Private and Cupid: The Mistletoe Kiss
Part 1
Kowalski looked through his binoculars. It was the night before Christmas Eve, and the animals were having a private Christmas party in the neighboring exhibit, they couldn't wait (That is when all the people have left). The zoo-goers were making their last purchases before departing the zoo for the day. Skipper had his holiday fish next to him. It had a red bow on it.
"Kowalski?" Skipper asked. "Are they gone? Can we start yet?"
"Not quite!" Kowalski told his leader. Skipper kicked his fish in disappointment.
"Awe, sleigh bells!" He cursed. He looked at Kowalski. "How long Kowalski?"
"Not too much longer. Be patient Skipper." Skipper groaned.
"Come on already; Santa would've been around the whole world before they all leave!"
"Calm down Skipper! They'll leave, just be patient." Skipper gritted his beak, and kicked their igloo shaped house decorated just for the holidays.
"Come on already; how long until you people leave!" Skipper kept kicking the igloo.
"5, 4, 3, 2, 1!" Kowalski put down his binoculars and turned to his commander as Alice locked the front gates.
"They left Skipper; they left! WHOO-HOO; party time!" He then jumped in the pool, and swam to the next exhibit where the animals were waiting in a much bigger igloo.
"It's about time!" Skipper flipped up his holiday fish, gulped it down, splashed into the pool, and went to rejoin Kowalski in the larger igloo.
"Party time!" Kowalski informed the animals. The animals cheered. Every animal at the zoo was there. Every animal but Private.
"Finally!" said Burt the elephant, peanut jar in his trunk. There was a red bow on it and green ribbons jutting out. He hugged the jar with assistance from his trunk. "Now, I can devour my sweet Holiday peanuts."
"Not all at once Burt." Skipper reminded the elephant. "You need to reserve your energy." Burt looked defeated.
"Awe shucks!" He said, putting the jar on the table. He looked back at Skipper. "But you know how much I love my peanuts; I'll just have a few." He looked at the jar of peanuts on the table, smacking his lips. Skipper narrowed his eyes at him.
"Burt!"
"Awe; fine!" He looked down, disappointed.
Phil did some sign language to Mason.
"Uh Skipper," Mason spoke. Skipper went to the chimps. "Phil is asking if we are going to have fun at this party."
"Fun?" Skipper questioned. "Fun? Fun is my middle name!"
"OOOh! It is?" Mort wanted to know.
"I thought it was bossy penguin!" King Julian said.
"No, no!" Skipper told them. I mean we're going to have fun, have a blast at this party. Now, who's ready to have fun?" The animals all cheered again.
"Me!" Mort said, bouncing up and down excitedly. "Party time; yay!"
"Yeah, yeah!" Rico added. He had a party streamer in his mouth and a birthday hat on his head. "Party, yahoo!" He blew into his party streamer.
"Wrong party." Skipper informed him. "This is no birthday man! Put those away."
"Awe!" Rico mourned. He put them both away, and went to dance as Christmas music started with all the others.
"WHOO!" Julian cheered. "It's time to boogie; yeah! Can't beat that, can't beat that!" He swished his tail, dancing to the music with Maurice and Mort. "Yeah; I am the dancing king!"
Skipper nudged Kowalski; both were drinking cups of eggnog.
"Go get Private." He told him. "He's missing a good time!" Kowalski gulped down the last of his eggnog, sighed heavenly, threw it in the trash, and went out.
"Private!" He called as he waddled outside. "Private! Private, Priv…" He then saw him, looking at the moon.
"Private!" He waddled towards him. "Private, there you are! You're missing one heck of a party! So, come, follow me, and…." He then noticed Private was sad. The young penguin sighed meekly.
"Private? What's wrong; why so gloom all of the sudden? Why don't you come inside and…"
"Kolowski?" Private asked him; still looking at the round moon. "Will she come?" Kowalski looked confused.
"Will who come?" Kowalski wanted to know.
"Cupid!" Private turned to face him. "From when we were on Madagascar. Will she come?"
"I-I don't know." Private sighed, and faced the moon again.
"Do you think she remembers me?" Kowalski looked stern.
"Private! You're a South- Polar; she's a North -Polar, Skipper wouldn't be happy when he finds out."
"I know, but I think I love her."
"O-kay! Why don't we go to the party? It's much more fun than staying here; come on, what do you say?"
"No thanks, I'll stay out here. You can go in if you want." Kowalski was confused.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure."
"Uh, okay, sure, whatever." He headed back. "Please feel free to join in anytime."
Private didn't say anything. He just stared at the moon.
"Private, Private?" No use. Kowalski gave up, and went back inside.
"Oh Cupid!" Private said to the moon. "I know you're out there thinking of me; I just know it!"
Meanwhile, at the North Pole, all of the reindeer were also having a wonderful time celebrating before they have to go to work the next day and fly Santa's sleigh. Every reindeer except for Cupid who was laying in the snow, feeling gloomy. In the snow, she hoofed "P + C" and put a heart around it. She looked at it and sighed.
"Oh Private," She said to herself. "If only if I could see you cute penguin face again…" Then she realized something. She stood up.
"Wait a minute!" A smile then spreaded across her face. "I can!" With that, she pranced all the way to Santa's workshop.
Once in Santa's workshop, the reindeer peeked in. She had to be careful because all of the eves were making toys, and wrapping them up. She tiptoed to Santa's office, careful she didn't make a sound.
She did make a sound though. Her harness jingled with every step she took. She looked down at it.
"Uh, oh!" She looked up, and sighed with relief. Fortunately, the elves didn't hear, they were all to busy with the toys. She looked down at her harness, and squeezed out of it.
"Stupid harness!" She said. Once she was free of it, she looked at it and said, "There, now it will be a lot much easier for me to sneak into Santa's room." She then made her way to Santa's room.
Santa's room had a big open space. In the center was a huge crystal ball with the whole world on it. It showed everybody in the world. It showed Santa what they were doing at that moment; therefore showing him if kids were being naughty or being nice. Beside the crystal ball was a stocking filled with coal. Connected to this room was Santa's office where Santa was, going over his long list.
"I have to be careful," The reindeer told herself. "I don't want Santa to find out I've been snooping." She went to the big crystal ball, and gazed into it.
"Crystal ball," She spoke. "Show me the penguin known as Private, please." The ball then changed picture. It now showed poor Private, still looking at the moon.
Cupid gasped. He was gloomy like she was about five minutes ago.
"Oh no!" She said softly. "Not my Private; please, say it not so." But she knew that it was no fib; she knew that Santa's crystal ball doesn't lie. It was all true! Cupid then looked serious.
"I must go and comfort him!" And with that she ran to the window, and jumped out into the snow bank.
She ran down. Once on the ground again, she scampered to the garage. Smells of fresh baked gingerbread and other Christmas smells filled the air. But this reindeer didn't stop. She had a mission, and there's no stopping a reindeer on a mission, especially Santa's reindeer. Cupid ran and ran.
When she was at the garage it was closed like she figured it would be. She went to the candy cane sticking out of the ground. It was programmed for a specific word just for Santa, and the elves. The password changes every year. Cupid closed her eyes, trying to concentrate.
"Think, Cupid, think!" She told herself. "What was the password for this year? What did that one elf blab to me then made me promise not to gossip to anybody else? Oh what was it, what was it?"
She then cheered up as she remembered what it was. She went closer.
"Eggnog." She said into the speaker.
"Password confirmed!" The machine replied back.
The garage then opened, revealing Santa's sleigh. She went inside.
The sleigh was empty, but in the morning it would be filled with bags full of presents for kids of all ages around the world.
Cupid went to where the magic reindeer dust was. She opened the compartment, and sprinked herself with dust. She sprinkled her hooves, her stubby tail, and her whole body.
Once all sprinkled, she ran off the runway, and flew.
"Private, here I come!" She flew all the way to New York and to the Central Park Zoo.
"Private?" Marlene asked when she came out to check on the sad penguin. She went to him.
"What are you doing out here? You should be inside with all of your friends; it's a jolly good time in there! You don't know what's you're missing. So just lose the sorrow and be happy, come on!" She was about to go back in when she sensed Private wasn't following. She stopped and looked at him. Private sighed.
"Private?" She wanted to know. "You feeling alright? You look blue. What's wrong; why won't you come inside?"
"I'm waiting." Marlene was confused.
"Waiting? Waiting for whom?" Private looked at her.
"Cupid."
"Who's Cupid?" Private looked back at the moon.
"Only the prettiest, precious reindeer of Santa's sleigh team. Oh, you would love her Marlene. She's perfect, just perfect." Marlene then burst out laughing. Private looked at her, confused.
"What? What's so funny?"
"You," Marlene was laughing so hard that she couldn't talk right.
"What? Come on, out with it!" Marlene calmed down.
"You," She giggled then stopped when she saw Private's mad face. "You, you actually met one of Santa's flying reindeer?"
"Yeah I did. We all saw them. Every single one, even Santa Clause himself."
"Yeah right!"
"Well, I did! If you don't believe me, why don't you go ask Skipper? He knows I'm not bluffing."
"When, how?"
"When we were in Madagascar! When Santa bumped his head and lost his memory."
"Santa lost his memory?"
"Yup! His reindeer didn't feel like taking orders from zoo animals, so we flew the sled instead."
"You flew the sled?" Private nodded.
"Yup, with reindeer magic."
"Reindeer magic?"
So, Private told the otter everything, and how they almost went back to New York.
"The most magical thing of the night was her! When we almost lost the magic, she encouraged me to be brave, and think happy thoughts. We still crash-landed and restored Santa's memory, but it was her that made me believe. If it wasn't for her, I don't know how things would have turned out. She's the love of my life, besides my mum of course."
"Aweeee!" Awed Marlene. "That's so romantic!"
"I know, wasn't it? She means the whole world to me. I don't know what I would've done if we never met." Marlene went back to reality.
"That's sweet; now, come inside. The party's still going on!" Marlene was about to take Private's flipper, when Private withdrew immediately.
"No; not without Cupid!"
"Private, Cupid's not coming. She's too busy with Santa's sleigh."
"Well, I guess."
"So forget about her, and let's go have a jolly ol' time!"
"Well, okay. But I doubt I'll be having any fun."
"Now, that's the spirit! Come on!" Private sighed, but followed Marlene to the igloo.
Before they entered, the two heard a voice calling for Private. They turned, and a smile spread across Private's face. He couldn't believe it; it was Cupid flying towards them in the nighttime sky.
"Private!" Cupid called. "Private!"
"Cupid!" Private said, rejoiced. "I can't believe it's you!" Cupid landed on the ground. Private went to her. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I was thinking of you, and so I came."
"What a coincidence; I was thinking of you!"
"I know. I saw that you were devastated without me from Santa's crystal ball."
"Well, you were right; I was gloomy without you!" He grabbed Cupid's hoof. "I missed you very much." They embraced.
"And I missed you!" They released each other.
There was a romantic pause as the two looked into each other's eyes.
"Aweeee!" Marlene awed at the beautiful sight. "This is so romantic!" Cupid looked at Marlene confused.
"Uh, Private?" Cupid asked. "Who's this?"
"This? Oh!" Private went to Marlene. "This is Marlene. Marlene, Cupid. Cupid, Marlene."
"Oooh! I'm so pleased that I get to meet one of Private's friends!"
"Oh, why thank you. It's an honor meeting you!"
"Why, thank you. That's so kind of you." Then they heard the Christmas music.
"Private, you're having a Christmas party?" Cupid asked.
"Uh, oh, yes we are!"
"Can I come?"
"Oh, well, I don't know. My friends still has a grudge against your kind." Cupid's smile faded.
"Oh, I see. It's because I'm a North-Polar, huh?"
"Unfortunately yes. But don't worry, I don't feel that way; I love you for who you are!" Cupid smiled.
"I love you for who you are too Private." Private smiled at that. The reindeer then kicked madly at the snow.
"This is stupid! We can never be together all because of an argument between our clans? It's not fair!"
"I agree, this is so unfair. We should just make up, no matter our differences!"
"Why does your 'clans' have a deep hatred between each other?" Marlene questioned. "I mean, why can't you two be with each other? That's just silly!"
So, Private and Cupid told the confused otter the whole story. They told her that the North Polar's and the South Polar's disliked each other for years, each saying one was better then the other. So, war had begun between the two clans.
"I got an idea! How about if Cupid goes in with us to the party, and make amends? Then Cupid can go home, and tell her father the war is over. That way, you two can be together happily ever after. Huh, huh?" Private and Cupid looked at each other, both looking doubtful.
"What?" Private looked at her.
"Marlene," He said. "That's a great idea, but it'll never work."
"Wait, why won't it work?"
"Skipper would be mad when he finds out that I'm with Cupid."
"But, but."
"And my father would be furious with me." Cupid added. "He might be so mad that he'll convince Santa not to let me pull his sleigh this year, maybe forever. I've been pulling Santa's sleigh forever! I can't take the risk; I just can't take it."
"Well, try it! You won't know unless you try, right?" Penguin and reindeer looked at each other again, then at Marlene.
"Sorry Marlene, it's no use. Oh if there was some why you can disguise yourself, that'll work!"
"But, but…" Marlene still sputtered.
"Oh, but I might get caught." Cupid told him.
"True, but not if we disguise you really good!"
"Well, I'm sure that'll work if I don't get caught. I mean, Rudolph's father covered his son's red nose so the other reindeer wouldn't laugh at him."
"Um, we need something bigger than that I'm afraid."
"Uh, guys?" Marlene was still being ignored." Cupid pondered about this, and then got an idea.
"Surely this zoo has a gift shop?"
"Yeah, yeah it does." Private answered. "What are you getting at?"
"Well, does it have masks?"
"Yeah, where are you going with this?"
"Well, why don't I go to the party with a mask on? No one will recognize me, and we can have a jolly time together."
"Cupid, that's brilliant! Why haven't I thought of it?" He looked at the otter. "Marlene, can you get a mask in the gift shop please?"
"W-wait, hold up!" She protested. "I think you should just talk this over. I shouldn't have to do this; it won't solve a thing. This is silly! You two shouldn't have to go in disguise, you should just be happy…"
"Marlene!" Private interrupted. "Please? Our future is at stake here."
"No! Skipper and Cupid's dad shouldn't ban your guy's love for each other just because of a stupid fight. You two should talk to them, tell them how you feel, and maybe…"
"Marlene," Cupid said. "Please?"
"Oh, alright! But, this is all a mistake! I mean, what if Cupid's right, and she gets caught? Then what? You're busted! Then you will have too…"
"Marlene!" Private said. "Mask, if you please." Marlene sighed.
"Fine! What kind?"
"Oh, any kind?" Cupid nodded. "Any kind will do."
"I can't believe I'm doing this, but o-kay! This is all a mistake you know!"
"We know; we'll be careful, don't worry. Just get the mask, and it'll be fine. You'll see!"
Marlene muttered to herself as she made her way to the gift shop.
"Soon my love," Private said, looking at Cupid's glittery eyes. "We'll be together, having a fun time with my friends."
"Oh Private, I'm looking forward to it. I can't wait!"
Marlene came back with a monkey mask. She dropped it to the ground.
"There!" She said.
"Now we just need to put it on!" Private said.
A few minutes later, the mask was on, covering Cupid's face.
"Perfect!" Private said, admiring his and Marlene's work. "All ready to have a holly, jolly time! You can hardly tell that's there's a reindeer under that mask."
"Except by the antlers." Marlene observed. "And the hooves, stubby tail, and the body. This is a messed up monkey I say. This will never…" But, Private and the disguised Cupid was already strolling into the igloo's entrance
"Are you coming Marlene?" Private called.
"Coming!" So Marlene followed them.
At the party, animals were all around. They were either playing games, drinking punch, snacking on snacks, or dancing to the Christmas music.
"What should we do first?" Private asked Cupid. Cupid was about to answer, when Skipper in a Santa hat came by.
"Glad you could stop by Private." Skipper greeted him.
"I'm glad that I stopped by too Skipper." Private responded. "It looks like a smashing time."
"You'll have fun Private." Skipper then looked at the "monkey". Cupid grinned.
"Who's the monkey?" Skipper wanted to know. "I don't remember seeing her in the monkey cage."
"Oh, uh…" Private looked up at her. "This is uh…" Private stuttered.
"Bananas." Cupid answered. Private looked back at Skipper.
"Yeah, Bananas!" He nodded. "Bananas, that's what her name is." He giggled nervously. There was a pause, and then Skipper broke it.
"Well, that's a swell name for a monkey I suppose." He said. "Now why don't you two go and get some punch or eggnog? They're really good." Skipper then waddled away.
"Right Skipper!" Private called, then looked at Cupid. "Come on Cupid; let's get some punch!"
"Oooh!" Cupid said. "I'll love some."
"Then let's go!" He and Cupid went for the drinks.
"I'm going to go dancing, okay guys?" Marlene told them. "Guys?" Marlene shrugged, and then went to the dance floor.
At the drink table, they saw Phil and Mason. Phil scowled at them, and shielded his bananas. He then did some angry sign language.
"What is he saying?" Cupid asked.
"He's saying," Mason translated. "Back Off! These are my bananas!"
"Oh." Cupid looked at Phil who resumed guarding his bananas. "Don't worry. I'm not going to steal you bananas. I hate bananas." Phil was confused. He scratched his head. What kind of primate would despise bananas? Cupid and Private got their drinks, and drank up. They sighed in relief. They were refreshing all right! They went to drink some more.
"Santa!" The lead reindeer shouted, skidding into his office. Santa looked at him. "Santa; it's a catastrophe!"
"Calm down Dasher." Santa told him, standing up, and going over to the reindeer. "Now, what's the matter?"
"Santa, it's terrible! Cupid's missing!" Santa's jolly face then faded.
"What do you mean missing?"
"Well I called roll call with all the reindeer, and Cupid wasn't there! I searched the North Pole everywhere for her, and no luck! She's not here!" Santa rubbed his snowy white beard.
"Hmmm, that is a problem. My sleigh can only be pulled by nine reindeer, not eight. Good thing Rudolph's not missing."
"Santa!"
"Oh, this is a predicament indeed. Yes, quite." Santa was pondering about this when one of the elves skidded into the room. They looked at him. He was exhausted!
"Santa!" The elf panted. "Its…Cupid…she ran…away." Santa and Dasher went to him.
"Ran away?" Santa wanted to know. "That's absurd! Are you sure?" The elf nodded, and held up Cupid's harness.
"Yup, I'm sure." He told them. "Look what I found!" Santa and Dasher gasped as they looked. On the harness was engraved the word 'Cupid'. "I found this in the entrance of the workshop. It was just lying there, neglected and lonely looking." Santa grabbed the harness.
"Why would Cupid run away?" Dasher asked. "Santa!" Santa patted the frantic reindeer.
"Calm down Dasher." Santa consoled. "We'll get to the bottom of this."
"This will tell us where Cupid is." Santa explained in front of the giant crystal ball. "It always has, and always will. The crystal ball never fails." Then, Santa told the ball where to show where Cupid was. Both reindeer and Santa looked as the ball did it magic, and showed Cupid's location at the Christmas party, dancing with Private to the music. Dasher was appalled by this.
"Cupid is with a South- Polar? Our prime enemy? I can't believe this, it's an outrage I tell you, an outrage!" Santa tried to calm Dasher.
"Now Dasher, calm down. I'm sure there's a logical explanation for this."
"I can't calm down; my baby's with one of them! I won't stand for this!" He went towards the open window.
"Dasher, what are you doing?" Santa asked the reindeer.
"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm going to save my baby! South-Polars cannot be trusted. It is obviously a trick. No one will fall for a South-Polar when I'm around. Nobody!"
"But Dasher!" Too late, the determined reindeer jumped out, and zoomed off. Santa sighed, and went back into his office.
"Oh Dasher, don't do this now. Don't do this."
Once at garage, Dasher noticed it was open. He went to the sleigh.
"Yup!" He observed. "Cupid has been here. Silly reindeer ran away with our enemy, and left the garage open. Naughty, naughty! Cupid will have some explaining to do!" Once all sprinkled with dust, he took two red and green sacks that were conveniently in the sleigh in his mouth, scooped each with dust, closed the garage when out, and flew to New York.
Back at the party, the animals were still dancing to the music.
"Move your feet!" Julian said, dancing with Maurice and Mort. "Yeah, that's it!"
"I'm moving my feet!" Mort cried out. "I'm moving them!"
"Yeah, keep moving them Mort. Keep moving and groovin', and do not stop!"
"Okay!"
They danced and danced. Cupid and Private went to dance under the mistletoe.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" Skipper announced. "Boys and girls, looks like it's time for…the Mistletoe Kiss!" Everyone cheered for Private and Cupid as a spotlight shone on them.
"And the lucky couple is…Private and Bananas! Private, you finally found a suitable lady. I'm proud of you. Go and kiss her."
"KISS, KISS, KISS!" The animals cheered, even the kids. "KISS, KISS, KISS!" Eggy squeezed up front. "KISS, KISS, KISS!" Private shrugged.
"We are under the mistletoe you know." He told Cupid. Cupid nodded, and inched for a kiss. Cupid moved her mask up a bit on her antlers so they could kiss.
They were about to kiss when Dasher barged in. The animals screamed, and all ran in frenzy. The music suddenly stopped as the plug was accidently came out of the outlet.
"What the Santa hey?" Skipper said, "North- Polar! Come on men!" Skipper, Kowalski, and Rico ran up into their fighting positions. Rico regurgitated a wrench, and prepared for battle.
"Come on Private!" Skipper commanded. "North-Polar at 9:00, come on soldier!" He looked at Private who wasn't coming. "Private?" The other penguins looked confused.
"Cupid!" Dasher yelled. "What do you think you are doing?"
"Cupid?" Skipper wanted to know. "Look bub, Cupid's not here. This is…"
"Oh, don't be blind South-Polar!" Dasher dashed towards them, and yanked Cupid's mask off.
"Daddy!" Cupid cried. "Don't!" The animals all stopped and gasped as they looked at the scene that was now unfolding.
"See?! Nothing but a false face! Your South-Polar friend is dating a North-Polar!" Dasher threw it to Skipper. It landed on the floor, faced up.
"That's nonsense!" Skipper protested. "Private knows better than that. He'll never fraternize with our enemy!" All of the other animals agreed except Marlene.
"Wrong Skipper!" Private told him. The animals gasped. Skipper looked at him.
"What? Private, this is our enemy here."
"I don't care, I love her!" The animals all gasped again.
"Private," Cupid asked. "What are you doing?"
"I'm tired of pretending! The truth must be spoken!" He went to the others.
"I'm in love with her!" He continued. "So what? You can't ban it if we're happy together. This feud is silly. It has to stop! Can't you see it's hurting us? What example are you giving the young ones? We're in love and that's that."
"Aweeee!" Mort cooed. "That's so beautiful!" He burst out crying.
"So, what do you say?" Private went on. "Are we going to end this war, or are we going to hate and hurt?"
"Come on Cupid!" Her father told her. "Let's go back to the North Pole and leave these losers." He opened the sacks, and sprinkled them on himself and his daughter. "Here, this will just be enough dust for the ride home. So cease the chit-chat, and let's go!" He took the now empty sacks into his mouth, and began to fly towards the exit.
"But Daddy!" She protested.
"Cupid!"
"Yes Daddy." She looked at Private. "Well, Private. This is goodbye I guess." She offered him her hoof.
"CUPID!" Before they shook, Cupid withdrew her hoof, and placed it back on the ground, and sighed. She then flew off after her father. Private waved to her.
"Bye!" He called. "I'll never forget you, bye!" Cupid glanced back with a teardrop on her cheek, and followed her father.
Skipper went to Private, not at all pleased. Private stopped waving, and looked at his scowl.
"Oh, gee, I'm really sorry Skipper." The young penguin apoligized. "But I couldn't help it. She's gorgeous, and pretty. She's the most marvelous reindeer I laid my eyes on."
"Aweeee!" Mort awed. Skipper scowled at him. Mort looked at his face. "I mean, booooo, booooo!" Skipper looked back at Private.
"Private!" He snapped. "What were you thinking? Hanging with a North-Polar? Shame on you, you know better then that!"
"Shame!" Mort said darkly. "Shame, shame, sha…oof!" Julian kicked Mort aside, and Mort crashed with a loud noise. "I'm o-kay!"
"I'm sorry Skipper but…"
"Sorry's not good enough soldier. Private, I ban you to see her ever again!" Private and Marlene gasped.
"But Skipper, you can't…"
"I can and I will. You are forbidden to see her ever again. End of discussion!"
"But..."
"End of discussion Private!" Private then looked mad.
"I hope Santa gives you nothing but coal then. You ruined Christmas for me and Cupid. I hope you're happy Skipper!" Skipper looked hurt and looked at him. Private then ran off crying.