Chapter 10: A Kidnap, An Avalanche and A New Friend
The crisp morning snow crunched under Lilly's feet; she had searched everywhere for Marvin with no avail. She then came across an ice-bridge and decided to cross it thinking that maybe Marvin might be over it. She struggled her way over the slippy ice, using the cold, metal railings which were frighteningly close to the dark valley below to keep her up.
Meanwhile Maria was in her ice castle, staring with intent at her crystal ball, he eyes narrowed with a haunting smile. She laughed a cold and evil cackle before commanding Iago to get her sleigh and dogs ready.
Lilly reached the end of the bridge and called Marvin's name out into the wilderness. Suddenly a green Martian bloodhound emerged over the hill, snarling and licking its lips with vicious intentions. It then advanced on Lilly, followed by a beige bulldog and a brown and white basset hound. Both equally as intimidating and foaming at the mouth. Lilly ran readily in all directions around the snowy wilderness, panting and screaming in fear at the top of her lungs, but was always cornered by one of the dogs. Eventually Lilly was chased to Maria who was blocking the bridge with Iago. "Naughty, naughty." Squawked Iago.
Maria's smile was so haunting it could haunt the nightmares of any grown adult. "You crossed my bridge." She stated in a voice that was hauntingly cold. She then whisped out her wand. "Thanks to you I get to through the storm that will burry Aladdin for good." She then used her wand to conjure shackles around Lilly's neck, wrists and ankles and used the chain hanging from Lilly's neck to drag her back to the ice castle. Fortunately, Babs, Shirly, Fife and Melody who were now 33 years old were walking together on a morning walk with Babs' and Buster's son Benjamin (7), and Plucky and Shirley's son Quince (8). Fife and Hampton were in the process of adopting a child and Mary was single. The four of them had watched in horror from the other side of the bridge as Lilly had been captured by the devious Maria and decided they had to find Marvin and get him to use the wonderful light in his eyes to save Lilly and Christmas. They always knew Marvin's light was special and now it was time to use it.
Back in the dark ice castle Lilly was in the castle dungeons and had been shoved into a cell by Maria and locked in prisoner. Lilly was left alone in the dungeon and could do nothing but stare out between the bars in despair and think to herself. "What have I done?"
The terrible slam and clatter of the dungeon bars had travelled to Marvin and Sam's cabin. Sam awoke to a shaking and rumbling from outside of his door. Terrified he woke Marvin up. "Marv, wake up, avalanche!" He yelled over the horrible noise. Marvin quickly picked up his back pack and the pair ran out of the cabin together and watched in despair as the cabin was engulfed.
"Oh no. The cabin his gone. We can't get back in." Sam stated with sadness.
"It could be worse Sam." Marvin responded.
"Really, how could it be worse Marvin? You tell me how this could possibly be worse!" Sam yelled furiously, jumping up and down in pure anger.
"Calm down now Sam, we could be trapped inside the cabin."
Sam calmed down. "Well done Marvin. You're absolutely right. Come on, we'll find ourselves an even better home."
Marvin and Sam walked off into the distance, determined to find themselves somewhere else to stay. Ironically within five minutes of Marvin and Sam embarking on their journey, Garfield and Odie passed by on their sled, yelling Marvin and Lilly's names into the snow that used to be Sam's cabin. Odie was driving the shed whilst Garfield was searching the kingdom far and wide through binoculars.
"You see anything?" Asked Odie.
"Nothing but snow." Answered Garfield.
"We have to find them Garfield, we can't let Aladdin down." Odie then drove in the opposite direction of where Sam and Marvin had just walked on, hoping to find Marvin, Lilly or both.
Marvin and Sam had been walking for 8 hours and the sun was starting to set over a kingdom when they found a well kempt and warm cottage standing alone in the snow. "Look Sam." Marvin stated, noticing the cottage and pointing at it with his frozen finger.
Sam smiled, hoping that this was not too good to be true and approached the door and opened it, it was not locked. Sam was instantly warmed by the homely glow and the heat of a fire. "This looks like a cosy little place, come on Marv." Said Sam, insisting the two moved in. Sam then slumped on to the flower-patterned couch, "See Marvin, I told you we'd find a better place." Sam yawned as he sunk into the cushioning.
"A slight problem with this Sam, I think someone already lives here." Marvin whispered, eyeing up a shadow which was creeping down the stairs. A black and white tuxedo cat revealed themselves. "Suffering succotash, what are you doing in my house?" He spat.
Marvin did not know what to say or do. Sam intruded in. "I'm sorry to bother you good sir, but we have recently discovered that your house is no longer safe for habitation and you need to vacate immediately, there's an avalanche on the way." Sam lied.
"Oh yeah! What makes you so sure?" The cat asked, standing over Sam, feeling that this was a trick.
"Because me any my partner here are part of the home safety scheme." Answered Sam, whipping a fake flyer in and out of his cowboy hat. Marvin nodded in agreement.
"Oh no, where will a pussycat go!" Sylvester sobbed.
"Well my friend, if you proceed down the road to your left and continue on that course, there is a perfectly good cabin there all ready and furnished for you." Marvin answered. "Our colleagues and ourselves will bring your possessions to the said cabin within 1-3 days."
"Oh thank you, thank you so very much." The cat jumped for joy and then left his home to the Martian and the cowboy. Marvin and Sam watched as Sylvester left and burst out laughing as soon as he was out of ear shot. They then grabbed food and drink from Sylvester's cupboards and fridge and eat and drank until their hearts content.
They eventually both fell asleep, warm on the couch, but were rudely awoken in the early hours to a high-pitched meow and the scratching on the couch which tore the cotton and missed the terrified Marvin and Sam by inches. "You tricked me!" Yelled the cat, bearing his claws. Sam ran from the room and hid in the basement, whilst Marvin stood his ground pointing his gun. Sylvester then went from angry to scared. "Ok, ok Martian, I have a little boy, he's 10, please don't shoot the gun. I'll go! I'll go! Just let me get my son, please!"
Marvin then lowered his gun. "I'm sorry Mr. Cat, but my friend and I's home was avalanched over yesterday morning. We were just cold and hungry with no-where to go." Sylvester then took pity on the Martian and his friend. "Why didn't you just say so, you're welcome to stay. I'm Sylvester."
"Thankyou. I'm Marvin and the other guy is Sam." Marvin thanked and then went to get Sam from the basement.
"Father, what's happening?" Came the voice of a child, from upstairs. A small kitten was crouching on the stairs, a teddy in his arms. The kitten resembled his father, like an identical mini version of him.
"It's ok JR, go back to bed." Sylvester called to his son. At this moment, Marvin and Sam were just coming back from the basement. "Let me take him." Marvin called from across the room and escorted the kitten back to bed.
Sylvester went back to sleep in his bed and Junior went back to sleep in his. Sam was relaxed on the couch. "Hey Marv, how did you sort it out with the big guy?" He asked.
"I just told the truth." Marvin answered, staring off into space. Sam then nodded off. Marvin was the only member of the house who could not sleep. He thought intently of his parents, Lilly and Bender and how ashamed they would be if they saw his behaviour today. He was the only one who did not fall back to asleep and within two hours everyone was up.
Sylvester escorted his son to Cartoon Elementary whilst Sam and Marvin fixed the hole in the couch. The three men then spent the day watching movies and playing games until it was time for Sylvester to get JR back from school whilst Sam and Marvin made the tea. Marvin managed to put together a great duck dinner for all four. "When did you learn to cook like that Marv?" Sam asked.
Marvin sighed sadly, "father and I did it all of the time when I was a kid. Especially if I'd had a rough day at school." Sam looked at Marvin. "The other kids teased me about my eyes a lot in first grade. They all stopped after our teacher cracked down on it and moved on, except for one, Daffy he's called. He has not changed a bit since kindergarten."
"Don't let people like that bother you Marv. You're my friend and I love ya. As a friend, of course." Sam said, trying not to imply anything further than just friendship.
The four boys sat down to tea. Sam and Sylvester did the washing up whilst Marvin helped JR with his homework for Miss. Ivy, the 5th grade teacher. Marvin remembered Miss. Ivy from he was JRs age, that woman sure loved plants.
That night Marvin was straight to sleep. He was sleeping on the couch, alongside Sam. Marvin tossed and turned and made struggling noises in his sleep which astonishingly did not wake Sam. Marvin was suddenly back six-years-old and surrounded by the devilish laughing of his first-grade classmates. "Marvin the red-eyed reject aint never going to be a flyer!" Cruelly laughed the six-year-old Daffy, his face devilish with sharp red horns and glowing evil eyes and fangs covered in blood. All of his classmate's faces were that of demons, except Lilly's which was blank and featureless, not even her eyes were visible. It was something you could not unsee. "Hey Marvie try the circus instead!" Cackled a demonic Lola.
Suddenly Marvin was back to age 21 and in the Martian games, on a sled, back on the race track. It was barren, except for himself and Daffy. "Lilly's only nice to you, because she feels sorry for you!" A monstrous adult Daffy stated from his sled, covered in warts and boils and rotten teeth patrooding from his beak with red demon eyes and horns. Marvin then went to respond, but was deliberately knocked from his sled by Daffy and went flying into the snow, landing with a thud. He tried to get up but he could not move. "Those eyes of his, were an accident." He heard his father's voice echo through the stadium, before the dream sled rode over his body, forcing him to wake back up on the couch.
Marvin jolted awake with force and a scream. He looked over to Sam who he could just make out by outline in the dark. Sam only just stirred slightly. Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, Marvin stepped outside, he tears flooding his face from his glowing red eyes. He thumped the tears away as thick snow was falling on his face. In the distance he saw four coloured lights, heading his way. "What?" He asked himself confused. Out of the darkness came Babs Bunny, Shirly McLoon, Fife Le Fume and Mary Melody.
"Hello Marvin." Babs greeted.
"Sorry, but, have we met?" Asked Marvin confused.
"We are admirers of your wonderful eyes." Said Mary.
"Wonderful?" Marvin questioned; he had never heard anyone describe his eyes in such a way.
"Everyone has a light that shines from within." Said Babs.
"But only a lucky few can make their light shine bright enough for the whole world to see." Added Mary.
"Now Marvin listen closely." Started Babs.
"Your friend Lilly is in terrible danger." Finished Mary.
"What!" Marvin jumped in shock.
"She's in Maria's ice dungeon." Informed Shirley.
"And only you can save her!" Finished Fife.
"How?" Marvin asked, determined and anxious.
"Your light will save her Marvin, the light from your eyes, but you must learn how to use it." Informed Babs. "Close your eyes Marvin." Marvin was confused, but did as he was told. "Think about everyone you love and everyone who loves you. Let this love be the light of your heart, and let it flow out as the brightest light."
Marvin thought intently about Lilly and his parents. "Show us the light Marvin." Chanted Shirley, Fife and Mary."
"Show us the light." Added Babs.
Marvin thought harder, as hard as he could. "You can do it." Encouraged Shirley, Fife and Mary.
Suddenly Marvin felt an intense heaviness in his eyes, he opened them and a large red, flashing light came surging out. He filled up with joy. "I did it! I did it! Oh goody!" He smiled. He then looked out and noticed the three girls had gone, their work here was done. Marvin then marched into the house, turned on the lights and woke Sam.
"What is it Marvin, it's the middle of the night you know?" Grumbled Sam, annoyed.
"Sam, I need your help." Marvin said.
It was now 4am and Marvin, Sam and Sylvester were stood on the edge of the dreaded Maria's bridge. Granny had been called to watch Sylvester Junior and had travelled to Sylvester's home quickly and was now sleeping in Sylvester's bed with her pet Tweety by her side in his cage. Throughout the journey Tweety did not wake. He would get a surprise when he woke up in the cat's house. But Tweety was at a contrast to where Marvin, Sam and Sylvester were standing, shivering in coldness and fear.
"This is as far as I go Marv. I still think saving your friend is a good cause but…" Sam started, considering a good excuse.
"There is a secret way into the ice castle through the ice catacombs." Informed Sylvester.
"Yeah, but those who go into those catacombs, never come out." Sam stated grimly.
"I have to do this guys, I have to save Lilly!" Marvin insisted.
"Then I am coming with you." Added Sylvester.
"I'm begging you Marv, don't do it, as soon as you cross that bridge, Maria's dogs will be all over you!" Sam pleaded.
"I was told to use my light." Said Marvin as his eyes lit up like a red torch. Two read headlights emitting from his eyes. "Follow me Sylvester."
Marvin and Sylvester crossed the bridge as Sam looked on. "You're nuts, the both of you!" He called, then whispered, "good luck" under his breath.