Bunga and The King
At Pride Rock, Simba, Nala, Kula, and Tama were near the entrance of the den.
"Kids, let's go! We're gonna be late for the elephant concert," Nala called.
"You know, it's considered an insult if the royal family is not there for the first song," Simba added.
"The first song is the best part!" Kion exclaimed as he, Kufu, and Kiara rushed out of the den.
"I'm actually looking forward to this," Kufu said with a smile. "'Cause I've never been to an elephant concert before."
"Trust me, Kufu, you are gonna love it," Kiara told him before rushing off, "Race you there!"
"Hey, that's not fair!" Kion called out as he and Kufu chased after Kiara.
"Shall we, girls?" Simba asked.
"Yes," Nala nodded.
"But let's not race," Tama told him.
"We're right behind you," Kula said with a smile as the four adult lions followed the cubs.
The three lion cubs continued racing each other until they stopped in their tracks when they heard Ono's voice calling out to them
"Kion! Kufu!" Ono called out as he landed in front of the three cubs. "We've got antelopes stuck in a mud pool near Chekundu Cliffs." He informed them.
"Is anyone hurt?" Kufu asked.
"No, but they are really stuck," Ono said as the four adult lions caught up to them. "That big rainstorm last night must've caused a mudslide."
"Looks like we have a job to do, Kion," Kufu told his leader.
"Dad?" Kion turned to his parents. "I'm gonna have to miss the elephant's rainy season concert." He said in a guilty tone.
"It's OK, Kion," Simba said in an understanding tone. "I'm sure Ma Tembo and the elephants will understand."
"Keeping the animals in the Pride Lands safe is your duty," Nala added.
"Right," Kion nodded before turning to his two Lion Guard members. "Kufu, Ono, let's go."
"Lead the way, Ono," Kufu told the egret as Ono flew off with Kion and Kufu following him.
"Say hi to Ma Tembo and the elephants for us!" Kion called out as he ran to where the antelopes were.
"We will, Kion!" Nala called out.
"Stay alert, Kufu!" Tama called out.
"And be careful!" Kula called out to her son.
"Come on, girls, we still have a concert to go to," Simba informed them as they all made their way to the elephant concert.
"Do you think the elephants will do that song with all the really loud trumpeting?" Kiara asked excitedly.
"They always do the song with the loud trumpeting," Tama said with a smile.
"It is a tradition," Kula said with a chuckle.
"Sometimes I think my greatest duty as king is upholding the Pride Lands' traditions," Simba said.
"And one day, it'll be your duty, Kiara," Nala told her daughter.
"Attending concerts is one duty I know I can handle," Kiara said before rushing off.
Just then, Simba stopped in his tracks as he felt rumbling, and the three lionesses stopped as they saw Simba stop and look around.
"Simba, what is it?" Nala asked.
"Do you girls feel that?" Simba asked as the three lionesses then felt the rumbling.
"Oh, that can't be good," Tama said in concern.
"Kiara! Move uphill, now!" Nala ordered as Kiara stopped and looked at her mom in confusion.
"What, why?" Kiara asked.
"Sinkhole!" Simba said as he rushed behind Kiara and pushed her towards Nala who picked her up by her scruff. "Get back, now!" Simba yelled as they all made a run for it as the ground began to crumble.
The four lionesses made their way to the top of the hill, but then the ground crumbled beneath Simba's feet, and Simba tried to climb out, but then he lost his grip and fell into the sinkhole.
"Daddy!" Kiara yelled.
"Simba!" the three lionesses followed.
Simba yelled as he fell into the sinkhole and everyone looked inside, hoping he was OK.
"Twende Kiboko!" Beshte grunted as he pushed another antelope from the mud. Now that only left one more, the herd leader, who Bunga was currently sitting on.
"Giddy-up, anti-lanti-lope!" the honey badger urged, kicking the mammal's side. Fuli and Kion each grabbed a horn and started to pull.
The ground beneath their feet began to rumble.
"Whoa!" Beshte breathed. "What was that?"
"Ono?" Kion looked to the Keenest of Sight.
The egret saluted and took to the skies, scouting the area. A plume of dust caught his eyes and Ono zeroed in on where it was coming from.
"Hapana!" Ono gasped. "A sinkhole!" he informed the rest of the Guard, circling around them. "Someone's fallen in..." Ono focused his sight and saw four lionesses standing just outside the sinkhole. "...and I think it's the king!"
"The king?" Kufu repeated, releasing the antelope's horn
"Simba?" Bunga gaped.
"Dad?" Kion questioned, his ears falling to the sides. "Is he all right?"
"Sorry, Kion," Ono apologized. "I couldn't tell."
Fuli's ears fell too as she saw the worry in the prince's eyes. "Kion, go." She told him. "It's OK, we got this." The Fastest smiled.
Kion smiled back, "Thanks, Fuli." He then turned to his Slyest. "Kufu, you're with me!" He said to which Kufu nodded, and then Kion turned his full attention to the Guard's eyes in the sky. "Ono, lead the way!"
Kion and Kufu took off after Ono.
Bunga kicked the antelope's sides again. "Come on, move it!" He yelled. "The sooner we get you outta here, the sooner we can help Kion!"
"Easy, Little B," Beshte said calmly, a grin on his face. "I got just the trick." The Guard's Strongest lowered his snout under the antelope leader and lifted him out of the mud. "There we go."
"Great job, Big B." Bunga praised. "Now, let's go help Kion save Simba!" He voted, running in the same direction Kion, Kufu, and Ono went. "Till the Pride Lands end..."
"...Lion Guard defend!" Fuli and Beshte finished as they followed Bunga.
"Simba? Simba?!" Nala called out as she, Kiara, Kula, and Tama looked around the sinkhole for the king. Simba then appeared coming out of a pile of rocks. "Simba!"
"Daddy!" Kiara exclaimed in relief.
"Are you OK?!" Kula asked.
"I'm… I'm OK, girls!" Simba assured them while coughing from the dust. "I'm OK."
"Can you climb out?" Tama asked.
"I don't think so," Simba said as he noticed how steep and unstable the sinkhole was. "There's nothing to climb onto and I'm too far down to jump out." He informed them.
"He's over here, Kion!" Ono's voice was heard as the four lionesses saw Kion, Kufu, and Ono heading towards them
"Mom, Aunt Kula, Aunt Tama! Is Dad OK?" Kion asked in concern.
"We think so, but he's stuck," Nala informed her son.
"Yeah, that's a pretty steep sinkhole," Kufu said as he inspected it.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty!" Bunga called out as he and the other Lion Guard members came rushing towards them. "Lion Guard to the rescue!"
"Bunga, wait!" Kion tried to call out to the honey badger.
"Zuka Zama! Whoa!" Bunga yelled as he tripped on a branch which caused him to roll down the hill and bump into Kufu, causing the two of them to fall into the sinkhole.
"Little B!" Beshte exclaimed.
"Bunga!" Fuli and Kion yelled.
"Kufu!" Kula and Tama yelled out.
"Oh no!" Ono squawked, watching his two friends fall into the sinkhole.
Bunga fell onto Simba's mane before bouncing off and landing on his back. A second later, Kufu landed on the king's back, his head falling against his mane.
"That was fun!" the Guard's Bravest laughed, jumping to his feet. "What happened to your mane?" He asked, noticing strands of red sticking upright.
Kufu let out a groan as he lifted his head, "Bunga." He shot a glare at the honey badger. "What in the name of Mufasa were you thinking?!" The cub jumped down and glared at his friend.
"I was thinking of rescuing Simba," Bunga answered, tapping Kufu's nose with his claw.
"Exactly how?" Simba questioned.
"Uh..." the honey badger stammered, looking around. "Give ya a boost?" He chuckled dryly.
"Well, nice going, you idiot!" Kufu growled. "Because thanks to you, we're both stuck here!"
"Oh, maybe, I haven't thought this through," Bunga said nervously.
"Ya think?!" Kufu exclaimed
"Kufu? Dad? Bunga?" Kion called down into the hole. "You all right?"
"Kufu, sweetie, are you OK?!" Kula asked her son worriedly.
"We're fine, Kion," Simba answered, looking down. "I..." He glanced up at the two beside him, "Cushioned their falls."
"And I'm OK, too, Moms," Kufu assured them before glaring at Bunga. "Unless you count me fighting the urge to teach this idiot a lesson for getting us stuck in here." He added with gritted teeth which made Bunga chuckle nervously.
"What happened, Dad?" Kion asked his father directly. "How'd you get down there?"
"There was a sinkhole and I...fell in," Simba answered, keeping a straight face.
"Sinkholes are fairly common after a big storm, Your Highness," Ono informed him.
"You don't say, Ono," Kufu muttered under his breath. Simba glanced down at him and he chuckled dryly.
"Don't worry, Dad," the lion prince assured. "We'll find a way to get all three of you outta there."
"How hard can it be?" Bunga scoffed. "I got down here easy enough." The two lions looked down at the honey badger with quirked brows.
"Ono, fly down there and take a look," Kion ordered.
"Affirmative! I'll see what I can see." Ono said before he flew down into the sinkhole and perched on a large stone. "Greetings, Your Majesty." The Keenest of Sight bowed to the King.
"Eh, just call me Bunga," the Guard's Bravest brushed off with a smile.
"He was talking to the king, Bunga." Kufu said with an eye roll.
"Kion wanted me to check things out down here," Ono informed them.
"And what do you see, Ono?" Simba questioned.
"Uh..." the egret looked around. "Looks like you're stuck in a hole?"
"Yes," Simba agreed. "That's what it looks like to me, too."
Kufu nodded in agreement, giving a small chuckle.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty," Ono assured. "Kion will think of something. He always does."
"It's true, he does," Kufu agreed.
A few rocks crumbled away from the ledge and fell on Ono's head, startling him. It was then followed by a larger chunk of the ground, its shadow enveloping the young egret. Kufu grabbed the bird and yanked him from the stone just as the rock crushed it. Ono's eyes were wide and his breathing was labored,
"Thank you," Ono shuddered.
"No problem," the lion cub replied, releasing the egret. He looked around and his ears fell flat. "I don't see any way outta here from below." He informed the egret. "If we're gonna get out, it's gotta be from above." Kufu met Ono's eyes. "Can you pass that on to Kion?"
"Affirmative," Ono agreed with a nod. "Don't worry, he'll get you guys out." He added before flying back to the Lion Guard and royal family.
"Ono, report, any roots they can grab hold of?" Kion asked as soon as Ono landed in front of him. "Rocks they can climb? Anything?"
"Unfortunately, no," Ono answered. "Kufu said that the only way they can get out is if we help from up here."
"Oh...OK," Kion sighed, his ears lowering slightly.
"How deep is it? Can I see?" Beshte took a step forward to look into the hole, when the edge his foot landed on gave way.
"Everyone, get back!" Nala warned, leading everyone away. The ground cracked under Kiara's paws and she clung to the edge. Fuli doubled back and pulled her from the sinkhole and regrouped with the rest.
"OK, Everyone needs to stay back," Kion ordered the Lion Guard.
"Kion's right," the queen agreed. "These sinkholes can get wider. And we don't want anyone else to fall in."
Kion nodded in agreement. "It's bad enough Dad, Kufu, and Bunga are stuck down there."
"Well, at least they have each other," Beshte noted.
Simba, Kufu, and Bunga examined the sinkhole, trying to come up with a plan on how the Lion Guard could rescue them.
"I got it!" Bunga piped up, making Simba and Kufu look down at him. "We dig our way out."
"Bunga, you can dig your way into a hole, but not out," Kufu pointed out.
The honey badger tapped his chin with his claw, before another idea hit him. "We fill the hole with water and then float up to the top!" He suggested. "Got any water?"
Kufu rolled her eyes and lowered his muzzle.
"That's a terrible idea, Bunga." the king stated. "You have to think before you act!"
"King Simba's right," Kufu agreed. "We can't just keep trying random things. We need to think of a plan."
Bunga looked between the two lions then looked up the nearest wall. "I got one. I climb on top of you." He met Kufu's eyes. "And then you climb on top of Simba." He pointed to the adult lion. "Then Simba jumps as high as he can. Then, when he's mid-air, we jump off and right out of the hole!"
"Seriously?" Kufu deadpanned. "We're not doing that, Bunga."
"Well, you're the slyest, can't you climb out?" Bunga questioned
"I can't climb something that's this steep, Bunga," Kufu informed the honey badger. "Remember that time when Janja had us trapped in Chakula Plains when Ono was out of action? I could barely climb out of that, so we need to think of something else."
The Guard's Bravest sighed heavily. "OK. Fine. I'll just climb up there myself." He huffed, backing up a fair distance from the wall. "I just need a running start."
"He's serious?" Simba questioned.
"As serious as a stampede," Kufu nodded.
"Zuka Zama!" Bunga yelled as he ran towards the wall and jumped. He started to climb, digging his claws into the rock.
"Bunga," Kufu said, "I wouldn't do that if I were..." He was cut off when more rocks came loose from the side of the sinkhole. More rocks fell onto the trio, causing another quake through the ground.
Everyone else crowded around the edge of the sinkhole, their voices calling out for Simba, Kufu, and Bunga.
"Ono, can you see them?" Kion asked as the Guard's Keenest of Sight flew over the sinkhole.
The new rockslide created another dust cloud that obscured Ono's vision. "I don't see them Kion!" Ono replied.
Simba broke through the rocks, coughing as he shook the dirt from his fur. "Kufu? Bunga?" he coughed, searching for his son's two friends. The king moved a few smaller rocks and saw a patch of brown-colored fur. He pushed a larger rock away and pulled the lion cub from the rubble.
Kufu let out a cough as he was pulled up by his scruff. "Thanks, Your Highness." He thanked, shaking out his fur. He looked around, "Where's Bunga?"
As soon as he asked, the aforementioned honey badger emerged from the rubble with a gasp. "Wow! It was really dark under there!" He exclaimed, shaking off a few small pebbles from his fur.
"See what happens when you don't think first?" Simba noted with some bite.
"Eh, I'm OK," Bunga just shrugged it off, causing Kufu to roll his eyes in annoyance.
"Dad? Kufu? Bunga?" Kion asked the trio below. "What happened?"
"Our idiot honey badger friend of ours tried to climb the wall," Kufu answered, casting a narrow-eyed glare in Bunga's direction.
"'Cause I'm such a good climber!" Bunga added.
"Sure, when you're climbing trees!" Fuli reminded him.
Kufu blinked. "Climbing trees, hmm," he muttered, his eyes looking downward. "Wait a minute, that's it! Ono come down here!" He looked up at the egret. "Come down here, I've got an idea!" Ono flew down and landed on a rock in front of the lion. "I need you to relay this to Kion: Find a tree long enough to tip down here, and wide enough to support the three of us. We can use it as a ramp to climb out."
"That's a great idea!" Ono praised, flapping his wings to get airborne. "I'll tell Kion."
"Yes, great idea, Kufu," Simba agreed with a small smile.
"Thanks, Your Highness," Kufu bowed.
"Wait, when Kufu suggests climbing, it's a great idea?" Bunga repeated with a raised brow. "But when I suggest.." He stopped when he noticed the two lions glaring down at him.
"Simba!" Nala called down. "The Lion Guard's working on getting you out. Just hang in there." the queen smiled.
"I don't have a choice," Simba noted. "But that doesn't mean that you four have to stay here."
"What do you mean?" Nala asked with a quirked brow.
"You, Kiara, Kula, and Tama should go on to the elephant concert," Simba answered. "We're already late."
"But they're expecting all of us," Kiara reminded him. "What about tradition?"
"The elephants will be honored to have at least some of the royal family in attendance," the king explained. "But if none of us show up, they'll be worried."
Nala's ears fell to the sides. "Simba, I'm more worried about you." She admitted, meeting her mate's eyes.
"I'm fine, Nala," Simba reassured her. "I'm just stuck in a hole. Kion and the Lion Guard will get me out. But royal duties must not be ignored."
"But what about Kufu?" Tama asked in concern.
"Yeah we can't just leave him here," Kula added worriedly.
"Don't worry, Moms, I'll be fine," Kufu assured them. "I've been in worse situations than this and once Kion and the others get us out, we'll be fine."
The queen sighed. "OK, we'll go." She caved. "Hopefully, Kion will have you out of there, soon."
"The sooner, the better," Simba muttered under his breath.
"Stay safe, Kufu," Kula told her son as the four lionesses left.
Shortly after the girls left, the Lion Guard returned, pushing a large tree. A portion of the trunk became visible over the edge of the hole.
"All right, Kufu, we've got the tree!" Kion informed, looking over the edge. "Stand clear, we don't want anyone getting hurt."
"You got it, Kion!" Kufu called back. He grabbed Bunga by his scruff and ran with Simba a fair distance from the wall, dropping the honey badger by his paws.
Beshte pushed the tree down into the sinkhole, only the tree fell apart once it hit the ground.
"Damn it, that didn't work as well as I thought it would," Kufu sighed, his ears falling flat against his head.
Simba smiled. "Good try anyway, Kufu." He praised. "It was a great idea."
"Thank you," Kufu smiled.
"Good try? Are you kidding? It's perfect!" Bunga exclaimed, digging through the wood. "Just look at all these bugs!" He held up a handful of insects and ate them in one gulp, before noticing something, "Hey, a hole!"
"A hole?" Kufu repeated.
"It must've opened when the tree hit," Simba guessed.
Bunga took a closer look at the hole and realized it opened up into a tunnel. "Simba! Kufu!" he looked over his shoulder at the two lions. "This is it! Our way out!"
"Bunga, wait," Simba halted, jumping over the honey badger and blocking the tunnel entrance. "We have no idea where this tunnel leads. Unless..." He halted his train of thought. "It might be part of Nandembo Caverns." the king presumed. "The caverns do turn in this direction."
"And the entrance isn't too far from here," Kufu noted, "Kion!"
"I heard you," the prince replied. "If you three go through the tunnel, I'll take the Guard into the caverns. With any luck, we'll meet you in the middle!"
"Let's go!" Bunga voted, crawling into the tunnel.
"Be careful!" Kion called down.
"We will!" Kufu called back. "Bunga on the other hand, not so sure." He added, before going their separate ways.
"Lion Guard, let's head to Nandembo Caverns," Kion told his team.
"Uhh, Kion, you know that those caves can be pretty tricky, right?" Ono asked as he flew beside Kion. "I'm not used to navigating below."
"Ono's right, Ki," Fuli said in agreement. "Nandembo Caverns are a twisty maze. We could get totally lost down there."
"Yeah, hippos aren't exactly experts when it comes to tunnels," Beshte informed him.
Kion realized that they were right, and that they have no idea how to navigate through tunnels like that, but then his eyes widened as he thought of an idea.
"But we do know someone who is an expert at tunnels!" Kion said with a smile.
"Of course!" Ono exclaimed as he realized who Kion was talking about. "I'll go get him."
"Meet us at the caverns!" Kion told him.
"Affirmative!" Ono nodded as he flew off in one direction while the Lion Guard ran towards the direction of Nandembo Caverns.
The tunnel was a tight fit for Simba, who followed after the two young Guard members.
"Come on, Simba!" Bunga yelled over his shoulder. "Ya gotta keep up!"
"Doing my best, Bunga," Simba grunted as he came around the corner, squeezing through the narrow tunnel as best he could.
"Well, hurry up," the honey badger rolled his eyes, running ahead of the two felines. The tunnel opened up into a larger cavern with multiple entrances to more tunnels. "Now we're gettin' somewhere."
Kufu wiggled out of the tunnel next, accidentally stepping on Bunga's tail. "OK, now comes the hard part." The Guard's Slyest noted, staring at the multiple tunnels they could take.
Simba caught up with the two younger animals, also seeing the different tunnel entrances. "We need to talk about which way to go." He informed them.
"Why talk when you can walk?" Bunga shrugged, running to the first tunnel he saw.
"Bunga, wait!" Kufu tried to stop the honey badger, but he was too late.
Simba rolled his eyes. "You can't just pick a random tunnel and expect it to lead out!" He called after Bunga.
"I know what I'm doing," Bunga's voice echoed through the tunnel he took. A few seconds later, he crawled out of another hole in the wall. "Or maybe I don't."
Kufu let out a groan. "Please, Bunga, for once in your life, shut up and listen." He shook his head.
"Fine, fine," Bunga rolled his eyes. "Which way do we go?" He jumped out of the hole and stood with his arms folded over his chest.
"We're still too far from the entrance to the caverns for me to even catch Kion's scent," Kufu glanced up to Simba.
"I think we should go down the largest tunnel," Simba informed, looking to a wide entrance not too far from them. "It's the most likely to lead to..."
"Nah," Bunga scoffed, cutting the king off mid-sentence. "We should go down this tunnel." He pointed to an entrance beside him, "Duh."
Kufu's jaw fell slack and he blinked in shock. "Bunga, Did you actually just say 'duh' to him?" He asked stoically. "You do remember who he is, don't you?"
"Of course I do," Bunga chuckled, tapping the cub's chest with his elbow. "He's Simba, our best friend's dad."
"I'm also the king!" Simba growled, before unleashing his roar. The sound echoed all around and caused the tunnel they came in through to cave in.
"No going back now," Bunga noted. "Thanks to someone's cave in." He rolled his eyes and stared at Simba.
"Well, you caused a cave in, too," Simba reminded him, getting flustered, "Back in...in the hole."
"Yeah, OK, but I was trying to get out. It wasn't 'cause I got all mad," the honey badger pointed out.
Kufu sighed heavily. "Of course he got mad, Bunga." He breathed.
"Do you have any idea how annoying it is to be trapped with you and your crazy ideas?" Simba glared down at the Guard's Bravest.
"Crazy ideas?" Bunga repeated, matching the king's glare with his own, while Kufu stood between them with his eyes closed and muzzle lowered.. "You're right. I am full of crazy ideas! And I just had another one. How about you go down your tunnel, and I'll go down mine." He pointed to the two tunnels, which were in opposite directions. "Then you won't have to put up with me and my crazy ideas anymore."
"Fine!" Simba growled, turning around and walking through his tunnel entrance.
"Fine!" Bunga huffed and crawled through his tunnel entrance.
Kufu sighed. "Oh boy," he groaned, glancing between the two tunnels. With another sigh, he followed the path Simba had taken.
"I am so sorry, Your Majesty," Kufu apologized walking beside the king. "Sometimes Bunga doesn't know when to shut his mouth."
"You and Kion deal with this on a daily basis?" Simba questioned with a quirked brow as he glanced down at the cub.
"Yes, sir," Kufu confirmed.
"Well, it's nice to finally hear myself think," Simba said in relief.
"You got that right," Kufu nodded in agreement before he realized something. "Hey, it looks like you were right, Your Majesty. This must be the way out!" He exclaimed with a smile.
"I knew it would be," Simba smiled but then he stopped in his tracks as he realized something. "But if this is the right way out, Bunga's going the wrong way."
Kufu realizing this as well stopped in his tracks. "Yeah and, even though Bunga is annoying, he's still a friend to me and Kion." He said before looking at the mark on his shoulder. "And a member of the Lion Guard."
"And my subject," Simba added. "We can't leave him here." He said as he and Kufu turned around to go find Bunga.
As the two lions went through the caves to look for Bunga they started hearing the honey badger singing. "It means no worries for the rest of your days, it's our problem free philosophy!"
Hearing the familiar phrase, Simba chuckled. "Hakuna Matata," he repeated. "What a wonderful phrase. Hakuna Matata. Ain't no passing craze." The king sang the song of his childhood with Timon and Pumbaa, all the while Kufu kept pace with him and smiled.
"It means no worries. For the rest of your days," Simba's voices echoed not too far behind Bunga and he turned around to regroup with them.
"It's our problem free," the honey badger sang the next line.
"Philosophy," Simba added.
"Hakuna Matata," Both Simba and Bunga sang in unison as they, plus Kufu, regrouped in the middle of the tunnel, all three chuckling.
"How'd you know my uncle's song?" Bunga asked.
"I knew it before you did," Simba informed him. "They sang it to me all the time when I was growing up."
"Oh, right, they raised you," Bunga remembered. "Just like they raised me." A grin spread across his face. "That kind of makes us... Brothers? Sort of?"
Simba pondered that thought for a moment. "I never thought of it that way." The adult lion admitted. "But, I guess it sort of does."
Bunga scratched the back of his head. "I'm, uh, sorry I yelled at you, bro." He apologized.
"That's King Bro to you," Simba corrected, all three of them sharing a laugh.
"It's too bad Timon and Pumbaa aren't here to see you two getting along," Kufu spoke up. "I think they'd be happy."
"C'mon, Kufu, you know my uncles," Bunga reminded, jabbing the lion cub's side. "Hakuna Matata, they're always happy!"
Near the entrance to the caverns, Timon and Pumbaa were sobbing hysterically over what had happened to Simba and Bunga.
"Why? Oh, cruel savannah!" Timon whined, throwing his head onto Pumbaa's shoulder, "To take both our babies on the same day?"
"I know, Timon, I know," Pumbaa cried, patting his friend's shoulder with his hoof. "Fate is a fickle mongoose."
A few feet away, the Lion Guard just stood and watched the water works. "Remind me again, Ki, why did you bring them here?" Fuli asked Kion.
"I thought Timon could help," Kion answered. "I mean, aren't meerkats supposed to be great with tunnels?"
"Not this meerkat," Fuli gestured to Timon.
"And now we're lost in this crazy maze!" Timon wept, lying on his stomach.
"Oh, I'm so turned around," Pumbaa cried. "I'm afraid we'll never get out alive!"
"Uh, Timon, Pumbaa?" Ono questioned. "The entrance to the cave is right there." He directed with a wave of his left wing. "
"See? Barely inside and we're already lost!" Timon sobbed.
"Not exactly inspiring confidence, are they?" Ono whispered to Beshte.
"They're just worried about Bunga and Simba," Beshte reminded him.
"My kids!" Timon cried. "Who knows what horrors they're enduring down there."
As they continued down another tunnel, Simba and Bunga continued to sing 'Hakuna Matata', while Kufu just bopped his head to the beat with a smile on his muzzle. The trio soon came to a fork.
"We should think about this," Bunga said, scratching the back of his head. "Which way, Your Majesty?" he glanced up at Simba.
"Hmmm," Simba pondered, "I say, we ask the slyest lion in the Pride Lands." He looked down at Kufu, who's eyes went wide.
"Uh, OK, let me see if I can track any scents," Kufu said as he padded forward, sniffing the air. He sniffed each tunnel, until he caught a scent all too familiar to him. "Kion," a smile instantly formed on his muzzle. "I caught his scent, it's coming from down there."
"Yes!" Bunga cheered, patting Kufu's shoulder. "Let's go!"
They ran straight through the tunnel, seeing the Lion Guard and Timon and Pumbaa running towards them from the opposite direction. Kion's ears perked up the moment he saw his father and two best friends were OK.
"Uncle Timon! Uncle Pumbaa!" Bunga called out, making the meerkat and warthog smile.
The path suddenly dropped off and Bunga almost fell into a deep crevice, only to be pulled back by his scruff by Kufu, who was then picked up by Simba. The adult lion backed up a few paces before setting the cub down safely. Kufu smiled up at the king, dropping Bunga in front of him.
"That's twice you've saved my tail, Your Highness," Kufu noted.
Simba chuckled. "Well you are my son's best friend, and the slyest lion in the Pride Lands." He reminded him. "It's my pleasure."
"So, should we go back?" Bunga asked, glancing at the two lions. "Look for another way?"
Simba smiled. "I've got a better idea." He answered, motioning to his shoulder with his paw. "Hop on."
"That's your idea?" Bunga raised an eyebrow.
"Actually, it's your idea, remember?" Simba replied.
Bunga grinned and jumped onto the king's back, much to the shock of the rest of the Lion Guard across the crevice.
The two lions backed up a few feet, before taking off into a sprint and leaping across the crevice, shouting Bunga's signature catchphrase, "Zuka Zama!"
Simba landed gracefully a couple feet behind the Lion Guard, while Kufu landed in front of them.
However, Beshte, Fuli, and Ono stood in shock.
"Did we just see..." Ono began.
"...A honey badger riding on top of the king?" Fuli finished, blinking.
"Like my dad always says..." Beshte followed. "Live long enough, and you'll see everything."
"Woo! Now that was a rush!" Kufu exclaimed.
"It's good to have you back, Kufu," Kion said as the two pounded heads.
"Good to be back, man," Kufu said with a smile.
Kion then turned to his dad and best friend. "Dad, Bunga? I thought you guys..." He started to say.
"Are practically brothers?" Bunga finished with a grin.
"Huh?" the prince questioned, glancing at Kufu who just chuckled.
"I'll explain later," Kufu promised with a smile on his muzzle.
"And to think, you were worried that we'd never find them," Timon said to Pumbaa.
"I'm sorry," Pumbaa apologized. "I should've remembered: Hakuna matata!"
Kufu stepped up and cleared his throat. "Ya know, if we hurry, I think we can make it to Mizimu Grove before the elephant concert is over." He informed them.
"Then, let's go," Simba voted, to which everyone agreed.
They all ran out of the caverns and raced towards Mizimu Grove.
The elephants just finished up their last song of the concert when Simba came running through the grove.
"Sorry we're late!" He announced, running up to his mate and daughter, with Bunga on his back and Kion and Kufu following close behind.
"Simba?" Nala questioned with a smile as her mate stopped at her side.
"Daddy?" Kiara grinned.
"Kufu!" Kula and Tama exclaimed as Kufu shared a nuzzle with his moms.
Ma Tembo, the elephant herd leader, bowed to the two royal males. "Your Majesty, Kion," she addressed, looking up and seeing the honey badger on the king's back and a lion cub by Kion's side, "And, uh..."
"Bunga," the Guard's Bravest introduced himself, "Brother to the king."
"Brother?" Kiara repeated.
"Just call me Uncle Bunga," Bunga said to Kiara, placing his hand on her shoulder.
Nala glanced at Simba. "What exactly happened in that pit?" She asked, clearly confused.
"It was quite an adventure," Simba answered, softly nuzzling her before stepping up to the elephant leader. "Thank you for your patience, Ma Tembo." He dipped his head before facing the rest of the herd. "And I thank all of you, my friends. I know how important music is to elephants. And I'm deeply honored to be included in your tradition." He spoke. "But since I missed your only concert of the season, I'd like to share a song that means a great deal to my family." He glanced back, not only at his mate and cubs, but at Timon, Pumbaa, and Bunga as well, "All my family."
"We would be honored to hear your song, Your Majesty," Ma Tembo replied.
"Ready?" Simba asked his family, who nodded. He cleared his throat and began the song,
Simba:
Hakuna Matata.
Timon:
What a wonderful phrase.
Bunga:
Hakuna Matata.
Pumbaa:
Ain't no passing craze.
Kion:
It means no worries.
Kufu:
For the rest of your days.
Everyone:
It's our problem free
Philosophy.
Simba and Bunga:
Hakuna Matata.
To be continued...
A/N: And that, ladies and gentlemen, was Bunga and The King, my favorite Lion Guard episode, especially since it involves my two favorite Lion King characters: Timon and Pumbaa. I hope you all enjoyed reading this chapter. Leave a review and tell me what you think.
Up Next: Beshte makes a new friend and the Lion Guard has to deal with a rouge leopard in the Pride Lands.
Here's the Cast List:
Max Charles as Kion; Caleel Harris as Kufu; Joshua Rush as Bunga; Diamond White as Fuli; Dusan Brown as Beshte; Atticus Shaffer as Ono; Rob Lowe as Simba; Gabrielle Union as Nala; Nathan Lane as Timon; Ernie Sabella as Pumbaa; Eden Riegel as Kiara; Mae Whitman as Kula; Vanessa Marshall as Tama; Lynnette Dupree as Ma Tembo.
In memory of James Earl Jones
(January 17th 1931 - September 9th 2024)