Ch.11: Love's Power Bursts Forth

"Noooo!" Skipper screamed in the real world, making everyone instantly jump to there feet.

Kolwaski's feathers were sweating with worry on what could be wrong, while Marlene, Rico, and Private tried their best to calm Skipper down. But the thrashing penguin still wouldn't stop.

The heart meter was going crazy, pulses rocketing to the sky. Readying a quick sedative, Kolwaski poked a needle into Skipper's side, in order to make the thrashing penguin calm down. And after a few minutes Skipper did, but his beak was still set in an angry frown.

"What's going on in there?" thought Private " what terrible dream could cause Skipper to act like this?"

Marlene and the others didn't know it, but soon the answer would all become clear.


Meanwhile, inside of the dream world, Skipper's heart was bursting with fury after all of the nasty things Majack had done, and was determined to finish off the wolverine once and for all. So many blows and punches came Majack's way that the wolverine couldn't dodge them all, doing some serious damge to his skin.

However since Majack was now powered by the stolen lives of Skipper's friends and loved ones, even people he didn't like, there was no way the wolverine was going down that easily.

"Ah" said Majack, as swiped away Skipper's next attack with a single paw " I see your love and anger has given you a power boost, but that won't be enough to beat me. You think that your feelings for your friends are really going to matter in the end? When have they ever returned the favor to you?"

"It's not about a favor" said Skipper, slowly standing up from Majack's attack " it's about respect,"

"Then where was my respect when you and Hans betrayed my trust to take over the Denmark zoo" growled Majack " Copenhagen would have been ours for the taking,"

"That was yours and Han's dream not mine," said Skipper.

"Says the penguin who wanted to get revenge on the humans for killing his father" said Majack " face it Skipper, you are and will always be just like me,"

"Noooo!" yelled Skipper, and charged in to attack Majack again, but this time the wolverine was ready.

Slashing out with one of his claws, Majack grabbed Skipper and pinned the penguin to the floor, his dripping white fangs just inches from the penguin's neck.

"This is the end Skipper" said Majack " your body is mine, and nothing, not even love can save you,"

As Majack reared his head back to strike the finishing blow, Skipper's mind was reeling in distress.

"Maybe my love isn't strong enough" thought Skipper " even if I can't break away from this fear. Fear..?"

Suddenly Skipper's eyes widened in realization. That's what was holding him back! Fear! Not love.

Being afraid of Majack from the begining was what was giving the wolverine the advantage. The whole weight of this nightmare world was draining all the power from Skipper's heart. Well, not anymore!

The red aura glowing around Skipper suddenly shown brighter, making Majack stop in mid-bite. And with almost super-human strentgh, Skipper threw off the wolverine and went back in to attack. Delivering kicks and blows so fast no one would see them coming.

Majack was stunned as he shakingly fought back, his body now feeling like it was the one being drained.

"No" said Majack, looking at his fading body " my revenge was perfect. There was no way you could have fought back,"

"I just discovered where my true weaknesses lie," said Skipper, and with one final punch Majack was knocked out cold.


A few hours later, back in the real world, Skipper's eyes awakened to the faint glint of sunlight, shining down from the open fishbowl entrance above. The zookeepers weekend vacation was finally over and Private, Rico, and Kolwaski had to go topside to gather the daily catch of fish.

Slowly sitting up, Skipper looked around the whole HQ, confused for a second about how he got there, and surprised to see how Marlene was sleeping in one of their bunks.

Suddenly the memories about taking a hit at the obstacle course, and his adventures in the nightmare world flooded back through Skipper's mind, making him sigh in relief that he back where he truly belong.

"Hey Marlene" said Skipper, shaking the otter's shoulder " wake up,"

With a yawn, Marlene slowly opened her eyes to see a grinning Skipper standing right before her. Instantly excited, Marlene hugged Skipper claiming that she was glad to see him alive, and apologizing for ever getting him to this this mess.

"Buck up Marlene" said Skipper, brushing the otter's tears away with his flipper " you have nothing to cry for. It wasn't your fault that I almost died. In fact, I think you were the one that saved me?"

"From what?" asked Marlene.

Before Skipper answer Marlene, feeding time had ended and a trio of penguins soon came down the hatch, gasping in awe and joy when they all saw their leader standing alive and well.

Skipper immediately embraced all his team in hug with Private shouting "It's a miracle!"

"It's great to have back Sir," said Kolwaski.

"Woohoo!" exclaimed Rico.

"Thanks boys" said Skipper " I am sure glad to see each of you alive and well. For a moment though, I almost thought I wouldn't be able to make it back home,"

"Why's that Sir?" asked Private, curiously.

"Well Private " said Skipper " I had to rely on love,"

And with that said, Skipper began sharing his story about Majack and the nightmare world. Little knowing that a terror was coming back soon to haunt him.