[Trade] April, The Fool and Pasta -part 3-

Part 3- Drakiri’s Test 

RITE 2 - RITE OF STRENGTH

     April, Fooli, and Linguini look at her. “WHAT!!?” 

      “The phrase seems to say. “Three drakiri must stand against the creature who once ruled this land, to pass this test you must show inner strength,”  Xena says as she reads what she can. “It seems that this is a test I can't help you with” a door opens on the far side. 

        “Guess we are going that way,” Fooli says as the 4 walk deeper in. April's necklace from Ice shimmers as the glow lights their path… “that's convenient” April smiles. “Now what?'' The 4 walk through the door as it shuts behind them. “Guess the only way is forward” 

        The torches on both sides light up as the three jumps back. April steps on a stone as the piece falls away. She glitches to Foolis side. Xena looks at the path before them as it falls away to reveal darkness…except a thin pathway only big enough for draks to pass thru. Linguine looks up. “First test of Balance” 

        April looks at Xena. “I thought there was to be only one test!!! Not this” she says hopping on a stone as it wobbles. She yelps. “Ok…I'm ok” 

       “How am I to know?? I was pulled thru into your world by a portal” Xena snaps as they make their way across. Linguine nearly falls as Xena grabs his foot and pulls him to the other side. 

       “Thanks,” he says panting. 

       “No probs” she smiles. “It's gonna get harder from here. I suggest you stay close,” she says as they move through the temple. 

         “Fooli, check out these pictures,” April says as she sees a picture of a Drak with wings doing the next test. “It looks like he's…solving a puzzle,” she says as Fooli stops her from activating the next room. 

         Xena looks at the inscription. “Test of the mind, all who pass shall be one step closer to facing the great one,” she says, “I think that's what it says… I can't be too sure tho” 

        “That sounds very dangerous,” Linguine responds. 

        “More dangerous than your farts at night??” April razzes on linguine. 

       Xena chuckles. “Hush all of you” the door opens as they are faced with a room with stones on both sides. “What is this?” 

        Xena looks through her jornal. “I think it's a wizard's duel,” she says. “Or its…” she steps on a stone as the stones rise and face them…two of each symbol that looks like claw marks…it raises and flips to show the back. 

        “What?” Fooli asks. “What are we supposed to do”

        She walks over to Linguini. “Mind if I use your back for a second?” 

        “If it gets us out of here” she jumps on his back and reaches up to touch one…the edge glows as it flips over, the symbol glowing gold. “That's cool” 

        April gasps. “I get it, as drake, we can jump that high!! Ie when we touch our horns or parts of our body to the stones they glow!! It is a wizard's duel” she says as she laughs. “Now the looking scratch mark.” she glitches to one as she touches it. It flips and glows brightly, shattering into gold dust. “So all we have to do is figure out the correct pairs…shouldn't be that hard” 

        “Sadly I don't think I can help you, this is a drak test not mine” she jumps off the massive primal-sized drak. “But I'm here to give you pointers” 

       The three draks look at her. “Ok, I can do this” Fooli goes first as he makes a pair, Linguini manages to find one too. April finds one and touches the wrong one as the floor rumbles and the timer starts. 

       “That's not good…” from in front of them they hear a lock clicking open like it was made of stone. “Oopsie” 

       “Xena!!! What's this about” Linguini asks. 

       “Give me a second!!” she translates the inscriptions on the wall…or at least tries to. Fooli hits a bad one as another lock unlocks. 

       “Fooli!!” Linguine growls. “Great, where are we?” 

       “Halfway gone,” Xena says. “I translate some of the inscriptions, it says I think…you will be trapped here…forever if you don't get through 

       “Great great!! Thanks, April for getting us into this mess” Linguine growls. 

       “Sorry, I didn't know we would be in danger” she chuckles. “Ok, 4 more pairs.” she jumps up and touches one as she matches the next set. Fooli next and Linguine. They manage to make it in the nick of time. They jump through and pant as Xena chuckles. “Never tell us to do that again” 

      “Right” the door on the far side opens to reveal a very clean ancient room, the stone cut and polished, glimmers in the torchlight. “Oh cool” 

      Xena looks around. “Ok, now what” she looks around. “Guys stay put” 

      “Ok.. you are the boss” 

        Xena walks in deeper as she activates the next test. She sees what looks like a strange creature on the far side… It is a multi-armed robot with what seems to be weapons. The top spins around and walks towards the three. “Xena!! Get on my back! You'll be safer” Linguini grabs Xena as she jumps on his back as the three stand. 

       “The test of strength,” she says. 

       “Ok test of strength,” Fooli says. “I can distract him, babe!! Use a thunderous roar to stun that thing!!” he says dodging a laser attack. He skids to the side. “Ok this isn't gonna be easy” 

        “You got it” she glitches to it and roars as the three descend on it. The head spins and it starts up for a laser attack. “Ok Xena what is it doing now” 

        “I can't tell, '' she calls from Linguinies back. Linguine skids back as a laser hits him full force, his iron wall allows him to take the brunt of the hit as he growls and rams the robot, the key in his head piercing the upper part of it. “I got the first hit” he throws it off as it stands. “Just how strong are three things!!??” 

        Xena yelps as the three battle this strange robot… “guys I see an inscription on the door on the other side!!” she calls. “I need to translate it” linguine jumps over the robot as Xena jumps off of him somersaulting and landing on the other side. “Thanks” 

       The three fight the robot as April glitches and kicks it in the backside sending it to the floor. “Guys now! We have to kill that thing” she calls as she growls. 

       Xena meanwhile is trying to translate the ruins on the wall. 

       “Ok…almost there all we have to do is destroy him” April glitches up as she jumps off of linguini's back and Fooli hoof kicks the robot as it is shattered to pieces. She glitches to Fooli. “Oh, sweet” The back wall where Xena is working slides open as a massive 8-legged robot walks out.  The design is a mix of ancient and tech made from some sort of stone, this entire adventure gives Xena, Legend of Zelda Breath Of The Wild vibes. “Ok not so sweet” 

      Xena looks at them. “The strength test comes in two parts.” the first fight and the main battle. “This reminds me of Zelda,” she says as the robot goes for April. Linguine bashes the robot from the side as he snorts. 

        “Don't mess with me or my friends you piece of scrap” Linguine, Fooli, and April stand as they are running out of steam. “Xena!! Any closer to the translation!!??” he asks. 

        “Give me a few seconds!! Your language is so strange… it is like a mix of Saurian and Vincent.” she busily scribbles in her notebook. “Can you keep that thing busy!!” 

        “We are trying but we are running out of steam fast!!” Fooli calls. 

         “Alright time for a glitch kick” April runs up the back of Linguini as she triple kicks the robot and sends it flying into the wall breaking it apart. April lands as the three pant. “Ok…never doing that again” 

         “You said it” 

          The door slides open as the three walk through with Xena behind them. “Looks like we made it,” April smiles. “Yay I finally get to breed with Fooli” she happy branches. “Let us get out of here and tell them we passed the test” 

           Xena smiles. “Yea let's get out of here” 

           They walk out and through a waterfall as Fooli, April, and Linguine sparkle and they look at each other. “What was that” 

           “I think that was the magic to our breeding ability,” Fooli says. “I think that means we passed” 

            April laughs and chuckles as she prances around. “Yesss yes yes yes yes” 

           They all return to the village as Xena looks around. “You guys are cool” 

           “Thank you,” a silver drak says. “You are an explorer?” 

          She nods. “I wish to know more” 

           “Down that path and turn left, I'm sure you'll find adventure,” he says. 

           Xena turns to walk into the forest as April smiles and calls “if you ever wanna take a rest or just wanna chill our home is open to you!!” 

            Xena turns and waves as she disappears into the forest. 

            Fooli and April smile. “What an adventure, something to tell our kids about hahaha” 

            Linguine chuckles. “What an interesting girl”