Chapter 6: Protection

Back in the Great Valley, Bron spoke to Littlefoot about Littlefoot's mother.

"When your mother and I first met when we were your age," Bron said, "I felt the love inside me, and I thought to myself, 'Boy, she is so beautiful.' We go together as the years roll by. She was like a cheerful longneck to me. I miss her so much."

Littlefoot sighed. "So do I. She just sacrificed herself to save me from Sharptooth. But for these years, I never knew I had a father until we met in the migration," he said.

Bron smiled. "And I am glad to see you that first time, Littlefoot. Your mother will be proud."

"You told me that before, Dad. I'm so happy to have you."

"Hey, Littlefoot," said Ali, approaching Littlefoot.

"Ali. What are you doing here?"

"Shorty was asking if we can play a game. Wanna join?"

"Sure, no problem."

Littlefoot, Shorty, and Ali played a game of Hide and Seek. Littlefoot started counting.

"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten..."

Bron and Grandpa Longneck talk about their journey.

"So, Bron, how are you able to get to the Great Valley?" Grandpa Longneck asked.

"Are you kidding? The same way we took," said Bron, "just like before, across the swamp and through the fast water."

Grandpa Longneck hugged his son. "We hope you to live with us as a family, Bron. Littlefoot's grandma and I won't be around forever, so you will be with him all the way, even with Shorty."

"Thanks, Papa. I'd be glad to live here. After all, I do miss you."

"So do I you, Bron."

Littlefoot went looking for his friends in the Great Valley. "They gotta be somewhere," he said.

Inside the cave watching Littlefoot is the same purple Sharptooh (Megatron). He and the Predacons are hiding in the cave.

"So what now, Megatron?" said the red flyer.

"Waspinator want to capture Long Neck for sure," said the big wasp (Waspinator).

Megatron turned to the red flyer. "You just have to wait until I give the signal," he said. He then turned to Waspinator. "And be patient, Waspinator. We will bring the Longneck, and he will lead us to the mountain, the same mountain where his ancestor found the Cyber Star. Yes."

The scorpion with a cobra's neck and head for a tail crawled in and said, "Megatron, are you sure about this?"

"Quiet, Quickstrike," said Megatron. "Of course I'm sure about this." He then turned around with an evil smile. "We will be ready for him."

"And one day," said a giant red ant, "victory will be ours."

"Yes, quite so. But no more talking."

It was some time later when Littlefoot had found Ali and Shorty. He had found Ali behind a tree, and he had found Shorty in a bush. "That was fun," he said.

"Sure is," said Ali.

Megatron turned to the Predacons. "Remember, Predacons, never move out of the cave until I give the signal. Understand?" The Predacons nodded. "Good. Now stay put." Suddenly he jumped off the cliff with a roar and landed on the ground, much to the shock of all the dinosaurs, especially Littlefoot and his friends. They ran off, but Littlefoot tripped on a rock and fell while running.

"Littlefoot!" cried Grandma Longneck.

Chomper ran to help Littlefoot, only to be held back by Cera. "Littlefoot!" he cried.

"Behold!" roared Megatron. "I am Megatron, ruler of the universe! I am here to claim who shall lead me to the star I seek to find!" He pointed at Littlefoot. "You, descendant of Senior Longneck!"

"Me?" Littlefoot gasped. "But I don't remember anything about that mountain!"

Megatron approached Littlefoot. "You don't have a choice, Longneck. No. You're coming with me."

"Stand down, Megatron!" shouted Optimus.

Megatron turned to see Optimus Primal charging toward him and kicking him in the chest, sending him flying toward a tree with a crash.

"Optimus Primal: Maximize!" Optimus said as he switched to robot mode.

Megatron stood up. "Well, well, if it isn't the infamous Optimus Primal."

"Leave now, Megatron!" said Optimus. "This planet is under protection of the Maximals!"

"After the Predacons take control, the dinosaurs won't stand a chance."

"I'm warning you, Megatron!"

"On the contrary, you should heed my warning, Optimus! Yes! Megatron: Terrorize!" He switched to robot mode, his Sharptooth head and tail as his hands.

Littlefoot gasped. "They both changed their forms. Maximals are like Predacons," he said.

Optimus approached Littlefoot. "It's true," he said. "We are shape-shifting robots from Cybertron light years from Earth."

Littlefoot glared at Optimus. "Then you're on their side. You lied to us!"

"No, listen. Predacons exist to conquer and destroy, and Maximals are here to protect and defend."

"How should I know who to trust anyway?"

"That's a decision you have to make for yourself."

Optimus turned around just in time to see Megatron preparing to swing the tail at him. Optimus grabbed it. "Go!" he said to Littlefoot. "Run!"

Shorty pushed Littlefoot away from Optimus. "Come on!" he said.

Megatron tossed Optimus to a tree nearby. "Blasted Primal! I'll teach you a lesson if it kills me! Predacons, attack!"

Optimus called the Maximals. "Maximals, prepare to attack!"

The Predacons came out of the cave and switched to robot mode, and the Maximals switch to robot mode as they jump off the cliff.

"Airazor and I are to take down Tarantulas and Inferno!" said Tigatron.

"Quickstrike's yours; I'll take Terrorsaur!" Cheetor said to Silverbolt, who nodded.

"Bugbot's to tango with me," said Rattrap.

Optimus grabbed the tail. "Megatron, you can do what you want with Earth, but I won't let you bring harm to all the dinosaurs!" he yelled.

Megatron brought Optimus close to his face. "Someday, Optimus, harm will come to dinosaurs when I'm through with them." He threw him to the mountain slope. "Especially when I'm here to claim what's rightfully mine!"

Optimus wrestled with the Sharptooth head. "Not if I can help it!" He swung Megatron to a large boulder.

"Hey, Terrorsaur!" said Cheetor. "Why don't you come over here and get me?"

"Oh, I'd be glad to get you, Maximal!" said Terrorsaur. He fired his gun at Cheetor, but Cheetor manages to blast his chest with a shot.

"Waspinator's gonna beat the rat!" Waspinator said as he aimed at Rattrap, who shot him on the head, thus decapitating him. "Oh, Waspinator hates losing his head!"

Airazor fired shots at Tarantulas as Tigatron fired lasers at Inferno.

Dinobot and Scorponok stood face to face.

"What do you say we call it a surrender and come back to the Predacon side, Dinobot?" asked Scorponok.

"Never!" Dinobot snarled. "I joined the Maximals in the name of my conscience!"

"So be it!" He fired a missile at Dinobot but missed.

Dinobot fired his laser eyes at Scorponok and hit him.

Having putting his head back on, Waspinator tried to fight but was then shot multiple times by Rhinox's machine guns.

"So, Silverbolt," said Quickstrike, "why don't you come join us and feel free to be Predacon once again?"

Silverbolt growled. "I'd rather stay a Maximal than to be Predacon again!" he snarled. He charged toward Quickstrike and attacked him with his spears.

Optimus threw Megatron to another boulder. "Surrender now while you can, Megatron," he said. "The Maximals never fail!"

Megatron growled in frustration. "Beast mode!" he said as he switched to beast mode. "Perhaps some other time, Optimus! I'll be back! Predacons, retreat!"

The dinosaurs watched as the Predacons switch to beast mode and leave the Great Valley, leaving the Maximals alone.

Littlefoot was behind a rock shivering like the fight will happen again, but then he was shadowed by Optimus, who said, "Littlefoot. It's all right now. The Predacons have left the Great Valley, for now."

Littlefoot uncovered his head and looked at Optimus. "Optimus, I'm so sorry I doubted you for a moment," he said. "I thought you're on their side. I guess I was wrong."

"Hey, don't be hard on yourself, kiddo," said Rattrap. "We're just glad to be guardians of the Great Valley."

"You now understand why we're here to protect this planet, Littlefoot," Optimus said as he swept some pebbles off Littlefoot's back, "because Megatron came here to conquer the universe. We'll defeat the Predacons and save the world. Believe me."

"I do believe."

"Good. What you've seen is evidence in our purpose to protect this planet. One day, Littlefoot, we will defeat the Predacons and end the war."

Grandpa and Grandma Longneck approached the Maximals.

Grandpa Longneck lowered his head to Optimus. "Just who might you be, the one who protected our grandson with your friends?" he asked.

"I am Optimus Primal," said Optimus. "We are the Maximals from the planet Cybertron."

"It's all right, Grandpa, they're here to protect the universe," said Littlefoot. "It's a long story, of course."

Grandpa Longneck looked at the Maximals in concern. "Well, in that case, you're all welcome to the Great Valley for saving us and the Great Valley."

Optimus folded his arms with a grin. "Thank you, you're very kind."