Author's Note: I really don't know what to say right now.. For an Author's Note, I mean...This story deserves to be continued. At least, that's the way most people saw it.. So, here's chapter 7! Hope you enjoy...
Oh yeah...The song used is, "Save Him" By: Justin Nozuka..You'll see what I'm talking about later on.
Tears glazed in the amber eyes Skipper brung his attention to. He couldn't help the smile that brightened his face. Slowly, he waddled to Marlene and held her gently.
His heart skipped a beat, as her arms wound around him fiercely. Their embrace tightened as Marlene's body shuddered uncontrollably. Skipper comforted her in the only way he knew how. Stroking her fur and rocking her back and forth.
"It's over now. The boys and I will set up a nice, long, inescapable trip for him...far away from here...Shh...It's fine...Everything's going to be OK...We're together now...Shh..." Skipper pulled back slightly and Marlene quickly covered her eyes.
What could she do to ever repay him? He saved her life...Well, he had done that numerous times before...But this was more serious..and meant more to her...He saved her spiritually too.
She tried to speak, but all that escaped was a gasped breath. Skipper placed his flippers carefully over top her paws, and took them away from her face.
He said nothing to her; Just held her paws and looked lovingly into her eyes.
For the first time, a smile..Not a flashy, fake smile...A real, true, genuine smile...graced her lips. "T-Thank y-you, S-Ski-Skipper...You...Y-you are w-what I nev-never thought I h-had...All th-this time...While I w-wall-wallowed in self-p-pity..." She took a deep breath, and spoke without a stutter.
"...Hiding behind my scars...Time and time again, you healed me...You brought life meaning to which I had none before...I want to thank you for that...But I could never be able to thank you enough...It's unbelievable...This...All of it..It's all a fairy tale...The one I dreamt of every night...The one thing I wished for upon that great evening star...Skipper...You turned out to be... Exactly...what I wished for...Every detail...Every...Well, everything!" Skipper remained silent, his heart growing for her with each words that left her beautiful lips.
"Oh, Skipper...Why is it...that only now I know that I have a hero?...Only now..that I know I have a knight?...A brave prince...All those stories my mother told me as a child...When she wasn't beaten, I mean..." At those words she winced. Skipper wanted to question her, but Marlene pressed on. Not giving him the chance.
"...All the stories about...Finding true love, and a knight in shining armor that would save me...Oh, Skipper...I was forced to believe that nothing would become of me...That no one would care for me. For who could love such a hideous, useless, little brat..." Tears formed, once again, in her eyes.
Skipper hated seeing her like this. Broken down, or close to it. It weakened all his defenses, and plucked , coldly, at the hardened strings of his heart. If only she could see what power she had over him.
Marlene could barely stand to say more, but took the risk of gazing at Skipper. Watching the waves in his eyes, frolic and roll of each other. She felt so connected to him, that she swore a salty, cold breeze had wrapped around her.
Skipper was having just about the same reaction. Staring into eyes of hazel gems that never ceased to glow and captivate him. He watched the glimmering, blazing colors of autumn begin to form on the trees, as a slight wind picked up speed.
Neither of them could believe what they saw, but felt it thoroughly. This is real...Thought Marlene.Oh, if Mother could meet him...She'd be so proud..." Mustering up the courage to continue her mini-monologue with Skipper, she opened her mouth.
"Skipper...I love you beyond all comparison...There are a million reasons why I shouldn't...Yet, there are a billion reasons why I should...And, why I do. You are..my knight...my prince...my military man..." Her tone turned playful at that last word, and they both giggled. "...My love...You are my everything. Thank you...Thank you, thank you, thank you."
She reached up, and cupped his face in her palms, before giving an emotional kiss to his lips. Skipper stared in shock, now he was the one melting in her arms.
Marlene could feel him losing strength, and found it surprisingly difficult to support the small penguin. Skipper looked big, but it was all muscle.
As she reluctantly pulled away, Marlene found herself confused..and lost. What was she supposed to do now?What could she do now? There's no way she could just return to her regular, routine life. Marlene covered her eyes and cried again, as memories of her mother came to mind.
Skipper's nonexistent brows furrowed gravely. This was hurting him much more than Antonio had. The tears that slid down her face, drowned him in a sea of sorrow and depression.
He walked back up to her, only to be rejected. "Skipper, I'll...I'll be fine..." Marlene had turned away from him; The shadows of the room, engulfing her and leaving only her eyes visible. Skipper was afraid of this.
Suddenly, her eyes shot open with fury and deep-setted depression. "I know what I have to do now...I have to save her...I have...to save him...". She knew this would confuse Skipper, and make him question her.
As his flipper made contact with her fur, she faced him again. "Come with me..." She began walking towards the HQ's exit after dragging Antonio's body to a closet, and making sure there were no possible means of escape.
By this time, Skipper was completely speechless and could only follow his not-so innocent otter to her habitat.
Wringing her paws and biting her lower lip, Marlene grew nervous. What should she tell him? How much should she tell him? What if..what if...What if she stopped guessing and hiding...What if she finally told someone...everything...And let out all the bottled emotions...?
Marlene sighed deeply, and sat down on her concrete bed. Skipper watched her worriedly, as she patted the seat beside her.
Skipper waddled over and sat down next to her. Marlene let out a deep breath of air, before starting with, "I have many secrets. True, I've hid them well over the years. But, you...And Antonio...You both brought back my memories of pain and suffering and..day-to-day, 24/7 torture." Skipper stared at her in confusion...But also in understanding.
And, so began an interesting conversation, that would change both of their lives...forever.
Author's Note: So, how did you like it? Since you wanted it to be continued, I've made this chapter, and another one. Perhaps, after the next one, you'll want it to end...It all depends on you! Review please!