We had a bit of a cliffhanger in the previous chapter, but now, the suspense is over! Now we get to see if Todd survives his dunking in liquid nitrogen or not…

Also worthy of mention, this chapter formally introduces Cotton (me), the Champion of the previous Caliosteo Cup, to the Patrol Team gang. Finally!

-.-.-.-.-.

Dina tapped her feet on the floor of the Fighter Station, mind in a whirl. Her emotions were in turmoil – she was feeling worried, panicked, impatient, scared, and a menagerie of others.

Todd hadn't come out of the emergency room for an hour. Frankly, the emergency room was rarely used, as it was usually only the Vivosaurs that got hurt. And even then, they healed ridiculously fast. But to think that such an unfortunate and rare event could have happened to one of her friends… Dina sniffled and crossed her arms tightly across her chest.

She looked up, startled, in response to Rupert shuffling closer to her. "I know you're worried about Todd," he muttered uncertainly. "But I honestly don't know if he'll be all right…"

Dina looked up and ended up staring into Rupert's eyes. "You don't have to reassure me or anything," she said quietly, although deep inside she was thankful. "Fighting the BB Brigade is dangerous business… we almost died just before we fought them in RainbowCanyon…"

Rupert's eyes widened. "You almost… died?" he asked. The two of them sat down on one of the benches. Dina thought for a bit before deciding to tell him the story. She went on to explain how the mysterious creature had slashed the rope holding up the gondola, and how she and Todd had been saved by her Hopter.

There was a long silence after she finished her story. It seemed as if Rupert had nothing to say. When he did open his mouth, Dina expected him to give her a medium-length, formal speech littered with examples of his large vocabulary.

Instead, Rupert only gave her a horrified, "That's terrible." It was spoken in a whisper.

He regained a little of his composure and said, "To think that the BB Brigade would stoop so low as to try and kill a Fighter… I don't know what to say."

Dina sniffled, feeling a little guilty that she had given him such a shock. "Then don't say anything," she murmured. "You're my friend, and being here for me is enough."

Rupert looked even more shocked. "I'm… y-your friend?" he asked in an equally quiet voice, which cracked a little to show his emotion. Dina looked into his cool yellow eyes once more and nodded sullenly.

Before Dina knew what was going on, Rupert had wrapped his arms around her comfortingly. "I've never had a friend," Rupert continued to whisper. "But… for the first time in a long, long time… I feel truly happy. I'm very lucky to have met you, Dina."

Dina smiled solemnly and let herself lean against Rupert's shoulder, feeling his gentle fingers stroke her hair, feeling soothed by the gesture of kindness. Her heart ached, not wanting this to end.

They had a few peaceful moments together when they heard a distant call. "Whoa, slow down, little dude!" It sounded like Kent in the emergency room, and it was accompanied by the sound of a door opening.

"I'm gonna LIIIIIVVVVE!" came the overjoyed scream of Todd as he rushed out from the emergency room like he was on fire. Dina and Rupert were so surprised that they couldn't even move as Todd ground to a halt in front of them.

"Isn't life great?!" he enthused. "I feel as warm as a…" His speech slowly trailed off as he saw Dina in Rupert's arms.

"Um…" Todd said, unsure of what to say. "Am I interrupting something?" Dina and Rupert looked at one another and hastily broke apart, shuffling away from each other on the bench. Dina saw Rupert's face go pink, and she knew from the heat on her own face that she was also blushing furiously.

Kent walked up to them, beaming. "Well dudes, you saved the day once more," he said. "The reputation of the Caliosteo Patrol Team is growing by the day! Totally gnarly, dudes!" He paused awkwardly and added, "Anyway, yeah. I've gotta go wax my snowboard, so I'll cheese you later, dudes."

He was gone just like that. Before Dina could say anything to Todd, she heard Pauleen calling. "Hey! I heard! I heard all about it!" When she got there, she planted her hands on her hips and admonished, "We're supposed to be a team! I'm still the most beautiful member, of course, but we're STILL a team!"

She advanced on Todd threateningly, continuing in a rising tone, "So why was I not informed? HUH?!"

Todd blanched and said weakly, "Uh, because I was trapped in jelly and then got nearly frozen to death by some liquid nitrogen…"

Pauleen calmed down. "I see," she said simply. Then she turned to Dina and said, "So Dina did all the work, hmm?"

Dina felt the heat rise in her face again. "Of course not," she mumbled. "Rupert helped. Without him, Todd would still be stuck in jelly."

A loud, sarcastic bark of laughter came from Pauleen. "HA! What made the little rich boy decide to help? Did you bribe him with gold coins or something?"

Rupert snarled at her, "I'll not defend myself to you!" But he did as he walked right up to Pauleen's masked face and growled, "I just felt like helping! That's all!" Pauleen did the wise thing and backed away. "Huh," she said indifferently. "I guess the reason doesn't really matter."

Then, Pauleen drew herself up arrogantly and proclaimed, "Well, there's no backing down now, Rupert! You helped stop the BB Brigade and save Todd for the good of the Caliosteo Cup! You're the newest official member of the Caliosteo Patrol Team!"

Rupert's face went from enraged to blank to startled with a hint of joy. "That's an awesome idea!" exclaimed Todd. "We'd love to have Rupert join us, right Dina?" Dina grinned and said to Rupert, "See? I told you so."

She had never been so happy as she saw Rupert's eyes grow wide with astonishment, letting the hope and happiness shine through. To think that this was the boy that she had wanted to throttle on her first day in the Caliosteo Islands!

"Great!" Pauleen cheered. "From now on, the four of us are the Caliosteo Patrol Team! Now let's all do the Patrol Team Cheer!"

Dina, Rupert, and Todd all looked on blankly as she commenced a little song and dance. "Go, team, go! Fight, team, fight! We fight creeps all day and night! Goooo, Patrol Team!"

Pauleen finally noticed that she was the only one dancing. "Um, guys? We all have to do this together, right?" The three of them exchanged glances and burst out laughing. Rupert managed a weak chuckle, and Pauleen gave in and laughed as well.

The four of them were having a grand old time when a cutting voice sliced through the noise like a knife through butter. "What is the meaning of this nonsense?"

Dina's heart went cold. Oh, no… groaned Aeros. This doesn't look good, grumbled Tricera. Sure enough, it was Rupert's father, the FossilDig CEO.

Rupert looked like he wished he were anywhere else. "What do you think you are doing, Rupert?" his father chastised him. "I've heard reports that you helped another Fighter take on the BareBones Brigade! You are the public face of FossilDig, Inc! You might have destroyed our image!"

A horrible rage took hold of Dina. It was ironic that the only time she had ever been this angry was when Rupert had first scorned Todd, but she didn't think of that. But before she could speak, Pauleen interjected.

"Don't you want your son to win the Caliosteo Cup?" she almost screamed at Rupert's father. "If it weren't for Rupert, there wouldn't even be a Cup anymore!"

If the FossilDig CEO paid any attention to her words, he didn't show it. Instead, he went on in a voice even colder than before, "If you are truly sorry, Rupert, you can prove it by winning the Caliosteo Cup. Crush your enemies, Rupert, or I will know where your loyalties lie." He stalked off without another word.

Todd growled deep in his throat. "What kind of a father is he?" he muttered. "I can't believe he said all that to you." Rupert responded quietly, "I'm used to it. Don't get involved."

He looked at his three friends with sadness in his eyes. "I cannot join the Caliosteo Patrol Team. From now on, just leave me alone." At those last few words, his voice broke and a single tear ran down his cheek. Shaking his head and squinting his eyes shut, he ran out of the building.

Dina chased after him. She caught up to him on the edge of Ilium Village, sitting alone in the snow. She joined him and said, "Rupert…"

He didn't look up, but he began to speak in a dead, emotionless voice. "You know, there was once a time when I thought Fossil Battles were fun," he said flatly. "I loved my Vivosaurs… especially Mapo… and I felt excited when I battled with them. But at some point, I stopped being a carefree child and became a freaking advertisement for my father's company." He spat grudgingly in the snow, shaking with rage.

"The more famous I got, the less I was allowed to be myself," he continued, sadness entering his voice once more. "Fossil Battles were no longer fun. They were boring. And yet… for a moment… when I was with you and your other friends, I remembered how I used to feel."

That was when he broke down sobbing. Dina's heart went out to him, and she began to think desperately, Let him be happy again. Please, I'll never ask for another thing if I can just see Rupert smile again. And a realization dawned upon her. The reason why she had taken to blushing whenever Rupert smiled at her… became clear to her. She was in love with Rupert.

He was talking again through his tears. "My father transformed me into what you see before you," he sniveled. "A pathetic, pompous, heartless loser."

It was Dina's turn to wrap her arms around him. "Rupert, I know better than anyone else that you are not heartless. You are a kind, caring, handsome person." She gulped and blushed slightly and continued on in a strong, encouraging voice. "The reason I know all of this is because of something I just realized. Rupert, I love you with all of my heart."

Rupert slowly raised his head and looked at her. His eyes were red and his face was streaked with tears, but there was an expression of hope and awe on it. "You love me?" he whispered. "After all I've done to hurt you and Todd?"

Dina nodded firmly. Perhaps it was this simple confirmation that caused Rupert to tightly hug her close, burying his face in her neck and quietly crying into it.

They sat there in the snow for some time. Rupert slowly stopped crying and gazed once more at Dina. "This is the first time I've realized how beautiful you are…" he breathed. Dina felt tears of happiness sting her eyes. Still holding Rupert close, she swooped down and kissed him.

Her heartache intensified, then faded altogether the moment her lips touched his. She could feel Rupert flinch, then relax. A sigh escaped from him as he tenderly touched her cheek. Dina's heart fluttered as she did the same. His skin was cold, but Dina didn't notice.

They broke apart, breathing hard. Rupert's face was pink, but his eyes were shining with a light that Dina had never seen before. "If my father finds out what we just did…"

Dina laughed. She was so happy that she felt like she might burst. "Come on, Rupert. No one is going to find out. We're going to keep our relationship a secret until we can convince your father that you're more than just a walking billboard."

Rupert broke out in a series of chuckles. This was the first time that Dina had ever heard Rupert really laugh. He stood up and helped Dina to her feet as well. "You've given me new hope, Dina," he said. "You've given me a reason to keep living. I love you as well, Dina. More than I've loved anyone before."

The new couple kissed again. This time, however, they were interrupted by their Paleopagers' urgent beeping. Reluctantly, Dina and Rupert retreated from one another as they checked the devices.

Dina got the message: "The Caliosteo Cup Round 5 matches will now begin. Joanie and Madame Pooch have been selected as Dina's opponent. Please prepare, then check in at Ilium Island's Fighter Station."

She looked at Rupert in time to see him putting his Paleopager away. "So I'll see you around, Dina," he murmured. Dina nodded, but put a hand on his shoulder. "Rupert, if I lose, I just want to say that I'm going to cheer you on with all of my might. Don't win for your father's sake. Don't win for your company's sake. Win for me. Win for my sake."

Rupert smiled and took her hand in his. "I will."

Then he glanced at the stream of Fighters heading to the Fighter Station for Round 5, and let go of Dina's hand. "You're going to regret you said that," he joked. "Now you've encouraged me to win, and I'll crush you if we battle."

They both laughed delightedly. Dina dearly wanted to kiss him goodbye, but knew she couldn't with all the Fighters around. Instead, she touched his shoulder and said, "Good luck in Round 5." Then she ran to find Todd and Pauleen.

Her two friends were waiting for her in the lobby. "Where were you?" demanded Pauleen, and Dina responded with a grin. "Rupert and I are going to prove to his father that he shouldn't be ordered around and treated that badly," she said matter-of-factly.

Todd clapped a hand on her back. "Well then, Pauleen and I are behind you one hundred and twenty percent!" he enthused. "Now we've got to head for the stands. Good luck, Dina! We'll be cheering for you!"

Dina walked into the Common Room and walked to the end of the corridor. There, Joanie and Princess Pooch were waiting for her. "Ready to rumble, Princess?" asked Dina, bending down to address the dog. She yelped happily and licked her face.

Joanie stepped forward and shook Dina's hand. "Princess Pooch wishes for me to give you zis message, no?" she said. She cleared her throat and recited; "Fate, she is cruel to make us battle each other so. But if it must be, know zat I will not be defeated."

The announcer called for the combatants to step into the arena. Joanie seemed to draw up her confidence. "Soup de jour!" she said. "I am so very excited to see you make with ze Fossil Battle!"

The three Fighters stepped into the arena and were met with the wild cheering of the crowd. Dina noticed that the vast room was cold, and the floor was slippery with ice.

Ty Ranno and Trip Cera were doing the commentating, of course. "Today for our first battle we have Joanie and Madame Pooch, immigrants from the Kingdom of Nomadistan, and Dina, the renowned Fighter who has been fighting the BB Brigade for the sake of the Cup," announced Ty. "I can't wait to see how these two Fighters get it oooooonnnnn!" yelled Trip, apparently forgetting that he had a microphone.

Joanie called out her Vivosaurs first – two Gomps (one blue and one brown), and a tiny little creature named Marple. It chirped pathetically, making Dina smolder. It's so cute! she thought. Beware, Dina, warned Krypto, who rarely spoke to her. I sense unbelievable power emanating from that one.

"All right then! Let's do this, Aeros, Hopter, and Radox!" Her Vivosaurs appeared one by one, each with their own determined cry. Hopter was last to appear, and his screech made the crowd roar.

"Dina's Hopter is back in action, I see. A crowd favorite, that one seems," commented Ty Ranno. "I couldn't be-LIEVE it when it shook off its Berserker ability last time!" piped up Trip Cera. "I hope we can see some of that amazing loyalty this time around!"

Dina glanced at her Fighter's Watch with a modest smile. She had the first attack. "Radox, give the brown Gomp a Radox Blade attack!" The trilobite rushed forward, horn glowing, and gave Gomp a quick slice. The beast roared, but remarkably, held its ground.

Then Dina's entire team suddenly slipped on the ice coating the floor and rotated two positions. Now Radox was in the front as opposed to Aeros. Balling her fists as she realized how annoying this situation could end up, she called, "Hopter, use Beak Stab!"

Hopter galloped forward with long, confident strides toward the Gomp that Radox had targeted. It speared Gomp, the critical hit causing it to rear up and bellow. It now only had a bit of LP left.

Dina ended her turn, and Princess Pooch barked an order to one of her Vivosaurs. The blue Gomp charged forward at Radox with a Gomp Combo, first ramming him with its thick head, then lashing out with a powerful blow from its thick trunk. Radox was sent flying, but he skittered back to his position defiantly.

Before Dina could give a command, her Vivosaurs slid on the ice again. Now Hopter was in the front. She told them to swap positions so that Aeros was in front. Then she commanded Aeros to give the blue Gomp an Aeros Alert.

First his tail, then his jaws struck home, instantly sending the blue Gomp into its Dino Medal. The crowd's cheering intensified, and Joanie sadly picked up the medal.

Princess Pooch barked another order. This time, Marple began to spin around in a circle, creating a small whirlpool around it. With a flick of its fins, the whirlpool rocketed forward with blinding speed, crashing into Aeros. Despite his type advantage against Marple, Aeros reeled in pain, taking several steps back before recovering.

So Krypto was right, thought Dina. I need to take down Marple quickly. She made a quick decision, then yelled, "Radox, use Radox Blade on Marple!"

Radox shot forward once more, ready to use his horn. Impossibly, Marple dodged each swipe, each thrust. Dina was reminded of the battle between Tricera and B-Rex as Radox continually slashed at the ever-dodging Marple.

"Aeros, help Radox with a Wind Blast!" Thought was deed, and a blast of hurricane-force wind was released from Aeros' jaws. The blast connected with Marple, sending it spinning into the air, and Radox jumped after it with all his might and scored a hit with his Radox Blade. The set of two strong hits, as well as the impact with the ground, took a gigantic chunk from Marple's LP. But it still held on.

Now it was Princess Pooch's turn, apparently ordering Gomp and Marple to attack each. Marple flung another whirlpool Radox's way, and Gomp lashed out at Hopter with a Gomp Romp. Radox managed to cling to its last bit of LP, and Hopter was barely fazed by Gomp's attack.

Dina took note of the FP that she had recharged and tried to come up with a strategy. In a moment, she had the perfect idea. "Swap so Radox is in front!" she yelled, and her team did so. "Now, Radox, finish Gomp and Marple with Stampede!"

Radox shrieked towards the heavens, and allowed its newly appeared army to wreak havoc on Princess Pooch's team. When the dust and Vivosaurs cleared, Gomp was gone and Marple was further injured.

"Now, Hopter! Finish Marple with Rock Breath!" Hopter flapped into the sky and expelled a whirling storm of sand and dust from his beak. Marple twirled around in the sandstorm, and when it was over, fell to the ground with a final chirp.

Marple dissolved into its Dino Medal, which skidded across the ice to Princess Pooch's paws.

"That HAS to be the quickest win of all time!" screamed Trip Cera. "Congratulations, Dina, you're heading to Round 6!"

The crowd was on its feet, cheering wildly. Dina couldn't believe her luck – Radox was really beat up, Aeros was OK, and Hopter was barely scratched. Her entire team had made it through to the end!

Dina, in her happiness, scooped Radox into her arms and hugged Aeros' leg. Hopter nuzzled her with his beak, joining the group hug. We did great! chittered Radox. Better than great! We're all OK!

Dina grinned. "Yep, we won! I'm so proud of how strong you've all become!" Her Vivosaurs roared with triumph, and this time, she joined in with her own cheer.

-.-.-.-.-.

Ilium Village

Dina, Todd, Joanie, and Princess Pooch all met in the lobby after the battle. "Great job, Dina!" Todd was clapping enthusiastically. "I always get so excited watching you battle!" Then he turned to Princess Pooch, beaming down at her. "And Princess! You really gave it your all out there!"

But Princess Pooch just hung her head and gave a pathetic whine. "Ah, but ze loss is ze loss, no?" said Joanie sadly. "Zere is nothing more we can do. Come, Princess. It seems we must be leaving for ze Kingdom of Nomadistan."

Princess Pooch let out a whine that sounded even more pathetic. Dina felt really sorry for the dog. She had enjoyed her freedom so much…

"Harrumph!" coughed a very familiar voice. Sure enough, it was Minister Pomposa, striding confidently towards them. "Your Highness, that was magnificent! Minister Pomposa has been most inspired this day! Minister Pomposa curses himself for ever doubting the grace of Fossil Battles."

There was a short silence, then everyone jumped as the minister boomed, "Very well! Minister Pomposa can see that your passion for battling is both true and strong. Princess Pooch is hereby granted permission to remain at the fossil park for as long as she wishes."

Princess Pooch howled with joy and Joanie clapped delightedly. Todd and Dina cheered. Then Princess Pooch suddenly gave Joanie a series of barks, and she gasped. "Cordon bleu! Zat idea, it is fantastique! We will go excavate ze fossil rocks right away!" And with that, Princess Pooch scampered off outdoors, followed closely by Joanie.

Minister Pomposa gave a wistful sigh. "It has been far too long since the princess has been this happy…" he muttered to himself. He suddenly turned to address Dina, and brought himself up to his full height.

In his most commanding voice, the minister said to her, "Minister Pomposa expects to see you succeed at this Cup. Do not let him down!" And he left to follow Joanie and Princess Pooch. It warmed Dina's heart to see that such an important and arrogant man was rooting for her.

And then Kent walked over. "Dudes, that was a seriously smokin' battle! Way too hot for a snow guy like me. You made it all the way to the semifinals!" He stamped Dina's Fighter's License, bestowing upon her a Fighter Rank of 7.

"One more thing," he said. "I know you're not in this for the money and stuff, but here's a prize anyway." He handed Dina a mask.

"That's a radical mask, dude. It has total eerie powers!" he said in a whisper. "If you wear the mask when you dig fossils, you'll totally see what I mean. Good luck with your next match, dude!"

When Kent had walked off, Todd excitedly informed Dina. "Know what? A new dig site's just been opened – Icegrip Plateau! That's where mythical fossils from ancient times await you in the ice!"

Dina got excited at all the new Vivosaurs she could revive. "The sound of that gives me the chills, and not because of the cold! The excitement is giving me goosebumps!" They both laughed hysterically. Dina's victory… and her new relationship with Rupert… had put her in a very good mood.

-.-.-.-.-.

Bonechip Island

In Don Boneyard's private quarters, Lester cowered under the skeleton's glare while Cole stood smugly on the sidelines. Lester's failure had made him look a lot better, hopefully, in the eyes of their leader.

"It seems that our little jelly plan has ended in abject failure…" said Don Boneyard dangerously. "First Cole, and now Lester… the idiocy of my commanders is becoming a bone of contention!"

Lester stole a quick glance at the exit behind him before whimpering, "I'm s-sorry, Don Boneyard!"

Cole smirked. "Don't worry, my old chum," he snickered. "I'm sure that tiny brain of yours worked as hard as it possibly could."

He stepped up to Don Boneyard and announced, "Hear me out, please, Don Boneyard! I have a new plan that is bound to work…" He went on to explain a plan that was admittedly exactly the same as his other one.

Lester protested, "But my newest plan is going to rock your socks off…" It was his turn to outline a plan that, just like Cole's, was exactly the same as his old one.

He didn't seem to think so, though. "Har har! Stick that in your mirror, wannabe!" he bragged to Cole, who scowled. Meanwhile, Don Boneyard was quietly thinking to himself over whether his commanders' new plans were as bad as they sounded.

As Lester and Cole looked as if they would get into a full-out fight, a feminine voice pierced through the din. "Fighting again? Laaaaaame, man."

An exceptionally pretty girl, about their age, stepped through into Don Boneyard's quarters, completely unintimidated. "It's like both of you are the exact same guy."

Don Boneyard's expression didn't change, yet he seemed pleased in some way that she had interrupted. "Ah, Lola," he greeted her. "Where have you been?"

Before Lola could answer, she scowled at Lester, who was blocking her from reaching Don Boneyard's platform. She pushed him aside with no effort at all and looked at her leader blankly. "…Huh? Oh, riiiiiight. Sorry, Don B., but I had to go do a little karaoke. See, if I sing for, like, six hours or so, it aligns my energy and gives me maximum power."

She popped a stick of gum in her mouth and chewed thoughtfully. "Soooo, yeah. I think you can relax, Don B. I've got a plan that'll cancel that Cup in a flash. It's groooovy, man."

Cole smirked at her triumphantly. "I wouldn't be so confident, sister. After all, I had a great plan, and look how that turned out." Lola glared at him indifferently and replied, "Yeah, but your plan was, like, totally useless. Riiiiiight, little bro? You gotta be like me. Like, expand your mind."

Don Boneyard cut in before Cole could rudely retort to his big sister. "I must admit, Lola, seeing these two flail about causes me to lose confidence in your success… However, you are one of my four commanders, and I suppose you deserve a chance as well."

Lola blew a bubble with her gum, and it popped with a satisfying snap. "Aw, thanks, Don B. You're, like, the greatest. But," she trailed off, an evil grin spreading across her face as she spoke again. "Maybe I could use a little help from the guys…"

-.-.-.-.-.

Icegrip Plateau

"Hello, digadig. It's very chilly here, isn't it. Take care, diga, not to catch a cold."

Dina looked at Pauleen quizzically. Her back was to the entrance to the plateau, so she wouldn't notice her standing there listening. But Dina couldn't help thinking the same things as she had thought before in Hot Spring Heights. Why is Pauleen talking to a frozen figure? And why has she taken off her mask? Indeed, Pauleen was without a mask yet again.

Dina let a dainty sneeze loose, just like that. Pauleen turned, saw her, and screamed, running for cover. She put her mask back on and came back out of hiding. She glared at Dina through her mask, hands on hips.

"You were spying on me, weren't you, Dina?" she asked accusingly. Dina gave her a slightly embarrassed nod. "You are…" Pauleen stuttered in her anger, "…you are a very terrible person! You don't spy on people when they're embarrassing themselves!"

Dina gave her another quizzical look. "What are you doing here? What's to be embarrassed about?" Pauleen glared at her for another second, then sighed. Her head drooped downwards, making her hair bob.

"Well, I'll tell you, Dina. But only because it's you." Pauleen glanced around to make sure that no one was watching, then said quietly, "I was practicing how to talk to people."

Suddenly, Pauleen was in Dina's face, frantically pulling at her hair. To say Dina was startled wasn't accurate.

"Oh, I admit it!" Pauleen wailed, stomping her foot on the ice. "I'm a fraud! I act all boastful and snobby, but I'm really shy and terrified! I can't even talk to people, because I get nervous and jittery and… everything falls apart." Her shoulders sagged hopelessly.

There was a time when Dina would have given her some snarky comment. But Dina had learned a lot about friendship and encouragement since she came to the CaliosteoIslands. She patted Pauleen on the back, trying her best to calm her down.

"Don't worry about it," she said uncertainly. "Everyone gets nervous when they meet someone…"

Pauleen interrupted her with another mournful cry. "No! I'm worse! My face gets all red and my tongue trips on itself! And the only way I can get around it is by wearing this mask!"

Dina had to ask. "What does the mask have to do with it?"

Sighing again and breathing slowly to calm herself down, Pauleen answered, "It's a magical mask that gives the wearer a cheerful personality. It's one of my village's greatest treasures. But I want to be rid of it forever, and see with my own eyes and talk with my own voice and show my own face…"

Clasping Pauleen's hand in her own, Dina said firmly, "You will get rid of it one day. You WILL." Pauleen looked up timidly. "You think so? …Heh, when you said that, I felt a little more brave."

Pauleen then jumped up and enthusiastically shook Dina's hand. "I'm going to keep trying, and fighting with everything I have. And before the Cup ends, I'm going to take this mask off for good! Thanks, Dina. You're the greatest."

She left Icegrip Plateau right after that. Dina sighed and kicked at the ground resignedly. I'm always helping people, she thought. Whether it's Pauleen and her mask, or Rupert and his father, or Todd and his lack of bravery…

As she crossed a narrow ice bridge to the next ice floe, Aeros nervously spoke up. Speaking of helping people, he said, maybe you should help that fellow up ahead.

Dina peered a little ways ahead. Then she gasped – lying on the iceberg was none other than Professor Scatterly!

She raced up to him, to find that he was sound asleep. "Mmmm… fresh hot chips and pickled kippers… Mm, yes, quite…" he mumbled in his sleep. Dina frantically shook him, to no avail. She was about to think of something else to do when she heard Todd's voice.

"Hey, Dina!" he called, running up to her in his little green coat. "Brr, it's cold! I bet if you fell asleep here, you'd never wake up!"

Dina's expression changed to one of dismay. "In that case, we have a bit of a problem…" She gestured to the unconscious Professor.

"Holy crow!" squeaked Todd. "This old guy DID fall asleep here! Quick, we have to wake him up before he freezes to death!" Todd shook him with twice the force as Dina had.

Professor Scatterly woke up with a start. He was up on his feet in seconds. "Good heavens, I appear to have fallen asleep! How terribly careless of me, eh wot?"

Then he caught sight of Dina and Todd, and gave a bellowing laugh. "By my stars, if it isn't young Dina!" he guffawed. "It seems that I am in your debt once again, my young rescuer!" Noticing Todd for the first time, he adjusted his spectacles. "And you are a friend of Dina's, I presume?"

Todd shook his hand excitedly. "Yep, I'm Todd. Pleasure to meet you!" The Professor laughed again. "Yes, yes, quite! I am Professor Nigel Scatterly, curator of the CaliosteoMuseum."

He was silent for a while, then his crinkled face lit up. "I say, Dina, I have a capital idea! We should acquaint young Todd here with the history of the Calio Slablets!"

Dina grinned at Todd's appalled face. "Oh, I think he'd like that. Go ahead, Professor."

The Professor began his lecture. Ten minutes later, he finished up, and Todd was left with a half-asleep expression on his face. "Ugh, that was like sitting through history class…" he mumbled.

"But hold, there's more!" said the Professor, and Todd groaned. "You see, I have discovered another Calio Slablet on this very spot, just before I had fallen asleep!"

Dina's eyes widened in anticipation. Finally, I get to know more about King Zongazonga and his kingdom! Maybe we'll find the meaning of the Majestic Vessel! She noticed that her Vivosaurs had also fallen silent and were listening intently.

Professor Scatterly brought out the Slablet, as old and dirty as the one Dina had found in the Jungle Labyrinth. "Aha!" he boomed. "This is Slablet number two! You couldn't hide forever, you cheeky beastie, now could you?"

Dina, joined begrudgingly by Todd, listened as the Professor began to decipher the ancient artifact:

"Zongazonga's immortality spell unleashed a great and terrible power. With this magic, he could force his own skull into the head of another, thereby assuming his very being. By taking over bodies as his current one aged, Zongazonga assured himself of eternal life. The unfortunate victim chosen to give his body to Zongazonga was known as the Majestic Vessel. To be chosen as a Majestic Vessel was a fate worse than death, and the people feared it above all else."

Dina, Professor Scatterly, and even Todd looked horrified. "Good heavens!" exclaimed the Professor. "It seems that Zongazonga was nothing more than a common magical body thief. Not that there's anything common about that, eh wot?"

Professor Scatterly picked up the Slablet and tucked it under his arm. "I wonder if the people of ancient times endured Zongazonga's rule across countless generations? Or perhaps they were clever enough to defeat him? I must know what happened to those poor people!"

Before he could prattle on further, Dina's Paleopager gave out its urgent beeping. "Oops, excuse me, Professor…" Dina apologized for the interruption, before listening to the message. It was from Joe Wildwest.

"Howdy there, pards. It's me, Joe, and I'm we got a problem on our hands. I need the Patrol Team to mount up and gather in my suite immediately."

Dina felt confident that it was nothing the Patrol Team couldn't handle – up until Todd started sneezing.

"Achoo! Achoo! Achoo! Waaaa-CHOO!" he sneezed, then started shivering madly. "My head hurts… and I'm f-freezing…" he complained, and Dina knew that his ailment was real this time.

Professor Scatterly examined him, and his eyes popped. "Sweet fish and chips! This lad is running a dangerously high fever!" Dina couldn't help thinking, Probably an after-effect of being exposed to liquid nitrogen. Poor guy.

"Don't worry, young lass," the Professor was saying. "I can get your friend up and full of beans in no time." With that, Professor Scatterly guided Todd toward Ilium Village, Dina worriedly following behind.

-.-.-.-.-.

Wildwest Tower

Dina arrived at Joe's suite to find Pauleen and Joe waiting for her. "Thanks fer comin', Dina," Joe greeted her. "Now all we gotta do is wait for Todd, and…"

Dina cut him off. "Sorry, Joe. But Todd caught a bad fever and isn't in any condition to come," she explained sorrowfully.

Joe snapped his fingers. "What's that? Poor feller went and caught himself a cold? Now don't that just beat all?! …Well, I reckon this is all the Patrol Team we're gonna have today."

Pauleen murmured, "Well, Rupert should be here too…" Dina agreed, also sorry that Rupert wasn't here to help this time.

"Keep this under yer hats," Joe sighed, "but some varmint went and stole our Super Electrominites." Dina cocked her head, confused, and asked the obvious. "Um, what are Super Electrominites?"

Joe proceeded to explain. "They're special, incredibly rare ammonite fossils that put out a near preposterous amount of electrical energy. The entire fossil park runs on just three of 'em. But a little while ago, three intruders busted into the park's Fighter Stations and made off with the Super Electrominites. We still have a little power stored, but I reckon we ain't gonna last much longer."

Pauleen timidly asked, "What happens when we run out of power?" Joe shook his head and sadly answered, "Lights'll go out… VMMs won't work… Poor KL-33N will shut down… And forget about cleanin' and revivin' fossils! We'll be sittin' in the dark, literally."

Dina slapped her fist into her other hand. "We have to recover them fast, or it will be the end of the Caliosteo Cup," she stated.

Joe agreed with her. "Right you are," he said. "I've heard rumors that the culprits are hidin' out at Icegrip Plateau. Check it out for me, will ya? Good luck, y'all."

Pauleen and Dina exited the suite, very quiet. This was probably the most serious of all the problems the Caliosteo Islands had experienced so far. Dina didn't want to let Joe and all the Fighters down.

They were about to exit the Fighter Station when Dina accidentally bumped into Rupert. The two of them just looked into each other's eyes for a few startling seconds before Rupert sadly pushed past Dina. She gestured for Pauleen to wait there before chasing after him.

"I can't be with you now," he murmured when she had cornered him. "I'm trying to avoid you so my father won't get suspicious…" Dina forcefully grabbed his arm and looked at him sternly.

"Listen, Rupert," she said calmly. "Someone has stolen the Super Electrominites that power this park. If we don't get them back, the Caliosteo Cup will be over. Joe asked Pauleen and I to search Icegrip Plateau, and I want you to help… no, I need you to help."

Rupert was silent. Dina pressed, "Deep down, you love battling, Rupert. You told me so yourself. And you'd be heartbroken if they canceled the Cup. It's time to show some backbone and stop being your father's puppet. I know, and you know, that I can't help you face your father – you have to do that yourself."

There was more silence. Dina let go of Rupert's arm and looked at him with resigned sadness. She was about to turn away when Rupert finally spoke. "Dina, I'm torn between obeying my father and helping to save the Cup. I have to think awhile over which choice is right. If you don't mind…"

Dina hugged him quickly. "I don't mind at all. Just consider it. Please." He nodded and kissed her on the cheek, so fast that she barely saw it. He then ran into the Cleaning Room.

Running back to Pauleen, she said quietly, "I asked him to at least consider helping us. He said that he needed to think on it." Pauleen nodded in understanding. "That's fine," she said. "But this is no time to sit around feeling sorry for ourselves. We have to go to Icegrip Plateau."

Dina nodded, determination taking the place of her negative feelings. She wouldn't let anyone destroy the Cup, not after she had been so lucky to participate.

-.-.-.-.-.

Icegrip Plateau

Looking around at the frozen, wind-swept glacier, Dina spotted Pauleen doing the same thing over in the distance. The other girl started waving, which Dina took to meant that she had found something. Shivering even underneath her heavy coat, she rushed over to Pauleen's ice floe.

"There you are, Dina," said Pauleen when they had met up. "I saw some creepy people ahead just a minute ago, and I think that they're with the BB Brigade." Dina balled her fists and said through clenched teeth, "Naturally. Then let's go take them down."

Pauleen nodded determinedly, then led Dina to the edge of the next ice floe. Standing on an icy precipice before them was a teenaged girl with bright orange hair, gazing off into the ocean.

The sound of their footsteps caused the girl to look idly over her shoulder. "Oh, heeeey there," she drawled, turning to face them. "You made it. I kinda figured you'd be here sooner, but… yeah."

She paced around thoughtfully as if she had all the time in the world. "Yeah, like, this is a pretty big deal and all, you know? So I was expecting someone to find us sooner."

Pauleen stepped forth and pointed accusingly at the girl. "You're with the BareBones Brigade!" she exclaimed, to which the girl replied with an amused giggle. "Tooootally. That's like, obvious. I'm one of the three BareBones Brigade commanders, maaaan."

She introduced herself as Lola with a flourish. "Sooo, did you dig my plan to steal the Super Electrominites? 'Cause I thought it was totally wicked." Lola glared at them through heavy-lidded, glittering green eyes and blew a bubble with the gum she was chewing.

"See, 'cause if you can't clean or revive," she continued smugly, "then there's, like, not gonna be a Cup, man. It's gonna totally harsh the mellow of every Fighter in this park. I can't waaaait."

Pauleen was mad, to say the least. "You're not going to get away with this, hippie!" she declared. "Now give back those Super Electrominites, or we'll settle this with a Fossil Battle!"

Lola, who initially looked insulted at the hippie comment, laughed girlishly. "Oh, maaaaan! That's, like, tooooo funny!" She clicked her fingers, the ominous *snap* echoing across the iceberg. Dina and Pauleen then gasped – Cole and Lester were approaching from behind Lola!

"Well, well, well," smirked Cole when he caught sight of Dina. "If it isn't the Fighter who ruined my stylish plan! I am very excited to see you again, kiddo. You have no idea."

Lester guffawed loudly. "Har har har! I'm gonna thrash you good for what you did to me at Mt. Krakanak!"

As the trio advanced, Pauleen whispered, "This looks bad, Dina. I don't think we can battle all three of these creeps." Dina gulped and retreated a step back.

"We've won before it's even begun!" crowed Lola. "Oh, man. That, like, rhymed. Coooool."

All of a sudden, when all seemed lost, came a familiar voice from behind. "It seems that all three BB Brigade commanders suffer from a severe case of overconfidence."

Dina's heart leapt. The slightly arrogant tone… the vocabulary… it was Rupert! As soon as he appeared beside her, she hugged him tightly around the neck. "Rupert, you came back!" she squealed.

Rupert smiled. "You were right. I need to start being honest with myself. I like this Cup, and I want to face you in a battle, Dina. So I've decided it would be most disappointing if it was canceled." Dina let go of him and said in a voice broken with emotion, "Rupert, you're the best."

The three of them turned to face the BB trio. "Ha, now it's three-on-three, losers!" cried Pauleen triumphantly. Lola's expression turned from indifferent to sour. "Man, this is tooootally, like, annoying."

She took a menacing step toward Dina, her face a mix between a scowl and a grin. "Cole, Lester? It's time to take out the recycling."

Cole glared at Pauleen and replied, "With pleasure."

Lester cracked his knuckles and prepared to face Rupert. "Yo!" he answered, Dino Medals clutched in his meaty fist.

Dina threw out her Vivosaurs – Aeros, Tricera, and Hopter. Lola gave them a mild stare and summoned her three Boneysaurs. There was the strong B-Lambeo, the gigantic B-Brachio, and the clumsy B-Jara. The latter was a green-colored pterosaur skeleton that limped through the air with weak wingbeats.

With a glance at her Fighter's Watch, Dina was surprised to see that B-Jara's speed gave Lola the advantage of striking first. And she did so with relish, commanding B-Lambeo to hit Tricera with Boney Chomp. B-Lambeo slid across the ice and slammed him with a hip check, the super-effective hit causing him to growl and wince.

The ice on Icegrip Plateau, while slippery, wasn't nearly as slippery as the ice in IliumVillage's Fossil Stadium. Dina's Vivosaurs held on strong as they began to slide, then recovered.

"Good job, you guys!" Dina called. "Now Aeros, use Aeros Alert on B-Brachio!" Aeros swiped out with his tail, but B-Brachio somehow managed to dodge the hit. Following up with a savage bite, Aeros' eyes widened at that failing as well.

What's going on? wondered Dina, frustrated. Then she looked at her Fighter's Watch and saw that B-Jara's support effects were increasing the two others' Speed levels. So I take that one down first.

Lola carelessly blew another bubble, then said equally carelessly, "B-Brachio, take them for a spin, man. Use Boney Stomp."

B-Brachio's immense feet crashed down upon Aeros, causing him to wheeze. However, his strength allowed him to hold on. Dina's team rotated a few spaces due to the quake that the impact created. Now Hopter was in front instead of Aeros. Hmm, hardly the best position to put him in, Dina mused.

"Hopter, rotate into Aeros' position and use Beak Stab on B-Jara!" Hopter did so, then ran at B-Jara, jumping up at the last minute and spearing the Boneysaur with his beak. B-Jara squawked and fell to the ground, then quickly recovered and resumed hovering in place.

"If that's how you want to play it…" murmured Lola. "B-Jara, hit him back with Boney Screech."

B-Jara rose into the air, threw its head back, and released a powerful sound wave that swept across the ice, blowing snow and mist in its wake. Hopter was struck full force, wincing as the chalkboard-and-nails shriek grated on his ears. Within seconds, he was unconscious, splayed out on the ice and snoring softly.

"That's better," Lola commented sweetly. "Now take him down with a Boney Tsunami." B-Brachio swung its tail at Hopter like a baseball bat, skimming across the ice as it did so, and hit the poor pterosaur with the force of a tank. Hopter was sent spinning into the air, squawking in pain and surprise, but he had taken less damage than Dina expected and was now fully awake.

Dina gritted her teeth at Lola's tactics. "Tricera, rotate to the front and use Tricera Combo on B-Jara!" Tricera obeyed with a growl, charging across the ice. His horns slammed into B-Jara, forcing it to plummet. Before it hit the ground, Tricera struck again, this time with an uppercut that sent it reeling back into the sky. The frail Boneysaur had several broken bones and "bleeding" wounds, and only a little LP left.

If Lola was angry or disappointed, she didn't show it. Instead, she smirked and said, "We totally don't go down without a fight, man. B-Jara, use Boney Beguile."

The Boneysaur, glowing eyes flickering as it fought to stay conscious, released a terrible screech that ripped across the battlefield. Cracks formed in the ice, and Dina could swear, as she covered her ears in vain, that it was aiming at her.

In a way, it was. When it was over, Dina could see that all the FP that she had left over had been transferred to Lola. "Damn her," she cursed under her breath. She then ordered Aeros to strike with Wind Blast, which sent B-Jara into a spiraling crash onto the ice below. Its Dino Medal skidded across the ice and hit Lola's foot.

Lola swore and pocketed it. She had a ton of FP from her earlier theft as well as from losing B-Jara. "OK, I'm, like, done playing with you," she hissed to Dina. "B-Brachio, B-Lambeo, use your strongest attacks."

B-Brachio roared and reared back, then pounded his feet on the ground. A huge, white shockwave swept toward Dina's team, but only damaged Aeros. He had a big chunk of LP taken away, but he was fine otherwise.

B-Lambeo ran at Tricera and ferociously jabbed him with each of its boney fists. Tricera bellowed, but hung on with a sliver of LP left. He began to glow orange as Parting Blow took effect.

Dina winced at the beating her team was getting. Hopter was the only one in good condition, but Aeros still had some power in him. She decided to end her turn without attacking, saving up FP without fear of B-Jara stealing it. Dina had a risky plan, for it counted on Tricera being able to survive Lola's next attack.

Lola had a triumphant glint in her eyes as she commanded B-Lambeo to finish Tricera with Boney Chomp. Dina screwed her eyes shut, not wanting to watch, when a risky idea took hold of her. "Hopter, defend Tricera!" she screamed, hoping it would work.

It did. Hopter flew between the incoming Boneysaur and its target, taking the damage for himself. Dina had been counting on his high LP, good defenses, and Earth-type to resist the Air-type blow.

Dina couldn't help smirking at Lola's expression – a fusion of shock and rage. "Tricera, take B-Brachio down with Triple Threat!" The ceratopsian had a smug grin on his beaked face as he prepared to execute her plan. See ya, buddy, he chuckled to B-Brachio.

His first attack struck home, right in B-Brachio's chest. Several ribs snapped, and three streams of black energy hissed out from the wounds. The next attack was an uppercut, tearing a gash in the Boneysaur's neck. As more black energy began to pour out, Tricera leapt high into the air and dove like a torpedo, dealing a crushing blow to the spine. Combined with Parting Blow, this trio of blows was devastating.

B-Brachio shattered at the impact on his spine before being drawn back into a Dino Medal. Lola's eyes blazed at the sight, and she mercilessly commanded a Boney Shove attack.

B-Lambeo bashed Tricera with each of its fists, taking him out of the fight. "Sorry, Tricera," Dina murmured as she picked up the medal. Don't sweat it, came the mumbled reply.

"Hopter, Aeros! Use Rock Wing and Wind Blast!" Simultaneously, they released their blasts of wind and stone, bombarding B-Lambeo. It was hurt, but still in the fight. When Lola commanded another Boney Shove, Aeros sustained more bad injuries.

Dina took a moment to decide what to do next. She then told Hopter to use Beak Stab, hoping that she would have enough FP on the next turn to use the attack she wanted to. Miraculously, B-Lambeo managed to avoid Hopter's thrust and retaliate with a Boney Chomp. Hopter's LP wavered dangerously close to the point where he would go Berserk.

With a glance at her FP count and seeing that she had enough, Dina didn't hesitate. "Aeros, use Aeros Special to finish this off!"

Aeros slammed B-Lambeo with his tail, crunched down with his jaws, and finished with an extravagant plume of green flame that engulfed the Boneysaur. A chilling howl came from the flaming skeleton, along with the stench of bones burning. A moment later, the flames died down, leaving B-Lambeo's Dino Medal behind.

Dina sighed, glad that the battle was over. Similarly exhausted, Aeros and Hopter dissolved into their medallions immediately. Lola glared at her with barely contained fury as she pocketed her last Dino Medal.

By this time, Rupert and Pauleen had defeated Lester and Cole in similar fashion. "This is a tooootal bummer, man," Lola growled. "All this losing is cramping my style," complained Cole, in a slightly worse mood than his sister was.

Lester was trying to keep his anger in check, and didn't say anything. "All right then, chumps!" Pauleen demanded. "Give back the Super Electrominites!" Cole and Lester scowled – clearly, they thought that they had lost.

Lola, however, started to laugh. "You think that I'd, like, execute this plan without a backup?" she giggled hysterically. "That's tooootally funny!" It took a few moments for her to regain control of herself, then she brought her fingers to her mouth and gave a single, piercing whistle.

Dina began to get that sinking feeling. Her spirit dropped further as she saw the shadow flash across the ground. Oh, no, this is not happening… she thought.

Out of the blue, something swooped down in front of the sun, preventing anyone from getting a good look at it. But when it landed, the three friends gasped.

Standing in front of the BB trio was a boy the same age as his comrades, wearing a green shirt, silky pants, and a light, navy blue hoodie that flapped in the chilly wind. He also wore glasses with little skulls on the edges, the trademark symbol of the BB Brigade.

But the most shocking thing of all was that he had huge, pterosaur-like wings sprouting from his back, and savage talons that gripped the ice instead of feet.

"Greetings, and many great hellos," the newcomer chuckled. "The name's Cotton. I don't usually like bragging, but you might have heard that I'm the Champion of the previous Caliosteo Cup."

Pauleen looked horrified. Rupert was pale. Dina felt like the world was collapsing around her.

"Shocked?" Cotton chuckled again. "I would be too. You might be wondering why I decided to join the BB Brigade after winning the Cup. But I won't tell you. That information is only for me to know. Some secrets can never be revealed."

Dina and her friends couldn't say anything. Cotton continued rambling on as if they weren't even there. "The three of you have been causing a lot of trouble," he said, tone heavy with disappointment. "Well, Cole's plan was diabolical and had a lot of thought into it, which I admire, but it didn't exactly have the highest chance of succeeding.

"Lester's plan, on the other hand, was unimaginative and had literally NO chance of succeeding." His comrade opened his mouth to protest, when Cotton cut him off. "I mean, seriously. Only an idiot would try to make everyone on the islands as fat as he is. Which, by the way, is a goal that can only be achieved by spending sixteen years on a potato-chip-and-hamburger diet, as Lester has been."

Cotton chuckled again. "Lola's plan, on the other hand, actually makes sense." Lola herself ducked her head and blushed a little. "But I knew you three would try to stop it. And that's why I'm here."

His mood suddenly changed from cheerful to harsh. "If you can beat me in a Fossil Battle, we'll give back the Super Electrominites." His voice had that kind of ominous finality to it.

There was silence. Then Rupert stepped forward and said, "I accept your challenge." Dina started to protest, when he gently laid a hand on her outstretched arm. "Dina," he said firmly but not unkindly. "My Vivosaurs are in the best condition out of all of ours. I can handle him."

Dina hesitated, then backed away. She trusted him, and if he thought that he was the best candidate for a battle with the former Cup Champion, then she thought so too.

Cotton brought out five Dino Medals and intently gazed at them sitting in the palm of his hand. After a moment of muttering to himself, he selected three and pocketed the other two. "Shall we dance?" he asked, to which Rupert solemnly nodded.

Rupert sent out his three Vivosaurs first – Mapo, Allo, and shockingly, T-Rex. It was Dina's first time seeing the beast, and she could tell that it certainly looked like the powerful Vivosaur it was said to be. Even Mapo and Allo seemed a little frightened of it.

Cotton, however, looked at it with only the slightest hint of fear. "Go, my Cambrian companions!" he shouted, throwing his three Dino Medals out onto the battlefield. They were ones Dina had all seen before – Anomalo, Parapu, and Desmo.

Dina watched as the Fossil Battle started, tense with anticipation. Cotton got the first move. Those three are speedy, but weak. Rupert shouldn't have much of a problem as long as he keeps his head and focuses.

However, her mouth dropped open as Cotton called an attack from each of his Vivosaurs. Anomalo used Anomalo Twist on Mapo, taking out a third of its LP. Then came Parapu with Parapu Punch, taking out a third of T-Rex's LP. Desmo then smashed Allo with Desmo Twirl, which took out half of Allo's LP! Suddenly, Rupert's odds of victory seemed a lot smaller.

Rupert became nervous, beads of sweat forming on his brow. Then, he forced himself to keep calm and form a strategy. Deciding that it was worth the risk, he ended his turn and saved all of his LP for a planned assault later.

Cotton shook his head and muttered, "Your funeral…" Then, he shouted in a voice that echoed across the glacier, "Anomalo, use your Team Skill, Chopper Cyclone!"

All three Vivosaurs began to glow. Tendrils of green energy connected Desmo and Parapu to Anomalo, which became surrounded in a green aura. It rose up onto its tail and flapped its fins, creating a ball of energy in front of it. Then the ball exploded into dozens of glowing blades that sliced through the air at Rupert's team.

First Allo, then Mapo, then finally T-Rex were pummeled, each retreating into their Dino Medals. Cotton had won.

"Good job, you three," Cotton happily told his Vivosaurs, who gave happy replies of their own. They disappeared soon afterward, and Cotton looked across the former battlefield at his opponent.

Rupert just stood there, blank-eyed, his face drained of color. The shock of losing so quickly had taken a lot out of him. Dina ran to comfort him, taking his arm in her hands.

She glared at Cotton and the three commanders behind him, who all looked smug. "You can't get away with this," she growled. "We'll take the Super Electrominites, even if we have to fight you ourselves."

Cotton's eyes widened at this. "Wow, you're determined. I like that. But," he suddenly smirked evilly, "we don't actually HAVE the Super Electrominites." Dina looked at him with a mix of disgust and skepticism.

"No, it's true," he insisted. Lola came up behind him and drawled, "We, like, kinda figured that we'd lose to you again, you know? So we tooootally fooled you by making you think we still had the Super Electrominites. We actually got rid of them by throwing them into the sea!"

The four BB Brigade commanders' laughter struck Dina and the other two like a fist. There's no hope… she thought, a sob suddenly swelling up within her. They've actually won. There's no way that we could retrieve the Super Electrominites now…

All of a sudden, a huge quake struck, rocking the iceberg on which they stood. Everyone stumbled, sadness, hopelessness, and triumph replaced by terror.

"Oh, maaaan. Like, what was that?" asked Lola, eyes wide for once. "I don't know, but it don't feel right!" exclaimed Lester, looking around wildly.

The quake got worse, and Dina felt something drop out of her pocket. She saw one of her Dino Medals, Krypto's from the look of it, rolling rapidly toward the edge of the glacier. "Krypto!" she called fearfully, and she could hear his faint cry of Dina!

But before she could even move, he dropped into the water below.

Dina didn't have time to mourn or cry, because Cole suddenly looked toward the ocean next to them and gasped. "Wh-what is that?!" he screamed, pointing. Everyone turned to look, and gasped as well. A huge wave swelled up in the water, then a tail broke the surface. The wave exploded into droplets of water that rained down on them, revealing a titanic whale racing towards them.

Its huge maw opened, washing its horrible, fishy breath over them. Pauleen shrieked and broke into a run, slipping on the ice and falling. Cole's and Lester's eyes were wide, but Dina squeezed hers' shut as she tightened her grip on Rupert's arm and buried her face in his shoulder.

"What'll we do?" she asked him, terrified. "I-I don't know…" he whispered, reaching up to clutch her head.

The whale loomed even closer. Cotton gave a bird-like shriek of fear as he beat his wings, reaching out with his talons to grab the person nearest him, which happened to be Lola. It looked like the two of them would escape.

But they were too late. The whale opened its mouth even wider with a mournful wail, crunching down on the ice floe on which they stood.

All of them – Dina, Pauleen, Rupert, Cole, Lester, Cotton, and Lola – were swallowed into the depths of the beast, possibly never to be seen again.

-.-.-.-.-.

Now that I look back at all the hints I've given to you, I think I made it a little too obvious that Cotton had joined the BB Brigade.

I thought it would fit Cole and Lola to be brother and sister - they're just so similar, in my opinion.

And don't you worry. Against all odds, Dina finds Krypto again :)

TRIVIA: We have quite a bit of RupertXDina at the beginning. I'm starting the romance a lot earlier than I expected, to be honest. I thought I'd start after the battle between the two of them, but hey. You never know where your imagination will take you.