Legend had it that there was a mysterious challenge set only for the greatest adventurers of all time. “Milky” Antonio, rumored to be the father of ice cream, had set a challenge for the most daring explorers.
Many years ago, he had gone to settle in the Antarctic; he is likely wasn’t even alive. But the myths say that the first team to locate Antonio will be granted the keys to the kingdom- said to be a magical world beyond all others.
Ayaan and Aayra were tired after a month of exploring, and decided to take on this challenge for fun. They had no idea that the challenge might actually be true, but instead focused more on the thrill than the outcome.
“I hope you’ve packed the supplies we need.” said Ayaan, one Saturday morning. Aayra nodded her head. “Good. We’re all set to leave early tomorrow.”
“Have you booked our flight tickets?” questioned Aayra, referring to their ticket to Antarctica, at which Ayaan smiled and replied, “Don’t worry, Aayra. I have an even better idea.”
His “better idea” was revealed the next morning, when he uncovered Santa’s sleigh. A very powerful artifact, it seemed the perfect way to scale the planet towards Antarctica; it was controlled by magical forces.
A month or two ago, The Adventurers: the name of this deadly duo, had uncovered the legend of Santa himself, and had saved his secret from being revealed to the outer world, not to mention helped him retrieve his sleigh. As such, Santa had been very grateful and gifted them the sleigh as a present.
Now seemed like the perfect time to test the sleigh out.
The Adventurers decided to leave at the crack of dawn, so that they may evade anybody scaling the skies for mysterious objects. The sleigh was pulled by a swift team of reindeer, who could cross the United States within a mere hour.
Zoom! The sleigh took off as Ayaan and Aayra sat in it. Before long, it had vanished in the deep fog, and protected by a layer of clouds on all areas. Ayaan breathed a sigh of relief.
“That’s nice to hear.” said Ayaan. “I was worried someone might spot us.”
As such, two people had spotted them, and they were the wrong pair. Mack and Vik were the evil explorers, and despised the Adventurers. It had been them who had stolen the sleigh, and planned to reveal Santa to the world.
“So, they must have taken on the challenge.” said Mack. “Destined for failure.”
“They must be on that sleigh they stole from us.” said Vik, sneering. “That sleigh is ours, and ours only. We can’t let them get one over us, Mack.”
Mack smiled viciously. “Time to get our sleigh back. And beat The Adventurers in this stupid challenge as well.”
As night began to fall, Ayaan and Aayra decided to stop at Argentina. They checked in at the Premium Hotel, and nodded off within minutes.
The sleigh had been parked near the hotel, and concealed within an abandoned garage. However, Mack and Vik, who had been travelling by plane, had caught up with the Adventurers.
“They’re asleep.” said Vik. “Which means the sleigh has to be somewhere nearby.”
They hunted near and far for the sleigh, before coming across the garage. Mack lifted the ancient doors, allowing Vik to sneak in, and turn on her flashlight.
The flashlight revealed two beady eyes of reindeer. Taken aback, Vik slowly took a foot backwards but was noticed by the animal. Santa’s armada had not taken kindly to Mack and Vik after they had lorded it over them last Christmas.
With an angry bray, the reindeer charged. Vik dropped the flashlight, and ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Mack followed her lead, as the duo flew with both arms over their heads and fearing for their lives.
Unbeknownst to them, the Adventurers had watched this scene unfold before their very eyes. Ayaan was pleased to know they had been driven away.
“Serves them right, left, and center, for trying to steal the sleigh.” said Ayaan, with a smile.
“I don’t know.” said Aayra, with uncertainty. “Now that Mack and Vik are after the challenge as well, we’re going to have to watch our backs. I really don’t like those two.”
“Neither do I.” said Ayaan, narrowing his eyes. He had no fondness for Mack and Vik, not because of their rivalry, but also because of their character. While Ayaan and Aayra were good people, with kind hearts and a pure personality, Mack and Vik were cruel, arrogant, and downright sly, especially when they put their mind to it.
No more drama occurred that night, as both Mack and Vik kept a good distance between themselves and the reindeer. But now, Vik was even more determined to beat the Adventurers in the challenge, seeing that she could no longer get the sleigh.
The next morning, The Adventurers woke up early and after breakfast, silently retreated to the garage, and removed the sleigh. Mack and Vik were witnessing this with a pair of binoculars.
“Our plane doesn’t leave till noon.” she growled. “They’re going to have a head-start.”
“Cool it, Vik.” said Mack. “Even the Adventurers can’t brave the Antarctic.”
The journey was characterized by the icy cold weather, and the frosty wind that blew by them. Aayra shivered and put on a thick coat she had brought.
“We’re nearing Antarctica.” said Ayaan, pulling the reins, as the reindeer brayed, and began to move downwards.
“That’s just the problem.” said Aayra, anxiously. “Antarctica’s huge. How are we supposed to find Antonio?”
“The challenge mentioned that he was in a cave-like area.” said Ayaan. “While you were packing, I did my homework. I have a good guess as to where exactly Antarctica is.”
On reaching the icy floor of Antarctica, the Adventurers set up camp. Other than Ayaan’s watch, which had frost all over it, Antarctica’s regime on endless days made it difficult to know the time.
All the same, the duo dozed off inside their thickly insulated tent for a few hours. By that time, Mack and Vik had also reached Antarctica.
Because they had left on short notice, they had forgotten quite a few things. Mack had forgotten his winter jacket; they were short on supply and on a ration of food as well. As Vik bent down to strap the tent, a mighty wind lifted them off their feet, as the tent came undone.
“Blast this chilly weather!” she cried, in anger and frustration. “I’m just about finished with Antarctica.” But she cooled down after a while, and set up the tent along with Mack.
Mack had no watch whatsoever, and completely in the dark about the date, time, or anything, rested his head inside the tent and nodded off. How long he and Vik were out cold was a mystery, but when they woke up, the weather was not quite as fierce as it had been.
“Wake up, sleepyhead.” said Mack, gently shaking Vik. “We need to move out before that wind comes back.”
Vik got to her feet, as they packed the tent, and continued their journey. Meanwhile, the organized, well-prepared, Adventurers had faced few obstacles on their endeavor.
The greatest challenge was the indigenous population of Antarctica. Penguins. Attracted by the light emitted from the tent, they had attempted to break in. Ayaan and Aayra had been trapped within the tent for hours at end, as the penguins continued attempts to get inside.
On top of that, it was tough to find a spot without them nearby. And as the Adventurers soon found out, penguins do not like it when someone disturbs their sleep. They had almost taken over the tent, annoyed the reindeers, and made a mess of the supplies.
But the worst incident came when the Adventurers tried to get on the sleigh after packing their tent. The penguins got up, and clearly upset, began to chase Ayaan and Aayra. The sleigh took a while to reach top speed, and the Adventurers were the victims of a rapid pursuit by the penguins.
As the sleigh took to the skies, the penguins ingeniously made a tower of their own kind, allowing the topmost penguin to jump into the sleigh. Ayaan and Aayra were immediately confronted with an angry penguin, who proceeded to attack them with its flippers.
How they ever got the penguin off the sleigh was a mystery to the duo. But a few days into this drama, they neared many tall mountains.
“We’re close to the caves.” said Ayaan. “I can feel it in the air. According to the map, this range is the only thing between us and Antonio, who should be at the other side.
But navigating precarious peaks was a perilous task, as the Adventurers were soon to find out. At one point, several boulders began to tumble, resulting in an avalanche-like event that forced the reindeers into taking evasive action.
Prancer had been wounded by one of the rocks on his left hoof, but Aayra, who was great at providing first-aid, provided treatment to the injured reindeer, and within an hour, they continued. When the sleigh passed the last of the range, the Adventurers could make out the caves towards the horizon.
But when they neared the caves, the reindeer brayed and refused to continue. Several of the reindeer were scared stiff by the darkness, as both Ayaan and Aayra got off, and decided to continue by foot.
“Now you take shelter.” said Ayaan, to the reindeer, as they nodded their heads in agreement. “And if Mack and Vik try to get you, shoo them off like you did.”
The reindeer gave a mighty bray at this, and Ayaan, satisfied, switched his flashlight on, as he and Aayra walked into the caves.
“It really is dark in here.” said Aayra, a few minutes in. Other than the flashlight, there was no source of light.
“We should hurry.” said Ayaan. “This torch won’t work forever.”
“Haven’t you brought a back-up for emergencies then?”
Ayaan chuckled. “Of course I have, but even the back-up isn’t permanent. We need to scale these caves as quickly as possible.”
After about an hour of walking, the flashlight flickered and the light went off. The Adventurers were plunged into complete darkness, as Ayaan rummaged around his supply kit to reach the back-up.
His hands soon brushed upon the torch, and he pulled it up, flashing it on. They continued the journey.
After a while, Aayra spotted a light coming from nearby, and sensed that the exit was near. She excitedly pointed towards it, while Ayaan nodded, and walked forward.
The Adventurers were greeted by a massive fortress at the end of the tunnel. Covered in icicles, with a snowy rooftop, this seemed to me the residence of Antonio himself. They had done it. They had won the challenge.
The icy gates swung open, as the duo walked in. Inside they were greeted by a beaming old man, glad that after so many decades, the Challenge had been completed.
“Come, Adventurers.” said Antonio. “You have won my great challenge, and so you shall be rewarded with my greatest creation yet. A magical realm beyond all others. Ice Cream Land.”
Bursting with excitement, they followed “Milky” Antonio inside the ice fortress. It was a beautiful sight, with snow-covered walls, and furniture built entirely of ice.
Antonio presented the duo with a golden key, gesturing to a doorway to their right. They pushed the door opening, walking into another realm completely.
The ground had disappeared, and was now in a liquid-like color. They could see an iron door a little distance away, likely the door to the Ice Cream Land.
But as they walked towards the door, they heard a noise from behind. Turning around, they were greeted by a rather unwelcoming sight. Mack and Vik stood right in front of them.
“Give us the keys, Adventurers.” snarled Vik.
“In your dreams.” said Aayra, firmly.
The Evil Explorers lunged for the keys, bringing both Ayaan and Aayra down in a flourish. Ayaan struggled against Mack, who was trying to pull the key away from him.
But just then, there was a magical explosion, and a huge wave of milk appeared from thin air. Aayra and Ayaan, delighted with this turn of events, began to surf their way towards the door, while Mack and Vik, terrible swimmers, struggled to stay afloat.
They were pulled inside the massive wave, as Ayaan and Aayra reached the door, and entered the key. The key fit, and the door swung open.
By now, the wave had disappeared, and Mack and Vik got to their feet. But they had been beaten fair and square, for the Adventurers had reached Ice Cream Land first.
Ice Cream Land was a huge world on infinite ice cream. With delicious delights of all flavors, the Adventurers happily decided to spend their holiday inside it. They spent their days swimming in pools of ice cream, having a ball all along.
On the last day of their holiday in Ice Cream Land, “Milky” Antonio came to visit them. He told them, much to their surprise, that he had himself conjured the wave and created Ice Cream Land with his magic.
Antonio revealed himself to be a wizard in disguise, and promised to come to the Adventurers’ aid when they needed him. Ayaan and Aayra graciously thanked the wizard, and promising to return, began their journey back home.
