An abandoned amusement park idly decays off the shoreline of Coney Island's boardwalks.

Decades ago, it wasn't so devoid of laughter and liveliness. In reality, it was greatly loved. But as years went by, it grew to serve mainly as a reminder of what was lost. Its remaining landmarks are towering deconstructing rides, ferris wheels, or roller coasters breaking apart or unstably leaning.

Erosion has certainly taken its place. If the owners had not declared bankruptcy, maybe it wouldn't have ended up as a haunting playground. Maybe its only residents wouldn't have been the wildlife, the vegetation that New Jersey's coasts provide...

And an evil dolphin's lair.

A cave-like hideaway thrives deep below the crumbling amusement park, supported by gray metal floors and structures. Mini workstations with screens are arranged in rows, inhabited by lobsters who are either working or chit-chatting about work-related topics...which is actually just office gossip drama amongst the lobster henchmen. At the front and center is a massive monitor screen, being observed by none other than the nefarious Dr. Blowhole...

Who rubs his forehead in a frustrated manner, sipping a cup of coffee with a tired groan.

"Look, Doc, I know Banshee screwed up, but I already told you she's in training and wasn't going to be as good as me," Parker rolls his eyes and crosses his arms.

Blowhole stops rubbing his forehead, his amber-colored eye peers down at his trusted platypus agent. "I gave her two chances to prove herself, Parker. Not only was she not successful in capturing those pen-gu-ins, but she got herself captured too."

"Rookies make stupid mistakes. However, you said you wanted more agents, so I'm working with what I can train here." He shakes his head. "Of my rookies, she's the one with the most potential so far of eventually being a good agent."

"She certainly has a lot to redeem if she wants her 'Agent 9' position back," the dolphin grumbles, his attention now on the giant monitor.

"I have a reputation to uphold, Parker. This is simply the consequence of failing."

"You don't have to worry about getting her out. I'll retrieve her and continue her training until she's more ready for missions."

"I was going to leave her at the pound," A snort came out. "But when she improves herself, I'll think about giving her privileges back." He rolled his eyes, but truthfully he meant what he said.

A part of him knew it wasn't exactly all the canine's fault. Newbie or not, she does have an asset of skills he can admire. She almost even managed to capture the pen-gu-ins...almost.

If it wasn't for that one, vexatious, inferior human. Why he even failed his own mission because of her. That one, younger redhead, who dared tell him off.

"We hadn't covered human interference in her training yet." He nods. "But I'll work on it."

Coming out from his brief thoughts, he nods at Parker, and sips his cup again. He needs something to distract himself.

"Red One, connect to one of the cameras in the penguins HQ."

"On it, boss!" The lobster skitters over to the camera system and brings it up.

He may as well check in on his arch-nemesis. Their current situation is extremely amusing to observe, gets a few chuckles out of him. In a way, Blowhole saw it as karma.

If those pen-gu-ins wish to protect humans so much, then they should turn into ones themselves. And, while unpleasant, their human companion is entertaining to view as well. Although that majority of time is spent watching her suffer.

It does, however, have several disadvantages that aggravate Blowhole. Banshee failed her tasks, he wasn't unable to abduct the penguins (is it that awful for a supervillain to examine their conditions up close?). But of course, then that redhead human came in.

The lone outlier in this disaster since day one.

With the giant monitor connected to the pen-gu-ins' cameras, the evil genius gets a good scope of how his enemies are doing. Currently, Skipper, Rico, and Private are munching down what appears to be soup in the main room. While in the lab, Kowalski is in a blanket cocoon, with the redhead human tending to him.

"They're still recovering from that wacko?" He asks the lobster beside him.

Red One nods. "Yeah, I think Kowalski got the worst of it. Yesterday I heard someone mention bronchitis."

Blowhole frowns slightly at this. Only slightly. "Mm, he should be fine soon. Well-recovered before my next plan —" He then notices a certain object on the shelves.

"Wait… aren't those... aren't those the binoculars we use?!"

"Uh...Yeah." The lobster scratches the back of his neck. "Fifty-Three uh... left his behind by accident."

Parker raises his brows, hearing this.

"And why was I not informed about this?" The dolphin glances down, once again rubbing his forehead in frustration. "I thought it was clear that any evidence left behind should be reported to me immediately?"

Especially this evidence. The pen-gu-ins finding out that he was responsible for Kowalski's lunar machine going haywire? Oh, they would ruin his fun.

One lobster henchman sent to tamper with Kowalski's invention. Not that he intended the result of his foes becoming humans at night. He was more anticipating flamingo-penguin abominations.

Who knew that a mischievous prank on the pen-gu-ins' machine would cause a hilarious yet exhausting outcome?

"I don't know, doc. I thought they told you themself. You want me to write them up?"

"Actually, send them to me later. I think I'll have a midnight snack." He growls carelessly, gripping the handles of his segway tightly.

Red One grimaces but nods. "Okay, d-doc."

"Good, now—" But before he can finish his sentence, the conversation between Kowalski and the redhead overtakes his attention.

"Oh! Do you think I should be better by this weekend?"

"Depends on Friday."

"I was thinking I might try to see Doris."

Did his...earholes deceive him? Did Kowalski just mention...Doris? His Doris?

He spins his head at the monitor, watching the conversation continue.

"Oh...Well, I'd give it a week before tryin that...just in case."

"Hopefully her pod will still be nearby then."

"... Red One, why does Kowalski want to visit Doris?" The dolphin squints.

If a lobster could become pale, Red One just did. Parker himself looks away and smooths down his fur.

"They're uh… dating." The lobster finally says.

Blowhole speechlessly gazes at the monitor screen for a long moment, his mind trying to piece together what he heard. "... Kowalski… with Doris… He's dating Doris...my Doris."

His eye then glares at the screen, baring his teeth with a snarl. "HE'S DATING MY SISTER." He screeches his flipper clenching and bangs down on the handle of his segway.

Red One takes a step back.

"M'kay, I believe this is my cue to go," Parker mutters as he waddles out of the room.

"For a few months now, sir, but from the sounds of it, it hasn't been going very well. Kowalski seems to think they may break up soon."

Another groan scolds out the villainous dolphin. "Well, maybe I should break him instead."

"Break him, doc?"

"... SOMETHING LIKE THAT," Blowhole flails his flippers in rage. "I'll torture that barnacle-head myself if I have to teach him that Doris is off-limits."

The lobster thinks for a moment. "Well, as you know, sir, your sister is an adult capable of dating who she sees fit—" He starts but then sighs. "But if you want to get revenge on him, maybe something more along the lines of humiliation would be more useful? He wasn't even aware until the night you were rescued from Seaville that you and her were even related."

While the loyal henchmen's first attempt was futile, his second got through the tantrum thro—overprotective brother's head. Rubbing his melon once again, he takes a few deep breaths to think strategically.

"… Perhaps… I could take this more into consideration… maybe even use it to my advantage," he taps his rostrum.

"Like… You could use it as a way to get information about the penguins from him?"

"Yes… and when I'm done with gathering information, I'll use him as bait for my next scheme." His eye lights up… only for him to frown again.

"But how to lure him in… and get him to trust me enough to babble?"

"Well, if Doris and him break up, he'll be single..." Red One glances up at him.

"… Are you suggesting I date him?" Blowhole squints down at him.

"Sure." He shrugs. "He's bi, you could seduce the information right out of him. "

What then was first a loud snot became crackling cackles at such an absurd idea. "Me? Dating Kowalski? Ha! Dear Neptune, that's a good one," he lowers himself down to elbow the henchmen playfully.

He then turns his Segway away from the monitor, pondering more on it as his flipper waves around. "But… He's not my type. I especially don't date those who've dated Doris."

"Then he would never suspect you because he doesn't think he's your type either… And well, I can't say you really seem like his type either, looking at his past exes on file." He slyly glances in the dolphin's direction.

Now that. Now that was just cruel. Blowhole snaps his head at him. "Wha—HEY. I am everyone's type! I am the most desirable bachelor around!" The dolphin points at him.

"Actually, I think that title belongs to a wild otter in the park." He smirks. "But I'm just saying, he's never dated a guy before to my knowledge, though he's mentioned being bi."

Gawking at Red One's bold statement, he scoffs at him. "Whatever, I don't need your say. I know I still got my dolphin charm~" He gives himself a grin… although it has been a while since he's dated someone…

"Even if I seduced the information out of him, how will I do it without Skipper or that stupid redhead interfering?"

"Well, who said you had to date him as yourself?" He chuckles.

"… Crabcakes, you're right." Blowhole nods, casually earning an evilly genius idea.

"I seduce him, lure him, he tells me all his classified information, and then I capture him for bait. Oh and the look of humiliation when he realizes he's been used like seaweed."

With a wicked cackle, he suddenly twirls to the rest of his henchmen, who totally have not been eavesdropping on their boss's conversation.

"Lobsters! Pack up, we're heading to the lair in Rhode Island." He commands them, looping back around to gaze at the monitor.

"Red One, do you know where I placed my male android?"

Now, this makes Red One blink in surprise. "Yes, sir, I put him in the closet."

"Excellent. Bring it out and place it in a shipment box. It's coming with us."

"Okay." He nods before skittering off.

But the dolphin doesn't watch him leave, all his attention still on the giant screen, which still had Kowalski on live footage.

The penguin on the screen, now alone, looks pretty miserable already as it is. Bundled up and sickly in a blanket cocoon was not a very attractive image, though perhaps a little adora—nope. Not that either.

Blowhole shakes his head and tiredly narrows his eyes at the indisposed pen-gu-in. This is to teach a lesson. No one gets to touch his sister. Especially an enemy.

"Well, smart guy. You want to start dating now?" He whispers harshly at the screen, tightening his grip on the segway's handles. Baring his teeth, he turns off the screen before anymore… 'feelings' stop him. He can't look at him in this state.

He then curves about and rolls on.

"Fine… let's date."

*CREDITS*

*As of: November 9th 2022*

*On: AO3, FFN, Wattpad, and Tumblr*

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The 61 guests on AO3, and finally, all of you quiet readers, who silently follow where the story takes you. Thank you.

"Working on Caretaker of Madagascar has been an interesting journey since Insert-Meaningful-Username asked if I wanted to help with it and then fully co-write it with her. So many hours have went into this story, and I'm so happy so many of you have enjoyed the journey with us! IMU has been a pleasure to work with and I look forward to writing the second book with her. Thank you all for your lovely comments and reviews! Hope you follow us along to the next fic of the series!"

~Gwen (BML1997)

"Being the first fanfiction project I've ever published, I'm excited with how far this story has come. I cannot believe we've gotten to this point, the end of the first book, and coming beginning of a second. I'm so grateful for my joining co-writer, BML1997, she's brilliantly talented and such a clever yet hilarious writer. Although we struggled, we figured out a way for us to use our strengths and weaknesses to our advantages. We've become a strong duo, and without Gwen, I don't think CoM would've made it pasted Chapter 1. We want to thank all the readers for your feedback, fanart, vocal support, and love/support on CoM. You too played a part in this insane fic continuing on. Thank you for reading, and until then, we'll see you guys soon ❤️"

~Imu (Insert-Meaningful-Username)

*Caretaker of Madagascar: Harvest Moon, will come out: November 15th 2022*