm... glad that you made it back."
Sophia takes a good look at the man who claims to be Zander's father. Something inside of him is quite familiar, as if she knows about who he was. Or maybe still is.
"Wait. I think I've heard about you."- She says- "Aren't you Nikolas- esteemed member of one of the world's most powerful mage guilds?"
Nikolas smiles slightly.
"That is the case, young one."- He says- "I am one of the world's strongest mages. However, this shiny title does not bring me what I lost years ago- my own family."
He looks down.
"It all started when I learned that my wife- Aiko- was pregnant. At that time, she was a transfer student in our academy. Many boys were in love with her, because she was such a gentle soul. And yet, her burning spirit repulsed them, made them doubtful of whether she is truly a good person or not. However, I never lost my trust in her."- He says- "Aiko and I fell in love when I was studying to become a councilmember. But that was not the reason why she loved me, she thought that my knowledge would allow us to start a family. How naive she was back then."
He sighs.
"I had to hide my affairs from my peers. I also wanted to protect Aiko from the wrath of those who disapproved of commoners like her. Our community never respected any of them in the first place- they were just a bunch of worthless nobodies to us. All we cared about was to harness the power that we earned and use it to shape the world to our liking. Selfish, I know, but we thought that it was the best thing to do."- He says- "I still dread the day when I accepted the council's offer. One of them must have taken a liking to me and decided to promote me to his peers. My master, the man who truly cared about me, was a powerful man, but he traded his heart for infinite power. But now, I can see that he was not the only one."
He looks up at the sky, sadly reminiscing the past.
"Aiko was lucky enough to bring a child into this world. However, the pain of bearing such a burden was too much for me. Though I pretty much remained the same person, I also felt guilty for betraying the trust of my companions."- He says- "I could have just stopped there. I would have lived with the family that I made, away from those wretched people. But then, Aiko suggested that we should have a female descendant, to make sure that the goddess of fate would smile down on us."
He looks at Will and smiles.
"Back then, we thought that the goddess favors the young girls."- He adds- "But now, I know better."
Then, he sighs.
"Our opinions were quite conflicted. I wanted to desert from my post and leave the city for good. But Aiko, she saw the outside world as a horrible place to take care of our children. Both of them were young and unprepared, unable to fend for themselves. So, I made the decision to trust her instinct."- He says- "However, disaster struck like a lightning bolt, not long after we made our call. The higher fragments of our ordered society discovered that Aiko is just another commoner. They resented her, insulted her, made her feel miserable and depressed. I tried to convince her that it was not worth giving up, but her soul had already collapsed into the darkest depths of oblivion. And then, one day, she left the city behind without my consent. All that was left of her... was this letter."
Nikolas hands a letter to Zander. As the boy reads it, he quickly comes to the conclusion of what happened between his parents. Nikolas never abandoned his family- Aiko was the one who ran away. And when she and the children left, so did the last rays of hope and faith in Nikolas's life.
"But that doesn't explain how you survived the attack."- Zander says- "How did that happen?"
Nikolas looks down.
"As if fate hadn't done enough to make us suffer, it soon came down to laugh at us one last time."- He says- "Not long after you and your mother left the city, the council became divided. The guild was torn between blaming the commoners and enforcing a new set of rules. Everyone had their own affairs to take care of, so they never saw the biggest danger coming- a perfectly organized frontal assault, meant to completely break our spirits."
He looks up at the onyx sky above.
"Now that our so-called "perfect" city finally fell to chaos and disarray, we were severely weakened. Creatures of darkness poured through our gates, backed by their wicked masters. Everything around us fell in mere hours. The things that we worked to achieve were shattered like thousands of mirrors. And the bad luck... it was transferred to us."- He says- "I was one of those who were lucky enough to survive the onslaught. Lady luck never gave up on me, and I managed to stand my ground against those fiends. But my friends, my comrades, they all fell to the absolute power of our enemies. And during that day, I felt most powerless."
Zander shakes his head.
"I'm sorry, father."- He says- "If only I was a little older, I would have convinced my mom to go back."
Nikolas sighs.
"You shouldn't blame yourself for anything, my child. Just like the fate of uniting with your mother was meant to happen, so was the time when our bond was broken forever."- He says- "But we shouldn't hate Aiko, just because she made the wrong call. It is true, she was not in her right mind when did so. Her heart was clouded by a veil of pure fear. She did not want me to bear the burden of losing my job because of her, so she did what she had to do. And now? Truth be told, I wish I left with her. That place, it was never meant to be called my home."
Zander looks down,
"So."- He says- "What happens now?"
Nikolas looks at his son.
"What happened to your family, Zan?"- He asks- "Why are they not with you?"
After Zander explains what happened to his mother and sister, Nikolas becomes even more depressed than he was before. Pure, uncontrolled rage flows through his veins as his eyes become dark red.
"Those fiends wronged our family. They took our pride and freedom."- He says- "We must make everything right. And so, we shall."
As Nikolas and Zander prepare for travel, Nikolas looks back at Sophia and Will.
"You can join us, if you want."- He says- "We don't mind the help of our fellow human beings."
He looks back at his son.
"Right, Zan?"
Zander nods.
"Of course."- He says- "Friends, you did so much to drag me out of the jaws of misery. Maybe you can do it one more time?"
Sophia walks forward, but Will shakes his head.
"I am afraid that this is the end of the road for me."- He says- "I still have a team to take care of. People who believe in me. We travel from place to place, so it is unwise for us to keep staying in one spot for too long."
Sophia nods.
"Good luck, cousin Will."- She says- "I won't take long to come back."
Will smiles.
"Stay safe, cousin."- He says- "Don't let the darkness consume you again."
As the two cousins hug each other, Nikolas beckons the young do-gooder to join him. She does so without any hesitation. And so, the three of them soon disappear into the dark mists, ready to finish what they started.
A few hours later, the trio arrives at the same spot where they once encountered the undead Clementine- Zander's younger sister. The one that he failed to eradicate once and for all. However, from the looks of it, she seems to be gone. The faint tracks of horses and humanoids are all that is left.
"I anticipated this. Even as a creature of darkness, Clementine is still a very clever girl."- Nikolas says and bends down, inspecting the mounds of sand- "But that is of no concern. Even if an undead is proven to be a genius, they cannot match the human mind. It would take them centuries to master our ways and hone our skills. And it is clear that they will never last for that long."
After carefully rearanging a sand pattern, Nikolas manages to form an intricate circle. Even though it will soon be blown away by the unforgiving desert winds, it will be enough for him to track down the person (or rather, former person) that they are looking for. Using his powers, he manages to unleash a powerful ritual that reveals a brief extend of his immeasurable power, unleashing it upon the center of magic. Though it is not clear to both Zander and Sophia, this is a spell that allows the caster to discover things invisible to the naked human eye. And that is all he needs to find his target.
Soon, the desert winds blow away a portion of the sand nearby, revealing what looks like a black sarcophagus. With a mighty thud, a half-skeletal hand pushes its lid away. Our heroes watch as a lone figure makes its way out of the resting place.
Zander stares in fear as his undead sister shambles toward them. By now, half of her skull has already been turned to bone. Her arms and legs are still twisted, but that is not the worst thing that could be seen here. Clementine's eyes are now glowing red, and she is staring at her former family with a cold stare of pure hatred.
And then, just as suddenly, she uses her twisted legs to run toward them. Despite being an undead, she is remarkably fast. And if there is anything that our heroes have learned, it is that nobody should underestimate the horrors of the world.
Though Zander is utterly terrified, Nikolas manages to remain calm and composed. He backs away from the lunging Clementine, then pushes her to the ground with his staff. When she pounces back to her feet, he casts another spell, trapping her inside of an unbreakable twist of vines.
"Clementine, you always meant so much to me."- He says- "Even though Zander was my true successor, you were always the little angel on my shoulder. And now, you're gone forever, away from those who loved you. The best that I could do for you now... is to put your soul to rest."
Using his magical abilities, Nikolas channels his inner magical energy to cast a brief, very powerful spell. Wisps of flame rise from his staff as he unleashes a deadly fire ability upon his undead daughter. 
In mere seconds, her mind starts to melt like a popsickle. The undead Clementine's eyes manage to look at the remains of her head as she slowly collapses to the ground, put down for good by the magic of the man who she once considered a traitor.
"I'm sorry that you ended up like this, my child."- Nikolas says and kisses Clementine on the cheek as he gently picks up her lifeless corpse- "In your honor, we shall rebuild the empire that we lost so many years ago. Together, we shall remind the people that we are the holy ones. Rest easy, and remember that you will never be forgotten. We love you."
Sophia watches this situation unfold, reminding herself of how she almost lost her entire family during the wake of the Dark Angel. Although she is often annoyed by them, she is glad that they are still around and loves them very much- just as much as Nikolas loves his late daughter.
Zander takes a look at his sister's remains. In his eyes, he was still capable of seeing her as a living person. That is the reason why he went mad after attempting to put her down- her undead self resembled her so much that he forgot what he had to do. Now, he is left confused and saddened. His sister protected him from the bandits that attempted to murder them. She shielded him with her own lifeforce. And yet, he was unable to repay her good deed, like he had promised before she passed away. Why did he allow his own father to put her down, when he was the one who was responsible for her demise in the first place?
"Clemmie was thrown into the fire, alongside all of the fuel. She was burned. Mutilated. Humiliated. Her body was allowed to move on, but her soul had already collapsed."- He says and lowers his head- "This reminds me of all the promises that we made to each other. Once, she even told me how she wanted to start a family of her own. Have a loving husband and three gorgeous daughters. And yet, it was all taken away with the snap of a finger."
He looks up at the dark sky above.
"Why is the world so unfair to us?"
Nikolas stands silent. Even though he wants to console his own son, he cannot bring himself to do so. And maybe that is the right decision, because he also had a part in Aiko's departure. But then again, if Aiko was not wise enough to listen to reason, her children didn't have to be dragged alongside her. They didn't have to suffer the same fate, nor experience the same pain. She could have easily left them in their father's care. Maybe her own fate was going to be the same, but at least Clementine would still be the same and Zander wouldn't be suffering from a fake hero syndrome.
"I can't explain how tough it is for all of us. Losing a loved one ain't easy, and it will never be."- She says- "I experienced this mere hours ago. My best friend withered away in my arms, like a flower in the underworld. But... there is always light inside of the darkness. Let's just hope that both of them are watching us from Heaven".
Nikolas sighs.
"Amen."
Nikolas takes his daughter to the nearby town. Completely heartbroken, he manages to dig a small grave and bury her for good. Never again will she attack anyone or cause any harm. He managed to avert a horrible disaster, and the people of the nearby settlements have him to thank for it.
"Clementine was the sunshine in our lives. She was the hidden gem that everyone adored. She was so sweet, so lovable. A truly valuable treasure in a wicked world."- Nikolas says- "And yet, she was also the one who suffered the most. She was forced to watch as her parents separated. As her brother walked the road toward insanity. Truth be told, she almost went insane herself while watching the chaos unfold. She was strong in body, but weak in soul. When everything collapsed, so did she."
Zander sighs.
"Clemmie never meant to do anything bad. She was always such a kind little thing."- He says- "But the world doesn't like those who are weak. In its eyes, she was nothing more than a detriment. Her demise was traumatizing for both of us, but at least she's free now. Never again will she wander the dark wastes alone, for we are with her."
Sophia shakes her head.
"I wish I was there to help you face those freaks."- She says- "Maybe things would've been different if we worked together."
Zander shakes his head.
"I wish I could think the same way. But that ain't the case."- He says- "Even if we could change the future, it doesn't mean there won't be any trouble. If Clemmie didn't die to those fiendish outlaws, then maybe something more horrible would've taken her out."
Nikolas sighs.
"Those are just trivial what if's. Pleasant moments that we really wished for."- He says- "But reality is not always the same as what you want it to be. Sometimes, the knife can stab you with both ends. And the terror of betrayal will be worse than the bleeding wounds."
Sophia raises her eyebrow.
"So."- She says- "Does this mean that we'll have to be extra wary?"
Nikolas nods.
"Friendships are based on strong bonds. And those are not formed just by being constantly suspicious of others. They are like tall buildings, except that the bricks are the trust that we have for our allies."- He says- "You may continue to work with your allies. However, always bear in mind that they always have their own affairs to take care of. Those who possess the most ambition are not aware that it acts like a deadly drug. And that makes them nothing more than liabilities in the eyes of others."
Sophia raises her eyebrow.
"What about those who were once tainted by the darkness?"- She asks- "Sure, they might have once been untrustworthy. But that doesn't mean that we should put them out of the picture. People like those have potential. And that's exactly what we need in times like those."
Nikolas sighs.
"If that's what your heart desires, I cannot argue. We all have our opinions."- He says- "But don't trust too much. Perhaps it is a good idea to give everyone a fair chance, but this doesn't mean that everyone deserves it."
Then, he looks at his daughter's tombstone and shakes his head.
"But that will be discussed in the future, by people more capable than the two of us."- He adds- "Our role in this story is over. We have done what we could, and our new journey shall start elsewhere. We won't be a part of this madness anymore. I guess that we should consider ourselves some of the lucky ones."
Sophia raises her eyebrow.
"Are you bailing out of a dangerous situation?"
Nikolas shakes his head.
"Far from it, young one."- He says- "We are not leaving out of fear. We are doing this because we still haven't found ourselves. In this world of sin, we must be the pillars of light that keep the order alive. And to do that, we must follow our own ideals. Walk on our own roads."
Zander sighs.
"I'm sorry, Sophia. This is where it ends."- He says- "My father's far too stubborn to be convinced otherwise. Besides, he's the only family I have left. I know that you're a good gal, but I must protect him from his own sins."
Sophia nods.
"I understand. Your desires have been noted."- She says- "I wouldn't like to keep you anyway. Everyone's still angry at you... and I don't think I can convince all of them to let you stay. I'll try to forgive you for what you did out there, but you still have to forgive yourself. If you're up for the task, that is."
Zander respectfully bows his head.
"I shall do my best to follow the paladin's code."- He says- "No longer shall I be tempted by petty desires and twisted dreams. From now on, I'll work to improve myself."
Bowing his head one last time, Zander leaves with his father, allowing Sophia to travel back to Rainbow Sanctuary.
"Farewell, Zander- brave paladin of the north."- She mutters- "Until we meet again."
She looks around, as if searching for some kind of a transport. After all, she came all the way here with Zander and his father. But now, she is completely alone in this unforgiving wasteland. 
"Now."- She says to herself- "How do I escape myself?"
Suddenly, she feels someone tapping her on the shoulder.
"Cousin Sophia?"
Sophia jumps to her feet and turns around. She attempts to slice the person behind her, but her blow is easily deflected.
"Calm down. It is me."- Will says- "I just came to see what you're up to."
Sophia raises her eyebrow.
"Cousin Will?"- She asks- "How'd you make it here?"
Will smiles.
"Don't you remember? We live in an era when technology is greatly advanced."- He responds- "Teleportation was a rare method of transportation in the past. But now, our dear world's mages have discovered numerous ways to perfect the mystical art. If the destination is within my reach, I can use my abilities to join you."
Sophia raises her eyebrow.
"Then why don't you teleport into the Dark Angel's fortress straight away?"- She asks- "Why are you even looking for his HQ in the first place?"
Will sighs.
"Like I just said, teleportation has its limits. I cannot use it all the time, and my range is limited to a certain distance from a major settlement."- He says- "It is not as incredible as you think. The wonders of magic are many, but we cannot fully rely on them."
Sophia looks at him, confused.
"Does this mean that you're also stuck here?"
Will shakes his head.
"I wish I could say otherwise. But... that is the truth."- He says- "I came here to keep you safe. However, my teleportation magic has yet to recharge. So, this means that we have to work together and find a way out of here."
Sophia nods.
"Sounds good to me."- She says- "Just don't act like a spoiled child if it takes too long."
Will sighs.
"I feel like you are the one who is more likely to act like one. Your parents are richer than uncle and aunt. They spoil you with all kinds of good things and give you what you want, without any strings attached."- He says- "But this is not the time to argue. We are still in danger. So, let us get going."
Will looks up and whistles for someone (or rather, something). Suddenly two clouds descend from the sky and land next to the two heroes. One of them glows slightly, as if beckoning them to ride it.
"This is our vehicle? A ridable cloud?"- Sophia asks- "What if the things are not stable enough to handle our weight? Does this mean that we're going to tumble down? God, I don't want to end up like... like... "
Will shakes his head.
"Please. Spare your worries."- He says- "Those clouds may look a little flimsy, but they are made of a material that is not meant to break. Myst taught me how to put them under my control, so they won't go anywhere without us."
Sophia raises her eyebrow.
"Do they taste like cotton candy?"
Will looks at Sophia incredulously.
"Is cotton candy supposed to be floating in the air?"- He asks her- "Or spawning rain when agitated?"
Sophia falls silent. She did not expect Will's response.
"Yes. That is the harsh reality that they have been hiding from us."- Will adds- "Cotton candy is not made of edible cloud fragments, my dear cousin. In fact, it is much more complicated. Even the gods themselves, wise and learned as they are, do not know the secret of its creation."
Sophia looks surprised.
"That's wild!"
Will sighs.
"It is no surprise, to be honest."- He says- "The entire world is already wild."
Sophia nods.
"Can't argue with that one."
As the cousins hop on the clouds and float away from the solid ground, they take one last look at it. This is the place that is their home, the land that they shall protect with their lives. Knowing that there are people who aim to destroy it worries them both, but they know that evil never prevails.
"By the way."- Sophia says- "How's the little one doing?"
Will smiles.
"I took care of him for a while, then left him in the care of Anna."- He says- "I am proud to say that he managed to inherit one thing from by brother. And no, it is not his foolishness. He has gorgeous sea blue eyes and what looks like blonde hair. It is almost as if he is a fusion between his parents, turned into a perfect little creature. A pure angel like him does not deserve to be in this dark world, yet he still has as much a chance to live as all of us. We must protect him at all costs."
Sophia's heart melts for a second.
"Aww. My little nephew's such a sweetheart."- She says- "Well then. Let's hope he won't turn into a jerk like his father. It would be tragic for a promising young man like him."
As the two of them continue to talk, a large laser beam is launched at them. They manage to avoid it just in time, but nearly fall from their clouds. As they attempt to swerve away, another laser is launched at them, narrowly missing their aerial vehicle. Surprised and surrounded, the two of them wonder where they must go. Lasers dance around them as they swerve left and right, creating a vortex of fire and pain.
Suddenly, one of the beams manages to strike Sophia's cloud. The projectile is strong enough to pierce its way through the seemingly indestructible cloud, tearing it in half with just a single hit. As Sophia starts to plummet down, Will grabs her hand, nearly falling from his cloud himself.
"I thought that it was stronger than this!"- Sophia yells- "Explain, Will! Why did it vanish all of a sudden?"
Will shakes his head.
"Is this really the time to argue?!"
Using his navigational skills, Will manages to swerve his cloud toward a nearby mountain range. He spawns a grappling hook out of thin air and and launches it at the rocks, hoping to get a clear shot. Fortunately for him, the hook manages to stick to the surface, allowing the two of them to cross safely.
However, just as they start doing so, a barrage of lasers is launched at them. Although most of them do not manage to hit anything, one lucky laser strikes the ethereal rope and tears it apart. The two heroes start to plummet down as unseen figures laugh at them.
Although the situation seems quite dire, Will did not arrive unprepared. He knew that such a predicament was possible and brought everything that he needed to organize a counterattack. As he and his cousin fall down, he uses his magic to create a temporary cloud. Like an elevator in Heaven, it manages to slow their fall and safely deposit them on the ground below. Will waves at the little cloud as it floats away.
Angered by their enemies' survival, the enemies who tried to murder them finally manage to show themselves. From the looks of it, they are a pack of bedraggled scientists, still infuriated by the entire "accident" regarding their precious laboratory. They refused to submit to the law and fled into the wastes shortly after they left the burning lab behind. Now, along with their chained mutants, they seek vengeance for this so-called "insolence". And they couldn't get any luckier than this, because the main perpetrators are right in front of them, alone and nearly defenseless.
Without a single word of insult or self-praise, the scientists let go of the chains, load their scientific guns and go all out. Guns start blazing all around as Sophia and Will are forced to protect themselves from both humans and mutants. And, even though they did well while with their group, they are far too weak to fight back against their enemies once again.
As the mutants manage to throw both of them to the ground, the scientists laugh at them. They clearly didn't expect them to be so weak. And now, they will be able to finish what their master started- mutating the rest of Sophia's group and turning the world into a wild no man's land, filled with mindless constructs.
But that luck does not last for a long time. As they pull out their mutant solutions, a lone girl runs forward and shields Will from their blows. She kicks the solutions out of their hands and stomps them into powder and goo, effectively destroying the work of Owen Olson for good.
"No! That's enough!"- The girl, revealed to be Alicia, yells- "You guys have done enough damage to Willy and his friends! Please, leave this place and never return! It's not worth fighting for someone who's not fighting anymore!"
The scientists look at each other for a brief moment. Then, they burst into laughter.
"Foolish girl! Do you really think that we'll listen to your witty banter?"- One of them says- "Maybe a lesser being would've listened to them. But not us. Unlike your lot, we are a group of advanced super scientists. And we-- "
Suddenly, they start to hear heavy footsteps behind them. They turn around. And, much to their surprise, they witness something truly terrifying.
A scary monster, shaped like a man, emerges from the mists and slowly shambles toward them. It has a daemonic mask on its face and armor, made for the underworld, on its body. The scientists stare it, confused what it is doing all the way here. And then, without any sort of warning, the creature pulls out a supercharged assault rifle and lets out an earth-shattering roar, startling all of the scientists.
Then, it unleashes a soul-piercing, almost humanlike "I PITY THA GHOUL!", and starts to shamble much, much faster. The scientists, wise as they are, consider their options and ponder their capabilities. After realizing that the creature is far too strong for their refined tastes, they shriek like little girls and escape into the safety of the night. 
However, before they could go very far, another lone figure emerges from behind a giant rock and shoots all of them in their legs. As they simultaneously collapse on the ground, as if in a cartoon, he grabs a robe from his pack and ties all of them up. No person left behind. No crime unpunished. If the scientists shall go to prison, there shall be no escapees.
"I got this in the bag."- The man says and gives the creature a thumbs-up- "Well done, Rufus! That was an outstanding performance!"
Will and Sophia stare at the creature, utterly confused.
"Wait."- Sophia says- "Rufus? You mean... "
At the same time, Will manages to recognize the voice of a certain very dear person.
"Uncle!"- He exclaims- "So, you finally made it!"
Suddenly, Rufus takes off his demon mask, revealing his lush red hair and pale skin. From the looks of it, he seems to be a little annoyed by Geralt's interference. However, he does not lash out at him, like he always does. He simply enjoys the grand hero's praise while he still can.
"You know what? Forget what I said just now."- He says to the scientists and smiles- "I may pity the fool, but I shall never pity the ghoul. And you guys are definitely in the latter category, suffice to say."
As Will stares at Rufus, Alicia runs toward him and hugs him very, very tight.
"By the grace of the almighty, Willy! You're alive!"- She exclaims- "What did those freaks do to you? Did they try to mutate you? Or maybe use you as a lab rat? What if they turned out to be monsters in disguise? What were we going to do with them?"
Will looks at Sophia and shrugs.
"Don't worry. She is always like that."- He says- "Alicia is an ever-faithful companion and eternally loyal companion of mine. Wherever I go, she manages to assist me in some way. And it seems like this whole expedition was orchestrated by her and Rufus."
Alicia looks up at him, still hugging him tight.
"Are we ready to get outta here?"- She says- "This whole place is so hot!"
Will sighs.
"It is true. The place is quite hot."- He says- "But it is not as hot as you, Alicia."
Will's words manage to take Alicia's soul to the skies once again. She jumps up and down excitedly, making Sophia a little worried about.
"Yay! You're so nice today!"- She exclaims- "Come on! Let's go home! I can't wait to spend some time with you again!"
Will nods.
"Then let us head home."
Geralt whistles for something in the distance. Soon, a large car goes to the spot on its own accord. It has no driver, but this is no surprise, considering the times our heroes live in. All of them hop into the car as Geralt takes control of the large vehicle.
"Alright, team! Hold on tight, because this adventure is going to be a wild one!"- He warns the heroes behind him- "Rainbow Sanctuary, here we come!"
As expected, the magical car takes them to Rainbow Sanctuary in little to no time. After they leave it behind, it starts a defense mechanism and covers itself in unbreakable titanium armor, to prevent anyone else from accessing its contents.
Sophia and Will stare at each other, barely believing that this adventure is finally over.
"Well, this was a very fun ride."- Will says and smiles- "Thank you for welcoming me in your little family, cousin Sophia. I will not forget what you did for me and my people."
Sophia smiles back.
"Likewise, cousin Will."- She says- "It was a pleasure to see all of you again."
Will nods.
"The road ahead will not be an easy one, but I know that we will get far."- He says- "I wish you the best of luck. Take good care of my little nephew and make sure that he gets what he deserves. This place is his best shot at turning into a successful person, and I hope that we can make it happen."
Sophia continues to smiles.
"Safe travels, cousin."- She says- "I hope that we can meet again. Someday."
The entire group bids their farewells to Sophia and the rest of Rainbow Sanctuary's residents. Then, they leave the area and start to walk on the road ahead, ready for yet another exciting adventure.
Sophia looks down at her watch. As expected, Jeff's hologram appears.
"Well, Jeff. It seems like this is the end of the line."- She says to him- "Against all odds, I managed to overcome my own fears. I fought against a group of mad scientists, ruined their plans and destroyed their home. And the best part is- we won."
Jeff salutes her.
"It was honor for me to assist you, o dear friend of mine."- He says- "No matter what happens next, I wish you the best of luck. Take life in like a glass of wine, and look at the bright side of the sun. Never forget those who stood by your side and remember- you'll always be a part of this wonderful world."
== Trivia ==
* The words "I Pity Tha Ghoul" are a reference to Mr. T and the popular TV series "I Pity the Fool".