Author's Note: Hi! Sushi here! sorry for the lack of updates, I've been busy! So...I love this chapter soo much! I love the fact that Donnie never gives up on his crush hehehehe! see you next chapter, another one of favs!

CHAPTER 8: THE TEMPLE OF EARTH.

"Did...did you hear everything?" The others ran to them and Mikey said:

"Did they talk about the dream?"

"Then you knew what was going on! That's why you asked me if something happened between me and Leo! You wanted to know if something that happened between us made him dream that dream!"

"Leo made us promise not to tell you!" Donnie said sadly.

"Why did you hide it from me? Whatever happens to me, we'll face it together!" She said hugging him.

"I'm sorry, I just didn't want to worry you!"

"I understand...it's okay..."

"All right..." Leo laughed softly.

"Wooow! That was fast!" Mikey said surprised with big, sparkling eyes. Raph slapped him on the head.

"Moron." Later, they went to the Lap Of The Gods to have some information.

"The enemy that you are facing, Nisshoku, is a very strong and evil being that we years ago exiled to the dark dimension. But not long ago he managed to come back and want the complete Pearl Of Jade. His helpers are The Four Shadows, evil magicians that use the dark magic of their elements. As you have seen, they are very difficult to beat. Today you'll go to the temple of earth. Be careful!" They all nodded and were transported to the foot of a mountain. The temple was on the top, so they started walking.

Nisshoku was very angry with Kazan.

"I trusted you!"

"I'm sorry my lord, but the Turtles are stronger enemies than I thought and..."

"Shut up! You're a true failure! I saw in my mystic crystal ball that they are going to the Temple Of Earth. Sabaku!" A man with the skin brown as the earth came out of the shadows.

"You called me, my lord?"

"It's your turn to attack, do not fail me!"

"No, my lord!" The magician disappeared in a swirl of sand.

The Turtles walked for a long while. It was very tiring, and Julie couldn't do it anymore.

"I'll help you!" Leo said.

"No, it will only slow you down! Hey!..." Leo took her in his arms and ran fast on the trail.

"Hey! That's not fair! Julie's given a lift!...OUCH!" Mikey cried.

"Shut up and walk!" Raph said irritated. While they walked, Donnie and April talked much. In the past months they knew each other better, coming closer to each other and Donnie was happy to be with her. And April seemed to show some interest, or was it just his impression?

April couldn't explain what was happening to her. Donnie's smile, he's sparkling eyes, made her feel so calm and happy inside. The only thing she knew was that she felt alive and herself with him.

They finally got to the temple, that was like a pagoda of stone, that must have been very very old and ancient. They walked in and Raph said:

"So we just have to take the piece of pearl and take it to the Ninja Tribunal?"

"Exactly. Let's hurry, I want to go home and eat a big, good pizza!" Mikey said dreamy, licking his lips. April took the fragment from the pedestal and put it in her pocket. They went out and had a bad surprise:

A man made at the moment of sand of the earth and took human shape and laughed.

"Where do you think you're going? Give the fragment first, then I'll let you go, if you're still alive!" His arms became of sand and he stretched them out to reach the Turtles. Mikey threw his nunchaku to stop his arms, but the nunchuck just went through the arm, without hurt him a bit. Sabaku punched him, making him fly and land hard on the ground.

"Holy pizza! Be careful guys!" Donnie attacked immediately, dodging the sandman's attacks and hitting him twice with his staff. But Sabaku just laughed an turned into a tornado of sand, swiping hm away.

"Donnie! I'll kick the shit out of you!" Raph shouted, running towards Sabaku. He tried to hit him, avoiding his sand arms. Raph jumped, flipped and hit Sabaku on the back. The evil man jumped and kicked Raph hard in the face. He fell down, without moving a muscle.

"Now you'll face us!" Leo said. "Julie, double attack!" She nodded and together they jumped ready for attack. But Sabaku became a sand tornado again, sweeping them away too. Only April was left now. What could she do?

"So you have the fragment! I'll drag you down below the earth!" He stretched his sand arms toward her, grabbing her arms and pulling her down to him.

"DONNIE! HELP!" Donnie went up as soon as he heard April's desperate voice.

"April!" He took her hand.

"Don't let me go!" She shouted. Sabaku dragged even harder and they both pulled in the earth as it was water.

"Donnie! April!" Julie tried to reach them, but they were soon gone.

"Oh no!" Mikey said worried.

"What can we do now?"

"I don't know. We'll have to wait. I'm sure that Donnie will do all in his power to save April, he'll surely win!"

Donnie woke up inside a cage below the earth. April wasn't at his side. He looked around, and saw Sabaku at the middle of the cage, with April n his arms. He was searching for the fragment.

"Let my girl go!" He threw his staff, hitting Sabaku on the back, making him fall forwards. Fast as lightning, he catched April, that was still unconscious. He put her delicately down and took his staff.

"That was useless! I have the fragment now, and I'll take it to my master!"

"I don't think so!" He ran towards the sandman lifting his staff. Sabaku created a staff of earth and stopped his attack. Donnie continued attacking, hitting some times.

"You know, with the fragments' powers I can hear what the earth whispers about you..you love the girl, don't you? That's cute, it's a pity that you're a monster!"

"Shut up! I know that I'm not a normal boy, but I don't care!" Donnie hit him hard and Sabaku staggered.

"Uh, did that hurt so much?" He attacked but Donnie defended himself with the Bo.

"Don't you understand that she'll never feel the same you feel for her? You're a freak! Who'll ever want you!" Sabaku laughed.

"They're all lies! I know that April likes me as a friend!" He did a kick in the air, but Sabaku blocked it catching him by the foot, throwing him away.

"Then it's just for mercy! Who would ever love a TURTLE? Your love will ever by accepted by her!" He hit Donnie with the staff, surprising him. He fell on the ground. It hurt, but he wouldn't listen to what he said. He would have won over him and he would save April, taking the fragment with him.

"It might be..." He said with broken voice. He would have shown that he was stronger than the darkness and the desperation.

"But I can't be without her. She went like a ray of light in my boring life. Her smile, her good mood has helped me every day. Knowing that she was always by my side made me happier and stronger. I know that my love is impossible, but I want to be at her side. It doesn't matter how: Like a friend or like a brother. I would do anything for her, I'll be anything for her, the important thing is that she knows that I'll always be there to help her. I'll always have my arms open, ready to catch her whenever she falls" He stood up now, feeling much stronger now.

"And why would you do it?" Sabaku said viscous.

"Because I..." He concentrated. He felt an enormous energy growing inside him.

"I LOVE HER!" The chi-medallion shined brighter than ever.

"AAAAARGH!" Sabaku shouted, trying to protect himself from the light. Purple circle patterns appeared on his body. He had activated his chi. He ran to Sabaku, jumped and hit him in the head with the staff. A purple light wrapped the cage. Sabaku disappeared before he could get killed by the light. Donnie landed on the ground and ran to April, taking her in his arms.

"April! April! Please, wake up!" April opened her eyes slowly and smiled sweetly at him.

"Hi Donnie" He smiled with tearful eyes.

"Thank God!" He hugged her tightly. April was filled with joy. Donnie had saved her. She was happy to have him close. A purple light, Donnie's chi, transported them to the surface.

"GUYS! I'm so happy to see you alive!" Mikey hugged them both. All together, they went back to The Ninja Tribunal. Once again, love had won over the evil powers.