Lion Boy and Fire Girl

By Pauline Loh

Lion dance troupes from across Asia have gathered in Singapore to challenge the Lion Legends to the race of a lifetime. The stakes? The troupe’s future! As jealousy and betrayal swirl, Apple, the Legends’ youngest idol, finds that he must be the one to keep the brotherhood together. At the same time, he meets Charm, a fiery, monkey-like tomboy he can’t help but be drawn to…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Epigram Books
• Release date: Oct 29, 2021
• ISBN: 9789814901116

Book preview

Chapter 1: Star Power

The five Lion Legends drank in the atmosphere at Parliament Lawn.

Wow, there are thousands of people in the audience! a wide-eyed Apple said after poking his head out from behind the curtain of the makeshift dressing rooms. The ornate headdress on the Lion Legends’ youngest disciple bounced around as he spoke.

Of course, Ricky drawled from the sofa where he was stylishly draped. They’re all here to see me. He grinned and winked at Apple.

Prome snorted aloud, but did not look up from polishing the already-shiny mirror on his lion head with ferocious concentration. Mercury leaned over and whispered to Prome. He must have cracked a joke about Apple, because the two of them looked at him and snickered. But Apple was too excited about the upcoming performance to bother with them.

Even for these world-famous celebrities of the Leopop Wave, the mega performance at this august venue was a first.

Never before had traditional lion dancers, contemporary street buskers, snooty filmmakers, music producers, artists, writers, and even a concert maestro gathered for a multimedia performance that would make its way into the Book of World Records for the greatest number of creatives. A staggering total of two hundred actors, musicians, artists, screenwriters, sculptors and dancers—all big names in their fields—had been roped in. No, they had volunteered to participate in the all-star ensemble production of Sri Tri Buana and the Lion. It was all thanks to the star power of Lion Legends and idol-maker Lung San.

Zeus burst into the dressing room with two production crew in tow. He cast a disparaging eye over his teammates and rattled off a list of tasks to the crew which they dutifully recorded on their mobile devices. He whirled out of the room as quickly as he had come.

He’s really enjoying himself, huh? Ricky said. Next, he’ll be expecting us to call him Boss.

It’ll be a cold day in hell before he hears the word from my lips, Mercury said, cracking his knuckles menacingly.

Zeus popped his head in again. Shouldn’t the main character be standing by at Entrance A? he said.

There’s still half an hour! Apple protested. But, under his brother’s heated glare, he adjusted his tunic and hopped up obediently.

Apple was unanimously chosen to be the lead in his troupe’s production. His stage name was actually Apollo, but he debuted as a young child, and a fan dubbed him Apple because of his round, rosy cheeks. The name stuck. There was no better lion dancer to play the youthful Sri Tri Buana—another name for Sang Nila Utama, the founder of the Kingdom of Singapura—than him. Apple’s clear complexion and innocent eyes were beautifully set off by Sri Tri Buana’s headdress that was embroidered with gold threads. On his lower body, he wore a purple and yellow kain samping with a ceremonial kris at his waist, tucked into the top of his seluar. His impressive torso, however, was left almost bare with a sleeveless tunic and a necklace in the shape of a Malay kite.

On the last night of the performance, the audience sat cross-legged on the lawn while lion dancers and parkour athletes flitted among them. The performers leapt over boulder-sized installation art that had been specially created by sculptors for the occasion. Actors hailing from Hong Kong, Taiwan and other parts of Asia brandished spears and swords while engaging each other in lifelike battles. The goggle-eyed spectators were shepherded like sheep from one animated scene to another.

A deafening and awesome salvo of fireworks was unleashed to introduce the Legends. The boys went out to greet their audience while LED screens above them flashed:

The media knew the story behind this play. It was art mimicking life, as it was written by a father-son duo. Mr Charlie Tan, a renowned stage director, had written the initial draft of Sri Tri Buana and the Lion as a musical but found it lacking in energy. He had passed it to his son, Mercury. What began as a twenty-page musical concept grew and grew.

It could not be called a lion dance or a musical or a play anymore. There was simply no current term that could encompass the bonanza that had spanned three days, occupied an entire wing of the National Museum, spilled into the nearby BH Sheares Hall and outdoors onto the Parliament Lawn. At the launch, the minister of the arts had thanked Lung San effusively for having the bold vision to unify Asian creatives.

The performance did not end with just one encore, but three! The audience gave a standing ovation for Apple that lasted well after the curtains came down. Flushed with triumph, Apple shook hands with the cast, but his eyes roamed the backstage for a special group of boys—his pride. The five boys, aged eleven to fourteen, pushed forward and surrounded their pride leader. He looked at his discipleship group with a full heart. It was his aspiration to lead the best pride in Legends’ history, one that would surpass even Zeus’, Prome’s and Mercury’s prides.

Apple Ge! One boy with a round face raised his hand and flapped it about until Apple acknowledged him.

Yes, Murshid?

How does it feel playing Sang Nila Utama? You looked so awesome fighting the pirates! the young boy said, swinging around an imaginary kris.

Apple swelled with pride, but then remembered his role as a teacher and cleared his throat. He spoke in a professorial voice. Sri Tri Buana is not all about fighting, Murshid. Remember what Shifu taught? You can never fully convey the meaning of a performance until you know its history by heart. We know Sang Nila Utama as an intrepid adventurer, a bold crusader and ambitious conqueror, but our performance explores the lesser-known side of Sri Tri Buana. It is a tender story about a young prince sailing the South China Sea with his back to his home. Though a prince, he was also a son—a young man barely out of his teens who desired to do his father proud. After many days out at sea, the prince was about to pass by an island, but the majestic roar of a beast captured his attention.

Apple tried his best to channel the authority of Lung San Shifu as his disciples stared at him raptly.

The curious prince explored the land and encountered a regal lion face to face. They bonded over time, and the lion was like a father to the young man. It spoke words of wisdom, and showed him how to protect, guide and love the land and its inhabitants—

And it taught him to fight! Daniel shouted. Out came the imaginary kris again. Now, all five boys started engaging each other in mock battle.

Apple was thrown off. "Hey, no fighting! The prince was defending his land. Defending is different from fighting! Anyway, don’t interrupt me." He glared at them until he had their full attention again. He was really doing a good job imitating Shifu!

Apple struck a dramatic pose. "One day, pirates landed and tried to rob Sri Tri Buana! That’s when the lion leapt between him and a volley of arrows. As the lion lay dying, it said, ‘My royal son, I bequeath this island to your care. Look after it, make it prosper, defend it, and never ever let anybody take it from you.’

That’s why I did my signature baby lion dance, in homage to the fatherly lion. Did you get the feels watching me?

Feng Yang, a quiet and sensitive boy, spoke up. Apple Ge, do you reckon our pride can ever stage such a big performance in the future? I don’t think we can match up to you and the seniors…

Of course, you can! Apple rushed to assure him. As your shi ge, I’m going to train you until you stand on the mountain peak!

Chapter 2: The Pride Alpha

Back in Legends Hall, a week after the all-star ensemble show, Apple felt less confident about his boast of grooming his pride to stardom. His brother Zeus as well as Prome and Mercury had already cut their teeth leading prides and their members held positions of responsibility within the Legends. The five boys before him made up his first discipleship group. There was tongue-tied Cappy, the oldest at fourteen; Daniel, the joker; Feng Yang, who was more bookish and sensitive than athletic; heavyset Murshid; and Sze Ho, who, with his petite oval-shaped face, large eyes and deep dimples, looked set to follow in Ricky’s footsteps as a national heartthrob.

Apple checked their pallid complexions, rounded shoulders and skinny limbs with misgivings. Murshid was the only one with the natural build for a lion body. Lion dance might have Chinese roots, but it had attracted youths from every ethnic group, testifying to the power of Leopop to transcend race and culture. However, although Murshid was already stocky, his muscles needed toughening.

Well, a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step, Apple muttered to himself, clicking his pen and consulting his roster. This week, our training schedule will consist of 2.4-kilometre jogs, horse stance for thirty-minute stretches, and drumming. All babies get sent home!

The last sentence was picked up from Lung Shifu. Apple and his peers always responded to Shifu’s taunts with stiffened determination to prove themselves. However, Apple’s pride looked at him with dismay. Every day? Feng Yang asked timidly. But my mum says I need to be home by 6pm to finish my schoolwork. Apple wanted to have cup noodles and play bonding games with his pride in the mess room after training. There was no way that could happen if he released the boys before 6pm.

Feng Yang’s tentative objection broke the dam. There came a flood of reasons why Apple’s schedule was impractical. As usual, Murshid had something to say. It’s an honour to follow Apple Ge! the boy wheezed. But Mum says I have to inform people about my asthma, so do I still run?

Apple sighed and looked down at his clipboard. He reluctantly drew a line through Murshid’s name in the column titled 2.4km run. The dream of fronting the best pride in Legends was a long way from reality. Next on his agenda was teaching his boys about the history of Lion Legends and lion dance troupes around the world. Lion dance wasn’t just about training the body—he needed to train their minds as well.

Tell me what you know of Legends Hall, he quizzed them.

Legends Hall used to be the residence of our shigong, Low Hao Lek, in the fifties, Feng Yang spoke up readily. "Low Shigong gifted his house to Lion Legends to be converted into a training hall. The two stone lions that guard our gate have been here for more than sixty years. Loh Chai Hong Block was added in 1970 to increase our number of gyms. The air-conditioned dance studios were added in the eighties. We’re now exercising in the indoor courtyard, built in the siheyuan style, or Chinese quadrangle architecture. But Lung Shifu says that the heart of the hall is the reflection room. Every Chinese New Year, all members must pay a visit to the reflection room and meditate on yin shui si yuan. Turning to the rest, he explained graciously, When we drink water, consider the source."

We know that, Daniel protested, bridling at Feng Yang’s superior tone. The reflection room is also a great place to catch a quick nap. That got a laugh from the pride. Apple cleared his throat and moved on to international topics. Chuan Qi of Taiwan had been in the news recently.

Let’s have a pop quiz. What do you know about Chuan Qi Lion Dance Association? Apple asked.

Hands shot up, but Apple chose Cappy’s. Cappy said in his signature drawl, Chuan Qi is the best troupe in performance and martial arts in Taiwan. It has won many awards. Having used up all his words for the day, he lapsed back into his customary silence.

Feng Yang could not resist adding: Chuan Qi is very selective about picking disciples. Only the most elite martial arts students are eligible to audition. The troupe has many secret rites and rituals; and politicians and businessmen go to them for advice all the time.

Never mind all that, Apple interrupted. Do you know what the name ‘Chuan Qi’ means?

Daniel wrote out in Chinese: 传奇. Amazing fables? Supernatural legends? he mused out loud. Legends? His eyes grew round. Hey, does Chuan Qi have anything to do with us?

Bingo! Apple snapped his fingers. You can call us cousins! The founder of Chuan Qi is none other than our shigong, the same Low Hao Lek who started Lion Legends in Singapore.

Oh? I thought the Chuan Qi shifu’s name is Yuan Chor? Daniel asked.

"Yes, he is our shishu, our spiritual uncle. Yuan Shifu helped Low Shigong set up Chuan Qi, and now he runs the troupe."

I know why Chuan Qi is number one in Taiwan, Murshid said smugly. ’Cos it has our Legends DNA.

A hubbub outside the gate could be heard from the courtyard. Apple had more to share about Chuan Qi but his pride was distracted. The young boys rushed to the windows while Apple followed them at a more leisurely pace. When he saw who was at the centre of the commotion, he shut the wooden louvres hastily.

Ssh! he told his boys. Pretend we’re not here.

An unbelievably gorgeous demigod stood tall on an upturned dustbin just outside the gate. With a hand pressed to his chest, he had his eyes half-closed as he started reciting something out loud. This was Aquarius, also known as the Face of Leopop. He was a member of Hot Lions, rivals of the Legends. A handful of teenage girls stood around him, their hands all clasped to their bosoms. They were members of Constance—Aquarius’ fan club—named so because the