Emily Prickleback’s Clever Idea

Chapter Seven Attack!

Captain Ace flew above the treetops, towing his beautiful patchwork hot air balloon through the sky behind him.

Lily, Jess, and Goldie were inside the basket hanging beneath the balloon, with a huge pile of filled water balloons at their feet. Emily perched on the side of the basket, with Lily’s arm around her to stop her from falling off.

Captain Ace pulled on a rope.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

Bubbles streamed up into the balloon. Then they burst, filling it with hot air.

Lily looked to the left and waved to Mrs. Taptree the woodpecker and her chicks, Dig and Tipper, who were flying alongside.

They gave muffled chirps. “Quick! Quick!”

Jess waved to the Blueflash family, who called, “Chee-kee! Chee-kee!” Their voices were muffled, too, because each bird had a bunch of water balloons dangling from its beak. Even tiny Jenny Littlefeather the wren was carrying one. Her wings beat twice as fast as the other birds’ as she struggled to keep up.

Lily tightened her arm around Emily and said to Jess, “Aren’t we lucky to have so many wonderful friends?”

Jess nodded happily. “Look!” she cried, as they drew near the Treasure Tree. “There’s Dusty!”

The dragon was lying on her back on the highest branch, her eyes closed and her wings outspread.

“Captain Ace,” whispered Goldie, “can we go a little closer?”

The stork nodded.

They drifted along in silence. The birds flew as quietly as they could, and Lily and Jess held their breath. If Dusty saw them before they could convince her to play, she could turn them to stone, too, and they’d drop out of the sky!

Suddenly, the shadow of the hot air balloon fell on the dragon... and she opened her eyes.

“Oh, no,” gasped Jess. “She’s seen us!”

Scrambling to her feet, Dusty let out a huge roar. “Raaargh!”

“Look out, Ace!” yelled Lily.

Ace flapped his wings hard, yanking the hot air balloon away from Dusty’s roar. Lily and Jess could feel the blast of her hot breath just missing the basket. The balloon rocked from side to side, sending the girls and Goldie toppling backward in the basket.

“Hold on, Emily!” yelled Lily.

The little hedgehog was clinging onto the edge. But as the basket swayed, her paws slipped—and she fell over the side!

“Emily!” Lily cried.

Lily and Jess leaned out, expecting to see the little hedgehog crashing through the branches below.

Instead, a terrified little face looked up at them from the edge of the basket. Two paws clung tightly to a knotted rope.

Jess leaned over and scooped up Emily. “You’re safe now,” she said, cuddling her closely. Emily’s prickles were standing on end with fright, but Jess didn’t mind being spiked. “Are you all right, Emily?”

“I’m okay,” Emily said, shakily.

The balloon drifted back toward the dragon, just out of reach of her hot, sandy breath.

“Dusty!” called Goldie. “We’ve come to ask you something—”

“Pah!” interrupted the dragon. “Go away! Can’t you see I’m busy sunning my pretty scales?” She lay down to sunbathe again.

“I think it’s time to try our plan,” whispered Lily. She called, “Dusty! Do you want to find out how much fun water can be?”

Dusty gave a growl. “Getting wet is NOT fun! My scales are only pretty when they’re shining in the sun!” she snarled angrily. She beat her wings and took off, flying toward them, her mouth open.

“She’s going to get us!” yelled Jess. “Quick, everyone... Fire!”

Lily and Jess grabbed balloons in both hands and threw them at the dragon. Splat! Splosh!

“Raaaaargh!” roared Dusty, flapping around as the water drenched her yellow scales. “Raaaargh! I’m all wet!”

“Join in, Dusty!” Jess called, ducking as a water balloon sped over her head. “Missed me!” she laughed.

The birds carefully swooped down and put a pile of water balloons next to Dusty.

Dusty picked up a wobbly water balloon in her claws. Lily and Jess held their breath. Had it worked, or had they made the yellow dragon even angrier?

Splosh! Splat! Splosh! Water balloons were flying everywhere.

One of the balloons burst over Dusty’s head. Without thinking, the dragon threw the balloon at one of the woodpecker chicks, who burst out laughing as the water hit his feathers.

“Raaaa... heeheehee!” Dusty said, her roar becoming a giggle. Her scaly yellow face was surprised. “That feels funny!”

“It’s working!” cried Goldie. “Dusty! Are you having fun?”

“Heeheehee!” chuckled the dragon, throwing a balloon at Goldie. Goldie giggled as it burst on her tail.

Dusty flew up into the sky, dodging and diving and throwing water balloons everywhere. Finally, the dripping dragon landed back on the highest branch of the Treasure Tree. “More! More!” she cried.

Lily looked around. But everyone had used up all their balloons.

“We’ve run out of balloons, Dusty,” Lily called. “And we can’t fill up any more because the river is all dried up.”

Dusty looked upset. “But I want to keep on playing,” she grumbled, her tail drooping.

“So do we,” Jess told her. “But we need the river back first. Will you lift your spell from the Pricklebacks so they can make it flow again?”

Dusty flew around in a loop-the-loop. “Yes,” she agreed, “I will! Then we can play again!”

There was a chorus of happy cheeps, chirps, and squawks from the birds. Captain Ace did a loop-the-loop, and the girls, Emily, and Goldie gave a big cheer.

“Hooray!” cried Emily, her eyes shining. “We did it!”