Around the same time, Austin was going over the obstacle course. He was on the crow's nest fixing the pulley. Rudy was on the platform below the crow's nest keeping him company.
"Good thing I checked this, the cable's coming loose." Austin said.
"Yeah, even though the course needs more excitement 'falling to the ground and breaking a leg' is not a synonym for that." Rudy agreed.
"Austin." Horton said, coming by. "We need to talk." He tried to go up onto the crow's nest.
"Horton wait! The crow's nest is too weak for elephants." Rudy pointed out.
"Oh right." Horton got back down. "Austin as your counselor and friend I beg you apologize to Uniqua. You know you're going to have to sooner or later."
"Why do I always have to be the one to apologize?" Austin frowned, jumping onto the platform.
"Because that's what we husbands do: we hunt, we fish, we watch sporting events, and we apologize." Horton pointed out.
"Three out of four isn't bad but still, I'm glad I'm not married." Rudy chuckled. "Wait a minute, what do you mean 'we'? You were never married."
"I knew your father remember?" Horton tried to go up onto the platform again; the platform started to wobble.
"Oh yeah-Horton get down you're too heavy!" Rudy said quickly, feeling the platform wobble.
"Okay okay." Horton got back down, a little annoyed. "Austin you know Uniqua's right, she's always right."
"Now you're on her side?" Austin replied. "You kept the secret too you know."
"I never felt good about it."
"Well you should have said something then."
"You're the prince!"
"You're my counselor, you're supposed to counsel me!"
"Well I'm supposed to support you!" Horton tried to retort.
"That's my point." Austin smirked.
Horton blinked, realizing that he had been tricked.
"Oh it's going to be like that is it?" Horton said with fake anger. "Just wait until I get up there-"
"HORTON!" Rudy said panically.
"Okay that does it!" Horton grabbed Rudy with his trunk and gave him a noogie. "Am I too heavy for this huh? Am I?"
"Horton cut it out!" Rudy laughed.
Austin laughed too. Horton relaxed and let go of Rudy and the three of them laughed.
"Okay, I'll leave it up to you." Horton smirked to Austin. "Come on Rudy."
He and Rudy left.
"Apologize? Why? I'm right aren't I?" Austin said to himself. "Isn't it enough that I fight the dragons? That I fight the villains and I win the prize? Isn't it enough that I run the kingdom? Solve everyone's problems, direct, and advise? So why should I get down on my knees, and apologize?"
He went down the zip-line as he thought it over, and realized that there was an excellent reason for apologizing: his love for Uniqua was much stronger than his need to keep the kingdom safe and prosperous with magic.
AUSTIN:
Because I love her, I need her
Like Earth needs the sun
I need the one I love
To keep my hope bright
My head right
My heart fighting on
Until I am back in her arms
Because I love her, I need her
Like summer needs rain
To grow and sustain each day
I hear her singing
And bringing strength to my soul
Until I am back in her arms
Miles apart, yet still my heart
Can hear her melody
I'm more than sure I can't endure
Without her love for me
Because I love her and need her
Like I need to breathe
Did Adam need Eve like this
Now I see clearly
I nearly gave up all I had
So whatever our differences were
I'll bid them goodbye
I'll give love a try
And all because I love her
A little later on, Uniqua was taking applications for the talent show.
"Almost done...look at all these entries Pablo!" Uniqua said excitedly.
"Oh I can't right now princess, my radar is searching for enemy activity." Pablo said.
Uniqua just shook her head, amused.
"Jojo, I didn't know you liked to perform." Uniqua smiled to the cook; Jojo shrugged shyly. "What will you do? Song? Dance?"
"I juggle...omelets." Jojo said.
"Oh." Uniqua smiled. "Very unique, I like it."
Jojo smiled and left so the next person could enter.
Meanwhile, Morton was admiring the stage and Tommy was still training on the ground below it.
"Wow, a real stage." Morton smiled.
"I've done it, my body and mind are one." Tommy said, doing weird standing poses. "If I can maintain this feeling, the obstacle course is mine."
"For longer than for never." Morton sang teasingly, having overheard Tommy.
Tommy, ticked off, leapt onto the stage and started choking Morton.
"I'll hold you in my arms." Tommy sang back tensely.
Then, a woman wearing all black, including a black veil, approached Uniqua. She seemed familiar.
"I've come to enter the talent show." The woman said with a deep voice.
"Certainly, your name?" Uniqua asked.
"The Lady in Black."
"Your talent?"
"The tango!"
"Oo, the tango." Uniqua smiled, liking that dance. "Partner's name?"
"I don't have one yet." The woman whispered, lifting her veil.
"Jane?" Uniqua was surprised.
"*Shhh*, no one can know it's me." Jane explained. "I want to win because I'm the best, not because I'm the queen."
"Oh I see." Uniqua chuckled understandingly. "I hope you can find a partner in time." She whispered.
"Oh I know someone who would jump at the idea." Jane grinned.
Her idea of a partner did jump at the idea, but not for it. More like against it. Fortunately, considering who he was, he didn't jump hard.
"The tango?" Horton drew back, appalled. "The tango is the most difficult dance known to man! Especially elephant."
Horton had been practicing the orchestra for the festival when Jane appeared asking him to be her partner.
"Horton, you will help me win this talent show." Jane ordered.
"Oh no ma'am." Horton shook his head. "A waltz maybe, a nice fox-trot certainly, but the tango? No sirree Robert!"
Jane got an idea: reverse psychology.
"Oh you're probably right, how silly it was of me to think that you could still do the tango." She said sadly.
"Well I didn't say I couldn't do it." Horton replied, falling for it.
"Oh well, I guess even the greatest dancers must grow old and stiff." Jane pretended to cry and pretended to ignore Horton.
"I'm not that old!" Horton protested.
"No no no no no no! Please, please don't fight it Horton, you must accept the truth." Jane pleaded, testing out his arm. "Your muscles have become weak and flabby. Even your trunk is a wet noodle! You've the timing of a busted clock!"
"Now wait a minute!" Horton said, insulted.
"Oh Horton, you used to move with such grace and style." Jane fake-sobbed.
"I still could if I had a mind to." Horton said defiantly.
"No no no, you must give in to the truth: you're washed up!"
"Washed up?"
"You'll never do the tango again!" Jane said dramatically.
"Don't you count on it my lady!" Horton retorted.
"No Horton!" Jane pretended to protest.
"Orchestra!" Horton ordered.
"Don't!"
"Hit it!"
The orchestra played a tango and Horton started dancing with Jane to the music. Very well too, but also a little too showy. Horton even caused Jane to fall down with a spin.
"Horton!" Jane laughed.
"How's that for 'washed up' chiquita?" Horton laughed back, picking her up.
"I'll win for sure!"
"Help!" A Swedish woman called out.
Horton dropped Jane upon hearing her.
Yup, you guessed it: Mayzie.
