Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Land Before Time. I do not own the Guns 'n' Roses song Sweet Child O' Mine either. This is solely a fan fiction using the characters from the series.
Chapter Two: Uncle Pterano's Return
The next morning, Littlefoot and his friends, minus Petrie, were all talking around the creek.
"So what exactly happened?" Cera asked Littlefoot.
"Well, apparently, a sharptooth wandered into the Valley last night and killed his mother, brothers, and sisters. He didn't sleep at all last night," he replied.
Ducky wiped a few tears from her eyes, "Why did that have to happen to Petrie? He does not deserve it, oh no, no, no."
Littlefoot looked to the ground, "I guess…it's just one of those things that happens and you can't do anything about it."
"But who will take care of him? Surely not you guys," Cera asked Littlefoot.
"I don't see who else. His whole family was killed," Littlefoot said.
"Well, not his whole family," Ducky replied.
The dinos looked at her. "What?" Littlefoot asked.
"What about…you know…him?" Ducky said.
"Who?" Littlefoot again asked.
"I know who she's talking about! And here's your answer, Ducy: NO!" Cera snapped.
"Who are you talking about?" Littlefoot asked once more.
"She's talking about Pterano!" Cera answered him.
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Meanwhile, Littlefoot's grandparents were talking with each other.
"I don't know what to do about this! That poor little flyer's family was killed last night!" Grandpa Longneck tried to hide tears.
"Do about what?" Grandma Longneck inquired.
"About who's going to care for the flyer! I mean, there are no flyers around to take care of him. Heck, there's no one left in his family!" he replied, a few tears streaming down his face.
"There, there…I'm sure there's someone else," she tried to comfort her husband.
"Who? Who in his family is alive?" Grandpa Longneck asked.
"Well…there is…him…" Grandma Longneck replied.
"You don't mean…"
"I do." She made it clear.
Grandpa Longneck turned around and thought to himself. Pterano was truly Petrie's last relative…but he was a criminal. Yet, he apologized for his actions the previous year. He knew that Pterano would be an exceptional parent if he set his mind to it…but could he be trusted? Grandpa Longneck finally made up his mind after a long silence.
"…Alright. I will allow Pterano to care for his nephew. I don't know if I'm making the right choice, but it's not morally right to keep Petrie from his uncle. I am voiding the sentence. But…we don't know where he is."
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But Pterano knew what happened to his family. He'd been just outside the Great Valley the night before, and he caught wind of what happened by a far walker who left the Valley early that morning. Pterano was already on his way to the Great Valley. Finally, around noon, Pterano landed in the Great Valley, in front of a watering hole.
Topsy was walking to the water hole right then. He looked over and saw Pterano about 80 yards away.
"WHAT IS HE DOING HERE?" Topsy thought to himself. He stormed over to Pterano.
"You have a lot of guts to be here right now!" he yelled at the already shaken-up flyer.
"I'm here because I heard what happened! My sister and all of her children are dead! I'm not going to stay outside the Great Valley when this happened just because of a stupid punishment!" Pterano snapped at Topsy.
Topsy was ready to flip out on Pterano, but stopped himself. Pterano's right, he thought. Instead, Topsy sighed and said, "Would you like me to take you to the Longnecks?"
"…Yes, I guess so…" Pterano stared at Topsy, as he thought he'd be screamed at.
The two rushed to the Longnecks, who explained to Pterano he was now allowed to live in the Valley again.
"Thank you, but, I don't see why I should stay. I have no one here who's alive," Pterano wiped a tear off of his face.
"Yes you do!" Grandpa Longneck replied, "Your nephew, Petrie!"
"I do? Where is he?" Pterano asked, "Please take me to him!"
Right about then, Littlefoot and the others were strolling over. They saw Pterano. He was a mess. His hands were shaking, he was shaking. Tears were streaming down his face, and he was whimpering. The four all felt bad for him. Well, three of them, anyway.
"WHAT?" Cera thought when she saw Pterano.
"Dad! Hey dad! Don't you see him? Pterano! Why's he back? He's not gonna raise Petrie is he?" Cera asked.
"Yes, he is, Cera," Topsy replied to his daughter.
"Oh, great, he'll mess that poor flyer up really ba—"
"SHUT UP CERA!" Topsy shouted at his daughter.
Cera was shocked. She didn't say anything else.
Petrie looked over and saw his uncle, and Pterano looked down at his nephew. They immediately embraced.
"Uncle, my family was—" Petrie sobbed, he couldn't finish the sentence.
"I know, Petrie…I know…" Pterano broke into tears as well.
To be continued…