Note: first fanfic, will improve as I go along, I have been a gamemaster on my past RP site so the action should be good, and I do not own Ben 10 or anything that is remotely like Ben 10.

AUTHOR'S NOTE OF GLORY: After the Metal Trial is done there will be a collection of mini stories again. Sort of like what happened after the Water Trial. Well, I'm sort of low on ideas so if anyone can get me some new ones…that will be great!

--

Heatblast smiled at the befuddled expression of Cuttooth's face.

"Surprised?" he said while chuckling, "This is a new feature of mine, I kind of like it, what do you think?"

Cuttooth closed his jaw and stammered, "How?"

"Barium chloride," replied Heatblast.

"And that means anything to me…how?"

"Well Cuttooth, if you had anything that we like to call a brain, you would know what barium chloride is used for."

Cuttooth snarled and said, "Fine, enlighten me, professor."

"Well, if you have ever been to a celebration with fireworks then you know what I'm talking about. Barium chloride is a chemical used in fireworks. When burned, it emits a greenish color. Its explosive properties combined with its orgasmic greenish color make barium chloride a great choice for pyrotechnics. Now, while some species can't handle this power…mine can. We can utilize its potential by engulfing it and burning it from within. As we burn the chemical, are bodies turn green and we become more powerful. Plus, we have the power to control the chemical, so it just doesn't explode like it would normally in a firecracker."

"Very interesting…" said Cuttooth who was impressed, "but where did you get this chemical? I didn't see you bring it up with you before we battled."

Heatblast pointed a green finger to a knapsack at the ground.

"Ah," Cuttooth simply said.

"Now…" said Heatblast cracking his knuckles, "The barium chloride will not last long…maybe three minutes at max…but that's all I need to take care of you."

Heatblast shot an intense fireball at Cuttooth. Cuttooth snarled and sent a stream of water at the fireball. The stream collided into the fireball and steam erupted from the fusion of the yin/yang elements. Heatblast leaned forward and shot forth like a rocket while Cuttooth did the same thing and took off like a charging waterfall.

With fists raised high in the air, the fighters bulleted their ways forward. Once they were a mere meter apart, the two launched a fist attack at one another. The two fists collided and an explosion of steam burst forth from the impact. With fists still in contact, Cuttooth smiled and said, "It's the fabled battle isn't it Heatblast? Water vs. Fire."

Heatblast returned the smile and opened his free fist. Jumping away from Cuttooth, he launched a torrent of green fireballs at Cuttooth. Cuttooth danced nimbly away from them like a gymnast. The fireballs exploded fiercely upon impact of the ground. Heatblast then aimed his arms to the ground and fired them with a ferocious flame. The force of the fire accelerated his body up, up, up into the fabled and cloudy sky. In response to this outrageous move, Cuttooth stretched out his arms to its fullest extent. He began to breathe deeply and heavily, blue and red blood vessels pulsated from his arms as he concentrated strongly. The arena began to shake dangerously as he concentrated. The walls of the arena then burst open as water gushed out of newly opened pipes and fountains. The water twisted and turned in the air like an eel as it honed in to its master.

Once he was high in the air, Heatblast opened the palm of his hands and shot a green fire ball that pulsated like a star. The fire ball screamed through the air as if a soul was being tortured with the most ungodly methods ever. It hurled through the air to the Crocodillian, who was preparing to defend himself against this onslaught. The water from the pipes and fountains came just in the nick of time, for Cuttooth used it to just barely stop the fire bomb. Upon impact, the fire bomb exploded like a firecracker. Green flame shot this way and that making a beautiful spectacle. Cuttooth lowered his arms in exhaustion and the giant water shield fell to the ground in a great splash.

Heatblast was not done yet, for just as he was about to fall back down, he flipped himself in mid-air and pointed head first to the ground. His feet then shot forth a powerful flame and he zoomed back down to the earth or more specifically, towards Cuttooth. Cuttooth was too exhausted however to put his water shield back up. He was too exhausted to even move. Locking his huge jaws in place and raising his arms for protection, he waited for the attack. Heatblast zoomed through the air and slammed into him hard. With his rocket feet still going, Heatblast picked up Cuttooth and the two fighters zoomed right into a large boulder. The boulder exploded into pieces and fragments as the two fighters collided into it. When the pieces were done falling, the audience got a good look at the two fighters.

The two of them, who were utterly exhausted at this point, were lying there side by side. Heatblast opened his red eyes and realized that he was no longer green. Groaning, he pushed himself back up and said to himself, "Must've used it all up after that last attack…" Heatblast wobbled a bit and stumbled around before he was finally stable upon the ground. He heard a groan behind him and turned around to see Cuttooth also getting back up. This time, Heatblast groaned with agony instead of in pain.

"Damn…I thought I got you good with my final attack…"

Cuttooth said nothing, instead, with a flex of his hand the water from the arena began to move quickly. It slithered about upon the ground like a snake until it reached the knapsack that Heatblast brought onto the arena. When enough water was under the knapsack, Cuttooth twisted his hand again and the water shot up like a geyser, all the while bringing the knapsack with it. Then, Cuttooth gripped his hand tightly and the water pushed the knapsack to the side. The knapsack tumble through the air and landed outside of the arena. Something fell out of the knapsack but neither of the warriors saw that.

Cuttooth laughed and said, "Now that you no longer have your little power-ups. It's time I end this fight."

Heatblast had a look of anger and annoyance upon his face. With quick actions, he raised his hand and fired a fireball at Cuttooth. The fireball whizzed through the air and landed squarely onto Cuttooth's chest. However, since Cuttooth still had his body armor of water the fireball fizzed up. Cuttooth smiled and then moved his arms with fluidity. The water from the arena came to life once again and began to circle Heatblast from the air like sharks. They then zoomed in toward their fire foe. Heatblast, who was still tired from his earlier attack, exhaustedly dodge each of the water attacks. But upon hitting the floor the water would quickly get back up and hunt down Heatblast. It wasn't long before finally the water sharks hit Heatblast. They punched him hard in the gut and face and he cried out in agony as the water "burned" his skin. After a minute of this constant abuse, Heatblast fell to the ground. Cuttooth calmly walked up to the fallen hero and put his ugly foot upon his chest. Concentrating most of his water power into his left arm, Cuttooth raised his arm and fired a torrent of water right at Heatblast's right arm. Heatblast screamed in agony as the water thundered down upon his arm. His arm twisted and spazed in pain and torture as the water slowly ate away his flesh. Heatblast tried to get Cuttooth off of him but Cuttooth was too strong. Ever relentlessly, he went with the attack. Slowly, Heatblast could feel his arm fall to pieces. He felt his fingers go first…then his hand…then his lower arm and finally his upper arm. Once Heatblast's arm was gone, Cuttooth silenced the attack and got off of Heatblast. Heatblast moaned with pain as the countdown from the announcer began.

"1…2…3…"

Heatblast moaned and tried to get back up, but it was of no use. His whole body told him to stay down but he knew he couldn't. With tired eyes he happened to look to his side and saw something. Heatblast blinked and saw that it was one of the chemicals that he brought to the fight. The chemical was still in its solid form, wrapped around in a tight, clear plastic. Heatblast nodded to himself, if he could get to that chemical, he would be able to fight Cuttooth evenly again. Ignoring the pain in his body, Heatblast got back up and the announcer became silent with his countdown.

Without hesitating, Heatblast took off to the mineral. Cuttooth turned around just in time to see Heatblast and then to see the mineral. Cuttooth got wide eyed and quickly became angry at himself for being so blind. With twist of his wrist the water on the ground quickly slid over to the silver colored mineral. Heatblast saw this and ran faster than ever but he knew that he was too late. The water picked up the mineral and quickly brought it to Cuttooth. Heatblast stopped and cursed Cuttooth with foul words. Cuttooth smiled and bent over to pick up the mineral. He looked at it with curiosity and wonder as it dimly shined. With a quick glance at Heatblast he said, "You know…I think I'll keep this…as a trophy in remembering the day I defeated the great Heatblast."

"Over my dead body."

"That's the idea!"

Cuttooth raised his free hand and with quick, violent and conductor-like motions the water from the arena rose up from the dry ground. The water twisted and turned in midair until it became a funnel. Then, after formation, it thundered across the arena to Heatblast. Heatblast knew he couldn't stop the funnel so he tried to run away from it as fast as he cold. The funnel though was too fast for him. Like a giant shark going in for the kill, the funnel snagged Heatblast and began to throw him about. This way and that, Heatblast spun around limp like a rag doll. The water tore away his outer flames and began to go for the inner core of his body. Knowing that he didn't have much time to live, Heatblast took a deep breath and blasted himself out of the funnel. He fell through the cold air and landed hard upon the dense ground. Like a dead animal that was touched by the grim reaper, Heatblast did not stir from his resting place.

"1…2…3…"

Heatblast dimly heard the announcer's voice ringing across the stadium but he did not stir. Lying there peacefully, he wanted it so badly to end now.

But…

--

Several months ago…

Ripjaws grabbed Heatblast's hand tightly and said, "Heatblast! Please don't go! Why can't you train here with Cannonbolt?"

Heatblast smiled at her and place a reassuring hand on her shoulder. He then said, "Ripjaws…Cannonbolt said it was absolutely necessary to train on his home planet. He said that training there would be very beneficial for my fighting skills."

"But you don't have to go and train! You won't even know if you will be picked for the Metal Trial!"

Heatblast was silent for a moment. He then said, "Cannonbolt told me that I will be in the Metal Trial…"

"He did?"

"Yes…he even told me who I was fighting…but I swore to him that I wouldn't tell anyone about it…"said Heatblast who saw the look of curiosity on Ripjaws' face.

"But…but…why do you even have to train? You're one of the best fighters around!"

Heatblast grabbed Ripjaws' hands and looked her straight in the eye, he then said, "Ripjaws…I have to train…what if by some chance I were to lose the round and thus cost us the entire match?"

Ripjaws stood thoughtful with that question, she then said, "We would never see each other again…"

"Exactly."

Ripjaws looked like she was about to start crying…however she sniffled and said, "Well…there's only one thing you can do…"

Heatblast looked at her oddly and said, "What?"

Ripjaws smiled, "Win."

--

Cuttooth screamed in delight as he saw his foe hit the ground, he screamed even louder when he saw that he didn't get back up. Pumping his fists in the air (along with the silver chemical too) he shouted, "WATER BEATS FIRE! WATER BEATS FIRE! Haha!"

The crowd booed at him for his arrogance, but Cuttooth shrugged them away. After all he won didn't he?

Just as he was about to do a great bow, he heard a voice around him that almost stopped his heart.

"Yo…Cuttooth…I didn't hear no bell ring…"

Cuttooth snarled and turned around to see Heatblast standing there, and he was ready to dish out some hurtin.