The Pebble and the Penguin AU Crossover CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER ONE : A PRAYER HARKED

Hubbie was positively miserable. No matter how hard he tried, he failed. The sun was gone and stars were beginning to appear in the sky. It was too late to continue his search, the beach was picked-clean of the best engagement stones. And the hostile other penguins who were searching and digging for these today all cruelly stole his pebble, everytime the shy penguin found one. Hubbie even remembered a stronger (but not as strong as Drake) penguin challenging him, saying ‘’You want your stone? Then, come and get it!’’. He, of course, tried to charge towards it, but the other penguin sent him sliding into a pile of snow, to everyone’s hilarity. After that, the poor Hubbie no longer dared to fight when his pebbles were stolen, for fear of further embarassment.

Hubbie heaved a deep sight and settle himself more comfortably where he was sitting. It was truly hopeless. What good was left in that lucky plunge that happened a few days, ago, the very plunge which made him talk to his secret love for the very first time? How could she care for him? He was, after all, as she had put : ‘’a bit wacky’’.  

It was then that his attention shifted towards the sky. Especially towards one star much brighter and more grand than all the other. A memory came back to his mind…

(Flashback)

‘’ Mommy, look! This star is so big!’’

A tall, female penguin with short black hair, violet eyes and a long, yellow scarf around her neck chuckled warmly. Her little son dragged her out of her igloo and pointed towards one, big, beautiful star.

‘’This is no ordinary star, Hubbie. It’s a wishing star.’’

‘’A wishing star?’’, the little penguin boy repeated incredulously,

‘’Yes. It only appears on some nights. When it does, it’s the most beautiful of them all. And if you heart is in your dreams, no request is too extreme.’’

‘’You…you mean that if I make a wish, this star will make my dream come true?’’

‘’Of course, sweetheart. But you must say the magic words, first.’’

‘’What magic words, mommy?’’

‘’Starlight, star bright, first star I see tonight, wish I may, wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight.’’

‘’Wow. Do you think I can wish for not stuttering, anymore?’’, even as a little chick, he would always stutter around people, safe from his mother.

‘’You sure can.’’

‘’Starlight, star bright…First star I see, tonight…hum?’’

‘’Wish I may wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight.’’, her mother helped him finish.

‘’I wish to never stutter, again!’’

(End of Hubbie’s Flashback)

(THAT SAME NIGHT, HUBBIE’S MOTHER POV)

Later on, Hubbie’s mother sat on a tall hill, a sleeping chick in her arms. This hill was so peaceful, but also so full of memories…She remembered how her husband courted her up here…promised her to be by her side…but left so soon.

(Flashback within a flashback)

‘’Why can’t you bear me sons or daughters!’’

‘’Dear, please, it’s not my fault, we tried everything!’’

‘’You should have a growing belly by now!’’

‘’I know! I don’t understand…’’, the female penguin sank to the ground and began to cry.

The other tall, male penguin remained silent for a long moment…then…

‘’…I guess you were destined for bannishment, anyway…’’, that was the last thing she would ever hear from him. He began walking away from their igloo…

‘’What? No, please, don’t go…We’ll try again, tonight and it’ll work! Please, dear! No! No!! NOOO!!! DON’T LEAVE ME ALONE!’’,  she collapsed on the ground and bawl in despair…

‘’Don’t go…’’

(End of her flashback)

By now, she was sniffing and a tear rolled down her face. Hubbie would never have a male mentor. She looked down at her little miracle. Hubbie didn’t know it, but he had shocked the entire rookery when he was born. His father was lost since a long time, back then. The other penguin women had asked her mom just how could she possibly have a chick without a husband. She had always answered that she didn’t know, but deep down, she knew.

The wishing star  had pity, no, great compassion upon her…

(BACK TO HUBBIE IN THE PRESENT)

Hubbie joined his two flippers in prayer…He was still stuttering as an adult. But perhaps, this time…

‘’Starlight, star bright, first star I see tonight…’’, he then closed his eyes, ‘’Wish I may, wish I might, have the wish I wish, tonight…’’

For the first time, since earlier in the morning, before the pebble hunt started, he felt hopeful…

(MEANWHILE, IN A DIFFERENT DIMENSION)

A tall, fair lady stood in front of some kind of metaphysical mirror to the outside world. Thick, shoulder-lenght blond hair graced her soft, angelic countenance. She wore a sparkling, almost transparent, very light blue dress with long, flowing sleeves. A blue, darker headband and ethereal wings completed her radiating magnificence.

She was presently looking through her magic ‘’mirror’’ that allowed to hear and see the earthlings praying for her help. Tonight, her attention fell on a familiar face…

‘’Hubbie…Goodness, how you have grown. And you have done your mother so much honnor. I have harked your prayer.’’

She gracefully spun around and walked forward…before dissapearing in a mist of glowing white rings…