The plan was delicate, dangerous, and entirely ridiculous. But it was all we had.

The key was timing. If we acted too soon, Ma Po would still be too strong with her Congee empowered by the moon and the stars. Too late, and Hong Shao's life would be forfeit. Mooncake and I would have to work together to weaken Ma Po enough for our final blow to be dealt out by dawn. The sun, as I had wildly guessed, was her weakness. She was soft and gentle during the day, but became a monster at night.

But first, we had to escape.

Mooncake picked the lock on my shackles with surprising ease—she'd clearly had practice. I rubbed my sore wrists, thanking her before helping her gather what few supplies we could find in the cellar. A rusted dagger, a coil of rope, not much. I hoped I'd get a hold on my sword the moment we charged into the upper room again.

"Are you ready for this?" I asked her.

She nodded, determination etched on her face. "I've been ready for years."

We crept up the narrow staircase, every creak of the steps making my heart race. The tower was eerily quiet, but I knew Ma Po was somewhere above us, likely still draining Hong Shao's Congee.

We reached the main floor, and that's when I heard it.

Hong Shao's screams.

It echoed through the tower, raw and agonized, piercing my very core. I froze, my hands trembling.

"Don't stop," Mooncake whispered urgently. "We can't help him yet. We have to stick to the plan."

I nodded, biting my lip so hard it nearly bled. His cries continued as we slipped through the shadows, each one more gut-wrenching than the last.

When we reached the chamber where Ma Po held him, I nearly faltered again. Hong Shao was still bound to the bed, his face pale and drenched in sweat. Ma Po hovered over him, her hands glowing with Congee energy as she siphoned it from his body.

"You've always had so much," she purred, her voice venomous. "A lifetime of privilege, power, and strength. And now it's mine."

I clenched my fists, rage bubbling inside me. "Not for long."

Ma Po turned, her eyes narrowing as she spotted us. "Ah, the little pest and her princess. How charming."

Before she could attack, I threw the rusted dagger at her. She swatted it away effortlessly, but the distraction was enough for Mooncake to dart forward and begin untying Hong Shao.

"You'll regret that," Ma Po hissed, her form already shifting into her grotesque, witch-like state.

In the chaos, my eyes darted around the room until I saw my sword. It was right where I'd lost it, still lying near the staircase Ma Po had dragged me down to the cellar. I dashed toward it, narrowly avoiding another burst of her glowing shards. The moment my hand wrapped around the hilt, a sense of relief coursed through me.

"Ready for round two?" I muttered under my breath, tightening my grip.

I charged toward Ma Po, sword raised. Her attacks came fast and relentless, blasts of Congee energy colliding with my blade. I wasn't aiming to hurt her—yet. My goal was simple: keep her focused on me, keep her distracted. Each swing of my sword felt heavier than the last, but I managed to deflect her magic, sparks flying as the Congee collided with steel.

Behind her, Mooncake worked with frantic determination to free Hong Shao. I caught glimpses of her untying the final bonds. His face was pale, his body trembling, but he was alive. Relief washed over me even as Ma Po sent another wave of energy my way.

"You're a stubborn little pest," she snarled, her voice echoing unnaturally.

I managed a wry grin. "You're not exactly charming yourself."

The fight dragged on longer than our first collision. This time, I was prepared for her tricks, but that didn't make it easy. Every swing of my sword, every dodge, every block sapped my strength, and I could feel my movements slowing. Ma Po was relentless, her power still formidable despite my efforts to wear her down.

Then, just as my arms felt like they might give out, the first light of dawn crept into the room. The soft golden glow seeped through the cracks in the tower walls, illuminating the frayed edges of the vermillion curtains. Ma Po Tofu faltered for the briefest moment, her attacks losing just a fraction of their intensity.

It was all the opening we needed.

"Now!" I shouted at Mooncake.

From her place by Hong Shao, she hurled the sketchbook into the air. The comic book, filled with her drawings of every hero who had come before us, soared like a paper dove, catching the first rays of sunlight as it arced toward Ma Po.

"What is this—" Ma Po began, her voice breaking as the book struck her.

Mooncake had spent hours explaining the properties of her art—how each stroke of her pen had carried with it a fragment of her Congee. Over the years, she had poured pieces of herself into her drawings, using her limited Congee to honor those who had tried to save her. Little did she know she had inadvertently created something powerful: a concentrated vessel of energy that even Ma Po could not consume without destroying herself.

And so, the comic book became our secret weapon.

"You think that little book can stop me?" Ma Po sneered.

"It's not just a book," Mooncake said, her voice steady. "It's every hero you've ever defeated. Every life you've stolen. And they're all about to take you down."

The pages burst open, and an eruption of light and energy engulfed her. The drawings, the stories, the bravery of all the heroes she'd lured and betrayed—everything contained in that book seemed to explode into life. Figures of light and shadow emerged from the pages, each one a spectral echo of a hero who had fought and fallen before us. Ma Po screamed, her form flickering and distorting as she tried to absorb the Congee. But it was too much—too pure, too concentrated.

"You can't handle it, can you?" I taunted, stepping forward.

Ma Po staggered, the strength of her Congee unraveling as the sun rose higher. She clutched her head as the energy overwhelmed her. "No... this can't be..."

Hong Shao, still weak but determined, used the moment to tackle her, forcing her to the ground. Mooncake and I joined him, pinning her down as the comic book's energy consumed her.

The room shook violently, the air crackling with power. And then, with one final, ear-piercing scream, Ma Po disintegrated, her body dissolving into a cloud of glittering dust.

For a moment, none of us moved. The room was silent, save for our ragged breaths.

"Is... is it over?" Mooncake asked, her voice trembling.

I nodded, a shaky smile spreading across my face. "It's over."

Hong Shao collapsed onto the floor, his strength completely spent. "I never... want to do that again," he muttered.

Mooncake and I exchanged a relieved laugh as the reality of what we'd accomplished began to sink in. The witch was gone, and the island was free from her curse.

***

Back at the Dumpling's side, we allowed ourselves a moment to breathe. The creature snorted softly, nudging me as though to check if I was still in one piece.

"Thanks for waiting," I said, giving it a pat.

Hong Shao sat against the Dumpling's side, his head tilted back as he stared at the sky. "Honey, I owe you an apology," he said quietly.

"An apology and a thank you," Mooncake answered exactly what I was about to say.

He sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. "I was selfish. I thought I could outsmart the island, outsmart the monster. But I was wrong. And in the process, I betrayed someone I thought I wouldn't care for. I never expected that I'd have to outsmart my heart as well." He looked at me, his expression sincere. "I'm sorry, truly. I don't expect forgiveness, but I hope someday you can find it in you to give me a second chance."

I studied him for a moment before nodding. "I'll think about it."

The truth was that I had already forgiven him. Bad survival instincts probably. But the relief I felt when I saw him alive had clicked something in my mind... and heart. I was so happy that we were all alive and well, I would not dwell on eternal grudges. We'd all done what we could to survive this place, and in the end, we had. And if I was truly honest with myself, I'd rather have the shitty prince in my life than never see him again. There, I said it. I liked Prince Hong Shao, although I wasn't going to tell him that. "Besides," I said instead, "we still need a sailor to get us off this cursed island."

He chuckled weakly, taking that as the closest thing to forgiveness he'd get for now. "Thank you."

Mooncake, meanwhile, stood quietly, staring at the horizon. "I can't believe it," she murmured. "I'm free. After all these years..."

Her voice broke, and I placed a hand on her shoulder. "You earned it," I said. "And your comic book? That was incredible."

Her smile was bittersweet. "It's gone now. But I've memorized every page, every hero. I'll make a new one to honor them. And this time, it'll have a proper ending."

Hong Shao grinned. "And now you have your final hero to finish the series. Honey."

Mooncake laughed softly, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "You didn't fight that bad either," she said.

"Maybe," Hong Shao replied. "But Honey saved two people today, one of which twice, so..."

"Oh, shut up," I said, rolling my eyes. "Or I'm going to start thinking you're an actual decent person."

The three of us laughed, the weight of our journey finally beginning to lift.

As we walked beneath the dappled sunlight breaking through the trees, I couldn't help but marvel at how beautiful they both looked—Hong Shao with his disheveled hair and dirt-smudged face, looking every bit the dashing, reckless prince who'd somehow found his heart, and Mooncake, radiant even in her worn clothes, her fiery hair glowing like embers in the light.

The Dumpling plodded along beside us, a steadfast companion who had carried us through danger. For all the pain and chaos, it hit me how incredible this adventure had been—fighting witches, outsmarting traps, and forging a bond with these two people I never expected to care for. We were bruised, battered, and exhausted, but we were alive, together, and heading home. And at that moment, I couldn't imagine being happier.

Two Years Later

Life after the island was a strange adjustment. Hong Shao returned home, but he chose not to marry Mooncake. They remained close friends, and he vowed to find love on his own terms, whether royal or common.

It took him some time to figure out how close his confession on the island had been to a love declaration, but after a year or so, he finally found the courage to ask me to marry him. I taunted him a bit, but eventually, I said yes.

As for Mooncake, well... she reunited with her family, realized that although she was born the heir to a magnificent country, she hadn't been raised to lead one, so she renunciated her title as crown princess of Dim Sum and came to live with us on Sichuan, where she exploited her Congee through her art and basically hooked up with ever woman she could find.

She was making up for a lot of lost years.

With Mooncake as both our best man and maid of honor, Hong Shao and I tied the knot in a quiet, joyful ceremony surrounded by those we loved.

The empire celebrated for weeks, but we just enjoyed each other's company, knowing very well that although our adventure was behind us, our story was just beginning.

THE END