And here Ducky had thought events would go the same way as fifteen years ago. With her little brother back, maybe things could go back to some kind of normal?
“I still can’t believe I found you.”
Below the swimmer a tornado was raging. Snowflakes’ tail wavered happily left and right. “I found her dad! I found her!” She mimicked sulking. “I found her like, this.” Her round face lit up. “And I made her like, THIS!”
Ducky giggled and studied Spike, looking in wonder at how much he had changed. The stegosaurus now had large scales, shaped like diamonds, that protruded out from his back and ran all the way from head to tail. His green scales had grown much darker since childhood, making the diamond scales look like stars stranded against the early morning sky. Ending at his tail, his race name finally made sense. Four blunt spikes formed a deadly ensemble, dangerous to any sharptooth foolish enough to get to close. Spike smiled down at his daughter before turning to Ducky. “She reminds me of someone I know.”
Ducky returned. “Come on, Spike. I’m a little more grown now. I still can't believe you're talking Spike.”
“Hm hm.” Spike mumbled while nodding.
Spike returned the laughter of his step-sister while studying her. Unlike the time they were rasied together, Duckys’ face now stood taller than Spikes’. The pointy end at the back of her head had grown to its full length, making her smile almost feel like it was pulling toward Spike as it went. “You’ve turned into such a beautiful swimmer Ducky.”
“Oh, you.” Duckys’ smile turned modest. “You’re not so bad either, handsome. Who’s the lucky one?”
“Lily.”
“Is she beautiful?”
“She is.”
Duckys’ eyes filled with happiness. “I’m so proud of you little brother.”
“Oh, Ducky.” Spike hugged her. “Mom misses you.”
“How is she?”
“She settled down near the big water. I visited her some time ago. Did you know she has a new nest now?”
“I know. How’s the new arrivals doing?” Ducky asked.
“Last I saw her they were doing great.” Spikes’ tail wavered happily left and right. “We should visit her sometimes.”
Ducky blushed. “We?”
“Yes, we.”
“We have to ask your mate first then.” Ducky lit up. “Oh, I can’t believe I forgot! We have to reintroduce you to Cera and Petri. They will be be soooooo happy to see you again! Oh, and I’ll also show you my new friend, Pinkie Pie.”
“Pinkie Pie.” It wasn't delivered as a question. Ducky looked confounded at her little brother.
“You met her?”
“Hm mmmm.” Spike nodded. “She was the one that told me you were here.”
“Oh.” Ducky awed. The voice of her brother was so dark it rumbled the air.
“She is strange, and pink, but she made friends with everyone in a day. She is everywhere!” Spike rolled his eyes in a display of incredulous.
Ducky giggled. “Sounds like Pinkie alright. I traveled here with her friends. They are called ponies.”
Spike nodded at the familiar word. Pinkie Pie had spoken so fast when he met her he’d barely managed to pick up what she was saying. Ducky motioned him to come along. “We’ll see if we can’t catch up with them.”
Spike looked down at his daughter. This was the second time he had found her away from the pond. “Follow me Snowflake, closely.”
“Yes dad!” Snowflake answered playfully.
Spike kept his scolding eyes riveted at his daughter. Her ecstasy came to a sudden halt. Her green eyes gleamed with respect. “Don’t wander off like that again. The Great Valley is not as safe as it once was.”
Snowflakes’ lips fell. “Yes dad.”
“Snowflake!?”
Snowflake sighed. She subdued her sulking. “I promise. I'll stay close dad.”
Fluttershy watched the body of the lizard wrap around his mom. Both their tongs hung out while their tails bent in sadness. Two siblings joined in. The father turned to Fluttershy. He expressed his outmost gratitude for bringing their son home. He did this by happily move his tail left and right. Reptiles communicated with their tails, ponies with their ears. The ones of Fluttershy hung down. She gave him a smile of modest gratitude.
“Thank you papa lizard. I’m glad I could help, I’m just so sorry I couldn’t do anything about your other son.”
The lizard told Fluttershy what Littlefoot had already tried to tell her, that the death of his son was all part of the circle of life. Fluttershy glanced over the reunion again as she was leaving.
“Flutter? Is that you?”
The pegasus spread her wings and soared down to Apple Jack. Fluttershy had learned to fly short distances since Twilight Sparkle left. Unlike herself and her other friends, Twilight Sparkle was an alicorn with both wings and horns. Why was this relevant now? Her friend from the country spotted her dampened mood.
“Is everything alright?”
“Its nothing, really.” Fluttershy replied shyly.
“To be perfectly honest with you, and I always am, you’ve seemed down ever since what transpired in the desert sugarcube.” Apple Jack said worried.
Fluttershy showed her teeth pearly white. ”I know I’m not the most subtle griever.”
“So it is about the lizards?”
“In a way.”
“In a way?”
Fluttershy recalled the lizard mother hugging her son welcome home. In between them laid the empty area where the sons dead brother should have been.
“Twilight is an alicorn.”
“Yes?” Apple Jacks’ mouth bent. “What does this have to do with lizards?”
“It means she will live for a thousand years.”
“Yes. That’s how long Celestia and Luna have lived. What does this have to...?” Apple Jacks’ voice trailed off. The voice of Fluttershy filled with dread.
“Can’t you see, Apple Jack? Friendship is magic, and we are its elements, but what happens when magic is all that’s left?”
Apple Jack seemed to go through a short crisis. Behind her came her friends. Rarity studied the situation. “What’s this about?”
A smile formed across the masculine mule of Apple Jack. She put her hoof under the shin of the worried pegasus. “Fluttershy, why are you thinking these dark thoughts?”
“Doesn’t it bother you that we might leave Twilight to greave us for a thousand years?!” Fluttershy wailed.
The eyes of the rest of the ponies went through an existential crisis. Apple Jack glanced over all of them.
“Of course not! That’s a hundred years from now at least, way to early to worry about now.”
“It is a good question.” Pinkie Pie admitted sadly.
“Well, it sure ain’t a practical one!” Apple Jacks' green eyes basked with honesty as she looked comfortingly at Fluttershy. “Our friendship will never end. As long as we hold on together, believe me, there is nothing that will tear us apart.” She reached out her hooves and hugged Fluttershy. “Even in death.”
Rarity came out of her trance. “Apple Jack is right. Let’s not lose focus on why we belong together.” She joined in on the hug. The others followed.
Fluttershy felt the warm embrace of her friends still her worried mind. If Apple Jack said it, it had to be true. Fluttershy only wished she had received an answer to the real question there.
The air pulsated. Rainbow Dash hovered above her friends while eyeballing them.
“What are you guys doing!?”
“Friendship moment!” Pinkie Pie screeched happily with tears in her eyes.
“Well, you can celebrate later, once we’re not in immediate danger.”
“Danger?!” Apple Jack asked bewildered.
“Its the Sharptooths. They are getting ready for an attack!”
Petri pushed his wings against the upward breeze. It allowed him to make a graceful arch before landing right at the entrance to the cave. His eyes immediately festered on all the places he remembered from his childhood. The nest was nothing by an empty area. Some leaves and sticks laid stashed further in.
“Mom?!” Petri called.
Something crashed ahead. “Oh, heavens!”
Petri gasped at the familiar voice, which he quickly realized did not belong to his mother. The light from the cave entrance lit up the cerulean blue feathers of the creature. The inside of his wings had a much luster shade of green in his grown age. Petri felt the smile widen across his beak. “Guido!”
“What in the world...!?” Guido stumbled over a rock and made a face plant. “Oh, my beak. Must be the tenth time today.” His eyes met Petris. “At least I didn’t fell over you.”
“Me can’t believe it. Guido, you still here?”
Guido ruffled his wings. “This was certainly unexpected.”
Petri could see the happiness behind the humble eyes of Guido, the only creature in the valley that were probably more humble than him. His significantly longer beak and taller body witnessed how long had passed since Guido found his way to Petris family.
The feathered flyer had never seen anyone else of his kind back then. Unlike Petri, who felt ashamed whenever he was singled out, Guido was so humble he gladly threw himself into mud, just so that his friends wouldn’t feel ashamed. Petri thought it was destructive, but who was he to argue? Guido taught Petri that being different can translate to charisma if shown the proper way, something that Guido quickly turned out to be excellent at when he won over Petris' siblings better than he did. One could say that Guido was strong in his humbleness and someone you did not want as an enemy. But Guido was too nice to be anyones enemy.
“Me glad to see you again. How are you doing?”
“Your mom is doing great Petri.”
Petri frowned. “I meant you Guido.”
“Oh... Oh yes, I’m doing great too.” Guido laughed modestly, then adding rapidly. “...And your mom.”
The air stirred. Petris’ mom landed right outside the cave opening. She had a urgent look on her face. It quickly softened into happiness once she spotted him. “Petri? My son!”
Petri folded his wings around his mom. As soon as he did he felt her bones click. “Oh, mom. You really should start eating meat. You’re so thin.”
“Oh, I see.” The distrust reeked from her voice. “Your uncle taught you, didn’t he?”
“He can be really nice mom, and you know it.”
“Its none of my business now!” She scolded, looking away as she did, meaning she aimed it at herself rather than him. She looked at him and gave him a proud smile. “You have left the nest now, my son. Your life are is own, as long as you settle for green food while you're with me in the valley."
Petri looked disappointed at Guido, who shrugged. “You try and tell her to change.”
“Guido has taken good care of me. You two will have to catch up later.”
Petri registered a strange and out of place urgency in her voice. “Look around you mom, the valley is dying. Does it really matter if we turn into sharptooths now?”
“It matters as long as there is a flyer breathing who is willing to uphold the valley culture. I told you before Petri, The Great Valley is my home.”
“Home.” Petris’ voice turned dreamy. His eyes reflected what it once was. - An enclosed paradise filled with nutritious green leaves, beautiful meadows and flowing creeks.
His mother seemed to see what he saw. Her face turned serious. “Good. Keep that image in your mind. Keep it and know it before making your decision because the next few hours are going to be tough.”
“Tough? What do you mean?”
“Old friends are waiting to see you my son, but first you have to either defend this valley or flee, the decision is yours.”
“Defend? What are you talking about?!”
“I saw them from above Petri. Sharptooths!”
It was like the eyes of Petri opened a black hole of horror inside him. He shot his mother a scolding look. Her eyes turned watery. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you immediately, I simply had to look into your eyes one more time and see the flier that you have become!”
“I must save my friends!”
The mother watched her son spread his wings, four times broader now then when he was a child, and rocket out of the cave. It was like she was watching her heart fly away, one of freedom and courage.
“Good luck, Petri.”
As Spike followed Ducky it first then hit him. “What about Littlefoot?” Ducky stopped. Spikes’ face twisted in worry. “He’s not dead, is he?!”
“What does’ dead mean?” Snowflake asked clueless.
Ducky had forgotten how easily worried her brother was. “Oh no. No, he’s not dead.”
Spike saw the uncertainty in his sisters eyes. “Are you sure?! You don’t seem sure.”
“He...” Ducky hesitated. The word ‘dead’ delayed in the air.
The dry trees laid dense in the wake of the fading dawn, creating large patches of dark between them. The patches breathed. They made a hissing sounds, the same kind of hissing you would hear coming between sharp things. Spikes’ face contorted in anger. He rose his tail.
“Snowflake. Ducky, get...” The bushes rustled. The breather pounced at Ducky fast but Spike was faster and raked him. The raptor whimpered and was tossed sideways.
Ducky watched in horror the raptor limp away before finally realizing what was happening. She urgently picked up a stick from the ground and turned to her brother, who had his regretful eyes riveted at his life.
“SNOWFLAKE!”
Snowflake had no idea what that creature had done to her dad. She suddenly felt herself tumble on her back. The raptor looked down at her with yellow eyes. The space between his teeth bubbled with saliva. Snowflake never had time to get scared.
The raptors eyes became wide in horror as he rose. He got a small glimpse at the lavender rodent with a glowing horn before the rainbow came rocketing toward him.
“Take THAT!” Dashie floored the sharptooth.
Twilight turned her attention to three more Sharptooths that was coming out of the bushes. She managed to muster her limited telekinesis and stop one of them. The others came at her.
Target acquired. Ready. Set. Go!
Cera lowered her head and sent one of the raptors sailing meters into the air. She had no time to wonder who the familiar spiketail was before her back burned with claws. She growled and made a three-sixty degree turn, sending the raptor sailing. She did not feel her wounds, only annoyance. It had her charge it in a rage. The raptor turned tail and evaded. Two more raptors approached. Their eyes stared in confusion when one yellow, white and orange rodent joined the threehorn. Something nudged the side of a raptors flank.
“Tag! You’re it!”
The rodent jumped happily to his buddy. “Tag! You’re it too!”
The two raptors chased the pink menace while its laughter jittered. One time she was there, the other she was someplace else. The raptors ran in circles. There was a ringing sound when their heads bumped together like a couple of competing Pachycephalosauruses.
Apple Jack saw a vine lying on the ground. It looked strong enough. The country pony, known throughout Ponyville for her multiple rodeo medals grabbed it with her mouth and did what she did best. The vine went around the neck of a raptor but without her Equestrian magic the dragging contest was no contest.
Another male raptor saw the orange rodent stumble away from the group. Apple Jack gasped when he rammed her.
“Get away from her!” Rarity kicked the beast. The move only angered him. With one rake of his claws the sharptooth delivered Apple Jack a cut, who seemed to scream in anger rather than pain.
With one sudden movement Apple Jack bucked the raptor, sending him crumbling. Rarity looked in panic around the battlefield.
The spiketail was protecting his daughter and Ducky further back. The threehorn was becoming surrounded by the minute. Petri and Rainbow Dash was coming in for a dive. All in all, they were outnumbered ten to zilch. One raptor had his eyes glaring at Rarity, his relaxed face witnessing how easy he considered this to be. Four of his friends joined him.
“Ponies! Stay together!” Twilight went back to back with her five ponyville friends.
“There is too many of them, argh!” Apple Jack bit her lips in pain. A streak of blood ran down the side of her right hoof.
Twilight managed to grab two charging raptors with her telekinesis. Two more quickly reinforced their hovering friends, then three, making them ten in total number.
The ground rumbled by the running longneck. He planted his feet firmly in the ground and spun his winding tail around, sending six of the raptors sailing. He was quickly flanked by Cera, Petri and Spike, Ducky standing on the back of the latter while Snowflake hugged his legs.
“Hello Spike! Nice to see you again!” Littlefoot boomed while growling at the hesitating sharptooths.
“Don’t ask me about my talking yet, just help me send these Sharptooths’ down to the abyss of which they came!”
“You could not have picked better first words to say, old pal!” Cera boomed.
The ground rumbled. The barren trees parted ways ahead. Behind the legion of raptors appeared, not one, not two, but five T-rex Sharptooths. They opened their mouths wide and filled the air with a unison roar that caused the dried out branches of the valley to waver. Twilight felt the hope of the entire group drop below ground. She saw Apple Jacks’ face contort in pain as Fluttershy helped her up on Rainbows’ flank. The dinosaurs protecting them only seemed to grow taller. The ponies looked at them with pride in their eyes.
Littlefoot remembered the time before The Great Drought hit the valley. His heart went to the Thundering Fall he and his friends drank from, the pound they played in and the slopes they ran. The air filled with a wind, carrying a familiar whisper. The treestar flickered on his back.
Some things you see with your eyes, others you see with your heart.
Littlefoot raised his neck high and announced the intruders. “This valley may only have a small patch of green left but my mother lead me here!”
“Us ran from you when we were kids!” Petri joined the battle cry.
“No more!” Cera boomed.
“I couldn’t talk before, now I can: LEAVE MY BIG SISTER ALONE!” Spike roared like it was his last words.
Ducky raised her stick high on her brothers back. “The ponies are our friends! If you want to get to them you’re gonna have to go through us!”
The large Sharptooths’ looked at each other and shrugged. They went in separate directions, each one having their eyes riveted on the greatest threat, the longneck.
Littlefoot and his friends held the T-rexes as far away from the ponies as possible, who all seemed to have shrunk into fear. They had no other, only them, just like Littlefoot only had his mother. The sky turned orange red, illuminating the white teeth of the angry longneck. Littlefoot raked his tail toward whoever Sharptooth came to close.
“You...Will...Not...Have...Them!” He spelled out.
His friends had been pushed back. The flank of the longneck was now exposed. Sharptooth came at his front while two of his buddies flanked it.
Sharptooth grinned, the scar he got from the last battle with the longneck shining across his lips. This time his wife would finally see that he was, at least, a worthy pack leader. He looked at the Sharptooth coming from the longnecks’ left and nodded. The flanking sharptooth took a huge leap.
The sky thundered. It flashed the image of another sharptooth flying through the air before finishing off a longneck defending her only son, their last hope for the future. Twilight Sparkle could swear she was in some kind of nightmare with an earthquake raging around her. Her purple eyes turned wide in disbelief “Oh no!”
The leaping sharptooth landed on the other side of the longneck and faced the other flanker. He used the momentum to bite hold of his head and wrestle him to the ground. Before the leader Sharptooth could react he turned and rammed him.
Sharptooth thought he could hear his wife scold him as he fell. Who were this traitor who defended these pathetic leaf grubbers?
“Run! I hold them off!” The T-rex screamed.
Littlefoots’ heart skipped a beat when hearing the familiar voice.
“Chomper!?”
“There is no time! Take the colored rodents and flee!”
It would be Chomper against an army of sharptooths. “I can’t leave you!” Littlefoot wailed devastated.
Chomper turned and pushed his best friend away. “There is a cave back there! Run toward it and don’t look back!”
“Come on Littlefoot!” Cera urged. Littlefoot barely had time to admire how fierce Chomper had grown, both in body and voice.
The ponies and the dinosaurs fell back and entered the cave Chomper was talking about. Littlefoot turned and caught a small glimpse of Chomper getting rammed. The rumble of the cave-in filled the rocky area. The longneck saw the older Sharptooth overpower Chomper before the entrance to the cave crumbled. Littlefoots’ wail of despair filled the darkness.
“NOOOO!”