Chapter 2:

The Three Stooges

After the meal, Kiara gives me the tour of the Pride Lands along with Timon and Pumbaa. We got to this tree that was oddly shaped, and carried many fruity scents. My curiosity soon gets the best of me and I try my best to climb it, but fail multiple times. That's when Timon noticed the way my claws were filed. At my last attempt, I fell flat on my head and rolled onto my stomach.

"If you plan on climbing anything, you should wait till your claws are sharp." Kiara says.

Timon then takes my right paw and forces out my nails by gentle pressing down.

"I know this filing anywhere! Ma and Uncle Max took care of you, right?" Timon asks.

"Y-yeah. How do you know them?" I ask.

"Look at me real good, kiddo. I used to live with them! I'm Ma's son! Pumbaa, knowing Ma she must be worried sick! We must go tell them!" Timon says jumping onto Pumbaa's head.

"But Timon, we can't leave the cubs behind." Pumbaa says.

"They're with the monkey, Pumbaa, they'll be fine. MUSH!" Timon commands.

"Okay, if you say so." Pumbaa says going into a trot.

"...That was weird." Kiara says.

That's when the said monkey appears. "Well if it isn't Kiara! Ah, so we have a new cub! What's your name?" he asks. He was a Mandrill that was fairly old; his beard was white.

"Mwezi." I reply.

"She's my adopted sister." Kiara says, wary of the monkey.

"Now why did Simba not tell me this? I am Rafiki, a very old friend of the great Mufasa, and to your dad, Simba." he says.

"Mufasa?" I ask.

"Before you freak, she's new to the Pride Lands. I'm showing her around." Kiara says.

"Ah yes, you look it, Mwezi. Well, stay on the path Simba's marked for you. Rafiki has a lot of work to do." he says going back into the tree.

"Um..." I try to say.

"Don't ask. Hey come on, there's still more for you to see!" Kiara says jumping around.

"O-okay. Hey wait a sec, what's that shadowy place?" I ask, seeing something the sun isn't touching very well.

"A place Dad says we shouldn't go to. I think it's called an Elephant Graveyard or something." Kiara says.

Suddenly, a herd of Zebra start rushing through. Both of us cry, "Stampede!" and run for our lives towards the graveyard. The Zebra started to engulf us, till we fell down the ledge into the small canyon. The Zebra tightly turned there. Both of us recover, coughing a bit.

"Are you okay, Mwezi?" she asks.

"*cough cough* Somewhat. Gah!" I say before seeing a large elephant skull.

"Whoa cool! Let's check it out!" Kiara says jumping up.

"I think we should go back." I say following.

"Are you kidding? We may never get another chance like this again! Come on!" she says playfully pulling my ear. Just then, we hear a loud squeal.

"What was that?" I ask freaked.

We limb up the skull and find three hyenas, one which looked hurt from a nast fall off a large rib cage.

"This is just great," says the female, "you just had to push him off the edge, didn't you, Banzai?"

"Hey don't look at me, he was practically asking for it!" Banzai replies.

"Kiara, we should turn back. They don't look very friendly." I suggest.

Just then I lose my grip and slide down the skull, soon going into a summersault and rolling right into the injured hyena.

"What the? A cub?" Banzai asks.

Kiara then jumps in and tries getting into an aggressive posture.

"Oh shit! Shenzi, I think they belong to Simba!" Banzai freaks.

"Okay, don't panic! Technically we're not enemies to him anymore. Remember how Scar turned on us?" Shenzi says.

The hurt hyena recovers, and starts nuzzling me. I'm revived by it and shake my head to regain myself.

"I don't get it, I thought all you guys ran off." Kiara says, calming down.

"Well, yeah we did. But we like to return here every now and then, just to fool around. I'm Senzi, he's Banzai, and he's Edd." Shenzi says.

"I'm Kiara, and she's Mwezi." Kiara says.

"Um, Shenzi, I think something's wrong with Edd, besides injury." I say.

The two walk over and inspect. He wasn't looking so good.

"Oh no, is he sick again?" Banzai asks.

"I think so. Damn, there isn't much we can do. If we go anywhere near the Pride Lands, we're done for." Shenzi says.

"Maybe we can help." Kiara says.

"Kiara, it's a great suggestion, but I think Simba's panicking enough by now." I say standing up.

"Mwezi, we can't let him die, it isn't right." she says.

"Hmm, I think I may have a plan. Can you kids find a small and stable rib cage for us? It'll serve well enough so we can all carry him." Shenzi says.

"You bet! Let's go Mwezi!" Kiara says running off.

"{I'd much rather lay under a tree.}" I think following.

"Shenzi, are you sure about this?" Banzai asks.

"Banz, we have no choice. Letting them help us is the only way that A) we can get into the Pride Lands safetly, and B) we can get something to heal Edd. He needs help anyway, thanks to you." Shenzi explains.

As we dash through the graveyard, we come across what Shenzi was asking for.

"This is perfect!" Kiara says.

"Hey, I found a patch of cattails here. We can tie them to the ribs and drag it back." I say.

"Great idea Mwezi. I'll help." Kiara says.

So we start to tie together the stems and use the tails as comfort for Edd. Soon we're dragging the cage back, quickly impressing the hyenas.

"You lions just keep getting smarter and smarter with each generation. Alright Banz, help me get Edd on." Senzi says.

Both the hyenas work together and get Edd on the cage. All that's left was to find a path back to the Pride Lands.

"Hmm, what if we try using that skull as a ramp? Otherwise, we'll have to go the long way around." I suggest.

"How are we going to move it?" Kiara asks.

That's when the earth below it gives way, and the skull lines up perfectly with the ledge.

"Like that." I reply smiling.

With our added help, we get the hyenas up and over the ledge, crossing into the border.

That's when we hear Simba call our names, "Kiara! Mwezi!" He rushes over with Nala and three other lionesses.

When he saw the hyenas, not only did he look confused, but he started growling at them. Both duck and cover their heads.

"Hold on Simba, something isn't right. Look." Nala says pointing to Edd.

"Dad please, Edd is sick, and hurt." Kiara says.

"They didn't attack us; they just want help." I continue.

"That's all we want, Your Majesty." Banzai says.

"Come on Simba, I know we were evil in the past, but we've all put it behind us, right? Please, help us." Shenzi says.

"Why are you three still here?" Simba asks. Edd whines.

"Simba, we can question them later." Nala says. "But, Nala!" Simba argues.

"Simba, we need to put the past behind us. Take a look at them, then our cubs. Mwezi and Kiara are still untouched." Nala explains.

Zazu flies in saying, "She's right. It isn't right to let them die, since they helped us defeat Scar in the end."

Not liking the situation, but making a hard decision, Simba says, "Okay. Let's get them to Rafiki. He should know what to do."

"Oh thank you, Simba! We owe you so badly." Shenzi says.

With that, the lionesses (except Nala) help pull the cage. Along the way, I noticed a some blades of grass that still had dewdrops on them. I pick those and put them on Edd's forehead. He seemed soothed.

A little bit later, we arrive at Rafiki's Tree, and Simba calls him down. He's explained the situation, and he examines Edd.

As he does so he says, "It appears that he has a slight fever, and a heavy bruise on his front left leg. I don't feel ahything broken."

"A fever? Well, at least it isn't too life threatening. I thought it was worse." Shenzi says.

"What should we do?" Banzai asks.

"Hmm, all we can do is keep placing cold leaf blades or large leaves on his head. I suggest keeping him out of the sun." Rafiki says.

He then looks at Simba. Then the two hyenas look at Simba.

After a big sigh he says, "Okay, you can stay with us. But only until he heals." Shenzi and Banzai rejoice. With that, we return to Pride Rock.

Throughout the rest of the day, we all take shifts changing the leaves on Edd's head. Within that time, Timon and Pumbaa return, only to get a look from Simba.

"Where were you two?" he asks.

"See Timon, I told you we should've stayed." Pumbaa says.

"Oh boy...well Simba, when I saw the way Mwezi's nails were filed, I knew that she was being raised by my Ma and Uncle Max, so Pumbaa and I rushed over to the jungle to tell them where Mwezi was, heheh." Timon explains.

"Oy. You two gotta be more careful. Mwezi and Kiara got caught in a Zebra Stampede earlier." Simba says.

"Aaahh! They aren't hurt are they?" Timon freaks.

"No, luckily, but now, we have new guests." Simba replies looking over at the hyenas. We let them stay in the back since it was coolest there, and the sun wouldn't reach Ed.

"Aaaahhhh! Hyenas!" both freak.

"Hey easy guys! They're not dangerous!" Kiara says.

"Not dangerous? Are you sure about that?" Pumbaa asks.

"We ran into them in the Elephant Graveyard and they didn't do a thing." I reply.

"Yeah, but how long will it last?" Timon says.

"Watch yourself, Meerkat." Shenzi warns, scaring Timon.

Days pass by, and Edd recovers. It's early morning and I'm first up, scratching my ear. I walk out to the edge of Pride Rock where a family of elephants pass by. Up in the sky, I find a rather large bird begin to swoop down. Only I realized too late, it's big enough to grab me! I try to rush back inside but I'm lifted away. I let out a loud growl, only being able to wake the hyenas and Kiara. They rush outside and find the bird with me in its talons.

"Not him again!" Banzai growls.

"Who is that bird?" Kiara asks.

"He's well known everywhere. Everyone calls him Big Meteor." Shenzi says.

"We gotta go save her! There's no time to lose!" Kiara says rushing down Pride Rock.

"Hold on Kiara! We're gonna need more than just us!" Banzai calls.

"Go tell the biggest animals you can find! We'll keep an eye on Big Meteor!" Shenzi says as the pass her on the way down.

Kiara rushes to the family of elephants nearby and the hyenas chase after Big Meteor. Minutes later, he finally lands in a tree in between the borders of the Outlands and the Pride Lands. I'm pinned down, unable to move. Nearby, two other lions watch.

"Whoa, it's him! It's Big Meteor!"

"Looks like he grabbed himself a good catch."

"Hold on, that isn't Simba's cub."

"Hey, you're right, for once. It looks like...one of us?"

"Impossible! I would've known!"

"Nothing's impossible. Nothing we can do."

"Nothing YOU can do anyway. That damned buzzard stole a good catch of mine last week! I was gonna present it to Mother till he snatched it!"

"What-Where do you think you're going, Nuka?"

"Off to kill that buzzard (so we can eat)!"

"...Dumbass."

As Nuka rushes towards the tree, the Hyenas are first to reach the tree.

"We need to act fast! What the?" Shenzi says as Edd starts kicking at the tree, causing it to shake.

"...He's got the right idea. Start kicking, Shenzi!" Banzai says.

Soon all three are using both hind legs to kick the trunk, making Big Meteor lose balance. I'm then thrown from the roost and onto a log that's acting as a bridge in between the borders. My claws haven't fully grown back yet.

"SHENZI! BANZAI! EDD! HELP!" I shout.

That's when Nuka appears at the last second, grabs me with his paw, tosses me back onto the Pride Lands border and goes for the bird. Just then, the same family of elephants comes charging in with Kiara on the male's back. The Hyenas and Nuka quickly move out of the way as all three ram the tree, forcing Big Meteor off and into the water. The male lets Kiara down as their job is done. A soaked bird can't fly, no matter what size they are.

"Mwezi! Are you okay?" Kiara asks. I sit up, shaking like a leaf.

"Oh dear, she's scared. Come here, Mwezi." Shenzi says pulling me close.

"I can't believe an Outsider just saved a Pridelander." Banzai says.

"Wasn't part of my plan, but I don't feel like getting killed." Nuka says.

"Then you better hurry back to your end before the King arrives." Shenzi says.

Nuka then realizes he's on the wrong side and quickly bolts back to his. He then sees Big Meteor in the river below and goes after him. That's when Simba and his entire pride close in.

"Is everyone okay?" Pumbaa asks. "Yeah, we're good." Kiara asks.

"Mwezi's fine too, just scared stiff." Shenzi says.

Simba breathes a big sigh of relief and says, "Thank God that's all that's wrong."

"Yeah, they saved her!" Kiara says. Although truth be told it was really Nuka, the hyenas went with it.

"Looks like we owe each other now. Welcome to the Pride." Simba says.

Banzai and Edd dance with joy. Shenzi hands me over to Nala. With that trouble overwith, we return to Pride Rock.