Here comes a chapter that was also inevitable, but by pure design of this story as a prequel to the movies and show. And now that, by time moving forward, it's November 15th 2008, it's time to sync up with the show. And for those of you who have followed my stories, you know what that means.

CHAPTER 17 – Transferring

(P moving to Diana) Something was telling me to get up, so I did. I groggily opened my eyes and stretched out my paws as I woke up. I looked around the cave and saw my loving husband and two sweet little girls. They had grown up so much since I first had Marlene over 13 years ago and had Emily nearly that long ago.

I immediately thought back to the strange prophecy Sebastien and I had gotten last year. I didn't know how long I had with the kids until we were separated from them, but Sebastien and I were taking that Otter's advice to our hearts. We focused completely on the children when the time warranted. We weren't helicoptering over them, but always displayed true emotions of love.

Today, Sebastien and I were going to do something we should have done a long time ago. We were going to begin helping our daughters leave the aquarium. Since they were born in captivity, they could possibly go feral and cause damage around Monterey. I shivered with the thought that either of them could be put down. I was confident that the scenario would never happen. *

As I was thinking to myself, Sebastien started to wake up. I gave him a kiss, helping him wake up. He kissed me back, knowing it was me. Right as we were lost in each other's eyes, the children began to wake up too. "Good morning Marlene and Emily," we said happily to them.

"Good morning Mom and Dad," they said to us, trying to get more awake. They finished stretching and now seemed to be ready for the day. "So what's the plan today Mom and Dad?" Marlene asked us. "Especially since the aquarium is closed for today?" Emily added.

Just as we were about to tell them, we all suddenly got hungry. "How about we tell you over breakfast?" Sebastien asked the kids, making them blush. "Sure, that sounds fine," Marlene said. With that, we left the cave and headed to our feeding area.

The keepers were right there as usual, waiting for us. We were all eager for breakfast, even though we weren't going to be performing for any guests today. Everyone dispersed, but the keepers stayed with us. They looked sad, mostly glancing at Marlene. That had me worried. Was today the day she was going to be taken from us? I was so not ready for this day.

"You four, we have some bad news," the male keeper said. "Marlene, you're being transferred to a new zoo today, effective immediately," the female keeper said, confirming Sebastien's and I's worst fears. "But I like it here!" Marlene exclaimed, not happy with this. ** The keepers could tell that much from whatever our words sounded like to them.

"We're really sorry Marlene, but this zoo needs an Otter urgently and they specifically requested you," the male keeper said. *** "No way," Marlene said, running into our cave, away from all this nonsense. We all followed, even though Sebastien and I knew this was inevitable.

Unfortunately, Marlene fell right into a trap the jerk owner had set up in case this happened. "Mom! Dad! Emily!" Marlene cried helplessly. "Now you stay put you three, she's coming with me," the owner said. "I love you so much Mom, Dad, and Emily. I will come back one day!" Marlene cried as she was being taken away from us. "We love you too Marlene!" we cried to her, breaking down into tears.

"Marlene almost wiggled to freedom, but she was caught and gripped tighter. "Now settle down, Otter, you're going to…" the owner said, before cutting the sound off by closing the back panel. That absolutely broke Sebastien and I. While we knew our daughter was inevitably going to be taken from us, we were hoping to know where she would go so we could get there in the future. Sebastien, Emily, and I all got into a tight hug and proceeded to cry for hours over the loss of our daughter and sister. Our family was one member short.

(P to Marlene) "Now settle down Otter, you're being transferred to New York, so rest up. You're going to need it for your long trip," the owner said to me. I continued to try and squirm away. I wanted to get back to my family. My parents and sister, this entire place was the only home I had ever known. I didn't want it all taken away from me and I wasn't going to give up without a fight.

But every time I fought, the owner gripped harder. It got so hard that I got very disoriented. I was placed into a wooden box and it was nailed shut. Through my mind, my entire life flashed before my eyes.

I remembered everything from when I was a little girl until now and cried. My life was over. I wanted to go home, but was being stolen from it. Some day I would get back. Someday, I would find my sister and my parents again.

Poor, poor everyone. This day was inevitable, but it's still very heartbreaking. Now that Marlene is on her way to New York (and the show), I only have a few chapters left. But don't forget to leave a review for this one! And before you leave until next time, don't forget to look at my notes.

* Marlene has gone feral in the show and was nearly caught in Littlefoot. Thankfully, she overcame it in that episode. And, of course, in my FanFiction, she can control it and use it as a weapon.

** I'm chalking up Marlene talking to these keepers while not talking to Alice because Alice doesn't pay nearly as enough attention to anything as they do, except for the Penguins. And the fact that her control was taken away during the show, and her behaviors changed because of it.

*** Now I know in Book 5, the Pengotters and I noted that Alice doesn't request specific animals, but she was under control from the creators of the movies and show at this point.