Uprising

Synopsis: Sequel to "Danger Wears a Cape". With The Masked Booty vanquished, our penguin heroes return home victorious, but little did they know that something even more sinister and dangerously unexpected was looming over the horizon.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Penguins of Madagascar, this is a work of fan fiction, and should be treated as such.

Author's Notes: This is my first fan fiction that was actually published on this site. I don't consider myself a good writer, since I'm only ten, but lessons from miztah Han changed all that, so hugs to him! Thanks very much to my very supportive and hilarious sister Panacea447, who also is the main reason I'm writing this story. A big virtual cookie to friend and mentor, DrunkenRookie, I hope you get better soon! This is my first, so it won't be too great. Oh well! please R&R, criticize and correct me if there's a typo. Enjoy:

~Kowalski4Evah!, Junior Member, DrunkenTavern

*Prologue: The End*

"Excellent work boys!" said the figure whose identity was obscured with a large black mask covering his upper facial features, giving high-fives to each of his companions. Beside him, his companions were even more oddly dressed. The shortest of them seemed to be the most tenacious of the lot, his entire body covered by robotic armor the likes of which looked impenetrable, and several devices on the feet enabled the capability of it to fly, although the force needed from jet propulsion for an extremely heavy metal suit such as that to fly for an extended period of time was completely beyond me. The one beside him giving him the 'down low' was none other than the oddest of them all. Wearing a blue plastic helmet and red clip-on tie, he looked just like your average every-day toddler during play time. It was only until your eyes fell on the toilet seat arching behind the helmet, did you doubt this one's sanity. Finally we come to me, giving the high five to the masked, flat-headed form alongside me, his left flipper lowered. I slapped my flipper downward, only to hit nothing but air. His 'too slow' was heard when surprise took me, adding to what I had already felt on that rookie mistake. I was the most appropriately dressed of all of them of course, as I absentmindedly poked my brain-shaped headpiece. I looked up to stare at the frontal lobe still visible above my forehead through my goggle-protected eyes, my blue sparkly cape waving about in the wind behind me. Truly magnificent wasn't it? Ah, but alas I am not the one for whom this tale is concerned, no matter how ostentatiously dressed am I, but your humble narrator in this epic tale of fantasy, suspense, and an elaborate plot that shall take you on a roller coaster of emotion, which takes place in about three…two…one….

"Skip – I mean – Slappy?" came the echoic voice from within the metal suit. "Shouldn't we be returning the things Jul – I mean – The Masked Booty stole from all the citizens of Central Park Zoo?[1]"

"Very well Steel Penguin, but only on one condition…"

"What is that condition?"

"Only after one more epic pose! Hayah!" he screamed as they all closed ranks. He was in the center of it, his flippers on his sides and a rugged look on his masked face; his armored friend on the left, pointing the limb that housed his grapnel gun at the sky, his eyes following it, in heroic countenance; the helmeted one was on the right of Slappy, his flippers raised in a combat pose, grinning wolfishly; and I was at the center behind Slappy, both my flippers raised in triumph as I flashed a knowing smile. I sighed inwardly. Where were Marlene and her camera when you needed it?

"Alright boys, that's gonna do it." Slappy said, as he walked to the bags of stolen items pilfered by the Masked Booty on his one-minute crime spree. The others broke the pose as they took a bag each, Barf Bag carrying three. I took a glimpsed to my left, and caught the stout, retreating form of the sound-effect-cards guy, carrying the now retired Masked Booty for medical care. A stab of pity rose in me, but not for the vanquished villain, but rather for the one carrying him[2].

I sighed and continued to move along with my companions, checking my satchel for the stolen goods and delivering it to each one's rightful owners. We divided ourselves to cover the zoo more quickly. Slappy Hurt Punch continued on his current path, while Steel Penguin accepted the bag Barf Bag had given him and took to the skies and flew east. I turned to see Barf Bag headed toward the reptile house, and disappear as he entered. Alone, I proceeded to the otter habitat to return Marlene's stolen guitar.

I entered her cave-home shortly afterwards, the memory of Steel Penguin, Barf Bag and myself teaching that uncomfortable pillow a lesson filled my thoughts, and I couldn't help but smile at the memory of it[3]. Upon entering, I looked around for the expectant otter, but my eyes fell only upon her sleeping deeply, unaware that an item of hers was stolen by the now retired villain. I turned and decided to place her guitar where she normally placed it, on the leftmost corner of her cave-home. I reached the spot, and extracted the item from my bag. I turned it over in my flippers, gazing at it. It had an intricate design, clearly European in origin, and was made of highly polished lumber. Peeking behind me, I assured myself that Marlene was still asleep. I continued to gaze at the markings that lined most of the guitar. It was definitely European in origin. Quickly remembering that the sleeping otter was fond of Spanish guitars, I slowly stroked the markings along the sides of her guitar. Behind me, I heard movement as Marlene stirred, and as I spun around to see, my rising flipper caught the strings, producing a tune that caused the startled otter to wake.

"Wha - ? Who's there?" she demanded, and soon enough, her eyes fell on me. "Oh. Kowalski, it's just you. What are you doing here? You almost gave me a heart attack."

She stepped out of bed and walked towards me. I cursed myself for my stupidity[4]. I looked up to see her beside me, her hands on her hips and that expectant and somewhat impatient look on her face. Her eyes fell on her guitar, and I understood clearly.

"Umm – err – you're guitar was – umm – stolen." I stuttered, clearly nervous about that I was still holding it. Realizing that, I handed it over to her.

"Not by you I hope." She said delicately, as she accepted the guitar and looked it over, checking for any signs of damage on the intricate woodwork. I swallowed, and watched as she stared at me, with a curious expression forming on her face.

"Oh no, not by me but by the – ah – the Masked – I mean umm – Julien. That's right, Julien stole it."

Oh how I wish my stuttering stopped. She looked skeptical and didn't take her eyes off me while she blindly placed her guitar in its spot, familiarity with it to the point that she needn't look at what she was doing.

"Julien?", the otter said, he skepticism clearly distinguishable in her voice. "Unless Julien likes Spanish guitars, which I know he doesn't, I'm gonna ask, what are you doing here, and-",

Her gaze lowered, and I saw her skeptical look disappear for but a moment as she studied my costume. She looked back up to stare at me.

"-and what are you wearing?"

I sighed again. "Alright, since you know my true identity, I might as well tell you."

"True identity? Like a secret identity? What? Are some kinda superhero or something?"

I explained everything to her: the twins, the discovery of the comic books, Skipper's attitude, the clock tower, the Masked Booty, everything. Finishing my story, I looked up, expecting her to burst into laughter at my tale. However, she just smiled, which left me even more baffled.

"What? Seriously? And that's why Private and Rico were dressed like that too? And even Skipper? Wow! That just made my day."

Utterly relieved, I exhaled and looked at her again. Her skepticism was no longer visible on her face, it was replaced a smile that made me shudder. I narrowed my face in suspicion. "Marlene, what are you-"

"That is so geeky of you Kowalski! I mean, more than usual, but well, even Private, Rico and Skipper! Man, when will I ever understand you penguins?"

Laughing, she turned and tucked herself into bed and turned out the light. Concealed in the semi-darkness, I continued to return all the other stolen items: Joey's ball, which I could have done without the pain from the welcome the Kangaroo gave; Burt's peanuts, my still pained body slowing me down; and finally Ted's teddy bear, with my obvious body spasms prompting the concerned ursine creature to question me; and with that I was finished. I headed towards my habitat, excited to get into superhero action once more. I entered via the fish-bowl entrance to see my friends already home, continuing the high-fives.

"Ah Brain-boy!" said Slappy, receiving a backwards flipper slap from Barf Bag. "What took you so long?"

"Joey was quite welcoming. And Slappy, the name is the Throbbing - !"

"Well it won't matter now! Men, time to quite playtime and get back to the real world!"

This outburst startled all of us, especially me.

"What? You don't seriously mean that?" I asked while Slappy removed his mask, utter disbelief on each of my fellow crime-fighter's faces.

"Affirmative Kowalski." Complied Skipper, a superhero no more. "And the rest of you too. Off with the costumes. Stat!"

Although no one would dare disobey a direct order from Skipper unless they absolutely had to, none of them wanted to leave this life: the feeling of a hero, the whoosh in the air, the stupefied faces of the wrongdoers, dispensing demanded justice, the relief on the citizen, and the invigorating sensation of seeing the world with one less villain. No one wanted to leave that, but they had to anyway.

I sighed deeply[5] as I pulled off my cape and headpiece, but my sadness was nothing compared to the others. Rico appeared wrenched away from fish as he removed his helmet and with some difficulty, the toilet seat; and Private burst into what would have been tears as he extricated himself from his armor. I soon felt hollow inside, like a beloved friend torn away from me forever, a rift of depression forming in the pit of my soul. Life was cruel, indeed, but then again, it was life.

"Good job boys! Now let's get ready for bed. Light's out at ten."

"Kowalski's Clipboard"

1 If you didn't catch the part where Private, Rico I and later Skipper dressed up as superheroes, try sneaking into the zoo's Administration office, hack into the information terminal, and search for it on the database entitled 'Nickelodeon' with all the orange splatters. That should clarify it for you.

2 I sighed once more. These people were the least recognized in all these comic books, yet their role was of utmost significance. I see this as a personal and humiliating insult especially if they were reduced to nothing more than baggage collectors.

3 Still couldn't find it? Try doing a general search on something called 'Google'. If still you can't find it – hmm – maybe I could have your brain rewired for a little experimenting?

4 Stupidity? Wait? What am I saying? I cursed myself for my – err – jumpiness. Yes, that's it, jumpiness.

5 Wait, have you been counting the amount of times I've sighed in this part of the story? Well don't bother, this is but the first of many more to come.