They were making the Core feel like home again.
Albert’s dad was sent to the Path Hider’s domain immediately to begin guarding the paths, and though Albert had promised to visit him, he hadn’t been able to bring himself to do it just yet. Albert didn’t know if he could bear to see Bob Flynn in there, wearing the same old miner’s cap that Festus had worn.
And he didn’t know if he could bear to think of Pap all alone in Herman, waiting for a son who wouldn’t come home for quite some time.
There was only one thing left for Albert to do, before everything was really safe. One thing, before the nightmares would go away and Albert could sleep without worry once again.
It was after dark when Albert and Farnsworth made their way through the halls of the Core alone.
A few days ago, the darkness would have creeped him out, making his hair stand on end. He would have looked over his shoulder every few seconds, wondering who was watching.
Now, the darkness was like a warm hug, the crackling of the new blue torches on the walls a peaceful melody in Albert’s ears.
They passed by Professor Asante’s office, and Albert smiled as he thought of her. Rumor was she’d been visiting Albert’s dad in the Path Hider’s domain every single day this week, delivering him home-baked goods that nobody would have guessed she was talented at making.
Professor Asante was a strange woman, and certainly not Albert’s number-one choice for his dad to date, but she was loyal. She was fierce, and she had been on Albert’s side all through the chaos the traitor has caused.
And if she made Albert’s dad happy, well . . .
That was okay with him.
Farnsworth’s high beams came on as they stopped before an old elevator at the end of the tunnel.
“You ready for this, buddy?” Albert asked.
Farnsworth wagged his tail. Albert took out the key that hung from his neck, the key that had been delivered to him by Professor Bigglesby earlier this week.
When you’re ready, Flynn, the old dwarf had said. Make it count. And don’t lose the key, or you’ll have to write an essay explaining your mistake.
“He’s not the warmest old man on the planet,” Albert said to Farnsworth as he turned the key in the lock beside the elevator. “But he and the other Professors have trusted me with this.”
He pressed the button on the door. The elevator opened with a hiss, and they stepped inside. It took them deep, deep down. The doors slid back open, and Albert and Farnsworth stepped into the Watchers’ Cavern.
The Watchers were gone for the day, as the Professors had promised.
But someone else was waiting in their place.
Farnsworth yipped and scurried off to greet the surprise guest.
“Dad?” Albert asked. He couldn’t believe his eyes. “What are you doing here?”
Bob Flynn stood beside the Heart of the Core, holding a black box in his arms. Even though he was wearing a grease-covered jumpsuit and looked like he hadn’t showered in days, he looked alive. He looked happy, and younger, than he had in three terms.
Albert raced across the cavern and threw his arms around his dad.
“Hey, kiddo,” Bob said.
“How did you get in here?” Albert asked. His voice was muffled into his dad’s chest.
“I’ll tell you when you let me breathe,” Bob said, laughing.
Albert pulled away and looked up at his dad.
“I might be the Path Hider, but I’m not the same kind your uncle was. I still have friends here.”
“But you’re supposed to be hiding the paths!” Albert said, his voice squeaking like Petra’s.
His dad smiled. “Trey’s covering for me today,” he said, waving a hand. Then he shrugged. “The other Professors may have looked the other direction as I walked past. They know what it means to me, to be able to be here for you.”
Albert was so happy he could have cried.
He had wanted to be alone for this, but seeing his dad here now, one of the only people who truly understood how horrible the Master Tiles were . . .
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Albert said.
His dad smiled and held out the black box.
“Whenever you’re ready. You can take your time if you need to.”
Albert gently took the box, surprised at how heavy it actually was. It looked to be made out of the same stuff as the CoreSword.
“I’ve waited long enough,” Albert said. “I’m ready right now.”
He took a deep breath before opening the box.
Just one peek, to be sure they were inside.
The box was lined with black velvet. The three Master Tiles were nestled in the center, side by side.
Just seeing them, Albert felt the longing, the need, to reach out and touch them, to wear them around his neck and feel the power surging through his veins. . . .
He snapped the box shut.
“Never again,” Albert said.
Then he turned, and before he could blink, he tossed the box into the Heart of the Core.
The fire took them immediately, engulfing the box in flames. It was as if the Core had been waiting for centuries to swallow the Master Tiles whole.
In seconds, there was nothing left but a few strands of black, swirling inside the Heart. Then the lava bubbled up and the darkness disappeared.
“We did it,” Albert said with a gasp.
His dad wrapped an arm over his shoulders and pulled him close.
“You did it, Albert,” Bob Flynn said.
They stood there for a while, watching the Heart of the Core.
“I’ll miss you,” Albert said finally.
“I waited for eleven years to be able to share the Core with you.” His dad chuckled, the slight breeze dancing across the top of Albert’s hair. “Two years is nothing, kiddo. And besides, you’re not planning on leaving the Core for good, are you?”
Albert was silent.
He’d given lots of thought to that, yes. Leaving the Core on the gondola, letting the Memory Wipers erase his memory of this place. Festus, his evil stare and blistering laugh. Lucinda, with her lies and deception. The feeling of the ground trembling as the Core nearly ripped itself apart.
But they wouldn’t just erase the bad memories.
They’d erase the good ones, too.
Birdie and Leroy laughing with Albert as they held their secret sessions in the Pit. Lunch at Lake Hall, with Leroy shoveling cake into his mouth faster than was humanly possible. The Float Parade, with Petra’s glittering Guildacker.
“I’m not going anywhere, Dad,” Albert said.
He looked up at Bob Flynn, the older version of himself. They’d both made mistakes, but at least for now, Albert felt just like the Heart of the Core—warm and bright.
Albert’s dad smiled down at him and pulled him closer. “You’re the best Balance Keeper I’ve ever known, kiddo,” he said. “And Tile or no Tile, that’s not going to change.”
Farnsworth yipped, and his eye lights came on.
“Now,” Albert’s dad said. “I’ve got about five hours left before I have to return to my post. What do you say we go and try our hand against Leroy in a game of Tiles?”
Albert laughed.
“We can try,” he said. “But we won’t win.”
“It’s not always about winning,” his dad said.
They left the cavern together with Farnsworth leading the way.
CHAPTER 37
The Cave of Souls
The rest of his stay in the Core went by in a flash.
There were endless games of Tiles in the Library, most of which Leroy won, but when Professor Bigglesby showed up, the match was pretty even. There were late lunches in the brand-new and improved Lake Hall, where Albert was pretty sure the Whimzies were dropping more desserts than usual.
The Pit was deemed safe, and friendly competitions were held. Albert and his friends sat in the stands, watching. They weren’t quite ready to compete again just yet.
At night, they played games of hide-and-seek around the Core, and Albert was pleased to see that Hoyt now had his own companion creature. Spyro gave everyone rides on his back, as long as they paid him with a peppermint or two.
The rest of Spyro’s herd was back in Belltroll, soaring over the mountains where once a day, the Trolls rose and cranked the mountain back into place.
On the final day in the Core before they had to return home, Albert, Birdie, and Leroy headed to the Core Canteen. It had been boarded up all week with a sign out front that said “renovations in progress,” but rumor had spread this morning that it had reopened. Albert wanted to call his mom, and Leroy was eager to spend his earnings on a fresh bag of candy.
It was only when they arrived and found the spot behind the counter empty that they realized that with Lucinda gone, they had no idea who was running the Canteen.
“Oh look,” Birdie said, gesturing to a sign on the desk. “It says to ring the bell if you need help.”
“I’ll do it!” Leroy said, sliding over to the bell. He banged it with a little too much energy and it slid off the desk and clattered to the floor. “Whoops,” Leroy said. “My bad.” Birdie rolled her eyes as Albert stooped down to grab the bell.
“Yes? How can I help—”
“Petra!” Birdie and Leroy’s voices rang out together.
Albert popped up from the floor to see Petra behind the counter, grinning like Spyro with a peppermint.
“Welcome to the Core Canteen,” Petra said with a wink. “It’s been hard to keep it a surprise from you guys, but the Professors gave it to me as a reward for helping you discover who the traitor was, Albert.”
In mere minutes, Petra Prince became one of the most popular guys in the Core.
“I offer free phone calls to home!” Petra shouted out as a crowd gathered. “And if I can get it up and running, I’m going to install a TV, so you can keep up to date on the latest surface-world news!”
Which, Albert had learned from his dad, was also well on its way to recovering from the disaster. Plans were made for buildings going back up, teams had gathered to help rebuild homes. The surface world had a camaraderie of its own in times like these.
Hoyt and his teammates saved the day just in time, Albert thought.
“Well, I’d like to be your first customer,” Leroy said to Petra.
He hefted a heaping bag full of golden Medallions onto the counter.
Petra whistled. “You’re the best at Tiles, man. No doubt.”
Leroy laughed and started a list of all the Core Candies he wanted as his prize. He even bought a fresh new blue bone for Farnsworth, and the little dog yipped happily as Petra tossed it to him.
“This is really something, Petra,” Albert said, pulling up a stool to the counter. The Core Canteen was bright and happy with new life. Candies were now half off, and colorful Tiles were going two for the price of one. Kimber slept happily on the topmost shelf.
Albert guessed he’d taken a liking to Petra, and though Petra wasn’t a big fan of snakes, he was happy to let Kimber doze in the rafters of the Canteen. Albert figured the extra security of a big, scaly snake probably helped ward off any customer’s thoughts of stealing an extra Tile or two.
“What do you think of the new addition?” Petra asked. “It came together pretty quickly, I think.” He motioned to the right of the Core Canteen.
Lucinda’s old ramshackle booth, which normally sat in the entrance to the Core, had been pulled inside. Now, Petra’s mom stood behind the booth beneath a brightly painted sign that said The Soda Fountain.
Students and adults made up a long line of customers shouting out orders. Medallions were practically pouring in, and Petra grinned like a cat as he watched his mom mix up milkshakes and snow cones and all sorts of goodies.
“I just adore what you’ve done to the place,” Birdie said. “And your mom looks so happy.”
“She’ll never have to sweep the Core floors again,” Petra said. “So, obviously, it’s going great!” He sat on Lucinda’s old stool, with a fresh copper name tag on his chest. “I’m expecting tons of orders to come in for my new line of trick potions, and Professor Bigglesby offered to let me teach a class once a week on making them!”
Albert smiled. “You earned it, man.”
“You were born for this, Petra,” Birdie added.
“Thanks,” Petra said. “Free candies for Hydra, anytime!”
“Now that’s what I call a good deal,” Leroy said, through mouthfuls of taffy. When Leroy was done collecting all his new loot, Hydra waved good-bye and set off back through the halls toward the Main Chamber.
“What now?” Birdie asked as she waved to a group of passing girls. They stopped to pat Farnsworth on the head, but quickly raced away after he slobbered blue all over them.
Albert laughed and slung his arms over his friends’ shoulders.
“I was thinking maybe we’d make a stop somewhere special.”
Leroy raised a brow. “Lake Hall for lunch? The new docks are freaking sweet.”
“Later, Memory Boy.” Birdie rolled her eyes, and Albert chuckled under his breath.
“Follow me,” he said.
They headed down a tunnel, deeper and deeper into the Core, and stopped before a door that they’d entered once before.
The three friends lay on their backs, watching the blinking orbs of light float far over their heads in the Cave of Souls.
These were the souls of every Balance Keeper, new and old.
They were as countless as the stars.
“I wonder what it’ll be like to leave this time,” Birdie said.
Albert rolled onto his side and looked at her. “What do you mean?”
Birdie shrugged. “Well, I just think . . . this time, it’s been more than it ever has.”
“I’m not catching on, Guildacker Girl,” Leroy added.
Birdie laughed and punched him. “Just think about it. Every time we’ve come, it’s been the same. A horrifying Imbalance that mystifies even the Professors, and then us trying to figure out what in the heck we were going to do to solve it. But now that’s over, right? I mean, the traitor causing these crazy Imbalances is gone.”
“And the Tiles are destroyed,” Albert said.
He still wore the leather cord around his neck. It was empty and light as a feather, but it was a good reminder. Nobody should have as much power as the Master Tile allowed.
“When we leave, we’ll know that next time we come back, it’ll be easier,” Leroy said. “Less danger. I like the sound of that, dudes.”
Albert smiled and pointed up at the flickering orbs of light.
“We’re up there,” he said. “I wonder which ones are us.”
“Well, it’s obvious, isn’t it?” Birdie asked. “We’re that little trio over there.”
She pointed up and to the left. Sure enough, there was a trio of little soul lights, floating together through the others in the darkness. They stayed in a solid line, like they were tethered together.
“That could be any team,” Leroy said. “And really, the odds of that being us are—”
Birdie let out a soft growl. “Way to ruin the moment, Leroy.”
“But this is nice,” Albert said. “We’re back where it all started.”
“Safe,” Leroy said.
“And together,” Birdie added.
They stayed there for a while, until their thoughts were interrupted by an announcement.
Trey’s voice rung out over the loudspeaker. “Team Hydra, please report to Professor Flynn’s . . .” He cleared his throat. “Please report to my office.”
“I guess Trey hasn’t settled in to his new position yet,” Albert said. Trey as Professor was a rightful fit.
Albert wondered what his dad would do next, when his punishment as Path Hider was up. He didn’t think his dad would take the position back, not now that Trey was enjoying it so much.
Maybe he’d take Professor Asante’s advice and become the Pit S
upervisor. That would be pretty cool, too.
“Let’s go see what he wants,” Albert said.
Birdie and Leroy exchanged sheepish grins.
The three of them got up and left the Cave of Souls, Albert taking one last look over his shoulder at the three blinking lights, still together.
CHAPTER 38
A New Beginning
Trey was waiting for them at the door to Professor Flynn’s old office. He wore his own emerald jacket, perfectly fitted to his long, lean figure.
“What’s up?” Albert asked.
“There’s something we have to do before you leave,” Trey said. There was a sparkle to his words.
He motioned for Albert to go inside.
Albert turned the handle. The roar of the Waterfall of Fate sounded from within, and with it, the rest of the Core was waiting.
They were all inside the room, standing patiently around the waterfall’s pool.
“What’s this?” Albert asked as Trey and his friends ushered him forward.
Birdie smiled. “We wanted to surprise you.”
Leroy nodded and gave Albert a little nudge. “You’re getting a new Tile, dude.”
Albert didn’t quite know what to think. He made the walk to the Waterfall of Fate, passing by all the people near and dear to him. They were silent, respecting the mighty presence of the waterfall. But that couldn’t keep the smiles off their faces.
Petra was there, holding up his old Team Hydra! foam finger. Professor Asante and Professor Bigglesby, and Team Argon, and all the other teams of Balance Keepers, too. Jadar was nestled in the corner next to Leroy’s Jackalope, Jemima. There was Spyro, his wings outspread in a display of pride. He bowed his head to Albert as he passed.
Tussy stood closest to the pool, next to . . .
“Dad!” Albert ran to hug him.
He was starting to think that maybe being the Path Hider wasn’t so bad. If the Professors had already let Albert’s dad out twice in one week, then maybe they weren’t taking this whole punishment thing as seriously as Albert thought.