Chapter 23:
David Confronts The Grand Duke
David and Summer have finally made it to The Great Red Barn. " Summer, you find my mother and rally up our herd," said David, then he determinedly said " I'll look for The Duke,". The two HippoGriffs went in different directions. As David starts to make his way up The Great Red Barn, he stops when he sees The Grand Duke on The Great Red Barn. " BUTTERCUP!" roared The Duke, David watched as his mother starts heading up to The Grand Duke. As Buttercup moves past The Strays, they snap at her heels. But Buttercup only glares disdainfully at them. Then Buttercup ascends The Great Red Barn and approaches The Grand Duke.
" Yes, Duke?" asked Buttercup, " Why are you refusing to let the Strays to hunt you? You're not doing a good job," said The Duke, " Duke there's no food. The fields are flooded and all the other herbivores have moved on," said Buttercup, " No. You're the only ones we have left," said The Duke, " It's over there's nothing left. We have only one choice. We must leave the valley," said Buttercup, " We're not going anywhere," said The Duke, " Then you have sentenced us to death!" said Buttercup, " Then so be it," said The Duke, " You can't do that," said Buttercup feeling disgusted, " I'm the leader. So I can do whatever I want," said The Duke, " If you were half the leader Chanticleer was you would never-," said Buttercup, " I'm ten times the leader Chanticleer ever was," yelled The Duke as he hits Buttercup and knocks her to the ground, David then appears on the ledge, whinnying loudly.
The Grand Duke gasped when he saw David. David jumped down and runs over to his mother. The Duke mistakes David as Chanticleer and is understandably frightened. " Chanticleer? No. You're dead," said The Duke, Buttercup was then awakened by her son's nudge, but also mistakes David as Chanticleer as The Duke did. " Chanticleer?" asked Buttercup, " No. It's me," said David, Buttercup got a better look at him and said with delight " David, you're alive?". " How can that be?" asked Buttercup now confused, " It doesn't matter. I'm home," said David, The Duke finally recognizes David and said " David? David! I'm a little surprised to see you…,". Then The Duke looked up at the same Stray CanineGriffs above him with an angry look and said " Alive!".
On that word, Belladonna, Carface, and Killer gulped audibly and slink into the shadows.
" Give me one good reason why I shouldn't rip you apart," said David angrily as he approaches The Grand Duke and Buttercup looks on with pride, " Oh, David, you must understand. The pressure of ruling a Barnyard…," said The Duke being apologetic and being backed up to a wall, " Are no longer yours. Step down, Duke," said David, " Oh, oh, ye-Well, I would, heh, naturally, heh-however, there is one little problem. You see them?" said The Duke pointing up, David looks up to see a horde of Strays above them, staring down at him. " They think I'm leader," said The Duke, " Well, we don't," said a voice, David and The Duke looked to see Summer with David's herd. " David's the rightful leader," said Summer, " The choice is yours, Duke. You either step down or fight," said David, " Oh, must this all end in violence? I hate to be responsible for the death of a family member. Wouldn't you agree, David?" asked The Duke, " That's not gonna work, Duke. I've put it behind me," said David, " Yes, but what about your faithful subjects? Have they put it behind them?" asked The Duke as he walks up to David's herd, " David, what is he talking about?" asked Summer, The Duke walks back to David and said with delight " Ahh, so you haven't told them you're little secret. Well, David now's your chance to tell them. Tell them who's responsible for Chanticleer's death!".
The Duke's last sentence caused all the HippoGriffs to concentrate on David. David steels himself for a moment, then he took a step forward and said " I am,".
The HippoGriff herd was shocked by what David said and Buttercup approaches her son. " It's not true. Tell me it's not true," said Buttercup with much grief, " It's true," said David regretfully, " You see! He admits it! Murderer!" said The Duke as the sound of lightning crashes, " No. It was an accident," said David, " If it weren't for you, Chanticleer would still be alive. It's your fault he's dead. Do you deny it?" said The Duke as he walks around and around David, accusing him, " No," said David, " Then...You're...Guilty," said The Duke severely, " No, I'm not a Murderer," said David.
The Grand Duke is now backing up David to the length of The Great Red Barn. " Oh, now look David you're in trouble again. But this time, Daddy isn't here to save you. And now EVERYONE...KNOWS...WHY!" said The Duke, after his last sentence, David slips under over the edge and tries to hang on to the ledge. " David!" yelled Summer, lightening then strikes below, igniting a fire.