A/N: Hi, all. So, the beginning of the end of this story is upon us. And you will find out who gets kidnapped. So no further delays, on with the show!

Disclaimer: Still don't own Ice Age. I make no profit off this story.

Warning: All those John fans out there, prepare to feel bad for him, he'll be going through some rough stuff.

Louis arouse the next morning feeling like a new molehog. He had his arm around his crush for a whole ten minutes last night. Ten minutes! Yes, he was only keeping her warm, but he was happy with it nonetheless. Today was special to him, because today was the day he would finally ask Sapphire out. Immediately his stomach clenched, he remembered what happened when Peaches rejected him. He was holed up in his room for almost two weeks. Lord only knows what would happen to him if Gem, his Gem, turned him away also. He pushed the invading thoughts away from his mind, he had to do it, he had to try or else he would never do it. He smoothed down his hair, bid his parents goodbye, then left his home.

Meanwhile, Sapphire was trying to hold Jack and Molly at bay while she brushed her hair. They were unusually rambunctious that morning, and she didn't know why. Becca, who was like an older sister to her, became her saving grace and dragged the munchkins away. John had just left the burrow, going to find iron ore in the mine he worked at to make into metal tools. Metal tools were very new, and very expensive. You had to trade practically everything you had to get one. Everything else was wood and bones. John traded most of it for food and other necessities, but sometimes he would keep some of it to make his own tools. Or perhaps the word "tool" would be better, since he only made one.

John's pride and joy was a knife made of iron he made himself. He only used it once before, and that was to fend of a hungry wolf a year ago that tried to eat him and his family. He kept it hidden, so no one can take it. It was also rather heavy; only he and Zach have ever proved to have the strength to lift it. Zach was only able to lift it though, because he grabbed the handle and swung it up instead of just plain lifting it, so he cheated.

Zach was about to leave with Becca on a date and Sapphire was about to leave to hang out with Louis and Peaches, leaving Jack and Molly on their own until John came back. Sapphire was concerned about them being alone, but John seemed okay, noting they would only be alone for two hours. They would leave at ten and John would be back at noon, since he had a short shift that day. And she supposed if John was fine, then it shouldn't be a big deal. She still wanted to have a good conversation with them, though.

"So you know the rules, right? Don't destroy the burrow, don't kill or harm each other, don't go outside, and keep the stone rolled over the entrance."

"Yeah, yeah, we get it, Sis." Jack lazily replied.

"Yeah, Sissy, we'll be good. It'll be fun being alone!" Molly exclaimed, throwing her arms in the air.

She then hugged them and left just after Zach and Becca, rolling the stone over the entrance as she left. She tunneled in the direction of the Pine Tree Clearing.

The vengeful, intimidating ape sat in the bushes in front of the burrow occupied by the late Roger's children five minutes later. He saw two very young molehogs outside the burrow, obviously breaking the rules. The two were bickering,

"That's stupid! That's not how you play pirates, Molly!"

"Yeah it is Jackson! You're only supposed to steal the treasure!"

"No you Stinkyface! You have to kill your enemy pirates then steal the treasure!"

"You're a doodie head, Jackson!"

"You're a bigger one!"

The boy stormed back into the burrow and rolled the stone back over the entrance. The girl sat and pouted outside alone.

The ape grinned and nudged one of his henchmen, "Go out there and talk to her. Agree to everything she says. It's easier to get a willing kid to come with us than a screaming one."

He scrunched his face, "Why do I have to do it?"

The ape grew irritated, "Because your the smallest and you look the least intimidating, now go!"

The rabbit sighed and casually walked out of the bushes toward the six year old. He had to pull some great acting if he wanted to do this right. He always hated kids, especially little, bratty ones.

"Hi there," he said, "You look upset. What's wrong?"

Molly looked up, "My brother is a doodie head. He says you have to kill your enemy pirates then steal their treasure when you play pirates. Everybody knows you only have to steal the treasure."

The rabbit naturally disagreed, but did as he was told and pretended to feel the opposite, "Yeah, that's kind of dumb. Hey, do you want to play pirates with me and my friends? There's only three of us and we need a fourth person so we can have equal teams."

Molly turned her head to look at her home, then back at him, "I don't know. I'm not supposed to be outside anyways, so I don't think I should go."

"Oh, come on, it'll be fun. We even have our own pirate ship to play on. We'll make sure you get back before anyone notices you're gone."

She pondered it for a moment, "Okay, but I have to be back before noon, or else my other brother will get mad and his head will explode."

"Great! Follow me, then. I'll take you to our pirate ship." As they left, he left a leaf note that he was given on the stone.

"So Gem, uh, I need to um, ask you something." Louis started nervously.

"Okay what is it Lou- ah, shoot."

"What is it?" He asked.

"Can that question hold Louis? I forgot my hair tie and I need to get before we get too far from my place."

"Um, okay sure. We'll be here." Louis replied, slightly relieved. He and Peaches waited for her at Wind Cliff as she tunneled quickly back to her burrow.

Sapphire popped up at the entrance of her home and found a strange leaf note on the stone. She picked it up and promptly read it.

Roger and Michelle's kids,

As you well know, we have taken one of your own. If you ever wish to see her again, you have to come get her.

You have until sunset tomorrow to come or she will be killed.

- Keith

At that moment, Sapphire's legs went limp under her, the world spun, and she her vision became blurry. She was barely able to roll the stone away from the entrance of her home and run inside.

She called to her brother, "Jackson! Jackson, where are you?"

Her brother stepped out of his room and leaned against the wall, "What up, Sis?"

Sapphire was shaking, she swallowed the lump in her throat and spoke slowly, "Jackson, where is our sister?"

He rose an eyebrow, "Outside breaking the rules. Why?"

She clutched the note and said through clenched teeth, "She isn't there. She was kidnapped and they left a note saying they will kill her if we don't come to get her. Do you know who left this note? Do you?!"

Jack took a step back, he never saw his sister like this,"Wh- who?"

"Keith! You know, that guy we told you killed Mom and Dad? That guy!"

Jack was now shaking. This is when the guilt began to sink in, he could have taken her back inside with him. His sister grabbed his arm and dragged him outside. She looked down at the note again, fell to her knees and yelled. She needed someone here with her, and those someone's needed to know what was going on.

"J-J- John!" She broke down crying, but once again calling out names, "Zach, Becca!" She sobbed into her hands on the ground. Jack ran beside her and called for someone else, "Louis! Peaches!" The noise echoed throughout the island, and it appears everyone heard.

John heard the echo of his sister calling his name fearfully and dropped the small pick axe he was holding just outside the mine. He turned to face his buddy, Max, and told him he had to leave. Max, who heard the scream also, told him to go and run home and he would cover the rest of his shift. John dove into the ground and tunneled at top speed to his home and his distressed sister.

Zach and Becca were making kissy faces at each other on the beach when they heard their names being called. And the caller didn't sound exactly like all sunshine and happiness as Becca would say. All it took was one look at each other and they knew something was horribly wrong. They ran to the soil in the forest and dug away. It still amazed them how people seemed to have a sort of mental connection with each other when they're in love. Perhaps that's why they knew what was going on and what they should do by just looking each other in the eyes.

Louis and Peaches were still at Wind Cliff when they heard the small voice of a young boy calling their names. Peaches looked confused.

"Was that Jack?"

Louis had that look on his face. It was a well known look to his friends that meant he was thinking hard about something. He turned his head toward the source of the voice, which is consequently his friend and crush's home. "It sounds like it."

He scrunched his face, "I don't like the sound of it. Maybe we should go. Gem is probably already there."

It didn't take Peaches any convincing that she needed to go to her. So she and Louis hurried to the source of the yells.

When John arrives, everyone is gathered around his sister. Being the over protective person he is, he pushed his way through the small crowd to his sister, who is sobbing on the ground in Becca's arms.

"Sapphire, what happened? What's going on?"

She couldn't speak, at least not intelligibly, so she simply handed him the note, which he quickly read. He stepped slowly away from the group. The only sound was Sapphire still crying and a few sniffles from everyone else. John thought back to what his father told him the night he died.

"Take your brother, Son!" He shoved Jack into his arms.

"Listen, if I don't make it out, you're the man of the family. Keep your brother and sisters safe for me, alright?"

He nodded, "I will Dad, don't worry. I wont let you down."

With that, he ran from the blazing inferno with his siblings in tow behind him.

He slowly backed away from the group. He clenched his fists as he remembered what his father last said to him and was enraged. His own blood was taken from him. He had no tolerance for it, and punched a tree in anger, "Dammit! That son of a-" He punched a tree again. Everyone was silent, even his sister. Zach carefully approached him, "Listen bro, we're gonna get her back," he swallowed the lump in his throat. He'd be damned if anyone saw him cry, "We've got tons of help to find her too, man."

John sat on the ground and quietly cried. He made a promise to his dad that he would keep his siblings safe. He just failed him. Molly was far from safe. But he needed to be strong, crying wouldn't get him anywhere. Only action would. He stood up and wiped the tears from his brown eyes, "How many people do have to help us? We're going to need everyone we can get."

Then at that moment, Sid burst through the foliage with a leaf note in his hand, seeming in a hurry. Panting heavily, he fell to the ground in front of the group.

"Uncle Sid!" Peaches exclaimed, "What's going on?"

"C- Crash." He said, still panting as he reached up his hand to give her the note, "Gone."

Peaches took the note and read it. She dropped it in disbelief, "But I thought he was dead. No, he can't be back. Gutt couldn't have kidnapped him!"

"You mean that pirate guy you told me about?" Sapphire asked with red rimmed eyes.

Louis sat next to her on the ground, "Yeah, but we all thought he died." Louis had a fearful look on his face. Sapphire didn't like it. Then a horrible thought came to her mind. She grabbed her note, then grabbed Peaches' note and held them side by side. One was signed by Keith, the other by Captain Gutt. The disturbing part was that the writers of both notes had the same penmanship.

They were the same two people.

The world started to spin around her. It all made sense to her now. She knew Keith and Gutt were too similar to still be different creatures. Something inside her that was built up in her for years exploded like a volcano. A few months ago, this event would have scared her into a sobbing ball in her room. But she changed somehow. Her friends made her confident, made her stronger. The anger flew from her in a short string of expletives no one ever thought she was capable of saying. Everyone froze up before her very eyes. Then the sadness began to sink back in, inhabiting the same space as her anger. She calmed down.

"Lets get everyone together. We need a plan."

A/N: Oh, snap! I just revealed what everyone else probably knew! And I bet you never thought Molly and Crash would get kidnapped, huh? Did you ever think Sapphire was capable of shouting "a short string of expletives?" Just imagine her dropping the f- bomb and calling someone a son of a b- word. o.O Yeah, I know, right? And I can't believe I did that to a six year old either. New longest chapter!

Molly: But we're gonna play pirates.

Me: Sure Honey, let's go with that.

Reviewer shout outs!

Buckrocks- I thought that scene would bring some comic relief to the story. I knew I had to do something like that before I turned their world upside down. :(

IceAgingTitan- Although Louis and Sapphire didn't get kidnapped, that would have been a really good idea. You're, like, the idea guy. And thank you for the smileys! :)

MusicRocks807- Chapter four in progress? I'll be watching for it! :)

scoobs5601- What should the fanship be called? Well Louphire sounds off to me, but Saphis actually has a nice ring to it. And I did have a thing with Manny's hair in the first movie too. His hair always looked like it needed to be brushed.

Anonymous- Thank you! Nothing's better than hearing good compliments from people.