Work Text:
Dorothy was finally gone. Ted couldn't believe it, he was so happy. Last night they had a big fight where he finally told her what frustrated him so much about her and vice versa. There were shouts and dishes thrown through the air before Dorothy finally left for her sister's hut. For good this time. Of course she wasn't happy with the decision to leave, Ted knows all too well how much she loves him, but that's just one of the reasons he's annoyed with her. She’s way too affectionate and caring. He never gets a moment to himself, always forced to spend all of his time with her, but that is finally about to change.
With a renewed want for life, he pushed open the door of the house. The morning seemed even more beautiful than usual. Butterflies fluttered silently on the warm morning breeze that brought the hum of the jungle. Lemurs were waking up everywhere to start the day. For a moment he thought about calling Dorothy for a morning walk until he realized he shouldn't call her for anything anymore. A clucking sound came from his throat. As if frantic, he began to hop towards the center of the kingdom.
In his joy, he didn't look up and bumped into someone. "Hey, watch where you're going, Ted! It's way too early for this kind of clumsiness," Hector growled.
"Oh dear! Forgive me. I'm just so happy, you know."
"Yes, I know," he snapped. "Dorothy's gone. Congratulations."
"How do you know? She's only been gone for like a few hours."
"News travels fast around here with these gossiping buffoons," he says and storms off.
"Okay! I'll see you around!"
After saying hello to a few more friendly faces, he continued on his way to the plane. He urgently needed to speak to the king, like a long-awaited dream finally coming true. Today nothing could stop him. He felt on top of the world, blessed by the sky spirits. His prayers have finally been answered. Tonight, during his evening prayers, he will thank them extra hard for their grace.
To his relief, the king was present in the throne room, busily chatting with his friends. He could already hear their voices from afar. He wasted no time and pushed aside the curtain. "Good morning, Your Majesty! I'm sorry to disturb you on this wonderful day, but don't you also think that this day feels better than others? I mean, it's like everything has color again," he laughs. "Isn't that strange?"
Four pairs of eyes blinked back at him. "Right. This better be important, Ted, because I was just about to make an important decision that benefits the entire kingdom," King Julien said.
"You mean where the new water slide will be?" Maurice pointed out.
"Exactly! I'm looking for the perfect place where warmth and coolness come together to create the best water experience! My peoples deserve only the best, you know!"
"Oh, I totally understand! Why not try it behind the water pool leading down to the sea? The trees are positioned exactly right so that they give the water enough coolness during the hottest hours," Ted answered.
Julien clapped his hands in excitement, laughing. "Ted, you maniac! You saved me from my dilemma! What do you need? Just ask and you will get it!"
He was pulled against the king with an arm. "I need a divorce!"
"Done!" He said before the words seemed to sink in his head. "Wait, what?" Julien asked as he pulled back a little. "Is this one of those divorces where you take a break from desserts and stuff before you take another bite because you've lost weight?"
Maurice rolled his eyes. "You don't know what a divorce entails, do you?"
"Of course I do! He's on a diet, okay?"
"Actually, my diet ended weeks ago when Dorothy...," he faltered. "Anyway, I want to divorce Dorothy. Preferably as soon as possible."
"Are you sure about this?" Clover asked as she came forward. "I mean, you and Dorothy have been together for such a long time. You form a great team. Why would you want to give that up?"
"Because," he grunted through his teeth. "She always tells me what to do and she follows me everywhere! I feel like a pet on a leash. Then we haven't even talked about her clean-up rage or her suffocating love. It's all become too much for me."
"You can put me on a leash. I don't mind. My neck is full of rubber anyway. Whatever that may be," Mort cut in.
Everyone ignored him. "Clover's right. You need to think carefully about this," Maurice said.
The king rolled his eyes at the emotional state of his friends. "I told him he can be asking anything he wants so this is going to happen. But you will have to wait a while. The water slide goes first. I will be making sure Maurice prepares the right documents by next week. We will see you here again at the same hour."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" He shook hands with his king and left the plane with a skip in his step.
There were still some old habits that he had to break that day, such as cleaning up everything behind him to avoid a fight or cooking for two people. He has no trouble adjusting and he feels as reborn as he did this morning every time he takes a step towards his own future in a Dorothy free life. Life feels good, it feels right, it's fun.
That night, he finally gets to eat his favorite dish that Dorothy hates so much and pulls out the cute floral napkins he's been saving for a special occasion. This was certainly the most appropriate time to bring them out.
When he’s done and has put his plate in the sink, he suddenly notices how quiet the house is. Wonderfully quiet. Not a woman who whines at his head about the hustle and bustle of the jungle or talks about her favorite recipes she wants to try some day. Finally some time for himself to do what he wants.
So he walks to the living room. The latest issue of his Clover book is in his hand after a brief visit to the bedroom. In the living room he plops down in his chair and props his feet on the footstool. Across his page he sees the last of Dorothy's sewing that she left last night before they started arguing. It's supposed to represent a swan but looks more like a duck throwing up. It has made him laugh and even now he smiles when he looks at it. When she comes for her stuff tomorrow, he might put it away as a memento.
There is no one to tell him not to read too long, no one to go to bed with him and tell him goodnight. Oddly enough, that last one makes him a little sad but the morning is already there with a new breeze full of butterflies, causing him to forget about his little turmoil. He can now finally go wherever he wants. Maybe Willie would like some company. So he walks to his house and knocks. There is some rumbling inside before the door opens.
"Ted! What a nice surprise. You never come by at my house."
"No, that's because Dorothy and I usually go walki—," he starts to say but stops. "Anyway, I thought I'd visit my good friend Willie for a change. Can I come in?"
"Of course! Of course! Please, make yourself at home. I was just about to make some Green Julien but I dropped the mug."
Ted took in a sharp intake of breath as he looked inside the house. It was a big mess. There were stains where there shouldn't be stains, the mangoes were mixed with the bananas, and the coffee table was covered in water from Willie's attempt at making tea. It was almost enough to feel sorry for.
"Ehm, why don't I clean that up for you while you make us more Green Julien? I really don't mind getting my paws dirty."
"Really? Aw, that's so nice, man. You know, this morning seemed to be such a gloomy day. There was just something in the air. Did you notice too? I didn't even want to go outside and then you knocked. Today of all days! What's the chance? Maybe my luck hasn't run out after all," he rambles as he starts to make tea again.
Ted is only half listening. He's too busy cleaning up the water and cleaning up some other messes without Willie noticing. The house can still use a makeover but it already looks much better than before. Once he’s done, he admires his work. Just then, Willie stops by his side to hand him a cup of Green Julien. Fortunately, it smells better than it looks.
"Wow, it suddenly looks so cozy in here! You come in and my day can't go wrong anymore. Say, do you want to do something together? Otherwise I would have just stayed inside."
"Sure. Why not? I still have two tickets for a concert this afternoon. Dorothy and I were going to go together but that's not happening now."
"Oh yeah. Because she's gone. What a pity for you. Not for me, of course, because now I can go with you. I never go to concerts otherwise. How nice! We can wear matching safety gear like brothers! I can hardly wait!"
Ted raises an eyebrow. "Excuse me, safety gear?"
"I'll get it for you. Wait here."
Willie disappears into a back room. Just like at the front door, there is a lot of stumbling and Ted thinks that room is also full of junk, when Willie suddenly reappears. There is a helmet in his hands, a pair of knee pads and goggles. He already has his own gear on when he gives him Ted's.
Ted can only stare as he takes the stuff from his friend. "Ehm, correct me if I'm wrong but I thought we were going to a concert and not a construction site."
"We are! Do you have any idea how dangerous social gatherings are? Anything can go wrong! What if a fossa comes in or a tree falls over and we don't get out on time? This way we’re at least a little better protected."
"Don't you think a fossa would just devour us right away, helmet and all?"
He elbows him in the side, saying, "they're more likely to go for the others than for us with all that unsavory stuff."
Ted sighs but puts on the helmet anyway to please Willie. He doesn't really believe in those safety measures, but it certainly can't hurt to play along. That's what he thinks until they come outside and everyone is staring at them strangely. A child asks her mother why they've dressed up for carnival and Ted wants to sink through the ground in embarrassment.
He’s relieved when they finally arrive at the concert and the sun gets dimmed with large leaves. For a moment he can enjoy the performance until Willie opens his big mouth again and starts asking him questions about the story while the play is still going on. It irritates him more than not but he can hardly shut him up between all these people.
Towards the end, he has to wipe away a tear as the story takes an emotional turn. He feels Willie nudge him with a grin, clearly amused about his soft side. He bites his tongue and continues to watch the performance. The finale brings in special effects and Willie starts screaming that they’re all going to die. The whole room looks at them in annoyance and he can't even blame them. Ted quickly tells him to be quiet, which he does, then turns back to the stage feeling very embarrassed.
This whole day is a flop. Not that he didn't enjoy the story a little, but with Dorothy he could have given it his full attention. She never laughs when he cries and she remains silent during it all because she loves the theater so much herself. It's the first time since their breakup that he genuinely wishes she was with him.
When they walk back home and Willie keeps rambling about the ugly costumes of the actors, he wants to retreat into the house and get under the sheets until he's not ashamed to come out anymore. He quickly returns the helmet and the remainder of his outfit when they pass Willie's hut. Before the other can treat him to more Green Julien, he's gone. His second day as a bachelor turned out very differently than expected.
For the rest of the day he stays inside to read his Clover books, tucked away in his favorite chair with a blanket over his shoulders. Life was fine again for a moment until he turned the last page and placed the book back on the side table. The silence was back and louder than before. Now that the high from the beginning was over, he started to feel the loneliness. The house suddenly seemed so empty without Dorothy's chitchat. In all honesty, he never minded her chatter. It's kind of become a background buzz that he's grown accustomed to.
Again he misses her. She might be annoying at times, but he never felt truly alone when she was around. They've been together for so long it's strange now that she's not here. How long has it been since he had two days to himself? It must have been before their wedding. They always do everything together, even grocery shopping. Why did he find that annoying again?
He decides to start dating the next day. It's a bit early to think about a new relationship and he doesn't even want to be with anyone else yet, but the idea might take his mind off of Dorothy. He meets some nice girls and even some guys. Because of his troubled marriage, Ted has often wondered if maybe he couldn't be gay after all, but it soon turns out that the men don't do him much and even the girls leave him cold. The color of their eyes is nothing compared to Dorothy's fiery gaze, and their fur isn't even as soft or light as hers.
He droops off a bit disappointed and goes for a walk in the jungle. Everything suddenly feels so different without a partner. So quiet and lonely. If Dorothy had been here she would have taken his hand long ago and indicated to him all the birds that flew by. He would listen, happy to share in her childlike enthusiasm.
She was always so attentive and cheerful and sweet. No girl was as helpful as she was. At every audition, Dorothy is there to support him. Even when things would end badly, she was always the one who could comfort him. She never had a bad word for him and always defended him when managers mistreated him. She really loved him and what did he do? Put her at the door. Now that he thinks about it, he wonders if he didn't make the wrong choice after all.
That evening it seems as if he’s suffocating in the oppressive silence. With a glance to the side, he sees the empty bed and sighs. It hurts. Everything in the house that reminds him of her hurts. He wants it all gone and fast, but even if there's nothing left of her, will he finally be rid of this grief? He’d thought this whole process would go easier, but his wife has only been gone for a few days and he’s already miserable. He hopes he just needs a little more adjustment time because he doesn't want to feel this way anymore.
Someone knocks on the door. Somehow he hopes it's someone who can take his mind off things for a while, anyone, until he opens the door. It's none other than Dorothy. He forgot that she was coming over to pick up her things. Her sudden presence takes his breath away in a good way, like the first time he saw her in high school and immediately knew he was in love. He wants to ask her so much but the words don't get past his mouth.
She beats him to it. "Hey, Ted. I brought my sister to help me carry everything. Can I come in? It won't be long."
He nods a little dumbly and steps aside to give her entrance. She immediately walks to the bedroom where she starts to collect her things. He quickly hides the knitting behind a cushion on the couch when her sister enters. It’s a stout lady with a fiery character, the opposite of Dorothy. Ted has always found her intimidating, but now even more so. When she’s inside, she only looks at him sharply before she also starts putting things in a box. Of all he expected from her, the silent treatment is the worst.
"So... How is Dorothy now?" He dares to ask.
The sharp look is once again fixed on him. "Oh, you know. She cries all day and refuses to come out of her room. What do you think?"
He rubs the back of his head, feeling awkward. "Yeah, I get the picture."
The sound of the two women filling boxes is all that follows. When they’re done they go outside and put the boxes on the floor. Dorothy's sister has rented a wheelbarrow they can use to carry everything. When she's busy outside tying up all the boxes, Dorothy comes in to see him.
"I suppose that's it then. If you find anything else from me, you know where to find me."
He nods and leans a little on the table. "Where are you going to live after this?"
"I will stay with my sister until King Julien grants me a new hut. He promised me one yesterday."
"Wait, you visited the king as well?"
It was her turn to nod. "He told me about the divorce. I'll be there next week to sign the papers."
"Right... De divorce." He almost forgot about that.
Dorothy slumps into one of the chairs at the table. "Where did we go wrong? I always thought we were the kind of couple who would be together forever. It's not fair."
"I know. We were so happy when we got married. That seems so long ago now."
"Yeah, it does." She was smiling. "Do you remember your mother's ugly dress that day? All the attention went to her but for the wrong reasons."
He laughed thinking back to the day of their wedding. "She's always been that way. Always in the spotlight, whether it be positive or negative, it didn't matter. She had been saving that dress since I was little for the day I got married. It was awful. She could be so meddlesome. Did you know she had already chosen five girls for me to marry before my voice broke? Luckily she liked you, otherwise she would have made my life even more difficult."
"She was a very special woman, that's for sure." The silence filled the room again. He wanted nothing more than to get rid of it. "Anyway, I should probably go. I'll see you next week."
"Yeah. Bye," is everything he answers as she leaves through the door. He wonders if he should have stopped her.
He lies alone in bed again, makes breakfast for one and wonders once again what he’s going to do with his day. So much free time but so little inspiration. The week passes slowly without too much excitement happening around him. It’s not long before the day arrives when he has to go to the king to arrange his divorce. Clover and Maurice are also present when he enters. Dorothy and her sister stand in a corner talking and look at him with a mixture of regret and irritation. He ignores both of them and focuses on the king when he speaks up.
"Ted! Buddy! You are right on time. Maurice has the papers with him. If you both want to sign, then the divorce is finalized."
Dorothy's shoulders slump as she walks up to him. Maurice meets them with a document. Julien's signature is already on it. Now all that needs to be done is add theirs. Dorothy puts her name first after Maurice gives her a pen. She looks really miserable, like she hasn't slept in days, and he feels beyond guilty. With a sob, she hands him the pen as she fails to hide her tears. He takes it in his hand a little slowly and stares at the document. It all becomes too official, too serious, too gloomy. He’d imagined this moment very differently.
The pen hovers over the paper but retreats back every time it wants to write. He can't get it done. Something inside him doesn't want to leave Dorothy. Something tells him he still loves her and wants to share his life with her and only her. He sees that now. It’s like his eyes are opened. It took him a while, but he finally sees the truth. Maybe she can be a bit annoying at times. So what? He could too, but Dorothy has always been able to bear his shortcomings. Then why can't he? For a split second he wonders again if he should let her go until he decides again that he doesn't want to at all. Being alone is so boring. He wants his best friend back, his love, his partner for life. There's only one girl like Dorothy and she's currently standing next to him. That he almost let her slip from his grasp is insane, but he won't let that happen again.
He returns the pen to Maurice. "You know what? I don't think I want to divorce anymore. My apologies, King Julien. I know I robbed some of your precious time but I can't."
Everyone's eyes widened, including Dorothy's. "What do you mean? I thought you wanted this?"
"I did but then I remembered why I married you all those years ago and I changed my mind. I still love you. I always did. I think I forgot that a long time ago amongst the bickering."
She had tears in her eyes for a different reason now. "So you're not mad anymore about our fight? You told me that I was too clingy. Who's to say you won't be bothered by my behavior again? This is your chance to think this through. I don't want to go through this situation again. It hurt me too much."
He takes her paws in his own. "We'll both get annoyed at times but I won't push you away anymore. If something is bothering me I'll just tell you so we can talk about it. I’m sorry I hurt you. I needed some time apart to learn from my mistakes. I promise I'll be a better man for you."
She smiles. "Okay. I'm sorry if I made you feel like you weren't free. I will respect your space from now on."
He brings her closer at her waist. "Thank you. That means a lot to me."
They're giggling like a bunch of teenagers and for a moment it feels like they're back in high school and going on their first date.
The rest of the people on the plane applaud for their renewed love, even Dorothy's sister who now looks relieved. King Julien jumps off his throne and embraces the couple. "Did I not tell you, Maurice? Didn't I tell you the whole parting thing would bring them back together? My plans always work!"
"You never had a plan," the advisor mumbles, annoyed.
"Thank you for everything, Your Majesty. We're sorry to have bothered you. I suppose those house plans are canceled now," Dorothy says kindly.
He waves a hand at them. "Let us forget about it! That saves me a lot of costs. Now, why don't we have a party tonight to celebrate this happy moment? I have a new mixtape and I have been dying for the perfect opportunity to try it out!"
"Sounds like a plan," Ted answers. "We'll see you guys tonight. Now if you will excuse us, Dorothy and I have to catch up on some things."
"Oh, Ted," she giggles softly as they exit the plane.
It feels good to feel her close again. After a week of no contact, it's like he can breathe once more. How he missed her. "Did you know that every day I forgot what day it was without you? I was standing in front of a closed dojo when I thought it was karate night."
"You poor thing. I'll help you remember, don't worry."
"Thanks. How was your time at your sister's actually? Was it as bad as my experience?"
"Worse. Her kids were so loud and woke me up at six in the morning. I'm glad to be back home."
"I'll go and get your things for you tomorrow if you want. It's the least I can do to make it up to you."
"I know something else you could do for me," she grinned.
He looked at her in confusion but she didn't elaborate. When they came into the house she immediately pulled him onto the couch with her. He leaned over and kissed her, willingly this time. His love for her was rekindled and he wanted her close. When she threw her arms around his neck, she suddenly withdrew as a yelp pulled from her throat. There was a grimace on her face before she pulled something from under her back.
"Hey, this is my knitting. I forgot to pack it last week."
"Actually I put it there on purpose as a reminder of you. Guess I never really wanted you to leave."
A soft look appeared in her eyes. "How sweet."
They started kissing again. Ted closed his eyes and moaned in her mouth. This felt so right. All his doubts were gone, melted like ice sculptures before the sun. Who would have thought that one week apart would do them both so good? They would probably still get annoyed with each other. They were both imperfect creatures and still young in marriage but they were going to do their best. For each other.