RCM- I had a comment to make about something… but I can't remember what exactly.

Sol- (bouncing rampantly about the room) Wheeeeee!

Anri- Master, he downed the candy we got from UltimateTH! There's none left!

RCM- Are you serious? (turns to sugar-high fairy) This should do it… Hinder!

Sol- (gets wrapped in energy web, falling to the floor) Eep! Hey! Lemme goooooooooo!

Anri- Hee hee. That works. So, are we ready?

RCM- Yeah, let's get this started. I have a few announcements before we begin. First of all, this is the long-awaited chapter where the Dark Mages appear. Second, there is going to be a major twist in the plot, which I am going to convey with a cliffhanger. To further increase the torture of said cliffhanger, I will not be making any Author's notes at the chapter's end.

Anri- (sigh) That's right, it happens here, doesn't it…

Sol- (calming down) You mean… oh boy…

Anri- Red Chaos Mage does not own any of the copyrighted material present in this story.

RCM- Hehhehhehheh… and so it begins… You're all really gonna hate me for this… (snickers evilly, snaps fingers, and vanishes in a burst of flame)

Chapter 27

Sacrifice

The final chamber was very spacious, seemingly perfect for an aerial battle. However, since it was the temple of the Earth element, none of the Protectors expected that kind of a fight. The roar from above shocked them to no end. "The hell?! If this is the Earth Temple, why is that thing flying?!"

The creature Shadow referred to landed before them, its link to the Earth element growing more apparent. The main body seemed like an enormous, round boulder, with stony limbs extending from its sides. Its head, though somewhat streamlined, was roughly shaped in the form of a dragon's. With another roar, it extended a pair of large, sandy wings in an attempt to intimidate the group.

The attempt failed. "You blasted wretch! You dare defile my people's most sacred place?! Shock Wave!!!"

Flying unhurt over the attack, the stone dragon made Sol's words clear. "If we're going to beat this thing, we'll have to take it out of the air! Who can clip this thing's wings?"

Remembering how they handled the last dragon, Tikal cast Hinder on the monster. Though the spell struck dead on, the beast quickly broke free. "Alright... let's try something else..." Her Tidal Surge had a much more positive effect, washing away the sand making up the creature's wings. Without a means to stay airborne, the Dragon Golem crashed down hard.

"Alright, next is the limbs!" With a powerful slice, Hugh struck the rock-hard arm with his sword, only getting thrown back for his trouble. "Damn... that didn't work..."

"What was it you said about exploiting weaknesses?" Lance asked while launching a Flare Blade.

"Shut up." Lance wasn't paying attention, since his fire hadn't affected the golem at all. "See if Water works. It did wipe out the wings."

"Allow me." The elfin mage sent forth an intense Blizzard blast, but it had no effect. The creature had withdrawn itself into its boulder-like center, making itself a shielded sphere of stone. "Hey! That's not fair!"

Before anyone could respond, the rock began to roll forward quickly, clearly trying to run them over. "Heads up!" Link pulled out a bomb and tossed it in the beast's path. At first, the explosion only appeared to pop the golem into the air, but its crash landing jarred the shell enough to daze the creature into revealing itself. "Yes! Try again Tikal!"

The Blizzard bore down hard on the golem, but the force didn't do much before the defenses returned. Shadow growled before leaping over the rolling attack. "Alright, we tried Fire and Water, so that just leaves..."

To everyone's surprise, Shadow twisted his body and launched a Twin Dream attack in midair, the energy specter charging downward toward the stone reptile. The impact caused an explosion, sending the creature higher than Link's bomb had. Unfurling itself, the golem lay stunned on its back, virtually helpless. "Whoa..."

"He's all yours." Five Swift Arrows soared at Shadow's words, pinning the Dragon Golem in place. Though it was able to withdraw its head, the projectiles held its limbs and tail in vulnerable positions.

Lance leapt onto the stone carapace, a whirlwind wrapping around him. "This ends here." Crushing the five holdings with his Hurricane Blade, he seemed to hover in the air for a moment before coming down hard, sword first. The intense pain felt by the creature brought its head roaring out again, right into the falling weapon.

"Whoa..." With a number of anguished shrieks, the beast weakly withdrew again and began to roll around aimlessly. After a short while, it stopped, and rays of white light began erupting from the cracking stone ball. Finally, the sphere detonated, sending fragments in every direction in a spectacular display of flame. The white elemental shard dropped to the floor from the center of the blast.

A cyclone of dust and leaves erupted a few feet away, quickly fading to reveal a mage robed in green. "Excellent work. The Dragon Golem has fallen, and you've earned the shard it stole." Lifting the gem-like crest from the crystal, he infused it into Link. "It is time. Your second new power awaits..."

Like before, Link found himself in a realm of clouds. Looking to his ring, he saw the emerald was glowing a cool green. "Young Link, my chosen one... With your fourth Chaos Element, you have unlocked the power of my spell: Farore's Wind." The ring flashed, and Link found himself instantaneously in another section of clouds. "The effects of this power are unique to you, Hero of Winds. Unlike the dungeon warp points of the Hero of Time, or the transportation it granted to Zelda, it will grant you short-range, instant teleportation. With it, you could confuse your foes by warping to various parts of the room during battle, allowing you to strike while they wonder where you've gone. However, you must be careful where you aim. If you try to warp to a point where you cannot appear, such as inside of a wall, you will be sent back to the point where you used the spell." Absorbing all of that, Link nodded, warping himself back to the section of clouds where he started. "There is not much time, I must send you back quickly. Do not lose faith from the events that are about to occur... May your courage guide you, my child..."

Returning to the others, Link discovered that all but Rand had received their new powers. He and the others watched with interest as the mage lifted the Crest of Earth from the shard. "May Earth and Fire intertwine... within the Destined of the Mines." The Crest of Fire rose from within Rand, melding with his clan's symbol. As his power grew, the shape of a white gem glowed brightly on the back of his hand.

"Grand Volcanon!" Red and brown energies converged on his axe, which he slammed to the floor. Like Shadow's Quake Blaze, a pillar of fire arose on impact, but six fissures also spread in a perfect hexagon around him as well. Through these cracks erupted even more rocks and flame, showing a strength surpassing that of Shadow's attack.

"There is not much time! You all must flee from this place before THEY arrive!" Without allowing the question to escape their lips, the mage caused a quicksand portal to appear under each warrior, transporting them back to the Temple gates.

Rising stiffly, Hugh groaned. "Great. More mystery... Who's 'they'?"

"That was weird, he sounded really worried."

The dwarf turned to Lance. "There are a few minecarts on the far side of this cavern that we can ride to the outside world on the south side of Quarry. We should heed the sorcerer's words and keep moving."

As they approached the carts, a bone-chilling voice stopped them in their tracks. "So these are the fabled Chaos Protectors...? And Bel'Tasur among them, no less..."

Shadow stiffened. "No... it... it cannot be!" Turning to the Darkman, the others recognized an emotion normally alien to his character glowing from his eyes: Shadow was afraid. "Not here! Not now!"

"Look, Vaho! The traitor remembers us!" Out of the shadows behind them emerged three mages whose robes were the darkest of black, each streaked with either dark blue, red or green. The red one laughed evilly. "You were truly foolish to think you could help them stop us from reviving Chaos."

Link drew his sword, a venomous look on his face. "It was you?! You're the ones behind this?!"

Rand didn't wait for an answer, instead raising his axe over his head. The blade expanded, runes forming on its surface. "Grand Axe!" The blade slammed down onto the red mage, rocks rising up from the impact area and redirecting towards the target.

"Pathetic." A burst of flame erupted around the mage, sending the full force of the attack back to the user. With an oath of pain, Rand flew back, knocking Link over. "Do you honestly think you can harm us?" Catching Elric's Swift Arrow by the tip, the evil fire mage redirected it to impact the archer's shoulder. "You are far too weak!"

Hugh growled, "You can't win... we won't let you!" Charging forward, he unleashed a powerful Pyro Dance, but a concentrated blast of icy water by the blue mage knocked him back hard into a wall.

"Do you think we need your permission?!" The blue one, who had earlier been called Vaho, laughed. "This is almost too easy."

As the fire mage was about to launch an attack on the fallen swordsman, a cyclone arose to block Tikal's Tidal Surge attack. Sending the blast back at the girl, the green mage's eyes narrowed. "Nukoh, enough of this. You forget they possess the element to harm you."

The red one scoffed. "You can't possibly think they can stop us with just one of the powers, Zhodeon. You and Vaho are completely immune to their abilities!"

Shadow, still paralyzed, whispered "They speak the truth... only the element directly superior to the one the mage controls will cause damage... Out of what we have, only Water will have any effect, and only against Nukoh, the red one... We have little chance of survival..."

Each Protector paled visibly, seriously unnerved by their ally's words. Turning towards the frightened warriors, the dark trio began to gather magical power into their palms. Fire, Water and Wind energies glowed ominously, foretelling the strength of the blast to come. "Any ideas, boss?"

Looking about him frantically, Lance could see nothing useful. Though the carts were right next to them, there was no way he could think of to unhook the chains and get the vehicle moving in time to avoid the attack. "No, Elric... I think they've got us trapped..."

"Not if I can help it!" Hugh quickly gathered his own energies into his blade, making it glow bright red. Looking over his shoulder to the blonde swordsman, the boy smiled sadly. "It's up to you now, Lance... Lead them to victory... For Graham, and for me..."

"Hugh, what are you...?"

Before Lance could register what his old friend was doing, he found himself knocked into the cart behind him, with the others falling in beside him. As Hugh used the speed of the Pyro Dance to push the last of the heroes in, he severed the chain with his flaming sword. "Goodbye..." The final blow of the Dance struck the cart hard, sending it hurtling down the tunnel.

"No! Hugh!" Watching in horror, Lance saw his childhood friend turn defiantly to face the approaching three mages, alone. As they quickly faded into the darkness, he cried out one last time. "HUUUUUUUUUUGH!!!" A flash followed Lance's call, accompanied by an echoing scream of agonizing pain.

Then all was silent.

End Chapter 27