Love.
That was the single thought the King lingered on.
At this moment in time, the ringtail was lying in bed- he had excused himself early from the engagement party, and could still hear the ruckus coming from outside.
But Julien paid no attention.
He had thought that this should've been a happy night; Clover was finally getting the wedding of her dreams. She was his friend, right? So why did he feel some inexplicable weight tugging him down?
Truth be told, he himself knew the answer to that.
He didn't want Clover to go.
The king sighed as he felt himself get lost in the spiral of his memories.
All the times when his bodyguard had proven herself yet and yet again- all those times when she had risked her life and limb for him... all those security measures she took just to keep him safe, all those weird quirks she had...
All those things that he never knew he would find himself missing about her.
Love.
He thought again.
She's leaving me because of love.
He wanted to feel angry, to feel happy, anything but this... emptiness.
The ringtail desperately wanted to understand. To feel some sort of empathy. But instead he felt jealousy.
Not a lover's jealousy, he thought, but jealousy of the fact that Clover, one of his closest friends, honorary member of the royal entourage... was leaving him for a muscly mountain lemur who spent his free time talking to butterflies and lived off of pine cones, for Frank's sake!
Love.
He thought again. He tried to imagine what it must be like- to be loved.
It wasn't an emotion that he had had the luxury of receiving from another. His parents... they were nice, sure, but they valued their "child-free" life if doing nothing over their own son. And his uncle... he didn't even want to venture into that.
Of course, there were several affairs that he had partaken in- such as the wild fling with Clover's twin sister; Crimson.
That didn't end well.
It seemed so unfair. Even his own people, who he gave everything too, had time and time again turned against him; such as the time when he was competing against King Julien the Terrible for the kingdom, or when Karl bribed it with coffee, or when the crocodile ambassador used a book to brainwash the people into following him..
It seemed that the only people who truly had a shred of loyalty were Maurice, Mort and... well, Clover.
And now, he wasn't even sure about that! What sort of "love" is it, when you abandon the kingdom and leave it in the grips of the fossa just to be with Mister Six-Pack McMoron?
And Maurice.. the aye-aye had previously accepted bribes from Julien's own uncle and had faked his friendship with the king.
It was all so unfair- everyone else was getting their own happy endings: but him, it seemed.
Love.
A great and terrible thing.
Julien took his crown off, and closed his eyelids, before hearing a loud, rhythmic knock on the door.
"Mort if that's you, then NO! I do NOT want another sponge bath!" The annoyed king cried, before turning on his side.
Silence. Then...
"Um, your majesty?" A familiar voice rang out, and Julien pricked up his ears.
Could it be...?
He thought.
Is she...?
"May I enter?"
"Come in, Clover." The king said wearily, rubbing his temples, as a certain crowned lemur sauntered into the room.
"What do you want now? In case your eyeballs hadn't noticed, the king is having his royal beauty sleeping session!" He grumbled, annoyed.
Here to gloat, by any chance?
The king thought bitterly.
"I'm sorry for disturbing you..." he voice trailed off in nervousness, as she looked down at her feet.
"But I simply couldn't bear the engagement party- everyone there was being so... so... nice and sweet and all "Oh Clover, good luck with your marriage," and-!" She broke off into one of her rants, before stopping herself as she noticed the king's apathetic look.
"Get to the point, Clover! I don't have all night- besides, if you want to vent, go to Maurice. He's the feelings guy, not me." The ringtail jerked his thumb at her, but inwardly winced at the harshness of his words.
C'mon man! This is your last night with her.. at least show some sort of sympathy..!
He dug his nails into his palm in agitation, but Clover took no notice.
"Right. Sorry. Anyway, that's besides the point." She shuffled from side to side awkwardly.
"What I mean is, well, since I'm not officially, y'know, queen yet, I'm still your royal bodyguard. So technically, as I'm still working for you... I came here to do a quick perimeter check- as- as per the usual." She said, lowering her gaze.
Julien acknowledged her with a wave of a hand, and turned over on his side.
He noticed Clover turning away and murmuring something incoherent- probably delving into one of her secret agent fantasies again.
At her words, however, King Julien felt his heart sink. He really wasn't expecting anything but...
He absent-mindedly watched his bodyguard's movements as she secured the perimeter.
They were quick, and agile, as her wild eyes eagerly tried to seek out any sign of danger.
Danger. One of her favourite things.
Without Clover, he would never have experienced, or survived, the things he did. He remembered how she was always eager for there to be some sort of crime to be solved, and how much she loved things such as security breaches and lockdown procedures: terms that the king couldn't really properly fathom, but that sounded complex and fancy.
He remembered how insanely loyal she was.
How she would go to any lengths to protect him, her king.
On his very coronation night, his bodyguard had openly expressed her willingness to fight for him, despite her injuries.
On the very first night- when everybody else had run away in fear. She remained.
He thought back to all those moments, when his stupidity had gotten the better of him, and how she was the first to put her life on the line for him.
For her king.
For her friend.
But it seemed that now her loyalties were shifting.
The king lay back down on his bed, spread eagled, indulging in another bout of self-pity.
...
After having completed the perimeter check, the crowned lemur turned to the ringtail.
"King Julien? I'm all done." Clover said in a gentle tone, snapping the king out of his reverie.
"Yeah. Okay." He said in a flat voice.
"Alright then... I'm going to head back to my hut." She awkwardly managed, and Julien felt that... empty feeling course through him again.
You can't leave us.
The king stood up from the bed and approached his bodyguard.
"Hey, Clo-Clo?" He said, before seeing the miserable look on her face.
Don't leave us. Please.
"Nevermind." Julien turned away, unable to face her.
"I just... I wanted to say that I'm really gonna miss you, man." He managed.
Clover just gave him a sad, confused look, as if to ask where this was coming from. The ringtail had previously shown such goodwill and cheer towards her marriage.
What had changed?
"W- with your crazies and- and paranoia, and- and- I don't want you to go, Clo. Please!" The ringtail begged, as he felt his heart breaking, putting his arms around her shoulders, and shaking her.
As the becoming Queen spoke, her voice was soft, and laced with emotion. "King Julien. I-" Clover tried to pry his hands off of her but to no avail, as the king continued his speech.
"In know you and Sage love each other and all but- I- I mean, Maurice will really miss you! You've been there for literally my whole reign! I can't go on without you!!! Pleaaaaaaaayyyyysseeee!!" He sniffled a little, before pulling himself together.
"You-you're like the really violent sister I never had and, well..." There was a lump in his throat, as he found himself unable to tear himself away from her brilliant green eyes.
What would it be like, he wondered, to never again see those eyes? To never see them light up as there was another excited announcement of something insignificant that needed investigation?
What would it be like, to never again see the fire, the passion, the determination in them again?
"King Julien, I want to stay, I really do, but the kingdom, and Sage-" Clover started, but Julien but a finger to her lips, feeling more down than ever.
Don't go, Clo. You're the reason I do what I do...
He silently pleaded.
However, he wasn't about to say that aloud.
"No words, Clover, no words. I see... you've made up your mind... and I wish you the best of luck... in your- your new life." He sighed sadly, heading back to his bed.
You can't leave, Clover. We need you.
I need you.
I love you.
And I won't let you go.
He averted his gaze from her.
Clover was staying. This was her home; whether she realised it or not.
...
After the ringtail's impassioned speech, without a word, the bodyguard too turned away- her shoulders slumped and her ears drooping.
It was a lot harder for her to leave than she made out.
She loved Sage, sure, but...
Julien, Maurice, Mort, Pancho, Ted... even the rebels-but-not-really-cuz-there's-only-two-of-them Abner and Becca... she was going to really miss the kingdom.
For Clover- put simply, this was her home. The place she had been more or less bought up in.
Until-
Well, that was besides the point.
She had loved her job, and enjoyed her stay. But, like in all stories, the end was nigh. She should've been happy, shouldn't she?
But, she was a grown up lemur.
And Clover knew better than to trust so-called "happy endings".
She wasn't Thighsander Plunderhorse, no matter how much she wanted to be. And Sage would never be Norge Grendlefist, like she had imagined.
This kingdom was a never-ending abyss of memories; from the terrible reign of King Julien XII, where she had been forced to do awful, terrible things- and where she secretly rebelled with... smaller things, such as keeping Pancho alive during the decommissioning of the footstool programme on the pretext of him never having been activated, and how she silently bore the abuse rained down on her- keeping going only because she knew and understood the cost if she quit.
And then came his nephew- the party prince, King Julien XIII, who chose fun over fear. Under his reign, for the first time, people were happy. Safe. Unconcerned.
Clover remembered all those times when her king had wilfully sacrificed himself for his people, for his friends... for her.
She remembered how he had bravely rescued the kingdom from the fossa, how he had rescued her and Maurice from the evil grips of Karl the fanaloka, how he was ready to sacrifice himself into a volcano, and how he had put his life on the line during that blasted tournament-
Not the time, Clover.
She shook her head, before pulling herself together.
Stay strong, soldier. No time for blubbering.
The crowned lemur took one last look at the king, and left the hut.
For the last time ever.
Was her ominous last thought.
...
Meanwhile, with Maurice and Mort...
...
"Woohooo baby! We're never gonna die!" Xixi screamed, while waving around her glow sticks with gusto.
Meanwhile, DJ Deceased Rabbit was collaborating with DJ Glitter-Bunz and busy making the techno remixes for the engagement party.
A party that should've been a fun time for everybody, and it was, in some sense at least.
People were having fun out there- Ted and Dorothy were busy making profit from all the glow sticks, and since this was the hottest wedding of the season ( it was a royal wedding, I'll have you know ) there were many guests of different origins.
The aye-ayes were present, as were the crocodiles- Karl had come out from his retirement to wish Clover luck ( it didn't work out for him in Florida ).
The mountain lemurs were present too, lots of them were getting chummy with KJ's lemurs- some busy teaching King Julien's subjects their sick nasty dance moves.
Even Crimson was there. And Barty and Julienne; confused about the wedding as they were: and naturally making a scene.
Entertaining as ever, one would say.
Sage, the groom, was busy with all the introductions to the party guests, and treating them all to a few metaphors or two, leaving them confused as to what he was talking about and why the fierce, intelligent warrior Clover would ever choose a man this... indifferent.
All in all, as King Julien would often say, this party was "Officially off the heezy".
But not quite. Maurice could just feel that something was off.
Unlike the rest, he wasn't there to enjoy himself, or to celebrate. He didn't really want to be there, if he was honest.
The party was great- he wasn't gonna lie about that, but...
When Clover was there, the two of them would hang out in the corner, talking amongst themselves. She would mostly complain about the rest enjoying themselves, and Maurice would happily listen. It was entertaining, in a way.
Occasionally, a fight broke out ( Clover had a lot of enemies ), or on the rare occasion when she wasn't present ( off at some security duty or other ), but he still managed to enjoy himself.
But now that she was leaving... only now did he realise what an impact she had made; all those times that the two of them had worked together to uncover a scheme, or to get Julien out of trouble.
I'm really gonna miss her... Maurice found himself thinking.
It wasn't the same. It would never be the same. Not without Clover.
And it didn't make sense to him; why on earth were they all celebrating the fact that this was their head of security's last night in the kingdom? That, even if a lot of them weren't close with her, wasn't this was their last night with certified protection against the fossa?
Of course, measures had been taken against that; Clover had worked tirelessly the past few days to set traps all around the kingdom, and had negotiated deals with the fossa, as well as having put mountain lemur guards on duty, and having promised to visit as soon as she could to sort out any security issues.
Maurice was grateful for that- even if nobody else was.
He turned his back on the commotion and walked towards the watering hole, sitting down and reflecting as he bathed in the moonlight glow.
Unnoticed to the aye-aye, a smaller companion was making his way through the undergrowth to him.
"Whatcha doing, Maurice?" A mouse lemur popped up behind the aye-aye, startling him into dropping his beverage.
"Uh, nothing Mort! You can... just go back to partying. Yeah." He fumbled, before sighing.
"Aw c'mon Maurice. You can tell me. I know how to keep secrets." Mort said, eyeing Maurice creepily.
Not so sure about that, Mort...
Maurice thought warily, before sighing as he turned to his comrade.
"It's just... what do you make of all this, Mort?" The adviser asked.
"Me? Hmm... well, I kinda wish that Hans was here- he'd like it. But I couldn't risk it with the creepy snake doctor and all. And the music is kinda meh." He shrugged, implying "Yeesh, what can you do?", before turning back to Maurice.
"No, Mort. I meant what do you make of Clover leaving?" Maurice rephrased.
"What? Clover's leaving? Why didn't anyone tell me???" The mouse lemur sobbed, before turning back to the confused aye-aye.
"Wait. Who's Clover again?" He said in confusion, as Maurice mentally facepalmed.
"Never mind, Mort." He turned away.
Feeling the awkward silence stretch between the two, Maurice spoke up again.
"It's just... have you ever felt that when you're supposed to be happy for someone, but you also know that you'll be sad about that same thing and-" Before Maurice could finish, Mort cut him off.
"Yeah. I get that." His shoulders slumped.
"I'm really gonna miss her, you know?" He muttered, as Mort came by his side.
"She was always there for us, and now that she's going- I'm happy, yeah, I'm happy, obviously- but it feels like without her I'll- we'll- never really be complete as a team of four." Maurice could feel a lump building up in his throat at the memories.
"Aww, Maurice, it's okay to have feelings... want a hug?" Mort asked, as the aye-aye nodded, before embracing the other.
Despite their differences, Maurice and Mort had always cared for each other. It was only now that they realised it, only after grieving the coming loss of a mutual friend.
"I'm going to go talk to Sage. Gonna- gonna wish him luck, okay Mort?" Maurice said, his voice muffled.
"Okay. Can I come?" The mouse lemur let go of his friend, and the two of them walked side by side- Maurice desperately trying to mask his tears.
...
"...and most importantly, who are you wearing?" Xixi thrust her beak closer to the Moondancer flirtatiously, who replied unflinchingly.
"I am wearing only my skin- a thin protection and preservation of my soul, which beats within the tomb that is my body like a drum: ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum."
"Ookaaayy... I'll take that... anyway, good luck at your wedding! Hopefully it'll be better than my last-" the toucan started, before Maurice came up behind her and cleared his throat loudly.
"Ahem Xixi.. would you mind if we... Uhh.. had a talk with him?" The aye-aye said, pushing the journalist aside.
"Sure. I can tell- ooohh are those Barty and Julienne? I must take a selfie!!" Xixi said as she flew off- her attention span as short as ever.
As she flew off Maurice could make out the disgruntled shrieks of the royal couple, as they desperately tried to get the poor bird to leave, and shouting about the filthiness of commoners, while Xixi was wailing about her self esteem issues.
Same old, same old...
Maurice sighed, as he took in the groom. He could never understand what on earth Clover saw in him, other than his looks.
The man is as flighty... as... something flighty. Like a butterfly.
The adviser thought.
The Moondancer turned to them.
"Hello friends. I what honour do I owe to your presence?" The mountain lemur bowed low in front of the two.
"Uh, who's he talking to?" Mort asked, leaning in to Maurice conspiratorially, making the latter perspire slightly in nervousness.
Maurice just shrugged his shoulders.
"Hi... uh, Sage. Yeah. Just... came to wish you luck on your marriage." Maurice said, uncomfortable.
"Marriage is but the bond formed between two lemurs- uniting their souls as one. Om..."
Sage spaced out, closing his eyes to the world, as Maurice face palmed.
"Riiight... " Maurice tried to think of something to say, but words evaded him.
"Let's go, Mort." He tugged the arm of the mouse lemur, who followed him dutifully, and Xixi took it as her cue to rejoin the groom.
The adviser had nothing more to say.
"This party was a bust."
Mort nodded, and went after Maurice.
"Hey Maurice- do you know where King Julien is?" He asked innocently batting his lashes
"He went home early- said that he "needed to prepare for the big day" or something." The aye-aye leaned against the tree, and took a look at the smaller one, who was making puppy eyes at him.
Realising the game he was playing, Maurice gave the little one a stern look.
"No Mort. We're not visiting him. He said that he wanted to be left alone. You know what the king is like." The advisor shook his head.
Mort said nothing, and continued to stare pleadingly.
"Oh, I know what you're trying to do- and it won't work!" Maurice turned away.
"Pleaaaaaaaaaase..." The little one said in a gentle voice.
"Won't work, Mort! We are not seeing the king at this hour!" The aye-aye stubbornly insisted.
"Fine you goody goody two shoes! I will go myself!" Mort snapped, losing his patience, and ran off without hesitation before the other could register what was happening.
"Oy vey..." Maurice muttered, reluctantly following the other.
"Feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!" He heard a distant cry, and picked up his pace.
King Julien's gonna be so mad...
The reluctant adviser trudged after the little one.
"Mort! Wait up!!"
...
Meanwhile, Mort was running. Running as fast as his stumpy, little legs could carry him. He didn't know what from or what for, but one thought occupied his head.
Feet.
Specific thoughts that revolved around his king's toenail clippings and such. Thoughts like these that usually came up whenever he was nervous, excited, under pressure, upset-
Basically whenever he felt any strong emotion.
And right now he wanted to be of comfort to his King Julien- maybe this time it would be different.
Maybe this time he wouldn't get rejected as he always was.
Maybe this time his King Julien would see past his annoying exterior, given how vulnerable he was at the moment.
Of course, Clover's sudden departure affected Mort too, but in a different way entirely.
Mostly, he didn't want his King to be upset: such things often stirred up a lot of deep emotions within him.
But Clover leaving? That was different altogether.
If you were him, you'd understand. The only coherent thoughts in his head are about his single obsession: his King and The Feet.
The rest of his memories were blotchy- like an old sepia photograph on a mantle piece- ignored, but always lingering: a vital part of the atmosphere.
Quite often the little guy found himself unable to put names to faces. He was forgetful like that.
Clover... the memory was so distant, yet so close...
He understood that Clover was a big part of his life, that was true. He saw her as a... father figure to himself, in a way: and Maurice as a mother figure.
But all those memories seemed so distant. All those times they had shared together. And Mort had a vague sense of foreboreding that unless somebody intervened with fate, their paths were unlikely to cross again.
It was frightening, how easy it would be for him to just... let go of her. To forget.
However all this was processed subconsciously by the mouse lemur mutant, as he ran towards the King's hut. He could vaguely make out the voice of a certain aye-aye calling him back, and felt an overprotective anger flare up in him.
How dare Maurice try to stop me from bringing comfort to my King Julien?
Mort thought annoyedly, before barging right into the hut.
"Go away Clover..." King Julien mumbled, before turning away.
"King Julien! It is I, I have come to you in your time of need!" Mort said enthusiastically, hope lighting up.
Maybe he needs comfort! I'll be able to provide that just fine...
Mort smiled.
"Go away you little freak. It is royal napping time." King Julien said in a flat voice.
Mort's ears drooped, and the hope was extinguished immediately.
"But King Julien-" He started, in an vain attempt to win the King's favour.
The monarch angrily sat up.
"I said go away! I don't want you here, Mort! I never wanted you here! Ever! I've had it up to here with you and your "issues" and touching the royal feet! Why can't you be like Mo-Mo and... and C-Clo-Clo..." the ringtail turned away at the last part. It clearly hurt him to even say the name of his bodyguard.
Every single word hit Mort like shards of ice.
Is it true..?
He thought.
No it cannot be. My king Julien is just upset...
And it was true. King Julien was obviously very much in distress- his eyes were red-rimmed. He'd obviously been crying.
And he hates you, Mort. He'd rather have his precious Mo-Mo come in and check on him.
Mort turned away.
"I'm sorry, King Julien." He uttered in a low voice.
"I'm going to go now. And leave.. and leave you be." The mouse lemur waddled out, and the ringtail, for the first time, felt something that wasn't annoyance at the little one.
No, it was... pity.
He pitied Mort.
In fact, he even felt guilty for what he said. If he could have, he'd have retracted it.
Ironic... the departure of one friend is what causes you to realise the worth of another... he mused.
Wow, since when did I become so deep!?!?
The king snapped himself back into reality.
"Mort?" He said, clearly still on the verge of tears.
The mouse lemur turned around with a certain degree of hope.
Could he be...?
King Julien stepped down from the bed, and to Mort's surprise, picked him up and cuddled him.
"King Julien... what are you doing?" Mort asked, very much in shock.
"Mort, listen. I know that you're an annoying gremlin who clings to me every chance you get but... but... I... Ahem.." the King cleared his throat.
"IappreciatethatyoucametohelpandIkindavalueyouasafriendorsomethingandI'msorryifIwasmeantoyou."
(I appreciate that you came to help and I kinda value you as a friend or something and I'm sorry if I was mean to you.) Julien mumbled.
"Oh, King Julien, that is okay! I will love you forever and ever and give you and your feet all the huggies in the world!" The little one smiled prettily, and Julien couldn't help but be moved at the mouse lemur's compassion.
It wasn't something he had noticed before.
Maybe...
"Hey Mort? Can I... vent to you, buddy?" The ringtail asked.
Wow, I'm probably still high or something... I'd never ever do something like that with Mort...
He thought dissmissively.
"Of course, King Julien!" The mouse lemur said- glad to be of aid.
The king immediately got to the point.
"I don't want Clover to go. Honestly, that's why I'm so upset. I never really... well, thought it through, or even taken the consideration to think what life would be like without her and now that I am faced with... this... I am forced to, Mort."
"And what I see.. well, what I see is a lot of struggles, and difficult situations in which I'd have nobody to bail me out on with their k-ya! Or tkatkatka! Or-" The King mimes a stranglehold on himself.
"You see? All those times where it was her who saved us. What are we going to do without her??" The grey lemur put his head in his hands, before looking up again.
"But, it's so much more than that, Mort. She's been my friend ever since the beginning of my reign. I love her, Mort. She's like a sister to me. And not like her Crimson or anything because that would be a like, really awkward sibling dynamic, but like those friends who just wish they were siblings and aren't, y'know?"
"And then, since I love her, what my brainy parts tell me is that I should let her go and be happy for her marriage and all that, but deep inside, my squishy inner feelings tell me that neither of us will be happy, and, well, complete without each other. We're like a puzzle of four. You, Mo-Mo, Me... and her. She isn't meant to go." The king concluded, and Mort stared at him with a strange sort of intensity, before speaking up.
"King Julien... I'm not the best guy to ask for advice, but... I believe that you are right." Mort said simply.
"And, I'm not just saying that because I agree with everything you say and do."
Julien cracked a small smile at that.
"I think too that Clover's place is with us. Whether she realises that or not."
There was a slightly scary undertone to that.
...
"Mort! Mort!" Maurice ran towards the direction he thought he saw the mouse lemur running.
"Mort come back here this instant!" He panted, but found that he couldn't keep up.
"MORT!" He called.
"PLEASE, AT LEAST WAIT FOR ME!" It was no use though. Mort had run off.
Again.
And he was alone.
Alone is a good word here...
Maurice thought, before dejectedly turning back.
King Julien's gonna kill me tomorrow. Or even tonight, if he's as mad as I think he is. What the king needs is time alone.
Or at least that was what Maurice thought.
But while the king needs time alone, I value the company.
He thought bitterly.
Welp. I guess that means I'm going home now.
He started walking towards his hut, but stopped in his tracks as he heard a melancholy, musical sound.
Where's that coming from?
He thought, bewildered.
Is that Timo with his techno-music again? But he never plays here... and Horst is back at the party. Plus, the style is so unlike them...
Mounting curiosity taking control, Maurice made his way towards the sound; wanting to find its cause.
The sound led to some sort of clearing, behind which was the royal watering hole.
Who could be down there? The only people given clearance to the royal watering hole are members of the royal council and guard: aka King Julien, me, Clover and Masikura...
Maurice tentatively pushed aside the plants blocking the entrance, and walked in.
His jaw dropped.
It was a beautiful scene: the moon was bright and vivid- no clouds in sight, and the stars were shining bright as always. The water had a pale tint to it: the moonlight being reflected off of it. The trees seemed to bend to the scene as well, giving it a picturesque look.
But that wasn't what caught Maurice's eye. It was who was playing the music.
A female lemur silhouette, calmly sitting at the edge of the water, a photograph put up next to her, with a lyre in her hands.
What's she doing here?
Maurice thought, as his jaw dropped.
Who knew that someone so rough and violent could be capable of reaching such... peace, he supposed.
Oblivious to her friend's presence, Clover strummed the instrument, and it let out a beautiful chord.
Maurice took a step forward, entranced by the music.
Since when does Clover play the lyre?
He thought.
Guess you never really know someone until it's their wedding day...
Maurice smiled at that. It sounded like something Mort would say.
He took another step forward, trying to be as discreet as possible.
Man, this is awkward, how do I let her know I'm here?
The adviser thought, nervously, before stepping back.
Crunch
Shoot! Great timing, Maurice...
In his clumsiness, he had omitted to notice a twig that had been laying under his feet.
Instantly, Clover's head snapped around, her brilliant, piercing green eyes wide with shock, as she put her lyre down.
"Maurice? What are you doing here??" She asked, confused and a little embarrassed.
"Oh, I... uh, I heard your playing, and.. well..." Maurice scratched his head awkwardly.
"Where did you learn to play anyway?" He asked, changing the topic, and stepping forward and sitting down next to the other lemur.
"Oh, that- aha. It was a little something my Grandma Rose taught me.." Clovers eyes moved down to the photograph, and Maurice followed them.
It was a picture of a younger Clover hugging her grandmother, and engraved on it were the words "My little Bruiser".
The bodyguard hugged the photograph to her chest before sighing and placing it beside the lyre.
"Wow... she must've really cared about you, huh?" Maurice said, before mentally slapping himself as Clover's eyes clouded up.
Idiot. That's just great. Just what she needs, isn't it? She doesn't need you reminding her of that!
"Sorry..." the aye-aye mumbled.
"It's okay, Maurice." Clover picked up the lyre up again.
"You know, I sometimes just like to come up here, and relax: just to take my mind off of things... when beating up a couple of random strangers doesn't work, that is..."
Maurice chuckled at that.
Same old Clover...
"And I guess I'm kinda overwhelmed by all this stress... I mean- I'm going to be Queen! And to think: I'll have control of Sage's army as well! But at the same time... well, I feel like it's too good to be true. You ever get that feeling, Maurice? Like.. like you're just not good enough for something? Because that's what this feels like."
"Clover, are you having second thoughts?" Maurice asked, gently putting a paw on her shoulder, expecting her to react violently, but she just sighed.
"No, Maurice. Sage- it's just... he's all I ever wanted I guess... I think, at least: I mean as far as I can remember all I've ever wanted to do was to complete Grand- I mean, my family's legacy, but... well, you get the idea. But I just feel like I'm not doing my job! I mean, I'm leaving you all.. and I can't be around to protect you, and-" Clover looked at her friend, pain and indecision shining in her eyes.
"Whoa whoa whoa there, calm down. You deserve this. All of it. You are an amazing and wonderful person and.. well, you have issues, but who doesn't? You're not responsible for us anymore: you're going to have ten times more the responsibility as Queen now. And you've protected us many times before, so no matter what choice you make, I won't resent you at all. You're one of my closest friends, Clover." Feeling brave, the adviser wrapped his arms around her, and to his surprise, Clover reciprocated.
"You... mean that?" She said in a gentle voice.
Wow... is this really the first time she's ever opened up to anyone about her emotions?
Maurice thought, feeling an overwhelming sadness for his friend.
For the first time ever, Clover was vulnerable.
"Yeah. I mean that."
...
AN:
Alright, there's the first chapter done! I hope you like it; be sure to leave a review anyhow! Also, I'm kinda stuck here, since I've got the plot figured out, but I'm not really sure: which ships should I include? Because I've seen that Julien x Clover is quite popular, but what about the other two ( since I'm only focusing on these four really )? Or do you think that Julien and Clover would be good for someone else entirely?