And Now

Here's Chapter 12

Of The Dinosaur Revolution

Realizing and Accepting the Truth

A day has passed since Sakaki's failed attack on the Grand Valley and Hiro's loss to Sakaki as well and ever since that day, Sakaki was finding it very hard to accept that what Heart said was true. He may still be the leader, but no big jaw will do what he says anymore because of the ways he has been ruling. He was just the leader of himself. None of the other big jaws would listen to him anymore or do what he asked of them. Instead they just did things on their own such as hunting outside of the valleys for their food. And speaking of which, at that moment, many of the big jaws from the Valley of the Meat Eaters had gone outside of the valleys so they could hunt food to survive. There were not a lot of big jaws in the Valley of the Meat Eaters at this time.

Sakaki hadn't eaten in a few days as well (He would had eaten the previous day, but the hunt on the Grand Valley failed) and he knew that if he didn't eat soon, that he could possibly starve to death. So out of desperation, he decided to go the Grand Valley one more time to find any plant eaters, maiasauras or not, that he could eat. He knew that it would be hard because he'd be going by himself with no other big jaws, but he didn't care. All he cared about was eating any meat he could find before he starved.

While Sakaki was looking in the Grand Valley for food he could eat, Heart was also looking for meat he could find as well. Not long before Sakaki entered the Grand Valley, Heart had left the two valleys so he too could find meat to eat.

It took Sakaki a while to find a plant eater to eat, but after searching he was able to find a plant eater. But when he found the plant eater, he was very surprised to find out that he knew him. The plant eater that Sakaki had found was none other than Umasou, Heart's son. Umasou was just trying to find some red berries that he and Heart could eat, once he returned. When Umasou saw Sakaki in the Grand Valley, he was feeling both surprised and angry.

"What do you think you're doing here Sakaki? Haven't you caused enough trouble in our valleys already? Nobody wants this war to continue and nobody wants you as a leader!" snarled Umasou.

"Yeah I know. I'm a horrible excuse for a leader and I've made terrible decisions. Heart was right about everything. Now I'm just the leader of myself. I have no followers left. Hell, in fact I'm the only one here now. All of the other big jaws have left to hunt outside of the valley," muttered Sakaki.

"Well with the way you were ruling your valley and declared war with your peaceful neighbors, you can't really blame anyone but yourself," said Umasou.

"Yeah, and that's why I've made up my mind. I am calling off all attacks on the Grand Valley. The war I have started is now over, because I'm the only fighter left against so many," said Sakaki.

"If that's true, then why are you here now then?" asked Umasou, confusion apparent in his voice.

"Because I'm not here to attack the maiasauras. I have to eat meat soon. I haven't eaten in a while so if I don't eat I could die. I'm just looking for any plant eaters I can find that I can eat, but I'm surprised that I ran into you of all plant eaters. I don't deserve to be called the leader anymore. I wish I could just give the leadership to Heart so he can change things for the better good," said Sakaki.

"I don't understand. If you want to make Heart as the leader, then why don't you? You're the leader of the big jaws after all," said Umasou.

"It doesn't work that easily. In order for someone to become the leader of the Valley of the Meat Eaters, they have to challenge the current leader to a duel and win. That's the only way he can become the leader. I guess the other way he could become the leader was if someone else challenged me in his place and if they win they could declare Heart as the winner and leader since they were advocating for them. You know that actually gives me an idea. That is, if you're up to it," said Sakaki.

"What's that?" asked Umasou.

"A while ago, I heard that a hard shell was able to take on a big jaw by himself. I want to see for myself if the rumors are really true. Umasou, I want to challenge you and if you are able to defeat me, then I will make Heart the new leader of the Valley of the Meat Eaters," said Sakaki.

"But what if I lose?" asked Umasou.

"Simple. If you lose then you'll be my next meal," said Sakaki. Umasou was taken aback by his words.

"So what do you say? If you're really as strong as I've heard you are, you can end this war and everything will be peaceful once again," said Sakaki.

"If it's one of the only ways to bring peace back, then I accept your challenge and I will fight," said Umasou.

"Good, but since we are already here and away from a lot of others, we should just have our match here. I'm sure that's all right with you," said Sakaki.

"It is fine with me," said Umasou.

"All right. Now show me how powerful you really are!" said Sakaki, flicking his tail in anticipation.

At that moment, Heart had finished eating enough meat to make him full and he was ready to return back to the Grand Valley. Luckily for Heart, he was only ten miles away from the Grand Valley because he was able to find plant eaters that were closer to the valley than normally. So it wouldn't take him long to reach it.

"Boy that meal was delicious. I hope everything back in the Grand Valley is going fine. I should start making my way back now," said Heart to himself. So he began making his way to the Grand Valley.

I wonder if Sakaki really listened to what I said about him the other day. He really has fallen as a leader and he can't continue with this war. He has no one left who will follow him. Will he ever truly learn? Heart thought to himself as he continued to make his way to the Grand Valley.

Back in the Grand Valley, Sakaki and Umasou were starting their fight. Sakaki tried to charge and bite Umasou, but he was able to move out of the way every time Sakaki tried. Umasou was able to hit Sakaki with his tail a few times and his body stung from the powerful attack.

Those big jaws weren't lying. This hard shell is pretty skilled after all. But now should I really give it my all or just fake it and let Umasou win? No I shouldn't think like that. A fight would be a fight if we both didn't give it our all Sakaki thought to himself.

"Well Umasou, I must say that I am impressed at your skills. Not many hard shells especially at your age can stand up to a grown big jaw like myself," said Sakaki.

"Thank you. I have my dad to thank for teaching me how to defend myself from big jaws. He taught me well," said Umasou with a cheeky smile on his face.

"Yes he did. But don't think that means I'll start going easy on you. Let's fight for real and give it our all. Fight as if your life is on the line and I'm trying to eat you," said Sakaki, snickering.

"Even though you are, I will keep giving it my all," said Umasou.

Meanwhile in another part of the Grand Valley, Heart has finally returned from hunting. Now he was trying to find his son Umasou, but he looked in the resting grounds and with his mom and younger siblings, but he wasn't able to find him. So Heart asked his brother if he might know where he is.

"Hey Light, have you seen Umasou anywhere? I checked the resting grounds and with mom and the other but he wasn't there," said Heart.

"I haven't seen him recently, but I know that not long after you left for hunting that Umasou decided to go on a walk. I'm actually a bit worried as well. That was a while ago and he should have come back by now. You should go looking for him. He's probably just in the woods somewhere and might have lost his way. I'd help you find him if I could, but being the leader I have to keep an eye on the herd in case the big jaws try to attack," said Light.

"I understand. Thanks Light. I'll just try to find him. I'll be back," said Heart. So Heart began looking for his son Umasou.

While Heart was busy looking for Umasou, he was still fighting Sakaki by himself and was still managing to endure Sakaki's attacks. Umasou was starting to get exhausted and beat up for fighting for a while, but surprisingly Sakaki seemed to be tired out as well. He even seemed to be more exhausted than Umasou.

I knew this hard shell was tough, but does he manage to keep on fighting even after all my attacks on him. No hard shell should be able to last this long against me. I might actually end up losing this fight after all. To think, a big jaw losing to a hard shell like Umasou. Well at least I've tried to be the best ruler I could be Sakaki thought to himself.

But Sakaki wasn't going to just give up to Umasou. He wanted to keep fighting until he was defeated, not by giving up the fight. He then used a head butt on Umasou and even if it wasn't his strongest, Umasou felt it and was in quite a bit of pain.

Meanwhile Heart was in the forest, frantically searching for Umasou. After what Light said, Heart was worried about his son being in trouble. After searching for a while, he was finally able to see his son, but he was in total shock when he saw what he was doing. He saw Umasou fighting Sakaki, not knowing that Umasou actually agreed to challenge him and not that Sakaki was trying to kill him.

In rage, Heart kicked Sakaki with all of his strength he had. Both Umasou and Sakaki were surprised when they saw Heart.

"So brother, you're really this evil? You dare scoop so low to get to me that you try to kill my own son?! I'll kill you!" said Heart.

"Dad please don't! Sakaki wasn't trying to kill me! He came here at first to hunt for plant eaters by himself, but when he found me and after we talked for a while, he offered to challenge me to make you the leader. He isn't as evil as everyone says he is!" said an upset Umasou.

"Is this true Sakaki?" asked Heart.

"Your son speaks the truth Heart. I'm only here because I need to eat meat soon or else I'll starve to death. I just ran into Umasou and we were on good terms. In fact, I've been meaning to tell you also that I'm calling off my attacks on the Grand Valley. I was a fool to ever make such a stupid decision. I also challenged Umasou because I truly have listened to what you have said to me. I'm not fit to rule the Valley of the Meat Eaters anymore. I'm just a ruler of myself, no one else. If Umasou would have defeated me, then you would be the new leader of the Valley of the Meat Eaters," said Sakaki. Heart was now feeling guilty for being too rash to his brother.

"I understand. Well I'm sorry for being so rash and kicking you like that. It's just that I could never live with myself if I lost Umasou. He's the most important thing to me, well him and my family. But if you don't want to be the leader anymore, then why don't you just make me the leader so the two valleys can live in peace once again?" asked Heart.

"Like I told Umasou, it doesn't work that way. In order for a new big jaw to take my place they HAVE to defeat me in a duel. That's just the way the rules are. I can't just change them! Do you think I wanted to be the leader of the Valley of the Meat Eaters?! I never even wanted to rule the valley when our father told me I was going to be the leader!" said Sakaki.

"Wait a minute. You mean you never wanted to be the leader in the first place?" asked Heart.

"Right. Our father Baku didn't want to stay cooped up in the Valley of the Meat Eaters either. He wanted to explore the world. So he tells me, while I am still young that I will be the ruler of the Valley of the Meat Eaters. I tried to get him to change his mind and to find someone else, but he wouldn't hear of it. He said that because no other big jaws had challenged him for leadership, that he couldn't give it to just any other big jaw. So Baku retired, I became the leader of the Valley of the Meat Eaters and one month after I became the leader, he left not returning until just recently. Don't you get it?! Our father abandoned both of us. He gave me the leadership of the Valley of the Meat Eaters against my will and he never even raised you up!" said Sakaki.

"That may be true, but our father is NOT a bad man. He didn't abandon me, he tried really hard to find me after my egg was lost during the storm and he wasn't able to. If he did abandon me, then he never would have tried to find me. And the reason he never came back to the Valley of the Meat Eaters is because he's the ruler of the plains. He's still a leader, just in a different place. He even saved the big jaws from a herd of gluttonous long-necks from the south. He cares greatly for the safety of the big jaws of the plains. That's why the big jaws of the Valley of the Meat Eaters don't trust you or want you as their leader. Unlike our father, you don't care for their safety either. All you've thought about was just the safety of the big jaws. You never once thought of the safety of the plant eaters who were PROMISED they would never live in fear of being eaten. And it's all because of a drought," said Heart.

It didn't take long for Sakaki to realize that what Heart said was right. "You have a good point. All this time I've only cared for the safety of the big jaws, not once thinking of the safety of the plant eaters and our promise of peace. I never wanted to be the leader and this here is proof of it," said Sakaki.

"Well if that's the case, then let us finally have our duel you've been waiting for. You may have challenged my son to a duel and he agreed, but I can't let you get away for it either way. Sakaki, I Heart challenge you to a duel for domination of the herd. If I win, then I will become the new leader of the Valley of the Meat Eaters and Hiro and Sagi and his family can stay as well," said Heart.

"All right then. And if I do end up winning then you and your friends will be banished from the two valleys. But that's only if you lose. Because I'm still a bit beat up, we shall have our match in three days if that's all right with you that is," said Sakaki.

"I accept your terms and the match then. In three days we will have our duel in the Valley of the Meat Eaters. Also I'll try to get you some meat as well since you need some," said Heart. Sakaki was surprised when he heard Heart say he would get him food.

"Well thanks Heart. Also when we have our match, I will allow your family to watch it as well," said Sakaki.

"Thank you brother. Well then I'll see you soon with meat that you can eat and I can't wait for our match," said Heart.

"The same to you Heart. And let's make our match truly a fight to remember. Let us both give it our very best," said Sakaki. So he began to make his way back to the Valley of the Meat Eaters. Heart and Umasou made their way to the resting grounds.

"Dad will you be okay?" asked Umasou, voice wavering in worry.

"Of course I'll be ok. I may be going up against my own brother, but at least he really has changed greatly. I'm proud of him. I'm also proud of you as well Umasou. You agreed to challenge Sakaki to make me the leader, even if it meant risking your own life. You cared so much about protecting the valleys and returning peace, that you almost gave your life for it. I am very proud of you," said Heart reassuringly.

"Thank you dad. Now I want to go home and just rest up from my attack," said Umasou, a weak smile on his face.

"I can understand. You got beat up pretty bad, so you deserve a good rest. And while your resting, I'll be looking for food again to give to Sakaki," said Heart.

"Sounds like a good plan. Let's go home dad," said Umasou.

It didn't take them long before the two of them reached the resting grounds. When they got there, Umasou quickly found a good place to sleep, while Heart told Light where Umasou was and his match with Sakaki.

"I see. So you're really going to through with this fight?" asked Light.

"Of course I am. Sakaki really has changed a lot and now he even wants me to become the leader of the Valley of the Meat Eaters. I think he's finally accepting the truth that his time as the leader is finally over and he wants to give it to a new big jaw. He even wants you and mom and the others to join me and watch the match in the Valley of the Meat Eaters," said Heart.

"Well it's good to know that he's changing and peace will finally return. I'm sure that I can make to the duel as well," said Light.

"That's good. Well I'll be back again. I promised Sakaki that I'd get him some meat so he doesn't starve. See you soon," said Heart.

"Take care brother," said Light. So once again Heart left the Grand Valley to find food for his brother Sakaki.