Chapter 40

After Ruby's victory (and another night at the hot springs), everyone head towards Blaze City which only took three hours to get there on foot and going around the lake. They see the city and noticed a geothermal power plant in the distance on the side of the volcano. They went into the city to get some more supplies before heading to the gym. Which turns out to be inside of a cave at the volcano. It is fitting for a fire-type gym leader.

Team RWBY is now at the entrance of the cave.

"This is...different." Yang says as she looks at the cave entrance with the flaming-style gym sign over it.

"It is different from the surf shop." Weiss pointed out.

"That much is clear." Ruby agrees. Although she is a little intimidated by how bold the sign looks.

"According to the map, this is the place." Blake stated as she puts her megadex away. "Although it says that he is a mountain climbing instructor, not the owner of the power plant. Which is strange."

"But let's get going." Yang smiles and marches towards the cave with determination.

"Wait up!" her little sister shout.

Everyone goes through the cave and notice that there is a lot of heat flowing in the air. The air gets hotter and hotter as they follow down the rocky tunnel with burning lamps powered by natural gases and are ignited by the hot air. Plus the smell of sulfur isn't helping much. They continue down until they see a bright burning light at the end of the tunnel.

"WHAT THE HECK IS THIS!" Weiss shout out in dismay.

As what they see before them is an arena being suspended by massive chains over searing magma that is bubbling with high-intense heat gassing upwards. Not to mention that the heat is so unbearable that it is hard to breath. The elevator on the otherside of the arena lowers to reveal the fire-type gym leader, Norman.

"Glad you girls can make it!" he says with excitement. "Welcome to my gym!"

"This is a gym?!" Ruby yells. "This is like a boss level to a video game!"

Norman just laughs at Ruby's comment. "True! But the whole point is to test the trainer's mettle and stamina. If you can't handle the harshness of this arena, then you cannot handle the harshness of being a trainer!" Then proceeds to the arena down some steps. "Are you ready!?"

Yang took a gulp but has a determine look on her face as she jumps towards her side of the field. The rest of Team RWBY are taken to an air condition room with a heat-proof window for spectators to watch. The referee is also there, safe inside the cool room while the two have their battle.

"Today's match is the gym leader, Norman." says the referee over the speakers. "Against the challenger, Yang Xiao Long. Norman is allow to use two pokemon each while Yang gets to use all her pokemon. Only the challenger is allowed to switch pokemon during battle. No time limit. Let the battle begin!"

"Go, Raptorch!" Norman throws a pokeball that contains his first pokemon, a Raptorch.

Yang pulls out her megadex. "Raptorch. The fire dino pokemon. Raptorch are energetic Pokémon that require constant attention, or they will start setting their surroundings on fire. Raptorch is also one of the three starter pokemon of the Tandor Region."

Ruby and Weiss are against the window and admire how cute Raptorch is while Blake just rolls her eyes.

Yang puts her megadex away and throws her first pokemon. "Go, Sandy!" From her greatball comes the Monstune Yang caught.

"Ah-ha! Harold told me about that pokemon!" Norman says with his arm cross. "Raptorch, use rock smash!" Raptorch's head glows red-orange and charges at Monstune.

"Use quicksand!" Monstune throws sand on the ground close to Raptorch's direction, but Raptorch speed towards the left and does a critical hit. Not to mention super effective since Monstune is part dark-type. "What!?" Yang says with shock.

Norman laughs. "You see: the more badges you earn, the more challenges you face! I got this little buddy's effort value up to the highest degree for high-class challengers such as you!"

Yang smirk a little. "Ahhhh~! You flatter me!" Then starts to get serious, "But that won't save you! Use bulldoze!" Monstune jumps into the air and stomps the ground which causes a huge shock wave crashing towards Raptorch.

But Raptorch jumps high in the air with Norman ordering, "Use flame wheel!" Raptorch spins as it is engulf in flames and charges at Monstune. Raptorch hits Monstune and it seems the flames are more potent and do more damage.

"What is going on?!" Yang says in dismay.

Norman laughs again. "There is another reason why we are down here." Then he points at the magma. "The magma here has a similar effect to the move Sunny Day. It increases the base power of fire-type moves by 50% and lowers the base power of water-type moves by 50% as well! Fire is very potent in its raw form here in this volcano!" Then takes a whiff of the hot air. "Plus, sulfur is good for the lungs! And I love it! Now use rock smash!"

Raptorch has its head glowing red-orange once again and charges at Monstune.

"Use payback!" Monstune then slams into Raptorch with incredible force and does some serious damage.

"Use flamethrower!" As Raptorch is tossed into the air, Raptorch belches out a jet of flames at Monstune. Thanks to the energy from the magma and the boost of EV-training, the flamethrower does some serious damage which causes Monstune to faint.

"Monstune is unable to battle!" the referee says through the microphone. "The winner is Raptorch!"

Norman snaps and gives a thumbs up as Raptorch jumps and cheers.

Yang is starting to get frustrated as she calls back Sandy. Then pulls out another greatball and goes, "Go, Lan Se!" Then pops out a Rockster. Which is a blue lobster that is both rock and water-type.

"BEGIN!"

"Raptorch, use rock smash!" Raptorch once again uses rock smash.

"Use razor shell!" Lan Se's claws glow light blue and got bigger and charges at Raptorch.

So things are like what you expect. Once the two make contact, things stop for a few seconds before they past each other. Lan Se stumbles a little as Raptorch turns its head and smiles. But ends up fainting.

"Raptorch is unable to battle! The winner is, Rockster!"

Yang jumps and cheers with Lan Se doing the same.

'But how?' Norman thought to himself as he was shock after calling Raptorch back. 'How is that possible? Rock smash is a fighting-type move that should be super effective against a part rock-type like Yang's Rockster. Unless... Of course! Solid rock! The ability that allows the pokemon to reduce the damage of super-effective moves! That's how.' Norman then smiles. "Alrighty then, go Magmar!" He throws his pokeball and Magmar pops out.

Yang pulls up her megadex again. "Magmar. The spitfire pokemon and the evolve form of Magby. Born in the spout of a volcano, its body is covered by flames that shimmer like the sun. In battle, Magmar blows out intensely hot flames from all over its body to intimidate its opponent. This Pokémon's fiery bursts create heat waves that ignite grass and trees in its surroundings. When it's tired, it leaps into the mouth of a volcano and soaks its body in magma to ease its weariness. Its body burns at 2,192 degrees F."

Yang then puts her megadex away. She refuses to change pokemon and continues to use Lan Se. Unfortunately, she made the same mistake as Ruby did during her gym battle.

"BEGIN!"

"Use water gun!" Yang ordered. Lan Se opens her left claw and shoots a jet of water at Magmar.

"Dodge and use thunder punch!" Norman ordered.

"Wait, what?!" Yang says in surprise.

Magmar dodges water gun by jumping into the air as Magmar's right fist is charged with electricity. Magmar charges so fast that it took a blink to get from point a to point b. Magmar punches Lan Se right in the face with its thunder punch. What happens next is that Lan Se is burned because of Magmar's ability: Flame Body. Lan Se's body is engulf in flames for a few seconds before disappearing.

"Now use clear smog!" Magmar the blows a stream of white smog at Lan Se which cause it to faint after taking so much damage.

"Rockster is unable to battle! The winner is, Magmar!"

Yang calls back Lan Se then starts to wipe the sweat from her forehead. Then she starts to grin. After seeing Magmar's moves she knows what to do. For she has a secret weapon.

"How is that possible?!" Ruby blares after seeing her sister's defeat. "I mean that thing is a pure fire-type pokemon!"

"Maybe it has something to do with TM's?" Weiss says as she is lost as well.

"That is true." Blake says as she stands next to them with her arms cross and looking down. "However, moves such as clear smog and confuse ray are natural for a Magmar."

Back at the battle, Yang then throws her third pokemon. "Go, Platy!" Pop comes a Platyplash. A...well...I think you guys can guess what this pokemon is based-off of.

Norman then starts to panic. "Oh no! Not a water and ground-type pokemon!"

Indeed. Magmar can use poison, fire, and electric-type moves; but a combination of a water and ground-type pokemon such as either Wooper or Marshtomp and their evolved forms. Platy is a combination of those two. Even if Magmar's flame body ability were to work, there is only a 30% of ever activating.

"BEGIN!"

"Quick Magmar, use overheat!" Norman is in a more panic mood than smug as he gives the order. Magmar's body starts to glow red and surrounds itself with fire. Then Magmar fires a large stream of swirling fire at Platy.

"Dodge and use mud bomb!" Platy runs as it forms a muddy ball between its hands. Platy power slides to avoid the flames as it almost hit the side of the cave wall. Platy gets back up and throws the mud ball right at Magmar. Not only it was super-effective, Platy did critical damage.

"Use clear smog!" Magmar uses clear smog at Platy.

"Dodge and use water pulse!" Platy jumps up into the air to avoid the stream of smog. Then follows it up with a large watery sphere forming in its hands and throws it. It hits the target! Magmar has fainted.

"Magmar is unable to battle! The winner is Yang and her Platyplash!"

"YA-HOO!" Yang went as she cheers for her victory and high-fives Platy.

Everyone is outside of the cave where they are relieved to be out of the heat and the smell of burning sulfur. Norman gives Yang a tray with her prizes.

"Yang; for your guts and ability to handle such intensity, here is your prize money, the HM Rock Smash, and the Blaze Badge. You can now use rock smash to destroy any obstacle that gets in your way." The Blaze Badge is similar to the Kanto Region's Volcano Badge, but it is crimson with a yellow diamond.

With Yang's victory, everyone is gonna take another dip in the Onsen Resort.

Back on Remnant, Team JNPR is watching events unfold through the mirror. Team CFVY are called back to Beacon.

"WOW!" Nora says with excitement. "I would love to be in a place like that!"

"It does seem lovely." Pyrrha says as she watches. Admiring the new world that is Grimm-free.

General Ironwood is also in the chamber with a scientist.

"Is it ready?" Ironwood ask the scientist.

"Almost, sir. We are continuing to decipher the language. Everything will be ready."

To be continued...

AN: Hey guys! I'm back and feeling a little better. Still have the coughs but I'm feeling pretty good! Now for the answer to some questions.

Jyoster: Not really. Just try to get people interested in the fan-games so the developers of those games can move past demo and make a full game.

See you guys next chapter!