I would advise to read 'King Julien is a girl's best friend' to understand this story completely.

Chapter 18-

"The minibus is complete Skipper!" Kowalski announced, sliding out from beneath the vehicle, before getting to his feet and removing his goggles.

"Outstanding, Kowalski" he praised, taking his eyes off Marlene, whom was holding his flipper. She also turned to see Kowalski's creation.

"Wow, you made that out of a few scrap pieces?" Marlene admired.

"I don't want to brag but-" Kowalski informed, smoothing the feathers on the top of his head, feeling rather proud of himself.

"No, you don't, you've got a show-off jar, remember?" Skipper warned, receiving a saddened nod from the taller penguin. He turned to the crowd of zoo animals that had tagged along for the journey. "Right, everybody pile on board, let's go home". With the leader's cue, every one made their way on to the minibus. "Rico, you can drive".

"Oh yeah!" beamed Rico, leaping onto the coach and honking the horn on the steering wheel.

With a vehicle, the journey was too far to travel. Skipper was sat with Marlene on the coach, his flipper around her, her head resting on his chest, being careful not to put weight on his bandaged wound. Kowalski and Private were sat together, at the front of the coach, near where Rico was sat as he drove. The taller penguin let out a sigh, his elbows on his lap as he hunched forward and rested his head in his flippers.

"Are you okay there, Kowalski?" Private chirped, looking at him sympathetically. Kowalski turned his head to look at the small penguin.

"Nothing, Private," he coughed, composing himself and sitting up in his seat, "I'm fine". He looked out of the window, Private still staring at him with worried eyes.

"Are you upset that you didn't get to use your potion on Doris?" he asked, Kowalski whimpering slightly before turning to face his friend once more.

"No Private...I'm glad I didn't use it on her, I'm glad I realised that I shouldn't be with her..." Kowalski explained, looking Private deeply in the eye, "I'm just ashamed that I stooped down to her low act and broke her down like...Like she used to do to me...". Kowalski cut his words off, whimpering as his beak quivered. Private watched, feeling helpless. He put a flipper on Kowalski's shoulder, shaking him gently to his attention.

"I don't like seeing you upset Kowalski...Your always the one to see the bright side of things, to figure a way out of it. Cheer up, I'm sure things will work out someday" the little penguin reassured. Kowalski took a deep breath in, glancing over at the chuckling couple that sat behind him, before returning his gaze to Private.

"I don't want things to work out between me and her..." he admitted, his eyes suddenly lighting up, "I don't want to be with Doris, I just wish I didn't say those things".

"Well, maybe that's what she deserved, she gave you that 'lets just be friends talk' sixteen times"

"And a half... No, I don't need her, I've got the best partner of all!" Kowalski beamed. Private's face dropped in confusion.

"Ay?!"

"Science, baby! I've got science!" the taller penguin grinned, standing up and punching the air with convection. The little penguin rolled his eyes with a smile, pleased with his cheered up friend.

The sun vanished behind the skyline and the moon came out of hiding from its blanket of clouds. With the journey over, the all piled out of the minibus. Most returned to their habitats, all apart from the team of penguins and Marlene, who was still snuggled up in the flippers of Skipper. They all watched the dark skies as a helicopter swooped down, landing in front of them, almost blowing them off their feet. As the engine was turned off and the propellers steadily came to a halt, two penguin body guards, with dark sunglasses on, to cover their eyes, and Bluetooth earpieces, stepped out of the helicopter. One held the door open whilst the stood respectively with his flippers behind his back. Out stepped the Major, as promised. The team of penguins stood up straight, saluting as the Major stood before them.

"Good evening soldiers" he greeted.

"Good evening, sir" Skipper answered, for them all. Marlene chuckled slightly, putting a paw up to cover her mouth to prevent a louder laugh.

"As I said, I wanted to reward you all for your bravery in the war today" the Major praised, pulling out four medals, walking along the line of penguins, putting the medals around their necks, "All of you showed a miraculous amount of courage and ability to think fast in a difficult situation, you are an honour to have as a unit in my organisation, real role-models to all".

"Thank you Major" they all appreciated in unison. The Major grinned.

"It's a pleasure rewarding such brilliant agents. Sorry, but I can not stay, files and documents to approve, but I'll be keeping an eye on you all" he explained, clambering back into the helicopter. They all gave a nod to show their understanding as they watched the aircraft take off. The Major waved, the team of penguins waving back, as it flew into the distance. Private chuckled, making them all turn to his attention.

"This is where you should've said 'smile and wave boys' Skipper" he giggled. The leader rolled his eyes.

"Rico..." he sighed. Rico took this as an order and slapped the young penguin around the back of his head. Private rubbed the whacked area, muttering unidentified words. Marlene pulled herself close to Skipper once more, taking hold of the golden disc part of the medal that hung around his neck.

"Wow, it's so shiney" she beamed, admiring the reward. Skipper smiled, using his flipper to lift up her chin so her eyes met his.

"Your eyes shine brighter" he smirked, gazing into her eyes. Her eyes lit up more so with his sweet words. Skipper noticed colours reflecting in her eyes.

"Look Skipper! Fireworks!" Kowalski stated, pointing his flipper to the dark skies, that were being lit up with florescent colours. They all dashed to the top of a hill, just outside of the zoo walls, to get a better view of the fireworks. Skipper held Marlene's paw as they got up the hill, before squeezing her tight as they both looked out towards the scene. Private, like a young child, became hyperactive at the change in scenery and chanted happily at every colourful burst that shot across the sky. Rico had retrieved Miss Perky so she too could 'see' the fireworks. As for Kowalski, he realised that he didn't need the woman he had once been so desperate for. He pulled out his notebook and pen and began to conduct a scientific essay on the fireworks. Skipper approached him.

"Come on man, enjoy the fireworks, get your head out of that book" he demanded, giving the taller penguin a nudge. Kowalski opened his beak to speak, but Skipper gave him a raised brow which hushed him. "And that's an order" he grinned, grabbing his friend's flipper and pulling him over to the rest of the group.

Fireworks...It was almost as if someone knew it was the end of the war...Or maybe it was someone attempting to alert them that it wasn't the end as they'd thought...

Back on the battlefield, everything was still. The dense fog from the smoke slowly drifted its way across the scene. Dead bodies of heroic penguin agents and vindictive villains littered the dry wasteland, amongst the rubble and scattered metal pieces. The ginormous fighter jet was still in the crater, which was more then what could be said for the corpse of the penguin's foe. Two figures appeared as the mist cleared with a gentle breeze, one figure on her tail on the other on the floor.

"Francis..." a female voice whimpered, sponging his wounds. His flipper twitched. The red lazar of his artificial eye flickered on as he opened his working eye. The female smiled slightly, tears trickling down her face. He raised his flipper and wiped away her tears".

"Don't you worry..." he grinned, "We'll get them back!"

Doris narrowed her eyes, letting a smirk grow onto her face as she cackled along to her brother's evil laugh.

"I will not die, until I see Skipper dead!"...

-The End-