"He didn't even know you?" wondered Petrie. "That weird."
Ali had found Spike and the others near Thundering Falls, the great waterfall of the Great Valley. Ali wondered why they were discussing the situation next to a thing that you have to sound louder than in order for the dinosaur next to you to hear it. One of her friends, most likely Cera, had probably been using the waterfall as a showerhead. They were quite a way from the fall though, near the trees, but the sound of it echoed throughout the area. Ali nodded her head.
"Yes. Littlefoot didn't recognize me at first?"
"At first?" questioned Ducky in a caring voice. "What do you mean, Ali?"
"I think the Littlefoot we know is inside him."
"How can that be?" Petrie wondered, scratching his head. "How can Littlefoot be inside himself?"
"I think he got hit on the head by a huge rock," said Cera.
"So, Littlefoot's mind is trap within him."
Cera faced Spike.
"But how can that be? Spike, you're not making any sense. How can Littlefoot's mind be trapped inside of him? His mind is already inside of him."
Spike shook his head.
"It's been a while, and you still don't have an opened mind."
"I…I do too. It's just…uh, that you're talking all preachy and stuff."
Petrie looked down and softly kicked the dirt he stood on.
"I wish Littlefoot was back. The old Littlefoot."
Ali sighed.
"I know Petrie. I wish he was back too."
The dinosaurs looked down, as if all hope was lost, except for Spike. He was deep in thought. An idea came to view. He grinned. Ducky was the first to notice, and soon the others saw this.
"What's with the grin, Spike?"
Ducky walked up to her step-brother.
"Yeah, Spike. Why are you so happy?"
Spike shook his head.
"You remember about Mr. Thicknose's lessons?"
"Not so much," said Petrie.
"Nope," said Ducky.
"Hardly," said Cera. "Besides, how would you know what he was talking about? You were eating almost all the time."
"But I was still listening."
"Could've fooled me."
Spike shrugged.
"Anyways, there was a lesson on sickness. When a dinosaur suffers memory lost, one of the causes of it was that he was knocked out for a long time. It's mostly caused by something hard hitting a dinosaur on the head, but I think it works the same for Littlefoot's case. In order to reverse it and change it back to normal, we need to hit him in the head very hard. That's what cures it."
The others stared at him, stunned. Ali shook her head.
"That's crazy, Spike."
"I know, but it might be the only chance we have to get Littlefoot back.
Cera grunted, thinking about it. She sighed in slight realization that it might only be the only way.
"Very well."
"But hitting him in the head is mean," stated Petrie.
"I know, but it will be worth it. Mr. Thicknose said it worked before."
"I guess," said Ducky. "Mr. Thicknose is really smart, and Littlefoot did trust his lessons. If that's the only way…"
"It is," said Spike.
Cera huffed.
"Never knew you were smart one. I always thought you were just a mindless eater."
"And you were a simple-minded hothead, but things changed."
Cera half-closed her eyes.
"I liked it better when you couldn't talk."
Spike slightly smiled.
"Oh-"
"Spike."
Spike stopped and looked up at Ali. She had a concerned face.
"I don't think it's a good idea. I-I don't want to hurt him. There has to be another way."
"But Ali," started Ducky, "Mr. Thicknose was very wise. He was the wisest of the valley. If he said that this is the only way, then it is the only way."
She paused before continuing.
"I don't want to hurt Littlefoot, but if it helps me get my friend back, I guess I have too. Plus, I want to make another friend very happy too."
Ali looked at Ducky curiously, but she already knew what Ducky meant. Cera also knew and nodded.
"Ducky's right. Ali, ever since Littlefoot was gone, you were devastated. You kept a smiling face, but I have always felt that you hid your true feelings. I…It was because that he was gone, Ali. But now, he's back. Even though he's back, you don't seem very happy. That's because he's not back completely. If this is the only way, don't you want to take that risk? To get the old Littlefoot back?"
Ali looked at her friends. She smiled in thought of how great friends could be. She couldn't help but feel they were right. If there was a chance Littlefoot could return back to normal, she was willing to take that chance for true happiness.
"Okay," she nodded, "but how are we going to do it?"
Cera smiled.
"Leave it to me."
The sun had risen high into the sky the next day. Littlefoot was in a part of the Great Valley, alone. He lifted his head from the small river and gulped down his water. He sighed in relief.
"Boy, that's the stuff."
He looked up and saw the position of the sun. He narrowed his eyes in determination.
"So, it's time."
Littlefoot strayed away from the river and walked towards the valley's entrance. In the valley's outskirts, Zank was waiting.