Again, a big thank you to all my reviewers (I still find it strange to actually see my work out online). This is the journey to Madagascar chapter you've all been craving, so I hope you enjoy it. Again, I do not own the Penguins of Madagascar, Madagascar the movie, or the song Orinoco Flow (by Enya).
Chapter 3: Onward and downward
That day, at exactly o' six hundred hours, Alice and a few delivery guys came to transport the eight travelers. Marlene was feeling a little nervous about being stuck in a crate through most of the journey. She had to practice the calming exercises she taught herself, so that her feral side wouldn't emerge upon leaving the zoo walls. Julien wasn't too happy about the cramped conditions either, although Mort and Maurice were the ones who were actually getting squished from Julien stretching all over the place. The penguins more or less didn't mind (Skipper could tell you plenty of stories about being stuck in worse situations).
As Alice drove the truck to the docks, she couldn't help but have a strange feeling come over her about the animals. Of course, she had always been very suspicious with the penguins, but this feeling was different. "Ah great," she sighed as she caught herself thinking about the birds, "I'm already starting to miss them!"
Finally, Alice made it to the docks and waited. During the drive Marlene had fallen asleep, but woke up when she heard Alice talking. Looking out of a hole she had discovered in the crate she saw Alice wheeling three crates in the back of the truck and talking about replacements.
"Hmm, how strange," thought Marlene as she watched the crates get loaded in, "I didn't know we would get replacements."
After closing the back of the truck Alice walked back to where the eight were, and looked around carefully before speaking. "Ok, I have no idea why I'm even doing this but, uh, please stay out of trouble," she said quietly before adding sternly, "or else the fault will go to me!"
For the next ten seconds after Alice left, there was not a sound to be heard from the crates.
"Annnnnd, BREAK!" came a shout from Skipper as the top crate exploded into smithereens; revealing Skipper, Private and Kowalski in karate poses, with Rico carrying Miss Perky.
"Good job boys, the first part of the mission is accomplished and now…"
"And now you will be releasing a very trappded king!"
"I don't like cramped conditions!"
"Alright, alright we're coming," came Skipper's reply as Rico upchucked a crow bar.
It was a good thing they hadn't waited another second, because Marlene had literally been that close to letting her wild side loose. "Thanks," she told the penguins gratefully after she was released, "I really need to get a hold on this stress if I'm going to survive the jungle."
"Ah do not be worrying Marlene," said Julien as his lemur friends gasped for air on the ground behind him, "we will be dancing so much in my kingdom there shall be no time for the stressing!"
"Speaking of which," came Kowalski as Rico upchucked a remote into his flippers, "I think we are ready to launch," and with a push of the big red button in the middle, a small beeping noise could be heard in a crate some men were about to load onto the ship.
Thinking it was a bomb, the men promptly screamed before running away and dropping the crate into the sea. A second later, a magnificent sight emerged from the waters. "My Julien II!" shouted the lemur as he beheld the penguin's sub, and what it had now become.
The front of the submarine was the same size as the one they had used to defeat the snakehead, except it now had two extra pods in the back that were twice the size of the front. Not only that, but the sub was now colored green, silver and yellow.
"It's so….wow!" said Marlene quietly as she gazed upon the vessel.
"Yes, yes I know she's a beauty but we are kind of on a schedule," reminded Skipper as he started to climb aboard.
"Hey wait, do you know what Alice meant when she said we were being replaced?" asked Marlene as she suddenly thought back to the crates in the truck.
"Oh I sent her an email from an African research facility," replied Kowalski, "but I also sent an email to Hoboken saying that a few of their residents were going to be transferred as our replacements."
"But won't the researchers get suspicious if we don't show up?" asked Maurice.
"Oh we never told them what kind of animals were going to be transferred," said Skipper, "so we're in the clear."
After a quick tour of the front, the penguins directed the lemurs and Marlene to the pods in the back. "I upgraded the sub by adding rooms to the back for traveling guests," explained Kowalski as he pointed out two doors, "Marlene will get the room on the right, and the lemurs will get the room on the left."
"Hey wait," shouted Julien, "why is the king not to be getting his own space?"
"Because as a girl Marlene might want more privacy."
"But we can always visit each other," smiled Private.
"Thanks guys," said Marlene as she walked towards her door, "but where will you sleep?"
"Oh we'll be navigating most of the time, but we also brought sleeping bags for when we change shifts," said Skipper as he filed the other birds out, "Well time to dive!" and with that the four mammals went to check out the rooms. The basic design was the same: on the left and right were five bunks with a pillow and blanket each, and a small bathroom at the end. Their suitcases had already been brought in, so the four of them had nothing left to do but sit and cling as the sub lurched into motion.
The rest of the day was rather uneventful as the eight travelers adjusted to the new environment. Julien had complained rather loudly about the minimalist conditions, but then he was reminded that they would reach Madagascar in a day or two and promptly shut up (at least until he unpacked his stereo). Marlene had walked about the submarine a bit; mostly looking out the windows to see fish and seaweed brush past. She still thought it was amazing that she could experience the outdoors without going wild! She so wished she could swim out into the ocean right now, but she and the lemurs had been warned about the dangers of the sea, so she was content to just watch and wait.
Aside from eating whatever they had brought for food, the groups spent their times apart until evening. Skipper had dropped by to check living conditions and yell at Julien to turn off the "noise". Kowalski had stopped by to say that all the electronics were up and running and that there shouldn't be any problems. Private had stopped to tell Marlene good night, and Rico had even been kind enough to let Miss Perky stay with her. Even though Marlene would have preferred someone who could actually talk back, she thanked Rico anyway, earning a not-so-psychotic smile from the bird. Overall, it was a good start to a grand adventure.
The next morning Marlene awoke from the three pillows she had lain on the floor (she had found the bunk uncomfortable), and noticed something different. She had looked out the window expecting to see more fish or even a whale eye, but today she saw light. Excitedly, she brushed her fur, grabbed her guitar and Miss Perky and opened the door. After propping Miss Perky up against the door to the front pod and checking that the penguins were either busy or asleep, Marlene then went to check on the lemurs. Peeking in, she saw that Julien had also spread pillows and blankets on the ground (although Mort and Maurice were only allowed one of each item). Marlene rolled her eyes at this and at Julien sprawled out on his pile. Hopefully, they'll be asleep for another hour. Now she could put her plan into action!
Opening the top hatch, Marlene climbed up to see that the top of the sub was above water and surrounded by protective railing. She smiled as she watched the beautiful sunrise in front of her and also took note of the rolling waves beneath her. Sitting on the ground, the otter tuned her guitar and quietly began to start a song:
Let me sail, let me sail, let the Orinoco flow,
Let me reach, let me beach, on the shores of Tripoli.
Let me sail, let me sail, let me crash upon your shore,
Let me reach, let me beach, far beyond the Yellow Sea.
She had started on a quiet note so she wouldn't attract attention, but after getting to the Sail away part of the song, Marlene couldn't help raising the volume a bit. What she didn't notice was that she had an audience.
Julien had been fast asleep on his pile dreaming about being welcomed by his fellow Madagascarians, when he heard music. Being a lemur, Julien had very good hearing and he instantly realized whose voice was singing. He knew it wasn't Mort's voice, since Mort's was annoying (along with every other part of him). Following the guitar playing, the lemur king put his crown on and left to find the hatch (making sure not to alert his subjects or the penguins).
Marlene at this point had reached the final lines of her song, and she stood up playing and singing without any care. The song becoming especially exciting when the sub crashed into a rather large wave.
Sail away, sail away, sail away,
Sail away, sail away, SAIL AWAY!
The Asian otter jumped slightly when she heard clapping and whirled around to see Julien leaning on the railing and applauding.
"Bravo Marlene, Bravo! Now play me another."
"Julien?!" exclaimed Marlene as she carefully propped her guitar, "I didn't think you'd wake up till noon!"
"And I was not knowing you were an expert in the guitaring."
"Well I don't play very often, and I really didn't want to wake you, and," the otter blabbed on until Julien held up a finger to silence her.
"Personally I prefer the singing of you to the speaking of Mort any day."
Marlene was rather shocked by his words, especially given how he just gave her a rare comment. But before she could reply, the hatch opened and Private's face popped up.
"Oh, there you are," he chirped happily, "Skipper wanted me to tell you that everyone should be inside since we'll be in Madagascar by 3 o' clock."
"Hooray! Now if you will be excusing me, I will be waking my subjects for the eating. MORT…"
As the penguins did their duties upfront, the lemurs and Marlene got their bags repacked and waited. At exactly 3 o' clock, Skipper's voice could be heard through the intercom. "Attention passengers this is your captain speaking. If you look out your windows to the east, you will notice that the island is straight ahead. Just keep your luggage on hand, stay in your rooms, and NO DON'T!" a sudden blast could be heard as all of the submarine weapons were launched. "RINGTAIL! Anyway, just please stick together and hopefully we'll reach the island in one piece. Thank you."
Looking out said window, Marlene couldn't believe her eyes. Up ahead she could see a sandy beach covered with green palm trees, and surrounded by crystal blue water with not a building or human thing in sight. Taking a deep breath, Marlene grabbed her bags as she heard Julien dancing through the hall, singing about being back home.
For the record, I prefer the Celtic Woman version of the song (although Enya's is rather interesting). I know you all are anxious to find out what happens in Madagascar, but as a college student I can't spend all my time on my laptop for fun. So don't have a riot if I don't update after every couple days. Anyway, hope your day is going well and please review.
