Chapter 3: A Dangerous Journey

Littlefoot and Ali went back to their parents with Sonic following them. The 2 young Longnecks and the blue hedgehog were surprised to see that the Longneck cousins were gathered in one area. They all walked over to see what was happening. They saw that Grandpa Longneck was lying on the ground. Littlefoot asked what was wrong with his grandpa. Sonic had a bad feeling about this.

"Your grandpa is very ill Littlefoot" answered Grandma Longneck.

Sonic silently gasped. "I knew something wasn't right" thought Sonic. Littlefoot got very upset.

Littlefoot then asked if his grandpa will get better. Grandma Longneck said that she has no idea. Littlefoot's eyes got a little watery. Sonic walked over to Littlefoot and put a hand on his back for comfort, and smiled. Littlefoot also smiled a little.

"Don't worry. He'll get better" said Sonic.

The Old One then said that she has seen this sickness before and that no dinosaur can recover unless they eat the golden petals of the 'Night Flower.' Littlefoot and the cousins have never heard of a golden flower. Sonic was also surprised. The blue hedgehog was determined to help his friend's grandfather. Littlefoot then told his grandma that they must find the Night Flower. Grandma Longneck and Sonic nodded.

"Old One, where can we find the Night Flower?" asked Grandma Longneck.

The Old One looked behind herself. She looked far into the land. The Old One then turned her head back to look at Littlefoot's grandma. The Old One looked upset.

"In the land we came from, the Land of Mists" Old One simply replied.

Grandma Longneck gasped. Sonic went wide-eyed. "It's in that place?" Sonic then smiles. "Things just got interesting" thought Sonic. Sonic was hoping for another adventure.

Grandma Longneck then asked if any of the cousins could help find the way to the Land of Mists. But none of cousins wanted to do it. They all believed that the Land of Mists was too dangerous. The Old One then said that it would be very unsafe for Longnecks to go to that place.

"But what about my grandpa?" said Littlefoot. The little Longneck didn't want to give up. Neither did Sonic.

"Yeah, we can't give up. We have to find that flower" said Sonic.

The Old One lowered her head to look at Littlefoot and Sonic. "It is too dangerous" said Old One. Littlefoot had a sad expression. Sonic also looked sad but he wasn't going to give up. He believed that an adventure is not fun if it's not dangerous. Ali wondered if there was something she could do but her mother told her otherwise.

Grandpa Longneck then spoke to Littlefoot. He wanted his grandson to promise him that if he does pass on, Littlefoot and Grandma will go with their cousins. He believed that they would be safe with them because if Grandpa doesn't make it and the Great Valley does change, Grandpa won't be able to protect his grandson. But Littlefoot then said that he will find a way to help his grandpa. His grandpa asked him again to make that promise. Littlefoot was unsure but then he said that he promises. Littlefoot then asked Sonic if he could protect him if his grandpa does pass on. Sonic said that he could but he won't always be in the Valley. Grandma Longneck then said that they would have to leave Grandpa Longneck to his fate. There was nothing they could do. Littlefoot shed a tear. He didn't want to accept it. Grandma Longneck then led Littlefoot to their nest for some sleep. Sonic stayed beside Grandpa Longneck. Sonic looked sad but then he turned brave. He put a hand on Grandpa Longneck's head. The elderly Longneck looked at Sonic with weak eyes.

"Don't worry. You will get better. We'll find that Night Flower somehow. I promise" Sonic said with a comforting smile.

Grandpa Longneck smiled weakly and closed his eyes.

Grandma Longneck told Littlefoot about the circle of life. Things live and things die, and the process goes on and on. Grandma Longneck then walked back over to Grandpa Longneck. She shed a few tears.

Littlefoot had trouble sleeping. Sonic zoomed over to Littlefoot. He told Littlefoot that they will find the way to the Land of Mists. Littlefoot agreed. Sonic then said that he will search around the Valley to find a way even though he doesn't know the way. Sonic also said that Littlefoot should rest and they will try by the break of dawn. Littlefoot nodded. Sonic then zoomed out of sight. He zoomed and looked around the Valley. He tried finding some places he has not seen yet. He almost believed that the Mysterious Beyond might have some ideas but he wanted to look elsewhere. Littlefoot still had trouble sleeping so he decided to ask Ali if she would know the way since the cousins once lived there. The young Longneck quietly walked past some of the Longnecks to where Ali was sleeping. He woke her and asked if she could help find the Night Flower. Ali then said that it was a bad idea but Littlefoot didn't want to give up. Littlefoot was about to go ask his other friends to help out. Ali then said that she will help but they can't take the others with them because they will slow them down. Littlefoot was very unsure about this. He then said that Sonic could go with them but he doesn't know where Sonic ran off to. So, Ali and Littlefoot ran off into the night to find the path.

Next Day…

Ducky and Petrie searched the valley for some time but could not find Littlefoot or Sonic. Cera then said that Sonic might have run off to go exploring and Littlefoot might be playing with Ali and hiding from them. Cera then made fun of Ali being afraid of the others. The kids then heard Grandma Longneck calling out to Littlefoot. The other kids believed that something wasn't right. Grandma Longneck believed that Littlefoot ran off to find the night flower. Sonic then zoomed back to the Valley to find Littlefoot. He had no luck finding a pathway to the misty land. He was surprised to hear that Littlefoot was missing.

Meanwhile, Ali was leading Littlefoot to the path. They walked for some time. Ali then said that she might have forgotten the way but she won't give up. They both walked to a nearby waterfall. A beautiful rainbow was above the waterfall. Both young Longnecks admired the wondrous sight. Ali then said that she remembers this waterfall and that they will be able to find the way to the Land of Mists.

They found a cave close to the waterfall. Ali believed that they will have to pass through the cave to find the path. Ali said that they will have to stay away from deep water. Littlefoot then said they will have to explore the cave. So, they went looking for another way inside the cave.

Unknown to them, a Deinosuchus (Belly Dragger) named Dil and an Ichthyornis (Sharp Beak) named Ichy were watching them. Littlefoot and Ali nearly stepped off a cliff from racing to an opening. Littlefoot then said that they should go the other way. His voice created an echo. Littlefoot and Ali had no idea what an echo was. They mistook it for someone or something else. Suddenly, an earthquake happened. Littlefoot and Ali took off running while screaming in fear. Stalactites came crashing down as the cave shook from the quake. The 2 Longnecks ran as fast as they could to avoid them. Ali managed to get to the cave entrance. But the rocks and stalactites fell and separated Littlefoot from Ali. Ali tried to move some of the rocks but they were too heavy. She hoped that Littlefoot was not hurt. She then thought that she will go get Littlefoot's friends for help. Littlefoot was unable to get through the blocked area.

Back in the Valley…

Grandma Longneck told Cera and the other kids about Grandpa Longneck's sickness and that Littlefoot went off to find the night flower. The kids were upset to hear it. Sonic was surprised to know that Littlefoot went off without him or the others. Cera then said that Littlefoot might still be playing with Ali but Grandma Longneck said that Littlefoot wouldn't do that when someone is sick, especially his grandfather. Ali was also missing. Sonic then said that he will go searching for Littlefoot and Ali and zoomed off. Ducky then said that they will find them too. But Grandma Longneck told the kids that they must not go. She doesn't want them to get hurt. The kids promised that they won't go but they crossed their fingers. Cera and Spike put a leg behind the other leg as a gesture of 'crossing fingers' since only Ducky and Petrie had fingers.

They all went searching for Littlefoot. Cera was very upset that Littlefoot didn't ask them for help. She then said that how would anyone know the way to the misty land. Sonic zoomed back to the other kids. He said that he couldn't find Littlefoot or Ali. He also said that he was about to go searching in the Mysterious Beyond.

Suddenly, Ali came running to kids and yelling their names. Sonic and the kids were surprised to see that Ali came back and she was okay. Cera asked where Littlefoot is. Ali told them that an earthshake happened and big rocks fell down. Sonic went wide-eyed. He believed that Littlefoot might be in trouble. Ali then said that they have to come to help. Sonic and the kids followed Ali. All except Cera.

"Why should we believe her? She probably made that story up" said Cera.

"I did not!" exclaimed Ali. Sonic frowned at Cera.

"I think we should go. What if Littlefoot's in danger?" said Sonic.

Cera still stood her ground. She didn't believe Ali. Ducky and Petrie seemed unsure but they thought Sonic might be right. Spike raised an eyebrow at Ali. He then smiled and followed Ali.

"Spike thinks we should go too" said Ducky. So the others followed Ali as she led the way. Cera snorted in frustration. She was trying to decide whether to go help or not.

In Eggman's ship…

Eggman has now finished making the raptors part robot. All 4 raptors had metal helmets that had red eyes over the normal eyes. They had chest armor and metal claws as well. They were now under the evil scientist's control. Eggman gave the Claw Heads a demonstration. He ordered one of the raptors to come to him. The raptor walked over to Eggman. The Claw Heads couldn't believe their eyes. The raptor didn't attack Eggman. Eggman then summoned 2 little robots and ordered the raptor to attack. The raptor's claws extended. They were really sharp. Sharp enough to cut down a tree with just one swipe. The robo raptor destroyed one robot with its claws and then destroyed the other with laser eyes. The robo raptor snarled in victory. Eggman then grinned and laughed wickedly. Both Claw Heads gulped.

Back in the cave…

Littlefoot tried to push some rocks away but the rocks were just too heavy. He decided to go find another way out. Some sunlight came in through some holes in the cave ceiling. He was then being followed by an old Archelon named Archie. Littlefoot got startled a little when he saw Archie. Littlefoot then saw that he doesn't have any teeth. Archie moaned a little and introduced himself. Littlefoot also introduced himself. Archie asked why Littlefoot was in the cave alone. But Littlefoot said that he was with his friend Ali and hoped that she was okay.

Ali led Sonic and the others to the waterfall. Sonic and others were amazed to see the beautiful rainbow. Ali then said that Littlefoot was trapped inside the cave.

"Let's go!" exclaimed Sonic. The others nodded and rushed to the cave. Sonic got inside in no time. However, they failed to notice that Eggman was watching them through a new spy bot. The spy bot was a silver lizard that could fly and turn invisible.

Littlefoot then told Archie that Ali was behind the blocked path. Archie then tried to help Littlefoot move the rocks out of the way.

Meanwhile, Dil asked Ichy if he saw anything for food. Dil was half blind so Ichy acted as Dil's eyes but the 2 creatures didn't like to get along with each other. They argued that they could do things better without the other's help. They name called each other and decided to go their separate ways. But then Ichy saw Littlefoot and Archie. Ichy showed Dil where they were. They believed that it was about time for dinner.

End of Chapter 3