He's my home | Marlex

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Marty's Pov

Alex was screaming in his sleep, sat down on the chair where he usually did to wait for the penguins. I climbed up the stairs smiling brightly. It was his birthday and I was so excited to be able to take him out of that state of pessimism he always had since that day after we moved to our own pride. I took him from the arms and shook him "Wake up! Wake up Aly-Al! Wake up!"

He woke up with a big gasp, feeling gripped out of his nightmare. "Marty! Marty it was horrible!" He said, trying to recover his breath. "That same nightmare again, huh?" I asked with my hoof on my hip. He nodded and explained to me the same dream he had explained over and over again. I didn't even listen to him this time. I couldn't let him be sad about the pengiuns, not on his birthday

"Relax Alex, Relax. Cause I've got a surprise for you!" I said, grinning. "Is it the penguins?" He gasped. "Are they coming to take us home?" He stood up and started to look around with his binoculars. "Nope" I said pushing him back down. "It's the next best thing" He sighed and took his whiteboard. "Another day bites the dust" He said, but I took him with me before he could draw another line on the board

Alex's Pov

Marty took me away from my chair and started guiding me through the savannah, his hoof in my eyes so that I couldn't see anything. He was talking excitedly as he guided me, telling me where to go, but failing as I hit my head against a branch. I grunted and put my hands on my head in pain. Still he continued guiding me until he uncovered my eyes, letting me fall on the floor.

I was so mad at him. At least until I looked up and saw my present. "Happy birthday babe!" He said excitedly. My eyes opened wide as I saw a small replica of New York. I laughed happily and started to run through it, looking at all the places which I loved and missed so much. I smiled with nostalgia as I saw the zoo. There was a small me and a small Marty, as well as a small Melman and Gloria. I couldn't help but start crying. I was so happy and sad at the same time. "You guys. You've both made and ruined my day" I told them

"Make a wish sweetheart" Gloria said as she handed me my cake. I blew the candle, thinking about going back home. Suddenly Julian, Maurice and Mort came out of the cake. "Your wish has come true!" Julian said. I rolled my eyes. Gloria threw the cake away after a while, sick of their terrible humor. "Alex, what was your wish?" She asked gently. I explained her that my only wish was to go back home. I loved Africa, but I belonged in New York and that would never change. "I love this, but it's not the real thing" I ended up saying, looking at the little mud figures.

Marty's Pov

Alex wanted to go home so bad. I didn't even know what to do to cheer him up anymore and after all we had gone through together I started to think that it was impossible that I would loose him. Still I was incredibly scared of it. I had to try to make him see that it was impossible to go back and there was only one way to do it: with cruel humor. I knew I could hurt him, but I had to try. "Well that's because it's a mud model Alex, it's not actually New York. I hope that was clear"

"What are we doing?" He asked. "Here we are relaying on the penguins to come back for us but... we should just go to Monte Carlo and get them" My heart raced, but hopefully Melman made one of his comments before he could notice my fear. "How do a lion, a zebra, a giraffe and a hippo walk into a casino in Monte Carlo?" He asked. "I don't know. Ask the rabbi!" I joked. "Hey I'm serious" Melman answered. My attempts were worthless. Alex had still that enthusiastic smile on his face and I knew he wouldn't give up in trying to convince us.

"Come on. We can do it. We can do anything. It's us" He said, looking into my eyes. I couldn't help but agree with him. It was us, in fact it was us. Why was I so scared to loose him? I knew he would never let me down. "We're us!" I said. He smiled brightly at me. "Yeah that's right, we've gone half way around the world. Compared to that Monte Carlo is just a hop, skip and a swim away" I nodded, Melman smiled and Gloria giggled.

"To home" He said, putting his paw on the middle the circle we were forming. "To home" I said, putting my hoof on his paw. Everybody joined us. Even Julian did, although he was clearly more excited to try a cheeseburger than to go back to New York.

Alex's Pov

I went to my parent's pride a while later. It was difficult to come back and I felt how the lions stared at me as I passed by. Some of the looks were cold ones, but there were others that showed pity. Everybody knew. I looked down as I felt all those looks on me, trying to investigate me. It felt so bad to be judged in that way, but it was soon going to be over. I just had to say goodbye to my parents and then I would be able to be free for once

I arrived at my parent's room and sighed deeply. It was difficult to say goodbye to them after having been without them for so long, but I missed New York so much

My mother smiled softly at me. "Alakay!" She said. "Hey mom" I said gently. My Parents walked to me and hugged me. "I need to tell you something..." I explained. "Is it Mackunga? Has he threatened you again?!" My father asked quite madly. "No dad" I answered "It's not that it's... it's something me and my friends have been thinking about for a while... We want to go back home, we want to go back to New York..."