Triple Terror

Their captive had lead them on a long journey back the way they came, but finally- they arrived. Solstice raised a brow at the near collapsed human structure in front of them, located near the beach. “Really? This?” His voice held a strong note of disbelief. It was hard to imagine all of their troubles had come from… this.

Hyperion poked the oviraptor (Mischief, they had eventually introduced themselves when Ignis had taunted) with his horn. “You better not be lying to us- or you know what would happen.” Ignis, flying above in the air, landed nearby with a grin on his beak.

Mischief squeaked. “No!” She inched away from Ignis, before pointed with a single claw at the entrance. It was just big enough for a styracosaurus to squeeze through. “We came from there- the tunnel! It's down there!” 

Ignis snorted. “Ill believe it when I see it.” He hopped underneath the partially collapsed doorway, vanishing from a sight. A few moments later, the styracosaurus pair heard a “Fine. I believe it.” Hyperion poked Mischief again, causing her to squeak and follow after Ignis. Solstice smiled at Hyperion before following, leaving the large bull to bring up the rear.

The tunnel was extremely uncomfortable- wide and spacious, the small group had to squeeze themselves down a flight of narrow stairs to actually reach it. And once they reached the tunnel, it did not get better. Made of a mix of metal and dirt, it was clearly human made- and unnatural. Ignis was clearly caught off guard by it- and despite his dislike for the other, Solstice agreed. There was nothing natural about this- locked away from the sun by metal and dirt. The sooner they got to the other side, the better.

And indeed, it got worse. Ignis almost shrieked in terror as a wide pane of glass broke the unending expanse of metal and dirt. Faint, green-tinted light shone from it. Underwater. They were underwater. Ignis turned to Mischief with a screech of rage. “What is the meaning of this! Why are we underwater!”

The oviraptor cowered. “T-thats where Atlantis is! Through this tunnel!” Atlantis. So that was the name of this place. 

Ignis settled a bit, but his feathers were still flared up. Fire did not do well in water. “How much longer will we be down here.” He hissed.

“N-not too much longer!” Mischief promised, quickly starting to walk again- likely looking for an opportunity to slip away. Hyperion quickly quickened his pace so he was right behind the oviraptor, Solstice approaching from the other side. Now was not the time to lose their guide.

It only took a few more tense minutes for the light at the end of the tunnel- literally. Hyperion squinted as sun-tinted light shone through the underground (undersea, really) gloom.

“Finally!” Solstice let out a breath, relieved. “Our sun!” He and Ignis scrambled for the exit, leaving Hyperion to keep an eye on their prisoner.

The orange styracosaurus squinted as he followed the other two out. The sight that greeted him was of a dense green jungle, vibrant and colorful. The blue sky shone above, the sun in the center of it all.

Solstice stood in front of the entrance they had came from, squinting. Something was… off. He remembered going down in the tunnel, and never back up- so where was the sea?

The answer was provided when Ignis, flying above their heads, let out a shriek of rage. The two styracosaurus craned their heads up to look at what had caught their companions ire- and gasped in shock.

Parts of the sky were flickering, revealing metal and the ocean when it fizzed. “Its fake! The sky is fake!” Ignis screeched.

Solstice hissed in rage. “A false sun! This place is evil. You- did you kn- its gone!”

Hyperion whirled around- indeed, the oviraptor had vanished, slipping away at some point while they were overwhelmed. “There! Tracks.” Hyperion pointed with his long horn. They lead towards the jungle, vanishing into the foliage.

“After it!” Ignis screeched, quickly taking off towards the forest. Hyperion and Solstice took off behind, able to make quick distance despite the head start. It helped that Ignis was greatly slowed down by the thick jungle, forced to land upon the ground and fly barely above it or be caught in the branches.

The trio picked through the jungle cautiously. It was unlike any forest up on the surface- much thicker and more humid, the heat was already uncomfortable. Despite the heat the mud was thick, clumping and tugging at their feet. Ignis was spared from this on account of the ability to hover, but Hyperion and Solstice were forced to fight for every step forward.

It seemed the oviraptor hadnt just run off willy nilly, however. While following its tracks, the trio was suddenly taken aback as a white rock-like shape emerged from the foliage. “Halt!”

The three couldn't help but stop and stare in confusion. A mysterious dinosaur, as large as the styracosaurus. Short, pudgy legs supported a rock-like body. Flat and long, it wouldn't have been very threatening- except for the fact that it was cladded in osteoderms and spikes, meaning that just touching this creature would be dangerous. But the strangest part was the armor- not the natural scales, but human made gear. A high-tek visor covered the stranger's face, a blue screen covered them. Bronze plates covered its back, glowing a matching teal. Hyperion eyed the long, spiked tail of the warrior- a sharpened club, that could cause some serious damage if it was to catch one of them.

“State your purpose! State yourself!” The stranger barked, hunkering down in a position that was both defensive and offensive. “Intruders! Are you the ones who forced the scout to lead you here?”

“Ah. So you're that oviraptor's friend.” Ignis drawled from where he hovered above Hyperion and Solstice. “Makes sense that she would need to send for backup. Why would one like you help something as spindly as her? Are you the one who send these ‘scouts’ to the surface?” 

“I have no reason to answer your questions!” The guard barked. “It is my duty to drive intruders out of our sanctuary- the court demanded it of me. Now, you have attacked a citizen of Atlantis- our code states you must be taken prisoner and face execution! Now, surrender, or I'll have to handle it here!”

Hyperion snorted, stepping forward without fear and keeping Solstice behind him. “I think we will pass. Instead, why don't we execute you instead? After all, you attacked our lands first. It is only fair.” Solstice shot him a look, and a silent plan passed between them. The duo had taken down tougher opponents- this metal-clad opponent would be no big deal.

“Then face the judgement of Atlantis!” With a bellow the strange dinosaur charged forward, tail whipping forward as he halted. Hyperion easily dodged the blow by not running forward, instead observing with a critical eye as the guard fought. Ignis took to the air, circling above his head and verbally jabbing at the warrior. Solstice circled from the back, until the armored herbivore was circled between the two styracosaurus- far out of tail range, but right where they wanted him.

Hyperion lowered his frill and mock-charged, running forward while letting out a low bellow. Predictably, the warrior leaned back, swiping forward with his tail. Such an attack forced him off balance, ever so slightly- and Solstice was ready to take advantage of it.

Silently, the yellow herbivore charged with his horn lowered. Instead of jabbing it into the very unprotected belly of the other, he instead hooked it around its back leg- dragging the warrior even more off balance. Ignis crowed from the air, diving at the others visor and swatting it with his wings to throw them even more off balance.

Thrashing and alarmed, the guard attempted to thrash his tail back towards Solstice- and Hyperion charged for real. His considerable bulk rammed into the other, horn hooking behind the other's front leg and allowing him to put all his weight into pushing. At the same time Solstice pulled- and the combination of the guards tail, Hyperion, and Solstice’s weight all going in one direction meant one thing- a tumble. 

Bellowing, the herbivore fell onto his side. While it may have been normally something he could recover from, Hyperion wasn't done yet. With a heave he continued to push, Solstice grabbing a bit of the others armor and pulling as well. It wasnt long before the guard was pushed onto his back, the spikes and armor on his back quickly becoming embedded in the mud, stopping him from getting back up. Shrieking, the guard thrashed, all four legs and tail thrashing around in the air. But it was no use- his armor worked against him.

Ignis landed in front of the trapped guard, tapping on the blue visor. “Now…” he smirked. “Did you want to elaborate?”