(A)- Appreciation- I would like to thank you for taking time to read something I have decided to advertise to the community. I am hoping that this read will be an enjoyable and memorable one. If after your read, I would like to ask that you click on the review button and give me a little feedback about how you felt about your read. It would be much appreciated, and would please me. It would also help with any future stories I may create. ~Fox..
(D)- Disclaimer- I would like to inform that I have never shared, been associated with, or claimed any ownership of the television program 'Penguins of Madagascar'. I only claim rights to the stories I've created, the plots behind them, the time taken to create them, my OC's, and my profile name for the site. All original ownership of the actual show belongs to DreamWorks and Nickelodeon. Along with the specific creators Tom McGrath and Eric Darnell. I thank them dearly for making such a fantastic show to watch. ~Fox..
(P)- Purpose- The main reason this story was made was so I could experiment and offer more for everyone to read. Along with possibly entering a new area of writing I haven't entered into before, so anything new I may show off may be something to become a new experience for everyone. These side-stories I show off are my time to take off and think about making anything else better. I would like this short to be like a test. You being my teacher to inspect it, and share with me your final grade. Which will keep my ego up high.~Fox..
(W)- Warning- This may be rated safely, but for safety reasons I would like to inform everyone that this will contain slightly saddening scenes, and a hypothesis of death from illness on a child. If it seems a bit out of character for Julien, just know that deep in his heart I see change. If you would not like to read this for anything I have listed above, I would suggest to you to go elsewhere. I only advertise this for the people who may want to read it, and I do not wish to force this upon anybody. If you prefer not to read, and leave, I will feel unharmed as it is what you like. I care more for the reader, then my short getting read. If you agree to any of what is above, and continue on, I hope you enjoy! ~Fox..
'Have a Heart'
~A Penguins of Madagascar short
Day One
The sun lit up bright as it normally would every day, bringing in the likelihood of another exciting day for the lemurs to party, dance and most likely mess with the penguins. Julien was wide awake, as Mort had awoken both him and Maurice. Or more likely, Mort begged for help, and it awoke Julien. Julien, refusing to help, awoke Maurice and ordered him to deal with the problem. To Julien, he didn't exactly care whatever it was that Mort was fussing about. He assumed that Mort was probably having a bad dream or something. To cry out for help was very unusual, as the young child had the capability to regularly take in harm, danger, mistreatment, harassment, whatever..and still maintain gratefully after. Almost as if nothing got in his way, and he was on the road to a pot of gold. Julien was very confused as to why Mort actually wanted help for once, but because he figured he had more important things to deal with in the upcoming day, he ignored it. Maurice, however, was one to be of much assistance. Being woken up forcefully didn't exactly give him enthusiasm, him being that age and all. But he still was willing to try and help Mort. He's a young kid, he doesn't deserve to deal with a struggle. Julien had been awaiting in his throne for any feedback of what was going on. Not necessarily of Mort, but as to what was taking his adviser so long to return to him. Finally though Maurice had given time to Mort and laid him back onto the bouncy to lie down, to try to relax and most likely get a little more sleep. He was now making his way up to King Julien as to inform him of what was the problem with Mort, and to why he had awoken the two.
Maurice presented himself in front of Julien and gave him a worried look. "Is someting' being a problem, Maurice?" Julien asked, slightly showing concern, although he honestly could care less. Maurice frowned. "I gave attention to Mort like you asked your majesty, but it seems he's gotten sick somehow. He said that he wanted to talk to you, but I told him that it was unnecessary for you to be with him at the moment, and had him lay back down" He explained himself. Julien sat back into the throne and thought for a moment. Maurice gave a slightly annoyed look, as to slight anger to why his major wouldn't be concerned with this. He knew that Julien payed little to no attention to anything at all, but to someone as close as Mort he expected at least a look of sadness, or shame. "At least he is not to be being a problem to us today" Julien declared with glee. Maurice lowered his brow and showed a slightly angered look. "King Julien, Mort is down there sick! Don't you think we should try and figure something out for him to get better?" He asked, hoping for an apologetic reply back. Julien shook his head. "Maurice, he is to be becoming a man. If he is to do so he must go trough' dis' disease or whateva', and come out of it witout' any complaints" He replied back. "But he's just a kid! Could we at least get someone to look at him?" He asked, more in a begging manor. He cared for Mort. Like Julien, he had to watch over him. He learned to enjoy the company of both of them. He cared for them. Loved them like family, no matter how cruel, strange, bitter or different they were from him.
Julien sighed. He didn't want to have to deal with what was going on now. He was looking forward to another relaxing day of jamming the music and kicking it for all of the visitors to come. But because of Mort's situation, Maurice was coming to him asking for him to take action of some sort. He wasn't looking forward to any of it. He'd rather have a great time having fun. Not worry about the slightly ill. But to get Maurice out of his fur he was gonna' have to do it. Anything for a little peace and relaxation. "Fine. If it is to be leaving your king to be alone in da' end to enjoy himself, I will do it. You just watch over him Maurice, I will be getting one of da' penguins to look at him. We are no doctors" Julien declared. Maurice smiled. He believed that Julien was showing a slight amount of care. It didn't matter if it was real or not, at least Mort was going to possibly get some help. However Julien didn't care to much. He was more concerned with how he was going to sleep tonight than how safe Mort was at the moment. He did care a little though. Barely and unnoticeable, but he did care. Except he does believe that Mort is going to turn out safe and back to his regular, annoying self the day after. Maybe even later today. But he did worry about maybe Mort getting to sick. Although he doesn't believe that's very possible, he does worry over it.
Julien lowered himself off of his throne and brought himself down to the ground. Maurice walked away, most likely to Mort, and Julien sighed again. "Why must dis' be happening today of all days?" He asked, knowing nobody was around. He looked over to the penguin habitat and saw that-as expected- all of the inhabitants were outside, doing their routinely actions. Julien looked back to where Mort was and he could see that the little guy wasn't sleeping easily. If he was sleeping, that is. Slightly shaking, somewhat brighter in color, not being his usual care-free self. Julien thought about it. It was in fact strange for Mort to be doing that, but how could he of gotten sick? Normally anything that happens to him he usually makes it out, probably several scratches, and he acts as if he were given a ticket to paradise. Except today, something has infected him, or something of the source, and made him..just dramatically different than his normal attitude. Julien barely felt something flow through his body. "What is dis' feeling dat' I am feeling? It is not relating to da' feeling I was to be having when Skipper and I were in Joey's pin, is it not? Again, I do not like it!" He announced in anger. He wasn't happy with what he was feeling, and he definetaly didn't want to follow it either. It was a feeling that he should care. More, at least. The kid looks up to him like he is one of the actual Sky Spirits. "I do not want dis'. I must go to da' penguins" He decided, again realizing that he was the only one in his general area. He made his way slowly down the concrete slabs and approached the fence. "Dis' is not my typical day" He mumbled.
Skipper was patting Private on the back. "Nice performance on taking down that false ninja, Private. You've been preforming amazingly for the past few days. I'm proud to say that I'm your leader" Skipper complimented with a huge grin on his beak. Private slightly blushed. "Thank you sir, it's only a work of improvement is all it seems, really" He slightly doubted. "Nonsense. It seems you've really taken in what I've taught you, and thrown it back at me like a Frisbee" Skipper reassured. "Really Skipper, that's kind. But aren't Kowalski and Rico quite alright themselves as well?" He asked. Skipper laughed. "Private, you're the lowest rank here, and you've actually shown as much performance as they usually give. I'm saying you act as if you're a lieutenant like Kowalski. Or at least a sergeant like Rico. Well done" Skipper explained. "Well, thank you" Private replied, slightly showing the blush he had. "Penguins!". Skipper sighed. They looked to where the sound came from and, to Skipper's assumption, was Julien. Suddenly Julien had gotten into their habitat and confronted them. "You are smart, yes?" Julien asked Kowalski. He laughed slightly. "Beyond the average penguin, Julien. Thank you very much" Jewels gloated. "Yes. Are you also a doctor?" He added on, showing little care to how smart Kowalski might of been. He shrugged. "Somewhat. I know how to deal with some sicknesses" He replied. "Woah woah, what are you here for Ring-Tail?" Skipper asked, letting his habit to be irritated of Julien take over his body.
"Well, you are knowing of da' annoying subject of mine, Mort, yes?" He asked. "Yes, why are you here about Mort?" Skipper returned, confused as to why it was about Mort when Julien never showed any care about the smallest lemur. "Well, I was to be waking up dis' morning because he was crying about someting' stupid, and it was to be waking my kingly self up. I am to royal to attend to da' problem so I ordered Maurice to take care of it, and I left to my trone'.." Julien started. "So you came here to have Kowalski see why Mort was crying?" Skipper asked, getting slightly frustrated already. Julien shook his head. "No. Maurice was to be coming to me and he was telling to me dat' Mort was not doing well. Dat' he is probably sick, and I am asking for da' smart-y penguin to be taking a look at him because dat' is what Maurice is worried about" He explained. Skipper shook his head. "I don't trust your kind, Ring-Tail" He argued. Julien sighed. "Look Skipper, I am here because if I do not do dis' den' Maurice will believe dat' he is going to get worse. If you help him, den' I will leave you alone for as long as he is sick" He negotiated. Skipper shook his head again. "Make it a week" He argued. Julien sighed again, and nodded his head. "Fine. But if it is not being any trouble, could da' smart-y penguin check on him every so often?" He asked. It sounded slightly like a beg.
He really wasn't in the mood to do this. He wanted to return home and possibly dance to calm his slight nerves. Being taken away from what was usually fun was slightly annoying to him. Plus with that supposed weird feeling he has he just wants to get rid of it. He's hoping it'll go away if he gets one of them to look at Mort. He's more concerned with getting rid of that feeling instead of what is wrong with Mort. Skipper sighed. "Nobody deserves to go through a struggle, Skipper. Think of it as something for Mort, not Julien" Private begged. Being someone to care for the safety of everyone, he showed as much care for Mort as anyone else. Skipper looked to Julien again and sighed once more. "Fine Ring-Tail" He agreed, then looked over to Kowalski. "Kowalski, I want you to attend Ring-Tail and see what's affecting his follower. On the double" He ordered. Kowalski nodded and started to waddle himself towards the gate. "And Ring-Tail.." Skipper called. Julien looked back. "Yes?" He asked. "I want Kowalski back by opening time. If you get him sick from Mort, you're gonna' end up broken" Skipper defended. Very defensive of his team. He doesn't trust Julien at all. But because his objective for the zoo is to keep all of the animals tame and healthy, he had no choice to agree. It would, of course, ruin his reputation if he were to disregard Mort. Julien gave a slight nod, although he felt offended, and followed Kowalski back to his habitat.
Maurice was catering to Mort at the moment, making sure that if he was going to need anything than he would get it immediately. Although he's dramatically younger than him, he feels as if he's needed to protect him. He tries his best to make sure he doesn't pick up anything Julien may of taught him through visibility, but somehow he just can't get him to break his habit with Julien. He'll never figure out how the day came that Mort became attached to Julien's feet, but it's best to ignore it. What's more important to him now is that he monitors Mort until he is cured. He's young, so you've got to give him a higher amount of attention. "Do you want a smoothie, Mort?" He asked. He didn't get a responce. Maurice sighed. "You know the sun shines right into the bouncy, it could make you feel nauseous. Do you want to go somewhere more shaded?" He asked. Mort slightly shook. For him, it was extremely difficult to even think. It was a struggle to make out the words Maurice was telling him. He has no idea how he got sick, as he hasn't necessarily come in contact with anything vile. "Are you sure you're going to be fine under there? I don't want to have to clean up a mess" Maurice pestered. He doesn't care about a mess actually, he's just implying that Mort could 'get sick' if he were being in advanced contact with the sun. It'd be a pretty hot day for them as well. He sighed. "Mort, can you at least say something?". "No" Mort replied. Maurice frowned deeper. That was actually not a response he was expecting.
"He is being right over der', Mr. Doctor" Was heard in the distance. "Yeah, yeah" Kowalski replied, trying to hide from the reward he felt for being given a strong title. Maurice looked over to where the sound was and it was his leader and Kowalski. Kowalski quickly made his way over while Julien strolled behind him. "How's he doing?" Kowalski asked. Maurice shrugged. "I don't think he's doing well. I asked him if he was alright but he won't respond. He really isn't well at all. Poor kid can barely move either" He explained. Kowalski nodded and made his way beside Maurice to get a better and closer view of Mort. "Let me take a look at him. I'll give him some medicine if it's necesarry. Why don't you both just relax while I do this. This isn't something I'd require spectators for" Kowalski responded. Maurice nodded while Julien shrugged. The two walked away and Kowalski began to inspect Mort. "King Julien, that's a very kind thing you did, sir" Maurice said with complimentary in his voice. "Yeah yeah, I am a king, what da' people want is what da' people get" Julien replied hot-headed. He could care a lot less, but to keep a king-ly look, he figured he might as well look as if he's trying to do something amazing. Maurice just smiled and followed Julien up to his throne.
"Do you think Kowalski'll be able to cure him?" Maurice asked. Julien sighed. He doesn't want to talk about it anymore. He just wants it silent. Where he can relax in his throne and forget about what's distracted him for the past half-hour. "I am unsure, Maurice. But we might as well have da' smart-y penguin do whateva' it is dat' he will do, and expect Mort to become his usual, annoying self" Julien replied. Maurice gave a slightly disappointed look. "Why did you get Kowalski if you care so little King Julien?" He asked. Julien shrugged. "Anyting' to get a regular day back into my hands" He replied. Maurice lowered his brow. "So, you could care less about Mort?" He asked. "Maurice, Mort is going to come out alright. Why is it dat' you are to be worrying so much? He is a kid. He is fine" Julien argued. "What if he got worse though?" Maurice returned, getting slightly frustrated. "It is taken care of Maurice! We have Kowalski to be fixing him, and it will all be safe". "What if Kowalski can't fix him? Then what will we do?". Julien sighed. "Nature will get rid of his sickness. He is being young, so I would not believe in him dying so soon" He replied. Maurice sighed. "True. I..I'm probably just letting my fear get over me King Julien, please forgive me" Maurice begged.
Julien nodded, having to care less. "It is being alright Maurice. Go and take a rest or someting'. I am sure dat' it will all be safe in da' end. Just tink' about someone dat' would make you be happy, and Kowalski will come to us wit' da' information about Mort's status. Please, because I am not in da' mood to be giving ourselves aches of da' head" Julien returned. Maurice nodded and looked back to the bouncy. Kowalski was writing something down on his clipboard and holding a vile of some sort of medicine. "It looks like Kowalski's finishing up with Mort already" Maurice notified. Julien groaned. "What did I just say Maurice?" He asked. Maurice sighed and awaited for Kowalski to finish up with Mort. "I hope everything's alright" He muttered to himself. Julien rubbed his head slowly as he was slightly getting frustrated with Maurice. He was getting pretty irritated with what was going on, and was wishing it would all just leave him be. He prefers it when the attention is on him, and especially not Mort. "I am sorry for shouting Maurice" Julien apologized. Maurice looked away from Kowalski's direction and looked to his leader. "You don't have to be sorry your majesty, after all we wouldn't be helping Mort at all if you didn't even go and get Kowalski" He responded. Julien nodded. "Whatever will make da' subjects of mine pleased" He came back. Maurice turned back to Kowalski and it looked as if the vile of medicine he had been holding was empty and now on the ground.
"I..never mind" Maurice started, then retracted. Julien just waved his left hand around, waiting for the penguin to get back and give word, ignoring whatever Maurice was about to say. He sighed, and looked up to the sun. It shined bright and was calming his nerves. He smiled as he felt the sun warming his fur and returning him to the old temperature he was used to in Madagascar. "Julien?". He sighed and turned to see Kowalski had now been beside Maurice, looking up to him. "I looked at Mort and he has a temperature of thirty-eight degrees Celsius" Kowalski started. Julien gave a confused look. "Dat' is good or bad?" He asked. Kowalski shook his head. "It's bad. Not to bad, but it means he has a fever" He explained. Julien gave an uncaring 'Oh'. "Also I gave him a bit of medicine-it doesn't matter what really-but it should cure him by tomorrow morning" He added. Maurice smiled. "Really? You just gave him a little medicine, and he should be clear for tomorrow?" Maurice asked. Kowalski shrugged. "He should be. If not then two days. If he hasn't gotten any better than come get me again, I'll let Skipper's rule about Julien not coming in slide. Well, as long as he isn't anything of a nuisance" He replied. "I am right here you know!" Julien shouted in frustration.
Kowalski shushed him. "I put him back to sleep, don't wake him back up because the medicine does it's best in his sleep" He whispered. Julien sighed as he felt Kowalski blocking his face to retract any loud speaking. He nodded, hoping Kowalski would pull his flipper away from his face so he wouldn't have to be blocked. Kowalski did and looked back to Maurice. "If he isn't better tomorrow he'll just need some more medicine. I'll provide you with some for tomorrow just in case. It's very unlikely that he'll be unwell after two doses of this medicine, but in case I haven't said so already, I haven't tested it" He informed. Maurice gave an angry look. "You gave him something you don't even know will work!" He shouted through a whisper. Kowalski backed from the aye-aye lemur. "It's alright Maurice! When have my inventions gone wrong?" He asked. Maurice came closer to him and was close to attacking him. "Yeah I shouldn't of said that..but just trust me on this! I put a lot of observation and affection to this medicine when I was testing it some time ago, and when I put a lot of focus into something it usually doesn't go wrong" Kowalski defended. Maurice stopped and sighed. "You're the only one closest to knowing how to do the medical activity, so I'll trust you. Just promise that he'll be better after some time" Maurice begged.
"You can count on it. But, like I said, if Mort isn't well tomorrow, just use some more of the medicine. The secondary vile of it is by the bouncy" said Kowalski, pointing his flipper to where he put the medicine vile. "If those two drinks still don't work, I want Julien to come get me after tomorrow" He added. "Yeah yeah, I will be der'. But like I am to be saying, Mort is to be alright. Just finish da' appointment already, penguin" Julien responded in annoyance. Just waiting for some quiet. He wished that they would have their conversation down where Mort is at so he wouldn't have to hear any of it. Kowalski nodded and carefully held his clip-board. "Remember what I said" He stated while hopping down from the slab, then jumping over the fence. "Uh-Huh" Julien huffed. Maurice looked up to him with slightly disappointed eyes. He wasn't dealing his disappointment in Julien, it was directed to Kowalski. "What a fool" Maurice exclaimed while crossing his arms. "Well it is da' best he can be doing Maurice" Julien responded. Maurice nodded. "I know that. Still, he could at least test some of his experiments before using them. In fact he could of told us before he used it on Mort!" He shouted, again in a whisper-like form. Julien shrugged. "Whatever happens will happen Maurice. He will be fine in da' end. Just go and relax" Julien ordered. Maurice sighed, then nodded. "Yes, your majesty" He replied sadly. He walked away and Julien sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Sky Spirits, please cure Mort into someting' less annoying" Julien begged. Little did they know that the medicine was changing Mort. Is it a good change? A bad change? No sign of yet. Maybe it would be best to let time decide.
~Fin..
What do you think is happening to Mort? Do you think he'll get better or worse? How do you feel about Julien? Tell me whatever you're thinking about this in a review. The next chapter is to come soon. ~Fox..