Author's note: The first chapter is inspired by another TFIW fanfic I read called "Squibby, we're not in Kansas anymore.

So the first environment is going to be The North American Desert of 5 million years in the future.

"Come on, are we there yet?" Luis complained as he waited impatiently.

"No!" Everyone answered Luis' complaint in annoyance.

"Luis, will You please stop your whining?" CG asked Luis. She sometimes gets annoyed by his whining.

"Sorry!" Luis apologized. He knew she is very serious and, like others, cannot stand whining. Then, he silenced himself to avoid getting CG more angry, while Ethan and Emily laughed. Luis glared at both of them.

"Emily, Ethan! Both of you as well." CG coldly told her two other crewmates and they stopped laughing.

"Ah, come on, Seige!" Ethan said, but CG gives him a quick glare. Ethan goes back to being quiet.

'Why does Ethan kept on doing it?!' CG said angrily in her thoughts.

"Anyway, we'll be approaching the Amazon grasslands soon. So, I expect all of you to be well prepared. Got it?" CG said to her crew. They all nodded their heads yes.

"Good." CG replied. As the time flyer entered out of the vortex, the environment is a different. It's not the Amazon Grassland, it appears to be a desert, and it also appeared to be in a middle of a sandstorm. But it is looks different from the central desert of 200 million years in the future.

"Now to find a landing site in the... Amazon Grassland?"

Emily, Ethan and Luis got up and look at the strange environment, confused. "What is this?" Emily asked.

"Maybe some kind of desert like the central desert, but different." Luis replied.

Then, the time flyer begin to shake because of them being in the sandstorm.

"Oh, no! Because we're in a sandstorm, it is best to find a landing spot!" CG said.

Emily, Ethan and Luis hurried back to their seats.

The time flyer roughly but safely landed in the new environment. As it landed on the fought terrain, it shuddered the cruiser around a bit, before coming to a stop.

Fortunaly, for the time flyer's crew, the ship is made of very solid materials, all the way to the titanium and beyond. But, it was not designed to land in a steep manner.

"Is everybody okay?" Luis asked in a stuttering voice.

"Yeah, thanks for asking, Luis" Emily groaned as she stands up from the other side of the infostation, rubbing a bump on her hand. "Cannot say though I landed on something soft."

"That's because you landed on me, and also I happen to be all muscle!" Ethan explained as he emerged from behind the infostation, rubbing his right elbow. "For such a small thing, you certainly are a hard one yourself, Emily."

Emily whirled around and questioned Ethan "I am?!" and then noticed that Ethan did not look as upbeat as he usually is: his arm is purple with bruises. "I did that?" she said in a voice smaller than she tended to. "Ethan, are you alright?"

"Right as rain." Ethan replied, trying to get to his usual cocky exterior, as he flexed his right arm-well, tried at any rate. "Ow! Ceeg, I can't believe I'm saying this, but where do you keep that first aid kit of yours at the ship?" I almost feel as bad as in that first encounter with the giant wasps of Antarctica- Ceeg?"

Catching up with the lack of response from their leader, Emily followed the boys gazes at CG. She, the leader, was still sitting at the Time Flyer's steering panel, as stiff as board. Too stiff for the crew's liking, actually.

"C.G.? Girlfriend? Are you alright?" Emily's voice shook. "Guys? Is she-"

"She's in shock!" Luis replied. CG's face is between pale white and pale red.

"Ceege?" The crew asked. She is still silent until...

Splash! Almost forgotten in the hubbub by all the teens, Squibby dropped from the ceiling and sprayed copious amounts of water at CG.

"Squibby!" Emily yelled, almost expasperated towards her favourite futuristic animal. "Your auntie CG is in no condition to appreciate your jokes right now!"

"No-no, it's okay, Emily! I'm okay!" CG said, returning to her normal color and behaviour. "Ethan, Luis, are both of you alright?"

Both Boys nodded yes. "Yeah, more or less." Ethan replied as he rubbed his right elbow. "But Ceege, can you tell us where are we?"

"I'm not sure. It appears to be a desert, but colder. It least the sand storm has stopped." CG replied. "Ethan, why don't you and Emily go out to see what you can find? Meanwhile, me and Luis will try to find where are we."

"Um, okay, Ceege." Ethan replied, before going back to his cocky persona"Come on, Emily!"

"Yeah, Ethan!" Emily said to Ethan, following him.

"Also, you two." CG called back, as Ethan and Emily turned back to their leader. "Take Squibbon with you."

"Will do!" Both Emily and Ethan replied as Squibbon hops onto Emily's back and both head out onto the new environment.

"Also, you two." CG called out again. "Take the holodat in case you find some creatures." She said as she hands the holoday to Emily.

"And also, you should take the tractor beam." Luis said as he handed the tractor beam to Ethan.

"Okay. See you both later." Ethan said as he, Emily and Squibbon head out to the greater outside.

A few minutes later, the cruiser ramp went down and Ethan, Emily, and Squibbon head down and are off to the unknown. Thankfully, Ethan's injuries consist of a bruised arm, but it shifted off quickly.

After a few minutes of walking, Ethan spoke up while the two kids and their pet throw a frisbee between them. "Emily?"

"Yeah, Ethan?" Emily replied, while Squibbon buzzed.

"There's still nothing that we find. Oh, man! How much longer?" Ethan asked while complaining.

"Oh, Ethan! You have been bored since we got out! Can you please stop complaining?!" Emily replied annoyed.

"Oh, come on, Emily! I just want something to happen!" Ethan talked back to Emily.

"Ooh, Ethan!" Emily stomped her foot. "I told you to stop your complaining!" Being so angry, she threw the purple frisbee at her hand out, and it ended up hitting a sand dune and...the dune exploded, revealing another creature from the future.

Emily shrieked. And so did Squibbon who tried to climb onto Ethan for a change. "Emily, Squibbon, relax." Ethan told them, though he too was bridle startled when the frisbee flushed the creature out of its hiding place. "It's just another of those armoured rodents we kept on seeing, the Rattleback"

"I don't know Ethan." Emily shook her head. She too has recovered from her intial fright and begun to critically examine the new animal. "It is a rattleback, alright, but it looks different from the ones from the Amazon Grasslands. The body shape is somewhat different..."

"Umm, okay." Ethan shrugged, losing interest now that he knew what he and his friends are facing. "Emily, come on-those creatures are harmless, I mean, those creatures are harmless, Luis had CG find it out at the Infostation the first time we come to the-"

"Ethan?" Emily's voice sound firmer than before, telling the taller teen that she is not impressed by his voice of reasoning. "This Rattleback has a tail!"

"It has a tail?" Ethan repeated. "So what?"

"The Rattlebacks we seen before didn't!"

"And-?"

"Never mind!" Emily almost scowled with exasperation, as she pulled out the Holodat. "Let's see what this strange Rattleback is!"

'The Desert Rattleback of North American is a close relative of the Grassland Rattleback of South American. It differs from its relative by having differently shaped keratin scales, longer legs and a more herbivorous diet' The voice of the Holodat spoke before dying.

The teens exchange glances. "Desert Rattleback of North American?" Ethan spoked, clearly shocked. "But that means-"

"That we are-"

"In North America!" The two teens finished together and exchange another look.

"Ethan, go and tell CG and Luis about this!" Emily told Ethan.

"Does that mean you want me to run back to the Time Flyer, while you keep our new friend company?" Ethan questioned.

"Yes!" Emily said brightly. "This little guy is obviously hungry and lost- Squibby and I will look after him until you get back!"

"Great!" Ethan muttered, but then the little Rattleback looked at him and Ethan felt his own heart melting, as usual, when he was confronted by a cute little animal. "But, don't leave without me-it'll be too embarrassing for you to get lost within the sight of the ship."

"Yeah, yeah, just go already!" Emily said, more be summed than angry by now.

Then, Ethan took off.

"So, uh, Luis?"

"Yes, Siege?"

"Found out where are we?" CG asked.

"Well, yep." Luis replied as be activated the Inforstation. "Here it goes."

'The North American Desert, 5 million years in the future. This cold, barren landscape is constantly battered by sandstorms caused by 75 mph wind gust blown off from the North ice sheets.' The Infostation said.

"So, that's where we are!" CG was amazed by what she heard. "Only a few thousand miles from South America."

"Yeah, Should we try to contact Ethan and Emily where we are finally?" Luis asked. Before CG can respond, Ethan suddenly comes into the Time Flyer, breathless after running a long way.

"Guys, you won't believe it!" He said excitedly "We found a new animal, and Ceege, your Holodat tells us it lives in North America! Cool, huh?"

There was just silence as CG and Luis digested his news.

Then, "Look, Ethan. Me and Luis discovered that we are in the North American Desert." CG told Ethan. "And you said you and Emily found a new animal. Then, what is it?"

"Look, it was another of those armoured rodents that we keep seeing in the Amazon grasslands, but different." Ethan replied rather a bit abruptly.

"Really?! A Rattleback at the desert and how different?!" CG answered.

"Yeah, Emily pointed out that this Rattleback has a tail, and the ones we saw at the Grasslands didn't have one, then Emily whipped out the Holodat and the gizmo identified the critter as the desert Rattleback. So, we are in North America, 5 million years in the future. Starling, eh?" Ethan said.

"Yeah, right! I got to go and see this bizarre Rattleback myself!" CG said.

"Oh, come on, CG! You can go and enjoy the view of the Desert!" Ethan stated.

"I can't believe it! I'm taking the Dune skimmer!" CG said angrily as she heads out.

"Really?! You're taking the Dune skimmer?!" Luis asked nervously.

"Yes! Why not?! CG replied to Luis angrily.

"I meant, what if your father calls and finds out you're not there!?" Luis answered.

"Well, just tell him I went out!" CG told Luis.

"Woo-hoo, so we're on our own for the first time! C.G., you go girl, welcome to the wild side!" Ethan crowed.

CG gave him an evil look and left with a in-your-face-point at her step, rather loudly.

The two Boys just looked at her through the cockpit's illuminator as CG zoomed off at the Dune Skimmer towards Emily, Squibby and the odd Rattleback.

"That's two girls in one day." Luis muttered rather disgusted, but at the same time, he's worried,'Please come back soon, CG, or your dad will be angry.'

"So, little guy, you're a desert Rattleback, are you? Emily cooed as the small Rattleback sniffed Emily and Squibbon, wenting around them. "Yes, you are!"

It was then that the sounds of the Dune Skimmer reached Emily's ears. "Now, why would Ethan-oh, hello, CG! I was just talking about you with our new friend!"

"Really? I didn't hear you." CG replied rather dryly for her. "Guess I had a lot in mind.. is that it?"

"It's not an it, I'm going to call him prickly!" Emily said excitedly.

"More like a Scaly- there are no spines, just some scales, while on the Grassland Rattlebacks, there are both scales and spines." CG said, as she got off the Dune Skimmer and began to critically examine the animal.

Emily blinked and looked at the Rattleback with her own critical eye. "You're right! There are no spines on Prickly after all! What do you think? CG? Girlfriend?"

"I think I need to sit down." CG muttered to herself and she did exactly what she wanted to do.

After a few minutes, Scaly gave CG a nudge and climbs up her lap. Though still young, the Rattleback is quite heavy with all its scales on its back.

CG blinked, "Uh, Emily, what is your new friend doing?"

"Nesting on you legs, isn't it cute?"

"Um, I don't know how to say about it."

then, the girls' communicators beeped, "Hey girls, sorry to cut in your bonding time, but can please come back to the ship? CG, your dad wants to see you." Luis's voice came out.

"No problem, Luis!" Emily said to her communicator. "We're coming straight away! Right, CG?"

However, CG was stillsitting on the ground, watching hopelessly as the young Rattleback closed its eyes, flattened its scales and stretched its body across her legs, preventing her from getting up.

"Emily?" CG looked concerned "a little help, please? My father's patience will grow thin soon!"

"I don't like this! They should be here by now! Oh man! He's still not happy about this!" Luis said as he paced back and forth.

"Luis, relax! I'm sure they will be here by now." Ethan said, trying to calm down Luis.

Both boys look back at CG's father who is very angry that his daughter has not returned. "Since my daughter is not here, I think one of you boys should go out and find her!"

"Yes, sir!" Both boys said, scared by the man's ever thining patience.

"Okay, I get it! I'll go!" Ethan proclaimed.

"Okay, then go or else!" Linus said, more impatient and throwing a glare at Ethan.

"Okay, Okay! I'll go!" Ethan said as he run out to the time flyer and out to the desert.

"Hey, girls!" Ethan said to his communicator as he keeps on running. "CG's dad is still upset and Luis is getting worried!"

"Yeah, about that," Emily replied to Ethan, "We have a bit of a problem."

"What sort of a problem?" Ethan asked.

"Will you please stop talking and get over here immediately?! My father won't wait for me anymore!" CG said angrily.

"Okay, I'm coming!' Ethan said, as he kept on running.

Meanwhile, the girl's situation seems to be more comical than serious; the young Rattleback just won't budge off of CG's legs. Both girls tried to remove the Rattleback, but both failed miserably.

"One of my teachers used to say that a fine thread separates tragedy from farce." CG said, as she stopped pushing the heavyset animal off her legs. "Emily, go find Ethan and bring him here!"

"Uh-huh, I am not leaving you by chane! Just give Ethan a few more minutes till he gets here!" Emily protested.

"Oh, seriously-?!"

"And here I am!" Ethan came at last.

"Ethan, I knew you came!" Emily shouted in excitedly.

"Now, what should I do to solve this problem?" Ethan huffed proudly.

CG growled angrily and snapped "Get the Rattleback off my legs! It's cutting my blood circulation down and its weight is preventing me from getting up!"

With a titanic effort of his own, Ethan prevented himself from smirking at CG's anger and instead focuse on lifting the Rattleback off her legs. The creature objected to this action by squealing loudly and rattling its scales, but Ethan is not impressed.

"A heavy little animal, huh?" Ethan mused as Emily helped CG get up her legs.

"And we're off! I don't what will happen if I show up late to your daddy, Ceege, but we should definitely get back to the ship!" Ethan said proudly.

"Not without Scaly! He's still little and needs us to help!" Emily snapped.

CG and Ethan exchanged helpless looks. Why is Emily being so obstinate? What should they do?

For several moments, they just stared at her, until it becomes obvious that Emily is not going anywhere without her new animal companion.

"Come on, Em." Ethan tried to talk to the small redhead. "Scaly obviously weathered out one sandstorm. I mean we flushed him out of that dune-right?"

"So what?" Emily stomped her foot. "This guy's still little and he needs our help."

"So what?" CG wouldn't back down either. "Emily, we're not animal rescue operation. We must get back to the Time flyer."

Emily wavered. She looked down on the smallish animal who trying to hug Ethan's legs. Ethan and CG followed Emily's gaze and the fight just left CG. "Okay, new plan. Ethan, Emily, we'll be taking the Rattleback with us, on the condition that he will not be seen by my father."

"Um, okay, CG." Ethan replied.

"Yay, CG, you're the best! But, how will we get Scaly back to the ship?" Emily asked.

"Hmmm," CG thought for a minute, then had an idea. "I got it! We'll just carry the Rattleback in my equipment bag! Though, it'll be heavy with him in it."

"Good idea, CG!" Ethan huffed, as he helped the Rattleback onto CG's bag.

As expected, the bag is heavy with the Rattleback, but she managed to get to the dune skimmer with Ethan and Emily.

"Okay, now let's go!" CG shouted as she revved up the dune skimmer back to the Time Flyer. "Hang on, father! We're coming!"

As soon as they arrived and went inside the Time Flyer, they are greeted by Luis, "CG, you're here! Oh, boy! You have to get to your father now!"

"Okay, he will soon see that I'm here!" CG said as she motioned Ethan, Emily, Luis and Squibbon to go the back quarters and entered the room where her father is waiting.

"Cassiopeia, where have you been?! You have worried the living moonlight out of me!" Her father almost roared when he sees his daughter.

"I'm sorry about that, father, and you're always worried ever since I'm little." CG said to her father.

"Well, I'm your father, it's my job to worry about you."

"Yeah, and you became more over protective of me when mother died-"

She immediately became quiet after mentioning her mother at her father.

"Cassiopeia, you know better than to speak about your mother. It brings me memories and all of awful."Linus said to his daughter. "Over and out."

"Okay." CG said as the time telecommunicator deactivated. She sighs and stands up. She had straight to the back quarters where her crew is there.

"So, you brought a Rattleback here?! This breaks one of the rules!" Luis scolded Emily and Ethan as CG entered.

"Oh, hi Siege! How did it went with your dad?" Luis asked.

CG sighed as she sat down on one of the bunkers. "Let's just say I accidentally mentioned someone from my past that father didn't like to think about."

Just then, Scaly tried to climb up CG's legs. "Want to sit on my lap again? Okay, just one more." CG said to the young Rattleback as she lifted him to her Lap though he is heavy.

"Aww, I think it is so cute to see Scaly on your lap again." Emily cooed.

"I know." CG replied as Squibbon came in next to her.

The crew laughed in joy.

What do you think of it! Let me know. I will not accept flames. I also encourage you to give me new ideas for future chapters since I had a hard time trying to think of some.