Chapter 11:

Silverstream Gets Replaced

After the song ended, Slim began laughing evilly. Meanwhile, the Young 5 were still on the runaway wagon screaming as they went over the side of a stoned archway, and Ocellus was thrown into the air as they went back down. Rico and Silverstream soon got to the cliffside with the crevice now blocked and saw the runaway wagon heading right towards them and crashed right into them as Rico hits the ground. The wagon stopped near the blocked crevice and collapsed into rubble as the Young 5 let out their last scream.

Soon Rico got up and brushed himself up as the other three Hippogriffs arrived and one of them said " Rico if you were here a second earlier you'd had that griffon rustler dead to right,".

" You guys see anything before I got here?" asked Rico.

" Yeah, we sure did there Rico. We were just settin' down for supper when all the sudden the lights went out," said one of the Hippogriffs.

While the adult Hippogriffs were explaining the story to Rico, Gallus was the first to come out of the broken wagon and asked " Alright! What part of " Cover Me" didn't we understand?".

Sandbar was next to come out with a blanket on his back and said " Boy, I feel a little dizzy,".

" Yona not feel so good, either," said Yona as she came out with some cups on her horns while feeling funny in her stomach.

" Everybody alright?" asked Ocellus as she came out of the cart with a pot on her head.

" I'm not sure I felt like I was dreaming," said Smolder as she came out of the cart with a huge pot covering her eyes.

" Man, what was that thing that Slim was doing? It made me kinda dizzy," said Sandbar feeling quite confused about what just happened.

" Seems like Slim must have done some kind of singing and made you guys hypnotized," said Ocellus trying to explain what Slim was doing.

" You know, now that I think about it. Maybe that could be it. When Slim started singing, I suddenly lost track of just about everything," said Gallus starting to see what Ocellus is saying.

" Yona glad Ocellus saved us before it too late," said Yona thanking Ocellus for saving them with a hug as she knocks the cups off her horns.

" Hey, wait a second. Ocellus, why aren't you affected by Slim?" asked Smolder confused about how Ocellus was the only one not affected.

" I'm not sure. Maybe it just didn't sound like music to me or something," said Ocellus trying to figure out why she wasn't affected.

" Well, whatever it is. We better find Slim and bring him to justice," said Smolder as she gets pot off her head.

Then suddenly Silverstream came out of the wagon covered in a few stuff and said " Alright, the show's over,".

" Oh, no," groaned Gallus feeling embarrassed seeing Silverstream here.

" Um, who the Hippogriff?" asked Yona to Ocellus in a whisper.

" That's Silverstream," replied Ocellus also in a whisper.

" You guys interfering with official police business. Be right with you Rico, Silverstream is on the case. Whoo!" said Silverstream as she passed the group and yelled to Rico, who is still talking with the other Hippogriffs.

Then Silverstream went back to the group and begged " Please don't embarrass me in front of my partner. Please? I beg you,"

" Whoa, wait a minute. You and he are partners?" asked Smolder shaking her head in confusion and with an unconvinced face.

Ocellus bit her lip trying to keep her composure from laughing. Sandbar and Yona, however, tried to keep their composure but suddenly burst into laughter.

" And just how does that work for you and Rico, Silverstream? Do you let him lead you odd or even?" asked Gallus not buying it.

Seeing how they're making fun of her partnership with Rico, Silverstream said " Hey, he chose me specifically because I have the skills that very helpful for me and Rico to capture our quarry,".

Then Silverstream zipped past them and started to do some karate noises and kung-fu stances. But her kung-fu didn't go unnoticed. Nearby, Rico heard Silverstream and looked to see her messing around and being absolutely silly.

" You guys head back to town?" asked Rico.

" Yes, sir. We gotta head back and report to Skybeak," said one of the Hippogriffs.

" Give him back his daughter. She's too skittish around other Griffons," said Rico thinking that teaming up with Silverstream was a mistake.

" And that everyone is what makes me and Rico…," said Silverstream still bragging to the Young 5 as Rico placed Silverstream's saddlebag onto one of the adult Hippogriffs.

" Equal parts of one lean, mean, crime-fighting…," said Silverstream still bragging.

But just when she was about to finish, Rico and the other adult Hippogriff zoomed past her and ran up the trail of the cliffside and disappeared around the corner leaving behind a trail of dust.

"...Machine?" said Silverstream finishing her sentence in shock and surprise.

Then Silverstream asked in a stuttered voice as her eye twitched " What...Just...Happened?".

" Wish, I could explain but I'm just going the way they went," said Smolder as she walks off and heads to the trail.

" Hey, Smolder, wait for us," said Sandbar as he and Yona began following behind Smolder.

" Could...Someone...Tell...Me...What...Happened?" asked Silverstream still stuttering in shock.

Seeing how shock she was, Gallus thinks this could be a good time to taunt her and said " I'll tell you Silverstream. And I'm gonna make it clear so that you'll understand. You've...been...replaced,".

" WHAT?! Why?" asked Silverstream in even more shock.

" Hey, all I know is that when Rico replaces you there's no way he wants to be your partner. So it looks like you'll be doing some saving in your dreams," said Gallus still taunting her.

Silverstream then glares at Gallus and Gallus said " Look out, Silverstream! He's making a move on your left flank,".

Then Gallus started personating her karate noises and Kung-fu stances as Smolder shouted to Gallus " Gallus, leave Silverstream alone will ya?". Then she, Yona, and Sandbar start going up the trail. Gallus started laughing as he follows them leaving only Ocellus with Silverstream.

" Why would Rico replace me? I thought we were a great team," said Silverstream still feeling shocked and saddened. What Gallus said to her got to her head.

Ocellus walked up to Silverstream and said " You know, Silverstream. I know you feel upset about Rico replacing you. But there's a solution to fix it,".

" Really? Like what?" asked Silverstream sounding interested in what Ocellus is offering.

" Well, you could try and catch Slim on your own and bring him upon Rico and impress him. But you're welcome to join us to catch Slim to save our home. So what do you think?" asked Ocellus reaching out her hand for Silverstream to shake.

" Thanks but no thanks. Besides, I would much rather do things on my own than work with a bunch of KIIIIIDDDDS!" said Silverstream as she yelled at Ocellus.

" Okay, but if you change your mind. You know where to find us," said Ocellus as she follows the others.

Meanwhile, Silverstream grunted as she heard Gallus said " Come on, guys let's go get Slim,". Then Silverstream did an impersonation of Gallus and said " Come on, guys let's go get Slim,". She turned away and began talking to herself and said " Those teasers and a bunch of fun-makers. Hmmmm, I'm a Hippogriff and I can catch Slim with one hand tied behind my back,".

Then Silverstream got an idea from what she said and said in surprise " Wait a minute. Why don't I? Yes, Ocellus is right. If I wanna be partners with Rico again, then that's what I'm gonna do. Hey!". Then Silverstream begins beet-boxing until 2 adult Hippogriffs grabbed her rein as Silverstream whinnies and gets away from their grip as she runs up the trail on the cliffside.

Meanwhile, the Young 5 were walking on the trail. Sandbar turned to Ocellus and asked with concern " Are you sure Silverstream will follow your advice?".

" I just hope so," said Ocellus in the same concern.

Then Silverstream came and shoved Ocellus out of her way and said " Move it, Ocellus! Hero coming through,".

Ocellus almost fell off the trail but Smolder acted quick and grabbed her by the tail.

" Hey, Hippogriff almost knocked Ocellus off!" yelled Yona in anger.

" Yeah, and where do you think you're going?!" asked Gallus seeing Silverstream running ahead of them.

Silverstream skidded to a stop and turned to them as she said " I'm gonna go knab that griffon rustler and show Rico what I have it takes. So say goodbye to your shelter guys. Because Slim is Mine! It's hero time!".

Then Silverstream leaps onto a rock as it tips over and skids down on it as it tips. The rocks hit a ledge and Silverstream ran down it as she said " Hey! Jump back! Kiss myself! Whoo!".

" Well, that's something you don't see every day," said Sandbar seeing Silverstream running off.

" Great, that's just great. First, our home is in an auction, then we went to town, Slim got away, and now we have a competitor who will most likely catch Slim before us. How could things get any worse," said Smolder as she turned to walk the other way.

" Don't beat yourself up, Smolder. Silverstream may have speed but we have something that she doesn't," said Sandbar.

" And what's that? All we are is just a bunch of kids and even we can't catch Slim," said Smolder.

" I think what Sandbar is saying that we should try again and besides why catching an outlaw an adult job, anyway?" said Ocellus seeing and getting Sandbar's point.

" Ocellus and Sanbar are right. It's time we showed them that kids can catch an outlaw just like them. So what do you say Smolder?" said Gallus.

Seeing she has no choice, Smolder gave in and said " Alright, but I'm doin' this to save our home,".

" Alright, let's get going," said Gallus as he and the others continue on their adventure.

" Yona hopes family okay," said Yona feeling worried about her family.

" Don't worry, Yona. I'm sure they are. We'll find them," said Sandbar trying to comfort her.

And the Young 5 were off continuing their adventure to not only save their home. But to become the first young bounty hunters of the west.