It doesn't feel right using you, Dina thought to Peak. Especially since Rupert uses a Raja like you.
Hush now, Dina, Peak laughed. Todd knows you're not Rupert and it's only fair that you use a type advantage. He'll understand, I know he will. Now let's win this battle! Dina let out a sigh, knowing that there would be no persuading him otherwise. She stepped into the common room, signing a quick 'good luck' to Todd.
"Don't wish me good luck, silly," Todd tried to keep a serious face. "I'm your enemy! You better not go easy on me!" Dina nodded and the two walked into the stadium together.
Todd sent out his Stego and Goyle. Spike stood at the front of Dina's team, lips curled back in a toothy grin. A single bite took out Todd's Stego. Todd's shoulders were already slumped in defeat, but he refused to go down without a fight. His goyle slammed into Riptide with a critical hit and hung on with a sliver of health after Peak bit into it. It tried to go for Riptide again, but Peak sent it back into a Dino Medal it before it could get close. He let out a triumphant roar, the others quickly joining in as the crowd went wild.
Dina and Todd met up in the lobby after the battle.
"Well you got me," Todd sighed. "You know what, I don't feel all that bad about it. I mean, sure, I'm disappointed that I lost, but I got to take you on in a Fossil Battle, and it was really fun! Ok, Dina! Feast your eyes on your new cheerleader!"
[You don't have to do that, Todd,] Dina laughed silently.
"I want to," he replied. "Until the Cup ends, I'm gonna be president and CEO of the Dina fan club! You're my champ now, so I'm entrusting you with my dream!" The two hugged briefly, grinning from ear to ear.
"I do not know what to make of the two of you." They turned as Rupert approached, a confused frown upon his lips. "You just faced each other in battle, and yet now you laugh about it?"
"You don't get it." Todd crossed his arms over his chest. "We just shared an awesome battle together!" Dina nodded to her friend and forced a smile to Rupert.
[Like I said-er signed-earlier; there's more to battles than just winning,] she signed. [You can enjoy them, defeat or not.] Rupert still seemed confused.
"So you are satisfied with defeat then?" he asked Todd. "It doesn't gnaw at your soul like a rabid badger? You are a...strange person."
[Like you're any better mr 'I don't have fun but still participate in Fossil Battles',] Dina let out a huff. [He never said he was satisfied with it, but Todd isn't the kind of person to hold a grudge over a loss, especially if the person he lost to is his best friend. You don't need to be such a prat about it. We get it; you don't like fun. There's no need for you to ruin ours.]
"Yes, well, excuse me," Rupert sputtered and turned away. "I have important things to do with my time." He quickly walked away.
"What is with that guy!?" Todd exclaimed, stomping his foot against the ground. "It's not like we asked his opinion or anything!"
Methinks the rich boy might fancy Dina, Peak snickered.
Say that again and I'll bite your tail off, Mayrah snapped. Dina does not need to be with someone like that brat.
Please don't fight you two, Riptide said.
[Don't worry, Todd,] Dina signed, ignoring her vivosaurs. [I'll defeat him one way or another.]
"All right, Dina," Todd said, nodding to her. "I'm going to cheer you on like I've never cheered before! You absolutely, positively have to make that arrogant jerk eat his words! I'm counting on you!"
[I will, I promise,] Dina replied. [Come on, let's go get some rest. We've had a long day.]
The next morning the two had a quick breakfast and shared an excited chat about what they would do next. They had received a message that a new dig site had been opened overnight and decided to head down to it to dig up some new fossils.
Dina made her way into the Jungle Labyrinth and found an old man laying on the ground, mumbling about how hungry he was. He begged her to find a melon spud and Dina had very little choice but to agree. She dug up the melon spud and gave it to the man. The man leaped to his feet and introduced himself as Professor Nigel Scatterly.
"I'd come here in search of the Calio Slablets, but somehow managed to get hopelessly lost," he said. "Also, I forgot my lunch on the counter when I left this morning, so it's quite good that you came along!"
[Calio Slablets?] Dina signed in confusion.
"Calio Slablets, you see, are a curious set of tablets hewn from Dinosaur bones," the professor explained. "I discovered one of these tablets a fair while back and found it contained a history of these islands. This tablet claimed that the long-lost Kingdom of Caliosteo actually existed on this very spot! Can you imagine? I also determined that this ancient kingdom was led by a mighty ruler named Zongazonga…" He continued to talk about the lost kingdom for some time. He then picked up another slablet on his special sonar and asked her to dig it up for him.
Oh, dear, this man is forgetful, Riptide observed. I do hope he stays safe.
I'm sure he'll be fine, Mayrah said. Maybe.
The professor then read from the tablet and left. Dina shook her head and looked around for some new fossils.
She walked deeper into the jungle where she ran into Todd. He informed her that there were rumors of rare fossil rocks deeper in the jungle and offered to go digging with her. They were stopped in their tracks, however, when a terrified shriek rang out. Two Fighters raced by, screaming about some sort of monster. They didn't give much of-if any-explanation as to what the monster was. A man in some sort of Elvis costume walked over to them.
"I'd avoid goin' any deeper into this ol' jungle unless you wanna get yourself hurt, unh-hunh," he told them. "Fossil rocks don't mean nothin' if some monster gets to chewin' on you." He walked away.
"Hey, Dina, how about we call it a day?" Todd squeaked. "I mean, it's not because I'm scared or anything! My vivosaur could stomp that monster into a pancake! But there's probably tons of good fossil rocks right here!"
[You can stay here if you want,] Dina signed. [But I want to find out what this monster business is all about. I don't believe in monsters and I think there's something fishy going on around here.]
She walked away and Todd tried to follow, but he then stopped and complained about his stomach. Dina rolled her eyes and kept walking. Eventually, Todd did catch up to her and tried to convince her to stop. Dina wasn't having any of it and kept walking, only stopping as the ferns nearby rustled.
"What's that!?" Todd darted behind her. "Who's there!? J-just the wind, I bet. Yeah, that's it. It's just the wind. Or a wild boar. That would be ok, too."
[Todd, a wild boar would kill us,] Dina pointed out. [Besides there's no boars on this island. It might be another rogue vivosaur like that Allo.] She looked around and a girl in a mask leaped out from behind the ferns. Todd immediately shrieked and ran.
"Did he just call me a monster?" The girl put her hands on her hips. "'Cause that's kind of insulting. I don't know if you noticed, but I happen to be amazingly beautiful and charming."
I don't know about that, Peak said. Seems pretty monstrous to me.
I think she's pretty! Riptide replied.
Of course you do, you think everything is pretty. Peak rolled his eyes mentally.
Stop it, Dina thought to him. She signed to the girl, [Sorry about him, he's sort of easily scared.] The girl stared at her for a moment.
"I haven't the slightest clue what you're trying to say," She said. "But you're that girl that Rupert's into, aren't you?" Dina shook her head, cheeks turning red.
[I don't think he's into me,] she signed frantically. [He just did that for the camera.]
"Again, I don't understand sign language." The girl shrugged. "Anyway, I'm the girl who's going to win the Caliosteo Cup and be the biggest teen idol in the world...I'm Pauleen! Why are you staring at me like that? Is it the mask? It's the mask, right? Look, there's a very good reason I can't take this mask off. But trust me, I am totally beautiful underneath it. People faint when I walk by. I'm serious."
I bet she's ugly under it and she wears that mask so people don't turn to stone when they look at her, Peak sniggered. Dina, Mayrah and Riptide snapped at him to hush.
"You're a Fighter too, right?" Pauleen asked. Dina nodded. "Well then, you should introduce yourself. It's only fair, you know."
There was an awkward silence between the two.
"Oh, crap! I'm so sorry!" Pauleen quickly realized her mistake. "You can't speak, can you? Uh...here, use this stick!" She handed Dina a twig and Dina wrote her name in the dirt with it. Pauleen nodded and continued, "Yes, well, it must be a real thrill for you to finally meet me, right Dina? So enough about you. Did you hear about the monster that's running around the jungle? Well, I'm going to fight it, and I'm going to win. Oh, hey. I just had a great idea. You should come along, Dina. That way you can see how awesome I am and then tell everyone about your new favorite teen-idol Fighter!"
She's almost as bad as Rupert, Riptide sighed. Just not a huge jerk.
If you want my opinion, I think I prefer Rupert, Dina admitted. He's a jerk, but I don't think that's entirely his fault. I think he's sort of sad too; I've never seen him talk to anyone except for reporters. I don't think he has any friends.
He probably doesn't have any friends because he's a spoiled little brat, Mayrah huffed. I wouldn't be surprised if he tries to buy your friendship later.
Enough about Rupert, Riptide said. Let's talk about Pauleen! She seems really confident in herself.
That mask she wears is weird and stupid, Peak added. If she's really so beautiful she shouldn't wear it. Ooh, I bet she's got some horrible scar that she's trying to hide!
Gossip won't do us any good, you two, Mayrah scolded them. Don't try to start any rumors either. Let Pauleen be who she is.
The two humans continued on through the jungle. They stopped in the deepest part of the jungle and were about to leave after seeing nothing when a deafening roar sounded around them. From the bushes burst a very obvious fake monster made of cardboard boxes and old tires. Before their eyes it blew up and the two Fighters that had run away earlier rushed over. Dina and Pauleen quickly found out what was going on.
Apparently the two had built the 'monster' themselves to scare away fighters so they could take all the fossil rocks.
"Well, you two have found out our little secret." Jerry took a threatening step forward, reaching into his pocket. "And we can't be having any of that."
"I'll take this guy and you take the other one, Dina!" Pauleen said. "I will not tolerate anyone threatening me!" Dina nodded in agreement and took out her dino medals. Both of Jerry's vivosaurs were air types, so she sent out Peak at the front. His Nycto started pecking at Riptide. Peak defended him by grabbing it in his jaws and tossing it away and reverting it back into a Dino Medal. Jerry's Anamolo suffered the same fate as the Nycto.
Why does everyone go after me? Riptide whined as he went back into Dino Medal form.
Because you're soft and were at a type disadvantage, Peak answered.
"Th-they're too tough!" Lee yelped. Jerry snarled and pulled out a pocket knife. Dina took a terrified step back, eyes wide. Pauleen's grin faded and she too took a step back. Stella, however, came to the rescue. She raced in, punching Jerry in the face, effectively knocking him unconscious. The two kids quickly explained the situation and Stella turned to the two Fighters.
"Seize them!" She ordered her staff members. She looked back to Dina and Pauleen. "You have Todd to thank for my being here. He came running to me in a panic, wailing about how some monster was going to swallow you whole."
My hero, Dina thought.
At least he got help, Riptide pointed out. That scary man might have hurt you if Stella didn't show up!
My jaws would have been around his neck if he tried, Mayrah snarled.
"I was expecting some kind of trouble," Stella continued. "But...well, not this. Still, Fighters are now free to dig for fossil rocks here, so I suppose it all turned out alright. We owe the two of you our thanks." She headed back with the staff members
"Hey, so thanks for helping me out, Dina," Pauleen said. "You're pretty good at this. Not as good as me, of course, but pretty good."
"Dina, you're alive!" Todd came barrelling through the ferns and trees and tackled Dina into a hug. Dina stumbled back, barely able to stop herself from falling. Todd then finally seemed to notice Pauleen and started panicking.
"Stop calling me a monster!" She snapped at him. "I'm a teen idol! And a Fighter! And my name is Pauleen! So if you ever call me a monster again I'll knock you out!"
"Well if you don't want to be called a monster, you shouldn't wear a mask!" Todd shot back. Why don't you take it off?" Pauleen took a step back and shook her head.
"Nope!" She protested. "Sorry. Can't do it." Todd took a few steps towards her.
"So we're supposed to trust that you're a beautiful teenager? Whatever!" Dina reached out and pulled Todd back, shaking her head.
[Leave her alone, Todd, she helped me,] she signed to him. Pauleen turned and hurried away. Todd huffed and crossed his arms over his chest.
"What kind of weirdo wears a mask for personal reasons?" he asked. Round 2 of the Cup was announced.
Dina hurried to the Fighter Station. She entered the Common Room and started to sign a 'hello' to Rockin' Billy, but he interrupted her.
"Why'd you have to go and blow up that monster!?" He spat at her. Dina stepped back, eyes wide in surprise as he continued, "I had a plan to take all them rare fossils, and now it's ruined! Yeah, that's right. I'm in cahoots with them two boys that ended up coolin' their heels in the hoosegow."
What in the hell is he saying? Peak asked.
Peak! Language! Mayrah scolded.
I agree that Peak needs to stop using bad language, but seriously, what is he saying? Riptide said.
He was working with those two in the jungle, Dina thought to them. He wants revenge.
They entered the fossil stadium and it turned out that Rockin' Billy actually had a decent team; a water and two earth vivosaurs. Peak insisted upon staying in front.
Another Raja, huh? Peak grinned. This'll be fun.
Peak used bit into the Nigo, hitting it with a critical hit and slamming it to the ground, leaving it stunned. Rockin' Billy's Raja bit into Riptide's frill frill. Peak snarled and bit into it, dragging it away from Riptide. Rockin' Billy's Parapu used a Bewilder Beam on Riptide, confusing him. Riptide, confused, used charged into it and knocked it back. Rockin' Billy's Raja then tried to bite Riptide, but Riptide charged out of the way and into the Nigo, defeating it with a critical hit.
Peak took out the Raja and Mayrah took the lead. The Parapu used Bewilder Beam on Riptide again, defeating him this time. Mayrah and Peak worked together to take it out.
After the battle, Stella arrested Rockin' Billy and took him away. She congratulated Dina on the win and informed her that Rockin' Billy would be banished from the island and gave her a new fossil rock. Todd was next to rush over, hugging her tightly.
"Way to go, Dina!" he laughed. "I know you can do this! I'm counting on you!" They turned as they heard the crowd within the stadium going wild. Apparently, Pauleen had won her match as well. She stepped out of the Common Room, head held high. She spotted the two and ran over.
"So, Dina!" She grinned behind her mask. "Sounds like you got through Round 2 as well. Of course, you didn't win as fast as I did. Or with as much panache...but congratulations anyway! Don't get any crazy ideas about winning, though, because I'm going to be the champ. The most beautiful champion there ever was! Oh, and humble, too."
If she ever becomes humble I'll eat my tail, Peak huffed.
For once I actually agree with you on this one, Mayrah sighed. She really is full of herself.
But confidence is good! Riptide protested.
There is such thing as too much confidence, dear, Mayrah replied. Pauleen's a solid case of it from the looks of things.
"Cram it, sister!" Todd snapped. "My friend, Dina, isn't going to lose to some braggart like you! And if you're so pretty, you should take off your mask and prove it!"
[Todd!] Dina signed. [We've been over this; leave her alone!] Pauleen made a quick excuse about signing autographs before running away.
"She's not going to take off that mask, is she?" Todd turned to Dina, who shook her head. "You know what? I don't think she's pretty at all. In fact, I bet she's a total woofer under that thing!"
[Todd!] Dina signed furiously. [Stop it!]
Todd laughed and said a quick 'good night' to her before heading off to bed. Dina shook her head and headed to the cleaning room to clean her fossils before she headed to bed as well.