Chapter 18

Disclaimer: I don't own Lion King or Avatar the Last Airbender just my characters.

My characters:

Haja (Desire)

Konde (Stone)

Jabali (Mountain)

Earth

The unexpected Bender

*Simba*

It has been almost two weeks since Nala's and my encounter with Haja and her mysterious blood bending. Dad sent multiple capture parties in all of the different pride territories but it seems she disappeared into the thin air that I myself can bend. How do you find someone who could literally make you walk the other way by manipulating your body. I haven't been that terrified since seeing Zira torture Kopa and not felt as helpless since said lioness attacked my friends with her friends as backup.

"Hey Simba. You ok?" Tama's voice clearly broke from my thoughts. I was currently walking with her to a set destination in the Earth Pride. I wanted to lie and tell her I was fine but decided against since I know this lioness, though blind, can literally, feel and hear a lie, What does it feel like? I don't have a clue.

"Not really Tama. I still have bad feelings after my encounter with Haja and I am worried about Nala."

"How is she anyway?" I raised an eyebrow at that one. Tama and Nala were friends, yes, but Tama and her have an understanding that they both know they can handle themselves and to let them solve their own problems. So why the concern?

"She is getting better but the blood bending really took a toll on her." How I wanted to be there to make sure she was ok, but my Dad said I have to keep up with my lessons. Lessons are the last thing on my mind right now. Eh, Nala will be ok.

"I am sorry to hear that." Her head tilted towards the ground and let out a long sigh. "Anyway, you looking forward to meeting the new original bender descendant?" Tama has always been one to not dwell on sad matters for too long. I was told he was the one of the few left here in the Earth Pride's territory which is intriguing. However, another event is sounding more exciting to me.

"I am, but I am more eager to see Kula try and get into the Kyoshi Hunting Party with my Mom and Miss Kaya." Today was a special day according to my mom. The Kyoshi huntresses were to make their first solo kills so they can enter. Kula was the youngest so today she would be getting her chance.

"Yeah. Despite her cute nature when it comes to food she is more vicious than myself." This is true, in battle Tama has a very powerful temper but when it came to Kula and her meal, it was like a thousand starving hyenas fighting over a single Zebra leg. It is terrifying.

"That she is Tama." We both looked up and saw Chumvi, Kula's older brother looking at us with a big smile on his face. I remember witnessing that warth she thought he had more than "his fair share" during the last dry season. What does she expect, split it 50/50? I don't think they realize we need a bit more. After all these muscles and developing manes come at a price.

"Hey Chumvi. Where is the hunting party?" I looked around for the group because I really wanted to watch Kula shine on those dirty plains. She's one of the first of us to be closer to her dream to be a great huntress.

"They are down there Simba and by the way, be careful around Kula, she's still in feeding mode. Wouldn't want her to eat you." I groaned as I heard him say that and shook my head. I then centered my focus on what was happening in the plains below. I saw a small group of lionesses and could easily spot my mother among them for I could see one lioness looking right at me. How mothers know when their cubs are watching them? I don't know, but it is creepy. I looked away from the figure of my mother and noticed that among the lionesses like only a select group of them were wearing what looked like white paste on their muzzles.

"Hey Chumvi. What's up with the white paaste and why do only those lionesses have it?"

"The white paste is meant to honor the appearance of your great-great Grandmother, Avatar Kyoshi since she too wore such battle paste. It is tradition for only Earth Pride born members of the hunting party to wear this paste." I nodded and then noticed all of the lionesses below were looking at something in the distance. I turned my head and saw a brown figure among the green grasses approaching an adolescent Zebra. I perked my ears once I knew what it was.

"Hey guys, Kula is about to make her kill!" The others stopped their chatting and we all zeroed in on the lioness that was about to steal the… huh? What the heck is that on her tail?

*Kula*

I carefully pace myself as I approach the zebra, like a mantra in my head. One step, pause, another step, pause, one step, avoid rock/twig, pause and you get the idea. The urge to bite down into the sweet succulent meat is almost unbearable, but I held it back cause I had to remember my goal which is: get into the Kyoshi Hunting party. My own mother had tried and managed to get in but got hurt so badly during one of her first group hunts that she had to I will make her proud. Then a sound echos in my ears, SNAP! I froze as I realized in my mental gloating that I had stepped on a twig and noticed the zebra is coming at me, flames ready. Here we go!

"You won't get me you fledgling hunter." My mother always told me not to play with my food but in this case she will have to make an exception. Queens above, please I am begging you, let this work!

I saw a fireball approach me from the Zebra's tail and swung my own tail forward in front of me. My tail is now twice as long as usual with a custom fan which came open and hardened the moment the flames touched it. I lowered it as I saw the zebra was charging me. Time for my moment.

"Hey are you a cooked white meat with black stripes or a tempered black meat with white stripes cause I have always wanted to know?" That might seem like an odd question but the truth is all zebras hate that question and has lead me to run away quite a few times after asking it. Too bad for him, I want him to come at me, and from his annoyed expression, he definitely will.

He whinnied quite loudly and raised his hooves to apparently stomp on me. Not Today!

"Gotcha!" I slammed my shield fan on my tail into his underbelly and as he was falling backward. I leaped up and dug my fangs into his throat. Tasting warm blood is so different than tasting it from a dead body. It tastes like the strength of the animal is pouring into me as I feed on it. Once I felt the zebra go limp in my grip, I released and released a roar of victory which was followed by multiple roars from the hunting party in congratulation. I don't believe it, I made my first kill.

"Congratulations Kula! Now that you have officially passed your final stage of training. It's time to don the white paint of avatar Kyoshi and take your oath." I looked at the queen who had arrived near me with a stone idol behind her being bent by my friends Tama and Simba whom I guessed had arrived to watch me hunt. I smiled as I realized that also my brother had come to watch.

I saw two of the members of the party approach me with a gourd containing the white paint that Rafiki had made for the Kyoshi hunting party's Earth Pride members to wear. I dipped my paw in the liquid and rubbed in on my face with my eyes closed. I repeated the dipping and rubbing method three times until I felt I had covered my entire face. Once done, I opened my eyes, raised my paw and faced the queen and the rest of the hunting party.

"Kula, do you swear to do your best to protect your home, the Earth Pride and Pride Rock?"

"I Kula, daughter of Sukari, lioness of the Earth Pride, swear to protect the Earth Pride and Pride rock. My own life is forfeit before them."

"Do you swear to treat your Kyoshi members like your sisters and take on any responsibility asked of you?"

"I swear your majesty!"

"And do you swear to never betray your fellow pride sisters and pride brothers, punishable by banishment if you do?"

"I swear upon Avatar Kyoshi herself that I will always protect them or leave if I cannot." I shuddered inside at the thought of being exiled. I would hate if I had to leave my friends and brother behind, but the worst part would be would no one would bring me food. Don't get me wrong, I love hunting, but I prefer not having to wait patiently for it.

"Then by the power vested in me as Queen of the Pride Lands, I welcome you into the Kyoshi Hunting Party." Once the queen spoke, the gathered lions roared and then I felt a weight get on top of myself, knocking me over. I looked up and saw my brother, Chumvi with a big smile on his face and then saw Simba and Tama walk off. I felt a bit hurt, didn't they want to celebrate with me?

"Simba and Tama wanted to congratulate you but had to leave cause they have to meet up with their instructors for the day. Personally, I think Simba was just trying to escape getting the threat of another bath from his mother in public." He chuckled as he made his joke and I chuckled as well cause I knew for a fact that what he said was true, Simba hated baths. But I could not help but wonder as Simba and my gal friend Tama walked off, who is there teacher for today?

*Tama*

Today was one of the few days where I hate myself for being blind. Kula just passed her trial to enter the Hunting Party and I could not even see her in action. Sure I felt it through my paws and through the earth but it still sucked that I could not see my friend show her stuff.

"Hey Tama. How long until we find this or these original earth benders?" I sighed as I heard the whiny cub tone in Simba's voice. That is one thing that hasn't changed as he got older. His impatience. I swear sometimes it drives me crazy since I can hear him tapping numerous times in the cave while waiting for his Dad to wake up, from two kilometers away!

"Kings Simba! We will find them when we find…" I stopped because I had just felt something through the earth and I smiled when I realized where.

"Tama? What is UUUPPPP?" I laughed as two pillars of earth came up and Simba went backwards and landed on his tail.

"Have a nice fall Simba?" I said this through chuckles and even though I can't see, I can feel the grumpy look on his face.

"Not funny Tama." I heard him blow at something,some of his mane must had gotten in his eyes and then heard him grumble like a cub that had gotten told he was clumsy. "Alright, who just made me look like an idiot?" I raised my eyebrow to my prince. He makes himself look like an idiot more often than not. yet he can be a breath of fresh air when things get tense. Somehow he always finds the fun in the most menial tasks.

"Well excuse me for protecting me and my friend from getting crushed." I chuckled as I heard the tiny squeaky voice of my two teachers reached my ears and then felt Simba's jaw hit the savanna dirt. Oh Yeah Simba. Let's see if you are ready to be taught by a gopher and a mouse. "Who the heck are they, Tama? Do you know these guys?"

"Yes Simba, I know them. The gopher is Konde and the mouse is Jabali." As I said the mouse's name I already felt the smile tugging on Simba's face like Kula pulling a piece of meat off an antelope carcass. He is going to get in trouble.

*Jabali*

This day was supposed to go easily, just teach the avatar the true nature of earth bending and what happens? Me and Master Konde almost get stepped on by the self-same avatar. I know Tama is a good friend of ours but asking us to deal with a lion who is as inattentive as this one? I would rather be dangled over Scar's mouth than deal with this? Oh wait. I already have. I looked up at the lion who was looking down at me with what I assumed was a chuckle ready to be set loose. What is so funny?

"Is something humorous to you little prince?" I saw him stop chuckling and was taken back by the strange look in his eyes. He then picked me up by my tail with his claws and brought me to his eye level. Talk about Déja vu.

"Little? Look who is talking, mouse. If I were you, I would not taunt someone who could eat you in 2 seconds." I know normally a mouse is supposed to be scared when this close to a lion, but not me. Now if it was Scar, I would be wetting my fur just being touched by the lion. Being in that lion's grip is like being the fly trapped in the web of a tarantula.

"Hey!" I heard my master and the next minute I felt myself get dropped and saw as I was falling that a rock had hit Simba in the paw that was holding me. That is one of the reasons I love my master, he defends his students, no matter who is tormenting them.

"Ow. What was that for you lousy gopher?" Boy does this lion have a lot to learn about respect.

"Hey! Respect your elder kid! This 'lousy gopher' happens to be a descendant of the first earth benders in these lands." I saw him glare at me but then saw what I assumed was the look of one mentally smacking themselves.

"Oh no. Don't tell me. You're my teachers for today?" I got a smirk on my own face as the poor lion realized who we were.

"You betcha kid! Now then, since we've met, let's get started." I know I seem like I am a bit rushed, but from what Tama told us, this cub is a learn from feel or visual lessons so it's best if I show rather than tell.

"Wait a minute. What can you teach me? You're a mouse." I turned my back on the lion.

"Well I am a gopher and Jabali here is my best student. And also before you ask what the point is, know that we also helped train your friend Tama."

"Really?!" The sound of obvious shock was apparent in his voice as he spoke to I assumed was Tama.

"Yeah, Simba. They taught me how to earth bend and even taught me a cool trick on how to fight, despite being blind."

"Trick? You mean that way you feel another's location through the ground?" I was impressed the lion with a cub's brain actually knew that. I am guessing Tama taught him the technique as well. I decided to turn to explain to our confused Simba.

"Young one, Konde and me are small creatures on these plains and we also live very difficult lives. Konde is always underground and he never knows when he might accidentally dig in the wrong spot or me who is always watching his back for any possible land predator who might try to eat me." I saw the same confused look on the lion had grown into an even more confused look. How did Tama have the patience to teach this kid? Not even she was this clueless.

"How does that involve earth bending and you?"

I sighed and continued my lesson, "Young Prince, earth is one of the four elements and many who bend any of the elements would say the elements have voices of their own which speak to the bender and give him or her guidance. Air is the loudest, water shows rather than tells through things like a reflection, fire is the most painful speaker because more often than not you get burned. But earth is what me and Master Konde call, the silent element. It does not speak through a breeze like air does, nor does it show things like water. It is an element that must be touched in order to be heard. Thus how earth benders like me and Tama learned the gift of the seismic sense which is basically when we can hear the voice of the earth. To me it sounds like a grumpy old mouse craving a nut." I chuckled as I mentioned my description of the earth's voice when specifically it sounded like my late father who indeed died climbing a tree to reach said nut.

"How did you learn this 'Seismic sense'? Tama taught it to me by having me close my eyes and stand on top Pride Rock." I winced as the memory of my own lessons from Konde resurfaced.

"Heh heh. Well for me and Tama I might add, Master Konde had us try to dodge or block rocks he chucked at us full force. For Tama, he did it in broad daylight but me, he had me close my eyes, in a dark cave, at midnight. I must have taken at least two dozen hits before I finally got the hint." I winced again and rubbed my stomach as I recalled taking a pebble to the gut.

"Oh, ok I get it, but still I think that there is not much else you can teach me that I don't already know. Well, Mr. Kilimanjaro?" I widened my eyes and caught Tama shake her head as I heard Simba's nickname for me. So my name is funny to him eh? Well I hope he can put his soon-to-be crown where his mouth is.

"Oh? Ok then. How about this? Simba," I gestured to a nearby boulder the size of a bull elephant and then continued, "bend a stone at that rock make a hole in it and do not break it into pieces"

"Huh?"

"Just do it."

Simba picked up a large stone the size of one of Rafiki's gourds, threw it in the air and then thrust his paw at it which sent it flying like Momo trying to chase him and Nala I think, as cubs. It hit the boulder and the boulder broke apart into several pieces. "How was that?" Simba is obviously very pleased with what he did while I simply shook my head.

"Not bad Simba. But you did not do as I told you." I saw him make the pouty face every cub gives when they don't get there way and rolled my eyes.

"What do you mean? I threw the rock at the boulder. What more do you want?"

"I told you to make a hole in the boulder and not break it."

"That is impossible."

"Nothing is impossible, only difficult." I began levitating a pebble the size of maybe me, and aimed it another boulder the same size. I heard Simba scoff and then waited for the smart remark.

"What? Are you going to try? Ok, then. Prove your namesake. Break that mountain."

"Ok." I thrust the pebble forward with the speed of a cheetah on the hunt and smirked as it went clean through the rock and left no cracks around the hole and then I bent the stone back to my location. Then, to add insult to injury, I used my earth bending skills and levitated the boulder and hurled it 30 feet. You heard right, a mouse just chucked a boulder a thousand times his size over 20 feet. I looked at Simba and chuckled at his shocked expression.

"How did you do that? That boulder should have crushed you and that pebble should have just broken when it hit that boulder and yet it not only

"As my master told me, it is not about the rock you bend with, but how you bend it. Simba, you chose the hardest rock and yet your technique was so rudimentary that you couldn't even put a dent in the boulder but instead broke it."

"Are you saying I am a bad earth Bender?" I saw a challenging look in his eyes as he growled at me. I am not afraid but am amazed at how oblivious this lion is.

"Not at all. Simply, that you have to work on your technique."

"And may I ask how a mouse with a pebble managed to do what a lion with a rock couldn't?"

To quote a friend of ours, Master Yoda, the frog of the water pride, 'Size matters not'. Bigger isn't always better Simba. Let's take the elephant scourge Tembo for instance, he could crush 20 boulders like what you just broke with just a wave of his trunk and yet he was defeated by my grandfather. You see Simba, sometimes, big or small does not make a difference."

Simba was about to most likely comment or question me again, when we all heard a voice chuckle and then looked off to the side to see a large orange lion with a black mane and piercing yellow eyes. His eyes looked like mini suns and yet I saw nothing but darkness within them. I also saw a young cub net to him that was about say 7-8 months old and was looking at me with a watery mouth.

"Who are you?"

The lion made a huge smile on his face and then he answered in a voice that was as soft as thunder, " My name is Khara."

Earth, the element of power. But in reality, it is the element of truth. For we are the earth. We are strong, we persevere and we come in all shapes and sizes. But earth is only strong when it is exactly where it is supposed to be. I know where I am supposed to be. I'm with my family. What about you? Are you where you're supposed to be? Are you where you are strongest?