Chapter 36: A New Day
The herd makes their way down from Forbidden Rock and starts to head back to the village as Diego help Toby walk due to his minor injuries that Victor gave him.
"How are you feeling Toby?" Diego asked.
"I'll be OK" Toby replied as he smiles at Diego.
"I'm so proud of you buddy. I'm really am" said Diego.
"Thanks dad" Toby thanked.
"How are you feeling guys?" Manny asked Sid and Carrie.
"Fine...I'm just glad it's over but I didn't mean for Victor to be crushed by those giant rocks" Sid admitted.
"He was a threat to everyone Sid, He was too dangerous to be around...although it would be better if he was trapped in a dark cave for the rest of his life" Carrie replied.
"It doesn't matter anymore guys, Victor and Carlotta are gone forever. At least now the people we loved can rest in peace" said Dodger.
"True" Niamh agreed.
"How are you feeling Carrie?" Sid asked.
"I'm alright. It's just that I was so scared. I thought I would lose you" Carrie admitted.
"Same here but it's all over now and we're still here" Sid comforted Carrie and kisses her.
"That's right and I wanna spend of my days with you Niamh" said Dodger as he holds her paw.
"Oh Dodger" Niamh blushed as Dodger kissed her cheek.
"Get a room you two" Toby shooked his head as Diego chuckled.
Stan walks with Carrie as he asked
"Do you remember me Carrie?"
Carrie stops as she looks at Stan and hugs him.
"Of course I do Stan! I missed you a lot" Carrie happily replied.
Stan smiles back at Carrie and returns embrace
"And I missed you as well" said Stan.
"This is my husband, Sid" Carrie introduced.
"Hi" Sid greeted.
"Please to meet you" Stan greeted back.
"Sorry to stop this reunion but can we please get back to the village?" Manny asked.
"Yeah" Carrie nodded.
Soon the herd was back at the village as they saw some of the twenty hyraxes that were heading thier way to the village as Ellie and the others spotted Manny and the others.
"They're back!" Ellie happily exclaimed as the villagers cheered.
"Dad! Uncle Sid! Aunt Carrie!" Peaches cheered as she was holding Rosy in her trunk.
"Diego! Toby!" Eddie also cheered.
"Dodger! Niamh and that old man! You're all back" Crash cheered.
"Guys!" Carrie happily exclaimed as she runs to Ellie and hugs her then she hugs Crash and Eddie.
"Here's Rosy Aunt Carrie!" said Peaches.
"Rosy! My little Rosy! You're safe" Carrie happily gasped as she holds her daughter close to her.
"I manage to save her when Leo was talking to Victor" said Stan.
"Thank you Stan! Thank you so much!" Carrie thanked.
Soon Sid sees the Hyraxes and hugs them as he talks to them and when the hyraxes replied back to Sid, the yellow sloth gasped and said
"I'm so sorry"
"What happened?" Shira asked.
"Carlotta wiped out half of the hyraxes but they mange to escape" Sid sadly replied.
"Oh you poor things" Ellie gasped in pity.
"Well you'll be happy to know that your pack was avenged by us guys, Victor and Carlotta are gone forever" Diego replied.
The hyraxes smiles and hugs each of the herd members as Stan walks up to the villagers and announced
"Villagers! Our enemies are gone and will never bother us again!"
The villagers happily cheered as they rejoiced now that the darkness that disturbed the villagers is gone forever.
Soon Sid walks to Carrie and puts his arm around her.
"We did it Carrie! It's all over" Sid said as he smiles at Carrie.
"I know" Carrie replied as she smiles back at him.
Soon they looked down at Rosy who was gurgling happy at her parents and they smile at her.
"We're glad you guys are safe" Shira said as she walks by to them.
"Same here to all of you" Carrie replied.
Then Stan walks up to Carrie and said
"Carrie, Now that Leo is gone and the throne is empty, I was wondering...Would you like to become our queen for the village?"
The herd surprisingly looks at Carrie as she couldn't believe that she was being offered the throne of the village.
"I...I don't know...Can you excuse us for a minute?" said Carrie as she takes Sid away from the others.
"Sid, If I accept, Then you, me and Rosy have to stay here and leave the herd...What do you think Sid?" Carrie asked.
"It's up to you but I reckon you should do it and besides, these villagers need someone like you" Sid encouraged.
"I...I don't know...I don't wanna leave this herd and I know you don't" said Carrie.
"Well...It's up to you Carrie" said Sid as he rubs her shoulder for comfort.
After a minute or two, Carrie and Sid with Rosy went back to the others as Carrie said
"Your offer is wonderful Stan but I'm afraid I'm gonna have to decline it"
"Why?" Stan asked.
"Because after my parents and my brother died years ago, I met Sid and because of him, I have a family, I have a daughter and I have Sid as my one true love forevermore" Carrie replied.
"Yeah! And this herd needs me! Besides I created it" Sid added.
"And we would be nothing without you Sid" said Toby as he smiles at his friend.
"Thanks Toby" Sid thanked.
"Well, If that's how you feel then I'm happy for you" Stan replied.
"Thanks Stan" Carrie thanked as she hugs him.
Dodger then steps forward and said
"If I may sir, if it's Ok, I would like to accept the role of the new leader of the village"
The herd and even Stan looks at Dodger surprisingly.
"Dodger?" said Carrie as she looks at Dodger confusingly.
"Well...Why not? I mean, Look at Niamh!" said Dodger as he and the others turn to face Niamh.
Niamh was chatting to some of the female sloths and she was happy and comfortable.
"I've never seen her so happy and relaxed. I love Niamh but I don't want her to live the rest of her life in stress and fear" said Dodger.
"Aww! You're sweet Dodger" Ellie replied as she smiles at Dodger.
"Yeah...And I reckon this is the only place that would help her feel more relaxed and happy, Not that I'm saying she doesn't enjoy being in this herd because we do! It's just-" Dodger tried to explain.
"It's alright Dodger. We understand" said Manny.
"But if you become leader of the village then we'll never see you or Niamh again" Carrie sadly said.
"Not really! Guys! I'm giving you my old home" said Dodger.
"The Sanctuary?" Sid asked.
"Yeah! It's yours if you want it!" said Dodger.
"What do you think Manny?" Ellie asked.
"Well...It is a lovely place so...Yeah we're stay there" Manny agreed.
"Really? Oh Manny! Thank you!" Carrie happily thanked as she gives Rosy to Sid and hugs Manny's trunk.
"You're welcome" said Manny.
"But what about Toby?" Diego asked.
"He's part of our herd, Of course he'll come! Won't you Toby?" Manny replied.
"Of course I will! You guys are my family now and nobody abandons a family member" said Toby.
"You got that right son!" said Diego as he puts his arms around Toby and pats his back.
"Hey Niamh! Can you come here for a minute?" Dodger called out.
Niamh then walks up to the herd and said "Yeah?"
"Niamh, I'm deciding to become leader of the village and I was wandering if you wish to be my queen. I'm not asking you because I have to, I'm asking you because I love you and I want you to be by my side" Dodger replied.
Niamh looks at the herd then to Dodger and then she said
"I-I don't know! But this means we won't see Carrie and the others anymore"
"Actually we're staying at the Sanctuary now so you can visit us if you want" said Carrie.
Dodger then kneels down in front of Niamh and took her hand.
"Niamh, I love you with my heart. You're everything I live for. You're my heart and soul and my life to me! Niamh, Will you be my queen and wife?" Dodger proposed.
Niamh surprisingly looks at Dodger as the herd and the villagers cheered at the proposal.
Niamh then tearfully smiles at Dodger and happily exclaimed
"Yes! Yes I will!"
Dodger and Niamh then kissed as the herd cheered more.
"Can you guys do us one more favor?" Sid asked.
"Yes" Dodger replied.
"Can the hyraxes stay with you?" Carrie asked.
Dodger and Niamh looks at the pleading mammals and they smile at the little creatures.
"Welcome to your new home my friends" Dodger kindly welcomed the hyraxes.
The hyraxes and the villagers cheered as the hyraxes were accepted into the village as their new home.
Soon Stan walks in front of Dodger and Niamh and said
"If you two would follow me"
Soon Niamh and Dodger hold each other's hands and follows Stan to the top of where the throne cave is and soon they face each other happily as Stan calls for Sid and Carrie.
"Can you hold Rosy for a minute Ellie?" Sid asked.
"Sure" Ellie replied as she holds Rosy in her trunk.
Sid and Carrie walks up to Stan as he gave Sid and Carrie stone craved crowns.
"Sid, when I say King Dodger, Put the crown on Dodger" Stan explained.
"Got it" Sid winked.
"It's the same with you Carrie but only when I say Queen Niamh" Stan said to Carrie.
"Yes Stan" Carrie replied.
"Alright! You two better get to your positions" said Stan.
Sid walks to Dodger and Carrie walk to Niamh.
"Are you sure you wanna do this Niamh?" Dodger asked.
"Yes. I want to spend the rest of my life with you Dodger" Niamh replied as they both smile at each other.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends and families! Over the past few days, we lived in darkness but today is a brand new day of today, We're here to crown our new king and queen of this village...Do you, Dodger, take Niamh to be your queen and wife in sickness and in health till death do you part?" said Stan.
"I do" Dodger replied.
"Do you, Niamh, take Dodger to be your king and husband in sickness and in health till death do you part?" Stan said to Niamh.
"I do" Niamh replied.
"Then by the power within me, I know pronounce you husband and wife...And now, ladies and gentlemen, the crowning of our new king and queen" Stan announced.
Soon Sid puts the crown high above Dodger's head.
"From our brave and mighty past kings that have long live their generations in our village, I hereby crown thee, King Dodger" Stan announced as Sid places the crown on Dodger's head.
"And from our wise and noble past queens that has long lived in their generations in our village, I hereby crown thee, Queen Niamh" Stan announced as Carrie places the crown on Niamh's head.
"Long live King Dodger and Long live Queen Niamh" said Stan as he bows before them.
The villagers including Sid, Carrie and the herd bows before them as they all chanted "Long live King Dodger! Long live Queen Niamh"
Soon Dodger and Niamh kissed as they were now king and queen of the village.
Later on, Sid and the herd was outside the village as Stan, Dodger and Niamh were saying their goodbyes to the herd.
"Farewell my friends and thank you" Stan thanked and heads back to the village.
"Are you sure you two are gonna OK?" Carrie asked.
"Of course we will" said Dodger.
"Yeah and besides, I have Dodger as my husband now. So yeah! We'll be alright" Niamh added.
"You know, you guys are always welcome to visit us" said Manny.
"We know! We will come and visit you guys one day" said Dodger.
"So long Niamh and good luck" said Carrie as she hugs her best friend.
"Thank you! Good luck to you as well and to all of you" said Niamh as she hugs Carrie back.
"So long Dodger! You and Niamh will do great. Take care of her" Carrie said as she hugs Dodger.
"I will, You take of yourself and the same goes to you all alright?" Dodger replied as the herd nodded.
"Well...See you around guys" said Sid.
Soon the herd was on their way back to the Sanctuary as Dodger and Niamh watches them leave.
"I love you Niamh" said Dodger.
"I love you too Dodger" Niamh replied and soon their lips met as the sun sets and night time was once again here.
As the herd was walking back home, Carrie looks at Sid as she smiles happily at him.
Sid, holding Rosy who was asleep in his arm, looks at her and chuckles
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing...It's just I have a feeling our lives are going to be so much better now" Carrie replied.
"You know Carrie, I agree with you because now that Victor, Carlotta and Leo are gone forever, we can live our lives just the way we want and we won't have to worry about them ever again" Sid agreed.
"Yeah, a new day for us is finally here" said Carrie as the herd nods in agreement.
As the herd kept walking back to the Sanctuary, Carrie knew that every shadow that has haunt her mind and everything they went through is over and now they can live happily as a family.
Every doubt
Every nightmare
Every bad memory Carrie had is dead and gone.
She's got a great life
She has a family
She's reunited with her friends
She has a daughter
And last and definitely not least, she has her true love.
Sid.
Carrie is happily moving on with her new life with Sid and the herd.
It's not over yet!
Stay tune for the Epilogue! ;-)