Eve, Palette and Kalahari teleported to the borders of the amazon territory. They could see a patrol in the near so they didn't have to look long for encountering to the amazon queen.
"Shall we go now Eve?" Palette asked.
The Mesprit bowed and replied, "I am ready your Majesty."
"Good," the queen sighed and walked towards the guards.
"Who's there!?"
"Queen Palette, from Black Lotus Kingdom. I wish to talk with your chief."
"For which reason"? asked the other guard.
"We need your alliance to get the Elemental Keys and the Crown of Arceus, before it falls into the wrong hands."
The two guards looked at each other, not sure if they could trust such a story. So they decided to ask their queen. One of them left to inform her about the visitor.
Palette waited patiently, glancing now and then at Eve for support. And she just look back as saying, "Patience..." then the guard came back and told "Follow me! The queen awaits you!"
Palette smiled in relief as she looked at Eve a last time, before following the guard.
They were brought to the personal quarters of the queen. It was filled with dozens of weapons and trophies from hunts and wars. The Charizard was resting on her throne and she asked, "So... the queen of BlackLotus is visiting us Amazons... because of a Crown of Arceus. I am curious why you are seeking our help and... why I should be bothered with this Crown."
Palette humbly bowed at the Charizard. Raising up, she explained.
"We do need your strength and experience in combat. We need to achieve the Elemental Keys and the Crown of Arceus, because if the wrong pokémon get them, the whole world will end! We need to call back the Legendaries, they're our only hope. But your experience will be useful to fight the guardians of the keys."
With that the Charizard laughed, "You want to conquer the Temples? With armies? Don't you trust anybody to tackle on the trials of the temples? Or do you want the same reputation like your husband?"
Palette snarled at that answer, "We don't want to conquer the temples, we need to achieve the keys and create enough chaos so to call back the Legendaries and defeat my husband before he finds the Crown. In few days a slave will give birth to a demon who'll fight for him. We don't have much time."
"NOW LISTEN UP!" roared the queen. "While getting the great Legendaries back is something I agree one to fight for, there are limits! Getting the Keys? Fine! But we do it in the way that would raise their anger against us! Your husband plans to dispatch a demon? Then a moving army is too slow to get to every Temple before this beast!" Then she stomped forward, "We amazons originate from Yvetal self! She founded our clan! That's why we are willing to join forces to have her return! But we do it on a way that won't dishonor us!"
Palette roared in rage and scratched the Amazon face, "You stupid whore! This isn't a fact of dishonor, THE WHOLE WORLD IS IN DANGER!"
"DON'T DARE TO CALL ME WHORE! HONOR IS IMPORTANT BUT I AM NOT STUPID! IF YOU WANT TO MOVE AGAINST YOUR HUSBAND, THEN SAVING THE STRENGHT FOR THIS FINAL BATTLE IS BETTER THAN GET US KILLED WHILE TRYING TO BREAK THROUGH THE DEFENSES OF THE TEMPLES! IF I WERE YOU, I WOULD SEND MY BEST WARRIORS TO TRY THE TRIALS OF THE TEMPLES! AND A SMALL GROUP MOVES FASTER THAN A WHOLE ARMY! NOT TO MENTION IT TAKES A MONTH TO GET ALL TROOPS READY!"
"Then call your best warriors and follow us! Do you wanna die as a coward if this world ends!?" challenged the Pyroar. The black Charizard glared back and growled, "When I go to die than I go with an intact army behind me! Not reduced by a foolish attempt to fight the guards of the Temples!"
Eve turned to Palette and spoke, "She is right your Majesty... every army that attacked the guards took heavy casualities. It is better to go for the other way to reach our goals. The trials might be riskful but have the advantage that if we pass them, we get the Keys without a fight."
"Fine," Palette replied and turned to leave.
"Shouldn't we agree now on the terms of this alliance?" asked the amazon queen. "While I can see what you gain after this crisis, what is in for us if we survive?"
"All the males you wanna," Palette replied.
She whistled, "I must say, I didn't think you would offer this up."
"Anything for the safety of this world. I'd give anything," was the simple reply. Eve wasn't sure if this was a wise choice... it could bite her back from the males or their families.
"So, deal?" questioned Palette and the amazon queen roared, "DEAL!"
The Pyroar smiled, "Good."
"And I want one for me as soon as possible," countered the amazon queen .
"You will have."
"And who?" asked Eve .
"We'll settle it after they help us," answered Palette but the amazon queen explained. "In two days my warriors will be ready! Then I want to see the guy who mothers me! Don't care if it is only one time or permanent."
"Agreed. You'll have your male tomorrow," spoke Palette
The Charizard nodded, "Very well!"
Palette then bowed as farewell and left with Eve.
"Your Majesty?" asked Eve. "Who will be the male for the queen?"
"I dunno," Palette replied sadly.
"I see," sighed Eve, knowing that that was a bad idea. Then the queen asked, "What shall I do Eve?"
Shaking her head, the Mesprit explained, "I am not sure... the thing I know is that I go with Raven to the next Temple."
"Alright," told Palettte and Eve also suggested. "I think you should return... or somebody might find out you are not by your sister anymore."
After thinking for a moment the queen agreed, "Good idea."
And they made their way back to their 'transport' guy.
"I wish you any best, my queen," Kalahari bowed.
"Same to you and your team, please protect them," Palette said.
"At the cost of my life," he replied, then teleported himself to the group.
Back by the group, Simon asked, "How did everything run?"
"Seems fine," Kalahari replied.
Eve explained, "We have a deal with the queen. Some of her best warriors will join us on the quest while she prepares her armies. Also... as payment she gets all males she needs. The first delivered tomorrow."
"And who is the unlucky guy?" asked Simon and Eve shrugged. "Not a clue."
"Heh... I'm clueless as well," Kalahari said.
"Let's move to the Fire Temple," urged Raven then.
"Alright. Let's gather around me, it's a long distance from here, I have to use more energy," Kalahari explained.
They nodded and got into position.
"Good. Let's go," Kalahari then closed his eyes and again he teleported all of them close to the Temple, but the travel drained him more than usual.
Simon supported him and Raven told, "I think you better rest up now while we request a meeting with the head of the Temple... regarding to go to the trial so we can earn the Key."
Louis and Walter supported their magician friend until a shielded part where he could rest safely, "We'll catch up later," Walter said.
Raven nodded and went with Simon and Eve up to the Temple, requesting the meeting.
"Who are you and what brings you here!?" a Monferno asked.
"I am Raven! And I am here for the trials of the Fire Temple!"
The Monferno stared at him still a for a second, then chose to let them in. The temple looked like an ancient Greek temple, with columns close to each other and the statue of a Reshiram on the principal alter, while on the main wall, a giant Arceus with above his head a flame was craved in.
Raven was impressed by the architecture. He only has seen the Normal temple before, where only a statue of Arceus exists.
On the bleachers were pokémons of any kind, all pure of mixed fire type, while under the Reshiram statue was a Torkoal, the elder of the temple, "What brings you here, stranger?"
"I want to enter the trials in order to the win the Fire table! The treasure of the Fire Temple!" told Raven. "In order to prevent the King of BlackLotus to gain the Crown of Arceus and possible enable the return of the great Legendaries."
"LIES!" a Delphox yelled standing. "The only mons who travels until here are thieves or mercenaries, dark souls who aim to steal the Keys and earn treasures from it!"
"Calm your flame down Merlin," the Torkoal shushed him. "Now, normal type, tell us the more about this event. We have to prove you're not lying."
"Recently queen Palette learned about her husband's intentions to collect the plates from the temple to force his way into a lost temple, which contains the Crown of Arceus. The last object created by the Alpha Pokemon. Also we learned that he summoned a demon! A demon which will be born by a slave. Now I am on a mission for Queen Palette to gather these keys before the demon and prevent the king to hold the Crown, making himself, what he believes a god. If we are able to convince the Legendaries to return, than it would be optimal" explained Raven. "And as sings of our good intentions I am willing to go through the trials of the temple to earn the right to take the plate."
"Ahh the Weeping Willow Queen," the Torkoal said, like remembering something. Raven looked at the fire type, wondering what he is was thinking about.
"We use to call her Weeping Willow Queen, because she's like the tree, beautiful outside, but she cries inside her soul. She mustn't have easy life with that crazy husband of hers, does she?"
"Not in the short time I know her," told Raven and sighed loudly.
"I see. Well then, we'll entrust our key in your paws."
"WHAT?!" Merlin protested again.
"And you'll go with them, so you'll see with your eyes if they're worth our trust."
"I thank you for your trust" told Raven and bowed. But also he was puzzled. He was sure, they would put him into a trial to earn it.
"Shouldn't we prove his honesty once and for all in a trial?" an Emboar asked.
"This way you offend the Pyroar queen trust in this pokémon. But... I guess she would understand after all. So Zangoose, your honesty will be your strength for this fight?"
"Yes!" exclaimed Raven. "How will the trial run?"
"You will have to fight against 3 of us, from the weaker to the strongest, but don't misunderstand my words, here any pokémon you see even the less trained, has pure fire burning inside its soul. You won't have easy time even with the first opponent," the Torkoal explained. "You will face the 3 types of attacks, physical, special and status. You must be able to come out from all of those and never stop until your last opponent falls or give up."
"In this case I better put my weapons down," told Raven and began to place his sword and his daggers down.
A Charmeleon asked, "And what about your arm?"
"I cannot remove this piece of work," told Raven. "It's made be stuck there."
"Consider it as a limb Charlie," the Torkoal replied. "It looks like a quite complicated mechanic artifact, but I doubt it has magical powers in itself."
"I offer for the first round," A Chimchar stood, even if his legs trembled for fear.
"Brave decision."
"Where is the fighting arena?" asked Raven, while studying his opponent. In normal circumstances he wouldn't think much of this fire type but since he was here in the fire temple, he decided to watch out for any tricks.
"This is the arena," The Torkoal said. "We always fought in this square, under our fellows eyes. I command you to respect this."
He bowed, "Of course."
Then he stood up and got ready for his fight.
"Which challenge you'll effort, squirt?"
"P-Physical, elder," the Chimchar replied.
"Good. Remember the rules are also for you, if you'll use a move out from the Physical category, your rival will win for cheating."
"I know, elder. I'm ready!"
Raven got into a fighting post getting ready to fight this fire ape.
The Chimchar took a nervous breathe and then charged the opponent with Fire Wheel. Raven jumped aside and waited for an opening for an attack. The kid stopped shrieking on the ground as he let out his battle cry and charged again with Fire Punch.
Raven blocked it with his metal arm before countering with Slash move to make him fly.
The poor kid crashed against a column, then fell on the ground whining.
"RAISE THAT ASS AND FIGHT!" an Infernape yelled.
"Stop that!" told Raven to the Infernape. "I can see he isn't the strongest but I respect that he is doing his best."
He moved over and knelt down to the little fire-type, "Everything alright?" he asked while offering a hand.
The kid looked at him surprised, "Y-Yes... I guess..." then he looked at his hand and took it. Helping the fire-type up he wondered, "Want to keep up or should we call it a round?"
"N-No, I'm ready to continue," he said glancing up at Infernape, his father. Raven nodded, respecting the little fire type. He moved into a fair distance and told him, "Than give me your best shot."
The Chimchar then gave a louder cry and used Sacred Fire.
Raven barely dodged this move but was stunned that this Chimchar knew this move, "Ho-Oh's signature attack? What the hell?"
"Hehe, he was blessed when he was born. Ho-Oh itself gave him that gift, teaching him its own move. That's why I expect only the best from him," the Infernape said proudly.
But after that attack, the kid was drained and breathless, he could barely stand on his feet.
"But he cannot handle that power," told Raven. "Not yet! Better he stop now before he gets seriously hurt!"
Then he realized something, "Wait... Ho-Oh is one of the great Legendaries that left with Arceus! How could he have blessed your son?"
"We don't know it either, but as soon as he was born, that was one of the first moves he could use. And that's the reason why he mustn't lose!"
"Don't you see he can barely move?" asked Raven. "I rather quit than let him continue to fight. He may know a great move but he cannot control it completely or handle the energy consume. Stopping this fight now is the only way to prevent him to hurt or kill himself."
"That's your judge Zangoose," the Torkoal ended.
"In this case," told Raven and moved to the Chimchar. "I make it quick and painless."
With this intention, he attacked with Slash, with the goal to knock his opponent out. And the kid gets got knocked out.
"First round won. Now a volunteer for the Special moves turn."
"Me, me!" Charlie offered.
"This will be complicated," thought Raven.
"Your turn Charlie," the Torkoal said as the lizard pokémon chuckled and jumped down in the arena, snorting and smoking from his nostrils. "Bring it on furball!"
Raven spreaded the fingers of his hand and a Shadow Ball formed, throwing at his opponent.
The Charmeleon quickly swinged his tail and threw it back, "Seriously? That's all you got!?"
But he didn't except that Raven threw a second one while he blocked the first one and got it into the face, "Just warming up" Raven said smirking before storming forward, getting the next one ready.
"Woah!" Charlie got hit and fell back, but with a jump he's on his feet again, wiping a bleeding scratch away. "Tsk, lame," and after a deep breath he used Flamethrower.
Raven rolled aside and threw his attack, planning to get close so aiming for the fire-type would get troublesome.
However Charlie didn't stop Flamethrower, he changed his aim to deflect Raven's attack and then going back to him. Raven got closer in this moment and threw two more Shadow Balls.
Charlie jumped and used Fire Spin, trapping Raven into a fire tornado. Raven grit his teeth and countered by shooting a Focus Blast. Unfortune for Raven, Charlie dodged it as he used Incinerate. The attack contacted and Charlie smirked, only to find two new Shadow Balls going for his face and stomach.
Again he gets hit and strikes on the ground, "Urgh," he groaned but stood up again and replied with Fire Blast.
However Raven countered with a Focus Blast and two more Shadow Balls.
The attacks collides, as the two tries to go over the other. However, the energy releases, creating an explosion.
Raven used the chance to dash through the smoke to deliver a Focus Blast right into the face. Unluckily for him, Charlie got the same chance to attack with Flame Burst, resulting in the moves exploding to their face, sending both into pillars.
"... Hehehe, nice one furball," Charlie said standing again on his feet. "But you still haven't finished with me!"
He stormed forward again, shooting two more Shadow Balls. Lowering enough, Charlie misses the attack as he uses Flamethrower as Raven is close enough.
He cries in pain but got close enough to push a Focus Blast through the flames into his mouth. Charlies didn't expect it as he swallows back his own fire, releasing and coughing heavily. Tiredly, Raven panted and shot Shadow Balls.
The Charmeleon got hit and crashed again against a column. Raven panted and watched him, getting ready to attack again.
The Charmeloen stood still for a second, the he slowly got up again with a wide grin on his face, "Hehe, you hoped I was knocked out huh? Like that squirt before? Tsk fool," then he attacked again with Fire Blast.
Raven was prepared and dodged the attack while shooting his attack, aiming to stomach... not realizing he was misaiming and it would hit much lower... a painful lower hit for the fire-type.
After a scene that doesn't need to be explained, the whole crowd burst in laugh.
"My, this is actually the first time I see something like that!" the Torkoal said releasing smoke from his nostrils.
Raven tapped Charlie with his feet and mumbled, "Looks like this hit knocked him out."
"Ok, ok, enough joking around," Merlin said standing and using a fire chute to land in front of Raven.
"Then let's move."
Merlin smirked as he moved his stick up and uses Sunny Day, with a blinding light.
Raven shielded his eyes and knew he had to hit this guy with his only status move for good. So he tried to find him in this light.
Merlin smirked as he was immune at it, and jumping back he uses Will-o-Wisp. "Try and handle this, Zangoose!"
Raven used this attack to shoot his one, Toxic.
Another Will-o-Wisp, another deflecting and sending back. Raven grunted and still attempted to hit with Toxic, knowing well that he has to hit him BEFORE the fire weakens him too much.
Merlin nimbly dodged it, as he used Sunny Day again.
Raven wondered what that meant since Sunny Day doesn't get stronger with each use... but he still attempted to get his Toxic through until he got an idea.
Merlin smirked, he's not stupid, he knows Sunny Day doesn't get stronger using it, but he only plans to hold on until Raven falls exhausted.
However he didn't except for Raven to jump right at him, pinning on the ground before using Toxic.
Merlin let out a yell of pain as he elbowed Raven in his side and jumped up, trying to move less than possible to not worse the poisoning.
Raven smirked and went in a sitting position, trying to meditate to lower the effects of the burning as well, aware this is a waiting game now.
Merlin snarled at him, Raven has his burning longer than his poisoned status, but the poison worked faster than burn. He sat as well, focusing on his body to slow down the poison somehow.
And the two kept on for a while. One of the younger fire-type asked, "Why does it take so long?"
"Patience my young one. Speed isn't always the answer," the old Torkoal said.
"Alright..." he sighed.
As it goes still for a while.
Raven began to sweat as his body began to reach its limit.
Merlin's too was reaching his limit...
Raven looked at him, deciding to outlast his opponent.
Merlin looked at him as well and could see his view is getting blurry, he can't hold on much long...
Raven was panting hard and was now holding himself up on his arms.
There Merlin had only a chance, cheating. In fact he had a Sitrus Berry hidden in his sleeve, and pretending to cough, he slides it into his hand ate it, recovering a little.
Making at look at his opponent, Raven spotted the juice running down in the corner of his mouth. He raised his hand with an accusing finger and he wanted to call out the cheating but his strength left him and he fell on the ground.
Merlin chuckled as he wipped his mouth, "It seems you lost huh furball?" Merlin said while holding on his magical stick to get up, while his friends supported him.
Raven couldn't answer since he was too weak right now to act... in fact he needed somebody to help him.
"The normal-type failed his last challenge, and he lost the chance to achieve the Fire Key," the Torkoal announced. "You have to go now, and never come back."