"Gotcha, Medal-Dealer Joe! Or should I say...Medal-Stealer Joe? You should have known I would find you! Now hand over my Dino Medals!"
"What, these medals here? They're mine, fair and square. I guess the only way to settle this is a Fossil Battle. Beat me, and I'll give them back to you!"
"Hear that, Legend? He's all yours! Get him! What? You can't possibly expect ME to fight! He's got all my good medals! Good luck!" She literally drags me over to him.
He has a Shanshan, a Goyo, and a Metria. Again, they're all level one! How does she expect to win?!
He's first. Rock Head on Spinax. Shan Fang on Spinax.
Spinax Fang on Goyo.
Rock Head, and Green Fang on Spinax.
Spinax Fang on Metria and she's down, and Veloci-Claw on Shanshan.
Shan Fang on V-Raptor.
Another Veloci-Claw. Shanshan's out.
Rock Head on V-Raptor.
Toxic Combo on Goyo winning the battle.
What did I tell her? I beat her in a battle... Well... her vivosaurs.
"You did it! You're amazing, Legend! Hmpf. I'll take my Dino Medals back now, you big creep!"
"Gosh DARNIT!!! You haven't seen the last of me! You'd better watch out, cause I'll get you again!" He runs off.
The police handcuff him.
"Nooooo!!!"
"We couldn't have fought this their without you two. My sincerest thanks. Level-Up Battles are starting soon, by the way. I hope you're both planning to try for your next level. Anyway,thank you again. Over and out."
"Hear that? Level-Up Battles! And now I have my medals back! Level-Up Battles test your Fighter Level. If you pass, you can advance to the next level. And every time you get to s new level, you'll get access to a new dig site! Legend, you're going to sign up for your Level-Up Battle too, right? Let's root for each other! Thanks for helping me get my medals back! See ya!"
~~~
Fireworks go off for the start of the Level-Up Battle.
An announcer start speaking. "Your attention, please. Level-Up Battles will begin shortly. All participating Fighters should make their way to Fossil Stadium for registration."
I register, take my cleaning test, and pass. Time for a battle.
It is Wendy.
"You may know me as the Fossil Center receptionist, Wendy. But today, you can call me the Level one Master, and your opponent! I'll be testing you, Legend, to see if you're qualified to become a Level two Fighter. I won't be taking it easy on you, so give me everything you've got."
She has a Goyo, Shanshan and V-Raptor. She's up first.
Toxic Combo on Spinax.
Spinax Fang on V-Raptor.
Toxic Combo again.
Spinax Fang on Goyo. Veloci-Claw takes it out.
Shan Fang on V-Raptor.
Toxic Combo on Shanshan. For about the seventh time... ONE LP LEFT!!!
Toxic Combo on V-Raptor.
I do nothing.
Toxic Combo on V-Raptor taking her out.
Spinax Fang. The other V-Raptor's gone.
Shan Fang. Recoil damage takes Shanshan out. Ha!
"Congratulations, Legend! You defeated a Level one Master! I hereby certify you for Level two Fighter status. Bask in your victory. You've earned it. Good luck becoming a Master Fighter someday!" Wendy walks off.
Rosie comes in her place with... Mr. Richmond?!
"You leveled up already?! Wow, Legend! I failed pretty bad on my cleaning test. When I finally passed, I got crushed in my Fossil Battle. I'm going to try again now. But first, let me introduce you to my grandfather. He's a really important man."
"How do you do, Legend. I'm Mr. Richmond. I heard about the incident with the medal dealer. I appreciate you looking after my granddaughter. Thanks you. I hope you and Rosetta will be good friends. You two seem to work well together. Come by and visit me whenever you'd like, by the way." He walks off.
"Wish me luck!" Rosie cheers.
~~~
I go to Knotwood Forest. There are people known as the Digadig tribe that have been living there for a long time. Many people don't understand it.
Holt was there and tells me about the shop being open.
I see Rosie standing with an attendant.
"This area is currently off-limits. I can't let you pass."
"Why not?"
"I'm super sorry, but it's just my job to warn people that they can't pass. I don't know anything more. My boss was like, 'This area's off-limits, so don't let people through,' and I was like, 'Okay boss.' "
"Legend, you've GOT to hear this. This guy just told be that the area past here is off-limits and that I can't pass. What could that be about? Is it secret? Dangerous? Both? I REALLY want to get in there now! You know what? I've had enough of this nonsense! We'll get to the bottom of this. Let's ask my grandfather!" She starts to walk away. "Come on, Legend!"
~~~
"Well, well. Rosie and Legend! You didn't lose you medals again... Did you?" Mr. Richmond asks.
"Grandpa, can I ask you something? Grandpa, we need to get deeper into Knotwood Forest, but it's off-limits. They won't let us in!"
"Knotwood Forest? Why was I thinking about that recently? Oh, I remember! Dr. Diggins said something about it... What was it...? You know, you should just talk to Diggins. He seems to know everything happening around here these days."
"So we should ask Dr. Diggins? I don't know... He looked pretty busy the last time I saw him..."
"Hmm... You're right, he's usually very busy. But I'll bet he'd make time for you if you brought him a gift... Come to think of it, Dr. Diggins has a weakness for Dino Cakes. They sell Dino Cakes at the shop over in the Fossil Guild."
"Dino Cakes. Got it! Okay, let's go buy them from the Fossil Guild shop and take them to Dr. Diggins."
~~~
I go get the Dino Cakes and slip into Dr. Diggins room.
"Oh, hello, Legend, Rosie. Is there something I can help you with?" Dr. Diggins asks.
"We're trying to get deeper into Knotwood Forest, but we were told it was off-limits." Rosie explains.
"Deeper into Knotwood Forest? No, I'm afraid that's just not possible right now. There's been an incident in the Digadigamid ruins near Digadig Village. I ordered the area closed. The investigation is being handed by a famous Fighter who's on the scene right now. But come to think of it... We haven't gotten word back since yesterday. I hope nothing's happened..."
"In that case, you should send us to check up on that Fighter!"
"Oh, boy... What should I do...?" Dr. Diggins murmurs. "Hmmmmm... Hrrrrrrmmm... Whew... I'm exhausted. I wonder if I've been working too hard... I sure could go for a sweet snack."
I recline on the couch holding about 5000 pages. Rosie follows me.
"Huh? What's this?" I ask her playfully.
"Could that be a package of delicious-"
"Dino Cakes, Rosie?!"
"Yeah, wanna split them, Legend?"
"D-D-D-D-Dino Cakes?!" I hear Dr. Diggins call.
"Yeah, I'm so glad we got the last one."
"I can smell them from here... I'd do anything for them."
"Really? I'm sure we can make some sort of arrangement... Oh, hey! We WERE trying to get Knotwood Forest access, weren't we? Sound fair, Dr. Diggins?"
"Hrrrrrmmmmmmm... I'm not sure that's such a..."
"Oh well, Dr. Diggins." I start. "I guess Rosie and I will eat these-"
"NO!!! You win! Il give you q Clearance Card for Knotwood Forest!!! Now give me the cakes!!! Dino Cakes!!! I must have them now!!! GOVE ME THE CAKES!!!! THE SWEET, SWEET DINO CAAAAAAAAAAAAKES!!!!!!!"
"We should give it to him before he explodes with rage." I laugh. I give him the cakes.
"Thank goodness! Give me a sec, okay?" He goes to his computer and gives us a Card. "Here you go. Just show this Clearance Card to the staff there, and they should let you pass. Just do me a favor and stay out of trouble, okay? Don't do anything that might reflect badly on the Center."
"Legend, I think it's time to had to Knotwood Forest!"
When we get out of earshot of Dr. Diggins I laugh.
"What's funny?" Rosie asks.
"I bought two. He still doesn't know."
We both laugh on our way to the Knotwood Forest.