Not the Hippies!

~PoM and M~

"I still think we should at least pick up the trash when we're out. It'd be awful rude to just leave it lying around." Private said, sitting at the bottom of the crate while the other three penguins tried pushing against the walls in hopes of escape. Of course they were annoyed at the young bird for his constant complaining over a simple garbage spill while they were all trapped.

"Private," Skipper panted. "Instead of sitting there like a nancy-cat, why don't you try and help us?"

"Uh-huh!" Rico agreed irritably.

Kowalski sighed and sat. "According to my calculations, even with Private, the thing won't budge."

"Ah man!" Rico coughed up a pirate hat, put it on his head before throwing it down angrily. With crossed flippers he plopped himself down to sit too.

"There has to be some way!" Skipper argued.

Kowalski shrugged. "Well there's always the obvious approach."

"The obvious?" The leader questioned.

The analyst pointed to the weapon's expert with a grin and seconds later the crate holding them exploded and the four commandos were free, walking away from the explosion and on their way back to the zoo with satisfied expressions, Private the only one with a frown and Rico wearing his pirate hat.

"Well, that was a waste of time." The leader commented.

"Completely." Kowalski added in.

"Uh-huh." Rico nodded.

Private looked back. "C-can't I just pick up the trash a little bit?"

~PoM and M~

Behind a tree a lobster peaked its head out, watching the birds re-enter the zoo. "Doc, ya there?" He spoke into the radio.

"Yes, what is it red one?" His boss' voice came through.

"The four packages have been delivered, and uh, the diversion worked, your enemies are going there too." The lobster reported.

"Perfect. Return to me Red one. Your job is done for now."

"Aye boss." The crustacean scuttled away, leaving the birds to their surprise.

~PoM and M~

The leader took one step into the zoo before stopping, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. Something wasn't right here.

Private bumped into Skipper with an 'oof!' Then Kowalski bumped into Private, Rico bumping into the scientist with the same results.

"Sir?" Kowalski asked.

"Something's not right…" the leader started.

"Wot's not right?" The youngest asked.

"Smells like seawater." Skipper observed.

"Might they have done something to Marlene's habitat?" The genius offered.

"No…that's not it…" The leader looked around cautiously. "Its quiet and serene…" He looked up at his team. "Where's ring-tail?"

"HEEEEEEEEEELP!" Came Julien's sudden screaming.

"That's our cue! Let's go boys." Skipper led them away.

Arriving on the scene, the birds jumped right in front of the lemur habitat to see the lemurs cowering behind a makeshift wall and wearing makeshift battle gear out of anything they could find. It seems they were distancing themselves from…four large crates?

"What in great Halibut's name is going on?" The leader demanded.

"It is them who have infiltrated my kingdom!" Julien exclaimed, hiding behind Maurice that had a spaghetti strainer helmet.

"It is THEM!" Mort repeated, squealing.

"Who?!" the leader demanded.

"De BOX demons! They have come to devour us all in their wooden CLUTCHES!" The monarch shouted.

"AND THE FEET!" The mouse lemur screamed, he himself hiding under a coconut half.

Julien paused his freak out to point at Rico. "Nice hat. It is almost as nice as mine. But eh anyway, BOX DEMONS!"

"Box demons my feathery tail! Rico!" Skipper held out his flipper. "Crowbar."

"But Skippah, there are four of them." Private said.

"What about it?" The leader held on to the weapon/tool in his flipper and hopped on the first crate.

"Shouldn't they all be opened at once? Just in case of any foul play?" The private suggested.

"De only foulness is dat stinky plan of yours!" Julien exclaimed behind his safety wall and adviser/kingly body shield. "Do you not understand once they are opened de boxes will be gobbling us and taking us away to places I am not knowing about!"

"Ya know, you're right!" The commander told the youngster. "Rico! Huck one up for the others too, will ya?"

"O.K!" Rico complied and gave three more hacks, three crowbars shooting out. One for Kowalski, one for Private, landing in their flippers and finally one for himself which he caught.

The four birds each got in front of a crate, ready to open them up.

"Silly birds, you will doom us all!" Julien complained. "De box-es will EAT us!"

"Ha! Fat chance ring-tail!" The leader looked over at his men. "Ready?"

"Uh-huh!" Rico nodded.

Private agreed. "Aye Skippah."

"Yes, sir." Kowalski said, all birds crowbar ready at the edge of the crates wedge in between where they were sealed shut.

At the leader's signal, all four were ripped open at once. Skipper smiled at the contents. "Well I'll be! Hippies?"

Alex looked at the one bird and a look of fury swept over him. "You!" He growled, lunging for the leader. The furious lion was pulled back roughly by Gloria.

"Hey Skipper!" Marty greeted as he exited his open crate, smile wide as he looked around. They were in the zoo! He couldn't believe it! The zebra looked at Rico and pointed a hoof. "I like ya hat!"

"It's de freaks!" Julien jumped out of hiding.

"Well well," Skipper mused. "Long time no see!"

"Freaks! You are back! Maurice look! De freaks have returned!" the king exclaimed excitedly.

Alex was just glowering but spoke once he was elbowed by a hippo. He rolled his eyes with a reluctant greeting. "Yeah, yeah, hi Julien, and uh, Mort and fuzz bucket."

"Hello!" Julien greeted.

"Hi!" Mort waved happily.

Maurice gave a neutral, "Hey man."

The leader was smiling. "What are you freaks doing back here?"

The lion was literally looking at the bird with murder, shaking slightly in his anger.

Private frowned. "Alex doesn't look too happy, Skippah..."

"That's because I'm not!" Alex exclaimed.

"Why?" Skipper questioned. "I thought you wanted to be back at the zoo."

"I DO!" The lion then corrected. "-DID!, I WANT to be!"

"Then why's the poor kitty acting like a sour puss?" The leader asked, frowning now.

Alex kind of snapped then. He stomped over and lifted the leader off the ground.

"Hey! What's going on?" The leader's voice held a bit of panic.

"Do you have ANY idea what we went through to get here?" Alex shook the bird. "Do you, Skipper!? Huh?"

Kowalski attempted to push the lion's leg to stop him but only succeeded on getting his attention. "We do not know what hardships you've had to endure to get here but would you PLEASE stop what you're doing? You'll give Skipper shaken penguin syndrome! Its a very rare but serious ailment!"

Private added in with a shrug. "Rare because no one ever has a real reason to shake a penguin I guess."

Gloria nodded. "They're right Alex! We may have been angry at them for leaving us, but we're here now, and that's what counts! So please, put Skipper down!"

Alex grumbled and dropped the leader penguin.

Skipper dusted himself off after landing on his feet. "Thank-you! Now that that's over, its good to have you back! How have you been since Europe? Good, I hope."

The lion just stared "...You're kidding, right?"

Kowalski sighed. "I am afraid Skipper isn't kidding. He is completely serious."

Skipper nodded. "So, how ya been?"

Alex stared still. "How have we been? How have we-" The cat turned to Gloria, Marty, and Melman. "Can you believe him?"

The leader shrugged. "What? Circus life not all its cut out to be?"

"Can you believe him!" The lion repeated in outrage.

"I believe you, Skippah." Private said to his leader.

Skipper smiled at the young penguin. "Why, thank you Private!"

Private smiled back. "Y'welcome Skippah!"

Marty blew air out of his muzzle and went off to roam around. "I'm outta here! Tell me when he's finished his 'the penguins left us' rant."

Melman nodded. "Will do"

"How could you do something like that!" Alex continued. "I thought we were all friends!"

Kowalski blew air out as well. "Oh, bad choice of words there. Skipper thinks all friends eventually turn into enemies."

Skipper agreed. "Yeah, I'm still waiting for the day these three knuckleheads turn on me." He pointed back to Private, Rico, and Kowalski.

The analyst scowled. "We already told you we wouldn't!"

"We'll see…" The leader said suspiciously.

Private frowned. "We'd never turn on you Skippah!"

Kowalski warned. "Don't push it any farther, Private."

With a huff Alex crossed his golden arms. "Well, I don't care anymore."

After a moment of silence, Melman turned around. "Alright Marty, Alex is- What are you doing?!"

Marty had found the lemur's bouncy and was now jumping on it. "I've never been on this ride before!"

King Julien was bothered by this. "Dat is because it is mine, now get off of my bouncy! It's not your turn!"

"WAHOO!" Marty bounces super high and did a flip off, landing on the ground almost expertly. "That was crack-a-lackin!"

Skipper grinned. "Nice one, Stripes! Looks like someone didn't mind the trip here to the zoo!"

Alex glared. "It would have been much better had someone not gone off without us!"

Marty started off in a trot. "And I'm gone again!"

"No so fast!" Alex snatched the zebra back.

"C'mon Alex!"

"C'mon what? They LEFT, Marty! They were never coming back! Ever!" the lion exclaimed.

"So? Don't be dragging me into yo rant!"

"I'm not ranting!" Alex said.

"Oh, believe me! You will be soon!"

"Will not!" The lion argued. "I'm just-"

"Just what?" Marty demanded.

"Upset!" Alex threw up his arms. "Okay? I'm upset!"

"But not with me, so why am I here?"

"Ugh...Marty..." the lion rolled his eyes. "Just go!"

Gloria stepped in, grabbing the zebra and stopping him from going again. "No one's going anywhere!"

"Why!?" The zebra wined.

"Because!" The leader cut in harshly. "You're all staying here!" There was a cheeky grin. "That's an order."

"You mean it?!" Marty exclaimed excitedly, smile wide.

"Of course!" Skipper said.

"It would be lovely to have you all back in the zoo!" Private smiled. "Isn't that right, Rico? K'walski?"

"Oh, most definitely!" The analyst nodded.

Rico agreed. "Uh-huh! Yup yup!"

"Oh yay New York giants!" Mort clapped.

"Wait a minute!" The lion spoke up. "Why would we even need you guys permission in the first place?" Alex scoffed, looking at the leader penguin. "What are you, king of the zoo?"

"Hey!" Julien sprung over. "Dat is me! Not those silly flightless birds!"

Alex rolled his eyes, being sarcastic. "Of course, how could I forget?"

"I have my own cheerer-ers and everything!" The king went on, looking at his subjects expectantly.

"YAY KING JULIEN!" Mort cried.

Maurice realized this and cheered too, just not as enthusiastically. "Oh, yeah. Go Julien."

"See? So eh I am king of de zoo! And you should be asking ME if you can be staying! Not de penguins!" The king looked at the large cat with expectancy now.

Alex stared. "You have GOT to be kidding me..." And was elbowed by the hippo. "Ow!"

Gloria glared at him to go on.

Alex sighed. "Julien, can we-"

"Ah-bu-bu!" Julien interrupted. "King Julien!"

"Fine!" The lion huffed. "King Julien, can we stay? There."

"Wait let me think about it..." Julien paused for a long moment with a thinking face. "Hmmmmmmm..."

A moment of silence passed and Alex threw up his arms, exasperated.

"...hmmmmmmm..." The king went on.

Marty and Melman stared on with raised brows as Gloria just waited patiently. Private frowned a bit while Kowalski just sighed as well. Mort and Maurice stared, used to it.

"Aw c'mon!" Rico exclaimed, annoyed.

"...hmmmmmmm..." Julien continued rubbing his kingly chin.

Skipper growled. "Ring-tail!"

"Ok! Fine! They may stay!" The 'royalty' exclaimed. "Mr. Alex has already pledged his utter loyalty to me and I am hoping you will all be doing de same!"

"Gee thanks…" Alex rolled his eyes.

"There is one problem however that with much reluctance must be addressed." Kowalski brought up.

Alex groaned. "What NOW?!"

Private whimpered and pointed a shaking flipper at the approaching woman. "Alice!"

The four largest animals were the only ones confused as they looked up.

"Who?" The lion raised a brow.

"EVASIVE!" Skipper shouted and in seconds both the lemurs and penguins were out of sight.

"Okay can someone tell us what the heck is going on?" Alex asked.

Alice came in to view. She took one look at the four crates and groaned. "Well, look what's been dragged in. Four animals we don't need." Upon closer inspection she noticed something off. "Hey wait a minute, why are they open?"

Her eyes then settled on three large animals staring back at her, all harmless ones, a zebra, giraffe, and hippo. Inevitably her gaze settled on the terrifying lion and boy did the woman let out a scream.

Alex covered his ears with both paws at the screaming. "Ah!" The cat exclaimed back in alarm but to the human it sounded like a roar that made the woman yell louder.

Marty rolled his eyes at the screaming fit. He turned to Gloria. "Now can I go?"

Gloria was about to answer when the frightened zoo woman started screaming actual words.

"MAURICE!" Alice yelled into her speaker frantically.

"Yesh Alice!" The man on the other side wined.

"Get over here now and bring the tranq!" Alice hissed into her end of the walkie.

"What for? That lemur goin bonkers again?"

"No! There's a lion here..." The zookeeper whispered urgently, casting glances at the lion that was blinking back at her.

Alex raised a brow, having hearing everything she was saying. It was a bit awkward. So he decided to step up. "Um hi, you must be the new zookeeper here." The lion started.

"Alex…" Marty warned quietly, already having an idea on what was going to happen.

"What have we talked about?" The lion scolded in a harsh whisper sidely to the zebra. "Alex handles things."

Marty rolled his eyes and stepped back while the lion continued on to the zookeeper.

"Better hurry with that tranquilizer!" Alice spoke to the walkie and then lowered it from her mouth to just stare at the wild cat, shaking slightly and waiting for her back up. All she heard were growls and roars from the ferocious mouth.

"…so now that our staying arrangements have just been taken care of, I do have a few more concerns, mainly about my own habitat. Can I have that back or…?" Alex went on peacefully.

"Alright Alice, where's the lion?" Maurice waltzed on up behind her, holding the tranq-gun over his shoulder casually.

Alice pointed to the large cat unsteadily.

Maurice the second zoo employee had an amused smirk on as he asked her. Then he actually saw the lion and jumped back, having not believed her before. "Aw man! That's a lion over there! What's it doing here in the zoo?!"

"I don't know!" Alice shouted, shoving him in front. "Just tranq it already!"

"Hey ya don't have to tell me twice!" The human Maurice exclaimed and pointed the gun at the lion.

"...I mean its not like I wouldn't appreciate a new habitat, its just my old one has so much memor- WOAH!" Alex shouted in alarm as there was suddenly a weapon being pointed directly at him. Wow! Why did this keep happening to him? He backed up a bit, blue eyes wide.

"Why am I not the least bit surprised?" The zebra rolled his eyes.

"Well…" Gloria shrugged, having half expecting it.

"What are you gonna do?" Melman shrugged off, finishing his girlfriend's sentence calmly.

Alex was the only one freaked out. "W-why don't we all calm down a bit here? Obviously there's some sort of mistake…" He tried to say calmly to ease the dangerous humans.

Without another moment's hesitation, Maurice the zoo hand fired the dart.

"ALEX!" Marty jumped in alarm as the shot rang out. Gloria and Melman also stared in shock at the gray dart now impaled in the lion's chest. No, watching your friend get shot at is not something you can just get used to no matter how many times it has happened.

Alex grew obtuse as the sedative started to take effect. It was happening again. "Stupid penguins…" Was all he could mumble before he started falling forwards.

Who can take a sunrise?

(Who can take a sunrise)

Sprinkle it with dew

(Sprinkle it with dew)

Cover it in chocolate

And a miracle or two

The candy man

(The candy man)

The candy man can

(The candy man can)

The candy man-