Chapter 23! Enjoy!
The scene transitions to Pride Rock in the morning. Simba emerges from the den, stretches, and shakes his mane.
"Ahh, there's nothing like a good morning stretch." Sahasi commented.
He leaves Pride Rock, crosses the savanna, and stops to drink from a watering hole. Behind him, Kovu hides in the shadow of a large rock. He crouches and flexes his claws.
"Do it! Kill him now!" Ushari hissed. Rafiki and Makini brandished their staffs in warning.
KOVU:
*growls* [Kiara steps in front of Kovu, who starts.] *gasps*
KIARA:
Good morning! [Kovu backs away.] *laughs* [Kiara hops around Kovu playfully.] I'm ready for my first lesson! Surprised ya, huh? [Kovu looks back at the watering hole to see that Simba is gone.] Hey, come on! Let's go!
"Someone's excited." Kopa quipped.
Kiara walks off. Kovu watches her go. He glares back at the watering hole.
KOVU:
*growls*
"He was that close! If it weren't for that.." Makucha started, but wisely decided not to finish his sentence after seeing the glares of many animals.
Head bowed, Kovu follows Kiara. The scene transitions to the open savanna in the afternoon. Kovu lies in an open patch of dirt. Behind him, something moves through the grass, making the stalks wave.
KIARA:
[from the grass] Ow! Ow!
"Maybe try being a little quieter?" Fuli suggested.
Kovu rolls his eyes.
KOVU:
*sighs* Three...two...one.
Kiara pounces at Kovu, who ducks.
"Uh.. A for effort?" Dusty remarked.
KIARA:
Gotcha! [Kiara rolls in the dirt and lands on her back.] *grunts* [Kovu walks until he is standing over Kiara. She grins up at him sheepishly.] You could hear me, huh?
"Yup." Anga spoke. "I've gotten better since then." Kiara replied.
KOVU:
Only a lot. [Kovu moves off. Kiara stands.] You're still breathing too hard. [Kovu smiles.] Relax. [Kovu flexes his claws in the dirt.] Feel the earth under your paws, so it doesn't shift and make noise.
Kiara mimics Kovu.
"Wow. That's really a neat trick. Maybe we should use it." Tiifu piped up. "I'm guessing Zira taught you that so you could sneak-attack the king?" Zuri asked. "Yes, unfortunately." Kovu replied.
BIRDS:
*caws*
Kovu looks up at a nearby hill, where birds are flocking.
KOVU:
*gasps* [Kovu crouches.] Shh. Watch the master...and learn. [Kovu stalks toward the hill, wiggles his haunches, and races up the hill. He leaps.] *roars*
Timon, who is eating a grub, turns around in time to see Kovu lunging at him. He spits out the grub.
"Look out, Timon!" Nirmala warned.
TIMON:
*screams* [Timon falls onto his back in-between Kovu's extended paws. He waves his arms appealingly.] Don't eat me! [Kovu stares down at Timon in confusion.] Please! I-I-I never really met your tyrant. I mean, uh, Scar. Scar. Oh, heck of a guy. [Timon scoots away from Kovu.] A little moody, but–
"A little?" Mufasa joked. "Hey! If I recall correctly, you were just as moody as I was when we were teenagers." Scar shot back. "I know, I'm only teasing." The older brother chuckled.
KIARA:
[from offscreen] Timon, [Kovu stands. Kiara approaches from behind him.] what are you doing here?
"Following you. What else?" Shenzi snarked. "Not this time, actually." Spirit quipped.
TIMON:
Kiara! Thank goodness! Oh... Hey, for once, we're not followin' ya. [Timon gestures behind him.] This just happens to be the best smorgasbord in the Pride Lands! [Kovu and Kiara survey a grassy area, where birds are pulling worms out of the ground.] Bugs everywhere!
The insectivores in the room looked at the screen hungrily. One or two were drooling a little.
But, you don't call for a reservation, and, [Timon throws up his arms.] yeesh! [Timon marches toward the birds.] Get outta here, ya scavengers! Go on! [Timon makes shooing motions at a nearby bird.] Shoo! Shoo! [The bird swallows its worm, then pecks Timon in the nose.] Ow! [Timon's nose pulses red.] *whimpers* [Timon covers his nose.] Oh…
Many animals wince in sympathy. "That had to hurt." Smun spoke. "Oh it did." Timon confirmed, rubbing his nose at the memory.
Pumbaa charges through a cluster of birds. They briefly fly into the air to let him pass, then land again.
PUMBAA:
*yells* [Pumbaa switches directions and charges again. The birds briefly fly into the air to let him pass, then land again.] *yells*
"That's… not really doing anything." Binga cocked her head in confusion.
Kovu looks at Kiara in confusion.
KIARA:
*chuckles*
PUMBAA:
[from offscreen] Oh, Timon, [Many birds perch atop Pumbaa's back.] I'm gettin' tired. I gotta lose some pounds.
Several animals couldn't help giggling.
Timon climbs onto Pumbaa's snout and shoos away the birds.
TIMON:
Shoo! Go on! Shoo! Shoo!
Kovu and Kiara stride toward Timon and Pumbaa.
KIARA:
*laughs*
PUMBAA:
Hey, maybe [Pumbaa jerks his head at Kovu.] he could help! [Pumbaa looks expectantly at Timon, who is standing on his back.] D'ya think?
Timon shoos away the last two birds, who are on Pumbaa's tail.
TIMON:
Shoo! [to Pumbaa] Oh, yeah, there's an idea. [Timon leans one elbow against Pumbaa's face.] Right. Let the vicious Outsider... [Timon straightens, grinning.] Hey, wait! [Timon points triumphantly at the sky.] I have an idea! [Timon hops to the ground and gestures to Kovu.] What if he helps?
"Pumbaa literally just said that." Baliyo pointed out.
PUMBAA:
What?
Timon gestures to the field behind him.
TIMON:
You wanna lend a voice? Huh? [Timon mimics roaring.] Grr. Grr. [Timon spreads his arms wide.] Roar! Work with me!
"I woulda used the birdie boiler." Banzai spoke, making the birds present uneasy.
Kovu looks questioningly at Kiara.
KOVU:
Huh?
KIARA:
Like this. *roars*
Several birds fly away. Timon jumps into the air.
"Bye-bye, birdies!" Goigoi taunted.
TIMON:
Woo-hoo! [Timon hops on Pumbaa's back, and the two race away.] Come on, do it again! Do it again!
KOVU:
*roars*
More birds scatter. Timon and Pumbaa run through the fleeing birds.
TIMON:
Yeehaw! *blows a raspberry*
"Take that, birds!" Dogo added.
Kovu and Kiara run after Timon and Pumbaa.
KOVU:
Why are we doing this? What's the point of this training?
"It isn't training, it's just for fun!" Makini piped up. "We didn't really have any experience with fun in the Outlands. It was always train, train, train, especially for Kovu since he was the 'chosen one'." Vitani explained.
KIARA:
*laughs* Training? This is just for fun! [Kovu and Kiara run across the field, causing more birds to take flight.] *laughs*
KOVU:
Fun?
KIARA:
*laughs*
Timon and Pumbaa run past Kovu and Kiara.
TIMON:
Yeesh. [Timon catches onto a bird's legs and gets lifted into the air.] Kid, ya gotta get out more often. Fun! Yeehaw!
"We've gotta try that sometime!" Bunga said, turning to Binga. "Yeah!" She giggled.
TIMON AND PUMBAA:
*laugh*
TIMON:
Woo-hoo! [Timon falls, landing on Pumbaa's back.] Yeehaw!
"Timon!" Ma yelped. "I was fine, Ma. Pumbaa caught me." Timon calmed her down.
KOVU:
[hesitantly] Yeehaw! [more confidently] Yeehaw!
Kovu and Kiara catch up to Timon and Pumbaa. The four continue to run, scattering birds. They enter a small canyon.
"Now he's getting into it!" Sarafina exclaimed.
ALL FOUR:
*laugh*
KOVU:
Whoa, whoa, whoa! [enthusiastically] Yeehaw!
"That does look fun, but you and I could do it faster." Azaad said to Fuli.
Kovu, Kiara, Timon, and Pumbaa continue to race through the canyon.
ALL FOUR:
*laugh* [Kovu, Kiara, Timon, and Pumbaa look up and notice a herd of rhinoceroses in their path. The birds have alighted on the rhinoceroses' backs. The friends screech to a halt.] *screams*
"Hapana! Rhinos!" Ono yelped.
As Pumbaa stops, the momentum flings Timon forward, and he slaps against a rhinoceros' horn.
PUMBAA:
Uh…
KIARA:
Uh-oh.
"Don't just stand there! Run for it!" Janja rebuked.
BIRDS:
*blow raspberries*
RHINOS:
*snort angrily*
"In my experience, you never ever want to be in the path of a charging rhino, let alone a whole herd." Askari explained.
ALL FOUR:
*scream*
Kovu, Kiara, Timon, and Pumbaa turn and run away. The rhinoceroses stampede after them. Kiara rounds a corner.
Cries of "Kiara!" "Kovu!" "Timon!" "Pumbaa!" rang out. "We're all fine, guys." Kiara giggles.
KIARA:
Whoa!
Kovu rounds the corner.
KOVU:
Whoa!
Timon and Pumbaa round the corner.
TIMON:
Hey, rhino!
The rhinoceroses round the corner and thunder out of the canyon.
"That was way too close for comfort." Zuri breathed.
RHINOS:
*grunt*
After the rhinoceroses leave, Kovu, Kiara, Timon, and Pumbaa are seen wedged in a crevice in the wall.
"Maybe it isn't such a good idea to be wedged in there with the warthog. One wrong kick to the stomach and the air in there could get toxic very quickly." Zazu reasoned.
KOVU AND KIARA:
*laugh*
KOVU:
What a blast!
PUMBAA:
Oh. Sorry.
"Not you, Pumbaa, the bird chase." Madoa spoke.
KOVU, KIARA, AND TIMON:
*laugh*
Timon gives Kovu a noogie.
TIMON:
You're okay, kid.
KOVU:
[annoyed] Hey!
TIMON:
You're okay.
"And you're still okay. Sorry about thinking you were involved in the ambush." Timon commented. "It's all right." Kovu smiled.
KOVU:
*sighs*
Kovu, Kiara, Timon, and Pumbaa struggle to get out of the crevice.
TIMON:
Excuse me. Pardon me. Pardon me. That's it, that's it, that's it!
PUMBAA:
*grunts*
In the struggle, Kovu and Kiara accidentally brush muzzles. They pull apart, smiling sheepishly.
Many couples smiled as they reminisced similar moments they'd had. Kopa and Kion gave Kovu the "I'm watching you" gesture. Kiara raised an eyebrow at them. "What?" They said together.
KOVU AND KIARA:
*chuckle nervously*
KIARA:
Um, s-sorry.
Kovu and Kiara squeeze out of the crevice after Timon and Pumbaa.
KIARA:
*giggles*
KOVU:
*chuckles* [Kovu and Kiara stand next to each other.] *clears his throat*
"You know, perhaps there's something there that wasn't there before." Spirit sang. "I believe you're right, sis. There may be something there that wasn't there before." Dusty added.
KIARA:
*giggles*
Timon and Pumbaa stand at the mouth of the canyon.
TIMON:
Hey! [Timon puts his hands on his hips.] Are you two comin' or what?
KIARA:
*giggles*
KOVU:
*chuckles*
Kovu and Kiara stride after Timon and Pumbaa. The scene transitions to the open savanna at night. Kovu and Kiara lie on their backs, stargazing.
KOVU:
Didja see that? Didja see that?
"Someone's excited." Rani giggled.
KIARA:
What?
KOVU:
*chuckles* Oh, wow. [Kovu points at the sky.] Look at that!
KIARA:
What?
KOVU:
It's really pretty.
"I can see something prettier." Kovu said, making Kiara blush.
KIARA:
Oh, yeah! *laughs* You're right. [Kiara points at the sky.] Oh, look. There's one that looks like a baby rabbit. [The stars above form the shape of a rabbit.] See the fluffy tail?
KOVU:
Yeah... Hey! [Kovu points at the sky.] There's one that looks like two lions killing each other for a scrap of meat! [The stars form the shape of two lions on their hind legs.] *laughs* [Kiara flashes Kovu a concerned look. He doesn't notice.] Ah, I've never done this before.
"Really?" Chungu asked. "Again, Zira had us focused on training." Kovu replied.
KIARA:
Really? My father and I used to do this all the time. He says all the Great Kings of the Past are up there. Hm.
"It's a bit of a family tradition." Simba spoke. "Our family would do it, too. Mother did it with Sahasi and I when we were young, and we did it with Rani and Baliyo." Surak explained.
KOVU:
Do you think Scar's up there? [Kiara looks pointedly at Kovu. After a moment, he stands and walks away. She sits up in concern. He sits at a distance from her, his shoulders hunched.] He wasn't my father, but he was still...part of me.
Kiara stands and strides toward Kovu.
KIARA:
My father said there was a...a darkness in Scar that he couldn't escape.
"Cobra venom. Huh?" Scar and Kion say at the same time. "Jinx!" Bunga quips. "It was a cobra?!" Mufasa paled. "It was. I forgot to mention that, didn't I?" Scar chuckled nervously. "Yes, yes you did." The older brother replied.
Kiara sits next to Kovu.
KOVU:
Maybe there's a darkness in me too.
"Just because you have a scar like he does and were trained to be his heir doesn't mean you're exactly like him. Remember what makes you you." Anga chirped. "Take it from me. I was afraid that my scar made me look like him after I got it, plus Ushari's venom made me lose control of the roar, so I stopped talking to my grandfather for a while. Several pep talks from my friends and Rani helped me realize that wasn't true." Kion explained.
Kiara touches one of Kovu's forelegs, then nuzzles him.
KIARA:
*purrs*
After a moment, Kovu nuzzles Kiara back. On a nearby hill, Simba surveys Kovu and Kiara. He looks up at the stars.
SIMBA:
Father, I am lost. Kovu is one of them. [Simba bows his head.] Scar's heir. [Simba looks up at the stars.] How can I accept him?
"You can, you will, and you did." Dusty quipped.
NALA:
[from offscreen] Simba?
Nala strides toward Simba, then sits next to him.
SIMBA:
I was seeking counsel from the Great Kings.
NALA:
Did they help?
SIMBA:
*sighs* [Simba looks up at the stars.] Silent as stars. My father would never–
"Well, you're not your dad." Makini chirped.
Nala nudges Simba.
Oh, my Simba. You want so much to walk the path expected of you. Perhaps Kovu does not.
"Just because he was trained to be a Scar 2.0. doesn't mean he wants to be a Scar 2.0." Spirit reasoned.
Simba's eyes widen.
SIMBA:
What? [Simba turns to Nala.] How do you know what–
NALA:
*chuckles* I can see them down there just as easily as you can. Get to know him and see.
Nala turns and strides away. After a moment, Simba follows her.
"Now that I have gotten to know him, he isn't so bad after all." Simba proclaimed. Just then, a loud rumble echoed through the room. "What was that?" Cheezi whimpered. "That was my stomach. I'm just hungry." Beshte explained, embarrassed. "And on that note, it's time for our next break." Dusty announced, and they all filed into the break room.
I hope you enjoyed! The next chapter will be an intermission and then we'll be off to a certain place where the crazy moon makes the monkeys sing and the baboons swoon!