October 19th 2017

08:00 Hours (8:00 A.M. Eastern standard time)

Central Park Zoo

(Skipper's POV)

"Skipper" Kowalski said, "all evidence suggests that we have a new arrival from Madagascar."

In front of us was a lemur-sized crate with a label that read Madagascar, "thank you captain obvious," Private said.

"Great," I said, "we get rid of one set of lemurs…only for them to be replaced by a new one."

"Well it would make sense that the zoo would want new lemurs to replace the old ones," Kowalski replied, "that habitat was one of the most popular exhibits."

"people only went there because Alex used to be in there," I said.

Suddenly Mason was standing in the doorway of the building, "Egad!" mason said, "Alice at 12 o' clock!"

"Move! Move! Move!" I shouted as we quickly hid. Alice stomped into the building with her usual bored expression.

Alice had her clipboard with her as she examined the shipping label on the crate. "Let's see here," Alice deadpanned, "this one is coming from Madagascar."

"Great," Alice snarked, "just what we need more lemurs!"

Alice pulled out a pushcart and wheeled the crate out of the building. We watched her haul the crate towards the lemur habitat. Rico hacked up nun-chucks and his flamethrower and looked at me expectantly.

"Attack?" Rico said.

"Maybe," I said, "let see how this plays out…keep the warm new York welcome on standby."

"Oh yeah," Rico said.

"I would say I have a bad feeling about this," Private said, "but I rather not jinx us."

"too late private," I said.

"there is a five percent chance that Julian shipped himself back here because he forgot his royal back scratcher," Kowalski said.

"and the other ninety-five percent?" I asked.

"Um…Karl's back for revenge in record time," he replied.

Suddenly horrible fear-inducing insanity fueling laughter filled the air causing many animals to cry out in fear.

"Evil laughter?" I said, "that's never a good sign."

"that laugh sounds familiar yet haunting," Private said.

"uh huh," Rico said.

"quick to the lemur habitat!" I shouted.

We quickly slid towards the lemur habitat and jumped into it. We landed in battle formation in the center of the habitat in front of the crate.

Kowalski pulled out a radar dish then announced, "area secure!"

Rico stood in front of the crate with his rocket launcher prepped.

"careful now," I said, "I don't want a repeat of the petunia incident."

A horrible chuckle rang out from the crate as a deceptively kind voice said, "are you gentlemen going to let me out or what."

"that voice," Private said.

"King Julian the twelfth," Kowalski said.

"Julian's evil uncle?" I said.

"well evil is subjective," he replied, "I prefer to refer to myself as a lemur who is willing to do anything to cement his power. IS there a official term for that?"

"Dictator," Private said.

"Despot" Kowalski said, "tyrant, sole ruler, supreme leader, oppressive, corrupt."

"Did I give you permission to speak," Uncle King Julian asked, "did I give you permission to insult me?"

"Newsflash EVIL ringtail," I said, "this is a democratic zoo, in a democratic city, in a democratic state, in a democratic nation."

"Which means we can say whatever we want and you can't stop us," Kowalski said, "welcome to 'merica baby."

"Rico," I said, "engage New York welcome."

Rico hacked up his rocket launcher and aimed it at Uncle King Julian.

"Gentlemen," Uncle King Julian sneered, "It seems you didn't get the memo. This is a hostile takeover this is my zoo now. In fact…I am your new king. This zoo…my kingdom…is my boat. I am the skipper now, Skipper."

"Ooo," Kowalski said, "the metaphor, the burn, and the unintentional movie reference…he's good."

"As long as I reside in these walls," Julian the twelfth said, "this is my kingly domain and you will obey my will."

"your have taken over nothing," I said, "this zoo is defended…you want it your going to have to go through us."

"Really?" he replied, "that can be arranged."

"NOT LITERALLY through us!" I shouted.

"why would I want to go through you," He replied, "one I would be down four new subjects…and two that would be really gross."

"Plus," he added, "I have people for that…MARY-ANN!"

"Oh no," Kowalski said, "that intelligent super-fossa. Seriously why did Julian think civilizing a fossa was a good idea?"

"fossa attack!" Mary-Ann shouted from outside the gates, "plus I'm in the mood for poultry."

"fossa hungry fossa eat," the far off fossa horde chanted.

"You can't fossa halt your way out of this one flightless birds," Uncle King Julian said.

"Try me," I said, "Commence Operation: Fossa Hungry Fossa Eat my fist!"

"Fine be that way," Uncle King Julian dismissively said, "enjoy your untimely deaths."

"You don't know who your dealing with!" Marlene shouted.

"WE will never bow down to you!" bada shouted.

"cruelty has no place here," Martin the peacock said.

"you will never take our freedom!" Randy the sheep said.

"I don't even like them but I stand with them," The Blue Hen said.

"I don't even live here but I'm willing to fight," Archie said.

"ditto!" Mooncat said.

"Then I will break you all," Uncle King Julian said, "you will all bow to me in the end."

Kowalski, Rico, Private, and I rushed to the front gates the rest of the zoo quickly followed. Much to the dismay and horror of our would be conqueror who for his part said, "well this may call for a replan."

"Fossa! Kill them all," Mary-Ann said, "devour them!" The fossa charged only to stop in their tracks when they saw the army gathered in the zoo.

"Your move," I said as Burt trumpeted angrily,

Roy lowered his horn, Rico cocked his rocket launcher, the badgers growled, and bada and bing beat there chests. Joey also punched the air, Marlene unleashed her wild side, Archie assumed his Archer persona, and the Rats appeared from nowhere.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"We don't want to live with a dictator either," Rat King replied with a shrug.

"I predict that the odds are in our favor," blue hen announced.

"The sooner we get back to the walk-through the better," a emu said.

"this is going to be epic," dode the dodo said.

"debatable," Ted the polar bear said.

"suckers," pinky said as she flew away.

"Is Rico going to ride me?" Shelly asked.

Rico glared at her and shook his head. "I still love you!" she shouted as Rico walked away.

"Well?" Uncle King Julian demanded impatiently from the lemur habitat, "don't just sit there! Get them!"

"attack," Mary-Ann said as the fossa charged through the front gates.

"Charge!" I shouted as the entire zoo rushed towards the front gate.

"This should be interesting," Mary-Ann said. Uncle King Julian chuckled as the battle for central park begin.

(end of chapter one)