Most of the people in the room did not understand the meaning of the words spoken by the Dark Realm Arch Bishop. The language was old and now only those from the original region and a small group of others cared to learn it. But as the Dark Realm princes stood upon the slightly raised podium they took slight pride that they were among the few who understood the language almost fluently.

Janus smiled as he and the Arch Bishop finished reciting from the script that he must have run through over a thousand times. He bowed his head as the Bishop placed a rather heavy crown on his head, the bishop bowing in return, before turning around to the crowd of people in the large hall, "Janus Deceit Black," The Arch Bishop began strongly "Your coronation has concluded, you are now king of the Dark Realm"

Janus smiled proudly, taking a step forward as he was joined by Virgil and his Uncle on his right, and Remus on his left. As per tradition, everyone besides Janus and the Arch Bishop wore a white or black mask. But as Janus stepped forward to recite the last of the script and finish the coronation ceremony once and for all the masks would come off. When he was done, Janus bowed to each of those at his side, who returned the gesture and then to the crowds of people, and they bowed too.

And then, Janus was king, and the crowd inside cheered.

After a long speech to the much much larger crowd of people waiting outside the castle, which marked the first time Janus had addressed the kingdom, the celebration could begin. It was nothing especially lavish or wild at all. But there was music and dancing, guests talked and ate. Out in the villages and cities, it was more of a celebration, though here in the newly remodeled castle (still partially in construction) it was really more of a ball.

Remus and Janus stood hand in hand making conversation with Patton, Prince Hollis, and Remus's parents who slowly but surely were rebuilding their relationship with their son. Sitting on Remus's finger was a simple green ring made from sea glass, a symbol of his and Janus's love, and their relationship.

They weren't engaged quite yet. Janus had asked and it had been a really lovely date in which Janus had enlisted Virgil and Roman's help on, but when Remus saw Janus down on one knee, all he did was smile a bit awkwardly as he helped him up, "I'm not ready yet," he told him gently, "I'm still young Jannie, I love you, I do. But, marriage? Not yet. Ask me again in a couple of years, maybe then I'll be ready."

Janus of course respected the decision. He had put the engagement ring in a safe place and had instead given Remus a promise ring, and vowed to wait at his side until he was ready to marry. And Remus had accepted that at least.

Remus's parents were more than happy to approve of the relationship, just happy to know that Remus was alive and well. Janus had insisted they get their blessing even though Remus had put up a huge fuss about how they didn't need it and 'They cant stop me from dating you, they won't. I'll kiss you no matter what anybody says. Only you can stop me. Nobody else'. Janus had laughed, told him that yes no matter what they said they would still be together, but that he at least wanted to try.

Across the room, Roman and Virgil were laughing and dancing hand in hand as their boyfriends watched from the side. Remy smiled lightly as he tapped along to the happy tune of the music with his walking stick. When Hollis had gotten the healer to them Remy had been practically gone, a faint pulse and subtle rise and fall of his chest was all that was left. Coincidentally, the healer that had saved Remy's life was also the healer that saved Remus's life when he had arrived. Remus liked to make the claim that the two were now blood brothers because they had both gotten stabbed on the same side and were saved by the same person. Remy was fine now but he did still have trouble with some things and most days a walking stick was necessary to help him out (not that he used it, a habit that Virgil and Patton were still trying to instill into him).

Dancing was definitely still one of those activities that would tire him out pretty quickly and would always have a pretty heavy toll on his body later on. Hopefully, as his body continued to heal and get used to the past injury though activities became easier, until now however Remy was more than happy to watch Virgil dance and have fun without him. Logan had decided to sit out after the fourth or fifth time he had stepped on Roman's toes, he had never been a very good dancer and Roman still hadn't been able to teach him. So the two had just settled on making conversation as they watched the two who could dance and laugh do so.

Logan and Roman were now official, Roman's parents were more than happy to 'approve' of that relationship as well. The two spent pretty much every waking minute with each other now, it was to the point where Roman's parents had offered Logan his own room in the castle in the opposite wing as Roman's but still, it was nice of them to be so considerate.

Patton had become a bit of an ambassador-type person between the two kingdoms, not quite wanting to leave either of the friends they had on either side. Every other week he would switch, going from one kingdom to another and passing on messages, addressing issues, etc etc, but also just having fun with all their friends. Today was actually the first time all seven of them had been together in some time now, with everything that's happened they've all been very busy with reconstruction and rectifying the laws, talking to citizens, dealing with traitors, and really trying to figure out what had caused the near uprising I the first place so they could make amends and try to stop it from happening in the future.

Virgil still wore gloves to cover the vines that crawled up his arms. He still occasionally had trouble controlling the new magic whenever he lost control of his emotions, but Janus and Logan both helped him where they could. They had also found an elderly witch who lived a few towns over and knew how to brew that potion Ira had kept away from Virgil during the last few days of their stay. Though, she had suggested he still learn at least some of the magic he had been tainted with, if only for control. He had opted to agree, and so now he got lessons from her as well as drinking the potion.

Roman and Remus had a bit of a rocy relationship with each other and their parents. But the four of them were really trying, it wasn't uncommon for Roman and Remus to visit each other a couple of times a month. And whenever Remus went to the Light Realm they made sure to have a good old-fashioned family day with their parents, something they hadn't had in way too long.

Logan's mother was really struggling lately, and Logan had had to hire an extra pair of hands to help. Logan took her to visit Kieran twice a month, she enjoyed her time with her brother but Logan himself would always wait outside the prison, never in the mood to be coerced, bullied, or manipulated by him again.

Things looked bright for both the Light and Dark Realm.

However, on the other side of the kingdom, waiting in the deepest darkest depths of the forest, was the most powerful witch in either of the kingdoms. Ira had never been caught during the rescue, she and a handful of her students had made it out of the castle unscathed. In front of her was a shimmering portal-like circle that acted like a window, from her side she could see Virgil and Roman dancing as their boyfriends watched.

Next to her sat an urn, the name Gabriel printed across it in gold letters.

"Virgil Black," Ira said to the empty air, "You are responsible for the death of my son. And you will use your magic to bring him back even if I have to force the power out of you! If it's the last thing I do, I will have my son back."