"There was an annoying song and he said 'Until I return with spoils from the new country, Stevie is in charge' or somethin' like that and they left. Mort ran after them."
If it hadn't been Hector who told her, sounding as annoyed as ever, Clover would have had much more doubt than if Ted or Horst had told her. On one hand, it was absolutely a Julien thing to do even if Maurice might have objected. On the other, he loved his kingdom and his people so why would he leave like that? Without even telling her?
...
Central Park Zoo, NYC
"Ok, now that we're done with Marlene's little art show, can we get back to actual work?" Skipper asked as the animals left the otter habitat.
"Sure...still, I can't believe how skilled Mort's art is." Kowalski said. "It rivaled Rico's-ok sorry, we'll get back to training..."
Mort hummed happily as the penguins' voices grew faint, he picked up his art pieces and returned to his habitat. He started drawing in his art book, a gift that Private had given him on his birthday.
Julien watched the penguins from his throne while Maurice was making him a smoothie. They were doing some dodging thing. It looked like spears. He looked back to Maurice and raised a brow. The aye-aye looked different, much like he did back in Madagascar.
"Did you miss shave day?" Julien asked.
"Yes, King Julien, you've kept me busy and I was helping with Mort's setup."
"Oh, right." Julien sighed. "Mo-mo, do you ever feel-"
"RINGTAIL, LOOK OUT!" Skipper suddenly yelled.
Julien's head whipped towards the penguins and his eyes widened in fear. A spear was headed towards him.
"MOVE IT!"
He heard the penguin, but also heard yelling. Fighting. He saw black and white. It wasn't the penguin speeding towards him, but a much larger figure.
Mort and Maurice were frozen in fear as well.
THUMP
"Oof!" Julien grunted as he was pushed out of the way.
"That was too close." Private squeaked as he, Kowalski and Rico landed on the platform in front of them.
Skipper got off Julien and both looked at the throne. The spear was lodged where Julien's head had just been.
"Why the heck didn't you move?" Skipper asked, looking down at the lemur. Julien didn't respond, his eyes glued to the spear.
"Um...sorry." Rico grunted.
The lemurs didn't respond.
"Did we somehow freeze them?" Kowalski asked. "I swear, I haven't been messing around with any frozen spear technology."
"K-Ko-" Julien's faint voice said.
"Kowalski?"
Julien shook his head. "Koto..."
"I am very confused." Kowalski looked to Skipper.
"As am I. Julien, what's going on? Maurice? Mort?"
At his name, Mort jolted as if shocked. He gasped and ran to Julien, wailing. Julien didn't kick him off. Maurice seemed to snap out of it as he ran to Julien, his eyes also full of tears.
Kowalski observed the lemurs. He pulled out his notebook and wrote some things down, crossing out and erasing as he went. "This is highly unusual. I propose we perform a series of tests. I'll get my medical kit-"
"No." Julien sad hoarsely. He blinked and stood up slowly. "I'm fine...just...can you leave?"
"Uh-I, well if you're sure..."
"Yes. Please go."
"But-" Private started. Skipper held up a flipper.
"Unusual, but we'll comply. Come on, boys."
The penguins left, Private giving the lemurs one more look. The three of them were whispering to each other.
Over the next few days, the lemurs were oddly quiet. Skipper took this as a blessing, but Private was concerned.
After the lemurs talked, they tried to keep themselves busy. They all remembered those days, things that no one else around them knew. Mort was drawing more than usual and Julien was being unnaturally nice to him. Mort also seemed to be going back to a fluffier look.
The king approached Mort a week after the incident and saw him drawing. His heart leapt as he saw familiar faces. There was Clover, beating up bad guys. Ted and his 'logic police' badge, Pancho had a machine gun for some reason, Maurice with a bell, and of course the largest one was Julien and his feet. Mort had drawn the Mort army in the background.
Suddenly, drops of water were dripping on the page. Julien looked up, it was a clear day, no cloud in sight. Was Kevin, the god of rain, playing a joke?
A small sniffle brought the king's attention back to Mort. The mouse lemur looked at him, wiping his face.
"Sorry, my King Julien."
"For what? Feelings?" Julien asked. Mort shrugged.
"Why didn't we call them? To say we're safe?" Maurice asked, having approached from behind.
"I don't know." Julien said honestly. "So many things happened. I don't even remember why we decided to stay in New York. I was going to ask you about if you ever felt sad? For leaving?"
"It's called being homesick. And yeah, all the time. I mean, I don't even remember if I told my sister we were leaving."
"Ouch. I mean, we told the kingdom we'd be back."
"And then we crash landed in Africa." Maurice sighed. "Do you think Timo could have figured that out and told them?"
Julien thought about it. "Maybe. I hope the kingdom is okay..."
"We can check on the radio." Mort said.
"Eh, what radio?"
"Seriously? The one where I called you during the Beast War."
"Oh. I was on a flying submarine. We ditched it because the space monkeys were all nuts for no reason."
"You blew up their zeppelin." Maurice stated. "And he called from Timo's. I'm sure you can ask the penguins to borrow their radio."
"Oh. Ohhhh, gotcha. But first, I am noticing in this tiny kingdom a fashion statement of which I was not informed. As a king, I must be on top of it." He left before they could ask what that meant.
Maurice and Mort got their answer to what he was doing when Julien came back all wet and rubbing his body with a towel.
"As much as the cool products make me look extra fantastic, my kingdom would probably like me looking like the king they know and love." Julien explained, making sure his head was dry before he put his crown back on.
Then, he did something he never did before. Go to the penguin habitat and actually knock on their door. Rico opened it and looked surprised.
"Hello, I have come to ask to borrow something."
"Ok, who are you and what have you done with Ringtail?" Skipper asked, putting his flippers up defensively. "First, you let Mort touch your feet. Second, you stopped playing your disruptive music. Third, you knocked on the door. And fourth and finally, you've done away with your hair care products." He eyeballed Julien's fluffy look. "Though, admittedly, it does bring back memories and you do look better in my opinion."
"Thank you. I shall take the compliment." Julien said. "I need to borrow your radio."
"Oh? Who are you calling?"
"I am doing a checkup of my kingdom."
Skipper and the others exchanged looks.
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt." Kowalski said. "I have been wanting to use the radio more often so it doesn't die of disuse."
"Mm, fine." Skipper said. He gestured for the lemur to enter.
Kowalski brought out the radio and prepped it. Julien remembered the day Mort was able to contact them back when he was exiled.
The tallest penguin put the mic in front of the lemur and nodded. Julien took a deep breath and exhaled forcefully. He turned the dial, calling for anyone.
"This is King Julien, come in Timo. Or Ted, or anyone..." Julien groaned yet again. He'd tried ten times already. "Hey, smarty booty, are you sure this works?"
"Positive. We used it not too long ago...I think."
"You think?" Julien whined, his fingers hitting the dial as he stretched out, putting his head on the table. "I don't want thinks. I want knows. As in to knows if anyone is still out there. What if there is nothing left. Are we to become kingdomless because I-"
"-Julien? King Julien is that you?"
Julien gasped and clutched the microphone.
"Timo?! My royal scizard!"
"It is you! Thank Frank you're alive! Haha!" Timo snorted. "I haven't heard you in forever!"
"Yeah, no kidding. I went on a wild adventure. Did you know there were New York giants that washed up on the beach?"
"I know, Ted told me. Um...he's pretty much the only one who visits anymore."
Julien stared at the mic in disbelief.
"U-uh, did I lose you?" Timo asked nervously.
"No, it's just...really?" Julien asked. "I thought you were teaching science-y stuffs."
"Well, without you around to keep telling them to go, they just got bored and stopped."
"Oh...I'm sorry. You did say pretty much, so is anyone else going to junk harbor?"
"Willie still checks on the new SS Peepee Pants and Clo-"
SNORK
Julien turned to see Private trying and failing miserably not to laugh. Rico chuckled lightly.
"What was that?" Timo asked.
"Zip it, you two, or you're going up top." Skipper hissed.
"Sorry, Skippa." Private giggled.
"Terribly sorry for the interruption." Kowalski said. "We're friends of Julien. I am a scientist myself, but as much as I want to talk, you were saying something about visitors. Please continue."
"Oh, right. Thanks." Timo said. "W-well, besides those two, the only other one to visit has been Clover. She was here a couple days ago."
Julien's heart sank. He should be feeling happy that she's checking in. But a feeling of guilt overwhelmed him.
"H-how is she?"
"Um...she's. Well, the mountain lemurs are doing good. Her training of Ted seems to work-"
"Timo." Julien said. "Does she hate me?"
"I-no! No, of course not...well, I'm not her so I can't say for sure, but she does look sad...and doesn't say much." Timo laughed nervously. "I think she's just-"
"Heartbroken." Julien mumbled. "It's my fault..."
"We were all sad when you left. I don't have any resentment towards-"
"You weren't my captain of the ringtailed guard, my muscle, my other voice of reason, one of m-my best friends..." Julien shook. "After everything. I didn't even look for her. I didn't even tell her my plans. I didn't look her in the eyes while I broke her heart...she had to hear it from someone else. Who told her?"
"H-Hector."
"AGH! He's like literally the worst person to hear that from!"
"The kingdom could really use you. It's been boring. And Clover got Stevie off the throne as soon as she could...and I tracked the plane to Africa when it crashed and I lost the signal. I never told anyone that."
"Why?"
"If there's anyone who survives impossible situations due to dumb luck, it's you...not to mention the panic Willie would have caused if he found out."
"Who is in charge of the kingdom now?"
"Clover, technically, she's got Ted and Horst in her place when she's gone. I hear it's not as fun without you."
"I-I'm coming home."
"What?!" The penguins gasped.
"R-really?" Timo asked.
"My kingdom needs her king."
"How will you get here?"
"I have a way. I always do."
"Ok, just call if you need anything."
"Will do. KJ out!"
Timo laugh-snorted again and the radio switched off.
"Ringtail...did you mean that?" Skipper asked.
"Yeah." Julien said, looking the penguin in the eyes. "I promised my peoples I'd return. My kingdom is my home and it's Mort and Maurice's too. I can't stay when my kingdom needs me."
"We've been developing a plane for long travels such as this." Kowalski said. "Rico, Private, let's check on everything." Rico nodded and headed out to the hangar. Private tried not to cry as he followed. "We'll let you know how it's going." Kowalski said as he disappeared. He'd sounded odd.
"But-"
"This time, I will say my goodbyes." Julien cut across Skipper. "I know Kowalski doesn't like getting all emotionally emotional in front of people."
Skipper's beak opened and closed a few times.
"I'll tell Maurice and Mort the good news!" Julien headed up the ladder and threw the fishbowl door open. He paused and looked back at the penguin leader. "I bet you'll be happier. You'll finally get rest around here." He flashed a smile, failing to keep his eyes from welling up with tears.
The lemurs cheered when he told them. They hadn't wanted to admit that they felt extremely homesick and shared Julien's guilt for not letting Clover know.
...
A few days later, Kowalski had told them the plane was ready. Julien called a zoo meeting. Some of the animals grumbled about having to listen to him.
They were a lot happier when Julien said the lemurs were leaving. Some were subtle about how they felt, staying aloof and nonchalant. Others cheered and loudly expressed their glee when they left the souvenir shop that night.
Marlene tearfully hugged the three lemurs and left before her nose started running.
"Cry today, party tomorrow!" Julien called as she exited. "Mort, Maurice, make sure we're party ready! It's the biggest KJ bash this zoo has ever seen!"
"Yes, King Julien!" They said, hurrying off.
"Do you mind if I make sure everything's in top shape?" Kowalski asked, his voice sounding strained.
"Go ahead." Julien told him. "We have plenty of time for goodbyes."
"Indeed. Rico, follow me." The two penguins left.
"Er. I have recon." Private said, slipping out.
Julien turned to the only one left in the shop. The one penguin who hadn't spoken to him since he said he was going home.
"Well?" The lemur said. "You aren't happy?"
"Wha-?" Skipper shook. "Uh, no. I mean yeah, I am!" He said, puffing up his chest. "I can protect the zoo more efficiently without you being your overly ridiculous self."
"And?"
"And what?" Skipper glared at the expectant lemur.
"Whatever it is you aren't saying."
"That doesn't make any sense."
Julien shrugged and started walking off. He heard the penguin sigh.
"Hold it..." Skipper said. He let his confident persona fall. "I'm gonna miss you, Ringtail. As much as I would love peace and quiet and you do disrupt that a lot-" His voice hitched. "I have to admit...it really isn't as fun without you. But I understand why. Your kingdom needs you."
"Crazy idea, but what if you live there too?" Julien suggested.
"No. We're needed here as much as you're needed there."
"I figured that would be the case...silly penguin." Julien gave him a hug. Skipper didn't resist.
"Tell anyone about this and you won't make it out of the zoo." Skipper said once Julien let go.
Julien chuckled and jumped out the window. Skipper shook his head slowly and went to gather his team.
...
For as big a party as Julien wanted and got, he still felt extremely sad. He'd gotten used to his friends in New York. He'd been through ups and downs with everyone. Heck, he even thought he'd frozen time and live forever with just Kowalski for company. Not that he'd have complained...who else would hear if he did?
He loved adventure, which is why he hitched a ride with the giants in the first place. But he promised he'd return one day. He no longer had the plane and with it his throne. But he did have Timo, Kowalski, and Rico. And maybe they could build a replica. Kowalski said he'd try.
The boom box, though not his original with ultra bass, was cranked as far as possible. Rico rigged a light show and they were having fun. Even Skipper allowed himself to dance a little. Just a little. The other penguins went wild on the dance floor. Rico had to have specified instructions on what that meant.
He laughed and cheered, sharing memories of his time here and dancing like there was no tomorrow. Mort and Maurice enjoyed themselves too, having been told to cut loose and just have fun. Julien took in all the vibes and hype, it fueled his excitement and anticipation.
The call of Madagascar was louder than anything he'd heard in a long time.
A/N: Though the PoM tv series takes place in an alternate universe from AHKJ/Madagascar movies/Penguins movie, I thought I'd write a little something about them returning home.
