Hi everyone! We're back with another chapter ... And I must say, one of my favorites to write so far. Can't wait for you to read it!
I'm going to clear some things up before we start this chapter.
First off, I see people are wondering how did Chomper get his incredible speed when it comes to combat. The answer can be found in how he hunts. As a hatchling, he chased flying buzzers to eat, which requires a lot of speed to keep up with considering he can't fly himself. The same can be said when he grew up to hunt tickly fuzzies in his early teens prior to my fanfics, and briefly in my first fanfiction, he also helped the Rainbow Faces by hunting eggstealers as well as eating them in the Great Valley, significant because they are among the fastest of dinosaurs.
Nowadays, Chomper gets his food by hunting swimming sharpteeth in the Big Water. As hunting swimming sharpteeth can be very dangerous and one mistake can potentially kill him, Chomper has to end the fight before the swimming sharpteeth can lay a bite on him, hence his strategy in quickly grabbing swimming sharpteeth with his mouth and throwing them onto the land to be stranded. This requires very quick motions, especially since the draw of blood lures more swimming sharpteeth in, and Chomper needs a high volume of swimming sharpteeth in every hunt - Not only to gorge himself so that there is zero chance he would grow hungry while in the Great Valley, but also to feed his parents, who were severely crippled by Redclaw in my first fanfic and cannot really hunt on their own anymore. You can see Chapter 8 for more details on this. So hence why he was able to kill the group of dinosaurs so quickly ... But of course, now that the whole Valley is watching, he cannot kill his captors without facing certain death himself. Same goes for Shorty. This strategy does come with a weakness though - Because his strategy is all based on speed and reflexes, Chomper does not have the sheer power or strength of other sharpteeth his kind. He has a relatively slender build considering his diet is mostly of leaner meats, and if put in a purely physical duel with another Tyrannosaurus, Chomper would most likely not make it. Luckily, he has a quick wit and great friends, so hopefully that will never happen!
I've also gotten questions as to where everyone is. As you know, Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky and Spike are on the run in the Mysterious Beyond. So is Petrie, who went back briefly for reasons you'll see shortly. Chomper and Shorty as I mentioned are being held captive and are both accused of murder, and any attempt for them to break free would likely result in them getting killed. Ali and Ruby, not involved in any interspecies marriages and still free of imprisonment, remained in the Valley to help support Chomper and Shorty in this difficult time. As for Guido ... I'll just say he's still alive and leave it at that. Everyone else, they're still in the Great Valley.
Like last time, we're going to see some spirituality, only this time we'll be seeing my interpretation of the gang's spiritual beliefs based on the episode The Bright Circle Celebration. Through the dialogue, I felt there was a clear order on how spiritual the Gang of 5 (sans Spike) were, and so I reflected that accordingly here. And again, this is no endorsement or condemnation of any real spiritual practice or lack of one. And as promised, we will be seeing a really positive side of spirituality here, similar to those seen in other secular works like The Lion King, Mulan, Harry Potter and Sailor Moon to name a few ... I'm going to stop talking here and let you read on!
Also, from now on, I will be updating my account profile to answer fan questions posted in the reviews before the next chapter updates. I cannot personally respond to guest reviews, and sometimes questions that individuals ask might be had by other readers. This will allow you to hear from me sooner than having to wait for the next chapter to come up. Answers will be removed with the addition of each new chapter. But I won't answer spoilers!
I also want to express special appreciation for two DeviantArt users. First to GorjiraFallout, for creating the first pic (excluding those by me) relating to my fanfic on DeviantArt, that of their interpretation of a LittlefootxCera child. Second to RowserlotStudios1993, who created a nice picture of Tricia's gang as part of an art trade with me. I am truly honored by both of these artists expressing their vision of my works. Both of these can be seen in a collection on my Favorites page, where any future pictures by others relating to my fanfics will go as I discover them (I'm AllegroGiocoso on DeviantArt too). I also have several photo manips of this fanfic up on my DeviantArt account, so be sure to check those out!
Whew ... Okay, with all that said, time for the usuals. Please fav/follow/review, I love feedback, and I love PMs (private messages) as well. The Land Before Time is not mine, it belongs to Universal. And did I say everything? I think so. Sorry for the long intro comments ... Now time to get into the story. Oh yeah, pay attention to a notice at the end.
Chapter 22 - Find the Light
Surrounded by an endless layer of sky stars, Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky and Spike sat forlornly, with the only warmth coming from each of their wilting bodies, all they had left that could keep even a flicker of hope alive. They didn't even dare to look at each other's faces. They knew they'd only find the same expressions in each other that each of them themselves felt, those of heartbreak, despair, and profound sadness.
Nor could they even bring themselves to say anything else. The reality of the situation was just fully beginning to dawn upon them, and for once, they were truly at a loss for words. Having only just escaped with their lives, they struggled to imagine the hardships everyone back home felt. Chomper and Shorty were both in mortal peril from the mob, the rest of their friends and family were inevitably under pressure due to a resurgence of segregationist sentiment, and the whole Great Valley seemed to be closed off to them forever. Unlike every other adventure they had, which always ended up in a celebration or at least a sigh of relief, there really seemed to be no light at the end of the tunnel. And they knew that any words they might say that would suggest otherwise would only ring hollow.
Perhaps as a way of disconnecting from the pain they felt inside, the one thing they could all do was to stare at the sky stars above, the Night Circle's shape trembling as tears clouded their vision. To think that the last time the Night Circle was up, they assumed that they could always be with their family, their other friends, and everyone else they cared about … And now, just like a twinkly, it had all gone. It almost was like all those cold times ago, on their first journey together, when they didn't even have a Great Valley that they could call home … Only now, the one other who made that journey with them was not here to share their pain …
"Where's Petrie?" Cera finally snapped, trying to cover the fear in her voice. "Why isn't he with us? Did he just abandon us like his uncle did his herd?"
"Cera, don't say that!" Littlefoot said, feeling a chilling lump in his throat as another possibility weighed on him. Turning briefly, he hated to even bring it up, but as they were out in the middle of the Mysterious Beyond, where sharpteeth could be lurking at every corner, they couldn't afford to wait for nothing. "You don't think … he's …"
The thought evidently had occurred to Cera, who stared at Littlefoot in stony silence, and Spike sighed mournfully in understanding. Ducky, however, her lip trembling, fervently shook her head. "N … no," she gulped, trying to brush the tears away from her eyes, still coated in a murky shine. "I … I have faith in Petrie. He must be coming back … he must … he must ..."
And Ducky looked up, her eyes watering desperately as she held her hands clasped upon her heart. Littlefoot, Cera and Spike sat in silence as they watched their friend look imploringly up into the great sky above. She stared for what seemed to be hours, sniffling and struggling to keep it all together, as her friends watched helplessly. But as time passed and the flyer still did not return with a triumphant swoop, Ducky felt even her hope begin to fade, and in a hollow, defeated voice finally whispered, "P …. Petrie … Petrie …"
Then through her tears, something finally began to emerge. At first, she just ignored it. It didn't look to be her beloved flyer's shape, nor did it move like him. But as she examined it more carefully, she saw that the top of the form was not moving, and that if she could just ignore that … And suddenly, it all became clear to her.
"P … Petrie?" she asked tentatively, and upon seeing one more flap of his wings, life began to flourish in her eyes anew. "Petrie! Petrie!"
And she instantly ran over to the flying form, not even waiting for Littlefoot, Cera and Spike to catch up. All that mattered was that he was still alive, and she just had to touch his leathery wings, and feel his cute little hands once again …
"Petrie!" she exclaimed as he finally landed, and in her excitement, she completely forgot how much heavier she was than the exhausted flyer and hurled herself right at him. Petrie only had just enough time to brace himself to meet her brilliantly smiling beak, her eyes completely sparkling once more, as they landed gently onto the dusty ground, his wings tightly wrapped around her body as they began to passionately and rapidly kiss one another.
"Petrie, you really had me worried there, you did!" Ducky exclaimed as Littlefoot, Cera and Spike arrived, all cheering the return of their missing friend.
"Me worried too!" Petrie said at once. "But it all worth it!"
"Worth what?" Cera asked angrily. "Nothing is worth risking your neck over!"
"Sorry," Petrie said sheepishly. "But me happy me didn't forget these."
And Petrie pointed to a spot slightly to his left, where two large slabs of clay sat. The others crowded around the clay slabs, and even in the faint light of the night, there was no mistaking them.
"Those … those are our wedding prints," Littlefoot stuttered, remembering their double wedding when he, Cera, Ducky and Petrie made them together.
"They sure are!" Petrie said proudly. "And me glad me saved them. If Leigh see those he destroy them for sure! Of course," Petrie sighed. "Me not able to do all meself. Mom, me brother and sisters and Uncle Pterano all helped me escape! But most of all, me couldn't have done it without," and Petrie pointed behind him, where a brightly colored flyer with a large crest was lying sprawled on the ground.
"Hey, that's Etta!" Littlefoot exclaimed in surprise.
"She saved me," Petrie said. "Mean spikethumb saw me take off with wedding prints. But Etta follow me there and she scratch mean spikethumb with back foot. Mean spikethumb throw her against tree, but me pick her up and carry her here," he said. "So she in danger too, just like us."
The gang nodded, realizing now why Petrie looked so different upon flying in. "Of course, me not only thankful for Etta and me family," he said brightly. "Me thank Night Circle too. For keeping me safe from angry mob."
Cera rolled her eyes, "Petrie! Didn't you learn anything?"
"What you talking about?" Petrie asked.
"All this Night Circle crap, duh!" Cera exclaimed. "You heard that Leigh! Night Circle this, Night Circle that. He's using everyone's delusions about the Night Circle against us, when it's obviously just a big flying rock, like my dad said! No wonder why Leigh's so messed up, his stupid beliefs would be enough to make anyone crazy!"
Petrie gasped in shock. "You take that back Cera!" he said earnestly. "Night Circle can hear you, and it watching us! You insult Night Circle, you make Night Circle mad! And when Night Circle mad, Night Circle bring bad luck. And me no want to see more bad luck! We have enough as is!"
"Hmph!" Cera exclaimed. "It's just a rock! And I'm not afraid of any dumb old flying rock."
Having already seen Cera and Petrie fight over their beliefs before their first Bright Circle Celebration with Chomper and Ruby, Littlefoot, Ducky and Spike wanted to put a stop to what could be an endless argument, especially when the only thing they had was the friendship and support of one another. "Um, Cera, Petrie?" asked. "I do not like seeing you two arguing about the Night Circle. And I am sure the Night Circle would not like seeing you arguing about it either."
"Oh great, you still believe in that Night Circle stuff too," Cera snarled, glaring at Ducky.
"Well … Yes, I do," Ducky said as Petrie beamed at his mate. "But that is just what I believe. I am not telling you to believe the Night Circle is watching us, oh no no no. We should each follow our hearts and believe in what feels right for us. For me personally, it just feels right knowing that the Bright and Night Circles are always there, to help us whenever we need them."
Ducky smiled as she continued, "I have not seen anything to make me think the circles are watching us. But I do feel it in my heart, and believing they are watching us just makes me feel happy inside. It helps me appreciate all the wonders around us … The cool water, the smooth rocks, the sweet tree stars … You can feel how the circles' light touches everything, making our whole world beautiful. And I believe how each of us can really feel all the beauty in our world is a gift from the circles to show just how much they love us. And seeing how much they love us helps me feel thankful and appreciate of everything in the world and gives me the strength to face each day with hope and optimism, yep yep yep."
Ducky smiled before continuing, "I think the circles only appear for us because they love us. I like to think they are the spirits of our long ago ancestors, watching over us to keep us safe so we can spend each day having fun, being happy, loving each other, and living our lives to their fullest. Which is why I know Leigh is wrong about the Night Circle, he is," Ducky said sadly, shaking her head. "The Night Circle would not like what Leigh is saying it would like. The circles are not vengeful beings that hate us, or ones that punish us for our mistakes. They do not like seeing us sad, and they would never pass judgment on us just because we do not all believe the same. Nor do they insist we stick to old beliefs, like herd segregation, when we can feel better ways of doing things in our hearts. All the circles would want out of us is for us to remain good inside, and that we share that goodness with each other through love, kindness, harmony and friendship … Or at least that is what I believe," Ducky said, blushing slightly in embarrassment.
"Ducky, I think that is really beautiful," Littlefoot smiled, as Spike grunted in agreement, and even Cera looked impressed.
"Yeah," Petrie nodded, fervently. "Me like how you think of circles. They good inside, and really, all they want is for us to be good inside too, and that reason why they watch over us. Leigh got Night Circle all wrong. Leigh say Night Circle a big bully and want to hurt us for not sticking to old ways. But really, all circles do is love us. They just want us to be happy and that we love friends like we love them!"
"Yeah, that's the spirit," Littlefoot smiled encouragingly.
"Yeah, you should be the ones talking about the circles," Cera agreed. "Because you actually make some sense and don't use them for power grabs like Leigh does."
"Spike, what do you think of the Night Circle?" Littlefoot asked curiously. Spike simply made a noncommittal grunt as he looked toward the ground, scanning for foliage.
"Maybe there connection Spike feel to green food," Petrie suggested.
"Yeah, it's called his digestive tract," Cera snarked, causing them all, even Spike to laugh a little, before Cera asked, "How 'bout you, Littlefoot?"
"Uh …" Littlefoot said hesitantly, hoping to not hurt anyone's feelings.
"It is okay, Littlefoot," Ducky reassured him, smiling.
"Just speak your mind," Cera agreed warmly.
"Yeah, we always be your friends, no matter what you say," Petrie agreed with a friendly nod.
"Well …" Littlefoot said, "I really don't know what to believe." With a wistful smile, he continued, "I mean, I remember the great longneck migration where we may helped to push the Bright Circle back into the sky. I'm sure at least some of the danger was real, considering the sleep story I had. And I've heard a lot of things about the Bright and Night Circles from the great longneck stories that Grandpa told me. Like the one where the Bright Circle pulled the trees up to it because it liked their songs, and the Night Circle helped longnecks reach them by stretching their necks out."
"Oh yeah, me remember that story!" Petrie exclaimed.
"Yeah, they're really awesome stories," Littlefoot smiled. "I wish I could meet Saro again, I could really use some reminders on how some of them went. And some of them had great lessons, like the one about Tall Stepper really helped inspired me to be brave. But I think they're just that, stories. Great stories that make us feel inside, but stories nonetheless. There's loads of things in them that I can't really see happening. I mean, how could the sky stars actually ask Star Watcher to visit them up in the sky? Or how could the wind carry Tall Stepper's sister all the way up to the top of a mountain? They're awesome stories to share and to listen to, not to mention they teach us a lot of things, but part of what makes them so special is that things happen in them that couldn't in real life. And I guess that's how I feel about the circles. I mean I don't see how the Bright Circle really could lift the trees up if it doesn't have arms, or how the Night Circle could stretch out our necks overnight. As neat it sounds, it makes more sense to me that those are just legends that are passed down to us, and those things actually happened more slowly over time, like how our ancestors crawled up from the murky ooze."
He paused, feeling the others' eyes on him, before clarifying, "But that's just what I think. We don't really know, do we? How can we? There's no way to really know for sure, and to pretend like we have all the answers just closes our minds to other possibilities. Maybe the circles really are watching us. Maybe they even have those special powers from the great longneck stories. But even if they are just flying rocks in the sky, we can still appreciate them as a reminder to be thankful for our world and be as good as we possibly can to each other, just like Ducky and Petrie said."
Littlefoot sighed, before smiling wistfully as he stared off into the stars. "But there's one thing up there that I do feel certain about … You don't have to, and that's okay. But to me, it just feels right to know that somewhere, way up in the sky … There really is a Great Above," he said, unable to fully control his tears. "I know we can't actually see it, but my mother once told me some things you see with your eyes, others you see with your heart. And I just know in my heart that there has to be a place where all the ones we care about who can't be with us can live. Kinda like a Great Valley for those of us who have passed on, only they don't have to eat anything, they're free from all pain, they never hurt each other, and there isn't always a disaster around the corner."
"Well that doesn't sound like the Great Valley," Cera snarked, causing them all to laugh.
"And Spike would not like a Great Above with no green food in it," Ducky giggled, sustaining their laughter as Spike laughingly shook his head.
"Well yeah, I guess not," Littlefoot smiled. "But it's a place where they'll always be happy, and where they'll no longer be suffering. I don't know, that's just my thoughts … Sorry if I'm getting mushy, Cera."
"No, actually," Cera said thoughtfully. "In fact … I'm sure there is a Great Above too."
"You are?" Littlefoot asked hopefully as Ducky and Petrie looked at Cera in excitement. While she did suggest this after his grandparents passed, he never heard her say this explicitly or with such conviction before.
"Yeah," Cera smiled. "It's the only thing that made sense to me. I mean how can our loved ones just die without having somewhere for their souls to go? I just don't feel right thinking we're just supposed to live our lives knowing we'll never see their spirits again."
"Whoa Cera," Petrie said in astonishment. "Me know no you so certain about this!"
"Yeah," Cera smiled. "I can just feel in my bones that Mommy and my sisters are up there. They've just gotta be … Especially because they didn't really get the same chances we did. All they knew down here was struggling to find food in the Mysterious Beyond … But now, I'm sure they're learning everything up there that Daddy and I have," she smiled. "About accepting and befriending others, regardless of species, just as we have in the Great Valley, where they can actually reach their full potential! Only their world is free of pain and suffering and stupid sharpteeth after their skins. And some day, I know we will be together with everyone that we lost, and nothing will ever separate us again."
The others could only stare in amazement at Cera, who was so caught up in finally releasing her long-held feelings about her deceased family that she had forgotten about her tougher exterior completely. "Uh, that is, yeah," she finally said awkwardly after feeling everyone's stares, trying to gain the usual edge in her voice back. "That's what I think. Got a problem with it?"
"No Cera," Littlefoot laughed. "Actually, I … I love hearing you say it," he beamed, feeling his heart warm immensely as he fought back tears. If even Cera, always skeptical of things she couldn't see with her own eyes, could believe with such conviction in a Great Above, it made it seem that much more real to him … Making him all the more certain that he really wasn't imagining things as he recalled that breathtakingly beautiful cloud, shrouded in mist but taking on an unmistakable shape, that appeared in the sky to guide him, whose soft, gentle voice called out his name, leading him right to the place where she knew he'd be safe …
"You know what?" Ducky said, bringing Littlefoot's attention back down to earth. "Talking about all this makes me really happy, it does. Because even though we may all be a little different and do not think quite the same, that is okay, for we can all accept each other for who we are and still be friends."
"Yeah! Not like Leigh who use Night Circle to divide us!" Petrie smiled.
"Yep yep yep," Ducky nodded. "For in all the ways that really matter, we are together … In here," she said, putting her hand on her heart. "Sure we all have a little darkness in us. But we make up for it because we each have lots of light and love inside to give," she said, beaming at each of her friends in turn. "Because you know what? No matter what else happens, we will always be best of friends, looking out for each other at every turn. Always there to give a shoulder to cry on, to make us laugh and make us feel warm inside. Always there to pick each other up when we feel lost and down, and always there to help each other go onward. As long as we live, we will always remain together. We will always be with each other, best of friends just like we always were since our first journey to the Great Valley, and there is nothing anyone else can do to stop us!" she exclaimed, a rousing tone becoming increasingly apparent in her voice, slowly beginning to perk up the others as her eyes began to sparkle with ambition and excitement.
"And if we fail to make it, that would still be okay. For if we are killed for who we are, our friendship towards one another and what we believe in, we would die just as we live, in complete harmony and togetherness. For even in death, we will still be best of best friends, and our friendship will never be broken! And I know that if we go to a Great Above, we would all go there together, for we will never be happy unless we have each other … And even from there, we will still stop at nothing to make the world a better place, together just as we always have!" Ducky said, her eyes gleaming passionately.
"Hey, calm down, Ducky," said Cera with a smirk. "You're getting way ahead of yourself. Who says we're gonna die anyway? Because last time I checked, we still remain undefeated!"
"Yeah!" Petrie said. "We no done yet! We all together … And we just getting started!"
"That's right!" exclaimed Littlefoot. "We can turn this around, just like we do every other time we've had an adventure! As long as we keep standing together, nothing can ever stop the love and friendship we have between us! And together, we will come up with a way to rescue all our family and friends and bring our Great Valley back once and for all!"
"You say it, Ducky," Petrie smiled knowingly.
Ducky nodded eagerly. Taking a deep breath, she pumped her fist up. Far from the days when she struggled to speak big, she spoke louder and more clearly than she ever had before, declaring, "Together, we will stand for the love we have for each other, our families and our friends and we will save our Great Valley … Yep, yep, yep!"
And with an almighty cheer, the five friends lifted their paws up in renewed determination, their hearts racing with excitement as a sense of sheer power coursed through their veins. Then, their paws still in the air, they looked at each other, and unhesitatingly embraced in a triumphant group hug. Like all of their group hugs, this one was filled with reassurance and support, a silent promise to one another that they would always have each other's backs and would be willing to go through anything together. But this time, their hug also charged each of them up as each other's contagious energy flowed from body to body, clearing their heads of any doubt and making each of them suddenly feel like they could do anything. Unable to hold in their newfound enthusiasm, optimism and determination, they released it through cheers, yells, and roars until they felt they finally could control it. Yet even at that point, upon feeling another burst from their friends electrify them, they were left with just as much unbridled energy as they started with, and they found they had to let it all out once again. None of them could stop smiling as the cycle continued, their hearts pounding with excitement as hope began to light its fire in each of their hearts …
"Well done, well done," came a calm voice beneath them, only for the gang to not only hear him as he patiently waited.
"This might do the trick," added his counterpart, as suddenly, a blinding flash of light broke out, proving to be just enough to short-circuit the gang's endless energy wave and get them to look down to see two familiar figures.
"I told you," the male said eagerly, turning to the female. "I told you all along that the young ones had potential."
"Yes," the female said coolly. "Now let's put them to the test."
Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky, Petrie and Spike finally broke apart and sat down to speak with the Rainbow Faces.
"Excuse me," Littlefoot asked politely. "But why are you here?"
"I think you can figure it out," Megte said confidently.
Littlefoot pondered. "Is it because … We were able to get through all this together?"
"And because we're ready to fight for everyone we love?" Cera added.
Neo nodded. "Precisely. For in the face of extreme difficulty, you stood together, coming out stronger than ever before, in a way I haven't seen in all the subjects I've observed."
"Well, the real reason we came in the first place was we always find it entertaining to hear a good discussion of spirituality," Megte added with a gentle smirk. "Especially with regards to solar eclipses."
"Solar eclipses?" Littlefoot asked.
"Never you mind," Megte said quickly.
Cera looked annoyed. "Have you been watching us … The WHOLE TIME?"
"Of course," Neo said matter-of-factly. "Few of our subjects intrigue us the way you do."
"And I suppose you knew all along Leigh was an evil, crazy nutjob!" Cera shouted.
"That, we did," Neo smirked.
"We gave you fair warning," Megte said as she repeated the clue she gave. ""The fires brought in new dinosaurs to the Valley. Many of them are just your age. And many of them will affect your goals, for good or for ill." It's not our fault you were so busy worrying about Earl that Leigh completely avoided your suspicion."
"So Leigh evil, Earl dead, Bella dead … What you tell us about others?" Petrie asked.
"Well, the thing about Leigh, he's not the whole picture, you see, he's got …" Neo began before Megte glared at him, clicking her beak in annoyance. "No. Telling."
"Why not?" Cera asked, annoyed.
Megte shook her head in exasperation. "How would you learn anything if we gave you all the answers? That would make things much too easy for you. You have to figure things out for yourselves if you are to further yourselves and broaden your minds."
"But I must say, you are doing a remarkably good job with our clues," Neo said admirably.
"Yes, but don't give away any of them," Megte warned.
"I won't," Neo smiled. "But we must give them a chance, and at least make sure they are on the right path." Turning to the gang, he asked, "Well then, do you know what you have to do next?"
The gang looked at each other. "We have to return to the Great Valley," Littlefoot said breathlessly.
"How? Without your presence antagonizing the mob further?" Neo asked smoothly.
"Remember, your sharptooth and boxhead friends are being held captive," Megte smirked, as if this was all a game. "Their lives are at their captors' mercy. You must be careful, for if you reveal yourselves, you could risk their lives, or the lives of others for that matter, and you may have to live with dire consequences of your actions."
"And if you trigger a war within in the Great Valley, the commotion and smell of blood will only attract the attention of sharpteeth from the outside, ensuring even more deaths than there otherwise would be," added Neo.
"Then what are we supposed to do? Nothing?" Cera snapped in frustration.
Meanwhile, Spike's stomach rumbled loudly. "Spike, this is no time to think about food!" Cera yelled.
"On the contrary," Neo smirked as he exchanged glances with Megte, who smirked back. "If you ignore your stomachs, this will only lead to more problems later on."
"Besides," Megte smirked significantly, as Neo winked. "Who is to say both of your problems cannot be solved through one course of action?"
And the Rainbow Faces could hardly conceal their smug smiles as the gang looked at each other, realizing they had been given a puzzle. "So you're saying … That we could help save the Great Valley and find food … At once?" Littlefoot asked tentatively.
"That's correct," Neo nodded, smiling even more shiftily. "And what's more … We know you know the answer."
And they looked at the gang expectantly, their smiles stretching as their eyes fought to look expressionless. The gang looked at each other thoughtfully for a few moments. But as they stared at each other, their mouths began to open wide as comprehension dawned upon them, providing a whole raft of possibilities …
"You mean …" Petrie asked tentatively. "Secret Spot still secret?"
The Rainbow Faces only nodded, grinning with satisfaction.
"See how much more rewarding it is when you figure out the answer for yourselves?" Megte smirked.
"The entrance to the Secret Spot in the Valley has been evacuated and closed by your other friends just before they all left for the Rock Circle meeting, and so the only ones who even know about the Secret Spot are those who you already let in. And so long as those who know about the Secret Spot can be trusted, the Secret Spot will remain a secret," Neo explained.
The gang looked at each other in excitement. The only other ones who knew about the secret spot were Chomper, Ruby, Ali, Shorty, Guido, Tricia's gang, Hyp, Mutt, Nod, Ann, Dispo, Avie, Sophie and Tippy. And either by their nature, their motivation, or their relationships, not one of them was likely to reveal the Secret Spot's location to anyone, especially considering how every last one of them had already been involved in keeping the Secret Spot a secret …
"Hee! We get our secret hideout back!" Cera declared triumphantly. "What are we waiting for, let's …"
"Of course," Neo interrupted casually. "You can hardly go through the Valley to get to the Secret Spot without putting your friends in serious danger. Nor with your weight can you jump into the Secret Spot from the Mysterious Beyond without causing a major earthshake, potentially causing the Secret Spot to cave in all together."
"Oh, come on!" Cera roared in annoyance. "How else can we get inside?"
"That's hardly your only problem," Megte added. "There's no way your little Secret Spot can as a sanctuary for everyone you want to keep safe. It simply doesn't have enough space inside."
The gang thought this through, instantly realizing the Rainbow Faces were right. Even adding a few large dinosaurs would make it that much more crowded inside, not to mention how quickly the green food would vanish. "Then why do you, uh … Say the Secret Spot is the answer?" Littlefoot asked thoughtfully.
Neo and Megte smirked. "We sang you the answer already," Megte said teasingly.
"Or at least, the place where your answer will come from," Neo smiled.
"Now then," Megte said. "We don't have anything else to say to you."
"What?" Cera asked incredulously.
"Other than this," Neo added, looking hesitantly at Megte, "You sure it's okay?"
Reluctantly, Megte nodded. "Let me warn you that this is a one-time opportunity for you, one we shall not be providing to you again, for it lets you know of far more than you normally should. It is only due to both your extraordinary potential and need that we shall make an exception. But you must not ever mention what you're about to see to anyone, and I mean anyone, else."
"And while it may be easy to think of this as a present from us, that's not really what this is," Neo said. "For every moment of pleasure you take out of this, you must also be prepared to sharpen your minds in order to take full advantage of this opportunity, and to ask the right questions to get the answers you're looking for. Do you understand?"
Curiosity burning inside them, the gang eagerly nodded. "Well then," Neo smiled. "We will keep your mementos, as well as your bodies, safe until you return. Just remember to close your eyes, open your hearts, and take ahold of one another, in body and soul, and well, as your fast-runner friend would say, you'll get to just where you need to get to."
"And no more questions," Megte said sternly.
Sorely tempted to ask, the gang reluctantly nodded and obeyed. Gathering in a circle, they each lay belly down on the ground, wrapping a front paw around a friend's on either side, or in Petrie's case, Ducky and Spike each took a gentle hold of a wing as he in turn wrapped his wings around their front paws. Then, just after they closed their eyes, they began to feel a rushing sensation as somehow, they felt themselves levitating as if they were floating high up into the sky stars, before they gently drew apart as their bodies began to ease into a natural stance …
"You think we open eyes now?" he heard Petrie ask fearfully.
"I think we can," Ducky said cautiously. "Do you Spike?" Spike grunted in agreement.
"Well, it's about time," said Cera. "I'm sick of having my eyes shut."
"Yeah," Littlefoot agreed. "I think if we're not moving, it's probably okay."
So together, the gang finally opened their eyes. The first thing Littlefoot noticed is that he seemed to be in an endless atmosphere of pitch-black nothingness, with not even any ground to stand on. He had no sooner realized that than he saw four translucent, glossy shimmers of light floating alongside him, and even though they flowed seamlessly through their surroundings, there was no mistaking just who they were. And judging by the way they were all looking at him, he was not surprised to see that when he looked down at his feet, he saw that he too had become a shimmer of light, just like the others. And sure enough, as he tried stepping a few paces, he felt remarkably weightless, as if he was moving with his mind rather than his body.
"Where are we?" Littlefoot asked in wonder.
But before any of the others could answer, they could feel a presence glide toward them. It made so little sound that when they turned around, they were surprised to see that it was a fully grown longneck, only it was in the same form of translucent light as they were. Most of the gang was surprised with the sudden arrival of the visitor, taking a step back out of apprehension. But as Littlefoot followed its neck all the way up to its face, he felt his jaw drop. This was no ordinary longneck … In fact, there was only longneck he could have been …
"Why hello there, Littlefoot," he said in an unmistakable warm, soothing voice. "I was wondering when I would see you and your friends again."
"G … Grandpa?" Littlefoot asked in disbelief, his heart beating rapidly as he stared in awe and excitement. "It's really you?"
"That it is," Grandpa smiled.
"No way," Cera gasped her jaw dropping.
"Are we … dead?" Ducky asked thoughtfully.
Grandpa chuckled. "Oh no, little ones. Just asleep. I don't know what kind of trouble you went through to get here, but well, let's just say that while your bodies are resting, your inner beings have come up to meet us."
"Uh … uh … us?" Petrie gasped in a stutter.
"Oh yes," Grandpa nodded. "In fact … I might as well let everyone know right now." Then Grandpa turned around, looked back, and gave a nod toward the darkness.
"Everyone?" Littlefoot said faintly.
Grandpa smiled but didn't say anything. "So how have you all been?" he asked as he turned back to face them.
"Terrible, of course," Cera said bluntly.
"I shouldn't have asked," Grandpa smiled. "But things will get better soon. You all have gotten into plenty of trouble over the cold times, and I don't see why things would be any different with you now."
"They already are getting better, Grandpa," Littlefoot reassured him, his eyes melting as he stared into his grandfather's radiant, pearly face, before the two of them rubbed their cheeks against one another. Littlefoot could not feel any of his grandfather's soft, smooth flesh, but he was able to feel an unmistakable warmth in his heart. "Especially now that I'm seeing you again. I miss you so much … "
"Me too Littlefoot," Grandpa said warmly. "But Grandma and I are doing fine."
"You mean … Grandma's here too?" Littlefoot asked excitedly, his heart skipping another beat.
Grandpa nodded. "Yes, she is, Littlefoot. We are happy up here together. And even though we miss you dearly, Grandma and I keep plenty busy just by being reunited and getting to know the friends we've never met … Oh," Grandpa chuckled. "Speaking of which …"
For at that moment, more shimmers of light began to appear from the edge's darkness. They were tiny specks of light at first, but over time, they grew bigger and bigger, until at last, Littlefoot could make out several distinct forms effortlessly flowing through the blackness to join Grandpa, each taking a place right by his side. Some were little, scampering around busily, almost as if they were children. Others moved more slowly, enormous in size, but gliding fluidly with every movement they took. And soon, Littlefoot could make out individual faces, most of whom he had never seen before. But as he looked through the crowd, he saw that there were two faces he couldn't quite see, for like Grandpa, their heads were held high above the others, their necks craning down to get a better view of him and his friends without blocking the others' view of them.
His heart jolted as slowly, he followed all the way up their winding, gracefully curving necks, absorbing every detail as they did, down to every last scale on their remarkably unblemished skin. Until at last, he reached the point where their necks began to curve downward, wondering if he even dare to continue further. But continue he did, following their dark backs as they turned into smooth, ruffle-like lines rolling perfectly along their necks, before giving way to soft little indents where their skin began to lighten, where their eyelids sat, surrounding perhaps the most beautiful sources of light he had ever seen …
Littlefoot felt his heart abruptly come to a complete stop as he could only stare in shock at the two smiling faces. Unable to comprehend everything, he fixed his gaze on the face on the left first. Even though he already heard Grandpa say she was there, seeing her face again was a whole different feeling in itself. "G … Grandma?" Littlefoot tried to call out to her, but the words were unable to leave his mouth. Grandma seemed to have heard him however, for she nodded slowly, but without any of the effort that she had exerted to move that she required in later cold times. Like Grandpa, she seemed to be completely free from any physical ailments, looking more radiant in death than she ever had in life. As she gave him a warm, peaceful smile, Littlefoot began to feel himself tearing up inside, and struggled not to let the overwhelm he felt inside control him completely.
Then slowly, Littlefoot allowed his eyes to drift to the right, a feeling in his heart telling him who the other face must belong to, but all the same, not feeling fully able to believe it. All the cold times of longing, sorrow, and memory … His jaw locked in a disbelieving gape, it barely seemed real to him. After all, this was the one wish he always held in his heart that neither the Great Valley nor his friends, nor even his grandparents could ever grant him. Yet here he was, staring right into what had to be the most painfully beautiful face in the universe … The single face he had longed to see over any other …
This time, Littlefoot could only feel his head uncontrollably shake, his mouth still remaining ajar and stuck in place, and his eyes felt wide open with wonder. What he was seeing was beyond his wildest fantasies, beyond any possible imagination. Yet there all three of them stood, smiling proudly at him, looking healthier and happier than they ever had in life. And just when he thought he couldn't take anything else in, he felt something inside. A smooth, gentle purr, playing against his heartstring to make a beautiful chord, softly cooed, "Littlefoot …" just as it had done so long ago …
"Mother!" Littlefoot gasped, once again the words not quite leaving his mouth. But it hardly mattered as with a fierce rush of joy, he bounded over to her, tears pouring down his cheeks as he grinned madly. Coming to an abrupt halt, he rubbed his cheeks with his mother, once again not feeling any physical body, but an immense source of light and warmth as she cradled her neck around his, lifting a front paw to wrap him in a tight embrace as with her other one, she stroked his back, sending waves of tender balminess down his spine, as if he was getting a celestial massage.
"Mother, I missed you so much!" Littlefoot exclaimed, only for his words still not to leave his mouth. She seemed to hear him though, for she smiled affectionately as once again, he felt some words flow through his heart. "I miss you too Littlefoot … And I will always love you."
Overcome with fulfillment and basking in delight, Littlefoot finally looked away from his mother, wondering what his friends would think of finally being able to see his mother in person. To his surprise however, not one of them seemed to be paying attention. Cera's eyes were shut, completely oblivious to the fact she was crying as another threehorn, darker in color but otherwise bearing a striking resemblance to her, had her wrapped in a big hug, beaming softly at her as three young threehorns scampered around her feet. Petrie too was bawling, locked in an embrace with a more muscular, bulkier flyer, but one who had a strikingly similar color scheme to him, who was smiling calmly as he patted Petrie gingerly on the back. Spike meanwhile, was simply gaping in wonder as he stared at two large spiketails, both smiling warmly at him, rubbing their cheeks against his on either side, while two spiketail hatchlings put their front paws on Spike's front legs curiously. Only Ducky seemed to have an inkling of groundedness as she eyed her friends in confusion. But comprehension soon dawned in her eyes, and turning to Grandpa and Grandma Longneck, she asked, "Um … is this … everyone's family?"
Grandma Longneck beamed. "It sure is, Ducky. These are your friends' long-lost relatives, the friends we would've had if only we met … But now that we have all passed on, we can finally enjoy being together."
Hearing these words finally brought Cera, Petrie, and Spike out of their states of joyous amazement as they stared in incredulity, at the missing branches of their best friends' immediate family trees, finally being able to put faces to what had long been speculative beings in their imagination.
"Now while all of us here know who you are, Grandma and I are the only ones you all know. So why don't all of us who are departed introduce ourselves?"
"I'll go first," came a calm, serene voice that instantly brought a wistful smile to Littlefoot's face. "I'm Patty … Littlefoot's mom, but you can call me Mama Longneck."
"I'm Rose," said the adult threehorn in a sweet voice, but also one with unmistakable feistiness. "Cera's mom, or Mama Threehorn. And these," she said, nodding down three little threehorn hatchlings scampering by Cera's feet, "Are Cera's nestmates Rica, Lora, and Dira."
"You had to give us all names that end the same, didn't you?" Cera teased her mother, who burst out laughing. "Oh Cera, cheeky as always."
"Like you're anyone to talk, Rose," Mama Longneck calmly smirked, giving her a playful nudge. "Hmm, I wonder who she picked that pert behavior up from?"
"Hey, it's not like you had more than one name to come up with," Mama Threehorn shot back.
"Touche," Mama Longneck smirked as the two of them both began to laugh heartily.
Littlefoot beamed at his mother, amazed with how much he had already learned about her. Through all his time knowing her, he had always known her as a wise, gentle, caring mother. But due to the trying circumstances of his early childhood, she had always seemed so serious, constantly doing her best to keep him alive. He had never once imagined seeing her laugh like that, having such a dry sense of humor, or engaging in such lively banter. Yet here she was, a natural at it just like Cera's mom, as if they had been doing it together all their lives. Sorely wanting to ask more questions of his mother, he remembered that the others still had to introduce themselves, and eager to find out about Petrie and Spike's family, he sat back and eagerly waited to listen.
"Hey there," said the flyer, with a nervous chuckle to his voice. "I'm Bergy. Petrie's dad, and hey, just like them, you can call me Papa Flyer. And uh … Me, uh I, uh … Was so startled when I found out you were coming! But of course, uh ... I'm glad you're here all the same, that is," he said, with a quirky smile.
"Which leaves us," said the adult male spiketail in a casual, low voice. "I am Horner, Spike's birth father. This is my wife, Diana, Spike's birth mother. You can just call us Papa and Mama Spiketail. And these are Spike's older nestmates Thag and Zer …" he said, nodding to the two little spiketails investigating Spike curiously. Suddenly, a thought appeared in his head as he turned to his mate. "Oh yeah … Diana, did you make sure the children got fed today?"
"They don't need food up here, Horner!" Mama Spiketail exclaimed exasperatedly.
"Come on, you never can get enough food, isn't that right, son?" he asked Spike, who grunted and nodded happily.
"Spike gets enough food in the Great Valley, he does," Ducky said, her voice trailing off. "That is, if we can ever go back there."
"And you must be Ducky," Papa Spiketail said warmly, wrapping her in a warm hug with his front paw. "Thank you so much for being Spike's big sister."
"We were so worried when we got here because poor Spike hadn't even hatched yet!" Mama Spiketail exclaimed.
"Yeah, but not for long," reassured Papa Spiketail. "Because once we saw him take a liking to you, well, the rest is history," he smiled.
"And we'd love to thank your mother too someday," Mama Spiketail added. "There aren't a lot of mothers who would raise a foster child … Let alone one of a whole different kind. But she's everything we could ever dream of!"
Ducky giggled. "That is my mother, all right …" before sighing, "If only we could see her again."
"Hey, that's what we're here for, my daughter-in-law," Papa Flyer bowed as Ducky giggled. "You know about us?"
"Of course we do," Mama Threehorn exclaimed, as if she asked the most ridiculous question.
"It gets quite … Well, boring without watching you whatever you kids get up to," Mama Longneck smiled serenely.
" Don't forget Patty, there's always the hubbies," Mama Threehorn smirked, and once again, she and Littlefoot's mom burst out laughing.
"Oh yes," Mama Longneck rolled her eyes. "How could I forget?"
"Well, we've got all the time in the world to talk with you," Papa Spiketail said relaxedly.
"Knowing you and your friends Littlefoot, I'm sure you've always been wondering about us, and have got plenty of questions about what we've been doing," Mama Longneck smiled. "So why don't we answer those, and then we can talk about how we can help you."
"All right," Littlefoot smiled. "So how are you guys?"
"We're doing as well as we possibly can," Grandpa Longneck smiled. "Everything is always peaceful, and we no longer carry any worry up here. Of course, we always miss you, and we will be happy to share our world with you when the time comes. But honestly, we spend a lot of our time lazing about, watching you and your friends."
"There's never a dull moment with you," Grandma Longneck smirked, shaking her head. "Of course, things can still be lively up here. We're only just starting to meet our new friends and well, some of them can be quite a handful."
"I heard that!" Mama Threehorn exclaimed as Mama Longneck once again let out that hearty, warm laugh of hers. Stopping at last, Mama Longneck turned to Littlefoot's grandparents. "Mom, Dad," she said pleadingly, intriguing Littlefoot, never seeing this type of relationship between his mother and grandparents. "Can Rose and I start the story? Please?"
"I don't see why not," Grandpa laughed, shaking his head. "After all, it all started with you two."
"Oh thank you so much!" Mama Longneck cheered excitedly, only regaining her composure when she turned to face Littlefoot. "So Littlefoot," she said, her voice returning to its gentle, serene flow. "I know you must have always wondered what has become of me, way up there in the Great Above. You probably wondered if I was ever lonely up there, with your father and grandparents still on the earth. Well, I was at first, but rest assured, it wasn't for long. For no sooner was I getting settled than this fireball first came to distract me."
"Distract you?" exclaimed Mama Threehorn incredulously. "You were bored silly and would still be bored if I didn't come! Don't act like I didn't catch you trying to sneak back as a sky puffy!"
Mama Longneck chuckled. "Well, as a good mother, I needed to give Littlefoot just the guidance he needed to finally find the Great Valley. Which judging by how off the mark Cera was, I see you obviously failed to do."
"Me? I knew all along Cera could handle it, because …" Mama Threehorn trailed off as Mama Longneck just shook her head and snickered.
Littlefoot and Cera couldn't help but be reminded of the banter they had between themselves as they beamed at their mothers in appreciation. "Wow, you two have gotten really close," Littlefoot said to his mother.
"How did you do it?" Cera asked. "With Daddy saying threehorns never play with longnecks."
"That's right, he used to say that!" Mama Threehorn laughed as she and Mama Longneck playfully smirked at one another. "Like he's one to talk, with his bromance with Grandpa here," she said, as Grandpa chuckled in amusement.
"Well, it really was quite simple," Mama Longneck said casually. "As I told you Littlefoot, I'd be with you, even if you couldn't see me. And with you I was, ever since I was able to first make contact with you through that tree star, always making sure you were on the right path. I watched your every step as you drew closer and closer to the Great Valley … And to tell you the truth, I couldn't be prouder of you, son," she beamed at him. "You reminded me so much of your father, for you showed your true potential as a natural leader the moment it became required of you. But you went beyond that, showing an unusual ability to make friends with the most unlikely of possibilities in a way that even caught me off guard. I realize now how wrong I was, trying to limit your first attempts to reaching out at such a young age …"
"Pfft!" Mama Threehorn interrupted. "If you hadn't stepped in, hubby would've killed Littlefoot on the spot. You don't know how he gets!"
"I suppose," Mama Longneck smiled. "Ah well. Suffice it to say that I'm very proud of you for having led your friends so courageously to the Great Valley. As I am proud of you, my daughter-in-law," she said to Cera, who was taken aback. "Even when I was alive, I always thought there was more to you than what met the eye, and I feel honored that I played a part in saving your life, just as I have my son's."
Cera looked flustered. "I'm sorry I called you a stupid longneck," she blurted out.
Mama Longneck smiled. "No worries. Everything has long been forgiven."
"Even if you made a biiiig oops-eeps," Mama Threehorn teased, as both adults and Littlefoot laughed and even Cera cracked a smile.
"So as for me," Mama Threehorn said. "I passed on just when you found Sharptooth in the Big Underground, so naturally, I wanted to know what you were up to. Making sure you weren't doing anything too naughty," she deadpanned, as Cera grinned with a look of sheepish mischief. "So I started following you from above, and well, when you ran into Littlefoot, that's when I ran into Patty."
"And we've just been watching you two ever since," Mama Longneck explained. "We hit it off, both being mothers of adorably precocious children. It made life up here a lot less dull and lonely watching you together. And even though we were different, it hardly mattered. For like you, we felt a sense of connection between us, strengthened by seeing your friendship blooming right before our eyes."
"Except when you two had that fight," Mama Threehorn smirked. "You reminded us so much of your rockheaded fathers when they got mad," and again, the two began to snicker as Littlefoot and Cera embarrassedly looked at one another. "Of course, Patty was always one step ahead in knowing what the two of you would be up to. She said you two would get married one day before you even reached the Valley!" she smirked, causing Littlefoot and Cera to blush.
"Not the one-liners," Mama Longneck smiled back. "You always called those."
"What can I say? I am Cera's mother," Mama Threehorn said as they both gently laughed.
"Hey Mom," Cera said curiously. "What do you think of my dad and Tria?"
Mama Threehorn smiled. "To tell you the truth Cera, I had no idea he'd come this far. You see, when I knew him, all he thought about was standing tough to protect his family. And while I love him so much for that, it was nice to see his world … Change a little bit," she said, nodding to Grandpa Longneck, who smiled.
"I met your parents properly just before Rose came here," he explained. "It took your father a lot of convincing to even agree to a combined herd, and he only did once he realized that he would stand a better chance of finding you if we all looked together. And well … Let's just say he had a real difficult time with your mother's passing. Not only was he overwhelmed with grief, he also felt that he had lost all purpose in life, having already lost his place in his old herd, with no wife and children to take care of anymore. It was then that we knew we needed to do something for him, so we offered him a place in our newly forming Circle of Elders, which interestingly enough, happened to consist of parents and guardians of some certain lost children," he smiled significantly at them.
"That and having you back finally helped him find his place in the world," Grandma Longneck explained. "And it was only then, and through the example of you children, that he slowly began to change to a much healthier view of the world."
"Topps knew Tria long ago," Mama Threehorn explained. "She was the first dinosaur he met who was not in our childhood herd, and I think in the back of his mind, he always had a crush on her. They never met again until they were teenagers, by which point, Tria had become best friends with a hollowhorn named Rythe, or as they called each other, Twoped and Fourped. Topps felt so furious and betrayed by Tria that he told her he hated her, called her a beakface-loving traitor, and that he never wanted to see her again. And he took it hard, blaming Rythe for his failure with Tria, fueled by the strong prejudice toward other dinosaurs that was already common in our herd … Hence, along with being embittered from losing his leadership duel, was why he was especially cruel to you," she told Littlefoot.
"Rythe," said Littlefoot, remembering. "Wait, that's …"
"Cassia's mom?" Cera finished.
Mama Threehorn nodded. "Living in the Great Valley, seeing you children, and being part of the Circle of Elders helped Topps to free himself of most of his prejudices, so much so that by the time Tria and Rythe went to the Great Valley, he realized he was in the wrong and was willing to give Tria a second chance. Tria too was willing to forgive him, and being careful to avoid mentioning Rythe by name, the two of them managed to rebuild their relationship. Fortunately, he already knew Rythe's new mate Colby, who as you know was already a longtime resident in the Valley. And slowly, Topps and Rythe began to put their pasts behind them. So much so that by the time Tria told him that she wanted to introduce Tricia to Rythe and her daughter, he didn't raise a single complaint."
Smiling, Mama Threehorn explained, "So I'm happy for him, and for her too. At last, the two of them can finally understand one another. And of course, seeing how good of a stepmother Tria has become to you, even with the responsibilities of raising her own birthchild, makes me all the happier."
Papa Flyer meanwhile, next turned to Petrie. "Hey, uh, I guess I'll go next, if that's okay with everybody," he said politely, as everyone nodded.
Papa Flyer sighed as he nervously said, "I uh … Well, I don't know if I should tell you how I got here."
"Me no mind," Petrie said. "You can tell me what to be extra careful about."
Papa Flyer grimaced. "You see, that's just it, Petrie. Technically I died from a sharptooth attack. But uh, the sad truth is, the only reason I … Was even attacked in the first place was because, uh … uh … I was sitting at the edge of a cliff, too scared to cross the Big Water below me."
"What?" Petrie asked, confused.
"Fear itself is what did me in, Petrie," Papa Flyer explained sheepishly. "Let me, uh, explain. You were only three cold times old, so you, uh, can probably barely even remember me, but I was determined to look to, uh, find a better place for us all to live. I heard that there was a beautiful island way out there in, uh … The Big Water, filled with trees and free from any sharpteeth … I thought it would be a great place for you to grow up. But the problem, uh, was, uh … I was scared of the Big Water," he explained. "And not just scared, mind you. Really scared. The, uh, towering waves, the swimming sharpteeth, uh … The water getting on my wings, the fear of drowning …" He shuddered, before explaining, "They all had me frozen with fear."
"Me can understand that," Petrie smiled, petting his father's crest. "Me too scared of all that."
"Yes Petrie, but this is where I failed. Unlike you, I didn't, uh, work through my fears. I, uh, let my fear completely take control over me. I could sit on that ledge and dream of reaching at that island from afar, but, uh … I never once had the resolve to actually stand up to my fear and will myself to go for it. If I had just plucked up the courage, I would have made it off that ledge, and since I was an adequate flyer, I most likely would have made it all the way to the island and back again so I could show you all the way. But because, uh, I was so overcome with my fear, obsessing about every bad outcome that could happen … I f-failed to realize the real danger that was right behind me until it was too late," he said, shivering.
Petrie looked at his father in sympathetic understanding, completely understanding now what his father was trying to tell him, for he had been fearful in so many situations himself. Shaking his head, Petrie's father continued, "But even then, I uh, didn't learn my lesson. Even up here, in a world of peace and comfort …. I was always too … Too scared to find out what happened to my family without me," Papa Flyer confessed, hanging his head. "You see, uh, I feared the worst. Call me crazy, but uh … I, uh …"
"It all right, Dad," Petrie said kindly, hugging him with a wing behind his back. "You can say it."
"Well, uh …" he stuttered, before continuing, "I, uh, thought you'd all be killed! I was afraid you'd all be helpless in the Mysterious Beyond … And that you'd all blame me for it because I failed to come back to you!" Hanging his head, Papa Flyer admitted, "So I was too scared. So scared that, uh … You'd all reject me in the Great Above, that uh … I didn't dare find out what happened to you. I just assumed you all died and didn't want anything to do with me. And as a result …" he said bitterly, "I missed out on what had to be many cold times, and never got a chance to, uh, really see you grow and come into your own."
He smiled at Mama Longneck and Mama Threehorn. "Imagine my surprise when these two finally found me and told me that my family, rather than being up here in the Great Above and hating me like I assumed, actually made it to the Great Valley, a place I only thought was a legend! I was so proud of you all I couldn't believe my ears. But that wasn't even the best part," he smiled as he stared into Petrie's eyes. "The, uh … best part was that I learned that my little late bloomer, the only one of my hatchlings I never saw learn to fly, the one who had his funny way of speaking, the uh … One I worried about most and honestly didn't think was gonna make it, even before I died … Proved to be my most accomplished child of all," he said, smiling broadly.
"You mean me?" Petrie asked in surprise.
"Mmm-hmm," Papa Flyer said. "Not only are you a better flyer in mind and in spirit than I ever was … But you're, uh … Honestly one of the most, well, heroic dinosaurs I've ever known," he continued excitedly. "I mean, when I found out my little Petrie helped sink Sharptooth? That he literally saved his friend from the mouth of a sailbacked sharptooth?"
"Gee Dad, you make me sound so brave," Petrie said, blushing.
"But most of all ... I was amazed to find how great a friend you became," Papa Flyer smiled. "To, uh, think of all the things Ms. Longneck and Threehorn told me you and your friends have done … And how close you, uh, together work … I mean work together with each other … It still makes me feel all loopy inside!"
"Trust me, telling Bergy stories never gets old," smirked Mama Threehorn as Mama Longneck nodded in agreement.
"So yeah," Papa Flyer explained. "I didn't start watching you kids until you … Uh, were going to the Fire Mountain to save Mrs. Longneck's husband … And uh, you totally blew me away! And uh … Like the others, I've never stopped watching what you been up to ever since!"
Then he turned to look right into Petrie's eyes. "I'm so proud of you Petrie," he said earnestly. "I'll always regret how I couldn't help you more in life. But know this, from uh-up here, I'll be cheering for you, and uh … Well, I know you and your friends can do anything, that's it!"
Then Petrie remembered something that had been nagging in the back of his mind. "Hey Dad? Maybe you no know, but … Is Brara my cousin?"
Papa Flyer looked oddly grave as he sighed. "The … The truth is complicated, Petrie," he said, scratching his crest. "Your mother's brother was, uh, always a flirt when he was younger, to say the least. And, uh, as you know, he wasn't always responsible with his, uh, actions," he said uncomfortably. "But in this case, his, uh, partner was also, um … tricky. I can't remember for sure, but uh … She had a dirty secret. So much so that, uh … When he found out, he was in shock, unable to believe how, uh, badly he had been duped. And, uh, he flew away before she even got the chance to say she was … Uh, expecting."
Papa Flyer sighed before he said, "His mate, uh, abandoned her egg … And, well … To this day, neither Pterano nor Brara know for sure they are father and daughter. They can only guess. But, uh, well, um, I hate to say such, but uh … I think things all point that way."
"Right," Petrie said slowly, the truth of the situation dawning upon him as he looked down sadly.
"Your uncle was immature. This was before you were born, even just as he was ... When he, uh, led his herd away," Papa Flyer explained. "But, uh … While he's still got his problems …"
"Which dear old hubby is constantly reminding him of," Mama Threehorn teased.
"He's gotten a lot better, uh, as I'm sure you know. Just like Cera's dad … He's not perfect, but … Well, I'm sure your positive influence has rubbed off on him," he smiled.
"Aww Dad," Petrie said, blushing as he gave his dad a big hug.
"So yes," Mama Longneck smiled. "For a while it was me, Rose, and Bergy, happily watching you five, Chomper and Ruby and whatever adventures you got up to, both in the Great Valley and the Mysterious Beyond. But we always wondered Spike, about your family. We knew our mates, as well as Ducky's, Chomper's, and Ruby's parents were still alive, and thus we wouldn't be able to meet them. But from the moment we saw you, you had already lost your parents … Which meant it was up to us to find them."
"The problem was," Mama Threehorn explained. "Since your parents only knew you as an egg Spike, we thought they'd have no idea what you'd look like. They wouldn't even know that your name is Spike, since Ducky was the one who first named you."
"So we had to do things uh, the hard way," Papa Flyer explained. "We had to go out and talk to all the spiketail couples we could find, asking them if they had an unhatched egg that had since hatched but not crossed over. If, uh, they said yes, we'd take them to where your nest was and see if they could recognize the spot. But none of them ever did."
"We had almost given up hope," Mama Longneck admitted. "Until the thought occurred to us, what if Spike was not an only child? What if rather, he was the last of his clutch to hatch, and the rest of his family is up here in the Great Above?"
"And then we found these four," Mama Threehorn said, with a hint of annoyance. "Turns out they've been watching Spike the whole time, but never bothered to tell us."
"It was much more fun to watch you interact freely with each other, rather than act polite if we gave ourselves away," Papa Spiketail said casually.
"You reminded us of Spike's friends down below," Mama Spiketail smiled. "And Spike, trust us. Seeing our crazy counterparts all the time, we more than understand that look in your eyes whenever you just want to stop adventuring to take a breather and rest."
Spike laughed and nodded, knowing that feeling all too well.
"But even when you don't feel like it, you can always be counted on to stay with your friends all the time," said Papa Spiketail admirably. "That really impressed us. I don't know if we would've had your patience. And that's saying a lot."
"What do you mean, patience?" Cera asked as Littlefoot, Ducky and Petrie chuckled embarrassedly.
"Which really shows how great of a friend you are," said Mama Spiketail. "We only wish we could have spent time with you down there. But know this Spike, we'll always be with you from up here."
Spike nodded as he looked at his parents, while Thag and Zer began to tussle with each other. The two parents looked at one another solemnly, before Papa Spiketail said, "We never got a chance to meet you Spike, so let us explain."
"You, Thag and Zer were all laid in the same clutch of eggs," explained Mama Spiketail. "The problem was, Thag and Zer hatched a lot earlier than you did. This put us in the unique position of both caring for rambunctious young ones out of the nest, always on the go, yet also having to watch over your egg until the day when you would finally hatch."
"We made a lot of noise, being such a busy young family," explained Papa Spiketail. "And unfortunately, two browridge sharpteeth noticed us," explained Papa Spiketail. "We were so caught up in our own world that we didn't even think there would be sharpteeth … They caught us off guard. And as they were both bigger than us and both ravenous for food, we knew we wouldn't really stand a chance."
"But we did the one thing we could," continued Mama Spiketail sadly. "While we knew we couldn't save ourselves or our hatched children, we could do something for you, Spike," she said softly. "We could lure the sharpteeth away from your nest, and that is just what we did."
"We ran as far as our legs would carry us before they finally gave way," explained Papa Spiketail. "But in our last moments, we were at peace with ourselves, for we knew we took the sharpteeth far away from your egg, giving you a chance at life."
"As soon as we passed, we went right to the spot where your egg was, seeing it had been untouched, just as we hoped. But imagine our surprise when we saw these two shaking their heads as they were watching your friends fighting nearby," Mama Spiketail nodded toward Mama Longneck and Threehorn.
"But that was nothing to the way we felt than we saw you discovered him," Papa Spiketail smiled at Ducky. "We were a little worried you were an egg thief at first … But then," he sighed and closed his eyes, reminiscing warmly.
"We didn't know it then, but … It was the best thing that could have possibly happened for him," Mama Spiketail smiled. "You truly are a great sister. Your gentle encouragement, that sparkle in your eyes, whenever you say yep yep yep …" she smiled as Ducky giggled. "We felt happy from the moment we saw you. And suddenly, our fears about what would happen to Spike were washed away, turning into relief and happiness."
"You and your family have been so welcoming to Spike," said Papa Spiketail appreciatively. "And considering you got him to the Great Valley, where he's received so much friendship and love … I dare say you raised him better than we ever could."
Ducky blushed modestly as she said, "Oh, thank you so much … But really, all I tried to do was make Spike happy, I did … And I am sure my mother would say the same. But I will say one thing. Even though we may not be nestmates, Spike and I truly are siblings inside. We can feel it in our hearts, yep yep yep! And I cannot fully explain just how much I love Spike and how much I always will, nope nope nope … Other than he is my most special little brother, he is!"
"That's saying a lot, considering you have thirteen twins," said Papa Spiketail, and all three of them and Spike laughed together.
Spike's parents, meanwhile, smiled at Spike as he still eyed them curiously. "We know you're not much of a talker Spike," Mama Spiketail said.
"You're an eater, so you've got your priorities right," Papa Spiketail teased as Mama Spiketail sighed, causing Ducky and Spike to giggle.
"But we want to show how much we love you all the same," Mama Spiketail smiled as the two parents beckoned Spike to come over. Hesitantly, Spike looked to Ducky, who smiled broadly at him.
"Go for it, Spike!" she exclaimed. "This is your chance to get to meet your birth parents, it is, it is!"
Spike nodded in understanding, before he slowly walked over to be face to face with his parents. Grunting in a way that sounded much like, "Mama? Papa?", Spike could tell how much genuine warmth the two spirits had, a love for him that he felt just like that of his mother back home. With a warm sigh, Spike stepped into their embrace, and the three of them began to snuggle with one another. Feeling his parents' affection like never before, he sighed dreamily as they lovingly rubbed themselves all over him, giving him precious moments of tenderness that he would never forget.
"So," Grandpa Longneck said thoughtfully. "I guess now that we're all caught up … Why don't I share a story with you children?"
"They're eighteen and nineteen cold times old, Dad," Mama Longneck shook her head.
"You were even there to see them get married, yet you still call them children?" Mama Threehorn teased.
Grandpa Longneck chuckled. "I guess old habits die hard … Especially when I want to share with them a story."
"Please tell us!" Littlefoot exclaimed, as Cera, Ducky, Petrie and Spike all chimed in with agreement.
Grandpa Longneck smiled. "I don't think I ever told you the full story of how the Great Valley came to be, have I?"
"No," Littlefoot said eagerly as they all tucked their legs underneath and prepared to listen.
Grandpa Longneck smiled. "Well, it's kind of a dark story for kids ... But this all happened long, long ago … Back when there were no spiketails, threehorns, or even longnecks. The only kind of leafeater there was what is known as a tall grazer."
"A tall grazer?" Ducky said confusedly.
"What that?" Petrie asked.
"A tall grazer is the ancestor to all leafeaters," explained Grandpa Longneck. "Remember the short-necked longnecks I told you about? A tall grazer looks much like they do, except they are much lighter in weight. For their name comes from the fact that while they walked on all fours, they could stand up on their back legs and bring branches down to their mouth with their front arms without any fear of losing balance. In short, they were both two-footers and four-footers."
Grandpa Longneck sighed. "Their world was very different from ours. Sharpteeth had only just branched off from everyone else, so they had not become a true danger yet. But dangers still existed in their world. One was in the form of the climate. There had been a prolonged drought back then, when the Bright Circle refused to give way to the Night Circle, causing the world to grow very hot and dry, and for green food to struggle to grow. But there were also belly draggers, which had longer legs than the ones we see today, which took up the role filled by sharpteeth in our world."
Grandpa Longneck said. "One of these tall grazers was named Long Head. He, his wife, and his son had been traveling the land you stand on today. Only at that point, there was no Great Valley."
"No Great Valley?" Littlefoot asked.
Grandpa Longneck shook his head. "No Littlefoot. All there was was empty land, just like the Mysterious Beyond of today, only under even hotter and drier conditions. Anyways, Long Head and his family were like everyone else, looking for food and water. But no matter where they went, nothing could be found."
Grandpa Longneck sighed. "This left Long Head's family weak and famished … So much so that when a belly dragger came to attack, Long Head and his wife couldn't do anything to stop it. What's more, Long Head's wife, already barely alive as it was, fell into deep grief over her son's death, and that very same night, she joined him, leaving Long Head all alone in an empty world."
Grandpa Longneck sighed as the gang looked at each other sadly. "Now Long Head was doing a lot of thinking as he stared at the Night Circle and the stars above. He too was on the verge of death. But in his last moments, rather than thinking about himself and his own suffering, he remembered the pain he held in his heart and made a dying wish that that pain would not be felt by others. As he stared up at a flying rock in the sky, he wished for a place where green food could grow rapidly and easily, with soils more fertile than anywhere else in the world. A place that would be immune from the darkest of saurian hearts, and that could recover from natural destruction remarkably quickly. A place with tall walls that could keep out the belly draggers, and a buffer zone where any attacking belly draggers would fall before hurting anyone. And lo and behold, as the bodies of Long Head, his wife and son all disintegrated into the world around them, their life energy was absorbed by the ground, transforming the desolate land around them into what eventually came to be known as the Great Valley."
Smiling, Grandpa Longneck said. "Of course, like all stories, this has some basis in imagination and some in fact, and it is up to each of us to decipher the truth from the myth. But you will find the details of this particular story to be remarkably accurate. As a spirit myself, I can tell you that the Great Valley is protected by some kind of enchantment, hence why the trees grew back so quickly after the fires, swarming leaf gobblers, swirling winds, and earthshakes we had, not to mention how there always seems to be enough food for everyone. And I can also say that there is indeed a buffer zone, part of which you just discovered with your Secret Spot."
"Part of which?" Littlefoot asked, as Grandpa Longneck nodded. "You mean … There's more secret spots in the Great Valley we don't know about?"
"And that … They're all connected?" Cera said eagerly.
"And we can make one great big Secret Spot?" Ducky asked excitedly.
"Right at Valley's edge?" Petrie finished, out of breath with anticipation. "Without bad guys knowing about it?"
This time, Grandma Longneck smiled and nodded. "Now remember, due to your exile, you cannot enter any of these spots from inside the Great Valley, nor can you jump into them from above. But there is another way you can reach them. The trick is to remember the point in the Mysterious Beyond from which you can reach them …"
And this time, Grandpa and Grandma Longneck, like the Rainbow Faces, paused to let the gang figure things out. They wracked their brains, trying to decipher what exactly Grandma and Grandpa were talking about. Looking at each other, they only were met by glances of similar puzzlement. That was, until something flickered in Ducky's eyes and she stood up at once, jumping up and down with excitement. "Oh, that is it, it is … I think I know, yep yep yep!"
The others looked up in excitement. "What is it, Ducky?" Littlefoot asked hopefully.
"Yeah, tell us!" Cera exclaimed.
"Well … I think Grandpa and Grandma mean the Hidden Canyon," Ducky said. "That secret place we had when we were kids? With all of those yummy tree sweets? That had to be closed off because Red Claw and his fast biters entered the Valley through it?"
Grandpa Longneck smiled. "The very same," he said simply. "But now that Red Claw, Screech and Thud are gone ... And as long as you make sure further sharpteeth cannot get in ..."
Ducky gasped in joy. "Oh yes yes yes!" she squealed as she bounced in delight. "We are getting our special place back, yep yep yep!"
"We not be able to be in whole Great Valley," Petrie smiled. "But we can have part of it!"
"And you mean no one else knows about it?" Littlefoot asked.
"Well, of course others know there is a Hidden Canyon," said Grandpa Longneck sagely. "We told everyone of this during the sharptooth attack. But it has long been several cold times, and I dare say it has long been forgotten."
"But no one else knows the exact place where the Hidden Canyon meets the Great Valley, nor is it easy to find ever since we blocked it off," Grandma Longneck said. "That is, except for one dinosaur."
"Can you remember who else was with us when we sealed the Hidden Canyon's entrance off?" Grandpa Longneck asked.
Most of the gang pondered, but Cera sprang to her feet at once. "Daddy!" she exclaimed. "Dad sealed it off with you guys!"
"Right," Grandma Longneck said, smiling. "Your father is the only one in the Great Valley who can locate the Hidden Canyon's entrance."
"All right!" Cera cheered. "Now all we've gotta do is smash through those rocks and tell Dad …"
"No Cera you mustn't!" warned Grandma Longneck.
"You only have one chance to keep the Secret Spot secret," Grandpa Longneck reminded them. "And if anyone finds out about your secret, you will no longer be safe."
"That means, uh, you can't fly across the Great Valley and tell others either, Petrie," warned Papa Flyer. "For if you show yourself, Leigh will start looking for you and your secret spot will be revealed."
"And your other friends will not know where you will be, so they will not think to check the entrance to the Secret Spot," said Papa Spiketail.
"Not to mention without your help, they cannot move the boulder on their own," added Mama Threehorn.
"Right," agreed Mama Spiketail. "And if they're all seen crowding around that rock, it would only attract unwanted attention, and your secret will most likely be discovered."
"Which means you have to be very careful," warned Mama Longneck. "Not just on who to tell, but when to tell it."
"If too many dinosaurs leave the Great Valley at once, or the wrong dinosaurs leave at the wrong time, it will draw everyone's attention and your plan will be foiled," warned Grandma Longneck. "So you must choose very carefully on who to reach out to when if you hope to rescue everyone."
"Knowing my husband," said Mama Longneck, "He may not be leader of the Great Valley, but he is shrewd enough to buy you plenty of time."
"Your living parents will know you're up to something," agreed Mama Threehorn, "And will do anything to stall Leigh's plans to give you the time you need to carry out a plan."
"And, uh, we know that you'll be able to figure everything you need, uh, sooner or later," smiled Papa Flyer.
"Now then," said Grandpa Longneck. "The Hidden Canyon is near the southwest corner of the Great Valley. If you push out its northern wall, you will discover the rest of the buffer zone from the story, which has been untouched ever since the Great Valley's formation. This will eventually take you all the way to your Secret Spot in the northeast, giving more than enough space, food and water for not only you, but for all of your family, friends, and many more to live in."
"So long as you use your resources wisely," added Grandma Longneck, to which Grandpa Longneck nodded.
The gang looked at each other in understanding, the path for them, while enormously difficult for them, clearer than ever before.
"Thanks so much, for everything," Littlefoot said appreciatively.
And with that, the lights of the spirits faded, and the spirits of the living gently made their way back to their respective bodies.
So everyone, I've decided to ask you guys a question - What do you want to see next, what the gang does next, or what's happening in the Valley in the meantime? These will be the next two chapters, but I'm going to leave it up to you to determine which one comes first. The two also will have very different moods considering the content they'll show is very different. You can leave your answer as a review, a PM, on my Fanfiction poll (if I can get it set up right) or in a poll on my DeviantArt account page (also at AllegroGiocoso), and I will take all of these into account in making a decision. And as always, love to see what everyone thinks!
Edit: Poll is now closed, we will see what will be happening in the Valley next time!
