The first sensation that entered Chill's senses was the throbbing pain that emanated from her head. She tried to open her eyes, but found the light blinding, so kept them shut. Where was she? What had happened? Mystic Mill. What next? She forced her eyes open at once and tried to move her arms, but – alas – there was little use. She felt the wintry exterior of metal chains tight against her; there was no getting out. Not yet, anyway.

"It's been a long time," said a bodiless voice. She could tell this much: she was still in Mystic Mill. The walls around her were cobbled and the air tasted much the same. Yet, she was shut inside, a blazing fire ahead of her. What was he going to do to her? And, yes, it must've been him. Shame. How much shame she had for how she'd acted. She should never let her guard down, not even for-

But he was someone she could trust, right? Well, clearly not. No. Not anymore. "M...Met..." she attempted to speak, but found it little use. An estranged laugh echoed through the chambers until, at last, the figure approached.

"It is I, indeed," spoke the figure, a calmness to his voice, "and I too hate that it has to come to this, Chill, but indeed it must."

"W...What are you talking about?" Chill's eyes were struggling to focus on the figure, but it mattered little; she knew exactly who it was.

"Oh, Chill," said the crimson figure, "I'd hoped it would be another. Eruptor, perhaps. Grim Creeper would have been a pleasant arrival. Or, better yet, Boomer, where my envy truly lies most of all. Yet, it is you." He circled Chill as he had done before. "It's been four long years since that fateful day. You were always a friend to me, my dear Chill, and I hate what must be done, but done it must be. Your allegiances cannot be dismissed this time."

"I- Metal Mage, what's going on? Why are you doing this?"

"Hush, Chill. That is a name I have disregarded. Metal Mage – PATHETIC!" As he yelled, Chill felt as the air swayed more violently around them. She realised at once that the friend she once had was lost to time. This was somebody new. "I trained for no less than nine-hundred-and-thirty-two days for my place; did you know that?"

"I-"

"No matter. None of it matters anymore, does it? I was cast aside. WORTHLESS to the 'brave and mighty' Skylanders." He turned away from Chill and stared into the fire ahead. "Forty-six days," he mumbled to himself.

"What was that?" Chill queried. The troll twisted around at once and moved closer.

"FORTY-SIX DAYS!" He yelled. "Do you know what he said? The almighty Eon??" Chill raised an eyebrow. "I hear his voice in my dreams every night. 'Skylanders are heroes, destined to save Skylands from the forces of darkness. What I witnessed today solidifies what I first feared three years ago. You are unfit to save Skylands when your heart seems to desire so greatly to damage it. You cannot be a Skylander any long, Metal Mage.'" He began laugh maniacally as he crawled onto the floor and bashed his head against it.

"Eon...Eon said that?" Chill interrogated. She'd always known Eon as a wise master, one who had the interests of Skylands at heart, but also a caring teacher who would look out for his students. This was a tone she was unfamiliar with. Could it be true? She looked her old friend up and down and wondered what could cause Eon to make such a decision. She'd always known he was rejected from Skylander duties, but never knew why.

"Oh, yes. Can you imagine how it must feel, Chill?" He asked, his voice quickening in pace. "To be welcomed into a family, to rise the ranks and then be thrown out, never to return, just like that? It's enough to cause a young troll to go crazy."

"You did tie me up, Metal Mage," Chill responded, "I'd appreciate it if you freed me. It was quite the engaging tale, but-"

"No no no, not so fast there Chill," he responded, tightening the chains, "I cannot let you go. You see, I've been planning my revenge. I tried to execute it once, only to be tossed aside. This time, I'm not holding back; no, I'm not holding back one bit. When they hear I killed a Skylander... They're going to realise they made a mistake letting me go..." Chill blinked. Kill a Skylander? This wasn't the Metal Mage she knew.

"And what exactly will killing me achieve, Mage?" She asked quickly, as the fire grew ahead of her. "You'll just be proving Eon right. Is that what you want?" The troll paused.

"My destiny was to be a Skylander. To protect Skylands, to defend the universe from evil. But no, that destiny was stolen from me. So, yes. Eon has made me what he feared I'd become. I hope he's happy. I hope he watches down on us right now and sees what a monster he created." He waved his rods and the fire continued to grow.

"Look: I don't want to have to fight you, but I will if needs be," Chill announced, her patience breaking. As her words escaped her mouth, the metal tightened.

"There's no escaping this Chill, and I'm sorry. You shouldn't have come here; it should've been someone else." The fire continued to grow. "You had my back during the battle of the ukelele army and I owe a lot to you for that. Yet, our time together has come to an end once more, Chill." The chair Chill was strapped to began to edge closer.

"You don't have to do this, Metal Mage!" Chill urged, trying to ground herself with her feet. "We can figure something out!"

"MetalMage died four years ago, my dear Chill," said the troll, "All that's left ofme is the fall of the Skylanders. If you must, call me Skyicide.