Before the screen unpaused there was a flash of light.
"Wait? Another Callum?" Ethari said.
"What's going on?" Future Callum asked.
"Well, Callum, what was the last thing you remember?" Rayla asked.
" We were just at the Storm Spire after the battle. Is that a good answer?" Future Callum said.
"So we're from the same time as Soren. Also, don't tell them about us. Let them find out when it happens." Rayla said quietly.
The screen unpaused.
Rayla: Alright! Let's stop and eat. I'm starving.
Callum: Uh...Oh, no. I don't have the food.
Rayla: What? You had one job: carry your stale human food. How could you leave it?
Callum: You rushed us! You were yelling at us, and I just... You made me leave it!
Rayla: Oh. That's right. Because I remember yelling three things... "Hurry, hurry.", "Let's go, go, go." And, "Be sure to abandon all the supplies you need to survive."
Ezran: What are we going to do? We're out of food!
Rayla: Well, I suppose I'd be willing to share my moonberry juice with you. It's packed with super nutrients, and I still have plenty- Still had plenty. Someone drank it all! Who went through my stuff?
Callum: I didn't touch your things!
Ezran: Don't look at me!
Rayla: Well, I didn't drink it. If one of you didn't sneak it, then who? Wait. Did that little frog monster-
Ezran: Bait wouldn't do that! You have no reason to think- Don't accuse him.
Rayla: Look at how he's glowing!
Ezran: Well, Bait glows different ways depending on how he's feeling. Like, he has one color if he's lonely. Or he glows another way if he's hungry. Or angry. Or hangry!
Callum: That's when you're so hungry that you're angry...
Rayla: I know what "hangry" means. So what does that color mean?
Ezran: Hmm. Actually, I've never seen him glow that way before. Kind of a reddish, purplish... berry color. Yeah, he did it.
Callum: I think she's hangry.
Rayla: I'm habsolutely hurious!
Claudia takes off a cover revealing a mirror. Lain and Tiadrin paled.
"What's wrong?" Harrow asked.
"That isn't something you should be messing with." Tiadrin said.
Claudia: Speak your true nature to me. Nothing? You are a stubborn magic mirror.
Viren: You think I haven't tried that? I've cast eight different reveal spells. They all failed. In the end, I see nothing but my own frustrated face staring back at me.
Claudia: Well, maybe it's just a mirror.
Viren: Of all the treasures, artifacts, and relics in the lair of the Dragon King and Queen... they kept this close to where they slept. It must be important.
Claudia: Then we'll figure it out. Whatever it takes. Hear that, mirror? I'm putting you on notice. Kind of weird how the mirror did that right back at me. Like it was putting me on notice.
Viren: We have something important to discuss. Your mission.
Claudia: To rescue the princes.
Viren: Yes, but you will have a secret mission that is far more important. Claudia, you must recover that dragon egg.
Claudia: They have it with them, so it shouldn't be a problem. Princes, egg... I've got room for a third mission if you need anything else while we're out.
Viren: The egg cannot fall into the wrong hands. It is too powerful, too dangerous. Whatever happens, whatever accidents or tragedies may occur... above all else, you must return with that egg!
Claudia: I understand.
Viren: Good.
Claudia: One question. Let's say we're attacked by giant bumble-scorps, and they're all buzzing like... and flailing their scorps at us like... and I'm forced to choose between saving the egg and saving Soren. What should I do? Dad, it's a joke. Relax, I'm kidding. Everything will be fine.
"What kind of question is that? He just said to bring the egg back no matter what happens." Past Callum said.
"Well, she might have to choose." Rayla said.
Viren: The egg. If you have to choose, choose the egg.
Ezran: Rayla, can you slow down? It's getting a little tricky
Callum: Rayla! Come on! You're the one who made us take this crazy route, at least let us keep up with you.
Ezran: I just need to put this down a second and catch my breath.
"Oh, no. I remember this. This won't be good." Future Callum said.
"To be fair that can pretty much be said for our entire journey." Rayla said.
"That's true." Future Callum said.
Rayla: There is a solution, you know. You can just let me carry the egg. You realize that I could just take it, right? I could just take it from you any time I wanted.
Callum: Yeah, that's good, Rayla. Way to increase trust.
Rayla: But I don't. That's the point.
Callum: Oh, well, congratulations! You haven't threatened us and forced us to give you the egg? You deserve a medal. You're a hero!
Rayla: I could take it! I could return it to Xadia on my own.
Ezran: Guys, you need to keep it down.
Rayla: I would be a hero!
Callum: Then what's stopping you?
Rayla: Because it has to come from you. Human princes, returning the egg to the Dragon Queen. That's the gesture that matters. That could end the war, and change the world-
Ezran: You guys need to stop fighting. Look! All your yelling is cracking the ice. If we're not careful, we could start and avalanche. Got it?
Callum: Uh-huh.
Rayla: Not a peep.
Ezran: Good. It stopped cracking.
Callum: Run!
Ezran: What happened to your hand?
Rayla: Don't worry about it. Just run! We're not going to make it! It's like a... snow-nami!
Ezran: Callum, what are you doing?
Callum: Get behind me. Aspiro! Is everyone okay?
"That was a smart thing to do." Gren said.
"Thanks, I mean, it only half worked." Future Callum said.
Rayla: Where's that hiccuping, juice-thief frog?
Ezran: He's right there, and he's okay. We all made it! I'll go get the egg.
Callum: Ez! Don't move. We're coming to get you.
"Stress eating jelly tarts. Soren?" Sarai asked.
"Hey, I was just given a really terrible task to do. Besides, they were good." Soren defended.
"It's too bad I was at the Breach. You could have shared." Amaya signed.
Claudia: Hey, Sor-bear. What's wrong? You look kind of down. Aw, grizzy, grizzly Sor-bear!
Soren: Did Dad say anything strange to you?
Claudia: Yeah, he kind of did. Did he say anything strange to you?
Soren: Uh...No. Totally not, just a standard Dad chat. What?
Claudia: Oh. Okay, I guess.
Soren: So...what did he say to you that was so strange?
Claudia: Uh, he said that walnuts are his favorite... fruit! I mean, that's crazy, right?
Soren: I don't even think they're a fruit.
Claudia: They're not.
Soren: Well, that is strange.
Claudia: I mean, what's his favorite vegetable, ice cream? Anyway. Are you ready for our mission?
Soren: Yeah. I guess I am.
Claudia: Great. I'm sure you won't die.
Soren: What?
Claudia: On this mission. I mean, eventually, you will die. I assume. But who knows? Maybe you won't!
Soren: Thanks, Claudia.
Callum: Stay still, we're almost there. Easy does it. Just pass it over.
Rayla: What now?
Callum: Now...I'm going to hand you the egg. I'm sorry if I was a jerk before, Rayla. We're lucky to have you as our friend. I do trust you.
Rayla: No, wait. I don't deserve your trust... Not yet. I need to tell you the truth. This morning, the big rush was because I was attacked by someone. A human. I fought him off, but it was hard. Because of this.
Callum: You don't need to do this right now.
Rayla: Yes, I do. This is an assassin's binding. A Moonshadow elf ritual. Before I met you, I swore an oath. I bound myself... to end Prince Ezran's life. And this binding will never come off while he's alive. It will just get tighter and tighter until I lose my hand. But I'm ready to pay that price.
"Rayla! You can not be serious. You would rather lose your hand?" Lain said.
"Yep. I was willing to do anything to get that egg to Xadia." Rayla said.
"Don't worry, she'll be fine." Future Callum said calmly.
Callum: Thank you for telling us, but we need to focus on the situation.
Rayla: There's one more thing. The night I met you, something bad happened.
Callum: Rayla, there's no time.
Rayla: Callum, I need to tell you. The King-
Callum: Just take it! You dropped it!
Rayla: I just told you my hand was messed up.
Callum: Well, use the other hand!
Ezran: Stop arguing! We have to do something.
Callum: Ez, no! Ezran! I'm going in after him.
Rayla: Don't!
Callum: What? Why?
Rayla: He'll get it. He'll save the egg. We have to believe in him. And we're going to need to be up here to pull him out.
Callum: He's just a kid!
Rayla: He's brave and strong. He can do this.
Callum: Come on. Come on!
Rayla: It's going to be okay. Ez will get it.
Callum: You were wrong. He's not coming back.
Rayla: I'm so sorry. I thought he would be able to. He's alive! The binding is still tight. Ez is still alive. He has to be.
Callum: Ezran? Ez...Ez, you saved it. You got the egg back. You did it! Please, Ezran, you gotta be okay. Just say something.
Ezran: I think I got a case of the frozie-toesies.
The group sighed in relief when Ezran spoke.
"Tell me it doesn't get that close again." Sarai asked.
"Well, it doesn't for Ezran." Future Callum said.
Ezran: Oh, no. Something's wrong with the egg.