Swan Lake (ATEEZ JongSang story)

Chapter 23 - True Love

The elves raised their eyes back at Rothbart in fear. He just killed the couple and cursed their king right in front of them. Hongjoong's tears dried on his face as he was still holding the small mouse that was once Seonghwa in his palms, while Yunho was wailing a few meters away. Mingi put his head consolingly on the deer boy's shoulder and looked deadly at Rothbart.

'Look at them! Look what happens to those who try to stand up against my powers! Now bow to your new king if you don't want to end up like them! You pathetic, small, stinky...'

Rothbart couldn't continue his sentence as the crystal he took from Yeosang started glowing on his medal.

'W-What? What's happening?!' he shouted as he emerged from the ground. The elves stared at him confused, then Mingi's eyes lit up.

'Lol' that was all he said as Rothbart started waving his legs and arms desperately.

'Aaaaaahhhh, noooooo!!' screamed Rothbart as he started shrinking, then disappeared completely from their sight. The crystal stopped glowing and fell onto the grass. The tiny squad stared at the stone and each other confused.

They suddenly heard a small thud, which made everyone turn to Wooyoung.

'What, it wasn't me!' he protested, thinking it was a farting sound. 'You always blame the badger!' he whined.

'Woo!' gasped San. 'You tail! It disappeared! Rothbart's curse is finally broken!'

Bam! - another thud. Yunho's small deer horns disappeared. Bam! - Hongjoong's feathers from his hair vanished. And lastly... Bam!

San ran as fast as his little legs could carry him and jumped on top of Wooyoung, hugging him tightly. 'I can finally hug my Woo!!' he screamed out. 'I don't have spikes anymore!!'

Another bam sound was heard, which made everyone confused. Then Beomgyu stumbled out of the bushes, holding his head.

'I got hit by the rock I was hiding under' he mumbled which made them chuckle.

Then they heard a squeaking noise as the mouse on Hongjoong's palm started glowing and growing. Hongjoong put him down and in a few seconds, Seonghwa collapsed in front of them onto his knees. Hongjoong kneeled besides him and hugged the fairy tightly.

'I don't understand! What happened?' asked Yunho, who was still patting his own hair, looking for the small horns he got so used to after all this time. Seonghwa looked up, then got out of Hongjoong's embrace and picked up the crystal from the ground.

'Tha crystal got back its power' he said, playing with it between his fingers.

'Why? They...' Yunho's eyes started tearing up as he looked in the direction of Yeosang and Jongho, expecting to see their dead bodies piled up there, but then his jaw dropped and he forgot that he was about to cry again.

Yeosang was laying on top of Jongho, that's true, but they were staring into each other's eyes smiling while blushing a deep shade of red. Seonghwa smiled.

'They were ready to die for each other. Jongho would've taken the shot for Yeosang while Yeosang was ready to shield Jongho from Rothbart. And the book said about true love that...'

'That it happens when you love someone else more than you love yourself!!' screamed San excitedly.

Yeosang smiled at Jongho.

'I owe you my life' whispered Jongho.

'You don't. You helped me save the forest.'

'I almost killed you. Rothbart tricked me and I fell for it.'

'You didn't know. It's not your fault. I didn't reach there on time.'

'You've already saved my life once and I almost took yours in return' laughed Jongho bitterly and softly touched Yeosang's face. 'I don't deserve you-'

He couldn't finish the sentence as Yeosang shut him up with a kiss on his lips.

'OH MY GODDD!' screeched Mingi. Seonghwa just smiled at the two lovers while Wooyoung covered Beomgyu's eyes. 'I'm going to be a godfather!!' shouted out Mingi. Yeosang pulled away from Jongho, blushing an even deeper shade of red. Jongho raised and eyebrow.

'What is he talking about?' he asked with a grin. Yeosang smiled and shook his head.

'Worry about that later' he laughed.

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A/N: Only the epilogue left :)