DarkEcoOttsel: Okay, enough chat, getting on wit the chapter. Thanks for
the reviews!
Chapter Five Summary: This chapter's more like a song fic but read it anyway—some exciting and romantic things happen! Review!
Disclaimer: I own Mira, Niku and Miku. I don't own the song, either.
Chapter Five ~~ Life or Death Choices
Timon ran as fast as he could in the direction he saw Mira go in. He didn't dare stop to take a breath or drink some refreshing water. He had to find Mira as soon as he could. He wanted to see her.
Mira finally stopped walking. She looked up at the stars and sky.
(In a perfect world one we've never known we would never need to face the world alone)
Timon didn't know how long he had been running and he didn't care. He hoped she was okay.
Mira started walking again until she came to a small pond. She looked at her reflection and blinked. For a second, it looked like her right half was missing. She shrugged it off and continued walking.
(It can have the world we'll create our own I may not be brave or strong or smart but somewhere in my secret heart)
Mira thought she heard something like a twig snapping. She turned and suddenly felt her heart flutter. But it was only the wind. She sighed.
(I know love will find a way anywhere I go—I'm home if you are there beside me like dark turning into day now that I've found you love will find a way)
Timon peered through some tall grass and saw Mira sitting on a rock. He smiled—not just because he had found her but because she was okay. He took a breath and moved forward silently.
(I was so afraid now I realize love is never wrong and so it never dies there's a perfect world shining in your eyes)
Mira sighed. A little orange flower was thrusted into her view and she took it absentmindedly. Then her eyes widened and she looked up to see Timon standing there with a grin on his face. A smile soon found its way onto her face, too.
(And if only they could feel it too the happiness I feel with you they know love will find a way anywhere we go—we're home if we are there together)
Mira leaped up and hugged Timon and he hugged back. They were so relieved, so happy to see each other again. Mira let her tears fall and Timon wiped them away.
(Like dark turning into day somehow we'll come through now that I've found you love will find a way I...know...love...will find a way)
After a minute or two, Mira stepped back and looked at Timon.
"Why'd you come back?" she asked.
"I—I realized something while you were gone," Timon blushed. "I missed you a lot and I couldn't stand being away from you any longer. I had to see you."
Mira blushed and she could tell Timon was too.
"I missed you a lot, too, Timon," Mira said softly. "I felt so lonely without you there. I kinda felt lost."
"After thinking about it, I found out why I wasn't acting my usual self around you."
"What—didn't you ever talk to a girl before?" Mira asked and grinned.
"Nope. No one beside my Ma," Timon grinned sheepishly.
Mira giggled.
"Anyway, the reason is—"
"Hehehe..."
"Please tell me that was you," the two meerkats said in unison to each other. They gasped as Miku and Niku leaped out of the bushes and landed in front of them. They looked hungry and mad.
"Uh, hi, fellas," Timon grinned in a horrified sort of way. "What's up?"
"Oh, we were just in the neighborhood and thought we'd stop by for dinner," Niku growled darkly.
"I heard dinner is two helpings of meerkat," Miku said as he glared at them.
"So sorry guys, fresh out," Mira replied as she tried to steady her quivering voice. "Maybe if you come back in a month or three—"
"I'm sorry, Miss," Miku growled. "But we've already paid for our dinner. We insist on getting our money's worth."
"Uh, sit tight and we'll get you a table and menu," Timon grabbed Mira's hand and they began to run away.
"Hey, hey, hey," Miku put a paw down in front of them, blocking their path. "Sorry, but playtime's over. This time you two ain't leaving alive."
Timon and Mira screamed as the hyena brothers lunged at them and they only had a split second to scurry away. Timon went one way and Mira went the other, both trying not to get stepped on or eaten.
"Mira, RUN!" Timon cried frantically as he narrowly missed Miku's paw.
Mira scrambled under Niku and ran towards Timon, two frightened to utter a word. She was just about to reach Timon when Miku leaped at them.
"AGH!" Timon howled as the tips of Miku's claws slashed his back, leaving three bloody claw marks.
"Timon!!" Mira screamed as he fell to the ground and Miku put a paw on top of him. He screamed again.
"NO! Stop it!" Mira cried, tears streaming down her face. "Kill me if you must, not him! He's not part of this!"
"So? He is merely by being your companion," Niku came up behind Mira.
"B-b-but if you kill me now, what proof will you have to bring back to your pack?" Mira asked suddenly, ideas popping into her head.
"Your blood on our teeth will prove—"
"It'll wash off before you even get home," Mira said, her voice getting stronger with every word. "No one will believe that you killed me."
Mira, what are you doing? Timon thought as he clenched his fists in pain. You'll die! Run, forget about me!
"She's right," Miku muttered.
"Shut up!" Niku snapped. He knew she was right though. A thought came into his head. "Okay, we'll take you home so everyone can watch us kill you!"
Mira gulped. He had said what she hoped he'd say.
"N-no!" Timon gasped as he sucked in air through his teeth.
"I'll go with you willingly if you spare him," Mira pointed at Timon.
"Whatever, he'll die here anyway," Niku snickered. "Look at all the blood commin' from him! Heh! He'll bleed to death before he gets back home!"
"Mira, don't!" Timon gasped again once Miku lifted his paw off him. He stood up shakily and ran to her, forgetting all about the crimson blood dripping down his back and staining the earth.
Mira gave him a gentle hug and smiled at him, tears once again slipping down her cheeks.
"Timon, I'll be okay," Mira whispered. "Just promise me that you'll be okay and live."
"Mira—" Timon started but Niku nudged Mira away and then they were gone. Timon was left standing alone in a pool of his blood.
+++
Uncle Max walked up to Ma, who was sitting with her back turned to him. He asked, "What's wrong?"
Ma turned and looked at him with worried eyes. "I think Timon's in trouble."
"What?" Max laughed. "Oh, come on! How could he—"
"Max, I know! I'm his mother!" Ma exclaimed. "I know when he needs us! And he needs us now!"
"What's going on?" Pumbaa poked his head through the brush.
"Timon's in trouble," Ma repeated as she walked up to the warthog. "We need to find him!"
"Okay, let's get going!" Pumbaa cried as she jumped onto him. They took off, leaving the oasis.
Max stood there, a little dumbstruck. Then a meerkat walked up to him and snapped him out of it.
"Hey, Max, where's Timon and Pumbaa?" the meerkat asked.
"Uh, I'm not sure," Max replied as he shook his head.
"Man, they're gonna miss the party," the male sighed as he walked away.
Max looked around before he walked to the edge of the oasis and the beginning of the desert. He looked out into the distance and thought he saw something big and brown coming towards him. As it got closer, Max realized it was Pumbaa and Ma. Ma was holding something that looked like a bloody Timon.
+++
Everyone was crowded around Ma as she washed Timon's cuts and gashes. Whispers were going around the crowd.
"Is he gonna be okay?"
"Is he...dead?"
"Look at those slashes!"
"What happened?"
Ma listened to the whispers going around but she didn't answer them. She just stared at Timon, who was lying motionless and hardly breathing. He looked horrible. She prayed that he would be okay....
+++
Timon blinked. He knew his eyes were open but all he saw was darkness. Then someone began screaming in pain. That someone sounded a lot like Mira.
"Mira!" Timon cried, his voice echoing in the creepy darkness and going no where. Mira continued screaming for a few painful seconds. Then there was a horrible crack and snapping sound that made Timon's stomach heave.
Timon blinked and an image filled his mind for about ten seconds and then Timon woke up with a jerk.
"MIRA!" Timon screamed as he sat up in alarm. Everyone stared at him and shouts of joy erupted from the crowd. He didn't hear them though.
Timon scrambled up and pushed through the crowd, ignoring the pain that shot through his body with each movement. He had his mind set on one thing.
"Timon!" Ma stood up and ran after him. "Stop!"
"Timon, what happened?" Max yelled as he followed behind him.
"Hyenas...!" Timon cried through clenched teeth as he continued to run.
"Hyenas?!" the mob of meerkats cried in alarm.
"They took her!" Timon shouted. He skidded to a stop when Uncle Max stepped in front of him.
"Took who?!" Max demanded to know.
"Mira! They kidnapped her and they're gonna kill her! It's all my fault!" Timon yelled angrily. "I wasn't strong enough to save her and now she's gonna die!"
"Who's Mira?" a meerkat asked.
"The name sounds familiar," Max muttered, scratching his chin.
"I don't have time for this!" Timon mumbled as he ran past Max.
"Timon, wait! How are you gonna save her if you don't know where she is?" Ma asked him.
"I have a pretty good idea," Timon replied. He saw Pumbaa by a log but he didn't stop running.
"Timon!" Pumbaa exclaimed. "Where're you going? Your wounds—"
"Pumbaa, stay here and watch out for everyone while I'm gone," Timon ordered. "I need to do this alone—it'll be faster without you."
"But..." Pumbaa trailed off as Timon disappeared through some bushes.
+++
Mira opened her eyes weakly. She had no idea where she was but in the distance she heard hyenas giggling so she knew that she probably wasn't safe. She stifled a scream as she tried to move her left arm.
"It's sprained," Mira sighed as she looked at her arm. She looked around the small room and saw a single stream of moonlight coming through a hole in the ceiling. She cold have escaped through the hole in her arm wasn't sprained.
Mira shivered as a blast of cold wind came through a crack in the wall. She retreated to the far corner where the moonlight was hitting. She sat down and looked up at the night sky. She saw a 'firefly' (aka star) shoot across the sky and she made a wish.
She felt salty tears well up in her eyes. She missed Timon so much. Mira felt cold and alone without him around. He would always cheer her up and make her laugh.
Mira began to sob. She wondered where Timon was now and if he was even alive for that matter.
+++
Timon stopped running. This was his first stop in hours and he was so thirsty. He fell to the ground and landed on his stomach with a groan of pain.
"Dad..." Timon said in a hoarse whisper. He winced as the sun began to rise. "D-Dad, I know I don't normally talk to ya or ask you for help...but right now I do. P-please, give me the strength to save Mira."
Timon shut his eyes. He felt the wind ruffle his fur and then he opened his eyes. He stood up and began to run again, filled with a new strength.
"Thanks, Dad," Timon muttered and smiled up at the rising sun.
+++
"We gotta go after him!" Ma cried back at the oasis. "He can't fight those hyenas alone! He and Mira are going to—"
"Aha! Now I remember!" Max snapped his fingers and smiled broadly.
"Remember what, Uncle Max?" Pumbaa asked.
"Would ya stop calling me that?" Max snapped. "I'm not your uncle! Anyway, I remember. It was a couple years back when Timon was just a pup. The tradition was similar to the lions at Pride Rock—as soon as you are born, you're betrothed to someone."
"Oh, yeah, I remember that now," Ma looked thoughtful.
"Yes, well, our colony was larger a few years back," Max continued. "It was before Buzz became the alpha male. When he did become the alpha male, he changed the rule of betrothal. Timon was betrothed to a female named Mira at the time. When Mira's parents found out, they went ballistic and left the mob with a few other meerkats, taking Mira with them."
"Wow," Pumbaa said in awe. "Does anyone else know?"
"Some," Ma replied. "Timon doesn't, though."
"Oh," Pumbaa said. Then he asked, "Why did Buzz change the rule?" Timon had told Pumbaa about Buzz awhile back.
"He believed that one should be able to chose someone to love on their own," Ma said softly. "Not have to be forced to love."
"Do you think Mira knows?" Max asked.
"Mira can't remember anything," Pumbaa shook his head sadly. "She lost her memories."
"I can't believe they actually found each other and fell in love!" Max exclaimed.
"Love?" Pumbaa questioned. "But...if Timon falls in love, do you think he'd leave here to start a new colony? Just like Simba did?"
Everyone was silent.
"Oh, that's silly," Ma laughed weakly. "Why would they leave? They've got a beautiful oasis to come home to."
"Can we get off this subject already?" Max snapped. "What are we gonna do? Timon went off on some 'heroic mission' trying to save a girl he was betrothed to years ago and the two of them probably won't come back alive!"
"What?!"
Ma, Uncle Max, and Pumbaa turned to see the rest of the colony staring at them wide-eyed in horror.
~~~ to be continued ~~~
DarkEcoOttsel: Okay, not much of a cliffhanger, but I'm still evil! Bwahahaha! Don't forget to review and don't let the branches hit you on the way out! TTFN!
Chapter Five Summary: This chapter's more like a song fic but read it anyway—some exciting and romantic things happen! Review!
Disclaimer: I own Mira, Niku and Miku. I don't own the song, either.
Chapter Five ~~ Life or Death Choices
Timon ran as fast as he could in the direction he saw Mira go in. He didn't dare stop to take a breath or drink some refreshing water. He had to find Mira as soon as he could. He wanted to see her.
Mira finally stopped walking. She looked up at the stars and sky.
(In a perfect world one we've never known we would never need to face the world alone)
Timon didn't know how long he had been running and he didn't care. He hoped she was okay.
Mira started walking again until she came to a small pond. She looked at her reflection and blinked. For a second, it looked like her right half was missing. She shrugged it off and continued walking.
(It can have the world we'll create our own I may not be brave or strong or smart but somewhere in my secret heart)
Mira thought she heard something like a twig snapping. She turned and suddenly felt her heart flutter. But it was only the wind. She sighed.
(I know love will find a way anywhere I go—I'm home if you are there beside me like dark turning into day now that I've found you love will find a way)
Timon peered through some tall grass and saw Mira sitting on a rock. He smiled—not just because he had found her but because she was okay. He took a breath and moved forward silently.
(I was so afraid now I realize love is never wrong and so it never dies there's a perfect world shining in your eyes)
Mira sighed. A little orange flower was thrusted into her view and she took it absentmindedly. Then her eyes widened and she looked up to see Timon standing there with a grin on his face. A smile soon found its way onto her face, too.
(And if only they could feel it too the happiness I feel with you they know love will find a way anywhere we go—we're home if we are there together)
Mira leaped up and hugged Timon and he hugged back. They were so relieved, so happy to see each other again. Mira let her tears fall and Timon wiped them away.
(Like dark turning into day somehow we'll come through now that I've found you love will find a way I...know...love...will find a way)
After a minute or two, Mira stepped back and looked at Timon.
"Why'd you come back?" she asked.
"I—I realized something while you were gone," Timon blushed. "I missed you a lot and I couldn't stand being away from you any longer. I had to see you."
Mira blushed and she could tell Timon was too.
"I missed you a lot, too, Timon," Mira said softly. "I felt so lonely without you there. I kinda felt lost."
"After thinking about it, I found out why I wasn't acting my usual self around you."
"What—didn't you ever talk to a girl before?" Mira asked and grinned.
"Nope. No one beside my Ma," Timon grinned sheepishly.
Mira giggled.
"Anyway, the reason is—"
"Hehehe..."
"Please tell me that was you," the two meerkats said in unison to each other. They gasped as Miku and Niku leaped out of the bushes and landed in front of them. They looked hungry and mad.
"Uh, hi, fellas," Timon grinned in a horrified sort of way. "What's up?"
"Oh, we were just in the neighborhood and thought we'd stop by for dinner," Niku growled darkly.
"I heard dinner is two helpings of meerkat," Miku said as he glared at them.
"So sorry guys, fresh out," Mira replied as she tried to steady her quivering voice. "Maybe if you come back in a month or three—"
"I'm sorry, Miss," Miku growled. "But we've already paid for our dinner. We insist on getting our money's worth."
"Uh, sit tight and we'll get you a table and menu," Timon grabbed Mira's hand and they began to run away.
"Hey, hey, hey," Miku put a paw down in front of them, blocking their path. "Sorry, but playtime's over. This time you two ain't leaving alive."
Timon and Mira screamed as the hyena brothers lunged at them and they only had a split second to scurry away. Timon went one way and Mira went the other, both trying not to get stepped on or eaten.
"Mira, RUN!" Timon cried frantically as he narrowly missed Miku's paw.
Mira scrambled under Niku and ran towards Timon, two frightened to utter a word. She was just about to reach Timon when Miku leaped at them.
"AGH!" Timon howled as the tips of Miku's claws slashed his back, leaving three bloody claw marks.
"Timon!!" Mira screamed as he fell to the ground and Miku put a paw on top of him. He screamed again.
"NO! Stop it!" Mira cried, tears streaming down her face. "Kill me if you must, not him! He's not part of this!"
"So? He is merely by being your companion," Niku came up behind Mira.
"B-b-but if you kill me now, what proof will you have to bring back to your pack?" Mira asked suddenly, ideas popping into her head.
"Your blood on our teeth will prove—"
"It'll wash off before you even get home," Mira said, her voice getting stronger with every word. "No one will believe that you killed me."
Mira, what are you doing? Timon thought as he clenched his fists in pain. You'll die! Run, forget about me!
"She's right," Miku muttered.
"Shut up!" Niku snapped. He knew she was right though. A thought came into his head. "Okay, we'll take you home so everyone can watch us kill you!"
Mira gulped. He had said what she hoped he'd say.
"N-no!" Timon gasped as he sucked in air through his teeth.
"I'll go with you willingly if you spare him," Mira pointed at Timon.
"Whatever, he'll die here anyway," Niku snickered. "Look at all the blood commin' from him! Heh! He'll bleed to death before he gets back home!"
"Mira, don't!" Timon gasped again once Miku lifted his paw off him. He stood up shakily and ran to her, forgetting all about the crimson blood dripping down his back and staining the earth.
Mira gave him a gentle hug and smiled at him, tears once again slipping down her cheeks.
"Timon, I'll be okay," Mira whispered. "Just promise me that you'll be okay and live."
"Mira—" Timon started but Niku nudged Mira away and then they were gone. Timon was left standing alone in a pool of his blood.
+++
Uncle Max walked up to Ma, who was sitting with her back turned to him. He asked, "What's wrong?"
Ma turned and looked at him with worried eyes. "I think Timon's in trouble."
"What?" Max laughed. "Oh, come on! How could he—"
"Max, I know! I'm his mother!" Ma exclaimed. "I know when he needs us! And he needs us now!"
"What's going on?" Pumbaa poked his head through the brush.
"Timon's in trouble," Ma repeated as she walked up to the warthog. "We need to find him!"
"Okay, let's get going!" Pumbaa cried as she jumped onto him. They took off, leaving the oasis.
Max stood there, a little dumbstruck. Then a meerkat walked up to him and snapped him out of it.
"Hey, Max, where's Timon and Pumbaa?" the meerkat asked.
"Uh, I'm not sure," Max replied as he shook his head.
"Man, they're gonna miss the party," the male sighed as he walked away.
Max looked around before he walked to the edge of the oasis and the beginning of the desert. He looked out into the distance and thought he saw something big and brown coming towards him. As it got closer, Max realized it was Pumbaa and Ma. Ma was holding something that looked like a bloody Timon.
+++
Everyone was crowded around Ma as she washed Timon's cuts and gashes. Whispers were going around the crowd.
"Is he gonna be okay?"
"Is he...dead?"
"Look at those slashes!"
"What happened?"
Ma listened to the whispers going around but she didn't answer them. She just stared at Timon, who was lying motionless and hardly breathing. He looked horrible. She prayed that he would be okay....
+++
Timon blinked. He knew his eyes were open but all he saw was darkness. Then someone began screaming in pain. That someone sounded a lot like Mira.
"Mira!" Timon cried, his voice echoing in the creepy darkness and going no where. Mira continued screaming for a few painful seconds. Then there was a horrible crack and snapping sound that made Timon's stomach heave.
Timon blinked and an image filled his mind for about ten seconds and then Timon woke up with a jerk.
"MIRA!" Timon screamed as he sat up in alarm. Everyone stared at him and shouts of joy erupted from the crowd. He didn't hear them though.
Timon scrambled up and pushed through the crowd, ignoring the pain that shot through his body with each movement. He had his mind set on one thing.
"Timon!" Ma stood up and ran after him. "Stop!"
"Timon, what happened?" Max yelled as he followed behind him.
"Hyenas...!" Timon cried through clenched teeth as he continued to run.
"Hyenas?!" the mob of meerkats cried in alarm.
"They took her!" Timon shouted. He skidded to a stop when Uncle Max stepped in front of him.
"Took who?!" Max demanded to know.
"Mira! They kidnapped her and they're gonna kill her! It's all my fault!" Timon yelled angrily. "I wasn't strong enough to save her and now she's gonna die!"
"Who's Mira?" a meerkat asked.
"The name sounds familiar," Max muttered, scratching his chin.
"I don't have time for this!" Timon mumbled as he ran past Max.
"Timon, wait! How are you gonna save her if you don't know where she is?" Ma asked him.
"I have a pretty good idea," Timon replied. He saw Pumbaa by a log but he didn't stop running.
"Timon!" Pumbaa exclaimed. "Where're you going? Your wounds—"
"Pumbaa, stay here and watch out for everyone while I'm gone," Timon ordered. "I need to do this alone—it'll be faster without you."
"But..." Pumbaa trailed off as Timon disappeared through some bushes.
+++
Mira opened her eyes weakly. She had no idea where she was but in the distance she heard hyenas giggling so she knew that she probably wasn't safe. She stifled a scream as she tried to move her left arm.
"It's sprained," Mira sighed as she looked at her arm. She looked around the small room and saw a single stream of moonlight coming through a hole in the ceiling. She cold have escaped through the hole in her arm wasn't sprained.
Mira shivered as a blast of cold wind came through a crack in the wall. She retreated to the far corner where the moonlight was hitting. She sat down and looked up at the night sky. She saw a 'firefly' (aka star) shoot across the sky and she made a wish.
She felt salty tears well up in her eyes. She missed Timon so much. Mira felt cold and alone without him around. He would always cheer her up and make her laugh.
Mira began to sob. She wondered where Timon was now and if he was even alive for that matter.
+++
Timon stopped running. This was his first stop in hours and he was so thirsty. He fell to the ground and landed on his stomach with a groan of pain.
"Dad..." Timon said in a hoarse whisper. He winced as the sun began to rise. "D-Dad, I know I don't normally talk to ya or ask you for help...but right now I do. P-please, give me the strength to save Mira."
Timon shut his eyes. He felt the wind ruffle his fur and then he opened his eyes. He stood up and began to run again, filled with a new strength.
"Thanks, Dad," Timon muttered and smiled up at the rising sun.
+++
"We gotta go after him!" Ma cried back at the oasis. "He can't fight those hyenas alone! He and Mira are going to—"
"Aha! Now I remember!" Max snapped his fingers and smiled broadly.
"Remember what, Uncle Max?" Pumbaa asked.
"Would ya stop calling me that?" Max snapped. "I'm not your uncle! Anyway, I remember. It was a couple years back when Timon was just a pup. The tradition was similar to the lions at Pride Rock—as soon as you are born, you're betrothed to someone."
"Oh, yeah, I remember that now," Ma looked thoughtful.
"Yes, well, our colony was larger a few years back," Max continued. "It was before Buzz became the alpha male. When he did become the alpha male, he changed the rule of betrothal. Timon was betrothed to a female named Mira at the time. When Mira's parents found out, they went ballistic and left the mob with a few other meerkats, taking Mira with them."
"Wow," Pumbaa said in awe. "Does anyone else know?"
"Some," Ma replied. "Timon doesn't, though."
"Oh," Pumbaa said. Then he asked, "Why did Buzz change the rule?" Timon had told Pumbaa about Buzz awhile back.
"He believed that one should be able to chose someone to love on their own," Ma said softly. "Not have to be forced to love."
"Do you think Mira knows?" Max asked.
"Mira can't remember anything," Pumbaa shook his head sadly. "She lost her memories."
"I can't believe they actually found each other and fell in love!" Max exclaimed.
"Love?" Pumbaa questioned. "But...if Timon falls in love, do you think he'd leave here to start a new colony? Just like Simba did?"
Everyone was silent.
"Oh, that's silly," Ma laughed weakly. "Why would they leave? They've got a beautiful oasis to come home to."
"Can we get off this subject already?" Max snapped. "What are we gonna do? Timon went off on some 'heroic mission' trying to save a girl he was betrothed to years ago and the two of them probably won't come back alive!"
"What?!"
Ma, Uncle Max, and Pumbaa turned to see the rest of the colony staring at them wide-eyed in horror.
~~~ to be continued ~~~
DarkEcoOttsel: Okay, not much of a cliffhanger, but I'm still evil! Bwahahaha! Don't forget to review and don't let the branches hit you on the way out! TTFN!