Sorry this took so long! Here, have some vertual dino shaped cookies and some hot chocolate, now read! Go go go!

"Change my name? But…" Littlefoot stared in confusion. Why had he not heard of this before? And what's so important about changing his name, he liked it fine.

Bron lowered his head comfortingly to his son. "It will do you just fine. Most longnecks are honored to receive their new name."

"But why?" Littlefoot's face was distorted in puzzlement.

"It's just what happens when young longnecks reach adulthood. It's been a ceremony for many generations." Grandpa longneck pointed out excitedly. It was as if he was already imagining his grandson in the center of a grand celebration.

Littlefoot sputtered with exasperation. "Wait, let me-"

Bron's voice sped up with exhilaration. "We'll have the ceremony this afternoon, just before the bright circle leaves the sky." And with that, the two longnecks walked off and talked to each other excitedly, leaving Littlefoot and his friends behind.

"Me wonder what Littlefoot's new name gonna be…" Petrie didn't seem to catch Littlefoot's frustrated glare as he chirped happily. Luckily, Ducky seemed to notice.

"You can tell them you do not want to change your name." Ducky said as Cera, Ali, and Spike approached the group.

Littlefoot sighed. "It's not that I don't want to, I just don't think it's necessary."

"Are you talking about the longneck ceremony? My mom told me the same thing just now." Ali rested beside Littlefoot and she quivered with happiness. "Aren't you excited?"

He grumbled with frustration. When he didn't say anything, Ali continued. "Maybe we'll have the ceremony together!" She held a bright smile, and jumped up with excitement.

Cera scoffed and shook her head. "What's the big deal anyway? They're just going to change your name. You'll still be you at the end of the day."

"Yeah…I guess you're right." Littlefoot had to admit.

"And," Ducky started. "They said it was tradition."

"Right." Littlefoot was glad to have his friends in times like these. "I guess I'm getting worked up. I've just had a lot on my mind lately…" His voice trailed off, remembering the defeated conversation he had with Ruby and Chomper. He bit his lip with frustration. He just wanted to spend time with Ruby. Littlefoot remembered her intense posture, and the way she refused to meet eyes. A surprised gasp slipped out of him. What if she already knows?-

"There he goes again, his mind is always where it shouldn't be." Littlefoot recognized the snotty voice of Shorty.

"Shorty!" Littlefoot touched snouts with his long since visited brother. He chuckled when Shorty playfully recoiled his neck, so that the aimed nuzzle missed his head.

"Well, glad to see you haven't changed either." Littlefoot joked. Shorty scowled angrily while everyone laughed softly. After their laughter silenced down, Shorty spot with a boastful voice, as usual. "Well guess who finally got their longneck test." He swung his head up proudly.

"Yeah, and it probably took about 3 cold times before you were ready." Cera retorted flatly.

"That probably be true." Petrie agreed cooly as Ducky nodded her head unenthusiastically.

Shortly grumbled as he tried to counter the sharp remarks. "Yeah, well- well you'll see when I become the best leader a herd could ever want! You'll respect me then!" He smirked.

Cera leaned next to Ducky as she hissed a purposely loud whisper to her. "Sounds like something a bad leader would say."

"Hey!" A chorus of soft laughter followed Shorty's offended outburst.

Someday he would prove his leadership, but, shaking his head with a smile, Littlefoot suspected that the time would come in the far future.

Suddenly a large tree seed rolled clumsily in the middle of the center of the group. They all stopped to see Spike swishing his tail mischievously. Littlefoot soon got the idea.

"How about a quick game of toss the seed? We haven't played that in a while." The game would be even more fun now that Ali and Shorty were here.

They all seemed to agree. And when Spike launched the seed into the air with a powerful swipe with his tail, the game was on.

Ruby paced in circles until she gently rested on the edge of the cave entrance. The edge of the cave was elevated, so that she had a good range of Littlefoot and his friends. It looked like they were about to play some game…What was it called again? She hadn't played any kind of game in such a long time. Her heart acked, she wanted to run down to them and join their light hearted play. 'But he's there.' She thought with narrowed eyes. 'Any interaction will ruin me.'

"Is that Shorty?" Chomper's booming voice made her jump.

"Haven't seen him since he made a lousy attempt to lead us across the Great stone walkover." Ruby remembered, amused. She let herself get distracted from her monotonous thoughts.

Chomper stepped out onto the ledge, and peaked down to the group of friends. "We should go say hi!" He wagged his massive tail excitedly, and Ruby had to duck her head to avoid being hit.

"You might scare him. Shorty isn't the brightest when it comes to nice sharpteeth."

"But aren't I the only one?" He asked innocently.

Ruby stifled a laugh. "Go on then, I'll be right here. Don't run towards him though."

"Yes ma'am!" When she was half way through her instructions, he was already making his way down the slope.

"Tell him I said hi too!" She tried to holler before Chomper came out of range from hearing. He gave her a smile to show that he understood. However much she wanted to meet Shorty again, it would be too unbearable to run into another slip up with Littlefoot. So she shuffled around until she was all snug against the cool rock wall, and gazed lovingly as she watched Chomper race from the slope.

He must have remembered what she said about running, because when he neared the group of dinosaurs, he slowed down.

She strained her ears to listen.

"That wasn't too bad for the first time in a while." Littlefoot panted, the seed resting next to him where their goal was.

Cera growled from her awkward position on the ground. She had attempted to stop the seed from reaching the other goal, but obviously she didn't make it. "If you longnecks weren't so tall, we would've won."

"It was probably Spike who gave us the advantage, he has a fighting spirit for these kinds of things." Ali announced happily.

"So another round then?" Ducky picked up the seed, ready to send it in the air.

Suddenly, Shorty scrambled across the grass and shouted, "Sharptooth! What are you rock heads waiting for? Run!"

Cera barcaded Shorty from the side so he didn't attract unwanted attention from the other residents. "Would you cool it, it's just Chomper."

Shorty wasted no time in looking back, he forced his way passed Cera and continued to shriek aimlessly through the valley. "Sharptooth! Sharptooth in the valley!"

A couple of nearby dinosaurs looked up, startled. But when they saw Chomper their alarm faded, but they continued to stare around Vigilantly.

Chomper sneered to himself, he should have been more approachable. Littlefoot rested his tail on his back comfortingly.

"This always happens!" Chomper waved his tiny arms around in a frustrated fit.

"I'm surprised Ali recognized him." Cera said, watching Shorty disappear from sight.

Ali sighed. "Well, you all seemed relaxed around Chomper, so I figured it was ok."

After a short time of waiting. Ducky broke the silence. "Should we go get him?" No one else had time to reply as thunderous pounding shook the clearing. The rhythmic booming acceded from where Shorty had vanished. The group turned their heads to see a massive brown longneck charging in their direction.

"Dad no!" Littlefoot stood beside Chomper. It looked like Bron wasn't going to slow down anytime soon. Littlefoot stared on in desperation. Shorty must have told Bron there was a sharptooth in the great valley. Littlefoot noted to nip his tail whenever he got the chance.

Littlefoot had no choice but to launch himself in front of his father, and instantly they collided and tumbled to the ground. They were in a tangle of legs and tails, and Littlefoot could feel pain pulsing from one shoulder.

Slowly, Littlefoot lifted his head. "Errgh… Dad? Are you ok?"

Bron shook his head and gained his posture. "Littlefoot, get out of the way!" He leaped forward and nudged Littlefoot to the side. "That sharptooth was about to bite your head off!"

"What are you talking about? This is Chomper, remember?" Littlefoot spoke fast with desperation.

When Bron didn't change his hostile demeanor, Littlefoot continued more urgently. "He's been my friend for so many cold times, you met him when I took the great longneck test."

The great longneck stared at Chomper thoroughly, and after so long, he leaned back. "Chomper, right?"

From his nervous and frightened posture, Chomper replied with the softest whisper Littlefoot had ever heard. "...Yes sir."

Bron nodded his head respectfully. "Sorry I mistook you for a sharp- I mean, for a bad sharptooth. But Shorty told me…" He looked down at his son, who was standing beside him.

"Yeah…I didn't realize it was you Chomper. I mean, what can you expect when you see a nearly grown sharptooth charging right at you?" Shorty peeped.

"I wasn't running." Chomper indicated.

"But you had your teeth bared and everything!"

"I was smiling!"

"Oh.. Sorry. Well anyway, glad to see you've come this far without eating anyone." Short smiled brightly.

"Shorty!" Bron and Littlefoot both scolded him in unison. Shrinking at their glares, Shorty recoiled behind his father with an apologetic smile across his face.

Bron shook his head disapprovingly. "Alright, we have some time before your ceremony, Littlefoot. Meet me and Grandma and Grandpa longneck at the entrance of the Great valley.

"Don't worry, I'll be there early." Littlefoot looked at his father with determination. If this was really part of becoming an adult longneck, then he would be ready.

"Yeah, we will be there to support you, Littlefoot!" Ducky cheered happily.

Bron shook his head. "Oh no, you can watch from afar, but this ceremony is intended for longnecks only."

"...Oh." Ducky's smile fell with defeat. Littlefoot frowned at this.

"It's ok, I'll tell you what happens when it's over." He promised with an assured smile.

Just then something scampered toward, the clumsy feet of a fastrunner skidded to a halt in front of the group. She kicked up dust and loose rocks at her abrupt stop.

"Ruby, are you ok?" Chomper looked down at her with concern.

"Are YOU ok?" She panted. "I just saw a huge longneck running towards you, and I thought you were in danger!"

"Oh- no It was just a misunderstanding. Do you remember Bron?"

Ruby looked up at Bron with slight accusation.

Bron returned her stare. "I know I should remember you, but I can't seem to get the name out… I must be getting old…"

Littlefoot chuckled. "You're not old, Dad…" He said warmly.

"Well anyway, I'll see you before the ceremony. And don't worry, we'll tell you what you need to do." And after they exchanged their goodbye's, Bron left with Shorty in toe.

When he was sure that Bron had left, Chomper mumbled, "Phew, that was scary. I nearly peed myself."

"And then we would all be in trouble." Cera added.

The rest of the group joined into soft laughter. Thankfully Bron had taken the time to look Chomper over before going through with an attack. Littlefoot sighed exasperatedly. That could have played out a lot differently.

Just then, Ali jumped to his side. "Aren't you excited! We're going to get our new names soon!" Her face showed nothing but excitement.

He laughed at her innocence. "You bet I am. We'll just have to be patient in the meantime."

"Too bad Petrie and friends can't join the celebration." Petrie said solemnly. And Spike echoed his statement with a reluctant whimper.

"I know," Littlefoot sighed with frustration. "I guess that's how tradition works. You can all come though. Just make sure you're not too close."

"How does that work?" Cera growled.

Littlefoot could only shrug.

"Well, I better go hunting. Again." Chomper moaned. Littlefoot noted how exhausted he looked. So far, his friend was doing well with food. Hopefully that stayed this way.

As Chomper proceeded to turn away, Ruby followed him from behind. Suddenly Littlefoot had the urge to get her attention. His tongue started moving before he could think of what to say.

"Hey Ruby- uh.."

She stopped walking, but didn't turn to look at him.

"You'll be there at the ceremony won't you?"

After some pause, she gave him a quick glance. An emotional expression that was so unfamiliar to him. Her gestures were so hard to read. He stared at that blank expression for so long, and then she walked away.

Hope you enjoyed this one! Thank you for the reviews for the previous chapters, really means the world to me! Also Littlefoot's new name will be revealed in the next chapter! And then the following chapter will be nothing but fluff aca Littlefoot and Ruby moments! (Pls, someone help me with their ship name if you know what that is.) Have a nice Day/night/morning!