Onward

Back where we started

I shook the wet water off of my hair as the brothers looked around confused.

BARLEY: How did we--? No, that doesn't make sense! We took the Path of Peril. We followed the ravens, we went to the end of the water... Unless the X meant stay away from the water.

He looked more closely in the stone.

BARLEY: Or it could be, like, a campfire...

Ian was crushed.

BARLEY: It's okay. We can figure this out.

IAN: Figure out what? We're back where we started!

BARLEY: I mean, it has to be here, there was a gauntlet. I mean, unless that gauntlet was for, coincidentally, some different quest. (beat) That's a possibility.

IAN: What?!

BARLEY: No, no, no, this has to be where the Phoenix Gem is. (beat) I followed my gut.

IAN: (dawning) Oh no...

BARLEY: What?

EMMA: Are you okay Ian?

IAN: The gem is in the mountain. The mountain we could have been to hours ago if we'd just...If we'd just stayed on the expressway.

BARLEY: No, the expressway is too obvious, remember?! You can never take the--

IAN: If I hadn't listened to you! Okay? I can't believe this. You act like you know what you're doing, but you don't have a clue... and that's because you are a screw-up! And now you have screwed up my chance to have the one thing I never had! 

Barley looks at Ian, hurt. I can't believe what I just heard. Ian took Legs y the leash and started walking toward the park.

BARLEY: Where are you going?

IAN:: To spend what little time we have left with Dad!

BARLEY: Ian, wait! We can still find the Phoenix Gem! We just have to keep Looking! Ian! IAN!

But Ian continued, ignoring his brother, As they walked through the park, Legs searched around with his foot.

IAN: No, Dad. He's not here.

Ian found a spot on a cliff and sat with Legs to watch the sun set over the ocean. It had been close to twenty four hours since I appeared. He knew they were almost out of time.

EMMA: Barley.. What do we do?

BARLEY: There's got to be something we can do.

Barley frantically searched for another clue.

BARLEY: Come on, where is it? Follow the water!

He turned and spotted a old fountain. He hurried toward it and jumped in. Onlookers pointed and whispered as he sloshed around in the dirty water. Two workers approached.

CONSTRUCTION WORKER #2: Alright, come on, out of the fountain.

BARLEY: No! I'm looking for an ancient gem!

FENNWICK: Yeah, we know the old days.

BARLEY: Stop! Please! No! Okay!

The worker tried to pull him away and people passing by stopped to stare.

BARLEY:  Okay, I'm leaving!

I moved though and got into the water. They tried to grab me but I climbed on to the top of the fountain wrapping my arms around the tall spire.

CONSTRUCTION WORKER #2: Oh, come on.

CONSTRUCTION WORKER #2: Can someone call the cops?! We got the history buff again!

Barley looked disheveled desperate and confused. Clinging to the fountain with the crowd staring at me, I suddenly new what I had to do.

EMMA: Listen, every mystic being. Uh, whoever you all are. I am no ordinary elf. I'm actually a human. 

The crowd gasped, whispering to each other. Barley managed to get loose and joined me.

EMMA: That's right. A human being. I got teleported here to tell you that I can bring the magic back to you. You got to trust me on this.

The other people didn't know what to say. I begin to remember everything that we did since we met. I was once a normal human girl. After all this time, ever since the changes started, I started to become a mystic being. A creature with elf ears, strange hair, two tails, and purple eyes.

Barley noticed a clover shaped slot on the fountain that matched the stone from the raven statue! He slowly pushed the stone into place. It fits perfectly, like the final piece of the puzzle. Slowly, a chamber in the fountain opened to reveal a sparkling Phoenix Gem! Barley lit up with joy, laughing in disbelief. He grabbed the gem and I cheered happily.