Barley paced back and forth, trying to figure out what to do next while also trying to figure out what the stone means. "Come on, what does it mean" he muttered to himself. Madi sat by the fence, Echo laying on her lap while she thought to herself. She was still upset with what just happened moments ago. The words played through her mind like a record player. "Nothing you've done is helping" "seriously, I don't even know why you even bothered to come along". She bit her bottom lip as she thought about it. Ian has not once in his life ever talked to her like that before. For him to take his anger out on her was something she never would've expected from him. Despite this, however, she knew that he was upset and confused. They go on this long journey, only to find nothing in the end. But as she thought about it, all the happy, daring and fun memories they did along the way came flooding into her mind. From confronting a manticore, to driving away from a sprite bike gang, to dancing and laughing together. There was also the moment her and Ian shared when they were slow dancing in the night, and the kiss that they almost shared.

As she thought about it, Madi starts to realize something. It may have been a crazy coincidence, but it was a definant possibility. She wanted to go talk to him, but she wasn't sure if he was ready to talk to anyone right now. Even though she knew Wilden was with him, she didn't like the thought of him being alone. So, with her mind made up, she gently removes Echo off her lap and gets up from the ground, rubbing the dry tears off of her face. The baby dragon looks up at the elf girl, confused. Barley sees her get up and he asks "everything alright, Madi?" "Yea, I'm just gonna go talk to Ian real quick" she tells him. "I should go with you" he said. "No, it's fine. I just need a moment alone with him" she said, handing Ian's staff to him. She kneels down to Echo's level and said to her while scratching her chin "stay here and look out for Barley, Echo. I'll be right back". Madi looks back up at Barley, her eyes showing kindness in them. "Ian doesn't really think you're a screwup, you know. He loves you, and would never say those things intentionally" she said to him. The older teen looks at her and gives her a sad smile. "I know" he replied. The teen girl stands back up and places her hand on his shoulder. "You are smart, Barley. Don't let anyone tell you different" she said, her words sincere and just. With that being said, she goes off towards the hill where Ian went off to.

After a few minutes of walking, Madi comes up to a open clearing, where she sees Ian and Wilden sitting almost at the edge of a cliff. She watches as the elf boy and his father get up and start to walk back. When Ian turned around, his eyes widen when he saw Madi standing just several feet away from him. The elf girl smiles softly at him. "Hey Ian" she said. Then, he ran up to her and wrapped his arms around her in a tight, loving embrace. She returns the hug, hugging him just as tightly. Ian moves a bit so that he's looking at the elf girl before him. "Madi, I'm so sorry. Those words I said before, about you and Barley, I didn't mean any of that, not a single word" he said. "Ian, i-it's okay" the elf girl said to him. "No, it's not. I'm sorry for saying those things. I was upset and I spoke out of line. The truth is, you have done a lot with helping me and Barley. You're brave, determined, and you know how to handle a situation very well. Those are the things I admire about you. You never gave up on us, even when things started to look bad. What I'm saying is that, I'm happy that you came along, Madi. I hope you're not mad at me" he explains.

Madi looks at Ian as he spoke, surprised by his words that were true and sincere. This made her softly smile at him. "Me too, Ian. Yes, what you said did hurt me, as well as Barley, but I knew what you were feeling. Also, I couldn't be mad at you, even if I wanted to. When I came on this journey with you, I knew that I felt scared and not knowing what's going to happen, but I also knew that I wanted to help you guys be reunited with your father. You're a good person, Ian, you always have been" she tells him, looking up at him with her blue eyed gaze. Ian also became surprised by her words. Not only did she forgive him and said that he was good, but she also admitted that despite her fears, she pushed them away so that she can help him and Barley go forward with their quest. It shows that she truly does care for him and his brother, and that's what gave him the courage to do what he was about to do next. He gently pushes her violet purple hair out of her face and moves it behind her ear. "You know, I realized two things while I was here" he said to her, blushing slightly while softly smiling back at her. Madi blushes at this action, but she manages to say "what's that?" "The first thing is that even though I never had a dad, but Barley is the one that made me the person I am now. The second thing is..." he tells her, but pauses at that moment. The elf girl looks at the elf boy, and she asks him "what is it?"

Ian was starting to get nervous and hesitant. He wanted to say the words he wanted to say for a long time, but he just couldn't do it. But, a voice told him that he can do this, that he's been waiting for this moment for so long. There's no way he can turn back now. So, with that being said, he swallows the lump in his throat, easing his nerves away. "The second thing is...with everything you've done for us, for me, it made me fall for you more and more" he confesses. Madi's eyes widen, making her heart swell with happiness. Did she hear him right? Did Ian just confess that he loved her? Her best friend and childhood crush loves her? She smiles a bit, feeling a little confident to make a confession as well. "Ian, I-" she was about to say, but the buzzing feeling in her head starts to happen. She places her hand on her head while Ian looks at her with concern. "Madi" he said, holding her close. In that instant, she knew that there was trouble. She looks up at the elf boy, a worried look on her face. "Barley and Echo" she said to him.

Madi, Ian and Wilden run back to the construction site, where Barley and Echo are. When they got there, they see the older teen, with the baby dragon on his shoulders, standing on an old fountain and holding a small object in his hand. It was the Phoenix Gem. "Barley!" both younger teens shouted to him. "Guys, look!" he shouts out to them. Then, all of a sudden, red smoke started to creep from the fountain. "Barley, behind you!" Ian shouts. Barley and Echo see this and he mutters "it's a curse". The baby dragon yelps nervously and the older teen holds her in his arms, while holding the gem. The smoke forms into an orb like shape and starts to take apart most of the school. Everyone, from the three teens, construction workers and passersbys watch in shock and horror as the smoke takes on a more different shape with most parts from the school. Wings, claws, horns and a tail start to appear. Once it was completed, the smoke has now taken the look of a rock and stone dragon, who lets out a powerful roar to everyone that was around. It now has a goal...to get the Phoenix Gem back to whoever stole it.

Dun dun dunnnn!!!! It's about to go down now. Next chapter will be the epic fight between this vicious beast and our heroes. Speaking of that, I'm currently working on it as of now. I'll upload sometime tonight, most likely. Until next time, see y'all later and have a lovely day/night!!