++ Opening: v1.0 (completed)
Disclaimer:
- Fossil Fighters: Champions belonged to their ownner(s)
Inspired by a story titled Stalking Horse Games. I forgot who write it, but whoever they are, they definitely inspire me. That, and another titled Fossil Fighters Championship: Calisteo Academy.
Enjoy.
P.S.
If the authors of said stories above noticed, forgive me for not asking or telling you anything.
Dino groaned inside the capsule. Bubbles escape the oxygen mask on his face. He moved around like an unborn baby inside all those cables and tubes connected to him. Pauleen was out alongside with Rupert, and Todd. The only people inside the room were Professor Scatterly, and Joe Wildwest.
Dino was...undressed inside the vertical capsule. Most of his body was covered by wires, cables, and tubes of all sorts. In fact, only his fingers, neck, and head were visible. An oxygen mask was over his mouth, and nose. The greenish liquid sometimes get rippled with bubbles, either from his movement, or his breathing.
"How's the fry, Professor?"
Professor Scatterly scanned the instruments outside of the capsule. "I believe he only recovered 5% of his energy. It'll take some time even with this."
::Pa'a... Pa'a ngya dijater?::
Joe had a couple of question marks flying around his head, while Scatterly had exclamation marks.
"By jove! The ancient language! The language used in the writings of Caliosteo Slablets!"
"Wha'ssat?"
"He's asking what happened! And in a language that's believed to be lost!" He paused. "Using his mind, no less."
"...Can ya tell 'im to relax?"
"It's worth a try." Scatterly took a breath before speaking in said language. "Lahnangte, Dino. U'ka lahte an'langhike nyakba muginer'e."
::Professor Scatterly?:: he mental-mumbled weakly, eyes half open. ::Panake da'an sabi da'a di nisi? Ku'a rusha kan'ngat'ripermem karemé... Karemé lamda yahaba...:: He wheezed a breath, alarming Joe and Scatterly. ::Raga-raga ku'a tak tiha-tiha...::
"Dakti pa'a-pa'a, Dino. Nangte... Karemé ikba-ikba jasa... Karemé mugunungme. Lahhat'ratisi."
Dino let out a relaxed breath. A contended breath. His body visibly relaxed inside the capsule.
Scatterly checked the instruments and happily informed Joe that Dino was out of the danger zone. Joe decided to let the other know before they turn in for the night.
The following day...
"Dino, you alright?"
A slow, lazy nod.
"'re ya tired?" Another nod, followed by a single sleepy blink. "Have'a rest, then?" A shake.
"You want to talk to the others?" A small nod. "Okay, let me get them." Todd stood from his chair, and left to get Rupert, and Pauleen.
I'm tired... But, I can't rest... Not until I see they're alright... I'm fighting against my own body... I...can't hold for too long.
Please be alright, guys...
The museum's door swished. Rupert, and Pauleen were instantly on their feet, facing Todd. He was grinning like an idiot.
"Dino wants you see the both of you," he stated, grin still plastered on his face.
Ah, so that was why.
Rupert nodded curtly, followed by Pauleen's eager nod.
"We'll get in."
"Glad to hear that, diga."
Todd nodded eagerly, and let them inside the capsule chamber.
There floating inside the capsule was an unconscious Dino. His blue mane moved like seaweed on the seafloor. His body was still mainly covered with all sorts of wires, or tubes.
Todd sighed. "Apparently he's more tired than he let on."
Rupert shook his head. "So like him."
Amber eyes cracked open. Pauleen stared at the seemingly sleepy amber eyes. He raised his wires-covered hand, letting his uncovered fingers brush against the glass. Despite too tired to show much expression, one can see the happiness reflected on his eyes.
So, they are alright... How my heart rejoices. I'm not corrupted...
I can feel my other, older form seemed to change. I can tell the feathery-crown head, winged arms and legs, winged back (the wings on the back are a lot stronger and bigger), and long, elegant tail feathers.
Maybe, I should let them know, and see their reaction. They need to know. After all, they're my friends...
I force my body to shift.
Alarms bleeped. Todd, Rupert, and Pauleen were totally blank. They didn't know what to do now. So different with when they fought Zongazonga before said person-vivosaur yielded to Dino. Luckily for them, the door slammed open, revealing Scatterly, and Joe.
"I knew it!" said a rather panicked Prof. Scatterly. "Back off, everyone. This may get nasty." As the others backed off, Scatterly immediately drained the capsule. The cocoon of wires was getting tighter in their eyes. They shifted uncomfortably while they waited for the liquid to be drained. The very second the capsule was drained, the glass slid open sideways, revealing the rather...thin cocoon of wires. It shifted.
Scatterly let Joe, who had just came in, amazingly without anyone's par Scatterly's notice, gently brushed aside the wires covering the now transformed Dino. His Pterosaur form was small; about the size of a Microraptor. His wet, white, feathery body rustled slightly as he stirred in his unconsciousness. His bigger wings on his back shifted into a comfortable position before he nudged closer to Joe.
Joe silently handed Dino to Todd's waiting arms. "Take care'a 'im." He left as abruptly as he came.
Scatterly checked Dino's larger wings on his back. They were folded like a pigeon's wings, enabling him to sleep peacefully without worrying about feeling uncomfortable with all those.
"He's fine. I believe he restores energy faster in this form."
Rupert nodded. "Thank you, Professor."
Scatterly waved him off. "No need to be so formal, young man." He checked his wristwatch. "I need to go now. Tallyho!"
When the automatic doors slid shut, hiding Scatterly's retreating back from their view, Rupert shook his head. "Does he even know that it's an expression used by hunters when they see a fox?"
Todd shrugged carefully, minding the additional weight in his arms. "I don't know. Dino did tell me that he's rather clumsy."
::I didn't tell you that:: a voice echoed in their heads. Rupert held his temple, Pauleen shook in fear, Todd blinked. ::More like you concluded that, Todd... So like you.::
"Is that you, Dino?" tested Todd, wanting to proof his suspicion.
Mental eyeroll. ::What do you think?::
"I didn't know Dino's a psychic."
::I wasn't.:: Everyone blinked. ::Ever since that person experimented on me, I can do that.:: The formerly-human Pterosaur shifted, and opened his amber eyes. ::Dunno know why, though. Something about being blessed, and cursed at the same time. Was it? I don't know.::
Rupert looked thoughtful with him humming. "I have a suspicion, Dino. But, to prove it, I'm afraid we'll need a Fossil Battle. You, in your current form, partnered with another vivosaur, against my Mapo King, and Mapo. Like, right now."
Todd, and Pauleen were about to decline before Dino even had the time to reply, but he beat them to it.
::I'll what I can do, Rupert. I accept.::
The thought echoed in their heads.
Rupert nodded, not even a slightest hint of worry. "Good. I'll go prepare our vivosaurs." and he left.
"You shouldn't, diga."
Dino shook his feathery head. ::No. I also need to know. That, and I think I can recover faster under the sun. He's more guilt riden than you thought.::
Yeah, now that I think of it, I must be out of my mind. I'm lucky he didn't suggest using my set of vivosaurs.
Rupert came back moments later, bringing the required medals, accompanied with Joe.
At their questioning looks, he explained, "Rupert 'ere decided that ya need some sort'a referee."
"Let's go," ordered Rupert, more to himself. Dino nodded in agreement. He stretched his arm-wings, flapped it as he leapt from Todd's arms, and glided (and flew) like a bird. His back-wings stretched by the moment he was in the air. "Isn't that rather exaggerating?" asked Rupert, eyeing Dino's back-wings as it flapped together with his arm-wings.
Dino actually rolled his eyes. ::Instinct. Can't fold them, so I leave them be.::
Rupert was about to retort before Joe told them that they were at the unused-at-the-moment stadium. Everyone took their positions. Rupert then threw, and summoned his still-armoured Mapo King, and his ordinary Mapo. For Dino's partner, he threw Dino's Teffla.
Dino was rather surprised. But, considering how he was kidnapped, he let it slide.
::Long time no see, Teffla.:: The Teffla grinned.
Rupert:
- Mapo King (AZ)
- Mapo (Upper SZ)
Dino:
- Teffla (AZ)
- Dino (Upper SZ)
"Rupert's first!"
"Alright! Let's go, Mapo King: Liquid Ionize on Teffla!"
::Not so fast!:: roared Dino mentally. Said roar was able to be heard by the others, surprisingly. What happened next was rather hard to describe.
A gust of wind hit the attack, deflecting it from hitting the Teffla. Winds gathered at several points on Teffla's body when the wind dispersed, Teffla had Wind-Armour. He roared angrily. As he roared, wind vibrated, making a high-pitched sound which disoriented the Mapo King, and Mapo, also weakening them in the process.
Rupert remained silent.
-before yelling, "Mapo, Mapo King: Ancient Geyser!"
Dino closed his eyes, and breathed softly. /Be careful, Teffla./
/Got it! I'll take care of the Mapo./
/Alright. Let me deal with the Mapo King./
Teffla dodged quickly, evading all the geysers. In his evasion maneuver, he engulfed himself in a cocoon of razor sharp wind before slamming Mapo, and letting it trapped in the razor cocoon, causing it to roar in pain after some time before reverting into a medal.
Meanwhile, Dino swiftly moved around the Mapo King, detecting its weakness. When he found it, however, he was less than pleased.
Because he was slammed into the ground, pinned by Mapo King's leg.
/Mapo King, enough!/
The Mapo K. glared at Rupert. /He'll beat me. He'll kill everyone in this room should I let him go./
Eyebrows knitted together to a frown. /He won't-/
However, Rupert's rebuke died in his mind when he saw Dino's body glowed in dark, purple electricity. And, like a living silhouette, it engulfed him, radiating malice, and destruction the original it had done. Mapo King stood protectively between him, and the others. /The Black Pterosaur. The exact opposite of the Pterosaur itself, it knows nothing of love, compassion, teamwork, or anything. It was actually born to protect, just like the Pterosaur, but unlike the Pterosaur, it never knows how to do it right./ A sad mental rumble. /It's actually sad./
The possessed Dino then clashed his now-black-gigantic-and-only-a-pair wings on Mapo King, causing it to roar, and barely alive. What was shocking was that it didn't return to its medal.
/Now...you...know.../
"Mapo King!" yelled Rupert, panicked. Black Pterosaur also dispersed, leaving a dazed Dino. Forgetting they were in the middle of a Fossil Battle, Rupert darted to his Mapo King's side. The bluish, armoured giant looked at his, blinking its eyes weakly.
"I'm sorry," whispered Rupert. "Are you okay?" he continued, struggling to keep his emotion in check. From the corners of his eyes, he could see that Joe and the others were scrambling to get down there.
/I...dunno/
::This should help, Mapo King. I'm sorry.::
Rupert was rather surprised when he felt the surprise Mapo King radiated from the edge of his mind.
/I...didn't know...you could reach...our minds./
::I didn't know, either.:: A bitter, sad smile. ::Here. I'm sorry.::
/What for?/ wondered both Rupert and Mapo K.
The surge of energy was enough answer. Rupert could vaguely heard shouts from Joe, and the others, telling Dino to stop. Nevertheless, he didn't stop, he even poured more of his own life-force to the injured vivosaur through his now human fingers. When Rupert saw his normal human fingers again, the question crossed his mind, before he realized how Dino seemed to struggle to breathe.
Part of him wanted to let Dino, but the other angrily shouted at him to stop and save him. Those conflicting thoughts froze him on the spot. He was still confused when Mapo King's mental voice drifted, /I'm alright now, Master. I can recover on my own. Stop him before he killed himself!/
"Stoppit!" Joe yelled, pulling Dino's pale hand, breaking his contact with the vivosaur. Rupert was relieved that the others arrived just in time. Dino slumped the very moment his fingers left the vivosaur's hide. Joe, surrounded by everyone, lowered him gently to the ground. "Ya don't 'ave to do it."
Dino half-lidded eyes spoke volumes; the guilt, the fear.
"Not your fault, diga." Apparently Pauleen was able to read his expression.
Todd nodded in agreement, now as Pauleen's wingman. "Yeah. You'll learn how to control your...condition."
Joe pulled his Paleopager to call the hospital. As he waits for it to connect, he grinned. "No worries, small fry."
Now the amber eyes landed on golden.
"At least we get to know something new," joked Rupert, despite his attempt at humour wasn't the best.
Dino smiled weakly, a sign of appreciating his effort.
TRIVIA / FUN FACT:
- Professor Scatterly's experiment was based from Zoids' and Dinosaur King's statis pod, and Star Wars' bacta tank.
- Said greenish liquid was based on Bacta (Star Wars). I'm not sure about the colour, though.
- "Pa'a... Pa'a ngya dijater?" = "What... What happened?"
- "Lahnangte, Dino. U'ka lahte an'langhike nyakba muginer'e." = "Relax, Dino. You has lost a lot of energy."
- "Panake da'an sabi da'a di nisi? Ku'a rusha kan'ngat'ripermem karemé... Karemé lamda yahaba... Raga-raga ku'a tak tiha-tiha..." = "Why are you here? I have to warn them... They're in danger. Because I'm not careful."
- "Dakti pa'a-pa'a, Dino. Nangte... Karemé ikba-ikba jasa... Karemé mugunungme. Lahhat'ratisi." = "It's alright, Dino. Relax. They're alright. They're waiting for you. Rest."
- To put Dino's Pterosaur form simply, imagine Dinosaur King's Microraptor, with a pair of larger wings on its back, and a hand attached to each wings (like that of a dragon, or King Dynal's wings)
- I originally wanted to give Suoidis a separate Black Pterosaur to counter Dino's Pterosaur form. But, after a re-reading about Dino being burden, I decided to give it to him.
- Dino recovered faster in his Pterosaur form because it's smaller, and it originally was very, very, powerful. Say, the ancestors of the dinosaur and vivosaur.
- The title of the story, "The Secret of the Ancients", was a split-second title. When I started uploading this story, along with the first three chapters, and was writing the summary, I could hear thunders thundering outside nearby.
- I just started to re-read the story, which was why there are many loopholes that I haven't cover in the previous chapters. I'm not a type of person to rewrite a chapter, because I'll end up rewriting the whole story since I'll end up writing something almost entirely different from the originals.
- How Dino was able to heal Mapo King after becoming the Black Pterosaur was because transforming into Black Pterosaur is like adrenaline shot. That, and injuring Mapo King didn't quite reduce the "adrenaline rush".
- Mapo King didn't revert because of the Black Pterosaur's negative energy.
- While I was writing the earlier loopholes in a single document, it crossed my mind that I should add them to the bottom of each chapter, corresponding where the holes were, and where you can search for an answer. What do you think: on the bottom of each chapter, or mixed together to a single chapter containing the loopholes only? This one's rather important. Thanks
Replies to Anonymous reviewers:
- Mysterydude123:
Glad you enjoyed. I'm trying to type as soon as possible, but it's just not that easy if I want and make sure as little plot holes as possible.