Hey guys! Here's the chapter! Enjoy reading.

28. FACE TO FACE

The specialist opened their eyes to the bright light and blazing flames after being temporarily blinded by the sparkling intensity of fire. They immediately registered the change around them; the heat was making them sweat and the hot air was hugging their bare skin.

Herodotus, as they have expected, was as fierce and royal as it was in the past vision. "Thank you," her voice echoed which was filled with pure joy and bliss. The winx, however, landed distraught.

"I am very upset that you are devoid of your energy because of me. But I have gained my energy which Mordon has taken away from me. He is as weak as a weed in a heavy rain…if you won't pluck it now, it will be strong by the morning's sun rays. Defeat him now for the sake of our magical dimensions."

She flapped her wings twice, clearing the smoke around them. The serpent, Jormungand, zigzagged his way to them. He wrapped his long body around them, and with a small twinkle from the Phoenix's eyes, they were off, plunging into darkness, into the coldness and back to the slimy liquid filled cave.

"Ugh! Isn't there a special place for the good guys to land? This stinky and slimy and-" Stella's whining was cut off by Jormungand hissing, "Thisss place is my home." The base in his voice made Stella step back and smile nervously. "Oh yes! Slimy and stinky- a little, but it's very…cozy! And very…umm…warm!"

Muffled laughter from the rest followed the hissing. The gigantic snake crawled in the opposite direction. "Follow me and you bugsss ssshall be out of thisss place."

"Bugs!" Exclaimed Musa and was about to prepare another insult but Riven covered her mouth. "We don't want any more trouble. Do we Muse?" he said, his voice surprisingly soft. Musa was too shocked to protest as they weren't Riven's lines at all.

"Look who's talking," Flora teased winking and nudging Bloom, who started giggling. Riven huffed.

…..

After walking along the dimly lit tunnels, they were out. It was surprising to see the difference. Due to the effect of dark energy being drawn back, the island was starting to bloom with life. Green patches covered the farther areas and tiny droplets on the grass blades near them shined like diamonds in the little sunlight that was escaping the purple clouds.

"I must say thank you for helping Herodotus. I wish you good luck and may you be shielded from dark magic," Jormungand said and crawled inside without a backward glance.

"I didn't know the snaky could talk nice," Stella rolled her eyes.

"Come on Stell. He got to maintain that fierce attitude to let people stay out of place without violence," Jane said, smiling. "That's right," Flora nodded.

Techna and Timmy scanned the area again and their smiles broadened. "The black magic dropped down to 20%," Techna high-fived with Timmy, who was clumsy but managed it.

"The sooner we attack, the better," Max said serious.

"That was the killer line dude!" Brandon said standing in fighting stance.

"Well…that's Stella's boyfriend. So, it's normal," Musa smirked.

They climbed up the winding stairs slowly, specialists with their swords drawn ready. They thought that entering his cave like palace would be difficult. It may be heavily guarded. But all they found were large hounds that were shaking their heads which looked like they were trying to wake up from a deep slumber.

"Mordon must have enchanted them and made them act as his slaves. Well, now that they know…" Jane spoke up feeling a little light hearted as there was no need to fight those dangerous animals.

They walked a few more passageways, which were silent and wary except for an occasional bat screeching or an often 'Are we there yet?' from Max and Stella.

There was a loud scream of agony from somewhere above. They rushed there as fast as their legs could carry. There, they saw Mordon; his eyes red and hair gray and lifeless. What shocked them the most was that, he looked a lot older than before.

His eyes found them and he got up to his feet and staggered towards them. "You! What did you do!?" he pointed a finger at them and an invisible force pushed the winx and specialists to the wall behind. They lay there sprawling, heads spinning.

"Did you think I am weaker? I am than before. But I was always powerful! Powerful than you filthy and pathetic creatures!" he said nerves bulging out on his forehead.

"There is only one solution to this," he said as his eyes travelled to Jane. "The power of the crystal," he reached out and Jane was captured in an invisible force, unable to move. "I can't transform!" she shouted.

Max got up and went with his sword held high, but with a swipe from Mordan's hand, he was sent flying back.

"Winx! Time for us to show this guy what we are!" Bloom said as they transformed to their Harmonix form. They surrounded him. Jane was floating, with her arms tight to her sides, at an arms' length distance from Mordon. He placed his hand above her head and she winced.

"Girls," she managed to speak, "It's time."

With an understanding glance between them, Techna took out the three crests and opened them. The keys floated free above Mordon and were moving in circles.

Before Mordon could react, the winx closed their eyes and the keys glowed bright. The pace of them moving increased and a void started to form between them. But before the spell could complete and the gate could open, the winx were exhausted. The void disappeared and the keys were normal again.

"What's wrong?" Sky asked.

"We…we don't know…" Bloom answered tired.

Mordon's laugh, filled with mocking victory, filled the cave. "That's it! That was what you people travelled to those islands and found? Ha! I expected better," he gave a malicious grin.

The invisible force made Jane breathless and she squirmed in his grip. "Let me go!" she said making ice form around her, in hope she could free herself. But that was useless.

"Why isn't this working!" Max cursed. "We did everything they wanted us to do! We proved our love!" he fell to his knees. He couldn't strike Mordon; a barrier guarded him.

"Maybe that's what we are supposed to do now," Flora spoke slowly thinking then raised her head with a smile of hope. "Maybe what we learned in our travel and strengthened during our journey would help us open the gate."

"Love…" they said in unison.

…..

That's it! The next one would be epilogue! The ending!

I am both happy and sad about it. I enjoyed writing this so much!

Love you guys! Thanks for reading.

Have a brilliant day.