THE COURTSHIP OF TIMON AND PUMBAA
By Alicia Miller

DISCLAIMER:
All characters in this writing are fictitious and  not meant to seem
real. The characters of Timon, Pumbaa, Simba, Rafiki, Nala, Kovu, Kiara,
and all other Lion King characters are Disney and therefore copyrighted.
Kube is copyright by Caiphus Semanya. The characters of Sen, Danora,
Reggie, Shento, Adina, Natara and any other name not Lion King oriented
are of my original work and creation. If you plan to use any of my
characters for your own fan fiction, please email me first so that I may
examine your work. Thank you.  

NOTE:
There are Zulu words in this story that many will not understand so to
help with those that are non-fluent in Zulu, after the chapter you will
see the translations. Ngiyabonga (thank you).

Questions and/or comments should be sent to AM_Thandi@juno.com


The Courtship of Timon and Pumbaa
By: Alicia Miller

Chapter 1: Timmy's Mishap

	The sun rose brightly over the Savanna and into the Kube lands.
All the animals were stirring and preparing for the new day. Timmy awoke
in his burrow and listened to the sounds of the hustle and bustle of the
world above him. He sat up and walked down the hallway of his parents
five-room burrow. He went to the entrance and poked out his head. The
sentries were looking over the lands on top of a mound that was to the
left of him. To the right of him he saw Sen sleeping peacefully upside
down in his tree. In front of Timmy, the lead meerkat Eden was digging
for a scorpion. Timmy turned around and noticed Adina braiding her hair.
"How lovely Adina looks right now. I could just go over there and give
her a big hug and a kiss." Timmy thought. Timmy knew that Adina hated him
but that didn't stop him from loving her. He climbed out of the burrow
and began making his way to Kube.
	When Timmy reached Kube he bent down and got a drink. While he
was drinking, he kept hearing strange noises coming from the distance. He
lifted his head. The sound got louder and then he saw what it was. It was
a hyena--heading straight for him. "Auugghhh! The hyenas are coming!
They've come back to kill us! Run for your lives! Auugghhh!" Timmy
screamed. He ran full speed across the bridge over Kube. He kept running
and screaming. He didn't care where he was going, he certainly wasn't
going to be any hyenas' breakfast. He was running so fast that he
couldn't stop. He hit a tree. Wham! That hurt. He got dizzy and mumbled
some words then fell.
	Simba and Nala were making their rounds around the Pride Lands
with Rafiki when they saw the distressed meerkat. Rafiki went towards the
meerkat and waved is stick over him. "He's unconscious. Whatever was
chasing him sure did scare him." Rafiki said. Simba and Nala came towards
him.
"He looks sort of like Timon." 
	Timmy opened his eyes to see an old mandrill staring over him. He
sat up and rubbed his head. "Who are you? How did I get here?" He asked.
The mandrill answered, "My name is Rafiki, and you ran your way here."
Timmy recognized a familiar face in the distance. It was his brother,
Timon. "Timon? Is that you big brother?" Timon turned and saw his little
brother on the ground. "Timmy! Oh my gosh is it really you?" The two ran
to each other and hugged. The two kept hugging each other and continued
to say
things to each other. Rafiki began, "I didn't know you had a brother
Timon." "You didn't? I've got a sister too. Hey Timmy how's the family?"
Timon asked. "They're okay. We had to relocate though." Said Timmy.
"Why?" Asked Timon. "Because hyenas invaded our colony and killed
everyone except our family." "How awful." Said Nala. The world stopped
there. Timmy saw Simba and Nala and began to scream. He hid behind Timon
begging for protection. "It's okay Timmy. They're not going to hurt you.
They're my friends." Timmy apologized for his reaction. 
	All that day was spent on getting to know Timon and his brother.
Pumbaa was pleased to meet Timon's brother along with the other's in
Simba's pride including Kiara and Kovu. Timmy felt so pleased to be
around them that he forgot about the Kube lands. And about Adina.
	Later that night, Timmy told Timon about the new colony.
"So they don't believe in Hakuna Matata?"
"Of course not Timon. It's forbidden. Their motto is something about the
river. Kube. All I know is that the warthogs and meerkats used to fight
all the time until Adina and Natara became friends. They stopped the
whole thing along with Sen."
"Who is Adina, Natara and Sen?"
"Adina is a beautiful meerkat and Natara is her warthog friend. Sen is
just like Rafiki only he's a bit meaner."
"How is Sen meaner?"
"He throws rocks at me--while he sleeps. He told me that I was a
chauvinist and that I need to leave Adina alone."
"Why--have you been picking on Adina?"
"No. I love Adina but she doesn't love me."
"Well that makes sense."
"I'm going to sleep. Goodnight Timon."
"Goodnight Timmy."
The two brothers went to sleep.


CHAPTER 2: Timon goes to the Kube Lands.

	Morning came to the Pride Lands very quickly. Timon shoved Timmy
to wake up. Timmy looked at him and asked "Do you want to go to the Kube
Lands with me?" "Where's that?" Asked Timon.
"I think if we follow the river we'll find it." Timmy yawned. He stood up
and shook off some dirt. Timon looked at his brother and stood proud. He
could tell his brother was better than he and he was proud of it. "Let's
go, bro." Said Timmy.
	Along the way, Rafiki and Simba joined them on their conquest.
They followed the river until they got to a place Timmy recognized.
"We're here. Hey Lucy I'm home." Yelled Timmy.
"This is it?" Asked Simba.
"Yep. Welcome to the Northern side of Kube. Home of the Warthogs." said
Timmy.
"Warthogs?" Rafiki questioned.
"Yep. Their ruler is Danora. I've heard that she's very mean." Said
Timmy.
A warthog was coming towards them. Simba, Rafiki and Timon hid. She came
through the bushes and stared down at him. "Timmy, I've been searching
all over for you." She said.
"What do you want Natara?"
"Sen wants to see you right now." She couldn't seem to stand still.
"Will you quit moving around? It's annoying!" Yelled Timmy.
She stopped and gave him a hard piercing stare. She was angry now. "I see
how it is. Just you wait till your father hears about this!" She turned
and ran back to where she had come from.
	Simba, Rafiki, and Timon emerged from their hiding places.
"Who's Sen?" Asked Timon.
"Oh, he's just some evil baboon that yells a lot and throws rocks at me
in his sleep." Timmy replied casually. Rafiki and Simba looked at each
other and laughed.
"You guys stay here. I'll see what Sen wants."


CHAPTER 3: Sen's Discussion

	Timmy crossed the log bridge spanning across Kube. Sen was
waiting for him on the other side.
"Where were you yesterday?" Asked Sen.
"I got lost. So what did you want me for?" Timmy asked as he sat down on
a rock. Sen stood in front of him. He had one of those serious looks upon
his face.
"I wanted to talk to you about Adina."
"That's it!" Exclaimed Timmy. "She likes me! She truly loves me!" He
jumped up and down.
"No. She has a restraining order put on you." Sen said seriously.
"What?" Asked Timmy in disappointment.
"She wants you to remain a distance of twenty yards from her."
"Why?"
Sen began to get seriously upset at Timmy. "Well, let me think here. You
follow her, spy on her, you want to know what she's doing every second, I
mean, give her some space. Timmy, Eden will banish you! He almost did
too, if it weren't for your father, you'd be banished by now! I shouldn't
even have to give you a warning!" Sen paused, calmed down and continued.
"Now, I want you to leave Adina alone. If I get one single complaint from
Adina or anyone associated with her that you were harassing her, I will
make sure that you will be living in exile for the rest of your life!
Have I made my point clear?"
"Yes." Timmy replied sadly.
"You are dismissed." Sen climbed up in a tree and left Timmy alone.
	Timmy returned to the place where he left Timon, Simba, and
Rafiki.
"So what did Sen want?" Asked Timon.
"Oh, it was nothing." Timmy replied sadly.
"I don't think so. I think you're hiding something." Said Rafiki.
"What makes you say that?" Asked Timmy.
"Because you look so downhearted." Said Simba.
"Oh. That. Well it's just a warning about my disappearance last night and
no telling anyone." Said Timmy. Timon had a feeling that Timmy lied but
said nothing. "I like it here." Said Simba. "You would." Mumbled Timmy.
"Well, Timon, it's time to meet the colony. You guys better go home." So
Rafiki and Simba said good-bye to Timon and Timmy leaving the two to
explore what lie ahead.


CHAPTER 4: Timon's Family

	Timmy led Timon to the south side of Kube. "This is our colony."
Timmy said. Timon looked around. He saw 11 mounds symbolizing the
meerkats burrows. The tallest one had the letters SSKM on it. He noticed
the sentry on duty, a female meerkat combing herself, and plenty of kits
all playing and enjoying themselves. There were a few adults out watching
the kits as they played. It seemed like a typical colony. "Timmy, what
does SSKM stand for?" Asked Timon. "It's the name of the colony. The
South Side Kube Meerkats." Answered Timmy. "Oh." said Timon. "C'mon, meet
the kats in our colony." Said Timmy
	They went to the sentry first. "Hey Muntu, see anything of
interest?" Asked Timmy. "As a matter of fact, no. Go away ya little
puke." Replied the sarcastic Muntu. "Well, you're not very nice." Said
Timon. "Who are you? Why are you here? What do you want? You're not
welcome here." Muntu yelled at Timon. Timmy got into Muntu's face.
"Chill. He's my brother." Timmy told him. Muntu asked, "Does Eden know
he's here?" "Yes." Said Timmy. Timon looked at him. The two left Muntu at
his post. "I can't believed you lied." Said Timon. 
	The next meerkat they came to was a female. She was a bit old but
not as ancient as Ronald was. "Hello Zakiya." Timmy greeted her. "Hello
Timmy. We missed you last night, Sen, Eden, and I wanted to talk to you
about Adina." Her voice was like velvet like her fur. "I got lost, my
older brother Timon here found me. Sen gave me a good talking to."Replied
Timmy. "Good. Hello there Timon. Nice to meet you. Maybe you can show
Timmy how to act towards the ladies." Zakiya winked. Timon smiled
politely and said not a word.
	The brothers continued their journey until they got to a certain
mound. There Timmy said, "Here's our home. I think Mom and Sylvia are
there." They went inside. Sylvia and Rita were sitting on the floor
talking and laughing. "Mom! Sylvia! Guess what?" Yelled Timmy as he ran
towards them. "You're home!" Exclaimed Rita as she stood up and embraced
him. "No. He is!" Timmy pointed at Timon who stood at the hall. "Hi mom.
Hi Sylvia." Timon said. The ladies shrieked. "Timon!!!!" They ran to him
hugging and kissing him. Each giving a little saying to him that he
didn't understand (they were talking over each other). Timon cried at
their touch for he missed them dearly. When all had calmed down, Timon
explained what was going on in his life. His family knew everything would
go back to the way it was again.

CHAPTER 5: Bititoes

	Natara and Adina were by Kube that afternoon talking about
everything that was going on around them. Bititoes interrupted them.
"Good afternoon ladies." Natara turned around and stood up. "Hi Reverend
Bititoes." Natara said. Adina smiled at him. "Is there anything we can do
for you?" Asked Natara. "Yes Natara, I need to speak to Adina alone." He
said in a serious tone. "All right." Said Natara, as she began walking
off into the distance.
	Adina was sitting on a stump and scooted over to make room for
Bititoes. She was concerned, knowing it had something to do with Timmy.
He sat down next to her. They stared each other eye to eye.
"There is a reason why I'm here Adina."
"Let me guess. It has something to do with Timmy."
"Yes. I terribly sorry that he can't keep to himself."
"You don't need to apologize to me for him. I just hope he realizes that
I despise him."
"Things would be different if he were more like his brother."
"I bet. You see, I like him as a friend, I don't want him thinking that
I'm his mate and that he has power over me, I have more power than he
does."
"I think I will direct my next sermon to him. I will give him a speech on
why he shouldn't act the way he has towards you."
"Bititoes, out of all the kats here I think that you are the greatest. I
have great respect for you."
"Adina, if there were more kats like me, it would be a very boring place.
I think that the day you become the ruler of the meerkats is the day that
Tixo will shine upon us."
"Thanks."
Bititoes stood up and stretched. He then nodded at her and headed home.
	The trees began to rustle and Sen appeared. He swung on one arm
on a tree branch letting himself drop to the ground. He landed on his
feet and stood in front of her.
"Hello Adina."
"Hi Sen, nice of you to drop by,"
"Looks like Bititoes came to apologize for Timmy's actions."
"Yeah, he's pretty unique."
"I spoke with Timmy and he was pretty disappointed. I mean it's not like
you didn't warn him before. I mean you called him an ugly, stupid,
skinny, idiotic, two timing, yellow belly pondo pygmy."
"I guess to him that means, I love you."
They both laughed.
"He was with another meerkat."
"Good, I'm glad he's found someone new."
"It was a male. He looked like your type too." He winked at her.
"Sen! How dare you even think of such things." Sen laughed at her
response.
"C'mon Adina, I know that you couldn't pass up the opportunity to meet a
new kat. It'll be fun."
"All right, I'll go, but he better be good lookin' with a personality I
could die for."
They both left, heading for the colony.
	Meanwhile, Bititoes was going towards his burrow when Eden
stopped him. "Did you speaks with Adina?" He asked. 
"Yes. She accepted my apology. I hope Sen gave Timmy a good talking to
because I plan to. I hope Timmy know what the consequences will be fro
stalking  Adina." Answered Bititoes.
"Maybe I should come in and talk to Timmy as well." 
Both of them entered the burrow. Timon's back turned to them as he, Rita
and Sylvia were laughing.
"Timmy." Bititoes said sternly. Timon turned around and faced his father.
Bititoes was shocked.
"Timon! Where? What? How did you get here?" Bititoes exclaimed. He was
all aghast.
"Hi dad. Timmy found me." Father and son embraced. Eden watched the two
and smiled. "I'm so glad you're back my son." Said Bititoes. Eden finally
spoke and directed it towards Timon, "I suppose you want to join our
colony."
"Oh, no," answered Timon, "I'm leaving in a couple of days."
"Why?" Asked Bititoes shocked his son didn't want to stay.
"I have to. Simba and my other friends will worry." So everyone sat down
and began to talk about the things going on around them.

Tixo = Xhosa for "Great spirit"


CHAPTER 5: Timon Meets Adina

	That evening, Timon left the burrow to get a drink. He went to
Kube and drank the cool refreshing water it had to offer. It was much
better than the Pride land water hole. When he finished, he wiped his
mouth and headed back. He wasn't watching where he was going and ran into
another meerkat on a stump. She fell to the ground.
"Oh, I'm sorry terribly sorry. Clumsy me for not watching where I was
going." He told her as he helped her up.
"That's quite all right." They stared at each other for a moment and then
Timon left.
	With that first meeting, both of them began to think about one
another. "Mm, mm, that kat is fine. He may be clumsy, but to me, he has
the perfect body. His muscles, his tail, his eyes, ooh......everything
about him makes me feel like I'm sittin' on top of the world. So
handsome, maybe if I get him to notice me, he'll ask me out and maybe,
become my mate." Adina thought as she sighed and adored Timon.
	Timon too began to think about Adina. "Man, she was gorgeous.
She's got everything I could ever want in a kat. Her sparkling emerald
eyes, those womanly curves, her beautiful face, ooh everything about her
makes me feel all manly. I wonder if she's got a mate? I'll ask her
tomorrow." He went to his parents burrow. His father was writing the
Sunday sermon. "Which room is mine?" Asked Timon. Bititoes did not face
his son, he answered blankly, "Third one to the left." Timon shrugged and
went to his room. In his room he found paints and dyes and a couple ugly
unfinished portraits. He looked at the blank wall. He smiled. he dipped
his paw in some brown paint and began painting.
	Morning came, and Adina visited the Berkowitzes. She was talking
to Bititoes. She had read his sermon.
"Bititoes, this is great. I hope Timmy gets the message behind it."
"Glad you like it Adina."
Timon came out of his room covered with paint. Bititoes saw him and
laughed. Adina turned around and laughed too. "You really outdid yourself
this time Timmy." She giggled. Timon did not protest since he wanted
Adina to think him as Timmy. He didn't want her to know that he spent the
night painting. Let her think he was Timmy for now. He left to wash the
paint off. Bititoes shook his head. "Timmy is always painting but the
pictures he paints are too ugly that no meerkat in this colony even likes
them."
	Timon cleaned up and dried out very quickly. He sat down and
decided to bask in the sun. A feminine voice spoke from behind. "Hello
there handsome." He turned around. Adina was staring at him, seductively.
He smiled. "Hello beautiful." She walked to him, offered her paw and
said, "My name is Adina." He stood up and kissed her hand like a
gentleman. "I'm Timon."
"Well, you certainly aren't like any other kat I've ever met, you may be
clumsy but you're a true gentleman."
"My father taught me that."
"So, where are you from."
"Nowhere, I'm a bit of a lone wanderer."
"Really? Are you in exile or something?"
"No."
"Oh, so why are you a wanderer?"
"I choose to be that way."
"I see."
"I've lived in this colony all my live. I'd love to wander around."
"I think you should stay here, where you're protected."
"I think a big strong kat like you could protect me."
He laughed. "There's a lot you don't know about me."
A voice called Adina from the bushes. "Adina!"
"I'm coming Natara." Adina yelled.
"You better go."
"Will I see you again?"
"Perhaps."
Natara yelled again, "ADINA!"
"By and by I come." She yelled and then whispered to Timon, "Meet me here
tonight."
"All right."
"ADINA!" Yelled Natara.
Adina ran off and yelled, "For goodness sakes Natara, I'm coming!"


CHAPTER 6: Preparations for the date

	Adina found Natara on the South side of Kube by the river.
"What took you so long?" Asked the irritated Natara. 
"I was talking to a real fine meerkat."
"Oh."
"Yeah. We've got a date tonight." Adina looked at her reflection and
started messing with her hair.
"So, tell me about him. Where he's from you know."
"His name is Timon. He's got big sparkling brown eyes, perfect stripes,
perfect height, perfect muscularity, perfect color...."
"He's just perfect."
"Yeah. I think I'm in love."
"Girl, you've got it bad."
"Oh Natara, with the way he acted, he was such a gentleman, I think he
likes me too."
"Too bad the cutest boar in the herd wouldn't go for me if he was deaf,
blind, and stupid."
"Natara! Don't say such things! There's a mate out there for all of us.
And Rosco isn't right for you. You will find the right boar someday."
"I hope you're right Adina."
Adina pushed her hair from the back to the front crating a bangs' sort of
look.
"Leave it right there Adina." Natara said. Adina looked down at her
reflection. her hair was perfect. Sexy, woman-like, everything about her
hair made her feel tall. She hoped Timon would like it too.
	Timon was on the other side of Kube preparing for the night and
fixing himself up to be presentable to Adina. Timmy saw him and went
towards him.
"What are you getting all spiffy for?"
"A date."
"Really? With who?"
"Her name is Adina."
"What? Did my ears deceive me or did I hear Adina's name? How dare she go
out with you and not me!"
"Why are you so jealous?"
"I've wanted Adina to be my mate for ages!"
"Oh. She wouldn't happen to be the one you've been stalking."
"How did you know?"
"Please. Father doesn't rant on like someone's sinned like he did to you
last night."
"You heard?"
"I couldn't sleep."
"Okay. So I had a crush. Sue me."
"Tsk. Tsk. You know better than to make a meerkat feel uncomfortable in
their surroundings."
"Uh huh. Sure."
"Good day Timmy. I'm going to talk to father."
"Fine."
Timon left Timmy alone. Timmy began to think, 'I hope Adina sees Timon
for what he really is, a hakuna matata bum. Just like how her father was.
I'll bring it out of him. I'll make Adina like me more than him. I'll be
the hero of the day. I'll be sure that Adina becomes my mate and hates
Timon forever.' He chuckled an evil chuckle but did not see that he
Shento the hyena watched him from afar. Shento was shocked. 'I've got to
warn Adina right away!' He thought.

CHAPTER 7: The Date

	Evening came to the Kube lands quickly. Timon set a dinner table
up on a stump. He put out the food, the drinks, the whole works. Then he
waited. Adina emerged from the bushes. She stared at him passionately and
then smiled. She saw the preparations and gasped. "You didn't have to do
all this."
"I know. I did it because I wanted to." He led her to a flat topped rock
and gestured for her to sit down. He went to his side and sat down as
well. "Would you care to give the blessing, o lovely princess?" Adina was
shocked by the fact he had called her princess. She said nothing of it.
"No, I think you should." Timon said the blessing and they both began to
eat.
	After dinner, Adina and Timon went star gazing. They watched for
shooting stars and talked about what lie ahead for them. Then they turned
to each other and stared each other in the face. They moved faces towards
each other, closed their eyes and.... "Adina!" They moved away from each
other. Timon shrieked. "Hyena! Run Adina!" He ran and hid in the bushes.
"It's all right Timon. It's just Shento." Timon peeked out. "I have
urgent news Adina."
"Spit it out."
"I need to speak with you alone."
Timon stared at Shento. Adina went towards Timon. "You better go. Shento
and I have some business to take care of." Timon nodded and walked off.
He felt as if he had be cheated out of a good evening.
	When Timon left, Adina went back to Shento and looked him in the
eyes. "So what's going on?"
"Timmy is planning a break up."
"Between me and Timon? How?"
"I don't know. I'm telling you Adina. Timmy will stop at nothing until
you and him go out."
"Whatever that rat has got up his sleeve isn't going to work. Timon and I
are in love and nothing will break us apart."
Shento shook his great head. "I know what's going to happen. You will be
heartbroken. Timmy said Timon was a hakuna matata bum."
"Don't say that! Timon is better than all those other kats, no matter
what Timmy says. Timon is too dignified to be a hakuna matata bum."
Shento began to leave and turned back around and looked at Adina. "Don't
say no one warned you." He turned around and ran off. Adina shuttered and
began to think about the possibility that he may just be right.


CHAPTER 8: Timmy's Evil Plan

	Timmy walked off the Kube lands that night and found Fred. Fred
looked at Timmy and ran to him, embracing Timmy with all his strength.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm glad to see you too."
"How's Timon?"
"He's seeing another meerkat."
"Are you serious?" Fred laughed really hard.
"Yeah. And she HATES hakuna matata."
"Oh. That's Timon's motto too. Just wait till she finds out"
"That's where you come in."
"Oh. The evil side of you has really kicked in."
"You pull off some pranks and try to get Timon to say the two magic
words."
"I like it. I'll do it. What's in it for me?"
"The fact that you and Timon can be friends again and be up to your no
good evil dirty tricks again." Timmy and Fred rubbed their paws together.
They both laughed evily.


CHAPTER 9: Timon's Departure

	That night Timon decided to leave. He had to make sure that his
friends weren't searching for him. He went to each room and said some
words. Then he went out of the burrow and went off home. 
	On his way he heard a strange sound. He turned around. A mandrill
stared down at him. He looked just like Rafiki only much younger, much
less blue stripes on his face and looked a heck of a lot smarter. "Where
are you going?"
"Who are you?"
"You didn't answer my question."
"I'm going home."
"Why?"
"You didn't answer my question."
The mandrill became serious. "Don't play games with me. I am the guardian
of this land and intend to know what every meerkat is doing." Timon
stepped into the moonlight. The mandrill gasped. "I thought you were
Timmy."
"Timmy's my brother. I'm Timon."
"Well now. It all makes sense. My name is Sen."
"I'm going home, Sen."
"Why? You don't like it here?"
"I do, it's just that there's this one meerkat I like and she likes me
too."
"Oh. I see. You're not ready for a relationship."
"No. Adina deserves better than me." Sen was taken aback. Adina was
dating a meerkat and didn't tell him.
"Timon. Don't you think it will break her heart?"
"Yes. She deserves a smarter better looking meerkat. Not some hakuna
matata bum." With that, Timon turned and walked away. Sen called after
him but he kept on trucking.


CHAPTER 10: The Unexpected.....

	Adina woke from her sleep the next morning and went outside her
burrow. She went to Kube and got a drink. Sen was waiting there.
"What are you waiting for Sen?"
"You."
"Why?"
"I heard you were going out with someone."
"I was. Who told you?"
"He did."
"You met Timon?"
"It was brief."
"What did he say?"
"You deserve better."
"What!? Sen, how can you say that!?"
"He told me that you deserve better."
"Why?"
"He said he was nothing more than a hakuna matata bum."
"He is not! He's better than that! Why would he put himself down like
that? Where is he?"
"He went home."
"Which way?"
"North Kube, he was following the river."
Adina began to start a journey to find Timon and bring him back to where
he belonged.
	Meanwhile, Timon had found his way back to the Pride Lands. He
walked on and Rafiki saw him and said, "Welcome back Timon. You've been
greatly missed." "Yeah, yeah." Timon said sadly. Timon continued walking.
Rafiki just shrugged and walked off shaking his head. Timon greeted the
lionesses of Simba's pride and they greeted him as well. He got to Pride
Rock and went into the cave. There he sighed and fell into the vines of
his hammock. Simba and Pumbaa noticed his sadness. Pumbaa spoke. "What's
wrong Timon?" He asked.
"You seem so downhearted." Said Simba.
"I don't want to talk about it." Timon said as he turned over so he
wouldn't face them.
"C'mon Timon. We're your friends." Said Pumbaa. From nowhere Rafiki
appeared and joined in.  "Perhaps he has lost someone in his family no?"
Timon turned over and stared at him.
"No. No one in my family died. It's just....it's just that...." Timon
hesitated and sighed. "It's just that I fell in love and paid the price.
She deserves better than me."
Simba, Pumbaa and Rafiki looked at each other. They knew now what was
wrong with Timon. He had fallen victim to love and it went bad. They all
decided to comfort him.
	Meanwhile, a little instigator had been following Timon. Natara
the warthog was in the Pride Lands now and was awe struck. She liked it
there already. She went to the waterhole and began to drink. She heard a
faint sound and raised her head. She saw Shento standing behind her. She
turned to face him.
"Hello there Shento."
"Hi Natara. May I ask what on earth you are doing here?"
"Just wandering around."
Before Shento had the time to talk, a hornbill appeared and made a fuss.
He swooped at Shento and Shento ducked. The hornbill nearly hit a tree.
That made it furious. He yelled, "SIMBA! COME QUICK! HYENA! IN THE PRIDE
LANDS!" It was Zazu. Shento and Natara watched him. They looked at each
other with the same thing on their mind. Who or what was Simba?

CHAPTER 11: Simba vs. Shento.

	The moment Shento turned around and saw Simba, he freaked. "Run
Natara!" He cried. She turned and saw Simba and then hightailed out of
there to hide. Simba came full force and knocked Shento to the ground.
Shento attacked Simba and the two began to fight. They bit, clawed, and
tried everything to kill each other. It became obvious to Natara that
Simba was too much for Shento. Shento did the best he could but he was
the one who was bleeding and in more pain than Simba. Simba slammed him
to the ground. Shento staggered about trying to keep Simba from opening
up his throat and causing him to die. Natara poised herself. She was
going to ram Simba in an attempt to save Shento. She didn't care if Simba
killed her and had her for his next meal as long as Shento was safe. She
ran towards Simba, head down exposing her tusks. She went full speed. In
an instant she hit Simba, knocking him broadside. He shook his head. What
was that? She yelled at Shento, "Run Shento! I'll take care of this
bloke."
	Simba stared Natara in the face. As scared as she was, it didn't
matter. She was angry. Someone yelled out to Simba and Simba turned. She
saw a chance to escape and did just that. Rafiki was the one who yelled
out to Simba. He saw Simba's bleeding side where Natara gouged him with
her tusks. "What on earth happened to you?" He said. "Some warthog
charged me. Apparently she knew that hyena."
"Well come with me. I must treat your wounds."

CHAPTER 12: Natara in the Pride Lands

	Natara was safe for now. In all of her life, Natara never got as
scared. She hoped Shento would be okay. She was by a river now and bathed
herself to calm her nerves. She noticed the blood on her tusks. She
thought to herself, "I hope I got him good. I hope he dies from his
wounds." She relaxed in the cool water. She then got out and shook out
the water from her skin and decided she'd rest. She found the perfect
place and went to sleep.

CHAPTER 13: Pumbaa Meets Natara

	Morning came and Natara couldn't believe how long she had slept.
She got a drink. From a distance she heard someone humming. She lifted
her head. A huge bug landed on a log near her. She watched it and then
another warthog appeared. He was watching the bug and pounced catlike but
missed. She began to laugh. He saw her. She looked at him and spoke.
"Next time you go for a bug, don't pounce." She laughed. He retreated
from her. She called after him. "I didn't mean to frighten you." It was
too late, he was gone.
	Pumbaa found Timon who was relaxing on a rock. Pumbaa came
towards him and  was at a loss for words. "A female. A real female
warthog! You should've seen her Timon!" 
"Really? Where?"
"By the river! She was so cute! She had the perfect tusks and everything!
Oh, Timon I think I'm in love!"
"Pumbaa, wait a minute. You saw her, but did you talk to her?"
"No. But she talked to me. She said, 'Next time you go for a bug, don't
pounce.'"
"You should've stayed and talked with her. You could have hit it off."
"You think so?"
"Yeah. Go on, go talk to this sow and see if you like her."
	Meanwhile, Natara was thinking about Pumbaa too. "He was really
handsome. Perfect, just perfect. If only he would have stayed a little
longer and got to know me." She shook her head and began to eat the grass
near her. She then lifted the log and ate some bugs. She saw Pumbaa's
hoof tracks in the dirt. She followed them. It would help her to find the
warthog that she wanted to get to know.

CHAPTER 14: Shento Tells the Others

	Shento ran as fast as he could to get to Kube and tell the others
about Natara. He got to Kube just as the sun was going down. He found Sen
and Adina talking to each other. He collapsed at their feet. Adina looked
at him and gasped.
"Goodness gracious Shento! What happened to you?"
Shento tried to speak but no words could come out of him as he panted.
"Exhaustion. It looks like he got into a fight with a lion." Sen said.
"Oh my word." Adina cried.
"His wounds are deep," Sen said, examining him, "I'll need to look in my
fathers stuff for the right medicines and herbs."
Adina went to his head and held it in her arms. His eyes fixed upon her.
He spoke in a faint voice. "He has Natara."
"Who?" Asked Adina.
"The lion. She butted him down off me." He said and then he closed his
eyes and spoke no more. Adina was horrified.
"He's asleep Adina. He's not dead. I gave him a sedative." Said Sen.
"He didn't tell us where Natara is."
"He will in the morning. He needs a good rest and some time to heal." Sen
went towards Shento and began to treat his wounds. Adina went to her
stump and looked off in the distance. She spoke in a worried hopeful
tone, "I just hope Natara's okay."

CHAPTER 15: Pumbaa and Natara

	Meanwhile back at the Pride Lands, Natara followed Pumbaa's
tracks to find him. She found him, alone, by the waterhole. "Hello
handsome. Sorry if I scared ya earlier." She said from behind him.
"H-h-hello." Pumbaa responded, nervous to be around her. She came close
to him and rubbed her face next to him. He jerked away. "What's the
matter, cutie." Pumbaa looked her in her face. Her eyes, her snout,
everything about her turned him on. "Lets take it slow." He told her.
"My name is Natara, what's yours?"
"Pumbaa."
"Don't be nervous about me. I like you and from your eyes I can see you
like me."
"That's true."
"So, Pumbaa, tell me about yourself." She lay down her head on a nearby
rock.
"Well, I'm not too bright, I'm just not your type of hog."
Natara smelled the air. She made a face. "What's that smell?"
"I have a problem with my backside a lot."
"I like it."
"You do?"
"Makes you a real boar."
Pumbaa smiled. She had a good heart and was willing to share it with him.
He walked off with her into the distance.

Chapter 16: To the Rescue!

	Sen had treated Shento's wound and decided to leave with Adina to
find the Pride Lands. They found it in less than a day. Sen saw the
lionesses. "Watch your back Adina, there's lions here." Adina crept to
the waterhole. She saw a meerkat there drinking. She stalked him then
pounced. Timon screamed and fell into the water. Adina laughed. Sen
approached them. "What on earth are you doing?" 
"Having a bit of fun." Adina replied. Timon shook off the water and
looked at her. "What are you doing here?" He asked, surprised she was
there. "We are looking for a friend of ours, have you seen her?" Asked
Sen to Timon. 
"Depends. What does this friend look like?"
"She's a warthog."
"Oh. I saw one with Pumbaa. They went off somewhere. She charmed him."
"Who's Pumbaa?" Asked Adina.
"My warthog buddy."
"You have a wart hog for a friend too? How cool!" Adina said.
"Yeah. Well you can tell Zen--"
"Sen with an s!"
"Sen, Zen, whatever, tell him to go home. We can sit back and relax till
then."
Sen was angry. Adina comforted him. "He means well, Sen. Why don't you go
to your troop? You haven't seen them for ages haven't you."
"Yes but it will be difficult." Sen said disappointed. "But I think you
are old enough to be alone with Timon. I'll leave but make sure Natara's
okay."
"All right Sen." Adina smiled.
"Good-bye! And good riddance." Mumbled Timon.

Sen walked away. The fact that he was lonely and had no baboon friends
with him saddened him and now Adina told him to leave. She was like his
only friend. He thought to himself, 'Maybe Vernon will come with me. I
hope so. I hate being alone.'

CHAPTER 17: Home Again

	Sen approached the kopjie's with determination. He wanted to see
everyone since it had been years since he was last there at Shondise
Dela-Sangoma Umhlaba. He couldn't wait to see Vernon, Nefu, Woza,
Nomvula, and maybe even Pam. Big Pam, the baboon he hated, made him
realize how much he had missed her annoying advances to make him her
mate. He sighed at the thought. But it was still hours before dawn so he
took up a nice tree and fell asleep.

	Meanwhile, back on the kopjies, Nomvula greeted Rafiki. Exhausted
from his long trip, Rafiki fell asleep next to her in her cave.

	Dawn came quickly to Shondise Dela-Sangoma Umhlaba. Rafiki woke
and so did the other baboons. Nomvula greeted him out side in the sun.
"Sawbona. Siyanikhumbula. I am sure Nefu and Woza will remember you and
will be pleased to see you."
"Good to be here. See you still remember the language. I have forgotten
it."
"Well, some of us do forget when we don't see each other often."
"Where's Reggie?"
Nomvula frowned. "He's gone Rafiki."
"Gone where?"
"He's dead."
"Dead?!"
"He was too old. It happens when you're a 100 year old baboon (authors
note: this is in baboon years, not human years)."
Behind the rock, Vernon and Nefu sneaked up on them just to bug them.
Nomvula spotted them.
"What do you boys want?"
"Sikhona." Answered Vernon.
"Sawbona Rafiki. Ubukuphi?" Asked Nefu.
"Hello Nefu. I have been in the Pride Lands mostly." Rafiki replied.
Nefu half smiled then turned to Nomvula. Vernon saw him and knew what he
wanted to say. "We were wondering when Sen would be coming back."
"I do not know. He will be back someday."
"We'll try again tomorrow, huh Vernon?"
"Yeah Nefu."
The boys left, leaving Rafiki and Nomvula alone again.
"Who's Sen?"
"It's a long story Rafiki, me and Reggie have hidden it for too long.
Meet me at Xolo's kopjie tonight."
Rafiki left to seek out Woza.

	Nomvula stood there alone and eating a gourd. A voice surprised
her. "Mama?"
She turned around. There he was. Her son, Sen, was back from Kube. "Sen?"
she said surprised. "Yebo." She dropped her breakfast and ran to him. She
cuddled him in her arms. "My son, back home."
"I can't stay mama but I'll be here for as long as I can." He told her.
They both smiled. Suddenly, Vernon and Nefu saw him. They ran to him
screaming his name and hugging him too. It was a reunion that was
beautiful. Sen asked, "I suppose you want to know about where I've been?"
"Yeah!" Nefu yelled. So Sen began to tell the story of how he lived in
Kube.


Sawbona. Siyanikhumbula. = Hello. We remember you.
Sikhona = Fine, we are fine.
Ubukuphi? = Where have you been?
Yebo = Yes


CHAPTER 18: Nomvula's Story

	As promised, Rafiki met Natara at Xolo's rock. Rafiki walked with
Nomvula as she began to tell him about Sen.
"Whenever you came to visit, you remember how Reggie always told you to
send a blackbird to fly over our home before you came?"
"Yebo."
"Well, he did it so he could hide Sen. Sen is our middle son."
"He's my nephew?"
"Yes."
"Why did Reggie hide him?"
"He was afraid you would corrupt him as you did with Woza. Reggie wanted
Sen to become the ruler of the Kube lands. You would have taught him all
these other crazy things you do. Sen is better than his brothers. He is
his own. He is wise, friendly, passionate, playful, funny, and all the
others like him. And then there's you. You have taught Woza how to be
crude. You have taught him to be the exact opposite of his father. And
look at how you are. You speak to spirits. You make up these stupid
little chants to get your subjects to understand your message and what
happens? They fall apart."
"But I'm better than that! I've changed!"
"Changed? Ha! Tis nothing but a lie! You are jealous because what I am
saying is true! So what if you got Kiara and Kovu together with upendi?
So what if you made Simba realize what he had to do and to face his past?
So what if you can make Simba and Kovu see that they are one? So what
Rafiki? That's one side of you. I know your other side. We all do. You
were always angry and bitter and so jealous of Reggie. He got the best
part of the deal, to rule the Sowetans and take care of Kube. You wanted
to resolve the conflict in Kube so you could show your father you were
better than your brother. But neither you nor Reggie could resolve that
conflict. Sen did."
Rafiki turned away. She was right about him. But how could he prove
himself? He wanted to meet this Sen mandrill and get rid of the bad side
of him. He was the bad seed in the family.

CHAPTER 19: Death of Vernon

	After telling his story to Nefu, Nefu fell asleep, so Sen left
with Vernon to talk on Shonte's rock. They talked about their childhood
memories and how much mischief they caused.

	Vernon stood on the edge of the rock. "Think how much we've
missed since you left."
Sen went towards him. "Yeah I know. But it's great to be back. I really
missed you."
"So did  I. I always thought of you as my brother."
"Hey, when I go back to Kube, will you come with me?"
"Why?"
"I hate it there. I'm all alone and all I can talk to is a bunch of
meerkats and warthogs and they never talk the same so you can't
understand them."
"Yeah. Maybe I'll go. We can cause trouble there."
"Trouble? Why trouble is my middle name, ha ha ha ha!" The two laughed.
"Oh my gosh it's Sen!" Yelled Pam who came running from nowhere.
"Oh no! It's Big Pam!"
Pam ran towards Sen and grabbed him, Sen fell but noticed Vernon was
losing his balance on the edge. Sen threw Pam off and slammed her. He
grabbed for Vernon's hand. He held on. "Hold on Vernon. Don't let go."
"I'm slipping, I can't hold on much longer Sen." Vernon lost his grip on
Sen's hand.
"NOOOOOOOOO!" Sen screamed as he watched Vernon fall screaming to his
death at the bottom of the canyon. In a rage, Sen turned to Pam, lying on
the ground staring at him. "YOU MISERABLE USELESS CREATURE! DO YOU SEE
WHAT YOU HAVE CAUSED?!" He screamed at her. She backed away from him. He
picked up some rocks and threw them at her. She ran, crying and sobbing,
to get away from the angry Sen. Sen screamed again and began to cry. "No,
he can be gone. He's my best friend. He's like my own brother. He can't
be dead." Sen curled into a ball and cried as the sky opened up and
rained on him. Drenched by the rain, he fell asleep.

CHAPTER 20: Sen Gets Sick

	Sen got up that morning. Several mandrills were around him. They
had heard about what happened. Sen left them and went into the cave of
his mother. She embraced him. "Goodness Sen you're all cold and wet." She
told him. "Good." He replied. She tried to calm him and make him eat but
he wouldn't. It was time to call the shaman.

	The shaman, Tonto, treated Sen's illness. He knew at the rate Sen
was going, Sen would die. He told Nomvula, "He is very ill. It is highly
likely that he has pneumonia. I predict he won't live long." "Is there
anything we can do?" Asked Nomvula. "Pray. It's all he has."

	After spending weeks in the cave being constantly watched over,
Sen's fever broke. He eventually got up and went out side. Rafiki watched
him from afar. Sen stood on Shonte's rock. he then spoke. "Father, I have
betrayed you. I have failed. The war is over between the meerkats and
warthogs but it is not over for me. I am fighting inside. Ngivelewe. Oh
please help me." A wind kicked up. "Seek help? but where? Who are you? I
don't know your voice." The wind blew but one word, "Mufasa." "Mufasa?
But where are you? How can I find you?" "Look to the stars......" the
voice in the wind told him. Sen stood there. Who was this Mufasa? Why was
he answering his request? Sen shrugged and shivered. A cold chill went
down his spine.

Ngivelewe = I'm in pain.

CHAPTER 21: Nefu's Death

	Time didn't have to tell Sen that his brother was dead. His
mother did. He later learned Nefu had a strain of influenza that was
deadly. Nefu died while Sen was sick. Depressed with all the deaths
happening around him, Sen then noticed a name in the sand by his cave. It
read, "Rafiki". Sen wondered and then asked, "Who's Rafiki?" Nirvania
answered, "He's your crude, despicable, non-tolerant, murdering uncle." 
"Murdering?"
"I believe he was linked to the deaths of Vernon and Nefu. Only Rafiki
has the influenza virus in a special leaf. Ready to unleash to some
unsuspecting child. He must die!" She screamed wickedly and horridly.
Sen ran from her. Was the old baboon right? Where was Rafiki and why
hadn't Sen heard of him. Sen went searching for the truth.

CHAPTER 22: Cheap Trick

	Sen found a nice place to hide. A voice spoke from within a cave.
"Murder!" Sen jumped, startled that he wasn't alone. "Who are you, what
do you want?" Sen asked scared.
"I know who killed your father."
"My father died of old age."
"No." the hoarse voice said.
"Then how did he die, Mr. Smarty."
"He was poisoned. And as for Vernon, he did not die of the fall, he was
beaten. And the influenza, which is very rare, was given to your
brother."
"You're lying."
"I am not! You will see for yourself! Behold! Rafiki's confession." A
leaf fell from the mouth of the cave.
Sen read it. "I don't believe this."
"Rafiki is jealous and he wants you dead."
"You're fake. Nothing but a hoax!"
"See for yourself! Go to the Pride Lands my child! The answers are
there!"
Sen backed away and ran. When he was gone, two meerkats emerged. "We
scared him didn't we, Fred?"
"We sure did Timmy. Now he'll get eaten by the lions. Then my plot is
ready."

CHAPTER 23: Going to the Pride Lands

	Sen did not know that it was all a hoax. Although something in
his mind said it was. He did not believe it. He went on. He knew lions
lived at Pride Rock and was afraid to approach them. That all changed
when he saw Simba. He was heading towards him.
"Hello there." Simba greeted him. Sen remembered his lion training,
'never show fear'.
"Hi." Sen knew he sounded scared.
"So, what brings you to the Pride Lands?"
"A spirit spoke to me, although I doubt the spirit was real, it said I
should speak to someone named Rafiki."
"Rafiki? Why, he's our shaman. So what did the spirit tell you?"
"It said he was a murderer."
"What? Rafiki? Murderer? I think not!"
"I don't even know him. Someone said he was my uncle although that's
highly impossible cause I don't have one."
Simba sensed that Sen was scared. So he talked nice with the mandrill.
Sen eased down and eventually got to know Simba.

CHAPTER 25: Close Encounters of the Fighting Kind

	Sen had left the Pride Lands and went back to Kube. There he saw
Rafiki for the first time. Mandrills,because they are territorial, will
fight no matter the cost. Rafiki was trespassing, and Sen told him that.
"So?" Was Rafiki's answer. "So get out." Said Sen.

	The two glared at each other, bared teeth, shrieked, and then
attacked. Sen threw Rafiki to the ground. Sen shook Rafiki and slammed
him to the ground. Rafiki went limp in Sen's arm's. Sen was in control.
Simba, Adina and Natara saw what was going on. Simba told them that it
was Rafiki that was getting beat to smithereens. Natara reacted. She
butted Sen with her tusks. Sen gave a yelp and fell to the side. Natara
had blood running down her tusk that hit him. Rafiki got up. He was
shocked. He turned to Natara. She looked at him. Rafiki got down on the
ground and began to examine his nephew. He began to cry. "I'm sorry Sen.
So sorry. I never wanted this to happen." "Did I kill him?" Asked Natara.
"No," replied Rafiki, "he is still alive. I must treat his wounds quickly
before he looses too much blood." Rafiki put his arms under Sen's body
and picked him up. Rafiki stood up and left. He went to his baobob. As he
walked through the Pride Lands, Simba watched.

CHAPTER 27: Rafiki Takes Charge

	Rafiki put Sen up in his tree. There he washed Sen's wound and
treated it with herbs and leaves. He took water and food up the tree to
feed Sen and helped Sen to eat and drink. Sen was in a state of
unconsciousness during this ordeal. Rafiki took excellent care of Sen. He
cared for Sen as if Sen was his own son.

CHAPTER 28: The Talk

	Days passed. Sen awoke to a bright morning. Rafiki wasn't there
but Sen didn't know Rafiki was helping him. Sen thought, "Where am I? How
did I get here?" Adina's face appeared from nowhere. She smiled at him.
He smiled back.
"How do you feel, Sen?"
Sen tried to sit up and whimpered in pain. "Ngivelewe."
"Pain must be bad."
"Yebo. Who did this?"
"Natara."
"Why did she do it?"
"Simba told us that Rafiki was your uncle and we could let you kill your
uncle."
"I don't know if he is my uncle. It's a rumor. Who treated me?"
"Rafiki."
Sen cringed in pain and held on to his wound.
"Why did you attack him?
"He trespassed. if I knew who he was I wouldn't have. He should've told
me."
"Oh Sen, are all mandrills like you?"
"No. Unfortunately. So did he confess?"
"Confess to what?"
"Murder."
"Oh no. Simba told him and he said it was a lie and that confession is
fake cause Rafiki can't write."
"Ha! Ow! I knew that it was a fake spirit. So did he say he was my
uncle?"
"Yes."
For an instant Sen was happy, then he froze. He fell as if dead. Adina
checked him. Sen was out cold.

	Rafiki came from the side and spotted her. "Is he awake?"
"No Rafiki. He just passed out." Rafiki went over and touched Sen's
throat. "That isn't good. Was he in pain?"
"Yes he complained about it greatly."
"That's not good. His pulse is low." Rafiki turned Sen on his side and
checked the wound.
"It's infected. It's probably poisoned his blood."
"Will he die?"
"no. Not if someone can get his fathers herbs. how fast can you and
Natara get to Kube?"
"two days."
"too long. He'll be dead."
"Shento's fast. He can get there in half a day."
"Then get him. Sen's life is in your hands."
Adina jumped down on Natara. Natara took full speed to the Shadowlands.
While they were gone, Rafiki held Sen's hand. "Don't die on me Sen. I
need you to help me to change."

CHAPTER 29: Shento to the Rescue!

Within a short time, a hyena was at the foot of Rafiki's tree.
"What do you need?"
"You're Shento?"
"Yes."
"I thought they were getting a cheetah not a hyena."
"I'm the fastest hyena alive. I can catch a cheetah's tail while he's at
his highest speed and keep on going for two whole hours."
"Wow. That's fast. I have a friend who needs your help."
"Okay."
"You know where Kube is right?"
"Yes."
"Do you know where Sen's tree is?"
"Yes. He has three."
"Go to his main tree. He should have some herbs. Get them."
Shento nodded and took off at full speed.

	The day passed slowly but when darkness came, Rafiki knew Sen
wouldn't make it through the night. Shento had failed. Suddenly, Rafiki
heard a thump. He looked down the side. There was Shento, herbs and all.
Rafiki went down and took them. "Thank you." Was all Rafiki said. "No
problem." Replyed Shento. Rafiki climbed back up. Sen looked half dead
already. Rafiki put the herbs down and turned Sen on his side. He
uncovered the wound. He applied some herbs and covered the wound. He
would have to do this daily.

CHAPTER 30: Road to Recovery

	Sen woke again 3 days later. He tried to get up. He whimpered in
pain and held on to his wound but still managed to stand. He walked
slowly to the edge of the tree and looked down. It was too far for him to
jump because of his wound. If he wasn't hurt, he'd jump. But he sat there
and stared down. He knew when Rafiki came, he'd want to talk. Sen lowered
his head. A breeze blew through his hair. He heard Mufasa in the wind
say, "You will get better, my friend." Sen nodded but heard Mufasa begin
again. "Don't fight him Sen, he needs your help. Be there for him. You
are one." The wind faded and Sen sat down. He understood what Mufasa
said. He was supposed to become friends with Rafiki. That's what Rafiki's
name meant, "friend".

CHAPTER 31: Sen and Rafiki Talk

	Sen heard the sound of footsteps. He lifted his head and turned
to the sound. He saw Rafiki coming up from the other side. Rafiki
straightened himself out as he was prepared to make a meal for him and
Sen. He turned around and met Sen's piercing eyes. For a moment the two
said nothing. They were surprised at each other. Sen broke the silence.
"I'm grateful to you. You saved my life."
"It was nothing."
"There's something I don't understand. A spirit told me that you killed
my father, brother and my best friend. Was he right?"
"Depends where you hear the spirit."
"I know this sounds strange but I think it was all a hoax. A voice spoke
to me from a cave."
"Do you listen to all you hear from caves?"
"No. But Nirvania said that you..."
"Nirvania is an old monkey. I never in my life killed anyone. Nor have I
caused any deaths."
"So it was a lie. I'm gonna find who did this."
"Well don't waste your strength. You're still quite weak."
"Someone told me you needed help, what sort of help do you need."
"Help? Me? Who said that?"
"Some spirit in the wind named Mufasa."
"Mufasa? Well it is true, I do need help."
"What sort of help?"
"Your mother told me why I could not meet you."
"What did she say?"
"She said that I was a total fraud."
"Fraud?"
"Yes. I am just so stupid, I make up stupid little mean-less chants, Oh
why was I put on this earth!"
"Rafiki, get a hold of yourself!"
"I was jealous over my brother. I wanted to be better than him! I wanted
to help Kube. I knew all about the fights between the warthogs and the
meerkats. Reggie had the leadership skill but I had studied so hard on
Kube. If it wasn't for our father, Moweta, I would have been guardian of
Kube."
Sen raised one brow. "That's it? Jealousy over the attention that grandpa
Moweta gave my father?"
"That's it."
"Kube was easy to figure out. I didn't even know about Kube until my
father told me about it before he died. He made me ruler of Kube. I was
scared cause I was only 16 and I didn't know anything. I helped the
meerkats and warthogs come together but I wasn't alone."
"Who helped you?"
"Adina and Natara. They've proved how powerful friendship can be. With
their friendship, they brought both tribes together."
"I never looked at it that way."
"Neither did I. I think I have to begin by getting a general impression
of life, do you see? And there's a light that has to dawn. I can't
explain it but I know it's there. I know I can't give up. I'm not
afraid."
"You are very wise. Wise beyond your years. Much like your father."
"I'm not like him. I am my own."
"I'm sorry that we had to fight."
"I'm sorry too."
The two mandrills embraced, no longer strangers to each other. They were
now united as one.

CHAPTER 32: Going Back to Kube

	Days passed. Sen felt well enough to leave the Pride Lands. He
didn't even say good-bye. He left in the middle of the night. He got to
Kube by nightfall the next day. There he settled in his tree on the
southern side and fell asleep.

	Morning came and the disaster started. Sen woke up to the sound
of yelling. He looked down and saw Timmy and Bititoes. 
"Adina is MINE! Timon should find his own girl!" Timmy yelled.
Bititoes was calm. "You've done enough Timmy. You almost ruined Adina's
life. All you care about is playing those silly little games of yours."
Sen swung down in the middle of them. "Whoa!" He fell of the branch and
the pain in his side began. He held it back. "Now what seems to be the
problem?"
Bititoes spoke first. "My son Timmy is plotting against Timon."
Sen nodded. he turned to Timmy. "Is this true?"
"Yes. But I loved Adina first!"
Sen nodded. He got into Timmy's face. "Adina has never loved you, in
fact, she hates you. If it weren't for your father you'd be exiled! Now,
if you continue to plot against your brother I'll see to it that you
NEVER get into another colony for the rest of your life! Do I make myself
clear?"
Timmy's eyes had grown large with Sen's speech and he was borderline
crying. He nodded.
"Good. Now get out of my face, you bother me." Sen told him.
Timmy ran off.
"Goodness Sen, what on earth has gotten into you?"
"I don't know Bititoes. I don't know."

CHAPTER 33: Truth and Reconciliation

	Timmy was scared. He knew the power Sen had over him. He now knew
why Sen blown up at him. He'd probably do the same thing if he lost Timon
and his best friend Eddy. He knew he had to tell the truth. But how would
he do it?

CHAPTER 34: Return Home

	Adina, Natara, Timon, and Pumbaa went back to Kube. They saw Sen
by the river. He was staring down at his reflection. Adina went towards
him. She looked at him. He made no movement. Without looking at her he
spoke. "Spirits say my father lives in me. He refuses to speak."
"He must be proud of what you've done."
"I think he is." They both smiled. Natara butted in. "Aww. Why don't we
give a great big group hug?"
"All right." Sen said. The three embraced. They stopped for a moment and
Sen began.
"Rafiki is innocent, but that leaves me to question who the spirit was."
"What spirit?"
"A phony spirit in the cave."
A wind kicked up. "It was Timmy." Mufasa said.
"Timmy! I should've known! Why that little..."
"What about Timmy?" Sen began to wander off. "Where are you going, Sen?"
"To find Timmy!"

CHAPTER 35: Timmy Leaves.......

	Timmy left Kube and went to the Pride Lands. Simba spotted him.
"Hey Timmy."
"Hi Simba."
"You seem depressed."
"Yeah. I've been kicked outta Kube."
"Why?"
"Sen hates me."
Rafiki had overheard their conversation and joined in. "Why do you think
that?"
"He said I'm jealous of Timon and I'm not! He said I'm plotting to kill
Eden. He makes up all these lies and tells my father."
"That's serious," said Simba, "anything we can do?"
Timmy mumbled under his breath. Simba didn't hear him. So he said,
"Where's Timon?"
"I think he's by the waterhole."
"OK." Timmy said and he left them.

	After Timmy had left, Rafiki hopped down out of the tree he was
in and stood by Simba's side. Simba looked at him.
"You looked troubled Rafiki. What's wrong?"
"Did you hear what he said?"
"No. What did he say."
"He mumbled it. He wants you to kill Sen."
"What?! Why?!" Simba gasped.
"He lied. Sen wouldn't banish him. He wants to take over Kube. The only
way to do it is to get rid of Sen. Sen is their guardian. He looks over
the animals there. With Sen dead, anyone can assume that role. He's
planning to take over so he can make Adina marry him and rule the Kube
Lands. he wants the warthogs and meerkats to fight."
"Why? What is it about Kube?"
"I'll explain later, in the meantime, we have to find Sen and warn him."
"Righto."

CHAPTER 36: To Catch a Killer

	Sen was followed by Adina and Natara. They knew that something
was up. Sen reached Rafiki's tree.
"He's not home." Sen told Adina and Natara after checking it out.
Sen told Adina and Natara to stay there while he went to Pride Rock.

	At Pride Rock, Nala met him.
"Who are you?" She asked.
"I am Sen, Rafiki's nephew, friend of Simba. Where are they?"
"They left for Kube a day ago."
"What?"
"Simba said it was urgent."
"Tell them when they get back, that I was here."
With that, Sen left her.

At the waterhole, Sen heard a voice. "Looking for me, Sen." Sen turned
around. There was Timmy. In one arm, Timmy had a young baby mandrill.
"It's Vernon's son, I'm drop him and kill him if you don't do what I
say."
"Timmy, why are you doing this?"
"Why you ask? Because I want to get even. You've been lolly gagging long
enough. Warthogs and meerkats are enemies."
Sen got closer as he spoke, "Listen, Timmy, I..."
"Don't come closer! I mean it! I'll drop your godson in an instant!"
"Ok. I'll stay back here. What do you want?"
"Basically, the whole Kube lands."
"Why?"
"Because it would give me pleasure to have the power to marry Adina and
take over the colony."
"Why am I involved?"
"Because the only way someone could take over is if you die. So, to give
your godchild a chance, I'm going to make you leave the lands forever!
I'll make sure you go with the primates that come in here looking for
critters to take. You'll go to the happy home."
"You can't do this, Timmy." 
"Watch me! I killed Vernon and Nefu, you think I won't do it again?"
Suddenly from nowhere, Rafiki appeared. He ran at Timmy. Timmy was scared
so he dropped the baby but Sen caught it before it fell. Rafiki had flown
with Timmy, down the side of a very tall rock. Sen ran to the side with
the baby and looked down. "Rafiki, Noooo!" He screamed as he watched
Timmy and Rafiki fall.

CHAPTER 37: Legends of the Fall

	Rafiki and Timmy hit the ground hard. They were lucky to be
alive. Rafiki was out for about an hour. He got up and made sure he was
all intact. He sighed a relief. He then looked at Timmy. Timmy stared
straight up into the sky. Rafiki spoke.
"Are you okay, Timmy?"
"No. I can't move." Rafiki came closer and checked Timmy's legs' ribs and
back.
"Well, I can tell this, you have 4 broken ribs, 2 broken legs...."
"And a partridge in a pear tree." Timmy sang.
"Very funny. I'm going to have to carry you to my tree."
"Please do, I can't even lift a finger."
"What made you do what you have done?" Rafiki asked as he picked Timmy up
and began to carry him.
"I don't know. I feel so awful. I'll never be accepted into the
colony--ever." Timmy looked up into the sky and began to scream and cry
like a man on his last limb. "Why? Why Tixo? Why did I lose faith? All my
baba taught me and I've lost it! I have no home, religion, no life! What
made me change? Oh why, Tixo, why? WHY!??"
Rafiki looked at him and said nothing. He didn't know what to do.

CHAPTER 38: Spirits # 1

Vusa amakhosi, vusa amdlozi bo.  -Lebo M <RotPL>

	At Rafiki's tree, Timmy had splints put on him and was forced to
take the shamans' medicine. After a long nap, Timmy awoke. He looked at
the night sky. So beautiful. Then some clouds rolled in and a strange
shape began to appear. He watched it carefully, then he knew what it was.
A baboon, in the clouds.
"Oh my gosh! I'm hallucinating! What kind of medicine did that pondo give
me?" Timmy said to himself.
The baboon spoke and he became clear to Timmy. "Timmy" He said.
"I'm not dreaming, the clouds spoke! W-w-what can I do for you?"
"I am Reginald. Father of Sen, brother to Rafiki."
"What do you want?"
"You have caused a great pain and break in the cycle."
"What cycle?"
"The cycle of how we must live out our lives."
"Circle of life?"
"No. It's different. Each of us has a specific duty. When we get off that
duty or lifestyle then things begin to heat up. You have too much hatred
and jealousy in your heart."
"Do not."
"Yes, Timmy, you do. You have caused my family pain. You must believe in
yourself. Adina is not your mate. She is not even Timon's mate,"
"You mean?"
"Adina will marry in good time, but not into your family. Anyway as I was
saying, you have killed my son, killed Vernon and tried to kill Zakithi
and then tried to take over. What were you thinking?"
"I don't know."
"It's all right. You need to get to know Sen. Be his friend. He has
always believed in you. We are all connected in the circle of life
because, family or not, we are one."
Timmy smiled, "You're right. He did believe in me. I never noticed."
"You have learned your lesson." Reggie began to leave.
"Wait! Please! Who is my true mate?"
"Reggie turned to him. "You haven't figured it out?"
"No."
"It's Nefreti."
"Nefreti? Wow. I've always liked her but had my eyes on Adina so much I
never saw her."
"Yes."
"Thank you."
"Remember your elders, Timmy. They've been around longer than you. Listen
to them. Yenza okuqondile."
"Thank you friend."
"You're welcome Timmy." Reggie disappeared in the clouds.
Timmy smiled. He knew what to do. 'Go back and apologize,' he thought. He
nodded and headed for Kube.

Vusa amakhosi, vusa amdlozi bo = Wake the ancestors, wake the spirits up.
Yenza okuqondile = Do the right thing


CHAPTER 39: Spirits # 2 

Feel the spirits surround you
Ancient history of life
Feel your spirit soaring
This is the land of Africa
   -Lebo M <Congo soundtrack>

	Sen stood with the baby in his arms. He was saddened by the fact
that he knew no one had survived a fall from Delainia's Rock. He
whispered in the wind, "Good-bye my friend. Good-bye." He took the baby
with him as he headed towards the main rock to find the mother of the
baby. As he walked a wind blew around him. He heard his father's voice:
"Ndiya zidla. Wena usimangiliso. Jabula, ithabise. Nihambe kahle, nisale
kahle my son." Sen smiled. His father had heard him and let him resolve
the conflict on his own.

Ndiya zidla = I'm proud. 
Wena usimangiliso = You're wonderful 
Jabula = Rejoice
Ithabise = Celebrate
Nihambe kahle = Go well
nisale kahle = Stay well


CHAPTER 40: Songs

I know what I know
I've said what I've said 
We come and we go 
That's a thing that I keep in the back of my head.
   Paul Simon <Graceland CD>

Sen went home with a song in his head. He approached his mother.
"Mama."
"Sen. You're all right and you found Zakithi."
"Is that his name?"
"Yebo. He's Vernon and Pam's child. Zakithi was born a week after Vernon
died."
"Pam? Vernon AND Pam's baby?"
"Yebo."
"Vernon married Pam?"
"Yebo. The two fell in love after you left. Vernon never told you how
much he liked Pam. He was afraid you'd hate him."
"But, that would mean...."
"It means that Pam liked you and had a crush on you but since you left
she noticed Vernon more and I guess they hit it off."
"Wow."
"But now Pam is saddened by the death of Vernon. She almost killed
Zakithi when he was born and would have if I wasn't there. She loves this
child. When Timmy kidnapped him she was so upset she cryed for days and
wouldn't eat."
"Yes but, who will play the role of father to this child?"
"I believe it is in the interest of the mother. Go to her Sen. Give
Zakithi to her and apologize."
"For what?"
"For what you said to her the night Vernon died. You made her feel so bad
she almost contemplated suicide."
"Oh my goodness. Well, if you say so, I must apologize."
"Good luck my son." With that Sen left carrying Zakithi.

Sen reached Pam's home. He noted that she was crying and was all to
herself.
"Pam?" He called to her. She turned around. She noted the baby in his
arms and ran to him.
"You've saved Zakithi! How can I ever thank you?" She snatched the child
in her arms and hugged him. She smiled at Zakithi. Then she looked at
Sen.
"It wasn't just me. I had a bit of help. Listen I want to apologize for
all those nasty things I said when Vernon fell."
"It's okay Sen. I've forgotten them. I realized why you got angry. I was
angry too. But when I round that the fall didn't kill him, I was upset.
Vernon never told you that we had got married. I wanted to do it with him
but obviously I never had that chance."
"It's okay. I don't know how I would've reacted. Timmy used Zakithi so he
could try to make me leave Kube. A decision that even I couldn't take. So
I fought back. No meerkat can rule Kube."
"You got that right."
"Yeah. I've missed you Pam." He embraced her.
"I've missed you too."
"But, I want to know, who will play the part of Zakithi's father?" Pam
backed from him. She stood there and said. "I don't know."

Yebo = yes


CHAPTER 41: I'm Sorry, So Sorry

	Meanwhile, Rafiki and Timmy left for Kube. When they got there,
Timmy went to all the meerkats and warthogs and apologized. Everyone saw
in his eyes the truth in that he had learned his lesson. Only one was not
there: Sen.
"My cleansing will be complete when I apologize to Sen." He told Rafiki.
"He must've taken the child home. Don't worry, he'll be back."
Timmy sat down and decided to wait.

CHAPTER 42: A Father for Zakithi

	Sen thought as he embraced Pam, 'why don't I become the father?'
He knew it would be hard work but since he was m25 (25 years in mandrill
time) and unmarried and needed someone to look after Kube when he retired
in m15 more years. So then he let go of Pam and walked over to Zakithi.
He picked him up and said, "I think that you will be an excellent choice
for the next ruler of Kube." Pamm looked at him and said, "What do you
mean?" 
"He needs a father, doesn't he? Why not me?"
"Do you mean it?"
"yes." At that Pam ran to him, embraced him and gave him a kiss. Sen
smiled.
They settled down and went to sleep.

CHAPTER 43: Apology

	Sen was married to Pam the next day. After their marriage, Sen
had to anoint his new son in the Kube lands. When they got there, Timmy
was waiting. Pam glared at him and bared her teeth. Sen turned to her and
told her to stop. She took Zakithi from him and walked off. Timmy and Sen
were alone. Timmy spoke first.
"She's not going to forgive me, is she?"
"She might."
"Listen Sen, I'm really sorry for all the mess I caused. I want to make
up for it. I meant no harm."
"Harm, my blue butt! You caused so much trouble I'm not sure how to
forgive you."
"I know but your father came to me and told me to become your friend. I
never meant for this to happen, I didn't even know what I was doing until
now. My anger took over me and I lost control, I'm so sorry."
"Timmy, I'm sure what you're saying is true but you must listen to me.
You must take responsibility for your actions, no matter how angry you
were, you did what you did and we must get over it."
"You're right. I did what I did and I'm sorry."
"Good. I accept your apology."
"Thanks Sen." With that Sen gave Timmy a hug then turned to him and said,
"Now you must apologize to Pam."
Timmy left him.

	Timmy found Pam nursing Zakithi. She spotted him and growled.
"Pam, I know you don't trust me but I want to apologize."
"Apologize? Why?" She growled at him.
"Because I need to, it's what I must do."
"I'm not going to accept your apology, you nearly killed my son!"
"But give me a chance!"
Pam thought about it. "Ok, but make it quick."
"Listen, I'm really sorry for all the hurt I caused and I'm hoping that
you will forgive me because it hurts me so much that I almost killed an
innocent baby. I'm so sorry, I'll never do it again, and if I do you can
bash my head in with a rock."
"There won't be a next time. I'll take your word though. Apology
accepted. Now get out of my face."
"Ok." Timmy ran off and ran by Rafiki cheering.

CHAPTER 44: Breaking Up is Hard to Do

	Timon walked along the northern shore of Kube. He was waiting for
Adina. She came from the bushes behind him.
"You startled me, Adina."
"Timon, there's something I have to tell you."
Timon held her hands, "Whatever it is, it's got to be good."
"It's not. I'm breaking up with you."
"What?"
"I can't stand your brother, he almost killed a child. And maybe everyone
has forgiven him but I haven't. It just won't work out. Your motto is
hakuna matata, my motto is Kube. We're two totally different kats."
"You're right, but that still means that we can be friends, right?"
"Yes, Timon. I love you still but it just won't work out. We must face
the facts and move on."
"You're absolutely right. I'll change for you, I don't want to be alone."
"Don't change for me. Stay the way you are. Enjoy life, keep up what
you're doing."
Timon lowered his head and turned from her. "If this is how it must be,
then this is how it must be. I'll leave Kube in the morning."
"We can still be friends."
"Yeah, friends, nothing more, nothing less." He left her in the dark.

Pumbaa and Natara walked on the southern shore of Kube. She stopped him
for a minute.
"Pumbaa, I have something to tell you."
"What is it?"
"I'm breaking up with you."
"What?"
"I'm sorry Pumbaa, it's just that, we were never meant to be. We've got
to stand up and move on. I love you but we're two very different hogs."
"You're right Natara. I was thinking the same thing."
"You were?"
"Absolutely. It would never work out. You're a leader, I'm a follower.
You believe in Kube, I believe in hakuna matata. It would never work
out."
"Yeah, you're right. Lets just be friends."
"Yes, lets be friends." 
Just then, Timon walked by sadly. Pumbaa left Natara and went to Timon's
side.

"Hey Timon, what's wrong?"
"Everything."
"What happened?"
"Adina dumped me."
"What do ya know, Natara dumped me too. We agreed to be friends though."
"It's not the same. You don't understand."
"Yes I do. We're different."
"Different, how?"
"Can you rule the Kube lands?"
"No. I was never trained for that."
"Neither was I. Would you abandon the life of hakuna matata to believe
that Kube has special powers?"
"No."
"There ya have it!"
"Wait a minute, I got it! Me and Adina have nothing in common, we can
just be friends I mean we don't have the same motto, not even the same
interests, hey, we can just be friends!"
"I think I just said that."
"Tomorrow we must say good-bye but we'll be back."
"Timon, why is it that I come up with an idea and then you suddenly
realize something and take it?"
"Pumbaa? Who's the brains of this outfit?"
"Uggghhh..."
"My point exactly, lets get some shut eye."
They walked off to get some sleep.

CHAPTER 45: Deeper Meaning

	The sun rose over Kube just as it always had done before, this
time it rose to a new sight. On the edge of Morakala rock stood Adina,
Natara, Sen, Pam, Zakithi, Nomvula, Timmy, Bititoes, Sylvia, Muntu,
Zakiya, Rita, Shento and Woza. They were all waving good-bye to their
friends from the Pride Lands: Simba, Nala, Timon, Pumbaa, Rafiki, Kiara,
Kovu and Zazu. And up in the sky the spirits of Mufasa, Reggie, Vernon
and Nefu watched and blessed the wonderful group.

THE END........or is it?

__________________________________________________

THE COURTSHIP OF TIMON AND PUMBAA

Written by Alicia N. Miller

The characters of: Adina, Natara, Sen, Pam, Zakithi, Nomvula, Timmy,
Bititoes, Sylvia, Muntu, Zakiya, Rita, Shento, Woza, Reggie, Vernon and
Nefu are all of the authors creation and you must have her consent to use
them in any fanfic or story.

The characters of: Simba, Nala, Timon, Pumbaa, Rafiki, Kiara, Kovu,
Mufasa, and Zazu are licensed by Disney from The Lion King.

This novelet was written while listening to the music of Lebo M.

Questions or comments can be sent to AM_Thandi@juno.com or
LKQUEEN@aol.com