Chapter 24:
The Battle
As David tries to climb back up, The Grand Duke pretends to think. " Now this looks familiar. Hmm. Where have I seen this before? Let me think. Hmmm. Oh, yes I remember. This is just the way your father looked before he died," said The Duke, The Grand Duke then placed his talons on David's hooves, the same way he did with Chanticleer at the Stampede. The Grand Duke leans closer to whisper in David's ear. " And here's my little secret: I killed Chanticleer," whispered The Duke, David had a quick memory flashback to that fateful instant. Realization filled David's face and he became angry. Then in one giant leap, David lunges up and pins The Grand Duke on his back with his hooves at The Duke's throat. " NOOOOOO! Murderer!" yelled David, the HippoGriffs gasped in shock as The Duke is caught completely by surprise and is understandably very nervous and shaken.
" No, David, please," said The Duke.
" Tell them the truth!" said David.
" Truth? But the truth is in the eye of the beholdllgkkk!" said The Duke but was interrupted when David pressed his hoof on The Duke's throat choking him.
" Alright. Alright. I did it," said The Duke quietly.
" So they can you," said David.
" I Killed Chanticleer!" said The Duke grudgingly but clear.
Summer then starts to charge towards The Grand Duke as The Army Of Strays charged towards and attacked David. The HippoGriffs herd join in. One of the Strays prepares to kill David but Summer attacked it and knocked it off of David. Then Mort came charging in with Bucky and Bess riding on his back. The Three Friends let out their war cry as they ran through the horde, knocking them everywhere like bowling pins. " Excuse Us! Pardon Us!" said Bess, " Coming Through!" said Bucky, " Three Friends!" said Mort as he swang his tail club and snorts at the Strays, and Bucky and Bess jumped off his back, David has fought off some of the Strays with all his might. Then one Stray CanineGriff jumped on David and bit him on the back. David whinnies in pain but the Stray CanineGriff was then whacked off him by a staff. David looks up to see Zecora doing her battle scream and joins the fray.
Zecora was surrounded by several Stray CanineGriffs and FelineGriffs and Zecora was in a kung-fu stance. One CanineGriff lunges at Zecora but using her acrobatic skills, Zecora jumps over the slobbery mutt and smacks a FelineGriff in front of her with her staff. Then Zecora looks to her side and also sees that one of the Strays opens his mouth wide as he approaches her. Zecora acts quickly and gives the Stray CanineGriffs a good horse kick to the face, knocking a few of the CanineGriffs teeth out. After that good kick, Zecora Zecora turned around and swings her staff to smack two CanineGriffs across the face, sending them to the ground unconscious. With the area secured, Zecora looked around to see if there were any more Strays brave enough to go up against her. One Stray FelineGriff tries one attempt. But the QuaggaGriff senses this, and without looking, slams her hoof into the FelineGriffs face.
David, Summer, Buttercup and the other HippoGriffs fought against the Army Of Strays. Most of the Army Of Strays are now retreating from The Great Red Barn.
As the tides turned into the HippoGriffs favor, Bucky and Bess were now being chased by Belladonna and Carface and they ran to the Barn. Patou sees them from outside of his cage as Bucky and Bess ran towards him for safety from the Strays. " Let Me Out! Let Me Out!" yelled Patou, " Let Us In! Let Us In!" said Bucky and Bess as they got in the cage, Belladonna and Carface approached the cage and started drooling.
" Ple-he-hease, don't eat us," pleaded Bucky to Belladonna and Carface.
" Problem?" said a voice, Belladonna and Carface looked to see Mort standing at the entrance.
" Hey, who's the Chicken?" said Carface.
" Are you talking to me?" as Mort as anger builds up in him.
" Uh-oh. They called him a chicken," said Bess.
" Are you talking to me?!" asked Mort.
" Shouldn't 'a done that," said Bucky.
" ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?!" said Mort.
" Now they're in for it," said Bucky and Bess in unison.
" They Call Me...MISTER CHICKEN! AAAAAH…," yelled Mort as he unleashes all of his anger at Belladonna and Carface.
The last thing these two Stray CanineGriffs see was a chicken beak, a clubbed tail, and a ball of armor as Mort charged and took on all two of them. Meanwhile, Killer was standing outside of the Barn to feel the ground shaking beneath him as he hears moans of pain and suffering coming from inside the barn. While several hay and rock fly towards him. Belladonna and Carface ran up to Killer and ran for their lives with their tails between their legs while Killer panicked and ran for safety.
The Three Friends and Patou came out of the Barn with their held high like gentlemen and were chanting like a group of frat boys who just won a football game. " Wahoooo! Run you Yellow-Belly-WHOO OOH OOH OOH OOH, " said Mort as he, Bucky, Bess, and Patou cheered and chant.