Onward to 7 Years

Chapter 17: The Break-Up

As Ian's mind started to slip into unconsciousness, a deep, mildly upset voice spoke to him in a whisper.

"Ian. Ian, I am so sorry. Please don't fall asleep. Please, please, I need you..."

Ian started trying to gather strength in his body again, and grunted in pain. His whole body ached.

"Don't...don't strain yourself, Ian. If you need to rest, it's okay..." the person speaking took a deep breath. "But Colt's about to get the gem, and your friend is still brainwashed...what's her name again, Jessica?"

Ian's eyes fluttered open after hearing "Jessica".  He needed to help her! But first, he had to find out who was speaking to him.

"B-Barley?" Ian grunted, weakly turning his head over more to face his brother, who was kneeling on one knee and had tears in his eyes. He was smiling from ear to ear.

"Yes!" Barley whisper-shouted. "You're okay!"

"Were..." Ian paused, thinking. "Weren't you...brainwashed?"

"No..." Barley gave a sad sigh. "Colt ended up accidentally pouring all of the liquid on your friend. But he thought he did on me too, and so I had to pretend I was brainwashed. I knew that we could team up and take him on together when he was distracted...which, he is now, 'cause he's trying to get the gem. Anyways, I'm so, so sorry for kicking you..." Barley lifted Ian up, wrapping his arm around his body. Ian winced, his body sore and stiff. "...but I figured that you could take it! You can do it! Ha!"

"Okay, stop," Ian half-chuckled, half-groaned as Barley let go and Ian rubbed his sore arms and head. Although, he couldn't help but break into a smile. His brother was just the same as ever.

"Okay," Barley whispered, getting serious again. "We need to get the gem now, before Colt gets it!"

"That was the plan last time," Ian whispered back in a frustrated tone.

"Yeah, but I know  we can do it! I mean, Colt's not that  smart, is he?"

Ian grinned and gave a sigh. "Okay. After all, you taught me to use what you have..."

"And we have each other," Barley said proudly.

Ian and Barley looked at each other, smiling. But their brotherly moment was interrupted by Colt yelling, "You darn  horse! Just give me the stinkin' gem already!"

Ian glanced over Barley's shoulder. Colt, brainwashed-Jessica, and Guinevere were about 15 feet away. "Okay. Let's sneak up behind them. You try to get the gem from Guinevere's mouth and fight off Colt. I'll take Jessica to the side and try to un-brainwash her." Ian paused. "Do you think that'll work?"

"Won't know until we try," Barley said with a determined look on his face. "Let's do this!"

Barley helped Ian get up. "Ow," Ian gasped as a shooting pain spread through his legs and back.

"You okay? Is it from me kicking you? Did I do it that hard?" Barley asked, concerned.

"No...well, I mean, yeah, but I climbed a mountain and was in below-zero temperatures for-"

"Okay, you're fine! You got this!" Barley exclaimed as he playfully punched Ian in the arm.

"Ow!" Ian yelled, frustrated this time. 

"Ooh! Sorry!" Barley winced. "Okay, let's go!"

Ian and Barley walked forward, sneaking up behind Colt, who was frantically trying to pull the Power Gem out of poor Guinevere's mouth, who's legs were now on the ground instead of flying. She wasn't budging, though! Jessica was standing next to Colt, with the usual brainwashed, blank expression on her face.

Just as Barley lunged for Colt's tail and Ian was about to limp his way toward Jessica, they were interrupted by someone calling Ian and Barley's name coming from...the sky?

"Ian! Barley!" the familiar voice called again. Ian and Barley tilted their heads up, not believing what they were seeing.

"Mom?!"  Ian exclaimed. He glanced over at Barley, who's jaw was hanging open. Ian realized that he hasn't seen his mom for 7 years, either!

Their mom was riding on the Manticore's back. Her mom and the Manticore both had determined, brave looks on their faces. The Manticore landed, and Laurel ran up to her sons. First she squeezed Ian in a huge hug, kissing him on his cheeks several times. Then she turned around, looking at Barley.

Barley stood still, tears welling up in his eyes again. Tears were already streaming down Laurel's face. Laurel spread her arms out to the sides. "Barley," she gasped.

Barley ran up to his mom and hugged her, squeezing his eyes shut, laughing. Ian and the Manticore were smiling at them, feeling happy. Jessica was still standing off to the side, motionless.

Everyone was silent and had a sense of happiness for a moment. Until Colt spoke.

"Laurel?"

Ian's mom whipped around to her right. "Colt," she said, her face a mix of anger, confusion, and sadness. "You better  explain to me what's going on in a few minutes!" she yelled, and Colt backed away a few steps. I guess even Colt knows not to mess with my mom, especially right now,  Ian thought. And he better keep it that way!

"But first," Ian's mom continued to Ian and Barley. "I owe you two an explanation." Then the Manticore and Laurel told them how they found them, and why they set out to look for them in the first place.

After Ian left the Manticore's Tavern, the Manticore decided she was going to fly to Laurel's house to catch up, and to tell her what she had told Ian (the legend of the Hidden Centaur). Once she got there and they talked, they decided that if Ian didn't call them within the next few days, they'd set out to look for him and Barley. Of course, that's what they did, since Ian never got to call his mom because his phone had died. After flying around for a little over a day, they were able to see a huge, green glow at the bottom of Raven's Point (from when Colt tried using the gem earlier before Guinevere snatched it out of his hand). And so then the Manticore flew to Raven's Point, and here we are!

Ian and Barley quickly and sadly explained what had happened to them, Colt completely silent.

And immediately after, Laurel started telling Colt off. "You!"  she yelled, pointing at Colt and walking toward him. "I can't believe you! You know, you've been acting suspicious these past few years. And it turns out that YOU are this 'Hidden Minotaur-'"

"You mean Centaur?" the Manticore chimed in.

"'-Centaur,'" Laurel corrected herself. "Anyways, I am just so....disappointed. You used to be a good man, Colt. You were a police officer. You had a good heart." Laurel stared into Colt's eyes. "And now look at you. You...you held my son hostage  for 7 years. All because you want dominance over others. What is wrong  with you? Is this really what you wanna be, Colt? Well? Is it?!"

Colt was visibly taken off-guard for a moment. But then he shifted back into the mean Colt; the Hidden Centaur.

"Laurel," he chuckled in an evil way. "There's so much you don't understand. This Power Gem will give me world dominance! Think of it! We will be able to do whatever we want-"

"'We'?!"  Laurel sputtered. "There is no 'we', Colt!"

"Ooh, yes, you go, girl!" the Manticore silently chanted.

"Aw, come on, Laurel," Colt reasoned. "We can rule the world together. And your sons could help too-"

"Never,"  Laurel responded. "We will never  agree to your evil, twisted ways or thoughts. So don't even try  to persuade me. We're done, Colt."

Barley stepped up to his mom's side. "So you can either hand over the gem now..." 

"...or we can fight," Ian said, stepping up to his mom's other side. 

"And trust me," the Manticore added in, coming up behind Laurel. "If we fight, it won't  be pretty!"

Colt stepped forward, a nasty, mean look on his face. "Okay, then," he said, stomping one of his hooves, preparing for battle. "Let's fight."