Chapter 5: Metal Deception
Chomper continued leading Sonic and the others to his secret hiding spot. Chomper led them to a tree that made a bridge across a cliff. Sonic, of course, wasn't afraid of heights but the others kids felt very uneasy. Chomper wasn't afraid though. Chomper started to cross the tree bridge.
"Come on. It's fun!" said Chomper. He made it to the other side without any trouble.
Littlefoot saw how high the cliff was. "Some fun" Littlefoot said with a gulp. The little Longneck crossed over the bridge, followed by Sonic. Cera then started to cross. Cera was very afraid of heights but she was determined to be brave.
"I… (whimper) I won't look down" said Cera. She continued to say 'I won't look down' a few times as she crossed. Petrie then decided to spook Cera. He tricked her into looking down below by making funny sounds.
"Me make you look" teased Petrie. The little flyer then flew over the bridge. Cera hmphed and crossed over as well. Sonic smiled and shook his head. Spike started to cross. However, everyone didn't know that Metal Ducky followed them. The fake Ducky flew over and landed behind a tree so they wouldn't see it. Metal Ducky then peeked from behind and grinned evilly.
Spike then crossed over the bridge. Everyone silently gasped when they didn't see Ducky. She wasn't on Spike's back this time. Littlefoot and Sonic called out for Ducky. They all looked around for Ducky.
Cera then frowned at Chomper. "You didn't have a midmorning snack while we weren't looking did ya?" said Cera. Chomper looked a little sad and confused.
Littlefoot frowned at Cera. "Cera, knock it off!" said Littlefoot.
Sonic also frowned. "He didn't hurt her. Besides, Chomper was in front of us and Ducky was beside us." Littlefoot and Sonic called out to Ducky again.
"I'm coming!" shouted a voice. They all looked toward the sound. They saw Ducky crossing over the bridge. They all sighed with relief. But they didn't know that it wasn't the Ducky they know but Metal Ducky disguised as her. Ducky then crossed the bridge.
"You alright? You had us worried for a moment" said Sonic.
Ducky looked a little sad. "I'm sorry. I wanted to look around and I almost got lost."
"It's okay. Just stay close to us and don't wander off again" said Littlefoot. Ducky nodded.
"Yeah, Eggman could be watching or another Sharptooth could attack" added Sonic. Cera then looked back at Chomper.
"Sorry… about what I said before" said Cera.
Chomper smiled. "Oh, it's okay."
"So, what about this hiding place? We going there or not?" said Cera.
"Sure. Come on!" said Chomper. Chomper led the way again. Ducky then hopped on Spike's back. They were almost there. However, they didn't notice that Fake Ducky grinned sinisterly and its eyes flashed red for a second. Eggman now watched through Metal Ducky's vision. The evil doctor grinned darkly.
"Here it is" said Chomper. He pointed to a big patch of tall plants. It had some pretty flowers. Petrie liked the pretty flowers.
"Ooh! Pretty!" said Petrie. He sniffed the flowers but he looked disgusted. The flowers smelled awful.
"But it no smell pretty" grimaced Petrie.
"I call this the stinky place. You'll be safe here cause nobody will be able to smell you" said Chomper.
Cera was starting to have second thoughts about the hiding place. But then everyone heard roaring in the distance again. Cera screamed and ran into the stinky plants. Everyone laughed a little. Cera peeked out of the plants with a frown.
"I can change my mind can't I?" said Cera. She then went back inside the hiding place. The others then followed. The place really did smell terrible. Sonic didn't mind much. He smelled more awful things from factories or ships made by Eggman. Spike started to eat some of the plants. The others told Spike to stop. They didn't want him to eat up their hiding spot.
"If you guys are hungry, I can bring you some food" said Chomper. The kids started to give Chomper some requests. Littlefoot then suggested some Tree Stars. The kids agreed with that. Sonic wasn't very hungry though so he didn't say anything. Chomper then nodded.
"Okay. This will be fun. I just love having friends for dinner" Chomper said as he walked away. The kids felt a little afraid when Chomper said that. But then they laughed a little. Chomper then grabbed a very big leaf. He used it to carry some plants and berries he gathered. He thought that plants and berries were yucky but he knew that the plants would please his friends. The others waited for Chomper to return. Cera wondered if Chomper would try to eat them, but Littlefoot and Sonic thought otherwise. Chomper's parents then saw their son gathering leaves and berries. His parents had puzzled expressions.
"Sometimes that boy worries me" Chomper's father said in Sharptooth tongue.
Chomper then walked back to the hiding place carrying the tasty food for his friends. He made it back to his friends in no time. He brought different sorts of leaves and fruits. The kids shouted in joy. They all enjoyed the food. Littlefoot then told Chomper how they got here and Sonic told the others that their parents are okay. He also told them that he will help them find a way to get off the island. Fake Ducky ate some of the leaves. While the others weren't looking, Fake Ducky then spat out the leaves from out of the tall plants. Robots cannot digest plants or any food. Chomper, however, didn't want his friends to leave. He really wanted them to stay and he said that he could take care of them, just like they took care of him.
But Littlefoot then said that it might not be a very good idea living in a stinky place. Their parents would miss them too. Sonic agreed with Littlefoot.
"Besides, it may not be safe for everyone to be living near dangerous Sharpteeth" said Sonic. Chomper looked very upset, but he thought that Littlefoot and Sonic could be right.
"Thanks for the food though. Sure you won't have a bite?" said Littlefoot as he pointed at the leaves.
"Well, I…" started Chomper. He walked forward a little. Cera went wide-eyed.
"Littlefoot watch out!" exclaimed Cera. Chomper froze. He looked very upset.
"Uh, no thanks. I uh, I gotta go" Chomper said with a sad expression. Chomper walked away from the tall plants. Littlefoot and Sonic looked a little upset. Both Littlefoot and Sonic frowned at Cera. Sonic also crossed his arms.
"What did you say that for?" asked Littlefoot.
Cera frowned back. "Because he's a Sharptooth! Get it through your head!"
"Cera right. He cute now but someday…" said Petrie.
"He may decide that we are things to be eated" said Ducky. Spike nodded in agreement. Littlefoot didn't agree though. Sonic did agree that Chomper would be different and scary when he got older but he believed that it didn't matter right at the moment.
"He's helped us a lot and we hurt his feelings" said Littlefoot. The little Longneck decided to go find Chomper. He ran out of the tall plants after Chomper.
"He doesn't have feelings! He's a Sharptooth!" Cera yelled out to Littlefoot. Littlefoot didn't listen and still ran to find Chomper. Sonic then frowned at Cera again.
"Everyone has feelings Cera. Even the mean ones" said Sonic. Cera wouldn't listen though.
"Well, if Sharpteeth did have feelings, then they wouldn't try to eat us now would they?" said Cera.
Sonic started getting tired of her attitude again. "Well, has he tried to bite you yet?" asked Sonic.
Cera raised an eyebrow. "Well, no." But then she frowned again. "But that doesn't change anything. Chomper's still a Sharptooth and a Sharptooth will NEVER be our friend."
Sonic's eyes went a little wide. Then he glared at Cera.
"Cera! Can you stop being so proud of yourself for once?!" exclaimed Sonic. Cera's eyes went wide. The others silently gasped.
"I'm going after Littlefoot" stated Sonic. The Blue Runner walked out and went to find Littlefoot. The kids watched Sonic walk a few feet away. Cera then looked at the others with an angry expression.
Cera hated it when Sonic stood up to her. "Sometimes I wish Sonic wasn't our friend" said Cera. Cera then hmphed and turned her back on Sonic. Sonic stopped walking when he heard Cera say that. Cera thought that Sonic didn't hear her but he did. Sonic sighed. He knew that Cera got her temper and stubbornness from her father. But he wished that she would see things differently. Sonic looked back at the hiding spot.
"When will she ever learn?" thought Sonic. He then ran off to find Littlefoot and Chomper.
Cera then saw that there was one last Tree Star on the big leaf. Cera wondered if Littlefoot would still want it. But Spike got to it first and ate it up. However, they failed to notice that Ichy and Metal Sonic were watching from above in a tree.
"Okay, time for the next part of the plan" Eggman told Ichy and Metal Sonic.
"You got it Doc!" said Ichy. Eggman groaned at what Ichy said. Metal Sonic then flew over to another tree. Ichy then surged with electricity. He changed his colors to look like Petrie's mother.
Petrie then heard a small voice from one of the trees. "Petrie? Petrie?" It sounded like Petrie's mother.
Petrie looked up to one of the trees. "Mama?" He then saw a Flyer hovering around the tree. Petrie gasped. While the others weren't looking, Petrie flew up towards the other Flyer. The Flyer then landed where Metal Sonic was hiding. Fake Ducky watched and smiled darkly. It was all part of the plan. Petrie landed on the tree and looked around.
"Mama? Where are you?" said Petrie. Petrie heard the voice again near some plants on a branch.
"Petrie, is that you?" said the voice.
"Mama! Me coming!" said Petrie. He flew into the plants. But he stopped and greatly gasped. He ran into Metal Sonic! The blue robot mimicked Petrie's mother's voice.
"Oh, what's wrong my dear little Flyer" said Metal Sonic. The evil robot then chuckled darkly.
Petrie shook with great fear. "You not m-m-my m-mama! You b-b-b-bad S-Sonic!"
Ichy then landed near Metal Sonic and changed back to his normal colors.
"Ha Ha, you fell right into our trap kid!" said Ichy. Petrie screamed in fear. He tried to fly away but Metal Sonic grabbed him in a flash. Petrie tried to call for help but Metal Sonic kept his beak shut with his fingers. Metal Sonic wrapped Petrie in a metal coil and stuck him on the tree. Petrie tried to get free but the metal coil held tightly. Another metal Flyer came by and landed near Ichy. It was Metal Petrie. Petrie gasped at his evil copy. Metal Petrie surged with electricity and transformed into a clone of Petrie. Petrie was shocked and he was too afraid to say anything as he stared at his lookalike copy.
"Now fly back to the others" Ichy commanded Metal Petrie. The Fake Petrie nodded and flew down to the ground. Ichy then looked at the real Petrie.
"So long kid Ha Ha" said Ichy. Metal Sonic and Ichy flew off again. Petrie tried again to get free from the metal coil. He tried using his beak to break it. He tried a few times but nothing happened. Petrie wouldn't give up so he kept trying. He knew that he had to tell friends about Metal Sonic and the fake robots.
Cera then noticed that Petrie was missing. "Where's Petrie?" asked Cera. Spike and Ducky looked around. Spike then noticed a strange smell. It wasn't the stinky plants. It was something else. Ducky then jumped off Spike.
"I'll find Petrie. I will" said Ducky. Ducky walked out the plants.
"But Ducky wait" said Cera. Spike murmured a little. But after a moment, Ducky came back in with Petrie behind her. Cera frowned at Petrie.
"What were you doing Petrie?" asked Cera. Petrie looked at Ducky then back at Cera.
"Me sorry Cera. Me saw some more berries up in that tree" said Petrie as he pointed at a tall tree. Cera raised an eyebrow.
"Well, don't wander off like Ducky did. We have to stay here" stated Cera. Petrie nodded.
Spike smelled that strange smell again. It came from Petrie. Then he smelled Ducky. It was the same strange smell. Spike looked confused. Petrie then frowned and his eyes flashed red. Spike went wide-eyed. Ducky then patted Spike.
"What's wrong Spike?" asked Ducky. Spike then frowned a little at Ducky and Petrie. He thought that there was something that wasn't right. But then Spike paid it no heed right now. Maybe it was just the plants he ate. Cera then looked out into the woods. She wondered what Littlefoot and Sonic are doing with Chomper.
Meanwhile, the real Ducky tried to get free from the metal coil. She tried using her mouth to break the coil, but she wasn't strong enough. She had to try to escape and warn her friends.
Back with Chomper…
Chomper sniffled and a tear went down his cheek while he walked. Littlefoot called out to Chomper.
"Chomper wait, please" said Littlefoot. Chomper stopped walking and looked Littlefoot. He still looked upset.
"Look, about what happened back there…" said Littlefoot. But before Littlefoot could say more, Chomper's mother appeared and roared. Littlefoot screamed and hid behind Chomper. Sonic heard Littlefoot's scream and zoomed to find him. He hid behind a tree when he saw Chomper's mother. He peeked from behind the tree. He saw Littlefoot cowering behind Chomper. Chomper's mother growled.
Sonic's eyes went wide. "Oh no! I gotta help Littlefoot!" thought Sonic. But before Sonic could do anything, he saw that Chomper's mother nuzzled her son and didn't hurt Littlefoot.
The yellow tyrannosaur turned around and walked away. Sonic hid again so the tyrannosaur couldn't see him. But the tyrannosaur stopped when it smelled Sonic's scent again. It looked around but then it walked away. Sonic sighed with relief. Sonic walked over to Littlefoot and Chomper.
"You alright Littlefoot?" asked Sonic.
"I'm okay" said Littlefoot. Littlefoot then looked at Chomper.
"I'm sorry about Cera" said Littlefoot.
"Yeah, she can be stubborn sometimes but don't let her upset you" said Sonic.
"Don't worry. You are what you guys are, and I am what I am. We can't change it but we can still be friends, can't we?" said Chomper.
"Of course we can" said Littlefoot.
"You got it" added Sonic. Chomper then heard his parents call him with growling sounds.
"I better get home. See you guys later" said Chomper. The little tyrannosaur ran off to his parents.
"See ya!" said Sonic. Sonic then looked at Littlefoot. "We better head back."
Littlefoot nodded and said "yeah." Littlefoot and Sonic ran back to the stinky place. Littlefoot then said that somebody must have eaten his Tree Star. Sonic raised an eyebrow and shrugged. They both went back to the hiding spot. When they got back, Littlefoot shouted that if somebody ate his Tree Star, he would be angry. Cera and Ducky came out to look at Littlefoot with upset expressions. Then their expressions turned into fear. Sonic wondered why they got afraid all of a sudden.
"That's right. You better be scared" said Littlefoot. But Littlefoot didn't know that the Giganotosaurus has found them and it was the reason the others were afraid. Sonic looked behind himself and silently gasped.
Littlefoot spoke again. "Because if somebody ate it, I'm gonna…"
"Littlefoot!" shouted Sonic. They all heard the Big Sharptooth roar at them. All the kids except Sonic screamed at the mean Sharptooth. The kids hid back in the plants, but the Big Sharptooth ripped out a bunch of plants out. The plants didn't hide the kids anymore. Sonic stood his ground and glared at the mean Gigasaur.
"Run guys!" yelled Sonic. The kids took off running. Sonic got into his fighting stance. The Gigasaur roared at Sonic. But before Sonic could react, Metal Sonic appeared and rammed into Sonic. They went flying a few feet into the woods. The Gigasaur wondered what those 2 blue creatures were. But the Gigasaur ignored it and went after the children.
End of Chapter 5