The Gang of Five
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Topics - rhombus

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41
Character Showcase / Rainbowfaces showcase - July 2021
« on: July 03, 2021, 12:43:57 PM »
This month we would like to welcome two dinosaurs of mystery! Greetings, rainbowfaces!  Where have you two been?



“That would be telling, wouldn’t it?”

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In this topic please feel free to discuss the rainbowfaces as characters, to share your own creations (fanfics or fanart) concerning them, or to mention some of your favorite fanworks of others involving them.  For a full set of rules please see the 2021 Monthly Character Showcase topic but keep in mind that this is meant to be fun as opposed to any sort of contest.

I will go ahead and get the discussion started with the following questions:

1. What do you think about their disappearance at the end of LBT VII? Do you like them being depicted as overtly out-of-worldly, or do you think that aspect should have been left up to the watcher’s imagination?

2. What is your personal head-canon about what the rainbowfaces are?

42
Character Showcase / Doc showcase - June 2021
« on: May 31, 2021, 11:59:53 PM »
This month we would like to welcome a dinosaur of few words!  Greetings, Doc, would you like to say anything?



“....”  :DocSerious

Um, right.  I should have expected that.  :taunttroll

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In this topic please feel free to discuss Doc as a character, to share your own creations (fanfics or fanart) concerning this character, or to mention some of your favorite fanworks of others involving him.  For a full set of rules please see the 2021 Monthly Character Showcase topic but keep in mind that this is meant to be fun as opposed to any sort of contest.

I will go ahead and get the discussion started with the following questions:

1. What are your general impressions of Doc as a character?

2. Do you see Doc’s portrayal in the television episode “The Lone Dinosaur Returns” as a logical development of the character, or do you see it as being incongruent with his portrayal in the sixth film?

43
Character Showcase / Littlefoot's Grandmother Showcase - May 2021
« on: May 01, 2021, 12:53:36 PM »


"The circle of life is simple, yet profound."

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In this topic please feel free to discuss Grandma Longneck as a character, to share your own creations (fanfics or fanart) concerning this character, or to mention some of your favorite fanworks of others involving her.  For a full set of rules please see the 2021 Monthly Character Showcase topic but keep in mind that this is meant to be fun as opposed to any sort of contest.

I will go ahead and get the discussion started with the following questions:


1. It is implied in canon sources that Grandma Longneck (and her mate) traveled far and wide before settling in the valley. For example, they knew of Doc when he makes an appearance in LBT VI. Do you think that her previous experiences might affect how she acts as an adoptive parent to Littlefoot?

2. What is your favorite non-canon name for Grandma Longneck? (feel free to skip if you are not much for fanfictions)

3. Do you think Littlefoot's mother was as adventurous as Littlefoot is?  Sometimes Grandma Longneck seems a bit genre-savvy about Littlefoot's antics... almost as if she had gone through this before.  :p

44
LBT Fanfiction / A New Era Hatches
« on: April 07, 2021, 11:56:33 PM »
Fanfiction link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11964771/44/Mender-s-Tale

The following is a bonus scene of sorts from Menders Tale, which Historian1912 and I did not feature in the story itself for pacing reasons, but we think it works as both a bonus scene or as a standalone story.  Though readers of Mender's Tale will have added context for this scene, I think it works as a slice of life story and prompt response.  In any case, I hope that you enjoy!

This story is a response to the following requested prompt:  "Imprinting is an amazing thing.  In many species, a new hatchling will form a permanent emotional connection with the first thing it sees upon escaping from its egg. Write a story where an odd case of imprinting forms part of the narrative or premise."


A New Era Hatches
“The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Whoever will be born must destroy a world.” ~Hermann Hesse

Darkness.

Truth be told, he had never experienced anything else.  There was no place but the place he found himself in, and nothing to see, hear, or do.  Existence itself was a new experience, as was even having experiences.  From the eternal void he had entered an actual void, and he was content…

Until he wasn’t.

The experience was different now though he could not quite process how.  There was a steady sound now.  Sound being a new sensation in itself.  The sound seemed to echo in his head in time with his forward movements.  Suddenly the void seemed too small.  He had to escape!

That was when the void cracked.

The sound stopped for several moments as he stared in shock at a new sensation.  Pain now radiated on his face as the darkness was pierced by light.  He could not make sense of this new reality, but something deep within him told him that this was the right thing to do.  He had to enter this new world.  This new reality.

Instinct demanded it.

He began to peck at the egg’s interior once more, but this time with increased resolve as the initial ray of light grew into a growing crack in his unseen prison.  His young eyes could not make anything out of the blinding light, but in the end that did not matter.  It felt right. 

That was when he felt a welling in his throat.  This was new, but his instincts had not let him down thus far, so he allowed his body to do what felt natural.

Chirp!

He froze again.  That sound came from him!  He could make sounds!  He had no idea why, but making more sounds seemed like the right thing to do.  So between trying to peck away the annoying void he made more of these Me Sounds.

Peck… peck… peck…

Chirp!

Peck… peck…

Chirp!

And so he continued on for several moments, driven by an unexplainable desire to peck away what had been his home and to enter into the great unknown that was the outside.  The ‘me sounds’ continued as the light expanded.  But that was when the light began to change in a way the hatchling could not understand.  The light began to dim in one area, taking on a different ‘light’ than the bright light around it.  In fact this new light seemed to almost be dark, but not quite.

Chirp!

The dimmer light appeared to stop moving for a moment, which allowed him to examine it more closely in between his attempts to escape from his egg prison.  This dimmer light appeared to have two brighter lights at its top.  Two lights that appeared to tilt as the top of the dimmer light tilted.  It was then that he felt something odd burn within him… he had to get to this dimmer light!

“Let’s get you cleaned up...”

The hatching did not understand the sounds coming from this dimmer light, but he did recognize them as ‘me sounds’.  So this dimmer light had to be a ‘me’ as well!  He did not have much time, however, before he felt sudden wetness touch his beak.

In a sudden burst of activity he jerked in surprise, sending the remnants of the egg all around him.  When he finally regained his senses he found himself staring upwards at the other face.  It was only then that it finally clicked.

This other face was not another ‘me’… this face was…

Mama!

---------

The predator looked down upon the little hidden runner with the yellow eyes of her kind.  Though on this day no predatory intent showed through in those unreadable orbs.  Those who had laid these eggs were no more, victims of a conflict that was not her own, but that did not mean that this youngling or his soon-to-be siblings would be without parents.  This fastbiter had made a promise to these eggs and herself, and she would not violate her oath.

I’m not going to let anything happen to you, she promised once more.

Mender watched as the little hidden runner excitedly chirped once more.  Then, with unsteady steps, he began to waddle closer to her feet.  Saving the little one additional trouble, she moved closer.  Within moments he was snuggling with her underneath her sickle claw.

Well, that’s a first, Mender thought with a laugh as the little hatchling cuddled with her killing claw. She bent down to get a closer look. I guess that’s as safe a place as any.

The small child was now chirping softly as he leaned into the warm foot.  It was then that she remembered two rather obvious facts: this was a hidden runner youngling and she did not have feathers.

“Okay, so how do I get you back in the nest?” Mender wondered aloud, “Gotta keep you warm.” It was hardly any distance at all, but she was suddenly unsure how to move the hatchling. He was so small, and she, well, wasn’t.

It was then that her ears heard a familiar sound.  As if on cue one of the eggs moved.

“Great. Why don’t you all hatch at once?” she grumbled as she tried to figure out a solution to her first problem. Okay if I just move like this.... She took a small step with her free foot. ...and now like this. She drug her other foot extremely slowly, moving both it and the hatching towards the nest.

The little hidden runner let out a surprised chirp as he looked at the foot curiously.  This was followed by a chirp that sounded almost amused at being dragged forward.

“Having fun?” Mender asked, her second awkward move managing to get the hatchling back to the warmth of the nest. Maybe I should start making this a proper nest so you can’t wander off. Oh, I hope none of you turn out how Haven described herself and her friends as kids.

The youngling continued to hug the claw as he was dragged along towards the assemblage of vines and leaves which made up the makeshift nest.  It wasn’t until he was more or less pushed into the leaves that he took notice of the nest itself.

Mender watched the hatchling practically burrow into the leaves while trying to stay close to the claw. She wasn’t sure why he seemed to like it, but at least it seemed to keep him from wanting to go elsewhere. So how am I going to keep all three of you in the nest? Based on the movement of one of the eggs, she didn’t have all that long to come up with an answer.

“Alright, give me my foot back,” Mender said with amusement evident in her voice. She carefully tried to tug her foot away from the youngling.

Thankfully for Mender, the small hatchling now seemed incredibly interested in the warm leaves as he curled himself into a little ball in the vegetation.  Against its green hue the small hatchling was barely visible.

Barely hatched and you’re already good at hiding, Mender thought, Guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Now how do I help keep you safe? Let’s see. If I spread some sticks around I could keep anyone from sneaking up on us, but I still need to keep you in the nest. I guess I should start by making this more like a proper nest than a collection of leaves. Her mind made up, she started digging around the borders of the nest.

Okay, so how big does this need to be? Mender thought as she finished making a circle of dirt around the nest about the height of the hatchling, Mom made ours a bit taller than us if I remember correctly. She started adding more dirt. But what about tiny biters? I don’t want them seeing the kids, never mind getting in. She added even more dirt. And I don’t want anyone to really be able to see the kids from far off either. She flattened off the top of the rim a bit to keep it from collapsing easily. “That should do it,” she finally said.

It was then that she heard an audible thud behind her.

“Um, I got the berries you requested, Mender.  Is there a particular patient who needs these, or….”

The flyer’s words stopped suddenly as Mender’s gaze fell upon him.  Then, in a swift movement, his beaked face turned towards the nest and then back to Mender.  This movement was repeated once more before something in the flyer’s eyes seemed to grow more focused.  This was a focus that she recognized.  The same focus that made him a benefit to the pack.

“I will leave these with you.  I take it that you will want a sky watch?”

Mender watched the flyer land and drop the berries, managing to land close enough to be polite without being too close.

“That would be helpful. Thanks,” Mender said after a moment of surprise. Why didn’t I think of that?

The flyer took off without another word, as if he were about to be chased by a pack of fastbiters.

What’s gotten into him? Mender wondered as he watched him go. Her eyes then fell on the area surrounding the nest. That’s a lot of space to watch. Maybe a focus on the ground is a better idea... She started looking for small, dry sticks. It didn’t take her long to find several, and she started to spread them out around the nest.

I’m going to need more than that, but there’s not any I can see, Mender thought, Better check on the nest first.

She carefully peeked over the tall grass, only to see the hatling nuzzling deeper into the vegetation which made up the nest.  Against that backdrop he appeared to fade into the leaves.

Satisfied nothing was wrong, Mender concentrated on finding sticks until she felt like she had enough. Acting in what was now starting to become a habit, she glanced at the nest as she passed. Okay. No change on egg. The other’s starting to make a bit of progress. That’s good.. She walked to the far edge of the clearing surrounding the nest and started putting some of her sticks down. I guess a step apart would work.

Mender carefully put down another stick at her feet then took another small step and placed another stick there. Maybe a half-step will work better. I can’t give anyone room to walk easily without stepping on a stick. If I can’t always see anyone coming, at least I’ll hear them.

Finishing with one side, Mender started heading to the side to take care of that half. As she passed the nest again she glanced down. Okay, no change with the eggs. How’s the hatchling doing?

She looked at the massive pile of leaves which served as the nesting material and carefully looked for the downy feathers of her hatchling.  It took her a few moments of searching but finally she found him.

Or so she thought until the two leaves she was looking at shifted in the wind.  It was then that the cold realization hit her.  Her hatchling was missing!

“Don’t panic. Don’t panic,” Mender reminded herself. Not trusting her sniffer, she scanned the ground around the nest for footprints. All she saw were her own. The dirt rim around the nest was also undisturbed. This is not making sense. What am I missing?

She watched the surroundings closely, looking for anything else which could have been disturbed.  But then she turned her focus back to the nest, could she have missed something?

Already watching for movement, Mender noticed a leaf shift in the nest. She looked closer. At first she didn’t see anything but leaves. Then she noticed an eye looking back at her. Gotcha. “Found you.”

The hatchling did not move.  Instead he continued to peer out at his adoptive mother.  Though he did noticeably move his snout closer to the opening that he had made in the dry foliage.

“You can come out now,” Mender said. He’ll probably not understand that, but how do I get him to stop hiding?

The hatchling’s snout emerged a bit more from his little hiding hole, but his body stayed put.

Barely hatched and he’s already got more self-control than a fastbiter kid, Mender thought, Wait, that’s it. How did Mom tell us it was safe to come out? Sometimes she just told us when we were older, but that’s not going to work here, but I do remember feeling safe when she was close. Maybe that’ll work.

Testing her idea, Mender carefully got into the nest. If that wasn’t a signal that it was safe, she didn’t know what was.

Nothing happened for several moments.  But then, cautiously at first, the hatchling edged out of the leaves.  Then, with sudden assuredness, he half-walked, half-stumbled out of his hidey hole and ran into his refuge of safety: Mender’s large sickle claw.

He does realize I use that for hunting, right? Mender thought. “I guess I need to teach you that that is not a safe place.” She bent down to give him a lick.

This earned her a squawk, which she could only assume was the equivalent of a giggle.  In response the little one squirmed and settled down against her foot.  Well, it was progress at least.

But that was when he lifted his beak to the sky and opened it as wide as he could manage.  Mender needed no translation for that posture.

“Now where are those berries?” As Mender searched for the food she caught sight of the other two eggs.  Though one of them was merely shaking from the effort of its occupant’s tireless pecks, the other was rapidly cracking under its internal assault.  She had no doubt a second head would be peeking out soon.

“Found ‘em. Finally,” Mender said upon finding the berries after a longer search than she wanted to admit. Can he eat these whole or does he need help? I guess for now, better safe than sorry.

The hatching maintained his opened-mouth vigil as Mender carefully placed the sweet berries into her mouth and cocked her head back, sending them into her gizzard.  Within moments she could taste their sugary sweetness fill the back of her throat as they were quickly liquified.  The temptation to consume them was real, but her instincts knew what to do.  Within moments she could feel her gizzard’s content erupt back up her throat.

Without thinking, she quickly placed her mouth over the hatching’s beak and released the contents of her gizzard into his throat.  Within a few moments his frantic begging for food subsided and was replaced with calm acceptance of the berries.  He had finally had his first meal.

As if to punctuate this change, as Mender pulled away the hatchling finished swallowing his meal.  Then, with an exaggerated movement which caused him to fall on his hindquarters, he yawned, briefly expanding his beak to its former size.  It was then that he let out a soft purring-like sound as his eyes began to droop.

“Sleepy?” Mender asked, giving the hatchling a nuzzle. She was answered by the hatchling leaning into her foot before burrowing into the leaves right next to it.

“Heh… we should call you ‘Cover’, little one.” Mender cooed.  It took her a few moments before what she had just said registered in her mind.  Cover.  Yes, that really does fit. “Your name is Cover.”

She was answered by yet another yawn before Cover closed his eyes and nuzzled her foot one more time.  Then, nearly as soon as his eyes had shut, he began to breathe slowly as sleep overtook him.

“Sleep well, my dear Cover.” Mender hummed in something between a growl and a purr.  “You are my child.  And every child deserves a good childhood.” Nothing like mine. You won’t have to do too much running if I have anything to say about it.

Chirp!

Mender did not have to move her head far to see what had made that commotion.  For out of the second egg came a small green head, staring right at her.

Being careful not to disturb the slumbering Cover, Mender leaned down and inspected the hatchling for a long moment, before giving the newcomer a soft lick.  Just as before, the little one chirped approvingly before forcing its way out of the white orb.  Then, before the hatchling could scamper in her general direction, she gently gripped the bottom of the egg with her claws and carefully deposited the young one right next to her brother.

“Leave the running to Mother, little one.”


45
Character Showcase / Archie Showcase - April 2021
« on: April 01, 2021, 12:48:32 AM »

https://i.imgur.com/Z90uTL3.png

"Where there's a will, there's a way...or a pulled muscle."

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In this topic please feel free to discuss Archie as a character, to share your own creations (fanfics or fanart) concerning this character, or to mention some of your favorite fanworks of others involving him.  For a full set of rules please see the 2021 Monthly Character Showcase topic but keep in mind that this is meant to be fun as opposed to any sort of contest.

I will go ahead and get the discussion started with the following questions:


1. As strong as Archie's flappy arms are, could he possibly lift the gang's plot armor?

2. On a more serious note, what are your general thoughts about Archie as a character?

46
Announcements / Forum Upgrades - March 31 2021 (April Fools 2021)
« on: April 01, 2021, 12:25:05 AM »
Good morning, everyone!

As you all know, this forum relies upon the contributions of all of you in order to keep going.  We admins are always striving to use those contributions to make improvements to the forum based upon your feedback.  It is with that in mind that we are pleased to announce a massive improvement to the forum experience! 


Starting this week we will be implementing the GANG OF FIVE SOCIAL CREDIT SCORE!
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Now I know that all of you probably have questions about what this means for the forum, so we have provided a helpful list of new features that this change will implement:
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A voting system for posts (up/down) through which users can gain/lose points

Members have asked time and time again for a like/dislike system for posts.  We've looked into several different forums to see their approach, and also checked out the impact of these systems on social media.  We indeed think this would be a great addition to our forum.  It removes the need for short messages such as "Thank you", as you can simply click the thumbs up button instead.  You can also easily express your dislike of the yellowbellies by disliking every post in which they are mentioned.  It is a clean and easy to use system.

All of the votes will be tracked and counted, which leads to a total score for each member.  This score will be used for several features, which you can read up on down below.  We are currently in the process of running an AI algorithm on all posts made on the forum to date, so that we can give everyone a fair score to start out on.  The AI will analyze your posts and the reactions (or lack thereof) they have gotten.  This process will take roughly 24 hours to complete, after which we intend to implement the system properly.

Here is an example of a post getting a thumbs up, and consequently the user score increasing:
   
(click to enlarge)

When voting on the starting post in a topic, that will rate the topic overall.  Here we take a look at some recent posts by another member and the topic ratings:



Replacing the current rank system based on post count

Back when the forum was first brought online, it was the custom in message boards to base one's forum rank on role (admin/mod) or merit (number of posts).  But since those early days Internet culture has greatly advanced and has grown beyond outdated concepts like merit and contributions, but instead has embraced the more logically sound principle of judging content based upon how loudly one says an assertion or how offended someone is.  It is long past time that this forum embrace this mentality and for this reason your new forum Social Credit Score will now base your forum rank entirely on your number of up votes or down votes.   As this system of philosophical nihilism has led to perfectly reasonable results elsewhere in popular culture, we are sure it will lead to great results here!  :)littlefoot


An improved reward system

With such a radical rethinking of how our members are ranked, it only made sense to extend this amazing system into the realm of rewards and punishments on the forum as well!  This will not only lead to a reduction in the workloads on administrative staff, but it will also lead to a system that no one can argue with.  After all, what is more fair than majority rule on the Internet?  Here are some examples of the rewards that members can earn going forward for positive Social Credit Scores:


New emotes




Fancy formatting options




More themes




Access to special board for loved members where their opinion is more valuable

Instead of hand picking members that we care about, we'll let the credit score take care of this!




Become a mod/admin

Yes, we are serious.  With a high enough credit score, you will automatically be added to the management team.




Get out of Twitter Jail

Say something offensive about the Royal Family? Get caught trolling a nun?  Make the mistake of saying your opinion about US politics anywhere?  No, I am not talking about Taunt, I am talking about what can be erased from your moderation history if you get this lovely perk!

**Valid only once - does not apply to Nazi crap**





And for those who violate our terms of service....


Lose lbt emotes




Lose posting ability in certain places



Note: After Midnight is a special case as we will only permit posting there if a member has a negative social credit score.  This policy is in place to ensure that we continue to have the usual quality of posts there.


Not allowed to have sig/avatar




Bans




Drone strikes


 


We admins can't wait until the algorithm is complete and we can finally take a well deserved vacation.  We hope you are looking forward to this big upgrade as much as we are! :yes


47
Character Showcase / Topsy Showcase – March 2021
« on: March 01, 2021, 01:27:26 AM »


“Come Cera, threehorns never play with long necks!”

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In this topic please feel free to discuss Topps (Topsy) as a character, to share your own creations (fanfics or fanart) concerning this character, or to mention some of your favorite fanworks of others involving him.  For a full set of rules please see the 2021 Monthly Character Showcase topic but keep in mind that this is meant to be fun as opposed to any sort of contest.

I will go ahead and get the discussion started with the following questions:

1.  Though we certainly got one impression of him as a character in the first film, we have seen other sides to Topps’ personality and character as the series has continued.  Which events in the series have most shaped your view of Topps as a character?

2.  Based upon what we have seen of other threehorns, do you think Topps’ perspective is typical of threehorns as a whole?  Do you think this perspective is shaped by the realities of threehorn life (as seen in the series) or perhaps a more isolated development?

48
Character Showcase / Rooter Showcase - February 2021
« on: February 01, 2021, 01:27:20 AM »

https://i.imgur.com/iEcUHV2.mp4

"Hey, what's going on here?"

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In this topic please feel free to discuss Rooter as a character, to share your own creations (fanfics or fanart) concerning this character, or to mention some of your favorite fanworks of others involving him.  For a full set of rules please see the 2021 Monthly Character Showcase topic but keep in mind that this is meant to be fun as opposed to any sort of contest.

I will go ahead and get the discussion started with the following questions:

1.  Rooter was added to the original Land Before Time film at the urging of psychologists in order to soften the impact of the death of Littlefoot’s mother and the scariness of Sharptooth.  What do you think of this decision?

2.  Even though he was only featured for a short time in the first film, Rooter had a large impact.  What are your thoughts on Rooter as a character?

49
Good evening, everyone!

We admins were quite impressed with the Character Showcase over the previous two years.  It never fails to attract a lot of discussion and debate concerning our favorite characters.  For this reason the Character Showcase will be renewed for its third Cold Time. :yes

We have decided that 2021 will be the year of the LBT supporting character.  From the selfless love of Littlefoot's Mother, to the mysterious rainbowfaces, to the mothers of Ducky and Petrie, they will all be getting a showcase this year.

So without further commentary, here are the rules for the 2021 Character Showcase!
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Beginning on January 1, 2020 we will be celebrating our favorite Land Before Time supporting characters through the return of the forum's character showcase!  :)littlefoot  Each month one of the major guest characters or parents from the LBT series will be showcased on the forum’s news header, will be featured in our active topic buttons, and will have a special showcase topic dedicated to them.

These showcase topics are not meant to be overly formal matters but rather are supposed to be open for fanworks and discussion about these characters.  That being said there are some basic rules for posting in these topics that will be enforced to keep things moving smoothly:



The characters to be showcased:
Jan - Littlefoot's Mother
Feb - Rooter
Mar - Topsy
Apr - Archie
May - Littlefoot's Grandmother
Jun - Doc
Jul - The Rainbowfaces
Aug - Mama Swimmer
Sep - Mo
Oct - Bron
Nov - Mama Flyer
Dec - Tria

Rules:
1.Within each showcase topic, people can discuss the characters, post fanart of them, or post short fanfics concerning them.

2. To prevent the topic from being overburdened with long posts, any fanfic concerning the featured character should either be limited to less than 1500 words, or, if the story is longer than that, you should host it on a fanfiction hosting site and link it here with a brief description of the story. 

3. There will be no set contest for the resulting fanfics and fanart in the showcase topic (this is just for fun), but they can be cross-submitted to the respective prompt challenges if they also qualify for the active monthly prompt for that challenge. For details on those challenges, and to check what the requirements for those are, you can find the fanfic prompt challenge rules here, and the fanart prompt challenge page here. Also, regardless of qualification, the resulting showcase fanfics will be added to the fanfic prompt challenge masterlist as an addendum so that they can be recorded for posterity.

4. The showcase topic will not prevent the discussion of other characters elsewhere in the forum, but the discussion and fanworks in the showcase topic should be limited to the featured character.

5. And, of course, the usual forum rules shall apply.

50
Character Showcase / Littlefoot's Mother Showcase - January 2021
« on: January 02, 2021, 01:24:37 AM »


Some things you see with your eyes, others you see with your heart.

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In this topic please feel free to discuss Littlefoot's Mother as a character, to share your own creations (fanfics or fanart) concerning this character, or to mention some of your favorite fanworks of others involving her.  For a full set of rules please see the 2021 Monthly Character Showcase topic but keep in mind that this is meant to be fun as opposed to any sort of contest.

I will go ahead and get the discussion started with the following questions:

1.  For many of us seeing Littlefoot's mother meet her end in the first film was a very emotional moment.  Do you remember your reaction to witnessing that scene for the first time?

2.  With the possible exception of Littlefoot's portion of "Always There" in the fifth film, the passing of Littlefoot's Mother and its effect of Littlefoot were only substantively covered in the first film.  Do you think this subject should be brought up again in any future film or television series?

51
Saurus Rock: Member Hall of Fame / Fanfiction Results 2020
« on: December 07, 2020, 01:52:11 AM »
Good morning, everyone!

I have completed my tabulation of the 2020 fanfiction award voting.  :)littlefoot  Here are the results for your consideration and double-checking:



We will be following the same protocol that we have used for the last several years. This means that if you would like a banner for your fanfiction then please let me know by PM. You can only pick one of your stories to receive a banner this year, so if you had multiple entries then you will need to specify which story I should prepare a banner. Each banner will include your story name, the overall average rating it received, and the number of votes. The draft banners that we will be using this year are attached to this topic.

I also would like to thank each and everyone one of you for your participation in the awards, and your commitment to the fandom.  :)littlefoot  Your participation is what makes all of this possible, and I look forward to seeing what you come up with in the year ahead!

52


Well... sometimes who is the antagonist and who is the protagonist is a matter of perspective.  :bestsharptooth


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In this topic please feel free to discuss the gang as characters, but from the alternative perspective of how they must appear to their adversaries, to share your own creations (fanfics or fanart), or to mention some of your favorite fanworks of others involving them in this context.  For a full set of rules please see the 2020 Monthly Character Showcase topic but keep in mind that this is meant to be fun as opposed to any sort of contest.

I will go ahead and get the discussion started with the following questions:

1.  Considering the gang's exploits in defeating or outsmarting sharpteeth, including the original film sharptooth, what kind of reputation do you think they have in the Mysterious Beyond?

2.  Are there any instances in the films where you think the gang's actions could be seen in a more sinister light?


Special thanks for ImpracticalDino for helping me find a good version of the image in the Wanted Poster. :)

53
LBT Fanfiction / The Other Side of the Rainbow
« on: November 08, 2020, 10:07:07 PM »
Fanfiction link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13742077/1/The-Other-Side-of-the-Rainbow

Here is my belated response to the Summer Prompt Exchange on the Gang of Five forum. The prompt I was responding to was RainbowfaceProtégé's, which is "Write a LBT story that incorporates science fiction elements. What will it be? Time travel? Alien visitors? The possibilities are endless!". I decided to do something a bit more light-hearted and humorous this time. Though whether someone considers this part of the canon of the Seven Hunters or not will be a matter of personal opinion. :p In any case, I hope that you enjoy it.

________________________________________

The Other Side of the Rainbow

"The Prime Directive is the most important concept in the Consortium. Ultimately, each civilization must choose for itself whether it is worthy of survival. Contrary to popular belief, however, it is not an absolute prerogative. Captains have, in the past, saved worlds from disasters beyond a civilization's control, or shown support for a civilization which has given a stricken crew aid. The Prime Directive ensured that these captains had to answer for the violations in a proceeding… not that any action would be taken against them."

"That being said, Captain Logos, I do look forward to your explanation for this particular incident."

~Communication from Consortium Command
________________________________________

"I could have sworn I left it around here somewhere…"

The male rainbowface was given a forceful nudge from his counterpart which caused him to turn around. He was promptly greeted by a female rainbowface with her hands planted firmly on her hips.

"You had better do more than swear where you left it; otherwise we will both be swearing before a court martial! Do you have any idea what one of the residents of this world could do with such power?"

The male rolled his eyes. "Based upon what we have seen so far they would either treat it like a rock or attempt to eat it. So I think we can rule global domination out."

This made the female rainbowface let out a groan of frustration. "Well, you try to explain that to command! Come on, we have to continue our search. If anyone gets up to mischief with this device, then Command will have us skinned!"

Chronos sighed. "Well, hopefully if someone has it then they at least have some sense."

Neither of the two rainbowfaces noticed that they were being watched from the bushes nearby.

________________________________________

The orange fastbiter stared at the strange rock curiously. Though Taunt had not exactly become an expert on rocks in his relatively short life, he was skilled enough in observational skills to realize that a bright blue stick-shaped rock which had glowing red stones on it was not normal. He would have asked the rainbowfaces what the rock was, but he highly doubted that they would understand sharptooth - so that was out. Eating them and taking the rock was also out as the creepy dinosaurs both smelled suspiciously like stink-buzzers. So, in the end, he just sneaked right behind the male rainbowface and grabbed the strange rock while he wasn't looking.

How did that guy survive this long?

Taunt shook the thought out of his head as he confronted the strange… rock? Shiny stone? Thingy? That was now in his clawed hands. As he looked at it more closely he could see that the small red shining stones in the rock were not reflecting light from the Bright Circle, but rather it was coming from the stone itself.

Taunt felt a twinge of fear go down his spine. The light was coming from the stone.

For the briefest of moments the fastbiter was tempted to put the stone back down. Surely if the stone were making its own light then it must be something powerful, like… lava! Or the Bright Circle itself! If that was true of this stone then his very life could be in danger, perhaps…

He refrained from tossing the rock aside at the last moment and looked at it again. The small red lights were not burning him… and the light they were emitting was very modest. If this had the power of the Bright Circle within it then it was only a small part of it. Therefore, as soon as this realization hit him, all fear ebbed away. This rock was interesting, but it surely wasn't anything dangerous. There was only one thing left to do now as part of his examination.

I wonder if I can get the little Bright Circle out...

He tried to find any part of the rock where he could get a firm grip with his hands, but all he succeeded in doing was accidentally dropping the stone on the ground.

Beep!

Taunt tilted his head. "What a weird rock. I have never heard one make that sound before."

He picked it up again and once more he allowed the stone to gleam in the midday sun. Well, if his claws couldn't do the job, then his teeth would have to do. And with that he proceeded to dig his teeth into the stone…

"There it is! That fastbiter has it!"

Taunt jerked his head upward and was surprised to see that the two rainbowfaces were not only in front of him, but were also holding two additional weird rocks. These rocks were black and smooth, some part of his mind noted. But black and smooth rocks were not as interesting as shiny light-making rocks, so he did what any self-respecting fastbiter would do when confronted by talking food: he ignored them. After all, he had already eaten lunch.

As Taunt put his teeth to the rock for a second time he saw the male rainbowface fix the black stone in his direction, only to be nearly tackled by his female counterpart. "Don't, you idiot! You might damage the trans-modifier!"

"His teeth might damage the trans-modifier!" he protested.

Taunt paid them little heed as he continued his mission to dig out the light from within the stone. However it was then that, for lack of a better term, the rock 'talked' to him.

Language patterns acquired! Chosen interface: oral-tactile. Continue with pre-set?

Taunt blinked and took the rock out of his mouth. If the thing could talk in his language, then it was only right that he stop eating it for a moment. "You can talk?"

Vocal patterns possible. Continue with pre-set?

The banter of the rainbowfaces continued in the background. "Alright, I will arm the Suppressor, but you need to push the rock out of his hands right at the correct moment."

Taunt tilted his head at the rock's words and ignored the incomprehensible screeching of the rainbowfaces. He had stolen their talking rock fair and square. Truth be told, he did not understand much of what the rock said, which made an odd sort of sense… he had never talked to a rock before, so he had no frame of reference. But one word kind of made sense. Pre-set. He knew the Bright Circle would set each night and rise each day. Maybe the stone was asking to set so it could rest… like the Bright Circle did each day? Hmmm… well, he was not one to deny another living thing some time to sleep. Even if it was a rock.

Taunt shrugged. "Sure! Set!"

As Chronos slammed into the fastbiter, Logos could only watch helplessly as the trans-modifier worked its magic and surrounded both the fastbiter and her colleague in a ball of white plasma. Then, as soon as it had discharged, it faded back into an inert state, leaving a third rainbowface on the ground where before there had only been one.

It was at exactly that moment that Logos realized this would be a long day.

________________________________________

Some distance away:

Urgh… where could that idiot have run off to? We are supposed to track down some prey for later, not chase our tails!

Scarflank cautiously maneuvered around the bushes as he sniffed the air in the vain hope of catching wind of Taunt's scent. Normally the failure of one of their own to return to the group would be cause for concern, but this was Taunt they were talking about. At that thought Scarflank did a quick look over of his surroundings to make sure the fastbiter wasn't sneaking up on him.

His packmate had a bit of a reputation.

Letting out a groan, Scarflank continued his search as he eyed the nearly empty stream bed that lay in the distance. It was a possibility that Taunt could have sought out some fish as a source of food, but it was more likely that he could see the stream as a probable place where prey would congregate. Tentatively, Scarflank took in a deep breath…

And caught wind of a very familiar scent… and also the smell of rainbowface.

Scarflank made a slight tail-smile, secure in the knowledge that his packmate could not see it. Well, well, well, it smells like you were not chasing your tail after all, Taunt. I will get the others, and then the hunt can begin!

________________________________________

Near Hanging Rock:

A groan escaped Taunt's mouth as consciousness slowly returned to him like a Bright Circle peaking through the clouds. For a brief moment his mind was blank and devoid of context, but then the recent memories came back to him. The shiny, talking rock. The stupid rainbowfaces not protecting said rock. And something about the rock zapping him with a brilliant white light.

What was that about anyway?

He ignored these thoughts for a few moments as he focused on the more relatable task of getting up from his prone position. Had it all been a sleep story? It would make sense, after all, rocks do not typically talk to people unless they are asleep or crazy, and, as far as he could tell, he wasn't either of those.

That was exactly when his planned slow rise from the ground suddenly took him to his feet. He opened his eyes out of sheer instinct at the surprising reaction of his own body. What greeted him was a confusing sight.

The two annoying ranbowfaces were still there, staring at him with horrified expressions. Of all the things he wished were merely a sleep story, those would have been on the list. But as unwelcome as the sight of them were, that was not what immediately caught his attention. What earned that particular honor was the gigantic rainbow-colored beak that had taken the place of his snout. With growing horror he looked down upon his body… not knowing what to expect.

Only to be greeted by the sight of a much less robust body. The body of a non-raptor two-footer. The body of a rainbowface. He was now a rainbowface.

Logos's voice cracked as she tried to offer some soothing words in the fastbiter's own language. "Now, um, easy there… we can fix this, but you need to not panic…"

________________________________________
Some distance away, but closer than before...:

"So where did you find the rainbowfaces, Scarflank? You think Taunt is still tracking them?"

Scarflank snickered before glancing in the direction of Breeze. "I think stripe-ass is wanting to get all of the glory. You know he is still sour about me out-hunting him for ground fuzzies the other day."

Breeze rolled her eyes as she continued to follow her packmate at a swift pace. "Is that what this is about, Scar? We could get the others for this."

"Nah," [/b] Scarflank muttered as he ducked to avoid a branch in the thick vegetation. Despite being yellowed with drought, the areas around Hanging Rock had their fair share of hiding places. "If the others are stalking herd-sign on the other end of the stream then that will be far too long. Taunt will have got them all by then. You know that rainbowfaces aren't the best runners."

Breeze curled her tail into a smile as she continued along. "You know, Scarflank, I think you and Taunt might have a bit of a rivalry going on."

Scarflank groaned. "Oh, come on! You know he will be insufferable if he gets to the prey before we do. For all we know he could…"

Arrrrrrgghhhhhh!

Scarflank and Breeze shared a look before they both sprinted in the direction of the scream without another word. It sounded like Taunt had already cornered his prey.

________________________________________

Near Hanging Rock:

Well, Scarflank was not entirely wrong with the assessment...

The orange rainbowface nearly fell flat on his face as he struggled to use his very different feet on rather unforgiving terrain. Luckily for him, he was nothing if not stubborn if he had a goal in mind, and this was the sole motivation that kept him upright and willing to give his new body the best effort possible.

He absolutely had to rip the face off of this rainbowface.

"Change me back now!"

His latest attempt to rip off the male rainbowface's face ended in failure, however, when the other dinosaur was discourteous enough to move slightly to his right, leaving Taunt's charge ending in failure. Failure in this case meaning that he once again found his new beak in the not-so-new ground.

The female rainbowface took advantage of this brief respite from attempted assault and raised one hand in a placative manner before speaking in a soothing voice. "Please be still, former fastbiter. We will change you back shortly just as soon as we fix our device."

The former fastbiter, however, merely paused before he tilted his head in confusion.

Logos blinked, realizing the mistake of herself and her colleague. "Sorry, I am not as good in your tongue… a lot of nuance in grammatical cases. What I said is to be calm while we fix the "magic" rock."

This made the orange fastbiter appear to calm down slightly. Though he did not understand what 'nuance' or' grammatical', or 'case' meant, the focus on the magic rock he did understand. "So… the magic rock did this?"

The male rainbowface let out a groan as he frantically tapped on the bright blue rock. "It doesn't understand my inputs anymore!"

Logos rolled her eyes. "That's because the fastbiter changed its inputs to oral. You will need to 'beak it' to the settings that you want."

"Seriously!?" the male squawked, "He already slobbered all over it!"

"Occupational hazard," the female quipped before turning back to the fastbiter, "Yes. And we can use it to change you back. We just ask that you leave us in peace afterwards."

The orange rainbowface now visibly relaxed. The desire to rip these dinosaurs limb from limb was still there, but the desire to no longer be food was infinitely stronger. "Alright," he muttered reluctantly, "How… did you two come across the magic rock? Are there more of these?" If so then I need to warn others! Those rocks obviously want to be left alone!

The female rainbowface merely smiled a knowing smile. "Now that would be telling, wouldn't it? But there are many amazing things in the universe…"

"Ergh…. So much slobber!"

She glared at her male colleague briefly. "...and despite some hardships along the way, if you keep an open mind then those amazing things are there to discover."

At this response Taunt decided to sit down and to put his new beak in his hands. This was all too much. Magical rocks, rainbowfaces who can't talk normally, him being turned into food… it was a bit difficult to process. "How am I even going to tell the pack about this? They will never believe me unless they see me as food, and if that happened then I would be food!"

He sighed and rubbed his new head for a moment before opening his eyes once more. Wait. The others are still looking for herd-sign for the next hunt. If they heard my scream…

He rose again and this time avoided falling over. "Um, you might want to be careful. My packmates are in the area."

This made both rainbowfaces stop whatever they were doing with the rock though it was the male who spoke, "Your packmates?"

Taunt rubbed his head. "Yeah… and I'm not sure they will believe that I am me."

________________________________________

Nearby:

"What are they doing?"

Breeze did not immediately answer Scarflank's rhetorical question as they peered over the bluff. Though this was not due to a lack of interest, it was due to a lack of answers.

Below the bluff, standing in full view of any predator who would have taken interest, no fewer than three rainbowfaces appeared to be engaged in some kind of argument. At first Breeze assumed that the two males must be fighting over the female, but this hypothesis was quickly rejected as one the males seemed to be trying to eat a blue rock and the other male, who was a distinct shade of orange, appeared to be having some kind of mental breakdown while sitting on a boulder. All the while the distinct scents of Taunt and stink-buzzer was emanating on the wind.

That was when it hit Breeze: if two of the males were acting crazy it could mean only one thing: the head sickness.

"We can't hunt these." Breeze spoke authoritatively.

"What?" Scarflank practically squawked.

"We can't hunt these," Breeze repeated, "Think about it, Scarflank. What do you smell right now?"

Scarflank blinked a few times before sniffing the air. "Well, Taunt is somewhere around here. But... those rainbowfaces really stink! What have they been eating? Stink buzzers?"

Breeze nodded. "The sort of thing that only a dinosaur with the head-sickness would do. That one also looks like he is trying to eat a rock."

This made Scarflank peer closer at the rainbowface below as he seemed to scream at the rock in annoyance before proceeding to tap on the rock with his beak like a deeply confused flyer trying to eat seeds. All the while, the female seemed to be grunting something at the male which sounded like encouragement. Yep, these three were clearly insane.

Scarflank glared at her a moment, as if wanting to disagree. But then he put up his hands in a defeated gesture as his tail sank. "That would explain why Taunt hasn't hunted these three even though he must have spooked one... No reason to hunt something that will ruin your mind if you eat them."

"Bad meat is bad meat," Breeze affirmed with an apologetic tail-smile. "Come on, I found a few ground fuzzy nests over by the stream. If Vigilant and Skytail can't find a herd then that might be our best bet for dinner tomorrow."

Both of the fastbiters began to retrace their steps as they abandoned the three deranged rainbowfaces and their presumed dangerous illness. Maybe if they were lucky Redclaw would eat the trio and then that would take care of a much bigger problem.

"So, what does this black rock do? Is it a talking rock too?"

"Wait, fastbiter, don't!"

Breeze barely had time to turn around in shock upon hearing the rainbowfaces below speak in fluent sharptooth before she was greeted by the sight of one of the dinosaurs rushing to take a black rock out of the orange fastbiter's hands. However, this merely succeeded in aiming the rock in the general direction of the two fastbiters. It was not more than a second later when a blinding light emerged from the rock and slammed into the bluffs right below where Breeze and Scarflank were situated.

"Shit," was all Scarflank muttered before the rocks below them gave way. Within a second both fastbiterrs and several hundred rocks began to descend towards the three horrified rainbowfaces.

"Wow, the rock must be mad!"

"Run, you idiot!"


________________________________________

Logos barely had time to shove the newly minted rainbowface before the first of the boulders slammed into the ground next to her. What followed over the next few seconds was incomprehensible as the cacophony of rampaging rocks was joined by the confusing sight of blinding dust. All the while the gusts of air from the displaced rocks slammed into her and her comrades like the wind in a rampaging storm. As such she immediately threw the orange rainbowface into the nearest rock as soon as it presented itself. This was both to protect him from the avalanche and to hopefully give him a concussion for good measure.

She hurled herself right next to him as Chronos also ran behind the refuge. This was not a moment too soon as the boulders rampaged past where they all were a few moments ago. For anyone downhill this would be a death sentence.

"Ow…" the former fastbiter muttered beside her as he tapped the boulder that served as their shelter. Then, as if to make sure he could just be heard over the avalanche below, he yelled to no one in particular. "This is the third rock to give me trouble today!"

That was it. Despite the need to stay calm, Logos simply could not help herself as she put her head into her hands and allowed her beak to click in frustration.

"The only rock that has given us trouble today is the one in your skull! Can you not be careful when touching things that you do not understand?"

Logos could see Chronos rise from his spot before raising his hands in a placative gesture. "Now, Commander…"

"Don't start, Chronos," she warned as the sound of rampaging rocks finally died down, "This predator has all of the curiosity of those valley children and less of their sense! He could have easily gotten us all killed!"

The words, of course, were merely grunts to Taunt as the rainbowfaces had shifted back to the leaf-eater tongue. But he could understand the tone plainly enough.

"If you things were actually so smart you would know the last thing to do when you don't want someone snooping around is to show off," he growled in annoyance as he got up.

Logos rose, anger rising again. "What did you say, fastbiter?"

"You heard me, rainbow-food!" Taunt, well, taunted. "I saw you two playing with your special rocks all the way from the stream. Not even you two can be that bad at hiding. I wanted to see what was so special about those rocks."

"And you found out," Chronos deadpanned.

"Yeah… lucky me."

Logos stepped back as if she had been struck. The former fastbiter was right. The entire reason she and Chronos had sought out another mission on this far-flung mudball was to see the mysterious curiosity of this planet's residents. An interest in all things mysterious and unknown that some of its residents had in more abundance than the cultural development of this world would indicate. How could they disparage this predator for his curiosity? Ultimately the best they could do is change him back and wipe his memory of this unfortunate incident. Preferably before he decided to play with any more of their equipment.

"You're right, fastbiter," she finally agreed.

"I am?" Taunt muttered.

"He is?" Chronos asked with much more force.

Logos sighed as she wiped some of the dust from the trans-modifier, "He is. The people of this world are a curious paradox. With curiosity outstripping their knowledge. Remind you of any other species?"

"About fifty Consortium members and ten candidate races who annihilated themselves before first contact." Chronos acknowledged, "I suppose that is why we are here. We were in their place once… and we are here to nudge them in the right direction. The valley kids did not give us as much trouble, though."

"That longneck didn't have hands," Logos joked, "I am sure that played a role."

She then tapped on the blue rock until it gave a double beep. Finally.

"Alright, Mr. Fastbiter, are you ready to go back to how you were?" Chronos offered with a smile.

Chronos nearly had to double back when the orange-colored rainbowfaces half-tackled him due to his enthusiasm. In the end, much to his embarrassment, he was embraced in a tight hug.

Though the moment ended as soon as it began as Taunt pushed himself away. "Urgh… forgot you guys smell like stink-buzzers."

This made Logos pause as she gave her partner a concerned glance. Though Chronos looked back with embarrassment, her concerns were a bit more pressing than social etiquette. The predators smell our real forms!

"Is it obvious?" Logos asked carefully.

The orange rainbowface rubbed his beak. "Oh, yeah. I don't know how you guys eat those things! But I guess that is a good way to keep most of us sharpteeth away! You guys are worse at hiding than a longneck."

Chronos rubbed the back of his head as if to check if the antennae from his base form were still there. "We really need to get that fixed."

The former fastbiter paid the duo's hushed conversation no heed, however, as he walked in front of the female rainbowface with anticipation plastered on his features. Much like a young fastbiter who chased his tail and finally caught it, he was regretting his prior choices and was quite ready to put his experience as a rainbowface behind him.

Logos caught the expression on the orange rainbowface's form and let out a smile as she aimed the rock and clicked on an unseen button. And with no witnesses there will be no proof. This could have been far worse.

This uplifting thought was promptly interrupted by the sound of growling.

Time seemed to slow down as two fastbiters suddenly emerged from behind the hapless orange rainbowface, like two imposing sentinels of death. Instead of slashing or biting the orange dinosaur, however, one of the two gave him a curious sniff while the other kept his cold glare firmly fixed on Logos.

Taunt, meanwhile, seemed utterly transfixed by the new arrivals. His beak was opened wide in shock, but no words emerged. Instead all of his focus appeared to be on the sickle claw of the female.

"This one smells like Taunt," the newcomer affirmed as she retained her glare on the orange rainbowface.

Something changed then. Though the fear was still in the orange rainbowface's eyes there was now an odd smirk in his beak. "And you still smell like flyer guts, Breeze."

What happened next was a blur to Logos as the Breeze swerved violently towards the orange rainbowface, unceremoniously slapping Scarflank in the head with her tail as she stood face to face with the newly-minted prey.

"What did you say?" Breeze squawked while Scarflank rubbed his head with an annoyed expression.

"It's me, Breeze!" Taunt affirmed as he pointed at his rainbowface self, "I'm Taunt!"

Scarflank groaned as he rubbed his head. "Taunt is a fastbiter, you crazy rainbowface." His eyes then narrowed, "Wait, this one can talk?"

Taunt shook his head, excitedly. "I was a fastbiter until the magic rock did all of this!"

At this point all focus was on the orange fastbiter.

"A magic rock? Like the one that hit your head?" Scarflank muttered in annoyance.

"No, like the one that blew up all of those boulders!" Taunt squawked as he gestured in the general direction of the destruction behind them. "It looks like these rainbowfaces have a lot of magic rocks. And they all do amazing and awful things!"

The two fastbiters shared a look at the orange rainbowface gestured wildly at himself, and then the aftermath of the massive avalanche behind them, and then in the general direction of Logos and her "magic rock". Maybe it was the absurdity of the situation, or perhaps it was the effect of being shaken up by the rockslide, but the pair of predators slowly began to turn towards Logos with an appraising gaze.

And were immediately bathed in green light before everything went dark.

________________________________________

"An hour-long memory wipe should be good enough, don't you agree, Officer Chronos?"

"Why did you wait so long? I thought that we were goners!"

"Look on the bright side, we still have to report this to Command."

"..."

"..."

"A shame we don't have enough of a charge to wipe ourselves."

________________________________________

Taunt and Stern Claw's sleeping area:

Taunt woke up with a gasp as he shot up to his feet. His three children, who had wisely used their mother's tail for a makeshift pillow, were spared the resulting shock as his tail slammed into the side of their scraped out sleeping area with a dull thud.

Stern Claw growled lightly as she shifted positions without opening her eyes. "The same sleep story, dear?"

Taunt sucked in a deep breath. It was just a sleep story.

"Yeah… are you sure it is just that? It seemed so real…"

Stern Claw used her tail to lightly slap at her mate's foot until he finally relented and laid back down. Then, her tail softly settled back on top of his.

"It's just a dream, dear… Star People or not, if they had really zapped you way back then I doubt they would have only done it twice."

Taunt snorted as he closed his eyes. "Gee… thanks dear."

________________________________________

The Great Valley:

"So that is how we originally got stranded on this planet, children. Fortunately it worked out for everyone. If it wasn't for this then neither of you would have ever happened." Chronos finished with an almost wistful flourish as Logos looked at her two children with a smile.

"So this is why it is very important to maintain the Prime Directive and avoid cultural contamination. Despite our best efforts a simple mistake nearly had disastrous consequences." Logos added.

Their children, meanwhile, looked like clones of one another as they looked upon their parents with matching facial expressions. Both of them had mouths agape as they processed the tale.

"That… that's like fifty-two violations." Datum muttered.

"How… this is a joke, right?" Axiom added.

Chronos and Logos both shared a look as their contemplative story swiftly turned into something else.

"Not a joke, children," Chronos affirmed, "Just a cautionary tale. We were much more reckless back then."

Logos nodded but then put on a very distinct kind of smile. A kind that her children recognized immediately. "And we want all of you to avoid making mistakes like this in the future."

Both of the young rainbowfaces looked at one another before groaning. "Not cavework!"

Chronos lightly chuckled. "Yes, cavework. We want you children to write down all fifty-four violations in our story and see if you can identify how we could have avoided them."

Datum put his beak into his hands, while Axiom crossed her arms in frustration. Despite the obvious displeasure, both of the parents continued to smile at the scene. This made both of the kids hesitantly look up, though neither of them stopped with their act. Finally it was Chronos who gave in.

"Alright, if both of you manage to do this assignment, we will show you the playback of this incident on the Archiver Stone."

Both of the young rainbowfaces dropped the act immediately. "Really?!"

Chronos snorted. "Really. Now get to writing on the rock wall. Let's see what you two come up with."

And with that both kids ran off to the assignment wall with all of the enthusiasm of fastbiters in a hunt.

Logos cocked an eye at him coyly. "Are you sure this won't get the kids ideas?"

Chronos rolled his eyes. "With the friends they have? I am hoping this gives them ideas about what not to do. I am still trying to figure out how a young longneck climbed a tree."

"Probably not as interesting as how she got down," Logos deadpanned.

Chronos gave her a playful shove as they watched both children hurriedly debate with one another over which infractions their parents committed long ago so that they could see the playback firsthand. In their banter and curiosity they both could sense part of themselves in the younger pair.

Logos sighed contentedly. "At least they inherited our good sense."

54
Character Showcase / Hyp, Nod, and Mutt Showcase - November 2020
« on: November 01, 2020, 04:01:53 PM »


Now, now, Alternative Character interpretation Gang... it will be your turn next month.  :bestsharptooth This month belongs to the bullies.

----------------

In this topic please feel free to discuss Hyp, Nod, and Mutt as characters, to share your own creations (fanfics or fanart), or to mention some of your favorite fanworks of others involving them.  For a full set of rules please see the 2020 Monthly Character Showcase topic but keep in mind that this is meant to be fun as opposed to any sort of contest.

I will go ahead and get the discussion started with the following questions:

1.  What do you think about the characterization of Hyp, Nod, and Mutt in the third film? 

2.  What is your opinion of their main antagonist song, "When You're Big"?

55
Saurus Rock: Member Hall of Fame / Fanfiction Voting 2020
« on: October 18, 2020, 05:35:02 PM »
Voting has now begun for the fanfiction awards.  Voting will last from now to November 30 at midnight.

If you wish to vote in private, please send me a PM with your votes. Otherwise, please post your votes in this topic.

This is the voting section for the fanfiction awards only. All fanfictions that have been submitted by your fellow members for voting are listed below. Please only post on this topic to submit your vote, do not ask questions or have discussions here. For questions, please click here and comment on the rules.

You may vote on as many fanfictions as you'd like, but you must have read them first. Please show us in your review that you've truly read the fanfiction.

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Name of fanfiction: A Glider's Long Day
Short summary: In this prelude to the Great Day of the Flyers, we see a small glimpse of who Guido truly is… or at least used to be. After being tricked by false friends into trying something he wasn't ready for, he ends up losing his old life only to find a new one.
Link to fanfiction on the GoF: https://www.gangoffive.net/index.php?topic=16613.0
Author(s): Sovereign
Any other comment:

Name of fanfiction: A Friendship Born of Fear and Courage
Short summary: Shortly after parting with his parents, Chomper's life with his new host family is going far from well. After many setbacks, he decides to make a move that can only be called reckless but that decision also allows him to forge a friendship that'll change his whole life soon enough… This fic is a sequel to the Reluctant Goodbye.
Link to fanfiction on the GoF: https://www.gangoffive.net/index.php?topic=16833.0
Author(s): Sovereign
Any other comment:

Name of fanfiction: Separate Ways
Short summary: An unfortunate misunderstanding sets forth a long chain of events, initiating a desperate search and finally leading to a conclusion no one had would have wanted to happen. What follows is an adventure that leads to many wondrous journeys and fearful nightmares that leave no one unchanged. Follow Ruby and Petrie as they struggle against all the odds to survive the Separate Ways.
Link to fanfiction on the GoF: https://www.gangoffive.net/index.php?topic=15514.160
Author(s): Sovereign
Any other comment: Finally complete.

Name of fanfiction: The Battle Before Time
Short summary: Trained by The Lone Dinosaur, Littlefoot has grown into a legend-worthy warrior. Peek into the epic battles of a young adult Littlefoot, interspersed with childhood training, as he fights his way through The Mysterious Beyond on an equally mysterious quest to save The Land Before Time. Rated K plus for being slightly more violent than most of The Land Before Time series ... except perhaps the original movie.
Link to fanfiction on the GoF: https://www.gangoffive.net/index.php?topic=16984.msg519826#msg519826
Author(s): The Mr E
Any other comment: N/A

Name of fanfiction: Weathered Gorge
Short summary: One crass comment from Gyro was all it took for Petrie to snap. But what continually bugged him afterwards was whether his callous sibling was right after all… was he a failure of a flyer, just like his father? The only way for a troubled Petrie to refute those claims and exonerate himself was to venture to where his father had lost his life… and conquer the deadly Weathered Gorge.
Link to fanfiction on the GoF: https://www.gangoffive.net/index.php?topic=16592.0
Author(s): OwlsCantRead

Name of fanfiction: Snowballed Lies
Short summary: A chance encounter with a wise wanderer enabled a young child's inner propensity to get what he desired by acting in certain ways. But when those tiny lies end up snowballing into an impeccable façade that is constantly being maintained by an increasingly paranoid individual, what happens when it all comes crashing down?
Link to fanfiction on the GoF: https://www.gangoffive.net/index.php?topic=16713.0
Author(s): OwlsCantRead
Any other comment: Companion fic to Five Stages of Grief.

Name of fanfiction: Panicky Plumed Predicament
Short summary: “Chomper, the friendly sharptooth! Heh, how could I forget? Heheheheh… y-you’re still friendly, right?” Coerced into taking care of Tricia for the day, how will the pluckless Guido deal with the struggles of babysitting the infant threehorn, especially when he ends up running into a sharptooth right in the flesh?
Link to fanfiction on the GoF: https://www.gangoffive.net/index.php?topic=16897.0
Author(s): OwlsCantRead

Name of fanfiction: The Tragic Cycle
Short summary: A very difficult read on the tragic chain of events that plagued Petrie's miserable childhood right up until the Great Earth Shake.
Link to fanfiction on the GoF: https://www.gangoffive.net/index.php?topic=16728.0
Author: DiddyKF1
Comment: Story is still in progress.

Name of fanfiction: Lost in Nightmares
Short summary: Continuation for A Grief Observed. Adapting is not always like a walk in the park. For Shorty, it was twice the trouble to make it to the finish line with his innocence intact. But what if the damage has already been done and irreversible? This is the next chapter in the life of a lost soul who found redemption in the most unlikely place and turned over a new leaf as a result.
Link to fanfiction on the GoF: https://www.gangoffive.net/index.php?topic=16919.0
Author: Anagnos
Any other comment: Complete

Name of fanfiction: Our Past and Our Future
Short summary: Adolescence is an awkward time of self discovery as well as physical growth. Chomper seems to experience this the most because of his Sharptooth heritage. But when he and his friends meet an unlikely friends during one of their adventures, things might be turning out for the better. Series of Slice of Life Oneshots related to "Past and Future".
Link to fanfiction on the GoF: https://www.gangoffive.net/index.php?topic=16028.msg468007#msg468007
Author(s): LBTlover247
Any other comment:

Name of fanfiction: A Glimpse Beyond
Short summary: Following the Rainbow Faces' departure, a strange incident brings Littlefoot into the unknown, where someone familiar awaits him.
Link to fanfiction on the GoF: https://www.gangoffive.net/index.php?topic=17014.0
Author(s): RainbowFaceProtege
Any other comment:

Name of fanfiction: Hidden Needs
Short summary: My belated response to the 2019 Summer Prompt Challenge. We all know that Petrie's kind were likely omnivores or carnivores in real life… but what if that was also true in the LBT narrative as well? Write a story where Petrie's "little secret" is revealed to one of his friends or to the gang itself.
Link to fanfiction on the GoF: http://www.gangoffive.net/index.php?topic=16584.msg498416
Author: Rhombus
Any other comment:

56
Character Showcase / Redclaw, Screech, and Thud Showcase - October 2020
« on: October 01, 2020, 01:06:22 PM »



Here's a joke: what's better than one useless sharptooth?

....

Three of them!  :bestsharptooth

----------------

Joking aside, in this topic please feel free to discuss Redclaw, Screech, and Thud as characters, to share your own creations (fanfics or fanart), or to mention some of your favorite fanworks of others involving them.  For a full set of rules please see the 2020 Monthly Character Showcase topic but keep in mind that this is meant to be fun as opposed to any sort of contest.

I will go ahead and get the discussion started with the following questions:

1.  In the series we do not see much about the internal thoughts or motivations of these characters, apart from Thud's actions after Chomper helped him escape from a rockslide.  In that episode Thud led the other two astray so that they did not find the gang.  Do you think the other two members of the trio have a similar sense of "sharptooth honor" as Thud?

2.  Is the trio's lack of success in catching the gang primarily due to incompetence on their part or the trickiness of the gang?

57
Saurus Rock: Member Hall of Fame / Patreon Supporter Recognition 2020
« on: September 21, 2020, 06:45:18 PM »
The award voting continues but we admins wanted to pause and take a moment to recognize those who help to keep this forum going.  As all of you know, the forum has been user-supported since our migration from TapaTalk two years ago.  As such we are entirely dependent on the generous support of fellow members on Patreon to keep the forum up and running.  The continuation of this forum is only possible because of your generous support.

We would like to sincerely thank each and every one of you who has supported the forum since its transition!   :chompysmile As a token of the forum’s gratitude, we invite this year’s Patreon supporters to choose any one of these banners in the following posts from your respective donation class.  With your continued support we have no doubt that this forum will continue for years to come!

58
Saurus Rock: Member Hall of Fame / Award Voting 2020
« on: September 03, 2020, 12:04:00 AM »
Well, we admins just realized that it would be hard to vote without a voting topic.  :facepalm  :bestsharptooth

-------------

Voting for the 2020 Gang of Five Forum Awards has officially begun!  In this topic you may post your votes for those individuals which you feel is most deserving of the awards mentioned in the rules topic.

Just as a reminder, in order to be qualified for any award you will need to vote for at least 5 of the 6 award categories.  If you skip 2 of the main 6 categories then you must vote in the Appreciated Member award in order to win an award yourself. 

With all of that in mind, please keep in mind that the annual forum awards are meant to be a fun event, and a chance to recognize those on the forum who have contributed to making it the welcoming and interesting place that it is.  There are so many deserving candidates, and I will take at least a few days to consider my choices, but feel free to begin voting in this topic whenever you are ready to do so.

A running voting tally will be maintained on this initial post.  Please keep in mind, however, that there will be some delay in when we can get around to updating the totals. We will try to update it daily.


~Fanart Award

Flathead770 - 9
RainbowFaceProtege - 6
jassy - 2

~Feedback Award

Rhombus - 7
Anagnos - 6
Sovereign - 3

~Friendly Member Award

OwlsCantRead - 8
ImpracticalDino - 3
Little Bro - 2
Mumbling - 1
StardustSoldier - 1
Flathead770 - 1
Goldenwind - 1

~LBT Discussion Award

Hypno - 5
OwlsCantRead - 4
RainbowFaceProtege - 3
StardustSoldier - 2
The Lone Dragon - 2

~Helpful Member Award

Mumbling - 10
OwlsCantRead - 4
Rhombus - 2
The Lone Dragon - 1
Flathead770 - 1

~Proactive Award

Vojeds - 18
Nick - 1

59
Character Showcase / Useless Sharptooth Showcase - September 2020
« on: September 01, 2020, 09:35:15 PM »


Oof... well, don't worry.  I'm sure you will get them one day!  :bestsharptooth

----------------

In this topic please feel free to discuss the useless sharptooth from LBT VI as a character, or discuss any other overlooked sharptooth from the series, to share your own creations (fanfics or fanart), or to mention some of your favorite fanworks of others involving them.  For a full set of rules please see the 2020 Monthly Character Showcase topic but keep in mind that this is meant to be fun as opposed to any sort of contest.

I will go ahead and get the discussion started with the following question:

Do you think the useless sharptooth from LBT VI is the ultimate representation of futility in the series, or should another predator/antagonist take that title?


60
Saurus Rock: Member Hall of Fame / Forum Awards 2020 Voting Status
« on: September 01, 2020, 10:48:09 AM »
Good evening, everyone!

It is once again time for the forum awards.  To assist you in keeping track of your voting status, this page will keep track of everyone who has voted in the awards thus far.

Just to clarify how this works I have included a checklist for you to consider.. First, you have to have met the following criteria:

1. Have joined at least two months ago.
2. Have been active within the two months prior to 8/16/2020.
3. Have posted at least 100 times.

Your name below will be highlighted in a particular color depending on the number of posts you have made or if something requires your attention. Here's a key showing what each of the colors mean:

RED means you haven't cast any votes yet.  So you will need to do that soon.

YELLOW means one of two things. Either:
1) You have not cast enough votes to receive any awards; or
2) There is something that you may or may not have done that is preventing you from receiving any awards. Notes will go alongside these issues so you know exactly what is it you need to do to grant you rightful passage to your awards.

GREEN means you're good. Your votes have been counted and all of the other conditions have been met. Any awards that you may have won will be coming your way.

GREY indicates any other conditions that lie outside of your voting status (for example, if you wish to be removed from the voting list or have a particular circumstance that has been discussed with admin exempting you from standard rulings for voting). These will also be accompanied with notes explaining the situation.

***Some extra things to be aware of***

Updates
We are all busy people and from various countries of the world. That being said, updates will be time stamped as and when they occur. So if your status still reads RED when you know you have cast all votes, be patient and you'll find your status marked GREEN in no time.

Skipping Votes
If you plan on skipping a vote for a particular category, please make sure you mention this IN YOUR POST when voting. I will NOT assume that just because you haven't nominated someone for a particular category that you are choosing to skip said category. If you are skipping a category, say that you are skipping that category. Otherwise, you may find that your status may not move off YELLOW despite you thinking that you have made all your nominations.

Also, PLEASE DO NOT EDIT OLD POSTS!!! Editing old posts confuses the process. If you make a mistake or need to make a correction, put it into a new post. Otherwise it can confuse the entire process

REMEMBER - you can only skip a maximum of ONE (1) vote and still remain eligible for an award. If you do skip two categories, you must vote in the Appreciated Member Award in order to remain eligible for your awards. You need a minimum grand total of 5 votes in order to receive awards. So that's either 5 out of 6 main category votes OR 4 main category PLUS a vote for the Appreciated Member category (when voting for the Appreciated Member opens).

Now without further ado, here are the voting statuses. If you have any questions or concerns then please do not hesitate to contact me.

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato)
action9000
Almaron
Anagnos
Belmont2500
brekclub65
Chomper4
chomperrules1993
Dalekdino
DarkHououmon
DarkWolf91
DaveTheAnalyzer
ddmkm122
DiddyKF1 (5/6; fanart award skipped)
Dr. Rex
Enchanted-Valley96
F-14 Ace
f22 raptor ace
Flathead770 (5/6; feedback award skipped)
Goldenwind (5/6; skipped discussion vote)
Hypno (5/6; skipped the Friendly Member vote)
ImpracticalDino (5/6; no vote for LBT discussion award)
jassy
Justin1993
landbeforetimelover
LeventeII
Littlefoot fan 1990
Littlefoot1616
Little Bro (4/6; skipped feedback and fanart; voted in appreciated member)
LoyfeCycleProtector
Ludichris1
Malte279
Mumbling (5/6; feedback skipped)
NewOrder
Nick22 (5/6; skipped fanart award)
OwlsCantRead
Pangaea
pokeplayer984
RainbowFaceProtege (5/6; no vote for friendly member)
rhombus
RockingScorpion
Rocky
Serris
Sleeping forces inside
Sneak (4/6; skipped Friendly member and helpful member; voted in appreciated member)
Sovereign
StardustSoldier
The Anonymous Person
The Chronicler (5/6; skipped helpful member)
The Dark Patriot
The Lone Dragon (4/6; skipped Feedback and discussion awards; voted in appreciated memberr
Threehorn
Tyrannosaur
UnionRags123
Vilstrup
Vojeds (4/6; skipped proactive and LBT discussion awards; voted in appreciated member)
vonboy
Waluigifan
WeirdRaptor
zero-point

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