Hey guys! Calmoose here! Chomper is my favorite character in the Land Before Time series other than Littlefoot. And I really wanted to write this AU, so I hope you enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I do not own The Land Before Time and never will
Chapter 1: Hatching
It was once again another harsh warm day out in the wilderness. Another day of walking and searching for food and water whilst avoiding sharp-teeth and other dangers in the dry and empty plains. But it was all anyone could do to survive in this harsh landscape.
A now three-year-old Littlefoot trotted happily beside his mother and his grandparents, running constant circles around them with a joyous smile on his face.
From above him, Littlefoot's Mother and two grandparents couldn't help but smile fondly at the young child. How his young and innocent smile pressed on even in these times really warmed their hearts.
However, it was also times like these where they were reminded how he was all they had other than each other. Originally, Littlefoot's Mother had laid several eggs in the nest, but Littlefoot was the only one who had hatched. Sometimes they wished that Littlefoot wasn't an only child. Sometimes they wished that he had a brother or a sister for him to play with, as he didn't really have any friends.
Littlefoot soon stopped trotting when he felt his stomach growling. He was quite surprised that he hadn't realized that he was now pretty hungry. And he needed food.
Coming to a stop, Littlefoot gazed up at his mother. "Mother, can we eat?" He asked. "I'm hungry."
Littlefoot's Mother chuckled. "Of course, my son." She replied kindly. She then spotted a nearby bush that had some green food still on it. Using her jaws, she carefully plucked the green food off the bush and placing it down in front of her son.
Littlefoot immediately began to devour the green food, feeling those soft things hit his taste buds and exploding with flavor in his mouth. Seeing their young charge so hungry, Littlefoot's Mother and Grandparents decided to eat something as well.
Spotting a large tree, the three grown-ups lumbered over to it and began eating the green food off it.
As Littlefoot finished his green food, he realized that he was still hungry. He looked around, and just a little further away from his mother and grandparents, spotted a small cluster of bushes.
The young long-neck wandered over to bushes and began eating as much as he could from the bushes. However, as he ate, he could've sworn he spotted something out of the corner of his eye.
Curious, he looked to where he thought he saw the thing and saw a bit white just behind some of the bushes. Curiosity taking him over, Littlefoot walked towards the object, pushing past the bushes and coming into a small open plain.
The plain was small, but gorgeous in the sunlight, the leafs on the bushes blowing in the wind, as if the plain itself was alive. Littlefoot gazed around in near awe at the beautiful sight. He then looked to the center of the plain, and he gasped in surprise as he eyes widened.
Right in the middle of the plain was a large, oval shaped egg sitting in the middle of a small unattended nest.
Littlefoot gazed at the egg curiously. Many questions quickly filled his head: where were the parents? Why was there an egg just lying here in the middle of this small plain? Who's egg was this? And better yet, who were the parents?
His curiosity once again overtaking him, the young long-neck slowly walked up to the egg. He bent his head forward as he inspected it closely. Who would leave a seemingly healthy egg out here in the middle of nowhere?
"Littlefoot?" The young long-neck heard his mother call him, causing him to raise his head and look behind him.
"Littlefoot, where are you?" He then heard his grandpa call.
"I'm over here!" He said loudly.
The loud cluster of footsteps were soon heard as Littlefoot's mother and grandparents came through the bushes, worried looks on their faces.
"Littlefoot, what happened?" Grandma Longneck asked, her voice tense with concern. "What are you doing?"
"Well..I..I..." Littlefoot paused for a moment as he tried to think of a good way to explain this to his herd. "I was wandering around and eating this greenfood over here when I found this." He then gestured to the egg behind.
Mother Longneck and Littlefoot's grandparents gasped as they gazed at the egg.
"Littlefoot, don't you realize that this could be someone else's egg?" Grandpa Longneck questioned sternly.
Littlefoot shrunk back a bit under his families gazes before he straightened himself. "I just found it, and the parents don't seem to be around." He said innocently. "Maybe we can-"
He was cut off when a small cracking sound be heard coming from the egg. Their voices now silenced, the herd of four looked towards the egg, their eyes widening as they saw that the egg was hatching!
They watched in unwavering silence as cracks snaked across the surface of the shell. Littlefoot briefly put his ear to it to hear out for any signs of life. But he quickly pulled his head back as a single three-clawed foot kicked itself out.
The egg turned over and a short, triangular tail poked out of the back of the egg. The four long-necks felt their hearts beat in anticipation when an upward pressure struggled to push through the egg. Eventually, most of the egg burst open, revealing another three-clawed foot and a body with a pair of tiny, skinny three fingered arms. The last piece of the egg covered the head of the hatchling, further upping the suspense of what kind of dinosaur the hatchling was. But with revelation of most of it's body so far, Littlefoot and his family began to stir with uneasiness.
Judging from it's upper limbs, it didn't seem like the kind of dinosaur that walked on all fours. So it would walk on two legs. But none of them recalled any swimmers that started out this big. Maybe it was dome-head? No, the head shape didn't seem right.
Before they could think of any more possibilities, the hatchling then gracefully tossed the remaining piece of egg shell off it's head and smiled up at Littlefoot, it's complete shape and kind clear for all to see.
"It's-It's a.." Grandma Longneck stuttered, the realization dawning on them.
The hatchling smiled innocently and opened it's mouth in greeting, revealing a series of tiny pointed teeth, and a bolt of terror struck everyone present.
"Sharp-tooth!" Grandpa Longneck gasped as Littlefoot quickly ran behind his mother's leg as the herd slowly backed away from the hatchling sharp-tooth.
But Littlefoot peeked out from behind his mother's leg and gazed at the small hatchling. On the small abandoned nest, Littlefoot saw that sharp-tooth had lowered it's eyes, it's gaze searching around the ground making an indistinct mumbling sound. There was still a smile on it's face, but there was now a tinge sadness with it.
It - he was alone, Littlefoot quickly realized. The little hatchling had just come into the world and there was no one to care for him, no one to look after him, and no one to have fun with him. Try as he might, Littlefoot's felt a wash of sympathy for the baby sharp-tooth.
Summoning his courage, Littlefoot walked out from behind his mother's leg and slowly walked towards the baby sharp-tooth.
"Littlefoot!" Mother Longneck cried, trying to get her son back to her.
But Littlefoot ignored her as he approached the hatchling cautiously, only to be slightly surprised when the hatchling reeled back a bit in what seemed to be a bit of fear from him.
"It's alright." Littlefoot said, his voice soothing and reassuring. "I'm not gonna hurt you."
The hatchling jerked back from him slightly. Littlefoot silently wondered for a moment if he should have invaded the hatchling's personal space when the baby sharp-tooth suddenly licked Littlefoot affectionately across the cheek.
"Friendly, aren't you?" Littlefoot giggled, the sudden lick being somewhat ticklish. He then turned to his family. "See? He's not so dangerous."
Littlefoot's family was in a state of shock. Were their eyes deceiving them? A sharp-tooth showing innocence and love?
Cautiously, Mother Longneck approached the little sharp-tooth, lowering her head down to his level.
Now that she was closer, she could distinctly make out his features better. His skin was a light tone of purple, with his underbelly being a much paler shade of the same color. His feet were rather big with each having three claws.
She gazed into the hatchling's reddish brownish eyes, and she was surprised to find no hunger, rage, or malice as she did with most sharp-teeth. Instead, all she saw was just pure, child-like innocence.
"Are you... all alone, little one?" Mother Longneck asked curiously.
The hatchling gazed up at her, pressing his hands together bashfully, his worshipful eyes falling on the adult long-neck, and Mother Longneck felt her heart melt. Try as she might, she couldn't help but smile warmly at the little sharp-tooth's innocence.
"Can we keep him?" Littlefoot suddenly asked, surprising his family.
"Keep a sharp-tooth?" Grandma Longneck questioned in surprise.
"How can we possibly raise a sharp-tooth?" Grandpa Longneck also questioned.
"We'll take good care of him." Littlefoot said, gently nuzzling the little sharp-tooth, who happily nuzzled him back. "He could be my step-brother."
This took Littlefoot's family even more by surprise. Raise a sharp-tooth? Was Littlefoot out of his mind?
Mother Longneck gazed down at the little sharp-tooth, pondering on what to decide when she then turned to her son. "If he is going to stay with us, he's going to need a name."
Before Littlefoot could answer, a small buzzing noise rose in the air. The hatchling's face brightened as a flying buzzer hovered over his head. A determined excited gleam entered those reddish brownish eyes and he snapped at it with his small jaws, making a loud 'chomping' sound, but missing the buzzer. He tried for another chomp but missed again as the flying buzzer swerved out of the hatchling's bite and landed on a small blade of grass. And despite themselves, Littlefoot's mother and grandparents couldn't help but smile a bit at the little sharp-tooth's adorableness.
"I know," Littlefoot smiled, the hatchling's two biting attempts giving him inspiration, "we'll call him Chomper."
The newly named Chomper lived up to his namesake as he clumsily got to his feet and lunged at the fling buzzer, finally catching it in his jaws as he tumbled across the ground. Chomper then sat up and bit down on the buzzer, spraying yellow fluids across his maw as he gobbled down the buzzer. The long-neck herd cringed slightly as they were reminded that they were dealing with a sharp-tooth. A sweet and innocent sharp-tooth, but a sharp-tooth nonetheless. Still, their newfound fondness and love for Chomper didn't waver.
"I suppose... he is hungry, isn't he?" Grandpa Longneck said hesitantly.
After finishing the buzzer, Chomper gazed up innocently at the family of long-necks. For a moment, Mother Longneck wondered if all the murderous sharp-teeth in the world gazed up at their parents with such sincerity and love while chewing meat. Inwardly, she shuddered. What could lead such sweet and innocent children into becoming such terrifying and brutal monsters?
"Maybe we could teach him to eat green food, like us." Littlefoot replied. "After all, we're his family now." He said, emphasizing his statement with a soft nuzzle, to which Chomper cooed in delight.
"Littlefoot, sharp-teeth can't eat green food." Grandma Longneck told him.
"Well, we can still try." Littlefoot responded, picking up a small pile of leafs in his mouth and placing them in front of Chomper. "Here." He told the baby sharp-tooth. "These leafs are really tasty. Try some."
Intrigued, Chomper bit down on some leaves, trusting Littlefoot's word. His little reddish brownish eyes turning skyward thoughtfully as more leaves vanished into his mouth. Littlefoot watched closely, hope rising in him that maybe this food issue wouldn't be so bad.
But alas, Chomper suddenly spat out the leafs with enough force to send him falling on his back, the green food clearly disagreeing with his taste buds.
Littlefoot's mother and grandparents shook their heads, knowing this was going to be harder than they thought. But nevertheless, they remained undeterred as Mother Longneck bent down and gently picked up Littlefoot and Chomper by their tails and placed them gently on her back.
"Don't worry, Littlefoot. I'm sure we'll find something else for him to eat." Mother Longneck told her son reassuringly. She then shifted her gaze to Chomper and smiled softly. "As for you, we'll take care you now, little Chomper." She then affectionately licked Chomper's cheek, causing the baby sharp-tooth to squeak in joy as he nuzzled her face.
Chomper then let out a long yawn as he snuggled up against Littlefoot. The young long-neck smiled happily as he curled around his new step-brother and fell asleep.
Littlefoot's mother and grandparents smiled as they moved on across the land, carrying their two children with them. If they had been told earlier on that they would have the task of caring for a sharp-tooth, they would've fled from the responsibility as quickly as possible. But now they couldn't even conceive the thought of abandoning little Chomper, especially Littlefoot. They were now determined to stick with Chomper through thick and thin.
And whether they meant to or not, Chomper had now become a part of their family.