Sing Your Heart Out

Picking Up the Pieces

Buster felt like a mess. The koala was in the middle of Eddie's pool house, wearing one of Eddie's oversized t-shirts instead of his dapper blue suit, watching TV on the floor and eating a bowl of cereal. Buster was grateful that his friend let him crash at his pool house, but it didn't make Buster feel any less depressed. Eddie was on the sofa behind Buster, snoring loudly. Buster was currently watching another news bulletin on the destruction of the Moon Theater, which only worsened his mood.

"Um yeah, Buster Moon certainly brought down the house once and for all today. And although Mr. Moon has not been available for questions, unconfirmed reports suggest he was responsible for building a water tank that exploded and flooded the building." an orange cat with glasses reported on the TV. "I've been told the two-hundred and fifty squid who had been part of Moon's display are in fact employees of three-star restaurant Les Calamars, and that none of them were harmed during the incident. Whether they will be returning to their usual work is not yet-"

During the broadcast, Buster heard a knock on the door.

"Eddie? There's someone at the door." Buster drowsily told his friend.

Eddie continues to snooze as another knock occurs. Buster turns off the TV and turns his head to see a familiar group of silhouettes.

"Oh no." Buster mutters to himself.

"Mr. Moon?" Miss Crawly's voice calls from outside.

Buster just sits there, concerned that there may be conflict.

"Come on, Moon. You can't just hide out in your buddy's pool house." Ash's voice calls.

"Yeah, we just wanted to make sure you're alright, that's all." Rosita's voice adds.

"We're really concerned for you, Mr. Moon." Perry's voice replied.

Buster mustered up the courage to get up and open up the pool house's sliding doors. Every contestant, or now, ex-contestants and Miss Crawley were outside with worried looks on their faces. Well, except Mike, but that didn't really surprise anyone.

"Hey, Mr. Moon." Rosita softly greeted.

"You okay?" Johnny asked with concern.

"Guys, look. I-I-I'm sorry about what happened." Buster sighed apologetically. "And the prize money and-"

"Oh, it's okay." Rosita responded.

"No. None of this is okay."

"At least we're all in one piece." Ash said optimistically.

"We were all a bit shocked at the truth, yes, but things could've gone much worse." Lisa stated, trying to help make light of things.

"Yeah, and you know what, I bet we can find some other place to put the show on. Right?" Rosita suggested.

The former contestants seemed to agree.

"The show? Guys, I'm done." Buster uttered.

Everyone gave Buster surprised expressions. They didn't expect this from the usually confident and upbeat koala.

"Are you serious?" Johnny asked.

"What do you mean 'done'? Come on!" Ash exclaimed.

"So that's it?" Dillian commented.

"That doesn't sound like the Mr. Moon we know!" Jessica replied encouragingly.

"Didn't you see this? Huh?" Buster asks, grabbing a newspaper and reading off of it. "Look, it says I am a 'danger to society'..."

Gunter scoffs at this comment by the press.

"... 'A deluded, washed-up charlatan who never had a hit in his career.'"