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.

Trying to calm her racing heart, Alex waited for the Youtubers to come down. It was several moments, but finally Mark appeared. Then after another moment or two, Jack fell to the floor. With a groan, he sat up and rubbed his head.

"Are you okay?" Mark asked anxiously.

Nodding, Jack pushed himself to his feet, but before he could utter a word, the sound of the hatch closing echoed throughout the lair. Then it was silent again, and Alex shifted positions uncomfortably. She was excited to see the Youtubers again, but she remembered what her father said, that it could be dangerous bringing them back here.

But now, here they were, as penguins again and inside Skipper's and his team's hidden HQ for a second time.

Glancing at her sister, she saw that Sam was hardly hiding her delight at being close to the Youtubers. Jack and Mark seemed to notice this, too, and they smiled kindly at her, which made her squeal out loud.

Unable to just stand here looking at the others any longer, Alex walked farther into the room, saying over her shoulder," Skipper will be topside until the zoo closes so we can find something to do inside for the meantime."

Sam followed her but the Youtubers hesitated by the ladder and Alex looked at them curiously, noticing the uncertainty in their eyes.

"Something wrong?" she asked.

Quickly they exchanged a knowing look; then Jack rushed forward, tripping over the steps and landing on his stomach in front of the female penguins.

Mark came up more slowly as Jack got to his feet. "So you know how we promised to keep you and the others a secret?" he asked in his deep voice.

Suddenly frightened, Alex nodded, afraid to hear what they had to say.

Again, they glanced at each other, then Jack sighed and turned back to the animals. "We invited our friend to come here with us," he admitted in a low voice.

Alex gasped, mind racing. What friend? Where are they now? Did Jack and Mark tell whoever about Skipper and this team? She opened her mouth to ask them these questions, but no words came out and she stared at them, shocked.

Her sister shaking her aroused Alex from her dark thoughts. She turned to see the younger penguin staring up at her with wide, scared eyes. Realizing she had to calm the situation, Alex patted her on the head and turned to the Youtubers.

"Who did you invite?" she asked.

"Matthew," Mark answered, and Alex blinked, confused. "Um… MatPat," he explained.

"Oh." Alex started pacing, wondering what her father would do. Should I get him? she thought, but the cheering outside told her they were entertaining the humans. They probably couldn't get away. I have to deal with this myself, she realized, heart pounding with a mixture of fear and excitement.

"Okay," she said, turning back to everyone. "Where did you tell him you would meet him?" she asked the Youtubers.

"The park," Jack replied, and Mark added," We only told him. The others are back at the hotel."

Alex nodded in understanding, deep in thought. There was only one thing they could do: We have to go meet MatPat, the female penguin told herself. Without a word to the others, she walked into Kowalski's lab, grabbed the machine in the table and then joined her friends in the main room again.

Jack looked at the thing she held in her flipper. "Didn't Kowalski have that?" he asked curiously.

"When he found out that you two were coming back," Alex explained," he made another one in case the one he used to turn you into penguins broke… Like last time."

The first time Jack and Mark came here and Alex accidentally changed them into animals, the flash of light that shot out of the machine had blinded her and she dropped it, breaking it, so Kowalski had to work on making another one. This time he had insisted on making a spare one just in case, and Alex was glad he did.

"Can I come with you?" Sam asked eagerly.

Alex hesitated. She knew they'd have to pass humans and there's a chance they might get caught. But as she stared down at her young sister, she felt torn. This was a dangerous mission, especially if their father found out. Skipper will be furious if he discovers that his daughters snuck out to meet another human.

Yet she couldn't stop herself from smiling. She saw the hope shining in San's eyes and knew she couldn't say no. Finally she sighed and nodded. "Okay," she replied. "You can come."

Instantly Sam cheered up and she hugged her sister. "Thank you!"

Alex smiled and turned to the Youtubers, who watched them with an uncertain look in their eyes.

"Shouldn't we tell Skipper?" Jack asked. "I tried, but he wouldn't listen."

"It'll only make him angry," Alex told them. "If we can make it to the park and find MatPat and bring him back here, and then… umm…" She glanced nervously at her sister. Then what? she wondered, but she didn't know the answer to that question. If Skipper came down and saw another human-turned-penguin, he'd be beyond angry…

"Wouldn't bringing another human here make him more upset?" Mark asked, echoing Alex's own thoughts.

Alex knew he was right but what could they do? MatPat was most likely in the park, waiting for his friends. She thought for another moment, then sighed. With no choice, she had to tell her father.

"I have to tell Skipper," she admitted out loud. Sam looked nervous but Jack and Mark nodded in agreement.

With a sigh, she headed toward the ladder, hoping her father didn't get too angry at her or the Youtubers.

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