Welcome back true believers! Good news, the box office for Sing 2 has gone over $290 million. Hopefully the sequel will bring back Nooshy, as well as Porsha and Calloway. Can't continue without them in my opinion.

I Knew You Were a Weirdo

00000

IX - Memory Lane

"So how's the business Eddie?"

"Booming," the sheep said, dramatizing the word with his hands as though mimicking an explosion. "Security software is in high demand these days. I had forgotten how good I was with computers."

"I haven't," Buster Moon said, smiling proudly.

Eddie Noodleman smiled back, placing a friendly hand on his diminutive best friend's shoulder.

"Wish our reunion was under better circumstances."

Buster frowned sadly. "Me too."

"Have you been doing ok Buster? Since what happened in Red Shore City?"

Buster shuddered as though he had a sickening chill. "I've been seeing a clinical psychologist." He chuckled. "The guys insisted."

Eddie gave his friend a look. "Would you have gone to see one if they didn't?"

Buster was at a loss for words. "Uh...I…"

Eddie sighed. "Buster…"

"Look, I had other things on my mind. I…"

"You were almost killed Buster!" Eddie countered. "Do you know what Nana did when she heard the news?!"

Buster looked down. "She fainted."

"That's right. She was almost in no condition to attend your show at the Majestic."

So I've heard. That woman has nerves of steel.

"Maybe we should put a pin in this and move on to-?"

Eddie rolled his eyes. "Buster...you need to take better care of yourself. How can you expect the New Moon Theater to succeed if you can't even function?"

"I have…" Buster defended. "I've been attending my sessions, even doing them through Zoom if necessary."

"That's good but are you committed to sticking to them?"

"Of course I am!" Buster almost snapped before he could filter himself.

He looked regretful. "I'm...I'm sorry Eddie, I didn't…"

"It's fine Buster, I get it." Eddie got on one knee so he could get on eye level with his best friend. "I just want you to be ok, bud."

Buster smiled warmly. "Thanks Ed."

"You're welcome." Eddie's warm look turned dead serious as he looked Buster straight in the eye. "There's something else, something grandma wanted me to tell you personally. It's serious."

Buster looked a tad startled. "Oh no. What is it?"

00000

"There we go," Marcus said, finishing applying a fresh bandage to Johnny's mending nose.

"Thanks dad." Johnny winced as he inhaled sharply through his teeth. His voice was not so nasally but his nose still stung a bit.

The minor sneezing after his little dip didn't help.

Plus, the river had left a smell on him that was less than pleasant. Took him almost an hour to get the stink out.

Must've used the entire bottle of soap to do it.

He hadn't realized how sore the whole experience the night before made him. The steam from the shower had made his entire body ache.

Sniffling, Johnny tenderly rubbed his nose.

"You ok son?" Marcus asked.

Johnny nodded, albeit shakily. "I'm fine dad, just...not used to coming close to dying twice. And the week isn't even out."

Marcus looked pained. "Oh Johnny." He hugged his son who in turn clung to him tightly.

Breathing heavily, Johnny buried his face into his father's shoulder.

Marcus rubbed his son's back. "It's ok Johnny, it's ok."

Johnny clung to his father even tighter.

"You were so brave Johnny."

Johnny sniffled. "Thanks dad, but really...I was terrified."

"I know but you fought back anyway. You rose above your fear." Marcus chuckled. "And despite your fear, you were more worried about Jimmy and that lady and her kid."

Johnny laughed with him. "I was thinking of Jimmy's mum and Mrs Myer's husband and daughter as well as that little boy. The thought of them dying and the grief that would follow, it was unbearable."

Marcus sighed deeply. "And have you taken into account the grief that would follow if you had died Johnny?"

Johnny trembled terribly as the guilt of knowing the pain his flight had caused his friends. "I…"

"Do you have any clue what it would've done to me? Your uncles? Your friends? Nooshy?"

Johnny slowly pulled back, messy tear tracks on his cheeks. "I saw Nooshy last night. She was…" He shuddered, remembering well the rage on her face. "...she was not happy. Not at first anyway. I thought she was going to hurt me."

"Can you blame her?"

Johnny shook his head tiredly. "No. Guess not. I never seen her so angry and it disturbed me that I was responsible."

"You had us all scared Johnny. When I heard you left the safehouse and you didn't come back, I dropped everything to find you. If I had been any later…" Marcus pinched the bridge of his nose.

Johnny placed both hands on his father's shoulders. "The important thing is that you did reach us in time dad."

"I know, just can't seem to get my mind off it."

"Have you heard about Uncle Stan?" Johnny asked.

"Yeah, he's fine," Marcus replied. "The shot only grazed 'im. They're keepin 'im in for observation. Barry's gonna keep an eye on 'im, 'case one of DiMarco's mates comes knockin'."

Johnny looked at his father, stricken. "But DiMarco's dead."

"Sure looks that way, and if he is, that'll mean the reins of his little gang will go to his boy Khan."

"Who's that?" Johnny asked. "I never heard of him."

"That's the point, DiMarcos have always laid low. Not so much now since their top enforcer and possibly the boss have taken a nosedive. Khan is tough and vicious but he doesn't have the patience or the brains like Sean. He might be easier for the cops to nab."

Johnny stared at his father with a raised eyebrow. "You talk about DiMarco as though you knew him, dad."

"One story at a time Johnny, now…" Marcus smiled. "Something you want to get off your chest about a really special girl?"

Johnny's face went blank and then he attempted to feign confusion. "Who?"

"Y'know? Someone slender, easy on the eyes, great dancer?"

Johnny turned away, face red. "No idea what you're talking about."

Marcus smirked. "Greenest eyes you've ever seen?"

"Her eyes are brown," Johnny said before he could catch himself.

Marcus wore an amused grin, putting a hand to his lips, to suppress a laugh.

Johnny scowled with his arms crossed. "Oh haha."

00000

The Moon troupe were in no hurry in having their breakfast.

The spread was an assortment of gourmet dishes, consisting of fruit salads, pancakes, oatmeal, among other things. All prepared at Nana Noodleman's pleasure.

The table was bustling with talk.

Clay Calloway was reading a local newspaper, sipping a cup of coffee. No honey of course.

Rosita and Porsha were talking about performing and acting tips.

Norman was casually and lovingly rubbing his wife's arm while he was enjoying a plate of pancakes.

Gunter was practically stuffing his blueberry pancakes into his mouth. "Wunderbar!" he said happily.

Ash, Nooshy and Johnny were trading stories about their personal lives. And judging by a few whispers, the way Ash was smirking, and by the rosy tint in Nooshy's cheeks and ears, and how Johnny was covering his face, it could be guessed what they were talking about.

"Why'd you tell her that?" Johnny groaned.

"'Cuz it's funny," Ash said with an amused smirk.

Nooshy covered her mouth, trying to suppress a giggle.

Meena and Alfonso were deep in talk, looking down at her phone in the middle of a video chat with Meena's mom and grandparents.

"Oh baby, I was so worried about you," Meena's mother Lois said through tears.

"I'm sorry mom," Meena said. "I would've called you sooner if I thought it was safe."

"I know baby. Miss Noodleman called us personally and explained everything."

Alfonso's eyes widened. "She did?"

"She certainly did my boy," Meena's grandfather Wilson said with a smile. "Imagine my surprise when Nana Noodleman came calling?" Wilson adjusted where he was sitting before continuing. "How are your friends doing? The girl and that pianist soul man?"

"They're ok, they're right here." Meena turned her phone's sights on Johnny and Nooshy could see them.

The gorilla and the lynx turned from their conversation to smile and wave at Meena's family.

"Now ain't that a pretty picture?" Grandpa Wilson said with a grin. "Rrrrrrr!" he growled.

"Dad!"

Meena spared the two further embarrassment by turning the phone back to her and her own boyfriend. "Oh ho, I'm so sorry!" Meena said, finding it hard not to laugh.

"No, it's fine," Nooshy said, putting her hood on as she nonchalantly tried to eat her breakfast.

Johnny was idly rubbing the claw marks on his cheek as they were itching a bit, probably because of the sudden increase of blood flow to his face. Why does everyone keep doing that?

Eddie and Buster watched the touching family breakfast as they ate their own fill, a combination of oatmeal and fruit salad.

They looked one to the other, their eyes filled with anticipated uncertainty.

Yeah, don't want to drop the bomb just yet, not when everyone are such in good spirits after such an awful night. That was the gist of their thoughts.

Johnny tried to focus on his breakfast, but couldn't seem to muster himself to finish eating.

He felt a sharp punch to the shoulder.

"Ow!" Johnny turned. "What was that for?!"

"Eat up big guy!" Nooshy snapped. "After the night you had, you need to keep your strength up."

Johnny stared at her, uncertain and slightly incredulous.

"What? Do I have to feed you?" She reached for his fork.

"Uh-No!" Johnny quickly caught the fork before she could touch it. "I'll eat." With that, Johnny immediately starts scooping food up and popping it in his mouth with abandon.

He hadn't realized how hungry he was.

Nooshy smiled triumphantly.

Her smile fell when she noticed the amused smiles in her direction.

She ignored them and continued eating her breakfast.

Johnny noticed Clay looking in his direction, smiling and giving him a wink.

His face reddened and he covered his face with his hand and with the other continued to eat his French toast.

00000

It was almost an hour before breakfast was finished. The table was cleared and the Moon troupe had gotten into talking of other things.

And they were having a good time.

Boisterous laughter filled the kitchen.

"I still can't believe we broke into the Crystal Tower," Rosita said, wiping her eyes.

"I can," Porsha said, drinking a glass of orange juice. "That was awesome."

Ash giggled. "And as we were hanging off the zamboni, we began to tip over."

Clay laughed. "Woopsie daisy."

Ash chuckled sheepishly. "And...I'm afraid some of my quills made contact with…"

Gunter grinned. "With my keister."

Porsha choked and sputtered on her orange juice, causing some to spray across the table.

The kitchen roared with laughter at that.

As the laughter died down, Johnny continued the story. "And what stopped us from falling over was Miss Crawly's glass eye rolling along the floor," he said, grinning.

Rosita took it from there. "And we were just rolling through the doors, and then-!"

"I love this part," Nooshy said.

"And then, Johnny hit his head along the side of the door and he goes-" Rosita motioned to Johnny.

And he made the same silent scream that he made when he actually did hit his head at Crystal Tower.

The room erupted with new laughter.

Porsha was pounding her fists on the table.

Nooshy was gripping her sides as she was busting a gut, even though she had heard this story several times.

Even Clay Calloway covered his mouth to stifle chuckles. "Oh ho, my my my my." He turned to Buster Moon with a sly grin. "I might've come to your show sooner if I had known the lengths you went to."

Buster chuckled nervously. "And that might've kept Mr Crystal from trying to kill me, twice."

All the laughter in the room died out like a spark that had been doused.

Mention of that terrible day and the one who nearly took their Buster away was enough to kill the laughter in the room.

Buster cursed inwardly. Me and my big mouth. It hadn't hit home what he had just revealed.

Feeling a tap on his shoulder, Buster turned to see Eddie looking at him sympathetically. There seemed to be hurt in his eyes. "Twice? Buster, I only knew of the one time that Crystal tried to kill you."

Buster slapped his forehead, cursing his stupidity. "I thought you knew."

"No!" Eddie exclaimed. "It said in the news that Crystal committed attempted murder, one count that they knew of. You weren't implicated as the victim until later on. And now you say he did it already before?"

Buster cleared his throat. "I really don't think this is the time-"

"Buster!" Ash said, shocked and in disbelief. "You said that Crystal tried to kill you. I assumed you meant that he sent his goons after you. But that isn't true is it?"

Buster gulped and he nodded. No point in putting it off. "No, he tried to throw me off the roof, just like he said he would if I ever made him look bad."

The revelation left everyone in a state of horrified silence as they stared in shock at the owner of New Moon Theater.

Buster continued. "It was when he called me to his office, right after…after..." He tried not to look in Porsha's direction.

The attempt not to do so was obvious.

There was a gasping sob. "Right after I thought you fired me from your show! Right after I opened my big mouth and let it leak to Linda Le Bon's show!" She had her face in her hands. "Oh God, I did this!"

"No no no no," Buster said. "Porsha, this wasn't your fault."

"Yes it was!"

Rosita took a moment to console the hysterical teenager.

Anguish filled the air in the room. That terrible night was still fresh on the minds of the Moon troupe. The danger of being pursued by Crystal's thugs was one thing. But watching an unhinged and unstable Jimmy Crystal grab Buster, take him to the highest platform of the Crystal Theater and then watch him drop their boss to his death? That was a traumatic evening that none of them have ever forgotten.

Apparently it was never made clear that Crystal had tried to do the exact same thing earlier that day and Buster had never told anyone, save his therapist of course.

Buster clenched his eyes and sighed. Of all the times to bring this up and reopen old wounds.

"Why didn't you tell us?!" Ash cried, her voice breaking.

Buster put his hands up. "I told you he tried to kill me. When I was in that suitcase?"

Ash sighed exasperatedly. "I remember. But I didn't know that's what you meant."

"Well I'm sorry that I didn't give enough context, it's just something I don't like talking about. I...I still have nightmares about it."

Ash's look of betrayal and anger held for a moment but soon melted away. All there was now was pity and sadness.

And shame.

"Oh Buster, I'm sorry," she said. "I shouldn't have-"

"No," Buster said, holding up a hand for Ash to stop. "You got nothing to be sorry for. I am the one who should be sorry. It's more than just being so scared I couldn't talk about it but I was also afraid of scaring you guys, especially you Ash...and I didn't want to risk making you feel responsible Porsha, which you are not!"

Porsha blew into a handkerchief as Meena patted her shoulder. "But...I should've seen it coming. I should've known what my dad would do. If I h-hadn't flown off the handle like that…"

"Porsh, honey no," Rosita said, taking the wolf's hand in her own. "You couldn't possibly have known and you are not responsible for your father's actions. No one is responsible but him."

"But...we almost lost Mr Moon because of him."

Rosita looked down. "I know."

"Thank goodness you acted when you did," Meena said with a weak smile.

Rosita did not look up but she managed a small smile. "If I had acted a moment too late…"

"Don't even talk about it," Ash said, smiling tearfully. "The important thing is that you did and Buster is alive because of it."

Rosita looked up to see everyone smiling at her.

"You saved him Rosita," Johnny said, emotionally rubbing his eyes.

A rosy tint shown on Rosita's cheeks. "It was nothing really."

"I don't call facing your fears and saving Mr Moon in the process nothing Rosy," Nooshy said, smiling. "The rest of us weren't fast enough to act when Crystal grabbed him. One moment he was there, and the next they were both out of our reach." Her smile turned into a slack blank look of despair as she recalled the event in question. "We could do nothing except watch."

00000

"LOOK OUT!" Meena shouted.

It happened so fast, one moment everyone was watching with anticipation as Rosita, mid-performance, all but succumbed to her panic attack.

One moment, Buster had his eyes upward, quietly encouraging Rosita on, believing in her even now.

And then Jimmy Crystal rushed him, grabbed him by the collar and dragged him to the lift leading to the topmost platform of the stage.

Everyone panicked.

""Daddy! Stop it!" Porsha yelled.

The disheveled Jimmy Crystal paid his daughter no mind. He was beyond reason, manic rage in his arctic blue eyes as he slammed the red button and the lift was already rising.

"No!" Nooshy cried, hands outstretched in a vain attempt to reach the lift.

"Mr Crystal!" Suki shouted in distressed protest.

"NO!" Johnny cried, reaching out to the lift but it was already too late. "We have to do something!" Johnny tried to climb up the platform but it was no use. The lift had already reached the top.

All eyes upward, those present watched with growing horror as Crystal, with Moon in his grasp, walked towards the edge.

He held Buster above the wormhole.

And he let him go.

Buster fell screaming.

The Moon troupe down below screamed as well.

Meena covered her face with her ears, not bearing to watch, instinctively turning to Darius who readily held her.

Horrified, Suki's hands shot to her mouth as she watched Buster fall to his death.

Johnny tried to climb over the platform where he was standing, hoping to jump and save Buster, perhaps break his fall. Nooshy desperately tried to hold him back, not wishing to see him hurt or killed in a vain attempt to save his boss.

Miss Crawly put a hand to her heart, feeling terribly faint at seeing the man she had known since he took his first breath fall.

Porsha covered her mouth, tears in her eyes, but then she caught a blur of purple and pink, swooping down towards the falling Buster Moon.

"Look!" she cried, pointing a finger.

All eyes were upward and no sooner had Porsha spoke that Rosita had jumped and grabbed Buster midair and midswing.

And dropped him safely upon the nearby platform.

All despair and anguish had immediately given way to joy and relief as the Moon troupe roared and cheered.

A laughing Johnny pulled a tearfully happy Miss Crawly into an embrace.

Meena jumped up and down, laughing and crying at the same time.

Darius was pumping his fists in triumph.

Porsha was jumping with the grace of a ballerina.

Nooshy was also jumping up and down with her hands in the air.

Suki simply clapped her hands, but paused to see that Crystal was raging at his failure in killing Moon. She moved fast and before Crystal could take the lift back down in a spiteful attempt to finish Buster off, Suki pressed the switch, bringing the lift back down and trapping Crystal on the uppermost platform.

She looked up at him with defiance as Crystal stared her down with unfathomable rage.

Right before he was accosted by Johnny's father, Marcus.

00000

The room was silent at the recollection. It was a memory that no one wanted to recall again.

But to do so would mean leaving the inner wounds unchecked and untreated.

Just as Buster did until he was convinced to undergo therapy counseling.

"I didn't know about it until after the show, Buster," Ash said, breaking the grim silence. "You remember?"

"Mmhm," Buster said without making eye contact, his focus on the floor of the kitchen.

"I got the impression that there was something off, especially from you. You hardly spoke. It was like you were fighting to put on a brave, happy face. No one would tell me. But Rosita promised she'd tell me once we got back to the hotel." Ash fixed Buster with a penetrating look. "You remember?"

Buster sighed. "Yeah I do."

00000

"Rosita…" Ash said, urgency and growing fear in her voice. "What happened? And why did Buster lock himself in his room?"

Ash looked about the room of their penthouse suite at the Crystal hotel, hoping for an explanation.

No one spoke. They just sat in odd places, all with looks of sadness with their heads bowed.

It hadn't been an hour since the show's conclusion.

Everyone was still wearing the outfits they wore for the show. So far, none had the motivation to change, not after the events of tonight.

It felt like things were barely holding together.

The mother of 25 gently sat Ash down on the sofa. The porcupine was alarmed to see the sad, almost despairing look on Rosita's face.

Ash's breathing started to accelerate. "Rose, you're scaring me! Does...does this have anything to do with Crystal getting arrested?"

Rosita's flinch confirmed her question.

Ash covered her mouth. "Oh no, what did he do?!"

Rosita placed both hands on the girl's shoulders. "Ash, calm down."

Ash glared, tempted to do the exact opposite. Instead, she took a moment and breathed in very slowly, and then exhaled.

Freaking out would not help one bit.

"An answer to your question Ashlyn," Rosita said. "Yes, Mr Crystal did try something."

The use of Ash's birth name made it all the more clear how serious this was.

Ash wrung her hands, already suspecting what was going on but hoped she was wrong.

Rosita continued. "I was just about to make my jump but I panicked and couldn't go any further." Rosita breathed in deeply before continuing. "What made me jump...was Buster. I saw him...falling."

Ash gasped. "What?"

Rosita nodded grimly. "Mr Crystal threw him off the highest platform."

Ash gaped. This all happened while she and Clay were getting ready to go on the show. Ash thought she heard a commotion but chose to ignore it. She knew there was a pause in Rosita's performance knowing full well of her phobia.

And when she heard the show continue, she knew Rosita had finally overcome her fears, so naturally she thought nothing of the roaring cheers, especially from the others.

And now she had learned that Buster could've died and she would not have known until it was already too late.

Ash's eyes started to fill with tears. She remembered Buster's red tie, how it laid discarded and forgotten on the stage.

It must've come off in the struggle when Crystal got him.

"And you saved him by making the jump," Ash whispered hollowly.

Rosita smiled lightly. "Yes."

Ash gasped and her breathing became hitched as she began to cry. The weight of what she knew now, how Buster almost died and that he was suffering in solitude because of it.

It was too much.

Rosita pulled her into a hug and Ash made no attempt to fight it. Tears rolled down her cheeks, ruining the makeup she wore to the show.

Rosita cried as well as she cradled the hysterical girl.

Ash's mind was in turmoil. "How...H-How did he get him?"

Johnny rubbed the back of his neck. "Crystal surprised us...while we watched and waited for Rosita to jump."

Meena sniffled, her makeup ruined as well due to her crying. "He took the lift. We tried to stop him but he was already out of reach."

Ash gripped Rosita tighter. "He...h-he almost...he could've…"

"Shh," Rosita cooed. "Shh. What's important is that he's alive. Buster's ok, Ash. Maybe not ok, but he's alive."

Clay watched and listened not far from where Ash was sitting. He had his arms crossed and he had a somber look on his face.

He had not known either but he suspected. He knew the look of one coming close to death when he saw it, being a man of war.

They had done what they came to do. They put on the show of a lifetime. But at what cost?

00000

Ash rubbed her stinging eyes. "I couldn't believe it. And all that was going through my mind was, if this was how I was feeling, how much worse was Buster going through?"

She turned to see Buster with his back turned.

Ash wanted to be angry with him, for keeping it from her on how he was not only almost murdered once but twice.

But she couldn't. He was suffering enough with the trauma that it did happen.

She should've known. Buster had not been himself since Red Shore City. She had known that there was an attempt on his life but two? How could they not have known this? How could they let this happen?

"Buster...I'm not angry with you. Well...I don't like that you kept this from us...but I'm not going to lash out at you for it. You're clearly hurting enough as it is."

Buster said nothing.

"Buster," Rosita said softly. "Won't you talk to us?"

"Yeah mate," Johnny said. "Your counselor said it would help to talk with your friends. And for the life of me, I can only recall at least three times you've shared your feelings with any of us."

Porsha was silent as well. The reality of her father's crimes and feeling indirectly responsible for Buster nearly being killed weighed heavy on her heart and mind like an ocean.

"You really scared us when you ran off, you know?" Meena said sadly. "We didn't know where you were. We didn't know what to do.

00000

It was later the next evening after the showing of Out of this World. The Moon troupe had decided to rest up for at least a day or two before making plans to head home.

Besides, it didn't look like Buster was in the best shape to leave just yet.

When he finally emerged from his room, he hardly spoke a word.

Ash wasted no time giving the koala a comforting hug, crying for how sorry she was and how happy she was that he was ok.

Buster, sheepish, had assured her that he was fine.

He was never a convincing liar.

But it only got worse from there.

Everyone was just starting to turn for the night until Miss Crawly came rushing out of the hall in a panic.

"Mr Moon is gone!" she shouted.

This dispelled any need for sleep from the entire group.

"Did he leave anything?" Rosita asked, trying to compose herself. "A note? Anything?"

"No," Miss Crawly said, tearing up. "Nothing."

Johnny was on his phone in a flash.

"Don't bother Johnny, he lost his phone."

Everyone gaped at Miss Crawly.

Ash looked more angry than ever. "Are you kidding me?!" she shouted in disbelief. "He lost his phone?!"

"He didn't mean to. He told me he dropped it as he was running back to the hotel and it got run over by a car. He sounded panicked when he told me to call you all back here."

Rosita clenched her jaw.

Ash bared her teeth in rage as she fought the tears forming in her eyes.

Johnny and Nooshy turned towards each other with looks of anguish.

Gunter looked unfathomably sad.

Clay bowed his head, eyes closed.

Porsha was on her knees, her hands covering her face.

Meena was beside her, embracing her from behind, tears rolling down her face.

"We have to find him!" Ash cried. "Miss Crawly, do you know how long he's been gone?"

Miss Crawly wiped her one good eye with a handkerchief. "At least an hour I think."

"Then we'd better hurry," Clay said. "He shouldn't have gone far. We should split into teams. Where would he go?"

00000

The Moon troupe had decided to move their talk to the living room. They had moved some of the chairs and sofas so they'd be sitting in a circle.

"We looked for you all night," Rosita said.

"Do you have any idea how worried we were about you, Buster?" Ash asked, somewhat bitterly.

Buster finally spoke. "I think that was made abundantly clear when you found me, Ash." He took a drink from a glass of water. "It was Suki who called you right?"

"That's right," Rosita answered. "She didn't say how she found you, just said where to find you."

Buster chuckled mirthlessly. "That woman is full of surprises."

00000

The sun was just rising over the horizon, the light gleaming across the landscape beyond Red Shore City, giving it, the city itself and the sky an orange glow.

It's natural and artificial beauty comforted Buster somewhat but it did little to settle the melancholy dread in his soul.

He sat on a bench overlooking the edge just a few blocks from the city's limits. It took him nearly all night to find just the right place in hopes of sorting himself out.

'I did this,' he thought. 'I put my friends in harm's way...again. I nearly paid for it with my life...twice. And they had to see it happen.'

He wiped his raw eyes. He didn't know he had this much tears in him.

'What is wrong with me? It wasn't enough that I lied to them about the prize money and then nearly drowned them when the theater collapsed. And yet it all worked out didn't it? But I haven't learned anything from my problems. I only grew more arrogant. I got my friends into this business with Jimmy Crystal. Put Rosita into a position where she shrank back in fear of heights, right in front of her husband and kids. I put Johnny up with that brute Kickenklober and Meena with that egomaniac Darius. Miss Crawly nearly had a nervous breakdown after I sent her to find Calloway. And then I got Ash electrocuted. She could've been killed because of me. Heck, I could've gotten all of them killed when Crystal's thugs came looking for us.'

Buster's breathing became hitched.

'I was almost dropped to my death...twice. And when Jimmy was done with me...what would he have done to others?'

The implications made Buster's mind and heart go numb with turmoil and terror.

'And Porsha, she doesn't have a dad anymore…and it's all my fault.'

Buster wept.

Actually, it was more than just weeping.

It was the sound of a wounded animal.

"BUSTER! GUYS, I FOUND HIM!"

Buster sat up straight and instinctively dried his eyes. "Ash?"

He immediately motioned to get off the bench but as soon as his feet felt nothing but air, he panicked. Nearly being dropped off the roof was still fresh on his mind, like a phantom shadowing his soul.

He decided to stay on the bench.

He stood back up on the bench and turned around, looking over the back of the seat.

He saw the others practically running down the hill towards him.

Ash came first.

She was followed by Meena, Johnny, Nooshy, and Rosita.

They all looked sorely distressed.

Clay Calloway, Gunter and Miss Crawly remained on top of the hill, looks of melancholy writ large on their faces.

Buster tried to smile. "Guys...you found me. I was just about to head back to the hotel. You...you weren't looking for me all this time were you?"

Ash looked at Buster, teeth bared, angry beyond belief, tears of fury and frustration rolling down her face. "Why...why are you smiling like that?!" She snapped. "WE WERE WORRIED SICK ABOUT YOU!"

Porsha burst into tears. She couldn't help it. She was so scared and sad for Buster.

Meena turned away, covering her face with her ears, not wishing to show Buster her tears.

Johnny looked on sadly.

Nooshy however had a cross look on her face.

Rosita approached Buster with tears in her eyes.

She sat on the bench alongside Buster and looked him dead in the eye with all the loving compassion a mother could muster.

"Buster, I know you're hurting right now. Perhaps more so than you ever have in your entire life but running away like that?"

Buster clenched his eyes. "I'm sorry. I never wanted this Rosita. I never meant for any of this to happen."

"What are you talking about?"

"What am I talking about?!" Buster said, raising his voice in incredulity. "I did this! I got all of you into this! I put you all in danger and set you up in parts you were not prepared for! Ash got hurt because of me!"

Rosita's eyes widened and all eyes were on Ash.

Clay looked down in shame.

Ash put her hands in her pockets. "It was an accident."

"What?" Rosita said, startled. "Ash...those burns on your hands?"

Ash clenched her jaw. "It was an accident. Clay warned us to stay off his fence."

Rosita looked up crossly at the old lion and she knew what this meant right away. "Did you put up a warning sign?"

Clay sighed. "I haven't put one up in 15 years. Never needed to."

Rosita sighed before turning back to Buster. "Buster, those weren't all your fault. Whatever happened, we all went along with it."

"But I'm in charge, it was my responsibility! I have a responsibility to all of you! I wanted to bring New Moon Theater to new heights and to do that…" Buster couldn't finish. "You had the right of it Rosita, we could've been arrested and it would've been all my fault. Not just for breaking into Crystal Tower but also taking control of the theater. Porsha...she doesn't have a dad anymore, because I drove him over the edge!"

Nooshy scoffed. "You're kidding right?"

Johnny shushed her.

Rosita shook her head. "Buster…"

"I deserved it," he whispered. "I deserved getting thrown-!"

Rosita grabbed Buster tightly by the shoulders, silencing him. She was tempted to slap him for saying those things, for even insinuating that he deserved to die, but she knew it would do no good at all.

"Don't. You ever. Say that again," Rosita said, her voice dangerously low, her stare hard as rock.

Buster flinched.

The others stared at him, horrified.

How could Buster even think to say something like that?

Porsha took it no more. She shuffled over, fell on her knees, and she pulled a startled Buster into her arms.

"I'm sorry…" Porsha wailed. "I'm so sorry…"

"What...what are you saying sorry for?" Buster squeaked, slightly terrified, the girl reminding him too much of when her own father manhandled him and tried to murder him.

'But she isn't her father,' Buster thought. 'Far from it and she is completely innocent in all this. She didn't deserve any of this.'

"I'm sorry for what happened," Porsha stammered. "If I'd known-!"

"There was nothing you could've done Porsha," Buster said. "You couldn't have known. No one could've known what he'd do."

Meena sniffled, wiping her trunk. "He said he'd throw you off the roof if you made him look bad."

Buster stiffened. "Y-Yes...except in my case, it was the highest platform in his theater." 'They don't need to know. It was right after Porsha thought I fired her. This would shatter her.'

Porsha held him tighter, nuzzling into Buster's disheveled fur.

"It's ok Porsha," Buster whispered. "It's ok."

He turned to look at the mother of 25. "Rosita...you…" he said with uncertainty. "I don't know how to thank you. You saved-"

Rosita put a hand to Buster's lips, stopping him mid sentence.

She smiled sadly as she joined Porsha in embracing him. "You don't have to thank me."

Tears started in Buster's eyes again. "Y-yes I do."

He returned the hug and he broke down right then and there.

00000

Rosita wiped her nose with a Kleenex. "You fell asleep a few minutes after." She laughed a bit. "Porsha carried you back to the hotel. It was the sweetest thing."

Nooshy giggled to herself. "You were like a little baby."

Johnny choked but tried to shush her.

Buster chuckled and sniffled. "Yeah, I was a mess."

A green, scaly hand offered him a handkerchief.

"Oh thank you Miss Crawly." Buster blew his nose but then his eyes grew huge. "Oh! Miss Crawly! You're up."

The old lizard smiled. "I've been up for a while Mr Moon."

"Are you feeling ok?"

Miss Crawly nodded. "Oh yes yes, I'm fine. Sue just said I needed to lie down."

Johnny turned with a start. "What?"

Buster beat him to the punch. "The past few nights took a toll on Miss Crawly. Seeing what almost happened to you last night was the last straw. But don't worry, Nurse Sue said that it was an acute stress reaction but that passed quickly."

"She's ok then?" Johnny murmured worriedly. "She's not getting sick?"

Miss Crawly waddled over to Johnny and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Fit as a fiddle Johnny. And I'm so glad you're ok."

Johnny rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm sorry I made you worry."

"It's alright," Miss Crawly said. "And you needn't worry about little ol' me. Miss Noodleman has been treating me to her medicinal tea. Excellent stuff."

"Oh come now Betty! I think we're beyond these tiresome formalities!"

Johnny yelped in surprise as he turned in his seat to see Nana Noodleman standing just above him sipping a cup of tea with the poise and grace of one decades younger.

"How-When did you-?" he stammered.

Nana paused in thought. "About the same time when the matter concerning Calloway's electric fence was brought up."

Johnny put a hand to his chest. "You shouldn't sneak up on people like that, ma'am."

"Apologies dear, force of habit." Nana took a seat next to Buster. "I trust you're both well?" she asked, motioning to both Johnny and Buster.

"Oh oh yes," Buster said, trying to grin. "I think we've made a breakthrough today."

Nana managed a tight smile. "Glad to hear it. And what of you Mr Egerton?"

"I'm alive," Johnny said meekly.

Nana frowned.

"Uh-I'm fine, really," Johnny stammered. "A bit raw and my breathing hurts a bit but that's all."

"I thought as much, after the eventful evening you've had. Gave us all a fright."

Everyone in the room nodded.

Johnny looked guilty. "I really am sorry."

"Oh pish, sometimes these things can't be helped Johnny. Just…" Nana's voice became almost uncharacteristically sentimental. "Just be more alert of your surroundings from now on. Or someone is going to be quite cross with you." She gave Nooshy a playful yet subtle wink.

Nooshy was slightly abashed by that.

Johnny gulped. "Yes ma'am."

There was some light laughter in the room.

And then the slight rustling of hair and quiet, childish giggling.

The laughter ceased and all eyes were looking about for the source of the sound.

Another laugh filled the air. It was aged and yet full of life. "Seems we've been found out," Nana said like a child caught in the middle of mischief.

"What?" Ash said as she turned to look at the old sheep. "What are you-?" She stopped as a blank look came upon her face.

Nana's large mass of hair was moving a bit like a bush that was being ravaged by an unseen animal.

Now everyone was fixing her with blank stares.

Except for Clay Calloway, he simply raised an eyebrow. "What?" he said.

Nana just smiled. "You might as well come out."

Nana's wool stopped moving.

And suddenly, a tiny pink blur emerged.

"RAAAAWR!" shouted a jubilant Caspar as he popped out of Nana's hair like a rocket.

Porsha cried out in surprise and shock.

"What the?!" Ash exclaimed.

"Caspar?!" Rosita shouted.

The hyperactive piglet landed in Johnny's arms.

"Hi Johnny!" Caspar said energetically before hugging the young gorilla around the waist.

Johnny was too flabbergasted to return the hug all at once. "Was he...was he hiding in your wool this whole time?"

Nana's smile didn't waver. "Guilty as charged."

Nooshy fought uncontrollable giggles as she inquired. "Um...w-why?"

"It's a preview of a show I had in mind."

Buster blinked. "A show?"

"Yes. It's called Attack of the Flying Piglets."

A pin could've dropped.

Clay smirked. "I'd pay good money to see that."

Rosita's look of shock turned into one of startled amusement.

She choked on her laughter.

And that was it.

And the whole penthouse, that was silent with anguished melancholy, boomed with wild, uncontrollable laughter.

…..

A shout out to guest Mongrelman. Thank you for your review. It's nice that someone is hooked to my story and I feel ya. It is a children's movie but have you seen the fan base for My Little Pony. Some of it is quite intense, tragic even (Friendship is Tragic, by Scribbler Productions on YouTube).