Joy to the World

Zoo Square, 700 hours, Dec. 25th

"Kidsmas kidsmas kidsmas kidsmas!" The animal children from the park were already bursting through the gates, beaming. The morning had finally arrived, and even the usually late risers were up. The lemurs, who had been in charge of the music, had their boombox turned up. For once, Skipper didn't care.

Joy to the World, the Lord is Come, Let Earth Receive her King!

Marlene grabbed Private's flippers and they spun in a circle, singing along. "Let every heart prepare Him room. And Heav'n and nature sing, and Heav'n and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing!" They fell down laughing.

Mason, dressed as Santa, passed out candy canes to the kids, while Roy let himself be a ring-toss game for just this one day. Skipper watched the scene from the fence of their habitat, flippers resting on his hips and a satisfied smile on his face. Everything was perfect.

Joy to the World, the Savior Reigns, let Men their Songs Employ!

Kowalski jumped up beside Skipper. "All the children's gifts are wrapped."

"Roger that. Tell Roger to pass them out." Kowalski nodded and slid away.

While Fields and Floods, Rocks, Hills and Plains, Repeat the Sounding Joy

"Sounding joy! Sounding joy!" Mort shouted, running in circles and giggling.

Skipper drew a deep breath. Everything was going according to plan, for once. It seemed almost every stunt they tried to pull in this zoo, something went wrong and they ended up with a sticky mess to unravel. This time, however, there was nothing that could go wrong.

Repeat the Sounding Joy, Repeat, Repeat, the Sounding Joy

"Sounding joy! Sounding joy!"

"Skipper?" Marlene walked up to the penguin habitat. "I can't find the eggnog and Rico's starting to go crazy."

Skipper groaned. "I just had to think it, didn't I?"

"Think what?"

"That nothing could go wrong." Skipper jumped off the fence. Marlene laughed.

"The universe got you for that one."

While they went to check on Rico, Julien began singing his own version of the song, dancing around the tree.

Joy to the World, King Julien is Awesome, this Christmas is Super Fun! Let all the Zoo People, Be Celebrating, and give Julien Presents! And give Julien Presents! And give, and give, give Julien Presents!

Private led the children to a large snow drift and began building snow animals with them, contributing a verse.

Joy to the World, the Time is Here, when All will Spread Love and Cheer! Let Blessings Abound, while we Raise a Joyful Sound, and Give our Love away, and Give our Love away, and Give, and Give, our Love Away!

Meanwhile, Skipper and Marlene were trying to get Rico to stop his eggnog-hunting rampage, knocking several ornaments off the tree in the process. Skipper called for assistance from Kowalski, but he was busy handing out presents with Roger. The gator added his own voice to the chorus.

Oh Happy Day, the Season's Arrived, to Sing of Kindness and Goodwill!

Kowalski chimed in. "By my Calculations, the Spirit's Overflowing, and is Skipper calling my name? I think Rico's gone insane. I had better stop singing, and go over there." Kowalski belly-slid away, leaving Mort to pick up the song as the little lemur twirled around with an ornament.

Joy to Me and You, the Love is Sweet and True, it makes Me feel Fuzzy and Warm! It's Time for Cookies and Presents, and Candy and Shiny Things, and to Hug King Julien's Feet, and to Hug King Julien's Feet, and Hug, and Hug, King Julien's Feet!

"Woah, Rico! Stand down! There's— plenty of— eggnog around here—"

"EGGNOG!" Skipper regretted even mentioning the word as Rico struggled out of his arms and rammed into one of the snowmen.

"R.I.P. Frosty…," Marlene muttered. The three of them chased after the psychotic penguin, trying not to run over little kids opening their presents in the zoo streets.

"We're still on for the gift exchange this afternoon, right?" Marlene asked Skipper as she ducked and ran under a bench.

"Yup. If Rico doesn't knock down the zoo first, that is." They ran by the chimps and nearly knocked Mason's beard off. "Kowalski, options! Where's the eggnog?"

"Don't know, Skipper. Didn't Private have it last? I thought we were giving some to the children."

"We were, yes. Marlene, go ask Private."

"Sure thing." Marlene broke away from the chase and hurried over to Private, passing Joey and Leonard, who were telling a very violent Christmas story to the kids. After telling them to stop, she found Private. "Quick, where'd you put the eggnog?"

"Hm?" Private looked up from his white masterpiece. "Oh! By the snack bar, to serve to the kids later."

Marlene nodded. "Okay, thanks. Why didn't we think of that before?" As she dashed away, Maurice jumped down from the lemur habitat to help Private with the snow sculptures.

Jot to the World, it's Time to Relax, Enjoying Life with No Cares! Even Julien's in a Good Mood, and We're all Having Fun, And Forgetting All our Troubles, and Forgetting All our Troubles, and Forgetting, Forgetting, All our Troubles!

Julien was at the snack bar getting some gingerbread cookies when Marlene slammed into him, grabbing the eggnog.

"Hey! What are you to be doing? I was going to have some of that eggnog!" Marlene was already racing away.

"Sorry Julien!" she called over her shoulder.

"Hmph. I guess because it is Christmas, I will not be getting upset." Julien munched on a cookie. "Hm. That is good gingerbread."

Skipper and Kowalski were desperately trying to detain Rico in the elephant habitat when Marlene rushed in with the eggnog. Rico excitedly grabbed the carton and began gulping it down.

"Well, that was a large crisis averted," Marlene said, gasping for breath.

"Um…" Kowalski tapped her on the shoulder. When she turned around, she saw the trail of destruction.

"Oh my."

"Soldier, do you see what you've done?" Skipper pointed to Rico, then at the mess. Rico looked down, guiltily avoiding Skipper's glare.

"Skipper? Is something being the matter?" He felt a tug on his flipper, and looked down to see Eggy.

"Hey, little guy. It's just— look at all that destruction! We're ruining kidsmas again. I'm sorry, little tyke."

"But everyone is having the fun! Look!" Eggy pointed at the scene. Sure enough, everyone was still singing despite the mess.

He Rules the World, with Truth and Grace, and Makes the Nations Prove

The Glories of His Righteousness, and Wonders of His Love, and Wonders of His Love, and Wonders, Wonders, of His Love

"Mama says Christy-mas time is a time for joy, not being the upset!" Eggy smiled, and Skipper smiled back.

"I guess you're right, Eggy. No harm done." He looked at Kowalski, Marlene, and Rico, Christmas spirit shining on his face. "Let's join in." They ran to the square and jumped into the fun. Kowalski went back to handing out presents with Roger, Rico shared the eggnog with the kids, and Skipper and Marlene stood watching the whole scene with contentment.

"It's all crazy, happy, rambunctious chaos, isn't it?" Marlene said.

"The best kind," Skipper agreed. Marlene spread out her hands and let herself start singing.

Joy to the Zoo, Bliss Fills the Air, Touching all our Hearts!

Skipper broke in, "For one Day I'll admit it, and Embrace the Loving Spirit, and Joy and Hope and Peace, Until the Season Cease, To Christmas, To Christmas, We'll Open our Hearts."

"You rhymed your 'hearts' with my 'hearts'," Marlene teased.

"Oh, whatever." Momentarily he looked away before continuing, "You know, I got stuck with you in the gift exchange this year—"

"'Stuck with me'?" she repeated, crossing her arms.

"Well, for Kowalski or Private or Rico it'd be easy, and even Ringtail, I'd know what to get. But you're difficult. So, you know, I'm sorry if you don't like it."

Marlene chuckled. "Skipper, I'd like anything, as long as it isn't, you know, nunchucks or something."

Skipper paused.

"You didn't." Marlene slapped a hand to her face. "You guys are— well, it's the thought that counts."

Private ran over to them. "Skippah, we're almost ready for a big picture all togethah." Kowalski and Rico drifted in to the group, and the curious lemurs also joined them.

"I am decreeing that this is to be a very good Christmas!" Julien announced. "As long as whoever had me for the gifty exchange got me what I wanted."

Skipper rolled his eyes and was about to say a snappy retort before deciding to give him a Christmas pass. He put his flippers around Private and Marlene and nodded for the others to come in closer, enduring a group hug. "It is a good Christmas," he said. "Joy to the Zoo."

Mort jumped up into the hug, gingerbread cookie crumbs on his face. "And to all a good night!"

A/N: Well, that's it for Central Park Carols! This one was much longer, but I thought it, being the final one-shot, deserved to be. I wanted to finish these in six days, and it ended up being eight, but I'm still proud of how much writing I did in this short amount of time. I got much enjoyment from writing these, and I hope you're as filled with Christmas spirit now as I am. A warm 'thank you' to all those who reviewed on my story while it was in progress, and to all future reviewers. Merry Christmas to all of you, and God Bless!