AN- WHOO! EPIC EXCITEMENT IN THIS CHAPA! More memories from the Rebellion? YEA-YUH! Red doing something crazy? No doubt about it. Who the rebel leader is? Dream on, everyone. Dream on.


Chapter Fifty-Four-Terror Reborn

"Red's right." Professor Scatterly says. "I'm too old and fat to be running around willy-nilly, so perhaps you youngsters would be willing to chase him down one last time, eh wot?"

"Please find my body." Rupert says sadly. "I've grown rather attached to it over the years."

"Don't worry." I tell him. "We will." I sprint down the long hallway full of murals, not waiting for Todd and Pauleen, adrenaline being pumped into my blood stream. I come out of the Stone Pyramid, my flashlight in hand, then suddenly skid to a stop.

I have absolutely no idea where to look.

It's late at night, so therefore there's no one I can ask, Zongazonga could have a number of hiding spots all over the islands, and he knows the islands better than anyone.

GREAT. I think. JUST great. How in the world am I suppose to find him?! He has Rupert's vivosaurs, so he doesn't need the helicopter, and I doubt he would make himself THAT easy to find, so...WHAT THE WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO-

Something suddenly rams into my consciousness.

The rebels stood on land with Zongazonga's army, which was no longer under his control. Watching the floating island with the castle on it, plummeted towards the ocean, and hit it, causing a loud splash and giant waves. They weren't watching the castle though, they were all watching the ziggurat like structure that had been floating above it. The room at the top had been completely blown off, and a pillar of light blue lights that pierced the sky covered it.

The light suddenly disappears, and the floating structure began to plummet.

"Where is she?!" A man in water armor asks, standing at the front of the crowd, his helmet off to show his blonde hair. "Come on Pipsqueak..."

"She'll make it." A man with black hair and yellow armor tells him. "She always does." The man in water armor looks back at the structure, tears starting to stream out of his worried brown eyes.

"Please..." He says. They all stand there, waiting and watching for a moment, before the structure begins to fall. They all watch with increasing horror as it plummets towards the white capped ocean waves, and hits it, quickly sinking beneath the surface. The man looks at the sky frantically. "Come on. Please...You need to live..."

"LOOK OUT!" Someone yells. Everyone looks up at the sky to see a fire armor helmet hit the ground, then go a few more yards before completely stopping. Everyone moves out of the way as the man in water armor pushes his way through the crowd to it. He stops as he sees it, falls to his knees, and picks it up with trembling hands.

"...No..." He whimpers, hugging it. He whimpers a name that I'm unable to make out, and everyone in the crowd takes off their helmets, and bows their heads. The man silently cries, and the man in yellow armor crouches down next to him, and hugs him. Three other people in different elemental armor come forward and hug him as well. He just sits there, hugging the helmet.

"Why so sad?" Someone asks. Everyone freezes, and all look to see a person about four feet tall in with the fire gauntlets, boots and shoulder pads, and wearing black leather pants and shirt. They have the Caliosteo Pipsqueak slung across their back, they have a skull under their arm, and their long black hair falls to the small of their back.

"Pipsqueak!" The man in water armor exclaims, joy lighting up his face. He jumps up and runs to her, and everyone bursts into cheers, rushing towards her. He man picks her up and hugs her tightly, tears streaming down his face, and she hugs him back. "Thank goodness your alive..." He says quietly, his voice still shaky. He kisses her on the forehead, and she just smiles.

"Jacob, remember what I said before the battle?" She asks him. "How I couldn't die? Well, I listed all that stuff, and you REALLY think that I'm going to let some evil skull and a few of his spells kill me?"

"..." No one says anything for a second.

"Well, all I can say for him is that I don't think he'll be waking up for awhile." She says holding up the skull. "He has fallen! His shackles are broken! Let his night of tyranny end, and a new day dawn!" The crowd bursts into cheers again, and I suddenly recognize the place.

Icegrip Plateau.

I open my eyes and suck in a quick breath. "What is it Red?" Rupert asks me.

"I just saw another memory." I tell him. "But, I know where to find Zongazonga now." I throw out Water Logged's medal, he comes out, and I jump on him. To Ilium Island and Icegrip Plateau!" He takes off, and flaps his wings as fast as possible. We soon arrive at Ilium Island, and I quickly pull on my snow gear, the freezing night wind biting at my bare skin. I then run as fast as my legs can carry me down the bridge to Icegrip Plateau, my flashlight lighting the path. I come to the dig site, and quickly look around.

I spot him.

He's on the farthest out ice flow, and I can just make out his red parka and toboggan in the ruddy morning rays that are just starting to peek over the horizon, making him stand out like a drop of blood on white cloth. I run across the ice flows and bridges, and slow down as I pass the cave. I walk towards him, his back to me as he looks out to sea, the cold breeze pulling at his long silver hair that sticks out from under the toboggan.

"..." I stand there, looking at him with a hard, angry face and my hands curled into hard fists. He notices me, looking over his shoulder some. He turns around to face me, and I look at his eyes, which are the cold, cruel, unforgiving ice blue eyes rather than Rupert's warm, golden cat eyes.

"Hello Red." He says, his words sooth and his voice calm. "What's wrong? Was there a problem with Zongazonga's skull?"

"You know good and well there was." I growl between clenched teeth. I take the Caliosteo Pipsqueak in both of my hands, and get in a ready stance. He merely smiles, amused.

"Heh heh. I'm kidding of course. I know why you're here..." He grins evilly, showing teeth longer and sharper than they should be. "Because I am Zongazonga!" He booms. He then laughs evilly and triumphantly. "You were SO VEEEEERY close! How frustrating this must be for you. Had the Caliosteo Pipsqueak's power lasted a second longer, this Rupert fellow would have had me. But, I have good news Red! I've decided not to steal your body after all. Rupert's body may not be your equal, but I have it and my powers are returning."

"Get out of him, or I'll make you." I growl. He chuckles, amused.

"Do you REALLY think I'm that simple?" He laughs. "Do you REALLY think that I'm just going to let you knock me out of the vessel from which I will launch my glorious reign? Perhaps you just don't fear me like how you should, mmm? Well then, I will show you why you should!" He turns his back to me. "Behold the power of the Majestic Vessel!" He raises his arms to the sky.

"Zongazonga! Zongazonga!" He chants. The ground beneath my feet starts to shake, making me sling the Caliosteo Pipsqueak across my back and hold my arms out for balance. "Zonga! Zonga! ZONGAAAAA!" I look out to sea, and a familiar structure that resembles a ziggurat begins to rise from the depths. "Rise my kingdom! Rise from your slumber! RISE!" I fall on my side from the shaking, and quickly prop myself up on my hands. I look at him to see him looking at me with his piercing eyes, smirking. He lifts up his right hand, and black particles appear around it, then solidify into a Dino Medal with a black ring around the edge. He hold out his arm, letting it slip through his fingers, to the ground. It turns solid black, then changes its shape to a winged dinosaur.

It's underside is a light lavender, its top side is lavender with purple spots, a coral crest, blood red wings, black beneath its glowing, solid blue eyes, which hold such eeriness and hostility that I feel my face pale, and my eyes grow wide as I slowly move back.

"Goodbye Red RANGER..." He tells me, saying my real last name as if he's taunting me with it. "May the next time we meet, you face your downfall." He growls, glaring at me. He climbs up onto the Z-Ptera, and it takes off, flying towards the floating structure that now has angry storm clouds above it.

"..." I sit there, terror and panic in me.

"...R-Red...?" Rupert, who has been riding on top of my pack this whole time, asks me with fear. "Did I just see what I thought I saw...?"

"Yeah..." I say in a high-pitched tone of fear, slowly nodding my head. I quickly roll onto my stomach, push myself up, my feet digging into the snow as I run as fast as possible towards Ilium Village. OH HOLY DINO, WE ARE SO COMPLETELY SCREWED!

A few minutes later...

Joe stands there, looking out one of the large windows in his office, while me, Todd, Pauleen and Prof. Scatterly all stand near his desk, Rupert on top of my pack. I had ran as faster than anyone thought possible to the square, immediately jumped onto Water Logged, and made him fly faster than as fast as he could fly to Cranial Island, and I then ran straight to Joe's suit, and told everyone what had happened as fast as possible while getting out of my snow gear. Joe turns around to look at us, and walks over.

"Dadgum!" He says. "I didn't know tha' feller could pull a castle outta the sea!"

"Part of his castle." I tell him. "The real castle is much bigger."

"Back to the point," The professor says. "he was able to raise the structure despite being in Rupert's body for such a short time. Once he becomes fully adjusted, I fear Zongazonga may prove impossible to stop!"

"Well then," Joe says. "I guess we'll just have to beat him before he can get comfortable! I sent Stella, Terry and Kent out on a Ptera to see if they can get into the castle. I sure hope they can..." The phone on Joe's desk rings. "That's them now!" He puts it on speaker.

"Joe, this is Stella!" She says. "We can see Zongazonga's castle now!" You can hear the gale winds in the back ground. "We're prepared to-... OH NO!"

"Dude, there's a seriously angry cloud that just popped up over the castle!" Kent says, the gale winds getting louder and thunder rumbling. We all stand there, shock and worry on our faces.

"It's some kind of hurricane!" Terry yells over all the noise. "There's no way to approach the castle!"

"We're sorry Joe!" Stella says. It starts coming in fuzzy and scattered as static. "We have to turn back! If we can...Try to...Make it lat..." The line is completely over come with static, and Joe grabs the phone.

"Stella?! Terry?! Kent?! Come in!" He says, worry on his face and in his voice. "Come in, dagnabbit!" He stands there a second, then slowly hangs up the phone, and looks away from all of us. "...We failed."

"W-wait, digadig!" Pauleen says. "It the Ptera can't make it, what about a Jara or a Thalasso, digadig?" Me, Todd, and Prof. Scatterly all look at her.

"I fear they will fail as well." Rupert tells her. "Pteras have the best flying ability of all vivosaurs. I doubt even a helicopter could make it through that weather..."

"So what diga-do we diga-do, digadig?" Pauleen asks, hanging her head. "We just sit here and wait for Zongazonga to take over?!" Joe looks at her with sad eyes.

"I...I don't know, Pauleen." He says shaking his head helplessly. "I just don't know what else we can do." Todd hugs her.

"Don't worry!" He tells her. "We'll come up with something!"

"Unless one'a y'all has a high-powered rocket we can launch through the storm." Joe says.

"..." We all stand there, panicking and thinking.

'I've failed.' I think. 'I let him get away, and now he's going to take over the world, and no doubt kill me and all my loved ones because I was a bother to him!'

'Red, don't blame yourself!' Cloud Cover tells me. 'How were you supposed to know that he would get his powers back that fast?!'

'I-! I DON'T KNOW!' I yell, my hands clenched into hard fists. 'But with everything that's happened to me, I should have anticipated this and prevented it!'

'Red, no one knows what the future holds!' Flamethrower tells me. 'The only thing we can be sure of, is that no matter what, we're here to protect this planet and its inhabitants from anything that dares try to harm it, and Zongazonga is trying to harm it, so there for we have to think of a way to stop him!'

'I know, I know!' I tell him. 'It's just-! JUST-!' I mentally sigh. '...I just feel like this is my fault...I could've stopped him, but I didn't...Now...I'm supposed to be a hero...Protect people...but...I've failed...After everything I've done, everything I've accomplished, do you have any idea how hard it is for me to do that? To admit defeat?'

'Red,' Air Strike tells me, his voice hard with seriousness. 'you are a hero. You have the unbreakable characteristic of determination, which is something heros have, even when the situation is hopeless and they're almost dead.'

'...You're right.' I tell him. 'I just need to find out how to get through that storm!' I think. 'ARGH! I just wish I could stick Zongazonga in the barrel of a cannon, clog the end, and fire it! See how he likes that!'

...

Cannon.

...

CANNON.

"THAT'S IT!" I exclaim, making everyone who was deep in thought jump.

"What is it?" Todd asks me. "Do you have an idea?"

"Yeah dawg!" I tell him. I dash towards the elevator. "Come on! It'll explain itself!" They all look at each other, then hurry over to the elevator platform, which we pile into. It goes down to the lobby, we rush out, out of the Fighter Station, and I jump onto a helicopter Ribular Town, and everyone get onto it as well.

A few minutes later...

I'm standing in the door way of the helicopter, one hand hanging onto a handle on the ceiling, my goggles over my eyes, and the rays of the rising sun beautifully painting the sky as the golden sun rises above the horizon. The helicopter come over the landing pad, and I jump out, dropping eight feet to the ground, which I land on my feet, then sprint to the right path, the others hurrying to keep up as they get off the helicopter. I run up a path to a small set of stairs, stop, then turn around to see them running up to me.

"Think we can use this?" I ask, pointing over my shoulder at the Fossil Cannon, as we stand there on the Fossil Lawn. I noticed as I was running up to this, I saw Kaze, leaning against the base of the Fossil Cannon, goggles pulled over his eyes, and fast asleep. Everyone stands there, looking at the Fossil Cannon with shock. Joe looks at me.

"You wanna use the Fossil Cannon to shoot yerself to the castle?!" He exclaims, shocked and bewildered.

"Yes sir, that's right." I tell him nodding. He stands there, looking at me like I'm crazy.

"You come up with some pretty crazy ideas Red!" Todd tells me.

"I diga-doubt some nasty storm cloud could stop you if we did this, digadig!" Pauleen tells me.

"Well, I s'pose it's possible..." Joe says. He sighs. "But, we still got a problem. See, this here Fossil Cannon was designed to fire rocks...Not people. If we tried to fire ya outta it, ya'd be blown to kingdom come!"

"Perhaps I can be of assistance." We all hear a familiar voice say. Joe, Todd, Pauleen and Prof. Scatterly all turn around to see Mr. Regius walking up to us.

"Father!" Rupert exclaims from his spot on the top of my pack. He jumps down to the ground.

"I've been briefed on the situation, and I wish I could say the good of the world is my first concern." Mr. Regius tells us. He looks at Rupert, and Joe steps out of the way as Mr. Regius walk up to Rupert. "But in truth, I'm more concerned with retrieving the body of my son." He looks at Joe. "I believe I can modify the cannon to fit your needs. Will you allow me to assist you?"

"Father..." Rupert says.

"Um, but, sir?" Todd asks. "Mr. FossilDig CEO? Are you sure you can modify it?" Mr. Regius looks at Todd with a small smile.

"Of course I can." He tells Todd. "I built the thing." Todd jumps with surprise.

"I can help." We all look to see Kaze stand up, his goggles on his forehead. "I have plenty of tools you can use." He tells us, taking some out of a few of his pockets. Mr. Regius nods.

"Good." He looks back at Joe. "I'll make it so the cannon will be able to fire a person as easily as a fossil rock." He tells Joe. "However, as time is short, it will need to be a rush job. I fear we'll only be able to fire a single person."

"Just one of us?" Todd asks sadly. I step forward.

"I'll go." I tell them.

"Yeah, all right Red." Todd says. "You're the best choice."

"It's all up to you, pard." Joe tells me, doing a two finger salute.

"I'll need source parts and materials." Mr. Regius says looking back at Joe. "I could also use skilled labor if there's anyone you trust."

"I'll arrange for whatever ya need." Joe tells Mr. Regius.

"Oh, woooow. Like, we're tooootally skilled at labor." We all here a familiar voice say. Joe jumps at it some, and we all turn to see three familiar faces.

"Cole! Lester! Lola!" Joe exclaims, surprised. He walks up to them, and they walk towards him.

"Like, when we found out Don B was actually Joe Wildwest, it blew my miiiiiiind." Lola says. "You totally fooled us. It was a trip and a half maaaan."

"Yeah." Lester says. "I was just comin' along because I like breakin' stuff. I never knew there was a good reason for it!"

"Even I," Cole says. "the clever one, fell for your story. You're a sly dog Joe Wildwest. I'll give you that."

"..." Joe stand there for a second, then sighs. "...I admit it. I used ya, an' I lied to ya as well." He hangs his head some. "And though my intentions were good, that ain't no excuse...I'm sorry."

"Hold the phone boss!" Lester says. "Don't apologize! Apologizing's for suckers!" Joe looks back up at them.

"And we're not angry you know?" Lola tells him. "It was just, like, whoooooa." She giggles some.

"You fooled us good Joe, but that doesn't mean we hate you." Cole tells him. "I mean, look at us. You've got a vain hipster, a creepy rocker, and a ditzy hippie. Folks don't like us. They never have...At least, not until you came along."

"You took us like a new drummer in a cover band." Lester tells him. "And that means you'll always be our boss!" Lola giggles again.

"Yeaaaaaah." She says.

"Aw, shucks." Joe says. "Thanks y'all." He does a two finger salute. "Well then, I guess we better get on with it. Cole? Lester? Lola? I want ya to gather the BB Brigade and give this feller whatever help he needs." The three of them do their poses.

"Rodger that, boss!" Cole says, a determined smile on his face.

"Can we lift stuff?" Lester asks. "'Cause I'm real good at liftin' stuff!"

"Like, no worries maaaan." Lola says.

"Oh! Me, me! I'll help too!" Todd says waving his hand in the air.

"Me too, digadig!" Pauleen says spinning around on one foot and doing her poise. Joe looks at us, and walks back to us.

"We'll getcha into this cannon as soon as we can Red." Joe tells me. "If there's anything ya need before the final showdown with Zongazonga, you best take care of it now." I nod. "Soon as yer ready, just pull on my duster and lemme know. Got it?"

"Yes sir!" I tell him. I then dash past him, past the commanders, and to the Fighter Camp. I run into mine and Todd's bungalow, and into the kitchen. I stuff my face with nuts, jerky, and water, trying to fill up my stomach after staying up all night and running around so much. I wish I could get some sleep, knowing I'll need it, but I don't have time for even a quick nap. I go into the bed room, sit down at the desk, get out some paper and envelopes, and start writing. I write one to Todd, Pauleen, Joe, the staff leaders, Prof. Scatterly, the BB Brigade commanders, Mr. Regius, I write some for my family, my friends back on Vivosaur Island, and one to Rosie. I take out a large envelope, and put all of the letters into it, and close it.

I run back to the Fossil Lawn, the envelope in my hand, and pass by some BB Brigade guys hurrying back and forth with supplies, while Lester moves the heavier stuff. I come to the Fossil Lawn to see Todd on top of the Fossil Cannon, working on it, Pauleen standing next to Mr. Regius, handing him Kaze's tools as he asks for them, Lola near the edge taking the supplies as Kaze hands them to her. She turns back around, only to knock her foot against something, making her lose her balance, and falls. Kaze quickly catches her, and she looks at him with surprise, while he just smiles awkwardly as his face turns red. A crowd has gathered on the Fossil Lawn, watching them work, and Linda is briefing the situation while the camera man films her.

Don't have time for that. I think, walking towards the Fossil Cannon. Joe's watching Mr. Regius work, and I tug at his coat sleeve. He looks at me.

"Are ya ready to go to Zongazonga's Castle?" He asks me.

"Yes sir." I tell him with seriousness.

"Yer sure 'bout that?" Joe asks with seriousness as well. "Once yer gone, we got no way to get ya back."

"Yes sir." I tell him.

"All right, fair enough." He tells me, nodding. Todd climbs down from the top of the cannon, and gets next to me, and Joe looks at Mr. Regius.

"How's this here Fossil Cannon comin' along pard?" Joe asks him. Mr. Regius looks at him.

"We're just finishing up." He tells Joe. "We should be able to fire a single person over to the castle."

"You can do it!" Todd tells me with reassurance. "I believe in you!"

"We'll be cheering for you!" Pauleen tells me. "Just come back in one piece, okay?"

"Will do." I hug them. "If I don't...well, you guys are the best friends I've ever had." They hug me back, and we all stand there for a second, before separating. I tug at Joe's coat sleeve again, and he looks at me. I hold the large envelope out to him. "If I don't come back, and ONLY if I don't come back, will you please make sure that these are sent to the right people?" He takes it, and nods.

"Good luck small fry." He tells me, hugging me. I hug him back, and he sets me down after a second.

"We're ready." Mr. Regius says, closing a panel on the side.

"Yes sir." I tell him. I pick up Rupert. "Let's go." I tell him, putting him in my pack. The barrel of the cannon lowers, and I climbing feet first, and laying on my stomach. I pull my goggles over my eyes, and the barrel of the cannon lifts up, and stops. I can see Zongazonga's castle and the storm clouds above it.

"Get ready!" Joe tells me. I hear the crowd wish me luck.

For the world.

"Three!" Joe says.

For my loved ones.

"Two!"

For Rosie.

"One!"

"FOR CALIOSTEO!"

"FIRE!" There's a loud boom, and I'm shot from the cannon, my fists stretched out in front of me, shooting through the air which howls in my ears and tears at my hair and clothes.

I shoot through clouds, my face hard with determination, feeling as light as a feather, and I start to feel gravity begin to pull at me. I start to form an arch, and I stretch my feet in front of me, and I land on the edge of the castles land, on my feet.

Nailed it. I think. Rupert gets on top of my pack.

"We made it." He says. "He must be up there." I look at the stairs, pushing my goggles up onto my head. I nod and grunt with confirmation, then sprint up the stairs as fast as I can, while the gray-fire torches white wash the place. I come to the top, and there stands Zongazonga on top of a stone platform.

His icy eyes look me straight in the eye, but I feel no fear.


AN-YES! CLIFFHANGER! I bet you guys are starting to hate me by now.

Red: I would not be surprised.

Me: }:I MEH.

Red:...Zuh?

Oak: I'm sorry for killing you with the suspense.

Greywing44: Thar's Kaze.

Adam Schmitmeyer: That does sound like a pretty interesting story.

Ninja of Night: Well, which do you think is worse:

The Rebel Leader: Her boots were on fire, she runs straight up to Zongazonga, and kicks him between his legs, resulting in a loud CRUNCH.

Or Red's: I pull my leg back as far as I can, swing it forward as fast as possible, and kick him as hard as I can. There's a faint, almost inaudible, squinch.

Tell me which is worse. (I honestly don't know how bad it hurts since I've never been kicked there.)

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