When Becky and I entered the Fossil Stadium, it looked exactly the same as when I'd left, as if I had only been gone for a few minutes. The fans were crowded around Dino Gigante, who was laughing as he always did. The only difference was Lucky, who was standing off to the side, a look of deep contemplation on his face. He tensed and looked to the floor when he saw me.
"You again?" Dino Gigante said when he saw me, "I hear you ride with the Wardens, amiga!"
"That's right." I replied, already knowing what he was getting at. I was proven correct when he spoke again.
"Still, my answer will not change." he stated. His fan group all turned to face us.
"Yeah! You can't have his belt!" one of them repeated, getting in my face with a 'told-you-so' look.
"And don't think you can fool us with scary stories about the world ending!" another yelled, "Because we're not buying it!"
"The only one who can take this belt from Dino Gigante is the Flying Smile Kid!"
"Is that so?" I asked, smirking as Becky and I glanced at each other. As if on cue, a familiar laugh came from behind the crowd. And it wasn't Dino Gigante.
"HA HA HA!" The figure strode down the aisle, facing Dino Gigante. He was wearing an American cowboy outfit like he always did. The only difference was the Nychus mask that hid his face.
"Wh-Who is that?!" one fan exclaimed.
The figure laughed again. "Behold the warrior of the night! He who brings justice and floss to the people!" he declared dramatically, "Behold…the Flying Smile Kid!" He then leapt from the top of the stairs, landing in front of me and Becky before facing the crowd.
"Yeeeeah!" Sean yelled, flashing one of his famous smiles, "You can't touch these pearly whites!"
"Hey! I brush twice a day AND on weekends!" one of the fans commented, sounding insulted. Everyone ignored him.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, old friend." Sean addressed Dino Gigante, "If it's a challenge you want, put your belt on the line and fight me!"
Dino Gigante stepped forward, crossing his arms, his voice smug. "So, you finally come crawling back to the world of masked fossil fighting!" He then lifted his head, tears dripping from the eye-holes in his mask. "That makes Dino Gigante…it makes him…" He turned away, sniffling.
"Um…" one fan muttered, "Is Dino crying?"
"Crying? He's bawling his eyes out!" another exclaimed.
Suddenly, Dino Gigante spun back around, showing no sign of the tears that had been pouring from his eyes not five seconds ago. "So be it, amigo!" he declared, "If it's a fight you want, then a fight you shall have!" He tilted his head, his voice holding a smirk. "Still, Dino Gigante fears you may have forgotten how to battle after these long years…" I knew Sean narrowed his eyes at that comment, but he didn't say anything as Dino declared, "So rather than a single match, our battle shall take the form of a grand tournament! The event will take place in this very Fossil Stadium and feature the finest fighters from around the world!" I heard Dino Gigante's smirk deepen. "And to show that he is not without humility, Dino Gigante will fight as part of a team. You should consider doing the same, old friend." He finally concluded, laughing, "For you stand no chance on your own! Gya ha ha ha ha!" He then left the Fossil Stadium, his fans following him to alert the media. Lucky stood in slight awe, then looked at me, first with admiration and then with a glare, and ran off after Dino Gigante. Sean looked at us as he took off his mask.
"Sean! That was the greatest thing I've ever seen!" Becky declared, hugging her brother.
"Save your words for later, dear sister!" Sean replied, "There can be no victory unless I defeat Dino Gigante and lay claim to his belt." He looked away. "I've fought my share of Fossil Battles as a Warden…But I've had three years for my masked fighting skills to wane. I have need of your strength, sister!"
"Of course, brother!" Becky replied, smiling. Sean smiled back before turning his attention to me.
"I need your strength as well, Tria." he said, surprising me, "You must join my team and enter the tournament!"
Right!" I agreed, smiling at the joy that had returned to the siblings' eyes.
"Oh, and one more thing…" Sean said, causing me to look at him in confusion. He grinned. "I won't battle alongside anyone who isn't my Paleo Pal!" he declared, "Do not quarrel with me on this! I will accept no answer but yes!"
My eyes went wide, as did my grin. "Of course!"
"And now, we ride!" Sean yelled as he led us to the reception desk, "This will mark the glorious return of the Flying Smile Kid! Soon, everyone will remember the smile that brought joy across the world! You can count on it!"
The first two battles of the tournament were a breeze. Sean's Nychus and Becky's Big Allo, although they quarreled when they gave me a tour of Goldrush Canyon, were now perfectly in sync, just like their fighters. I sent Lythro into battle, giving him a chance to let off steam and me a chance to learn how he battles against other vivosaurs. With a body made entirely of gold fossils, his moves were costly, but they were also insanely powerful, and he wasn't hateful like Gorgo once was. He also didn't seem to have any problems working in a team, which was a relief to me. Soon, the final battle was upon us.
"There is nothing to fear as long as we're together!" Sean told me and Becky, "So let's go out there and show the people what this team is made of! We ride!"
"Yeah!" we both cheered back.
We sent out our team, the three carnivores roaring at the other Bone Buggies. Dino Gigante sent out his partner: Styraco. One of his teammates sent out the Water-type carnivore Mapo, which gnashed its teeth in anticipation. The third Bone Buggy, an unmarked red one, sent out a familiar-looking Ajka.
"Let us begin!" Sean yelled, "Nychus! Lunging Claw on Styraco!"
The raptor shrieked at the sight of his familiar foe, rushing forward and striking the horned vivosaur with his claws, preparing another attack as his Speedster ability was activated.
"Beak Snap!" Sean commanded, and Nychus obeyed, closing his jaws on Styraco's back.
Styraco roared in pain, jumping around. It then flung itself backward, trying to crush Nychus underneath it, but the swift raptor evaded the move, taking his battle stance again.
Meanwhile, Mapo and Big Allo were exchanging blows. Big Allo's LP Recovery ability gave him an advantage, but Mapo's size meant that it would not go down easily. The two seemed to be in a deadlock as neither could defeat the other.
While all of this was going on around us, Lythro and Ajka faced off. Ajka seemed nervous in the face of his larger, more intimidating opponent, but I could tell by the rage in his fighter's eyes that this would not be an easy match.
Ajka roared, jumping up and diving at Lythro, eyes nearly red with the rage of his fighter. Lythro narrowed his constantly-red eyes and threw his head in the air, throwing the small herbivore back across the field. Ajka got up and charged again, this time aiming for Lythro's chest. Lythro stopped him again, this time with his foot, holding his opponent in place. Ajka shrieked in anger, escaping and jumping back. I looked to the side and my eyes widened.
"Lythro! Look out!" I called to the large carnivore. He looked just in time to see Mapo charge forward and clamp his jaws down on the back of Lythro's neck. Ajka took this chance to slam into Lythro, sending him staggering backward as Ajka prepared another attack. I was not having it.
"Lythro! Head Shredder! Get that Mapo off of you!" I commanded. Lythro roared, bringing up his bladed horns and sending Mapo staggering backward, just in time for it to be brought down by Big Allo's Beastly Bite. Lythro then focused his attention on the charging Ajka.
"Hypno Tail!" I yelled. Lythro glared, not liking the two-against-one attack strategy that was being used against him, a strategy he viewed as cowardly, and spun around, knocking Ajka back to his fighter, who could do nothing but stare in disbelief as Ajka's Dino Gear returned to him. With the other two members of Dino Gigante's team defeated, everyone turned back to the battle between Nychus and Styraco.
The two old rivals charged at each other, each managing to deliver attacks, but neither able to land a finishing blow.
"Nychus! Somersault Kick!" Sean ordered.
Nychus ran forward and struck the herbivore. Styraco bellowed in challenge, shaking off the attacks as its parting blow was activated. It changed, aiming the horn on its nose directly at Nychus.
"No!" Becky yelled, distressed. Neither of our vivosaurs would reach them in time, and Nychus was in a weakened stance and couldn't dodge. That's when I noticed something.
"Kid!" I called to Sean, "The Boost Skill! The bar is full!"
Sure enough, with all of the attacks we'd been using, the elemental energy had charged to the point where a Boost Skill could be used. Sean grinned.
"Nychus!" he called, "Somersault Break!"
Nychus screeched, speeding toward his opponent and striking it with his top claws, the force of the attack sending Styraco into the air. The audience gasped as Nychus leapt up after it, striking with his scythe-like toe-claws and sending the herbivore to the ground. Nychus landed in front of his fallen rival, smirking as it disappeared in a flash of light. The crowd went wild.
"Yes! We did it!" Becky cheered.
"Yeah!" I added. I then noticed Sean looking at the crowd, as if off in a daze. "Sean? Are you okay?"
"Look at them." he muttered, smiling even as tears ran down his mask, "Becky, Tria, look at them. All the smiling people. My people are happy…"
"Yes, they are." Becky said kindly.
"And it's all because of you, Kid." I added.
Sean sniffled, nodding as we drove out of the arena. When we got out, we were greeted by a rather…odd sight.
"Is Dino crying? Again?" a fan whispered.
"I…I lost…" Dino sobbed.
"He must really hate losing." another fan whispered. That's when Dino Gigante looked up, laughing.
"Gya ha ha ha! Not at all, friends! These are tears of joy!" he declared, "I weep because fate gave me the chance to face my greatest rival once more!" When he saw us, he approached, placing a hand on Sean's shoulder. "You have defeated me, old friend. As promised, the belt is yours." He took it off, holding it for a second before handing it to his rival. "I am sad to remove my belt, but I'm glad it's going to a good cause."
"So you did believe us when we told you the world was ending, but you still insisted on being difficult?!" I thought exasperatedly. Nibbles growled. Sean didn't seem affected.
"You fought as a true warrior, Dino Gigante." he said, shaking his rival's hand as the fans cheered.
"When next we meet on the field of battle, it is you who will fall to me!" Dino declared.
"If the spirit of the mask wills it so, it shall be." the Kid replied. The fans cheered again.
Back in Sean's office, I stood before the American siblings.
"I'll send this Cosmonium over to HQ." Sean told me, smiling, "I feel as if a great weight has been lifted from my heart. How can I ever replay you?"
"Oh, you don't need to repay me…" I said, rubbing the back of my head sheepishly.
"I owe you as well." Becky said, much to my surprise, "My brother's like a whole new person now!"
"I'm just glad I could help." I replied.
"Now that we have fought in the bright lights of the Fossil Stadium, I hope you won't hesitate to call on me again." Sean said, "Together, we ride!" He flashed me his famous smile, and I matched it with one of my own.
Back in the lobby, I was about to head back through the World Gate, but then I noticed that I was being watched. Lucky was staring at me through the door, looking like something from a horror movie. It was creepy.
"Hello, Lucky." I said when I approached him, "What's wrong?"
"…You won…" he mumbled, "I did everything I could to beat you, but you still won." He looked up at me. "Are you happy now?"
"Yes, I am." I replied, "I'm happy that we're one step closer to stopping Blackraven." I rested my hand on the boy's shoulder, kneeling down so we were at eye level. "I know you admire Dino Gigante, and that's wonderful, and just because he lost this round doesn't mean he's any less of a fighter, or that he should be any less admired." When I saw Lucky still looking troubled, I asked, "What else is the matter, Lucky?"
The kid looked away, then clenched his fists and glared at me, the anger and hatred in his eyes paralyzing.
"And what about what you said at the Stadium?! About me being a horrible Paleo Pal!" he yelled, throwing my hand off his shoulder, "Are you telling me I should get over that, too?!"
I stared at the boy, shocked, then I closed my eyes and turned my head downward. "No, I'm not. I…That was a terrible thing for me to say. I didn't really mean it." I said, looking at the boy sorrowfully. "I guess…I was upset that Dino Gigante was being difficult with the Cosmonium, when the world was in danger, and I took it out on you." My eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "Do you think you can forgive me?"
Lucky glared at me, backing away. His clenched fists were trembling as he shook his head.
"Forgive you?" he snarled viciously, tears streaming down his face, "You insult Dino Gigante, call me a horrible friend for defending him, brutally beat Ajka, and you want me to FORGIVE you?!" He backed away from me, sobs escaping his lips along with his next words.
"I hope I never see you again!"
He then ran off, leaving me standing in front of the Fossil Stadium, my eyes closed as I absorbed his words. A single tear escaped my eye, and I let it fall to the ground. Nibbles whimpered, nudging my hand. I looked down at him, gently stroking his head.
"Come on, buddy. We still have work to do." I said, turning on my heel and heading through the World Gate to Fossil Park Europe. I may have been upset, but I was still a Warden, and I would complete my mission, no matter what.