Chapter 25 and it's Upendi time! Enjoy!
Kovu and Kiara continue to nuzzle. Suddenly, Kovu pulls away from Kiara.
KOVU:
*clears his throat*
KIARA:
What's wrong?
"He's been trained to murder your dad and take over your kingdom, that's what." Reirei snarked.
Kovu strides away, then sits at a distance from Kiara.
KOVU:
Nothing.
"It definitely isn't nothing." Jasiri spoke up. "I just didn't know how to tell her, or how she'd react if/when I did." Kovu sighed.
Kiara approaches.
KIARA:
Kovu…
Kovu looks back at Kiara. He starts to walk toward her.
KOVU:
It's just that, my whole life, I've been trained to– [Kovu bows his head.] *sighs* Nothing. [Kovu walks away.] I gotta go.
"You need to tell her the truth before something happens that forces it to come out." Askari advised. Spirit and Dusty looked uneasily at each other.
KIARA:
[softly] Kovu, wait.
Kovu hesitates, looking back at Kiara. She stares at him imploringly. After a moment, he keeps walking, only to be halted by a hand that emerges from the grass and pokes him in the nose.
Several animals jumped at the sight of the hand.
RAFIKI:
And where are you going?
KOVU:
[confused] Nuh... Nowhere.
Rafiki pops out of the grass.
Said animals sighed in relief. "And enter the crazy omniscient monkey right on cue." Timon quipped. "I'm a mandrill!" Rafiki replied.
RAFIKI:
Ha! That's what [Rafiki points at Kovu.] you think. [Rafiki ducks back into the grass. Kovu bends down to look for him.] *laughs*
The grass stalks wave behind Kovu as Rafiki races away. Kiara watches him go. Kovu looks over one shoulder.
KOVU:
Who was that?
"Oh you know, just the royal mjuzi and a longtime friend of our family." Kopa said.
KIARA:
[apologetically] Uh... [Kiara sidles up to Kovu.] Friend of the family.
RAFIKI:
*hums* [Kovu turns around to see Rafiki lounging on his back and playing with his tail. Rafiki points.] Come on! [Rafiki hops off Kovu's back.] You follow old Rafiki; [Rafiki tugs on Kovu's tail.] he knows the way! [Rafiki races away. Kovu glares after him.] *laughs*
"Isn't that exactly what he said to you when he was leading you to the ghost of your dad?" Nala asked. "It was." Simba realized.
KOVU:
Way to where?
Rafiki stands on a tall cliff above Kovu and Kiara, holding a vine.
RAFIKI:
*laughs* [shouting] You follow! You see! [Kovu and Kiara exchange mystified glances. Rafiki swings away on the vine.] Hurry, now!
"What is he doing this time?" Fuli questioned. 'Oh, you'll see." Dusty smirked.
Kiara pelts after Rafiki.
KIARA:
[through laughter] Kovu, come on! [Kovu follows Kiara. Rafiki swings overhead.] *laughs*
RAFIKI:
*cackles*
Kovu and Kiara skid to a halt.
KOVU:
Where's he taking us?
Kiara and Kovu, remembering when this was, knowingly smiled at each other.
Kovu and Kiara stare in confusion. Before them is a jungle with a waterfall.
RAFIKI:
[from offscreen] Oh, to a special place in your heart [Kovu and Kiara look around.] called [Rafiki hangs down and angles Kovu's and Kiara's heads toward one another.] Upendi! [Rafiki nudges Kovu's and Kiara's noses together. They smile.] *cackles*
'Upendi? Where or what is that?' everyone thought, except for Rafiki, Kiara, and Kovu.
Rafiki stands atop a leaf chair that is floating down a river. Kovu and Kiara sit below him. The chair bobs toward a waterfall. In the sky, a crescent moon appears.
RAFIKI:
THERE'S A PLACE WHERE THE CRAZY MOON MAKES THE MONKEYS SING AND THE BABOONS SWOON,
"Wow! That's pretty! It's kind of like the jungle we lived in!" Pumbaa marveled.
Several monkeys sing in trees.Two baboons kiss, then hang on a vine from their tails.One of the baboons picks a flower and hands it to Rafiki as the chair floats by below him.
AND THE SULTRY SCENT OF THE LOTUS BLOOM WILL CARRY YOU AWAY.
Rafiki gives the flower to Kiara, who holds it up for Kovu to sniff.Kovu sniffs the flower, then sneezes. Rafiki points to several hippos, who are hanging from jungle vines.
"Those must be some really strong vines to be able to hold up those hippos. No offense, Beshte." Ono mused. "None taken." he replied.
WHILE THE HIPPOS SWING FROM THE JUNGLE VINES AND THE RHINOS RHUMBA IN A CONGA LINE,
Several rhinos dance by in a conga line.Several flamingos stand with their heads together, then fall to the ground. Stars appear over their heads.
ALL THE PINK FLAMINGOS ARE INTERTWINED AS THE STARS COME OUT TO PLAY. OOH!
Rafiki gathers the stars in his arms and tosses them into the sky. Many animals dance together on a grassy plain.
"That looks like one fun party!" Bunga exclaimed.
RAFIKI AND CHORUS:
IN UPENDI!
Rafiki catches two fruits that fall into his hands.
RAFIKI:
WHERE THE PASSION FRUIT GROWS SWEET!
"Passion fruit? I've never tried it, but it sounds delicious!" Makini chatted excitedly.
Rafiki hops onto Kovu and Kiara's chair. He feeds Kiara one of the fruits.
AND IT'S SO DIVINE THAT YOU LOSE YOUR MIND AS IT SWEEPS YOU OFF YOUR FEET.
Rafiki offers the other fruit to Kovu, who holds up a paw in refusal. Rafiki tosses the fruit away.The chair floats down the river, coming upon more animals on the shore.
Everyone couldn't help admiring the beautiful scenery.
RAFIKI AND CHORUS:
IN UPENDI!
Rafiki grabs a nearby stick and uses it to guide the chair down the river. It slides down a small waterfall.
WITHOUT A WORRY OR A CARE. [Rafiki tosses the stick away. He grabs a nearby pink leaf that is shaped like a heart.] IT JUST TAKES TWO TO MAKE IT TRUE. [Rafiki forces the leaf over Kovu's head, like it's a heart-shaped mane.] YOUR HEART WILL LEAD YOU THERE.
Many animals snickered at Kovu wearing the leaf.
KIARA:
*laughs* [Kovu tugs the leaf off his head. Kiara grins up at Rafiki.] Where is it?
Rafiki covers Kiara's eyes with one hand. With his other hand, he cleans out her ear.
"More importantly, what is it?" Ullu wondered. Everyone was curious now.
RAFIKI:
[into Kiara's ear] No place you don't take with you.
KIARA:
*laughs*
"Huh?" A lot of animals said, although some understood. "That makes no sense. What does that even mean?" Janja grumbled.
The chair falls over a waterfall, throwing Kovu and Kiara free. Rafiki leaps away as they fall.
RAFIKI:
YOU BETTER WATCH YOUR STEP 'CAUSE THE PATH IS STEEP. [Kovu and Kiara land in a bucket full of water.] BETTER HOLD YOUR BREATH 'CAUSE THE WATER'S DEEP.
Rafiki pulls a lever next to the bucket, which opens and deposits Kovu and Kiara.
"Good thing he didn't pull the wrong leverrr!" Dusty joked, making Spirit giggle.
IT'S A LONG WAY DOWN OVER LOVERS' LEAP, [Rafiki floats down on a leaf, holding an arrow. He tosses the leaf and arrow away as he falls.]BUT FALLING'S HALF THE FUN!
Kovu and Kiara fall back onto the chair in the river.
KOVU AND KIARA:
*laughs*
"Looks like someone's having fun." Madoa giggled.
RAFIKI AND CHORUS:
IN UPENDI!
Kovu smiles up at Rafiki, who is standing on the chair. Fruits begin to fall around them.
"Looks like the weather forecast is going to be cloudy with a chance of passion fruit." Spirit quipped.
RAFIKI:
WHERE THE PASSION FRUIT GROWS SWEET! [Kovu swallows a fruit, but it gets lodged in his throat.] AND IT'S SO DIVINE [Kiara catches fruits happily. She notices Kovu struggling to swallow.] THAT YOU LOSE YOUR MIND [Kiara kisses Kovu's cheek.] AS IT SWEEPS YOU OFF YOUR FEET.
Kovu swallows the fruit and smiles with his tongue hanging out, clearly smitten. Rafiki balances several fruits on his fingers and nose.
Many males in the room were reminded of their first kisses with their mates. Several animals giggled at both Kovu's facial expression and Rafiki's balancing act.
RAFIKI AND CHORUS:
IN UPENDI!
Rafiki kicks one of the fruits onto a field of butterflies, behind which several animals dance in a conga line. The butterflies flit into the air.
RAFIKI:
WITHOUT A WORRY OR A CARE. IT JUST TAKES TWO [Rafiki nudges Kovu's and Kiara's noses together. They smile.] TO MAKE IT TRUE. [Rafiki drifts downward on a leaf.] YOUR HEART WILL TAKE YOU THERE.
"They really are a cute couple." Nirmala said to Surak.
Rafiki leads a conga line of animals, each of which is holding a miniature bush.
YOU CAN BEAT THE BUSH [The animals toss down their bushes and each put a hand to their eyes, as if looking at something from afar.] LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW, [Rafiki hops onto the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.] FROM TANGANYIKA TO KILIMANJARO, BUT YOU'LL FIND UPENDI [Rafiki opens the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro like it's a hatch, and butterflies flood out.]WHEREVER YOU ARE. [Rafiki pulls down an orange cloth that becomes a sunset.] OH, UNDERNEATH THE SUN.
Everyone oohed and ahhed at the butterfly display.
Kovu and Kiara continue to drift downriver on the leaf.
KIARA:
Upendi. It means love, doesn't it?
"Oh." The animals who didn't get it before chorused.
Rafiki spreads his arms wide. Behind him, hearts pulse from the setting sun.
RAFIKI:
Welcome to Upendi!
A waterspout lifts Kovu and Kiara's leaf. Below them, several animals dance by in a conga line.
RAFIKI AND CHORUS:
IN UPENDI!
"This looks vaguely familiar." Zazu said, remembering the animal tower from the first movie.
RAFIKI:
WHERE THE PASSION FRUIT GROWS SWEET. [Rafiki, who is standing in a tree, tosses fruits into the mouths of two rhinoceroses at the front of the conga line. They eat the fruits and jump into a nearby river.] AND IT'S SO DIVINE THAT YOU LOSE YOUR MIND [Rafiki repeats the process with a zebra couple.]AS IT SWEEPS YOU OFF YOUR FEET.
"Where are they all going?" Goigoi cocked his head in confusion.
Kovu and Kiara exchange grins, then jump off the waterspout into the pool below.
RAFIKI AND CHORUS:
IN UPENDI!
Kovu and Kiara join the back of the conga line.
RAFIKI:
WITHOUT A WORRY OR A CARE. [Kovu and Kiara eat the fruits Rafiki tosses them, then jump into the river.] IT JUST TAKES TWO TO MAKE IT TRUE. [Kovu and Kiara float down the river on their backs.] YOUR HEART [Kovu and Kiara go over a cliff, but a heart-shaped parachute sprouts from their backs.] WILL TAKE YOU THERE.
"Where'd that come from?" Questioned Uncle Max. "We don't know." Kiara shrugged.
Kovu and Kiara drift together. Rafiki floats by on a cloud.
KIARA:
UPENDI.
Other animal couples float by Kovu and Kiara.
Many of the couples in the audience smiled at the peacefully drifting animals. Several nuzzled each other. Bunga and Binga held hands. Fuli tucked her head under Azaad's. Sarabi leaned into Mufasa's mane. Janja and Jasiri subconsciously moved closer to each other but then realized what they were doing and just let it happen.
CHORUS:
DOWN IN UPENDI. WAY DOWN…
KIARA AND CHORUS:
IN UPENDI.
CHORUS:
DOWN…
"That looks like it'd be relaxing." Beshte sighed.
KIARA AND CHORUS:
IN UPENDI.
CHORUS:
WAY DOWN…
KIARA AND CHORUS:
IN UPENDI.
The animal couples, Kovu and Kiara, and Rafiki begin to float toward one another.
Sarafina looked around at the other couples and thought of her own missing mate- Nala's father, wondering where he was, if he was still alive, and if/when he'd return to her.
CHORUS:
DOWN…
KIARA AND CHORUS:
IN UPENDI.
The floating animals form a pattern in the sky that becomes stars.
CHORUS:
WAY DOWN IN UPENDI. DOWN…
KOVU AND KIARA:
*laughs* [singing] IN UPENDI…
KOVU:
*laughs* [singing] IN UPENDI... [Kovu and Kiara walk side-by-side toward Pride Rock. Their haunches wriggle to the beat of the song.] IN UPENDI…
"What? It's catchy." Kovu said, making Kiara giggle. "You're not wrong there." Dusty replied.
KOVU AND KIARA:
*chuckles*
Outside the den entrance, Kovu and Kiara pause. They nuzzle.
KOVU:
Good night.
KIARA:
Good night. [Kovu and Kiara look at the den entrance, then at Kovu's rock on the promontory. Kiara walks into the den, while Kovu moves toward his rock. Before entering the den, Kiara looks over one shoulder at Kovu, clearly smitten.] *sighs*
"Can you feel the love tonight?" Dusty started singing. "Dusty!" Spirit giggled. "Their love song isn't on for a few more scenes." "Oh, right. My bad." Her brother looked sheepish.
Simba watches Kiara enter the den. He turns and looks on as Kovu settles down beside his rock. With a perplexed look, he glances from Kovu to the den. Slowly, a smile spreads across his face. Kovu, who is lying down, looks up in concern as Simba approaches him.
SIMBA:
It's kinda cold tonight, huh? Come on in.
"You're letting him in?! You know that'sss probably gonna bite you in the tail later." Ushari hissed.
Simba walks toward the den. With a grateful smile, Kovu follows him. From below Pride Rock, Vitani watches Kovu follow Simba toward the den.
VITANI:
*pants excitedly* Get him! [Kovu continues to follow Simba.] What are you waiting for? Kovu, get him! [Vitani crouches low. Kovu follows Simba into the den.] *snarls*
Vitani turns and races away. The scene transitions. Vitani stands before Zira.
"Looks like someone's going to tattle to mommy." Makucha taunted, causing Kopa, Vitani, and Kovu to growl at him and Makini to hit him with her staff.
ZIRA:
*roars* [Zira juts her head at Vitani.] You're sure?
VITANI:
Affirmative. I saw it with my own eyes.
ZIRA:
No... [Zira turns and strides away from Vitani.] Kovu cannot betray us.
"I can and I did. I'm my own lion, not your soldier to do as you command. Same goes for Vitani." Kovu defended.
That was one funky chapter. I hope you enjoyed it! Oh, and a quick note concerning Nala's dad. Please don't jump to conclusions and assume he's a deadbeat or vamoosed when Sarafina was pregnant or that he's an evil jerk. More about him and why he's seemingly MIA will come up later. *coughs* Paintings and Predictions *coughs*. I need to go get some cough drops, See you next chapter for Simba and Kovu's talk and the ambush scene!