Chapter 14: Giovanni, the Minion of Earth

Joed came out of the cocoon different. He had an armor made of leaves but is very strong. He had gloves and shoes that were made by the vines that grew out of the armor. His hair was long and tied to a knot.

"Oh my god. So...I really am the earth guardian?"

"Yes. Now go out and sit on the throne so the Queen will get stronger. When all the guardians are awake, she will become strong again and defeat Quirella."

Joed never expected the surprise waiting for him outside the room.

"Congratulations. So you are the Earth Guardian."

"Yes. I am indeed the Earth Guardian. And may I know who you are?"

The man stood up and turned around so Joed can see his face.

"I am Giovanni. I am one of the minions of QQ."

"Xyrus? Is that you? What are you doing here?"

"Who is Xyrus? My name is Giovanni, Minion of Earth."

"So you also have earth powers? Where did you get them?"

"QQ gave them to me in change for my soul and service."

"QQ? Who is that? And why did he send you to me?"

"QQ is Queen Quirella. And she has sent me to destroy you."

"I thought it was Queen Frella who rules the land not Quirella?"

"Not for long. Now get ready to be destroyed."

Joed has no idea what kind of abilities Giovanni has. All he knows is that he looks exactly like Xyrus Bongalos and he has earth powers.

"Wait. This is not fair. I just got my powers and do not know how to use them."

"That's too bad…for you. Now get ready to perish."

Unfortunately, for Giovanni, he has no idea how strong the guardian powers are.

"Stalactic Wrath!" Shouted Giovanni as Joed ran to hide from him. However, he was too slow to run from the stalactite spikes that were about to hit him. Then, a voice from his head told him what to do.

"Velvet Earth..." Whispered Joed as the stalactite spikes were about to hit him. Suddenly, Joed fell into the earth like diving into water and evaded the spikes.

"Where did you go? And how did you know that spell?"

"I don't know how, I...I just heard this voice in my head that told me what to do."

"Well it's not going to happen again...Seismic Wave!"

As Giovanni waved his hand, a giant wave of earth grew up high and hurdled towards Joed.

"This isn't good. I need to do something. Maybe I can think of something. Wait, if the spell I did before let me pass through anything made of earth, maybe it can work with this. It's worth a try...Velvet Earth!"

As the pile of rocks and earth was about to fall on Joed he just had enough time to say the spell and passed through the waves of rocks.

"All right! It worked! Now it is my turn to attack you. Stalactic Wrath!"

As he said the words, Joed waited for something to happen but nothing did.

"What happened? Why isn't it working? It worked for you and we both have the same kind of powers."

"Don't you get it? Your powers are made to do good while mine is made for evil. We may have the same kind of powers but it doesn’t mean that we have exactly the same capabilities."

"This is not fair."

"Life is not fair kid."

"Would you kindly spare my life then?"

"You're about to die guardian...Imperial Earthquake!"

The earth around Joed tossed and crumbled. The earth was about to swallow him when suddenly, the voice came back inside Joed's head and whispered something.

"I’m not going to give up that easily Giovanni...Tree of Millennia."

While saying the spell the voice gave to Joed, he raised his hand and waved it at Giovanni.

The quake around Joed stopped and at first, silence fell. After a few seconds, it started to quake again below Joed's feet.

"Looks like your spell backfired."

"Just wait and see..."

As it quaked below him, leaves started to grow below him.

"What is this? What are you doing?"

After a few leaves, a tree started to grow. It grew and grew until Joed can touch the roof of the cavern.

"Now, you are the one who is going to die Giovanni..."

"What are you going to do?"

Joed took seeds from the leaves of the tree and threw it at Giovanni.

"Seeds? Is that all you've got?"

"Seed of Silence!"

Suddenly, Giovanni felt weaker.

"What's happening? I'm growing weaker. What have you done?"

"Look at the seeds."

When Giovanni saw the seeds, it was starting to grow. The more the seeds grow the weaker Giovanni gets.

"The seeds are absorbing my life energy. That was unexpected. I shouldn't have under-estimated you."

"You shouldn't have."

Slowly, the seeds grow into a tree as Giovanni was turning into nothing but ashes.

"Awesome! I love being a guardian!"