What Are Friends For?

by Joei Write

Mumble and Gloria adopt an orphan penguin they find, and love him like he's their own. But they learn that the sweet little chick they took in has a dark past to his name, and that he's never sang. And so, the penguin they call 'son' was a sole survivor of a nation-wide disaster which killed his parents and wiped out his nation. Years pass, but he's never been alone...

1. Meet Age

Here's the Happy Feet FanFic, as promised! Since I can't actually be in the story, I'll just simply put a character in that mirrors me. If you've read my profile page, you'd know that I'll always include myself in my stories under the name of Age. For now, he's a boy penguin in the same generation as Erik, Bo and Atticus. The setup is after the end of the movie, so there'll be a minimum number of spoilers. Don't worry, go see it anyway! Btw, Age, Erik, and Mumble share the title of main character.

What are Friends For?

Chapter 1

Meet Age

The sun was just beginning to set as the last few penguins climbed out of what used to be Emperor Land. Mumble and Gloria were still staring into the eyes of their son, Erik. Mumble still couldn't believe that he was his son. He'd been such an outcast as a chick, and then he went to the aliens, somehow got back, ended up with his one true love, and now had a chick of his own with as much strength and courage to inspire countless generations of emperors. The stare of disbelief was broken by Seymour coming up to Mumble with a number of questions.

"Yo Mumble, we got ourselves a problem, where the heck do we go?" he asked failing his flippers up in the air. Mumble knelt down to Erik and whispered,

"Uh, why don't you go play with the other kids and I'll meet up with you later, huh Erik?" he asked his spunky little boy.

"After all we've done…I could use a little fun." He said running off with Bo and Atticus. Before they completely ran off, Atticus came 'round and shouted,

"Hey Uncle Mumble, just outta curiosity, you got any idea what we be doing from here?" from afar Atticus could see Mumble shake his head no. "That's iight, we gonna be hanging 'round the water for a little."

"No, don't go near the water, there might be some leopard seals or orcas nearby!" he yelled to them. Erik waddled his way back to his daddy and hugged his leg and then said,

"Don't worry Pa, we'll be fine. There are still so many penguins, the amigos, the other penguins from that place, Sven is still here and all those elephants seals aren't going anywhere fast. That would have to be a dummy seal or whale to come near here." Mumble couldn't help but smile at his boy, still in disbelief that he was his son.

"Alright Erik, but don't be too long, I got a feeling that we're only gonna be here for a night, then we'll probably start searching for a new place to live." He gave his son permission, then they scurried their little bodies towards the ocean.

"You're a good daddy Honey. I'm so proud of you." Gloria said to Mumble. "Seems you've finally learned when to stop digging when you're in a ditch."

"Yeah no kidding," he said with a smile, "oh, come on don't think I left you out of this." He said, and then she moved closer and nuzzled him on his neck, he then did the same. "You're just as, fish, as you were on our day of graduation." She blushed and felt as warm as she had in years, with Mumble as her mate, she felt like she could do anything.

"Pardon me Mumble, but we still ain't got no plan!" Seymour said with his flippers once again raised into the air.

"Calm down Seymour, for now were just gonna stay here for the night. We'll start looking for a new home in the morning." Seymour then looked at Gloria, and she nodded her head in agreement. "Sven!" Mumble called, he came from around an ice block and answered Mumble's call.

"Yes…what can the Sven do for you Great Penguin?" the puffin was still a bit weary from being exposed as a bird, not a penguin.

"Help spread the word, we're staying here tonight we'll be going to search for a new home in the morning." Mumble ordered him.

"Yepper di! Right away my friend!" he then sped off saying the words to other penguins he flew past.

Mumble began to look for a place he and Gloria could rest, and the soon found a spot under an ice curve and nestled in together. All around them, other penguins were also looking for a nice, cozy spot to rest. Mumble looked at Gloria and said,

"Wow, you're much more beautiful after you've been rescued." He said staring into her endless eyes.

"Well…you've just earned yourself a lullaby mister, for best flattery." She said as she got up.

"A lullaby is great, may I help you?" he just then got up ready to dance when his foot popped and he leaned over in pain, remembering that since his foot got caught on the ice, he had hurt it badly. "Uh, never mind. I think I'm gonna have to sit this one out."

"That's alright Mumble, because this is to you anyway." She said and turned around and shouted so as to get everyone's attention. They all looked as she spoke, "Some of us are having trouble getting comfortable, and so I think a song is in order." The other penguins readied to help her when she said, "No, I don't want help, I have to do this all by myself." They all sat back down, prepared to listen.

Gloria was at the top of her class, and was in the agreed opinion of the Elders that she had one of the most powerful voices to ever hit the ears of a penguin, adelie or emperor alike. "I dedicate this song to Mumble. The best husband and father, a girl like me could ever ask for." (Little heads up, this song is not in the movie, I wrote it myself in about a week. This is the full song so tell me if you think I should record it on Audacity and put it on YouTube.) Gloria took a deep breath and began to sing another song that came into her heart.

Just when I think, I was gone

I heard your voice

You made me a promise, to bring me back to life

After a while, I had my doubts

But then I never thought I'd knew

I felt your hand and you pulled through

Even from across the void

You kept your promise till the end

And for this, I'll sing to you

Anyway

For some time things were great

I needed you near me to say "Hey fate!"

Look what I found

Oh sweet bliss, I can't believe you love me

But that day, oh that day

You lost faith

And to my horrid wake

I was forced to push you away

And still I'll sing to you

Anyway

The pain, the damage, I couldn't repair

Though you seemed to do better

As each day went by, I died

But still I'll sing to you

Anyway

Yeah, I will sing, oh, I'll sing!

I'll sing to you always!

Yes, oh, I'll sing, yeah, I'll sing to you forever!

Always and always

I will sing to you,

Yeah

I'll sing to you, anyway

To you

Anyway

Mumble was speechless, he couldn't fathom the idea that that song was for him. (This song is based off of the evens of the first film coupled with occasions of my actual relationship, what do you think?) The penguins cheered and clapped as Gloria walked back to her husband and curled up next to him. "Oh Gloria, there's no words for what you just did for me. How can I repay you?"

Gloria knew exactly what she wanted. "Just tell me you love me Mumble, never leave me, and say how, fish, I am a little more often." Mumble just smile at her request.

"Alright, I love you Gloria, I always have, and I promise, I always will. I'd never leave you for anyone and no one is as fish as you." She leaned in and gave him a kiss and snuggled up next to him and quickly fell asleep in him warm and loving embrace. Mumble had always felt this way around Gloria, but tonight was something else, he himself quickly fell into a deep sleep, not worrying of what might come in the morning.

(Near the edge of the ocean with Erik, Bo, and Atticus)

All the creatures nearby had stopped moving to listen to Gloria sing to Mumble, and they were just as speechless as Mumble was when she was finished. They then continued with their trip home while some demanded an encore. Erik had always loved the sound of his mother's voice, even in the darkest of times; she has managed to touch Erik's heart with her singing. This had been proven when she sang Bridge of Light to him. (This is my new favorite song go listen to it it's so powerful!) As they continued their way down to the ocean Bo stopped and said to Erik,

"Your mama has a very pretty voice, when I get big I wanna have a voice just like that. How about you Atticus? What do you think of his mama's voice?"

"Eh, it's ait. It's just not my kinda style if ya know what I be saying."

"Atticus!"

"No Bo, it's okay, that's what he thinks, he's allowed to." Erik stepped in.

"Sorry Erik, it's just, my mama says she's never had such different students at Penguin Elementary as your mama and daddy. And I feel sort of, same." Erik and Atticus both looked at each other in confusion.

"Same? What do you mean Bo?" Erik asked, showing large amounts of concern.

"Atticus is the only penguin I hear doing his kind of singing besides his daddy. And you, you have the potential to be good at singing and dancing. Me, I'm just another penguin in the crowd with no stand out potential." Bo made it clear to them that she had a serious emotional problem. Atticus was about to speak when a voice broke out from an unknown source.

"No one…has been more of an outcast than me…"

The three friends searched for the source of the voice but couldn't find anyone around besides the huge wave of creatures still departing from the site of the disaster and relief.

"Hello? Who's that?" Erik asked to the area around him.

"Yeah, who that be punk! Come on out here or I'm gonna give you a piece of my flipper!" Atticus always acted so confident; he must've got that from his dad.

"Over here you guys." The voice said. The three spun around to the water's edge and saw a young chick about their age.

The poor little fellow looked like he'd been beaten up by the world and thrown back to the ground to get trampled on, twice. As they approached him they noticed more in detail of his features. He had a scar across the inside of his left flipper, deep green eyes, unusually lighter baby down than Bo, Atticus, and definitely Erik. His head was staring down into the water as if he was waiting for a monster to rise to the surface and swallow him up. The three friends hurried to his side and began to try to make him feel a little happier. This chick's voice was medium pitched, and sounded like he's spent too much time talking to himself. Erik most of all instantly felt sorry for this penguin.

"Whoa, what be up with you man?" Atticus asked.

"Atticus! Be nice, he's obviously got a problem or two." Bo said and then looked at the little penguin.

"We never caught your name." Erik said kind of shyly.

"Age…"

"What?" Erik said.

"Age, my name is Age. Or at least, I think that's my name. No one has said my name since…" he stopped midsentence and just broke down and cried.

"What's wrong?" Bo asked all concerned.

"Well, if you really wanna know, I could tell you. But I really don't like talking about it."

"Dude, just spill it we don't got no time for this." Atticus demanded.

"Atticus!" Erik yelled to him.

"No, it's okay, I'm used to getting yelled at. Anyways, I can't remember exactly when it was, but I know it didn't happen too long ago. See what happened was…"

(Flashback)

The sun had just touched the top of the mountain that cast a shadow over the place where Age had lived. He and the other penguins of his generation were all just starting to hatch and Age had been a little late to come out. He looked up to his daddy and spoke his first words.

"D-da?" he squeaked.

"Yes son, it's me, come on out here show everyone what you look like." His pa told him. Age then slowly stepped onto the ice and looked around him. The sun was high, many other little penguins were walking around him and there was this big pointy thing in the sky.

"Pa? What's that big thing over there?"

"That there is a mountain."

"Is it gonna fall on us?" his pa laughed.

"No son, it's not." Just then one of his Pa's friends came over with his chick and greeted them both.

"So, how's the chick? Is it a boy or a girl?" his buddy asked.

"It's a boy, and I gotta say he already reminds me of me."

"Well my little girl makes me think of her mama. Those deep green eyes, that tender, sweet voice."

"Hmm, well I see it. Yeah she does look like Amanda." Just then he noticed their chicks meet eyes. Age began to sway and the little girl got wide eyed. She jumped off of her daddy's feet and waddled over to the chick.

"Hi, I'm Hayley, who are you?" the little girl asked him.

"Umm… I'm…I'm…" he didn't know how to respond so he simply said "Cold." The little girl giggled and said,

"Your name is Cold?"

Seeing as how Age was a newly hatched, he knew nothing about names or how they identify who you are. So he turned to him Pa and asked him a very basic question.

"Pa, what's my name?" he thought for a moment and answered his boy.

"I believe you've just named yourself, Cold." He stared into his Pa's eyes then turned back to Hayley and answered her question.

"I'm Cold, nice to meet you, Hayley." She laughed and said,

"It's good to meet another penguin who isn't afraid to talk to me, everyone I've met so far has said 'Hi' then ran off."

"I don't see why. You're very…fluffy." (Amateur penguin flattery) She giggled and turned away and ran off to hop up on her Pa's feet, and he then gave Age's dad a look like they knew the two chicks were bound already.

In the following two weeks, the two attended Penguin Elementary and grew very fond of each other. They were rarely seen without one another and constantly made each other laugh. But the day that separated the two was the day when they had to show their heartsongs, a day Age would always regret. As they swarmed into the class in a small cave at the base of the mountain, the teacher could tell they were all amped up and ready to sing for the first time.

"Alright class today we will be learning the most important lesson you'll never learn here. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?" asked the teacher. Several guesses went out like swimming, rock climbing, and fishing, but the correct answer came from two young penguins at the back of the class who said it in unison.

"Our Heartsong." Cold and Hayley both said.

"Very good you two, why don't we go outside today to show all of our fellow penguins what you younglings are capable of. But first let your song come to you, take a deep breath and think hard…" the students thought very hard as they all waddled outside and a few volunteers went first. The adults loved all the songs they heard. (These are all mine, I wrote all of them) First to go was a young girl whose song raddled the ice sickles hanging above.

I will sing

From now till spring

I love to do it

I don't know why

But when I do I feel so

Alive

The next song was more of an old school song sung by a boy penguin that seemed to infatuate the girls with every note.

What can I say?

Huh, yeah, oh, oh, oh

What can I say?

Several songs went around until Hayley stepped up and said, "Cold? Will you help me with this?" He felt sort of stunned at first, but soon he walked out with her and background sang for her.

I'm on the ground

Nowhere to go

But still I'll soar

Higher and higher

Till I touch the sky

Oh, oh

Higher and higher

The people were breathless. They loved her so much and gave their applause in the form of clapping and demanded that her little partner go next. "Good luck Cold." Age stepped up to the center and gave his heartsong a quick listen and tried his best to remember it. He took a deep breath and sang,

Yeah, yeah, yeah… I see the morning

Shine on my heart

I see the nighttime

Cover my doubts

There is no way

That I'm dreaming of this feeling

And I still can't believe

What I see

The crowd went wild at Age's song. They cheered and clapped and even his fellow students crowded him and gave him a warm embrace. However, Age felt something missing, someone wasn't nearby. He assumed Hayley was gone and when he looked around, she was nowhere to be seen. He pushed his way through the crowd of penguins as the students continued to sing their heartsongs, and he climbed a little ways up the mountain following Hayley's tracks in the snow. He found her crying her little eyes out and she turned around at the sound of him approaching.

"Go away." She said.

"Go away? But Hayley, we're friends; we've always had one another's back."

"Looks like that changed today huh? How could you? I sang my hardest and you turn around after me and totally humiliate me in front the whole nation. Even my own parents were clapping louder for you than for me."

"Hayley…"

"JUST GO AWAY!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.

Just then they felt a rumble, and they heard a roaring sound. Then, they were both instantly swept away by a colossal avalanche. "HAYLEY!" Age shouted at the top of his lungs. Through the noise of the snow crushing in around him he heard the penguins at the base scream with fright and panic to get out of the way. But it was no use; the whole nation was wiped clean of the penguins and the newly found heartsongs of the next generation. After the snow had stopped, there was little movement. Only a few penguins that were lucky enough to be buried at the top of the snow pushed their way to the surface, only about twelve did this, among them was Age. The snow around them began to soak in crimson redness with the blood of the crushed penguins and chicks. With no hope of finding their families, the survivors formed up and began to walk away, not saying a single word to each other or without shedding a single tear. Age had decided to stay behind to weep at what he had caused, and then suddenly a weak voice broke his crying, it was Hayley's pa.

"Cold? Is…is that you?" Age ran over to him and tried to comfort him in his final moment of life.

"Yes, it's me, I'm here." He said still crying loudly.

"Listen…to me…Cold…"

"I'm listening Sir."

"Hayley is…bound to you. She's…your true love. Please…take care of her…for me."

"I will, but I don't know anything about love. I don't even know what that is."

"Love…can't be…described. It's a tale…a story…a treasure. Something that…is a song…that's sung forever. Kneel boy…" Age then knelt before his true love's dying father.

"I give you my…blessing…" he coughed and blood came out, "Rise as my…son-in-law, and tell this story…to your children…until old age…age…age…age…" the last word escaped as he drew his last breath and then moved no more.

Age was in no condition to travel, his left flipper was badly gashed, and his little body was soaked in his own tears. 'Age'; this was the penguin's last word. When Age arose from the ground in front of the dead penguin, he spoke loud and clearly no matter how much pain he was in.

"I…am no longer Cold, son of Gilbert and Renee; here I stand at the end of one nation. But it will bring rise to another, one of compassion, loyalty and love; a tale older, and more priceless than any ever known." The other survivor penguins had stopped their flee to listen to this chick speak, and they were utterly speechless by the power of his voice. "From here, we must stand as one; we're all that's left of a once great nation. Never shall someone else ever go through was we have just endured." The group was still listening intently for his finish.

"I am Age, without a reason to sing, I will lead you penguins on, hoping, that when all is said and done, we'll find inner peace." As Age pronounced his new being, the others just said his name as he waddled through them, leading them into the unknown. Cold was dead, but Age had been born under the destruction of an entire civilization, an event that would shape the life of the refugees, and his lost love, Hayley.

(End of Flashback)

"After that, we were picked off one by one by whales, seals, hunger and the cold. All that's left of the whole nation is me and my nanny." Age finished.

"And where is your nanny?" Erik asked.

"She's out there…somewhere, hunting for our dinner." He said gesturing to the ocean.

"So, everyone you knew is…gone?" Bo asked, welling up with tears.

"My nanny wasn't even my nanny before the disaster. She became my nanny after we started searching for a new home. She looked out for me, and even as we speak she's risking her life for me trying to catch our dinner." As he said this the water's surface was broken and a black, white, and red blur shot out. It was Age's nanny.

"Roxy! Roxy! Are you okay?" Age asked frantically. In her mouth was a single fish, and she dropped it, and collapsed.

"It's okay Age. I'm going somewhere…nice." She said as she let her head fall back.

"Roxy?" No response, "Roxy! No, not you too! I can't be all that's left! Please Roxy please!" But unfortunately, Roxy, along with the rest of Age's nation was gone.

Age felt the weight of his nation suddenly pushing down on him. The pressure to carry the hopes of his nation was too much for him, and he collapsed on the spot, unconscious.

When he awoke, it was early morning for Age. Around him he saw hundreds of penguins sleeping with their chicks and mates. He kept turning his head until he spied Erik and Gloria asleep under the ice curve. He was readying to cry when a voice broke out, a voice of peace, of hope,

"Curious, isn't it?" he spun around to find Mumble standing away from him overlooking the ocean.

"What's curious?" Age asked.

"Curious how the smallest of us…wind up playing the biggest role."

"I'm sorry sir, I don't understand what you mean."

"Age, I'm Mumble, Erik's father, and you, you are Age, the death and rebirth of an entire nation. Is this correct?" he nodded his head. "Erik told me everything, your pa, your singing, the avalanche, but what intrigued me the most was the part about your friend, Hayley."

"She's not my friend Mr. Mumble, she's my love." This stunned Mumble a little.

"She's your love? Aren't you a little young to decide you've found the one?"

"Come on Mumble sir, you can't tell me you didn't find your mate at an early age?"

Mumble thought back to the day he was born. He hadn't even fully gotten out of his egg and Gloria was already chasing after him. How she gave him his name, how she stuck up for him, and how she decided she never heard the right song from anyone other than him. He realized Age was right, and told him so.

"I guess you're right Age. I suppose it's never too early to find your true love. I found mine the day I was born." Just then another voice broke out and this voice was the most soothing of all.

"Of course he's right Mumble." It was Gloria; their conversation had awakened her and Erik from their sleep. "And now it's time to tell him the good news." She said.

"What good news?" Erik asked from underneath his mama's chin. Gloria then gestured to Mumble for him to continue.

"Age, we've been told your story, and we know that you've been through more than any penguin should ever go through. I also know you're looking for a new home now that you're all that's left of your nation."

"Yes, I know, so where do I go? Who will I live with?" Age questioned.

"We've decided…to let you live with us." Mumble said. Erik got wide eyed and instantly asked in excitement.

"What? Really!" he jumped in his spot.

"Yes really," Mumble looked at Age and said the best words he'd ever heard, "Age…son…meet your new pa, mama, and brother." Mumble finished and Age weld up in tears and he ran to his new family. He hugged Gloria's leg, and then cried all over Mumble's feet, and then turned towards Erik.

"Brother…?" Age said aloud. Erik spread his flippers apart and said,

"Brother…" Age ran into a hug that to him lasted forever.

The new family all curled up together and never felt closer to one another. Gloria fell asleep in Mumble's flippers and Erik and Age were all cozy and safe between them. In the morning the penguins set off to find new place to call home, and it didn't take very long at all. They all finally settled down nearby a cliff overlooking the ocean that had a great view of the sunrise and set, and the perfect height for jumping into the ocean, not to mention a clever cleavage in the ice for climbing back up. Many ice formations coated the area and made for perfect homes and new schools. And for the family, things have never been better. Over the next few years, Age and Erik were grown to have beautiful bodies that attracted all the girls. Even though Erik's opera voice was a certified chick magnet, Age was still scared by his past. He still had no reason to sing.

I feel so sorry for Age. Remember that Age is supposed to be a mirror of myself, so, yeah that's right. I love to sing but I have no reason to, and I've lost almost everyone I care about. But I found a new family amongst my friends, and I can't repay them for that, ever. Even though I haven't found my true love yet, I'll keep holding on until she comes around. I'm putting his heartsong on YouTube anyway, but please comment on the other songs. There all written by me.