After Mr. Threehorn left, Pangaea took Guido aside.
“Guido, that was fantastic!” he told him, speaking softly enough to not disturb anyone else present or draw attention to himself and Guido, but making no effort to conceal the pride or enthusiasm in his voice, “You just stood up to Mr. Threehorn to defend somebody you didn’t even know!”
Guido shrugged modestly, his bashful nature clearly showing through. “Well, uh...I–I–I saw you doing the same thing, and wanted to help you,” he replied modestly, “Besides, I was worried about you, ya know? I didn’t want to go back to being one of a kind again.” He gave one of his trademark nervous chuckles, and Pangaea joined in.
“Thanks, Guido,” he said, “You did good.”
Guido nodded, his smile shy but appreciative. “So...uh, you said you were a ëjee...oh...eff’ member, like some of those other guys. What does that mean?”
Pangaea flinched. Now he had done it. In indicating his familiarity with the humans in front of Guido, he had exposed his true identity to him.
“Oh, well,” he sighed, “I guess I couldn’t keep it a secret forever. Guido, I have a confession to make. I’m...not from around here.”
“Well, that’s okay,” Guido replied, “Neither am I. I came from outside the Great Valley, just like you did.”
“No, no, no,” Pangaea said, waving his hands in exasperation of his own inability to come up with the right words, “That’s not what I meant. I’m not from this world at all. It’s like...there’s another universe, where this world is...is...watched by people like meówell, people like them.” He motioned towards the GOF members in the vicinity who were currently in their human forms.
“In our world,” Pangaea continued, “this world is just...like a story. A story you can see. A story in pictures. Ugh...” He sighed. “It’s really, really, REALLY hard to explain. But the thing is, I know all about this world; about everyone in it and everything they’ve done, and I...I love it. I’m obsessed with it. My life practically revolves around it these days. And now I’m actually in it, and it’s like a dream come true. Er...uh...a sleep story come true. A good sleep story come true. Ya get what I’m saying?”
Guido appeared to be dumbfounded. “Uh...wow,” he said after a moment’s hesitation, “I–I–I knew you were weirdóI mean, I thought you were weird, even compared to me, but I had no idea...”
Pangaea held up a hand. “If you don’t believe me, it’s okay. I understand.”
“No, no!” Guido hastily protested, “I–I–I–I believe you, but it’s like...wow! It’s unbelievable! I–I–I mean, I believe it, but it’s hard to believe. It’s–”
“Uh, I get it,” Pangaea interrupted, smiling awkwardly, “Thanks. I’m glad you believe me.”
Guido nodded. He then paused for a moment, looking thoughtful. “So...” he ventured, “does that mean you can turn into one of those weird fuzzy-headed twofooters, like we saw that sharptooth do?”
“Uh...maybe,” Pangaea said. He realized that he had never thought about whether he was capable of changing back to his human form while still in the Land Before Time world, as the other GOF members were apparently capable of doing. “I dunno how it works, exactly. I wasn’t even aware it was possible.”
“Well, now that you do know, are you going to do it?”
Pangaea thought for a moment, then shook his head. “No,” he said, “I–I–I think I’d rather just stay as I am. I like being in this body. I feel more comfortable this way; like I fit in better.”
He grinned at Guido, “Besides, I wouldn’t want you to feel alone, buddy. ëFar as I know, I’m the only one here who’s ended up as a Micro–uh, one of your kind. If I changed, you’d be back to being the only one in the valley again. I figure you’re already disappointed that I’m not really another one of your kind.”
“That’s...very nice of you,” Guido said sincerely.
Pangaea shrugged. “Ah, don’t mention it,” he grinned. “Ya know, it’s kinda funny...of all the dinosaurs here, you’re the most like me.” He paused. “...Not just in being the same species, I meanósorry; same kind. I mean, you’re the most like me in personality; you act the most like me. You’re–“ Pangaea stopped, and unsuccessfully stifled a laugh. “See what I mean? I even talk just like you!”
“Heh-heh, yeah!” Guido chortled. “So, what do you want to do now?”
