Here we are, chapter 19! Sorry for the wait, I was having some writer's block on this story while prepping a different story I'm writing on AO3(yes, I lead a double life) and that one is still being worked on at the time of posting this. Then school started up and I got backed up with homework. I hope you understand. Anywho, on with the show!
The scene transitions to Pride Rock in the afternoon. Kiara, now a cub, bounds to the edge of Pride Rock and overlooks the savanna, panting with excitement.
KIARA:
Wow!
"Someone's excited." Uncle Max remarked.
Kiara starts to bound down Pride Rock.
SIMBA:
Whoa!
Simba catches Kiara by her scruff and lifts her back onto Pride Rock. She giggles mischievously and tries to bound away, but Simba stops her with a paw.
Simba remembered when Kiara was that small with a smile.
SIMBA:
Where do you think you're going in such a hurry?
He lifts Kiara into the air.
KIARA:
giggles
Daddy! Let go!
Many animals fondly remembered playing with their children or their parents when they were small.
Simba sets Kiara onto her stomach.
SIMBA:
Well, I just want you to be careful.
KIARA:
growls and jumps at a butterfly
Rah!
"And she's not paying attention." Nuka spoke.
Simba steps on her tail. She tries to jump, only to fail.
SIMBA:
Kiara, are you listening? Accidents can happen.
Kiara sits up.
You could easily get hurt or stepped-
KIARA:
Hurt or stepped on or even get lost.
"How many times has he given you that speech?" Inquired Baliyo. "I lost count, actually." Kiara confessed.
SIMBA:
Steps off her tail
And remember, I want you to stay in sight of Pride Rock at all times.
KIARA:
At all times. I know. And if I see any strangers, don't talk to them. Come straight home. Okay, okay. Can I go now? Please?
"If she knows what he's going to say, then he must really have said it a lot." Mzingo mused.
SIMBA:
Hmm. Very funny.
Nala approaches and sits next to Simba.
NALA:
Mind your father, Kiara.
KIARA:
giggles
Yes, Mom.
SIMBA:
And stay away from the Outlands.
Zazu swoops past Simba and Nala and lands next to Kiara.
ZAZU:
Nothing there but a bunch of backstabbing, murderous Outsiders.
"There's more in the Outlands than just the Outsiders." Madoa huffed. "Like our pack, or the vultures, or other animals." Jasiri added.
SIMBA:
Zazu's right.
Looks over one shoulder
You can't turn your back on them.
KIARA:
Really? How come?
"Because Zira attacked me when I had my back turned not long after I became king. We battled, and she and her followers were banished to the Outlands." Simba explained.
SIMBA:
Never mind.
Gestures with head
Just run along now.
KIARA:
But, Dad, I-
"He's letting you go, so you should go." Dusty said.
SIMBA:
You'll understand someday. Go on.
Kiara walks toward Simba.
KIARA:
Dad…
Nuzzles against Simba's leg. Simba rubs the top of her head with a paw. She bounds away and starts clambering down Pride Rock.
SIMBA:
anxiously
And stay on the path I've marked for you!
"Wow, paranoid much?" Shupavu snarked. "To be fair, he didn't want a repeat of what happened to me." Kopa defended his dad.
NALA:
chuckles
Simba, who does she remind you of? Hmm?
SIMBA:
Huh? What? Who?
NALA:
She's just like you were when you were young.
"Well, you know what they say: like father, like daughter." Spirit spoke.
Nuzzles Simba's chin.
SIMBA:
Exactly. Do you realize the dangers we put ourselves in?
"What happened to 'I laugh in the face of danger, ha ha ha ha!' ?" Dusty joked.
Nala pins him.
NALA:
You mean the dangers you put us in.
"Yes, you were usually the instigator of your little friend group's shenanigans." Mufasa chuckled. "And who did he inherit that from?" Scar raised an eyebrow. "Oh, be quiet." The elder brother replied.
chuckles
She'll be fine.
She strides toward the interior of Pride Rock and smiles at Simba over one shoulder.
SIMBA:
Hey, Timon! Pumbaa! C'mere!
Timon sits astride Pumbaa's mane. They look over their shoulders and stride towards Simba.
Nala looked questioningly at Simba. "What? I just wanted to make sure she was safe. I didn't want.." "I know. It was good that they warned us about her going into the Outlands." she reassured him.
TIMON:
Good morning, mon capitan!
SIMBA:
I want you to keep a close eye on Kiara. You know she's bound to run off.
TIMON:
No worries, Simba. We're on her like stink on a warthog.
PUMBAA:
Hey!
"Sorry, Pumbaa, but he's not wrong." Tiifu said. "Yeah, the gas in the break room was proof of that." Makucha sneered before being hit by Makini's staff.
TIMON:
It's a hard truth, Pumbaa. Live with it.
SIMBA:
Guys, I'm counting on you. Danger could be lurking behind every rock.
TIMON:
Ah-ha. Hmm! Hmm! Hmm…
Timon looks left and right as the two depart. The scene transitions to the open savanna. Pride Rock is in the distance. Kiara chases a butterfly through the fields. Kiara jumps at the butterfly.
KIARA:
Rah! Hey! Wait! Come back! [Kiara bats at the butterfly.]
*growls* [Kiara jumps at the butterfly.]
I just wanna play! [Kiara jumps again and again at the butterfly.]
A few animals chuckled at her antics.
*grunts* Ah...
[Kiara crouches in the grass.] The mighty hunter...has cornered her prey.
Kiara stalks the butterfly, which has landed on a rock. She pounces, and the butterfly flies off.
Ah! [Kiara peers over the edge of the rock.] Huh? [Kiara clambers onto the rock, surveying the Outlands.] Whoa. [Kiara sits.] Cool!The Outlands! I wonder what's out there.
"Oh you know, termite mounds, volcanoes, hyenas, vultures, jackals, crocodiles, bloodthirsty lions out for revenge against your dad, among other things." Dusty listed while counting on his front toes.
Something stalks Kiara in the grass. A twig snaps. She turns.
KIARA:
AAAAHHHH!
Timon and Pumbaa emerge from the grass.
TIMON AND PUMBAA:
AAAAHHHH!
"Way to blow your cover, pebble-brains." Chuluun laughed haughtily.
KIARA:
AAAAHHHH!
TIMON AND PUMBAA:
AAAAHHHH!
ALL THREE:
AAAAHHHH!
Kiara backs away and falls off the edge of the rock into the water below. Timon and Pumbaa race to the edge of the rock and the meerkat hops off his snout.
"Don't worry, the water wasn't very deep." Timon clarified.
PUMBAA:
Oooh! Don't worry, Kiara! Uncle Pumbaa's comin'!
Pumbaa jumps into the water.
"And now you have to get them both out of there. Bumbling fools." Ushari hissed.
TIMON:
Oh, no! Oh! Uh... Uh... Let's see, uh...
pretends to talk to Simba.
"Gee, Simba. The good news is, we found your daughter. The bad news is, we dropped a warthog on her. Is there a problem with that?"
"Yes, there would be a definite problem with that." Azaad answered.
Pumbaa sits in the water, with bubbles around him. He looks around.
PUMBAA:
Kiara? Kiara?
TIMON:
Pumbaa! Let me define "babysitting''!
Something moves beneath Pumbaa. He jumps away.
"Sorry about that, Kiara." Pumbaa apologized. "It's all right, Pumbaa." the princess forgave him.
PUMBAA:
Oh!
Kiara emerges from underwater, flailing.
PUMBAA:
[bashfully] Sorry.
Kiara and Pumbaa walk out of the water onto dry land.
Now, Princess Kiara, as Simba's daughter, you know better than to go off all alone. You could've been hurt!
"Simba let her go. It's not like she snuck off." Rani stated.
KIARA:
But.. But…
TIMON:
Hurt! Oh...
Timon jumps onto Kiara's back and strokes her sides.
Simba would kill us. You didn't slip a disc, did ya?
"I think she's fine. She probably inhaled a little bit of water, though." Nirmala looked at the cub onscreen.
KIARA:
But.. But…
Timon crawls onto Kiara's head.
TIMON:
Catch a fever?
"I don't think she could get sick from one little trip outside. Well, maybe if she was bitten by a mosquito or something." Fuli reasoned.
He hops off Kiara and lifts one of her paws.
Get a hangnail?
KIARA:
Ugh, Timon…
Timon points to himself.
TIMON:
I had one once.
"Hangnails are the worst." Makini grimaced.
PUMBAA:
Very painful.
Kiara looks back at Pumbaa.
TIMON:
Excruciating.
"Yeah, you have to pull or gnaw them off and then they tear more skin and it just hurts." Spirit winced as she remembered the last time she'd had one.
He bends a fern to shade Kiara's head.
Darling, with your complexion, you should stay out of the sun.
Kiara swats the fern away.
What? Do you wanna wrinkle?
KIARA:
Will somebody please just listen to me?
TIMON:
I'm sorry, I wasn't listening. Did you say something, princess?
"Really? She just asked for someone to listen to her." Anga chided.
KIARA:
I'm not just a princess, you know. That's only half of who I am!
PUMBAA:
Oh. Uh, who's the other half?
"In hindsight, that was a tricky comment, but now I know. Kovu and I are one." Kiara nuzzled her mate.
KIARA:
Uh… well, I, uh… um…
TIMON:
Well, while you're figuring it out, let's eat!
Timon walks to a log. He snaps his fingers, and Pumbaa lifts it with his snout. Timon hefts a leaf full of grubs into the air.
Grubs!
"Ewww!" Zuri made a face.
PUMBAA:
Drops log
The other white meat!
TIMON:
And so high in protein!
All the insectivores present licked their lips at the thought of those grubs.
Timon lifts the platter of bugs toward Kiara, who recoils.
KIARA:
Ewww! Gross!
TIMON:
No? How 'bout you, big boy?
Pumbaa sniffs the grubs, lifting one into the air with his inhale.
"He almost got it stuck in his nose." Chungu giggled.
PUMBAA:
Ah… love grubs!
TIMON:
Not like!
BOTH:
Love!
Pumbaa eats a grub off the platter. His face takes on a look of panic, and he spits the grub back onto the leaf.
"What was the problem? Was it bad? Or poisonous? Or a stink bug?" Beshte asked. "No, it wasn't any of those." Timon replied.
TIMON:
Oh... You always do that! You take a bite out of every one and then put it back. It drives me crazy!
PUMBAA:
But you can't tell from the outside which are the really slimy ones!
"Does it matter? They're all still grubs." Dogo questioned.
TIMON:
Slimy? Pumbaa, my corpulent compadre. [Timon lifts a grub and squeezes it.] It's the crunchy ones that make the meal!
Kiara rolls her eyes. Timon eats the grub.
PUMBAA:/TIMON:
Slimy!/Crunchy!
Slimy!/Crunchy!
Several animals shook their heads at the duo's argument.
Slimy!/Crunchy!
Kiara smiles.
Slimy!/Crunchy!
She slinks off.
Slimy!/Crunchy!
Simba face-pawed. "Guys, you were supposed to keep an eye on her." The meerkat and warthog looked sheepish.
Slimy!/Crunchy!
Less filling!/Tastes good!
Less filling!/Tastes good!
Less filling!/Tastes good!
Kiara smirks over her shoulder at Timon and Pumbaa.
"Well, she has definitely got her family's knack for escaping those who watch her." Rafiki chuckled. "Don't I know it." Zazu grumbled, remembering when a young Simba and Nala had ditched him.
Less filling!/Tastes good!
Low fat!/Check, please!
Kiara bounds across the savanna. She veers away from a line of pawprints to enter the Outlands. She clambers down some rocks. Kiara starts to cross a log, under which there is a swampy river. Kiara slips off the end of the log and rolls to the ground. She bumps into Kovu, knocking them both over.
KOVU:
Oof!
"Hey, I remember this! This is when we first met!" Kovu exclaimed.
He jumps to his paws and glares at Kiara. She stands and backs away fearfully as he advances.
KOVU:
Who are you, Pridelander?
Kiara continues to back away, and attempts to dodge around Kovu without turning her back on him. He blocks her path again and again.
Many animals tilted their heads in confusion at what she was doing.
KOVU:
Tilts head questioningly
What are you doing?
KIARA:
indignantly
My father says to never turn your back on an Outsider!
"This one's a cub. I don't think he could hurt her that badly." Banzai said. "Don't underestimate an Outsider." Nuka cackled.
KOVU:
mockingly
You always do what daddy says?
KIARA:
No!
KOVU:
Betcha do! Bet you're Daddy's little girl!
"She was obsessed with Simba when she was a baby. Well, she mostly liked playing with his mane and tail." Nala recalled to her daughter's embarrassment. "I still have marks on my tail from Rani and Baliyo." Sahasi added.
Kiara looks downcast. Kovu walks off.
An Outsider doesn't need anybody. [Kovu strides across a "log" into the middle of the swamp.] I take care of myself!
Kovu sits. Kiara follows him.
KIARA:
Really?
The "log" turns out to be a crocodile, which opens its eyes.
"Hapana! That's not a log, that's a crocodile!" Ono yelped.
Cool!
Kovu turns around, and his face takes on a look of fright.
KOVU:
AAAHHH!
The crocodile opens its jaws behind Kiara. She turns.
"Look out behind you!" Beshte warned.
KIARA:
AAAHHH!
Kiara races away, and the crocodile's jaws snap on empty air.
Kiara's friends and family members' hearts pounded and leaped into their throats as they watched the close call.
Run!
Kovu and Kiara climb a rock in the middle of the swamp.
KOVU:
Whoa!
A crocodile pursues Kovu and Kiara, who climb higher.
"Before anyone asks, no that is not my float." Kiburi defended himself. "As these crocodiles are in the Outlands, it is clear that they are not part of Makuu's float. Or rather it would've been Pua's float at the time." Zazu proclaimed.
KIARA:
This way!
Kovu and Kiara leap offscreen. The crocodile climbs onto the rock, snapping its jaws on empty air. They hop across several rocks and pause in the midst of the swamp.
KOVU:
That was a close one.
"You don't say." Shenzi deadpanned.
KIARA:
Yeah.
The ground rises beneath Kovu and Kiara, revealing several crocodiles.
KIARA AND KOVU:
Whoa!
"Holy pile of crocodiles!" Bunga exclaimed.
KIARA:
AAHH!
The crocodile beneath Kovu snaps its jaws, and he leaps away. Meanwhile, Kiara climbs a nearby tree.
Hey, what about me?
KOVU:
I'll distract them! Run! Whoa!
"Ah, he protected her even though he only just met her. He is not so bad, eh Simba?" Rafiki laughed. "Yes, Rafiki. He's nothing like Zira." Simba agreed.
A crocodile lifts its tail, causing Kovu to fall into the water.He emerges from underwater, flailing. A crocodile swims toward Kovu.
CROCODILE:
*growls*
KOVU:
AAAHHH!
"Kovu!" Vitani yelled. "I'm right here and just fine, Vitani. No major harm done." Kovu calmed her. "Yeah but that doesn't mean I'll stop worrying about you, little brother." She replied and ruffled his mane with her paw.
From atop the tree, Kiara swats at a crocodile. The crocodiles turn and advance on Kovu.
KIARA:
Look out!
Kovu clings to a nearby tree. A crocodile's jaws surround him. At the last second, the crocodile's jaws shut, with Kiara standing on top.
"That was… a little too close." Janna comments.
Move it!
Kovu and Kiara climb the tree. A crocodile lunges after them. Another one bites the tree. Kovu climbs to the top of a nearby cliff.
KOVU:
*Laughs triumphantly*
The tree shakes beneath Kiara as the crocodile bites it.
KIARA:
Whoa! [leaps to safety]
"Phew.." was the collective thought in most of the audience's minds. "Both of you did well in escaping those crocs." Askari complimented. "Yeah, you were bing-credible!" Binga added.
Kovu and Kiara peer over the ledge to the swamp below. The crocodiles swarm up the side of the cliff but are unable to climb it.
I did it. I did it! [blows raspberry]
KOVU:
Ha!
Kiara races offscreen and Kovu follows her. The cubs enter a clearing surrounded by tall grass.
KIARA:
Whoa, man! Did you see the size of those teeth? They were going, "Rawr! Rawr! Rawr! [Kiara rolls onto her back.] Rawr! Rawr!" [Kovu sits.] *laughs* [Kiara sits up.] He was just totally eatin' you up right there, [Kovu and Kiara stand. Zira watches menacingly from behind a curtain of grass.] and I jumped on his head, and I bopped him so good... We make such a good team! And you... [Kovu smiles crookedly.] You were really brave.
"Well that can't be good." Shupavu commented on Zira watching the cubs.
KOVU:
Yeah? You were pretty brave, too. [Kiara smiles bashfully.] My name's Kovu.
Kiara leans toward Kovu flirtatiously. He flinches back, clearly uncertain.
KIARA:
I'm Kiara.
Zira growls. Kiara crouches, jabs Kovu in the chest, then bounds away.
Tag! You're it! [Kiara crouches playfully. She jabs Kovu in the chest again.] Tag! You're it! You're it! *laughs* [Kiara strides toward Kovu questioningly.] Hello? You run. I tag. Get it? [Kovu stares at Kiara uncomprehendingly.] What's the matter? Don't you know how to play? Oh... [Kiara drops into a crouch and bounces back and forth in a mock fighting stance.] *growls*
"Considering that he was raised by a psychotic lioness who only wanted him and his siblings as her soldiers, no he probably didn't know how to play." Surak reasoned. "Aw, that's sad. Every young animal should know how to play." Ananda felt sad for Kovu, Nuka, and Vitani.
KOVU:
Ah…
He crouches. Simba emerges from behind Kiara.
SIMBA:
ROAR!
"Enter overprotective paranoid father, stage right." Spirit quipped.
Kovu looks up in fright, and Zira emerges from behind him.
ZIRA:
ROAR!
"And enter angry psychotic lioness, stage left." Dusty finished.
Simba and Zira glare at each other.
SIMBA:
Zira.
ZIRA:
Simba.
She crouches, as if preparing to pounce, then hesitates as she looks beyond Simba to where Nala, Timon, Pumbaa, and several lionesses flank him.
"Bad idea to pounce on him. Those lionesses probably would've tag-team piled on you." Janja commented.
Nala.
NALA:
Zira.
Timon gestures to himself and Pumbaa.
TIMON:
Timon, Pumbaa. Great. Now that we all know each other… get outta our Pride Lands!
"It's not a very good idea to make the already angry lioness angrier." Anga pointed out. "We know that now." Pumbaa replied.
ZIRA:
furiously
Your Pride Lands?!
Timon hides in Pumbaa's mane and peers out fearfully.
These lands belong to Scar.
SIMBA:
I banished you from the Pride Lands.
He strides toward Zira and comes nose-to-nose with her.
Now, you and your young cub, get out.
"Why were the cubs banished? They did not do anything." Mufasa wondered. "The younger two were too young to be separated from Zira at the time, and while we could've found a lioness to care for them, she wouldn't leave without them." Nala explained. "But what about Nuka? Surely he was old enough to have stayed behind." Sarabi noted. "We would've allowed him to stay, but Zira had already begun to mold his mind with her beliefs and make him loyal to her." The queen continued. "Oh. That would explain it." Scar commented.
Kovu and Kiara recoil in horror.
ZIRA:
Oh, haven't you met my son, Kovu? He was hand-chosen by Scar to follow in his paw prints and become… king!
Simba glares at Kovu, who trembles in fear.
TIMON:
Pbbbt! That's not a king! That's a fuzzy maraca!
ZIRA:
Kovu was the last born before you exiled us to the Outlands, where we have [Zira strides past Simba, head drooped.] little food...less water…
"Trying to make him feel sorry for you isn't gonna work. I tried that at the Tree of Life." Mama Binturong scowled.
SIMBA:
You know the penalty for returning to the Pride Lands.
ZIRA:
But the child does not! However, if you need your pound of flesh, here.
Zira pushes Kovu toward Simba with her snout. Kovu stares up at Simba, quivering. Simba looks at Zira, who grins deviously.
"What kind of mother is she?" Ullu ruffled her feathers in anger. "Not a very good one." Vitani answered.
SIMBA:
Take him and get out. We're finished here.
He lifts Kiara by her scruff.
ZIRA:
Oh, no, Simba. [Simba looks back at Zira, who strides toward him.] We have barely begun. [Zira grins down at Kiara.] *chuckles*
Kiara looks up at Zira fearfully. Zira walks back toward Kovu and picks him up by his middle. Zira carries Kovu away. Simba carries Kiara back toward the Pride Lands.
"That doesn't look very comfortable." Kijana spoke up. "It wasn't at all." Kovu replied.
KIARA:
Bye.
Zira carries Kovu back toward the Outlands.
KOVU:
Bye.
"After that, we didn't see each other again until not long ago." Kiara said. "Wait, where was I during this?" Kion inquired. "You were just a baby when this happened, so your parents left you in the den with us." Sarafina answered. "Oh, okay."
Well that's it for now, and I promise to try to not make you guys wait as long for the next chapter. Thanks for reading!