Disclaimer: I do not own the Lion King, characters or settings! I do own Difara, Tallulah and the circus (and the gullible hippos!)

Zazu's Diary

Thursday

I have no idea what happened last night...well I do, but I can't record it here. I am ashamed of myself. What have I done? I woke up still in the tree, still with Tallie next to me (I know that rhymes). She looked so beautiful sleeping...but I had to get out of there. Full speed ahead to Pride Rock and to get back to the job I know and love. Love? Why does that word keep coming to me? Zazu is not the kind of person who loves. Zazu is the kind of person who works hard, lives alone and keeps the Pridelands running smoothly. If I had a mate none of my jobs would get done, Simba wouldn't cope and the Circle of Life would collapse! I am the glue that holds the Pridelands together!

There was only one thing for it. Spend the day with Timon and Pumbaa. Well, Hakuna Matata.

"Timon ol' buddy, what are we doing?"

"We are having a bit of fun, Pumbaa, to cheer up old grumble-guts over here."

"But, Timon! You know giraffes make me nervous..."

"Not giraffes again, Pumbaa! Anyway, we are not dealing with those today. We are tackling the hippos."

"What?" Pumbaa and I screamed together. This was taking Timon's usual games to a whole new level.

"Don't panic, scaredy-cats! I was part of the heroic team that brought Scar's rule to an end. If I can do that-"

"Then-you-can-do-anything. We've heard it all before, Timon."

"Shut it, Bird Brain! You are ruining our concentration." Timon pointed to Pumbaa who was meditating on a nearby rock. I guessed it would take Tallulah off my mind.

You have no idea how gullible hippos are.

"Roll up, roll up! In association with the savannah phenomenon Cirque d'Afrique I am offering the chance for YOU, yes YOU to be a trapeze artist! This tried and tested method has led many an animal to circus fame and fortune!"

Me and Pumbaa rounded up the hippos as we were told, and got them to stand single file in front of the make-shift ramp that Timon had taken all of 30 seconds to make.
Much to the hippos' dismay, the 'tried and tested' method was not as successful as they had anticipated. After running up the ramp, (at their top speed of about 1mph) Timon instructed them to jump high in the air and reach for the plank of wood that I had hung in the baobab tree. When they fell to the ground Timon just told them that it took practice, and that they would get there if they tried.

The whole process was hilarious, and after 2 hours of trying and failing, the hippos were worn out, and went for a break. Timon, Pumbaa and I went off to let them recover.

"So, Zazu, you forgotten about that bird now?"

"Well I had, Pumbaa, until you just brought it up again."

"Sorry..."

"No worries pal, Hakuna Matata as we say down our parts."

We all burst into song and we walked back up to Pride Rock for a bit of a rest.

When we got back I was surprised to see Difara talking to Simba. Apparently they had become good friends after the show the other day and Simba decided to let them stay in the Pridelands. Maybe it would have been better if they had left the first day. I wouldn't have got into this terrible mess.

"Yes, well, on our travels we pick up all kinds of new things. I especially love the gorillas that breathe fire that we found at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro."

"Wow, you must have been around. How long have you been doing this?"

"I founded it! My parents wanted me to become a strong, alpha male – much like yourself- but I had big dreams to see the world. So I found a couple of acts, made a bit cash and started the circus."

"Wow, that's cool! I wish I'd done something that adventurous in my life!"

"Well, it was what I wanted to do. I've seen many a disaster too. Like my maid, Tallulah."

I looked up.

"What?" I squawked with a dry mouth.

"Tallulah, she fell from the trapeze 5 years ago and suffered terrible injuries. She recovered from them but she felt she could not carry on. But she still loved to travel with us. So I employed her as my maid and part time trapeze trainer."

"Ohhh..."

I suddenly felt guilty. I don't know why. Why should I feel guilty? Because she fell of a trapeze 5 years ago she instantly deserves a wild sex life? But I still feel guilty. I needed to get out of here. I will go mad. I am mad.

I went for a fly to clear my head. It didn't calm me down. Almost subconsciously, I flew past my childhood home. Not happy memories. I was shunned by the other hornbills. I was too posh, too clever and too 'pretentious' for them. None of the girls went within 20 yards of me. But now, my one chance to have someone, and I have thrown it away.

Don't think like that, Zazu! You did the right thing. If the right thing means you die alone, then so be it. I can cope...I'll just sit there all day long talking to myself...I'll be sad, but I can't do anything about it now.

Hope you enjoyed the little bit of humor coming from Timon and Pumbaa! and Zazu's slight breakdown!

Please review! and following in Midnightstar19 footsteps, i want 5 reviews before the next chapter is up! Virtual cookies all round!