Gloria lounged in the water of a heated pond designed to be a year-round watering hole. She closed her eyes blissfully as she breathed the cold air.

"Gloria?" a familiar voice called.

Gloria sat up, "Alex!" She climbed out of the pond and smiled at the lion. Melman was behind Alex.

"And Melman!" Gloria greeted the giraffe, then looked around, "Alex, where's Marty?"

Alex's smile wavered, "He's…on his way…"

"You left him alone in the city?" Gloria cried.

Alex cringed, "Not exactly…he brought me some food, then he tried to get me to go with him, but I wouldn't, so he ran off to find you guys, then I went after him, but I didn't find him, and the penguins and I took the subway…"

"Whoa, whoa, slow down! The penguins are with you?" Gloria asked.

"They were…"Alex answered.

"Where are they?" Melman asked.

"Uh," Alex thought back, "Last I saw, they were on the subway.

Melman and Gloria stared at him.

"I know what you're thinking…" Alex began.

"Alex, you seem to be having trouble keeping track of us." Melman summed it up.

Alex sighed, "I just have trouble keeping you all together." He looked up, "What about Cora? What happened to her?"

Melman cleared his throat, "Uh…"

"Well," Gloria added.

"What?" Alex asked.

"The people took her somewhere," Melman said finally, "We don't know where."

A voice came from below, "We do."

Everyone looked down. A black and white head popped out of a hole that no one had noticed before. Kowalski blinked at the Zoosters in the bright light. He pulled himself up and then helped Rico and Private out of the hole.

Alex gaped at them in surprise, "How'd you get here?"

Kowalski gave the lion a tense look, "We utilized the tunnels we dug previously for Operation Deep Freeze."

"Wasn't that the one where we were digging to Antarctica?" Private asked.

Rico nodded.

"Isn't there supposed to be one more of you penguins?" Melman squinted.

Private spoke up, "Skipper's getting ready for…"

Kowalski glared at him, "That's confidential information!"

Alex breathlessly descended upon the penguins, "Have you seen Marty? Or Cora? Where are they, are they alright?"

"The location of the striped one is unknown. The spotted one departed the boat at 05:00 hours this morning. We believe she may be on a covert operation of her own to find the striped one before the deadline." Kowalski answered.

"What deadline?" Alex asked.

Kowalski nodded once, "We all must report back to the ship before this evening or the people will discover our whereabouts."

"Oh, great." Alex said sarcastically, "That's all we need!"

Melman shook his head, "All this stress is giving me a migraine!"

"We have devised a plan to get you out of here," Kowalski informed them.

"Great! Let's hear it!" Alex beamed. Melman and Gloria looked unsure, but they nodded as well.

"Huddle!" Kowalski said. When everyone complied, he whispered, "This is the plan…"

"Achoo!" Melman sneezed, "Sorry. I think I'm allergic to feathers."

Gloria put her hands on her hips, "Melman! You're allergic to everything!"

"True." Melman nodded.

Kowalski sighed, making it obvious that he was waiting.

"So, what's that plan?" Melman sniffed.

Kowalski shook his head, "Private and I will distract the people at the entrance while Rico opens the gate. You," he pointed at Alex, Gloria, and Melman, "will then escape out the gate and head out to the subway station.

"That's it?" Alex crossed his paws.

"That is, as you say, it." Kowalski confirmed.

"Alex, can we talk to you for a moment?" Gloria asked.

"Sure." Alex said. They walked out of hearing range of the others.

Gloria looked at Alex, "Are you sure you want to go back?"

"Yeah." Alex said.

Melman looked more uncomfortable than usual, "It's all right if you don't! We could go find Marty and Cora, and bring them back here. You could live in a zoo, eat steak, be pampered…"

Alex held up a paw, "Don't worry about me. Really! I don't like steak as much as I like fish, and as far as being pampered, this place isn't exactly the Ritz. Besides, the people would never let me stay here. They already have a male lion."

"You could stay with me and my parents!" Melman suggested.

"Uh, no offence, but no thanks." Alex said carefully.

Gloria put a hippo hand on Alex's shoulder, "If you're sure you want to leave."

Suddenly, Alex realized something. "What about you guys? I mean, it's your decision, too! I won't make us all go back if no one wants to."

Melman shook his head, "I don't know! Madagascar was…actually kind of fun. But there wasn't anyplace…sanitary there. And no doctors."

Alex frowned sadly.

"But the air isn't full of noxious fumes. I could live there." Melman added quickly.

Alex looked at the hippo, "What about you, Gloria?"

"Alex," Gloria smiled, "You know, I'll be happy either way. Like Marty said, 'As long as we're together, it doesn't matter to me'. Home is wherever you boys are."

Alex sighed, "We've got to find him. As long as we're not together, I can't think of anyplace as home."

Melman looked sad. Gloria nodded, "Then let's go find him."

Cora ran down the street. She was tiring from running for fifteen city blocks. But it was paying off. Cora caught a glimpse of green down a street to her left. There's Central Park! Yes! The shortcut worked! Now I just have to find the zoo, where I last saw Alex and Marty. I hope there is some clue as to where they went.

Cora cautiously approached the zoo. The area around the red brick-walled zoo was once again devoid of animals and humans. The gate had been chained closed, though the old lock still hung on the gate. Cora inspected the lock. It was bent as though it had been broken by a very strong force.

Alex. Cora thought, He could've done this. The people wouldn't have! So Alex must've broken out through the gate. But was Marty with him when he left? The penguins hadn't seen Marty, so he wasn't. I don't think Alex would have left Marty behind. So Marty probably left first.

Cora pieced together the events in her mind. It was all beginning to make sense. But she still had no idea where Marty was. At least I know Alex is somewhere near the Bronx Zoo. But Marty could be anywhere.

The mare sat down in the snow. Her winter fur had been bothersome on Madagascar, but here it really helped to keep her warm.

Cora stared across the snow drifts in Central Park. Where would I go if I were Marty? The problem is, I'm not Marty. I would guess that he headed for the Bronx Zoo, but which direction did he go? Which streets did he take?

Frustrated, Cora stood up, shook the snow off of herself, and began walking north. Sitting cold and alone in Central Park was getting her nowhere.

"George?" Alex called at the edge of the lion enclosure, "Hey, George?"

The bigger lion opened his eyes, "Hi, did you find your friends?" he yawned.

Alex nodded, "Most of them. I just wanted to say goodbye in case I don't come back. We're leaving to find my other friends, and we may be going back…home." Wow. It really is my home. I really do want to go back. New York has nothing for me. Well, almost nothing…

George blinked, "Going back to the Central Park Zoo? That's quite a walk."

"Actually," Alex smiled, "We'd be going back to Madagascar."

"Wow!" George's eyes opened wide, "That's a substantially longer walk! Or should I say, swim."

"We've got a boat." Alex answered, "But we won't be coming back to New York if we go. And I wanted to thank you."

"For what?" George smiled.

Alex sighed, "For helping with…you know."

George nodded seriously, "All I did was tell you how to deal with it. The hard part is up to you."

"I know," Alex said, "But I'm still grateful. And I'm sure Marty will be, too."

"Marty?" George asked.

"My best friend," Alex answered proudly, "Marty the Zebra."

George allowed a lot of warmth to shine in his eyes, "I see. Well, you take care of him, okay? Him and your other prey animal friends. For some reason, we have been given the gift of friendship with herbivores. I believe that the reason lions like us have friends like them is because we are meant to protect them."

"I will." Alex promised.

"Good." George said, "Now, get out of here and find those missing pals of yours!" He waved to Alex.

Alex laughed and ran back to where he'd left Gloria and Melman. George, you're all right. He thought.

"Where were you?" Gloria asked.

"Just taking care of some last-minute stuff." Alex replied.

"We're almost ready to go." Gloria told him. She sensed he was keeping something from her, but she didn't press him about it. He will tell me when he's ready to.

Alex looked around and groaned, "Where are Melman and the penguins?"

"Melman's saying goodbye to his parents, and getting a last minute checkup," Gloria blinked her brown eyes, "And the penguins were working on a tunnel. They should all be back here soon."

Three giraffes approached.

"I thought you sad he was saying goodbye to them!" Alex whispered to Gloria.

"I thought he was!" Gloria whispered back.

Melman, Mimi, and Mitchell Mankowitz walked up to the lion and the hippo.

"I can't wait to see your island, Melman!" Mimi was saying excitedly.

"What?" Alex cried.

"Uh," Melman cleared his throat, ending in a cough, "My parents said they wanted to come with us, so I said they could."

This complicates things. Thought Alex.

"I think this island sounds like the perfect place to retire!" Mitchell remarked.

Alex looked at Gloria for help, but she was smiling and nodding, "It sure is nice there. Much warmer than it is here."

"What?" Alex yelled again.

"Alex, there's plenty of room on the boat for two more." Gloria glared at the lion.

"The boat's not the problem!" Alex mumbled, "How are we going to get three giraffes out of here and all the way back to the West Side?"

"The same way we were going to get one giraffe out." Gloria said firmly.

Alex sighed. Once Gloria took a stand, there was no budging her, "okay. You're right. Sorry." He turned to the Mankowitzes. Oh, great. This is just great. Now I get to spend the rest of my life with this couple of…giraffes.

"Apology accepted." Mitchell answered politely. He sounded a little put off.

Kowalski popped out of the ground for the second time, "We're ready. Everything is in place. Operation Perfect Getaway is a go. Proceed to the entrance, and when I give the signal, run out of the gates."

"Sure." Alex said.

Kowalski nodded and disappeared back into the ground.

"So exciting!" Mimi gushed, "I've never broken out before!"

"Don't worry." Alex said, "We're experts." He stalked to the enclosure fence.

"What did he mean by that?" Mimi asked, puzzled.

Gloria watched the lion hop the fence, "Don't pay any attention to him. Just follow us." Gloria and Melman led the other two giraffes after Alex.

As the five animals walked down the path, people screamed and got out of the way. Especially when they saw Alex. Children watched in awe as the trio of giraffes walked by.

"Look! A parade!" one kid cried happily.

"It's like Thanksgiving, only they're real animals!" another smiled.

Alex watched the ground. Why can't anything work out? Why? One thing. That's all I want. And that's just too much to ask for. I just want Marty, Gloria, Melman, and I to go back to Madagascar where it's safe and warm. Where we're together, and no one can break us apart. And preferably where no one will interrupt us. I want it to be like it used to be before we left. Grr, Marty! Why'd you have to run off into the woods? You set this whole thing in motion; you always seem to, don't you? I am so mad at you, and at the same time I miss you so much. Life just isn't the same without you here to drive me nuts.

What's wrong with me, anyway?

"You're worried, Alex." Gloria joined the lion. The previous hard edge was gone from her voice.

Alex turned to her, "I just want this to all be over. I wish we'd never come here in the first place!"

Gloria gave Alex a disbelieving look, "Come on, do you really wish that? Don't you remember how you felt when you were on Madagascar?"

"No." Alex said glumly.

"Well, I do." Gloria said, "You were miserable. You needed to see New York again to know just what it was you lost. And now you know. Am I right?"

Alex sighed, "Yeah. You're right. Now I know that I can't ever live the wonderful life I used to have at the Central Park Zoo ever again."

Gloria looked into Alex's eyes, "When you think of the word 'home', what do you think of?"

Alex stopped and thought. Why do I want to go to Madagascar, anyway? It was all sandy and…wild. Why? Because we all could be happy there. Even I had fun. That's the answer.

Home is where all of us can be happy.

Melman broke into Alex's thoughts, "Well, here we are."

The animals had reached the Asia Gate. They could hear commotion on the other side. Someone outside yelled, "Catch those penguins!"

"I think that's our cue!" Alex said, "Let's go!"

The animals ran to the gate. Rico waited with dynamite.

Kowalski and Private dashed by outside the gate. Kowalski waved a flipper at the animals inside. Rico lit the fuse on the dynamite.

"Kaboom!" he said, dashing to where the giraffes, lion, and hippo waited.

Kaboom! The gate blasted open. The animals all ran out of the zoo.

"That was easy!" Mimi remarked, "When you guys said you were experts, you weren't kidding!"

Mitchell shook his head uncertainly, "That was dangerous! What if one of us were hit by some piece of flying shrapnel? Mimi, are you sure you want to do this?"

"Don't be silly, Mitch. We're all absolutely fine!" Mimi smiled.

Mitchell turned his head to eye the dust settling by the gate, "Okay, Mimi. But the minute anything potentially harmful happens, we're coming home."

"Whatever you say, dear." Mimi rolled her eyes, "But I don't think that anything will. They're experts."

Alex smiled ironically, "Okay, the station's straight ahead. Let's go, guys!"

Mimi and Mitchell glanced all around at the city.

"It's such a different world out here!" Mimi exclaimed.

Mitchell warily eyed the cabs, cars, and trucks zooming past on the street, but said nothing.

Alex led them all down the long flight of stairs into the subway station. Somehow, the penguins had arrived ahead of them.

"Good to see you all made it out of the zoo." Kowalski said as a greeting, "The next train's ours. Are you all ready?"

Alex glanced at his companions. Melman and his parents had to duck because of the low ceiling of the station, but they looked excited. Melman had discovered a piece of gum stuck to his hoof. Mimi was glancing all around, taking in the sights, mouth hanging open in wonder. Mitchell was trying to help his son remove the offensive chewing gum. Gloria was watching for the train.

"I think we're all ready." Alex answered.

The loudspeaker crackled to life, "The fixed-story to Planned Education has been delayed due to fleck nickel terrific oldies."

"What the heck did they just say?" Alex asked.

Kowalski shook his head, "It's more of that unknown language."

"I think" Gloria studied the schedule board, "they said that the train to Grand Central has been delayed."

Melman shook his head, "There must have been a problem with the track or the trains."

Mitchell looked concerned, "That sounds dangerous! Maybe we should walk. How far away is this 'Grand Central'?"

"Too far," sighed Alex.

Kowalski turned to the shortest penguin, "Private! Rico! Alert the Skipper that it's time to initiate Plan B."

Private asked, "Sir, how do we get there?"

Kowalski answered, "Remember what Skipper told you?"

"Yes, sir!" Private hurried off.

"Plan B?" Alex asked skeptically.

Kowalski nodded sharply, "It will take some time for the message to reach the Skipper, so you might as well get comfortable."

"Fine by me." Mitchell sat down. Mimi joined him. Melman glanced around for a clean spot to sit down. Gloria and Alex glanced at each other.

Alex sighed, "I hope Plan B works."

Several hours later, a pickup truck pulled up to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A man got out, but didn't see the two penguins hop out of the back. Rico and Private waddled quickly to a fire hydrant and hid behind it, just as the man went to check the load of lumber in the back of his truck. The man, apparently satisfied, turned around and leaned on the truck, checked his watch, and began whistling.

Rico and Private made sure he was looking the other way, and then they rolled on their sides into Central Park.

Silently the two penguins tiptoed through the snowy park. There were a few people strolling through, and the occasional dog barked at some pigeons, but for the most part, the park was empty. The noise of traffic, horns, sirens, and people seemed far away. It was as quiet as New York gets.

"What INDIGNITY!"

The silence was shattered by the haughty cry.

The penguins simultaneously dove into some thin bushes. Private peeked out at the source of the cry.

"I can not believe that this is happening to me! To ME! Of all of the squirrels…why ME?" A squirrel was pacing at the base of a tree. Another squirrel stood nearby, trying to comfort him.

"Robert, it is not so bad! Now we can aquire that exquisite residence on Park Avenue which you have had your eye on for so extensive a time!" the other squirrel said.

Robert stopped pacing long enough to glare at the other squirrel, "Gwendolyn! The Fenwicks purchased it the previous spring! Do you not remember? Oh, never mind. This whole fiasco would not have occurred if your oral cavity had remained closed." He absently dug in the snowy ground.

Gwendolyn sighed, "All I did was to mention that there were superior places to live than the center of a metropolis, that's all." She put her hand on Robert's shoulder, "I never intended to alienate you from your acquaintances."

"Or the landlord!" Robert moaned, "Now to what location are we able to depart? Not one respectable creature in all of Manhattan will be willing to assist us!"

Private looked sad. He stepped out of the bush, "Excuse me! But I heard you were looking for a place to live?"

Robert looked up. He sized up Private, and liked what he saw. The expression on his face changed to hope. "That is correct, Well-dressed Bird."

"Um," Private tried to smile in a friendly way, "We have a boat, and we're headed to Madagascar. If you'd like you could join us."

"Hmm." Robert looked thoughtful, "Travel by sea to another land? That sounds intriguing. What do you think, Gwendolyn?"

Gwendolyn smiled, "That sounds like an adventure! You have always said that you would like to observe more of the world."

Robert nodded once, "Then we accept your offer." Just then, his paws found a seed in the ground. With delight, he showed it to his wife, "Look, Gwendolyn! Our fortune appears to be changing!"

The four animals continued across the park.