Two Brothers Under the Sun
Chapter – XXX
At the Jungle's Royal Courts – Part 2
A Man on the Monkey King's Court
For many moons Tarzan mingled with his new friends, quickly learning the many speeches, customs, and ethics of their tribal life. He put himself to work and assisted his hosts in a number of chores too; it was the least he could do after all they had done for him. Besides, he does not want to unpay their actions by doing nothing. He was taught better than that. Thus began his many days with the Bandar-log monkeys: various tasks were presented before the young man but he faced them all with a degree of determination he had fostered since he was a cub. Coupling that with his speed and strength, the Ape-Man found himself working comfortably amid his new friends.
They welcomed guests into their homes and treated them with generosity and kindness few could match. Most were pretty friendly, though definitely fierce. Some seemed rather calm, pleasant, and approachable. Others displayed a warrior's demeanor, though many still regarded him with a modicum of respect.
Still, both sides endeared themselves to each other.
Tarzan honored his word, so they trusted him. When he wasn't teaching them his tricks, he helped them sown seeds along their jungles. Watched after their hunters for any sign of trouble. Harvested the orchards that provided for feasts all over the Bukuvu, including Louie's famous parties always celebrated after the day's work was done. Fought and trained alongside their warriors both with and without his tools. Filled and cleaned their reservoirs. Showed the monkeys how to glide using great fronds. Mingled with Louie's other guests, talking with them while ridding their bodies of bugs, thorns, and splinters.
In turn, he was taught how to count to higher numbers, to do a little something called 'writing' with mud, and another thing the monkeys called 'haggle' —a few of the many new words he learned since he started coming to their city. Learned to make music by clasping his hands into a 'horn' or by singing a tune and making whatever sound his mouth flopped around. Improved his jumping and hurdling techniques. Found there are tons of delicious bugs on the canopy who live on the highest branches and never venture below. Got the hang of brachiating: swinging arm-over-arm while swiveling his shoulders, which was as easy for the likes of his cousin as walking on two legs is for men. Discovered the secrets of the sweet jungle figs (yellow is good, green makes you sick). Engaged in grooming with the members of the kingdom...
So many things to keep his body occupied and his mind away from Bagheera.
In a small sense, it was like he was back at home. Granted, no tree in this neck of the woods was like the Wakalu, but that suited the youth just fine. The familiar forested environment all around the city was enough for him.
Tarzan had honestly forgotten he had just become a regular guest at the orangutan's kingdom. He felt so comfortable around them already that one could assume he was raised among their own.
He felt like he belonged there, amongst the Bandar-log.
The Ape-Man didn't even notice he had changed so much.
Throughout his time there, Tarzan has been particularly intrigued by Louie's subjects. Teamwork allows even the most diminutive of them to accomplish their goals, and they constantly practice it through their elaborate games and dance routines. That said, they're still a rambunctious bunch who sometimes forget to mind their strength when they're fooling around, especially when playing one of their games.
But what intrigued him most of all was seeing them living harmoniously with nature despite their leader's efforts to emulate the city's previous inhabitants. Perhaps… if shown how the monkeys live the way they do, there might be a place for men's ways in the Bukuvu.
The thought didn't fail in making the Mangani scoff derisively at such a notion. Easier said than done with both his godfather and leader.
Still, so much knowledge to be learned, and so many new memories made, all of it has been swimming around in the mind of the Ape-Man since getting here as he was still processing his situation.
Trotting away into the shrubbery of the overgrown forest, it didn't take long to pick up on the distant sounds that drew the youth's attention. There were thumps and crashes, and hoots, hollers, and shrieks that he had learned to associate with Louie's primates.
After a few more minutes, the forest began to thin out a bit and Tarzan stepped into a clearing… and suddenly found something heavy falling into his arms.
Blinking in confusion, he stared at the brown, leathery-skinned melon that had suddenly landed in his hands. "...What?"
"Tarzan, head's up!"
He looked up as he heard Timon suddenly shout in alarm, and a shadow fell over him.
A skinny and long-limbed form fell toward him, arms outstretched, and Tarzan could practically see it in slow motion as the triumphant look on Simon's face turned to one of shock and dismay as he realized his landing zone was already occupied. The Ugani leaped back with a jolt as the monkey, his dive reduced to a bellyflop as he flailed in midair to avoid the Hairless Ape, landed right beside him. A cloud of dust and dead leaves was kicked up from the impact. Immediately, the small primate jumped to his feet, whipping around and looking at the ground in a panic, obviously worried that he'd hurt Tarzan. To his confusion and Timon's relief, there was no sign of him.
"Up here."
"Wha-?" Simon followed the voice upwards and gaped at the Ape-Man suspended calmly on a tree branch ten feet above the ground. The monkey stared at him for a few seconds, before visibly sagging in relief and wiping sweat off his brow under his coconut-shell helmet. "Oh, thank heavens…"
A shout from the clearing drew everyone's attention, as another Bandar-log: Uroho, the baboon leader who could hunt unfertilized bird eggs better than anyone in the tribe, impatiently called for his comrade to get the ball and resume play already.
"Yeah, yeah, keep your helmet on…" Simon groused before looking up at Tarzan, still on his tree branch with the melon in his arms, and raised his hands to him, clearly indicating his request for the return of his troops' 'ball'. Tarzan hefted the fruit, ready to toss it, but paused, glancing out at the clearing, the clustered Bandar-log, and the crude basket made from twisted vines hanging from a tree at the other end of the clearing… and a mischievous smile came to his lips.
Timon shot a grin of his own at Pumbaa on his side, and the hog rolled his eyes with a smile as they realized what their godson was thinking.
Tarzan hopped off the branch, landing before Simon. By monkey standards, he wasn't short but was easily dwarfed by the Black Back who held out the ball for him to take… but as he reached for it, the Pinkish Ape faked him out, drawing the ball away at the last second and darting past him, into the clearing.
Befuddled, the scattered players took a few seconds to realize his intent. Timon could practically see the brains tensing within their heads… "Wait, why didn't the man… Is he… Hey! Stop him!"
One baboon bounded in Tarzan's path to the basket, arms spread wide to block. He was left gaping as the juvenile suddenly leaped and curled to fly over his arms, also missing the pair that had moved to flank him.
At this point, the spirit of competition appeared to have taken hold amongst the troop and they started taking Tarzan's blitz more seriously. Uroho, his helmet marked with a green stripe in contrast to the others' orange, started shouting orders, and the rest smoothly moved to follow them.
The new player in the game moved between a pair of monkeys who tried to box him in, but they underestimated the young man's speed and only managed to slam into each other as he sprinted onward. Another bunch planted themselves in Tarzan's way, jumping on top of each other with arms waving to block him, angled so that there was only one way to dodge if he wanted to continue forward. Two more charged toward the open path, prepared to catch him when he went that way— but again, Tarzan proved too elusive and tricky for such a simple ploy.
A shadowy swine shot forward when the youth stutter-stepped, throwing off the timing of the pair of defenders' attempt to tackle him, leaving the first to catch nothing and faceplant into the dirt. The second stumbled over Pumbaa and Timon, and the blockers' mouths fell open as they watched Tarzan nimbly bound atop a heap of stone and use it as a springboard.
Only the order-giving Uroho was still between Tarzan and the goal basket now, and he fared no better as the Naked Ape faked his way around him. Seconds later, the Hairless Wonder stood next to the basket, smiling back at the dumbfounded primates, before casually dropping in the ball.
There was a long pause as a decent-sized gathering of monkeys stared back at Tarzan, standing silently.
Then, Simon suddenly burst out into hysterical laughter, doubling over and propping his hands on his knees. The rest of the troop followed suit, cheering, laughing, and applauding the brother who had so unexpectedly trounced them at their own game, almost entirely on his own. A few of them were excitedly chattering about Tarzan's play, gesturing as they described his moves like those they were talking to hadn't just seen them themselves.
Tarzan gave them a triumphant little bow.
Took a bit longer than he thought but the training paid off: he was now able to dodge them just like he had learned to do with the gorillas.
"Okay," Uroho admitted, coming over to him."You may be hairless but you are pretty neat."
Someone new offered a contribution. "A fascinating conundrum you bring, young warrior," a wizened voice announced.
Tarzan eyed the trees behind them. Sitting cross-legged in a branch, a white-furred simian holding what appeared to be a bakora staff looked down upon him and the group of Bandar-log. Slowly, steadily, but with a grace that belied his apparent age, the mandril descended the tree he was perched in, never taking his eyes off of the man among the monkeys. The hunched form of the primate stood before the Black Back of the Mangani troop, casting an evaluating eye over him.
"He is back!"
"The Wise One had returned."
"He's arrived."
Much to Tarzan's surprise, Simon and the rest of his troop immediately regarded the newcomer and all bowed respectfully, though the new arrival was half the size of their monarch. Even he couldn't help but bow his head to the older primate, showing the humility he shared with his feline godfather.
Afterward, they huddled around the elderly fellow.
"Rafiki?" One called out to him. "Is that you?"
"Hello, Simon," Rafiki greeted the monkey with a smile and a laugh, "Rafiki is honored that you've come out to see an old creature such as he."
"The honor is mine, Wise One," Simon, in a display of respect mostly reserved for his king, replied reverently as he bowed his head to Rafiki.
"I take that you know him." Tarzan guessed as much, a witty upturn beneath his slightly curious expression.
"Duh! Rafiki, the wisest of primates." Uroho, of all monkeys, berated him. "He wanders the land curing the sick and wounded. Everybody knows that."
Tarzan, who only recognized the elder as his brother's new friend, was very curious now.
"I see you have found a new teacher." Rafiki chuckled as he made his way to join them.
The man blinked. "What, this?" He questioned with a smile of his own, lifting the monkey's ball in one hand. "Just showing them some of my tricks. I am still learning myself."
"Oh, still figuring out your path, huh?" Rafiki commented as he scratched his immaculate white mane and gave Tarzan another appraising look, "It has been quite a long time since I saw a man."
"We're not very common in the Bukuvu, at least not anymore," Tarzan acknowledged.
"Nor in any other place I have visited," Rafiki observed, "You are very far from your kind, my young friend."
"Indeed I am," Tarzan replied with a neutral voice.
"Then how were you able to escape the Khan's wrath all those Seasons ago?" Rafiki questioned, "If I may pry, that is. Not many can evade the tiger, much less an infant."
Mulling over his thoughts, the Ugani responded. "I don't know." He said honestly, "The gorillas took me in when I was too little." His shoulders slumped. "As for last time, I had help."
Rafiki nodded before turning his eyes in the direction of the mountains. "The Troops nest to the east. Yet here you are among these ruins."
Tarzan could offer him little more than a shrug. "I guess something just called me to this place."
"Looks like it." The elder pondered in return before smiling and turning to greet several others by name, sometimes getting introduced to new faces as he did so. The Bandar-log present welcomed him with shouts and laughter full of respect and admiration.
Tarzan, ever eager to satiate his curiosity, remained close by.
Baloo smiled after he finished rubbing his itching back against a banana tree and sprawled his form upon the trunk, enjoying the feeling of relief as the gentle breeze took the edge off the heat of a sunny tropical day.
"Baloo!" Louie came along. "Just the bear I was looking for!"
"I am not hard to find, Lou." His ursine friend smirked from his position. "Just search where it's comfortable."
"Could you deliver these bananas to the Baboon Lagoon right away?" The monarch gestured to the pile of fruits (kinda, sorta) neatly pilled by a tree's base.
"No problem, old buddy. I will get right on it." Slouching back on his back scratcher, the easygoing bear picked a piece of watermelon to his side. "Hey, Lou, watch this." He ate from the fruit, put it down, aimed for another half of watermelon, this one in the shape of a bowl and conveniently placed a small distance from them, and spit the seeds directly into it with perfect accuracy.
But Lou's mind was on something else entirely. "You do know what right away means, don't you?"
Baloo yawned. "Yeah, but what is the hurry, furry?"
"Well... listen... it's too complicated, I will explain later. I gotta go." As a somewhat nervous Louie prepared to leave, he regarded his friend one last time for extra precaution. "Um, Baloo, this delivery is very important and I trust you won't let me down... right?"
"How can you even ask such a question?"
"Oh, I don't know." His voice raised. "Maybe 'cause you haven't even moved yet!"
The monarch's shout sprung the bear out of his relaxing spot and into his feet. Outloud, the latter said: "All right, I'm gone and solid gone. Now, don't worry your red little head, it is under control."
"Don't drop a single banana!" Louie, already at a considerable distance, warned him further.
"I won't!"
"Did you find Hakuna Matata?"
"Well, yes, I did! Thank you very much!" Timon's tone was chipper and carried that gracious air. "And I am very happy."
"Ho ho haaah! I see." Rafiki chuckled; a rather popular pastime of his from what the jungle man had noticed.
"I think you mean 'beyond what you see'!"
They shared a laugh before going back to catching up, making Tarzan wonder about the story behind that inside joke even if he opted to save his questions for later.
"So, did you decide to get away from your worries too?"
"You could say that." said the Wise Monkey. "I'm living on that old mimosa tree near the grove. Nice place, feel free to come visit."
"The python's garden?" Tarzan nearly exclaimed in surprise, partially because he must be the only monkey who isn't afraid of Kaa—just the mention of his dwellings made the ones around them tense—but also because he was having a hard time believing the Witch Doctor had guests who weren't down on their luck.
"He can be a bit grumpy, huh?" Rafiki, noticing the apprehensive look on his face, admitted in agreement. "But Kaa is not too bad once you get to know him." He eyed the youth. "In fact, I recall your godfather is in his care, right?"
"...Yeah." The White Ape's gaze shifted towards nothing.
"Worry not, Bagheera is in good hands." The mandril paused. "Coils, actually. But as capable as any pair of hands, I can assure you."
Tarzan wished he could thoroughly believe that.
Their conversation continued: while Rafiki spoke of the many places he had been to and things he had seen, Tarzan brought stories of his life in the jungle and, alongside his friends, sang songs he had learned from his time with the Bandar-log.
Eventually, they came upon the vast city of ruins. The monkeys are not without friends both from within and outside the jungle; visitants come in droves to these parts slowly reclaimed by plant life. Like at the Commune or Zulu Falls, all were welcome there. Guests came and went, but the place looked as filled as ever. Though the baboons kept a watchful eye for troublemakers that disturbed their kingdom's peace, its inhabitants were ever proud of their city and community. Amidst the songs, they tell tales of Louie's ascension and how their realm came to be after he united the Bukuvu's many monkey tribes.
Rafiki hobbled off, picking his way down the steep side of the larger stones. The two gourds tied to his stick bounced up and down. Large chunks of rock lay strewn around the roads, which dozens upon dozens of smaller monkeys were using as perches, hooting and hollering as Rafiki revealed himself. From those cleaning up fruits in the city fountains to the hunting parties salting their meats to eat later, all eyes were now focused on the elder.
Timon, covering his ears, snorted. "Shrieking monkeys."
"Nah, those are howler monkeys," Pumbaa corrected, missing his friend's point.
Inside the throne room, on the opposite side to which the group entered, was the one and only King Louie lounging lazily on his finely stone-carved seat. As they reached the foot of the Monkey King's throne, the orangutan held up one of his hands, instantly silencing his underlings.
"Your Majesty," Simon said as he bowed before the monarch, the others on his team following suit, "The Wise One has arrived as expected."
"Well, well, well, so he has," Louie commented with a smirk before dismissively waving his hand at him. "Return to your game, Captain. Enjoy your little break from work. I will see to our guest."
Simon nodded and bowed again before he and his comrades made their way to the edges of the room, climbing up and out through the large hole in the ceiling.
"Rafiki, my friend!" Louie greeted happily, standing up from his throne and approaching the older primate. Clapping his hands above his head as he walked, he said: "It has been too long!"
"Indeed it has, my king," Rafiki replied with a laugh before they embraced each other, "I see you have been faring well."
"As well as can be hoped," The king replied. Pulling back, he turned his attention towards the Pink Ape in the room. "I see you have already met my cousin Tarzan."
To that, the Mjuzi nodded. "You sure have been living an exciting life."
"High praise coming from you." The Jungle VIP was more than glad to take that compliment. "His story is quite fascinating, don't cha' think?"
"Indeed it is," Rafiki agreed with a chuckle, then gave him a knowing look, "For you especially, Rafiki imagines." Louie's only answer was a smile that did not meet his eyes.
Tarzan couldn't help but stare at them.
"Anyway, I bet you are tired from your journey. Come on, you get the best spot in the house," offered the king while leading him to another corner of the throne room. "Here in my place, we offer an assortment of appetizers with this selection." He showed them a fern crawling with insects. "Bugs."
"I will have them, and a coconut-mango shake." The Wise One requested. "Shaken, not stirred."
Since the rest had returned to their chaotic and unpredictable game, more motivated than ever by how easily Tarzan had scored on them, the Naked Mangani took his place in Louie's court.
"You see, you have something in common with Rafiki, cus." The orangutan observed with a knowing smile.
"What do you mean?" Tarzan questioned.
"Unlike what you may have imagined, Rafiki is not from the jungle," Louie explained, "Nor is he native to the Pride Lands."
"Then where did he come from?" Tarzan asked.
"No one knows in truth," Louie went on with a shrug of the shoulders, "He just showed up in the Pride Lands one day and came to our jungle not long afterward. My subjects were quite taken with him and his... wisdom. Some even believe that he was once some kind of king far to the east. They said he could jump for miles and ride on the clouds and that his staff could stretch to the horizon."
"It does sound quite... far-fetched," Tarzan couldn't help but scoff at such a notion, before looking at Louie with an appraising eye, "I also hear a bit of... resentment in your voice."
"Resentment?" With a hollow laugh, Louie questioned, "You presume much, T."
"Sorry, but you did sound a bit miffed," Tarzan replied with a quirked eyebrow, earning another shrug from Louie as they continued to walk. "What's that all about?"
"Let me answer that with a question of my own," Louie replied the moment they reached the end of the hall and stepped out into the ruins, "Do you know how I got into my position?"
Tarzan blinked in confusion. "I don't understand,"
"Don't tell me the question hasn't entered your mind," Louie stated with a slightly condescending tone, his countenance taking on an expression that was the complete opposite of his typical jovial self to the point it made Tarzan wonder what thoughts were going on within his mind. "That you haven't already wondered how I could gain power in a jungle with the likes of Shere Khan and Colonel Hathi mucking about."
Tarzan did not say anything, but the look that he gave Louie spoke volumes, causing the latter's smile to widen.
"It's because I'm smarter than them," Louie continued smugly, "I know how the world works better than any of them. Better than anyone in the jungle, I imagine." His eyes narrowed. "Except Rafiki."
Tarzan locked eyes with him, figuring out the great ape's game right through that tiny smirk of his. "Then what are you trying to get out of him?"
"I am sure you can figure it out," Louie smirked, dragging a leaf to reveal an orchid. A red one.
The youth's mind flashed to the lessons of his comatose godfather. "Bagheera says that Fire is an uncontrollable force of pure destruction. That knowing how to create it will only lead to the deaths of you and everyone around you."
"As men have destroyed themselves?" Louie retorted with a knowing smile, "Fire can be controlled and it can be put to use. Men have done it and I aim to do the same." He comes to his cousin and puts a hand on his shoulder. "I believe you completely, cus." Tarzan's head shifted so they were now face-to-face. "I know how stubborn the other jungle folk can be. Why, that's the reason I never became a Mjuzi. They are wise, I am telling you, but they have no vision." Louie's gaze grew a little more intense —it was subtle, but Tarzan was well-acquainted with it by now— and he continued. "One day, we'll show them. We are gonna do great things in the jungle, then they will be convinced."
The younger primate was at a momentary loss for words. Hearing he and his tricks had earned such trust from someone like his cousin, whom Tarzan had also come to respect as a good leader like Bagheera or Kerchak, was one of the best feelings he had experienced... but this one, in particular, felt far more different than usual… it also made him feel guilty.
Louie takes to the parapets, causing his 'relative' to climb after him. Each of them wraps a foot on a vine, tugs it firmly, and swings away in the same direction.
"I'll ape your mannerisms, we'll be a set of twins." They arch gracefully through the banana trees, past the giraffes helping themselves to some good fruit. "No one can tell where an Ape-Man ends and an orangutan begins."
Below them, baboons nibbled their fingernails to trim them. "And when I eat bananas I won't peel 'em with my feet 'cuz I'll become a man, man-cus, and get some etiquette!"
"Oh, ooh-bee-doo (Oop-dee-wee)," More of Louie's subjects join them as the pair lands to a stop on a tall tree and starts dancing. "I wanna be like you-hu-hu (Hop-dee-doo-bee-do-bow)."
"I wanna walk like you (Cheep)," The monarch makes a pair of crowns for the two of them with vines, leaves, and bananas. "Talk like you (Cheep) to-o-oo! (Wee-bee-dee-bee-dee-boo)"
"You'll see it's tru-u-ue (Shoo-be-dee-doo)," Once again Tarzan of the Great Troop found himself taken by the sway of the Bandar-log leader. There was just something about this eccentric monkey king that intrigued the jungle man. Louie's mind was full of imagination and invention; he spoke with great enthusiasm of stories and adventures beyond Tarzan's wildest dreams. "An ape like me-e-e (Scooby-doo-bee-doo-bee) can learn to be Hu-u-uman to-o-oo!"
When the orangutan tripped and almost fell, Tarzan immediately reached to bring him back to safety. This earned him a grateful slap on the shoulder.
"I wanna get out of the jungle, and stroll right into town." He sings his jazzy tune as if nothing had happened. "And dance to that crazy man-rhythm 'til the sun goes down (Yeah!)"
"I can't explain the attraction." His finger points down where the baboons are chilling by the pool, hinting at his and Tarzan's reflections. "Mmm, but I guess it's true: the more you seem to be like me, the more I wanna be like you!"
All of a sudden, a vision came to be: Tarzan, Prince of the Bandar-log.
"Oh, ooh-bee-doo, I wanna be like you-hu-hu!" Feeling the urge to sing striking within his heart, Tarzan swooped around the branches, acting like a legit Bandar-log. Louie knew at that moment there was no need to say more. "I wanna walk like you, talk like you to-o-oo!"
"You'll see it's tru-u-ue: someone like me-e-e can learn to be like someone like you-hu-hu!" Their royal 'apenesses' linked shoulders. "Can learn to be like someone like me!"
Their little team of backup dancers helps the pair close their song with a smooth, rhythmic howl.
"Isn't this great, cus?" Louie asked. "Everything's gonna be right with the world thanks to us!"
For that moment, Tarzan smiled back. "I am all up for it."
"Hey, Tarzan? Something is wrong with my flying-through-the-air-knocking-branches-on-my-head-magic-stick-thing."
"You mean your spear? Let me see it."
As time went by, it may be seen that the youth got on tolerably enough indulging his cousin's manic fascination for men. Moreover, the lad was a man of hidden talents, tool-making being one he seldom had the chance to practice sadly enough for, beyond all his other skills, he prided himself upon the carving of his wooden tools. To him, here was a perfect field for his endeavors. The clearing where he instructed Louie's monkeys became his personal domain, over which, with lordly dignity, he held absolute sway—befitting a conscientious man raised by a conscientious panther. Thus Tarzan started his spear-making lessons.
"They need your guidance." Louie's words had easily confined themselves within his mind since the first day. "They need the Spearmaker."
"Hey, Tarzan! How's this stick?" A baboon hoisted a rather long bamboo stalk for him to look at.
"Find a shorter one."
He made sure to give each of his students (a funny tingling sensation overtook his lips every time he referred to them as such) a moment to check their progress as he walked through the clearing.
One was nibbling the branch to sharpen it, creating a messy, jagged end. "Don't eat your spears." The 'teacher' gave him another. "Here, start again."
'CLACK' 'CLACK' 'CLACK'
Even King Louie was taking a crack at it, banging two rocks together in the hopes of getting a pointy tip.
"Slow down, that's no way to make a spearhead." Tarzan extended his hand so Louie could give them to him to make a demonstration. "Hit the rock like this."
'CLACK' 'CLACK' 'CLACK'
While the jungle man displayed his techniques, the monarch caught a glimpse of tiny, nigh-imperceptible shiny things coming out of the stones as they collided.
Sparks. "Red Seeds!" "Do it again."
"Like this?" Tarzan smirked, unaware of his thoughts.
"Faster, faster!" Louie goaded him, shaking in place... until a poke from behind caused him to look at the monkey who had done the act and who was now pointing him towards a tree by the clearing's exit.
Rafiki had appeared while they were busy with the class.
"Actually, cus, this is fine." The Red Ape lost his eagerness and took the rocks back from his oblivious cousin so he could try it himself.
To his frustration, no Sparks dropped for him.
After Tarzan left (and Rafiki moved to another spot in the treeline), a mandril came over to Louie. "If the Red Flower is so important, why not just make Rafiki tell us what he knows?"
"Too risky." replied the king. "We mustn't alert the Colonel. He might think we are up to no good."
"But we are up to no good."
"No, Zutho!" Louie spoke out loud, but not enough to draw too much attention to them. "I work for the greater good. Our purpose is noble. But if the elephants are alerted, they will be watching our every move. They have never understood, but soon I will prove I am right! Until then, let's be careful."
After that, Zutho and his comrades left the king and walked away. Once they were far enough, he smirked wickedly. "This is perfect!"
One of his lackeys yawned. "I thought you hated Tarzan."
"No, I do. Oh, how I hate him!" The dissenter was seething. "And I'm going to use Louie, yes. I'm going to use him to get rid of Tarzan once and for all!"
Within the Halls of the Monkey King, a trio of Bandar-log puts on a little show filled with delight. Uroho and his baboons were entertaining the king's guests, making people laugh by performing their tricks, doing a funny walk, juggling figs before passing them on to the next baboon, pulling Kigelia fruits out of people's ears to play kick as if they were balls, and the most magical trick of all: make others disappear using a leaf only to make them appear with another leaf.
Monkey Magic: things seem clear, then they disappear.
After things had settled for the most part, Tarzan came upon the entrance and spotted Rafiki cheerfully answering eager questions from more Bandar-log that the Black Back couldn't understand. And off in the corner, one table was a little louder and rowdier than the others: Jelani's boys, Ned, Jed, and Fred were seated there, continuously toasting each other with shots of slushie. One of them noticed Tarzan and they waved at him before returning to whatever had them so occupied.
Looking back, he saw the elder was now by himself for the first time since he arrived. When Rafiki raised a hand to him, a bemused Tarzan waved back as he picked his way between the monkeys to join the Mjuzi at the counter, where his hosts had set a drink in a gourd about the size of a small bucket.
Of all the primates that dwelled in the Bukuvu, not one has lived half so long. The youth was told he is as wise as one would expect a veteran Mjuzi to be. And while Louie had a dark look that somewhat reflected his impatience, Rafiki had a gaze of polite curiosity. So it wasn't long until Tarzan's quizzical mind found a sense of kinship with this old monkey.
"Rafiki is grateful for what Louie has done." He very clearly stated. "Much has changed since he became king. The people are happy and well-fed." He took another sip of the deliciously fruity beverage they had provided him, gathering his thoughts. "But Louie feels he knows more than the rest because of his upbringing in these dwellings. He's always been sure of himself, that men and thus he alone had all the answers. But I fear that might lead him astray." He had another, deeper drink, emptying the coconut shell of its contents.
"He seems very fond of you though." His companion made sure to mention. Earlier, Tarzan had seen past the orangutan's resentment and saw the genuine fondness he held for the Mjuzi.
"Rafiki does all he can to help the good creatures of these lands," Rafiki explained with a chuckle, "Some creatures like to show their appreciation."
"I'm not sure I would call it mere appreciation, 'Wise One,'" He replied with a smirk, earning another laugh from Rafiki. Tarzan then paused and stared into his empty cup, blinking rapidly. "How strong are these?"
"Not very, but that was your third one, so…"
Tarzan, moving with the slow precision of one who has realized they're a bit impaired and is fighting it, pushed the coconut shell away. "I think I'd better switch to water, now."
"Such wisdom is rare in those your age," Rafiki praised, immediately setting a well-formed clay cup filled with fresh clean water in front of him.
"Still, the thing he's after..." The young man started.
"Fire," Rafiki finished with another nod, "Man's Red Flower."
"He is convinced I can make it. I am pretty sure he thinks you can do as well."
Rafiki said nothing in reply
"You do, don't you?" Tarzan asked in growing, yet whispering, astonishment, "You actually know how to make fire."
"That is not something you should concern yourself with," Rafiki stated as he put down his drink, prompting the hairless ape to do the same.
"Don't worry, I won't," The latter replied, "It just explains that anger Louie has for you. You have the one thing he wants and you refuse to give it to him."
"We try to avoid this topic for the sake of friendship. He knows that I won't say anything, but he also knows that Rafiki is not the only source of knowledge," The monkey, his hunched form standing before the jungle man, cast an evaluating eye over him once again. "So… do you have any ideas for what to do when he gets tired of asking? Because, you should know, it's practically guaranteed that he will."
Tarzan nodded gloomily as he sipped. "Yeah, it's gonna happen. No question. And no, I really don't know. Especially since it might end up in a fight, and he taught me… a lot of what I know. I don't wanna hurt him... and I don't think he wants to hurt me either."
Rafiki nodded thoughtfully at his side, looking no less sagely despite drinking several servings of his preferred libation. "Louie wants what he thinks is best for the jungle, our best chance would be to convince him he is heading down the wrong path, hopefully before he sets the trees ablaze."
"In that case, I guess we will both have to be around to put out the flames," Tarzan replied, earning a laugh from his new friend.
La was taught much by the queen. She would tell Tarzan everything in turn. Everything about the Man-Kingdom that came to pass: its stone dens that sprawled across the distant horizon like a forest, their pendants that glew with the Blue Flower, its metal mounts made in the likeness of living creatures which they used to fly, not glide, actually fly like the birds and swim in the ocean as easily as the creatures of the depths, its observatories, like the one this city was built around of, that saw far into the night sky, their magic... She also introduced him to what men called technology, which he took to with gleeful fascination. The more she talked, the more stupefied his face became.
Finally, the topic of the collapse that sank the motherland and the fall of Opar proper to Shere Khan and his tigers came up.
Shock and awe gave way to dismay.
So much was lost. All they had built was gone in the span of a single night. Tarzan, who loved to tinker around with his stuff, couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness and sympathy.
"They hunted us down as one hunts a fierce beast," said La from atop her abode, full of ancient splendor. "There was no mercy in them. The men were killed and the women were driven away like sheep. They fought against the tigers for hours, but in the end, they could not prevail against Shere Khan. At last, my liege the queen told her people to hide away in the temple complex—sadly, it was too late for anything to be done. None were left alive."
La's voice neared the edge as she shared with him the story of the late tribe of men who lived in the city, and their war with the tiger now known as Shere Khan. By the end of her tale, Tarzan looked at her in pity. His face softened though he had a great deal of anger towards the usurper, so much so that he clenched his fists.
The Great Circle does not condone war and revenge, but that wouldn't stop him from making this promise: when they meet again, he will show the Khan who hunts who.
"I understand." He told her, referring to himself. "My brother is tending to a friend's funeral. Almost lost another godfather too a while ago... and I am no stranger to death." Memories from that massacre at the Honey Cliffs would forever be carried in his chest.
A flicker of understanding shone on La's gaze. As if she too recognized the senselessness of so much violence. "Oh, you poor thing." She shook her head in solidarity.
"We do our best, with what we have and what we know," He said quietly, enough for her to hear. "That's in the past now. What comes after is not on you."
La smiled humbly. "For a while, I thought I'd never meet another man after the city fell. I'd like to teach you what I know so you can carry on their legacy when I'm gone."
Thoughts swirl inside his mind before he speaks. "La... fire is evil, how can it cure?"
She shook her head at that. "Evil here is a point of view, Tarzan. It's how the jungle folk see it. And their point of view is not the only valid one. The people of this city believed in security and justice also, yet they are considered by some of the creatures here to be..."
"...evil." A small sob almost escaped him when he realized it wasn't just Shere Khan he thought of in that moment but Bagheera and Kerchak as well.
"From the Khan's point of view." La gave him a nod. "Please, try to understand. Men are creatures too. When it comes to basic needs, we are similar in almost every way. The difference between us is that men are not afraid of the Great Circle of Life. This allows them to freely use their intelligence to change nature to suit their needs. That is why they are more powerful."
Pausing for a moment, she gazed off into a small, lonely opening that allowed the light from upstairs to illuminate the chamber.
"There is a lot more about Men's Ways than just the Red Flower. To them, nothing could compare to the Stone of Cold Fire and the Blue Flower it blossomed. Why, the people of the homeland even called it the heart of their city. It was so powerful that those who truly figured out its secrets even acquired the knowledge to keep the ones they cared about from dying."
Tarzan's eyes widened. "They could actually save people from death?"
"The knowledge of men is a pathway to many abilities that could be considered unnatural."
"Is it possible to learn this power?"
"Not as you are now. But if you truly want it... I can teach you." The bird's magic gave an almost palpable sensation to the mysterious forces at play in these caves.
So bizarre... and so beautiful.
"We are still here, Tarzan. The city is still standing, and I have all the knowledge they acquired over the years. You have that sharp mind and power to adapt to your surroundings that has carried men since the dawn of time. That's all we need. Their history will cease to be a mere memory. The city of Opar will return... very... much... alive."
On the same day Timon was almost eaten by crocs, he shared with his hairless godson a small piece of wisdom he had learned as a young meerkat regarding predators: "They come, they eat us, they leave. It's our lot in life. It's not a lot but it's our life."
This didn't sit well with Tarzan. For he desired a jungle where his family would be safe forever.
Although these reminders of the harsh reality of survival partially tainted his thrill for discovery, the jungle man remained resolute. "It would mean everything to me." He made a respectful bow, while La smiled.
That was when the Iron Tooth commanded his attention.
The gem was now glowing and thrumming like the humming throat of a grown pachyderm, getting louder, more persistent. A vibration that resonated within the Ape-Man's very soul. Tarzan's hand, acting on a sudden instinct, gripped the handle as if trying to calm the ankus. He held it in his hand, feeling its weight, its energy, its connection to this place.
"It is calling to me." Guiding and pulling him towards knowledge; the hidden truths he needed to uncover.
La's smile got bigger. "My promise of knowledge to you is at hand. It's all yours for the taking."
La presented him with a unique opportunity. Why shouldn't he take it?
He made up his mind.
"What can I get you today?" The monkey asked.
"Quick question," Timon said, elbows resting on the table. "Would you say your termite-stuffed veggies are good?"
"Good?" The Bobo Brother repeated him. "They are the best,"
The meerkat narrowed his eyes. "I'll be the judge of that,"
"You're on," The monkey left but not before sending him a cocky smirk.
"Will you have the same, Pumbaa?" asked the other brother.
"Nah, not me." replied the warthog, shaking his head. "I'm on one of those special diets." He explained before gobbling down a huge quantity of palm oil kernels.
"Pumbaa, if only your brain was as big as your stomach." Timon faltly remarked.
"More juice over here, please," Simba called from across the table.
'BURP'
"Huh, I don't remember eating that."
"Daring today, are we?" The Bobo snickered, then went to get more gourds.
Simba took a deep, blissful breath and inhaled the air in the surroundings. "How could I possibly live away from all of this?"
"Wonder if they need four vultures for their act." Buzzie mused from the next table, where he and his flock watched the monkeys trumpeting through their clasped hands, tapping gords, pots, vases, and jars to make music.
"Maybe they do. Remind me to ask T when he gets back."
"I GOT FRUIT!" At that moment, who else should pop up with a spear skewering a bunch of fruits to refill the bowls?
"Nice timing."
Contrasting with the mellow atmosphere going on all around him, the Bukuvu's Man-Expert, Jungle VIP, and above all else King of the Bandar-log found himself at his wits' end as he pranced in front of his throne whilst silently praying his friend wouldn't goof off on his assigned task.
"What time is it?" He managed to pause long enough to ask his aide.
"Um... almost night." Simon checked outside. "But I think the sun running a little faster today."
Like that, Louie returned to his nervous walk. He needs those bananas. If they don't get here in time, his plans will be in trouble. "Baloo better get here."
"I know he is gonna show up soon," Tarzan reassured.
Simba, lounging on his seat, quirked a brow. An anxious Louie wasn't something one sees every day. "Who is it for, the water buffalo?"
"Actually-"
"Here I am." The bear in question announced, cutting off the orangutan and making his entrance with many bananas over his shoulders. "There you go, Lou. Have fun with your guest tonight." Baloo said, and there was just enough smugness in his voice that Louie made a mental note to give his old friend a small prank at some point. Nothing big, but just enough for old times' sake.
Seeing this, Simba blinked owlishly. "...Okay, now you got me curious, who is it?"
It took a while but the king's very important guest finally could see the edge of his domain. The troop stepped forth and watched with her, a mass "ooooh" rising from the score of young gorillas as they got a good look at the city.
"Glad you could make it!" The monarch greets them, accompanied by a number of his guests and subjects.
"This place smells like bananas," Flynt said from amongst the Ugani Black Backs. "I like it already!"
"You came here with a whole escort just for us?" Terk snickered, moving towards the orangutan. "How modest."
"Well, of course, my lady." He approached and kissed her hand. "I always provide for my very special guests."
"Lady?" Mungo searched the area. "What lady?"
Laughs followed that joke. Louie gave him a pointed glare but was quick to lose it when he saw Terk's smile. Opting to let it slide, he gestured to his home. "Consider yourselves at home. And feel free to enjoy my own secret fruit stores."
"Not much of a secret," Timon muttered to his companions, making them chuckle a little.
"Whoa, so humble too." Terk snarked once more whilst her troopmates raced to the party.
"Isn't this grand?" Flynt asked, already helping himself to a soft drink.
"Bananas!" Mungo roared in mirth. "Bananas, I say. Where are the bananas?"
As soon as all had gathered back in the throne room, Louie climbed atop his seat to make an announcement. "I have something important to say,"
Flunkey, hands clasped, trumpets.
"Very important,"
The lieutenant repeats his actions.
"Incredibly important,"
One more time.
"So important you won't believe how important-"
"Lou, what is it?!" Baloo half-demanded.
The King smirked. "Let's party!"
"Swing, boy, brotherswing."
His knuckles drag him to the dance floor. Where people gather 'round whenever they're ready and then the music begins to play.
"Come on, swing begin."
A daring Terk heads there at her own pace.
"Swing, boy, brotherswing."
They size each other across the hall. Both of them sporting grins with hidden, almost-predatory edges.
"Don't stop, swing begin."
They meet in the center of the dancing ring.
"Boys and girls, shake your knees." At the same time, orangutan and gorilla feel a groove comin' on its way. "And if you can, hear them. Clap your hands, snap your fingers, and sing. Popeil, popeil."
Neither of them knew how or why it started. All they knew was that, when the beat brings a feel, It's hard to get parted.
"Here comes the king to the dancing ring."
He stretched a hand to her, which she was all too glad to accept.
"The king of the ring, the king of the swing."
They know to take it in stride; what is to follow is sure to be good.
"Clap your hands, snap your fingers, and sing."
A beat bouncing to the song echoes inside their heads.
"Brotherswing!"
They throw themselves into the other's arms.
"Swing, boy, brotherswing."
Next, the pair moves their legs at such speed and syntony that one would think their feet had minds of their own.
"Come on, swing begin."
He shows her his royal dance step, impressing and daring her to accompany him. Terk, being a natural, did exactly that.
"Swing, boy, brotherswing."
Automatically they're on their way, swing dancing seductively like a pair of peacocks.
"Don't stop, swing begin."
The music was loud and boisterous (not too different from the din of the Great Apes), They attune their dance to these turbulent melodies, their movements becoming more noticeably graceful with every twirl and spin.
"Swing, boy, brotherswing.".
Others bounce and sway to the rhythm. Bit by bit, the cheering crowd goes to join the couple on the dance floor. Soon enough, nearly everyone, whether monkey or gorilla, was letting loose at the party.
"Come on, swing begin."
This is a real jungle boogie. It is jazzy. It is groovy. It is Monkey City.
"Swing, boy, brotherswing."
The fiery and passionate pair was still at the center of the action.
"Don't stop, swing begin."
Pure instinct guides them. They feel it in their bones: the rhythm pouring through them down to their jumping feet.
"Boys and girls, shake your knees and fulfill your craziest dreams."
Louie and Terk face each other, and he eagerly takes the chance to admire her beautiful eyes.
"Clap your hands, snap your fingers, and sing."
This vibrant celebration of movement and song brings something so infectious into one's core that it's almost impossible to resist. The monkeys' music doesn't just invite you to dance, it takes you to a world where worries disappear and the only thing that matters is the rhythm.
"Pop-pitti, pitti, pitti."
Playful lyrics add to an invitation to surrender yourself completely, to let the joyful impulse of the music carry you away.
"Here comes the king to the dancing ring."
The verses are simple, but they convey a profound truth: sometimes one needs to step away from the daily grind and simply move their bodies. A liberating notion that the city's newest guests found to be extremely appealing.
"The king of the ring, the king of the swing."
Barely a moment is spent on a pause, for that would be a waste.
"Clap your hands, snap your fingers, and sing."
An unlikely sense of community and camaraderie permeates through the halls. Like a call to unite all in the search for that perfect groove.
"Brotherswing."
The mere act of clapping, snapping fingers, and singing together becomes a shared ritual, a way of connecting with each other through the pure joy of movement.
"Swing, boy, brotherswing."
The repetition in the music hypnotizes them like a python's dance. Its lyrics and enticing harmony become a mantra, encouraging everyone to keep going, to stay in the groove a little longer.
"Come on, swing begin."
The dance floor turns into a place where time slows down, where the pressures of life momentarily disappear, replaced by a pulse of music and body movement.
"Swing, boy, brotherswing."
Amid all its exuberance, the song of the Bandar-log carries a simple message about the importance of letting go and having fun.
"Don't stop, swing begin."
As they partake in this little affirmation of life, Louie and Terk embrace the moment together, finding joy in dancing and sharing that same feeling with others.
"Forget Baggy, Kerchak's gonna flip when he learns about this." commented the ursine.
"Beautiful, isn't it Timon?" Pumbaa cooed, overcome with emotion as he watched what was sure to be the beginning of a lively and romantic relationship.
"Oh yeah!" Unfortunately (fortunately in said aromantic meerkat's case), his friend was far too occupied dancing in the opposite direction. "Lou outdid himself this time!"
"Looks like he found a new swing partner too." Simba pointed out.
Baloo nodded, smiling full of pride. "I taught her everything she knows."
"Terk and Louie... heh, who knew?" Simba turned to his brother. "Did you, Tarzan?"
The Ape-Man nodded. "Louie asked me for advice... I fell to the ground and laughed so hard I could have sworn I made a mess on my clothes."
That caused everyone at the table to double over in laughter.
"So, let's see if you've still got it?" Baloo asked his boys.
Tarzan and Simba shared conniving smirks before leaping forth. Two Brothers, so young and full of life, take to the dancing ring.
"Take it away, Little Britches!" Baloo cheered before joining them.
"Hey, wait for me!" Pumbaa followed right after.
"Oh, gee, our big guardian lion is leaving." Dizzy alerted, snapping his colleagues from the party.
"Yeah, we better follow." Buzzie pushes the other three after the lion. "Come on."
"Ho-ho, you guys are having a party without me?" Rafiki's voice could be heard from the crowd.
"Hi Rafiki-WHOA!" Tarzan tripped on his step only to regain his balance in the last second.
Seeing this, his brother laughed. "Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you: the Monkey Prince!"
"Shake it, cus!" Terk took a moment from her dance with Louie to address her hairless cousin.
"Swing, boy, brotherswing."
"This party is nuts!" Timon cried out as he dived into a bowl of nuts.
"Come on, swing begin."
Everyone was truly dancing now. They got the groove and knew how to move. No soul was unable to find solace in the rhythm.
"Swing, boy, brotherswing."
Some gorillas proceeded to 'monkey' around, so to speak, by doing flips and gravity-defying hoop de loop. Truly this place brings out the party in anyone.
"Don't stop, swing begin."
"I call this a banana split." The Bandar-log king showed off to the Mangani female.
Not too far away, his best friend rolled his eyes and snickered. "Oh, boy. He's gone bananas."
"Swing, boy, brotherswing."
Many voices hoot as new songs are made or the musicians start playing an old favorite.
"Come on, swing begin."
Oh yes, this was a most magical night.
"Swing, boy, brotherswing."
They lose themselves in the moment. Indulging in feasts, dance, and merry-making.
"Don't stop, swing begin."
So it came to pass that Terk of the Mangani had her first date and dance.
A/N: Sorry it took so long to update. Test season came up, and I had to focus on getting good grades. Then, along came the holidays, and my schedule got crammed. But, just like Bagheera, now I am back and better than ever! ...Whoops, spoiler alert!
To all, a wonderful New Year!