Stormy Lani
The royal family of Enchancia were aboard a boat, which drifted through heavy fog, led by a familiar Emerald Key. Sofia and Madeline were wearing green and silver dresses.
"Look!" Sofia pointed "I think I see it!"
"So do I!" Madeline added, as an island emerged through the fog.
"So this is Hakalo?" Roland asked.
"I can see why they keep it hidden." Miranda declared. "It looks like paradise!"
Princess Lani and her family were waiting at the dock.
"They're here, they're here!" Lani cheered as the boat came in. "Welcome to Hakalo!" She waved to her friends. "Sofia! Madeline!"
"Lani!" Sofia and Madeline smiled, as they ran off the ship and hugged her.
"We missed you." Sofia declared.
"It's so good to see you again!" Madeline added.
"Same here." Lani placed flower wreaths on them. "I'm so happy you came!"
"Leno-ha-ah." Lani's father, King Kamea told Roland and Miranda.
"Welcome to Hakalo." Lani's mother, Queen Halia, added.
"King Kamea, Queen Halia." Roland smiled, as they too were given flower wreaths.
"Thank you for inviting us." Miranda declared.
"And we are honoured that you could join us for our fire pearl ceremony." Halia beamed.
"Come." Kamea urged. "The festivities have already begun."
Over Lani's family's home, a servant banged a gong.
"Greetings, honoured guest." Kamea announced. "And welcome to our Fire Pearl ceremony."
"Throughout our history, the young rulers of our kingdom have been asked to prove they are wise and strong enough to join the circle of leadership that rules our island." Halia declared.
"By climbing up Mount Hakalo and retrieving the sacred Fire Pearl." Kamea pointed out a volcano in the distance. "And now, it is our beloved daughter Lei-Lani's turn to take this difficult challenge, and prove she is ready to join the circle."
"But that is for tomorrow." Halia smiled. "Tonight, let us all enjoy the feast, and the music of Hakalo!"
A trio of musicians played their ukuleles panpipe and drum.
"Are you excited?" Sofia asked Lani.
"Uh-huh." Lani nodded. "But nervous, too. Can I ask you two something?"
"Sure." Madeline nodded.
"Come on up with me to the lenai." Lani urged.
Lani led the girls up to a higher point in her home.
"What is it?" Sofia asked.
"Is everything okay?" Madeline added.
"Yes." Lani sighed. "But I get to choose friends to help me with the Fire Pearl tomorrow, to be my guides. My ankhahunas. And I'd like it to be the two of you."
"Why us?" Sofia frowned.
"Because when we first met, you believed in me like nobody else did." Lani smiled. "Will you do this for me?"
"Of course, Lani." Madeline smiled.
"We'd love to be your ankhahunas." Sofia said, as they hugged her.
"Thank you." Lani beamed. she pulled out some flower bracelets. "Here's something special I made for the two of you to wear." She placed the bracelets on their wrists. "It's you ankhahuna bracelets."
"I love it!" Madeline grinned.
"So do I." Sofia smiled. "Thank you."
"And you'll need this map." Lani gave them a roll of paper. Since you'll be guiding me and all."
"Alright, let's see where we're going." Madeline unfurled the map.
"It looks like there a lot of different ways to reach the top of Mount Hakalo." Sofia noted. "And none of them look very easy."
"They're not, Sofia." Lani frowned. "We'll have to get past dark jungles, and wild animals..."
"Lani, can we really do this?" Madeline worried.
"Well, there's something that can help us." Lani confessed. "Something I haven't told you about yet."
"What is it?" Sofia asked.
"My powers." Lani declared, as her hands glowed blue.
"What?" Madeline gasped.
"Everyone in my family has the power to control the weather." Lani revealed. "Watch this."
Lani blew into her hands, creating a gust of wind which she used to blow out the nearby torches.
"I can create wind to blow out these torches." She smiled.
"Wow..." Sofia and Madeline gaped.
"That's what this ceremony is really all about." Lani declared. "It's a test to see if I can use my powers to get the Fire Pearl."
"They look pretty amazing to me." Sofia smiled.
"They are." Lani suddenly tripped. "Ow! I'm so clumsy!"
A loud rumbling noise was heard, as storm clouds gathered.
"Oh no." Lani cringed. "It happened again!"
"Lani?" Madeline asked, as Lani ran off.
Lani's parents came up.
"Girls, was Lani just upset?" Kamea asked.
"Yes." Sofia nodded. "How did you know?"
"When Lani loses her temper, she loses control of her powers, which can whip up terrible storms." Halia declared.
"To control her powers, she must first learn to control her temper." Kamea added. "That is the only way she will succeed in the Fire Pearl quest."
"I promise we'll help her, King Kamea" Madeline pledged.
"Anyway we can." Sofia added.
"You are both good, true friends, Sofia and Madeline." Halia hugged them both.
As Lani's parents led them away, one of the carved lizards on the pillars moved. It leapt off its perch, and transformed into the sorceress Mamanu.
"Milo." She called. "Milo!"
She hit one of the snake carvings with her staff. The carving came to life, and dropped down in surprise.
"Here I am!" He saluted with his tail. "Reporting for duty. Evil duty!"
"Be quicker next time." Mamanu growled. "Or else you wind up a permanent decoration!"
"So... what are we doing back here in Hakalo?" Milo asked.
"King Kameha thinks he's so high and mighty, banishing me for stealing a few jewels." Mamanu snarled.
"Actually, it was a lot of jewels, ma'am." Milo corrected her. "And don't forget, you tried to steal the Emerald Key."
"Be still and listen!" Mamanu yelled. "I shall take my revenge by destroying his kingdom!"
"How are we going to do it?" Milo asked.
"We're going to make Princess Lani's journey up Mount Hakalo so difficult that she will lose her temper, and conjure a storm big enough to wash away this entire island!" Mamanu laughed wickedly.
The next morning, the opening ceremony began.
"Princess Lei-Lani, may this trail led to the wisdom and strength needed to be a great ruler." Kamea declared.
The tribe members played some conch shells.
"You can do this, my daughter." Halia smiled.
Sofia and Madeline, wearing tribal dresses, joined Lani as she walked down the trail. They stopped at three tiki statues.
"Okay, ankhahunas, which way should we go?" Lani asked.
Madeline checked the map.
"This is an easy one." She smiled. "Straight ahead!"
They walked into the jungle, stopping at large wooden gates.
"Whoa..." Sofia gasped.
"What's that?" Lani asked.
"The Lava Gates." Madeline read the map.
"This must be my first challenge." Lani realised.
Sofia and Madeline tried to push the gates open, but to no avail.
"These are really strong!" Sofia groaned.
"I'll have to use my powers." Lani declared. "Maybe some wind can blow them open."
Lani conjured up a gust of wind, but it had no effect.
"They didn't even budge!" Lani growled, storm clouds rumbled.
"It's okay, Lani." Madeline told her.
"Why don't you try using your powers on something that'll knock the gates open?" Sofia suggested. "Like... that boulder!"
"Great idea, ankhahuna!" Lani smiled. She rushed over to behind the boulder. "Step back, girls!"
Sofia and Madeline stepped aside.
Lani created another gust of wind, which rolled the boulder toward the gates, pushing them down.
"That's one challenge down." She declared.
As they passed through the gates, they saw two paths ahead.
"Now which way should we go?" Lani asked.
Madeline checked the map.
"The trail on the right is easier, but a lot longer." She noted. "The one on the left is shorter, but a lot steeper."
"I'll go whichever way my ankhahunas say." Lani smiled. "I trust you, girls."
"Let's take the shorter path." Sofia suggested.
"I agree." Madeline nodded. "The sooner we get Lani to that fire pearl, the better."
They started climbing up the left path. A bird in a green headdress watched them. The bird jumped off its branch, turning into Mamanu.
"Princess Lani passed that first challenge too easily." She scowled. "I'll have to make sure her next challenge is impossible!"
"Yessss!" Milo hissed. "Uh, wait. I thought we were trying to make her mad?"
"We are!" Mamanu smirked. "The harder the challenge, the more mad she'll get. The more mad she gets, the bigger the storm!"
"That makes sense." Milo admitted. "And I just know I can make that Princess mad. Can I give it a try?"
"Patience." Mamanu told him. "Your time will come."
Mamanu turned back into a bird. Carrying Milo in her talons, she flew away.
Later, the Princesses were still climbing the path, which was steep and uneven.
"It's really hard to walk!" Lani declared.
"It should only be a little ways longer before we get to the-" Madeline started, checking the map. Up above the bird Mamanu pecked a fruit loose, causing it to drop on the map. "Ah! The map!"
"What happened?" Lani asked.
As Madeline reached for the map, a gust of wind blew it away.
"It's blowing away!" Sofia gasped.
"It's the only map we have!" Lani declared. "You can't lose it!"
Storm clouds gathered, darkening the area.
"We know, Lani." Madeline grabbed the map, which had snagged on a branch. "And we won't."
"Okay, okay." Lani calmed down, the clouds disappearing. "Sorry. Let's keep going."
The bird Mamanu followed them as they walked onwards.
A short time later, Mamanu, in the form of a beaver, was chewing through the supports to a bridge.
"One, two, three, four, who can chew through wood galore? Mamanu! Mamanu!" Milo cheered. "Yay!"
Once Mamanu had chewed through the support, she pushed it over the gap the bridge hung over, sending it and the bridge downward. She then returned to human form.
"Lani will never get across now." She smirked. "She'll have one of her temper storms, and then it's goodbye, Hakalo!"
"But what can I do to help?" Milo asked. "Give me a mission, please?"
"Your mission is to keep out of my way!" Mamanu growled. "Ooh, they're coming! We must hide!"
Picking up Milo, Mamanu hid herself in a bush.
"Come on, Lani." Sofia smiled. "Over here."
They stopped at the chasm.
"According to the map, there should be a bridge here." Madeline frowned.
"Well, I don't see a bridge." Lani frowned. "Are you sure you're reading the map right?"
"Of course she is." Sofia defended Madeline.
"Now go ahead, Princess." Mamanu chuckled. "Get good and mad!"
"How are we gonna get across now?" Lani asked. "Ugh!"
Storm clouds gathered again.
"Come on." Madeline urged. "There must be another way across."
They looked around.
"Wait, wait!" Sofia declared. "That big totem pole might be long enough to make a bridge!"
"Good thinking, Sof." Madeline smiled. "Lani, what if you used your powers to get it down here?"
"Good idea." Lani smiled. "Both of you."
"What are ankhahunas for?" Sofia grinned.
Lani breathed some orange vapour into her hands. The vapour turned into a sand cyclone, which pulled the totem pole down.
"Timber!" Lani called.
The totem pole was indeed long enough to reach the other side of the chasm.
"Perfect." Madeline declared.
"You did it, Lani!" Sofia cheered.
"Oh no!" Milo gasped. "She made a new bridge!"
"I'll take care of this." Mamanu smirked. She turned herself into a big spider, appearing right in front of Lani.
"Ugh!" Lani growled, as Mamanu tried to push her back.
She slammed her foot on the ground, causing a tremor that dislodged the totem pole, causing it to fall into the chasm.
"No!" Lani yelled. "Look what I did! Now there really is no way across. We shouldn't have gone this way!" She glared at Sofia and Madeline. "Why did you make me take this path?!"
"We thought it was the best way." Madeline declared.
"Well, it wasn't." Lani scowled. "Now we're stuck here, and I'll never get the Fire Pearl! Ugh!"
Another storm started forming. A bolt of lightning struck another totem pole, knocking it down. In the bushes, Mamanu changed back to normal, chuckling wickedly.
"Lani, stay calm." Sofia urged, as it started to rain.
Back at Lani's home, Roland and Kamea observed the storm.
"That doesn't look good." Roland frowned. "Maybe we should go up there."
"Lani must do this on her own." Kamea declared. "We cannot interfere."
Meanwhile, the girls were standing in a cave.
"Lani, if you don't calm down, you'll never get the Fire Pearl." Madeline reminded her.
"Don't you think I know that, Madeline?" Lani growled.
"Just take a deep breath." Sofia urged.
"That won't fix anything!" Lani groaned.
"Lani, listen." Madeline told her. "You know what always calms me and Sofia down?"
"Thinking about the things we love." Sofia smiled. "Happy things."
Sofia/Madeline: Whenever we feel stormy
And want to yell and shout
We have a little thing we do
To help us mellow out
We let go of our anger
Stop feeling so distraught
Forget what made us gloomy
And think a sunny thought
Like flying in the derby
Or fencing with James
Dancing with Amber
Big Dazzleball games
Summertime picnics that last all day long
Magical dragons who break out in song
These sunny thoughts always help to remind us
That we can put those bad feelings behind us.
"Now you try it, Lani." Sofia declared.
"I don't think it will help me, Sofia." Lani sighed.
"Can you try, anyway?" Madeline pleaded.
"Okay." Lani nodded.
Lani: Coconut Bowling
Exploring sea caves
Swimming in dolphins
Or splashing in waves.
Taking a journey with a good friend
Seeing a rainbow when a storm ends
Sofia/Madeline: These sunny thoughts
Lani: Always help to remind us.
All: That we can leave those bad feeling behind us.
That's how we leave those bad feelings way, way, way behind us
The storm disappeared, as Lani was happy again.
"No!" Mamanu growled. "Where did all this miserable sunshine come from?"
"I don't think this totem pole's gonna be big enough to make a bridge." Sofia noted of the fallen pole.
"But we can use it to slide down the hill and over the gorge." Lani declared.
"I guess that could work." Madeline admitted. "But you usually need snow for sledding."
"Leave that to me, girls." Lani smiled.
Lani blew into her hands, creating a cloud that she threw up into the air. Snow started falling from it.
"Incredible!" Sofia gasped.
"Let's go before it melts." Lani urged. "Climb on!"
They all climbed into one of the pole's hollow mouth. Lani created two gusts of wind that pushed them down the slope. They slid over the gorge, and landed on the other side.
"Yes!" They all cheered.
"No!" Mamanu snarled. "I'll have to find another way to trick her into starting a storm that will destroy the island!"
"Oh, oh! Please let me do it!" Milo begged. "I'm the right snake for the job!"
"Alright then." Mamanu agreed. "But I'll have to make you a little scarier."
"Yippee!" Milo cheered. "A mission, finally!"
Mamanu used her magic, engulfing Milo in a blue cloud.
Meanwhile, the girls were continuing onwards.
"Look!" Madeline smiled. "We're almost at the top!"
"Nothing's going to stop us now!" Lani declared, as they raced over.
Up ahead, Mamanu saw them coming.
"Are you ready to chase them down the mountain?" She asked Milo.
"Ready!" Milo popped his head up.
"Willing!" A second head appeared.
"And evil!" A third declared.
Mamanu vanished, and the larger, three-headed Milo hissed wickedly.
"See?" Sofia smiled, as they grew closer. "That wasn't so bad."
"And according to the map, it should be an easy hike from now on." Madeline declared.
Milo lunged in front of them, and they yelped in fear. The girls ran off in different directions. Milo's head each tried to follow a different girl, but collapsed from pulling their body three ways at once.
"Get the map, troops." The main head ordered.
"If we get the map..." The second declared.
"They'll never be able to find the Fire Pearl!" The third smirked.
"She'll be so mad!" The first head sneered.
"I won't let you take the map!" Madeline said boldly.
"Madeline!" Lani called.
"Run!" Sofia urged.
Madeline ran over to them, Milo right behind her. The girls tried to run, but Milo was too fast, blocking them at every turn.
"Uhhh!" Lani groaned in frustration, causing a gust of wind to blow the map out of Madeline's hands.
"The map!" Madeline gasped.
"Got it!" Milo's left head snatched up the map.
"Victory!" The center head declared.
"Evil victory!" The right head added.
"I told you to be careful with the map, Madeline!" Lani glared at her.
"Lani, the wind you made blew it out of my hands." Madeline glared back.
"Because you led us right to a giant, three-headed snake!" Lani growled.
"Not on purpose!" Madeline pointed out.
"I should never have asked you to be my ankhahuna." Lani declared. "I should have only asked Sofia. Then we wouldn't be in this mess!"
"If that's how you feel, I won't be your ankhahuna!" Madeline pulled off her bracelet.
"Come on, Maddie, don't..." Sofia told her.
"You two can find the Fire Pearl yourselves." Madeline declared.
"Fine! We will!" Lani spat. "I don't need the map, or you."
"Lani!" Sofia gaped. "You don't mean that!"
"Yes, I do." Lani frowned. "If you have a problem with that, you can go with her."
"...Okay, I will." Sofia took off her bracelet, ran after Madeline. "Maddie, wait!"
"I don't need a map, or ankhahunas." Lani pouted. "I can do this by myself."
Storm clouds gathered as Lani entered a cave. Inside, she saw multiple stone stairways.
"Oh no!" Lani gasped. "Which way am I supposed to go? ...I'll just try this path."
Lani walked down the path, only to find herself back where she started.
"Wait, I'm going in circles!" She groaned. "I can't do this by myself..." She picked up the two flower bracelets. "What have I done?"
Lani ran off after Sofia and Madeline.
"Sofia! Madeline!" She called. "Wait!"
"Did you hear something, Sof." Madeline asked. "Because I didn't."
"You don't have to be mean, Maddie." Sofia frowned.
"I know none of this is my fault." Lani admitted. "I was frustrated and angry, and I took it all out on you two. I'm sorry. Really sorry."
"You really need to learn how to control your temper, Lani." Sofia declared.
"I know, I know." Lani sighed. "It's the only way I'll join the circle of leadership."
"It's not just about being a good leader." Madeline told her. "It's about being a good person, and a good friend."
"I couldn't have said it better myself." Sofia smiled.
"You're both right." Lani admitted. "I just can't help myself. I've ruined everything!"
"You can still do this." Madeline declared.
"How?" Lani asked.
"By listening to your ankhahunas." Sofia answered.
"You'll be my ankhahunas again?" Lani said hopefully.
"If that's what you want." Madeline nodded.
"More than anything!" Lani held up the bracelets. "Here, you'll need these."
Lani put the bracelets back on Sofia and Madeline's wrists.
"Okay, first we'll need to get the map back." Sofia declared.
They hurried back down the path, finding Milo.
"Hurry, boys!" The center head declared. "Time to head back to base camp!"
"Yeah, but where is base camp?" The right head asked.
"The map!" Lani gasped.
"We need to get him to open his mouth." Madeline noted.
"I know what to do." Lani smiled.
Lani conjured up a cloud, sending it right above Milo. Hail started falling out of it.
"What is that?" The center head asked.
"Ow!" The right head yelped, as a hailstone hit him.
"It's hail!" The center head declared.
The heads yelped in pain as more hail hit them. The left head dropped the map. Lani and the girls rushed over and grabbed it.
"The map!" The left head yelled.
"Great job, Lani!" Sofia smiled, as they ran into the cave.
"We're almost there!" Madeline declared. "The map says take the center stairs!"
They rushed up the stairs together.
Meanwhile, the bird Mamnu flew down to Milo, changing back to human form.
"You let them get away!" She roared.
"We tried to complete the mission." Milo's left head declared.
"But she made it hail!" The center head added.
"You failed me." Mamanu snarled. "Just like all the useless snakes that came before you!"
Mamanu's stone started to glow. Milo tried to run away, but was turned to stone.
"Alright, I'll take care of those Princesses myself." Mamanu smirked, turning back into a bird, and flying towards Mount Hakalo.
At the same time, the Princesses had reached the steps leading up to the top of the volcano.
"This is it." Lani smiled. "We're here."
The girls rushed up the steps, and onward to the top of the volcano. They crossed a stone bridge, leading to a platform with a tree trunk in its centre, a monkey-shaped idol in a hollow spot.
"It's so weird to think my parents came here when they were my age." Lani mused. "And my grandparents."
"And now it's your turn." Sofia smiled.
They rushed over to the tree, only to find the monkey idol, which was supposed to contain the Fire Pearl, was empty.
"Huh?" Madeline frowned.
"The Fire Pearl, its missing!" Lani gasped.
"Not exactly." Mamanu smirked, standing behind them. She held the Fire Pearl in her hand.
"Mamanu!" Lani growled. "What are you doing here? My father banished you from Hakalo, forever!"
"Give Lani back the Fire Pearl!" Sofia demanded.
"Why?" Mamanu sneered. "Does me having the Fire Pearl make you angry? Does it make you furious?"
Storm clouds gathered as Lani's temper flared once more.
"Just give it to me!" Lani yelled.
"You'll never get the Fire Pearl from me, Princess." Mamanu taunted her. "And that means you failed your test, you failed your parents, and you failed your whole kingdom!"
"Don't listen to her, Lani!" Madeline urged.
"She's trying to make you lose your temper!" Sofia added.
Lightning flashed in the clouds, and it started raining all over Hakalo.
"Another storm..." Kamea frowned.
"Lani will calm down!" Halia declared. "I know she will!"
Back at the volcano, Mamanu started laughing wickedly.
"You have to calm down, Lani." Sofia declared.
"Or Hakalo's done for!" Madeline added.
"I can't do it, girls!" Lani despaired.
"You have to." Sofia told her. "Your storm is flooding the island!"
"Okay, sunny thoughts..." Lani told herself. "Um..."
Lani: Climbing a pal tree as high as the moon
Paddling my kayak across a lagoon
"It's working, Lani!" Madeline smiled, as the storm started to fade.
"Keep going!" Sofia urged.
Lani: Building a sandcastle with seashells for domes
Hugging my parents when I return home
"The storm is going away!" Madeline declared, as the skies cleared.
"See that?" Sofia grinned. "You can control your powers!"
"It doesn't matter!" Mamanu growled. "You're going to fail your test, because you're never getting the Fire Pearl!"
Mamanu dropped the Fire Pearl into the volcano.
"No!" Sofia and Madeline yelled.
"Yes I am, Mamanu." Lani said calmly.
Lani conjured up an orange flame, which flowed down into the lava. Moments later, the Fire Pearl burst out of the lava, landing at her feet. Lani picked it up, but it was still hot. She blew on it, and she and Sofia and Madeline passed it between them as it cooled down.
"Wow!" Madeline gasped.
"You can control volcanos too?" Sofia asked.
"I guess I can." Lani smiled.
"Don't act so pleased with yourself, Princess." Mamanu scowled. "Your powers are no match for mine!"
Mamanu turned herself into a warthog, and charged at Lani.
"Look out!" Madeline yelped.
"Leave my island alone!" Lani yelled. She created a gust of wind that blew Mamanu off the volcano and off Hakalo.
"Noooooo!" Mamanu yelled, as she landed in the ocean.
"Wow, Lani." Sofia smiled. "You really controlled your powers!"
"I controlled my temper." Lani declared. "That was the real test. And I think I passed."
Mamanu, in the form of a lizard, crawled onto the beach of a nearby island.
"How humiliating..." She groaned.
The citizens of Hakalo cheered as Lani and her ankahunas returned.
"My noble daughter, you have proven this day that you are ready to take your place in the circle of leadership." Kamea announced.
"Do you promise to always protect your people and your island." Halia asked, as Lani gave her father the Fire Pearl.
"I promise." Lani smiled.
"Kana-ha!" Kamea cheered.
"All hail the Princess!" Halia declared.
"Kana-ha!" The crowd cheered.
Kamea gave Lani a special staff, with the Fire Pearl placed in the middle of a gap in the top.
"Lani, I am so proud of you." He smiled.
"Thank you, father." Lani beamed.
"Congratulations, Lani." Sofia smiled.
"We knew you could do it." Madeline added.
"I couldn't have done it without my ankhahunas." Lani hugged them both.