Paper Pokemon

Chapter 11: Took You Long Enough

Lava Piranha's tongue hung out and it laughed an ugly laugh.

"BLECK HYUCK HYUCK YUCK! YOU NO GO FURTHER! WE BURN YOU DOWN TO ASH! NO LEAVE VOLCANO ALIVE!" Lava Piranha and its Lava Buds breathed a large stream of fire at all of them. They just barely avoided it. Trace shot an Ice Beam at Lava Piranha. The fire was put out, and Lava Piranha raised its head, shaking. "RAAAARGH! NO ICE! ICE IS WATER! WATER BURRRRRRRNNNSSS!" Jagger then used Ice Punch on one Lava Bud, causing it to shrivel up. Ashley cut the other one with Iron tail.

"Now's our chance guys!" Said Jagger. "Let's hit him with everything we've got!" Jagger and Trace both used their ice attacks. Ashley jumped up and rammed Lava Piranha with Zen Headbutt. Luna shot a Shadow Ball at it. Lava Piranha caught on fire again just before Jagger hit him with another Ice Punch. It whacked him away, burning him in the process. The cut Lava Bud grew back, and the other sprang back up. Both Lava Buds spat out two little balls of fire. The two Petit Piranhas charged towards Jagger and exploded on him, knocking him back. He slowly got back up.

"Arggh... He looks like he's about to go down... Trace! Hit him with Ice Beam at the same time I hit him!" He said. Trace started charging up Ice Beam. Jagger jumped up and winded up a punch. "Now!" Trace shot the Ice Beam and it hit at the same time as Jagger's Ice Punch. Lava Piranha's fire went out and it collapsed.

"BLECK... HYUCK... YUCK... NO... BAD GUYS... CANT WIN..." Jagger sighed.

"We... We did it..." The lava started bubbling again. "Oh no..." Suddenly, several tendrils of fire exploded from the fiery abyss. The tendrils tightly wrapped around Jagger. "Ahhhh!" Trace tried to hit them with Ice Beam, but they twisted out of the way. Jagger tried to hold on the the ground, but the fire was stronger, and it dragged him down into the lava.

"JAGGER!" Luna cried.

Jagger panted heavily. He had no idea what just happened. His vision was black. Was he dreaming? What if, everything that had happened, was all just a dream, and he would wake up, and everything was normal. Or maybe... Arceus forbid... Was he... Dead?.. Jagger's vision returned, and he breathed a sigh of relief. All he saw was fire. He was surprised how he wasn't getting burned. He was also surprised that he was able to get through the lava unscathed.

"Ah, so you made it." Jagger heard a voice. He looked over and saw an Entei standing next to him. The tendrils of fire from before returned to the Entei.

"Huh?.. Are you... The Guardian of Fire?" Jagger asked. The Entei smiled.

"Indeed I am. I am known as Crash. Fire bends to my will alone. If you are to best me in battle, I will grant you my powers. Are you ready, Jagger?" Jagger closed his eyes, his strength returning.

"Yes. I am ready."

"I see. Then let the battle begin!" Crash became covered in flames, knocking Jagger back.

"Hmm... My forest magic most likely won't work well against this guy..." Jagger thought. "Maybe Ice Punch will work..." Jagger charged towards Crash, and tried an Ice Punch. However, before he came in contact, his fist started burning. Jagger grabbed his fist. "Arrrghh!" Crash knocked him away.

"Your do not have enough focus, child. You must think decisively before striking. Just so you know, I shall not hold back. Flame Cannon!" Crash shot an enormous beam of fire towards Jagger. Jagger rolled out of the way, he got burned a little, but received no major damage. Jagger threw an Aura Sphere at Crash, but he just blocked it with his fire. "Crash Burner!" Crash covered himself in flames, and charged towards Jagger. Jagger didn't think, his body acted without any command. Jagger held out his hands, attempting to catch Crash

"What the? What am I doing?! He'll torch me! I... I don't have control!" To his surprise, Jagger actually caught Crash. His flames didn't burn. Jagger didn't experience any pain. Crash smiled.

"Yes... Yes child... Use this to your advantage... I know you can do it..." Jagger threw Crash away. Crash's flames dissapeared. "Enough. I need to test you no longer. I already know that you are ready. I will grant you my magic." Jagger was enveloped in a glowing red light. An intense flame burned inside of him. It wasn't painful... He felt... Stronger. The light dissipated. "Go forth Jagger. You must stop the dark lord from retrieving the Grand Star. May the light guide you." Crash teleported Jagger away in a flash of light.

"You have done well to beat the second guardian, hero..."

"The voice again..."

"I feel our psychic connection getting stronger. You must continue to defeat the guardians. My power is fading now... I will leave you with this hint. 'Within the arctic tundra outside the mansion of enigma, a snow statue of a tyrant stands tall. The stature of ice holds the key to the water.'"

Jagger was thrown out of the lava. Before he could do anything, Luna ran up and hugged him.

"Jagger! You're okay! I don't know what I would do if I lost you!" She said. Jagger smiled. Trace turned around and saw a giant block of ice standing in their way.

"Huh?! What is ice doing in a volcano?!" Trace exclaimed.

"Don't worry, I got this." Said Jagger. Jagger walked up the the ice. He was covered in flames. "Crash Burner!" Jagger charged at the ice, shattering it in a single blow.

"Whoah! That was cool!" Said Trace.

"Yeah, I can tell that this magic is going to come in handy! Let's get back to the whale!"

It took a while, but the four finally got back to the whale. They also found Kolorado along the way, which was good.

"Took you long enough." Said the whale. "Ready to go back to Toad Town?"

"Yup!" Said Ashley. Everyone got on the whale.

"Alright then! Off we go!"