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Spent my days with a woman unkind,
Smoked my stuff and drank all my wine.
Made up my mind to make a new start,
Going to california with an aching in my heart.

Someone told me theres a girl out there
With love in her eyes and flowers in her hair.
Took my chances on a big jet plane,
Never let them tell you that theyre all the same.

The demon fell at Emma's feet. He had been the one in control of this realm (governed by thought as it was) and now dominion had fallen to Emma. The enchantress called the shadows from the corners, forming clothing for herself. Shadows wrapped around her now far-too-skinny calves and thighs, arms, chest, and scarred stomach, mimicking the movement and texture of cloth.

She turned back towards Kaok and Remus. "Imperator." She embraced Remus, withdrawing a few moments later. "Kaok." Next the Faun, who she squeezed even tighter. She stopped for a moment at Frida, remembering the Cyclops' name. "Frida?" A hug would be far too familiar. Emma substituted a firm handshake.

There was a quaver in Emma's voice as she turned around again, this time towards the still-kneeling sorcerer. She sank down in front of him, blue-green eyes meeting deep brown.

She embraced him and he embraced her, both a little too tight and neither caring.

They did not kiss, instead only wanting to feel the warmth of the other.

Remus breathed a sigh of relief. The whole ordeal was over. He placed an arm around Kaok's shoulder as Hrothbert and Emma shared their moment.

"Quite a visit this turned out to be." he whispered to his fiance.

Spent my days with a woman unkind,
Smoked my stuff and drank all my wine.
Made up my mind to make a new start,
Going to california with an aching in my heart.

Someone told me theres a girl out there
With love in her eyes and flowers in her hair.
Took my chances on a big jet plane,
Never let them tell you that theyre all the same.

The couple had stood, still holding hands as they made their way towards the mouth of the cavern. Emma looked unfocused, as if she was looking at something beyond her range of sight. "We should get moving. We have about twenty minutes before this collapses around our ears."

Frida stood, incredibly shaky. Even with Hrothbert's help, it took a lot of effort to mend bones like that. Emma had been in a sorry state. Now she was better, and the only side effect so far was a little bit of bile in the mouth. Not at all pleasant, but it could have been worse. She followed the wall up, using her staff to balance. Emma said that the rocks were going to collaps on top of them if they didn't get out, and Frida didn't doubt it - she hoped that, with the staff as a crutch, she'd be able to keep up. No, she was sure she could keep up - she was a cyclops, not a human! She was tougher than that, right?
'Ugh. Why do I always get the field assignments?'

Emma touched Frida's shoulder lightly as they began moving, transferring enough strength to her so she would be able to get out of the caverns safely.

I owe you. she whispered into her healer's mind.

Soon after, she and Hrothbert took the lead, each helping the other to navigate their way out.

Just about twenty minutes later, the group emerged into light.

Emma blinked in shock, recoiling. It was bright, brighter than anything she had seen in some time.

Rocks began to fall from the ceiling as Remus left the cavern behind the rest of the group. It was nice to see sunlight for once, as opposed to the gray overcast sky that had seen for the last three days.