Even Otter Things Have Happened

Plot Summary: Takes place after 'Otter Things have Happened'. Julien tries to make up with Marlene, but she doesn't want to. He enlists the help of the penguins to create a love potion for him, but things don't turn out quite right….

Disclaimer: The Penguins of Madagascar is the property of Dreamworks Animation Studios in association with Nickelodeon. I do not claim ownership of The Penguins of Madagascar.

Rated Teen (T) for Mild/Fantasy Violence, and Minor Suggestive Themes

Thanks again to reviewers! To Poette O'Deal (as usual), to Sky Fireheart, to Hazel the Rabbit and to Tropical Peach.

Chapter V: Depressing Departures

"Men, it has been an honor serving this troop but you'll have to go on without me. Kowalski, you're in charge now." Skipper said as he was packing his suitcase, since he would no longer require Rico and his gut for storage. He placed several documents he deemed important into his suitcase, alongside several maps, a few rations bagged in plastic, a small blanket, and Skipper's Log.

"But Skipper, where will you go?" Private said as he was wiping his tears.

"Me? Wherever the Fates shall take me young Private. Don't worry, I'll be alright on my own." Skipper sighed as he snapped his suitcase shut. "I'll probably return to that condo in Japan, that suite in Norway, heck, maybe even Hoboken.

"Wait? What?" exclaimed Private, his eyes watering. "Hoboken! Why Hoboken?"

"With any luck, ol' Hans will still be there, waiting for me. At least I'll have a bit of action for a while, before I leave for another adventure."

"There's no way we'll let you leave Skipper!" Kowalski yelled amidst his sobs. "Not while there's a chance that we can still cure Fred and end this mess once and for all!"

Rico and Private nodded at the same time, unwilling for Skipper to go.

"You don't get it all, do you Kowalski?" whispered Skipper, his voice hushed and cold as he approached his former second-in-command until he was almost beak-to-beak with him, his voice ominously rising. "It doesn't end when Fred is cured. It doesn't end when he returns to his old dim-witted self. It doesn't end because he'll just ignore her because he's so downright stupid! It will only end when I die because I allowed the one thing that made Marlene truly happy go away!"

A snarl formed on his beak as he watched the tall penguin shrink and back away, squealing like a little girl. A manic glint reminiscent of the old Skipper flashed in his eyes, as he watched Kowalski cry.

"I-I-I-I'm so sorry Sk-Skipper. I just didn't know." He whimpered, still huddled up in the corner.

Skipper hefted his briefcase and set it down on his bunk. He jumped out of the habitat and went into the Zoo's Administration Office to check on the schedule of upcoming shipments to Hoboken. They were transporting several wolves to Central Park due to a technical malfunction in their habitat that caused the temperature to randomly shift. The wolves were scheduled to arrive at 6 pm tomorrow, just after the zoo closed. He looked at the list carefully again, and planned to leave for Hoboken on the return trip of the truck. His itinerary planned, he left the building and headed back to the home he would be leaving, only to be greeted by bloodshot eyed Private. Skipper sighed and opened his mouth to say goodbye, but was caught off guard when Private launched himself at Skipper. He looked down to see Private sobbing into his chest and clutching him like a cherished toy about to be taken away.

"Ski-huh-per! Ple-hees don't gohohoho!" he cried, his panting muffled due to his beak pressed against Skipper. Skipper smiled at him, although none too happily, and then started patting the young penguin's back.

"I know it's hard for you Private, but we all have our decisions to make."

He lowered himself and sat down, the youngling beside him doing the same as he clutched onto Skipper. He continued to lightly pat his back, his head leaning against that of his soon-to-be-distant friend.

"Bu-hut, Skip-huh-per." He looked up to meet Skipper's gaze, and winced as another pant made its way up his throat. Skipper stared into his bloodshot and swollen eyes. "Wa-huht about Alice? Wo-hon't she no-ho-tice you're mi-mi-missing?"

"Don't worry Private, I'm sure you boys will be able to work it out. Just place a toy I guess. Alice won't know the difference. Besides, she'll just put fish for four, so you won't go hungry."

"Pah-ha-lease, please, please do-hon't goho! We can't be a ha-team with-ha-out you Skip-ha-per!"

"It's alright Private. After I'm gone, maybe Kowalski will make a better leader than me. He is a genius after all."

"Wa-hat about Mahr-ha-leen?" He looked up again at Skipper. "Won't she be ha-worried that you-har gone?"

"With Fred beside her, she can just forget all about me." He said, leaving Private as his grip slackened and walked to the edge of the pool.

"But what about us? Don't you care about what we feel?" he said in a rather forceful tone as his sobs subsided, asserting himself.

"Of course I do Private." He turned around to see the youngling stand. "It's because I also care about you that I need to leave. I'll only endanger you."

"Endanger us? How?"

"If I stay here, I'll only be distracted since I'll just keep thinking of her and that'll just ruin the mission, where you must always be focused. Marlene is happy now, and that's all that matters. I'm leaving, for all your sakes."

"Bu-hut-!" He cried, the sobs returning as he watched Skipper slowly walk away.

"No more buts Private!" He said calmly but sternly. "Now go home. Kowalski should be wondering where you went, best not to keep him waiting."

"Ye-hes Ski-pah." Said Private, obeying what was going to be Skipper's final order.

"Sooner or later young Private," He said without turning around, looking up at the moon. "You'll see that what I've done is better for you, for all of you."

After hearing the fish-bowl hatch close behind him, Skipper jumped out of his habitat and decided to do some final sightseeing before he left New York, catching a last glimpse of his city. After some enjoyment, Skipper sent his last entry from New York on 'Skipper's Log' noting his last conquest.

"Skipper's log, 2149 hours, Central Park Zoo. I have taken one last tour of New York City. Scheduled time for departure is 1800 hours tomorrow. A pack of wolves from Hoboken is arriving via transport truck. Means of transportation secured."

Skipper dropped into the penguin habitat for his luggage that he left on his bunk. He jumped down the ladder to search for it, but until now, the three of them were still crying on each other. He just chuckled and found it quite amusing that they missed him so much even before he left. He picked up his suitcase, and turned around to watch them still crying. They were so caught up in their sobbing that they didn't notice the entry of what could've been an intruder.

"Kowalski!" Skipper shouted at the now-leader penguin. "I haven't even left yet and you've messed up in already three protocols!"

The other spun around to see Skipper, and immediately silenced themselves, watching their former leader through tear-filled eyes.

"Number one, you didn't even notice me enter! If that was Blowhole you'd all be dead. Number two, stop crying about me! You'll only be distracted and sooner or later the waterworks will overload and you'll just end up being sissy crybabies forever. And Number three, it's already 9:56! You should all be preparing for light's out at ten. Kowalski, I thought I left you in charge?"

"Aye aye sir!" sobbed Kowalski as he dried his tears.

"Nope. There is no 'sir' sir. From now on, it's just Skipper." Said Skipper as he climbed the ladder and left their headquarters, headed for the Zoovenir Shop for some sleep.

Kowalski was uncomfortable being addressed as 'sir', especially since he's served with Skipper for so long. Nevertheless, he wouldn't disobey the last orders Skipper gave him. Soon, they were settled in their bunks as the lights went out. However, none of them were able to sleep, they were all just thinking about Skipper, recalling memories of past missions and operations. Kowalski sighed at the memory of what he thought was a zombie and how he was outraged that the 'zombie' didn't go after him. Rico smiled when he remembered waking up in a destroyed lemur habitat and being carried by Skipper home. Private gave an audible chuckle as recounted how Skipper thought he was dead when he brought home the big tail of the Skorca. Unable to bear it any longer, Rico erupted into a fit of misery as he burst into tears. Kowalski would have followed, if Private had not jumped out of bed and asserted himself once more.

"No!" He shouted and Rico stopped. "No more crying! Skipper wouldn't have cried all day just because of this. No! We have to stop Skipper from leaving."

"But you heard him Private." Kowalski jumped out of bed too. "There's no way we can stop him from leaving. He's convinced that if he leaves, we'd be better off without him, which of course, is highly untrue. What? Do you want us to chain him up and bring him to Marlene?" Instantly, chains protruded from Rico's beak as he stepped down from his bunk.

"No, there is another way. We just have to subtle on this one. I have a plan. Kowalski?"

"Options time?" he whispered giddily. "Come on, say it!"

"Alright. Kowalski! Options!"

"OH YEAH! BACK IN THE GAME BABY!"