Chapter 4: Penguin Revolution

I was cornered on a ledge. I looked down. The heel of my boots was off the edge of a very high precipice. Duncan Grimwater stood right in front of me with a grin as evil as Malistaire's. Below was an endless drop off the cliff into nothing but darkness. I shouted as Duncan gave me a shove, falling into the endless void…

I shot up from my sleep. I was panting. Matt, it's just a dream, I sighed, lying back down.

Just then, Danton sat up. "Ah, it is a perfect day for a revolution." He stretched out his flippers and stood on his webbed feet.

Huh, time to go already? I wondered. Looking out the window, it was still dark. I felt exhausted still, despite the four hours of sleep I received.I helped Ivan up with all my strength, which wasn't too bad.

"Thanks, comrade," Ivan said. The bear was quite tall and muscular as well as a little chubby in the midsection.

"Alright, my fellow Patriots; today is the day we have waited seasons for. Today is the day we can ensure the freedom for many generations of penguin chicks! I have dreamed for a day without the monarchy! But, today is the day we bring LIBERTY and DEMOCRACY to the land of Penguinonia! TODAY, we take back our NATION!" The penguins all quickly waddled over to the fishing hole in the back of La Nettoyage to enter the palace from the sewers via the sea. Red Rosa was the last to go and Danton closed the lid. "You boys come with me," Danton said.

"You two are stronger than all those other Penguins. I need you two to walk in the front door of the palace, slaying all the guards you come across," Danton ordered.

"Are you out of your mind? We'd be outnumbered!" I said.

"No, I am perfectly sane," Danton said. Ivan and I glanced at each other. "Seriously, the guards are not too numerous. The majority of them are patrolling the streets now."

"Alright, we can help," I said to Danton, speaking for both Ivan and myself.

"Great! I will be going with you. I have a small boat we can use to avoid the harbor streets where the inspectors march," Danton said as we exited the fish cleaning house.

"Or we could walk across the ice!" Ivan suggested.

"Marvelous idea, mon ami," Danton jumped off the dock onto the ice. Ivan got down too. I, however, was a little nervous about walking out on the ice.

"Comrade, come along. Ivan cannot wait all day," Ivan motioned for me to join. I slowly placed my boot on the white icy harbor surface. My footing slipped and I caught myself to avoid falling.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Just walk. The ice can support you. If you slip, try to regain your balance," Danton suggested.

We reached the palace's private dock where foreign diplomats often docked their ships. The dock was empty today, however, as the entire harbor of Walruskberg was frozen over. No ships could get in or out. The city was ahead of us, glowing in the early morning darkness. Behind us lay the harbor district.

"Matthew, you go ahead and see if the beach has guards," Danton whispered.

I quietly walked along the ice onto the sandy, snowy beach. The area up to the palace seemed quiet… a little too quiet if you ask me. I used a hand motion to signal Danton and Ivan to come closer. We tiptoed up to the palace door that led to the private dock. Danton and I hid near a window to hear what was going on inside. The Patriot penguins led by Red Rosa had already assaulted the palace. All the guards in the city had come to the empress's aid, hence the lack of guards along the beach.

"Move the empress to the dockside foyer!" I heard one of the guards say. "Before the bourgeoisie capture her!"

"According to this palace diagram," Danton began. "The dockside foyer is just inside this door, which is likely locked."

"No problem for Ivan the Great!" Ivan drew back his fist and punched one of the windows. Danton and I jumped through and Ivan, being a large polar bear, crawled in, trying not to get cut by glass.

The guards drew their bayonets, protecting the empress in the room. The door from the foyer to the rest of the palace was bolted shut. The Patriots were attempting to bust through.

"Put down your weapons and surrender and you won't be harmed!" One of the guards shouted.

"I will not," Danton drew his sword.

"Nor I," Ivan said putting up his fists.

"Not today, buddy," I pulled out my wand to get ready to Meteor Strike the seal team guards.

"Alright, you asked for it!" The seal captain shouted. "Boys, get ready to attack the interlopers!"

The seals drew their large, cannon-like guns and began to fire. Danton and I dodged the electrical strikes while Ivan charged at one of the seals, knocking him out. I summoned a variety of fire spells, which damaged some of the seals. Ivan began to try ripping the bolt off the door to let the Patriots in.

"The seal team is supposed to be the most elite in Polaris! Why are you letting this teenager defeat you?!" The large walrus empress wailed from her palanquin. I smirked a little at my ability to beat such "high ranking" officers. Ivan busted the bolt on the locked door and the Patriots rushed in, clobbering the seals and forcing the Walrus Empress to surrender.

"I hereby declare today that the Republic of Penguinonia has been created." Danton said in a speech that afternoon on the palace steps. The Patriots cheered as well as other liberated citizens. "Thanks to all of you, as well as Ivan the Great, Red Rosa, and my wizard friend Matthew, we have liberated Penguinonia from the oppressive Walrus regime!" The entire palace now echoed with claps, cheers and shouts of "Vive la Penguinonia!" After a full minute of ovation, Danton asked if any volunteers would like to speak in behalf of the republic. Ivan nudged me to go.

"No," I blushed. "I'm not really into… public speaking."

"I will go!" A patriot solder volunteered. He stepped up to the podium. "I am Napoleguin Bonaparte. For years, my family has been oppressed by the Walruses and I was very happy to assist my people in liberation today. Also, I have taken an interest in politics and would be happy to volunteer as a member of Danton's Republic Council." The crowd cheered.

Aside: Fine Matthew Collins, Pirate Witchdoctor: "That's totally not going to screw over the Spiral in a few years. *cough cough* Polaris invades everyone *cough* Valencia creates the Armada *cough* Oh wow I need some water."

After the rally, Danton and Red Rosa pulled me and Ivan into a side room. "Thank you both for your help today. Matthew, I believe you came here seeking Ivan the Great?"

"Ah, yes. I need to ask you a question Ivan."

"Sure, you may ask Ivan, after he's had a bowl of stroganoff from Inn of Midnight Sun," Ivan grinned.

Ivan and I returned to the inn and ordered some hot soup. It was nice to eat such warm food on a cold day.

"Ivan, do you know where I can find Baba Yaga?" I asked between bites of soup.

"Ivan knows general vicinity of Baba Yaga's house. Each Saturday Ivan brings messages and supplies to certain grove in woods, and Baba Yaga's daughter Mellori comes to retrieve them."

"Oh, ok. Well, tomorrow is Saturday…"

"Yes, it is. Ivan will bring deliveries tomorrow and he can take comrade with him."

"Thanks, Ivan."

That evening, Danton let me stay in the palace overnight as reward for help. I was very tired after a long day and basically a sleepless night. I was to stay in one of the many guest chambers. After supper, I went to my room early to clean up and go to sleep. Before I blew out the candle, I made a few journal notes about the last couple days and the crazy events that it entailed.

After blowing out the candle on the nightstand, I laid my head back and immediately fell into a deep sleep.