~Royal Reversal~

-Zoo: Midday. Approximately 1200 Hours

"Gather round boy and girls! Come. Come one and all!"

Children and adults alike gathered in the center of Central Park Zoo, flocking towards a rotund man in a tuxedo and top hat.

"Everybody come close." he said. "And behold the wonders of what I am about to show you! The powers...of magic!"

With flourish and flair the man pulled a large bouquet of flowers seemingly from nowhere, which he handed to a little girl in the front row. Over at the penguin habitat, four flightless birds watched with varying levels of enthusiasm.

"Oh, goody!" said Private. "A magic show! I love a good magic show, don't you Skipper."

"Negatory, Private. I don't trust magicians. They stuff innocent animals in some kind of freaky time space warp inside their hats, bringing them out only at their own leisure. He could have an entire prison inside that top!"

"Oh, come on!" shouted Kowalski. "You can't possibly be falling for those cheap sideshow parlor tricks!"

"What do you mean?" asked Private.

"It's obvious he pulled those flower from his sleeve"

"And for my next trick." shouted the magician, placing his hat on a blue cloth covered table. "I shall pull a rabbit out of my hat!"

"See!" shouted Skipper. "Look at him. Flaunting his freaky animal jail in front of all those children! Doesn't he have any shame?"

"There's a hole in the table. Come on! It's sooo obvious!"

"Relax Kowalski." said Private cheerfully. "Just enjoy the show. Have a little fun."

"Oh, of coouurse! Let's all just do a merry jig and watch the silly man make a mockery of scientific principal!"

Applause erupted from the magician's audience as he held a fluffy bunny in his hand. The bunny waved cheerfully at the audience, nuzzling up to the magician who then fed the bunny a carrot.

"Look at him." said Skipper. "The pour lad's so scared he can't even move to escape. That man has him under his thumb."

"Thank you!" shouted the magician. "And for my next trick I shall need a volunteer!" The crowd yelped eagerly as people strove for attention and the chance to participate in the magician's act. "How aboooouuuut...you!"

The crowd parted, revealing Alice the zookeeper, who had been sweeping the grounds behind the crowd. She kept sweeping for a few moments until she figured out who he was referring to.

"Me?" she asked incredulously.

"Of course! Come right on up!"

"Oh, no. I don't-"

"Awwww! Looks like she's a little shy folks. Let's give her a hand!"

Shouts and cheers erupted from the audience, both encouraging and pressuring the reluctant zoo keeper to take the stage.

"I don't...I mean, really I...I have to..." The cheering grew louder around her, peer pressure increasing with every shout. It was only a moment more before she was forced into resignation. "Ugh, fine!"

Cheering continued as she trudged through the part in the crowd, ascending the stage and taking a seat as the magician gestured to a prepared chair.

"Isn't she a peach folks?"

"Let's just get this over with."

"As you wish." Turning to the audience, he began making grand, sweeping gestures. "For my next trick, I shall be employing the ancient art, of hypnotism" With wave of his hand, he held out a gold pocket watch, dangling it to the oohs and aahs of the audience.

"Look at that." said Skipper. "Now he's brainwashing people! Is there no end to this mad man's depravity?"

"Pffft. It's a hoax!" scoffed Kowalski. "Hypnotism is nothing more than a trick used on the weak minded."

"Might wanna stow that scoffing, soldier." said Skipper, pointing to the stage where Alice sat sleeping in her chair, the magician swinging the watch back and forth in front of her face.

"She is now under my trance." said the magician, eliciting several more oohs and aahs from the audience.

"He's hypnotized Alice." said Private excitedly.

"Or she's fallen asleep from boredom." scoffed Kowalski again, his flippers crossed.

"Listen to the sound of my voice." said the magician. "You will do as I say."

"Complete mind control." said Skipper. "Impessive."

"It's fake!" shouted Kowalski. "How many times do I have to-"

"I don't know, Kowalski." said Private. "That looks pretty real."

The four penguins looked on while the hypnotized Alice disco danced on stage, doing some extreme moves before jumping and landing in a split. The audience erupted in cheers while the magician took a bow.

"B-b-b-b-but that's-"

"Seems like your scoff just got shot down." said Skipper, patting the stuttering scientist on the back. "Not to worry. We're all forced to eat their own words every now and then. I like mine raw with a side of barbeque sauce and lemon."

"As long as you learn from the experience, it'll all be worth it."

"Right you are Private. Now come on men. We have a jail break to orchestrate. I want all the prisoners freed from that hat on the double. Move! Move! Move!"

As one the three penguins secretly slide out of their pen, initiating their plan and leaving Kowalski behind to stare at the magician.

"Learn something..." repeated Kowalski as he stared at the magician, his eyes going to the watch in his hand while he bowed to the applauding audience. "Maybe I can."

Meanwhile

"Maurice! Are you seeing what I am seeing?"

Marucie looked at his illustrious king before looking back to the crowd, who were clapping rhythmically as Alice continued to disco dance.

"Believe me, I wish I didn't."

"No, not that. Look at the great, shiny medallion the magic man is holding! Isn't it beautiful?"

"I guess."

"Just imagine if I was having such bling as that. How it would hang around my kingly neck, adding even more magnificence to my already magnificent self." Julien caressed the air for a moment as if he already had something hanging there. "Maurice! I command you to find your king some new bling!"

"And just where am I supposed to find this 'new bling'?"

"Maurice, if I knew that don't you think I would have gotten it myself?"

"No."

"Good point. Now get to work."

Maurice sighed as he hopped down from the central rock down onto the brick perimeter of the lemur habitat.

"'Find some bling' he says. Oh, and I suppose there are some royal class jewels just lying a-"

Maurice stopped short. There, sitting right in the middle of the zoo plaza, was a big, fat, emerald ring! A massive emerald attached to a little ring!

"I can't believe it." he muttered to himself, dumbfounded. "Just sitting there. Right there. Oh, King Julien's gonna be so happy! I-" He looked around. "I gotta get moving."

As stealthily as possible, the hefty lemur slipped through the metal fence, and dropped down to the ground, quickly ducking behind a nearby trashcan as a couple of humans passed by. He briefly glanced at the crowd, which was still being distracted by the magician, who was standing in front of a sleeping Alice once more seated in the chair.

"Perfect." said Maurice as he quickly made a break for the prize, occasionally ducking behind lampposts and signs when he thought he might be seen. It took only a couple moments before he made it to the center of the plaza where the treasure lay. Slowly, carefully, he lifted the ring from the ground.

"I don't know who lost you." he said, staring at his reflection in the gem. "But I know one lemur king who's going to take real good care of you. Or have me take care of you. Either way, you're coming with me."

"Rico, now!"

"Huh?"

Screams erupted from the assembled crowd as smoke filled the air. Maurice started to back up as three more explosions of smoke erupted in the crowd, sending all the humans into a frenzy. They all began fleeing the scene like a stampede of rampaging rhinos headed right towards him. His eyes opened wide.

"Oh cru-"

And then they were upon him.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

King Julien looked down at the rampaging crowd below, watching as people panicked, screaming in the midst of the smoke that permeated the air.

"Mort?"

"Yeeeeeeees?" asked the little lemur sitting adorably beside the king's throne.

"Do you hear screaming?"

"Yes I do."

"No no. Not the general screamy screaming of the screamy people. I mean, more like a familiar screaming."

"Ooooh. Nope."

"Okay. Just checking." The king sat back in his throne, taking a bite from his mango. The two sat there quietly, as the screams continued to fill the air.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Oh, the pain! The pain!"

"See!" said Julien, pointing at the crowd. "There it is again! It is being on the tip of my tongue, but I just can't think with all this screaming going on! It is driving me crazy! Mort, go make them shut up."

"Okay!" The little lemur happily skipped over the to the end of the rock and started angrily screaming at the crowd. "Hey all you people! Be quiet! You are driving King Julien crazy!"

The people continued to run around, frantically screaming in the midst of the smoke.

"They are not listening to me." said Mort sadly. Julien sighed, placing his hand over his eyes.

"Oh, Mort...Okay. New plan! Instead of yelling at the panicy screamy people, I, your king, shall go yell at the penguins, who are causing them to be all panicy and screamy, to stop...whatever it is they are doing. In the mean time, you stay here, and keep an eye out for Maurice in case he returns with the new royal bling."

"Somebody help me! Oh, it hurts!"

"Erg! Not knowing why that screaming is seeming so familiar is going to drive me loco! I must get to the bottom of this mystery at once!" He sat back down in his throne. "Right after I finish this mango. I can't be solving a mystery on an empty stomach." He took another bite. "Oh yeah. That is a good mango."

Penguin Base 1245 Hours

The door slammed open into the base, through which three battered and bruised penguins waddled in.

"Ungrateful bunch of patsies." said Skipper angrily. "You'd almost think they wanted to stay with that madman."

"I don't know." said Private, applying bandages to his clawed up rear end. "That tiger was pretty insistent that he wanted to stay just where he was, and I don't think those doves were at all happy with Rico."

Rico started hacking, coughing out several white feathers.

"They've obviously been brainwashed." said Skipper. "Good thing we brought them back to the base for debrainwashing. Rico, debrainwashing equipment."

"Gah!" Rico nodded happily, hacking up a croquet mallet, a pair of pliers, a medieval flail, and a box of tissues.

"Two ply, man! Two ply! We're not barbarians. Now, where's Kowalski? We need him to operate the electrodes."

"Bzzt! Bzzt!"

"Precisely, Rico."

"That won't be necessary."

All three injured penguins turned as Kowalski walked out of his lab, a pair of black goggles over his eyes and a large, golden pocket watch with clear gemstones all around the face in his hand, a gold chain trailing from the top.

"Behold!" said Kowalski holding up the watch. "My latest invention!"

"...Hate to break it to you Kowalski," said Skipper. "but the pocket watch has already been invented."

"Though the little crystals are a lovely touch." added Private.

"Ooooh, but this is no mere watch!" said Kowalski.

"So, it doesn't tell time?"

"Well...yes, it does, but that's not-"

"Seems pretty standard to me." said Skipper.

"Maybe it has one of those little compasses built in."

"Ooooh, a compass watch. Well played, Kowalski."

"It's not a compass watch." said Kowalski flatly.

"Oh...well then what is it?"

"I call it...the Hypnotic Pendulum! With this device we can reprogram any mind to do or act any way we want! Observe." The scientist walked over to Private, holding the watch in from of him. "Look at the watch, Private."

"Um, okay."

"Are you looking closely?"

"Yes. Yes I am."

"Good. Now with the mere press of this little button on top, I shall reprogram Private's entire personality!"

"I'm not sure I want my-"

With a press of the button, Private was silenced as the hands on the watch began to spin. Round and round. Faster and faster. The face glowed a vibrant purple, an effect which was mirrored in young Private's eyes as he fell under the device's hypnotic spell.

"Can you hear me, Private?"

"Yeeees." said the littlest penguin, his eyes fixated on the watch.

"Excellent. Now, Private, how would you like to be a pirate?"

Private blinked, the purple glow disappearing from his eyes and a menacing sneer appearing on his face.

"What do ye mean 'how would I like ta be a pirate'? I am a pirate ye bilge gurgling, seagull lovin', piece of crab bait!"

"You see!" said Kowalski, ignoring the irate cadet. "All it takes is the smallest of suggestions, and it's like they're an entirely new person."

"Oi! I be talkin' ta ye!"

"Outstanding, Kowalski!" shouted Skipper. "This will make debrainwashing that madman's victims way easier. Rico, stow the iron maiden."

"Awwwwwwwww." Rico slouched in disappointment, pushing the medieval torture device away.

"Now, how about we go see what that baby can really do?"

"Slight problem, Skipper." said Kowalski.

"And what's that?" said Skipper turning back to his brainy comrade. Safe to say he was a bit shocked when he saw that said comrade was currently bound with rope, unable to move with an angry Private standing threateningly behind him.

"It appears that I made a slight miscalculation when accounting for Piravtes altered personality."

"Shut yer yap!" said Private, holding a large spoon to Kowalski's throat. "I don't take kindly ta people who ignore me when I'm talkin' ta them."

"In retrospect pirate may not have been the best idea."

"Ya think?!" retorted Skipper.

"Quiet before I keelhaul all y'all!" shouted Private. "Now, if ye don't mind, I'll be taking this little trinket, and be on me way." He laughed as he lifted up the watch, forming the chain into a necklace and placing it over his neck. "A fine piece of treasure ta start me reign o' pirate plunderin'."

"Well, we do mind." said Skipper as he and Rico took up battle positions. "And you're not going anywhere."

"Oh, really? Not even with me...hostage!" Private lifted up Kowalski, holding the spoon against his throat. "Make a move, I dare ye! I'll spoon his brains out and spread it on me breakfast toast, which will go lovely with me oatmeal and a tall glass o' orange juice."

"Skippeeeeeer. Do somethiiiing." said Kowalski, nervously eying the spoon.

"White or wheat toast?" asked Skipper.

"Skipper!"

"Wheat toast. Got ta have yer fiber."

"Blast. Okay, fine. We'll let you pass...for now. But mark my words, this isn't over."

"We'll see about that. Yarharharhaaar."

The reprogrammed penguin slowly walked past his former comrades, his eyes never leaving their faces. When he got to the ladder leading to the surface, with a forceful push he shoved Kowalski forward into the two other penguins, making a break out of the base while Skipper and Rico hurried to untie their bound friend.

"After him!" shouted Skipper once Kowalski was free. The three ran from the base in hot and blazing pursuit of their hypnotized friend...

Pirate Private dove behind a nearby trash can as the other three penguins burst out of the base, stealthily placing decoys in their place to distract the zoo patrons before shooting off the opposite direction.

"Barnacle brained bunch a landlubbers." he said smiling, taking a nice long look at his shiny, gold prize. "They'll never get me, or me treasure. Still, better hide this somewhere just in case. But where?..."

Thinking it over for a moment, he looked around until he spotted a nearby bush.

"Perfect."

Quick as a flash, he slid over to the bush, setting the watch down and covering it with leaves.

"That will keep ye nice and safe while I go get more shiny friends to join ye. Now ye just stay right there, and I'll be back right after I've plundered the entire zoo of all it be worth! Yarharharharhar!"

Private dove out of the bushes, sliding across the concrete and laughing all the way! Which lasted all of three to four seconds, as he was interrupted when...

"Get him!"

"Wha?!"

The three other penguins smashed into him, tackling him to the ground and subduing him with their combined might in a matter of moments. A lesson can be learned from this. Even if you turn evil, it doesn't mean you're any stronger than you started out, and as the least experienced of the penguins going up against his three senior comrades, it was really only a matter of time until they got him tied up and dragged him back towards the base, Private saying several choice piratey phrases along the way. Unbeknownst to the penguins, however, was that a certain someone with an affinity for crowns and dancing had been watching the entire thing unfold from nearby.

"Well, that was interesting." said Julien walking out from his point of observation behind the corner of the brick wall surrounding his habitat. "I was going to be yelling at them, but it looks like the cutey penguin is taking care of it for me. How I am loving it when people are doing what I am wanting done before I am having to speak it."

Feeling satisfied that the penguins were receiving a good tongue lashing with an extra salty tongue, Julien turned to go back to his kingly abode. However, as he started to think about having Maurice make him a guava berry smoothie when he got back from his bling hunt, a sparkle of something shiny caught his eye from inside the bushes. Having a deep affection for all things that sparkled, he couldn't resist wandering into the shrubbery to find out what this sparkly thing was. A shine from beneath the carpet of fallen leaves was quick to draw him close. He brushed away the layer of fallen foliage, revealing a beautiful gold watch beneath, complete with extra shimmering stones!

"Oooooooooooh." moaned Julien in delight as he lifted the watch. "I have never seen such magnificent bling in all my life! Just look how it sparkles!" With tender affection, he slipped the chain around his neck, the watch hanging down over his stomach. "A perfect fit! This is most obviously a gift from the Sky Spirits! Thanking you Sky Spirits! Thanking you very much!"

Giddy as a kid in the candy shop on free samples day, the king dashed out of the bushes back towards his home.

"Mort! Maurice! Your king is now having bling that is off the chizang!"

"Talk!"

White light shone directly onto Private's face as he stood against the wall, tied to a wooden pole. Skipper sat at a table in front of him, a cup of coffee in his flipper and Kowalski and Rico at his back.

"Where. Is. The watch?" said Skipper, punctuating every word.

"Ye'll never get a word out of me, ye seaweed eatin' scalleywag."

"Ha! We just did!"

"Twelve to be exact." added Kowalski.

"Yeah, well here's another! Pthhhhhhh!" Spittle flew at the other three as Private blew a long raspberry towards them, and action which caused Skipper's eye to twitch, which matched the sneer currently gracing his face quit nicely.

"Technically, a raspberry isn't a word." said Kowalski.

"I do not tolerate this kind of insubordination from my soldiers! Not even from a brainwashed one. Now either you tell me where that watch is, or I try debrainwashing you without it. Comprende?"

"Yer mother kissed a sea lion."

"Ooooooooooooh." said Rico, his flipper over his mouth. Skipper face turned red as rage permeated every fiber of his being.

"Kowalski! Get the electrodes."

"Check. Check. Check. Check. Check it out! King J is in the hiz-ous!"

Julien lept up onto the ledge, boggying across the platform in full rappin' form, clearly flaunting his shiny new bling.

"Oooooh, it's so shiny!" said Mort, skipping over to his king. "What is it?"

"Silly, Mort. It is obviously the new royal bling! Now, where is Maurice?"

"Right...here...your majesty."

Battered, bruised, and sporting a piece of gum stuck onto his left ear, the hefty lemur dragged himself over the edge and onto the main platform.

"Maurice, where have you been? And why do you have gum stuck to your head?"

"Bling...trampling...panic...pain...shoes!" Maurice huffed, trying to get his breathing regular again.

"Ugh, I cannot be understanding you when you are being all wheezey. Mort, get him something to drink."

"Okay!" Mort ran over to the bar, and fetched Maurice a smoothie, which he drank gratefully.

"Oh, that's good, baby."

"Now, let us be taking it from the top."

"Okay." said Maurice. "I was off hunting for bling, when those psychotic penguins went on a rampage. The humans stampeded! It was horrible! I-"

"Speaking of bling!" said Julien cutting Maurice's tragic tale of pain short. "Check out the bling that I found!" He gestured to the watch hanging around his neck, striking a pose as he delicately stroked the metal. "See how the gemstones sparkles in the sun?"

"Oh, it's real nice alright." said Maurice smiling slyly. "But check out this!" Maurice pulled the ring from behind his back, the sun glinting off the massive gem! Julien's eyes widened in delight as he rushed over and grabbed the ring, holding it above his head in wonder.

"It is beautiful!" he shouted, twirling with it held above his head as Maurice looked on satisfied at the reaction his hard fought for prize was receiving.

"Oh, Maurice! I am so happy! This ring is..." Julien paused for a moment, appearing perplexed. He sniffed the ring. "Sweet."

"Yeah, it is pretty sweet if I do say so myself." said Maurice looking might pleased with himself.

"No, I mean this ring is sweet sweet."

"Now, King Julien, let's stop all this complimenting. Just knowing you're happy is-" Maurice stopped as Julien gave the ring a nice long like from bottom to top, which he thought was a little...strange, to say the least.

"Eck." gagged Julien, shaking his head as if to get rid of the taste "Green apple. Here, you have it." He tossed the ring back to his adviser, who grabbed it looking more than a little confused.

"K-king Julien. I-Idon't understand. I..." Maurice drifted off as he caught a whiff of something sweet and sugary coming of the ring. He sniffed it closer and then gave it a lick as well. "It's...candy." He said, crestfallen.

"That is what I was just saying." said Julien, taking a seat on his throne, and admiring the watch.

"B-but I...I worked so hard...the shoes, they..."

"I can see that you are feeling disappointed right now. Why don't you go make us all smoothies to help lift your fallen spirits, okay?"

Maurice looked down. "Yeah. Okay." Slouched in defeat Maurice turned, starting the trudge towards the smoothie bar. After a couple steps, however, he stopped, standing up right, a determined look on his face.

"You know what. It's not okay." he turned to Julien, who looked down from his throne at him. "I worked hard for that ring. Sure it was candy, but that doesn't mean that blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blue blah bla..."

Julien stared at his shouty adviser, his eyes wide and apparently intensely focused. His mind however was...not quite so focused.

"Wow." thought Julien as he listened to Maurice's blahs. "I have never noticed how strange Maurice's mouth is looking when he talks. He seems upset about something. Maybe he also does not like the green apple. Such a horrible flavor...I wonder what flavor that gum on his ear was. It looks strawberry. Speaking of which, I could really go for a strawberry fruity drink." He went back to looking lovingly over his watch. "Yes, something nice and sweet and fruity to drink as I admire the royal bling..."

Maurice and Mort stared up at their king, Maurice with arms crossed, looking peeved.

"He does realize he's talking out loud, right?" asked Maurice as he watched his king stroke the watch.

"Yes, how lovely you are, my beautiful bling..."

Maurice sighed. "You know I wish you understood what I go through for you, your majesty. I work hard. I..."

As Julien continued to caress his prize and ignore Maurice, he noticed the button on top of the watch. Curious, he decided to do what any logically minded mammal would do. Press it. To his delight the hands on the watch started to spin, faster and faster. Round and round. He became excited at the thought that his royal bling could do such a thing, however, as the watch face glowed that vibrant purple all excitement, and everything else for that matter, disappeared from his mind.

"I just wish you knew what it was like to be a servant to the king." said Maurice. Julien snapped out of his trance. "I mean, always trying to make sure the king is happy. Always-"

"Okay." said Julien happily, hoping off the throne, and plopping his crown down right on top of Maurice's head. "And what shall I be doing for you first, your majesticness?"

"...Say what?"

"Talk!"

BZZZZT!

"Yer mother drinks bilge water!"

"Talk!"

BZZZZT!

"Yar daddy smells like...orca poo!"

"Talk!"

BZZZZZZZT!

"Ur...uncle Jibby...flipped the doobly jig over the plinky-boo..."

Skipper scowled as a shocked and charred Private laughed loopily in front of him.

"Kowalski, analysis."

Kowalski stuck a meat thermometer in Privates mouth. "His electrocution level is at medium-rare."

"Let's go for well done. Up the voltage!"

"Bwahahahaha!" Rico laughed menacingly as turned up the machine, sparking the electrodes together in preparation for another bout of shock treatment.

"Skipper, I don't believe this is working."

"Then we'll just have to try something different. Rico, get the iron maiden."

"Before we try that, I may have different solution." He turned to Private, who sneered at him in disdain.

"Do yer worst. Ye'll never find me treasure!"

"Oh, I believe you'll tell exactly where it is in approximately forty three seconds." Kowalski held up one of the dove feathers from earlier, walking slowly towards his victim.

"This isn't natural..."

Maurice sat high atop King Julien's throne, a plush pillow beneath him, a crown upon his head, the watch around his neck, a fruit smoothie in his hand, an extremely weirded out look on his face, and a King Julien rubbing in tight circles upon his feet as if all of this was completely normal. Mort sat off to the side, staring in horror and shivering in fear.

"Very sorry, your magnificence. I shall try to be making the rubbing feel more natural."

"I'm scared." whispered Mort.

"Here, let me freshen up your smoothie, and then I can be grooming the royal fur." Julien grabbed the glass, and walked off to the bar, leaving Maurice and Mort all by their little freaking out selves.

"What is wrong with King Julien?!" yelled Mort once he was out of site. Maurice jumped down from the throne, leaning in closer to Mort.

"It's a trap. It's gotta be." said Maurice, his eyes wide with fear.

"What do you mean?"

"King Julien must have gotten so mad when I yelled at him he snapped! He acts all nice now, making it seem like all is right in the world, and then the next time we close out eyes..." Maurice drew his finger across his throat, which drew tears of fear from the little lemur.

"What do we do?!"

"We just don't close our eyes. Don't turn out back on him. We don't let on any sign that we think he's gone-"

"Bananas?"

Both lemurs screamed, jumping back from Julien who had been standing behind them, holding a bunch of bananas.

"Gotcha. No bananas in the smoothie." Julien walked away to resume making the smoothies. Mort turned on Maurice.

"This is you fault!"

"Excuse us."

The lemurs turned to the edge of the platform, where three out of four penguins stood.

"I believe you have something that belongs to us." said Skipper.

The pair stared for a moment. Maurice attempted to say something, but Julien quickly stepped in between the two parties.

"That is no way to be greeting royalty." said Julien, wagging a finger.

"We don't have time for formalities." said Skipper. "We've got a pirate sitting in out base, and we need that watch to get him back to normal."

"Huh?" said Maurice.

"If you are referring to the royal bling, only the king may be wearing it. Now, I'm afraid you must leave now, as it is time for the king's massage."

"Your massage can wait, Ring Tail. This is an-"

"Oh, not my massage. His." Julien stepped back, gesturing to Maurice. "The king."

All three penguins stood, staring with extremely confused expressions on their faces.

"Kowalski?"

"Um, er, I'm...not sure Skipper." said Kowalski. "It appears that either there has been a drastic political uprising in the lemur kingdom, possibly through a small scale war that somehow slipped through our sensors, or, and this is highly implausible, Julien has somehow fallen prey to the brain altering effects of my Hypnotic Pendulum."

"That reminds me. I've been thinking about that name. The 'Hypnotic Pendulum.' It's a bit of a mouth full. Why don't we shorten? Something catchy. Like, the Hypno Watch, or The Mesmerizer!"

"How about the Neuro Reprogrammer?"

"Nah, let's go with The Mesmerizer. Sounds cooler."

"Hold up. Hold up." said Maurice, coming forward. "You mean that this watch-"

"The Mesmerizer." corrected Skipper.

"Whatever. You mean this thing is what's making Julien act like this?"

"Yep."

"Acting like a servant?"

"Uh-huh."

"Treating me like a king."

"Yep-a-roo."

"Doing anything I say and giving me the royal treatment night and day?"

"Exactly." said Skipper. "But don't worry. All we need is The Mesmerizer back, and we can get everything back to normal. Sound good?"

Maurice stared at them for a moment. He looked at the watch. Then Julien who holding a hot towel. Then the watch. Then the penguins. Then the watch. Then towards Julien again who was now busy preparing an elegantly decorated fruit bowl with little fruit flowers forming a delicious bouquet on top.

"Um, just speaking hypothetically if something were to, say, happen to the watch."

"The Mesmerizer."

"Yeah yeah, that. If something happened to it, could you, possibly, maybe...create another one?"

"Hypothetically, yes." said Kowalski. "It would take a good deal of time, but it could be done."

"And once this new watch was done, you could turn Julien back to normal? If, you know, that hypothetically happened."

"Of course. The hard part would be to building another mesmonium generator, but once that was done it would be a piece of cake."

"Uh-huh. Good to know."

Smiling pleasently for just a moment, Maurice jerked the watch off his neck, and began ruthlessly smashing it against the ground while the penguins stared on, shocked. After a couple more moment of smashing, he stepped back, breathing hard.

"What have you done!?" yelled Skipper.

"Sorry 'bout that." panted Maurice. "But I really need a vacation, and right now I'm finding the royal treatment to my liking, know what I'm sayin'?"

"Don't worry." said Kowalski, dropping to his knees in front of the watch. "With a couple minor repairs it should still-"

"Julien."

A ball-peen hammer slammed down on what remained of the watch, courtesy of Julien.

"Aaaaaaaand, now it's dead."

"You maniac!" yelled Skipper. "I expected better from you."

"What's the problem? You just said you could make another and fix him."

"Yes," said Kowalski. "But I also said it would take time."

"Meanwhile, we have a brainwashed Private sitting in our base singing seas shanties!" yelled Skipper.

"If he takes recommendations, ask for 'Yo ho ho and a bottle of punch.'" said Maurice, taking a seat on the throne. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have pampering to get to. And feel free to take your time on that watch."

Skipper scowled. "Fine! Enjoy your pampering."

"Oh, I will. Julien, be a dear and escort the penguins out."

"Yes, master." said Julien bowing. He turned to the birds, shooing them off the rock. "Let's go, flightless birds. You heard the king."

Glaring, the penguins were slowly scooted to the edge until they were forced to dive off, heading back for base. Maurice looked angrily at the penguins as they left.

"Don't know what they're gettin' all upset about." he mumbled to himself. "I deserve this. I work hard night and day. I served Julien loyally, and now it's his turn to serve me for a change. I mean, sure, he's only doing it because of that watch, but it wasn't like I caused Julien to get hypnotized. It's their fault really, I'm just...taking advantage of the situation. If you think about it, it's almost like I'm giving them the punishment they deserve for making a hypno watch in the first place. I mean, who does that? Going around inventin' things that mess with people's heads. Hmph. Teach them a lesson."

"How could you?"

Maurice turned to Mort looking up at him and shaking with anger.

"You are a traitor!" shouted Mort. "The Penguins could have fixed King Julien with watch, but you break watch! You are...bad person!"

"Oh, relax Mort." said Maurice, leaning back in the throne. "No one's getting hurt. The penguins will have a new watch in no time, and everything will be back to normal. For now, let's just enjoy the ride."

"No! I will never accept this! I-"

"Julien, would you please let Mort hug your foot."

"Yes, master."

Julien held out his leg in front of Mort, the foot tantalizingly close to his face. The little lemur's eyes were wide.

"Oooooh...the feet. Must...hug. No! Must resist. I will not be a part of this! I...I..." Slowly his hands reached out towards the foot, taking hold of it, feeling the long, magnificent toes. As his hands caressed the foot, his will power melted. "Feet!" He crawled onto Julien's leg, hugging the foot in a state of pure bliss.

"So, what do you think now, Mort?"

"I am...bad person." he said smiling.

"Welcome to good life. Let's celebrate. Julien, how about some of that fruit salad, and don't forget the dip."

"Yes, master."

Julien limped off towards the bar with Mort still clinging to his leg while Maurice put one hand behind his head, and raised his smoothie with the other.

"Here's to the good life, baby."

Week 1

"Ooooh. Oh yeah. Right there, baby. Little lower. Awwwwww. So good."

Maurice lay on a long table as Julien gave him a firm handed massage, Mort clinging to his leg as he did so.

"Your shoulders are being so tight." said Julien. "You must be under too much of the stress. Here, a hot towel to ease your muscles."

Maurice groaned in pleasure as the towel was laid across his upper back, the steam and heat hurting initially, but soothing afterwords.

"This is the life." he said while Julien began working on his lower back.

"You said it." said Mort, contently hugging the feet.

Week 2

Maurice sat at a long table, enjoying a gourmet meal consisting of roasted pineapple, sauteed cherries, strawberry yogurt, a banana split, and much much more.

"This is delicious!" he said. "I had no idea you knew how to cook like this. Or how to play the violin."

Julien smiled as he continued the soft ballad on his violin.

"Silly master. I am being whatever you are wanting me to be. There is nothing I shall not become if you so desire it."

"Haha. Yeah..." Maurice laughed uncomfortably at the statement, looking away from Julien as he took a bite out of a sauteed cherry.

"And is master Mort enjoying his meal?"

Mort sat on the ground, one arm wrapped around Julien's leg and the other being used to eat the sundae beside him.

"Yeah! It's...great! Haha." Mort stuck another bite in his mouth. "Mmmmmm...yummy..."

Week 3

Loud music thumped at the lemur habitat. It was late at night, but that didn't stop the lemurs from breaking every noise ordinance in the state of New York. The multicolored party lights strobed to the beat of the song, adding some razzle dazzle to the already rockin' party! Mort and Maurice were breaking it down on the dance floor, while Julien was off to the side, polishing the royal throne.

"Come on!" shouted Maurice. "Join us! It's time to boogy down! Ow!"

"Dance party!" shouted Mort.

"As you wish, your highness." Julien calmly set down his rag and polish and walked over to the dance floor, a vague smile on his face as he two stepped to the beat of the song, shaking his fists like maracas as he swung side to side.

"Now come on!" said Maurice, breaking out the robot. "You love dancing! Have some fun! Let loose! Break it down!"

"Yes, master. I shall do better."

"Nooooo. It's not about doing better. It's about having fun!"

"But I am having fun. Serving you is being the most fun thing ever! What more could I possibly be wanting?"

Maurice slowly stopped dancing while Julien did a loose disco, staring at the former king.

"Actually, I'm feeling a little tired. I think I'll just go to bed."

"Very well. Shall go fetch you a blanket?"

"No. No it's fine. I got it."

"As you wish. Good night, your highness."

"Yeah...Night."

Slowly, the larger lemur made his way down to the bouncy, taking the crown off his head and holding it in his hands as he went. When he got there he found an elegantly arranged pile of fluffed pillows, a freshly cleaned sleeping mask, and a tiny mint on top. He stared at the entire thing and sighed. Instead of going to sleep on the elegantly arranged bed before him, he silently dragged a single pillow off the pile, curling up with it on the grass covered ground. He placed the crown in front of him as he placed his head on the soft, plush pillow. Though he tried to fall asleep, he remained wide awake. His eyes ever fixed on the crown.

Lemur Habitat. Morning. 1000 Hours.

Maurice sat at the edge of the central platform in the lemur habitat, the crown sitting beside him. Slowly Mort walked over, plopping down beside of him to join him in dangling their feet in the air.

"Morning." said Maurice.

"Morning." Mort looked around. "Where is King Julien?"

"I think he's off wiping down the bouncy. Why aren't you with him huggin' on his feet."

"I am taking a break from the feet hugging." he said, looking down.

"Yeah. I can understand that."

Both lemurs continued looking down in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Eventually, Maurice looked up with a smile.

"Say, why don't we go visit the penguins today? We could drop in. Say hi. Maybe even check on how that watch is going."

"Really?!" asked Mort, now excited.

"Yeah! It'll be a blast. Come on. Let's go."

"Okay!"

Finally looking energetic, the two lemurs jumped down from the platform, running quickly across the grass, and hoping over the brick fence on their way to penguin HQ.

"Blow the man down!
Blow the man down!
Hey! Ho!
Blow the man down!"

"Will you shut up!" yelled Skipper, shaking the bars of the cage where Pirvate was currently being detained.

"Awwww, does it make you upset when I sing me shanties?" asked Private.

"Frankly, yes."

"Good. Blow the man down!
Blow the man down!
Hey! Ho!
Blow the man down!"

Skipper grimaced in frustration. "Rico, detain that mouth."

"Uh-huh." Rico coughed, hacking up a sock and stuffing it in the caged Privates mouth, placing some duct tape over said mouth for extra measure.

"Ah, duct tape. Is there anything you can't solve?"

"Knock! Knock!"

Skipper turned around as Maurice and Mort made an entrance through the front door.

"Well, if it isn't the selfish Mesmerizer smasher and his little friend. How's your pampering going."

"Uh, great!" said Maurice. "It's awesome. Wonderful, even."

"Good to know. So, what brings you here?"

"Oooh, you know. We just wanted to drop in and say hi. See how you were..."

"Is watch finished?!" shouted Mort, though Maurice was quick to slap a hand over the little lemur's mouth. He looked at Skipper, who was looking at them both oddly.

"Hehe. You know Mort. Always asking unimportant questions. But, and this is strictly for the sake of curiosity...is it?"

"Is it what?"

"The watch. Is it done?"

"Well if by watch you mean the Mesmerizer, then no. Otherwise Sea Shanty Jo over there wouldn't be locked up in a gerbil cage."

"Oh." Maurice looked disappointed for a moment before remembering to avoid looking that way in front of Skipper. "And, just out of curiosity, when will it be ready."

"Kowalski?"

The scientist penguin looked up from his work, breaking out the abacus. "Well, according to my calculations, it should be ready in as little as eight-"

"Days?!"

"Weeks."

"What?!" Both lemurs shouted, shocked. Maurice stepped forward.

"What do you mean eight weeks?! Can't you finish it any faster?!"

"I thought you were enjoying your little relaxation time." said Skipper. Maurice quickly attempted to compose himself.

"Oh, yeah. I am. I mean Julien does anything I say. He serves me night and day. It's everything I ever wanted and...and...I can't take it anymore!" Both lemurs broke down, sobbing on the floor. "He's not even King Julien anymore!"

"The feet are not the feet of King Julien! They are the feet of a stranger!"

"You gotta set things right, man, and fast! I don't want this life anymore! I want king Julien back! The guy who would have us dancing for hours on end! The guy who made every day a party! The guy who bossed us around, and made us do stuff because he was to lazy to do it himself! That guy! Not this mindless slave! I want my king back!"

"King Julien!"

The assembled penguins watched the lemurs continue sobbing on the floor.

"Um, this is both touching...and extremely awkward." said Kowalski.

"I concur." added Skipper. "Listen lemurs. We'd love to help, really, but we just can't go any faster."

"As I told you before, the mesmonium generator is the hard part. I was able to make the first Mesmerizer with one I already had, but making a second one from scratch takes time. The mesmonium alone takes seven weeks to reach a molecular configuration suitable for use as a power source, let alone the building of the actual generator, calibrations, snack breaks-"

"In other words." said Skipper. "Your stuck with the mindless lackey until that science juice is ready."

"But isn't there some other way to get them back to normal?" asked Maurice, clearly desperate.

"Don't you think we've tried?!" shouted Skipped. "We've done everything. Electrodes, medieval torture devices, we even tried playing the Lunacorns! Lunacorns, man!"

"He called it a sissy, lily livered display unfit for seagull fodder." added Kowalski.

"That part I didn't mind. The point is that what's in that cage isn't Private. What is in that cage is a ruthless, hardened sea dog who would slit your throat with a dull clam shell as soon as look at you, and he will continue to be that way until that generator is up and running."

Maurice looked at the cage. "Um, do ruthless, hardened seadogs normally cry?"

"What?"

As one the penguins turned, shocked expressions covering their faces as they saw that Private was indeed...crying!

"Rico, remove that gag, on the double."

Rico rushed to the cage, ripping off the duct tape and jerking out the sock.

"Oh, that was...Yooooow!" screamed Private, rubbing his beak for a moment before staring at the lemurs, tears of both pain from the duct tape and emotion running down his cheeks. "Oh, that was the most...beautiful display friendship and loyalty I've ever seen!"

"Private?" asked Skipper.

"Yes, Skipper?"

"Are you really...you?"

"Of course I am, silly. Who else would I be? And why am I in a cage?"

"It really is him! He's back!"

The penguins all rushed forward, jerking open the door and hugging their returned friend.

"It's good to have you back, Private!" cried Skipper. "But how?"

"It must have something to do with the lemur's open display of emotion." said Kowalski. "Somehow they managed to touch something at the core of Private's personality which was strong enough to override the Mesmerizer's reprogramming effects."

"Is that possible?"

"Apparently so."

"Um, hate to break up the reunion." said Maurice, a puzzled expression etched plainly across his face. "But what does this all mean?"

"I am so confused." added Mort.

"What it means is we're getting Ring Tail back to his old royal pain self."

"Really?!"

"Hurray!" yelled Mort, jumping up in glee.

"Aw, man, this is great! You guys are the best. So, how we gonna do it?"

"No clue!" said Skipper confidently.

Maurice's smile dropped. "Excuse me?"

"We know now that in order to restore Julien to his former self we have to somehow trigger a part of his personality so deeply ingrained that it can override the Mesmerizer's effects." explained Kowalski. "We just have absolutely no idea how to do that."

"But we'll give it our best shot anyway." said Skipper proudly. "Operation Royal Return is a go!"

Lemur Habitat: 1700 Hours

It was time for strategy. Skipper stood before the assembled penguins and lemurs in front of a large white board, a red marker held in his flipper.

"So, I was really a pirate?" asked Private incredulously.

"And a most fearsome one at that." said Kowalski. "You threatened our lives on several occasions."

"For how long?"

"Oh, saaaay, three weeks."

"Three weeks?!"

"Focus people!" shouted Skipper. "We can catch you up on the missing weeks of your life later. Right now we have to work on Ring Tail. Now, first thing's first. What makes Ring Tail Ring Tail?"

"He is a ring tailed lemur" stated Kowalski. "Also known as Lemur Catta, also known as Infinitus Dancicus Annoying-us." Maurice glared at the brainy bird. "Right, sorry. Too soon for snide remarks and insults. Duly noted."

"None the less, I think we'll need something a bit more in depth that his species. What else?"

"He's a king." said Private. "That's a pretty big part of who he is."

"Correctamundo." said Skipper. "If we want his royal highness back, we need to treat him like he's royalty. That's where you two come in." He motioned to Maurice and Mort. "You go act like you did when he was king. Then, when he starts feeling like a king again, he'll go back to being a king, understand?"

"No problem." said Maurice. "We'll lay the royal treatment on just like we used to. Let's go."

"Yay!"

The two lemurs lept up to the top of the platforms, the penguins following close behind to observe. When they got there, they found Julien painting a large portrait of an extremely buff Maurice laying on a regal couch.

"Ah, there you are, master. I have been working on a painting in honor of you magnificence. You like?"

"Yeah, it's wonderful." said Maurice. "Here, why don't you let me clean those brushes for you while you go relax. Maybe, I don't know, take a seat on the throne. Yeah! Let's go with that!" Maurice tried to grab the brushes.

"Oh, no, your highness." said Julien, pulling the brushes towards him. "It would not be right for the king to be serving a servant."

"My thoughts exactly, so just hand over the brushes,"Maurice jerked them towards him. "And I can clean...them...for...you!"

The two struggled with the brushes, pulling back and forth until finally Maurice jerked them from Julien's hands. The tall lemur stumbled backwards, windmilling through the air to try and keep himself upright, but ultimately failing as he landed straight into the buckets of paint on the ground, splattering paint everywhere, though most notably on himself. Maurice shielded himself so the splatter was minimal, but there was still quite a mess.

"Oops." he said. "Sorry about that."

"No no, your royal fluffiness." said Julien, standing up. "It was clearly being all my fault. I shall go fetch you a towel."

"No, I'll fetch the towel." said Maurice, running off to get the towel before Julien could get there.

"If you so desire, your quickness." said Julien. "I shall go prepare a smoothie to soothe your anxious nerves, for they are appearing more than a little frazzled." Julien, walked over to the blender, and started mixing the fruit up. It was done in a few seconds, but as Julien prepared to serve the drink Mort jumped up on the counter, grabbing the blender.

"Here. Let me serve the drinks." said Mort.

"Really, I've got it." said Julien, struggling for control of the blender. "Do not be putting yourself out."

"But I insist!" Mort jerked the blender with a mighty heave, sending smoothie flying everywhere, most noticeably onto Julien, adding to the already colorful coating that currently matted his fur.

"Oopsie." said Mort shyly.

"I got the towels!" shouted Maurice as if he had just won a marathon, though his smile dropped upon seeing Julien further soiled. Julien, however, simply smiled.

"Silly Master. If you had been wishing for me to be more colorful, all you had to do was ask. I shall now go dip my head into the machine of rainbow snow cones so I may be more pleasing to your eyes."

Maurice and Mort stared as Julien walked off, the penguins observing the entire debacle as it unfolded.

"Well, that didn't work." said Skipper.

"And I believe we can cross off pride in one's appearance from our list of traits the might bring Julien back." added Kowalski. Skipper started tapping a flipper against his chin.

"Pride..."

Lemur Habitat: 1730 Hours

"You want me to what?!"

Marlene stared at the assembled birds and lemurs in front of her as if they'd all gone mad, which, quite frankly, wouldn't have surprised her.

"It's simple." said Skipper. "You go over there, and pretend to flirt with Julien. Compliment him. Make him feel like a real stud. He feels flattered. The flattery goes to his head. His ego inflates, and BOOM! He's back to normal."

Marlene continued staring until finally she just shook her head. "Okay. Okay. First of all, I'm still trying to get over the fact that you actually brainwashed someone."

"We prefer the term reprogrammed." chided in Kowalski.

"Yeah. Yeah. Whatever. But still, fake flirt? How am I even supposed to do that?! Nu-uh. No way. Not happening."

"We didn't want it to come to this." said Skipper. "But you've left us no other choice." He lifted Mort up in front of Marlene's face, the little lemur's eyes glistening with tears.

"Please. You have to help king Julien. If you don't he'll be stuck like this forever!"

"Technically, it would be eight weeks." added Kowalski.

"Shut uuuup." mumbled Skipper under his breath.

Marlene stared deep into Mort's large, tearful eyes. "No...No, I can't. I mean, I've never done anything like this before. I don't...Stop looking at me like that...I just...can't...Okay. Okay, fine! Fine! I'll do it. Are you happy? Huh?"

"Yaaaay!" shouted Mort, giving the otter a hug. Marlene sighed, prying the little lemur off her.

"Yeah. Cuteness and guilt. Right in one little package. Nice. Real nice. Yeah, hope you're happy."

"Oh, we are." said Skipper, looking victorious. "We are."

Marlene turned from the group towards Julien, who was currently polishing the throne for what could have been the fourth time that day. She stared on for a moment, taking a deep breath to still herself. Mustering all the confidence she could, she started walking towards Julien.

"Remember to pour on the charm!" shouted Skipper.

"I don't need commentary!" shouted Marlene back. She approached Julien. "Ah-hem. Uh, hey there, um, g-good-good lookin. What's...happening?"

Skipper slapped his face. "You call that charm?"

"I said I don't need commentary!" yelled the otter over her shoulder, turning back to Julien with an awkward smile.

"Hello, Marlene." said Julien. "Have you come to stay for dinner? We are having the roasted grapes with peach brulee and strawberry ice cream for dessert."

"No, silly, I came to see...Brulee? Wow, that actually sounds...really fancy."

"Eh, some peaches, brown sugar, some pecans, it's not so hard. The ice cream's what really makes it. I make it from scratch so it is having the extra sweet flavor."

"Wow, I'd actually love to try-"

"Marlene!"

"Yeah. Yeah. In a minute!" she yelled. "So, about that ice cream."

"Eeeeeeerg." Skipper slapped his flipper over his eyes. "This is a disaster!"

"At least Marlene seems to be enjoying herself."

Skipper looked over towards the female otter, who was currently lounging on a bed of pillows, relishing a bowl of freshly churned ice cream while Julien used a leaf fan to keep her cool.

"Oh. Oh, man. This is the best ice cream I've ever had! I mean, yum!"

"I am glad it is to your liking." said Julien.

"Oh, it is more than to my liking. It is to my loving!"

Skipper stared flatly at what he considered to be a totally pathetic scene before him. "Okay. Everyone back to the drawing board. Rico, fetch Marlene."

"Uh-gah!" Rico waddle over to the lounging otter, grabbing her by the foot and dragging her as she struggled to get away, though was clearly failing.

"Hey, no. Stop. Get off me." she turned towards Julien. "Call me some time! Or just come over! We'll do lunch!"

Lemur Habitat: 1900 Hours

"Come on!" groaned Skipper. The group sat around, watching as Julien lightly kicked Mort's rear end. "You gotta kick harder than that!"

"Eh, but won't that be hurting him?" asked Julien.

"No! It's okay! I like it!" shouted Mort. "Now kick me like you mean it!"

"Hmmm, just to be safe I shall go wrap a pillow on my foot. Be right back."

The group groaned.

"We've been at this for hours!" shouted Kowalski.

"Though I'm loathe to say, I thing we may have lost this battle." added Skipper.

"What?!" shouted Maurice, standing up. "But you guys can't give up now! Look at how far we've come!"

"Wake up and smell the brulee! We've gotten nowhere! We've tried everything! Boosting his ego, roller disco, we even broke out the electrodes! None of it worked!"

"Though the electrodes did make the roller disco interesting." added Kowalski.

"Face it. It's hopeless."

"No. No I refuse to give up!" shouted Maurice. "I won't-"

"Cheese and crackers man, enough!" Skipper got right in Maurice's face, screaming the last word at the top of his lungs.

"Skipper." said Private. "Let's not be rash."

"Oh, no, let's get rash!" said Maurice. "Let's get real rash!"

"Don't think just because we had some minor role to play in all this that it gives you the right to display this kind of open hostility!" shouted Skipper.

"Minor? You caused this whole thing! If it wasn't for that stupid watch-"

"Oh, and who broke the watch so he could have some relaxation time, huh?! That's right. It was you?!"

"Please, stop fighting!" interjected Mort.

"Don't you yell at me!" shouted Maurice to Skipper.

"Oh, I'm not yelling! This is yelling! I'll yell all I want! Yell! Yell! Yell! Look at me! I'm yelling and there's nothing you can do about it!"

"Uh, Skipper..."

"Oh, real mature." said Maurice.

"I don't have to be mature, cause I'm busy being loud yelling at you! You like my yelling?! Well here's some more!"

"Skipper?"

"If I didn't need you to help fix king Julien, I'd shut that beak of your for you!"

"Just go ahead and try!"

"Skipper!"

"What?!"

Private shrank back from the volume of his leader's voice. Slowly, he managed to raise a single flipper, pointing it to the right. Skipper followed the direction the flipper was gesturing to until his eyes landed upon an enraged Julien, who had returned, pillow on foot and one eye twitching in anger.

"Ring Tail?" asked Skipper, curiously.

"How daring you to be yelling at the members of my kingdom!" shouted Julien, furiously. "Only I am being allowed to do that! No one else!"

"Julien?" asked Private. "Is that...Is that you?"

"Well of course it's me, flightless bird. Who else would I be being? Now, Maurice, fetch the royal whooping stick. I must teach this loud mouth a lesson."

"Y-your highness?" asked Maurice. His eyes grew wide as he slowly approached the poised figure of his leader, Mort beside him.

"King Julien?"

"Yes, yes. We all know who I am." said Julien, waving their strange behavior off. "What I am not knowing is why it is taking so long to be getting my whooping stick?!" Julien paused for a moment before snatching the crown off Maurice's head.

"Give me that!" he said. "Maurice! Why were you wearing the royal crown? Only the king is to be wearing the royal crown? And where is the royal bling? It should be around my neck right where I left it. I-"

"Your back!"

Julien stumbled backwards as the two main members of his kingdom rushed into him, clinging tightly in an emotion filled hug.

"King Julien!" shouted Mort. "He has returned!"

Julien stared down at them, his arms raised and a confused expression of his face.

"Okay, while I accept your hugs, you are both freaking me out! I command you stop it this instant!"

"Whatever you say, your majesty." said Maurice backing off, his face lit with joy. "Ha! Your majesty! Let me go get you a smoothie your majesty! How about a fruit salad Your Majesty! Shall I clean the royal throne? Haha! Your majesty! Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Hahahaaa!"

"You are still freaking me out!" shouted Julien as Maurice skipped off happily, a massive spring in his step.

"It is so good to have you back!" shouted Mort, who quickly went from hugging Julien's side to hugging his feet. "Oooooh, all is right once more!"

"And the no freaking out your king rule goes double for you!" shouted Julien. "Now off the feet!" With a mighty kick, Julien sent Mort flying though the sky, the little lemur cheering all the way.

"Wait," said Skipper. "So yelling was the key?"

"Apparently so." answered Kowalski.

"But why?"

"Maybe the thing that was at the deepest part of Julien's personality was how much he cares for his kingdom." suggested Private.

"Sounds completely farfetched, but hey. This entire thing has been grade A freaky."

"Agreed."

"You said it."

"Uh-huh."

"At any rate, I'm gonna declare this mission accomplished, boys." said Skipper proudly, issuing forth a round of high fives.

"Hey!" yelled Julien, pointing a finger angrily. "I'm not being done with you! And when Maurice gets my whooping stick, you are gonna be so sorry you were ever yelling at him! I will make your bottoms so sore you're own mother won't be able to sit! The baboons with burn with the enviousness at the redness of your spanked bottoms! Your booties will be so hot from my mighty wrath you will be able to roast the chesty-nuts on them! Are you hear me?!"

Skipper smiled as Julien continued issuing threats. "It's good to have you back, Ring Tail. It's good to have you back."

~End~

Author's Note: Yay! Episode two! Sorry if it was a little long. I just had so much plot that I needed to write! Still, I hope you enjoyed it!

Also, this is a shout out to all Penguins fans. Nickalodeon appears to be giving Penguins less and less air time. This is a grave injustice! If you wish to fight it then join the save the Penguins movement by signing the petition that can be found on my profile. You can also do small things to show your support and the popularity of the show, such as liking Penguins on Facebook, Facebooking or Twitttering some of the writers and voice actors to show support, leaving messages, commenting on Penguins on the Nick website, and doing anything else you can think of to show Nick that Penguins is the best show they have and that they need to give them a larger time slot and a whole bunch more seasons! Let's band together my fellow Penguins fans and show them just how numerous we are! Until next time!