Part 1
Redshore City was known as the entertainment capital of the world. For that reason, theater-owner and troupe-leader, 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… even if you kill me… I've won…" 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. "We'll see about that." And without thinking, he threw the koala from the catwalk.
Buster screamed with terror as he felt himself plummeting. He thought of his friends, his family, Nana, Eddie. Oh good lord, Eddie. He would never get to tell him. He was never going to see him again. Then he saw Rosita, she was coming towards him. For a brief moment, he had a flash of hope that died when he realized he was falling too fast. He watched her go by him and he could see the dismay in her face. He squeezed his eyes shut, tears starting, accepting his fate. "It's okay, Rosita…" he thought to himself just before pain surged through every inch of his body and everything went black.
—
From her position, Rosita was trying desperately to regain her composure so she could do the scene. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Buster falling. "Oh… oh…." She ran to the end of the springboard and leaped into the air. She aimed herself at the falling koala. She just needed to reach him in time. She fell down but he was falling faster. She bit her lip and tried to push herself to go faster. She was about to grab him, she could feel his fur, but he was gone before she could, and he fell down past the flashing lights and onto the rising ice cave set. "No…" She finished the drop and ran to the small figure as the audience slowly realized something was wrong. The lights came on, allowing them to see the little producer lying in a growing pool of red. She was only barely aware of Gunter joining her while Suki dropped the curtain around them.
—————————
Alphonso sat with his friend, watching the show. He grinned when he saw the Captain become nervous. "Great acting, convincing us she's afraid."
'Look out!' he heard a shout from the control booth.
"That was Meena," he said softly. He and the orangutan exchanged a glance.
Further shouts echoed and he found himself trying to angle his head to try and see backstage but he couldn't get a good look.
"Alphie!" his partner pointed up and he looked.
It was difficult to make out but… "I think that's Mr. Crystal. He's holding something. No, someone." He wanted to do something but he didn't know what he could do. Before he could process it, he heard Rosita make the jump. He saw her fall, aiming herself carefully and flying as fast as she could to no avail and seconds later the figure hit the stage. Shock filled his eyes as the curtain fell. "Tyler?"
"I saw it too…." The primate struggled to keep his composure. "Let's stay where we are. If someone is hurt, it'll be easier for paramedics to get through. And who knows, maybe we didn't see what we thought we saw. Maybe it was part of the act…"
Alphonso nodded. "Yeah… I guess… I hope so. I really hope you're right." His chest was pounding.
—————————
"Daddy, please stop!" Jimmy heard his daughter plead but he ignored her as he hauled Moon to the edge of the catwalk and threw him off, his red bowtie popping off.
Jimmy Crystal watched the koala start his descent with hate and anger burning through him. Until he realized exactly what he had just done. His mouth fell open and he watched the Mommy Pig jump. She would catch him. She would fix this. Everything would be okay. Except she didn't catch him. She couldn't reach him in time. He hurried to the lift but it was gone before he reached it. He saw Suki glaring up at him. Suddenly a massive hand seized his suit jacket and he was turned to look into the seething eyes of one of the gorillas.
"Got him, Big Brother. Sorry, I was too late." He looked down at Suki and nodded. She sent the lift back up.
—
"Mr. Moon?" She looked at the koala, his body twisted in a bad way. Ice filled her chest as she assessed his injuries. "Buster?" She knelt and touched him, holding him gently, cradling him while Ash and Clay came out of the cave. Blood stained her shoes and her costume.
"Buster!" Ash cried out, rushing over and dropping beside him and Rosita. "What… what happened?"
Rosita shook her head. "Crystal happened." She held him. "Buster, can you hear me?"
The Lion looked with shock at the injured Moon. Was this because of him? Because he didn't want to do the show? Because he exposed the koala's minor deception?
He moaned and looked up at her, making her smile with relief that he was still alive. "R… Rosita… you… you made the jump…" He smiled at her before coughing up blood. "You… you… did it… I'm so… so proud of you…."
She shook her head while the rest of the cast joined them on stage. "Shhh, don't talk about that now. We need to get you some help." She didn't like the way he was breathing.
The koala smiled as he felt someone pick him up. It was Big Daddy, Johnny's dad. In his big arms, he could see the rest of his family nearby. "We… we need to… to finish the show… if we don't… he wins…"
"How could we finish now?" Johnny asked. "When you're better, we can try again, so you can see the ending." He argued. The young gorilla male couldn't believe this was happening. Why couldn't he stop that maniacal wolf?
Buster looked at him with a sad smile. "Johnny… you're such a good boy. Your father is right… to be so proud of you. Please… finish… finish the show… please…"
Meena nodded. "He's right. We need to get you to a hospital, Mr. Moon. You'll be alright." If only she'd seen Crystal sooner. If only she'd thought to sit on him.
Buster smiled at the elephant. "No… please, we need to… finish the… show. Please…" He seized with pain, fighting just to stay conscious. He saw Ash nearby. "Please, let me… let me see… the end…" He coughed up more blood, aware of the rattling in his chest. He knew and he had to see the end. "Please… we worked… so… hard…."
The porcupine felt her chest aching as she looked to her partner for the upcoming scene. She could see it in his eyes. He had seen this before. He nodded at her sadly.
"Mr. Moon, please, we can do the show again when you're better," Meena begged.
Buster wanted to reach out to her but he couldn't even lift his arm. "It's okay, Meena. It's going to be… alright… I love you all… so much… Please… let me….. see… the end…"
She reached out to him instead, stroking his head. "Mr. Moon, please…. Let us get you some help…"
"Meena…" he smiled up at her. "I'm so…. So proud of you… I'm glad I…. got to…. know you… to see you blossom… Thank you… for everything…"
The elephant realized she wasn't going to change his mind. She just couldn't accept what she was seeing. She picked up his hand and squeezed.
Marcus held him. "It'll be alright, now. We'll watch the end of the show, then go to the hospital." He looked at his son. "This is what he wants." He whispered, a lump forming in his throat.
Johnny's lip trembled and he gently pulled Meena away. "He'll be alright. He has to be…" he tried to reassure her. He couldn't accept anything else.
Gunter touched Rosita's hand. "We have to finish the show." He whispered. She could see tears in his eyes. His own heart was breaking but he would never deny Buster his wish.
Rosita looked at Buster. "Are you really sure this is what you want? We could always try again another time, when you've had a chance to heal. We could do it even better for you…" She stroked his cheek. "Please, let us get you help…" Why wouldn't he let them get him help?
He smiled at her. "Rosita… you're such… such a… good mama… thank you… for making me… part of your family… Norman too… I'm sorry… I… really want… to see the end… before… please…"
Resolutely, she nodded. "Then… you hold on, okay. Just hold on until we can get you help. Please… You're going to be alright…"
She looked out at the audience, at her husband and children. She met Norman's eyes and she knew that he'd seen it too. She wanted his arms around her now but she had a job to do. She mouthed something to him and he nodded. Quietly, he whispered to his children and they quickly left the theater.
He smiled. "Yes… I know… I'm… I'm not scared…" As she went to get ready, he looked at Gunter. "Gunter…" Buster whispered. "I've loved watching you dance… thank you… for being there… during the hard parts…" he smiled as the pig took his hand, squeezing.
"Don't talk like that, Mr. Moon…." the hog pleaded. "You'll be alright…"
Buster sighed. "I… I will be… I just… need to say it… You've been the greatest friend a guy could have…"
Gunter squeezed tighter and looked around. No one was watching except Marcus and he politely turned his head, pretending to be very interested in the curtain. He leaned over, pressing his forehead to Buster's. "I love you, Mr. Moon… Don't give up. Don't leave us…. I know you're stronger than this…"
The koala chuckled sadly. "I'll try… I will try… but… if I don't… Eddie… he'll be alone… Please, be there for him… like you were for me."
"We'll both be there for him. We'll invite him to the next show…" Gunter's lip trembled. He couldn't take the thought of his world without Buster. "Hold on. Just hold on until we can get you to the hospital. Please…" Reluctantly, he released Buster's hand and went to join Rosita while the curtain rose again.
—
On the way out of the theater, Caspar looked up at his father. "What happened, Daddy? Is Mr. Moon okay?"
Norman looked to his son. "I… I don't know, Caspar. But you all need to come with me. Mommy will find us later."
He ran into Suki just outside the theater. "Here… it's not much but… please, take a new suite. I've already cleared it." She offered him a keycard. "It'll be easier for them to find you after."
Norman nodded. "Is he alright? Please, say he'll be alright, that an ambulance is coming."
Suki shook her head. "He doesn't want to go to the hospital. He wants to see the finale. I'm so sorry for Crystal's actions tonight. I'm so sorry."
The boar sighed. "Just make sure my family knows where we are." He felt an ache in his chest. He had a bad feeling.
Suki watched him leave with the kids. She turned to see a horse with a long, red mane running down the stairs. "Suki, what'd I miss?" She asked.
"Mr. Crystal… he… he attacked Mr. Moon…" she bit her lip. "He… threw him from the catwalk…
"What?" Linda gasped. "Is… is he alright?"
Suki shook her head. "He's badly injured and he's refusing medical care. He's stubborn…"
The horse had to fight to stay upright. "Poor little guy. I never meant for this to happen."
"Of course you didn't. Stupid koala," she wiped her eyes furiously. "I tried to make him leave. I tried to keep him from coming. I knew this place would be too much for him."
"Where's Jimmy?" Linda asked. "Arrested?"
She shook her head. "Not yet. I don't know what Mr. Green plans to do. I don't know what to do?" She sat down on a bench. "James is our friend. What should we do?"
The horse sighed. "I'll follow your lead."
Marcus carried Buster back to the control booth. Porsha took Buster's little hand. "Mr. Moon, I'm so sorry. It's my fault you're hurt."
His chest rattled as he fought for each breath. For a brief moment, he was only vaguely aware of the pain. "Porsha, no. It's not your fault. You… you were great…." He looked out at the stage. While they got back into position, he looked up at the gorilla holding him. "Marcus… I… I need to ask you something… I'm not… I'm not going to make it…"
Marcus forced a smile. "Don't say things like that. Just hold on until we can get you some help."
He shook his head. "You… you don't have to… sugarcoat it… I know… I can… feel it… it's… it's okay…" Breathing was painful, every bone in his body felt broken, shattered. But he had to see the ending. "I need to know… that they'll be alright… without me… I can't rest without knowing…" His next breath was accompanied by a rattling. "Please…"
Choking back emotion, Marcus nodded. "They'll be fine. I promise. I'll see to it… that isn't something you need to worry about." He picked up the little gray hand and squeezed, attempting to give him some comfort. "Don't worry, Mr. Moon, I'll take care of them."
Buster smiled up at him. "Thank you. I love them. Johnny's lucky… to have a father like you…" He coughed and groaned as the pain gradually became worse. "At least we did it. We played Redshore City. I'm going out… on a high note… you know?"
Marcus nodded, understandingly. "Don't give up. It might not be it," he lied. "Mr. Moon, you did so much for my son… You saved me. And you saved my family. Thank you." How could this be happening? Why wasn't he watching after the wolf himself or directly guarding Moon? His son had called him to help protect Buster and he had failed.
Buster grinned and grit his teeth through another surge of pain. He coughed, blood oozing from his mouth. Breathing really hurt and it was difficult to get any air. It felt like a tiny knife was stuck in his lung.
Porsha watched the koala fighting for his life. "Mr. Moon, you're going to be alright. You have to be. This is all my fault…." She used a tissue to wipe up the blood.
"I… I'll… be alright," he promised. "I'll get to see my dad again. And meet my mom. It's okay, Porsha." He smiled.
She shook her head. "No… no, no. You have to fight. You have to make it through this. Please. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone telling Linda anything. I'm so sorry. You can't die, please. I'm sorry."
Marcus looked down at the young girl, just barely a woman, not even full grown yet.
Buster chuckled. "It's okay, Porsha. It's not your fault. It's just… the way the ball bounces sometimes… Stick with them… I know they'll welcome you. You're going to be… a star someday…" His eyes were starting to glaze over. "I'm glad… that I got… got to meet you…"
Marcus prayed quietly. "Please, Marion, don't… don't let him… Johnny needs his mentor." He squeezed the little hand. "Mr. Moon, you must fight. Don't give up. If you can just hold on until we get to the hospital…"
The koala looked up at the gorilla. "I'm sorry, Mr. Green. I am trying…" His little body trembled with every shallow breath that he fought to take. "It's okay… You did your best… I don't blame you…"
Barry dragged Crystal down the lift and Porsha ran over. "How could you Daddy? How could you hurt Mr. Moon?" She wept.
He growled. "You traitor! He fired you! He humiliated me!"
"He didn't fire me! He put me in the show! You hurt him!" She sobbed as she gripped the front of his suit. "You have to help him. You did this. Please, Daddy, you have to help him! Save him, please!" Even now, she thought her father could do anything if he wanted to. That he could fix everything.
Crystal looked at the little koala. "I… I don't think I can…" he told her.
Marcus came over, forcing him to look even closer at his victim. "If he dies, so do you." He vowed. "Porsha, say your goodbyes and go wait for the curtain calls."
Porsha nodded with understanding. She glared at him. "I hate you, Daddy. I hate you!" She ran back to the rest of the troupe, crying. She didn't mean it. It was her fault anyway but she was so angry and upset.
Crystal tried to break free. "Porsha! Porsha, wait!" He called after her. All of a sudden all he wanted was his daughter. To hold her and comfort her and reassure her. But he couldn't escape the iron grip. Marcus didn't miss the tears in his eyes. "Let me go! Porsha!"
—
In the cave, Ash was trying to find the strength to play. "How can I play now?" She whispered. A big paw covered her shoulder.
"Because it's his wish," the gruff lion told her. He was nervous about performing after 15 years of living like a hermit but when he'd seen the koala's condition, hearing him beg to see the end , he knew he had to see it through.
"But… it's Buster. We shouldn't be playing now. We should be getting him to a hospital!" She insisted.
Clay turned his head. "Even if you did… Ash… there's nothing to be done… We need to do this. Don't worry… my Ruby… She's here. She'll take good care of him. Go on now… it's time." He put a big hand on her shoulder. "This is all we can do for him now." He sighed as she nodded. He didn't like being so blunt, but she needed to hear it.
Tears falling down her cheeks, Ash swallowed her pain and walked out onto the end of the stage. "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."
—
Thankfully, the pain slowly receded until he felt nothing. Growing weaker, Buster watched and listened to the porcupine who had wowed him once with her amazing voice and songwriting. The electric guitar riff that followed preceded Clay coming out onto the stage to sing with her.
He thought about the last five years. All of the great shows he got to see his troupe perform. He had no idea that Redshore City, this show would be his last. And he still felt it was worth it. This show was the greatest show he'd ever put out. He smiled proudly. A few tears fell from his eyes.
But he also thought of the things he wouldn't get to do. The words he would never get to say. He thought of him. "I'm sorry, Eddie…" He whispered to the air. His only regret was he wouldn't get to tell him how he felt.
As the glass platform began to rise with Ash, Clay, Rosita and Gunter, the koala couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment as he felt extraordinarily tired and he heaved a heavy sigh and fell asleep for only a minute. He snapped his eyes open. He couldn't sleep yet. They'd done it. They'd played Redshore City. He looked at the crowd, applauding and cheering. Then he had to blink a few times before he saw him. An older koala in the crowd, wearing a tan golf hat and a green plaid shirt talking with a lovely lioness, surrounded by a male elephant and female gorilla. Without thinking, he jumped out of Marcus' arms and ran to him.
"Dad! You're here! You came!" He didn't even consider the connotations.
Benji Moon smiled. "I'm so proud of you. This is Mrs. Calloway."
Buster nodded. "Always a pleasure."
"Thank you for making my husband snap out of it," the lioness said with a grin at the white-maned lion on stage.
The older koala nodded. "Come along now. Your mother has dinner waiting." He hugged his son.
Buster stopped and turned to the stage while his troupe came out. "Not yet, Dad. I still need to do the curtain calls. Come meet my friends." He was about to join them when he saw Marcus. He understood. "Okay, Dad. Okay…" He turned to his team once more. "You did great, guys. I love you all." He followed his dad and Mrs. Calloway to the double doors. He stopped and turned back. "Will they be okay, Dad? Did I do everything I could?"
Benji took his son by the hand. "You'll have to trust in them now, son. Now it's time for you to rest."
—
Marcus felt it. The heavy sigh. The little hand went limp in his and he looked down just in time to see his eyes flutter closed. His chest went up and down only once. He waited and hoped to see it rise and fall again but nothing. "Mr. Moon?" He shook him gently. "Mr. Moon? Please, don't make me tell them… Please, I'm so sorry…." His chest ached and his eyes burned with tears. "I'm so sorry."
Crystal saw it too and he couldn't deny the guilt burning in his stomach. Dark eyes fixed upon him. He had no doubt that the gorilla would fulfill his threats and he wasn't sure he wanted to stop him.
"Get him out of here!" He ordered Barry.
"Wait! I want to see Porsha!" He protested. "I have to tell her…" Green eyes tore into him.
"You have a lot of nerve making demands now! You sad sack of shit! I should let the police have you. Prison would destroy a weak, vulnerable, thin-skinned bastard like you!" He threatened. "Get him out of here!"
Jimmy cast his eyes at the floor while Suki came over. "Oh…. Oh no…" her lip trembled when she saw Buster. She couldn't even look at her employer.
"Suki…" he tried to talk to her. "I…"
Her eyes burned with tears and her hand flashed across his face, leaving a red mark on his cheek. "You bastard." He couldn't argue with her and he looked down.
"I'm sorry…" was all he could say. He remembered her warning on the way to the theater.
'Mr. Crystal, please, I'm begging you not to harm Mr. Moon. You'll regret if you do. Please, try and be rational…'
Barry pulled Crystal from the theater. They dragged him out of the theater and hotel. They forced him back into his limo and he and Stan took either side. Not even his bodyguards were doing anything to help him.
"Raoul, headquarters!" He ordered, reluctantly.
—
On the outskirts of Calatonia city sat a beautiful, pink modern mansion complete with a huge pool and a pool house. Inside the pool house, a middle-aged polled sheep played his favorite video game.
"I'm sorry, Eddie…" He looked up and looked around. He could swear he just heard his best friend and it felt like someone had just broken a rubber band against him.
"Buster…" he said softly to himself. He was just lonely, he thought. He would have to give him a call in the morning. His parents had forbidden contact but what they didn't know and all that.
—
Johnny, Meena, Darius and Porsha went out on stage, taking their bows alongside Rosita, Gunter, Ash and Clay. Marcus would have cheered if not for the precious package in his arms. He looked down at the limp koala, his eyes closed but the ghost of a smile still on his face.
"Thank you, Mr. Moon… for letting my son have his dreams…." The tough gorilla had to get control of his emotions. His son needed him strong now. He'd known when he picked him up that Mr. Moon was badly hurt. He knew that taking him to a hospital would only delay the inevitable, if he even survived the trip. He would never walk again. He could feel the sheer amount of damage and blood coated his shirt and Marcus' jacket, almost like his insides had been liquified. He couldn't help feeling responsible. His son had called and asked them to protect them from Crystal and in the home stretch, he had failed. He had made the dangerous assumption that the wolf had been dealt with and was no longer a danger. He should have had one of his boys guarding the wolf.
He became aware of the young Saluki beside him. "I'm sorry, I tried to warn Mr. Moon. I knew he wasn't cut out for this place." She looked into the quiet face, trying to keep from crying. She'd seen Crystal hurt too many people. "I tried to save him. I told him to leave this city and never come back. Why didn't he listen?" She reached out to pet his soft fur.
Marcus sighed. "Buster's not the type to run away. He didn't deserve this. Don't worry, Crystal won't hurt anyone else after tonight." His tone made her shiver. She believed he could make it happen.
"I'm sorry. I tried…" she sobbed. "Oh good gosh, what about Porsha. What's going to happen to her? She'll lose everything if the law gets involved. They love that sort of thing. What'll happen to him? Jail is…"
He shook his head. "I know. I've been on the inside. It's no place for a wolf like him. And I wouldn't take her father from her and not offer her a place with me. She'll be fine and you can protect what should be hers. If she wants to share it, that's up to her. Not the law."
She tried to get control. She wasn't normally a crier but she couldn't help it. It felt like her own life was falling apart. "I loved him…"
Marcus sighed. He didn't want to be merciful. He thought the wolf could do with the torture of jail before someone finally mutilated him, but that would hurt that innocent child too. Both by losing him in such a way but leaving her destitute.
When the crowd started to leave, the cast came backstage. "Okay, it's over." Johnny said. "Let's get Mr. Moon to the hospital." He tried to take his boss from his father. "Come on…"
Marcus put a hand on his son's shoulder. "Son…"
"Dad, we have to get Mr. Moon to the hospital," he said. "He needs help."
The older gorilla shook his head. "Johnny… there's nothing you can do for him. He's gone." He saw his son's eyes becoming shiny. "I'm sorry." His son was always so sensitive and this was a very difficult situation.
Johnny shook his head. "No… no, he's not. He's just resting. He needs a hospital!" He argued, taking him into his arms. "Mr. Moon…" he tried to rouse the koala.
Porsha looked at Buster and gave a strangled cry. "Mr. Moon? No, no. It's all my fault… no, no… this can't be happening…"
"Mr. Moon, what did you think?" Rosita asked, trying to get a response from their leader. "Mr. Moon… Buster…" His eyes were closed as if sleeping. She touched his cheek, it was already growing cold. "Buster… Buster, wake up… we did it… Please, wake up and tell us what you thought…. Please." She picked up his hand in hers and squeezed it. "Open your eyes!" She pleaded. "Please… come back…"
Gunter stood in apparent shock. He had been hoping and praying that he might make it. His mouth opened and closed, unable to speak. The lump in his throat almost made it hard to breathe.
"Mr. Moon!" Johnny shouted. "Wake up!" His whole body quaked as he tried to make him wake. "Please, wake up!"
Ash fell to her knees, sobbing. "Buster, Buster. Why? Why?" She hugged herself desperately. Clay knelt beside her and pulled her close, letting her cry into his black leather jacket. Softly, he whispered. "Oh Ruby, this was not supposed to happen."
"Don't worry, darling, I'll take good care of him." A voice whispered in his ear. Looking around, he saw no one.
Still wearing her white dress, Meena reached over. "Mr. Moon, please… You can't… you can't leave us. We still need you…" Her voice broke as she took him from Johnny, cradling him, trying to jar him awake. "We… I love you…. Please…."
—
Outside the stage, the bull elephant waited, unsure. "I said we could meet after the show…" he reminded his friend. "Should I keep waiting, Tyler? What if she comes and I'm not here…"
The orangutan shook his head. "I don't know what happened, Alphie, but I have a strong feeling she's not coming. Tomorrow morning, go find her. You could take her some of your pastries. She has to be in the hotel somewhere."
He nodded. "I just pray to God that it was nothing. I sincerely hope she's alright."