Penguins of Madagascar:

King Versus Emperor

Part 14

by Neoraichu

This story is rated 'M' for Mature Situations.

WARNING: This is a strange tale, so READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

...

Skipper spread word about the zoo in regards to WAVE's egg while everyone anticipated the day of the secret Adelie wedding between her and Private. With other matters to attend to, the issue of giving tribute to the Emperor Penguin from King Julien seemed to fade into insignificance. Skipper was almost disappointed that Julien was most likely not going to get it from the Emperor's flipper. Not that he wanted to see Julien seriously injured, but perhaps roughed up just a little bit and perhaps finally learning just a little bit of humility.

Now that WAVE was a zoo regular and with egg to boot, she was scheduled for regular visits to the office of the Zoo Vet. Adelie were relatively rare, and any opportunity to breed one was taken rather seriously by the Zoo Staff, even Alice. However, WAVE was not the kind of hen to let a little thing like an egg keep her from her morning workout, where she still continued to (unintentionally) show up the boys with her physical prowess, much to the chagrin of the boys. This, of course, drove the Skipper to push his men harder in an attempt to at least get them on par with WAVE.

After a seeming eternity, the wedding weekend arrived. Both WAVE and Private were excited that their union was to become official. The two Penguins who originally thought they were unworthy of the others affections would soon be together for the rest of their lives. They could not have been happier at the prospect.

WAVE also became fast friends with Marlene, and most of the other Zoo animals to a lesser extent. Even King Julien was impressed with the level of décor and respect that she showed him, and while everyone (except Mort) wondered if Julien was capable of feeling the true calling of friendship, he was quite willing to get along with her.

...

The wedding gathering was quite the sight to behold. The Penguins (who weren't in the ceremony) and the Zoo animals in attendance formed the group seated on one side as the 'family and friends' of Private, and the exhibit Penguins (including the Emperor and Empress) formed the other side as the 'family and friends' of WAVE. There was 4 Penguin hens from the exhibit as bridesmaids, and Rico and Kowalski acted as groomsmen. Skipper had to perform the ceremony as the highest 'ranking' Adelie present, and of course, Private was the groom. Apparently, the celebration and reception at the end of the ceremony would be a bit awkward because of the imbalance between bridesmaids and groomsmen.

Of course, there was no ring, as Penguins lacked hands let alone fingers, but there was a wedding collar that was worn by both as a symbol of their intention to remain together forever. It was thin enough to be covered by their neck feathers so that no human would have to be the wiser about it. It seemed that before anyone knew it, Private and WAVE stood before the Skipper as he recited the vows to them.

"Do you, Private, take this pretty hen, WAVE, as your life mate, to cherish and respect, and any egg that she should bear, as your lawfully wedded wife and mother of your family?"

"I do," said Private.

"And do you, WAVE, take this unicorn hugging... uh, specimen of Penguin manliness, Private, as your life mate, to respect and obey, and allow him to sit on any egg that you should bear for him, as your lawfully wedded husband and father of your family?"

"I do," said WAVE.

"Then by the ancient laws and ways of the Adelie, I pronounce you mated for life. You may now nibble each others neck feathers as a sign of eternal devotion."

Actually, WAVE did all the nibbling. Private was still too shy to do such things in public.

"Now place the mating collars on each other."

First, Private collared WAVE, and then she returned the favor.

"Now let us retire to the reception, shall we?"

"Certainly," replied Private.

WAVE nodded.

Skipper leaned over to Kowalski, and whispered, "Is the contingency plan in place?"

"Of course," replied the brainiod penguin.

...

So once everyone was seated at the reception, Skipper approached the Emperor with a gift wrapped box and a slightly crooked grin on his beak.

"What is this?" asked the Emperor.

"King Julien XIII felt it would..." he replied, "be more appropriate if the tribute was delivered to you by a member of a superior species."

"I would normally be inclined to call him a coward for not giving it to me himself, but as you phrased it so delicately, I am inclined to be more generous."

He handed the box to the Emperor, who handed it to the Empress, who handed it to an unnamed attendant, who made it disappear along with himself.

"I would be grateful if your grace doesn't make an open display of this," added the Skipper, "In order to preserve his dignity. I'm sure you know the importance of saving one's face, right?"

"You shall take my words of gratitude to him in my stead?"

"Of course."

"Very well," he mused, "These terms are acceptable to me."

'The things I do for Julien that he doesn't even know or care about,' thought Skipper privately.

So dinner went without incident, and then it was time for Private and WAVE to dance their first dance of the evening together. After that, they split up, with WAVE taking a turn with the Emperor and Private taking a turn with the Empress. Considering how much taller the Emperor Penguins were over the Adelies, it made for an awkward looking pair of couples, especially when Private almost looked like barely molted chic in comparison to the Empress.

'My inner voice is telling me things are going too well,' thought Skipper privately. He slipped over to Kowalski and asked, "Any sign of enemies?"

"Other than our frenemy, King Julien the XIIIth, I'd say no."

"Well keep an eye peeled for trouble just in case," he ordered the brainiod Penguin.

"Affirmative," he answered.

He then slipped over to Rico and asked the same. The answer made sense to the Skipper, but not much of anyone else. It was good, considering Skipper didn't want to be overheard by the guests.

"Boom-boom?" asked Rico.

"This is a wedding, soldier," he replied sternly, "No boom-boom."

"Aw..."

"Just save it for Private's birthday."

"Wee!"

"I figured as much. Now mingle or I'll mangle."

Rico grumbled something. Skipper noticed that King Julien was standing behind the Emperor as he waited his turn to take a dance with WAVE.

'I suppose if something's going to happen, it's going to be now.'

As the Emperor backed away from WAVE, he bumped into King Julien. He in turn backed into and bumped into Maurice, who in turn backed into and bumped Rico, who in turn regurgitated a wrench into Bada, who in turn turned and accidentally backhanded Mason, who then bumped into Marlene, who was turned around and stumbled, giving a headbutt to King Julien. This caused Julien to be knocked sideways into the table, causing the large punch bowel to fall on top of him as the table leg collapsed. And the Emperor was oblivious to the whole turn of events, expect for fact he was now standing in a rapidly expanding pool of punch. The only reason he noticed that much was for the fact he was looking down when he bowed to WAVE. She in turn had bowed back to him.

'Not what I expected, but...'

Maurice and Mort moved into to help the King, who was completely covered by the punch bowl on top of him, although the part of his tail showing from underneath was probably sore by now.

'That'll leave a mark.'

The Emperor turned and looked out, asking, "So who wishes to take the flipper of WAVE next?"

Much to his surprise, WAVE lunged into the crowd, took the Skipper's flipper, and dragged him back onto the dance floor before he had a chance to complain, announcing, "It's the Skipper's turn now."

"Now now, sailor," he said, "I'm sure there's..."

"No," she replied firmly, "I've been saving this dance for you."

He glanced around looking for someone who might object, but saw no one. Even Private seemed to approve his mate's choice for her next dance partner. She leaned close while waiting for the next song and whispered, "I'm counting on you to keep my Private safe when I can't be there myself."

"I always have the best interests of my men at heart."

"Yes," she replied, "but now he's my man, too." WAVE looked the Skipper in the eyes and added, "Woe be unto any force on Earth that hurts my Private, for my wrath shall be terrible to behold."

Skipper gulped and replied, "Understood, sailor."

"Now," she replied happily as the music began, "Let's dance, shall we?"

He was quite happy to let WAVE take the lead.

~fin~