Disclaimer: I do not own The Penguins of Madagascar or any of its characters. I do own Alex the penguin and the two younger kids, Sam and Ethan.
Alex dropped through the hole and landed beside the ladder. Immediately, she spotted her king talking to Skipper, and she guessed he was trying to get the leader to allow his daughter to go to his party. But Skipper was looking annoyed and he rolled his eyes impatiently.
Alex saw Maurice and Mort standing nearby. She was about to go over to them when her sister and the young prince joined her inside. Sam looked at her older sister.
"Ethan knows a way of getting rid of his father and the others," she told Alex, who turned to the lemur.
"How?" she asked.
Ethan didn't reply. He walked forward, jumping over the steps and landing next to Maurice. He tapped the aye-aye on the shoulder, and the king's adviser turned to him. Quietly, Ethan said something in his ear.
Maurice nodded and walked across the room to King Julien, while Ethan went back to the sisters.
"What did you say to him?" Alex asked, confused. She noticed Sam didn't understand what the young prince was planning either, which was odd because they seemed to tell each other everything.
Ethan glanced at them. "You'll see," was all he said, but Alex noticed the uncertain look in his eyes like he wasn't as confident as he wanted them to believe he was.
Confused, Alex turned back to Skipper and the lemurs. She realized Kowalski and the other two stood on the far side of the room, waiting for an order from their leader. She could tell that Private was looking uncomfortable, and Rico had an angry look on his face, while Kowalski eyed Skipper closely. Then she noticed Mort, his eyes glued on King Julien's feet. She didn't understand why the little mouse lemur was obsessed with his feet, and she had a feeling nobody else knew either.
Maurice's voice knocked Alex out of her thoughts. "Come on, Your Majesty," he began awkwardly, and after a moment or two of silence, he finally said," Let's go back to our own habitat."
Suddenly Julien rounded on his adviser. "Not until he-" The king jabbed a finger toward Skipper-" is agreeing to let Alex be coming to my party."
"I advise that if you wish to keep that finger," Skipper growled in a low, threatening voice," you wouldn't point it at me."
Julien spun around to face the penguin. "Maurice is my adviser," he told Skipper. "Only he can be giving me advice!"
The tension between her father and the king was growing, and Alex was very nervous. Keeping an eye on them, she leaned down and whispered to Ethan," When's this plan of yours going to start working?"
"Yeah," Sam said, slowly turning to her friend. "They look ready to attack each other!" Her voice revealed her anxiety.
Even Ethan was looking scared. "If Maurice can't convince him, maybe I can." Slowly, he walked over to his father. "Dad?" he asked to gain his attention, and King Julien turned to him, anger blazing in his eyes; then he relaxed when he saw who it was.
"Oh, son." He blinked at him. "What is it?" he demanded, glaring at Skipper. "Can't you see I'm busy convincing this penguin to be allowing his daughter to join my parties?"
"You're never going to convince me, Ringtail," snorted Skipper. "So you might as well go home." King Julien didn't move. Realizing it was going to take more to get this lemur to go away, the leader added," And that was an order. Boys!" Instantly his team ran to his side. "Show these lemurs out of our lair," he told them.
Julien still looked like he was going to continue to argue, but Ethan tugged at his arm and stared up at him with round, pleading eyes. "Please, father," he began," can't we go home?" His bottom lip, which was poking out, quivered as if he just barely kept himself from breaking down into tears.
He must have learned that from Mort, Alex thought, but she didn't know if the mouse lemur used his looks to get what he wanted or if he just naturally appeared that way because of his huge eyes. Ethan, however, was obviously using this technique for his advantage. Nice move, kid, she added in her head, genuinely impressed.
Julien looked away, turned back to his son, then glanced across the room. "Um… W-Why do you want to be going home so badly?" he stammered, unable to look at Ethan for long.
"Please, father, I… I want you to be teaching me some kingly things," the young lemur told him. "You know, like how to order people around?"
Alex realized that he was just saying this to get the king to leave, because Ethan has never taken any interest in following his father's footsteps in ruling over people.
"Really?" Clearly, Julien was thinking this also.
Ethan hesitated, then looked down, shifting his feet shyly. "Y-Yes," he stammered. "I wish to become a great king when I'm ready." He paused, then added," Like you."
At that, Skipper burst out laughing. "Him?" he snorted meanly. "A great king? He's not even a real king!"
Alex swallowed nervously when she saw the rush of anger in Julien's eyes. He removed his leafy crown and shoved it in Skipper's face, but the penguin knocked his hand away, a growl rising in his throat. "I am being a real king!" Julien shouted. "I'm having a crown, and a throne, and a kingdom!"
"A real kingdom is made up of more than two subjects!" Skipper retorted, rolling his eyes.
Eyeing his father and king, Alex circled around them and headed toward Kowalski. She stopped beside her boyfriend and he glanced at her.
"We need to get the lemurs to leave. Now," she whispered.
"Why?" Private turned to her, overhearing what she said. "I mean, I know why Skippah wants them to leave, but why do you? Aren't you one of Julien's subjects?"
Alex nodded. "Yes," she answered, pushing down her frustration. "And I'll make it up to my king later, but right now, we have to get to the park and fast. Jack and Mark are waiting for us."
She turned to Rico when he growled, and she flinched away from the anger in his eyes. She knew he didn't trust the Youtubers, but she didn't have time to reassure him that they were harmless. She turned back to Kowalski as he began to speak. "We need to act before the zoo opens."
"How?" Private asked, looking nervous. "We can't do anything without talking to Skippah first, and we can't do that with Julien and the others here."
Alex looked over at Skipper. "I just hope Ethan can convince them to leave," she murmured, but she didn't say that she was beginning to lose hope that the young lemur would be able to get his father to go home.
However, as she watched, she was relieved to see that Julien finally gave in. He sighed and looked down at his son. "Fine," he muttered. He turned to leave without another word to Skipper. "Come on, son. I'll teach you some of my kingly ways." He stormed off, followed by Maurice and Mort.
Sam jumped out of the way as the lemurs headed out of the HQ. At first Ethan stayed where he was. He flashed a look at Alex and dipped his head, and Alex nodded back to him. Then he turned and raced after his father.
Skipper looked confused, and he turned as Alex hurried to him. "What just happened?" he asked.
Alex didn't try to explain; she knew the zoo would be opening soon. "The Youtubers are here," she blurted out. "They're in the park!"
Instantly Skipper was alert. "Let's go!"
From a distance, Alex saw the two humans waiting by a tree. They were talking urgently, but they fell silent as the penguins came up. They jumped to their feet and towered over the animals. Skipper sighed and ordered Kowalski to get his invention ready. Last time, Alex had taken his invention and used it on the Youtubers with no idea what would happen. It had turned them into penguins, but the machine broke when Alex dropped it, so they stayed overnight while Kowalski worked on making a new one.
Now, Kowalski pulled out his invention and pointed it at the humans. Alex waited excitedly. She had become good friends with Jack and Mark, and she had wondered if she'd meet them again some day.
And now someday is today! she thought, about to burst with happiness.
She watched as the tall penguin pressed a button on the machine, but she had to look away as the light shone bright. When it dimmed, she turned back. Two penguins stood where the humans just were, and she knew it was Jack and Mark.
She was about to go greet them, but Skipper shot her a warning look, and she forced herself to stay put.
"Okay, we're here," the leader said with a hint of a growl in his voice. "What is it that you want?"
Jack and Mark exchanged a look, and Jack opened his mouth to answer, when suddenly the leaves in the tree started rustling. Everyone froze and looked up as a creature appeared. Alex gasped, while Skipper let out a low, menacing growl.
He stomped over to the roots of the tree when the creature hopped to the ground. "Ringtail!" he growled, glaring at the lemur. "What are you doing here?"
Julien stared past the leader at the Youtubers, his eyes wide. "Those two, they were just being humans! Then the smarty penguin turned them into more penguins!"
Alex swallowed nervously, and shared a look with Private, who stood beside her. Oh no, he saw! What will Skipper tell him?
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