Cole barely had some sleep when he tried getting up and yawned.
"Geez, no more late nights for me.", he muttered.
He then noticed the egg he and the kids found last night and checked it out. It felt a bit warm, but still remained quiet and motionless.
"So, you're awake."
Cole suddenly was at attention as he looked around to see nobody.
"You sure went through a lot to get it didn't you?"
Cole was feeling a bit on edge.
"Who's there?", he asked, "Who just said that?"
"I did."
Cole turned just in time to see another rainbow face walk out from behind a bush. Cole thought it was another male, but the voice was female.
"Who are you?", Cole asked.
"Me?", the new rainbow face asked as she walked over, "I'm Surya and I'm here to see if you're okay."
Cole looked a bit confused.
"What happened to Imastun?", he asked.
"He's on an errand.", Surya answered, "I'm filling in til he gets back."
Cole tensed as Surya walked around him as if checking him out, but she paused when she saw the egg and turned to Cole again.
"There's an old stump over there a ways.", she informed pointing, "Could be helpful for that egg's hatching day."
Cole looked more confused.
"How do you know about that?", he asked.
Surya just examined the egg and looked to Cole making her blue eyes sparkle for a moment.
"Not long now. Littlefoot and the others will be there shortly.", she informed, "You should head there also. You've got quite a day today."
She headed off leaving Cole more confused than ever, but he headed over to the spot she pointed out anyway and sure enough, there was the stump that looked promising. He had just gotten the egg settled when Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky, Petrie, and Spike showed up.
"You okay Cole?", Littlefoot asked.
Cole yawned again but tried to be cheerful.
"Yeah, just…tired that's all."
As the others got close to the stump, Cole thought about Surya and how she seemed to know about him and why he had the egg. Could Imastun know about her as well?
"How long do we have to wait?", Cera asked breaking Cole out of his thoughts.
"Gee, I don't know.", Littlefoot answered, "Could be a long time."
Petrie landed near the egg and started walking around it.
"My mama sit on eggs to keep warm. Make hatch.", he said as he tried getting on top of it, "Me sit on egg."
Cole watched in amusement as Petrie tried sitting on it, but by the way it looked, he was more like hugging it before it slid to its side and Petrie got on top again.
"I wonder what it's gonna be.", Cera wondered, "A girl I hope."
"Maybe it flyer like me.", Petrie suggested.
"Or a swimmer like me.", Ducky added.
Cole didn't look so sure. The egg didn't look like any of those, so who's could it be?
/
"Hey, why can't we be its parents?", Littlefoot suggested bringing Cole out his thoughts again.
Cole looked confused as the others shared a slight giggle.
"Don't be silly, Littlefoot.", Cera told him, "How can we be its parents?"
Cole had to say something, but Littlefoot beat him to the punch.
"Well, we'll raise it. Teach it stuff. It'll be fun."
Cole rolled his eyes as Ducky started eagerly hugging the egg.
"Oh, yes, yes, yes. I will be a very good mama."
"We be good parents.", Petrie agreed as Spike nodded as well.
"Well, I think I'll make the best parent.", Cera put in.
Cole looked her way with a raised eyebrow.
"In what way?", he asked.
Cera thought for a moment.
"Because I'll let her do anything she wants."
Cole looked firm.
"Guys, I know you're excited, but taking care of a new baby isn't as easy as you think."
Cera looked Cole's way just as firm.
"Hey, didn't we take out Sharptooth?", she asked.
"That was a one-time thing.", Cole reminded, "And taking care of a baby isn't the same as taking down a crazed, vengeful predator After all, it takes a lot for me to watch over you guys."
Cole's words had the kids thinking for a minute, but the way they looked, they thought that it wouldn't be a bother.
"Our baby will never hear "No".", Ducky said, "Oh, no, no, no."
"So, you really want to do this?", Cole asked.
The kids all answered "yes" enthusiastically unaware that Ozzie and strut were nearby spying on them. Just then the egg flinched gaining everyone's attention.
"Look.", Ducky said as cracks appeared on the egg's shell.
She leaned in close just before a purple three taloned foot burst through the shell.
"It hatching.", Petrie put in as the egg tipped to its side and a tail came out the back.
Cole saw the foot as the egg continued to squirm, but he didn't look so thrilled.
"Guys, I think I know what that egg is.", he said rather cautiously.
That was when the egg almost finished hatching revealing a small body with two small arms with two talons with a large piece of the shell on its head which it flung off revealing a square head with light red eyes.
"It's, it's a…", Littlefoot started.
But just then, the hatchling opened its mouth and revealed a small set of teeth while giving a small sound revealing exactly what it was.
"Sharptooth!", the kids screamed as they bailed.
Cole looked confused as well as the hatchling as the rest of the kids fled still panicking.
"Sharptooth!", Cera screamed, "Run!"
"Sharptooth?", Ozzie and Strut asked in confusion.
That was when they saw the kids running towards them and ducked into the grass, even so, they felt the kids run over them which left them groaning in agony.
/
Cole looked at the hatchling and sighed.
"Well, now we know who's egg it is.", he said mostly to himself.
He paused when he saw the hatchling look his way curiously. Cole had read back in his home world that newborns imprint on the first thing they see which ment that this one had done so.
"So, hello.", Cole said a bit anxious.
The hatchling just looked his way without moving and Littlefoot peeked out from behind a tree nearby.
"He doesn't seem so dangerous.", Littlefoot said coming closer.
Cole looked his way and then back to the hatchling.
"Well, welcome to the world.", he said trying to be cheerful.
The hatchling tried standing, but then fell down and its face scrunched up as if it was about to cry.
"Hey, it's okay.", Cole said putting a hand on the hatchling's shoulder, "Just try, try again."
He held his hand a ways up so the hatchling could hold on with one of its own. Slowly, Cole started walking his hand away and the hatchling started to walk also albeit a bit shaky. Littlefoot watched in awe as the hatchling started walking steadier.
"Very nice. What a smart little boy you are.", Cole said encouragingly before looking to Littlefoot, "So, what are we going to call the little fellow?"
Littlefoot looked curious as the hatchling let go of Cole's hand and then started chomping towards some dragonflies that were around.
"Hey, we'll call him Chomper.", Littlefoot put in.
Chomper by now had gotten close to a dragonfly and with a massive bite, he caught it and was soon munching on it although the sight made Littlefoot a bit nervous.
"I guess, he's hungry, huh?"
"What was your first clue?", Cole responded, "The fact he's hunting already or he ate a dragonfly?"
Littlefoot now looked a bit more overwhelmed.
"Cole, would you mind watching him while I go talk with my grandparents?", he asked.
"Sure.", Cole answered, "Just don't mention the word "babies" okay? Make it about babysitting."
Littlefoot nodded and headed off.
"If Cera finds out, she'll kill me.", he muttered to himself.
Cole then looked to Chomper who looked like he had finished and was still hungry.
"Oh, well, we should find some better food for you huh?", Cole asked.
Chomper chirped and got to his feet again before walking up to Cole and hugged his leg. Cole knew that dragonflies were good, but this hatchling needed better food and he had an idea.
"Follow me.", he instructed.
After a bit, Cole and Chomper came to a river where Cole saw some fish swimming around which looked pretty tasty. Chomper must have thought so cause he was drooling at the sight of them and Cole carefully leaned out and with a quick snap and lunge, caught a fish in his beak before handing it off to Chomper who took it and ate contently. Cole felt better as he fished for more and soon had several more for Chomper and himself.
"Nothing like a good fish to help start the day.", he said.
Chomper looked confused as he ate his fish, but after a bit, he burped and gave what sounded like a raspy sound Cole guessed was supposed to be a roar.
"Hey, you're pretty good.", Cole said to him, "Keep practicing."
/
Just as Chomper had finished, Cole saw what looked like Mr. Tops coming along the edge.
"Uh-oh, if he sees me with Chomper, I'm in big trouble.", Cole thought to himself.
He turned to see Chomper wasn't around, but saw him cowering behind some bushes just as Mr. Tops came up and gave Cole a firm look.
"Uh, good morning, Mr. Tops.", Cole said trying to be polite.
Mr. Tops didn't look so thrilled as he looked to the fish bones nearby and then back to Cole.
"What was that you were eating?", he asked harshly.
Cole suddenly felt a bit annoyed.
"For your information, I was fishing for my breakfast.", he stated, "It wasn't any hatchling from any nest if that's what you were wondering and while I do eat greens, I also need meat and fishing is apparently the only method that is acceptable."
Mr. Tops seemed a bit impressed, but only for a moment.
"Have you seen Cera around?", he asked.
Cole shrugged.
"I don't know. Maybe she's with Littlefoot and-"
"You understand that you are still in trouble for what happened yesterday don't you?", Mr. Tops snapped cutting Cole off, "If anything bad happens to Cera, you are personally responsible."
Cole felt like he should get angry, but that would be suicide since Mr. Tops was clearly more formidable and the thought of being impaled on his horns made Cole think twice.
"Understood.", Cole told him.
Mr. Tops huffed, turned and walked away muttering to himself. Cole couldn't make out what it was, but knowing Mr. Tops, it was something about him. He turned to the bush Chomper was in after thinking Mr. Tops was a good distance away to not hear anything.
"It's okay Chomper you can come out now."
Nothing happened and Cole went over to the bush and parted the leaves to reveal that Chomper….was not there!
"Where did he go?", Cole asked himself as he looked around, "He couldn't have gone far."
He started looking around just in time to see Littlefoot show up.
"Cole, you okay?", he asked.
Cole shook his head.
"Littlefoot, I think Chomper wandered off."
Littlefoot looked worried.
"How could you lose him?", he asked as he and Cole headed off.
"I was fishing for him and me when Mr. Tops came along wondering where Cera was and remind me that he's still upset about the incident at the Sinking Sands yesterday.", Cole informed.
"Cole, I'm sorry Cera's father scolding you."
Cole smiled.
"It's okay.", he answered, "He can't be worse than Denathor anyway."
"Who?", Littlefoot asked.
"Another time perhaps?", Cole asked.
/
Back at the stump where Chomper hatched, the other four had returned. They hadn't seen Littlefoot or Cole for a while and decided to go back and check. They observed as the remains of Chomper's egg laid upon the top of the stump like a memorial.
"I don't see Cole or Littlefoot anywhere.", Cera stated.
Petrie flew over to the stump as the others came in closer.
"Maybe Sharptooth eat them.", he said painfully.
Ducky sniffled as Spike let out a sad groan as the others came up to their friend. The thought was becoming too much to bear.
"Poor Littlefoot and Cole.", Ducky sniffed.
As woeful as the moment was, it was interrupted as Ozzie and Strut came out into the open with their gaze on the children.
"Well, well, if it isn't the plant grazers who spoiled our supper.", Ozzie sneered.
The kids were brought out of their state and now seeing the duo before them replaced their sadness with fear.
"It is the egg-stealers.", Ducky informed.
"W-What do we do?", Petrie stammered.
"Run!", Cera screamed.
Ozzie jumped on the stump just as the kids dashed off into the brush.
"Where's my egg, you rotten little sprout crunchers?!", Ozzie demanded as he and strut gave pursuit.
A moment after that happened, Cole and Littlefoot came through looking for Chomper.
"Who knew a little sharptooth could get around so fast?", Cole questioned.
Littlefoot wasn't in the mood to answer. They had to find Chomper and quick. Luckily, they found him, but unfortunately, it was near the Sinking Sands as Chomper was wandering near it.
"Oh no, not again!", Cole yelped as he doubled his speed.
Before Chomper could get closer, Cole and Littlefoot reached him and Cole carefully guided Chomper away to safety.
"Careful.", he told the little T-Rex (Cole deduced that was what Chomper was), "That stuff could pull you down you know."
Chomper looked up innocently whimpering and Cole couldn't stay upset. Littlefoot couldn't be mad either.
"Kids.", Cole said rolling his eyes comically, "What can you do?"
Before Littlefoot could answer, a scream caught their ears. They turned to see Cera, Ducky, Petrie and Spike trapped on a ledge with Ozzie and Strut keeping them there.
"Come on!", Cole ordered as Littlefoot followed him with Chomper bringing up the rear.
(A/N: I'd like to thank LORfan2187 for their ideas and Ashoriotrey for their OC used here.)