Chapter Eight
Oh I Just Can't Wait to Get Out of Here
Tarzan came to a halt and looked at Alex, who looked fit to blow chunks all over the ape man's tanned, muscular chest.
"Are you alright?" Lumiere asked. Alex staggered a bit, grabbing Tarzan's shoulder for support.
"I'm fine, just get me down before I ruin the upholstery," Alex said. Tarzan set her down gently on the ground, and she walked to a nearby rock to sit down.
"I must leave you now," Tarzan said, grabbing a vine. "I hope you find the castle." Alex and Lumiere watched him as he weaved through the vines, before finally disappearing from view. Alex looked to Lumiere, standing up and dusting off her skirt. She fanned herself a little bit, making sure her stomach had settled, before starting to walk.
"Well Lumiere, we'd better go find Simba." She walked through the lush jungle, spotting familiar landmarks like the huge waterfall in the 'Hakuna Matata' scene. She bit her lip as she looked around, not a sound to be heard. "I hope this isn't the part of the movie I think we're in," she said. "Because if it is, we're in for a world of trouble."
As they walked, Alex spotted a bit of burgundy red between the leaves. She stopped, bringing her pointer finger to her lips and motioning for Lumiere to follow. Slowly they tip-toed across the soft green undergrowth, crouching down and peeking through the curtain of leaves to see Timon, Pumbaa, and Nala, as they watched Rafiki swing through the vines.
"Simba's gone back to challenge Scar!" Nala exclaimed.
"Who?" Timon asked.
"Who's got a scar?" Pumbaa said.
"No, no, no, it's his uncle!"
"The monkey's his uncle?"
"NO! Simba has gone back to challenge his uncle and take his place as king!"
"Oh!" Timon and Pumbaa said in unison.
"Wait, he's gone? What do you mean he's gone?" Timon shrieked.
"It's just like the baboon said," said Nala. "'The king has returned.'"
Timon and Pumbaa stood there, looked at each other, and then looked at Nala, silent.
"Ugh," Nala said, rolling her eyes. "You want me to go over it again?"
"Yes please," Timon said. "But be a dear and just skip to the part about Simba. Not that your childhood wasn't fascinating."
"Okay, look. Simba's the rightful king, but after he disappeared, Scar proclaimed himself king and made an alliance with the hyeanas. So now Simba has gone back to challenge Scar and take his rightful place as king."
Timon and Pumbaa were silent once more.
"Ooh, don't you get it?! Simba needs us! Now!" Nala turned and lumbered off into the foggy forest, leaving Timon and Pumbaa. Alex turned to Lumiere and motioned for him to follow again. As Timon and Pumbaa began arguing with each other, Alex and Lumiere approached them from behind.
"Leave Hakuna Matata to someone who appreciates--What was that?" Alex had stepped on a twig, making it snap. Timon and Pumbaa turned around and, seeing Alex and Lumiere, screamed, running away.
"No wait!" Alex cried, running after them. "Come back! We need your help!" Pumbaa stopped, bringing Timon with him.
"What sort of help?" He asked. Alex sighed.
"I need to get to the Royal Islands, and to the Cinderella castle, all by midnight. Can you help, please?"
"What do you need our help for?" Timon said. "You've got walking fire over there!" Lumiere crossed his arms over his brass chest.
"'Ey! I 'ave gotten 'er this far!"
"Good, then you're fine on your own! C'mon Pumbaa, let's go get some breakfast." Timon began steering Pumbaa in the other direction, but Pumbaa stopped, looking back with big Bambi eyes.
"But... They need our help!" Pumbaa said. Timon looked back at Alex and Lumiere, frowning. He looked from Alex, to Pumba, back to Alex, and then sighed.
"Fine, but I just know we're getting into a mess of trouble." Alex smiled and hugged Timon.
"Thank you so much!" She said, setting him down.
"Yeah, yeah, just none of that mushy stuff, okay?" Alex laughed.
"Same old Timon. Alright, now do you guys know a way out of the forest?"
"Of course!" Pumbaa said. He pointed a hoof in the direction they had just come from. "Over this way is the ocean," he pointed his hoof in the other direction. "And in this direction is the desert."
"Desert, of course!" Alex said, snapping her fingers. "Aladdin! We can go into the Cave of Wonders, and get Magic Carpet! Then if we ride him to the Royal Islands, we'll be there in no time."
"Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Lumiere said. Timon leaped on top of Pumbaa's head.
"Hop on!" Pumbaa said.
"Are you sure?" Alex asked. "I don't think you can carry me."
"Nonsense! We warthogs are sturdy!" Pumbaa said, standing stately like a white stallion.
"Okay, if you say so..." Alex climbed onto Pumbaa's back. He struggled under the weight for a little while, then began walking in the direction of the desert.
"How about a little music to travel by?" Pumbaa asked. He began wailing out 'Hakuna Matata.'
"NO!" Timon yelled in the middle of the chorus. Pumbaa stopped as Timon took his paws away from his ears. "Ah great, now it's gonna be stuck in my head the whole time."
"Oh. Sorry."
Alex laughed as they rode off into the desert, humming 'Hakuna Matata.' Hanging out with Timon, Pumbaa, and Lumiere. Yet another childhood dream come true.
