Digadig Village II
"I can't let you go beyond this point." The attendant stated as the duo walked up. "It's officially off-limits."
Creed held up the clearance card.
"Ah, I see you have a clearance card." A pause. "If Dr. Diggin's says it's okay, then I have no choice but to let you pass…" he looked reluctant before the light of an idea flickered in his eyes. "Going beyond this point requires a certain amount of maturity. I'll have to test your maturity level… Are you ready for some battling?"
Well, this should be interesting. A sharp nod of confirmation, a glint in aquamarine eyes.
"Well, then." The attendant smiled, "I'll go ahead and explain about elemental types before the battle." He cleared his throat. "Each vivosaur has a specific type. Knowing these types is extremely important in battle. There are five different types—Fire, Earth, Air, Water, and Neutral. A vivosaur's type can be determined by the attacks they use after they have three integrated bone segments, or, if you know how to see it, by their natural fighting style. Different types are strong or weak against each other. For example, Water is strong against Fire but weak against Air. Attacks from vivosaur with an elemental advantage results in greater damage caused and attacks from the enemy will cause less damage to your vivosaur. Neutral Vivosaurs have no elemental affiliation so there are no type advantages with them. This makes them safe…but kind of dull."
Rounding down with the lecture, the attendant smiled. "It can be tough to try and remember the relationships among all the types…but you'll learn as you go." A warning look, "Don't overdo it trying to memorize them right away!" He pulled out a pair of Dino Medals. "With that, let's see how well you handle yourself. Let's proceed with the test."
Creed eyed the two opposing vivosaurs. The first was a brown theropod Aero's size, called a Venator, and the second, called an alectro, was a smaller relative of the T-rex and only about six meters long and blue in color.
Earth and Water, Creed noted.
With a twist and a snap she released two of her Dino Medals. Ready?
A swirling gale blending starbursts of eager yellow-oranges and aggressive streaks of red. Ready and willing, Creed. Aero sent eagerly.
Crackling spiral of fiery red-oranges amidst a solid background of dark red fervor. Fight, clash, burn!
Easy Ferno. Creed rebuked one of her newest vivosaurs, tossing out the Dino Medals.
Aero roared loudly as he appeared side-by-side with his newest battle partner.
A smaller than average s-raptor, only six meters rather than eight, Ferno was lithe, quick, and powerful. He was also a Fire-type vivosaur with a very different personality from Creed's three Wind-type vivosaurs.
Aero rumbled a warning as he moved his big head to restrain Ferno from lunging at the opponents.
Ferno, enough! Don't be reckless. Creed sent sharply as she forcefully slammed down on the dancing dark reds that represented the connection with Ferno. Mentally digging her heels in, she grabbed the roaring fire and forced it to bank, not bothering to be especially gentle.
Fire smoldered amidst suddenly rolling greens of submission, accented by flecks of pale red resentment. …Fine!
The Chinese thief rumbled his annoyance out loud but stepped back. He glanced back and shot Creed a look of grudging respect.
Good, Aero: take point. Ferno: Starboard flank.
"Venator Bite on Spinax!" the attendant ordered.
The venator lunged forward, jaws wide. Aero didn't have time to react, but he didn't need to. Ferno broke formation and shot forward at speeds almost on par with Chicane.
A flying leap, Ferno slammed both feet into the venator's chest and pushed off, hard. The venator went flying back. The sound of snapping wood let it be known that it had impacted with a tree.
"Blue Fang!"
Shocked flames spluttered and steamed, hot reds abruptly melted to disoriented muddy brown-reds and brown-grays.
Creed watched impassively as Ferno slammed hard into the ground after the sneak attack, side steaming where cold had collided with heat. It told quite a bit about water-type vivosaur's fighting style preference, and, hopefully, would teach Ferno to look before he leaped.
"Blue Fang again!" the attendant ordered
The alectro dived at Ferno from the side. Ferno was too dazed from the previous attack to move.
"Spinax Fang!"
What transpired next was like watching a multi-car pileup.
The alectro was grabbed from behind by Aero, who reared back to heave the smaller theropod.
A sudden lack of wind amidst graying colors and starbursts of dizzying white.
Aero crashed loudly onto his side, the recovered venator snorting and preparing to charge again.
A loud bugle as Ferno latched onto the venator's ankle.
Ouch. Creed winced in sympathy as the Chinese Thief slid painfully across the dirt for his trouble.
Shaking his head, Ferno snarled as he returned to his feet.
Swirling embers flaring up amidst a raging sea of angry red. Attack! Burn!
Stop him! Creed ordered quickly.
Long teeth clamped down over red and black as Aero quickly bit Ferno's tail. Ferno barked in surprise as he was dragged back and forced to his knees.
"Venator Bite on Spinax!" the venator started forward at a brisk pace.
"S-fang on the venator!"
Jaws loosened and Ferno dived at the brown theropod again.
"Alectro Combo!"
For the second time, the blue theropod charged Ferno from the side for a flanking blow. Just as Creed had predicted.
Now!
A strangled yelp.
Aero reared back and slammed the alectro hard into the ground. With a strangled cry, it returned to its Dino Medal.
Ferno, unhindered, sunk his teeth into the venator's neck. The larger vivosaur gave a deep grunt and reared up.
Spluttering flames falling to embers. Waves of angry red spiraled downward into disoriented dull browns and fuzzy grays.
The Chinese Thief blinked up owlishly from the dirt.
I see…a 'wait-and-strike' fighting style. Creed observed. Aero, help him.
White fangs flashed as the sound of collision echoed through the trees. A loud cry of pain followed as sharp spikes cut thick hide and the venator vanished back inside its Dino Medal.
"Well done, you may pass." The attendant praised as he retrieved his Dino Medals.
Creed didn't have a chance to say anything to the man before Rosie apprehended her again and quickly dragged her through the now open gate.
/\/\
"I don't see what Dr. Diggins was so worried about. Everything seems fine to me."
Creed sighed before saying patiently. "That's because the problem is at the—what did he call it? The 'Digadigamid'?"
"And what's with the name, 'Digadigamid'? Really?"
Uh-oh, here she goes again. Creed thought, lengthening her stride to get away from the oncoming monologue.
"This place is creepy, what if we see a ghos—AHHH!"
Creed whipped around at the scream.
"Venator! Trample 'em!" Rosie shrieked, leaping away from the masked figure that had grabbed for her arm.
—"There are a people known as the Digadig tribe that has been living in Knotwood Forest for a long time now. They speak a strange language, but I understand they're a very kind and honest people."—
Oh for the love of—. "Firma!"
A rumble within calm yellows and curious pale yellows. As you wish.
Strong claws locked Rosie's venator in place.
"What the—?" A strong grip on her wrist made Rosie stop mid-sentence.
"Call off your vivosaur." Creed commanded flatly. "You're shaming Dr. Diggins and the Fossil Center."
"But they're gh—"
"Members, I assume, of the Digadig Tribe native to this forest."
"Oh." Blushing, the pinkette recalled her vivosaur.
Firma, Creed's own venator, leant down to the two quivering natives and studied them curiously.
"Thank you, Firma, that'll be all." Creed called.
The theropod glanced back and nodded.
Solid earth trembled good naturedly amidst amused oranges. Very well.
Creed approached the two masked men in native garbs as Firma returned to his Dino Medal. "Hello." She greeted pleasantly, helping them back to their feet. "Are you two alright? I apologize for my companion, she's a little excitable."
"W-what brings you here, digadig?" one of them stuttered slightly, trying to calm down.
"We were sent to check on a Fossil Fighter who came here to investigate a problem at the Digadigamid. They haven't reported in in some time and Dr. Diggins was worried.
Both natives sat up sharply, fear forgotten. "You have come at a good time, digadig!" the second one said.
"We are faced with a problem, digadig." The first inched closer.
"We must ask for your help, digadig."The second was practically breathing on Creed's face.
Don't lash out, don't lash out. Creed chanted to herself. "Of course, we'll do what we can."
/\/\
They seem rather scared of Rosie. Creed observed, noting how the two guiding Digadigs kept her between them and the small pinkette. It's both funny, and a little sad.
They were led to a large teepee.
"Halloo…Digadig."
Robe-like clothing, a scepter with a ridiculously large emerald fashioned to the top, and a crown made of a filed down buffalo—or something similar—skull. This is definitely the chief.
"I…am the chieftain of Digadig Village…which is…this place…here, digadig."
He seems rather hesitant. Creed noted as the Chieftain studied she and Rosie.
"We are faced with a very, very…hard…difficulty…digadig."
Nervous, or unfamiliar with speaking in English, I'm not sure which it is…
Cocking her head curiously, Rosie stepped forward. "What's wrong?"
"The Digadigamid," a gesture towards beyond the tent to a looming pyramid-like structure, "behind our village, is our…sacred place. Many…treasures are hidden inside, digadig. Deep inside the Digadigamid we have a treasure…room" a hesitant pause. "The ancestral key to that room was…stolen. Also, the Fighter who came to…help has not come out of the Digadigamid for days, digadig."
A deeply earnest look. "I ask you now, young Fighter girls…Will you recover the key and keep our sacred Digadigamid…safe? Digadig?"
Rosie spun around energetically, "We'd be happy to help, Chieftan." A pause and a quizzical look. "But why does it have to be us? Wouldn't one of your people be better?"
A sad sigh. "The thieves are able to fight…Fossil Battles…digadig. We Digadigs cannot use your…Dino Medals…so we have no way to fight these thieves, digadig." A somewhat sheepish shrug. "To be honest, these…vivosaurs of yours…scare my people, digadig."
Remembering the two native's reactions to the two venator, Creed could not help but agree.
A broad grin. "In that case, leave everything to us!" Rosie pumped the air with her fist and looked at Creed. "Isn't that right, Creed?"
A sigh and a nonchalant shrug was her response.
A loud, grateful laugh. "Digadig gratitude is as large as a T-Rex with a full belly!" a grin. "We will make this task worth your while! Digadig!"
Pink eyes lit up. "Worth our while? Like a reward or something?" a grin. "Sounds exciting, doesn't it, Creed?"
The chieftain suddenly began twirling his scepter like a baton, chanting rapidly in a low repetitious language. Suddenly he stepped forward and pointed his scepter at Rosie.
The emerald on the end flashed abruptly. Creed leapt back. A blinding light flashed, followed by a deafening crash of thunder
Swaying, Creed blinked away the spots in her vision.
Rosie lie on the ground, stunned, the grass and dirt around her charred black. A blink, then the pinkette leapt up with a furious growl. "What do you think you're diga-doing?"
Creed blinked. Huh…?
"That really hurt!" Rosie continued, clutching her head and swaying slightly. "Ohhh…I feel a little diga-dizzy…" a gasp, and Rosie slapped her hands across her mouth. "Did I just say, 'Diga', diga?"
Despite herself, Creed sniggered.
"I don't want to say 'diga', but I keep doing it anyway!"
"You are now blessed with a bond between you and the Digadigs. This will bring you eternal joy, Digadig!" was the cheerful response.
Furious eyes landed on the man, who yelped as hands suddenly gripped the front of his tunic.
"How diga-dare you!" Rosie screeched, shaking the poor man. "How am I supposed to have a d-d-d-d-DIGA-DISCUSSION without saying 'Diga'?" She released the disoriented chieftain and abruptly burst into tears.
"I feel like I'm going to have to stay in this diga-dang village forever! NO!" An anguished screech, "I can't stay here…diga!" she swooned, and then collapsed.
Darting forward, Creed caught quickly her.
"You are diga-displeased?" The chieftain asked in astonishment, and then apologetically added, "Forgive me. I only intended to show my thanks from the diga-depths of my heart."
"Don't take it too personally." Creed stated. "She's very dramatic, though I suggest you reverse it fairly soon or you'll have her setting her vivosaurs on you."
The chieftain shuddered before shaking his head and looking at Creed. "Young Fighter girl, we will watch over your friend, Digadig." At the cue, one of the villagers came up, scooped up the unconscious Rosie, and walked away to a random teepee. "Please do whatever is in your power to recover our ancestral key, Digadig."
"Of course." Creed nodded. "But, for the record, a simple thank you will suffice."
A strangled yelp escaped her as the chieftan embraced her in a bear hug.
"Many, many thanks, young Fighter girl!"
"Happy to help, just let go. Now."
/\/\
Surprisingly good condition for ruins. Creed noted as she walked through the dimly lit corridor. Walls still smooth, very little dust, though the same can't be said for dirt.
Sharp movement out of her peripheral vision. Creed leapt back, out of reach of a grasping hand.
Purple latex, oddly stylized double 'B' insignia, obviously some kind of uniform…hmm, this should be interesting.
The oddly dressed man stumbled before righting himself. "I've been given strict orders to stop anyone who tries to get into these ruins."
His intimidation attempt could use a little work. That hat and suit certainly don't help.
"And you think you can stop me?"
Taken aback, the man hesitated. Shaking his head, he growled and clenched a fist. "You asked for it, buddy! I'll try to destroy you quickly and painlessly! BB bing, BB bang, BB BOOM!" He threw out two Dino Medals. "Goyo, Stygi!"
Creed rolled her eyes. "I'm shaking right down to my boots. Firma, Ferno."
Stygi was another thick-skulled lizard, predominately red in color, and the same size as Goyo.
"Stygi: Fiendish Ram on Venator! Goyo: Rock Head on S-raptor!"
"Have at 'em, Ferno." Creed waved her hand dismissively. Firma, deal with the goyo.
A roar, Ferno lunged and collided with the stygi, catching it in his strong jaws. Busy with his prey, he didn't notice the oncoming goyo. Fortunately, Firma did.
A yelp and a painful slam of flesh against hard stone as Firma flipped the goyo into the roof. As it became part of the ceiling, the stygi was forced back into its Dino Medal. The goyo came loose and fell to the ground, but was caught in Firma's strong jaws, joining its partner back in Dino Medal state.
A huff of heat, a put out background of bored red-grays. To weak. Ferno complained.
An amused tremor of light orange amusement. So impatient, Ferno. Firma chastised.
The man yelped as his vivosaurs were vanquished.
"Aw, man!" he complained, "You're too much of a Fossil Fighter for me!" In a blur of shiny purple, he fled past Creed, whimpering pathetically as he did so.
Creed sniggered with a mix of amusement and pity and shook her head. That man did not deserve to be called a Fighter. If his vivosaurs had fossils any better than fifty-five percent then she'd be surprised. His vivosaurs had no intelligence, just like their master.
/\/\
A vicious snarl made Creed quickly step back.
Oh you have got to be joking. She thought incredulously, eyeing the short figure that had just tried lunging at her.
She took an experimental step towards the latex-clad bulldog-like figure. The response was a growl and a slight hunch that warned of a potential lunge.
You know, a vague sense of amusement, I don't think it's going to let me through.
The dog snarled viciously.
Creed blinked. Dino Medals too? Well, well, I'm beginning to feel glad I came.
An exaggeratedly large step forward and the dog responded by throwing the medals.
The foremost vivosaur stood roughly six meters tall and resembled—what was it called?—a 'Great Beast' or megatherium, prehistoric giant sloths. This vivosaur variation was known as a megath.
Its partner, stationed rear-flank, was a member of the ankylosauria family, most likely a nodosaurus, meaning 'Knobbed Lizard', named so due to the bony knobs that ran along its back in place of sharp ridges, and its notable lack of any club-tail. It was as long as the megath was tall.
Aero, Firma, you're up.
Patience and misdirection, plus a type advantage.
"Venator Combo!"
Firma lunged forward, slamming a shoulder into the megath.
The great beast hardly budged.
What the—?
The dog barked and Firma went crashing into the ground, courtesy of a powerful swipe to the head.
But, Creed spluttered, wind is supposed to scatter in the face of solid force, not brace and withstand it! That's more like an earth vivosaur strategy! A sudden thought occurred to her. Unless the blow was weaker than the wind, in which case it would be the oncoming force that would be repelled…I wonder…
"Aero: Spinax Fang!"
A quizzical breeze amidst confused pale orange flashes of pale green obedience. Alright, Creed. Aero shot forward.
Again, the blow had next to no effect, but Aero was able to avoid the retaliatory blow that followed.
I see… Creed frowned, I don't understand it, but I see what happened. "Firma: Go!"
The brown theropod tensed. The megath braced marginally for another blow. Firma lunged.
A shriek of pain.
The dog yelped in shock. Creed smirked.
Grunting, Firma stood tall, and then slammed the nodo head first into the ground. Stunned, it could not defend itself against the following blow. Firma slammed his hard head and bony shoulder into soft underbelly.
"Aero!"
The megath crashed into the ground as the theropod rammed it from the side.
"Firma: Finish it!"
Teeth sank into no-longer armored fur. The corridor shook violently as the megath crashed into the wall.
A whimper, the dog hastily grabbed his medals and took off deeper into the Digadigamid. Creed quickly gave chase, but was soon left in the dust.
He's fast. Creed observed, Oh, right he's a dog. They're generally much faster than humans are, duh.
/\/\
Creed crept silently in the shadows of the wall. Ambushed twice, she'd rather avoid a third time if she could help it.
A chuckle echoed through the passage.
"Check out the adventurous little Fighter,"
Creed froze. No way they can see me yet.
"sniffing around other people's business!"
A worried bark sounded.
"No worries," was the assurance.
I see, he's talking to the dog. Creed realized.
"I'll have 'em stomped into a pancake in about a minute!" A snicker.
"Oh really?" Creed stepped out into the next chamber where the voices originated from. "Care to back up that bold statement?"
Both figures gave a start and whipped around.
That's…a really sharp nose. Creed blinked. Sort of reminds me of a hawk's beak.
'Hawk-nose' smirked haughtily. "Alright, little Fighter. If you knew what you were in for, you'd have turned tail already. Guess I'll just have to show you your big mistake."
Aquamarine eyes rolled. "I'm shaking in my boots."
A frown, a slight twitch under an eye. "When I'm done with you, you're going to be more ruined than this Digadigamid!"
You're sooo clever.
"Pachy, Goyle: Go!"
Sandy brown, black and white, Pachy closely resembled the pachycephalosaurus it was named for and was twice the size of the other thick-skulled lizards Creed had encountered in the past.
"Ferno, Firma." Creed intoned. Let's see if the phenomenon repeats itself… "S-Fang on the pachy—"
"Iron Headbutt!" Hawk-nose yelled quickly.
Ferno slammed heavily onto his back. Creed's eyes widened as she felt roaring flames of passionate reds suddenly get dowsed to flickering ashes.
I didn't even see it move! Aquamarine narrowed. "Firma: Venator Bite." Let's see if we can find our way around this little problem of ours.
Earth trembled and sharpened like lethal stalagmites of dark red-orange dashed by observant pale oranges. As you command, Creed.
A roar and a rumble as Firma charged forward.
"Iron Headbutt again!"
Like before, there was no chance to avoid the blow. But, Firma was able to protect his vulnerable stomach and thus only received a marginal amount of damage.
He crashed on his side, almost right on top of the goyle. The fused lizard hardly twitched.
Creed's eyes sharpened.
"Ferno: S-Fang!"
Ferno, now recovered, lunged at the thick-skulled lizard—
—and missed as the pachy retreated farther into the chamber. Ferno snarled and gave chase.
Very poor choice. Creed thought triumphantly as she saw Hawk-nose and the dog watching the chase. "Firma, now!"
"Wha—?"
The roar of a deadly landslide lit with starbursts of aggressive red-oranges and streaks of triumphant yellows. Got you!
The goyle yelped as teeth sunk into its tail. Returning to his feet, Firma swung around and released, sending the fused lizard crashing painfully into the wall. It remained momentarily stuck to the wall before Firma finished the Venator Combo attack with a shoulder slam.
A second yelp sounded as Ferno caught the pachy and brutally crunched it in his teeth. The thick-skulled lizard whimpered pathetically before one last bite finished it.
Hawk-nose and the dog leapt back, eyes wide, as Creed recalled her vivosaurs.
"Wha—?" the man cried in disbelief, "You beat me? But you're just a kid!"
The dog looked up and barked crisply.
Dark eyes glinted. "I was just thinking the same thing." A nod and a toothy grin. "It's time to break out the good stuff—my surefire knockout punch!"
Creed quirked an eyebrow as the man laughed.
"You won't believe the special move I've been holding back. Just wait right there for it." A chuckle and the man took a large step back.
Creed blinked.
"Here it comes!" Another step back.
He's running away, what's so 'special' about that? …Wait a moment…
"Better get ready!"
Why am I getting a bad feeling about this?
"Here it comes!" he backed against the wall.
Wait a moment…wall—is that a brick sticking out?
"You won't even see it coming!" the man slammed the brick fully into the wall.
Oh Huene—
The floor beneath her feet gave way.
Reach, grab, pause and pull up. Creed struggled to pull herself back up through the trap hole, managing to get up to her elbows.
Uh-oh…
Screaming winds amidst starbursts of terrified green and ragged streaks of alarmed red. Creed!
The oncoming boot was the last thing she saw.