Chapter 2: A Journey Begins
"We're... we're in Prehistoric times?!" Leonardo exclaimed in shock as they looked to see real dinosaurs in the distance.
"Specifically the Cretaceous," Donatello explained. "You know, give or take twenty or thirty million years."
"Whoa ho ho," Michelangelo said in awe as he saw some pterodactyl fly over them, "look at this place, it's amazeballs!"
Raphael then stomped over to Donnie, "Donnie, how the heck did we end up in this nightmare?" He questioned angrily.
"I-I don't know!" Donnie cried, his voice full of panic. "It must have been the kronite. When it overheated, it somehow created a temporal worm hole in the time-space conti-"
"Blah! Blah! Blah! Is that supposed to make sense to me or anyone else listening?" Raph interrupted rudely. "What do you think we are, NASA?"
"We went back in time!" Donnie shouted crossly at him.
Mikey still maintained his grinn, "Well, either way, this is awesome!"
Leo, regaining his composure, walked up to Donnie, "So how do we get back?"
Donnie's face suddenly faltered as a sudden realization came upon him, "Oh no." He murmured.
"Please tell us that's a good oh no." Raph said, as they're nervousness was now rising.
"It's a bad oh no." Donnie told them. "Without the Turtle-Mech, we're basically stuck here! Forever!"
The other Turtles gasped in horror as they let that sink in. Without the Turtle-mech, they couldn't go home! They wouldn't be able to see their friends or Master Splinter ever again!
"So that means.. no T.V?" Mikey questioned, his earlier excitement about being in the time of the dinosaurs now completely gone. "No video games? No pizza?!"
Suddenly, the ground began to shake and crumble as huge cracks in the ground began to spring up. "What's happening?!" Leo asked. Donnie looked around as huge ravine began to form not far away from them, while also seeing other dinosaurs fall into the ravine.
"Earthquake!" Donnie shouted. The Turtles then quickly ran for cover as the canyon began to spread even more. Once the earthquake stopped, it suddenly began to rain, hard.
The Turtles sighed in relief as the earthquake ended. They then put their hands over their heads as the rain began pouring down. Running through the rain, the Turtles ran into a small cave as the rain began to pour down even more.
"So... what do we do now?" Raph asked quietly.
Leo looked down solemnly before his face hardened, "Well, if we're stuck here, we should get some sleep." He then leaned against the cave wall, "We'll head out tomorrow and see if we can find the Turtle-mech." He then turned to Donnie, "Do we have any supplies, Donnie?"
Donnie bent over a checked four bags that he had managed to save when they were ejected from the Shell-Former. He zipped open the bags and dug into each of them, "Let's see, we've got some Chris Bradford Survival Crunch granola bars, some cold pocket pizzas, a canteen, and some flint stone."
"Then we'll have to make do with what we've got." Leo stated.
The other turtles all nodded slightly. A long silence then fell over them as they simply sat in the cave, the only sound being the pouring rain from outside the cave. However, all was not well as Mikey looked over to see Donnie looking down at the floor, a solemn look on his face.
"What's wrong, D?" Mikey asked in concern for his older brother.
"It's my fault we're trapped here." Donnie sighed. "If I hadn't messed with that stupid meteorite in the first place, none of this would have happened."
Leo felt a wash of sympathy for his brother, "Donnie," He paused for a moment, "nobody blames you for what happened. Right now, we have to focus on finding the Turtle-mech tomorrow."
"Yeah, right after a good night sleep." Raph said with a yawn.
Donnie smiled slightly, "Thanks, guys."
Mikey pulled him into a comforting hug, "No problem, bro."
The Turtles all huddled together for extra warmth and quickly fell asleep as the rain continued to pour outside.
After waking up the next day, the Turtles had a quick breakfast in the cave before stepping outside, feeling the warm morning sun brush against their skin.
"So Donnie, where do we go?" Leo asked, turning back to him.
Donnie pulled out his device and activated the homing beacon he had installed into it, "The Turtle-mech should be... that way." He replied, pointing west. "At least, I think it is."
"Then that's where we'll go, c'mon." Leo ordered as they walked out into the wilderness of the dessert.
The next few days of traveling passed over with little to distinguish them. But nevertheless, the Turtles remained undeterred as they continued through the rocky desert. As they walked, they took some of the occasional food and water breaks before continuing on.
It was the middle of the afternoon in their travels, and the Turtles were now walking along the edge of the newly formed ravine.
But as they walked along it, they heard a faint sound coming from nearby.
Halting immediately, they listened more closely to the sound.
It sounded like... someone was crying.
Walking a little bit further, the Turtles noticed they were getting closer as the sobs became louder and louder.
Rounding a small corner, they saw young apatosaurus with brown and tan skin while carrying a star shaped leaf on his back, crying heavily.
Hearing the little kid sob caused the Turtles, including Raph, to feel sympathy for the young dinosaur as they walked over.
The young dinosaur looked up and saw the Turtles, his look of sorrow changing to one of fear as he began to scramble away.
"Woah, woah, easy. We're not gonna hurt ya." Leo said reassuringly while holding his hands out in front of him.
The young apatosaurus looked at the turtles, "Who are you?" He asked timidly with the voice of a young boy.
Upon hearing the young apatosaurus actually speak, the Turtles' eyes widened until they were almost circular as their jaws dropped to the ground.
"Okay, please tell me I'm not the only one who heard that!" Mikey said in surprise.
"Nope, we all heard it." Raph confirmed in equal surprise.
"You can talk?!" Donnie squawked in shock.
The young apatosaurus gulped a bit, "Y-yes I can." The young apatosaurus stuttered. "But, who are you exactly?"
"My name is Leonardo," Leo began, quickly being the first regain his composure. "But just call me Leo," He then gestured to each of his brothers, "These are my brothers, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael." He then turned the young apatosaurus, "What's your name?"
The young dinosaur seemed to calm down a bit, though still scared, "M-My name's Littlefoot. I'm a Long-neck." He replied. He then gazed at the Turtles curiously, "What are you anyway? I don't think I've ever seen something like you before."
"We're, uh... shell-backs, yeah." Mikey told him, thinking that the little dinosaur wouldn't understand what a turtle was.
"Shell-backs? Really?" Raph whispered dryly. Leo elbowed him in the plastron, "Just go with it." He then turned back to the dinosaur, "So what are you doing out here all alone?"
"Yeah, and why are you sad?" Mikey added.
Littlefoot looked down again, "I lost my mother."
The Turtles each raised an eye ridge, "Oh... well, we can help you find her." Donnie replied.
"No, I mean she's gone... forever." Littlefoot said, another tear falling down his cheek.
The Turtles eyes widened a bit, "Dude, your mom died?" Mikey asked with sadness in his voice. "That is so sad." He said, whipping his eyes
"So what happened to her?" Donnie asked, treading as lightly as he could on such a sensitive subject.
Littlefoot sniffled again, "It was a sharp-tooth. My mother protected me but the sharp-tooth hurt her really bad."
The Turtles listened closely to the entirety of Littlefoot's story; how he had wandered too far away from his mother, being chased by Sharptooth, and how his mother died protecting him. It was one of the saddest stories the Turtles had ever heard, as they could somewhat understand his situation a bit.
"We're sorry for loss." Leo said, laying a hand on Littlefoot's shoulder.
"So.. what's with the leaf?" Raph asked.
Littlefoot looked to leaf on his back, "My mother gave it to me, it's called a tree star. It's all I have left to remember her."
The Turtles nodded in understanding, "So, where are ya off too?" Mikey asked curiously.
"I'm out looking for the Great Valley." Littlefoot answered.
"The Great Valley?" Leo asked in curiosity, "What's that?"
Littlefoot beamed a bit, "My mother told me about it. It's a land full of leaves and fresh water. My grandparents are heading there, and I've got to find them. My mother told me I had to follow the bright circle to find it."
The Turtles were silent for a moment before Donnie turned his back to Littlefoot and checked his device. To his surprise, it was in the direction where Littlefoot was going!
"Guys, check this out." Donnie whispered to his brothers, pulling them aside, confusing Littlefoot a little.
"According to the scanner, the Turtle mech is actually in the direction Littlefoot's going!" Donnie told them.
"Huh, talk about convenient." Raph remarked.
"Well, why don't we take Littlefoot with us?" Mikey asked, "I mean, he's going the same place we're goin'."
"I agree," Leo stated, "Besides, we can't just leave him all alone out here."
The other turtles all nodded in agreement before turning back to Littlefoot.
"Alright," Leo said, "Let's go."
Littlefoot was surprised by this, "You want to come with me?"
"Why not?" Raph questioned.
"Yeah, besides, we're actually headed for the Great Valley too." Donnie replied.
"Plus, we'll help you find your grandparents." Mikey added.
"Okay, well let's go." Littlefoot said with a small smile.
The group walked for a few hours by the large ravine, spending most of the time talking, interacting, and getting to know each other. Littlefoot had begun to grow quite fond of the Turtles as they traveled. The Turtles had told them that they were from a distant land (which was true for the most part) which amazed Littlefoot, while also getting a bunch of questions from him. They didn't mind answering some of the questions (Though Raph was a little annoyed). Littlefoot was also fascinated by the Turtles weapons, to which Donnie explained to him the function of each weapon in way Littlefoot would understand. As they walked along the ravine, they began discussing how they would get to other side. The other side of the ravine was much higher than the side they were on, and there didn't seem to be any way up there.
As they kept searching, they saw a young, possibly younger than Littlefoot was, yellow and tan colored triceratops seemingly trying to climb down the ravine.
"Cera!" Littlefoot shouted in joyful recognition. He raced over to little triceratops with the Turtles hesitantly following.
"You know her?" Raph asked.
Littlefoot looked back at Raph, "Yeah, we met just a few days ago." He glanced back at Cera, "Hey, Cera!"
Cera glanced at them and her expression turned to one of annoyance, "What do you want?" She questioned grumpily.
The Turtles raised an eye ridge a bit at her hostility. "Uh, nothing," Littlefoot recoiled, sensing her foul mood. Cera then glanced at the Turtles, "And what are they supposed to be?"
"Oh, these are my new friends," Littlefoot said, "Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Their shell-backs."
"What up?" Mikey greeted cheerfully, only for Raph to smack him upside the head.
"So, where you going?" Littlefoot asked.
Cera stuck her horn up, "I'M going to find my OWN kind." She said in a snoot tone. She then looked to the other side of the ravine, "They're on the other side."
"We already looked all over here, kid." Raph explained, "There doesn't seem to be any way we can get to the other side."
"Maybe YOU can't!" Cera snorted, trying to get in Raph's face, but only coming up to his chest. Raph frowned at her as the little three-horn then jumped down on a small ledge about a foot down from where they were standing. It started out flat, but then sloped down into the canyon.
"Wait, we're going to the Great Valley." Littlefoot said quickly, "You could come with us. We could.. uh... help each other."
Cera glowered at the idea.
"A three-horn does not need help from a long-neck!" She replied snobbishly, "And definitely not from some weird 'shell-backs'."
The Turtles frowned at Cera's stubbornness, especially Raph, who felt that the young three-horn very much reminded him of himself in the aspect of being brash, headstrong, and stubborn. With that said, he and his brothers were already beginning to dislike her.
Cera stuck her horn up in the air again and kicked up some dirt in Littlefoot's face. But her little act of defiance immediately backfired on her as she slipped on the slick ground and slid down the slope into the darker pit below with the Turtles and Littlefoot watching.
The Turtles and Littlefoot couldn't help but snicker a bit at Cera's little fall. "At least we wouldn't be alone!" Mikey called down to Cera.
Cera, feeling a dent in her pride, got to her feet and glared at the group. All though they barely see her face, they could tell she was scowling at them.
"Well, when I find my family I won't BE alone!" She shouted, "So go away!"
Cera raised her horn and tail high in the air and walked down through the ravine in a pompous fashion.
"Three-horns can be very dangerous," Cera stated, continuing her little 'superiority' speech, "And they only TALK with other three-horns. And they only TRAVEL with other THREE-HORNS!"
Donnie frowned as he looked down at her, "Big talk for someone with such a limited vocabulary!" He shot back.
Cera's eyes widened before she scowled and walked off into the darkness of the ravine. Littlefoot was also surprised at Donnie's remark, as it usually wasn't wise to mock a three-horn.
"Sheesh, what a hard-case." Raph said, crossing his arms, "And that's saying a lot comin' from me."
"Don't let her get to you, Littlefoot. We're still with you on this journey." Leo said.
Littlefoot gave a genuine smiled, "Thanks, Leo! But... there are dangerous sharpteeth out there. And I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me." He said sadly.
Raph folded his arms across his chest, "You really think we're just gonna let you go out there all by yourself?" He probed sarcastically with a small smile..
Donnie nodded in agreement, "Yeah! And you need to get to the Great Valley to your grandparents, don't ya?"
"We're not leaving you, Littlefoot." Leo declared, his expression daring him to disagree, "We're with you all the way."
"Yeah! We're here for you, little dude!" Mikey added in agreement.
Littlefoot was surprised at first before he smiled again as he teared up a bit, "Thanks, guys. That means a lot to me."
"Okay, let's stop with the mushy talk, it's making me feel weird." Raph stated.
The others couldn't help but laugh a bit at that as Littlefoot whipped his tears away. The group then began to walk through the dessert land.
"So, Littlefoot," Donnie began, "Do you remember the way to the Great Valley?"
Littlefoot looked back at Donnie, "Well, my mother told me to follow the bright circle, past the great rock that looks like a longneck, and past the mountains that burn."
"Alright, lead the way, Littlefoot." Leo said.
And so, their journey to Great Valley began.
