Different

Clover sat up on the roof of the plane, just thinking.

She came up here every night just to watch the stars and let her thoughts flow. Sometimes, Clover stayed until morning, so she could see the sunrise over Madagascar. No one knew she came up here, and Clover was perfectly happy about that.

Clover let out a sigh, as she laid down on the planes roof. She put her arms behind her head, to act as a pillow, and shut her eyes.

Truth was, Clover was lonely. All her life she had tried to prove herself to someone, anyone.
She trained hard, thinking that someday it would be worth it and that someday someone would actually be proud of her.

She hoped that day would be when she became the Kings bodyguard, but all her hopes were destroyed when he treated her like nothing. Clover remembered it perfectly. He hated her. She wasn't even allowed to speak.

And that, that was what ruined her. She would never be someone important, or do anything right..
She spent years doing whatever the king told her to do, but it never seemed like enough.

But this morning, the king had just up and quit and his nephew had taken his place.

Clover flashed back to how nervous she was when she met his nephew, King Julien the thirteenth. Thoughts buzzed through her head.
And she remembered thinking how he would be just like his uncle. How he would probably hate her even more then the twelfth King Julien did. He would treat her even worse. Maybe this time she wouldn't be allowed to move. Maybe...

But Julien wasn't worse. He was different. Better then his uncle...
He didn't appear to think she was stupid and pathetic. He didn't seem to think she was completely insane.

Clover thought back on how, just an hour ago, he had promoted her to Captain of the Ringtail Guard. That had been the best moment of her life. It seemed like a dream, but Clover knew she was wide awake.
He obviously thought she was capable of leading. He didn't seem to think she was a waste of time..

Clover opened her eyes and smiled. Julien was different.