A/N: I started this story in 2016 after watching Journey of the Brave. I put it down for years then recently picked it back up. I wanted to explore Littlefoot's and Bron's relationship a bit more. Hope you all enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed writing it. This story starts immediately after Journey of the Brave.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Land Before Time and its characters. Original Characters are mine though.
CHAPTER 1
"Come everyone lets go home," Grandpa had said.
Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky, Spike, Petrie, Chomper, Ruby, Littlefoot's father Bron and grandfather, Mr. Threehorn, Etta, and Wild Arms headed back towards the Great Valley.
"Dad, I'm so happy." Littlefoot said while happily skipping around his father.
Bron stopped, looked down at his son and smiled.
"Me too son, me too. Hey need a lift?" Bron asked, without waiting for an answer he scooped up his son.
Littlefoot was now on top of his father's head.
"Thanks Dad," he said sleepily. He yawned.
Grandpa looked over at the two and noticed how tired Littlefoot was. He figured the other children were tired as well after such a long journey and would probably want a ride too. He looked back and called out, "Children would you like a ride?"
Ducky spoke for everyone, "oh yes yes yes. Please."
The others nodded and Grandpa stopped and lowered his head. The children climbed on and took a seat. All except Cera.
"No thanks, threehorns don't need rides from longnecks."
"Suit yourself," Grandpa lifted his head with everyone on top, and started walking again.
Cera looked at her father and he just nodded. Although he knew she would tire and would need that ride. He laughed, his daughter was just as stubborn as him. Almost immediately, Littlefoot was asleep. He had curled up and nestled against his father. The previous few days had taken their toll on Littlefoot. He had found and saved his father, now he could rest. Bron couldn't feel any more movement from Littlefoot, he knew he had fallen asleep. He looked over at the children noting how exhausted they looked too. He chuckled a bit as he watched Cera being tossed onto her father's back. He knew threehorns were stubborn and this little one was no exception.
They had cleared the land of the featherhead sharpteeth without incident.
"So how did you know where I was?" Bron asked the elder longneck.
A throat cleared and Bron looked down at Wild Arms. "That would be me. I volunteered to lead everyone here."
"Oh really? Then how did Littlefoot and his friends find me first?" This had Wild Arms, his beak was agape. Bron saw his expression and laughed.
"What Wild Arms speaks is partly true. As the herd entered the Great Valley, Wild Arms had been carrying on about how awful the journey to get to the Great Valley was," Grandpa paused. "We hadn't seen you at the head of the herd and Littlefoot noticed this too. So he asked what happened to you. Wild Arms then told how to get to you. Grandma noticed how closely Littlefoot paid attention. So Littlefoot and his friends set off to find you. And Mr. Threehorn and I set out to find the children. Wild Arms here didn't have a choice in the matter."
"And what of the little sharptooth and fast runner?" Bron asked as he glanced at both of them sleeping.
"Unbeknownst to us, those two had followed us and Chomper picked up their scents and led us to you and the children." Grandpa explained.
Bron was confused that the residents in the Great Valley allowed a sharptooth and a fast runner to live among them. He'd have to ask Littlefoot how he became friends with a sharptooth at some point.
"Glad no one was hurt or worse." He meant that.
They came into the clearing of the Great Valley.
"I'll take these little ones home." Grandpa set off to return the children to their respective homes.
Mr. Threehorn walked towards his home. Wild Arms and Etta set off to find the rest of the herd. Bron walked towards where his family lived. He had remembered where it was from his previous visits. He was greeted by grandma. Not too long after, grandpa came into view. Bron lowered his head a bit and Grandma gently took Littlefoot off his father and set him down. He didn't stir. The three grownups just conversed, catching up on things.
Littlefoot was sitting atop of a hill waiting for the arrival of his father and his herd. He was looking forward to playing with his dad and spending time with him. He finally spotted his dad and went racing toward him. Littlefoot tripped over a medium sized bolder and went tumbling down the hill. The ground beneath him fell away revealing a wondrous space causing his stomach to take a dip. An earth shake had violently ripped open the land separating him from his father, the same way the great earth shake had separated him from his mother when the sharptooth had attacked them. "Mother!" he called out and she had saved him and Cera both despite her injuries. "Mother!" he called again as he was falling deeper and deeper into the darkness. "Mother!" he called out again still falling into the darkness, crying now. She never came to him. She never saved him.
Littlefoot had wept his way out of sleep and noticed he was back in the Great Valley, next to his father who was wide awake and watching him. Bron had woken up a little before his son when he felt him start to thrash in his sleep. He silently watched Littlefoot thrash about and was about to wake him up. Littlefoot had tears in his eyes.
"Dad, I."
"It's okay Littlefoot, I'm here now, you were just having a sleep story."
Littlefoot shook his head.
"I don't think so," he said still shaken up.
"Want to talk about it?" Bron asked.
Littlefoot shook his head again "No, not now" was all he said.
He snuggled closer to his father and laid back down. Bron watched on in silence as his son fell asleep again.
The next day, Littlefoot was sitting atop his favorite ledge that over looked the Great Valley. He was staring out into the distance at nothing in particular. He was thinking about his sleep story and his mother wishing she was still there with him. Sure his mother was with him in spirit but it still hurt that she wasn't physically there with him.
"Littlefoot!" Ducky had called, sitting atop of Spike.
"There you are, we've looked everywhere for you." Cera chimed in walking up to him. "We want to play," she finished.
"You all go ahead without me, I'm not feeling that well today," Littlefoot had said still looking out in to the distance.
"You sure?" Petrie asked.
"Yeah I'm sure, I'll see you guys later."
"Come on everyone, let's give Littlefoot some space." Cera said leading everyone away.
"Let us go too Spike," Ducky had said to Spike.
Spike looked at Littlefoot one last time with sad eyes and sighed, he then turned to walk away. Littlefoot continued looking out into the distance, he was glad his friends didn't push him to play. He should be happy, he should be playing with his dad and spending time with him. Then what? His father would leave him again. What was the point? Littlefoot sighed, then lowered himself to the ground with another sigh.
Littlefoot's grandparents and father were near the thundering falls in light conversation.
The gang came running into view. "Grandma Grandpa," they called.
The elder longnecks turned their attention towards the children. Bron just chuckled wondering if everyone in the valley had called them that.
"What is it? What's the matter? Where's Littlefoot? Grandpa asked worried.
Ducky spoke, "he's on his favorite ledge overlooking the valley, he doesn't want to play and he looks very sad." Ducky concluded.
"Thank you children. Go and play, we will take it from here," Grandma had spoken up.
"You sure?" Petrie asked.
The grownups just nodded in response and the children took off.
Once they were out of sight Bron spoke up, "last night Littlefoot was tossing and turning, I'm sure how he's feeling now has something to do with that sleep story. When I asked him about it, he didn't want to talk about it." Bron had observed out loud.
The elder longnecks had looked at one another.
"Littlefoot hasn't displayed anything out of the ordinary. I mean sure he was worried for you when Wild Arms had told everyone what happened, but other than that he's been fine." Grandma had said.
"I'll go and talk to him." Grandpa started.
"That's okay, I'll go find him" Bron suggested.
The elders agreed, seeing as though climbing up that ridge to the ledge wasn't the easiest for them. Grandpa informed Bron how to get to Littlefoot and Bron took off in that direction. Littlefoot could hear heavy footsteps approaching. He had no idea who it was seeing as though he hadn't turned around to find out who it was.
"Littlefoot," Bron called softly. When his son didn't acknowledge him, Bron tried again.
"Littlefoot, is something wrong?" Bron questioned gently.
Littlefoot had sighed, then turned around doing his best to sound like nothing was actually wrong.
"I'm fine Dad!" Bron stared at him with blank eyes, clearly not convinced.
"Littlefoot it's me, now give me the truth."
Sighing again Littlefoot spoke in a hushed tone. "Dad it's nothing really, I'm fine."
When Bron said nothing and continued to stare at him, Littlefoot gave in.
"Okay, okay but I want to be with grandpa and grandma when I tell you what's been on my mind."
Bron nodded and they both began walking back towards Littlefoot's grandparents.
Both elder longnecks silently watched as father and son approached. They both knew something wasn't right. They waited. Bron waited. All eyes were on Littlefoot.
"Last night in my sleep story I was waiting for my dad the same way I always do when he comes for a visit." Littlefoot paused and when his grandfather gave him a nod of encouragement he continued.
"When I finally saw my dad I was so excited that I started running down the hill not even paying attention to what I was doing. I tripped over a rock and went tumbling down the hill. There was suddenly an earth shake and the ground beneath my feet fell away revealing nothing but darkness. It was like that great earth shake that happened when the sharptooth attacked mother, Cera and I."
The elder longnecks gasped aloud. This was the first time Littlefoot had ever spoken about that terrible earth shake or the events that followed. Bron was in shock too because this was the first time ever hearing about his late wife from the firsthand view.
"Littlefoot you don't have to continue," he heard himself saying.
Littlefoot continued anyway. "When I called out to mother, she saved me and Cera despite her injuries, despite the earth shake tearing the ground apart. Only this time in my sleep story, I kept calling out to her and she never saved me." Littlefoot was in tears now. "I miss her so much," he wept.
All three adults nuzzled him.
"Oh Littlefoot," Grandma had tears in her eyes too.
She remembered that very earth shake that had separated her from her only grandson, her precious Littlefoot.
"Stupid sharptooth, mother should have known better. I should have never followed after that hopper, so far from home," he sniffled again visibly shaken.
Littlefoot sighed again melancholy fully engulfing him. The three grownups said nothing at first, the silence washing over them. Then grandpa spoke.
"Littlefoot it wasn't your fault, or your mothers' fault. We all miss her so very much and she'll always be here with us."
Littlefoot cut him off, "where grandpa, where?"
"In all of our hearts Littlefoot, in all of our hearts." A tear slid from his eye now.
The family shared another moment of silence, then grandma spoke. "Littlefoot, your mother will always be here with you."
"No she won't." Littlefoot looked at his father, more angry tears falling. "Just like you. You're going to leave me, just like mother did."
"Littlefoot," was all Bron could say with a sad expression on his face.
Littlefoot said no more and all three grownups were shocked by Littlefoot's outburst. When no one said anything, Littlefoot took off.
"Littlefoot wait, comeback!" Bron called after his fleeing son.
Unbeknownst to the grownups, Chomper and Ruby had witnessed the whole thing. They had never heard Littlefoot speak about his mother like that. Sadness filled both of them.
"I'll find him, any idea where he might be?" they heard Bron asking grandpa.
"Not entirely sure, but I know someone who does." Grandpa was looking pointedly at the bushes where Chomper and Ruby were hiding. "Chomper, Ruby you can come out now."
Since both had been caught, they cleared the bushes.
"Hello everybody, everybody hello," Ruby greeted them all.
Bron looked at Chomper with open confusion now; he didn't know why his son would want to be friends with the very kind that killed his mother. Although it was obvious this little sharptooth didn't do it, there was a chance that one of his parents did.
Chomper sniffed the air, "Littlefoot went this way," he announced and he took off running after the scent.
Grandpa looked down at Ruby who was poised for flight, "you stay here Ruby with grandma. Bron and I will go." Ruby pouted. "We'll be back before you know it," he finished. Ruby and grandma both nodded.
"I'll go, you stay here too." Grandpa looked at Bron nodding.
Bron was right, he needed to be the one to go after his son. Bron nodded then followed after the fleeing sharptooth.
Chomper continued following the scent. "This way, he went this way, come on."
Bron followed Chomper to an opening into the Great Valley that overlooked the valley. He could see the way the little sharptooth cared about his son. Very strange indeed. Littlefoot was atop the landing staring into the blue orange sky. The bright circle had started to set.
Bron looked at Chomper pointedly. "Thank you, I'll take it from here."
"You're welcome Mr. Littlefoot's dad, glad I could help." Bron smiled a bit at that, this little sharptooth was unlike any he had ever come across.
Chomper scampered away.
Bron had approached Littlefoot cautiously. His herd had turned to him for his support and here he was almost unsure of what to say to his son, who obviously needed his support right now. He looked at his son, who still sat starring off into the distance. Bron knew he couldn't just leave after a few days like he normally did. His son was scared that he was going to leave him permanently. He understood that Littlefoot needed him more than just a few days here and there. Bron wanted that too. He wanted to be with his son all the time. No, he couldn't change the past and all the time the two spent apart, but it didn't mean he couldn't start now though. He'd have to talk with the members of his herd and the members who resided in the great valley. Surely both groups would understand the need for father and son to be together. He also saw now that taking his son from his home was no longer an option either. But first he needed to talk with his son and see what he wanted.
"Littlefoot," he called softly.
Littlefoot slowly turned his head and stared at his father. "yes dad?"
"Son, have you thought about what happens now with us?"
"I don't know dad," he looked out into the horizon again.
Bron followed suit finding the sky and setting bright circle to be beautiful.
"Littlefoot, I've asked this question before and you've said the same thing, but I think you know the answer now. Don't you?"
He watched Littlefoot nod his head in agreement. Littlefoot looked like he was deep in thought pondering his answer. Bron waited, giving all the time he needed. He wasn't going to push him.
Another moment had passed, "Dad?" he started tentatively.
"Yes son?"
"Can I tell you what I've been thinking?" Bron nodded.
Littlefoot took a deep breath. "Dad, I want you to live here with me and grandpa and grandma here in the Great Valley. I don't want to only see you once in a while, I want to see you all the time."
He finished, his eyes were downcast as he was sure his father would tell him he couldn't because he was the leader of his herd.
"Littlefoot, look at me." Littlefoot lifted his head and looked at his father, his conviction and all his feelings reflected in his eyes.
Bron saw a young longneck whose bravery transcended the skies, he saw a strong longneck who hadn't even realized his strength yet. His own wants were reflected in his son's brown eyes. For a moment those same eyes that stared at him in question were the same of his late wife. She had given her life to protect their only son. Bron continued to stare at his son, seeing a lot of his wife's features as well as his own. He knew in his heart he had already made up his mind to never leave Littlefoot ever again, regardless of what may come.
After what seemed like an eternity, Bron finally spoke. "I'd like that too son, I'd like to be here in the Great Valley with you and your grandparents. But." He paused and Littlefoot tensed. "I can't just leave the rest of the herd out of the blue either."
Littlefoot sighed. He didn't want to live anywhere but the Great Valley.
"I'd have to talk with the grownups of my herd and the grownups here in the Great Valley too. You see not everyone may want to live here as I do."
Littlefoot's chest tightened, he wasn't sure he understood exactly what his father was telling him.
"You see Littlefoot, the Great Valley is exactly the place your mother and I had wanted to raise you in, which is why I left in search of it. This is your home." He looked around to emphasize his point, "the Great Valley is exactly where your mother would want you to be raised in. And because of that, I won't take you away from here. Had I known the events that were to follow after my departure, I never would have left."
Bron looked up into the sky, then after a moment he turned to look at his son.
"Littlefoot, I am sorry. I know I can't change the past or make up for all the time we spent apart, but I'd like to start right this very moment."
By this time, Littlefoot had tears running down his face. He had high hopes that this would happen and here it was happening. He happily made his way over to his father and hugged his leg. Bron felt this and went to nuzzle his only son. Suddenly all was right in the world.
"Oh Littlefoot," he was almost in tears himself. He picked Littlefoot up by the scruff and set him on his back. "Let's go home now son."
The two headed for home. Bron was pleased with how the conversation had gone.
The night circle was already up when father and son had returned. Littlefoot's grandparents had been speaking in a hushed tone. The look his grandpa gave him made Littlefoot speak first.
"I'm okay grandpa, sorry for making you worry. Grandma I'm hungry can we go eat now?"
"Sure dear," grandma had walked over to Bron and Littlefoot jumped from his father to his grandma. She turned to walk away.
"Bron, grandpa are you coming with us?" Bron and grandpa exchanged looks before grandpa spoke.
"We'll join you two in a bit dear." Grandma nodded and took her leave.
After they left, grandpa turned to Bron, "well what happened?" So Bron told him everything.
Ruby had been watching Chomper intently. He was as still as a rock, unmoving. She could see the depths of his distress.
"Chomper," she called out to her charge and friend.
Chomper looked at her slowly, his eyes full of sadness. "Did you hear that Ruby? A sharptooth killed Littlefoot's mommy." He sighed aloud, "Maybe it's true that sharpteeth are nothing but vicious killers after all."
Ruby went to sit next to him, she put her arms around him. She hated seeing her friends hurt. "But Chomper, you are a good sharp tooth, a good sharp tooth is what you are. And we can't change what we are, because what we are, is what we are."
Chomper half smiled. "Thanks Ruby," he then gently eased himself out of Ruby's arms. Ruby watched a crestfallen Chomper walk further into the cave to settle down for the night.
Bron and grandpa were engaged in conversation when Littlefoot and his grandmother returned.
"Hi dad, hi grandpa," he greeted them both, smiling.
"Hello there Littlefoot," grandpa had greeted him back, Bron winked at him. Moments later Littlefoot had yawned, his sleepiness finally taking over.
"I think it's time for someone to settle down for the night," Bron announced, looking directly at his son. "I think you'll need all the rest you can get because tomorrow we have a long day," he nudged Littlefoot towards his sleeping spot.
"Night grandpa, night grandma" he called out. He happily curled up next to his father, "night dad."
"Goodnight son," he said nuzzling him.
The elder longnecks watched father and son, nodding their heads in approval. They soon went to lie down themselves. Bron watched on as Littlefoot fell asleep. Even though thinking about the future made him feel somewhat restless, the day had heavily weighed on him. Finally feeling relaxed enough, Bron allowed himself to drift to sleep.
The next morning, Littlefoot was the first to wake. His father and grandparents were still asleep. He went over to the watering hole and found his friends already playing swimmer and splasher. When Littlefoot called out to everyone, he was greeted in return. He raced towards the watering hole and jumped in, splashing his friends. They all started playing. Ruby and Chomper hung back. Well Chomper had hung back and Ruby had stayed with him.
"Ruby, Chomper come on," Littlefoot called out as he saw the two sitting on the ground near a tree.
Ruby nudged Chomper and he stood up. He still felt bad about Littlefoot's mommy, so much that it blocked out everything else. Ruby had woken up extra early to gather his favorite bugs and he hadn't even eaten one. He was too conflicted with wanting to be Littlefoot's friend, but he also didn't want to hurt him either. Maybe he should just return to his parents out in the Mysterious Beyond, at least he would be far enough away from Littlefoot that he couldn't hurt him. The thought of Littlefoot not being his friend, devastated Chomper even more. He thought about how Littlefoot had readily accepted him despite the fact he's a sharptooth, even when the others were hesitant. He thought about the time he got knocked into the big water by the mean sharptooth that had fought with his parents. And how Littlefoot had jumped off the cliff, risking his life to save him. He thought about the fact that Littlefoot had become friends with his mommy and daddy as well. Maybe there was hope after all. Maybe he could grow up with Littlefoot and he wouldn't become a mean sharptooth. That thought gave him instant joy and when he saw Littlefoot approaching him with a worried look on his face, he ran over to him and hugged him.
A surprised Littlefoot looked down. "Chomper are you okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine now. Thanks for being my friend Littlefoot."
"I'll always be your friend Chomper, no matter what." Littlefoot said without hesitation. Conviction was in his voice. And Chomper believed him.
Just then the three grownup longnecks approached.
"Come son, its time." Bron said.
"Huh? It's time for what?" A confused Littlefoot asked.
"We're leaving son."
By this time, the others had approached. Everyone had gasped. Well everyone except the three grownups.
"No, I don't want to leave." Littlefoot looked at his grandparents. "Grandpa, grandma?"
They merely shook their heads.
Chomper held onto Littlefoot still. "Littlefoot I don't want you to go," he tightened his grip.
"We don't want Littlefoot to leave either. No no no," Ducky had spoken up too.
"I know children, but it's not forever," grandpa then looked at Chomper. "Now Chomper, let go of Littlefoot so he can go with his father."
Chomper sighed and finally released Littlefoot. Throughout the entire exchange, Bron had remained silent, he was observing his son and his friends. It still amazed him that his son had befriended other species. Snapping out of his own thoughts, he lowered his head and Littlefoot climbed atop.
"Come son, its time." He turned and began walking away.
Littlefoot had turned and looked at his grandparents as well as his friends. He had no idea where they were going or what was going to happen, but whatever was to come his father would be there.
A/N: Bron and Littlefoot left the Great Valley? Will they run into any issues? New characters are introduced in the next chapter.
R and R please. Thank you.
