Hello my fishy readers ;)

Well, I thought that maybe I can use these moments before the real Happy Feet 2's plot begin, to develop the story better.

Why wasn't Boadicea's father when the whole thing happened? And Atticus's mother? Mmmm… well, I will try to explain that XD in a simple way, nothing spectacular.

Also, I want to use them a bit more before I start with the main ideas that I have planned… and believe me, you are going to like them XD

So, the first part is going to be starred by Boadicea, Atticus and their families with a lot of irrelevant (referring to future events), yet very-hard-to-write information… AND THEN we will come back to the main story.

Also, I want to say to that guy who said that he REALLYx11 wanted another chapter that: First, I'm so glad that you liked so much my story XD I REALLYx12 hope seeing you in the next chapters ;)

Second: Buddy, writing these things is not easy XD I have to invent a good plot, develop characters' personality, think in funny or sad dialogues and scenes, etc. In my first story it was easier since I only had two main characters to develop and make them interact. But now, apart from Mumble and Gloria, I have Erik, Bo and Atticus (and their parents) too; not to mention the other character I added. I can spend a whole week thinking in what I can write before actually starting to write. Sometimes I do a good job, sometimes not; but I have to at least TRY to write the best that I can.

Well, that's all.

Happy reading ^^

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NOTE (yes, another one): Remember that two high mountain walls that were at the entrance of where the penguins were dancing and singing at the beginning of HF 2? Well, in my story, that is not the border of the territory, just the beginning of the inhabited area. The limit of the territory it's several kilometers ahead.

Take it in this way: In my home town (Maria Grande) the "Welcome" signal that marks the real town's limit it is 1 km. ahead of the first building of the city (Don't ask me why, because I don't know). So it would be something like that. When I refer to the "border", remember that I'm not referring to that entrance.

Did you understand?

YES: Very well then, enjoy the chapter ;)

NO: ¬¬ just… press the red [X] button of the navigator's window and don't disturb the other readers.

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Chapter 4: Farewells

Near the border of Emperor-Land territory, many penguin couples were reunited. Two, in particular, were having a conversation with their chick.

"WHAT! What do you mean he isn't going!" The little fluffy feathered female penguin complained with her parents. Both of them were rather old to be parents… but they were. Guin works in mysterious ways, after all.

"I'm sorry, Bo. But there is nothing you can do…" The female of the couple spoke. Miss Viola was her name, and she had been one of the teachers of Penguin Elementary for many seasons. She had quitted this season for being able to participate in the mating ritual, since she finally had found her soulmate after years of trying and failing.

"That is true. But do not worry, my darling. I am sure you will find that party entertaining" The male of the couple added. He was Arthur, but he was better known as Mr. McGregor. He was a school teacher too; he taught swimming techniques to the chicks that had one year or more, because more or less at that age the chicks began to change their fluffy infant feathers for adult waterproof feathers. Still, they use to remain under the care of their parents until they are five years old (At that age they graduate, become adults and earn the rights of every citizen of Emperor-Land, like the right to participate in the mating ritual, for example)

"But… h-how do you know?" Boadicea insisted.

"It is unknown for us, but we heard Mr. Mumble and his offspring interchanging hard words and we…" Her father replied. He always was that formal, no matter who was speaking with him. He learned that quality from his father.

"What?" Asked Boadicea due the strange chose of words that his father was doing. Bo and Viola often understood him, but there were cases where they just nodded, not knowing what to answer since they didn't know what he had said. This time it was one of those.

"We don't know, but we heard Erik arguing really badly with his pa… so Arthur and…" Miss Viola tried to explain the things better, but her mate interrupted her.

"McGregor, honey" Miss Viola rolled her eyes.

"Whatever… so your father and I think that it's very unlikely that he go"

"Then I don't want to go!"

"I am sorry, darling; but I must go to procure food for you and your mother has to perform their duties as a teacher" Her father explained… but she actually didn't understand anything… again… she instead gave her mother a WTF's face and Miss Viola got it pretty well.

"He have to fish, I have to look after the chicks" Miss Viola clarified the phrase of her husband

"Right, indeed… so you cannot remain here alone, you must go with your mother"

"After all, it's going to be a lot of chicks to chat, Boadicea. I'm sure you won't get bored there"

"But… why pa has to go? He could stay with me" The little said. Boadicea loved both of her parents. She was really closed to her mom, but his father was always her hero.

"It is my duty as the progenitor and male of the family to provide aliments to you, since your mother is not…"

"Sweetie…" Miss Viola cut her husband's phrase to point something "… could you be… a little less… you? At least in front of Bo"

"I… I-I could try… I guess…" He said "Ok… ehrm… I have to go fishing now because, although your ma brought plenty of fish in her belly, that's not gonna last long… so I'm gonna try to catch more. I'm leaving today because I don't like parties and I'm not going to attend this one, so I and many others adults that thinks as the way I do are going to go now to save time. The rest of the adults will leave tomorrow… erhm… you… you liked that way?" Arthur explained, doing his best to only use the simplest words he had in the dictionary of his brain. This time both Boadicea and her mother understood perfectly, but Miss Viola didn't like what she heard.

"No… I didn't…" Miss Viola replied.

"B-but y-you asked me to…"

"I fell in love with a male that was always saying strange words…" She said, hugging him "And I want him back…" Her mate smiled at her phrase and both of the nuzzled in each other's necks.

"Mom! Dad! I'm still here!" The little girls told to her parents, covering her eyes with her flipper. Both adults separated and giggled.

"Boadicea, when you grow up, you will like to do this" Her mother joked.

She didn't know, but Bo had already try that once, and she had liked it. Still… seeing her parents sharing their affection was something that she found a bit… distasteful.

"Well, my love… it is time for me to say goodbye…" Arthur said, as he gave Viola another quick neck kiss and walked to his daughter "Be strong, my little girl… and take care of your… mama" He told to Bo, as she hugged his leg and he returned the gesture.

"Be careful and please, come back soon… my strange talking pa" She joked, making him giggle. After a few second, Boadicea finally released her father and he, without saying another word, walked to the exterior of the territory. He took one last look to his beloved nation before disappearing in the horizon... a tear rolling down his cheek. He didn't try to say a longer farewell since he felt that he was about to cry for having to abandon his family, even if it was a temporary departure. He didn't want them to see him so vulnerable.

"When he will come back, mom?" The little Bo suddenly asked.

"In about two week, dear"

"Will he… will he be ok? Isn't a lot of dangers out there?"

"Not dangers, challenges… and every challenge is an opportunity… never forget that"

"Why he had to go for so long, ma? Didn't the amount of fish already normalized?" She knew about the situation that had threatened the penguins of Emperor-Land some time ago. She also knew that that situation had already been solved… and yes, Boadicea also liked to use some of the words of her father vocabulary, even when something she didn't fully understand them.

"Yes, darling… but as well as we do, the fish also migrate… so we have to follow them. There aren't many fish in the waters nearby, so your pa had to travel to a distant shore to catch enough" Her mother explained, but quickly realized something "Ok, Bo… let's get going to the square… I can't arrive late"

"Ok, mom…" The little girl sighed. It wasn't a very happy day for her. Her father had gone and her friend wasn't going to go the only opportunity they would have to meet each other before school… which it was going to begin in four months!

"Want to walk or I carry you?"

"You take me… I don't feel like walking" Bo replied, as she settled between her mother's legs. Her mother smiled to her bad moods. She found them cute. But wasn't time to talk about that, she had to get to the square quickly. Those little chicks weren't going to take care of themselves.

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Meanwhile, in another point of the territory border:

Another couple of penguins were having a similar conversation about why one of them had to go again to fish outside the territory since the fish had already returned.

"And that's why mommy has to go now" The female concluded "So Atticus, you'd better don't make any mischief, ok?"

"Got it, mom" The young (and rather fat) male chick answered "I'll not cause any trouble"

"That's my little boy" His mother said, as she hugged him. She was going again to go the fishing trip, not her mate. The reason was that she didn't trust that Seymour (her mate) was a very good fisher, since she always wanted only the best pieces for feeding their son. She wanted to go herself. So she… gave all the fish she had caught in the first trip to Seymour and he would have to feed Atticus with it in rations. Trust me when I tell you that you don't want to know how she did.

"Isabelle… please be careful, babe" Seymour said to his wife, as he wrapped her with his flippers and pulled her into a hug

"I will, my big tough boy… I will" She said, and then they shared a neck-kiss. Atticus just covered his eyes. I wasn't that he found those things ugly, but they just seemed to… corny, for him "Bye, Seymour… take care of our child…" She said as she broke the hug and started to walk away.

"Bye, baby" Seymour shouted, raising and waving a flipper from side to side, in signal of farewell.

"Bye, mom" Atticus added, doing the same that his father. Unexpectedly, after walking some meters, Isabelle turned around and pointed to Atticus.

"And son… if your father speaks to another female to much… let me know, ok?"

"Sure, mom" The chick shouted in replied. His mother winked at him and continued her way out of the territory.

"Hey, son..." Seymour spoke, after Isabelle disappeared in the horizon "It wasn't seriously… that about telling your mama… right?"

"Sorry, pa. She's the one bringin' the fish, so she's the boss"

"Jeje… you'r kiddin'… right?"

"I'm dead serious, man" Atticus replied, crossing his little flippers.

"Come on! Chill out, son! Could we… make a deal?"

"Well… I guess that if I'd Erik to chat with… I'd be too busy to keep an eye on anybody" Atticus was referring to the fact that his parents had told him that it was unlikely that Erik went to the party, since had argued with his father. Atticus hinted that if his father wanted his silence, he would have to make Erik go to the party… and to do that he would have to convince Mumble to convince his son! Mumble was very stubborn, and if his chick was the half of that than him… this task wouldn't be easy at all.

"Arhg…" Seymour sighted "Ok… deal"

"Then, you can chat with whoever you want"

"Now, hop on my feet, son. We gotta hotfoot it to the square" Atticus obeyed to his father's command and both of them set their course to the center of the territory, where the party were already up.

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Meanwhile, with the Happy Feet fa…

"But Mumble, I still think this is not a good idea" An adult female penguin told to her mate, while they were making their way to the square too. Between the male's legs, a little blue eyed chick swayed on the feet of his father.

"Gloria, honey; take it easy! It will be just one song! I'm not asking him to make an entire concert all by himself!"

"I'm still worried Mumble… have you even decide which song are you going to sing?"

"Yes, I actually did. I have a song that I was going to sing with Ka… erhm… with Seymour… but now I want to sing it with my son" Mumble quickly lied, without thinking very much. Actually, the song he had in mind was supposed to be he and Kath's second performance, but that's not going to happen now. It would be totally disrespectful doing that now in front of Gloria, because he was now aware of his mate's fear.

"Well, I'm still not feeling so… Wait… a song that you were going to sing with Seymour!"

"Yeah… yes, I… have been practicing since winter… before you return"

"I hope that that song is appropriate for Erik's age, because if you mention what it's usually mentioned on every single song sung by Seymour, I swear that I'll slap you in your beak until my flipper bleed" Seymour's song were very well know to be… not appropriate for chicks. He was a rapper and he usually sang those song too quickly, so the chicks couldn't understand them very well; still, their parents could… this is one of the reasons why he usually didn't sing his own songs in public.

"Don't worry! It's not one of those songs, it's one of mine"

"Oh… that is really comforting" She said sarcastically. Mumble had some songs in his repertory that wasn't that innocent too.

"Honey, that was just one time" Before becoming mates, even before graduating; Mumble used to go to student parties with Gloria (since if she didn't go with him, the other penguins wouldn't accept Gloria in them) and in one of those, Mumble sang with another female a song that Gloria didn't like at all… not mentioning the dance. You know how wild a student's party can be.

"Well, I don't want my chick to be like you" Gloria replied, but quickly regretted it. The idea was fine; the words she chose, weren't.

"Oh! Thank you! I never thought I meant so much for you" Mumble said sarcastically, as he turned to Gloria and rolled his eyes, before speeding up the pace. So many critics were really annoying. This conversation was starting to get his nerves.

"Mumble… I didn't mean that… I'm sorry, I…" Gloria apologized as she tried to keep the pace.

"It's… ok, Gloria" He was very upset by that time. Mumble was a penguin who hated that other penguin distrust of him when he knew what he was doing. One more critic and he really didn't know if he could control himself.

"So… Which song do you have in mind?" Gloria asked trying to change the subject.

"Well…" Mumble relaxed a little. At least his mate didn't doubt of him anymore "I was thinking in that song that MJ, that guy of our class, invented but never sang. He told us that we could sing it if we wanted to"

"You are talking about Michael?" Gloria remembered that male. He used to make fun of her during her chickhood, like most of the class. He wasn't a very good singer, but his ability to create songs for other penguins was more than remarkable and made him a very respected penguin. The last time they heard about him was in the graduation, he was going to stay in school and try to enter to the Emperor Council. It wouldn't be a surprise if he succeeded in that, since he was pretty smart too.

"Yeap, MJ for short. I already taught Erik the lyrics, so I think we are ready. It's not a very difficult song, after all. Right champ?" He said, looking down to his chick who only nodded.

"Mumble, I insist. I want to hear the song before letting Erik sing it" Gloria insisted. Mumble had had enough. He turned around, willing to shout at Gloria, but he stopped himself. He understood why Gloria was acting like that. She was very worried that other chicks made fun of her chick, like the chicks of her generation used to do with her.

"Honey, our song is a surprise" He told to her, while he approached and hugged her "I can't tell you. If I do, I'll ruin everything. I only ask you to trust in me a little more. I'll never teach our son something that I know he shouldn't learn… ok?"

"Ok…" She sighed "I trust in you, Mumble. I really do! I'm just worried. You know how hard my chickhood was… and I don't want that for Erik"

"Gloria, I told you once, and now I will tell you this again: nobody is going to laugh of him! I promise! If anyone even giggles of him, I assume all the responsibility"

"I only hope that…" Her prhase was cut by a sudden gasped. They quickly looked down and found their chick struggling between Mumble's legs and also one of Gloria's, which was right between Mumble's. Due to the hug, they were choking Erik (unintentional, of course) "Erik! Are you ok?" She said, breaking the hug and giving the little penguin enough space to breath. The chick fell and hit the snow, but he quickly stood up.

"I'm fine…" He simply said "Can I go to find my friends?" He asked.

"Of course, son. I still have to find Katherine and let her know that we are going to perform today. So, you have a couple of minutes to be with your friends"

"Thanks" The chicks said and shyly waddled away. As soon as he disappeared in the crowd of penguins, the concerning of Gloria increased.

"Maybe I should go with…" She said as she tried to follow her son, but Mumble stopped her.

"Baby, let him be. He will be fine. The worst thing that could happen to him now it's that Bo hug him too tight" Mumble joked. He and Gloria grinned and shared a sarcastic oh-that-would-be-so-terrible's face, before giggling and hugging again.

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The enormous iceberg that just a day ago seemed to be inoffensive, now had crashed against the huge walls of ice that protected the inner Antarctic sea. They couldn't offer any resistance… the iceberg simply destroy them completely, leaving no trace that there ever existed.

Then, Guin demonstrated that he had a strange sense of humor. The ancient and sacred place for the rite of passage, the place that lived in their heart, the place where all penguins burnt in Emperor-Land had visited once… suffered the same destiny…

From that on, the future generations of penguins wouldn't visit the Aurora's Glacier in their graduation… never again…

There was nothing now that could prevent it to reach Emperor-Land.

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Well, that was chapter 4.

I just want to say that this chapter was supposed to be way longer than this, but I realized that it was going to take me a long, long time… so, I decided to publish this in two chapters.

I want to excuse myself for taking so long in update saying that I was preparing a literature project for my school. I had to read 4 book and summarize them… it was not an easy task… and I haven't finished it yet! I still have to read one… but it's too boring!

I prefer reading Happy Feet's fanfics that those books ¬¬

Ok, that's all for now.

Thanks for reading.

Read you soon.