Cole tried to focus on the assignment Mr. Lars had put out, but just as he got the next sentence written, his eyes looked to the side and caught a glimpse of Hal glimpsing aside from his row to Cole's desk. Hal must have noticed cause he quickly looked away, but Cole set up a couple textbooks to block Hal's view before continuing.
"Is there a problem?", Mr. Lars asked.
Cole looked up to see Mr. Lars looking his way curiously though Hal was looking more uneasy.
"Mr. Lars, I think that Hal is trying to copy my paper.", Cole stated.
"I was not.", Hal countered, "I was just hoping to-"
"Mr. Stone!", Mr. Lars snapped sharply causing both boys to pause instantly, "I gave you this one chance to show how you could keep up with the class, but if you are reduced to cheating, you can take the available desk in the back of the room while you work."
Hal didn't look like he wanted to do that so he quickly got back to work, though Cole noticed that once Mr. Lars was looking away, Hal looked his way firmly.
"Teacher's pet.", he muttered.
"I heard that!", Mr. Lars snapped again, "Now do the class a favor Mr. Stone and move to the available desk in the back."
Hal looked shocked as he gathered his things and moved to the back of the class, but nobody paid him any mind. Cole felt a bit of satisfaction that he could take his textbooks down and focus on his work again. The class had returned from Winter Break, but Cole found out that somehow Hal had gotten Mr. Lars to give him another shot of getting into the class. As much as Cole wanted to complain, he knew it wouldn't do any good or just get him into trouble himself. When class ended, Cole had just gotten his paper to Mr. Lars when Hal suddenly showed up and passed his paper to Mr. Lars who took both while giving Hal a firm look. Hal hardly noticed as he gave Cole a smug look while Mr. Lars graded the papers and handed them back. Cole was happy to see the solid "A" on his paper, but when Hal looked at his, he saw a "C-". He didn't take it too well.
"What?!", he asked before turning to Mr. Lars, "This is just as good as Cole's!"
"You disturbed my class, tried to copy off one of my top students, and have the nerve to question me.", Mr. Lars answered firmly, "I'm afraid you'll have to be denied my class again."
Hal didn't like that as he stormed to the door but paused to give Cole a cold glare.
"You're dead Shakespeare.", he muttered before heading off down the hall.
Cole tried to forget about it when he met up with Blake, Tim, Kaylee and Jason during lunch. This day, it was corn dogs, boiled veggies, and fruit and for a while, it seemed like Cole was getting more relaced before Hal, Greg, and Drake strode into the cafeteria.
"Great, the Goon Squad showed up.", Tim muttered.
"What was that, Nerd?", Hal asked coldly, "We just wanted to see if Shakespeare over here actually got his first book published."
"It's getting there.", Cole answered trying not to look Hal's way, "If you spent more time studying instead of goofing off, you might have gotten a better grade in Mr. Lars' class."
Hal's expression darkened though Greg and Drake spoke up.
"Oh, Shakespeare has bite.", Greg mocked.
"Why not write something useful?", Drake suggested, "Like "How to be the Biggest Bookworm in School" for starters."
Fortunately for Cole, Mr. Ford and Mr. Kirby were coming in and the moment Hal, Greg, and Drake saw them, they bailed.
/
Once the next class period began, Cole got his books and papers before heading to the library where his study period was. Fortunately he found Blake and Tim already there and with their own set of books.
"Good afternoon, Cole."
Cole turned to see Mrs. Wilson getting the latest returned books ready to be returned to the shelves and gave her a smile.
"Same to you, Mrs. Wilson.", Cole answered, "Blake and Tim studying?"
Mrs. Wilson nodded.
"Same table.", she answered, "Did you boys have a nice break?"
"We did.", Cole said to her before heading over to the table.
Tim and Blake looked more eager to get into their study period.
"Hal still sore about not getting into Mr. Lars' class?", Blake wondered, "Geez, even that private tutor his parents hired for him didn't help."
Cole looked interested, but chose to ignore it before he noticed a book on the shelf and went to get a better look at the title.
"We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story by Hudson Talbott.", Cole read before looking a bit curious, "Why does that title sound so familiar?"
He chose to ignore it and returned it to the shelf before he saw "The Lord of the Rings" which made him recall his last adventure in Littlefoot's world.
"The Fellowship of the Stone.", he said softly as he touched the amber/ruby charm, "I wonder if there's any more."
In a reflective surface in one of the room's pillars, Cole placed the charm necklace back under his shirt and got back to the table to work on his papers and get some talk in.
"How's the medical exam?", Cole asked hoping to get some good news.
"It's okay.", Blake answered as he place the latest medical journal aside, "The brain surgery part still makes me nervous."
Tim looked a bit interested.
"Hey, you guys up for a movie tonight?"
Cole looked eager while Blake looked interested.
"How about this: we see who has the highest score from the last test they took and whoever is highest gets to chose the movie?", Blake suggested.
Cole smiled as he knew that it was the deciding factor that they all could agree on. They each took a paper out and laid it out on the table.
"On three.", Cole said.
"One.", Tim said.
"Two.", Blake said.
"Three.", Cole said.
"Flip!", they all said together.
They did and Cole saw his "A" among a "B" and a "A-". His paper was the winner so Cole then had an idea.
"A bad dinosaur movie sound good to you guys?", he asked.
Blake and Tim looked eager.
"Oh, which one?", they asked.
/
When school was let out for the day, Cole and Blake met up in their dorm room while setting up for the sleepover they would have with Tim.
"I can't believe you ate three servings of pudding at dinner.", Blake joked as he got the sofa set up so that the living room space would be big enough for all of them to lie down on the floor.
Cole got the popcorn popping before he turned to Blake smiling.
"Oh, and the second steak you ate after cutting the fat off?", he asked, "I'm glad you ate a second salad as well."
There came a knock on the door before Blake could think of another comeback.
"It's open.", Cole called.
The sound of the door opening and closing came to their ears and Tim soon came in with a pillow, a sleeping bag, a six-pack of water, and some tubs of ice cream.
"So, what's the movie we're watching again?", Tim asked.
"Tammy and the T-Rex.", Cole answered, "Just getting everything set up."
Tim reached into his bag and pulled out a DVD of the movie which got Blake and Cole to look surprised.
"Tim, how did you get this movie when it's so rare?", Blake asked.
"I have my sources.", Tim answered.
Then there came another knock on the door, but Cole felt like he should answer it personally which he did. He opened the door to find nobody there, but saw a package on the floor with a note with his name on it. Cole picked it up when a sudden feeling came over him as he picked up the package. He quickly turned to a reflective surface and noticed the charm that was for Littlefoot's world shimmer for a moment signaling that he would soon be heading on another adventure with Littlefoot and the gang.
"Cole, everything okay back there?"
Cole came out of his thoughts and came in before setting the package and note on the counter before he remembered the popcorn. He got to it luckily before it burned and got it salted and buttered while Blake and Tim got the water and ice cream set up.
"You want "Cookies and Cream" or "Napoleon"?", Tim asked.
Cole looked thoughtful.
"How about both?", he asked.
Cole then felt the feeling again and felt the wave of warm wind which made him think about getting to a mirror, but how could he? Then he thought of something fast.
"Have to take a shower.", he said quickly.
"Don't take too long.", Blake said as Blake got the popcorn.
Cole headed to the bathroom when the feeling came stronger once more and just as he saw the mirror shimmer, he heard a knock.
"Is everything alright in there?", he heard Tim ask.
"Yeah, everything's okay.", Cole answered.
That was when the amber/ruby charm lit up as well as the mirror lit up and Cole heard Tim head away.
"Whew, that was close.", Cole muttered as he touched the mirror and was gone in the time it took to blink.
/
Cole tried to remain steady as he soon regained his focus and found himself back in the Great Valley and saw that it was a little after sunset by the way the light on the great wall of mountains.
"Wow, look who it is."
Cole stiffened and turned to see Hyp, Mutt, and Nod come by with Mutt carrying a couple large leaves full of water with Nod helping.
"Cole, could you move out of that patch please?", Nod asked politely.
Cole noticed he was in the middle of some plants that looked familiar and got out, but saw his reflection to see he was once again a Rainbow Face.
"Sorry.", Cole said, "I guess I caught a nap in the wrong place."
Hyp ignored him as he, Mutt, and Nod got to the patch and soon, Hyp was using his cupped hands to water parts of the patch.
"Mind if I help?", Cole asked.
None of the trio seemed to mind so Cole helped out and soon, the patch was watered just as the moon started to peek over the wall bathing the area in moonlight. The moment the light touched the plants, the buds bloomed into the night flowers Cole remembered from a previous visit.
"I'm glad that these night flowers are okay.", Cole stated, "You guys did a great job of tending this patch."
Nod looked complimented as Mutt looked surprised and Hyp smiled back before he looked curious.
"Hey Cole, you going to the storytelling?"
"Storytelling?", Cole asked, "What's that?"
"It's when we gather at a part of the valley and we get told a story by an adult.", Nod explained, "I wonder who it is this time?"
"Hyp, did you get that patch watered?", Cole heard Hyp's father called before he showed up.
"Yes Dad.", Hyp answered, "Mutt and Nod also helped me get the rows dug, the weeds pulled, and gather water."
Hyp's father looked complimented before noticing Cole.
"Hey there.", he said cheerfully, "You helped them out?"
"Yes.", Cole answered.
Hyp's father looked okay before Hyp spoke up.
"Dad, can Mutt, Nod and I take Cole to the storytelling?", Hyp asked.
Hyp's father looked his way firm, but caring.
"Don't stay out too late okay?", he answered, "We have to get the plants to Mr. Clubtail in the morning for his upset stomach."
Hyp nodded and his father seemed more at ease as Hyp, Mutt, and Nod led Cole into the night. They hadn't gone too far when they saw Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky, Petrie, and Spike gather at what Cole guessed was the place before the group noticed.
"Hey look, it's Cole.", Ducky said excitedly, "Yep, yep, yep."
Cole couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed as Hyp, Mutt, and Nod led him over.
/
"Are we late?", Hyp asked.
Littlefoot shook his head as Grandpa Longneck showed up though he smiled when he saw Cole.
"Looks like Cole made it back.", he chuckled.
Cole looked a bit thoughtful as he gathered some sticks and in a short time, had a blaze going.
"No matter how many times you do that, it never fails to impress me.", Hyp said to Cole.
Cole ignored him as the group settled and Grandpa Longneck started speaking.
"Since the very beginning of our world, there have been wonderful stories about how it came to be. There are tales of how the bright circle gave birth to the lesser lights and the dark time, which watch over us as we sleep, and many ways of explaining how our world itself was formed and how the first strange incredible creatures came to walk upon the land."
Littlefoot looked in awe.
"But which ones are the true ones, Grandpa?", he asked.
"Nobody knows.", Grandpa Longneck told his grandson, "That is one of the great mysteries of life."
Cole looked to his charm and recalled his last visit when he found the ruby and it merged with the amber he already had from his first visit to make the charm he had now.
"Is there any story about what I have?", Cole asked.
"Cole!", Cera hissed.
"Please do not interrupt.", Ducky added.
"Yeah, Petrie no like it when you erupt neither.", Petrie agreed.
Hyp gave a firm look to the four that spoke, but said nothing as Grandpa Longneck cleared his throat to start again.
"As I was saying, after many crossings of the bright circle, great herds began to appear on the land. The longnecks, the spike tails, the three horns-"
Grandpa Longneck was interrupted as a couple of little three-horns showed up and gleefully started jumping on Cera though Cera didn't look too thrilled.
"Who are they?", Cole asked.
"Oh, Dana, Dinah!", one said playfully.
"Threebie hornas!", the other said just as playful.
Cera got up making the duo slide off.
"Hush you two, or Auntie Cera's going to be upset.", Cera warned them.
"How sweet.", Cole said rolling his eyes, "Auntie Cera."
Hyp, Mutt, and Nod snickered, but quieted down when Cera looked their way.
"Okay, that's enough children.", Grandpa Longneck said calming everyone down.
"What happened then, Grandpa?", Littlefoot asked.
"Some of these herds, in their migrations across the land, found the most fertile, beautiful place in the world."
"The Great Valley.", the group all said together.
"Yes, life in the Great Valley was good, until the day…the sharptooth came.", Grandpa Longneck continued, "Not just any sharptooth, but the biggest, meanest, most ferocious sharptooth ever."
Cole was reminded of Sharptooth from his first visit and shivered as he touched his charm.