I just finished Chapter 3, I'm writing these back to back. Not something easy I'll tell you, never try it. That synopsis I mention was written beforehand, so it already exists. I really have nothing to say this time around, just keep reading and judging Key, he'll become a White One, I'm sure of it! And I'm listening to "Never Give Up" by Whitney Houston while typing this, RIP, we love you Whitney!

Northern Stars

Chapter 4

The land was harsh, the temperature was brutal, and the wind whipped like a slave driver. The nights got colder and colder, and the days grew shorter, he hadn't eaten, he barely slept, and the energy inside him was running low. Key fought, and he kept on fighting, doing his best to beat the odds, knowing fully well that if conditions didn't get any better, his gravestone would be carved early. Without warning, a massive wind blew him back, he didn't know how many meters, but he got right back up and kept moving forward. By this point, he didn't care about anything, he didn't care about his friends, he didn't care about home or MB, or even if he'd ever find a mate, all he thought about was how to survive.

Time and time again he wanted to just collapsed and give up, but his heart wouldn't let him, he didn't know why. It made him get up, it pushed him forward. He'd lost track of the days, even though he was sure it'd only been a few. One night, when the moon shined brightly down on the Emperor, and the snow was gentle, he felt almost relaxed, and he figure it was a good chance to find a place to sleep. Most of the time he'd been resting on open arctic plains, but for the past few days Key had been constantly passing jagged ice formations and split ups in the ice; he noticed one that looked like it had a decent sized open space in it. With little question, in his mind, the Emperor saw it as an omen to not quit and take shelter. He went inside and waited out the night, it was just big enough for him to fit.

In the morning, he got up, left, and just kept walking. The sun was shining brightly that day, and the snowfall ceased. To Key, it was a beautiful day to spend with friends, for he had regained his confidence and began to think about home and his friends. The air felt warmer, and the essence of life was back with him, even though he hadn't eaten in days. As he kept walking, he looked far into the distance and saw a rather large chain of mountains and glaciers across yet another large ice field. Not being able to cross it in a day, Key waddled up to the edge of white plain and tried to estimate the size. It looked like it'd take a number of hours, but it was nothing he couldn't handle at the moment. As he smiled, knowing what he'd be doing tomorrow, he heard a solid object tumble down off of the ice formation surrounding him. He spun around, knowing fully well it could only be another bird, as any kind of seal didn't live in this area. The fear he had was welling, but he thought he caught a glimpse of black, and then he got angry.

"Maria Bella…why are you following me…?" He asked toward a smaller ice form, but it was moments later that a very familiar face stepped out from behind the ice, MB.

"I couldn't let you leave Key…I came to try and convince you to come home."

"First of all, I'd be thrown right back out if I did…and second…how did you follow me through all that back there? I faced blizzards, cold nights, lack of food, and yet you still are here." He was curious, but still mad that he was followed by her.

"You've been through some tough stuff Key, but I just had to follow you. I knew I'd be in danger if I tried, but it didn't stop me. Finding you was worth risking my life, and I'd do it again."

That was one of the most touching things anyone had ever said to Key, he really felt moved on the inside because of her words. "MB…why would you want me to come home…?"

It was a deeply personal question, it sounded selfish, but MB picked up the hidden meaning in the question, and she was boiling with stress to answer. "I wanted you to come home…so that you…could come home…to me…"

Key looked straight at her; they were meters apart, far out of each other's reach. Key felt himself begin to walk to her, starting to raise his flipper to embrace, her, and MB smiled and quickly moved towards him to get into his flippers. She got closer and closer, and threw herself into his flippers and hugged him; the first time in her life she did it with such emotion. She'd never hugged anyone like that before, not even her Mama or Pa, it was an embrace that made long forgotten emotions bloom inside her heart like a moonflower. MB began to start crying, and pulled him closer and tighter. Key was also, squeezing her warmly and securely, and he too was developing tears in his eyes, some of which fully formed and fell down off his face and onto the ground. Key knew he was crying, and he knew in his heart that he'd go home to her anywhere, anytime.

"I'd go home to you in a heartbeat, maybe faster…" Key said, not loosening his hold on her one bit.

"I needed to you back Key, you're more than a friend to me…so much more…" Key knew what was coming, and MB was the first to say it. Still inside Key's flippers, with her own tears flowing with happiness that she found him, she said the three words he'd wanted to hear his whole life, "I love you…"

"I love you too MB…with my heartsong on the line and with the Great Guin as my witness, I'm sorry I didn't realize it sooner. I'd travel across the ice and back just to go home to you, and then some." Neither showed any signs of wanting to let go, but the winds of Antarctica made them both shutter. Key let up a bit on his grip and looked up; gray clouds were moving in, snowfall was imminent. "MB…" And she looked up too, she gasped.

"We have to find shelter…I can't freeze to death, not now…" She said and smiled at Key, knowing now that she had a rekindled flame inside her soul, and that Key would be her flipper to swim from here on out.

"I can't die now either…let's find someplace to take cover…"

And the two walked side by side, looking under and between every ice formation nearby for an opening or an overhanging drop over big enough for the two of them. When the snow began to start falling, they spotted a fairly large crack in the ice that had a large formation hanging over it, acting as a roof and an archway leading in. The ice wall in the back was covered by the crack in the ground, and it was bigger on the inside than it looked on the outside. Key let MB go in first, and he followed right after. Once in, they both sat down and leaned up against the back wall. MB turned over on her side and put her flippers across Key's chest and pulled him in. He accepted the embrace and pulled her closer to him, sharing their warmth and cuddling together for the first time.

"I love that way you do that…Maria Bella…" He told her, using her full name. She looked up from her comfortable position and grinned. Getting warmer by the second, MB moved up and placed her head on his chest and rested their.

"And I love when you call me that…Keary…"

"It sounds pretty coming out of you…" Key said.

"Well then, I'll just have to keep calling you that. Is that okay?" She loved him so much, and she loved his real name, but she just wanted to be sure.

"Of course MB…and I'll keep calling you Maria Bella…you know that that's a beautiful name…" And Key leaned his head back up against the ice wall and tried his best to rest while the snowfall increased. It was there they both fell asleep, both in the comfort of each other and both ready for what would come next, no matter what it was.

So that's what it looks like to write two chapters back to back. Not easy like I said, but I think I earned another reward. Geez my fingers are tried and sore, but I'm still listening to "Never Give Up", so thank you Whitney for the inspirational background music. No songs this time around, but there will be a certain event next time around, just be watchful. Stay in touch everyone!