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The Lion King III
Chapter 3

Once Simba and Nala got back to Pride Rock, Nala went inside, while Simba went to find Zazu. Once he found the bird they went walking through the dry lands that had become wetlands from the flood that dried out again, but now had a few puddles here and there where Mufasa and Zira had died many years ago.

"What now, sire?" asked Zazu, not meaning to pry. He had not been informed about Timon and Pumbaa's adventure, but he was aware that something was up. He did not have to know what was going on though. He trusted Simba with his life and if the king decided that Zazu did not need to know, then Zazu was fine with that. He knew that when the right time came along, Simba would tell him what was going on.

"He's not dead, Zazu. That was what Timon and Pumbaa went off to see. I had heard two of the hyenas who had been very close to Shenzi talking. I couldn't take the chance if it was true, so I sent the two of them off. They found his lair and everything. He's got a little over two dozen hyenas there and who knows how many working from the inside. There is also a pawful of lions from the Outlands who we thought had also died in the battle. I don't know what to do, Zazu. I don't know what to do."

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Just as Kovu was about to swallow, Pumbaa rammed himself into the lion's side, saving his meerkat friend. Kovu was forced to let out an involuntary roar and Timon took the advantage to yank the lion's tongue before jumping out of his mouth and onto the back of his rescuer.

"Ewwwwww…you tried to eat me!" he said as he brushed himself off, not realizing what he was really saying. "Wait a minute! You…tried…to …eat…ME!" he yelled at Kovu. "C'mon, Pumbaa! We're leaving! We don't need this!"

Quickly, Kiara ran over to them. "Wait! We can still work this out." She said, not wanting her two best friends since cubhood to just leave. "Kovu didn't mean to do that, Timon. He was just getting frustrated because he can't figure out where daddy sent you guys. We know something is up, but it's difficult for us to not know what it is. Please don't leave us, Timon. Please!" she finished smiling as her father had many years ago when he and a certain someone had wanted to take a trip to the waterhole.

As if on cue, Kovu started apologizing up a storm to the little guy who was still debating whether or not he should leave the Pride Lands for good. He and Pumbaa started to talk in hushed voices as the two lions stared on with hopeful wishes. Ultimately, they decided to stay of course, but they demanded a few things, one of which was that the incredibly large lions remain out of their business with the king. Immediately Kiara and Kovu agreed to the troublesome two's demands and then the four of them started out towards Pride Rock once again in song.

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Nala pawed her way around the cave with Vitani. If Simba could plot, then why couldn't they. Even though they didn't leave the cave the entire time, they knew that Simba had gone walking through the lands. It wasn't like him to stay put, and for once, Nala was glad. As the two lionesses looked around the cave, they wondered what had happened that could have the king in such a panic. They noticed that the pride had certainly grown since the death of Scar and Zira. The once light-furred lions that ruled the Pride Lands were steadily growing into dark and light furred lions. Over the two years that had passed, almost half the population had had mixed or dark fur. It had been like that in Mufasa and Sarabi's time. Mufasa had, in fact, been born of a mixed family as well. Obviously that was the case since he and Scar had been brothers. What had gone wrong was not exactly clear to anyone anymore. Nala had always meant to ask Sarabi, however, certain deaths had been unavoidable and the difficult life that she had led had been another factor aside from her already somewhat old age, therefore making it impossible for anyone to ask her.

"What do you think is going to happen?" Nala asked Vitani in order to keep her mind off of the knowledge that had been lost with the death of Sarabi.

"I really don't know, Nala. We can only hope for the best in any situation. Has Simba said anything about where Timon and Pumbaa were for the last two weeks?" she replied, eagerly as Nala was about finding out what was going on.

"No. It's not like him to be so secretive, either. I just don't know what's gotten into him. Plus the fact that my daughter and your brother have managed to disappear with the dynamic duo does not help matters. Simba sent them off for a relaxing day, but that was almost twelve hours ago. I don't know where any of them could be. I know Simba's out walking with Zazu, but that's it. What should I do, Vitani? I'm too old for this!"

"Don't worry, Nala. Everything is going to be okay. It's late, though. You should get some sleep. I'll go find the crew. You just go to sleep. And don't worry. Everything will be okay." Vitani said as Nala walked off. It was only after the aging lioness left that Vitani continued her now vicious statement as she went to look for everyone. "At least I hope it will, but I doubt it."


A/N: Thank you everyone, so much for your reviews! Hope you're liking it so far! I want to update soon, but I'm loaded down with work right now, so I don't know if that'll be possible. Anyways, R&R. Thanks-Lauren