After Quetzal reads a story about ""El Dorado"" with the gang, he shows them a shiny golden Dragon Scale, given to Quetzal by the Gilded Dragon. Max asks if he can take it out in the sun to see the scale shine, and Quetzal lets him, if he promises to be careful with it. When the time comes to let the sun shine on the scale, the worst happens. The scale is gone! And there is a huge hole in Max's pants pocket. Now Max is worried that Quetzal will think him irresponsible.