The sun shone brightly above The Pridelands. Summer had just arrived and nature started regrowing after a long winter. The grass glimmered like an emerald in the sunshine, continuing as far as the eye can see. The sky was bright blue, covered in puffy rounded clouds.

What a perfect day for secret adventures.

"I'm going out!", a little lion cub ran out of the den. He had brownish-cold fur and bright orange eyes.

Here is Mufasa, the crown prince of The Pridelands and the future king. He is the eldest son of the king couple, queen Uru and king Ahadi. He has a little brother Taka, who was sick at the time. That's why the young kitty was alone today.

"Have fun, son! But remember, don't wander too far!", he heard his mother's voice.

"Yes, yes!", the impatient one answered, running down from Pride Rock and towards the fields. Animals bowed when he passed them and he responded by nodding. He didn't want to be treated differently, even though he is the future ruler. He was raised to be noble and kind.

"Mufasa, wait!"

"Hey, Zuzu!", he saw his majordomo. He was the opposite of his future son Simba since he respected his adviser. At least in some cases.

"Now there, young man", the hornbill landed on his back. "You need to slow down. I can't keep up with you."

"Sorry. I'm just so excited to see the kingdom so full of life again!"

"I understand. But as the prince, you need to be careful. There are several dangerous animals out there."

"I will. Have you seen Sarabi and Sarafina anywhere?"

"No. I think they are with their parents. Do you want me to look for them?"

"Well, if you could send a word to Sarabi that I want to speak with her. It's really important. Tell her to meet me in the meadow behind the waterhole."

"Of course. I'm doing it right now", Zuzu nodded and flew away while Mufasa continued running. Today, today...

"Let them go!", Mufasa roared while he ran towards the gorillas. After thinking about several options, he decided that attacking straight would be the only way to save Timon and fennec brothers. Pumbaa and Simba were too small to fight and they didn't have time to sneak around.

Love...love carries me! It will.

"MUFASA, HELP!", Timon screamed. The cage was dangerously near the fire.

"I'm coming, hold on!"

"Great, he's going to save us...", Jengo muttered. "What more?!"

"Do you want to get roasted instead?! Let's distract these fools while our mighty savior takes care of the rest", Mosi said, pushing his head between the wooden bars and bit one of the gorillas. The cage fell to the ground and rolled.

"My lunch..oh no...!", Timon held his mouth. He was about to vomit.

"You're not gonna spit on me! Go away!", Jengo kicked his enemy.

"Stop fighting and cut these ropes!", Mosi bit them already. "Hurry up!"

"Okay, okay", Jengo followed his bro's example. Meanwhile, Mufasa fought against the gorilla group. It was hard since he was still recovering but he tried his best.

"Who are you guys anyway?! Why have you been following us?!"

I must stop them. I have to, I have to...

Mufasa lay on his back in the grass, reaching his paws towards the sky. Cloud-gazing was one of his favorite hobbies. Uru taught her sons how to recognize famous constellations. It was fun.

"Hello, your highness."

Looking up, Mufasa saw Sarabi.

"Oh, hey!"

"Zuzu told me you wanted to see me. So, what is it?"

"Heh, you're always so straight. What if I just wanted to...a pouncing lesson!", Mufasa jumped towards Sarabi but got tackled down. No wonder Simba wasn't going to be very good at it either...

"Hey!"

"Hah, pinned ya!", Sarabi grinned. Mufasa tried again but lost.

"Okay, you won! Let me up!", the prince murmured. "Where did you learn how to do this?!"

"My Dad teaches me and my sisters. Since our job is to hunt, we must be strong."

"Okay...well, how about we do something else? Wanna gaze at the clouds?"

"Sure, why not", Sarabi landed on her back, Mufasa landed next to him. "Wow, so bright..."

"Yeah. Look, a lamb!"

"A lamb? What's a lamb?"

"Idk. I heard Rafiki saying it once."

"Okay...hah, a bunch of butterflies! How cute!"

"Girls...wow, hyenas!"

"Hyenas?! Ewww", Sarabi gagged.

"I think they are interesting predators."

"You're weird! They are teasing us. Sure you can't possibly like them."

"It's not that, I just...nah, never mind. Hey, an elephant! A crocodile!"

"Parrots, birds...just lovely", Sarabi sighed. Mufasa turned to look at her.

"You know...you have very beautiful eyes, Sarabi."

"Why thank you! You're very kind, Mufasa."

"Yeah..."

"So, how is Taka? Still sick?"

"Yep...I hope he recovers. I miss playing with him."

"Me too...hey, how about we play catch? You're on!", Sarabi started running, laughing.

"Hey, no fair!", Mufasa sprinted after her. They annoyed each other alright but at the same time, they were a perfect match.

Yes, we are...no matter are we apart or not. And I'm ready to do everything! Mufasa thought while fighting back. He got hit and beaten, but it was all worth it. Fighting toughened his body. It was important since he had three little ones to protect.

*Roaring*

"One side is done! How are you two doing?!", Mosi asked.

"Almost done here as well...and then I'm outta here!", Jengo answered. Timon tried his best to help them, but he was too nervous.

Oh no...

"Timon!"

The captured trio turned their heads towards the voices. Pumbaa and Simba hid under big ferns where they had sneaked while Mufasa kept the gorillas busy.

"Simba! Kiddo! Oh, I'm so happy to see you! Please, help us!"

"Hold on just a second", Simba made sure that they weren't noticed. "Okay, come on Pumbaa!"

"Getting rescued by those dummies...this just keeps getting better!", Jengo wasn't happy about this at all.

"Well if you don't want our help, you can always save yourself. Guys, over here!", Timon waved. Mosi smacked his little bro in the background.

"Wow, this place is indeed big. I wonder what is it?", Simba looked around.

"I don't know, I haven't seen it before. So high...", Pumbaa's eyes rolled in his head.

"Pumbaa, not now! You can nap later, but first, you have to get me out of here!", Timon commanded. This made his best pal angry.

"Oh yeah?! Is that how you see me?! I still haven't forgotten your insults!"

"Here we go...", Jengo facepalmed.

"Guys, now it's not the time! We must...", Simba managed to say before one of the gorillas grabbed him.

"Hey, let me go!"

"Simba!", Pumbaa ran to help him. "Put him down!"

"Wait, what about us?!", Timon yelled after his friends. After following this scene for some time, Mosi had enough.

"That's it, we are saving ourselves!"

"How?"

"Like this", Mosi pushed himself against one of the walls, until they started to break. "Help me, idiots!"

"Okay, okay", Timon and Jengo obeyed him while the other trio was busy with these crazy big monkeys.

"I said, put me down!", Simba scratched and bit the gorilla. Pumbaa tried to make it stumble...

"Oh my god! Simba, behind you!"

"What?!", Simba looked over his shoulder. To his horror, he was carried straight towards the fire.

"No, no, no...help! HELP!"

"What do I do, what do I do?!", Pumbaa panicked. "Maybe Mufasa can help..."

But the bigger lion was too busy with the rest of the herd and if he tried to rescue Simba, the rest of the gorillas would attack them. And he wanted to repay Mufasa's kindness when they were apart from Simba and Timon.

I can do this...I can!

"Almost free...a couple of more pushes!", Mosi said. "And...NOW!"

Working together, the trio broke the cage. Sometimes it's good to combine powers.

"We're free!", Timon cheered. "Now, let's help others!"

"In your dreams. Our job here is done for now. Take care", brothers disappeared into the bushes as quickly as they usually appear.

"Hey, come back!", Timon yelled angrily. But he was needed here, so he had to let them go. It was annoying, but his friends mattered more.

"Here I come, guys!", Timon joined the battle. "Let the kid go!"

"Timon, we must stop him! Mufasa is too busy with the rest of those gorillas!", Pumbaa hollered at him.

"Yes, sir...I mean, pig!"

"What?!", Pumbaa stopped. "What did you say?!"

"I said, yes, PIG!", Timon repeated, winking his eye at Simba. "You're such a smelly PIG! PIG PIG PIG!"

"I'm not a PIG!", Pumbaa hissed. "Take it back, you rat!"

"Oh yes sorry! P-I-G!"

"THEY CALL ME MR. PIGGGGG!", Pumbaa screamed, running towards Timon and started chasing. The meerkat sprinted towards the gorilla who held Simba and slid between its legs. Pumbaa came right after, slamming his body against the beast so hard that it fell and dropped Simba.

"Ouch!", the cub hit the ground.

"You okay?", Timon ran to him.

"Yeah, thanks", Simba smiled. "Good to see you!"

"Likewise. But hey, we better run! Pumbaa isn't even warmed up yet!"

"Yeah, I can tell", Simba followed how his friend rampaged around the altar. Mufasa was already very exhausted, but he kept fighting.

"Here I come!", Pumbaa ran to help the former king. The gorillas fell to the ground one by one like a Domino reaction and began to mill loudly.

"And remember, I'm Mr. Pig to you! Come on, Mufasa!"

"No need to ask twice", the lion panted. With that, they ran to Timon and Simba.

"Yeah, finally our gang is back together!", Timon waved his hands.

"Good to see you too, but we can talk later. We must get out of here", Mufasa interrupted him.

"Fine...well, what are we waiting for? Let's go, I know the way", Timon climbed onto Mufasa's back. Everyone stared at him.

"What?!"

"Nothing..."

"Well, stop looking at me, then! Just follow my instructions", Timon said. "Let's roll!"

"Yeah, we better because there they come!", Simba yelled as the gorillas started chasing. He ran first, then Pumbaa and Mufasa came last.

"Which way, Timon?!"

"Right through those big trees! I remember them!"

"Okay, here we go...!", Simba sped up, but suddenly stopped. Pumbaa bumped into him and fell.

"What is it, son?"

"We're...we're back here!", Simba pointed out. That's right, they were back to the altar. But how?

"No, it can't be...", Mufasa said.

*Rumble*

"There they come! What do we do?!", Pumbaa panicked.

"Up to those caves! Hurry!"

"Dad, look up! The sky is changing!"

"This can't be good...come here, everyone!", Mufasa said, stepping in front of Simba and Pumbaa when the gorillas approached them. Now they were surrounded.

"Oh no no no...", Timon's teeth chattered together. "This is our end...goodbye, evil world!"

"I...I don't...", Mufasa swallowed his words. No...

"And I now pronounce you husband and wife", Rafiki finished his speech. "You may...nuzzle the bride!"

"This is the happiest day of my life", Sarabi rubbed her head against Mufasa's.

"Mine too...finally we're together. I have waited for this ever since we were cubs."

"Really?"

"Yes. I have always loved you and I always will."

"I love you too, honey..."

"No...this will not end like this! I'm fighting for our freedom until the end! So..."

*More rumbling*

"I don't like this...", Pumbaa shivered, leaning against Simba.

"It's okay, we..."

"Hey, losers!"

"What was that?!", the group looked behind them. Mosi and Jengo waved at them from the bushes.

"What do you want now?! Go away!", Timon spat.

"Listen, we found a way out! And because we, unfortunately, owe you, we can show the way."

"A way out?! You mean out of this place?!", Simba wondered.

"Yes! Now, are you coming or not?!", brothers started running. Having no better ideas, Mufasa commanded others to follow.

"What if they are bluffing us?!"

"Who cares! Wait, is that...?!"

*Brightness*

"Wow, I see a big hole in front of us! Could it be...?", Simba said...

"It's the portal! It will close soon! If we don't hurry up, we will never get back!", Mosi yelled.

"Wait, how can we trust you?! You tricked us before!", Timon protested.

"As much as we hate you, but we want to get out of this place as well. Come on, unless you wanna stay here!", brothers disappeared into the light.

"Okay...what do we do?", Simba asked.

"We don't have a choice. Those gorillas are right behind us. So, JUMP!", Mufasa pushed everyone through the light and they started falling fast. Before he had to close his eyes, he thought about one thing.

Sarabi...

His dear wife. Gone, but at the same time, not. He missed her, he missed home, he missed his pride. But he didn't know that great tasks awaited him beyond the horizon...and how it would change him as a lion. How Simba would grow up, and how difficult their relationship would become. He wasn't aware of these changes yet, but he had a doubt. His relationship with his son had already taken damage and he had no idea how to fix it. He was all alone - no Rafiki's wisdom or Sarabi's care. He was responsible for Simba's personality changes as well as his mental well-being. His poor cub suffered from deep traumas and they were turning into negative things against him.

Son...why us? What are you keeping from me? Why are you pushing me away?

"DAAAAD, DON'T LOSE US! KEEP UP!"

"YES!", Mufasa yelled back, making sure that he wouldn't be left behind. Shanira was right, he was a coward and a failure. And he would do anything to make it right again, no matter how dark turn things will take. And those times weren't far away...

TBC...