Birds chirped in the trees. Leaves fell to the ground. Fall was here. Marlene and Antonio were strolling around the zoo. It was early in the morning, an hour before the zoo opened. Everything was quiet until they passed the lemur habitat.

"I am the king, so you do everything I say!" They heard King Julien's voice bellow throughout the zoo.

"I am the king's girlfriend, so don't you think I deserve as much respect as you do?" Tasha screamed back at him. Antonio and Marlene turned to see King Julien glaring down at Tasha who had her ears back. Her eyes were narrowed and she returned her angry gaze at King Julien. Maurice and Mort were watching in the corner.

"No!"

"And why not?"

"Because you're not queen yet!"

"When will I be?"

"When you marry me!"

"Why would I marry some jerk like you?"

"Same thing with me!"

"I am not a jerk!"

"Yeah, you are!"

"I hate you!"

King Julien gasped. He twitched, then pointed at the Ruffed Lemur below. "I now banish you from my kingdom forever!" King Julien announced. The other three lemurs gasped.

"Well, you know what? I don't care!" Tasha started to stomp off until she turned back to her ex-boyfriend. "I am done dealing with you! I will not return until you show me respect! Good-bye!" Tasha angrily threw her crown on the ground then stalked off. When she had her head turned away from the ring-tailed lemur, her eyes welled up with tears. She shook her head furiously but the tears remained. Regret filled King Julien's eyes as he watched her walk away.

"Your Majesty… she's your girlfriend! You can't just send her away just like that!" Maurice and Mort slid out of the corner, still shaking from the previous fight. King Julien's anger returned and he turned to Maurice and Mort.

"Shut up, Maurice! She isn't my girlfriend anymore! She's a lonely loner!" King Julien spat. The two other lemurs cowered with fear.

Tasha spotted Marlene and Antonio and quickly raced up to them.

"Hey guys," her voice cracked. She glanced back at King Julien and noticed he was still yelling at his subjects, then jumped forward, wrapping her arms around Marlene in a big hug. Tears streamed down her face and she cried. Marlene patted her back. "I'm so sad!"

"I know, you guys were perfect for each other!" Marlene replied. Tasha was still hugging Marlene.

"I just wanted him to treat me with respect, like a real girlfriend." Tasha sobbed. "I never knew he would dump me!"

"Neither did I!" Marlene tried to soothe Tasha.

"It's okay, Tasha." Antonio murmured into the Ruffed lemur's ear. Tasha still cried.

"It's gonna be okay, Tasha. Please stop crying. It's going to be okay. You just need a little time to think this through." Marlene told Tasha. She stepped back, wiping her eyes and sniffling.

"Okay," Tasha wept, starting to calm down. Her eyes were red. She must've been crying a lot. "Now I've got no place to go." Antonio and Marlene exchanged glances when Tasha looked at them with hopeful eyes. "Um… may I stay at your place, please?"

Marlene's gaze switched over to Antonio. He shrugged but he had a small smile planted on his face. Marlene smiled back.

"Sure," Marlene said. Tasha forced a weak grin. She looked back at King Julien who was sitting in his throne. He was glaring at his feet. Maurice and Mort sat beneath him, staring at each other with big round eyes. Marlene sighed. She had to fix this, and fast.