Stories of faces that came from the far-flung rainforests of Africa are rarely heard anywhere outside those parts, but this story shook all of the land, because it changed the fate of a distant, unrelated kingdom for its better, and became a wide-known legend that would echo forever in time; because it saved one of the greatest kingdom of lions in Africa from tyranny and death: the Pride Lands. This is a tale of the friendship between two unlikely friends, a friendship between lion and man, whose union restored the Pride Lands to its former glory...
It all began in a jungle. When it met the eye, it seemed like a haven, more beautiful than anything you could imagine, a vast expanse of green forest with towering trees, and birds soaring over the horizon, past a roaring waterfall... One would think that down beneath the canopies it would be the same, that it would be as serene as lying on your back and watching the jungle from afar. Should you think that, you would be immediately deceived. Underneath the trees, there is nothing calming about the jungle. The noise of the birds would cause unrest due to the inability to make out other sounds, and thus not knowing what will come out after you, until it's too late. Beautiful indeed, but no less deadly, with various predators, of all shapes and sizes, crawling in the undergrowth, swimming in the river, sneaking through the foliage, watching from the trees... With vines creeping up the trunks and hanging from the branches, and bushes appearing with every second step you took, one could not help the feeling that he is constantly being watched. There are so many things to explore, which add to the easy possibility of getting lost in the vast expanses of trees. Only the watering holes and open clearings were more quiet, and offered some rest from the everyday jungle hum. An untamed wilderness, it was, indeed.
However, among the lower plants of the jungle walked a sight uncommon in these parts: a lion cub, with golden fur, orange eyes and a lowered head. His name was Simba, and he was about seven months old. One would say, upon seeing him, that he is a healthy, handsome young cub that wouldn't have a single worry in the world. What they do not know is that he was the prince of the Pride Lands, before he came to the jungles. He was the son of the royal family: king Mufasa, and queen Sarabi, respectively, one of the most noble leaders of the savannas. King Mufasa had raised Simba in a just, appropriate matter, helping him discern right from wrong, and knowing when to act courageously, and when to approach with caution. However, one day he was trapped in a panicked stampede of wildebeest, in a gorge, after he was told by his uncle, Scar, to wait for a surprise from his father. Mufasa lost his life trying to save Simba, and the young cub helplessly fled into the wilderlands, not knowing what to do, and how to live with the guilt that his uncle lay upon him, accusing him of his father's death. He clawed for breath in the vast deserts that lay near the jungles, and eventually collapsed due to fatigue and weakness. Before he could be pecked apart by the resident vultures, he was saved by Timon, a wisecracking meerkat, and Pumbaa, a compassionate warthog, two voracious friends who indulged a relaxed life in the jungles where they feasted on larvae, insects and worms. They adopted Simba and taught him their way of life, also known as Hakuna Matata, or "no worries", to help him give some vent to his soul, and enjoy his life to the fullest by forgetting all of his past in favor of living in the moment and taking advantage of every bounty it was to offer.
Today, the youngling felt like there was nothing to enjoy at all, as if everything he held dear was far, far away from him, in a land that he called home that he left behind him long ago. A dozen thoughts cut through his mind at once, all of them reflecting on his friends and family, their thoughts on the stampede, whether they knew that it was his fault, and if they even remember him by now: "What did mom think of this? Does she know where I am? Does anyone know? Do they miss me? Where is Nala?..." He wanted to be alone to ponder this. He could not talk to Timon and Pumbaa about this, because he knew they wouldn't understand, due to not knowing or caring much about his past life. Despite all the circumstances that were aimed against him, the young golden cub passionately yearned to go back to the great plains glistening in the sun, to his great sleeping chamber in Pride Rock, filled with golden light, where he once had a future, something to look forward to, and cherish: a family, friends, the duties of a king. But he thought himself that he was unworthy of returning home, for Scar's words have carved in his mind a memory so deep and bitter, that not one day passed that Simba does not at least think of it, if not cry at the memory. He felt that he betrayed his own kin that fateful day in the gorge. He felt like an outcast. And at times like these, he had to be alone, for only he could understand the pain...
Eventually, he had arrived upon a small watering hole and laid himself on a rock just above it, gazing at his own reflection and thinking of all the things that have come to pass while he was happy, trying to ease the pain himself. Even though the concern of Timon and Pumbaa for his well-being were of great help in these difficult times, he still felt that he needed some time to keep to himself, to save the slightest memory of who he truly was, not fully caving into the life of Hakuna Matata. He missed both his mother and his father dearly, as well as his escort of friends. Not since his exile has he seen any other lion. He felt caustic, lonely, and confused without the company of his own kind, and in some ways, he was starting to forget what it is like to be a lion.
Until, a loud rustle from nearby broke the natural hum of the jungle, and the young cub twitched at this sudden, unfamiliar sound. He could see a black form in the bushes ahead. Growing increasingly afraid, he squinted ahead to try and make out what it could be, and eventually noticed that it was a large, black male leopard that was crouching ahead, possibly trying to attack him. Simba tried his best to take a silent, deep breath, and quietly creep away, until he heard the sound of a snarl from behind, which showed that there was someone else here too: his fur stood up as his skin crawled and pupils dilated in horror, and all he could do was decide when the time to run was...
...and it was now.
Simba ran to the right, into the undergrowth, desperately trying to figure out where Timon and Pumbaa's resting place was, but to no avail, because he had completely forgotten where he was, and it didn't matter as much to him now as did saving his own skin. The two leopards quickly gave pursuit: one of them stayed on the jungle floor and directly followed the golden cub, while one leaped straight into the trees, following the golden dot that trailed through the underbrush, followed by its companions. It was of no surprise that these two male leopards were bent on killing Simba, for they feared that lion cubs would grow to be more powerful than them, and eventually supplant them as lords of their territory. In that fear, they greedily exiled or killed any other predators that they would perceive as a threat, especially lions,
"He's a fast one, Nuru!" one of them said, as he tried to keep up with Simba, by avoiding the obstacles that Simba was passing through.
"Keep going, Sheeta!" the other said, as he kept leaping on the tree branches.
Eventually, during this reckless race, Simba would trip, tumble and fall into a small clearing among the trees padded with leaves, and with gorillas sitting or lying around. Paying them no heed, the cub raced through, avoiding the large apes, until, Nuru jumped on him from the canopy, pinning him beneath his paw: "Gotcha!"
The gorillas scattered and beheld the scene, waiting for the right time to act if necessary, hooting and crying at the leopards to drive them off. The two leopards growled and snarled at the apes, Nuru holding a firm grip on the young cub, and Sheeta circling the apes to intimidate them. Simba groaned as he tried to struggle out of the grip, but to no avail, for the leopard held on strongly, being very close to bearing his claws. Sheeta approached and asked: "Are there any more of you pushy thieves hiding where you shouldn't?"
"Let me go, I don't kn-" Simba still struggled to break free from Nuru's grasp, when he was interrupted by a hiss from the black leopard's toothy jaws: "Don't worry, kid... It won't be long before we're through with you... for good!" he then unsheathed his claws and prepared to strike, when he, and everyone else, heard a loud, echoing battle cry: it did not sound like any other animal that Simba has heard before...
With the cry came the increasing sound of rustling in the nearby trees, when everyone beheld a large, reddish bull forest elephant crashing through the trees, and on it rode what seemed to be a fairly large, bald ape with long, brown hair, tanned skin and a fairly defined, muscular torso. He dismounted his elephant comrade, spear in hand, and threw Nuru down with a dropkick. In the meantime, the elephant grabbed Sheeta by his tail and flung him into a tangle of vines, where he became stuck, unable to free himself. The bald ape wrestled on with Nuru, who was tenaciously gnawing at his spear, trying to break it with his canine teeth. However, Tarzan purposefully threw himself down onto his back to allow the leopard to climb on top of him, and then, he vigorously kicked the cat in its stomach with both feet, throwing him off and into the air, as he tumbled down a small ledge that led to a small jungle river. Sheeta was slingshot by the elephant from the vines, and flew across the trees. It was now debatable if they would reunite any time soon.
"Tarzan, thank goodness you came." one of the gorillas said, addressing the man as she approached him, touching him on the shoulder with her arm. Hearing this, the golden cub knew the bald ape's name.
"Is everyone alright? Are you all there?" Tarzan asked, his deep, gentle voice ringing with heartfelt concern for the well-being of these apes, implying that he was one of them, which confused Simba, as he never saw a creature like him before.
"What's that?" a younger gorilla asked, pointing its finger straight at Simba...