And now, this part of the story is how Eddie accidentally discovered Timon and Pumbaa's since the last chapter. Please review and enjoy reading!


Animorphia

Chapter 42: Honesty and Policy

Tatiana and Marcy are at the mall after they parked the car. Marcy talks a lot about her life, making some friends, and won the chess competition. Tatiana doesn't mind that Marcy talks too much, but she enjoyed listening to Marcy's story.

They walk towards to the main entrance until then when Tatiana went amazed at the interior of Willow Brooke Mall, where everyone went shopping or dining. They have some clothing department, electronic store, the toy store, and the food court. They have two floors for elevator or escalator.

"Welcome to Willow Brooke Mall!" said Marcy.

"Wow! It's amazing!" said Tatiana.

"I know, right? My friends and I recently came here for shopping. We got some clothes, electronics, and all the buffet you can eat."

"I've never been to this place like this, but it's so huge!"

"Yeah, it'll be fun! Ready to go shopping?"

"Absolutely!"

"Then let's go shopping!"

Both Tatiana and Marcy are excited to go shopping for mother and daughter quality time. Adoptive actually. They first went to the clothing department to buy some new clothes for Tatiana. She's trying out some new clothes and showing herself to Marcy to see that it looks good on her. She's trying out a pinks dress with white pants and pink shoes until Marcy gives her thumbs up for approval.

Later on, Tatiana has already bought some new clothes and move on to the next one when they arrived at the beauty and makeup store. Tatiana is looking some perfume and makeup for her beauty look. Marcy has picked up an air freshener that smells like flower before showing this to her adoptive mother. She sniffs the scent and then smiles as the woman in disguise nodded.

After she bought her new makeup, they walk by at pet store where puppies and kittens are behind the glass den. Marcy looked through the glass as one of the dalmatian puppy bark, making her cooing at the puppy with her eyes sparkles. Tatiana went adored at the pup, knowing that its cute.

Up next, when they arrive at home department store to check out some furniture and dishes. Marcy is sitting on the recliner chair that's giving her a massage while Tatiana is laying on a big soft bed. And finally, they're at the food court to have some ice cream for dessert. Marcy picks her favorite mint ice cream while Tatiana chose chocolate ice cream as they lick their ice cream.

"Mmm! That ice cream looks really good." said Tatiana before licking her ice cream.

"It sure is! Thanks for taking me out for shopping." replied Marcy.

"You're welcome, and thank you for going out shopping with me."

"No problem. My dad likes to shopping sometimes to buy some stuff."

"So Marcy, what else you've been going with your father all these years?" Tatiana asked.

"Oh, we have so much fun together. Like when I was little, we used to hangout like go visit to the museum, watching movies, going our trip to Disneyland, which was my first visit, and we even went camping with my friends." Marcy explained her life story.

"Sounds like fun. Maybe we can go together sometimes when it's spring break." said Tatiana.

"Oh, that reminds me. Didn't I tell you that I went to the Pride Land with my dad and Uncle Pumbaa?" Marcy asked.

"Really?" Tatiana raised her eyebrows.

"Yeah, it was my first visit when they introduce me to all of the animals, including their friends, Simba and Nala. They don't mind that I'm the only human that has ever visit to the Pride Land." replied Marcy before licking her ice cream.

"Wait, they know what you are?"

"Of course, dad told his friends that I'm just a kid. While I was there, he was overprotecting me by going near some animals because he was afraid that they would freak out, but they already notice that I was wearing a meerkat costume. Luckily, we started to get along and became friends."

"Huh. That's... sounds nice." Tatiana remarked before eating her ice cream cone.

"Yeah, we come back and visit every summer. They even introduce me to his mom and his uncle, and that makes me adopted granddaughter. It's kinda weird that I was raised by animals, but I love my family. It's like how my dad and Uncle Pumbaa raised Simba as a cub."

"I remember when your father told me all about the tales of the Lion King. We talked a lot about their story and their adventure."

"Did he? Have you ever been there before?" Marcy curiously asked when tilted her head.

"I wish I could, but I have never been outside of the colony, except that the snake has kidnapped me before he was banished until I was rescued."

"Is that what he told me about? I don't remember when dad was banished."

"It's probably because his story is different than mine."

"Like alternate story?" Marcy guessed

"Well, sorta." replied Tatiana.

"So, are we ready to head out or we could... you know, still shopping?" Marcy asked.

"Since we've been here for two hours, let's head back home to check on the boys and we'll be ready for dinner." Tatiana answered.

"Sounds good to me, but I only have one question. Do you think that we should tell Eddie for what I've been through like knowing your secrets?"

"Don't worry, sweetie. When we get home, we're gonna tell him everything and I promised that he won't freaked out. Like you told me that the animals didn't freak out about your presence."

"You're probably right, mom. Thanks for understanding me." Marcy thanked her kindly.

"Of course, Marcy. I'm sure they're getting along just fine."


Back at home, Eddie is pacing around in the living room repeatedly holding onto Timon's necklace. After that incident, Pumbaa brought Timon to the living room while he was sedated and then laid him on the couch. Pumbaa had already explained everything to the boy why he and his best friend transform into humans to live their new life and raising Marcy all these years.

Eddie was freaked out at first, but then he started to calm himself down and make sense that he is now understand. He couldn't believe that his sister was raised by talking animals that disguise themselves as humans. Pumbaa was sitting on the couch with Timon, waiting for reply until Eddie stop pacing around and start asking questions.

"So let me get this straight. You and your friend discovered the gemstones that can turn you into humans, then moved here before you adopt my sister, and then raised her for over eight years?" Eddie rephrased that.

"Yes." Pumbaa answered.

"This doesn't make any sense. I thought it was just a myth."

"What do you mean, Eddie?" Pumbaa asked.

"While I went to the library to check out more books I can read, there was this book that I found that talks about myths. I looked to the page where the stones are." replied Eddie as he explained.

"I don't remember anything about the book."

"Then why didn't you tell me in the first place?" Eddie asked.

"Even if I did, you wouldn't have to go screaming at us." replied Pumbaa.

"You scared me first."

Then suddenly, they heard Timon's groaning as he slowly woke up. He moves his hand to touch his head when he felt tired after woke up.

"Ugh, what happened?" Timon groaned.

He moves his eyes around so that he can remember, but then his eyes pop up when his pupil shrink that he realizes that Eddie was standing next to Pumbaa as a warthog. He looked panic when Eddie is holding on to his necklace. He needs to say something before he could explain everything.

"Kid?! I, uh... it's not what it looks like-"

"I know you turned into human." Eddie cut off Timon's sentence.

The meerkat paused as he dropped his emotions. Then he looked at Pumbaa who was smiling nervously.

"Wait, you told him about this?" Timon asked when raising his eyebrows.

"Sorry." Pumbaa muttered.

"It's fine, guys. Now that you're awake, I have some questions for you." said Eddie.

Timon nervously gulped thinking that he would either get yelled at or scolded from all the secrets.

"Why'd you do it?"

Timon blinked his eyes. He has never asked by Eddie when he questioned him calmly.

"Come again?" Timon asked.

"The stones. Why did you used it?" Eddie asked again.

He never thought about this before. He remembers when his old friend was wondering why he and Pumbaa use the stones to turn into humans. Guess it's time that he should telling the truth before he sighed softly.

"Alright, where do I start. Before we met you, we've been traveling around the world to help humans after they're studying us for wildlife preserve. We wanted to return the favor, but not all humans were friendly when we weren't allowed to go indoors because we both animals and that's when we come up with solutions by transform into humans so that we don't have to get kicked out over and over." Timon explained.

"But why didn't you?" Eddie asked.

"Even if we did, we thought that it was all just a myth or it only works in the movie, but now I realize that it was all real. We seek to ask Mufasa up in the sky about how we turn into humans and then he explains to us that both humans and animals coexist for over thousands of years. I have no idea how the temple was all abandoned and left forgotten."

"Is this why you're from Africa where animals roamed in the Pride Lands?"

"Yeah, it's where we lived. You haven't heard or seen the movie that we were based on. Have you?"

"(chuckled) Well, you got me. I was asking the same thing how the two of you got your name." Eddie chuckled.

"Heh. What a coincidence. Where was I? Oh, yes. After we discovered the gemstones from beneath the temple, we've encounter with the wisps that's been guiding us and reach on top of the temple, and then suddenly, there's some sort of magic came out of nowhere and we encounter that eagle who lift us up and turned us into humans."

"It's true. This isn't about story, the myth is real." Pumbaa added.

"So, we got both arms and legs, wearing peoples' clothes, got so many stuffs we bought after we earned a million dollars, and finally, when your sister came to our lives, we decided to step in by adopting her and I raised her as my own daughter." Timon finish his sentence.

"Now it all make sense. Do you really miss all of your friends and family?" Eddie asked kindly.

"We do. This is never a goodbye, but we can still see each other again." Timon answered softly.

Eddie smiles warmly at him. He looked at the yellow gemstone necklace to polish gently and then he looked at the meerkat before he gives it back to him.

"All this time... that you my sister was raised by a meerkat and a warthog. I thought it sounds like children's storybook, but it's all true." said Eddie.

"Yeah, sorry that we kept you a secret." Timon apologize.

"Dude, it's fine. Really." replied Eddie.

"Wait, did you just call me dude?" Timon raised his eyebrows.

"Right, pops. I'm really sorry that I screamed at you and I tranquilize you." Eddie apologizes with embarrassed.

"Hakuna Matata."

"Say what?"

"Hakuna Matata. It means 'no worries'. Pumbaa explained.

"Oh! You speak Swahili?" Eddie asked when surprised.

"Yep, wanna see something cool? I can show you everything from my album." said Timon.

"I don't see why not."

Suddenly, they heard the door open when Marcy and Tatiana came in carrying some bags from the mall and close it behind them. They looked at them when they entered the room.

"Honey, we're home." said Tatiana.

"Hi, dad! You should see something that mom likes and-" Marcy paused.

They were all staring at each other. Both girls raised their eyebrows as they were both stunned and surprised that Timon and Pumbaa were still animals in front of Eddie involved. Neither of the girls have nothing to say. Marcy was about to say something, but Timon beat her to it.

"Hey, Mar-Mar! Pumbaa and I explained everything to him before you got back." said Timon.

"Mar-Mar?" Eddie repeatedly.

"It's a nickname for Marcy by her friends."

"Oh, gotcha."

"Uh... did I miss something?" Tatiana asked.

"Well, in occasionally. It was an accident." Pumbaa answered.

"How?"

"I got home first, but then I accidentally discovered their secret and I sedate him." Eddie lowered his voice nervously.

Tatiana dropped her shopping bags when shocked. Marcy was stunned.

"Let's not go panic! It was an accident!" said Eddie while sweaty.

"Eddie, can I say something crazy?" Marcy asked calmly.

"Why?"

"Well, I'll tell you why." Marcy inhaled before she raises her voice. "WHAT THE HECK, DUDE?!"

"I said I was sorry!"

"You could've hurt someone!"

"I didn't know it was a raccoon!"

"Okay, okay. Calm down, kids. Let's not jump to conclusion. Marcy, we've apologized to each other. There are no reasons to yell at." said Timon.

"(sigh) You're right. I'm sorry. I should've known better for yelling at you." Marcy apologizes.

"It's alright. I would never mean to hurt someone." replied Eddie.

"So, can we pretend like this will never happened?"

"Yeah, definitely."

"So, you just told him everything without letting me know?" Tatiana asked while crossing her arms.

"Yeah, sorry about that." Timon apologize nervously.

"Wait, Pumbaa said that you're a meerkat too. Right?" Eddie guessed.

"(sigh) Guess you figured it out then." replied Tatiana calmly.

She polishes her pink necklace until it glows pink around her body while revert herself back into a meerkat and then the brightness lowers down. She looks up at Eddie, smiling softly. The Taiwan boy smiles back at her.

"Huh. I guess it's all real after all." Eddie remarked.

"So, is everybody okay with this?" Timon asked when he took step closer to his girlfriend.

"Possibly, but you owe me something." replied Tatiana.

"Uh huh, and why's that?"

She didn't reply, but instead, she grabbed her boyfriend's shoulder and pulling him up to her lips to part his lips. His eyes went shocked, but lowered his eyes as they share their kiss. Eddie crosses his arm smiling while Marcy took a picture from her phone. They stop kissing and looked each other's eyes as hearts coming out of Timon's head.

"Does that answer your question?" Tatiana asked.

"Aw, gosh!" replied Timon bashfully.

"Well, now that we're all here. Your secrets are safe with me." said Eddie winking his left eye.

"My lips are sealed! Except that Anne and Sasha are the only ones that they know their secrets when we were kids." said Marcy.

Eddie blinked his eyes twice.

"Okaaay. I won't even ask."

"And speaking of which, who wants Thai Go for dinner?"

"We do!" They all said together in unison.

"Then let's get cleaned up and be ready for no time!" said Marcy.

"Yeah!"

They've already putting away Tatiana's new clothes in the master bedroom's closest and setting up her makeup in their bathrooms. When it's almost dinner time, the adults revert themselves back into humans, then walk through the doorway and went to their vehicle.

Tatiana, Marcy, and Eddie are sitting in the back while Timon sitting up in front next to Pumbaa who's been driving all the time. He turned his keys to start his engine and drove away from home to dinner.


It won't be long when they finally arrived at Thai Go after Pumbaa parked the car. They got out from their vehicle, then Pumbaa locked the car, and walk through the entrance as the door open when the bell rang. Then they see Mr. and Mrs. Boonchuy who's behind the register counter before they turn around and smiled at them as the whole family approach to them.

"Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Boonchuy!" Marcy greeted.

"Hello, family!" replied Mr. Boonchuy.

"How are you?" asked Mrs. Boonchuy.

"We're doing great!" replied Marcy.

"Mmm hmm, and who are your new friends?"

"I like you to meet my girlfriend, Tatiana. She moved here five days ago." said Timon as he introduces.

"Hello, it is so nice to meet you the two of you." said Tatiana shaking hands with Mrs. Boonchuy.

"So nice to meet you too." replied Mrs. Boonchuy

"And this is Eddie, my older brother." Marcy added.

"Hi." Eddie greeted.

"Wait, that's your brother?" Mr. Boonchuy raised his eyebrows.

"Oh, you must be Eddie. Anne told me all about you." said Mrs. Boonchuy.

"Yep, that's me." replied Eddie.

"Welcome to Thai Go, where everyone dines here for lunch and dinner."

All of sudden, Anne comes out from the kitchen after she overheard everything.

"Hey, guys!" Anne greeted.

"Hi, Anne!" Marcy greeted.

"What's up, Anne." Eddie added.

"Nothing much." replied Anne before she took notice of Tatiana. "Oh, hi."

"Hello, Anne. Marcy told me about you." said Tatiana.

"Wow, I'm touched. Nice to meet you ma'am."

"The pleasure is all mine."

"Let me guess, you're all here for dinner?" Anne guessed.

"That's the plan. Because tonight we feast and tomorrow is videogame contest!" Timon answered.

"Oh, ho, ho, yeah! I am so looking forward to challenging you." replied Mr. Boonchuy.

"Alright, let's find you a table and then we can eat." said Mrs. Boonchuy.

They all nodded. The whole family are at the table while the Boonchuys are getting ready to cook their meal. Anne has already setup three more chairs and add one table to close together where they're sitting at. It doesn't take too long until food's ready.

Anne's parents set their food down at the table before taking their seats. Marcy is sitting in between Anne and Eddie while Tatiana is sitting in between Timon and Anne's mother. Both Pumbaa and Anne's dad are sitting across the table.

Then they gathered their meal and start eating. Tatiana has picked up the noodles by chopsticks and starts slurping until her eyes went sparkles when it's all too delicious. She quickly devours her noodles quickly as her boyfriend's chuckled.

"I see that you enjoyed noodles." said Mrs. Boonchuy.

"It's so delicious! It's just like our homemade noodles!" replied Tatiana with her mouthful.

"That's my girlfriend." said Timon.

"So, how often do you two know each other?" Mr. Boonchuy asked before he ate his dumpling.

"It's been quite a while. We haven't spoken each other since the 90's, but until now. She's living in with us to be part of our family."

"Aw, thanks Timmy." said Tatiana.

"You're welcome, hun." replied Timon.

"Now you reminded us when we fell in love and get married." said Mr. Boonchuy.

"So, Eddie. Anne told me that you came from Taiwan. Am I right?" Mrs. Boonchuy asked.

"Guess she told you, huh? Why, yes. Yes, I am." Eddie answered before he eats his meal.

"I remember when your adoptive father told me long ago about how you lived with your grandparents and we're truly sorry about what happen to your parents."

"Thanks, Mrs. Boonchuy. The reasons that they separate us is to protect us and I have no clue how it happened." replied Eddie politely.

"I hear you, dude. The entire city went nuts when things are getting out of hands." said Anne.

"Yeah, where the Avengers when we need them?" Marcy asked.

"They're in New York, but I'm sure they're come by and visit."

"Well, the only heroes are around this city is the police and firefighters. Not all heroes wearing capes and costumes." Timon remarks.

"That is true. Whenever we see those crooks, we will report to the police immediately." Mrs. Boonchuy agrees.

"As long as we're safe either at home or at our restaurant." Mr. Boonchuy added.

"Or school lockdown." Anne muttered before she finishes her noodles.

"Not to worry, sir. For what I can tell is that I earn my blackbelt." said Eddie.

"Oh, you take kung fu class?" Mr. Boonchuy asked.

"Yes, but we call it Tai Kwun Do for short."

"You take kung fu class? I take Muay Thai class, too." said Anne.

"Heh, nice!"

"Looks like we got competition." Timon smirked.

"Speaking of competition, tomorrow's challenge will be at noon. You don't want to be late." said Mr. Boonchuy.

"Oh, don't worry. We're gonna get up early as quick as we can." replied TImon.

"So, how often do you compete each other?" Eddie asked curuiosly.

"Since about eight years ago." Timon answered.

"Hmm. That explains everything."

"Then I propose a toast." Timon raise his drink up in the air. "A toast to our challenge yet. May the best player wins!"

"Hear, hear!" said Pumbaa.

"Cheers" They all said together as they clanked their glass and drink their beverage.

They set their drinks down, but suddenly they heard a growling sound before Pumbaa covered his mouth before he let out a burp. They looked at him awkwardly when he felt embarrassed.

"Sorry."

In three seconds, they started to burst out with laughter. Pumbaa join the laugh too. It wasn't just any embarrassing, but it was enjoyable laugh as they all come together as one big happy family. Tomorrow's gonna be a big blockbuster game expo that they've ever played.


Looks like the game is on! Get ready for the next step where father and daughter are facing against their rival just for fun! Stay tuned for the next chapter!

Amphibia and The Lion King (c) Disney