Note: So, I was in the mood for a writing challenge, so I looked some up on deviantArt and settled on this one. Each chapter represents a different theme from the list given by the deviantArt page, which will be the chapter's title. Here are the rules:

Pick a fandom: Penguins of Madagascar

Write a one-shot for each of the themes.

None of the chapters can be continuations of other chapters.

Try to be original, and no copypasta!

The one-shots do not have to be posted in the list's order.

Here are some rules I've added for myself:

I cannot work on more than one at a time. I can jot down ideas for other prompts, but the actual writing of the ficlets cannot begin until I've finished the previous one.

Each one-shot must be at least one hundred words but no more than one thousand. Hyphenated words count as one.

Interpretation of the theme may be literal or metaphorical.

They can be different realities, such as an alternate reality or humanized reality. If the chapter is anything but the original reality fans are used to, it should be indicated at the beginning of the chapter in a note. Furthermore, they can be in the past, present, or future.

They can be any genre, but none may contain any mature content.

If any contain pairings, it shall be indicated in a note at the beginning of the chapter.

No more than one can be written in a day.

They can be in any point of view.

Characters must be in character unless given a specific reason for the change (i.e. character went through a terrible ordeal, the character has to live with death, etc.).

And so, my challenge begins. Dates written next to the titles indicate the date the one-shot was written. I will be posting at my own leisure.

Introduction 01.18.15

"Skipper," Kowalski called from the television.

Skipper came to his side and looked to the camera feeds. "What is it, soldier?"

"Looks like we're getting a new resident in our habitat," Kowalski said.

On the screen, Alice accepted a crate from the delivery truck and signed the paperwork.

"Why did we not figure this out before?" Skipper asked sternly.

"It's a last-minute transfer from the Chester Zoo in England. Commissioner McSlade attended a meeting in New York City with park coordinators around the world on ways to promote cleaner, more eco-friendly environments. Upon its closing, a representative from England announced that one of his employees found a penguin lost in Cheshire and saved him. They don't have any room for him at Chester Zoo, so he offered to sell it to one of the representatives. McSlade was the highest bidder. Even Alice didn't know about it until about an hour ago," Kowalski explained.

They watched as Alice picked up the crate and started heading toward their habitat.

"We'll arrange a transfer later. Let's get topside before Alice gets here," Skipper said.

They and Rico went topside and a moment later, Alice set the plank across the pool, bringing the crate across it.

"Here you go, your new habitat-mate," she said bitterly, pulling a small penguin from the crate and setting him down in front of them. They stared at the chick in surprise.

Alice grabbed the crate and left as the small penguin fiddled with his flippers shyly.

"H-Hello," he said in a soft British accent. "Wh-Who are you? Where am I?"

The penguins exchanged a glance. This little penguin couldn't be more than a few years old.

"Uh, we're—um," Skipper started, looking to Kowalski and Rico.

"I'm—Kowalski," Kowalski started. "You're in Manhattan."

The chick hesitantly turned away and looked over the tall buildings in the distance. Then he turned back to the penguins.

"What's going to happen to me here?" he asked, nervously glancing between the three of them.

Skipper slowly stepped up to the frightened hatchling and knelt down so he could meet eye level. "Do you know where you're from? We could help you find your parents," he said tenderly.

The young chick winced and looked down, as if someone had stuck him with a needle. "I don't have parents," he said softly. "I have an Uncle Nigel, but he isn't around much. He tried to put me in a zoo. He said I'd be safe there. I ran away because I was afraid. Someone found me and took me here."

Skipper looked at Kowalski and Rico. Then he looked back to the chick with a sigh.

"What's your name, kid?" he asked.

"My Uncle Nigel always called me Private," the little penguin answered.

Skipper smiled warmly. "Okay, Private. How about you come down into HQ with us and we'll figure something out for you," he suggested.

Private furrowed his brow. "What's an 'HQ'?" he asked.

Skipper held out his flipper. "Come with me and I'll show you," he said, making eye contact, willing him to trust him.

Private stared at his flipper for a moment. Then he looked into his reassuring eyes and hesitantly took his flipper. Skipper gently closed his flipper around his.

"I'm Skipper, by the way," he said, leading him to the hatch.

"An' I Rico!" Rico said, appearing on the other side of him with a smile. Private recoiled in surprise.

Skipper pushed the fish bowl aside and stepped down onto the first rung, scooping Private into one flipper before descending. Kowalski and Rico dropped in behind him.

"This is our HQ," Skipper said as he set Private down.

Private looked around. There were three bunks carved into one wall, a table in the center made from a "Do Not Feed the Animals" sign and cinder blocks, a television in the far corner, a small fridge in another, and a door in the center of one wall that led to who-knows-what.

"Why don't you let Rico show you how the TV works and Kowalski and I will have a little talk?" Skipper said.

Private looked from Skipper to Rico, who grinned and scooped him up.

"Whoa!" Private cried. "O-Okay! Oomph!" he said as Rico trotted across the room and planted him in front of the television.

Skipper and Kowalski exchanged a humorous glance and went into the lab.

"What should we do, Kowalski? It's too dangerous to keep him here," Skipper asked his lieutenant.

"We could transfer him to another zoo," Kowalski suggested, "but what about his Uncle Nigel? He said he ran away. His Uncle must be worried out of his mind."

Skipper sighed and thought for a moment. "Do you think you can track down his Uncle? Maybe he'll come get him."

"I could try, but it won't be easy. It could take me a number of weeks," Kowalski said.

"But you think you can do it?" Skipper urged. "It's not safe for him here. He's too young."

"I agree. Yes, I think I can. What do we do in the meantime?" Kowalski asked.

"We have to keep him safe. We'll transfer him to the Bronx Zoo until we can find his Uncle. When we find him, we'll tell him that he's there, safe and sound," Skipper said with a nod, feeling as if this was for the best.

"All right. I'll get started on the paperwork and you tell Private what we've decided," Kowalski said. He opened the lab door and they froze at the threshold as they took in the scene.

Rico was running around HQ with Private on his shoulders, who was squealing in delight. Rico did little twirls and sometimes pulled him down from his shoulders and tossed him in the air only to catch him and throw him on his shoulders again. Skipper and Kowalski smiled at the sight.

"Actually, Kowalski," Skipper said as he watched them, "when you find his Uncle, tell him he's safe and sound right where he is."

[Words: 999]