It was late when Hugo was woken up. When he opened his eyes, he was confused at first. It took a moment to realise where he was and for one terrible moment he thought he was back in the cage. When he remembered where he was he looked around to see what had disturbed him and paled when he saw another figure in the room. He turned on the bedside lamp and looked up to the intruder.

"Wha- "he began but the intruder shushed him.

"I don't want to wake her" he said softly, Hugo then looked down to the girl sleeping next to him. Hugo smiled softly, Sofia was beginning to get a lot better and seemed more healthier. The prince thought Sofia was pretty when he first met her, but she was starting to become seriously beautiful. After a moment, the intruder spoke.

"Sorry if I woke you… I just got back and wanted to make sure you were okay" he said shyly. Hugo shrugged

"It okay…." Hugo said.

"She sista" Hugo eventually spat out. James nodded and continued staring at Sofia's sleeping form, after a moment Sofia began wriggling. She murmured something unintelligible and her brow began creasing. Her face became strained, James panicked. Hugo on the other hand simply leaned down and whispered soothing words in Sofia's ear. After a moment or two she settled and fell back into a peaceful slumber. Hugo kissed her forehead and turned to face James's amused smirk.

"If we were in any other scenario I would kill you for doing that." He admitted. Hugo laughed silently, he wished that the situation James insinuated was real. It means a lot less nightmares and pain.

"Where go?" Hugo asked, cursing himself for still being unable to speak properly. James seemed to get his question however and said he had found their boat. He explained that they were trying to figure out how the boat had survived to carry them across the ocean, Hugo had smiled at that. It seemed he knew a secret that James didn't.

James rolled his eyes, he wanted to ask them what had happened and how they got home but couldn't. He didn't want to upset them.

After an awkward silence James got up to leave but Hugo stopped him.

"Boat no carry us…. Boat keep us dry" he said. James thought about what he was saying, how could a boat not carry them?. Suddenly he remembered what Samson had said, the animals surrounded them to keep them safe.

"Dolphins carried you across?" he asked. Hugo didn't agree or disagree instead he simply said

"Nater protec ew eed it" James nodded and thank Hugo before leaving the prince to get some sleep.

A week later Hugo and Sofia were visiting the stables, they had been walking around with the queen and Amber. Well more accurately being pushed around but the pair didn't mind it. It was nice feeling looked after. After sitting down and eating dinner in the meadow Sofia decided she wanted to go and visit Minimums. Since being home she had avoided her animal friends, scared of how they might perceive her. Her mother had reluctantly agreed only to be taken away by some urgent business. Amber had assured her that she would get both of the teens back to the castle safely. The queen was apprehensive but trusted them, so she left.

Amber then took Sofia and Hugo to the royal stables, she told them that Minimums had been moved there shortly after Sofia disappeared. She said that they wanted a piece of Sofia with them, Sofia had asked about her rabbit and birds, but Amber said they had gone missing shortly after Sofia. Sofia felt sat that she wouldn't see her friends, they had been part of saving her. She wanted to thank them. Still, she was looking forward to seeing her horse so together she and Hugo walked into the stables.

Amber who had sensed that Sofia wanted some privacy had excused herself. Sofia grabbed Hugo's hand as they neared Minimum's stall. The prince smiled at her sweetly.

"You wore necklace" he stated. Sofia looked down and with her spare hand, grabbed the amulet. She stared at it, as if absorbed in a memory.

"Yeah.. I wanted to talk to him" she whispered. Hugo kissed her head

"You want be lone?" he asked. Sofia shook her head.
"I need you" she pleaded. Hugo merely grasped her hand slightly harder and walked her towards the purple horse.

At first Minimums didn't notice them, that was until all the horses started chanting his name. The winged horse looked up and stopped when he saw his rider. His face turned to one of shock and bewilderment. He whispered her name, as if saying it any louder would make her disappear. He trotted towards her, she stumbled towards him, letting go of Hugo. Once he reached the door Sofia placed a hand on his nose to which he leaned into. Sofia whispered his name before breaking out into a smile. Happy tears ran down her face like a river.

"I missed you" she said. Minimums gulped, trying to stifle a sob. He had missed the princess so much; he never really knew hat had happened. He knew she was missing but up until five months ago he didn't know she was being held hostage. In the time she was gone he would only let James fly him, together the two searched for her but couldn't find her.

Minimums neighed softly and walked out of his bed as Sofia opened the door, he nudged her slightly and Sofia flung her arms around his neck. The horse then spotted Hugo stood off to the side, he was watching them with a fond smile on his face. Minimums knew what that kind of smile was about and looked between his rider and her friend.

He, of course knew that Hugo was being held captive too and felt for him. Nobody deserved to go through what they had gone through. He walked over to Hugo and studied him for a moment before licking him. Hugo, who had finally began walking for longer distances was pushed over into a bail of hay. He sat up, hay sticking out of his hair at odd angles and both horse and rider began laughing. Sofia ran over to help him. It was strange, for a minuet it felt like Sofia was twelve again, playing.

Sofia suddenly came back to earth; she wasn't twelve anymore. She was nearly fifteen and she was different, she was cautious and broken. Hugo seemed to realise what Sofia was thinking as well as he became downcast. Minimums neighed as the two became sadder, Sofia grabbed his reigns and led him back to his stall and ordered him to lie down. She then grabbed Hugo and pushed him into the stall and together the two humans and one horse settled into the straw.

"Have you seen clover, Mia and Robin?" Sofia asked. The horse smiled

"Yeah, After the forest they came back home. Clover should be visiting you soon. Mia and Robin went back to the forest to try and thank the animals that helped." Sofia nodded, Hugo however zoned out, a memory coming to the surface.

Hugo knew that Sofia could speak to animals with the amulet which was why he was so shocked that they did what she asked. She hadn't had the amulet in two years. After they escaped Sofia dragged him towards the ocean, it took him a moment to realise she was following the birds in the sky. He didn't get chance to ask what they were doing however as once they reached the ocean Sofia pushed him into a dingy. They then set sail.

When he crashed back to reality Sofia was still talking, only to be interrupted when Amber arrived to tell them that they had to head back to the castle. They didn't want to, but Amber insisted and begrudgingly they said goodbye to minimums, promising to come back.

That night both teens fell asleep feeling a little but more normal.