''You really don't have to do this, King Julien,'' said Maurice as he and the king made their way to Marlene's habitat.

"I know. That is what makes me such a great king!''

''But-''

''Besides, maybe if I do another nice thing, the curse will go away!'' the lemur monarch exclaimed as he jumped into the exhibit, followed by the aye-aye. ''Hey, Marlene!''

The otter looked towards the lemurs and waved.

''So how do you feel about going on a date with a certain lemur?''

''I'm not going out with you, Julien.''

''What? No, not me. Maurice!''

Marlene turned to the advisor, who shrugged before explaining.

''King Julien overheard me tell Mort that I wanted to ask out Darla.''

''Then what do I have to do with any of this?''

''Maurice needs to go on a practice date first.''

''What?''

''I don't get it either.''

''Please, Marlene! Help Maurice! He has no game!''

''Hey!''

The female rolled her eyes.

''Fine. I'll go on the 'practice date'.''

''Great!'' said Julien, ''The practice date is tonight, to give you both time to prepare.''

...

That night, Maurice made his way to the otter exhibit, then knocked on the den.

''Oh hi Maurice.''

''Whoa! What's with the candles?''

''Practice, I guess...what's in that bag?''

''I brought candy. You like the the hard kind with the creamy centers, right?''

''YES!''

Marlene cracked a candy and licked the cream out. Maurice couldn't help but stare. They spent the rest of the ''date'' talking, eating candy, and taking turns playing her guitar. The next thing the aye-aye knew he was waking up. He looked down to see the otter laying on his chest, with his tail curled around her waist. He blushed as he removed his tail.

''Uh, Marlene...''

''Mmm...three more minutes...'' she moaned as she nuzzled into his neck, tempting the male to stay, but the sight of sunlight alerted him that he was late. He tapped her head, waking her. She looked around, got off him, and smiled sheepishly. ''Looks like you spent the night...''

''Yeah...I better get going,'' he said as he walked out of the den, ''I got smoothies to make.''

Marlene followed after him, then tripped over his tail. He caught her before she hit the ground, and helped her up. When she was standing she leaned foward and kissed him on the cheek. They stood there, staring at each other.

''If you need another practice date, I'll be here,'' said the otter before mumbling, ''Why did I say that?'' as she walked back to her den.

When Maurice returned to the lemur habitat he found King Julien on his throne, with Mort standing next to him.

''You got back late,'' stated the king, ''Where's my smoothie?''

''I'll get right on that.''

As the advisor made the smoothie he was joined by the smaller lemur.

''So Maurice, what happened with Marlene?''

''Not much...''

''Are you sure none of this happened?'' asked Mort as he smashed an apple into a mango.

''I have no idea what that means.''

''All right, let's pretend that this half a melon is Marlene, and this banana is you.'' The mouse lemur then smashed the yellow fruit in the melon.

''MORT!''