TLK 3 part four Legacy of hate. This is the final part of TLK 3, you must read all other parts in order to fully understand it. Legal stuff: 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 in the pride lands. Kiara: Present Queen in the pride lands. Marhiza: The queen of the death pride. Azouka: Sister to Marhiza. Zira: The late Queen of the Outlands. New characters: Timba: Zira's lost son. Tathiz: A cub that was kidnapped in part two. Shakha: A cub that was kidnapped in part two. Kolto: A cub that was kidnapped in part two. Zaba: A cub that was kidnapped in part two. Khotz: A male cheetah cub, step-brother to Timba Kehata: A female cheetah. Cisa: A male cheetah. Mazho: A meercat. Zanumi: A lioness in the Wobma pride. Akhasa: A rouge lioness. Zakhato: A rouge lion. Shato: A lioness in the Wobma pride. Khati: The ruler of the Wobma pride. Watabi: A female cheetah. Ishina: A lion cub, step-brother to Timba Ehasna: A lion cub, step-brother to Timba Inkhobi: A black cheetah shaman. Matakuba: A female cheetah. Zaliba: A female cheetah. Character note: Timba has a minor spelling problem; he can't say "s" so he uses "z" instead. There is also a cheetah language that is used frequently... Zhiech=thanks Yoah=hi/hello Mizhk / naklat=goodbye Zibihi=lion Kobto=little/small Ninibi / ikaba / bathar=see you later Nam=my Nim=one Aka=two Zik=three Mira=tail Ki=I \ Akh=am -- (used only when introducing themselves) Kiah=I'm / Raka=poor Buko=stupid/idiot Azna=father/dad Faha=mother/mom Ban=yes Cot=no Kekaba=cheetah Bitikibi=love/lover/mate Ententa=spotted Tekahn=human/terran The chapters continue from previous parts: Prologue C19: on the run C20: the villain C21: the overthrow C22: unknown lands C23: Nam Kobto Zibihi C24: to become a cheetah C25: the legacy C26: star of blue C27: captured C28: unexpected salvation C29: the decision C30: the Death lands C31: final showdown Epilogue Authors note: This is it, the final in the TLK3 Hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it. -==- Prologue: Just when Zira fell into the river: Zira was hanging from the ledge: Zira: Kiara, please help...me! Kiara: so that you can destroy my life, no way! Zira: I beg you. I have a cub... Kiara: I'll send it to you, so long Zira! She inserted her claws deep into Zira's and whispered in her ear... Kiara: long...live...the...Queen... Then she threw Zira off the cliff, down to the merciless river. On the opposite side of the river a cub stood and just stared as Zira was dragged away by the water, then it looked up on Kiara and yelled: Cub: I'LL GET YOU FOR THIZ, PRINCEZZ!!! Then it ran away... Simba came to Kiara, who was faking some tears: Simba: Kiara, are you all right? Kiara: she...just let go... Chapter XIX On the run Zira's cub crossed the western border of the Pride lands, it sat down in the shadow of an young baobab tree, he began to sob, then he suddenly looks up in the sky and yells: Cub: MOTHER; I WILL REVENGE YOU!!! Then he continued west... Some months before: Somewhere in the west a pride of lions lived under the rule of king Shato, who was for some reason called "the king over the eastern plains", anyway, due to some disease he was unable to give his lionesses cubs, and that made both him and the pride very depressed. As he usually did during zenith, he sat on a boulder and mumbled for himself; one of the lionesses came to him... Lioness: Hi Shato, guess what? Shato: no Khati... what? Khati: well... as you know, I was in my heat... Shato: and? Khati: and I met a rouge... Shato: and? Khati: and I'm pregnant... Shato's face lit up... Shato: you are? GREAT!!! The old lion danced around the lioness... Khati: you aren't mad at me? Shato: why should I? Now I will finally be a father... Khati: Stepfather... Shato: What's the difference? I'll be as good as a real father to the cubs... Khati: I bet you would... Somewhere else nearby... Some months later: A really skinny lion cub came stumbling through the savannah, it falls but quickly get up on its feet again, a lioness comes over a hill and sees the cub, without any hesitation she rushes down to the cub, it collapses when the lioness reaches it, she picks it up and brings it with her... Back to the two lions... Khati: you'll get the honor of naming them... Shato: why? You are their mother, aren't you? Khati: of course I am, stupid... She nuzzled him warmly... she suddenly stopped when she saw one of the lionesses running past them in full speed: Khati: [to lioness] hey, Zanumi, what's ya got there? The lioness stopped and turned back to them... with a cub in her mouth... Khati: Zanumi? What is that? She pokes the skinny body, and the cub moaned... Khati: gods, it's a live... Zanumi: I found him out on the savannah; he's almost dead from starvation... Khati: we'd better give him something to eat, Shato go get the shaman... Shato returned a little later with a young mandrill, the mandrill examined the body and shacked his head... Khati: is there nothing you can do? Mandrill: I'm afraid so, he is far beyond any recovery... The cub moaned again... Zanumi: are you sure? Please try, if not for his sake, then for mine... Mandrill: I'll try my best... I will need some meat. A rat would do it... Zanumi: I'll go get it... The lioness ran away with long leaps and returned with a fat rat. The mandrill tore it apart and mixed it with different herbs that he had brought with him. When it was finished he slipped the mixture down the cub's throat...it began to cry, and Zanumi tried her best to comfort it... Zanumi: feel better now? The cub cried even more... Cub: no...I'm zo hungry... The mandrill took another piece of the mixture and gave it to the cub... it swallowed it... the mandrill gave him another piece... and another piece... the cub cried again... Cub: I'll never zee her again... Zanumi: who? Mandrill: shh, don't push him, he need to rest now... Cub: Zira...[sniffs] All: What? Cub: Zira...[sniffs] zhe waz my ztepmother... Mandrill: hush little one, you need to rest now... The cub fell asleep... Mandrill: [to Zanumi] when he wakes up, give him those The mandrill handed over a odd looking herb... Zanumi: all right... She takes both the cub and the herb and departs in the direction of the den... Chapter XX The villain When the cub woke up next day, Zanumi gave him the herb; the cub hesitated a bit before swallowing it, making a wry face... Zanumi: how are ya feeling today? Cub: better, before you gave me that awful thing, ew! Zanumi: It's ok. I'm Zanumi... Cub: thankz Zanumi...I am Timba... Zanumi: ok, Timba, what happened to your tail? Timba: you mean, how it got zplitted? It haz alwayz been like that... Zanumi: and that ring in your ear? Timba: it haz alwayz been there... Zanumi starts to groom him... Timba: hey? What are ya doing? Zanumi: I groom you, why are you speaking so strange? Timba: zpeaking ztrange? How do you mean? Zanumi: you use "z" instead of "s". Timba: I have alwayz zpoken like that... Zanumi: ok, I see, now tell me, who was this Zira? Timba: Zira waz the firzt who took care of me, zhe zaid that zhe had a own pride, but that it couldn't feed another mouth... then zhe zaid one day that when zhe retured, zhe would bring me to the paradize, I waited for her to return, but zhe never did, I went to zearch for her, when I zaw her die... He burst out in tears... Zanumi: don't cry, I will take care of you... Timba: you will? Promize? Zanumi: yes I promize...err...promise. The cub embraced her head, and she hugged him back... Timba: thank you zo much, Zanumi... The other lionesses in the pride weren't too happy about Timba; they said that an evil aoura surrounded him, neither did the way he looked make it any better... he had a lot of scars in his face. Most of the lionesses avoided him, the rest simply ignored him, when chatting, they usually called him two-tail or the devil's son, but king Shato accepted him as his own son... About a month later: Some of the prides lionesses chatted, one of them saw Timba approach. Lioness: shh, two-tail's coming... All of them went silent and peered at him when he walked by, he could feel their cold gazes peer on him... as soon as he had gotten out of sight they continued... Lioness: why can't they see that two-tail is evil? Lioness2: it's like an aoura around him... Lioness3: ... and that ring, and all those scars... Lioness: ... where did he get those? Shato came, he did not catch what the lionesses was talking about... Shato: good day, girls, what are you talking about? Lioness: nothing, just the normal gossip... Shato: ok, I won't bother you anymore... The old lion walked away... Timba walked to Zanumi and sat down beside her... Timba: Zani? Why is everyone avoiding me? Zanumi: I'm not avoiding you, nor Shato or Khati... Timba: all the other lionezzez goez quiet when they zee me... Zanumi: they do? Timba: yez they do, and they gaze on me like I waz a living dead... Zanumi: have you tried to speak to them? Timba: no... I haven't, thankz for the tip... Zanumi: you're welcome... Timba happily skipped back to the lionesses, which went quiet as they saw him. Timba: what'z the matter? Silence Timba: What? Are you deaf? More silence Timba: nah, thank you for a very interezting monologue... One of the lionesses began to laugh... Timba: zo, you aren't deaf after all, huh? The lionesses went silent again Timba: what? Iz it zomething I done? The lionesses sighed and walked away Timba: [yelling after them] WHAT IZ IT??? Shato came again... Shato: what's all this yelling about? Timba: they refuze to talk to me... Shato: I'll go talk to them at once... Timba: they didn't lizten lazt time either... Shato: probably not... you know what? Timba: no...tell me Zhato... Shato: Khati will soon have a cub... Timba: zo I wont be alone anymore? Shato: you will have a younger sibling to take care of... Timba: yay, where iz it? Shato: no... such things take time, Timba... Timba: how long? Shato: why don't you ask her yourself? Timba: where iz zhe? Shato: She's in the den... Timba: thankz Zhato... Shato: you're welcome... The odd looking cub darted away towards the den, he found Khati lying on the floor... Khati: hi Timba... Timba: hiya Khati... when doez the cubz come? Khati laughed... Timba: what? What iz zo funny? Khati: was it Shato who told you to ask? Timba: how did you know that? Khati: because I know him... Timba: ok then... when doez the cubz come then? Khati moaned... Khati: sooner than you think...go get...Shato... The cub obeyed and returned a minute later with Shato... Shato: what is it dear? Khati: they're coming... She fell into labor, and in front of a terrified Timba and a Shato full of expectations, she gave birth to two cubs... they both stared on the two squirming forms trying to get out of the afterbirth... Shato: they're beautiful, congratulations Khati... Timba: beautiful? To me they look like drowned rats... Shato: [whispers] shh stupid, you don't say such things in front of a mother with newborn cubs...now apology to her... Timba: [whispers] ok... [Talks] zorry about what I zaid, I didn't mean it... Khati: apology accepted, now if you would be a good cub and go tell the rest about this... Timba: no problemo ma'm... Khati laughed a tired laugh as Timba ran away... When Timba found the lionesses, they went silent as usual... Timba: guezz if I have the newz for you, Khati haz juzt given birth... Long silence... Lioness: you're kidding right? Timba: can thiz face lie? I mean it... Lioness: I'd better go and check, and for your sake I hope that you're not lying, two-tail... Timba: I'm not lying... truzt me... The lioness walked over to the den, and came back running... Lioness: KHATI HAS GIVEN BIRTH!!! Timba: there you zee, I didn't lie... The lionesses ignored him and walked towards the den... Chapter XXI The overthrow A month passed since the birth of Khati's cubs, the two tan females was named Ishina and Ehasna; Zanumi used to be cub-sitting them, with Timba's help. They all laid in the shadow of a tree, one of the cubs pounced down on his tail... Timba: OW! Let go, you fuzzy fur ball... He pulled his tail out of the cub's grip, and it began to cry... Timba: oh no, not that, pleaze don't cry... The cub cried more... Timba: [sighs] ok, but only for thiz time, here... He gave the cub his tail, and it pounced on it immediately... the other one was given a bath... Zanumi: you have it the way with cubs... She let go on the other cub, which also began to play with his tail... Zanumi: I know that you love them... Timba: of courze I love them, but thiz love hurtz. He makes a really pained face... Timba: not zo hard I zaid, why can't you two go bother Zanumi instead? One of the cubs stops playing with his tail and rubs against his cheek, and mewed... Timba: aw, pleaze not that... Both cubs mewed at him and began to purr... Timba: damn, why can't Khati come get her two fur ballz? Zanumi: you know that she is out hunting... Timba: yeah I know, why are all cubz gathering around me? What iz your trick Zanumi? Zanumi: its called bathing Timba, and now it's your turn... Timba: no... you bathed be yezterday, izn't that enough? Zanumi: no, that's way from enough, come here son... Timba obeyed and received his bath... Somewhere at the western border, two rouges walked towards the den, one lion and one lioness... Lion: I've heard that the King here is old and weak... Lioness: he should be an easy match for you dear, you would be king before the sunset... Lion: and you would be the Queen, Akhasa... She nuzzled her mate... Akhasa: I know, Zakhato, let's go and claim this land... Zakhato: thinking the same thing... When Timba's bath was finished, Zanumi took both cubs and carried them back to the den, Timba followed. Outside the den they met Shato... Shato: oh look who's coming... Timba: Hi Zhato, what'z you zo happy about? Shato: I am happy for my family, you, Khati, her cubs and the whole pride... One of the cubs managed to come out of Zanumi's grip, and it pounced down on Timba's tail... Timba: OW! Cut it out Ehazna... His muzzle twisted in pain... Timba: you mind if I go play with thiz tail dizeaze? Shato: just let her get her milk first... and she'll be able to give your tail a hard time... Timba: yeah, you're right, come here little zizter... He picked up the little cub, he had to hold his head as high as possible, or else the cub's hind legs would hit the ground... Khati laughed when she saw Timba... Khati: so Timba, how is the life as an older brother? Timba: juzt great, aunt Khati... Khati: good to hear, now give me my cubs... Timba dropped the cub down at Khati's side; Zanumi laid it down gently... the two cubs began to nurse immediately... Zanumi: Timba? What would you think if I did so to you? Timba: do what? Zanumi picked him up and dropped him from a high stance; he hit the floor with a bump... Timba: ouch, what waz that for? Zanumi: you are supposed to let cubs down gently, nut just drop them Timba: zorry [to cubs] well? Are you two greedy gluts finished? The cubs burped... Timba: good, Khati, would you mind if I went and played with Ehazna? Khati: just you be careful... Timba: thankz...come here zizter... He picked up Ehasna and carried her away in his own ridiculous manor... Outside Shato saw the two rouges approach... Shato: Halt! Who are you? Zakhato: we are two rouges... and we want to take over here... Shato: then you'll have to fight me first... Zakhato: as you wish... Shato lost really quick, he was not as strong as he once had been, and therefore no match for the young rouge... the new king headed straight for the den... Zanumi: how dare you to intrude? Akhasa: not that tone to your king... Zanumi: he's not my king, Shato is! Zakhato: not anymore, both of you get out! Khati took her remaining cub and went outside with Zanumi. After a while Akhasa came out to them... Zunami: what do you want "queen"? Akhasa: just call me Akhasa, you then? Zanumi: Zanumi. Khati: and I'm Khati, I was Shato's mate... Akhasa looked on the half sleeping cub... Akhasa: oh, what a beauty, may I see her? Khati: her name is Ishina... Akhasa bent down and sniffed on it and said... Akhasa: you're so cute that I could eat you right up... Without a warning she opened her jaw, picked up the cub, and shut her deadly array around it, it gave out a frightened meow before her jaw crushed it, Zanumi and Khati stared in shock on the lioness that spitted out the dead body in front of them... Akhasa: oh sorry, I couldn't control myself, HA FOOLS! She went back to the den... Zanumi: why...but...? Khati: Oh Noooooo! She began to cry heavily... Zanumi: [to Khati] I'll get Timba and Ehasna in safety... She found Timba playing with his stepsister... Timba: hiya Zani... what's all the shouting about? Zanumi: listen Timba, a rouge murdered Shato, and his mate murdered Ishina, you must take Ehasna with you, you must leave... Timba: [stared at her] no... Zanumi: now! Timba took the cub and ran away towards the west... Chapter XXII Unknown lands Timba managed to escape with Ehasna unnoticed, only to find himself lost out on the savannah, both of them was hungry, on the point to starve, but Timba kept on going... Somewhere nearby, a female cheetah gave birth to a singe cub, she cried out in pain as she pushed the cub into the world, Timba heard her and headed that way, the cheetah growled fiercely when she saw him: Cheetah: [growl] go away, Zibihi... Timba: no, my zizter iz ztarving, could you give her some milk? Cheetah: no way, forget it Zibihi... Timba: pleaze, zhe'll ztarve else, zhe'z all I have left, pleaze help her... Cheetah: as before NO!!! Ehasna began to cry, and Timba gave her a sad look: Timba: pleaze... The cheetah gave up... Cheetah: ok, Zibihi. Put her down here... Timba gently laid the cub down at the cheetah's side, she purred as she drank of the warm milk... Timba: thankz cheetah... Cheetah: call me Kehata... tell me, why are you two stumbling around out here? This is far from the nearest pride of lions... Timba: our former pride waz taken over by a bloodthirzty monzter who killed my other zizter... Kehata: sad to hear, Zibihi... Timba: no, not Zibihi, the name iz Timba... Kehata: you don't know the cheetah language? Zibihi means lion. Timba: oh, zorry... Kehata: nothing to be sorry about, you know that all about you is weird; you speak strange, even for a lion... Timba: I know, I have alwayz zpoken like that, and my tail haz alwayz been like it iz... His stomach rumbled loudly... Kehata: you hungry too? Have some milk... Timba: may I? Kehata: sure... Timba had never before tasted cheetah milk, and he got a little shock over the sweet flavor. Kehata: ok, that's enough... Timba: I didn't mean to drain you... Kehata: it's ok, zibihi, since you two wouldn't make it alone. I'll adopt you, nam zibihi. Timba: you will? Thank you zo much... He hugged her tightly and she kissed his head Kehata: your so welcome zibihi... Timba: you know, all that I have been told about cheetahz iz wrong... Kehata: what have you been told then? Timba: they told me that cheetahz are cowardz, that only run from even the zlightezt threat, and that they leave their cubz unprotected and zo on... now I know that none of it are true... Kehata: of course it's not true; do you want to know what cheetahs think about lions? We think that the lionesses in the prides are oppressed by one tyrannical lion, who only sits on his but while his lionesses hunts and takes care of everything Timba: I guezz that our two zpiciez have a lot to learn from each other... Kehata: you're so right, zibihi, but now I'll need to hunt, would you be a darling and watch the cubs for me? Timba: zure thing, ma'm. Kehata: bathar! Nam zibihi... With those words she disappeared out on the savannah for a hunt... Chapter XXIII Nam kobto zibihi Timba watched over the cheetah and the lion cub until Kehata returned, she had caught a zebra foal, Timba got a share of it, but she took the most self. Kehata: what is your sister called? Timba: Ehazna, and zhe'z not really my zizter... Kehata: you're not? Timba: no, I'm her ztepbrother... Kehata: stepbrother you say, who was your real mother? Timba: I don't know, but the first who took care of me was Zira in the Outlands... Kehata: the Outlands, why did you leave her? Timba: Zira waz murdered, I zaw it... Kehata: that's terrible, who killed her? Timba: it waz Kiara, the princezz of the pride lands...[sniffs] Kehata: oh, nam raka kobto zibihi... Timba: [sniffs] what iz that zuppozed to mean? Kehata: it means, "my poor little lion", I can teach you more of it if you want... Timba: yez pleaze, teach me Kehata... She spends the rest of the day to teach him some of the cheetah language. Next day a male cheetah came... Kehata: Yoah, Cisa... Cisa: Yoah, Kehata, how is our cubs? Kehata: check for yourself, buko... The cheetah is very confused over the lion cub lying beside the cheetah cub... Cisa: what is that zibihi doing there? Kehata: that zibihi is your adopted daughter, and her brother too... Cisa: what? TWO ZIBIHI'S? Kehata: yes, two zibihi's, Timba, come down here... The lion cub jumped down from a close by tree... Timba: Yoah, cheetah, I'm Timba... Cisa gasps, and gazes like a fool on the odd lion cub in front of him... Cisa: Timba Aka-mira... Timba: what? Kehata: he means Timba two-tail; it's a prospery from the beginning... Timba: a prozpery? Cisa: [mumbles]...a cub that uses "z" instead of "s", a ring in ear he wears, scars on cheek, eyes of gray granite, and a white splitted tail tip... Timba: what iz he zaying? Kehata: the description matches perfectly... Cisa: [mumbles]...so does the devil's son appear... Timba: you mean that I'm the zon of the devil? Cisa: no, why should we believe in a stupid old prospery? Timba I accept you as my son, and I accept your sister too... nam kobto zibihi... Cisa thinks of his own cub... Cisa: ...and what is OUR cub called, Kehata? Kehata: he's named Khotz... Cisa: what a beautiful name... He sniffed at all of the cubs to catch their scent... Chapter XXIV To become a cheetah... Months passed by, Timba quickly realized that cheetah fathers seldom come to visit his cubs, and that cheetah mothers often are out hunting. He also found out that cheetah manors were very foreign to him, but he quickly adapted to them, Ehasa was raised to them with her stepbrother Khotz. Since neither Kehata nor Cisa knew how a lion cub should be trained, they trained him like a cheetah... Both of them sits and talks an early morning... Cisa: he might not be as fast as we are, but I'll think that he would make a good cheetah, don't you think? Kehata: yep, all he has to do is to extract his claws while leaping; it would add even more speed... Cisa: yeah [thinks for a moment] how old is he now? Kehata: I would say, about nine months next week. Cisa: then he's almost there; one month from now I will take him to Inkhobi... Kehata: do you think that he would accept him? Cisa: well, he must, both of his parents are cheetahs, aren't we? Kehata: you made your point, next month it'll be... I think you can wake him now, and continue where you stopped last time. Cisa gently woke Timba up from his dreams... Cisa: rise and shine, kobto zibihi... Timba: aw, azna, you know that I hate to be called that... Cisa: I'll call you that until you're an adult Timba... now come on, you'll have some training to do, and for your sake, I hope that you have done your homework... Timba: I have done them, azna. Cisa: there is only one way to find out, son, come... They both walked out in the savannah... Cisa: ok, do you remember what I thought you? Timba: zure... Cisa: ok... what is our primary prey? Timba: it'z gazelle, antelope, zebra and... wildebeest... Cisa: correct, what is the best way to kill the prey? Timba: in the neck, by choking it... Cisa: all right, that was the theoretic part, now to the physic parts ... try to catch up with me, and remember to use your claws... The cheetah darted away in a medium pace that Timba had no problem to catch up with... Cisa: very good, now I'll go faster, ready? Timba: on your mark zir. Cisa: GO!!! This time it took Timba a longer time to catch Cisa, but he did it... Timba: whoa, I never caught you in that zpeed before... Cisa: it's because you use your claws, it gives you a better grip, and better speed... care to try full-speed? Timba: yeah, and I'll get you... Cisa: dream on, zibihi... Cisa darted away in a speed that Timba no way possible could catch him in, he didn't even come close to Cisa... Cisa: hmm, you're a little too young for that, but you have improved much, now I think we should go and catch your mom something nice... Said and done, they (or rather Cisa) caught a gazelle and brought it back... Kehata was happy to see the waiting meal... Kehata: you two read my thoughts... Cisa: we do anything for you, my dear. Timba: guezz what? Kehata: no, I can't... Timba: I caught Cisa in a higher zpeed... almozt in full-zpeed. Kehata; excellent, now come here and get your reward, nam kobto zibihi... Timba: oh no... Kehata: oh yes, and don't you even think of running away, I'll catch you any time... Timba: ok, I zurrender. He padded over to her and let himself be groomed... One month passed, Timba trained three times a week, and had made several improvements, he had just caught Cisa in full-speed, and that made him very proud. Signs of grooving up began to reveal themselves; he had got a tuft of pitch-black mane on the top of his head, and one tuft on each cheek... But his two younger siblings didn't care; they loved to play with his tail tips. Timba: ouch, not zo hard, buko, it hurtz... Khotz: sorry Timba, I didn't mean to bite so hard... Ehasa: tell us, how was it to live in a pride? Timba: you lived in a pride almost as long as I did, but anyway... He tries his best to explain the concept "pride life" Khotz: how can you live so many together? No privacy at all... Ehasna: I dunno, I only lived there some weeks... Timba: and I lived there a little longer time than you, Ehazna... Cisa and Kehata interrupt him... Cisa: come along, kobto zibihi, it's time... Timba: time for what? Cisa: you'll see, come on now... Kehata: go with your father, Timba... Timba: ok, ikaba faha... Kehata: bathar nam zibihi... Timba followed Cisa to an apparently abandoned termite mound, they entered it through a hole in the side of it, and inside they saw a black cheetah with yellow dots... Cheetah: Yoah Cisa... Cisa: Yoah Inkhobi... Inkhobi: why have you brought that zibihi here, I thought you should bring your son... Cisa: he is my adopted son. His mother is Kehata... Inkhobi: let me see him... The cheetah said something, and with once the whole cave lit up... The shaman walked around him, and examined each part of him... Inkhobi: hmm, Aka-mira... what is your name, zibihi? Timba: kiah Timba... Inkhobi: Timba Aka-mira... He shakes his head to clear his mind... Inkhobi: he is ready; he will pass the test... come over here, Timba Aka-mira... Timba came closer to the shaman, Inkhobi took down a bowl from a shelf, he dipped a claw in it and painted two lines from the corner of Timba's eye to the corner of his mouth, then the shaman took another bowl, and smeared it's stinking contains on Timba's cheek... Inkhobi: a new kekaba is about to enter the world, Timba Aka-mira will enter, the world will admire you, but before you go, drink this... The black cheetah picked up a flask with a clear liquid in it, Timba drank of it, and the Shaman smiled at him: Inkhobi: go now, Timba Aka-mira, go as a kekaba... Timba went out trough the narrow hole in the wall, and saw three female cheetahs gaze upon him; Cisa came out right after him... Cisa: oh, I see that you have met them, don't be afraid, go and greet them... Timba walked to them: Timba: Yoah kekaba, ki akh Timba Aka-mira. Cheetah: Yoah zibihi, kiah Zaliba... Cheetah2: ki akh Watabi... Cheetah3: kiah Matakuba... Cisa: now you are introduced to each other... Matakuba: why has a zibihi done the ritual? Cisa: he is my adopted son... Zaliba: well, a pleasure to meet you, Timba Aka-mira. She lifts her left front paw up in front of his face; he takes the small paw in his and kisses it: Timba: the pleazure iz all mine... Zaliba: oh, he's well mannered... Watabi: but still... a zibihi... Cisa: it doesn't matter what he is. He was raised, trained and behaves like a cheetah, remember Umeme? Zaliba: yes, he was a zibihi too, well Cisa, have you explained the "final test" to him? Cisa: no, not yet...[turns to Timba][whispers] ok, you're now to face the "final test" Timba: [whispering] what iz the "final test"? Cisa: [whispers] you see those cheetahs? They are supposed to run as fast as they can in different directions, and you are supposed to catch one of them, and when you do...[winks] you know what to do... Timba: zure thing... Cisa: [to cheetahs] he's ready... Watabi: good luck, zibihi... Zaliba: ...'cause you will need it, hee...hee...hee Timba: ok, I'm ready... The tree female cheetahs ran in different directions, Timba decided to run after Watabi, because she was the closest, he catched her in full-speed, when he did, she stopped and laid down in the high grass and smirked at him... Watabi: you caught me, Timba... you know what to do now, don't you? Timba: no, not really, could you explain? Watabi: come over here and I'll tell you... She motioned for him to come closer... She whispered something in his ear... he blushed when he heard what she said, and then she licked off the stinking substance on his cheek and proceeded up towards his mouth and kissed him... Chapter XXV The legacy Timba and Watabi spent the rest of the day together... Next day: Timba and Watabi sat on the top of a termite mound and watched the sun rise. They nuzzled each other: Watabi: oh gods it's beautiful, zibihi. Timba: it zure iz, kekaba. Watabi: I'm so glad that you choose me... She kissed him and ran a paw through the partial mane on his head... Watabi: I love you so much... Timba: I love you too, Watabi... Cisa and the two other cheetahs came and interrupted the glorious moment... Cisa: sorry if we disturbed you two... Watabi: what is it, Cisa? Cisa: nothing else than that Timba still have to take care of his younger sister. Timba: yez, zhe'z ztill my zizter, zhe'z ztill to young to make it alone... Watabi: ok, I'll wait for you, my love... Timba: I will count every zecond until we meet again, Ikaba Watabi. Watabi: Ninibi, nam bitikibi... Timba walked off with his father, the other two female cheetahs stayed with Watabi to get all the details from her... Cisa took Timba home, where the rest of his family and the cheetah shaman waited for them. Cisa: Yoah, Kehata... Kehata: Yoah, Cisa, I see that he passed the test... Cisa: he sure did... Kehata: [to Timba] ok, who was the lucky one? Timba blushed. His scars went bright red... Kehata: oh, your blushing, how cute... Timba: zhe'z called Watabi... Kehata: sounds good, [to Cisa] I still remember your test, Cisa... Cisa looked on her with a you-embarrass-me look... Cisa: let's talk about that later, Kehata [winks] what are Inkhobi doing here? Inkhobi: I have to speak with Timba Aka-mira at once... Cisa: ok, he's yours. The shaman motioned for Timba to follow with him, Timba followed him to a lonely tree out in the savannah. Inkhobi: the reason I brought you here is your legacy... Timba: legacy? What legacy? Inkhobi: you swore to revenge a certain Zira... when you were four months old... Timba: yez I did, how do you know? Inkhobi: I'm a shaman, zibihi. I know such things... Timba: oh, what iz thiz legacy you're talking about? Inkhobi: your legacy from Zira is the rule over the outlands, and the hate... Timba: yay, the outlandz...[realizing]...what hate? Inkhobi: the hate that Zira left behind when she died, sooner or later it will find it's way to you, you can't escape from it... Timba: then let it come, I am not afraid. Inkhobi: you are brave indeed, the hate will consume you, and you will turn into an evil monster... Timba: are thiz true? Inkhobi: if a shaman lies, he loses his gift, you can ask her yourself... Timba: who? Inkhobi: Zira... you can ask her... Timba: have you mizzed zomething? Zira iz dead. Inkhobi: no...follow me. She's alive. The black cheetah led Timba back to the termite mound, well inside, the shaman took a turtle shell and filled it with a black liquid. He pointed for Timba to look down in it... when his breath touched the surface it began to form a spiral that twisted faster and faster, slowly the image of Zira took form in it... Timba: Zira? Zira: yes it's me, my son... The spiral slowed down, when it had stopped moving a slow whisper came from nowhere: Hawk of green, Star of blue... They will fight to their doom... Hawk of green will capture you... But Star of blue will save with a boom... Then they will continue their path to annihilation... Then it went silent for several seconds... Timba: what in all zeven floorz of hell waz that zuppozed to mean? Inkhobi: that was a part of the prospery from the beginning, Timba Aka-mira... Timba: it zounded like nonzence to me. Hawk of green? Star of blue? What could that mean? Inkhobi: many have tried to figure out the meaning of those lines, but none was successful, but you will soon realize the true meaning of them, you can go home now, Timba Aka-mira... Just as Timba was about to leave, a meercat jumped in through the opening in the wall: Meercat: hi there shaman, you can't guess what I have for you... Inkhobi: maybe the herbs I ordered a month ago? Meercat: nope, it's the herbs you wanted yesterday. Here you go... The meercat hands over a leather bag, Inkhobi examines it's contains, to make sure that everything is with... Meercat: hey! What about my payment? Inkhobi: Mazho, your greed will be your doom... Mazho: you know that I'm not afraid of your riddles... where is my payment? Inkhobi looks on Timba and smirks... Inkhobi: your payment will be that he doesn't eat you Mazho: who? Inkhobi: look behind you... The meercat turns around and sees Timba... Mazho: AAAAHHH!!! [Falls to his knees] please...don't eat me... Both Timba and Inkhobi laughs at the meercat Timba: I won't eat you Mazho... Mazho: Inkhobi, what is that lion doing in here, scaring the life out of innocent meercats? Inkhobi: lion? What lion? I only see a frightened meercat and a kekaba... Mazho: are you BLIND? Cheetahs don't have MANES!!! Timba: maybe not, but I waz raized az a cheetah, trained like a cheetah, I even pazzed the final tezt az a cheetah, I am Timba Aka-mira... Mazho: two-tail, from the prospery of the beginning? THE SON OF THE DEVIL??? Inkhobi: maybe not, you know that you can't trust those old lines... Mazho: phew...I was almost afraid, all right; you got your herbs so I'm leaving... Timba: no your not... Timba blocks the exit... Inkhobi: you follow with Timba... Mazho: oh no, no way, I'm not going with that...that carnivore, not on my life... Timba: oh, that problem can quickly be dealt with... He gave Mazho a sharp-toothed grin, revealing the deadly arsenal... Mazho: [squeaky voice] on the other side, I'd better follow with him... Inkhobi: that was what I thought... Mazho jumped up on Timba's shoulder, Timba exited the den and walked home... Chapter XXVI Star of blue When Timba came home two tail-pouncing cubs greeted him... Timba: hey, can't you two ever leave my tail alone? Khotz: no, it's so fun to play with... Timba: guezz what I have for you two... Ehasna: no, what is it? Timba ran his paw through his mane and dragged the meercat out of it, and he dropped it in front of the two feline cubs... Khotz: cool, a meercat... Ehasna: thanks brother... Timba: juzt be gentle with him, or he'll break, where'z the otherz? Khotz: they said something about re experience Cisa's final test or something like that... Timba: hmm, I know what they're up to... Both cubs: what? What? Timba: I won't tell you, you are too young. Khotz: aw, come on... Timba: nope, you can wait for your own turn, kobto kekaba... Suddenly a rhythmic sound filled the air, all three felines looked up in the air and saw a chopper crashing down towards the merciless ground, it exploded when it hit the ground... Timba: what all zeven floorz of hell was THAT? Mazho: if you don't investigate, you'll never know, come on... Timba: [to cubs] you two ztay here, and not a zound, underztood? Both cubs nodded...Mazho jumped up on Timba's shoulder again, when they reached the crash-site they saw a piece of scrap-metal with a blue star on it... Timba: Ztar of blue... Zhit! We'd better get out of here... He ran as fast as he could back to the cubs, where his folks waited for him... Cisa: what was that, Timba? Timba: [out of breath] it...waz...the "ztar of blue"... I zaw it... Mazho: I saw it too; it was some sort of flying thing... Kehata: star of blue? Cisa isn't that a line from the prospery of the beginning? Cisa: yes... "Hawk of green, Star of blue"... I still remember that I tried several days to find out the meaning of it... Timba: that prozpery iz about me... the "Hawk of green" will capture me... Kehata: what is the "Hawk of green"? Timba: whatever it iz, it don't zeem friendly... Mazho: yeah, we saw the star of blue, and that was no friendly at all... Time passed and months went by, no other sign that the chopper was seen, late one night Cisa and Timba watched the stars... Cisa: how long has it been since you visited Watabi last time? Timba: it muzt be over a month now... Cisa: then you'd better go visit her... Timba: ...at once, naklat azna... Cisa: mizhk, nam zibihi. Timba bounced towards the tree where Watabi used to sleep, he found her there, asleep, so he lay down beside her and gave her a lick on her cheek... then he also fell asleep... Watabi woke up next day and was overwhelmed with joy, she ran her paw through his partial mane as she used to, and she kissed and licked his face until he woke up... Watabi: good morning nam bitikibi Timba: good morning to you too, nam ententa kekaba Watabi: I'm always spotted buko [giggles] I missed you... Timba: I missed you too... Watabi: haven't you forgot something? Timba: oh, I ztopped when I reached one thouzand... Watabi: silly you, remember your test? Timba: yez... Watabi: care to experience it again? Timba: zure... Watabi: then you'll have to catch me first... With that the cheetah darted off, close followed by the lion, he caught her pretty quick... Timba: caught you, nam kekaba... Watabi: come get your reward, nam zibihi... Yet again the two felines became one... Chapter XXVII Captured Timba woke up in the middle of the night by a sound much greater than the thunder itself... He looked around and saw his love sleeping peacefully, then he heard another explosion, Watabi woke up by the noise... Watabi: w...what was that? Timba: I have no idea... A huge APC drew past just in front of them... Timba: a...? We're out of here Both felines tried to escape from the scene when a shell suddenly exploded next to them, some of the debris that it whirled up hit them, and they went out cold... Another APC drew up to them... A soldier in a green uniform walked out of it, with his AK-5 ready he poked the big cats, confirming that they were alive he shouts something back to the APC and another soldier comes out and helps the first one to carry the cats into the APC, then it drew away... Timba woke up all wet by sweat: Timba: Watabi? Where are you? Watabi's voice came from someplace nearby... Watabi: I'm here zibihi.... calm down, you might be wounded... He opened his eyes and looked in the direction where he had heard his mate, he only saw a grey concrete wall, and he followed it upwards with his gaze and saw that it ended several meters up, and ended in a chain-link fence... Timba: Watabi? Where are you? Watabi: I'm on the other side of that grey rock... Timba: what iz thiz for a place? Watabi: look up to your right, you should see a tall thing poking out from the ground... do you see what sign there is on that green thing on the top of it? Timba looked in that direction and saw the green flag with the hawk... Timba: "Hawk of green" thiz iz not good... Watabi: and worse, the "hawk of green" is tekhans... Timba: humanz? I only heard rumorz of those vile creaturez, aren't they only a myth? Another voice came from the other side of him... Voice: no... they are real, and we are locked up here... He turns around and sees a lioness Timba: who are you, zibihi? Lioness: I don't have any name... I was born here... Timba: well, Kiah Timba Aka-mira... Lioness: what? Timba: zo, your not uzed to cheetah language? I am Timba two-tail... Lioness: what is a cheetah? Watabi: Timba? Who are you talking to? Timba: a lionezz [to lioness] zhe iz a cheetah... what doez theze humanz look like? Lioness: I don't know, they took my eyes, I'm blind... A door opens in the wall, one soldier tosses a piece of meat in to them, and then the door closes again... Lioness: ah, food... could you please direct me to it? Timba: ok... forward...left...right...there, it iz right in front of you... The lioness picks it up and carries it back to Timba... Lioness: here, you will need it more than I do... She gives him the meal and he quickly consumes it, and falls asleep... Chapter XXVIII Unexpected salvation Timba woke up again by the sound of explosions and a air-raid alarm, he opened his eyes and saw the green flag be pulled down, and be replaced by a blue... then the door opened and a soldier in a different uniform put his head in, he saw the lions, and walked out again, but did not close the door afterwards... Timba: [to Watabi] Watabi? Are you there? Watabi: I am, Timba is there a hole in the wall where you are too? Timba: yez there iz, I'll try to zee what'z behind it... Watabi: be careful... Timba rose to his paws and walked towards the door, looked outside, seeing nothing he walked out through it, he looked to both sides, seeing a long corridor to his left and another open door to his right, and out of it Watabi came... Watabi: Timba! Your ok... She embraced him and kissed him... Timba: excuze me, but I think that we zhould be high-tailing out of here... Watabi: your right, I think it's this way... They walked side by side down the corridor, at the end of it there were a large hole in the wall, they walked out through it, and their jaws dropped when they saw the destruction, There were burnt grass, cracked walls, overrun chain fences, molten tanks and smoking craters everywhere. Watabi: what the heck happened here? Timba: I have no idea, but we'd better go home now... if we even knew where we were... Watabi scanned the horizon... Watabi: I can see the great mountain. I know where we are... come! The two felines walked through a desolated land, full of craters and various wrecks... some choppers flew over their heads, heading west... What took a APC three hours to drive took them one day on foot, when they finally came home, the first they met was Cisa: Cisa: Timba, Watabi... we thought you were dead... how? Timba: the "hawk of green" captured uz... Watabi: and we were saved by the "star of blue". Cisa looked confused on them... Cisa: what is the "hawk of green? Timba: The "hawk of green" is a pride of tekhanz, the "star of blue" iz another pride, I think that they are at war with each otherz... Cisa: TEKHANS??? But... they're only a myth... Timba: no they're not, they are real, that thing that fell from the zky waz controlled by them [changing subject] zo... how iz the otherz? Cisa: they're ok... they will be happy to know that you are alive... come on. He led them back to Kehata and her cubs... Kehata: Timba! Nam zibihi! You're all right... She ran to him and hugged him... Timba: faha, you are embarrazzing me... Kehata: sorry, I didn't mean to... Timba: it'z ok... Kehata: [sees Watabi] who is she? Watabi: Whom do you think? Kiah Watabi, Timba's mate... Kehata pokes Timba in his side: Kehata: [whispers to Timba] nice choice, she's really pretty... Timba: mom... Kehata: ok... I'll stop, I'm just so happy to see you alive... The two cubs did not say a thing; they pounced on Timba's tail... Timba: OW!! You two dizeazez quit it! Khotz: no way, brother... Ehasna: ... we're not going to quit. We have barely begun... Timba pulled his tail out of their grasp... Timba: in that case... I'll confizcate my own tail... Khotz: aw, come on... I didn't hurt that much did it? Timba: you bet it did, can't you two play with each other? Cisa: let them, they're only cubs... Watabi: yes let them, nam bitikibi... Timba: I give up... here you go... The cubs happily jumps on the tail just as it hits the ground, He curses something for himself... In the middle of the night Timba have bad dreams, he twists and turns, then he suddenly wakes up and sees a vision take form in front of him... Voice: Timba... my son... Timba: w...who are you? A lioness takes form in the vision... Voice: don't you recognize me? Timba: Zira? Zira: yes, my son, it's me, I heard your vow... Timba: y...you mean... that to kill Kiara? Zira: yes Timba... go and fulfill your destiny... Timba: but... my family...Watabi... shall I abandon them? Zira: you speak, act, fight, hunt... you even think like a cheetah... you can come back for them when your task is completed... Timba: what tazk? Zira: you will rule the Pride rock... to do that you must first kill the present rulers... Timba: but... I don't know how to rule a pride... Zira: go to the Death lands; ask for Marhiza, and she will help you... Timba two-tail... The vision faded away... Chapter XXIX The decision Timba woke his mate and told her what he had to do... she took it pretty good... Watabi: I understand, I will wait for your return, nam bitikibi... Timba: I will count each second, nam kekaba... Watabi: wataka Madun, Timba Aka-mira... Timba: zhiech Watabi... They nuzzled each other a last time before Timba departed to the east... After two days he came back into the wombat land, he saw a familiar lioness sit at the border and sulk... Timba: Yoah zibihi... The lioness answered without turning around... Lioness: what do you want, cheetah? Timba: I juzt want to walk through thiz land, zibihi... Lioness: I don't see what stops you, cheetah... Timba: I wanted the permizzion from the queen... Lioness: I'm not the queen... She turns around and her jaw drops... Lioness: Timba? Timba: Timba Aka-mira to be correct, Khati. Khati: where have you been all this time? What happened to you? Timba: well, I waz raized by a cheetah, and that'z why I uze their language... Khati: how is Ehasna? Timba: zhe'z ok... we were both adopted by Kehata, the cheetah... Khati: I want to see her, where is she? Timba: just continue the same way I came from, and ask for Ciza or Kehata, they zhould help you, how iz Zanumi? Khati: I knew that you would ask that... she is dead, murdered because she saved you... Timba: who killed her? Khati: it was Akhasa, the same who murdered Ishina... Timba: zhe'z dead, where iz zhe? Khati: if you kill her, you should be outlawed... Timba: zo what, zhe killed Zanumi, izn't that a crime? Khati: ok, she's basking at the rocks where you used to play when you were a cub, but please, kill only her, because she is the root of all evil here... Timba: ok Khati, I do it for you and Zanumi, Naklat zibihi... Khati: good bye, Timba Aka-mira... Khati went in the direction where Timba had come from, and he continued towards the rock formation, where Akhasa should be... when he got there he saw one lioness lie and have a sun-bath, he sneaked in behind a rock... Timba: Yoah Akhaza... Akhasa: it's Akhasa you stupid cheetah, who are you? Timba: Kiah Timba Aka-mira... the cub you never was able to kill... Akhasa: what are you talking about, cheetah. I have never seen a cheetah cub... Timba walks out from his hideout, and let her see him... Timba: now you have... murderer... With a quick bite in her throat she fell dead to the ground, he looked on the corpse before continuing towards the east... After a day or so he reached the border to a land he had fled from two years ago... he went to the place where he had seen Zira fall to her death, he saw a lone black flower grow on the edge she had fell from, he let a tear fall on the flower, and it was not alone, more tears followed the first, they seemed to eat into the rock itself, leaving black dots on it... he sees a giant rock formation in the distance, he decided to ask his way to the death lands, but everyone he asked ran away, suddenly he hears cubs laughter, he went closer and saw tree cubs playing happily, one of them had a ring in his ear, just like himself, and three nasty scars across his face. Timba pounced in between them and they began to flee in all directions, he decided to go after the scarred cub, and with the speed only a cheetah can muster he catched the cub, It was so frightened that it shivered heavily... Timba: hey, calm down, I won't hurt you... Cub: you won't? Timba: no, I won't, what made you think that? Cub: eh... I dunno... Timba: I am Timba, and I just want to know the direction of the death lands... Cub: just...continue to the northeast... Timba: thanks... He let the terrified cub down and continued towards the death lands... Chapter XXX The Death lands Timba kept up his fast pace all through the pride lands, when he crossed the invisible border he mumbled for himself: Timba: the death landz, huh, not even zcary... He suddenly heard a noise and he saw a black lioness walk in the distance: Timba: HEY! ZIBIHI! The lioness stopped and looked around, unable to pinpoint the owner of the voice... Lioness: who are you, cheetah? Timba: Ki akh Timba Aka-mira, you then? Lioness: well, they call me Azouka... where are you, Timba Aka-mira? Timba: what you are going to zee now might give you a zhock... Azouka: what, are you wounded? Timba: no... He rose up, and the lioness gasped... Azouka: you...you are... a ...lion... Timba: I waz born a lion...and raized az a cheetah... Azouka peers on him with dreaming eyes, she suddenly snaps out of that state as Timba came closer... Azouka: [half to herself] Azouka behave yourself...[to Timba] what's your business here, half-cheetah? Timba: I wizh to zee Marhiza, the queen of thiz land... Azouka: why her when you can have some one better... like me... Timba: don't be rediculuoz. I already have a mate... Azouka liked her lips and gazed on him... Timba: now you ztop playing, bring me to Marhiza... Azouka: ok sourpuss, but you don't know what you just declined... follow me... The black lioness cursed something and led Timba to another lioness, a red one... Azouka: [to lioness] Marhiza, there is a cheetah to see you... Marhiza: what cheetah? Timba: Yoah Marhiza; Kiah Timba Aka-mira... Marhiza stares on the odd lion... Marhiza: but...you... are...a... Timba: yez, I am a zibihi, I am Timba two-tail... Marhiza: what brings you here, two-tail? Timba: nothing special, only to kill my mothers murderer... Azouka: who was your mother? Timba: it waz Zira, the queen of the outlandz... Marhiza: if your telling the truth, then you is our cousin...[thinks for a moment] what did she look like? Timba: zhe waz very zkinny, zhe had red eyez and a light brown pelt, zhe did alzo have a brown ztripe running down from the top of her head... Marhiza: I trust you Timba... guess if we have the news for you... Timba: newz, what newz? Azouka: Zira is dead... Timba: I know. I zaw her DIE! Marhiza: she died twice... Timba looks like a question mark... Timba: what? Azouka: yeah, she died a week ago... Marhiza: some demons had reanimated her... Timba thinks for a moment... Timba: one week you zay? Both of them nods... Timba: it waz exactly one week zince I had that vizion... Zhe told me that I waz deztinied to take over the pride rock... but zince I waz raized by cheetahz, I don't know how to rule a pride. Zira told me to find Marhiza of the death lands, and zhe zhould help me... Marhiza: I don't know why, but I trust you, Timba two-tail, I will help you, but it will take time... Timba: time iz no problem to me... Marhiza: good, let's get started then... It took a long time to teach Timba how to rule, mostly because he was used to spend much time alone... he felt very insecure among all the lionesses, so he usually slept alone in a tree. There was also four cubs in the pride, but for some reason they were held in the den all day long, one day Timba decided to visit them, he walked into the den, and past the guarding lioness... Lioness: hey, what do you think you are doing? Timba: calm down zibihi... I want to talk to the cubz... Lioness: it's ok with me; see to that they stay in here... Timba: no problem zibihi... The cubs curled up in a corner when they saw Timba... They trembled in fear... Timba: calm down, kobto zibihi'z One of the cubs managed to say something: Cub: who...a...are you? Timba: Ki akh Timba Aka-mira, kobto zibihi... Cub: I...I...don't...und...erstand a thing... Timba: zorry, I'm zo uzed to it; I am Timba two-tail, and you? Cub: Tathiz, sir! Timba: and you? He looks on the other cubs, which trembled even more... Timba: come on, I don't look that bad, do I? The cubs shacked their heads... Timba: what are your namez then? A long silence... Cub: Zaba... Cub2: Shakha... Cub3: Kolto... Timba: that wazn't that bat, waz it? Zaba: no sir! Timba: why are you calling me "zir"? Kolto: Marhiza wants us to call everyone in her pride for "ma'm" or "sir" Timba: you can call me Timba... He sat down and moved his tail in front of the cubs, witch struggled against the will to pounce on it, their paws shacked with anticipation... their eyes followed each move it made... Timba: why don't you play with it? Shakha: we aren't allowed to play, sir! Timba: who told you that? Tathiz: queen Marhiza and Azouka said that... Timba: what are you allowed to do then? Zaba: nothing, we are forced to go through their merciless training each day... Kolto: ...they force us to run several miles each day, and go through a course that runs through...through... Timba: anyway, I allow you to play with my tail... All cubs: you let us do THAT??? Timba nodded... All cubs: thanks... They pounced down on the tail immediately, Timba was happy to hear children's laughter around him, Azouka hears it and comes in, and are pretty mad... Azouka: WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING??? Timba: I think that I PLAY WITH THE CUBZ!!! Azouka: THAT IS FORBIDDEN!!! Timba: ZAYZ WHO??? Azouka: SAYS I! GRAAAH!!!! She jumps on him, but he quickly kicks her off... Timba: if you want to fight zibihi, so go outzide... Azouka growled back at him and walked out, Timba followed, when both were outside the fight began, Azouka tried many times to leap him, but to no use, he only stepped aside, and that made her frustrated, and she tried to pounce instead, with even lesser luck, he dodged all attempts. After a while she began to be exhausted... Azouka: grrrr, stand still and fight me... Timba: I don't zee any need to do so... She tried one last pounce with the last ounce of strength she had left, to no use, he stepped aside and she fell to the ground panting, Timba quickly pinned her to the ground... Timba: have you had enough now? Azouka: never... He increased the pressure on her shoulders... Azouka: ok...I...give up... Timba: good zibihi... He released her and noticed that the whole pride sat and stared at them... Azouka: [to lionesses] what's your problem? Marhiza stood among them and gazed angry on her sister... Marhiza: All right, who started this fight? All lionesses pointed at Azouka: Azouka: I did... so what? He broke the rules... Marhiza: so he did? Witch one? Azouka: he... played with the cubs... Marhiza: he DID? [To Timba] follow me... Azouka: but... Marhiza: Shut up!! Marhiza took Timba to a more secluded place in a little forest... Marhiza: you have violated our laws, Timba Aka-mira... and because of that I have to punish you... Timba: then do what you muzt, zibihi, kill me if you have to... I don't care, let me join my real mother... Marhiza: what? Zira? Timba: no...zhe waz my ztepmother, ztop talking and punizh me... Marhiza: what? Aren't you my cousin? Timba: not in the blood... Marhiza thinks for a moment, and begins to gaze upon him... Marhiza: then I have the perfect punishment for you... Timba: let'z get it over with... Marhiza: ok... your punishment for violating our laws...is... to give me cubs... Timba: you can't be zeriouz... Marhiza: I am totally serious... I want you to be the father of my cubs... Timba: but... I already have a mate... Marhiza: oh... who is the lucky girl? Timba: her name iz Watabi... Marhiza: but... that is a cheetah name... Timba: that iz maybe becauze zhe IZ a cheetah... Marhiza: but that is violating the laws of the gods, you can't mate to another specie... Timba: the lawz of the godz doez not apply to me, not to Timba Aka-mira, not to the devil'z zon... but I rezpect your lawz, and I will receive my punizhment Marhiza puts on a seductive smile and begins to caress him... Marhiza: come and receive it, bad boy... The two villains became one... They spent the rest of the day together, when they finally returned Azouka met them with a grin of malicious pleasure; Timba returned it with a sinister grin and walked alongside with Marhiza back into the den... Chapter XXXI The final showdown Some months later... Marhiza began to show signs of pregnancy; her belly grew larger for each day that passed. Azouka had no doubt about who was their father... because of her condition, Marhiza handed over the training of the cubs to Timba, and the cubs were very happy over that, they were now allowed to move outside the den, with guards of course... they played happily, even Azouka could not resist to feel some warmth in her heart when she saw how happy the cubs were, but Timba still kept up their training, in a fashion more like the one of cheetahs, he thought them most of the basics of hunting and fighting... the rest could the pride take care of. More months passed by... the cubs grew stronger and more loyal, Marhiza had sent out a spy who returned to tell that tree males had left the pride lands... Timba waited one more month... He never actually slept in the den, he didn't like it in there... one early morning he woke Marhiza up... Timba: good morning, zibihi... Marhiza: huh? What do you want? Timba: I came to zay good-bye... I'm leaving today... Marhiza: well, I can't stop you, good luck... Timba: naklat Queen Marhiza... Marhiza: talk so I can understand... Timba: good bye... His words drowned in a kiss from Marhiza... Marhiza: bye, Timba two-tail... Timba departed out of the den and towards the southeast... He was detected by the king's major domo when he crossed the border, The hornbill hovered in front of him... Zazu: who are you "death Lander"? Timba: kiah cot "death Lander", ki akh Timba Aka-mira... Zazu stares on him: Zazu: what? Timba: I am Timba two-tail, why do you want to know that? Zazu: because that I am king Kovu's major domo, and I suggest that you go back to where you came fro... Timba catches the bird with his paw and squeezes him... Timba: I AM home, bird... With those words he swallowed the bird, a lioness that happened to see it screamed: Lioness: Zazu! NO!! Why, stranger? Why did you eat him? Timba: [dumbstruck] eh, I waz hungry... Lioness: YOU ATE ZAZU!!! Timba: oh zorry, did you know him? Lioness: you can bet your sorry ass, I did, murderer... The lioness leaped on him, but missed... Timba: I'm zorry, I didn't know... Lioness: your dead meat, stranger... She leaped on him again, and missed, Timba realized that the smartest thing to do was to run, and he did, he quickly lost the lioness behind him, only to run into Kovu... Kovu: what? A ROUGE? Timba: no...I'm no rouge... Kovu: your not? Timba: do I look like one? Kovu: no, you're too skinny, who are you then? Timba: Kiah Timba Aka-mira... Kovu: why are you using the cheetah tongue? Timba: I waz raized to uze it... Kovu: did cheetahs raise you? Timba: yez I waz, iz it illegal? Kovu: no, not according to our laws, tell me, have you gone through their "final test"? Timba: yez I have... and I have a cheetah for a mate, and I'm proud of it... Kovu: but... that is violating the border between the species... Timba: zo what? I love her, zhe love me, I don't zee why it'z violating anything... Besides... I feel more like a cheetah than a lion... Kovu: I can see that, why are you speaking so strange? And what is it with your tail? Timba: I have a zlight zpelling problem, I waz born with it, and my tail haz alwayz been like it iz, and I have worn that ring all my life... more queztionz? Kovu: yes, one last question, have you seen a blue hornbill named Zazu? Timba: yez, I zaw him at the border... I waz hungry zo, I ate him, I didn't know... Kovu: oh g... WHAT? The lioness finally catched up with Timba... Lioness: [out of breath] stand...still...murderer... Timba: I zaid that I didn't know that he waz zo important to you, I'm zorry, I really am, pleaze try to forgive me [faking sadness] I waz zo hungry... Lioness: never... Kovu: shut up... listen Timba, you made a mistake, we all make mistakes, but I think that I can forgive you...[thinking] (hey what am I saying?)[talking] if you confess your crime to the pride, I might forgive you... Timba: you will? Lioness: he's faking. Don't trust him, Kovu. Kovu: silence, I am the king, and you must obey me...[to Timba] you can come with me to the pride rock, once there, you will tell them what you have done, I think they would understand... Timba: thank you... what waz your name again? Kovu: it's Kovu... Timba: thankz Kovu... Timba followed with Kovu and the still angry lioness to the enormous pride rock... The lioness went and gathered the pride; Timba was placed in front of them: Kovu: listen up! This rouge has something to say, [to Timba] don't you? Timba: yez I have, Kiah Timba Aka-mira killed the kingz major domo, Zazu by an accident... All the lionesses gasped... Timba: I did not know that he waz zo important, I waz zo hungry, can you forgive me? Kiara steps forward, Timba's eyes goes unnoticed from grey to deep crimson when he sees her... Kiara: I forgive you, Timba; you could not know how important he was... I think that you are brave to even confess it... The whole pride mumbles that they forgive him... Timba: but, I am not alone... there iz another here who have committed murder... All eyes fixed on him... Lioness: what? Timba: my mother waz murdered by "zomeone" here, I zaw it with my own eyez... Kiara: who was your mother? Timba: Zira... When he speaks out the name, a thunderstorm began to take form above them... Kovu: impossible... she never had a litter after me and Vitani... Timba: no, buko, zhe adopted me... and Kiara murdered her [points on Kiara] Kiara: LIAR!!! Timba: I zaw it, "princezz", I waz the cub you zaw on the oppozite zide, you ruined my life, and I want retribution for all the pain you inflicted on me... Kiara: BE QUIET, LIAR!!! Timba: no, not before you commit it... Kiara growled and attacked him, for each leap she attempted, Timba moved backwards, after a while they both stood on the peak of the presentation rock, Kiara thought herself to be victorious, she charged him, but with a quick maneuver he tricked her and pushed her of the rock, she was just able to grip the edge with her claws, the rest of her hang down from the rock... she looked up and saw Timba's re eyes... Timba: my... thiz lookz familiar, don't it? Confezz and I will help you... Kiara: no...never...[she looked down] ok, I'll do it [silent] I killed Zira... Timba: higher, they can't hear you... Kiara: [yelling] I KILLED ZIRA, AND I'M PROUD OF IT!!! The whole pride stared in shock on her... Timba: good... now I'll end your mizerable life... He slowly sank his blunted claws into her paws, she roared out in pain, and then he threw her off, watching as she fell towards the hard, cold ground, Kovu yelled: Kovu: Kiara...NO!!! He rushed forth to her mangled body, and then he looked up on Timba... It began to rain heavily... Kovu: why? Timba: I punizhed according to cheetah lawz, an eye for an eye... Kovu: your DEAD!!! Because Kovu was heartbroken over Kiara's death, the half-cheetah inflicted many lethal wounds on him; due to loss of blood Kovu fell half-unconscious to the ground, Timba was just about to put him out for good, when a familiar voice yelled: Watabi: Timba!! Timba turned around and saw his mate come towards him... She saw Kovu and Kiara... Watabi: what have you DONE??? Timba: I did what I had to do, nam kekaba... Watabi: I'm not the mate to a MONSTER!!! Where is that Timba I once knew? Naklat Timba Aka-mira, good-bye, "son of the devil"... She turned around and ran away faster than she ever had before... Timba: no... WAIT!!! He wanted to run after her, but something stopped him, instead he turned back to Kovu... Timba: [whispering] pleaze forgive me, brother... He sliced Kovu's throat and pushed the body away, then he suddenly heard a voice inside his head... Voice: good, my son... now take your place, roar from the edge of the rock... Timba: [thinking] but... I can't roar... Voice: then bark as a cheetah... The voice faded away... and Timba's eyes turned back to grey, Timba slowly walked towards the edge, and instead of a earhtquaking roar, he let out a thunderous bark of a cheetah, a lightning struck the top of the pride rock... all the lionesses roared in sorrow up towards their new king... Epilogue: With much dismay the lionesses accepted their new king, all of them walked with lowered heads past him and into the den, when all of them were inside, Timba looked towards the west and sighed, his loss was greater than his accomplishment, he walked out on the savannah, suddenly he saw a cheetah come towards him in full-speed... Timba: who are you, kekaba? Cheetah: doesn't matter, are you Timba Aka-mira? Timba: yez... Cheetah: I should tell you this from Cisa, Kehata, Khotz, Watabi; Ehasna, and Khati; "Hope you are happy now, suppressor", they teached you goodness, and is this how you thank them? You turned into an evil, twisted monster, may Madun send you straight to hell where you belong, Naklat! The cheetah disappeared into the west and Timba walked slowly back to his new home... He went inside and lay down, and he wept himself to sleep... In his dreams his past tortured him all night long, all who once had loved him, now hated him... THE END!!! Ok, that was the end of that fairy tale; it took me almost three months to complete the whole story... This part took me: 1 week, 6 days, 6 hours, 34 minutes and 2 seconds to complete From: 29/06/00 12:00:00 To: 12/07/00 18:34:02 Hope you enjoyed it, I think that a sequel will be written as soon as I can -==-