Onward

Curse Crusher

It's getting late, I thought. I knew that midnight was almost coming and I know we had to keep going.

IAN: Dad, come on, it's okay, Barley is with us.

BARLEY: Yeah, I'm fine, Dad. The side effects are supposed to wear off eventually. Do I look any bigger yet?

When we reached, loud motorcycles pulled in, parking in front of the entrance, I stared, trying to make out who or what was on that motorcycles. Suddenly, a sprite with a black leather jacket appeared, followed by other sprites. Some of them had been working together to drive each motorcycle. They were part of a club called the Pixie Dusters. I can't believe that I am seeing them. An elf sipping a drink accidentally bumped into one of the sprites.

DEWDROP: Hey! Did you just bump into me?

GAS STATION VICTIM: Oh, I'm terribly sorry, I didn't see you there--

DEWDROP: Do it again, and you'll see me in your nightmares!

The elf's drink slipped out of his hand and  splattered on the ground as he ran off. 

EMMA: Something tells me that these Sprites don't look friendly.

We waited as until all the sprites had gone into the store. Inside, the sprites seemed to be everywhere. Some claimed the shelves, throwing items down to their friends, and others filled cups with soda or purchased candy.

I never knew those tiny things can do that. Nearby one Sprite tugged my pants.

SPRITE: Hey lady, can you help me get up here?

EMMA: Huh? Oh, of course, little sprite.

I begin to bent down and help the tiny sprite up on the nearest shelf.

SPRITE: Thanks lady.

As I helped the other small fairies, Ian was about to pick out some items.

IAN: Uh, ten on pump two, please.

Barley leaned out of my pocket and reached for a bag of snacks on the counter, knocking the entire rack down. My eyes darted around and Ian knew that we had to get out before they notice us.

IAN: What are you doing?!

BARLEY: I'm getting us food.

IAN: Alright, I got it. And a couple of these, thank you.

Barley tugged at Ian's shirt and told him he had to so in the bathroom.

BARLEY: Pssst! I have to go to the bathroom!

IAN: Can it wait?

BARLEY: It's your pocket.

IAN: Can we have the bathroom key, please?

Ian spot the bathroom key from the clerk. It dangled from the old license plate and was so heavy for tiny Barley that he had to carry it over his head. When he moved forward the bathroom, Legs screeched with his foot and messed stepping on him.

IAN:  Okay, be quick. I want to get out of here.

BARLEY: Okay, I'm going.

GAS STATION CLERK: That'll be twelve ninety-nine.

As Ian paid the cashier, Legs continued to search and accidentally tapped one of the sprites on the head.

MUSTARDSEED: Hey! Watch it!

EMMA: Oh my.

The sprite, Dewdrop, I think that's her name, turned her head to Legs.

DEWDROP: You got a problem, Shades?!

Unable to respond, of course, Legs appeared to simply stare back.

DEWDROP: Answer me when I'm talking to you!

Ian was terrified to see Dewdrop leaning aggressively into Legs.

IAN: Sorry, I don't really know where his head is at right now.

I pushed Legs toward the exit.

IAN: (sotto) How could this night get any worse?

******

Meanwhile, Laurel continued down the road with the right side of her car dragging from the weight of the Manticore, who was crammed into the passenger seat.

MANTICORE: You know, I would fly us to help your boys and the human girl, but... the old wings aren't what they used to be.

LAUREL: Oh, that's fine. So, about this curse--

MANTICORE: It's my own fault. I should be doing my wing exercises every morning, but you know how that goes...

LAUREL: Please, the curse. What does it do?

MANTICORE: Right! Sorry. It's a Guardian Curse. If your boys take the gem, the curse will rise up..

The manticore lifted her sleeve to reveal an arm full of tattoos as she pointed to an image of a red mist.

MANTICORE: ...and assume the form of a mighty beast... and battle your sons to the... (catching herself) Well... how do your boys do in a crisis?

LAUREL: Not great! One of them is afraid of everything and the other isn't afraid of anything.

MANTICORE: Yeah, that skinny kid of yours is pretty fearless.

LAUREL: No, no. You mean the big one. Barley.

MANTICORE: No, the little guy. Woo, he really let me have it.

LAUREL: What? No, look... You said you could help them. Right?

The Manticore pointed to a tattoo showing a dark circle in the heart of one of the beasts.

MANTICORE: Every curse has a core, the center of its power. And only one weapon forged of the rarest metals can destroy it: my enchanted sword... ...the Curse Crusher!

LAUREL: Okay, but you don't seem to have that on you.

MANTICORE: I sold it. Got in a little tax trouble a few years back. But don't worry, I know just where to find it.

LAUREL: (sotto) I am on my way boys, just try to stay out of trouble.