Masters of the Elements

Chapter 3 (Buttercup's Variant): Three Cats, Three Mice

Buttercup flew through the rainy sky; donning a mask to protect herself from the smog that would most likely come out of the volcano. While searching for the volcano that came up on the radar system; she eventually succeeded, and she dove towards the mouth of it, taking in a breath of- wait, she probably shouldn't be doing that. "So this is the volcano that she's hiding in eh? Well no time to study it from the outside; this heat-resistant suit Mojo outfitted me with should give me an upper edge in this heated moment." Pun entirely intended. She dove into the roaring volcano and discovered a hole off the the side of it. Entering it, she made her way to a room with an elevator shaft. "Who puts an elevator shaft in a volcano?" Weird people Buttercup, weird people. She stopped standing there, dumbfounded, and took it to the only other floor here. *Insert your worst idea of elevator music*. After twenty seconds worth of torture, she made it to the lair of Burntha; the fire Elementalist. She was looking over canisters full of blue lava that she would eventually shoot out of the volcano, and into Townsville.

"Perfect! It's all set! Now I just have to- WAH!" She yelped in fear at the sight of Buttercup; who had just removed her helmet so she could finally speak clearly.

"Alright pal. You better stop your fiery-filled nonsense, or I may just have to be the one cranking up the heat around here!" Buttercup threatened; rubbing her 'fists'.

"Look... you clearly don't understand... we're just doing this because we were meant to follow orders. I didn't want to do this either you know!" Burntha pleaded.

"I don't believe you. Unless I manage to win this battle, then maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to trust you on that." Buttercup told her.

"Alright... you want the temperature set high? I'll set it even higher!" Burntha said while carrying fiery wisps in her hands.

*Buttercup! V.S. Burntha!*

Their battle started as Burntha disappeared in a vibrantly colored flame. Buttercup reattached her helmet and looked around her to see if she could sense Burntha's location. Suddenly... Burntha struck! She reappeared and dashed down to Buttercup engulfed in flames! She jumped out of the way, and Burntha hit the ground hard. "Darn... I thought I had you there..."

"Thought is a strong word. I'd say you never came close." Buttercup told her.

Burntha felt enrage by this; so she separated herself into three (The real Burntha has a pink forehead gem and green eyes; the fakes have no facial features). They each circled around Buttercup; who was readying her metal-covered arm to fire off a blast of energy. She spotted the oddball and fired off an energy orb. It hit; and Burntha fell the ground; eyes swirling from a dizziness spell. Buttercup took this opportune moment to strike Burntha; and succeeded. Burntha struck a nearby wall, and got up slowly; only to be punched down by Buttercup again. "Alright. Cool it!" Burntha slammed both her hands onto the ground and it started crawling with cracks. Steam shot out of said cracks. "Hope you like your fish... steamed." She said.

"Where are you getting at with that sentence? Was that a threat?" Buttercup asked.

"I don't know either honestly... sorry." She explained. "So instead... I'll turn this area into my own personal oven!" She slammed the ground with her fists again, and the ground sunk into the blue lava below. "Hot sauce! Let's get this over with; this is the best battle I've ever had in decades!" She was ecstatic; you could easily tell too.

"Same here. It feels just like my final battle with my arch-nemesis. Only this time... I won't be dying again!" Buttercup grabbed Burntha by the cloak and threw her into the lava below. Little did she know she activated Burntha's trap card. A huge, scarlet lizard with a wavy-patterned body that was comprised of concentrated lava shot out from the blue sea beneath Buttercup. It's wings, also lava. It was Burntha's spirit beast; the 'Komodo Flare'. "Oh geez... it's a giant lava lizard." She was starting to look unsure about the chances of her survival, she almost felt like dipping (leaving altogether), but she couldn't; she had a job to do. "You're not so hot! I bet I can still take you!" Komodo Flare roared as she approached. "Yeah, yeah! Roar all you want! It won't prevent me from kicking your fiery behind!" Buttercup yelled out confidently. "Though I'm completely useless here as far as I know it; I should've left it to Blossom. She's the one with the ice breath." She then told herself. She suddenly was struck with an idea. "It may sound dumb on paper; but it may just be crazy enough to work!" She then flew out of the volcano and grabbed a bucket, and headed back to the beach area. "If sand is superheated, it'll turn to glass. Maybe if I throw sand at the lava lizard it'll harden. Then all I have to do is shatter it to pieces!" She filled her bucket completely and put a lid on it to prevent sand from escaping; then flew back to unveil what could possibly be her greatest moment as a hero (apart from rescuing her sisters in Parsec's 'Sisters of the Night'. A/N: Read it. It's actually pretty good). She crashed through the volcano and yelled: "Heave ho! Monster-o!" Then threw the sand at the lizard. "Thank goodness I made sure to heat it with my lasers before chucking it." The liquified sand then made contact, and Komodo Flare's body started hardening. During this process; it fired off breaths of blue fire towards Buttercup. She flew around the lizard in circles to ensure she got away; the lizard would've hit her if it hadn't hardened up completely just now. "My turn." Buttercup then shot towards the glass lizard, and punched it; shattering it's body all over the volcano's interior. The lava below hardened as well; and Burntha came falling down onto the newly formed rock.

"I knew I should've gone for the Magma Phoenix." Burntha said to herself; but out loud.

"I knew you should've quit when you had the chance. Now you're time is unfortunately up." Buttercup then punched her. Causing her body to drift away into dust. The red gem showed itself, and was crushed under Buttercup's might. "Easy. But I hope the other's are as lucky as me." Buttercup then escaped the volcano as it (along with many others) shoved themselves back into the ground. "I should probably head back now." And head back she did.

(A/N: Read this one if it's the first one you read so far)

*Cut to Apoco; who is watching a shortened playback of what just happened*

"Ugh... this is why I prefer to handle all our problems solo..." Apoco said; looking mildly annoyed. "Although... it's not much to worry about. Hydris and Rocko are still up and causing destruction; they'll surely have trouble with them."

(End of Chapter)

(A/N: Read this one if it's the second one you read)

*Cut to Apoco; who is watching a shortened playback of what just happened*

"The second one is down already!? Darned Buttercup... I was wrong to underestimate her power..." Apoco said with a sneer. "Hm... but I bet there's a way crack to that hard shell... *small chuckle* prepare yourself Buttercup; for you are now in my sights."

(End of Chapter)

(A/N: Read this one if it's the last one of the three)

*Cut to Apoco; who is swatting angrily at the vision he saw of Buttercup defeating Burntha*

"Gaah! That was the last of those three!" Apoco's feet snakes hissed angrily. He spread out his wings and flew down to an empty field. "They won't live long though; because now, it's me they're after... and they won't like me; no they won't!" He then transported back to his hideaway.

(End of Chapter)