Chapter 23: The Margin of Death
Using Alex's very own arm, It poised, ready to end Marty's life in a single blow.
Marty sobbed in fear, "Alex! You made a promise! We both made promises!... remember your promise way back on Madagascar? You said that you'd never hurt me, no matter how bad It wanted to come out of you! You promised on your life!". He laid his head against the ground, "...you promised."
It's paw stayed in the air, frozen. Alex's eyes began to change. His pupils returned to their normal size, and his claws retracted back into his paw. Slowly, his paw lowered down and touched the ground softly. Despite his mental fatigue, Alex smiled at Marty, "...And I'm going to keep that promise. No matter what."
Marty's tears of fear became those of jubilation, "I knew you could do it! Theres always hope."
Alex finished the statement, "Always."
Kuju snarled throwing the zebra's leg aside, "DAMN YOU!". Marty and Alex's fear returned. Kuju launched into the air, paws extended.
"NO!" Alex tackled the lion in mid air forcing him onto the ground.
Malik sneered at the zebra, "I'll kill you myself!" He bore his sharp teeth. He lunged down at Marty's throat. Though all his mouth met was Alex's fist square in the jaw. Malik stumbled backwards. On the ground, Malik coughed and spit. Amongst the blood, two teeth came from his once flawless jaw, "You'll pay for that!"
Alex's eyes focussed on him with a complete hatred, "Try me."
"Alex behind you!" Marty yelled. Kuju was making yet another pounce, but this time directed at Alex.
Suddenly a brown blur brought Kuju to the ground once more, pinning him down.
"Tenji!" Alex cheered. The courageous lion had appeared to give Alex the support he needed. Kuju struggled under Tenji's weight.
Out of the corner of his eye Alex saw Malik standing. Alex was quick to the defense. With a leap and a blow with his massive paw, he once again downed the henchman. Trying with all his might to keep Malik down, Alex turned his head, "Marty RUN!"
Marty took his cue and began his flight out of the bone-filled cliff bottom.
His attention distracted, Alex felt a fist fly at his chest from Malik. Alex had his breath taken from his lungs. Malik took the opportunity and escaped Alex's hold.
Meanwhile, Kuju also was squirming from Tenji's clutches. With a swift kick, he knocked Tenji three feet back allowing him to stand. Kuju barked at Malik, "AFTER THE PLANT-STUFFERS! KILL THEM ALL!"
Malik nodded and dashed out of the area.
"Oh no you don't!" Alex chased Malik on all fours.
"No, NO! THAT ZEBRA MUST DIE! I must eliminate Alex's plant-stuffing friends, and then he'll have no choice but to give us the final component we need to rule the world!" he turned, "And there's nothing little Tenji can do about it!" The sadistic king started trailing Alex.
Tenji leapt after him, "Not this time Kuju! This time, you won't be getting your way!" He followed as well, trying to tackle Kuju along the way.
Malik made his way across the grass. Up ahead he saw a black and white vision of glory. His instincts accelerated him further.
Alex noticed the gain in speed, "RUN FASTER MARTY!"
"Alex! You were so close! Come back to us!" Kuju called out before being taken down by Tenji from the back.
"You aren't worth the title that my father held!" Tenji shouted.
Kuju growled, taking a bite of Tenji's leg.
Tenji cried out in pain.
"I'm the greatest king this pride has ever seen! And soon the greatest ruler in the history of the earth!" he declared.
Hearing Tenji's cry Alex turned towards him. "Tenji-"
Before he could finish his sentence he heard Marty yell out. His gaze zoomed to the periled zebra. Malik was getting dangerously close. Without word, Alex sprinted towards his friend.
"I've got ya now!" Malik laughed darkly closing in on his target.
Marty ran as fast as he knew how.
"Marty!" Gloria yelled, "Over here!" Her, Melman, and Julien were in a tight group. They weren't sure of what had happened, but they knew one thing: they had to protect each other.
Panicked, Marty obeyed the command veering to the right where they stood.
Malik was still hot on the trail, "You think they're going to help you? I'll kill all of you!"
Marty secured himself inside the group. Malik flew at them with a powerful leap.
"Hee-ya!" Melman tuned back and kicked his hind legs into the air. THUD! Melman's hooves met the lion's chest. Malik went flying backward from the force of the attack. He landed and groaned.
"Good shot!" Julien commentated.
"Thank you," Melman did somewhat of a bow, "I don't care how scared I may get, but no one messes with my friends!"
Painfully, Malik lifted himself up from the grass. First on his front arms, but then on his knee, and finally he stood holding his side, "You bastards broke my rib!"
"I'll break more than that!" Alex said arriving behind him. Malik fell back to the ground in pain.
"ALEX HELP ME!" Tenji pleaded. Alex turned to the source of the cry. Kuju had Tenji by the throat, a sharp claw extended prepared to rip at his larynx.
"I-" Alex looked back and forth between Tenji and Marty. His eyes danced frantically from side to side showing the complete conflict he was in.
"Alex! Go help Tenji, we can hold our own," Gloria instructed.
Alex looked to Marty for approval. The zebra nodded. With this, Alex quickly turned around, rushing to save his young lion friend.
Kuju gave a smile and prepared to kill Tenji.
With a roar, Alex tackled Kuju to the ground once more, but with the king's claws already prepared to kill. Alex felt a sharp pain in his arm. Luckily, it was only a scratch. Alex turned the attack around, grabbing Kuju's wrist, turning the king onto his back.
"Tenji! Go!" Alex instructed.
"No. I have a help you!" Tenji stayed in his place.
Alex shook his head, "This is no time for bravery! You would help me more if you just go! I can handle this!"
Tenji stayed in his place, unsure of what to do.
Alex yelled, "Tenji, please! It's what your father would want!"
Tenji knew he was right. Succumbing to reason, Tenji ran to the rock and leapt over it into the African plains. The lightning flashed white and rain began to pour from the sky. Alex looked up into the brilliant explosion of light.
Taking advantage of Alex's distraction, Kuju collided his forehead against Alex's with the force of a ram. Alex stumbled onto his feet releasing Kuju. Dizzy beyond control, Alex fell.
"I've made up my mind," Kuju declared, "I never needed little Tenji in my pride. And now he'll be terminated. And I'll do this myself." he told Malik. His point made, Kuju went over the rock as well.
Alex gasped at the information, and he struggled to stand. Finally his sense of balance returned. He gave a glance towards Marty before disappearing over the rock as well.
"Good luck Alex!" Julien yelled.
And so Marty, Gloria, Melman, and Julien were left alone with Malik to face whatever may come at them.
"You should be the ones asking for luck," Malik said once again returning to his feet.
Gloria stepped forward, "Let me take a shot at him." And so she did, charging at him with all her weight.
Malik dodged with ease, "Sorry, but you have to be faster than that!"
Roughly, Gloria landed onto the grass.
Melman took his turn swinging his neck at the lion. Malik was caught in the stomach by his head, once again flying backwards. At this moment, Malik's dark determination helped him recover quickly. He roared and charged at the four animals.
"Run!" Marty yelled. And they did. Back and fourth they went. All running as fast as they could with the exception of Julien who rode on Marty's back.
"Dead end for you!" Malik snarled.
It was true. Defeated, they backed against the large grey rock that Alex, Kuju, and Tenji had gone over just moments before. Melman backed a little too far, catching his leg against the thorny bushes on either side of the boulder. "Ow!" Scrapes of red trailed across his leg.
Malik advanced slowly, staying low to the ground, readying himself for another pounce. Melman once again stepped forward, swinging his head like a golf club. But, his head crashed into Malik's fist, rendering the giraffe unconscious.
"Melman!" Gloria shouted as he fell. She quickly caught and held his head keeping it away from the thorny bushes that held them to face the lion.
Malik continued his approach, his leg's drawn back, ready to spring.
"I think this may be the end," Julien realized their mortality, "I want you to know that you've been the best friends I've ever had..."
"Save your good-byes!" Skipper announced from the top of the rock. The penguins had returned, "Private, secure the opposer."
Private obeyed jumping down from the rock onto Malik's back. The penguin then unleashed a karate chop to the back of his neck. Malik fell to the ground.
"Move out!" Skipper ordered. They hopped to the ground, landing in front of the cornered animals. "It's time to teach this cat a lesson!"
Malik returned to his feet. Private quickly joined his friends in their defensive line. Skipper commanded, "Rico! Katana!"
Rico bent his head back, reached into his throat, and again withdrew the gleaming sword. With amazing speed and precision, he tossed it to Skipper who caught it with ease and skill. A lightning flash came, reflecting off the sword with an unearthly light.
"Looks like poultry's on the menu!" Malik growled, once again advancing upon the animals.
With a bust of impulse, Kowalski dived forward, going for a blow to the lion's shin. But his attack flew short as Malik batted him away, knocking him into the thorny bush. He vanished amongst the brown needles.
"Kowalski!" Skipper shouted in anguish. Rico quickly rushed over to look ad him.
Using their confusion, Malik finally pounced towards the animals. Marty gasped in fear. He was the target.
Panicked, Skipper thrust his katana forward. Malik was frozen in mid-leap.
Malik sputtered. Slowly, he looked down.
Skipper had impaled him on his sword.
Malik gasped.
With a swift movement, Skipper withdrew his sword.
Malik stumbled for a moment, then fell to the ground. He coughed and stared up at the animals with his complete hatred. Slowly he uttered the last words he would ever say, "All...hail...king...Kuju!" His head fell to the ground. A red pool stained the once green grass around him.
"Oh my god," Private looked away.
"Kowalski!" Skipper ran towards the bush, "Did you find him, Rico?"
Rico nodded. Together the three penguins pulled Kowalski from the thorny entombment.
"Kowalski, are you alright?" Skipper asked.
The penguin saluted his leader, "My butt hurts, sir."
The penguins sighed in relief. Kowalski was fine.
Meanwhile, a raindrop hit Melman in the eye. Finally he awoke, "Guys? Wha-what happened? Where did they come from?" he gestured at the penguins.
"It's ok," Gloria comforted him, "It's over. Malik is gone."
Melman gazed at the lion and gasped.
Marty meanwhile remained silent. Suddenly his ears perked up, "Oh no! I need to help Alex!" he began trying to climb over the rock.
Gloria grabbed hold of his tail and forced him back down, "No, Marty! Those two can handle it!"
"But what if they can't!" Marty struggled to break free.
"That's no reason to kill yourself!" Julien shouted.
Skipper joined in, "The monkey thing is right. Marty, don't let us have saved you for nothing!"
Marty looked towards the sky, despite the rain falling against his face. "I just hope they can make it through alright."
Meanwhile, Tenji raced across the plains. Kuju was relentless in his pursuit. Being bigger, and having longer legs, Kuju began catching up to the young lion.
Though, unknown to the king, Alex followed as well waiting for his chance to save Tenji.
The rain only poured in greater amounts wetting the soil beneath the dry grass.
Unexpectedly, Kuju let out a burst of energy. With it, he made a roar homonymous to the rolling thunder. He began closing in on Tenji with even greater speed.
Alex was quick to match the pace, judging the time to reveal himself.
Suddenly, Tenji slipped in a puddle of muddy water.
This was all Kuju needed. Powerfully, he leapt into the air, landing on Tenji's back. The young lion quickly gave in to the weight.
Kuju held Tenji's chest to the ground with all his weight. He sneered, "Well, little Tenji. I believe its time for you to say goodbye. Goodbye to the pride. Goodbye to Kenya. And, Goodbye to life."
Tenji sighed to his fate, "And goodbye to justice."
Kuju smiled, "Wait! Before you go, I think I should let you something." His paw never shifted off Tenji. He laughed a dark and haunting laugh, "I've been keeping a little secret from you for the last few months."
Tenji's eyes widened.
The king's dark cool attitude didn't fade, "You see, it's difficult to find power when one craves it so much. It seems like the more you want it, the further away it is. At first I was perfectly happy waiting for King Pala to die on his own. But, you see, I just got plain fed up with waiting on him. So, I had no choice but to kill him."
"No!" Tenji gasped.
Kuju simply smiled, "That's right. After my first little fiasco with the humans I decided that my life could be over any minute, so I'd better make the most of it-"
"By killing my father?" Tenji shouted.
Kuju scratched Tenji's chest staining his once white patch of fur red with blood, "Naughty, naughty! It's not polite to interrupt."
Kuju quickly replaced his paws on the top of each of Tenji's shoulders.
Tenji tried not to cry out, but the pain was unimaginable as blood emitted from his new wound.
Kuju continued, "And, so after that first day of looking for more lions, the humans took me, made me sleep, and put that tag in my ear. Well, I had found my scapegoat: the people. You see, a bit after my return to the pride, I went out walking alone formulating a plan to kill Pala. Well, quite by accident, I met Malik. He had been exiled from his pride and forced to wander the African wilderness alone. Well after I met him, we found that we had several common interests. We both wanted more power. I promised him that if he helped me become king, he'd get the next best position of authority. And so I convinced Pala that I was ready to go out again to look for lions. Little did he know that Malik was waiting for us. I lead him to the south river telling him I had seen a lion there," Kuju's speech lowered to an eerie whisper, "Slowly and precisely, I led him to the cliff where the river becomes a high waterfall. Before he had a chance to fight back, Malik and I attacked. Together, we pushed him into the water and the current took care of the rest. And then, he fell down the waterfall to his death!" Kuju laughed.
"You BASTARD!" finding a sourceless strength, Tenji burst onto his feet. With a swift swipe, he knocked Kuju back.
Alex finally arrived, stopping beside Tenji.
Kuju stood up," Y-you see that, Alex? You see how violent this young one is?"
"Don't play dumb with me!" Alex roared," I heard every last word."
Kuju took a step back.
Alex continued, "Do you know what the punishment for murder is where I come from?"
Fearfully, Kuju shook his head.
"Death!" he lunged at the king.
Seeing the movement, Kuju burst into a run to escape the two lions.
Alex looked at Tenji's bloodstained fur, "Are you alright?"
"Never mind me, let's get him!" Tenji ordered. The two began their fast pursuit of the murderer.
The rain had reached it's horrid peak, turning the sky into a massive sheet of water.
Kuju beat his paws against the ground trying to outrun his persecutors.
For miles and miles the three ran, never losing any speed.
Lightning flashes became more and more frequent, getting dangerously close to the three.
Finally, lightning struck a nearby tree. The flaming branch fell in Kuju's path, forcing him to a halt. Alex and Tenji took the expedient, closing in on the king.
Kuju tried to move around the branch, but behind it was the raging waters of the south river, made even deadlier by the rain. Finally, Tenji and Alex were close enough to launch their attack. The slowed their pace and crouched low to the ground, waiting to pounce.
Kuju backed himself, but the river kept him in range. He pleaded, "Alex, T-Tenji, please! Two against one, it's just not fair!"
Tenji's eyes burned with vengeance, "Tell that to my father!"
Together, the two pounced, knocking Kuju into the water.
He struggled to get hold of something, but the current was two powerful. He swept down the raging river and approached the cliff where the massive waterfall beckoned him with it's splashing sheet's of deadly water. Desperately, the king grabbed hold of a nearby rock. His hind leg's dangled weakly behind him, pulling him towards his fate. Weakening to the current, his paw's began to slip off the rock. First and inch, then a foot, then finally he slipped off and began his trip to the cliff.
Alex and Tenji watched anxiously.
Kuju made his last effort to swim before finally falling over the waterfall to his death. The reign of King Kuju was now over.
Tenji sighed at the execution. A tear rolled down his cheek.
Alex noticed his reaction, "Hey, Tenji. It's ok. It's over now."
"I can't believe he killed my father," Tenji shook his head, "And all this time I didn't know."
"It's alright now. Are you ok?" Alex asked.
Tenji put a paw to the gash on his chest, "It's stopped bleeding, now. I think it's going to be fine."
"Good," Alex comforted him. Suddenly his expression shifted to panic, "Oh no! Marty!" He got onto his feet again, "I have to go see if they're ok!"
"I'll meet you there in a second," Tenji told him.
Alex burst into a run, disappearing into the rain.
Tenji looked up into the sky, "Well dad, it's over now. I know now that I've avenged your death, and I hope that you can now rest peacefully. I promise you that the Pala Pride will never see this tyranny ever again."