"THE PRINCESS & THE QUEEN" series -SCROLL VII: SACRAMENTS FOR SUBSTANTIATION

pt.27

The spirits that resembled Xena and Gabrielle floated around as the real ones stood on a piece of rock that floated in the lava. Gabrielle looked at Xena for a moment as she smiled.

GABRIELLE
Let's hurry up and finish this, it's gotten way too hot in here.

The spirits floated in close as they tried to disparage them once again.

SPIRIT GABRIELLE
You make it sound so simple. But are you truly capable of completing such a feat?

Xena glanced at the spirits for a moment.

XENA
Not to mention that these two are starting to get on my nerves.

Xena then looked at Gabrielle.

XENA
So let's get this done and get out of here so we can head home and finally be done with these stupid tests for good.

GABRIELLE
I couldn't agree with you more.

With that, Gabrielle made a jump to another piece of earth. She landed easily and was about to hop to another when her doppelganger spirit flew in front of her and blocked her path. The spirit began to try taunting her and Xena was ready to speak up but quickly found that her input wasn't needed.

SPIRIT GABRIELLE
Where are you going, Gabrielle? Do you really think that it's safe for you to do this without Xena?

GABRIELLE
Safe? No. But either way, I can still do this.

Gabrielle glanced over at Xena for a moment.

GABRIELLE
But even if I do end up needing a hand that's okay. And I can't think of anyone else in this world that I would rather have holding my hand when I need it than Xena.

XENA
And that's something that I'm more than happy to do anytime.

As Xena said those words she came jumping in and landed on the opposite edge of the rock that Gabrielle was on. And as a result, the piece of earth shifted greatly and sent the side where Gabrielle was standing upwards. As she realized what Xena was doing, Gabrielle pushed off the ground as it rose quickly, amplifying her height and distance as Xena helped launch her skyward. The momentum carried Gabrielle forward to another piece of earth that had several others floating between it and where she had just been launched from. Gabrielle crouched as she landed and gripped the ledge to gain her balance and steady the rock's movements from her landing. She then looked back as she heard the all-familiar battle cry of Xena's ring out as Xena rapidly lept across several pieces of floating earth with the kind of flare that only she could achieve before landing beside Gabrielle. Gabrielle shook her head in mock disapproval as she smirked at her.

GABRIELLE
(Joking) Show off.

Xena brandished a cocky grin as she crouched down.

XENA
(Joking) Show off huh? You ain't seen nothing yet. You ready?

GABRIELLE
For what?

As soon as Gabrielle said those words, she realized that she should've known better as before she knew it she was over Xena's shoulder and they were both flying through the air towards the next piece of rock.