When Dina entered the dig site, she wasn't able to get very far. A massive boulder was blocking the narrow path, and it would be far too dangerous for anyone to climb over it. She tried hitting it with her pickaxe, but the boulder seemed unbreakable. Todd rushed over to her moments later, his eyes widening as he stared at the boulder..
"Wow, that's a big rock," he said. Dina tried to hit it a couple more times and Todd frowned. "I mean, you're good and all but this whole thing's on a different level." Todd watched her before he let out a sigh and took out his pickaxe and joined her.
"At this rate, we'll all be old and wrinkled before that boulder is gone," Rupert stated as he walked over, Di66-R floating beside him. Dina cast him a confused look. "Todd was running around wailing about you running off to fight the BareBones Brigade. I went to get Di66-R and he was gone before I could ask what exactly was happening. Stand aside. Di66-R, please remove this boulder."
Dina carefully made her way over to stand beside Todd. It took only a moment for him to realize she was probably still terrified of the dig site. He pulled over so she was standing in front of him and away from the edge as the robot began to claw at the boulder.
"Holy smokes!" Todd exclaimed. "Look at that thing go!" Unfortunately, the robot began to run out of power. Dina frowned and shakily walked over, taking out her pickaxe and starting to chip away at the remains of the rock.
"Dina-" Rupert started.
"Be careful, Dina!" Todd interrupted him. "Remember last time?" Dina flinched and Rupert kicked Todd in the leg.
"Stop that!" He snapped. The robot paused and turned to Dina.
"Does sir or madam wish to assist Di66-R?" It asked. Dina nodded to it. The robot seemed confused. "No one has ever assisted Di66-R with digging before. Now I know why it is that you humans smile. Energy fully restored! Digging program initiated!" The robot returned to its digging as Dina helped it. Soon the boulder was reduced to rubble and the path was cleared. Dina immediately rushed back to the safety of the middle of the path to stand with her friends.
"You did it, Dina!" Todd beamed and hugged her. Rupert stared at them for a long moment before he walked to his robot.
"Excellent job, Di66-R," he said to it. "You have made me very proud. You did good too, Dina. Whoever put this boulder here must still be in the area. I'm going to look for them." He walked away with his robot. Dina frowned and looked to Todd, who shrugged in response.
"Well, I guess people can get back to digging at Mt. Krakanak, huh?" he asked. "I still think we should wait at the City, but I know you won't do that. You want to go help Rupert, don't you?" She nodded and he let out a long whine.
[You don't have to go, Todd,] she signed to him. [I just don't want Rupert fighting them alone. What if he falls?]
"Oh, alright, I'll help you-ow! M-my stomach!" Todd whined and bended over, clutching his stomach as usual.
That was to be expected, Mayrah huffed. Always has a stomachache when the road gets bumpy. Don't worry about the height, dear, Rupert needs you. Just keep reminding yourself that.
He'd never admit that himself, though, Dina laughed.
The poor kid probably doesn't even have any friends, Riptide said.
Whether he likes it or not, I'm his friend now, Dina replied. And I won't let my friend fight the BareBones Brigade alone.
She raced up the path, skidding to a stop as she spotted Rupert.
"Dina!?" Rupert's eyes widened in surprise. "Be still my heart...What are you doing up here? It isn't safe."
[Helping you,] Dina answered. [I won't let you fight them alone. We need to be here for each other in case...in case one of us falls.]
Rupert let out a long, slow sigh. "I won't let you fall again," he said softly. "I swear on my life. In any case, it seems that our hooligan friends rolled the boulder from up there. I've spotted a few unpleasant types skulking about, and I've little doubt they're with the BareBones Brigade." He raised a brow as he noticed Dina's shoulder shake with a giggle at the 'skulking' pun.
[Let's go kick some bony ass!] She grinned and ran on ahead, leaving Rupert stunned and jaw dropped behind her.
"D-Dina, language!" He shouted after her as he raced to catch up. "It's not befitting for a lady like you to use such profanity.
[There's a lot more where that came from, Rupert,] Dina signed back to him. [Anyway, we need to focus on those guys.] She pointed to a couple of men in skeleton themed suits talking about the boulder.
"Your boulder has been reduced to rubble," Rupert announced as he stepped forward, head held high. Dina stood beside him, staring at the two with a fierce glare.
"How did you destroy our beautiful boulder!?" One cried out in dismay. His friend was more furious than anything.
"Yeah, well, it doesn't matter, rich boy!" he spat. "Our boneysaurs are gonna make you pay!" Dina and Rupert shared a confused look.
"Think you can handle that one, Dina?" Rupert asked. She nodded and he turned back to the grunt in front of him. All three of the grunts vivosaurs were air types. As he released the Boneysaurs, Dina froze up in fear. She couldn't send any commands to her vivosaurs.
His first boneysaur slammed into Peak, who sank his teeth into its back. The boneysaurs were obviously very powerful, and that certainly didn't help Dina's mental state at all. She took a step back, face pale as the boneysaur defeated Peak. Mayrah slammed his tail into it, knocking it into the back wall and sending it back into a Dino Medal. Rupert noticed Dina was struggling. He tried to hurry to her side, but the Boneysaurs blocked him.
"Snap out of it, Dina!" he called to her. If Dina heard him over the sound of the battles, she gave no sign of it.
"Little brat's scared!" The grunt battling Dina laughed. "Look at her face!"
The Boneysaurs slammed into Mayrah. She fought back, defeating it within seconds. The final Boneysaur sent her back into her Dino Medal, leaving Riptide by himself.
The two fought fiercely, but the type combination was not working in Dina's favor. Riptide fell back into his Dino Medal and the Boneysaur let out a triumphant roar.
"Now to get rid of you." The grunt walked over, grabbing Dina by her collar. "I wonder what's the best way? Throwing you into the lava? Or the cliff?" Dina kicked and struggled, desperately trying to get free. Her vivosaurs were unconscious in Dino Medal form, unable to help, and would be for a few more minutes as they regained their health.
"Get away from her, you filthy bastard!" Rupert slammed into the grunt, sending him tumbling away. He yelped and dropped Dina. She hit the ground with a muffled 'thud' and lay there, dazed. Rupert stumbled for a moment before regaining his balance. He turned and rushed to her side, helping her to her feet.
"Dina? Dina, answer me, are you alright?" he asked quickly. She nodded to him briefly.
[Thanks for saving me. Again.] she signed.
"You little brat!" The grunt scrambled to his feet. His friend had supposedly fled. Rupert turned to him, eyes narrowed in fury.
"How dare you?" He growled. "How dare you come into this tournament and try to stop it? How dare you use unnatural vivosaurs? How dare you try to murder someone!?"
"Oh, so she means something to you, does she?" The grunt chuckled.
"N-no," Rupert sputtered. "She assisted me with an issue once. I owed her for that, and now I've repaid her. That does not mean you can just waltz in and try to murder her!" The grunt took a threatening step forward and Rupert immediately put himself between Dina and the grunt, gripping his dino medals.
Before anyone could send a single vivosaur out, however, a furious roar rang out above them. From the cliffs above a Machai leaped down and landed in front of them, growling and snarling. The three humans froze, eyes wide in shock.
"What the hell is that thing doing!?" The grunt scrambled back. The Machai glanced back at Dina, eyes gleaming. She reached into her pocket and pulled out Mayrah's and Peak's Dino Medals, tossing them out. The two had quickly recovered from their defeat and were a little more than furious at the BareBones Brigade member.
"Dina?" Rupert glanced back at her questioningly.
[Trust me,] she signed. He hesitated before nodding, stepping out of the way. She took a deep breath to calm herself as the boneysaurs were sent out in front of her. She kept Peak in the front like last time. The Boneysaur slammed into him like last time and again he bit into it. However, this time, the Machai leaped onto the Boneysaur's back to join in. The Boneysaur roared and shook, desperate to take it out. Peak bit down harder and the Machai refused to let go. The Boneysaur shook the Machai off and slammed her into the ground, sending her back into Dino Medal form. Peak and Mayrah both bit down on the first Boneysaur, defeating it. The Boneysaurs went after Mayrah furiously, kicking and hitting her with their tails. Peak took out the lead Boneysaur while the final Boneysaur desperately lashed out at Mayrah, defeating her. Peak took it out instantly.
The terrified grunt took a step back, his face pale behind his mask.
"Don't think you're hot stuff for beating up on a couple of lackeys!" The grunt snapped. "Our boss, Don Boneyard, is the meanest dude around! He'll turn your bones to jelly! And he's got three commanders that are almost as strong as he is! They'll beat you so bad, your own mom won't recognize you!" He fled before Rupert could grab either of them. Rupert almost chased after them, but stopped when he noticed Dina was shaking again.
"Dina?" He hurried to her side. "Are you alright? What happened there? Why did that Machai help you?" Dina blinked. She had almost forgotten about the Machai.
[I think it's because she was abandoned,] she answered. [I don't know why she would help me, but I'm glad she did. I think I'll call her Fury.]
"That's a...fitting name," Rupert said nervously. "Are you alright?"
[I'm fine,] she replied. [What were those things?]
"The boneysaurs? I don't know to be quite honest." Rupert let out a long, slow sigh. "Some sort of horrible, bizarre creatures. You're injured!" He grabbed her arm and examined it, frowning.
[I got it when I fell,] she explained, pulling her arm away. [It's just a little scrape, I'll be okay.] They looked up as Todd rushed over.
"Are you guys okay?" He asked. His eyes widened when he saw Rupert and Dina covered in dirt and bruised. "What happened? Did the BareBones Brigade show up?"
"Yes, but it was nothing we weren't able to handle," Rupert said. "They've run home to mummy now."
"Man, I miss all the fun stuff!" Todd whined.
[Only because you feign illness when you get scared,] Dina signed with a small smile. Todd pretended not to see. Rupert turned to Dina.
"Though this pains me some to admit," he started. "That fight was not altogether easy. I'm not sure I could have handled them without your assistance. I owe you my thanks yet again. So then, thank you."
[You've saved me twice now,] Dina replied. [It's only fair.]
"Rupert, you just acted humble!" Todd let out an exaggerated gasp. "Are you feeling alright? And what do you mean he saved you twice?"
"And why would you find it amusing that I offer thanks for a job well done!?" Rupert snapped. "One of the BareBones Brigade members almost killed her!"
"WHAT!?" Todd shrieked. "Are you serious!? Dina, tell me he's kidding!"
[He's not,] she signed. [I lost my first battle with them and the grunt grabbed me and threatened to throw me off the cliff or into the lava. Rupert actually slammed into him and made him drop me. Then a Machai jumped down from the cliffs above to protect us.]
"That's crazy!" Todd's mouth was gaping open. "Is the Machai still here?" Dina nodded and held out the Dino Medal. Rupert's phone rang and he quickly answered it.
"Hello, Father," Rupert greeted. "What do you need…? Di66-R's field-test results…? I'm sorry to say that it suffers some fundamental design flaws from a consumer standpoint. Some problems could be overcome with extensive redesigns, but I fear most Fighters will still have little interest. However, I believe it shows great promise as an emergency-assistance robot...yes, Father...I understand, Father…Yes, of course I will win the Cup. Good-bye, Father." He put his phone away.
"Hold on, Rupert," Todd said. "You just said you could launch the robot so long as you made a redesign. Was that a lie?"
"I do not lie," Rupert huffed. "I do believe that Di66-R's technical problems can be overcome given enough time. However, there is a larger issue at play, which is that I do not think anyone will purchase the device. You have shown me that Fighters like to dig as much as they like to battle. They seem to find it...fun." Dina smiled at him and nodded. Todd turned to his friend.
"Come on. Dina, let's get back to Cranial City," he said. "You need to get that scrape bandaged." Dina raised her hands to protest, but Rupert reached over and placed his over them. Mayrah was pitching a fit about that in Dina's mind and the other vivosaurs were trying to calm her.
"Do not even try," he said. "Todd's right for once, you need to get bandaged up." Dina sighed, realizing that there was no use arguing. She walked back with Todd.
Is there something wrong with that white haired boy? Fury asked. Aren't you allies?
He was a rude little snob to Dina when they first met, Peak explained. Mayrah's basically Dina's mom now, so she still doesn't like him. He's been slowly getting more friendly.
Dina's great at making friends, Riptide added. I think she and Rupert will be as close to each other as Dina is to Todd right now one day.
As they reached the City, the Mammoth Vision hovered above them. Thankfully, it was Joe Wildwest on the screen this time.
"Howdy, fellow Caliosteo Cup Fighters." He was frowning a bit. "Now, ya'll may already know this, but...It seems we're being hassled by a band'a thieves called the BareBones Brigade. They're tellin' us we gotta cancel the Caliosteo Cup and vamoose outta this park once and for all. Well, horsefeathers to that! This here Cup is my dream, and I know it's shared by ya'll! So if they want me to cancel it, they're just gonna have to saddle up and make me! The Caliosteo Cup will never surrender! We'll beat them varmints or my name ain't Joe Wildwest!" The crowd cheered and clapped in agreement. Todd hopped up and down beside Dina.
"Yeah! Get 'em! Saddle up!" He called. Dina smiled at her friend. They received a message that Round 3 of the Cup would be starting soon.
[I'd better go get ready for my next battle,] Dina signed to him. Todd nodded and grinned.
"I'll get to the stands immediately. I'll be cheering you on, so don't you dare hold back!"