“Listen, I think we turn back here,” Lloyd said. He wore a blue traveler’s cape as they ascended the hill toward a jagged man-made arch.
“What?” Alexander yelled at his companion. Alexander was limping and wearing a tattered coat. “What are you talking about? We’re 91% of the way there.”
“I know, I know… But we know what’s at the end. It’s a pretty view. We get a congratulations, and then we head home,” Lloyd said. “We could just go home now.”
“But we had to bargain with pirates,” Alexander said.
“We did.”
“We fought off a hoard of killer zebras.”
“I mean that was mostly just good luck.”
“We traded our horses for passage over the troll bridge.”
“And the troll seemed to enjoy that meal.”
“We swindled a king out of his fortune, caught island fever and had a West Side Story-style dance-off. And you’re saying you want to head back?”
Lloyd paused, “We basically did it.”
“But we could just finish,” Alexander said, collapsing on the side of their path. “We gave up so much to get here.”
“But the story’s over. It’s just a victory lap.”
“We deserve a victory lap!” Alexander cried.
“I’m going back,” Lloyd said. He turned away from the arch. He expected Alexander would eventually follow. Just then, a cry came from the direction of the arch.
“Help!” yelled a squeaky piglet-like voice. “There are dragons!”
Lloyd wheeled back to face his sobbing friend. Alexander looked up, terrified.
Lloyd smiled, “On we go!”