"I don't believe it!" Simba exclaimed, staring at Hila angrily. "I thought the whole point of that test was to climb the tree! And now you're telling me that it wasn't?"

"I never said it was the point in the first place," Hila retorted. "I simply said that you had to rescue the person from the top. I never said anything about climbing. That means I've got one point. One more and I'll be running the kingdom – and I can kick you and your family out of here."

"I think he's just a cheat," Nala mumbled, a frown on her face. Hila really was a big, dumb jerk. She hoped he got trampled to death by an elephant. "So what's this next stupid test, then?"

"You're only calling it stupid because your pathetic excuse for a Prince is losing," Hila told her, enraging Nala even more.

"But if you must know, then the next test is the test of intelligence. You'll have to use all your brainpower if you want to overcome this tricky test."

"So what do we have to do? Fight each other with psychic powers or something?" Simba asked.

Hila slapped a paw to his face. "You really are an idiot…" he muttered, before looking at Simba. "There are no physical requirements for this test. All you need is a decent amount of intelligence – which means I'm obviously going to win this. It's very simple: I'm going to ask you a riddle, and if you get it right then you win. If you get it wrong, then I win. Understand?"

"Yeah," Simba replied. "I understand. So what's the riddle?"

"Hmm…" Hila put a paw to his chin, a thoughtful look on his face. "I need to think of one that'll really challenge you."

"He's going to cheat," Haiba said, watching Hila as he thought. "I know it. He's just going to make something up – something you won't even know the answer to. I've seen jerks like him before – they'll do anything just to win."

Simba shrugged at him. "Just what am I supposed to do?" he asked. "If I give up, then that means he gets the kingdom. Believe me, this isn't exactly my idea of a fun-filled day. I'd rather do nothing." He looked up at his father. "Dad, any advice?"

Mufasa shook his head at his son. "I'm afraid not, Simba. This devious cub seems to have thoroughly done his research on the Royal Challenge. It's all up to you to try and beat him. Regretfully, I can't offer any assistance."

"Great," Simba muttered, rolling his eyes. "What about you, Mom?" he asked his mother. "Got any helpful ideas?"

Sarabi's eyes rolled into the back of her head, and she fainted again. "Why does she keep doing that?" Nala asked, staring down at her motionless body.

"Let's just say that she wasn't exactly very fond of my father and his laws," Mufasa replied. "He scared her a lot during our cub hood. I'm actually still quite surprised that she remained my friend, considering that I was related to him."

"Was your father really that bad?" Haiba asked, raising an eyebrow. "Just how scary can one lion be?"

"You never met Hago," Simba replied, a frown on his face. "It's his fault that I can't ever sleep at night."

"Hago?" Haiba raised an eyebrow at Simba. "Funny. That was the name of my mother's—"

"I've got it!" Hila exclaimed, a grin on his face. "The ultimate riddle! One that you'll never be able to get! The riddle that will make sure I'm the King of the Pride Lands before the day is out!"

"Do you have to brag all the time?" Simba asked, staring at Hila with an unimpressed look on his face. He was by far the most annoying cub Simba had ever met. Even worse than Moto. Well, b efore he had taken Nala from him… "It's getting really annoying."

"No need to be jealous," said Hila. "Just because I'm better than you in every way doesn't make me better than you in every way."

Nala had a confused look on her face. "Wait, but that doesn't make any—"

"So, are you ready for the riddle, Simba?" Hila asked. "I warn you – it just might make your tiny brain explode."

"Bring it on," said Simba. "I can handle anything you can dish out. So come on – tell me this riddle."

Hila smiled. "Here goes: a lion rides into a pride. It takes him eighteen hours to get there, and eighteen hours to get back. He does this all on Sunday. How?"

"Wait, wait, wait," said Simba, shaking his head. "What does that mean? Say the last part again."

"Not a chance," replied Hila, his smile widening. He's doomed, he thought. There's no way he'll be able to figure that out.

"Answer it correctly, or the kingdom is mine."

"But it makes no sense!" Simba exclaimed. "There's only twenty-four hours in a day! You can't take eighteen hours to get into a pride, and eighteen hours to get back! That's more than twenty-four hours!"

"That's why it's called a riddle," said Hila. "You have to figure it out. That's the point. Better start thinking."

"Why, I oughta…" Simba raised a paw, his claws extended, an angry look on his face. He sighed, closing his eyes.

"Okay, Simba. You can work this out," he told himself. "You can work this out…"

"So a lion's riding into a pride?" said Haiba, looking a little confused. "Why can't he just walk? Another thing that makes no sense. I think he's just making it up. I can tell by the look in his eyes."

"I'm not doing anything," said Hila with a shrug. "I'm just waiting for Simba to give me an answer – the wrong answer – so I can become the King."

"Wait…" Simba opened his eyes, a look of realisation on his face. "I think I've got it. I think I know what the answer is."

Hila suppressed a snicker. "Really?" he said, doubting that Simba had the correct answer at all. "Okay, then, Simba – what is the answer?"

"Well, if a lion rides into a pride, and it takes him eighteen hours to get there, and eighteen hours to get back, all on Sunday… then Sunday must be the name of his elephant," Simba finished.

Hila's eyes widened, and a stunned look appeared on his face. "What… What did you say?"

"Sunday's the name of his elephant," Simba repeated, a proud smile on his face.

"But… how… how did you…?" Hila was lost for words. Simba was supposed to be dumb! He didn't have any intelligence at all! How could he possibly know the answer to that?

"That means I get one point," Simba declared, grinning. "Not looking so confident now, are you, Hila?"

"But… I… And you…" Hila sighed. "Oh, forget it. There's still one more test to go, and it's the toughest test of them all."

An evil grin spread across Hila's face. "The test of courage."