This is the first chapter; the previous listing was a prologue for readers who haven't read the first 3 stories. I estimate there'll be about 5 chapters if all goes well. This is the story of not only Age, but Syrena as well. Oh, and I finally came up with a title!
Family Bonds of a Different Kind
Chapter 1
Syrena's Gambit
The touch of ice on a lone Emperor Penguin's feet would've made him shiver if he had a sense of numbness. This penguin had endured so much that when it came to sadness, he didn't, he couldn't feel anything. He watched the sun slowing dive over the ocean with his beloved daughter on his feet. But a sudden question from the curious little chick changed the proud father's view of everything that was about to come.
"Pa, what if there's more to life than singing?" Syrena asked her father. Age had been a good parent, but like all good parents, sometimes the things his child spoke to him sent him into deep thought. Age wasn't sure how to answer, his whole life, all he had ever known was singing; this question sent his mind to the darkest corners of his subconscious and lurked there until later in the future.
"I don't know Syrena, but my best guess is…yes. There probably is more to life than singing, and in your 'grandpa's' case, dancing." Syrena made a note of what her dad said and her mind too, was then lost in thought.
"Maybe, there's more to the ice, and maybe even more than those aliens grandpa told me about. What if there's a force, a destiny, or even a fate that we can control, and that fate…makes us realize who we are, and what our place is in the world?" Syrena continued to leave her father speechless.
Up to this point, Syrena was always fiddling around and not paying much attention to anything, not even practicing her heartsong. This was a very severe notion on Age's part because his daughter was half expected to be the best in class of her generation. Age had continuously tried to get his daughter to concentrate day after day, but her curiosity of the world around her made Age realize that what his daughter was saying now seemed to be the indication of things to come. He began to try and accept that his own daughter wasn't going to be a great singer or dancer like the other members of the family, but she'd be Emperor Land's first thinker, or philosopher. Syrena showed an interest in almost everything she saw or heard besides singing; though this was a concern to Age, he knew that if his chick wasn't destined to go down the same road he was, he wouldn't force her to. He was told how Memphis once tried to force Mumble not to be who he was, and Age swore that he'd never to that. If his little girl wanted to focus on things she felt were more important, then so be it.
"Syrena…you amaze me. The way you try and find an answer to everything, the curiosity you possess, it's awe inspiring. I know that one day; the penguins of both our nations will look to you for wisdom, and strength. You'll be the one they turn to when all else they have to come to believe and look to has vanished. This I promise…no, this I swear to you Syrena." Age said gazing into his girl's eyes. She just smiled with her cute little beak, and this sent shockwaves of delight and satisfaction through our heroic father.
"Thank you Pa, and I promise when I do, you'll be the first one to see, and the first one I hug afterwards." This meant more than everything to Age…
(Back in Emperor Land with Gloria, Hayley, and Bo having a girls' night)
"Okay, how about this one…would you rather get chased by an orca or listen to Memphis try to rap like Atticus or his pa." Bo seemed to think she had come up with a good one.
The girls hadn't been playing this game for very long, but they were already sick of Bo and her 'would you rather' 's. The whole time she thought of obvious ones that would typically require no thinking. "Bo..." Hayley said to her friend as Bo turned towards her. "Don't you think your questions are a little...I don't know, obvious?" Bo stopped to ponder the thought and decided they were a little on the 'No duh!' side.
"I guess you're right Hayley. Maybe they are sort of, um well, well you know...obvious." Bo said with a guilty grin. Gloria hadn't said a word during this whole spat, so she figured she'd step in.
"I'll tell you girls something, I love Mumble with all my heart, but it is kind of nice to get out with all of the girls once in a while you know?" She put the thought out there and Bo and Hayley seemed to agree.
"I think you're right too Mama. We love our mates unto the ends of the ice and back, our lives just wouldn't be the same without them. But every once and a while I do like to hang out with friends." Bo said to Gloria. Bo was mates to Gloria's son, Erik, so that made Gloria her 'other' mama. Hayley was the mate of Age, but they still considered Age to be family, so Hayley could call Gloria Mama if she wanted, but she usually didn't, while Age usually did. This thought made Hayley speak up.
"I like getting around with you guys, but at the same time there's this guilty feeling I have for leaving Age by himself to watch over Syrena. Almost like I feel like I'm a bad mother." Gloria and Bo understood the feeling.
"I get what you mean Hayley. When I was raising Erik and the Doomberg rolled in, I felt sorry I couldn't help Mumble comfort Erik." Bo seemed shocked by this, for she was down in there with her almost the whole time.
"Gloria! Are you crazy? You sang that song to him, what was it called...?" Hayley reminded her of the power ballad she sung to Erik.
"Bo...it was called Bridge of Light (By P!nk)" she said with a wink.
"Oh yeah, thanks Hayley; you sang that song to him, and let me tell you, Erik wasn't the only one you touched with that song." Gloria felt grateful to Bo for the words of inspiration.
"Thanks Bo, but you know what...? All this talk makes me wanna be with Mumble and Jake."
Hayley was having such a memorable time with her 'mama and sister', but Gloria made a good point. It's important for the girls to get out, but Age and Syrena never left Hayley's mind. She truly was feeling guilty for not being home with them. Gloria then continued with her little voice of reason speech.
"It's just, I love hanging out with you girls, but...I love my boys even more. I don't feel complete without them around and I can't be away from them for very long. I don't know if this is abnormal, or if it's just real love." Gloria hung her head in thought, but Bo picked up where she left off.
"Oh my gosh...you're right mama. Now that you mention it, I really do miss Erik and Gabriel already. How long have we even been away from them?" Hayley stood up and looked at the sun, it was nearly gone over the horizon.
"I'd say about 6 hours." Hayley said.
"That's way too long, I gotta go." Bo said and walked out scurrying home. Gloria got up from her seat too and walked over to Hayley.
"Don't worry about a thing dear. I'm sure Age and Syrena will be back soon anyway, you know how Syrena likes exploring and watching things, like the sunset." Gloria said gesturing to the sun. Hayley just smiled, the girls' night had been hosted at Hayley's home and that means that for the past 6 hours, Age and Syrena were gone and off somewhere.
"Thanks...mama." Hayley said to Gloria. Gloria just smiled and gave Hayley a hug and walked off to her own house where she'd find Mumble and Jake playing around.
Hayley always thought of Gloria as a mother to her, but she rarely ever called her so. The fact that she lost her real mother, Amanda, made her sort of feel guilty about how she treated other important women in her life. Ever since her Uncle Richie took her in and then moved to Emperor Land with her, they've had such little contact. Hayley knew she couldn't spend enough time with Age and especially Syrena, but she missed communication with her real family. Unfortunately for her, she had to accept that they were all gone. Age, Syrena, and her Uncle Richie were the only real family members she had left.
(With Erik and Atticus cresting their chicks on their feet)
"Gab, now don't you give your 'Uncle' Age a hard time. He's due back with Syrena any minute." Erik was busy preparing Gabriel for his first sleep over at Syrena's home.
"I won't pa." Little Gab said. "Jake, do you think this will be fun?" Gab asked Jake. As weird as it was for Jake to be Gab's uncle and have them be almost the same age, Jake and Gab just pretended they were friends instead and didn't want to hear how they were really related. Although they knew it was true, sometimes they just had a hard time believing it.
"Pa?" Kourtney asked Atticus.
"Yes dear?" Atticus said to his chick.
"Do you think Jake likes me? I mean he's been really nice to me lately, and he's always smiling at me." Atticus wanted to laugh but he was afraid he'd offend his daughter.
"Kourtney, just because someone is nice and polite to you doesn't mean they like you, like that anyway. Why do you ask?" Atticus said.
"Well...because I kind of like him, like that." Kourtney said with glimmering eyes.
Atticus was somewhat startled by his daughter's announcement. She had a crush on Gabriel's uncle? Really...Kourtney was infatuated by Jake? He was appalled by the idea at first, but soon came to the reality that any penguin born in the same generation had someone else that they were destined to be lovers with. Just as Mumble to Gloria, Erik to Bo, Age to Hayley, and himself to Nicki. Atticus faced the facts and just had to accept that if Kourtney was the match up to Jake, he'd just have to deal with it.
"Alrighty then sweetie, if you like him like that then...go for it I guess." This was Atticus' first parental advice about love, and he clearly wasn't ready for it. At least he wasn't like Age, Syrena asked Age about love on the day she hatched. "Yeah, there's someone for everyone. So if you think Jake is him then, uh..."
"You've said too much." Erik said to his friend, giving him the escape from the conversation he so desperately wanted.
"Thanks Erik, I owe you." Atticus whispered to Erik. After that, Kourtney hopped off of Atticus' feet and waddled over to play with Gabriel, Gabriel then hopped off Erik's feet and walked up to Kourtney.
"Hey, wanna play Catch or Chorus?" Asked Kourtney, Gabriel thought for second and pointed out an obvious fact.
"What are we supposed to catch?" Gabriel had a good point. Kourtney thought for a minute and then told Gab her idea.
"We could just play with snow balls." She said to Gab. Gab didn't understand her thinking, but luckily he didn't have to, because after she said this a voice broke out from a distance.
"Is everyone ready to go?" Age said to the group. He was walking with Syrena on his feet and she was smiling a huge smile. Erik took a brief notice of the chicks, Gab and Kourtney; they seemed ready enough to go to him.
"Yeah, they're ready. I'm telling you bro, this isn't going to be easy. Having three baby penguins at your home at the same time? Geez, I can barely keep track of one." Erik had rarely let Gab out of his sight, but he still felt he wasn't doing a very good job. Age however was a natural at watching his chick, plus he's been the host of penguins before, one could say he was a skilled sitter from the beginning.
"You wanna know my secrets? Well, my secret is the advice you gave Emperor Land a long time ago." Age said to Erik.
"What? What advice are you talking about?" Erik said to Age. He was very confused; he didn't even know the famous quote from Sven that inspired him so many years ago.
"Erik, if you want it, you must will it, and if you will it, it will be yours." Age said, Erik's eyes lit up with remembrance. Age just smiled.
"Come on kids, who wants to see Aunty Hayley?" He said to Gab and Kourtney.
"We do, we do, we do!" The two chicks chanted. Age just smiled at all of them and laughed. He stole a glance at Syrena and his light bulb went off. "Psst, Syrena…why don't you guys walk together, I'll stay back and watch you." He whispered to her.
"Hmm, oh…okay pa." Syrena mumbled. Then she stepped off Age's feet and the three friends ran off ahead of Age as they headed towards his home. Age loved chicks, so he knew this was going to be fun.
As the four walked back to Hayley, Age heard their entire conversation, and he was intrigued most by everything Syrena had to say.
"I had a really nasty fish today, my mama said she didn't know it was nasty, but Pa said he knew some of the fish might be bad." Kourtney said out loud. Syrena's counter statement was not the normal response.
"Hey Kourtney, what do you think caused that fish to be bad? Did it eat something bad that caused it to be bad? Or maybe it had a problem somewhere on the inside." Syrena was a thinker, no question.
"I don't know Syrena, but it's nice to see someone trying to find an answer. That would be kind of cool to know…wouldn't it Kourtney?" Gab said to the two of them.
"Hmm, well I guess it would be nice to tell how good a fish is, you know so we don't eat anymore bad fish." After that, the shadow of a bird swooped over the three chicks, but they didn't need to worry and neither did Age, it was Sven. He flew over to Age and followed him on the ground with a slow and steady walk.
"Greeting friend, how is Age doing?" Sven asked Age.
"Age is doing fine, how is Sven?" Age and Sven talked like this all the time, they had recently become really great friends. (This is how I talk with a friend of mine)
"Sven has just given another spectacular show to the adelie nation, and he also wished you were there to watch." Sven had been giving air shows to the Adelie penguins ever since he was found to be a puffin. And Age had been meaning to watch one of these shows with his 'pa' and the Amigos.
"I'm sorry Sven, you know I've been meaning to go to one of those, but it's just been really rough lately. I mean, even tonight I'm hosting a sleep over for my chick." Age was being sincere with his words.
"Oh I'm sorry Age, it's just…every time I do a show I hope to see you and your family in the crowd. Because you're my friend, one of the few actually, but there's more of a moral sense to it. I feel that if you watch a show and you're shown just how much I've grown since lying about being a flying penguin, you wouldn't be the only one to see I've really changed. Every show makes me think of you and Earik." Age was following his speech intently, but was thrown off Earik.
"Sven, I've said it before, his name is Erik, not Earik." Age had tried to explain this to him many times, but Sven's accent got in the way. "And if you really wanna know how Erik's doing, his chick is the one on the right side of those three up there." Age said pointing to the friends ahead. Sven just smiled and was about to fly up to Gab when a voice started calling for Age.
"Age come quick!" Age didn't know this penguin, but it seemed urgent enough. Age turned to Sven who was also interested in the distress call.
"Sven, take the kids back to my home, I'll meet you there later." Sven nodded and bulleted off after the kids; "Now what's wrong?" Age asked.
The mystery penguin was riddled with sadness as she spoke, "It's your uncle-in-law, he's been injured."
"What, Richie? Where?" Age said with instant concern.
The two rushed to the edge of the ice where Richie rescued Age about a year before, when he got there, he would've given almost anything to be told his eyes were betraying him. For before him lie his uncle-in-law, tore across the chest and stomach. His body was stained with his own blood and Age couldn't find the tears to cry, there couldn't be any more tears. Age nonetheless rushed over to his Uncle Richie and tried to speak to him.
"Richie, Richie...can you hear me?" Richie was weak beyond comparison, but he still found the will to talk.
"Age...? My Age...? Ha...I knew you'd come, how could you not?" He was speaking very slow, but Age still managed a response.
"Yeah, I'm here Richie...what happened to you?" Age asked.
"Well...let's just say, if you think there's a killer whale in the water, don't go swimming." Richie forced a smile and let his head fall back. Age turned to the nurse through the group of penguins who were surrounding and trying to help and asked her,
"Is there anything to be done? Can you not help him?" Age asked with fierce determination to help out Richie. But the nurse just got dreary eyes and lowered her head.
"I'm sorry Mr. Age, but by this point, blood loss would kill him anyway. If that whale hadn't got his chest and stomach, he might of had a chance." Age refused to believe that his Uncle was dying.
"Age...listen to me..." Age heard Richie say as he was about to continue questioning the nurse, so he turned back to him. "When I'm gone, you and Syrena will be all Hayley has left...Hayley..." he said with a single tear falling from his eye. "My little Hayley...she's all grown up, with a strong willed mate, and a beautiful daughter...and now I pass this role of masculinity to you."
"Richie no, don't talk like that! You're gonna make it you have to, you can leave the three of us here by ourselves! We lost our home, our families, and all our friends...please, you're all we have, we can't lose you too! Please Richie...you have to make it through this!" Age pleaded his heart out to his dying Uncle, but his cries were in vain.
"Age, Age...my little, sweet, brave nephew...my successor, my soul, my will, carry out these words to Hayley, and my dear Syrena...forgive me for what I did to you last year, I was just trying to protect Hayley from making the wrong decision. But this wasn't the wrong decision...you gave her hope, life, and something I could never fully give her...love."
"Richie, no...no."
"I'm sorry Age, remember these last words? Tell this story until old age, age, age..." Richie said as he felt his heart stop beating, and fell back...gone.
Age was suddenly belligerent to everyone around him, so everyone gave way as he attempted to cool himself down. But nothing was working; the rage he felt from watching his Uncle die right in front of him drove him down to the bottom of the ocean and back up to the surface. Mumble had just arrived on the scene and noticed his 'son' on a hellfire rampage. Of course, since Mumble raised Age, he knew exactly how to calm him down. The problem however, was that Age was flailing his flippers and screaming to the air that it was apparent that no penguin would even have the smallest guts to get near him. But Mumble still thought of Age as his son, so it was his job as a father. Mumble slowly crept to Age and once he got close enough he just managed to grab his shoulders to stop his flailing and look his right in the eyes with a look of disappointment and sympathy. Age stood froze at who was staring at him, and after he realized how much of a monster he'd been acting like, his eyes just began to water. After a few moments of him tearing up, he just broke down crying throwing himself into Mumble's shoulder. Mumble did his best to comfort him, but no words can comfort the loss of a family member. As Age continued to sob, Gloria came through the crowd and looked to see Mumble holding Age in his flippers. Gloria knew it was clear that Age had something happen to him. Mumble then noticed that Gloria was there and he then slightly gestured with his beak over to the dead penguin. Gloria looked and instantly recognized the corpse as his Uncle Richie despite it being maimed from head to foot. It shook Gloria to the core and looked back at Mumble and mouthed 'Where is Hayley?' to which Mumble responded 'I don't know.' After that Gloria took off through the crowd as Mumble gazed at his sobbing son.
"I'm so sorry Age…" Was all he could say.
"He was all I had left! I don't care if he was an in-law! He was all we had left!" Age said. Mumble knew that by we he meant him, Hayley, and Syrena. "How am I gonna tell her?" Age cried into Mumble's shoulder some more. Mumble then had an idea that might comfort him.
"If you want, I could tell her." Mumble offered to Age. But Age just pulled away and shook his head.
"I appreciate it Pa, but this is something she can only hear from me." He said as he began to walk off to the direction of his home. As Mumble watched walk away, familiar voices hit his ears.
"So, his Uncle is…uh, muerte?" It was Ramon.
"Yeah, and I don't think he's gonna deal with it very well." Mumble said.
"Just teach him what we taught you." Mumble hadn't heard this voice in a while, but he knew it by heart. He spun around to respond.
"Hi Pa, Mama." He said to Memphis and Norma Jean.
"Look sweetie, I know you didn't have to go through this as a chick, but comfort and care are key here. You've got to make sure he doesn't feel alone." Norma Jean was in a way right, but Mumble knew otherwise.
"All honesty Mama, I'm not worried about Age. He's dealt with many deaths before; I'm actually worried about Hayley…"
(At Age's home with the kids and Hayley)
The kids had been at the home for some time and it was safe to say they were having a ball. They played games, and laughed, and were completely oblivious to what had happened in the outside world. As Age approached his home, he heard the laughter. He knew that this would have to be kept a secret from the kids until later but Hayley was going to have to find out about this, and there is no way to ease something like this. As he neared the entrance, he heard that they were playing a non-catching version of Catch or Chorus.
"Alright Mama, your turn." Syrena said after she was finished. Hayley thought for a moment and then sung a song off the top off her head to her little girl. (For the World- Me)
Close your eyes child
Dream of what will be
The way you'll see the world
And the way it'll see you
Lay your head into a thought
And think of what could be
Watch the sunset
Cast a bridge over the sea
And think ahead
For the world
Yeah the world better get ready for you
For
The world…
Age was just as enchanted by his mate's voice as he always had, but the news he was bringing made him and his enchantment fade almost as soon as it came.
Age put on a slim smile and walked in, much to everyone's delight. "Age, where have you been? We've been having so much fun!" Hayley said with a smile and a wink.
"Pa!" Syrena said jumping up and running over to her Pa, hugging his leg. Age's smile got bigger.
"Hi sweetie, and you too Hayley." He said giving Hayley a kiss and Syrena a returned hug. But the mood was set back by Age's next remark. "Um, Hayley…could I speak with you." Hayley had a smile that vanished swiftly and gazed at Age with uncertainty.
"Uh, sure…why?" She asked with suspicion.
"Please, outside; I don't want the kids to hear this." This got Hayley a little scared, she was about to reply when Gloria came in and broke the conversation.
"Hayley! Age has to tell you something! You guys go, I'll watch the kids for a little while." Gloria said as Age nodded and leaned down to Syrena.
"Be good to Grandma Gloria okay?" Syrena just nodded and nuzzled beaks with her daddy as Age then escorted Hayley out.
The two walked off to the distant mountains where they would be sure that no one was eavesdropping on them. When the two reached the base of one of the mountains, Age turned to Hayley with sadness and depression in his face. Hayley had been asking herself what this could have been about the whole time walking, for they had said a word to each other. While she was trying to figure it out, Age was contemplating how to even say it. But he decided to be as loose as possible.
"Hayley, I took you out here because I didn't want the kids to know about this until later. So that they can you know…handle it. All honesty, I don't wanna tell you this either." Age was really starting to terrify Hayley, he made it sound like he wasn't in love with her anymore.
"Age, what's going on?" She was determined to find out before she broke down crying.
"Hayley…Uncle Richie is dead…" Age got no response from Hayley; instead, she gave him the same reaction he had when he found out.
"No…no…you're lying! Tell me you're lying!" Hayley started yelling at him. Age just let his head fall.
"You know I'd never lie to you Hayley…I'm sorry." Age was about to try and comfort her when she fell apart and ran off up the mountain side. "Hayley!" He called after her, but it was no use. Higher and higher she climbed until she was out of sight. I can't let her leave! She needs someone to hold her right now! Age thought climbing after his love. Age slowly made his way up the ice looking in crevasses, ditches, and small caves he found along the way, but she was nowhere to be found. As Age was nearing the top, he heard a small whimper; he looked to see footprints in the snow and lone penguin who was encircle in a snow free environment. He assumed that Hayley had cried so much the water from her tears melted the snow. Age slowly walked up behind her as he listened to her cries, but as he reached her, she turned around and threw herself into his flippers. Age didn't bother keeping track of how long she was crying into his shoulder, but as she was done, she could barely speak.
"How…? How did he die?"
"It was an unfortunate encounter with a killer whale. Turns out if you think it's there, it probably is."
"Where were you when this happened?"
"I was escorting Syrena and her friends back to the sleep over. And then all of a sudden, a mystery penguin appears out of nowhere and tells me to rush to the cliff."
"I just refuse to believe it's true. Now…you and Syrena are it. That's it, we've officially lost everyone." This sent a shock through Age, but it caused something else.
"But you still have us…" (This I Promise You- N'sync)
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Ooooohhhhh….
When the visions around you,
Bring tears to your eyes
When all that surrounds you,
Are secrets and lies
Age had felt this song come to him, and I was already having its impact on the mood between the two lovers.
I'll be your strength,
I'll give you hope,
Keeping your faith when it's gone
The one you should call,
Was standing here all along…
And I will take
You in my arms
And hold you right where you belong
Till the day my life is through
This I promise you
This I promise you
Hayley seemed to be believing Age's words, but like any woman, she wasn't convinced yet as she was still hurting emotionally.
I've loved you forever,
In lifetimes before
And I promise you never...
Will you hurt anymore
I give you my word
I give you my heart
This is a battle we've won
And with this vow,
Forever has now begun...
Just close your eyes
Each loving day
And know this feeling won't go away
Till the day my life is through
This I promise you…
This I promise you…
Over and over I fall
When I hear you call
Without you in my life, baby
I just wouldn't be living at all...
And I will take
You in my arms
And hold you right where you belong
Till the day my life is through
This I promise you, baby
Just close your eyes
Each loving day
And know this feeling won't go away
Every word I say is true
This I promise you
Every word I say is true
This I promise you
Ooh, I promise you...
Oh, oh, ooohh…
That clinched it; Hayley was officially eased from the pain she felt by knowing that Age would never leave her. Until his dying breath he'd stay with her.
What the now kissing couple didn't know is that a certain curious little penguin had followed them without the detection or the concern from Gloria or the two of them. Syrena had sadly heard the news and spoke out after our lovers kissed for a few moments following Age's song.
"So then it's true…" She said with a small voice, the two shot looks right at her and their eyes widened with awe, relief, and shock. Syrena then belly sledded down the mountain to Age didn't know where.
"Come on, we have to find her!" Age and Hayley both nodded as Age sledded one way and Hayley slid another. They both followed footprints and sled marks but she was nowhere to be found. The couple had been searching all night for their daughter, but the one credited for finding her was Age. He had been following a set of off base tracks and noticed a puff ball out of the corner of his eye. He knew that Syrena had a special place she went to when she was feeling lonely or ignored, just like he and Hayley did; but Syrena's sadness made Age feel like he was getting eaten alive. He tried to find the words to say as he quietly approached, but he was frozen in place by what took place after that. (Go the Distance- Michael Bolton)
I have often dreamed
Of a far off place
Where a hero's welcome
Will be waiting for me
Where the crowds will cheer
When they see my face
And a voice keeps saying
This is where I'm meant to be
I'll be there someday
I can go the distance
I will find my way
If I can be strong
I know every mile
Will be worth my while
When I go the distance
I'll be right where I belong
Syrena never really practiced her singing, but regardless she was absolutely phenomenal. Age's beak dropped to the ice as he listened to his daughter pour her soul to the sky.
Down an unknown road
To embrace my fate
Though that road may wander
It will lead me to you
And a thousand years
Would be worth the wait
It might take a lifetime
But somehow I'll see it through
And I won't look back
I can go the distance
And I'll stay on track
No I won't accept defeat
It's an uphill slope
But I won't lose hope
Till I go the distance
And my journey is complete
Age couldn't resist the urge, he had to join his daughter in this ballad. He felt the beat and the soul, and even the meaning and joined in like the real pathfinder he is.
But to look beyond the glory is the hardest part
For a hero's strength is measured by his heart
The entrance of her Pa startled Syrena, but she quickly warmed up to his singing and proceeded to listen, and take over again when the time was right.
Like a shooting star
I will go the distance
I will search the world
I will face its harms
I don't care how far
I can go the distance
Till I find my hero's welcome
Waiting in your arms...
Age thought what he had sung was the end, but Syrena was more of a performer than he could've foreseen.
I will search the world
I will face its harms
Till I find my hero's welcome
Waiting in your arms
Syrena had definitely finished the song and Age was so proud.
As Age listened to his daughter sing the last few words, she spread her flippers apart and as soon as she was done she ran over to her Pa's leg and hugged it tightly. It all made sense to Age now, he'd never sang with his girl before, but now he understood why. Syrena had been so different, that she was worried that she'd never be a hero to her Pa, so that's why she sang about finding a hero's welcome waiting in his arms. While Age was so nervous about being a good father that he was worried he'd never be Syrena's hero. But all the worries had subsided, for they were safe, and they were ready for whatever may happen in the morning.
I don't know about you guys but I am insanely thrilled about bringing all these characters back for a 3rd installment. I can't thank you all enough for the inspiration, keep R&R the first 3 "What are Friends For?", "The Song Epic", and "I Was Here" and be sure to be on the lookout for more chapters in the future. I promise I'll finish this story before I start others! Happy Feet Forever!
