Mjinja, the rock python was back! Even after their first encounter was very recent, this serpent was back for revenge. "At last, I found you, Kion." the python gave an evil grin. "This time, their is nowhere for my meal to escape!"
"Mjinja!?" Kion looked a little scared. "How did you find me?"
"Let's just say... I can sniff out my prey for miles and miles from where I used to stand." Mjinja answered boldly. "And these must be your little friends? Of course, I have heard of them from many bird passersby."
"And you're Mjinja?" said Bunga. "You're even scarier thah I imagined!"
"A lot of animals say that about me, Bunga." the honey badger looked surprised hearing his name being mentioned by this menacing snake. "Oh yes," he raised his left eyebrow in amusement. "I know your name, and your friends' names as well. You all will be next in my stomach. Except for... the hippo of course, because... well, you know."
Beshte then exclaimed: "I won't let you eat my friend!"
"Neither will we!" Fuli added. The kids then charged at the rock python and the snake lunged at the honey badger first. He managed to snatch Bunga in his large mouth, intending to chomp him down like a bunch of small twigs broken down frok an elephant's hooves.
Despite the pressure of Mjinja's mouth, Bunga managed to claw the python's face with his right paw, making him let go of him. "Gah! You are a quick little ratel, aren't you?!"
"Ask anyone!" Bunga replied
Beshte charged at the snake but Mjinja was smarter than heooked, and used his long body to maie the young hippo trip as if he had tripped on a very sturdy rope or wire. "Oops!" Mjinja teased.
Little did he know that Fuli was looking for a perfect tangle to attack from behind his head, and she pounced on his head from behind. "I got to admit! Gah!" he grunted as he was flailing his head around. "You kids are rather quick and nimble!"
"They don't call me the fastest of the Guard for nothing." Fuli boasted as she struggled to keep her claws against the snake's scales. Mjinja managed to slam her to the ground bu throwing his head on the soil to get her off. The impact of the blow made the cheetah dazed and it forced her to accidentally let go of Mjinja.
Ono tried packing at the python with his pointy beak, and he was having at Mjinja's back as hard as he can. Although he managed to get some blood from the wicked snake, it wasn't really hard enough to pierce the spine or the bones.
"You kids are quite pesky to me."
"Leave us alone and we won't do this to you anymore!" Ono said.
"I can have whatever I want." Mjinja snarled before hitting Ono with his tail, making him fall on the ground. Nothing was broken, but his head was spinning, dizzy.
Kion was getting really angry now, and he latched his mouth on the python's neck again, trying to bite as hard as he could. Despite trying to be thrown off, the cub wouldn't let his teeth go on the skin that he was biting.
"You are quite a fighter, Kion!" Mjinja grunted as he tried throwing the cub off again, but to no avail. Having enough of this, he coiled the Lion cub by his tail and gripped him as hard as he could so it made him let his teeth go of the scales. "No mercy this time."
He squeezed the poor cub in his coils and he was doing it faster than before so he can get this over with. Poor Kion struggled with all his might, but it was no use. Adewale wasn't here to save him this time, and it looked like this was truly the end.
Suddenly, something was pounding the ground again, and the shake saw Chikelu, the white rhinoceros charging at him in full speed. Knowing that a rhino would squish a snake with his immense body, he immediately let the cub go, leaving him coughing and wheezing. Slithering away, he shouted before disappearing into the brush: "we'll met again, Lion Guard!"
The kids were a little weary, but not really injured from this. "Kids," said Chikelu. "Are you okay?"
"Ah. Thanks to you." Kion smiled.
Kifaru, the rhino's son was there as well. "You're not injured, are you?"
"No." Fuli replied. "Just a few scrapes."
"He would have killed Kion if you guys didn't come." Ono added. "Good thing he didn't break my wings."
"What was that snake?"
"Mjinja." Kion replied before coughing some more. "A new enemy, but we can fight him. He just... caught us off-guard."
"Well, I am sure glad I came here." said Chikelu. "If I didn't arrive, there would have been terrible trouble."
"I guess we've had enough patrolling for one day." Kion said. "Come on guys, let's go home."
At Pride Rock, Kion still didn't fully know if he was in love with Rani or not. Sitting on top of the tall pillar that shadowed over the whole Pride Lands, like the castle of the African plain it was, Kion was looking at the valley, from a wildebeest heard migrating, to some giraffes feeding off the leaves from the isolated trees on the plains below. He remembered the advice being given to him from Siyabonga, and his family of Fischer's Lovebirds, along with the African wild dogs about not moving so fast, and let love take it's time.
while still looking at the valley below him, Kiara sat next to him, and she said: "still like the view from up here?"
"Yep. I never get tired of it." Kion replied while placing his chin on his arms. "Kiara... this sounds so... sudden, but, I think... I'm in love with Rani." he blushed a little, feeling a little embarrassed to admit those kind of feelings, even to his big sister. "But I don't know what to exactly give her."
Kiara made a small gasp of joy. "Really? That's great, Kion. I'm so happy for you."
"Well, we're not exactly in love yet. I'm still uncertain about it. I don't wanna go way too fast and make her so uncomfortable."
"That's true. You shouldn't rush these things."
"Kiara, when you and Kovu first met, did you spend some time together before you actually fell in love?"
"Of course, Kion. We just... didn't really figured out that we were in love until some period of time."
"Huh. well... i'm still a kid. And, I still don't understand what love really is."
the future queen made a small smile on him before saying: "Oh, it's okay, Kion. Dad and mom didn't really fall in love with each other until they found out they were perfect for each other overtime. I mean, this is up to you."
The cub made a small smile. "Thanks Kiara." he looked at her. "How can I try and make this true?"
"Well... I don't want to force it on you and Rani. But just wait and let it come to you."
"And... I actually had... my first kiss with her."
the princess made a gasp of happiness and excitement hearing those words, and she looked very proud of her younger brother for accomplishing something so impressive. "Really? I am so happy for you! Can I have a hug?"
"Yeah." the cub smiled before being snuggled close to his elder sister. "I mean... It just happened so suddenly. These things just happen."
"Well, it's nothing to be ashamed of, you should be very proud of yourself for it." Kiara remarked. "It is very natural, and I am rooting you for this."
"Thanks.
"What's going on up here?" Kovu and Vitani got on top of the pillar to check on Kiara and Kion.
"Guess what, Kovu," Kiara sang in a sing-song tone. "Kion just had his first kiss."
Kovu looked surprised and happy as much as his mate was when she heard it. "Wow. Congratulations, buddy."
"Ooh, someone has a girlfriend now." Vitani teased before sitting next to him. "Tell me, Kion. Does this girl have a big thing for you?"
"Oh shut up, Vitani." the cub said.
"Just having fun with you. come on, smile."
"Who is it?" asked Kovu
Young Kion was quiet for a few long seconds before answering: "Rani."
"Wow. Nice, Kion."
"I always had a feeling you guys would be lovebirds." said the tomboy lioness.
"Sis," Kovu scolded her.
"Admittedly," said Kion, "I don't really know if we are in love or not. I'm still trying to think about this. And I don't want to put her in danger if she joins the Lion Guard with me, and I... don't know if I want to marry her. I mean: Yuck!"
the three grownup lions made a small laugh. "Oh, you don't have to get married." said Kiara. "No one is forcing you to get married with Rani. And besides, as I mentioned: you can't rush love."
"Yeah Kion, it took a while before me and Kiara officially fell in love and got married together."
"Ah, Kovu." Kiara smirked.
"Well, I don't know about you," said Vitani. "But I don't think any lion would wanna fall in love with me. Besides, I'm not one for the lovey-dovey kissing and cuddling stuff. Bleh!"
"That's your opinion." Kiara said. "But I am very glad that Kion is growing up like this... a little."
"Yeah, me too, Kion." Kovu remarked.
Kion then got on his feet, and he went back down the rock to the cave part of the pillars. He saw his parents sitting together at the far end of the cave. "Mom, dad?"
"Yes Kion?" said Nala. "What is it?"
"Well... about me and Rani," the cub began speaking to the king and queen. "I think we're in love now."
Both Simba and Nala gasped with happiness and the king said: "Kion, I am so happy for you."
"Thanks dad. But... I'm so sure if we are officially boyfriend and girlfriend yet. We only just met for a little while. And you guys known each other longer than us."
"True," Nala agreed. "But who knows? Maybe you guys can get to know each other better."
"Yeah, but girls don't like it when boys rush some things on them or go too fast on them."
"That's also true, son," said Simba, "love does not come easy. Just give it a little time and did something happen between you two?"
Kion flushed again, and he admitted: "me and Rani... kissed. But I don't know if she really... liked it or not. Rafiki told me that some animals are very good liars."
"Ah come on." Nala said. "Rafiki is right that some animals are good liars, but I'm sure Rani liked the kiss you two shared before.
"Yeah, just give it some time before something like that happens. And if Rani isn't your dream girl, then there is always another. You just have to keep looking. Although, I think you and Rabi are a good match."
Kion smiled. "Yeah, I guess we are. But what should I do?"
"Just be yourself. It's all a girl wants." Nala said. "Just let it come to you naturally."
"Yeah. Good idea. Thanks mom."
The cub went outside and Zira was there. "Well, Kion, I do congratulate you as well." she gave him a warm smile. "I think you and Rani would be a perfect match as well."
"Thanks for your support, Zira." Kion replied gratefully. "I probably need a drink right now."
"Well, I am joining my kids at the water hole if you would like to tag along."
"Sure, Zira. Wait... as long as you are not up to anything funny."
Zira made a small laugh before saying: "come on now, Kion. You know that I am fully reformed."
"Good point."
