Chapter 6: Ducky's Dilemma

"Where is Spike?" Ducky said as she got to the sinking sand, remembering Cera's attempt to cross it. She still remembered the angry looks on everyone's faces when they were saved. Momma's words echoed in her head, like they were said yesterday.

You are not grown-ups and should remember it.

She wished that were still true, but she and Spike have grown since that incident and have learned better. Sort of. Ducky knew that there was a way to the Sheltering Grass that did not involve crossing the sinking sand. And could be done with her eyes closed. In fact, that is what she did. She got there and saw that Spike was already there, waiting for her.

"Spike! I am so glad a found you! Yep yep yep!" she exclaimed as she ran over to him. "Spike, can you help me find my stone? I won't be able to find it by myself. Nope nope nope." Spike nodded in response. With Spike, Ducky entered the Sheltering Grass, entering a whole new world in the process.

The grass was so tall that Ducky was barely able to see the grass in front of her due to the lack of light. However, there was enough light for her to navigate.

Spike got a much better bargain. He was not only able to see very well in the grass, but he could just eat his way if necessary. "Spike, we should split up and search for it. Grunt if you find it." Spike nodded, and the two went in different directions, searching for it.

Ducky began searching the ground for the stone, looking for any sign of a glittering light. At one spot, she found that the light was partially scattered, but she found no stone. After many minutes of searching around the area with scattered light, she discovered nothing special, so she moved on. It soon became apparent that she wouldn't find it by going by this method of searching. "I'll never find this stone with my height. Nope nope nope!" she exclaimed shortly after. She began searching for Spike at the edge of the grass when she saw Littlefoot walking past the Sheltering Grass.

I know! Littlefoot can help me search for it!

"Littlefoot!" Ducky exclaimed as she ran up to him. She proceeded to explain her dilemma.

"Sure. I'll help." Littlefoot replied. Ducky climbed onto Littlefoot's head. They proceeded to enter the Sheltering Grass together.

This time, Ducky had no problem seeing what was going on. She was above the ground, almost above the grass completely. She began looking around with Littlefoot being her guide. He took her through the grass again, but her search still proved fruitless. The two then left the Sheltering Grass.

As they were leaving, she recounted some of her thoughts as she was looking for the stone. She told Littlefoot about her nostalgia and what her mother told her, and then a thought struck her. Her mother's words reminded her of he area where the light was scattered. "Littlefoot, I'm going to go back into the grass one more time. Tell Spike that if you see him." She asked, and then she burst into the grass. She remembered the way to that one location.

When she arrived at the location, she immediately looked up instead of down. Up in the grass, above her, was the stone. She immediately began shaking the grass to make it fall, but she realized that it was floating instead of being supported. She realized that she had to climb the grass. She immediately began climbing the grass, and soon she reached the stone. She knocked it down to the ground, because she couldn't hold it and climb down. Instead of climbing, though, she decided to let go and hold onto the gem. The gem never hit the ground, though, instead hovering about a quarter of an inch above the ground.

Ducky was relieved to finally have her stone. She then exited the grass, noticing that her stone had turned the color yellow, to match the stone she had picked up previously. She told Littlefoot that she was going home, and bade him farewell and good luck on finding his stone. Upon returning to her nest, she saw Spike with a look of nervousness on his face. He kept looking at where the stones should have been, but instead of stones, there was nothing. Both of their stones have been stolen, leaving them only the recovered pieces.

--

"I believe that two more pieces of the key have been recovered." Argana said as the purple and yellow eggs began to rock and squeak like the pink egg.

"That is good. Hopefully, the five will find me soon. And then their training can begin in its fullest." Vylon said with delight in his voice. He still held the white and orange eggs close to him, as though they would vanish.