Well, it's time for the next story! This one is much more comedic than the others, kind of like Dead as a Dodo or Gender Bender. Hopefully, this one will be as funny as those!
kora22: Yes, that was most definitely a reference. Remember when you made a couple references in Battle in the Badlands?
DarthRushy: I'm glad you liked the beehive idea. I needed to defeat him somehow, didn't I?
Emerald dreamer96/the-mysterious-other: Yes, I decided to combine my responses here. Mheetu is very fun to write in these scenarios. We might see him more in this story…
Chu10: Everyone seems to like Mheetu's scene in that last chapter! He is one of my favorites…And yes, One-Eye will get his revenge. Very soon, in fact. By the way, Ibada and Sheeta aren't finished yet. A mere punch to the ground won't be enough to bring them down for good.
Greg M 94: You noticed the reference too, I see. TPYMK caught onto it while editing it. I love little homages like that.
Cub to Pup
Chapter One: Tojo's Find
"Simba, why do you always drag me into these situations?"
"Nala, I didn't figure we'd get stuck!"
"We're not just stuck, Simba! We're hanging off a tree branch, clinging for dear life, or else we'll fall onto a bunch of sharp rocks before you can say, 'This was a mistake.'"
"But you just said it, Nala. And we haven't fallen."
"Argh! Just hang on!"
Nala reached with one of her back legs to wrap it around the medium-width branch, all the while being careful to not lose her grip with her front paws. Eventually, she succeeded, and moved on to her other back paw.
Once she had all four legs wrapped around the branch, she slowly rolled herself until she was lying on the other side of the branch, no longer hanging upside-down.
"I'll get you, Simba!" she shouted as she stood up. She reached down and grabbed Simba's left paw, and he quickly grabbed back before letting go. She pulled him up, and together they bounced down the branches as quickly as possible.
When they finally reached the ground, they panted so loudly it could be heard for ten feet.
"Never again," Nala scowled as she shook her head.
"You got that right," Simba sighed.
He then got up on his four paws, and Nala joined him. "C'mon, Nala! Let's go take a walk."
On a dirt path not far from some high cliffs, a honey-colored lion cub was trotting along peacefully.
"Ah, it's so peaceful out here," Tojo smiled. "Tama would rather go watch animals fight, but I'm more fond of this."
Tojo turned away from the main path and began to walk through the green tropical brush.
The carefree cub padded his way through the brush, enjoying the moment, until his paw made contact with something on the ground.
"What is this?" Tojo asked as he looked down at the ground in front of him. What he saw made him smile brightly.
It was a bird nest full of small white eggs, though what it was doing on the ground was anybody's guess.
"I wonder where their mom is?" Tojo observed as he looked around.
"Oh, well," he chirped. "Looks like I'll be taking care of them! I like the sound of that!"
The honey-colored cub sat down on his stomach in front of the nest, simply staring at the five little white eggs in wonder.
"How long will it be before they hatch?" he asked himself.
"Hi, Tojo!" Nala's voice rang through the air as the creamy cub walked along the dirt path, Simba standing beside her.
"Hi, guys!" Tojo called out. "Come look at this!"
Simba and Nala bounded into the grass, slowing their pace as they came closer to Tojo. As they peered into the nest, they stared at the cub.
"Well, it seems your bird obsession will be reaching new heights," Simba commented.
"I bet they'll be so cute when they hatch!" Nala smiled.
"Just don't let your brother near these, okay?" Tojo asked her.
"Yeah," Simba agreed. "I hate to think what he would do to them…"
"Well," Tojo exclaimed, "I'm gonna go bring these to Pride Rock. Would you please be so kind as to help?"
"Of course!" Nala smiled.
About an hour later, all eight cubs were gathered at Pride Rock listening to Tojo as he talked about his find.
"Zazu says they'll hatch in a day or two!" Tojo squeaked. "He says they're probably little bluebirds."
"Blue is quite an interesting color," Mheetu purred. "It contrasts well with red: the color they'll be by the end of the day." Mheetu licked his chops, and just as he was about to continue, Nala grabbed him from behind and placed a paw over his mouth, causing him to squirm.
"Everyone, can we make a deal to help Tojo take care of the birds and not let Mheetu here eat them?" Nala asked.
"Yes," everyone agreed.
"That's great to hear," Simba smiled.