Chapter Text
It was a bright, hot, humid day in the lemur kingdom, like most days usually were in Madagascar throughout the year. Utter perfection for someone like me, but that’s neither here nor there. Our High trees sheltered the inhabitants of our island, both scurrying and still, from the heat which radiated from the blazing heavens above, with our vibrant bright green. So it’s a bit discolored in a few places, I’d like to see how you fare with having Russian polka music blaring in your face at 3am for 9 seasons straight!
…Where was I? Oh Yes! fabulously arranged, large foliage. But, as fate would have it, that was not all we did. While many of our brethren enjoyed simple life, with the greatest of their worries amounting to a negligible shift in the old, earth hidden, channels of cool ambrosia, pshh, lucky fellas. We, served a much greater, more significant, impactful, some might even say devastating role. Though to be honest it’s not really all that exciting. To explain how such a destiny was bestowed upon us, to delve deep into the complex structures and laws that dictate and govern the very ways in which the fragile, yet compact strips and strands of reality are intricately, uniquely woven together... is well...frankly boring and not that important in our story right now. Ehm, to summarize... we also serve as “the division” between the different classes of the kingdom of lemurs. Small, pointed snout, large eyes, long tails, furry, wet nosed primates.
Now, as you’re already aware, likely due to having been brought up in this shared dimension same as I, everything chaotic needs to be organized, otherwise. Well there would be chaos! And if in that divine organization some things or...people fall into categories that might be for a few particular reasons be perceived by those keen of intellect as separate from one another… or greater than one another. Well you get the idea. Now with divisions present the need for, separators too, arises. Separators between the elite and the commoners, the rich and the poor, the blessed and the sacrificial… or as a native would say, the ringtails and the rest. I myself, along with my brethren perform this, for now, essential task.
To put it simply, the aforementioned “Ringtails” (lemurs with black and white ringed tails) built (or had others build) their dwellings upon and amongst our sturdy, reliable but perhaps most importantly, high up arms. This helped them evade from their predators, whom they have dubbed as ‘foosa’ during attacks, which were admittedly depressingly common. The fossa would fill up on the lemurs living down below, so they didn't see why they should bother with the extra effort of climbing up our waists for more. Thankfully so, those nails are as sharp as they look! Besides that, there were other benefits to be found of such a living arrangement too, though these were more for pleasure, than survival. It was great for sunbathing and for making marvelous music without being interrupted by their rude, uncultured predators below. Massive gatherings called ‘Dance parties’ used to be held as well, quite often in fact, until recently as these had been banned by the newly crowned young King Julien the 12th due to the growing number of casualties that had occurred. The most recent example being, one of the females, Julia, had lost her balance too absorbed in her partying and had thus, consequently, naturally, fallen. A lemur tried to help her up, a bamboo lemur, a commoner… so again, consequently, naturally, of course, she screamed. And then had a seizure... and died. So yeah parties were a no. See, what I meant about our role as separators being an important one?
So it was quite unusual when a small, young and fluffy, baby ring-tailed lemur with bright big sunset eyes, was seen jumping, stomping and flailing his arms about like a scared, confused chicken in the middle of the forest. Not in or on but near the base of a separator, which happened to be myself at the time. On the ground. I watched as he made a somewhat rhythmic beat from his mouth, spit flying everywhere with his tiny pink cute tongue poking out. It wasn't long before a small crowd gathered to watch this uncommon and absolutely adorable display. Lemurs, of the less cultured sort, cheered him on. At this his color shifting sunset eyes grew large and sparkled at the adoration and a big happy, excited smile spread across his face. Laughter escaped the child as he put more passion and speed into his haphazard movements. Some 'awwed' while others observed and commented on his good form for his age when all of a sudden a heavily Jamaican sounding accent yelled out.
"All right everybody clear out! Get away from de kid and none get hurt! Do not be making me be bringing de out of de touching stick! I'm not kidding! I'll do it! Back! Back! I say, shoo! *Hissssss"
The older ringtail descended down in front of the younger, took on a three-limbed position and hissed loudly while using the remaining fourth limb to poke a long wooden finger at the crowd, while fluffing up his tail and raising it ramrod straight in the air in warning. The crowd quickly dispersed like beads on a cut string.
"Uncle Julio!" The younger ringtail cheered with a smile on his face.
"No no no no! Don't you Uncle Julio me mister! How many time am I be the telling you of the no fraternizing with the poor and stinky rule! But do you listen? No! Hmph!"
Happiness slowly fizzed out of the younger's face. “But I just wanted to dance!... Uncle King Julien says no more dancing in the trees...” his eyes became big and glossy, and he started sniffling.
The older lemur, Julio, sighed. "No no, you misunderstand nephew, he said no dancing in the trees. He never said no dancing in the trees. See? Yes? You can be doing the dancing in the hut Julien."
At this the child's, Julien's face lit up "Really?! You mean it?"
"Yup. Now come on quick before Julianne notices you’re not trying to get her to hug you, you crazy little sneaky imp!" He said chuckling and ruffling the fur on the child's head.
Once the two were back up Julien looked at his uncle and asked in a curious tone" Uncle Julio? Can we actually leave the island? Mommy and Big Papi did when they went on vacation last year?"
"Yeah little man! We’re royalty we can do anything we want!" He said with a grin.
"So...I can leave Da Island anytime. So ergo I can leave da trees anytime?"
"Yeah! I mean...wait...No! Why do are you being the so obsessed with da leaving of da nice, mangoey trees anyways?"
Julien just shrugged. He then seemed to think on it for a bit before perking up and saying excitedly “To see MoMo!" Julio winced from the high pitch of Julien's voice and at the fact that the kid had an actual reason for wanting to go down. That was a problem.
"MoMo", or "Maurice" was a weird chubby baby lemur with abnormally large ears that a four month old baby Julien had happened to somehow find and 'adopt' on a trip with his parents, which, due to this, would be the last trip they ever took him along for (though he didn’t know that). The baby was named such due to Julien babbling the phrase "My Rice" every time anyone tried to take the baby away from him. You see, Julien liked to play with his food. A habit he still hadn't grown out of. But when he was younger, he wouldn't just try to play with his own food but rather with anything on anyone’s plate that his tiny, short arms were able to reach. His parents and uncles would often reply with "No, this is my rice (which’s meaning came to encompass all types and forms of edible food) destroy your own". So when Julien said "my rice" one thing was made clear, that this "rice" was his own. Eventually though, the lemurs managed to separate the two and send "My rice" aka "Maurice" to an orphanage, but in order to do so they had to promise to A young tantrum throwing Julien that when Maurice was a bit older Julien could have him as a personal servant or pet or something.. They still weren't exactly sure what type of a lemur he was, but they were 50% sure he would be able to do stuff the way the others did. Julien, though now he didn’t remember how he found the baby, still counted down the infinite number of days till then.
Julio had to think quickly. He couldn’t have Julien running off to have more escapades on the ground. That would land them both in trouble and as his babysitter/uncle/guardian/more of a parent than his actual parents, he had to have a solution because he was supposed to be the responsible adult. Suddenly, then, it hit him.
"Light bulb"
"What?" Julien asked, confused, adorably tilting his head to the side
Julio just smirked and said while tutting" Nephew, nephew, nephew. I think I should say dis in a way you'll better remember and understand...yo fam! Hit it!
The sound of a harmonious melody was instantly heard as ring-tailed lemurs appeared seemingly out of nowhere, as if rehearsed playing various instruments.
"Julien, listen to me
The rest of de world, it's a mess
Life up in de trees
Is better than anything they got down there in de wilderness
The mango is always riper
In somebody else's tree
You dream about going down there
But that is a no sir-ee
Just look at the world around you
Right here on the canopy
Such wonderful things surround you
What more is it that you wanna see? Oh-O! Up in de tree
Up in de tree!
Darlin’ it's better
Up where there's shelter
Take it from me
Down on the ground they work all day
Out in the sun they slave away
While we devotin'
Full time to gloatin'
Up in de tree!
Up here all the lemer is happy
As off through the branches they swing
The lemer on the land ain't happy
They sad 'cause they aint got tails same as their king!
But lemer on de land is lucky
They in for a worser fate
One day when the Fossa are hungry
Guess who's gon' be on the plate?
Julien glulped.
Oh, no, up in de tree
Up in de tree!
Nobody beat us
Hunt us and eat us
In fricassee
We what the Foosa loves to cook
Up in de tree we off da hook
We got no troubles
Life ain't in crumbles
Up in the tree (up in de tree)
Up in de tree (up in de tree)
Since life is sweet here
We got the beat here
Naturally (naturally)
Even cousins julieon and jay
They get the urge 'n' start to play
We got the spirit
You got to hear it
Up in de tree!
Cuz Jute play the flute
Cuz Jarp play the harp
Cuz Julaice play the bass
And they soundin' sharp
our sass plays the brass
my buds play the tub
heck! our flukes make us the dukes of soul!
(Yeah)
Cuz jay he can play
Julings on the strings
Cuz Jrout's rockin' out
Mademoiselle Julie-ish she sings
Cousin Juliet and cousin Jack
They know where it's at
And oh look at cousin JOHNNY GO!
Yeah, up in de tree (up in de tree)
Up in de tree (up in de tree)
When cousin Jacqueline
Begin the beguine
It's music to me (it's music to me)
What do they got? A lot of sand
We got a hot ringed-tailed band!
Each part of our fam here
Know how to jam here
Up in de tree!
Each lazy, lovable lug here
Cuttin' a rug here
Up in de tree!
Each little tail here
Know how to wail here
it's hotter
near the equator
Ya we in luck here
Above all the muck here
Up in de tree!
Suddenly, a loud banging of drums was heard. And the entire band of somehow extensively related ringtails scattered and scurried off in that direction, taking their various types of musical instruments with them.
"Hey! Whadd’ya know it’s time for the mid-season harvest rain dance already! Come on buddy lets go see my kingly brother make it rain!"
"And just in time too" he thought to himself,” I was running out of good lyrics that rhymed with every name that starts with J known to lemerkind... "
Julien huffed and sat down where he was, his tail curling around him with puffed up cheeks, pouting." It’s not fair. He gets to go down and dance...”
His uncle just looked at him and chuckled fondly.
"Yeah cause he’s da king, obviously pfft, now come on! Dis gonna be good, you remember last time?"
Julien and Julio both giggled at the memory. The 'last time' Uncle king Julien had to do a dance to appease the great Sky Spirits he had pulled something mid dance, gotten hit by lightning, and then slipped into a bowl of punch which was comically small compared to him so his head got stuck in it and his large rump which was facing the heavens and got electrocuted. Again. It was funny. Even his uptight parents laughed.
It didn’t take them long to get to the gathering place for the annual dance. They were seated in the branches alongside other ring-tailed lemurs young and old, all waiting expectantly for the event to begin. Some of them held musical instruments in their paws ready to provide music for the sacred ritual. The younger ones like him, looked exited, while most of the adult lemurs looked stoic. The lemurs down below looked more carefree and happy, with excitement clear on the faces of even the oldest of lemurs. Wait... no...That was wrong there was a black and white old lemur in the crowd who looked quite grumpy. Julien noticing this obvious difference yet again, frowned. Why did all the bigger ring-tailed lemurs have to be so boring and stuck up anyways? It even got to his parents! That’s why they never seemed to want to play with him... When he would grow up he wasn't gonna be like that. No, would be like his Uncle Julio, awesome and fun. He would have an awesome accent like him and everything. He was interrupted from his thoughts as drums started to beat. The dance was beginning.
He watched as Uncle King Julien, a lemur who looked exactly like himself and Uncle Julio, except fatter and with fur coloration much like his own rather than Uncle Julio's reddish-gray fur. They all looked similar due to something called 'inbreeding' at least that's what his mommy said. He got distracted by a butterfly mid boring gross explanation.
This time uncle king Julien looked determined. He had two baskets of mangos on either side of him. The music started. Uncle King Julien juggled. He was good at it too. Julien watched as he started the movements of the dance. It seemed like things were gonna be fine after all. He saw his parents in the crowd watching the spectacle as well. He got excited and tried to jump to their branch, but was stopped by Uncle Julio's arm securely wrapped around his midriff he struggled, wiggled, pushed and even tried tickling! But his uncle seemed immune like a brick wall. With graffiti on it cause it had to be awesome in some way otherwise it couldn't be compared with his uncle but still mean because it blocked his way. Julien tried a few more times before just slumping in defeat and pouting. He missed the sad, sympathetic, pitiful look his uncle Julio gave him and the way he briefly threw a glare in slight anger and annoyance in his parent’s direction, before shaking his head exasperated, and recomposing himself.
In other news, the dance was still going on fine uptil now. Maybe his royal uncle would be in a good mood after this... maybe he would find him less annoying this time... they could even play together! If he really liked it, then his uncle, the king might order his parents to play with them! then his parents would have to join in as well! And of course uncle Julio would be there too cause Uncle Julio was always there...always. Julien's tail started swishing from side to side in an excited little wag at the thought.
But then his dreams seemed to perhaps offend the Sky Spirits cause then everything went wrong. Pull, slip, lightning, bowl, and rump shock. The whole deal. Adding insult to injury, the mangos his uncle was juggling...fell on his now stinging rump... one by one...big ripe reddish mango by big ripe reddish mango bounced off a big swollen reddish rump. The crowd erupted in laughter.
No. His dreams. His playtime with his parents. His bonding family time. No NO. NO!
Julio's grip had loosed due to shock and Julien took that beautiful, golden opportunity to wriggle out and make his way down to where his royal highness had been standing. He would fix this. He had seen Masikura, the royal mystical chameleon and his uncle practice the steps thousands of times...safely from the royal planes window of course...hehe
And so… Julien danced. All of a sudden the laughter stopped and the lemurs watched him almost mesmerized by his movements. The ring-tailed orchestra and band picked up the cue after a few moments and not even 12 seconds after...it rained.
He...he had actually done it. HE made THE SKY SPIRITS and the people proud! - His uncle would be SO HAPPY!
His Uncle had been anything but happy. Taking Julio to the side, he had, with gritted teeth, specifically, said quote, "get him as far away from me for the next 2 weeks, no! From MADAGASCAR as lemerly possible if you don’t want me strangling that little spotlight stealing spoiled Brat!"
So here they were suitcases packed, at the beach getting ready to go on Julien's first off-island trip, to a place Uncle Julio called Antarctica. Yay...
Now, I’m afraid as the story takes those of interest beyond even the extensive reaches of my consciousness I will have to sign off for now, with a name you will recognize me with not now, but at a later time.
Signing off,
Piney Pineapple. ~