NIGHTMARES AND MIRACLES

A FANFICTION STORYON THE PENUINS OF MADAGASCAR

CHAPTER 1

It was a dark and freezing night. All of the animals in the zoo were sound asleep with dreams filled with joy and fun. All except Skipper. Skipper was having a nightmare.

This was no ordinary nightmare. No, this wasn't about being chased by monsters or eaten by dragons. This nightmare was about death and torture. It was the same nightmare he always had.

It was 3:00am when Skipper woke up gasping for breath. He sat up looking around to make sure he wasn't still dreaming. He sighed when he realized that the nightmare was over. It was a sigh of relief.

He needed a breath of fresh air. The clock tower. He thought. It was an ideal spot to breathe some fresh air. He decided to go.

He got up and walked to the roof latch ladder. He climbed halfway up and looked down at his sleeping friends. At least they're sleeping soundly. He thought. He continued up the ladder and out the latch door. The door squeaked closed. Btu he didn't give it much thought. He didn't want to wake his friends. They were sleeping, peacefully.

Kowalski, Rico, and Private were light sleepers, so the squeaking door woke them up.

"Is that you Rico?" Private asked still half asleep.

"Uh uh." Rico replied, hopping down from his bunk. "Skipper." He croaked.

Private and Kowalski hopped down from their bunks.

"Skippah?" Private asked "What is he doing up at this time?"

They were all curious to why Skipper was up at 3:00. They knew that Skipper was

an early riser. But 3:00 was early even for him. He usually woke up at 6 and woke them up 30 minutes later. So why was he up?

They climbed up the ladder and out of the latch door. Skipper wasn't there. Skipper wasn't in the habitat.

They looked around the habitat. They couldn't find him.

Kowalski thought he saw something on the clock tower. "Is that him?" he asked pointing one flipper at the clock tower.

Private squinted at the tower, "I don't know. It might be." Private was hoping it was. He didn't feel like looking for Skipper at 3:00 in the morning.

"Let's check it out." Kowalski suggested. He was curious. Why would Skipper be up at the zoo clock tower?

They made their way to the clock tower in silence. They got there 10 minutes later. It wasn't hard for them to climb up the tower. They had done it a thousand times before. When they got to the top they saw what they hoped to see. Skipper.

He sensed their presence. "I had hoped that I wouldn't wake you." He said softly. He was still thinking about his nightmare. It was the same one. When he had a nightmare it was always that one. It startled and frustrated him every time he had it. Because it wasn't a bad dream. It was part of his past. A terrible part of his past. He wanted to forget it but he never could. Maybe if I told someone. Skipper thought. Then maybe I could forget. But he didn't know who to tell. He didn't know who he could trust with his worst secret.

He had been so lost with his thoughts that he forgot that Kowalski, Private, and Rico were behind him.

"Don't worry about it." Private said in his happy go lucky voice.

Kowalski had sensed distress in Skippers voice. Out of concern for his friend he asked Skipper if he was ok.

There was no reply.

"Skipper?" Kowalski asked. "Skipper, are you ok?" The silence concerned Kowalski. Skipper usually gave some sort of reply

Skipper was sitting on the edge of the tower looking out to the city.

Kowalski, Rico and Private walked over and sat next to Skipper. He looked upset.

"Skipper? Skipper snap out of it!" Private shouted. He began to worry about Skipper. He spaced out before, but not this bad. They waited a few more minutes, hoping Skipper would snap out of it on his own. When he didn't they began to worry.

After a few minutes of unsuccessfully trying to wake Skipper, Rico had had enough. He got up lifted Kowalski out of his way, because Kowalski was sitting between him and Skipper. Then he lifted Skipper up and put him down so that he was standing facing Rico. Private stood up. He was unsure about what Rico was about to do. Rico stared at skipper for a few seconds. That's all he needed to do. He could tell Skipper was in a fog. He was staring straight at Rico. But Rico knew that Skipper didn't really see him.

Skipper was still in his own world. Thinking about what would help him get rid of this evil memory. He wanted to have a normal nightmare when he had one. Not one of his terrifying past. All the time. He was thinking about all of the possible people he could tell when his cheek started to sting him. Then the other one. Then he felt someone shaking him but he still wouldn't snap out of it. He couldn't stop thinking long enough to wake up.

Rico slapped him again. And again. And again.

"RICO!" Private shouted. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" Private didn't understand why Rico was slapping Skipper. He was confused and concerned at the same time. Two motions that didn't mix well for private.

Kowalski saw the panic written all over privates face. "Don't worry Private." He said confidently, "Rico's just trying to wake skipper up."

"He looks awake to me." Private was still very confused. Why would you try to wake someone who is already awake?

"Private." Kowalski almost laughed. Skipper was right, Private was so naive at times "Skipper seems to be spaced out. Rico is just trying to snap him out of it. Don't you see?" Kowalski put one flipper on private's shoulder, "Rico is bringing Skipper back to reality." Kowalski smiled at private, who still had a confused look on his face.

"But if Skippers not here in reality, then where is he?" Private still confused. How would slapping help?

Kowalski saw that Private still didn't understand. He sighed. "Well Private, Skipper is spaced out. His body is here but his mind is somewhere else." Kowalski hoped that Private understood. He didn't know how else to put it. Skipper was some were else. That's it plain and simple. But that didn't explain why.

Rico was still slapping Skipper. It wasn't doing anything really.

Then, it started raining.

"Perfect." Kowalski sighed "Just great."

Rico had a wild smile on his face. Water. It would make the slap a lot more effective. In a last effort to wake his buddy Rico lifted his flipper high above his head, and brought it down across Skippers face with a WACK! The hit was so loud that it startled Private, and Kowalski.

Private and Kowalski looked over at Rico. Skipper was on the floor rubbing his cheek. His eyes were tightly shut.

Private walked over to them with Kowalski.

"S-Skipper? Are you ok?" Private asked.

He stopped and looked up at private with a look that said, do I look ok to you?

"We'll take that as a no." Kowalski stated. It began to rain harder. Skipper just sat there in the rain rubbing his cheek. It wasn't long before he noticed the rain.

"When did it start to rain?" He asked, standing up. His cheeks were beat red. He was still rubbing the one that Rico slapped the hardest, but he didn't seem to realize his other cheek was slapped as well. He looked confuse.

"It started raining approximately 30 minutes ago." Kowalski informed.

"RICO!" Skipper called.

Rico walked up slowly. He gave a nervous "he he," before stopping next to Skipper.

Skipper knew Rico was waiting for something bad to happen. His smug little grin came across Skippers face. He was deciding on whether to thank Rico, or slap him silly.

He decided on the second choice. "I wanted to thank you Rico." Skipper said calmly.

"Weawry?" Rico asked confused.

Private and Kowalski were also confused. Relieved but confused. They didn't think Skipper would thank Rico for slapping him back to reality. But they did expect Skipper to slap Rico.

"Yes," skipper stated, "I wanted to. Then I changed my mind." He turned to Rico and slapped him so hard it spun Rico around before making him fall to the ground.

"Of course." Kowalski knew it was coming. But he didn't know Skipper was going to slap Rico that hard.

Rico got back up. Skipper walked back towards the edge of the tower again. It was the memory that put him on edge. He didn't mean to slap Rico that hard. He realized then that his other cheek stung too. I should thank him. Skipper told himself. He was thankful to be back in reality. He was.

The rain felt good against Skippers feathers. It felt like a massage. All he wanted to do was stand there all night. Then the question came back. Why? Why won't this memory leave me alone? Why can't I just forget? Now I have to tell them. It's the only way I can explain my mood. The depressing mood that this awful memory gives me. He sighed. He hated the mood he was in. it put him on edge. He knew that he would have to tell them now. He always knew he would have to tell them someday. But he wasn't ready to tell them. How could he? How could they relate? They didn't have close to as many problems that Skippers past held. But he had to make himself ready to tell them. They had to know. But how would the react? How would they react to the overwhelming sadness that he knew telling the nightmare would bring? They never saw him like that before. Was he really ready to let them see him cry now? Would they even understand his tears? Would they even try? Of course they would. They were his friends. They always tried to understand. It was Skipper himself who was preventing them from understanding him. No. No more holding back. Tell the whole story! They'll understand. They have to. They just have to. He was arguing with himself. He was going to tell them. He was going to tell them the nightmare. The whole nightmare. But when? Would he be ready to tell them when he had to?

They walked back to the HQ in silence. Skipper was trying to figure out how to tell them.

They were worried about him. He seemed lost again. But they left him alone. Whatever it was that was bothering him could wait until morning. They were all tired. It took them nearly an hour to get Skipper to go back to the HQ. He was tired too, but he was thinking about something. They didn't know what, but he seemed upset. They would have to wait until they woke up later to find out what was making him so upset.

Skipper did fall asleep. But he had the nightmare again. He woke up at 6:30 this time. He looked at the clock. 30 minutes late. He went to wake up the others but they weren't there. Skipper looked around confused. Then he decided to go up out the latch door and see if they were on top of the HQ. They were.

The rain had stopped sometime between then and now. But the clouds were still there.

"There you are." Skipper said, blankly.

Private turned around right away. So did Rico. Kowalski turned around a few seconds later.

"Oh good morning Skipper!" Private said cheerfully.

"What was the matter with you last night?" Kowalski asked. He was in a less pleasant mood, "you seemed… distracted."

"It was nothing." Skipper retorted. He wanted to tell them but something was holding him back. Fear he decided. Fear was holding him back. The fear of being misunderstood. But the tone in his voice gave him away. Something was obviously wrong. Skipper had hoped that they would leave him alone. The fact that they didn't irritated him. It usually wouldn't. But for some unknown reason it bothered him this time.

"I think something was wrong. And it still is." Kowalski pressed. He wanted to know why Skipper was acting so weird. Why Skipper was acting so… secretive. He was hiding something and Kowalski knew it.

"I said nothing is wrong." Skipper growled. He was irritated. He wasn't ready to tell them. And he didn't want to.

"Are you sure about that Skippah?" Private asked with his innocent voice. "You seem distraught. Are you sure there's nothing bothering you?"

"I said I'm fine! What part of nothing's wrong don't you understand!" Skipper shouted. He was trying his best to make them leave him alone. But it was no use. They just simply cared too much. At least they care. Skipper thought trying to calm himself.

"Skipper, something is wrong. And you know it." Kowalski said in a harsh tone "We just want to help." he said softly. "And we can't do that if you don't tell us what's wrong with you."

"Well I can't tell you what's wrong, because I'm fine." Skipper tried to keep his voice calm. He wasn't doing too well. His voice was mostly calm, but it had hints of fear and sadness. The fear came from Skipper not wanting to tell them about his nightmare. The sadness came from the nightmare itself.

"Uh uh." Rico grunted. He didn't believe Skipper. Something was obviously wrong. It was written all over Skippers face. Skipper looked distraught. He looked upset.

"Skipper, Is, there, something, Wrong?" Kowalski paused shortly between each word giving the question a demanding, yet caring tone.

"uh, eh-y-n-uh-" Skipper stammered. Kowalski sounded like a parent. Harsh but loving. He knew that they weren't going to give up. It has to come out sometime right? He told himself. Why not now?

"Well?" Private asked, waiting for the answer.

"Yes." Skipper sighed. "There. Are you happy now? Something's bothering me so what?" Skipper was irritated. They couldn't help him. He didn't want to give them his nightmare. You can't always do what you want. Or what you don't want. Sipper was trying to prevent himself from blowing up at them. Because it really wasn't their fault. They just care too much.

"So what?" Kowalski said in shock. "so what? So we're going to make it stop bothering you." Kowalski said with confidence. I guess Skipper needs to vent sometimes too. I mean with all the things he does. People give him their problems but he keeps his to himself. Most of the time. But what could be bothering him? Nothing bad has really happened in a few days now.

Skipper turned around and jumped back into the HQ. The others followed him. The last one in closed the latch door. If he was going to tell them, he wasn't going to tell them while they were out in the open. But he wasn't sure if he was ready yet.

"so?" Private asked. Skipper had told them that something was bothering him. Now he had to tell them what that something was. And Private had a feeling that it wasn't anything good. Of course it's not good. Private told himself. If it was something good Skipper wouldn't seem so stressed.

"So, what?" Skipper really didn't want to tell them.

"Skipper you're not going to do this all day are you?" Kowalski asked. He didn't want to play 20 questions. And his voice said it all.

"just tell us what's bothering you!"Private almost shouted. "Get it done and over with!" Private was the irritated one now. What could possibly be this bad!

"It's not that simple Private. I wish it was but it's not." Skipper said softly, and sadly.

Privates mood went from agitated to concerned. Skipper seemed to be getting worse.

"Eh not?" Rico croaked

"No Rico it's not" Skipper sounded depressed. He sat down. The others sat down next to him.

"Well, tell us Skipper. There's no use holding back now." Kowalski informed.

"It's the nightmare." Skipper explained. You started it now. No turning back. Tell them the whole story this time. No more fragments! Tell them the truth. The whole truth! Skipper was tired of telling them lies to cover up the horrible truth. He told himself what his mother always told him. The truth hurts. This truth was going to hurt him. This nightmare always did.

"What?" Private asked.

"The nightmare." Skipper said a little louder than before. "It's the same one every time."

"What nightmare? What are you talking about?" Kowalski asked. He was confused. Terribly, terribly confused. I have a feeling this venting is going to take a while.

Skipper stayed silent. He just looked down at the floor he was sitting on.

"Skipper?" Kowalski asked concerned.

Skipper looked up at him. He had the look of despair n his face. Then he looked back down.

"Skipper can we not play 20 questions?" Kowalski asked. He was tired of constantly asking Skipper to reply. "Why don't you just tell us? You'll probably be glad you did."

"The nightmare." Skipper said again. "It's that terrible nightmare."

"Skipper it was just a dream." Kowalski said trying to comfort his friend. "It's not real."

"Oh, no Kowalski. This isn't just a dream. It really happened." Skipper sounded scared.

"What do you mean it really happened? It's a dream it can't be real. Can it?" Kowalski's mind was sorted out. How can a dream be real? Unless…

"It really happened. I'm telling you the truth. It really happened. It's not just a dream." Skipper sounded like he was pleading with Kowalski.

"Skipper are you ok?" Private was really worried about Skipper now. Skipper looked like he was about to die. He was pale. Private thought that he was talking nonsense. Well a penguin is white but something had happened to the pigment of skippers face. It actually looked like he was about to die. And it was really starting to worry Private.

"I know it happened." Skipper said, his voice still sounded like he was pleading with someone. But it also sounded terrified. And it was quieter too

"How do you know?" Kowalski asked. He was also worried about Skipper. But he thought about what he told himself before, Skipper needed to vent too. Now was Skippers chance to get something of his chest. Kowalski was going to make sure it happened.

"I lived through it." Skipper looked like he had seen a ghost. . He looked sick. Even so, Kowalski was going to let him tell his story. If there was one. Even if Private and Rico walked away, Kowalski was going to sit there and listen. Because that's what Skipper needed. Someone to just sit and listen to him. Like a therapist. Kowalski thought. He would be Skippers therapist for the day.

Kowalski actually felt nervous. Could that really be what Skipper needed? A therapist?