Disclaimer: I do not own The Penguins of Madagascar or any of its characters, but I do own the kids, Alex, Sam, and Ethan.
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The sun appeared over the buildings in the distance, and Alex and her half-sister, Sam, watched the sunrise from the park. For a bit, neither of them said anything. Then Alex broke the silence by asking," So, what should we get Skipper for Father's Day?"
Sam shrugged. "I don't know," she answered.
Deep in thought, Alex wondered what her father liked. Any weapon that would give him and his team the advantage, she realized, but she knew they wouldn't be able to get him anything like that.
The sun climbed higher in the sky, and Alex fidgeted uneasily. "We have to figure something out," she said. "Today is Father's Day and we have nothing to give him."
"Let's go for a walk," Sam suggested, and Alex agreed.
Soon they saw an adult man and a young boy, maybe age five, ahead of them. They hid and listened as the father said to his son," I'm glad we were able to get away today and spend the whole day together, just me and you. So what did you want to do?"
The boy jumped up and down, saying," Ice cream! Ice cream!"
His father laughed and they walked off. Alex watched them go, thinking maybe they could spend the day with Skipper, just him and his daughters. We could go get snow cones and walk around the park or go into town.
Alex quickly explained her plan to her sister and they hurried back toward the zoo.
Halfway there, they spotted the young lemur prince, Ethan, running their way. He skidded to a halt in front of them, panting. "I was looking for you," he told them when he caught his breath.
Sam tilted her head to one side. "What's up?"
"What will you be giving your dad for Father's Day?" Ethan asked.
"We were going to spend the day with him," Alex answered.
"Do you know what you're giving Julien?" asked Sam.
Ethan shook his head, then his eyes lit up. "I know! Why don't we be spending the day with you and Skipper?"
Alex hesitated, knowing very well that Skipper wouldn't enjoy himself if Julien was there. She was still wondering how to let the young lemur down when her father and the other penguins appeared.
"Where have you two been?" Skipper demanded, but he didn't seem too angry. If anything, he looked a little worried.
For a moment, Alex thought about hiding their plan, but then she realized they would have to go soon if they wanted to spend any time together. "Sam and I went off to think of something to get you for Father's Day," she admitted. "We were just heading back to get you. We're going to spend the day together."
An uncertain look crossed her father's face. "What are the others supposed to do while I'm away?" he asked, glancing at his friends.
"We'll be fine," the tall penguin, Kowalski, assured him. "We'll just spend the whole day entertaining the humans."
The leader still seemed hesitant, and Alex didn't want to tell him that Ethan asked to come along. But she knew it would be unfair to leave Ethan out with nothing to give his own father.
She was still deciding what to do when Sam blurted out," Ethan wants to come, too, with his dad."
Skipper groaned and muttered," That's just what I need today, for that annoying lemur to tag along."
Sam's eyes widened pleadingly. "Please," she begged him, while Ethan looked very sad that Skipper might refuse to let the lemurs come.
The leader looked over at Alex, who nodded, not wanting either Sam nor Ethan to be disappointed. Finally, Skipper sighed and reluctantly let out an agreement.
"Go fetch your father," he ordered Ethan, who turned and headed back to the zoo.
"Good luck," Kowalski muttered to Skipper before he left with the others.
Now it was Skipper and his daughters left. The leader was looking very annoyed, and Alex rested her flipper on his shoulder, hoping to reassure him that everything will be fine. But her father still looked unhappy, and before he could speak, Ethan and his father, Julien, king of the lemurs, appeared and joined them.
Grinning, Julien announced," I'm glad we could be doing this. But," he went on instantly," I could have done without the bossy penguin being here. I'm happy that you're being here, though, my penguin subject," he added to Alex.
Alex noticed the anger blazing in Skipper's eyes, and she sensed a fight about to break out, so she pushed in between the older animals and suggested," Let's get some snow cones, okay?"
Grumbling, Skipper turned and headed away.
Alex leaned in and whispered to Julien," Could you try to get along with him, just for today? Spend time with Ethan and leave Skipper alone."
Julien opened his mouth to argue, but he hesitated when his eyes locked with Alex's, seeming to see how serious she was. Finally, he sighed and nodded.
They ran to catch up with Skipper just as he arrived at the snow cone cart. They waited a minute or two until the human was distracted; then they hurried forward. Sam and Ethan kept watch while Alex and the two male animals made enough snow cones for everyone.
They all returned to the younger animals without being spotted, and Alex settled down beside her father. They were right in the middle of a conversation about something that happened the other day when Julien joined them. The lemur king stuck out his tongue, but Alex felt him watching her as he licked his snow cone. Immediately he screamed and jumped to his feet, dropping his cone.
"Cold, cold!" he gasped, tongue still sticking out so he sounded kinda weird.
Alex giggled, but she frowned when she saw Skipper roll his eyes and leave to go sit with Sam.
Sighing, Alex was also about to leave, but Julien stopped her. "So, I'm having a party tonight," he told her. "And I want you to be there."
Alex hesitated, then she shook her head. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I can't." She got up, and joined her father and sister.
When they all finished their snow cones- Julien complaining that he doesn't have one now- they decide to go for a walk through the park. Alex was walking with her father, deep in a conversation about Daisy, Alex's mother who passed away a few months ago.
"She was so kind and sweet," the leader was saying, his eyes betraying his suffering that he'll never see his former mate again. "I know a time, maybe five days after you were hatched, or maybe it was a full week… Anyways," he went on," we took you on a picnic just outside the zoo. It was a lovely time, and you-"
He was interrupted by Julien who pushed his way in between them and started talking to Alex. Skipper glared at him, and Alex quickly told Julien that they'll talk later. The lemur looked disappointed, but before he could speak, they came to an open area with no humans around.
"This looks great," Alex said, hoping to distract everyone from the tension.
Immediately Sam and Ethan ran out, chasing each other and letting out excited squeaks, clearly thrilled that they were able to play together when normally Skipper and Julien would have torn them apart by now. Their fathers both shot a glare in the other's direction, and sat away from each other.
Alex sighed and settled down in between them. For a while nobody spoke; they just sat there and listened to the two younger animals playing in the field. Then Julien turned and asked Alex," So, I'll be seeing you tonight at my party?"
Forcing back a sigh, she was about to remind him that she already told him no. But before she could utter a word, Skipper growled and launched himself at the lemur. Alarmed, she pulled her father off Julien, and stood in between them.
"Maybe you and Ethan should go," she told her king miserably.
Julien's mouth dropped open in shock and for a moment he looked ready to argue. Then he snapped around and called out to his son. Ethan looked up, deep sadness in his eyes. He glanced at Sam, then followed his father away.
When they were gone, Skipper let out a sigh of relief. "That's better!" he exclaimed with feeling.
Alex eyed him with uncertainty but decided not to say anything. Sam came up and sat down, looking really miserable. Alex joined her and rested her flipper on her sister's shoulder. She looked up to see Skipper staring at them, a regretful look on his face.
Then he heaved a huge sigh and stood up. "Let's go find those lemurs," he said unexpectedly.
His daughters jumped to their feet. "Are you sure?" Alex asked her father.
"If it was just me, I could do without Ringtail," he answered," but I can see that Sam wants that young lemur back. And you don't like it when I argue with Ringtail, but there wouldn't be much arguing if that lemur wasn't just so annoying and selfish, and if he-"
Alex placed her flipper on his shoulder, silencing him, and they smiled at each other, before heading in the same direction the lemurs went in.
They found Julien and Ethan almost at the zoo. They turned when Skipper called to them. "Do you lemurs want to join us for the rest of the day?" he asked them.
A blaze of anger flashed in Julien's yellow eyes. "Why?" he demanded, glaring at the lead penguin. "I thought you didn't want us around."
Frustration crossed Skipper's face and Alex was afraid he was about to attack him again. Then he looked over at Alex and took a deep breath to calm himself. He turned back to Julien and told him," I want you and your son to come watch the sunset with us."
Julien still seemed to be deciding when Ethan pulled on his father's arm and begged," Please, father! Please!"
Finally Julien sighed and nodded. "Okay."
Skipper took the lead into the city, where they found a tall building, and by the time they climbed it and were settling down, the sun was starting to set. They all watched the sun sliding down the sky in silence, and soon it was getting dark enough that the lampposts were starting to turn on.
They were walking through the park back toward the zoo when Skipper turned to his daughters and told them," Well, despite some… infuriating things…" He shot Julien a dirty look, then continued: "Anyways, my point is, I had fun today. Thank you."
Not to be outdone, Julien also told Ethan that he had a good time as he shot Skipper a glare over his son's head. The lead penguin rolled his eyes and Alex sighed, wondering if these two will ever get along.
They continued to the zoo, and Alex thought, Today had been a little rough, but good, too. I'm glad we were able to do this with Skipper.
The End!
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