(A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews everyone. Next chapter will be the final chapter. Enjoy and remember that reviews are always welcome!
Some Swahili vocab: Sifikiri hiki ni kinywaji sahihi = I don't think this is the correct drink. Sijui = I don't know))
Simba had led the rest of the pride with him to the wastelands north of the former Outlands. The sun was beginning to set and they were losing light quickly, but, off in the distance, they could see the cave. It gave them hope.
"You go first, Kovu," Simba said, stopping the rest of the pride several hundred yards short of the cave. "See if you can resolve this issue without conflict."
Kovu nodded in agreement, and made his way up to the cave.
"Oh, look, Ulaga," called Mwewe down from his perch that he was resting on in the cave, "we have a visitor."
Ulaga looked outside. His eyes widened. There he could see his son. But yet, a whole crowd of lions was not too far behind him. Ulaga caught sight of Simba, and he instantly knew what it all meant. He got up onto his feet and moved out to meet Kovu.
As Ulaga left the cave, Kiara determined it was in the pride's best interest to take advantage of the fact that nobody was guarding it anymore. She looked over her shoulder and found Timon and Pumbaa.
"Timon! Pumbaa!" she whispered. "I've found something you two can do!"
"No need, Kiara," replied Timon, "we're up for fighting this Ulaga guy. We're just waiting for the word."
"No," snapped Kiara back, "I mean…I've found something more important for you two to do!"
"Oh really?" asked Timon, showing interest in Kiara's offer, "what?"
"Go inside that cave and try the different potions and mixtures. Find out which one is the memory healer and bring it outside for Kopa and the new lions."
"We're on it, Kiara!" called Timon as a response. "Hop to it Pumbaa!"
"Son," called Ulaga as he stepped out into the fading light, "didn't expect to see you here."
Kovu stopped approaching. He was a safe distance away from his father. He didn't really have any interest in talking, and he wasn't really afraid to show it.
"Well…" continued Ulaga, "…don't you have anything to say to your old man?"
Kovu continued to just stare, but then figured it would be best if he responded.
"You killed an innocent pride and then deceived their survivors into blaming Simba. I don't have much to say to a lion who does that."
"Oh?" asked Ulaga in response. "So you're on Simba's side now, huh? That's how it's going to be, is it? You're going to desert your old man in turn for the one who banished us to the Outlands?"
Kovu tried to remain calm. He knew he had to play this professionally. "Simba has apologized for what he did, as I have apologized for what we tried to do. We have put aside our differences. Simba and I are willing to welcome you into our pride, if you promise to live in harmony with the other pride members."
Ulaga seemed a little surprised at Kovu's response. He chuckled lightly, and then proceeded to walk around his son and up towards Simba.
"Live in harmony with all the pride members, hey? I presume that means Simba too? I don't know if I can keep that one Kovu."
Suddenly, a loud squawk was heard as Mwewe flew out of the cave. "Intruders in the cave! Intruders in the cave!"
Ulaga headed around and began to run towards the cave, but he was blocked by a wave of pride lionesses.
"No hard feelings," said Simba, still positioned behind Ulaga. "We're just taking back what you stolen."
Ulaga frowned and approached Simba. "So am I," he replied…
"Wow!" exclaimed Timon, "look at all the mixtures in here! Which one do you think it could be Pumbaa?"
"Well," replied the warthog, "there's only one way to find out," he said, and with that he slurped up half a bowl of a blue, gooey liquid.
Suddenly, Pumbaa's neck grew to twice its normal size.
"Aargh!" exclaimed Timon, looking at the disfigured form of his best buddy.
"What?" asked Pumbaa, oblivious to what had just happened.
"Uh…nothing…" replied Timon, picking up an orange liquid which trembled in his nervous hands. He slurped up half a cup.
"Sifikiri hiki ni kinywaji sahihi," he said.
"I don't think this drink is the correct one, either," replied Pumbaa, who had just drunk a potion that had given him wings.
"Or this one," said Timon, now with an elephant's trunk.
"Or this one," said Pumbaa, who farted. "Hmm…I don't know if this one made me any different, actually."
Although Ulaga had been stalled by the Pridelanders outside, Mwewe had not. He flew back into the cave.
"Get out, you intruders!"
Timon gasped as he saw the kite reenter. He grabbed the nearest potion he could find and he tossed it over the bird.
Mwewe stopped flapping his wings and he fell straight down to the floor.
"Oargh…" groaned Mwewe as he picked himself back up, "…where am I?"
Pumbaa gasped. "Timon, do you think that could be the forgetting potion?"
"Sijui," replied Timon, "I mean I don't know. Huh…guess I'm bilingual. Quick, Pumbaa, try it – tell me if it works!"
Pumbaa took a sip of the yellow liquid and then swallowed it down. He looked back at Timon.
"Well?" asked Timon.
"Well what?" replied Pumbaa. "What am I even doing here?"
"Uh," groaned Timon, "you're hopeless." As if to prove he could do this better than what Pumbaa could, Timon took a sip of the yellow mixture himself. He swallowed it and then looked back at Pumbaa.
"Who are you?" he asked.
Finally, a new figure appeared at the doorway to the cave.
"Timon, Pumbaa, I heard all de commotion here! Have you found my remember-all potion?"
Timon, Pumbaa and Mwewe all looked oddly at the mandrill that had just entered the scene.
"Is he Timon?" asked Timon, pointing at the warthog.
Rafiki groaned. He began to scan the shelves. "Aha!" he exclaimed, feasting his eyes on a red mixture that sat on one of the lower shelves. "Dere it is!"
He picked it up and carried it out. "I will give dis to you two later – it is essential Hunter and Amani have it now! Drink de black powder to return to normal!"
And with that, Rafiki left.
Timon, Pumbaa and Mwewe all exchanged glances.
"Normal?" asked Timon. "Are you two not supposed to have wings?"