Disclaimer: I don't own Penguins of Madagascar. They belong to Tom Mcgarth. But additional characters like OC's belong to me. ^^

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Taking Chances

Chance is a young penguin with a horrible past. Will him being sent to the Central Park Zoo fix up the pieces of his life? Or make it even worse?

Chapter 1 – Nightmare

Eeek!

The scream of a young girl plummeting from the third story window could still be heard in his ears. But it was what he heard next that made him want to lose his mind, as down below where his sister had fallen came the high screeching of a car…followed by the horrible, nauseating crunches of bones being broken.

"Karen!" A father's despairing cry echoed soon afterwards followed by a mother's scream of agony.

"Mom…! Dad…!" His own voice could be heard calling out to them, reaching out with his small arms. But they never did understand him, for they ran right past him.

And it was all too much for him to listen to now. Even if it was his reoccurring nightmare.

But over and over again, in the darkness of his dreams, the young penguin faced the horrors of the accident with tears flowing down his face, screaming with his own lungs.

"I…I never meant for it to happen!" Shaking, he went to stand by his parents, pleading for them to understand him. "Please…please, listen…"

Sobbing, he stared from his father, to his mother…and at last to Karen's still figure lying unresponsive in her parents' arms. And even though he knew she was dead…her dark eyes locked with his. Her brother's.

"Why…Chance…?"

Her voice was a deadly whisper; sending chills down his spine as she asked again…

Why…?

"Aaah!"

It was a real scream this time as Chance awoke, eyes wide and breathing harsh. And running from his eyes were several trails left behind by the tears he had shed because of his dream. But now that he was awake, reality came back and the young penguin dully remembered being shipped off to the Clause Zoo Hall. It was a center meant for the worst kinds of animals…

But…he had been sent there after Karen's funeral. And it was hell.

"Finally you're awake…" from his left side came the deep grumbling voice, and Chance focused his attention to a ragged old tiger sitting in the cage next to his. Compared to the large cat, the young penguin was awfully small. "You were starting to annoy me with you crying in your sleep. "What dream was it this time, hm? Were you getting eaten by a tiger?"

Chance sniffed, wiping his face with one flipper before giving the tiger a look. "You'd have fun with that kind of dream..."

"Sure I would," The tiger replied, flashing a toothy grin. "Especially if that tiger's name is Kavo, who has a penguin for a jail neighbor that cries himself to sleep every night...because he misses his mommy and daddy..."

Kavo stressed the last part, making himself sound wimpy and like a whiny crybaby. And he furthered to express how annoying chance was by curling up into a ball and sucking his thumb, whimpering until the deep grumble in his voice returned, and he sat up in a delicate posture. "I'd eat you any day, little penguin." He growled, noticing the new, angry look Chance had on his face. And then his eyes went to trace the thick fencing that separated his and Chance's cages. "And who knows? This fence won't keep us apart for too long…"

A chill went down Chance's spine, but he refused to show it under Kavo's locked gaze. Suddenly, a new sounded behind the tiny bird.

"Leave the kid alone, Kavo." This time the voice was high and lively and full of spunk. Chance turned to look at the large orangutan relaxing in her own large cage. She was munching on what looked like her breakfast. "He's only been here for a week and you're already harassing him."

"I can't help it! He's so-"

"Well, I think it's cute!" the large monkey crossed her arms and glared sternly. "And the poor thing is probably crying at night because of what he's been through. Am I right, little guy?"

Chance felt the eyes of the two larger animals on him and he chose the moment to lower his head. "A…a little bit."

"You see?" the orangutan raised an eyebrow to the tiger, making Kavo growl again. "Stop making the poor guy feel any worse with your threats, Kah-voh!"

"Um, my name is Chance by the way-"

"My name isn't Kah-voh! It's Kavo!"

"It's the same thing! Kah! Voh!"

"No it isn't!"

Chance looked between Kavo and the large orangutan, whose name was actually Yatzee. Ever since he had been dropped off here in a wooden crate, both Yatzee and Kavo had argued about how they should treat him for the duration of his stay.

Besides, Clause Zoo was also a rehabilitation center for wild or extremely dangerous animals. And it was rare to see anyone get transferred off to a zoo for their good behaviors. It could probably take years to be able to leave this place, so it was no wonder why Kavo thinks of the place as a jail house. Yet then again, it was just him, Kavo and Yatzee in the main zoo house now. However, Chance was nowhere between wild or dangerous. He was raised in a loving home with human parents and a human baby sister…

Oh…

Tears stung his eyes as the dreams played again in his mind, but Chance quickly shook them away just as one of the Zoo's attendants came to check on them. Kavo and Yatzee had quieted down now as all three watched the attendant checked Kavo's cage, Yatzee's cage and finally Chance's. "Not hungry again, little fella?" the young woman looked at the bowl left in the small penguin's cage where two succulent fish sat rotting and untouched. A wave of pity came over the woman, noting that it had already been three days since the bird had last eaten. And sometimes at night, she'd even hear the poor thing cry in its sleep much to the tiger's dismay.

Jane, was the woman's name as she cautiously opened the cage leading into the penguin's cell. She had heard about how this penguin had caused a horrible accident back in California and was warned to take some precautions about caring for it.

"But you're such a cute litte birdy," she said aloud, smiling at Chance; who, in fright backed away.

"What is she doing?" Chance asked Kavo, then looked at Yatzee.

"Oh, don't panic, suger!" Yatzee replied, attempting to sound soothing. "She probably noticed like we did that you haven't been eating your food. So maybe she wants to feed you."

"Or eat you." Kavo interjected, purring.

"Shut up, Kah-voh!"

Chance soon felt a hand gently pluck him off the floor and unto Jane's lap. And even though he was starting to panic inside, she smiled kindly to him and slowly reached over to grab one of the tiny fishes. "Come on, little guy." She cooed, waving the snack in front of Chance. One whiff of it made his stomach growl, but he didn't feel like eating at all and immediately turned his head away. Being fed by a human reminded him of how Karen used to care for him…

But Jane was watching him closely now, taking in the dull, sullen face of the tiny bird before setting him down again. "Well, you're going to have to eat sometime…" she told Chance, saddened as she looked at his sorry state. "No animal will starve to death because of me…"

And then it hit her, and Jane suddenly smiled. She knelt in front of the cage, staring at Chance with sparkles in her eyes. Because now…she had an idea to help the little guy…

What does Jane have in mind? How will it help Chance?

Lol. Well, if you like this first chapter, please comment on it and I'll see if I can write up another chapter soon. ;3