TLK 3 part three Zifa's revenge. This is the third part of TLK 3, you must read part one and two to fully understand this. Legal note: All characters found in the TLK movies are (c) the Walt Disney Company All other characters are (c) me Sigurd Engerström Comments and such are welcome to: S_the_spikeshark@hotmail.com Drop dead notes and flames to: Thrashcan@unwantedmail.com Old characters: Kovu: Present King over the pride rock. Kiara: Present Queen over the pride rock. Giza: King over the Rim pride. Aihatu: Giza's mate. Dix: A weird demon. Dunsj: Dix's son. Kr'hoz: A demon that not quite live up to the expected. Okhobe: The spirit of the long dead witch Okhobe the wicked. Sinita: Widow to the late Hafifu. Timon: A meercat... Pumbaa: A warthog... Rafiki: The old shaman of the pride lands. New characters: Zifa: The cub in the crystal. Gikko: One of Sinitas sons. Kaho: Sinitas other son. Timba: A rouge lion (small role) The chapters continue from both part one and two: C12: the cub in the crystal C13: scarred for life... C14: home? C15: the new friends C16: the stranger C17: the blessings C18: scorched earth Epilogue Enjoy: -==- Chapter XII The cub in the crystal Somewhere on the Volcano's crater, Dunsj tries to get through the horde of evil spirits that for some reason had gathered there. He didn't like them at all, they pulled his tail, knocked him over and was extremely annoying, he wished that he could make them vanish, but he couldn't. He comes to the huge green crystal, and is somehow pushed against it... and sees that there is a lion cub inside it. The cub has its eyes closed, but he can feel how they gaze on him. When he wonders what the cub does in there, the voice of Kr'hoz wakes hip up from the thoughts. Kr'hoz: hey, Dunsj, you're late. Dunsj: sorry, I was just having a closer look on that crystal. Kr'hoz: what about it? Dunsj: it seems that a cub is entrapped in it; do you know anything about it? Kr'hoz: no, and I think you not should be any more curious about it; it would be bad for your health. Dunsj: was that a threat? Kr'hoz: no, it was a warning, now get your ass in gear, Dix is waiting, and if you don't get there rather quick, she'll go insane. Dunsj: as if she not already was. Dunsj runs to get to Dix in time, and he makes it, almost, Dix is already mad when he gets there. Dix: why are you late? Dunsj: I was just talking with Kr'hoz, and I forgot the time. Dix: you know the punishment for being late, but we don't have time for that, sit down and learn. Dix teaches Dunsj the basic anatomy of some animals. Dix drives her paw into the carcass of some creature and pulls it's heart out, and holds it in front of Dunsj: Dix: now, with this heart I can summon a kind of illusion, here try and squeeze it... She hands over the heart to Dunsj, who squeezes it a bit, and in front of him he sees an exact replica of himself, after a moment it goes into a bloody mess. Dix: good, with some more training, you could get good at this, try to concentrate more next time, and it will last longer. Dunsj: Ok, I'll remember that... Dix: any questions? Dunsj: yeah... Dix: let me hear... Dunsj: who's that guy in the crystal? Dix: how should I know, go ask Okhobe, maybe she know more... Dunsj: ok... Dix: I'm at the river if you want me something. Dunsj: all right, see you later... Dunsj walks through many sulphur clouds, comes to the crystal and stops in front of it, and looks on the cub inside it, whispering: Dunsj: if I only knew who you was... Then he continues through more clouds until he reaches the pile of skulls... He feels something grab his tail. Dunsj: hey, quit it! Spirit: oh why? Dunsj: or else I'll send you to heaven... The spirit let go of his tail... Dunsj: much better, stupid spirit. He sees Okhobe. Dunsj: Yo, Okhobe! Okhobe: Dunsj, why are you here? Got lost? The spirit laughs like a maniac. Dunsj: no I'm not lost; I came to ask you something... Okhobe: spit it out. Dunsj: who's the guy in the crystal? Okhobe: you mean Zifa? Dunsj: if he is the guy... Okhobe: he is, all I know about him is that he was meant for the living, but that a shadow took his place... hey wait a minute. That is out of your business, forget all I said. Dunsj: too late, stupid. The spirit curses and went back to what it was doing. Dunsj goes back to the crystal; he suddenly hears a voice echo in his head: Voice: who ever out there...please help me... Dunsj: [thinking] who are you? Voice: help me... please let me out... Dunsj: how can I help you if I don't know where you are? Voice: inside...the crystal...help me...help...me... Dunsj: hang on. I'll help you. Voice: hurry... Dunsj ran down to the muddy river and found Dix... Dunsj: Dix...you know any stone destroying spell? Dix: Aknih mort thibo, why? Dunsj: Aknih mort thibo... I just wanted to know... Dix: Dunsj, don't keep any secrets from me... Dunsj: I'm not Dix. I just wanted to know... Dix: ok, I believe you, but my paw wont... With a backhanded swing from Dix, Dunsj went flying through the air and landed on the hard surface. Dunsj: [in pain] what was that for??? Dix: now you maybe learn not to keep secrets from me. She turns around and disappears. Dunsj: [thinks] just to show you mom, I'm going to release that cub... Dunsj patiently wait for an opportunity... A day passes... Dunsj: [thinking] I'll do it today, after the lessons... He walks to the river and finds Dix and some Khako demons... Dix: there you are, you little pest. Khako D.: greetings young one... Dunsj: Yo, demon, so Dix, what's today's lesson? Dix: nothing, you'll have the day free, cause I have to travel a bit, see you tomorrow. Dunsj: hey thanks... He walks away, and hides behind a large boulder. He sees Dix depart southwards, grinning as she leaves, because everything goes so well. When Dix is out of sight he walks back to the crystal and slowly whispers the spell... Dunsj: Aknih mort thibo... The crystal began to shiver... He said it again, and the large crystal began to crack, he said it a third time, and then the crystal blew in pieces... a lot of green smoke surrounded the place where the crystal just stood, the same voice that he had heard inside his head came out from the smoke: Voice: thank you for freeing me... Dunsj: I...I don't think we should stay here to long... Voice: your right, you lead us out of here... A cub jumped out from the smoke, it looked like a normal cub, but with a green ring in it's left ear... Cub: what are you waiting for??? Dunsj: nothing, come, this way... Dunsj led the cub out from the crater; they sneaked past the evil spirits and out on the wide plains... They found an almost dried out waterhole... Dunsj: I don't think I be so popular back there... Cub: certainly not, you shall have thanks for freeing me... I am Zifa... Dunsj: I know, I am Dunsj, son of Dix... Zifa: are you that wicked demons son??? Dunsj: yep, I am... you know what? Zifa: nope... Dunsj: you are very familiar to a guy I met a month ago... Zifa: how many guys have a ring in his ear??? Dunsj: I did not refer to that, I meant this guy called Giza... At the word Giza was spoken, Zifa hissed... Zifa: Giza...the bastard who took my place... oh what I long to sink my claws into his worthless carcass... Dunsj: ehm... I think that would be a bit difficult, he is a full-grown lion now, and you are only a cub... Zifa: what do you mean "only a cub"? You are a cub too... Dunsj: [shaking his head] wrong, I am over thirty years old, so my appearance lies, we demons age slowly... the best thing you could do was joining a pride, and grow larger... Zifa: you're probably right... Then the cubs' stomach rumbled... Dunsj: I guess you are hungry... Zifa: you bet, I haven't eaten for... when I think of it, I haven't eaten at all... Dunsj: sometime have to be the first, let's go for a hunt... They spent hours before they even spotted any prey, they found a rat, and Dunsj caught it rather easily. Zifa was very confused by Dunsj behaviour as he consumed the rats' soul. [(They have souls too)], Zifa sunk his jaws into the flesh of the rat and felt the taste of blood in his mouth, attracted by the smell of blood, two servals attacked him, one of them clawed Zifa across his face, while the other one stole the remains of the rat and disappeared. Chapter XIII Scarred for life... Zifa painfully woke up, and saw the relived face of Dunsj... Zifa: [in pain] Dunsj? What happened? Dunsj: them servals attacked you. Gees, you look horrible... Zifa: what do you mean??? Dunsj: you have multiple scars all across your face... and it is covered in blood... Zifa: good, if I look as horrible as you say, then I better take a bath... Zifa went down to the waterhole, scaring some vultures that were drinking there, they flew away cursing when Zifa jumped into the water; he rubbed his face and washed all the blood away. When he got up, and had dried himself, he looked on his reflection in the water, and did not believe his eyes; from chin to chin ran three horizontal scars... he laughs a bit at himself... Zifa: I wonder how many prides that wants me with this face? Dunsj: very few... Zifa looked on Dunsj, who somehow disappeared... Zifa: Dunsj? Where did you go? Dunsj's voice came from in front of him... Dunsj: you are staring right through me Zifa... Zifa: cool, how do you make your voice come from nowhere? Dunsj: I'm not I'm invisible... Zifa: invisible? How can you do that??? Dunsj: it's really complicated, but I can teach you it, if you want... Zifa: let's get started! Dunsj: all right, first, you have to... Dunsj spent the entire day to teach Zifa the art of invisibility, he was surprised that Zifa was a so fast learner, that at the end of the day, Zifa mastered the skill as good as Dunsj. Next day they didn't catch a thing, but they found a rotten log filled with insects, they looked on the bugs, then on each other, then on the bugs again, before throwing themselves over the bugs. Late that day they reached a jungle, as they walked through it they heard some one singing, when they investigated it, they found out that it was a warthog and a meerkat. Dunsj: hmm, a warthog and a meerkat. Zifa: I think that we could make some fun out of them, watch me... Zifa vanished out of sight, seconds later the meercat fell on the ground, it came up quick and started to blame the warthog... Meercat: why did you push me? Warthog: eh, I didn't push you... Meercat: then who else? Zifa becomes visible behind the meercat... Warthog: eh... maybe him... Meercat: who? [Turns around] AAAAHHH; RUN PUMBAA, A LION!!! Zifa: hey, calm down, I was just kidding, ok. Meercat: you really scared me [pronounces it wrong] Pumbaa: eh... Timon, I think he's more scarred than you... Timon: scared NOT scarred, you dope... Pumbaa: who is he? Timon: Pumbaa, Pumbaa, how on EARTH should I know that??? Pumbaa: but you are the brain of the two of us... Zifa: if you so necessary want to know, I am Zifa. The warthog looks on the ring, then on the scars... Zifa: what is it? Never seen a ring of an unborn before? Timon: honestly...no.... did you say unborn? Zifa: yes I did. Pumbaa: eh... I don't understand if you never were born, how can you stand there? Zifa: it is really complicated, we should maybe ask Dunsj...[yells to Dunsj] Dunsj, GET YOUR LAZY ASS DOWN HERE!!! Dunsj: [yelling back] JUST A MOMENT, STUPID!!! A second later Dunsj appeared beside Zifa... Dunsj: good day, meercat, I am Dunsj... Timon: where did you come from??? Dunsj: I was invisible... Timon: anyway, explain. Dunsj: as Zifa said, it is really complicated, even I cannot explain it... Zifa: there you see, no one knows, except that shadow being and me ... Timon: what shadow?? Zifa: the shadow being that took my place in the great circle, the one who robbed me of my life... Timon: not as if I understood any of it, but do you know whom that were to be your parents? Zifa: no, unfortunately not... but enough of this, where is the nearest pride? Timon: the nearest we know about is the pride lands, it's just across the desert... Zifa: thank you very much meercat, bye Dunsj: yeah, bye... Both of them go invisible. Timon stands like a question mark... Timon: bye... Chapter XIV Home? It took Dunsj and Zifa a day; or rather a night to cross the desert, now they stood and surveyed the pride lands... [They both are invisible] Dunsj: low let's go find that pride... Zifa: yeah... look, there come two... The two lionesses walked by... Zifa: [whispering] now what? Dunsj: [whispering] go after them, stupid... Zifa: [-:-] I'm not stupid... but I better get after them... see you. Dunsj: [-:-] yeah, see you too. Zifa went down after the two lionesses and made himself visible... Zifa: Hey wait!!! The two lionesses stopped and turned around... Lioness: look, Kiara, a cub... Kiara: yes, I'm not blind... where are your mother, cub? Zifa: I...I don't have any... Lioness: what? Is she dead? Zifa: I don't know... Lioness: what happened to your face? Zifa: i...it was servals... Vitani: nasty little buggers... Kiara: well Vitani, we'll better take him with us... She took Zifa by the scruff of his neck and carried him with... The other lioness asked him: Lioness: what's your name, cub? Zifa: Zifa... you? Lioness: I am Vitani... Kiara: mh mph m mnng... Vitani: what do you mean? Kiara sat Zifa down... Kiara: he got a ring in his ear... Vitani: what? She looks on Zifa's right ear, and sees the green ring... Vitani: h...how did that get there, Zifa? Zifa: I have always had it there. Kiara: we'll better take him to Rafiki... Vitani: I think your right... The lionesses carried him to Rafiki's baobab tree... Kiara stood at the foot of the tree and yelled up... Kiara: Rafiki, are you home? A long while before answer... Rafiki: who is it? Kiara: It's me, Kiara... Vitani: we have a wounded... Zifa: [to Vitani] I'm not wounded... Vitani: shh... The old shaman came limping down from the treetop... Rafiki: where is the wounded? Vitani: right here... She pushed Zifa forth towards Rafiki... Zifa protested: Zifa: I'm not wounded... Rafiki took the cub up in his arms and examined the scars... Rafiki: good that you took him here, one more day with an infection like that, and you shouldn't have made it... Vitani: is he ill? Rafiki: yes, his scars are infected, but I can clean them... Without any more comment he climbed back up in the tree with Zifa over his shoulder... Vitani: ooh, hope he make it... Kiara: why are you so concerned? Vitani: there's something different about him... Kiara: admit it, you like him... Vitani: yes I do, I always wanted a cub, I was so jealous on you... Kiara: why don't you adopt him then? Vitani: good idea, I'll adopt Zifa... Up in the tree... Rafiki: hold still, I know that this will be painfull, but it is the only way to deal with an infection of that size... Zifa tried his best not to move, but it was almost impossible because it hurt so much... Rafiki was finally and let the cub down. Rafiki: you must stay here tonight, in case you got worse...here chew those, they'll take away most of the pain... He gave the cub something that looked like weed, Zifa decided that he could trust the shaman, and chew the weeds. He fell asleep... Next morning he woke up in utter terror, he looked around him, and saw the shaman... Rafiki: good morning, did I scare you? Zifa: [sighs] yes you did... Rafiki: so, how do you feel today? Zifa: better than yesterday... Rafiki: good, tell me, where did you get that ring in your ear from? Zifa: I have always worn it... Rafiki: all since you were born? Zifa: I wasn't born at all... Rafiki: what? Dunsj's voice emits from somewhere. Dunsj: that's true shaman. He is an unborn... Rafiki: who are you? He turns around and sees nobody... Rafiki: where are you? Zifa: Dunsj, show your self. Dunsj: ok... The half-demon makes him self visible... Rafiki: AAAAHHH, A DEMON!! Zifa: calm down, he's a good demon... Rafiki: Demons aren't good... Dunsj: I am not entirely a demon, only half, ok? Rafiki: what do you want, half-demon? Dunsj: I wanted to see how my friend was doing. Rafiki: you two know each other? Zifa: yeah, he's the one that released me... Zifa and Dunsj tells the story... Rafiki nods: Rafiki: that explains the ring, Zifa. Dunsj: yes it does, well see you later Zifa, got to go now... Zifa: bye... The half-demon go invisible and disappear... Vitani comes to the tree: Vitani: Rafiki? Rafiki: what is it? Vitani: I just wondered how Zifa was... Rafiki: he's all right... Vitani: can I come up? Rafiki: yes you can... The lioness quickly climbed the tree and stood with them... Vitani: good to hear that you are ok, Zifa. Zifa: thanks for bringing me here... Vitani. Rafiki: he is as good as restored from the illness. Vitani: so I can bring him with me? Rafiki: yes, you can, just be a little careful with him; he is still a little weak. Vitani: sure... She picks him up as her mother thought her, and went down from the tree and went back to the pride rock... There they met the whole pride... Lioness: oh there she is... Vitani let the cub down on the ground... Vitani: listen up, I have decided to adopt Zifa here as my son... Lioness: good luck, Vitani, you'll need it. All the lionesses' walks away after sniffing on Zifa... She takes him up again and walks to Kiara: Kiara: no, Vitani, you are carrying him in the wrong way... Vitani let her newly adopted son down on the ground... Kiara: let me show you how to carry a cub... She takes Zifa up by the scruff of his neck, and then let him down again. Vitani does the same procedure. Kiara: aren't you happy now? Vitani: you bet, tell me, how do I handle a cub? Kiara: well, he's old enough to eat meat, so the food wont be any problem, and you have to clean him once in a while... Vitani: I...think I can handle it, thanks... Kiara: you're welcome. Vitani picks him up again and carries him to the place where all the lionesses use to take sunbaths... She puts him down and starts to groom him... Another lioness comes, she is carrying two cubs, and she lay down near Vitani. She starts to groom one of the cubs; the other one manages to pull him out of his mothers grip... Cub: hiya Zifa, I'm Gikko. The other one squirmed under his mothers licking tongue. Cub: mom, quit it, I'm clean, I really am, let mi go... With one last lick she let's the cub go, she quickly grabs the other one... Cub: [to Zifa] I tell ya, it sucks to get cleaned. I'm Kaho. Vitani saw how swiftly the other lioness cleaned her son, and realized how clumsy she was. She missed large parts, and drooled, poor Zifa was all wet by drool... the other lioness released Gikko... Lioness: you haven't got the technique, huh? Give him to me; I'll clean him for you... Vitani: hey thanks, Sinita, what should I have done without you? Sinita: you would probably have drowned him, come here Zifa... Zifa walked from Vitani to Sinita, who immediately began to dry him, she suddenly stops and sniffs at him... Sinita: oh my gods, he smell like my Haffi used to... Vitani: it must be a coincidence... Sinita: yeah... She finished her grooming and let Zifa go... He and the two other cubs went to play. Gikko: so Zifa, what happened to you? Zifa: servals, those nasty bastards. Gaah what I hate them... Kaho: relax; there aren't any around here. Zifa: fine, tell me, are we the only cubs around here? Gikko: I think so; all the others were kidnapped just before we were born... Kaho: it was them that killed our dad. Zifa: I'm sorry, but you at least have a real mother... cause I don't. Gikko: is she dead? Zifa: I don't know, I never met her... Kaho: you are kidding, right? He sees the truth in Zifa's face... Kaho: no? Zifa: no, I'm not kidding, I never even saw my mom. Gikko: how does that work? Zifa: long boring story... nah, let's do something else, defend yourself... The tree cubs started to play... Chapter XV The new friends In side the den, Vitani laid down with Zifa at her side, she felt happy when he snuggled up against her. Gikko and Kaho laid with their mother a few metres away. Sinita had done her best to instruct Vitani how to groom, but without any luck, each time poor Zifa ended up wet, and each time he was dried by Sinita... In the early morning, the sun had not yet gone up, Zifa was awake and tried to wake Gikko up... Zifa: wake up, you lazy ****** Vitani waked up. Vitani: Zifa? Who thought you that word? Zifa: what, you mean ******? Vitani: stop it; you never say that word again. Zifa: ok, Vit, [shakes Gikko] now you wake up... Gikko wiped his paw at Zifa and fell asleep again... Vitani: aw Zifa, why can't you let him sleep? Zifa: no...I'm so bored... Vitani: come I'll show you something. She took Zifa up on the top of the pride rock; up there they met Kovu, who was waiting for the sun to rise. Kovu: well good morning, Vitani, what brings you up here so early. She points on Zifa... Vitani: morning Kovu, he is the reason. Kovu: hi Zifa, how are you today? Zifa: bored... Kovu: let me tell you something... Zifa: I'm listening... Kovu: once I and your mother were Outlanders, my mother, Zira, attacked the pride lands, but... Vitani: he fell in love with the king's daughter Kiara, and all the Outlanders joined this pride... Kovu: except Zira, she fell in the flooding river... Vitani: somehow she survived, and years later she convinced the Deathlanders to attack us... Zifa: who are those Deathlanders? Kovu: they are our sworn enemies, they murdered my son cold blooded, and kidnapped all the cubs... Vitani: that is why they are our enemies. Zifa: uh...ok I see. Kovu: well, enough of the past...look the sun comes up... All three lions watch spellbound as the glowing orb comes over the horizon, when it finally was up, they walked down, Gikko and Kaho waited... Kaho: hiya Zifa. Zifa: hi guys... He looks on Vitani as if saying "please". Vitani: ok, you can go, but just you wait, hee hee hee. Zifa swallows before following his friends to a tree along the way to the waterhole... they climbed up in it, and was waiting for a lioness to pass by... Zifa: look, there comes one... As the lioness walked under, all three cubs jumped down and gave her a big scare, and then they realized that it was Kiara... Gikko: I'll think we'd better get out of here... Zifa: thinking the same thing... The tree cubs darted away laughing, with a mad Kiara on their heels. Being adult, Kiara quickly catched them, and gave them their deserved punishment. When Kiara had gone, Zifa touched his aching behind... Zifa: ouch, we'd better split up next time. Gikko: yeah... Kaho: let's try it again, this time we split up, ok? All: agreed. They went up in the tree again, the first lioness that passed by got a big scare, they split up, unfortunately for Zifa, and the lioness ran after him, she caught him, or rather, he slipped in the mud and the lioness pinned him, and he got his poor backside punished again. Then the lioness went for what she first wanted to do, have a drink. When the lioness had gone, the two other cubs came again... Kaho: thanks for luring her away... Zifa: your quite welcome, you know what? Let's do something else before our behinds have worn out... Gikko: agreed... They began to play tag instead... Vitani came and saw her stepson's fur covered in mud... Vitani: aw Zifa, what have you done? You're all covered in mud... Zifa: sorry Vitani. Vitani: now I have to clean you... She took the dirty cub away and began to clean him, Gikko and Kaho decided to follow with them... It took Vitani almost an hour to clean all the mud of Zifa, when she finally had the last piece of mud removed, she released him and went down to the waterhole to clean her tongue and get the bitter taste of mud out of her mouth... Gikko and Kaho who had patiently waited for Zifa, was happy when he came. They went to an old cave nearby the pride rock and continued their tag game... Chapter XVI The stranger Just as the tree cubs played as best, a rouge lion came, they did not see him, until he pounced in right between them, the lion was a strange one, he had multiple scars in his face, the lion did not have much for a mane, just a black tuft on the top of his head and two tufts on his chins, and some kind of green ring like Zifa's and a splinted white tail tip... The cubs scattered in all directions, unfortunately for Zifa, the rouge set after him, and after a second or so he caught him: Rouge: hey, calm down, I won't hurt you... Zifa: you wont? Rouge: no I won't, what made you think that? Zifa: eh...I dunno... Rouge: I am Timba, and I just want to know the direction of the death lands... Zifa: just...continue to the northeast... Timba: thanks... The rouge let the cub down on the ground and continued towards the northeastern border. When he was gone, Gikko and Kaho appeared again, and then they all went home... Later, in the middle of the night, Zifa sneaked out of the den, and met Dunsj. Dunsj: Yo, Zifa, how is pride life? Zifa: pretty good, you then? Dunsj: Dix haven't found me yet... Zifa: you seen any rouges lately? Dunsj: yes, there were this strange male... Zifa: did he have a partial mane? Dunsj: yes he had... Zifa: and a ring in his left ear, like me? Dunsj: yes, have you met him? Zifa: yep, and he was heading for the death lands... Dunsj disappears as Vitani comes... Vitani: Zifa? What are you doing out here this late? And whom were you talking to? Zifa: nobody... Vitani: I heard someone else, who was it? Zifa: nobody I said... Vitani: ok then, I will raise it to two baths tomorrow... Zifa: aw Vitani, you know that I hate it... Vitani: that's why I keep it up, my love... Vitani takes the cub by the scruff of his neck and carries him back to the den... for a bath... The following morning Zifa got his first bath... in drool, Vitani had not yet found the right technique, but she was improving, so Sinita had to dry him, as always. Zifa: why can't mother Vitani stop drool over me? Sinita: she can't help it, Zifa. Gikko and Kaho stands and looks on Zifa, who is still dripping with drool, and giggles... Zifa: what are you laughing at? Gikko: you, who else? Sinita: Vit, would you mind? Vitani: no problem... She grabbed Gikko, and began to clean him: Gikko: aw [blub] I'm drowning... Zifa: serves you right, hahaha ha. When Vitani was ready with Gikko, he looked really dreadful. Zifa only smirked at him as Sinita began to dry her son: Zifa went to Kaho: Zifa: you want a bath too? Kaho: oh no, no way! Vitani: oh yes you want... She took Kaho and made him all wet too, when she was finished Sinita took over and dried the cub, when all were clean, they happily skipped away to play... Chapter XVII The blessings Days...weeks...months... even years passed by, the tree cubs brew up to be full sized lions, eager for adventure, Kiara had given birth to a single male cub. Zifa, Gikko and Kaho knelt before Kovu and Kiara: Kovu: you may rise now; you have the blessing of the whole pride... The trio rose up and went to their mothers for a last farewell... Vitani: [with tears in her eyes] you promise me to take good care of yourself out there... Zifa: I will Vitani, I will... Vitani: I will miss you so much, my son. Zifa: I'll miss you too, Vitani. Vitani: oh please, call me mother... Zifa: see it on the bright side mom, you now know how to handle a cub, and for your future cub's sake, learn how to groom. Vitani giggles: Vitani: oh no, if you had to pull through it, they will too... just remember to come and visit me some time... Zifa: I will, goodbye mom, you have always been the best... Vitani: good bye, my son... They hugged each other before the trio walked away. When they came outside the border, the old comrades said their farewells to Kaho who went his own way; Gikko and Zifa walked together a day or so, before they went separate ways. When Zifa had walked alone for a day, he met Dunsj. Dunsj had not grown much; he looked like a four-month-old cub... Dunsj: well, look at you, what you have grown... Zifa: just remember that it will take you several decades to even get a straw of mane. Dunsj: nah, shut up... Zifa: ok, but only if you lead me to the Rim pride, I have an old foe to repay... Dunsj: sure thing, follow me... They went trough the desert and entered the green Rim land... The first they met was a lioness... [Dunsj is invisible] Lioness: who are you? And what are you doing on our lands? Zifa: I am Zifa, and I have just crossed the desert... Lioness: so Zifa, you say that you have crossed the desert, are you from the pride lands? Zifa: yes I am... who are you? Lioness: I am Aihatu, Queen of the Rim land. Dunsj makes himself visible... Aihatu: Dunsj? What are you doing here? Dunsj: I exists, tell me, have Dix been around looking for me? Aihatu: yes she have, she came and asked for you four moons back. Do you know that lion? Dunsj: yes, I know "that lion", he is the one that was pushed out of the great circle... he was never born... Aihatu: but...how can he stand there? Dunsj: that would take many lifetimes to explain, we came to see Giza... Aihatu: wish granted, follow me... She brought the duo to Giza: Giza: Aihi, who are those trespassers? Dunsj: you should recognize me. Even if it was years since last time, I am Dunsj. Zifa: and I am Zifa... Giza: what do you want? Zifa: I want to have my revenge, through KILLING YOU!!! He growled at Giza... Giza: if this is a joke, it's a bad one... Zifa: it's not a joke, I am the one that had to be sacrificed for you to be born, and you took my place... They began to circle each other... Giza: you can run now... Zifa: no way... Giza jumped at Zifa, but Dunsj ran in between and took the blow, a loud cracking sound filled the air, and a high-pitched scream... Dix: NOOOOOOOOOOO!!! The demon appeared and ran to her cub; with tears of fire in her eyes she embraced the dead body: Dix: no...it can't be true... Dunsj... The tears set fire to the dry grass, and within a matter of seconds it consumed them, all lions scattered in all directions to escape from the fire. The flames quickly consumed the whole Rim land. Zifa and Giza escaped in different directions... Chapter XVIII Scorched earth The fire totally destroyed the once green Rim land, Dix came out from the smoke with a lowered head, and then she saw Giza: Dix: IT'S YOUR FAULT, LION!!! Giza turned around and saw a charging Dix, a furious fight followed. Dix, being weaker than Giza, received many hard blows, it looked like she was going to loose... She stood with her head hold high... Dix: what are you waiting for? Finish me... Giza lifted his paw to give the demon the final blow, when Zifa jumped on him and threw him away; Giza hit a stone and went out cold... Zifa looked on Giza, and then on Dix, who looked on him... Zifa: so...you are Dunsj's mother? Dix: [with a lowered head] yes, I was... he is dead now... Tears of pure darkness fell from her eyes, the burnt grass disappeared where they fell... Zifa: don't cry... Dix: thanks for your care... why did he have to die? He had barely begun his life... Zifa: excuse me? I thought that he was over thirty... Dix: he was, and that was young [sniff] Zifa: I see, and because that he has inflicted more harm on you, I'll let you finish him off... He turned around and walked away... Dix: no, wait... who are you? He stopped and turned around... Zifa: I am Zifa, the cub in the crystal. Dunsj let me out of it... Dix: you mean that Giza was the shadow? Zifa: yes, and I'll give you the honour to send him back where he came from... Dix: thanks... She goes to Giza: Dix: THIS IS FOR KILLING MY SON!!! She quickly breaks his neck with a loud snapping sound... then she turned back to Zifa... Dix: and thanks for saving me... For some reason the demon did not emit any evilness any more... Zifa: oh, that's nothing; just tell me, how can a demon get an offspring? Dix gazed on him, and gave him a smile that chilled in to the bone... Dix: I'll show you... Epilogue: In the pride lands the following night, Kiara woke up from a terrible nightmare. She woke Kovu up... Kovu: mm? What is it? Kiara: I just had a horrible nightmare... Kovu: what was it about? Kiara: it was about Giza, Zifa and two demons... one of the demons killed Giza... She realizes how mush Zifa and Giza looked and smelled alike... Kiara: oh my god... Zifa was my son... Kovu: WHAT??? The end of part three... It took me 3 weeks 12 hours and 1 second to complete this part From: 30/05/00 12:00:01 To: 28/06/00 24:00:02 Soon part four will be finished -==-