Chapter 2: A Cautious Cousin

Littlefoot asked his grandpa if they were going to migrate like their cousins but his grandpa assured him that they won't. The Great Valley is their home. Littlefoot sighed with relief. Cera and the other kids walked over to Littlefoot. They were glad to see Sonic again and they were also glad that Littlefoot wasn't leaving. Ducky, Petrie, and Spike admitted that they would miss Littlefoot a lot. Sonic said the same thing. However, Cera didn't say anything. Littlefoot asked if she would miss him. The little Three-Horn looked unsure about it. Then she frowned.

"Maybe I would and maybe I wouldn't. I'm not telling" Cera said in her usual prideful tone.

Sonic smiled a little and rolled his eyes. "She would miss him" thought Sonic.

Ducky then asked Cera why she wouldn't tell. Cera then said that they would have to catch her to know. The little Three-Horn took off running while laughing. Littlefoot and the other kids ran after her. Sonic just stood still and watched while chuckling. He knew that he could catch Cera within a second but he knew that Cera would miss Littlefoot.

Littlefoot was a little behind the others. Littlefoot stopped running when he heard somebody giggling. He saw that someone was hiding in the bushes. Littlefoot thought that it was Cera. He tried to see the other one but it played with him by hiding in a log nearby. Littlefoot tried again to find this other young one. He looked around. He was now right under the other kid. This kid was also a Longneck. The log broke and the little purple Longneck fell to the ground. Littlefoot was startled for a moment but then smiled when he saw that it wasn't Cera but another Longneck. She was purple and light tan-colored. This was Littlefoot's cousin Ali. The purple Longneck got back on her feet.

"Hey, you're not Cera. You're a Longneck like me" said Littlefoot.

Ali smiled and introduced herself. "I'm Ali. What's your name?"

Littlefoot introduced himself as well. Ali smiled and said "Wanna play with me Littlefoot?"

"Sure" answered Littlefoot.

They both played a game of Tag. Littlefoot was it. Meanwhile, Sonic walked over to Ducky and the others. They found Cera hiding in some bushes. Cera admitted that she would miss Littlefoot. Sonic simply shook his head. Ducky then saw Littlefoot and another Longneck playing together.

"Hey, look. There are 2 Littlefoots" said Ducky. Sonic looked at Littlefoot and Ali. Sonic smiled.

"Looks like Littlefoot found another friend" Sonic thought happily.

Cera then said that it would be impossible for there to be 2 Littlefoots. She then said that they all should go see the other young Longneck.

Sonic and the kids walked over to Ali. The purple Longneck stopped running and gasped when the others appeared.

"See? She's not another Littlefoot. She's a girl" stated Cera. The others agreed with Cera. Littlefoot walked over to his friends.

"Hi, everybody. This is my new friend Ali" said Littlefoot.

Ali walked closer to Littlefoot because she was afraid of others who weren't Longnecks. The kids introduced themselves. Ducky said that Spike doesn't talk.

Sonic then introduced himself. "Hi Ali. I'm Sonic, the Wind Runner."

Sonic then showed Ali his speed. But Ali had a frightful expression. She was amazed by Sonic's ability but she still afraid.

Littlefoot looked at Ali with a surprised expression. "What's the matter Ali?"

"I'm… I'm afraid" said Ali.

Sonic and the kids looked surprised as well. Sonic wondered why Ali was afraid. Ducky then asked if they were scary. Petrie then said that he is scary. The little Flyer puffed up his chest while flapping his wings. Ducky laughed at Petrie. Cera then said that Three-Horns can be very scary. Cera made a growling sound. Ali gasped and hid by Littlefoot.

"Cera, you're not helping" Littlefoot said with a frown.

Cera had a sad look on her face and said "Sorry."

Littlefoot then tried to comfort Ali. "There's nothing scary about my friends. Honest." Ali uncovered her head and got back up.

Sonic smiled and tried to help. "Yeah. You don't have to be scared of us. We won't hurt you. Any friend of Littlefoot's, is a friend of mine."

The other kids nodded in agreement. Littlefoot then smiled. "They're really, really nice" said Littlefoot.

Ali still looked upset. "But Littlefoot, they're not Longnecks like us" said Ali. Ali then said that she couldn't play with them and walked away. Sonic raised an eyebrow. All the kids except Cera wondered why Ali was afraid.

"I don't understand why she's so scared" said Littlefoot.

"I think I know why" said Sonic. All the kids looked at Sonic.

"You do?" said Ducky.

Sonic nodded. "She said that we're not Longnecks, so I think she's afraid because all she has ever known were other Longnecks and not other kinds."

Cera, however, didn't agree. She hmphed and said "She's not scared. She's stuck up."

Sonic rolled his eyes. "Look who's talking" thought Sonic.

Cera then started walking away and said "Who needs her?"

The other kids agreed and started to walk away. Littlefoot wasn't sure about leaving Ali alone. Sonic agreed with Littlefoot. Sonic then thought of an idea. He zoomed away from Littlefoot. Littlefoot wondered where Sonic ran off to. Littlefoot then sighed and started to follow his friends. But then Ali whispered to Littlefoot. Littlefoot then asked if Ali changed her mind, but Ali looked upset about it. Littlefoot sighed again. Ali then started making funny faces. Littlefoot laughed hard. The 2 Longnecks failed to realize that Sonic was hiding and watching from a distance. He knew that Ali would come back somehow. However, Sonic didn't know that Eggman's spybot was watching from above.

Ozzy was upset about what was happening. He growled and said "Great. Now that Longneck has found another Longneck."

Strut wasn't upset like his brother. "What's wrong with that? He has found another friend" said Strut.

Ozzy glared at Strut and hit him with his tail. Strut groaned painfully. But Eggman simply grinned. The Claw Heads wondered why Eggman was smiling.

"So, the Longneck has found another friend eh?" said Eggman.

Ozzy raised an eyebrow. "What's good about that?"

Eggman then looked at the Claw Heads. "Well, we're here to destroy Sonic and those kids. You know what they say. The more, the merrier."

The Claw Heads looked at each other confused. Then looked back at Eggman. "Uh, who said what?" asked Ozzy. Eggman groaned and slapped his forehead in frustration. "Never mind" said Eggman.

Meanwhile, the other kids wondered where Littlefoot and Sonic were. They all looked to see that Littlefoot was playing with Ali. This made Cera very upset.

"If Littlefoot would rather play with her, then he's not our friend" stated Cera.

"What?" said Ducky and Petrie.

"But where's Sonic?" asked Ducky.

Cera frowned. "He probably ran off because he doesn't like Ali either."

The other kids didn't think that what Cera said was true.

Elsewhere, Sonic continued watching Littlefoot and Ali playing with each other. They played near a river. They both splashed each other while laughing. Sonic just chuckled to himself.

Ali then said that Littlefoot was a good friend. Littlefoot suddenly realized that he left his other friends alone. Littlefoot ran back to the last spot they were at before. Littlefoot hoped they were not mad at him.

Littlefoot called out to his friends but there was no answer.

"Petrie? Spike? Sonic?" yelled Littlefoot. The little Longneck sighed sadly. Ali caught up with Littlefoot. Suddenly, both Longnecks felt a rush of wind. Littlefoot then smiled when he saw Sonic.

"Hey Sonic" said Littlefoot.

"Hey Littlefoot. Did you guys have fun?" Sonic said with a smile.

Littlefoot nodded. Ali was shy but she nodded too. Littlefoot looked around for his other friends but he didn't see them anywhere.

Littlefoot sighed in defeat. "I guess the others went home."

"I guess so" said Ali.

"Yeah" agreed Sonic.

"I hope they're not mad at me" said Littlefoot.

"I'm sure they're okay. Cera seemed upset but don't worry about her" said Sonic.

"Are you mad Sonic?" asked Littlefoot.

Sonic raised an eyebrow then smiled and shook his head. "Not at all. You just wanna be a good friend to Ali."

Littlefoot smiled. The young Longneck then said that they should head home. Their parents will be wondering where they are. Littlefoot and Ali ran back to their parents. Sonic followed. But they all didn't know that something bad was forming.

End of Chapter 2