HEY EVERYBODY!!!

HOW ARE YOU?

DO YOU LIKE BLACK JACK GUM?

I DO!!!

Anyway, new chapter. (About time, son.)

This will probably be the end, unless you guys really want complete completion.

The Island Diaries

Chapter Eight: Guungbu Asks the Million Dollar Question

While Mia was watching Michael charm all of the local tribesmen and women from her bed, a chatter suddenly erupted from outside amongst the marketplace. She could hear it all through the open window.

"Guungbu!" voices shouted.

"Chief Guungbu!"

"This way, yes!"

"Princess's tent!" Mia's chest fluttered with excitement at this. Of course she'd met mayors and duchesses and royals of European dissent, but never an island chief! She wondered what this would be like, if there was some weird custom she'd have to participate in. Did they kiss hello? Mia supposed she could deal with that. Grandmere's relatives kissed her cheeks all the time and, despite the occasional female mustache or slobbery-mouthed old man, it wasn't extremely repulsive.

The chatter soon reached her own hut, and the natives who had been surrounding Michael quickly dissipated and prepared to welcome their leader, leaving the boy a bit bewildered.

"Michael!" Mia called.

"What's going on?" Michael asked. "I was just telling them the joke about the horse walking into a bar and then they started walking out the door."

"Well, with that joke, I wouldn't be surprised," she teased.

"Hey, they seemed to like the one about the priest and the rabbi," Michael smiled, bending down and pulling her into a kiss. Suddenly a man cleared his throat and a large shadow was cast over the couple.

"PDA," a voice boomed. "Is strictly forbidden in Tarungu." Michael winced as he turned around, finding not Mufasa, but the most powerfully intimidating being he had ever seen, standing right in front of him. The deeply tanned African man stood glaring at the couple, with natives standing solemnly behind him. Little by little, the corners of the man's mouth twisted up into a smile, finally causing him to explode with hearty laughter. His followers reciprocated the laughter and Michael and Mia passed confused glances at each other.

"I'm just kidding!" the man chuckled jovially. "I'm Guungbu, leader of this beautiful village!" His arms gestured to the spectacle surrounding him around him. Michael didn't doubt he would soon break into song. Mia put on a polite smile and nudged Michael to do the same.

"So this is the lovely Princess Mia!" Guungbu exclaimed, taking her hand gently in his and bowing slightly. "And young Mr. Moscovitz! I've heard all about you two!" The enthusiasm of the room was contagious.

"You have?" Mia asked.

"But of course, Miss! Your grandmother and I are great friends!" Mia suddenly choked on her spit and felt her stomach begin to churn, knowing this situation would just keep getting more surreal. "Mr. Moscovitz, I have only one question for you."

"Yes-err-sir?" Michael said, wide-eyed. The laughter and excessive smiling hadn't relaxed him totally.

"Why did you leave a perfectly good princess to rot in the sun like that?" Guungbu asked, patting Michael on the back. Michael finally allowed himself to smile up at the huge man.

"So you brought her out of the forest?"

"Well, actually, that was Bob," Guungbu said, pointing at a native amongst the throng gathered in the hut. Bob smiled and waved.

"I was so worried," Michael said. "You have to believe me. I didn't want to leave her out there."

"Oh, I believe you, son. I can tell you really care about the princess," the chief smiled warmly at the boy and Michael smiled warmly at Mia, who really thought that she'd faint from everything that was going on. To be honest, she was still hung up on the fact that Guungbu knew Grandmere. Was there anyone Grandmere hadn't lured into her wicked clutches of friendship?

"And that everyone is here," Guungbu said with his arm around Michael. "We can finally partake of the great feast I have arranged in Lars's honor."

"Lars?" Mia, who had been silent for a while, finally spoke.

"Yes, of course, Lars. My old buddy from training camp and your bodyguard. After years, he's finally been reunited with his daughter, Tambi." the chief told the blank faces of Michael and Mia. "You see, after hearing that dear Tambi's mother had died, he found his only opportunity to see his daughter again in crashing on this island. A little reckless, yes, but no one was hurt."

Guungbu leaned over to whisper in Mia's ear, "Your grandmother hears nothing of this, alright?" Mia and the chief shared a smile and she nodded. "Now, everyone, the feast!"

The natives quickly filtered out of the hut, along with Michael and Guungbu assisting Mia, who was still a little weak from the snake bite.

THE END?

Well, yeah, probably.

Author's Note: So fanfiction and livejournal is what I've been doing during Christmas break so far, instead of working on my junior college applications. Oh, and I apologize for my horribly stupid island tribe names. What's that you ask? Why yes, I am white.