A/N: Here's the resolution. Enjoy the chapter.
snheetah: Kivuli doesn't have much to risk in this one, but in a later story, he risks it all... Enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 5: The Mwaka Stone
"Why do we need to go get my dad?" Kiara asked as she and the other cubs all followed adult Kulaani back to Pride Rock.
"Just for security." he told her. "If other animals see us with the king, they won't bother us."
"Oh." Kiara responded.
"So," Mheetu said, "how exactly does the Mwaka Stone work?"
"Well," Kulaani said, "You need someone who can channel enough energy into it, so it can be activated. Luckily, we know somebody who can do that." He looked at Sora.
"I can't." Sora said, "My head hurts too much when I try to focus. Can't you get the other me to do it?"
"Yeah, right." Kulaani laughed, "He can't keep his concentration on anything for too long before he has an anxiety attack. Besides, it only needs to work for a minute."
"I guess I'll try." Sora said. "Otherwise, we're trapped here."
"Good." Kulaani said. "Oh, look, we're at Pride Rock. Simba should be up there."
They all walked up Pride Rock and found Simba and Nala sitting at the tip.
"Simba," Kulaani said, "We need you to come with us."
Simba turned and faced Kulaani, "What do you need me for?" he asked.
"I know a way to get them back where they belong." Kulaani told him. "We just need you to come so no other animals try to stop us."
"Alright." Adult Simba said. "Nala, you stay here and keep an eye on things. Kulaani, you lead the way."
"Right, let's go." Kulaani said before leading them back down Pride Rock.
Kivuli was watching the every move of the group going to the Mwaka Stone. If they left without him, he would never get to put his plan into action.
"Once they get to that rock they were talking about," he said to himself, "that's when I will make my move. They won't have a choice but to take me with them... Funny how they don't even know I'm here. Oh well, they will soon."
It took about a half an hour for them to reach the Mwaka Stone. They only encountered a slight setback along the way.
"Good thing we were able to get away from that group of hyenas." Tora said as they approached the stone. "There was quite a few of them."
"Just give one a good swat to the head." Adult Simba said, "Once one of them gets hurt, the rest get scared and run away. I remember when they used to be a lot tougher than that."
"Okay, so what do I do?" Sora asked as he looked at the large stone in front of him. It had strange symbols carved into it.
"Just focus all your power on it." Kulaani said. "You stop once all those symbols begin glowing."
"Okay," Sora sighed, "here goes nothing." As he began to focus on the Mwaka Stone, his head began pounding with an agonizing headache. "I... c-can't... do... it..."
"Just a little bit longer." Kulaani said. He watched the stone until he saw it begin to glow. "Alright, you can stop."
Sora immediately ceased what he was doing and put a paw to his head, which felt like it had just been stomped on by an elephant.
"All you cubs need to do now is hold your paws to it." Kulaani said. "After a minute of doing that, you will be sent back."
"Well, I guess we'll see you in a few years." Bahati said to Tora and Mheetu.
"If we don't screw up before then." Kora said.
"Be careful around Kovu." cub Simba whispered to Kiara. "You can't trust an Outlander."
"Whatever." Kiara said, rolling her eyes.
Simba and all his friends each put a paw on the stone. When there was about ten seconds left before they departed, Kivuli appeared.
"Surprise!" He exclaimed as he stood on top of the Mwaka Stone.
"Hey!" Simba exclaimed. "How did you-" He wasn't able to finish before they all disappeared.
"Who the heck was that?" Kiara asked.
"Nevermind, Kiara." Simba told his daughter. "It's a long story."
Simba opened his eyes and found himself and his friends in the den at Pride Rock. He quickly stood up, and ran outside the den. He saw his dad sitting outside.
"It worked!" Simba exclaimed.
Mufasa whipped his head around when he heard his son's voice. "Simba! Where have you cubs been!?"
"Dad, I can explain." Simba said, "We found this crazy lion and he sent us to the future and-"
"Simba, I don't want to hear stories." Mufasa said. "Tell me the truth."
"I am telling the-"
"Simba, we've been worried about you." Mufasa said. "You can't keep disappearing all the time."
"How long am I grounded..." Simba asked, putting his head down.
"For tonight." his father answered.
"That's it?" Simba asked.
"No." Mufasa said sternly. "There will be additional punishment. I need to discuss it with your friend's parents. We will tell all of you what we decided in the morning."
Simba just turned around and walked back into the den. He saw that everyone else was awake. "Hey guys..."
"What's wrong?" Nala asked. "We're back!"
"Yes..." Simba said, "but my dad said that we're all in trouble."
"So," Tora said, "We'll get grounded, then be free."
"I'm not so sure." Simba said, "It may be more than a grounding this time. Not sure what it will be, but it won't be good."
Wakati was enjoying having the jungle to himself. It was the most peaceful place he had been.
"Ah, nobody distubing me..." he said. "I love it!"
"I'm sure you do..." a voice suddenly said from behind him. He spun around and saw Kivuli standing there.
"How did you get back here!?" Wakati exclaimed, "I got rid of you!"
"Well, nothing lasts forever..." Kivuli said before vanishing and then quickly reappearing, his face now inches away from Wakati. "Including you." Then, with a swift swipe of his claws, he ended Wakati's life by slicing his throat. "Nobody gets rid of me... Nobody..."
A/N: Well, that wraps up this one. My next story will be in about a week. That one will be covering the cubs's punishment...