Monique's Final Fan Fiction Piece "Take The Damn Fish"

Hey All, here is my final fan fiction piece, I hope you enjoy it. I took a small scene from Happy Feet and put my own spin on it. I struggled a bit cause I'm not really used to working with 'a cannon'. Please be as honest as you can I really don't mind, I need as much constructive criticism as possible :) Thanks and enjoy.

Mumble watched as his graduating class disappeared over the white horizon, he shifted around awkwardly. He could still hear their cheers and laughter being carried back on the breeze, even after their figures had long vanished. He looked on as their excited footprints stretched out over the snow descending into the distance.

All but his.

“This is ridiculous!” his mother said, anger hot in her voice,

“There’s no reason why our son can’t graduate with all the others. So what if he’s a little different?” She placed her warm hands on her sons face, and stroked his cheek. “I don’t care what those old men say, you’re going on that fishing trip” her intense glare soaking into Mumbles face.

Mumble straightened himself and stared down at his mother, a smile rising into his deep blue eyes.

“What are you waiting for kid? You’re going to be late for your graduation party” his father chimed in, giving him a small nudge to the shoulder.

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Mumble jogged through the snow, the distance between the village and shore was quiet a length to walk, but it didn’t bother him, if there was one thing he could do, it was move his feet.

Whispers weaved through Mumble's class as he arrived into the annual fishing grounds, and the disapproving expression which had filled his childhood began appearing in their faces.

"Hi everyone" nerves shaking his voice, but still managing a small smile as they stared awkwardly at him.

 He heard the soft shuffle of feet behind him and turned.

“Hi Mumble” came a small sweet voice, a voice which could only belong to that of-

“Gloria” he had meant it to be louder, but all he had been able to mange was a subtle whisper. She gave a smile which reached into her extravagant brown eyes and took him by the arm “I have found the perfect spot for our very first fish gathering”

Hundreds of students littered the edge of the icy cliff that looked into the shore, fishing lines sinking into the water below.

“This is incredible isn’t it Mumble?” Gloria said softly as her eyes moved across the shore line in the distance, the sun lighting her fare complexion perfectly as her long dark hair moved with the gentle rhythm of the wind.

“For over a thousand years our ancestors have come to this very cliff to gather food for their villages, for their families. And today marks the day that we can finally provide for those that have taken care of us” she spoke with a passion that surprised Mumble, and he could do nothing but stare.

She then looked down into gloved hands as though her thoughts had caught her off guard, and an overwhelming sadness consumed a face of beauty.

“Is something wrong?” asked a concerned Mumble as he leaned towards her, trying to comfort her.

Gloria’s head rose and her sorrow-filled eyes became gentle as she gazed at the fine features of Mumbles face, his jaw was strong and his skin smooth.

“We’re running out of food Mumble” she said as her eyes filled with tears

“Most families in our village haven’t eaten in days, it’s as though the ocean has run out of fish. We’re starving Mumble, our village is starving” she wiped her eyes and gave a sort of nervous laugh, trying to mask her emotion.

Mumble glanced up over the waves that came in from the sea, he really had no idea what to say to a statement so truthful.

So he made the decision not to say anything at all.

"This is your graduation ceremony Gloria, you shouldn't be thinking of things that are so... heavy” she gave more nervous laughter as she smiled up at Mumble.

“So I am going to cheer you up” Mumble said dusting himself off and pulling Gloria to her feet.

“Mumble” She said smiling nervously "What are you doing?"

 Mumble began tap dancing around  her, the beat of his feet echoing across the ice, a wide smile stretching across his face. “Come on Gloria, dance with me” he joked as Gloria began laughing with him.

"Mumble, people are looking at us" And he finally stopped just a few inches in front of her.

“You really are different aren’t you Mumble?” Gloria said tilting her head.

Mumble glanced down at his feet "Sorry Gloria I didn't mean to-"

Gloria cut him off "No Mumble" she smiled up at him, taking a step forward, closing the small gap between them "I like it" and they stared at each other in beautiful silence.

“Gloria. I think you- You’re so-“ Mumble said stumbling through every word, beginning a sentence without really any idea of what he was actually going to say

“You’re so..” as he searched for the ending to his beginning.

“FISH!” Gloria screamed

“You’re so fish” Finished a lost Mumble.

“No Mumble! Fish!” she giggled, before grabbing his hand and they rushed back over to their fishing poles.

The line on the end of his pole was being dragged out to sea, fast.

"Grab it Mumble! Grab it!" Gloria screamed throwing her arms in the air.

Mumble took hold of the pole heaving it backwards and winding the line back in with all his strength. What ever was on the other end of this line, was big. He pulled vigorously as a small crowd of students began gathering around him and sweat began forming on his brow. He could feel the catch coming up close.

He made one last desperate tug before what resembled a small whale came screaming out of the water, and landed on the ice.

A large group had gathered around them now, and there was a slight rumble of cheers and even some applause.

“That is the biggest fish I have ever seen in my life Mumble!” Gloria screamed clapping her hands.

“Look at it!” she cried, joy firmly replanted on her face.

Mumble looked over at her and smiled, then looking thoughtfully at the fish, he picked it up and held it out to Gloria.

 “I want you to have it” he said, a small smile rising in the corners of his mouth.

A shocked look sank into her face, then shaking her head said

“No Mumble, you caught it, you deserve to have it”

He moved closer to her and motioned it towards her

“Yes I did, but now I want you to have it”

She shook her head and pushed the fish back at him

“No Mumble it’s yo-“ she paused, all flattery drained from her face as her eyes narrowed and locked onto three unfamiliar men coming up fast behind Mumble and shoving students out of the way.

“Mumble look out!’ Gloria screamed as one of the men grabbed Mumbles shoulders and threw him to the ground and was now standing over him.

“What’s this we hear about fish?” he hissed down at Mumble, scars carved into his face.

“Look here boss, these here kids have caught themselves a big one” the shortest one said picking up the fish Mumble had dropped.

“It’ll make for a fine meal tonight won’t it sir?” he said  as a disgusting laugh rose from his throat and he turned to walk away, before tripping and falling as Mumble grabbed  his ankle, making a loud thump as he hit the ice.

“Give it back” Mumble said as he picked himself up from the ground and limped towards the fallen intruder.

The three foreigners stood shocked, as Mumble reached down to pick up his fish. But before he could get to it he was grabbed from the back and thrown to the ground yet again, his head hitting the ice hard.

"We don't approve of heroes, boy" One scoffed and drew a knife diving for Mumble who quickly rolled away and the armed man missed what would have been Mumbles chest. Both rising from the ice Mumble tackled the other man to the ground and began striking him in the face, before he himself was ripped away, thrown to the ice and was now being kicked mercilessly.

The entire student body had now gathered to watch the event and he could hear people screaming for help.

He took one blow after the other. Glancing up, he saw his fish an arms length away. Grabbing it, he held it desperately to his chest as the blows kept coming.

Then as quickly as they had started they stopped.

Slowly he lifted his head and saw that the one with the scars on his face had dragged the other two attackers away "What do you two think your doing! We were meant to take his fish not kill him!"

All three of them glanced as they noticed the sea of eyes watching them.
"Too many have seen us, we have to go" and just like that they left, moving quickly across the ice as everyone watched, right up until they disappeared into the white.

They all then turned to a beaten Mumble, whispers once again weaving through the crowd.

"Mumble!" screamed a horrified Gloria as she skidded to Mumbles side placing his beaten face in her lap. He had two large gashes on his forehead and the blood was now running down his face and staining his fur hood, the blood from his nose running over his lips.

Tears streamed down her face as Mumble tried to speak.

"Don't try to talk Mumble, help is coming, ok?" she glanced up into the horizon, Mumble tried once more.

He slowly placed his hand on the ice and brought himself up until he was sitting on his knees facing her.

He wiped the blood from his nose with his sleeve, his left eye was now turning a dark purple. Taking the fish that was clasped against his chest he held it out to her, his hands shaking with pain.

"Please" came his muffled voice

"Please take the damn fish"

Gloria held her hands to her mouth and made what sounded like a sob, but removing her hands, Mumble saw that she was smiling.

She gave a small nod and took the fish lying it across her lap.

"Thank you Mumble" she said softly before throwing her arms around him, as he buried his face in her shoulder and let out a deep breath.

"You're so beautiful" he whispered into her ear, as she held him.

He had finally found the ending to his beginning.

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