Disclaimer: I do not own The Penguins of Madagascar or any of its characters, but I do own Alex the penguin and a lot more characters who appear in this story.

Later that day, Alex was wandering around the habitat, feeling unusually restless, though she didn't really understand why. She just felt like something was tugging her away but to where, she had no idea. She tried talking with Grace, but she couldn't sit still, so she ended up pacing around for a bit.

After a while, her mother approached her. "What's wrong, Alex?" she asked softly.

"I-I'm not sure," she stammered, shifting her feet anxiously. How was she supposed to explain that she felt a pull of something she didn't know where it would lead her to?

She was shocked when Daisy murmured quietly," You pace like your father did when something was on his mind."

At first Alex wasn't sure how to reply; after another moment, she took a deep breath and asked carefully," What was he like? Skipper, I mean," she quickly added in case Daisy didn't understand who she was talking about.

Daisy hesitated, and as time passed, Alex began to regret asking her that question when she saw the deep sadness in her mother's eyes. Then Daisy sighed. "Maybe it's time you knew about him," she murmured. She sat down and Alex settled herself in front of her, feeling a mix of emotions. Her heart was pounding as she realized she was finally going to learn something about her father.

When she was younger, she'd asked Daisy over and over about Skipper, curious to know about the penguin who fell in love with her mother. But Daisy always changed the subject and never liked talking about him. As Alex grew up, she finally saw the anguish she felt whenever she asked about him, so finally she had stopped asking, but she never forgot about him or that he wasn't here with his family.

For years, hot anger built up inside her, growing stronger with each passing day, aimed toward the penguin who should have stayed and helped raise her. But the anger wasn't just because she never knew her father; she was also upset that Daisy lost her mate and she hated seeing her carry on while Alex knew she thought about him every single day and probably even saw some of him in their daughter.

"Well I was at the Baton Rouge Zoo in Louisiana when he just showed up one day," Daisy began. She paused, then went on. "I thought it was really weird that he just seemed to appear. No zookeeper brought him and I didn't see him come in."

Weird, Alex thought, but didn't say anything out loud as she listened to her mother continue the story.

"But I didn't think it mattered, so I never questioned him about it, and at first we didn't speak. Then one day, he approached me and talking to him, I felt a real connection between us. I've never been in love before, but I immediately knew I wanted to always be with him."

She paused, closing her eyes for a moment as if remembering that time with him. Alex waited, not wanting to interrupt her mother's memories. Finally, she opened her eyes and turned back to her daughter. She took a deep breath and let it out again.

"I was shocked to hear about his mission to stop his enemy," said Daisy, and Alex widened her eyes.

"Enemy?" Alex gasped. She didn't understand. Why did her father have an enemy? What could he have done to upset someone so much that they were now his enemy?

Am I his enemy? she suddenly wondered, unease worming its way inside her. She was mad at him for leaving when she was very young, but she never thought about him as an enemy… Until now. Anger rose inside her once again, but she forced it down, not wanting her mother to see her so upset.

Daisy nodded sadly. "After a little bit of talking, he confessed some stuff about his life, including that he had a few enemies, and he and his team guard their zoo and city." Her voice caught and she stopped talking for several moments; Alex blinked at her worriedly. Finally Daisy took a deep breath and said," He was very kind to me and seemed to want to protect me. He even… taught me some basic fighting moves…" Her voice trailed off and her eyes darkened with memories again.

Alex widened her eyes in surprise, not realizing that her mother had some fighting techniques. She hesitated, before asking," Could you teach me some moves?"

Daisy turned away and at first didn't answer. Then she shook her head. "No. You're safe here. There's no reason for you to defend yourself while you're in this zoo." Without another word, she got to her feet and walked away.

Frowning, Alex watched her go, wishing she hadn't asked her to teach her how to fight. Maybe if she hadn't, Daisy would have told her more about her father, but now Daisy was heading away from her, misery in her eyes and Alex was to blame for her sadness.

Silently, she decided that she wouldn't ask about Skipper anymore. What did it matter, if she knew about him?

I'll never meet him, so what's the point in asking questions about him?

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