"Hey, I am making a super kingly drawing here!" Julien's voice rang out.

Kowalski turned his back on the lemur.

"Okay, you know I don't do emotiony comfort stuff, but I am being told I should care about commoners to be a good king. So tell me your penguiny problems." Julien said, sitting down next to Kowalski, poking a stick on the icy ground.

"My past has come to haunt me and brought a meteor." Kowalski muttered.

"Tell your king all about it." Julien said.

"You don't care."

"True, but you gots to get it out. Like I need to get out my grumpies by kicking Mort or dancing."

"I guess I could tell you, I need someone to listen."

"Okay, tell me while I draw you in profile." Julien said, grinning.

"Well, to make a long story short, I hate my father and I have just met my mother."

"Eh, I don't get it, aren't you supposing to be slap-happy to finding your mom?"

"Yes, I guess, but she's here in the penguin village and she's Private's mother too. Apparently, my dad took me away and my mom met someone new. She never forgot me, I suppose."

"Why suppose?"

"She seemed angry when she realized I was her first son."

"Angry at who?"

"My dad."

"Yeah, she totally cares. It's like Josie, if Maya is being hurt or lost, Josie gets defensive."

"Motherly instincts, I guess. Thanks for listening."

"Huh? I was listening to something?" Julien asked, puzzled.

Kowalski looked at the ground, "Hey, I thought you were drawing me."

"Yeah, then I got bored and drew me kicking Mort."

"That's a flower with…a baseball bat?"

"Hey, are you a brainy penguin or are you being the art critic?"

Kowalski rolled his eyes. "You do realize that you are very strange, don't you?" he asked.

"Strange to you, not to me." Julien responded. "Anyway, I am going to rule the tiny animals."

"Good golly, he's turning children into servants." Kowalski said as Julien bounded away. "We're leaving soon!" He called after Julien. The lemur shouted something back, but was too far for Kowalski to understand.

"Kowalski?" A voice said.

Kowalski thought it was Candace by the British accent, but he turned to find Private.

"Sorry I left." Kowalski muttered.

"Yeah, it was getting a bit awkward in there." Private said.

"You didn't know about this, did you?" Kowalski asked.

"Of course not, I would have said something to you. I thought that my mum and dad met and it was just me. I didn't know she had a previous relationship or that I had a half-brother. Are you angry with me?"

"No way, it's not your fault at all…are you mad at me?"

"Why should I be? I gained a brother."

"Private, I don't know if I can be a good brother."

"It doesn't matter, you're here now and I'm happy."

"Boys?" Candace said, walking towards them. "Are you angry with me?"

"I'm a little upset that you didn't tell me that I at least had a brother…even if he was dead, I'd like to have known…you could have told Skipper. Skipper found Kowalski and if he knew, then I could have been his brother a long time ago." Private said in a hurt voice. "Did Uncle Nigel know about this?"

"He knew of the relationship, but he didn't know that we had a baby. I'm deeply sorry that I didn't write to you and tell you."

"It would have saved a lot of tears and arguments." Kowalski said. "You'd have known I was alive. I've lived in Wisconsin until I was thirteen and then I left."

"I'm sorry," Candace said again, "By leaving you when I thought you were dead, I've made your live miserable."

"It wasn't completely; I had Nat, Emma, and Izzy. Emma, a female squirrel, died when I was thirteen on the night I left. Izzy, an otter, was taken from his home about an hour earlier and then I left with Nat. Nat and I split after she heard that Izzy was somewhere southwest."

"I wish to hear more of your life." Candace said. "And how both of you ended up in New York."

"Okay, but first, you have to tell us your story." Kowalski said.

"My story?"

"We want to know everything mum," Private said, "Tell us about what happened between you and Ralph."

Candace sighed deeply, "It's a bit complicated. He changed, you see…from the penguin I met into…well, you know."

"I want to know what changed him." Kowalski said, "If he was kind and loving when you met him, I want to know what changed."

"Ooh, story time!" Private said excitedly, sitting down.

Candace smiled and sat down, then began her tale.

FLASHBACK

It was thirty-six years ago when she met him; he was having a snowball fight with a few friends when Candace was passing by.

"Watch out!" He yelled.

Unfortunately, she was too late on the uptake and ended up with a face full of snow. The other animals laughed, but Ralph ran over to her.

"Shut up, guys! Hey, are you okay?"He asked, obviously concerned.

"I'm fine." Candace said, trying to hide the tears that were forming.

Ralph glared at his friends, "Not funny, guys."

"That was totally funny!"Another penguin said.

"Ignore them," Ralph said, rolling his eyes. "I'm Ralph, who are you?"

"My name is Candace."

"Cool accent, is it British?"

"Yes." Candace said with a small smile, "My brother and I are from Britain. He's hanging out with his best friend at the moment."

"How old are you?" He asked.

"Now, it's not polite to ask a lady her age." She said playfully. "Anyway, I'm late for tea and I have no idea where I am."

"Canada." Ralph said, smiling back.

"I knew that, but I was looking for a spot in the woods and…"

"Are you a scardy cat?" A wolf asked, laughing.

"No." Candace said unconvincingly. "I'm supposed to meet them at Whiteclay Lake."

"Lucky for you, I know how to get there." Ralph said.

"Really? Would you show me?"

"On one condition."

Candace tried to look suspicious, "What?"

"I get to join you for tea." Ralph said, giving her a huge grin.

"I don't know about that." Candace said, unable to conceal her smile. "You could be trouble."

"Okay, but you probably don't know the most important rule of snow." He sighed dramatically.

"If it's about the yellow snow, I know." Candace said, rolling her eyes.

"Nope, it's about something utterly different."

"What would that be?"

"Do you always ask questions that start with 'w'?"

"I- that's completely beside the point."

"Sorry, I just wanted to know."

"No, I don't. Now can you please tell me this important rule?"

"Ice skate when the lake is frozen solid, baby!" Then he attempted a strange dance maneuver and ended up falling on his butt.

Candace scooped up a pile of snow and dumped it on his head. "That's for the snowball in my face."

His face turned into a grumpy look, "I'll show you the lake." He muttered, walking away.

"Are you really mad?"

"FINALLY!" He shouted suddenly, causing Candace to jump, clutching her chest.

"What on earth was that for?" She squeaked.

"You asked a question that didn't start with 'w'." he said, promptly turning around and continuing to the lake.

"Tha- That was it?!" She said, "You just scream out of nowhere and it's all because of a bloody 'w'?"

"Not a bloody w, a regular one."

Candace sighed and followed him. "Are we there yet?"

"Where?"

"Whiteclay Lake."

"Oh blimey! My trousers must be in a twist, I got all gobblywonkled." Ralph said with a terribly mimicked British accent.

Candace shot him a look, "Honestly?"

"Sorry, but I do have a question about your home."

"Okay."

"How close are the countries British and England?"

"They're the same country, sort of. It's Britain, not British."

"I know, I like making people explain ridiculous things, it's hilarious." Ralph said with a small chuckle.

Candace laughed. "You're funny."

"Candace?" A voice called from nearby. "Is that you?"

"Over here, Nigel!"

"Oh hello," Nigel said as he spotted Ralph, "thank you for helping my sister."

"No problem, I've been invited to tea."Ralph said proudly.

"Yeah, invited." Candace said flatly.

"Aw, come on, I'll make this party fun!"

"Don't dance again, please." Candace said.

"I can dance on ice." Ralph said, nodding his head.

Nigel led them to the spot where tea and fish sandwiches were already laid out.

"Terribly sorry, we didn't know you were coming." Nigel said to Ralph. Three cups of tea were already poured out.

"Hey, my name's Andrew." The other penguin said.

"Ralph, nice to meet you."

"Likewise."

"Nigel, I'll have the rest of tea in this thing." He picked up the hot kettle and poured some of it into his beak. Then he dropped it and screamed. "OW! HOT THING! HOT THING! THAT BURNS REALLY BAD!" He buried his face in the snow and mumbled something.

"What?" Andrew asked.

Ralph withdrew his head. "I said, that's better." Then he plopped his face back in the snow.

"No yellow snow?" Candace asked.

Ralph shot up and spluttered. "No, but I forgot about that. I'm sorry, I ruined your tea."

"Not at all, come join us for some jolly fun." Nigel said.

"I have to show you my dance moves." Ralph said.

"Oh no." Candace groaned.

Ralph jumped on the ice and began spinning. "This is fun! You should try it!"

Candace stepped timidly onto the frozen lake surface.

"I-I don't know about this."

Ralph slowed down and grabbed her flippers. "Trust me." He said, gently pulling her onto the ice.

"Wait a minute." Kowalski said, interrupting the story. "This sounds like you were the perfect couple. Andrew didn't care about you?"

"Over the next few years, he began to care more about me." Candace said. "It wasn't until four years before you were born that he started undergoing personality changes. We had a great six years until we were attacked by an orca. Both of us survived, obviously, but…"

"Did he get mad at you?"

"No, Andrew heard from Nigel and he…he wrote me letters. He said that he wanted to make sure I was okay and to assure that I was being treated fairly."

"Like a pen pal?" Private asked.

"Ralph also read those letters and there was a hint that Andrew had feelings for me in most of them."

"He got jealous." Kowalski said bitterly.

"After four years, I decided to try to rekindle the love we once had. I hatched you and five days later, Ralph left with you. He said that I had betrayed him and did not deserve a child. I tried contacting him, but the last information I received told me that you were dead. He said that you had tried swimming, but got caught in something and drowned."

"That's terrible." Private said, glancing at Kowalski who had begun shaking again.

"Andrew and Nigel comforted me. I wasn't mad at Andrew, he was being my friend and Ralph got jealous. I realized that I loved Andrew and tried to leave my past behind. And since I thought my son was dead, I wanted to suppress the memories of what could have been."

"Oh dear," Private said. "Mum, do you think you could ever be friends with him again?"

Candace shook her head, "I'm afraid not, Andre. You see, it's been twenty-six years and he's still angry. I think he's angry at himself, which is why he tried to raise you his way and without me."

"It didn't work." Kowalski said. "He hates me."

"Maybe it's because he saw too much of me in you." Candace said. "You look more like me, and you have a natural curiosity of the world. And you love being around humans and human objects."

"And I'm a scientist." Kowalski said.

"This is all because of me. You get your curiosity from me. And he didn't want you to be curious or you would find me."

"I'm glad Kowalski's curious." Private said. "It helps him make amazing inventions, even if they blow up most of the time."

Candace smiled. "I'm sure you're brilliant."

Kowalski didn't smile. "What am I supposed to think?" he asked. "I find you, Private's my brother and I hate my father even more…I feel like I want to explode."

"Think about happy thoughts." Private said. "Like Lunacorns!"

"Somehow, I don't think that'll work." A voice said behind them.

"Who are you?" Candace asked the penguin.

"Johnson." Kowalski growled. "What are you doing here?"

"I should ask you the same thing." Johnson replied.

"We're visiting family!" Private said, earning a slap from Kowalski.

"Classified information?" Johnson asked with a chuckle. A noise like a plane sounded nearby. "I've always liked that kid."

"LIAR!" Kowalski screamed. "You HATED him! You and Manfredi tried to get rid of him."

"Oh come on, stop living in the past." Johnson said, waving his flippers nonchalantly.

"Tell that to your sister." Julien's voice rang out. "I heard from de reliable source thingy who said you tried to snuffocate him!"

"That's not a word, and who are you?"

"Ringtail, there you are!" Skipper said, approaching them.

Johnson immediately stiffened. Skipper froze dead in his tracks as he saw his former teammate.

"Eh, even more of the awkwardness going on here." Julien said.

"Infinitely awkward." Kowalski said blankly.

"Hey, smarty booty, are you feeling okay?"

Kowalski didn't answer.

"Sarah!" Private said suddenly. He pointed to where she was rushing towards them. Rico, Rocky, and Nat were right behind her. A jet could be seen nearby.

"I'm afraid I have distressing news." Sarah said once she arrived. "Your zoo has been attacked."

"WHAT?!" Everyone shouted.

"What about my kingdom? Maya and Josie?" Julien demanded.

"Marlene." Skipper said.

"What happened to Tory and Byron and the others?" Private asked.

"They're being rushed to our medical facilities. Tory is seriously injured, but not enough to be life threatening. Dan, Charlie, Tammy, and the other penguin are the least injured of the penguins and…"

"What happened to Byron?" Skipper asked. "Where is your son?"

"He's in a coma." Sarah said. "I have not gathered a census of your zoo animals. Charlie and your newest penguin remain at the zoo. Someone is patching them up."

Skipper thought he detected a waver in her voice. "Alright, we're going back to the zoo."

Skipper, Rico, Kowalski, Private, Julien, Nat, and Rocky climbed into the jet and got ready to take off. Johnny was also in the plane. Sarah ordered Johnson to stay and protect the village.

"Be careful!" Candace said. She made eye contact with Private. She was sad, but she could tell by the expression on his face that her little boy had grown up. She sighed and waved.

"Call your zoo." Sarah said, handing them a radio communicator.

"Skipper to zoo HQ. Zoo HQ, please respond." Skipper spoke into the device. There was static on the other end. "Zoo HQ, this is important, please respond."

"I tried, Skipper." Charlie's voice finally came out, "I'm sorry, I-" he was crying and didn't continue.

"Charlie? Is there anyone else available?"

"Is there candy inside you?" Mort's high pitched voice asked.

"Oh no." Julien said. "Mort! I am commanding you to give this radio thingy to Maurice."

"Oh yay, King Julien it is you!"

"Give me that!" Maurice snapped. "King Julien, where have you been?"

"Portly lemur, give me the scenario." Skipper ordered, cutting across Julien.

"I'm big boned."

"Just tell me what's going on."

"Apparently, whoever doesn't like you planned a night attack. They destroyed most of your home. Pretty much everyone else is unharmed. Josie's going ballistic though, worried about-"

"Is anyone dead? Hurt? Missing?"

"No one's dead. Only the penguins got hurt, and-"

"Is there someone missing?"

No reply.

"Maurice, answer me!" Skipper snapped, "Is someone missing?"

Still nothing. The plane was already flying past South America.

"MAURICE!" Skipper barked.

"Marlene's been kidnapped."