The Lion King:
Responsibilities
Chapter 3
"Yes, I think Shadow makes a valid point," Simba said as he walked with Timir along the edge of the waterhole. "We shouldn't trouble the cubs with this arrangement, not until they're a little older. When the time comes, we'll put it to them to see if it's an agreeable union."
"But if it turns out they are not keen on the idea, you'll be all right with that, Your Highness?" Timir asked.
Simba nodded. "What's most important to me is that Kopa is with someone who makes him happy and will support him when he's king. Nala and I believe that Timira would be a very agreeable match but I wouldn't force them to marry if they didn't want to."
"I can't believe my mom and dad are making me marry someone I don't want to!" Kopa scoffed, pacing back and forth. He and his friend Vitani were near the bank of Zulu Falls, several yards down from the waterfall.
"What's the big deal?" Vitani asked. "When you're king, you can change anything you want. Just decree that you don't have to marry this Tamara girl."
"Her name's Timira," Kopa corrected. He stopped and sat down on his haunches with a sigh. "And I don't think I'm supposed to decree stuff that disagrees with what my dad decrees. I think it might hurt his feelings."
"But your dad will be gone. You become king when he dies."
"He'll still see," Kopa insisted. "When he's up with the other Great Kings, he'll be watching while I'm being king. He'll know when I mess up."
Vitani raised an eyebrow. "That's – kinda creepy."
Kopa nodded. "Yeah, I just realized that too."
"So, you are going to marry this Timira girl?"
"No," Kopa said sternly. "I don't want to marry anyone."
"Not anyone?" Vitani asked, looking a bit disappointed.
"Well, I don't know. Maybe when I grow up I'll change my mind but I want to choose who I marry."
Vitani looked relieved. "So you don't actually like Timira?"
Kopa paused to think about it. "It's not that I don't like her…"
Vitani's expression turned dark. "So you do like her?"
"Well, she and I are friends," Kopa explained. "If someone's your friend, you already like them. But just because you like someone doesn't mean you want to marry them. I mean, we're friends so I like you but I don't want to marry you."
Vitani glared daggers at Kopa. "I see."
Kopa stared uncomprehendingly at Vitani. "Are you mad? You look mad."
"Why would I be mad?" Vitani asked. "We're friends and so you like me, doesn't mean you have to marry me." Her tone was venomous.
Kopa stared vacantly. "Uh huh, that's what I already said, so we're in agreement."
Vitani growled irritably and walked away.
"Tani?" Kopa called. "What did I say?"
Leaving a confused Kopa behind, Vitani made her way back to the Outlands. She paused at the border and sighed. "What do I care?" she mumbled to herself. "It's not like I want to marry him either." She shook herself abruptly. What's wrong with me? she thought. I'm supposed to be spying on Kopa for Mom – to let her know when he's alone so she can… A sinister chill settled over Vitani. No, I'm not going to do it. I won't help Mom hurt Kopa.
The lionesses were resting on the Pride Rock boulders, warming themselves in the sunlight. Some of the cubs snuggled in with their mothers while others played. One dark brown cub was removed from the rest, sitting alone in the nearby grass and staring up at Pride Rock.
"It's too much," she mumbled.
Babu hurried over to Timira from behind. He stopped a few paces away, opened his mouth to speak, and then spun about and fled out of sight. Timira, hearing the sound of footsteps, turned around but didn't see anyone. Turning back around, she continued her despondent gazing.
"Come on," Babu said to himself, hiding behind a rock nearby. "Don't be a wussy." He poked his head around the corner and then slowly walked up to Timira. He cleared his throat audibly.
Timira looked around at Babu. "Oh, hey," she said glumly.
"Hey," Babu greeted back. "So, I just wanted to say…" he trailed off awkwardly.
"What?" Timira asked.
Babu cleared his throat again, opened his mouth to speak – and then cleared his throat again. "Wow, it sure is hot out here?" he noted anxiously. "I mean my mouth is so dry – don't you think it's so hot and dry out?"
"What's wrong with you?" Timira said, becoming irritated.
"Nothing," Babu said defensively. He took in a deep breath, and then released a flood of words with barely any pauses between each word. "You shouldn't marry Kopa because we all know you both don't want to get married and if you did marry Kopa anyway you wouldn't be able to marry who you did want to marry and you probably don't know who you want to marry because you haven't met who you want to marry yet or you don't like that person enough to marry them yet so you should wait to see who you want to marry…" Babu came to an abrupt stop and took a strangled gasp, having spent all his breath on his long speedily recited counsel.
Timira stared unblinkingly at Babu. "Are you done?"
Babu hesitated. "Um, yes?"
"I get what your saying but I don't have a choice. This is what King Simba and Queen Nala want – what my parents want. I have a responsibility."
"Why is it your responsibility? This whole betrothal thing is stupid and you know it!"
"You don't understand because you don't have any responsibilities!" Timira snapped. "When you grow up, all you have to do is go live with a bunch of other lazy lions in a stupid grove! And for all you know, maybe I do like Kopa. So stop talking about things you don't understand and just leave me alone!" With that, she shoved Babu aside and ran off.
Continue to Chapter 4