"The Royal Challenge has been around for years and years," Hila explained as he, Simba, Nala and Haiba walked into the den. "It was invented by King Ahadi – King Mufasa's father – for the specific purpose of entertaining him. I'm surprised you don't know about it, actually. You're pretty stupid for the Prince of the Pride Lands."

"That's it!" Simba went to attack Hila, but Nala blocked his path.

"Wait, Simba, wait," said Nala, calming him down. "Don't do something you'll regret. Look, I know what we can do."

"And so do I!" Simba declared, extending his claws and trying to get past Nala, who just held him in place. For a girl, she was pretty strong… "Where did you learn to stop people from moving like that?"

"Mother knows best," Nala replied, smiling. "Especially in the case of my mother. Now, Simba, don't you think we should hear this guy out first before you do anything rash?"

"Why? He's a jerk!" Simba exclaimed, glaring at Hila angrily. "And what's this Royal Challenge thing? And what has it got to do with me?"

"Well, you silly idiot, it involves you because you're the Prince," Hila replied. "That's the whole point of the Royal Challenge."

"I'm waiting for you to get to the part where you explain what the Royal Challenge actually is," said Haiba, sounding impatient. "'Cause so far, you've hardly said anything. So, come on – start talking."

Hila sighed, rolling his eyes. "Fools," he muttered under his breath, before looking up at the three cubs. "The Royal Challenge is… a contest, if you will. It allows a cub – say, me – to challenge a Prince – say, you – for future rule of the kingdom."

"No way!" Simba said, shaking his head. "Who would be stupid enough to invent a stupid thing like that?"

"Your father's father," Hila responded. "He wasn't a very good King, explaining why he invented this law in the first place, and—"

"Wait a sec," said Nala, waving a paw in the air. "It was a law?"

Hila nodded. "Yeah. Anyone can do it. It was never officially abolished – that means that no one ever got rid of it – so it still stands today. So, I'm here to challenge you, Prince Simba, for future rule of the kingdom."

"Well, you can forget it," Simba told him, frowning. "I've already had a bad week, and I'm not in the mood to deal with a stupid guy like you."

"I'm afraid you have to, Simba," Hila informed him. "If you don't accept the challenge, then that means you forfeit, and I will become the new Prince. I can kick your family right out of here."

"No fair!" Simba exclaimed, his eyes widening. "You can't do that!"

"Yes, I can," said Hila, a self-satisfying smile on his face. "It's the law."

Simba growled angrily, his face turning red. "Why, you little—"

"Now, where would I find the King?" Hila wondered, heading out of the den. "I need to find him so we can organise the Royal Challenge."

"Did someone say the Royal Challenge?" said a nervous voice from above them.

Hila looked up to see Zazu, who fluttered down to the ground, looking worried. "Yes, I did say the Royal Challenge," Hila told the hornbill.

Zazu chuckled nervously in response. "Why would a cub like you be mentioning the Royal Challenge? That's just a… legend."

"Zazu, why do you sound so worried?" King Mufasa joined Zazu by his side. "Are you getting worked up over the elephant population again?"

"No…" Zazu replied, looking up at the King. "I just heard this cub mention…" He gulped, fearing Mufasa's reaction. "The Royal Challenge."

"What?" Mufasa looked stunned, his eyes widening.

"Yeah," said Simba, looking up at his father. "This guy somehow thinks he can challenge me for future rule of the Pride Lands." He laughed. "But that's just stupid – isn't it?"

Mufasa looked down at his royal advisor. "Zazu, you did thoroughly abolish all of the old, unnecessary rules of the kingdom, didn't you? I thought I asked you to do that years ago – before Simba was even born."

Zazu chuckled in response. "Well… I have been meaning to tell you about this for quite some time, but I never really got round to it. You see… I forgot about one little law in particular. This one. I apologise sincerely, sire."

"Oh, no…" Mufasa shook his head and closed his eyes. "Zazu, how could you? The Royal Challenge should have been one of the first laws to be abandoned. I can't believe you acted so carelessly."

"So it's true?" said Nala, a concerned look on her face. "Simba really can be challenged for future ownership of the kingdom?"

Mufasa sighed, a solemn look on his face. "I'm afraid so. It was one of my father's laws – him and I weren't very close – and I wanted to get rid of it as quickly as possible. I thought I did – until now, of course," he explained, shooting Zazu an angry glare.

"What's all the commotion, Mufasa?" Sarabi asked, joining her mate by his side.

"Simba's going to undertake the Royal Challenge," Mufasa replied.

Sarabi screamed at the top of her voice and fell to the ground, unconscious.

Simba stared down at his motionless mother, a worried look on his face. "Somehow I don't think this Royal Challenge is going to be easy."

Zazu slowly walked away. "I think I'll go and serve my punishment for forgetting to organise the laws properly – five hours of merciless tickling."

"Make that ten hours," Mufasa added.

"How come the Pride Lands don't kill people as a punishment?" Nala asked, a curious look on her face. "Why do they tickle you instead?"

"Do you know how unpleasant it would be to kill people every time they broke a rule?" Mufasa replied. "Tickling is a far more suitable punishment – it takes a lot longer, for a start. And it lasts for however long you want it to. Unless, of course, I sentence someone to death by tickling."

"So who's the tickler?" Zazu asked, a worried look on his face. "The gophers or the monkeys?"

"Hmm…" Mufasa thought for a moment. "The monkeys," he decided.

Zazu let out a huge groan. "Oh, no, sire, not the monkeys! They always know what the best spots to tickle are!"

"It's your fault," was Mufasa's reply.

"Oh, I just hope they don't go for under the wings," Zazu said quietly, before flying off to his punishment. Why do I have to be ticklish?

"So what kind of things do you have to do for the Royal Challenge?" Simba asked.

"Three tests," Hila replied. "Skill, intelligence and courage – each and every one of them deadly. It takes all you've got just to survive."

"And I have to do this?" Simba exclaimed. "Don't I even get any help?"

"Oh, you get your friends for moral support," Hila told him. "But that's about it, really. Other than that, you're on your own."

He then smiled. "It doesn't matter to me, though. I can do anything. I'll win for sure." He turned to Nala. "And when I do, then I know who I'm gonna pick to be my Queen."

"In your dreams," Nala retorted, staring back at Hila angrily. "I'm sticking with Simba," she told him firmly.

Hila chuckled in response. "I don't think so," he said, reaching out with a paw and stroking Nala softly on the cheek. "I'm going to betroth us, so we'll have to be together. You're hot, I'm hot. What the heck? We can have a good make-out session once in a while."

Nala felt like striking Hila right on the face, but she held herself back. Simba would win this Royal Challenge. She was sure of it. He'd win and he would make sure that this cub would never ever bother them again.

Simba turned to Hila. "So what's the first test?"