The Little Otter

Chapter 1: "Just A Little Black Magic"

Marlene sat on the cold, hard floor of her habitat. Even from here she could hear Skipper's loud commando voice shouting out orders. She guessed she should be happy that Kitka was gone from Skipper's life, but her heart was somewhere else. All she had really proved was that he could never love a mammal. There were just too many differences between them for anything to ever work out. Why couldn't she have been born a…

'No,' she thought. 'Don't wish for it, you'll just break your own heart.' A single tear rolled down her cheek. 'Too late…'

"Hey Marlene!" The Otter jerked forward. Through her sobbing, she hadn't even heard someone coming up. She hurriedly wiped away the tears with the back of her already soaked hand, and stood to face the visitor.

King Julian. Oooh great. Just the man she didn't want to see.

"So uh... I was wondering if you would like to come visit the king?"

"I hate Sundays…" Marlene grumbled to herself. To the lemur, she said "Look Julian, it's not a good time."

"Anytime is good party time for the King!"

"Not now." She growled back before turning away and sitting on the edge of her bed.

He didn't leave though. No one could turn down a king THAT easily! He slid up next to Marlene, legs crossed and hands behind his head. He looked at her expectantly, just waiting for the miserable otter to spill the beans the way ALL females did. Seriously, it seemed like they could never stop talking about their "emotional problems".

Marlene sighed. He wouldn't leave until she told him what was wrong. And what the heck, it might feel good to get this off her chest.

"It's about Skipper," she started off, talking quickly to get it over with. "I don't think he could ever love a mammal so I was just wishing I were a… penguin instead of a lousy otter!"
She turned her face away and waited for Julian's harassment.

"You wish to be a silly, flightless bird instead of an attractive otter!? You other animals are crazy in the head."

Marlene clenched her hands into fists and was about to let out a big rant on how she never should have said anything, when she was interrupted.

"But I do know of something that would make this wish a reality." Her ears perked up. Was this true, or was it more of Julian's crazy talk?

"What… what do you mean?"

"Oh, just a little… black magic. I learned it from my great, great, great, great, great, aunt's cousin-in-law… twice removed."

"Right… so uh, what exactly does this 'black magic' do?"

"It transforms you into anything you want! With the usual possible side effects of…"
But Marlene didn't hear anything after that. Transform you? Into ANYTHING you want!? This was her dream come true. She could be turned into a penguin and finally be with Skipper! All she had to do was get King Julian to… wait a second.

"And uh… what's in it for you?" The "king" raised his eyebrows. That otter knew him too well.

"How about… if you don't get the Skipper penguin to fall in love with you in one week, you belong to me?"

"What happens if I DO get Skipper to fall in love with me?"

"You have to share a true love's kiss before midnight on the seventh day. And if that happens, you will stay a penguin forever."

Marlene thought it through. Skipper could be a tough one to crack but, her being a penguin too, it shouldn't be that hard… right? But if she failed… It just wasn't a good idea. So maybe it was her heart speaking when she looked straight into the lemur's eyes and said "Deal".

"Ooo! I got to get my mojo on!! Meet me at my place in ten minutes!" He winked and leapt out of the habitat before Marlene could wrap her paws around his throat.



Ten minutes later a furry brown head poked around a big concrete wall. Marlene had to admit it; Julian really did know how to "get his mojo on". The place was covered in stuff you would find in one of those old movies about witch craft and sorcerers. He even had his own little brewing vat sitting above a small fire. Which of course was being stirred by the tinier lemur, Mort. But he looked happy doing it, she was sure if she asked he would reply "I LOVE stirring!".  Next to the vat, waving a big fan to keep the fire going, was the more reasonable Maurice.

Finally, the big man himself stepped out wearing some sort of cape and dark make up around his eyes. Probably to make himself look more mysterious, but it wasn't giving off that effect. Instead, Marlene had to look away to keep from giggling.

"Marlene, take a seat!" She sat down quickly on an old wicker chair that was nearly in two pieces.

"Let's just get this over with!"

"Alright miss no patience." He stalked over to the vat and, pushing Mort off the little step stool, grabbed the ladle and poured it into a small plastic cup.

"What IS that stuff? It smells horrible!" Marlene wrinkled her nose.

"Family recipe." Julian spit out before she could question any further.  "Now… there's a slight catch to this…"

Slight catch? Marlene rolled her eyes. Of course there was. "What is it Julian?"

"You… will lose your voice. But that will disappear in one week's time! No worries!"

"What!? But how am I suppo-"  She was cut off when the cup was smashed against her mouth and the foul tasting liquid rushed down her throat. She had no choice but to swallow the gruel.

She coughed and sputtered until her throat was clear. But when she opened her mouth to yell some not so kind words at the lemur, nothing came out. She barely had time to lift her hand to her throat before her eyes rolled back and she hit the ground. Last thing she remembered was a lemur's face leaning over her, whispering "Good luck Marlene. I'll make a nice cozy throne for you. Riiiiight next to my own."


Then everything was black.