Tetra- Sorry, the Red Chaos Mage is busy, so I was given the job of disclaimer duty while he's away. He doesn't own Zelda, the other recognizable video game concepts, or anything else of value to the big name people. Enjoy the next part of the story.

Chapter 7

The Trials of the Chaos Mage

"Lance, that was not called for and you know it." Graham scolded as he helped Hugh off the floor.

"Hey, he asked how we opened Anri's, I showed him."

"I can see that, but you didn't need to throw him into the statue. You're both hurt, and that did little to help you!"

"Actually…" a new voice called their attention. Floating next to an elated Anri was her freed brother "Anri and I both have healing powers. We can patch you up as our thanks." The yellow fairy flew over to Hugh and started chanting softly. Anri followed suit on Lance. The two swordsmen immediately began feeling better, their wounds healing. "There. All done."

Hugh flexed his shoulder, thankful that the cramp there was finally gone. "Nice job, kid."

"Thanks. I like to practice magic, so helping you helps me learn." The fairy gave Anri a confused look as she tapped his shoulder.

"Aren't you forgetting something? You know, like those manners Master has been trying to teach you?"

His yellow glow took a more orange tint as the fairy blushed furiously. "Oh man, I totally forgot. My name is Solaris, but my friends call me Sol."

"You have friends?" Anri giggled with a wink. Lance couldn't help laughing.

"Oh, ha, ha. Very funny… Hey… Where is Master, anyway?"

Anri's red glow paled fast as she realized the only place he could be. "Oh no… the Shrine! We have to hurry!" She began to race toward the door, but Sol flew in front of her.

"Wait. I might be able to use the teleportation spell Master taught me to bring us right to him." Before Anri could finish objecting, the younger fairy cast the spell. The room seemed to shimmer, then everything vanished. Opening their eyes again, the group found themselves deeper in the temple, but not exactly where they wanted. "Uh… oops."

"Solaris, you dolt!" A grunt of surprise came from the large, imposing figure on the other side of the room. "This is where we sealed the Fire Knight!"

Lance and Hugh readied their weapons, knowing a fight was imminent. The enemy stood about eight feet high, boasted heavy-duty armor, and wielded a large, flaming sword in its oversized fist. "Hey Hugh… First one to beat it gets a pint from the loser. Deal?"

"You're on." The pair share a sideways smirk, then charge the oncoming swordsman. Lance had the bad luck of approaching from the side with the weapon, which he quickly resented as the blade knocked him a good ten feet away, the sword's flames licking at his cloak. Hugh, on the other hand, managed to strike a blow. "Oh give me a break!" His sword bounced harmlessly off of the thick shielding and, to his horror, out of his hand.

"Hugh!" Lance lifted himself off of the floor just in time to see his rival backhanded into the wall. 'Argh… if Hugh's sword can't scratch that thing, neither can mine… Great…' Breaking into a run, Lance leapt to the wall, kicked off it and bounced hard off of the soldier's helmet. To his surprise, the action spun the helmet around so that the visor was facing the wrong way. "Cool! He can't see!"

"Not so fast, pretty boy!" Hugh reclaimed his weapon and thrust it into the leather straps on the armor's back. As predicted, the pieces clattered to the floor, unable to stay in place without the bindings. "Let's try this again, shall we?" Hugh performed a backward flip, launched off of the wall behind him and made a neat upward slash. At the same time, Lance rebounded off of the opposite wall, using a downward slash. The blows landed together, converging into one. With a cry of rage, the Fire Knight sent them both flying with a final slash of his sword before splitting in half. Like every other demon before it, the pieces evaporated. Shaking his head to clear the haze, Hugh dusted himself off and pulled Lance to his feet.

"Check."

"Mate." The pair clasped arms, aware of how their teamwork had done the job quickly. "Why don't we call that a draw?"

"Works for me."

Graham emerged from an alcove on the far side of the room. In his arms were a shining metal shield and a pair of grappling hooks. "Look what our friend had stashed away in the back."

Hugh looked with interest at the merchandise. "Lance, why don't you take the shield. You always were better with defensive skills."

The blonde's eyes widened. "Am I hearing this? Hugh Connor conceding that he's not the best at everything? Who are you, and what have you done with the real Hugh?"

Laughing, Hugh socked him over the head. "Alright, blondie, you want the truth? You need it so I don't school you with my offensive mastery."

"Now that's more like it! And your sword skills aren't the only things offensive here. What the hell did you eat?!" Grabbing the shield from his amused teacher, Lance blocked Hugh's backhand, laughing as the attacker winced from the blow. "Hey Sol, wanna give it another shot?"

The yellow fairy brightened. "It'll be my pleasure."

"Focus carefully this time." Anri chided. Again the room shimmered, and the group found themselves in front of a large stone door. "Wow, you did it!" The fairies flew up to the door, which seemed to open as if sensing their presence.

The room before them was the deepest chamber in the temple. In the center stood a figure in a fiery red robe facing away from them. Beyond him hovered a monstrosity neither Lance, Hugh, nor even Graham could believe. Another knight, clad in fearsome blue spiked armor, riding what appeared to be a skeletal dragon, was directing a stream of black flame at the hooded figure. "Give it up, Mage. You cannot hope to protect the Seal forever!"

The mage continued to block the attack with a fire stream of his own. "Perhaps, but should I fail…" He glanced over his shoulder and caught sight of Lance and the glowing pendant around his neck. "The Chosen Ones shall succeed in our stead!" The defensive red flame seemed to fizzle, and the mage took the hit hard on his left side.

"Master!!!" the two fairies raced to the mage's side, Anri immediately starting to heal him, Sol using his magic to teleport them out of the room.

As he watched the red form shimmer out of sight, Graham realized who the figure had to be. His sense of duty raising in him, he drew his sword and stepped forward. "Come on, boys. We have found our target."

The knight laughed as he finally noticed the old man. "You? You're the one the Gods sent to protect the shards?" He raised his hand, revealing a sparkling red gem. "You are too late. The Element of Fire is as good as destroyed! There is no time for games… Begone!" The dragon opened its jaws again and spewed forth another jet of black flame.

"No!" Lance and Hugh watched in horror as their master, mentor, and friend was struck with the full force of the attack, flying into the wall engulfed in dark flames. Thoroughly enraged by the sight, the pair charged forward.

"Hm? More pests? Fine then, if you wish to die as well…" The knight's taunt fell on deaf ears as Hugh grabbed Lance's arm and flung him up towards the hovering menace. "Dark Flame!" The dragon again opened its gaping jaws and expelled the flame, but Lance's shield, conveniently held in front of him as he flew, deflected the blast.

"Take this!" Lance's swipe cut the dragon's head clean off, but as he landed, Hugh's gasp of shock told him something wasn't right. Looking up, he saw the detached head floating around briefly before reattaching itself to its body. "Aw, that's just wrong!"

"That's disgusting…" Hugh agreed.

The knight laughed maniacally, blasting the two with lightning from the blood red lance in his hand. "You fools! You can't kill my Dragon Zombie! As long as I control its power, it can never die!"

Hugh's eyes lit up as he heard that. "Lance! I have an idea! Distract the dragon for me!" With a brief questioning look, Lance charged the flying beast, which had dropped altitude in order to try eating the warriors. The burns from the knight's lightning attack stung like hell, but he trusted Hugh's judgment enough to let him try his idea. As he led the dragon to the left, Hugh aimed and threw a grappling hook at the knight.

"What?!" The knight exclaimed as the hook latched onto his jagged armor. "What do you think you're doing, boy?!"

"Simple!" Hugh pulled hard on the rope, sending the rider crashing to the ground. "I'm fishing! Hey Lance!"

Skidding to a halt, the blonde warrior somersaulted under the dragon's gaping jaws, racing towards the fallen rider. "Ready Hugh?"

"Hell yeah!" The pair closed in on the dazed Dragon Knight, and with charging slashes, cut him to pieces.

"ARGH!!! Impossible! Me… beaten by… by CHILDREN?!" The knight's legs exploded into a red smoke cloud. "You haven't won anything! Even though I failed, Chaos will rise again!" The midsection went up, leaving only the torso. "You will all die!"

"Hey, helmet head." Lance thrust his sword into the center of the helmet, causing it to go up in smoke like the rest of the beast. "Shut the hell up." Looking at the dragon, Lance started to feel sick. Without the knight to keep it alive, the dragon was decomposing fast. "Oh come on, cut us some freakin' slack here!" The skeletal remains clattered to the floor, where they too evaporated.

Hugh reached down and picked up the glowing red crystal. "Well… we have one shard…" A groan snapped him and Lance back to the tragic fate of Graham. "Master!"

They ran over to him, Lance lifting him into a sort of sitting position. "Lance… Hugh… You have done well, my sons…" He coughed up some blood as he spoke. "I… am sorry… I was too old for this… I will die soon, and you will have to face your destiny… without me…"

"No Master, don't. Save your strength. We'll find the fairies, they can heal you."

Hugh put a hand on Lance's shoulder. "Lance, I'm not sure he wants to be saved…"

Nodding at Hugh's comment, Graham weakly presented his treasured sword to Lance. "Your blade is damaged…" Confused, Lance looked at the sword he left on the ground where the Dragon Knight fell, noticing the burns and rust caused by the corrosive blood of the dragon. "My sword was forged in the continent to the east. The dwarves of Gohdan… they perfect the metal so that only the most powerful of magic can break them… please take care… of it…" Coughing again, he laid his eyes on the pendant Lance wore. A satisfied smile crossed his face as he relaxed. "Fare… well… Heroes…" The swordsman's last breath escaped him, and he lay back, lifeless.

"Your friend was an honorable man." Whirling around, the pair came face to face with the mage, Anri and Sol floating by his shoulders. "Do not fear, I will make sure he is buried with the greatest dignity and respect this region has to offer."

Lance cautiously stepped forward. "Who are you?"

The figure smiled. "I am the Chaos Mage of Fire. I was charged by the Gods to protect the shrine where the essence of fire slept for so many centuries… though it seems my power is not enough… You must secure the remaining temples where my four brothers reside. They will surely aid you.

"As for me, you have proven yourselves to be quite the admirable swordsmen. You already know that the jewel you hold contains the power of fire within it. I can help you harness that element."

Hugh looked at the gem in his hand. "Harness the Chaos Element of Fire? How?"

The Red Chaos Mage took the crystal from Hugh, the shining gem glowing brighter in his hand. "The powers the element bestows vary from user to user, but in your case, it will come in the form of sword maneuvers that command the chaos power of flame. Chaos Control Techniques, if you will."

Lance held his sword out for the mage. "Please, teach us."

Laughing, the mage pushed the sword back. "That is not necessary. All that is required is this…" The wizard lay his palm on the warrior's forehead, and the boy's eyes flashed red. He could feel the information rushing into his brain, and he knew exactly what to do in order to use the power. "Now, Lance. Try it."

Stepping back, Lance focused his energy into the blade at his side. He then brought the sword up in a grand upward arc. As the arc grew, fire enveloped the blade and rose a good five feet above the tip of the blade, as if the flames were flung upwards by the attack. "Cool."

"That technique is called the Flare Blade. The Chaos energy channels into your sword and blazes forth in the upward angle you just witnessed." Turning to Hugh, he lay his hand on the warrior's head again, and the transfer was complete. "Now you."

Hugh also stepped back, holding his sword out behind him. After focusing for a moment, he spun forward, creating a ring of fire around him. "Impressive."

"For obvious reasons, that move is called the Fire Spin. The energy extends in a similar fashion as the Flare Blade's, but this technique can have a more damaging range. Either maneuver has the capability of providing you with an aerial boost if you use them in midair."

"Huh?"

Sol laughed, "Think of it as a sort of double-jump."

Putting away their weapons, both warriors bowed respectfully to the Chaos Mage. "Here." He said to Lance, "The Fire Shard. You will need it later." As Lance touched it, both the crystal and his amulet glowed brightly. With a flash, the gem vanished. "Hmm… I see…"

"What? Where'd it…?"

The mage grasped the medallion, gently fingering where the red crystal shard now rested. "You have the Dragon Pendant… Every shard you collect will be kept in its magic ring until the prophecy comes to pass… It will also provide the Chaos energy you will need to execute the Control techniques."

Lifting his eyes from the charm, Lance smiled. "Thank you so much for all you have taught us. We will always remember…"

Anri floated over to the pendant. "One more thing." Closing her eyes, she started to chant softly, her red glow intensifying. With a flash, she cast a spell on the medallion, the dragon inscribed on it shifting to show a pair of magnificent wings. "There. Now you will be able to read all of the ancient scriptures on the temple walls. It'll even work in Gohdan and Makai."

Seemingly satisfied, the mage raised his hand to the boys. "You have remained here for too long, young heroes. You must now depart and seek out my brothers. I believe the nearest temple is the Ice Tower in the northeast, far beyond the mountains. The Chaos Mage of Weather should be waiting there. Now, I shall bring you back to town." As the mage's hand began to glow, a vortex opened beneath the boys, quickly pulling them in. Next thing they knew, they were in the dirt in front of Lance's house. As the portal closed, they heard the voice of the Red Chaos Mage echoing through to them. "Seek out the elf called Elric. He will guide you and another destined through the Jarai forest. I bid thee, good knights, farewell."

End Chapter 7

Sol- Those two were fun to hang around with.

Anri- Yes, they were. Master, how long until they meet up with Link?

RCM- They will cross paths in two chapters. In the meantime, we will clean up the mess that Dragon Knight left in the Crystal Shrine and have Graham buried like we promised.

Sol- Okay. We hope you enjoyed our adventure in the temple.

Anri- If you readers would be so kind, please review on your way out. We would appreciate it very much.

RCM- Until next update, farewell.