Alright, this is not the last chapter. There will be one more following this chapter, ending the story at five chapters. Thank you for all your wonder full reviews, and enjoy this fourth addition! I do not own Penguins of Madagascar; they belong to tom McGrath, Eric Darnell and their respected parties. (Duh, FFN). If you can find the Van Halen reference in the chapter, write it in a review! Hint: the second word lost a letter.
4: Lessons and L.
Skipper wanted to give something to Marlene, something that she would appreciate and would be special from him. He pondered as he stirred his fish coffee, and looked out the porthole. Private and Rico were training in the water. He pretended to pay attention, but was really thinking about what to give Marlene. A song came on the penguin's radio. He thought about it, and remembered Archie. He had told the penguins he was a good guitarist, and now turned his life around by playing guitar to the little animals.
He smiled, now knowing what he could do. He could serenade her. He came up to the top of the ice floe. Private, Rico and Kowalski all lined up.
"Men, you may have the rest of the morning off. I will be back around 1300 hours." He told them. The three disappeared beneath the fishbowl. Skipper turned and left the zoo. Finding Archie's "home" he walked in.
"Hello, Archie." He greeted. Archie came up to him.
"Ah, hello skipper!" What can I do for you?"
"Well, to be honest, I want you to – to – teach- me." It was very hard for skipper to say. Usually he was the instructor, not the instructee. This was pretty uncomfortable for him.
"I see. Well, Skipper, I am not that busy. What do you know of guitar so far?"
"Well, I know you strum it and it makes music. I know they don't make model guitars for animals like us so we have to make do with makeshift ones." Archie twirled the whiskers on his face.
"I think I can help you from there." He smiled, and they started the lessons.
A week later
Skipper was a fast learner. He was already making his own music. He wasn't Eruption quality, but he had finesse. Skipper even wrote a song. He wrote it with a great joy, and practiced it for hours. Finally sure he was ready; he walked out of his habitat. It was night time now, everyone was sleeping. He waddled over to Marlene's habitat, little guitar in hand.
Marlene
Marlene woke up to noise. No, not noise – music. She stepped out her cave entrance to see Skipper. He was seated on a log, strumming a Spanish guitar. Marlene smiled at this. He was serenading her. Obviously done with the last song, he started the next.
I fell into the pit
Staring deep in the abyss
Coming ever closer, closer and yet so far away
I'm putty in your hands
Cause I've got no master plan
Just trying to keep the world at bay
Your heart would be broken if I told you my past shame
Your smile brings me hope but doesn't ebb away my pain
Marlene had never heard this song before, and she had heard nearly every song on the radio that existed. Skipper must have written it for her. She walked down to him as he sang the chorus
I'm not asking for forgiveness
Just for you to understand
You try to melt the tears away
As I crawl here on my hands
I traveled round the world
For a girl so close to home
Don't tell me that you're leaving me
I want you for my own
Marlene marveled at his voice. The singing power skipper had was unrelenting. His flippers moved across the guitar effortlessly, like it was natural to him.
Don't tell me to go away
By your side I'll always stay
I'll save you from any night mares
You might replay inside your head
A book is laid open
Pages blank and unfulfilled
Girl, help me write this novel
I need your help and will
When skipper broke into the second chorus, Marlene sat down in front of him and began to sing along. A cascade of emotion, of love emitted from the otter habitat. they sang together, a beautiful chorale of music.
I'm not asking for forgiveness
Just for you to understand
You try to melt the tears away
As I crawl here on my hands
I traveled round the world
For a girl so close to home
Don't tell me that you're leaving me
I want you for my own
Skipper ended the song. He set down the guitar.
"I love you Marlene." He whispered softly. Marlene didn't know what to say. She was speechless. Skipper noticed her expression, and spoke once more.
"This is me talking, Marlene. Sane. Not affected at all by the love potion you spiked my oyster with." Marlene's eyes grew wide. It was the scandal incident all over again.
"How did you find out? Oh, wait. Kowalski."Skipper nodded.
"It had only affected me that one night. After Kowalski told me what had happened, I came up with a plan. I would pretend to be under the influence near my men. The date itself was utterly real, and I am never going to be sorry for it."
Marlene looked at him.
"I can tell them if you want. And we can go on a "real" date." He put quotes around the word date.
Marlene thought, and was astonished at what came out.
"No."
A/N: The song in the chapter is 100% original, written by me. Like it? I don't know about it, but I thought it fit.