The dark corridor whistled with a chilling wind that rattled the giant, archway windows. Monstrous, black clouds rumbled with thunder as they swarmed and merged into one another covering the glowing skyline of a dangerous red. Littlefoot strolled nervously down the carpeted hall alongside his quivering friends that stood so close to each other they were almost tripping over each other's feet. Still shaken from their escape from the bizarre, purple whirlwind in the previous room, they were all apprehensively to advance but with no turning back, they had no choice but to continue towards the large, oak, double doors that stood at the opposite end. Littlefoot could feel something welling up inside again but this time it was much stronger than before. Seeing some form of a representation of Jason walking in front of his eyes stirred something that fed the fear spreading through him. It made him feel sick and dizzy to think that the human boy he had honoured and respected as a true friend had been standing before him but he could sense no spirit within the empty shell. Was it really Jason he saw?
"Littlefoot? Littlefoot are you all right?" Ducky asked watching him. Snapping out of his daze, Littlefoot turned and looked at her before nodding slowly.
"What you think this all about? What you think Jason talking about?" Petrie asked.
"I don't have a clue," Cera said dismissively eyeing the dark walls as their faint shadows crawled over them like twisted, demonic creatures.
"Beats me, but I don't think that really was Jason back there…there was something about him that just didn't seem right," Littlefoot said very weakly.
"Oh no, no, no. It did not seem like that was Jason at all! And his voice was loud and scary too; not like his normal voice," Ducky agreed as Spike nodded too.
"Just what is going on in this creepy place?" Cera shouted. Just as she finished yelling, the hall flashed a blinding white light. The gang, completely startled, all screamed and sprinted to the doors ahead of them.
"What was that?!" Cera squeaked as they all skidded to a halt just inches from the door. Whirling around, everyone looked to the window as the great booming of a thunderclap shook and trembled over the city.
"You guys! It was only a sky flash," Littlefoot said trying to control his trembling legs.
"But it so loud! Bigger than when Cera's dad shout!" Petrie exclaimed as he unravelled himself from one of the door handle that he clung to as Spike threw him off his back in his sudden stop. As the gang recomposed themselves, they heard a great click from behind them. Having not fully recovered from their last fright, all five of them sprung from their positions and turned to face the gigantic wooden doors. As if by magic, the doors slowly opened towards them and a seeping mist flowed from out of the widening crack in between the double doors. The gang stood poised yet jittery at the base of them as they swung open and came to a stop at the end of their hinges. None of them moved as they saw more of the mysterious fog roll out of the black doorway that led into a void that looked as if no living being could possibly survive. A fierce wind was picking up and roared past their ears as the mist began to swirl around them engulfing them from their feet upwards. Cera shrieked as she felt something cold and clammy wrapping around her ankles.
"What the!!! Hey! I can't move!" she wailed.
"I am frozen stiff!!!" Ducky squeaked. Her muscles felt like lead weights as she sat paralysed atop Spike who was straining and struggling to move his body.
"Me stuck!" Petrie complained as he flopped onto Littlefoot's head like his wings had been tied to him with invisible ropes.
"What's…going…on?!" Littlefoot strained as speak against the restricting magical force locking his body in place. Unable to budge, they all looked on in terror as the strange mist encircled them and spun around up over their heads trapping them in the eye of a vortex. The gang screamed in fear as their bodies were lifted off the ground and thrown around inside the whirlwind so fast they could feel their consciousnesses slipping away. Littlefoot struggled to breathe as the rushing air around him seemed to escape his lungs. His world began growing whiter and whiter as his slowly felt his perception leaving him. Before long, every single one of them passed out from the magnitude of the forces imposed upon them. The whirlwind continued to spin their lifeless bodies around and around as the entire area seemed to disintegrate and crumble out of existence leaving nothing in its wake. As quickly as the destructive wind had arrived, it disappeared from sight as did the five young dinosaurs.
A few moments passed before Littlefoot felt his consciousness slowly returning to his aching joints. He groaned and whimpered as he lay on a strangely familiar surface. It was soft, cool and constantly moving under his nose on a light breeze. The air brushed over his face as he gently opened his eyes and his senses returned. Raising his head and shaking it a little, Littlefoot looked around at his surroundings and his jaw dropped as he took in every square inch of the land. Just then, he felt his tail knock something very close by. Jumping a bit, he quickly realised that Cera, Ducky, Petrie and Spike were still lying on the ground next to him; all out cold.
"Hey…hey you guys! C'mon, get up!" he pleaded to them standing upright. He unsteadily turned around and nudged Cera's neck and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her grumble and stir.
"Urrrghhh…ahhhh…huh? Where…where am I?" Cera gurgled lifting her head to see Littlefoot beaming down on her, "L-Littlefoot? What happened?"
"I don't know but I'm glad you're okay," he replied helping her to her feet. Not long after Cera's awakening, Ducky, Spike and Petrie began to come around and slowly pulled themselves up to standing.
"Good to see everyone's okay," Littlefoot smiled watching Petrie shake his head so hard he nearly fell over.
"Where exactly are we?" Ducky asked scanning the landscape with the same gob-smacked expression as Littlefoot had before.
"It…it look like……home…" Petrie said awestruck.
"Did that weird whirling-wind send us back to the Great Valley?" Cera gasped.
"Maybe but…where is everyone? There's no one around," Littlefoot said looking left and right for any signs of anyone but the entire area was, indeed, baron and completely deserted.
"This spooky…if we back in Great Valley, why no one here?" Petrie asked quivering behind Cera's neckshield.
"You do not think that that nasty human and Jason's mother came here and…" Ducky gulped unable to finish he sentence. Everyone gave each other a nervous glance without saying a word. Could everybody who lived in their homeland…their family and other friends…be gone? Just then, they all saw something over by a river sheltered by a large tree.
"Look! Who's that standing over there?" Littlefoot said nodding in the figure's direction.
"Don't know. Maybe he knows what happened," Cera said starting for the creature with the others close behind.
The gang stopped a few metres from the creature that stood, leaning up against the overshadowing tree, gazing out over the water as it flowed calmly past.
"Wait a minute. That look just like…" Petrie began.
"Jason! It is Jason standing there!" Ducky exclaimed.
"Yeah it is Jason!" Littlefoot said happily but he quickly felt his stomach drop, "But…it can't be. Jason's…dead... That Jason back in the human world was not real so this one can't be real either."
"Littlefoot, you sure? He looks more real than the last one," Ducky said eyeing him as he stood with his back to them still looking out over the water.
"So what then?" Cera asked getting impatient but she was shocked to hear the human speak to them finally.
"Hasty as always Cera. Constantly charging head first into a situation with thinking about it."
"Jason? Is that really you?" Littlefoot squeaked in surprise recognising the voice immediately.
"Existence is meaningless without a purpose. We are all here for one reason or another and hence, has given way to the most perplexing question to riddle the minds of every intelligent life-form to ever set foot upon this planet. What is the meaning of life? Why are we here? What is the purpose of us existing on this tiny speck spinning within the infinite darkness that is the universe? Many have tried to find answer to this riddle yet no one has emerged with even a glimmer of a solution." The gang looked at each other dumbfounded at Jason's words.
"Jason, what are you talking about?" Cera snapped indignantly taking a step forwards.
"Yeah. You no make any sense," Petrie said clasping onto Cera's neckshield a little tighter as she approached the boy. Jason was still standing, leant up against the tree and refused to turn and look at them.
"Every system that exists is allowed to survive as long as it is in an equal balance where its opposing forces are controlled. This balance is extremely fragile and even the slightest upset can throw that perfect equilibrium into chaos and ruin and once that happens, that system will then wither away. One power must not gain dominance over the other for too long otherwise that power's lack of strength will ultimately lead to its own destruction and all under it's reign will perish. But, if the weaker force can fight back and restore its share in the equilibrium, then that system will live on. This is the way life on the Earth can possibly remain in balance; as plants and animals are born, others die in order to make way for the new arrivals and over time, more and more systems can come into play and so fill the world with many varieties and species of flora and fauna. The world as we know it. But, there is one thing, one system that cannot be controlled. One system that has only one variable and nothing else."
"And what is that?" Littlefoot asked. By now, they had all crept forwards and were standing right behind Jason awaiting his answer.
"Time... It has no boundaries yet it exists like every other living thing. We know it's there because we all develop and grow and change with its tide. We are powerless against it because to deny the passage of time and its natural flow would be to deny the very purpose of being. If time did not run, how it does what it does, then nothing would have the chance to grow into what we recognise in our everyday lives. Evolution and the ability to become more sophisticated creatures would be denied forcing everything to a standstill." The gang remained silent as they watch Jason finally shift from his static position and moved towards the river.
"Take a look at this magnificent place. A wondrous beauty of a landscape that has developed thanks to time's flow. Time is like the river; its flows as a current changing the land as it passes. It can only flow in one direction but the marvellous thing about it all is that, even though you can see the same stretch of water running in front of you, it is impossible to step into the same river twice. It is always flowing…always changing…always a new form spawned from its former self. The passage of time follows exactly the same principle. As if flows, it changes day to night and then, as it continues its course, a new day emerges from the previous just past.
To you dinosaurs, one day feeds into the next and that is all you see whereas our kind can do the very thing that nature cannot define; the reversal of time's flow. With ingenious creations such as these, it is true to say that…nothing is impossible."
"Jason! What are you saying?" Littlefoot stammered perplexed.
"Yeah. By the way you are speaking, it's almost as if you are on Westwood's side," Cera grunted but she gasped as she watched Jason take a step towards the river. Jaws nearly hit the grass as they looked on to see Jason walking on the water without breaking its surface. Every footstep made the water ripple like a stone dropping into the coursing river but his trainers never penetrated the surface. The gang ran to the water's edge as it lapped the riverbank and rolled over their feet. They looked up at Jason to see him smiling with his arms folded across his chest.
"Humans have the ability to reach far greater heights than any other creature on the face of the Earth. Their supreme intellect and unmatched skill in the development of modern technology has enable them to gain the power to govern all living things yet, it is them who need a figure to rule over them," Jason said with an evil twinkle in his eye and a sinister smirk to match that locked Littlefoot and his friends in a tongue-tied silence.
Suddenly, the gang gasped as they watched Jason's body appeared to be vaporizing. He grew fainter and fainter until he was magically replaced with another figure who stood in a business suit with the Red Phoenix logo sewn into the breast pocket. He stood exactly in Jason's stance and position as if a magic cloak had been lifted to reveal him underneath.
"JASON!!!" Littlefoot cried as Jason disintegrated from view.
"Don't waste your breath. You're voice can no longer reach him where he is," Westwood drooled running his skinny fingers through his oily, black hair.
"You again!!!" Cera yelled standing ready to pounce.
"I must admire you're outstanding courage for leading yourselves into my clutches, although there is a very thin line between bravery…and stupidity. Foolish to think that you all wandering here thinking that I can be beaten by mere children of an extinct era," he continued. His smirk failed to fade.
"Hey! Watch it you! I don't have to understand what you said to realise that that was an insult!" Cera snorted pawing the ground. Westwood laughed and shook his head.
"Pitiful. You really don't have a clue at the sheer magnitude and pure power that I can conjure up from my amazing machines! But, sadly, even I cannot create something that is true flawless. Thankfully, I have discovered a new source of energy to make my creations perfect."
"You mean the stones. The Stones of Essence," Littlefoot said boldly.
"Precisely. As I said, humans are the only species to never have a ruler over them. But with my machines and the magic encased in those three stones in their perfect form, I can and will control all. Humans…the heavens and the Earth…and every single living creature under the sun. All mine to rule as a god; immortal with the magic of the stones and undetectable with the ability to change the course of history as I see fit. I could save so many lives with my knowledge and understand to past eras and become a honoured hero with riches untold from every century. On the other hand, I could rule as a fiery and vicious tyrant and cause mass destruction and eliminate every single being who challenges me. I can steal and plunder countless treasures from across the ages and fight entire wars with just me! The true, one-man army! The only one in existence. History will have to dedicated that to me as the immortal that passed from one era to the next with no death date because I would have disappeared from one timeline and reappear somewhere else. I'll become a new wonder of the world. I can picture it all now!"
"You're insane! No one can do all that!" Cera snapped.
"You cannot do this! You will hurt so many things! Why would you want to do such a thing?" Ducky pleaded close to tears.
"Because I can my dear! No one else has done such a feat before and I will show the world the true power that the Stones of Essence have to offer," Westwood said raising one hand and snapping his fingers. Instantly, the grass meadow they stood in evaporated from around them and they found themselves standing in an immaculate office lined with tapestries and portraits, bookcases, a desk and a beautiful stained glass window that stretched from the floor right up to the ceiling that was at least fifteen feet high.
"Welcome to my humble abode. The party is about to begin and I do hope you can stay," Westwood beamed bowing respectfully.
"I don't like this creep!" Cera grumbled to Littlefoot. He nodded in acknowledgement but his eyes quickly fixed on something that shifted out of the corner of his eye. Sitting on top of one of the tall bookcases with one leg looped over the other was the Red Phoenix. She waved and smiled widely as she dropped and floated gently to the ground, hardly bending her knees as the soles of her bare feet touched the thick carpet.
"So you all finally made it," she said smiling sweetly at them, "I must admit I am surprised to see you all saw through my illusions I set around the place. I'm sure many lesser beings would have driven themselves insane trying to escape from their prison without walls. I commend you on keeping such a clear head and beating them."
"So it you who make all those funny things happen. The walls on the stone steps, the dark, whirling winds, all of them," Petrie squawked peeking out over Cera's head.
"Yes, that was me. It was interesting reading your reactions to each of the illusions you surpassed. I even laughed when you flickered your flying friend through the wall just to check if it was real. But the most intriguing reaction was when you came into contact with the one that meant the least harm to you," the Red Phoenix said slowly. Raising her right arm up and out to about shoulder height, the gang watched as human boy walked out from behind her and stood up just in front; a boy of whom they all recognised.
"…Jason…" Littlefoot whispered softly as he stared at the illusion of Jason holding his little, wooden piccolo in one hand and smiling broadly.
"That's right Littlefoot. He too was merely a figment of your imagination created by petty magic tricks to fool the eye. Strange though, despite his calm nature, I felt something unstable within this one when he came face-to-face with you lot in the back offices," the Red Phoenix said waving a hand over the fictitious Jason's head causing him to burst into flames and then disappear on a gust of wind. The gang flinched awkwardly watching, even a surreal version of the real thing, erupt into flames and fade away.
"What did you mean when you said you felt something strange within him," Littlefoot asked croakily.
"I'm not sure. I could tell you sensed something unnatural about him but something seemed to disturb my connection to it as you got closer," she admitted.
"Is that way you made him run away?" Ducky asked naively.
"Perhaps. Either way he did prove useful in bringing you all here for the little gathering we've set up for you," the Red Phoenix said with a much more malicious tone. The gang felt very uncomfortable as they read the evil glare on her face.
"W-www…what 'gathering'?" Petrie asked nervously. Not saying a word, the Red Phoenix turned and looked at Westwood as he turned to look at her at the same time.
"I regret to inform you all that you are all still viewing a very small section of another illusion," Westwood said cupping his hands together and strolling in front of the massive desk set in front of them.
"What do you mean? None of this is real either?" Littlefoot asked watching both humans very carefully.
"Oh no, this is all very much real child. All except for one little section of wall, just here," the Red Phoenix said pointing up to a large blank space above the desk, in between two of the mountainous bookcases.
"What's so special about that space?" Cera barked bluntly.
"In case you haven't already noticed, all our offices contain some means of our company's logo. The phoenix rising up out of the flames it was born from. They either have pictures, medallions, statuettes or paintings of it but our room does not," Westwood announced.
"So what? Maybe it fell down a broke or something stupid. Probably fell on your head and made you insane!" Cera chanted with a childish grin. Westwood's smirk tightened into an expression of utmost anger. With a clenched fist, he threw his hand up to the blank spot on the wall.
"This will wipe that pathetic look off your face!" he snapped as he nodded over to the Red Phoenix. Acknowledging, she lifted her nearest hand to the blank space on the wall and, before their eyes, a giant, gold medallion of the company logo slowly appeared. The metallic structure was easily fifteen feet in diameter and it filled the entire empty hollow that was in place a few seconds ago. Once it was full in view, the gang looked at Westwood who was smiling again.
"And…? That was it? You were babbling on to show us that stupid shiny thing we've seen countless times already?! Gimme a break!" Cera grunted indignantly rolling her eyes.
"I suggest you look a little closer you prehistoric pest! You should have figured out by now that nothing in this world is as it seems," Westwood said dryly. Glancing back up at the medallion, they gasped as they saw two bodies hanging unconscious on it with shackles around their hands and feet.
"Jill! Mr. Stone!" Ducky cried horrified.
"What have you done to them?!" Cera snapped angrily.
"Nothing. They simply ran into a little ambush we had waiting for them. I can assure you that there are much more frightening things crawling around this building than just zombified workers and clients," Westwood drooled.
"They aren't……dead….are they?" Petrie asked as he heard Spike whimper to his left.
"They are perfectly fine. What they fought and destroyed had an emergency defence system which is triggered upon the creature's central nervous system shutting down. It emits a poisonous gas that can knock out a human for anything up to three hours in small dosages and kill in large," Westwood hissed.
"But are they…" Ducky began but Littlefoot interrupted her.
"No! They are alive! Look! They are moving!" he beckoned gazing up at them. All of them breathed a sigh of relief as the two of them began to come around.
"Jill! Mr. Stone! Down here!" Ducky called up to them in unison with Spike's yelps.
"Uurrrgghhh…Ooooohhh…Ducky? Is that you?!" Jill mumbled as her eyesight came back into focus.
"They okay!" Petrie chirped overjoyed.
"Shut it you brats! They will not be so interactive in a short while if you don't do as we request!" Westwood spat disgusted with the happy cheers coming from the dinosaur children.
"What do you want?" Littlefoot asked but he felt his heart instantly leap into his throat as he saw the Red Phoenix pointing directly at him wearing a twisted smile.
"Just you honey. You are all we need right now," she said airily waving her finger around in circles in front of his face. Littlefoot took a step backwards unable to say a word.
"What do you want with Littlefoot?" Ducky asked nervously.
"He is one of the protectors of the stone which holds the power of tears and raw emotion. The Stone of Essence known as the Guardian's Tear Sapphire found its way to him and it is only his life force that can purify its energy and make the second triangle of the Heaven's Eternity Crystal complete," the Red Phoenix explained failing to drop her smile.
"No Littlefoot! Don't do it! Don't let her get to you!" Sergeant Stone bellowed down on him but he flinched as a beam of light struck him across the face.
"Silence!" the Red Phoenix growled lowering her hand from Stone's direction.
"Now Littlefoot. You are to surrender yourself you us immediately," Westwood said taking a step towards him, "Don't make us have to do this by force."
"If you give yourself up Littlefoot, I promise, I will make it as painless as possible. You won't feel a thing," the Red Phoenix cooed signalling for him to come to her. Littlefoot took another step backwards.
"Littlefoot! Don't give up! Run for it!" Jill called to him but the massive, oak doors were already sealed behind them.
"Come on Littlefoot. Let's get this over with shall we?" Westwood said continuing to advance on him.
"No! Never! You'll never get me to help you!" he barked valiantly.
"Don't be a fool child! Surrender now!!!" Westwood snarled but he stopped as he saw bodies starting to cluster around the young longneck.
"Just try it! We won't let you get to Littlefoot! You'll never get close enough!" Cera growled standing ahead of him shielding Littlefoot from Westwood.
"You no gonna hurt Littlefoot! Not if we here!" Petrie bellowed sticking his chest out and perching high on the peak of Cera's neckshield.
"That is right! We will not let you get to Littlefoot!" Ducky snapped boldly as she and Spike stood in front of him completing the protective barrier around Littlefoot. Littlefoot felt a sense of overwhelming joy seeing his friends standing as his defence. He looked at them all in turn bewildered but delighted at their reactions.
"Right on you guys! Stand together and fight as one!" Jill shouted to them feeling very proud.
Standing their ground, Westwood could only look on helplessly at Littlefoot's defences. Slowly, he backed up and returned to his position in front of the oversized desk at the top of the room.
"Courageous little troopers aren't you?" Westwood said flatly, "Admirable but meaningless. Littlefoot…you will submit to me. Because I am sure you are not willing to sacrifice the lives of your friends now are you?" Littlefoot felt an icy chill shoot down his spine making his body shudder at Westwood's words. Before he could speak, Westwood signalled to the Red Phoenix who slowly raised her hand to where Jill and Stone were left dangling.
"NO!" Littlefoot shouted.
"Give up kid! Or I'll give the order for my lovely accomplice to terminate your human friends!" Westwood demanded. Everyone looked at each other worried as they watched Jill and Stone struggling with their shackles.
"What do we do?!" Ducky squeaked panic-stricken.
"Don't listen to him kids! It doesn't matter about us!" Stone shouted to them, "You must not surrender to…" Stone was cut short as a black sphere struck him in the stomach. The impact forced him to lurch up and then fall limply in his shackles.
"Mr. Stone!!!" Littlefoot screamed.
"That was a warning shot Littlefoot. He is not dead but he will be if I hit him again!" the Red Phoenix warned as her hand drifted over to Jill, "I mean it Littlefoot! I will kill them both!"
"No! Y-you can't!" Cera stammered. Suddenly, Littlefoot's mind clicked at her cry.
"No…that's right! No, you can't kill them!" Littlefoot then said triumphantly. Everyone turned to him as if he were mad.
"What are you gibbering about?!" Westwood barked agitated.
"You can't kill them. Not Jill anyway! You already know that she is the last one you need for you plan to work! If you kill her, then you will never succeed!" Littlefoot blurted out.
"That right!" Petrie cawed happily.
"Very well, I will kill the other one then!" the Red Phoenix threatened starting to move her hand over towards the sergeant.
"Oh no you won't!" Jill snapped back, "If you harm Daniel…I'll kill myself in these shackles!"
"WHAT!!!" the gang all cried in shock. They couldn't believe what they had just heard Jill say.
"You'll what?!" Westwood said chuckling.
"I mean it! I'll slit my wrists on these rusted shackles. If not, I'll snap my own neck in between the metal bars of your precious phoenix medallion!" Jill warned glaring at the two of them.
"Get real! You're bluffing! You'll never do it! You don't have the guts to!" Westwood said smirking confidently.
"Try it! I dare you! I'd gladly commit suicide if it is to ruin your fiendish plans! Wanna test your luck?" Jill edged as she began weaving her head awkwardly between the curved bars of the emblem.
"No! Don't!" Westwood yelled to her. Similarly, the gang all leapt forward pleading with Jill to stop.
"Still think I ain't got the guts, scumbag?!" Jill egged on starting to twist her neck at a dangerous angle.
"Alright…alright…stop," Westwood sighed in defeat. Jill slowly untangled her head and watched as everyone, including Littlefoot and his friends, breathed a sigh of great relief. Just as Jill pulled her head out from the medallion, they all turned to Westwood who was laughing and was getting increasingly louder.
"And just what do you find so funny? We just told you you can't have Littlefoot or Jill but you're standing their laughing your head off," Cera said in a mixture of puzzlement and anger.
"I never would have thought I could be played by such infidels like you but it is true that nothing in this world can be predicted," Westwood said slightly out of breath from laughing so hard, "You have shocked me by your consistent ability to pause my plans momentarily but as always, I have found flaws in your arguments."
"What are you getting at pencil-pusher!" Jill snarled.
"You, for one lieutenant, I am astounded to see that you are willing to give your life to save those around you. A noble sacrifice indeed but a futile effort because young Littlefoot will relinquish his life force to release the remaining, dormant power that sleeps within his stone."
"You obviously don't hear very well! We said you are NOT getting to Littlefoot!" Cera retorted standing firmly in her place.
"My dear sweet triceratops; you have it the wrong way around. Littlefoot is the one who will be coming to me rather than me going to him," he said darkly.
"What you mean by that?" Petrie asked cautiously. Westwood ran his fingers through his hair and flicked his head in the direction of the Red Phoenix who had subtly shifted from her position and was lurking in the shadows of one of the bookcases.
"Fortunately, my beautiful assistant promptly reminded me of an ace I've had up my sleeve and completely forgot about. Thank you my dear for that little mental boost there."
The Red Phoenix smiled sheepishly and strolled into the centre of the room dragging something behind her psychically. The gang tried to look at what she had behind her back but she was blocking it completely but from the sound of it being pulled across the carpet, it sounded heavy and bulky.
"What's that?" Ducky asked eyeing the black object.
"That, my dear, is my bargaining chip in getting what I want," Westwood replied with another sinister grin. He waved to the Red Phoenix for her to step out of the way and as she did, they were surprised to see the blacken object was moving slightly. Still unsure of what it was, Littlefoot and the others slowly crept forward so the light coming from the huge, stained glass window could fall on it. They gasped in horror once they discovered what it was.
"ALI!!!" Littlefoot cried. Ali was tied up and gagged squealing and writhing on the floor.
"What did you do to her?" Ducky yelped terrified.
"Nothing too serious. She wandered off, we found her and kept her company whilst you lot were off gallivanting elsewhere. And you call yourselves pals," Westwood tutted and shaking his head.
"Westwood! You bastard! How dare you kidnap that poor child!" Jill spat lividly as he battled with her shackles.
"Kidnap?! Dear God no lieutenant! I didn't kidnap her! I merely took her in and ensured she was taken care of. The only reason she's in these little bracelets is because she refused to co-operate with us; so, we had to make her see things our way," Westwood babbled in a very professional tone folding his arms.
"Let her go!" Cera shouted about to charge but she stopped as she saw the Red Phoenix's hand hovering over Ali's head threateningly.
"I wouldn't be so hasty Cera. Such actions could result in unnecessary end of life," she said calmly. Cera shuffled back in her place grumbling.
Westwood began pacing up and down in front of his desk, staring at the ground just beyond his feet.
"Well now my friends. It appears we have a situation on our hands. You have something I want and I have something you desire. I suggest a trade. A friend for a friend. If Littlefoot agrees to fulfil my wishes and purify his spiritual Stone of Essence, I will release you longnecked companion here. Refuse and…well…I think you can see how this works."
"Dammit! This is blackmail! How can you ask him to do such a thing you cold-blooded freak!" Jill scorned continuing to wriggle in her floating prison.
"I see this as a fair deal. Or unless you'd prefer to see this girl in a less than stable form," Westwood said malevolently as he bent down and wiped a tear flowing from Ali's cheek. He then turn and stared Littlefoot straight in the eye.
"So what's it gonna be Littlefoot? I'm gonna need an answer otherwise your friend will suffer for you lack of rational judgement. The decision really isn't that hard."
Littlefoot felt helpless. He stared deep into Ali large eyes that were glistening and brimming with tears as she laid on the ground unable to do anything. He would never dream of sacrificing Ali to save his own skin but he knew that giving in would mean the end of his life. His mind was racing from one decision to the next as Westwood stood tapping his foot.
"Time's a-wasting kiddo. So what's your decision?" Westwood asked awaiting his reply.
Littlefoot sighed, took a glimpse at the semi-circle of friends surrounding him who were all glaring back with fretful eyes. Unable to sustain eye contact with them, Littlefoot lowered his head and stepped out from his barrier.
"Alright Westwood…you win…" he said finally. The gang gasped at Littlefoot's response as they watched him take another step towards Westwood who was beaming down on him.
"No Littlefoot! You can't do this!" Cera argued jumping in front of him.
"Littlefoot! You cannot let him beat you! Oh, no, no, no!" Ducky whined. Spike too was whinging at his decision.
"No go Littlefoot!" Petrie pleaded but Littlefoot pushed his way through the barricade.
"Sorry guys. I just can't let them finish off Ali. I'm the one they want, not her. If she died because of me, I could never live with myself…" Littlefoot said slowly and defeated. He looked up at Jill but she remained silent as she looked at him from her perch on the wall.
"This is a very brave thing to do Littlefoot…very few are willing to forfeit with lives in order to allow another to live…even though I don't want you to take this foul trick, it is you're decision…" she then said with a rather broken voice. Littlefoot nodded and smiled sheepishly as he came to a halt at Westwood's feet.
"I'm here now…let Ali go…" Littlefoot said to the ground. He couldn't muster the courage to look Westwood in the face.
"Very well. A deal is a deal. I am a fair businessman after all," Westwood replied. Gesturing to the Red Phoenix, she snapped her fingers and the ropes that bound Ali's legs together suddenly sprung to life and slithered like snakes across the carpet and wound themselves around Littlefoot's ankles forcing him to flop to the floor. As the gag shot from Ali's mouth to his own, Littlefoot saw Ali getting to her feet and running over to him as he laid completely immobile.
"Littlefoot! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean for this to happen!" Ali sobbed but something struck her and she tumbled into the rest of the gang causing them to all topple over.
"I take it you enjoy torturing these innocent children, do you Westwood? Just when I thought you couldn't stoop any lower…" Jill scowled disgusted.
"All in the name of business my dear lieutenant…and in the next few minutes, the greatest business contract is about to be signed by two of my three clients. The former child, Jason…and now Littlefoot. With two essences safely contained, you will be the final one to fulfil my destiny!" Westwood cackled as he watched Littlefoot's tied body being dragged slowly across the carpet by an invisible force. As he inched, slowly towards the Red Phoenix's feet, Littlefoot silently looked up to his friends who were all stretching out as if they wanted to touch him but they remained in their positions looking on powerlessly. After a little while, he felt his shaking body come to a slow stop. Looking up, he saw the Red Phoenix gleaming down on his as he quaked with fear at his looming death. Turning his head, he laid it flat on the carpet and shut his eyes offering no signs of resistance as Westwood sniggered triumphantly.
Chapter 61: The Greater of Two EvilsThe gang looked on helplessly as Littlefoot lay pathetically at the feet of the Red Phoenix.
"A noble, young creature who treasures the most simplest of things in life. A rare class of heroism seen only in the eyes of very few, but it is such a shame that you allowed such things force you to withhold your full potential and enable you're foes to manipulate you so easily," she said smiling down on him lovingly. Littlefoot didn't move at all as the dread and fear of his looming demise drew closer with every second that past.
"Only a select few have been chosen to be the ones to hold each of the stones. Untold power and infinite wisdom buried deep within them as individuals but combined together, that power is unleashed. Even in your passing Littlefoot, I will utilize that energy stored within you and you're stone," the Red Phoenix continued but her tone was very sweet and motherly. Littlefoot could feel himself losing control as his body began to tremble and his eyes started to water. Across the way from him, he could faintly hear his friends sobbing. Even Cera, the emotionless triceratops who felt no pain, was weeping quietly knowing that if she tried to intervene, his death would become much more horrific. Unable to withstand the running of high emotions in the room, Westwood slammed an angry fist down on the desk causing a deafening bang.
"Can we hurry this along? As touching as this may appear, I have a plan of world conquest to consider and all this talking and moping isn't assisting my schedule!" Westwood growled but he was surprised to see the Red Phoenix laughing. Her cackling instantly broke the fragile atmosphere forcing every pair of eyes upon her. Nevertheless, she didn't seem to care that she had suddenly become the centre of attention.
"What's so funny Phoenix?! I find nothing remotely humorous about your stalling! Hurry it up!" Westwood argued hotly.
"All you businessmen are all the same. All you care about are your meetings, contracts and schedules. HA! Mindless morons!" the Red Phoenix sniggered averting her eyes to lock onto the director who was standing with his arms folded looking very insulted.
"What did you say?! How dare you talk so arrogantly about me! Let's not forget that I am the visionary who formulated such a marvellous innovation to change the world. You are merely the fuel for the motor!" he spat.
"You speak so lowly of such fuel Mr. Director. Unlike the substances your kind uses to run your petty machines to do your bidding, this fuel is far too volatile for any vessel to contain and much too dangerous to be simply thrown into a metal shell," the Red Phoenix replied threateningly. Westwood clenched his fists and his face shook, pursed up with anger.
"Watch your tongue witch! I was the one who decided to resurrect your lifeless body almost a decade ago using the most sophisticated technology known to mankind. It was I who gave you a second chance to walk the Earth as no lesser a being than a human. I could have easily brought you back as a bloody lab rat!"
"Oh! A thousand thank yous your royal highness! Please accept my deepest and most humble apologies for my lack of verbal control," she replied sarcastically bowing low and throwing an arm across her chest as if to sweep the ground respectfully.
As she held her position, facing the floor, the Red Phoenix heard a number of terrified gasps emanate from Ali, Cera and the others. Looking up slowly, she found her eyesight directly in line with the barrel of a handgun.
"Don't patronise me bitch, otherwise I'll have you quickly re-acquainted with this pistol! It's killed you once already and I'm sure it would be happy to kill you again!" he warned edgily. Everyone, including Littlefoot, stood utterly thunderstruck watching Westwood and his partner bickering like children in a schoolyard squabble. The Red Phoenix slowly stood upright with an expression of utmost seriousness and disgust as she watched the pistol, in the director's hand, follow her up.
"Although you murdered me in cold-blood that day seven years ago and resurrected me to toy, drug and experiment on like a plaything, my spirit lived on in the soul of my son. When I took his life and regained my spirit, my deepest, most dreaded memories of my previous life flooded back in a waterfall of raw emotions. That gun and the puny, pathetic bastard who fired it were the only visions I could see. Jason's hatred for you and this company burned even fiercer than my own and it fed my thirst to get even…" the Red Phoenix said speaking very slowly and concisely. Her eye burned into Westwood's as she took a step over Littlefoot and slowly walked towards him, "Up until now, I have played this little charade and pretended to act as your mindless puppet, obeying orders. But not anymore…"
"STOP! I mean it woman! I created you and I can destroy you just as easily!" Westwood croaked pushing the gun closer but stepping backwards as she approached.
"Yes, you created me and it was you're supervirus that reanimated my deceased body, but your fatal mistake was entrusting this great power, the greatest power in the universe, to me. I am more than a human now…I am so much more powerful than you can imagine or even hope to control…" the Red Phoenix said sternly as she continued to advance on him.
"Back off bitch! I won't tell you again!" Westwood shouted pulling the hammer of the pistol down, priming it to fire.
"You make me sick! You caused countless deaths with your virus and for what? A 'get-rich-quick' scheme? Humans are so pitiful. Too blinded by prejudice and greed to be concerned about the destruction they bring to the planet; like a plague. The Earth would be so much cleaner and healthier if none of them existed at all!"
"Wha d'ya mean by that!" Jill shouted down on them quarrelling. The Red Phoenix stopped and turned to look up at her.
"Exactly what it meant. Humans have always prayed and pleaded for 'world peace'. Unlike this piteous vermin of a being, I am going to fulfil that wish," the Red Phoenix announced coldly.
"You will? How?" Jill asked very concerned by her tone of voice.
"I will give humans their 'peace' by making the entire human race extinct! I'll wipe them off the face of the Earth!!!" she bellowed.
"WHAT!!!" all the dinosaur children wailed in horror.
"No! You can't!" Jill cried.
"Humans were not designed to bring each other joy, happiness or anything of the sort. They only bring about pain, death and misery to their own kind and every other living thing around them. They mindlessly destroy each other for nothing more than land, money and supremacy. Even after all that, the person with the biggest wallet always wins whatever is left of the wasteland that remained in their wake. World peace cannot be achieved whilst they wander around, plundering the planet of its beauties and natural wonders! There is not a hope in hell!"
"No! You're wrong! We can obtain our world peace. Humans have come a long way and have achieved many great things in their existence. Many mistakes have be made but it is our success as a race that will unite and conquer our differences. Our dream of world peace can become a reality."
"Really? You'd expect men like this pencil-pusher to be able to understand how to admire something without having to destroy it and see how much it can be sold for? No! He will never learn…humans will never learn. Besides, my motive is not for the humans' sake, it is for the sake and conservation of this planet," the Red Phoenix said sinisterly but her words were harsh, strong and incredibly focused, "my cleansing of the Earth shall start as of now. Starting with insignificant, little parasite! And once I have restored the Heaven's Eternity Crystal to its fullest, I will heal the rest of the world as well." Westwood's eyes widened with fear as he stared into the Red Phoenix's cold, merciless eyes.
Watching her starting walking towards him again, Westwood hastily pulled the trigger at point-blank range. Having all slammed their eyes shut on hearing the gunshot, everyone opened them again slowly and were flabbergasted to see the Red Phoenix standing perfectly still with the bullet hovering half an inch away from her forehead.
"How did she do that?!" Ducky gasped in astonishment but the others were far too amazed to reply. Westwood glared open-mouthed, hardly able to comprehend what he had just witnessed.
"H-how……could…!?!" he stuttered horrified.
"Please! If I can stop a ballistic missile and an entire rifle's magazine, you're really expecting that measly little pea-shooter to do the job?" the Red Phoenix said degradingly, taunting him with a sly smile and excited eyes, "I thought even you had a few more brain cells than that Dominic…" Panic-stricken and enraged, Westwood roared and fired repeatedly at her. His warcries and fierce gun-firing forced everyone within close proximity diving for cover. Lowering his weapon, Westwood continued to stare powerlessly as the Red Phoenix had frozen every single bullet inches from her face.
"Imm…Immmm…Impossssibblle!!!" Westwood babbled.
"Imm…Immmpossibbllee! Hah hah har! What's the matter?! I do believe you missed me poppet!" the Red Phoenix mocked pathetically.
"Incredible! She stopped every single shot and didn't even bat an eyelid!" Jill whispered to herself in awe.
"What happen?" Petrie squawked peeking over Cera's neckshield.
"Look! She is still standing there!" Ali exclaimed amazed yet fretfully.
"How did she survive all that?! I thought those 'gun' things were supposed to kill stuff like they did to the sharpteeth back in the Valley?" Cera said completely confused.
"Could it be magic she is using?" Ducky asked but everyone's attention was re-diverted to the Red Phoenix who was prodding the suspended bullets and counting them aloud.
"Fourteen…fifteen…" she recorded but stopped and placed her head in her counting hand, " Hmm…now correct me if I'm mistaken but that is a custom made handgun that is supposed to fire…sixteen rounds isn't it?" Burning with rage, Westwood flicked the pistol back up to firing position.
"Wanna find out the hard way, you back stabbing, traitorous she-devil?!" he edged firing the last shot. To his surprise, the trigger appeared to be frozen solid and refused to budge. Westwood attempted to shoot again and again but nothing happened.
"What's…wrong…with this…stupid…" he barked at the weapon.
"What's the matter honey? Gun not working?" the Red Phoenix asked sweetly raising a hand to him. To his shock, Westwood found the gun trying to leave his hand. Struggling to keep hold of it, he felt the psychic force increasing and gradually overpowering him as he thrust his free hand to fight with the gun. The gang watched and gasped as the pistol suddenly shot out of Westwood's hands and floated into the Red Phoenix's outstretched one.
Weaponless, Westwood watched in horror as the Red Phoenix began examining the pistol for the cause of the problem.
"Ahhhhh! Here's your problem…" she announced pulling the turret back and firing on Westwood without any warning. The bullet struck him, hitting him in his left kneecap and sending him screaming and tumbling to the floor, " Doesn't help if the safety's on deary," the Red Phoenix said smiling and tossing the now empty gun to one side.
"Damn you…you flicked the safety down…you dirty…!!!" Westwood cursed but he quickly yelled in pain as another bullet tore through his right arm.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk! Such rudeness! Rudeness I am no longer tolerant to!" she tutted as she psychically shot the floating bullets at her target. Westwood could do nothing except scream in agony as he felt every shot plough straight through his limbs rendering him completely immobile. Littlefoot and his friends slammed their eyes shut unable to watch Westwood being tortured at the hands of the Red Phoenix who seemed to be enjoying him suffer. Upon throwing the penultimate bullet and striking Westwood in the shoulder, she stopped and walked over to him as he lay, breathing heavily, soaked in a growing puddle of his own blood. Jill, who could barely watch the shooting herself, looked down on the crippled man very puzzled.
"What is she planning?" she thought, "None of those hits are critical enough to cause death. They are all in his arms and legs…what's she playing at? Planning to watch him die of blood loss? Or does she have something else up her sleeve?"
Walking over to him, the Red Phoenix held her hands over the injured director and lifted him off the ground. Floating in mid-air, Westwood, shaking and fitting uncontrollably, feebly looked at the evil woman as she beamed at him sadistically.
"How did that feel? Painful? Good…because that was for everyone of my loved ones you murdered with your virus. You robbed me of my children, my family and my life!"
"W-why didn't…you just…kill me…?" Westwood gurgled.
"I haven't killed you because I wanted you to feel the excruciating pain of the lives you destroyed. Before I wipe out the humans, I felt I should at least claim vengeance for those who fell victim to your petty scheme for wealth."
"But…you killed…your own child…" Westwood croaked.
"I killed Jason because my trapped spirit was still inside him. I understood that when I was draining his life force and claimed the energy for his Stone of Essence. By reclaiming my spirit, my hatred for you and the misery you put me through with those experiments of yours! You even had the nerve to give me a serial number as if I were nothing more than a lab guinea pig. The serial Alpha-Delta 1615 ring any bells?! I'm sure they do," she spat as she turned around and stopped just passed the final bullet that was still floating in its place.
"You're an insane, possessed psycho! A monster hell-bent on causing nothing but death and destruction to all you see!" Westwood said coughing sickeningly.
"Now you know how the world looked upon you as a being of this planet. A soulless killer but I will heal the planet. I wouldn't expect a desk worker like you to understand the logic behind my actions, but you can be rest assured…you won't be given the chance to comprehend…" the Red Phoenix said without turning to face him. Westwood felt a wave of dread shudder down him as he watched her slowly levitate to the same height as him with her back still towards him. No one could break eye contact with the two of them as they both hovered as if suspended on invisible threads. Suddenly, the Red Phoenix spun around at lightening speed and kicked the last bullet straight towards Westwood's chest. The shot hit its target and the incredible force behind the strike carried him backwards through the large stained-glass window. The coloured glass shattered as the evil man wailed and plummeted to the pavement, over fifty stories, below.
"Happy landings…Mr Westwood…" the Red Phoenix whispered with a deathly smile as the sky cracked with lightening and rumbled with thunder.
As the erratic weather gradually died down, the gang slowly unfurled from each other terrified by the flashing sky and the thunderclap as they witnessed Westwood's deathly freefall.
"Oh my goodness!" Ali gasped as she surveyed the office that was now littered with shards of coloured glass.
"Westwood's gone!" Cera cawed breathlessly.
"A fitting end for such a fool…" the Red Phoenix replied dismissively kicking a loose piece of glass behind her, throwing it out of the shattered window.
"But you were together! Why you do that to him?!" Petrie asked floating down to the ground and investigating a tiny glass fragment that was close by.
"I had no intention of helping that low-life purge the world of its riches. Crap like that doesn't interest me," she said as she slowly stepped towards Littlefoot, "my ambitions require the co-operation of certain individuals…"
Drawing closer, Littlefoot began to squirm and writhe but quickly gave up. He was bound too tightly to resist or flee. Quick to respond, Cera jumped forwards and pawed the ground, ready to attack.
"Oh no you don't!" she yelled charging straight for the Red Phoenix. Smiling, she raised a hand and a bright, pink flash erupted from her palm. Unphased by the sparkle, Cera suddenly felt her head hit a hard surface unexpectedly. Having hit the surface at full, ramming speed, Cera bounced backwards and landed on her back unable to see clearly.
"Cera! Are you all right?" Ducky cooed as Spike leapt over to her.
"Ooooooo…my head…what happened?" Cera gurgled dizzily. Once the others had formed around her, they all looked up towards the Red Phoenix to see a glistening, pink wall blocking them off from Littlefoot.
"What is this thing?!" Ali called placing her front feet on the translucent wall.
"Just a little playpen for you children to watch from as I obtain the second Stone of Essence's power. I suggest you say your goodbyes now because you won't have long once I lay hands on him," the Red Phoenix told them from over her shoulder before staring for Littlefoot again. The gang pounded with all their might against the bizarre force-field but it was impossible to destroy. Watching helplessly, Littlefoot found a pair of bare feet directly under his nose. Following them up slowly, he cringed as he saw the Red Phoenix beaming down on him.
"Come on. We have wasted enough time," she said to him sweetly, "let us begin…"
Chapter 62: Purity of HeartDesperate to reach Littlefoot, Cera and the others pounded and hollered to him through the pink barrier which clattered loudly but didn't budge an inch. Jill rattled her metal cuffs angrily trying to free herself but they only held her tighter. The Red Phoenix looked around at the chaos and distress Littlefoot's friends were demonstrating and then looked down on him again.
"Seems as though your pals are just as excited about all this as I am," she said smiling. Littlefoot whimpered and shuffled slightly as the pandemonium continued around him. There appeared to be no way out of this one as the evil woman knelt down beside him.
"You're strong kid. You have a divine and incredible inner strength; very rare for someone of your age. It is a shame that it appears to be the only way for me to achieve my goal and believe me…if can claim the life of my only remaining child, I can claim yours just as easily," she said to him potently. Littlefoot began to shudder as the Red Phoenix stood upright, took a deep breath and raised her hands over him.
"Time to end it," the Red Phoenix said finally. Littlefoot suddenly felt something pick him up effortlessly, almost as easily as his grandparents lifting him up. He was astounded by how his entire body was being manipulated and rotated without him shifting a single muscle. He came to a slow stop, floating off the ground with his eyes in direct line with the Red Phoenix's. With an unfading smile, she gingerly placed the palms of her hands on his cheeks and stared deep into his quivering, sparkling eyes.
"Now just relax. I assure you, you won't feel a thing," she told him softly but Littlefoot was far from relaxed as he sat suspended in her hands with his life about to end, "close your eyes and think about everything you love and cherish. These memories will carry you off to the next world."
Before he was able to make a decision, Littlefoot automatically felt his eyelids becoming heavy and his mind instantly switched to his most cherished thoughts that clouded his vision. He could feel a strange, glowing warmth growing from within as scenes of his past flickered before him. He began to daydream about his mother, his grandparents, meeting all his friends for the first time, their perilous journey to the Great Valley and the overjoyed feeling of finding it after so many trials and obstacles. The countless other adventures he and the rest of the gang went on, experiencing many new sites and making new friends. Littlefoot could feel the small, growing warmth spreading slowly through his body as his memories turned over like pages of a book. The next chapter he found himself viewing were the events that had taken place once Jason had made his first appearance in the Great Valley. From the very second he met him, Jason had saved him and gotten him out of trouble. Navigating out of the Forest of Fear, saving him from drowning, rescuing Dinah from the Smoking Mountain, reviving Cera's father and all the other events and hardships they had overcome. He could easily see every detail and action that occurred as if he were standing in the very moment, reliving it all over again. Being submerged in his deepest of memories, Littlefoot began to feel that warmth from before starting to burn more fiercely and spread more quickly. It has suddenly erupted into a fiery burst which was radiating from the tip of his tail right up to his face.
From the outside looking on, the dinosaur children and Jill stood marvelling at a glowing, blue aura which was encircling Littlefoot's levitated body. It was wrapped around him like a flowing cloak and the shade of blue was continuously growing deeper in colour. As he floated with his head in her hands, the Red Phoenix's devilish smile lengthened as she could feel Littlefoot's life force gathering and building up for her to steal.
"Yes…keep dreaming little one. I can sense your energy collecting nicely. Soon, you won't be able to do anything but sleep for all eternity…" she whispered to him. Unable to hear her words, Littlefoot continued to dream about his past. So far he had been enjoying every aspect of his life as the burning sensation carried on growing exponentially. Suddenly, Littlefoot felt something strike him like a heavy blow to his stomach. It made him lurch uncomfortably at the sight he had just envisioned. Before his eyes, Littlefoot found himself revisiting the moment when Jason fell victim to his mother as she robbed him of his life force.
"JASON!" he tried to cry out to him as Jason dangled in the Red Phoenix's hands.
"L…Lit-Lit…Little…foot…….I'm…I'm sorry…" he heard him hoarsely whisper back.
"N…no!" Littlefoot gasped to himself, "…No!…Not again!" Jason's eyes locked with his for one last time before the bright flash that signified the end of his life erupted before Littlefoot's eyes forcing him to shield them as best he could. As the light slowly dissipated, Littlefoot focused back on Jason and his mother as he lurched up and crumpled limply in her arms.
"JAAAASSSOOONNNN!!!" Littlefoot screamed as he watched history repeating itself.
Suddenly, Littlefoot's world seemed to be deteriorating around him. Extremely confused,, he managed to break himself away from the chaos surrounding him and tried to examine everything. Peculiarly, every single drop of colour had been sapped from the trees, the sky; the entire Green Meadow in fact. The whole area was a bland shade of black and white. Even his friends, Jason and his mother and the elder dinosaurs who stood on the opposite side of the magical wall of fire conjured up by the Red Phoenix were all ghastly shades of unnatural grey. The surprises didn't end there as Littlefoot quickly discovered more bizarre happenings. Looking back to the Red Phoenix holding Jason's lifeless body, he was thunderstruck to realise that her lips were moving but no sound was coming from them. Turning to the others, he was amazed to find that they had also become completely mute.
"What's going on?! I can't see any colours and I can't hear a thing! What's happening to me?" Littlefoot whispered to himself in awe. He was shocked that he was able to hear himself but nothing else.
Before he could concentrate long enough, Littlefoot noticed erratic movements out of the corner of his eye. Reacting to it, he looked up to see the Red Phoenix hurl her son's dead body into the air silently. As Jason landed awkwardly on the soft grass, Littlefoot galloped over to him and scanned his immobile torso. Despite having happened already, it was excruciatingly painful to have to witness it a second time.
"Oh Jason…I'm the one who should be sorry…" he said barely able to keep looking down on him, "…I made so many stupid mistakes. I gave up my stone without thinking of the trouble it would cause and I pushed you away. If I knew all this was going to happen, I never would have picked up that lousy, blue stone in the first place!" Littlefoot began to sob as his inaudible world continued to revolve around him.
"Jason…………I am so sorry………"
From inside the executive office, everyone was still feebly trying to get to Littlefoot but their prisons refused to give. The Red Phoenix was smiling gleefully as she felt the energy reaching its peak.
"Just a little longer kiddo," she whispered but her attention was suddenly drawn to tears forming in the corners of Littlefoot's eyes, "I know, the past can hurt…but soon it will be the only thing that will link you to the realm of the living. A pitiful memory of a meaningless existence." Reverting her eyes back down, she returned to sapping Littlefoot of his life force. As she became engrossed in her energy withdrawal, the Red Phoenix failed to notice Littlefoot's tears starting to roll down his cheeks as he subconsciously dreamt of his history. The tears tumbled down his face and paused on his chin where more and more began to congregate. Ignoring them, the Red Phoenix could sense the final ounce of Littlefoot's life about to leap out of his body but before she reached that breaking point, the tears that had collected on Littlefoot's chin dripped off and landed on her right arm.
As the tear made contact with her skin, the Red Phoenix was horrified to suddenly feel an eruptive burning searing down her arm. Unable to bear the massive pain, she broke her focus and released Littlefoot who, instantaneously, gasped for air as if he had just surfaced from being underwater and snapped his eyes open. As his consciousness was instantly restored, the cloth in his mouth and the ropes that magically bound his legs together fell to the ground.
"Wha…What is this black magic!?!" the Red Phoenix screamed in pain and awe as Littlefoot suddenly felt the pull of gravity promptly return him to the ground. Hitting the carpeted floor as full force, Littlefoot puffed exhaustedly. His body felt numb but every nerve in him was burning and tingling. Shaking his head to clear himself of the daze, Littlefoot looked up to see the Red Phoenix clutching and writhing with her arm as if a parasitic worm had crawled beneath her skin. Just then, his attention was drawn to a loud clattering to one side of him. Whirling around, he saw Cera, Ducky, Petrie, Spike and Ali trapped behind the pink force-field. Still with the remnants of tears in his eyes, Littlefoot ran over to them whilst the Red Phoenix was subdued.
"Littlefoot!" they all called as he came bounding over.
"Guys! Hang on!" he shouted to them.
"No Littlefoot! Wait! The wall!" Ali tried to warn him but Littlefoot was too far I his hurried strides to react in time. Ploughing headlong into the translucent wall, the gang were amazed to find that Littlefoot had penetrated it and passed straight through it.
"Wha! How the?!" Cera babbled dumbstruck.
"What? What'd I do?" Littlefoot asked curiously.
"How did you get through that pink wall?!" Ducky gasped.
"Huh?" Littlefoot said rearing back a little confused but he followed his friends' eyes behind him to the force-field. On the wall, at Littlefoot's eye level, a blue, glistening substance was sprayed all over it. It was the last few drops of Littlefoot's tears. As they all looked at each other astounded, the pink wall began to crack. Jumping beside his friends, Littlefoot watched awestruck as the cracks grew ad spread outwards rapidly. Within a few seconds, the entire magic wall looked like an extremely fragile panel of glass on the verge of breaking. After a split second pause, the pink barrier exploded and shattered into millions of tiny shards before evaporating into the air.
With their prison destroyed, the gang darted out and headed to where Jill and Stone were hanging from their shackles. But before they got too far, they all screeched to a halt as the Red Phoenix, panting and holding her injured arm, stood up and glared at Littlefoot spitefully.
"You!…You four-legged, bewitched little runt! I don't know how you managed to do that but you will regret it!" she hissed scornfully.
"B-but…I don't know how I did it!" Littlefoot protested.
"SILENCE! I was going to give you a peaceful passing but now, you will all die a lowly dog's death just like Westwood," the Red Phoenix spat as she glowered down on them all. All six of them inched backwards slowly as they watched her massage her injured arm.
"It's time to die!"