Disclaimer: This story is not owned, this game Fossil Fighters Champions was published by Nintendo, and developed by: Nintendo SPD, Red Entertainment, M2, and Artdink.

Chapter 25 – Semi Finals

POV: Sarah

Time: 10:00

Location: Fossil Stadium

Wow… So, we really got this far huh? I'm sorry… I'm not usually like this but… it just feels so much like a dream. While I said I'd be going to the finals… I never really believed I had a chance… funny, right?

But now… As the match ups are scheduled, I'm fighting Pauleen. While Rex is fighting Rupert. While most of the battles are done in a turn order, the four of us are having the matches at the same exact time. Rupert and Rex are fighting on Ribular Island, so me and Pauleen are fighting on Ilium Isle. Todd had a difficult time deciding on which battle to watch. Ultimately, he decided by flipping a coin. And from how the outcome came to be… I best put on an amusing fight for him.

It sucks that I can't see how Rex' battle will go… but there really is no beating around it. Besides while Todd was complaining on missing out on seeing one of the battles, I was also annoyed at it… but then Rex reasoned. "Well… it's the semi-finals. It's more than likely whatever team we have here is what we'll use in the finals."

While I don't disagree with that… But I mean what? Do they expect us to build a perfect counter to our opponents' strategy… that just makes no sense! It's as if someone is just incapable of writing two fossil battles at once. {A/N: I'm calling myself out with this, because for some reason I just struggle writing fossil battles. Pokémon battles are just somehow a million times easier. that is my honest opinion.}

Either way, I step into the common room to see Pauleen standing at the end. In her usual outfit of a polka dot tube top, grass skirt with shorts, but most remarkably without her mask. Yeah, the mask that turned out to be a cursed item.

"Digadig! There you are, Sarah." On her face I read a mix of excitement, anxiety, and… anticipation. "This is going to be my first battle in front of people without a mask!"

"It'll be fine." I give her a confident smile… trying to transfer my confidence into her.

"Your right! Diga!" Pauleen shook herself to wear a smile. "The faith that you and Rex have in me has made me brave."

"Well… I think my faith is a bit misplaced right now." I give her a sly smile.

"Wh-Wha?" She looks at me a bit scared.

"We may be friends Pauleen. And you have definitely gotten stronger. But I have faith that I will be the one winning the battle." I teased her.

"No!" Pauleen fought back against my teasing. "It doesn't matter what you think. It doesn't diga matter how many people are watching, Digadig. I'm not going to be intimated!"

That's my girl! I internally cheered. "Then you better give me a challenging match."

"Here on Ilium Island, we hold the semifinal match of Pauleen Vs Sarah!" The announcement just rung announcing for me and Pauleen to head into the stadium. "Combatants should enter the stadium immediately.

"I will prove to you… no the world that I am reborn, Digadig!" Pauleen shouted with a fist pump.

I can only simply smile in response. I just know that she won't let this be a boring match-up. We walk out into the stage. Cheering from all sides. The announcer goes over the rules for the match one final time before the count down to throw out our dino-medals. My whole five members consists of an Allosaurus, a Spinosaurus, a Machai, Aeros, and a T-Rex Lord. While Hunter did say T-Rex Lords were strong… he was right in saying they were difficult to handle… I don't think this is the time to show him off.

"3… 2… 1… TOSS!" the announcer yelled.

Out on Pauleen's side she had a Plesio, Synthos, and an Omias. While my team isn't at the best advantage. Spino, Allo, and Machai won't lose to them… Though Pauleen takes the first move…

"Omias X! On Allo! Synthos Strike Spino!" Pauleen commanded, her Vivosaurs quickly following suit. Both Spino and Allo took strikes but they were still standing strong.

"My turn now." I say, my FP filles up. It's a shame that the ice left that Omias in such a wonderful position for Spino. Let's see if we can finish it in one shot. "Spino, Venomous combo!" Spino leapt and bit into the Omias then raking it with his claws… then it was followed up by a link attack from Machai. Though Omias was still standing… but would soon go down.

"Omias X again on Allo!" Pauleen shouted; she seems to want to take out Allow… Though it won't be that easy. Other than that, Spino got another strike from Synthos. They were both standing strong.

"Well, if were continuing from where we left off… Spino another Venomous combo on Omias!" I countered this time the strikes against Omias were successful in taking him down.

"Plesio Poisonous Assault!" Pauleen shouted, this time Plesio shot a stream of poison at Machai poisoning them… though I had a way to counter-act that. Meanwhile Synthos took another strike at Allo. Who, was taking a beating by the way. He might not last through out the whole a battle…

"Machai Rally Cry!" I shouted using up a small amount of FP. Machai roared curing itself of the poison. Though that did waste a turn for him to not take down Synthos. I still had a few other ways to attack. "Allo Bite on Plesio!" Allo went and chomped into the neck of Plesio dealing a massive amount of damage, followed by a link attack from Machai took it out. Though Synthos' solo power had now activated… it was somewhat worry some.

"Heh this is what I've been waiting for!" Pauleen smiled. So, she was hoping for this huh? "Synthos Smash!"

Using that giant horn that Synthos had it dug into the ground launching a massive mix of dirt and ice into my Vivosaurs. Dealing a lot of damage and taking out Aeros. But Spino and Machai were still in. though Machi wouldn't survive another attack. I should end this relatively fast.

"Machai Rend attack!" I shout. With a massive combo attack it had dealt a lot of damage to Synthos, but it was still standing… Well. I still have enough FP for another combo attack. "Spino Venomous combo once more!" Spino was more than enough to finish off the beast of Synthos."

As Pauleen's final Vivosaur returned to a medal. Pauleen gave a sigh, but smiled deeply. I could tell that she gave it her all, whether it was to just stand here in the colosseum. Or just to try and beat me… I think it was a bit of both. Either way this was fun.

A bit after the cheers had died down, me and Pauleen were hanging out in the lobby of the stadium. Pauleen still a bit sulky for her loss. "I lost the Fossil Battle, Digadig…" though before I could try to console her. "But I didn't lose to myself!" She brightly shouted. "All those people were watching me, but I never got nervous or flustered! Not once!" while I might have been wrong about her being down… it seemed more like she was ecstatic.

"Yeah. Good job. You didn't even turn red… nor blue from losing." I mock her slightly… I mean it's what I do.

"Hey! Don't try to ruin this!" Pauleen shouted at me. "This is a pretty special day for me…"

"Sorry." I meekly laugh, as I do I give Pauleen a hug. "You did good girl."
"Thanks…" She shyly smiled "I have to thank you and Rex. I'm really looking forward to seeing you in the final, Digadig."

"Speaking of final…" I wonder if Rex and Rupert are still fighting…or did the battle already end?

"Hah… To be honest… I wouldn't have minded if I was defeated by Rex…" Wait what? What did I just hear Pauleen mumble? As I stared at her, she must have noticed what she said… then started to blush. "Huh?!"

Though before I could divulge into the topic, I heard some voice. "Oh, wow. It's Pauleen! You became my favorite Fighter the moment you took off that mask!" Ah some of Pauleen's new fans have arrived.

The other one who was there then suddenly shouted. "I LOVE YOU!" there was a second of awkward silence, and Pauleen then hiding behind me… I mean what are these idiots trying to do, Traumatize her? I'm just about to try to get her to confess to Rex.

Oh yeah… Rex didn't let me hear the end of it yesterday. I'm sorry for thinking my brother was dense enough to not understand the confession of a beautiful girl.

The fighter that shouted his confession then looked down realizing his mistake… but hearts still in his eyes. "Um…I mean…maybe we can be friends or something? Heh…"

"Uh… Um." Pauleen was now stuttering… I'm not too sure what to do.

Then in the corner of my eye, I see a flash of green. "Waaaah! Help I can't' stop!"

Crash!

"Ugh dude! Did you just spill soda on us?!" One of the fans shouted obviously annoyed.

"Todd!" Wonderful timing! I shouted. I quickly using the confusion. I grab both Pauleen and Todd by their hands and drag them off. The two boys will probably be treating their clothes right now… I mean this is Ilium Island if they're not careful they'll catch a cold while soaked like that.

As we run away, and get a good distance away from the fans. I hear cheering… odd Mine and Pauleen's battle already ended.

"Sarah! TV Look!" Todd first realized the emanation of the cheer. It was a screen showing the battle on Ribular Island.

"no way…" me, Pauleen, and Todd all looked on in awe as we saw Rex down to his last Vivosaur. A Heracles? When did he get that! Though looking on Rupert's side he still had a Mapo and a Mapo King up.

"You did well so far Rex. But this appears to be the end." Rupert smirked. "I'll give you a royal end. Mapo, Dark King!"

The crowd went silent as even through the screen there was deafening roar from the Mapo king, followed by geyser of water from the maw of the beast. It was more than enough to take down Rex's final Vivosaur.

"…" I… I didn't know what to say… I mean I should have expected Rex to lose… I mean Rupert has been fighting for longer than either of us. But that power Rupert displayed at the end there… was a heck of a lot more powerful that what I saw at the beginning of the cup.

Do I really have what it takes to win this cup?