(I'm glad you bring some old discussions back to life, this is the kind of activity that I'm missing a bit lately, since most activity is in the off-topic forums these days... and I don't really have enough time to go back at some older topics to revive them...)
Let's see... I have thought a lot about Shorty due to the fact that he's the main character in one of my fanfictions (Shorty's Dark Past)
(Aside headcanon: Shorty’s parents got crushed to death in a rockslide. I know that seems random, but I like to have some variety in my Land Before Time parent deaths)
It's pretty mysterious. We don't know anything about Shorty's past and how he ended up with Bron in the first place (other than that he ran into Bron eventually all alone with a bunch of hatchlings). I have many possible explanations as for why and how he might have lost his parents. In my story, I've assumed one of the most unusual ones. Shorty has a really bad father who is violent and thinks of his children as something that belongs to him. (Also, he views females as inferior and only useful to produce off-spring). Shorty eventually realised how bad he is after seeing him kill a young mother who he forced to have offspring with after said female refused to give him the babies (now guess where the hatchlings come from ^^)
But, anyway, I could imagine just as well that his parents died some way or another or even left him behind because he was the runt of the litter or... whatever. There are so many possibilities
Shorty’s feelings about Bron are probably complex. Bron was likely the one who looked after him the most since their meeting and especially when it seemed like Shorty wasn’t going to fit in with any of the herd family. It probably didn’t occur to Bron for a while that his relationship with Shorty was anything more than “Good Samaritan looking after the neighborhood kid.” Shorty didn’t get the nerve to ask for something more in fear of rejection and to least keep the one positive adult relationship he seems to have. When Bron broached the subject of adopting him after their meeting with Littlefoot, Shorty was probably lost for words. After he accepted, he likely felt like he was walking on air and stuck especially close to Bron for weeks afterwards.
I agree, their relationship is complex and difficult to grasp from what little interaction we see in LBT 10. To me, it seemed like Shorty was a member of his herd who didn't have any parents to look after him formally. However, Bron kinda took on this job whenever it was necessary, however not formally adopting him (which he only did after the events of LBT 10 as seen towards the end of the movie.
It's difficult to say how Shorty or Bron felt about it to be honest. I just don't know how Shorty would think about these matters based upon LBT 10. All we know is that Shorty assumed to be something special to Bron before Littlefoot entered the stage light. Their relationship seems to me like a (as you put it nicely) “Good Samaritan looking after the neighborhood kid.” - relationship too, a close relationship but without the love that a (foster) parent would display. More like a relationship you'd build up to the friendly neighbor next door who'll look after you when your parents are busy.
As for why Shorty didn't get adopted by any other Longneck of the herd... I just don't know. I don't know how much of a jerk he already was back then but it might have played a role. If he already acted like a bully back then, maybe nobody wanted to take him in therefore?
I can definitely see their relationship growing and strengthening after he gets formally adopted by Bron. I don't think Shorty would be the kind of guy who'd be too happy about being constantly fussed over but he'd probably enjoy the occasional display of affection by Bron - and if it's just a quick nuzzle
Though I can’t help but suspect Shorty get embarrassed when Bron attempts to act Dad-like. Bron probably plays goofily like he played with Littlefoot in the “Isn’t it great to have a Dad” sequence. When Bron does that with Shorty and/or the other kids, Shorty’s probably like “Stahp. You’re embarrassing, I want to crawl into a hole and never come out.” He might say that a lot under his breath or out loud but when someone teases or badmouths Bron, Shorty is the type who’ll quickly jump in to defend him. Though Shorty might at times wish Bron stop doing silly things, he also sometimes enjoys and values it.
Yeah, I completely have to agree with you there. I don't see Shorty as somebody who likes being silly. Unlike Littlefoot, he appears to be more serious and mature in that regard. He seems to be the brave type though and he clearly loves to fight so he'd jump into a fight anytime I'd assume
He'd be that protective type of boyfriend if he finds a gf one day
Shorty’s feelings about Littlefoot are also complex. He probably feels he owes Littlefoot a huge debt for bringing him and Bron closer together and bares some genuine affection for the mushy but loyal youth he can now call a brother. However, Shorty still bears some envy for Littlefoot. He likely hears about the extraordinary things Littlefoot has done from either Bron or Littlefoot’s grandparents and friends. Compared to saving people and changing minds, Shorty probably feels a bit dull and ordinary by comparison. I mean, if any of my brothers saved lives and changed minds and my family praised them, I would feel some envy too. Despite assurances from Bron and others he doesn’t have to be like Littlefoot and will find his own worth someday, that insecurity still gets to him and he tries to do things to show he’s amazing too.
In terms of pride, Shorty is quite like Cera, trying to do great things that people admire you for and being respected for who you are. Littlefoot has done some amazing things (killing a Sharptooth like... wtf
) and what has Shorty done? Trying to be a bad guy, bullying all the herd's little kids around (at least that's how I'm interpreting his behavior in LBT 10) and being an annoying little brat with no friends but nothing nearly that great. Yeah, he would show some envy.
At first he despised Littlefoot of course (honestly, I would have loved to see a proper fight
) but that eventually changed when Littlefoot explained to him that he still matters to Bron and offered him to be brothers. I think it's safe to say that Shorty is, overall, happy about having him as a brother and I could imagine a fun time when they eventually go on an adventure together (who would be leader? ^^)
To gel Shorty being able to watch after those younger longnecks before meeting Bron with his mucking things up in his TV appearance, I can chalk that up to the problem of trying to consciously do things that are instinctual. I mean, for example, I don’t think about whether my story dialogue is breaking the “show, don’t tell” route. I just think about whether it sounds natural and in-character. When I did think about it more for a script writing class, my dialogue only became more clunky. So that might be the issue with Shorty here.
I can relate to your writing analogy there. I, too, just write what sounds right to me. I don't plan ahead dialogues, I just let them write themselves in many cases.
I think Shorty is a good leader when he has to, when there's pressure and stress. He was probably too young to know much about leadership at the time so it can really only ruled down to his leadership being mostly instinctual or he just did the right things at the right time by accident, getting lucky to survive so long. Or maybe he's only been wandering around for a few days before Bron found him? We just don't know. In my story, I'm presuming he's been wandering around for a few weeks.
Though when he has better self-esteem, I think Shorty would be a good brother to Littlefoot. He’d be the type to tease Littlefoot and give him a headlock and noogie. He’s kind of a mischief maker. If he decides to team up with Cera and Hyp to tease or prank Littlefoot, I’d feel a bit sorry for Littlefoot (Then again, Littlefoot might enjoy what they have in mind). Shorty might feel out of place in a family with even keel temperaments, but I’m sure he’ll be reassured his passion and mischief bring some good energy into their lives.
If I think about Bron and Shorty migrating to the Great Valley permanently, living with Littlefoot and his Grandparents, I can totally see things like these happen
Shorty may not be the silly type to goof around but he sure is mischievous and, I assume, quite a prankster indeed. I think Littlefoot's Grandparents would also grow fond of him soon
I would like to see Shorty and Spike interact more. Their being adopted brothers (and green) does give them the beginning blocks of a friendship. Shorty could be reassured by Spike whenever the former has insecurities over his place in Littlefoot’s family. He could laugh and be encouraged by Spike and his cheery defiance of social convention. Spike could be amused by Shorty’s jokes or mischief. I think their friendship would be pretty cute.
Interesting, I've never thought about it this way. Shorty would probably get along with Cera best out of the Gang (not counting Littlefoot of course) since they're quite similar in many aspects (which may cause tension as well though) but Spike could be another good friend of his for the reasons that you mentioned.
As for where he was during Journey of the Brave…I have a headcanon where he ate a funny mushroom on a dare and has been carried by a herd member sort of off screen. He’s high and loopy during the entire volcano incident, and doesn’t completely grasp the situation around him. He gets deposited into the care of Tria, who knows how to cure his ailment. He only gets his senses back and learns of what happened when Littlefoot and the entire rescue party return to the valley. Needless to say, Shorty’s confused and annoyed about what happened (If he hears Wild Arms is the cause of Bron being in peril, I can practically picture the glare he’ll give him).
Sounds a bit too unlikely to me but, hey, it's totally fine if this it what you think
Personally, I'd say he was either forgotten or didn't have a big impact on the plot so they left him out. Though, if you ask me, they'd better have replaced this terrible Wild Arms guy with Shorty who'd deliver the message of Bron's situation
Ugh, that took a while to write, I'm not used to it anymore haha
