Here we go, some excitment and dread! Thanks to RedMageKnight for Littlefoot's new name! Enjoy!

The bright circle was just about to leave the sky, and the herd of longnecks was gathered together. Littlefoot peaked around a large rock to look at the scene. There was no other dinosaur of a different kind present.

"It's just a tradition for longnecks, completely normal." He tried to assure himself. He currently wasn't suspicious of anything, he just felt alone. He did everything with his friends. And since this is a very important ritual, he would want his best friends to celebrate with him.

He sighed. There are a few things one must do alone…He thought. Luckily Ali was there to keep him company.

"What's wrong, Littlefoot?" Almost on cue, Ali's voice rang warmly behind him.

He turned around to greet her. "Yeah…I guess I'm just a little nervous. Uh…I wonder what your new name will be?" He wondered aloud.

Ali's face twitched with confusion. "Oh, I won't be getting one."

"Huh- But my dad told me-"

"It's just for the male longnecks."

Littlefoot looked away in thought. There was a lot of traditions he didn't know about. "And why isn't Shorty having a ceremony?"

She shrugged. "Probably because he's a cold time or two younger than us."

Littlefoot nodded in understanding.

Just then, Grandpa longneck walked over to them. "Are you two ready?"

"Yeah!"

"Um- yes."

As they waited for Bron's signal, Littlefoot could see the group of longnecks start to disperse into two groups. They organized themselves neatly so that there was a walkway in between the two groups.

Grandpa and Grandma longneck situated themselves on either side of Bron, and when the crowd settled, Bron signaled Littlefoot and Ali with a nod.

As they were instructed previously, Littlefoot and Ali made their way slowly through the pathway. Littlefoot tried to hold his head up high when he noticed the approving looks from either side of him. He spotted Shorty and Rhett not too far from the front, and as Littlefoot passed by, he thought he heard Rhett scoff teasingly.

Most of these longnecks were from Ali's herd, so the praise was mostly targeted towards her. He began to hear proud murmurs from the crowd.

"She grew up so quickly…"

"Look how gorgeous she's become…"

Ali held her head up higher as she received the praise. She stared amourously at Littlefoot, who returned her gaze with a proud smile.

With short time, they made it to the end of the walkway and stood in front of Bron. All three adult longnecks gazed down at the dou with warm pride. Something glowed in Littlefoot. He was skeptical at first, but with the assurance of his friends, he coped well with this tradition.

Bron gestured to them to turn towards the crowd, and when they did so, Littlefoot nearly jumped with happiness. From this angle, he could see four familiar figures.

Crouching behind a boulder and a few trees was Cera, Spike, Ducky, and Petrie. Littlefoot burst with happiness that a big smile sprouted on his face.

"Look how happy he is." Grandpa longneck whispered to Bron, to which the young longneck replied softly.

"I think we made the right decision." He said with a smile before clearing his throat to begin the ceremony.

"Thank you all for attending this special occasion. Tonight, we will recognize the new beginnings of these two young longnecks. They have understood the ways of life, and from this day forward they will continue on with-"

Bron's voice blurred as Littlefoot's mind drifted off. He hoped his friends could hear from their far away position. Littlefoot could see their approving faces. They looked so happy for him… And, from a distance, he could make out two other shapes. His heart leapt as he made out the lithe shape of Ruby, and looming over her was Chomper.

She…she made it! He thought to himself. He couldn't be happier to see her during this important occasion. Then, she caught his eye.

She always held a blank, concealed expression. He wished he could see inside those unblinking eyes. He sighed. She was here, and that's all that mattered for now.

"-and now I would like to present to him his new name."

Littlefoot bit his lip indignantly. He was so lost in thought that he missed the whole lecture.

"Littlefoot. Are you ready?" Bron looked down to him warmly.

Littlefoot nodded with determination. "I'm ready." He confirmed.

Bron nodded, and he raised his voice again to let everyone hear. "Then from this day forward, Littlefoot will now be known as-"

Littlefoot strained his ears in anticipation.

"Aalok!"

In an instant, everyone cried out his new name, and Ali congratulated him excitedly.

Littlefoot was left to stare out, dumbfounded. "...Aalok?"

"I know! What kind of a name is that?" Littlefoot stood in front of a laughing Cera, and Ducky, Petrie, Spike, Chomper, and Ruby, who all looked at him with confusion.

"That's the dumbest name if I've ever heard one." Cera said between laughs.

"It is not too bad, oh no no no."

"Maybe Littlefoot get used to it if you say it more.

"Yeah, it actually sounds kinda fancy." Chomper tried to cheer him up while Spike added a little mumble to agree with everyone's assurances.

Littlefoot sighed with frustration. "Maybe I do need to get used to it first. This stuff just doesn't make sense to me."

"You wanna go tell Shorty and Rhett that you got your new name and they didn't? Will that make you feel better… Aalok?" Cera added teasingly.

Littlefoot caught on to Cera's playful tone. "Oh come on, Cera, you know I'm not like that." He smirked. "Besides, it's getting late."

"You're right, it's been a long day, I think I'm going to head back to my cave now." Chomper mumbled sleepily, and Ruby began to follow him as he headed in the direction of the secret caverns.

Littlefoot stared longingly as Ruby started to walk away. Everytime, she's always gone, and he never gets a chance. Desperately, he called out to her. "Ruby- wait!"

When she got his attention, he continued, talking fast with panic and embarrassment. "Could I speak with you…Please?" He yearned to at least have a conversation with her, like they used to.

When she didn't respond, he stepped closer, making Ruby step backwards. It was too late to back out now, he had already confronted her, in front of his friends no less.

"I…" She mumbled. "I…I should really get going-" And not allowing him to say anymore, she whirled around and dashed off, passing Chomper as she went.

The young sharptooth stared at her with bewilderment.

Littlefoot stood in place, his mouth ajar. Did she just leave him there, in this embarrassing state? Once again, she had rejected his pleads.

"Hmph! She's been very quiet lately." Cera said as she watched Ruby go with a scornful face.

However stunned he was, Littlefoot wanted to defend Ruby, even if she wasn't here. "She probably has-"

"And what's with you always trying to get her attention? What's so special about her? What makes her different from the rest of us?"

Cera's words stung in his head. This was it, she was so close to figuring it out. He looked towards Ducky and Petrie in desperation. They had a knowing look, but neither dared to say a word.

"And what's up with you two? Don't think I've forgotten what you're up to!" Cera lumbered forward so that she stood in front of Ducky and Petrie. Littlefoot could see a flash of fear in their eyes. He had to do something before things got out of hand.

"Cera, that's enough!" Littlefoot barged in between the three of them.

Cera backed away indignantly and stared deep into Littlefoot's eyes. Her tone was menacingly low. "I know what's happening."

Littlefoot countered her cold stare with a dark glare of his own. "Don't you dare…" He muttered between his teeth.

She continued, as if she didn't hear his threatening tone. "You know…Don't you?"

"Cera. Stop."

"Don't act like I'm going to tell the whole valley, because what you're doing could cause tremendous punishment that will affect the rest of your life." With her final word, she turned around and stalked off into the darkness.

Littlefoot stood there, his body stiff.

"Will she tell on us?" He heard Ducky's frightened voice squeak behind him.

He couldn't answer.

"Littlefoot?" She repeated, her voice soft with worry. Petrie couldn't answer her, he was locked in fear as well.

Finally, Littlefoot muttered the faintest of replies. "I don't know…"

Chomper held the same stature as his friends. He had suspected something was wrong from the moment Littlefoot and Ruby had that walk.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow, I need to have a talk with someone…"

Hope I made you cry! Lol. By the way, I'll only be using Littlefoot's new name in diologue, this ceremony bit was just for plot reasons. EEP! I'm so excited for the next chapter!