Kiara, Kovu, Vitani, and Zira altogether, did not really know what to say about the king and queen being turned into cubs again. Kiara especially felt a little wierded out about what was happening right now. "So, you all got turned into cubs from drinking the water you found in the cavern?" the future queen asked her parents.
"That's right, Kiara." said Simba in a calm tone. "I know, I know, it's so weird. I didn't even think that a pond like that would exist." he looked at Nala, and Nala looked at him, looking concerned for one another. "But, we need to see Rafiki and know if he can find a way to fix this mess."
"And find a way to take care of those giant cats that Vookoovoo told us about." Kion added. "They could be causing more trouble right now."
"You are absolutely right, Kion." said Nala. "But we should go to Rafiki as fast as we can before anything else happens. Kiara, Kovu, we're leaving you two in charge of things for now."
Simba added: "And Zazu, if we don't come back here in about an hour, call the cavalry, ok?"
"Of course, sire. I wish you all the best of luck." Ole Zazu was quite the loyal bird for the royal family of the Pride Lands. He gave a small cough, and then another one that sounded a little wet. "Dear me." he grunted.
"Are you ok, Zazu?" asked Vitani
"I am perfectly fine, miss Vitani. I am... just not as young a I used to be. I served the family since Mufasa became the official king over these lands and..." he began coughing a little bit again. "You know. But, it doesn't mean I can no longer fulfill my duties as the majordomo. This was what I was born to do, and nothing else."
"Good." said Simba. "Just try not to hurt yourself."
"Absolutely. I will try." the hornbill said. "Now go and find that masked monkey for a cure."
Simba, Kion, and Nala raced down many miles to look for the mandrill's baobab tree that they all know and love. "I hope this age thing isn't permanent." Kion said. "Granted, you might live longer than ever, but on the other paw; I might have kept you away from your royal stuff. I'm sorry, mom and dad."
"No, no need for you to be sorry." said Simba. "It's... kind of our fault. Your mother and I were wondering what it would be like to be cubs again. We are both stressed out on the royal tasks that we would normally do that we were beginning to miss those days."
"And these things happen, even if you are not looking for them." Nala added. "So don't be too hard on yourself."
"Well, one thing is for sure," Kion said, "Rafiki will know a way to fix you guys."
"Yeah, I hope so too, Kion." Simba said. At last, running for a few more miles, they all saw the baobab tree that the wise old baboon lived in. All three of them hoped that he was home, otherwise there would be a problem. "Rafiki!" Simba called from below. "Are you up there? We need your help!"
By a lucky break, Rafiki peeked over the tree and saw the three cubs. "I will be right down, Kion." he began swinging and sliding down the large trunk with his hands. "Ah, how can I help- wait..." he noticed how young Simba and Nala looked and he thought he had seen then before. "Wait a minute... Simba? Nala?" he looked at the faces of the king and queen, for he was a face person. "Is... Is that you? Am I hallucinating?"
"I'm afraid not, Rafiki." Kion said. "It's a very weird story, but I can explain everything. Well, we can explain everything together." All at once, the three lions explained to Rafiki about the magical pond and how the royal leaders were turned into cubs again by the effects of the mysterious liquid. Not only that, but they also explained about how there were some dangerous, large cats scurrying around the area causing mayhem. "So, we were wondering if there would be a cure to get my parents back to their grownup selves."
"And that we can take on these cats." Simba added
"Can you help us, Rafiki?"
"I... most certainly can." Rafiki said. "But I will need a special ingredient to make the formula. And that pond was the Pool of Youth. Long ago, right before you were all born, this lake had magical powers to save any dying animals from departing from this realm. However, the animals wanted to fight over it for control, and territorial disputes."
"So, what happened?"
"Your ancestors, kings and queens from old decided to seal away the lake so that no one can take it if they continued to fight for it. But, I am curious," said the baboon. "How did you and Nala find it, Simba?"
"We were just done with some royal duties and we fell down a narrow hole that led to the lake." the king answered plainly. "We took a passageway that led us back here on the surface."
"It was quite a find." the baboon said. "I will give you both credit for that. For the ingredient, you will need the petals of a very rare flower called an Emerald Lantana. The biggest lantana of them all. This very flower will give me the serum to revert back to your normal ages."
Simba, Nala, and Kion smiled with hope. "Do you know where we can find it?" asked Nala
Rafiki nodded a yes to them, and replied: "Of course. The crystal caves not very far from your home. But hurry, you must treat the flower with care, and if you do not return with the flower before the day ends, both of you Simba and Nala will be like this forever!"
The king and queen gasped. They most certainly did not want to be like this forever, and they needed to get that flower. "We'll get it, Rafiki. I promise." Kion nodded his head.
"I know. I have faith in you, child. Now go. Hurry." The three lions jolted to the direction where the crystal cave was and out of the bush came three figures, it was the large cats that they have heard about, looking intimidating and terrifying, especially with those large, protruding canines in their mouth. "Well, what do we have here?' said the leader with a sneer.
