Light spread across the land. It was morning, as it always was in Dragon’s Grove, a plateau past the Gate. The dazzling light was so sudden, that Birdhead’s eyes shrieked, and he had to close them. A blue light sealed the Gate; Melody went over to touch it.

“It’s solid. We can’t get out.” she said with worry.

WELCOME. The voice echoed along the walls with a majestic tone across the plateau.

“Ack!” Birdhead yelped.

NO NEED TO YELL. I AM THE DRAGON LORD, DEKU. WELCOME TO THE TRIAL! I AM GLAD ALL OF YOU ARE HERE! SO HERE, LET ME EXPLAIN EVERYTHING. THERE ARE THREE TRIALS, OF POWER, WISDOM AND COURAGE. EACH REWARDS YOU WITH A COURAGE ORB, WHICH YOU CAN CHUCK INTO THE FIRE FOUNTAIN, AKA THE COURAGE FLAME, THEN A BOSS WILL APPEAR, AND YOU MUST DEFEAT IT. AFTER YOU HAVE FOUGHT ALL BOSSES, I WILL PRESENT YOU THE FIRE.

“Where to start?” Zelda asked.

As though answering Zelda’s question, a wide, stone platform with a large ‘fountain’ of fire sitting on top, rose from the fresh grass. The Mythicals walked slowly towards it, while taking in the once-in-a-lifetime scenery. They stood around the platform, looking at it with interest.

RIGHT, YOU CAN PICK YOUR TRIALS NOW.

Walls of smooth stone arose around the spacious plateau, as four dark cave entrances engraved in the wall revealed themselves. They were each placed on a direction on a compass – North, East, South and West. Narrow paths leading towards the caves formed with small stone pebbles falling like rain from the endless heavens, yet the north cave seemed to be closed and shut off by long, spiky vines.

OH, YEAH, AND DON’T TRY ENTERING MY CAVE WITH THOSE SPIKY VINES, ‘CUZ I DON’T WANT YOU MYTHICIMALS TO DIE.

“Which one first, then?” Zelda asked.

“We should follow Birdhead.” Peachu insisted. “After all, your prophecy mentioned only a phoenix could hold the Fire of Courage.”

“It did? What about Myrtlelana?” Birdhead said quickly.

“I won’t want it, for one,” Myrtlelana sighed. “Besides, Zelda meant for you to the phoenix in our team, because she approached you. I just joined…because I did.”

“Wait, then, why did you choose me, Zelda?”

“Why not? After all, you are or will be the King of all Birds.”

“Well, decide, Birdhead.” Beakfall snapped. “We are losing precious time.”

“Er, okay, um, follow me, then.” Birdhead said hurriedly.

He turned and chose the east path.

The others followed, wings flapping and claws moving, and like this, the Trial of Power begun, with the six moving into the shadow of the cave.

THIS IS THE TRIAL OF POWER. ARE YOU READY? THIS TESTS YOUR STRENGTH AND YOUR CAPABILITY; IT ALSO TESTS HOW MUCH WITS YOU HAVE.

“We are ready,” Birdhead said.

“And he speaks for us all,” Zelda added.

AS YOU SAY.

The entrance sealed with the same blue light, as it had sealed when they entered Dragon’s Grove. Little light was given in the extensive area.

Zip!

“OW!” Zelda yelled, and Birdhead saw it.

The small Ashdragon.

He built up power in his lungs, and with careful aim, whoosh, and a flash of fire shrivelled up the body and it vanished in a puff of purple smoke, like the ordinary Bokoblin death you see.

“I guess that’s how they die,” Peachu said.

Zip!

The hit was obviously meant for Peachu, but she swatted it hard, and it turned into a puff of purple smoke, too.

Zip! Zip! Zip!

All of them missed, and the cave was lit up with a bright spark of light, caused by Myrtlelana, Birdhead and Melody’s fire.

HUH, YOU GUYS ARE GOOD. MAYBE I MADE IT TOO EASY. WAIT, OOPS. UH-OH. PLEASE DEAL WITH IT.

ROOOOOOOOOOAR!

A dark Ashdragon ten times the size of Birdhead formed from the stone ground. Its eyes were red this time, and its scales were pitch black.

“ROOOOOOOOAR!” Melody imitated, attempting to blow fire at it.

“You can’t hurt it, Melody, it’s a Nightmare Ashdragon.” Beakfall said.

“Easy, then, copy me,” Zelda smiled. “LA LA LA LA ROAR BLAH BLAH LA LA LA LA LA!”

“Ow! My ears!” Melody moaned, using her claws to cover them.

“Anti-lullaby, good idea,” Myrtlelana said. “LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA!”

Soon, the whole cave was filled with the ear-splitting sound of the anti-lullaby. “Noooooo,” the Nightmare groaned. “Nup, shut up, shut up…”

The Nightmare groaned and grew smaller and smaller until poof, disappeared into purple smoke, too.

THERE IS SOMETHING CURSED ABOUT YOU GUYS. HOW ARE YOU EVEN DOING THIS?

“We are experienced, Deku.” Birdhead explained sarcastically.

“Nah, I got that anti-lullaby idea from a random scroll I was reading a few days ago, when the prophecy about Ashgle came to me.” Zelda said.

OH, RIGHT. YOU ARE A PROPHET. WELL, THAT CERTAINLY MAKES STUFF A LOT HARDER. WELL, APPARENTLY SPHINXES HAVE THE ABILITY TO BLOCK THEMSELVES AWAY FROM FUTURES OTHERS SEE. GOOD LUCK!

“Huh?” Melody asked.

A streak light appeared in the middle of the cave, and slowly, a sphinx floated down from magically from the top, as if there was no roof. It was impossible to tell how she came, because the light was so blinding at the top it could blind an eagle completely.

The sphinx lifted a paw. She had orange hair and yellow skin, with a body shaped like a lion’s, head too, except a bit more human-like. Large white wings spread on the sides of her body, and a tail of fire curved into the shape of an ‘S’. Her eyes were turquoise of colour, and she wore a warm smile.

“Hello, I am a sphinx, by the name of Lionessfire,” she greeted. “I will give you riddles. Three answered correctly in a row, or one complex answered correctly, and you will receive a Courage Orb.

The Mythicals nodded.

“I am the highest castle, I am shorter than the sky, and I was set on the ground by nature, yet I do not grow.”

“Well, it’s definitely NOT a tree,” Melody said.

“The ocean? No, it’s not the highest castle, which the highest castle I assume is Ashgle’s castle.” Peachu noted.

“Ashgle doesn’t really have a castle, it’s more a mountain.” Melody snorted. “It IS a mountain, anyway. The ‘castle.’”

“You just said the answer, Melody. Mountain, Lionessfire?” Birdhead asked.

“Correct.”

“I destroy everything in my way. Buildings, weather, history. I cannot be seen, and I am worth gold, in a saying.”

“Yiiikes,” Myrtlelana said.

“Why don’t I let you mythicimals figure this out yourself? I know what it is already.” Beakfall yawned.

“What is it? Be nice, Beaky.” Zelda snapped.

Beakfall yawned.

“Fine.” Zelda groaned.

“Okay, now let’s start with the easiest clue. What, in our saying, is worth gold?” Peachu started.

“I dunno. Gold?” Zelda answered, shrugging.

“Life? No, that’s worth much more.” Melody groaned.

“It destroys history, so, since that’s back in time, that means we’ll need a time machine. So it’s something related to a one, but since they don’t exist that can’t the answer,” Myrtlelana tried.

“So, we can split the word ‘time machine’ into two, does time work? Hey… wait, it might be the answer! Machine? No, a candy machine can’t destroy history, sooo…” Peachu continued.

“TIME!” Birdhead yelled.

“Correct, next riddle.”

“My wings are weak from birth, strong in adulthood. My tail curved and my claws powerful. Fire rests in my heart, yet it can be set and turned to Ash. My fear is not fire, water, lightning or winds, but the dark one that rises every ten thousand years.”

“Who’s the dark one?”  Melody asked.

“Ashgle, duh,” Peachu replied. “But I never knew he revived every 10,000 years. That’s kinda creepy.”

“Well, that’s a bit of a useless clue, not to mention everyone fears Ashgle.” Birdhead pointed out.

“Is it a phoenix?” Zelda asked. “Birdhead?”

“Reasonable, since phoenixes metaphorically have a fire in their heart, weak wings at birth, and because the Ashgle was once a phoenix, yeah, I guess so. So, phoenix?”

“No. Incorrect.”

“WHAT?”  the Mythicals (except Beakfall) yelled in disbelief.

“I was just about to say, that phoenixes don’t have a curved tail,” Beakfall interrupted. “I was going to suggest dragon.”

“Well, that’s correct,” Lionessfire revealed. “Dragon is the answer, as they can be enslaved and turned to Ash by the Ashgle. Re-count, now you need to get three more correct, but I want to test you something hard.”

‘Destruction and war; evil and ruins.

No tread of light, no trail of hope.

An age of not anger, an age of not malice,

But the Incarnation of Hatred.

When it begins, the thunder and ash

Will strike the realm

And the fire will turn from light to shadow.

Thus, the age of calamity begins.’

“That’s a prophecy, but I’ve never heard of it,” Zelda said.

“The Prophecy of Shadow, which will happen if you unsuccessfully destroy Ashgle. Now, the question is: Which tribe founded this prophecy?”

“Now that IS hard,” Birdhead muttered. “Any clues?”

“Well, Lord Deku mentioned it to you,” Lionessfire replied.

Beakfall pointed at Lionessfire and winked at Birdhead.

“What? Lionessfire? Wait, do you mean,” Birdhead stopped.

“Sphinxes!” Peachu yelled. “With the power to block themselves from futures others see!”

I SHOULDN’T HAVE TOLD YOU THAT.

“Correct,” Lionessfire said. “You have a smart hippogriff.”

She held her right paw in front of her, and a small sphere of light orange energy formed.

THERE YOU GO, YOUR FIRST COURAGE ORB. THROW IT AT THE FIRE FOUNTAIN AND MEET YOUR FIRST BOSS.

“Another thing,” Lionessfire added, “As a reward to completing the hardest mode, or level, I will join your team.”

Birdhead took the glowing orb, and the team turned to the sealed doorway.

The blue light blocking the entrance of the cave faded away, and the Mythicals joyfully walked out. They retraced their steps to the Fire Fountain, the Courage Flame. Birdhead stepped up to the fire.

And unleashed the boss of Flames.

A fiery dragon with glowing green eyes emerged from the fountain. “I AM AN INCARNATION OF POWER, AND THE DRAGON LORD, DEKU, THE FIRE WING. FACE ME! NO FIRE SHALL HURT ME.”

The Fire Wing quickly leapt into action swiping his claw quickly and little firebolts charged at Birdhead. Melody flew to Birdhead and used her fire to destroy the bolts. The Mythicals immediately scattered around the Fire Wing. Beakfall flew into the air and charged at the dragon, blowing his wings until the dragon’s fire was temporarily out. He quickly clawed the Wing’s throat, and backed away as he regained his fire.

Outraged, the Fire Wing inhaled and blew out powerful flames. Myrtlelana leapt into action, holding out her wing and creating a magical shield which seemed to come from the curious diamond on her forehead. In a heartbeat, the Fire Wing swiped his tail up for another attack, with tiny projectiles flying towards Zelda. She reacted swiftly, swiping her wings quickly to create a gust of wind to deflect them. The dragon yelped and used his wing as defence.

Lionessfire focused on the Wing and used a mystical ball of light to aim at her. A light beam shot from the orb, and it hit the dragon in the chest, draining his fire until there was no more. Birdhead lifted himself and claws first, landed on the Fire Wing and clawing him hard, and with each team members power, either wind, fire or simply their own strength, they made it the last of the Wing, Incarnation of the Dragon Lord, Deku.