"How are you feeling about Sid's party tonight?" James the Clothier asked.

Robyn shrugged.

"Do you think you'll... tell William?"

Again she shrugged. She'd finally told the old man how she felt about William after they'd returned from their expedition in the Jungle.

She'd hoped that telling him, the person she trusted most outside of William and Sid, would help take that load off her chest, or at least help her figure out what to do about it.

But so far, it hadn't.

"I don't think I'll show up," she said. "I've got fishing to do..."

"You always have fishing to do," James said.

"It's helpful."

"Yes. But there is only so much fishing you need to do." The Clothier sat down on Chippy's Couch. "You have worked hard towards freeing the land from everything evil. You should revel in celebration. With your friends."

Robyn stared down at the palm wood floor.

The Clothier stood up, stepped forward and put a hand on Robyn's shoulder. "Come with me."

They headed out onto the sandy beach. The Ocean village consisted of three large houses constructed out of palm wood. Bart the Angler's was the furthest from James's and closest to the sea. It was decorated with a mess of fish in item frames, anchors, and other artefacts from the sea.

James led Robyn into Roxanne the Stylist's house, which sat in-between James's and Bart's. The inside of the house looked like a typical barbershop like what Robyn could vaguely remember from the real world, with a white-and-black chessboard-patterned floor, some glass walls that might have meant to be mirrors (she guessed mirrors couldn't be crafted in this world), and several seats facing the wall. A staircase led upwards in one corner of the room, to the Stylist's living area.

Robyn had seen the Stylist around once or twice but had never actually spoken to her. She was the sort of woman who always had too much makeup on all the time, and Robyn kept swearing that her immaculate strawberry-pink hair must be a wig. She wore a purple apron, blue jeans, and high heels.

"Here for another beard trim, James?" Roxanne asked in a simpering voice.

"Oh, you know what I'm here for," James said.

The Stylist gave a grin. "I know, hun. You told me this young lady needs a new haircut."

Robyn felt her face flush. She glanced worriedly at James, wondering what she had gotten herself into.

"Oh, you poor, poor thing," Roxanne said. "Just... just sit down here. It'll be okay."

Robyn reluctantly stepped forward and sat down in one of the chairs. Roxanne began examining her hair.

"Oh, god, girl! Did you even try to brush your hair today?" she exclaimed.

Robyn shrugged. "I left my hairbrush back in the real world," she mumbled. Did she even have a hairbrush in the real world? Surely she did?

"Don't you worry," Roxanne said. "Mama Roxanne is here to help. I'll have you looking pretty in no time!"

The next ten minutes was a blur of cutting, chopping, and styling. Roxanne gossiping kept Robyn's mind from drifting off. She craned her neck backwards a few time, watching James standing in the background. He had a slight smile on his beard, one that seemed easy-going, to say 'Everything will be all right.'

"You're looking amazing already, doll!" Roxanne exclaimed after some time. Robyn had no idea what she looked like, due to the 'mirror' in front of her not actually being a mirror.

"Are you finished?" Robyn asked.

"Just about!"

Robyn got up from the seat and turned to face James. He stepped forward.

"Robyn, you have been a great friend to me ever since you lifted me from my curse," he said. "You helped me out of a place I couldn't escape from. The least I can do is give you this."

He winked at the Stylist, who flicked a small switch on the wall that Robyn hadn't noticed. A section of the wall opened up, revealing a mannequin clothed with the most beautiful dress she had ever seen.

Robyn couldn't take her eyes off of it once she saw it – she'd just never seen anything like it! Not in this world, maybe not even in the real world. It was coloured with an exquisite blue gradient, fading from an ocean blue to an icy blue.

She spun back around to James. "Did you... did you make that yourself?"

"Indeed I did. Easily my best work. Not even a curse could make me lose my touch." He smiled. "The colours came courtesy of Akbar the Dye Trader. Intense Blue Flame Dye, he called it. I was reliably informed blue was your favourite colour?"

Robyn rushed forward, enveloping him in a giant hug. "Thank you! Thank you, thank you!"

She felt James patting her back. Upon looking up at him, he said, "Now go catch that fish of yours."

***

The turnout at the party was massive. It seemed like every citizen had shown up, all crammed into one massive dance floor and party zone. The same citizens that had previously complained about being cramped together all the time were now having the time of their lives. William could see colourful balloons decorating the walls, bubbles floating through the air, and fireworks shooting into the sky. Sid and Star the Party Girl had done a great job, he had to admit.

Durim the Demolitionist laughed as he watched the fireworks shooting one after the other into the sky. "Brilliant! Colourful explosions!" He, like nearly every other citizen William could see, was wearing a colourful party hat.

"I wanted to see how your kind celebrate," Zop'a the Witch Doctor said. "I am not disappointed."

Durim laughed. "This is how humans do it, aye. But dwarves? We tend to have pretty explosive parties."

"I would like to see that some day," Zop'a said.

"Anyway, parties are always a good excuse to drink!" Durim shoved another tankard of ale down his throat.

William wandered onto the dance floor. He could see Tony the Arms Dealer dancing with Emily the Nurse – he guessed they'd gotten back together at some point. He could also see Kayla the Mechanic slow-dancing with Mrunok the Goblin Tinkerer, which looked a little awkward since Kayla was much taller than Mrunok. He could hear Kayla saying, "I did all of the wiring for the lights and the fireworks and everything."

"It is truly magnificent!" Mrunok exclaimed.

Kayla smiled. "What do goblins normally do when they party?"

"Oh, they're a lot like humans. They both have games like 'Pin the Blame on the Human...' er... I don't play that game at my parties."

William passed Hayley the Zoologist, who was talking with Star the Party Girl.

"So... uh, I can't wear the hat. Because of these." Hayley reached up and tapped her fox ears. "Sorry. I'm still here for the party!"

Star gave her a beaming smile. She had shoulder-length pink hair and wore a blouse of about the same colour. "No worries! The more, the merrier!"

Hayley smiled back and walked over to Andrew the Guide, who stood still, seemingly doing nothing but observing the event, though he did have a party hat placed rather obliquely upon his head.

"Um... hey, Andrew!" William noticed the Zoologist sounded a tad bit... nervous?

"Hey, Hayley," Andrew said.

"I was wondering... if you'd like to dance?"

The Guide gave her a dreary look. He'd been looking like that ever since the Voodoo Doll incident the other day. William still couldn't put his finger on what was going on with him. He'd tried asking, but the Guide hadn't said much.

"I'm sorry, but I can't," Andrew said.

The Zoologist stepped backwards as a frown creased itself onto her face, then walked away, her head down.

William passed a few more of the citizens. The Dye Trader said, "I truly love parties, so many beautiful colours and happy people." The Tavernkeep told him that he didn't think any kobolds would crash the party. Gilbert the Merchant said that the best way to party was buying things from others, especially from him. Harry the Golfer claimed to be having trouble concentrating on his swing due to the party, though once he struck the ball with his iron, it ricocheted between a bunch of different lamps and lit them all up.

There was one person he hadn't seen yet, however.

Robyn.

He spotted Bart the Angler, and began walking towards him. If there was anyone who'd seen her, it would be him. He was currently eating his way through an entire bowl of cookies and potato chips.

When Bart noticed his approach, he looked up at him and said, "What, you think I like parties because I am a kid? Well, you're right, so get to partying!"

"Have you seen Robyn anywhere?" William asked.

The boy shook his head. "Dunno, don't care. I only need to see my helper minion once per day for her to catch me my special fish! Now, scram!"

William turned away and spotted Sid talking to Meg. Sid was wearing a black tuxedo with his Skeletron mask, looking more like he'd come for a Halloween party than a regular celebratory party. From the looks of things, he was presenting her with the flower he said he had found in a Shadow Chest, and to his astonishment, she accepted.

"Wow, this is a very powerful weapon! Look at that damage number!" Meg exclaimed once William had stepped closer. She cast it, causing a fireball to shoot forward, bouncing off the floor a few times before dissipating against the wall.

"Indeed it is, m'lady," Sid said, saying m'lady in an intentionally fake deep voice. He put out a hand. "Care to dance?"

"Hmmm... I appreciate the offer, but nah. I'm not a dancer." She left him looking flustered.

William spotted Roxanne the Stylist, who was talking with Star the Party Girl.

"I may have gotten my hair done up just for today, but honestly, I just want to pop balloons with my scissors," Roxanne said.

"Well, I've got a ton of balloons! After the party, we can have an after-party, which is all about you, popping balloons!"

"Murdering balloons sounds like fun!" Meg said as she sidled up to them.

"Hey, look who just arrived!" Roxanne exclaimed, raising a corner of her mouth in a smile.

William at first thought she was meaning Meg, but then he noticed her pointing with her scissors.

He turned and had his eyes blown wide open.

***

This is it, Robyn.

She took in the entire scene. Travelling from the Ocean village to the Jungle village through the Pylon network, she'd felt much more... confident? She felt ready, to tell William her feelings for him.

She saw some of the citizens were dancing, some were sitting and drinking, some were standing in conversation. She searched for William, and spotted him standing near the Stylist and Party Girl.

And Meg.

Her chest tightened.

***

William tentatively took some steps towards her. She was dressed in a pretty dress dyed with a mesmerising cerulean gradient. Her brown hair was long, running down to her waist, and it rippled in waves as she came towards him.

He didn't know what to say. She'd never put this much effort into her appearance before. Heck, she normally just simply wore armour.

Two things flashed through his mind. The first was that he realised he'd never once considered the possibility of Robyn liking him in return.

Maybe she'd just been too afraid to acknowledge it.

Like him.

The second was that if this was true, it meant...

She did this for me.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey," she replied, her breath catching, trying her best to keep eye contact with him. She couldn't help thinking that his hair was the most pleasant shade of brown. He was dressed in his normal clothes – a red shirt and white pants – not his armour, and had a party hat resting upon his head similar to what the other citizens around were wearing.

He was about to say something, but Meg beat him to it.

"Girl, you look so adorbs!" she exclaimed, and of course she was smiling. "If cameras were in this game I'd get a selfie with you! Where'd you get such a pretty dress?"

"Um... uh..." Robyn stammered.

"It's a secret? Got it. What do you think, Will?"

"Uh... um..."

Robyn never thought it would be possible to smile and flush at the same time. Especially not for William. He looked so... so dorky but so... cute at the same time!

"Good answer as any," Meg said after William said nothing. "I'll leave you two at it." Right as she turned to walk away, Robyn noticed her flash a quick thumbs-up.

In an instant she realised she'd never had to worry about Meg.

"Seriously, you look great," William suddenly blurted.

Aaah! My heart!

"Thank you," Robyn replied, inwardly feeling giddy, hot, tense, every awkward emotion thrown together in a blender.

"Sid's thrown this party to celebrate all our victories and achievements so far," William said. "Though... all that definitely didn't come without the fair share of... um... near-death experiences."

"Yeah," Robyn said, then found herself giggling.

"But now... where we're at... all that struggle to get to this point... somehow it all feels worth it. We've tamed the world. As a group we've become strong enough to handle everything that's been thrown at us." He paused. "But in all of this, it's not the power we've gained or the victories we've had that I find most extraordinary. It's not even building all the houses for all the citizens." Again, he paused, his breath catching. "It was meeting you."

That was when Robyn keeled backwards.

***

Darkness swirled.

Energy hurled.

An ornate, round object.

Yellow burning behind.

Engraved upon it.

Was the face.

Of the being.