Chapter 17: Monsters Belong With Monsters

Alex ate his fourth fish. Melman and Gloria had headed to the hot springs with Julien to enjoy the sunset. Alex grimaced finding the fish in Kenya didn't taste quite as good as the ones from Madagascar. He missed Madagascar already. But he missed New York even more. He found himself imagining what he would eat when he returned to the Central Park Zoo... if he returned at all...

"You full, Al?" Marty asked.

"Yeah, this should be fine," Alex stood up.

Marty looked around, nervously.

Alex noticed this, "Marty, you don't like it here. It's obvious."

"No, no. It's just that I... I haven't got a chance to, uh, warm up to it yet," he struggled to answer.

"Marty, I know when you're lying," Alex put his hands on his hips.

Marty sighed, "I am no liar. I just want you to be happy, that's all."

"This place doesn't make me happy," Alex corrected him, "I'm only here to eat and find a cure for it."

Marty debated whether he should say what he thought. "I don't think these guys know what it is," Marty hated himself for saying it already.

"What then..." the comment pierced deep into Alex's heart, "...Are you saying I'm crazy?"

"No!" Marty shouted.

"Then what! Am I just a savage killer by heart? Is that what your saying, Marty?" Alex shouted back.

"No...I'm just saying... ," he dawned a look of defeat, "I don't know what I'm saying... forget I said anything." Marty sat by the stream staring blankly into the water.

"Marty..." Alex's expression softened. He sat by the down zebra, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get angry."

Marty's eyes wandered to Alex's feet, "Yeah, I know."

Alex lied on his back gazing at the red sky, "I feel so strange."

Marty lay beside him, "How so?"

"I feel like," he explained, "for the first time in my life, I don't know where I'm going."

Marty rolled over, looking at Alex, "That's not true."

"Hmm?"

"We're going home," Marty answered, "to New York."

"I would hope so. But I'm not talking about that."

"Then, what are you talking about," Marty pondered.

Alex tapped his chin, "I mean. My emotions. I don't understand them... I mean, I've met so many new faces which usually makes me feel so happy. When I met you, Marty, I knew we'd be friends forever. But I've felt so hollow since yesterday. Like the world doesn't matter. But I know deep down that it does."

Marty could relate, "You've just been disappointed a lot lately."

Alex nodded.

"Just cheer up, that's all," Marty gave his advice, "The lionesses are nice. I'm sure they'll become friends in time."

"Friends? How long are we going to stay here?" Alex asked.

"Until the penguins come, I guess," Marty shrugged, "We have food, water, and shelter. What's not to like?"

"The fact that your a zebra and they are lions," Alex put it bluntly.

"You can handle that, can't you?" Marty asked.

"I can only handle so many at once,"

Marty smiled, "How many can there b-" A sound filled Marty's ears and a scent in his nose. "Alex-"

Alex sensed it as well, "- the other lionesses are here." He darted up grabbing Marty as well, "I've got to keep the other's safe!" The two ran up stream to the hot springs.

Julien was standing on Tana's head telling a story, "Still covered in blood, my father-"

"Julien!" Alex yelled at the lemur drawing closer to the others. Julien stepped off her head.

Tana sighed in relief, "Oh thank god you made him stop!"

"You don't like my story?" Julien questioned.

"No!" Everyone answered at once.

"What is it, guys?" Gloria asked submersed in the pool of warm water. Melman was so tall, he could only fit his legs in. The lionesses all remained out of the spring with but a paw in the water.

"The other lionesses are coming," Marty answered.

Kindra nodded, "It is that time of day."

"I just wanted to be here to clarify that you guys aren't dinner," Alex explained.

"Is that them?" Melman squinted at the rock, being the only passage to the valley not covered with thorns. As predicted, the lionesses came in a large group. The sleek tan-coloured figures rushed through in cooperative lines, two at first. Followed by a thicker section of four lionesses. They were holding something. Something big with black and white stripes with red smudged across it.

Marty focussed his eyes, "Is that a-"

"Marty, don't look!" Alex shielded the zebra's vision. Julien stared open mouthed before turning away in horror. Melman fainted, his head falling in the water with a splash. Gloria quickly grabbed him and repositioned his head and neck outside of the spring.

Elsa stood and rushed towards Alex, "I'm so sorry," she apologized, "I should've warned you."

Alex couldn't think of an answer.

"Come on, Elsa, we should go to the cliff now," Tana pushed Elsa lightly in the direction. Kindra stood and joined them. They looked back mournfully at the unwarned animals.

Julien twiddled his thumbs nervously, "I... was that... does that mean..." the lemur couldn't find a thing to say.

The lionesses disappeared into the bend where the cliff lay. Alex uncovered Marty's eyes. The two looked at each other, a sad connection throughout them. Alex glanced back to see all of their ghastly reactions. His gaze lowered to his feet, "Oh god, what have I forced you guys into?". His eyes darted back and forth. With a jump, he bounded away to the king's tree.

"Alex!" Marty yelled. But, it was too late. Alex stayed low and out of sight. Marty looked back at them. "Well isn't this familiar?"

Melman remained unconscious. Gloria stroked his head. She gave Marty a mixed look and nodded, meaning she knew what he was going to do. Marty played into her knowledge, trotting to where Alex hid.

Julien's tail shifted nervously. He started walking towards the tree, "I'm going, too."

Gloria grabbed him, "No. Let Marty handle this."

The lemur broke free. "I'm Alex's friend, too!" he snapped. Quickly, he followed in Alex and Marty's footsteps.

Marty arrived under the tree spotting Alex lying on his stomach, his face in his hands. "Alex?"

He didn't so much as move.

"What's wrong?"

The lion lifted his head slightly, "Leave me..."

Marty didn't understand, "What?"

"Leave me here, and find the penguins. You and the others go home to New York without me."

"But, why?" Marty approached.

"All I'm going to do is bring you guys down..."

Marty patted him on the back, "No you won't."

"We're only here in this awful place for my sake."

"Now I don't know ab-"

Alex shifted so his back faced the zebra, "If I'm the only reason you had to see that... then I should stay here," he curled his hands into fists, "Monsters belong with other monsters."

Julien had heard it all, "You are no monster, Alex." He stood on Alex's side.

Alex brushed him off, "Only a monster would have a voice that talks to him... that tells him to kill..."

Julien inquired, "Is that what this whole it stuff is about?"

Marty nodded silently.

"Would a monster let me travel with him all over the world?" Julien asked rhetorically.

"As long as it is in me, then none of you are safe. If you are all in New York then I can never hurt you," Alex analyzed.

"Alex, are you a liar?" Marty questioned.

Alex was confused, "Uh, no."

Marty continued, "I didn't think so. Because you promised that you'd never hurt me. And you're not a liar, so-"

Alex sighed, "Marty-"

"Besides," Marty didn't let him finish, "I promised I'd never leave your side, and I'm no liar, so there's really no use going to New York without you."

A pause followed. Slowly, Alex stood revealing his face for the first time in the conversation. He stared at Marty for a moment. Marty stared back trying to comprehend the lion's intent. His thought's were interrupted as Alex brought him into a one-armed embrace. Alex released him and smiled, "You guys really have no idea how much you help me."