Epilogue

Danny entered a vast hall where the animals and people sat. His childhood friends, the rescued animals and the orphans looked at him in anticipation. Danny realised the negative effects of his fame and wealth, Sawyer and the animals should know of his efforts and his reasons.

"I'm sorry." said Danny, solemnly.

"What?" answered Sawyer.

"I said I'm sorry. I've been struggling too hard to please you."

"I'm sorry too for being so hard on you."

"It's my fault."

"It wasn't your fault. I apologise for how I acted." Sawyer lamented.

"To be frank, I was having a hard time with my double life as an increasing burden - struggling to balance my time at the movies, my childhood friends and ultimately other duties."

"Why didn't you tell me? I would have understood."

"I was ashamed since my dreams had been smashed to bits since Bar-On fired me. I thought I could do anything. I was trying to tell you that I wanted to please you. I tried to help my friends financially. As you scolded me, I went away and then…"

"This is getting bet…"

Tillie whacked Cranston on the head with her handbag, silencing him. She sternly ordered the grumpy old goat who was terrified of the hippo.

"Let him speak! Let him speak! Go on, Danny!"

"Thank you, Tillie. Sawyer, I know I've been struggling with so many things: charity works, dance competition, getting my friends and the rescued ones to be with me. Having all on a plate was too much."

Sawyer and the others were in deep shock and expected the coming sentence.

"I was suddenly snatched by a group of men, shoved in a cage and these friends I've met in the cage had no houses. Thanks to my childhood friends who rescued us. So I gave up my dream. I promised that I would help them get better lives."

Feeling guilty for what he did, Danny lowered his head in shame. Tillie, Woolie and the others looked at each other. His childhood friends and the rescued animals looked puzzled. Due to her guilt for pushing Danny away, Sawyer initially felt diffident and later fortified her nerves. Before she was about to speak, they were interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Danny!"

They turned to see L.B. and Flanagan who were unimpressed at the results of this turmoil.

"What exactly happened?" asked L.B.

"Well, what happened is that my friends were neglected so I tried to make amends…"

"Not that. What happened to Dimple? Bar-On and the others?"

In prison, Bar-On, Darla and the others were angered due to their failures. The security guards whistled casually. Another played snakes and ladders with his colleague. The inmates acted wildly only to have the guards pounding against the door as means to silence them. Bar-On and the prisoners were stripped of their wealth and fame. Darla drew a basic drawing of herself on the wall strangling Danny with a bubble speech "I should have hung you."

"Don't even think about saying a word!" Darla snorted. "I want to GET THAT CAT so badly. HOW COULD HE SHAME US? I AM… AN ANGEL…"

"Shut up, fallen angel! I want an angel instead. Either you stay in here or community work?" the guard prompted.

"I HATE THAT WORK. I'M A STAR. I'M A STAR. I'M A STAR." Darla repeated the words, frenziedly.

Back to the part where the explanation ended, L.B. and Flanagan were impressed.

"Them in prison? That's good news. Thanks to all of you, we got Mammoth Pictures back. Danny, all of you deserve to be reinstated and this time – be the star you dreamt of being."

Having realised the off-putting of his wealth and status as the former star, Danny felt torn inside.

"Uh… uh… no thanks. That's a very kind offer, but no."

"But, you made it this far." said Pudge.

"You can't…" Tillie gasped.

"We were worried about you. We didn't know where you were. Now, we found out." said T.W.

"Darla, Bar-On and the others were responsible for our dilemma. We shouldn't have accused you." said Frances.

"Danny, what are you talking about? This time, you deserve it." said Sawyer.

"I wanted to be a star, but I could relate it to my friends. I feel they need me more than my dream."

"But, you deserve it." L.B. insisted. "You can fulfil it beyond your wildest dreams."

"Never going to get it. Never going to get it." said the monkey.

"Not this time." sighed the spider.

"Aww." the monkey expressed disappointment.

"Like Sawyer said about the reason I was so determined to make a fool of myself. There are times to forfeit our dreams for circumstances that should be made precedence. Perhaps you could help fund a project that I could use somewhere in Indiana."

"Done." said L.B.

L.B. and Flanagan walked away, feeling less than pleased with the reply from Danny yet relieved from the pressures faced from Bar-On's studios. Tillie and the others hugged Danny, Pudge and Sawyer. Tillie wailed.

"How are we to do the performance without you?"

"You have the talent. Regardless of what puts you down, there are others who'd someday lift your spirits."

"But, the place won't be the same without you, three." Woolie wept.

"No matter what, we'll always see each other." said Sawyer.

Danny's friends and the rescued animals waved at Woolie and company who left with L.B. and Flanagan. The fans were disappointed upon learning of Danny, Sawyer and Pudge not being casted in the movies anymore. They all shouted.

"Bring back, Danny, Sawyer and Pudge!"

Oppositions shouted at the fans, once more leading to another verbal and physical punch-up. Others cherished the dance competition events filmed. Tears started streaming from Sawyer's eyes.

"I did this because it was to save you from a deal that was about to go bad with Bar-On, but you misunderstood. I don't blame you. Will you…"

As Sawyer expressed grief since everyday she felt regret for her initial harshness towards him, she and Danny hugged expressively, feeling such beautiful and warmth reunion. Danny smiled in assurance.

"Apology accepted."

She felt relieved, but dissolved in sadness and Danny gently let her cry on his shoulders. His friends were touched by his forgiveness. Pudge, the lion, the crocodile's wife and the horses wept. The animals hugged each other. The rescued animals as well as Danny's childhood friends reminded him of his promise.

Others murmured among themselves. Danny continued.

"I know how you feel since I felt it too…"

All the way through the speech, Sawyer's heartbeat raced. Danny took a small box. He opened it, revealing a black, gold sapphire wedding ring. She felt emotional turmoil thrashing about inside both cats.

"… now that you've heard the truth. I'd like to hear your honesty. Sawyer, will you… marry me? You don't have to. I'm not forcing you."

Troubled by the words of Danny in addition to his hardships, all those around him waited on tenterhooks. Danny started feeling hot out of tenseness. Sawyer felt her veiled exhilaration couldn't be held back any longer. The overjoyed lady cat ecstatically chose Danny, and their engagement was set.

With their fates tied, Danny, with Sawyer in tow, felt newfound happiness. She sprung and pounced onto Danny who was caught in jolt. This turned into a hug. Sawyer assured him softly.

"And I will definitely marry you."

Touched by her concurrence, tears streamed from Danny's eyes. Both cats hugged each other expressively. Pudge was the first to congratulate him. All animals cheered in unison.

"Well done, my friend." said the crocodile.

"Your dreams have maybe been crashed, but you still got us." said the horse.

- THE END -