Author's Note: Hey people. I'm sorry this chapter took so long to get here. As I should let you know, I now have a self-established rule. It is: I won't post a new chapter until I get three reviews. It's just a measure to ensure that I don't post multiple chapters when my most attentive readers are gone. I may break this rule under certain circumstances. But for the most part, I will remain vigilant towards the matter. I hope you enjoy my latest chapter. Have a good read, and please review.

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Chapter 28: Decisions

"What do you want to do?" Private asked.

Kowalski shrugged, "I don't know. What do you want to do?"

Private sighed, "I just asked you that. How would I want to do something if I asked you what you wanted to do?"

Kowalski paused for a moment, "...what?"

Private shook his head, "Never mind. So, do you want to do anything?"

"I don't know," Kowalski repeated, "Do you want to do anything?"

"Kowalski, we just went through this," Private was growing inpatient. He let out a breathe of air forcefully. Slowly, he turned, "What about you, Rico? What do you want to do?"

Rico reached into his throat and pulled out a match and a stick of dynamite, "...kaboom?"

"Not now, Rico," Private waved it away.

Rico gave a disappointed look at the penguin before stuffing the objects back down his throat.

"This sucks. There's nothing to do," Private commented, "I'm going to get Skipper."

Kowalski held a flipper out, preventing him from standing, "No, Private, I think he's enjoying himself. It would be disrespectful to our higher authority."

Private nodded, "I guess you're right...I'm still bored, though."

Rico suddenly had an idea. Once again, the penguin reached into his stomach, this time taking out his favorite steak knife. He held it up expectingly.

Private smirked, "Alright, alright, we'll play the knife throwing game."

Time went by, and the sun had drifted lower in the sky. The valley glowed with an orange tint brought by the four o'clock light. Alex and the others had stayed under the tree the entire time, talking about things with no relevance, whatsoever. Alex continued their conversation, "How should I know why we're still in Iraq?"

"Because, if we pulled out we would lead their society in shambles," Skipper explained, "Over the years, their hatred for us abandoning them will lead them to get nuclear weapons from Korea, and then..."

"We?" Marty rebutted, "We haven't been in the states for a while, now. Besides, were we even considered citizens to begin with?"

"Good Question," Julien asked, "Do I have to fill out paperwork for immigration or something when we get there?"

Alex laughed, "I doubt that."

"Good, because I have troubled past with filling out forms," Julien told them.

"Since when have you had to fill out forms?" Marty asked.

Julien coughed, "Well, actually I wouldn't know. I usually made Maurice do it." Julien felt a longing to be with his old friend for a moment.

"You alright, Julien?" Alex asked, noticing the lemur's forlorn presence.

Julien suddenly realized he was being addressed, "Huh? Oh!" Julien put his hands behind his back, "Oh, it's nothing. Nothing at all."

Both Marty and Alex picked up on this lie. Marty spoke first, "C'mon. You can tell anything to us."

"Well..." Julien debated whether to tell them or not, "I just miss Maurice a bit. That's all."

Skipper raised an eyebrow, "You know. The way our plan works out, we could technically take you back to Madagascar."

Marty and Alex turned to the penguin in surprised. Neither of them had any clue to what Skipper was planning.

Julien raised his question first, "You mean, I actually can choose?"

"Of course," Skipper acknowledged.

Julien smiled faintly, "Haven't gotten to do that for a while."

Alex nodded. After deciding to come with them, Julien was basically along for the ride. Alex knew what it was like to gain the ability of choice again. He couldn't wait to have the ability to choose completely free of suggestion, as he would be saved from tomorrow. Alex asked the lemur, "So what are you gonna choose?"

"Don't put him on the spot, Alex," Marty scolded.

"It's ok," Julien commented, "When I was King, I ended up getting that a lot."

Marty raised an eyebrow, "Funny, you looked like you were having fun to me."

Julien sighed, "That's because Maurice was their to help me."

"I'm sorry, I don't want to rush you or anything," Alex apologized.

Julien took the apology, showing it by scratching behind Alex's ear. Julien explained, "I know what decision I want to make...but I can't decide whether to make it or not...does that make sense?"

Skipper smiled, "Strangely, yes."

"Just think about it for me. Will you, Julien?" Alex asked tenderly.

Julien nodded, "Sure thing."

"As for me," Alex removed the lemur from his shoulder before standing up, "I just made a decision."

"And, what's that?" Marty asked.

Alex answered strongly, "I'm going to apologize to Melman."

Marty nodded, "Good luck."

"Thanks," Alex said while starting towards the hot springs, "I'm gonna need it."

Alex departed from the group trying to think of the words he should say. ' "Hey Melman, I'm not mad at you for being a jerk-" no that won't work,' Alex thought, ' "Oh, hey there, Melman. I totally forgot about you hurting my feelings so badly-" no, that's even worse... "Oh, gee Melman. I'm sorry I didn't tell that I was a blood-thirsty killer-" oh GOD no!' Alex was about to continue, but something caught his eye. He walked towards the source to identify the movement. It was only Tenji and Elsa...together...alone..., "Oh, jeez, I'm sorry," Alex apologized.

"For what?" Tenji inquired, "We weren't doing anything."

"Yeah," Elsa explained, "Just talking, you know."

"Oh," Alex commented relieved by the information. After gathering his cool again he continued, "So, what are you two conspiring?"

"Actually," Elsa answered, "You know what you told me last night?"

Alex nodded. He had recently told Elsa of Tenji's feelings towards her.

She continued, "Well, I realized you were right. So, I decided I'd get to know him better."

"Yeah," Tenji spoke up. His face became apologetic, "Hey Alex, I'm sorry about earlier."

"Sorry about what?" Alex had no idea what he was talking about.

Tanji replied, "Well...earlier, I was actually a bit jealous that you and Elsa were spending time together."

Alex tried to recall any hint of this emotion, but no evidence presented itself. He simply decided to take the apology. "It's alright," Alex assured the young lion, "I didn't even notice." Alex then looked back and forth between the two. He opened his mouth, "So..is anything, well...official here?"

Elsa laughed, "I don't think so," she looked at Tenji with caring eyes, "But I think it's getting there..."

Alex smiled at the situation. He couldn't think of a better way for it to turn out. But, his mind suddenly jolted back to it's senses. He had a mission. "I'd love to talk, but I have a friend to attend to," Alex told them.

Tenji smiled, "Don't let us keep you."

Alex nodded and began to walk away.

Tenji called after him, "Hey Alex?"

The lion turned back, "Yeah?"

Tenji looked at Elsa and grinned, "Thanks."

"No problem," Alex returned the gratitude before continuing towards the hot springs.

At this very moment, Melman was making a decision of his own, "Hey Glo."

"What is it, Melman?" she asked, relaxing in the warm bubbling waters seeping from the earth.

Melman exerted a breath of air to diminish all his tensions, "I'm going to go talk to Alex."

"'Bout time," she commented. "Good luck," she bode him while nudging him out of the water and onto dry land.

Melman stood tall, his neck even higher than usual. He swallowed his stress, and began advancing towards the king's tree. Though he found he didn't have to go very far. Alex was approaching him from the other direction. Melman's confidence left him in a fast swoop. He began to turn away, but Alex's voice rang in his ears.

"Hey Melman!" Alex called.

Melman looked as if he were just stung by a bee. Slowly he turned back around, his neck and head held low, "H-hey Alex." Melman prepared for the upcoming rant he would endure for insulting his good friend.

But the yelling never came. Instead Alex said with a sincere tone, "Hey Melman... I'm sorry for not telling you about-well- you know...It."

Melman was relieved he wasn't angry. He answered softly, "It's ok."

"Really?" Alex was a bit unbelieving of this bright response.

The giraffe reassured the phrase, "Yeah. It's ok. I understand... almost..."

Alex snorted, "Hell, I don't understand it myself."

"Then why didn't you just tell us?" Melman asked, trying not to make it sound intrusive.

Alex shrugged, "I guess the time never came. I didn't want to worry you anymore after that incident with Skipper."

"I see," Melman nodded. A long pause ensued. Neither sure of what to say. After a moment, Melman summed up the bravery to do what he knew was right, "Alex, I'm sorry for acting like such a jerk."

Alex smiled, "It's ok. I would've done the same. You were right to be mad at me." The lion sighed, "Is Glo ok with it?"

"Yeah," Melman answered, "She's the one who convinced me to apologize to you."

"Good," Alex smiled.

Melman kicked the ground, "So what do you want to do?"

Alex feigned thought, he knew exactly what he wanted to do. Finally he answered, "Do you and Gloria want to join us under the tree?"

Later, the zoosters were once again reunited under the king's tree. Even the other penguins had joined in. They were once again dreaming of life back in New York.

Melman sighed, "For a while, I thought we'd be living with lions for the rest of my life."

The others laughed thinking of the possibility.

Gloria added, "It's so good to know you're going home, again."

"Do we?" Julien questioned tapping Skipper on the shoulder, "Out with it swimmy things. How are we getting to New York?"

Skipper smirked slyly, "Now, if I told you that, wouldn't be a surprise!"

Alex rolled his eyes, "I think surprises are the last things we need right now. Frankly, I think we've been through enough surprises."

"Just tell us. Do you have a solid sure-fire plan to get us out of here?" Marty put the penguins on the spot.

Private coughed, "Well...I wouldn't use the words 'sure-fire' really-"

Skipper slapped the penguin with his flipper, "Private! Hold your tongue!"

The penguin held a flipper to his sore cheek, "Yes, sir."

Skipper's stern expression softened, "Oh, I'm sorry Private," he said sincerely.

Private didn't take the apology, "No no, it's alrigh-"

"Wait!" Gloria interrupted, "You're not saying that all you have is some crack-pot scheme!"

"Scheme maybe," Skipper replied, "But not crack-pot."

Melman interjected, "Just tell me!" he yelled. The others fell silent. Melman took a pause before continuing, "Just tell me... are we going back?" he said clearly.

Skipper nodded with a look of up-most dignity, "You have my word," he looked around, "You all have my word as a friend, and leader of the Penguin Forces."

Meanwhile Tenji and Elsa were relaxing in their own spot. They were sharing a quiet, content moment, but Tenji looked troubled.

"What's the matter, Tenji?" she asked.

Tenji answered instantly, "I need to go talk to my father."

Elsa nodded. She answered, "I understand. Go on, Tenji. I'll talk to you more tonight."

"Right," Tenji agreed, standing up. He stretched his arms before leaving. He walked away from the springs and approaching the boulder that served as the sole exit to the valley. Tenji went over the rock gracefully, he knew exactly where he was going. He circled around the valley, walking right next to the thorny wall that separated the lions from the outside world. He was now approaching the cliff, where a steep drop led to the feeding area below. He gazed down on the piles of bones. The mound of dirt where Malik was buried caught his eyes. He quickly turned away. He didn't want any reminder of what had happened. As he continued, he met with a group of tall, impassable, jagged rocks. They made up the back border of the valley. He continued walking, brushing his tail among the base of the tall rocks. The lion squinted as the setting sun from the west burned in his eyes. He held a paw to his brow to block the piercing rays. His vision cleared, he saw his father staring into the sunset as expected. His white fur caught the orange-red light protruding from the Horizon.

The king payed no notice of Tenji's arrival, yet he knew he was there. The king spoke, "Hello, Tenji." His head remained focussed to the west.

"You always did come here to think," Tenji remembered, "What are you thinking about right now?"

Pala turned to the young lion, "It's Alex. I wish he would stay with us."

"Why don't you ask him?" Tenji suggested, brushing his bangs out of his eyes, and over his ears.

Pala answered, "Because he doesn't belong here. As much as he would help us, he has a life to live in this land of New York."

Tenji nodded. The lion took a moment to summon up the courage to ask what he came to ask. He gazed at the enlarged sun, then back at his father again. He cleared his throat."Can you tell me something?" Tenji asked.

Pala smiled warmly, "Of course."

A silence followed. Pala turned to see the reason for the lack of response. Tears began to well in Tenji's eyes. Sparkles of the sunset reflected them. Tenji fought a catch in his throat to speak, "Why didn't you tell me you were alive!" a sparkling droplet ran down the lion's cheek, "I thought you were gone! Do you know how scared I was?"

Pala felt Tenji's pain echoing through his heart. Yet, he managed to keep a neutral expression, "Tenji I-"

"I never even got a chance to meet mom, and then you just die! Why didn't you use the birds to tell us your were alright?" Tenji demanded to know.

Pala explained, "Tenji, you must understand. After Kuju had tried to kill me, I was badly injured. If I had informed the pride of my location and status, Kuju would've surely developed a plan to have me killed while I was weak!" the king continued, "And even if he didn't know I was hurt, he would've moved the pride and hid you all from me. One way, or another he would've found a way to remain on the throne."

Tenji still doubted his father's motives, "Then why didn't you send a bird to talk only to me? Don't I have a right to know if my only living family member is alive?"

Pala's voice cracked a bit, but he continued as regal as ever, "Kuju's a master of ease-dropping. You know that!"

"There could've been a way!" Tenji yelled, "Why didn't you just find another way."

Pala shouted back, "Because, I knew that if Kuju knew in anyway that I was alive, you were in danger!"

Tenji fell silent, noticing the tears glistening in Pala's eyes as well. Though, the king was trying hard to hide them.

Pala gazed at Tenji sympathetically. Their eyes locked for a moment before the king spoke, "Right before Kuju and that other brute pushed me into that river, Kuju stared at me with his malicious eyes. He said that if I ever tried to return, he'd kill my son," he closed his eyes, a stream of tears running down his cheek his he did so. He opened them slowly, "Tenji, I don't know what I'd do without you."

"...dad..." the two shared a deep moment. Each knowing how the other felt.

Pala drew his son into a tight embrace. "I just didn't want to lose you..."

Tenji felt a closeness that they had never shared before. Tenji leaned into his father's long white mane.

Pala was crying for the first time since he was banned from his pride. He held his son close to him as if fearing that something would attempt to drive them apart once more.

Tenji sniffed, preparing himself to speak, "You know...when you were gone...I thought that Alex was guided to us by your spirit," he laughed despite the constant flow of tears, "Pretty stupid to think that, huh?"

Pala released his son, but kept his hands on his shoulders. "Tenji, what you believe, and what truth is can never be proved different from each other," he sniffed, "For all we know, my will for you to be alright could've brought Alex to the pride. Or maybe it was nothing but coincidence," he continued, "Just remember: never let anyone tell you what to believe."

Tenji smiled at his farther feeling a new warmth in his soul.

The King beamed back. Despite his emotional display he looked as royal as he ever was.

Suddenly a sound of chatter filled Tenji's ears, "What's that?"

Pala answered, already full-aware of the sound, "The lionesses are returning from the hunt. I'd say they're still a few miles away," he estimated, "Go into the valley and make sure Alex and his friends have their meal far from the feeding grounds."

"Okay dad," Tenji answered, starting to walk away. As he left, he wiped his eyes to erase any signs of emotion from his face.

Pala laughed, speaking only loud enough to hear himself "In an ideal society, emotion would be a proud thing to present," he pondered. The king chuckled upon thought, "But I guess I better be doing the same," he muttered while wiping the tears off his fur.