Chapter 10

Marley and I were taken to Scar by Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed. As we were herded up to the cave in Pride Rock, the lionesses met us with expressions of pity. They knew where we were going, and why we were going there. What they didn't know, however, was whether they would see us again...alive.

"This whole being held hostage by the villains thing is really getting old." I mumbled to Marley.

"Hey! No talking!" yelled Banzai.

'Great,' I said to myself 'just like school.'

Just before entering the cave I stopped and stared out in the horizon. It was dark, dry, and desolate. Thunder rumbled in the sky. My friends were out there somewhere, maybe not in sight but they were out there. I could feel it. Run, I thought, if you guys can see me run! Solve the riddle, get us out of here. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I jumped when I heard Shenzi bark.

"Keep it moving! You don't want to keep the king waiting." she snickered and took a swipe at my legs.

I stumbled inside on Marley's heels. It took a few moments for my eyes to adjust to the sudden darkness. The cave was fairly big , with a very small amount of sunlight streaming through the entrance. It stunk like mad too! The odor of what I'm guessing was rotten meat permeated from within. How the lionesses and cubs slept in there I'll never know. Most terrifying of all were the two glowing green eyes coming from the back of the cave. Scar. The name itself made me a little uneasy, but seeing the scrawny, cruel lion in front of me, however, put a new perspective of the word fear.

He just stared at us for a moment. A tense, wicked stare.

"Where did you find these two?" he asked the hyenas, his voice, opposite of his eyes, was languid.

"Out in the Pridelands. They were hidin' behind a rock." replied Banzai.

Scar just nodded, not taking his eyes off us, and continued.

"Tell me, what were they doing out there?"

"They...I don't know! They were tryin' to get that thing."

"What thing?" Scar snapped, finally facing his henchmen, his voice turning to hard rock.

"Just a thing! I don't know! The little one's got it behind her back."

Scar's gaze locked with mine. Crap.

My eyes went wide as he stalked slowly over to me. He was big, at least as tall as me on all fours, and his paws were massive. Up close his fur seemed to be a lot scragglier than in the movie, and his claws were sharpened to an impossible point.

"Give it to me!" he growled.

I swallowed. "Give what?" I said, trying to sound innocent, but in fact my voice was shaky and cracked. Yeah, I'll admit it, I was scared! And I'll bet my left shoe that you'd be too. Scar wasn't like the other villains we'd been captured by, he was big and had claws that could do some major damage.

"DON"T PLAY COY WITH ME!" he bellowed so loudly and suddenly even the three hyenas jumped. I flinched back and shut my eyes. "GIVE IT TO ME!"

I glanced over at Marley, unsure of what to do. She gave me a small, barely perceptible shake of the head. No, that message was clear, but what else could I do? I looked from Marley to Scar and back a few times before he screamed, "WELL?"

Thinking on my feet I asked "Y-you want it so bad?" I hesitated, "Take it!" With that I shot the MILD out and threw it clear across the cave. My poorly formed plan worked. All eight pair of animal eyes traced the path in the air leaving us unguarded. While they were distracted I grabbed Marley's wrist and we both tore outta that cave!

"What are you doing?" called Marley.

"Saving our skins! Screw the gadget!" was my answer.

The two of us barley made it to the outcropping of Priderock when we were tackled. Marley by Benzai, I by Shenzi, who grabbed me by my hair and dragged me back along with Marley.

"AIIIIEEEEEE! AAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHH-OW!" I screamed with every ounce of energy I had left.

When we were dragged back to Scar, who was waiting just outside the cave, tears were welling in my eyes and I was biting my lip to keep from crying. I hated crying, especially in situations like this one. It made me feel weak. I hated them all of a sudden, a terrible, horrible feeling. I glared up at the dark lion through my tears. He gave me another chilling stare and looked away.

"Take them to the back and keep them there! I'll deal with those two later." ordered Scar.

Once again we were dragged mercilessly by the hyenas to the very back of the lair . About three fourths of the way there, we stopped because the henchmen got into an argument over something stupid. The grip on my hair loosened for a miraculous moment and I breathed a sigh of relief. I didn't dare run. Not that I could, and as a quick look over at Marley proved, neither could she.

My eyes wandered and settled on the object right in front of me. The MILD! How random is that? They didn't even run after it! Quickly, I scooped it up and hid it in my pocket before the hyenas could notice.

I'd barely had time to pocket my prize when my hair became taught and we were being lugged around one more time.

Looking over a pile of rocks, Simba could see what was once his home over run by hyenas. His heart broke at the sight. How could he have let this happen? This place wasn't even a shadow of what it was under the reign of his father. The old watering hole was reduced to a dusty puddle, and it was apparent that the herds had moved on.

"SARABI!" he heard Scar call. His mother. Simba's heart skipped a beat. He focus every stitch of his attention on pride rock. If anything came after him at that moment, he'd be done for.

"So, is that where we're going?" someone whispered. He sprung up a foot or two and turned his head. It was none other than-

"You? Rikki what are you doing here? I thought I told you to stay with your friends."

Rikki shot him a look. "They've got it all under control. If anyone needs help its you."

Simba couldn't believe this. There he was, a fully grown two ton lion, stressing over how he'd manage to steal back the power that was rightfully his. And there she was, a hundred and some odd, half-grown human, thinking she could help him. He'd known her for only a little over a day, and already it was obvious that she was as stubborn as a rhino. "Forget it! This is something I have to do alone. Besides its too dangerous."

Rikki screwed up her face and put her hands on her hips, " Oh come on! Don't hit me with that 'dangerous' crap. I've had my fair share of tough situations, and here I am. Alive and kicking."

He didn't answer.

"Simba, you're not the only one who's got something at stake here! You heard the screams. My FRIENDS are in there! Being held captive by your psychopathic uncle, no doubt. Please." she begged in a low voice.

The lion softened up a bit. It looked as though he might have been weighing the situation. But he knew the dangers, and he wasn't going to subject such a delicate creature as a human to that. She was stubborn, and so was he. "No, look, I appreciate the help but this...you have to go back." He started off ahead of her.

"Alright fine." she quipped at his back, narrowing her eyes to slits, " I guess I'll have to just go back all alone. With NO ONE to protect me in case a, I don't know, hyena decides to show up."

Simba stopped. She was right. He was in a stalemate, if the girl came along she might get hurt. On the other hand if she went back alone, she will. He sighed and turned to face her.

"Alright, you can come. Just...stay close to me."

"Aye-aye sir!" She beamed and jogged up behind him.

Cameryn and Anya ran alongside Nala and the other lionesses. While Timon and Pumbaa distracted the hyenas, they had snuck passed and gathered up the pride. Most were all too eager to join in the uprising.

"How much further?" Cameryn yelled to Nala.

"Not much now. We have to get to the top of the outcropping. Can you handle it ?" Nala asked, still running.

Cameryn looked up and saw the steepness of the path. She was silent for a moment, judging the angle.

"I think I can. Anya," she called behind her, " how 'bout you?"

Anya, who was keeping a decent pace, yet was still a few feet behind Cameryn, didn't skip a beat. "Don't worry about me! I'll make it."

"Well," Cameryn turned back to Nala, " there you have it."

Nala nodded and pressed the lionesses on. If Simba's plan was going to work they had to hurry up.

The group continued on, up the side ramp to the lair's entrance. Cameryn stayed well with the animals while Anya was having a little bit of trouble.

"You OK back there?" asked Cam, after looking back for the third time.

Anya nodded and sped up as much as she could. She didn't want to waste any energy on words.

"Here, you can ride on my back." offered a lioness, whom Cameryn quickly recognized as Sarafina.

She stooped down allowing Anya to climb on her back. The second she was seated the lioness took off again at full speed catching up with the others.

"WOOOHOOOO!" Anya cried, having the time of her life riding Sarafina. She couldn't believe this! Never in her life did she think she'd ever ride a lion. A lion! Underneath her, she should feel the ground thumping beneath the powerful paws. Wind whipped up passed her face and streamed out her hair, giving the illusion that her head was alight with fire. She was the picture of freedom.

Soon, they made it to the entrance and Anya, with slight disappointment, disembarked.

"Thank you." she whispered hastily to the lion.

They got to the scene in the nick of time. Simba had his uncle cornered against a stone wall, with Rikki flanking him a yard and a half away.

"The choice is yours Scar," began Simba "you either step down or fight."

"Oh, must this all end in violence?" mused Scar dramatically "I'd hate to be responsible for the death of a family member. Wouldn't you agree Simba?"

"Thats not going to work, I've put it behind me." he responded.

"Ah!," hissed Scar "But what about your loyal subjects? Have they put it behind them?"

Nala was confused. Put what behind them?

"Simba, what is he talking about?" she asked impatiently.

"Ah!," exclaimed Scar, delighted, "So you didn't tell them your little secret. Well, here's your chance to tell them who's responsible for Mufasa's death."

At the word 'death', the lionesses perked up. Rikki winced, Cameryn balled up her hands in fists, and Anya couldn't watch.

Simba hesitated a moment before stepping up. "I am" he admitted.

There was a shocked silence that impacted everyone heavily.

Sarabi was devistated by the news. Simba, her Simba, was responsible? It couldn't be! He was just a cub at the time, there was no way this could be possible. She walked up to her son.

"Its not true," she whispered "tell me it's not true!"

Simba looked down to the ground, at his paws. The same way he used to when he'd get in trouble with his parents as a cub.

"It is." he murmured.

"You see! He admits it! Murderer!" accused Scar.

"No! It was an accident!" panicked Simba as Scar began to pace around him, fast and menacingly. Rikki watched, her jaw set firm.

"If it wasn't for you Mufasa would still be alive. It's your fault he's dead, do you deny it?" he barked.

"No,"admitted Simba.

"Then your guilty!"

"No! I'm not a murderer!" he yelled fiercely.

Rikki couldn't take this anymore. She marched up to where the two lions were, seething, "You dirty, flea-bitten... You're no king! You're nothing but a kitten that has to hide behind manipulation and deceit! Oof!" Scar silenced her with a hard paw to the gut. She crumpled on the ground, feeling sick.

"No." Simba whispered, at seeing his friend hurt.

Scar returned his attention to his nephew, backing him up to the edge of Pride rock, flanked by a horde of hyenas.

"Oh, Simba, you're in trouble again. But I've got news for you: daddy isn't here to save you."

At the conclusion of his sentence, a lightning bolt struck the dead grass under the outcropping, setting it on fire. There, Simba slipped and barely hung on with his fore paws.

"SIMBA!" cried Nala and Rikki in unison.

There he clung to both the rock and to dear life. Looking up, frightened, at his cruel uncle who loomed over him.

"Now where have I seen this before, ah yes! This is how your father looked before he died." quick as a flash his claws were out and piercing Simba's paws. He lowered himself to the younger lion's ear, "And here's my little secret: I killed Mufasa."

Simba's face grew wide in realization, and slowly morphed into rage. In a single moment, he relived the events he had fought so hard to keep hidden within himself.

"NOOOO!" he pounced and pinned the other lion to the ground. "Murderer! Tell them the truth."

He strangled his uncled "So they can hear you."

"I killed Mufasa!" admitted the scrawny lion, his voice harsh and spiteful.

As the words left his mouth, the lionesses ran leaving Cameryn and Anya bewildered in the dust.

Unsure of what to do, they rushed over to Rikki who was still doubled over in pain. They checked her stomach, there wasn't a wound but there was an ugly bruise. Her friends looked at her with concern.

She rose slowly, "I'm fine, really. They need our help." and with that she staggered into the fray.

"Oh,no! WE'LL help. You are in no condition to fight this way!" scolded Anya holding her back.

"But-"

"No Rikki. You wanna help? Get Kori and Marley, but until you can walk upright you are not fighting."

Rikki glared at them, a stony glare, but she ultimately turned around and headed into the lair.

The other two girls gathered up stones and climbed up a high boulder, raining the rocks on the hyenas.

It was painful, we were trapped in the back of the lions den behind giant elephant bones in sight of everything that went on. We wanted to help, but we were incapacitated.

The anxiety was reaching its peak when we saw a figure, a human figure, enter the cave.

As it got closer it became apparent who it was.

"Rikki! Get us out of here!" ordered Marley

"If I knew how..." she mumbled looking around.

We tried prying loose a rib, breaking one with a stone, ramming it, nothing worked. It was completely-

"Let me out, let me out!" cried Zazu from further up in the cave.

"Let me in, let me in!" answered Timon.

Shoot. The hyenas were back. I hated those three. Well those two technically. Ed was too stupid to be evil, so I just peg him as annoying.

"Please don't eat me." he begged.

"Hey!" we all turned our gaze to the entrance yet again.

"Who's the pig?" asked Banzai.

"Are you talking to me?"

Despite my fear and desperation I thoroughly enjoyed that part and so did Marley. We literally doubled over in laughter.

I won't go into too much detail on just what happened in that cave but i'll tell you this: Pumbaa was the one who managed to free us using...well you don't want to know, but it smelled worse than the meat.

Victoriously, we emerged from the lair with Timon, Pumbaa, and Zazu.

"YEAH! You better run!" Marley called after the hyenas, making us all laugh.

As it died down, I looked at everyone. Then, I noticed we were one person short.

"Guys, where's Rikki?"

We swivled our heads searching for her but it was Zazu who found her.

"There! Running after Simba!" he called.

"Who is?"

We turned to see Anya and Cameryn jogging up to us.

"Rikki," I answered, "she going after Simba."

"No! She's hurt, we have to stop her." yelled Cameryn.

Our group took off after them and reached the peak while the lions were fighting all of us, including Rikki, stood there in awe. It was a truly terrific thing to see. One thing is to watch it happen in the movie, another was to be right there, hearing the snarls and feeling the intensity of the fight, as well as the flames. There was slashing and biting and clawing and blood. Finally, horribly, we watched as Scar butted Simba down and pinned him. Raising a claw, Scar was going to run him through.

"This can't be happening!" breathed Marley.

Scar swung. Right before the fatal impact, everything went slow motion.

"Simba!" yelled Rikki, and before we could stop her she did the unthinkable. Rikki took off at full speed and rammed Scar like a linebacker, just as his claw came down.

"AAAAGH!" she winced with pain as she flew through the air, connecting with Scar's abdomen.

The lion tipped a bit off balance, barely effected, while Rikki flipped over, bounced once and skidded to a stop a yard away. She was bleeding, from where we couldn't tell, but she was alive.

"You," growled Scar getting up on his four legs "This is the last time you interfere with me!"

She looked up at him with waning determination and increasing terror as he pounced to crush her. In one last act of defiance, she met his gaze, equally as wicked as his, and said, "You'll NEVER be ANYWHERE near the lion Mufasa was." Scars eyes lit up like a mad man's and he made straight for her.

"RIKKI!" we all screamed wide-eyed and helpless.

It looked like the end. Our friend was going to die in one last act of bravery. Out of complete selflessness she went in there, and now she was going to be ripped to shreds and die a hero and there was nothing I could do about it.

Then the miraculous happened. Simba dashed to his feet and got Scar from the side, sending him over the edge and to his death at the hands of the hyenas.

"She's going to be just fine." assured Rafiki "All she needs is some rest."

We heaved a sigh of relief. It was the day after the battle and the first thing we had done was take her to the shaman to get her treated. Scar's claw had hit her leaving three nasty red strips across her back. Thankfully he didn't hit anything important.

"Thank you, Rafiki." Anya sighed gratefully.

The next few days passed slowly. We found ways to help around the pride. Anya spent her time taking care of the cubs while the lionesses went hunting. Cameryn helped drag the kill back to Pride rock, the lionesses having deemed her worthy because of her opposable thumbs. Marley helped Timon and Pumbaa get settled into the Pridelands, to Timon's suggestion they got themselves a separate little cove just off the rock formation to relieve any temptation. I helped Rafiki gather herbs for his medicines. Rikki eventually got better and spent most of her time with Simba who was busy making peace with the abused animals and driving out the straggling hyenas.

It was a time of peace and recovery. We ate with the lions, played along the grasslands that were already on the road to health, swam in the watering hole and rested up. The best thing though was my ability to sleep till noon and no one could say anything about it. But all good things must come to an end, we had to move on and not to mention actually think about the riddle. So there we were laying in the warm sun when our MILDs beeped.

Cameryn was the first to answer. It was Mickey Mouse, who else?

"Hey Mickey." she yawned.

"Hiya, girls!" he greeted cheerfully, "I've got great news! We fixed the teleportation and communication systems this mornin'. As soon as you find the item we'll get ya on your way."

"Thats great." said Rikki masking disappointment. We could all tell she absolutely loved it here and she and Simba had a developed a deep connection with each other. We would often find them running and playing a weird lionized version of tag, or just laying outside at night and looking at the stars.

"Say, I gotta go now but we'll get you guys outta there. See ya real soon!"he squealed and signed off.

We sat there in silence soaking up the news.

"Well," said Rikki breaking the silence, "lets get going then."

Before we could ask where she was headed she was well out of earshot. Deciding to follow we ran after her, and ran, and ran.

Finally, we reached Priderock where Rafiki was talking to Nala and Simba.

"Ah, if it isn't the little fighter!" noted Rafifki happily.

"Hey," she greeted, smiling, but her voice betrayed her emotion, "I gotta ask you something."

He looked at her expectantly as she hesitated. She took a look at the two lions, then at the ground, then back to the baboon. Sighing heavily she asked "Can...can I have your stick?"

"My stick?" he asked looking at said stick. "What for?"

The stick. Of course. The most obvious answer yet, it was the ONLY object in the movie.

"It's the only way we can get home." I explained "or at least closer to it."

Rafiki looked at the stick and thought.

"OK. Because I like you," he declared "I'll give you the stick."

He handed Rikki the stick and she gave a small smile. "Take good care of it now!"

"Don't worry, I will." she murmured, as her fingers closed around his staff.

Our gadgets beeped and Rikki's shot out a ray of light shrinking it. They beeped again, about to send us on our way when she yelled, "Wait!"

Rikki dropped her MILD, ran over to Simba, and gave him a squeeze. He seemed startled for a moment but returned it with a warm smile. While she still denies, the moment she felt his paw around her, she let out a loud, shuddering sob. She didn't let go for a good few minutes and when she finally did we saw tears staining her face.

"Hey, you'll be Ok," soothed Simba "Hakuna Matata."

Rikki let out a small chuckle and wiped her eyes.

"I'll miss you Simba." she said.

"You too" he answered and gave her a pat on the back.

She hurried back to us and our MILDs beeped again. Just as the teleporting started up, I caught Rikki looking back at the characters and giving them a bleary eyed smile and a small wave good-bye.