03x21 - The Bamboo Kite

[bunniefuu]

I was a girl in the village doing all right Then I became a princess overnight Now I gotta figure out how to do it right So much to learn and see Up in the castle with my new family In a school that's just for royalty A whole enchanted world is waiting for me - I'm so excited to be - Sofia the first I'm finding out what being royal's all about Sofia the first Making my way, it's an adventure every day Sofia - It's gonna be my time - Sofia To show them all that I'm Sofia the first Look, we're here.

- Hi, Jin.

- Hi, Sofia.

Welcome back to Wei-Ling.

I thought the Festival of Kites starts tomorrow.

It does.

Everyone is just giving their kites a practice flight.

Wow.

I never knew there could be so many different kinds of kites.

Oh, yes.

Each village in Wei-Ling brings their own special kite for the festival.

Some are made of silk and bamboo, like in the olden days.

But some of the new kites are made of just about anything.

Look! Oh, what's that? That is a new way to fly kites.

It's my entry for the festival, and it's got all the bells and whistles.

See? Bells and whistles.

- ( hooting ) - That sounds like a real owl.

Father has decreed this the year of new things.

So I wanted to make a new kite that shows off the latest scientific thinking.

It's all amazing.

Jun must be so excited for tomorrow.

I can't believe she gets to open the festival.

Well, there may be a problem with that.

( sneezing ) Princess Jun has the summer sniffles.

A week in bed, and she'll be as good as new.

That's good news.

It's the worst news ever.

If I'm stuck in bed for a week, I can't open the festival tomorrow.

Oh, right.

Wu-Chang, isn't there anything you can do? Perhaps.

There is a rare healing herb I read about that can-- Ah, Jun, good news.

I have brought my advisor on all things new.

If anyone can help you get better, it is he.

Ah! Very interesting.

Your Highness.

Ancient legends speak of a rare flowering herb called mendseng that will cure the summer sniffles right away.

If we could just-- My friend, fear not.

The Advisor On All Things New is on the case.

But thank you for your concern.

Have you a diagnosis? My analysis indicates the princess has the Snifflus Lux Aestiva.

The "summer sniffles.

" The data indicates that if the princess drinks lots of fluid, stays in bed, and wears this sneeze-measuring head gear, it may reduce her time in bed all the way from seven days down to six and a half days.

I, uh I see.

Thank you.

You may go.

I know your heart was set on opening the festival, Jun, but I'm afraid I shall have to appoint someone else.

I am sorry.

I understand, Father.

( sneezes ) It's just not fair, Sofia.

She has been looking forward to this all year.

Then we have to find a cure so Jun can open the festival tomorrow.

But how? Even the Advisor On All Things New didn't come up with anything.

So if new ideas aren't helping Jun, maybe we need an old idea.

What are you making, Wu-Chang? A traditional bamboo kite.

Our people have been making kites like this for almost 2,000 years.

Nice, but it could use some bells and whistles.

Well, I think it's pretty.

Thank you, Princess Sofia.

But today, people seem to prefer the new kites with their iron gears and flapping wings and ( chuckles ) oh, never mind that.

How may I help you? We wanted you to help Princess Jun.

I would like nothing more.

But I fear the emperor no longer has any use I am like the bamboo kite.

I have no place here anymore.

But you said you could cure Jun quickly using the old ways.

Yes, with the mendseng herb.

But unfortunately, there is only one place to get it.

JIN: Mount Dashan? Yes.

It is a long journey.

Then what are we waiting for? Let's go.

Well, if there's a chance it'll help Jun, I'm willing to try anything.

Even old stuff.

Please, Wu-Chang.

For Princess Jun? Ah, very well.

For my princess, I will do what I can.

Sorry.

I had to pack a few things we might need to get the job done.

- Like what? - All the newest gadgets.

My Easy Breezy, my Perfect Pointer, my Quintessential Quill.

Oh.

I just brought water and snacks.

I knew I was forgetting something.

Come along, children.

Walking will get one farther down the road than talking.

What's that? My Perfect Pointer.

It tells you what way you're going.

- What way are we going? - That way.

I use the ancient method to find which way to go.

What's that? I look at the sun.

What do you do when it's cloudy? ( stammers ) You know, you should really get one of these.

Hmm.

Wow.

This wall is huge.

Yes.

The Dah-Tiang Wall runs around all of Central Wei-Ling.

JIN: But where's the gate? Many miles away.

So we must go over the wall.

But fear not.

I know an ancient levitation spell to get us up the side.

Be patient, young ones.

This may take some time.

( chanting ) How long are we supposed to wait? I don't know.

( chanting continues ) Okay, that's it.

We don't have all day if we're going to help Jun.

- All right, children.

Ready? - SOFIA: Come on, Wu-Chang.

( groans ) Wu-Chang, are you okay? Oh, I have not levitated in years.

I had forgotten the energy it takes, especially on a hot summer day.

Would you like some water? No, thank you, princess.

With my fan, I should cool down in no time.

My Easy Breezy cools you off super fast.

See? New gadgets get the job done.

Perhaps the emperor is right to set aside old ways like mine.

Well, new ideas couldn't cure Jun's sniffles in time, but you can.

And when you do that, the emperor will remember how important the old ways really are.

- ( loud rustling ) - Are you hearing that? What is it? Big finish.

Ta-da!! An audience.

A real audience, and they like me.

Thank you so much.

You must be one of the magical talking pandas from the north forest.

Greetings.

I am Wu-Chang.

Hi.

I'm Kai.

I am Prince Jin, and this is Princess Sofia.

The Imperial Sorcerer, the prince of Wei-Ling, and a princess? I am at your service.

You are such a good dancer.

Thank you.

It's so great to hear that.

There's no one to watch me dance in the bamboo forest, and I know, like, a billion dances.

Wanna see them? I'm so sorry, but I don't think we have time.

We have to get to Mount Dashan and back to the palace by sundown.

Oh, okay.

You're in a hurry.

Sure.

I understand.

I was a little lonely, I admit, and I got a little worked up.

I'll just go dance for myself some more then over here.

- By myself.

- Wait.

No, it's okay.

It was so nice to finally dance for someone.

Thank you.

Farewell, and good luck on your journey.

Can't we just stay for one dance? He's so lonely, and it would make him so happy.

We're trying to help Jun, and we're barely going to make it back to Mount Dashan, get the mendseng, and get back in time as it is.

Ah, but, Prince Jin, those who turn aside to help someone in need may also be helping themselves.

Do you mean, if we help him, he might help us, too? Exactly so.

Come.

( snoring ) ( laughing ) You're back.

This is my lucky day.

Please sit.

Pull up a rock, take a load off.

This is so great.

See, lizards don't like dancing.

Bamboo rats are not friendly.

So my only audience is that sloth.

But he never really says anything.

I'm not even sure he's awake.

Oh, he is.

Hi.

Well, Kai, we have time for one dance, so what would you like to show us? Right.

Of course.

You're in a hurry.

So let's see.

Which dance? Which dance? I know.

Oh, and feel free to get up and dance if the feeling strikes ya.

My family just wanted me To do like all pandas do Climb up into the trees And gather all kinds of bamboo They said I should toe the line But my toes just couldn't help tappin' It was dancin' that made me feel fine Shufflin' and kickin' and clappin' So I told them This panda just wants to dance To boogie the whole day away To twist and to stomp and to prance It's a black and white bear cabaret This panda just wants to dance To shimmy and shake it and move it I'm more than you see at first glance And I got the slick moves to prove it So I packed up and left home for good I went out in search of my dream I was free to dance all I could But it wasn't as fun as it seemed 'Cause I haven't found people to dance for No one's been around for miles Though I'm ready to burn up the dance floor I've been all alone in the wild Until now This panda is ready to dance To boogie the whole day away I twist and I stomp and I prance It's a black and white bear cabaret This panda is ready to dance To shimmy and shake it and move it I'm more than you see at first glance And I got the slick moves to prove it This panda is ready to dance To twist and to stomp and to prance I'm more than you see at first glance And I got the slick moves To prove it Big finish! Ta-da! That was great.

It really was.

But walking will get one farther down the road than talking, right? So Hey, my dad used to say the same thing.

'Cause I talk all the time was his point.

So I won't keep you by gabbing.

But thank you so much for being my audience.

Where you going again? To get some mendseng for a sick friend.

It is found on Mount Dashan.

Oh, that's a long way off.

You'll never reach it by sundown.

I knew this would happen.

Don't worry.

You did me a favor.

Now I'll do you one.

I'll get you that mendseng in no time.

With this.

- What is it? - Why, it's bamboost.

I thought it was all gone from this part of the kingdom.

Bamboost was very popular with the ancients.

Why was it so popular? It's not because of how it tastes, I can tell you that much.

Bamboost was known for its magical elastic properties.

Like bendable? Exactly.

Come on, I'll show you.

Do what I do, and I'll get you to that mountain before you know it.

Bamboost is awesome! That was a blast! Ah.

Made me feel like a young man again.

You were right, Wu-Chang.

Stopping to help Kai did help us.

We got here so fast.

But where is Kai anyway? Big finish! Ta-da! Ow.

Thank you.

That means a lot.

Thanks.

- So where do we find the mendseng? - There.

How do we get all the way up there? Bamboost won't bounce us that high.

We? You're coming too? I told you I'd get you to the mendseng, remember? Hey, Jin, can we use your grappling hook to go up the cliff? I don't think it'll reach.

What are we gonna do? Turn to the old ways, Prince Jin.

I shall use my ancient magic to get us to the top of the mountain.

Now, everyone on this log.

Please.

I move well for my size.

( chanting ) We are too heavy.

I do not think I can hold us.

Look.

There's a ledge.

Can you reach it, Kai? I think so.

Climb over me.

I am so sorry.

You could've been hurt.

I wanted to prove the old ways were better, but perhaps they really do belong in the past.

It's okay, Wu-Chang.

My grappling hook should reach the top from here.

This is incredible.

So much color.

There is more than enough mendseng to brew a healing tea for Princess Jun.

And that sunset is spectacular! Sunset? Oh, no.

I didn't realize it was getting so late.

We'll never get back with the mendseng in time to help Jun.

Do not feel bad, young prince.

My old ways caused problems from the beginning, and delayed us far too much.

But, Wu-Chang, without your old ways, we would never have become friends with Kai and found the bamboost.

And without your new ways, we would still be stranded on that ledge.

I'm no expert.

I mean, I'm just a magical talking panda who happens to be an amazing dancer.

But it sounds to me like there's a place for both ways, - is what I'm saying.

- SOFIA: Wait.

That's the answer.

If we want to get back in time to help Jun, we need old ideas and new ideas.

I'll show you.

Let's make a kite.

A great big kite, just like the one you made, Wu-Chang, only bigger.

Way bigger.

Ah, I see now, princess.

Yes, that could work.

But we must hurry.

WU-CHANG: There.

One traditional bamboo kite, big enough to carry us home.

An old idea, and a great one.

But there isn't enough room up here to run with the kite and get it up in the air.

That's where the new idea comes in.

Hmm.

This should give us the extra lift we need.

Excellent.

Come.

Let us gather the mendseng.

No need.

I did that for you.

Ta-da! Wow.

Thanks, Kai.

No, thank you.

You don't know what it means to me to know someone likes my dancing.

We love your dances.

Why don't you come with us? It's so lonely out in the bamboo forest all by yourself.

Thanks for the invite, Sofia, but I think it's about time I go back to my family.

Why now? You helped me realize I need to honor my family's old ways and make them appreciate my new ones.

The dancing.

I mean, and I miss my mom.

I'm so glad, but I'll miss you.

Thanks again, my old new friends.

My path takes me that way.

- Hurry.

We must be going.

- Right.

Bye! Okay, everyone, on the count of three.

One, two, three! Climb on, Jin! It's working.

( gasps ) What are those? Night kites.

We're almost home.

Come on.

We have to hurry.

( sneezing ) Sofia, I want you to do something for me.

I want you to be the one who who ( sneezes ) Excuse me.

- Jun, listen.

- No, wait.

I told my father I want you to be the one who opens the festival tomorrow.

Well, I don't think we'll both be able to do it.

But I ( sneezes ) Excuse me.

But I can't.

To your health, Princess Jun.

It is a healing tea, my emperor, brewed from the rare mendseng herb.

It's worth a try, isn't it, Your Majesty? We went through a lot to get it, Father.

Proceed.

Ah ah ah ( relieved sigh ) I don't have to sneeze.

Wu-Chang, thank you.

A most excellent solution.

Please accept my apology, Wu-Chang.

I believed that newer always meant better.

But from now on, I will heed the advice of my wisest counselor.

Huh? You, my old friend.

( laughing ) ( people cheering ) Honoring the old and celebrating the new, I hereby open the Festival of Kites! Release the Wei-Ling dragon! ( playing joyful tune ) - Kai?! - I was on my way home, but I saw all those kites and I just had to come and check this out first.

Big finish! Ta-da!