A/N: Merry Christmas, everyone! In writing this, I'm challenging myself to attempt shorter works, which aren't what I usually write (so reviews are greatly appreciated!). The goal is to write two one-shots a day for six days, totaling twelve, each corresponding to a different Christmas Carol in some way. Tuesday's might end up being posted a little after midnight, which is technically Wednesday, but all others will be posted on their respective days unless a drastic turn of events occurs. Enjoy!

Silent Night

Clocktower, 2200 hours

Skipper held his binoculars up to his eyes as he looked out across the shadowy expanse of the zoo. The calm, warm feeling of a world at rest took away some of the chill of the night air. Everyone else was falling asleep to the far-off music of carolers practicing in the park.

Silent Night, Holy Night, All is Calm, All is Bright

Skipper felt his eyelids droop slightly and blinked. He had to stay awake- things happened on quiet nights like this. And with Christmas fast approaching…

Christmas. Everyone let their guard down at Christmastime. Everyone trusted everyone else to be embodied with some sort of 'Christmas Spirit' that would magically make them warm-hearted. Ha! He knew better.

Skipper swiveled his gaze to the lemur habitat, where the obnoxious trio snoozed on the bounce house. Even Julien had settled down.

Silent Night, Holy Night, Shepherds Quake, At the Sight

He sighed as snowflakes gently fluttered to the ground, leaning against the clocktower's bell and remembering Private's words to him that morning:

"Christmastime is my favorite holiday. There's so much goodwill and kindness. No one can be untouched by Christmas magic."

Skipper had thrown away the newspaper shortly after so the littlest penguin wouldn't see the story of the toy store robbery.

There was no Christmas magic. Dr. Blowhole would still be plotting revenge on Christmas morning; The Red Squirrel wouldn't have a miraculous conversion; and he was pretty sure the lemurs wouldn't be any less annoying on that special day either.

Glories Stream From Heaven Afar, Heavenly Hosts Sing Alleluia

The carolers really were quite talented. What were they doing up this late anyway? Maybe their caroling identity was a cover. Maybe they were doing something suspicious.

"Skipper?" He nearly jumped at the sound of his name, whirling around to see Marlene standing behind him on the clocktower, a blue scarf around her neck.

"Marlene, don't sneak up on me. I could have karate chopped you into oblivion."

She rolled her eyes. "I was not sneaking. What are you doing awake?"

"What are you doing awake?"

"I was just going for a nighttime walk and saw you up here. Why are you doing recon? It's almost Christmastime; can't you relax for just one week?" She walked over and sat down, legs dangling high over the blanket of snow.

"A penguin never lets his guard down. Especially at Christmas, when everyone else does."

Silent Night, Holy Night, Son of God, Love's Pure Light

Marlene sighed. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"It is," Skipper agreed, sitting down beside her and raising his binoculars again.

"Oh, put those away." Marlene grabbed the binoculars off of him and set them down. "It's too magical of a night for superspy paranoia."

"Magical," he repeated with a scoff. "Really, Marlene?"

"What? Christmas awakens something in the heart. Something wonderful." She leaned back on her hands and looked at the stars.

"Private's gotten to you, hasn't he?"

She gave him a glare. "Skipper, you know, there's so much more to Christmas than other holidays. There's something special about it. Don't you see it?"

He heaved a sigh. "Marlene, I know, it's just…" Skipper fell silent.

Jesus, Lord at Thy Birth, Jesus, Lord at Thy Birth

"Evil doesn't cease to exist during Christmastime. Problems don't cease to exist during Christmastime. You may be able to feel some sort of magical happiness, but I'm not feeling very Christmas-y tonight."

Marlene looked away, out toward Central Park. "Well, that's true, I guess. But-"

"And you can hardly find real Christmas anymore anyway," Skipper interrupted, talking slightly faster. "It's all marketing and shopping and media coverage shoving the idea that you need more and more presents down the throats of the weak-minded."

"Well, that's true too. But if you want Christmas to feel real, you have to start with yourself, and not the rest of the world. As long as we keep on giving, we keep the magic alive." The carolers repeated the first verse.

Silent Night, Holy Night, All is Calm, All is Bright

Skipper listened to the music. "I guess you're right, even though that does sound a bit hippie-ish."

Marlene rolled her eyes and stood up with a smile. "I'm going to bed." She started to walk away, then stopped, looking over her shoulder. "Merry Christmas, Skipper."

He smiled. "Merry Christmas, Marlene. Sleep well." As she jumped down off the clocktower, Skipper turned back to view his quiet zoo once more. He glanced down at the binoculars, picked them up… and set them back down, instead listening to the singing and closing his eyes.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Skipper drifted off into a dream, snowflakes collecting on his feathers as the carolers last notes faded into a silent night.