[Gift] Heart of Pride - part 3 Stregth

The party walks out of the city ruins as Xena looks around. Magic chimes echo through the cavern as the golden light from the lanterns and shimmering fixtures from the city glow in the distance. The three shiver. “Ok… let's try and find a way out of this,” Peppermint says. The crystals glow and shimmer as they walk. The plankton makes trails around them as Xena touches a crystal, it glows the colors of her identity. “Hey Xena” 

          “What is it, Peppermint?” she asks as she pulls her hand off the crystal. 

          “That crystal…do it again,” she says as Xena sets her hand on the crystal. “It's doing something” 

          Xena looks at the crystal as the colors swirl and move, showing her memories…her moments of strength and endurance in her path in realizing her alignment, memories of her and Lycon, moments of happiness and truth… “guys I'm not sure about this but I think these crystals show your truest self.” she says. 

          “Truest self?” Theo asks. “What do you mean” 

          “Back home your authentic self is hidden and some people decide to show their most authentic self with colors and designs. Lycon loved it” she smiles. “I remember when he would sit me down and just talk to me, or talk me through my little negative thoughts.” she chuckles. “He was always such a good friend, he helped me see who I was even before I did”  

           They look at the crystals. “Truest self…” Vortex asks. “What does that mean to me? '' he walks up to the crystal as he sees his reflection. Half of it is his humanoid drak form and half is his drak form. “These crystals are strange” the crystal smiles as a flag can be seen behind him, he sees peep and how much fun they have together. “The crystal isn't talking about yourself as physically, it's talking about your heart,” Xena smiles. “Right?” 

          “Your truest most authentic self isn't an alignment. It's who you are in your heart” she smiles. “Each of you is made from your experiences and skills, your pride in who you are is a reflection of what you overcame and your truest identity” 

           Peppermint walks up to one of the crystals. She touches the crystal as the colors of the pansexual flag shimmer over her face. “This shows my identity,” she smiles. “How do you know of this place?” 

           “The better question is, did you plan this?” Theo asks. 

           “No, I didn't, it was completely by accident we found the crystals. But yes I knew of the crystals for a while”  she pulls out a small half of a crystal heart that glows in the cat gender colors, memories swirl as she smiles. “Lycon took me to a cave glowing with crystals, he told me to let the crystals show you how I see you, after that, I touched the crystal, and reminded me that one person or one comment doesn't determine my life.” she smiles

            “Why is it that the crystal heart is broken down the center?” Peppermint asks her. “Is it some custom” 

           “It's a representation of how I won't be complete without him around, the split heart is representative of us always loving each other. Peep and Vortex, Peppermint and Apple Fritter. One part of a bigger whole and thru that you never need the approval of the world. Only the ones you love and care for” 

            Peppermint looks at her. “That's beautiful, so being without your other half is painful?” 

            “A test of strength I must bear, much like your rites I have my own tests I must pass.” she smiles. 

           “So your test is on the mental level,” Theo says. “It is kinda like us when we try to pass our rites of strength, sometimes the strength is found within?”  

             Xena nods. “Sometimes the greatest tests come from internal battles fought in the mind against that voice in our heads'' 

             Peppermint smiles and looks at her. Apple fritter would love to hear about what Xena has to say. Her outlook even so far away from her beloved, she's going through a test of strength right now. “You bear it well” 

              Xena smiles. “Thank you Peppermint, strength can come in many forms, emotional from being away from someone to physical strength” she smiles. “This is mental for all of us right now” 

               Peppermint smiles. “Mental our own ways” she smiles. “I miss my partner but I must have strength in that I know they are safe.” 

              “Peep may be alone for now but I will return, and be stronger for it” Vortex says. 

              “Let's find our way out and get back home,” Peppermint says as Xena cracks pieces of the crystal off for each of them. 

              “I know it's not something that happens overnight so I'm gonna give you pieces of crystals for your SO and you to form into hearts.” 

              “What do you mean,” Vortex asks. 

              “Yea, what?” Theo asks. 

              “The crystals will reflect the true heart within, it won't happen overnight but it will happen,” she says as the draks move to a door. “Ok. another puzzle” 

             Xena looks at the door, the runes on it remind her of the ones in the temple with the other three. “It looks like a puzzle dealing with your true self” she touches on the writings. “May the trust hearts find the light, may the heart of love guide your path” she says as her crystal glows brightly. Peppermint’s, Theos, and Vortexes too. The pieces form half hearts in settings as the doors light up. Valraven stands in a white costume as Xena looks at him.

         “Your back?” she asks. “Why, what do you want with me?” 

         “Xena, you're talking to no one,” Peppermint says. 

         “Your beloved will arrive in this world soon, until then I have a personal interest in your adventures in this world.” he disappears into the darkness as the door opens 

         “Ok that was weird, Xena are you ok?” she asks her. 

        “I'm fine” she feels muddled, she feels strange. “Let's go.” They walk into the tunnel, carvings, and designs illuminated by the crystals shimmer. Each is different but somehow the same. The stones react to the party's steps and auras. Xena starts singing softly as they reach the exit. They come out into a massive forest. She sees a pure white raven in one of the trees watching her. could he be the reason I'm in this world?? Or is it just my imagination she wonders to herself it doesn't matter, my beloved Alpha… she chuckles to herself about it. That armor he wears with the fake leather wolf ears and tail on it… I miss you so much, my love. I promise we will find eachother again. They start to make their way thru the forest as Theo starts trotting and smiling. 

         Peppermint flies above them as she watches Vortex walk around. “I hope when we get home our SOs are there waiting for us” 

         “Peep is gonna be so happy to know that I passed my trials,” Vortex says smiling. “Finally” 

         “Same” Theo says. “What will you be doing Xena?” 

         “Exploring with oak, seeing this world and mapping it out more that way when I do see Lycon again we can swap notes” 

          Theo looks at Xena. “You love him don't you, This Lycon,” he says. “He must mean a lot to you” 

           “More than life itself” she smiles. “He's the leader of the “wolf pack ``, a group of people that don't have a place in normal society in our world. So Lycon built one. No fear no discrimination…i love him for that…living not as society says but as he wants.” 

           Peppermint wipes a tear away. “That's so honorable,” she smiles. 

          Xena laughs. “Theo, Vortex.” she says as she sees the exit to the forest. Peppermint smiles as she flys out of the forest. “Yesss….” she sees a flash of light and something in the distance. She will investigate it soon. 

           “Let's make our way back to the village and get some rest. Our adventure is almost over.” she smiles. 

           The draks and Xena make their way into the village as she sees oak and the rest playing and working on their powers. She smiles as she gets off Theo’s back. “Thank you for letting me come with you, my new friends.” 

           Peppermint smiles. “You were a delight to have,” she says smiling. “Come on by the shop as I cock up some new candies” 

          Xena smiles. “Ok let us go” she sees something out of the corner of her eye that oddly looks like a wolf but brushes it off. They walk in as Xena, Theo, and Vortex all have ice cream sundaes to celebrate. 

          “To the next adventure and fun times with new friends” she giggles. 

          “Here here,” Vortex says. “Let's eat” 

          They dig in as they smile. “So what's up next?” 

          “Maybe hang out with Oak and go see the sunken city” 

          “Have a great time with him. I hear the ruins are great”