This takes place before the episode, 'The Penguin Who Loved Me'. Thank you icy-water17 for writing Private and Rico's parts. Happy reading, everyone!

~Covert (31st January, 2016)

Skipper's POV (0400 hours):

It was a really sunny day at the Central Park Zoo. I was up watching Shirtless Ninja Action Theatre.

Why weren't the boys watching this with me, you ask? Rico was sound asleep, Private was too, sound asleep, and Kowalski... Well... I don't really know. He's in his lab doing something, but he wouldn't tell me what he's doing, he's been up since 2.

"Skipper," Kowalski came out from his lab, his face filled with nervousness.

"What is it, compadre? You were never up this early."

"It's Doris. SHE WANTS TO GO ON A DATE WITH ME!" He squealed excitedly.

"And would you mind telling me, why you are up this early then?"

"I have trouble picking my bow tie..."

"You are telling me, you've been choosing bow ties for 2 hours?" I rolled my eyes.

"I wanna look good for her!" He retorted.

"And you're telling me this why?" I knew he was gonna ask me to help him pick, but I wanted to see how he's going to ask me.

"Um... Uh... You see... Eh..." He stammered. I was trying not to laugh. It was a scene that will make anyone burst.

"Ah... *cough* Bow tie *cough* Picking *cough* Help *cough* Please."

"What was that? Soldier?" I can't hold it in any longer. Come on Kowalski.

"I-"

I laughed so hard that I fell on the floor rolling. Kowalski looked unamused and crossed his flippers.

"I'm sorry. I'm over it," actually, I was not, so I cracked again. Kowalski sighed and closed the door in his lab.

"Wait, Kowalski," I opened the iron door and went inside.

"I'll help you," I said.

"Okay, so... Black? Or green? Or red? Or blue? Or..." Kowalski asked.

"Whoa whoa whoa... Hold it right there," I said.

"First of all, blue isn't your colour, and wouldn't Doris like you as yourself?"

"Eh..." He rubbed his head rather sheepishly.

"Think about it. You said Doris likes things that are original. How would you like it if Doris wore a flower on her head?"

"I think it'll be sweet..."

"Oh... Well... Yeah, you should choose the one that's green, or..."

"Skippah..." Private yawned.

"Oou woke eus up..." Rico rubbed his eyes.

"You could find Private or Rico for help," I winked.

Rico's POV (0405 hours):

I was not expecting my morning to start by having to help Kowalski pick a bow tie for a date with Doris. Besides, I thought Doris had given Kowalski the "Let's Just Be Friends" talk 16 and a half times. Now, the two are going on a date. I think it's just because Doris is sick of having these talks with Kowalski and maybe she thinks that one date will make it all stop, I actually have no idea.

When I heard Skipper say to Kowalski that Private and I could help him pick a bow tie, I immediately tried to get away. But Skipper stopped me and pulled me over to Kowalski.

"Have fun, boys!" Skipper laughed and walked back to watch his TV marathon.

"So..." Kowalski began, "Black, or red or blue or purple or-"

"'ed!" I quickly said, trying to get out of the situation as fast as possible.

Kowalski put on the red bow tie and studied it for a bit. "Does it suit me well?" he asked, "because I'm not sure if it does!"

"Pick th' blu' one then!" I told him, getting a bit annoyed.

Kowalski took off the red bow tie and put on the blue one, he again studied it for a minute. "I'm not sure if this suits me too!" He stated.

"THEN WEAR ALL OF THEM IF YOU CAN'T DECIDE!" Private yelled at Kowalski, I just looked at Private in shock, I had never heard him yell like that before.

Private's POV (0408 hours):

I was in the middle of a really good dream. I was riding with all of the Lunacorns and we were dancing and eating cake, oh it was wonderful. Then, I was woken up and forced to help Kowalski pick a bow tie for a date with Doris!

Oh, it was so annoying and every time Rico gave him an option, he'd just look at it and tell us he didn't think it suited him. So angrily, I told him to wear all of them if he couldn't pick one.

Kowalski stopped and thought for a second. "But are you sure all of them would suit me if I wore them at once?"

"OH MY GOSH!" Rico and I both groaned. "Can you please find someone else to help you pick?" I asked him, trying to calm down.

"Fine," Kowalski said, "I'll go ask Marlene!" He started walking out of the HQ with all his bow ties.

"You know, Marlene's probably asleep right now!" I tired to tell Kowalski, but he either didn't hear me or just ignored me, because he didn't say a word and made his way to Marlene's habitat.

Marlene's Habitat (0415 hours)

Kowalski's POV

I had a really hard time knocking on Marlene's door. You know how hard it is to hold all your bow ties in a flipper and knock with the other one? And nope, I am not putting them on the floor. They might get dirty! And my date will be ruined!

"Marlene!" I've decided to yell. It might seem rude but really, what matters more? Doris? Or manners?

"MARLENE!"

"What is it that important that makes you WAKE ME UP FROM MY DREAM AT 4 O' CLOCK IN THE MORNING!?"

Marlene's POV (0410 hours)

My fiancé's there with me! He's feeding me oysters! How romantic... He's even playing me Spanish Guitar! Isn't he just perfect?

"Marlene," he cooed softly.
"Marlene!" He voice started morphing into Kowalski's one.
"MARLENE!"

"Gah!" I woke up from my perfect dream by a series of yells.

Kowalski's POV (0420 hours)

"Please calm down Marlene. I have came here just to ask you something. Don't worry, it's in a woman's element!"

"Rrriiiggghhhtttt... And what would that be?"

"Um... Should I wear this to a date?" I showed her my blue bow tie. "Or this?" I took out my black bow tie. "Or the red one?" I pulled out my red bow tie. "Or-"

"Just go with the red one," Marlene rolled her eyes.

"Rico told me to, but I don't really think red suits me that well,"

"Then go with the blue one!"

"Rico told me that also, but I don't really like that either..."

"THEN WEAR ALL OF THEM! GOSH! YOU'RE ASKING PEOPLE FOR ADVICE AT 5 IN THE MORNING AND YOU JUST KEEP TURNING YOUR BEAK AWAY FROM EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM!"

"Private told me that as w-" I couldn't speak more as Marlene pushed me out of her door along with my bow ties.

I didn't understand. I was simply asking for advice and telling the people I questioned how I really felt. Was that wrong?

Penguin HQ (0430 hours)

I dropped down the hatch grief stricken. My date was in less than 8 hours and I still didn't know what to wear.

"Back so soon Kowalski?" Skipper asked with his eyes bored on the TV.

"Yeah..."

"How was your date?"

"It's... Not my date yet,"

"Oh? I guess I lost track of time. Which one did you choose?"

"I don't know," I hid my face in my flippers.

"Did you know that I miss the 'Man with Kick Fist' just for you? Choose the black one. Period. Or possibly exclamation mark."

"But-"

"No 'but's Kowalski. Wear the black one,"

"Okay," I put it on my neck. Hmm, it actually matched me well. "YES! VICTORY'S MINE!" I cheered.

"Kowasky! Geep eet down! Oou woke me up again!" Rico jumped out of his bunk and wore an annoyed expression.

"Sorry Rico. Now for the more important part... I'll have to find my suit!"

"NO!" Skipper and Rico started banging their heads against the walls.