Onward: Don't Hold Back

The Fierce Battle

The fireball appears from the tip of Ian's staff. It shoots out in a swift.

The fireball aims at the flying beast's right wing.

It exploded at the griffin in the air. The flying beast cries out in pain.

Merida was disbelieved what the blue skinny elf had just done.

The griffin descends to the grassy ground. The flying beast was too close at Barley.

The blue burly elf looked at his youngest brother. Barley was thrilled. "YEAH!" The blue burly elf added, raising his roofs. "Ian BEAT the GRIFFIN with FIRE! That's MY brother!" Barley cheered.

She faced the blue skinny elf. "This is unbelievable...Ian...ye ARE the wizard..." Merida utters.

The blue skinny elf smiles at her awkwardly. Ian was confident. "Yeahhh...I have been practicing magic since I was sixteen..." he confessed.

The blue burly elf rushed to the orange van. Barley was too excited to be angry at the redhead woman. The blue burly elf hugs his youngest brother. "Ian, that was AWESOME back there!" Barley exclaimed.

The blue skinny elf chuckles at his elder brother.

She blinked her eyes thrice times. Merida has no clue how the Lightfoot brothers get along. Especially on perilous quests together.

Barley went in the driver's seat of Guinevere II. The blue burly elf got his van key back from Ian. Barley turns on Guinevere II. The blue burly elf begins driving forth. He focused on the hills on the grassy ground.

His orange van was bumpy by the unpaved area while moving.

The wizard was in the back of Guinevere II with the redhead woman.

They go face-to-face at each other.

Merida haven't say any word after the flying beast. She was melancholy.

Ian cleared his throat. The blue skinny elf was bothered. "Merida...This isn't easy to live in the world with mythical creatures...Barley and I are elves...I don't know what are you trying to do on your own..." Ian added, mentioning. "I mean being free anyway? Anywhere you go? No rules? No limitations? Does your family know you were gone from your world?" The blue skinny elf inquires too many questions.

Merida sighs in her depression. She was not one hundred percent definite that she should say something. Tell the Lightfoot brothers the truth? Or keep finding her own fate?

The griffin was her proof that Merida can't live on her own freedom. She wanted to break up her ancient kingdom's tradition, including her arranged marriage. Merida can't talk her mother out of marriage with one out of three suitors. Without the queen's stubborn personality involved. She loved her family yet not like what she expects from her mom.

There was an awkward silence for the long time.

Barley broke the quiet. The blue burly elf was puzzled. "Ye know, Ian has a point here..." Barley added, speaking while driving on his orange van. The blue burly elf concentrates on the hills once more. "Most teens would not talked about their problems because they have troubles. My brother almost ran away because of school problems..." Barley stated. The blue burly elf smiled at his youngest brother.

The blue skinny elf chuckled nervously. "I was fourteen at the time...I have gnomes, ogres, satyrs and other elves who don't want to make friends with me...They treated me differently because I was a total weirdo...I was scared afterwards...I wouldn't have be back at my home around New Mushroomton if Barley haven't found me..." Ian admitted.

Merida was surprised at the wizard and his elder brother.

Barley nodded his head twice. The blue burly elf was glad. Barley watched where he drives. "It's true...Ian couldn't stop crying for a long time...We stayed inside Guinevere just talking together...I listened to what my brother was saying...Lucky me, I'm a good listener...So I hugged him tight...and I tell him it's okay to be scared...Seriously, I was here for Ian since we lost dad...Our dad..." The blue burly elf mentions.

She was confused with her sad eyes at Barley. "What happened to your dad?" Merida asked.

The blue burly elf sighs. Barley was gloomy. "He was sick..." The blue burly elf answered in his whisper.

She was glum. Merida understood the Lightfoot brothers. She looks at Barley, then Ian. "I'm so sorry for your loss, laddies..." Merida reassures.

The blue skinny elf made a sad smile at her. "It's all right...thank you..." Ian said.

The blue burly elf was compassionate. "Thanks...At least I got my chance to say goodbye to dad...It was good..." Barley mentioned.

The wizard raises his eyebrow at his elder brother. "You did two years ago after the Phoenix Gem, Barley remember?" Ian reminded.

The blue burly elf nodded his head. Barley was contented. "Yup." The blue burly elf added, confirming. "That was the first and best quest we have ever been thru." Barley declared.

The Lightfoot brothers laughed with each other.

She grins at them. Merida suggested that her time to tell them about herself more...and her family can wait.

She still doesn't want to marry the prince. It's her only reason to not come back home.

They are going to their next destination; the Loch Lake.