Chapter Twenty: The Nick-Of-Time
Outside of the Great Valley, the gang were surrounded by all sides, things looking hopeless. Roaring back and forth, it was clear they planned to kill the gang. Huddled close, the gang prepared for the worst, seeing the sharpteeth lunge at them. Swinging his tail, Littlefoot tried to keep them back, learning his moves from Doc, the legendary Lone Dinosaur. He wrapped his tail around the sharptooth's leg, tripping him.
Cera acting as a shield to protect, Ducky, Spike, and Tippy, who backed into the narrow passage. The horned sharptooth roared and tried to hook her with his horn, the pair hitting heads. "I must admit, for prey, you sure got guts." He taunted.
In the air, Petrie and Guido tried to stay clear of Talon, who snapped and clawed at them. "Fools, I can't wait to eat upon you." She said, licking her beak. "I'm sure you taste delicious."
Guido struggled to gain high, Petrie diving down to take the blow from Talon. She slammed Petrie into the rock, letting him fall and be caught by Ducky. Guido flew and made a turn, going and knocking Talon, the pair snapping while the fight raged below them.
A fast-biter tried to attack Littlefoot, only for Screech and Thud to hold him off, taking turns fighting to keep up their energy. "You dare betray your own kind by working with food, by following a unworthy alpha?" Blazed was annoyed his brethren would help food.
"You talk about honor, yet you follow a serial killer, an insane leader." Thud shot back.
"Yeah, least with the wimp we won't have to worry about running out of food." Screech put in, ducking and clawing at Blaze.
The three jumped, scurried under Littlefoot, who reared up and tried to hit the feathered sharptooth. Frank moved and hit Littlefoot in the side, pinning him against the rock. Placing a foot on him, Frank roared and felt Littlefoot struggled to get lose.
"Littlefoot!" Cera called, wondering what to do.
She had to protect the others from the horned sharptooth, watching helplessly as the feathered sharpteeth opened his jaw. Preparing for the worst, Littlefoot shook and figured he was a goner. Suddenly, Littlefoot saw the feathered sharptooth lifted and tossed aside, unable to believe he'd been saved. From a set of rocks, Chomper leaped and landed with a thud, coming between the meat-eaters and his friends.
From where she stood, Stephany saw Chomper, eyes glimmer with interest. "As I live and breathe, the wimpy sharptooth."
"You bet I am, now back away from the plant-eaters, or I'll make you."
"See that, he admits he's a wimp, how hilarious."
"I know who I am, I have nothing to prove. Not to you or anyone." With that, Chomper tossed his head up, sending Blaze back into Frank, and Stephen, who were pushed backward a few yards. His eyes went to the horizon, seeing Ruby being held by the finned sharptooth. "Let Ruby go and I'll take you on!"
"So serious, especially when it comes to your little friend?" Running a claw along Ruby's neck, Stephany laughed. "Very well, enjoy your last few minutes together." Shoving Ruby, Stephany watched her go to Chomper.
"Chomper!" Ruby called, rushing to him, glad he was alive after all.
"Ruby!" Chomper opened his arms and took her in his hold, never wanting to let go. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, for everything. Leaving you, for being late." His eyes locked onto her. "And I get it, I see-"
"Quiet playing around and face me, coward!" Stephany shouted, becoming impatient.
"You can do this."
"Get the others back into the Great Valley and seal off the opening."
Giving a nod, she kissed his cheek. "Good luck."
Making sure Ruby was safe, Chomper went to stand across from Stephany, who slammed her foot down in an intimidating way. "If it's a fight you want, it's a fight you'll get." Baring his fangs, he growled and moved in a circle with her, eyeing her up.
"I must say, your kind of small for a male. Was that from poor nutrition, did your mom not feed you enough?" The meat-eaters laughed at Stephany's quip.
"Least my mother taught me proper manners and the balance of life unlike your mother. From what I hear, you're a heartless killer, taking lives only for the sake of fun, sickening."
"Oh, but there's something so perfect about seeing someone die before your eyes. Gives me a shudder of pleasure. Besides, you better watch your mouth, especially talking to your future Alpha."
"You'll never be Alpha so long as I'm here." Chomper shot back, not going forward.
"Why haven't you come at me, what are you, yellow?"
"That's a bit insensitive to my three-horn friend, she's anything but cowardly. Also, if you'd like, I'll let you take the first blow. After all, I'm not the kind to hit first, at least not with a lady." He paused, trying to explain himself better. "Not that I'm not for equality, I just hate to strike a female first, seems a bit rude."
"Shut up, just shut that stupid mouth of yours!"
Racing forward, she shoved Chomper back, clawing at him with each arm. There were a few slashes, Chomper moving aside and avoiding them, spinning his tail to hit her along the stomach. Her hand grabbed his arm, yanking him and throwing him down. On his back, she dug her claws into his chest, hearing him roar out in pain. While he wasn't able to hold her back, his legs managed to get under her and toss her off.
The great fin prevented her from rolling, able to get back up quicker, looking ahead to the group. "What are you waiting for, get those plant-eaters!" The pack turned form her, preparing to finish the gang off, who tried to flee back into the Great Valley. Chomper tried to stop them, only to be grabbed by the tail and yanked backward to stay in the fight. "Where do you think you're going? You stay and fight."
The gang moved, Littlefoot hanging back to make sure the others made it safely, hearing the approaching danger, he spoke. "Right, Spike, Tippy, go on back into the Valley. Ducky, make sure Petrie gets in safely." Turning to Cera, he continued. "Cera, you and I hang back and fight them off."
"Did you even have to ask?" Cera faced the on comers with little fear, dropping her head and pawing the earth with her front foot, ready to charge.
"Maybe I can help?" Guido asked timidly, quaking where he perched on Littlefoot's back.
"Go see how Chomper is doing, then report back to us. Stay in the air and watch out for that sharptooth flyer."
"Righto."
Diving back, Guido spread his wings and took off, soaring over the three, heading for where dust stirred up, where Chomper fought Stephany. On his way, he noticed a shadow, Talon, swooping down to grab him. While smaller than Petrie, Guido was quicker and managed to swipe aside and avoid getting nabbed. Knowing he had to shake Talon, Guido strayed and headed for a rocky area, hoping to lose her. Moving right to left, she struggled to keep up and went higher, making Guido think he lost her
"Phew, glad that's over." Before he could celebrate, Guido was shoved forward and sent closer to the earth. "Oh, no!"
"Gottcha fool!"
Reaching back, Guido grabbed Talon's wing, preventing her from controlling their descent. Twisting in the air, he sent a few punches across Talon's face. One wing free, Talon slammed it to Guido's chin, trying to push him back. There was a good deal of yelling and squawking, mostly on Guido's end. However, he buckled up and when the time was right, he bit her hand. Distracted, Guido made sure to twist Talon's body, hitting the ground with a thud, a crunching sound was heard, Talon's bones broken, left distorted and dying. Guido took a shaky breath, leaping back and unable to believe he beat Talon and avenged Petrie. Brushing the dust from his feathers, Guido took off and went to see how Chomper was making out.
Back to the fight, Guido went, seeing it wasn't looking too good, for Stephany fought dirty, leaving a few good cuts on Chomper's body. He painted, hating to use his power on her, but knew he'd never be able to beat her on his own. "Please, it doesn't have to be this way. We don't have to fight, we can be allies, bring forth a new area of peace."
"Shut up! All you do is talk, talk about nothing, stalling, hoping I'll show mercy. In the Mysterious Beyond there is no mercy, nothing but kill or be killed!" With her claw, she violently swat Chomper across the face. "You took my spot, my given right, snatched away like bone out from under my nose. All I ever wanted was to be the Alpha, for that I'll make you suffer!" Going forth, she knocked him upside the chin, sending him crashing to the ground. When he didn't move, she grinned, going and placing a foot upon him, bending over to whisper to him. "Before I end your pathetic reign, I'm going to slay those you're trying to protect. In truth, I feel more alive when I watch the life fade from someone's eyes." She gazed down at Chomper's wide fear filled eyes, while her own were full of rage and a bit of joy. "You can't change me anymore than I can change you. If you're the real Alpha, you should be able to stop me. I'll leave your girlfriend last." She gripped his head and beat it into the ground, hearing him moan and remain unmoved. With a satisfied hum, she rose and went after the fleeing leaf-eaters.
On the earth, Chomper looked up, seeing her walk away. His vision was blurry and when he went to stand, his legs only shook and gave out on him. "I-I failed." He uttered, eye welling with tears.
"No, you can do this." A voice spoke, belong to his mother. When he opened his eyes, he saw her, along with his father, both glowing.
"Get up son, show them who you really are." Chance said.
Chomper lay there, frowning and grunting, attempting to stand, struggling and slipping to the ground yet again. "It's hopeless, I'll never be strong enough."
The gang was having their own troubles, moving through a narrow passage, unable to fight back. The only good thing was, they had the high ground, Littlefoot slapping them back with his tail, Cera moving out to pock them.
"We can't keep them back!" Cera said, taking a step to stay clear of a great muzzle snipping at her.
"We can't let them into the Valley!"
"Where'd Ruby go, maybe she'd know what to do!"
As if on cue, from above a rock fell and knocked Stephen in the head. On a little ledge, Ruby stood, holding another rock and tossing it down. "Take that, you, jerk!"
Frank and Stephen shrank back, Blaze climbing the rocks, trying to reach Ruby. "Don't worry boys, I go this one." With a gasp, she froze when he clambered over the edge, growling and smiling at her. "Our leader will be pleased with me, especially if I bring your severed head to her."
"I'm not afraid of you, for Chomper will beat her."
"Doubtful, he's passed out, which means there's no one to save you or your friends." He tacked Ruby to the earth, though she fought back, pounding the rock into his side. "Why you little pain in the neck!" Rolling over, Ruby beat her fists to his face, only for him to grip her wrists, flipping her over and pinning her down. "No one makes a fool out of me and gets away with it."
She let out a yell, looking down to see Screech, and Thud distracted Frank, who was too bulky to nab them, swinging his tail to hit Screech, who lay unconscious while Thud fought on. Littlefoot and Cera were in a bind, Stephan and Stephany approaching them.
"Glad you showed up, leader."
"I'll show you how to deal with these fools." Stephany managed to avoid a horn and grabbed Cera by the neck, not killing her, only cutting off her air supply and letting her lay by an angered Littlefoot.
"Cera!" Glancing at the approaching pair, he whipped his tail, only for Stephan to grab and pull him down. Littlefoot was helpless, seeing Stephany only laughed, eyeing the pair up.
"Nice work guys, now, the funs has just begun. I say we toy with them, kill them slowly." Raising her hand, she held up her fingers, snapping them, letting them know to attack.
The gang shut their eyes, awaiting their impending doom, only for there to be a long pause. Littlefoot opened his eyes, standing over Cera to shield her, finding the pair of sharpteeth frozen in mid-bite. Even Ruby was taken aback, a set of jaws were above and below her face, motionless. Then, quickly, the attackers were lifted and slammed down.
Behind the group stood Chomper, eyes full of rage, nose bleeding while he held one arm out to them. "Get away from my friends!" Throwing his arms to his side, he yanked them away from the gang, forcing them to face him.
Stephen and Frank rose, going in for the kill, only to be stopped again by the invisible force, Chomper holding both hands out to keep them at bay. When Stephany went to him, she found herself unable to take a single step. Eyeing Chomper up, Stephany wasn't able to lunge at him. Struggling to move, she hissed. "How are you doing this?"
"Littlefoot, get Cera and Ruby back into the Valley!" Chomper called, seeing Blaze head his way, knowing he could stall long enough for them to get to safety.
"R-right." Littlefoot managed to lift Cera, able to carry her, Ruby coming down to join them, pausing and seeing Chomper fend off the four, who kept trying to attack him, only to be tossed around. Thud was there, needing help with dragging Screech to safety. Ruby wanted to help Chomper, yet went to Thud's side. When they reached the highest part, Ruby held her breath. "Chomper!" She called, hoping he'd join them.
"Don't worry, Ruby, I think he's got this," Guido said, landing beside her and taking her hand. "Come on, we need to move, to get back into the Valley."
Unwilling to, yet knowing she had to, Ruby kept pulling Screech and followed Guido, seeing Chomper move to try and enter the narrow passage. Tossing his arm out, he sent Frank into Stephen, both tumbling and knocking into Blaze. Stephany leaped over the pile-up, going after Chomper, who scrambled to get in the Valley.
"No so fast coward! You can't escape me!"
Before he could put space between them, he felt a set of teeth dug into his left leg. Stephany shook his leg violently, tearing the flesh. Crying out, he focused on Stephany, shooting her backward and into the side of the great wall. The impacted cause a few pebbles to clatter down, Stephany recovering and trying to stand.
"You think your abilities can save you?"
Then, he noticed boulders, above the four. "No, but they sure are useful." Reaching out, he yelled and watched the large rocks tremble, coming loose and falling, heading right for Stephany and her pack.
Stephany glanced from the falling boulders to Chomper, smiling a wicked grin. "This isn't the last fight. It was only the beginning." Showing no fear while the rocks fell upon her, she closed her eyes and was crushed along with her pack, killed right before Chomper's eyes.
Once the dust settled, he smelled blood, hoping they died quickly, despite them being bad. He held his breath, lowering his trembling hand. What broke him from staring ahead was Ruby, her hand resting upon his shoulder. "It's all quiet Chomper." He nodded, struggling to stand due to his hurt leg. "You leg, it's hurt."
"Yeah, yeah, but they're gone, it's over." Chomper whispered, looking to Ruby, who had a few cuts and bruises on her face. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
"Shh," She patted his head and held him, hearing him sniff. Leaning into her, he cried, feeling guilty for leaving her. The pair sat for a while, seeing no sign of life, knowing Stephany and her pack were truly gone for good.