Kingdom Hearts What If?: Guardian Of The Depths

by SORARULES23

Taking place twelve years after the Little Mermaid. What if the reasons Melody was kept away from the sea were different? What if there Atlantica's Legacy was bigger? What If the Maverick ended up in the ocean instead of on land? (This is a third alternate version of my current Maverick stories.)

11. The Leonoid King

WE'RE BACK FOLKS! 🎉🎉🎉

And yes I saw and enjoyed Black Adam and played while enjoying Gotham Knights. Kind of a loose week it was for DC but still a thrill.

Anyhow. I will not only introduce two more Final Fantasy characters in this chapter. But I will also introduce some characters from the Jungle Book. With its main lead loosely based on the Grimm Fairy Tales comic series. 😉

Sure if Kingdom Hearts 4 or any other KH sequel, prequel or Midquel somehow introduces the Jungle Book world. I'll gladly bring the original ones in for Sora and Aiden's universe. But since this is an alternate Multiverse. Certain versions will be different. Especially in terms of their species, race or gender.

So hopefully this will give everyone a good impression of where this will head.

Also this chapter will have three different songs. One from Hamilton. One from the Lion King and another from The Jungle Book. Only the Hamilton one will have some of its lyrics added and changed to fit the story. Don't worry you'll see 😉

Now to answer some comments…..Or. Comment? Seriously people, could you please post more comments?! I put a lot into these stories and your responses are part of the reward. 😢

RustyPete12: Thank you! Yeah I couldn't leave the Trick Master Heartless out of that last chapter. Plus it was a challenge to mix the film with the level. But not as challenging as the Pirates Of The Caribbean world was. Also Saltuvia was made up by me actually. It's sort of a variant fantasy based world of Pride Rock. tarzan's world and the Jungle Book world. Plus 'saltu' is Latin for 'jungle'. Thus I came up with the name 'Saltuvia' 😁👍

Alright! Now that we're all here!

LET'S GET DANGEROUS!

---

The Leonoid King.

Down At The Training Grounds Of The Leonoid Settlement...

The training grounds looked like an arena, with stone seats circling the grounds, and small canopies over some parts of the stands. The entrance to the Arena is a large archway with a gate that, with a path leading towards the gate.

Around the entrance area were guards posted on watch duty and several more guards were posted on every corner of the training grounds. As they watched the sons of Mufasa train and ready themselves for a war.

The first one was the heir to the throne. Simba. Mufasa's first born. He was wearing orange wool pants with his lion tail out the back. And he wore a matching shirtless vest around his muscular frame. His arms and chest had white Leonoid tribal tattoos in different patterns and he carried a spear with the rod end made of bronze and the knife head made of copper.

His hair was short but moderate given that he was a teen lion. Sixteen years old in fact. And he had the same color brown reddish eyes as his father. Being the first born.

In fact he was Mufasa's only born child. Because his other son was actually adopted. And not an adopted Leonoid. But an adopted human.

This was Zidane Tribal as known around these parts. But he is known as Prince Zidane at home.

Zidan had long blonde hair tied in a ponytail at the back but with the front of his hair loose in long strands and bangs.

His only article of clothing was a brown jungle man loincloth, barefoot and his bare arms, legs and chest were muscular for his age and his wrists had three leather bands for a custom made wrist guard. On his back were tribal tattoos written in yellow ink which was a symbol of a heart with fur. To symbolize he may not be a Leonoid in blood. But he is in heart.

And he carried the same spear as his brother Simba. They both stood glaring at each other and growing at each other. Not out of hatred, for they are brothers.

But out of competition. Next to the empty throne at the top of the witness stands was a baboon at the right side of the throne. This Baboon carried a wooden staff with several strange yellow fruit tied at the top that made the noise of jungle chimes.

This was the shaman Rafiki. And because it's only felines in this world that have a humanoid form. Rafiki looked no different than most Baboons. But he could talk like all others and he was slightly larger than the average baboon to match the heights of all Leonoids.

And at the left side was a humanoid panther who wore a dark purple armored vest with matching shoulder pats. And matching long dark purple pants with a matching dark purple cape at the back. This was First General Bagheera. And like Rafiki he carried a staff. Only his didn't have fruit on it. Considering he's not a shaman. His staff had white insignias and ancient writing to signify his success as a general in his youth and as a teacher in his current days.

Both Rafiki and Bagheera were the King's most trusted advisors. Bagheera is known for great advice in history and economics of other tribes and kingdoms across the Saltuvia, as well as an expert in military and combat. While Rafiki is a moral compass and a guide in the known and unknown. His advice over the years saved King Mufasa from making many mistakes over the years.

And currently they were both in charge of today's combat training for the King's royal princes. And in doing so sparked the magic of Fantasia.

"The Sinister Shere Khan got Tigroid troops on the land of our birth~ Two thousand Leonoid troops here to show in our worth~" The guards chanted as the music started and they stomped their spears while they remained in position. "The Sinister Shere Khan got Tigroid troops on the land of our birth~ Two thousand Leonoid troops here to show in our worth~ But they surround our home!~ They surround our home!~ They surround our home! The land of OUR BIRTH!~"

Zidane held his weapon as he stood his ground while stepping to the side on guard in combat.

"As a kid in the Jungle I wished for a home~ But I knew we were on my own~ But there has got to be a way to—" Zidane rapped ajdo finished the lasttwo words with the guards echoing. "RISE UP!~"

"If they tell my story~ I am either gonna die on the battlefield in glory or—" Simba rapped as he was making the same steps and guards echoed with him. "RISE UP!~"

Then Zidane and Simba clashed their spears doing flips and spins with great reflexes and agility. As they kept blocking each of their moves.

And they kept the song going while they were fighting in training. Fighting with their spears like a sword and a bo staff.

"I will fight for our land~But there's only one man~ Who can give us a command so we can—" Simba and Zidane rapped as they clashed their spears. "RISE UP!~"

"Understand?~ It's the only way to—" Simba rapped

"RISE UP!~ RISE UP!~" They chanted with the guards

"Halt!" Bagheera signaled for them to stop.

Zidane and Simba huffed and looked unamused as they rolled their eyes. "Here he comes~" Thetwo brothers deadpanned.

King Mufasa was seen coming up to the main entrance of the training ground with the Guardians of the Depths following them. Simba was interested since they hardly ever see human in their village besides his brother Zidane. And of course Zidane's human girlfriend. Which almost made Simba smirk.

"Here comes His Majesty!~" The guards chanted.

"To all our brothers~" Bagheera stated as he raised his hands.

"Here comes His Majesty!~" The Guards chanted

"And to all you stand as one~" Rafiki added as he raised his hands.

"Here comes His Majesty!~" The Guards chanted.

"The true King of Pride Rock!~" They all chanted. "Here comes His Majesty!~ KING MUFASA!~"

"And some guests~" Zidane and Simba sighed.

Of course if Zidane could see from the distance what kind of guests his adopted father was bringing, he would be more thrilled.

---

Meanwhile as Mufasa was walking up the entrance. He told Connor and Melody the basic summary of their situation. For this the magic of Fantasia halted as the King spoke

"Over two decades ago our home Pride Rock was invaded and conquered by our enemies the Tigroids. Lead by the Tyrannus Shere Khan." Mufasa stated.

"Tigroids? As in humanoid tigers?" Connor asked.

"Precisely. their forces command a great dark power under the command of Shere Khan. And with it he went to war with my army." Mufasa revealed and then he looked down as he gripped he balled his fists and stated grimly. "And took many of us down. I was greatly wounded in battle. So my army. My family. My subjects. All Leonoids were forced to flee as the Tigroids drove us out of our home. The Kingdom of Pride Rock. And we've been hiding in the jungle from them ever since. A Kingdom of Leonoid nomads. On the run. With some hope that we might have our home once again."

The Leonoids were driven from their home? From a vicious foreign army of humanoid tigers with the power of darkness. No wonder some of them were on edge about outsiders.

"Damn." Connor muttered as he understood their situation.

"Kitties' home taken makes Dug sad." Dug whimpered looking down.

"Remind me to tune his speech mod." Mini-Mav whispered to Connor

"Gawrsh! That's pretty mean to do that to ya." Goofy said with a frown.

"They can't do that! That's not right!" Donald grit out, already not liking the sound of these Tigroids.

"That's just awful." Melody said with clenched hands while looking down. "I can't even begin to imagine being driven out of your own home."

"My own fam would know what that's like. My Uncle Namor, the King Of Atlantis. But most folk call him the Submariner. He was driven out of his kingdom as well. Fourteen years until I took up my M Night Mantle at its peek and took back Atlantis with them. And that was just last week." Connor stated to Mufasa. "Imagine what I could do today."

"Shere Khan is no pushover." Zazu stated how serious it is.

"Neither am I." Connor replied and gestured to his team. "And neither are we."

Mufasa let out a kind chuckle at Connor's enthusiasm and confidence. It was a lot like how his own sons acted.

"Patients, my young friend. In due time, we shall see if the light is truly in our favor in the coming days." Mufasa said with a kind smile before setting his eyes forward where he caught sight of the two they were hoping to find. "But first, I think it would be more prudent for us to seek Rafiki's and Bagheera's council on the matter at hand."

That matter at hand being their possible knowledge on the pearl shard of this world.

Then as they were coming up to the entrance of the training grounds. The two guards standing by gave the king a bow as he and the Guardians passed by.

Then suddenly. They watched as Simba was knocked to the ground as he grunted and tumbled over on his back. Which at first made Simba look impressed because Simba isn't one to be knocked down so easily in training.

"I'm okay..." Simba reassured with his hand up which made Mufasa grin.

"Well done, Zidane. I almost..." Mufasa almost complimented as he looked over to see Zidane wasn't standing anywhere in the training grounds and he called out. "Zidane?"

"He just left to go see Garnet." Simba groaned and snorted as he sat up as he sarcastically added."So I got my understudy."

Then suddenly a female Leonoid came from a forward flip in the air and landed on Simba as he winced. But she landed with her feet in between and her hand just pushed him down. As she had her spear raised.

This was Nala. Simba's 'best inspiration' and his betrothed.

"This 'understudy' just pinned ya again?" Nala replied smugly with a smirk.

Nala was a Leonoid around the same age as Simba. She had blue eyes and long blonde hair and beige fur. She wore a beige top that showed her midriff and orange shorts that covered half her thighs.

Mufasa just let out a laugh, amused by the antics of his son and future daughter-in-law.

"Hahahahaha! I see you've been keeping up with your training, Nala." Mufasa said with a smirk before looking down at his son. "Good to see someone capable and willing to remind my son of humility."

"She's the only one who has ever knocked him down." Zazu whispered to the Guardians which made some of them stiff a chuckle.

Then Nala helped Simba up while he brushed the dust off his furry arms and hair.

"No hard feelings?" Nala asked with a grin.

"Yeah yeah..." Simba replied in mild exasperation.

Then they both gave a short bow to Mufasa as he approached his son and future daughter-in-law with the Guardians.

"Wait...Are they?" Nala inquired as she curiously pointed at the Guardians.

"Human? Yes. Only two of them." Mufasa replied

"Well she and I are in the half human category." Connor clarified and asked Melody. "I can call you 'half', right?"

"Sure. No problem." Melody shrugged before introducing herself to Simba and Nala. "Hello. I'm Melody. And I'm actually half human and half mermaid."

"And I am the figurehead of the group. The name's Connor Ramsey. The Maverick. And the little midget of steel is my assistant, Mini-Mav. This is Man's best friend formally known as Dug." Connor did the rest of the introductions with a little humor.

"Salutations Animal Cookies!" Mini-Mav greeted with two fingers and a formal voice.

"Hi there Giant Kitties!" Dug panted and wagged his tail.

"And these Tiny Toons are Donald and Goofy." Connor gestured at the last two.

"Hey! Who're you calling Tiny Toons!?" Donald snapped in annoyance.

"I think he means us because we're smaller than normal." Goofy said with his usual goofy smile.

"I know who he was talking about, ya Doofus!" Donald snapped back at Goofy.

"Gee, then why did ya ask him if ya already knew?" Goofy asked while looking confused.

"Oh brother." Donald just sagged at Goofy's air-headedness.

"I hope General Zira wasn't too hard on you all. I saw you being marched in our village earlier." Nala said with concern and sympathy.

"It's fine. Her dirty looks barely scratched." Melody smiled and waved it off showing how tough she is for a little girl. "We're the Guardians of the Depths after all."

"These two are actually Keyblade wielders. And Connor here is actually the first Maverick we've had in centuries." Zazu revealed as he perched on the ground and pointed to Connor and Melody

"Sorry to ask, but aren't you two a little young to be keyblade wielders?" Simba asked as he found it to be a little confusing that two Guardians from the sky are even younger than him.

Then Connor and Melody shifted into Maverick and Tsunami to show off their armored forms. As they stood about the same height as everyone else now.

"Sorry, Braveheart. I heard that with my bad ear." Maverick rubbed the side of his helmet humorously like it was an ear there.

Simba and Nala looked on with wide eyes, sharing a glance before looking back at the two keybladers. Both of them were impressed.

"Forget it. What do I know?" Simba said before smirking. "I will say, you both look quite the tough opponents in that armor."

"I agree. Just one of you looks tough enough to hand Simba's ass to him without even putting up a sweat." Nala said with a teasing smirk.

"Only if he's being a bad kitty. By that I mean if he becomes a threat to the multiverse." Maverick replied.

"Thanks...I think." Simba scoffed and muttered that last part.

"So who's your other son?" Tsunami asked Mufasa since Zidane wasn't around at the moment.

"That would be Zidane. He's actually a human, like yourselves." Mufasa said to the two of them, surprising them.

"Uh...None of you are gonna bite my head off if I ask if he's adopted right? Cause last I checked I only got one." Maverick nervously asked while looking at Mufasa, Simba and Nala.

Mufasa just chuckled a little.

"It's quite alright. Yes. He was indeed adopted. We found him when he was only an infant and my wife and I raised him alongside Simba as one of our own." Mufasa answered.

"He may not be my brother by birth. But he's my brother by heart." Simba said with pride.

"He's also a great friend. And he's the only other person other than me and his and her majesties that can give this knucklehead a much needed smackdown." Nala said with a big smirk.

"So aside from Zidane. There are no other humans around here?" Melody asked.

"Actually, there is one other human amongst us." Mufasa answered with a fond smirk. "And if I'm not mistaken, I believe Zidane is on his way to see her at this moment."

If there's anyone Zidane would want to be with right now. It's his true companion and the only human he ever met. Someone he would call as more than just a friend.

Garnet Til Alexandros XVII.

---

Meanwhile down at the village lake...

Over by the residential area of a bunch of tents and tree houses which serves as pleasant places to live for the Leonoid citizens.

There was also a beech tree which was very tall, and stood by the side of a lake, with a waterfall nearby. Underneath the tree, at the base, was flat ground with dry grass.

And there were a bunch of young toddler aged Leonoid cubs. Eached dressed in basic jungle attire as they sat while paying attention to the youngest teacher the Leonoid village had.

The one teaching them was Garnet.

Garnet was a teenager about Zidane's age. She had short dark brown hair and brown eyes. She wore an orange top with the left shoulder exposed but still covering part of her left arm and her right shoulder covered. And her midriff is exposed as well. She also wore an orange skirt that covered half her thighs with a split on the right side. She was also barefoot.

She stood while there was a chart hanging against the tree as she drew examples of the world of Saltuvia being furthest from the sun.

"So as you can see, Class. Like every world. Our world rotates around the sun which affects the changing seasons. When it is farthest, that's when winter is supposed to take place. But our terrarium keeps this world warm for you all to live in the right conditions for your species." Garnet stated in her sweet British accent.

"Um…" One of the female cubs raised her hand. "How come the moon moves around when our world moves?"

"Oh no, Vala. The moon isn't moving. Neither is the sun. But it may look like that due to our perspective in size." Garnet answered as she took a leaf from the tree and held it in her hand and she let it go for the leaf to spin around and fall slowly on the ground. "Let's pretend that this leaf is a world with people living in it. From our perspective this leaf is moving on its own. We see it. But the people there wouldn't. Because from their perspective. We're moving even if we're standing still."

"Ooh." The student nodded in understanding.

"So you see, Class. For every perspective there are two sides. In physical terms we'll only be part of one or the other. but in philosophy or morality. it is a choice of which perspective we stand in. Whether it is in light, or in darkness.

Then Garnet's class was concluded.

"Thank you so much for another remarkable lesson, Garnet." Voiced an approaching Leonoid who moved to stand by Garnet's side. This was Nia, the head teacher, and Garnet's adopted mother. Nia is a white leonoid with long white hair that reaches halfway down her back. She wore a green dress with yellow highlights, with one strap of the dress purposefully hanging off her right shoulder. The skirt of the dress goes to her knees and has a split on the right side. She also had green and brown ankle guards. "Alright, children. Class is dismissed for the day."

"Also, don't forget to study their homework on botany for next week." Garnet reminded the class as they were getting up to leave.

"Yes Miss Garnet." All the children said with smiles before they ran off laughing and giggling.

Garnet and Nia smiled watching them go off into residential areas to either go home or play out in the area.

"Not too shabby for my fourth month in teaching, right?" Garnet asked her adopted Mother.

"I'd say it was an excellent lesson on your part." Nia said, smiling proudly at her adopted daughter. "You've really come a long way since you first started out. It won't be long before you take my place as head teacher."

"Mother, it's only been my first year. Well a part of it anyway. You still have plenty of gold worth of teaching left in your furr." Garnet said as they walked beside the lake as Garnet expressed one of her desires. "Though it would be a dream come true if I had a way to show these students the places I have been. The worlds I have seen."

"That would be a lovely sight to see." Nia said while looking up into the sky as they walked. "If it wasn't for this blasted war, and if we had someone who could fix up your gummi ship, there wouldn't be anything to keep such a dream from becoming reality."

"Oh just imagine it. Class is in session. Today's world travel is etcetera etcetera. Then some hours later. Class dismissed. We all come home in time for supper and all the children get to spread what they've learned throughout the Kingdom. And spark the interest level and possibly of...Maybe one day we would expand to the stars." Garnet expressed as she looked around and up at the sky. Then she looked up at Nia. With a small smile. "Honesty I'm glad you and the others are not like those uptight 'law forbids other species' or 'law forbids change' type of tribes, like I read about in books."

"Of course,Dear. In our tribe, there will always be a home for those who need it." Nia said softly. "If that wasn't how things were, I never would've had such a wonderful daughter enter my life."

"Miss Nia! Miss Nia!" A young student named Atral came up and had a stack of papers in his hands as he ran up to Nia. "I finished my homework!"

"Already?!" Nia smiled brightly at the boy.

"Uh huh. My Mama grows the same flowers in our garden." Atral said sweetly.

"That's wonderful dear." Nia said to the young cub before addressing her daughter. "If you'll excuse me, I have to go give Atral a great grade for his homework. feel free to go on without me. I'll catch up with you later."

"Of course, Mother." Garnet smiled and exchanged a short hug and kiss on the cheeks to Nia before she left with the young student.

Once Garnet was alone. She went back over to sit on the other side of the tree to lean back under the tree to relax. When she suddenly heard some twigs snapping and the branches shaking above her. And a few leaves falling.

Garnet smiled playfully up at the tree. She couldn't see him. But she knew Zidane was up there watching her.

"Oh dear. I thought the guards took care of that monkey infestation weeks ago." Garnet said snarky and playfully as she leaned down.

"Hey! Who are you calling Monkey?!" Zidane echoed from the tree. "Uh-I mean...Hi Garn!"

"Hey, Zid!" Garnet beamed up at him. "Why don't you come down and give your girlfriend a kiss?"

Zidane's response was using a tree vine to lower himself down while upside-down. Until he was facing Garnet while upside-down down. He snickered a bit.

"Do I get extra credit, Miss?" Zidane grinned.

Garnet giggled at her boyfriend.

"Maybe a little." Garnet teased before she leaned forward and kissed him on the lips while he was still upside down.

It has been two years since they started a relationship. And so far having Garnet in his life made Zidane feel less that he was alone in this world. But now that they're a couple. They both feel complete in that area.

"So. How was training?" Garnet asked as they stopped kissing and Zidane landed on his bare feet and sat next to her.

"I still can't knock Simba down. But at least I can keep him on his toes." Zidane answered as he wiped a little sweat from his forehead.

"Don't worry, sweetie. Just keep training hard, and you'll be knocking Simba flat on his back in no time." Garnet said sweetly to him.

"Well I overheard I might get some new competition. My father just came in with a couple of guests." Zidane stated as he leaned back.

"Who?" Garnet asked.

"I didn't get a good look. I left before I could meet them." Zidane shrugged.

"Well, whoever they are, for your father to be showing them around himself, they must be quite the important group." Garnet surmised as she leaned onto his shoulder.

Zidane nodded in agreement as he wrapped his arm around Garnet while she was leaning on his shoulder. And Garnet traced some of the sores on his chest and torso to help him relax. Zidane always enjoyed her gentle touches.

Including those times she would massage him after he won a fight.

"Maybe. Who knows? To be honest about my family, and my adoring public here, we've been in hiding for my whole life. I never even ventured too far from the group. Even during the few times in the past when we used to move from place to place around the jungle." Zidane said in thought.

"Unless it was for missions sent by your father." Garnet reminded.

"Right. True. But there's also the fact that I've never seen the rest of this world. There's so much untouched territory and places to explore. And because of the Tigroids that patrol and invade our world. We can't go out and discover more." Zidane said as he was looking out.

"Sweetheart. If I'm not mistaken, you'll have a whole Multiverse to explore when the war is over." Garnet encouraged.

And it was when Garnet was rescued and brought among Zidane's people. Zidane found out and learned so much more about the Multiverse. Because Garnet was the one that taught him so much.

"I know. But I have to wonder. Mother and Father never spoke about other kingdoms across the world. What if..." Zidane pondered.

"Yes?" Garnet asked as she looked up at her boyfriend.

"What if they're are others out there? Others that might be running from Shere Khan too? Or maybe even worse monsters than him." Zidane wondered and he sighed as he looked down. "How would we even find them if they were a week's journey away?"

Most often any scout or search party of Leonoids that are sent to search the jungle for signs and possibilities, would either never return or return with scars and bruises.

Shere Khan has made life difficult for all of the Leonoids. But they have survived and flourished because they stay together. And Zidane and Garnet are an inspiration to them.

"Hey, don't worry, sweetie." Garnet said, using a hand to gently turn Zidane's gaze towards her. "Even if that is true, we'll find a way together. Because that's what we always do."

Zidane sighed as he looked into her pretty eyes. "But does it always work?" He asked.

"Maybe not always. But why stop now?" Garnet asked sweetly with a warm smile.

"You are horrible at pep talks, you know that?" Zidane smiled at her.

Which made the young British girl giggle a bit.

"If I'm so bad at it, then why is it working?" Garnet teased lightly as she leaned up to him.

"I hate that it's working." Zidane mused as he leaned in.

And they both started to share a passionate kiss while Garnet cupped Zidane's face, and the jungle boy stroked her soft hair.

Zidane felt so lucky to have Garnet in his life. He doesn't know what he would do without her.

Then as Zidane and Garnet finished their kiss to take a breath, they heard a voice from behind the tree clear its throat. Which made them jump a little as they looked over to see a familiar face to both of them.

Mostly Zidane.

It was Sarabi. The Queen of the Leonoids and wife of King Mufasa. And of course Simba and Zidane's mother.

She came into view next to the tree and stood there with her hands on her hips, as she smirked down at the young jungle couple.

"Honestly. I didn't need to put that much effort with your father either." Sarabi remarked teasingly.

Which made Garnet giggle meekly with her hand on her lips and Zidane blushing like a tomato.

"We were just...Nevermind." Zidane sighed in embarrassment.

"Hello Your Majesty. How are you?" Garnet stood up and asked the Queen sweetly.

Sarabi was an older Leonoid woman with short sand-colored hair, She wore a yellow and beige dress that went past her knees, and a golden sunflower themed crown on her head.

"I'm doing just fine, my Dear. And how are you doing today?" Sarabi asked before flashing a teasing smirk. "My son is treating you well, I hope?"

"No worries. Your son is a metaphorical prince." Garnet sweetly replied.

"Literal. That's literal." Zidane corrected as he sat up and stood next to Garnet. "Hey Mom. How did the meeting go? Well?"

"Actually, the meeting is still going on." Sarabi said before looking at both of them. "As a matter of fact, your father wanted me to bring you and Garnet back to meet our new guests."

"Aaawe. Really? Do I have to shake another primate's hand? They never even wash their hands let alone wipe their-" Zidane groaned like a young boy and almost said.

"Zidane. Darling. Please don't." Garnet deadpanned with a stern tone as she placed a finger on his lips. Before he could finish his innuendo statement."This meeting isn't with another Gorilla. Trust me on this. You do not want to miss out on this meeting."

"Come on Zid. You've already been to over two hundred and forty-eight different meetings. One more couldn't hurt." Garnet encouraged amusingly

Zidane slumped his shoulder and sighed.

"Alright." Zidane nodded as he walked with Sarabi.

The Queen of the Leonoid placed her hand on his shoulder as they walked together. While Garnet held his hand. If there's one impossible thing that Zidane could lose in a natural fight. It's trying to say no to the two women in his life that he loves and respects.

---

Later inside of Rafiki's Ancient Tree...

Ever since the Leonoids settled in this area. Rafiki claimed the right to use a large baobab tree in the middle of the royal grounds to serve as a place for meditation and to draw his hieroglyphs. In fact he's done this in almost every place they've moved to since they're home was invaded.

But most times it was just him. Other times Bagheera would come in to assist him during meetings.

Inside the large baobab tree was a cave-like area inside. Large enough for a camp ground for a small group. In the middle was a campfire for mystical works and all around were drawing and hieroglyphs written by the baboon. Like the day Simba was born. Even the day Mufasa was born up there. Rafiki was in fact older than three of the past kings. And yet he is still in his prime. For his old age of course.

Connor and Melody sat together with their legs crossed on the ground in front of the fire. With Donald, Goofy, Mini Mav and Dug right behind them.

Simba and Mufasa were standing in front of them on the other end of the campfire logs with Bagheera. And Zazu who remained perched on a log nearby.

Rafiki began to chant. "Huuuum Muaaaaa Di kaaaa Meeela..." He hummed as he shook his staff. Around the fire.

Then he struck a flint rock and caused the fire logs to ignite with a burning blue flame. As he used resin to make it light blue. Then the logs and fire illuminated a type of light magic.

"He is calling upon the Heart of our world. To use its light to show us the past." Mufasa stated to the guardians.

"And here I thought he was cooking us a some acid battered chicken." Mini Mav muttered to Donald.

"Shhh!" Donald shushed him.

Then Rafiki tossed a dash of a yellow substance in the fire to cause it to shape images with its first images showed the glimpse of a mountain in the shape of a lion's mouth open.

"For many years, the Leonoids have lived in peace. But around seventeen Years ago, the Tigroids, lead by their current leader, Shere Khan, invaded, laying waste to all that stood in their path." Bagheera said with a serious tone as Rafiki showed them images of the Tigroids and Shere Khan, who were attacking the home of the Leonoids, who were fighting them in the image. "We fought long and hard against their forces. But we were eventually pushed back, forcing us to retreat, leaving behind the homes we've had established for generations."

Melody looked horrified hearing all of this. She tried to imagine what it was like to be forced out of her home.

The other Guardians looked and felted the same way.

Connor would know what that's like given what happened in Atlantis a while back.

"How was Share Cone able to do this?" Connor asked.

"It's pronounced Shere, Khan." Zazu annunciated using his feather fingers to demonstrate. "Now pay attention."

"During Shere Khan's journey to one day rule over the Tigroids, he went on a spirit walk. And through his connections to the darkness, it led him to a secret temple buried beneath the ground. Where he found the Akʼbʼal Staff. an ancient artifact which held the power of The Jaguar God of Terrestrial Fire." Bagheera explained as the smoke showed the temple, and the staff, which was dark colored but shined with the engraved head of a jaguar on top of it, the eyes holding glowing red jewels and the open mouth of the jaguar holding an ominous crystal sphere with darkness swirling inside of it. "And with his heart already in darkness. He forged a connection with the staff and gained the power of a fire god. And with that power in his grasp. he became unstoppable force of destruction."

"Woah. I thought he did something extremely inappropriate to gain power. Like I don't know, cut out the heart of his son and fed it to a volcano." Connor cringed at the thought.

"Ohhoho! He tried that with his own mother but got grounded at four! True story." Rafiki pointed out humorously.

"I tried that with my own Padre once!" Mini-Mav declared while he held a finger up.

"You're still on probation for that." Connor responded.

"But I want my squid arms!" Mini Mav whined and sulked.

"The game Skyrim was much different in the Marvel World. I had to tell him the same rules don't apply in real life." Connor whispered to Melody who looked uncomfortable hearing that detail.

"Uh. Ew?" Melody winced.

Then Mufasa resumed.

"So as you can see. We survived. And we have been a nomadic nation ever since. I raised both of my sons in exile. And in hope that we may find a way to defeat Shere Khan once and for all. Until then. Many continue to suffer because of this tyrant.

"I know the pain, Sir. Believe me, dealing with Tyrants can be a huge anal pain." Connor made a small sympathetic quip before he stated. " I spent the first ten years not knowing who my Mom was until I returned home and got drafted into becoming a Maverick. It wasn't until a couple of days ago that we claimed back Atlantis, after almost fifteen years of Atuma hoarding it for himself."

"And we all are willing to do the same for your Kingdom. Whatever it takes." Melody said firmly as she gripped Connor's hand in hers.

"They're right, your Majesty. We'll help you get your home back." Goofy said with a nod.

"We'll teach those Tigroids a lesson they'll never forget." Donald said with a firm tone, showing how serious he was.

"Oh boy, I get to take a big bite out of all those bad kitties." Dug said, wagging his tail.

"YES! I've been looking for a new throw rug!" Mini-Mav exclaimed.

"Though I have to ask. How did you fly past the Tigroid's watch? They keep an eye on almost all of the sky from around here." Zazu asked curiously.

"Well our ship is also a submarine. That and there was a storm earlier. So we used a warmhole." Connor stated.

"Your ship can do that?" Bagheera asked.

"My keyblade can." Connor stated as he summoned it with his hands.

"Impressive. Very few Keyblade Wielders are destined with that ability. You're role in this journey of yours is bigger than you might think." Mufasa stated with experience.

Which made Connor ponder a little.

"Whoop. Time to save some of that majestic thrill. Here comes the monkey boy and his leash." Simba smirked as he saw Zidane coming in with Garnet and Sarabi.

"Simba, if you call me that again. I'm bringing my knife to the...next...training..." Zidane lost his words as he stared at Connor and Melody in shock.

He had never seen other humans arrive before. And now he regretted leaving earlier. Because he couldn't see them much earlier.

"Yeah I know. He vexxed me too." Connor quipped as he held Turtle Goofy up in his hands showing Zidane.

Especially since Goofy still had his normal head attached to this form.

"Ahyuck! More like he shell shocked him." Goofy chuckled as he wiggled his turtle limbs.

But Zidane wasn't paying attention to that joke.

"There...Human...Like me." Zidane said in shock.

"He's not gonna sing is he?" Connor asked Garnet.

'You're both humans. Just like us." Garnet said in shock, looking at both Connor and Melody. "Where did you come from? How did you get here? Are there more of you here?"

"Woah. Calm down. We'll explain everything." Melody said with a sheepish smile. "Hi. My name's Melody."

Then Connor teleported over and shook both of Zidane and Garnet's hands.

"Connor Ramsey. Formerly and currently known as the Maverick." Connor introduced himself and then the rest of the team standing behind him and Melody. "And over there are the other members of my team. The Expendables."

He mainly meant Donald and Goofy as a joke.

"HEY! We are not expendable!" Donald snapped, flapping his wings in annoyance.

"Hiya. I'm Goofy. And my friend here is Donald." Goofy introduced himself.

"Hi there. I'm Dug. It's so nice to meet you." Dug said, panting happily and wagging his tail.

"Mini-Mav's is my name! Insanity is my Game!" Mini-Mav declared.

"Your old man just brought us all up to speed on the whole tiger tyrant business. We're here to help." Connor said to Zidane and Garnet.

"Well..." Zidane took a breath to collect himself so he could speak. "Like my girlfriend here, I have a lot of questions. But I sure as hell will take all the help we can get."

"Same here." Garnet said before introducing herself. "I'm Garnet. And this is my boyfriend, Zidane."

"Nice to meet you both. I'm sure you have a lot of questions. Where would you like to start." Melody asked Zidane and Garnet.

"How did you get here?" Zidane asked.

"Was it by a gummiship?" Garnet asked with hope in her eyes.

"Totally. Only we inadvertently masked our approach by traveling through a storm and ended up using a portal to park our ship underwater. She can shift into a submarine." Connor said as he was referring to the Stingray.

"Who's 'She' Donald?" Goofy asked.

"He means the ship." Donald exhaled.

"He's the ship?" Goofy asked as he looked confused.

"No you doofus! The Stingray is called a 'she'!" Donald groaned in annoyance.

"Oh. Then shouldn't we paint her pink?" Goofy asked. "We're making her look a little masculine with all those dark colors. Ahyuck!"

"Oh brother." Donald facepalmed himself.

"Any other questions? Please we gotta end this." Connor muttered about Goofy and Donald's conversation.

"Where did you all come from?" Garnet asked before she added on. "I mean, I know you all come from another world. But what's it like?"

"Our guests here are called the Guardians Of The Depths. Connor and Melody here came from two of the five kingdoms of Atlantis across the Multiverse. They're also on a quest of their own which requires them to help us." Mufasa explained to the team.

"Is this true?" Sarabi said in awe.

"It is, Mother." Simba nodded. "We just might be out of this whole Tigroid ordeal soon."

"We also came here to find another one of these." Melody stated as she held up one of the pearl shards.

"Have you ever seen another one like this before?" Connor asked Bagheera and Rafiki.

Both Rafiki and Bagheera studied the shard for a moment before their eyes widened in realization.

"You don't think..." Bagheera started.

"It most certainly is my friend." Rafiki said with a chuckle.

"What... What is it? Have you seen something like this before?" Melody asked, hoping they knew where to find the shard.

"We most certainly had. Many years ago when Bagheera and I went on our own journey to seek valuable knowledge that would help us in the future." Rafiki began.

"During our journey, we came upon the Kingdom of the Cercopia. Kingdom of the Primates. And there, we met their ruler, King Louie." Bagheera continued.

"And King Louie was a collector of many rare and exquisite items. And one of those items that we saw looked exactly like the shard you've just shown us." Rafiki concluded.

"Is he a good king or a bad king?" Goofy asked curiously.

"He's neither. King Louie may be loyal to his kind. But to any other kingdom. He can be friend or foe, for the right price." Bagheera stated.

"And currently he's just in between." Rafiki pointed out.

"So we can just pay him for the shard? Does he accept food stamps?" Connor asked.

"I'm afraid it's not that simple." Bagheera said with a frown.

"In order for you to convince King Louie to hand you the shard you seek, you would have to offer him something equivalent to its value." Rafiki explained to Connor and the rest of the guardians.

"Its value? But things don't really do anything on their own." Melody frowned.

"meh. To King Louie. If it glows. It's valuable." Rafiki shrugged.

"You're kidding." Connor deadpanned.

"Oh no, it's true. Primates despite their might. They have very small but sentimental value in anything that's unknown to them." Bagheera said.

Which gave Connor an idea and what to trade for the shard.

"I think I definitely got an offer the Monkey-In-The-Middle King can't refuse. Where can we find them?" Connor asked.

"Bagheera, we still have a map to their kingdom, do we not?" Rafiki asked him.

"I believe we do. It's somewhere in the Library. Let's look." Bagheera suggested.

"While you two are looking, I was hoping to have a private discussion with Connor." Simba requested before looking at Connor. "If that's alright with you?"

"Alright. As long as it's not a union dispute or an intro for tax law." Connor quipped as he walked out with Simba.

Zidane went with them to hear what they have to say.

"And I can take the rest of you on a tour through the village. If you like that sort of thing." Garnet offered Melody and the other Guardians.

"Gee, that sounds great." Goofy said.

"Oh boy! Count me in." Donald agreed.

"Ooooh, I get to sniff everything around me." Dug said happily.

"Great. I can fill my quota for National Geographic: Leonoid Edition." Mini-Mav joked.

"That would be lovely. Thank you." Melody said politely, but with an excited smile at the prospect of exploring their new surroundings.

As soon as everyone was dismissed. Simba led Connor to where they're going to talk with Zidane in addition. And Garnet to Melody and her team to socialize around the Leonoid settlement.

It has been a long time since Garnet got to interact with another human girl. Even if Melody was twelve and Garnet was sixteen. It didn't matter. Garnet knew they could easily become friends after today.

And maybe these Guardians might be the answer to her problems in finding a way to travel the Multiverse.

But for now. A war needed to be dealt with.

---

Later on at the look out point...

Simba was using his cat-like ability to run up the top of a hill just a mile away from the village. While was sliding across the water slide Connor made for him to keep up with his brother.

Then they both landed on top of a hill to see the entire mainland of Saltuvia. Everything Melody and Connor saw on the beach. With the view of not only the Leonoid village. But everything else.

Including the Pride Lands. They looked on at the majestic sight of a large almost continental size mountain with the formation of the open jaw of a lion. And inside the mouth was a rich looking Jungle Theme kingdom. With a now barren field on the outskirts of the Pride Lands.

All because of Shere Khan. Who ran their home down to the ground.

Connor teleported next to Zidane and Simba. Who were both looking out at Pride Rock. Which was miles away over the horizon. But given the highest of the mountain they were on. They could see it all.

"That's Pride Rock?" Connor asked while looking out with them.

"Yes, it is." Simba said with a sad look in his eyes. "I've never been there, though. I wasn't even born yet when Shere Khan and the Tigroids forced us out."

"Don't worry, Simba. Someday, we're gonna kick Shere Khan's ass and take back what's rightfully ours." Zidane said with determination, anxious to take back the Leonoids' original home.

"But there is one problem. Which brings me to why we need to talk." Simba said while looking over at Connor before he hopped on the edge of the cliff.

"Go on?" Connor inquired as the magic of Fantasia resumed the rap from earlier.

"We are outclawed~" Simba rapped.

"Wha?" Connor inquired.

"Outmaned~" Simba rapped.

"He's a man." Connor deadpanned and pointed at Zidane.

"Outnumbered~ Outplanned~ we gotta make an all out stand~" Simba rapped as he ealked along the edge while doing steps to the beat. "Ayo!~ We're gonna need a right-hand man~"

"woah now!" Connor looked surprised as he held his hands up at that statement.

"Check it~ Can I be real for a second? For just a millisecond~ Let down my guard and tell ya Mav how I feel a second?~ Now I'm the model of a young royal in general~

a teenage feline feeling fine whose men ans folks are all~ Lining up, to put me up on a pedestal~ Like writin' letters to relatives~ Embellishin' my elegance and eloquence~ But the elephant is in the room~ The truth is in ya face when ya hear the Tigroid cannons go~" Simba rapped while explained the whole ordeal.

"BOOM!~ BOOM!~" The Tigroid soldiers echoed from the border walls of Pride Rock.

****BOOM! BOOM!***

"Damn?! They have cannons?!" Connor looked staggered.

"Did we mention that earlier?" Zidane inquired.

"Any hope of success is fleeting~ How can I keep leading when the people I'm~ Leading keep retreating?~~ We put a stop to the bleeding as the Tigroids take pride Rock~Knight take rook~" Simba stated as he locked down a small palm tree with his claws.

Then Zidane hopped up on the tree above them as he took over the rap.

"But look~ we are outclawed~" Zidane rapped.

"You mean outgunned?" Connor inquired.

"Outmaned~" Zidane rapped.

"What's a gun?" Simba inquired at Connor.

"Outnumbered~ Outplanned~ We gotta make an all out stand~ Ayo, We're gonna need a right-hand man~" Zidane rapped as he slammed down a coconut to the ground like cannon fire.

"Incoming." Connor deadpanned.

"They're battering down the Battery, check the damages!~" Zidane rapped in a serious tone as he paced across the branches.

***RAH!***

"We gotta stop 'em and rob 'em of their advantages~" Zidane rapped as he pointed out to pride rock.

***RAH!***

"Let's take a stand with the stamina fate has granted us~ But I won't abandon ship~ Yo, let's steal their cannons!~" Zidane rapped with a michvious smirk at the last statement.

"What?!" Simba gawked at the last statement.

"If Connor takes their cannons during our incoming attack. Shere Khan's dead before breakfast tomorrow." Zidane clarified with smug confidence.

"Uh. You missed one thing brother." Simba held a finger up with an unamused expression.

"Like?" Zidane inquired with his arms crossed.

***Shh-BOOM!***

"Go for the cannon and watch the blood and the shit spray and Boom!~ Go for the cannon and we're abandonin' our base and Boom!~ If there's another ship then Boom!~" Simba rapped and demonstrated how the Tigroid's are experts with examples from leaf piles in the image of the final battle being lost. "We just lost the Pride Lands and

Boom!~"

"He's gotta point." Connor remarked with a shrug.

"I gotta level real quick~ We can't afford another slip~ Swords and shields armed up~ But I decide to divvy up~ Our forces, they're skittish as the Tigroid's cut the city up~ This close to giving up, facing mad scrutiny~ I scream in the face of this mass mutiny~ Are these the lions with which I am to defend America? if ride at midnight, Pride Rock in the distance~ I cannot be everywhere at once, people~ We're in dire need of assistance~" Simba rapped as he expressed and gestured to the ruins and devastation of the lost of war around the distance to the pride lands.

Connor cleared his throat as he stood in front of them and started rapping.

"I gotta say~" Connor rapped a request.

"You don't say?~" Zidane rapped and inquired.

"Zid and Sim~ Permission to stated a suggestion?~" Connor rapped a question.

"If you may." Simba rapped and allowed Connor to take over.

"Guys." Connor got there attention.

Then the rap resumed.

"I am the Maverick, the independent Keyblader~ Until I pass the touch or bite the dust, go figure~ And well, obviously~ I think you all could be of huge assistance~ I admire how you all keep firing on bad kitties

From a distance~" Connor rapped as he moved to the beats while teleporting around them.

"Huh?~" Simba and Zidane inquired.

"With your words~" Connor rapped a clarification.

"Oh~" Simba and Zidane rapped in understanding.

"You some questions~ I've got couple of suggestions on how to fight instead of fleeing west~" Connor rapped and stated.

"Alright?~" Simba and Zidane listened closely.

"We do it exactly how my fam saved Atlantis~ which I'll look pretty messing like a four headed Janus~" Connor rapped.

"Alright?~" Simba and Zidane rapped and listened.

"We divide em and conquer, by creating enough noise~ It'll take much longer but it's sure to work, Boys~ Like a cat hate's water, a tiger love's chaos~ So if Khan ain't home during the final act, it's payback time beotch!~" Connor rapped a suggestion with a little humor as he used a neon bat to swing at the neon head of a tiger to shatter it.

"So we spread out across Saltuvia, create enough cheos like a forest fire to get Shere Khan's attention in one place~" Zidane rapped as he began to understand what Connor was saying.

"While you all take back ya royal space~ My Team kicks Crouching Shere Hidden Khan ass in another place~" Connor smirked as he displayed a neon tiger drowning in water.

Simba nodded and laughed a little as something came to his mind.

"Was it something I said?~ Everything I said?~" Connor rapped and inquired at why Simba was luaghing

"On the contrary~ I called you here because our odds are beyond scary~ Your reputation precedes you, but I have to laugh~" Simba rapped and remarked as he placed an arm around Connor.

"Why?~" Connor rapped and inquired.

"Connor, how come no one can get you on their staff?~" Simba rapped and grinned.

"Dude!~" Connor exclaimed with a scowl.

"Don't get me wrong, you're a young keyblader of great renown~ I know you won many hearts while in the stars you fly around~ But I'll case to the case, the King and Queen wants to hire you~" Simba rapped and revealed.

"To be their Secretary?~ I don't think so~" Connor rapped and declined.

"And why are you upset?~" Zidane rapped and inquired.

"I'm not-" Connor almost dejected.

"It's alright, you want to fight, you've got a hunger~ I was just like you when I was younger~ Head full of fantasies of dyin' like a martyr?~" Simba rapped and took a guess.

"Pretty much." Connor shrugged.

"Dying is easy, my friend~ Living is harder~" Simba rapped and pointed out.

"Why are you telling me this?~" Connor rapped and asked curiously.

"I'm being honest~ I'm leading with a third of what our King has promised~ We're like a volcano about to explode~ We need someone like you to lighten the load~ So?~" Simba rapped as he stood in front of Connor and held his hand out.

Connor thought for a few seconds about what this could mean. Especially if they win. The Leonoids could become allies for the people of Atlantis when the time comes.

"outclawed and outmaned so Rise Up!~ Outnumbered and outplanned so Rise Up!~" Simba and Zidane chanted with the orchestra of Fantasia. "Outclawed and outmaned so Rise Up!~ Outnumbered and outplanned so Rise Up!~ Outclawed and outmaned so Rise Up!~ Outnumbered and outplanned so Rise Up!~ Outclawed and Outmaned so Rise Up!~ Outnumbered and outplanned so Rise Up!~"

"Exactly what position am I being hired for?" Connor inquired.

"First Foreign General." Simba clarified.

Then Connor slapped his hand against Simba's hand and shook it.

"A large wet storm is brewin. Cause here come general Mav." Connor smirked as he agreed to the deal and added on the last note to the beats of the song. "Consider me~ Risen up~"

"WHOO!" Zidane cheered with his hands in the air.

---

Later on at the Leonoid Village...

Garnet was giving Melody, Donald, Goofy, Mini-Mav and Dug the tour of their village. While they followed her and looked around at all of the friendly faces and curious faces as they passed by their homes or shacks.

The Leonoid Village was built near a lake and mountain, the trees and rocks blocking the view of the village, keeping it hidden and preventing anything from the outside to reach them. There were several buildings built by the lake, with one having a draw bridge connecting to a rock formation a few floors up. And there were several houses and walkways built into the plant-covered rocky walls, with some homes and walkways built over other homes and walkways.

"Wow. This place looks so amazing." Melody muttered as they looked around.

"Yeah, and look at all the homes they built. They all look well built." Goofy added as they looked at all the shacks and homes.

"I thought The Leonoids were nomadic." Donald said, confused, looking at what many would consider permanent buildings, not the kind that people could take down and move to a new location in the matter of minutes or hours.

"They were. But after hiding from Shere Khan for so many years, they grew tired of it." Garnet explained as she gestured to the surrounding lake and Mountain. "So, King Mufasa and his most trusted advisors, found this place and allowed the people to settle here, knowing that the village would be well hidden from the outside. And over time, the village became more fortified, and permanent homes and other structures were built."

"And none of the Tigroids ever attacked or found this place?" Goofy asked curiously.

"Of course not. Because if they did. We wouldn't still be here right now." Garnet answered.

"If it's okay to ask umm..." Melody thought of what to say or if she should say it.

"Yes, Melody?" Garnet smiled at the young Princess.

"Um...How did you end up here? I mean living among the Leonoids. Do you have any family here?" Melody asked, as she was wondering the whole time how someone like Zidane and Garnet was living here.

But she wanted to know Garnet's story first. And Garnet looked down for a second and spoke.

"Well. It's kind of a long story, you see. My father, Rodney Alexandros. Was a very respected and renowned professor. And a famous explorer back in my home world. I used to travel with him almost everywhere. Met some amazing people and creatures of every kind. And...Well I'm pretty sure you and Connor have seen some strange things." Garnet told and smiled at that last part.

"That's putting it mildly." Donald muttered as he referred to Wonderland.

"But one day. My father was reading the charts and specs of this world here. And knew that this world would be his greatest discovery yet. And needless to say. I was eight years old when it happened." Garnet said looking down sadly.

"When what happened?" Melody asked in concern for what troubled Garnet.

Garnet had a look of grief that had long passed. But only shed one tear as she revealed the truth.

"There was a storm. One that was over pride rock. And my father's Gummi Ship ended up crashing. We had three other passengers with us. But...when our ship crashed. I was the only one who survived. Barley." Garnet said solemnly. As she wiped her tear away. She didn't want to cry in front of the young Princess.

And the thought of meeting Nia, her adopted mother and Zidane made it easier not to.

Melody looked towards the other girl with sad eyes.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to bring up any painful memories." Melody said softly.

"It's fine. You didn't know. And it was a long time ago" Garnet said, giving Melody a soft smile before continuing. "After the crash, I was later found by Zidane, Simba, and Queen Sarabi. I will admit, I was very afraid when I first saw them. My right leg was broken, and I couldn't run. I honestly thought they were going to eat me, at first."

"I can understand that. I would've screamed my throat raw if I was in your place" Melody said, understanding why Garnet was scared back then.

"I almost did. But the Queen was so kind. She spoke to me soothingly, letting me know they weren't going to hurt me. She then picked me up, and carried me to their camp, which was before they found this place." Garnet explained. "After that, I was brought to the local teacher and healer, Nia. She took me in and healed me. And as time went by, we grew close. I eventually saw her as my mother. And she saw me as her daughter, which later led to her adopting me. And now, I'm her co-teacher to all the little Leonoid children."

"Wooow." Donald and Goofy said in awe.

"I was adopted by my Master too! Only mine was even more tragic. He bought me at Pet's-Mart at a discount. I should've been more expensive because Master said I'm worth more!" Dug panted and growled at that last part.

Melody and Garnet giggled at Dug.

"Of course you are, Dug. You should have been a thousand times more than what Connor got for you." melody said with a giggle, giving Dug a pat on the head.

"I must say, you sure have an interesting lot in your group." Garnet said with a smirk. "Especially that boyfriend of yours."

"Woah boy." Mini-Mav muttered.

"Wh- boyfriend?! Uh we're not...I mean we haven't...really got to that point. We're just friends. I mean not just friends we're kinda..." Melody rambled nervously trying to find a nice way to dismiss the subject.

Garnet, seeing Melody all flustered, let out a giggle.

"There's only two things. Friend or boyfriend. Which is it?" Garnet said with a teasing smirk, wiggling her eyebrows at her, making the poor girl blush.

"Um...You sure there isn't something in the middle?" Melody meekly asked as she rubbed her arm nervously.

"I don't know. Is there?" Garnet asked in a teasing tone.

The Princess sighed as she stopped walking to talk seriously for a moment. "Look. Connor and I aren't really engaged. But we're definitely engaged to be engaged to be engaged. And by the way, that's on a "need-to-know" basis. Not that Connor needs to know yet." Melody explained in the best way she could.

Which made Mini-Mav short circuit a bit before he shook his head back to being alert and looked up at Garnet. "Did any of that come from the dictionary? Cause I don't speak 'girl' chat." Mini-Mav inquired.

Garnet just giggled, finally deciding to show the girl mercy.

"It's okay. Take it easy. I was only kidding with you." Garnet said with a smile, patting Melody on the shoulder. "I think I understand."

Melody sighed as she looked up at Garnet. "Thank you. I mean. I would like to be in a relationship with him. I really like Connor. Even more than that. But I guess, I'm waiting for him to make the first move. Sure we kiss a lot. I tease him a lot. We're only sort of dating. But...I just wanna know for sure he feels the same way." Melody admitted honestly.

"I'm sure he'll let you know soon enough." Garnet said with a smile. "He does not seem like the type of guy to lead a girl on about something like this. Everything'll work out beautifully in the end."

Melody nodded as it seemed to encourage her to keep going with Connor to see where it goes.

"I hope it's okay to ask. But...How did it work with you and Zidane?" Melody asked looking up at Garnet.

Garnet thought for a moment and smiled a little.

"Well first off, let me tell you how Zidane came to be adopted by the King and Queen. I was told that they found him as a baby, inside a turned-over crib, on a crashed gummiship with his deceased human parents." Garnet went on to explain. "For the longest time, he grew up without any interactions with any other humans. That is, until we met. We became fast friends, since we can both relate to each other so easily. And over time, our friendship grew to the point where we cared for and loved each other as more than just friends."

"So. You were the only human he's ever known, until we came?" Melody asked curiously.

"Yep. In fact, you two are the only humans either of us encountered since we met years ago." Garnet said with a nod.

"Gawrsh. No wonder you became so close. You're all each other got." Goofy commented in remark.

"Well we're not a couple because we had to be. But because we wanted to be. As far as I'm concerned we could've stayed friends until we found a way to fix my ship. But...We just connected because Zidane was not like other boys I met in my youth. Not always acting proper and under a strict etiquette, leash, or pretentious. Or thinking I'm pink and gross." Garnet exhaled as she remembered all of the mean boys she used to encounter as a little girl. "I used to be bullied a lot by boys. But Zidane. Despite his mischievous attitude. He was the first boy to ever understand me. And we took it from there."

"I'm glad you two found such happiness with each other." Melody said, thinking of her own experiences. "Back home, I was considered weird by all the kids my age, because of how much I loved to swim in the ocean. Connor was the first boy I met who saw me in a positive light. And since then, there have been no worries for me."

Just then they all heard a burp in the distance that could shake the ground. It even startled Donald and Goofy.

***"BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURP!"***

Melody was weird out by it while Garnet smirked as she recognized it.

"Speaking of 'no worries'. Come on. These two you gotta meet." Garnet beamed as she took Melody's hand and led her over to a meadow.

---

It was more like an open crop field where Leonoid field workers do daily duties of planting and growing all kinds of fruit and vegetables. The kind you never see on Earth due to their various colors.

Some of these fruits and veggies were ginormous. Giant corn of different colors. Pears of different colors. Apples that changed colors. They were all formed around an open path as the Guardians followed Garnet around all of this giant alien looking food. Needless to say, they all smelled so good. Even Melody found them to be actually quite appetizing.

As the Leonoid field workers saw them walking by. All of them had friendly faces and most of them waved at the Guardians and Garnet while they would wave back and greet them.

Then over by two palm trees straight ahead and near the path. They saw a blue hammock with a Warthog leaning back relaxing. With a meerkat doing the same on the Warthog's large belly. And they were both taking and competing on how much they could eat.

More like how much they could eat bugs.

This meerkat's name is Timon and the warthog's name is Pumbaa.

"Well listen to this, Timon. I once ate 52 katydids and three dozen katy didn'ts." Pumbaa said.

"Big whoopy-boopety-doopety deal, Pumbaa. I once scarfed down an entire colony of bedbugs, as well as the sofa bugs, ottoman bugs and coffee table bugs." Timon replied.

"Aw! Is that the best you can do? I once ate 300 june bugs and it was only April." Pumbaa bragged.

"Peeked on weak. I once ate an entire ant mound. I didn't even spare the uncles, cousins, brothers and the wives they barely stayed consistent with." Timon bragged back.

Just then Garnet was coming up with the others.

"Hey Timon! Here comes our little friend, Garnet." Pumbaa beamed seeing her as they both yelped and fell out of their hammock.

Then Timon and Pumbaa stood up straight with smiles as Timon waved at her.

"Hey there, Gar! How's a our favorite and only hairless wonder woman?" Timon greeted.

By hairless he meant furless. Since Garnet doesn't have fur like a lioness. Garnet giggled at that.

"I'm doing just fine. In fact, I wanted to introduce you to a few new friends." Garnet said before gesturing towards Melody and the others. "Timon, Pumbaa, I'd like you to meet Melody, Donald, Goofy, Dug, and Mini-Mav."

"Hi." Melody gave a smile.

"Hello!" Donald greeted.

"Hiya!" Goofy beamed.

"Greetings Timothy and Pork N Beans!" Mini-Mav saluted.

"Hey...How come he greeted you twice?" Timon inquired looking at Pumbaa.

"Please to meet you all. We're just ended our shift of taking care of some pests around the crops." Pumbaa greeted and stated.

"And reminiscing on the grub we've just had." Timon remarked as he licked his lips about the lunch they finished.

Garnet gave two thumbs up to them with a nervous smile before she leaned over to the others.

"They both follow a entomophagous lifestyle if you know what I mean." Garnet said nervously to them.

"Ugh." Melody grimaced a little in response.

"Eeew!" Donald gagged in disgusted

Melody and Donald were the only two to understand that. Dug was a dog and Mini-Mav was just hearing that word. As for Goofy...

"Uhhh...But I thought Jonas Salk found a cure for that." Goofy pondered as he heard that completely wrong.

Donald facepalmed himself at Goofy's response.

"She means they eat bugs, you idiot." Donald groaned out in exasperation at his friend.

"Oooooh." Goofy said in understanding, before looking green at the revaluation. "Gawrsh….."

"What do grubs taste like? Maybe I'll like them." Dug said, panting and wagging his tail.

"I wouldn't be surprised. I've seen some of the things you've eaten. You're basically a walking junkyard." Mini-Mav remarked.

"As gross as it sounds. It's actually part of a natural diet for meerkats." Garnet said in Timon's defense.

"Yeah. And pigs like Pumbaa will eat anything." Timon remarked with a grin.

"That's Mister Pig! And I don't eat paper towels!" Pumbaa snapped with a glare, before it shifted into a nervous stare as he added. "Well I'm trying to quit."

Garnet and even Melody let out a slight giggle at that.

"So, how did you meet these two?" Melody asked.

"Well, years ago, they were just traveling about, until they stumbled upon our village. King Mufasa allowed them to stay the night. The next day, the crop workers went into fields to collect the harvest, and found all the crops richer and healthier than before." Garnet said before explaining further. "You see, we always had difficulty with certain insects destroying our crops, not to mention the poisonous kind that would come into our homes and spread diseases, like mosquitoes."

"That sounds awful." Melody cringed at the thought.

"It was. But because Timon and Pumbaa were there that night, there were no pests destroying our crops this time. So there was almost no rotten or destroyed food that had to be disposed of due to insect issues." Garnet continued on. "When this got back to the King and learned it was thanks to these two, he offered to let them stay permanently, in exchange for dealing with the insect problem."

"It was quite a steal if you ask me." Timon said with a happy look. "We get free room and board..."

"And all the bugs we can eat." Pumbaa said with a content sigh at all the grub they can get their paws on.

"And best of all, no one trying to eat us on a regular basis." Timon concluded with a content sigh. "Hah, yeah. We've truly found our Hakuna Matata."

"Your what?" Donald inquired confusingly.

"Ha-pina colada?" Goofy tilted his head.

"No its Hakuna Matata. It means no worries." Pumbaa enunciated for them.

"we can take it from here guys!" The foreman of the fields called out to them as they were busy reaping today's harvest.

"No prob! Call us in case there's seconds!" Timon waved back before he and Pumbaa got up. "We learned something that probably motivated these claw and order type groups."

"That's right. Because some of the Leonoids fought depression when we met them. So we taught them as Timon says. You gotta put your behind in your past." Pumbaa declared confidently. Then he pondered and furrowed his brows. "Uh...I mean."

"No no no! Amateur. Lie down before you hurt yourself." Timon corrected before he clarified to Melody and her friends. "It's you gotta put your past behind ya. Look forward and focus on what's in front and not behind. Unlike my Pal here who keeps his secret weapon reserved in the back." He remarked pointing back at Pumbaa.

"I think he means a gas bomb." Mini-Mav whispered to Dug.

"Cool!" Dug panted.

"It's like this. Bad things happen and you can't do a thing about it, right?" Timon quizzed Melody.

"Well...uh.." Melody pondered about that.

"WRONG!" Timon pointed and stated. "When the world turns its back on you. You turn your back on the world. And when fate makes the world realize how desperately it needs you and it cries in rivers of tears for how much of a jerk it us!...Then you give it the biggest I told you so."

"Basically without using that loose metaphor. They mean that your problems will seem small when you let go of your worries. Sure fear keeps us from doing foolish things and being reckless. But without worries, we see the solution." Garnet stated as they all started walking out of the crop fields and across the meadow and towards her favorite spot. With Timon and Pumbaa walking alongside them.

"I guess that makes some sense." Melody responded with a smile.

"If ya worry too much, then ya miss what's right in front of ya." Goofy surmised.

"Sounds about right... For once." Donald commented on Goofy's reply.

"And let's say. It comes with a steady flow. And it's own theme." Timon stated as the made it to the lake side with a couple of palm trees nearby for a shade as Timon stood on a rock.

And the magic of Fantasia started their own philosophy.

"Hakuna Matata~ What a wonder phrase~" Timon sang as he started the song.

"Hakuna Matata~ Ain't no passing craaaaaze!~" Pumbaa sang as they let Melody and Garnet over to sit near some bush cushions near the water.

"It means 'no worries'~ For the rest of your Daaaays!~" Timon resumed as he danced up a tree.

"It's our problem freeeeee!~Philosophyyyyy!~" Timon and Pumbaa sang together as the warthog dashed and caught the meerkat with his belly before he could fall.

"Hakuna Matataaaaa~" Timon finished softly.

"Hakuna Matata huh?" Donald figured it had a nice ring to it as he perched next to Melody.

"Yeah. It's our motto." Pumbaa smiled.

"Uh...What's a motto?" Goofy asked, looking confused.

"I think the better question is what's a 'motto' with him?" Timon muttered to Donald about Goofy.

"I'm still not sure." Donald sighed in annoyance.

"Oh, I get it! Ah-hyuck! Hoo Hoo Hoo HOO!" Goofy said with his signature laugh.

"It actually sounds quite catchy!" Melody beamed, playfully kicked her bare feet to the music.

"I know, right?!" Garnet beamed, doing the same thing with her bare feet.

"Hahahaha! You know guys? These two words will solve all your problems!" Pumbaa said with a laugh.

"That's right! Take Pumbaa for example!" Timon said, gesturing to Pumbaa before he began singing again. "Why….When he was a young warthog~"

"WHEN I WAS A YOUNG WARTHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOG!~" Pumbaa sang with much gusto.

"Very nice." Timon muttered while turning a finger in his left ear from how loud Pumbaa's singing was.

"Thanks!" Pumba said with a big toothy smile.

---

*In a Flashback!*

A young Pumbaa was walking through the tall grass towards a small watering hole.

"He found his aroma lacked a certain appeal~" Timon sang as Pumbaa in the flashback continued walking by several green-furred monkeys falling out of the trees, knocked out from Pumbaa's bad smell. "He could clear the Savannah after every meal~"

"I'm a sensitive soul, though I seem thick-skiiiiiinned~" Pumbaa sang as flashback Pumbaa made it to the water and started drinking from the watering hole, bending down to do so, causing the tall grass to wilt and the flies to drop. "And it hurt that my friends never stood DOWNWIIIIIIIIIND!~" Pumbaa looked up to see several red and white Zebras, blue giraffes, and one or two yellow elephants recoil from the smell, and run away as fast as they could.

*Then the FlashBack ends!.. ..*

---

"And OOOH, the shame!~" Pumbaa sang in humorous heartbreak like the member of a gospel choir.

with Timon echoing back "He was ashamed!~"

"Thought of changin' my name~" Pumbaa sang while stepping into a spotlight made by the sun and forest canopy.

"Oh, what's in a name~?" Timon echoed again, as he gestured about with his hands as he stood on Garnet's shoulder.

"And I got downhearted~" Pumbaa sang while looking up.

"How did you feel?~" Timon sang as dropped to his knees on the ground.

"Every time that I-" Pumbaa went on, only to be interrupted by Timon who put a hands to his mouth.

"Pumbaa! Not in front of the ladies!" Timon said, giving a nervous smile back at the group.

"Oh... sorry." Pumbaa said with his own embarrassed smile, causing the Guardians of the group to be either confused or dumbfounded while Garnet had an exasperated smile.

"Oh you mean farted!" Dug beamed.

"Duuug!" Melody and Garnet whined.

"What? You ladies heard worse!" Mini-Mav shrugged.

"Achem. Resuming..." Timon cleared his throat to Fantasia's magic.

Then Timon and Pumbaa got up and led the team over to some individual tree vine swings, as they all sat on them. The vines picked them all up and swung them around in different patterns like a thrill ride. It's as if the trees had a mine of their own to give them something to scream and have fun with. And they seemed to enjoy swinging around and around the tall trees.

"Wooohooooo!" Melody cheered as she kicked her bare feet out enjoying the ride.

"Wakakaakakakakaka!" Donald panicked on his vine swing ride.

Then they resumed the song.

"Hakuna Matata!~ What a wonderful phrase!~ Hakuna Matata~ Ain't no passing craze!~" Timon and Pumbaa sang on their tree vine rides.

Then Garnet hopped off her vine and landed on a tree branch high off the ground.

"It means no worries!~ For the rest of your daaays!~" Garnet sang beautifully as she sauntered on her bare feet across the branch like a tightrope to the song.

"Whaaaat?! i can hear yoooou!" Pumbaa yelled as he swung around the tree.

Then Melody landed next to Garnet as the two ladies sang like two showgirls on stage while on the branch.

"It means no worries!~ For the rest of your daaaaaaays!~" Melody harmonized beautifully.

"Yeah! Singing girls!" Timon cheered as the others landed around them.

"It's our problem freeeeee!~" Melody and Garnet sang together before Pumbaa landed behind them.

"Philosophyyyyyyy!~" Pumbaa sang.

"HAKUNA MATATAAAAAA!~" Everyone sang together.

Just then as the song ended. Zidane swung on a vine and landed in front of Garnet.

"Hey, Guys!" They heard someone call down to them, making them turn their heads to see Zidane swinging towards them on a vine before jumping down, landing in front of Garnet.

"Hey, Zid. What's up?" Garnet asked sweetly, wrapping her arms around his neck as he stood up.

"I came to get the Guardians." Zidane said to her as he wrapped his arms around her waist before turning his gaze towards the guardians. "My father and Connor want you guys to come to the throne room. They said something about an important mission."

"Guardians?!" Timon and Pumbaa inquired looking at each other.

"Sorry Guys. I'd love to stay and chat but..." Melody meekly stated before she shifted into her Tsunami armored form and remarked. "Duty calls."

Then Tsunami jumped and flipped off the tree.

"Quick! Cushion and shred me from the drop below!" Mini-Mav snatched Goofy in his shell and got on top of him like a skateboard.

"Hey, what do ya mean shred-" Goofy almost asked before Mini-Mav jumped off the tree with him. "WHAAA-HOO-HOO-HOOOOOOOOOOEY!"

"Whew. Good thing my landing will be soft." Donald sighed in relief as he flew off.

And it was a good thing Dug was still on the ground even during the final part of the song earlier.

Zidane held onto Garnet as they swung off to go and see what mission the Guardians will be given. While Timon and Pumbaa were alone on the tree, to ponder what just happened.

"That kid was a lot older? Huh. Who knew?" Timon inquired about Melody since she looked older than Garnet in her Tsunami form.

"Uh gee Timon. I was sorta thinking that was just a mystical armored form that makes her look older." Pumbaa figured.

"Ha! Pumbaa, that's crazy talk. How would a- hey...Maybe that was a mystical armored form that makes her look older! Now that makes more sense!" Timon realized as if he came up with the idea first

"Wow! It sounds a lot better when you say it!" Pumbaa beamed.

"Pumbaa. Everything sounds better when I say it." Timon replied before he heard a faint passing gas noise. "See what I mean?"

---

Later down at the throne room...

Tsunami and the rest of the team went in with Zidane and Garnet, as they saw Mufasa on his throne and Sarabi sitting next to him on her throne.

While Simba was standing besides his parents. And on the other end were Bagheera and Rafiki.

Standing with the guards was General Zira who was looking at them with little respect as she stood with her arms crossed while listening to their mission.

Maverick was standing at a neon war table with a map of the entire district of the island. That he gained with one of his camouflage surveillance drones. He was able to use FELICITY to scan the island.

"From what I've gathered. Shearing The Khan is gonna take having to knock a few chess pieces off the board. And in order to do that we'll have to spread em out. But before we get to 'how' we'll need to gather more info. To start my assistant FELICITY discovered that the reason the Pride Lands are barren is because Shere Khan built a dam over pride rock to hoard all the water to himself. That way he can profit off of the entire water supply." Maverick informed the royals.

Everyone at the meeting did not take this news well.

"So, that's what caused this to happen to our homeland." Sarabi muttered darkly with anger in her eyes.

"That, miserable, little... How dare he do this to our home!" Simba roared in anger.

"Patience, my son. We will see that this wrong is made right. And that Shere Khan answers for his crimes against our people." Mufasa said calmly, with rage in his eyes, holding back his anger.

"But...What if their big hover fence ended up having a little accident? I mean cats and water are like republicans and democrats! Am I right?!" Maverick remarked with a little chuckle before he cleared his throat. "No offense."

He is talking to cats after all.

"None taken." Mufasa said with a stifled chuckle.

"I like the way you think, young man. That just might do the trick." Sarabi said.

"Except. Are you forgetting that you could end up washing away our beloved city with all the Tigroids?" Zira snarled condescendingly.

"Oh it ain't the city that will see Hurricane Ramsey, just the palace. I've marked key locations of the wall to where I should add some leaks. If done straight to the exact points. The city will be spared a flood and the Pride Lands will get one hell of a cool bath." Maverick stated as he showed the holo-specs.

"While our enemies are washed away." Sarabi said with a nod.

"I must say. This is an excellent plan of attack. And might just end the war with the Tigroids much sooner than we anticipated." Mufasa said, scratching his chin.

"As easy as that may sound, It ain't exactly gonna be a short trip to the bathroom. Cause while we're still collecting intelligence on Tigerclaw Khan. He'll be collecting info on us with a recently built elephant driven satellite array." Maverick cautioned as he displayed the images.

The images showed a large stone looking dish spinning with the movement of an elephant that's yoked to it as its being made to walk in circles and causing the satellite to spin with the movement of the lower shafts.

"Now don't get me wrong. He can't hear us from all the way over here, obviously. But the moment we step one foot on the pride lands. That thing will tip off Khan like a smoke detector with low batteries." Maverick stated."And whatever we try to do on land won't matter. He's just unlucky that I got this info from the air."

He was referring to the fact that he got this info from his surveillance hover drone.

Mufasa looked at this information as he scratched his chin in thought.

"So, in order for us to commence your plan, we must first remove the array of satellites from the board." Mufasa surmised as he looked over the map.

"That indeed seems to be the case." Sarabi commented. "But the question is, how?"

"The Revenant over there is part of the plan I came up with." Maverick gestured back over at Zidane who was listening at the entrance with the rest of the team.

"I am?" Zidane inquired.

"Yes, Johnny Weissmuller. Come in here, you to Team Saints Row." Maverick gestured for him and the team to walk in and join the meeting. "General Mav here's got a mission for all of you. And I mean the kind that would build morale and gives our bleak economy a reason to lay you off for being too good to shell more helicopter cash."

That's his witty way of saying they're needed for an important mission.

"General Mav?!" Donald gasped hearing that.

"Ahyuck! He got drafted." Goofy remarked.

"Or maybe we all got drafted." Tsunami said jokingly with a giggle.

"Oh boy. I wonder if I'm the bomb-sniffing dog. I hope so. I'm good at smelling things." Dug said while panting and wagging his tail.

"SIR! CAPTAIN MINI-MAV REPORTING FOR DUTY, SIR!" Mini-Mav said, standing straight and saluting.

"So, what kind of mission do you have for us, General?" Tsunami asked in a joking tone.

"I'm getting to that, Aquafina. Anyhow, Donald, Goofy, you're a part of Zidane's mission." Maverick displayed a certain large muscular rhinoceros. "This old blowhard rhino I personally dubbed the name 'Gallagher' has been around the Pride Lands since the King and Queen here were in...

What do you guys use for diapers? Don't answer that. Anyhow, the Tigroids ignore him because he's blind and practically nerve-dead. Except for his sense of smell. If that old guy smells melons there's no stopping him. He's gonna be the dude that will take out the satellite array."

The rhinoceros on display was pretty big. Muscular and intimidating. But he's less dangerous than most rhinos considering that he can't see or feel anything. But watermelons are his favorite fruit.

"Hmm, he certainly looks big enough to do the job." Goofy said, looking at the image.

"Yeah. And then some. He's huge." Zidane commented.

"And how exactly do we fit into this plan you came up with?" Donald asked, not sure he was going to like what he will hear.

"You'll see….. Zid, you're the first part of the plan. The watermelons that emit the strongest sweet smell are these rare blue melons. And they grow on high altitudes around the Rhinoceros Turf. You'll need to gather at least three or four of these, before we move on to phase two." Maverick stated as he handed Zidane a blue melon to let him know what to look for. "Be careful not to drop them. Otherwise Gallagher will go for those instead of the bait."

"I'll do my best." Zidane said with a nod.

"And once he has the melons, what are we supposed to do then?" Donald asked.

"Simple. We're gonna coat Goofy in the melons and you're gonna fly while carrying him." Maverick grinned at Donald.

"Oh good ide- WHAT?!" Donald squawked.

"Hmmmm…Sounds like he's saying we're gonna be live bait." Goofy said with a tilt of his head.

"THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE"S SAYING, YA DODO!" Donald yelled at Goofy before turning on Maverick. "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!?"

"Yeah, I'm a few sectors short of an army base. But don't worry, you'll live...I think." Maverick pondered and added."You're just gonna carry Goofy at least three feet above Gallagher and then drop him on top of the satellite to make him think it's a tree. He'll ram that thing down."

"And if he rams into us in the process, what then?!" Donald exclaimed.

"He won't. He can't jump or fly if you catch my drift." Maverick clarified.

Donald will be flying above the blind rhino.

'Come on Donald, what's the worst that could happen?" Goofy asked enthusiastically.

"Only you would say that, ya big..." Donald muttered before conceding. "Fine! But if this plan goes south, you're paying for my hospital bills!"

"You mean this thing?" Tsunami chirped as she held up her keyblade and gestured a cure spell.

"Aaah phooey!" Donald grumbled with his wings crossed.

"As for my task. You're with me, Ocean's Eleven." Maverick said to Tsunami. "You and I are gonna travel to Cercopia and have a word with their king. If I know anything about monkeys. They can't resist psychology...And tossing their own crap...Except for baboons. They're waaaay more developed than any other primate."

Maverick quickly added that last part since Rafiki was listening. Which made him smile.

"Very nice recovery, my boy! Hehehe!" Rafiki said with a chuckle. "I assume then that you already have a plan to convince him to part with the shard you seek?"

"I've got a few really good ideas. But to narrow it down. I need to see this guy for myself." Maverick answered before he looked at Mini-Mav and Dug. "Meanwhile you too are gonna be on lookout when I'm there. Alert me incase any Tigroids or Heartless are spotted. And no, don't alert me for any squirrels, Dug. I mean it this time."

"Oooh, maaaan…." Dug whined, looking down.

"Don't worry, Dug. I'll find you a nice squirrel to chase when this is all over." Mini-Mav said mischievously, giving him a pat on the head.

"Alright, any questions?" Maverick asked.

"Well. Could ya repeat the part about coating my body in-" Goofy almost asked.

"No time for questions. Let's roll out!" Maverick does an Optimus Prime impression before he teleported away.

The whole room was quiet until Tsunami crossed her arms.

"Achem?!" Tsunami loudly inquired.

Then Maverick teleported back in and wrapped his arm around her.

"Sorry." Maverick sheepishly apologized for leaving her. Mini-Mav ran up to grab his leg and Dug curled under Tsunami's leg.

Then they teleported out of the throne room together.

"Well, they certainly are an interesting bunch." Mufasa said with a chuckle.

"I agree." Sarabi said with a smile before walking over to her son. "Good luck Zidane. And please be careful."

"Don't worry, Mom. I'm always careful." Zidane said with a big grin.

"Why do I not believe him?" Donald muttered, making Garnet giggle.

"Because you're smart." Garnet teased before walking up to her boyfriend and wrapping her arms around his neck, with him doing the same with her waist. "Come back to me safely."

"Be here when I do." Zidane said before kissing her, Garnet leaned into him as she raised a bare foot slightly in the air as they kissed, enjoying the closeness before ending the kiss.

Meanwhile, General Sira was leaving the throne room with a sinister smirk on her lips. She'll soon get one over the outsiders soon.

Whatever she's up to is not a good thing. But her status with the Leonoid royal family keeps them from ever suspecting anything.

---

Later on down the road to the Cercopia...

Cercopia was vast with tall rocky structures and green everywhere. There was a large body of water on top of a rocky slope. And in the center was King Louie's palace, with three tall stone towers.

Maverick and Tsunami landed on two of the stone pillars near the trees as they looked out at the kingdom. While Maverick read the map.

"According to Bagheera's map, this is it. I gotta say. I expected less green and more vitamin-K." Maverick remarked looking out at the palace.

Dug and Mini-Mav were standing below the pillars waiting for them.

"It does look quite nice." Tsunami looked about with wonder. "I was expecting to see more monkeys. Where is everyone?"

"I don't know, Mel. Normally in empty shitty towns like this. It's either a nocturnal zombie apocalypse, or we weren't invited to a party at the big house." Maverick figured looking up at the palace of King Louie.

"I'm guessing then it's just a case of a big party at the palace." Tsunami said while looking around. "Because I don't see any signs of Zombies being here."

"Well. Only one way to find out." Maverick stated.

Then he teleported down and brought Dug and Mini-Mav to stand on the stone pillar together. Since there was enough space for them to sit and watch together.

"Alright, you two be good boys now. And keep an eye out for us, okay?" Tsunami reminded them with a nice smile.

"Yes, Master's hostage." Dug panted and barked obediently while Mini-Mav saluted.

"No problem, Madre! I shall watch over this place like it's the entrance to the president's- Hey look a bear!" Mini-Mav pointed down at the gate entrance.

"Mini-Mav this is..." Maverick almost corrected before he looked down to see a bear was really at the entrance. "Seriously?"

From the look of things. The bear was trying to negotiate with the two tall gorillas standing guard at the front gate entrance to the Kingdom of Cercopia. The Gorillas sure didn't need armor with all of those muscles they got. But they had spears while standing guard.

"What's a bear doing here, in a kingdom of monkeys?" Tsunami asked, confused and surprised by this development.

"Let's find out. Keep your head down and stay close." Maverick stated as Tsunami nodded before they both jumped off. Leaving Mini-Mav and Dug on guard duty.

Meanwhile down over at the main gate. The bear was still trying to negotiate with the gorillas. The bear had a navy blue fur color while the gorillas looked pale white on their fur.

"Come on fellas. You remember old Baloo right? I'm the life of the party." The bear named Baloo tried to negotiate with his charm and swag.

"And you were also banned from the Kingdom." The Gorilla guard growled as they glared at him.

"Hehe! Yeah there's a funny story about that. so that wasn't me that got banned. that was my clumsy identical twin...Um...Bill." Baloo nervously chuckled trying to laugh.

The two guards stepped forward menacingly.

"Here's another funny story." The other guard growled. "You have thirty seconds to get out of here before we slap you with a trespassing fine. Which will add up to half your teeth. Get the message?"

Baloo gulped as he sweated and backed away.

"O-O-Okay fellas. Let's not get hasty. I was just. Uh..." Baloo nervously chuckled as he backed away.

"Psst!" He heard from behind the bushes.

Baloo looked back to see Maverick way back over on the road. Gesturing him to come over with a wave of his arm.

"Oh uh...I gotta go. I forgot I'm late for uh...Thing. tootles!" Baloo turned and walked out quickly.

with the guards not noticing, Baloo. walked over to the side of a large tree, away from the main entrance while wondering who was calling him.

"Didn't your Momever tell you to carry an ID?" Maverick inquired with his arms crossed as he spooked Baloo from behind.

"Whoa! Did YOUR Mom ever tell you not to sneak up on people like that?" Baloo said, holding a hand to his chest as he flashed a friendly amused smile. "Who are you, anyway? Or better yet, what are you, besides shiny?"

"The name's Maverick. And this is my partner, Tsunami." Maverick introduced himself before Tsunami came over from a flip in the air and landed next to Maverick.

"We're the Guardians of the Depths. Don't worry they're just suits." Tsunami assured.

"Even your face?" Baloo tilted his head.

"Especially the face." Tsunami smiled.

"What were you doing over there? Did you leave your bet inside the Cercopia lost & found?" Maverick inquired at the bear.

"No. No. No. I don't gamble... At least not often." Baloo muttered the last part before shaking his head and he continued. "But it's important I get in there. I have to get Mowgli back."

"Mowgli?" Tsunami asked while looking curious.

"What's a Mowgli? It's a weapon isn't it? I haven't named mine yet. I'm still thinking of either up Capri sun or Miami Heat." Maverick quipped about his weapon while gestured at the keyblade in his hand.

"No no no. Mowgli isn't a weapon. She's the sweetest, kindest, strongest Mancub I've ever known. Not some tool to be used by others." Baloo said with a bit of force in his voice in defense of his friend.

"Mancub? You mean she's a human?" Tsunami asked.

"Uh shouldn't she be called a 'girlcub' then, Smokey?" Maverick inquired before he shook his own joke off. "Nevermind. So you got someone you care about in there. What happened? Did she get arrested or was this an abduction?"

If she's a cub from 'Man' as in 'Mankind'. Than it's pretty much on the title 'Mancub'.

"She was abducted." Baloo said with a serious tone. "King Louie found out what Mowgli can do, and wants it for himself."

"I knew liberal taxes are run by monkeys. Alright. Follow us. We have our own back entrance." Maverick stated as he formed a neon bubble around Baloo and floated him off the ground.

"Whoa! Now this is new." Baloo said while looking around as he floated in the bubble. "Maybe I shouldn't have eaten all those wild berries for breakfast this morning."

"Oh trust me this is wild, but it ain't the berries." Maverick stated as he formed neon around his legs and Tsunami legs and they jumped high in the air.

Which Baloo's neon buble zooming up to follow them. "WOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAH!" He yelped out in the air.

As the guardian duo and their new bear friend was heading inside the palace of King Louie.

---

Inside the throne room...

Inside the palace throne room was a large area that resembled a courtyard. With multiple different pillars on each side. The whole palace was made of stone with green roots and leaves everywhere. And inside were monkeys and apes of every color known in existence, and of every species. There were silver monkeys. Black Monkeys. White monkeys. Blue and red striped monkeys. Pink polka dot monkeys. You name it.

Sitting at the large throne room was the species of the biggest primates to ever exist in the multiverse. A large red Gigantopithecus. King Louie.

He 9.8 feet tall. And serious looking. As he narrowed his eyes on everyone. Before he formed a smile and somehow shrunk back down to the size of a red orangutan. And held his hands up to stop the monkeys from hooting and shrieking as he stood up and hopped over to their prisoner who was bound at the center pillars of the court.

With the monkeys surrounding her.

This was Mowgli, a young girl who appears to be sixteen years old. She has dark caramel-colored skin, short messy black hair that's less than half her neck down, and emerald-green eyes. She wore a red crop top that left her mid-torso and stomach exposed, and red shorts that covered half of her thighs. And she was barefoot.

She stood between the two pillars, her hands and feet bound to them, stretching her arms and legs near their limit, her feet touching the ground, leaving her just enough slack to pull on her binds helplessly. She looked forward, glaring defiantly at her captors.

"Well now, Mancub. My boys and 'prime mates' tell me you got the spark in the color blue. What says you? Will you show us how?" King Louie asked with a party-like voice as he swung around the pillars.

"No." Mowgli said defiantly, still pulling on her restraints.

Her response caused one of the monkeys to instantly toss a banana at her.

*Splat!*

He pelted her face making her sputter.

"Pff! Hey!" Mowgli exclaimed with a glared.

"Now now boys! It's a shame to waste good food! Always aim for the mouth." King Louie corrected with a humorous tone.

*flop!*

A banana this time launched into Mowgli's mouth. Stuffing it. "Mmph!" She muffled with a glare.

"Much better. Come on, think about it. You show us how it's done. And we'll give us food and a place to party. It's not like it's a dangerous treasure you got." King Louie insisted with a big grin.

Mowgli spit the banana out of her mouth and kept glaring at the king.

"I won't, it's too dangerous." Mowgli said to the monkey king.

"Oh, like a different color is supposed to be more dangerous than regular fire. You wanna see dangerous my lady? Here's dangerous." King Louie narrowed his eyes as he instantly grew into a gigantopithecus and growled down at Mowgli. "Your choice Mancub. You can either tell us how to make blue fire. Or will have to get even more savage."

Mowgli gulped, but did her best to not show any fear, even though she was starting to get a little scared. She took a second to think of her next reply.

"I-I mean I could. B-but in order for it to work, there has to be a big reason to need it." Mowgli said, lying through her teeth to try and buy herself a little more time.

King Louie huffed as he then shrunk back down to an orangutan as he seemed to buy her lie.

"Well. Now that you ask. You see as monkeys. We're limited to our potential as a species. But you Man folk. You have all the stops of being unpredictable. And it's a style that we all need." King Louie stated with a passion as the Monkeys began to start a beat. As the magic of Fantasia started up with the orangutan dancing. "And it goes like this..."

"Here we go." Mowgli rolled her eyes and exhaled.

And with that, the magic of Fantasia began to take effect.

"A-baba-beep-boop~ Boop-ee-doop~*" King Louie started before he slapped the ground with both hands and started to really sing while dancing.

"Now I'm the king of the swingers~ Oh, the jungle VIP~" King Louie sang before grabbing a vine and swinging on it to turn back towards Mowgli while the other monkeys beat on logs to create a beat. "I've reached the top and had to stop~ And that's what botherin' me~" He hopped up and grabbed a branch with his hands, hanging in front of Mowgli.

"I wanna be a man, Mancub~" King Louie sang as he grabbed and smooshed her face with his feet and rubbed her hair with his left hand, holding the branch. "And stroll right into town~" King Louie then used his hand and right foot to pick any bugs from her hair before letting her go and the branch to stand on the ground and dance again. "And be just like the other men~ I'm tired of monkeyin' around!~" King Louie then jumped away and started dancing with has arms waving about.

"Oh, oobee doo!~" King Louie sanged.

"Opp-dee-wee!~" the monkeys echoed to the beat.

"I wanna be like yooou!~" King Louie sang and pointed at Mowgli with both hands.

"Hop-dee-doo-bee-do-bow!~" The other monkeys echoed back their own bee-doos.

"I wanna walk like you- Talk like you, toooo!~" King Louie sang while still dancing.

"Wee-bee-dee-bee-dee-boooo!~" One monkey who was holding a leaf fan standing next to Mowgli jumped to dance to the side of King Louie.

"You'll see it's truuuue~!" King Louie declared

"Shoo-be-dee-doo!~" The monkeys echoed as King Louie gave the ground a slap.

"An ape like meeeee!~" King Louie then shooed the other monkey away after the leaf fan got in his face.

"Scooby-doo-bee-doo-bee!~" The Monkeys echoed.

"Can learn to be human too!~" King Louie sang before he began playing the air trumpet while walking in a dancing way, the fan monkey following behind him, doing the same. But King Louie heard it and stopped in his tracks.

"Wha..." King Louie muttered as he turned to see the other monkey following behind, doing the same thing as him, but in a way he didn't like, making King Louie shoo him away, only for the fan monkey to stand on a top of a pillar and continue while holding his fan, making King Louie put his hands over his ears before he jumped up to swipe at the fan monkey, only for him to jump away and land on another pillar, and started to whistle and hold the fan like a guitar.

And when King Louie went to get him again, he was hit in the face with the fan, allowing the king to take the fan away. But the other monkey just kept whistling, now dancing in place, until King Louie swatted him with the fan.

Now, King Louie stood on a pillar himself, and started dancing and giving himself a beat with his lips, eventually using his arms as jump ropes, jumping over his arms, like he was walking. All the while, the other monkeys began to cheer for their king.

Mowgli the entire time was still tied to the pillars as she looked amused and exasperated at the same time.

"Are you done?" Mowgli inquired.

"Now here's the overture. Where you teach the art of man's blue fire." Kingdom Louie held Mowgli's head and pointed to Louie's ear to listen.

"I said for a 'good reason' didn't I?" Mowgli sarcastically inquired.

Then King Louie glared at huffed as he grew into gigantopithecus as he stood tall and pointed at Mowgli while shaking his own shoulders.

"Now don't try to kid me, mancub~ I'll make a deal with you~ What I desire is man's blue fire~ To make my dream come true~ Now, give me the secret, mancub~ Come on, clue me what to do~ Give me the power of man's blue flower~ So I can be like you~" king Louie sang as his giant self as the Monkeys cleared room for the Louie's gigantopithecus form to do a short break dance.

Suddenly Maverick. Tsunami and Baloo made it up to the top walkway way above the party. As they got a good view of the dance. And Mowgli who was held hostage.

"Blue fire? Doesn't he mean Greek fire? That stuff is more lethal than my Suga Mama's morning breath." Maverick realized what the monkeys were after.

"How can she be able to create blue Fire? Tsunami asked before she came to a realization. "Does this mean she can use some sort of fire magic?"

"Greek fire isn't magic, Mel. It's an art. And apparently that girl down there has it in spades." Maverick gestured down at the prisoners tied to the pillars.

Baloo looked down, seeing Mowgli tied up, making him angry at King Louie.

"I'll tear 'im limb from limb. I'll beat 'im. I'll.. I'll..." Baloo said angrily, waving his fists, before the beat of the music had him entranced, always loving a good beat and good music, making him dance in place with a serene smile. "Yeah! Well, man, what a beat."

"Focus Baloo Jangles. This rescue is gonna take some old fashioned brians over brawns." Maverick insisted looking down while he kept his head down.

"You better believe it, and I'm loaded with both." Baloo said, his eyes showing multiple colors, as if he was in a trance of his own making.

"I said focus, Rupert!" Maverick hissed.

"Oh uh...Yeah yeah." Baloo nodded as he was focused for only just a few seconds before he moved to the music again.

Maverick continued to go over the plan with Tsunami and Baloo. With the former being the only one listening.

"Anyway. I'm thinking of a literal rain on their shindig. Like someone turned on the sprinklers at the prom. So while I create a little havoc, you go-and he's zoned out again, has he?" Maverick deadpanned as Baloo moved on from behind.

"Yep, he did." Tsunami deadpanned as they watched Baloo dance away in his trance.

"I'm gone, man. Solid Gone!" Baloo said back to them as he danced away.

"We should've just left him behind and pulled off the rescue ourselves, right?" Tsunami deadpanned, exasperated by this turn of events.

"Pretty damn much..." Maverick facepalmed before an idea hit him. "Wait a second...The sun just came up. He'll be the distraction."

"You sure that's a good idea? If he gets caught, there's gonna be even more trouble." Tsunami said.

"He won't be. Look." Maverick pointed down towards the double doors toward the main throne court.

At this point. King Louie's dancing put him in a good mood and made him shrink back down to an orangutan.

And on the other side of the room, Baloo burst through, disguised as a monkey, with two halves of a coconut around his maw, a wig of plants on his head, and a grass skirt.

"HEY!~ Da-zaap bon-ronee~ Hap ba-dee dee-lap-da-non!~" Baloo sang and danced, walking towards everyone.

Louie looked at him with wide eyes and a big smile, falling for the disguise. Mowgli, on the other hand, recognized him instantly, making were eyes go wide in shock, before she looked at him dumbfounded with his actions right now.

"What the hell is he doing?!" Mowgli whispered in shock and bewilderment at the events unfolding before her.

"Hene-bebe-re~ Doot zaba-doo-bee-bay~ Bo-bom, za-ba-pa-panney!~" Baloo sang and danced, enticing Louie to rush over and start dancing next to him.

"Abba-doo-dee?!~" Louie called out while dancing.

"A reep-bon-naza!~" Baloo responded back, still dancing as well.

"Eh ba-daba doy!~" Louie called out.

"Well-a-la-ba zini!~" Baloo responded back.

"War-la-bop, boor-la-bop!~" Louie called out.

"See-ble-dop, dooney!~" Baloo responded back.

"Ooh, ooh, ooh!~" Louie called out.

"With a huh, huh, huh, huh!~" Baloo responded back. And at this point. All the other monkeys were dancing as well.

"Rawl rawl!~" Louie sang, on his knuckles, tongue sticking out.

"Getting mad, baby…" Baloo said, his eyes wild in his trance.

And the two grabbed the other's hand and started dancing with each other instead of just next to each other.

Meanwhile, Tsunami managed to sneak at the top of the pillars where Mowgli was restrained as she managed to slide down and start with using a water knife to cut the ropes off of Mowgli's ankles.

Mowgli saw this and her eyes widened in surprise.

"What's going on? Who are you?" Mowgli asked in a whisper before she asked a question she hoped the answer was yes to. "Are... Are you here to help me?"

"Shhhh. Yes. But stay quiet." Tsunami whispered softly. "As soon as I cut the ropes. Hang on."

Then Tsunami's cut the ropes off of Mowgli's hands. Thus freeing her.

"To wh-" Mowgli almost asked.

Before Maverick came in and teleported her out of there. While no one was looking.

Baloo and and Louie kept dancing as they held hands, spinning around in a circle, waving their hands in the air, continuing with their call and reply jargon from a moment ago. Only it's devolved into unrecognizable ramblings.. But the dancing got more and more intense, Baloo now throwing Louie under him and pulling him back out and pulling him close.

"You-hoo-hoo~"King Louie sang while still dancing with Baloo, and the monkeys echoed "boop-de-dweet!~" back while dancing.

"I wanna be like yoooou!~" Louie then pulled Louie behind him, then threw him over him in their dancing, with the monkeys echoing "Bop-dee-oobee-doo-bee!~"

the King of the Monkeys then grabbed a vine to swing on around.

"I wanna talk like you!~ Walk like you, too!~" King Louie, and now Baloo sang, King Louie letting go of the vine to continue dancing, while pointing at a gathering of monkeys dancing in front of him.

"You'll see it's true!~" Baloo and Louie sang while several monkeys echoed "Shoo-be-dee-doo!~" And continued to play music, or dance around. "Someone like meee!~"

"Scooby-dooby-dooby!~" The Monkeys echoed.

"Can learn to be~ Like someone like meeee!~" Louie, Baloo, and now the fan monkey sang, while the fan monkey danced around.

"Take me home, daddy!" Baloo said in his trance as he kept dancing.

"Can learn to be~ Like someone like you!~" Louie and Baloo sang as Louie danced over to Baloo.

"One more time!" Louie said, slapping Baloo on the back, and knocking his disguise from his face, with Baloo none the wiser of it.

"Yeah! Can learn to be

Like someone like meeeeeeeee!~" Baloo sang as the song ended, Louie going from confused, to shock, to angrily glaring at Baloo in less than a second, while the other monkeys just looked on shocked. And yet Baloo is still unaware his cover's been blown, until his trance ended, no longer hearing the music.

"Babadaba bodabodabodaboda da...~" Baloo stopped singing and looked down nervously as he slowly stopped dancing, seeing his grass skirt fall off, and noticing everyone looking at him. He realized he lost his disguise.

"Man..." Baloo muttered nervously as he knew the jig was up.

---

"It's Baloo, the bear!" One of the monkeys shouted, pointing at Baloo.

"Yeah, that's him!" Another monkey exclaimed, pointing at Baloo as well.

Baloo gulped looking around but he was relieved to see Mowgli was no longer tied to the pillars. Then he winced as he heard King Louie grow into a gigantopithecus from behind Baloo, showing that he's angry.

"Any particular reason you scurried back in here with your navy-ish furr? After I specific told you to never show your face or your clumsy butt again. And yet here you are. Polluting my air with your furr, face and butt." King Louie growled as he circled Baloo and then stood in front of the bear. Standing tall.

"N-N-Now look, Louie my man. It's a total misunderstanding. I was uh- given an invitation to come here and-" Baloo nervously stated.

King Louie looked over and glared at the empty pillars. Seeing that the Mancub was gone. Even the monkeys were jumping and howling angrily.

"Here I was trying to have a nice day of interrogating a female Mancub and...Now she's gone just at the moment you showed up. Where did you take the real life of the party huh? Here's the Mancub?!" King snapped.

"Now wait just a minute! She's not your Mancub! She's mine!" Baloo snapped back at King Louie in defense of Mowgli. "And I don't care if you're big enough to steal the moon. That doesn't mean you can take her from me! I outta bite your big flappy face off!"

King Louie chuckled as he leaned back.

"Well lookie here. First you steal the guest of honor and now you're threatening my face. This day just keeps getting better and better!" King Louie yelled out enthusiastically to his monkeys as they all got loud.

Meanwhile Maverick, Tsunami and Mowgli were hiding above one of the palace towers as they were watching down at the argument.

"I don't have time for this shit." Maverick exhaled as he jumped down while surprising both the girls.

"If you don't tell me where the girl is...I'm gonna-" king Louie leaned down to growl at Baloo who was growling back.

"ENOUGH!" Maverick flipped in the air over King Louie before he twirled and landed on the front pillars with his trident blade. Surprising all of the monkeys with his presence.

"Woah...Kid's got style." Baloo muttered.

"Sorry to disturb the courtship. But this was taking way too damn long." Maverick sarcastically quipped.

"And you are?" King Louie inquired as he stood up and scowled at Maverick.

"A guy who's about to give you one hell of a deal." Maverick stated back as he stared up at King Louie showing no fear.

King Louie let out an amused hum.

"Hmm. A deal you say?" King Louie said with a deep chuckle. "You come into my palace, uninvited, holding that giant fork of yours, and say you have a deal for me?"

"Did you hear me stutter, King Kong?" Maverick quipped back as he paced back and forth on the pillars staring back at the giant primate.

"And what, exactly, is this deal you seem so keen to offer me?" King Louie asked with narrowed eyes.

"The kind you don't get from kidnapping ladies and displaying them like a piñata." Maverick glared back.

"What's a piñata? Talk since why don't ya, Kid." King Louie snorted.

Maverick raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah that's right. I can tell you're a kid. I can smell your age." King Louie leaned forward and sniffed Maverick before he raised up. "You're even younger than the Mancub we brought in."

"And you clearly don't need a scent. Cause you got your age in full display, Magilla Gorilla." Maverick quipped back with smack talk.

King Louie narrowed his eyes in response. Before he stifled a laugh and let out a loud one. Which made all of the monkeys laugh.

"Ahahahahahahahahahahahaha!" King Louie laughed as he hunched over and shrunk back into an orangutan.

Maverick grinned and caused his keyblade to fade away. As King Louie collected himself and stood up as his positive self.

"Hahahaaa! I like this boy! He clearly got spunk and ain't afraid to stare death in the eye. We clearly got a lot in common!" King Louie chuckled as he hoped back on his throne and Maverick teleported up to him. "Alright, Kid. What's the deal."

"This." Maverick beld up what looked like a golden Amazon echo. But it had the M symbol on it instead of the Amazon logo. "LADY. Play one of my personal top five tracks."

'My pleasure'. The speaker's inviting female voice answered.

And then Maverick placed it on the ground as it displayed and constructed neon hollow grams of faceless funk band with a base. A DJ set, drums, trombone, jazz horn, and a piano. and a player for each instrument.

And a set of faceless ladies dressed like the group En Vogue. As the song My Lovin started. The band started playin. And the group started singing and dancing in front of everyone.

(En Vogue - My Lovin)

Ooh, bop

No, you're never gonna get it (ow)

Never ever gonna get it

No, not this time

No, you're never gonna get it

My love

Never ever gonna get it

No, you're never gonna get it (ow)

Never ever gonna get it

No, not this time

No, you're never gonna get it

My love

Never ever gonna get it

King Louie heard this, and his eyes widened in shock at something that seemed so magical. And his feet started tapping to the song, before he himself started to dance to the music.

"Oh man! This is amazing! I've never heard something so groovy in a long time!" Louie said, dancing with much vigor. The other monkeys, even Baloo, couldn't help but start to move to the music.

"This thing. Is one of my best creations. I call her, the Leisure. Augmented. Dance. To Youthful-Pleasure. Or LADY for short. The P is silent. Anyhow you ask her for any type of song. Discover any type of song. Anytime you folks want. And best of all. She's completely waterproof and indestructible." Maverick stated as the song kept going.

"Oooh boy! Now that is a treasure I would give my left hand for!" Louie stated with a spin, still dancing even as they began talking business. "So, what do you want for it? Name your price!"

"Well for starters. You can let this bear be allowed to attend your parties again." Maverick added the first part which made Baloo's eyes lit up.

"Of course! The bear sure can dance better than he breaks anyway. What else?" King Louie agreed and asked for the next part of the deal.

"Do you have anything like this fragment? I heard from the grapevine that you have one of your own. And LADY is all yours in exchange for the one you have." Maverick said as he held up a pearl shard to show King Louie.

Louie looked up at the pearl shard while he was still dancing, his eyes widening in recognition.

"Oh, that shiny little stone. I remember that!" Louie said while still dancing to the music. "But too late for that though. I already traded it to Shere Khan and the Tigroids for a Peace Treaty between our two civilizations. But I'm sure I might have something else that might be worth your while for that magical music playing box."

"Say whaaaa?" Maverick gawked with wide eyes.

Tsunami heard that from above with Mowgli standing next to her as the female keyblader facepalmed herself and groaned.

Maverick felt cheated and that this whole short monkey trip was for nothing...Until something came to him.

"Actually. There is one thing. As you might have heard. The Leonoids are at war with the Tigroids. My crew joined their tribe to help them defeat Shere Khan and win back their home. So...We have a plan on making noise around the jungle to draw Shere Khan away from Pride Rock. All we need is some volunteers who are wild and crazy enough to get creative in wreaking havoc." Maverick smirked at the dancing orangutan. As King Louie paid attention very carefully.

"Are you kidding me? I'll do you one better, kid. You give me that magic box and I'll join in on the action myself, and my fellow monkeys, if it means getting a chance to smack around those annoying pretentious Tigroids." King Louie proposed while still dancing. "I mean, anyone who could make such a holy object like this, has got to have even more tricks at the ready."

Maverick's eyes widened. He couldn't believe what he had done. not only has a narrow down where the shard is. put his brilliant plan in action. but he also just earned some significantly great allies for Mufasa's people. if this won't help them win the war. Nothing will.

"Hell yeah! That's my world's talk for done deal!" Maverick agreed as he humorously and sealed the deal with his fist pumped in the air.

"Then It's settled! Down with Shere Khan! And up with Music!" King Louie declared loudly, making his fellow monkeys cheer.

Meanwhile, Baloo was still dancing to the music, not really comprehending what's going down.

"I don't know what's happening right now, but I don't care. 'Cause I love it!" Baloo exclaimed as he kept dancing.

Tsunami was above the pillars and was totally happy to see that their plan went better than they expected. Even if they haven't gotten the shard yet. They will soon. No doubt about it. Then Tsunami looked over at Mowgli who was glad to be out of there. Even if she wasn't sure what's going on.

"You're...probably very confused right now." Tsunami twirled her own hair with her finger nervously.

"That's putting it mildly." Mowgli said with a wry smirk. "All I know for sure is that you came with Baloo to rescue me. Thanks for that, by the way."

"No problem. It's what we Guardians do." Tsunami smiled back.

"Guardians?" Mowgli tilted her head.

"It's best if we explain once we're out of here." Tsunami meekly added.

"No problem. But first." Mowgli mischievously smirked as she picked up a pineapple on the ground and stood up. And she tossed the pineapple hard at one of the monkeys.

***Bonk!***

"HOOOAH!" One of the Monkeys cried out.

"That's for the banana." Mowgli smirked snarkly before she flicked a hair strand and turned to leave.

"Wow. I like your style." Tsunami muttered as she followed Mowgli towards the exit.

Then Maverick walked by Baloo and patted his back as he gestured for him to follow him out of the exit. which, of course the bear nodded and followed the armored independent keep lead warrior out of the palace. Once they get out of the Monkey Kingdom, there's gonna be a conversation and explanations.

but they knew that afterwards Maverick and Tsunami couldn't wait to tell the Leonoids about the allies they have gained. and hopefully Shere Khan and his Tigroids haven't tipped them off.

And hopefully Donald and Goofy are having some success with their mission. Speaking of which...

---

Down over at the Rhinoceros Turf...

Zidane had finally gathered enough rare blue watermelons from jumping and swinging around the trees. As he landed on a large tree branch where Donald and Goofy were waiting for them.

"Here are the melons, Fellas. Are you sure you wanna go through with this? Sounds like a suicide mission?" Zidane asked as he placed the melons in front of Goofy.

"Don't worry, Zidane. Donald and I have gone on many missions, a lot more dangerous than this." Goofy said enthusiastically.

"Yeah, we got this." Donald said before muttering quietly. "I hope."

"Alright." Zidane shrugged as he cracked open one of the melons.

Then the jungle teen rubbed the insides against Goofy's turtle shell. Then he cracked open the second melon and did the same thing. Coating Goofy's turtle shell until it matched the blue colors. Then he cracked open the third one and placed the skin of the melon around Goofy's shell.

"Ahyuck! Melony." Goofy mused and chuckled.

Donald silently grumbled as he began to flap his wings and used his talon claws to latch on the bottom of Goofy's shell and lifted him up with each.

Zidane looked down and saw the blind Rhino known as Gallagher lift his head from the water of the lake he was drinking from to sniff as his face perked up with interest. He could smell his favorite fruit.

"Alright. Old Gallagher's got your scent Goofy. You gotta good grip, right Donald." Zidane checked them.

"Y-Yep..." Donald grunted as he held Goofy up.

"Good. Let's lead him to his lunch." Zidane smirked as he grabbed a vine and swung off.

"Don't worry, Donald, what's the worst that could happen?" Goofy smiled up at the duck with wings.

---

Five minutes later...

Donald and Goofy were now being chased through the jungle by a charged up and hungry blind rhino

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAK/WHAAAAOAOAOAOAOA!" Both Donald and Goofy screamed as Donald carried Goofy, flying as fast as he can through the jungle, and away from the speeding Gallagher, who was hot on their tails.

"YOU JUST HAD TO ASK, DIDN'T YA!?" Donald screamed as they ran for their lives.

"Keep flyin Donald! AND PLEASE DON'T DROP ME! I DON'T WANNA WASTE THE B6 AND VITAMIN C!" Goofy screamed as Donald them flew in range of the satellite array. while Gallagher was still chasing after them.

"THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE MORE WORRIED ABOUT?! NOT THE FACT WE'RE GONNA DIE?!" Donald screamed back as he tried to flying faster, a difficult task with him having to carry Goofy with him.

"Ahyuck! It's okay! We're wearin turtle shells!" Goofy perked up while Donald was flying.

"YOU REALLY THANK THAT'S GONNA SAVE US!? AND YOU'RE THE ONE WITH THE TURTLE SHELL! i'M NOT!" Donald screamed at Goffy again as they flew away.

"Ooooh..." Goofy realized slowly. Then... "YAAAA-HOO-HOO-HOOO-HOOOOOEY!"

Then they quickly got out of the way from the trees and out among the barren wasteland of the Pride Lands. Where they saw the satellite array straight ahead.

"HOLD ON!" Donald yelled as he flew fast with all of his might as he flew up to it.

Donald had fast wings. So he was about halfway there before Gallagher charged and knocked away the trees and sniffed his melons straight ahead. Donald at this point was right up to the satellite when the rhino dragged his paw ready to charge. Then Donald finally made it as he shook Goofy to sprinkle some melon sheddings on the spinning array. While the elephant pushing the knob looked up at them with a confusing expression.

"HURRY DONALD! HE'S COMING!" Goofy panicked.

"Almost...GOT IT!" Donald exclaimed as he flee out of their quickly.

The elephant stopped and scratched its head with its trunk, looking confused. before the elephant looked over, and saw Gallagher charging at him and the satellite.

"FAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" The elephant screamed in terror seeing the Rhino charning at him with a cloud of dust as he came in hard. And...

***SLAM!***

The satellite erase shattered as the elephant ran out of there, and Gallagher, the rhino was left to eat off the remnants of the melons off the shattered pieces of the array.

And Donald and Goofy were huffing and resting on a tree branch away from the barren pride lands.

"Whew. That was close." Goofy sighed in relief.

"Yeah. Too close!" Donald snapped before sighing. "Well, at least we completed our mission."

"Yep. So. How do ya think Connor and Melody are doin?" Goofy asked.

"Well, considering they went to get the pearl shard we need before we can leave this world, I'm hoping their mission went as good, if not better than ours." Donald replied.

Just then they heard Maverick speak on their ear pieces.

*"Hey Donald? Goofy? I don't want you two to freak out or anything. First off. How did the hungry hungry rhino mission go? And second, I've got good news and bad news."* Maverick stated in the ear piece.

"Of course there would be bad news. Why am I not surprised?" Donald snarked out before Goofy gave Maverick their report.

"The Satellite has been taken down. And none of us sustained any injuries." Goofy explained to maverick.

*"Great. That's awesome. Because the bad news is that Shere Khan has the stone. The Cercopian king traded it to him for a peace treaty."* Maverick responded.

"WHAAAAT!?" Both Donald and Goofy yelled in shock.

"YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME!" Donald screeched in frustration.

"Gee, now we have to fight Shere Khan to get the shard now." Goofy surmised. "But at least Connor said that he also had good news."

"It better be considering the number of complications that have just come up just from his bad news!" Donald snipped.

*"There is, Fowl Play. Turns out The deal I made with King Louie Armstrong and his barrel of subjects agreed to join the Leonoids. War & Peace in spades...And potassium."* Maverick revealed to them.

"Gawrsh! That means we have more allies to help fight the Tigroids." Goofy said happily.

"Oh boy! Now we might just be able to take back Pride Rock!" Donald exclaimed.

*"There a little bit more. No, not bad news, just meet us back in the Leonoid village and I'll fill you both in."* Maverick said in their earpiece.

"Roger. Order and Out." Donald said before the connection was cut off.

"Gee, I wonder what else they found while speaking with King Louie." Goofy said in thought.

"Only one way to find out. Come on." Donald said, grabbing Goofy's shell, and started flying back.

Just then. The Disney duo were returning back to camp. While making sure they weren't followed. Zidane followed them through the trees while he was doing the same.

They were definitely in for a surprise. Especially Zidane and Garnet when they find out there's another human girl in their world. Whatever Mowgli's story was and how she ended up on this world.

It definitely is some common ground for them. But the kind that leaves far more surprises than meets even the human eye. And the eye of the Leonoids.

---

THAT ALL FOR NOW FOLKS! 🎉🎉🎉

So yeah. Zidane and Garnet from Final Fantasy IX. It just made total sense to put them in this one. Who else but Zidane would look like he came from a Jungle and who else but Garnet would have a Jane like impression?

But also when I said I've made Mowgli loosely based on the Grimm Fairy Tales comics. That also means Mowgli would be a female in this version. Only her outfit is a red version of the outfit worn by Lua from Kong The Animated Series.

Zidane's outfit is based on the 2013 Tarzan film. And Garnet is a custom made version of Disney Jane's casual outfit. You know, the one she wore in the Kingdom Hearts game, but more cuter. And admittedly hot 😍

"Mel's outfit is still hotter." Maverick remarked.

"Awe…" Tsunami beamed.

Also Timon & Pumbaa. How could I not add them in here. And believe me this isn't the last we've seen of them. 😉

And if anyone's wondering. Yes, that elephant driven satellite array was based on the game Sly 2 Band Of Thieves. Even the blind rhino Gallagher was based on Grizzle Face the blind bear from the same game. The question is who gave that satellite to the Tigroids?

Did you guys enjoy how I mixed the King Louie of both the original and the remake? Whenever he gets mad he becomes the remake. When he's in a good mood. He's the original. I wasn't sure which one to settle with at the time, so I figured why not both? 😊

But also now you all know the dilemma of the Leonoids and their war against Shere Khan and the Tigroids. And Shere Khan has the next Pearl Shard. Question is. How are the Guardians going to get it? Will they help Mufasa and the Leonoids win this war?

Find out in the next chapter!

Thank you all so much for reading!

Be sure to Fave and Follow if you like what you see and don't forget to leave comments to let me know your thoughts. Pretty please?

And as always Disney/Square Enix fans!

FISTBUMP! 👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊