Onward 2020

In a vibrant realm populated by mythical beings, magic was once a prevalent force millennia ago, though mastering it proved challenging. With the rise of technology over countless years, magic faded into obscurity, becoming a forgotten relic of the past.

In the present day, two elf siblings, Ian Lightfoot and Barley Lightfoot, reside in the bustling city of New Mushroomton. Ian, the younger of the two, grapples with his self-esteem as a high school student, while Barley, the older brother, is an enthusiastic and impulsive aficionado of history and role-playing games. Their father, Wilden Lightfoot, passed away from a serious illness shortly before Ian’s birth, leaving a void in their lives. Their mother, Laurel, has since moved on and is dating Colt Bronco, a centaur police officer, who is not favored by either boy.

On Ian’s sixteenth birthday, Laurel presents her sons with a treasured gift from Wilden: a magical staff, a rare Phoenix gem, and a letter detailing a “visitation spell” intended to resurrect their father for one day. In a surprising turn of events, Ian manages to cast the spell; however, only the lower half of Wilden’s body materializes before the gem shatters. Determined to complete the spell, Ian and Barley set off on an adventurous quest to find another gem, commandeering Barley’s cherished van, “Guinevere.” Noticing her sons are missing, Laurel decides to track them down.

Their first destination is the Manticore’s Tavern, where a monster with a map to the gem resides. However, the tavern has morphed into a family restaurant run by the Manticore, affectionately known as Corey. During a heated discussion with Ian about the map, Corey realizes how mundane her life has become, leading her to create chaos by scaring off customers and accidentally igniting the restaurant, along with the map. The boys’ only remaining clue to the gem is an illustration on a children’s menu that hints at “Raven’s Point,” a nearby mountain. Laurel soon arrives and, after befriending Corey, learns that their journey might awaken an ancient curse that can only be vanquished with Corey’s sword, which she and Laurel stealthily acquire from a pawn shop.

As they trek to the mountains, Ian and Barley narrowly escape confrontations with the police and a motorcycle gang of pixies, relying on Ian’s burgeoning spell-casting skills and Barley’s expertise in RPGs. “Raven’s Point” leads the brothers along a trail marked by an array of raven statues, but they are pursued by Colt, who calls for backup. When they reach a dead end, Barley makes a selfless choice to sacrifice Guinevere to create a landslide that obstructs their pursuers. Following the raven statues, they navigate through a cave filled with traps and perilous creatures, during which Barley reveals his emotional struggle with saying goodbye to Wilden during his final moments.

Their journey culminates back at Ian’s high school, where tensions boil over. Angered by Barley’s decisions, Ian rebukes him for what he perceives as leading them astray and walks away with a piece of Wilden. However, upon revisiting his list of things he wished to do with Wilden, Ian realizes that Barley has fulfilled a fatherly role throughout his life and heads back to reconcile. Barley discovers the needed gem within a historic fountain across from their school, but this act inadvertently triggers the curse Corey had warned them about, summoning a dragon-shaped golem from surrounding debris, intent on claiming the gem. During a fierce battle, Ian’s staff falls into the ocean, but he impressively recreates it using a splinter lodged in his hand, continuing to fight against the creature. At just the right moment, Corey arrives with Laurel, who plunges the magical sword into the golem’s heart, allowing Ian the opportunity to finish casting the visitation spell, thus fully restoring Wilden’s body.

With a heavy heart, Ian sends Barley to give Wilden a proper farewell while he holds off the golem long enough for Laurel to destroy it. After Wilden vanishes, Barley shares a poignant moment with Ian, affirming that their father is proud of them before they share an emotional embrace.

Time passes, and Ian’s self-assurance and magical abilities flourish. He surprises Barley with a newly painted van, aptly named “Guinevere The Second.” Corey revitalizes her tavern to reflect its original spirit, drawing in patrons with captivating tales of past exploits. She and Laurel strike up a friendship, and Ian and Barley forge a better bond with Colt, who has been inspired to embrace his identity more fully. As they explore their newfound acceptance of magic, the brothers embark on yet another exciting quest, ready to rediscover the wonders of their richly storied heritage.