Year 4
"So I was thinking you could make this a totally rockin' pad. Like, make a smoothie bar, you gots to have a dance floor and-"
"That's not why we called you here." Skipper groaned. Julien and Clover were in the Penguin HQ.
"Yeah, but I'm thinking of the super epic senior party to end all super epic senior parties!" Julien cheered.
"We haven't even started senior year." Kowalski said.
Rico and Private shrugged. Rico already graduated and Private was only a freshman.
"Don't worry, you two can come, I know Rico didn't go to last year's party. I'M hosting it this time, which means you and whoever I want to invite can come."
"Wouldn't that just be a party?" Private asked.
"What's the point of having a party if only the seniors are allowed?" Julien asked.
"Well, to celebrate the end of high school for starters." Kowalski told him. "And-"
He caught Skipper's look and fell silent. The other two saw and waited for the leader. Julien looked confused.
"Back to why we called you here." Skipper said firmly. "Kowalski and I have been thinking about something for a while now. Something that interested us since the end of our sophomore year-"
"Yeesh, that's a long time-sorry."
"It is." Skipper admitted. "But we recently uncovered something in our line of work that concerns you."
"Me? Involved in detectivey stuff?" Julien's eyes lit up and he started to get excited.
"Hold up, there!"
"But the happy balloon in my chest is expanding!" Julien gasped. "I think it's getting full-where is the oxygen?"
"That's called your lungs. You're inhaling and talking." Kowalski said.
Julien exhaled and shook his head dizzily. "Oh."
"Clemson works for two people." Skipper continued. "Our main enemy and someone else. We believe that someone else is close to you-not in the room." He rolled his eyes at Julien's cautious looking around.
"Do you think it's Clover? Is that why she was hired?"
"Hey, yeah, standing right here." Clover had been leaning on the wall next to the front door with her arms crossed.
"Julien, who hired her?"
"My dad...wait...no." Julien shook his head. "No. My dad cannot be-you can't be serious-I-I-"
"I didn't say it was him or Clover." Skipper said.
"Oh, then who?"
"I don't know, but I really don't think it's your dad. Mine says he's innocent in this and I trust my father. After what he went through... Julien, think, is there anyone else who wants to harm your family from outside or within?"
"Why would they?" Julien wasn't prepared for the change in subject, wanting to know what Skipper had been about to say.
"I think you know why."
Julien's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. Kowalski and Skipper were giving him knowing looks. Rico, Private, and Clover were utterly lost.
"Huh?" Rico asked.
"Scientific curiosity can lead us down the deepest and wildest, and longest of tracks." Kowalski said. "One such track was the fact that you had zero idea of Madagascar's culture and that your father wasn't born there, but you were."
"Okay, I have dual citizenlyness."
"Ship." Kowalski corrected. "Your great great grandparents were the last of your family to have been in Madagascar, having fled to India before the French colonization in 1897. If I am correct, your mother is Indian and French."
Julien nodded. "Y-yeah, where are you going with this?"
"The last queen of Madagascar was exiled before the colonization-"
"Hold it there, smarty booty. I know she didn't have any kids or adopt any and the person who actually left was my great great grandpa."
"True, but you're descended from a different king or queen. One who lived much longer before her. Your family wasn't very close to any seats on the throne, but still remained nobility."
"Julien's actually royalty?!" Private gasped.
"Yes. Am I correct in assuming that's where your great great grandparents met?"
"Yes." Julien mumbled.
"When did the name change happen?"
Julien raised a brow.
"Makyhira isn't a last name. Maky is the Malagasy name for ring tailed lemur. Hira does mean diamond in Indian, usually as a first name, so I'm assuming sometime in India is when it happened and the pronunciation's changed over the years."
"It was a code." Julien sighed. "Honestly, I learned a lot of it after you told me to look it up. I was curious and that's probably one reason why my parents hired Clover, I knew about being royalty and they were scared of what might happen if I spilled the beans to the wrong person. A long time ago, they made maky a code for confirming their safety, the hira part was for telling family that it was them. My parents weren't going to tell me until I turned eighteen, but all the events happening made them tell me sooner. They think someone found out and is after my family."
"I honestly knew nothing of this." Clover said. "All I was told was that Mr. Makyhira was a very important businessman and I was to protect his son from rivals. I asked no questions."
"Probably could have used more intel." Skipper said. Clover made a noise of agreement. Skipper looked back at Julien. "Clemson somehow found out and was trying to get your dad to help him. What we want to know is who's working with him."
"Wait...this doesn't change your mind?"
"About what? You?" Skipper asked, Julien nodded. "Pfft. No. You're still the same obnoxious dancing drama queen with decent vocals when you're not forcing it. We're not treating you any different, so you can-HEY!"
Julien had squealed happily and hugged him.
"GET OFF ME, RINGTAIL!" Skipper tried to push Julien off.
"Ooo, ringtail? I like that nickname." Julien said. "That can be my spy name!"
"Yeah, no. You're not part of the group."
"What about a recurring guest star role?"
"Fine."
"YES!" Julien released Skipper and pumped his fists in the air.
...
Julien and Clover were asked to come back a few weeks later.
"So many questions..." Kowalski muttered, tapping his pencil on his chin. He'd written down everything about the Clemson investigation. "Mainly, what is his motive? Is he acting independently or working with Blowhole? Then who does Clemson work for? One or both? Do they have the same goal or is your uncle after something else? And my sources tell me that Clemson disappeared. Where did he go and why?"
"I don't understand why he wouldn't like your mum." Private piped up. "She seems nice enough and your grandmother loves her."
"Grandpa too before he died." Julien added.
"Are we investigating two different people here?" Skipper asked aloud. "Blowhole and uncle what's his face...what is his name?"
"Dom. It's short for Dominique."
"PFFFTHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Rico was bent double, his face pink from laughter.
"You're having a laugh, mate!" Private wheezed.
"What, it's like Dominic." Julien said.
Clover looked slightly amused and Skipper was just blank faced. He sighed and looked to Kowalski.
"Actually it is one of those names that can be unisex." Kowalski said. He waited until Rico and Private were quieter. "It's the French form of the English name Dominic."
"S-sorry." Private mumbled.
"That was funnier than Francis Blowhole?" Skipper asked.
"I suppose not."
"Great, now suppose these guys want to destroy New York, or the world...is it funny now?"
Rico and Private looked shamed.
"No." They both said.
"Good. Ringtail, is there any reason to suspect your uncle might be trying to overthrow the government of Madagascar and reestablish the monarchy?"
"Uh...what?"
"He has anger and resentment over history and is trying to make Madagascar have a king." Kowalski explained.
"Is that possible?"
"That it could happen, no. That he's trying to do so, there's a high probability, yes."
Julien looked troubled. He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. He tried to respond several times, but only a strangled noise came out.
"Julien?" Private said. He'd received the signal to comfort Julien.
The older teen sat down and put his head in his hands, groaning.
"Julien, what is it?" Private put a hand on Julien's shoulder.
"I-he's always told me stories..." Julien finally whimpered out. "I thought it was like fairy tales...like the tooth fairy or ogres that rescue princesses...he always said they were stories from Madagascar. About kings and queens and awesome parties. I know history isn't sunshine, rainbows, and booty shaking, but he made it seem so cool and now I remember his face. Like it could happen. Like he wanted it to happen. My uncle wants to be king and…I did hear something I think you should know."
Julien took a deep breath and told them about something that had happened over the summer before his family took a trip to Madagascar.
Get down for the get down. Let's party King Julien style-
Julien giggled as he woke from his dream. He yawned and stretched, opening his eyes. Then he was confused. It was daylight, but much too early. He shrugged and walked over to the window, opening his curtains.
"You're as early as I am." He told the sunrise. He pulled out his phone and took a picture of it, sending it to Josie.
Josie: Morning babe. Didn't expect you up so early, that's a beautiful view
Julien: Neither did I, I'm just full of surprises ;)
Josie: I'm sure you are
Julien: Bet ya can't wait to find out
Josie: Oh hush you, I'm supposed to be tending the chickens
Julien: Chicken tenders sound so delicious...I'm hungry, is it too early for breakfast?
Josie: Depends. I like to get work done before eating. Can't tell you how many times Nat's told me to just go to sleep longer. I just can't
Julien: I bet it's a lot, like as much as the penguin boys tell me to go to bed. You have the literal same schedule of wake up as they do
Josie: That I do. Now I really have to get to work, love you! 333
Josie: Whoops, forgot the symbol
Julien: Eh, I like this better. I love you too! 333333
Julien put away his phone and put on his slippers. He opened the door and looked around, only a few housekeepers were awake. He heard voices from downstairs and went closer, it seemed to be a heated conversation.
He couldn't hear much, so he slid out of his slippers and carefully stepped down the stairs. He definitely heard his dad's voice and someone else who was familiar. He braced himself as he held onto the rail and stepped over the creaky step. Now he could hear them clearer.
"-don't trust that man! Wherever did you find him?" His dad was saying. "And why do you keep insisting I invite him back?"
"Please, Julien, don't you trust me? I trust you." Was that? No, it couldn't be. The man sounded just like his uncle.
"I-I don't know, it all sounds rather shady and you know how I feel about that. I don't want to get my wife and son involved in activities that could be potentially illicit."
"You won't have to worry, I've spoken with his benefactor. Your family will be unharmed and in fact, much happier. We can still proceed with Clemson's next plans. I'm sure he can try something."
"That's just it. You're acting odd as well, why won't you tell me who this mysterious benefactor is?"
"He's a man of many ideas, but possesses little way to tell people other than showing them. He just wishes to assist us in our goals."
"Our goals?" Julien Sr sounded doubtful. "Please, do tell me what my goals are."
"W-well...why do you need to know everything, brother?"
"Because I don't trust you. Does this have anything to do with my son? You do talk to him a lot, what are you saying to him?"
"Why am I suddenly the bad guy?"
"What's with the spying?" A voice whispered next to Julien Jr.
"AAAHHH!" Julien screamed. The two teens looked at each other and ran to Julien's room.
"I-okay...should have seen that coming." Clover panted. "What were you doing?"
"Obviously getting in-tels like the penguins want. My uncle's doing shady odd things and he's talking to this guy named Benny Factor."
"Benny...Factor...benny-factor...benefactor?" Clover asked.
"I have no idea what you just did, but yes. He's keeping secrets from my dad. Skipper was right, it was someone close to me."
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
"Y-yes?" Julien said hesitantly.
"Julien, honey, are you okay? I heard you scream." Claire said.
"Oh, yeah, I'm fine!" Julien replied as he opened the door. "Er...Clover scared me because she thought I was in trouble."
"Why were you hanging out at the top of the stairs?" Claire asked, holding out Julien's slippers.
Julien cringed. He forgot to take the evidence.
"Um...I wanted to feel clean carpet under my feet?"
"Right." His mom totally didn't believe that for a second. "Is there something wrong?"
"I heard them having a fight." Julien admitted. "Did they always fight like that?"
"No, but your uncle's always been...eccentric...in a way." Claire said, placing the slippers into her son's hands. "Siblings do fight."
"Yeah, but that seemed like something I should be concerned-"
"No." Claire said firmly. "This has nothing to do with you. Whatever it is this time, it's between your dad and uncle. Don't worry."
"But-"
"Would it make you feel better if I speak with your father?"
"Maybe?"
"Then I will." She left before he could say anything.
"What now?" Clover asked.
Julien was thinking when they heard the door slam. Then there was a creak and arguing voices from the middle of the stairs.
"-you didn't tell me he still had those ideas?" Claire said furiously.
"I didn't think he was going to act on feelings he told me he no longer had. He cares for Julien and you two were getting along."
"Being cordial, Julien. I see the look in his eyes sometimes. He harbors resentment of something that happened long before he was born. Your parents were nothing but sweet to me and love our son, but your brother..." She sighed. "Darling, please, tell me you're going to fix this."
"I wouldn't know where to start."
Their voices lowered as if they realized their son might be listening in. Julien and Clover exchanged concerned looks.
…
"We'll just warn the government then-oof!" Private had received a light swat by Skipper.
"Stop being naive. Even if some of us are legally adults, they still see us as kids. They won't believe us." The leader said. "I'm not having a repeat of Denmark, but I'm also not going to go into this blind. We need to talk to our bosses, you two just continue and pretend nothing's wrong."
"Heh heeeh okay." Julien put on the fakest smile they'd ever seen.
"On it, Skipper." Clover said. She couldn't help a worried look before putting on a smile.
Once they left, Private nervously told his team that he'd been practicing all summer to join his club and he'd gotten in. They loved to have him, though he warned them he might not be able to attend as much.
"It's okay. Coach Merrick said she feels that my performance has been a result of my life having quite a large upheaval." Kowalski told him.
"It's mini golf." Private said.
"Really? Sounds interesting. We'll have to go to one of your games." Skipper said.
"Oh-um-I-you don't have to...d'you mean it?"
"Absolutely. If you're happy, we're happy."
"Friend." Rico added.
"Thanks guys." Private said. "Erm...they call me Mr. Tux."
The older three teens looked at him in amusement.
"It's because I showed up at practice wearing a tux from my presentation before I changed back into gym clothes."
"Well that's one way to get a nickname. Now you have a nickname for your nickname."
Private laughed. The other three laughed along with him.
