Chapter 7: Girls and Dads

Once night had come, all that Cera could do was lie there awake. She really wanted Tria gone. But that was going to be too hard for that to happen. Topps approached her to give her some compumention about Tria.

(Topps) Cera. It's true that Tria likes me as much as I like her. We've known each other since we were about your age.

(Cera) But I want everything back to the way they were before. When you didn't like anybody and no one liked you.

(Topps) I'm sorry to say this Cera. But I don't think things are going to be that way ever again.

With that said, Topps turned around and went to sleep for the night. But before Cera could shut her eyes, she saw someone moving. It was Rhett. And he was pushing a pile of leaves with his tail.

(Cera) He's up to something. And I'm gonna find out what.

At that moment, Cera got up and began to make her way to Ducky's nest.

Meanwhile, Littlefoot, Mario, and his friends were investigating the trees that the Tiny Long-necks had gotten leaves from. Right now, they were in the forest and looked at one of the smaller trees.

(Littlefoot) That's a bit odd. This tree wasn't even that big and yet the Tiny Long-necks managed to eat the Tree-stars on it.

(Peach) Yeah. Something's not right here.

(Yoshi) Yoshi Yoshi (Hey. Look at this.)

Yoshi was pointing to some footprints in the dirt. And they were a bit too big to be Tiny Long-necks.

(Wario) Maybe someone else was feeding the leaves to the Tiny Long-necks. But who could it be?

(Daisy) Maybe it was Rhett.

(Luigi) Maybe. He's been acting strange lately.

(Littlefoot) We'll find that out in the morning. Right now, we need some sleep.

(Mario) Yeah. It's getting really late. We should head back.

With that said, the three walked back to Littlefoot's nesting ground.

Back with Cera, she had arrived at the Swimmer's nest to wake up Ducky, Spike, and Tickles. She knew that she should wake Ducky and Tickles first sense Spike is a heavy sleeper. Being very quiet, she walked over to Ducky and Tickles until she was in front of their faces.

The two opened their eyes slightly a bit from the sounds of Cera's footsteps. But closed them back up. Until they snapped them back open when they realized that Cera in front of them.

(Tickles) I didn't call your dad Topsy.

(Cera) It doesn't matter. Rhett's up to something. And we need to find out what it is.

Spike on the other hand, was still sleeping. But Cera poked him on his butt with her horn, waking him up.

(Cera) Come on Spike. We gotta see what Rhett is doing.

After picking up Petrie, the 5 followed Rhett who was still using his tail to move the leaf pile. He was up to something alright. But what was it?

(Petrie) What is Rhett doing?

(Cera) I don't know. But we are gonna find out what it is.

Soon, Rhett finally made it to the hole. After a couple more pushes, he dropped the leaves into the hole. He can hear the Tiny Long-necks cheering for their food.

(Rhett) Another night worth it.

However, as Rhett turned around, Cera and the others bumped into him and all of them fell into the hole unharmed.

(Rhett) Cera. Ducky. Petrie. Spike. Tickles. What are you guys doing here?

(Cera) We want to know you're up to.

(?) Hey. Can you get off of me?

Cera looked down at her butt. She was sitting on Big Daddy. So she moved off of him as the other Tiny Long-necks came to view. Making the others gasp.

(Big Daddy) Uh...anybody else dropping down tonight?

(Ducky) It is the Tiny Long-necks.

(Petrie) It really them.

(Tickles) Let's go get Mr. Three-horn and he'll give us that treat.

(Rhett) No. Don't tell on them.

(Petrie) We have to. We find Tiny Long-necks.

(Ducky) The grown-ups must know about this. Yes they do.

(?) NO!

Everyone turned to Skitter. He knew that Rhett didn't want them to leave. So he had to stand up to him.

(Skitter) Don't tell. Rhett's been feeding us all along. And I don't want to leave this valley.

(Cera) That's why we won't tell you. Your secret is safe with us.

(Petrie) What?

(Ducky) But Cera. Are you mad at them for eating the pink tree-sweets?

(Cera) Who cares about the pink flowers and berries? I wasn't gonna get the first ones anyway.

The others looked at her. Was Tria gonna get the first pink tree-sweets? It didn't matter though. For all they know, they were gonna have to keep the caverns a secret.

(Big Daddy) You know what, young lady? I believe you.

(Rhett) Then it's settled.

(Skitter) Say, wanna look around in our secret caverns?

(Big Daddy) I would normally say no, but you're gonna do it anyway, so I might as well save myself that effort.

(Skitter) Come on!

They all walk down, then Big Daddy sighs

(Petrie) Come on, Spike!

Spike licks Big Daddy

(Big Daddy) Hmm.

They all walk down

And so, the Tiny Long-necks took the gang to a shore of their underground caverns. There many waterfalls as well as some holes to let sunlight in. For a couple of times, Spike ended up getting stuck in some holes. Ducky, Petrie, and Tickles had to free him. It was not easy but they did manage. The Tinysauruses walk by Spike, then they try to push Spike, then touching Spike's nose, then letting go, sneezing, then laying on the ground, then they all laugh.

As for Cera, she was talking to Lizzy at one of the waterfalls about her dad.

(Lizzy) So your dad yells at you a lot.

(Cera) Yeah.

(Lizzy) Mine too. I feel like he's over protective.

(Cera) That's how I feel. He's been this way since my mother died.

(Lizzy) Same with me.

And then, the two of them began to sing a song that came into their heads.

(Cera) Dads can be a problem. Dads can be a pain. They always act like they think you've got no brain. Sometimes there's just enough to drive a girl insane. Whoooaaaooo! Oh dads. (Oh dads.)

(Lizzy) They treat you like a baby. Like you're so small you'll break. And they scream and yell when you make one mistake. All their rules are more than any girl can take.

(Cera and Lizzy) Ohhhaaaooo! Oh dads.

(Lizzy) Big dads. Small dads. I guess it goes for all dads.

(Cera) They drive you crazy every single day. (So crazy.)

(Lizzy) Fat dads, skinny dads, even little mini dads.

(Cera and Lizzy) But you gotta love them anyway... You know it's cause they love you, they only want what's best.

(Cera) The way they fuss and worry can make a girl depressed.

(Lizzy) You wanna tell them "Dad please,"

(Cera) Give it a rest.

(Cera and Lizzy) Ohhhaaaooo! Hey Dad.

(Lizzy) You make me wanna holler.

(Cera) You make me wanna shout. Find somebody else that you can worry about.

(Cera and Lizzy) Please. (Please.) Please. (oh please) Please. Don't be such a dad. (Hey dad, don't be such a dad.) Don't be such a dad. (Hey dad) Please. Please. Please. Dad...

(Song end)

Cera and Lizzy looked at each other sadly. They both have the same problem with both of their dads.

(Lizzy) I know my dad wants the best for me. But sometimes, he just takes things too much. I wish he had someone else to worry about. Or at last someone to help him worry about me. You know what I mean?

(Cera) I know exactly what you mean.

Later, it was time to leave. Everyone said goodbye to each other and the gang made their way back up the way they came.

So far, Big Daddy still didn't trust them. There's a chance one of them could tell them.

(Lizzy) Don't be sad Daddy. We can trust them. Including Cera.

(Big Daddy) Lizzy. You know there's one thing you got to learn about the big ones. They think because they're so big, that's what makes them more important than the little ones. And also, they forget the little details.