"Prepare to drop the anchor! Get the boats ready!" Yunho called out as they neared the beach beneath Twilight's palace. They had made it here faster than expected and without any more attacks. He didn't know if that was a good think or a bad thing though.

He watched as the crew scrambled around the deck, following his orders. Then his face started to burn when he felt a hand slip into his.

"Home." Mingi breathed, a small smile crossing his face.

Yunho hummed and leaned his head against the guard's shoulder.

They stood in silence for a moment, then Yunho broke contact as he saw Hongjoong approaching them with Katrina. He pulled his sister into a hug and kissed the top of her head. "How are you doing?"

"Better. Much better. The princess has offered a position for me in her palace, so I have a safe place to stay."

"Good. Princess Lakita is something else." Yunho smiled as he looked at where the princess was standing on the side of the deck nestled in Wooyoung's arms.

The news of the performer's lineage had come as a shock to everyone at first, but then it brought hope. If he could learn to use his gift quickly, then maybe there wouldn't even need to be a war. He and the princess were their best hope at surviving.

"So, we will meet with the king, then I'm sure we will come up with a game plan. King San has got to be close." Hongjoong said, surveying the crew.

The others nodded.

When they were able to drop the anchor, they piled into the row boats and slowly made their way to shore. Most of the crew stayed on the ship, but all the guards came.

Seonghwa led the way up the slope. A few other guards ran down the hill to greet them.

Yunho stayed close to his sister and Hongjoong, feeling out of place here. His heart ached a little when watching Mingi smile and greet some of his old friends.

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For whatever reason, Kita felt nervous as she walked into the palace. It had the familiar feeling of home, but at the same time, she felt like a stranger there.

Her eyes drifted to the portrait hanging on the side of the main room. She paused as she looked at her mother. She couldn't even remember the last conversation she had had with her...

As if sensing her thoughts, Wooyoung wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her to him. She closed her eyes and breathed him in, letting it calm her.

"Lakita? Seonghwa?"

Kita looked up and saw her father standing at the top of the stairs. He ran down to them and she and her brother broke away from the group and ran into his arms. They sank to the floor, happy to be together again.

"Oh, my baby girl. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. Can you ever forgive me?" He said, fighting through his sobs.

"I do, Father. I do." She said through her own tears.

The three of them stayed on the floor for a long moment. Yeosang ushered everyone into the main ballroom to give them some privacy.

When he pulled back, the king took Kita's face in is hands and kissed her forehead. Then he turned to Seonghwa. "Tell me everything."

Her brother nodded, then led the way into the ballroom. Kita watched as her father eyed the band of misfits all huddled together. They bowed as he walked by.

"Mingi, will you and some of the guards fetch us some chairs please? For everyone?" Seonghwa said softly. The guard nodded immediately then sped out of the room.

Once everyone was seated and comfortable in a large half circle in front of the throne, Seonghwa looked at Kita seated next to their father, holding his hand.

"King San is coming." He said. "And he's got his entire army with him."

"What? He's coming here?"

"Yes, Father." Kita said, bowing her head. "He's coming for me." She felt his hand tighten around hers.

After taking a deep breath, Kita started her tale.

She started with her and Wooyoung running away, getting taken by Hongjoong and Yunho, healing Yunho's leg, then being handed over to San. She left out the details her father didn't need to know, but she did feel him tense when she introduced Jongho to him, in which case she stood up and immediately went to the guards side, explaining how he was there for her when no one else was. How he took her to the different towns in Volkin and how she tried to heal the people and the land. How he got Wooyoung out of San's palace.

Then Seonghwa took over, telling everyone about the trip on the pirate ship, purchasing the horses, riding for Volkin, and then running into Wooyoung and Jongho.

Everyone pitched in where they could. Hongjoong touched on how Katrina had been taken. They all spoke about the battle, how they had tricked San into looking the other way while they rescued Kita. When they got to the point where the energy had pulsed out of her, the king looked concerned, but still didn't say anything.

The last part caused them to hesitate. Yeosang stood and moved next to Kita and beckoned Wooyoung over. Taking a deep breath, he got into the story about Wooyoung's lineage and how they discovered who he is.

The King's eyes widened at this and he studied Wooyoung, who bowed low to him out of habit and kept his eyes on the floor.

"Can you show me?" He said after a long moment.

Wooyoung bit his lip and hung his head.

"We are going to work on training him. He is years behind where he should be, so it will take some time for him to be able to control his gift." Yeosang said. "But all of us saw this happen. He is the real deal."

The king sighed and nodded his head. "Mingi, call for the evacuation. I agree with your plan of defense, Seonghwa, so make it happen."

Everyone bowed to the king again and started making their way out of the room.

It wasn't until she had exited that Kita noticed Wooyoung had stayed behind. She hesitated and stood by the door. Seonghwa stopped and glanced at her and she pointed at the ballroom. His eyes widened then shuffled over to stand by her, taking her hand in his.

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Wooyoung had to lock his limbs to keep them from shaking as he stood by himself before the king.

"Is there something else you wanted to say, Son?" The king said, looking down at him.

"Y-Yes..." He cleared his throat. "Yes, Your Majesty." He held his head a little higher. "I wanted to talk to you about Princess Lakita."

The king arched an eyebrow and signaled for him to continue.

Wooyoung got down one knee and bowed his head. "Your Majesty, I am in love with your daughter. I have been for a long time, and... I know the timing isn't ideal, but I wanted to... Before things got out of control... I wanted to ask for her hand in marriage." Wooyoung kept his head bowed while the words sank in.

The air grew heavy with silence.

"If what Yeosang says is true about you..." The king said, drawing his words out. "And I know you have protected her several times recently, putting yourself in harm's way to stay by her side... I could think of no better person to marry my beloved daughter."

Wooyoung's head snapped up to see the king smiling down at him.

Then Kita burst into the room. "Thank you, Father!" She ran to him and gave him a big hug before turning to Wooyoung and running into his arms.

The king's booming laugh echoed behind them as Wooyoung spun her in a circle before turning and bowing to her father again. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I promise I won't let you down."

"I know you won't, Son. You haven't let me down for a long time now. If I'm being honest, I'm glad things have turned out this way, otherwise I have a feeling my daughter might have run away again." He gave his daughter a very knowing look, causing her to turn bright red. "Now, we all have preparations to do. Once this is over, then we can talk about your future."

Both Kita and Wooyoung bowed their heads and turned to leave the room, beaming at the fact that they could hold hands in the open now and not hide their love for each other.

Seonghwa greeting them and pulled them both into a hug. "Congratulations, Brother."