It was nearly sunset and as Cassandra returned to the village, she heard a voice.

"The warriors are here!"

"Oh, no" she gasped.

She watched as her father greeted another tribe leader until she bumped into Rapunzel.

"Sorry, Raps" Cassandra apologized.

"Cassandra, are you crazy?" snapped Rapunzel. "What were you doing with that thing?"

"What thing?"

"You know. One of those pale men."

"I'd rather not..."

They were interrupted by Varian, who approached Cassandra.

"There you are, Cass" he said in relief. "See? Now, we can destroy those white demons."

Worried, Cassandra approached her father.

"Father, I have to speak with you" she said.

"Not now, daughter" the Chief said firmly. "The council is gathering."

"But we don't have to fight them!" protested Cassandra.

"There must be a better way. Maybe we should try talking to them."

"They do not want to talk!"

"But if one of them did want to, you would listen to him, wouldn't you?"

The Chief stopped for a moment and held a hand under Cassandra's chin.

"Of course I would" he said softly. "But it is not that simple."

Cassandra sighed as her father joined the council.


Meanwhile, Dastardly was on his way to return to the camp with Muttley close behind him.

Rocky, having to come along for the ride, rode on Muttley's back.

He didn't mind that a bit since the two started to become best of friends since both Cassandra and Dastardly got them to stop fighting.

But as soon as Dastardly approached the camp, Flynn gasped and aimed his weapon at him.

"Easy, Flynn!" shouted Dastardly. "It's me."

Rocky yelped and played dead on Muttley's back.

Getting the idea, Muttley gently picked up the raccoon in his mouth and dragged him along.

"Oh, Dick" sighed Flynn. "I almost got you killed."

Dastardly shook his head.

"Not like that, you couldn't" he said. "Just remember when you shoot, keep both of your eyes open."

"Right."

Then, the two heard a loud bellowing roar.

"DASTARDLY! Where have you been?"

"Oh, it's you, Mr. Sneekly" Dastardly gasped. "I was scouting the terrain of the land, sir."

Sneekly was only half dressed as his usual formal suit, half in his hat as the Hooded Claw.

"Excellent" he said. "Then, I suppose you know the whereabouts of the Indians?"

"Not really."

"Blast!" growled Sneekly. "We need information for the battle."

"Oh, really?" Dastardly giggled, like a school girl. "Who are we battling?"

"We'll eliminate the savages once and for all."

Then, Dastardly knew he couldn't keep his friendship with Cassandra as a secret for long.

"No!" he cried. "You can't do that. We don't have to fight them."

The settlers were confused.

"Like uh, what's gotten into you, Dick?" asked Shaggy.

"I've been lying to you" admitted Dastardly. "I did meet a girl and she's one of them."

"You what?!" gasped Ranger Smith.

"A savage?!" frowned Flynn.

"No, no! They're not savages" said Dastardly. "They can help us. You see, they know the land and how to navigate the rivers around the area."

Muttley nodded and showed the entire camp an ear of corn.

"Gee, what is it?" asked Barney.

"They call it corn" Dastardly replied. "It's better than hardtack and gruel. Healthy for you, that's the truth."

But Sneekly wasn't liking this.

"They don't want to feed us or guide us, you idiots!" he growled. "They want to kill all of us! They've got our gold!"

"But there is no gold!" shouted Dastardly.

The entire camp went dead silent, no one even breathed.

"No gold?" they asked in unison.

"No gold" repeated Dastardly.

However, Sneekly was not surprised, he just smirked.

"And I suppose that your little Indian friend told you this?" he asked mockingly.

"Yes... she did" Dastardly said sternly.

"LIES! LIES!" he shouted. "Murderous thieves!"

"No, Cassandra is different" protested Dastardly. "I know she's an Indian, but she's very, very kind and understanding. She's so beautiful."

Sneekly growled and pulled Dastardly by the collar.

"I should have known!" he said. "You have feelings for this savage, Dastardly. Her kind does not belong in the civilized world."

"She's no savage, Sneekly" snapped Dastardly. "The only savage I see is you! You're ruining their land!"

Furious, Sneekly threw Dastardly to the ground.

"This is my land!" he bellowed. "I make the laws around here!"

Muttley and Rocky watched as Sneekly continued to yell in Dastardly's face.

"And I say anyone who looks upon an Indian without killing it on sight... will be tried for treason and HANGED!"


To be continued...