Disclaimer: I do not own Fossil Fighters, any of the vivosaurs or characters (Except for Creed), and am simply writing this for my own amusement.
A/N: As the sequel to my previous fic, Dark Horse Gambit, this story will continue building up on the foundation I have already laid down. It shall detail the adventures of novice Fossil Fighter Vestello Leoncor as he competes in the infamous Caliosteo Cup. What sort of troubles will he face? You are welcome to read and find out.
Acknowledgments: Firstly, I would like to thank Devaro Ayanami for his wonderful help as both my Beta and my sounding-board. Secondly, I would like to thank Tempest Bound for encouraging me to post this story now, rather than later. Thirdly, I would like to thank Vathara for all the wonderful stories -which I highly recommend you read- she has posted. Reading them has helped me find ways of expanding my own writing style.
Chapter 5
Rise of the Caliosteo Patrol Team III
Subject: Re-Who would have thought?
From: Leveche
A dog? Seriously? An entire kingdom ruled by dogs? That sounds almost too spectacular to be real, but I trust your observations. Are they regular dogs, or can they wear clothes and walk upright? A former member of the BB Bandits is a four foot tall purple dog. His friends would really like to know where he came from. Do you think he might hail from that kingdom?
(Now there's a fanciful thought. Wouldn't it be amazing if it could be made into reality?)
I don't really care for Wonderful or Miraculous fossils myself. I prefer to raise my vivosaurs naturally without such power ups but that's just my own opinion. Some people love them and I must admit that I may have a super-evolved vivosaur or two in my possession which I revived solely for the purpose of Super Evolving.
If you didn't like how a simple Silver Fossil changed Savage and Vicious, then don't give them the Gold Fossil (which is what is inside a Miraculous Fossil Rock). If you do their forms will be changed beyond recognition, though that's not always the case. Not all vivosaurs have a Super Evolved form, so you may want to ask Felic which of your vivosaurs are capable of using a Gold Fossil.
(A Heracles? No, as odd as it may seem those vivosaurs are actually the Super Evolved form of tricera.)
Enjoy the hot spring, but be cautious. It's a perfect place to sabotage.
/\/\/\/\
Vestello stared at Guile.
Guile stared back.
Amber eyes traced the sleek bipedal build, powerful hind legs, and impressive wingspan.
So…that's a Super Evolution.
Now called a Nycto Ace, according to Felic, Guile looked nothing like before. If not in build then in the sheer increase in size he had experienced. The Expert Night Lizard was at least three times bigger than he had been before! He looked more like something out of a fantasy book than a dinosaur.
A breeze wound through amused blue-greens and oranges.
::I like this. I like this very much.::
::It certainly suits your personality better than your last one.::
The Expert Night Lizard chuffed, amused.
/\/\/\
Wow, it's sure a whole lot warmer in here than outside. Steam ruffling his bangs, Vestello glanced around the crowded hot spring.
"Hey, there you are, Vestello!"
Clad in swimming trunks rather than his usual jumpsuit, Todd waved his friend over.
"This is the biggest hot spring I've ever seen! I can't wait to get in and start soaking!"
A run and a jump and Todd was sinking into the steaming water with an expression of absolute bliss.
"That's the stuff…" Sighing, he sunk down to his chin. "I feel my blues just washing away…I may never leave…" Half closed eyes landed on the bluenette. "Hurry and get in here, Vestello!"
And deal with the shocking cold outside again afterwards? I think not. Though he approached the massive hot spring anyway, curious for a closer look-
Blinked, and looked again.
Why's the water turning purple?
"Huh? Wait, what's going…" A distinctly feminine shriek erupted from the hotspring. "The water's turned all goopy and gross! I'm outta here!"
Says the fly upon the fly trap.
Amused, Vestello watched his friend squirm in the gelatinous goop but fail to get anywhere at all.
Another scream sounded.
"The water's all sticky! Help me! I can't get out!"
Vestello edged closer and a distinctly fruity smell wafted under his nose, making him pause.
"What's wrong with this water? It's all…jiggly." The blonde breathed in deeply. Blue eyes widened. "Oh my gosh, it's not water. It's jelly! Wait, hold on..." With more noise than necessary, Todd inhaled a big mouthful of the goop. "It's grape jelly!"
That explains the smell. Vestello mused, sniggering at his friend's predicament.
Todd sent him a dark look.
"Look, Vestello. I don't care how tasty this is, you gotta get me out of here!"
Dutifully the blunette reached out, grasped a sticky arm, and tugged.
And tugged.
And tugged again.
"…Not working, eh?"
Amber eyes rolled. No duh.
"Hey, wait! Remember what Joe said when we joined the Patrol Team?"
Vestello cocked his head.
"He told us to report anything suspicious to a Staff Leader. You gotta run and find Kent! He's Llium Island's Staff Leader, remember?"
The bluenette nodded.
"Come on! I don't want to be trapped in grape jelly forever!"
What a messy end that would be. Vestello snickered.
"Stop laughing, Vestello. It's not funny!"
Sure it is.
The laughter coming from his vivosaurs proved as much.
/\/\/\
So the water from the hot springs comes from Mt. Krakanak, which is heated in the very crater of the volcano and then pumped to Llium Island via an undersea pipeline…whose bright idea was that? Sitting astride Halcyon, Vestello eyed the long winding trail leading to the base, then the peak, of the fiery mountain.
A pulse resonated through his sternum.
"Wait."
The half bird paused mid step. Vestello glanced back, amber meeting gold as Rupert caught up.
"Kent told me you're going into the volcano to check on the hot spring's water supply."
Vestello nodded.
Rupert shifted, somewhat nervously. "I… I'll go with you." At Vestello's look he added. "I feel pity for Todd. No man deserves to be trapped in jelly."
Smiling, Vestello held out a hand and helped the other Fighter onto Halcyon's back.
/\/\/\
"There's the gondola." With the grace born of experience, Rupert dismounted. "It should take us all the way down to the crater floor. Let's go, Vestello."
Dismissing Halcyon, Vestello followed the silver haired teen onto the gondola.
Why would they make it with wood when it's in a volcano? Vestello wondered. Sure, wood doesn't heat up as much, or as fast, as metal, but it can catch on fire.
The descent was relatively uneventful, though the impact of several wayward sparks nearly resulted in a panic between the two teenagers before it was revealed that the gondola was covered with some type of fire-proof coating. Go figure.
"Look there, Vestello!"
Startled, the bluenette looked where directed. Beyond the river of lava just beneath the ledge they were on was a large, oddly designed machine. Now, since this was the source of the hot spring's water such a machine would be expected and thus dismissed, were it not obviously the source of the jelly now entrapping the bathers of the hot spring. Or the black clad, bone-armor wearing men milling about. That was a really big hint that something was amiss.
"I knew I detected the stench of the BareBones Brigade on this plan." Rupert leveled narrow eyes at the guilty party. "They must be interfering with the water supply. Let's make haste."
Following the winding slopes, the duo made their way towards the scheming villains. Before long they managed to get close enough to smell the grape jelly over the scent of fire and other volcano-related scents.
Uproarish laughter drew their attention to a previously unnoticed occupant.
Amber blinked. That has to be the most ridiculous hairstyle I have ever seen.
Who in their right mind would choose to have a bright green Mohawk almost half their own height, anyway?
"Faster, my roadies!" The man told the flunkies, sticking his thumbs through his belt loops. "Faster! Keep dumping that jelly powder in the hot-spring well!"
"Halt, fiend!"
When did he move? Vestello darted out after the other teen as all attention was drawn to them.
"Well, looky here! You got guts showin' your ugly mugs in a place like this!"
Speak for yourself, dude. Vestello eyed the overly done spike collar the man wore.
"Since you came all this way, I'll tell you a little secret…" A pause for effect. "I'm one of the three BareBones Brigade Commanders!"
Sorta figured as much.
The man struck a pose, slapping his chest then flexing his muscles. "The name's Lester, and I'm gonna rock your world!"
Despite the heat, Vestello shivered.
"My plan's tighter than a snare drum. I just fill the hot spring with jelly so the Fighter's can't move! If they want out, they'll have to eat their way out!"
Vestello felt his stomach churn at the thought.
Yuck.
"By the time they're free, they'll be too fat to compete in the Cup!"
That…is even worse of a plan than Cole's 'kidnap all the ladies' plan. This one doesn't even make that much sense.
"Man, I'm pretty great." Lester crowed, laughing again. Then he stopped, eyes narrowing. "Oh, and don't even think about trying to stop my plan, or I'll stomp your head into jam!"
For a fraction of a second, Vestello fought the impulse to turn and run before he regained control of himself. Lester's Pressure wasn't catching him off guard like Cole's had. He could face it!
Something in his posture must have changed, because Rupert tapped his shoulder.
"Think you can handle this Lester character, Vestello?"
Now resolute, the bluenette nodded. Rupert returned the gesture and turned to the gathered Brigade flunkies.
"I'll take out the lackeys guarding that machine."
Lester laughed as Vestello stepped forward. "My boneysaurs are gonna play you the B-flat chord of pain!"
And then there was no more time to think.
/\/\/\
Another T-rex based boneysaur, a brachio base, and a tricera base…
Fire, neutral, and water…and Vestello would have to remember to watch out for that Boney Roar attack—
"Boney Roar!"
I jinxed myself…
::Scatter!::
A blur of green flashed across Vestello's vision as Guile's tail coiled around his middle just before the vivosaur sprang upward, carrying him along for the ride. Far below, Vicious and Charity (Vestello's maia) darted out of the way of the devastating, earth-shattering sound waves.
Eyeing the destruction, Vestello was suddenly very glad that Guile had thought to yank him out of the way as well.
Scoffing gusts upset jeering mahogany.
::Death by sound would be very unbecoming of you.::
::I'm glad you care. Vicious: Aeros Alert on that B-Tricera!::
Gusts of aggressive reds wound upwards with streaks of malicious blacks.
"Boney Tsunami!"
Vertebrae clicked almost rhythmically as black shadows flexed and snapped.
Stone shattered under Vicious's heavy impact. And that was only from a glancing blow from the B-Brachio's whip-like tail. The air-bone vivosaur moaned and remained where he had fallen. Stunned.
"Boney Smash!"
Busy watching Vicious with worried eyes, Charity was struck head-on by the skeletal three-horned face boneysaur. Steam erupting from the collision, Charity bugled loudly.
"Finish them off with another Boney Smash and a Boney stomp!"
::Do something…Nycto Star, Wind Blast!::
Exactly just what happened next, Vestello never knew for sure. One moment he was hundreds of meters above the crater floor, the next he was wrapped in a protective cocoon that was Guile's wings as they dropped faster than a roller coaster. Something crunched and Guile's entire frame shuddered for a brief moment, then Vestello could have sworn he heard the sound of a dino metal pinging across stone.
Next thing he knew, he was staring up at the volcano mouth wondering why he couldn't breathe.
Judging from the almost sheepish wisps coming from Guile, he could probably guess what happened...
Before he could call the Expert Night Lizard on it, however, he found himself suspended in the air as a deafening crash shook the entire area. The landing that followed hurt quite a bit more than the first one.
::Healing song.::
A melodic croon drifted over him and the air took on a pinkish glow as warmth filled his body.
Wits and breath restored, Vestello sat up and was treated to the sight of the enormous B-Brachio flat on its side, which explained the previous crash and resulting quake.
::I meant on Vicious.:: He sent to Charity, though it wasn't really a complaint.
Warm updrafts of scolding red-violets cut through flames of concerned blues.
::You needed it more, but I'll help Vicious now.::
"Bare Tactics!"
Teeth flashing, the B-Rex lunged.
Vicious still needs time to recover…
::Guile: Nycto Somersault!::
The green wyvern-like vivosaur swooped and twisted in a wave of green. The smack of flesh against hard bone resounded through the area as the B-Rex stumbled off course.
Guile's tail, Vestello observed, appeared to be turning red from the force of the blow whereas the B-rex didn't seem to have really noticed the blow at all.
A glance was all Vestello needed to know that Vicious still wasn't recovered enough to act.
"Boney Roar!"
Oh shoot—
Wind surged and a tent of green membrane wrapped around him as the air shook with noise.
That didn't hurt as bad as last time…
::Thanks Guile.::
Brushing off the ringing of the attack, the Expert Night Lizard unfolded his wings and stood up again.
Was he glaring at the B-Rex?
::Nycto Wave! Get rid of that B-Rex!::
With a powerful flap of his giant wings, Guile rose up on a wild current. At the apex of his rise he braced, then brought his wings down, hard.
Despite its immense weight, the B-Rex was flung off its feet from the sheer force of the gale-level winds and slammed into the rocky wall.
Not yet finished, Guile dropped down and kicked the boneysaur in its unarmored underside.
A medal clattered to the ground.
And now Vicious is recovered.
And the B-Brachio had managed to somewhat get its legs back under it.
"Boney Tsunami!"
::Aeros Alert and Dainty Punch!::
The ground shook again, and the B-Brachio's medal skipped across the ground.
"Whaaaat? Aw, man! My boneysaurs got beat like the bass player at an easy-listening concert."
Interesting choice of words… Panting, Vestello recalled his team.
"Hey, hold the phone." Lester frowned, sending Vestello an odd look. "You're the Fighter who beat Cole, aren't you?"
Amber blinked, then Vestello nodded.
Nearby, one of the flunkies yelped. The yelp actually sounded kinda familiar, though Vestello couldn't quite place it.
"We got pasted! These old bones were no match for the young blood!"
Wait…I know that voice…Bobby…Jimmy…no, Tommy! That's it! The grunt who helped knock a boulder onto the path at the base of Mount Krakanak!
"Di66-R! Destroy that machine!"
A mechanical whoosh from overhead ruffled the bluenette's mane, and a sudden shriek of metal made everyone around cringe.
"Control! Alt! Delete!"
Sparks flashed, smoke erupted, and the entire machine came crashing down in a multitude of little pieces.
"Noooooooo! Operation: Fill-Hot-Spring-with-Jelly is ruined! Ruuuuuined!"
Is he related to Cole? Vestello wondered, cautiously lowering his hands from his aching ears.
"Don't think I'll forget this, punk! You and I will have a reunion special someday!"
And then he was gone, fleeing up the slopes in a blur of green hair and black leather.
"Wait, sir! Wait for us!"
The flunkies darted off after their superior.
"Don't leave us here to die!"
Such theatrics…
Brushing dirt from his sleeve, Rupert joined Vestello. "The hot spring should be okay now."
"Oh, wow. You okay, little dudes?"
What happened to it being 'way too hot for a snow guy like you'?
Kent eyed the remains of the jelly machine, looking impressed. As the Staff Leader joined them Rupert was quick to fill him in on what the BB Brigade had been trying to do. When he was done the older Fighter had a frown on his face.
"I knew those BareBones hosers were behind this mess!" A glimmer of sheepishness flashed across his face. "Sorry it took me so long to get here, dudes. But you seemed okay without me."
Why didn't Terry come? Isn't he in charge of Cranial Isle?
"The rest of the jelly in the spring should totally melt away now. You dudes wanna head back to Llium Village?"
Rupert and Vestello exchanged looks, then nodded.
/\/\/\
"Heeeey!"
Now free as a bird, though still somewhat colored by the grape jelly, Todd ran up to join them in the ice-modeled lobby of the Llium Village fossil center.
Skidding to a halt, the blue-blonde grinned. "That jelly finally melted, so I was able to crawl to safety. But hooo-ee!" He grimaced. "I smell terrible! I'm like some sweat-covered grape candy or something-I said like some candy not I am candy!"
Sucking lingering jelly from a formerly green sleeve, Vestello paused and blinked innocent amber eyes up at his friend. A little ways away, Kent was smothering snickers at the sight.
"Stop that! You look like a cat and I'm the mouse, it's creepy."
Reluctantly, Vestello pulled away, snapping his tongue against the roof of his mouth a bit louder than was absolutely necessary.
Looking affronted, Todd tried brushing the saliva off his sleeve. "I hope vivosaurs don't mistake me for dessert…"
Vestello snickered, as did Rupert.
"Well, dudes, you totally saved the day once more." Kent grinned down at the three teens. "The reputation of the Caliosteo Patrol Team is growing by the day! Total gnarlitude, dude! Anyway, yeah. I gotta go wax my snowboard, so I'll cheese ya later."
'Cheese ya later'? What's that mean? Vestello wondered as the Staff Leader walked away.
"Hey!"
The bluenette jumped.
"I heard! I heard all about it!" Pauleen came to a sliding halt, sending what was probably a reproachful look in Todd and Vestello's direction. "We're supposed to be a team, guys! I mean, I'm still the most beautiful member and all, but we're still a team!" She loomed over Todd, her shadow covering him completely. "So why was I not informed? Huh?"
"Um…because I was stuck in jelly?" Todd offered weakly, shrinking under the intensity of the unseen glare.
Pauleen stepped back, glancing at Vestello. "Oh, I see. So it was Vestello who did all the work, hmm?"
[Him-help-me] The amber eyed teen signed towards Rupert.
Though unfamiliar with sign language, Pauleen got the gist of the message.
"Huh? Rupert was there, too?" She stepped closer to the company heir, posture changing in a way that set Vestello's hackles on edge. The pinkette laughed, it was not a nice laugh. "What made the little rich boy decide to help? Were they carrying gold coins or something—Ow!"
Just shy of growling, Vestello lowered his stinging palm as Rupert recoiled.
"I'll not defend myself to you! I just…felt like helping. That's all."
[Thankyou-much] Vestello signed, earning a shy smile from the silver haired teen.
Glancing between them, and carefully out of Vestello's reach, Pauleen scoffed again. "Well, whatever! I guess the reason doesn't really matter."
You're darn right it doesn't.
"There's no backing down now, Rupert!"
Startled gold eyes turned to the pinkette.
"You fought the BB Brigade, and you protected the Caliosteo Fossil Park for the sake of the Cup. There's no doubt about it. You're the newest member of the Caliosteo Patrol Team!"
That's a new look for him. Vestello noted, lips twitching at the sight of Rupert's absolutely adorable deer-in-headlights expression.
"That's a great idea!" Todd nodded, warming up to the idea. "We'd love to have Rupert join us! Right, Vestello?"
Grinning, the bluenette nodded.
Poor Rupert didn't look like he knew whether to be grateful, embarrassed, or simply shocked.
"You want me to…join you?" Wide gold eyes blinked rapidly. "To become your…friend?"
The tentatively hopeful tone in the boy's voice pretty much killed Vestello's good mood. He sounds as if no one has ever wanted to be friends with him, before… Actually, he's probably never actually had friends before…
"Wow, Rupert." Pauleen cocked her head, voice dropping to more indoors-appropriate volumes. "You look almost happy. It's so unlike you."
Flustered splotches of pink spread across the boy's face. "It's…it's not that. I'm just… I mean…" He stopped, breathed in deeply, and then shook his head before continuing. "Oh, very well. I suppose I might be just a little bit happy."
"Great!"
Vestello could almost hear the grin in Pauleen's tone.
"Then from now on, the four of us are the Caliosteo Patrol Team!" A pause. "Just remember that I'm the pretty one. All right?"
Vestello snickered. Rupert's fans might argue with you about that.
"Okay, let's do the Patrol Team cheer! Go, team, go! Fight, team, fight! We fight creeps all day and night! Goooooo, Patrol Team!"
Catchy.
As one, they leapt up and thrust their fists high. All except Rupert, who seemed rather at a loss.
"Um, Rupert?" The silverette looked at Todd, expression quizzical. "We all have to do this together, all right?"
Rupert hesitated, then nodded, a tiny smile forming on his face.
"Okay, let's try this once more…" Pauleen cleared her throat. "Go, team, go! Fight, team, fight! We fight creeps all day and night! Gooooo, Patrol Team!"
This time, they all leapt up, fists beating the air.
As they settled on the ground again, a quiet snicker escaped Rupert's smiling face.
"What is this nonsense?"
And then the smile was gone as if it had never been, instead replaced by an expression of startled panic.
"F-Father!" Almost stumbling as he went, Rupert rushed over the CEO of the FossilDig corporation.
"What do you think you are doing, Rupert? I've heard reports that you helped another Fighter take on the BareBones Brigade!" Back stiff, Mr. Faro stared down at his near-cowering son. "Need I remind you that you are the public face of FossilDig, Inc.? We cannot afford to have you going off on such fool's errands! You might have destroyed our image! This is a sad day for me as your father."
Were it possible for someone to make the ground open up to swallow them, Rupert would undoubtedly done just that.
That's it!
Vestello lunged, clawed hands grasping for the idiot man's neck—
Was caught as Todd moved even faster and grabbed his friend's arm.
"I'm…I'm sorry, Father. I only—"
"Apologies are worthless without action!"
Straining, Vestello began to drag Todd with him before Pauleen joined the effort in holding him back.
"If you are truly sorry, you can prove it by winning Round 5 of the Caliosteo Cup. Crush your enemies, Rupert, or I will know where your loyalties lie."
Vestello saw red.
Then blue, lots and lots of icy blue.
"Wow, Rupert. Your dad is a real hard case." Todd growled, both from outrage and the effort it took to keep his furious friend pinned to the ground, as Mr. Faro left the lobby. "I can't believe he said that stuff to you."
Beneath him came a very animalistic growl of fury.
"Don't concern yourself with it." Rupert's tone sounded unnaturally thick. "...I'm used to it." The boy paused, sending Vestello, pinned by both Todd and Pauleen, a bewildered glance. "I'm sorry, but I won't be able to join the Caliosteo Patrol Team." He turned away, hiding behind his long bangs. "From now on, just leave me alone."
He made to walk away, then paused, looking down at his boots. "You know, I remember a time when I thought Fossil Battles were fun. I loved my vivosaurs. And I felt…excited when I battled with them. But at some point, I stopped being a carefree child and became a walking advertisement for FossilDig, Inc. The more famous I got, the less I was allowed to be myself."
The silverette shook his head. "That's when Fossil Battles stopped being fun. They were just work. And eventually…they bored me." He turned sorrowful gold eyes to them, filled with longing and regret. "And yet, when I was with you…" Gold met amber. "For just a moment…I remembered how I used to feel."
He turned away again. "Thank you…my friends. And good-bye." Then he all but fled the lobby.
"Good-bye?" Todd echoed, eyes wide. "Aw, man, that's never a good thing to hear at a time like this!"
The paleopagers chose that moment to beep to life.
"The Caliosteo Cup's Round 5 matches will now begin. Please prepare, then check in at the Llium Village's Fossil Stadium."
"I know you're probably feeling sad, but it's time to step up!" Pauleen pushed off the strangely still Vestello. "I'm going to prepare for my battle, and I suggest you do the same." An odd lilt entered her voice. "I swear, Vestello, you better fight with everything you got! I'm planning to battle you in the final round, so I won't forgive you if you lose!"
And then she was gone.
"I think Pauleen was trying to cheer you up." Todd mused, staring after the pinkette. "In her own way. But seriously, Vestello! Go out there and have a fun Fossil Battle!"
Getting no response from his friend, Todd leaned forward to get a look at his expression.
"Um…Vestello? You might want to wipe that foam off your mouth. …Vestello?"
/\/\/\
Joanie Princess Pooch–vs- Vestello
/\/\/\
Subject: #%$^$
From: Harmattan
T%HAT% NO #%## GOOD SNAK#E-IN-THE-GRASS! I O)UGHTA FEED HIM T%O VICIOUS, NO) A ST#ARVI NG PAC,K OF PIRAHNAS! HOW &^$%# DARE HE TALK T)O RUPERT LI*KE T%HAT! HE HAS N)O ^&$%$# RIGHT T)O) BE SO HE$AR$TL%ESS TO HI*S OWN #%^#$ SON! IF T%ODD AND PAULE##EN HADN\'T PI**NNED M#E$ I'D HAVE# ST&$^%GL$%$^TH&$%A*&$FIR$#^&QUAUD^% ND$&%&^NERATED T^HAT% DASTARD!
/\/\/\/\
Reviews are always appreciated. They let me know my story is not simply collecting virtual dust. And by reviews I mean something a bit more than 'awesome story' or the like. Tell me what you enjoyed, and even what you did not (though please refrain from going on a tangent).
/\/\/\
Sneak Peak:
Vestello eyed the black-and-red flame patterns appreciatively.
Seems awfully calm for a feared T-Rex.
Perhaps it was the late evening, or even the success of reviving Dynamo which led to Vestello missing the calculative gleam in smoldering eyes. In any case, when the medal dropped out of the slot, he reached for it without hesitation.