Ch.2-The missing medals

Yeah. This is where Rosie comes in. ^^


Toshi opened his left eyes slightly with a grunt when someone knocked on his door. He sat up, his dark blue blankets falling around his waist, revealing his bare chest that was dotted with faint scars; an old scar crossed the circumference of Toshi's right arm like a band.

"Hello?" Someone questioned. "Anyone home?"

Toshi mumbled tiredly as he swung his legs over the edge of his bed and stood up.

"Toshi?"

Toshi opened his door a crack, poking his head around the edge of the door as he kept his half-naked body well hidden. "Diguns…?"

"I forgot a few things yesterday. Here's a sonar system for detecting fossils and a pickaxe to dig them up." Diggins handed Toshi a small rectangular contraption and a sharp-edged, foldable pickaxe. "The sonar detects items underground, including fossil rocks. You should get some practice first, so I suggest you go to a trial dig site. Go talk to Bea Ginner in the Park Area. She'll show you the ropes. Anyway," Diggins turned, raising his hand in farewell. "I've got to get back to the Fossil Center."

Toshi gave a half-hearted wave as he closed his door. He stared at the sonar in his hand. "Seems like you may get a new partner, Spinax."


Toshi glanced around as he walked through the Park Area; the area was large and with no building in sight. There were only trees, a couple benches, square-shaped bushes, and lampposts spread around the entire place. Toshi had his sonar in his pocket and his minimized pickaxe connected to his belt as he searched for Bea.

"Are you the new Fighter?"

Toshi halted and glanced to his left to see a woman with blue hair, dark brown eyes, and wearing dirty brown jeans and a purple T-shirt standing close to a large lawn. Slowly, he headed toward the woman. "Yeah."

"My name's Bea Ginner; no jokes, please. I teach all the rookies who come here the basics of digging up fossils. Shall we go to the trial dig site and get some hands-on experiences?" Bea led Toshi to the center of the lawn behind her. "Just tap your sonar and it'll detect items. Now, I'll bury three rocks. I want you to dig them up."

Toshi looked away, giving Bea a chance to bury the three rocks.

"All right."

Toshi stared at Bea.

"Use your sonar to find the three rocks I buried. I'll even let you keep fossil rocks you dig up."

Toshi searched around, giving his sonar an occasional tap. When he heard a pinging sound from the machine, he paused and used his pickaxe to dig up a fossil rock. It was a Spinax head.

"That's a fossil you've revived." Bea explained, taking the rock from Toshi as the boy continued his search for the other two rocks. "So, I'll take it."

Toshi picked up a regular rock. He stared at it with mild disappointment before dropping it.

"Yeah, that'll happen occasionally."

Toshi soon found the last rock; an unknown fossil rock.

"That's a fossil rock you haven't revived yet." Bea said. "You won't know what's in that fossil until you've cleaned it. You can wander around and dig up fossils if you want. Just let me know when you're ready to leave."

"Yeah." Toshi placed his right hand in his pocket, cradling the fossil rock in his left arm. "I'm ready to leave."


Toshi entered the Fossil Center and headed to the cleaning room.

"Hello!"

Toshi hopped back as a white robot with a swirling red horn abruptly appeared in front of him.

The robot caught Toshi's fossil-the boy had dropped it in his shock-and held it out to the boy.

"Who's this…?" Toshi questioned as he took the fossil and the robot stared at him with what could only be called admiration.

"Well now, Toshi, let me introduce KL-33N." Dr. Diggins said as he walked toward Toshi and the robot. "He'll be assisting you with cleaning."

"Pleased to meet you." KL-33N whirred. "KL-33N at your service."

"KL-33N is here to manage your fossil rocks and cleaned fossils." Dr. Diggins explained.

"I am unrivaled when it comes to revival!" KL-33N chirped as he saluted excitedly. "Ready to serve!"

"KL-33N is also programmed to observe your cleaning and learn over time." Dr. Diggins continued. "When he's watched you long enough, you may well be able to let him handle all your cleaning for you."

"I will do my best!" KL-33N announced proudly as he clasped his metallic arms in front of him. "And I will certainly learn faster by watching the master!"

"You've got to give him credit for his eagerness, eh?" Dr. Diggins laughed. "I'm sure you guys will get along great!" He gave a short wave as he exited the room. "See you!"

Toshi stared after Dr. Diggins, then looked at KL-33N. "All right, why don't you watch me clean this rock I dug up?" Toshi motioned to the fossil rock in his arm.

"Yes, Master!" KL-33N cheered.

Toshi smirked as he headed toward the cleaning machine. "Love your enthusiasm, KL."

KL-33N watched Toshi with intense interest as the boy carefully cleaned the rock. Once he had finished, a head of a medium-sized carnivore was revealed.

"A Shanshan head." KL-33N noted as he picked up the fossil. "I'll commerce with the revival." He floated toward the revival machine, placed the fossil inside, the pressed the green start button.

A few minutes later, a Vivosaur half Spinax's size appeared on the screen. The Vivosaur had pink scales, a tilted, fan-shaped appendage at the end of its tail and three yellow spikes sat above its green eyes.

"You now have a Shanshan." KL-33N handed Toshi Shanshan's Dino Medal.

Toshi brandished Shanshan's Dino Medal to Spinax. "Told you you'd have a new friend, Spinax."

Spinax growled while Shanshan gave a cute snarl.


After he had lunch, Toshi returned to the trial dig site to search for more fossils, but failed in finding any new ones.

"Oh, hi there!"

Toshi glanced behind him to see a boy his age walking toward him.

The boy wore brown jeans with flames dotted here and there and a matching jacket and hat; he wore a black T-shirt underneath his jacket.

"I'm Holt. Good to meetcha."

"Toshi." Toshi gradually extended his hand to shake Holt's.

"You've only fought one-on-one battles, right?"

"I've only be in one one-on-one battle, actually."

"Let me show you the deal with two-on-two battles. Why don't I test you, rookie?"

Toshi smiled challengingly. "I won't lose."

"Don't think I'm going easy on ya." Holt chuckled as he and Toshi pulled out two Dino Medals. "Go, Igua and V-raptor!"

A large, green-scaled Vivosaur with thick straight claws for thumbs appeared next to a small, blue-feathered Vivosaur with blue spines stretched along its back and head; Igua was a Herbivore, while V-raptor was a meat-eater.

"V-raptor, Veloci-claw on Shanshan! Igua, Fist Jab on Spinax!"

Igua and V-raptor charged at Toshi's Vivosaurs.

"Spinax, Spinax Fang on V-raptor! Shanshan, Shan fang on Igua!"

Shanshan charged at Igua, confusing V-raptor, who changed direction and continued running toward the Vivosaur. Spinax waited for his chance, watching the fight before him.

Shanshan unexpectedly leaped up as he neared Igua and V-raptor crashed into the herbivore.

Spinax dashed at the two confused Vivosaur as Shanshan landed behind Igua and slammed his teeth into the plant-eater's back twice while Spinax attacked V-raptor. Angered, Igua slashed his sharp-clawed thumb at Shanshan, slicing a small laceration in the Vivosaur's side. V-raptor clawed Spinax's snout with his razor-sharp back claws as he scrambled to stand up.

"V-raptor, Veloci-claw on Shanshan again!" Holt ordered. "Igua, another Fist Jab on Spinax!"

Spinax evaded Igua's strike, then sank his teeth into the Vivosaur's neck, tossed the herbivore to the ground, and crashed his heavy tail into Igua's back.

Shanshan tried to copy Spinax's impromptu move, but V-raptor bit his claws into the Vivosaur, landing a critical hit.

Shanshan wailed as he returned to his Dino Medal.

"Finish him off!" Holt yelled.

Spinax roared, glaring at the rushing V-raptor, then grabbed Igua's neck as the Vivosaur struggled to get up, and hurled Igua into the oncoming V-raptor. Both Vivosaur collided into each other and vanished simultaneously.

"Wow! That's some good battling there." Holt praised, patting Toshi's back. "You beat me and I'm pretty good! I guess I'll see you later." Holt waved as he walked away.

"Hey there, Toshi!"

Toshi peered to his left as Dr. Diggins trotted toward him.

"Looks like you've revived two Vivosaurs already."

Toshi stared at the two Dino Medals he held in his right hand as he gave a thin smile. "They're pretty strong, too."

"In that case, I guess you've learned all you can at the trial dig site! I'm giving you permission to travel to an honest-to-goodness dig site-Greenhorn Plains! Talk to Beth at the harbor to go to dig sites. Good luck, all right?" Dr. Diggins strode away, waving. "Don't excavate anything I wouldn't excavate!"

Toshi watched Dr. Diggins leave before he looked at his two Dino Medals. "You guys ready to really excavate?"

Spinax and Shanshan gave affirmative bellows.

Toshi smirked, placing both Dino Medals in his pocket. "Let's get going, then."


Toshi glanced around as he halted. He stood in a large, grassy area with trees here and there, but nothing of interest though it was a pace that was untouched by humans.

"Hey, Toshi!"

Toshi peered to his right to see Holt coming toward him.

"Good to see you again."

Toshi quietly nodded.

"I was just on my way to clean some fossils." Holt placed his hand on Toshi's shoulder as he walked past. "I'm sure I'll see you around the island."

Toshi stared after the boy, then got to work searching for new fossils. Once he found two-placing them in the backpack he wore on his back for safekeeping-he headed deeper into Greenhorn Plains and soon spotted a man standing at the entrance to another part of the plains. The man had black hair, squinty black eyes, glasses, and wore a clean, light blue suit.

"I'm a member of the Fossil Center." The man explained as Toshi approached him. "The area past here is extremely rich with rare and incredible fossils. Fossil Battles are strictly prohibited beyond this point. We can't risk damaging the fossil, can we?" The man held out his hand. "You'll have to hand over your Dino Medals to me before entering."

Toshi took out his two medals and stared at them. Warily, he placed them into the man's palm.

The man smiled as he stepped aside. "Thanks for your compliance. You're free to enter."

Toshi watched the man as he walked into the area, thinking something was strange, then shrugged; if he could find a rare fossil, it would all be worth it. After a couple of minutes of searching, Toshi only came up with regular rocks. He growled in annoyance as he stomped toward the area entrance.

"That dirty little…" Toshi stopped when he spotted two Dino Medals lying on the ground close to the gate where the Fossil Center worker had stood, but now it was empty. He picked the medals up and after checking them over, Toshi confirmed that they were his.

"Hey! Wh-where'd he go?"

Toshi glanced behind him to see a girl his age trotting toward him.

The girl had pink hair in thick pigtails, equally pink eyes, and wore blue jeans, a gold T-shirt, and had a pink hat atop her head. The girl halted close to Toshi and glanced around fervently.

"The guy from the Fossil Center who was here before-where did he go? I wasn't the only one to hand my Dino Medals over to that guy, was I?" The girl started to search around for her Dino Medals. After a few seconds, she straightened from her crouch with furious eyes. "We've all been tricked! There wasn't a single amazing or rare fossil to be found around here! All I got was a bunch of rusty, dirty old garbage! And to make matters worse, he ran off with my medals!"

The girl suddenly stared at Toshi as if she finally realized he was there and stalked toward him, grabbing his right wrist, which held his Dino Medals.

"Wait! You've still got your Dino Medals. How'd you manage that?"

Toshi twisted his wrist out of the strange girl's grasp and placed his Dino Medals in his right pocket.

"Oh, I get it; you're a rookie. Your Vivosaurs are still pretty weak. That's why he just tossed your Dino Medals to the ground." The girl gave a frustrated growl, clenching her hands into fists. "But my Vivosaurs were really strong! I was ready for my level-up battle." She placed her left hand against her chin thoughtfully; Toshi had to admit this girl was unpredictable the way she changed moods so rapidly.

"That guy said he worked for the Fossil Center, right? So I guess that's the place to start." The girl strode past Toshi, smiling proudly.

"Come on! Let's get to the Fossil Center!"

"Whoa. 'Let's'?" Toshi questioned and the girl halted to look back at him. "As in we? Nu-uh. I didn't say I'd help you." Toshi headed the opposite way the girl was heading, raising his left hand in a farewell gesture. "Later."

The girl frowned, grabbed the back of Toshi's shirt, and dragged him toward Greenhorn Plain's entrance.

"I said we're going to the Fossil Center." She growled.

Toshi only sighed in response.


The girl paused in front of Wendy's desk, Toshi standing beside her, and glared at Wendy.

"I sure hope you have an explanation for this!" She said angrily.

"Sorry, miss, but I don't understand." Wendy replied in confusion. "Can I help you with something?"

"Help me with something?" The girl demanded, slamming her hands on the desk and leaning closer to Wendy with irritated eyes. "How about getting back my Dino Medals your employee stole from me in Greenhorn Plains!"

"Greenhorn Plains, you say?" Wendy stuttered, stepping away from the infuriated girl in front of her. "Let me check the duty roster." She pointed toward her right as she skittered off in that direction. "It'll just take a moment."

The girl stepped back with an annoyed huff as she crossed her arms over her chest and agitatedly tapped her foot.

A few seconds later, Wendy came back, holding a sheet of paper in her left hand. "That's odd…" She murmured, staring at the sheet. "We don't actually have anyone scheduled for duty in Greenhorn Plains today."

"Wh-what?" The girl snapped, snatching the paper from Wendy and quickly scanning over it. "What do you mean? Who stole my medals, then?" The girl tossed the paper behind her and said, as Wendy caught the paper before it could hit the ground, "This is very bad. This is very bad! We'll have to go to the police."

The girl grabbed Toshi's wrist and towed him out of the Fossil Center.

Toshi glanced over his shoulder and mouthed, "Help me." as the girl cried, "Let's get to the Guild Area!"

Wendy shook her head and mouthed back, "No."


"I'm sure Bullwort will be able to help us!" The girl declared as she and Toshi waked into the Guild Area.

Like the Fighter Area, the Guild Area had three buildings. On the far left was a large structure with a beautifully carved wing atop it. Next to the building-which announced itself as the Richmond building-was a small police station where the girl was dragging Toshi. And the last building, which looked like the Fossil Center, was a small store that sold sweets, clothes, and items for Fossil Fighters.

"Is there something wrong?" An officer questioned as the girl halted in front of the desk he stood at.

Inside the police station, the floor was tiled and had the reception desk square in the middle of the tiny lobby. Two doors stood on either side of the desk; one obviously led to the cell room while the other must have lead to the Captain's office.

"Yes, there is something wrong." The girl said. "We need to talk to Captain Bullwort immediately."

"Why is it 'we'?" Toshi asked, glancing at the girl beside him.

"Captain Bullwort is in his office…" The officer pointed to the door on his right with a sigh. "As usual. I'm sure he can help you with whatever problems you have."

"Thank you very much." The girl nodded, striding toward the door, all the while dragging Toshi behind her. "I'll talk to him."

"Then why are you dragging me along?" Toshi inquired in mild frustration as they entered Bullwort's office.

A man of large build stood near a desk, looking calm and dignified. He had brown hair, gray eyes, and wore the officer uniform and a blue cap on his head.

"Captain!" The girl released Toshi and ran up to the man that seemed more like a football player than a police captain. "Captain Bullwort!"

Bullwort peered down at the girl and smiled as he crouched down so he was eyelevel with her. "Ah, what's the matter, young lady? Did someone throw away one of your dolls or something?"

"Hardly!" The girl replied angrily. "My Dino Medals were stolen! My Di-no Me-da-ls! Without them, do I even count as a Fighter? I need the police to investigate immediately!" The girl pointed behind her. "The criminal could be out there stealing Medals right now!"

Toshi stepped to the side, his face an unreadable blank, getting out of the way of the girl's pointing finger.

"Well, that is serious." Bullwort said as he stood up from his squat. "Do you remember what the suspect looked like?"

"Yeah, umm…." The girl gazed at the ground as she tried to remember the thief's face. "He has eyes like a Lambeosaurus…and his mouth was exactly like an Anatotitan's!"

What…? Toshi pondered in confusion, trying to picture the two dinosaurs in his mind.

"Hmm…" Bullwort sighed. "Finding this criminal might be tougher than I thought…."

"But I had ten Dino Medals!" The girl protested. "Do you know how long it took me to get them? I was going to take my level-up battle!" She turned her back on Bullwort with an agitated growl. "I won't stand for this!"

Toshi scratched the back of his neck, wondering when this scenario and the girl's tirade were going to be over.

The girl glanced at Toshi as if once again remembering that he were there.

"Oh, sorry!" She apologized. "Here I am dragging you all over the Island and I haven't even introduced myself! My name's Rosie."

Toshi gave a low snort, angered that she'd tell him now instead of earlier and muttered, "I'm Toshi."

"Your name's Toshi?" Rosie asked before she smiled. "Nice to meet you!"

Toshi gave a short nod.

"I'd be really grateful if you helped me look for the thief."

"I guess I already agreed when you dragged me the first time." Toshi growled, narrowing his eyes slightly as he gazed at Rosie coldly. "I don't have a choice, anyhow."

Rosie grinned, obviously delighted.

"Wait a minute!" Bullwort interrupted. "If you suddenly got a bunch of brand-new Vivosaurs, you'd want to try them out, right? I would think the criminal is heading someplace where Fossil Battles are fought."

"Some place like….Fossil Stadium!" Rosie gasped. "That's it! Thank you, Captain Bullwort!" Rosie glanced at Toshi eagerly. "Let's get to Fossil Stadium!"

Toshi watched as Rosie bolted out of the room and slowly followed after her.

At least she's not dragging me anymore…He thought.


"Let's get in a Fossil Battle!" Rosie stated as she and Toshi neared Fossil Stadium. "Someone could be using my precious Vivosaurs!"

"And by us," Toshi sighed as they entered the stadium. "You mean me."

"Are you here to compete in a Fossil Battle?" Tiffany questioned as Toshi and Rosie halted in front of her desk.

"I am." Toshi growled, giving a swift glower in Rosie's direction.

"May I please see your Fighter's License?"

Toshi slid his license toward Tiffany and she sliced it through a card reader.

"Toshi, our records list you as a level-one Fighter. When you're ready, please head through the door on you're right."

Toshi walked toward the door and entered into the hallway. He halted at the end and peered into the ongoing battle in the stadium. It was a boy his age with brown hair, green eyes, and wearing blue overalls and a brown T-shirt against a man in his early eighties with snow white hair, blue eyes, and donning blue jeans and a yellow T-shirt.

"Hey!'' Rosie snapped, pointing at the boy. "That guy has my Vivosaurs, the rat!" Rosie glanced at Toshi with a smile. "Don't worry-those Vivosaurs aren't my best ones. You should be able to win easily. Remember, you have to win!" She pushed Toshi into the arena and the door shut behind him before Toshi could protest. Instead, he faced his opponent, who was hilariously named P.B. Jay.

Jay tossed up his two Dino Medals and a Spinax and a V-raptor appeared.

Toshi called out his Shanshan and Spinax.

"V-raptor, Veloci-claw on Spinax!" Jay ordered; he didn't command his Spinax to do anything.

"Spinax counter with Spinax Fang!"

V-raptor charged at Spinax, readying his sickle claws on his feet.

Spinax dodged, slammed his foot into V-raptor and pinned the squealing Vivosaur to the ground before clamping his fangs around V-raptor's throat.

V-raptor gave a strangled cry before disappearing. Spinax gave a triumphant roar.

"Spinax Fang on Spinax!" Jay called.

Jay's Spinax dashed at Toshi's Spinax.

Spinax gave a fierce look at his oncoming opponent, then grinned when Shanshan, after an order from Toshi, snapped his teeth in Spinax's knee.

Jay's Spinax snarled, trying to shake off the annoying Vivosaur, and finally managed to detach Shanshan from his leg.

Shanshan struck the ground with a yelp.

Spinax stared down at his bleeding knee then glared up at Shanshan with a low snarl. He charged at the distracted Vivosaur, who was still trying to figure out a way to stand up, but was interrupted in his rush when Toshi's Spinax crashed its head in a random headbutt, knocking the other Vivosaur into the stadium wall.

Toshi smiled as Jay's Spinax disappeared and recalled Shanshan and Spinax.

"You did it, Toshi!" Rosie cheered as Toshi exited the stadium, Jay sadly trailing behind him. Rosie glowered at Jay as she, him, and Toshi halted near Tiffany's desk. "I'll take my Vivosaurs back now, thank you very much."

"Whoa, whoa." Jay held up his hands defensively. "Hold up. I bought these Dino Medals with my own money." He slowly lowered his hands. "What makes you think they're yours?"

Rosie raised a confused eyebrow as she questioned, "You bought them? Are you sure you didn't steal them from me?"

"Steal them?" Jay shook his head. "No, of course not! What's going on here?"

"The Vivosaurs you were just battling with are the very same ones that were stolen from me in Greenhorn Plains! Who did you buy them from?"

"I bought them from a guy named Medal-Dealer Joe." Jay explained. "Can't miss him-he's got eyes like a Lambeosaurus."

"That's the guy!" Rosie cried. "He calls himself Medal-Dealer Joe, huh? Do you know where we can find him?"

Jay shook his head. "I don't know where he is now, but I first heard about him at the Fossil Guild."

"The Fossil Guild." Rosie confirmed. "Got it. We'll check it out." Rosie turned to leave when she remembered something.

"Oh…I know you were a victim here, too, and I feel bad, but would you mind giving me my Dino Medals back?"

"Of course." Jay held out the two Dino Medals to Rosie. "I never would have bought them if I thought they were stolen property."

Rosie took her Dino Medals with a relived smile.

"And something will have to be done about that conman Medal-Dealer Joe." Jay walked away from Toshi and Rosie. "I'll talk to the police."

Rosie looked at Toshi. "Ok, Toshi, let's get over to the Fossil Guild."

"As long as I can get home quicker." Toshi mumbled as he trailed after Rosie. "I'm getting kind of bored."


Yeah. Rosie is really excitable and drags Toshi not only into battles he doesn't want to do, but into activities, such as swimming, that he doesn't want to do.