This celebration was going great and a couple of rhinos were dancing on the ground with the sound of drums and kalimbas heard from a couple of monkeys and baboons. the stars were still shining under the sky, and the bonfire was still a burning yellow and red together as two colors mixed in one. chikelu was spending some time with his own son at watching this fun festival was happening and how everything was going with the party.
So Far, the rhino festival was at a full swing and nothing could possibly go wrong with everyone enjoying it. For Kion, he was certainly enjoying this soiree, and he saw a few shooting stars in the sky, making it more beautiful up there to fit the celebration.
Kiara and Kovu were sitting next to him in front of the bonfire, enjoying the warmth of the continuously crackling flames to not be cold tonight. just sitting in front of the fire was certainly relaxing for the cub to witness, almost like the fire was Speaking to him through his very soul.
"I'm glad you came here, Kion." Said Kiara. "i knew you would make it here. i knew you would love all the fun around here."
"And how we are practicing to be rulers over the Pride Lands." Kovu added. "this is really good practice if i am going to a very good king, Might as well learn how to make speeches and all those things. Question is... Can I do it?"
"Come on, Kovu." said Kiara. "You'll be just fine, and the speech will be after the celebration. Father taught you all there is to know about making a good speech after all." and she gave him a nuzzle of reassurance.
Kovu smirked. "Thanks, Kiara. "I'm glad you're here with me."
"For you, my love, anything." then Kiara gave him a kiss on the right side of the face. Then she looked at her younger brother. "Right Kion?"
"Right." the cub replied boldly. Then he went to go play a game with Kifaru a little outside the celebration, near an old tree. Both the cub and the rhino calf were having fun playing some tag together, and during their fun, Kion realized that ten minutes have passed already, for he kinda lost track of time. "Oh no. mom and dad." Kion realized. "I gotta get back there." He looked at Kifaru, still looking like he wanted to play with him again. "KIfaru, I.. need to check on the hyrax colony outside." he lied
The calf's smile turned into a frown. "Why, what's wrong?" he asked him
"One of the hyrax is sick and he might need my help." Kion lied some more. "But it won't be long. I promise, it will only be for a few minutes, then i'll be back and we can play some more."
"Ohhh. I understand." said Kifaru. "Go on ahead and see if they are okay."
"Thanks, Kifaru." Kion remarked. "I knew you would understand." Then he went to tell Kiara and Kovu the false on why he had to go back to his parents in the cave. "Guys," he panted. "I'm sorry to say this but.. I have to check on the hyrax colony and see if they are doing okay."
Kiara and Kovu had confused looks on their faces. "Sick?" they said in unison.
"Yeah, you know how Goni is kinda old and all. We all don't know how long he might last."
"Oh."
"And don't worry it will only be for a few minutes, and I'll come back and celebrate with you some more."
"No problem." said Kovu with his brotherly smile. "Go on ahead, kiddo."
Kion smiled and ran off after saying: "Thanks." Kiara and Kovu were amazed by how fast he ran off like that.
"He runs fast, even though he's not a cheetah." Kiara noted
"Tell me about it."
Meanwhile, Kion was running all the way back to the cave and he returned, feeling a little tired from that running, but he has no choice: he needed to make both sides happy so everything goes well this very night. "I'm back!" he said to his parents while looking for more gems
"Ah, there you are, Kion." said Simba. "Did you enjoy the night sky out there?"
"I did. Seeing the great kings of the past watch down on us from those stars, the moon shining a bright color."
"Good. Well, we found a couple more good gems for Rafiki." Nala stated. She showed him a yellow triangular gem that looked like sulfur or a similar jewel, and then a blue sapphire gem in an odd shape, like the letter "N" as the shape, and lastly, she pulled out a purple one the shape of a square, but mostly tilted to the left side. "What do you think, honey?"
"I think they look beautiful, though I think Rafiki will like the one I have with me." said the cub.
"No argument there." Simba agreed. "But just in case, look at what I found recently:" He pulled out another green gem in the shape of a circle and it looked a little bigger than the other two gems he found, which was a red trapezoid-like shape, and the third was a jet in the shape of a cylinder, looking a little long and wide. "I admit, this one is a little too big, but Rafiki can easily do something about that."
"Nice." then the gem search continued and it was still a fun blast for all three of them, considering that the deeper the were, the more there were more colorful and sparkling jewels. Not to mention there were even bigger jewel than the ones in the outermost part of this cave. It was truly awe-inspiring, and Kion wondered why he had never been here before in his entire life. "Oh my." he remarked
"You said it." Simba added. "Let's check around here for anything Rafiki might love."
As the search continued, no matter how shiny and big the gems were, Kion just couldn't find one as equal as the first one he found in the outermost part of the cave. Despite that, Kion wanted to make his parents happy and decided to just go along with this anyway.
Nala and Simba were searching high and low for the most perfect gems or what they think will be a perfect jewel. The rest of these gems Kion found were absolutley nothing compared to the golden diamond he found, and he still held onto i for very safekeeping.
Ten more minutes have passed and Kion knew it was time to go back to the rhino celebration. Running up to his father, he made up a new lie by saying: "well dad, I just can't find a gem more beautiful than the first one I found. I should probably see how Goni of the hyrax is doing right now."
"Really?" Asked Simba. "I thought we all visited him three days ago?"
"Yeah but still, I'm worried about him and how the hyrax will maintain their lives without him when he's... become part of the circle of life."
"No worries. It's always good to be a compassionate lion since we are thr leading faction over the Pride Lands. So, go on ahead."
"Thanks Dad. I'll be back. I promise." And he bolted outside to meet with his family and the rhinos once more. He ran as fast as he did before the first time, and he was panting, almost out of breath from all that sprinting.
Of course, his two family members and the rhinos were happy to see him back. "So, his is Goni, Kion?" Asked Chikelu curiously. "Is he fairing well?"
"of course. Well, he's getting old and... you know what I am talking about."
The white rhino gave a sad look. "Yes. I do know what you are going to say next." He remarked. "We all know that Goni will not last for long. He will probably die in a month or two. Still, it is heavily hinted that his son, Rono, will take charge as the new leader of his colony."
"I know. I've heard those rumors myself."
"Come on Kion, let's play some more!" said Kifaru with excitement, prancing around like a happy antelope.
"Okay, Okay." the lion cub chuckled. "come on. but this time, i'm it."
"That's okay, i was tired of trying to chase you anyway."
"Good." They both continued playing tag again and they were having so much fun together while in the grass. They both had to stay close to the festival because That's where the bonfire was, even though Kion had night vision. It was in courtesy of Kiara, for she didn't want him to get lost out there
"Haha! Got you, Kifaru!" Said Kion. "You're it again.
"Okay. I gonna get you!" Said the rhino calf playfully.
As they continued playing on and on, Kion almost completely lost track of time again. He realized that about thirteen minutes have have passed and he needed to get back with his parents again. He didn't want to ruin the fun between him and Kifaru, but he needed to get back for a little while.
Going back and forth every ten minutes, Kion would have to come up with excuses and lies on why he had to leave again. It was alright at first, but it was starting to annoy Kiara, Kovu, Simba, and Nala.
Getting out of the jewel cave, his father stopped him, looking quite stern. "Hold it!" He said. "What's going on here?" Then he gave him a suspicious look.
"Shat are you talking about, dad?" Asked Kion with a nervous smile.
"You have been acting weird all night." Said Nala. "Is there anything you would like to talk to us about?" She had a stern look on her face, too.
"What? There's nothing going on." He lied some more. "And... oh no! Janja again!" He pointed. His parents looked at where he was pointing in alarm and it was the perfect opportunity for Kion to make a run for it back to the celebration.
Simba and Nala noticed they have been tricked and followed him in hot pursuit. Looking behind him, Kion saw them running after him, and he began running faster than before. "Kion! You get back here right now!" said the king.
"I can't do that, dad!" The cub shouted to him. While running, he had a spurt and he was almost as completely fast as Fuli now. Back in the party, Kiara looked at him with a stern look, too.
"Kion. What has gotten into you?"
"What?"
"Any idea why my guest is acting so weird?"
"Your guest?" Said Nala.
"Kion was supposed to be with us!" Simba said.
"What?" Said Kiara and Kovu in unison and shock.
Looking even more stern than before, the future queen looked down on her brother, and asked in a sing-song voice: "Kion, what's going on here?
Simba, Nala, and Kovu crowded around the cub, and, along with Kiara, began yelling at him, demanding an answer. "Guys," he said in a weak voice. "I have something- I mean- come on guys. Guys i-"
It was no use, they were yelling at him so loud that Kion had no choice, but to use the roar of the Elders to keep them quiet. "I have got something to say!"
It immediately shut them all up, and they were waiting for what Kion had to say. "Go on, Kion." A voice. It was Akilah, Veya, and Okove together, obviously coming to see Kion confessed. "Just tell them all the truth and they will understand."
Taking a deep breath, Kion said: "now, I know you guys had very important things to do tonight. Kiata and Kovu, you announcing the summit, and mom and dad, the whole searching for gems to Rafiki thing. So, I thought I made a way to make you both happy so one of you wouldn't feel left out.
The others were a little guilty that they yelled at him. "You must have overbooked yourself." Said Kovu.
"Yes, we could have worked something out." Simba added.
"But, you guys asked me at the same time earlier and I didn't want to let you down." Kion admitted. "I'm so sorry I was lying to you guys the whole time. I just... didn't want to disappoint you all and feel hurt or left out."
"Oh Kion," Kiara sighed. She went up to him and put a comforting arm around him. "We understand, but you didn't have to do all that. We could have worked something out."
"And, we're sorry too." Nala added. "We shouldn't have asked you if you already had plans."
"Your mother's right, son." Said Simba. "The least we could have done is talk this over."
"And save you all that trouble."
"And we're sorry if we yelled at you. But, we know you would never really hurt our feelings on purpose, and you just wanted to make us happy."
Kion then asked: "well. Are you guys mad at me?"
"Well, we're but really happy at you for lying all this time, but we're happy that you told the truth." Said Nala. "So, no."
The cub smiled hearing that. "Good. Thanks guys."
The wild dog family went up to the cub, and Veya said: "you see? They do understand."
"I know. I should have listen to you guys the first time."
"Don't feel bad, Kion." Said Akilah. "We all make mistakes and we're only animals."
"Well, I wish there was a way to make everyone happy so I won't have to miss out on anything." Kion remarked
Simba then had a thought. "Maybe there is."
A little later
everyone was having fun at the party and it was never near the caves with the Crystals and gems inside, and a new bonfire was built. Not only that, but some of the rhinos were having a good time going in the caves and searching for gems themselves.
"Wow dad. This was a good idea." Said Kion, who was enjoying the bonfire with his family. "Now everyone is happy."
"I knew it would work."
After a while, Kiara and Kovu gave a little speech on being great rulers and good allies for the rhinos when they become the new king and queen. Every one of the rhinos were happy and applauded for their speech after that.
"Let it be announced and heard!" Said Chikelu. "All hail the future rulers of the Pride Lands!" And then the other rhinos bowed in respect to Kiara and Kovu to show them their future status as rulers. perhaps this night worked out for everyone after all, and it was a happy night.
