Chapter 7: Real

The bright purple ball of light flew through the air, low to the ground, searching for the three missing miniatures. The group followed, with Merlin in the lead, humming an odd tune.

"Okay, it took me a while to get used to stuff before, but this..." Larry sighed as they looked around. "The Tablet bringing Merlin to life, and giving him powers?" he glanced to Beth, who shrugged. She knew as much as he did.

"Actually," Merlin glanced around, having heard them. "The Tablet isn't quite responsible for that," he smiled. The two exchanged baffled looks.

"Okay, then what is?" Beth asked curiously.

"What indeed?" he turned away, starting to hum again. Beth scowled.

"Why say if you're not gonna give any answers?" she complained under her breath, but judging from his giggle, he'd heard her. They turned a corner, and the light shot to the ground, hovering over what looked like a red piece of fabric. It was stuck to an air vent, blowing in the warm air that was blasting through it.

"Is that Octavius' cape?" Nick asked as Larry pulled it free. He crouched in front of the vent and tugged, but it barely moved. With a wave of her hand, Beth jolted it free and used the wind to push it aside. It landed with a clatter, and as Larry looked in, calling out to the three, Beth realised Lancelot was staring at her.

"My word, another gifted one just like Merlin!" he exclaimed. Beth offered a weak smile and nodded.

"Jed!" Larry yelled, but the air that blasted from the vent masked any sound of the three who were being hurled through it.

"They won't last long in those heating vents, Lawrence," Teddy warned.

"With their size, they'll bake like tiny little scarabs in the Sinai," Ahkmenrah murmured, earning several looks. Beth put a hand to her face. "Too dark?" he realised.

"A little," Nick nodded as Beth patted his shoulder. If he hadn't been feeling as drained as the rest, the Pharaoh would have blushed.

"Beth, can you do anything?" Larry asked. Her eyes widened.

"No way, it's a warm current," she shook her head. "If I tried messing with that, I could make it worse," Beth told him. Larry sighed, looking around, and spotted a panel on the wall. He rushed over to it, and when it wouldn't open, he smashed it with his elbow.

In the vent, the three miniatures screamed as they were sucked through the air helplessly, before they slammed into a grate that held them there, coating them in dust and dirt as they remained upside down.

"I can't believe I'm going to die here with you idiots!" Claudia yelled as she struggled, unable to move.

"You wouldn't, if you'd stayed in the Smithsonian!" Jedidiah shouted back.

"Shut your mouth, damn cowboy!" she snapped at him.

"Do you have to argue now?!" Octavius yelled from Jedidiah's other side.

"Yes!" the pair chorused over the roaring wind. Suddenly, the wind slowed before dying completely, and the three cried out as they tumbled to the ground, suddenly free. They landed hard on the metal, groaning, before pushing themselves up.

"We're a long way from home, boy," Jedidiah commented as he looked around.

"We need to find a way out of these vents," Claudia spoke, her voice echoing. "Find the others," they were still in trouble, and with no clue of what was in the Museum, they needed to keep vigilant.

"Indeed. Let's go," Octavius led the way, striding off.

"He has no idea where he's going," Claudia muttered. Jedidiah hummed in agreement, and they exchanged looks before rolling their eyes and followed the Roman General.

Outside of the vent, Atilla yelled for the three, before looking up when he was greeted with silence. Huffing, he shook his head and fixed his hat, which had been sliding off.

"These vents go all over the museum, they could be anywhere," Beth said as she studied the map of the vents on the small screen. "What about that tracking spell?" she glanced to Merlin, who was leaning against the wall with his arms folded. His green eyes met hers, and he shook his head.

"I'm afraid it'd be next to useless in this case," he admitted. "The spell follows the energy that we put out. And since they went down there..." Merlin trailed off, leaving them to figure it out.

"The spell would follow," Larry summed up. Merlin nodded. Larry sighed as he returned to the vent to peer in again. With a chirp, Dexter jumped in to take a look as well. "What do you see, Dex?" he wondered aloud.

"You know, he's a monkey Lawrence, he can't talk," Teddy told him. Beth turned her head to hide her smile. Nick wasn't so discreet, giggling a little. Larry lifted his head, looking up at the man, before an idea came to mind.

"No, but he can fit," he realised. "Nick, give me your phone," Larry requested. His son immediately frowned, but handed it over.

"Why?" he asked, curious.

"Dex," Larry stood up and walked over to the destroyed display case.

"I don't understand one thing that's going on here," Lancelot spoke up, frowning. Merlin snorted quietly, and Beth glanced to him, hearing it.

"Yeah, I don't either," Nick followed his dad. "What's going on?" he asked, trying to avoid the shattered glass.

"I'm uh, sorta set up to track your phone," Larry reluctantly admitted, lifting some rope hanging from the bent railings. Beth hissed, turning away.

"Bad move," she muttered, shaking her head.

"You're sorta set up to track my phone? You track my phone?" Nick demanded, outraged at this.

"Yeah, I'm your dad, I'm looking out for you," Larry told him. Beth sighed, shaking her head. Larry was digging himself even deeper into the hole.

"No, hold up!" Nick argued. His anger was only growing. "Spying on is not the same as just looking out for someone!" he shouted at his dad.

"What are they talking about?" Lancelot asked, blank.

"Larry's keeping tabs on his son," Beth summed up. Even Attila looked dubious about this. Larry rolled his eyes.

"Beth, not helping," he warned her. She shrugged. "You'll get your phone back anyway. I promise," Larry told Nick, who scowled as he seemed to completely miss the point. He glanced to Beth, who shrugged with a sympathetic smile, making a note to talk to Larry about how overprotective he was sometimes. "Right now, it's going on a monkey's back," Larry said, not seeing the exchange. "Dex, come here," the capuchin jumped out of the vent and let Larry tie the phone to his back. "Listen, I need you to go down there and find them, alright?" he requested.

"And just so you don't get completely lost in that labyrinth," Merlin crouched beside him and held out a hand. The light flew from it and down the vent. "It will track them. Good luck," he smiled. Dexter chirped at him. "You're welcome," Merlin chuckled.

"You speak monkey?" Sacagawea asked, curious. Merlin looked up at her.

"What, me?" he blinked, before shrugging. "Bits and pieces," he smiled easily at her, standing up.

"Stay safe down there," Larry told Dexter, who chirped and jumped down. He ran off, following the purple light, and Larry opened the app on his phone. "Let's go guys," he called, leading the way.

"So that spell thing will keep going, even though you're not there?" Beth asked Merlin as they walked behind Larry, who kept his attention on the phone in his hand.

"Yup," Merlin nodded, keeping his usual smile.

"How does your magic work?" she asked, curious. While he was still an exhibit, he was the only other person she'd ever met with powers.

"I'm not entirely sure, really. I guess it just comes naturally," Merlin shrugged, meeting her gaze. "What about yours?" he asked. Beth shrugged.

"I dunno. It's mostly a focus on feelings these days. Back when I could only control a particular one a day, it wasn't as specific. Now, it's different, like if I got..." Beth paused, her gaze falling to the ground. "Angry..." she murmured.

"I believe the Tablet's dwindling magic is responsible for your sudden lack of fiery attitude," Merlin told her, continuing his cheery attitude. Beth didn't speak, wondering if he was right. She still couldn't summon fire, no matter how much she focused. But water and air had come naturally still, as if nothing were wrong.

"How do you know so much?" Ahkmenrah suddenly spoke up, the Tablet in his hands. Beth stiffened, not realising he had been listening to their avid conversation. She met his gaze and saw the worry, which made her look away immediately. Guilt gnawed at her stomach.

"How indeed," Merlin smiled at him.

"Okay...what can you tell us?" Beth asked as Lancelot spoke with Larry at the front.

"Only that things will become clear soon enough. The night is still-" Merlin tripped and crashed to the ground. "Young..." he groaned. Beth rolled her eyes, but offered her hand.

"For someone so powerful, you're a total klutz," she taunted. Merlin gave a weak laugh and took her hand, blushing as he was pulled to his feet.

"Thanks," he nodded. "I do mean it, you'll understand everything in time," Merlin told her, patting her shoulder and walking on. Beth frowned, watching him walk on.

'Don't worry, my friend,' a voice whispered in the darkness. 'You will come to understand everything, in time,' he told her.

"Bet?" she jumped, looking around as Ahkmenrah touched her shoulder. "Are you alright?" he asked quietly. His worry was still clear, and Beth sighed.

"I'm sorry Ahk, I don't mean to worry you," she mumbled as they walked after the others.

"Is that why you didn't tell me about your powers?" he asked her. Beth glanced up at him, and frowned when she saw something else in his expression.

"I didn't get much of a chance," she defended weakly. "I only realised when that dinosaur..." Beth trailed off, rubbing her arm nervously. He then reached out and took her hand silently. "It's because of my own connection to the Tablet. With the magic failing..."

"It's affecting you as much as the rest of us," Ahkmenrah realised. Beth nodded silently, and his grip on her hand tightened. "You should have told me," he muttered, and Beth tensed, before she felt a stubborn feeling well up inside.

"At what point? When were were running from a rampaging dinosaur? Or at some point when we're trying to find Jed, Octavius and Claudia?" she challenged in just as quiet a voice.

"You seem content discussing it with Merlin," the words slipped from Ahkmenrah's mouth before he could stop them. Beth stopped, and with their hands still linked, he was forced to stop as well. He glanced back, and found her staring, stunned. Then, the stubbornness took over in a look he had not seen since she'd first discovered their past connection. Yanking her hand free, Beth sped up and started walking beside Merlin, starting a conversation with the Englishman.

"You might want to apologise to her," Ahkmenrah glanced to his side as Sacagawea fell into step beside him. She offered a smile. "She's scared. It has nothing to do with Merlin, you needn't be jealous," she told him, making him frown slightly.

"Who said..." he trailed off as she arched an eyebrow at him. "That obvious?" he sighed, and she nodded, patting his arm.

"She stands to lose a lot as well with this quest," Sacagawea reminded him softly. "We should stay together, not pull apart," she smiled, before moving away to fall into step with Teddy.

"So what's your problem with Lancelot?" Beth asked Merlin, and the Wizard sighed. They stepped into the main hall, which was filled with exhibits coming to life and enjoying their sudden burst of life.

"The bloke isn't that bad," Merlin shrugged.

"But..." Beth pressed, curious.

"It's kinda like...the jocks and the geeks," Merlin explained simply. "Knights were the strong, popular heroes. And I'm not exactly the picture of strong," he gestured to his skinny body. Beth couldn't help but giggle. "His loyalty to Lady Guinevere is beyond question, and his search for the Holy Grail is all he focuses on," he told her.

"He seems okay. And he helped the others when that dino was after them," Beth shrugged. Merlin just hummed, his eyes on Lancelot. Larry walked on, and Lancelot slowed to join the rest of the group.

"The Fool seems agitated," he commented to Teddy.

"That's often his way, but I assure you, he is no fool," Teddy corrected him with a soft smile. He glanced to Larry with a fond look.

"Is it true what he says?" Lancelot turned to Ahkmenrah. "The Tablet that you carry is magic?" he asked.

"It is indeed," Ahkmenrah stepped up beside him. "Everything around you has come to life tonight for the very first time, all because of this Tablet," he explained.

"Duck!" Merlin called, and they looked up. Dropping quickly, they narrowly avoided the metal geese that flew overhead. With a snicker, Pegasus reformed, flapping his wings as if irritated. Beth smiled, patting his neck, and he trotted beside her. Lancelot looked around, amazed as he seemed to properly take in their surroundings.

"Amazing...then, they're not real?" he asked, curious.

"They're as real as any of us," Teddy glanced to the other exhibits.

"Well, yes, but we're real people, they just think they are," Lancelot shrugged, missing their amused smiles as he looked around. Beth covered her mouth to hide her giggle. "And they don't even know. They must be unbelievably stupid," Lancelot laughed. Merlin turned away, laughing as well.

"It can be confusing at first," Teddy nodded. They glanced to the frog that hopped past, croaking.

"Hello frog! Keep hopping, you're real!" Lancelot laughed, watching it go past. Attila blinked rapidly at him, and Beth moved behind the large Hun to try and hide her laughter, which was growing harder to do. Nick was doing the same, grinning widely.

"Guys, think we're gonna have to cut through Asia," Larry called over, still watching his phone as two turtles ambled past. Lancelot immediately strode over to him, and the others followed at a slower pace.

"Not a clue," Teddy commented.

"None," Ahkmenrah agreed. Beth, Nick and Merlin managed to compose themselves, and the group continued their search.

"This place goes on forever," Jedidiah commented as he looked around the metal vents.

"It feels like we've been walking that long," Claudia grumbled, pushing her helmet back.

"Less complaining, more walking," Octavius spoke up, and the other two exchanged looks, arching eyebrows.

"Now who put you in charge?" Jedidiah asked as he caught up to the other Roman. Octavius shot him a glare, before Claudia caught the pair from the back, stopping them before they could fall over the edge. The two cleared their throats, and she rolled her eyes, letting them go and peering over the edge. "Can't really see much," Jedidiah commented as they looked down. "Could jump down, hope for the best," he suggested.

"We have no idea what's down there," Octavius frowned, before they heard a low rumble echo down the vent. The three slowly looked around, going pale.

"We don't no what's up here either," Claudia murmured, trying to hide her fear. A shadow was cast on the wall in the distance, and the rumbled echoed again. With yells of fear, the three leapt down, escaping what they believed to be a monster. As they fell, Dexter turned the corner, running over with a chirp to look down.

Looks like things aren't going too well!

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