Noah's body went numb and his sword fall from out of his hand.
Noah then fell from the sky.
Alice's eyes widened.
"Noah!"
Alice dove without thinking, her wings tearing through the clouds.She reached out and grabbed him.
She held him tight against her chest and turned her body, shielding him as they fell.
BOOM!
They hit the ground hard.
Dust flew everywhere.
"Alice!"
Emma and Amy ran toward them through the smoke.
Alice slowly sat up. Her arms shook as she looked down at Noah's pale face.
"He's breathing…" she whispered.
Amy let out a sighed. "Good. I was worried."
Emma looked around, the palace was gone.
Homes burned. Towers collapsed. Smoke covered the sky. Bodies lay lifeless in the streets.
Alice stood up slowly, still holding Noah.
Her eyes moved across the ruins.
"…My island," she whispered.
Her knees almost gave out.
Emma stepped beside her. "Alice…"
Alice swallowed hard, forcing herself to stand.
"Let's go," Emma said. "More Marines might comeback."
Amy nodded.
"We can't stay."
Alice said nothing. She just turned and began walking, Noah resting against her back.
They moved through fire and ice.
When they reached the shore, the Scarlett was there rocking gently on the water.
Alice climbed aboard and laid Noah down on the deck.
She brushed his hair back.
Then she turned away.
"Tell Noah, I said thank," Alice said.
She took one step toward the edge.
"Aren't you coming with us?" Amy asked.
Alice stopped.
She shook her head. "I can't."
Emma frowned. "Why not?"
Alice looked back toward the burning island.
"Because someone has to stay, for the ones who lived, for the ones hiding, for the ones who lost everything."
Emma clenched her fists. "Alice… the Marines"
"They killed almost everyone," Amy said sadly.
Alice closed her eyes.
"I know, But if even one person is still alive… I can't leave."
A weak voice spoke.
"…What people?"
Everyone turned.
Noah was sitting up slowly, holding his head.
Emma blinked. "You're awake?"
"Barely," Noah said, his voice rough.
He looked around.
"What people?" Emma asked. "The Marines wiped them out."
Alice didn't answer.
Noah pushed himself up. his foot wobble.
Alice rushed to steady him. "You shouldn't stand."
Noah placed a hand over her shoulder.
"Alice," Noah said. "Come with me."
Alice shook her head.
"I can't, Noah. I can't be a pirate."
Noah sighed, then he smiled.
"Then don't."
Alice blinked.
"What?"
"Join me as my fiancée," Noah said. "We're already engaged, remember?"
Alice stared at him.
Then she laughed.
"We were pretending," Alice said.
Noah shrugged. "Then let's keep pretending."
Alice sighed and looked away.
"Noah…"
"Stay," Noah said. "Not as a pirate. Stay as family."
"…Okay." Alice said.
Emma raised an eyebrow. "That was fast."
Alice pointed at Noah. "But only if you buy me new clothes."
Amy snorted. "Princess rules."
Alice looked straight at Noah.
"And, we keep pretending to be engaged."
Noah blinked.
"Why?"
Alice blushed.
"Because I'm a princess."
Noah laughed. "Fair enough."
Emma walked to the steering wheel and checked the log pose.
"So, Captain," Emma said, "where to?"
"Set sail," Noah said. " Next stop Dressrosa."
The sails caught the wind.
The Scarlett pulled away from the shore.
Behind them, the ice cold island burned.
Noah leaned back in a chair and closes his eyes.