Chapter 6: Aladdin's Family

Marvin was still sobbing as he strode through the icy plains, his face hot and soaked with tears, his eyes glowing with red pain. He stood next to a frozen lake and stared down into it, looking deeply into his glowing red eyes, horribly standing out in his reflection. "I hate being different, I want normal eyes like everyone else." He squeaked through his strained voice box, before walking further up the plains. He had nowhere to go. He could not go back to school, and he could not go home. If his mother found out he'd skipped school her anger would be terrifying and so would his father's. Marvin came up to a large pile of snow. He looked left and right and then sunk his face into the thick and harshly cold snow. "There, now no one can see them. I will stay like this for my whole life!" Marvin huffed as he began to shiver.

At the same time as all of this was happening, Aladdin was happily walking down the paths with his monkey Abu. He noticed Marvin and waved with a wide grin. "Hello young martian."

"Hello sir." Marvin responded.

Aladdin immediately stopped confused at the sight of the young martian with his face in the snow. "Loose something kid?" Aladdin asked.

"No sir." Marvin then quickly emerged from the snow, no longer able to take the immense cold on his face. He rubbed the snow off his face as his eyes watered with both sadness and cold. He sneezed and then looked up at Aladdin, his eyes still glowing red. "You're Marvin, aren't you?" Asked Aladdin.

"Yes sir." Marvin answered, now afraid. Aladdin was his father, Z9's, boss; Aladdin was sure to tell Z9 that Marvin was out of school and he would be in big trouble. However, to Marvin's surprise, Aladdin was totally the opposite. "You look cold son." Aladdin said as he took a red scarf from under his purple vest and wrapped it around Marvin's small neck. "I understand you want to be on my flying team like your father?" Asked Aladdin.

"You would not want me on your team sir, not with these eyes." Sighed Marvin.

"But I think your eyes are wonderful, their enough to light up the world." Abu nodded in agreement with this statement from Aladdin.

"But everyone at school laughs at me and calls me names. It makes me angry and hurts my feelings sir."

Aladdin smiled and came down to Marvin's level, wrapping his arm around his small stature. "We're all different on the outside Marvin. But what counts young martian, what really counts is what is inside our hearts. And I know hearts don't come any bigger than yours."

Marvin smiled slightly, starting to feel slightly better. "Remember Marvin…" Aladdin started before breaking out into song.

Aladdin:
I consider everyone in my kingdom, every toon that lives here. Part of my family.
So, listen up and I'll fill your cup. With hope and harmony.

Aladdin started to walk towards his toy factory with Marvin following slowly behind him. Abu was bouncing around them, singing himself in his monkey language.

Abu:
Do-do, do-do, do-do, do do-do, do-do, do, do-do, do-do, do, do-do, do.

The three of them quickly made it to the factory, the workers were working as diligently as ever. Bender immediately recognised Marvin, even after all of the years since he visited the factory. Bender started to follow Aladdin and Marvin, in order to see Marvin again; despite the fact Marvin most likely would not recognise him. Fry and Leela followed Bender to see what he was up to.

Aladdin:
Everybody's a somebody in Aladdin's family tree. Everyone has a place in my extended family. So, don't look so glum, my little martian chum. Everybody counts, in small and big amounts.

Bender:
In small and great amounts.

Aladdin, Fry, Leela and Bender:
In Aladdin's family!

Marvin and Aladdin left the factory floor to a room containing Aladdin's magic carpet and the other transports for the other workers. Marvin was fascinated with the vehicles. He ran on impulse to the small, dirty-green, triangular space shuttle; coincidentally the one his father drove every year. He climbed inside, full of life and joy, cheered up and started to play with the controls: fantasying about driving a similar vehicle one day himself.

Aladdin:
It takes more than muscle to deliver Christmas gifts, you gotta rustle up a bit of courage son. Put your nose to the grindstone and apply the little faith it takes that one day you will fly and take right up to the sky. And I know one day you will do it, if you put your mind to it.

Aladdin then slowly lifted Marvin from the shuttle and smoothly put him on the ground and held his hand. Aladdin then walked Marvin to the toy factory, unable to take his eyes of Marvin's joyfully glowing eyes. Marvin was led to the area of completed gifts. He was placed on a swing set made for his classmate Bugs. It was tall and metallic with plastic carrots placed on the top and a carrot seat. Aladdin gave Marvin a couple of pushes on it to help set him off, until Marvin could do it himself. Marvin relished the joyful flight and the tickly butterflies in his stomach as he swung quickly back and forth.

Aladdin:
Everybody's a somebody in Aladdin's family tree. Everyone has a spot, in my extended family. Here's the secret potion, it takes devotion, you have it in your heart. You've got a great head start, and that makes you a part of my extended family tree. Consider yourself…

Marvin:
Consider myself

Aladdin and Marvin:
In Aladdin's family.

Aladdin smiled, relieved that Marvin had cheered up considerably. "Will I be seeing you at the Christmas Eve launch Marvin?" Aladdin asked, almost hypnotised by the swing.

"Yes, I'll be there. Wahoo!" Marvin excitedly exclaimed as he continued to swing high above the factory floor.

Aladdin laughed and left Marvin on the swing as he proceeded towards the phone, just outside of the room. Aladdin called the elementary school where he spoke to the secretary Marge Simpson, he could hear Tyranhee in hysterics on the other end of the phone. He informed Marge that Marvin was with him at his factory and was safe and asked her to send Tyranhee there. After Aladdin had put down the phone, he slowed down Marvin's swing, offering him milk and cookies which Marvin gratefully accepted.

Marvin quietly dunked his cookies into his milk. The cookies were shaped like stars, reindeers and Christmas trees. "Can I have a swing like that, please?" Marvin asked politely as he munched on the wet, milky reindeer shaped cookie.

"I'm sure I can do that." Aladdin agreed.

"Thankyou."

The door then opened and Marvin wisped under the table, concealing himself in the red table cloth. "Marvin! Marvin!" Yelled the frantic, familiar voice of Marvin's mother, Tyranhee. Marvin had forgotten the fact he had ran off out of school and that his mother and teacher would be looking for him and this would mean big trouble, due to all of the fun he'd had. He was originally planning to leap out from under the table and scare the visitor, he had a hobby of jumping out of hiding spots and scaring people. The looks of shock on his victim's faces never got old, and because Marvin was so small it was easy for him to do.

Guiltily he slipped out from under the table and attempted to sneak out of the kitchen and seek refuge behind a pile of gifts or a machine. Tyranhee however spotted him and picked her son up with quick relief. "Marvin! I was so worried!" She yelled rapidly with sweet relief.

"I believe there has been an incident in the classroom today." Informed Aladdin.

"I know, I've heard!" Responded Tyranhee, cuddling her son tight to her chest.

"I take Mrs. Nala has dealt with it?"

"Yes, she has. I'm still quite cross with her though. How could a grown lion like her not be able to catch up with a small six-year-old boy?!"

"I think she was trying to calm down the class, and she has not noticed Marvin has gone until it was too late."

"I suppose so. She is a good teacher and she's dealt with the children involved. It's just frightening not knowing where you're six-year-old is in such cold weather. I don't think anyone would do harm to him, but it's a large place and he could get lost and if he got hurt, I would have no idea of his whereabouts."

Marvin burst into tears when he heard his mother's words. "Sorry mommy." He sobbed; he had not called Tyranhee "mommy" since he was three.

Tyranhee instantly felt guilty. "It's alright son, it's not your fault. But if that happens again, go to the school office, don't run away, ok?"

"Ok."

"Now let's get you home." Tyranhee smiled, before carrying Marvin home as Marvin munched on his remaining cookies over her back.

Z9 was relieved to see his son home, warm and safe. He took Marvin from Tyranhee immediately as Tyranhee went to relax on the couch, now that she could relax. Z9 just cuddled his son tight, and carried him into the kitchen to help make a duck dinner. "I think you should have the day off school tomorrow." Z9 said. Marvin nodded in agreement. Just as the three martians were about to eat, there was a knock at the door. Tyranhee answered the door as Marvin and Z9 were setting the table.

At the door was Lilly and her mother Lauren. Lauren was a tall martian woman with dark blue hair and deep blue eyes, much like her daughter. She was wearing a long pink dress with a pink fluffy coat and baby pink ballet flats with golden bracelets. "Hello, I'm sorry to bother you. Lilly said there was an incident at school today and she was a bit concerned and wanted to see Marvin." Said Lauren.

"Of course. Come on in." Tyranhee greeted, letting Lauren and Lilly enter the palace. "Marvin is in the dining room, it's just in the next room dear." Tyranhee informed Lilly, she then turned to Lauren as Lilly skipped away. "Would you like a cup of tea?"

"Yes please", answered Lauren.

Lilly opened the heavy dining room door and filled with joy as she saw Marvin sat at the table, dipping duck into orange sauce with his father. "Marvin!" She yelled joyfully.

"Lilly!" Marvin colourfully responded back, jumping down from his chair and into Lilly's arms.

"I'm glad you're ok. Mrs. Nala was really worried. Mrs. Nala was very cross, she kept everyone in after school, except me because I didn't do nothing." Informed Lilly.

Marvin did not comment on this. He smiled and asked Lilly, "You wanna see my room?"

"Yes please."

Marvin and Lilly then bounced up stairs to Marvin's space themed bedroom. It had grey carpet themed like the moon and dark blue walls and ceilings with golden stars painted on the walls. He had a rocket shaped wardrobe; bright green drawers with rockets which resembled his wardrobe as knobs; a small red children's TV; a play station, two yellow toy boxes and a rocket shaped bed with his teddy from the toy factory from Bender on it alongside a green bedside table which had two drawers the same as his drawer set with a flask for drinks and next to it a small laptop computer and a children's iPad.

Marvin turned on his TV and put in his 64 Zoo Lane DVD on and sat and watched with Lilly, together on his bed. He pulled a half-melted packet of chocolate balls from under his pillow and shared them with Lilly. Marvin's eyes glowing with joy, reflecting on the stars on his walls. Two hours later Lauren came up stairs with Tyranhee to collect Lilly. She picked up her sleeping daughter, covered in chocolate off the bed, carefully moving Marvin's arm from her and replacing her with the teddy bear. Tyranhee slipped Marvin into the blankets herself, leaving him in his play clothes. She then turned off the TV and put Marvin's green, alien shaped night light on so that her son did not wake up in the night afraid. Tyranhee showed Lilly and Lauren out whilst Z9 filled Marvin's Story Bots flask with coca cola.