Part 3: Fall of an Ex-Wazari
Chapter 26
"Tarzan arrives at Opar"
Following the attack on the Wazari village, Simba, Tarzan and Basuli led a group of Wazari warriors and several of their animal friends through the jungles on a quest to rescue Jane and Archimedes from the clutches of Queen La. Although Tarzan did not know it at the time, La had already taken control of Jane's body and was now controlling it. He could sense it and was now starting to assume the worse that had just happened to the woman he loved so much.
"You seem quiet, Tarzan," remarked Basuli. "Are you thinking about Jane?"
"What does it look like, Basuli?" grunted Tarzan, unhappy that Basuli was being insensitive. "I want to rescue Jane and put an end to Queen La."
Basuli could see the pressure that Tarzan was under now. He had both his wife and father-in-law kidnapped on a day that was supposed to be the happiest of his life. Now, here he was, accompanying Tarzan to the kingdom that was now under the control of his most feared enemy. La was more feared than Clayton and more evil than Colonel Staquait who had humiliated Jane while she and her friends were imprisoned on Cape Doom.
"I want to stop La as much as you do," cried Basuli as Tarzan stepped further away from them. "But, you cannot do this alone, understand?"
Basuli stepped in front of Tarzan to stop him from going any further and Tarzan tried to move out of the way, but it was no use.
"I need to save her," snapped Tarzan, trying to pass Basuli. "And I cannot do it with you in the way, Basuli. Now move!"
But Basuli stood his ground and did everything in his power to keep Tarzan from going any further. As he had always known, Basuli was the more level headed of the jungle duo that was him and Tarzan.
"Don't you see? We need to work together, Tarzan," said Basuli, calmly as he blocked him. "You helped me in our quest today and now it is time that I helped you. We may not have gotten the eagle's feather, but the love for your wife is stronger than anything I have ever known. You would do the same for me and Naoh, wouldn't you?"
Tarzan gave up his fight to pushing Basuli out of the way and Basuli lowered his arms once Tarzan had subdued himself. He could now realize that if he was going to defeat La and bring Jane and Archimedes home alive, he would have to work with Basuli.
"Yes, I would," sighed Tarzan, realizing the severity of the situation. "All right, lead the way Basuli."
Smiling at that, the group continued on towards Opar with Basuli leading the charge. The Wazari warriors had their spears clutched the entire time as the sight of danger could've been anywhere, even the slightest sound of a predator was taken into great consideration. After a short walk, they came across the kingdom of Opar, now in all its glory thanks to La's rebirth in Jane's body.
"Tarzan, look!" cried Tantor, upon seeing a familiar sight out in the distance. "Look up there!"
"It's Jane!" added Terk. "I know it!"
But when Tarzan took a good look at the sight of his wife, he could see that Jane was not who she was and he knew it. He could see that Jane was wearing La's panther fured loincloths and not her powder blue dress that she wore to the village.
"La is in Jane's body," he said and a loud gasp came throughout the group and the shock was so great for Pumbaa that he nearly passed gas again, but Timon stopped him.
"Will you cut that out?" he said to his warthog friend. "Try to hold in. There's a time and a place for passing gas and this isn't it."
"If you say so, Timon," whimpered Pumbaa as Timon merely rolled his eyes. "I'll hold it in."
Simba then walked over to another portion of the cliff and was trying to figure out a way into the empire without being noticed. Remembering his childhood adventures with Nala, his mate, Simba knew that the only way to get in was through an entrance that was unguarded.
"There is a way we can get in," said Simba and the group ran over to see the unguarded entrance that Simba was trying to tell them about. "Its over there in the back of the empire."
"But what about the guards?" asked Basuli. "They will be sure to know about us."
"We have a way," said Simba who then looked at Timon and Pumbaa with a wry smile on his face, much to their confusion. The two lifelong friends had no idea what was happening, but Simba had plans for them.
"Why are you looking at us like that, Simba?" wondered Timon, who then realized Simba's true intentions. "Oh no, you can't be serious…"
But, Simba stood his ground and was determined that Timon and Pumbaa help them do whatever necessary to get inside the kingdom.
"We need you to create a distraction," ordered Simba. "Can you do that?"
With a loud groan, Timon gave in to Simba's plan as did Pumbaa. They were both clearly not thrilled with this, but a pair of human lives was at stake.
"All right," groaned Timon, finally submitting himself. "But don't you make me do what I did to overthrow your uncle."
"You mean dress in drag and dance the hula?" asked Pumbaa, much to Timon's frustration.
Simba was amazed that Pumbaa could remember such a thing and thinking that they could do it, was eager to answer their question.
"Yep," said Simba. "You distract the guards with that and we'll get into the kingdom and force La to release her grip on Jane."
Timon could not believe what he had just said to Simba. He was now once again going to be used as live bait and there was nothing that he could do about it.
A little while later, Timon once again donned his hula disguise and he led Pumbaa to an area near the entrance where the humanoid hyenas were. The area there were in was an area that would allow them to lure the hyenas away and allow Tarzan and their friends to pass.
If you're hungry for a hunk of fat and juicy meat
Eat my buddy Pumbaa here because he is a treat
Come on down and dine
On this tasty swine
All you have to do is get in line
Aaaare you achin'
(Yup, yup, yup)
Foooor some bacon?
(Yup, yup, yup)
Heeee's a big pig
(Yup, yup)
You could be a big pig too
oy!
Hungry for some pig and meerkat, the humanoid hyenas began to chase them away and allowed Tarzan and the others to get in to the kingdom.
Soon, the showdown with La was nearly at hand…