Nix's Tale

By: Aria Breuer

Disclaimer: All material from the 2006 movie "Happy Feet" belongs to George Miller and Warner Brothers Company. All other material not related – from books, other movies, comics, cartoons, games, etc. – belongs to their respected owners. All original material (characters, plot, locations, etc) belongs to the author of this fanfiction one-shot series.

Full Summary: Midquel to The Golden Bell. Ever since his hatching, Nix Patterfoot has always been different, which included his all dark feathers. When he comes to adolescence, Nix becomes friends with Mumble Happyfeet. However, their friendship is short as the Elusive Four Emperor Penguins take a shine to Nix. Will Nix join the Elusive Four, realizing they are more like him than he realized? What of Mumble and Nix's friendship? Alternate Reality.


The idea for this particular story began in The Dark Twilight. It was told by Mumble, but only briefly. Now, the story of Nix will be fleshed out here.


Hatchling, One-Shot

All penguin eggs were born the same way. And inside each egg is an Emperor Penguin with his or her unique song. That is until Memphis, during egg sitting, dropped his egg; he returned to the other male penguins in a frazzle. The Emperor Penguin huddled next to Memphis heard his song. Impressed, the Emperor Penguin asked Memphis, after his song ended:

"Your egg must be special, Memphis," said the Emperor Penguin.

Memphis looked downhearted. "Oh gosh Anson, you don't know what you're talking about."

"That may be, but I can tell already that he is. You're going to be a good father. I just know it," said Anson. He returned to his egg sitting.

It was true: Anson was always the Emperor Penguin with good advice. He was loyal to those who needed him most. But what waited inside Anson's egg was a story all its own. They say a penguin should never, ever drop their egg, but no one ever says what would happen when a rare breed of Emperor Penguin comes along. All Emperor Penguins are born the same way, becoming full-fledged adult penguins with the same features… well, not everyone is born in the same way or manner. In Anson's case, the surprise that awaited him would be something not every Emperor Penguin was familiar with or knew if it was possible.

After the storm passed and a shattering of ice crashed into the sea, the time for the hatching began. Fathers watched as their fluffy grey chicks hatched, excited to see the newborns for the first time. However, Memphis' egg and Anson's egg were slow coming out.

Gloria helped Memphis' egg along, by giving him a beat with her beak. Hatching from the egg were first two blue feet, which tap danced in their uniqueness. After a fall, the baby chick crashed its egg, leaving him in a daze for a few seconds. Gloria, one of the newborns, named newborn chick Mumble, which Memphis let her do. Memphis told Mumble to stop dancing and explained to him it was better some folks not see him dance. Mumble then went to Memphis, his father, to get warm.

Although Mumble had hatched, Anson's egg remained still. Memphis and Mumble came over to see the un-hatched egg. Memphis knew then another egg was lost.

"I'm sorry, Anson," said Memphis.

Anson said, "Yeah. My wife and I will have to make do without a chick this season."

Mumble looked at the egg for a time. Memphis told him, "Son, don't do anything weird."

Anson reassured him, "Oh Memphis, let the boy look."

Mumble told the egg, "Hello in there. We would be grateful if you could come out." He saw a rumble, but then the egg stopped. Determined, Mumble tapped on the egg a few times. More rumbles shook.

Anson and Memphis looked at the egg now. As Mumble kept tapping on the egg, Memphis told Anson, "Looks like this one's late."

"Yes, but he's a coming," said Anson, cheered up. He told the egg, as Mumble continued his tapping on the shell, "Come out now. Let's see you."

After a few more taps, Mumble jumped back as a beak broke the shell. And then came the feet. Just as the chick fell still, Mumble tapped on the shell a couple of times.

"Come on. Don't doze off," said Mumble.

The tapping worked as it started the chick's heart. Mumble stepped back as a smaller chick with black plumage finished breaking his egg. The chick shook himself off, before looking around.

Mumble told the chick, happily, "Hello Nix."

"Mumble," said Memphis, sternly.

Anson said, "It's all right, Memphis. Let the boy name him whatever he likes."

The black-feathered chick looked at Mumble with an excited look. The chick then turned his gaze to Anson.

Memphis told Anson, "That's different. I've never seen a penguin with black feathers."

"I've heard of them. They're a rare breed of Emperor Penguin," said Anson.

The black-feathered chick, Nix, peered up at Anson. He looked so happy and innocent. Anson told him, "Hello Nix, my boy."

"Papa," said Nix.

Memphis told Anson, "Well, he'll do all right." He turned to Mumble. "Come on, son."

Mumble said, "Okay." He turned to Nix, "Goodbye Nix." He followed his father towards the crowd, before getting warm again in Memphis' pouch.

Nix asked Anson, "Am I supposed to be all dark-feathered, Papa? Everyone else is light-feathered."

"You're a rare breed of Emperor Penguin, son. Don't feel ashamed," said Anson. He then said, raising his pouch, "Now, come on. Come and get warm."

Nix did as he was told, settling himself in his father's pouch.

o-o-o

Once everyone was gathered, they waited for the female penguins to return. Nix looked over at Mumble, who looked excited. Nix looked away. He wasn't as determined as Mumble to see his mother, but then Nix could not wait either. Eventually, the female penguins returned, causing Mumble to take off on Memphis. Letting the thought pass, Anson was reunited with his wife. Nix looked at the scene with fascination.

"Rosemary, my darling, you're back," said Anson, showing affection.

"Anson," said Rosemary, moving her long bill in sync with his. She looked at Nix with a motherly gaze. "Is this him? He's all dark-feathered."

"This is our son, Nix. I know he's a rare breed, but we can manage," said Anson.

Nix said, hugging Rosemary's leg, "Mama." His tail moved quickly in excitement.

Rosemary said, "I have something for you. Open up." She passed to Nix the food she digested, giving Nix a chance to eat for the first time that day.

Yes, Nix had met his parents. For a latecomer and the only Emperor Penguin with dark plumage, Nix knew he was different. He did not know yet how much that difference would matter, but it would also lead to Mumble and Nix finding friendship. Of course, I'm getting ahead of myself. For now, parents and son had been united and that was all that mattered at the time.