Chapter 6: Painful Memories, Ceremony and Examination

Disclaimer: Jake Scott…YOU BELONG TO ME MUWA HA HA HA HA HA……ah screw it.

Feeling betrayed once again, Karl found himself wandering the streets of waterfall city at night. It was still as bustling as it was earlier.

"Maybe I'll bump into Jake," thought Karl hopefully. He quickly shook off the thought as his anger surface once more. "What, so he can tell me how great this place is and how he doesn't want to leave" he thought bitterly.

He had to admit to himself though. Perhaps he was being selfish in wanting to leave. But hey, even if this place was amazing, he wanted to get back home to his life, too his friends…to seeing his mom again.

He cringed slightly at the thought of Joanna Scott. His mother, or more like his stepmother. When his father was younger, he fell in love with his true mother, Amy Scott. Unfortunately, for reasons he didn't know, his dad left her, and without knowing she was pregnant.

She died shortly after giving birth to Karl and when his father found out that the woman he loved was dead and that he had a son, he was both struck with saddens and yet overjoyed that she had left something about her behind.

Frank Scott was determined to be a good father to Karl, and he would have been a better one had he had not fallen in love shortly after with Joanna Scott. She became pregnant and nine months later, gave birth to David Scott, who was almost a year younger then Karl.

Frank and Joanna found happiness with one another and married shortly after. However, being as how they were only partly related, Karl and David hardly spoke to one another as Joanna filed for divorce, saying that she thought it was for the best.

Frank Scott was overwhelmed with sadness that his beloved had left him, but respected her wishes. So as a result, Karl and David rarely saw one another. It wasn't until Joanna had given birth to Jake that Frank had asked for her to come back to him.

She said that she wanted to but felt she wasn't ready, and quiet possibly would never be ready. So Karl stayed with Frank while David stayed with Joanna. Fortunately, frank was allowed to get to know Jake Scott, who thought of his dad as hero for all the active flying he did, and his older brothers as role models.

Jake seemed strangely like a combination of both Karl and David. He was quiet at times, but active and enthusiastic. Like Karl, he was into physical activates and unlike most teenage boys his age, seemed to focus on training in martial arts alone, rarely playing any video games. But like David, he also read and was interested in adventure stories and novels of movies and TV shows.

Also…Jake tried to be friendly with Karl over the years. Unlike David, he wanted to get to know his older brothers. David had welcomed him warmly, but Karl…he ignored him most of the time. He was too busy chasing after girls or doing sports to play with his little brother. He had gotten to know Jake abit and liked him all right, but still didn't have much time to hang out with him.

Karl forced the painful memories away from his mind as he focused on walking threw the city. Noticing Cyrus's shop, he deicide maybe visiting the strange man would cheer him up abit.

Cyrus, at that moment was closing up his shop, noticed Karl staring at him threw the glass window. Smiling at the young man, he opened his door and gestured for Karl to come in.

"Karl come in, come in, I was just closing up the shop," he said cheerfully as Karl stepped into the antique shop.

Karl blinked twice too see if he was seeing correctly. Cyrus had told them he was into collecting rare artifacts and antiques but wow.

The store was filled with old and priceless things from ancient ruins, temples, caves, you name it. Quiet a few things he recognized from his world.

"Bit of a long face, do you" Cyrus asked concerned. "Karl tensed, realizing he was still thinking about Joanna and his family as he quickly covered his emotions.

"No I'm fine," he said quickly.

Cyrus didn't seem to believe him as he was now eyeing Karl worried. Karl quickly changed the subject as he pointed at a stone tablet that had embedded on it of what appeared to be a cross between a dinosaur and a man.

"What's that?" he asked.

Cyrus glanced at the tablet and forgot about Karl's quick cover up.

"Oh that's Ogthar," he said casually.

"If you believed the legends, he ruled over a mythical place called the world beneath, some say it exist, other's say it's just a story for children" Cyrus grinned.

Karl, suspicious that ages ago a supposed lord of dinosaurs had ruled over the world beneath, narrowed his eyes at the man and asked "And what do you think".

Cyrus paused before deciding not to answer his friend's question. Beckoning him to follow him, he entered his small living room where he sat down at the table.

"How can I help you my friend?" he asked.

"I want to get off this island," Karl said firmly.

Cyrus silently thought about how he once and quite possibly now, had the same attitude towards this place before answering "I see".

"Well take a seat," he said as he gestured towards a chair. "I was just having a bite to eat," he continued as he started to feast on his meal.

"Everyone say's it's impossible to leave" Karl grumbled.

Cyrus grinned slightly grinned at the thought before saying "They certainly want you too believe it's impossible, they don't want the rest of the world to learn about their little paradise".

Karl snorted in annoyance. He was amazed at this place, but he really didn't give a damn about their little paradise. "I don't care about their little paradise, can I get off this island," he asked firmly.

Cyrus leaned in as he recollected his thoughts of leaving Dinotopia. "Well, I've spent the past twenty years, reading ship logs, chart's, map's of the tide's and reef's of this island" he explained.

"There's only one more thing I need to buy my own ticket out of here but we'll never see it" Cyrus said sadly as he took another bite of his food.

"Well what is it" Karl asked eagerly.

"It's the Captain's log of the Rebecca's Folly," said Cyrus.

"Well where's this captain's log" Karl asked eagerly.

"In this archives of the ancient library, but the only one who's got the key's to it is that scaly friend of yours" Cyrus muttered, silently upset that Karl had befriended a dinosaur.

"Zippeau" Karl said.

"So why don't you get it?" Karl asked quickly.

Cyrus then started to chuckle at the thought as he got up to get a drink from the cupboard for himself and Karl. "No, no, no, no, they'd never let me near that library on account on an incident to do with one of my relatives, small fire long time ago" he said as he poured himself a glass for Karl.

Sitting back down and handing Karl a drink, he then said "Nothing to do with me, but just another example of scaly persecution" he muttered as Karl took a sip.

Narrowing his eyes silently, and grinning like how a predator trapped its prey he then said "Now come to think of it, wouldn't be too difficult for you too get a hold of that book".

Karl glared at that man, immediately knowing what he was suggesting. "You mean steal it" Karl said rhetorically.

Looking down, Karl sighed. He wanted to leave this place as soon as possible, but could he really steal from someone who trusted him like a friend.

"I don't know, it doesn't seem right, the scaliles haven't done anything to me" Karl said, hoping not to upset Cyrus.

This proved useless as Cyrus's face tightened at the mention of things the scalies didn't do. "This is what they did to me," he muttered as he slammed his limped leg onto the table.

Pulling back the pant sleeve, he reveled their to be no leg, a wooden plank, like a pirate replaced it's spot as Cyrus thought back as too how he got this injury.

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Cyrus Crabb, thirty-three years old, walked silently threw the swamp towards the old temple. The council in waterfall city had asked him to search for any sunstones in the temple. A fog had rolled in blocking his view.

"Damn fog," he muttered. When he got back, he'd ask for a bonus.

Had he paid attention, he would have noticed a Mowmisaur making it's way silently towards him.

Hearing a quick bristle behind him, he whirled around. "Whose their" he demanded. No answer.

Glaring at the swampy muck he trudged through, he turned and continued walking.

Suddenly, the mowmisaur struck, lunging out of the water towards him.

Panicking, Cyrus dodged out of the way. He imminently turned and swam towards the shore. Almost as if the music from JAWS had started playing, the creature slowly stalked its prey.

"No, No, NO" shouted Cyrus as he turned to see the creature was nearing him. Looking ahead, he thanked God that he noticed a large tree near the shoreline, if he could reach it he would be safe.

He had praised himself for thinking this too soon to notice the creature had reached him. Opening it's gigantic Jaws, it snapped.

Cyrus trudged out of the way, only for his leg too get caught in the monstrous creatures jaw.

Screaming in pain he tried kicking too desperately get away. He freed himself, screaming in pain as his left leg was torn from its socket. Bleeding uncontrollably, he made it to shore, now with only one leg.

Watching silently as the creature enjoyed feasting on his leg, he swore his hatred towards the creature and all that resembled it and promised one day he would make it pay.

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"Was exploring an ancient temple, when one of the buggers took a chunk out of me leg, that's what they do when they don't agree with you" Cyrus said bitterly.

Karl just nodded silently as he looked at the leg in disgust. Quickly swallowing the bile in his throat, he took another sip from his drink.

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The next morning, without saying a word too each other, Karl approached a letter that had his name on it.

"You got one of these" Karl asked.

"Uh huh" David said monotone.

"Where's Ja" started Karl when Jake walked into the room.

"Sup Karl" Jake said casually.

Karl then noticed an envelope in his pocket, obviously he had gotten the same letter.

Opening his letter, Karl was bewilder when he saw that the language was in saurian so he couldn't understand a word that was on his letter.

"What's it say?" Karl asked confused.

Jake had to bite his tongue too keep himself from throwing out another smart-ass answer.

David came too his rescue when he said, "It's an invitation from Marion".

"Great, what's it say" Karl asked eagerly since anything sent from Marion was bound to be good.

David gave no answer as he continued to read his letter.

"Hello" Karl asked sarcastically.

David threw the sarcasm right back at him when he asked with a victorious smirk "Can't you read it".

Karl eyes narrowed into anger and hatred for being caught off guard so easily so he growled "You got a big mouth, anyone ever tell you that".

David smirked as he sat up replying "Only you Karl".

Whirling around to face Jake, he then hissed "What about you, no smart-ass answer, and no ridicule.

Jake was silent was Karl ranted at him. He did not want to get sucked into another fight.

David then picked up a book and handed it to Karl. "Here ya go" he smirked.

Karl glanced at the title and felt his annoyance return since the title read: FOOTPRINT LANGUAGE FOR BEGGINNERS.

"Thanks" Karl muttered as he went off to reluctantly study. The only reason he was doing this was so he could read the damn letter.

"Your welcome" David smirked.

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Now night, the citizens of Waterfall city gathered at Fountain Square where the sunstone parade would commence. People and Dinosaurs were chatting over what fantastic parade would come this year.

Sitting in one of the seats was David, Jake and Zippeau.

"It's quiet fantastic," Zippeau said admiring.

"You'll scarcely believe your eyes, the theme this year, is the world beneath" Zippeau informed the boys.

"So the world beneath really exist," asked David.

"Yeah cause I mean, I need proof if I'm gonna believe something like that" Jake said.

Zippeau stared at Jake saying "Well Jake where would you explain the sunstones coming from".

Jake paused for a moment before grinning and rubbing the back of his head while chuckling "From the sun of course, why do you think their called sunstones".

David slapped his forehead in annoyance at the lame joke while Zippeau simply didn't get it.

"Well Jake, according to legend, it was the place where the sunstones were originally found, the heart of dinotopia," Zippeau said.

David then looked around through the crowd but found no sight of his half-brother. "Where's Karl" asked David.

"I guess he was to good to see this thing," Jake grumbled.

"What's with the attitude?" David asked.

"Ever since we got here, he's been acting like a complete jerk, all he wants too do is leave" Jake grunted.

"You were pretty upset when you found out that there was no way off the island," David argued.

"True I did, but unlike Karl I've accepted what's happened to us" Jake muttered as he waited for the ceremony to begin.

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"God do I really have too do this" thought Karl.

He was back in Zippeau's home, searching through his stuff.

"Is this the only way Cyrus can help me" Karl asked him self.

Searching through a bag, Karl lifted out a set of keys.

"Sorry Zippeau" he mumbled to himself as he went off to the library.

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Back at the square, trumpets began to sound.

"Oh, oh look I'm so excited the ceremony's about to begin" Zippeau pointed.

Some of the Brontosaurs then roared as they lifted their might feet and crashed them into the ground almost like a drum.

The trumpets play a fanfare solo as Mayor Waldo approached the stand in front of the citizens, dressed in a symbolic uniform.

"Long ago, a terrible darkness struck the earth, the seas churned and the skies turned black, and the light of the sun was lost from the land" Waldo announced.

Another beat from the drums, followed by another fanfare as suddenly the light in the main square that echoed from the prime sunstone was snuffed out.

"Isn't that dangerous" whispered Jake.

"It doesn't last long, don't worry" Zippeau whispered back.

"Our ancestors sought refuge in caves deep below the earth where they found food and shelter, and magical stone which brought light" Waldo continued.

Waldo's grin seemed to get bigger as he then said "A young girl left the safety of the world beneath, and climbed up to the surface, a sunstone illuminating her way, higher and higher she climbed in the darkness, not knowing that this was night".

Waldo then pointed to a stage behind him where a young woman appeared dressed in a symbolic uniform like Waldo, with a sunstone wrapped around her neck. In fact, it looked like…

"Marion" Jake shouted.

The crowd roared into applause as Marion smiled warmly at the crowd as she made her way to her father, followed by two guards.

"It's beautiful" Zippeau said he clapped as well.

"All right Marion" Jake laughed as he clapped his hands.

It was at that time that Karl had finished his objective and came out into the square. Slightly confused at what was going on at first, he grinned when he noticed Marion. Quickly walking into the square he started clapping as well for Marion.

Marion noticed the three boys and gave the boys a smile that could just melt a guy. Now at the stage the applause died down.

"Centuries passed, and a great civilization evolved, but no one had seen the sun, then the dawn came and she saw the skies had cleared and that the sun shone once again" Waldo said happily.

The prime sunstone, which had been snuffed out, light illuminated the skies once more as the crowed awed at the sight.

"Our ancestors followed her from the world beneath, and they brought with them the magical stones and they built dinotopia" Waldo said as he paused.

"The world beneath was sealed, the great ruler Ogthar decreed that it should remain a sacred place, undisturbed forever more" Waldo finished.

The crowd roared once more as the sky then lit up with fireworks.

"This is better then the Fourth of July" Jake shouted in glee as the works continued.

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The next morning, Jake and David were both studying for their exam while Karl went searching for Marion.

Finding her with the kids from school, he said "Hi, I uh really loved the show last night".

Marion gestured for the kids to leave for a while as she stood up. "It was a ceremony, thank you," she said.

"Yeah, whatever it was, it was spectacular" Karl chuckled.

"Karl…I want you to come back and finish the course" Marion said nervously since Karl had reacted badly too school last time.

Like she thought, Karl groaned at the mention of school before muttering "Is that why I got an invitation" Sighing, he admitted to her "Look I can't do school, never have, why should I start now" he asked her seriously.

"Because you not the person you want to be," Marion said seriously as well.

Karl narrowed his eyes as he then said, "Oh and you are, and you know it all, do you".

Marion paused before they continued walking. She then said, "If you can't bear school, I'll spend an hour a day teaching you personally.

Karl actually took this proposal into consideration. He'd have to do work yeah, but at the same time would get too know Marion and find out more about her. In the end it was a good deal.

"Really……Okay deal" he grinned at her.

She grinned back when she then said, "In return, you'll sit for your footprint examination".

Karl halted when he realized he had been tricked, he'd have to do more work then he was asked too. Deciding too accept this, he decided to go and start working with her now.

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It had been a week since the ceremony, and the examination for David, Jake and Karl had arrived. Well for David and Jake at least since Karl was absent.

"Have you seen Karl" Marion asked Jake as he sat down at his desk in the classroom.

Jake shrugged as he said "He said he was gonna be a little late but would defiantly be here.

"Alright…anyway, your graduation question is how are we too live, you have an hour to answer in any way you wish, you may begin" Marion said as she tipped over an hour glass and watched as the sand began too fall.

David and Jake imminently got too work on writing there stories as the other children started as well. David paused for a moment before smirking and started writing down amazing facts he had learned about Dinotopia.

Jake took a different route. He grinned as he scribbled down adventurous things he thought should happen in Dinotopia and how they should confront the dangers.

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Zippeau was humming nervously as he checked through the books a third time, where was it, it was gone.

Karl entered the library and noticed Zippeaus frantic state.

"Zippeau, you look upset, what's wrong" he asked.

Zippeau noticed Karl for the first time and stammered "The most terrible thing has happened, a book has been…I can't bring myself too say the word…a book has been stolen".

"Really" Karl asked innocently but with a hint of guilty in his voice.

Luckily, Zippeau didn't notice.

"Maybe, it just got lost somewhere," Karl said quietly as the guilt continued too eat away at him.

Zippeau protested as he beckoned around the library saying "I've been through antiques and antiquates a dozen times, who could do such a thing".

Karl, wanting too rid himself of this guilt looked Zippeau in the eye and said "Look Zippeau, books get stolen from libraries all the time".

Zippeau then showed a brief moment of anger, which quickly shifted back into upset when he argued, "Not in Dinotopia, its inconceivable, stealing knowledge that should be for all".

Karl then realized he shouldn't be here as he race out the door, ignoring Zippeau asking where he was going.

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Karl opened the door too the classroom with only six minutes left in the exam. Marion gave him a brief smile, glad he had showed up.

David and Jake glanced at him as he grinned at the two. Jake watched as Karl sat down, thought for a moment and a sly look appeared on his face as he started writing.

Jake was nervously now, there was only five minutes left, and he only gets that look when he knows what too do or when he's up to something, what could he do in five minutes???

"Stop writing please" Marion asked kindly as the class handed her their exams, Karl still smirking slyly.

What's that Karl up too?????? HMMMM Ah well REVIEW REVIEW!!!!