Well, this is it: the epilogue, the big finish. Not that writing this story hasn't been a blast (because believe me, it has), but there are other stories with my name on them. Enjoy and keep an eye out for future works from Scruff the Rat!

Once more, Madagascar and all its characters and elements belong to Dreamworks Animation. Gabby belongs to Funkywatermelon. Natasha belongs to me.


Normally, this would be the part where the story ties with a neat little bow in the form of the usual "happy ending."

Unfortunately for the members of Circus Zaragoza, even though Boris was long gone and they thus had the right to feel happy and relieved, there were still some loose ends that had to be tied up.

The most obvious one was the addition of Gabby. The young lady zebra still had some adjusting to do with her new life here due to not only her timid nature but also the scars left over from the long years of torture at the hands of the human workers, Boris, and the other zoo animals. Luckily, she'd always have Marty for support, along with a slew of new friends to help her push on.

Second, the gang still needed to worry about the Valentine's Day parade, which was in only a couple of days—and the altercation with Boris robbed them of much of their precious time for practice. So Vitaly immediately buckled down and drilled his whole team like a sergeant, training each and every one of the animals until their bones and muscles ached.

Only Natasha and Gabby received leeway; in fact, if anything, they got the least training, if any, of all in spite of the tigress's years-long absence and the zebra's feeling of inadequacy in being unable to help with the performance.

Oh, and speaking of Natasha, there was one more tiny detail to take note of, one that sent Vitaly fainting the second she told him: she was pregnant.

Had been for a while, in fact, ever since her first night back home—no words could do justice for Vitaly's inflated enthusiasm...or his clinginess.

His wife got the picture very, very quickly.


"Are you sure you vill be alright?"

Natasha gave her husband a blank stare, seriously annoyed now by the repetitive questions. At this rate, the parade would be short one tiger, and baby or no baby the tigress knew her husband would regret missing the parade if he did. "You keep askeeng same question, I keep giveeng same answer."

'I suppose I cannot argue with her dere.' And when Natasha was right, 99% of the time she was right. "Alright," Vitaly innocently shrugged his shoulders and turned to leave...only to swivel back around with, "But in case you don't feel alright—"

"Out."

"Vhat?" At both the word and his wife's pointed finger, Vitaly gaped in confusion.

'Oy vey,' the tigress thought exasperatedly, having had enough of Vitaly's overprotective streak. Natasha's answer consisted of her grabbing her spouse's hefty shoulders and forcing him to face and move towards the door—no small feat due to the larger male's dragging feet, even with Natasha's considerable strength.

"How many times must I remind you? I can handle myself, malysh."

Vitaly intended to forestall a little longer. 'One more assurance...Dat eez all I wish for.' With a gruff sigh, he turned back to his wife and opened his mouth to utter one last protest.

Lips enclosed his own.

Everything but his lips, heart, and muscles shut down. Arms embraced, eyes shut, tongues deepened, bodies shifted into one another, tails intertwined...

Vitaly only knew bliss, nothing else.

He only knew the soothing, sensual feel of flesh against flesh.

With this kiss, Natasha made everything clear to her husband.

I will be here. I promise.

At last, they parted lips and shared a moment to simply stare into each other's eyes. They needed this very moment. What they yearned and prayed for years...was this.

No confusion...

No hatred...

No fear...

No distractions...

No worries...

Just them and them alone...

And as Vitaly finally released Natasha and departed, waving goodbye to both her and the part of her that would soon house their cub, he reflected.

'Lost in fire'...that had been his thought after the fire ring fiasco.

And now...now look where he stood. Look where everyone stood—him, Natasha, Gia, Stefano, Alex, Marty, Gabby...everyone, even the penguins and the lemurs. The fire ring had been the end of one chapter; but it had been also the beginning of another.

Because that was the nature of fire: it always destroys yet only does so in order to pave the way for something greater.

Just like how Vitaly lost his bravado to eventually realize how lucky he truly was, how loved he was.

All of his friends...all of his family...had become his fire and gave rise to something even the legendary phoenix could never compare to...

Hope.

That's what they gave him.

With it, he would not disappoint them.

He would be the best father he could be.

He would be the best husband he could be.

He would be the best brother he could be.

And sure as hell, he would give his all for this parade...because after all...

'The show must go on.'


Thanks to everyone who helped make this story such a success! Good bye, farewell, and may our paths meet again at one point or another. :)