Chapter 7 – Fatherly Advice

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Late that night, while the other meerkats and Pumbaa were all fast asleep, Timon was the only one who couldn't sleep. He just kept pacing around, still trying to think of a plan to defeat the hyenas.

"Think, Timon. Think!" he said to himself.

After a while, he stopped pacing and fell over backwards in defeat. With a heavy sigh, he sat up.

"Oh, what's the use?" he muttered, "Some leader I am. I'm a disgrace to this colony, just like I always was."

Timon slowly got up and started walking away, hanging his head in shame. He looked up only to glance at his fellow meerkats as he passed them by. Each time he did, he would then look down again and sigh. He kept that up until he spotted Zina asleep on Pumbaa's back. Timon stopped and took a good long look at her. Then he glanced at Nina; who was sleeping just a few feet away from Pumbaa. And not too far away from her were Swifty, Sherri, and Gus. Looking at Swifty, Timon remembered what Swifty had said to him a few nights ago.

'Thanks again for bringing us to this place. I'm glad we finally don't have to worry about anything with claws hurting Gus.'

Then he looked at Sherri and remembered what she had said to him that morning.

'We're counting on you, Timon. I don't want to go back to the tunnels.'

Timon thought about those statements and then slapped himself in the face.

"What am I doing?!" he muttered to himself, "This is no time for moping and feeling sorry for myself! I did that enough at our old home. My fellow meerkats are counting on me, and I can't let them down. There's gotta be something I can do."

"Perhaps there is, if you believe so." a voice said.

"What the…?" Timon cried, looking around, "Who said that?"

Then the voice started chuckling and Timon instantly recognized it.

"Oh no…"

It was Rafiki. The baboon jumped down from a nearby tree and dropped right in front of Timon, still chuckling.

"You I don't need right now."

"Oh, is that so?" Rafiki replied, "You wish to solve your problem yourself and you don't need old Rafiki's help? Is that right?"

"That's right."

"Well, if that is what you wish, then so be it. Bye!"

With that, Rafiki bounded off. Timon started walking away. But less than five seconds later, he stopped and turned around.

"Oh, who am I kidding?! Wait! Come back!"

"Yes?" Rafiki said, dropping down behind him this time.

"First of all, quit startling me like that! Second..."

Timon sighed and mumbled, "I do need help."

"Well, my friend, you're in luck. I just happen to know someone who can help you."

"Great! Where can I find that person?"

"Just follow old Rafiki. He will take you to him. Come on!"

Rafiki lead Timon through the oasis, until they came to a lake.

"Right over there." Rafiki said, pointing to the lake with his stick.

Timon walked over to the lake and looked into the water.

"What, is it someone who lives in the water?" he asked.

Rafiki chuckled and said, "No, my friend. He lives not in the water, but within you."

'Oy, there he goes again.' Timon thought, 'Is he even capable of speaking English?'

Timon shrugged, took another look, and waited a few seconds. Then, just as he was about to lose interest, his reflection started to change. It was the same image that he saw in the lake, the night before he met Zina. Timon gasped as he finally recognized him.

"Hello again, Son." a voice said from behind.

Timon turned around. Standing there in front of him was his father's spirit. Startled, Timon nearly fell backwards into the water, but Buzz grabbed his hand and pulled him back on his feet.

"Pop!"

"Yes, Timon. It's really me. Your time for becoming the new leader was near. And I knew that you'd need help soon. That's why I'm here."

"That image in the water… and that voice… that was you!"

"Yep. I've been watching over you ever since I died."

Timon's heart sank when he remembered that day.

"Listen, Pop," he said, "about that… I'm really sor-"

"Don't apologize, Timon. My death wasn't your fault. Fighting off the first hyena was easy. Then I made the mistake of taking on the rest of the pack, even though I had a chance to escape. But that's beside the point. Do not give up hope, Timon. You can beat the hyenas. And you said yourself that you're not gonna let them get away with killing your uncle Max."

"But what can I do?"

"Think back to the day when you helped Simba at Pride Rock. When it looked like that trap wasn't going to work; you bravely ran right under the hyenas, jumped into the hole, and set it off. And when Zina was about to be eaten by a hyena, you stood up to him and saved Zina's life. Those actions took a lot of courage and clever thinking."

"Well..."

"So just remember to be brave, be confident, and use both brains and brawn. But most importantly…"

Buzz put his hand on Timon's shoulder.

"…believe in yourself, no matter what happens."

Timon smiled. It was the first time in years that he'd gotten encouragement from his father, and it gave him a new feeling of happiness.

"Thanks, Pop."

Buzz slowly started to fade.

"I… have to go now." he said, "But I'll leave you with one last bit of advice. Protect Zina with your life. Put your life on the line to save her if it should come to that. Your love may last an eternity, but her life can be taken away in an instant."

"I'll remember that."

Buzz threw his arms around Timon; who returned the hug and closed his eyes.

"I love you, Son."

"I love you, Pop."

When Timon opened his eyes, Buzz was gone. He looked into the lake, but all he saw was his own reflection.

"So, did that help?" Rafiki asked.

Timon gave it a moment's thought.

"Yeah! I've got it! I know how to beat 'em! It's gonna take some hard work and careful planning, but I will do it."

Timon started walking away from the lake.

"Oh yeah, and thanks..."

When he turned to thank Rafiki, the baboon was nowhere to be seen.

"I hate when he does that." Timon muttered, "Least he didn't hit me this time though."

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To be continued