Chapter 8: The Secret Is out
The next morning, Ducky, Tickles, and Spike were so tired from hanging out with the Tiny Long-necks they almost passed out a couple times. Both of their parents were worried about them. Hoping they were alright.
(Papa Swimmer) Are you sure you're okay? You kids look...tired.
(Tickles) We're fine.
At least they did think they were alright. Until Spike fell asleep and lay down on them.
Petrie was also having a hard time staying awake. He tried to get up, but kept lying back down. However, Mama Flyer already took note of this as Petrie was finally about to fly away.
(Mama Flyer) Be careful Petrie.
Petrie leaped off the ledge and started flying. But because he was so tired, he closed his eyes and kept on flying until he hit a tree.
Even Cera was having a hard time staying awake. She ended up lying down on a root sticking out of the ground and closed her eyes. Only for Tria to walk by.
(Tria) Cera. Are you sure you're alright? You look very tired.
(Cera) I'm fine. I don't need you.
However, the root flanged Cera off of it and she landed in front of Tria, who still wanted to talk to her.
(Tria) Cera. I've tried everything I could to know you and you shrugged me off. What I wanted to tell you is... well... What I want is to be someone else your dad can worry about. Or someone who can help him worry about you. I want to be your friend. But I guess it's up to you to decide.
Then Cera snapped back up and remembered her talk with Lizzy. Maybe Tria was this someone who she was thinking about the whole time. Someone to help Topps worry about her.
(Cera) Tria. Maybe we can give it a try with being friends.
Tria smiled. She was glad that Cera wanted to give it a try now.
Littlefoot, Mario, and his friends walked back to the first tree that Rhett used to feed the Tiny Long-necks. There wasn't any sand, but enough to find some evidence of if it really was Rhett.
(Mario) This one is higher than the other small trees we saw.
(Littlefoot) You're right Mario. This tree is only tall enough for me and Rhett to reach. There's no way the Tiny Long-necks could have climbed this.
Peach then took note of them with more dirt. The footprints on it we're going sideways. And like the one from last night, they were too big to be Tiny Long-necks.
But before she could say something to Mario and Littlefoot, something tackled all of them onto the ground. Looking up, they saw it was only Wario and Waluigi.
(Wario) Sorry. We thought you guys were the Tiny Long-necks.
(Littlefoot) It's alright. We're still trying to see what Rhett is up to.
(Waluigi) Okay then. We'll let you guys do what you must. But we have Tiny Long-necks to find.
As the 2 of them left, Mario and Littlefoot saw the footprints in the dirt.
(Mario) We should follow them.
With that said, they three followed the footprints. Later, after a long walk, they found that the footprints lead to the hole they saw Rhett come out of the other day.
(Mario) That hole. The one we saw Rhett come out of. You think the Tiny Long-necks are in there?
(Littlefoot) Maybe. But who knows what's down there? Grandma and Grandpa would never let us in those underground caverns.
(Mario) Then we'll check it out at sunset.
(Luigi) Good thinking.
That night, Rhett managed to get Cera, Ducky, Tickles, Petrie, and Spike to rejoin the Tiny Long-necks to see some more of their caverns.
(Ducky) Dusty and I are gonna have lots of fun tonight.
(Petrie) Me gonna tickle Rocky's belly.
(Tickles) And I'll tell Skitter about The Land of Mists.
(Cera) I like to see what else Lizzy has for me.
(Rhett) Okay guys. But first, we have to find the best tree-stars in the forest for them.
(?) WHERE ARE YOU KIDS GOING?!
Everyone stopped dead in their tracks. Topps was in front of them. And he was not happy.
(Cera) Uh...Dad. Where are you going?
(Topps) I'm on guard duty. It's my job to make sure those...uh...creatures aren't stealing any more of our tree-stars. Too big of a job for everyone else to handle.
(Cera) Dad. They wouldn't steal from us. They're nice.
(Topps) How do you know that? uh. It doesn't matter. I'm making sure that those Tiny Long-necks don't ever get any tree-stars ever again. Now MOVE!
Topps roared viciously at the kids, scaring them all back to their nests.
(Topps) And don't let me catch you out again! Or all of you will regret it!
Lucky for Littlefoot, Mario, and his friends, they managed to sneak past Topps without getting spotted. They arrived at the hole and got ready to go inside of it.
(Mario) I'll go on first. You guys follow and I'll catch you.
(Littlefoot) No Mario. I'm much bigger than you and the rest. I'll go first.
(Mario) Okay then. Good luck.
Littlefoot moved to the hole and carefully climbed down it. However, the moment he let go, he fell to the ground that was a couple feet down below him.
(Littlefoot) That last step's gonna be a drop. But we should be fine.
Mario and his friends jumped into the hole and landed on Littlefoot's back. They were in the underground caverns the Tiny Long-necks live in.
(Mario) Now, where can we find them?
(?) Is it me you're looking for? Or is it Lizzy?
The gang turned to some rocks that were used as steps as well as a vine to swing back up to the surface. On the rock steps was Skitter and Lizzy.
(Littlefoot) So Rhett was right. There really are Tiny Long-necks.
(Skitter) You know Rhett too? That's great. We're his friends. I'm Skitter and this is Lizzy. And over there is Rocky and his twin sister Dusty. Who are you guys?
(Mario) I'm Mario.
(Lizzy) Maro?
(Mario) Yeah. Kingdom Travelers have to have last names so everyone can know what family they're from. Over there are my friends.
(Luigi) And this is Littlefoot.
(Littlefoot) Hey there.
(Skitter) Hey. I know you Littlefoot. I ate some pink tree-sweets off of your nose.
(?) YOU!
(Lizzy) Uh oh. Here comes Big Daddy.
The gang turned around to a path. And there was Big Daddy with an angry look on his face.
(Big Daddy) So you're that big Long-neck Rhett was talking about!
(Littlefoot) Wait. Rhett mentioned me to you guys?
(Big Daddy) He told us everything. About how you knocked all those flowers and berries off that tree and blamed everything on us.
At first, Littlefoot, Mario, and his friends didn't know what he was talking about, but then laughed.
(Mario) Are you sure it was Littlefoot? I think Rhett was trying to get under your feet.
(Big Daddy) You take me for a lie?! I know what Rhett said to us and I believe him.
(Mario) Ha ha. If you need us, we'll be leaving now.
(Big Daddy) Okay. But if you tell anyone we're down here, you'll regret it.
Unknown to Big Daddy, Skitter and Lizzy went outside to see what was taking Rhett so long. But when Littlefoot, Mario, and his friends got out, they were shocked.
Rhett was lying to them the whole time. They couldn't believe it
(Littlefoot) How could Rhett do this to us?
(Luigi) I thought he was our friend.
(Daisy) How could he? Even the tiniest of lies and cause big trouble.
(Littlefoot) Let's find Mr. Three-horn and tell him the truth.
With that said, the gang rushed to find Topps.
And speaking of Topps. He was doing a fine job on guard duty. Or at least he was. Until he heard someone coming.
(Topps) Who's there? Show yourself!
However, that someone was Tria who had just come out from the bushes.
(Tria) Good evening Topsy.
(Topps) Tria...uh...I'm gonna tell you what I just told the young ones. It's not safe for you to be out here with those thieves around the place.
(Tria) Oh come on. Give a lady a brake. Walk me back?
(Topps) Shere.
Topps was about to walk Tria back. Only for him to stop himself.
(Topps) No. I'm on guard duty. I can't stop or those...Tiny Long-necks will strike again.
Tria was about to say something, until Littlefoot, Mario and his friends ran in front of them.
(Mario) Thank goodness we found you. We need to tell you something.
(Topps) Forget it Mario! It's my job to guard this valley from those,
Before he could finish, Topps ended up seeing something next to him. It was Skitter and Lizzy.
(Topps) Tiny Long-necks!
(Tria) Aw. How cute.
(Topps) Don't say that! They're vishes little monsters!
Littlefoot was about to say something. But Topps already charged at Skitter and Lizzy. Making the two Tiny Long-necks run away.
(Peach) Topps. Wait.
(Littlefoot) We know the truth about them!
(Tria) You heard them Topsy. Leave them alone.
What made things worse was that Skitter and Lizzy led Topps all the way to the hole and jumped inside it. Topps tried to follow, but his head was too big to fit in the hole as he pulled himself out.
(Tria) Did they get away?
(Topps) For now. But we know where to find them now!
(Littlefoot) Mr. Three-horn. Rhett was lying about,
(Topps) I don't want to hear any of your stories! You kids should be thanking Rhett for telling the truth!
And now, Topps gathered up everyone in the valley and told them what happened.
(Topps) And those I gave chase, the vicious little creeps ran away. But I found their lair! Now we can rid The Kingdom of those little pests for good!
Everyone agreed with him. Except for Rhett, Tria, Littlefoot, Mario, his friends, Cera, Ducky, Tickles, Spike, Petrie, Littlefoot's grandparents, Rhett's parents, who believed that Rhett was lying.
And speaking of Rhett, he knew that he couldn't hide the truth anymore. He knew he had to tell them.
(Tria) Wait! They're not what you think. They're just cute, harmless, and scared. We should just leave them alone.
(Grandpa Longneck) She's right. They have as much right to be in this valley as we do.
(Topps) If you think you can side with those too kind Long-necks Tria, then you know nothing at all!
(Mario) Everyone! Rhett was lying to you! We know the truth!
(Topps) I TOLD YOU NO STORIES!
(Kosh) I SAY WE GO TO THEIR HIDEOUT AND SEAL IT UP WITH ROCKS!
Many of them agreed with Kosh. They were ready to get rid of the Tiny Long-necks.
(Topps) Then it's settled!
With that said, many of them made their way to the hole.
(Littlefoot) No. Rhett was lying. It's not true.
Cera, Ducky, Tickles, Petrie, and Spike were confused. What was Littlefoot talking about?
(Rhett) Dad. We have to stop them.
(Rhett's father) Yes Rhett. But how?
(Rhett) I know how. Cera, come with me.
Cera and Rhett ran as fast as they could until they got to the hole. And on the mountain behind it, Topps and Kosh were using all their might to push a big rock down to seal the hole up.
(Rhett) Everyone! Listen to me! Mario was right! I was lying the whole time!
But to Rhett's horror, no one listened to him. But then, he saw Cera making her way up higher from where Kosh and her dad was.
(Cera) I'm sorry if I hurt you Dad. But I have no choice.
Rhett watched as Cera kicked some smaller rocks down and made some of the bigger ones slide down under Topps and Kosh. Making them both slip and fall off the ledge and landed on their sides with a huge THUD!
Everyone gasped at the sight. Cera had harmed her own father. Now Rhett ran to the top and stood on top of the rock.
(Rhett) Everyone. I was lying the whole time. I'm the one who took the pink tree-sweets off the tree-sweet tree.
Now everyone gasped louder. Just in time as the other children arrived and heard what Rhett said.
(Rhett) I did say the Tiny Long-necks took them. But they wouldn't have if I haven't knocked them all off. I was gonna tell the truth. But when I saw how mad everyone was, I blamed everything on the Tiny Long-necks. And when they almost found out it was me who did it, I blamed what I did to them on Littlefoot. I now know that they're nice and that what I did was wrong. And I'm sorry for what I did to you all.
Of course, the Tiny Long-necks were just below the hole and heard everything Rhett said to the herd.
(Big Daddy) Now do you kids trust the big ones?
So far, many of the dinosaurs found it in their hearts to forgive Rhett while others...well, they were mad at him for messing up everything. Even Ducky, Tickles, Spike, and Petrie were mad at him.
(Grandpa Longneck) Well, I suggest we all go home and let these creatures rest in peace.
Doing as they were told, the herd went back to their nests. Rhett managed to see the others with shocked looks on their faces. But Rhett had talked to Littlefoot, Mario, and his friends.
(Rhett) Guys. I want to thank you for trying your best to tell the truth.
(Mario) It was nothing.
(Rhett) Even if you didn't try, I would have still told the truth anyway. And I'm sorry for being a bad friend.
(Littlefoot) It's alright Rhett. We're still your friends. Even Cera forgives. But I don't think the others will.
Just then, everyone heard a rumbling sound. The rock on the ledge was sliding down hill until it fell onto the hole with other rocks. Closing up the way into the caverns.
(Rhett's mother) Oh dear. The poor little ones.
(Mario) Don't worry. We'll see if we can move some of the rocks away so they can get out. But right now, we are sleeping.
With that said, everyone went back to their nests for the rest of the night.