Chapter 13 - Festival

POV: Sarah

Time: 14:35

Location: Fighter Station

"The Caliosteo Patrol Team! I'm getting all excited just thinking about it!" Pauleen shouted in excitement. Damn, she is really a different person under that mask. "Soon it will be time for Pauleen to shine!... More so than usual!"

"Yeah, yeah, try saying that again without the mask." Todd said annoyed.

"What was that?" Pauleen practically glared at Todd through her mask.

"He said nothing." Rex and I say, both of us punching Todd in the arm.

"Ow… Sarah." Heh, he ignored the fact that Rex also punched him

"hey, I have arm strength!" Rex then shouted at Todd. Though then Rex sighs and glares at Todd. "besides, as someone who wore a mask for several years of their life, I take offense to that."

"…Sorry, Rex." Todd sighed apologizing to Rex.

"I'll accept, just try not be like that." Rex smiled back; Rex often threatened to hold grudges but never followed through on them.

"…" Pauleen fell silent…. Maybe it was because Rex is like her, but isn't hiding behind a mask… maybe I could try to help her… Oh right, I heard about that from my Opponent!

"Sooo," I stretch out my arm, indicating a change in subjects. "Round battles are still going on… and there's a festival tonight, what say we all go and have some fun?"

"Oh, yeah I thought I read something about that." Todd added, he tends to pay attention to stuff like that. "Man, it's been a while since we've gone to one. Actually, why didn't we go to the one in our home town, last year?"
"Because we were trying to prepare for the competition." Rex reminds us why we didn't go. Though he didn't need to add the next part… "I clearly remember you and Sarah begging for my help with review."

"Hey!" Me and Todd shout at Rex for saying that, it's not like it's false… but other people don't have to know that.

"Ah… then I guess it's time for the—" I guess Pauleen wasn't getting the sense that I was inviting her. Well I'll change that real quick.

"Don't think you're getting out that easy." My smile was gentle, but even so it sounded threatening. "we're inviting you too."

"We—" Todd tried to complain but was elbowed by Rex.

"We are." Rex said with a smile that was strained from annoyance at Todd, "And we should invite Rupert, if he's not busy."

"All right we meet out front of the Station in like two hours." I declared, pulling Pauleen along, "Us girls have to go prepare." Ooh, maybe I can get her into a Yukata!... wait did I even bring mine?... I don't think I did so… scratch the Yukata.

Time: 18:30

Location: Fighter Station

"Hey, stop pulling!" Pauleen complains to me. I was lucky that they were selling yukata's in the nearby shops. Man, even with that mask she look's beautiful. "Sarah!"

"Oh, come on! Pauleen stop complaining!" I shout back, why can't she just trust that this will be fun? "I didn't take you mask, did I?"

"…" Pauleen hushes up when I say that. It's like she has two personalities. She has such of a shy girl attitude without it, while she has it on, she's like another person. It's so weird. I pretty much had to threaten taking it from her.

"Oh! There's Rupert!" I spot Rupert up a head, and drag Pauleen with me. Wonder where Todd and Rex went. Oh well, I should at least greet this one. "Rupert! So glad you could make it!"

"Yes, I'm glad to be hear as well." Rupert responded sarcastically…. Guess he's not happy to be alone.

"Um? Wasn't Rex and Todd supposed to be heard as well?" Pauleen asked

"They were." Rupert said with an annoyed sigh. "But after they convinced me to come, after we got here. Rex said something about a tradition, then ran off into the festival with Todd. I tried to follow but they said to wait here for you guys, and they'd be back soon."

Pauleen questions it as she hears it. "Tradition?"

Did we have a tradition? Wait tradition… "…Oh! I hope they get me one too."

"Get what?!" Rupert asked. Right I didn't explain. "They literally left without explaining anything! I've been waiting here for a half hour looking like an idiot! What the hell are they getting?!"

"Masks." A voice came from behind Rupert, he quickly spins around and finds a boy with blue hair wearing a fox mask. And another kid with light brown hair, oh I see he's wearing a Jester mask this year.

"What the?!" Both Pauleen and Rupert jumped back in surprise at the two figures who seemingly came out of nowhere.

"Which mask is mine?" I walked up to the one with the Fox mask, also known as Rex. I'm not one to wear them, but festivals were an exception. It's a time of celebration, and happiness… and also to make sure Rex wasn't the only one to wear a mask.

"Your favorite." Rex hands me the mask that looks like a rabbit. I mean they're so cute!

"Thanks Rex, I do like rabbits." I smile, placing the mask on my face. Then I glance over to see that Rupert and Pauleen are still confused. So, I give a simple explanation, "What wearing masks in festivals is our tradition. Don't worry they have enough for everyone."

"*sigh* You left me here to go get masks?" Rupert once more sighed clearly annoyed. We then give him puppy dog eyes, forgetting we are wearing masks. "Fine give me one."

Yes, it still worked! Todd in his jester Mask walked over and gave Rupert a small Red Masquerade type mask "here, Rex thought you should get the fancy one."

"Ah, so it's in my color." Rupert joked… Wait he tells jokes!?

"You tell jokes!?" I barely tell I exclaimed. Making Rex and Todd snicker, Rupert managed to smile though… why does he have to look that cute… ugh, ignore that.

Rex then walked over to Pauleen with a mask. I guess he predicted I'd get her into a Yukata… huh, it matches her outfit completely. But… doesn't seem she's accepting it. "N-no… I already have… one."

"Still. If you ever want to change masks…" Rex bowed still with the mask to Pauleen.

"Um… alright…" Pauleen reluctantly took the mask that Rex was giving her and placed it into a bag… Ugh… why can't their love story developed faster. Though even with her wearing a mask, I could see that Pauleen guilty that Rex got this for her, but she wasn't wearing it. "How much—"

"Nope, masks were on me." Rex said, weather he had a smile or not was hidden behind the mask. And his voice was steady, not showing sadness or joy… I think this is why I hid all of his masks…

So, a bit of awkward Silence falls onto us, so I try to change the subject. "Todd, I feel that your jester mask really suits you."

"hey!" Todd took it as an insult… Oops, "What the hell this mask would suit you more!"

Snap.

"…" I see the color drain from his… well his neck, as he goes quiet.

I definitely had a scary smile on my face, though even with it hidden by my rabbit mask. Rex could still tell.

"um… W—" Pauleen was planning on asking why everyone just went silent, but Rex raised his hand, then shook his head no.

"Todd? What did you just say?" I said, my fist was already in a ball.

"Um… I got to go!" Todd yelled as he fled into the festival.

"Oh no you don't!" I shout chasing him into the crowd. Like he'll be able to get away from me.

POV Change: Rex

As Todd and Sarah started to run into the festival… though it was more of a chasing. Rupert then sighed. "And then there were three."

"So, the usual number of people I travel with." I tried to pull out a joke… though with what just happened it fell on deaf ears.

"… Um, can someone just explain what just happened?" Pauleen asked confused by this whole event.

"You just saw what happens when someone insults Sarah's intelligence." I explained calmly. "Try not to do that, or call her a B."

"…" I could she was now a bit more afraid of Sarah, as she nodded.

"I am so lucky." Rupert mumbled to himself. Though as what he next says, I think he's pitying Todd. "What are Todd's chances?"

"I'm not too sure, but I'll say this. When Todd is truly scared, he's faster than Sarah." As I say that, I think Rupert and Pauleen pity Todd less… but judging from the crowd…. "Though, Todd is at a disadvantage from the crowd… eh… he'll be fine if he can avoid her for an hour or so."
"Why an hour?" Pauleen asked wondering why I said this.

"Well it's a festival." I stated simply. "I'll admit, it is practically impossible to break her out of her anger; but it is possible to distract her in events like this. Plus, on average if it's not something critically important that's her usual attention span. Besides, she won't kill Todd, but he might get a sprain somewhere… or a black eye."

"Oh," Pauleen and Rupert understood.

Seeing as Sarah and Todd wouldn't be returning any time soon, I think it's time to be the festival leader. "Well then while Sarah and Todd are off playing hide and seek. Shall we—"

Ring, Ring

… me and Pauleen look to see that it was Rupert's phone. He looks at it, then sighs. "*Sigh, to think he'd already be arriving…* Sorry, but I have to go." He takes off his mask, and gives it to me.

"Um… where are you—" Before I could finish, he cuts me off.

"Sorry, but… It's just kind of hard to explain." Rupert said.

"Oh, okay…" There was a small tint of sadness in my voice…I then give a glance to Pauleen. "Then there was two?"

"*Sigh*" She gave a long drawn out sigh… though I think she's given me a lot of pity for this right now, she accepts. "Then there was two."

"Then let's go!" I shout, I could barely hold back my joy as I took her hand!

POV: Sarah

Time: 20:00

Location: Cranial Isle

So… I think I just ruined the festival… well I should say Todd. He knows what sets me off! He's lucky that he's small and faster than me… if I caught him, I would give him a could punch. Breathe girl Breathe. You are a calm girl, you forgive Todd, he already knows how much he's messed up…

I just got to find where I'm at… I mean I know I'm somewhere on cranial Isle… but rage tunnel vison… ugh I can't believe I'm getting lost. "I'm not Rex!"
"Huh?!" I hear a familiar voice jump, probably because he wasn't expecting me to scream.

Though I see His white hair and goldish eyes… I call out to him. "Rupert."

"Oh. hello, Sarah." He responds… but why is he here? Wasn't he supposed to be with Rex and Pauleen?... well that might be for the better of their love story.

"Um… What are you doing all the way out here?" I ask. "someone call you something you didn't like, and chase them off?"

"What?" He looked at me as insulted. "My temper isn't as sharp as yours."

"But it seems like your tongue is." I snicker as I retort his insult. "But honestly this isn't the festival… and you don't seem to be the type to get lost."

"You'd be right in that." Rupert answer, but then pointed to the almost obvious helicopter pad in front of us… Oops.

"Oh… so, you're waiting for someone?" I ask.

"Yes, my Father is taking a moment out of his schedule to come by the fossil park." Father… "I have been ordered to wait for him here."

I quickly shake my head, as I hear that last part. "You mean, asked?"

"N… Yes." I didn't like that hesitation…

"Well, then I'm not completely sure how to get back to town… so mind If I wait with you?" I ask, removing the rabbit mask from my face.

"u—" He didn't have a chance to answer me as we bother heard the swishing sound of a helicopter right above us. Rupert could only say. "Ah, this must be him now."

The helicopter soon landed on the landing pad. Soon the man to be Rupert's Father exited. He wore a Purple suit and tinted glasses… but he had brown hair. Guess Rupert takes more after his mother.

Rupert was the first to speak. "Thank you for coming to see me, Father. I know your time is most valuable."

"Yes, I hear you are making steady progress through the cup, Rupert." His father answered… he does seem a bit intimidating.

"Yes sir." Sir? Not father? "I have, it has been quite—"

Rupert was to go on about his battles but was cut off… "However, I expect you to continue on and win. I will accept no less than total victory." His Father said, in a stern tone. "Your unbeaten streak is the finest advertising Fossil Dig, Inc. could want, and it must continue at all costs. Do not fail me in this, Rupert!"

"…Y-yes, Father." Rupert said, almost stuttering… I never expected to hear him do that…

"…Very well. Perhaps I will take a tour of this little park before I leave. An aerial tour." Rupert's Father said walking back in to the Helicopter. "Since this park is the grand prize, it will inevitably become a part of the Fossil Dig, Inc. empire. As such, it would behoove me to know a little about the place…"

"…" it was silent as Rupert's father left.

As the helicopter flew away, Rupert looked at me. I could tell he didn't want anyone to see this, he was probably trying to hide it, but I could hear the irritation. "Well, as you can see, my father is a very…driven man. How can Fossil Dig be more profitable? How can it corner the market on all Fossil-related industries? These are the things that my Father thinks about…. They are all my father thinks about."

"…" I look down… after all this… I think this is the most I've learned about Rupert. Compared to all of the other times I've been with him… He always seems arrogant… but that might just be him hiding something… this might just be it… "…Is it hard?"

"Yes, well, this is none of your concern, Sarah." Rupert says to me… even if I try… he probably wouldn't accept it… just like another stubborn someone I know… "Please forget any of this happened."

… how can I? but that's probably the last thing he wants me to say… so, guess I should do this. I give a smile and say "Give me a day, and I'll probably forget. Memorization isn't my strong suit."

"Pft…" I could see Rupert forcing himself not to laugh, why the heck is he so cute…

…But I just can't leave it as a joke though… I stretch out my arms. "But, all in all, Rupert. I can't really understand what it's like for you."

"…" He goes silent… probably looking away to avoid conversation.

"But… I think that's because me and Rex pretty much grew up without a Dad." I say looking out at the lasting rays of the sun…. going into a subject that I don't particularly like.

"…" I don't know if he could I didn't like this subject… or if he was remembering how I cut him off when he was first asking about this. It finally breaks when he finally asks. "Um… What do you… what do you mean?"

"He died when we were young…" I say, keeping it as obscure… no ambiguous as I possibly can… I don't feel like telling him everything… but he at least deserves to know a bit. "Neither me or Rex remembers that much of him… but his death still hit… Caused a lot of trouble for Rex…"

"Oh… uh, yes, I've heard of things like that… Death of someone close can cast things like that to people." Rupert analyzes what I say… probably trying his best to keep it less awkward. "I guess, that's why Rex is the way he is… and also, how you act…"

"Yeah…" I know I don't want to tell him the whole thing… but does it have to hurt this much not to?

"Ahem… um, why don't we go back to the festival?" Rupert says awkwardly stick his hand out to me… how sweet. "I'm sure there are still things to do."

"Sure…" I smile and grab onto his hand.