Chapter 53:
The sun had been up for a few hours at Pride Rock. The pride had gathered to say good-bye to the meerkats and warthogs. "Do you really have to go so soon?" Kiara asked as she lowered her nose down to their level.
"Yup. After all that we've been through this week we need to relax back home. But we'll come back with the kids for a visit, like we always do," Pumbaa said.
"Well, with kids of your own, I guess we won't be calling you to baby-sit, will we?" Kovu joked.
Timon looked exhausted just at the thought. "Oy... Thank the Circle of Life. Kiara was enough of a handful." He snapped to attention. "What? I thought you two weren't old enough for cubs yet!"
Kiara giggled as she leaned against Kovu. "We're not. Just playing with you."
Timon frowned. "Not funny."
Zuri snickered. "But do let us know when you're expecting so we can be here for the event," she said.
"Oh, don't worry, we will. We'll be sure to send Zazu," Kovu said.
Zazu flapped down from his nest and float in front of Kovu. "Don't I get a say in this? I get aching wings every time I fly over there!"
Vitani walked over towards her brother and snatched Zazu in-between her paws. "You're the King's Major Dumbo, remember. It's your job," she said. "If you don't retire by then."
"That's Major Domo, thank you, Vitani," he huffed as he pulled out of Vitani's paws. She shrugged.
"I like Major Dumbo better. It's funnier," Kito mumbled to Bango and Morake. Both snickered.
Simba gave Vitani a stern look, and then stepped up to the group. "Timon, Pumbaa, the Pride Lands owe you a great thanks. Because of you we've solved the mystery of the Nunda and made certain the hyenas have left the Outlands for good." He nodded to Sly. "But at a price. My condolences for Sengbe."
Sly bowed, "Thank you, Sire."
"Aww, you don't have thank us, Simba," Pumbaa said.
Timon poked him in the side. "Yes, he does." Pumbaa snorted hot breath on Timon, puffing his fur up. "What? I like being thanked." He smoothed his fur out.
Simba chuckled. "You'd better get going before the sands warm up."
"OK. Next time it'll be a real visit!" Timon promised. "I'll just make sure my toe heals by that time." They shared a few hugs and then the meerkats climbed onto the warthogs' back as they walked down Pride Rock.
Morake hopped down the steps and then sat at the base. He watched as the group began to walk away and let out a few whines. Kito was riding on Bango's back as both looked back at the cheetah. Bango turned around and walked over to him. "Morake, what's the matter?" he asked.
Morake sniffled and twirled his paw on the ground. "You two didn't even say good-bye to me."
Kito climbed on top of Bango's head to look at Morake. "Why would we say good-bye if you're-?" He paused, a look of realization on his face. "You mean you're not coming with us?"
"Wasn't invited," Morake shrugged. He tried putting on a brave front. "I-I'll get along fine on my own... like I did before I met you guys. I'm sure when I tell other animals I don't eat meat they'll let me play with them... maybe." Kito and Bango were silent. The adults noticed they were missing the kids, so they turned and walked back over.
"What's the hold-up?" Timon asked impatiently.
"We didn't invite Morake to come back with us. Can he, Dad? Please?" Kito asked Timon with big eyes.
"Hey-hey-hey, do you have a license for those big eyes? Put those away." Kito pouted. "You don't have to beg. If he wants to come back with us for a visit, then of course he can come."
Jina walked up next to Pumbaa, and Zuri climbed on top of Jina's head to looked at Timon. "Uh, Timon, I think he's asking for us to keep him," Zuri said.
"Oh, he's asking us to keep-" Timon nodded, and then understood. "KEEP HIM? After all you put us through this week, you're asking us if we can keep a cheetah cub?" He asked himself, "What is it with this family and befriending big cat cubs?"
"Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassssssse, Dad?" Kito asked.
"Pleeeeeeaaaaaaaaaassssse, oh, please, oh, please, oh, please, oh, please?" Bango begged, wagging his tail.
"Pretty please with a cockroach on top?" Morake asked, swishing his tail.
"Look at him! He's lost and lonely and all alone. He'll die if he stays out here!" Bango begged.
"Yeah! He's our friend!" Kito said.
"And I'm an orphan, after all," Morake sniffled.
"I don't know, kids. You know how your Uncle Pumbaa feels about cheetahs," Zuri said as she motioned a thumb to Pumbaa.
Kito, Bango, and Morake moaned and lowered their heads. Jina looked at Pumbaa, and then motioned to Morake. Pumbaa looked at Jina, and then cleared his throat and furrowed his brow. "She's right, Bango. You know how I feel about cheetahs. He would've been allowed to come back with us if he had done something worthwhile." Morake whined and then began to walk away. Pumbaa noticed and stood in front of him. Morake looked at him, and blinked when he smiled. "And I think saving my life is worthwhile enough."
"Are you sure, Pumbaa?" Timon asked as he bent over to look at Pumbaa.
"Yup! A cheetah isn't that much different than a lion, after all."
"You mean we can keep him?" both Kito and Bango asked eagerly. Timon and Pumbaa looked at their mates, who both nodded. They turned back to their sons and nodded. "Ya-hoo!" they both cheered, then both received licks from Morake. "Yuck..."
Then Morake pounced over to Pumbaa and gave him a lick. "Thanks, Mr. Pumbaa!"
Pumbaa chuckled slightly as he wiped the saliva off his cheek. "You're welcome."
Jina gave Pumbaa a loving nudge. "That's the Pumbaa I know and love," she said.
Pumbaa returned it. "Love you, too." He then cleared his throat when he realized they were being watched. "What?"
"Not that I'm not enjoying this warm, fuzzy moment, but let's get going. I'd like to see my mate and pups, too," Sudi said, who was sitting on Jina's back. The warthogs and cheetah were about to leave again when they heard a voice.
"Sly, wait a minute!"
Sly climbed on top of Pumbaa's head to see Yasmin and the rest of the colony running towards them. "Yasmin?" He slid down the front of Pumbaa's snout and to the ground, being greeted by the group. "What are you doing here?"
"I guess we came to say good-bye," one meerkat said.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay?" another asked.
Sly sighed and shrugged. "I never really earned the place to stay with you. But now, for the first time, I have the choice to go my own way, and maybe I'll find a place I can really call home." He looked to Yasmin and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I'm sorry, Yasmin, but I-"
Yasmin nodded, "I understand. I can handle the colony on my own. And don't worry about us. We're resourceful. We'll start over; find a new home, start a new life, mend our wounds." She looked up at Timon. "Thank you for helping us to avenge our colony, Great Timon. You truly are the son of Fearless Buzz."
"Uh, no problem," Timon said, unsure what he could've said instead. "Glad I could help out."
"Uh, speaking of which, Yasmin-" Sly began.
"Sly... just go. I don't want you to see me cry," Yasmin said softly.
"... I'm sorry I couldn't love you the way you wanted me to," he said as he pulled her into a hug.
"I'm sorry I tried to force you to." He pulled away and kissed her on the cheek. He then waved to the rest of the colony before climbing back onto Pumbaa's back.
"Take care of yourself, Yasmin," Zuri said.
"You too, Zuri," Yasmin nodded.
The rest gave their good-byes as the two groups began to walk away. Yasmin strayed behind for a moment. "Someday... maybe we could start again."
"Yasmin?" a meerkat asked, looking back.
Yasmin shook her head to clear it. "I-I'm coming." She turned and began to walk away. She stopped for a moment and looked over her shoulder. "Good-bye, Sly." She then ran to catch up to the rest of the colony.
To be concluded...