I had decided to write this short story for the 20th anniversary of The Pebble and the Penguin.
Hubie and Marina's Anniversary
It was a sunny day at the rookery. It has been a year since Hubie returned home to fight Drake and save Marina. His bravery proved that nothing can stand in the way of true love.
Hubie and Rocko sat by the iceberg on the edge of the rookery.
"Hey, Rocko," said Hubie, "what do you feel like doing?"
"Hubie, have you forgotten that it's your anniversary with Marina?" Rocko asked.
Hubie suddenly remembered. "Oh, yeah. It's been a year since Marina and I became mates. But I don't know what to do with her."
"Why don't you take her out for ice skating?"
Hubie realizes that ice skating would be perfect. "Not a bad idea. Thanks, Rocko."
"I just thought I'd return the favor since you and I became friends, bird brain."
Hubie stood up. "I'll go talk to her right now. Wanna come?"
The two waddled away from the edge to meet Marina at the tail of the rookery.
"Marina!" Hubie called out.
Marina smiled to hear Hubie calling out for her, and she turned to see him. "Hubie!" she said. "Good to see you here."
"Me too, Marina. I almost forgot that it's our anniversary, so I decided we should do something."
"I'm glad you remembered, Hubie."
"You, uh, you wanna do some ice skating?"
Marina smiled. "Ice skating would be wonderful."
"I'll be there watching you two," Rocko said.
Eventually, the trio arrived at the center of the rookery, where penguins were seen ice skating with their mates.
"Goodness glaciers, look at this," Hubie said.
"Oh, it looks beautiful," said Marina.
"You wanna skate?"
"I'd love it."
Hubie and Marina took each other's hands and skated. Rocko stood in the snow, watching.
"Hey, Rocko, I hate to say this, but did you really have a girl penguin?" Hubie asked, after he and Marina finished skating.
Rocko sighed. "Hubie, to tell you the truth, I once had a girl before I was taken away. Sometimes I felt it was the last I saw of her."
"Really? Why didn't you tell me back at the beach?"
"It wasn't your concern."
"But Rocko, that's what friends do. Tell each other."
"Rocko?" a voice said.
Rocko gasped, and he looked to see a girl penguin. "Mira?" he asked.
Hubie saw the girl. "Oh, is that her?" he said.
"It's been a while," said Mira. "You look good."
Rocko smiled. "You too!" he said. "Oh, I'm so sorry I disappeared so suddenly."
Mira hugged Rocko. "It's okay, Rocko. I never forgot you."
"Mira, I want you to meet my friend Hubie and his mate Marina. Hubie, Marina, this is Mira."
"Nice to meet you," Mira said.
"Glad to meet you," said Marina.
Rocko then cleared his throat. "Mira, I got something to say," he said.
"Yes?" Mira asked.
"Mira, will you be my mate after the skating?"
Mira gasped in joy, and she hugged Rocko. "I thought you would never ask."
Hubie smiled. "True love conquers all," he said.
"You said it," said Marina. "Wanna do some more skating?"
"I will."
The two couples ice skate off to their happily ever after, and their lives just couldn't be any more happy than ever on the rookery in Antarctica.
