We Will Hold On Forever

by

DaveTheAnalyzer

Chapter 20: Take Your Time Part 2

Cera prowled through the grass around Tria with a menacing smirk.

"I'm going to get you, Tricia," she said.

Tricia squealed and ducked behind Tria's tail, peaking over with anticipation. Cera stalked closer. She jumped around the tail. Tricia yelped and ran, Cera not far behind her. They passed in front of their parents, Cera hearing Tria failing to stifle her giggles. Tricia disappeared from sight around their father but her laughter made it easy to follow.

"You can't run forever, Tricia." Cera growled. "Soon, you will be in my belly!"

Tricia cried out, sounding more than delighted at the thought of being eaten. This sincere joy made Cera's heart rise. The first thing that happened when Cera woke up was Tricia bouncing close to her, begging her older sister to play with her. Normally, being awakened made Cera grumbly but seeing Tricia so happy made it not last long. After they had their morning meal, Cera played sharptooth with Tricia, not even minding playing the bad guy again. They circled around their parents, Cera finding it a bit repetitive but loving it. On one run, she glimpsed her father's distracted, miserable look. Cera's stomach squelched but she put down those thoughts about yesterday before they even started and ran even faster after Tricia.

After a few laps around their parents, Cera built up speed and tackled Tricia, the two rolling before Cera ended up on her back with Tricia pinned to her big sister's stomach. Tricia gasped. Cera smirked.

"I'm sorry, did I say in my belly? I meant on my belly!"

With that, Cera squished Tricia against her tummy. Tricia laughed as she flailed out, her ticklish wiggles caused giggles to escape from Cera. Tricia weaponized this, and with a mischievous smile, wiggled more to get Cera to laugh. They wrestled for a bit before they tired out and rested, Tricia still held in Cera's forelegs. Tricia snuggled against Cera's stomach.

"Cera…" Tricia said.

Cera smiled. Really, it was good to have a sister. Her only other remaining sister had long since grown and was busy looking after her twin children but Cera got to experience sisterhood again with Tricia. The toddler had an open, unjudging zest for life that made Cera able to cut loose. She didn't have to put on any airs around Tricia. It was relaxing and Cera wouldn't have it anyway other way. She pressed a foreleg around Tricia.

"Sister." Tricia murmured.

"Yes?" Cera asked, smiling at being addressed that way but Tricia was looking around.

"Sister?" Tricia asked.

"What is it?" Cera said, confused. Was Tricia talking about her or not?

Tricia gazed about more, also confused, appearing to be struggling with how to say something.

"Sis – sis – sister." Tricia frowned and blinked before hitting upon something. "Sisters! Ah! Sisters?"

She looked up at Cera questioningly, who was flummoxed.

"What about sisters?"

Tricia threw her eyes to their surroundings once more before looking at Cera. "Sisters?"

Cera stared, uncomprehending. Then a jolt went through her. She suddenly knew what sisters she was referring to. Cera had trouble meeting Tricia' eye.

"Our sisters from a few days back, they are…" Cera gulped. "They won't be back."

Tricia tilted her head, too young to understand. Cera squirmed.

"That was a onetime thing," she continued. "You can't…none of us will-" The clench in her stomach became painful. "Look, can we not talk about this?"

Tricia shook her head. Tricia pawed at her but Cera rolled over, depositing Tricia on the grass and facing away from her. She felt Tricia paw at her pack.

"Sisters! Sisters!"

"They aren't around." Cera said. "Stop! Leave me alone!"

Cera pressed her forepaws into her ears. Tricia patted to Cera's front, pawing at her frill. Cera glimpsed Tricia staring at her, stricken, saying "sisters, sisters" again and again. Cera tried to block out the sound, hating that she was treating Tricia like this, but the reminder of her lost sisters was too painful for her. The altercation got their parents' attention.

"What's going on?" Mr. Threehorn asked.

"She wants to know where the…other sisters went." Cera closed her eyes. "I – I can't deal with it. Get her off my case."

Mr. Threehorn stiffened. After a moment, he forced himself to his feet and nosed at his youngest daughter.

"Come over, Tricia," he said.

Reluctantly, Tricia patted away, sitting with her parents.

"You see, your other sisters have – been gone for a long time." Mr. Threehorn said. "They – they are not here anymore and-"

Mr. Threehorn fell silent. After a moment, Tria took over, voice gentle as she spoke to an unsure Tricia but she sent a mixed look to Mr. Threehorn as she did so. Mr. Threehorn tried to listen but he looked away, eyes on the grass. Cera was barely aware of this, her back to her family, forepaws to her ears and full of shame.

*Some threehorn I am.*

Cera gritted her teeth. Why couldn't she face these past anguishes? She was a threehorn, she should be able to face anything. Yet the minute a tough topic like this came up, she turned and muffled her ears like a scared baby. What example was she being to Tricia? On the other hand, she couldn't help being annoyed. Why did her younger sister have to bring up the past in the first place? It was over and done, so why couldn't she let it rest. Cera knew she was being unfair but she couldn't help it. Why was everyone so focused on looking back? Even she got to it as well, when she felt guilty about her past actions. She felt her chest cool. She had to be tougher than this. She had to double down on being able to take anything. She couldn't let this weakness get to her.

Her thoughts were cut off by another voice joining the muffled murmurs. Reluctantly freeing her ears, Cera looked around and saw Lizzie had appeared out of a hole, calling over to get Mr. Threehorn and Tria's attention. Cera brightened. It had been awhile since she hung out with Lizzie. She would pop over and play with them, though it wasn't as often as Cera liked. Cera went over, planning to hail Lizzie, when she saw the worried look on the tiny longnecks' face.

"What's going on?" Cera said.

Lizzie started, forcing a smile. "Hey Cera. How have been you been? It's nothing much, just talking with your folks and…" She looked down. "Well, I'm here to tell them that the old flyer Don went after Ruby, Chomper, and Petrie."

Cera stared. She felt as though the air had been punched out of her. "No. You're kidding me."

"They are fine but poor Chomper got kicked." Lizzie replied. "Petrie's mother and some other dinosaurs scared Don off. It – seems they aren't only going for Littlefoot."

"Petrie's mother sent her here to tell us we should go meet with Littlefoot and his grandparents." Tria explained. "Her plan is to have all your friends and their parents get together so you can be protested."

"So we're going to be gathered up and protected like shiny stones," Cera said, grimacing. "Great."

"We are not going to go along with this, Cera." Mr. Threehorn said, lips pressed together. "Tria and I can protect you ourselves. We can take anything these Anchors give us."

"What are you talking about, Topsy?" Tria demanded. "Do you remember how hard we had to fight Verter before he died? With them revived and given power by this Wing Father, it'll be even harder if we face one of these Anchors, never mind four."

"Four?" he repeated. He blanked for a second before he shook his head. "You – you're right. Better to be safe than sorry. I don't know what came over me."

Cera and the others stared at him. This was the second time her father lapsed back to his old attitude in the last few days. What was going on? Tria shook her head.

"I'll go and drop Tricia off to your eldest daughter before rejoining." Tria said. "Come Tricia, it's time for you to see Dinah and Dana again. Your big big sister will have to look after you while your mommy and daddy take care of this important job."

"Now Tria, you don't have to do that." Mr. Threehorn said. "Stay with Tricia and the others. Don't get involved with this dangerous business."

"With these Anchors, we'll need all the help we can get." Tria replied. "I'll see you two later."

Tricia was even more confused as Tria got her to walk onward but didn't appear put off about visiting the rambunctious twins again. Cera's heart lurched a built as Tricia left.

"Well, see you all later." Lizzie said. "Remember, Cera and her friends can always take shelter in our tunnels if they need to."

Mr. Threehorn nodded. "Give Big Daddy my regards."

With that, he turned and walked off, Cera following. She barely glimpsed Lizzie watching their retreating forms before she popped back underground.

"Well…at least I can see my friends again." Cera muttered.

"This isn't a fun excursion, Cera." Mr. Threehorn said. "You'll have to stay close to make sure no one can take you. There won't be a lot you can do so you won't risk yourself, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it."

Mr. Threehorn noted Cera lower her head, the slight encouragement that had been rising in her snuffed out at his words. He felt like kicking himself.

*When am I going to stop screwing up as a father?*

He tried to shake himself from these doubts. He had been doing a terrible job keeping his personal problems to himself ever since his dead family came back. He should be strong but these tragedies and struggles were grounding him down so much he couldn't even comfort Tricia. Why was he becoming so inept? Was Verter right and the Great Valley was making him weak? He had to do better than that. He to work harder to push down his struggles, so his family could live a happier life.

Relief flooded Mr. Threehorn when the pair finally reached Littlefoot and his grandparents' nest. The rest of the children were present, huddled around Littlefoot a few feet from the grandparents and Mama Swimmer, eyes to the ground and miserable. Cera picked up her pace to settle into the grass beside them, seeing her friends' expressions and souring. Mama Swimmer surveying their surroundings nervously with Grandpa and Grandma Longneck. Mr. Threehorn was just wondering where Mama Flyer was when the flyer in question flapped in and landed with a sigh.

"My kids have been moved to my former mate's nest," she said. "He isn't happy about this, but he will make sure to look after them."

"We make do with what we can." Grandma Longneck said. "I assume Tria is dropping Tricia off to your eldest daughter, Mr. Threehorn?"

Mr. Threehorn nodded. "She'll turn back up when she's done with that."

"Good." Grandpa Longneck closed his eyes. "Then once she returns, we can start our watch."

Mr. Threehorn was momentarily nonplussed. Though he had seen Grandpa and Grandma longneck at the end of their rope before, the shame in their expressions was completely new. If even they were feeling the strain, what did that bode for everyone else?

To distract himself, he examined their surroundings. They were sitting in a wide clearing on a hill. On either side of them were a forest while to the back and front of them was open grassland, giving them a good look of the valley. That was good, Mr. Threehorn thought. This would give them a good handle of their surroundings. The number of trees to the left was small enough that terming it as a forest was stretching it, but these were so tightly wound together no one larger than Don could hide in them. The deeper forest on the right went downhill and someone would have to run fast to get up and catch up to them. Even with whatever powers they had, it would still take more work for those Anchors to move quickly uphill. Mr. Threehorn nodded to himself. This area was as safe as could be. He settled by the other parents, finding himself keeping his eyes to the sky. Meanwhile, Cera, looked Littlefoot up and down.

"What's got you so down in the tar pit?" she asked.

"A lot." Littlefoot averted his gaze. "Sorry for getting you guys involved in this."

"Hey, you do not need to say sorry about what you shouldn't be sorry for." Ruby said.

"This just mean Wing Father's fault." Petrie said.

"We do not blame you." Ducky said. "Really, really."

Spike nudged Littlefoot's shoulder with his snout. The others nodded. Littlefoot squirmed. He didn't feel he earned their goodwill. He had been eating silently with his grandparents when Mama Flyer came with Ruby, Chomper, Petrie, and the big intimidating whiptail longneck and explained what happened. The Anchors were going after his friends to get to him. Even though he knew it didn't make sense, he couldn't help but feel guilt, that his adventuring ways with his friends were responsible for their current predicament.

Eventually, Tria came into view, warm smile a bit tired.

"Tricia is in good hands," she told them. "At least Dinah and Dana will distract her with their mischief."

"I'm glad to hear that." Grandpa Longneck smiled. "Now we must start the watch, and plan how to counter the Anchors."

"Can we counter them?" Mama Swimmer asked. "It doesn't sound like those people have a weakness."

"Everyone has a weakness." Grandma Longneck replied, a bit sharply. She took a breath to calm herself. "Even the most powerful. We just need to find what it is."

"How?" Mr. Threehorn said. "It's not like it's going to be somewhere obvious."

"We investigate." Grandma Longneck said. "Know the enemy. If we know who they are, we can beat them. We'll talk to people who knew them or saw them. We already have Mr. Thicknose on it. Granted, his demeanor has become strangely dryer recently and that could affect his ability to talk with people, but he's doing what he can."

"So you are suggesting we also have someone else ask around?" Tria asked.

"Exactly." Grandpa Longneck said. "We need to learn more about the Anchors, if and when their behaviors changed, if they expressed any fears they haven't before. We'll need someone to talk with those who have had contact with Patty and Verter and see what they can say."

"A bit late for that." Mr. Threehorn snorted. "Their herd ran off as soon as they finished filling their stomachs this morning, remember? I'm relieved only a few valley dinosaurs took the coward's way out and joined them in getting out of here."

"I admit, we kind of overlooked that. We could send Petrie's mother to talk with them. Even if they walked at top speed, they couldn't have gotten too far from the valley."

"You want to send her to Mysterious Beyond?" Petrie asked. "But it dangerous. What if there more Anchors there, ones that can fly?"

"Don't worry, I can handle it." Mama Flyer said. "I was about to make the suggestion anyway. I'll make sure to have some backup with me, Petrie. I'll be fine."

"O-okay." Petrie said. "Be safe."

Mama Flyer smiled and looked at the other grownups. "I'll be onto it now. See you after the bright circle passes the middle point in the sky."

She took off, disappearing over some trees, Petrie watching with mixed emotions. Cera kicked a pebble.

"So we are going to be guarded like shiny stones," she muttered. "Great."

"I know, dear." Tria said. "But at least you get to be with friends."

"Tria has a point." Grandpa Longneck smiled. "Just because you're being watched doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourselves, within reason."

"Should we be having fun now?" Ducky asked. "It is harder to have fun with scary things around, it is, it is."

Spike nodded, mumbling in uncertainty. Oddly, he wasn't making eye contact with Ducky.

"But it's not impossible." Mama Swimmer said. "Why, I have seen you children have fun during very harsh times. It's when times are tough that it's important to enjoy life. I don't know about Ruby and Chomper's situation before coming here but I guess their parents gave them similar advice."

"So it really is okay to play now?" Littlefoot said.

"You're not tarred to your spots." Mr. Threehorn shifted, gaze to the side. "Just stick close and don't wander far, so we can keep you safe."

"Play. Don't hold yourselves back." Grandma Longneck said. "We want you to be careful, but we also want you to have a childhood. Don't waste it."

Something in that tone moved the children. Littlefoot thought back to the previous hard times in his life, especially his journey with his friends to the Great Valley. They had managed to have some fun then. Even if he was depressed a bit, wouldn't it be better if he had fun now, especially with his friends with him? His grandparents pleading expressions made him square his shoulders.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" he asked. "It would be a waste to – ow!"

For Cera went over and gently bonked Littlefoot on the shoulder. The others stared until she skittered forward and back in a chasing fashion.

"Well, aren't you going to run?" she asked. "Tag's no fun when they don't run."

"What?" Littlefoot shook his head. "We have already done tags a lot of times, why don't we – hey!"

For Chomper had bumped at his shoulder with his fist, smiling.

"Then let's have two people do the tagging," he said.

"I was just about to say that." Cera's caught Chomper's eye, who exchanged smirks. "It would be a lot of fun to get away from more than one tagger at the same time. Everyone better start running."

"But you tagged Littlefoot." Ducky said. "I thought he would be it."

"That was an example. We two are still the taggers and everyone are the tagged." Cera bowed her head. "So – run!"

The others were still for a moment, unsure. Then Cera placed a foot forward and they scattered with giggles. Cera and Chomper looked around before deciding to chase Ducky, the three running toward the small collection of tightly packed trees, the taggers playfully bumping their shoulders together to dislodge their competitor.

"You can't escape, swimmer!" Cera growled.

"No," Chomper said, putting on his own growly voice, "You can't escape me!"

Ducky giggled. "It is so hard being popular, it is, it is."

They were gaining on her, only a foot but as she almost got too close to the packed trees, she was saved when Spike walked passed and scooped Ducky up with his head, quickly moving out of the taggers' reach.

"Hey, riding on Spike is cheating!" Cera said.

Ducky giggled, both she and Spike hesitating when they made eye contact but smiling as she patted him in appreciation. "You did not say no one could ride on other people, no, no, n-"

She yelped when Chomper got up an extra burst of speed and tagged them both. There was a groan of disappointment as Ducky slid off. But then she and Spike looked at each other with mischievous faces and ran for Cera and Chomper, who yelped and ran parallel to the packed trees attempting to balance on the slope of the hill, panting.

"You just had to tag both of them." Cera said.

"I didn't think this through, okay." Chomper said.

"Hey, remember what I said about not going far?" Mr. Threehorn called out. "Get back here!"

"Oh, sorry, sorry!" Ducky said.

Jumping, the four slowly turned direction and ran back to the parents. Soon Ruby ran in and Ducky looked at her and cried for Spike to move forward. Despite being the fastest of runners, Ruby was going slower so she wouldn't speed past the safety of the parents. She laughed as they came closer.

"This is so weird," she panted. "Real danger is so scary but when we play it, it is fun."

"That's because it's pretend, duh!" Cera said, running alongside her. "Pretend danger is always more fun than real danger!"

The gang ran around, moving in circles in front of the parents and even running between them, the role of tagger switching back and forth. Ruby got struck and her fast movement made her a quick threat the gang had to really run from. Despite flying, Petrie got tagged when Ruby reared onto her toes and tapped him. Petrie appeared put him out until he realized his position as flyer and flew after his friends with all the playful menace he could muster. Eventually, the game devolved, with more than two people becoming taggers at once and they were all running in circles and almost into each other. Littlefoot took a moment to rest on the edge of the chaos and smile fondly at the scene. They were being silly and having a ball. After all the struggles he had been through, he felt this was worth it. He was so happy about the current moment, he didn't realize everyone turned to him with ominous grins until they started slinking toward him.

"Uh-oh," he said.

They pounced. Littlefoot turned to run but he only took a few steps when they piled onto him. Littlefoot laughed.

"Hey, that's not fair," he said. "Are we even playing tag anymore?"

"You always get away too easily," Cera teased. "Now we're making up for it."

With that, they pressed their hands and forefeet on him with a unifying cry of "tag!" Frowning, he shoved back with his own body, saying "tag!" They pushed back and forth on who should be it, quickly devolving into silly mayhem./The others started tagging Littlefoot in a ticklish way, and Littlefoot did so return, making quick use of his forefeet and even hind feet. Littlefoot was having fun, his giggles mixing in with the others. Littlefoot gradually noticed he couldn't find any pink that indicated Ruby's presence. It confused him but he didn't think much about it until Cera pushed him down and his sideways gaze was of Ruby whispering to his grandparents.

Littlefoot stared. Ruby's back was to Littlefoot and his friends. She gesticulated as she spoke, his grandparents' features twisting with horror. The other parents were too busy watching the gang's antics or the surroundings to notice. Before he could understand what happened, Spike pulled him up with his forelegs with a mischievous chuckle and they collapsed into a wrestling pile. Though Littlefoot's laughed as he fought against them, the image of Ruby and his grandparents' brief exchange was burned in his mind.

*What was that about?*

She and Mama Flyer had explained what happened in the altercation with Don. It had horrified Littlefoot and his grandparents but what could be so important that Ruby didn't talk to his grandparents until everyone was distracted? Maybe she was discussing the full details of the encounter, like if Don did something even more violent or maybe how Anchor bodies worked after dying? That sounded like it, but his grandparents' reactions didn't quite match that information…

Ruby appeared to finish and sprinted to the others.

"I hope there is enough space for me to give less space to Littlefoot," she called.

Cera raised her head and grinned. "Don't worry. There is plenty to go around."

Littlefoot hesitated. Still, he chuckled as Ruby joined the pile and the silly tag game. He decided not to question Ruby. Everyone needed time to cope with bad stuff and it would be courteous not to bring it up with her. Those details weren't his place anyway, especially if it was about Anchors' bodies might work. That could be gross. Leave it to the grownups. He felt guilty his grandparents had to deal with such intense challenges but he was too tired to be demanding about it now. With that, he aimed to tag Ruby with some extra ticklish pats and have his worries melt away in the roughhousing that followed.

Littlefoot lay with his friends, all of them pressed together. The night circle hung in the dark sky. Littlefoot heard the snores of his friends, tired but content. They played a lot today. Once the gang got over their silly version of tag, they played toss the seed, kicked around a rock that caused each of them to yelp every time they hit it, and hide and seek, taking advantage of the limited space set forth by Mr. Threehorn to hide among their parents. It caused much amusement while Mr. Threehorn almost scolded them for distracting him from watching the surrounding. They continued playing throughout the day, only stopping to eat and rest, their moods rising more and more.

All the while, the parents murmured among themselves, trying to puzzle out the mystery of Wing Father and his Anchors. When evening neared, Petrie was relieved when Mama Flyer returned. The gang had slowed their play to eavesdrop but the grownups spoke too quietly for them to hear. The parents looked uneasy but the gang made sure not to think too much about it. Mama Swimmer eventually left to search for information and give Mama Flyer a chance to rest. When bedtime was announced, the gang gathered together, their exhaustion making it easy for them to wink out one by one. Currently, Littlefoot could hear the grownups whispering about who would take the first night watches. He let his mind wander, thinking about this was how life should be. He looked forward to the fun they could get up to tomorrow and hoped they would continue to get up to it in the many cold times to come…

Littlefoot didn't know when he fell asleep but the next thing he was aware of, he had started and found himself awake. His friends were still snoring around him. He felt a cool tightness around his heart. He shook his head and shifted to get in a better position, avoiding the upsetting thoughts that accompanied that cool feeling. He lay there, hearing keen only to become aware of the shifting of an enormous body.

"I'm worried about Littlefoot."

Littlefoot's stomach squelched. That was his grandma speaking. Littlefoot opened an eye slightly and glimpsed Grandpa Longneck turning to her.

"That's only natural. The dangers Patty and the others present can only make you worry."

"You know that's not what I'm talking about."

There was silence. Grandpa Longneck sighed.

"I knew that having another go at raising a child would be filled with just as many challenges as the first time," he said. "Only after the last several cold times have I come to appreciate it. We haven't been doing a good job. I suspected mortality would be a struggle for Littlefoot but we haven't prepared him enough."

"We should have seen it coming." Grandma Longneck murmured. "Even during those first few days of ghosts, he was showing the strain. I thought he was struggling to comprehend this strangeness like we all were. But those struggles were of a more personal nature. We should have caught them earlier."

"Yes," Grandpa Longneck said, "maybe then, we could have helped him. Whenever our words did help him, though, something happened to further throw him off."

"And when we said the wrong thing…oh, I could see him further slipping away. I don't know what to do."

Littlefoot glimpsed his grandparents nuzzling each other.

"I don't know as well." Grandpa Longneck said. "I didn't expect him to blow up like he did with Mr. Clubtail's death. We shouldn't have kept pushing him about the circle of life. We should have been more delicate with him last night about his connection with his mother. Instead, we fumbled horribly. Why do we keep messing up like this?"

"We shouldn't keep going on this grim track." Grandma Longneck said. "At – at least we got Littlefoot away from Patty before anything could happen."

"Yes. He is safe with us. They can't take advantage of his great resentment. We can always do better next time."

The grandparents nuzzled again. Littlefoot closed his eyes. In addition to everything else, he was bringing misery to his grandparents. They were the best, always forgiving and patient. He kept taking advantage of that. He shouldn't have snapped last night. When was he going to stop ruining their lives for himself? Before he could go further down that line of thought, his grandmother replied.

"Maybe that's why they want Littlefoot. He always had a great passion, and with his anger at the circle of life, maybe those four think they could use that temptation to get Littlefoot to join their cause."

Temptation? What temptation? Littlefoot stirred in unease. Was it about ending the circle of life? He wasn't happy about the circle of life but he didn't trust the Anchors and this Wing Father. Besides, he made that obvious. Was it related to what Ruby said to them? What would cause his grandparents to have that look of horror?

Eventually, Grandpa and Grandma Longneck woke up Mr. Threehorn and Tria so they could take their watch.

"Nothing out of the ordinary so far." Grandpa Longneck said. "The children seem to be sleeping well."

"That information Petrie's mother got wasn't of much help." Mr. Threehorn grumbled. "'Patty talking to herself.' That isn't much to go on."

"Maybe this Wing Father can speak in their minds, and they can hold conversations with him." Grandma Longneck said. "After these last few days, it's something we might have to accept. Anyway, keep an ear open for anything. In the meantime, we'll rest and-"

It happened suddenly.

The collection of trees to the left creaked and several burst down as a shadow flung itself out at the gathering of kids. Littlefoot shot up, no longer bothering to pretend sleeping. Grandpa and Grandma Longneck and Mr. Threehorn and Tria got to their feet but the shape rumbled at top speed. Littlefoot barely had time to think, to even turn to wake his friends. He could only watch helplessly as that dark shape loomed larger, rapidly closing the distance over to them…

Then passed and ran into the forest. Littlefoot sat there reeling, left untouched. A pair of screams rend the air and he turned and noticed two of his friends missing. Mama Flyer woke up and joined the other standing parents while Littlefoot's friends started awake and looked around in alarm.

"Oh no." Mr. Threehorn said, eyes wide. "Cera!"

"And Chomper." Tria's started running. "Follow, kids!"

At once, the four other parents took off. Littlefoot followed in their wake, and the others staggered after, moving quicker as sleep was drove out of them by the realization of what happened. Grandma Longneck reared back to fling her tail under their feet and slide them onto her back. Despite their large weight, the grownups covered a great distance, dodging around the trees, crashing some over so as not to delay. The grass flew under them and the stars above winked in and out of sight. Cera and Chomper continued screaming, terror in their voices, putting enough drive in the grownups' run that they began to see the tail of a fleeing threehorn flicker in the darkness. Mr. Threehorn ran ahead, roaring.

"Verter!"

Verter laughed, slightly muffled but mocking into the night. Snarling, Mr. Threehorn put in more speed and thrust his horns at Verter's backside. Verter staggered but kept on going, lashing his tail out and striking Mr. Threehorn in the face. Mr. Threehorn cried out, staggering more dangerously than he should from what should be a light blow, but he thrust himself back on all fours and shook his head, a bruise growing on the side of his head. Tria caught up and she took turns with her husband ramming their horns into Verter's flesh. Verter grunted and lashed his tail out, not reacting much to the stabs to his backside. Mama Flyer zoomed down, slashing in and out of view at his face with her beak and talons, but no red came out. Verter continued his strike back with his tail but Mr. Threehorn and Tria dodged more easily and he could only take so much before it messed with his balance and he toppled down. Cera and Chomper were flung into in the air. The adults stopped running, their feet digging up earth so they wouldn't topple over Verter. But the Cera and Chomper sailed through the air screaming, passing near the great treetops. Mama Flyer hastily flew out to catch them but she was too far away and they were rapidly arcing down toward the ground…

"Cera! Chomper!" Littlefoot shouted.

Another figure ran into view. Mama Swimmer dived, catching Cera and Chomper in her arms, landed on her back and rolling. She got to her feet and quickly went to the parents.

"Here, Grandma!"

Mama Swimmer placed them among Littlefoot and the others. Cera and Chomper lay on their knees, shaking, eyes darting about as fear and uncertainty fought for dominance. Their friends closed protectively around them.

"It's okay, it's okay, you're with us now." Littlefoot said.

"The grownups will protect us." Ducky said.

Verter got to his feet and the parents stepped back as they glared, gazes burning with the promise of hurt if he approached.

"I was just coming along to report back what I learned." Mama Swimmer's eyes narrowed. "Looks like I came just in time."

"You have some nerve trying to steal my daughter and Chomper under our nose, Verter!" Mr. Threehorn snapped.

Verter chuckled as he turned to them.

"You were the one with the nerve," he said. "Guarding the children on one side out in the open with trees on either side? You were asking for them to get kidnapped."

"What are you planning?" Tria demanded. "You were planning to hold them hostage for Littlefoot, weren't you?"

"Yes, holding Cera and Chomper would be advantageous in a way." Verter's eyes glittered. "I would be holding under my toe the two responsible for my death."

"Don't you dare blame them for that!" Mr. Threehorn snarled. "You were kidnapping them. This is all on you."

"Ah, but who was it that gave me permission to train them but you, Topps old pal." Verter replied. "Even when you had doubts about their capability, you decided it was worth the risk. You didn't watch long enough to make sure I wasn't doing anything untoward to them."

Mr. Threehorn was thrown. "I thought I could trust you – wait, how do you know that?"

"I'm more observant than you think." Verter said. "That is the crux of the matter. Even when you had qualms, you didn't step in and put your foot down. For all your bluster, can't you see how the valley has made you weak?"

"You're wrong!" Mr. Threehorn said, though a flicker of doubt went across his dark eyes. "I stopped you then – and it's what I'm doing now!"

"But now you wouldn't have four undead dinosaurs going against you. You wouldn't be in this situation if you still had your pride." Verter's smirked. "Though mind you, you picked a new mate that is just as weak-willed."

Tria's eyes narrowed. "I always suspected there was something wrong with you."

"You never did anything about it."

"You tricked us! I thought you were our friend."

"And that's where you always fail," Verter said. "You always must make amends so as not to disturb the peace. You're weak. You might present yourself as flirtatious and brave but all it takes is a few strong wills to break you down."

"Why should I listen to you?" Tria said.

"Because I know who you are." He stepped forward. "When the valley determined to exterminate the Tinysauruses, did you stand up against it? I bet you didn't. You went along with the hysteria and it didn't occur to you they might be wrong."

She winced. "I - I am ashamed of that. But I planned to do better -"

"Did you get better? With me, you crumbled before my reasoning. You couldn't even stand up to my will despite your knowledge of the 'limits' of children. You couldn't keep your family together. Tell me, as a first time mother, is this what you imagined you would be doing?"

Tria opened and closed her mouth, unable to form words. Despite herself, uncertainty came into her expression. While distracted, Verter charged and rammed her aside, leaping up for the children atop Grandma Longneck's back. The gang screamed as those blue eyes came closer. Grandma Longneck's tail slapped Verter away, and Mama Swimmer ran in, slamming her elbow into his neck, making him Verter stagger back, annoyed. Mr. Threehorn pulled Tria back to her feet.

"Are you alright, Tria?" he asked.

Tria pushed him away. "I'm fine. I've faced worse blows out in the Mysterious Beyond."

Mr. Threehorn stepped back, staring at her with concern. Verter laughed.

"Quiet, as you should be," he said. "It will be worth it to give you what you deserve in the end."

"Enough." Grandpa Longneck said sternly. "Mr. Threehorn and Tria are better than you ever could be. You won't sleight them."

"Why a supposed savior like Wing Father would resurrect someone like you I don't understand." Mama Flyer said. "How does this demonstrate what you are doing is noble?"

"There needs to be enforcers." Verter replied. "Sometimes you have to make tough alliances to do what must be done."

"Is that what Wing Father is telling you/" Mama Swimmer snapped. "I have heard Patty, Don, and Tega have been talking to themselves more than usual, as though they are having a conversation with someone. Maybe Wing Father is also talking in your head? Is he telling you what to say right now?"

For some reason, Verter shifted and averted his gaze. "I can explain the logic of our group myself. But there are a lot of things that can't be explained. Topps sliding back, for example. Whenever you think he gets better, he comes back to his old grumpy, stupid ways. He just doesn't seem to learn his lesson. Isn't that strange?"

"Everyone slides back." Grandpa Longneck said. "Sometimes, it takes many attempts to adjust to a new way of living."

Verter laughed. "Nice try, but I know the answer. I can see with Topps old habits die hard but I know that isn't the case."

"You don't know Mr. Threehorn as well as you think."

"You would be wrong. I already know why he's like this. I know more about the situation than you do!"

"What is it?" Grandpa Longneck demanded, tone harsh. "It isn't a good look for a supposed world savior to behave like a child!"

"Temper, temper." Verter said. "We must address other matters first. For example, Cera - how are your cousins doing?"

Cera flinched. She cringed down, looking away when he looked at her.

"You don't need to answer, Cera." Grandpa Longneck said. "He's only planning to play with your mind."

"It's a sincere question." Verter said. "Are they the same as usual?"

"I – I – I don't know." Cera said. "They didn't seem that much different from when I last saw them."

"Not much different." Verter murmured. "Isn't that interesting? In all this time, they haven't changed or improved much in talking at all. How much time has passed?"

"What? What does time have to do with anything?" Grandpa Longneck asked, baffled.

"Yeah." Mr. Threehorn said. "You'd better not be thinking of harming my grandkids, Verter!"

"Pipe down, they're only an example." Verter said. "I'm just wondering – how many Times of Great Giving did you have? Nibbling Days? Visits from that longneck squirt's papa?"

"How should we know?" Mama Swimmer said. "We haven't been keeping track."

"Come on, you're parents. You must be marking the time as your kids grow. Tria must have been with a few of those holidays, even some of those only recently celebrated. How many cold times has it been since you all came to the Great Valley?"

"What is this about?" Mama Flyer said.

"Indulge me." Verter smiled innocently. "Come on, some of you. What could be the harm?"

A few of the grownups glared. They didn't trust a thing of what he could be proposing, and saw the ominous anticipation right through his innocent act. Nevertheless, Mama Flyer and Grandma Longneck turned inward to start calculating. The rest had their eyes on Verter, waiting for any sudden moves. Even in their fear, a few of the gang also tried to count, Ducky ticking off her fingers, though they kept losing track so much they gave up. Mama Flyer and Grandma Longneck frowned, as though they ran across an error in their calculations, and started over. After several moments, they stopped and counted again. They were beginning to look nervous.

"No…" Mama Flyer said. "There must be some mistake."

"Figured it out?" Verter asked.

"I must be miscounting." Grandma Longneck said. "That can't be the number."

"W-what is it, dear?" Grandpa Longneck asked, tearing his eyes from Verter briefly to cast a concerned glance at his mate.

"Yes, what is getting you so concerned?" Verter said.

"No." Mama Flyer shook her head. "I won't say it. It's wrong, it makes no sense."

"Won't accept what, Mama?" Petrie said.

"But it doesn't add up." Grandma Longneck said. "Otherwise – that would mean-"

"W-why is counting suddenly so scary?" Ducky asked.

"What's got you all worked up?" Mr. Threehorn asked. "Just spit it out, already."

"We can't." Grandma Longneck said. "It's just too preposterous."

"How?" Littlefoot asked. "Grandma, what is it?"

"For once, I agree with Topps and the little longneck." Verter said. "Come on, you can do it. Say it."

"It's just – no." Mama Flyer shook her head. "I refuse to accept this."

"Say the number!"

There were flinches. Mama Flyer and Grandma Longneck's gazes wavered, not wanting to meet anyone's eye. But then Grandma Longneck closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Twenty," she said.

"That's right." Verter said. "Time has stopped. It's been twenty cold times since you arrived in the Great Valley. You have been the same age this entire time."

For a moment, there was silence. Everyone stared, minds blank, feeling a whoosh in their stomachs like missing a step on a climb. There was the shush of a gentle wind and the sound of branches waving in the air. Then Littlefoot shook his head.

"What are you talking about?" he said. "It's you and the other Anchors who have stayed the same. Patty said she was dead for twenty cold times. None of you can age. That's why she always had to move from herd to herd."

"Is that what she said?" Verter asked. "Or did you just think that up yourself and she went along with it?"

"She…" Littlefoot wracked his brain for when she said it yesterday, only to realize that wasn't what she said at all.

"But that doesn't make any sense." Grandpa Longneck said. "Seasons still pass. There are still cold times and warm times. If time really has stopped, we wouldn't have those."

"Let me clarify." Verter said. "It is like the same cold time is restarting over and over again. The seasons still pass and the weather might be different each time, but people don't grow or change."

"Now that's nonsense." Mr. Threehorn said. "Chomper was born and grew up during our children's time in the valley. Ducky's mother's many children, Dinah, Dana, Tricia, so many kids have been born and grown since we came to the valley. Time can't be stopped if kids are still born and growing."

"Yes, Chomper has grown." Verter replied. "But has your dear Cera and her friends grown with him?"

"Why, sure, they-" Mr. Threehorn stopped, looking unnerved. "Sh-sharpteeth just grow more quickly, that's all."

Verter chuckled. "Nice try. That's the problem, isn't it? Children are still born and they do grow…but it stops, doesn't it? At some point, they just remain adorable little toddlers, struggling to smush words together. That does lead to things like Chomper seeming to grow up faster than the other kids."

"Ah." Petrie said. "That – that do explain why Spike grow so quickly after being born on journey to valley."

Spike murmured his reluctant agreement, eyes to the side, unsettled.

"But we have grown too." Ducky protested. "We are much bigger than when we met on our first adventures, we are, we are."

"That was when only Patty became one with Wing Father. Some growth is allowed when he has only one connection with the world. After Tega died from the Great Valley fire, that changed."

"Stop this! We are bigger!" Littlefoot shouted. "A few cold times back, I couldn't reach a branch from the Tree Sweet tree on Nibbling Day but by the time the day came around again, I grew tall enough that I could eat one of them off the branch."

Verter laughed. "Is that your measure of how you've grown? Comparing yourself to a tree? You do realize trees grow too. Their branches grow up, out – and even down."

Littlefoot flinched. He looked down, starting to shake.

"It – it just takes forever for children to grow." Tria said. "Yeah. Becoming an adult takes a while and it can feel like a long time."

"Yes. Though-" Mr. Threehorn hesitated. "I don't remember my eldest daughter taking this long to grow."

"Me neither." Grandma Longneck said. "I don't think we spent that much time raising Littlefoot's mother. It was long but compared to how long we have been raising Littlefoot-"

"Exactly." Verter said, pouncing on this. "Isn't it strange these kids are able to have so many adventures in the short time of childhood? Each time they go off, you parents have let down your guard. If it was happening so much in a short amount of time, wouldn't you be alert all times in case your kids sneak off again? Some time, a lot of time, must pass for you to let your guard down enough so they could slip off again. Then again, you could be incompetent parents but even that's unbelievable. This change has been in front of you the whole time, but you never noticed it."

This pronouncement was greeted with silence. Everyone's eyes were wide. Littlefoot looked down, remembering the words of the first sharptooth. "Even you haven't noticed the greatest terror – the one that has been staring you in the face this entire time." That was what he meant. They have stopped growing and time wasn't moving on. They had never noticed but when they did, they would be terrified. Littlefoot and his friends looked at each other uncertainty. He even spared a glance to his grandparents. Nothing was out of the ordinary – they were just as he always knew them. There were a few minor changes, but Littlefoot could have met them for the first time now and there would be barely any difference.

And that was precisely the problem.

"When I said I wasn't in any hurry to grow up," Littlefoot said, shaking, "I didn't mean like this."

"I thought my two horns were coming in late." Cera said. "I just thought it was late development or something."

"No wonder our brothers and sisters never changed much." Ducky said.

Spike nodded anxiously, and mumbled his agreement

"Each star day that passed, we stayed the same." Ruby said, "I have had so many…why didn't any of us notice?"

"How could any of you?" Verter said. "When you're a kid, it feels like childhood will be forever. The effect of Wing Father is to make sure you don't passively notice. That's what I mean when I pointed out good old Topps and other people keep snapping back in their mental growth. You can only change as a person so much before you revert back to who you are. All of this was done by the simple presence of three Anchors. Think of what the effects will be now that all four of us around."

"Of course." Littlefoot said. "That's why Hyp and his friends keep being mean again."

"And why Chomper and some of us are still struggling with the same old struggles." Ruby said. "We have dealt with them, but Wing Father's influence means we snap back and have to deal with them again."

Mr. Threehorn's mouth was opened. "So…that means we'll be the age we are…stay the people we are …forever?"

Verter's smirk widened, "Well…let's just say I wouldn't expect any growth spurts from your children anytime soon."

A distant buzzing came over Littlefoot. Some of his friends also started shaking. They loved their childhood – the play, the laughter, the friendship – they wouldn't trade it for anything. But the prospect of never reaching adulthood, remaining as they were, was too much for them.

"That's not fair." Cera whispered. "I've looked forward to growing up, seeing what I can really do with three horns. You – you can't take that from me!"

Chomper shook his head. "I don't want to be small forever!"

"Me want to be strong and brave like Mama and Uncle Pterano." Petrie said. "So me can't be that?"

"Not if Verter and his Anchors get their way." Ruby glared. "You are robbing everyone of the ability to change into better people!"

"No need to be mad at me." Verter said. "Wing Father made the rules. I'm just delivering the message."

"And that's supposed to make us feel better?" Littlefoot snapped. "You're part of something that's making us suffer, taking away our futures. Of course we're mad at you!"

Verter laughed. Few were surprised by that but there was a hysterical note that made fear curdle in Littlefoot's stomach. Verter gave Littlefoot a wicked look.

"Robbing futures? That is rich, coming from you." Verter said. "In fact, you should be thanking us. In a world without death, you won't have to worry about losing anyone again. In fact, the word 'again' will be superfluous with your past."

Littlefoot was vaguely aware that Ruby, Chomper, and his grandparents looked uncomfortable but he didn't pay attention to that.

"What are you talking about?" he demanded.

"Feelings of loss will be a thing of the past." Verter said. "Don't you get what Wing Father's effects are? I thought you would figure it out, especially with these ghosts-"

"Don't listen to him, Littlefoot?" Grandpa Longneck cut in.

"He's talking nonsense." Grandma Longneck said. "He's just trying to upset you."

"What's this?" Verter said, examining the grandparents with interest. "It seems some among your number already know what we're going to discuss."

The grandparents started. His friends and the other parents looked confused. For some reason, only Ruby and Chomper looked nervous. After a few moments, Petrie became nervous as well.

"What?" Littlefoot said, staring.

"It – it's nothing." Grandpa Longneck said. "As Grandma just said, he's just trying to upset us. We should focus on driving him away."

"But you seemed to interrupt just when I was about to reveal more about this situation." Verter said.

"That is a coincidence." Grandma Longneck said. "We have had enough of you tormenting Littlefoot."

"Liar." Verter laughed. His gaze flicked to Littlefoot and the others, smirk widening. "And a few of your friends seem to know as well. What a coincidence."

Littlefoot started, and look at the friends who had been nervous

"Ruby? Chomper? Petrie?" he said. "What – what do you know?"

"It's nothing." Chomper said quickly.

"Everything just scary." Petrie said, forcing a laugh "We only just-"

"Does this have something to do with what Don said to you?" Littlefoot said.

Ruby, Chomper, and Petrie froze. Ducky and Spike turned to the three in confusion, Spike making a soft questioning noise. Verter examined them with interest.

"Don?" he said. "So that flyer rushed in to have some fun too. It seems like they decided this information was too much for you, Littlefoot. How patronizing, especially since you have an important responsibility here."

Littlefoot looked around at his friends and grandparents, expression uncertain. He shouldn't be trusting whatever Verter said; he hurt his friends and planned to hurt all of them more. But his instincts couldn't help but remind them of the suspicious talk he glimpsed earlier today…

"You don't need to listen to him, Littlefoot." Grandpa Longneck said. "Whatever truth there might be to his words, it would be used to manipulate us."

"But what is he talking about?" Mr. Threehorn asked. "What do you know?"

"Yes, that's right Topps." Verter said. "This benefits you too."

"Don't engage with him." Grandma Longneck said. "He wants to play us against each other. We mustn't sink down to it."

"Sink down?" Verter said. "It's your own fault we have to torment you to cooperate."

"That you will sink to torment us to go along is all the reason for us not to cooperate." Grandpa Longneck said. "Let us all remember Verter's previous conduct, and that this Wing Father chose people like him. We are only protecting those we value and-"

"I saw Ruby talking to you two!" Littlefoot interrupted.

His grandparents' eyes widened.

"You saw…?" Grandpa Longneck asked.

"While we were playing, I saw her speaking with you." Littlefoot replied. He had a hard time meeting their eye. "I thought she was talking about how scary the meeting with Don was…but it's more, isn't it?"

The other parents stirred, gazing at the grandparents in confusion.

"I – I didn't notice this." Mama Swimmer said.

"Nor I." Tria said. "I guess we were too busy watching the kids having fun."

Verter chuckled. "That was their plan. Oh, your grandparents and friends have been hiding things from you, Littlefoot. Especially since it's so relevant to your interests."

"It has no relevance to him." Grandpa Longneck said. "It is only an attempt to manipulate him. It would only make him more upset."

"What is it?" Littlefoot asked.

"Littlefoot, it is okay." Grandma Longneck said. "We are trying to protect you. This isn't something you need to hear, especially now."

"But I have been through a lot in my life." Littlefoot said.

"Only more reason we don't want you to go through any more pain than necessary."

"Even if I want to learn? I – I don't like it when you hide stuff from me."

That made Grandpa and Grandma Longneck falter. Verter chuckled.

"It seems I will have to fill in where your grandparents failed." He prodded his chin. "Where was I? Oh, yeah. I thought you would make the connection with the ghosts. Wing Father's influence, which is also causing time to be stopped, is indirectly causing those ghosts and ghosts are the spirits of the dead from the past. You know what that means."

"Quiet! Quiet!" Grandpa Longneck said desperately. "Don't poison our grandson's ears, don't!"

"The dead from the past will also come back!" Verter continued. "Isn't that great, Littlefoot? You can have a complete family again."

All the air escaped from Littlefoot. He gazed at Verter, feeling outside himself.

"You're talking about Mother," he croaked. "Patty said death shall be stopped…and if that's for already dead people too, then Mother will come back."

Verter smiled in satisfaction. "That's what your friends and grandparents were hiding from you."

Littlefoot slowly turned to Ruby, Chomper, and Petrie.

"You all knew?" he asked faintly.

Ruby averted her gaze. "I was planning to tell you at some point. I just thought with your struggles, that some point shouldn't be now."

Chomper nodded. "She didn't say it was going to be forever."

"Were you really going to tell me though?" Littlefoot asked.

Ruby and Chomper started, and averted their gazes.

"Me didn't know about this." Petrie blurted. "Me just with Ruby and Chomper when they talk about it, and they told Petrie to keep quiet."

"And you just went along, even if you didn't know anything?"

Petrie shuffled guiltily. Littlefoot examined them with disappointment.

"Littlefoot, they just didn't want to upset you." Grandma Longneck said.

"After what happened last night, we didn't wish to weigh you down." Grandpa Longneck said.

"I'd understand that, but why didn't you tell the rest of us?" Mr. Threehorn asked. "This is a big thing to hide. It's something we should have known."

"We didn't want to upset any of you." Grandma Longneck said. "We were having trouble wrapping our mind around it. If we told you this, you would likely be too upset to concentrate on watching the children."

"You think I wouldn't be upset when I found out you hid this from me?" Littlefoot demanded, a hint of anger coming in. "I've already been through so much. You could have told me."

"It's just that, Littlefoot." Grandma Longneck said. "With all the stress these Anchors put you through, did you want to learn this fact that would put you in further conflict about their goals?"

"I – I don't know." Littlefoot shook his head. "What the Anchors are doing isn't right but-" he closed his eyes, "Mother…I miss her so much."

There was only silence as the grandparents watched him with grief.

"Do you really look down on us?" Verter asked.

"Of course we look down on you." Littlefoot said, faltering. "Wing Father chose people like you. The sharptooth who killed Mother tried to kill us. If he told us about this time thing, then Wing Father must be connected to him. That makes him bad."

"You are using your own morals to judge Wing Father." Verter stepped forward. "For people who have never lived or died, don't you think they would have different values on what's important? He wanted to make sure you were ready. Even if you failed, him changing the world would have brought you and his friends back anyway. All of this is for the greater good of stopping death."

"If he understands death enough to want to stop it, he should comprehend the pain he is putting all of us through." Grandpa Longneck scoffed. "That is just an excuse for being cruel."

"Are you really sure of that?"

Grandpa Longneck opened his mouth but uncertainty came to his and Grandma's face.

"This is the path that must be taken. There are no other options now." Verter continued. "A choice must be made, and there is only one choice now."

"No, we refuse!" Grandma Longneck said. "This isn't right."

"Oh really. This is about stopping death. It is noble. You see the good in it, Topps old pal. Don't you want to see your old family again?"

"Don't you dare mention them!" Mr. Threehorn snarled. "What – whatever my feelings about them – what you're doing is wrong and sick."

"Yes." Grandpa Longneck said. "You are tormenting us into agreeing to this. This is a big change. This is too much for one child to decide."

Verter's smirk widened. "Then it's a good thing Littlefoot won't be deciding alone, is it?"

Littlefoot suddenly became aware of his friends stiffening around him. The parents also became still, staring.

"What – what do you mean?" Mr. Threehorn said.

"I mean, Littlefoot isn't the only who decides on this." Verter said. "Others have to play there part. Fortunately, they are already gathered here now."

Verter's eyes fell on not just Littlefoot but all of his friends. Mama Swimmer's breath picked up.

"No," she said. "No, no, no, no, no. Not them. Oh please not them."

"That's right." Verter said. "All of Littlefoot's friends are also chosen."

There was silence. Cera shook her head.

"This has got to be a joke," she said. "You Anchors said that Littlefoot is needed for this. You didn't say that anyone else is needed."

"It started with Littlefoot." Verter said. "He is pretty important but we needed more people for this role. Through him, we managed to find just those we need. How good is that?"

"This is not good." Ducky said. "Does – does that mean you are going to go after all of us."

"It's a big responsibility, changing the world." Verter said. "If you don't cooperate, we will have no choice but to be harsh."

"Guys." Littlefoot whispered, shaking "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"Forget about that!" Cera breathed hard. "This isn't true. You're messing with us. You're just trying to manipulate Littlefoot into going along."

"I took you and Chomper for a reason, Cera!"

"To make Littlefoot chase after us!"

"And bring two of the seven we need for the ceremony to change the world." Verter said. "You can accomplish more than one thing with an action at the same time. That is what I was trying to do."

"I – is this really true?" Chomper said. "To make us all change something as big as – I – I can't even think of it."

"There's a reason why the other Anchors were so scared of me having you."

Ruby looked down. She remembered what Don said early this morning, about how Littlefoot's other friends should come and watch, and his odd tone at the time. That must have been what he was talking about but he didn't want to give the game away too early...

"You know the responsibility you have now." Verter said. "It isn't Littlefoot's alone. Now come. The whole world is waiting."

"No." Petrie shook his head. "No, no, me no want to be in charge of something that big."

"Don't put us into this!" Ruby said. "We don't want to hand over the world to anybody."

Spike shook his head hard, whimpering. He panted, utter terror reflected in his violet eyes.

"What alternative do you have?" Verter asked. "Can you stop Wing Father? What can you do?"

"Stop tormenting our children!" Grandma Longneck said.

"How can you do this?" Mama Swimmer said. "Please, don't subject our children to this."

"This is too much for them." Mr. Threehorn said. "They have been through enough. This could break them."

"In the face of the greater good, does that matter?" Verter smirked. "We will have what we want, and that's that."

"We will stop you." Grandpa Longneck panted. "We will find a way. There is always a way."

"What can you do to someone who was never alive or dead? They are out of your reach. Even if you harmed us Anchors, it won't do anything to him. By the time you can touch him, it will already be too late. Do you think if you wait long enough, he will go away?"

They stood there in silence. Verter stepped forward.

"If Littlefoot and his friends don't agree to their responsibility," he continued, "things aren't going to go back to the way they were. Ghosts are going to continue appearing. They will torment loved ones and rivals, making them think they were always there until the truth is learned and they have to go away. People who have changed will continue to snap back in mental growth. None of you are ever going to physically grow. This is going to be how things are until those children make their decision. Any delay only leads to more suffering. That leaves only one choice for them."

"No." Tria said. "Don't come any closer. Leave our children alone!"

"There must be something we can do!" Mama Flyer said. "There must!"

"Oh really. What can you do?" Verter said.

He continued to get closer. The parents backed away, utter terror on their faces. Littlefoot and his friends couldn't think, minds blinded by fear. They didn't want this but they didn't know where to turn, where to run or how get out of this. They could only watch as Verter closed the distance with them, eyes glittering with malice…

A tail whipped into view, whamming into the ground, forcing Verter to step back.

"Verter, enough!" Patty's voice said. She walked into view, glaring. "You are revealing too much too fast. You shouldn't be acting on your own."

"I'm just having some fun." Verter said. "Don't make everything boring."

"This is much too cruel. Wing Father wouldn't approve of this."

"Is that what you think?" Verter stepped closer. "We have talked. You don't know him as much as you think."

Patty looked a bit uncomfortable but she glared. "Does Wing Father approve of what you're doing?"

Verter hesitated, lowering his head as though listening to someone. He sighed.

"Okay, I'll go. No use angering the master." He turned and started away. He looked back. "This isn't over. Soon, we will have you all."

He vanished into the night. The parents remained tense. Patty didn't move, watching them unreadably. Her gaze focused on Littlefoot, who looked away, anger, fear, and grief mixing in him.

"Isn't it nice?" she said. "That you have all this extra time with your grandparents?"

She turned and walked away. Littlefoot started to shake. The revelation that time had stopped was horrible but if it hadn't happened, he wouldn't have had all these wonderful moments with grandparents. They would have passed, far sooner before he came to really appreciate their presence. Everyone was silent. Then-

"Mommy." Chomper said. He looked down. "I have been away from Mommy and Daddy for so long. I thought it was awhile but cold times. I can't take these scary things anymore."

"Chomper…" Ruby said.

Chomper's eyes filled with tears. "I want Mommy and Daddy, I want Mommy and Daddy! I don't want to deal with this alone! I'm scared! Mommy! Daddy!"

Ruby embraced him. The others could only remain silent, his cries filling the air. They were at a loss, unable to comprehend and fearful of what had just been revealed. They were against a power that could stop time and development, and bring people back from the dead. Nothing was going to change if they resisted and the ghosts would keep coming. It filled many of them with fear and desperation. Was there anything they could do?

Next time…

Collecting the Seven Part 1

Note: I hope to post the next pair of chapters around October or November.