My Note: YES! Say hello to the most anxiously awaited sequel to 'The Perfect Three'. Chapter one is now revealed!

Oh yeah, DISCLAIMER: I DON'T ANYTHING ASIDE FROM THIS STORY IDEA,AND MY OC'S AUBURN, ARNINA, ALASTER, IRINA, AND MARCOS. THE PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS AND NOT ME.

Now that that's out of the way, REVIEW PLEASE! ENJOY!


Three months. It had been three months since Auburn's delivery and Marlene was still recovering. Kowalski had to keep a continuous attendance at Marlene's habitat to make sure she was fine. Or, as fine as one could be with her , the scientist wasn't sure what her condition was!

Marlene was fine the first month after the birth, but soon enough strange symptoms began to overtake her. The poor otter's simple fatigue soon turned into debilitating exhaustion, her aches turning into serious migraines, nausea, vomiting, even her vision was disturbed.

Now, Marlene had lost large amounts of blood during the birth, due to her virginity and other factors, but that was tackled after the first two weeks. And all was well, but the symptoms after that first month, were utterly confusing to Kowalski and everyone else.

Marlene's parents were deathly afraid for their daughter and the penguins immediately and permanently extended their stay, which they also did for Skipper's parents.

Arnina, for the life of her, couldn't think of anything that could possibly explain all these symptoms. And Alaster, with all his experience in the medical field, had no answer to give either.

The two were currently residing in their daughter's habitat, of course. Arnina had written letters to every family member Marlene had, and even the ones she didn't know she had, telling them of Marlene's situation and condition; just to keep the family informed.

Alaster helped Kowalski as much as he possibly could without getting in the way and comforted Arnina every day and night; Seeing as how the otter couldn't stop herself from crying every time she looked at her daughter.

Marlene lay unconscious on her bed, as she had been for the last few days. Skipper, as well as everyone else, hoped for the best and helped with whatever they could.

Skipper's parents supported their son in his time of grief and Irina comforted Arnina as well. The rest of Skipper's team watched over the zoo in Skipper and Kowalski's absence, but visited at night.

Kowalski was so lost and so scared. He had never felt so unsure and afraid of making a mistake with something before in his whole life.

There wasn't much Kowalski could do, and the scientist knew that. But, never would he admit that. Not when it concerned his leader's fiance'. If Skipper found out that Kowalski was clueless...

Kowalski shivered at the very thought of it and grimaced as he looked at Marlene's test readings again. She seemed fine, she didn't show positive for anything that he tested her on. So, why wasn't she waking up? Kowalski leaned over her and checked her pulse. A weak, but steady beat thudded against his flipper.

Kowalski sighed and glanced at his notes again. Skipper, who was seated at Marlene's bedside, was clutching her paw and never letting it leave his. The strong commando leader was obviously struggling with this predicament and holding tears back with all the strength he could muster.

Skipper had to be strong. For her. He was so, so scared for her. And what about Auburn? She couldn't possibly be raised without a mother if Marlene...If Marlene didn't...

No. Skipper couldn't even finish the thought. Marlene had to make it. She just had to. She was the strongest mammal he had ever known, especially for such a sweet, innocent female.

Skipper stifled a sob that had crawled it's way up his throat. "K-Kowalsk-ki...Analy..sis..." Skipper all but choked out in a ragged voice.

Kowalski didn't turn to Skipper. He couldn't bear to see his leader in such devastation. "Skipper...I...", should Kowalski tell him?

"I...", Kowalski kept his eyes glued to the test results. Skipper kept his eyes on Marlene as he snapped, "I said, 'Analysis', Kowalski!" Kowalski gulped and sighed.

"Skipper, I...I don't know. The test shows that she's perfectly fine, but-" Kowalski was cut off as Skipper suddenly pounced on him, sending them both to the ground.

Kowalski looked in fear at his leader towering over him. "DON'T GIVE ME THAT! SHE'S NOT FINE! SHE'S NOT OK! LOOK AT HER, KOWALSKI! LOOK!" Skipper's eyes were filling with unshed tears quickly as he yelled in the face of his second in command.

Kowalski looked at Marlene, then back to Skipper before saying, "Yes, I know, Skipper. I know. I see her too. But, if you'd let me finish my sentence, I was going to say that she seems fine by the test results, which makes her condition all the more puzzling."

Skipper sighed and hid a sniffle as he got off Kowalski and took his place by Marlene again. "Kowalski. I'm sorry, I...I just...I can't lose her...I can't.." Skipper closed his eyes in pain and heartbreak at the thought of living without her.

Kowalski stood up and joined Skipper at Marlene's bedside, placing a flipper on his 'shoulder'. He patted it softly in a comforting manner, trying not to agitate Skipper any further, and said, "I know, Skipper. And I apologize for not being sufficient enough to provide you with the answers you need." Kowalski bowed his head in sorrow and shame at not being capable of helping his friends.

Kowalski shut his eyes as well in thought. Then, suddenly, an idea struck him. "Skipper, perhaps we should turn this over to the humans. Maybe, they could help her better than we ever could. They do have more experience with this sort of thing. It may be good for her.", Kowalski looked down at his grief-stricken leader as he proposed this idea.

"No.", was Skipper's immediate response. "That's a last resort, Kowalski. I couldn't possibly subject her to something that even I wouldn't go through. And I will not resort to that, until I've given up. And I never..give up." Skipper's grip visibly tightened around Marlene's paw.

Kowalski sighed and replied, "Skipper, it may be good for her. Better, even. We could, at the very least, give the humans a chance to help find out what's wrong with her."

Skipper sighed and looked at Marlene's limp body; her chest rising and falling ever so slightly. Finally, Skipper answered, "Fine. But, not yet. Try harder, Kowalski. Please. Give it your all. And after a week or two, if you're still clueless...We'll hand it over to the humans."

Kowalski sighed in relief at his answer. Although two weeks could be pushing it for her health. Suddenly, the pitter-patter of little paws on the cold, cave floor met the penguins ear holes. Skipper turned to see the cutest little otter coming up to him.

"Dada!", the little otter reached out her arms to him. "Hey there, Auburn. How's Daddy's little rookie? Huh?", Skipper said sweetly as he gently picked her up. Auburn looked at Marlene curiously as Skipper set her in his lap.

Skipper kissed the top of Auburn's head softly and wrapped his flippers around her comfortingly.

Auburn was beautiful, just like her mother. Her fur was dark brown and she had a small tuft of white fur on the top of her head that resembled side bangs to the left side of her face. Her icy blue eyes sparkled with little tears as she looked at her unconscious mother.

"Dada? Why Mama a'way Night-Night?", the little otter girl asked in sweet innocence. Skipper nearly burst out in tears at the question.

He hugged Auburn tighter and whispered, "Shh..Mama's OK. She..She'll be alright. Mama's just...resting. She'll wake up soon and she'll smile when she sees your pretty face." Skipper ran his flipper through the white fur on her head and said, "You're so much like her..."

Auburn's lip quivered slightly and replied, "Dada, I miss Mama...I jus' wan' Mama get bet'er."

'So much like her...', Skipper thought.

Skipper let a tear fall down his cheek as he heard those sweet words and said comfortingly, "I know, baby...It's OK. She'll get better."

Auburn reached out a small paw and touched her mother's arm. "Mama...", She sniffled quietly, "..Mama..Please wake up...wake up, Mama...", Another sniffle.

Then, the little one turned around and squeezed Skipper in a hug. Skipper held her to him tight as she cried softly into his chest.

Kowalski cleared his throat and barely managed to hold back a few of his own tears at the sweet display. "Um, I..I think I'll.. I'll leave you two..alone with her..", Kowalski muttered before waddling outside.

Skipper sighed and held back his tears. He had to be strong for Auburn too. She was still so young...

"Shh, Shh..It's OK, Aubi...Everything will be alright. Mommy, will wake up soon and then she can marry Daddy and everything will be fine...", Skipper said in the most comforting tone he could provide, and stroked Auburn's back consolingly.

Auburn calmed down and pulled back to look into his eyes.

"Dada pwomise..?"

That did it. He couldn't hold back anymore. The dam broke at last and Skipper finally let his tears fall freely. Skipper sniffled and looked into the yes of his little girl. Eyes that resembled his in so many ways.

"I... Daddy promises.", Skipper replied softly.

Auburn reached up with one of her little paws and wiped away his tears. "It OK, Dada. Mama wakey soon. Everything be OK. I pwomise."

Skipper looked at the little girl with a huge smile and tears that continued to cascade down his face. He snuggled her close and said, "Thank you. Thank you so much, Auburn. I love you, baby girl."

Auburn returned his hug and replied, "I 'w'ove you too, Dada."


Five days came and went, much like the weeks and the months...and nothing. Kowalski had come up...with nothing. He was still just as clueless as the first day.

This infuriated the scientist more than anything and often kept him up at night and seemed to be doing the same that night. The answer to Marlene's mystery was nowhere to be found in his brain and as hard as he tried, Kowalski couldn't formulate anything even remotely close to a diagnosis.

He looked at his pocket watch. 11:45 p.m.

Kowalski sighed. Skipper and his daughter, Auburn, were fast asleep in a little makeshift bed near Marlene.

"Why?! Why won't you wake up?!" Kowalski loudly whispered to himself as he threw his flippers against the wall beside her bed and bowed his head low.

Tears threatened his eyes as he said, "I'm sorry, Marlene... I'm sorry that the one time I need to know everything... is the one time I don't know anything." With that last thought, the scientist broke out in a pitiful sob.

Then, suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, Kowalski could've sworn he saw movement. Slight as it was, it couldn't be missed by a trained eye.

Kowalski turned his head quickly to look at Marlene. He waited.

And waited...

And waited...

And waited...

And... nothing.

Kowalski shook his head and thought, 'My mind is obviously playing tricks on me due to the late hour of the night and the extremity of study and work that I've put myself through just to find a-'

-There it was again.

Movement. Small, but still there.

Kowalski fixated his eyes on Marlene and watched her carefully with complete and total focus.

He waited...

And waited...

And-

Kowalski jumped at the sudden sight of Marlene stirring. Her face twitched along with the rest of her body. Kowalski smiled wide in surprise and shook Skipper hard.

"SKIPPER! SKIPPER!", shouted the scientist in excitement. "SKIPPER-OUCHIES!" Kowalski was cut off as Skipper slapped him hard across the face on instinct.

"Kowalski..", Skipper replied groggily, "..Kowalski, what is it?! Are you crazy?! You're gonna wake-" Skipper caught the movement of Marlene's eyes starting to flutter slowly.

"...Marlene?" Skipper got up, careful to avoid waking Auburn, and crept close to Marlene. He took her paw in his flippers gingerly and said, "Marlene? Come on, Dollface...You can do it. Wake up. Please. Show me those beautiful autumn leaves."

Marlene stirred once more.

Then suddenly...

Her arms stretched...

Her legs bent...

Her tail curled...

Her eyes slowly opened...

And, for the first time in the last week, her weak voice graced the world with it's presence.

"...Ski..p..per..", was the first word she spoke.

Skipper nearly cried at the sound of her voice and, having gone so long without her, his body soon became totally overcome with shock.

Skipper shook and fell to the floor with wide eyes and still limbs.

For Skipper, her first word...

...Was her last.


Author's Note: Long chapter, right? I know. So sad! :'( Poor Skipper... Hopefully, I've done this sequel right and you guys will enjoy it!

Review please!