By the time day came along, the gang was worn out and had taken a break at a bunch of reeds so they could rest their tired legs.
"My sniffer is very, very sniffed out.", Ducky sighed.
"Well I'm so thirsty I could drink a lake.", Cera added looking depressed alongside her tiredness.
"Me too, if we can find one.", Littlefoot agreed.
Cole couldn't help but feel thirsty himself and he doubted Mr. Tops would be sympathetic if he tried getting one earlier that day. Petrie took a bit and sniffed a bit.
"Funny, me smell water, but me no see water.", he said.
Cole looked unsure as he smelled it too, but even he was starting to have doubts. He touched his amber necklace hoping for some assurance at least, but then a splash caught his ears. The others must have heard it too.
"Did you hear a splash?", Littlefoot asked.
The whole gang looked more awake right away. Cole brushed away some of the reeds to reveal a small lake of water and the whole gang headed off into it laughing and cheering. Cole trotted up to the water and graciously took a few drinks. The others were also and looking much better.
"Mmm, that was so good.", Cera said looking more relieved.
Ducky was also looking pretty content as she finished swallowing.
"Oh yes, this is the yummiest water ever. It is."
"And we drink all we want and no one yell at us.", Petrie added as he was taking his share.
Petrie unfortunately then fell in earning a laugh from the gang while Cole was removing his necklace to wash it. He was just finishing and placing it back on his neck when he heard rustling in the reeds which made him uncomfortable.
"If that is who I think it is, bottom line, I am not going to be happy.", he muttered to himself.
Unfortunately, it was as Hyp, Mutt, and Nod made their way and Cole looked super annoyed. Needless to say, Cole could tell the trio was not there to be nice.
"Hi ya, hatchlings.", Hyp said meanly, "Say "Bye bye water"."
The group looked unsure, but Cole stood his ground.
"You three are really starting to bug me.", he said as he felt his blood boil.
"Oh look guys, the Rainbow Face is mad.", Hyp teased.
"That's Mr. Rainbow Face thank you.", Cole snapped, "And what gives you the right to claim what we ourselves had discovered?"
Hyp clearly didn't like being challenged, but then a smile came across his face.
"Okay, we'll leave, but we're taking that fancy necklace around your neck Cole."
Cole's expression hardened.
"You have no right.", he answered, "I have seen real bullies Hyp, and compared to them, you're just pathetic. A real clown in my eyes."
Well, Hyp wasn't about to take that lying down and jumped into the water reaching for Cole's necklace, but the moment his fingers got close, the amber around Cole's neck flared and sparks erupted making Hyp scream in pain before taking back his now slightly scorched fingers. Cole scooped up some water the moment Hyp's eyes were off him and flung it into the teens face making him blind for a moment.
"Guys, run!"
/
That was all the gang had to hear and soon, they were bolting away from the lake and from the bullies with Cole right behind them.
"How you do that?", Petrie asked as they ran.
"Do what?", Cole asked.
"Why did Hyp's hand burn when he reached for your necklace?", Cera asked.
Cole looked a bit embarrassed as he recalled when Warren T. Rat had done the same thing.
"Well, it's kind of special and I guess nobody can take it by force by the way it did what it did."
Just then, Cera paused.
"What am I running for?", she asked as she turned around, "I'm not afraid of those…"
Cole suddenly got in front of her.
"Cera, fighting is not necessary. What matters is we go tell the adults that there is more water.", Cole told her, "Trust me, fighting a bully doesn't do anything."
That got Cera to change her mind and they bailed just as the trio of bullies showed up.
"Where'd they go Hyp?", Nod asked confused, "Huh?"
Hyp looked angry clearly still sore about what happened back at the little lake. Still, he had to answer Nod's question.
"If I knew that, I wouldn't be looking for 'em.", he answered.
Nod turned to Mutt.
"Yeah.", he said as if to interrogate him.
Mutt turned and said the same thing to a flower only this flower suddenly vibrated and out came a purple wasp and it certainly didn't look happy.
"Uh-oh!", they all screamed together.
They bolted away with the wasp chasing them while Cole happened to see it when his amber necklace showed him for a moment.
"Well, guess every naughty teen gets their just desserts.", he said as the viewing dissipated.
Nobody else saw it, but Littlefoot happened to overhear.
"You said something Cole?"
Cole thought fast.
"Oh, I was just thinking about how Hyp and his fellow thugs would get what's coming to them."
Littlefoot looked concerned as the group kept running.
"Are they still following us?", Cera asked Petrie.
"Me no know.", Petrie said fearfully, "Me too scared to look."
After crossing a log, the gang paused and Cole looked behind them.
"Cole, didn't you say that you could use that whatever you called it?", Littlefoot asked.
Cole tried to calm down as he knew what Littlefoot was getting at. Guess he forgot to follow his own advice and looked apologetic.
"Sorry guys, I haven't been the person I probably should've been.", he admitted, "It's just Hyp keeps being mean and I lost it for a moment. Can you guys forgive me?"
The gang looked assured.
"You no mean to get angry Cole.", Petrie said, "Bullies just push you too far."
/
Cera quickly changed the subject.
"Why are we going this way anyway?", she asked, "We're tired and this way is hard."
"Because this is the shortest way back to the grownups.", Littlefoot explained, "And it'll be harder for the bullies to follow us."
"That makes sense.", Cole stated as the group headed out again.
As they crossed another log, Cole slipped and fell on a branch that snapped and he almost fell off. He clutched it trying hard not to look, but needless to say, the gang suddenly slipped too and they fell over each other as they tumbled a short distance. Once on solid ground, Cole looked embarrassed again.
"Well, I guess I got a bit scared didn't I?", he asked as he got up.
The gang dismissed it as they noticed a ledge and headed to it. Once on the other side, what they saw made them gasp in awe.
"It is the Mysterious Beyond.", Ducky said.
"And it have water.", Petrie added, "Whole bunches."
Cole had to admit that the view was worth it, but as he turned back towards the valley, something made him pause.
"Hey guys, look over there."
The gang followed Cole's view and saw a large wall of rocks that looked like a dam with dark clouds hanging overhead. Lightning flashed with occasional crashing of thunder, but the gang was hardly bothered.
"The flying rocks must have caused slides in the Mysterious Beyond too.", Littlefoot stated.
"Yeah, and those dumb slides blocked up our water.", Cera added sounding firm.
Cole felt a strong wind in the air and dark clouds were forming above them.
"Come on, the grownups will know what to do.", Littlefoot said turning back.
The gang followed, but Cole still felt the winds and the gusts were strong enough to blow Petrie until he clamped on to Cera's horn.
"Bad weather for flying.", he admitted.
Then, a bolt of lightning crashed across the skies and hit a nearby tree bursting it into flames before it broke and fell towards them.
"Look out!", Cole yelled.
The group paused as the flames reached the ground and started to spread.
"Back this way!", Littlefoot called out, "I know another path!"
"Lead on!", Cole yelled.
The gang ran screaming away from the flames as they spread and consumed all that lay before them.
"Geez, I wonder if Auntie Shrew ran this fast when Farmer Fitzgibbons had a fire in his field?", Cole couldn't help but ask himself.
"Who?", Ducky asked.
Cole looked her way a bit sympathetically.
"Another time maybe.", he answered her, "But for now, we need to warn everyone about those fires before they make the Great Valley go up in smoke with us alongside it."
That made the gang quiet down as they ran and smoke soon got low to them.
/
Down at the dwindling watering hole, someone was getting their share of water, but needless to say, Mr. Tops was taking charge of how much was fair.
"That's enough.", he snapped, "You've had your share for today."
Grandpa and Grandma Longneck were certainly not thrilled about how things were going.
"The three-horn is getting far too bossy.", Grandpa Longneck said with concern.
"I agree.", Grandma Longneck said to him.
Cole and the gang were close enough that their screams got the adult's attention.
"Everyone! Listen up!", Cole called out.
"Fire!", Littlefoot yelled, "There's fire in the Valley!"
"Are you sure, Littlefoot?", Grandpa Longneck asked.
"Yes Grandpa.", Littlefoot answered, "It's near Two Boulder Pass."
Grandpa and Grandma Longneck looked up and sure enough a large smoke cloud was rising a clear sign a blaze was nearby.
"Yes, we can see the fire signs from here.", Grandpa Longneck reported.
The other adults looked worried.
"Two Boulder Pass?"
"That's close to here!"
"We must run!"
Cole knew he had to get them calm or else they could get caught in the blaze.
"Everyone remain calm!", Cole called out, "We'll leave in orderly fashion and be led to safety!"
Mr. Tops looked angry.
"No, I'll lead! They'll be better off following me!"
Cole looked his way annoyed. Clearly this guy was still caught up in his version of "superiority" as he took a short walk away and turned to the others.
"This way!", he called out.
"Mr. Tops, with all due respect, you're heading downwind where fire will spread for sure.", Cole said with caution.
"Cole is right.", Grandpa Longneck agreed, "We must go upwind of the fire."
Mr. Tops clearly didn't agree.
"Do as you will, but Cera and I go this way!", he said before turning to her, "Come, Cera!"
Cera looked unsure.
"But Daddy!", Cera protested.
"The others can do what they want!", Mr. Tops snapped back, "But you are my daughter and you will do as I say!"
He lumbered off and Cera could see he wasn't changing his mind.
"I'm…I'm… I'm going with my father.", she said though she didn't sound happy about it.
Once they were a good distance away, Cole felt his blood boil again.
"That three-horn is going to get himself and Cera killed.", he muttered.
Nobody heard him, but Ducky looked concerned.
"I do not feel good about this.", she said, "Oh no, I do not."
Littlefoot clearly agreed.
"Grandma, Grandpa, can't you stop them?", he asked.
/
Grandpa Longneck seemed worried too and turned to Grandma Longneck.
"I have to go after them.", he said to her.
She seemed to know and nodded.
"Yes.", she said before turning to Cole, "Cole, you and Littlefoot come with me. We'll lead the others to safety."
"What about everyone else in the Valley Grandma?", Littlefoot asked, "What will happen to them?"
"They'll use the escape routes closest to them.", Cole answered before addressed the crowd of panicked adults, "Alright everyone, follow us. Children first."
As they made their way through the valley, the flames continued spreading and soon, large smoke clouds rose up into Grandma Longneck's face making her pause.
"Grandma, what's wrong?", Littlefoot called up.
Cole frowned.
"The smoke is making her lose vision, we'll have to lead.", he said as he turned to the crowd and then forward again, "Follow us, everyone."
After a bit, Cole felt Ducky tap his leg.
"Cole, the grownups can not see. They can not.", she said with worry.
Littlefoot looked thoughtful.
"They can hear.", he said.
Cole nodded and raised his voice.
"Follow your ears!", he called out, "And keep going with your heads down, it's not much further!"
Needless to say that while that was going on, Cera and her father were clearly not getting anywhere as the flames continued spreading. Mr. Tops was still thinking he could get out, but Cera was having doubts.
"You sure this is right, Daddy?", she asked.
"Of course I'm sure.", Mr. Tops answered.
But as they turned, the flames erupted cutting them off. Mr. Tops turned another way, but flames blocked that path too! He saw a clear opening and he headed toward it with Cera, but then a burning tree fell and cut them off.
"We're trapped!", Cera yelped.
"Three horns, over here!"
Cera and her father saw Grandpa Longneck push down a tree and made an opening. Mr. Tops clearly forgot about his pride and chose to go across with Cera.
"Hurry, Cera.", he told her.
As they ran through the valley and back to the others, they ran into a wall of smoke, but Mr. Tops was beyond caring at this point. He just wanted to get his daughter to safety and his idea didn't work so if he had to be saved by a longneck, what the heck? Once they came to a rock outcrop outside the valley, they could breath and take a break.
"Are you alright, Cera?", Mr. Tops asked now more worried.
"Yes, Daddy.", Cera told him.
"Come.", Grandpa Longneck said as he headed off with Mr. Tops and Cera right behind.
(A/N: I'd like to thank Ashoriotrey for the suggestion used here.)