Prologue
Alternate Ending
Redshore City was known as the entertainment capital of the world. For that reason, theater-owner, koala, Buster Moon and his troupe wanted nothing more than to perform there. Through a comedic series of events, they'd successfully auditioned and pitched a sci-fi musical to Arctic Wolf and entertainment mogul Jimmy Crystal. Admittedly, it took some fancy talking and white lies. White lies that nearly got Buster killed but his tenacity, combined with the empathy of Ash the porcupine and the wisdom of the reclusive Clay had been enough to get them to this night.
They had all been terrified out of their minds but, even in the face of grave danger, the New Moon Troupe performed before a packed theater of guests. Johnny conquered his cruel teacher in a dance battle. Porsha Crystal stood up to her father, embracing her new role as the green alien of the planet Joy. Meena found the courage to talk to her ice cream guy.
Then the final act came. It was time for Rosita and Gunter to wow the audience with the climax. Buster would have been lying if he said he wasn't nervous when Rosita's acrophobia once more surfaced as she peered down from the diving board.
"Come on, Rosita…" he prayed, trying to will her fear away. No one saw the maniacal white wolf rushing up to them. "Ahhhh!" He cried out when the wolf grabbed him by the jacket and ran to the lift, riding it to the top of the catwalk.
Blue eyes shrank to pin pricks. "Got you now, you low-life little loser!" He growled.
"I am not a loser and I'm not a low-life. We did what we came here to do! And there's nothing you can do or say to change that…" Buster could see his life starting to flash before his eyes. Could this really be it? After coming this far?
Jimmy hauled Buster to the edge of the catwalk towering over the stage. He laughed. "I can do whatever I want." And without thinking, he threw the koala from the catwalk.
His red bow tie flew off his neck and Buster could only scream as he felt himself starting to fall. Falling, falling. He seemed to fall forever, faster and faster he hurtled towards the ground. This was it. The end. No. It wasn't fair. He was so close!
Suddenly, two arms grabbed him from midair and dropped him carefully on the nearest platform. He put his hand to his chest as he realized he was still alive.
"This is the part when I say I don't want you…" He drew his eyes to the sky, watching Rosita triumphantly flying around the stage and singing her upbeat, victorious ballad. She had saved his life and the show at the same time. He looked up at the catwalk, where Big Daddy clutched Crystal by his suit jacket.
He ran back to the backstage controls. His friends surrounded him, asking if he was alright. "Yeah, never better…" He fought to get his breathing under control while Miss. Crawley gently patted his back. "She did it… isn't she great! She and Gunter totally owned that!" He rejoiced for Rosita's success. "Where're Ash and Clay?"
They huddled around the controls as Ash came out of the "ice cave" alone. Buster bit his lip as she sang acapella, her melodic voice echoing through the theater. "I have climbed the highest mountains…. I have run through the fields only to be with you. Only to be with you. But I still haven't found what I'm looking for…"
They all watched and listened with bated breath. The crowd sang with Ash, repeating the line once, twice. The third time, Buster was ready to give up hope. Until the sound of an acoustic guitar riff echoed from the cave and a white-maned lion emerged. Buster could see Ash's eyes were wet with emotion, smiling with relief and gratitude.
"I believe in the kingdom come. When all the colors bleed into one, bleed into one. But yes, I'm still running." Strong fingers strummed the strings of the guitar with practiced ease. Just like riding a bicycle.
Rosita's voice echoed from the stage when the song ended. "Mission Accomplished. We're coming home." The wires lifted their transparent platforms up and away. The lights came on and confetti exploded from the cannons in celebration of the completion of their performance.
The audience stood up in unison and applauded, screaming for joy. The fanfare was intoxicating.
Buster joined the cast on stage, dodging Crystal's attempts to get away from Big Daddy. Together they stepped out and took their bows.
"Jimmy!" An exuberant, effervescent voice shouted as Crystal felt Big Daddy release him to join in the applause. He looked at the red headed mare coming backstage. "Oh my gosh, listen to that crowd. You are a genius."
The arctic wolf stood up straight and fixed his tie. "Why thank you, Linda. I am a genius." He went onstage and waved to the audience. "Thank you all for coming to our special premiere of Out of this World. I am so proud of the work we did here today. And hey, let's give my good friend Clay a hearty welcome back. Yes, I look forward to having this show run in my theater for many years to come. Right, Moon?" He turned to see the koala looking at him with no expression. Suddenly, he remembered what he had just tried to do.
Before Buster could respond, an auburn haired saluki walked onstage with three uniformed law enforcement officers. "Officers, arrest this wolf."
Jimmy stepped back as the officers took out a pair of cuffs. "Wait! Moon! Look, you know I didn't mean anything by that thing earlier right? I got the mommy pig to jump, didn't I?"
"Daddy!" Porsha shouted as she ran over to him. "You tried to hurt my new friends! You tried to kill Mr. Moon! Daddy, how could you?" Her tone wasn't angry, it was hurt and upset.
Crystal shook his head. "He fired you, baby. He made you cry!" He jabbed a finger at her.
Porsha shook her head. "No, Daddy. He didn't. I misunderstood. He was giving me a better part. I'm sorry I was too spoiled to recognize that before." She told Buster. "I'm sorry. This was all my fault. Aunt Suki, please…"
Buster saw her shining eyes. Crystal had tried to kill him and Porsha was taking the blame. But he was her father. Not everyone had fathers willing to work themselves to the bone so their children could buy their own theater. The wolf was so used to getting his own way that he expected the same for his child and he had expected Buster to treat her as such. It was no excuse but it did strike a cord in the koala.
Suki touched Porsha's shoulder. "Honey, this isn't your fault. Your father knew what he was doing, he is a grown wolf and he can accept responsibility for his actions." She glowered at her ex-boss.
"But Mr. Moon is okay, thanks to Rosita and the crowd loved it! Mr. Moon, please… I still need my dad," her lip trembled and Buster grit his teeth.
He massaged his temples for a moment. "I guess… you did help Rosita overcome her fear of heights, Mr. Crystal." He looked at the officers. "Do I even get any say in this?" Porsha could be barking up the entirely wrong tree depending on the city statutes on attempted murder.
The rhino shrugged. "Only if someone really wants to press charges. But when someone tries to kill you, you should normally press charges."
Buster shook his head. He didn't want to let Crystal go. The wolf was a short fuse and definitely a few cards short of a full deck. What if he tried again? But he just kept seeing all of the fathers around him. Big Daddy with Johnny, Norman with his piglets.
"Mr. Moon, what do you want to do?" Suki asked, her eyes judging him. James deserved to be punished.
Buster looked at his troupe. He briefly remembered how easily they forgave him when he'd almost gotten them all killed. When he had lied to them about the 100,000 prize money. And while he certainly hadn't tried to kill them, it was only dumb luck that they'd survived. Intention didn't mean much where death was concerned. Dead was dead.
"What guarantee do I have that you won't try to harm any of us again?" He asked the wolf.
Crystal glared at him briefly before looking at his daughter. "Porsha, I don't need you to defend me. Suki is right… I was so humiliated and embarrassed, and angry on your behalf, that I let it color my judgment." He hugged her. "I did wrong and I need to be punished." He would go out with his head held high. That little pipsqueak had damaged his image enough. He needed to do damage control. "But you better make sure Porsha is taken care of, you little loser." He hissed under his breath.
He offered his hands to the rhino for the cuffs, standing straight and tall. Buster watched the cuffs draw closer. Porsha still looked at him with pleading eyes and his instincts were at war with each other. "Stop!" He shouted.
Suki looked at Buster. "Yes?" She asked with an intrigued expression.
"I can't believe I'm doing this. I don't want to press charges. Please let him go," he glared at the wolf. "I won't take you away from your daughter. You're too harsh and arrogant, I know you hurt her a lot today too. But you do seem to love her so I guess you have potential. And yes, I'll keep the show here. For now." He was terrified as the officers put the cuffs away and released the white wolf. What had he just done? Crystal would surely just try to kill him again but he couldn't take a father from his child.
Suki smiled and nodded. "Did you get that Linda?" She drew their attention to the talk show hostess.
"Oh yeah, that's Hot News. You heard it here folks," Linda said to her camera crew. "To celebrate their success, he and his troupe have magnanimously agreed to forgive Mr. James Crystal of Crystal Empires for his lapse of judgment and continue to work for Crystal Empires to mount their new hit musical, Out of this World! And let me tell you, Out of this World just about sums it up for a review, folks."
Buster looked up Crystal and whispered. "I think we understand each other now. Don't we?"
Crystal growled in his throat but he wanted this show and he didn't want to go to jail. "Yes…" He could do nothing without harming his reputation further. Moon had beaten him. He hated him but at the same time, he couldn't help feeling a grudging respect for the koala. Not many had the guts to stand up to him. Perhaps he had potential after all.
Porsha picked up the director and hugged him. "Thank you, Mr. Moon. I won't let Daddy hurt you again. I promise." She put him down and hugged her father.
Suki looked down at Buster. "You're a big person, Mr. Moon." She said softly. "I don't think I would or could be so forgiving. I was wrong about you. You and your troupe are exactly what this city needs."
Buster sighed. "I only hope I haven't made a big mistake." He whispered. Suki observed that he was visibly trembling.
She nodded and knelt. "You know, my father used to tell me something. Something I took to heart. Never does the soul appear so strong as when it forgoes revenge."
Buster watched Porsha with her father. The wolf hadn't stopped staring at him but Buster couldn't read his expression. He could tell he was angry, his fragile ego was shattered, but the bloodlust didn't seem to be there any longer.
A hand on her shoulder called him back to his troupe. Rosita smiled at him. "I'm so glad you're alright." She hugged him. When she was standing on that board, staring down at the crowd, she'd felt her heart leap into her throat. But watching Buster fall, hearing his terrified scream, she couldn't even think about how scared she was. In that moment, there was something more important than her fear. The koala who had given her the chance to achieve her dreams. Saving him was all that mattered to the maternal sow.
He nodded and let her comfort him. "Thank you, Rosita. You did great. Let's… let's go back… back to the hotel…" He looked back at Crystal for confirmation.
A short, pudgy cat with light-and-dark striped brown fur, wearing a magenta suit, came up on stage. "Mr Crystal, are you alright?"
Crystal nodded. "I'm fine, Jerry! Look… get these guys a new suite in the hotel. And a limo, take them back in style. Make sure they have everything they need." He nodded to Buster. "Porsha, baby, it's late and you've had a big night. Let's get you home. I am so proud of you." He whispered just loud enough for her to hear but Buster could read his lips. Maybe he did make the right decision. He only hoped the wolf would keep his word.
Suki Lane watched as the New Moon troupe and their loved ones surrounded Buster protectively while everyone began leaving. She would need to keep her eye on them, especially Moon. There was something special about him. She glared at Crystal. "You're lucky that "little loser" has such a big heart. You could learn from him." She followed the troupe out.
Jimmy frowned at the bitch. "We shall see, Suki. We shall see." He let his daughter lead him away from the stage.
AN: Yeah, a new fandom for me. I recently discovered these movies and omg, they are awesome. They have a lot of heart. I've decided to try and redeem James Crystal. We'll see if I can do it.