Chapter 19:

Aladar Challenges Kron

The next day, Kron was standing on a rock ledge of the wall with Neera and the two orphans standing on the rock next to him. But Neera was feeling nervous about her brother's idea.

"We have to keep trying! Our survival, our future, is over these rocks! Now Let's Go Home!" Kron shouted, stamping his hoof, encouraging the herd to climb over the rocks while gesturing to the rocks behind him.

While Kron turned to start climbing the rocks, the other Dinoponies were reluctant and a little hesitant about the seeming suicidal task as chattering was heard among them, feeling unsure.

Kron stopped in his tracks and noticed that none of the herd is moving. Seeing that they needed a little more encouragement, Kron knew that he needed to show them before turning to the orphans with Neera. It was perfect. If young Dinoponies actually climb the rocks to the side the adults could definitely do it.

Walking down to them, Kron nudged them forward and said, "You'll make it, won't you boys?".

"No!" Neera interjected, knowing they might get hurt.

"Watch them! They're tough!" Kron said, glaring at Neera before nudging the orphans forward again. He was determined to get his point across and get the herd moving.

Then he turned his attention to the herd and yelled, "And if they can do it, So Can You!".

Neera turns her attention to the herd and saw they were beginning to climb up the rocks trying to prove that they were brave as the young Dinoponies, as chattering was heard among them again, while Neera turns back to her brother with a glare that asked if her brother was happy. Because she definitely wasn't.

Kron was happy to see the herd following his lead and with a satisfied grin, Kron nodded and started climbing again. But before they could make any progress…

"KRON!" A Familiar Voice called out.

Kron looked back while Neera gasped as a smile crept up to her face for Aladar appears to be alright as he made his way through the herd. Kron did not like the fact that it looked like Aladar was going to undermine his leadership again.

"Get The Herd Out Of Here! A Tyralicorn's Coming!" Aladar warned them.

Everyone in the herd bellowed and murmured to themselves as they panicked with immediate concerns.

Kron looked about, seeing that there was some disarray. But when he didn't hear any sounds of danger, he turned to the herd, he had to keep control.

"Keep Moving!" He ordered.

But as Kron turned to start climbing again, Aladar stopped him in his tracks and shouted, "Stop! I've been to the valley with my family and friends! There's a safer way!".

This caused everyone in the herd to start talking amongst themselves again as some of them looked at Kron. But Kron didn't believe Aladar and was getting irritated. Who did this outsider think he was?

"Go on, show 'em!" Kron said, nudging the orphans. He wanted to keep his control of the herd.

"Kron, listen to him!" Neera said. If there was a safer way to get to the valley they should take it.

"Look, we gotta go now!" Aladar told them.

"Go where?! Straight to the Tyralicorns?!" Kron asked as if the idea is ludicrous.

"If we hurry, we can around them! You can't get over those rocks! There's a sheer drop on the other side!" Aladar said, knowing that they all could get through the Tyralicorn while gesturing to the rock wall.

Now losing his patience, Kron knocks the orphans off their feet almost knocking the other off the ledge.

"You're gonna kill the herd, Kron!" Aladar shouted, becoming angry by this. He didn't know how Kron could put his ego before the safety of the herd.

Then he turned his attention to the herd, "I know the way to the valley, and everybody can make it! Now follow me!" Aladar promised them as he turned to the opening and started walking while declaring to take charge.

Kron growled at the outsider trying to take his leadership and then started to head back down.

"Kron!" Neera shouted, trying to stop him.

But Kron just pushed past his sister before leaping off the rocks and crashed onto the ground before standing tall. The other Dinoponies backed away as they could tell that Kron was really mad. There was definitely going to be a confrontation.

"They're staying with me!" Kron bellowed in anger with a stern look.

Aladar glanced back at him but decided that he had enough of his attitude. So with the swish of his tail, Aladar said to the herd, "Alright let's go!".

Kron's eyes widened to this and took it as a challenge. So with a growl, Kron charges towards Aladar and bellowed while the herd moved out of the way.

Aladar only had enough time to look back as Kron rams him off his feet. Aladar held Kron back and then pushed Kron off of him as Kron was thrown back and hits the ground.

They quickly got back up again as the herd watched. They could only stay out of the way. And could very well determine the leadership of the herd.

Up on the rocks, Neera watched with worry for both her brother and her friend before heading down.

Kron snarled as he turns to Aladar and bellows before lunging at him. But Aladar quickly pushes him aside as he hits the ground.

Neera was able to squeeze between two Kritopony stallions as they only glanced at her before watching the battle continue.

Kron then swatted a dust cloud at Aladar as he tried to see and then bellowed out. Kron swung his left foreleg and his hoof slashed a wound on Aladar's chest. Growling, Kron got up on his feet again and quickly turns as he struck his tail against Aladar, sending him flying and hitting the side of the rock wall and the ground.

A group of Leptocornatops rushed off chittering as Aladar barely managed to recover as he looked to see Kron stand up high and bellowed out with rage, ready to kill the outsider with his right foreleg up. But then suddenly, Neera shoves Kron off his feet as he hits the ground and turned to his sister as Neera stood back up.

The other Dinoponies were shocked and surprised by seeing this turn of events.

Kron stared at his sister as Neera took a deep breath and turned away from him. A disbelieving Kron shook his head at the thought of his own sister turning away from him. He couldn't believe that she was taking sides with the outsider. Neera walked over to Aladar as the Kritopony tried to stand back up but felt a lot of pain from his wounds.

Aladar would've fallen back down if Neera didn't move to help him as she placed her head under his and helped Aladar to stand up again.

Aladar stumbled a bit as he and Neera started walking away from the rock wall.

Neera gave her brother one more glance before turning her attention forward.

Kron shook his head as he rose up back on his feet, not believing that his sister is leaving before taking a deep breath and shouted, "NEERA!".

Kron's shout echoed through the rock walls but Neera didn't look back. As much as she loved her brother, she knows that he needs to change his ways. So through it hurt, Neera kept her head up and kept walking with Aladar.

Kron just stood in place and stared while shaking his head slowly.