Formality: I do not own or claim to own the Bambi series or any of its characters. Their rights belong to Disney. I do not make any money or claim to do so through this fanfiction.
Once again, I've returned to post another chapter. I'd like to ask that more people who read this (provided people are reading this) actually post reviews, and I'd like to thank MOTO for her enthusiastic reviewing. Keep it up, girl. Anyway, here it is.
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Chapter 4: Conflict
Bambi stood atop the cliff that overlooked the meadow, keeping watch over his herd, as the Great Prince before him had done. I guess I'm the Great Prince now. Bambi thought to himself. That name's gonna take some getting used to. I'm just so accustomed to being called the "Young Prince". I guess I got comfortable with walking in my father's shadow. Or maybe it was because the Young Prince didn't have to do anything. Well, I can't have that, can I? I have to fill my father's hoof prints, and fast.
Bambi realized he'd allowed his thoughts to distract him, and he immediately went back to his observing. He remembered what his father had told him about observing: "You have to look, listen, and smell, all at the same time … Try to feel the forest around you." Feel the forest. Bambi reminded himself. As if on cue, he felt something entering the meadow, and he smelled someone familiar. Faline. He looked down, and there she was, approaching her friends with Maria at her side. Good to know they're safe. he thought — he could never really relax in the morning until he'd assured that they were out of harm's way. For now, anyway.
"Hello, Princey … " he heard over his shoulder. Speak of the Devil.
"Hello, Ronno," Bambi answered, recognizing the voice of his old rival anywhere.
"So you do recognize me," Ronno said, still behind him, though closer now. "Glad to see I haven't been forgotten. It woulda been difficult to rebuild a reputation."
"Hm."
By now, Ronno was next to him, overlooking the meadow as well, and Bambi tried not to look at him. "Oh, who's that?" he said, "Who's that fawn there? Is that yours?" Bambi didn't answer. "Must be. She's with Faline."
"Don't you say her name," Bambi finally said.
"Why not? She used to say my name, didn't she?" That comment angered Bambi, but he remembered another one of his father's lessons, that a prince must maintain control and demonstrate dignity at all times. Bambi wouldn't let his anger control him. He'd attacked Ronno before, and he wasn't entirely proud of it.
"And look," Ronno continued, "Now your girl's with — Yes, that's my son Antony! Hope you don't mind, the boy's just really friendly."
Bambi panicked. She should not be with him. Faline, what are you doing?
"So Princey, you still hang out with the bunny and the skunk?"
In fact, Bambi hadn't seen Thumper or Flower for a very long time. "No," he said.
"Huh," Ronno said thoughtfully, "So I guess that's makes me like your best friend or somethin', huh?"
"Ronno, you were never my friend."
"I can understand that … So, Princey, I got somethin' to ask you: is there such a thing as Princess of the Forest?"
"What?" The question had surprised him enough to make him just barely glance at Ronno, who was still looking stoically down down on the meadow.
"Oh, you know," Ronno continued. "If you ain't got a son, who's to become the next prince? Is it just, you know, up for grabs? 'Cause I always thought Antony was destined for … greatness."
"Hey Ronno," Bambi couldn't stand it. He was ready to speak his mind. "why don't you shut up before I make you run to Mommy?"
"Hey, at least there'd be a mommy for me to run to," he replied earnestly, "which is more than I can say for you, unfortunately," he continued in mock concern.
Bambi looked down, and he knew, he just knew, Ronno was wearing that look of his, that insufferable smirk. "Yeah?" Bambi began his reply. "Well we both had mothers at some point, but at least I had a father, or rather knew my father."
"Ooh, Princey," Ronno said, pretending to sound hurt, "that's a low blow, don't you think?"
"You started it."
"No, you did with the whole 'Make you run to Mommy' comment."
Ronno then turned to leave, and Bambi again barely glanced over to watch. "Oh, and … I thought you oughtta know, I've been thinkin' a lot about Faline lately, and I think she made an error in judgment regarding my … sentence."
"Watch it, Ronno."
Bambi's warning went unheeded. "How do I know? Well, you oughtta know it too. After all, you saw the way she looked at me … when I walked away." That did it. Bambi turned around, looked at Ronno angrily — he saw that Ronno was indeed wearing his signature look — , and charged.
Bambi should have seen it coming. As he was just about to reach his rival, who was making no attempt to charge back at him, Ronno lowered his head, and Bambi was thrown into the air and over his opponent. It had proceeded just as their fight in early adulthood had, except this time, though Bambi had grown as well, Ronno had grown quite noticeably and was very muscular, and his antlers were much larger than Bambi's. So Bambi was thrown much higher than he had been the first time, and he hit the ground much harder and found that he didn't have the strength to get up. He must have landed on that old injury that Man had given during the great fire.
"Bambi, I'm surprised," Ronno said mockingly. "I thought you'd know not to go chargin' into a fight you don't know you can win. What would your dad say?" He then turned once again to leave. "Oh, and speaking of him," he said, glancing over his shoulder, his eyes half-lidded, at Bambi, who was still on the ground, "Antony and I came back here last night to pay our respects. Unfortunately, it was a while after dark, and after we'd chased away some uninvited guests, there wasn't much left for us to have our own viewing."
With that, he turned and left. Bambi, angered and frustrated, began to struggle back to his feet, wincing as he attempted to put weight on his already pained shoulder. Eventually, he was standing on all four feet. Thoroughly distracted from his work, he began to pace back and forth. Who the hell does he think he is? What right does he even have to come back here? God, I hate that guy!
By now, Ronno had descended a less sheer side of the cliff and was looking across the meadow at an unwary Faline. Ready to make his move, he checked to make sure the coast was clear. Sure enough, Bambi was up on the cliff, pacing about. Perfect.
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Never to pass the Angel
With a glance and a Bow
Till I am firm in Heaven
Is my intention now.
from "A Cloud withdrew from the Sky" by Emily Dickinson
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This chapter took place about the same time as Chapter 2, just in case anyone was confused. I was glad this one was shorter. Chapters were getting pretty long. So, as I said, anyone reading this, please review. Please!