Chapter Eight: The Test of Strength
The final test was run by Beshte. His challenge was for Kion and Fuli to move a heavy rock while they were still tied together.
Beshte: "Alright guys, for your final test, you both have to move that rock while being tied together." He instructed.
Fuli: "What? That's impossible to do." She exclaimed.
Kion: "Yeah, how can we do that if our tails are tied together?" He questioned.
Beshte: "I guess you're going to have to figure it out." He replied with a shrug.
Fuli: *sighs* "Fine." Fuli sighed.
Kion: "Okay." He agreed reluctantly. "Ready, Fuli?" He asked.
Fuli: "I guess." She responded.
They began to move the rock, straining with effort.
Kion: "Hrrr." He grunted.
Fuli: "Ugh." She groaned.
They both tried as hard as they could, but the rock was incredibly heavy.
Kion: "Fuli, what if we tried lifting it?" He suggested.
Fuli: "I guess that could work." She agreed.
They tried to lift the boulder and, to their surprise, managed to do so.
Kion: "Hey Fuli, I think it's working!" He said excitedly.
Fuli: "Yeah, I think it is!" She responded, equally surprised.
Bunga, Beshte, and Ono watched with pride.
Bunga: "Wow, they're doing it!" He exclaimed.
Beshte: "They're actually working together!" He noted.
Ono: "At this rate, I think they might become friends again." He added.
But their excitement quickly turned to dismay. As Kion and Fuli were doing so well, Kion tripped on a small rock he didn't see and accidentally dropped the boulder. The rock fell back, landing on both their tails.
Kion: "Oww!" He cried out.
Fuli: "My tail!" She exclaimed in pain.
Ono: *gasp* "Hapana!" He gasped.
Bunga: "Oh no." He said, worried.
Beshte: "Let's help them." He urged.
The three friends rushed over to help.
Beshte: "Twende Kiboko!" He shouted.
Bunga: "Zuka Zama!" He added.
Ono: "Come on guys, keep lifting!" He encouraged.
With Fuli and Kion lifting as well, they all worked together to lift the heavy boulder off their tails.
Bunga: "Are you both okay?" He asked, concerned.
Kion: "Yeah, we're okay." He replied, though still in pain.
Fuli: "Ow, my tail hurts so much." She said, wincing.
Kion: "Mine too." He added.
Beshte: "That was really painful to watch." He commented.
Ono: "You're telling me." He agreed.
Kion: "I'm sorry, Fuli. I tripped on a small rock, I didn't see it." He apologized.
Fuli: "Well, you should've watched where you were going!" She snapped, blaming Kion for dropping the rock. "Kion, this is your fault! If it wasn't for you dropping the boulder, we wouldn't even be in this situation!"
Kion: "I said I was sorry, Fuli." He replied, trying to stay calm.
Fuli: "Yeah, well maybe if you weren't too stupid for dropping the boulder, none of this would've happened!" She retorted, her words cutting deep.
Kion: "I'm sorry, did you just call me stupid?!" He looked shocked.
Fuli: "Yes, I did!" She yelled.
Kion: "That's it!" He shouted, tackling Fuli. They started fighting and pulling on each other's tails, rolling around on the ground.
Bunga, Beshte, and Ono quickly intervened, pulling them apart. Kion and Fuli growled angrily at each other.
Bunga: "Alright, both of you stop it!" He yelled.
Ono: "Yeah, you two have been acting like this for days now!" He added.
Beshte: "Yeah, guys, this needs to stop! I thought you were friends!" He said, frustrated.
Fuli: "I guess we're not anymore since Kion's always bossing me around!" She retorted.
Kion: "No, it's because you never listen to me!" He shot back.
Fuli: "I don't even know why you asked me to join the Lion Guard, Kion!" She exclaimed.
Kion: "Well, I guess I made a mistake then!" He shouted.
Bunga, Beshte, and Ono stood there in shock, their mouths agape at the harsh words exchanged.
Fuli: "Okay guys, we did your stupid tests." Fuli said, fuming.
Kion: "Can you untie our tails now, Bunga?" He asked, his voice filled with frustration.
Bunga: "Absolutely not! Until you two can work things out, you're not getting your tails untied," Bunga stated firmly.
Suddenly, they all heard cries from baboons in distress.
Kion: "Sounds like the baboons need our help." Kion said, his tone shifting to concern. "Lion Guard, let's go!"
They raced over to save the baboons, their personal issues temporarily set aside.
To be continued...
